The timeless style of great Swedish pioneers like Dissection, Vinterland, Unanimated, Dawn and Sacramentum, multi-instrumentalist and singer Knell feels obliged not only musically-ideally and tastefully.

Even more, the enthusiast has become so addicted to the legendary legacy of these titans that his excellent debut album „The Everlorn“ goes far beyond the status of mere homage.

[ Pic: JAR ]

LINE-UP:
Knell • All instruments, Vocals

In 2016, he founded SINIRA – for Knell, this was the beginning of the very personal fulfillment of his MELODIC BLACK METAL longings, so to speak.

Two years later, the first demo „Dawnless Twilight“ followed, which the versatile maestro now follows up with a truly powerful long-playing strike:

[ Artwork: KN ]

TRACKS:
01. Where Starlight Does Not Shine 07:47
02. Gardens Of Pestilence 08:21
03. The Everlorn 09:26
04. Souls Of The Flame 01:48
05. Tear Ladened Skies 06:48
06. Our Final Nightfall 07:45
07. Dawnless Twilight 11:27
08. Omega XI 02:44

total: 56:06 min.

Eight wonderfully catchy and rousingly triumphant tracks that hold everything that once so magnificently began the great whole of this unique métier!

With „The Everlorn“ the gifted exceptional artist succeeded in a flawless bull’s eye.
SINIRA quickly inspires with uplifting melodies, intoxicatingly desperate vocals and heaps of thundering pattering playing tempos.

>>> Knell of SINIRA ist available for interviews via email !

Label:
Northern Silence Productions

PR:
https://www.metalmessage.de/Promotion_SINIRA_en.php

DISCOGRAPHY:
2018 • Dawnless Twilight (EP)
2019 • Soulreaper (Single)
2019 • Where Starlight Does Not Shine (Single)
2021 • The Everlorn (Full-length)

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

10 / 10
„… without a doubt one of the best ( if not the best) albums released in 2020/21 … master of furious melody … pure devotion to chaos, which conquers without a doubt all the darkest nostalgic waters …“
(Science Of Noise)

4 / 5
„… a working, dynamic, determined disc with an obvious quality in all its forms.“
(El Portal Del Metal)

8 / 10
„… the result of a unique artistic vision … guitar playing is effective … extremely atmospheric … drumming goes in the faster direction, which I appreciate … production is very good.“
(WeRock NU)

7 / 10
„… guitars with a clear Scandinavian Melodic Black Metal influence … epic and dramatic … everything revolves around rhythmic exchanges, rolls leading to the classic outburst, but there are also fast and direct dynamic parts … the vicious, corrupt and unhealthy aura of the genre is clearly heard … good example of a reference to a bygone era with an heartfelt debut and an fair homage.“
(Metal IT)

3 / 5
„… sounding huge … the drums thunder across the sonic field like a a rumbling tank whilst the snare shoots through your ears like a machine gun … really love the sharpness and clarity of the guitar tones … icy riffs … very well mixed album … adds that bit extra as well as maintaining the aggression and rawness of the songs.“
(Fjordhammer)

„… will not fail to make people talk about it and make the artist rising into another dimension … in any case a first album of great quality released by the Texan project, which leaves with a head start to win the honorary title of the discovery of the year.““
(Heidnir)

„… a gem that does not stop to scream out of the chest … the reproducibility is quite high with the musicality that everyone remembers … especially the first half of songs is convincing … a masterpiece … recommended for all Black Metal fans …“
(Noisy Minority Work)

„… full of melody, amazing riffs and all together do very good songs, and the very good songs do an amazing album.“
(Blessed Altar)

„… was recommended to me by a member of The Metal Gamer community and I can’t thank her enough for it! This debut screams Dissection, hell I even had to check at times if it wasn’t them playing some unreleased tracks or something … if you love melodic Death/Black Metal then you will love this, simple as that.“
(The Metal Gamer)

„… a highly-melodic work, full of the sort of genuine lead guitar work often missing from extreme Metal.“
(No Clean Singing)

„Pure and hard brutality with an undeniable classic evocation … sounds very good … a lot of power.“
(Abismo)

Since September 17, the Italian hard rockers have been presenting the music video for the track „November Pain“ from their self-titled debut EP – and if you think of Guns N‘ Roses right away when you hear such a song title, you can feel exactly on the right 80’s track:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/cVGgMPeh8yc

Clear echoes of other well-known cult bands such as Faster Pussycat, Bulletboys, L.A. Guns, Pretty Boy Floyd, Bang Tango, Vain, Babylon A.D., Tuff and Dangerous Toys round off the lively, uplifting sound.

