Tag: Nuclear Blast
CRUCIFIED BARBARA sign with Nuclear Blast, release new single Into The Fire
by admin on Mar.26, 2012, under news
CRUCIFIED BARBARA, Sweden’s hardest rocking quartet, have signed a record deal with Nuclear Blast for North America (U.S., Canada, and México) plus New Zealand & Australia.
“We’re really proud of our new album and so incredibly happy that Nuclear Blast will release it!” states the band. “They’ve always worked with the coolest bands and now all of a sudden, we’re one of them. This is the beginning of a long, hard rockin’ friendship!”
Formed in Stockholm in 1998 by bassist Ida Evileye and guitarist Klara Force, CRUCIFIED BARBARA play a fiery brand of rock ‘n’ roll tinged with metal and lashings of punk, pop, thrash, and whatever else dares to cross their path. Ida Evileye dominates her trusty Sandberg bass, Klara Force rocks steady on her ’76 Gibson Explorer, Mia Coldheart belts out her unapologetic vocals while riffing all over her Gibson Gothic Flying V, and Nicki Wicked pounds on her hot pink sparkle Yamaha Maple drum kit until you’re splayed across the floor with a bull’s-eye knock-out punch that’ll make you spit your teeth out. Now you know what happens when Motörhead mates with The Runaways.
No strangers to hard work or success, CRUCIFIED BARBARA’s debut single from their 2005 debut In Distortion We Trust climbed to #8 on the Swedish pop charts. They played Australia, toured across Europe opening for Motörhead, Sepultura, In Flames, and Doro, and earned a prestigious slot alongside Black Sabbath, Velvet Revolver, and System Of A Down at the U.K. Download Festival. With all that touring, it would be four years before the band got around to recording their second album, 2009’s ‘Til Death Do Us Party. Next thing you know, there they were on national television performing in Eurovision’s 2010 Song Contest and made it to the semi-finals. Go figure.
So how did they get their name? The band members attended Denmark’s legendary Roskilde Festival and came across something very unexpected in a nearby forest: a blow-up doll (generically called “Barbara” throughout Sweden) attached to a crucifix. And no, they didn’t identify with the victim, they claimed the power of the aggressor right on the spot and have never looked back.
CRUCIFIED BARBARA’s third studio release, The Midnight Chase, will be released in North America this summer. The album was recorded at the legendary Music-A-Matic Vintage Recording Studio in Gothenberg with sound engineer Henryk Lipp and producer Chips Kiesby.
“Into The Fire,” the single off CRUCIFIED BARBARA’s upcoming third album The Midnight Chase, is available for streaming & download on the band’s official website.
ELUVEITIE release video for Havoc
by admin on Feb.07, 2012, under news
Swiss new wave of folk metal icons ELUVEITIE have released the video clip for the song “Havoc“, which comes off the bands highly anticipated upcoming album Helvetios. The video was produced by Polish production company Grupa13 (BEHEMOTH, AMON AMARTH) who has worked with the band most recently on the clips for “A Rose For Epona” and “Thousandfold“ – the latter coming off the last album, Everything Remains… As It Never Was.
Helvetios will be released on February 10 (Europe) and February 28 (North America) 2012 via Nuclear Blast.
For more ELUVEITIE click here.
KREATOR reveal title of upcoming album and release date
by admin on Feb.03, 2012, under news
German thrash titans KREATOR have revealed the title of the bands upcoming album: Phantom Antichrist. The album is currently being produced at the famous Fascination Street Studio with renowned producer Jens Bogren (OPETH, KATATONIA, SOILWORK, DEVIN TOWNSEND, AMON AMARTH) in Örebro, Sweden.
Phantom Antichrist marks the band‘s debut for Nuclear Blast and is set to be released June 1, 2012 (Europe) and June 5, 2012 (North America)!
Furthermore, KREATOR will also release an exclusive 7“ single of the titlesong on April 20, 2012. The collector’s item will be available in coloured red vinyl (limited to 250 pieces) as well as in clear vinyl (limited to 250 pieces, exclusively available at the Nuclear Blast Mailorder – www.nuclearblast.de/shop).
