J.K Impera band leader/drummer – Impera

Interviewed by Anders Sandvall

Thanks to Khalil Turk at Escape Music for the help to get this done.

Thanks to Escape Music for the promo pictures of the band

Promo pictures of the band is taken by: Tallee Savage

Impera is a brand new Swedish act led by drummer J.K Impera. He has gathered an all-star line up with Tommy Denander on guitar, Mats Vassfjord on bass and last but not least the incredible Matti Alfonzetti on vocals. The debut called LEGACY OF LIFE came in late October and I got a hold of J.K Impera in order to talk about the new album, about the band, the amazing line up and the future of the band. Read more about the latest hardrock band from Sweden. 

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Henrik Flyman band leader/guitarist – Evil Masquerade

Interviewed by: Anders Sandvall

Thanks to Trine at DARK MINSTEL MUSIC for the help and for the promo pictures of Evil Masquerade taken by: Thomas Trane

Single pictures of Henrik Flyman are from his own homepage and taken by: Thomas Trane

Additional live pictures are from the archives of: Anders Sandvall

The Danish/Swedish act Evil Masquerade released their fifth album earlier this year titled PENTAGRAM. The album is in my opinion one of the best albums of 2012 so of course was an interview with band leader/guitarist Henrik Flyman perfectly in order. This time around we spoke about PENTAGRAM, about the bands history with various labels through the years as well as past and present band members. If you’re into some good old fashioned hard rock make sure to check out Evil Masquerade I promise you won’t be disappointed.

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ALESTORM mastermind Christopher Bowes is ready to conquer the Scottish highlands with his new band GLORYHAMMER!

“Greetings my friends and fellow warriors, today we can announce that GLORYHAMMER’s debut abum “Tales from the Kingdom of Fife” will be released on March 29th 2013, through Napalm Records. We are also thrilled to show to you the album artwork, painstakingly handcrafted by Dan Goldsworthy (responsible for the album covers of ACCEPT, HELL, SYLOSIS, and many more). The art depicts the great hero Angus McFife, questing valiantly through the frozen highlands, wielding the Hammer of Glory. A truly magnificent piece, I’m sure you’ll agree. We can also reveal to you for the first time, the tracklisting of the album:

1. Anstruther’s Dark Prophecy
2. The Unicorn Invasion of Dundee
3. Angus McFife
4. Quest for the Hammer of Glory
5. Magic Dragon
6. Silent Tears of Frozen Princess
7. Amulet of Justice
8. Hail to Crail
9. Beneath Cowdenbeath
10. The Epic Rage of Furious Thunder

There will also be a “Limited First Pressing Heroic Edition” of the album, presented in a luxurious digipak format with alternate artwork, featuring the bonus track “Wizards!”.  Like the name suggests, this version will only be available in limited quantities, so get your copy fast! FOR THE GLORY OF DUNDEE!”

GLORYHAMMER @FACEBOOK

Ticketless VIP packages available through ArtistArena.com

ENGLAND – The U.K.’s infamous heavy metal act, Cradle of Filth, has announced a headlining February/March North American tour with The Faceless, Decapitated and The Agonist. Cradle of Filth “North American Tour 2013″ will mark the band’s return to North American shores in nearly two years. A list of confirmed dates can be seen below.

Ticketless VIP packages for most dates will go on sale tomorrow (12/21) through ArtistArena.com at: http://packages.artistarena.com/cradleoffilth/. Each package includes a meet-and-greet with the band, signed Cradle of Filth poster and commemorative VIP laminate. General ticket information for Cradle of Filth “North American Tour 2013″ is available online at: http://theorderofthedragon.com/page/on-the-road.

Cradle of Filth is touring in support of The Manticore and Other Horrors, its 10th studio release, out now on Nuclear Blast. The Manticore and Other Horrors entered the Billboard Top 200 at #96 with its first-week sales this fall.

Fans can order The Manticore and Other Horrors online via the Nuclear Blast web-store at: http://bit.ly/cofnbusa and digitally through iTunes at: http://bit.ly/cofhoritun. Click here: http://bit.ly/cofspecials to find out where you can purchase The Manticore and Other Horrors at a local music retailer.

The band’s latest music video for “Frost on her Pillow,” directed by Stuart Birchall, can be seen on YouTube at: http://youtu.be/9Nw_9meXYic.