DESPERATION BLVD is a brand new project from Italy, born from an idea of two experienced musicians, guitarist Alex ‚Crown‘ Corona and drummer Elvis ‚Hell‘ Ortolan. The trio is completed by bassist Matteo ‚Matt‘ Martinelli.

[ Pic: Gabriele Boz ]

LINE-UP:
Crown • Guitars
Matt • Bass
Hell • Drums

Guest musicians:
David Reece (Accept, Bangalore Choir) • Vocals in ‚North-East Boulevard‘
Thomas Silver (Hardcore Superstar) • Guitar solo in ‚North-East Boulevard‘
Fabio D’Amore (Serenity) • Vocals in ‚Hold Back The Rain‘
Herma (Sick ’n‘ Beautiful) • Vocals in ‚Queen Of Heartache‘
Alessia Scolletti (Temperance) • Vocals in ‚Sorry (I Don’t Want You)‘
Claudio Coassin (Raintime/Fake Idols) • Vocals in ‚Henhouse Tales‘
Mattia Martin (Bad As) • Vocals in ‚November Pain‘

The band’s current debut is a self-titled six-song EP consisting of five enormously crisply orchestrated and cool vocalized original songs as well as the Duran Duran classic „Hold Back The Rain“ – a vibrant and enormously casual cover version that immediately defines the strong personality and unique SLEAZE’N’ROLL style of DESPERATION BLVD.

[ Artwork: Simone ‚Zimon‘ Sut for N.B.S. • Imagination & Design ]

TRACKS:
01 November Pain 03.04
02 Queen Of Heartache 03.11
03 Henhouse Tales 03.04
04 North-East Boulevard 03.09
05 Hold Back The Rain 04.13
06 Sorry (I Don’t Want You) 03.53


This deliciously snappy release is enriched by various guest musicians. Among others, former Accept singer David Reece is featured in „North-East Boulevard“, and Thomas Silver from Hardcore Superstar contributed a wonderfully fluid guitar solo for the number. Serenity vocalist Fabio D’Amore, on the other hand, shows in „Hold Back The Rain“ that he has a remarkably wide range of skills, while the no less vocally strong, changeable Alessia Scolletti from Temperance in „Sorry (I Don’t Want You)“ partly goes completely out of herself.

Recorded and co-produced by Michele Guaitoli, known from the bands Visions Of Atlantis, Overtures and Temperance at The Groove Factory Studio, „Desperation BLVD“ will be released in December 2020.


EMAIL:
infodesperationblvd@gmail.com

DESPERATION BLVD are available for interviews via phone, Skype & email

PR:
https://www.metalmessage.de/Promotion_DESPERATION_BLVD_en.php

Initiated as a solo project by singer Coldun himself in 2006, COLDUN has meanwhile grown into a veritable formation.

The group is made up of top-class musicians and long-time companions, all of whom have gained experience and competence through various band activities and projects in the last 20 years.

[ Pic: Coldun ]

LINE-UP:
Coldun • Vocals, Bass, Hammond, Synths
ZK • Guitars
MR • Guitars
NC • Drums

On the impressively art-minded 2014 second work „Collapsing Polarities“ the whole timeless class of COLDUN’s aesthetic-philosophically impregnated work is already revealed.

Now the musicians climb the logical next step together with their enthroned throat emperor:
The new and third album with the inspiring title „Grand Sun Ritual“ was mixed and mastered in the Priory Recording Studios Birmingham by Greg Chandler (Esoteric) in outstanding quality.

The ATMOSPHERIC PROGRESSIVE METAL of the soulful top experts from the Ore Mountains is once again vocalized in a highly uplifting manner with the absolute grand championship, for which the unmistakably evocative exceptional voice of frontman Coldun stands so uniquely.

With the professional artwork, the authors represent their profound complete works in finest cover and inlay quality:

[ Artwork: KaGo.O_O ]

TRACKS:
01. Grand Sun Ritual 07:41
02. The Forest And The Soul 06:23
03. Down Below 07:42
04. Salvation Day 08:32
05. Stories Untold 05:19
06. Hail Out To Thebes 09:16
07. I Dreamed That Dream 06:34

total: 52:00 min.

Listen title track:
https://soundcloud.com/metalmessage/coldun-grand-sun-ritual

„Grand Sun Ritual“, a real soul slurper, shows influences from Doom to Post Metal and connects both worlds, which the tasteful creators love so much.
Thus, COLDUN let atmospheric and deeply rich ambient sounds come together with wild Rock/Metal guitar riffs and drums in an amazingly fluid way, deliciously refined with the classic aroma of 70s guitar and Hammond feeling.
The necessary edge in the often majestic sound image is provided by hard, sometimes even post-black stagings, which can ultimately bring a modern, but always fully genuine and down-to-earth high-class sound to brilliant radiance.

