Helion Prime To Release Special Edition "Question Everything" On Vinyl and Digital

L-R – Alex Bosson – Drums, Jason Ashcraft – Guitars, Mary Zimmer – Vocals, Chad Anderson – Guitars, Jeremy Steinhouse – Bass

Celebrating the one-year anniversary of their 2020 album "Question Everything", American power metallers Helion Prime announce they will be releasing a special edition of the full length digitally on October 8th, 2021 along with vinyl available early 2022.  

The special edition was produced by Helion Prime guitarist Jason Ashcraft and Alex Nasla, who also remixed/remastered the record to better fit its vinyl experience. The original artwork also went under a small make-over for a classic "marble wall" vibe. The special edition features a brand new song "Wash Away", which continues the theme of "Question Everything" and was written about Ignaz Semmelweis, the doctor who discovered the disease-fighting power of hand-washing in 1847. 

 

The bonus material on the special edition also includes cover versions of Children of Bodom's "Angel's Don't Kill" with a guest guitar solo from Garrett Peters and Nightwish's "The Pharaoh Sails to Orion" with guest vocals from Carlos Zema (Immortal Guardian) plus a guest guitar solo by Garrett Peters.

"We are so thrilled to announce this special edition release of Question Everything to help celebrate the album's one year of life! This was such a fun album to work on and to get to relive it with you all is something we are very excited about. We are also excited to finally be coming to vinyl. It's something we've wanted for a long time and we know a lot of you have asked for it. So now is the time to get your hands on this special and limited run of Question Everything." adds the band.

A remixed/remastered version of the song "Reawakening" listen here - https://youtu.be/M9EsONK8ixQ 

Vinyl pre-order at the following link: https://igg.me/at/primevinyl/x#/

Question Everything Special Edition Vinyl Video Explanation by guitarist Jason Ashcraft - https://youtu.be/MA3zrCEcZwY

"Question Everything" is Helion Prime’s first album with new vocalist Mary Zimmer, who has also accompanied the band on two separate tours of the United States. The album also saw the band’s original singer, Heather Michele, returning in a writing capacity and contributing all lyrics and melodies. Heather Michele also along with other former Helion Prime vocalist Sozos Michael and with John Yelland (Judicator/Dire Peril) add their guest vocals on the full length.

The third record is a concept album, with each song revolving around different influential figures throughout human history who had the courage to question the status quo of their respective worlds/societies, in some cases even dealing with harsh persecution as a result. Those Helion Prime chose to write about faced prejudice, mockery, ex-communication, and persecution – yet through it all, they held true to their beliefs and ideas. Time would be their greatest ally as their ideas and identities were eventually validated, oftentimes not until after their passing. They serve as an inspiration for all minds to continue thinking outside the box and staying true to themselves.

Track Listing - Helion Prime - Question Everything (Special Edition):
Album Disc/Vinyl:
1. Wash Away*
2. The Final Theory
3. Madame Mercury
4. Prof
5. The Gadfly
6. Photo 51
7. E Pur Si Muove
8. Words of the Abbot ft. guest vocals John Yelland (Judicator, Dire Peril)
9. The Forbidden Zone
10. Question Everything ft. Heather Michele (ex-Graveshadow, ex-Helion Prime) and Sozos Michael (ex-Helion Prime, Planeswalker)
11. Reawakening

Bonus Material:

1. The Drake Equation (Re-Recording)

2. Moon - Watcher (Re-Recording)

3. Atlas Obscura (Re-Recording)

4. The Human Condition (Re-Recording)

5. Question Everything (Mary Zimmer vocals Only)

6. Angel's Don't Kill (Children of Bodom Cover)**

7. The Pharaoh Sails to Orion (Nightwish Cover)***

**Guest guitar solo by Garrett Peters

***Features guest vocals by Carlos Zema (Immortal Guardian) and guest solo by Garrett Peters

Helion Prime is:
Mary Zimmer – Vocals
Jason Ashcraft – Rhythm Guitars
Jeremy Steinhouse – Bass
Alex Bosson – Drums
Chad Anderson – Lead Guitars

For more info:
Helionprimemetal.com
Facebook.com/helionprimemetal
Instagram.com/helionprimemetal
Spotify

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Montreal’s CroMagnum Are Now Streaming Aggressively Melodic EP “Born Free”

 

CroMagnum Current Line Up: L-R - Maximus Rex: Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards - Gino LaPosta: Bass

“Born Free” is the second EP from CroMagnum, hailing from Montreal, Canada. Leading up to this release they have given us two singles that show two different angles of the band that has only been improving since their last album in 2014.

