Montag, 9. Oktober 2023

 

OLYMP

Time travel straight into the early 1980s 


[ Logo: Olymp ]

Action: OLYMP
Title: Olymp
Base: Augsburg • Germany
Style: Classic Heavy/Speed Metal
Genre: Heavy Metal, Speed Metal, NWOBHM
FFO: Atlain, Stormwitch, Running Wild
Type: Full-length
Format: CD + Vinyl
Label: Independent
Release: Oct. 13, 2023


OLYMP are available for interviews via phone, Zoom, Skype & email


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


Bulletpoints:
🔘 The debut album of the Bavarian Heavy Metallers
🔘 A lively and affectionate homage to the 80s
🔘 Powerful songs full of joy, dynamics and dedication


https://www.youtube.com/embed/lTecD7OaE3U
[ Official album trailer ]

OLYMP is not just a myth, but rather true teutonic CLASSIC HEAVY/SPEED METAL.
Driving riffs in traditional 80´s style, will make your heads bang wild.

The whole is literally old school to the bone. The roaring bass and striking twin-leads will raise even the last sceptic to the peak of Olympus.

[ Pic: Christian Wieser ]

LINE-UP:
Butschi • Guitar, Vocals
Armin • Guitar
André • Bass
Dommi • Drums


Since the beginning of 2018, Butschi (guitars, vocals), André (bass), Armin (guitars) and Dommi (drums) have been working on original songs in their rehearsal room.

OLYMP emphasize their ambitions to reach the Olympus of the Metal gods by their longtime stage experience and the upcoming release of „Olymp“, their 2023 debut album.

[ Artwork: Giulia Schmidt-Kaiser ]

TRACKS:
01. Hades 04:26
02. Death And Glory 04:40
03. Icarus 06:03
04. Hero 04:48
05. City Of Gods 05:02
06. Pandora 03:54
07. Fire And Fury 06:53
08. Metal Priest 03:02

total: 38:48 min.


https://www.facebook.com/OlympMetal/

MEDIA FEEDBACK:

8 / 10
➤ „… absolute pearl … key appeal: I just couldn’t resist the charm of the cover artwork … refreshingly different … somewhere between Angel Witch and Agent Steel the debut album of the Germans entertains non-stop … they actually always find their way into my ear … remarkably creative riffs and solos …“
(Hellfire)

7,5 / 10
➤ „… OLYMP do their thing really well … know how to turn the Heavy/Speed Metal wheel, how to keep it turning … you can hear the passion of the guys in every minute, as well as the years of work that went into ‚Olymp‘ … powerful riffs, crisp drums and a shouter who performs vocally dirty and raw, as it was just cool and hip in the 80s … I have my fun with the sound and fans of the genre certainly also … extra praise for the very cult cover artwork!“
(Obliveon)

➤ „In the spirit of the 80s, this German Metal sensation creates a sonic universe that combines nostalgia and freshness in a stunning potpourri … epic! … masterpiece … impressive time travel … the driving riffs, the booming bass and the characteristic twin leads are all there … truly ‚old school to the bone‘ … a compact but powerful experience that will surely make hearts beat faster …“
(Metaller DE)

➤ „… this thing makes fun (and thirsty) from front to back with its hearty eighties mix of Omen, Maiden, Running Wild and Grave Digger …“
(Rock Hard DE)

➤ „… sounds so original and old school that it’s hard to believe they haven’t been around since the 80s … with such drive and lots of love and not least dedication and ability … almost a time machine straight back to the 80s …“
(Rancor Metalzine)

 

FRONT ROW WARRIORS

Blissful celebration of catchiness 


[ Logo: Front Row Warriors ]

Action: FRONT ROW WARRIORS • https://frontrowwarriors.com/
Title: Wheel Of Fortune
Base: Stuttgart • Germany
Style: Melodic Metal
Genre: Heavy Metal, Melodic Metal, Melodic Hard Rock, AOR
FFO: Heart, Warlock, Pretty Maids, Zed Yago
Type: Full-length
Format: CD + Vinyl
Label: ROAR • Rock Of Angels Records
Release: June 09, 2023


FRONT ROW WARRIORS are available for interviews via phone, Skype, Zoom & email


Bulletpoints:
🔘 Debut album of the highly gifted Germans
🔘 Fantastic songwriting, top playing culture
🔘 Highly catchy material, a true feast for many ears

https://www.metalmessage.de/PR_FRONT_ROW_WARRIORS_en.php


FRONT ROW WARRIORS
, the South German top artists, launched their third single „Chasing Shadows“ with a lyric video worth seeing on September 15, 2023 – top-notch AOR/Melodic Metal, as you can enjoy it rather rarely from today’s acts in this fine form.

