Ministry Has Something To Say About “B.D.E.” The Latest Track From HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES Out March 1; Industrial Giant’s Tour Kicks Off February 27

Toxic misogyny, violence against women, and incels are the latest target Al Jourgensen takes aim at in the song “B.D.E.” (aka “Big Dick Energy”) out today, including a spellbinding music video that draws the line on the poisonous behavior seen in both politics and everyday life in 2024.

See the music video for “B.D.E.” below.

The song’s whiplash riffs, barreling drums, punchy keys, and pummeling bass all come to a head in the thrash breakdown mid-song, putting the aggressive talents of Jourgensen and the full band — John Bechdel (keyboards), Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto (guitars), Roy Mayorga (drums) and Paul D’Amour (bass) — on full display.

Says Jourgensen of the track: “The incel subsect and general misogynistic tendencies in our society are dangerous yet seem to fly under the radar so we figured it’s time to shine a light on it. In true Ministry fashion we battle it with sarcasm”

“B.D.E.” hails from Ministry’s upcoming 16th studio album

HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES (out March 1, 2024 on Nuclear Blast Records) and follows the release of earlier singles  “Just Stop Oil” and “Goddamn White Trash,” all of which give a preview of the state of mind of creator and band leader Jourgensen who is cantankerous as ever about a f***ed up world ripe for a boot up its ass. Like always, he's merely looking around at the same dumpster fire we all are, but he's got a microphone and uses it well to rage on about the state of the world.

Joined by Ministry’s current frontline of musicians, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES also has a slew of special guest contributors including Gogol Bordello’s Eugene Hutz, long-time collaborator and Lard companion Jello Biafra and Corrosion of Conformity frontman Pepper Keenan.

HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES will be available in three vinyl variants, a CD jewelcase and digital/streaming platforms. The vinyl variants include: green with yellow splatter (in stores everywhere); blue with pink splatter (nuclear blast exclusive); red with white splatter (band/tour exclusive).

Pre-order HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES HERE

Find HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES exclusive merchandise and Red Splatter LP at: https://ministryofficial.store/

Ministry will play the new songs live on a Spring 2024 tour, kicking off February 27, supported by Gary Numan and Front Line Assembly.

VIP upgrades are available and include:

• Meet and Greet with Al Jourgensen

• Ministry Back Patch

• VIP Silkscreen Poster

• Souvenir VIP Laminate w Lanyard

• Crowd Free Merch Shopping.

Find more information at: https://tix.soundrink.com/tours/ministry

MINISTRY SPRING 2024 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Joined By Gary Numan & Front Line Assembly

February 2024

27  San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

29  Eugene, OR @ McDonald Theatre

March 2024

1    Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater

2    Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo

3    Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom

5    Calgary, AB @ Palace Theatre

6    Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall

8    Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre

9    Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore

10  Madison, WI @ The Sylvee

12  Columbus, OH @ Kemba Live

13  Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theater

14  Chicago, IL @ Aragon Ballroom

16  Toronto, ON @ History

17  Montreal, QC @ MTelus

18  Boston, MA @ Roadrunner

19  New York, NY @ Terminal 5

20  Bethlehem, PA @ Wind Creek Casino

22  Cherokee, NC @ Harrah’s Cherokee

23  Orlando, FL @ Hard Rock Live

24  Tampa, FL @ Jannus Landing

26  Birmingham, AL @ Avondale

27  Biloxi, MS @ Hard Rock Casino Biloxi***

29  Houston, TX @ House of Blues

30  Dallas, TX @ The Factory

31  Tulsa, OK @ Tulsa Theater

April 2024

2    Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom

4    Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas

5    Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre

***Front Line Assembly is not appearing

For tickets and more information, visit www.ministryband.com/tour

ABOUT MINISTRY

Born in 1981 in Chicago, Ministry has been the lifetime passion project of founder Al Jourgensen, considered to be the pioneer of industrial music. In its early days, Ministry was identifiable by its heavy synth-pop material in line with the new sounds and technology that were being developed in the ‘80s. Ministry’s output began with four 12” singles on Wax Trax! Records in 1981 before the first LP With Sympathy in 1983 via Arista Records. As time progressed however, so did Ministry, quickly developing a harsher, and more stylized sound that the band soon became infamous for on seminal albums Twitch (1986), The Land of Rape and Honey (1988), and The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (1989). With the release of Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and The Way to Suck Eggs (1992), Ministry hit an all-time high in the mainstream musical realm and received its first Grammy nomination. In total, Ministry has been nominated for a Grammy award six times. Eight more albums would follow before an indefinite break in 2013, only to be unearthed again in 2018 with AmeriKKKant, continuing to reflect Jourgensen’s views on the frightening state of society and politics. The 2021 album Moral Hygiene marked a new creative era of Jourgensen and the band. Ministry’s 16th studio album, HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES, will be released in early 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Find Ministry Online

Website: www.ministryband.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/WeAreMinistry

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/WeAreMinistry

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/WeAreMinistry

Ministry Press Contact

Selena Fragassi

selena@fr-pr.net

SKELETAL REMAINS Unleashes Music Video for New Single, “To Conquer the Devout,” U.S. Album Release Shows Announced

PRE-ORDER // STREAM

American death metal purveyors SKELETAL REMAINS are now unleashing yet another brutal new single, "To Conquer the Devout," along with another mind-bending music video! The track is taken from the band's upcoming full-length, 'Fragments of the Ageless,' which is due via Century Media Records on March 8, 2024! The video, which was directed by Dillon Vaughn, can be found below.

The band comments: “It is a speed driven groove fest perfectly capturing the aggression of an archaic deity ridding the world of all who follow the incoherent word of their false religion through blasphemy inspired by the power of ignorance and blind faith which continues to poison the minds of millions throughout this fucked up planet.”

In addition, SKELETAL REMAINS will be embarking on a run of album release showsthroughout the U.S. West Coast this March! The trek will kick off on March 7 in Santa Rosa, CA and will conclude on March 10 in Las Vegas, NV. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE.

Pre-orders and additional album details for 'Fragments of the Ageless' are live HERE and can be found in the following formats:

Ltd. CD Digipak

Ltd. Gatefold transp. magenta LP

Ltd. Gatefold lemon colored LP (300x) available at cmdistro.de and Evil Greed

Ltd. Gatefold transp. light blue LP (300x) available at cmdistro.de and various other retailers

Ltd. Gatefold Opaque Spring Green LP (US version)

Ltd. Gatefold Sunspot LP (500x) available from US Indie outlets and SKELETAL REMAINS

Digital album

GET TICKETS HERE

SKELETAL REMAINS (Record Release Shows):

03/07: Santa Rosa, CA @ Arlene Francis Center

03/08: Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom (+ Kommand & Apparition)

03/09: Santa Ana, CA @ La Santa (+ Upon Stone & Crematory Stench)

03/10: Las Vegas, NV @ The Usual Place

Skeletal Remains’s ultra-brutal new album, Fragments of the Ageless, is upon us! The Americans—featuring Mike De La O (guitars), Chris Monroy (guitars/vocals), Pierce Williams (drums), and newcomer Brian Rush (bass)—kept busy after their much-hailed The Entombment of Chaos landed into a chaotic world in 2020. Rather than sit idle, the re-energized quartet crafted their penultimate statement. Tracks like “Void of Despair,” which Monroy describes as “aggressive and spastic,” “To Conquer the Devout,” “Relentless Appetite,” and “Verminous Embodiment” are death metal manifested in sound fundamentals, killer musicianship, and the right attitude. While Skeletal Remains have had four full-lengths since forming in 2011, Fragments of the Ageless is the band in their highest grotesque gear yet.

“With every record, we try to push ourselves to make a better record,” Monroy says. “We don’t get into, ‘We need to sound more like this or that.’ What comes out of us is natural. Actually, that’s how it’s been since the first record [Beyond the Flesh]. As death metal fans, we write what we enjoy and want to listen to. Having Pierce and Brian join the band played a big part in the new album. They live in Portland, and the rest of the band is in Los Angeles, so there’s a bit of a gap, but we use technology a lot when we write. They gave us a fresh set of ears.”

The principal songwriting for Fragments of the Ageless started during the pandemic but picked up considerable steam once the band were back on the road in 2022, where they played countless shows and festivals in the U.S., Europe, South America, Central America, and Australia. With Pierce and Brian fully in the fold, Monroy and De La O found themselves, in a way, back to square one, namely the “entire band effort” that comprised their 2012 debut, Beyond the Flesh. The savage DNA of Skeletal Remains is intact, but it’s been altered—no, improved!—iteratively to attack more, devour absolutely, and technically inspire. Tracks like video singles “Void of Despair,” “To Conquer the Devout,” “Relentless Appetite,” as well as deeper album cuts “Forever in Sufferance,” “Verminous Embodiment,” and “Unmerciful” are ravenous.

“It’s more brutal than the last one,” says Monroy. “We were pushing ourselves to be more extreme—vibing on that as much as possible. Obviously, we’re not tech-death now, but I think we took inspiration from the techier side of things. We took things up a notch and dialed in on the technicality and ever-increasing intensity while maintaining catchiness. We still have songs like ‘Eternal Hatred’ [from The Entombment of Chaos]. There’s always room for super-simple mid-paced songs in Skeletal Remains. On one end, we’ve increased in density and brutality; on the other, we wrote a few songs with longer and more ‘epic’ structures. 'Fragments' is simply the next evolutionary step in our sound.”

Lyrically, Skeletal Remains took the left-hand path. Rather than topics and themes inspiring the cover art, Dan Seagrave’s (Suffocation, Entombed, et al.) famously atramentous detail conversely informed the lyrics and album title. Monroy says they had working titles that they conveyed to Seagrave, but the final painting sparked the title, Fragments of the Ageless. Of course, the usual influx of sci-fi, historical, personal struggles, and fantastical also played a part.

“Seagrave completed the cover art before we had a title,” Monroy says. “That was kind of weird, but it worked in our favor. The cover art directly inspired a few of the lyrics and musical themes, tying multiple pieces together, which is a first for us. We did show him different pieces of art—10 in all, I think—that we liked, so there was direction. We wanted a mixture of things, with the final idea being a creature being taken apart and its DNA extracted. Seagrave’s crazy brain made it all come to life.”