Lyric videos for two additional new songs, “Manticore”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGxF0eDNWwQ and “For your Vulgar Delectation”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDgouqQrctk, are also streaming online.

Stay tuned for more information on Cradle of Filth and the impending North American tour, and be sure to upload band photos, CoF art, tattoos and more at: https://www.webdoc.com/documents/C5697C31-3CD0-0001-55B7-1AB486801B96.

Cradle of Filth “North American Tour 2013″ dates…

2/22 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
2/23 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium
2/24 – Philadelphia, PA @ Theater Of Living Arts
2/27 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
2/28 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House Of Blues
3/01 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
3/03 – Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
3/04 – Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
3/06 – W. Hollywood, CA @ House Of Blues
3/07 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
3/08 – Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
3/09 – San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
3/10 – San Francisco, CA @ The Fillmore
3/12 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
3/13 – Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom
3/14 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
3/16 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
3/20 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
3/21 – Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues
3/22 – Cleveland, OH @ House Of Blues
3/23 – Detroit, MI @ St Andrews Hall
3/25 – Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
3/26 – Guelph, ON @ Guelph Concert Theatre

Cradle of Filth online…

http://www.cradleoffilth.com

http://www.theorderofthedragon.com

http://www.facebook.com/cradleoffilth

http://www.youtube.com/cradleoffilth

http://www.twitter.com/OfficialCoF

http://www.nuclearblastusa.com

AVANTASIA – watch The Mystery of Time unfold itself before your eyes

Tobias Sammet’s AVANTASIA will enchant the world again during their  MYSTERY WORLD TOUR 2013 which will be the staging of their new release THE MYSTERY OF TIME (out March 2013).

We are very proud to announce their appearance at the Turbinenhalle Oberhausen on 25th April 2013.

Presales will start on December 17th, 2012 and tickets will be available on: www.metaltix.com & www.konticket.de

AVANTASIA are famous for their rock opera styled concept albums which feature a lot of guest musicians and tell a mystic, dark, complex and thrilling story, each song representing one fragment of the storyline.

For their new release AVANTASIA so far confirmed (amongst others to be announced) SAXON’s legendary singer Biff Byfford, URIAH HEEP drummer Russell Gilbrook and Bruce Kulick (ex-KISS & MEAT LOAF).

AVANTASIA: www.tobiassammet.com

Just a few hours before Cauldron take to the stage at Camden Barfly tonight to kick off their European tour, we sit down and have a chat about their new album Tomorrow’s Lost, touring, their favourite music and just a little bit about how they will be spending Christmas.

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Tonight we faced the cold outside and made our way to Camden Barfly in North London, to see Cauldron, and the evening is looking to be all about headbanging, drinking beer and traditional heavy metal as we know it. It’s about as good as Wednesday night can get!
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Hailed by the international metal scene for their 2011 debut Man Or Machine (Sonic Attack Records) and for their celebrated appearances at various European festivals, ALPHA TIGER has quickly become one of Germany’s hottest heavy metal newcomers. Due to epic compositions, catchy hooks and Stephan Dietrich’s powerful vocals (which are reminiscent of QUEENSRYCHE’s Geoff Tate and HELLOWEEN’s Michael Kiske in their heyday), the band succeeded in living up to the positive feedback and is now ready to unleash their new album, Beneath The Surface!

All lyrical topics on Beneath The Surface are represented in the stunning cover artwork, which was created by Hungarian designer Peter Tikos (who also worked with the band on the Man Or Machine cover). Beneath The Surface was recorded this past summer at Berlin’s Musicflash studio, engineered by Mirco Godi Hildmann, and mixed and mastered by Andreas Hilbert. See below for the worldwide release dates for the album:

Beneath The Surface release dates:

GERMANY / AUSTRIA / SWITZERLAND / NORWAY: Friday, January 25, 2013
UK / BENELUX / FRANCE / GREECE / DENMARK / PORTUGAL / REST OF EUROPE: Monday, January 28, 2013
SPAIN / ITALY: Tuesday, January 29, 2013
SWEDEN / FINLAND / HUNGARY: Wednesday, January 30, 2013
AUSTRALIA / NEW ZEALAND: Friday, February 1, 2013

USA / CANADA: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 **digital only, European CD/LP imports available through CM Distro**

ALPHA TIGER is now offering a free download of the album track “We Came From The Gutter” as a special Christmas gift for fans. To download the track, click here. Fans can also watch the video for the first single, “From Outer Space,” here.

