A Wake In Providence Announce New Album 'I Write To You, My Darling Decay' Out July 26 (via Unique Leader Records)

Symphonic deathcore titans A Wake In Providence have announced their upcoming new album 'I Write To You, My Darling Decay' set for release on July 26 via Unique Leader Records. In celebration of the news, the band has released the official lyric video for "Mournful Benediction" featuring Ben Duerr from Shadow Of Intent which can be found on the forthcoming full-length. Speaking on today's news, guitarist and clean vocalist D’andre Tyre shares:

“It is with great pleasure we present “Mournful Benediction" ft. Ben Duerr. This single is the inciting incident within the full narrative of IWTYMDD. This song is a great mix of what to expect from the album, with clean vocals throughout the record along with an onslaught of aggression. We hope you enjoy "Mournful Benediction". 

 'I Write To You, My Darling Decay' is another step in the progression of A Wake In Providence. I wanted to tell a story that encapsulates emotional pain and the lengths some are willing to go to undo that pain. This is an epic told through the nature of the songs, woven together by the Orchestra and interconnected lyrical narrative. I hope you enjoy listening to the album just as much as I enjoyed creating it. Thank you.”

Pre-save 'I Write To You, My Darling Decay' here, stream "Mournful Benediction" featuring Ben Duerr at the link here, and watch the official lyric video  below.

Fans will have their chance to see the band on the road with deathcore titans Oceano and The Last Ten Seconds Of Life kicking off next Wednesday, May 29. For ticket information, please click here.

Upcoming A Wake In Providence Tour Dates with Oceano + The Last Ten Seconds Of Life:

5/29 - Springfield, MO @ The Riff

5/30 - Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street

5/31 - New Orleans, LA @ Southport Hall

6/1 - Corpus Christi, TX @ House Of Rock

6/2 - Ft. Worth, TX @ So What!? Music Fest*

6/4 - Little Rock, AR @ The Rev Room

6/5 - Birmingham, AL @ Workplay

6/6 - Nashville, TN @ The End

6/7 - Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall

6/8 - Toledo, OH @ Toledo Death Fest*

ANCIIENTS Announce New Album

JUNO Award winners latest is a heavy, heady and heartfelt offering of progressive metal.

"Big, melodic and fun" - New Noise

"It's exciting stuff, really - often complicated without seeming excessive, skillful but soulful, approachable but not pedestrian" - Pitchfork

"Heady stuff...arch-synthesists, cleverly appropriating a number of familiar, inter-related genres to fuse into a seamless ethos" - Metal Injection

"Proggy, sludgy and downright rocking" - Angry Metal Guy

"When the riffs rumble out of the speakers, you're moving" - No Clean Singing

"Combining powerful drumming with Thin Lizzy inspired riffs, while sounding like the musical equivalent of Game of Thrones" - Echoes and Dust      

"Parts progressive finesse, classic rock grandstanding and grass-roots bludgeon" - PopMatters 

Many moons ago, Anciients were crowned the guiding lights of progressive metal. The Canadians were already firing on all cylinders during a headlining tour of Europe when they won a JUNO Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year in 2016.

Unfortunately, keeping their avalanche of momentum rocking and rolling proved to be no easy feat. For too long, Anciients seemed to lie dormant, hidden amongst the shadows. But now, after eight years of hermetic silence, the band have returned from the wilderness with a new lineup and their highly-anticipated third album, which now stands as their heaviest, headiest and most heartfelt offering.     

"The hiatus is over", says Anciients' frontman Kenny Cook. "We missed out on a huge block after the last record. But with the new album and new members, we're ready to hit it hard".

Beyond the Reach of the Sun comes out August 30, 2024 on Season of Mist. 

Listen to the mind-blowing lead single "Melt the Crown" Below.

Pre-order & Stream

https://orcd.co/anciientsbeyondthereachofthesun

For those foolish enough to forget, Beyond the Reach of the Sun will serve as a reminder that Anciients can still rule with an iron fist. The album tells the story of a society that's enslaved by forces from another dimension. "Melt the Crown" is plenty punishing in its own right. Mike Hannay drums with the crushing speed of a meteor. Only now he's backed by the titanic grooves of new bassist Rory O'Brien, who comes courtesy of fellow Canadian progressives Bushwhacker.         

"We lost our bass player literally a month before we were going in to record and were kind of up shit's creek", says Kenny Cook, Anciient's vocalist and lead axe man. "We got lucky and Rory saved our asses at the last minute". 

An unexpected lineup shuffle was far from the only obstacle that stood in Anciient's path toward album number three. Of course, the global pandemic didn't help, but Beyond the Reach of the Sun had turned into a Herculean climb well before COVID-19 kept the band from performing outside Canada for two-plus years. Cook's wife nearly passed away from heart complications after giving birth to their first child.

"She's happy and healthy now", he assures, "but I wasn't at the stage where I could be out on tour for half a year, especially with a new child. Dealing with family issues was the main priority. It was a bit of a road". 

Such a serious amount of pressure would weigh on anyone. But Cook fell into deeper doubts when trying to carry the bulk of the songwriting and lyric duties in relative isolation after he and his family left Vancouver for small-town Columbia-Shuswap. You can hear those phantom pains bleeding into "Melt the Crown". "Feel the weight of the world",  Cook growls amidst sludgy distortion. But at its core, Beyond the Reach of the Sun is about perseverance. "Melt the Crown" marks the point in the tracklist where a cosmic entity guides society to a source of ancient knowledge that frees them from their oppressors.

"The overall theme of this record is about overcoming adversity in order to seek enlightenment", Cook says.  

Beyond the Reach of the Sun also led Anciients to discover fresh springs of inspiration. The band concentrated on making these songs more dynamic while also allowing them more room to breath. "Melt the Crown" opens with plaintive acoustic fingerpicking. Justin Hagberg, who plays in Ritual Dictates as well as the recently reunited 3 Inches of Blood, soon accompanies with a keyboard melody that shines as crisp as light off a summer lake before shimmering into stardust. "Spirits awakening to cast you out", Cook sings, clean and booming with reverb, like dawn rising above a snow-capped mountain range.  

One thing has always been crystal clear though: Anciients can shred. Fans who've waited on bended knee for more guitar heroics will not be disappointed, either. New member Brock MacInnes brings the same rhythmic crunch that he's given to Dead Quiet. Just listen to the way his riffs on "Melt the Crown" chip and chisel before laying down the hammer with a headbanging chug. "Beyond the Reach of the Sun has a lot more of our rock side", Cook says. "We tried to add more dynamics to the music and give the songs more room to breathe". 

Of course, Cook knows his own way around the neck of a Gibson Les Paul. On "Melt the Crown", Anciients fire up not one, not two, but threeguitar solos. Each one comes with its own special flavor. They start off by leading us through a field of filigreed folk, then turn back toward Allman Brothers' blues, before leaping into a psychedelic reverie that's like opening the door to your mind's eye.    

"'Melt the Crown' was the first song completed during the pre-production sessions for Beyond the Reach of the Sun", Anciients says. "It was the only song we kept from a batch of ideas that we had accumulated over the years, and it served as a formative building block that we used to base the direction of the new material moving forward. It covers almost all of the basis of the sounds we enjoy creating. We hope everyone who listens can find something in there to connect with".

At long last, Anciients have returned for their crown.

It’s been a rough handful of years for British Columbia-based extremity-laced progressive rockers, Anciients. When the quartet unleashed their Voice of the Void album in 2016, the world appeared to be their oyster and things seemed ripe for the picking. They were coming off the success of their Heart of Oak debut from 2013, its ascendancy due in large part to a collective uptick in interest for involved, forward-thinking music. The public had moved beyond toe-dipping and tire-kicking, and were instead doing headfirst dives into exploring the likes of Opeth, Mastodon, Baroness, The Ocean, Intronaut and others who originally hailed from the extreme music underground, but had since grown, matured and scrubbed behind their ears to include heaping and healthy chunks from the outskirts of their record collections and influence pools.  

The Band That Auto-Correct Loves to Fuck With™ shared stages with everyone from High on Fire and Goatwhore to Boris and Lamb of God, were in the midst of a European tour when they discovered they were JUNO Award (Canadian Grammy equivalent) winners in the heavy metal/hard rock category. The world was ready to accept Anciients into its welcoming arms. Anciients was gearing up to employ takeover methods, specifically their brand of thunderous rhythms and labyrinthine riffing bolstered by a road warrior mentality. And then, the momentum petered out and the band seemingly fell off the face of the earth.  

Today, Anciients are ready and poised to resume their spirited quest for heavy metal paramountcy. There’s no doubt the band is back and with a stunning and beautiful collection of ten songs on offer in the form of new and third album, Beyond the Reach of the Sun, they are positioning to reestablish themselves as a dominant force for those who love windmilling their tresses around thoughtful tempo changes, complex harmonic layers and driving power chord shifting. But what the hell happened and where did they disappear to?

“Basically,” explains guitarist/vocalist Kenny Cook, “right before Voice of the Void was recorded, my wife had our first kid. She ended up having heart complications and almost passed away from it. We recorded the last record and once it came out, I was kind of just focusing on her, dealing with her health issues and keeping that in check. I wasn’t at the stage where I could be gone for half a year, especially with a new kid. Long story short, she’s happy and healthy now, but dealing with family issues was the main priority. It was a bit of a road.”

Adding to that bit of Anciients camp turmoil, guitarist/co-vocalist/co-founding member, Chris Dyck and the band parted ways in January of 2017. This left a gaping lineup hole at an inopportune juncture in the band’s timeline. Not only did Cook have to deal with the absence of his long-term song and lyric writing partner, but Dyck was also someone he had been splitting vocal duties with since the pair formed the band in 2009. And then, while helping his wife with her recovery, raising their new born and “because we wanted to raise our son in a small town environment,” the Cook family uprooted to Columbia-Shuswap four hours east of the Vancouver area, where drummer Mike Hannay, Brock MacInnes (Dyck’s replacement) and brand spanking new bassist Rory O’Brien still reside.

“We knew Brock from other bands he’d been in and we knew he’d be a great fit,” explains Cook. “He actually filled in for Chris on a tour we did back in 2015. As far as the vocals, I just found myself picking up the slack on both ends. It felt somewhat natural, it was definitely different. Doing the lyrics myself for the first time was somewhat daunting, but it was also something done out of necessity. But even when Chris was in the band I handled 80-90% of the vocals anyway, so it didn’t change all that much.”  

Then, that whole COVID-19 thing you probably heard about once or twice hit in 2020 and put another restraining bolt on Anciients' activity, especially touring as the Canadians found themselves dealing with stricter travel restrictions and mandates than many other countries; most notably, not being able to cross the border for almost two years. Once the dust settled, Cook had to adjust to being the lone vocalist and how that impacted the material he was writing while navigating being creative with distance between Anciients’ members for the first time. Not a biggie, as in-person writing sessions are more of a rarity these days, but because of the time elapsed since Voices of the Void, things/interests/influences changed and the band ended up scrapping half of an album’s worth of material and starting fresh. When they put their heads down at the end of 2021 with the focus being Beyond the Reach of the Sun, what was revealed a year later was more streamlined and slithery, more chest-thumpingly direct, more epic and triumphant sounding. Riffs come in explosive layered packets. Leads, harmonies and melodies are more on par with wind-tussled mountain tops instead of sweaty bar shows and the band moves with finely honed, martial accuracy as conducted by Hannay’s rocket-in-the-pocket staccato swing and accents.  

