Helloween - Skyfall

The German power metal band HELLOWEEN has now dropped their latest single "Skyfall", written by Kai Hansen. A tune that is a storming more than a 7-minute ride into the HELLOWEEN universe (and beyond!) The epic track describes an alien landing on earth and a dramatic chase while Michael Kiske, Andi Deris, and Kai Hansen duel each other in a breathtaking manner and create a vocal broadband adventure. Produced by Martin Häusler, it is the most elaborate video clip in the history of the band.

The single "Skyfall", see it below is taken from the upcoming self-titled album "Helloween“which will be released June 18th, 2021.

Order the single Skyfall here: http://nblast.de/Helloween-Skyfall
Pre-order the album 'Helloween' here: https://nblast.de/HELLOWEEN-Helloween

This is the start of a new time calculation:
Forget HELLOWEEN – Here comes HELLOWEEN

The sensation was perfect – Helloween, who has sold more than 10 million records worldwide, being one of the most respected German metal bands since 1984, announced their PUMPKINS UNITED WORLD TOUR in 2016. The media was raving about the TOUR OF THE YEAR, playing 69 shows in 32 countries all over the world. More than one million fans on three continents were ecstatic because it was not only a reunion of the original band, it was the summit of seven ultimate HELLOWEEN heroes: Andi Deris, Michael Kiske, Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf, Sascha Gerstner & Dani Löble. Or to put it simply: it was a dream come true for fans around the world, the band received five times more spectators and all of them had only one wish:

The very first release of the new era is justified to so to do – worthy the occasion: not only a simple album, curated and treasured with love and affection, different formats will be available – especially for all collectors and super fans: Premium CD as a digipak and 12“Gatefold vinyl in various styles like shape-LP and picture disc – black or in combinations orange/transparent, orange/black, green/black marbled, orange/black splatter and red/black splatter (also available digitally).

"Skyfall" will be released in two versions: A-side with the 7-minute single edit and the B-side explodes with a 12-minute alternative version of the album track with a new mix and a different singer allocation. Available only on this very single. The second edition will offer „Indestructible“ as their B-side, another precursor from the album and limited availability with a premium package format.

The base of the upcoming milestone album was already erected in the studio: using the original Ingo Schwichtenberg drum kit, the recording was done with the same modulators at the Hamburg HOME studios where back then »Master of The Rings«, »Time of the Oath« and »Better than Raw« were recorded. Back to the roots and completely analog is the UNITED impact - another great work by well-known producer Charlie Bauerfeind and Co-producer Dennis Ward before the album traveled to New York and got the final mastering polish in the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (IRON MAIDEN, DEPECHE MODE, RAMMSTEIN).

The artwork is by Eliran Kantor.

Line-Up:

Andi Deris - Vocals

Michael Kiske - Vocals

Kai Hansen - Guitar/Vocals

Michael "Weiki" Weikath - Guitar

Sascha Gerstner - Guitar

Markus Grosskopf - Bass

Daniel "Dani" Loeble - Drums

Enjoy today's tune!



More info @

Official Helloween Web

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Helloween - I'm Alive

Category Four: 

(Nostalgia) is up for today, taken from the annual hard rock evening.

This was a pretty tricky category, hey Nostalgia, could be actually anything good from the history bank of your own life cycle. So I needed to think through this for a while, it took some time to set it. After a spin thru the record collection I found "Renegade" with THIN LIZZY witch struck me that this was actually the first record I bought with the band, I think it was around 84' or 85 when I found it in a sales bin at the Domus up in northern Sweden. Somehow the cover hooked me, the red flag and the band name THIN LIZZY with the album title "Renegade", cool cover and when I played the album I got in love with the band totally. "Renegade" is perhaps their most underrated and misunderstood album. Just listen to my choice of tune "Angel Of Death" and you will understand.

This category had a pretty mixed up line up as you can see below what the other had picked for this.

Other tunes that was played.