[ Pic: Coldun ]

In terms of content, the new long-player revolves around the eternally topical questions of humanity about the respective meaning of life and death.
The thought-provoking lyrics of the songs show a radically positive basic tenor, which stands for Coldun’s personal conviction that in death nothing is absolute – and certainly not an end.
In recent years he has developed and cultivated relevant impulses for this insight as a distinctly spiritual character by means of various journeys to areas of the world that are correspondingly revealing for him. (Markus Eck)

DISCOGRAPHY:
2007 • Necessariis? Dubiis? Caritas? (Full-length)
2014 • Collapsing Polarities (Full-length)
2021 • Grand Sun Ritual (Full-length)


MEDIA FEEDBACK:
9 / 10
„… captivates … so extraordinarily well that one can hardly get away from it after intensive enjoyment … impressive sound design …“
(KOBZR Magazine)

EMAIL:
coldun@gmx.de

COLDUN is available for interviews via phone, Skype & email

PR:
https://www.metalmessage.de/Promotion_COLDUN_en.php

 

It just doesn’t matter whether the five bright privateers from CALAROOK enter stages or auditory canals, because no rum barrel remains full.

With extremely fiddly violin pranks, wildly scrubbed guitar thunder, commanding bass barrels, explosive drumming and stormy growling, the lively Helvetians produce exactly the special variety of PIRATE METAL that massively animates to celebrate, mosh and head bang.

[ Pic: Dan’s Art ]

Philipp Wyssen • Vocals
Nico Wiget • Guitar
Lukas Mischler • Violin
Flavio Pompeo • Bass
Yves Locher • Drums

Sovereignly balanced and jaggedly mixed with infectiously playful Folk Metal parts, rabid Death Metal reels and sometimes a pinch of wonderful nonsense – CALAROOK fires an endlessly captivating seafaring sound that leaves no one standing still or even sober.

After the foundation in 2014, their own songs were eagerly written by those involved. In 2017, the no less humorous bullies board the genre with the lively EP „Calico“.

The wind and direction were still good for the sworn team and this gave the long-thirsty breakwaters the opportunity to prove their extensive skills at the established Ragnarök Festival in Lichtenfels.

[ Artwork: AZRAELDESIGN ]

TRACKS:
01. 47°30’18“N 8°51’52“E 02:02
02. A Cursed Ship’s Tale 04:33
03 Quest For Booze 05:36
04 Into The Storm 07:05
05 Surrender Or Die 04:27
06 Invisible Pineapples 05:09
07 Kraken’s Chest 05:46
08 Paul The Parrot 03:36
09 Jack Rackham 03:22
10 Kicking Flamingos 03:33
11 Davy Jones‘ Locker 03:47
12 Tentacle Explosion 02:34
13 Loyal To None But Rum 04:38
14 The Legend Of Liquor Island 03:03
15 The Feast Of Emerald Meadows 04:34
16 The Undying Sailor 05:37

total: 69:22 min.

So it goes full steam ahead for CALAROOK – the enormously content-rich debut album „Surrender Or Die“ will be launched on September 11ᵗʰ, 2020!

CALAROOK • Online:
           

E-MAIL:
band@calarook.ch

 CALAROOK is available for interviews via phone, Skype & e-mail

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🔗 https://www.metalmessage.de/Promotion_CALAROOK_en.php
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Since July 30th, this unique gathering of passionated musicians presents their new, elaborately produced music video for the album hymn „Civilization“. Produced by Boyan Karamfilov, the video shows the visionary face of the musicians involved also visually in lovingly created perfection:

Over the last years BENDIDA captured the audience’s attention by regular concerts and as an result, the popularity of the Bulgarian FANTASY METAL formation keeps growing.

The eight-headed ensemble creates an unique magical sound – the base is Metal, enhanced by Classical and Folk elements. The atmosphere of BENDIDA’s sound gets completed with an ancient Baroque instrument – Viola da gamba.

[ Pic: Jordan Chapkanov ]

LINE-UP:
Kremena Nikolova • Vocals
Vinnie Atanasov • Guitars, Vocals, Compositions, Arrangements, Orchestrations
Alexander Panayotov • Bass
Vyara Grancharova • Viola da gamba
Bisera Dimitrova • Violin
Plamen Dimitrov • French Horn
Ralitsa Georgieva • Keyboard
Velislav Kazakov • Drums

The lyrical themes in the band’s music are in the spheres of mythology, fantasy and fiction. BENDIDA interprets mythology from the ancient myths and legends – Sumer, Slavic, Thracian and others. The highly motivated group draws inspiration mainly from Classical music, Metal and Folklore.