Songs like “The Torch” blaze with the shirtless glisten of ‘70s stadium rock power. “Cloak of the Vast and Black” swirls and whirls with a combination of hardcore intensity, grunge groove and expansive six-string parries. “In the Absence of Wisdom” is a hurricane-sized maelstrom of classic and prog rock elevated to grandiosity by a return to their growling sludge/death early years as the song/album concludes. The album’s first single, “Melt the Crown” mixes cues from legendary fellow hosers Rush and Harlequin, turn-of-the-millennium post-metal and the most psychedelic corners of the Rise Above Records roster.

“The new record has a lot more of our rock side,” Cook offers, “and leans towards those elements of our sound and personalities, whereas Voice of the Void was pretty crushing all the way through. With the new material we’ve tried to add more dynamics to the music and give the songs more room to breathe."  

Album opener “Forbidden Sanctuary” is the soundtrack to exploration, of new worlds and sonic arrangement as sine-wave guitars pull from vintage Mercyful Fate covens and Krautrock communes with synths opening up novel textural avenues, as they do on the ethereal wispiness and space rock/sci-fi soundscapes of the instrumental “Candescence.” Beyond the Reach of the Sun sees synths and keyboards making their first appearance on an Anciients record and were played by producer/mixer Jesse Gander and Justin Hagberg at the former’s Rain City Recorders studio. In addition to augmenting the album with his skill on the black and whites, Hagberg — a member of the recently reunited 3 Inches of Blood —  also helped Anciients navigate a significant last-minute hurdle, one that threatened to pull the reins back on their comeback roar.

“We lost our bass player literally a month before we were going in to record and were kind of up shit’s creek. Justin also plays in a band called Ritual Dictates with Rory and is the one who brought his name up.”

O’Brien, a former member of Vancouver’s Bushwhacker, was absolutely interested when approached by Anciients.  

“We got lucky and he saved our asses at the last minute.”  

Cook stepped up to the challenge of being the sole lyricist to drape Beyond the Reach of the Sun in deeply personal expressions of the inner turmoil, fear and isolation he’d experienced in himself and saw in others over the past few years. There were moments where he didn’t know whether loved ones were going to pull through and what life was going to look like were tragedy come to pass. Mental health and people living life without being able to see any light at the end of the tunnel became a very prevalent theme to tracks like “Despoiled” and “Beyond Our Minds.” And while the line that became the album’s title is taken from a David Attenborough-narrated Planet Earth documentary, it speaks more to the coming and going of despondency when one doesn’t know how dark the darkness is going to get, as in “Is It Your God,” which pulls from the manifestation of grief and how it can shatter belief systems.  

“That one is a little more personal to me and my situation,” Cook says somberly. "I had a good friend of mine from when I was younger pass away from cancer. His mother was super-religious and there were ideas taken from her questioning how could something like that happen to her when she had such a strong faith.”  

The title and themes of stripped away hope and piled on anguish and tumult were parlayed into the album’s spectacular cover art. Created by Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustrations), the drawing is part-pulp novel cover, part-Franzetta landscape, part-sci-fi movie poster and all a vast illustration one can easily lose themselves in while the record spins in the background.

“We gave him the concept and basic outline of how we wanted the cover to look and he took it to a whole new dimension. It turned out pretty wild!”

With all being said and done, Anciients have returned! They stand ready to ascend the prog metal ladder and get back to doing what they do best with a weighty and dense, but wholly accessible, album. It’s a collection of ten songs that possesses the ability to have those furiously banging heads also tapping into their power of self-reflection and contemplation to ponder the finality of existence, the value of life and their place in the universe.  

“Totally! We’re going to take as many of the opportunities that come to us. The hiatus is over and I think with the new members and everyone being on the same page we’re ready to get out there as soon as possible. We missed out on a huge block after the last record, so we’ve got to make up for lost time. Now that everyone is happy and healthy, we plan to hit it hard.”

Lineup
Kenny Cook (vocals, guitar)
Mike Hannay (drums) 
Brock MacInnes (rhythm guitar)
Rory O'Brien (bass)

Guest musicians
Justin Hagberg plays keyboard on "Forbidden Sanctuary", "Is It Your God", "Melt the Crown", "Candescence", "In the Absence of Wisdom".

Jess Gander plays synths on "Candescence" and "Cloak of the Vast and Black".

Recording studio
Rain City Recorders

Producer / sound engineer
Jesse Gander
Assisted by Szymon Wojciech

Mastering studio and engineer
Stu McKillop @ Rain City Mastering

Mixing studio and engineer
Jesse Gander Rain City Recorders

Cover artwork artist 
Adam Burke @ Nightjar Illustrations

Bio
Kevin Stewart-Panko

Pre-order & Stream: https://orcd.co/anciientsbeyondthereachofthesun

Follow Anciients
https://www.facebook.com/ANCIIENTSRIFFS
https://www.instagram.com/anciients/
https://twitter.com/ANCIIENTS
https://www.youtube.com/user/ANCIIENTS
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/anciients/603538280
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YQOcYukzO6U1MjFcavDUE?si=4QWahfZxQjOmAI7nYrav6g&nd=1&dlsi=0142e5e62ae54105

NIGHTWISH - Start The Pre-Order For Yesterwynde + Announce First Single 'Perfume Of The Timeless'

Still, Finnish Symphonic metal legends NIGHTWISH filled this word with life when they announced their tenth studio album at the end of last month. Today, NIGHTWISH have officially launched the pre-order for Yesterwynde.

Order the album here:
https://nightwish.bfan.link/yesterwynde.a01

Yesterwynde will be available in a number of different vinyl variants, as a jewelcase, digipak, earbook, and as part of a deluxe vinyl boxset.

To celebrate the news, NIGHTWISH have opened the door to their newly-built universe a tiny bit and allowed their fans a first glimpse of Yesterwynde. The band shares their first single 'Perfume Of The Timeless' today, a beautiful song that provides a taste of the grandeur, drama, and heaviness the new album has to offer.
 

Tuomas Holopainen shares his thoughts about 'Perfume Of The Timeless':
”You are the result of an unbroken chain of millions of ancestors and their loves. ’Perfume Of The Timeless’ reminds us all of this amazing fact.  And if you’re not amazed, listen to it again, because it’s important.”

Stream the single here:
https://nightwish.bfan.link/perfumeofthetimeless.a01

'Perfume Of The Timeless' comes with an outstanding music video that can be watched Below.

About NIGHTWISH
Working with NUCLEAR BLAST since the release of their highly lauded 2004 album Once, NIGHTWISH have gained international fame and success selling more than ten million records and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released six No #1 albums and thirteen No #1 singles. In October 2018, NIGHTWISH was inducted into the Tähtikatu – Walk of Fame Finland, becoming the honorary gallery's eleventh member. 2020 saw the release of the band's last studio record, Human. :II: Nature. that crowned the band's discography with another No #1 success in Finland and Germany as well several other impressive chart entries worldwide. 

Line-Up:
Floor Jansen | Vocals
Tuomas Holopainen | Keys
Emppu Vuorinen | Guitars
Jukka Koskinen | Basses
Troy Donockley | Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bouzouki, Bodhrán, Aerophone, Vocals
Kai Hahto | Drums & Percussion

More info:

www.nightwish.com  
www.facebook.com/nightwish
www.nuclearblast.de/nightwish  
www.instagram.com/nightwish/ 
www.twitter.com/NightwishBand

Underground 90s UK industrial outfit History Of Guns presents 'When You Don't Matter' single, an unflinching look at abandonment

“Invisible hooks that will sink further in” ~  Auxiliary Magazine

"As a band, Hertfordshire's History of Guns is something of a musical chameleon. Like Killing Joke and Nine Inch Nails, they’ve taken on new forms whilst remaining easily identifiable in their journey from goth rock to post-punk and darkwave to EDM and wider electro-goth hybrid territory. The tension of opposites that characterises much of their work propels it forth to an electronic beat, the vocals uncoiling, snake-like, atop a steady electronic catchment" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

“Polished, dramatic, full of poise and binding sentiment, and one of awesome sound and feeling” ~ Liverpool Sound and Vision


Underground 90s industrial legends History Of Guns presents their new single 'When You Don't Matter'. This is the second taster of their 'Half Light' album, following the lead track 'No Longer Earthbound', where the band takes a typically unflinching look at abandonment.

Their eighth record to date, it will be released via the Liquid Len Recording Company. Serving up their unique meta-modernist Industrial sound,

On hiatus from 2012 to 2022, they returned with the album 'Forever Dying In Your Eyes' and then set about finishing an electronic project they’d begun in 2008. The result is this 'Half Light' album, produced by Max Rael, mixed by Max Rael and Caden Clarkson, and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Pixies, Nick Cave, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails).

Formed in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire in 1996, History of Guns became frontrunners of the UK's Wasp Factory / FuturePunk scene of the early 2000s and their 2004 single 'Your Obedient Servant' was ultimately championed by The Quietus and Mick Mercer as one of the “thirty best goth singles of all time”.

On this album, founding members Del Alien (vocals) and Max Rael (keyboards, programming) are joined by guitarist Caden Clarkson, the newest member of History Of Guns. Exploring the human condition through various musical genres

Del Alien - an original punk turned goth - is an anti-authority seeker of truth and the questions behind the questions. Max Rael is in love with the idea of using music to create a separate universe for creating stories and escaping into, was an autistic, music-obsessed child, absorbing a dozen genres before diving into trance after Britpop ruined the alternative scene.

 “I think most people know of either a moment, or something sadly longer, when you're on your own, and no one knows where you are, how you are, or even if you're alive or dead. I think this like a History Of Guns version of a ballad, for abandonment. But whenever we have something we think is beautiful, we always have to smash it up somehow. From an existential point of view it might be true, maybe we don’t matter.  We are meaning-seeking creatures in a world with no objective meaning. Ultimately we have to find a way to make ourselves matter to ourselves,” says multi-instrumentalist Max Rael.

Del Alien adds, "It's like the vain attempt to help people. Maybe they know it, maybe they don't. It's not a personal thing is it? Is this what society has done to us? Is it worth you thinking about? Getting cold in a box just to be burned and scattered to the wind, only to end up in the mouth of a dying junkie… or like sleeping with the sanest lunatic you ever met, but there’s no one there in the morning to make you breakfast. If the product is not good from the start, how can it be in the end?  Losing the place you stand, just to hold another’s hand.”

Influenced by Killing Joke, PWEI, Bauhaus, Coil, Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy and Nine Inch Nails and Swans, History of Guns was a big part of the UK underground industrial scene of the 00s, playing Whitby Gothic Weekend, as well as Futurepunk and Back to the Futurepunk events.

As of May 20, 'When You Don't Matter' is available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Half Light' album (out June 20) can be pre-ordered..