The five tracks on the EP take the listener on a range of musical journeys, from “End Your Slavery” encouraging you to get out of the doldrums and the despair of the prison you’ve let society put you in; to the true origin story as told in “Waterval Boven”; to the reflection of trust presented in “Congregation” with its fast and furious riffs that open up into an epic chorus. There is something for everyone on this release, as the creativity is endless, as shown in the music videos and the comic book. Maximus Rex explains his process in more detail:

“I come up with the basic structure of a song, usually 2-3 riffs, and then we start building it up and jamming it, making decisions about song structure along the way. Once we have a solid base, we’ll work out finer details like solos and harmonies. During that whole process, I start getting ideas for lyrics and melodies, which usually coalesce right around when the music is done. Any subject can make for good lyrics, so I don’t ever judge a theme, because if it inspires you to write, I think it will at least come off as authentic, no matter what you’re talking about.”

Fans who are left wanting more shouldn’t have to wait too long, CroMagnum was originally going to record a full album, but after a slight bit of turbulence among the ranks, it was decided to focus on fewer songs. The next EP, targeted for 2022, is pretty much completely written and waiting to be recorded.

Power, thunder, blood, sweat and tears, CroMagnum offers nothing less than in your face balls-out metal.

The full EP “Born Free” is out on September 17th, 2021 via the band's own label King Metal Records and can be heard in full before its official release at the following link on Metal-Rules HERE.

EP pre-order - CroMagnum1.Bandcamp.com

Videos:
Tunguska - https://youtu.be/e3hnTgjnmRQ 
Born Free - https://youtu.be/FJVLL-D7LSE 

In addition to the band's upcoming EP, vocalist and guitarist Maximus Rex has written a comic book entitled "Bigg Baby: Tales From The Id" in support of the EP, which is available for order at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/ThisSearchForAUserNameIsInfuriating/





Track Listing:
1. End Your Slavery (0:53)
2. Born Free (4:14)
3. Waterval Boven (3:41)
4. Tunguska (2:31)
5. Congregation (5:26)
EP Length: 16:47

EP Band Line Up:
Maximus Rex: Guitar, vocals & keyboards
Gino LaPosta: Bass
M.A.D.: Drums

Live Band Line Up:
Maximus Rex: Guitar and vocals
Gino LaPosta: Bass
Drums (TBA)

For more info:
CroMagnum.ca  
Facebook.com/cromagnum 
Instagram.com/CroMagnum_MTL
Twitter.com/CroMagMetal
EPK

About:

Born of the frosty bowels of Montreal, Quebec, Canada comes CroMagnum, heavy metal from a simpler time. Brutal and unforgiving. Thoughtful and visionary. A forced juxtaposition that leads to an intense listening experience.

CroMagnum started when Maximus Rex and the original drummer parted ways with their previous band with an aim to keep it simple, heavy as fuck and stay as a three-piece. Since then, CroMagnum has evolved into its current form as the main duo of Maximus Rex on guitar and vocals, Gino LaPosta on bass.

With two EPs under their belts, 2014’s self-titled initial release and now 2021’s “Born Free”, CroMagnum embodies the human race’s struggle to climb out of the primordial ooze toward its future ascension to godhood. Lyrical content flows from anger, frustration, history, politics, government corruption, legends, and philosophy, complete with soaring melodies and punishing riffs.

Mythology. Tradition. Evolution. The beginning. The end. CroMagnum.

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Signum Draconis Shares Video "Gate of Hell (Arrival of Charon)"

Rockshots Records announces they will be releasing on November 12th, 2021, Signum Draconis' heavy metal opera of Inferno, from The Divine Comedy written by Dante Alighieri.

