Author: u0zp4y

Blind Guardian recently released Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, which includes a complete re-recording of this classic as well as a live celebration of 1992’s Somewhere Far Beyond, a landmark record in the history of the band.

The band has shared anofficial lyric video for “Somewhere Far Beyond” (Revisited). Check it out below.

Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, which was recorded in 2022 and 2023, is a refreshing and powerful tribute to one of the most influential albums in German metal history. It paved the way for Blind Guardian’s international career that is still going strong today and this re-recording impresses with all the class and quality these pioneers have been known and respected for since forming as Lucifer’s Heritage three decades ago.

Watch a live video for the revisited version of their most popular track, “The Bard’s Song – In The Forest”:

Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited is out now and can be listened to in full at any streaming service or purchased in physical form. Get it here

Tracklisting:

“Time What is Time” (Revisited)
“Journey Through the Dark” (Revisited)
“Black Chamber” (Revisited)
“Theatre of Pain” (Revisited)
“The Quest for Tanelorn” (Revisited)
“Ashes to Ashes” (Revisited)
“The Bard’s Song – In the Forest” (Revisited)
“The Bard’s Song – The Hobbit” (Revisited)
“The Piper’s Calling” (Revisited)
“Somewhere Far Beyond” (Revisited)

“Ashes To Ashes” live at Hellfest 2022 video:

About Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited:

Right on time with their show at 2024’s edition of Wacken Open Air, Blind Guardian proudly announced the release of Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited on August 2, which includes a complete re-recording of this classic as well as a live celebration of 1992’s Somewhere Far Beyond, a landmark record for Germany’s heavy metal titans. After three albums on No Remorse Records, it was the band’s major label debut via Virgin Records and opened the doors to the Japanese market resulting in a wider availability and presence on the global metal scene. After finding the right balance of speed, heaviness, melodies, drama, and irresistible choruses on 1990’s Tales From The Twilight World, Somewhere Far Beyond honed this approach to perfection, evolving further on a conceptual level and increasing Blind Guardian’s sonic range. On Somewhere Far Beyond the band experimented with keyboards, orchestrations, and folk elements, the latter manifesting in the group’s best-known song and live staple, “The Bard’s Song (In The Forest)”, whereas other tracks like “Ashes to Ashes”, the rapid “Journey Through The Dark” or “The Quest For Tanelorn” connected well with previous mostly fast-paced albums yet offered an additional push in dynamics.

Fast forward 30 years! Prior to releasing the much lauded opus The God Machine in September 2022, Blind Guardian had been performing Somewhere Far Beyond in its entirety at Rock Hard Festival and Hellfest in Summer 2022 in front of tens of thousands of fans singing along to each track. Both shows were filmed and recorded professionally and aired via WDR and ARTE. For the limited triple-disc-edition of Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited the Hellfest material was newly edited by the band’s long-time videographer Dirk Behlau using additional multi-cam footage.

The idea of re-recording the album originated from the rehearsals for these shows as Hansi Kürsch explains in the detailed liner notes: “The original idea wasn’t to do a re-recording. When rehearsing for the anniversary gigs, corona hit and we couldn’t be certain that those shows would take place. We still wanted to celebrate the anniversary of the album and if we wouldn’t be able to include a live version, we initially thought we could at least record the rehearsals.”

Not 100% satisfied with those rough versions, Blind Guardian decided to go all in, knowing the risk of being frowned upon by fans who consider re-recordings utter blasphemy. “We tried to recapture what we did in 1992 but compensate youth with skillful experience, though in a hungry way. We never discussed any major changes but with over 30 years of experience, and our current line-up, those ingredients already add a new flavor to it.” With the basic tracks recorded in a live setting, Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited is leaner and more focused on impact in terms of guitar arrangements yet retains all the harmonies and melodies essential to the original. “We finally ended up with this cool hybrid version”, André adds. “We combined how we play the songs today, but at the same time, really tried to retain that speed metal spirit of the early 90s!”

In the clip below, Kai Saarikko, CEO and founder of Musamaailma – the Finnish ESP dealer – has a long history with one of the most recognized metal guitarists ever, Children Of Bodom frontman and founder, Alexi Laiho 

“The entire Musamaailma team is very proud and honored to have worked with one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and to be able to call him our dear friend.”