ALBUM CREDITS
Produced by Max Rael
Mixed by Max Rael and Caden Clarkson
Recorded at Apollo Audio (Hertford), Soul Studios (Bishops Stortford)
Mastered by Pete Maher
Del Alien - vocals
Max Rael - keyboards, programming, guitars
Caden Clarkson - guitar
Andy Webster & Marnie from SPUCKTUTE  - vocals on 'Never Give it Up'
Amon Ásentir & Mark Eris from Xykogen - vocals on 'Arcadia'
Arcadia Choir (Emma Mills, Priyanka O’Neill, Sohm O’Neill and Ninotschka G.) - vocals on 'Arcadia'
Nykky Spectre - vocals on 'An Invitation'
Cover artwork by Amara O'Neill
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with History Of Guns
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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

Octavian Winters and electronic music icon Mark Pistel (Consolidated, Meat Beat Manifesto) team up for 'Nebula / Velveteen' release

"A dark and lush tapestry of near-classic post-punk, oscillating between shadow and shimmer. Reflecting the troubled times that we live in, sublime dark sonic delight" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Feels like it was recorded in a studio deep beneath the earth, drawing power from subterranean caves and bubbling magma... tectonic thunder... Such power, strong and true, a voice that scales the wall of sound beneath her with ease" ~ Joyzine

"A dark musical weave forged of post-punk and gothic strands. A sonic web of pulsing bass grooves and shaded ethereality, dark and delicious guitar slashes and haunting sound washes" ~ The Big Takeover

"Seriously compelling incitement, which Aursjoen’s tones and the electronically atmospheric mists around her only escalate" ~ Ringmaster Review


San Francisco post-punk outfit Octavian Winters has teamed up with Mark Pistel (Consolidate, Meat Beat Manifesto) on their new two-track single. Out April 30 via Stratis Capta Records, the A-side 'Nebula', which underscores the inevitable impermanence of all that is seen and unseen, known and unknown, is complemented by Pistel's infectious pulsating remix of 'Velveteen'.

Formed in 2022, Octavian Winters is guitarist Stephan Salit (Thrill of The Pull), drummer Randy Gzebb (Thrill of The Pull, Love Club), bassist Jay Denton and Ria (Amenti) Aursjoen on vocals and keyboards. Together, they weave their visceral and ethereal sound into a texture all its own – of stories once told but half-remembered, under a dusk of shadows and stars, in an abandoned city under the winter moon.

A producer, engineer, programmer, remixer and songwriter active in the electronic music scene since the 80s, Mark Pistel is perhaps best known as a founding member of the band Consolidated and contributing member of Meat Beat Manifesto since 1997. From his own Room 5 studio, he has worked with The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Grace Jones, Therapy?, MC 900 Foot Jesus, Machines of Loving Grace, Hector Zazou, Mark Stewart, Lee Scratch Perry, Cabaret Voltaire's Stephen Mallinder and Fishbone's Angelo Moore.

Pistel explains, "Randy Gzebb called me about remixing one of the tracks off 'The Line or the Curve' EP. I was excited to do so, as we'd recorded some of these vocals at my Room 5 Studio in San Francisco. I chose to do 'Velveteen' as I already loved the track with its fantastic vocal melody and Stephan's unstoppable guitar hook! I  took on the track with pulsing analog synths and a slamming dance floor beat for the clubs."

Octavian Winters also present their new video for 'Nebula', created by filmmaker David Kruschke, who also produced the band's most recent video for the original version of 'Velveteen'. Both songs were lifted from the band's debut EP 'The Line or Curve', released in October 2023, following videos for 'Undertow', 'Ondine' and 'Surreal'.

"Nebula began as an experiment. I was trying to pin down the concept of the song in my head lyrically for a while and just knew it felt very “big”, even apocalyptic in a way. I kept envisioning a sort of “last day at the end of the world” — what would the sky look like? Would we know and understand what was happening? There is this broadly Gnostic idea of the universe as unfolding and unfolding through what are called Aeons, essentially levels of manifestation, until we get this world we live in here," says Ria Aursjoen. 

"I imagined this world reaching the fullness of its life, that whole cycle ending — and then everything reversing, refolding back to the start to make way for the next universe. There is a lot of esoteric symbology referenced in this song for those out there who like that sort of thing. The incredible thing about symbolic language is that it can have so many levels of meaning depending on the viewer/listener. I am sure I will understand my own words to this in new ways, in the future."

Drawing from darkwave and post-punk traditions, Octavian Winters dives into the ethereal, their layered music counterpointing edged grooves alongside lush synth textures and soaring vocal harmonies.

Randy Gzebb explains, "We were discussing what song idea we should work on next during the writing process and Ria brought in the demo of Nebula. We listened once and started playing it at rehearsal and after a couple of takes, everyone had their parts locked down. I started to play with the Tom groove and tried to make it powerful, but still leave some space for the track to breathe. The rhythm and tempo set the overall tone and emotional mood of the song, with guitar and pulsating bass creating a haunting atmosphere with powerful vocal lines".

'The Line or Curve' EP was recorded in San Francisco by Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated) at OW Studio and Room 5 Recording, the band produced this EP with William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Christian Death, The March Violets), who also mixed and mastered it at 13 Studio in Chicago.

Over the years, members of Octavian Winters have shared the stage with many iconic acts, including Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke, Lords of the New Church, Savage Republic, Christian Death, The Frozen Autumn, Everything Goes Cold and Black Tape for a Blue Girl.

The 'Nebula / Velveteen (Mark Pistel Remix)' single is out now, available digitally from fine music platforms, including via Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where 'The Line or Curve' EP is also available. The band's next headlining concert is on Friday, July 26 at San Francisco's DNA Lounge with support from Halou and Sword Tongue as support.

CREDITS 
Ria Aursjoen - Vocals / Keyboards
Stephan Salit - Guitars
Randy Gzebb - Drums
Jay Denton - Bass
'Velveteen' remix by Mark Pistel
'Nebula' written by Ria Aursjoen
'Velveteen' written by Octavian Winters
Recorded at OW studios San Francisco
Vocals recorded by Mark Pistel, Room 5 Recording, San Francisco
'Nebula' mixed & mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio, Chicago
'Nebula' produced by Octavian Winters and William Faith
Cover art Ria Aursjoen
Design by Eric Olson 
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Video by David Kruschke


Keep up with Octavian Winters
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tiktok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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Brooklyn post-punk outfit CLONE reveals 'Redeemer', a caustic taster of debut 'CL. 1' album

"Loud, aggressive disharmonies flow into a flood of raging and conflicting emotions where droning reverb-injected riffs, angsty and obsessive excruciatingly ringing John McGeoch-esque guitar strains" ~ White, Light White Heat

"Feeding what are now greedy expectations, fuelled by this smashing earworm, Clone ignites a firestorm of sonic pleasure - enthralled and fascinated with its sonic impression, emotional turbulence and convincing delivery" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Highly Urgent Political Rock" ~  Destroy // Exist

"A monument to what seems like a dying art form, CLONE emerges from the streets of Brooklyn—streets that have been fertile ground for underground music for decades—to remind us of what a band can truly be in an age of digitization, pre-fabrication, and superficiality" ~ Idioteq


Brooklyn post-punk outfit Clone presents their invigorating new single 'Redeemer', which is about cult leaders and the “cult” of personality surrounding politics and celebrities. A scathing indictment of the modern obsession with the cult of personality that folks so easily create and bow down to. Hollow trends, manufactured personas, this is a cleverly-constructed sonic commentary on a world obsessed with the superficial and the emptiness that lurks beneath the surface.

'Redeemer' is the third taste of their debut 'CL. 1' album, following 'Immutable' and 'Dividing Line' with its multi-media video created by Preston Spurlock. Through their sharp guitars and penetrating vocals, this is a call to arms to see through the charade and puncture such phenomena as hero worship, hype and propaganda (and to get back to what is real).

This album will be released on vinyl and digitally via Portland-based Little Cloud Records and North Carolina's 5BC Records on June 21.

'Redeemer'  https://clonebk.bandcamp.com/track/redeemer
'CL. 1' album order  https://clonebk.bandcamp.com/album/cl-1
'CL. 1' vinyl order  https://littlecloudrecords.com/products/clone-cl-1-pre-order
'Dividing Line'  https://youtu.be/Wek1uSlQ7Go
Bandcamp  https://clonebk.bandcamp.com/track/dividing-line-single
Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/track/2erYq66VOoe3KCAuhApdNZ
'Immutable'  https://youtu.be/nIzBvX7nt08
Bandcamp  https://clonebk.bandcamp.com/track/immutable
Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/track/0Q5Qlxiq97crgRjsLC24C5
Apple Music  https://music.apple.com/nz/artist/clone/1498878509

Clone is led by LG Galleon, best known as frontman of Dead Leaf Echo.  On this album, he is joined by NYC musicians Gregg Giufree (Pilot to Gunner), Max Idas and Dominick Turi. Live, he is joined by Paul Liziragga (Namesake) and Alex Cox (The Veldt).

“'Redeemer' is about convincing yourself that betrayal can be used a form of trust. Religious groups always need a scapegoat, who has failed them, to rely on to strengthen beliefs within their core," says LG Galleon.

"Like the smiling face on your television, it only takes a viral face to dictate policy to the people. Whether it’s Donald Trump paying homage to Hannibal Lecture or Eric Adams telling immigrants to become lifeguards because he thinks they’re good swimmers. Even the lowest level of intelligence can enthrall and convince the public with ridiculous statements."

Clone started playing shows in summer of 2019, building their fanbase organically, brick by brick, word of their incendiary live shows spreading. Each time they play, more are won over.

Operating in what’s rapidly becoming an antiquated model, they’re a unit of parts. Egalitarian in their writing process, one where songs are built upon inchoate sparks offered freely by any member, letting the jams run free in their rehearsal space until there’s a complete song, guided by the alchemy of intuition. There’s no rule book here, and no one defining member, but there is a palpable chemistry.

As a debut album, 'CL.1' is a damn auspicious opening volley, recorded and mixed by NYC legendary producer Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans, Brian Eno, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, Iggy Pop, Helmet, Dresden Dolls, Cop Shoot Cop) at his famed BC Studio, built by Brian Eno. Produced by LG Galleon and Bisi, it was mastered by Fred Kevorkian.

Clone's music is evocative, in ethos and ambition, of a time when music still could change lives. Their lyrics involve the struggles and critiques of the working person's daily life.

Rooted in belief in its galvanizing, redemptive power, the kind which used to be written for the lonely and the scarred and the diffident (before something truly was lost), something deeply enmeshed within the human psyche that could be shared. Clone are fitfully reclaiming this, which at its crux, is the imagination of youth. It’s captured vividly here, and their private universe of sonic exploration is now open to all.

'Redeemer' is out now, available exclusively through Bandcamp, while the previous two singles are also available on Apple Music, Spotify and elsewhere online. On June 21, the 'CL. 1' album will be released everywhere digitally and as a 12" vinyl LP - the Salt Sea Strain Edition entails an impressive black and white mix.

CREDITS
All tracks written by Clone
Lyrics by LG Galleon (onewithwave music ASCAP)
Performed by LG Galleon / Gregg Giufree / Max Idas / Dominick Turi
LG Galleon - guitar, vocals, keys
Gregg Giufree - drums
Max Idas - bass
Dominic Turi - guitar, keys
Recorded and mixed by Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans) at BC Studios
Co-produced by LG Galleon
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian
'Dividing Line' video by Preston Spurlock
BnW artist photography by Silvia Saponaro
Album cover art designed by Roy Burns iii
Single cover artwork by Jacques Urioste

LIVE SHOWS
August 24th  HUDSON, NY - Porchfest
August 25th  BROOKLYN, NY - Mama Tried (with Live Skull)


Keep up with CLONE
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Little Cloud Records
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp  | Twitter | Instagram | YouTub e

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SETH Pierce Through Shadows On New Single

SETH are the harbinger of a sound that's steeped in the clandestine narratives of Parisian lore and rebellion. Today, the French black metal band are releasing "Dans le Cœur un Poignard", from their upcoming album La France des Maudits. Their latest single is a dark ode to those who bear the mark of betrayal and suffering within their hearts.