CANDLEMASS "Dark Reflections" - Cheif Rebel (Great Choice)

SODOM "Wachturm" - Holm (Unexpectedly)

HEATHEN "Open The Grave" - PÖbrink (Classic)

THERAPY "Screamager" - Hellan (Cool tune)

ALICE IN CHAINS "We Die Young" - MÖbrink (Another Classic)

BLACK STONE CHERRY "War" - Eriksdotter (Great Cover)

SEPULTURA "Desperate Cries
" - Sandström (Classic)

SLAYER "Necrophobic" - Sköldan (Classic)

HELLOWEEN "I'm Alive
" - Jens (Classic)

THIN LIZZY "Angel Of Death" - Stones

(Missing songs from two participants).

Today's tune "I'm Alive" by German power metal band HELLOWEEN, is taken from the second studio album "The Keeper of the Seven Keys: Part I", released in 1987.


More info @

Official Helloween Web

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Unisonic - Exceptional

With their 2012 self-titled debut album UNISONIC unleashed a storm of enthusiasm. For the first time in 23 years, the two former members of Hamburg’s metal institution HELLOWEEN - Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen – reunited to play in the same band. More than a few metal fans might have shed a tear.

After the successful follow-up album "Light Of Dawn" (2014) a worldwide tour followed with memorable gigs in South America, Europe and Japan until Unisonic, still at full speed, brought their energy to the small village of Wacken where one of the biggest and most spectacular metal festivals in the world takes place every year.

The international all-star act consisting of Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN) on vocals, Kai Hansen (HELLOWEEN, GAMMA RAY) on guitars, Mandy Meyer (ex. ASIA, ex. GOTTHARD, KROKUS) on guitars, Dennis Ward (PINK CREAM 69 and successful producer of many top class hard rock acts) on bass guitar and Kosta Zafiriou (ex-PINK CREAM 69) on drums entered the stage at last year’s Wacken festival and made the night ablaze with glorious metal. For the band it was a remarkable experience.

On stage the band showed their class and diversity; their sound is spiked with remarkable riffs and guitar solos, thundering grooves, classic metal hymns and hooks other bands would be dying to write. And on top the anthemic vocals of Kiske, whose “out-of-this-world” voice is so extraordinary and strong, he is often mentioned in the same breath with Bruce Dickinson, Rob Halford and Geoff Tate.

Like the studio albums, "Live in Wacken" was mixed and mastered by the band’s own Dennis Ward. This show was a very special occasion for the whole band, but possibly it was “the show of the life” for one band member… Kosta Zafiriou had in fact decided to focus only on the management side and to leave his drummer seat forever, after a lifetime spent between management duties and being a professional drummer.

2017 and 2018 will see Kiske and Hansen reunite with HELLOWEEN for the Pumpkins United World Tour.

The UNISONIC show will be available on a limited CD+DVD (Digipak) and digital version. The bonus DVD includes the video recording of six songs from their spectacular performance.

TRACKLIST

CD
1. Venite 2.0
2. For The Kingdom
3. Exceptional
4. My Sanctuary
5. King For A Day
6. A Little Time
7. Your Time Has Come
8. When The Deed Is Done
9. Star Rider
10. Throne Of The Dawn
11. March Of Time
12. Unisonic

DVD:
1. For The Kingdom
2. Exceptional
3. Your Time Has Come
4. When The Deed Is Done
5. March Of Time
6. Unisonic

Today’s tune ”Exceptional” is record Live at Wacken Open Air 2016 and will be on the record ”Live In Wacken”, set to be released July 21st. The sound is brilliant and the voice, oh my freaking god.



More info @

Official Unisonic Web

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Santa Cruz - Let Them Burn

The Finnish glam rockers SANTA CRUZ is out touring with MUSTASCH, see the dates below. They also have dropped a new video for the latest single and today's tune "Let Them Burn" that is taken from their eponymous 2nd album "SANTA CRUZ", released Mars 2015.

The tune is a heavy catchy glamcore piece :) The video captures the essence of the band’s explosive shows.

