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Lords of Acid Pretty in Kink Album Review and Interview with Praga Khan

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The Electronic Sexual Deviants that we all love Lords of Acid are about to release their latest album Pretty in Kink on May 18th. Empire Extreme got to listen to the album before it was released and got to talk to the man behind the filth Praga Khan.

Empire: Since you’re in Belgium and 6 hours ahead of me, how’s the future look?

Praga: (Laughs) The future. It’s sunny over here.

Empire: You excited about the album being released here soon?

Praga: Yeah, it took me some time to do it, there was a tour that came in between recording. It’s not easy to come out of the studio and go on tour, then go off tour and decompress and go right back into the studio. It’s a different atmosphere.

Empire: What will the fans get out of this album?

Praga: The fans were really involved with the making of this album. They came up with the album title, they decided what the subjects were going to be for the songs. I asked them what their Favorite album from Lords of Acid or favorite track to get a feel of what they would want in another version. It was kind of an experiment but I’m quite happy with the results.

Empire: My Favorite Album is still Lust.

Praga: You know we made that whole album in 3 weeks time. It all started with I Sit on Acid. We then got a call from Caroline Records asking us to make a record, we said we could but we are on the road. We said we would be back around Christmas but have to leave again around January 15th, we went into the studio and did one song everyday. Same thing happened with the Mortal Kombat album with The Immortals.

Empire: You guys have a new singer Marieke on this album?

Praga: Yeah Marieke. She calls herself “Little Bloody Mary”. I’m really happy with her, she’s a very good singer and classically schooled. She has a wide vocal range. The good thing for me also was that she’s living in Belgium, for me was easier to work with her in the studio. Usually I do the vocal tracks for the singer for a demo and most of the time it’s a problem because I have a male voice so it’s easier to adjust it.

Empire: Who had the idea for the cover of Our Little Secret?

Praga: It was our art director we had in those days, he came up with the idea. It was a great cover.

Empire: Yeah, there are a lot of people who didn’t realize it until the opened it up and see the full cover.

Praga: There are still a lot of people, that don’t realize it now. (Laughs)

Empire: What’s been you’re favorite song?

Praga: There all so different from each other, on stage the one that I really like is Voodoo You. It’s a very special song for me. I put all my aggression into that song from being in the studio and all the stuff from that.

Empire: What’s been craziest tour moment for you?

Praga: Yeah we had a lot of crazy things happen to us on tour, we did a show in San Diego and before we went to the show our tour manager told us the sheriff wanted to talk to us, because back then it wasn’t like now with every rapper talking about vagina, it was controversial then. The Sheriff came onto the tour bus with a list of 60 things we couldn’t do on stage. ( I still have that list somewhere) one of the things was you can’t use the microphone in a sexual way or something. Yeah was a lot of rules and I asked the sheriff what you want me to sign this? If I signed it, would be impossible with our show. So I just covered myself and signed it, I went on stage scared a little. It was a lot of fun too , on the left of the stage we had cops and on the right of the stage we had cops, and they were having the time of their life. Onstage with Lords of Acid and all the girls onstage while we played Pussy. A lot of strange things happen to us. We almost got killed once, you hear that one?

Empire: No, what happened?

Praga: 5 or 6 years ago we were playing in Salt Lake City, it was a guy who came on our tour bus. And said he wanted to talk to Frankie aka Groovy Man from My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult, but he wasn’t on the bus with us, so he said that he would just wait. I said to the tour manager to get this guy off the bus, we didn’t know him. He was sitting next to me, the next thing the drummer from Kill Kult he was jumping on the guy, they started to hit him, Jackie from Kill Kult put a headlock on the guy, the drummer broke his hand and had to leave the tour, they said they saw a gun, but I didn’t see it plus I’m from Belgium and not use to people having guns. The police came and said he was a wanted criminal, and that they were looking for this guy for a long time and that we were very lucky, he had a lot of names from gang members on his phone and the police escorted us out of the state.

Empire: Wow that’s crazy. Are you guys coming back into the states to tour with the new album?

Praga: Yeah that’s what we are working on right now, going to tour in the fall. We are now trying to find the right support act.

