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Amaranthe

Triumphs, tragedies, rebirths and upheavals… Life is often defined by its moments of revelation. 15 years into a career that has seen them become one of metal’s most ruthlessly individual and uplifting bands, AMARANTHE are about to make their most definitive and revealing move. Three years on from the widely acclaimed Manifest, Sweden’s masters of thunderous, melodic futurism are about to unveil The Catalyst.

Formed in 2008, AMARANTHE walked their own unique path from the start. With a sound that combined the sharpest, cutting edges of melodic metal, electronic rock and razor-sharp pop, their impact was immediate and undeniable. Kicking off with their self-titled debut in 2011, the Swedes blazed a trail through the European metal scene and beyond, swiftly establishing themselves as a dazzling one-off, not least due to the unprecedented triple vocal attack that paired clean tones with exquisite melodic sensibilities and feral growls. Over the next few years, the sextet steadily grew in stature, releasing a series of praised studio records that jabbed persistently at the boundaries of modern metal.

From 2013’s fiery The Nexus and its immaculate follow-up Massive Addictive, through to the experimental bravery of 2016’s Maximalism and 2018’s Helix (which saw the arrival of Dynazty vocalist Nils Molin, replacing the departing Jake E), AMARANTHE have been an unwavering breath of invigorating fresh air, renowned for absurdly catchy and crushing pop-metal anthems and for euphoric, eye-popping live performances all over the globe.

Fast forward to 2023, and change is in the air. Pieced together over the last three years, The Catalyst is a self-evident breakthrough moment, and the most exhilarating and idiosyncratic record AMARANTHE have ever made.

One major contributory factor to this impressive forward stride is the arrival of AMARANTHE’s latest new member. Slotting in neatly alongside Elize Ryd and Nils Molin is the band’s new master of growls, Mikael Sehlin.

Now fully installed as the sixth piece of the AMARANTHE jigsaw – alongside Olof Mörck, Elize Ryd, Nils Molin, bassist Johan Andreasson and drummer Morten Løwe Sørensen – Mikael Sehlin can be heard revelling in his new creative partnerships on The Catalyst.

Due for release early in 2024, The Catalyst fully delivers on the promise of its title. AMARANTHE have always been original thinkers and maverick songwriters, but never with as much power and panache as they demonstrate this time around. Both their finest album to date and a collection of songs that deftly redefine every aspect of the Swedes’ sound, The Catalyst is destined to propel its creators ever higher up the modern metal ladder. For Olof Mörck, it represents the culmination of 15 years of hard work and the breathless pursuit of a wholly original musical vision. Change is inevitable. Victory is assured.

https://www.amaranthe.se/

https://www.nuclearblast.com/pages/amaranthe

_

Date: 7 March 2024

Voices: Olof | Arthur

Notes: recorded in the green room; concrete walls, echo removed with ai; before the gig at Gasometer

Cover Photo: Interceptor Beyond _

Interceptor Beyond Podcast

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Infected Rain

INFECTED RAIN experienced their most successful years yet in 2022 and 2023, commencing with the release of their fifth full-length album, Ecdysis. The album garnered prime media acclaim, hundreds of thousands of streams and views, and debuted in the Top 20 on the US Current Hard Music charts - all accented by worldwide performances at major festivals and with the likes of Butcher Babies, Wednesday 13 and more. On February 9, 2024, the band will climb even higher with their multifaceted sixth album, TIME. Described by the multinational band as “an homage to every fleeting second, every heartbeat, and every breath that has led us to this moment,” TIME was once again produced, mixed and mastered by Valentin Voluta, and combines the deft talents of returning members Vidick (guitars, cover artist), Eugene Voluta (drums) and famed frontwoman Lena Scissorhands (vocals), plus introduces new member Alice Lane (bass) to the fold. INFECTED RAIN exercise their trademarks with TIME, tastefully accenting the introspective musical journey with effectively-placed progressive, electronic and even nu-metal features amid ethereal passages. First track “BECAUSE I LET YOU” bursts in with undeniable energy, boasting aggressive lyrics and Lena Scissorhands’ swift, menacing delivery. Previously released first single “DYING LIGHT” marches with subterranean heaviness and rhythmic grooves beneath eerie vocals and keys, and even snaps into an EDM passage, showcasing the dynamic delivery of the band in 2024. “NEVER TO RETURN” flirts with trip-hop elements and far eastern instrumentation before the melodic ode to self-empowerment “LIGHTHOUSE” crashes in to juxtapose soft verses and intense auditory shifts. Album standout and djent driven “VIVARIUM” warns of society’s fickle freedoms as Lena Scissorhands delivers some of the album’s most hair-raising screams amid a haunting, ominous atmosphere, while fast-paced burners like “THE ANSWER IS YOU” and “ENMITY” flash between various EDM, synthwave and even drum and bass brushed transits amid bludgeoning rhythms. Intense “GAME OF BLAME” explores themes of hypocrisy and emotional pain delved out by those we love while boasting one of the album’s most searing breakdowns, while tracks like “PANDEMONIUM” and “UNPREDICTABLE” detail the uncontrollable energy of the future and past, respectively - boasting lofty, angelic verses with hard-hitting guitars and punching drums. Italian/English-language journey “PAURA” closes out the album with a path to self-discovery - beckoning the listener to understand that we limit ourselves with our own fears, and must harness the pain to overcome. TIME ends in a state of calm with ambient finisher “A SECOND OR A THOUSAND YEARS” - drawing the curtains closed on yet another fantastic, experimental expedition by rising stars INFECTED RAIN.

https://www.infectedrain.com

https://label.napalmrecords.com/infectedrain

https://infectedrain.bandcamp.com

_

Date: 7 March 2024

Voices: Lena | Arthur

Notes: recorded on a tour bus; before the gig at Gasometer

Cover Photo: Interceptor Beyond _

Interceptor Beyond Podcast

Website: https://www.interceptorbeyond.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/interceptorbeyond

Hashtags: #interceptorbeyond #interceptorbeyondpodcast #infectedrain