SPELLBLAST - Battlecry

This is the second release of the Italian band, following the 2007 release of their debut "Horns Of Silence". The band is playing Power Metal, although they don't follow some of the trademarks one could think they would. What makes them different is the use of more traditional instruments, such as accordion or violins, which gives a more folk touch to their music. If you count this, the Epic atmosphere of the music, and the concept that is based on the Norse mythology, you get the whole picture. Plus, the guest appearance of Fabio Lione, is also a big plus to the already good vocals, and gives some extra good points to the result. The songs are very good, some closer to Epic and folk, and others closer to the classic Power Metal forms, with enough keyboard lines, and great guitar melodies. The production is good enough, and was done from the band themselves. In conclusion, the album is good enough, having some basic Power Metal forms, and leaving room for the band to explore their music as much as possible. The use of the instruments mentioned above, only makes things better, and enriches the Epic atmosphere the band wants to achieve. So, if you are a fan or well played music, then check them out.

8/10

THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE - New track and album artwork

THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE have revealed the track "Charmer" taken from their upcoming album "Haunt What's Left" to be released on July 5th in Europe (June 22nd in the U.S. through Goodfight Music).

Checkout "Charmer" on the band's Myspace profile:
www.myspace.com/thisortheapocalypse

New HEAVEN SHALL BURN album

DEADLOCK´s female vocalist Sabine Weniger and guitar wizard Sebastian Reichl will be featured on the highly emotional duet “Given In Death” on the new HEAVEN SHALL BURN album “Invictus” !

HSB guitarist Maik Weichert on “Given In Death”: “The topic this song is about is a very sensitive one (mercy killing) and Sabine’s voice just goes along so well with the feeling we tried to create for this piece. It was a pleasure working together with such a talented band as Deadlock.”

“Invictus“ (the full title of which is “Invictus” (Iconoclast III)) was recorded at Tue Madsen’s Antfarm Studio in Aarhus, Denmark. Again, the album was produced by the two guitarists Alexander Dietz and Weichert.

“Invictus” will be out on the following dates:

GERMANY / AUSTRIA / SWITZERLAND: Friday, May 21, 2010.

UK / BENELUX / FRANCE / GREECE / DENMARK / NORWAY / PORTUGAL / REST OF EUROPE: Monday, May 24, 2010.

SPAIN / ITALY : Tuesday, May 25, 2010.

SWEDEN / FINLAND / HUNGARY: Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

NORTH AMERICA: Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

www.deadlock-official.com

www.myspace.com/deadlock

The brand new HEAVEN SHALL BURN track "The Omen" taken from the upcoming album is now to find at the following location:

www.myspace.com/officialheavenshallburn

New Masterplan album and cover

New MASTERPLAN album cover unveiled!

On April 16th MASTERPLAN will release their new single "Far From The End Of The World", which marks the return of the band´s original singer Jorn Lande. The new album, "Time To Be King", will be released on May 21st.

Disbelief new album cover

DISBELIEF published the cover of their upcoming album "HEAL" that will be released on May, 21st.

David Coverdale and band are gearing up for their latest endeavour. WHITESNAKE has already started composing new material that promises to deliver one of the finest chapters in WHITESNAKE'S career. “We are off to a very good start, with the new songs taking positive shape. It feels good, fresh & exciting,” explains Coverdale.

The next release already feels like a solid, natural progression to their last opus, the successful, critically acclaimed ‘Good To Be Bad’ album, awarded by the influential Classic Rock magazine as “Best Album of the Year” in 2008. “As always, we want to take it to the next level,” states’ Coverdale. “I feel that with the last album we achieved a strong WHITESNAKE ‘cocktail’ that comfortably embraced & mixed all the previous musical aspects & styles of the band’s history, while taking our identity a little further... all on one album..."

Born in 1977, WHITESNAKE have been among the most influential representatives of the their genre, having produced numerous rock music classics such as ‘Here I Go Again’, ‘Is This Love’, ‘Still Of The Night’, ‘Fool For Your Loving’, ‘Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City’ or ‘Walking In The Shadows Of The Blues’.

Coverdale said the production team for the new album will most likely be the infamous Brutal Brothers, or Los Bros Brutalos, who handled the recording of "Good To Be Bad”. “The new songs are in the very familiar and recognizable WHITESNAKE territory of soulful, bluesy, melodic power rock, with a couple of ballads thrown in for good measure... It can’t be a WHITESNAKE album without ballads, mate!”

WHITESNAKE have conquered the love and respect of the audiences all over the world with their driving shows and music. The new album promises to follow in the steps of a great heritage of solid and timeless songs.