Besides the traditional Rock music instruments and the mentioned Viola da gamba, the line-up also includes violin, flute and French horn, which sound has been part of BENDIDA’s appearance for several years. The epic sound of the compositions includes uplifting choir parts, opulent orchestrations, dreamy-playful flutes, rounded up by an overwhelming string section.

Also included is even an traditional Bulgarian instrument, the Tambura, which adds the characteristic Folklore shots to the demanding art of BENDIDA.

[ Pic: Mihail Tsveov ]

The first EP has been released at the beginning of 2012, entitled „The Farthest Shore“. In 2014 the band released the single „Prince Of Ice“, together with an official video clip. At the end of 2014, BENDIDA released their second official music video for the song „The Witch And The Devil“.

April 2015 saw them taking part in the competition „Kavarna Battle Of The Bands“, and in May the same year BENDIDA became the first finalist in „Wacken Open Air Metal Battle Bulgaria 2015“.

In 2017 the band released two video clips: „Land Of Perun“ and „Whispers In The Dark“. At the that year, they released their debut album, mystically entitled „Goddess Of The Moon“. Beside all their creative activities, these Bulgarian hopefuls shared the stages with established names as Nightwish, Apocalyptica, Kamelot etc.

[ Artwork: Kremena Nikolova ]

TRACKS:
01. Enter The Sanctuary 02:08
02. Legend Of Gilgamesh 05:37
03. Hunt The Hunter 03:55
04. Vampires‘ Ball 04:36
v5. Beast And Man 06:27
06. Desolated Sea 04:32
07. Music Of The Spheres 04:34
08. The Fern Flower 05:22
09. Lady Of Eternal Winter 04:01
10. Dawn Of Man 01:12
11. Civilization 04:33
12. Middle Ages 02:59
13. Apogee 01:10
14. Demolition 02:31
15. The New World 03:06

total: 56:43 min.
In the beginning of 2020, BENDIDA published the 2nd album, „The First Of The Heroes“. As guest musician appears Janika Groß – gifted German singer of Haggard and Molllust – in the song „Vampires‘ Ball“.

These promising Italian HARD ROCKERS got together by their own Rock’n’Roll destiny in 2007.

The band’s name WITCHE’S BREW is taken from the name of guitarist Mirko Witche Bosco. In 2008 the hungry bunch recorded a live EP, „Pentatonicspeedfreaks“ during an Austrian tour.

[ Pic: Raissa Bianchi ]

LINE-UP:
Mark Blacks • Vocals
Mirko Witche Bosco • Guitars
Demis Perry Whites • Bass
Frankie Brando • Drums

Two years later WITCHE’S BREW recorded their first full length release „White Trash Sideshow“, published through Black Widow Records. The year 2011 the formation participated in the compilation „Return To The Sabbath“, a tribute to Black Sabbath.

2012 saw them recording their second album „Supersonicspeedfreaks“, also with Black Widow Records, this time with the participation of special guests including none other than Nik Turner of Hawkwind and Frederick Martin Grice of Delirium amongst others.

In 2015 WITCHE’S BREW recorded the third album „Against The Grain“, also with Black Widow Records as label partner.

All of these longplayers received great reviews and interviews from both national and international music media, such as Rock Hard, Metal Hammer, Metal Maniac, Classix, Sludge, Rumore etc. WITCHE’S BREW have done many tours throughout Italy and Europe.

[ Pic: Davide Bordogna ]

After a few usual changes in the band they finally found finally the perfect line-up to record their fourth and best album to date, out in September 2020 on Universal Music Group Italy: „Chronicles Of Electric Sorcery“.

TRACKS:
01. Redneck Saloon 05:39
02. Shot Of Rum 05:05
03. Devil’s Whorehouse 04:47
04. Contagious 03:13
05. Ti Bon Ange 04:07
06. Take You There 05:10
07. Good Spot 04:09
08. Find A Way 03:40
09. See You Next Time 03:37
10. Out Of Control 03:22

total 41:29 min.

Since June 12th, 2020, the quartet spoil the ears with the track „Find A Way“ – the first official single release out of the upcoming album:

[ Artwork: Mirko Witche Bosco ]

The new, all around sovereignly presented compositions reveal truly outstanding, great potential, and it is by no means a coincidence that the production of the record also strongly reminds of the glorious 80s.
And the latter is no miracle – after all, WITCHE’S BREW are fully into the legacy of crunchy bands such as Lynch Mob, Slaughter, Giant, Skid Row, Dangerous Toys and Dirty Looks. (Markus Eck)

On Friday, June 19th, 2020, the band published its new music video for „Find A Way“:

 

DISCOGRAPHY:
2010 • White Trash Sideshow (Full-length)
2012 • Supersonicspeedfreaks (Full-length)
2015 • Against The Grain (Full-length)
2020 • Chronicles Of Electric Sorcery (Full-length)

