Sonata Arctica releases the "Stones Grow Her Name" album teaser

Finnish power metal band Sonata Arctica released a new album teaser video on YouTube today. It is just a preview of some of the tracks that will be on the new album. Listening to some of these clips, it really is difficult to judge and critique anything right now since I only heard two and a half minutes of the actual material. It sounds like a mix of older and newer Sonata Arctica. Only time will tell how this album plays out. Like I said before, some of the song titles sound a bit odd, but the music is what really counts anyways.

So here is the video:

Sabaton Breaks Up

Oh, man, sad news from the Sabaton front, though I was kind of expecting this since there has been a rumour circulating about this for over a week now.  But it's official: Sabaton is breaking up.  You can read the band's statement here.

Only two of the original six members, who had been together for 12 years, will remain with Sabaton, carrying the banner: vocalist Joakim Brodén and bassist Pär Sundström.  The other four are all leaving.

Lots of big shoes to fill here!  It's impressive that this band had the same line-up for as long as it did, too.  I wish Joakim & Par all the best in replacing Rikard, Daniel Mullback, Daniel Mÿhr, and Oskar.

The next album, Carolus Rex, is due out in May.

Some Stats

Does this surprise anyone?

This came from one of my friends who found it on Metal Archives.

Too True!

I found this via one of my colleagues at Black Wind Metal.

This NEEDS to be on a t-shirt!

Review Update

Busy times for us all here, but I have been keeping up my reviewing gigs with both Black Wind Metal and Sonic Cathedral.  Here is as summary.

For Black Wind Metal:

Epica's Requiem for the Indifferent
Amberian Dawn's Circus Black
Shear's Breaking the Stillness
Evenoire's Vitriol (the best of the bunch; it's really excellent & I highly recommend it!)
Effloresce's Coma Ghosts
Silent Opera's Immortal Beauty (the worst of the bunch; at 1/5, it's my lowest rating ever)

For Sonic Cathedral:

Lyriel's Leverage (awesomesauce!)

RIP Randy Rhoads, 30 years later

Thirty years ago, legendary Quiet Riot and Ozzy guitarist Randy Rhoads died while in a plane crash in Leesburg, Florida. His death really shook the rock and metal communities and was tragically taken too soon as a 25-year old young man. Today, people young and old still remember what he brought to the world of heavy metal. His style was something incredible and only Randy could pull off such a feat. His most memorable moment was with Ozzy Osbourne when they released their opus Blizzard of Ozz in 1980. That album featured metal classics such as "I Don't Know", "Crazy Train", "Suicide Solution", and of course "Mr. Crowley". His guitar style was unlike anything that was heard at that time and many modern metal guitarists consider him a major influence in their music. With his classically trained and shred guitar combination, it was no wonder that so many marveled at his abilities. To this day he is still missed as he was a rare talent that died way too soon. RIP Randy. Your music still lives on!