Author: Logan Rocker

Finnish epic metallers Wintersun have released a statement on their plans for 2025 and a new album is “about 80% complete.” The band finally released Time II in August 2024. 

Wintersun states: “Wow! What a year 2024 was! The year of the dragon! 🐉 We finally released the long-awaited Time II album and other material in our Time Package Indiegogo pre-order campaign! Once again, thank you to everyone for supporting us! ❤️ We hope you’ve enjoyed all the content! 🤘 What’s next?

“Next, work continues on the upcoming Wintersun album, which is about 80% complete. However, the remaining 20% still presents challenges. Rest assured, we will overcome the obstacles! Thanks to all the audio technology innovations, the album already sounds fantastic. And thanks to you guys for providing us with the resources to upgrade and take our production to the next level!

“The funny thing is that all the Wintersun material you’ve heard so far is quite old. The Forest Seasons album is the newest material you’ve listened to from Wintersun, written around 2014-2015 and released in 2017. TIME I & II albums were written around 2004-2006. So, hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, you’ll be able to hear something ‘fairly fresh’ from Wintersun. Until then, please stay patient! We are working as fast as we can!”

“We wish everyone a great New Year! 🎉🥳 May the flames in the darkness reach the stars and ignite the passions of your heart!”

12 years following Wintersun’s Time I, the Finnish heavy metal quartet led by Jari Mäenpää released their new album, Time II on August 30, 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records. Check out a lyric video for 13-minute album closer, the sterling “Silver Leaves” is streaming below:

Check out the previously released lyric video for 12-minute “Storm”:

Jari Mäenpää on Time II: “Time II is an epic journey from light to darkness and back to light, exploring the universe and energy, contrasting dark stormy landscapes to calm and beautiful cherry blossom tree gardens with misty, snowy mountains that will leave you breathless. It has songs with furious speed of drums, guitars, and bass and beautiful melodic slower songs with a magical exotic influence. It has massive orchestrations and choirs spiced with ancient world instruments and glimmering synths. It has Jari’s soaring, clean singing contrasted with his aggressive style. It is a highly detailed and complex album where you will find new things with every listen.”

Order Time II here. Check out the BraveWords review of the Wintersun Time Package here.

“The Way Of The Fire” lyric video:

Wintersun is:

Jari Mäenpää – vocals, guitars, computer, programming
Teemu Mäntysaari – guitars
Jukka Koskinen – bass
Kai Hahto – drums

(Photo – Onni Wiljami Kinnunen)

The Nail recently released their lyric video for “Soul Screamer”, from their self-titled debut album, released back in September. Watch the new behind the scenes video for “Soul Screamer” below:

The Nail is a new musical alliance featuring one of the most gifted vocalists of the new generation, Girish Pradhan (Girish & The Chronicles, The End Machine) together with Efe and Reis Ali Eroglu, two very talented young kids (26 and 17 years old respectively) who – under the guidance of their father, producer Cenk Eroglu (ex-Winger, Crossing Rubicon) – created a new hard rock gem, poised to captivate audiences around the globe.

Cenk Eroglu commented on “Soul Screamer” by saying: “It’s the heaviest song of the album. The record was almost done when Reis Ali played me this riff… Then we found ourselves working on it. The meaning of ‘Soul Screamer’ and the lyrics are kind of deep. It’s the voice of your conscience. Lacking one within, it will find other ways to hunt you down. It’s also our nod to Judas Priest & Rob Halford… And Girish sang it like a jet engine!”

Talking about the album, Girish Pradhan states: “This is unlike like any record I have ever done. Different. Many of my listeners have always requested that I do something different for a change, and I feel like this record is exactly what they need. Of course, it’s all thanks to a great and a dedicated team, working tirelessly in the background, helping me bring out a different side of me. Amazing work by the young and super talented – Ali, on guitars! All in all, a great project that I got to be a part of.”

“A great chemistry right from the start,” adds Eroglu. “Young Reis Ali’s razor-sharp guitar riffs and melodies collided with Efe’s blazing lead guitars, then Girish Pradhan took it to the stars with his amazing voice. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut album; it actually feels like a best-of already.”

Girish Pradhan’s reputation has been growing recently as one of the hottest new rock singers on the scene. Coming from India, he played already several shows in Europe with his band Girish & The Chronicles and appeared as lead singer on the last album from the hard rock supergroup The End Machine featuring George Lynch and Jeff Pilson, both ex-Dokken.