SUICIDAL ANGELS - Studio trailer part 1

They're Greeks, they Thrash and they have a Nuclear Blast contract. Maybe you should check them out. Check Vic's review too...

Forthcoming Releases

Jun. 19, 2009 Dream Theater - Black Clouds & Silver Linings
Jun. 19, 2009 M.A.D. - For Crown And Ring
Jun. 19, 2009 Manimal - The Darkest Room
Jun. 19, 2009 Polak, Milan - Murphy's Law
Jun. 19, 2009 RAM - Lightbringer
Jun. 19, 2009 Riverside - Anno Domini High Definition
Jun. 19, 2009 Sean Bakr Orchestra - Baker's Dozen
Jun. 19, 2009 Watchmen - Watchmen
Jun. 22, 2009 Ilium - Ageless Decay
Jun. 26, 2009 Lillian Axe - Sad Day On Planet Earth
Jun. 26, 2009 Mercyful Fate - tba (2-DVD)
Jun. 26, 2009 Raging Slab - Raging Slab (re-issue)
Jun. 26, 2009 Rebellion - Th Clans Are Marching (EP)
Jun. 26, 2009 Sanction-X - The Last Day
Jun. 26, 2009 Shortino - Chasing My Dream
Jun. 26, 2009 U.D.O. - Infected (EP)
Jun. 29, 2009 Tinyfish - One Night On Fire (live DVD)
Jun. 2009 Circus Of Power - Circus Of Power (re-issue)
Jun. 2009 Vishusgruv - II
Jul. 03, 2009 Constancia - Lost And Gone
Jul. 03, 2009 Crash The System - The Crowning
Jul. 03, 2009 Leese, Howard - Secret Weapon
Jul. 03, 2009 Mind Key - Pulse For A Graveheart
Jul. 06, 2009 Shadowland - Cautionary Tales (box)
Jul. 06, 2009 Shadowland - Edge Of Night (live DVD)
Jul. 10, 2009 Caffery, Chris - House Of Insanity
Jul. 10, 2009 Silent Memorial - Cosmic Handball
Jul. 13, 2009 Judas Priest - A Touch Of Evil (live)
Jul. 17, 2009 Britton - Rock Hard
Jul. 17, 2009 MayChild - MayChild
Jul. 20, 2009 Radio Silence - Whose Skin Are You Under Now?
Jul. 21, 2009 Shake City - Shake City
Jul. 21, 2009 UZI - Madhouse
Jul. 24, 2009 Fair Warning - Aura
Jul. 24, 2009 GEFF - Land Of The Free
Jul. 24, 2009 Narnia - Course Of A Generation
Jul. 24, 2009 Rebellion - The History Of The Vikings Volume III
Jul. 2009 Beardfish - Destined Solitaire
Jul. 2009 Echo Us - The Tide Decides
Aug. 21, 2009 U.D.O. - Dominator
Aug. 21, 2009 Vaughn - tba
Aug. 26, 2009 Trigger - Trigger (re-issue)
Aug. 28, 2009 Axxis - Utopia
Aug. 2009 Believe - This Bread Is Mine
2009 101 South - tba
2009 Adrian Dodz - Adrian Dodz
2009 Aspera - Ripples
2009 Avigal - Gates Of Hell
2009 Blanc Faces - tba
2009 Brock, Terry - tba
2009 Burning Rain - tba
2009 Bush, Stan - tba
2009 Cross - The Thrill Of Nothingness
2009 Danger Danger - tba
2009 Dr. Grind - Speechless
2009 Emerald Sun - tba
2009 Felony - Helltown Hotel
2009 Frehley, Ace - Anomaly
2009 Giuffria, Gregg - tba
2009 Glyder - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
2009 Harnell, Tony - En Memoria Carinosa
2009 House Of Lords - tba
2009 Illusion Suite - Final Hour
2009 Jaded Heart - tba
2009 Liberty N' Justice - Light It Up
2009 Los Angeles - tba
2009 Magic Kingdom - Symphony Of War
2009 Mecca - Catharsis
2009 On The Rise - tba
2009 Pink Cream 69 - Past & Present (2-DVD)
2009 Ravenland - … And A Crow Brings Me Back
2009 Reece, David - tba
2009 Scheepers, Ralf - tba (solo album)
2009 Shea Roxi - Shea Roxi
2009 Solna - Eurameric
2009 Stage Dolls - tba
2009 Steel Seal - Redemption Denied
2009 Stranded - tba
2009 Terra Nova - Come Alive
2009 Toja - Train Of Life

DORO - Herzblut

The new DORO full lenghth studio album “Fear No Evil" will be released on January, 30, 2009.