Children Of Bodom released the closing album of their career, A Chapter Called Children Of Bodom (Final Show In Helsinki Ice Hall 2019) back on December 15, 2023 via Spinefarm.

“It’s great to have that final show transformed into a live album. For those who attended, it’s a time travel back to that moment. And for those who didn’t, it’s an opportunity to experience how the chapter called Children Of Bodom was closed.” – Daniel Freyberg

“Needless to say that this night was very special. When ‘In Your Face’ started, the reality hit me and I had to turn away from the audience cos I actually started crying. But the beauty is that the memories and Alexi’s music will live forever!” – Henkka Seppälä

Released with the blessing of Alexi Laiho’s estate, the concert album completes the legendary band’s career which began in Espoo, Finland in 1993 as Inearthed. Over their career, Children Of Bodom released ten studio albums, two live albums, two EPs, two compilation albums and one DVD. The final lineup of the group upon their split in 2019 consisted of Alexi Laiho (lead guitar, lead vocals), Jaska Raatikainen (drums), Henkka Seppälä (bass), Janne Wirman (keyboard), and Daniel Freyberg (rhythm guitar).

“It felt surreal to be on that stage in Helsinki Ice Hall as I knew that I was probably not gonna play with the guys ever again nor get to perform for the amazing fans anymore. It felt sad but also somewhat relieving. It is great that the last show and it’s emotional rollercoaster can now be enjoyed by everyone who couldn’t make it to the show.” – Janne Wirman

“When I got on the stage I felt calm, probably because I no longer felt the need to prove anything but to enjoy the music and the presence of all the fans. I was just so grateful to have been a part of all this, knowing that our music wouldn’t disappear even if we never ever played together again.” – Jaska Raatikainen

Children Of Bodom’s third studio album, Follow The Reaper, was their first album to receive a gold certification in Finland, and subsequent studio albums acquired the same status with their next four albums debuting at number one on the Finnish album charts and charting on the United States Billboard 200. They remain one of Finland’s best selling artists of all time with more than 250,000 records sold there alone.

In 2019, Children Of Bodom held their last concert in Helsinki named, A Chapter Called Children Of Bodom, before dissolving the band. In 2020, Laiho and Freyberg carried on as Bodom After Midnight but, sadly, Laiho, who was one of the founding members of Children Of Bodom, as well as the only songwriter, died on December 29, 2020.

A Chapter Called Children Of Bodom (Final Show In Helsinki Ice Hall 2019) is available in the following formats:

– CD Jewel Case
– Standard 140gm Black Vinyl Double LP
– Ltd Edition 140gm Red Marble Double LP
– Ltd Edition 140gm Red & Black Splatter Double LP

Order here.

Tracklisting:

“Under The Grass And Clover”
“Platitudes And Barren Words”
“In Your Face”
“Shovel Knockout”
“Bodom Beach Terror”
“Everytime I Die”
“Halo Of Blood”
“Are You Dead Yet?”
“Blooddrunk”
“I Worship Chaos”
“Angels Don’t Kill”
“Follow The Reaper”
“Deadnight Warrior”
“Needled 24/7”
“Hate Me”
“Hate Crew Deathroll”
“Lake Bodom”
“Downfall”

Children Of Bodom lineup:

Alexi Laiho – Vocal, Guitar
Jaska Raatikainen – Drums
Janne Wirman – Keys
Henkka Seppälä – Bass

If you’ve clicked on this article, chances are you know exactly who Vans are and why they’re the brand for you, so we won’t waste your time explaining all that here. Instead, we’ll point you towards the fact that Vans have a very tasty Black Friday deal happening right now, with up to 50% off sitewide, with an extra 10% off if you use the code EXTRA10.

It’s a sitewide sale, meaning everything is currently 50% off – although there are some exclusions to the extra 10%. Also, whatever you buy now can be returned until January 31st, meaning you can nab a few Christmas presents without having to worry about not being able to send them back if they don’t fit. Those guys at Vans truly have thought of everything.

My favourites are, as always, the Old Skool Vans in Black and the checkerboard slip-ons, but I also have my eye on this particularly gnatty lilac checkerboard Old Skool backpack and an orange beanie to rival all the hipster dads I see during nursery pick up (is it just me, or does every man aged 30 and above own an orange beanie now?).