Direct link Streaming Services
https://lnk.to/WitchesBrew
⚡🔔📢
➤ 𝓦𝓘𝓣𝓒𝓗𝓔’𝓢 𝓑𝓡𝓔𝓦 • 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻:
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 WITCHE’S BREW are available for interviews via phone, Skype & e-mail

WITCHE’S BREW • Online:
         

Reactivated passion

WELKINS BOREAL was founded in 2018 by Finnish songwriter Teemu Kautonen as a follow-up to his former band Nattvindens Gråt, which released three albums 1995-2000 and played a European tour in 1997. Teemu has also played with acts like Darkwoods My Betrothed, Furthest Shore and Wizzard.

WELKINS BOREAL’s debut album ‚Phantoms Of Yesteryear‘ was released in 2019 as Teemu’s solo effort. On the new EP „Ashes“, the line-up was augmented with Aki Koponen on guitar and Toni Paananen as session drummer.

[ Artwork: Pavel Kurbanov • All4Band Design ]

TRACKS:
01. Are You A Witch? 03:58
02. Triumph Of Steel 04:59
03. Ashes 03:51

total: 12:48 min.

„Ashes“ contains three ATMOSPHERIC GOTHIC METAL songs that vary in style from the raw heaviness of ‚Are You a Witch?‘ to the epic and progressive ‚Triumph Of Steel‘ to the catchy melodic title track.

In fact, the EP features the first brand new songs Teemu has written since 2001, given that the debut album ‚Phantoms Of Yesteryear‘ comprised of completely revised and re-recorded versions of old Nattvindens Gråt songs.

WELKINS BOREAL opted to record the EP in the old-fashioned style on magnetic tape with the apostle of analogue sound, producer/engineer Anssi Kippo at Finland’s legendary Astia Studio.

[ Pic: Mirkka Pihlajamaa ]

LINE-UP:
Teemu Kautonen • Lead & backing Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Keyboards
Aki Koponen • Guitar, backing Vocals

Toni Paananen • Session Drums

Everything on the new EP is organic: no drum samples, no autotune, no amp simulators, no MIDI. Therefore, the playing and singing might not be perfect, but the producer and the band followed the philosophy of the feeling of the music outweighing robotic precision and a sense of danger being more interesting than predictable perfection.

The fundamental elements of the music are catchy rocking melodies, heavy guitar riffing, melancholic keyboards and baritone vocals. Fans of bands such as Sentenced, To/Die/For, Ghost and Charon should feel right at home with WELKINS BOREAL.

 WELKINS BOREAL is available for interviews via phone, Skype & e-mail

E-MAIL:
info@welkinsboreal.com

WELKINS BOREAL • Online:
        

DISCOGRAPHY:
2019 • Phantoms Of Yesteryear (Full-length)
2020 • Ashes (EP)

VARUS was formed in 2012 as a further development of the party-hearted minstrels of Banjaxed. Elements of folklore and the joy of celebration were retained, but the participants decided to concentrate on their own compositions and to leave the replay of already written works behind.

[ Pic: Wiebke Brandt ]

LINE-UP:
Konstantin Raab • Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Flutes
Stefan Schwarz • Guitars/Backing Vocals
Norbert Caspar • Bass
Max Betz • Drums
The band name VARUS refers to the historical Battle of the Teutoburg Forest or the leader of the Roman legions, who took his own life on the battlefield and thus functions as a symbol of the empire pushed back by the Germanic natural tribes.

Formed in the forges of Upper Franconia, VARUS is committed to a lengthy and all-round profound concept:
The equally independent as well as epic and aesthetic fusion of classical music, traditional Folk and pithy Metal.

The initial raw idea developed into a characteristic, dynamic SYMPHONIC FOLK METAL style that strikes an original balance between emotional, atmospheric, epic orchestrations and thunderous, dark guitar thunderstorms.

[ Artwork: Belén Morante Velasco ]

TRACKS:
01. The Awakening 09:09
02. Tränk dein Herz 02:47
03. A New Dawn 05:27
04. Ascheregen 05:01
05. Ein Lebewohl 09:01
06. Wandel der Zeit 05:40
07. The Minstrels Chant 05:25
08. Die letzte Schenke 04:01

total: 46:31 min.
So the four minstrels came together to unite a bundle of orchestral epic, uncompromising hardness, sophisticated structures and melodic Folk influences. Next to trembling bass foundations, brute guitar walls and archaic drums, flute, tin whistle and mandolin also find their place.

In 2014 the band released its debut album „Till The Sun Rises“, now they are back in the scene with the brilliant successor „A New Dawn“.