Featuring 17 songs by the band all sung in English, the double CD album is the first in a triptych of the complete work of Dante's magnum opus with Purgatory and Paradise to follow, and will also feature duets with selected special guest vocalists, narrations of selected chants, and an orchestral accompaniment by the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra and Choir.

In preview to the upcoming album, the band is sharing the lyric video for the first single "Gate of Hell (Arrival of Charon)", which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/KmMkvFwr1QQ 

"Chant III of Inferno, one of the best-known chants in the entire Divine Comedy, reflects the moment in which Dante and Virgilio arrive at the gate of Hell and read those famous words as a warning written on the door. These verses were treated with special interest, the weight falling and leaving the absolute prominence to the classical orchestra. As a curiosity, the inspiration for the creation of the melody for the intro, I have to say that it caught me by surprise in my free time and since it seemed perfect I was forced to write it on a napkin. During the song we will be able to listen to another duet, this time carried out by our singer Max Morelli in the character of ‘Dante’ and Mr. Mark Boals as ‘Virgil’. At the end of the song, ‘Charon’ the ferryman enters the scene, played by our guest star Mr. Ben Jackson, who everyone will surely remember as the guitarist of the mythical band Crimson Glory." adds guitarist Oscar Grace.

Single stream links:
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3nIvJZh 

Album Teaser - https://youtu.be/8Pm1JxewMNs

Album pre-order - https://bit.ly/SignumDraconis_CD 

Signum Draconis takes their name from the medieval knights' Order of the Dragon, and has opted for a classic 80s-influenced metal sound in homage to the rock and metal icons that inspired them to be musicians, and aim to produce a truly musical, timeless and epic recording that will absorb and reward from repeated and dedicated listening. 

Guitarist and composer Oscar Grace reflects on the history of the project:

"The story of Signum Draconis can be said to begin in 2010, after two years crossing what felt like a personal hell, I was sitting in my car gazing at the sky when a message came to me as it were, a vision clear as day: ‘Put The Divine Comedy to music!’ At that moment Signum Draconis was born. I returned home immediately and hunted out an old copy of Dante’s masterpiece I had owned for years and began furiously reading. Two full years of study and research followed, reading and re-reading all three books many times and even traveling to Florence to visit the 13th Century poet’s own house, trying to envisage what it would have been like to be him and the world in which he lived his story."

It took two years to extract the parts that would form the material for the songs, and a further year working with my good friend Frederick Pollock to compose the lyrics, bringing to each song its own meaning whilst maintaining the thread that binds all the songs together, at all times remaining faithful to the source and paying the utmost respect to the poet Dante with regards to the correct register with perfect meter and rhyme in English. 

I believe Dante’s Inferno perfectly suits the musical style of Heavy Metal, but given the epic scale and cultural importance of Dante’s books, I wanted to bring something else to the music, something that lent grandeur and elegance, and to that end, I began to write parts for a symphony orchestra, in an old-fashioned way, with a fountain pen and sheet music and no new technology to guide my hand."

Overall, this project took four years to compose the music for the band as well as the orchestra and along the way Oscar Grace searched for the companions who would join him on this voyage of grand musical ambitions. The first was Francesco Micieli, the drummer with whom he had already worked on other projects, then Max Morelli to be the voice of the band, and later on, after an arduous search, Oscar Grace found Filippo Martignano for keyboards and Stefano Antonelli on bass.

Once all the compositions were finished the band set about recording in the Domination Studio of San Marino, taking advantage of the experience and professionalism of Simone Mularoni as a sound technician. For the recording of the orchestral parts, Signum Draconis chose to work with the Bratislava Symphony Orchestra, having spoken with the director, David Hernando Rico, who helped them enormously and who showed such enthusiasm for the music and the project overall.

