Indie folk-pop artist Mike Gale set to release milestone 20th album 'Thanks For Always Waving'

"‘Summer, Be Gone’ actually feels like a warm zephyr floating through an open window on a balmy summer’s day... like water bouncing off silk... a most wonderful and unique chorus which goes against the pop-norm by being a ghostly shimmer of reverb and wistfulness" ~ Joyzine

"Adorned with easy grace, this is triumphal folk-pop at its finest... like something Tame Impala and The Beach Boys might have performed together under the heavy influence of Paul Simon" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Equal parts charming and entertaining. A presentation of Gale's unique mind and it's abilities as a wonderfully adept melody making machine" ~ Headstuff

"A beautifully articulated songbook throughout. Swimmingly brilliant in it's indie slacker charm" ~ Monolith Cocktail


British folk-pop artist
Mike Gale presents his stunning new album 'Thanks for Always Waving' (out September 8). With 11 tracks on offer, this is a rich and thoughtful collection of world- and folk-inspired indie pop.

Gale's music is positively-vibed folk-inspired indie pop. Generating catchy melodies and harmonies, this will be his 20th album in 20 years. Initially writing and performing under the Co-Pilgrim and Black Nielson monikers, this is the twelfth album released under his own name.

Mastered by Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices, Circus Devils), this album was produced, recorded and mixed by Gale as his home studio. In the lead up to the album's release, he released the singles
'Grumble Pie' and 'Summer Be Gone', along with a calming video featuring the artist Kimvi, which was filmed in Suzhou, China by Matt Wallwork,

"'Thanks for Always Waving' is my 20th album. I wanted to go back to basics a bit with this one - simple pop songs with a stripped down gentle feel. I was very inspired by one of my favourite bands' (Tall Dwarfs) use of homemade percussion for rhythm, and the idea that you don't need a traditional drum sound to make a song groove. Lyrically, the album is mostly about trying to keep a positive outlook and being generally grateful for what you have despite the world seeming like a terrible place most of the time," says Mike Gale.

Album pre-order  https://mikegale.bandcamp.com/album/thanks-for-always-waving

"The title of the album comes from my love of a YouTube channel called 'Solo Travel Japan', which is basically a guy taking overnight ferry trips to the many Japanese islands. One of the things he says as he leaves port is "Thanks for Always Waving" and it stuck."

A multi-instrumentalist, Gale has been singing for as long as he can remember. But it wasn't until he was around 20 that he formally began playing the guitar and writing his own music, citing The Lemonheads as a big influence in those early years. Born in Southampton, Mike Gale spent a good chunk of his childhood in North Devon and then Oxford, New York and Melbourne before returning home to settle on his beloved south coast of England.

With Gale taking melodic and percussive cues from influences such as Tall Dwarfs, Pavement and The Clean, 'Thanks for Always Waving' is ultimately one of his most pop-oriented albums to date, filled with mellow bongo beats and gentle washes of wavey organs.

As of September 8, 'Thanks For Always Waving' will be available from fine digital platforms, including 
Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, .

CREDITS
Written and performed by Mike Gale
Produced, recorded and mixed by Mike Gale
Mastered by
Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices, Circus Devils)
Single cover photo by Akira Deng
Video filmed by Matt Wallwork in Suzhou, China
Actress featuring Kimvi

Keep up with Mike Gale
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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ICE NINE KILLS Announce' Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire'- A 3LP Deluxe Edition of Chart-Topping Album 'The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood'

Theatrical, horror-themed metal masters ICE NINE KILLS have announced the deluxe edition of their chart-dominating 2021 album ‘The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood’ today. Titled ‘Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire’, the expanded release arrives October 20th via Fearless Records and is packed with new and previously unheard versions of fan favourite cuts, an orchestral version of the album and collectible horror artefacts. Pre-order the deluxe 3LP box set now at HERE.

Expanding on ICE NINE KILLS’ signature fusion of blood-soaked metal and cinematic storytelling, ‘Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire’ includes the original album along with new single (more on this coming soon), two reimagined tracks, and physical extras encased in a flame-engulfed box set.

On the deluxe edition, frontman, leader and creative visionary, Spencer Charnas shares:

“Bigger, bloodier and more brutal! We’ve taken the ‘Silver Scream 2’ and literally set it ablaze! 'Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire', is our most ambitious and intricately designed piece of horror memorabilia yet. The 3D, flame-engulfed artwork comes to life through real illuminated lightbulbs built into the packaging, encasing a nightmarish collection including the original album, a new song, reimaginings of fan favorites and the whole album played by an orchestra. Not only that, it also comes with a wearable Silence mask straight out of our nightmarish cinematic universe and a death certificate of authenticity signed by yours truly. This boxset is the ultimate collectible for INK fans and one of the most intricate releases we’ve put out to date.”

‘The Silver Scream 2:Welcome To Horrorwood’ launched ICE NINE KILLS to new heights when it was released in 2021, topping charts and collecting over 339 million streams on the back of hits like  “Hip To Be Scared”, “Assault & Batteries”, “Rainy Day”, "Funeral Derangements", "Take Your Pick", "The Shower Scene" and most recently, "Welcome To Horrorwood". Now the final chapter of the saga arrives in fittingly terrifying fashion with ‘Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire’ - the ultimate collectible for any self-respecting INK fan. Pre-order the deluxe 3LP box set now at HERE ahead of its October 20th release.

ICE NINE KILLS recently announced that they will end 2023 with a freshly sharpened ice pick through the temple, as they co-headline the Kiss Of Death Tour with In This Moment and support from Avatar and New Year’s Day. The 18-date US run will top off an incredible 18 months of touring for ICE NINE KILLS, that has included three sold-out legs of the enormously popular triple co-headline ‘Trinity of Terror’ tour with Motionless In White and Black Veil Brides, a plethora of headline shows across the US and Europe, multiple festival performances around the world, a US run with Falling In Reverse on their Popular Monstour tour and huge support slots for metal behemoths such as Metallica and Slipknot. Not to mention the release of The Silver Screamnovel - the only book with a comprehensive exploration inside the mind of America’s notorious, celluloid-obsessed, rock star turned cinema-copycat murderer, Spencer Charnas written by Bayonet Award–winning television reporter Roy Merkin.

The Kiss of Death Tour

Co-Headlined By Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment

With Avatar and New Years Day

Fri/Nov-3 Gary, IN Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana

Sat/Nov 5 - St Louis, MO @ Dome At America’s Center*

Tue/Nov-7 Indianapolis, IN Blue Ribbon Pavilion (Indiana Fairgrounds)

Wed/Nov-8 Cincinnati, OH The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Thu/Nov-9 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom

Sun/Nov 12- Detroit @ Ford Field *

Tue/Nov-14 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Arena

Thu/Nov-16 Estero, FL Hertz Arena

Fri/Nov-17 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place

Sat/Nov-18 Orlando, FL Orlando Amphitheater

Mon/Nov-20 Atlanta, GA Coca Cola Roxy

Tue/Nov-21 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex

Wed/Nov-22 Reading, PA Santander Arena

Fri/Nov-24 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre

Sat/Nov-25 Bangor, ME Cross Insurance Center

Tue/Nov-28 Washington, DC The Anthem

Thu/Nov-30 Norfolk, VA Chartway Arena

Fri/Dec-1 Johnstown, PA 1st Summit Arena

Sat/Dec-2 Wheeling, WV Wesbanco Arena

* Ice Nine Kills only w/ Metallica

Find your tickets all remaining ICE NINE KILLS shows by visiting iceninekills.com/#tour

The nightmare continues as these murdersome metal trailblazers prepare to unleash the most epic episode of the Silver Scream saga yet.


ABOUT ICE NINE KILLS

Decadent, devious and fiercely insane, Ice Nine Kills celebrate pop culture’s darkest edges, mining a cinephile library’s worth of iconic horror on 2018’s The Silver Scream which spawned Top 10 Mainstream Rock single “A Grave Mistake” and Top 20 hit “Savages”. The creative marriage made in hell of music and fiction began in earnest with the Top 5 Hard Rock album, Every Trick in the Book, which brought the previous three records’ themes to new levels and which the band perfected on 2021's chart-topping smash hit ’The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood.’

The phenomenally successful album, released in October 2021, scored Ice Nine Kills their first Top 20 position (#18) on the Billboard Top 200, topped the Digital and Current Hard Music charts, hit Top 5 on the Current Rock, Independent, Current Albums and Album Sales charts and has clocked up 177 million cross-platform streams to date and 15 million YouTubeviews for singles “Hip To Be Scared”, “Assault & Batteries”, “Rainy Day”, "Funeral Derangements", "Take Your Pick", "The Shower Scene" and most recently, "Welcome To Horrorwood".

Since the release of 'The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood', Ice Nine Kills have seen phenomenal growth. Throughout 2022 they toured the US extensively on 3 legs of The Trinity of Terror, their hugely successful, mostly sold-out triple co-headline tour with Motionless In White and Black Veil Brides, supported Metallica at several US stadium shows, toured the US with Slipknot and launched the inaugural edition of their horror convention, The Silver Scream Con.

The first half of 2023 has been just as insane. The year began with Spencer being featured in the music video for the official song from Scream 6 - Demi Lovato's "Still Alive", as well as the band's flyer being used in the movie with a Spencer-recommended easter egg. Since the spring, the band have been touring the world with Metallica on their M72 World Tour, headlined numerous sold-out shows on their Wurst Vacation European tour, played to huge crowds at festivals such as Download and are currently touring the US with Falling In Reverse on their Popular Monstour run. The band also have their 'Fear The Premiere' US headline shows in August, followed by the second iteration of the Silver Scream Con coming in September and will be finishing the year on a high with the the Kiss of Death co-headline tour with In This Moment.



