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Manchester’s dirty rock n blues mavericks, Gorilla Riot release brand new music with single, ‘Black Heart Woman‘, out today on Fri 24 January across all download and streaming platforms.

‘Black Heart Woman‘ is taken from their first full-length album, ‘PEACH‘, which is now available for pre-order at gorillariotband.com and also pre-save for streaming at https://backl.ink/100686089

‘PEACH‘ is available in Digital, CD and Vinyl formats and released through Off Yer Rocka Recordings (OYR). Distribution is via Cargo Records with a release date of Friday 31 January 2020. An album launch show will be held at Rebellion, Manchester on Sat 08 Feb 2020.

GR frontman, Arjun Bhishma, said, “Black Heart Woman came about after messing around with some basic open chords on the guitar. It is heavily influenced by 70’s rock, both musically and lyrically.

The song offered us something different to include on our new album, ‘Peach’, than we had done previously. Namely a more up-tempo feel whilst still retaining the Riot sound. It’s a lot of fun to play live! I recorded the vocals with my (now) ex-girlfriend staring at me from across the room. That may have been a mistake. She was expecting a ballad…”

Gorilla Riot are a 5-piece dirty rock n’ roll blues machine from Manchester, England. Using a 3-prong guitar attack with multi-part vocal harmonies; they play raucous blues-based rock, combining elements of grunge, stoner, and country to create a full-on high energy show.

Created by mainman, Arjun Bhishma, he surrounded himself with the best talent in Manchester to form Gorilla Riot.  Arjun, Liam Henry (guitars & vocals), Charly T. (guitars & vocals), James Degnen (bass), have been recently joined by Will Lewis on skins.

Equally at home acoustically or electrically they toured extensively last year with shows in Spain and France, and then across the UK with Australian rockers, Massive before ending the year on the Planet Rock Roadstars tour, with Piston and Hannah Wicklund.

Along with the release of ‘PEACH‘, Gorilla Riot have their song, ‘Bad Son‘, included on the forthcoming ‘Earache presents New Wave Of Rock N Roll’ compilation album, to be released on Fri 13 March 2020

LIVE DATES:
Ticket links: https://www.facebook.com/pg/GorillaRiot/events
Sat 08 Feb – Album Release Show, Rebellion, Manchester
Sat 29 Feb – Winter’s End Festival, Poole
Sat 21 Mar – Bannerman’s Edinburgh
Sun 22 Mar – The Waterloo Music Bar, Blackpool
Fri 27 Mar – Cobblestones, Bridgwater
Sat 28 Mar – Crazy Cowboy 5, Facebar, Reading
Sun 05 Apr – Real Time Live, Chesterfield
Fri 10 Apr – Nightrain, Bradford
Sat 18 Apr – Rock The Red Lion Fest, Leo’s Red Lion, Gravesend
Sat 09 May – Outlaw Rock N Roll Weekend, The Globe, Glossop
Sun 24 May – Breaking Bands Festival, Bromsgrove
Fri 05 Jun – Loverocks Festival, Nr Bournemouth
Sat 06 Jun – Echo Hotel Music Club, Hook
Sat 11 Jul – Holmfirth Rock Splash, Picturedrome, Holmfirth (w/ Massive Wagons)
Sat 01 Aug – Just Push Play 2020, The Apex, Bury St Edmunds (w/ Those Damn Crows)

Line up:

Arjun Bhishma (vocals/guitar)
Liam Henry (guitar/vocals)
Charly T. (guitar/vocals)
James Degnen (bass)
Will Lewis (drums)

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The career of Gary Moore was a jagged timeline, full of twists, turns and wild tangents. And yet, through it all, the Irishman never lost faith in the power of live music. On December 2nd, 2009 – just fourteen months before his tragic death aged 58 – the fabled guitarist played a special one-off club show at London’s Islington Academy. Live In London, the album that perfectly captures that incredible night, is out now via Provogue/Mascot Label Group.

As adolescence hit, Moore fell headlong into the blues flavours that dominate ‘Live From London”s tracklisting, mostly drawing on US giants like Paul Butterfield and Brit Blues godfather John Mayall’s seminal 1966 ‘Beano‘ album with Eric Clapton and during that same formative period, at Belfast’s tough Club Rado, an early lesson in the emotional impact of live blues came from Peter Green.