Official Lyric Video for the title song „A New Dawn“:

VARUS‚ characteristic and unique creations on „A New Dawn“ are held together by sophisticated drum compositions, which also cover more progressive fields, and a hammering bass, which includes funk as well as baroque thoroughbass. The harmonious ensemble is rounded off by wide-ranging guttural vocals and occasional clear vocals, completed by voluminous choral arrangements.

The lyrics of the songs deal with legends, sagas and timeless themes such as freedom, nature romanticism or the art of drinking. The lyrics are deliberately bilingual – in German and English.

VELVET OCEAN is an ALTERNATIVE MELODIC METAL band from Oulu, Northern Finland. The story of the band began a couple of years ago as a co-writing project of the main singer Riitu and her husband, guitarist Jarkko ‚Jake‘ Ronkainen.

As songs kept popping up the project soon evolved into a studio project with both session musicians and later band members joining in. Early in the pre-production stage Oulu symphonic orchestra cello players Arto Alikoski and Harri Österman joined as well as the established Finnish keyboard player Marco Sneck.

[ Artwork: Abstract Chaos · Design ]

TRACKS:
01. It’s So Hard 03:20
02. Tonight 03:47
03. Requiem 05:05
04. Butterfly 05:27
05. Truth Or Illusion 03:01
06. Elysian Fields 03:58
07. Broken 03:58
08. Innocent Eyes 03:28
09. Lullaby 04:14
10. Salvation 03:58

total: 40:16 min.

The debut album recorded in this way, which later got the title „Purposes And Promises“, was handed over to Johan Örnborg and Jens Bogren for mixing and mastering at the well-known Fascination Street Studios. „Purposes And Promises“ was released on February 7, 2020 via Helsinki Records and is distributed by Warner Music Finland.

The title of the album describes the motivation of the Ronkainens behind the album project. It has been the sole purpose of their lives for the last few years, says Jake, and the promise they made to complete it has held the project together throughout the hard work period.

VELVET OCEAN believe that music is a connection between their own feelings and the outside world, and that is why their compositions tell stories about things that have happened in their personal lives. The music style of VELVET OCEAN is basically derived from all the music the couple has ever listened to, and also incorporates influences from genres other than Metal music.

[ Pic: Jarkko Ronkainen ]

LINE-UP:
Riitu Ronkainen • Vocals
Jarkko ‚Jake‘ Ronkainen • Guitar, Vocals
Jani Lehtinen • Guitar
Tuomas Vesa • Bass
Jami Alaverronen • Synths
Arto Alikoski • Cello
Bastian Schallschmidt • Drums

The independent style reminds a little bit of other contemporary Melodic Metal bands with female vocals, but adds a touch of Pop and Grunge as well as distinctive drum beats and acoustic instruments.

„Our music is about honesty and dealing with certain emotions that have caused some difficulties or challenges in life. It’s about expressing yourself and dealing with negative feelings in a way that other people can identify with them,“ adds Riitu, who describes her attitude towards music itself as follows:
„Music is very important to me. It’s almost as important as the air that I breathe. Music gives a meaning to my life. It’s also a sort of therapy to me. With music I can express the thoughts and emotions that I go through. I’m the kind of person that I have a very vivid imagination and I feel that this is a quality that is very useful in making music. Music connects me very strongly to my emotions in a way that sometimes feels even a little bit excessive. It is very important to me to communicate with the people listening to our music. I mean an emotional level connection that would make the people try to understand the feelings we have put into the blend that has eventually made the music exist. I am also very visual in my composing. I would like the mere music and the sound to fill the whole inner space of the person listening with images and landscapes. Today the world is packed with visual information and leaves less to the imagination which is kind of a negative thing sometimes. In the end, I would love to think that our music will prevail after everything we’ve gone through.“

On May 21st VELVET OCEAN released the latest music video, this time for the album song „Elysian Fields“:

DISCOGRAPHY:
2020 • Purposes And Promises (Full-length)

VELVET OCEAN • Online:
         

E-MAIL:
velvetoceanband@gmail.com

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

4 / 5
„… for the young band’s debut album, it’s a shockingly strong accomplishment.“
(Desibeli)

4 / 5
„You’ll love the mix of depth and the accessibility here – it’s a winning combination … a great debut.“
(The Rockpit)

8 / 10
„… clean and defined sound quality, with the right amount of modern aggressiveness and weight. So everything can be heard and understood, and the listener will be able to catch what the band is trying to express … excellent work …“
(Metal Temple)

„Emerging with a debut that is certainly promising for a strong career, VELVET OCEAN have shown themselves to be adept at both captivating songwriting and artists in balancing the contributions of a great number of artists.“
(Sonic Perspectives)