SANTA CRUZ formed in 2007 in Helsinki by Archie Kuosmanen and Johnny Parkkonen. The following year, bass player Middy Toivonen joined in. The band released two demos in 2008-2009. After changing a number of temporary drummers, they finally settled for a full-time drummer, Taz Fagerström in 2009 becoming a 4-member band. After a self-released EP of 6 songs titled "Anthems for the Young 'n' Restless", they signed with Finnish Spinefarm Records in 2012 and released their first studio album "Screaming for Adrenaline" in April 2013. Their eponymous 2nd album "SANTA CRUZ" was released in March 2015. The album featured a heavier sound than the previous and the band has described its sound as "glamcore".

Arttu "Archie" Kuosmanen - vocals, rhythm and lead guitar, acoustic guitar (2007–present)
Joonas "Johnny" Parkkonen - lead and rhythm guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, backing vocals (2007–present)
Mitja "Middy" Toivonen - bass, backing vocals (2008–present)
Tapani "Taz" Fagerström - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2009–present)

Happy Helloween everybody!

Today's tune is directed by Lars Johnson, edit by Juha Kärkkäinen and the grading & VFX by Iikka Kinnunen. Shot on OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 Mark II


Upcoming Gigs!

October 31, 2015 The Tivoli w/Mustasch @Helsingborg, Sweden
November 4, 2015 Pakkahuone w/Mustasch @Tampere, Finland
November 5, 2015 Rytmikorjaamo w/Mustasch @Seinäjoki, Finland
November 6, 2015 Circus w/Mustasch @Helsinki, Finland
November 7, 2015 Logomo w/Mustasch @Turku, Finland
November 13, 2015 Flustret w/Mustasch @Uppsala, Sweden
November 14, 2015 Trädgårn w/Mustasch @Göteborg, Sweden
November 20, 2015 Rockfeller w/Mustasch @Oslo, Norway
November 21, 2015 Folkets Park w/Mustasch @Halmstad, Sweden
November 27, 2015 Lokomotivet w/Mustasch @Eskilstuna, Sweden
November 28, 2015 KB w/Mustasch @Malmö, Sweden
December 4, 2015 Huskvarna Folkets Park w/Mustasch @Huskvarna, Sweden
December 5, 2015 Allstar Sandviken w/Mustasch @Sandviken, Sweden
December 11, 2015 Liljan w/Mustasch @Borlänge, Sweden
December 12, 2015 Doom Nightclub w/Mustasch @Linköping, Sweden
December 18, 2015 Kulturens Hus w/Mustasch @Luleå, Sweden
December 19, 2015 Folkets Hus w/Mustasch @Umeå, Sweden

More info @

Official Santa Cruz Web

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Helloween - My God-Given Right

The German power metallers HELLOWEEN recently released their 15th studio album "My God-Given Right", which was released on May 29 via Nuclear Blast. The album was recorded between October 2014 and February 2015 at the band's MiSueno Studio on the isle of Tenerife with producer Charlie Bauerfeind (GOTTHARD, HAMMERFALL).

HELLOWEEN is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg, Northern Germany. The band is a pioneering force in the power metal genre and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and Part II, are considered masterpieces of the genre. Twelve musicians have been a part of the band's line-up in its history, which has consisted of singer Andi Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bass guitarist Markus Grosskopf, and drummer Daniel Löble since 2005.