Skeletal Remains recorded Fragments of the Ageless at various home and professional studios. Most of the guitars, bass, and solos were tracked DIY. The band wanted the drums to sound as imposing as possible, so they booked Trench Studios (Intronaut, Hirax) with John Haddad, while the vocals were cut at Birdcage Studios with Allen Falcon (Pestilent Death). Once the album’s core had been recorded, Monroy and the team sent their sick slab to Swedish studio ace Dan Swanö (Asphyx, Incantation) for mixing and mastering. If the blistering leads of “Void of Despair” and “Verminous Embodiment” don’t impress, then check out the blasting drums of “Cybernetic Harvest” and “Relentless Appetite.”

“Dan really gets it,” says Monroy. “He’ll send us mixes, and he’ll automatically add stuff like effects and little details throughout the back and forth. He knows what we want before we can tell him. Dan understands what we’re going for. There’s mutual understanding and respect. Of course, he’s been mixing and mastering for a long time and has made a name for himself, but we’re really happy with the production on 'Fragments.' It jumps out at you.”

Monroy says the band’s goal with Fragments of the Ageless is to continue death metal’s lineage—to honor the past and present. The future, however, is lined with more touring and festivals. Having just come off a stateside run with Suffocation and Incantation late last year, Skeletal Remains are poised to ravage more of the world, with high-profile slots at Wacken (Germany) and Alcatraz (Belgium) festivals already secured.

Death… Is just the beginning with Skeletal Remains’s Fragments of the Ageless.

Line-up:

Chris Monroy - guitars/vocals

Mike De La O - guitars

Pierce Williams - drums

Brian Rush - bass

Album Art:

Dan Seagrave

Album Title Logo:

Kyle Bowen

Bio:

Chris Dick

Follow:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

STREAM // DOWNLOAD

VIPASSI Streaming New Album

VIPASSI have been carefully unlocking a mystery. The Australian quartet's new album, Lightless, explores all sorts of twisted phenomena, from the hooded ritual of "Phainesthai", the distorted maze of "Labyrinthine Hex" to the star-gazing mastery on "Morningstar".

Lightless comes out this Friday, January 26. But you can get a sneak peek at the whole album today by visiting our YouTube channel. 

Listen to the full album below.

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/vipassi-lightless

Early praise for Lightless:

"Vipassi have managed to take the prior achievements of their debut and interlaced them with fresh ideas and approaches that show a massive development in their sound" - Distorted Sound (9/10)

"What makes Lightless truly stand out is its genuine sense of personality...a chemistry that cannot be imitated or manufactured. I'll take that kind of real vision and know-how over noodle salad any day of the week" - Metal Sucks (4/5)

"A superb follow-up...a fine example of why Vipassi is among the best up-and-coming instrumental progressive metal acts" - Metal Injection (8/10)

As a purely instrumental band, Vipassi are blessed with a telepathic chemistry. No wonder they can spin epic stories without uttering a word.

Watch as they weave as one through a full band play through of "Labyrinthine Hex", then conjure spirits deep in the dark, twisted woods of "Phainesthai" before venturing off into the mind-bending space caves of "Morningstar".  

Photo by Joe Ritson

In Buddhist tradition, VIPASSI is the twenty-second of the twenty-eight Buddhas. Etymologically, the name has its roots in clear vision – a being of extreme contemplation. The band of the same name is a world-spnning instrumental extreme metal band from the lands of Australia, France and the UK.

With members of acts such as Ne Obliviscaris, Black Lava, Hadal Maw & Virvum, their work on the 2017 debut album ‘Sunyata’, which has a loose signification of Emptiness or Void, set the grounds for a technically impressive and fully instrumental exploration of sonic textures in what can best be described as – a divine experience reaching the depths of the human soul.

Originally made as a project between Daniel Presland (Drums) and Ben Boyle (Guitars) as far back as 2007 to explore new concepts and sounds not currently engaged by their projects at the time, the band has since then grown and expanded to an international connection of like-minded musicians and virtuosos with Arran McSporran (Fretless Bass) and Benjamin Baret (Guitars).

Further exploring their labyrinthine textures and layers of sounds, Vipassi is back with their sophomore album ‘Lightless’. The album shifts from the realm of the void towards a clash of light and dark – and sees the band expanding into even more technical and experimental realms, pushing the limits of their own ideas and abilities to heights unimagined when the band began all those years ago.

Lineup
Daniel Presland - Drums
Ben Boyle - Guitars & Synths
Arran McSporran - Fretless Bass
Benjamin Baret - Guitar Solos

Recording
Bushido Studios, Melbourne, Australia with additional recording in Gandia, Spain & Bordeaux, France.

Production
Sound Engineer - Troy Mccosker
Mixing & Mastering Engineer - Mark Lewis

Cover Art
Xenoyr - https://www.xenoyr.com/

Bio
Sébastien Gamez

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/vipassi-lightless

Available formats:
CD Digipak
Digital Download
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Black & White Splatters

Links
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vipassi/1082297817
Bandcamp: https://vipassi.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vipassiband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vipassiband/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7GWniL0LcVnR9Ptiaa5J1

NONEXISTER Share Video For "Where Does Your Mind Go"

DEBUT ALBUM DEMONS OUT MARCH 15

Zurich's NONEXISTER have released their new single "Where Does Your Mind Go." Watch the video below.

 Since their first single "Your Pain Up My Veins," the band has consistently delivered captivating and cinematic videos and their latest output is no exception. 

Singer Nik Leuthold says, "The video for ''Where Does Your Mind Go' is a radical, stunning piece of art by Elias Ressegatti, portraying the topic of the song perfectly: a woman underwater, literally running out of air. It was filmed in one take and is completely real. Since both her struggle to hold her breath and her suffering are real, we as spectators feel it ourselves almost physically, we're with her. Luckily, we knew the perfect actress for the role — Martina MoMo Kunz, who is also a free diver. It would have been impossible for someone without the right training to do the job."

Director Elias Ressegatti says of the video, "In this increasingly fast-paced world full of constant distractions, the video forces the viewer to experience the length of the song in an increasingly oppressive state — watching a young woman nearly drown herself during the four minutes of the song, almost in real time — without much to distract us visually."

He continues, "It's a distillation of the essence of 'Where Does Your Mind Go' a multi-layered, visual composition, always in service of the song's lyrics. A quiet piece to meditate on, to contemplate, to take in in an ever-expanding world, built of layers of noise."

Actress Martina Momo Kunz commented on the song, the video, and her demanding work, saying "When Nik asked me to do the breath-hold, I was both excited and scared at the same time. Holding your breath in front of the camera and an entire team is a big challenge, as you have to put yourself in a meditative state in order to counteract the fears that arise by calming down. 'Where Does Your Mind Go' somehow describes this process exactly; first the thoughts become calm, you drift into a dreamland, into a fantasy world, like the reverberating guitar riffs, and when the chorus comes, the fear rises and the battle between instinct and will begins. The battle with the edge, the lust for the edge, the lust for life and the lust for death."

NONEXISTER's latest release may not be as loud and heavy as the band's previous releases, but it's just as intense. In "Where Does Your Mind Go," the desert-like wideness of sound meets the isolation of introspection, and the sonic landscape mirrors the deepest depths of the soul.

On March 15, NONEXISTER's debut album, Demons, will be released digitally, on CD and as a 2xLP gatefold vinyl (180g) including a bonus track via the band's own label (Distribution: The Orchard). Pre-order as CD and white vinyl here.

NONEXISTER thrive on the interplay between the energy of electronic music and the catharsis of heavy music. As if they were soundtracking an after-hours club in the middle of nowhere, the Zurich-based band, consisting of Marco Neeser (electronics, songwriting, production), Nik Leuthold (vocals, songwriting, production), Reto "Fu" Gaffuri (bass), Siro Müller (drums, backing vocals), and Silvan Gerhard (guitar, backing vocals), swings like a pendulum between moments of industrial ecstasy and moshpit-ready outbursts.

About Demons, Nik says: "I'm over the moon that our debut album Demons is finally finished and will be released in March. It's been a long journey and I'm very proud of the result. Working with Marco has been a real stroke of luck, taking us both to places we wouldn't have reached on our own. So many great people have helped shape the final product, tweaking every detail so that this baby is a real beauty."

Demons is a journey through the depths of the human soul — dark, disturbing, dynamic, contradictory, and deeply emotional. The lyrics explore these depths and sonically, so does the album. While it's full of pummeling grooves, ready for the mosh pit, there are also eerie, strange moments that gnaw at the listener's brain. The album was recorded at Marco's home studio, New Sound Studio, with producer Tommy Vetterli, known as the mastermind behind Coroner and member of legendary thrashers Kreator, adding another dimension to the production. Vetterli also composed the backings and adlibs together with Nik.

KILL THE THRILL Streaming New Album

KILL THE THRILL are blessed with an elusive vision. Over the past 30 years, the French duo have been dreaming up an abrasive-but-hypnotic blend of industrial rock, post-punk and dark wave.

Their new album, Autophagie, immerses audiences in a cinematic fever dream that would give David Lynch nightmares. The title track swarms with feedback-laden guitars, while "Capitan" crests into an industrial-sized groove. "They come back from afar / With nothing", Chris Dick sings on "A la  dérive", his voice raw with bitterness, straining each note to a breaking point.

Listen to all of Autophagie on Season of Mist's YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/q1NZ2CkSl-0  
 

Autophagiecomes out this Friday, January 26, 2024 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order:https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/kill-the-thrill-autophagie
Pre-save:https://orcd.co/kttautophagiepresave

Praise for Kill The Thrill and Autophagie

"A great post-punk album that doesn't shy away from musical experiments...haunting, exciting and beautifully arranged" -Power Metal

"Too sparse for metal, too morbid for new wave, too humanized for industrial, and definitely too alternative for alternative rock" -All Music

"Relentlessly heavy...overwhelmingly atmospheric" -Sputnik Music

KILL THE THRILL was formed in 1989 and is composed of Nicolas Dick on vocals, guitar and lap-steel, Marylin Tognolli on bass for its founding members. Stemming from the French noisy wave of the early 90's, their music is often described as dark, abrasive and hypnotic, full of epic moments, with a dense and rich sound mixing elements of industrial rock, post-punk, dark new wave and experimental metal.

