Tag Archives: new song

Celtic Metal Vocalist LEAH Reveals Powerful New Track, “Edge of Your Sword”, Featuring Members of Delain, Orphaned Land and Blind Guardian

Symphonic/Celtic vocalist LEAH – described affectionately by her fans as “the metal Enya” – recently announced the release of her upcoming full-length album, The Quest, out Friday, October 5. The album features a stronger Celtic and Fantasy connection in comparison to her previous release, Kings & Queens, as well as prog rock elements and ethereal ambiance, combined with traditional symphonic metal elements. The album is available for pre-order HERE

Today, LEAH is pleased to reveal a new track from The Quest, entitled “Edge of Your Sword“.

Check out the brand new lyric video HERE

LEAH says about the track: “This track was interesting to write… it was inspired by a mood, more than anything else – medieval rock vibes with a bit of spice. I hope those vibes get passed onto the listener! Some of that spice is attributed to Chen Balbus (Orphaned Land) who added the middle eastern saz on the track, which gave it a really cool and unexpected flavour! Also on the track is Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian) playing bass, Timo Somers (Delain) playing rhythm guitars (with an epic solo!), and Sander Zoer (ex-Delain) on Drums and percussion. Oliver Philipps (Everon, Phantasma) added a ton of orchestration which really beefed the whole sound up.

My part in it was composing the song, playing a lot of the keys, harps, synths, arrangements, lyrics, and of course vocals. I was actually scared out of my mind about that high note in the last chorus! I knew I could technically execute it, but was mentally blocked for some time about it. I had to do weird things in the vocal booth to overcome my vocal mental block, such as drawing an arrow pointing down on a piece of paper that I could look at, also using physical gestures when I went to sing it, such as pointing to the ground with my hands. The reason is because when you go to sing a high note, most singers tend to tense up and squeeze their vocal chords up, which make a horrible tone and tense up the voice. So, to overcome that default tendency, I had to convince my brain that I was actually singing lower and it would get easier, not harder. And when that note came out, it actually was a piece of cake! Amazing how the mind works!”

 

Hear a sample of more new music from The Quest HERE

 

LEAH is recognized in the music world for her work with established heavy metal musicians such as Eric Peterson of Testament and Dragonlord, Timo Somers of Delain, Troy Donockly of Nightwish and many others. To date, LEAH has released three albums, Of Earth & Angels [2012], Otherworld [2013], and Kings & Queens [2015], as well as several viral videos. Her latest video features an ethereal cover of “The Dragonborn Comes“, the main theme from the massive video game Skyrim. The video has racked up 5.3 million views on Facebook and nearly 600,000 views on YouTube to date.

As mentioned in her comment above, in addition to LEAH‘s own vocals, keys, and orchestrations on The Quest, the album features an impressive international cast of guest musicians – including Troy Donockley of Nightwish on pipes and flutes, Barend Courbois of Blind Guardian on bass guitar, Timo Somers of Delain on rhythm and lead guitars, Sander Zoer formerly of Delain on drums and percussion and Chen Balbus of Orphaned Land on Middle Eastern Saz and Oud. The album features mixing and mastering from Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe), as well as orchestration, arrangement and production from Oliver Philipps (Everon, Phantasma, Delain).

I am totally delighted to work with the guest musicians on this album. Each and every individual is an expert at what they do, and I only wanted the best for these songs, as we were developing toward a very specific sound, which was a rock/metal album with a Celtic and fantasy twist,” says LEAH. “This album was truly an international effort!

LEAH The Quest album art by Jan Yrlund
The Quest art by Jan Yrlund (Tina Guo, Apocalyptica, Manowar)

The Quest track listing:

1. The Quest
2. Edge of Your Sword
3. Lion Arises
4. Heir
5. Ruins of Illusion
6. Labyrinth
7. Abyss
8. Oblivion (Between Two Worlds)
9. Ghost Upon a Throne
10. The Water Is Wide

 

About LEAH:

LEAH is a fan-described “Celtic vocal goddess” hailing from the coast of British Columbia, Canada, and is inspired by Celtic and world music influences such as Clannad and Enya to European symphonic and progressive metal influences. Her debut self-released album Of Earth & Angels received international critical acclaim, including landing the “The Best Symphonic Metal AlbumMetalstorm Award for 2012. Her 2013 release, Otherworld, is a five-song Celtic-metal masterpiece, mixed by ChristianMoschusMoos at SPACELAB in Germany (Delain, Everon, Imperia) and features the vocals of guitar legend Eric Peterson (Testament/Dragonlord) on the ethereal metal track “Dreamland“. 2014 was very successful year for LEAH as she raised over $27,000 through Indiegogo via her fans to record and produce her heaviest album, Kings & Queens, which was eventually released in early 2015 through Inner Wound Recordings. The album received dozens of four and five-star reviews, and helped her gain thousands of new fans around the world.