Beneath The Surface track-listing:

1. Intro
2. The Alliance
3. From Outer Space
4. Waiting For A Sign
5. Beneath The Surface
6. Along The Rising Sun
7. Eden Lies in Ruins
8. Rain
9. Crescent Moon
10. We Came From The Gutter

ALPHA TIGER just finished a European tour as direct support for W.A.S.P., and they will play a couple of special release shows in 2013. See below for all upcoming tour dates.

ALPHA TIGER live

26.01.2013 – Dresden – Chemiefabrik (Germany)

01.02.2013 – Weinheim – Café Central (Germany)

02.02.2013 – München – Backstage (Germany)

23.02.2013 – Köln – MTC (Germany)

12.07 – 13.07.2013 – Bang Your Head Festival

01.08 – 03.08.2013 – Wacken Open Air

ALPHA TIGER online:

http://www.facebook.com/AlphaTigerBand 

http://www.alphatiger.de 

Danish rock band Volbeat is confirmed to play Norwegian festival Hove next summer. The Copenhagen-group has over the years gathered a large fan base in Norway and will play the festival on Wednesday, July the 3rd.

Says Toffen Gunnufsen, head booker at Hove:

&#8211 Volbeat has developed into one of the biggest rock acts in Scandinavia and the rest of the world, and we know they have a big and devoted following in Norway. They rank very high on our audience’s wish list.

Volbeat has since year 2000 released four albums and recently confirmed that their new album will be released during 2013. Their fusion of rock and roll, heavy metal, punk and rockabilly and their energetic live performances have gained them a worldwide reputation as a live attraction, and the group has shared stage with names such as Metallica, Motörhead, Megadeath, Slayer and Anthrax.

Hove Festival 2013 will take place from 2nd of July &#8211 5th of July, in beautiful surroundings on the island of Tromøya, situated on the south coast of Norway. Other artists confirmed so far are among others Kings of Leon, Bullet for My Valentine, Stone Sour, Asking Alexandria, Enter Shikari and Torche.

Imhotep has published an 8-feature Katatonia journey, closing everything up with a video interview. Find links below. Video interview is part 8/8, while the regular features begin with part 1, obviously. Parts 4-8 have never been published before!

Katatonia (12) 8/8    http://youtu.be/wNKl7bjLGw8
Katatonia (12) 7/8    http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9109359
Katatonia (12) 6/8    http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9109351
Katatonia (12) 5/8    http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9109343
Katatonia (12) 4/8    http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9109332
Katatonia (12) 3/8    http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9109324
Katatonia (12) 2/8    http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9109316
Katatonia (12) 1/8    http://www.imhotep.no/?did=9109308

December 21st – If the Mayan prophecies will become reality and we have to face the end of the world… we’ll see. STAHLMANN will give you a FREE SONG that day! It’s the brand new, unreleased track „Die Welt Verbrennt“ (engl. = „The World Burns“). Available for free download at www.sonic-seducer.de – but only for 24 hours…

German Celtic metallers SUIDAKRA have set „Eternal Defiance“ as the title for their upcoming new album.

The band states:

“As on the previous two releases, it will be a concept album again, created by Kris Verwimp in cooperation with us.

HELKER, Argentina’s finest metal band feat. vocalist Diego Valdez is happy to announce, the band just singed a worldwide recording deal with AFM Records for their new album „Somewhere In The Circle“ and a management & booking deal with Level 10 Music & ITM Agency. The album includes 11 tracks and was produced & co-written by Mat Sinner and mixed by Achim Koehler at Indiscreet Audio studios. Tim ”Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest) and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear) are featured as guests on the album, sharing the lead vocals with Diego on the epic “Begging For Forgiveness”.

European audiences might know Diego Valdez from his appearance on the latest Tarja Live DVD/CD as guest vocalist on the song “Phantom Of The Opera”.

The band states:  “We are excited and grateful to have the opportunity to work with AFM Records and Level 10 / ITM. This is the beginning of a new era full of new challenges and growth for HELKER! Thank you all!”