The catchy uptempo number, which is played in an equally brisk and rousing fluidity, is another excellent song from the enormously substantial debut album „Wheel Of Fortune“, which was released on June 09, 2023 as blue vinyl and CD digipak via ROAR Records – a work that is fantastic in many respects and which continues to receive excellent to completely enthusiastic reviews in the music press!

„Chasing Shadows“ tells the tragic love story of two young people who desperately try to escape their ecclesiastical conventions, but ultimately fall apart because of lies and slander, and ultimately both tragically lose their lives. The moving story is based on the Greek mythology „Hero and Leander“ by the poet Ovid. Jim Evgenidis of Iconfilmworx skillfully directed „Chasing Shadows“.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/gjGHqZQ58G0?si=m_LoV3Tl3gf_Poz9
[ Official Video „Chasing Shadows“ ]

Formed in 2019 in Stuttgart by Jay-G, drums (Shining, Sharon), Elkie Gee, vocals (Ampyre, Antares) and Sorin Badin, a well-known Romanian guitarist (Cardinal, Samsara, Crystal Maze) under the name FRONT ROW WARRIORS, they completed the formation in 2020 with Richie Seibel, keyboards, (Lanfear, Ivanhoe, Them) and Timo Michels, bass, (5th Season, Pump). In the summer of 2022, guitarist Stef Binnig-Gollub (Septagon) joined the multiple capable MELODIC METAL band.

[ Pic: Front Row Warriors ]

LINE-UP:
Elkie Gee • Vocals
Sorin Badin • Lead Guitar
Stef Binnig-Gollub • Guitar
Timo Michels • Bass
Richie Seibel • Keyboard
Jay-G • Drums


The band’s goal is to take the audience on a musical journey through the era of Hard Rock and Metal of the past 30 years, creating catchy hooks that immediately inspire you to sing along. The whole thing impresses with outstanding guitar and keyboard work as well as deeply exceptional, uplifting lead vocals. Each band member represents one of the many styles and influences that make up the music of FRONT ROW WARRIORS.

The results were impressive, and the band was voted Germany’s best Hard Rock band in 2021 by the German Rock and Pop Musicians Association.


The successful mixture of AOR and Hard Rock inspired by the 80s and 90s, up-tempo numbers – partly very close to classic Melodic Metal – and epic ballads can now be found on the highly anticipated debut album under the title „Wheel Of Fortune“, which was produced by Michael Bormann, co-produced and mixed by Achim Köhler.
The mastering was done by Patrick W. Engel. The renowned book and cover illustrator Uwe Jarling crowned this absolutely fantastic release with an awesome cover artwork. All well known names, which did each a great job for a great formation!

[ Artwork: Uwe Jarling ]

TRACKS:

  1. Intro 01:01
  2. Chasing Shadows 03:24
  3. Fantastic 04:13
  4. Love Is Not A Game 05:15
  5. Deadly Sins 03:54
  6. Damnation 00:47
  7. Hell Invaders 04:28
  8. Wheel Of Fortune 05:03
  9. Hell Awaits 04:15
  10. Dystopian Time (feat. Todd Michael Hall) 05:27
  11. The Hunter 03:49
  12. Wasted Life 06:37

total 48:13


As a special guest, US singer Todd Michael Hall (Jack Starr ́s Burning Starr, Riot V) shines in a duet. Vocalist Elkie was voted best Hard Rock singer 2022 by the German Rock and Pop Musicians Association with the song „Dystopian Time“.