And if you DO want to know more about Vans before clicking through to peruse, how about this: Founded in 1966 in Anaheim, California, Vans quickly established itself as the go-to brand for skateboard shoes as skater culture began to grow significantly in the US. Since then, it has expanded into one of the world’s premier alternative clothing brands, having branched out into sponsorship and become forever associated with the legendary alt music touring festival Warped Tour after signing a deal as the fest’s official sponsor in the late 90s.

More Black Friday music goodness:

• Black Friday music deals: Headphones, speakers, turntables & more
• Black Friday vinyl deals: Prepare to spin a box set bargain
• Black Friday CD deals: Classics, remasters & more
• Black Friday record player deals: Spin a top bargain
• Black Friday Marshall deals: Headphones & speakers on sale
• Black Friday streaming deals: Discounts on TV, film & music services
• Black Friday CD player deals: Top bargains on CD players

The Anchoress has announced d that she has signed a new record deal with the Scottish label Last Night From Glasgow (see what they did there, ABBA fans?) and plans to release her third studio album in the Autumn.

At the same time The Anchoress has also announced that she will play London’s EartH venue in Hackney (home of Portals Festival) on April 26 at which she will premiere music from her as-yet-unreleased album, which represents the final piece of a trilogy of releases with 2016’s Confessions Of A Romance Novelist and 2021’s The Art Of Losing. Tickets are on sale now, see the link below.

“I’ve been lucky enough to find my lovely new label home in the form of Last Night From Glasgow – a ‘not for profit label’ with an ethical framework at the very heart of what they do, and a passion for vinyl that surpasses even my own,” says The Anchoress – Catherine Anne Davis. “It was important to me that the people I would be working with for the next chapter of The Anchoress put ethics at the very centre of how they operated.”

“We were sick and tired of everything when we founded Last Night From Glasgow,” says managing director Ian Smith. “The industry was, and remains upside down. Money flowing away from the very people who matter the most – the songwriters and performers. 360 deals, rights control and streaming have continued to squeeze viability and thus squeeze creativity. LNFG has built a community that understands the importance of patronage and as such we are able to provide significant logistical and financial support to artists. We are thrilled beyond words that The Anchoress has chosen LNFG as her home and we hope it remains so for a very long time.”

The Anchoress joins Charlotte Hatherley, Peter Capaldi, The Skids, The audience and more on her new label.

Get tickets.

A new Beatles documentary has been released on streaming today (November 29), available exclusively via Disney+. Not a Disney+ subscriber? Now might be a good time to change that, because as part of their Black Friday streaming deal, they’re offering new subscribers – as well as those who cancelled their subscription over a month ago – access to the Disney+/Hulu Bundle, which includes Disney+ (with ads) and Hulu (with ads), for just $2.99/month for a full year – that’s a massive saving from the standard price of $10.99 per month.

Focussing on the first time the Beatles touched down in the US some 60 years ago, the film zones in on the rabid reaction of fans to the band’s arrival and their first stint in the US. As per the filmmakers: “On 7 February 1964, The Beatles arrived in New York City to unprecedented excitement and hysteria. From the instant they landed at Kennedy Airport, met by thousands of fans, Beatlemania swept New York and the entire country.

“Beatles ‘64 presents the spectacle but also reflects a more intimate behind-the-scenes story, capturing the camaraderie of John, Paul, George, and Ringo as they experienced unimaginable fame.”

Does the world really need another Beatles documentary, we hear you cry? The answer is, ‘yes, of course it does, you unbelievable heathen’, but in case that answer alone doesn’t convince you, this particular documentary is produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by David Tedeschi – the same fella who also worked with Scorsese on Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story. It also covers an earlier, more nascent time period in the band’s career, when their star was firmly on the rise but they were still finding their feet both as musicians and as actual famous people – entirely distinct from that other Beatles doc by that other very famous filmmaker.

The film is available to watch exclusively via Disney+. Do I really need another streaming subscription, we hear you cry? Well in this instance you very well might, as the film won’t be appearing anywhere else. However, now is an exceptionally good time to get that Disney+ subscription locked in.

Beatles ’64 aside, Disney+ is actually a pretty good bet for music fans in general. As well as Get Back, the other Beatles documentary series made by Peter Jackson, it also has Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, the Abbey Road doc If These Walls Could Sing, Taylor Swift’s Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions and loads more.

This Disney+ Black Friday streaming deal will cost you $35.88 for the year, saving you $96 compared with the original price ($131.88).