Most recently, LEAH raised over $87,000 in 30 days via Indiegogo and her shop to launch The Quest, again released via her own independent record label, Ex Cathedra Records, along with Inner Wound Recordings. Already, The Quest is receiving 5-star reviews and critical acclaim. Her fans have never been more loyal and excited for fantasy-inspired symphonic metal!

LEAH Online:

Website | Facebook | Youtube
Instagram | Twitter

 

Renowned Guitarist Eric Peterson Reveals New DRAGONLORD Track “Lamia” with Gimme Radio

Renowned Testament guitarist Eric Peterson recently announced the release of his highly-anticipated new Dragonlord album, entitled Dominion, out September 21, 2018 via Spinefarm Records. The symphonic black/death metal album serves as the long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s Black Wings of Destiny, but takes the fantasy and storytelling to a whole new level. Dominion explores themes of darkness owning and influencing these times we now live in, and things that have come to pass. It also delves into other eras, real and otherworldly.

Get another taste of Dominion today via Gimme Radio‘s New Releases Show! Listen in today at 8:00 AM PT/11:00 AM ET to hear the world premiere of “Lamia“, a track about the mythical feminine man-eating creature! Listen by visiting Gimme Radio.

Gimme Radio - Dragonlord World Premiere

You can also tune in to encore airings of the show on:

Sunday, September 9 – 12:00 AM PT / 3:00 AM ET
Monday, September 10 – 8:00 PM PT / 11:00 PM ET
Wednesday, September 12 – 10:00 PM PT / 1:00 AM ET
(Thursday morning)

“Oh Lamia it’s witching hour!”
“Oh Lamia thy sons devoured!”

Eric Peterson says, “Musically, this song just rocks! Starting off with ethereal keys backed by a stronghold of bombarding riffs and drums, Leah‘s siren wails and my melodic screams of Lamia’s constant call for filicide, reaping forth complete despair! Tonight’s the night she’ll tear your soul apart! Through telepathy she knows who’s calling her and she will find you!”

 

Digital and physical pre-orders for Dominion are live here:

Physical + Merch | Digital 

Stream/Download via Additional Retailers Here

Make sure to pick up the newly available Ultimate Dragonlair” merch bundle, which will be available today via Spinefarm Records, featuring:


LP gatefold w/ large size 20 page lyric booklet

DIGI CD Pack

THE BURNER Comic

T-shirt
Dragonlord merchWhile online, make sure to check out the “The Making of Dominion” video series! Unreleased audio clips of the album are also mixed in amid the video content. Watch here:

Part One

Part Two | Part Three

 

Also, watch the lyric video for the album’s first single, “Dominionhere, and the fantasy-driven music video for “Northlandershere.

 

Dominion is a dark fantasy fan’s musical dream – exploring everything from Nordic history to Lord of the Rings! Dominion‘s eight songs create a deep and heady musical journey rife with meaning and menace, from the blackest and loudest recesses of Eric Peterson‘s mind.

Peterson recorded Dominion at Northern California’s Trident Studios and produced it with an assist from engineer/mixer Juan Urteaga (Testament, Machine Head, M.O.D.). Dominion was mastered by famed producer/engineer Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. In addition to Eric Peterson, Dominion features the musical talents of Lyle Livingston (Psypheria) on orchestrated keys and pianos, Alex Bent (Trivium) on drums, and notable fantasy metal singer Leah on female vocals and choirs (who has performed/recorded with members of Blind Guardian, Nightwish, Delain, and others).

Peterson formed Dragonlord in 2000 as its singer and guitarist (with keyboardist Lyle Livingston and now-ex-members Steve Di Giorgio of Testament and Jon Allen of Sadus), and notes that the growth from Dragonlord‘s first two records to the cinematic triumph and brutal blast-beats of Dominion has been immense. Dominion‘s stellar, complex, brutally symphonic metal is triumphant in its execution, bringing together layers of meaning and musicality into an unholy whole.