The cover art depicts a "pumpkin army" around a The Day After Tomorrow-like, buried-in-the-snow Statue of Liberty. It was once again created by Martin Häusler and it's also available as a 3D lenticular print, visible without 3D glasses. Deris remarked that the cover differs from previous covers because it features little color variation. According to Häusler, they "tried to build a world of ideas, keeping the 'classic Helloween' elements, like the pumpkins on the one hand and a complete new look on the other.  A first inspiration came from the album title, My God-Given Right', and some of the song titles, like "Swing Of A Fallen World", "Lost In America", "Battle's Won", etc. During my research, I stumbled upon the blockbuster Day After Tomorrow and the idea of just leaving the world to the 'pumpkins' was born." Deris later explained that the cover reflected Häusler interpretation of the album title, as he understood the name as a reference to a rebellion or something like that. However, the real inspiration for the title (which is also the title of a song) came from words from his father:

Todays tune is the title track, taken from the band's 15th studio album, "My God-Given Right",

According to singer Andi Deris, the band insists on a simple motto: "Back to the roots — but with new songs". He continues: "More than ever, our fans want to sing and rock out along with us. This simply works best with the use of distinctive choruses and '80s hooklines." 

 

More info @

Official Helloween Web

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Serious Black - Older And Wiser

SERIOUS BLACK, the new band featuring Roland Grapow (MASTERPLAN, ex-HELLOWEEN), Thomen Stauch (ex-BLIND GUARDIAN), Mario Lochert (ex-VISIONS OF ATLANTIS), Dominik Sebastian (EDENBRIDGE), Jan Vacik (ex-DREAMSCAPE) and vocalist Urban Breed (ex-TAD MOROSE), their début album, "As Daylight Breaks", was released on January 20, 2015 via AFM Records.

6 members, 6 friends - all with huge experience and knowledge from many years in the business and being part of the most successful melodic metal bands! SERIOUS BLACK is different to many of the so-called "all star" bands, because in fact, they are a real band. A band that crafted their incredible debut album "As Daylight Breaks" together, with every member involved into songwriting and recordings. "As Daylight Breaks" is a real teamwork effort, a melodic metal jewel displaying conviction, amazing musicianship and outstanding songwriting.

It all happened on a sunny 23rd of August in Spain, when Roland Grapow and Mario Lochert had a conversation backstage over a cool beverage, talking music business – you know, what musicians usually do.

For quite a while, Mario had had the idea of bringing together 6 musical masterminds to form a band floating around his head. After a few initial concerns about igniting various conflicts when getting together in that configuration, eventually Mario was able to convince Roland of his intentions.

Back in Munich, Mario immediately contacted his friend of many years, Thomen Stauch, telling him about his idea. Thomen was sold and joined the bunch right away. After that, Jan Vacik and Dominik Sebastian were quick to agree to a collaboration, too. With that, a new band was born, consisting of five highly motivated musicians!

Initially, it turned out to be quite a task to bring these full-time musical workaholics together in one studio at the same time. However, against all odds, they got together on short notice in January 2014. Needless to say, when they arrived at the “Dreamsound Studios” Munich, none of the blokes had any idea yet where exactly their musical venture would take them.

After a long night, accompanied with numerous anecdotes from the world of music and a solid amount of beers (which, of course, were just “meant to keep the vocal cords smooth”), the band started the songwriting phase! Everyone was on the same wavelength, as if they had been working together in this configuration for decades. The fact that they were able to collectively write songs, without any pressures and in an awesome environment, gave wings to these 5 maniacal musicians and got their juices flowing to create something outstanding. Everyone was literally bubbling with ideas and as soon as 7 days later, they had written eight roughly structured songs, building a foundation for a powerful and melodic Power Metal record!

Yet what good can awesome songs do without a voice to carry them? After a few considerations as to a fitting singer for the band, the newly formed group contacted the US-based Swedish expat “Urban Breed” (ex-TAD MOROSE, ex- BLOODBOUND, TRAIL OF MURDER). After exchanging just a few emails and samples, the answer was loud and clear: “Ok, I’m in, if you really want it! After a short wait, he submitted his first song ideas which fit in with the existing songs seamlessly. 

 
Todays tune "Older & Wiser" is taken from the debut album "As Daylight Breaks".



More info @

Official Serious Black Web

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Level 10 - Cry No More

New week and it's to present this weeks "Record Of The Week".