KREATOR will exclusively perform a new song during their shows at this years METALFEST open air events!

For more KREATOR click here.
ELUVEITIE release ‘making of’ video for A Rose For Epona
by admin on Feb.02, 2012, under news
Swiss new wave of folk metal sensations ELUVEITIE have released a short documentary chronically the making of their official video clip for the song “A Rose For Epona”. The song was taken from the bands highly anticipated upcoming release Helvetios. The music video was produced by the Polish company Grupa13 who had worked with the band on the clip for “Thousandfold” from the last album Everything Remains… As It Never Was. The production company has also worked with such bands as BEHEMOTH and AMON AMARTH before.
Helvetios will be released on February 10 (Europe) and February 28 (North America) 2012 via Nuclear Blast.
Helvetios is a concept album about the gaulish war (58-50 B.C.), the story of the war being told in a chronological timeline. Check out Chrigel explaining the concept behind Helvetios below.
ELUVEITIE will unleash its fourth studio album in the midst of the North American portion of the band’s Helvetios World Tour. ELUVEITIE will take the stage in the US and Canada this winter as direct support to the mighty CHILDREN OF BODOM on their 15th Anniversary tour.
CHIDLREN OF BODOM, ELUVEITIE, REVOCATION, THREAT SIGNAL
Feb. 01 – The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
Feb. 02 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL (NO CHILDREN OF BODOM)
Feb. 03 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
Feb. 04 – Pop’s – Sauget, IL
Feb. 06 – Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS
Feb. 07 – Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO
Feb. 09 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
Feb. 10 – The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
Feb. 11 – The Knitting Factory – Boise, ID
Feb. 13 – Yost Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
Feb. 14 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
Feb. 15 – The Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
Feb. 16 – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Feb. 18 – Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX
Feb. 19 – The Pavilion – Lubbock, TX
Feb. 21 – Emo’s – Austin, TX
Feb. 22 – Warehouse Live – Houston, TX
Feb. 24 – Expo Five – Louisville, KY
Feb. 25 – Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
Feb. 26 – Sound Academy – Toronto, ON – CANADA
Feb. 27 – Metropolis – Montreal, QC – CANADA
Feb. 28 – Maverick’s – Ottawa, ON – CANADA (ELUVEITIE HEADLINING w/ LOCALS)
Feb. 29 – Imperial de Quebec – Quebec City, QC – CANADA
Mar. 01 – Webster Theatre – Hartford, CT
Mar. 02 – Paramount Theater – Huntington, NY
Mar. 03 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
Mar. 04 – Ram’s Head Live – Baltimore, MD
For more ELUVEITIE click here.
UNLEASHED declare title of new album to be Odalheim!
by admin on Jan.30, 2012, under news
Legendary Swedish Viking death metal masters UNLEASHED have declared the title of their upcoming album to be Odalheim. Odalheim was recorded at the Chrome Studio in Sweden and produced by UNLEASHED guitarist Fredrik Folkare. The record will be released on April 20 (Europe) and April 24, 2012 (North America) via Nuclear Blast.
“And Yggdrasil did tremble,” commented the band. “And during the three years of everlasting cold and darkness called the Fimbulwinter, Mother Nature took back what was rightfully hers and life as we knew it was never the same again. It was Ragnarök, liberator and death. From the ashes of the old world, a new one began to take form. Here is where the story of Odalheim begins…”
For more UNLEASHED click here.
ACCEPT announce new album title Stalingrad to be released in Spring of 2012
by admin on Nov.21, 2011, under news
ACCEPT has issued the following update:
“It’s always quiet just before the storm!!!! ACCEPT’s fifteen year break from the music business only served as a distant warning to the 2010 thunderous return of ACCEPT to the metal forefront. Sweat- soaked, table-sized club shows and triumphant appearances at the biggest rock festivals around the world created an excitement long not seen in the metal community. It was only natural that ACCEPT’s comeback album Blood Of The Nations entered the [German] charts at #4, the band’s highest entry in their legendary career! In addition, Blood Of The Nations charted high in countless other countries and cemented itself at #1 in many Reader Polls for a continuous 14 months! Accolades like “Album of the Year,” “Metal Anthem of the Year” and many more kept pouring in. The fans, in admiration of their heroes, flocked in the thousands to their notorious live shows, and Nuclear Blast, their record company, was salivating with satisfaction!
