Ravenheart Music: Home/News
UPDATES
News: January 1st
A-L Reviews: December 15th (Exoterik)
M-Z Reviews: December 26th (Tears Of Magdalena)
Interviews: December 16th (Pamela Moore)
Tour Dates: December 28th
Ravenheart Music was set up in June 2006 to promote female fronted rock and metal. Our first month saw 11 hits. We now regularly see in excess of 12,000 hits a month, and many quarters of the music biz are congratulating me on what I am doing. The next logical step was to set up a label for our beloved genre. Ravenheart Music is the name of the label. Distribution will be via Code7, and when we have more news on this exciting new project, rest assured you will read it here first. Best wishes for 2009 to everyone! Cheers!!
Amongst many other things, we are also proud to be associated with the Idaho based gothic band Rott. (click on 'Rott' to go to their interview page!). Molly is my USA based partner in crime re this project, together with my UK based buddy Aimee! Also aboard the good ship Ravenheart is young Stacey from Ravenstone in Leicestershire.
Furthermore, we can also be found at www.myspace.com/ravenheartmusic. Please also check out our archives site where all our archived reviews can be found! If a review you are looking for is not here, it may well be there! www.ravenheartarchives.com
AND NOW THE NEWS!
May 2010 will see a festival of Femme Rock and Metal to be held in Southend on Sea in Essex (UK). Watch this space.
Leaves' Eyes have decided to name their new album “Njord”. It has a strong connection to Nordic Mythology and history. On 27.2.09 their new Double DVD and including Double Live CD “We Came With The Northern Winds / En Saga I Belgia” will be released, and soon after around spring-time the aforementioned album “Njord” will be out.
Anneke van Giersbergen, former singer with The Gathering, has covered the Frankie Goes To Hollywood track 'The Power Of Love'. Check it out at
www.myspace.com/annekevangiersbergen
Italian gothic metallers MACBETH have told Ravenheart Music that they are currently working on material for their as-yet-untitled new album. The band stated: "We've got a few ideas for the new record and we will be spending the first part the year to work on material for that new album. We'll keep you updated, so stay tuned."
Dutch rockers The Gathering is very happy and proud to announce the release of their 9th studio album in April 2009! The album will be called 'The West Pole'. They have found a new female vocalist, and there will be two [also female] guest singers on 'The West Pole'. The album is produced by René Rutten, and will contain 9 tracks. It will be a very extravert, rock orientated record - typically The Gathering, but with many new elements.
Former Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody is to release a solo album in March. This will be on his own FNR label.
The recording of UK Gothic Metaller's Pythia's album continues! All bass parts are complete and only some keys and vocals remain, which Emily Alice will be laying down in January, after she finishes her UK Cathedral Tour with the Mediaeval Baebes. Watch this space!
Nightwish are to release a live CD/DVD in March. It's to be called 'Made In Hong Kong (And Various Other Places)'. This was recorded and filmed during the band's recent world tour.
Lacuna Coil's new album 'Shallow Life' is expected to hit the stores in the Spring. Watch this space!
The acclaimed history of million-selling Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, "Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006," will soon be available in a new, improved English edition through North American publisher Bazillion Points.
In this remarkably revealing official biography, author Mape Ollila charts the rise from village student project to global stardom, gaining unprecedented access not just to the members of Nightwish past and present; but also their families, their loyal and lewd crew, their peers, their critics, and countless other insiders from the Nightwish adventure. The book lays bare the creative firepower and personal demons of songwriter Tuomas Holopainen; the unique talents and traits of guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and bassist Marco Hietala; and the true reasons behind the 2005 departure of vocalist Tarja Turunen--in the band's words and hers. Along the way, the band struggles with religious protesters, fortune-tellers, naked crew members, health problems, shady promoters, out-of-control fans, and the growing pains of an ever-steeper rock star learning curve. Happily ever after or not, these unique Finnish personalities are brought to life in this journey. For longtime fans and newcomers seeking the backstory of how Nightwish came to where they are today, this is rare public airing of the mysteries that exist... Once Upon a Nightwish. The 352-page paperback has been revamped by Bazillion Points from earlier Finnish editions, and features extensive corrections, with 32 pages of rare color images dating back to the dawn of the band, and a complete list of international concert appearances from the entire Tarja Turunen era.
