| Apocrypha | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 29, 2023 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 55:06 | |||
| Label | Independent | |||
| Producer | Patrick Kennison [1] | |||
| Nikki Stringfield chronology | ||||
| ||||
Apocrypha is the debut studio album by American heavy metal musician Nikki Stringfield. It was released on September 29, 2023. [2]
Unlike Harmonies for the Haunted , Stringfield employed a full musical ensemble. The quartet consisted of Stringfield on vocals and guitar, Patrick Kennison on guitar and studio bass, Jesse Davidson on live bass and Shad Wilhelm on percussion. [3]
Todd Jolicoeur of 100% ROCK MAGAZINE stated that "Stringfield has unleashed a solo record unlike most from other six-string slingers… she takes the lead behind the guitar and the mic" and that "'Where the Demons Lie' is a straight forward rocker that features some churning and chugging riffs that carry the track from start to finish while Stringfield's vocals are draped perfectly across the track". Jolicoeur then adds that closing tune "Unite" "is a great end to the disc, as it prompts you to replay the whole disc again just to catch some of the other underlying nuances you may have missed". [4]
Thomas Coffman of KNAC and Coffman Photography professed that "This album has a perfect combo of killer guitar riffs and vocals" going on to say that "The lyrics of each song are very well thought out and the music is played to perfection showing that she took her time to bring the most completed, solid result possible". [5]
XS Rock indicated that the work is "hard rock with touches of metal featuring varied harmonies, catchy hooks and riffs, and vocals that introduce something entirely new for Stringfield" continuing to indicate that "While most know her as just a pure guitarist, this new album has allowed her to showcase not just her instrumental skills, but her writing and singing skills as well". [6]
On 28 September 2023, Stringfield performed her album release show in California. [7] In January 2024, Stringfield plans to open in Las Vegas, Nevada for American heavy metal musician John 5. [8]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "No Surrender" | 4:44 |
| 2. | "The Spell" | 4:38 |
| 3. | "Where the Demons Lie" | 4:41 |
| 4. | "The Outsider" | 5:18 |
| 5. | "Lunacy" | 4:36 |
| 6. | "Save Me" | 4:34 |
| 7. | "Kiss from a Rose" | 4:57 |
| 8. | "Flesh and Bones" | 5:27 |
| 9. | "Wasting Away" | 4:07 |
| 10. | "As Chaos Consumes" | 4:32 |
| 11. | "Sweet Insanity" | 6:06 |
| 12. | "Unite" | 1:26 |
| Total length: | 55:06 | |
Thrash metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo. The songs usually use fast percussive beats and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead guitar work.
Dokken is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1978. It split up in 1989 and reformed four years later. The band has had several hit singles which charted on the Billboard Hot 100, such as "Alone Again", "In My Dreams", and "Burning Like a Flame", and has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. The live album Beast from the East was nominated for the inaugural Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1989.
The Union Underground is an American nu metal band based out of San Antonio, Texas. Original band members included Bryan Scott, Patrick Kennison, John Moyer and Josh Memolo. They released one major label album, ...An Education in Rebellion, in 2000 which featured the hit single "Turn Me On 'Mr. Deadman'".
Patrick Kennison is an American rock musician. He co-founded The Union Underground who played on Ozzfest 2001 and released an album An Education in Rebellion which sold 350,000 copies. Union Underground broke up due to musical differences with Kennison forming a new band 3-Faced with Marty O'Brien.
Kick Axe is a Canadian heavy metal band from Regina, Saskatchewan. Influenced by rambunctious arena rock from the 1970s and early 1980s, the group is perhaps best known for their 1984 album Vices, praised by publications such as AllMusic for its "down-and-dirty guitar riffs" and managing to crack the American market. The band achieved moderate commercial success in the mid-1980s on the strength of the singles "Heavy Metal Shuffle", "On the Road to Rock", "With a Little Help from My Friends" and "Rock the World". Following the release of their 1986 album Rock the World, Kick Axe disbanded and remained on hiatus for many years. In 2004, they re-emerged with the album Kick Axe IV.