Moore’s own first semi-professional steps had been with the Beat Boys and Dublin’s Skid Row, who offered an escape-route from Belfast, plus the camaraderie of the band’s chaotic frontman, Phil Lynott.  Lynott was soon fired, but he remembered his old wingman when his new band, Thin Lizzy, needed a stand-in. It was a gig in which Moore played the guitar hero role to the hilt. But despite the adulation, Moore feared Lizzy was nurturing his self-destructive streak, and left to explore the outer reaches in Jon Hiseman’s virtuoso jazz-fusion outfit, Colosseum II.

However, every time he picked up a guitar in the dressing room, he immediately went to the timeless licks of the Mississippi Delta, Moore suddenly saw the path. So began 1990’s Still Got The Blues, the multi-million-selling comeback album on which the Irishman’s rebirth as an authentic bluesman was given added credibility by collaborations with A-listers like Albert King, Albert Collins and Harrison himself. ”

The material from ‘Still Got The Blues‘ became the cornerstone of Moore’s shows – and it never left the setlist. Fast-forward to December 2009, and as a sea of punters streamed into the Islington Academy for the show that would become Live From London. The pace was set by Albert King’s ‘Oh Pretty Woman‘, and the home straight taking in the raucous ‘Walking By Myself‘ and the weeping melody of the title track. And of course, there was room for ‘Parisienne Walkways‘, the guitarist’s UK#8 hit sounding younger than yesterday on this new release. “I can hardly get away without doing it,” noted the guitarist of that fan-favourite encore. “It’s quite a long version, because I like to draw things out. Us guitar players, if we can squeeze a bit more out of it, we’re gonna do it, aren’t we?”

Between the opener and encore, Moore gave us everything he had in Islington, revisiting some of the key crossroads of his career. From his 2008 swansong album, ‘Bad For You Baby’, there’s the energetic title track, plus Down The Line’s high-velocity country-blues and the emotive leads of Donny Hathaway’s I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know. Reaching further back, there’s the heartfelt guitar hook of Otis Rush’s All Your Love and an emotive reading of John Mayall’s Have You Heard, both songs that Moore would have first heard on ‘Beano’ as a teenage guitarist.

All the more poignant, then, that just over a year later, Moore would be gone, his screaming-hot Les Paul falling forever silent. In the blues community, it left a chasm, and while the scene has welcomed a roll-call of master guitar players since, the Irishman’s absence still stings. Live From London is one last shard of genius, catching a generation-best performer firing on all cylinders, and reminding us one last time why he was put on this planet.

Track Listing:
1. Oh, Pretty Woman
2. Bad For You Baby
3. Down The Line
4. Since I Met You Baby
5. Have You Heard
6. All Your Love
7. Mojo Boogie
8. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know
9. Too Tired / Gary’s Blues 1
10. Still Got The Blues
11. Walking By Myself
12. The Blues Alright
13. Parisienne Walkways

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Dutch multi-instrumentalist Ron Coolen will release his debut album ‘RISE‘ through RC Music on March 1, 2020. The album features a great line-up of world class guest musicians: George Lynch, Keith St. John, Christopher Amott, Göran Edman, Stéphan Forté, Joey Concepcion, Thorsten Koehne, Chris Clancy, Johannes Persson, Daniël Verberk, Steve Lamb and Sam Walters.   

‘RISE‘ contains 12 tracks in the best style of classic hard rock and heavy metal, with some prog and thrash here and there. All music is written by Ron, and he played all rhythm guitars, drums, bass and keyboards.

‘RISE‘ will ONLY be available through www.roncoolen.rocks. The CD (including a beautiful 20-page booklet) can be pre-ordered from today onwards. In digital format the album will be available on March 1.

Supporting the release of ‘RISE’, the first single of the album is released today. The song is called ‘Big Devil Data’ and it features Keith St. John (Burning Rain, Lynch Mob, Kingdom Come, Montrose) on vocals and Thorsten Koehne (Eden’s Curse) on solo guitar.

For every album sold, Ron will donate 1 USD to Jason Becker, who is suffering from ALS. Jason needs any financial support to pay for his medical bills. Jason has been a huge inspiration to Ron throughout his musical career, and Ron has done charity work for Jason before. Follow this link for more information on the charity for Jason.

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Perris Records and SteelCity announce March 20th, 2020 as the worldwide release date for the group’s new studio album, ‘Mach II‘.

On January 2nd the band released this lyric video for ‘Hearts On Fire‘, the first single from ‘Mach II‘.

Band leader and guitarist Mike Floros states “While searching for a new record label to call our home, SteelCity was diligent in its quest. Our goal was to find someone with a worldwide distribution network, a strong belief in our music, and the dedication to share it with as many people as humanly possible. One name was on the lips of everyone we spoke with and that was Perris Records. We’re truly excited to call Perris home and look forward to a fantastic relationship.”