Watch the music video for "Dans le Cœur un Poignard" Below

La France des Maudits is out July 14, on Bastille Day, through Season of Mist.

Pre-order & pre-save: https://orcd.co/sethlafrancesdesmaudits

The haunting melody of "Dans le Cœur un Poignard" weaves through a labyrinth of Parisian despair, illuminating the darkest corners of a wounded heart. Lyrically, the track is a poignant narrative of anguish and defiance, serving as a siren call to those who navigate the treacherous waters of existence with a dagger sheathed within their soul. Seth, with their meticulous craftsmanship, etch a tale of sorrow and resilience, emboldened by the ethereal whispers of a love lost to the voracious appetite of betrayal.

"Dans mon cœur ce poignard. Toujours souffrir, Jusqu'à la mort!", Saint Vincent echoes. It's a stark reminder of the perpetual battle against the specters of our past, encapsulating the essence of human struggle, a relentless journey punctuated by moments of exquisite pain and sublime liberation.

Alongside the haunting melodies of "Dans le Cœur un Poignard", Seth has commissioned a visually arresting music video, bringing the song's themes of betrayal, anguish, and defiance to life with heart-piercing imagery. Helmed by the visionary Pierre Reynard, the video is a striking piece of art that beautifully accompanies the song's melancholy.

In the solemn shadows of a lyrically resurrected Paris, where the whispers of revolution still haunt the cobblestones and the phantom caress of the guillotine's blade lingers in the air, stands a band – not merely of musicians, but of modern Marats, Robespierres in leather and lace, anointed with the spirit of insurrection. SETH, the harbingers of a dark yet fervidly awaited dawn, are poised once more to unleash a tempest upon the sanctified silence of the contemporary music scene with their newest auditory uprising, La France des Maudits.

The history of black metal formation Seth and Season of Mist spans back to the early days of the French metal scene. The band’s debut Les Blessures de L’Ame (1998) was one of the first releases on the label. This album is now regarded as a cornerstone in French black metal, pioneering the usage of their native tongue on a black metal record.

The release of Les Blessures de L’Ame quickly gained international attention and Seth built a solid fanbase. The French blasphemers signed a two-release deal with Osmose Productions and participated on the MAYHEM cult tribute album Originators of the Northern Darknessalongside IMMORTAL and BEHEMOTH. The second full-length The Excellence came out in 2000 and featured a contribution from none other than Fenriz (DARKTHRONE), who wrote the lyrics for the song Let Me Be The Salt In Your Wound.

Shortly after, the group recorded their third album Divine-X (2002) at the Excess Studios in Rotterdam (EPICA, AFTER FOREVER, SINISTER). This record demonstrated the ability of the band to mix gloomy and violent atmospheres and received extensive coverage from the international metal press at the time.

Returning to the Netherlands to record the fourth album Era-Decay(2004), two new members joined the ranks of Seth: vocalist Black Messiah and guitarist Cyriex. Afterwards, the band was invited to play at the prestigious Inferno festival in Norway in 2005.

A long hiatus followed, until the band returned in 2011 to play an exclusive show in Germany with the German cult act BETHLEHEM. The band re-joined the ranks of Season of Mist, eventually releasing The Howling Spirit (2013) and embarking on a European tour with PESTILENCE. Several appearances at major festivals followed, including Hellfest and Graspop Metal Meeting, concluded by a Canadian headliner tour with new vocalist Saint Vincent (BLACKLODGE).

Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Les Blessures de L’Ame in 2018, Seth exclusively performed the entire album at festivals in Switzerland, Canada (Messe de Morts) and Belgium (Thronefest). The French label Les Acteurs de l’Ombre productions released a live recording of these shows, called 20 ans de Blasphème. The band’s new line-up features members of LOUDBLAST, ARKHON INFAUSTUS and MELTED SPACE.

In the twilight year of 2021, within Paris' shadow-ridden crypt, Studio Sainte Marthe, an album was birthed from Seth's tumultuous revelation, christened, La Morsure du Christ. Earning plaudits of wonder, it was no mere collection of hymns, but a solitary harbinger of deconstruction, a cataclysm of unseen proportions. Inspiration seeped from Notre-Dame de Paris—her skeletal frame ablaze in a 2019's firestorm—an emblem of decaying faith for a godforsaken era. As heavy as the iron heart of a guillotine, La Morsure du Christ echoed through the chambers of 2021, reigning supreme in a multitude of international & French metal charts, as well as its inclusion on premier streaming platform playlists. Bold symphonies interwoven with razor-sharp lyricism and a sophisticated conceptual resonance that dared to envision black metal through a revolutionary lens.

Rooted deeply in the soil that once drank deeply of royal and commoner blood alike during the tumultuous fervour of the French Revolution, Seth presents their latest opus - a black metal gospel according to the damned and the outcast. An intricate tapestry of shadows and defiance emerges from the darkness of history's recesses, swirling with the mists of apocalyptic visions and the ashes of fallen angels. La France des Maudits is a declaration of war, a call to arms for the souls still smouldering beneath the veneer of a world too long gripped in the cold hands of a moribund orthodoxy.

With the fractured bones of dead gods beneath their boots, Seth voyages through the forbidden and the occult, tracing the lines of ancient prophecies and the decadent whispers of La Grande Catin Écarlate, the scarlet woman of the apocalypse. Their songs, from Paris des Maléfices to Insurrection, resonate with the echoes of a Paris besieged not by armies, but by souls clamouring for liberation - a city where each stone tells a tale of defiance, where every shadow harbours the spirit of revolt.

Lyrically, La France des Maudits is dripping with the wine of condemned men and the blood of saints, narrating the epic saga of rebellion from the ashes of a fallen Notre-Dame. This is not the Paris of light, but of enlightening darkness, where the façades of grandeur crumble to reveal the raw flesh of true humanity, writhing in its eternal struggle against divine oppression. Here, in the very heart of darkness, Seth finds its muse among the cacophony of broken chains and shattered dogmas.

Prepare to march beneath the banner unfurled by Seth, in the grand tradition of those unyielding souls who once stormed the Bastille and dared to dream of a world remade.La France des Mauditsbeckons - not to the gallows, but to glory.

Line-up
Saint Vincent - Vocals (Blacklodge)
Heimoth - Guitar (Sinsaenum)
Drakhian - Guitar (ex-Loudblast, Griffar)
Pierre Le Pape - Keys (Melted Space)
EsX - Bass (Arkhon Infaustus, ex-Merrimack)
Alsvid - Drums (ex-Enthroned, ex-Ad Patres)

Recording Studio
Sainte Marthe Studio

Production Credits
Mixed, produced & mastered by Francis Caste

Biography
Sébastien Gamez

Cover Art
Andy Julia (Photography)

Stream & Order: 
https://orcd.co/sethlafrancesdesmaudits

Links/Follow Artist
Official Website:https://www.innomineseth.fr/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/innomineseth
Instagram:https://instagram.com/sethblackmetal
Bandcamp:http://innomineseth.bandcamp.com/
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/0mZohnzbCiVv54VIEA6Wb7
Deezer:https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/56150
Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/us/artist/seth/1643927366
YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/user/InNomineSethOfficial
ReverbNation:https://www.reverbnation.com/innomineseth

Booking Contacts
Laszlo@redback-promotion.com(EU)
philippe@ragetour.fr(FR)

Available Formats
Digital Download
CD Digipak
Limited CD Clamshell Box
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Gold
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Blue & Black Marbled
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Red, White & Black Marbled
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear
12" Liquid-Filled Vinyl Gatefold - Bood Red Liquid
Cassette

Loverboy Share Live Performance Video of "Working For The Weekend"

The story of Loverboy is akin to a Hollywood movie. Overcoming rejection to eventually become one of Canada's most successful rock bands of all time and selling millions of albums in the process is a feel-good story for the ages.
 
For more than 40 years, Loverboy have been "Working For The Weekend" (and on the weekend), delighting audiences around the world since forming in 1979. 

The year 1982 represented a triumphant 12 months for the rock band with extremely successful arena shows in the course of their second studio album, the multi-platinum awarded US Top 10 record Get Lucky (featuring various hit singles such as the aforementioned "Working for the Weekend," "When It's Over," "Lucky Ones," and "Take Me To The Top"), and winning no less than six Canadian JUNO Awards — a record that still stands today.
 
Today's release of their 1982 live performance "Working for the Weekend" is another exciting foretaste of the incredible live show Live In '82 becoming available for the very first time in high definition on June 7. Pre-order it here.

Watch the live performance "Working For The Weekend" Below. 

Listen here.

It’s a wonderful period piece and Loverboy are just as we remember them — full of smiles, energy and confidence, outrageous hairstyles, colorful clothing, and great music.
  
Even after their incredible 40+ year career (and counting) Loverboy have no intention of cutting back. They embark on a Live Nation promoted North American tour supporting Sammy Hagar, starting in July 13 in West Palm Beach, FL, followed by a series of supporting shows with Foreigner in fall 2024. Dates are here.

FORMATS:
Ltd. CD+Blu-ray Digipak / Ltd. LP+DVD Gatefold / Digital 

Electronic Group Deep AL Brindle Announce "Are You Nervous?" + Share "Nervous"

Los Angeles-based electronic group Deep AL Brindle — comprised of Diego Castellanos and Alastair Wilson — are pleased to announce their debut album Are You Nervous? The record arrives on July 12 via Tooth & Nail Records. Pre-order it here.

The band's music is often a master class in smooth, chill vibes, and today, Deep AL Brindle have shared the new single "Nervous."

Listen here.

"It's the feeling of not being where you're supposed to be and time isn't on your side," the band states about the track. "You have an idea of where you want to be in life, but you feel like you're not there."

The band also shared a video of a live performance of the song. Watch it below for yet another taste of what DAB do best.

Deep AL Brindle fashion vibrant and vital electronic soundscapes around a core of live instrumentation with a heartbeat maintained by real drums. After building a rabid hometown following, gaining traction on streaming platforms, and landing a deal with Tooth & Nail Records, the group's two distinct personalities and styles congregate in one ever-evolving vision on their full-length debut album, Are You Nervous? "We bring a counter balance to one another," Castellanos says. "We challenge each other's tendencies, which is cool. As a drummer, Alastair brings the life back into the songs, and his presence reassures me that, as the saying goes, 'Two minds are better than one.'"
 
"It's really been a journey," adds Wilson. "I'm glad we're on it together."
 
A few years back, the pair initially bonded as friends. Soon, this friendship manifested as a creative partnership where they spent countless hours jamming and making music together. During 2019, Deep AL Brindle formally came to life with the release of CTRL V, followed by a string of buzzing singles. Tooth & Nail took notice, and the pair inked a deal with the label. They continued to create at a prolific pace, decamping to Mexico City at the end of 2023 to lay the foundation for what would become Are You Nervous? On this trip, Alastair tracked the majority of his drums at an intimate studio as they absorbed the energy of their surroundings. "It was my first time going to Mexico City," he states. "I grew up skateboarding, and that culture is strong there. We were visiting skate shops, and the studio experience was amazing. The food was great too."
 
Along the way, they made a conscious decision to place Castellanos' vocals front-and-center on the LP. Encouraged by crowd reactions at shows, they chose to "spice it up a bit."
  
