Innovative, compelling and unique! Van Canto's fourth album once again confirms that guitars are not necessary to deliver first-class metal.
"Break the Silence" reflects the German sextet's newfound confidence and experience gained by their previous albums' chart entry and the many live performances that followed. The band's main focus centers around sweeping original compositions, in which the vocal acrobats only enlist the help of the drums. "If I Die in Battle", "The Higher Flight", and "Neuer Wind" show off the mature and extraordinary qualities of the band: appeal and power.
Staying true to tradition, Van Canto also delivers several cover songs ("Primo Victoria", "Bed of Nails", and "Master of the Wind"), as well as illustrious guests appearances. Marcus Siepen (Blind Guardian) can be heard playing the acoustic guitar on the ballad "Spelled in Waters", while Sabaton frontman Joakim Broden steps up to the mic on "Primo Victoria" to give his
band's hit authenticity. The limited edition digipack also includes a
bonus cover song ("Bad to the Bone" by Running Wild). In addition, the
track "Betrayed" features a symphonic "metal-a-cappella" piece with orchestral support, while "A Storm to Come" unveils an exclusive bonus: the first song from "Peer Returns", the Van Canto Crossmedia-Projekt to premiere at the end of this year. "Break the Silence" captivates with strong songwriting and a novel implementation. A cappella metal! Metal like no other!

Moonspell returns to the scene with what might be the most important album ever to be released by this legendary Portuguese metal band. With a renewed focus, they have risen to a new level so as to reclaim their throne as the leading European dark metal band. "Alpha Noir" is a nine-track outburst that shows us a much more incendiary band than in the past. With an avalanche of memorable guitar work, deeply rooted in the thrash metal of legends, Moonspell perfectly combines it with their own brand of Southern black metal, which they have been crafting since their groundbreaking debut offering: "Wolfheart". The special edition will also include a second CD, "Alpha Noir's" remarkable counterpart "Omega White". It follows a more atmospheric path, delivering epic and catchy songs in the vein of gothic rock icons, such as Sisters of Mercy and Type o Negative. Torn between two worlds, the Alpha - with tracks like the savage "Lickanthrope" (to be featured in the band's first video clip), the majestic title track, or the epic closing "Grandstand" - and the Omega - with "White Skies", the sensual "Herodisiac", or the heartbreaking "Whiteomega"- make this release a bulletproof double album to present to the band's hordes of avid moon gazers. Produced by Tue Madsen and arranged by Benny Richter, "Alpha Noir" will take the world by storm. It is a genuine release by a legendary act, who never hid in the bushes waiting for their musical style to regain popularity, but rather kept their heads proudly above the water, while always working to achieve greatness. "Alpha Noir": we want a new world! And nobody can afford to be left behind in the coming of this new lunar age.