The new Tapping The Vein album, 'Another Day Down', will be released by Dancing Ferret Discs, March 10th 2009.
Vocalist Karen Gilligan has left Irish folk metalheads Cruachan. The band have no plans to replace her.
Female fronted Dutch Rockers AUTUMN 
have finished the recordings for their forthcoming new album ‘Altitude’! The album was recorded at Arno Krabman’s Graveland Studio and mixing & mastering was done by Jochem Jacobs (Textures) at SplitSecondSound. ‘Altitude’ will be released on February 27th. The limited first edition will be released as a Digipak including an exclusive bonustrack!
Edenbridge will release an exclusive live album in Spring 2009. "LiveEarthDream" can ONLY and EXCLUSIVELY be ordered via their fanshop over their homepage! The album will be limited to 1000 copies and will not be available anywhere else! All who are pre-ordering the album NOW and UNTIL December 31, 2008 will be printed in the "Thank You" list of the booklet of the CD with their names, and they will also get the CD signed by the band !!! Order it here.. www.edenbridgefanclub.org/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=51
My friends from Canada, Mojave (www.myspace.com/mojave) are in the process of recording a new album. I found their debut album 'STORIES' an awesome stripped back offering. As for the new recording, I cannot wait!
Threshold, Swallow The Sun and Xandria have been confirmed for Metalfest. This happens from September 25-27 at Dudley JB's nr Birmingham UK.
Ravenheart Music has been informed that the new ELIS cd will be titled 'Catharsis'. More details when we have it.
German band Xandria are working intensively on new material for their next album! The first songs are written and the band say it will be some of the best stuff they have ever recorded, and the new voice sounds fantastic on it too. However, the band as yet have not named their new singer!
Norwegian goths Sirenia are to release a download single on December 26. It's titled 'The Path To Decay'. An album, 'The 13th Floor', is out on Janaury 23.
There will be a new album due from Lunatica in early 2009. Called 'NEWSHORES', it seems it carries on the good work of previous efforts.
Nightwish singer Anette Olzon has revealed to us the reason she left the stage in Belo Horizonte after just six numbers earlier this week (see article below). It was because there was so much smoke in the venue, it was causing her a major throat problem.
Paramore are to release a live CD/DVD at the end of this month. It's to be called 'The Final Riot!'.
Nightwish had to cut their set in Belo Horizonte, Brazil when singer Anette Olzon left the stage in tears after six songs, Apparently, she's going through personal problems at the moment.
Austrians Edenbridge have parted with bassist Frank Bindig. They're now seeking a suitable replacement.
I have a message here from Nemesea:- For any fans of this awesome Dutch band, there's this NEM-team and they need more people to join them! Upon joing the NEM-team, you will be the first ones to know everything that the band are working on, the first to hear new songs, read new lyrics, see new movies, read new weblogs etc! If anyone reading this would like to join the NEM-team, they can send an email to mandaophuis@gmail.com
Unfortunately, Within Temptation have to announce that due to family matters, drummer Stephen Van Haestregt hasn’t been able to rehearse with them for the upcoming theatre tour. As a consequence, Stephen has asked Mike Coolen to replace him for the rehearsals and consequently also for the theatre tour. Mike Coolen (Brotherhood Foundation, Daybroke) actually replaced Stephen during a few shows last year.
Tarja Turunen is to release a limited edition 11-track EP in the UK on December 1. It's be titled 'The Seer'. It includes a duet with Doro Pesch.
There is a new member of LEAVES' EYES and ATROCITY. He is Los Angeles based drummer Seven Antonopolous (ex- Opiate For The Masses)! There’s a real cool winter tourpackage coming up: LEAVES’ EYES hit the road together with ARCH ENEMY, MERCENARY and SISTER SIN at pre-Christmas time. So this tour presents a great variety musicwise! See tour dates page.
Devils Gift fronted by the lovely Lennon Murphy 
will see their awesome debut album soon to be released in the UK. The review however is now on this site, so check it out and then just buy it!
Tarja Turunen has a new backing band. They feature Guitarist Alex Scholop, bassist Oliver Holzwarth (Blind Guardian), keyboard player Maria Ilmoniemi, drummer Mike Terrana (Masterplan, Rage) and cellist Max Lilja (ex-Apocalyptica).
