ROX Network News 21 June 2020

ROX Network News

21 June 2020

German metal outfit WIZARD has found its new guitarist!

Tommy Hartung is no stranger in the scene and is one of the founding members of the German prog metal band No Inner Limits. He steps into the shoes of Dano Boland, who left the band earlier this year.

WIZARD are currently busy writing new songs and plan to enter the studio in September 2020.

Vocalist Sven D'Anna comments:

"I've known Tommy for several years now and I'm sure that he is a perfect match, both on a musical as well as on a human level. He's not only a talented musicians, but also a long-time friend of the band. The pre-production of the album is almost finished and it's already damn heavy! Get ready for the new album and our upcoming shows. Loud - heavy - WIZARD!"

Greek progressive/psychedelic metal band HAIL SPIRIT NOIR have teamed up with Invisible Oranges to premiere an advance stream of their new studio album "Eden In Reverse", due out June 19th via Agonia Records. Listen to the record at this link: https://www.invisibleoranges.com/hail-spirit-noir-eden-in-reverse-premiere/

HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - Eden In Reverse (via InvisibleOranges.com)

The band had this to say on the new album: "This is the album we've spent the most time on. We started off doing some experiments without any idea where they could lead to. After the first 3-4 tracks, we realized we were onto something new for the band. We were no longer in the 60s-70s zone but more in the 70s-80s. The songs sounded retro-futuristic and surreal but they were also more prog, psychedelic and challenging than ever. In the lyrics, we re-wrote the story of Eden from a surreal, Richard Dawkins-esque, Darwinian point of view. The result was Eden in Reverse". HAIL SPIRIT NOIR is an intriguing psychedelic prog metal band, with strong experimental and prog rock influences, recommended for fans of Oranssi Pazuzu, Ulver, Borknagar, or Ghost, yet with an identity of its own. Their third and last album, "Mayhem In Blue", was released to critical acclaim in 2016, and was followed by several festival appearences, including a thundering performance at Roadburn (which simultaneously marked the first-ever appearance of a Greek band at the festival) and other festivals such as Inferno (Norway), Dark Bombastic Evening (Romania) and more. The group was established late 2010 as a trio and issued their debut album "Pneuma" two years later. Its warm reception strengthened the band's experimental approach and enhanced its quirky take on music, all of which inevitably led to the release of "Oi Magoi" in 2014; a psychedelic prog-black metal opus of trippy melodies and satyric aura. Followed by "Mayhem In Blue" in 2016, the band's signature sound was solidified, and at the same time expanded into more aggressive territories, without abandoning the group's trademark psychedelic-infused melodies. Since 2018, the trio has been joined full-time by its live members, changing the band into a sextet. The new album "Eden In Reverse" was completed late 2019. It is regarded by HAIL SPIRIT NOIR as the next step in their ongoing evolution, this time with an 80s twist.  "Eden In Reverse" was recorded at Lunatech Studios. The album was produced and mixed by Dimitris Douvras (Rotting Christ) and mastered by Alan Douches (Nile, Aborted, Whitechapel). Cover artwork was prepared by StuZor. The track "Crossroads" features guest vocals from Lars Nedland of Solefald and Borknagar.  Tracklist: 1. Darwinian Beasts  2. Incense Swirls  3. Alien Lip Reading  4. Crossroads   5. The Devil's Blind Spot  6. The First Ape on New Earth  7. Automata 1980   8. Incense Swirls (Synthwave Remix)*   9. Ever-shifting Tunnels (Bonus)* *Digipak CD exclusive tracks     Formats: - Jewelcase CD. - Digipack CD. - Gatefold black LP. - Gatefold white / grey marble LP. - Gatefold clear LP with blue, silver and yellow splatter. - T-shirt. - Digital. Line-up: Haris - synths  Theoharis - guitars, vocals  J. Demian - bass, acoustic guitars Sakis Bandis - synths Cons Marg - vocals Foivos Chatzis - drums

HAIL SPIRIT NOIR - The First Ape On New Earth (Official Track Stream)

Swiss speed/thrash legends POLTERGEIST will release a new album entitled "Feather Of Truth" on July 3, 2020!