The band’s synergy of music and lifestyle draws favorable comparisons to Slipknot and Rob Zombie. Visionary trailblazers and multimedia raconteurs, Ice Nine Kills have built a thrilling world for a growing legion of devoted true believers, with theatrical shows, high-concept videos, and inventive band-to-fan communion. Their wildly creative output has seen them become recipients of the prestigious Clio Award for Music Marketing for their "Merry Axe-mas" mobile game and their live streaming event from October 2020, The Silver Stream be nominated for 5 awards at last year's Horror Hound Film Festival Awards in the categories of Judges Choice, Best Sound, Best Supporting Performance, Best Cinematography and Best Feature. With over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 717 million career streams to date and over 204 million views on YouTube the band are firmly cemented as one of modern metal's most vicious forces.

 

ICE NINE KILLS ARE

Spencer Charnas - Vocals

Dan Sugarman - Guitar

Ricky Armellino - Guitar

Joe Occhiuti - Bass

Patrick Galante - Drums

ON THORNS I LAY Remember the Fallen on New Single

On Thorns I Lay are the Greek gods of doom and gloom. These Athenians have cast death metal with a melodious, gothic glow since the early '90s. Heck, they plucked their name from a Shakespearean sonnet.

Today, On Thorns I Lay are releasing the second single off their upcoming self-titled album, which is their first release for Season of Mist. Watch the war-torn lyric video for "Fallen From Grace" below.

'On Thorns I Lay' comes out on October 13. Pre-order the album
HERE. Pre-save it HERE.

"Fallen From Grace" opens their new album on a harrowing note. "This song is about all those who have suffered from wars and genocides", the band says. But despite the heavy subject matter, On Thorns I Lay continue to push their swelling, muscular riffs and smokey, orchestral atmosphere to new heights, thanks to a little help from their friends. Members of the Athens Orchestra are featured here, along with Fanny Melfi, who's sang with their fellow countrymen Septicflesh.  


"All the pain and suffering, all the murders and rapes of innocent people, still haunt us and will never be forgotten", says On Thorns I Lay. "Remember the fallen!"

ON THORNS I LAY started as a death metal band together with other cult bands in Greece in the early 90’s such as Rotting Christ, Septic Flesh, Necromantia, Nightfall and started to spread their name in the local and global underground scene.

On Thorns I Lay have released 9 albums so far such as Orama, Crystal Tears, Aegean Sorrow and Threnos gaining great reviews in (Scream Norway, album of the month, Inferno Finland 5/5, Metal Storm Top 5 albums of 2020 and many others…). The have shared the stage with great bands such as Dream Theater, In Flames, Anathema, Amorphis, Katatonia, Rotting Christ, Tiamat, The Gathering, Satyricon, Septic Flesh and many more…

Their music style is pure atmospheric melodic doom death metal!

On Thorns I Lay
's last album “Threnos” followed the path of atmospheric, yet emotional Doom Death Metal – paying tribute to the roots and representing the trademark sound of the band once again. On Thorns I Lay continue to tell dense stories of loss and despair.

After their mini tour at the Baltic states with Rotting Christ  they signed a deal with the world famous record label Season Of Mist and they have finished the recordings of their 10th album entitled ‘On Thorns I Lay to be released in 2023.

Recording studio
Devasoundz Studios

Producer / sound engineer
Fotis Benardo

Mixing and mastering studio and engineer
Fotis Benardo

Current line-up
Peter Miliadis - Vocals (Dimlight, ex- Slaveatgod)
Christos Dragamestianos – Guitars
Nikolas Paraskevopoulos - Guitars (Dimlight, Yoth Iria)
Kostas Mexis - Bass (Aetherian, ex- Black Path)
Antonis Ventouris - Keyboards
Stelios Darakis - Drums (Dexter Ward, ex- Sacred Outcry, The Eternal Suffering, ex- Mortal Torment, ex- Lloth)

Guest vocals:
Fanny Melfi - Fallen From Grace
Labros Kiklis - Fallen From Grace
Stavros Papagiannakopoulos - Thorns Of Fire, Crestfallen
Ilias Mantikos - Thorns Of Fire
Katerina Tzitzou - Fallen From Grace
Irina Dimaki - Fallen From Grace
Anna Thana - Fallen From Grace
Aris Karatzas - Crestfallen, Newborn Skies, Raise Empires, Among The Wolves

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/OTIL
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/otilpresave

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/onthornsilay
https://www.instagram.com/onthornsilayofficial
https://onthornsilay.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/@UCdzi7TfP1G8z6LjS5Oj5ibw
https://onthornsilay.live

Formats:
Digital
Vinyl Black
Vinyl Colour

Michael Ray's Intoxicating "Spirits and Demons" with Meghan Patrick Impacts Country Radio

With four No. 1 singles, singer-songwriter Michael Ray is one of country radio’s most consistent hitmakers. Earlier this summer he released his six-song Dive Bars & Broken Hearts EP to a flurry of fan, media and industry acclaim. That excitement fuels the release of Ray’s new single “Spirits and Demons” with Meghan Patrick.
 
“The song’s about going through that part of life where you’re trying to figure things out,” said Ray of the song. “You went through a break-up, and you go to the bottle. You know, you wanna numb it. You wanna forget about what’s going on and just not feel anything, but when you lean into that bottle, it’s going to bring out the demons, it’s going to bring out some of those memories and you just end up reliving it.”
 
Joining Ray on the haunting duet is two-time Canadian Country Music Female Vocalist of the Year, Meghan Patrick. Ray felt the song needed a female voice so he reached out to his friend Patrick, saying “…she’s got a voice that can blister concrete – and a gift to reach right into a song and rip its heart out, put it in her throat and meet you line for line with some intense emotions.”
 
Of the new single,
MusicRow shared, “This oomphy-sounding duet sez that booze doesn’t really cure a heartbreak. Both partners sing with gusto.”
 
In addition to his new single, Ray heads into the final stretch of summer and into fall with a full slate of touring. In addition, the Grand Ole Opry stalwart will make his 73rd appearance on the iconic stage on Wednesday, Sept. 13.

About Michael Ray
Forged on the small stages of Florida’s rural communities, Michael Ray has created an impressive foundation. With four No. 1 songs including RIAA Platinum-certified “Think a Little Less,” RIAA Platinum-certified “Whiskey And Rain,” RIAA Gold-certified “Kiss You in the Morning,” RIAA Gold-certified “One That Got Away” – plus “Get to You” and “Her World Or Mine” bringing his tally to four RIAA Gold-certified singles – over 2 billion global streams, over 650,000 album equivalents and over 150 million YouTube views, he is a true country star who’s performed at the Grand Ole Opry 72 times. Looking to expand his sound, Ray sought out CMA Album of the Year Award-winning producer Michael Knox. The pair have taken his brand of country to a new level for Dive Bars & Broken Hearts, Ray’s six-song EP available now via Warner Music Nashville, featuring current single and haunting duet “Spirits & Demons” with Meghan Patrick, a two-time Canadian Country Music Association Female Artist of the Year. Currently on the road headlining shows through the summer, he’s taking his music where it matters: to the people. For more information, visit
MichaelRayMusic.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter@MichaelRayMusic and Facebook.com/MusicMichaelRay.

TEMIC Fall Upward on New Single

TEMIC formed when the rest of the world was grinding to a halt. Eric Gillette and Diego Tejeida had already toured the world together as members of Mike Portnoy's Shattered Fortress, but it wasn't until 2020 that they decided to start a super group with Arkentype drummer Simen Sandnes and Fredrik Klemp, who's the lead vocalist for Maraton.

Today, TEMIC are releasing another power prog anthem off 'Terror Management Theory'. Watch the sublime, self-produced video for "Falling Away" below.

The video was shot in the Norwegian village of Bortelid earlier this summer and marks the first time all four members of TEMIC got together in person as a band!

'Terror Management Theory' comes out November 17. Pre-order the album
HERE. Pre-save it HERE.

"Falling Away" is uplifted by the full range of TEMIC's powers. Gillette alternates between beefy distortion and warped, nimble riffing. Tejeida fires off a white-hot keyboard solo before Simen Sandnes fills the bridge with booming finesse.

"It's one of our favorite songs on the album," the band says. "The song embodies all the core elements we envisioned for TEMIC: powerful lyrics and catchy vocal melodies at the forefront, a constant pulse underneath, dynamic and rich instrumentation all around, and electronic-influenced sounds adorning the edges".

Klemp's clean, commanding falsetto delivers a hopeful message, too. "The lyrics discuss the natural impermanence of all things from the perspective of someone who contemplates their own mortality and shares this moment of clarity with their descendants," says TEMIC. "Far from being dark, "Falling Away" invites you to reflect positively on the fact that our time is finite".    

The members of TEMIC have also jammed with Devin Townsend and Neal Morse. Simen Sandnes comes from an equally impressive, albeit slightly different background.

Sandnes played soccer semi-professionally up until he was 16 years old. Once he reached high school though, the Norwegian prodigy spent most of his time drumming at his school's rehearsal space, where he now teaches part-time.

Since then, he's drummed for Arkentype, SHINING, the Kingdom Hearts soundtrack and an official world cup song. No wonder he's endorsed by Zildjian and Mapex.

Introducing TEMIC—prog’s newest, most ambitious, and most adrenaline-fueled act. TEMIC melds the creative minds of keyboardist and sound designer Diego Tejeida (Devin Townsend, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, ex-Haken), guitarist Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress), drummer Simen Sandnes (SHINING, Arkentype), and vocalist Fredrik Klemp (Maraton, 22).

