Alcest, Okkultokrati, Inter Arma, Helms Alee, Algiers and More Added to Roadburn 2020


Roadburn 2020 has made a slew of announcements of news bands! Added to both James Kent and Emma Ruth Rundle’s curated portions of the festival is Alcest, on the strength of their new album Spiritual Instinct (Nuclear Blast). Additional artists added to the fest include Okkultokrati, Inter Arma, Helms Alee, Algiers, Dynfari, Bad Breeding, White Ward, Dommengang, Kungens Män, Darsombra, Tau And The Drones Of Praise and more to come! Continue reading


Hellfest 2020 Books Faith No More, Deftones, System of A Down, Korn, Judas Priest and More!


Hellfest has announced its 15th-anniversary lineup for summer 2020, and it looks like a dream! Already announced Faith No More, and Down will be joined by Deftones, System Of A Down, Incubus, Korn, Mastodon, Opeth, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, The Offspring, Infectious Grooves, The Darkness, Obituary, Death DTA (the Death tribute featuring members of Death), At The Gates, Entombed AD, Sacred Reich, Devin Townsend, Meshuggah, The Black Dahlia Murder, Dying Fetus, Misery Index, Mayhem, Abbath, Rotting Christ, Primordial, The Great Old Ones, Wardruna, The Hu, Taake, Watain, Alcest, Borknagar, Gaahl’s Wyrd, Electric Wizard, Baroness, Om, Witchcraft, Black Mountain, Elder, ASG, Envy, Mono, John Garcia & the Band of Gold, High On Fire, Pelican, Killing Joke, Perturbator, Life of Agony, 3TEETH, Inter Arma, Body Count, Suicidal Tendencies, Youth of Today, Slapshot, Jesus Piece, Higher Power, Social Distortion, Anti-Flag, Agnostic Front, Reverend Horton Heat, Grade 2, Code Orange, and many more. Hellfest takes place June 19-21 in Clisson, France near Paris and ticket info is coming soon! Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Damnation Festival 2019: Live at Leeds University


When Axl Rose waxed romantically about cold November rain in back in 1992, he clearly wasn’t singing about Leeds on a Saturday morning. A cold, depressing day darkened by oppressive black clouds showering their misery relentlessly from above, there is nothing romantic about Leeds city centre. However, above the sound of rain pelting against umbrella canopies, and cars splashing through ankle-high lakes of dirty water, there is hope. Somewhere out there is Damnation Festival.Continue reading


Alcest Adds London Date to Tour with Birds In Row and Kælan Mikla


Alcest, by Rich Price Photography

Alcest previously announced March 2020 tour dates in support of their recent album Spiritual Healing (Nuclear Blast Records). will hit the road again, in support of their new studio album Spiritual Instinct, that saw the light of day last month. The band has now added a London show date to the UK leg, set to take place on March 4th at Heaven. French hardcore punk act Birds In Row as well as the Icelandic synth-pop trio Kælan Mikla will provide direct support on all dates. Continue reading


FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Damnation Festival 2019, Leeds University


Events Center, Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, NV 8/18/19

Damnation Festival is upon us, returning tomorrow, 2 November for that is extreme, unholy, and revolutionary in music. The festival is Sold out completely. Among the bands on the stacked bill are Opeth, Mayhem, The Vintage Caravan, Alcest, Venom Prison, Birds in Row, Dawn Ray’d, Imperial Triumphant, Lord Dying, Inter Arma, Primordial, Dragged Into Sunlight, Gaahl’s Wyrd, Gost, Voices, Blood Red Throne, Jo Quail and Carnation, and more.Continue reading


FESTIVAL REVIEW: Badgerfest 2019 Live at The Breadshed, Manchester


2019 see’s the third installment of what’s becoming an important event in the calendar for the discerning Heavy Metal connoisseur, BadgerFest. The brainchild of the undeniably hardest working man in the Manchester metal scene John Badger, If any qualification of that were needed, aside from it being reiterated by every band of the weekend, as well as their gratitude as to the smooth running, he’s also running the Drumming up Change in November whereby he’ll be playing the drums for the full sets of all ten bands. There’s hard-working and then there’s John Badger. Continue reading


ALBUM REVIEW: Alcest – Spiritual Instinct


Imagine yourself about to jump into an oblivion of feelings, you do not know what to expect, but you feel thrilled because you know that you’re going to enjoy it and that you’re ready for the trip. That is what the new Alcest album, Spiritual Instinct (Nuclear Blast Records) brings to the table from the first track up to the last. I have to admit that I have never really paid any attention to the French masters of post-Black Metal, even a lot of people of my close circle loves them. For some reason, I didn’t want to pay attention and, by God, how wrong I was!

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NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: October 25th New Music Releases


 

Purchase and stream all the new music released today!

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PODCAST: Episode 55: Neige of Alcest Talks About His “Spiritual Instinct”


Blackgaze legends Alcest are releasing their new album Spiritual Instinct via their new label Nuclear Blast Records on October 25th. We caught up with bandleader Neige all about the process of making the new album, the differences between Kodama, reincorporating more extreme and heavy sounds, hos love of 1980s post-Punk music, his feelings about concept albums, collaborating on artwork, and a lot more!

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Alcest Shares New Single and Video – “Sapphire”


Blackened Post-Metal greats Alcest have shared their second single from their upcoming album Spiritual Instinct which will be released on October 25th via Nuclear Blast Records. Hear the single and watch the video for ‘Sapphire’ right now! The video was directed by Craig Murray (Mogwai, etc), and the track is avaialble from all DSPs to stream and purchase.Continue reading