“Inspired by their fans’ awe-inspiring reaction to their explosive live shows as well as the grandiose success of the comeback album, the band is now excited to jump right back into the studio and record another collection of heavy metal classics. To be called Stalingrad, the new ACCEPT album is scheduled to be released via Nuclear Blast Records in the Spring of 2012. It will once again be produced by English star producer Andy Sneap who has long become a part of the ACCEPT family.
“As the saying goes… no rest for the wicked! Following the release of Stalingrad, ACCEPT will continue their unstoppable, Teutonic terror in 2012 and beyond, invading stages from North to South, from East to West, leaving all non-believers in their metallic dust!”
For more ACCEPT click here.
BIOHAZARD’s Reborn In Defiance teaser video available
by admin on Oct.05, 2011, under news
Reborn In Defiance, the new studio album from New York hardcore metal act BIOHAZARD, will be released on January 20, 2012. The CD will be made available via Nuclear Blast outside of North America, with a US label partner soon to be announced. The band will celebrate the launch with a record-release party in its hometown of Brooklyn, New York before setting off on an extensive international tour.
Not only is Reborn In Defiance Biohazard‘s first original lineup album in 18 years, but it also marks the last album recorded by the band before the departure of bassist and co-vocalist Evan Seinfeld. The effort remains a testament to the four founding members (Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel, Evan Seinfeld and Danny Schuler) and their chemistry.
“Biohazard has always been a mixture of our personalities, passion, chaos and angst that makes us who we are,” says vocalist and guitarist Billy Graziadei. “It’s this energy that comes out of us when we’re together that is Biohazard.”
Having last recorded and toured as the fundamental lineup with the release of State Of The World Address back in 1994, Biohazard reformed with all four original members back in 2008 to commemorate the band’s 20th anniversary. They went back out on the road together over the next two years, during which time inspiration struck.
“When we first got back together, we knew it would take us a while to figure out how to be a band again,” drummer Danny Schuler explains. “We toured the world over the next 18 months and were genuinely surprised when audiences everywhere reacted as positively as they did. So we started jamming, and we knew there was something there for us to build on. We wanted to take the live energy we were creating and capture it in the studio.”
The band will embark on a massive world tour following their record release party in New York, with concerts in Europe, North America, Australia, Asia and South America planned. Dates and details will be announced shortly.
As a thank you for their loyal fans, Biohazard is giving away a free track titled “Vengeance Is Mine” from the new album. Fans can download the track from the band’s Facebook page.
Metal Hammer – Biohazard Teaser Trailer on MUZU.TV
For more BIOHAZARD click here.
FORBIDDEN cancel European Tour with departure of drummer
by admin on Aug.16, 2011, under news
Guitarist / founding member / songwriter Craig Locicero of the Bay Area thrash band FORBIDDEN has issued the following update:
“This is the most painful update I have ever had to write…
“Due to family obligations on the part of our longtime drummer, Mark Hernandez, FORBIDDEN is forced to cancel it’s tour of Europe and will start to search for an adequate permanent replacement right away. Compounding things is the fact that Mark and I also play in Demonica, who were to open the tour. Unfortunately, at this late date, there is no time nor budget to find a replacement who can handle both bands and our only option right now is to cancel the entire tour.
“FORBIDDEN would like to apologize to all of the different promoters, Continental Concerts, the bands Communic and Demonica, our label Nuclear Blast, and most importantly our fans who have been waiting for us to finally make it overseas for our first proper European tour in support of Omega Wave. You all deserve better. This is a collective kick to everyone’s stomach and it is very difficult for us to swallow.