The origins of TEMIC date back to 2017, when Tejeida and Gillette toured the world as band members of Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress. From the very first chords they exchanged, their musical chemistry both on and off stage was undeniable, leading them to discuss the prospect of starting a new band together. Unfortunately, conflicting tour and recording commitments forced them to turn their attention elsewhere for years—that is, until the world came to a standstill in 2020, and Tejeida called Gillette to ask a fateful question:
“Remember how we said we should make music together? Well, how about now?”

Thus, the first demos for what would later become TEMIC’s 2023 debut album, Terror Management Theory, began to emerge. Within a few weeks after that initial phone call, the musical vision of TEMIC had become clear: Let’s create progressive music that is heavily influenced by high-energy electronic music, but arranged and orchestrated for a 5-piece modern prog rock/metal band—where, at last, the pulse can be the focus, and the vocal melody can be king.

Eager to join forces with the very best bandmates, Tejeida and Gillette first summoned the rhythmic power of their friend and drummer Sandnes. With characteristic enthusiasm, Sandnes seized the opportunity, prepared to contribute his percussive prowess as the heartbeat of TEMIC. When it came time to find the singer that would carry TEMIC’s melodies to new heights, Sandnes recommended vocal powerhouse Klemp, whose emotive delivery and unmatched intensity left no doubt that he was destined to be the voice of TEMIC. Finally, to round out the rhythm section of Terror Management Theory, dynamic bassist Jacob Umansky (Intervals) was invited on board as a guest player, gracing the album with an unrivaled groove and a signature low-end sound.

Together, this mammoth lineup is TEMIC, a high-energy, electronic-inspired, modern melodic prog metal band for the next generation.
 
Line-up:
Fredrik Bergersen (Maraton, 22) – Vocals
Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress) – Guitars and Backing Vocals
Simen Sandnes (Shining, Arkentype)  – Drums and Percussion
Diego Tejeida (Devin Townsend, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, ex-Haken) - Keyboards and Sound Design
 
Recording Studio: Drums and vocals recorded at Top Floor Studios (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Producer: Produced by TEMIC. Drums and vocals engineered by Jakob Herrmann Gothenburg, Sweden)
Mix/Mastering: Mixed and mastered by Rich Mouser at The Mouse House (Los Angeles, USA)
 
Guest musicians:
Jacob Umansky (USA) – Bass guitar on the whole album
Mosaic Gospel Choir (Norway) – Mothallah
Garden State Threshold Choir (USA) – Mothallah
 
Cover artwork: Hicham Hamzi

Pre-order:
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/Temic
Pre-save:
https://orcd.co/tmtpresave
 
Formats:
Digital
Digipak
2x 12” Gatefold in various colours
Merch
 
Follow Temic
https://temicband.com
www.facebook.com/TEMICBAND
www.instagram.com/temicband

Horsewhip Announce "Consume and Burn" + Band Shares "Plague Machine"

HORSEWHIP — comprised of Shaun Drees, Jeff Howe, Alex Bond, and Dave Teten — will release Consume and Burn via Iodine Recordings on November 10. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared "Plague Machine." Listen
here.

"Mankind is a true disease or parasite to earth," states Drees about the track.

Spawned in the dark swamp-scapes of Tampa Bay, Horsewhip has established itself as one of the most formidable and heaviest underground acts in hardcore. The environment that shaped them resonates in their sound — dark, ugly, and furious.  

Their new full-length LP Consume and Burn is an uncompromising sonic odyssey. Horsewhip merges together the darkest corners of hardcore punk, screamo, and metal into their own vision of annihilation. Comprised of members of Reversal of Man, Combatwoundedveteran, Sutek Conspiracy, and a myriad of other acts, it’s an album that shows the band's pedigree in writing heavy music. But more than anything, there’s a clear hunger to push the genre forward with each song. 

Horsewhip show moments of dissonance and unexpected beauty amid the oppressive weight of their sound. Songs like "Buried" offer brief respites of melody to create a forlorn sense of dread before redoubling their efforts. The aptly titled "Pain" shows its subject matter through multiple lenses, opening with a reflective riff before plummeting into breakneck speeds and full-throated chaos. Their strength lies in the raw, unadulterated fury that few can truly tap into.

The band's punishing new focus is thanks to a change in lineup, adding Dave Teten on guitar and allowing for a delta in riffage, as well as moving Shaun Drees to main vocals and Jeff Howe on back up vox. Consume and Burn calls to mind His Hero Is Gone and Disfear at their most disgusting, or Neurosis at a sped-up RPM. Each member is a master of their craft, drums guitar and bass all synchronizing into an aural mugging of heaviness. It’s a testament to the depth and richness that can be found in anger, and why hardcore is at its best when it's mean. 

Consume and Burn was tracked and mixed by John Howard at War House Recordings and Mastered by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studios. Album art by Christopher Norris at Steak MTN.

The band is also performing at The Fest in Florida on October 29 with Strike Anywhere.

Another Day Dawns Share "Hesitate" Video + Announce New Album "Finding Peace Through All the Noise"

Pennsylvania band Another Day Dawns — singer Dakota Sean, guitarist Tyler Ritter, bassist Jerome Betz, and drummer Nick McGeehan — have announced their new album Finding Peace Through All the Noise. It arrives October 6 via Century Media. Pre-save it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for new single "Hesitate." Watch it
below.

 "'Hesitate' is about the internal struggle we all deal with about coming to terms with the reality of your life and your relationships, rather than following the little devil on your shoulder," says Dakota Sean. "It's about not taking the easy way out and taking control of your life."

"Hesitate" is a not-so-subtle reminder why the Lehighton, PA based four-piece is one of the most buzzed about new rock bands hitting stages and winning over crowds at every stop. The track expands on ADD's blueprint of driving hooks, unforgettable vocals, and tuneful dissonance. Produced by Steve Sopchak (Ice Nine Kills, Motionless In White) and mixed by Jeff Dunne (Brand of Sacrifice, Ice Nine Kills), it's a hint of the shape of ADD's rock-to-come.
 
Since inking with Century Media Records in 2022, ADD have found themselves in cramped rehearsal rooms, studios, and ultimately, on stages of every conceivable size. "Having taken off so much time to get this album done, we thought we'd do some smaller shows to get things rolling again, but somehow we came back with our first arena tour and the biggest opportunity we've ever had as a band!" Hitting the road for a North American jaunt with Breaking Benjamin and Bush, ADD won over crowds every night. "We definitely felt nerves and anxiety while we entered what felt like a new world to us," says Ritter. "Pretty quickly that turned to ambition and drive."

ANOTHER DAY DAWNS began making a racket of their own as high school-aged friends in 2010. Countless electric and acoustic shows later, opening for the likes of Sevendust, Starset, and Atreyu as well as rock festivals including Aftershock, Blue Ridge and Louder Than Life, they've honed themselves into a force to be reckoned with in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region. The independent release of their 2018 EP A Different Life landed the band a charting spot on the Billboard rock charts, which solidified their foundation in the active rock market. Meanwhile, 2020's single release, "Taste of Heaven" has racked up over two million Spotify streams while 2021's release "Look at You" has garnered nearly 200K YouTube plays. 

ANOTHER DAY DAWNS ON TOUR:
WITH ATREYU, MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, + CATCH YOUR BREATH:

8/27 — Ventura, CA — Ventura Theater
8/28 — Las Vegas, NV — House of Blues
8/30 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel
8/31 — Amarillo, TX — Ocho Segundos
9/2 — Lawrence, KS — Bottleneck*
9/3 — St. Louis, MO — Red Flag*
9/5 — Pittsburgh, PA — Mr. Smalls Theatre*
9/7 — Asbury Park, NJ — House of Independents*
9/8 — Reading, PA — Reverb*
9/10 — New Haven, CT — Toad's Place*
9/12 — Montreal, QC — Theatre Beanfield
9/13 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall
9/15 — Columbus, OH — Newport Music Hall
9/16 — Ft Wayne, IN — The Clyde Theatre
9/17 — Grand Rapids, MI — The Intersection
9/19 — Bloomington, IL — The Castle Theatre
9/21 — Maplewood, MN — Myth Live
9/22 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave/Eagles Club
9/23 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life**
*No Atreyu
**Festival Play

Mike Mains + The Branches Share "Lost Boys"

MIKE MAINS & THE BRANCHES recently announced the new album Memory Unfixed, out September 15 via Tooth & Nail. Pre-order it here.

"Memory Unfixed is a collection of musical snapshots from 2019-2021," Mains says. "The world went through a metamorphosis at that time and I fell down into the basement of unfixed memories. Some painful, some colorful, I'm glad to report there was magic down there. I am excited to share."

Today, the band has shared "
Lost Boys." Listen below
 

"The inspiration for this song came when I was listening to 'The Suburbs' by Arcade Fire on repeat and thinking a lot about who I was as a teenager," Mains says,. "As far as I've come, I still feel I have so much to learn, and let go of. I'm always hacking away at the shadow I carry around because I don't want it to keep me from that sacred place."

Mike Mains & The Branches have always bottled complex emotions and relatable stories within hummable homegrown anthems. They have organically progressed over the course of Home [2012], Calm Down, Everything Is Fine [2014], and When We Were In Love [2019]. Billboard hailed the "buoyant pop" of the latter, while Atwood Magazine praised its "upbeat, energetic, feel-good pop-rock." Among many standouts, “Briggs” generated north of 4.8 million Spotify streams as "Breathing Underwater" and "Live Forever" each surpassed the 1 million-mark. After trading his native Michigan for Nashville, Mike underwent another era of transformation. Stuck at home mid-Pandemic, he retreated inward and began to understand his past and, ultimately, himself a bit more.
 
"Once COVID hit, I finally had the opportunity to allow some things to start boiling over," he elaborates. "I got serious about therapy, my mental health, and my well-being. I acknowledged wounds that had been on the backburner for my entire life. I've been on my own since I was 16, and I come from a family of physical and mental abuse. By living alone and crashing on couches over the years, I've cobbled together a wonderful surrogate family. Growing up, my dad was like, 'You'll never make it’.' Part of me was pleased to find success, move to Nashville, buy a home, and support myself and my wife off rock 'n' roll. Nevertheless, all of this pain came up. So, these songs are little vignettes and snapshots of not only the relationship between my wife and I but what was happening in the world with George Floyd and America's heartbreaking response."

PHOTO CREDIT: Jen Rosenstein

MIKE MAINS & THE BRANCHES ON TOUR:
HEADLINE:

8/24 — Ballroom at Spiderhouse — Austin, TX 

8/25 — Dallas, TX – The Rustic
8/26 — San Antonio, TX – The Rustic


WITH KING'S KALEIDOSCOPE:
10/5 — Charlotte NC — Neighborhood Theatre 
10/6 — Atlanta GA — Center Stage 
10/7 — Sanford FL — Tuffy’s Music Box 
10/8 — Tampa FL — Crowbar 
10/10 — Birmingham AL — Zydeco 
10/11 — Greensboro NC — Hangar 1819
10/13 — Washington DC — 9:30 Club
10/14 — New York NY — Gramercy Theatre 
10/16 — Millvale PA — Mr Smalls Theatre 
10/17 — Philadelphia PA —  Ardmore Music Hall 
10/19 — Milwaukee WI — Pabst Theater
10/20 — Des Moines IA — Wooly’s 
10/21 — Covington KY — Madison Theater 
10/22 — Fort Wayne IN — Clyde Theatre 
10/24 — Columbus OH — Skully’s 
10/25 — Cleveland OH — Beachland Ballroom 
10/26 — Detroit MI — St. Andrews Hall 
10/27 — Grand Rapids MI — Elevation 

MIKE MAINS & THE BRANCHES ARE:
Mike Mains — Vocals, Guitar
Shannon Mains — Vocals, Synth, Guitar

Voyager reissue "Fearless in Love" on Vinyl

VOYAGER have been everywhere since landing in the Top Ten at Eurovision. They've topped the AIR chart. They've chatted with Today and Guitar World and graced the cover of Prog magazine

The Australian progressive pop metal band are currently gearing up for
their upcoming European and UK tour. But today, they're announcing that their new album 'Fearless in Love' is being reissued on vinyl. 

The original vinyl of "Fearless in Love" doesn't include "Promise". That's because Voyager had yet to debut the Eurovision hit when the first pressing of the album was in production. This new reissued version does include "Promise", along with other hits like "Prince of Fire" and "Ultraviolet".  

"Fearless in Love" will be reissued on vinyl with "Promise" on October 27. Pre-order
HERE.

Voyager are coming back to Europe and the UK in October! Tickets are on sale HERE.

The band also just announced a huge homecoming party next year with their largest-ever headlining tour of Australia.  Tickets are on sale
HERE.

As much as you can rely on the Earth’s elliptical orbit, you can depend on Voyager to consistently evolve. The band’s interplanetary balance of virtuosic pyrotechnics and sky scraping radio-ready hooks morphs at the speed of sound from one era to the next. In bursts of bright light, luminous keys, neon guitar wizardry, and stratosphere-shaking rhythms, they elevate hard rock to another realm. The group blast off on a signature hybrid of prog, rock, and metal possibly best described as the musical equivalent of Guardians of the Galaxy.

After piling up millions of streams, earning acclaim from the likes of The Guardian, and wowing the globe on the Eurovision Song Contest, the Perth, Australia quintet—Danny Estrin [vocals], Simone Dow [guitar], Scott Kay [guitar], Alex Canion [bass], and Ashley Doodkorte [drums]—take flight like never before on their forthcoming eighth full-length LP, Fearless In Love [Season of Mist].

“It’s progressive in the sense we’re always trying to reinvent and refresh ourselves as musicians,” notes Danny. “I want to develop musically from where we left off. We made sure Fearless In Love was melodic with some sugary hooks, but we also stayed true to our sound and delivered a few more guitar solos. It could appeal to fans of complex music as well as anybody who might want a straight-up banger. It’s a melting pot of the genres that define us distilled into the unique Voyager sound.”

This cohort of dynamic talents and personalities initially crash-landed stateside for a now-renowned performance at the 2011 ProgPower USA Festival in Atlanta, GA. Since then, they’ve unleashed a string of fan favourite albums—V [2014], Ghost Mile [2017], and Colours in the Sun [2019]—in addition to sharing stages with the likes Deftones, Leprous, Devin Townsend, Opeth, and Poppy to name a few. Australia notably handpicked Voyager as its entrant into the global Eurovision Song Contest 2023 with “Promise.” The Guardian hailed the buzzing single as “a pop number that bends the genre with trademark riffs, climactic guitars and keytar solos,” and it crashed the Top 3 of the Australian Independent Label Singles Chart. They even appeared on TODAY Australia to wave the metal flag by teaching daytime TV hosts black metal growls, as plugged by Metal Injection!

Throughout 2022, they crafted what would become Fearless In Love with engineer, mixer, and coproducer Matt Templeman. This time around, the musicians recorded live, unlocking a new energy altogether.

“Normally, we write and record our parts individually, but the whole band decided to go old school and do everything together this time,” he goes on. “This line-up has been together for twelve years, and we gel so well. It’s cool because we can play off each other like a live show with funky bass, groovy guitars, and creative drum patterns. It translates to the album.” On the single “Prince of Fire,” glimmering keys give way to a hard-hitting guitar riff as Danny’s slick vocals seesaw atop a punchy bass line.

“It’s actually one of the heaviest songs we’ve done, yet it’s got this super eighties mentality,” the front man reveals. “Lyrically, it’s about being perceived as the bad guy, even though you’re trying to do your best. You have good intentions, but sometimes you end up being the ‘Prince of Fire on night patrol’. Musically, it sways side-to-side, and then you’re crushed—which is a common theme for us.”

Then, there’s “The Lamenting.” Seventies-style sonics dissolve in a haze of riffs offset by swooning vocals and synths. Distortion drowns out the light in its final moments.

“You’re lamenting past loves and trying to let go and not wallow in those memories,” Danny elaborates. “There’s a bitter end that almost leaves you in the dark without pulling you out. It’s one of the most melancholic and sad songs on the album.”

Meanwhile, “Ultraviolet” layers a hypnotic refrain above chugging guitar as growls pierce the groove before a hummable solo.

“It’s about coping with the speed of modern society,” he states. “I like a fast-paced world, but it can be too much. You almost want to bury your head under your pillow and scream, ‘Slow down’. The expectations we have on each other as humans are just nuts. Sometimes, you need to become ultraviolet, duck under, and go, ‘No more for me, thanks’.”

The finale “Gren (Fearless In Love)” concludes the album with a climactic crescendo pushed even higher by resounding melodies and nimble instrumentation.

“When you’re in love, you have boundless energy and feelings for a person, which makes you almost invincible,” he elaborates. “There’s a huge vulnerability, because you’re not invincible at all. You’re totally susceptible to extreme hurt and letdown. There’s something beautiful about letting yourself go and fully experiencing being fearless though.”

In the end, a similar creative boundlessness drives Voyager.

“When you listen to Fearless In Love, I’d love for you to say, ‘I’ve never heard anything like this before’,” he leaves off. “Secondly, I hope you’re uplifted, intrigued, and emotional. We try take you on a journey through struggle, positivity, negativity, and a society that doesn’t always make sense. Maybe, listening to the record will make you feel better about dealing with this crazy modern world we’re living in.”

Line-up
Danny Estrin - Vocals, Keytar
Simone Dow - Guitars
Alex Canion - Bass
Scott Kay - Guitars
Ash Doodkorte - Drums

Cover artwork:Ashley Doodkorte

Follow Voyager:
http://www.facebook.com/voyageraustralia
https://www.instagram.com/voyagerau
https://www.tiktok.com/voyagerau
http://www.voyagerau.com
https://twitter.com/Voyagerau
https://voyager.bandcamp.com/

Shop: 
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/VoyagerFiL
Stream/Download: https://orcd.co/fearlessinlove

JASON ALDEAN ANNOUNCES 11th STUDIO ALBUM, HIGHWAY DESPERADO, OUT NOVEMBER 3rd

With 27 number one singles, 17 billion streams and 20 million albums sold, reigning ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean today announced his highly-anticipated 11th studio album, HIGHWAY DESPERADO, will be released November 3rd. The album is available for pre-save/pre-add now, including exclusive pre-order packages here.

Aldean shared the inspiration for the album’s title came from his latest sold-out headlining arena tour, as well as his early days as an artist. “I think when I look back on it, I built my career early on my live show, and have been on the road touring since I was 18 years old. For us, touring is our favorite part. Getting on the bus and going town to town and playing our shows and doing our thing and seeing the fans… the title for the tour and album was really inspired from that,” shared Aldean, adding that it also served as inspiration for the album’s title track, which he co-wrote.

HIGHWAY DESPERADO features fourteen total tracks, including Aldean’s breakthrough Hot 100 chart-topping single and current Top 10 Country radio hit, “Try That In A Small Town,” which has more than 120M Global streams to date. The album also features the newly released track “Let Your Boys Be Country,” as well as three tracks co-written by Aldean. The 3X ACM Entertainer of the Year winner first introduced new music from the album in May with the release of the fan-appreciation anthem, 
“Tough Crowd,” at this year’s ACM Awards, where Aldean was an Entertainer of the Year nominee. Released today as another preview of new music to come, “Let Your Boys Be Country” was written by Jaron Boyer, Allison Veltz Cruz, and Micah Wilshire and is available here

The album marks the first new music since Aldean’s 10th studio project, the double album 
MACON, GEORGIA, which earned praise from Rolling Stone, Stereogum, The Tennessean, Entertainment Tonight, E! News and more.  The album earned Aldean his 27th career-charting #1 single, "Trouble With A Heartbreak,” as well as a Billboard Music Award nomination for “Top Country Song” and awards from ACM, CMT, iHeart, and a GRAMMY nomination for “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood. Since making his chart debut in 2005, the Georgia native has earned the most Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart - more than any other artist - his “songs of small-town living, love and loss have resonated with a loyal fanbase” (Billboard) and have “vaulted him to the pinnacle of Country music success” (Atlanta Journal Constitution). His current tour of the same name continues this evening in Jacksonville, Florida before heading to Orange Beach, AL. For more information on Jason Aldean including additional tour dates and new music, visit www.JasonAldean.com.

Photo Credit: Brian Higbee

REMAINING HIGHWAY DESPERADO 2023 TOUR DATES
Fri Aug 25 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
Sat Aug 26 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
Thu Sep 07 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
Fri Sep 08 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Sat Sep 09 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Thu Sep 14 – Rogers, AR  – Walmart AMP
Fri Sep 15 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Sat Sep 16 –Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Thu Sep 21 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 22 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
Sat Sep 23 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
Thu Sep 28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Fri Sep 29 – San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater
Sat Sep 30 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
Thu Oct 05 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
Fri Oct 06 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
Sat Oct 07 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
Thu Oct 12 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center
Fri Oct 13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
Sat Oct 14 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
Thu Oct 19 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
Fri Oct 20 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
Sat Oct 21 – Toledo, OH – Huntington Center
Fri Oct 27 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Sat Oct 28 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

KEEP UP WITH JASON ADLEAN
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

KALLIAS Premieres New Song + Video, ft. JEFF LOOMIS,

Progressive death metal rising stars Kallias have partnered with Metal Injection for the premiere of their brand new single, "Irrational Fear," which features guitarist Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, ex-Nevermore!) The song and accompanying music video can be found below.

The band will be digitally releasing its brand new album 'First Ascent' tomorrow, August 25, 2023, via AISA Distribution! In celebration of the new release, Kallias will be also be kicking off a run of West Coast tour in support of Cyborg Octopus! The trek starts tomorrow in Fullerton, CA and will conclude on August 30 in Fresno, CA. The full itinerary can be found below!

Kallias guitarist and vocalist Nicole Papastavrou comments, "'Irrational Fear’ showcases the iconic Jeff Loomis, who has been a big influence to us since the beginning. The song kicks off our new album ‘First Ascent’ which releases Aug 25. Our approach with 'Irrational Fear' was to incorporate a more melodic feel compiled over heavier layers and more traditional song structure. We hope you all enjoy this opener to the new record!"

'First Ascent' can be pre-saved on all streaming services HERE.

Kallias U.S. Tour Dates:

08/25: Fullerton, CA @ Programme

08/26: San Diego, CA @ Til Two Club

08/27: Cupertino, CA @ XBar

08/29: Las Vegas, NV @ The Griffin

08/30: Fresno, CA @ Destructive Warehouse

Kallias is comprised of players who are masters of their craft. Nicole Papastavrou's solid history of songwriting and tight rhythms paired with Colin Cook's jazzy and technical leads are the perfect compliment. JP Andrade's undeniably precise percussion serves the music on every level, from jazz-influenced melodic sections to satisfyingly odd rhythms for the eager prog-loving ear. Beautifully woven bass lines by Chris Marrone provide an indomitable structure and embrace for each instrument — never overpowering, yet always highlighting.

For modern day prog and metal fans, Kallias can be compared to bands such as Opeth, Meshuggah, and Decapitated. The quartet holds a musical chemistry that is few and far between and that will keep you in the foreground from the beginning with bone-chilling introductions. This is by no means background music. Kallias creates their own genre for a panoramic audio experience that demands the listener's undivided attention to focus and feel.

Kallias Lineup:

Nicole Papastavrou - Guitars + Vocals

Chris Marrone - Bass + Vocals

Colin Cook - Guitars

John Paul “JP” Andrade - Drums

'First Ascent' Recording Lineup:

Nicole Papastavrou: Guitar, Vocals

Chris Marrone: Bass, Vocals

John Paul “JP” Andrade: Drums

Zaki Ali: Guitar

Special Guests:

Jeff Loomis (Nevermore, Arch Enemy) on "Irrational Fear"

Rafael Trujillo (ex-Obscura, Obsidious) on "21 Grams"

Greg Burgess (Allegaeon, Nuclear Power Trio) on "Nine in Time"

Colin Cook (Stanley Clarke Band) on "Matter Eater"

Album credits:

Written by Kallias; Nicole Papastavrou, Chris Marrone, John Paul Andrade, Zaki Ali

Produced by Zaki Ali

Recorded at Redshift Recording and Cinderella Man Studios by Zaki Ali

Mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren

Cover Art:

3D Art by Francesco Artusato (Light The Torch, ex- All Shall Perish)

Follow Kallias:

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Official Website

Bandcamp

Twitch

TikTok

Spotify

Apple Music

Pre-Save

Silent Planet Announce "SUPERBLOOM" Album + Share "Collider" Video

California metal band SILENT PLANET have announced their new album SUPERBLOOM. It arrives November 3 via Solid State Records. Pre-order it here.

The release date is significant for the band, as it arrives on the anniversary of their horrific van accident.

Today, the band has shared the music video for "
Collider." Watch it below.

"Take all the darkness. All the vitriol, the greed and the vanity; lay it again as dust. Everything can be alchemized. This song is called 'Collider,'" says singer Garrett Russell. "It's about what comes out of our lives when the people we trust and hold closest are the ones who can hurt or betray us the worst. We don't have to run from the pain or be afraid. The dark gives us the energy to make something beautiful. The song is about alchemizing the darkness and transforming its negative properties."


When the band dropped "Antimatter," Revolver enthused, "Silent Planet's new single begins with throbbing electronic pulsations and robotic clean croons, making you think that you're in for a clubby pop song. Nope. The djent instrumentation comes crashing through, and eventually the whole song builds up to a screamed chant that blends poledance-worthy synths with rigid, toe-stubbing breakdowns. Fuck yes."

"A SUPERBLOOM is this strange moment where brilliant fauna spring forth unexpectedly and bring forth such an array of colors, it almost feels alien in origin," Garrett notes. "It only lasts for a couple of weeks before it’s gone. While we were recording, the SUPERBLOOM was happening. For me, the record is getting in touch with the other side and watching the strange and paranormal emerge from the mundane and profane, hence the title."

Silent Planet has consistently transfixed a diehard fanbase. The group dropped a string of acclaimed albums, including The Night God Slept [2014], Everything Was Sound [2016], When The End Began [2018], and Iridescent [2021]. Album standout "Trilogy" generated 5.3 million Spotify streams to sit alongside their genre-bending triumph "Panic Room" from the 2016 release, currently at 5 million. The guys notably took home "Best Underground Band" at the 2017 Alternative Press Music Awards and toured with the likes of Motionless In White, August Burns Red, Beartooth, and The Contortionist.

Over the course of two years, they recorded what would become SUPERBLOOMin Woodland Hills, CA alongside longtime producer and frequent collaborator Daniel Braunstein. A jarring turn of events split the process into two seasons. Trekking through a Wyoming snowstorm in November 2022, Silent Planet survived a vehicle accident. The van flipped over, leaving the group laying in the wreckage of a bitter Wyoming snowstorm as Garrett was hospitalized with a fractured back and head wound requiring stitches.

"The majority of us were awake when we felt the van start to slide," he says. "We had some time to come to grips with the fact we were about to go down and have a close brush with death. Afterwards, we talked about what to do with the band. We went back into the record with an increased willingness to take risks. It bolstered our confidence to try new things. When the accident happened, it did something to my head, and it fed into the album."

Along the way, they settled on a conceptual framework, expanding the scope of their vision like never before. "I grew up in Northern California," he continues. "There's a strip of the state known as Humboldt County, but it's called the 'Lost Cove.' It's a hotbed for strange and paranormal events like UFO and Big Foot sightings. There's so much we haven't uncovered. It's possible our reality as we know it is not complete. We started telling the tale of a 17-year-old who went missing. It's based on a true story with many details changed. Art dictates reality, and reality dictates art. Making this record was a very strange and mystical process. It's the most magical and inspired moment of our career so far."

Silent Planet will return to the road this September, supporting Dayseeker. All dates are below, including Silent Planet headline shows.

SILENT PLANET ON TOUR:
WITH DAYSEEKER + MOXY THE BAND:

8/31 — Springfield, MO — The Riff ^
9/1 — Lubbock, TX  —  Jakes
9/2 — Oklahoma City, OK — 89th St Collective ^
9/3 — Memphis, TN  —  Black Lodge
9/5 — Indianapolis, IN  —  Deluxe @ Old National Centre
9/6 — Flint, MI  —  Machine Shop
9/8 — New Haven, CT  —  Toads Place
9/9 — Asbury Park, NJ  —  Asbury Lanes
9/12 — Lakewood, OH  —  The Roxy  —  Mahall’s
9/13 — Davenport, IA  —  Capitol Theatre
9/14 - Omaha, NE at Waiting Room ^
9/15 — Colorado Springs, CO  —  Black Sheep
9/17 — Billings, MT  —  Pub Station
9/19 — Spokane, WA  —  Knitting Factory
9/20 — Tacoma, WA  —  ALMA
9/22 — Bend, OR  —  Volcanic Theatre Pub
9/23 — Reno, NV  —  Ranch House
9/24 — Los Angeles, CA  —  Fonda Theatre 
9/26 — Phoenix, AZ — Underground ^
9/27 — El Paso, TX — Lowbrow ^
9/28 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It Live ^
9/29 — Dallas, TX— Gilly’s ^
^Silent Planet Headline shows

SILENT PLANET ARE:
Garrett Russell — Vocals 
Nick Pocock — Bass
Mitchell Stark — Guitar
Alex Camarena — Drums

Polaris Share "Overflow" Video

POLARIS SHARE NEW VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE "OVERFLOW"

NEW ALBUM FATALISM OUT SEPTEMBER 1 VIA SHARPTONE RECORDS

Ahead of the release of their impending new album Fatalism, due out on September 1 via Resist Records in Australia and SharpTone Records for the rest of the world, Sydney melodic metalcore outfit Polaris have today unveiled the video for the captivating new single "
Overflow."

Watch the music video for 
below.

(WARNING: Viewers are advised that the following video contains images of Ryan Siew.)

Boasting translucent melodics, smuldering guitars, and emphatic vocals, "Overflow" is an immersive and layered outing that detonates heavier moments alongside more serene terrain, expanding the band's creative palette with alternative rock contours and deeply raw thematics.

"This is one of the much more personal and vulnerable tracks on the record lyrically, whereas the other two singles took a wider, more outward perspective," shares drummer and lyricist Daniel Furnari. "I feel like the meaning of the song is fairly self-explanatory, and I think a lot of people will naturally interpret it through the lens of their own experiences. But essentially, for me, it's about the struggle of fighting off a panic attack and the impact of that struggle on others."

As with Fatalism's previous singles, "Inhumane" and "Nightmare," "Overflow" emerged during the band's 2022 writing session in the Blue Mountains, with the alt rock leanings beating at the core of the latest track organically emerging from some of Polaris' own personal listening repertoire.

"'Overflow' was another track that came about from one of our writing retreats, so I guess that system was really paying off at this point," Furnari shares. "We were pretty deep into the process at this point, I think this was actually the final track to make it onto the record. Jake had been pumping out simple chord sequences in an effort to break away from the busier, riffier stuff we'd been writing, and Ryan came in with this super catchy sliding lead over the top, which became the basis for the chorus and the central motif of the song. Stylistically, where Inhumane explored a sort of nu-metal direction and Nightmare was a straight up metalcore track in the truest sense, I’d say 'Overflow' is much more of an alt-rock track."

Touching on the evolution of "Overflow," Furnari reveals, "I think my favorite part of this song is the direction the second verse takes, particularly when it picks up the energy for a moment. Rick wrote this verse development that really leaned into the sound of bands like Basement and Balance & Composure, which we both love, so it's always satisfying when we find a way to somehow incorporate that alongside the heavier stuff that we more regularly do. Finding a way to get a big heavy section into this song without it feeling out of place was also a challenge and I love that we managed to shape this combination of sliding powerchord accents, crazy programming and bass and drum moments into a type of breakdown we hadn't accomplished before."

Fear: humanity's great divider, but also its most potent unifier. It's this very notion that lies at the beating core of Polaris' third album Fatalism; a record shaped by the sense of despair and dystopia that engulfed the world over the past few years, and the overwhelming accompanying sensation that we were powerless to change course.

Polaris have already firmly established their place as a fixture in the Australian heavy landscape via their first two albums, the ARIA-nominated The Death Of Me and 2017's The Mortal Coil, which debuted in the Australian Top 10. They have been awarded a laundry list of accolades, album of the year mentions in end of year lists, sold-out countless headline tours of Australia, and have toured across the globe. Not to mention performing at Download Festival, Unify Gathering in Australia, headlining Knight & Day Festival, and most recently performing the 2022 Good Things Festival headlined by Bring Me The Horizon.

PRE-ORDER FATALISM 
HERE.

Of Mice & Men Announce Share "Castaway" Video

Gold-selling hard rockers Of Mice & Men — Aaron Pauley (bass + vocals ), Valentino Arteaga (drums), Alan Ashby (guitar), and Phil Manansala(guitar) — previously announced their new album Tether on October 6 via SharpTone. Pre-order it here.

Today, they have shared the "
Castaway" video. Watch it below.

"'Castaway' is about longing for connection with the people in our lives who tend to distance themselves when dealing with hardships, and how our inability to help them often feels like we're frozen in time," the band says.

Taking all creative matters into their own hands, the Southern California quartet self-produced and engineered all of the songs on Tether, their astonishing eighth album. Pauley mixed and mastered the album while Arteaga designed and painted the album's artwork. As a legion of devoted listeners worldwide has come to expect, guitarists Phil Manansala and Alan Ashby, Aaron, and Tino poured their hearts and souls into every note, creating another sonic document of their lives. 
 
“With this one, we weren’t really focused on how it sounded as much as we focused on how it felt," Pauley explains. "And that's a weird thing to do when all you're working with is sound. But that was really the goal. And we walked away from making it, feeling like we've accomplished that."
 
OM&M take sobering looks at depression, anxiety, loneliness, and existential dread, powering through the darkness, and emphasizing the importance of creativity as a balm for mental health. A commanding tempest of sounds coalesces within Of Mice & Men, blending the uplifting eloquence of modern active rock with the atmospheric dissonance of experimental post-rock. The band first emerged as part of a vanguard of future aggressive rock hitmakers. Over the years, they've distinguished themselves with musicality, creative ambition, and resilient determination. 

Album eight is no less ambitious. Tether is anchored by a reflective meditation on what it means to draw together as friends, family men, artists, and bandmates. What does it mean to be there for the people who depend on us, knowing we can’t fully protect them from the hardships of life? 
 
Tether is the next step in OM&M's evolution, combining their core sound with experimental and ethereal sound designs. The creative process focused on the excitement of discovery rather than preconceived "goals." Pursuing the moments when the elusive "x factor" reveals itself in the songs. Those moments are palpable in songs like "Integration," "Warpaint," "Enraptured," and "Indigo."
  
The Of Mice & Men core since 2016 – Aaron, Alan, Tino, and Phil – maintain a powerful bond with their audience and each other, no matter the obstacles. Whether a powerful anthem or atmospheric confession, their songs translate in intimate clubs and massive festivals. "It's about creating moments for people," Pauley says. "Music is the soundtrack to people's lives."

OM&M will also hit the road with Bullet For My Valentine and Vended this fall. All dates are below.

OF MICE & MEN ON TOUR:
WITH OF BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE + VENDED:

9/8 — Alton, VA — Blue Ridge Rock Festival*
10/8 — Montreal, QC — Mtelus
10/10 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium 
10/12 — New York, NY — Terminal 5
10/13 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
10/15 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall
10/17 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
10/18 — Cleveland, OH — The Agora
10/19 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J. Brady Music Center
10/21 — Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater
10/22 — Chicago, IL — Riviera Theatre
10/24 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore Minneapolis
10/26 — Denver, CO — Mission Ballrom
10/28 — Flagstaff, AZ — Pepsi Amphitheater
10/29 — San Diego, CA — SOMA Mainstage
10/31 — Los Angles, CA — The Wiltern
11/1 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
11/2 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel Entertainment Center
11/4 — San Antonio, TX — Boeing Center At Tech Port
11/5 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues Dallas
11/7 — Houston, TX — House of Blues Houston
11/8 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore New Orleans
11/10 — Orlando, FL — Hard Rock Live Orlando
*Festival Date

3TEETH Releases New Single “Higher Than Death” & Animated Lyric Video

There’s just a month to go until 3TEETH releases its first full-length album in four years, EndEx on September 22 via Century Media Records. Continuing with the series of monthly singles ahead of the release, the modern industrial act today shares the rollicking track, “Higher Than Death.” It’s paired with an animated lyric video that allows listeners to come even closer with the lyrical venom of band frontman and mastermind Alexis Mincolla. 

 

See the video for “Higher Than Death” below.

 

Says Mincolla of the track, “The only clear view is from atop the mountain of your dead selves.”

 

3TEETH’s new album EndEx will be released by Century Media Records on September 22, showcasing the modern industrial act at their most raucous yet, unveiling bold revelations of humanity’s technosocial disintegration behind a brutal soundtrack that sounds all the alarms. Revolver recently hailed EndEx one of the top 20 most anticipated albums of 2023, saying it “promises to be the band's weirdest, most expansive offering yet.”

 

EndEx is the band’s first album since 2019’s Metawar, which Consequence recently named as one of the Top 50 Industrial Albums of All Time, hailing 3TEETH as “one of the modern bands keeping industrial alive.”

 

EndEx features the handiwork of a solid extended team including the accomplished sound designer Mick Gordon (best known for his work on the gaming phenomenon DOOM) who produced several of the tracks along with producer Nick Rowe and mixer Sean Beavan (NIN), bringing in another dimension to the band’s unmistakable sound.

 

Early singles have included noisemaker “Paralyze” (featuring Ho99o9); the gripping sonic salvo, “Merchant of the Void,” that touches on the bleak landscape of modern society amid A.I. takeovers and economic collapse; “Slum Planet,” taking aim at the ills of a sick planet obsessed with over-consumption at all costs; Scorpion,” a track in which the band’s instrumental arsenal is tempered by alluring female vocal chants that provide an ambient feel; and the stripped-back single “Drift,” paired with a video showing the band at work in the studio.

 

Early tracks have been hailed as some the “best new songs” by Metal Hammer and Revolver. While Metal Hammer says the new 3TEETH material “traces lineage in both Al Jourgensen and Trent Reznor,” Revolver hails the new music as “utterly gigantic and over-the-top in the best way possible” and applauds the return of 3TEETH in 2023 at a time “when we needed their apocalyptic, incendiary industrial-metal most.”

 

Ahead of the release of EndEx in late September, 3TEETH will release two more singles. Other highlights on the album include a cover of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” continuing 3TEETH’s penchant for aggressive reworks of pop songs, previously seen on Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks,” Sweet’s “Ballroom Blitz” and Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record).”

 

EndEx will be available in CD, Gatefold LP, and digital album formats. Special formats include: 

  • Red LP (available at all EU outlets)

  • Red Smoke LP (available at all US outlets)

  • Ultra-Clear / Red Splatter LP (available from 3TEETH)

  • Black-White Marbled LP (available from Revolver)

 

Pre-order EndEx here: https://3teeth.lnk.to/EndEx

ABOUT 3TEETH

3TEETH first manifested their cybersocial intentions as early as 2013: a musical entity born out of Mincolla’s Downtown L.A. weekly gatherings known as “Lil’ Death” With Xavier Swafford (keys, synth), Chase Brawner (guitars) and Andrew Means (bass, synth) joining Mincolla. 3TEETH released their first self-titled album the following year. Alliances with the likes of TOOL and Rammstein resulted in the collective’s first live performances and a rise to further notoriety with the release of 2017’s album shutdown.exe. which took 3TEETH to global stages. Working alongside producer and mixer Sean Beavan (NIN) at new label home, Century Media, 3TEETH upped their own sonic arms race with Metawar (2019) and entered a new echelon of cultural consciousness with a collection of tracks including the biting “President X” and their haunting take on Foster the People’s “Pumped Up Kicks.”

 

"The modern carriers of the industrial rock torch" — Revolver

 

"State-of-the-art sensory overload with take-no-prisoners level of aggression" — Rolling Stone

 

“3TEETH bring the aggression with aplomb” — Loudwire

 

“3TEETH are one of the modern bands keeping industrial alive”

— Consequence

 

3TEETH is:

Alexis Mincolla – vocals

Chase Brawner – guitars

Xavier Swafford – keyboards and synthesizer

Andrew Means – bass

Nick Rossi – drums

 

Find 3TEETH Online

Website: https://3teeth.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3Teeth

Twitter: https://twitter.com/threeteeth

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3teeth/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdUZ81wDL5GF_v0XUOyJRSg

MAYHEM Unveils Official Live Version of "Chainsaw Gutsfuck"

True Norwegian black metal pioneer MAYHEM will be releasing a monumental live album, 'Daemonic Rites,' on September 15, 2023 via Century Media Records! The record is a comprehensive look at the legendary band's chaotic and intense performances from various cities around the world over the last two years. The album promises to be a thrilling sonic journey for fans and a testament to Mayhem's unparalleled live prowess.

Now, Mayhem is debuting the live version of "Chainsaw Gutsfuck" along with a visualizer, which can be found below.

“We wanted to document how great the band and set sounds like after almost 40 years of playing live," Necrobutcher previously explained. "As a treat to our fans, we decided to release this live recording.

“I knew from day one back in 1984 that this band was going to be outstanding—one of the best bands ever! I guess that’s a big reason why we still are here after 39 years—and counting.”

'Daemonic Rites' marks the culmination of the 'Daemon' era, which commenced in 2019 with the release of their critically acclaimed studio album, 'Daemon.' The journey continued with the savage EP 'Atavistic Black Disorder' in 2021, leaving audiences hungry for more. This latest live conglomeration serves as the ultimate chapter-closer for this landmark.

Fans can pre-order and pre-save 'Daemonic Rites' HERE.

For fans who are hungry for the real thing, fret not! Mayhem will be hitting the road later this year with Cannibal Corpse, Gorguts, and Blood Incantation. The extensive trek will kick off on September 22 in Nashville, TN and will draw the final curtain a month later on October 21 in Louisville, KY. Tickets can be found HERE. The full itinerary is as follows:

Mayhem Live North American Dates

(w/ Cannibal Corpse, Gorguts, Blood Incantation):

09/22: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Hall

09/23: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

09/24: Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine

09/26: Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

09/27: Toronto, ON @ Rebel

09/28: Montreal, QC @ L’Olympia

09/29: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

09/30: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

10/02: Detroit, MI @ The Royal Oak

10/03: Gary, IN @ Hard Rock Live

10/04: Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore

10/06: Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom

10/07: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot

10/09: Tacoma, WA @ Temple Theatre

10/10: Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory

10/11: Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory

10/13: San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

10/14: San Diego, CA @ SOMA

10/17: San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theatre

10/18: Dallas, TX @ The Factory

10/20: Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern

10/21: Louisville, KY @ Paristown Hall

BUY TICKETS HERE

'Daemonic Rites' will be available in the following formats:

- Ltd. CD Digipak

- Gatefold Black 2LP

- Ltd. Transp. Magenta 2LP (Limited to 1.000 units)

- Ltd. Gatefold Transp. Red 2LP (Limited to 500 units)

- Ltd. Gatefold Silver 2LP (Limited to 500 units)

- Ltd. Deluxe Box Set (incl. Gatefold Golden 2LP, CD, Poster, Setlist, Tour Laminate w. Lanyard

& Signed Guitar Pick Set - Limited to 1.000 units)

With a reputation built on their unyielding commitment to the darkness, Mayhem has

become a revered name in the world of extreme metal. As a band that defies expectations

and pushes the boundaries of the genre, their live performances are known for leaving

audiences breathless and in awe.

Mayhem is thrilled to share this live opus with their dedicated fans, who have stood by

them throughout their tumultuous and illustrious career. 'Daemonic Rites' is not only a

celebration of the past but also a declaration of the band's continued relevance and power

in the present-day metal landscape.

Lineup:

Necrobutcher – Bass

Hellhammer – Drums

Attila – Vocals

Teloch – Guitar

Ghul – Guitar

Follow Mayhem:

Official Website

YouTube

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

THE VOYNICH CODE Announce New Album 'Insomnia'; Drop New Single "Slaves To The Machine"

Portuguese deathcore juggernaut, THE VOYNICH CODE has announced their new album ‘Insomnia’, today. The album is set for release on October 13th and will be the band's first release via their recently announced new label home, Unique Leader Records. The quartet has also unleashed brutal new single and music video “Slaves To The Machine”, giving fans the first taste of what's to come from the new release.

Pre-Save 'Insomnia' HERE.

Stream “Slaves To The Machine” HERE and watch the music video below.

Blending death metal, deathcore, and progressive metal, THE VOYNICH CODE brings technical guitar riffs, precise drums, atmospheric keyboards, and guttural vocals together into an unpredictable and enthralling sound. Since emerging in 2014 with debut single “Antithesis”, the band has built a dedicated fanbase and earned critical praise, including comparisons to genre leaders like Thy Art Is Murder.

Their crushing 2017 debut LP “Aqua Vitae” provided opportunity for extensive European tours, festival appearances, and a headlining tour of Japan and Asia. Now signed to Unique Leader Records, THE VOYNICH CODE is poised for their biggest milestone yet with “Insomnia”.

The 10-track album sees the band push their signature sound even further into dynamic new territory. Fans can preorder now at HERE for its October 13th release. Stay tuned for more from the fast-rising Portuguese metal innovators coming soon.

ABOUT THE VOYNICH CODE

Coming straight from the warm city of Lisbon, Portugal, THE VOYNICH CODE is a four-piece deathcore band that masterfully blends elements of Death Metal, Deathcore, and Progressive Metal to deliver an enthralling and unpredictable sound.THE VOYNICH CODE is characterized by its blend of technical proficiency and emotional depth with heavy guitar riffs, groovy drums and mysterious keyboards that are sure to captivate the fans of heavy music.

The band's debut 2014 single, "Antithesis," quickly garnered them a loyal following of fans and critical acclaim from the press. Their momentum continued to build with their first international performance at the prestigious UK Tech Fest in 2015.

The band's first full-length album, "Aqua Vitae," dropped in 2017, receiving high praise from notable publications such as Metal Hammer and Metal Sucks. The debut album provided the opportunity to tour Europe extensively, including supporting The Faceless on their album release tour, performing at major festivals like Resurrection Fest 2018 and UK Tech Fest 2018, and headlining a tour in Japan, Asia.

In 2021, the band unleashed their highly anticipated second EP, "Post Mortem," which showcased the truest and rawest representation of their sound yet. The record takes the listener on a journey through a more mature death metal style, pushing the boundaries with melodic guitar solos, fast drum patterns, and straight-to-your-face vocals.

The band signed to Unique Leader Records in the summer of 2023, marking one of the biggest moves in their career, and will be releasing their highly anticipated new album, 'Insomnia' on October 13th, 2023. With this new partnership, THE VOYNICH CODE is poised to reach even greater heights and solidify their position as one of the most exciting and innovative bands in the genre.

GO AHEAD AND DIE RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR FIRST SINGLE 'TUMORS' + NEW ALBUM UNHEALTHY MECHANISMS OUT OCTOBER 20TH!

Arizona death-crusters GO AHEAD AND DIE will deliver their caustic sophomore album Unhealthy Mechanisms on October 20th via Nuclear Blast Records. A torrential whirlwind born from the livid minds of Igor Amadeus Cavalera (HEALING MAGIC) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY). This new installment to the band's dystopian catalog is a fresh dive into the madness of society and the pollution that ravages our minds.

The first taste of the album comes in the form of the single 'Tumors'. The headbang-inducing track is a call out to the backstabbers who are toxic and are the "tumors" of life that if left to spread can become cancer. Check out the animated video created by Romanian artist 
Costin Chioreanu

Max Cavalera comments, "The new G.A.A.D. is on its way! More brutal, feral, extreme, and intense than ever before! The album goes in a deep dive into the mental health subject and it’s produced by Igor A! It’s by far the most anarchist record I’ve ever been a part of in my entire career!"

Igor Amadeus Cavalera states, "I’m so excited to release this monster of a record! This album will take you through the darkened madness of declining mental health. It is definitely the heaviest record I’ve ever created, and I can’t wait to unleash it on the masses! G.A.A.D.!"

Stream the new single 'Tumors' here: 
https://goaheadanddie.bfan.link/tumors.ema

Watch the music video for 'Tumors', below.

Pre-order/pre-save Unhealthy Mechanisms here: 
https://goaheadanddie.bfan.link/gaaduhmech.ema

Unhealthy Mechanisms was produced by Igor Amadeus Cavalera while John Aquilino handled the recording in his Platinum Underground Studio steeped in the mystic ambiance of the Superstition Mountains’ foothills. The mixing and mastering were once again handled by Arthur Rizk (CAVALERA, SOULFLY, TURNSTILE ). For the artwork, the band enlisted Santiago Jaramillo of Triple Seis Design to create the unnerving design that fits with the album title. GO AHEAD AND DIE's newest record is a testament to declining mental health around the world, and a reminder that we are not alone in our pain. The mind is lost. The fuse is lit. Time to set everything ablaze.

Unhealthy Mechanisms will be available digitally and in the following formats:

  • CD Jewel

  • Red Cassette (Limited to 400)

  • Vinyl

    • Red W. Black Splatter

    • White W. Black Splatter

GO AHEAD AND DIEis:
Max Cavalera| Vocals, Guitar
Igor Amadeus Cavalera| Vocals, Guitar, Bass 
Johnny Valles| Drums

Photo Credit: Kevin Estrada

WORMHOLE Rage Against the Machine on New Single

WORMHOLE warp brutal riffs and screeching dissonance into a signature tech-slam combo. So it's no surprise that the Baltimore band are huge gamers. Their new album 'Almost Human' was inspired by stomping fools at Metroid and Doom as much as headbanging to Artificial Brain and Dysrhythmia.       

Today, Wormhole are premiering a heroic new single with Slam Worldwide. Watch the monstrous visualizer for "Spine Shatter High-Velocity Impact"
below.  

'Almost Human' comes out 22 September. Pre-save the album
HERE.  Pre-order it HERE.

"This song has our hero struggling as they make their last stand," says Wormhole. "They're desperately trying to rally, but despite their rage, they just keep falling apart. Is the impossible really going to happen? Is our hero, the one we love and cherish so much, really going to lose?"

"Spine Shatter High-Velocity Impact" might be the fastest and sludgiest song on 'Almost Human'. But it's definitely the most disgusting. Brothers Sanil and Sanjay Kumar scrape out stomach-churning riffs, while the rhythm section chews on the breakdown. Julian Kersey's death growl is so fierce and rotten, you can practically smell the stench wafting through your speakers.

When you invent your own genre, you can make the rules, and in space, no one can correct your math. If Wormhole’s excellent The Weakest Among Us was 50% tech death and 50% slamming brutal death metal, their Season of Mist debut is a veritable leveling up of the Baltimore-based act’s trademark “tech slam.” It’s the kind of record that can scramble your brain and give your neck a nice chiropractic workout; Almost Human feels like the future of extreme metal, dropped down from either outer space or delivered by Nintendo cartridge (more on that later).  

So, what the hell exactly is “tech slam?” Well, the gleefully amorphous and unholy term comes from an ethos that guitarists Sanil “Noni” Kumar and Sanjay Kumar discovered and perfected over (probably) thousands of hours of Metroid and Doom games, as well as, you know, actual musical mastery. Almost Human, out September 22, 2023, is more powerful, more agile, and more confounding for pie-chart-enthusiasts than anything else that came before it. The sequel is always bigger, darker, and in this case, covered in much more pixelated space horror viscera. My Wormholio calculator puts their sound at 91% tech and 89% slam, with an increase in awesome stats somewhere in the 420% range. There’s also a clear emphasis on amplifying their dissonant death influence, the kind of eerie melodies that feel like being stomped on by Samus.
 
There’s a clear balance to everything on Almost Human: the songs are more adventurous while also being instantly memorable. No two songs sound alike, and that diversity in songcraft (level design?) sees Wormhole pushing and pulling along their tech and slam dials to figure out what’s best for the song; spoiler, it’s always riffs. What also becomes evident after repeated listens is how carefully the Kumar brothers understand a sense of place, humor, and a consistent vibe. This is still the same band that’s known for throwing on Saturday morning cartoons, and Almost Human continues to hammer home that Wormhole the musical entity is deadly serious, but the guys that make tech slam are not stoic creatures. There’s a warmth and sense of joy when chatting with them that only gets brighter when you ask their favorite Metroid game (that’s a question for a live show). So, what is this vibe they are chasing? Sanjay shares:
 
“The tech slam imagery is based on Metroid lore, Doom lore, and we haven't written a song about it yet, but Alien as well. Those three things are brutal sci-fi universes, so we're trying to embody that sound. The slam riffs, you can connect the brutal killing of stuff with the brutal chunky riffs; that's been a match that's existed since the nineties. So that's the slam part, and then the tech part was harder to fit that vibe, so we kind of do it differently. I lean into very dissonance-vibe stuff, like Artificial Brain and Dysrhythmia. I think disso-death and heavy, they aren't usually paired together, even though they should be.” 

“And then as far as chasing the vibe,” Noni adds, “I kind of go about it two ways. With the Metroid soundtrack or universe, that vibe, there's some dark and gloomy atmosphere, but there's a lot of pretty imagery as well. We wanted to find a way to match that very pretty, kind of out-there sound cohesively in songs with a very aggressive and guttural approach.”
 
Like another famous sci-fi horror masterpiece of a different media, Wormhole’s shifting, amorphous style is perfectly suited to blend in and amaze just about any fan of heavy music. That’s The Thing: they can pull off whatever they want, but it’s always boiled down to that tech slam vibe. Do you like tech, melody, breakdowns, atmosphere, or dissonance? Tech slam can fill whatever void you seek.
 
If previous albums were early generation, lower-resolution visions of tech slam, Almost Human is the 4K reboot, where you can see every pixel of terror and awe. Wormhole are absolutely ready for their closeup. Prepare your worms and your holes, tech slam is here to stay. 

Line-up
Julian Kersey: vocals
Sanil Kumar: guitar
Sanjay Kumar: guitar
Bass: Basil Chiasson
Drums: Matt Tillett

Recording studio: Guitars and vocals were recorded at Wormhole HQ. Drums were recorded at AJ Viana Productions.

Producer & engineering: 'Almost Human' was produced and engineered by Wormhole and AJ Viana. Bass parts were produced and engineered by Alex Weber.

Mixing: AJ Viana at AJ Viana Productions

Mastering: Alan Douches

Artwork: Adam Burke at Nightjar Illustration

Photos: Eric DeCarlo

Biography: Nick Senior

Pre-orderhttps://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AlmostHuman
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/almosthumanpresave

Available formats
CD Digipack
Digital Download
Vinyl (Black)
Vinyl (Grey)
Vinyl (Orange)
Vinyl (Green)
 
Links
https://wormholemetal.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wormholemetal/
https://www.instagram.com/wormholetechslam/?hl=en
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2foAanYCza7knczRDB8DFt?si=hxz_IV21RzuSeLcibU2tkQ&nd=1

Within Temptation Announce New Album "Bleed Out" + Share Title Track — LISTEN

Bleed Out signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting, and djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, Within Temptation have created a sonic journey that fuses diverse musical styles and thought-provoking themes. This is an album that is as epic as it is unflinchingly outspoken, and now more than ever, this is a band who isn't afraid to make a stand on issues the members care about.

Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Within Temptation have shifted their focus from writing about personal emotions and societal subjects to tackling global injustices and reflecting the tumultuous state of the world in a way that other artists seem unable or unwilling to do.

Vocalist Sharon den Adel states, "The war in Ukraine has influenced us a lot. As artists we are inspired by the world, and we have this platform. We are storytellers, and I think as human beings, these are things we should be talking about."

Whilst songs such as "Wireless" and "We Go To War" examine the authoritarian aggression on display in Ukraine and other warzones, the title track itself addresses the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran after the murder of Mahsa Amini. 

den Adel explains, "I lived in Yemen when I was a kid. My parents lived in several countries in the Middle East, and I've visited them a lot when they were there. It's a different world. Due to my time there, I feel connected to that part of the world. I've been so incredibly impressed by the bravery of the young women there who've been burning their scarves knowing they were going to be thrown in prison or worse — it's heartbreaking." 

The album also grapples with the complex issues around a woman's right to choose in recent single "Don't Pray For Me" and throughout, this impassioned and political focus is reflected in the intensity and heaviness of the music. Embracing a new era of musical exploration and lyrical depth, Within Temptation have pushed boundaries and showcased their artistic evolution, delivering a fist-in-the-air proclamation of both their moral convictions and their fearless approach to music. 

Imbued with a vast dynamic range that plumbs the full depth of symphonic heaviosity, Bleed Out is as exuberantly heavy as it is politically profound.

For further details and to pre-order the album here

Bleed Out will be released in multiple physical formats and across all streaming via Within Temptation's own label Force Music Recordings in a joint venture with Bertus Distribution for worldwide distribution and Amped Distribution for the U.S. and Canada.