Track Listing:
CD 1:
1. In the Midway of Life’s Journey (5:14)
2. The Mission of Virgil (3:44)
3. Gate of Hell (Arrival of Charon) (5:58)
4. The Borderland (4:48)
5. Whirlwind of Lovers (5:11)
6. Under Eternal Rain (4:50)
7. To the Edge of Stygian Lagoon (4:45)
8. Regnum Dite (2:36)
9. Burning Graves (5:50)
10. Phlegethon (The Bloody River) (6:00)
11. Forest of Suicides (5:48)
12. Firestorm (6:11)

CD 2:
13. On Geryon’s Back (1:10)
14. Ten Moats of Damnation (Interlude: The Ulysses' Chant) (11:31)
15. In Hands of Titans (5:28)
16. Cocytus (The Ice Terror) (8:28)
17. Lucifer (7:46)

Special guests include:
RENATO CARROZZO as Storyteller
CHIARA MANESE as Beatrice
MARK BOALS as Virgil
BEN JACKSON as Charon
KSENIA GLONTY as Francesca
LUCA PAOLINI as Pluto
ANDREA RANFA as Brunetto Latini
FREDERICK POLLOCK as Ulysses
SIMONE MULARONI as Nimrod 'The Titan'
OLEG SMIRNOFF as Count Ugolino
Band line up:
Max Morelli (Vocals)
Oscar Grace (Guitars)
Filippo Martignano (Keyboards)
Stefano Antonelli (Bass)
Francesco Micieli (Drums)

More info:
Rockshots.eu
https://www.facebook.com/signumdraconis
https://www.instagram.com/signumdraconis

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Bravewords Now Streaming Infrared’s Classic 80s Thrash Album “From The Black Swamp”

L-R: Mike Forbes (Bass, Backing Vocals), Armin Kamal (Guitar, Vocals), Alain Groulx (Drums, Backing Vocals), Kirk Gidley (Guitar, Backing Vocals)
Photo Credit by : Carissa Broeren

Canada’s Infrared has a new album ready for listeners who can tune into Bravewords for a heavy dose of no holds barred, traditional 80s thrash. The quartet of Kirk Gidley (guitar), Alain Groulx (drums), Mike Forbes (bass) and Armin Kamal (vocals/guitar) initially started on their journey back in 1986 and through trials, tribulations and a very long hiatus, they have arrived here with a third full-length album “From the Black Swamp”.

Infrared is the kind of band that writes exactly the songs needed for the album, working on them meticulously until they are up to standard. Each of the twelve songs is a standalone banger and cohesive with the rest of the album. A definite trip back in time, the band explains the album in their own words:

“With 12 songs and an hour of brand-new music, this album is the most personal yet. It is a rollercoaster ride of riff after riff, thundering bass, relentless drumming, and heavy lyrical content. The band hopes these personal songs resonate with fans and attract new listeners who share a love and passion for classic metal songs delivered with a modern touch and production.”

The songs on the album are a collaborative effort between the band members, it was produced, mixed and mastered by Kamal and the album artwork was done by Nate MacDonald. Infrared has shared the stage with bands such as Anvil, Sacrifice, Razor, and Venom Inc., and looks forward to supporting this album with a tour as soon as possible. 

Staying true to their roots, this album is for those who like the 80’s Bay area sound mixed with classic metal influences such as Maiden, Priest and Sabbath.

“From the Black Swamp” is streaming now on Bravewords HERE.

The full release is officially out on September 30, 2021.

Album pre-order - https://infraredmetal.bandcamp.com

Music Video - From the Black Swamp- https://youtu.be/Crxh_Fwyb7E 
Lyric Video - Evil Ascent - https://youtu.be/muZc3HXfFhw

Show Dates:
Nov 27 - Mavericks - Ottawa, ON w/ Enforcer, Thunderdome - info

Track Listing:
1. Tribal Junction – 4:49
2. No Master, No Gods – 4:39
3. Lockdown – 4:02
4. Left Lane F√₵K! – 4:19
5. Eat Your Own – 4:58
6. From the Black Swamp – 6:11
7. Evil Ascent – 5:22
8. Blood & Sweat – 5:04
9. Eternal Exile – 5:09
10. Tradimento – 4:31
11. Beautiful Death – 4:31
12. SemitaDomum – 6:32
Album Length: 1:00:13

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Kirk Gidley – Guitar
Alain Groulx – Drums
Mike Forbes – Bass
Armin Kamal – Vocals, Guitar

For more info:
Infraredmetal.ca
Facebook.com/infraredmetal
Twitter.com/infraredmetal
Instagram.com/theofficialinfrared
EPK

About:
If Infrared sounds like classic thrash metal, that’s because they are! And rightfully so since they were making music as teenagers in the mid to late 80s back when the Big 4 (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax) were just becoming famous. They literally lived and breathed that scene as it was happening and garnered national attention in Canada through their song and video for Thoughts Caught (in Between).