“If there were any way to find one drummer to do both jobs and learn over 22 songs of material in only a couple of days, we would do it. But there is no way to teach somebody all of that material from the ground up and give the fans our very best. Our first choice was longtime Brother, Gene Hoglan, and since Gene is very familiar with our current set list, this makes the most sense. However, he only has a very small window to work with and no time to commit to an entire tour. But he did agree to fly out to Belgium with us so that FORBIDDEN can play the Alcatraz Festival on August 27th! That works out to be the only days that work within Gene‘s busy schedule and it also allows us to get in front of as many fans as possible for one show.
“In no way does this make up for all of the other gigs we will miss. They MUST be rescheduled for the future!
“Unfortunately, that future will have to be without Mark Hernandez. He has played for the last time with FORBIDDEN and we will be looking for the right replacement as soon as the dust settles. Obviously it takes a great player to play drums in FORBIDDEN. We will only accept the best!
“We all love Mark and hope he finds peace and serenity in his future with his family.
“In the meantime we will continue and take the momentum we have gained from Omega Wave and use it as fuel for the next record and beyond!
“Looking forward, not back.…”
For more FORBIDDEN click here.
WHILE HEAVEN WEPT responds to latest KAISER PERMANENTE radio ad
by admin on Feb.26, 2011, under news
The latest “Expand Your Playlist” radio ad for Kaiser Permanente Hospitals begins like this: “There’s a reason why you see so many people walking around with earphones. We love listening to music…” And then, out of nowhere and like the sound of a needle scratching a record, the soothing female voice bashes gothic doom metal. Listen to Kaiser Permanente’s latest radio commercial (especially at the 0:08 mark).
“Listen to music daily. Twice daily. Three times daily or just as needed,” the commercial continues. “Explore new music. Expand your play list… because not only can music rock your world, it can make you happier and healthier.”
Taking a small break from the 32-hour, in-studio marathon of placing the finishing touches on the new WHILE HEAVEN WEPT album, guitarist & songwriter Tom Phillips took some time to ponder the commercial’s message and offers his take on the grossly misunderstood genre of gothic doom metal.
His response:
“First and foremost, I truly think it is a shame that ANY form of music is ever branded with a negative connotation; it wasn’t lost on me that this was a misguided attempt at humor on the part of Kaiser Permanente, but the reality is this is the kind of mentality that results in music ultimately being blamed for violence and tragedy.
“Further, a healthcare organization should recognize the value of music as a constructive outlet in dealing with tribulations and negativity. Despite the fact that WHILE HEAVEN WEPT has little to do with anything ‘gothic,’ most of the Doom Metal musicians I know are able to lead happier, healthier lives due to the cathartic aspects of this music.
“One of the greatest things about music is the fact that it is open to the interpretation of the individual (i.e. what is ‘dark’ to one person is ‘beautiful’ to another, etc.). Over the years we’ve corresponded with so many people all over the world who took the time to share their most intimate stories of loss and strife and went on to explain how our music (and the music of our colleagues) made a genuine difference in their lives, how they felt understood or simply that they weren’t alone in this world. If that doesn’t make you feel good, I don’t know what would!
“The bottom line is any form of music can be helpful, healing, and inspiring perhaps even more so than the most advanced medicine in many cases. I personally would not be here today if it weren’t for Doom Metal, so I hope that Kaiser Permanente and corporations in general will rethink their marketing strategies in the future so as to avoid implications that ring of ignorance.”
WHILE HEAVEN WEPT’s Nuclear Blast debut, Fear Of Infinity, is the follow-up studio album to 2009’s Vast Oceans Lachrymose. A late Spring release is expected.
On Saturday, March 26th, WHILE HEAVEN WEPT will be headlining a benefit concert at Volume 11 Tavern in Raleigh, North Carolina for Tony “Dio” Leonard, a local metal promoter who recently underwent a nephrectomy. They are also confirmed to perform their emotive, epic metal on the center stage at the ProgPowerUSA XII festival on Saturday, September 17th in Atlanta, Georgia.
For more WHILE HEAVEN WEPT click here.