Perris Records President Tom Mathers adds:  “Mike contacted me about releasing “Mach II” and after hearing the music, I thought it was a perfect fit for Perris. This is a perfect follow up to their last release ‘Fortress‘. Fans will be blown away by the songs and quality of the recording for this melodic hard rock Masterpiece”

BIO:
Thunder & Lightning. Two words that can be used to describe the incendiary sound that is SteelCity.  Thunder by way of a booming, monstrous rhythm section. Lightning in the form of heavy, riff-driven guitars, soaring lead vocals, and lush harmonies. This is hard rock music that truly mesmerizes the listener the very instant they hear it unleashed.  Brash yet sophisticated, unapologetic yet still heartwarming, SteelCity provides an unabashed homage to the golden age of hard rock, harkening back and speaking directly to you, becoming part of the soundtrack of your life. Initially started as a solo project by founding member, principal songwriter, and guitarist Mike Floros, SteelCity evolved into the band that it is today.  By carefully assembling the most skilled, talented rock musicians available, Mike formed a band that is a vaunted force in the melodic hard rock world.

Enter Roy Cathey, lead vocalist extraordinaire.  As a member of the early-90s sensation Cold Sweat, his Herculean voice has been appreciated by audiences worldwide. Holding down the bottom end is Jason Cornwell. An experienced studio and touring musician, “The Boston Bassman” has shared the stage with such luminaries as Eric Martin.  BJ Zampa brings the heat from behind the drum kit. BJ brings style, substance, and fury to fuel the band. Rounding out the group is Tony Stahl, whose keyboards bring texture and depth to SteelCity’s songs, thus completing the shape of their sound.

2019 was a challenging year for SteelCity, as we were tasked with following up our successful debut, Fortress. To a man, not only did we meet the challenge but surpassed it. Great songwriting, powerful production, and amazing performances abound on our latest effort, Mach II. We hope you love listening to it as much as we loved making it for you.

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King Solomon Hicks has announced his debut album, ‘Harlem‘, which will be released on 13th March, 2020 via Provogue, a division of Mascot Label Group. You can pre-order the album here.

The 24 year old grew up in Harlem “around a lot of great musicians,” he says. The city is synonymous with vibrancy, art and music ever since the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 1930s. Situated in Manhattan, New York City, that period saw a creative surge sweep the neighbourhood, which included writer and political activist Hubert Harrison, entertainer and civil rights activist Josephine Baker as well as the rise of legendary jazz players such as Duke Ellington who was one of the early performers at the now world famous Cotton Club. The Jazz scene was exploding with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, and Bessie Smith all coming through the city and that was just the tip of the iceberg.  Whilst Harlem has been home to the greats such as Al Pacino, the Marx Brothers, James Reese Europe, George and Ira Gershwin, Arthur Miller, Sammy Davis Jr, Sonny Rollins…the list goes on. There’s something in the water there.

Music runs through the veins of the city, so there was no doubt that the young Hicks, who was only 6 years old when he started playing the guitar, was going to absorb those surroundings. By 13 he was on the stage at the Cotton Club, four times a week, as lead guitarist in the clubs’ 17 piece band and was already playing in legendary venues such as St. Nick’s in Sugar Hill and the iconic Lenox Lounge which Malcolm X had been a patron, and had seen the likes of Miles Davis and John Coltrane grace the stage.

His full debut, ‘Harlem‘ is produced by multiple Grammy Award winner Kirk Yano (Miles Davis, Public Enemy, Mariah Carey), and showcases Hicks as a writer, player and interpreter. Originals such as the roadhouse ready 421 South Main, the gospel shuffle of Have Mercy on Me and the aching instrumental Riverside Drive, he rubs musical elbows with staples such as Everyday I Sing the Blues and It’s Alright, a Latin-tinged take on Blood, Sweat & Tears’ I Love You More Than You Will Ever Know, a funked-up romp through Gary Wright’s Love is Alive and a searing rendition of Sonny Boy Williamson’s Help Me that closes the album.

Hicks has been steeped in music for as long as he can remember. “It’s not like New Orleans, where music is 24 hours a day — but it’s close.” His mother also took him, as a youngster, to local nightspots, “when you’re around good musicians, it gives you that spark — ‘I want to do what you do. I want to hold my own,'” says Hicks. “But being around those types of musicians also taught me to NOT be the fastest guitar player. I wanted to be the one who knew the most riffs and drew on a lot of knowledge so I could play anything, and with anyone.”

He enrolled to the Harlem School of Arts and the prestigious educational program Jazzmobile, and while performing on his home turf, he also expanded to venues such as the Iridium, the Red Rooster, Ashford & Simpson’s Sugar Bar, Terra Blues and more. After high school Hicks began playing in Europe, opening for Jeff Beck and Ringo Starr, playing festivals in Spain and France, as well as at the Cotton Club in Tokyo, and being booked on KISS Kruise V in 2017 and on this year’s Joe Bonamassa Blues Alive at Sea Cruise. He’s shared stages with the likes of Tony Bennett, Beth Hart, George Thorogood & the Destroyers, Mavis Staples, Paul Shaffer and others. He has also performed at the United Nations in New York City, for former Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, former Governor of New York David Paterson and during a New York Knicks game.

Since the 6 year old Solomon picked up the guitar, it has all led to this moment and that certainly shows on Harlem, an 11-song salute to those roots — and how the 24-year-old guitarist and singer has turned them into his own fierce and distinctive style.  “This has been a long time coming,” he says of his first major recording, “but I’m really happy with the sound and the way everybody played. This music is where I come from. It’s really special to be able to record these songs — and really important to get ’em right.”

Hicks and Yano started working on Harlem two years ago, finishing up during late 2019. “It was just about getting my own sound together,” explains Hicks, who was aided by a corps of players that includes members of Soulive, Lettuce, Jack White and Hank William Jr.’s band and others — including Foghat/Savoy Brown veteran Roger Earl “I didn’t want it to be traditional,” he says. “I wanted people to feel like they’re in a juke joint, listening to what the blues sounds like in 2019, my own spin on it.”

Track Listing:

1. Rather Be Blind
2. Every Day I Sing The Blues
3. What The Devil Loves
4. 421 South Main
5. I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know
6. Headed Back To Memphis
7. My Love Is Alive
8. Have Mercy On Me
9. Riverside Drive
10. It’s Alright
11. Help Me

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LORDI have released their new lyric video for single ‘Like A Bee To The Honey‘, a track written by Paul Stanley/Jean Beauvoir.

The new LORDI album features an unreleased song by KISS frontman Paul Stanley! The hidden gem ‘Like A Bee To The Honey‘ also features the Hanoi Rocks legend Michael Monroe.

LORDI‘s 10th studio album ‘Killection‘ will be released worldwide on the 31st of January through AFM Records. Not only is the album a brand new concept in itself – a fictitious collection of hits from the years and decades past – but it also brings a truly hidden gem into the daylight: one of the songs on the album is ‘Like A Bee To The Honey’, which was written by KISS’s lead singer Paul Stanley together with Jean Beauvoir, known for working with names such as Bruce Springsteen, The Ramones and of course KISS. The song that had been collecting dust in Beauvoir’s desk drawer ever since the end of the 1980’s has now been handed down to LORDI.

“This is a tremendous honour to a band that wouldn’t even exist without KISS. Simply having the privilege to listen to a song from the 1980’s that no fan has ever heard before… and then to get to be the artist that brings the song for everyone to hear – it is mind-blowing“, Mr. Lordi states.

Mr. Lordi and the band’s guitarist Amen had been making songs together with Jean Beauvoir as a trio, and one of these songs, ‘Scream Demon‘, made its way to the new album. It was during these songwriting sessions in Helsinki that the very existence of ‘Like A Bee To The Honey‘ came up: Jean thought the song would fit the new record perfectly, and the band was more than ready to get this rare gem on their album. The song is made even more unique by its saxophone solo – first one ever in Lordi’s history – performed by the Hanoi Rocks legend Michael Monroe.

Formed in 1992, LORDI is by far one of the most successful acts in the Finnish music history, and the group’s very own visual creations have charmed millions of people all over the world.

LORDI release their new album ‘Killection‘ on 31st January 2020, on AFM Records.

You can pre-order your copy of ‘Killection‘ here: https://shop.afm-records.de/de/lordi/

The album will be available as Digipak, Ltd. Box set, Ltd. Gtf. Picture 2 Vinyl, Ltd. Gtf. Turquise 2 Vinyl, Ltd. GTF Clear 2 Vinyl, Ltd. Gtf. Black/Silver Splatter 2 Vinyl and digital!
Pre-order here: http://afmrec.de/Killection

Rock/Heavy Metal monsters LORDI were founded in 1992 by lead singer, songwriter, visual art designer and costume designer Mr. Lordi. The band has deep Finnish roots originating from the city of Rovaniemi in Lapland. In 2006 they celebrated their international breakthrough by winning the Eurovision Song Contest (‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’).

