TEMPERANCE Unveils Epic Live Album: From Hermitage To Europe

January 16, 2025January 16, 2025 / metalvalkyrie2014 / Leave a comment

TEMPERANCE Delivers Symphonic Passion on New Live Album, From Hermitage To Europe, out March 14, 2025 via Napalm Records | Pre-Order NOW

Watch the Energetic Live Video for “Daruma” HERE

Extended European Tour Starts in March

I am so insanely excited about this release! Temperance is one of my all time favorite bands. Italian masters of modern melodic metal TEMPERANCE have spellbound their symphonic magic into a thrilling live album, From Hermitage To Europe, out March 14, 2025 via Napalm Records! Captured during the band’s latest extended tour supporting their album Hermitage – Daruma’s Eyes Pt. 2 (2023), the new live recording brings the magical village of Hermitage and fan favorites to life!

Now featured for the first time in live recording form, this story was first explored on the aforementioned full-length studio album, which has since also been released in its orchestral version, featuring many renowned guests such as Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie) and Laura Fella (Faun).

Known for their vocal harmonies, the first single, “Daruma”, is a gift to symphonic lovers, where melodic guitar passages collide with a galloping drum beat. TEMPERANCE’s Michele Guaitoli takes us into their magical world, while his vocal comrade-in-arms Kristin Starkey heats up the tension with her dark timbre. This live recording serves as the perfect prelude to their highly anticipated 2025 European tour, with melodic death metal giants Ignea and symphonic powerhouse Induction.

Marco Pastorino on “Daruma”:
“It’s been years since our only live release, and the time has come to publish material with our current lineup. For the first time, you’ll be able to listen to some of our most renowned tracks in their live versions – such as “Of Jupiter And Moons,” “Diamanti,” and “The Last Hope In A World Of Hopes,” while also including some of the most beloved songs from our latest album, Hermitage, after spending a year on the road supporting it.

For this reason, we have chosen to release ‘Daruma’ as the first single, marking the first track released with our Kristin Starkey.

We will celebrate the release of From Hermitage To Europe alongside our European headlining tour!”

A symphonic adventure of power, passion and melodies: TEMPERANCE Live!
Rousing guitar riffs, epic orchestrations and powerful vocal duets are a welcome gift for symphonic metal lovers, now captured for the afterworld. While “The Last Hope in a World of Hopes” combines gripping melodies and choral vocals, their stunning live performance can also be witnessed in “Darkness Is Just a Drawing” – fans will experience one of the band’s most magical compositions, shining with masterful vocal harmonies. The palpable energy on fan-favorites like “Diamanti” and “Of Jupiter And Moons“ showcase the band’s extraordinary musical atmosphere.

Michele Guaitoli about the album:
“The last years have been a rollercoaster of emotions. TEMPERANCE have grown on every level and have been traveling the world, having the honor of performing in Europe, the UK, the US and South America.

Those who follow us are well aware that from “Of Jupiter and Moons” to “Hermitage”, we’ve faced a relevant line-up change. We felt it was fundamental to let our listeners understand who TEMPERANCE is nowadays, as the arrival of Kristin during the EU tour as special guests for Tarja had a strong impact on the sound of the band, thanks to her unique (and outstanding) voice.

From Hermitage To Europe gives justice to what you are going to witness live in March during our headline run, and most importantly, sets in stone the essence of this new cycle of TEMPERANCE, which we want to be a cycle of rebirth.”

Get your copy of From Hermitage To Europe NOW:

From Hermitage To Europe tracklisting:
1. Intro (live)
2. Daruma (live)
3. The Last Hope in a World of Hopes (live)
4. No Return (live)
5. A Hero Reborn (live)
6. Welcome To Hermitage (live)
7. Glorious (live)
8. Start Another Round (live)
9. Darkness Is Just A Drawing (live)
10. Into The Void (live)
11. Diamanti (live)
12. Of Jupiter And Moons (live)
13. Pure Life Unfolds (live)

TEMPERANCE Live 2025:

From Hermitage To Europe Tour
w/ Ignea and Induction
06.03.24 PL – Warsaw / VooDoo
07.03.24 PL – Poznan / Pod Minoga
08.03.24 PL – Skarżysko-Kamienna / Semafor
09.03.24 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra
10.03.24 DE – Munich / Backstage
11.03.24 AT – Vienna / Szene
12.03.24 IT – Bologna / Alchemica
13.03.24 CH – Lenzburg / Met Bar
14.03.24 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos Saal
15.03.24 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
16.03.24 DE – Berlin / Orwo
17.03.24 DE – Hamburg / Logo
18.03.24 NL – Tilburg / 013
19.03.24 DE – Hanover / Musikzentrum
20.03.24 DE – Bochum / Matrix
21.03.24 BE – Kortrijk / DVG
22.03.24 NL – Drachten / Iduna

TEMPERANCE are:
Kristin Starkey – Vocals
Michele Guaitoli – Vocals
Marco Pastorino – Guitars & Vocals
Luca Negro – Bass Guitar
Marco Sacchetto – Drums

TEMPERANCE online:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Napalm Records

Promotional material from Napalm Records direct

Melodeath Juggernauts Hiraes Announce New Album

November 17, 2023 / metalvalkyrie2014 / Leave a comment

HIRAES (feat. Former Members of Dawn of Disease & Critical Mess) Strike Back with Sophomore Melodic Death Metal Assault

New Album, Dormant, out January 26, 2024 via Napalm Records
Pre-Order HERE

Watch the Music Video for First Single, “Through The Storm”, HERE

German-based melodic death metal formation HIRAES – featuring former members of Dawn of Disease and Critical Mess – will furiously kick off the new year with the release of their sophomore studio album, entitled Dormant, due out January 26, 2024 via Napalm Records!