Then....life happened and members took different paths and the music, that was hot in the underground metal scene and loved by demo tape traders near and far, went dormant for 27 years! In 2014 Infrared reunited with 3 of the original 4 members (Kirk, Armin, and Alain), and since original bassist Shawn Thompson had moved to Miami, they recruited Mike Forbes. They worked hard to release their first full-length album, No Peace (2016), featuring songs written all those years ago. 2018 saw Infrared release their sophomore album, Saviours, featuring 8 new songs coming in at just over 50 minutes of music! That was followed up by their 2019 EP, Back to the Warehouse featuring the last of their 80's written songs and released as a bridge to their next full-length album. Now, in 2021, Infrared release their most mature album yet, From the Black Swamp. The album features 12 songs for one hour of hard-hitting and emotionally charged songs steeped in the themes of betrayal and malicious sabotage in all walks of life, from societal to interpersonal. With several high-profile concerts under their belts including opening for Anvil, Sacrifice, Razor, Venom Inc., Dirkschneider, Flotsam and Jetsam, DBC, E-Force, and Atrophy, Infrared raises their horns and looks forward to getting out there to meet and befriend metal lovers everywhere!

Discography:
2021 – From the Black Swamp - LP
2019 – Back to the Warehouse - EP
2018 – Saviours – LP
2016 – No Peace – LP
1986 – R.I.P. Demo

Shared Stage With:
Anvil, Flotsam and Jetsam, Udo Dirkshneider, Sacrifice, Varathron, DBC, E-Force, Vortex, Atrophy, Venom Inc.

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Hard Rock band Edge of Destiny releases "Forsaken"

 

Magic happens when kindred spirits come together in a cross pollination of music styles. There is the familiar theme of the common and then the edge of difference that draws it all together to create what can only be known as Edge of Destiny.   The hard driving metal drumming of Chase Bailey, coupled with the percussive bass stylings of Michael Cormeau lay the perfect foundation for this bridge between Modern, Active, Alternative, Hard and Progressive Rock. The progressive rhythms and layerings of guitarists Kris Copley and Ulisses Moran shape and color the sound for singer Kraevin Caedo’s powerful vocal stylings to shine through on hook-laden melodies.   Although Edge of Destiny is still emerging from its infancy as a band, Kraevin is a long standing veteran in the music industry. Edge of Destiny stands to be joining the ranks of some of today’s top national acts in no time at all, having toured with Diamante, The Crowned and Dawn of Flames and have opened for Alice Cooper's Nita Strauss, Saliva, Ellefson, Red, Kore Rozzik, Brand of Julez, Cold, Armed for Apocalypse and most recently Tantric and Smile Empty Soul. Edge of Destiny has also played with other popular acts such as A Killer's Confession, Magg Dylan, and many more.   Their 1st single, a solid hard rockin’ cover of Pat Benantar’s “Invincible” dropped April 26th, and the music video has over 10k views, 216 shares, 2,500+ engagements, and reached over 40,716 people since it’s premier April 18th. In September 2020, they finished recording 2 more hard driving singles, “Never Gonna Change” and “Game Over”, and released music video for "Never Gonna Change" on March 12, 2020. Though the COVID19 "crisis" has been devastating to many artists around the world, Edge of Destiny has thrived releasing live streams and engaging their audience around the world. The band returned from Hollywood, California in January 2021 where they record 3 more songs to be part of an album to be released later this year produced by Keith Armstrong and Hugo Ferreira (Tantric). The singles will be strategically released over the next few months with music videos while tour dates are pending to be booked for 2021. Be sure to catch them live for what will certainly be an engaging powerhouse show.