AGNOSTIC FRONT recording new album
by admin on Nov.16, 2010, under news
AGNOSTIC FRONT has entered Mana Recording Studio in Tampa, FL tomorrow to begin recording the follow up to their 2007 release, Warriors.
15 new powerful and anthemic songs will be laid down by Erik Rutan (MADBALL, GOATWHORE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, etc.) under the watchful guide of producer Freddy Cricien of Madball. The band recently wrapped up pre-production with Freddy to tighten up the songs before entering the studio. This will be Agnostic Front’s third release for Nuclear Blast and second produced by Freddy Cricien. The record is rumored to be their strongest to date and an early 2011 release is expected.
Agnostic Front recently completed the final of several headlining tours in support of the 25th year anniversary of Victim In Pain.
Agnostic Front has changed the face of music throughout its 25 year long career. The two records that started it all, United Blood and Victim In Pain, are legendary New York hardcore releases and some of the most sought-after pieces of vinyl for record collectors. Recently, these two releases were re-released via Bridge Nine Records.
For more AGNOSTIC FRONT click here.
DORO releases first clip from 25 Years In Rock 2DVD/CD package
by admin on Oct.26, 2010, under news
DORO has uploaded a first clip from the upcoming anniversary 2 DVD/CD set, 25 Years In Rock.
The live performance of the SCORPIONS classic, ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane‘, featuring Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker can be seen below.
25 Years In Rock will be released on November 26th via Nuclear Blast. The package includes the entire 25-year anniversary concert, including guest performances in front of 10,000 enthusiastic fans in Dusseldorf as well as a China tour special, outtakes from Doro‘s 2500th concert and a whole lot more.
For more details click here.
For more DORO click here.
DORO feat. SCORPIONS – Rock You Like A Hurricane [Live]
DORO – Official MySpace Site | Myspace Music Videos
Trailer for DORO’s 25 Years In Rock DVD/CD out now
by admin on Oct.22, 2010, under news
A trailer for German metal queen DORO‘s upcoming anniversary 2 DVD/CD set, 25 Years In Rock, has been released. 25 Years In Rock will be released on November 26th via Nuclear Blast.
The package includes the entire 25-year anniversary concert, including guest performances in front of 10,000 enthusiastic fans in Dusseldorf as well as a China tour special, outtakes from Doro‘s 2500th concert and a whole lot more.
Pesch celebrated her 25-year career as the reigning queen of German heavy metal by performing a three-hour set on December 13th, 2008 at the ISS Dome in her hometown of Düsseldorf, Germany. HOLY MOSES, LEAVES EYES‘ and ARCH ENEMY opened the show and were followed by full set by Doro (backed by her long-time band including Nick Douglas, Johnny Dee, Joe Taylor and Oliver Palotai), and included guest appearances by Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (OVERKILL), Jean Beauvoir, GRAVE DIGGER‘s Chris Boltendahl and guitarist Axel Rudi Pell, former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, Scorpions’ Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker, as well as a host of other female vocalists, such as Liv Kristine (LEAVES’ EYES), Floor Jansen (AFTER FOREVER), members of GIRLSCHOOL, Liv of SISTER SIN and Sabina Classen of HOLY MOSES.
Until the end of the year Doro and band will do their last shows in Europe and North America. After a break, in 2011 Doro will begin the songwriting for a new studio album.
Doro tour dates:
October
30 – Tilburg, Netherlands Halloween Rock Fest
November (with Motörhead)
30 – Düsseldorf, Germany – Phillipshalle
December (with Motörhead)
1 – Hannover, Germany – AWD Hall
3 – Trier, Germany – Arena
4 – Stuttgart, Germany – Schleyerhalle
7 – Berlin, Germany – Arena Treptow
8 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Rhein-Main Halle
10 – Chemnitz, Germany – Arena
11 – München, Germany – Zenith
December
15 – Bremen, Germany – Aladin
16 – Kiel, Germany – Max
18 – Limburg, Germany – Stadthalle
19 – Ludwigsburg, Germany – Rockfabrik
21 – Augsburg, Germany – Spectrum
22 – Esch / Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal
23 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7
26 – Nürnberg, Germany – Hirsch
27 – Gießen, Germany – Hessenhalle
29 – Crailsheim, Germany – Jurahalle
30 – Burglengenfeld, Germany – VAZ
For more DORO click here.