Pretty in Kink is an amazing album that mixes all your favorite elements of Lords of Acid and adds a few more into the mix. The album has newcomer vocalist Marieke Bresseleers. Pretty in Kink starts off with Break Me, which for me is a perfect way to start the album. The music in this one is like a very dark gothic industrial sound and the vocals just add to it. Sex Cam Girl and Flow Juice bring back the nasty side of Lords of Acid, and that’s exactly how we like it. No filters and straight to the point sexual advancements. One of my other favorite tracks is What the Fuck. It’s got that more rap/hip hop flow to it but still has that Lords of Acid sound. This one makes me want to bang my head and makes everyone else look and ask “What the fuck are you listening to” and I just turn it up louder and flip the bird. The album ends with We are the Freaks, it’s got the a rap feel to it as well and slow nice flow with it. The vocals are in Spanish but still kills.

Pretty in Kink is a great album and just keeps me intrigued every time I listen to it. Lords of Acid can’t do no wrong. I can’t wait for them to come around and tour for this album. If you’re into Lords or you like your music uncensored and sexually filled then go out and grab this album.

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Alestorm – Voyage of the Dead Marauder

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Another solid (most likely plundered) offering from the pirate metal scalawags known in these parts as Alestorm. The five-song EP Voyage of the Dead Marauder washes up on these shore on March 22, 2024, via Napalm Records. This new effort is produced by Lasse Lammert of LSD-Studios, who has worked alongside genre mates Gloryhammer and Wind Rose.

With the new release, ALESTORM is “Scraping the (bottomless) Barrel” for the fifth time for what is their eighth album , following the international success of the previous Seventh Run of a Seventh Rum album that was released in June 2022.

If you’re an existing fan of their trademark pirate-style metal, then Voyage of the Dead Marauder is a batch of good new stuff. If you’re not a fan, well, maybe you should listen until you are. (This is how I learned to like country music, by the way.)

The first track is the title track and features German hurdy-gurdy musician Patty Gurty sharing vocal duties with vocalist and keytar player Christopher Bowes. The song is in the same vein as “Captain Morgan’s Revenge” from the previously mentioned Seventh Run of a Seventh Rum album. Patty sounds great, but I’m willing to bet she was the only sober one.

Apparently, you can be a pirate anywhere, including the desert and the Great White North. Alestorm proves this with the song “Uzbekistan” as they reminisce about the time they invaded the lands of shifting sands and ultimately turn the President of said land against them. Next up is the tale of a simple farmer who was forced to become a pirate due to governmental tyranny in “The Last Saskachewan Pirate.”

“Sea Shanty 2” is an instrumental offering and would fare well with a watering can full of tequila at one of Alestorm’s live shows (see the lengthy list below if you the need to fulfill this desire).

“Cock” is the last track, and I can hear all of you snickering jut from the title, but wait until you listen to it you immature bastards. The second time you hear it, you’ll be singing along to the tale of an enchanted dream about a Leprechaun who pulls out his schlong.

ALESTORM are:
Christopher Bowes – vocals, keytar
Gareth Murdock – bass
Mate Bodor – guitar
Peter Alcorn – drums
Elliot Vernon – keyboard

ALESTORM Live 2024:
UK & Ireland Tour 2024
w/ Korpiklaani & Heidevolk
21.02.24 UK – London / O2 Forum Kentish Town
22.02.24 UK – Norwich / LCR UEA
23.02.24 UK – Nottingham / Rock City
24.02.24 UK – Bournemouth / O2 Academy
25.02.24 UK – Bristol / O2 Academy
27.02.24 UK – Belfast / Limelight
28.02.24 UK – Dublin / Academy
29.02.24 UK – Cardiff / SU
01.03.24 UK – Birmingham / O2 Academy
02.03.24 UK – Oxford / O2 Academy
03.03.24 UK – Glasgow / O2 Academy
05.03.24 UK – Manchester / O2 Victoria Warehouse
06.03.24 UK – Liverpool / O2 Academy
07.03.24 UK – Leeds / O2 Academy
08.03.24 UK – Newcastle / NX
09.03.24 UK – London / O2 Forum Kentish Town

