product: Foreign - The Symphony Of The Wandering Jew Part II

release date: 04.12.2020

format: CD & digital

territory: world

Foreign is a metal/rock opera from another time, like a real journey inside time and space, more gazed on melodies which can provoke dreams on you, as if you were deep inside the millennial quest of Ahasverus, the poor Jewish man cursed by Jesus Christ, condemned to immortality to have refused him a glass of water, when he was climbing the mount for the crucifixion…

Still under control of author/composer/ singer/keyboardist Ivan Jacquin (Psychanoïa, Amonya, Magnesis...), the wandering jew is following his own quest, after the time when we left him at the end of the first album.

Now’s the time of Holy Crusades back in Jerusalem and Ahasverus, alias Omar Kyan for a little while, he will meet terrible Salah ad-Dîn, for a strange and short alliance…

The story of this second album will bring us until the dawn of industrial revolution, passing by Vikings lands, Cristoforo Colombo and his historical mistake, Francois the 1st and his dream of alchemy, Nostradamus’ prophecies, the Shakespeare enigma, Mozart and his genius art, and it will end with several revolutions, in 1789 in France and in the beginning of the 19th century for rising industry and mechanical inventions.

When seeing the success and interest about Part I in 2014, some guests, singers and musicians from the whole world and well-known in rock, progressive and metal universe have accepted to be part of the second record of this amazing trilogy. This includes the massive talents of Leo Margarit (Pain of Salvation, Epysode) on drums, Mike Lepond (Symphony X, Silent Assassins) on bass, the vocalists Zak Stevens (Circle II Circle, Savatage, TSO), Andy Kuntz (Vanden Plas) and Tom S. Englund (Evergrey), as well as Amanda Lehmann (Steve Hackett Band) on vocals and lead guitars.

Most of the musicians playing in part I will be back in this adventure and some characters will remain in their being to perpetuate the quest…

Foreign II welcomes lots of characters, female and male singers, the mixed choir named « The sirens of time » and about twenty metal and rock musicians and other instrumentalists more « exotic » and rare (hammered dulcimer, oboe, cello, duduk, harp, hurdy-gurdy...); forty artists in total.

“The symphony of the wandering Jew Part I” is still available on the following links via the band camp site of the project at this link: http://www.foreignrockopera.bandcamp.com  

Part II was mixed in Markus Teske’s Bazement Studio (Vanden Plas, Red Circuit, Mob Rules...) in Germany and will be released on December 4^th, 2020 via Pride & Joy Music. The fantastic human and musical adventure will continue to make you travel and dream through times of our own History…

product: Squealer - Insanity

release date: 04.12.2020

format: CD & digital

territory: world

SQUEALER, one of Germany’s very own Power & Thrash Metal pioneers, are now back with a vengeance! “Insanity” is the name of their 10^th studio release since their foundation in the 1980’s – and the new opus impressively starts where the successful predecessor “Behind Closed Doors” has stopped!

As usual, the quintet shows its versatility and intricacy: “Insanity” once again delivers everything a Metal fan may be looking for. Power ballads like “Black Rain” go hand in hand with Thrash metal hymns  such as the opener “Into Flames”, “Hunter Of Myself” or “My Journey” and powerful Metal tracks like “Bad tasting Sin” or “Insanity”. Through the years, SQUEALER undoubtfully have managed to follow their roots but nevertheless also to create their very own, up-to-date sound that also includes huge polyphonic choirs from time to time.

SQUEALER today consists of Lars Döring (guitars), Michael Schiel (guitars), Sebastian Werner (vocals), Manuel Roth (bass) and new member Peter Schäfer on drums. Ito Grabosch took once again are of the recordings while Roland Grapow (Helloween/ Masterplan)  handled the mixing and the mastering. This time, some guests have joined the band from North Hessia in the studio; i.e. on the track “Black Rain” Bernhard Weiss (AXXIS) and Zak Stevens (CIRCLE II CIRCLE, SAVATAGE, TSO) guest on vocals and Roland Grapow (Masterplan, ex Helloween) on lead guitar with one solo whilst Ingmar Klippert can be heard on piano on the song “Low-flying Brains”.