Following the acclaim that Girish received over the last few years, the label’s President Serafino Perugino conceived a new project set to highlight Girish’s vocals and abilities. Turkish composer and producer Cenk Eroglu was brought in to write some songs and work on ideas with Girish, and he was immediately blown away by his talent.

He asked his friend and former bandmate Kip Winger to A&R the project and thus put to work his two kids: Efe (a 26 years old guitar hero – top shredder on the “Monsters Of Rock Cruise Shred Contest” in 2021, praised by musical giants such as Bumblefoot, John 5, Andy Timmons, Nuno Bettencourt and Reb Beach) and Ali (17 years old multi-instrumentalist and co-writer of the album).

The final result is just above and beyond any expectation. The album offers a great balance of heavier material (“Soul Screamer”, the bastard child of Judas Priest’s “Painkiller”, “Underdog” and the title track) and very melodic numbers (“Broken”, “Walk the Line”, “No Time to Burn” and “Fall Back Now”).

The Nail is a real surprise as it contains a real tribute to 80’s heavy metal, showcasing influences from Judas Priest, Sabbath, Dio and even hints at the heaviest Winger sound on the most recent albums.

The Nail tracklisting:

“Hit & Run”
“The Nail”
“No Time To Burn”
“Broken”
“Walk The Line”
“Soul Screamer”
“Blackout (Popeye’s Sin)”
“Exorcist”
“Hangman’s Noose”
“Underdog”
“Fall Back Now”

“No Time To Burn” lyric video:

“The Nail” video:

“Hit & Run” video:

Lineup:

Girish Pradhan – Lead Vocals
Reis Ali Eroglu – Drums, Bass, Guitars
Efe Eroglu – Lead Guitars

Additional Musicians:

Cenk Eroglu – Guitars, Hammond Organ, Keyboards, Back Vocals
John Bisaha – Background Vocals
Paolo De Santis – Background Vocals
Cem & Sevinc Keskin – Ghost Vocals

– Produced By: Cenk Eroglu
– Music Director: C.F. Kip Winger
– Executive Producer: Serafino Perugino

Former Butcher Babies vocalist, Carla Harvey, has joined Belgian industrial dance band, Lords Of Acid. Harvey, who will release the first single with her new project The Violent Hour next month, shared the following:

“Cats outta the bag! The first The Violent Hour single is headed your way in February AND I’ve added a bucket list item to my resume: Reigning ACID QUEEN. I had three favorite bands in high school: Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, and Lords Of Acid. Each one shaped me and uniquely influenced me as an artist. LOA had me hooked from the moment I heard ‘I Sit On Acid’ as a teenager dancing the night away at Detroit’s goth Industrial Haven City Club. My obsession only grew after I saw Coop’s artwork on the cover of Voodo U. Now I get to record an album with my industrial heroes…Pinch 16 year old me! She’ll be the one in the vocal booth. Praise the Lords!”

Lords Of Acid manager Marc Jordan says, “Carla is set to begin recording vocals for the new Lords Of Acid album this winter and will be joining the band on a 27 date U.S. tour in June.”

Back in July 2024, Carla and Butcher Babies announced they had officially parted ways, issuing separate statements.

Carla: “Over the last 6 months You may have noticed my absence from BB posts. After 15 years of dedication, I wanted to let you know that I will not be rejoining the band for any future endeavours. I am super proud of my work with Butcher Babies… two EPS, five full length albums, and countless tours with our metal heroes! To all of our incredible BB friends and fans…you have provided me with some of the greatest experiences of my life! I have loved every second of writing and performing all over the world for you!  I have loved meeting you.  WOW. I still can’t believe this kid from Detroit got so lucky. I am not done making music and performing.  I WILL see you soon.”

Butcher Babies: “As you may have already guessed, it is confirmed that Carla Harvey and Butcher Babies have officially parted ways. Carla has been an integral part of our journey, bringing her unique talent, passion, and energy to the band. We are grateful for the incredible memories we’ve made together and the impact she has had on our music and our fans. We will miss her greatly and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours. We deeply appreciate your support over the past 15 years. We feel incredibly fortunate to keep making and playing music as our career, and we are excited for this new era of Butcher Babies! See you on the road.”

(Photo – TAG Publicity)

Indian rockers Girish And The Chronicles, featuring The End Machine vocalist Girish Pradhan, performed “Killer Of The Night” live in Darjeeling, India on December 22nd. The song is taken from from The End Machine album, The Quantum Phase, released in 2024.