The band was signed by ROAR Records, the debut has been released in June 2023 as CD-Digipak and vinyl, also in download format.


https://open.spotify.com/artist/0xsgg8Jtk3oJqOKzuGIG2d?si=QQWKCmxKTaei2Oz3r3sbMg


MEDIA FEEDBACK:

10 / 10
➤ „Take six good musicians and awesome tunes … the result is FRONT ROW WARRIORS. For a debut album really strong. You have to be grateful when there is still good, horny music on the plate … the Swabians give everything. You shouldn’t just see them as newcomers … they will fight their way into the front row very soon.“
(Hellfire)

10 / 10
➤ „… Heavy Metal as it can not sound more classic … I feel I’m transported back to the glory days of Warlock, because with Elkie we also have here a singer with a Rock throat, but for me because of her style still sounds much more interesting than the ‚Queen of Metal‘.“
(MetalZone – Support The Underground)

10 / 10
➤ „… Heavy Metal as it can not sound more classic … I feel I’m transported back to the glory days of Warlock, because with Elkie we also have here a singer with a Rock throat, but for me because of her style still sounds much more interesting than the ‚Queen of Metal‘.“
(Metalheads DE)

10 / 10
➤ „… dedicated to melodic, but harder Hard Rock, which occasionally flirts a bit with AOR, but above all rather seeks the proximity to Heavy Rock. The voice of Elkie Gee also not infrequently reminds of the singers of the great U.S. female (fronted) bands like Heart, Vixen, Phantom Blue and inspires with its power. And also the English pronunciation is impeccable. But also the musical realization belongs for me to some of the best I have heard from the German Hard Rock scene in the last years … the songwriting is first class.“
(Ivy Wolfisberg Blog)

95 / 100
➤ „… Elkie elevates each track to a really high level … an impressive debut … twelve brilliant songs … power and melody conspire and every single one of them knows to convince … Front Row Warriors definitely knows how to play their way into the front ranks of the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal landscape already with this debut …“
(Musika BE)

9,5 / 10
➤ „… function like a unit that has grown over many years … I failed to detect even one off-key note after repeated listens … one song features Riot vocalist Todd Michael Hall as backup …“
(Bleeding4Metal)

9,1 / 10
➤ „Much of the power of this band lies in Elkie’s voice, one of the best female voices out there, and even the simplest song is made to shine … there really is no weak point on this album. They couldn’t have had a better debut … the quality of the songs here closes mouths … and opens others …“
(Metallerium)

9 / 10
➤ „… a singer who, á la Heart, is effortlessly at home in all registers … hammer-strong debut … amazing hit density …“
(Hardline)

9 / 10
➤ „… reveal an incredible amount of inspiration, creativity and great talent on their album debut … all of this, coupled with their years of experience and the savvy of the entire production team, makes ‚Wheel Of Fortune‘ one of the strongest debuts in recent years and a great hope for the future … phenomenal …“
(Undercover Rock And Metal)

9 / 10
➤ „… the band really puts their foot down, the musicians play on a technically high level, the interplay works perfectly … kick-ass music … Elkie’s voice has an enormous power, determines the sound of the band significantly …“
(Rocknews CH)

8,5 / 10
➤ „From the guitars you can hear different bands like the Scorpions, Jaded Heart and a few more … the keys are more restrained than Axel Rudi Pell, the drums remind me of Mike Terrana or Bobby Rondenelli in the way they were played with a lot of power … very catchy and harmoniously produced … convinced me completely.“
(Rock Garage DE)

8,5 / 10
➤ „… high-class album in the intersection of catchy Hard/Heavy Rock … masterpiece of a German band that skillfully recommends itself with fat hooklines, slamming guitars, catchy melodies and magical vocals all along the line …“
(Saitenkult)

8 / 10
➤ „… a great album, and all Metal fans should give this appealing work a listen …“
(Metal Factory)

8 / 10
➤ „… powerful, crisp and at times traditional Hard Rock with a proper 80s broadside … with a wealth of great songs …“
(Rock It!)

8 / 10
➤ „… crisp, partly atmospheric Melodic Heavy Metal, which can be pigeonholed quite well with bands like later Pretty Maids, Bonfire, Eclipse, Crystal Ball or Jaded Heart … singer Elkie Gee does her thing really well! Fans of classic, rocking Melodic Metal should definitely get this one!“
(Crossfire Webzine)

7 / 10
➤ „… front woman with a strong voice … twelve tracks with a lot of feeling … successful debut …“
(Rock Hard DE)

➤ „… without exception experienced musicians, that succeeded in this excellently … powerfully produced and also exemplary mixed, the 10 songs and 2 intros bang out of the speakers and keep the promise. Because even if most of the songs start quite metallic, they almost always get the curve to Hard Rock and yet remain independent and modern enough to scare off neither the one nor the other faction. A great balancing act …“
(Metalglory)