“Insanity” is the second release from SQUEALER on Germany based label Pride & Joy Music and will be unleashed on December 4^th, 2020. The tracks “Black Rain” and “Bad Tasting Sin” will be released as singles and audio videos in advance.

Line-up: Lars Döring (guitars), Michael Schiel (guitars, backing vocals, piano on “Black Rain”), Sebastian Werner (vocals), Manuel Roth (bass, backing vocals), Peter Schäfer (drums)

product: Lazarus Dream - Alive

release date: 13.11.2020

format: CD & digital

territory: world

With an artistry and groove that is never less than inspiring and absorbing, new German Hard Rock project LAZARUS DREAM featuring multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer and powerhouse vocalist Carsten Lizard Schulz gives a pleasure as immense and deep as the sounds and abilities which pour from their album „Alive“.

Carsten Lizard-Schulz delivers a powerful, emotion filled performance and makes this an album full of incredibly poignant vocals listeners worldwide are used to get delivered from him and appreciate on critically appraised albums by EVIDENCE ONE, DOMAIN, DEAD END HEROES and MIDNITE CLUB, to name only a few.

Markus Pfeffer used to be a member of internationally praised German AOR-band SCARLETT in the early nineties and delivers riffing and fret board acrobatics you rarely get to hear him play on albums by his main band WINTERLAND, which used to top the German Amazon Download charts in late 2010. On the LAZARUS DREAM album, he not only plays guitar, but also bass and keys.

The powerhouse drumming by guest Markus Kullmann (SINNER, VOODOO CIRCLE, Glenn Hughes) not only completes the hearing pleasure but also adds an incredible groove which lifts the songs to a new level. More musical guests featured are percussionist Thomas Rieder, flute player Sabrina Roth and Thomas Nitschke on Hammond and synths.

The album was mastered by Markus Teske at Bazement Studios (VANDEN PLAS, SAGA, MOB RULES,…)

Highlights on „Alive“ range from undoubtedly immensely catchy chorusses and stunningly melodic twin guitar solos in songs like „Wings Of An Eagle“ and „Hotel Overload“ to progressive arrangements in extra-long tracks like „Dawn Of Time“ and „Fleshburn“, which also surprises the listener with an Arabian flute intro (and guaranteed goose bumps, by the way). Groovy guitar riffing gets combined with massive vocal arrangements and reflective lyrics especially in songs like „The Healing Echoes“, „House Of Cards“, „Desert Mind“ and „Can’t Take My Soul Away“.

All in all, LAZARUS DREAM brings a fresh, vivid and eager breath to melodic hard rock and classic progressive metal without the need for indulgence and spurious tricks and charms… Pfeffer and Schulz build a strong songwriting duo and thus the foundation for the album and deliver inspired, melodic hard rock bliss which should appeal to fans of bands such as QUEENSRYCHE and DOKKEN.

product: Shadow Tribe - Reality Unveiled

release date: 13.11.2020

format: CD & digital

territory: world

ALTARIA/STARGAZERY bass player Marko Pukkila has joined forces with ex-CELESTY/SPIRITUS MORTIS/MASQUERAGE frontman Kimmo Perämäki in a new band called SHADOW TRIBE. The group, whose lineup is rounded out by Simo Pirttimaa on guitars and Petri Heinonen (King Satan) on drums, has signed a worldwide record deal with Pride & Joy Music who will release the group’s debut album “Reality Unveiled” on November 13^th, 2020.

SHADOW TRIBE is a melodic metal group from Finland. The band is driven forward and managed by Altaria/ Stargazery bass player Marko Pukkila, who is well known within the industry. He has been around the European rock scene for over two decades and played on almost 40 different releases incl. work with musicians like Vinny Appice, Kee Marcello, AJ Pero, Frankie Banali, Rowan Robertson, Ryan Roxie just to name a few.