„… this debut album has a very pleasant sound, very kind, very much if you like style, sentimentality and the charm of the peaceful … worth listening to … spirit and emotional experience, that does deliver and fulfill.“
(Dark Metal Divas)

„Riitu Ronkainen‘s melancholic vocals can’t help but remind me of Evanescence‘s Amy Lee. The amount of emotion in her voice is incredible, which adds so much more depth to the otherwise straightforward yet charming melodies. She effortlessly transitions from poppy to classical vocals, hitting every note. From then on, the tracks remain easy to listen to and flow into one another smoothly … every single one of the seven band members has something special to add to this record, from powerful, varied bass lines to drums ranging from explosive to sensitive … they have managed to develop and grow into their very own musical identity during the making of this album, due to an intuitive creative flow that can only be celebrated. It’s undeniable VELVET OCEAN has put their heart and soul into ‚Purposes And Promises‘ …“
(Tuonela Magazine)

„VELVET OCEAN together with front woman Riitu Ronkainen themselves create a kind of crisp, fresh, romantically charged Alternative Metal sound, with confidently played (Rock)guitars and opulent arrangements. The extremely tasteful performance is pampered by catchy, velvety soft tone sequences and Riitu’s anytime devoted vocals.“
(Sonic Seducer)

„Ten atmospheric tracks inspire with hard sounds and velvety soft melodies. Impressive use of cello and soulful vocals give the compositions an inevitably engaging character. The enchanting voice of singer Riitu is powerful and fragile at the same time and always conveys captivating emotionality … ‚Purposes And Promises‘ surpasses its promises!“
(Orkus)

 

 

Cutting clarity

On his second album with the mystical title „The Raven’s Shadow“ BLOODRED mainman Ron Merz celebrates his optimally proven BLACKENED DEATH METAL mix, which he has been refining successful as a one-man-project since 2009.

[ Pic: Stefan Heilemann • Heilemania ]

Connoisseurs know: the absolutely determined guitarist and singer does his thing here again like only few protagonists in the heavy music guild. In addition, the man with a penchant for pithy breakwater riffs keeps his team loyal:
Alexander Krull, known from Atrocity and Leaves‘ Eyes, who has repeatedly done excellent work for BLOODRED in his Mastersound Studio, is again responsible for the hammer-strong and also enormously dashing overall sound of „The Raven’s Shadow“.

[ Artwork: Stefan Heilemann • Heilemania ]

TRACKS:
1. The Raven’s Shadow 06:37
2. Immense Hall Of Agony 04:08
3. Hör Den Tod 04:54
4. Blood On Thy Hands 03:31
5. Raise The Mound 04:37
6. We Who Ruled The North 05:41
7. Shadow Warrior 05:51
8. Under This Sun 05:30
9. The Northstar Whispers (To The Blacksmiths Son) 09:06

total: 49:55 min.

The overpowering drum attacks were again recorded by the highly clocked Joris Nijenhuis, who is also beating the skins for Atrocity and Leaves‘ Eyes.

The current successor to the 2016 debut album „Nemesis“ shines with sovereign material, for which a deliberate attempt was made to break up the usual structures of the songs – the classic ‚verse-refrain-strophe-refrain‘ pattern is therefore rarely found on this album. The Scandinavian-grimpy appearing structures could therefore be made as varied as permanently interesting.

„Blood On Thy Hands“ pays homage to the unforgotten cult sound of old Hypocrisy. The nine compositions on „The Raven’s Shadow“ show the assiduous work of the unswerving idealist from Baden-Württemberg at the highest level so far.

Thus, besides hauntingly gripping thunderstorms of rhythm, especially the melodies have been polished to be much more catchy and lasting. Captivatingly majestic songs like the invigoratingly triumphant „We Who Ruled The North“ bear witness to this in uplifting perfection.

[ Pic: Stefan Heilemann • Heilemania ]

LINE-UP:
Ron Merz • Vocals, Guitars, Bass Joris Nijenhuis • Drums

Even with inevitably catchy power numbers like „Shadow Warrior“ and „Immense Hall Of Agony“ BLOODRED 2020 presents itself both internationally fully competitive and in a trendless, timeless appearance. And in the wonderfully culminating final track „The Northstar Whispers (To The Blacksmith’s Son)“ the talent for impressive, dramatic epic reveals itself.