➤ „… simply a great record, which convinces with music without a lot of fuss and should bring FRONT ROW WARRIORS into the focus of many Melodic Metal fans …“
(Metal Inside)

➤ „… sounds super professional for a debut album and thrills from front to back on the first listen. It’s been a while since a debut album blew me away right away … above all, the fantastic vocals with through the bank catchy hooks and strong choruses … a really skillful balancing act between catchy Hard Rock and sophisticated as well as Melodic Heavy Metal … there are almost too many highlights to list them all … inspires more and more from run to run …“
(Tracks Magazin)

➤ „… FRONT ROW WARRIORS have delivered a very strong album that can strike fear into other female-fronted bands, because singer Elkie puts the crown on the songs with her charismatic voice. But also the other musicians deliver a performance on the highest level. Listen to the songs and you will be as excited as I am!“
(Nightshade)

➤ „Characteristic of the band’s sound are the distinctive, raspy voice of Elkie Gee, whose clean vocals are somewhat reminiscent of the legendary Doro Pesh, and the keyboards, which feature a tasteful selection of synths that are deliberately typical of these years … an honest and genuine album …“
(Metalshock IT)

➤ „… interesting one … took me by surprise … you get a lot of diversity … quiet impressive … really, really great voice … solid songwriting … melodic, catchy tunes … great riffs … memorable album … I enjoyed it very much … there’s a lot to love here …“
(Power Metal Ranger)

➤ „In many ways I found it hard to believe at first that this is a debut album, because it seems very accomplished – good old melodic Heavy Metal – with a lot of life, nerve and not least melody … they have their own sound – not least because of the vocals of Elkie Gee – here the band has hit the nail on the head … 12 strong tracks – tracks that each deserve to be highlighted …“
(Rancor Metalzine)

➤ „… gripping choruses … good melody arcs … power ballads … fast riffs … epic … comes fat out of the boxes … knows how to inspire … who likes melodic metal, can access here without hesitation …“
(Breakout)

➤ „Excellent studio debut effort by the female-fronted Stuttgart sextet!“
(Unique High Fidelity)


Donnerstag, 5. Oktober 2023

 

BLOOD PYTHON
Profoundly spirited incantations


[ Logo: Blood Python ]

𖤐 With a hypnotic doomy edge, abyssic sworn to real Steel!


Band: BLOOD PYTHON
Title: Thunder City
Base: Oslo • Norway
Style: Occult Heavy Metal
Genre: Occult Rock, Traditional Heavy Metal, NWOBHM
FFO: Angel Witch, Heavy Load, Mercyful Fate
Type: Full-length
Format: Digital
Label: Independent
Release: Sept. 15, 2023


Bulletpoints:
🔘 Second album from the fascinating Scandinavian phenomenon
🔘 Occult & traditional Heavy Metal with a clear 80’s vibe
🔘 Catchy, with depth, soulful atmosphere & occasional experimentation


BLOOD PYTHON @ SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/2ZwyjxGoF6AH2PML6CIjf2?si=7wWdf9ZpR5q7npMRKNpwgg&nd=1


OCCULT HEAVY METAL
 from the eerie forests of Eastern Norway – BLOOD PYTHON rise from the graves of witchcraft, 80’s cassettes and shattered dreams.


Placed upon the sacrificial altar is the tough but brooding new album „Thunder City“, that is testament to BLOOD PYTHON’s struggle through world-spanning plague and the challenges of semi-lo-fi basement music production.

[ Artwork: Erik Alm ]

TRACKS:

  1. Witch’s Brew 04:41
  2. Omens 04:12
  3. The Wolves Ain’t Far Behind 04:36
  4. Conqueror 04:19
  5. Empire 04:37
  6. Swamp Sacrifice 07:14
  7. Lord Of Night 03:51
  8. The Gods That Fell To Earth 10:02

total 42:12

Listen on Bandcamp:
https://bloodpython.bandcamp.com/


With the first album „Acheron“ laying the foundation and catching the attention of underground Metal bums of Oslo, the hard-hitting, catchy and charismatic music of „Thunder City“, the new album of BLOOD PYTHON seeks to reach the next level.

[ Pic: Johnny Normann Berg ]


https://www.youtube.com/embed/e0lGre-bsCc?si=eXYg1Nxb5q7x0CpG
[ Acheron • Album 2022 ]


DISCOGRAPHY:

2022 • Acheron • Full-length
2023 • Thunder City • Full-length


🕷 Get prepared for strongest late 70s/early 80s vibes, wonderful obscure and sacral atmospheres & deepest artistic dedication! 🦇

🛒
https://bloodpython.bigcartel.com/


🌐 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 Action:
𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ • 𝓔𝓼𝓽. 2001
https://www.metalmessage.de/PR_BLOOD_PYTHON_en.php

MEDIA FEEDBACK:
90 / 100
➤ „… the musicianship is endearingly raw, with almost whispered cleans that tend toward melodic overlays, gritty guitar work and occasional horror-score keyboards … in the emphasis on straightforward catchiness, one can even detect a hint of post-Ghost appeal style … the songwriting have a niche Metal charm that is hard to resist …“
(The Metal Archives)

4 / 5
➤ „This one caught me by surprise … very raw and unadulterated ore of classic Heavy Metal … definitely has some DNA from protean stuff like Mercyful fate or even Venom … theatrical vibe, like something from Stormwitch or Cloven Hoof … rough, strained voice—like if Quorthon was a bit better … this is a band to check out …“
(The Metal Crypt)

8 / 10
➤ „… a real talent who deserves your attention … peculiar and yet utterly compelling in its macabre wonder … pure, lethal and at times foreboding Heavy Metal summed up by the majestic ‘Swamp Sacrifice’, which boasts the fluidity and spectral nature of Ghost … a dimension of shadows and spectre worth visiting …“
(Metal Forces)

8 / 10
➤ „BLOOD PYTHON’s second album will again divide listeners into delighted traditionalists and believers in modernity. ‚Thunder City‘ has charm and warmth because it doesn’t claim perfection, but creates metal from the gut and the heart.“
(Soundmagnet)

7,5 / 10
➤ „… simple but effective riffs and catchy solos … especially atmospheric, discreet keyboards in the background, which provide a gloomy atmosphere … epic choirs and acoustic guitars … theatrical vocals, which are often performed in multiple voices, mostly in a medium pitch and often a bit rough … cool doom riffs and some New Wave Of British Heavy Metal-like twinleads … production sounds nice old analog, very appropriate to the gloomy mood … oddball old school Metal album … like it well!
(Crossfire Webzine)

➤ „… this new album just takes things to the next level – both in terms of music and lyrics … so we are dealing with a very talented one-man band – and one of the kind I would definitely recommend …“
(Rancor Metalzine)

➤ „The songs exude a charm that surrounds the dark aura … can satisfy many hearts … a very own, rich, powerful Heavy Metal sound … a really interesting Heavy Metal band for those who like traditional sounds … spicy to wholly savory to fullest deliciousness …“
(Noisewriter)

➤ „This is a creator that knows his way around early 80’s traditional Heavy Metal for sure … the somewhat closed in mix that has been applied also gives the material the proper sound aesthetics of the time, comparable to the kind of albums released by cult labels such as Mausoleum Records and Black Dragon Records back in the day … to seek out by those who love and treasure early 80’s traditional Heavy Metal and who enjoy this specific style as well as the sound aesthetics you generally found among the underground metal bands some 40 years ago.“
(The Viking In The Wilderness)

➤ „… excellent grasp of traditional-Metal form and function … has the potential to be a Norwegian classic … an album that scrapes close to the edge of excellence and should definitely make a name for itself among Norwegian fans of 80s narrative Metal …“
(Metallurgi)

➤ „… an impressive work … the dark mysticism and 80s vibes make it a must for fans of Occult Rock and traditional Heavy Metal …“
(AM:plified Mag)

➤ „… what BLOOD PYTHON really does is create atmosphere! The album is imbued with a darkness, an unpolished underground aura … carries the gloom/horror heritage well, tidy, no frills … should be given a chance …“
(Forgotten Scroll)

Mittwoch, 17. Mai 2023

 ✨ 𝐼𝓂𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓉𝒶𝓁, 𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒶𝓅𝒽𝓎𝓈𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓁 𝓂𝓎𝓈𝓉𝒾𝒸𝒾𝓈𝓂 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝓃𝑜 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒 …

[ Logo: Anoushbard ]