Icarus Witch is a heavy metal band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, formed in 2003 by bassist Jason Myers. The band has six releases through the Los Angeles–based label Cleopatra Records. They were founding members of the "New Wave of Traditional Metal" according to Metal Hammer U.K. Magazine and have since progressed into a melodic metal style merging influences of classic metal, AOR, goth and modern heavy rock.
Jupiter is the second full-length album by alternative metal band Cave In, released in summer 2000. It marked a change in the band's style, as this album saw the band move away from their previous hardcore sound by starting to experiment with more elements of space rock and psychedelic rock, with "Big Riff" being the only song on the album to contain screamed vocals.
The Neon God: Part 1 – The Rise, is the eleventh studio album and the first act of a two-part rock opera by the American heavy metal band W.A.S.P. The songs on the album narrate the story of an abused and orphaned boy named Jesse, who finds that he has the ability to read and manipulate people. The second part was released on the album titled The Neon God: Part 2 - The Demise.
Femme Fatale was an American hard rock band. Originally from Albuquerque, the band moved to Los Angeles and released one studio album before disbanding. Lead vocalist, Lorraine Lewis, restarted the band in 2013 with an all-female line-up.
The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The band currently consists of drummer Linda McDonald, bassist Wanda Ortiz, lead vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg and guitarists Nikki Stringfield and Shani Kimelman.
Ronny Munroe is an American singer, most noted as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Metal Church from 2003 until the band broke up in 2009. His second tenure with the band lasted from 2012 when the group reunited until 2014, where he left to "pursue other interests". He also had a brief stint as the vocalist for Lillian Axe. He was also the lead singer of progressive rock band Presto Ballet. In October 2011 Munroe joined the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, as a vocalist. In 2022, Munroe became the lead vocalist of Vicious Rumors. and Munroe's Thunder Project in 2016
Sandwich is the second studio album by American comedy metal band Psychostick, and the follow-up to 2003's We Couldn't Think of a Title. The album, a 24-track opus to food, email spam, bad directions, revenge, and more food, was recorded by guitarist Josh Key at Toxic Recording in Gilbert, Arizona, and features new members Jake McReynolds on second guitar and former Indorphine vocalist Jimmy Grant on bass. Rounding out the band roster are Alex Preiss (drums), and Rob Kersey (vocals). It was released May 5, 2009 via Rock Ridge Music.
Heaven Below is an American hard rock band based in Los Angeles. The band's debut album Countdown to Devil was released March 2009.
Nikki Stringfield (born 1990) is an American heavy metal musician. She is the current guitarist for The Iron Maidens, Femme Fatale, and Heaven Below, as well as the former guitarist for Before the Mourning.
Devil City Angels is an American rock supergroup formed by guitarist Tracii Guns, drummer Rikki Rockett (Poison), bassist Eric Brittingham (Cinderella), and vocalist and rhythm guitarist Brandon Gibbs.
Good Morning Apocalypse is the third studio album from American rock band Heaven Below. The concept album was released on October 14, 2016, through EMP Label Group and distributed by eOne Entertainment.
Before the Mourning (also initialized as B4TM) was an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles. They released two EPs, Remembrance and Damned and Forsaken, and published the full-length album Etherial End in August 2015. In November 2015, the band announced that they had permanently split up.
Edge of Paradise is an American rock band that was formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, in 2011. The band currently consists of Margarita Monet (vocals/keys), Dave Bates (guitars), David Ruiz (guitars), Jamie Moreno (drums) and Kenny Lockwood (bass). The band is known for its heavy guitars complemented by industrial and classical influences, as well as Monet's large vocal range. In 2012, Monet was featured in Metalholic’s "Top 25 Women in Hard Rock and Metal."
Built to Destroy is the fifth studio album by American heavy metal band Incite. Released on January 25, 2019 through via Minus Head Records, the album was mastered by Chris Zeuss Harris and produced by Steve Evetts.
Harmonies for the Haunted is the debut EP for American heavy metal musician Nikki Stringfield. Released on 30 October 2019, the album was produced by American musicians Jesse Billson and Patrick Kennison.