The End Machine features Pradhan, former Dokken members George Lynch (guitar) and Jeff Pilson (bass), and Steve Brown (drums).

The End Machine’s new album signals a notable change in personnel. Singer Robert Mason has officially parted ways with the group, paving the way for Girish Pradhan, the rising superstar vocalist known for his work under the moniker Girish And The Chronicles and, more recently, with Joel Hoekstra’s 13. The addition of Pradhan to the band is a testament to the keen discernment of Serafino Perugino, president, and founder of Frontiers Records. Perugino, who serves as the executive producer for The End Machine, recognized the incredible talent and potential in Pradhan and brought him to the attention of the band.

Established in 2018, The End Machine released their eponymous debut album, The End Machine, in 2019 bringing early acclaim for not only contemporary production and a modern attitude, but also their perfectly crafted songs, paying homage to their roots and the music that they love. This attitude and talent was equally on display with their 2021 sophomore album, Phase2.

In delivering 2024’s The Quantum Phase, The End Machine has not only surpassed expectations but has penned the record of their lives! With each note and lyric, they have exceeded their own artistic aspirations, collectively crafting the album they always wished they had written. This monumental work stands as a testament to The End Machine’s evolution, showcasing not only their musical prowess but also their unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of their creative expression.

Order The Quantum Phase here.

Tracklisting:

“Black Hole Extinction”
“Silent Winter”
“Killer Of The Night”
“Hell Or High Water”
“Stand Up”
“Burning Man”
“Shattered Glass Heart”
“Time”
“Hunted”
“Stranger In The Mirror”
“Into The Blazing Sun”

“Black Hole Extinction” lyric video:

“Killer Of The Night” video:

“Silent Winter” video:

Produced By: Jeff Pilson for Pilsound Music Inc
Studio: Pilsound Studios, Santa Clarita CA
Recorded By: Jeff Pilson and Girish Pradhan, additional engineering: Olivia Pilson
Mixed By: Alessandro Del Vecchio
Mastered By: Alessandro Del Vecchio

Band members:

George Lynch
Girish Pradhan
Steve Brown
Jeff Pilson

Heljarmadr, the vocalist for Dark Funeral, has checked in with an update on his new EP, which was released on January 1st.

“Thank you all for the great appreciation you have given to A Poison To The Firmament! We will continue to defile the heavens after the strike of midnight, when the second song (which concludes this EP) is unleashed on all platforms, surely one of the first black metal releases of 2025.

There will be a physical CD-single in a great looking, luxurious digipack, but it’s been delayed by the printing company. I’ll open for orders when we have them in hand and can approve the quality.

We would like to unveil the cover artwork with this post, sending praise to my good friend Roberto Toderico Art for so amazingly materializing our vision through his brush and canvas.

We’ll see you in 2025. So much more to come!”

“A Poison To The Firmament”

“All Days Are Black”

Line up:

Andreas ”Heljarmadr” Vingbäck – guitars, vocals and keyboards
Adra-Melek – bass
Dennis Ekdahl – drums
Official Sarah Jezebel Deva – vocals
Kakophonix – cello
Bruno Sa – saxophone and keyboards

Photo by Void Revelations

Robert Smith has detailed two songs set for The Cure’s next album, which could be out as soon as this summer.

In a new interview on Radio X, the singer/guitarist talks about two tracks The Cure have played live but did not make it onto November album Songs Of A Lost World. He starts with It Can Never Be The Same, first performed in 2016.

“[The next album] has one song of grief on it which didn’t make it onto this album, which is a very, very old song which we’ve been playing for a long, long time called It Can Never Be The Same,” says Smith (via NME).

“And I think that this next album will have that song on because I think it’s about time. It used to be called Christmas Without You.”

The frontman also discusses a song called A Boy I Never Knew, which he’s previously said was written for The Cure’s 2004 self-titled album but went unreleased.

“I think that would probably make it on,” he says. “That’s a sad song, but in a completely different way. That’s me singing about a boy that died a million years ago. About the death of humanity before it started, I think… or something.”

Talking about The Cure’s next album more generally, Smith claims that, as well as unreleased but familiar material, it will have “some completely new stuff that no one’s ever heard”.

“There’s three songs on it which are slower than pretty much anything on this album,” he adds. “So I don’t know, it may well end up being heavier than this one.”