Pukkila comments: "After a few years of studio absence, we are finally here with our debut album entitled 'Reality Unveiled'. Feels great to announce the deal with Pride & Joy Music! The music is melodic, but also in-your-face and kick-ass rock. Cool riffs, good melodies and tasteful arrangements. I'm very happy with how the album came out. It's a great collection of hard-hitting-yet-melodic commercial rock tracks, which I hope you all enjoy.”

“Reality Unveiled” was produced by SHADOW TRIBE between 2018 and 2020; and mixed and mastered by singer Kimmo Perämäki who also mixed and mastered the latest Stargazery album and created the SHADOW TRIBE artwork.

product: Hellsmoke - 2020

release date: 16.10.2020

format: CD & digital

territory: world

HELLSMOKE releases its debut album, “2020”, with the Rev-counter well in to the red!

Hellsmoke’s gasoline infused Hardrock/ Metal combination was born when guitar player Christofer Dahlman (ex Alyson Avenue, Bai Bang) and songwriter Torbjörn Månsson got together with their long-time friend and drummer Roger Landin (ex Cloudscape). This explosive mix started to iron out what HELLSMOKE should be all about. Heavy guitars, pounding drums and rough, but refined, melodies form the backbone of the music.

The group tested the waters live by doing a few gigs, the most mentionable as support for Pretty Maids in Denmark.

When it was time to record the album Rimbert Vahlström (ex Syron Vanes), joined the crew as the group’s new singer and with his unmistakable voice that was perfect for the band - he took the songs to the next level! Anders Hahne was used as a co-producer on the album.

The band’s latest additions, Jörgen Löfberg on bass (Darkane) and Michael Åkesson (Alicate) on guitars, provide that extra edge that separates HELLSMOKE from other bands!

product: Tina Schüssler - Verwirrte Welt

release date: 11.09.2020

format: CD & digital

territory: world

Tina Schüssler is a perfect bundle of power and energy. She performs this with great skill and perceptible passion on every stage, captivating her audience in seconds. The mixture between rock, hard rock and sometimes a bit of pop has been cleverly packaged in her songs and lyrics, emotive to everybody.

The three-time world champion with real titanium in her heart, was drawn to music from an early age. So she started taking piano lessons as a young child, played drums and double bass in an orchestra. She started her sports career at the age of 18, became a professional boxer in 1997, won her first kickboxing title at the age of 24 and was also the owner of three sports schools.

In 2009, Tina suffered a serious illness. Due to a congenital heart defect, she had a stroke, was paralyzed on the left side, could no longer speak and got a titanium shield into her heart. After three years of rehabilitation and hospital stays, the power package came back to life and became another two-time kickboxing world champion in 2016 in K-1 in the USA. Then she officially ended her boxing career, switched to the music business and began composing her first songs in 2018.

Since 2019 Tina has been musically successful and blows up the stages with her band, but also as a solo singer. Well-known bands call her the most punchy  singer in the world. But she is also booked as a highlight or a special guest, sings with notable personalities from the music scene and fires her sound into the crowds with a rocking voice. Her ripping and incomparable stage presence is infectious and motivating. Tina is repeatedly referred to as a phenomenon and unique in the media.

Her canceled European tour with Bonfire was postponed to September (due to the Covid-19-virus).

For over 27 years, Tina Schüssler, who was born in Augsburg in 1974, has been in the focus of the media, skillfully moving in front of the cameras through her sporting and TV presenter career. She guides through every program with wit and knowledge, is also the ring announcer for World Cup matches in the ring, or is a welcome guest on radio and television.

In 2019 she reached the live final at the German Rock & Pop Prize as a singer/songwriter and claimed second place as the best singer.

Tina Schüssler is – besides Toten Hosen - the only musician in Germany to be an official artist for Sea Shepard.

In general, the all-rounder performs as a solo singer, but also as the band leader of her own rock band, which consists of five people including herself on vocals and Aaron Hoffmann (guitars), Harald Zeidler (guitars), Mustafa Güler (bass), Andrea Eppli (drums)

Tina is the messenger and ambassador for the largest organizations and is always actively involved in a socially committed way. In 2020, she and two partners opened a professional film/TV and sound studio called “PM7 Studios” on around 550 square meters.