Level 10 is a new Trans-Atlantic Metallic alliance between powerhouse vocalist Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X, ADRENALINE MOB, AVANTASIA, AYREON, AVALON, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA & ALLEN-LANDE) and the charismatic bassist/producer/writer Mat Sinner (SINNER, PRIMAL FEAR, VOODOO CIRCLE, KISKE/SOMERVILLE among others), one of the real flags of German Heavy Metal music.

The pair met a few times during the years and swore to each other to fine the time and the chance to work together. The occasion came about when Frontiers President, Serafino Perugino managed to connect again the two and have them committed for the creation of a new Metal album which could melt the more contemporary and aggressive sound of ADRENALINE MOB with the more traditional European Power Metal assault from PRIMAL FEAR.

Sinner did not save any effort and put together a killer lineup for the album, including his PRIMAL FEAR cohorts Randy Black (on drums) and Alex Beyrodt (on guitar) and called Roland Grapow (ex HELLOWEEN) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE,VOODOO CIRCLE) to complete the lineup on lead guitar and keyboards respectively. On the songwriting side – besides the band members – the album also seens contributions from Magnus Karlsson, Carsten Schulz, Sander Gommans and Amanda Somerville. While the recording took a long time in between the commitments from the various musicians involved in this release, the result is an outstanding and super heavy – yet infectiously melodic album! With Allen’s over-the-top vocals and a powerful lineup second to none, the resulting album is – from start to finish a true delight for all the metal fans!

LEVEL 10 are:

Russell Allen – Lead & Backing Vocals
Mat Sinner – Bass & Backing Vocals
Roland Grapow – Guitars
Alex Beyrodt – Guitars
Randy Black – Drums & Percussion
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Keyboards

I can't Ignore to say that I really love the things that Russell Allen do, that he is a busy man these days is nothing he could deny, spawning side projects one after another and everything he touches becomes almost magical, he sings like Jesus and have an amazing feeling. "Chapter One" is catchy rocker with a great mixture Classic Epic Power Rock with Mainstream Melodic Hard Rock.

"Chapter One" is great album with many good tracks to keep the interest up. The guitar work is excellent, merging heavy riffing and melodic harmonies perfectly. Del Vecchi with Sinner and Black in the rhythms section is a well oiled machine that have an amazing chemistry together. This is the fronted by monster singer Russell Allen.

To sum this up:

If you’re a fan of melodic heavy metal then Level 10 debut is mandatory listening.

Todays tune "Cry No More" is taken from the debut album "Chapter One", enjoy!



More info @

Official Level 10 Facebook

Listen to ”Level 10 - Cry No More" on Spotify here!

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Helloween - Halloween

Let's continue on the theme of Halloween and play the one and only "Halloween" tune, taken from the second studio album "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I" by the German power metal band Helloween, released in 1987.

It marks the first appearance of vocalist Michael Kiske, and is considered the album that created the genre of European-style power metal. It was an album dominated by guitarist Kai Hansen, due to an injury to co-guitarist Michael Weikath which prevented him from performing on much of the album. "Future World" was released as a single and a music video was made for "Halloween" but with 8 minutes omitted from the song. But today we get the full version.

The band originally planned to release Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I and Part II as a double album, but their record label refused, insisting that the albums be released separately. Much later in 2010, both albums were released together with bonus tracks.

Todays tune "Halloween" taken from the album "Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I"



More info @

Official Helloween Web

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Unisonic - Exceptional

German heavy metal/hard rock supergroup ”Unisonic", founded in November 10, 2009 by former Helloween singer Michael Kiske alongside Dennis Ward and Kosta Zafiriou from Pink Cream 69. Mandy Meyer, formerly in Asia and Gotthard was soon added to the line-up, while in 2011 the band was joined by Gamma Ray leader and one of the Helloween founders, Kai Hansen.

The band released the EP Ignition and their first studio album Unisonic in 2012. The EP For The Kingdom and the second album Light of Dawn came out in 2014. Both studio albums have scored high entries in several international music charts. Unisonic is the first full studio collaboration between Kiske and Hansen since Helloween's seminal albums Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. I and Pt. II.

