2023 will mark the final chapter in the long history of Germany’s legendary thrash metal act, Holy Moses, celebrated with the bands upcoming new studio album Invisible Queen (available April 14) and a last run of live shows.
Today, Holy Moses release their first single and music video for the title track, "Invisible Queen", which says it all. Sabina Classen is the first and longest standing female thrash vocalist - The Queen of Thrash. However, she is a well-kept secret of the metal scene, never basking in the limelight of mainstream glory. She is nevertheless famous, especially to the old school metal scene and even to the bands in the current mainstream.
“Invisible Queen” has a double meaning; Sabina herself says, ”I'm going to disappear into the void and I'm proud of what I've been able to accomplish with Holy Moses since 1981. I never could have imagined that I would travel across most of the world with my high school band and eventually leave with such a clear statement, as I have with this album. This title-track was tailored for me by my guitarist Pete. The lyrics are self-explanatory and is one of the heaviest songs on the album; it is pure, unadulterated THRASH.”
Of course, this song will be part of the live set for the Final Reign Tour in 2023.
Watch the "Invisible Queen" video below, and stream the track here.
Holy Moses have kicked off the pre-sale for the album, which will be released on the following formats:
- 1CD Jewelcase
- 2CD Digipak incl. 12-Track Bonus CD "Invincible Friends"
- 1LP in red/black marbled (lt. 500 pieces) and white/black marbled (ltd. 500 pieces)
- Digital
At the Atomic Fire Records webshop you can get a strictly limited (200 pieces) boxset including the 2CD digipak, a flag with the cover art, logo-patch, lanyard and a signed foto-card by all members. Get your version here:
On the CD bonus album, Invincible Friends, you get all album tracks in special versions, featuring various well-known guest singers.
Tracklisting (bonus album guests in brackets):
"Downfall Of Mankind" (Feat. Marloes Voskuil – Haliphron)
"Cult Of The Machine" (Feat. Bobby Ellsworth – Overkill)
"Order Out Of Chaos" (Feat. Diva Satanica – ex-Nervosa / Bloodhunter)
"Invisible Queen" (Feat. Ingo Bajonczak – Assassin / Bonded)
"Alternative Reality" (Feat. Tom Angelripper – Sodom)
"The New Norm" (Feat. Chris Staubach – Courageous)
"Visions In Red" (Feat. Rægina – Dæmonesq)
"Outcasts" (Feat. Leif Jensen – Dew-Scented)
"Forces Great And Hidden" (Feat. Gerre – Tankard)
"Too Far Gone" (Feat. Jens Kidman – Meshuggah)
"Depersonalized" (Feat. Daniela Karrer – Headshot)
"Through The Veils Of Sleep" (Feat. Ryker’s)
"Invisible Queen" video:
"My farewell album for the Final Reign Tour contains everything that made Holy Moses special in the past 43 years. Vocally, I was overflowing with energy and felt like I was transported back to the 80s. We have always written songs that we ourselves like and never compromised on trends or conceded to wrong expectations, especially with this final album. We aren’t out to please everyone; we are our own brand and have our own sound, which includes odd meters, technically demanding passages, and unusual chord structures as well as interesting lyrics that deal with the dark side of humanity and the human psyche", comments Sabina Classen.
Tour dates:
March
3-4 - Murcia, Spain - Espectros Festival XV
April
28-29 - Kirchdorf, Germany - No Playback Festival
May
19-20 - Kirchdorf, Germany - Bavarian Battle Open Air
20-21 - Ostend, Belgium - Huginns Awakening Fest VII
26-28 - Gelsenkirchen, Germany - Rock Hard Festival
June
8-10 - Frýdek-Místek, Czech Republic - HellPdays Festival 2023
8-10 - Büßfeld, Germany - M:O:A - M.I.S.E. Open Air
15-18 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
July
5-9 - Trutnov, Czech Republic - Obscene Extreme Festival
13-15 - Torgau / Entenfang, Germany - In Flammen Open Air
25-29 - Tolmin, Slovenia - Tolminator
August
2-5 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
11-13 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival
15-20 - Kiel, Germany - Full Metal Cruise X Part I
November
18 - Zwickau, Germany - Club Seilerstraße
December
8-9 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Eindhoven Metal Meeting
16 - Übach-Palenberg, Germany - Rockfabrik Club
Many other special farewell shows to be announced soon.
(Photo - Axel Jusseit)