🌓 𝒜𝒩𝒪𝒰𝒮𝐻𝐵𝒜𝑅𝒟 • 🇮🇷 • Eastern 𝓔𝔁𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓔𝓽𝓱𝓷𝓸 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓜𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓵 • Est. 2017 • #anoushbard

http://www.facebook.com/anoushbard/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4vn1sbM398VhKpkvXMO78d
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Anoushbard/3540462240

https://anoushbard.bandcamp.com/album/abandoned-treasure


Bulletpoints:
🔘 Second album of the soulful Iranian top artists
🔘 Sophisticated progressiveness, emphatically varied
🔘 Uniquely melodic, atmospheric, with strong identity


Action: ANOUSHBARD
Base: Tehran • Iran
Genre: Extreme Ethno Progressive Metal
Title: Abandoned Treasure
FFO: Orphaned Land, Melechesh, Opeth
📁 Genres: Progressive Metal, Death Metal, Atmospheric Metal, Folklore
Format: Album
Label: Independent
Distro: /
Release: April 01, 2023


🌐 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 Action:
𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ • 𝐸𝓈𝓉. 2001
https://www.metalmessage.de/PR_ANOUSHBARD_en.php


https://youtu.be/wHA41wTOOnY
[ The Righteous Ardaviraf (Preparation)
Official lyric video ]

The band says about „The Righteous Ardaviraf“:
„The song describes what our ancestors thought and believed about life after death. It happened many centuries ago: In the book ‚Arda Viraf‘ the story of the upright and meaning-seeking Wirāz is written down. Wirāz was a fervent, deeply devoted priest of the ancient Zoroastrian religion, who was chosen to go on an afterlife journey – to find out what really happens to a person and his soul after death. This was celebrated in a very special ritual intimately, with appropriate, solemn clothing. Thereby the holy book of the religious cult was read, the ‚Arda Viraf‘. The traveler was given three goblets of wine, which, by means of a special addition, caused him to fall into a death-like sleep for seven days. When he woke up, he could tell his experienced story. We strongly recommend our followers and fans to read more about this truly famous story, especially in its country of origin, Persia, which is set several centuries before Dante Alighieri’s kindred ‚Divine Comedy‘.“



Deepest spirituality:
The – rebellious – appeal of the forbidden has always represented an additional attractive element for true passionate and fervent idealists to live out their inclinations. This is also the case with ANOUSHBARD. The band risks so much to be able to fully devote themselves to their music.

And the correspondingly profound and lovingly polished, consistently convincing to brilliant result is ultimately also the fascinating mirror of the artistic ideal of these absolute conviction offenders.

With their second album „Abandoned Treasure“ these highly estimable thoroughbred musicians have completed a fabulous, completely timeless work, which reveals itself to be as hard-hitting as it is stylistically uncompromising – and which can intoxicate the senses with sophisticated high-quality sounds!



[ Artwork: Anoushbard ]

TRACKS
01. The Righteous Ardaviraf (Preparation) 03:16
02. The Righteous Ardaviraf (Journey) 05:46
03. The Righteous Ardaviraf (Return) 02:25
04. Destructive Spirit (Agra Mainyu) 03:37
05. Tower Of Silence (Dakhma) 04:57
06. Abandoned Treasure 05:45
07. Blacksmith’s Apron 06:58
08. Mother 05:23

total: 38:07




[ Pic: Anoushbard ]


LINE-UP
Sherwin Baradaran • Guitars, Vocals
Siavash Motallebi • Guitars
Arman Tirmahi • Bass



FLASHBACK:
Founded in 2017 by Sherwin Baradaran and Siavash Motallebi, the first album „Mithra“ was released in 2020. The debut album consists of 6 tracks, all of highly unique identity. Already on it, the participants had found their very own, fascinating and completely distinctive style.

Most of the extremely varied and diversely dynamic compositions thematize Iranian culture and often mystical stories passed down from it. Subsequently, ANOUSHBARD worked on another album, titled „Abandoned Treasure“ and featuring 8 tracks. As on the previous album, those involved mastered to focus on Persian literature and stories.

During all the years of existence, ANOUSHBARD had many difficulties in finding suitable co-musicians such as drummers or bassists. In 2021, Arman Tirmahi officially joined the formation as a bassist. He helped the group with the second album.

Nima Seylani, an accomplished Oud player, also joined the line-up. Many in the Western industrialized nations will find it hard to imagine: but the biggest obstacle in ANOUSHBARD’s path are the government regulations for Metal music there. Unfortunately, Metal is completely banned in Iran, so it’s not possible at all to perform in public or release an album.

