Metal May #8: Serious Black

Ten years of Serious Black, ten years of melodic power metal, with the license to create anthems!

Since their founding in 2014 the band has continually enthused their fans not only with five studio albums to date (including their last offering, Vengeance Is Mine,which charted at a phenomenal number sixteen on the German chart), but also at frenetically acclaimed concerts and festival appearances around the globe. To celebrate their decadal birthday in glorious style, the band have announced the release of a brand new album, entitled Rise Of Akhenaton, which is set to be unleashed on ears worldwide on September 27, 2024 via AFM Records!

At the same time, the band will be on tour throughout Europe, with perennial Sentinel Daily favourites Sonata Arctica and Firewind. To shorten your wait until September, Serious Black will unleash three singles, including video clips, starting today with the uptempo track Metalized. With its powerful guitar riffing, the dynamic foundation of drum and bass and the hymn-like catchy vocal refrains this song unites all the band’s strongpoints!

Band mastermind Mario Lochert comments: “Ten years of Serious Black! Ten years ago saw the intro of Akhenaton, the first track which blasted like a rolling thunder through the loudspeakers at over two hundred concerts worldwide. Now it’s time to bring Akhenaton and his army to life with Rise of Akhenaton – the album. So what would be better to start the journey into the album with a song, that reflects the lifestyle, heart and love of the music of every heavy metal fan – aren’t we all a little Metalized?

Not only Metalized, but any of the eleven tracks on their new album showcase the fact that Serious Black have stylistically gone back to their roots, whilst at the same time, due to the modern production by Lochert and Bob Katsionis, Rise Of Akhenaton sounds more relevant than ever. The interim focus on progressive directives has now changed to feature more catchy arrangements. Anno 2024, straight, classic power metal – the style the band once got to be known for – reigns again.

“The return to what characterised us once, was already indicated on Vengeance Is Mine”, Lochert explains of the natural evolution of the band and adds: “Since his joining three years ago our singer Nikola Mijic has turned out to be a real jewel for us. Because of his expressive voice and his intuitive feeling for great melodies the songs got more clarity and a more direct pace.“

Tracklist:
Open Your Eyes
We Are the Storm
Silent Angel
Take Your Life
Shields of Glory
When I´m Gone
United
Rise of Akhenaton
Virtual Reality
I Will Remember
Metalized