“Tour Of The Dead Marauder”
w/ Elvenking & Glyph
19.03.24 US – Cincinnati, OH / Bogart’s
20.03.24 US – Grand Rapids, MI / Elevation
22.03.24 CA – Toronto, ON / The Concert Hall
23.03.24 CA – Montreal, QC / MTELUS
24.03.24 US – New Haven, CT / Toad’s Place
26.03.24 US – Pittsburgh, PA / Stage AE
27.03.24 US – Detroit, MI / The Majestic
29.03.24 US – Milwaukee, WI / The Rave
30.03.24 US – Omaha, NE / The Admiral
02.04.24 CA – Winnipeg, MB / Park Theatre
03.04.24 CA – Saskatoon, SK / Coors Event Centre
05.04.24 CA – Edmonton, AB / Midway Music Hall
06.04.24 CA – Calgary, AB / The Palace Theatre
08.04.24 CA – Vancouver, BC / Commodore
09.04.23 US – Spokane, WA / Knitting Factory
10.04.24 US – Boise, ID / Knitting Factory
12.04.24 US – Sacramento, CA / Ace of Spades
13.04.24 US – Santa Ana, CA / The Observatory
15.04.24 US – Tucson, AZ / Rialto Theatre
16.04.24 US – Albuquerque, NM / Sunshine Theater
18.04.24 US – Oklahoma City, OK / Diamond
19.04.24 US – St. Louis, MO / Red Flag
20.04.24 US – Indianapolis, IN / Old National
21.04.24 US – Nashville, TN / Marathon

Festivals 2024
28.06.24 FI – Sulvilahti / Tuska
05.07.24 DE – Rock Harz / Ballenstedt
11.07.24 HU – Dunaújváros / Rockmaraton
12.07.24 CZ – Vizovice / Masters of Rock
13.07.24 AT – Area 53 / Leoben
14.07.24 NL – Pirate Metal Party / Helmond

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Ministry – HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES

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As we near the collapse of mankind and the imminent doom of our political system, a perfect stage has been set for the outspoken rebels to flood the airwaves with dissident upheaval bathed in musical bliss. With the end looming, no greater landscape could welcome the reemergence of the enigmatic Al Jourgensen and company with their latest release, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES, via Nuclear Blast Records. Scheduled for a March 1st 2024 release, Uncle Al, along with guitarist Cesar Soto, Paul D’Amour, formerly of TOOL, on bass, John Bechdel on keys, Roy Mayorga (ex-STONE SOUR) on drums, and newly added guitarist Monte Pittman, form the current incarnation of the long-lived Ministry.

AFGHAN_WHIGS_METRO_2022

This album is an open-book commentary on our American society at large, bathed in slow-burn angst and distortion injected with punk rock/thrash riffs and samples galore.

Within the opening seconds of track one, a female voice proclaims, “What was once forbidden becomes fringe, and what was once fringe becomes mainstream.” Soon Al’s vocals take over with a distorted and effect heavy declaration of “horny little boys filled with hormones and hate, waging war on women ‘’cause they can’t get a date,” thus laying the groundwork for the entire album. As “B.D.E.” (Big Dick Energy) continues, a heavy yet simplistic guitar riff drives the song forward while increasing the energy level and tempo. Al’s vocals continue with his immediate, recognizable attitude and tone, stating, “No one can justify the toxic behavior.”

“Goddamn White Trash” is perhaps the most accessible and rythematic song on the release. It has hints of the Psalm 69 days of the band. Chants of “USA, USA” ring out along side screeching guitar noise reminiscent of Mike Scaccia’s playing style.

Track three is titled “Just Stop Oil,” and it dives into yet another realm of political advocacy. Jourgensen delivers, “Dehumanization at a cellular level. Policy set by the corporate devils, There must be resistance, we cannot be silenced, There is the existence of possible violence” in a growled whisper.

On the track “Aryan Embarrassment,”  we are treated to a none-more-fitting guest appearance from what I believe is activist and Dead Kennedys front man Jello Biafra, who delivers a rap-style series of vocal lines backed by a driving rhythm. Jello wails, “How on Earth did all this happen? Plagues of militantly stupid” Followed by “Scamming on the punk scene.  Oi, oi, oi. Ain’t proud of you boys at all.”