”Somewhere In The Circle” will be released on February 15th, 2013.
The video clip for the song ”Wake Up” is available here.

Promised Land Of Heavy Metal Presents Automania 1986: www.promisedlandofmetal.com/automania.html

A subversive series of traffic safety films intended to caution car-crazy Finns in their many forms, set to classic Finnish heavy metal! 12 unseen music videos online now!

Featuring: Sarcofagus (as Exciter), Tarot, Peer Günt, Outi Popp, Kim Lönnholm, Just Divorced, Jyrki Hämäläinen, Riki Sorsa, Arto Nyqvist, Jaakko Saariluoma and David Hasselhoff!

In the 1980s, Finland was rapidly changing – it was an era of economic prosperity, a growing youth culture and Finnish rock music. Liikenneturva, the central organisation for traffic safety in Finland, had an image problem, being seen as a stiff state bureau. Its “drive carefully” campaigns were not reaching young adults, who were buying their first mopeds and cars in growing numbers in the newly affluent country.

Enter Kimmo Kuusniemi, who had recently left his music career behind, as the founder and guitarist of Sarcofagus. Between 1986 to 1988, Kuusniemi made several informational film campaigns in co-operation with Traffic Safety, YLE TV and Finnkino.

The AUTOMANIA TV series set out to educate the car-obsessed Finns about the potential dangers of the road, but in a spiced up format featuring music videos, crazy sketches and celebrity interviews.Tracks by Tarot were played for the first time on Finnish TV as part of the Automania series, while other artists and bands featured were Outi Popp, Kim Lönnholm, Just Divorced and Peer Günt. Sarcofagus/Kuusniemi made seven tracks for the series, including the title track “Automania”, under the name of Exciter.

Amongst the celebrities interviewed were singer Riki Sorsa, editor of Suosikki magazine, Jyrki Hämäläinen and stunt driver Arto Nyqvist who had previously performed motorcycle stunts in James Bond films.

In 1987, Traffic Safety sent the filmmakers to interview David Hasselhoff, who was touring the world at the time with his KITT car and visiting Finland. The Knight Rider TV series had already been cancelled in the USA but was still popular in Finland, watched by every fifth Finn. ‘Hoff’ was feeling the responsibility of being an idol to his young fans. In his interviews to Finnish Traffic Safety, he candidly talks about road safety, the difference between reality and TV fantasy, and the burden of being a role model. In these two info spots, David Hasselhoff drives a rally car, rides a horse, a snow mobile and even a reindeer!

The following year, the “Homemade Hero” spot was produced for Traffic Safety, and was aired by both YLE and in Finnkino movie theatres. It gently mocked the [then] highly popular Tom Cruise movie, “Top Gun”. The Finnish armed forces also co-operated. The spot also features the now-famous Finnish comic Jaakko Saariluoma! However, the information film “Drinking ‘n’ Driving” made for Traffic Safety was considered a step too far and so YLE shelved it. For the first time ever, this treasure from the archives can be seen here!

In hindsight, the co-operation between metal musicians and Finnish Traffic Safety campaigners is a unique insight into the history of Finnish films… And music… And traffic safety!

The 80s style is somewhat old-fashioned (oh, the hair!), but some of the stuff was radical and before its time. Nothing quite like it has been produced since. The message of Liikenneturva (Traffic Safety) hasn’t changed: “Remember, Respect, Think Ahead”. These values are still valid, and could be delivered in many guises.

WHEN FINNISH METAL MET TRAFFIC SAFETY
(A magical journey into Finnish media history)

Promised Land Of Heavy Metal Presents Automania 1986: www.promisedlandofmetal.com/automania.html
 
A subversive series of traffic safety films intended to caution car-crazy Finns in their many forms, set to classic Finnish heavy metal!

12 unseen music videos online now!

Featuring: Sarcofagus (as Exciter), Tarot, Peer Günt, Outi Popp, Kim Lönnholm, Just Divorced, Jyrki Hämäläinen, Riki Sorsa, Arto Nyqvist, Jaakko Saariluoma and David Hasselhoff!

In the 1980s, Finland was rapidly changing – it was an era of economic prosperity, a growing youth culture and Finnish rock music. Liikenneturva, the central organisation for traffic safety in Finland, had an image problem, being seen as a stiff state bureau. Its “drive carefully” campaigns were not reaching young adults, who were buying their first mopeds and cars in growing numbers in the newly affluent country. 