Forging an atmosphere as dreamy as chaotic, with multiple layers and atmospheres, sometimes ambient, sometimes more hostile. Kill The Thrill interlaces orchestrated soundscapes, enriched with innumerable layers and arrangements, playing amongst the rifts to create a unique and personal work, so far from everything and so close to everyone.

The group released its first album in 1993 entitled DIG, followed by an EP: PIT (on the labels Noise Product CH and Semetary), and at that time had three musicians, already working with samples and playing with blocks of sound.

In 1996, the trio became a duo with a second album entitled LOW (Noise Product CH), recorded, mixed and produced by Nicolas Dick. The artist ErikM intervened on the interludes with sound tracks which frame each title of the group. The album is hailed by the press as a perfect balance between melody and distortion.

Over the years, tracks have appeared on a large number of compilations: La Famille (Noise Product Belgium), Serial Killer Vol 1 (Roadrunner), Brutale Generation (Semetary / WMD), Ah Quelle Belle journée (Amanita records), A Wild State Of Noise And Disorder (Pandemonium), 5 Years Of Fury (Noise Product CH), Tribute To Godflesh (Nihilistic H. Rec.), Fear Drop 14 : "Coal Fire" The Cure masterpiece Pornography, Dark 80's (Atropine Records) etc.

Frederic De Benedetti joined the band on guitar and it's again as a trio that the album 203 BARRIERS was released by Season Of Mist in 2001, the album again entirely recorded and produced by Nicolas Dick. With this new opus Kill The Thrill ’s music has evolved towards a daring, disturbing and more extreme sound. With international promotion and distribution, signing with the label Season Of Mist allowed an opportunity of further development for the band.

Kill The Thrill has shared stages all over Europe with other artists such as Godflesh, Killing Joke, Zeni Geva, Isis, Young Gods, Treponem Pal, Einstürzende Neubauten, La Muerte, Neurosis, Jesu, Jim Rose Circus, Grötus, Dillinger, Escape Plan, Dälek, etc.

The album TELLURIQUE released in 2005 (Season Of Mist, recorded and produced by Nicolas) combines a cold and clinical industrial/metal sound with a new wave sensibility, bathed in a heavily melancholic atmosphere, but leaning more in the direction of noisy, distorted shoegazing mists than the fires of metal. The album is described by the press as an organic journey in which you must immerse yourself to feel its harshness and beauty.

This exacerbated trio asserts itself as a true entity in symbiosis, with an unfiltered and no holds barred take on music and sound. Anger has no origin, and when the events from which it arises, physical bodies and soundwaves, can no longer contain patience and intelligibility, the sounds become the violence.

But with Kill The Thrill , violence is always suggested more than frontally expressed, it remains hemmed in and contained.

In 2015 the band reissued its first under the title 1989 (Atypeek Records), a digital-only album intended as a nod to Kill The Thrill ’s origins.

During a few years of silence put to good use on the personal and musical projects of the members of the group, Kill The Thrill took the time to polish a new version which should be released at the beginning of 2024.

The band has released a limited number of albums in its career so far, but is resistant to all erosion, the secret of its longevity residing in the timelessness of the music.

An atypical band whose music is enough to itself ; a discrete band for imposing music ; a group which reveals next to nothing but pursues its sonic quest, outside of common standards. A living ambiguity: cold and hot, the calm and the storm.

"A long flow of orgasmic lava, a wave of shimmering noises that carries away everything in its path. One immerses oneself entirely in its bewitching atmospheres. We leave for a long descent on a carpet of guitars, their richness is inside, under this heap of notes and noises, under this black and disturbing mass. It's up to you to understand what you can during a journey that is sublime".

To Kill the Shiver reaches for the ineffable.

Line-up
Nicolas Dick - Lead vocals, guitar, lap steel, sample
Marylin Tognolli - Bass Guitar
François Rossi - Drums

Recording Studio            
Le Puits Sonore

Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer
Nicolas Dick

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

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/kill-the-thrill-autophagie

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
2x12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Clear Transparent
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Green
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Clear Transparent w/ Black & White Splatter

Links:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kill-the-thrill/73438869
Bandcamp: https://killthethrill.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killthethrill/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/killthethrill_band/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KillThe_Thrill
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KillTheThrill-band

Photo by Pierre Gondard

LEON FREAR releases 'A Town Called Chapel', a mixed emotion ode to his hometown, ahead of debut album

"Frear has a voice which somewhat recalls Marty Willson-Piper of The Church fame and his side project Nocturum... This is something for fans of Nick Cave and related"~ Side-Line Magazine

"Track of the Day. The way he tells the story makes it seem like he and the listener are commiserating together... a song with a great story" ~ Chasing Destino

"With a unmistakeable voice deserving of becoming a regular fixture in the mind-memory of music lovers everywhere... catchy and contemplative, showcasing clever lyrics channeled through his smooth and deep timbre.  fabulous from start to end and is obviously confessional while also being an invested labor of love" ~ Rock n Roll Biz

"The combination of evocative lyrics and a dynamic musical backdrop creates an immersive experience, inviting listeners to delve into the complexities of love, longing, and self-discovery" ~ Skylight Webzine


Indie musician and songwriter Leon Frear presents 'A Town Called Chapel', the second offering from his debut album 'Wild Rice', which introduces the listener to a man still affected years later by the frisson and fallout of a clandestine love affair.

A seasoned musician, this album represents a new start for him under this moniker. Now based in Chicago, Frear describes this single as “a poison pen love letter to an historically musical time and place, to big blown-up plans and irreplaceable, lost relationships. No matter what else I say, It's a letter I sign with love.”

“The song ‘A Town Called Chapel,’ is the opening track on my album because it paints the landscape and provides background on the insular, dissolute college town / former-small-town music mecca that this whole experience sprang from," says Leon Frear.

"It's a song about knowing that you need to leave a situation that is grimy, bad for you and a little hedonistic. But you're so used to it - the feeling is so warm and comfy that you just can't bear to leave. I might sound hypercritical of the place and maybe that makes me a hypocrite. But I’m also from there and a fair target for these less flattering descriptions myself. Love, lust, and naïveté. All that stuff. It's part of me. It's my home."

'A Town Called Chapel'  https://soundcloud.com/ leonfrear/a-town-called- chapel/s-VCNCkxe9f2j
Bandcamp  https://leonfrear.bandcamp.com/track/a-town-called-chapel-2
Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/track/68Y8SNjt59ezItWDuTMiyM

This follows the artist's debut single 'Secret Second Moon' with its fantastic animated video, created by French artist Ronald Grandpey. It's a powerful introduction to a collection of songs that reflects a dramatic period in which Frear experienced a life-altering love affair, its implosion and aftermath, followed by a decade of reflection and changes.

Informed by his own personal experience, Frear's music speaks of love, lust, broken promises, broken phones, and multiple incinerated bridges. This 10-track collection was produced by Frear in his home studio in Chicago, playing every instrument and capturing every breath to tape during a recording process that took years in isolation to complete.

About the forthcoming album, Leon Frear says, "'Wild Rice' is the story of those times, but told in reflection. The songs came from a place of true grief, regret and a little bit of anger. But through all of those things, I gained wisdom and became a better person. And while the details may be different, I think every human on this planet shares in the experience of feelings of grief. Ultimately, I think it is an album about empathy."

"Sonically, I was inspired to make Wild Rice while listening to old Leonard Cohen albums, Harvest by Neil Young, Stories from the City by PJ Harvey and lots of old ballads by Nick Cave. Those albums and artists sound weary and world worn and I did my best to capture a similar feeling."

Laced with hints of sadness and regret, anger and remorse, somehow the lyrics are tempered with a sardonic wit that leaves the listener wondering if Frear doesn’t secretly savor feeling bad, just for laughs. If there’s an opportunity to mock an uncaring universe, this is an opportunity Frear doesn’t let go to waste.  

Dubbing his brand of post-alternative music “vocabulary rock”, Frear aims to shift the emphasis away from the man and towards the music and lyrics, while inviting the listener to commiserate together through this exploration of grief, depression and sadness.

'A Town Called Chapel' is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.  The 'Wild Rice' album will be released (on vinyl and digitally) on March 1.

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Leon Frear
Recorded by Leon Frear in his Chicago home studio
Mastering by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Studios
Vocals and instruments performed by Leon, except
Faye Whitt - backup vocals on 'Murder of Crows'
Front cover collage by Faye Whitt
Ronald Grandpey - Director / animator for  'Secret Second Moon' video
Artist photos by Jeremy Glickstein

Keep up with Leon Frear
Bandcamp | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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College radio-inspired indie rock trio Onceweresixty presents 'Don’t Get Stuck', previewing sophomore album

"A glorious slice of jingle jangle indie pop that has an atmospheric build like a slow burning fuse... With clear genetic links to US college indie rock, a touch of Dinosaur Jnr or Galaxie 500 mixed in with David Berman/The Silver Jews, and REM, ‘Don’t Get Stuck’ shimmers like a star in the firmament with its gentle reflective delivery and melodic refrain" ~ Backseat Mafia


Italy-based indie rock outfit Onceweresixty present their new single 'Don't Get Stuck', the first taste of their forthcoming album 'Loco Sunset Boulevard / Ghetto Blast Noise Machine'. This 8-track offering in two parts, structured as a double EP, released on CD and vinyl by Uglydog Records, together with Beautiful Losersand PrettyOK Records.

Onceweresixty was founded by Marco Lorenzoni (guitars, vocals and keyboards) and Luca Sella (drums, guitar and vocals), who began collaborating in 2001 via their old band MR60. The band is rounded out by Enrico Grando (keyboards and saxophone), who joined the band shortly after their 2021 release 'The Flood', a concept album about the consciousness of the insignificance of humans against the force of nature, and a society bent on self-destruction.