Singer and guitarist Sherwin says:
„We named the band ANOUSHBARD, which was a political prison in the Sasanian Empire (224 – 651 AD) and which means a place where you forget your identity and disappear forever. As a band, we call ourselves that because we are very interested in the history of our country and in our Persian roots.“


DISCOGRAPHY
2020 • Mithra • Full-length
2021 • Blacksmith’s Apron • Single
2023 • Abandoned Treasure • Full-length


🌓 𝒜𝒩𝒪𝒰𝒮𝐻𝐵𝒜𝑅𝒟 • 🇮🇷 • Eastern 𝓔𝔁𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓮 𝓔𝓽𝓱𝓷𝓸 𝓟𝓻𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓜𝓮𝓽𝓪𝓵 • Est. 2017 • #anoushbard

💿 2nd album „Abandoned Treasure“
🗓️ Release: April 01, 2023

💥 𝙌𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙘𝙡𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙨!

Montag, 24. April 2023

 

Radiant, enchanting & uplifting!


[ Logo: Nicolas Spreutels ]

Action: KATE NORD
Base: Casperia • Italy
Genre: Symphonic Fantasy Metal
Title: Compass To Your Heart’s Desire
FFO: Nightwish, Epica, Enya
Format: Album
Label: Independent
Release: Dec. 16, 2022


🌐 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙤 & 𝙋𝙍 Action:
𝗠𝗘𝗧𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗔𝗚𝗘 ᴳᴸᴼᴮᴬᴸ • 𝐸𝓈𝓉. 2001
https://www.metalmessage.de/PR_KATE_NORD_en.php

Bulletpoints:
• Deeply soulful, upliftingly visionary debut album
• Sensational clear, operetta-like female vocals
• Inspiring noble mix of Melodic, Power & Symphonic Metal

https://www.youtube.com/embed/9f1yYLIXZ78
[ Embrace The Cold • Lyric Video ]

Kate says about the song:
„This is a dark and epic story about facing difficult times and the struggle to keep going nonetheless. ‚Embracing the cold‘ is not about giving up or bending to your circumstances, but is rather a metaphor for radical acceptance of your situation and trying to make the most out of what you have. Embrace the cold, to find your way back to the sunlight!“

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qeen4n2uWZ8
[ Compass To Your Heart’s Desire • Album Teaser ]

KATE NORD is a classically trained Finnish singer/songwriter who creates high quality SYMPHONIC FANTASY METAL in central Italy.

With her versatile, impressively clear as well as amazingly soprano strong exceptional voice, this fabulous golden throat can easily compete with the best and most famous of the entire guild.


[ Pic: Marco Savi • SPF Produzioni ]


LINE-UP:
Kate Nord • Vocals, Keys, Orchestration
Francesco Mattei • Guitars
Andrea Arcangeli • Bass
Omar Campitelli • Drums

„Compass To Your Heart’s Desire“ is KATE NORD’s debut album as a solo artist, with a special guest solo by Timo Tolkki, popular by Finnish Power Metallers Stratovarius.


[ Artwork: Nicolas Spreutels ]

TRACKS:
01. Recitative To The Moon 01:47
02. All Alone 03:28
03. The North Wind And The Troll 03:50
04. Embrace The Cold 02:59
05. Wither And Rust (feat. Timo Tolkki) 05:04
06. Dream Of Daylight 05:37
0. Breathe In The Night 03:43
08. Dance Of The Fairies 02:58
09. Aeternam Vale 04:24


„Compass To Your Heart’s Desire“ is inspired by Scandinavian folk tales about trolls and fairies and the illustrations to these tales, such as the works of John Bauer, as well as fantasy novels as well as the works of the world famous fantasy grandmaster J. R. R. Tolkien.

„Compass To Your Heart’s Desire“ is embedded in wonderfully powerful Heavy/Power Metal sounds with slamming drums and furious distortion guitars, often bursting with fully melodic, catchy outbursts.


[ Pic: Marco Savi • SPF Produzioni ]


FLASHBACK:

Her first release as a solo singer was a cover of Howard Blake’s „Walking In The Air“ in 2017.

Kate’s musical resume includes formal studies in classical singing in both Finland and Italy. She began her music studies in Porvoo, Finland with pianist Diana Bärlund, who also taught former Lordi keyboardist Awa (Leena Peisa).

Kate already appeared as a lyricist of the Italian Progressive Power Metal ensemble Noveria since the band’s formation in 2013. She was also featured as a guest vocalist on Noveria’s album „Forsaken“, released 2016 via Scarlet Records.