 Deep AL Brindle are ultimately creating a place to escape to with the record and much more to come. “This is a prelude of what we’re going to be. It's just the beginning," says Wilson.

My Epic Share "Heavy Heart" Video

My Epic — Aaron Stone [guitar, vocals], Tanner Morita [guitar], and Nate Washburn [guitar, bass] — recently announced their signing to Tooth & Nail Records. They will release their fourth album and label debut Loriella on June 28. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for "Heavy Heart." Watch it Below.

"'Small as you are — you've got a really heavy heart.' As huge as it is lively, 'Heavy Heart' is a massively satisfying finale of a rock song," the band offers. "Both a nod to the past and a blueprint for the future, 'Heavy Heart' is a roller coaster composition of dynamics and a declaration of unconditional love."

About the album, the band shared, "Loriella is a record about progression, joy, and the confidence that can only grow after the loss of innocence. It's the soundtrack to a hard-won optimism that comes from a commitment to living with 'open hearts and calloused hands.' Massive in dynamic, with intention in every detail, we've never worked harder and can't wait to share these songs."

ABOUT MY EPIC:
My Epic tune into this moment of reawakening on their fourth full-length offering and Tooth & Nail Records debut Loriella. Balancing waves of warm distorted fuzz with lush melodies and cinematic production, the group make the kind of music that rouses the senses and might just encourage you to open your eyes, mind, and heart a little wider.
 
"The record is about having lived long enough to lose your innocence and still being able to find joy, hope, peace, and faith," explains Aaron. "I can be a critical person, but there's a difference between being critical and cynical. I understand why people end up choosing cynicism, because sometimes it can seem like the best way to make sense of all the data in the world–but I think cynicism is death. It's part of my aim to fight cynicism at every turn. The album is about discovery and re-engaging life with purpose on new terms of your own."
 
Throughout the past two decades, the band have quietly, yet consistently engaged a devout fanbase with a simultaneously anthemic and intricate approach to alternative rock. They've progressed across the likes of I Am Undone [2008], Yet [2010], and Behold [2013]. The latter notably catapulted onto the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. Generating millions of streams, their catalog expanded with fan favorite EPs such as Viscera [2016], Ultraviolet [2018], and Violence [2019]—which HM Magazine hailed as "a blend of indie-alternative enchantments." Meanwhile, Cory Brandan of Norma Jean lent his voice to "White Noises.” During 2020, the band signed to Tooth & Nail, turning the page on another chapter as they set their sights on their first full-length since 2013. In between, life happened as band members became dads and moved around personally and professionally. 
 
For the first time, Nate assumed the role of primary producer, and Loriella materialized over the course of two years in three different studios. Along the way, they nodded to early inspirations such as The Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, and Third Eye Blind. 

PHOTO: Grant A. Nicholls

HUNTERGIRL’S REBELLIOUS ANTHEM “BAD BOY” AVAILABLE NOW

Named to CMT’s 2024 Next Women of Country, HunterGirl shares another side to her already impressive artistry, today releasing the infectious anthem “Bad Boy.” Featured on her upcoming label-debut EP, Tennessee Girl, coming June 7, the 19 Recordings/BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville artist throws caution to the wind in her irresistible, rebelling new song. Pre-order/pre-save/pre-add the EP here and listen to “Bad Boy” here.

“Tennessee Girl shows the different sides of my personality. I separate songs into two categories in my head, Blue Jean and Leather Jacket songs. Blue Jean songs are the ones I write in my bedroom opening my diary to the world. Leather Jacket songs are where I want to feel tougher and have fun. Most people have only seen the Blue Jean side of my personality, but with this 6- song EP, I have the chance to show the full picture of me as an artist," shares HunterGirl.

Admitting her beguiling yet relatable taste in men, fantasizing about a tattooed-up, cigarette-smoking guitar player in a band, the explosive, head-rocking sing-along finds our heroine ignoring all the red flags in pursuit for the man of her illicit dreams. Written by this “Artist to Watch” (Country Now) with producer Lindsay Rimes and Greg Bates, “Bad Boy” marks a radically compelling addition to HunterGirl’s sonic and lyrical catalog. Embracing all her influences simultaneously from Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire to Kelly Clarkson and P!NK, Hunter is innately talented at writing lyrics that are true to her, while seamlessly delivering tracks that are both country and punk-pop-country leaning. In doing so, she readies a dynamically captivating project that beautifully embodies every part of her story that won her the hearts of millions as the runner-up on American Idol. 

“The rising country star has continued to work hard and put herself out there on incredibly sincere and emotionally-charged levels” (Country Now), “transcending from talented aspiring artist to make her first steps toward the big leagues” (Billboard). Praised “a major, major new talent” by MusicRow, the upcoming EP - produced by Lindsay Rimes - will boast new songs “Clockworks” and “Bad Decisions,” along with the critically acclaimed “Ain’t About You” that made her the first female country artist in over 30 years to write her debut radio single completely by herself. 

Last night (5/16), the talented songstress kept the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards Red Carpet lively as Country Now’s guest host. Dedicated to giving back, HunterGirl will take part in the Opry’s Salute to the Troops show on May 21. Using her platform to tell the story of a selfless Veteran, she'll perform the anthem that was co-written with the Veteran's wife as a part of the Gold Star Family Project with Operation Song. 

Up next, she will be joining Luke Bryan  on the road, as well as returning to Nashville’s CMA Fest on June 7 and making her debut at Faster Horses Festival on July 21. 

Photo Credit: Kristin Barlowe

About HunterGirl: 

America’s sweetheart, vocal powerhouse, and esteemed songwriter HunterGirl has been performing since she was three years old and writing songs since she was nine. In her teens, she honed her craft by performing at venues across the United States and working with veteran non-profits such as Operation Song, Freedom Sings and A Soldier’s Child, using music therapy to help numerous vets transform their stories into songs. After high school, she moved to Nashville and immediately started playing gigs at Lower Broadway’s most famous venues including Tootsie’s, Rippy’s, Jason Aldean’s Bar, The Listening Room, and HonkyTonk Central, winning songwriting contests such as “Nash Next” and the prestigious “Nashville Songwriter Association International” in her spare time. Recently, she competed and placed second on the star-making competition series American Idol, where she delivered standout performances and won the hearts of millions across the country including Idol judge and Country superstar Luke Bryan who proclaimed her the “new age Miranda Lambert” and his “favorite female Country voice.” After topping the iTunes All Genre and Country charts with her wistful “Red Bird,” HunterGirl has been a guest on Good Morning America, Live with Kelly & Ryan and The Kelly Clarkson Show as well as shared the stage with Country superstars Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Lainey Wilson, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans and more. Named to CMT’s esteemed 2024 Next Women of Country, HunterGirl’s “Ain’t About You” made her the first female country artist in over 30 years to write her debut radio single by herself. Now, after making her Grand Ole Opry debut that earned her a lively standing ovation, she releases the anthemic “Bad Boy,” ahead of her label-debut EP, Tennessee Girl, coming June 7. Praised by Peoplefor her “incredible voice” and CMT for her “soaring vocals and superstar potential,” HunterGirl will hit the road with Luke Bryan and Kimberly Perry this summer. Chronicling “her current moment of transcending from talented aspiring artist to make her first steps toward the big leagues” (Billboard), HunterGirl - “a major, major new talent” (MusicRow) - is poised to become Country’s next big female artist.

KEEP UP WITH HUNTERGIRL

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK | X | YOUTUBE

ROCK SINGER + GUITARIST TIM MONTANA SHARES NEW SONG "DIE TODAY"

Rock singer/guitarist/songwriter Tim Montana drops his new song “Die Today” from his debut album, Savage. Pre-order, pre-add and pre-save Savage HERE.

“Die Today” is a gritty and grungy anthem that pays tribute to the special forces of the military who run into gunfire and lay down their lives for strangers, as Tim Montana is a vocal supporter of veterans. The gloomy guitars, Montana's gravelly vocals, and downright nasty guitar solos make this a "must listen" from Savage. It's a '90s-inspired song that truly comes to life when performed on stage, and fans will be screaming along to every syllable.

"I had the title 'Die Today' for several years and couldn’t figure out an angle to write it," says Montana. "When I sat down to write for the album Savage, I started chasing this title again. Right away, my friend who was in Special Operations texted me. I knew right then that this song had to be about heroes who put their lives on the line to save strangers. This song is dedicated to the special operations community and any hero who puts their life on the line for others."

On the Music Knox/BMG release Savage, Montana gets in touch with his undeniable rock 'n' roll roots. Armed with grit, guitars, and a hunger for glory, Montana has been endorsed by Dave Grohl and ZZ Top's Billy F Gibbons, booked by David Letterman, and had his anthems used by the MLB and NHL. His moody, crackling, '90s-influenced riffs and whiskey-soaked vocals reel fans in while his storytelling keeps them. Savage is a custom and combustible cocktail, served in a dirty, cracked glass that proves why Montana earned iHeartRadio's "On The Verge" accolade.

Montana also shared the official video for the title track. Watch it below.

Tim Montana is touring heavily this year. He will support Bush, Jerry Cantrell, and Candlebox this summer and has appearances booked at major festivals. All dates are below.

TIM MONTANA ON TOUR:
6/8 — Sidney, MT — 2024 Hot Rods & Harleys Summer Kick Off*
6/29 — Rexford, MT — Abayance Bay Marina
7/6 — Milwaukee, WI — Summerfest 2024*
7/26 — Bend, OR — Hayden Homes Amphitheater**
7/27 — Spokane, WA — Northern Quest Pavilion Amp**
7/31 — Salt Lake City, UT — USANA Amp**
8/1 — Greenwood Village, CO — Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre**
8/3 — La Crosse, WI — Copeland Park**
8/4 — Indianapolis, IN — Everwise Amphitheater At White River State Park**
8/6 — Cedar Rapids, IA — McGrath Amphitheatre**
8/7 — Chicago, IL — Huntington Bank Pavilion At Northerly Island**
8/8 — Three Forks, MT — Rockin The Rivers 2024*
8/9 — Nashville, TN — Nashville Municipal Auditorium**
8/10 — Maryland Heights, MO — Saint Louis Music Park**
8/13 — Cleveland, OH — Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica**
8/14 — Cincinnati, OH — Riverbend Music Center**
8/30 - 9/1 — Pryor, OK — Rocklahoma 2024*
9/28 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life 2024*
10/10 — Sacramento, CA — Aftershock*
*FESTIVAL DATE
**With Bush, Jerry Cantrell, + Candlebox

About Tim Montana:
Tim Montana forges a new frontier for hard rock. Following a tumultuous and downright unbelievable childhood in a trailer off-the-grid, the singer, guitarist, and entrepreneur left his home state of Montana in the rearview at barely eighteen-years-old. Driven by a restless work ethic, he quietly carved out a niche without comparison. Along the way, he performed on The Late Show with David Letterman at the behest of the host (practically unheard of for a totally independent artist), collaborated with everyone from Billy F Gibbons to Kid Rock (cracking the charts for the first time), made a fan out of Charlie Sheen (who directed the "Mostly Stoned" video), and even attracted his idol Dave Grohl to his corner. Forged by a long grind, he fulfilled his destiny in 2023. Tim shook the rock world with "Devil You Know." Christened "flawless" and "One of the 30 Best Rock + Metal Songs of 2023" by Loudwire, the breakout single surged onto Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay and Rock & Alternative Airplay charts. In its wake, iHeartRadio touted him as an "On The Verge Artist." Soon, he found himself booked for tours with Staind, Seether, Saint Asonia, Bush, and Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains (another hero of Tim's). Simultaneously, he and Gibbons purchased an historic bar and hotel Wise River Club in Wise River, MT. Coming back home to Montana inspired him to go even wilder on his 2024 full-length album, Savage. The hooks hit harder, the distortion was cranked up louder, and the spirit became freer. Tim is telling a story that will resonate far beyond his home state, and you can hear it loud and clear on the first single and title track "Savage" and  the second release "Die Today" with more to come.