Smith wants the new album to be out “hopefully before [the] summer”. He’s “currently finishing” the project, which just needs to be mixed.

If The Cure’s 15th album does indeed materialise this year, it will mark a significantly sped-up turnaround for the goth icons. Songs Of A Lost World was the band’s first studio release since 2008.

However, Smith has been quietly working on new music since 2010, and he said around the release of Songs… that the album will be the first of a trilogy of records.

“Having finished this one, the second one is virtually finished as well,” he claimed. “The third one is a bit more difficult because, well if we get that far… Talking about the third album, you see what I mean? I just can’t help myself.”

Smith also recently revealed that he has a “really catchy” pop song in The Cure’s vault, and that it could become a festive anthem if given the right lyrics.

Avenged Sevenfold singer M. Shadows has branded one of the band’s ballads as a “throwaway” song.

The frontman makes the comment during a recent interview with Youtuber Bradley Hall, which sees him take a deep dive into the California quintet’s catalogue.

When the pair make it to controversial 2013 album Hail To The King, Shadows doesn’t have anything nice to say about sixth track Crimson Day. “I think Crimson Day is a throwaway,” he states (via Loudwire). “That’s not a great ballad. We’ve had much better ballads.”

The vocalist then doubles down on his critique, saying that, although his band have “always done pretty good ballads”, “Crimson Day is the lowest on my list of things we’ve ever done.”

It’s not all doom and gloom, however. Shadows has a far more positive opinion of fellow Hail… track Planets, which he remains proud of despite it being the least-streamed song on the album.

“I also think the coolest thing we’ve ever done on that record is Planets,” he adds, “and of course it’s the least listened to. To me, it is the coolest thing on that record.”

Hail…, Avenged’s sixth album, proved divisive when first released 12 years ago. The band intentionally pursued a more arena-friendly sound on the record, pulling noticeable influence from Metallica and Guns ’N’ Roses. Some fans and reviewers didn’t appreciate the change, deeming it derivative, but it also resulted in some of the band’s most popular songs, especially the title track.

In the interview with Hall, Shadows acknowledges that Avenged “dumbed down” their music when making Hail….

“Hail To the King was a response to the fact that we were a big band, but everywhere we went none of our songs could be played anywhere like in a bar,” he says. “Like, we have nothing that lives up to AC/DC or Metallica’s Black Album or all these records that we love, all of our stuff’s a little too complex, a little too complicated, a little too neoclassical.”

He continues: “So we started really cutting close obviously to wearing our influences very much on our sleeves in this sort of dumbed-down version of rock music. And that’s not a shot on those bands because they do it brilliantly, they do it better than us, but we wanted to try our hand at doing some things like that, it’s very unnatural for us. It’s not what we do.”

In response to Hail…’s simplified sound and heavy promotion, Avenged switched gears for its followup, surprise-releasing progressive metal behemoth The Stage in 2016. The band have continued to experiment ever since, as heard on latest album Life Is But A Dream… (2023).

A Multitude Of One, aka Nova Cascade guitarist Colin Powell, have announced that they will release their brand new concept album A Templars Tale on February 7. They have also shared the final track on the album The Legacy Of The Templars.

Powell describes the album as his “most ambitious project to date. Drawing inspiration from the golden era of 70s progressive rock, A Templar’s Tale echoes the grandeur of Rick Wakeman’s The Myths and Legends of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table and Journey To The Centre Of The Earth. Like these classics, the album features a narrator who weaves a compelling story, enriched by epic orchestral and choral arrangements alongside traditional rock instrumentation.

“At the heart of the album is Sir Geoffrey de Beaumont, a fictitious Templar knight, who narrates the story of the Templar’s journey. The tale unfolds through spoken passages and songs performed by Colin, merging storytelling with sweeping musical landscapes.”

A Templars Tale comes with a 44-page illustrated medieval-style booklet containing lyrics and rich background lore, offering fans a deeper dive into the Templar’s world.

Pre-order A Templars Tale.

A Multitude Of One: A Templars Tale
1. The Tale Begins
2. The Dawn Of The Templars
3. Footsteps To Jerusalem
4. The Sacred Oath
5. Stone And Gold
6. An Unholy War
7. The Battle Of Acre – Prelude
8. The Battle Of Acre – The Battle
9. The Battle Of Acre – The Aftermath
10. The Grand Master
11. The 13th Day
12. The Legacy Of The Templars