FORBIDDEN announce free listening party for Omega Wave in Oakland, Ca October 22nd
by admin on Oct.18, 2010, under news
Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers, FORBIDDEN, will hold a free public listening party for their first record since reforming on Friday October 22, 2010 at Soundwave Studios in Oakland CA. The event will start at 9 pm and is located at 2200 Wood St. Fans will have a chance to get free swag, win a Fernandes bass guitar, and purchase the CD before it hits the streets. Members of FORBIDDEN will also be in attendance to sign autographs and meet the fans.
“We are all very excited about our new release, Omega Wave,” commented vocalist Russ Anderson. “Everyone involved with creating the record worked extremely hard. Now, we want to share it with our fans and friends! So anybody who wants to come out and celebrate with us is officially invited! We will also have plenty of Nuclear Blast and FORBIDDEN swag on hand for giveaways. Be a part of our special night and you may just win some free shit too!”
Omega Wave, FORBIDDEN’s fifth studio album after a 13-year recording hiatus, will be released in Europe on October 22nd and on October 26th in North America. It was recorded at Sonic Room/Audio Voyage Studios in Livermore, California, produced by FORBIDDEN guitarist / songwriter Craig Locicero with Tim Narducci, and mixed by Sean Beavan (Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails).
To pre-order Omega Wave click here.
For more FORBIDDEN click here.
IMMOLATION offer explanation for last nights cancelled performance in Farmingdale, NY
by admin on Oct.01, 2010, under news
New York death metal legends, IMMOLATION, offered the following explanation for last nights cancelled performance at the Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale, NY:
“Unfortunately the show at Crazy Donkey had to be cancelled due to the extreme weather expected in Farmingdale. Local authorities advised the club to stay closed as they were expecting extreme weather conditions throughout the night. We were all at the club for about 3 hours waiting to see if the show was going to happen or not. We found out at about 5:30 that it was definitely off.
Ourselves and Vader , as well as the rest of the bands on the tour, were all ready to play and looking forward to the show. We all appreciate the support of the fans and appreciate everyone’s effort to make it out to the club. The cancellation turned out to be so last minute that it was very difficult to get much word out.
Thanks again for all the support and we look forward to playing in our hometown area of NY again very soon!”
IMMOLATION are currently on a North American headlining tour in support of their Nuclear Blast debut, Majesty and Decay. Joining them are Polish death metal tank and label mates VADER, along with ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE, and PATHOLOGY:
IMMOLATION, VADER, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE, PATHOLOGY dates:
10/1 Providence, RI – Club Hell
10/2 Manchester , NH – Rocko’s
10/3 Montreal, ON – Foufounes Electriques
10/4 Toronto, ON – MOD Club
10/5 Cleveland, OH – Peabody’s
10/6 Detroit, MI – Blondie’s
10/7 Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
10/8 St Paul , MN – Station4
10/10 Seattle, WA – El Corazon
10/11 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
10/12 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
10/13 San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
10/14 West Hollywood, CA – The Whiskey
10/15 Santa Ana ,CA – The Galaxy
10/16 Ramona , CA – Ramona Mainstage
10/17 Mesa, AZ – U.B.’s
10/18 Tucson, AZ – The Rock
10/20 Austin, TX – Emo’s
10/21 Houston, TX – The Warsaw
10/22 Tulsa, OK – Marquee
10/23 Louisville, KY – Uncle Pleasants
10/24 Raleigh, NC – Volume 11
10/25 Springfield, VA – Jaxx
10/26 Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall
10/27 Indianapolis, IN – Emerson Theatre
10/28 Chicago, IL – Reggie’s Rock Club
For more IMMOLATION click here.
FORBIDDEN debut artwork and tracklisting for Omega Wave
by admin on Sep.07, 2010, under news
Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrashers FORBIDDEN have debuted the artwork to their new studio album, Omega Wave, on their official MySpace page.