Enter Kimmo Kuusniemi, who had recently left his music career behind, as the founder and guitarist of Sarcofagus. Between 1986 to 1988, Kuusniemi made several informational film campaigns in co-operation with Traffic Safety, YLE TV and Finnkino.

The AUTOMANIA TV series set out to educate the car-obsessed Finns about the potential dangers of the road, but in a spiced up format featuring music videos, crazy sketches and celebrity interviews.Tracks by Tarot were played for the first time on Finnish TV as part of the Automania series, while other artists and bands featured were Outi Popp, Kim Lönnholm, Just Divorced and Peer Günt. Sarcofagus/Kuusniemi made seven tracks for the series, including the title track “Automania”, under the name of Exciter.

Amongst the celebrities interviewed were singer Riki Sorsa, editor of Suosikki magazine, Jyrki Hämäläinen and stunt driver Arto Nyqvist who had previously performed motorcycle stunts in James Bond films. 

In 1987, Traffic Safety sent the filmmakers to interview David Hasselhoff, who was touring the world at the time with his KITT car and visiting Finland. The Knight Rider TV series had already been cancelled in the USA but was still popular in Finland, watched by every fifth Finn. ‘Hoff’ was feeling the responsibility of being an idol to his young fans. In his interviews to Finnish Traffic Safety, he candidly talks about road safety, the difference between reality and TV fantasy, and the burden of being a role model. In these two info spots, David Hasselhoff drives a rally car, rides a horse, a snow mobile and even a reindeer!

The following year, the “Homemade Hero” spot was produced for Traffic Safety, and was aired by both YLE and in Finnkino movie theatres. It gently mocked the [then] highly popular Tom Cruise movie, “Top Gun”. The Finnish armed forces also co-operated. The spot also features the now-famous Finnish comic Jaakko Saariluoma! However, the information film “Drinking ‘n’ Driving” made for Traffic Safety was considered a step too far and so YLE shelved it. For the first time ever, this treasure from the archives can be seen here!

In hindsight, the co-operation between metal musicians and Finnish Traffic Safety campaigners is a unique insight into the history of Finnish films… And music… And traffic safety! 

The 80s style is somewhat old-fashioned (oh, the hair!), but some of the stuff was radical and before its time. Nothing quite like it has been produced since. The message of Liikenneturva (Traffic Safety) hasn’t changed: “Remember, Respect, Think Ahead”. These values are still valid, and could be delivered in many guises.

Just back from their European tour with Luca Turilli‘s Rhapsody and Freedom Call, German Power Metallers ORDEN OGAN have released their brand new video clip, filmed for their song “Masks”. „Masks“ is based on motifs of Seeb Levermann‘s soundtrack for MASKS, the newest horror movie movie  of Andreas Marschall, who is also well-known for his amazing Metal cover artworks.

The enormous songwriting qualities that Seeb has displayed with ORDEN OGAN, perfectly merge  with Marschall’s possessive, dark pictures – a perfect match to form a mysterious nightmare trip.

Andreas Marschall states: “After Seeb’s contribution of the amazing soundtrack for my horror movie MASKS, it was just obvious to return the favor and do a clip for ORDEN OGAN. I think Seeb has exceeded himself with the “Masks” song: he took the great main theme of the movie (in the film this is sung by Crystal Viper’s Marta Gabriel) and turned it into a melodic Metal smasher that combines the horror atmosphere of MASKS with the modern, anthemic sound of ORDEN OGAN.”

Seeb comments: “Andreas Marschall’s cover artworks are an important part for us since the release of our debut “Vale” in 2008. Within the last few years we got to know each other better and better. Our appreciating for each other grew and so it became a logical thing that I, as a composer and fan of horror movies, would contribute the filmscore for Andreas’ “Masks” movie. Working with him was just awesome and a great experience. By working on the music for the film, the idea came up to create an ORDEN OGAN song with elements from it too. With Andreas as director of the video clip for “Masks”, filming it in the Apollo cinema in Arnsberg (Germany) was very exhausting but also incredibly productive and fun. Now seeing the result, I have to say that that I’m totally blown away. The clip turned out to be very artistic and maestro Marschall has outdone himself. Just killer!”