Apropos, timeless: the raven has been regarded as a messenger of death, especially in the Nordic myths and legends, from time immemorial until today – an exciting topic, which can be found in many a song on the new album.
BLOODRED pays homage to this truly wonderful and all too often misunderstood animal in a musically captivating way – may the berserk tracks on „The Raven’s Shadow“ lift their dark wings to the heights of the scene just as mystically and fascinatingly! (Markus Eck)

⚡📢
𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐃 • 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 Action:
https://www.metalmessage.de/Promotion_BLOODRED_en.php
⚡📢

DISCOGRAPHY:
2014 • The Lost Ones (EP)
2016 • Nemesis (Full-length)
2020 • The Raven’s Shadow (Full-length)

 BLOODRED is available for interviews via phone, Skype & e-mail

BLOODRED • Online:
          

E-MAIL:
contact@bloodredband.com

Liner Notes by Ron Merz to the new songs:

1. The Raven´s Shadow
The raven is the symbol of death and thus defines the subject underlying most of the songs. Poetically described in the poem by William Watson, the raven swings up to bring death on silent wings.

2. Immense Hall Of Agony
This song was written under the impression of the terrorist attacks in Paris, the focus is on the massacre in the Bataclan. Every musician and music fan can imagine how one would feel in such a situation. That evening the Bataclan became an „Immense Hall Of Agony“

3. Hör den Tod
Depression is, unfortunately, still a largely not accepted illness, which is more than „just being a sad“. Again and again people end up killing themselves and freeing themselves from this condition (at least this is what they´re thinking). This song is about the way to suicide.

4. Blood On Thy Hands
Human sacrifices have been common in many cultures throughout human history. Regardless of whether in the Bible, in the Aztecs or Germanic tribes, one hoped such a deity to be weighed. No death was brutal enough, new ways of sacrifice were always invented. And so stained his hands with blood.

5. Raise The Mound
This song is a tribute to my late grandfather, a true workingclass gentleman. With the pictures of the burial of a Viking king I do him the honor.

6. We Who Ruled The North
In addition to the unconditional spread of the new faith, the Christianization of Scandinavia was above all a question of expanding power. The kings of that time bowed to Christianity and denied their old beliefs.

7. Shadow Warrior
Another song on „terrorism“. Here, however, written from the perspective of an assassin who, driven by hatred, spreads fear and terror in the middle of society.

8. Under This Sun
In contrast to all the dark lyrics, this song is supposed to show that there are many beautiful things in this world. Those who walk through nature with their eyes and ears open will discover many wonders. In addition, of course, this is also a request to fight against the destruction of our environment.

9. The Northstar Whispers (To The Blacksmith´s Son)
Vachel Lindsay is considered a founder of modern singing poetry, as he referred to it, in which verses are meant to be sung or chanted. This song is an attempt to implement his ideas.

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

►► The Raven’s Shadow • Album ◄◄

8,5 / 10
„… an impressive album … what BLOODRED have put on the chain some bands don’t succeed during their whole existence.“
(Zephyr’s Odem)

8 / 10
„… great sounding recording … if you are a fan of melodic and Blackened Death Metal, you should check out this album.“
(A Different Shade Of Black Metal)

7 / 10
„… an absolutely worth hearing album with some great moments …“
(KOBZR Magazine)

„Richly textured, wonderfully melodic, yet aggressive as hell … masterfully artistic and powerful … stands on its own as a wonderful musical journey into darkness and violence.“
(Brews And Tunes)

►► Nemesis • Album ◄◄

88 / 100
„… the atmosphere here is very cold … definitely a fitting sound … excellent …“
(Metal Archives)

8 / 10
„… sounds very professional for being a self released recording … if you are a fan of melodic, Blackened Death Metal, you should check out this album.“
(A Different Shade Of Black Metal)

8 / 10
„A really good album …“
(Time For Metal)

3,5 / 5
„… rough edges to really make things stick … never indulgent, but always adventurous, Merz makes a real statement with BLOODRED’s debut.“
(Metal-Rules)

„… tremendous … the riffs are powerful and embodied the roots of Black/Death metal in every passage … producing savage brutality with high paced double kicks and aggressive blast beats … a punishing work … fascinates me in its delivery and structure of each riff … strong and relentless attack … make you want to jump into the mosh pit.“
(Artemortifica)

„… frenzied and fierce … like a wildly whipping whirlwind.“
(Valley Of Steel)

„… the record is just awesome! You gotta have it! Well done Ron … very, very well done.“
(Aristocrazia)

„… BLOODRED has proven to be a massive surprise — filled with galloping riffs and hefty melodic sections that could easily hold appeal for people who love groups like Amon Amarth.“
(No Clean Singing)

„… one-man project of the special and outstanding class …“
(Sonic Seducer)

„A well-crafted smelting of black metal’s archaic … death metal’s careful exactitude that sounds unprocessed and up to date … exhibits the greatest sentiments of extreme metal as a whole.“
(Auto Erotic Asphyxium)

„… dynamic and energetic … effortlessly changing BLOODRED between mosh-able and expansive heroic moments … a remarkable album …“
(Franconia Metallum)

etc.