Over the past three years, this double EP took form at Villa Albrizzi Marini, a magical place in the Venice countryside hills en route to the Alps. Onceweresixty set up their studio on this 1400-villa property, owned by the Armenian Church. Marco Lorenzoni explains, "The Villa - an ongoing project of urban regeneration via art activism - is absolutely inspiring and amazing, and we’re glad to be part of it. Onceweresixty and our own label Uglydog Records have always been at the forefront of promoting the arts, supporting artists and creating social connections. This is our little Warhol Factory in the countryside."

Describing their own music as "weird psych folk pop", Onceweresixty draws their roots back to an ancient tale about the ghost of a beatnik biker living in a broken toy keyboard. "Sometimes he takes control of our minds and makes us play strange weird songs," says Lorenzoni, who continues to tell the tale of the band's origin.

“Immediately upon entering Texas from Las Vegas, drunk on tequila, we lost our way, the desert all around us and not a drop of water. Desperate, we recited a few passages from the Bible by heart, inventing what we didn't remember. It was at that moment that MR60 came to our rescue. He hosted us on his ranch, quenched our thirst and gave us bags of top quality tobacco. There we found everything we needed: out of tune guitars, out of tune tuners, Paleolithic barrel organs, a Stradivarius and a buffalo skull... We never left…  

"Well actually, we did leave," Lorenzoni admits. "somehow adult life took us one by one into everyday office routines and familiar responsibilities with bills to pay and so on."
 
Relaunched as Onceweresixty in 2018 after a 10-year hiatus, the band began conquering new musical territory, while still paying homage the sonic ghosts of such artists as Belle & Sebastian, Pavement, Morphine, Low, Herman Dune, Silver Jews and The Velvet Underground,.
 
Their indie dream of the early 2000s ultimately gave way to colder and leaner sounds, better reflecting the current times. Luca Sella explains, "If MR60 used to compare the north-eastern Italy cultural desert to the Texan desert landscapes, today that desert is a post-apocalyptic land populated by brain-eating zombies. Anger and ignorance are everywhere. Everything is lost. Or maybe not”
 
As of January 23, 'Don't Get Stuck' will be available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The double EP 'Loco Sunset Boulevard / Ghetto Blast Noise Machine' will be released on March 22, is available for pre-order directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music written by M.Lorenzoni, L. Sella, E. Grando
Lyrics written by M. Lorenzoni
Marco Lorenzoni - guitars, vocals & keyboards
Luca Sella - drums, guitar & vocals
Enrico Grando - keyboards, vocals & saxophone
Recorded and produced by Onceweresixty at VAMpires! Room  
Mixed by Mauro Martinuz at Bottega Sonora
Mastered by Federico Pelle at Basement Studio
Cover artwork by Freddy Mason
Studio photos of Onceweresixty by Ilaria Baggio
Live photos of Onceweresixty by Veronica Bassani and Freddy Mason
This record is dedicated to Loco, who was known to be a good dog, and Enrico Pese, who was known to be a good guy

Keep up with Onceweresixty
Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Ugly Dog Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter| Soundcloud | YouTube 

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Northlane Announce "Mirror's Edge" EP + Share Video for "Miasma"

Australian heavy vanguards Northlane have announced their new EP, Mirror's Edge, out April 12 (Independent). Alongside the news comes the colossal new single "Miasma," featuring Winston McCall from Parkway Drive.

Pre-order the EP here.

Watch the video below.

"Miasma" is a throwback to Northlane's early heavy canon with its scathing and complex guitars, dynamic drumming, and commanding vocals. A tense song born out of frustration that has reached its tipping point, "Miasma" features a crushing performance from Parkway Drive frontman Winston McCall. McCall's guest appearance is a significant one for Northlane because, as guitarist Josh Smith explains, Parkway Drive set the blueprint for all heavy bands in Australia. 

"Parkway Drive were always our number one inspiration as a band," Smith says. "When we first started, their DVD created a roadmap to success, which we did our best to follow. At a time where every band was ripping their sound off, we chose to take our own path but instead emulate their work ethic, and for us it paid dividends. Over time, that respect has flowed both ways. With this track being so heavy, we could'’t think of a more perfect guest than Winston. He flew down from Byron just after we toured together in North America and we tracked his parts in Jon's home studio. His brute voice just tore the track to pieces and we were stunned with the result."

Mirror's Edge was recorded with their old friend and revered producer Will Putney in August this year. Described by Jon Deiley (songwriter/guitarist) as "the greatest hits of Northlane sounds," the EP is a nostalgic journey through all the colors on their sonic palette, with bonus shades from special guests Winston McCall (Parkway Drive) and Ian Kenny (Karnivool/Birds of Tokyo) — two of the most influential artists in Northlane's history. Their former bass player, Brendon Padjasek, also stopped by the studio to lend his scream to one of the tracks. 

Penned just over a year after the release of their #1 award-winning album, Obsidian, the road to Mirror's Edge was a bumpy one. Instead of riding high from the success of the album, the simmering tension and communication breakdown between band members threatened to engulf Northlane at any moment. Northlane tackled their issues head-on at a writing retreat in Victoria's Yarra Valley, where they worked through their problems and unlocked new channels of creativity in the process that reflects through the EP. From the expansive prog of "Afterimage" to their signature bottom-heavy groove and viscous breakdown of "Kraft" and compulsive beat and electronic focus of "Dante," Mirror's Edge is full of Northlane's most vivid colours and textures. 

Thematically, the EP is about looking at yourself and reflecting on the past one final time before leaving it all behind to find hope in what lies beyond the mirror's edge. With the recurring theme of acceptance binding these songs together, frontman Marcus Bridge is hopeful that Mirror's Edge will be the coda on this part of his personal life, so much of which he has shared in the last couple of Northlane releases.

"It's like looking at your reflection, looking at the past and everything I've been thinking about, or caught up within the last little while," Bridge says. "There's not much positivity in these songs, but it is about acceptance. Hopefully, by putting these songs out, I can leave that stuff behind and I can kind of find a new direction and something to be positive about on the other side of this mirror's edge."

PHOTO CREDIT: Kane Hibberd

ABOUT NORTHLANE:
Northlane are a chart topping, award-winning metal band from Sydney, Australia. Through fearless evolution and unmatched innovation, Northlane have become vanguards of heavy music across the globe, entirely on their own terms. The band have released six acclaimed albums, including ARIA Chart #1 records Obsidian (2022) and Node (2015), alongside Singularity (2013), Mesmer (2017), and Alien (2019) which all debuted at #3. Northlane have also won three consecutive ARIA Awards for Best Hard Rock or Heavy Metal Album, as well as two AIR Awards for Best Independent Heavy Album.

ROTTING CHRIST Announce North American Tour

Back in 1987, Sakis Tolis and his brother Themis started climbing through the dark catacombs of Greece's metal scene as a grindcore act. Now, 35 years later, Rotting Christ tour the world as one of the biggest bands in black metal.  

Rotting Christ just announced their 14th album. ΠΡΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ (Pro Xristoy) is bound to hold a revered place in the band's heretical history. Always true to their name, with Pro Xristoy ("Before Christ"), the band pay tribute to the last of the Pagan kings who resisted the spread of Christianity.     

Pro Xristoy comes out May 24. But lucky fans will get a sneak peek at the new album come March when Rotting Christ tours North America. The band will hit two dates on the West Coast of the United States before playing a string of five shows across Canada. Joining them for this run are Uada and Abigail Williams.   

Rotting Christ 2024 Northwest US and Canadian Tour

March 25 - Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom [TICKETS]
March 26 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS]
March 27 - Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater [TICKETS]
March 29 - Calgary, AB @ Dickens [TICKETS]
March 30 - Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room [TICKETS]
March 31 - Regina, SK @ The Exchange [TICKETS]
April 1 - Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theater [TICKETS]

Before touching down in North America, Rotting Christ are heading off on a tour of Latin America. Fans from Mexico to Argentina will have the pleasure of banging their heads to an unholy litany of the band’s greatest hits. They’ll also be treated to new songs off Pro Xristoy that are bound to become setlist staples.

In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,3000 concerts around the globe.  Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.

Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embraces refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to bush boundaries.

But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any  and  all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek,  English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.

In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristoy.

Pro Xristoy (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.

Line-up
Sakis Tolis: Guitar/Vocals
Themis Tolis: Drums
Kostas "Spades" Heliotis: Bass
Kostis Fouk: Guitar

Guest Musicians
Amdroniki Skoula - Vocals (on 'La Letra Del Diavolo')
Nikos Kerkiras - Keyboard
Christina Alexiou - Choir
Maria Tsironi - Choir
Alexandros Loyziotis - Choir
Vasilis Karatzas - Choir

Andrew Liles - Narration (on 'The Apostate', 'Pretty World, Pretty Dies')
Kim Diaz Holm - Narration (on 'Ygdrassil')

Recording Studio
Deva Sounds Studios (Athens, Greece)

Producer
Sakis Tolis

Sound Engineer
Fotis Bernando
Aggelos Karatzas

Mixing
Jens Borgen at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)

Mastering
Tony Lidgren at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)

Artwork Artists
Thomas Cole - Artwork
Adrien Bousson - Digital Processing

Biography
Sebastien Gamez

Links:
Official Website: https://www.rotting-christ.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia
Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ

Shop: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/rotting-shop
Stream/Download: https://orcd.co/rcheretics

Sylvaine Announces New EP

SYLVAINE has grown into a guiding light for ambient post-metal and atmospheric black metal. But today, she's tracing back to her roots on Eg Er Framand.

Growing up in Norway, amidst the contrasts between nature and urbanity, Kathrine Shepard often performed in the Kampen Church in Oslo. This 19th century relic is where she recorded the entirety of her ethereal new EP.

Lead single "Dagsens Augo Sloknar" comes from mysterious origins. The lyrics were written in 1891 by Elias Blix, a professor-turned-politician, who also wrote hymns. Staying true to the original's delicate, reverent melody, Sylvaine sings in a breathy, elongated whisper that's both haunting and soothing.

The music video for "Dagsens Augo Sloknar Ut" was directed and produced by William Lacalmontie. Kathrine dances and enchants across a magnificent tapestry of poetic landscapes, striking the beautiful balance that's at the heart of Eg Er Framand.

Watch the video below.

Eg Er Framand is out March 22 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/SylvaineEgErFramand
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/egerframand

With "Dagsens Augo Sloknar Ut", Sylvaine opens the book on an intricate, transformative fairy tale.

"A beating heart so pure
Who wished to feel once more
As her eyes slowly opened to the world

She lifted her head
And at once beheld
A light in front of her

A path to take
The choice to make
To lead her on her way

A story about to begin
Of a soul ignited again
On a road to turn loose dismay?"

Kathrine Shepard, the visionary artist behind the evocative musical project SYLVAINE, weaves an intricate tapestry of emotions through the language of music. A transcendental bridge between worlds, a mesmerizing duality that encapsulates the beautiful and the harsh, light and darkness, serenity and chaos, and the delicate balance between the external world and the inner sanctum of the soul. It is a symphony that harmonizes the human experience with its spiritual origins – a resonance of something beyond the tangible.

Sylvaine’s compositions are a visceral journey through the vast spectrum of emotions that the complexities of the human experience have to offer. They encapsulate the inherent struggle of being an entity in this world, yet not entirely of it. Katherine’s music serves as a conduit for her innermost feelings, a cathartic expression of the eternal longing that resides within the very core of her melodies.

Akin to a fairytale spun from the threads of Norwegian folklore, a narrative that resonates with the spirits of ancient woods and the whispers of long forgotten creatures. With every ethereal note and haunting melody, she conjures images of untamed forests, of misty clearings inhabited by mystical beings. In this artistry, there is an undeniable sense of transcendence, where listeners are transported beyond the confines of the ordinary into a dreamscape where reality and fantasy converge. A profound sense of wonder and allure creates a unique musical alchemy – with a touch of enchantment that lingers long after the music has ceased.

With four albums and one split-EP released to date, Sylvaine’s ethereal soundscapes have been taken to stages across Europe, North America and South America, leaving audiences mesmerized by the transcendent power of the band’s live performances. Two of these albums have been nominated for the Norwegian Grammy Awards Spellemannprisen in the category of metal. The ability to transport listeners to otherworldly realm through her music is a manifestation of the artistry & profound impact the band can bring.

As Sylvaine prepares to unveil her upcoming EP, Eg Er Framand, she embarks on a deeply introspective and serene journey through the rich tapestry of Norwegian heritage and tradition. Folk tales of old are brought to life in this new chapter of her musical odyssey, offering a glimpse into the depths of her creative spirit and an exploration of the roots that anchor her artistry. A reflection of myths is embraced through exquisite sonic realms.

Line-up
Sylvaine - Vocals, Church Organ, Guitars, Synthesizers & Percussion

Recording Studio
Kampen Kirke

Sound Engineer
Sylvaine

Mixing Engineer
Magnus Lindberg (Magnus Lindberg Productions/VRTKL Audio/Redmount Studio)

Mastering Engineer
Karl Daniel Lidén

Biography:Sébastien Gamez

Cover art & Photography:Helena Aguilar Mayans

Layout & Graphic Design: Dehn Sora

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

Pre-order:
https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/sylvaine-eg-er-framand 

Links:
Official Website: https://www.sylvainemusic.com/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/sylvaine/455094955
Bandcamp: https://sylvainemusic.bandcamp.com/music
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sylvainemusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sylvainemusic/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5C9ocrDvsfSz8qcxG70QEe
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/SylvaineMusic
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYoMxOgKpnqGrj-impj1wDQ
Last.FM: https://www.last.fm/music/Sylvaine

Booking Contact:
Alexander Obert - alexander@doomstarbookings.com

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Coke Bottle Green

Photo by Helena Aguilar Mayans

NECROPHOBIC Shares Lyric Video for Melodic New Song, “As Stars Collide”

Swedish blackened death metal masters NECROPHOBIC are now unveiling their melodic new single, "As Stars Collide." The track can be found along with a cosmic lyric video, which was created by Brendan McGowan, below..

"As Stars Collide" is taken from NECROPHOBIC's upcoming tenth studio album, 'In the Twilight Grey,' which is due on March 15, 2023 via Century Media Records!

Lead guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt says that "As Stars Collide" is “The most important song on the album for me personally. It starts off with the main melody, that was actually something my mother sang to me as a kid in the early 70’s. It is almost like a chant, or a dark lullaby. I wanted to honor her melody, but put it in my own context. I used one of the oldest stories ever told and drew inspiration from 'Innana’s Descent' - the tale where the morning and evening star meet in the underworld to decide whether good or evil should reign. I wanted to create something that stretched beyond the metal barriers.”

'In the Twilight Grey' is now available for pre-orders HERE and can be found in the following formats:

Ltd. Deluxe Gatefold combat green 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster incl. 2 bonus tracks (1.000x)

Gatefold black LP

Gatefold dark green LP (300x)

Ltd. CD Mediabook (comes with a special, extended booklet and 2 bonus tracks)

Standard CD Jewelcase

Digital album

Enigmatically titled 'In the Twilight Grey,' NECROPHOBIC’s tenth studio album immediately asserts its separation from everything that has gone before. Colder and more biting than recent efforts, the album is full of brutish metal songs, hewn from unnamed obsidian horrors.

NECROPHOBIC has always been a dynamic and daring band. 'In the Twilight Grey' hammers the Swedish blackened death metal masters' boldness home via some of the most hard-hitting and direct songs they have ever recorded. Equally, the new album is home to several songs that push NECROPHOBIC’s music down strange, new avenues. Fueled by the dark side, lead guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt understands the importance of retaining the essence of the band’s early days, even as the means of expression continues to evolve.

Yet again 'In the Twilight Grey' was produced, mixed and mastered by Fredrik Folkare (of death metal icons Unleashed) at Chrome Studios, Stockholm and engineered in close collaboration by Folkare and the band themselves. For the artwork they teamed up with Jens Rydén, another likeminded and highly regarded institution from the Swedish metal scene.

With over thirty years of active, nefarious service under their spikes and bulletbelts, NECROPHOBIC are undisputed legends of the death and black metal scene. Formed in 1989 by drummer Joakim Sterner, the Stockholm blackhearts propagated a singular and fearless vision from the very start.

Eschewing the self-conscious amateurism and primitive sonics that many of their peers held dear, NECROPHOBIC established a bold and vivid identity of their own, conjuring a densely melodic, but endlessly wicked take on macabre extreme metal that countless lesser bands have since emulated.

You can take a deep dive into their history via the rereleases of their entire back catalogue that Century Media Records made available in 2022 HERE.

Line-Up:

Johan Bergebäck - Rhythm guitar

Joakim Sterner - Drums

Sebastian Ramstedt - Lead guitar

Anders Strokirk - Vocals

Tobias Cristiansson - Bass

Cover Artist + Photos: Jens Rydén

Production, Mixing, Mastering: Fredrik Folkare @ Chrome Studios

Engineering: Fredrik Folkare + Necrophobic

Links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

YOUTUBE

SHOP

Photo by Jens Rydén

VLTIMAS Bring Righteous Scorn on New Single

VLTIMAS are legends of the underworld. Any good Satanist knows to bow down and worship at the horned feet of David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel), Rune Eriksen (ex-Mayhem) and Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy). Their debut was greeted with a rapturous procession of devil horns. But with their new album, these gods of dark, extreme metal have ascended to truly epic heights.

Today, VLTIMAS are releasing "Scorcher", the album's hellacious second single.

Watch the visualizer below.

EPIC comes out March 15, 2024.

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

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

Some metal songs prefer to slowly unfold before blowing out your ear drums. But rest assured, "Scorcher" is not a slow burn. Sure, the guitars lure you in with a smoky seance. Once Rune tightens those chords into icy black tremolo picking though, VLTIMAS take off like a bat out of hell. The amps crank up; Flo fires off blast beats that are hot enough to singe an angel's wings, while David Vincent unleashes a miles-long battle cry.       

"Satan laughs as worlds collide!"

His growl is so massive, so heartless, you'd better believe that he's talking about himself.

"'Scorcher' brings to life a fantastic story of the great purge that's coming our way", says Vincent. "Humanity has been sleepwalking toward this reckoning for centuries. There will be no refuge, nor mercy granted".

Visualizer made by Aimed & Framed.

VLTIMAS have been making grand declarations of war for more than 30 years, but the lead single off EPIC isn't just another offering at the altar of madness. 

"I spread my misery, biblically evolved", David Vincent sings on "Miserere" in a  baritone that's so monstrous it could summon an army of the dead.

The drums speed ahead mercilessly, mowing down all onlookers under a barrage of surgical blast beats, as riffs hail from all directions with enough firepower to shatter bulletproof glass. 

Watch the blistering music video: https://youtu.be/AR8LhYBaRfw

Extreme metal powerhouse VLTIMAS (pronounced 'uhl-tuh-mas') assault metaldom once more with their highly-anticipated sophomore album, EPIC, through Season of Mist. Featuring Norwegian guitarist Rune "Blasphemer" Eriksen (ex-Mayhem, RUÏM), American vocalist David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel), and Canadian drummer Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), the multinational quintet, rounded out by Dutch bassist Ype TVS (ex-Dodecahedron) and Portuguese guitarist João Duarte (Corpus Christii), continue to venture down their path. Moored by strength and integrity, VLTIMAS fortified their signature with wicked invention, as applauded by Decibel Magazine, BangerTV, Louder, and many others, on their debut, Something Wicked Marches In (2019). Singles "Miserere," "Scorcher," and "Invictus" showcase a band of musicians at the top of their game, united in their pursuit of oneness.

"We wrote every bit of EPIC together at my ranch in Dime Box, Texas," offers Vincent. "The writing sessions were as organic as they could be. There were times when, at the end of the night, Rune would take his guitar and play something ridiculous. Flo would play something even more ridiculous on top of it. I'd say to the guys, 'I need to capture this.' So, the magic [of VLTIMAS] is being in the same room together, discussing, playing, and recording music and everything else we're doing together. We have unbelievable camaraderie."
 

While the members of VLTIMAS are not atavists, their preferred creative methods are time-tested and battle-hardened. Technology has its place, but the group thrive when they're together, not separated by the world. Eriksen, renowned as a riff innovator, is more effective when he's got a highly capable sideman like Vincent or Mounier, whose drumming in Cryptopsy and his celebrated instructional Extreme Metal Drumming 101 DVD has proven to be a no-limits player, by his side. Whether it's the moody, angular attack of "Miserere," the wicked groove of "Mephisto Manifesto," or the dark fury of "Nature's Fangs," the chemistry and enterprise of VLTIMAS is undeniable.

"The main goal [of VLTIMAS] is to be real," Eriksen reveals. "To channel the very moment, to let true inspiration out. I don't believe I ever set myself a goal on what an album should or needs to sound like before I or we write it because that means I have to compromise during the process. For EPIC, we focused on more direct songs, trimming the fat, as opposed to Something Wicked Marches In, which had a progressive and 'playful' flair."

VLTIMAS was a profane concept—a constellation of riffs against a modest frame—when formed by Eriksen in 2015. After departing Mayhem in 2008 and putting his gothic doom outfit Ava Inferi to rest in 2013, the Norwegian's fingers still itched with infernal fury. VLTIMAS was his vent, and when Mounier and Vincent joined, he finally had the cadre of professionals to make it a reality. Together, they devised complementary schemes and themes rooted in rightness. In a world gone mad, VLTIMAS had a vision. On Something Wicked Marches In, they commanded attention with metaphors about the apocalypse, the ancient goddess Lilith, and truth. Lyrically, EPIC spears into the very nucleus of strength through Vincent's brio of double entendre and clever wordsmithing. The songs are designed to be heard, read, and interpreted—there are no shortcuts.

"Everything we're doing and messaging is about strength and honor," says Vincent. "These are the fundamentals that I incorporate into my life, which I believe in. I want to share with others, hoping they'll incorporate strength and honor into their lives. I wouldn't say I like spelling lyrics out. I use a lot of double meanings on purpose because I want to inspire the listener to think. I'm not a short attention span guy, and I don't appreciate it. EPIC is holistic and meant to be experienced that way."

EPIC was recorded by producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Grave Miasma) with engineer Jonathan Mazzeo (First Fragment, Sickening) at Arda Recorders in Porto, Portugal. VLTIMAS tracked the album throughout May 2023. Arellano also handled the mix and master. Like everything the band does, the main goal was to be honest. The maxim of no sample replacement or re-amping—EPIC was captured on outboard gear—was adhered to and enjoyed by the team. The result is a sonic expression that sounds like nothing else. From the crushing title track to the epic musicality of closer "Spoils of War," EPIC is an absolute beast.

"Stress, long walks, too much alcohol, yet very focused once in the recording mode," Eriksen says of the sessions. "We booked a month, but somehow, that flew by instantly. We worked up until the very end. I even added a few solos at my local Soundscape Studio in Almada, Portugal. Art unfolds, and once you think you are done, there's always another idea popping up."

VLTIMAS brought Italian artist Daniele Valeriani (Mayhem, Unanimated) to visualize EPIC. The aesthetic, as illuminated by music and message, was iconic boldness. The three-eagle head crest with three different crowns, accompanied by transfigured symbols of the Passion and the "impossible triangle," projects effortlessly. In EPIC, the group will dominate. There's no escape from "Miserere," "Mephisto Manifesto," "Scorcher," and "Invictus." Together, they thrust, by resolve and inventiveness, VLTIMAS into the uppermost echelons of extreme metal.

"[EPIC is] old meets contemporary, a symbiosis of all the great things we love about extreme metal," offers Eriksen. "All combined into one album."

"I want to be as emotional and honest [with VLTIMAS]," Vincent adds. "I want to tell stories; I want to have the themes that appeal to me; I want to have some messaging that someone can take away, in this case, strength. EPIC is strength."

Lineup
David Vincent - Vocals
Rune Blasphemer Eriksen - Guitars
Flo Mounier - Drums
Ype TVS - Bass
João Duarte - Guitars

Recording studio
ARDA Recorders

Producer
Jamie Gomez Arellano

Sound engineer
Jonathan Mazzeo

Mixing and mastering engineer
Jaime Gomez Arellano

Mixing and mastering studio 
Arda Recorders, Orgone Studio

Cover art
Daniele Valeriani

Additional artwork and layout
Adrien Bousson

Biography
Chris Dick

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

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

Links:
Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vltimas/1445457453
Bandcamp:https://vltimas.bandcamp.com/
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/vltimas/
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/vltimas/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kz64zyv2xtkdhboztpdwa
Twitter:https://www.twitter.com/vltimas?lang=en

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Skull Gold
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Dracula
12" Picture Vinyl

NECROWRETCH Blaze Through the Desert on New Single

Necrowretch might have emerged alongside the revival of old school death metal, but these deadly sorcerers have always carried a Satanic streak. After all, their new album, Swords of Dajjal, is named after the Islamic Antichrist. 

Today, the blackened French band are summoning the gods of barbarity with "Dii Mauri", the album's smoldering third single.

Watch the treacherous video below.

Swords of Dajjal comes out February 2, 2024.

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

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

"Dii Mauri" begins with a blessing and a curse. "Ave Ingirozoglezim!" Vlad spews, conjuring the fully eruptive force of his band. Drum fills reign down like boulders, while the riffs churn and whip with the blinding fury of a sandstorm. Even in the midst of a lone, piercing guitar that drifts through the air like a mirage, one thing is clear. In their wake, Necrowretch leave nothing but devastation. 

"This song pays tribute to the ancient Moorish Gods in Dii Mauri", says Necrowretch. "Unlike the other Gods that the Roman Empire was integrating into their pantheon after each conquest, the Dii Mauri were considered too barbaric to be ever integrated.

So shall it be... to scribe thy names
So shall it be... to cast thy flames..."

The video for "Dii Mauri" was filmed on location in Spain and Kyrgyzstan. It was directed, filmed and edited by Mounir Chraibi. 

Horse training was provided by Carolina Lindenau from Spain's Rancho Bonanza.

Now entering their fifteenth year as a band, France’s Necrowretch are about to open the most ambitious chapter of their career with Swords Of Dajjal, their three-years-in-the-making fifth album.

Initially the sole work of multi-instrument and vision leader Vlad, the band was originally for better and for worse lumped in the ‘old school death metal revival’ of the early 10’s. Yet while their debut Putrid Death Sorcery did bear indeed all the usual suspects of said genre, it nevertheless already had that extra, raw-as-fuck and just plain vicious element that really set them apart from the rest of the pack. Conforming to the norm was never in question and instead of selling out or trying to slow things down, as true misfits as they are, the went the exact opposite direction, first with 2015’s With Serpents Scourge, only to be vigorously confirmed by its furious follow-up, and first for Season Of Mist, 2017’s Satanic Slavery. To the point where once the touring cycle was over for the latter, Vlad himself felt he had explored this direction as far as he could have and that changes were on the horizon.

“On Satanic Slavery we on purpose took things as far as we could as our goal was to deliver the most bestial album possible. But once we achieved that goal, I knew we had to take a slightly different if still as uncompromised direction.” Incidentally, that’s when Wenceslas Carrieu from Cadaveric FUMES entered the picture, first as a momentary live session on bass. But when second stringer Kev Desecrator vowed to amicably part way with the band to focus on DESTRÖYER 666, he switched to six-strings and proved to be the valuable songwriting partner Vlad had been looking for since the departure of the band original bass player Amphycion in 2015. “Heimmediately came up with lots of ideas and thanks to him, we now have a whole new dynamic: a bit like Sepultura had back in the days in between Max Cavalera and Andreas Kisser, with me focusing now on my vocals and playing rhythm guitars while Wenceslas takes care of all the solos, the starting riffs and the off-the-map bits.

With their fourth album, and first with Wencelas, The Ones From Hell was only one month old, Necrowretch was about to tour Europe with both Kampfar and Taake for three weeks. A tour bus was booked, the set was well-rehearsed, everything was ready and then... disaster struck. “Six days before we were due to play our first show, the whole thing was cancelled. Then COVID hit us and the world was basically shut down. We were numb for a couple of days but soon realized that the best way to bounce back was to move forward so we instantly started working on new songs.” The result is Swords Of Dajjal by far, their biggest, boldest and most ambitiousproduction ever.

“We spent no less than three years working on the songs, demoeing them and finetuning the details and rehearsing them as a three-piece and six weeks in the studio with Francis Caste (Hangman's Chair, REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER, Svart Crown etc.). Prior to that, we used to be a pure product of the underground, with albums done in just a couple of days whom were never 100% satisfied with in the end as we had to rush everything. We’re still very underground, mind you. But this time around, we knew we had to give it all, no matter what. So we started by changing our gear, our sound and our tuning. And once we entered the studio, we forinstance spent a whole day just testing different amps just to get the right sound and crunch we were looking for. I even took some singing lessons to gain more depth and power. In a way, it almost feels like a whole new band.”

The whole record was written on purpose mostly on acoustic twelve-string guitars (“the idea was that if it sounds good and catchy that way, it’d be even better with distortion”) and as a three-piece, “something we hadn’t done in a long time” with their new drummer Nicolas Ferrero, not exactly a newcomer as he’s been playing on and off live with them since 2018. The result is, according to Vlad, “our most black metal record, with splashes of death metal here and there. Whereas on the previous album all tempos were pushed to the extreme, there’s far more variety here to be found. Italso gave us free reins to reach a more mystical, Biblical if you will vibe” fed by his experience living in Turkey in the late 10’s. “We choose to focus on the Dajjal character, basically the antichrist in the Muslim religion. The Coran says that he’ll appear as a false prophet only to bring doom to this world, with an army of demons coming from the east.” Represented on the cover of the album with his double edged sword and bathed in the same kind of reddish and orangey mesmerizing lights one can experience when the sun sets on wind-beaten deserts, all eight songs on the album are prophecies, past and future, where Dajjal plays the leading role.

Now completed on bass by R. Cadaver (former Cadaveric Fumes vocalist) who officially joined once the recording was done after playing as a live session member for the last two years, and armed with their biggest, most complex and intense album of their career, Necrowretch are about to yield their sword of destruction and exterminate everything in sight.

Lineup
Vlad - Vocals, Guitars
W. Cadaver - Lead Guitars
R. Cadaver (Live) - Bass
N. Destroyer - Drums

Recording Studio       
Studio Sainte Marthe, Paris

Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer
Francis Caste

Cover Art
Stefan Thanneur / Manifeste

Photography
Léonor Ananké

Biography
​​​​​Olivier Zoltar Badin

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

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

Booking
necrowretch@gmail.com

Links:
Official Website: https://necrowretch.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Necrowretch
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/necrowretch
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-fr/artist/0cIx910hgtpgvicBJv3ybq
Bandcamp: https://necrowretch.bandcamp.com/

Available Formats:
CD Digipak
CD Digipak + Exclusive Woven Patch w/ Red Merrow Border
Digital Download
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Transparent Yellow
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear, Yellow & Black Marbled

Photo by Léonor Ananké

AMERICAN IDOL SEASON 21 FINALIST AND 19 RECORDINGS/BMG POP VOCALIST, PERFORMER, AND SONGWRITER HAVEN MADISON RELEASES “SKY UP” FROM FORTHCOMING EP

American Idol Season 21 finalist and 19 Recordings/BMG pop vocalist, performer, and songwriter Haven Madison, announces her brand-new track, “Sky Up.” Available today along with an official animation video, the song serves as the premiere release in anticipation of Madison’s five-track studio EP TURN OFF ALL THE LIGHTS that will drop worldwide on April 26. Listen to “Sky Up” and pre-order/pre-save/pre-add the EP here and watch the official animation video below.

A rare, young artist with a vision and a message for the world, Madison delivers a powerfully haunting ballad with “Sky Up” - a song about feeling like the depths of your emotions are a weight, bringing down someone you love. The official animated video for “Sky Up” features the Oscar Shortlisted, Annie Nominated, AACTA winning Australian short film “Lost & Found.” The stop motion animated short, paired with Madison’s song, tells a moving and powerful story about connection and tug at the heart strings as a clumsy crochet dinosaur must unravel itself to save the love of its life.

“‘Sky Up’ came together like it was in my bones just waiting to be found,” says Madison. “From the moment I listened to the demo to now, it has continued to move me in a way that no other song of mine has. It’s so vulnerable, raw, and dives into a feeling I’m sure everyone has felt but has not been able to describe. I cannot wait for people to listen and find their own truth to its music and art.”

The piano-driven “Sky Up” was written by Madison and songwriter/producer Dave Pittenger. Named a Hitmaker by Variety magazine and nominated for a GRAMMY in 2023 for Song of the Year, Pittenger also serves as producer on Madison’s upcoming debut EP. Pittenger had a multi-week global smash hit with “abcdefu” (GAYLE), which spent several weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Global 200, as well as the Billboard Top 40 airplay chart.

“Sky Up” showcases Madison’s immense talent as a singer/songwriter and powerful vocalist and follows on the heels of her successful run as a Top 8 finalist on ABC’s American Idol where she performed her own originals like the wistful “Fifteen” and heartfelt “Still Need You” that she wrote about her brother’s fight against depression and suicide. Earning instant praise from judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan, as well as guest judge Ed Sheeran, Madison’s viral duet performance of “Still Need You” with Perry catapulted her into the spotlight, garnering the admiration of millions of viewers and fans.

Hailed as “the next big pop star” by Perry, Madison is no stranger to the music business. Having grown up in a music family touring the world, she discovered her passion for performing and songwriting at an early age. Her run on American Idol only fueled her hunger, leading Madison to immediately return to Nashville, post-show, and get to work in the studio. Turning to her passion for songwriting, she journaled her way into crafting an honest, coming of age collection of songs that comprise her upcoming EP, Turn Off All The Lights.

Look for Madison’s official music video for “Sky Up” that will also premiere worldwide on Thursday, Jan. 25. 

About 19 Recordings:

19 Recordings is an LA–based record label owned by Sony Pictures’ 19 Entertainment. Founded in London in 1999 as the music division of 19 Entertainment, the label was one of the top record imprints as compiled by Billboard in 2012. 19 Recordings has been a part of the successful music careers of platinum artists Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Phillip Phillips, Lauren Alaina, Gabby Barrett, and Chayce Beckham, among many others.

About BMG:

BMG is the world’s fourth-biggest music company, the first new global player in the music business of the streaming age, and a record label and music publisher in one. Named in 2020 one of the world’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company, BMG’s pitch is unique – a relentless focus on fairness and transparency and service to its artist and songwriter clients. BMG’s 20 offices across 12 core music markets now represent over three million songs and recordings, including many of the most renowned and successful catalogs in popular music history. BMG’s fresh approach includes production music, films, books, artist management, merchandise, neighboring rights, and live as well as music publishing and recordings off the same service platform. BMG is owned by international media, services and education company Bertelsmann, whose other content businesses include the broadcaster RTL Group, the trade book publisher Penguin Random House and the magazine publisher Gruner + Jahr. With its multi-platform perspective, integrated technology platform and commitment to help artists maximize their income, BMG aims to be the best company in music to do business with. For more information, visit www.bmg.com. 

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

KEEP UP WITH HAVEN MADISON

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK  

Myrath Share New Single And Video "Into the Light"

NEW ALBUM KARMA OUT MARCH 8

Myrath present "Into the Light," an emotionally charged anthem that embodies the transformative journey from despair to empowerment. Lyrics like"Overcome the weakness and the pain, how much of your life you’ll lose in vain, now it’s your call either embrace the night or dive into the light" describe the struggles against inner darkness, capture the essence of resilience.

 The lyrics deliver a powerful melody that complements the message, making "Into the Light" a guiding voice to strength and courage in troubled times. For everyone seeking solace in the music they listen to in times where life is uncertain and presents you with difficulty, "Into the Light" can be the bridge to inner peace.

Listen to "Into the Light" here.

Watch the video below.

"Myrath from Tunisia might just be the most underrated band ever. Their new album really excites me — they have something fresh and back it up with a great stage show. They played a tiny stage at Wacken where nobody brings more than guitars and amps, and brought a two-truck production. It was amazing!," says Pär Sundström of Sabaton

"There are too many great songs on this album to pick favorites" — 9/10, Powerplay (UK)

"This band will explode internationally in 2024" — Fireworks (UK)

As the sands of time continued to shape their journey, Myrath's relentless dedication led to the creation of their forthcoming album Karma, slated for release on March 8 via earMUSIC as limited transparent red LP, black LP, and Digipak. The forthcoming opus promises to be a testament to their evolution, delivering a sonic tapestry woven from passion and innovation.

With Karma, Myrath solidify their sound — a powerful and captivating blend of Eastern melodies and Western heavy metal. From the epic opening track "To The Stars" to the hauntingly beautiful "Child Of Prophecy," this album will take you on a theatrical journey through a world of myth and legend. 

Featuring soaring vocals, intricate guitar riffs, and complex percussion, Karma showcases the virtuosity and creativity that have made Myrath one of the most exciting and innovative bands in the genre. With its stunning production and lush soundscapes, this album is sure to be a classic for years to come.

Unsufferable Release Self-Titled EP Via Iodine // Watch "Enemy of the State" Lyric Video❗

UNSUFFERABLE TO RELEASE SELF-TITLED EP VIA IODINE RECORDINGS

FULL-LENGTH PLANNED FOR 2025

Formed in early 2023, Unsufferable features Robert Fish (108, Ressurection, The Judas Factor, etc.), Dave Buschemeyer (Omen Astra, New Day Rising, Spread the Disease, etc.), and Ryan McInturff (The Fault of Man, Bloodjinn, etc.). Loud, heavy, and unrelenting, Unsufferable create a soundtrack for the collision of one's aspiration for a free and loving world against the reality of a world seemingly determined to destroy itself and any sense of humanity and compassion that remains.

In the spring of 2023, Unsufferable recorded a two-song self-titled EP. 

"Enemy of the State" offers an unapologetic challenge to those who seek to mandate what a woman can and cannot do with her body. "Picking rights off, one by one, it's easy to feel free until you're the one" stands as a reminder that the assault on a woman's right to choose is but the beginning. Watch the lyric video below.

The second song, "Revisionist," makes the case that, as a society, we cannot heal or prosper until we acknowledge and learn from our blood-soaked history.

Unsufferable recently partnered with Iodine Recordings to release their self-titled EP, followed by an LP, which will be recorded over the coming months and released in 2025.

Pre-order the physical EP, out March 1, here. The digital version is out now.

Spoken feat. Brian 'Head' Welch; New Single "Anymore"

Spoken have their brand new single, "Anymore" feat. Brian 'Head' Welch today, The new track is the second to be released off their upcoming album, 'Reflection' which is set to be released on March 15th via XOVR Records - the new label venture between Brian 'Head' Welch (Korn and Love and Death) and his long-time personal manager, David W. Williams. Spoken are the label's inaugural signing featuring Welch’s Love and Death guitarist and bandmate, JR Bareis. Furthering the connection, Welch also appears on today's release, lending his inimitable vocal stylings to the track. Stream "Anymore" HERE and watch the visualizer HERE or by clicking below.

Speaking on his involvement with singing the band and performing on their new track, Brian 'Head' Welch shares

"Collaborating with Matt Baird on Love and Death's first record with the cover song "Whip It" from Devo happened years ago, so jumping on their track "Anymore" was long overdue!It was great to pick up the mic again, to do some vocals, especially because this song crushes! It's hard and aggressive in all the right ways, but the chorus has such a great hook that I think this will be one of the fan favorites off Spoken's new album, Reflection."