French band Markize will be at the Metal Female Voices Fest 6 on the 18 oct 2008 - Belgium (Oktoberhallen, Wieze) With Tarja, Epica, L'ame Immortelle and many more.
Italian Gothic Metallers 3rd Room will soon be releasing their first full length album.."In Case of Darkness".
More news when we have it! Furthermore, we will be interviewing Khay (pictured above) from 3rd Room very soon. So watch this space!
I spent most of yesterday evening (Saturday 27th Sept) at the Dames of Darkness 2 Festival in Birmingham (UK). An awesome gig proving yet again the amount of female fronted talent that is out there. Despite one band missing their Dame and another whose Dame had a nasty throat infection, it appeared to go exceedingly well, with all proceeds from the event going to a Breast Cancer Charity. Thanks must go to David Homer for organising this event. And David's band Apparition, who were also on the bill, were totally awesome as always! I look forward to hearing your new stuff on disc mate!
Sirenia's new album is now completed. Expect a release in February 2009.
A band to look out for..t.h.e. Sacrament from Russia. Go to www.myspace.com/juliett_sacr and then click on the little piccie of t.h.e. Sacrament that will take you to their myspace site. Fronted by one of my faves, Olga Romanova, with the rather pretty Juliett on keys, I predict that this band will go places. Watch this space.
Doro releases the single 'Celebrate (Night Of The Warlock)' through AFM on November 3. This will feature three different versions of the song, with guest appearances from Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy), Biff (Saxon), Liv Kristine (Leaves Eyes), Floor Jansen (After Forever) and Girlschool.
We do not have any real details to hand at the moment, but what I do know is that VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have found a new female singer. More news when we have it!
BATTLELORE'S fifth full length album, titled "The Last Alliance" is finally finished and ready to be presented to the public! The album consists of big, epic and atmospheric songs full of feeling and raging battles, taking you to an unforgettable journey through Middle-earth! As before, there will be a jewel case CD and a digipack with something extra. This time the digipack will include a DVD featuring the energetic live show at Metal Female Voices Festival in Wieze, Belgium 2007.
There is no doubt that one of the most anticipated new albums of 2009 is the eagerly awaited offering from the Italian sensation LACUNA COIL, but to tide fans over until then, the group announce the title and details of their first-ever DVD release: 'Visual Karma (Body, Mind and Soul)'.
The double DVD, which is a celebration of all things from the band's Karmacode album and subsequent touring cycle, will be released on November 25th.
The new GIRLSCHOOL album finally has a title. It's to be called 'Legacy'. This will be released in October.
MY RUIN are to release a live DVD and CD next month. It's called 'Alive On The Other Side', and will be on their own Rovena Recordings.
French Band Venturia released one of the hottest debuts of recent years with 2006's "The New Kingdom". Now the band has returned with another masterwork in "Hybrid", with the first pressing containing a bonus DVD. 
Building upon the unique sound heard on their debut, "Hybrid" is a fitting title for the numerous sounds that make up the Venturia sound in 2008. "Hybrid" sees Venturia's music sounding even more modern, veering away from classical prog metal edge heard on the debut and delving into new territories. The majority of the change can be heard on the new songs arrangements with the addition of some ambient guitars and keyboards being treated in a trip-hop and electronic music style. The balance between the male vocals of New York based Marc Ferreira and female vocals of Lydie Robin are now equal and "Hybrid" saw Lydie involved in the writing of the lyrics for the first time. The release date I believe is scheduled for Sept 12th on Lion Music.
ELIS are in the studio recording their new album, that will see a release in due course on Napalm Records. More when we have it.
News regards Birmingham UK gothic rockers HANGING DOLL. 
Their debut Album 'Reason And Madness', will be released via Phoenix Music [UK] in association with Cargo Distribution in October, There is a little uncertainty of the exact release date, but it will be either the 6th or the 13th.
PARAMORE are aiming to start work on their next album in January. As yet untitled, this should be released next Summer.
And a bit of news that features Dutch band, STREAM OF PASSION.
They have signed a record deal with Napalm Records. More news will follow soon regarding the release of their new album, tour dates, etc. So watch this space.