But is it possible that this is only a pale misperception of our poor, limited reality?
What if LORDI would have already been making music since the early 70’s? And what if they have been releasing one hit single after the other since those times and now, almost 50 years later, are looking back on a full collection of songs that have been successful ever since?
This is exactly the idea that LORDI are executing with their newest studio album ‘Killection‘.

‘Killection‘ will be released on January 31st via AFM Records. Once more Mr. Lordi, the master of the masquerade, presents us with one of his ideas, absurd and genius at the same time, and comes up with a concept that has never been done before in the music industry: This is a compilation album that simply says “what if” LORDI had been in existence since the early 70’s. It contains all their imaginary hit singles from different periods done with painstaking attention to detail using authentic studios and vintage technology. This is how they would have sounded if LORDI had made music back then and therefore would have had the hit material to release this compilation now.

This is how Mr. Lordi himself sums it up:
“Killection is a fictional compilation album. It contains songs that LORDI would have written between the early 70’s through the mid-90’s. The compilation contains one “brand new” song from 2019 as well, cause that’s somehow always typical for compilations.”

Tracklist:
01 Radio SCG 10
02 Horror For Hire
03 Shake The Baby Silent
04 Like A Bee To The Honey
05 Apollyon
06 SCG10 The Last Hour
07 Blow My Fuse
08 I Dug A Hole In The Yard For You
09 Zombimbo
10 Up To No Good
11 SCG10 Demonic Semitones
12 Cutterfly
13 Evil
14 Scream Demon
15 SCG10 I Am Here

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Danny Vaughn and Dan Reed are delighted to premiere the lyric video for the lead single from ‘Hurricane Riders‘: their joint project Snake Oil & Harmony’s full-length, debut album.

‘Last Man Standing’ is a glorious track that vividly showcases just how well the two Dans work together. Here, Dan Reed provides the tune (with a super-catchy hook and melody) and Danny Vaughn provides his trademark talent for storytelling in song and honest-yet-uplifting lyrics, whilst the singers’ voices complement each other perfectly.

Dan Reed explains the song’s origins: “‘Last Man Standing’ is one of the tracks on the new album where I had written this track that had no lyrics and passed it over to Danny Vaughn who within days sent it back with this amazing story and in-depth lyrics that captured the mood of the music perfectly and reinforced with immense positivity ‘why’ we were making an album together! Often times on this road called life, we have to wonder if we will metaphorically be the last person standing in different situations, but when it comes to romance and love the stakes are the highest for the heart and soul.”

Danny Vaughn adds this about their process: “From the start, Snake Oil & Harmony has been about collaboration and partnership. It’s very difficult to find two lead singers and their respective bands’ main songwriters who can be completely at ease with one another. ‘Last Man Standing’ illustrates the clockwork of our partnership very well. Dan trusted me with some very evocative music to paint a picture with and the ideas started coming immediately. The whole album is filled with moments where it’s difficult to tell where one man’s work leaves off and the other one picks up.”

Snake Oil & Harmony’s own origins traced back to Reed and Vaughn’s meeting at Download Festival in 2014 as frontmen of their respective bands: Danny Vaughn, as lead vocalist of hard rock band Tyketto) and Dan Reed, fronting funk rockers Dan Reed Network. Recognising kindred spirits, the two decided to combine their talents in a joint project: a live acoustic touring act called Snake Oil & Harmony. This led to two acclaimed tours, where the pair shared their songs, and the stories behind them, with audiences throughout Europe, building a rep for their singing, musicianship and spellbinding rapport with their audiences.

The tours sparked the pair into further creative partnership, kindling their considerable talents as songwriters to create new, original songs, which they added to their repertoire on tour to critical acclaim and their fans’ delight. Now, Snake Oil & Harmony are releasing their debut album, Hurricane Riders Friday 28th February, to coincide with their next tour, which begins in March 2020.

Both artists are thrilled to be taking the album out on the road, along with their respective solo material (with classic Dan Reed Network and Tyketto songs on the bill as well).

Snake Oil & Harmony’s new tour takes in the UK, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Austria and other countries between March and early April, and will mark the group’s debuts in cities like Stockholm and Göteborg in Sweden.

For a limited time, you can pre-order the first Snake Oil & Harmony album at Townsend Music. Pre-orders will be taken from now until Feb 3 and all those who purchase in advance will receive their copies by Valentine’s Day!

Pre-order link

https://snakeoilandharmony.tmstor.es/

UK Tour Dates

March 12: Putney, London, The Half Moon

March 13: Milton Keynes, The Craufurd Arms

March 14: Sheffield, Local Authority @ The Corporation

March 15: Newcastle Upon Tyne, The Cluny

March 17: Chester, The Live Rooms

March 18: Bristol, The Fleece

March 20: Aberdare, Wales, Jacs

March 21: Stoke On Trent, Eleven

March 22: Bilston, The Robin 2

March 24: Blackpool, The Waterloo

March 25: Glasgow, Cottiers Theatre

March 27: Manchester, Night People

March 28: Ballymena, NI, The Diamond

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Street Symphonies Records & Burning Minds Music Group are excited to announce all the details of ‘Burn ’em All‘, the new album by Swedish hard/sleaze rockers, Confess.

After several years of touring, writing and pledging their legion to rock ‘n’ roll music, the Swedish five pieces combo took some time off to write the hits for their third official studio album. It’s for sure their most honest and well crafted release so far. Some would say it’s the perfect mix between their debut album ‘Jail‘ and the follow-up ‘Haunters‘.

‘Burn ’em All‘ is scheduled for release on February 28, 2020 via Street Symphonies Records / Burning Minds Music Group and is available for pre-orders now: https://www.plastichead.com/item.aspx?catno=SSR037CD.

A special personalized edition has been created by Outward Styles in a very limited quantity of 30 copies, and will be available exclusively on the label’s online shop. A vinyl version will follow-up through German label Diabolic Might Records (http://www.diabolicmightrecords.com); more details will follow in the forthcoming weeks.

The album cover art has been designed by Gisel Ippoliti.

Tracklist:

  1. So What?
  2. Malleus
  3. Welcome Insanity
  4. A Beautiful Mind
  5. Heresy
  6. Burn ’em All
  7. Is It Love
  8. My Vicious Way
  9. 509
  10. Prominence
  11. One For The Road

Line up:

John Elliot: Lead vocals

Blomman: Guitar

Pontus: Guitar

Ludwig: Bass

Sam Samael: Drums

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Dubai-based multinational metal band Svengali have announced their stunning new album ‘Sayonara‘, set for release on 20th March 2020.

To celebrate the announcement, they have released new single ‘Freight Train‘. A crushing barrage of riffs with a powerful chorus.

Featuring members from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and India, the quartet bring together diverse and unique influences – both in music and in life – to create one of the most ferocious and emotively entrancing metal albums of 2020.

The band comment: “This album is a representation of the last five years of our lives – which spans from being homeless and living in a car in one of the most expensive cities in the world, to building our own studio and recording the album independently.
The first single ‘Freight Train’ talks about just that. Pushing forward, regardless of the struggle and coming out on top with those who stuck around.”

With one EP and one full-length under their belts, and having played countless shows in the Middle East, Svengali have grown into one of the hottest prospects from the region. Their debut album ‘Theory Of Mind’ reached number #2 in the UAE Virgin Megastore Charts and they are the only metal band who have been nominated in the huge Dubaian Ahlan Awards ‘Best Live Act’ category. Shows with the likes Sepultura, Jinjer, Kreator, Arch Enemy and Septic Flesh across Turkey, Greece, Lebanon, UAE and Dubai have proven that they can compete with the best in the business, and they’re now ready to take their sound to the global stage with new album ‘Sayonara‘.

Featuring nine tracks of crushing riffs and headbanging grooves, ‘Sayonara‘ wastes no time in pummelling the listener, but it’s also not short on dynamism and melody. From the instant violence of opener ‘Alcatraz’ through to the heartfelt ‘Labyrinth’, Svengali’s wide range of influences are clearly apparent, but come together in a unified sound that is distinctly their own.

Inspired by a story of control with a sinister intent, their name Svengali is an indication of their lyrical topics of interest and they go deep on ‘Sayonara‘. Exploring the state of mind during an addiction relapse, uniting and fighting against oppression, losing identity, overcoming obstacles and more, Svengali’s thoughts have huge relevance in today’s world, and their multinational Middle Eastern take makes it all the more fascinating.

Recorded and produced in-house, ‘Sayonara‘ paints a stark picture of Svengali’s journey and a band and individuals up until now, and promises to pave their way to becoming one of the most important global metal bands in 2020.

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