MEDIA FEEDBACK:

98 / 100
➤ „… a stunning album … a must for any fan of (female fronted) Symphonic Metal … fantastically beautifully composed and arranged … goosebumps … beauty and purity … phenomenal voice … incomparable … if you think Tarja Turunen is the best female singer, then Kate Nord comes right after!“
(Musika)

95 / 100
➤ „… very melodic, harmonic structures … a good album full of first-line classic elements … KATE NORD’s beautiful voice is unique with a clean, white and soft register! Excellent soprano!“
(Darkzen Dragon)

9 / 10
➤ „With a good sound … style influenced by Nightwish, Xandria, Amberian Dawn, including her soprano skills … intense songs … very emotional and melancholic … brilliant vocal performance … very outstanding … an exquisite album … recommended from start to finish …“
(Locos Por El Power Metal)

9 / 10
➤ „… an exhibition of classical vocals … outstanding … has a unique ability to transport emotions … very well produced … KATE NORD sets a very high bar in terms of individual performance … very promising … Symphonic Metal fans can be very excited about ‚Compass To Your Heart’s Desire‘ …“
(Metal Temple)

80 / 100
➤ „… reminds me of a good Nightwish, Epica, Within Temptation … so good for those who prefer something more melodic, clear and beautiful rather than something heavy and aggressive … Timo Tolkki is a guest musician … I can recommend it to those who like opera and classical music, and it is also suitable for those who listen to pop music, as a few songs are quite catchy …“
(MariMetal)

7,5 / 10
➤ „… will not fail to appeal to fans of formations such as Epica and Nightwish, but also to those who are not generally accustomed to sounds of this kind, resulting in an effective product that is worth giving a chance.“
(Heavy Metal Webzine)

7,5 / 10
➤ „… turned out quite pompous … immediately the intro shows their skills in all facets … the voice is clearly focused … very harmoniously kept … everything sounds like from one cast … who likes Nightwish, Within Temptation, Epica or the soundtrack to ‚The Lord Of The Rings‘ (keyword: Enya), should definitely listen in here!“
(Crossfire)

7 / 10
➤ „… brings back memories of glorious Nightwish times with Tarja as the front woman … musical treat …“
(Metal DE)

7 / 10
➤ „… varied vocals that give you goosebumps especially in the middle registers … fantastic melodies … KATE NORD’s songwriting talent is beyond question on this album … from brisk to gloomy, bombastic to dreamy and classical to Metal, the artist glides through the stylistic elements with her songs and skillfully combines them into a coherent, entertaining album … fans of female fronted Metal and Symphonic Metal may heartily enjoy!“
(Der Hörspiegel)

➤ „… practices her soprano voice with bravura … opera-inspired … stunning classical content … imagine Nightwish mixed with Rhapsody Of Fire with female vocals taking classical singing to the extreme … this is it.“
(Metal Addicts)

➤ „This album is awesome, Symphonic Metal with touches of Progressive and Power Metal, masterfully executed, with great arrangements and beautiful vocals … excellent work …“
(Metal Pedia)

➤ „Tremendous listening experience … even if I don’t like to draw comparisons, in the case of KATE NORD some with Tarja are obvious, after all they both have the same home … so if you like to be enveloped by symphonic sounds and enchanted by a beautiful voice, this is the right address!“
(Metalmamas Neuigkeiten)

➤ „… a promising debut and an artist to keep an eye on if female-fronted Symphonic Metal is your thing.“
(Sea Of Tranquility)

➤ „… this is tightly packed … good production … soul piercing through every line and riff … KATE NORD’s singing voice is clear in every word, in every syllable, and she is the clearest of all … her high voice is no different from a graceful fairy goddess … great … her throat is the best … as for the symphonic part, it is both elegant and beautiful, changing depending on the song … everything can make happy … truly heavenly …“
(Noisewriter)

About

Mein Bild
Munich, Germany
📢 𝗣𝗥 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 • 𝐸𝓈𝓉. 2001 🎯 Consistent 5✭ rated 🌐 Worldwide reach: print, online, radio ⫸ Many years of extensive and in-depth experience in various musical fields form the basis for individual and efficient services ⫸ In addition to communications for global Public Relations, the main areas of activity are integrated Promotion Campaigns, as well as Marketing, Artist Management, Consulting & Mentoring

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