BEWITCHER Unleashes Electrifying New Single, "Starfire Maelstrom," Announces New Album, 'Spell Shock'

All the best tunes belong to the Devil, and Portland’s bastard sons BEWITCHER have returned to take back rock n’ roll in Baphomet’s name. The speed demons are now unleashing the electrifying new single, “Starfire Maelstrom," which is the first invocation from the haunted trio’s upcoming album, 'Spell Shock,' due September 27 on on Century Media Records. The track is the hardened and bloodthirsty sound of BEWITCHER - noise, filth, fury n’ all - and can be found along with a lyric video, which was created by Scott Taysom, watch below.

“It’s full of apocalyptic, speed demon vibes, and imagery taken from the worst of current events that only get more apocalyptic as time goes by,” says BEWITCHER frontman Mateo von Bewitcher of the album's lead missive. “It’s the feeling you get from ‘Fight Fire with Fire’ on [Metallica’s] ‘Ride the Lightning.’ It’s immediate how it feeds into themes of human destruction and war, but also has cosmic elements. It’s a classic album opener.”

Joining Von Bewitcher, bassist A. Magus, and drummer A. Hunter in the studio this time was none other longtime BEWITCHER fan Lars Frederiksen. Most of the world knows Frederiksen as a force in his own right, playing in the likes of Bay Area punk heroes Rancid, as well as his own Old Firm Casuals. While to some, it may have been an unlikely pairing with Frederiksen taking the producer’s seat, for everyone in the studio the connection was immediate.

Says Frederiksen on Spell Shock: "It’s the best record I’ve ever produced for one of the best bands in the world."

Bewitcher's latest lightening strike comes just in time for the band's appearance at Milwaukee Metal Festival, in which they will be laying waste to The Rave/Eagle's Ballroom tonight, May 17! Bewitcher is currently on the road with fellow Portland-based occultists UADA and Century Media labelmates Upon Stone for "The Shadows Return" tour, which will continue to decimate the states until the final stop on May 28 in Sacramento, CA. The full itinerary can be found below! More dates including a Fall North American tour, and BEWITCHER’s return to Europe as they continue to extol their “Black Magick Metal” gospel will be announced soon

Stream and download the new single HERE.

BEWITCHER US Dates:

THE SHADOWS RETURN TOUR w/ UADA

05/17: Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest

05/20: Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary (w/ Stabbing)

05/22: Nashville, TN @ Vinyl Lounge

05/23: Dallas, TX @ RBC

05/24: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad

05/25: Phoenix, AZ @ Pub Rock

05/27: Las Vegas, NV @ Usual Place

05/28: Sacramento, CA @ Goldfield Midtown

BEWITCHER EU Dates:

11/8-9/24 (SE) Umea - House of Metal Festival

Since their formation in 2013, Bewitcher has seen their signature “Black Magick Metal” sound go from humble beginnings to new heights of creativity and wild anthemic fervor. A small collection of long out-of-print demo tapes kicked off what has proven to be an enduring line of ripping studio albums, singles and EPs. They have earned a reputation as one of the hardest working touring acts around, bringing their volcanic, high energy live shows to every corner of North America and parts abroad.

Line-Up:

Mateo von Bewitcher – vox + guitars

A. Hunter – drums + percussion

A. Magus – bass guitar + backing vox

Follow:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

Stream // Order // Download

Wage War Share "TOMBSTONE" Visualizer

WAGE WAR — Briton Bond [lead vocals], Cody Quistad [rhythm guitar, clean vocals], Seth Blake [lead guitar], Chris Gaylord [bass], and Stephen Kluesener [drums] — have entered their world domination era. Last month, the Florida band has announced its fifth album STIGMA, which arrives digitally on June 21 via Fearless Records, while the physical version will land in stores on September 6. Pre-order it here.

The band has shared "TOMBSTONE." Listen here.

The band has also dropped the visualizer. Watch it Below. 

"Metal riffs meet country western tropes in our new track 'TOMBSTONE,'" the band explains. "A final showdown with an enemy.  One fight. Two dogs unleashed."

From its ominous, tension-building opening seconds through the deadly breakdowns, Wage War go hard on "TOMBSTONE." It's got vocals that sound like screamer Briton Bond gargled with a razor blade cocktail, thick and groovy riffs that'’ll have you nodding your head, and battering ram percussion. "TOMBSTONE" finds Wage War, unleashing a hellacious anthem that brings the heavy artillery from start to stomp to finish.

ABOUT WAGE WAR:
Traveling a constant forward trajectory at lightspeed, Wage War not only push their own sound forward, but they also propel heavy music into new territory. The Florida quintethave always tempered a pummeling metallic onslaught with unshakable melodies. A near-decade grind naturally brought Wage War to this point. They have unleashed a string of fan favorite albums, including Blueprints [2015], Deadweight [2017], Pressure [2019], and Manic [2021]. Beyond looks from SPIN, Modern Drummer, American Songwriter, Revolver, Guitar World, and more, KERRANG! hailed the latter as "their greatest album yet," and DORK raved, "It's an embracing of being metalheads, popheads and just fans of good songs. On more than one occasion, there's an earworm poking its head up through the dirt." They also put up numbers, tallying hundreds of millions of streams boosted by the likes of "Stitch," "Low," "Manic," and "Circle The Drain." On their fifth full-length offering STIGMA [Fearless Records], Wage War outfit their signature style with industrial grit and electronic sheen, leveling up into the future in the process with singles such as "MAGNETIC" and "NAIL5."

Future Palace Share "The Echoes of Disparity" Video — WATCH // Band Announces New Album "Distortion" Out 9/6

Female-fronted, post-hardcore high flyers Future Palace are pleased to announce their upcoming album Distortion, due out September 6 via Arising Empire! Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for the single "The Echoes of Disparity," featuring a standout collaboration with Charlie Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds. This song makes a strong statement regarding societal pressure and control over women's bodies. Singer Maria Lessing showcases an impressive vocal range, transitioning between powerful shouts and crystal-clear vocals, adding depth and emotion to the song's important message.

Watch the video Below.

The world is a firework of overstimulation, and Future Palace have dedicated their latest album Distortion, to this overwhelming feeling.

On the new record, the band delves into a mass of mental illnesses and societal problems, creating music that, fittingly, delivers more hooks than ever before, shifting seamlessly from the quietest depths to the loftiest heights.

While their previous album, Run, leaned toward musical extremes, Distortion is the ultimate culmination of all the tones Future Palace have absorbed on their Europe-wide journey as one of the most exciting acts in alternative guitar music. The album features the most powerful metalcore breakdowns meeting trembling darkwave beats, anthemic emocore refrains à la Bad Omens contrasted with sacred choirs, and the coldness of industrial clashing with the powerful emotionality of Sleep Token, making Distortion more like a manifesto.

Future Palace's music has always explored internal struggles, and Distortion is the brutal climax of this approach. The album title, derived from the psychological term cognitive distortion, reflects a world where changing perceptions trap individuals in recurring pitfalls. Distortion addresses various mental illnesses and personal struggles, from ADHD to depression to narcissism. The band's third album is a powerful force of emotions, cycles, and cries of desperation, overwhelming listeners with its intensity.

The band's creativity shines as they tackle demanding topics with fresh perspectives. On Distortion, they build on their previous work by incorporating new elements, like orchestral interjections in "The Echoes of Disparity," which combines brutal screams and chant-like passages to convey psychological struggle. "Panic Paralysis" features a massive vocal motif with an arabesque touch, while "They Take What They Want" dives into emotional depths, blending raw metalcore with gentle vocal passages and massive choirs.

Despite the album's emotional intensity, Distortion was created amid excessive demands. Produced by Julian Breucker and Christoph Wieczorek, known for their work with Annisokay, Beyond the Black, and Smash Into Pieces, the recording process was grueling. Lessing recorded the album with a root infection and after wisdom tooth surgery, adding stress but enhancing the songs' authenticity. Guitarist Manuel Kohlert notes that the album reflects the band's experience as a heavy touring band, capturing the feelings of being on the road and contemplating their existence.

Despite its challenges, Distortion carries a piece of hope. "Decarabia" tells a bittersweet story about a depressed couple, while "The Echoes of Disparity," featuring Charlie Rolfe of As Everything Unfolds, is militantly rebellious, addressing abuse of power and the oppression of women. Lessing emphasizes the importance of female support to convey the song's message loudly.

PHOTO CREDIT: HelloBipo

FUTURE PALACE ARE:
Maria — Vocals
Manuel — Guitar
Johannes — Drums

COUNTRY STAR BLANCO BROWN CELEBRATES LIFE, MUSIC AND SECOND CHANCES WITH NEW SONG “SNAPSHOT,”

Blanco Brown has a reason to sing with the release of “Snapshot”, out today, which serves as the first preview of his EP Cedar Walls & Whiskey releasing on June 14. “Snapshot,” written by the iconic Diane Warren and produced by Blanco Brown, is a poignant reflection on the special memories we keep of our loved ones. These memories bring us back to cherished moments in our lives and provide motivation and hope when needed. Listen to “Snapshot” HERE and pre-save/pre-add/pre-order Cedar Walls & Whiskey HERE.

Blanco is celebrating a second chance at life and a newfound appreciation for everything he does. After the unprecedented chart topping viral success of “The Git Up,” which achieved 11x Platinum status and garnered over one billion streams, Blanco was on the cusp of realizing his dreams. But in an instant, a drunk driver changed everything for him. The drunk driver hit Blanco head on while riding his motorcycle. Brown broke multiple bones in his body, required 12 blood transfusions and needed to be resuscitated in the ambulance on his way to the hospital. Despite the lengthy and challenging rehabilitation process, Blanco made a full recovery, relearning fundamental skills like walking and holding a microphone.

Blanco is dedicated to raising awareness against drunk driving as well as the recent increase in accidents caused by impaired drivers. He remarked, “It's hard for me to understand why with all the education and knowledge we have acquired and the options for ride share companies, how we have numbers on the rise. I am aligning with charities against drunk driving to help spread the word and continue educating the public. Nobody cares how much you drink or smoke, just don’t drive for the sake of yourself and others.”

Blanco has faced both blessings and challenges in his career, particularly regarding the intersection of skin color and Country music. “I have encountered some challenges but I have also been blessed with success for the thing I love the most- making music. I have been criticized by some for my disruptive style but music evolves. Some people catch on quicker than others but it always evolves. Look at Elvis or the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Queen or Garth Brooks- all of them contributed to great change and growth in music.”

The release of the first installment of his 2024 EPs, Heartache & Lemonade brought us two amazing hits so far, “Sunshine Shine”, which perfectly aligns with Blanco’s cheery attitude towards life and “Good As It Gets,” a more poignant ballad and love story. Part two of his releases, Cedar Walls & Whiskey  launches with the relatable song, “Snapshot.” Warren and Brown spent considerable time together working out of her studio forging a strong friendship. Diane remarked on their collaboration, “[I’m] excited for everyone to hear ‘Snapshot.’ It's a song about holding onto the good moments so you can relive them again and again and Blanco really brings it to life. He is a fantastic and special artist and I can't wait for everyone to hear this!”