Wasting no time, HIRAES have just unveiled the first single from Dormant – thunderous album opener “Through The Storm”. The track offers a glimpse into the variety of elements on the album, including powerful and varied drumming, poignant and melancholic melodies, infectious choruses, and breathtaking soundscapes – all complimented by Britta’s versatile vocals.
The band comments about the track and video:
“In a way, the video is a continuation of our first single, ‘Under Fire’, from the last album. It’s dedicated to a storm and its indomitable energy. Experience this debut single and join us as we navigate ‘Through The Storm’ together!“

The band adds:
“We are far beyond proud to present our second album Dormant to you! The album will grab you with its intensity from the first second on and won’t let you go. We invested a lot of energy, dedication and passion to create this monumental and melancholic piece of melodic death metal. Having played countless shows over the last two years, Dormant captures the energy of HIRAES’ live performances and places the songs right between heart and gut.

Once again, none other than the talented staff of Fascination Street Studios under the direction of Jens Bogren are responsible for the refinement of our sound. We are so much looking forward to unleashing Dormant upon all those metalheads out there!“

Watch the official video for “Through The Storm” HERE:

Compared to their lauded 2021 debut, Solitary, it’s immediately evident that HIRAES did not only grow within their sound due to countless live appearances, but have invested more time and energy into developing their sophisticated songwriting and production, leaning further into their own unique sound profile. Due to the use of varying keys and sonic elements, Dormant is undoubtedly fresh without sacrificing the nuances that caused their first album to connect so successfully with fans. With their very first offering, HIRAES already created an exciting new melodic death metal emergence, built upon a brutalized vocal attack, intense melodies and aggressive guitars. On Dormant, HIRAES flexes their own trademarks in an intensified way, ranging from versatile drumming, catchy riffs and hymn-like melodies to enthralling soundscapes and the impressive vocal onslaught of singer Britta Görtz. Dormant is a stirring, intense and dynamic death metal affair that is both heavily brutal and dark, yet full of melodic melancholy.

Pre-Order Dormant HERE!

Dormant track listing:
1. Through The Storm
2. We Owe No One
3. Undercurrent
4. Chance To Fail
5. About Lies
6. Come Alive
7. Ocean Child
8. Nightflight
9. Red Soil
10. Dormant

Set to be released on January 26, 2024, Dormant will be available in the following formats:

– 1 CD Digisleeve (6page)
– 1 LP Gatefold solid royal blue
– Digital Album

HIRAES are:
Britta Görtz – vocals
Lukas Kerk – guitars
Oliver Kirchner – guitars
Christian Wösten – bass
Mathias Blässe – drums

HIRAES online:
Website
Facebook
TikTok
Instagram
Napalm Records

Insomnium Anno 1969 Review

February 27, 2023February 27, 2023 / metalvalkyrie2014 / Leave a comment

The Melodic Death Metal titans hailing from Joensuu, Finland have been putting out heavy poetry since 1997 now; So you’d think we would know what to expect, but every album turns out to be more surprising than the last. Generally, if you haven’t heard Insomnium before, you can expect the Nihilistic Finnish downtrodden Death Metal sound but with a modern twist. Insomnium added melody to this classic angry and sad boy sound, converting experienced Death Metal fans and new to the ways of melodeath. Guitarist Markus Vanhala and Bassist/Vocalist Niilo Sevanen along with founder Ville Friman put out brutally epic music that’s a storyboard of Finland throughout the ages. We had ancient Viking history with Winter’s Gate, which is one of the most successful Death Metal concept records I’ve ever seen. We had modern to futuristic trials with Shadows of the Dying Sun. And now, we have a historical journey of Christianity making its way to Finland with Anno 1696, mixing with the local Mythology Insomnium has always kept true to, and it truly feels older.

This album blends classic Insomnium sounds that Friman and Sevanen built with melodeath touches from Markus, and then reverberated modern drumming. It feels like a 1990s Death Metal record in a nostalgic yet not derivative way, but with echoey pounding drums. I didn’t expect such a huge modern drum tone from Insomnium, but it works. Insomnium’s DNA of their sound is fine-tuned on this record. It is tighter, more well-composed, and a whole thought than 2019’s Heart Like A Grave. This album is a perfect example of the quintessential Insomnium sound with some new sounds. Anno 1696 is a mastery of melodeath and shows what Insomnium is truly capable of when they take their time. The tracks White Christ, the opening track, and The Witch Hunter blend their acoustic guitar breaks, melodic on-the-nose leads, distorted vocals, and beautiful folky-clean singing in the tightest and interwoven ways I have ever heard. This album may not be their best, but it is Insomnium straight through the vein.

Rating 8 out of 10

Composition: 8

Mixing: 6

Lyrics: 8

Technicality: 7

Links:

https://www.insomnium.net/

Architects Release Surprise Single

April 21, 2022 / metalvalkyrie2014 / Leave a comment

Out of nowhere, successful Metalcore band Architects drop a new single “when we were young” yesterday. I missed the initial release, as I was dealing with having no power or Wifi for most of the day due to a quarter of my town being on fire. I’ve been awaiting something new from Architects but thought they’d ride the wave of the popular For Those Who Wish To Exist longer. I find the track to be interesting, but quite light and radio-friendly. I am hoping it is a soft release for an upcoming assault of a new record just to whet appetites. No other information was released with the track, but expect more from the band very soon. Listen to the new track below and see what you think.

Another exciting and surprise release from the day before was from We Came As Romans ft Brand of Sacrifice. It’s an Electronic and Metalcore mash-up reimagining of their breakout hit Darkbloom. I had never listened to either artist before and was immensely astounded by the quality of what I was hearing. the growls are stunning and deep to the point of Deathcore heaviness at the end. It is absolutely addictive. Check it Out below: