Autarkh Reach Inner Peace on New Single

Autarkh are known for hard-wiring extreme metal with glitchy electronica and IDM beats. But on the lead single from their new album, the Dutch band proved that they were human after all.

Where "Strife" found Autarkh locked in a battle with their inner demons, the new single off 'Emergent' reaches for inner peace.

""Refocus" is the fifth track on 'Emergent', says guitarist and lead vocalist Michel Nienhuis. "It revolves around the will to return to the serene state of mind that opens the album".

Watch the intense performance video for "Refocus" HERE, which was filmed, edited and animated by Spread Motion Design. 

'Emergent comes out November 10. Pre-order the album HERE. Pre-save it HERE.

"Refocus" is still heavy. The song opens with a hammering computerized beat and riffs that chug with all the industrialized heft of an oil drill. Death growls stew in the air like flies, as if warning of what's to come. It's chaotic and overwhelming, almost too much to even bare. But after headbanging their way through another avalanche of a chorus, Autarkh break free. "The splendor of wholeness reinstated", Nienhuis sings, backed by radiant harmonies.

"The clean vocals in Refocus were one of the hardest parts for me to record", says Nienhuis. "But I'm really happy with how they turned out".  

Dutch contemporary metal adventurers Autarkh are back with their sophomore full-length album Emergent. Michel Nienhuis, founder of Autarkh and Dodecahedrom, teamed up again with guitarist/producer David Luiten (Inferum), bassist Desmond Kuijk (Dear Mother) and electronics wizard Tijnn Verbruggen to create the follow-up to their highly acclaimed debut album 'Form In Motion', released by Season Of Mist on 12 March 2021. Monica Kendrick (Chicago Reader, US) on the relevance of the group’s debut: 

"And I’ll call it now: given the time to flourish and sink into the ears of an audience, Autarkh will become highly influential on the next generation of extreme metal." 

'Emergent' is another testament to Autarkh’s imagination and creativity. It delivers increased versatility and contrast, and sees the band expand towards more uplifting and consonant territories. Form In Motion explored the boundaries of sonic extremes; on 'Emergent', Autarkh broadens its horizon and shows diversity and nuance while preserving its intense and razor-sharp edge.

With nine tracks, 'Emergent' is a sonic exploration of the inner universe where all things light and dark can be encountered. The listener is lured into an "Open Focus" (a meditative state of mind) in preparation for an inward journey along the physical energy centers. From the thumping synth basses of "Strife" and the menacing sludgy melancholy of "Duhkha", we move into the bewildering blasts of "Trek", where stellar harmonies will eventually burst through the oppressive atmosphere. The trip continues with the crushing downtempo groove that enforces "Refocus", as well as the mind-bending a capella interlude "Aperture" and the frivolous "Eye Of Horus" and "Countless Kaleidoscopes", to finally deliver all-encompassing enlightenment with Ka. 

Composers Nienhuis’s and Luiten’s statements and states of mind capture the same capriciousness and unease of 'Form In Motion', this time leaving a more open, diverse and radiant imprint. With exciting vocal harmonies, bold contrasts and a vivid imagination, Autarkh sheds a bright light on the inner self and exposes it to the world with intensity and conviction. That makes Emergent an evocative release with a multilayered yet crystal-clear production that promises a bright future for Autarkh.

Line-up:
Michel Nienhuis: vocals & guitars
David Luiten: vocals & guitars
Desmond Kuijk: bass
Tijnn Verbruggen: synths & beats

Recording Studio: David Luiten Studio, Monodisc Studio, Moonbear Music & Engineering
Mix/Master: David Luiten

Cover artwork: Arno Frericks

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AutarkhEmergent
Pre-save:https://orcd.co/autarkhemergentpresave

Booking: info@autarkh.com

Formats:
CD Jewelcase
Digital
Vinyl in various colours

Links:
www.autarkh.com
www.facebook.com/autarkh
www.instagram.com/autarkhband
www.youtube.com/c/autarkh
www.autarkh.bandcamp.com

Being As An Ocean Return with Powerful New Album ‘Death Can Wait’; Drop Official Video For Title Track

Southern California melodic post-hardcore outfit, Being As An Ocean has announced their emotive new album ‘Death Can Wait’, due out February 2nd, 2024 via Out of Line Music. The band has also shared the official visualizer for the album's stirring title track, offering fans the first taste of their forthcoming release. Pre-order the album HERE. Listen to the the single HERE and watch the video below.

Elaborating on today's announcement, the band shares

“Death Can Wait is about living in the moment, without judgement or fear of circumstance. Taking each day as it comes and not banking to hard on the future, as none of us know how much time we truly have in this life. Memento Mori. It’s about being mindful of the gift that life is and not squandering it on frivolous or excessive excitements, distractions, diversions; being focused on our goals, aspirations, passions, and constructive obsessions. Living life as if this day is our last, while being prepared to greet Death, when it arrives, as a friend and natural part of this beautiful life.”

Since forming in 2011, Being As An Ocean has cemented themselves at the forefront of alternative music with their raw, earnest songwriting and boundary-pushing sound. Across six studio albums and countless tours, the band has built a devoted following and left an indelible mark through the comfort and strength offered in their inspirational lyrics and emotive musical landscapes. Eleven years after their famous debut album “Dear G-d...”, the Californian band now commences the next chapter of their musical journey with their new album “Death Can Wait”. With this new record, Being As An Ocean drops yet another extremely personal set of songs loaded with pure emotion and continues to push the boundaries of what it means to be a band in the modern music scene.

Photo Credit - Murry Deaves

Pre-orders for ‘Death Can Wait’ are available now in multiple formats and multiple bundle options including digipak CD, vinyl, and a deluxe wooden box set strictly limited to 666 copies worldwide. Head to baao.lnk.to/DeathCanWaitAlbum to check out all options and pre-order now.

ABOUT BEING AS AN OCEAN

Being as an Ocean is a post-hardcore/melodic hardcore band hailing from Southern California. Formed in 2011, the band has been on a journey of self-discovery and artistic evolution, constantly pushing the boundaries of their genre.

In 2012, Being As An Ocean released their debut album, "Dear G-d...," which garnered immediate attention and marked the beginning of their rise in the music scene. With their emotionally-charged sound, Being As An Ocean has left an indelible mark on the alternative music landscape. Their music has resonated with countless people, offering comfort and strength during life's most challenging moments. They have inspired a generation of musicians to be fearless in their exploration of emotion, lyricism, and sound.

Since then, the band has toured the world multiple times over and released career defining records such as “How We Both Wondrously Perish” in 2014, “Waiting For Morning To Come” in 2017, and "PROXY" in 2019. With their unique blend of honesty, vulnerability, and artistic innovation and the pending release of their new album "Death Can Wait" through label Out Of Line music, there's no doubt that Being As An Ocean will continue to make an impact one heartfelt song at a time.

Hollow Front Share "Breaking Teeth" — LISTEN

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based metalcore slingers HOLLOW FRONT recently announced their third album The Fear of Letting Go. It arrives October 27 via UNFD. Pre-order it here.

Today, they have shared the visualizer for the voracious new single "Breaking Teeth."

Watch and listen Below.

The song is as fierce and ferocious as its name suggests — it can knock your chompers right down your through with its intensity! It also features a synthy mid-section, which is an unexpected and thrilling sonic surprise.

"This song is just pissed," says vocalist Tyler Tate. "It's one of the heaviest songs on the record, if not the heaviest. When I wrote the lyrics, I was just so fed up with the world and my life in general. It felt like no matter what I did, I could never get ahead. Set back after set back, problems around every corner. It's annoying having to cope all the time. Living should be simpler. But the society we live in prevents that. We should all be pissed about it."

This Grand Rapids, MI duo — Tate and Lee Albrecht [guitar ] — emerged from a season of seemingly endless trials and tribulations. Instead of backing down, they transform the chaos around them into unpredictable and undeniable anthems. 

"The album is a journey out of feeling helpless in a situation I don't have control over," notes Tyler. "I've realized the only thing I have control over is the choice to move on and keep going. That's all I'm doing. I'm not ready to give up yet."

There's no reason to…

Hollow Front have consistently captivated audiences by tempering unfettered heaviness with undeniable melodies. The band emerged as a fan favorite with Loose Threads in 2020. After the album tallied 1 million streams during release-week, "Afflicted" eventually racked up over 7.2 million Spotify streams and counting. The 2022 follow-up, The Price of Dreaming, earned widespread critical acclaim. New Noise Magazine hailed it as "a blistering and bruising experience, evoking myriad emotions and conveying a heady and moving blend of euphoria and despair." Distorted Sound dubbed it "metalcore at its most earnest." Along the way, they shared stages with everyone from Fit For a King and We Came As Romans to Dayseeker and August Burns Red. 

At the same time, the guys weathered one storm after another. A van accident, subsequent financial strife, and lineup shifts left Hollow Front a two-piece by the end of 2022. So, the pair hunkered down and wrote, mixed, and mastered what would become The Fear of Letting Go in its entirety with Lee producing and recording out of his home studio. For the first time, Tyler also assumed both heavy and clean vocal duties.

Beartooth Collaborate With Country/Rock Superstar HARDY on New Track "The Better Me"

NEW ALBUM THE SURFACE OUT OCTOBER 13 VIA RED BULL RECORDS

Gold-selling, billion-streaming rock band BEARTOOTH — Caleb Shomo, vocals; Zach Huston, guitars; Will Deely, guitars; Oshie Bichar, bass; and Connor Denis, drums — will release their fifth album The Surface on October 13 via Red Bull Records. Pre-order it here.

Like its predecessors, The Surface is an intensely personal and powerful journey for Shomo, who has never shied away from sharing his demons in his music and with his fans. However, the frontman has turned a corner with a more optimistic outlook and demonstrates exceptional growth as both an artist and a human being through the songs that comprise the album.

Today, the band has shared the new single "The Better Me (Feat. HARDY)." Listen here.

This epic collaboration is the product of the mutual admiration for each other's work and their friendship. HARDY even spoke about looking to Shomo for advice on how to perfect his own sing/scream vocal delivery in a chat with Billboard.

"There are times where we feel like there is a way better version of ourselves somewhere deep inside that we need to find and bring back to the forefront of our lives," shares Shomo. "This song is about going through the things that brought me to that conclusion. Simply put, I made a choice to be a better me."

Additionally, all previously released tracks — "Riptide," "Sunshine!," "Might Love Myself," and "Doubt Me" have tallied nearly 54 million total streams thus far.

Both Beartooth and HARDY are currently in the Top 15 on Active Rock radio charts in the US and rising! In fact, Beartooth's "Might Love Myself" moved up two slots this week and is currently at #15 on the Active Rock radio chart, which is the fastest clip at which they've cracked the top 15 in their career.

ABOUT BEARTOOTH:
Caleb Shomo first turned the pain of his struggle with mental health and self-image into music in 2013. Beartooth began as a living document, a diary, a journal of repressed rage and depression. Alone in his basement studio, screaming and singing, playing all the instruments, and self-producing a batch of furious but melodic songs filled with reflection and confession, the Ohio native stared into the abyss, initially with no intention of returning to the heavy music world that burned him as a teen. A decade later, the different pieces of his body of work connect in title, sound, and spirit. As the frontman hits 30, Beartooth’s fifth album, he Surface, completes this era in 2023. Even more importantly, it kicks off a new chapter filled with surprising optimism and just as honest. Depression is a sick, disgusting, aggressive disease below the surface. Shomo stands ready to bask in the light.
 
Like Nine Inch Nails, Beartooth remains a one-person band in the studio. On the heels of the introductory Sick EP (2013), Disgusting (2014) produced the band's first Gold single, "In Between." Aggressive (2016) and Disease (2018) expanded on the desperation and pain, each a step closer to a balance between the blood and tears of classic recordings and the shimmer of modernity.  
 
Rolling Stone heralded Beartooth as one of 10 Artists You Need to Know. The rabid response to Shomo's music demonstrated how many people related to his struggle for self-acceptance. Below (2021) topped the Rock and Alternative charts and several Best Rock/Metal Albums of the Year lists. As of 2023, the Beartooth catalog boasts more than 1 billion streams across all platforms. 
 
Beartooth began as both bomb and balm, an outright refusal to suffer in silence, weaponizing radio-ready bombast, delivering raw emotion mixed with noise-rock chaos. Other bands play the "devastating riffs and catchy hooks" game, but this music is the difference between life and death, and now, a sort of life after death while still here. The band Forbes sees "inching towards a tipping point of becoming the latest arena headliner" is now one step closer. 

ABOUT HARDY:
Big Loud Records' heavy-hitter HARDY has never been just one thing. Uncaging a new chapter, HARDY soared to new heights with the release of themockingbird & THE CROW, his critically acclaimed half-country, half-rock sophomore album, adding to over 3 billion career streams. The dichotomous, 17-track effort debuted top five all genre on the Billboard 200 Albums chart and kinged seven additional Billboard charts in its first week, including Top Country Albums, Top Rock Albums, and Top Album Sales. The pride of Philadelphia, Miss. has earned his reputation as "a promising purveyor of keeping the spirit of classic heavy Southern rock alive" (American Songwriter), "capable of writing the big hits for radio, obstinate enough to do something completely unexpected, and savvy enough to find the throughline for it all" (Rolling Stone). A 5X ACM award winner, HARDY is a three-time CMA Triple Play award recipient, the 2022 BMI Country Songwriter of the Year, and a three-time AIMP Songwriter of the Year. HARDY has written 13 #1 singles including his own double platinum #1 single "ONE BEER" feat. Lauren Alaina + Devin Dawson, chart-topping, platinum Dierks Bentley + BRELAND collaboration, "Beers On Me," and game-changing platinum duet “wait in the truck” feat. Lainey Wilson. He's previously toured with Thomas Rhett, Morgan Wallen, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Cole Swindell, and more, and flies nationwide on his sold-out, 19-date headline arena tour, the mockingbird & THE CROW Tour, this fall.

Ian Munsick’s “Long Live Cowgirls” Impacts Country Radio 10/23

Deemed one of the genre’s “top-tier waltzes in recent memory” by The Tennessean, Wyoming native Ian Munsick is bringing his sky-high voice and Rocky Mountain influence to country radio with the solo version of his RIAA-Gold certified track “Long Live Cowgirls,” available on DSPs now and impacting country radio on Monday, Oct. 23. 
 
Written by Munsick alongside Aby Gutierrez and Phil O’Donnell, “Long Live Cowgirls” was originally released as a duet alongside Cody Johnson in 2022, painting a vivid and authentic picture of cowgirls that resonated with fans to the tune of over 110 million on-demand streams, the song’s popularity driving it to become a No. 1 hit on SiriusXM The Highway. 
 
Releasing it to country radio this fall, Munsick delivers the song for the first time as fans have heard it on the road, solo with plenty of fiddle and falsetto. 

Reflecting on the journey it took to get here, Munsick shares, "Ten years ago, I set off on a mission to bring the west to the rest. Songs about cowboys, cowgirls, horses, cattle and the rugged ranch lifestyle were few and far between when I was kid listening to the radio back in Wyoming. Slowly but surely, the country music format has started to accept the western brand and I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of that change.

"'Long Live Cowgirls' is more than just a song. It’s an anthemic celebration of the generations of women that conquered the vigorous landscape of the west with passion and grace. The emotion I see and feel from the audience when we play this song live is a constant reminder of why I make music. It has a deeper impact than just three minutes of escapism… the message is one of longevity and prosperity. If that’s not the heart of country music, I don’t know what is."
 
Munsick released his full-length sophomore album White Buffalo earlier this year, earning accolades from Billboard, American Songwriter, People, MusicRow and more. Grammy.com remarked, “Munsick's ability to turn his Western upbringing into relatable sentiments is the epitome of what makes him special… his passion for his homeland — from the culture to the people — rings through in both the lyrics and the musicality.”
 
Munsick performed his new single at Nissan Stadium for CMA Fest and on all shows supporting Morgan Wallen on his One Night At A Time World Tour. His headlining The Buffalo Roams Tour is currently underway, featuring a rotating lineup of special guests including Randall King, Triston Marez, Catie Offerman, Jake Worthington and Chancey Williams. Dates below. Visit www.ianmunsick.com for tickets and more details.

Ian Munsick 2023 Summer + The Buffalo Roams Tour Dates:
Sept. 15 // Enid, OK // Stride Bank Center !
Sept. 16 // Helotes, TX // John T Floore’s Country Store @&
Sept. 21 // Nashville, TN // Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
Sept. 23 // Poplar Bluff, MO // Black River Coliseum @
Sept. 24 // Franklin, TN // Pilgrimage Music And Cultural Festival
Sept. 30 // Hempstead, TX // Waller County Fair
Oct. 1 // Minden, NV // TJ's Corral
Oct. 6 // Athens, GA // Athens Fairgrounds
Oct. 7 // Opelika, AL // Auburn Rodeo
Oct. 8 // Ennis, TX // Texas Motorplex
Nov. 1 // Tulsa, OK // Cain’s Ballroom #
Nov. 2 // Tulsa, OK // Cain’s Ballroom @
Nov. 8 // Huntington, NY // The Paramount @
Nov. 10 // Silver Springs, MD // The Fillmore @
Nov. 11 // Boston, MA // House of Blues @
Nov. 16 // Royal Oak, MI // Royal Oak Music Theatre ^
Nov. 17 // Cleveland, OH // Agora Theater & Ballroom ^
Nov. 18 // Cincinnati, OH // The Andrew J. Brady Music Center @
Nov. 24 // Charlotte, NC // Coyote Joe’s @
Nov. 25 // Chattanooga, TN // The Signal @
Dec. 9 // Las Vegas, NV // The Cosmopolitan
Dec. 14 // Sioux Falls, SD // Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
Dec. 15 // Milwaukee, WI // Fiserv Forum
Dec. 16 // Peoria, IL // Peoria Civic Center
 
^ Randall King
# Triston Marez
& Catie Offerman
@ Chancey Williams
! Jake Worthington
 
About Ian Munsick:
A native son of Wyoming, Ian Munsick is painting a stampeding, spirited portrait of the American West with his sophomore album White Buffalo, out now. The 18-track album spans unfiltered tales of romance and ranch life, hard-working anthems with honkytonk hooks and mountain-time odes to family and forever-young fun. It builds upon the spacious roots-pop beauty he introduced on his major label debut, Coyote Cry. Over the past three years, the 30-year-old has accumulated more than half a billion global streams and a host of accolades. He has been named an “Artist to Watch” by Spotify, CMT, Fender, MusicRow and more. A seasoned entertainer, having grown up tending cattle by day and playing music in a family band each night, Munsick toured recently alongside country music superstars Morgan Wallen and Cody Johnson. Beyond his noteworthy professional accomplishments, he has also become both a husband and a father. Now the Warner Music Nashville recording artist and multi-instrumentalist is representing his home, and its special cast of people, like never before. The first release from White Buffalo, standout duet “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson), hit No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 30 Countdown, was named one of Amazon Music’s Best Country Songs of 2022 and recently received RIAA Gold-certification alongside “Long Haul” off his debut album Coyote Cry. Fans of Ian Munsick will always find an open heart, natural awe and plainspoken honesty as he rides on… bringing the West to the rest. 

CLASSIC HALFORD TITLES TO BE RELEASED ON VINYL FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER

t is universally agreed that one of the greatest heavy metal vocalists of all-time is Rob Halford – who is often referred to as the “Metal God” due to his distinctive, multi-octave singing voice, and his larger-than-life, leather n' studs persona. 
 
While best-known as the long-time singer of Judas Priest, Halford has also launched his own successful solo career. And now, two of his classic solo efforts will be issued on vinyl for the first time ever – Crucible and Made of Metal. 
 
Both will be issued in several limited edition color variants – Crucible in the colors black (900 units), neon violet (500), ghostly purple (500), and black purple/navy splatter (100), while Made of Metal will be issued in black (900), white (500), coronetto (500), and ghostly (100). A limited number of copies of each variant will be personally signed by Rob Halford.  
 
“I am really proud to see these two Halford band records released on vinyl for the first time,” says the Metal God. “My fans will love the packaging and care that went into these re-issues.”
 
Both albums were produced by Roy Z. 2002’s Crucible spawned such headbanging favorites as “Betrayal” and the title track (and saw Halford joined by Metal Mike Chlasciak – guitar, Patrick Lachman – guitar, Ray Riendeau – bass, and Bobby Jarzombek – drums), while 2010’s Made of Metal gave us “Till the Day I Die” and “Fire and Ice” (and saw both Chlasciak and Jarzombek returning, as well as bassist Mike Davis and
Roy Z providing additional guitar work).
 
With vinyl’s popularity at an all-time high, these two vintage metal masterpieces by the Metal God will undoubtedly be highly sought after by collectors – grab them while you can!

“On the follow-up to this monumental release he continues down the same path, his vocals are as focused and exceptional as they have ever been. ‘Crucible’ keeps things fresh, as a result, this is yet another classic metal album for the next generation.” –AllMusic

“The teeth-rattling power of ‘Made of Metal’ stands out, but this is a record – and a man – to be heard and appreciated in full.” –Classic Rock Magazine

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: facebook.com/robhalfordlegacy

To order copies go to: www.visionmerch.com/halford 

PLEASE NOTE 
Manic Vision Records is re-releasing these albums. These re-issues will not be sold in stores and will be exclusively available on Rob Halford’s official merchandise store located at VisionMerch.com/Halford
 
There is exclusive Rob Halford merchandise available in the store as well. 
 
This is a pre-order item.   
Both Double-LPs are expected to ship around December 1, 2023.

Darius Rucker Brings "Southern Comfort" to Fans With Today's Release; New Album 'Carolyn's Boy' Out 10/6

Three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Darius Rucker is once again captivating audiences with what Billboard praises as “one of the most distinctive voices of country’s modern era” as he further previews his highly anticipated new album, Carolyn’s Boy, with today’s release of feel-good song “Southern Comfort.” Listen HERE and preorder the album out Oct. 6 HERE.

Written by Chris LaCorte (“Ain’t That Some,” “Blue Tacoma”), Matt Rogers (“‘Til You Can’t,” “Freedom Was a Highway”) and Josh Osborne (“Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” “Body Like a Back Road”), the heartfelt homage to the South captures the essence of a region deeply rooted in tradition, hospitality and the joy of shared moments:

      That gentle breeze makes me think I’m three sheets to the wind
      When the fireflies light me up right makes the whole world spin
      If sunsets were like whiskey, man, I’d be seeing double
      Ain’t nothing in this bottle gets me drunk as Southern Comfort

Today’s release joins current single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” as well as No. 1 hit “Beers And Sunshine,” recent release “Have A Good Time” in previewing his first solo project in six years, Carolyn’s Boy, named for his late mother as an “homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.”

Having shared the new music with fans across the country all summer on his Starting Fires Tour, Rucker is gearing up to take his wide-ranging catalog of hits across the pond with a recently announced run of European tour dates in early 2024. Tickets to the following shows are on sale now via DariusRucker.com:

     April 19, 2024               Cologne, Germany || Cologne Live Music
     April 21, 2024               Zurich, Switzerland || Zurich Kaufleuten
     April 22, 2024               Munich, Germany || Backstage
     April 24, 2024               Amsterdam, Netherlands || Paradiso
     April 27, 2024               Manchester, U.K. || O2 Apollo
     April 28, 2024               Newcastle, U.K || O2 City Hall
     April 30, 2024               Birmingham, U.K || O2 Academy
     May 1, 2024                  Bristol, U.K || Beacon
     May 3, 2024.                 London, U.K || Eventim Apollo
     May 5, 2024                  Leeds, U.K || O2 Academy
     May 6, 2024                  Glasgow, U.K || O2 Academy
     May 9, 2024                  Dublin, Ireland || Olympia Theatre
     May 11, 2024.               Belfast, U.K || Waterfront Hall

Rucker will also celebrate the release of his new album during the second year of his personally curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival set for Oct. 7-8 in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. In addition to Rucker himself, fans will be treated to performances by Turnpike Troubadours, Lainey Wilson, Band of Horses and more. View the full lineup and daily schedule HERE. Limited tickets remain at RiverfrontRevival.com.

For more information on all things Darius Rucker, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

Photo Credit: Jim Wright

About Darius Rucker
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (21x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart, including RIAA Platinum-certified Learn to Live and True Believers, plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and in 2014 he won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. He co-hosted the 54th annual CMA Awards in 2020 and topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in 2021. Rucker’s new single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” is available everywhere now with his forthcoming album, Carolyn’s Boy, set for Oct. 6 release.

As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $3.6 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics apparel line available at Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.

OUT NOW: DUSTIN LYNCH CRUISES IN “CHEVROLET” COLLABORATION WITH JELLY ROLL

Turning the ignition on a forever-young kind of freedom, MULTI-PLATINUM star Dustin Lynch hits the road in“Chevrolet.” With an assist from his BBR Music Group labelmate Jelly Roll, it’s a brand-new Country anthem with “classic” written all over it. Available today (9/15) across all streaming platforms and digital retailers, listen to “Chevrolet” here.

“There is something in the air in Nashville right now, where writers are on the same wavelength and doing cool things like interpolating classic songs into something new. When ‘Chevrolet’ came across our plate, it floored me. Everyone knows Dobie Gray’s ‘Drift Away’ – the melody of that song is timeless,” shares Lynch. “Having Jelly Roll on it adds an extra edge.” 

Delivering his statement-making sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy, out September 29, “Chevrolet” – written by Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, and Mentor Williams – fast follows the release of the showdown title track. The nostalgic dirt road rocker co-produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Phillips is proof of Country music’s unique ability to summon a picture, a mood, and especially a memory via the instantly recognizable throwback melody of the 1973 Dobie Gray hit “Drift Away.” Pre-save/pre-add Killed The Cowboy (Broken Bow Records) here.

Currently performing headline dates and music festivals, Lynch is also bringing his Top 10 single “Stars Like Confetti” (off Blue In The Sky) to the stage. Click here for a full list of tour stops.

ABOUT DUSTIN LYNCH:
Dustin Lynch has "built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard), achieving eight #1s, four Top 5 albums, 10 GOLD and PLATINUM certified singles, and tallying over 5.4 BILLION cumulative global streams. His sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy (Broken Bow Records), makes a statement on September 29. The follow-up to Blue In The Sky, which delivered the history-making PLATINUM, six-week #1 “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter)” – the most-played song at Country radio in 2022 landing at #1 on the Mediabase and #2 on the Billboard Year-End Country Airplay charts – also featured current Top 10-and-rising single “Stars Like Confetti” and hit “Party Mode.” Since his PLATINUM breakout “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012, Lynch has headlined packed venues and toured with Country’s biggest names like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, and Kane Brown. Likewise, the Tennessee native has earned industry recognition as a Grand Ole Opry member, as well as high-profile nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards.

KEEP UP WITH DUSTIN LYNCH
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK

Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen

DORO - Drops Video For New Single ´Bond Unending´ Feat. Sammy Amara (BROILERS)

DORO PESCH's new masterpiece Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud - will be released worldwide on October 27th via Nuclear Blast.

Today sees the release of DORO's third album single 'Bond Unending', in which the metal queen presents her fans with another high-profile duet partner, namely Sammy Amarafrom the German rock heavyweights BROILERS.
DORO's powerful voice combined with Sammy's signature gritty sound creates a dynamic and unforgettable mix that will give you goosebumps.
'Bond Unending' is a sonic explosion of pure energy, passion, and rock 'n' roll magic.
The single is accompanied by a stunning video that contains clips from DORO's huge anniversary live performance which took place at Wacken Open Air on August 2nd of this year.

DORO: "'Bond Unending' is a song about deep friendship. Sammy and I wrote it in the middle of the night. We had so much fun together. The chemistry was great right from the start."

Watch the video below.
Listen to the song here:  https://doro.bfan.link/bond-unending
Pre-save the album here:  https://doro.bfan.link/conqueress

Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud will be released with 15 brand new songs and 5 bonus tracks and comes in the following formats:

Jewel case

2CD Digibook with 36p booklet (including bonus tracks)

2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Splatter white/black

2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Marbled white/blue 

2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Red transparent (US only)

2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Picture

Box Set 2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts (incl bonus tracks) + 2CD Digibook with 36p booklet (including bonus tracks) + Pendant + Numbered & Signed Certificate + Poster + Patch + Pick  (NB mailorder only)

PLAGUESTORM Unveils Latest Single "Gardens of Fire" from Upcoming EP "Empty Eyes"!

Plaguestorm, the renowned solo artist from Argentina, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming EP Empty Eyes. Following the release of the first single "Thrown Into The Void", Plaguestorm has revealed the second track "Gardens of Fire"today, which is now available for streaming. Listen to the song below.

Stream the single HERE

Mastermind Sebastián Pastor comments:
"Gardens of Fire is a slow and steady song. It tells the story of a boy who is indoctrinated "in the name of God" since he arrived on this earth, in which he could never find the promised paradise. It's a song with many melodies, melancholic and dark, with a beautiful guitar solo... musically you can hear the great influence that Hypocrisy has on me... I think you already figured this out."

Plaguestorm has released a series of impressive albums including Everything's Gone Wrong (2015), Mother of Plagues (2019) and the recently dropped Purifying Fire (2021). This time around, Pastor is joined by the incredible vocal prowess of Okko Solanterä (HORIZON IGNITED) and the masterful drumming skills of Eugene Ryabchenko (FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE), along with the talented Diego Martinez. With such prominent support, Plaguestorm's upcoming offering is set to leave a lasting impact, showcasing his undeniable talent and delivering a sound that will appeal to fans of heavier and melodic sounds.

Empty Eyes was mixed and mastered by Sebastián Pastor and will be coming out on October 20 via Noble Demon. The EP is available for digital pre-order at THIS LOCATION

PLAGUESTORM is:
Sebastián Pastor
Guitars/Bass/Drum Programming
Music/Lyrics/Mix/Mastering

Find Plaguestorm online:

Facebook

Instagram

BandCamp

Find NOBLE DEMON online:

Official Website

Facebook

BandCamp

Twitter

YouTube

TikTok

Spotify

BLACKBRIAR - release new single 'Forever and a Day'

Today BLACKBRIAR release their brand new single 'Forever and a Day'. The new album A Dark Euphony will be released on September 29th via Nuclear Blast Records. A Dark Euphony features 11 brand-new tracks.

Zora Cock comments:
“Forever and a Day is a tragically romantic song, inspired by 19th-century mourning traditions. While listening, I imagine a Victorian lady, dressed in a heavy black mourning gown. She lost her love a long time ago, and can't move on. One day, she replaces her black gown into a day dress to spend the day with someone, to see if there could be another future for her, only to realize she can't give her heart to another. It's the final single of our forthcoming full-length album.”

Stream 'Forever and a Day' here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/forever-and-a-day
Watch the lyric video for 'Forever and a Day' below.
Pre-order the album A Dark Euphony here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/a-dark-euphony

Also check out the latest singles 'Cicada', 'My Soul´s Demise' and 'Crimson Faces' here:

Stream 'Cicada' here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/cicada
Watch the video for 'Cicada' here: https://youtu.be/cKYTrDM2mpw

Stream 'My Soul´s Demise'here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/my-soul-s-demise
Watch the new video for 'My Souls Demise'here: https://youtu.be/QvPS2Cf2VNw

Stream 'Crimson Faces'here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/crimson-faces 
Watch the new video for 'Crimson Faces'here: https://youtu.be/9zOVTkAMY9A

About BLACKBRIAR:

“Some say that there is beauty in darkness - terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on A Dark Euphony.” Such are the words of vocalist Zora Cock about the band’s upcoming sophomore album, set to release in fall 2023 on Nuclear Blast Records. A telling sign coming from a band who has reveled in gothic beauty and metallic darkness since their onset, spanning three EPs and a full-length album, along with long-time collaborator Joost van den Broek.

Formed in 2012 by Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, and Frank Akkerman, they crafted their first single in 2014 with 'Ready to Kill,' but it was 2015’s second single 'Until Eternity' that truly propelled them into the scene.  A sweeping track with an equally compelling and beautiful video, it continues to draw many to the act with over 20 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding the band, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, as well as acquiring a second guitarist in Robin Koezen. This EP layed down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal and breathtaking sound and  brought about new opportunities for the act, including tour dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and more, where the band played alongside EPICA, HALESTORM, IN THIS MOMENT, DELAIN and MaYan.

To keep moving ahead with full control of their creative ideals, the band successfully crowdfunded their follow-up EP, We’d Rather Burn, and brought it to life in October 2018. This EP would be the first time the band worked alongside esteemed producer Joost van den Broek to arrange and produce the effort, and this fruitful collaboration allowed BLACKBRIAR’s whimsical and enigmatic sound to reach new sonic heights.  Released the same day as their self-made video for 'I’d Rather Burn,' this EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens.  In the time following, keyboardist Ruben Wijga (ex-Re-Vamp) took a larger role within the band and began playing shows, after being involved in the songwriting process since Fractured Fairytales.

A busy 2019 followed, the band released a haunting single in May entitled 'Snow White and Rose Red.'  A duet with Ulli Perhonen, their take on the Grimm’s fairytale featured striking cinematic visuals to accompany the spellbinding track. Continuing to dig deeper into fairytale realms, BLACKBRIAR closed the year with their third EP, Our Mortal Remains.  Ever-sharpening their intoxicating blend of storytelling and breathtaking musicianship, the EP brought about new live exposures for the act as well.  Small, sold out tours with EPICA in 2019 and 2020, as well as a sold out opening for DELAIN’s Apocalypse & Chill release show in Utrecht followed, with more future plans then being put on hold due to COVID-19. 

Championing their continued independence, which included everything from songwriting, maintaining their web presence, overseeing merch, as well as shooting and producing their own videos and photos, BLACKBRIAR reached out to their ever-growing and loyal fanbase for assistance to make their full-length album a reality in 2020. Fans fervently heeded the call, reaching the € 25,000 goal in under 24 hours and ending with a total of € 70,000 and achieving all five stretch goals.  An impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which also showcases a strong internet presence with over 230,000 YouTube subscribers and 56.5 million channel views as well as 37.9 million Spotify streams and 275,000 monthly streamers on the platform.  

Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing exclusively with Doomstar Bookings to help properly support their highly anticipated first full-length album, The Cause of Shipwreck, which released in April.  Once again recorded with renowned producer Joost van den Broek (EPICA, AYREON, POWERWOLF) at Sandlane Recording Facilities, this release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics that entice you into a deadly yet spellbinding musical paradise. On the live front, launching into success with six sold out Dutch club shows, they later extended into more European territories such as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic as the band moved into 2022. 

Despite a very successful 2021, the band still hungered for more, unleashing their latest single, 'Fairy of the Bog' in December.  A song about ‘het meisje van Yde’ (Yde girl), it’s a mixture of folklore, myth, and ancient local history wrapped into a more mystical and magical package that showcases what BLACKBRIAR does best. Due to winning ‘Drents Talent Award Culture 2021’ from ‘Stichting Kunst & Cultuur,’ BLACKBRIAR performed ‘I’d Rather Burn’ live on television together with the Dutch ‘Noordpool Orchestra in early 2022. In April, the band parted ways with founding member and bassist Frank Akkerman. Not a band to slow down, they welcomed Siebe Sol Sijpkens from The Netherlands as their new bassist.  A happy and energetic performer with a lifetime of global performances, he is a welcome addition to the act as they continue to strive forward.

With their vision looking firmly into the future, with a major label behind them, they set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet.  The band previously released the song 'Crimson Faces' to celebrate their partnership with Nuclear Blast Records, and now the world eagerly awaits the release of A Dark Euphony this fall. Set to contain 10 new original songs as well as a bonus track, they recently released their first single from it with 'My Soul’s Demise.' According to Zora, “We've had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.” With this in mind, the band launched a preorder campaign in April for the release, full of unique perks, which has been quite successful already. They have also been preparing on the road, with festival shows Wave Gotik Treffen, SummerBreeze, and Rock the Lakes in 2023, as well as being a special guest on CHARLOTTE WESSELS’s Club Tour.

With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in EuroSonic/Noorderslag‘s Popgala Noord (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify near 1.5 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey into darkness and beauty.

BLACKBRIAR is:
Zora Cock - VOCALS
René Boxem - DRUMS
Bart Winters - GUITARS
Robin Koezen - GUITARS
Siebe Sol Sijpkens - BASS
Ruben Wijga - KEYS

Alkaloid Streaming New Album A Day Early

Alkaloid are metal's maddest scientists. The Bavarian band have crafted songs about what lies beneath the Arctic crust, on top of an ongoing, multi-part saga about a galactic civilization that ascends to god-like levels of domination.

'Numen' is their most intricate, thought-provoking and batshit insane album yet. The 70-minute behemoth hits shelves and streaming platforms tomorrow, but you can listen to all eleven tracks now thanks to our friends at No Clean Singing.    

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/alkaloid-numen

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/numenpresave 

Alkaloid are still bonded together by their love of extreme metal. After all, they are a super group that's assembled from foundational members of Obscura, Dark Fortress, Triptykon and other genre heavyweights. The fiery, finger-tapped solo that squiggles loose halfway through lead single "Clusterfuck" is crushed like an ant between colliding moons.

But Numen finds the band playing around with all kinds of experiments. "The Cambrian Explosion" flips death metal on its horned head with seductive flurries of jazz and flamenco, while the title track is a dizzying seven-minute yarn of how a supermassive black hole came to burp up an unheard-of cosmic artifact that gives both the song - and the album - its name.  

"We proudly present our third album 'Numen', says Alkaloid. "Where 'The Malkuth Grimoire' dealt with the rearrangement of existing particles into new forms, and 'Liquid Anatomy' with the creation of new particles, this album looks at the universe from the perspective of imaginary deities detached altogether from the cycle of life and death of incarnated organisms. This hypothetical viewpoint is reflected on the scales of both biological and cosmological processes. If one could shape and manipulate life and the cosmos itself, how would one go about it, and what would it mean for everything in that cosmos?

Progressive extreme metallers Alkaloid prepare to unfurl their new many-tentacled full-length, 'Numen' via Season of Mist. Featuring members of Triptykon, Obscura, Dark Fortress, and Obsidious, the Germany-based quartet of Morean (vocals, guitars, concepts), Hannes Grossmann (drums), Christian Münzner (guitars), and Linus Klausenitzer (bass) construct upon, expand away from, and journey between previous full-lengths The Malkuth Grimoire (2015) and Liquid Anatomy (2018) on Numen. In every respect, Alkaloid recommence the purposeful warp of various metallic genres they dimensionally blur. Tracks like the video single for "Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” and “Numen” posit heavy cosmological/Lovecraftian theoretic themes on top of musically-adept songs that are accessible yet undeniably intricate.
 
“We’ve all been around the block a few times by now as metal musicians,” says songsmith Morean. “The feeling that we’ve outgrown the narrow niche of pure extreme metal was a main motivator to start this band in the first place, ten years ago. The ‘prog’ tag is handy for us because, per definition, it already encompasses a wider range of possible styles and influences we can get away with than any one specific metal genre. This means we could ensure from the beginning that we’ll always be able to write whatever we want, no matter how crazy our ideas become. The heart of this band is always the songwriting, and we all like complex and virtuosic music in all its diverse manifestations. However, we do share a love for death metal as the smallest common denominator in the band, and we wanted to make sure no one thinks that just because we include melodies, clean guitars, and influences from other genres, we’d automatically sacrifice the brutality and relentless esthetic of extreme metal.”
 
'Numen' was written during the pandemic, but it was planned long before the scourge of disease wracked humanity. As a result, the songwriting sessions were predictably not "in the room" but over the Internet after the band members had isolated and worked on their constituent parts. Demos flew back and forth. Then, Tunker left amicably for personal reasons. Alkaloid could’ve folded, but the close-knit group soldiered on. They intensely relied on the professionalism and dependability of the collective to drive 'Numen' to completion. The complications of the two years it took to sonically inscribe the album into aeonic vastness didn’t fragment the end result. Instead, the process accelerated Alkaloid’s lambent, eldritch explorations. “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” “Numen,” and “A Fool’s Desire” expertly bridge the past to the future, where Alkaloid’s originative, daedal storytelling captures (and holds hostage) the imagination.

The title, 'Numen', got its start at the dawning of Alkaloid. It’s a word that Morean fell in love with immediately, and he knew it had a place in his creative endeavors. Whereas The Malkuth Grimoire talked about combining existing elements into new structures, and Liquid Anatomy dealt with the creation of new elements, 'Numen' tries to look at the universe from a kind of meta-perspective from an imaginary god, as if the space that everything happens in was given a voice and a role as observer and shaper of everything that happens. In it, sentient panspermic mycelia are swathed in Lovecraftian nastiness—like Shub-Niggurath and the Fungi from Yuggoth—while the new Dyson chapters interpret the aspiration to reach divinity rather literally, reshaping the entire galaxy by manipulating spacetime itself. Desperate to escape their doom, the Cephalopods from previous songs have returned, too. 'Numen' is dense but not impenetrable. In fact, from the first moments of opener, "Qliphosis," to the final contemplation of closer "Alpha Aur,” Alkaloid prove to be more charismatic than ever.
 
Line-up
Morean - guitars, vocals
Christian Münzner - guitars
Linus Klausenitzer - bass
Hannes Grossmann - drums

Recording Studio: Mordor Sounds, Nürnberg, Germany.

Producer: Hannes Grossmann & Alkaloid

Recording & mixing: Hannes Grossmann

Mastering: Alan Douches at West West Side Music studio in Hudson Valley, NY.

Guest musicians
Adam Wallis, Cydney McQuillan-Grace, John Schaffer, Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo, Shannon Bedford

Additional choir tracks on "The Cambrian Explosion" and "Shades of Shub-Niggurath"

Former Alkaloid guitarist Danny Tunker contributed to "The Cambrian Explosion"

Artwork & photos: Christian Martin Weiss

Biography: Chris Dick

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/alkaloid-numen

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/numenpresave 

Format
Digital download
CD Digipak w/mediabook
Black Vinyl (Gatefold)
Coloured Vinyl (Gatefold)

Links
https://alkaloid-band.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alkaloid.metal
https://www.instagram.com/alkaloid_metal/
https://twitter.com/AlkaloidBand
https://www.youtube.com/c/Alkaloidbandmetal
https://alkaloid-band.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KMQDFaAsPEKcqKzdvkYKc

Reveal Records to release debut solo album from John Douglas (Trashcan Sinatras), one of Scotland's finest songwriters

"What a fantastic album... there is a unique gem within each and every track... There is just so much to love in this album. A sheer delight – recommended for everyone suffering from sensory overstimulation. This will calm your mind and ease you into healthy listening" ~ Amplify Music Magazine


Scotland's Reveal Records is pleased to announce that the debut solo album from one of Scotland’s finest songwriters - John Douglas of Trashcan Sinatras fame - will be released worldwide on October 6th.

At long last, fans and newcomers alike are treated to an intimate snapshot of the talent, charisma and depth of this celebrated Scottish indie songsmith. With this release comes the start of a new chapter in John Douglas' creative life as he simultaneously looks back at a lifetime of musical adventures and accolades and moves forwards.

The album 'John Douglas' features new recordings of some of John's favourite Traschcan Sinatras material, alongside new songs he has written and his own rendition of the Prefab Sprout classic ‘We Let The Stars Go’.

The eleven songs on this record were performed solo, recorded live at Kyoti Studio in Glasgow (with no overdubs) by producer Mark Freegard, who also mixed and mastered the album.

John Douglas expains, “I’ve often been encouraged by friends over the years to make a solo album, but the timing or inclination didn’t flow. Last year - out of nowhere - everything suddenly felt right and the process was quick and natural. Mark just set the mics up and I played my songs. No other musicians or overdubs. Me and my guitar. That way, I became the songs and they became me. The finished record, though varied in song styles, has a mood to it… it’s warm, thoughtful and quiet.. as I generally aspire to be.

Album order / Bandcamp  https://johndouglas.bandcamp.com/album/john-douglas-2023
Album pre-save / pre-order  https://revealrecords.lnk.to/JohnDouglas

Hailing from Irvine on Scotland’s west coast, John has a rich history, making music with Trashcan Sinatras for over thirty years. Apart from his role as a songwriter (and guitarist) there, John has been playing live gigs across the UK and Ireland as part of his partner Eddi Reader’s band.

He has also been performing solo sets at shows with musical friends, such as Norman Blake (Teenage Fanclub), Jill Jackson and James Grant (Love & Money). Whilst visiting Irvine recently, John was invited to guest with Martin McAloon (Prefab Sprout), the two artists having first met in 1990 during Trashcan Sinatras' ‘Jordan - The Comeback’ tour with Prefab Sprout.

On October 6th, John Douglas' album will be released on CD and digitally and will be available from fine music outlets worldwide. It can be obtained via Bandcamp ahead of the general release with early-birds receiving an immediate full album download, plus exclusive access to two bonus digital tracks ('Last Orders'and 'The Drink').

CREDITS
Written by John Douglas (1, 2, 4, 6, 11), Trashcan Sinatras (3, 5, 7, 8), Trashcan Sinatras / Dine (9) and Paddy McAloon (10)
All songs published by MCPS/PPL, except Track 10 (published by Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)
Recorded, mixed & mastered in Glasgow by Mark Freegard
Photographs taken on the Old Largs Road by Susie Lowe
Cover photo by Janette Ayachi at The Strand Club, Glasgow
Design by Martin Rowsell Simply Marvellous: Music
Thanks to Edna, Charlie, Sam and all my family, all the Trashcan Sinatras, Tom Rose, Boo Hewerdine and Jill Jackson
CD - REVEAL195CDX  - 7427137071599
Digital Album - REVEAL195DDX - 7427137071605

Keep up with John Douglas 
Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Press contact

Keep up with Reveal Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud  

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | LinkedIn | Email

THE LION'S DAUGHTER Premieres Unnerving Music Video for New Song, "End Credits," via The Circle Pit

St. Louis horror metal outfit The Lion's Daughter has teamed up with The Circle Pit to premiere the utterly disturbing new music video for the haunting new single, "End Credits." The clip, which was created by Jakov Burov and is not for the faint of heart, can be found at THIS LOCATION.

"End Credits" is taken from the band's upcoming full-length, 'Bath House,' which is on October 13, 2023 as an independent entity!

The Lion's Daughter frontman Rick Giordano comments, "'End Credits' is about the horror of grief. It's a song that I never thought our band would have the guts to pull off, and it's quickly become my favorite on the album. Jakov Burov's animation is a perfect visual companion to leave you feeling broken beyond repair."

In addition, The Lion's Daughter will be performing live later this year! On October 13, the band will have a special Friday the 13th album release party in its hometown of St. Louis, MO. Then, the band will hit Black Circle Brewing in Indianapolis, IN on 11/11 for another rager! The full itinerary can be found below with more dates TBA!

ICYMI: The Lion's Daughter recently debuted a "Gremlins" inspired music video for the crushing single, "Maximize Terror," which can be found HERE.

'Bath House' is now available for pre-sales HERE.

The Lion's Daughter Live Dates (U.S.):

10/13: St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag (Album Release Show)

11/11: Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle Brewing

Photo by: Chris Bauer

“What we did see… was something altogether different, and immeasurably more hideous and detestable. It was the utter, objective embodiment of the fantastic novelist’s ‘thing that should not be.’” - H.P. Lovecraft, “At The Mountains of Madness”

Some creations are designed to elicit nightmares, evoking unspeakable terrors that are meant to shock, terrify, and mesmerize the masses. Since the release of its first full-length in 2012, The Lion’s Daughter has consistently put forth music that is just as disturbing as it is enticing, making a name for itself as a dark force among its musical contemporaries. And much like an eldritch horror, the band is constantly shape shifting like a Shoggoth, capable of fitting into many different musical spaces, while at the same time, fitting into no earthly dimensions just as an ancient alien rising up from centuries of arctic slumber with a mission to destroy and conquer.

And much like the Shoggoth, The Lion’s Daughter have defied all gods and masters, releasing its latest opus as an independent entity, breaking away from the corporate confines of a label. ‘Bath House’ is another generically unclassified masterpiece from the St. Louis horror quartet, pulling elements from everything from Faith No More to Godflesh to Samhain, creating a sound that’s way ahead of its time and yet certain to grab the listener by the throat.

“Saying that this album was influenced by everything-that-I’ve-ever-liked-ever isn’t a very good answer, but it’s an accurate one,” explains frontman Rick Giordano on the band’s unique sound. “I turned the left side of my brain off completely and let a lifetime of soaking up great art just come to the surface naturally. There are bits of all the things I love in there… from old Metallica to film scores to industrial and whatever else, but I think these things have melded together in a way that is cohesive and not just nonsensical genre-hopping. There are clean vocals and guitar solos, a lot of things that we’ve never tried before. It really feels like you uploaded my entire record collection to a hard drive and had an AI create an album based on that.”

As the music itself on ‘Bath House’ is a representation of Giordano’s musical palette, the lyrics are perhaps the darkest and most vulnerable of his career. The band strays away from fantasy on this record and instead, gets raw and relatable. “It’s all really ugly shit,” he says of the new album’s themes. “Which, for our band, is not shocking at all. But this time around, it’s all much more personal to me, which makes it a bit difficult and uncomfortable to talk about. I wasn’t in a great place while writing this record. Grief, fear, jealousy, and general devastation can be found all over this thing. That wasn’t my intention exactly, but like the music, I let the lyrics kind of write themselves without letting logic or reason interfere.”

To further illustrate the darkness that dwells within ‘Bath House,’ The Lion’s Daughter commissioned a perverse and unnerving image from UK artist Daniel Peacock for the album cover. The image not only works well in cohesion with the record, but also symbolizes that while ‘Bath House’ still very much carries the band’s signature sound, it still isn’t exactly what fans might expect. Giordano explains, “Our previous two album covers featured masked characters. I wanted to see what happens when you take the mask off. This record isn’t shrouded in mystery the same way the previous couple have been. It’s much more of an in your face kind of attack, and I felt the artwork should represent that. This horrible creature looks dangerous and frightening, but is also clearly in pain and also afraid. It’s the perfect image to represent whatever the fuck ugly thing lives in my head. On this record it is no longer hiding behind a mask… it is loose and it’s right outside your fucking house.”

As the St. Louis horror masters set forth on a new trajectory, the former trio has also added Black Fast guitarist Aaron Akin to the lineup, creating a sound that’s more intense and grand. “Aaron was the guitarist and vocalist of a band called Black Fast. They were hands down the best metal band to come out of St. Louis in decades. Once they disbanded, it was a no-brainer to try and get the guy who fronted my favorite local band to be in my band. Why wouldn’t I? Plus, as anyone who knows Aaron will tell you, he’s an all around great guy,” explains Giordano on how this new union came about.

And as a new union has been formed, former binds have been severed as The Lion’s Daughter is no longer tied to a label, doing this record fully independently for the first time in its career and taking full and total control. “It’s just nice to have 100% control over everything again,” Giordano says of the band’s new freedom. “That was the whole intention when we started this band years ago. We lost sight of that for a while. No disrespect intended towards anyone, but this band has always been pretty anti-music industry and anti-bullshit.”

Despite so many changes, The Lion’s Daughter is still the same band that cult followers have come to worship, but with everything cranked up to 11. With heavier music, a fuller sound, and darker themes, the band is maximizing terror with its monstrous brand of debauchery and unspeakable perversions. Unpleasant dreams…

Recording Lineup:

Rick Giordano - vocals, guitars, bass, synths

Erik Ramsier - drums

Scott Fogelbach - additional vocals on tracks 2, 7, 8

Live Lineup:

Rick Giordano - guitar and vocals

Scott Fogelbach - bass and vocals

Aaron Akin - guitar

Erik Ramsier - drums

Guest Musicians:

Sarah Vie - violin and vocals on tracks 2, 4, 7, 9

Recording Studio:

Encapsulated Studios

Producer // Sound Engineer // Mixing // Mastering:

Gabe Usery

Cover Artist:

Dan Peacock

Photographer:

Chris Bauer

Links:

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Music

CELESTE - Release New Single/Video 'With Idle Hands'

French extreme metal avant-gardists CELESTE have released a video for their new single 'With Idle Hands', another song from their upcoming new EP Epilogue(s), due out on November 17th through Nuclear Blast Records.

The EP features three exclusive bonus tracks from their most recent album, Assassine(s), released in 2022. Scroll down for the tracklisting and available formats.

'With Idle Hands' might be the most tender song CELESTE have ever written, and its English title and lyrics set it apart from anything the band has done previously. The vocals for this track have been contributed by Tim from US shoegaze metal band GRIVO.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR 'WITH IDLE HANDS' BELOW

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE THE NEW EP EPILOGUE(S)
https://celeste.bfan.link/epilogue-s

MORE FROM EPILOGUE(S):

WATCH 'IL SE VIDE LENTEMENT' (OFFICIAL VIDEO):
https://youtu.be/XTWUnu4X9cI

Having played more than 500 shows around the world, including appearances at several prestigious extreme music festivals, theaters and venues (Hellfest, Roskilde, Copenhell, SummerBreeze, Brutal Assault, Roadburn, Psycho Las Vegas...), with one EP and six albums under their belt, CELESTE have succeeded in creating their own musical atmosphere and are today considered to be one of the most important bands of the "French Avant-Garde Black-Metal" scene.

Check out the previously released music videos from ASSASSINE(S):

'Nonchalantes De Beauté': https://youtu.be/FQhZQdA2OTA
'(A)': https://youtu.be/gAsZZnxCzug
'Des Torrents De Coups': https://youtu.be/WmRIfUw1ymo
'De Tes Yeux Bleux Perlés':  https://youtu.be/3Gz9o8lrmtI
'Le Coeur Noir Charbon': https://youtu.be/sJn1YitKn_s
'Elle répète froidement' : https://youtu.be/fJZz7Z4rdys

CELESTE is:
Johan Girardeau - Vocals & Bass
Guillaume Rieth - Guitar
Antoine Royer - Drums
Sébastien Ducotte - Guitar

Iodine Releasing Classic, Out of Print Record From Garrison Now Available for The First Time In Over 20 Years

Garrison were born in Boston during the heyday of the prolific late '90s post-hardcore scene.

Their cohort featured heavy hitters like Piebald, Cave In, and Converge. Following in the footsteps of bands like Quicksand, Drive Like Jehu, and Texas is the Reason, Garrison drew from many influences to create a hyper-melodic sound that ranged from hardcore to emo — all without fitting neatly into any genre. They executed a complex and unique sound, seamlessly combining technical guitar riffs, melodic vocals, and heavy breakdowns in a way that few bands were able to achieve.

Garrison toured relentlessly, playing regularly alongside iconic bands of the era such as The Get Up Kids, Hot Water Music, Taking Back Sunday, and New Found Glory. Shortly after forming, the band found themselves signed to Revelation Records where they released their debut LP A Mile in Cold Water. The record was well received among fans and critics and made a place for itself as a notable release for the post-hardcore movement. The album opens with "After the Fight," which immediately hooks you with its melody, fast tempo, and emotional breakdowns, highlighting the band's hardcore roots and complex style. The LP rises with heavier post-hardcore moments, such as "The Dumbest Angel," and falls with several softer emo ballads, most notably on the somber closer "Favorite Goodbye Fuck."

Though Garrison went on to release numerous albums on Revelation Records and Iodine Recordings, A Mile in Cold Water remained their most significant and important release. While Garrison never broke in the same way that many of their peers did, this record clearly paved the way forward for many bands that followed in the post-hardcore and emo scenes.

Produced by Kurt Ballou (Converge) at God City Studio in 2001, Ballou returned in 2023 to completely remix the album to really make these songs shine the way they always intended to sound. Remastered by Jack Shirley (Quicksand, Joyce Manor) at The Atomic Garden. The album is being presented in a special gatefold jacket and features elements of the original art, and new artwork from Dan McCarthy.

The album is available for the first time in 20 years via Iodine Recordings on October 27. Get it here.

Listen to "The Dumbest Angel" here.

Garrison's original lineup will appear at The Middle East Downstairs in Boston on October 6 with Orange Island. They are also slated to play The Fest in Florida, as well.

Iodine Releasing Classic, Out of Print Record From Six Going on Seven

SIX GOING ON SEVEN'S SELF-MADE MESS OUT OCTOBER 27 VIA IODINE RECORDINGS

BAND SHARES "SEXY LIKE THE TITANIC" VIDEO — WATCH [[ADD LINK]]

Self-Made Mess is the debut album from Boston's indie rock/emo band Six Going On Seven. Out of print for over 25 years, this highly influential album helped define a genre that bridged the gap between hardcore influenced emo and indie-rock, with its complex bass and guitar harmonies and sincere vocals. Often referred to as a "band's band," Six Going on Seven came up alongside many of the household names we still discuss from the era: Jimmy Eat World, Hot Water Music, and The Get Up Kids, sharing the stage with them and many others.

Originally released on Some Records in 1997 and produced by Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studio, Self-Made Mess is being presented on a limited-edition vinyl pressing with all new artwork and remastered by Jack Shirley (Quicksand, Joyce Manor) at The Atomic Garden.

It arrives via Iodine Recordings on October 27. Get it here. 

Today, the band has shared the video for "Sexy Like The Titanic." Watch it below.

"Self-Made Mess was our first full-length, the culmination of three friends woodshedding/gigging around Boston in early days," the band says. "Follow me here: I drove to Boston in fall of 1994, we played our first show in January of '95, released a 7" the following year, and made Self-Made Mess in the summer of '96 — this one was recorded by our friend Brian McTernan after demoing over nine songs the year prior with another great engineer, who abruptly moved to Los Angeles to make a record with The Rolling Sones — true story. Faithful to our live sound, Youth (lost on the young) recorded on a shoestring budget in a small new jersey town (that, a story for another day) — 10 songs remastered for your listening pleasure, enjoy."

Impure Wilhelmina Cover King Crimson

As soon as Impure Wilhelmina got the idea for a covers album, they knew that "Fallen Angel" was a lock to make the track list. 

"King Crimson is a band that all of us listen to regularly", the band says, "and 'Fallen Angel' was a song that we quickly and unanimously agreed upon". 

Listen to Impure Wilhelmina's faithfully mind-bending cover of "Fallen Angel" below. 

"Fallen Angel" is the second single from the band's upcoming EP. The first was a cinematic cover of Serge Gainsbourg's "La Javanaise", which you can watch HERE. 

'Dead Decades' comes out on October 6, 2023. The EP also includes a cover of The Cure, along with two unreleased songs from their latest album 'Antidote'. 

Pre-order it HERE.

It makes sense that Impure Wilhelmina are fans of King Crimson. After all, the Geneva quartet have followed the British prog legends by constantly breaking the mold. For 25 years now, they've rolled hardcore riffs, velveteen cleans, atmospheric sludge and gloomy melodies into post-metal that's as sharp and versatile as a Swiss Army Knife. No wonder they've earned comparisons to KEN Mode, Paradise Lost and The Smiths.  

"We didn't really know what it would sound like to cover such a prog monument", the band said about "Fallen Angel". "But we were surprised - and also, very proud - to see how well it suited out harmonic style." 

For 25 years, Impure Wilhelmina has been shaping a singular music on the borders of rock and metal. The Geneva quartet has never been afraid to reinvent itself and to push back the stylistic barriers, without ever losing its strong identity. Intensity, melody, power and melancholy are the key words that guide the band's discography, developing record after record a subtle blend of metal, post-hardcore, new wave and indie rock sounds.

Impure Wilhelmina has experienced many line-up changes over the years around Michael Schindl, singer-guitarist, main composer and lyricist. Founded in 1996, the group quickly built a reputation in the local, then Swiss and European independent scenes. The band has released a 7″, an EP, a split and seven full-length albums (see discography).

Impure Wilhelmina has regularly collaborated with sound engineers and producers Serge Morattel (I Can't Believe I Was Born In July – 2001, L'Amour, La Mort, L'Enfance Perdue – 2004, Prayers And Arsons – 2008) and Raphaël Bovey (Black Honey – 2014, Radiation – 2017). These five albums illustrate the constant musical evolution of the band, which from a very dark and metal base gradually incorporates more rock elements. The clear vocals occupy an increasingly important place in the compositions, reinforcing the intensity and melodic depth.

In 2015, thanks to the great response to Black Honey, Impure Wilhelmina signed with the reference metal label Season of Mist, which published Radiation two years later in 2017. Skillfully navigating between melodies and dissonances, always at the service of raw emotion, this sixth album was unanimously acclaimed by the press and the public, opening the doors to wider recognition.

In 2019, the band received great reward by being one of the four recipients of the grants for contemporary music awarded by the City of Geneva. This support has enabled Impure Wilhelmina to start working on a new album with confidence and with the will to develop their sound and get out of their comfort zone. The band put a lot of efforts in the elaboration and production of its new songs, notably by calling on Yvan Bing, producer and sound engineer, to accompany the four musicians throughout the creation process. This successful collaboration began in the summer of 2019 and continued for over a year, giving rise to Impure Wilhelmina's seventh album, Antidote. Released in may 2021, this album is a testament to the creativity and versatility of the band, which never ceases to explore new horizons without ever getting lost.
 
After two European tours in 2022 (with Crippled Black Phoenix and MØL, then Shores of Null), Impure Wilhelmina focused in 2023 on the vinyl reissue of their second album "I can't believe I was born in July", for its 20th anniversary, and the release of a new EP entitled “Dead Decades”, which features three covers and two previously unreleased tracks.

Line-up
Michael Schindl: Vocals/Guitars
Diogo Almeida: Guitars
Sébastien Dutruel: Bass
Mario Togni: Drums

Links
www.impurenet.com
www.facebook.com/impurewilhelmina
www.instagram.com/impurewilhelmina
www.impurewilhelmina.bandcamp.com

Recording Studio:
‘La Javanaise’, ‘Fallen Angel’ and ‘Plainsong’: Kitchen Studio, Geneva (CH)
‘Nebulæ’ and ‘Ignoramus’: HOFA Studio, Karlsdorf (DE)

Mix: Kitchen Studio / Yvan Bing
Master: Caduceus Studios / Ladislav Agabekov

Cover artwork: Mehdi Benkler (photography) / Giganto.ch

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/IWDD

Booking: 
Switzerland: Martina Kull / Glad We Met: martina@gladwemet.ch
Europe/World: booking@impurenet.com

Formats:
Vinyl
Digital

Alex Hall Releases Retrospective "Her To Here" from Upcoming Album Side Effects Of The Heart

Walking the line of modern and classic with his outlaw spirit and his heart of gold, Alex Hall explores the rewards and consequences of following one’s heart on his upcoming debut album, Side Effects Of The Heart. His latest, “Her To Here,” finds Hall reflecting on a series of events that ended a relationship. Listen Below.

Written by Hall, Todd Clark and Travis Wood, “Her To Here” encapsulates Hall’s old soul and gentleman ways through its soulful lyrical delivery.
 
       If I knew she was gonna call my bluff
       I woulda wrapped my stubborn arms around her instead of acting tough
       If I knew she wasn’t gonna hit the brakes
       I’d’a chased her down the drive not watched her drive away

       They’re ‘bout to turn the neon off
       I’m barely hanging on the rocks
       I leave my truck and catch a ride back home
       Start replaying old voicemails with the phone up to my ear
       How the hell’d I get from her to here?

Raised on a horse farm in North Georgia, Hall’s inspiration was born from country music legends Kris Kristofferson and Vince Gill, among others. Captivated by the art form, Hall began playing guitar at the age of 14. By 16, he had bartered a deal with his guidance counselor allowing him 60 absences in return for maintaining a passing GPA so he could begin pursuing his career. Intent on honing his skills, Hall formed a band and played over 125 dates a year across the southeast while completing his high school curriculum.
 
The influences and work ethic of his childhood drove the creation of the debut album, with a delivery reminiscent of the emotional honesty of Kristofferson, as Hall details the human experience of love, heartbreak, loneliness and what it costs to let the heart feel. 
 
Following the release of title track “Side Effects Of The Heart,” “Women And Horses (feat. Brandy Clark),” “Dad Now,” and “I Know A Guy,” “Her to Here” is the fifth song off Hall’s debut album Side Effects Of The Heart, due Sept. 15. Each track builds upon one another, further setting the tone for the rest of the highly anticipated album. Pre-order/save Side Effects Of The Heart HERE.
 
Hall hits the road this fall, supporting Tanya Tucker on tour stops in New York, N.Y., Knoxville, Tenn. and more. He’ll also perform at the Annapolis Songwriters Festival on Sept 16 and 17, and at AmericanaFest in Nashville on Sept. 22. For more information, visit MusicByAlexHall.com or follow @MusicByAlexHall on all social media platforms.

Cover art for Alex Hall’s Side Effects Of The Heart (Monument Records)

About Alex Hall:
Alex Hall is ready to launch the next chapter of his career with his brand-new record, Side Effects Of The Heart. A project that tells the stories of everything the Singer, songwriter, and guitar player’s heart has been through these last few years.
 
Growing up on a small horse farm on the outskirts of Gainesville, GA, Hall’s earliest memory is hearing Elvis Presley on is grandfather’s radio. It’s a sound he never forgot, and one that prompted him to pick up a guitar for the first time when he was only four years old. He started learning the instrument seriously in middle school, and quickly graduated from choir solos to bar gigs. By the time he was in high school, Hall was playing over 150 shows a year. 
 
After graduation, Hall moved to Nashville, TN and signed with Monument Records. He spent the last few years opening for Tanya Tucker and hitting the road with Brandy Clark, Little Big Town, and Tenille Townes. His debut EP on Monument Records, Six Strings, was a guitar focused project featuring the playing and vocal stylings of Hall’s heroes and friends – Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, John Osborne (of Brothers Osborne), Brad Tursi (of Old Dominion), Tenille Townes, and Kassi Ashton. Six Strings gained national acclaim from the likes of Vintage Guitar Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Cowboys & Indians, and helped Hall to be named to the Fender Next 2021 program. 
 
Now, ready to bare it all, Hall is releasing his first full project as an artist with Side Effects Of The Heart. Out this summer, the album has a song for everyone…and a few for the dreamers out there like Alex Hall himself.

Eric Sardinas Shares New Track "Tonight" — LISTEN

NEW ALBUM MIDNIGHT JUNCTION OUT OCTOBER 13 VIA EARMUSIC

Following the success of his recent single "Long Shot," blues-rock virtuoso Eric Sardinas ignites the scene once again with his scorching new single "Tonight," which is available now.

Listen to the new single below.

"I play slide guitar, I play blues, but it's rock 'n' roll that I interpret in my own way," says Sardinas, highlighting the driving force behind his music, a seamless blend of blues heritage and rock's unbridled energy. A master of his craft, Sardinas has garnered acclaim for his mesmerizing guitar skills, and raw, soul-stirring vocals. Nine years after the release of his last record, the new album Midnight Junction is poised to showcase his artistic journey while staying true to the blues rock roots that have earned him a dedicated global following.

 Sardinas is joined by an excellent rhythm section, compromised of Chris Frazier (Whitesnake, Foreigner) on drums, Koko Powell (Lenny Kravitz, Sheila E) on bass guitar, David Schulz (The Goo Goo Dolls, Bo Diddley) on keys and organ, with very special guest Blues harmonica legend Charlie Musselwhite. Produced by Matt Gruber.

Witness Eric Sardinas and his all-star crew keeping the great blues rock tradition alive and kickin! Midnight Junction is available as CD Digipak, 1LP (black/180g) and Ltd. Red Marbled LP (180g) for pre-order now here.