Album artwork painted by artist Eliran Kantor (Testament, Iced Earth, Sodom)
Album artwork painted by artist Eliran Kantor (Testament, Iced Earth, Sodom)

Dominion track listing:

1) Entrance
2) Dominion
3) Ominous Premonition
4) Lamia
5) Love of the Damned
6) Northlanders
7) The Discord of Melkor
8) Serpents of Fire

 

Dragonlord Online:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

Southern Florida’s LiveKill Reveal High-Energy Music Video for New Track “In This Moment”

Southern Florida’s LiveKill recently announced the release of their upcoming EP, entitled Turned to Grey, out September 28, 2018 via SWOL Records.LiveKill performs an intense, high-energy blend of alternative metal and hardcore styles with deep lyrical messages about the fragility of life itself. Turned to Grey is available for pre-order now via AmazoniTunes, and Google Play. The EP will also be available to stream via Apple Music and Spotify upon release.

As a follow up to the release of their first single and title track, “Turned To Grey”, via lyric video (which in under a month has garnered over 120,000 streams/views via Facebook alone),LiveKill is pleased to reveal their second single, “In This Moment”, and its music video, directed by Alex Morgan (WhitechapelGojiraBad Wolves). Check out the music video now via Metal Wani.

Guitarist John Snell says, “I had rented a pretty amazing white wall studio full of everything we needed to make a great video. On the day we were supposed to film the video, the owner of the studio told us that he had rented the studio to someone else that day! So, I made a few phone calls and literally within 30 minutes, I was able to secure a new location. We walked through the space and found a section with metal framing that had not been completed, and right then Carlos our vocalist came to me and said, “you know this is pretty badass because the song is about being trapped in your mind, feeling trapped with nowhere to go”. The framing gave off a feeling of being in a cell, which really brought out the conceptual meaning behind the song.

I reached out to Alex Morgan to do this video because of his great work with DaathChimairaand Gojira and his extensive knowledge in the world of metal music. We are looking forward to hopefully working on our next video with him! He really made this fun and brought out a great live performance in us.”

Featuring top-tier production and a world-class pummeling from seasoned drummer Kevin Talley (Daath, Chimaira, Suffocation) on the EP itself, LiveKill also features Carlos Guerreros on vocals, Sean Young on lead guitar, John Snell on rhythm guitar, Anthony Laurella on live drums (and in the “In This Moment” video), and Gil Giberga on bass.

For Turned to Grey,the band brought on Alastair Sims of MOTTO Sound (Rush, Three Days Grace) to mix and master the EP, which took place at Villa Studios in Canada. Further building upon the intensity, passion and professionalism of Turned to GreyLiveKill sought the creative talents of artist Eliran Kantor, recognized for his work on album covers for Testament, Soulfly, and SodomLivekill and Eliran worked over a period of five months to complete the vision of guitarist John Snell to capture the concept of how fleeting life is. The art was inspired by the imagery, stories and grief of people who lost their lives in a flash of light – so quickly that they were “Turned to Grey” while leaving their last moment’s impression.

The main inspiration behind the art and EP concept is the lives lost in Hiroshima and more specifically, the story of Shinichi Tetsutani, a three year old boy who lost his life in the atomic bomb strike there. His father buried Shinichi and his tricycle in the backyard, and 40 years later in 1985, dug up his son along with the tricycle, had him properly buried, and donated the tricycle to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Basing some concepts of the EP on this story was not intended to highlight war itself, but rather that any one of us, in a moment so quick, can be nothing more than an imprint left behind.

Intense New EP, Turned to Grey, out September 28, 2018

Livekill - Turned to Grey album cover

Track Listing:

1) Turned to Grey
2) In This Moment
3) Demons
4) Shadows

Pre-Order via AmazoniTunes, and Google Play

 

LiveKill will perform live on October 19th in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Catch them at the show!

See below for more information:

10/19 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Respectable Street
Show: 7:00 PM
Tickets: $15
w/ Doyle, Natsuki, The Coven

 

LiveKill Online:

Facebook | Instagram | Twitter YouTube

Featured photo (top) by Alex Morgan