With new album Vengeance Is Mine due for release on 25th February through AFM records, Serious Black continue to release singles beforehand, with ‘Out Of The Ashes‘ being the latest.
Concurrent with the single comes a brand new video to accompany it that you can view here at RAMzine.
Filmed in premium, blockbuster-like quality with a major budget, the cinematic camera shots and story showcases a commendable performance of the band and actors.
Band founder and bassist Mario Lochert commented:
“A magnificent video, an amazing song and a sad story behind it. To say: ‘We are happy to release this video’, like usual…. Would be wrong! But these are songs written by life and things never happen without any reason. Without those incidents, these songs, these ideas and also this album Vengeance Is Mine would not exist! But exactly because of it, the band welded together more than ever before and we act like an unit!
“At this point, I, we want to take the chance, to say thank you, to our team for its incredible support and work, to all those of you who were and are involved in this album (Production videos, graphics, promotion and to all I forgot), without you all of this would not be possible!
“Thank you very much, it makes Serious Black proud and happy to have such an exceptional team at our side!”
The video was produced by i Code Film Serbi.
Discussing Vengeance Is Mine further, Lochert said: “On this album we let you look deep inside our private lives. For us it was a big step which required us courage and overcoming and led to crossing of various principles.
“’Senso Della Vita’ – the meaning of life – tells of a daily situation that almost everyone has to deal with. Everybody has to be the best – always. On Instagram, Facebook and other channels you need to present yourself as the biggest, the most beautiful, the pick of the bunch. Who is not fitting to that picture will be stamped. Just the surface is important, not one’s character. Some even hide and disclaim other people, friends, family because of being ashamed for them and they don’t fit into their picture and life.”
On the one hand, the international power metal band has succeeded in creating what has been described as probably the most powerful and imaginative work of the band’s career so far, with loads of great guitar riffs, grooving rhythms and anthemic melodies. On the other, the album’s lyrics venture into territories previously uncharted by the band.
“This time, I have allowed more insights into my emotions and private life than ever before, i.e. into how I think, how I feel, how I am, and how difficult it can be to keep a band going when you aren’t well yourself,” said Lochert. “The lyrics on Vengeance Is Mine reflect the past four or five years. This, of course, had an impact on the songwriting, which has become even more intense and emotional.”
In addition to the private insight of the band’s soul, another new aspect came into play: Nikola Mijić, a powerful vocalist from Serbia, who has recently become the front man of the band. Mijić is the successor to Urban Breed, who separated from the band in spring 2021. “Nikola is a very talented and experienced singer,” said Lochert proudly.
Dominik Sebastian (Guitar), Bob Katsionis (Guitar, keyboards), and Ramy Ali (Drums) complete the line-up, and the Vengeance Is Mine was produced and mixed by Lochert at his Serious Black Studio in Kirchseeon. The guitars were recorded by Sebastian at his own studio and all orchestral arrangements and keyboards were done by Katsionis in Greece.
In addition to the CD, there’s also a limited box set your own. In addition to the CD digipak it contains a microfiber towel (160x80cm), the bonus CD Rock With Us Tonight, a sticker, an original signed autograph card and a certificate of authenticity. Vinyl editions will be available in clear red, purple or the limited orange/black splatter vinyl, that is exclusively available at the AFM shop here when you pre-order.
Tracks featured are: ‘Rock With Us Tonight’, ‘Out Of The Ashes’, ‘Fallen Hero’, ‘Senso Della Vita’, ‘Ray Of Light’, ‘Soul Divider’, ‘Tonight I’m Ready To Fight’, ‘Just For You’, ‘Soldiers Of Eternal Light’, ‘The Story’, ‘Queen Of Lies’, ‘Album Of Our Life’ and ‘Alea lacta Est’.
The bonus CD features these covers: ‘Boys Of Summer’ (Don Henley), ‘Take On Me’ (A-Ha), ‘Wonderful Life’ (Black), ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ (Neil Young), ‘Spending My Time’ (Roxette), ‘The Look’ (Roxette), ‘Driver’s Seat’ (Sniff ’N’ The Tears) and ‘Dirty Diana’ (Michael Jackson).
You can watch all previous single’s official videos here at RAMzine.
You can pre-order Vengeance Is Mine here.