Another standout track is “New Religion” which starts with a classic industrial riff and buries itself in the repetitive, slow-burn heaviness that has become the Ministry standard as of late. Followed by “It’s Not Pretty,” which opens as a haunting acoustic piece that I imagine being set in a post apocalyptic landscape with the reverberating lyrics “It’s not pretty. This is the end of the world to me. This is the end of society.”

“Cult of Suffering” strays from the format of the balance of the album and could be firmly placed on an Alabama 3 album, and it may feel at home on a Surgical Meth Machine release.

Rounding out the album is a little ditty called “Ricky’s Hand.” This is a synth pop throwback to the early days of Ministry and leaves us longtime fans eager to hear the longtime teased rerecording of some of the very early Ministry material. This track has a Devo, Information Society, and even Depeche Mode feel to it and is a perfect bookend to a solid release from an iconic band.

Ministry will be on tour throughout the summer with Rob Zombie, Alice Cooper and Helmet.

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Candlebox – Long Goodbye Album Review

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Candlebox Long Goodbye album cover 2023

Candlebox is back to say good-bye with their swan song album entitled The Long Goodbye. This release is touted as the last album from the band before they call it quits. With that said, you would have expected a phoned-in, half-assed attempt by a tired band trying to fulfill contractual obligations. However, this is the farthest thing from what is contained on this album. It is chocked full of well-produced, mature, well-crafted songs that have grimy parts coupled with melody, punk-rock, and faint hints of their grunge roots.

If I were to wrap this album up into one neat package of words, I would say that it has the musical prowess of the incredibly remarkable King’s X, married to the influential sound of Jack Black and the White Stripes, with Muse taking the lead on production and arrangements.

The 10-track, Don Miggs produced album kicks off with “Punks”, a high-energy rock track that opens with the hard strum of an acoustic guitar and then blasts off into a bass-heavy Green Day-style rhythm. This track showcases lead vocalist Kevin Martin’s abilities, especially the scream that is buried in the mix around the two-minute mark. Not to be outdone, there is some noisy grunge guitar squeal at 2:30 as the chorus kicks back in that made me rewind the track three or four times just to hear it again.

“What Do You Need” is the second track on the album; it is built on swagger and groove with a mid-song break of guitar noise and dissonance that would have made Kurt Cobain proud.

Next up is a track called “Elegante”, which has a lush and, dare I say, morose feel. It is followed by “I Should Be Happy”, a catchy track where the guitar should have been thrust forward in the mix. The fifth offering is a track called “Nails on a Chalkboard”, and it stands apart from some of the other songs as it takes you in a bit of a different, more mellow direction as it drops the tempo with a clean piano running throughout.

“Ugly” is another standout selection on this release, where we find the lyrics proclaiming , “Ugly people saying ugly things to pretty people doing the same. It’s pretty easy to go insane when you see the ugly in everything. The track “Maze” follows as an emotional acoustic ditty.

“Cellphone Jesus” is track eight of this collection, and it is a quirky adventure of a song with lyrics such as “Pick up your cell phone, Jesus. You got a world full of need ya’s.”

Rounding out the album is “Hourglass”, a fitting departure for a band whose youthful aggression and urgency saw them tackle the music industry in the early 1990s while still teenagers. Their songs “You”, “Change”, and the huge hit “Far Behind” became staples on rock radio. Those songs and more will live on in infamy long after the band plays their final note. Kevin Martin, lead vocalist and songwriter, said, “Our legacy is being a band that followed our own path and did what we chose to do the way we wanted to. We did it on our own terms.”

In addition to the release of The Long Goodbye, Rhino will spotlight Candlebox’s early years with a 7-LP vinyl boxed set, The Maverick Years, due out September 22nd, featuring newly remastered versions of all three studio albums released on Maverick (Candlebox, Lucy, and Happy Pills) as double LPs, plus a single album with more than a dozen previously unreleased recordings only available in the collection.

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