FORBIDDEN guitarist / songwriter Craig Locicero checks in about his collaborative process with artist Kent Mathieu, the visual elements that can be found in the album’s artwork, and his concern for the future of the human race:
“As soon as FORBIDDEN committed to writing a new record, I wondered where Kent Mathieu was. I’d always felt like Forbidden Evil and Twisted Into Form were pretty iconic album covers… when things like that actually seemed to matter.
“Then, the good people at Nuclear Blast actually located Kent! I got pretty excited and reached out to him immediately. He was equally excited to hear from us, too. The only real direction I gave Kent was to somehow tie the past into the future. Find a way to make the two skulls [from Forbidden Evil’s artwork] vital again. He had worked up about 12 sketches all kinds of variously cool stuff. Out of all of the pictures he sent me, I liked the way one of them was laid out because of it’s simplicity. After thinking about it for a long while, I had a concept for Kent to work with. The Omega Wave concept. The title wasn’t decided until I had a good idea for the cover.
“I don’t want to over-explain the actual picture because there is enough symbolism for everyone to interpret everything differently. That is always a plus, in my book. What I can tell you is that the skull in the center is based upon the crystal skull of Belize. This skull was found at some of the pyramid ruins in two perfect pieces, jawbone and upper cranium. It was always quite a mystery, but some years later Hewlett Packard scientists did extensive tests on the skull and found many anomalies.
“One of them was that there is no way, even with our most modern technology, that we could cut into the crystal the way this skull was formed. It would shatter with any instrument we have available, even today. Another thing was the fact that no matter what temperature the skull was placed in, the skull’s temperature would stay almost exactly the same. Scientists even believe the skull holds information that they could not tap into, like a giant computer chip with an impenetrable code.
“So I got to thinking: Does this skull – and the other ones found throughout the most ancient places on Earth – hold something that we would need to know to possibly save ourselves? This is not an entirely new concept, but it hit me pretty hard. What could we learn about ourselves that may save us at this all-important juncture for the human race?
“It seems as if we’ve reached our Omega stage as a civilization. Meaning, we as people seem to be in a hurry to reach some sort of ending… possibly all self-manifested by accepting some sort of pre-determined fate. Or possibly just pawns in a game that was played out before and will be repeated again and again in other times and dimensions. So Omega Wave is part science fact and part from my imagination.
“Kent Mathieu is a artistic genius who created something that respects this concept, as well as FORBIDDEN’s past, present and future! All of this with one very strong hand-painted picture. That’s right, no computer manipulation whatsoever. Something else we can all be proud of! We hope you approve.”
Omega Wave, FORBIDDEN’s fifth studio album after a 13-year recording hiatus, will be released in Europe on October 22nd and on October 26th in North America. It was recorded at Sonic Room/Audio Voyage Studios in Livermore, California, produced by FORBIDDEN guitarist / songwriter Craig Locicero with Tim Narducci, and mixed by Sean Beavan (Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails).
FORBIDDEN 2010 features Russ Anderson on vocals, Craig Locicero on guitar, Steve Smyth on guitar, Matt Camacho on bass and Mark Hernandez on drums.
Song titles on Omega Wave include:
•Alpha Century
•Forsaken At The Gates
•Swine
•Immortal Wounds
•Hopenosis
•Adapt Or Die
•Inhuman Race
•Behind The Mask
•Dragging My Casket
•Overthrow
•Omega Wave
FORBIDDEN are confirmed for January 2011’s 70,000 Tons Of Metal cruise and will tour the U.S. this November supporting Overkill with Evile, Gamma Bomb, and Bonded By Blood.
FORBIDDEN will go on to headline their own tour with Evile, Gamma Bomb, and Bonded By Blood from November 22nd – December 11th. VIP tickets for pre-show Meet & Greet sessions with the band are now on sale at EnterTheVault.com. VIP ticket buyers will also receive a customized poster signed by the band.
Hear two FORBIDDEN demo tracks, “Adapt Or Die” and “Hopenosis,” and the entire Green album here.
For more FORBIDDEN click here.