The latest release "Light Of Dawn" is the second album. It was released on 1 August 2014, with cover art credited to Martin Haeusler. The majority of the songs were written by Dennis Ward, with further input from Michael Kiske and Mandy Meyer. A music video was filmed for the song ”Exceptional”(todays tune). This sounds really good, reminds me of the old days with Helloween and Kiske’s vocals is amazing.

The album was released in four different configurations:

- Standard CD featuring 12 tracks
- Deluxe digipak edition CD which contains 13 tracks
- Gatefold double vinyl (also feat. 13 tracks plus a download code)
- A strictly limited boxset.
The boxset included a Exclusive 7inch Vinyl single.
A1. Exceptional (Karaoke version)
B1. We Rise (Live 2012)
exclusive T-Shirt
6 brand new pictures
exclusive poster

TOUR 2014

27.09.2014 -- Bremen, GER, Aladin *
28.09.2014 -- Oberhausen, GER, Turbinenhalle *
30.09.2014 -- München, GER, Backstage *
02.10.2014 -- Bamberg, GER, Brose Arena *
03.10.2014 -- Filderstadt, GER, Filharmonie *
04.10.2014 -- Kaufbeuren, GER, All Kart Halle *
06.10.2014 -- Rome, Italy, Orion *
07.10.2014 -- Milano, Italy, Live Club *
09.10.2014 -- Saarbrücken, GER, Garage *
10.10.2014 -- Fulda, GER, Wartenberg Oval *
11.10.2014 -- Langen, GER, Stadthalle *
13.10.2014 -- Pratteln, CH, Z7 *
13.12.2014 -- Karlsruhe, GER, Knock Out Festival

(* /w Edguy)

Todays tune ”Exceptional” is taken from the latest and second album "Light Of Dawn”, released August 1st 2014.



More info @

Official Unisonic Web

Listen to "Unisonic - Exceptional" on Spotify here!

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Judas Priest - Electric Eye

Sunday, time for a classic tune, today we play "Electric Eye", a song by British heavy metal band Judas Priest, from their 1982 album Screaming for Vengeance, and released as a single later that year. It has become a staple at concerts, usually played as the first song.

Benediction and Helloween, amongst many other bands, have covered this song.

Musically, the song is in the key of E minor, and its guitar solo is played by Glenn Tipton.

"Electric Eye" is featured in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories for PSP and PlayStation 2. It is also a playable track in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s as a master track, including "The Hellion", and it also appears on Guitar Hero Smash Hits. Additionally, it is available for download on Rock Band, as of 22 April 2009, as part of the entire Screaming for Vengeance album download, or as a single song. It was also featured in the second trailer for the video game Brütal Legend.

This song is referenced in the movie Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, in the song "Break in-City (Storm the Gate!)".

"Electric Eye" is an allusion to the book Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, in the use of the name of the pseudo-omniscient satellite that watches over the community at all times. In this dystopia, the form of government, Ingsoc (Newspeak for English Socialism), is utterly totalitarian, and if citizens are caught rebelling in any manner, they "disappear". The song has been called "prescient" for its depiction of a modern surveillance state.

The song is usually played right after the album's intro "The Hellion" during live concerts. An exception is during the tour for the album Demolition, in which the band went straight into "Electric Eye" with no intro, which can be heard on their live album Live in London. "The Hellion" was recently used for a commercial for the 2011 Honda Odyssey.

The song was played live at the 2011 Revolver Magazine Golden God Awards show by Duff McKagan's Loaded, with vocals by Slipknot and Stone Sour's Corey Taylor and guitar by The Sex Pistols' Steve Jones.

Todays tune "Electric Eye" is taken from the eighth studio album "Screaming for Vengeance". The album, considered the band's commercial breakthrough, sold in excess of 5 million unit worldwide and has been certified double platinum in the United States and platinum in Canada.



More info @

Official Judas Priest Web

Listen to "Judas Priest - Electric Eye" on Spotify here!

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