'Reflection' marks a significant milestone for Spoken, coming seven years after their last album. With an intriguing blend of melody, aggression, thought-provoking lyrics, dynamic guitar riffs, and meticulously crafted drums, the album is poised to be a favourite among fans and a catalyst for garnering a new wave of followers. 'Reflection' is not just an album; it's an exploration of the journey of life, a testament to resilience and the power of moving forward with hope. A limited number of special pre-order bundles are available now HERE, featuring new merch, autographed collectibles and more. 

Spoken are

Matt Baird

J.R. Bareis

Dylan Levernoch 

Jared Wisner

Kenny's "Take Her Home" Vid Evokes Innocence & A Chance

It’s been four years since Kenny Chesney created new music for No Shoes Nation. During that time, he got to reflect on some of the great songs he’s written and been able to record, the kinds of songs that helped make him the artist with the most No. 1’s in Billboard’s Country Airplay category. And when the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar heard “Take Her Home,” he responded because – like Academy of Country Music Single of the Year “The Good Stuff,” “Don’t Blink” or even “There Goes My Life” – it served as a series of snapshots that marked pivotal moments in how love happens.
 
When it came time for a video for the song currently moving up the chart, the man known for his high energy shows and stadium-sized summers wanted something decidedly different. As he explains of the creative mandate for the video for “Take Her Home,” “Everything about this song is a little movie. Each verse is its own act, and you can see all the details if you’re listening. The deep cut Cheap Trick on a jukebox in a crowded bar... the pink and black suitcases... even the little baby in the last verse. There’s so much detail, people can see it in their heads.
 
“I wanted to figure a way that mirrors the innocence in this song. I wanted something that wouldn’t take away what someone else was seeing when they saw the video. It seems like the opposite from what you might do, but I think it’ll make sense when people see it.”
 
Simple and straightforward, the “Take Her Home” video leaves lots of room for people to populate with their own images, their own life’s story even. While Chesney serves as the clip’s narrator, an old school video effect turns the action into a slightly distorted set of vignettes that follow the storyline without overwhelming viewers’ own inner movies.
 
“Songs like ‘Take Her Home’ deserve to paint pictures for the listeners,” Chesney continues. “When you can see yourself, or your friends, or someone you know in a song, that’s when a song will last long after it’s done playing. To me, this song has that potential for people... and as much as I like making videos, I also know the power of No Shoes Nation’s ability to live in my songs.”
 
Watch the video for “Take Her Home” below.

Having announced the March 29 release of BORN, his greatly anticipated album, Chesney is moving the creative process forward with purpose. Not only is he delivering the video from “Take Her Home” directly to his fans, he’s finalizing the track listing for his first new music since 2020.
 
Defining his place in American music by distilling the best part of being young, alive and seeking what the world has to offer, that hunger for music and life as it’s lived continues fueling Chesney’s work. As the chiming acoustically-grounded life-in-three-acts “Take Her Home” continues its rise up the charts, currently #27, it’s hitting a note for listeners who’ve been there.
 
With his Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour adding an unprecedented third show at Foxborough, Mass.’s Gillette Stadium, Chesney’s ability to make common moments remarkable brings No Shoes Nation together summer after summer. “Take Her Home” is part of that magic.

The Plot In You Drop New Single "Closure" and Official Music Video via Fearless Records

The Plot In You are kicking off 2024 with the release of their insanely catchy yet deeply poignant new track "Closure" and the official music video. "Closure" can be found on the band's newly-announced forthcoming EP 'Vol. 2', set for release on Friday, May 3 (via Fearless Records). When asked about the inspiration behind today's release, the band shared:

"'Closure' is about the intricacies of loss and separation. Hoping the best for a loved one but being unable to continue on with their presence in your life."

Leading up to today, The Plot In You released 'Vol. 1' last week, comprised of smash-hits "Divide", "Left Behind", and "Forgotten" which altogether have amassed nearly 40 million streams on Spotify alone and 3.5 million views on YouTube and counting. Stream "Closure" here, watch the music video below and pre-save 'Vol. 2' here.

North American fans have their chance to see the band on the road now with Beartooth, Invent Animate, and Sleep Theory. Dates are selling out quickly so grab your tickets before it's too late at the link here, and be sure to stay tuned for more The Plot In You news coming soon.

North American Tour 2024 Dates:

Jan 19: Toronto, ON @ History (Sold Out)

Jan 20: Montreal, QB @ M Telus (Sold Out)

Jan 21: Boston, MA @ House of Blues (Sold Out)

Jan 23: Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall (Sold Out)

Jan 24: Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian (Sold Out)

Jan 26: New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square (Sold Out)

Jan 27: Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head (Sold Out)

Jan 28: Norfolk, VA @ The NorVA (Sold Out)

Jan 30: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle (Sold Out)

Jan 31: Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore (Sold Out)

Feb 2: Charleston, SC @ Charleston Music Hall (Sold Out)

Feb 3: Orlando, FL @ House of Blues (Sold Out)

Feb 11: Tampa, FL @ Jannus (Sold Out)

Feb 13: Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall (Sold Out)

Feb 14: New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues (Sold Out)

Feb 15: Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Sold Out)

Feb 17: San Antonio, TX @ Boeing Center at Tech Port - Low Tickets

Feb 18: Dallas, TX @ House of Blues (Sold Out)

Feb 20: Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren (Sold Out)

Feb 21: San Diego, CA @ Soma 

Feb 22: Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern - Low Tickets

Feb 24: Sacramento, CA @ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino(Sold Out) 

Feb 25: Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom (Sold Out) 

Feb 27: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo (Sold Out)

Feb 28: Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory (Sold Out)

Mar 1: Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory (Sold Out)

Mar 2: Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex - Low Tickets

Mar 3: Denver, CO @ The Fillmore - Low Tickets

Mar 5: Fargo, ND @ Sanctuary Events Center (Sold Out)

Mar 6: St. Paul, MN @ Myth Live

Mar 8: Chicago, IL @ Riviera - Low Tickets

Mar 9: Madison, WI @ The Sylvee (Sold Out)

Mar 10: Sauget, IL @ Pop's - Low Tickets

Mar 12: Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room - Low Tickets

Mar 13: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works (Sold Out) 

Mar 14: Fort Wayne, IN @ The Clyde Theater

Through balancing even the most extreme dynamics, The Plot In You consistently overturn and upend expectations. On any given track, it might seem like they’re about to go one way, but the band will turn on a dime and shift course before the crowd can even catch a breath. This uncanny element of surprise has entrenched the gold-selling Ohio quartet—Landon Tewers [vocals], Josh Childress [guitar], Ethan Yoder [bass], and Michael Cooper [drums] — on the cutting edge of heavy music. Whether it be threads of alternative, electronic, pop, or R&B, nothing is off limits, and everything is fair game for their creative process. That process has continued to morph. Following a series of fan-favorite releases, the band made major waves with DISPOSE [2018]. “FEEL NOTHING” surged on social media as a viral phenomenon, generating hundreds of millions of streams and picking up a gold certification from the RIAA. The musicians only maintained this momentum with Swan Song in 2021. Hysteria rated it “9-out-of-10”. Simultaneously, they sold out shows coast-to-coast. During 2023, the band kickstarted another era with Vol. 1. “Divide” generated 9 million Spotify streams right out of the gate followed by “Left Behind”, exploding to the tune of 15.9 million Spotify streams. Upon the arrival of “Forgotten”, Revolver praised it among the “6 Best New Songs Right Now.” They only continue to challenge convention by extending this three-song EP series with Vol. 2 [Fearless Records].

ROTTING CHRIST Announce New Album

Rotting Christ have stood the test of time. While their name has caused plenty of gatekeepers to clutch their pearls, Sakis Tolis and has brother Themis have risen from Greece's blackened catacombs to one of metal's most formidable bands. 

This year, Rotting Christ are celebrating 35 years of evil excellence with their 14th album. ΠΡΟ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ (Pro Xristoy) is bound to hold a revered place in the band's heretical history. Always true to their name, with Pro Xristoy ("Before Christ"), the band pay tribute to the last of the Pagan kings by offering up more towering, gothic, melodic black metal. 

Now that Rotting Christ are closing in on four decades, some followers might've wondered if there was any sacred ground left for them to conquer. But Pro Xristoy is a testament to a band that's still on the rise.     

"This album was inspired by the might of ancient pagan wisdom", says Sakis. "It's a tribute to those who resisted the coming of Christianity, which destroyed all the values, traditions and knowledge of the ancient world".

To kick off what's shaping up to be a year's worth of devilish festivities, Rotting Christ are heading off on a tour of Latin America. Fans from Mexico to Argentina will have the pleasure of banging their heads to an unholy litany of the band’s greatest hits. They’ll also be treated to new songs off Pro Xristoy that are bound to become setlist staples.

In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,3000 concerts around the globe.  Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.

Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embraces refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to bush boundaries.

But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any  and  all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek,  English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.

In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristoy.

Pro Xristoy (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.

Line-up
Sakis Tolis: Guitar/Vocals
Themis Tolis: Drums
Kostas "Spades" Heliotis: Bass
Kostis Fouk: Guitar

Guest Musicians
Amdroniki Skoula - Vocals (on 'La Letra Del Diavolo')
Nikos Kerkiras - Keyboard
Christina Alexiou - Choir
Maria Tsironi - Choir
Alexandros Loyziotis - Choir
Vasilis Karatzas - Choir

Andrew Liles - Narration (on 'The Apostate', 'Pretty World, Pretty Dies')
Kim Diaz Holm - Narration (on 'Ygdrassil')

Recording Studio
Deva Sounds Studios (Athens, Greece)

Producer
Sakis Tolis

Sound Engineer
Fotis Bernando
Aggelos Karatzas

Mixing
Jens Borgen at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)

Mastering
Tony Lidgren at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)

Artwork Artists
Thomas Cole - Artwork
Adrien Bousson - Digital Processing

Biography
Sebastien Gamez

Links:
Official Website: https://www.rotting-christ.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia
Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ

Shop: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/rotting-shop
Stream/Download: https://orcd.co/rcheretics