The lyric video for the new single "The Attention Trap" premiered yesterday on the website of Germany's Legacy magazine and is now available on Massacre Records' YT channel as well » https://youtu.be/0XXJP5ma5Zw

POLTERGEIST's record release show will take place on July 4th at the Z7 in Pratteln, Switzerland, at the "The Summer Of 2020" event, which features Destruction as headliner. Tickets are available here » http://www.z-7.ch/event.php?eventid=1847

"Feather Of Truth" was produced, mixed and mastered by V.O. Pulver at the Little Creek Studio. Roberto Toderico designed the cover artwork.

You can listen to the previous single "Saturday Night's Alright For Rockin'" on https://youtu.be/wAs6agp28eg or a streaming platform of your choice!

You can pre-order the album, which will be available as a CD Digipak, limited edition Gatefold Vinyl LP on black or gold vinyl as well as in digital formats, here » https://lnk.to/featheroftruth

NEW ALBUM "KISS THE SKY" OUT NOW ORDER THE ALBUM BAD TOUCH "KISS THE SKY" RESCHEDULED APRIL 2021 UK TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS PISTON + LOCAL SUPPORTS TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM BADTOUCHROCKS.CO.UK

New Wave of Classic Rock favourites Bad Touch new studio album “Kiss the Sky” released by Marshall Records on Friday 19 June 2020. To celebrate the release date, the band will release their new single, which is a a cover of Kiki Dee’s “I’ve Got the Music In Me” the same day. The album can be ordered from https://fanlink.to/badtouch. The new album will be released on CD, white vinyl, and digital download. “I’ve Got the Music In Me” is going to be the soundtrack for the summer, especially during these challenging times. Watch the 'I've Got The Music In Me' video here - https://youtu.be/G6tXao6t79I “The original version of ‘I’ve Got The Music In Me’ was a ballsy, uptempo stomper, but now the Norfolk quintet have taken this and turbocharged it into a sexed up and souped-up blast of raw power and all out fun." – Metal Planet Music “I’ve Got the Music in Me a cover of the song originally recorded by the Kiki Dee Band is a nice rocked up take on the 70’s classic that Bad Touch make their own.” – The Rockpit Bad Touch’s highly anticipated fourth studio album “Kiss The Sky” was recorded, produced and mixed by Nick Brine at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, Wales. The album was mastered by Pete Maher. “We’re so excited about this recording,” says lead singer Stevie Westwood. “Just to record our songs in such a legendary place as Rockfield was a real buzz. I know it’s a cliché but, in our humble opinion, this is our most exciting recording to date, and we can’t wait to get it out there in front of a crowd." “Kiss The Sky” is a no-nonsense rock and roll album at heart. For their fourth album, Bad Touch have stripped everything right back and looked at what the essence of what makes a great album and at the core, great songs. They've stuck to what they do best, which is writing catchy, feel good rock music. The songs were initially written in their practice studio "The Cabin" in Norfolk where the band feels most comfortable and can focus on the songs without outside world interference. The band have really nailed their sound on this album. When you turn it on you will instantly know it's Bad Touch. The production side of the album is about capturing the performance within the band themselves and capturing the "moment" and energy the band produce during their live shows. More plugging straight in, turning everything to 10 and going for it. "It's always hard to recreate the live energy created during a show in the studio, but this time I really think we've nailed it,” says Bad Touch’s guitarist Robert Glendinning. Continues Glendinning, “We chose Rockfield Studios one obviously for its legendary reputation but two because it’s just like being at home. It’s what we know, being in the countryside and where I feel we are all inspired.” “Kiss the Sky” is a power-packed album that has the groove with huge chorus hooks, foot stomping guitar riffs and an abundance of energy overflowing within each track. If you want to see what all the fuss is about catch Bad Touch on tour throughout March and April 2020. “Bad Touch live for being on the road,” adds Westwood. “There’s nothing we love more than giving people an escape from the trials of life and playing our brand of feel-good rock and roll for the soul..” “As a unit, we plan on hitting the UK hard with regards touring and festivals,” says Westwood. “We were very lucky to do more in Europe throughout 2019, and we hope to continue that trend into this year as well. We’ve got a couple of things in the pipeline, and we are beyond ecstatic to be opening the main stage at Ramblin’ Man Fair. It’s one of our favorite UK festivals, and to think that they’ve put us on the main stage alongside giants like Clutch and Monster Truck is so cool.”