New release
I’ll Be Damned: new album in November
In 2022 I’LL BE DAMNED is at it again. Armed with a constant flow of inspiration from a world gone mad, the Danish band is pissed off about politics, religion, the media and society in general. The new album, “Culture”, is more well-structured than the prior albums regarding both riffing and overall songwriting. And, with brilliant production value – courtesy of the producer Tue Madsen and his Antfarm Studios – the Nordic five-piece has finally reached the potential they promised in their previous two albums and explosive live appearances.
With the addition of two new members, Anders Gyldenøhr (ex-Grope, ex-Hatesphere) on drums and Mark Damgaard on vocals, I’ll Be Damned has matured in a musical way that has led to a more serious approach to the writing process. This is showcased with an album – coming after “Road To Disorder” (2018) and “I’ll Be Damned” (2017) – containing less humour, darker and more aggressive riffs followed up by explosive vocals and lyrics that include themes such as anger, desperation and hopelessness rather than sarcasm and irony. However, the thematics of “Culture” still revolve around hatred towards religion and politics, but also newer forms of extreme cultural diversities.
Backed with influences such as Clutch, Down and Rage Against The Machine, I’ll Be Damned fuses a potent yet melodic and groovy punch in your face with lyrical sharpness and unifying paroles – with an attitude.
“Culture” will be released on digital, CD and LP (transparent orange vinyl, limited to 300 units) via Mighty Music on November 25th, 2022. Orders available here and here.
New release
No Return to drop new album in October.
A quick search online about the word “age” will show you a variety of expressions commonly used. The first and probably the most used one is “coming of age”, which refers to reaching adulthood or a certain level of maturity. On their 33rd year of career, French death/thrash metal veterans NO RETURN have already passed the “coming of age” phase. But that doesn’t mean they have stagnate, settle down or rest on their laurels. In fact, quite the contrary.
Welcome to the new chapter of No Return, one of the most well-known and oldest metal bands in France. The death/thrash machine is back with “Requiem”, their eleventh studio album and, very likely, their heavier and most savage work to this date. In fact, the Parisian five-piece presents itself with a renewed sound, sporting a new level of intensity, melody and heaviness. In a nutshell, it’s No Return on steroids.
“Requiem” will be released on digital, CD, and LP (red/black vinyl, limited to 300 units) via Mighty Music on October 21st, 2022.. Pre-orders available here.
New release
Captain Black Beard release ”Neon Sunrise” in October
It’s cyclical. Every now and then since the 80s, AOR as a music genre has a big explosion of popularity and new bands, then gets a bit worn out by the excess of players in the scene, and then it comes back again, bigger than ever.
In the downtimes, however, there are new bands that stand out and help carrying the style, presenting it to new generations and bringing a fresh take to it. CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD is clearly one of these bands. Like their Swedish countrymen The Night Flight Orchestra, the five-piece grew up with the classic sound of bands such as Journey and Foreigner, but found a way to take a renew approach to it, own the AOR sound in such a bossy way that it draws the attention of a whole new generation of fans.
The development of Captain Black Beard’s sound over the last ten years and several albums and singles releases made the tag “disco AOR” stick to them, as a way to describe the incredible catchy and all-round composition and sound they achieved. The ultimate expression of this “disco AOR” sound is the new Captain Black Beard album, “Neon Sunrise”, to be released this Fall via Mighty Music. Groovy drums, melodic guitars, lots of keyboards and Martin’s powerful voice to top it off will make your love for AOR – old or new – boil once again in your blood.
“Neon Sunrise” will be released on digital, CD, and LP (transparent magenta vinyl, limited to 300 units) via Mighty Music on October 7th, 2022. Pre-orders available here.
Out now
Statement release new album ”Dreams From The Darkest Side” in October
Danish band STATEMENT is back with their fourth and most uncompromising album to date which, like their last critically acclaimed album “Force Of Life”, was recorded in Medley Studios and produced by experienced Søren Andersen. With the same line-up as the previous album, Statement demonstrates their indomitable perfectionism after several long hours in the studio, with their heads deeply buried in the world of music in the culmination between hard work and enormous focus in further development – among other things with a more diverse songwriting.
”Dreams From The Darkest Side” is a heavy rock album that clearly expresses the band’s personality and unity. Based on the band’s recognizable cosmos, ”Dreams From The Darkest Side” carries Statement further into the facets of metal. An even higher range of flashy melodies and heavy metal elements characterise ”Dreams From The Darkest Side”, without the band giving up their iconic choruses and exuberant guitar solos in the span between rock, metal and emotional ballads. The lyrics are based on the band’s own depictions and experiences of life, with reference to the world we live in. Deeply personal tales of band members’ depression, demonic thoughts, the struggle to achieve dreams and the eternal search for love have brought Statement into the intensity and bias of fragility.
Set in the black hole of thought, ”Dreams From The Darkest Side” contains many emotions that make the album the band’s most cohesive and personal album to date. In this spirit, the band delivers with ”Dreams From The Darkest Side” an ambitious, magnificent and intense craft – a true Statement!
Statement hail from the dusty and dirty suburbs of Copenhagen, combining the raw power of several genres with their field-warrior melodic heavy rock and their assertive metal approach to form their own unique sound – a sound that straddles hard rock, heavy metal and softer elements from the world of pop.
Formed in 2011, the band has focused since day one on writing ear-catching heavy rock that touches the very core of your soul. Statement released their debut album “Monsters” in 2014, followed by the second album “Heaven Will Burn” in 2016, and third album “Force of Life” in 2019, and is now coming with their fourth album, “Dreams From The Darkest Side”, in 2022.
“Dreams From The Darkest Side” will be released on digital and CD via Mighty Music on October 7th, 2022. LP version (black/white splatter vinyl, limited to 300 units) coming in January. Pre-orders available here.
Out now
Marco Mendoza ”New Direction”
Known throughout the music world as a talented solid bass player for bands like Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Journey, Ted Nugent and The Dead Daisies to name a few, MARCO MENDOZA has recorded a body of amazing music in his own right. But when his fourth effort in his own name, “New Direction”, hits the streets in September this year, it will be a very special beast of its own.
Working with world-class producer Soren Andersen, owner of Medley Studios in Copenhagen, dubbed by some as ‘the new Mutt Lange’, the partnership that has already produced the career-defining “Viva La Rock” 2017 album has created in “New Direction” another future masterpiece together.
As it often happens, demanding times produce special opportunities, and writing and recording amidst a pandemic was a trigger for Mendoza’s creativity.
With Andersen himself handling guitars and keyboards as a background for Mendoza’s top-class bass lines and superb vocals, Tommy Gentry (Gun) stepped in for guest guitar solos in selected tracks, while drumming duties were split between Morten Hellborn (Electric Guitars) and Allan Tschicaja (Pretty Maids). A super-team surrounding Marco. But then again, the bassist/vocalist is used to working with the best of the best, and wouldn’t have it any other way in what is clearly the tightest set of songs he has ever recorded in his own name.
“New Direction” is out today on digital, CD and LP (black and turquoise vinyls, each limited to 500 units) via Mighty Music. Orders are available here.
Mighty Music
New releases playlist
Listen to the playlist here:
Tova Hellberg