Los Angeles, California - It’s not often that a new band explodes into view without first having peppered our social media feeds with countless memes, reels and similar jiggerypokery.
Every King Has A Clown, however, prove that it can still be done. Roaring out of a background split intriguingly between Sweden and the Canary Islands, and marshaled by bassist/songwriter Ryker Castro, Every King Has A Clown deliver melodic, yet mighty metal, seamlessly blending the energies of European and international power metal with progressive touches.
Ryker says, ““Every King Has A Clown is my solo project. I created it to have total freedom over the songwriting, the sound and the artistic direction. The idea was simple: write the record I always wanted to hear, with strong melodies, heavy energy and no compromises. The jester-king on the album cover, named EKHAC, is the visual symbol of the project — the contrast between good and evil.”
He did not work alone. “This album is the sound of me fighting my own demons. I wanted a record built on strong songs, heavy energy and great voices — nothing else.” Thus, Every King Has A Clown’s self-titled debut album includes contributions from some of the biggest names on the modern scene, as Ryker details.
“Ray Alder (Fates Warning - guesting on the album’s penultimate track, “Revenge”)) brings a unique emotional weight and intensity that lifts the track instantly.
“Mats Levén (ex-Therion) delivers the darker edge of the album with power and character.
“Mark Boals (Ring of Fire) adds precision, range and a classic melodic metal feel.
“Mike DiMeo (ex-Riot) brings grit and soul, [and] a strong hard-rock backbone.
“Anders Engberg (Sorcerer) adds depth and authority with his unmistakable tone.
“Göran Edman (ex-Yngwie Malmsteen) brings clarity and elegance — his voice cuts through perfectly.
“Steve Braun (Halcyon Way) adds pure metal attitude and delivers exactly the punch [I] needed.
“Berzan Önen (Deer From Space) brings raw energy and a modern edge to the album.
“Christian Palin (ex-Adagio) adds aggression and dynamic range, pushing the [music] forward.
“Fabio Alessandrini (Annihilator) gives the album a tight, precise and powerful foundation.
“Bastian Thusgaard (Soilwork) adds intensity and drive, with a very sharp and modern drum approach.”
A cast of 1000s!
In addition, the album was mastered by Tony Lindgren (Katatonia, Enslaved, Testament, Haken and hundreds more) at his home base Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden.
Every King Has A Clown will be out on January 30. But to pave the way, today sees the release of both the band’s first single, “Crucify Me,” and an accompanying full concept video, a dynamic live performance shot through with precisely the visuals that the song title demands. It’s exhilarating stuff!
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/YbEyyHazAcI
SINGLE: https://orcd.co/everykinghasaclown_crucifyme
CD: https://cleorecs.com/search?q=every+king+has+a+clown
DIGITAL: https://orcd.co/everykinghasaclown_album
Track List:
1. Crucify Me
2. Cimmerian Nights
3. Victim Of The Night feat. Mats Levén (Therion, Candlemass)
4. Higher
5. Hear Me Calling
6. Defender
7. Dancing In The Dark
8. BloodWar
9. All We Need Is Rock And Roll
10. The King Has Lost His Crown feat. Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen)
11. Revenge feat. Ray Alder (Fates Warning)
12. Dragon
