Ghost Streams Rare Bonus Track “Zenith”


 

Ghost has made their non-album bonus track “Zenith” to all DSPs. The track is long-sought after by die-hard Ghost fans, and was originally from a special expanded edition of Meliora called Meliora Redux in September 2016, as well as the Meliora box set. The band also released a new Spotify playlist called the 13 Commandments, which includes the biggest hits from the Swedish Heavy Metal band, as well as their recent cover of Iron Maiden’s “Phantom of The Opera” which is nominated for a Grammy award for 2024. Stream the track here.

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Ghost Shares a New Single And a Video for Their Cover of “Phantom of The Opera” by Iron Maiden


 

Ghost has shared a new single and visualizer for their cover of “Phantom of The Opera” by Iron Maiden. Previously, the band sharted their cover of the 1990s hit by Genesis “Jesus He Knows Me.” The band will release their new covers EP Phantomime (Loma Vista Recordings) this week. Pre-orders in many formats, new merch, and more can be found below!

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Iron Maiden Sued Over Lyric Theft By Ex-Singer Dennis Wilcock


According to The Sun newspaper in the UK, a lawsuit is being brought against Iron Maiden by their former singer Dennis Wilcock. The case alleges lyric theft for early classics ‘Prowler’, ‘Charlotte The Harlot’, ‘Phantom Of The Opera’, ‘Iron Maiden ‘ and ‘Prodigal Son’ from their first two albums 1980’s self-titled effort and 1981’s Killers. An Iron Maiden spokesperson told The Sun: “This is outrageous. Absolutely ridiculous.” More details about the suit can be seen below. Continue reading


Amberian Dawn – Magic Forest


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It would be fair to say Amberian Dawn is not necessarily the first, or possibly even the fifth or sixth name, you’d think of when throwing the term “Symphonic Power Metal” about (or powerful, melodic metal with classical female vocals, as the band prefer to be described). Their career has flown well and truly under the radar, releasing to date a solid if unspectacular back catalogue with former singer Heidi Parviainen, and the Finnish troupe have yet to have that breakthrough album, or step up in class. A shuffling of the pack has seen the band reunite with several of its former line-up, and bring in the classically trained Päivi “Capri” Virkkunen take over the vocals and lyric writing, and both moves have strengthened their hand significantly.

 

Magic Forest (Napalm) combines up-tempo guitar-driven melodic metal, a stage-musical bent with sweet, catchy, cherry-on-top choruses. Pulling out an unusual trio of Andrew Lloyd-Webber, particularly ‘Memorial’ replete with guest male opera vocals from Markus Nieminen, ABBA (‘Warning’ and ‘Cherish My Memory’) and Nightwish as core sounds, Amberian Dawn also combine classic Helloween and Metallica tinged riffs with a dramatic fantasy narrative feel to their songs.

 

Capri carries a strong, saccharine voice, reminiscent of Anette Olzen, and due to the Doctor Parnassus feel of some of their songs, the Nightwish comparisons that have plagued Amberian Dawn over the years are reinforced at times, both in excellent ‘Son of Rainbow’, and the title track with its dancing Labyrinth (the film) texture. Alongside this ‘Dance of Life’, with its memorable keyboard and guitar patterns, recalls Within Temptation.

 

Magic Forest in and of itself won’t catapult Amberian Dawn to stardom, but it should move them several rungs up the ladder to being a band worth paying some attention to what happens next. Now they’ve found a sound that combines Disney, Phantom of the Opera and symphonic power metal, they are finally finding their niche and developing the playful enchanted touches that give them a more distinctive and interesting sound. Push and develop their cinematic side and it might not be too late for Amberian Dawn to make a name for themselves.

 

7.5/10.0

Amberian Dawn on Facebook

 

STEVE TOVEY