Blanco added, “Diane is a legend plain and simple. Working with her was amazing and I cherish her friendship.”

“Snapshot” is available 5/17 on all platforms.

About Blanco Brown:
Blurring the lines between Country, Hip-Hop & Soul, Blanco Brown makes a southern sound that he proudly calls "Trailer Trap." Honing in on his unique sound, Blanco balances both the metropolis and country settings in which he grew up. His viral hit “The Git Up” (certified 11x PLATINUM across three countries) took the world by storm, claiming the top spot in charts across the globe and spawning nearly four billion views across social platforms. It claimed the No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 12 weeks and was the top-selling digital Country song in the US for 13 weeks, resulting in Billboard naming him as their No. 1 Top New Country Artist for 2019. Apart from being a GRAMMY®-nominated engineer who has worked with the likes of Fergie, Childish Gambino, Kane Brown and Chris Brown, the multi-talent’s multi-national Platinum-certified collaboration “Just the Way” with Parmalee garnered more than 500 million on-demand streams, earning Brown his first No. 1 hit on Country radio (in the US and Canada). More recently, he doubled down on his genre-bending collaborations, teaming with Nelly on the funky, country inspired track “High Horse,” T.I. for “Trap Still Bumpin’,” LOCASH and the late Leslie Jordan for the funky “Let It Slide,” while pairing with Diplo for “Do Si Do” and Lee Brice and R3HAB for the remix of Brice’s hit song, “Soul.” In 2021, Blanco Brown also lent soaring vocals to the song “Never Gonna Tame You (Original Song from “The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses”),” written by Diane Warren. Recovering from a life-threatening accident and leaning on music to heal, Blanco released “Nobody’s More Country” in 2021. Then, while hitting the road hard last summer, he instantly captured the attention of festival audiences across the nation opening his set with a breathtakingly powerful cover blend of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” Showcasing his world-class vocal talent and captivating stage presence throughout 2023, Blanco released the emotionally charged track “I’ll Never,” unlike anything the No. 1 hitmaker has ever released, followed by a momentous tribute to the late, great John Denver with Brown’s release of "Take Me Home, Country Roads.” With his April 5th release of Heartache & Lemonade, part one of three 2024 EP’s, this A-Town resident’s branded “Trailer Trap” sound amplifies the stories & arrangements on the EP. Blanco’s dripping-with-soul vocals also sonically shine throughout as displayed in the lead focus track "Sunshine, Shine.” Part two of three 2024 EP’s, Cedar Walls & Whiskey, drops June 14th and Brown’s latest melody “Snapshot” is out Friday, May 17th.

About Dianne Warren:

One of modern music's most celebrated songwriters, Diane Warren, has penned nine #1 and thirty-three top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and is tied for having written the most #1 songs as a sole writer in Billboard history. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2001.

She has received 15 Academy Award nominations, is a GRAMMY® winner with 15 nominations, an EMMY winner, and two-time Golden Globe winner whose songs have been featured in more than 150 films, including “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (Mannequin), “Because You Loved Me” (Up Close and Personal), “How Do I Live” (Con Air), “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” (Armageddon ), and “Til It Happens To You” (The Hunting Ground). In November 2022, Warren became the first songwriter in history to receive an Honorary Oscar.

She is the sole owner of Realsongs, her publishing company and a recipient of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She has worked with many of today's most popular artists, including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, H.E.R., Snoop Dogg, Paloma Faith, Jon Batiste, Maren Morris, and Justin Bieber, in addition to having written songs for the world's most iconic artists such as Whitney Houston, Cher, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire, and many more.

KEEP UP WITH BLANCO BROWN

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | X

Koe Wetzel Drops "Sweet Dreams" Ahead of Highly-Anticipated Album '9 Lives,' Out July 19

“I want fans to know that there's a different side of me, not just the sex, drugs and rock & roll Koe that they may have heard about online,” Platinum-selling country rock sensation Koe Wetzel shared when unveiling his forthcoming fifth studio album, 9 Lives, set for July 19 release via Columbia Records. With today’s release of emotional ballad “Sweet Dreams,” Music Row’s “genre disruptor” demonstrates just that. Listen Below and pre-order / pre-save the album HERE.
 
Written by Wetzel alongside Amy Allen, Josh Serrato, Sam Harris and producer Gabe Simon, “Sweet Dreams” showcases a vulnerable side of the man praised by Billboard for “music that’s unvarnished and unfiltered” with a chorus that lays bare his raw, emotional depth:
 
        It’s hard to have sweet dreams when I’m such a nightmare  
        I don’t wanna talk about it, rather not go there  
        When I find a good thing, I burn it down slow  
        Only see your face now when my eyes are closed  
 
“I had an R&B type song in mind, like something off Usher’s Confessions album, with a badass drumbeat and a really cool melody. I had written in my notes a few weeks earlier: ‘Sweet Dreams,’” Wetzel says of writing and recording the moody track. “When we got to the Sonic Ranch in El Paso, we tried it. We stepped back to look at the song and got really excited about the way it came out.”
 
“Sweet Dreams” joins lead single “Damn Near Normal” and title track “9 Lives (Black Cat)” in offering an early preview of the album. Wetzel offered fans a further preview of the album’s multi-faceted narrative with a special trailer introducing nine unique Koe Wetzels as he showcased his comedic acting skills. Watch HERE.
 
The Texas-born live phenom also plans to take his new music global this year with his recently announced Damn Near Normal World Tour. Additionally, Wetzel will perform prominent sets at several festivals, including Hangout, Country Jam, Rock the Country, Country Thunder Wisconsin, WE Fest, Watershed and more, plus a hometown stadium show as he joins Morgan Wallen’s One Night At A Time World Tour in Arlington, Texas this July.
 
For more information on all things Koe Wetzel and to purchase tickets to upcoming shows, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and Twitter/X @KoeWetzel.

Damn Near Normal World Tour Dates:
July 27             The Woodlands, Texas  ||  Cynthia Woods Pavilion  
Aug. 7              Missoula, Mont.  ||  Big Sky Brewing Company Amphitheater 
Aug. 8              Nampa, Idaho  ||  Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater  
Aug. 9              Sandy, Utah  ||  Sandy Amphitheater  
Aug. 10            Las Vegas, Nev.  ||  The Theater at Virgin Hotel Hotels Las Vegas  
Aug. 15            Minneapolis, Minn.  ||  The Armory  
Aug. 16            Council Bluffs, Iowa  ||  Stir Cove (Harrah’s Casino)  
Aug. 21            Cleveland, Ohio  ||  Jacobs Pavilion  
Aug. 22            Columbus, Ohio  ||  KEMBA Live! Outdoor  
Aug. 23            Pittsburgh, Pa.  ||  Stage AE  
Aug. 24            Washington, D.C.  ||  The Anthem  
Aug. 28            Boston, Mass.  ||  Roadrunner  
Aug. 29            Uncasville, Conn.  ||  Mohegan Sun Arena  
Aug. 30            Atlantic City, N.J.  ||  Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena  
Aug. 31            Reading, Pa.  ||  Santander Arena  
Sept. 4              Charleston, W.V.  ||  Charleston Coliseum  
Sept. 5              Roanoke, Va.  ||  Berglund Center  
Sept. 6              Columbia, S.C.  ||  Colonial Life Arena  
Sept. 7              Cary, N.C.  ||  Koka Booth Amphitheatre  
Sept. 12            Kansas City, Kan.  ||  Azura Amphitheater  
Sept. 13            Camdenton, Mo.  ||  Ozarks Amphitheater  
Sept. 18            St. Louis, Mo.  ||  Chaifetz Arena  
Sept. 20            Huntsville, Ala.  ||  The Orion Amphitheater  
Sept. 21            Macon, Ga.  ||  Atrium Health Amphitheater  
Sept. 25            Alexandria, La.  ||  Rapides Parish Coliseum  
Sept. 26            Tuscaloosa, Ala.  ||  Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater  
Sept. 27            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Ascend Amphitheater  
Sept. 28            Little Rock, Ark.  ||  First Security Amphitheater  
Oct. 3               Pikeville, Ky.  ||  Appalachian Wireless Arena  
Oct. 4               Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park  
Oct. 5               Evansville, Ind.  ||  Ford Center  
Oct. 10             Abilene, Texas  ||  Expo Center of Taylor County  
Oct. 11             Lubbock, Texas  ||  Cooks Garage  
Oct. 13             Morrison, Colo.  ||  Red Rocks Amphitheatre  
Oct. 26             Manchester, U.K.  ||  Academy 3
Oct. 27             London, U.K.  ||  The Garage
Oct. 30             Glasgow, U.K.  ||  Oran Mor
Oct. 31             Birmingham, U.K.  ||  Academy 2
Nov. 1              Leeds, U.K.  ||  Brudenell Social Club
Nov.3               Amsterdam, Netherlands  ||  Melkweg (Oude Zaal)
Nov. 5              Hamburg, Germany  ||  Bahnhof Pauli
Nov. 6              Berlin, Germany  ||  Frannz Club
Nov. 7              Cologne, Germany  ||  Club Volta
Nov. 10            Stockholm, Sweden  ||  Nalen
Nov. 11            Oslo, Norway  ||  Rockefeller Music Hall
Nov. 13            Copenhagen, Denmark  ||  Lille Vega
 
Additional Shows:
May 18             Gulf Shores, Ala.  ||  Hangout Music Festival
June 21             Grand Junction, Colo.  ||  Country Jam
June 29             Poplar Bluff, Mo.  ||  Rock The Country
July 18             Twin Lakes, Wis.  ||  Country Thunder Wisconsin
July 26             Arlington, Texas  ||  AT&T Stadium (with Morgan Wallen)
July 31             Davenport, Iowa  ||  Mississippi Valley Fair
Aug. 1              Detroit Lakes, Minn.  ||  WE Fest
Aug. 3              Sweet Home, Ore.  ||  Oregon Jamboree Music Festival
Aug. 4              George, Wash.  ||  Watershed Festival
Aug. 17            Wichita, Kan.  ||  Bulls, Bands and Barrels
Sept. 14            Prior, Okla.  ||  Born & Raised
Sept. 19            Louisville, Ky.  ||  Bourbon & Beyond

About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” plus the Gold-certified “Good Die Young” and “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 2.6 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel will open for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour this July and play prominent sets at festivals like Country Thunder and Watershed this summer, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is set for release July 19.

George Strait Releases "MIA Down in MIA" + 'Cowboys And Dreamers' Set for 9/6

On the heels of sharing the news of his 31st studio album with fans during a sold-out show at Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium earlier this month, Country Music Hall of Fame member George Strait debuts the first release from Cowboys And Dreamers with “MIA Down in MIA.” Listen to the song HERE and pre-save/pre-add Cowboys And Dreamers, set for release Sept. 6, HERE.
 
Written by Adam Craig and Dean Dillon, and produced by Strait with Chuck Ainlay, “MIA Down in MIA” features the Texas native’s Ace in the Hole Band, including longtime fiddle player Gene Elder.
 
“I’m dedicating this record to my longtime manager and friend Erv Woolsey and my longtime fiddle player and friend Gene Elders (a player on four of these tracks), who we lost on the same day, March 20, 2024, as well as my longtime friend and road manager Tom Foote, who we lost on April 29, 2024,” shares Strait. “I will never forget all of the good times we had together. May they rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ.”
 
The follow-up to Honky Tonk Time Machine, Strait’s 27th No. 1 Billboard Country album, Cowboys And Dreamers will feature 13 new songs, including “Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame” featuring Chris Stapleton, which the pair debuted during the sold-out show at Lucas Oil Stadium on May 4, and his own rendition of Waylon Jennings’ “Waymore’s Blues.”
 
The Texas Troubadour will continue his series of stadium shows next Saturday, May 25 at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, followed by additional dates this summer in Charlotte, N.C.; East Rutherford, N.J.; College Station, Texas; Salt Lake City, Utah; Detroit, Mich.; and Chicago, Ill., before supersizing his longstanding Strait to Vegas show with a December date at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to mark the 37th installment of the engagement.

Strait’s 2024 Concert Calendar:
5/25 Jack Trice Stadium  Ames, IA
6/1  Bank of America Stadium  Charlotte, NC
6/8  MetLife Stadium  East Rutherford, NJ
6/15 Kyle Field  College Station, TX
6/29 Rice-Eccles Stadium  Salt Lake City, UT
7/13 Ford Field   Detroit, MI
7/20 Soldier Field   Chicago, IL
12/7 Allegiant Stadium  Las Vegas, NV

For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit GeorgeStrait.com.

About George Strait
George Strait is the unambiguous King of Country Music, having sold more than 105 million albums and counting while earning more than 60 major entertainment industry awards as well as countless nominations and becoming the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades. With 33 different Platinum or multi-Platinum albums, he’s earned the third-most certifications of any artist in any genre, following only The Beatles and Elvis Presley, and with a total of 60, Strait has more No. 1 songs than any other artist in history.
 
The Texas troubadour will release his 31st career studio album Cowboys And Dreamers on Sept. 6, following 2019’s best-selling Country album, Honky Tonk Time Machine, on MCA Nashville. Produced by Strait and Chuck Ainlay, the album quickly became Strait’s record-extending 27th No. 1 Billboard Country album. Comprised of 12 original titles plus Strait’s version of the Johnny Paycheck classic “Old Violin.” The Country Music Hall of Fame member earned his 100th entry on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his single “The Weight of the Badge” from the project. For more information, visit GeorgeStrait.com.

Frenchy and the Punk announce eighth album and UK / US tour. Watch the video for lead single 'Hypnotized'

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey and accessible" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Captivating with a sense of adventure... always injects a silver lining into their dusky post-punk" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review


NYC post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk present 'Hypnotized', a seductive dance floor romp and the first taste of their eighth album 'Midnight Garden'. Released via EA Recordings, this follows their critically-acclaimed 'Zen Ghost' LP and Siouxsie tribute 'Cities In Dust'.

This collection bursts with dance grooves, guitar-driven upbeat melodies and soaring vocals. Written in France and the USA, this post-punk, new wave and dark alternative-drenched cauldron of songs address themes ranging from the gothic reimagining of the garden of eden, rising from the ashes and starting over, to socio-political commentary,

Formed in 2005, Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephenson and guitarist-composer Scott Helland, co-founder of Deep Wound (with Dinosaur Jr. icons J Mascis and Lou Barlow) and Outpatients. Named one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, they profess a vivid blend of post-punk, dark folk, new wave, goth and punk cabaret. Helland is also known for his exceptional solo music project Guitarmy of One.

On 'Midnight Garden', Stephenson hits her stride - lyrically, vocally and with the synth sounds peppering the album. Helland shows his knack for infectious, and often euphoric, guitar melodies, propelling these tracks and perfectly complementing Frenchy's vocals.

"Scott came up with the guitar riff for 'Hypnotized' back in 2017. We were staying in a hotel in Atlantic City in-between tour stops. The hotel dated back to the 1930s with beautiful art-deco style decor. It was completely deserted and had an eerie presence - it was definitely haunted. We stumbled upon a lounge area looking over the ocean with a grand piano and spent the afternoon, with the place to ourselves, playing and coming up with song ideas. I didn’t like any lyrics that I was coming up with for that particular riff and it got shelved," explains Samantha Stephenson.

"Once in a while, I’d go back to it but it wasn’t until this past January, seven years later, that it finally took shape. We went to an art opening where photographer and mixed media artist Alice Teeple was showing her ‘Solve Et Coagula’ exhibit. I was very drawn to a book she had created with photographs and French text that she told me was inspired by the French Hypnotist Jean-Martin Charcot and I ended up falling down the Charcot rabbit hole. We were in the middle of working on the new album and I was revisiting that guitar riff, and the hypnosis theme found its way into the song, fitting perfectly after all those years. The theme of hypnosis is a double-edged sword. In one respect, it’s something that feels peaceful and sensual; in another, it feels unnerving in its ability to placate and overpower into subjugation."
 
Drawing inspiration from post-punk legends like The Cure, the upbeat energy and percussive textures of Adam and the Ants, the bewitching mystique of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the quirky charm of The B-52's, they have crafted a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshingly authentic delivered in an unorthodox way.

About 'Hypnotized, Scott Helland says, "The song sprung from the opening grungy bass line that I played with an electro-acoustic hybrid guitar through octave and distortion pedals. The groove pulses beneath Samantha’s soaring vocals and lets up occasionally to allow me to growl the word "Hypnotized". I love that it’s a confounding track in that it hypnotizes you to move. We love to work with contrasts".

Over the years, the duo has forged their own distinct path, touring across the US and Europe with their artful two-person powerhouse of sound. To date, they've performed with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Aurelio Voltaire and Faun.

'Hypnotized' is out now, available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The 'Midnight Garden' album, which is now available for pre-order, will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally on June 28. 

The band kicks off their UK tour on May 21, when they play Bristol's Exchange with Miranda Sex Garden. American dates will follow in June. Tour tickets can be found online.

CREDITS
Samantha Stephenson - Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
Scott Helland - Guitar, Bass, Drums and Drum Programming
Recorded at Split Rock Studios (New Paltz, NY)
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi
Mastered by Martin Bowes at The Cage (Coventry UK)
Written, performed and produced by Frenchy and the Punk
Single artwork by Samantha Stephenson
Artist photos by Nicola Bee

TOUR DATES
MAY 18  Milton, PA - Reign of Terror Presents: World of Fae
MAY 19  Berkeley Springs, WV - Bringing in the May
MAY 21  Bristol, UK - The Exchange (with Miranda Sex Garden)
MAY 23 Brighton, UK - Brighton Spiegeltent
JUN 1  Wareham UK - Alice’s Wicked Tea Party
JUN 7  Morecambe, UK - A Splendid Day Out Festival
JUN 8   Newcastle, UK - Little Buildings
JUN 9  Edinburgh, UK - Banshee Labyrinth
JUN 14  Leicester, UK - Firebug
JUN 15  London, UK - Dublin Castle
JUN 17  Oxford, UK - Botley Taproom
JUN 22  Salem, MA - Darq Salem
JUL 11  Pomeroy, OH - Starwood Festival
JUL 13  Pittsburgh, PA - TBA
JUL 14  Columbus, OH - Dirty Dungarees Alt Music Space
JUL 17  Cincinnati, OH - The Comet
JUL 18  Detroit, MI - Corktown Tavern
JUL 19  Akron, OH - Buzzbin
JUL 20  Maple Heights, OH - Maple Grove Tavern
JUL 21  Dayton, OH - Blind Bob’s
JUL 23  St Louis, MO - Crack Fox
JUL 25  Cleveland, OH - Wizbang Theater
JUL 26  Sherman, NY - Sirius Rising Festival
SEPT 6   Pittsburgh, PA - Pitts Art Fest
SEPT 22  York, PA - Enchanted Festival
SEPT 26 Dark Castle Festival, Louisville, KY
OCT 5/6  Attleboro, MA - Jewelry City Festival
OCT 12  Upper Lake, CA - Hexenfest
OCT 25  Shepherdstown, WV - TBA
NOV 16  Baltimore, MD -  Fairy Scary Ball

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Belgian dark synth-rock duo LOVELORN DOLLS present 'Diary of Nothing' ahead of 'Deadtime Stories' album (out May 24)

Belgian alt-rock duo Lovelorn Dolls present 'Deadtime Stories' - their fourth album to date - and the video for 'Diary Of Nothing', the final song of this sonic storybook. A newspaper with blank pages recalls the empty and empathetic heart of the protagonist, who reminds us of Wednesday Addams. The video refers to the tumultuous sibling relationship between Wednesday and her brother Pugsley, whom she loves to mistreat. Kristell, who plays the main role, also takes great pleasure in mistreating her sidekick, the outcome of working with the same person for 15 years.

Hailing from Brussels, Lovelorn Dolls is Kristell Lowagie (lyrics, vocals) and Bernard Daubresse (programming, guitars, synth). They are back in a big way after a 5-year hiatus that saw Kristell transform into the photographer/ visual artist Kristell In Wonderland, exhibiting throughout Europe. With a gothic rock underbelly, their sound resembles a mix of Theatre of Tragedy, Lacuna Coil and The Birthday Massacre.

"We had a lot of fun creating this video for one of our favorite songs on the album. This song alone sums up the "Lovelorn Dolls” spirit for me," says Kristell Lowagie.
 
'Deadtime Stories'  be released on May 24 via Alfa Matrix / SPLEEN+, joining other great artists on this label, including Front 242, Ayria, Recoil, Leather Strip and Alien Vampires. Earlier, the female-fronted duo previewed singles 'A Heart Cries', 'Dream World' and 'Beautiful Chaos' and also released the 'Deadtime Stories: the Book'featuring the lyrics, accompanying illustrations and photos by Kristell In Wonderland.

On 'Deadtime Stories', the duo embraces a stronger identity – creepy cute ambiance, eerie Tim Burton-esque scenes, guitar-driven sounds, catchy dark melodies, childlike synths, industrial tones, and Kristell’s distinctive voice, all boldly and fully embraced.

The title itself is a cynical play on words, referencing children’s rhymes with a dark twist. Each song delves into themes of death, endings, suicide, broken dreams, loss, and the perilous allure of fame. The artwork also encapsulates this, depicting a lonely girl reading in a cemetery fog.

Produced, mixed and mastered by Maxx Maryan, known for his work with cult electro-goth metal duo Helalyn Flowers and IMJUDAS, the album features several guest appearances, including by Dero Goi (ex-vocalst of OOMPH!) in the duet 'Dancing at Your Funeral', which Goi co-wrote and co-produced. American Gothic rapper VVitchboy also appears on the energetic and enchanting track 'Death & Glory'

Earlier, Lovelorn Dolls released the 'Beautiful Chaos' EP, an ode to love stories gone wrong with five bonus remixes roam from minimal EBM to industrial goth and ethereal wave via contributors The Breath of Life, Absynthe of Faith, Audiopyre, Restriction 9 and Antidote for Annie.

Out May 24, the 'Deadtime Stories' album will be available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered via the label or directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Lyrics & vocals by Kristell Lowagie
Music by Bernard Daubresse
Kristell Lowagie - vocals
Bernard Daubresse – guitars & synths
Additional arrangements, programming and synths by Maxx Maryan Recorded in Brussels and Rome
Produced, mixed and mastered by Maxx Maryan
Released via Alfa Matrix
All artwork, design & illustrations by Kristell Lowagie
Artist photos by Kristell In Wonderland

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