Heilung Announce Live at Red Rocks

June 2, 2024

Heilung invoked the spirits of the old world for the first time at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre back in 2021. Today, they're announcing Lifa Iotungard, a live album that captures that unforgettable night under the starry Colorado sky on CD and vinyl.

Watch the video of their live performance of "Traust" Below.

Lifa Iotungard comes out on CD and vinyl on August 9, 2024.

ᛯ Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/lifaiotungard

Recorded live at Red Rocks in October 2021, Lifa Iotungard captures Heilung's sacred ritual. As torches blazed and drums echoed between the sandstones, a sacred space was created, linking the hearts of the present with the spirits of the past.

"Remember that we all are brothers", Heilung recite during their opening ceremony. "All people, beasts, trees, and stones and wind. We all descend from the one great being".

"Traust" unfolds in a powerful surge of throat singing, primordial rhythms and mystic chants. This song - which first appeared on their second studio album Futha - transports listeners back to a time where the veil between worlds was thinnest. Christopher Juul, Maria Franz, Kai Uwe Faust, and their battalion of warriors, equipped with the lore of ages, cast a spell that reverberates through the bones of the Earth itself.

HEILUNG don’t play shows. They perform a ritual. Every performance begins with Kai Uwe Faust leading Christopher Juul, Maria Franz and the rest of the Nordic collective in an ancient prayer. Soon after, the audience is swept into rapture, swayed by incense and throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire.

Since they began in 2015, Heilung have been paving melodic paths to the past with their unique and mystifying sound. Evading all conventional genre tags and the confines of any specific labels, the group aptly self-describes their sound as “amplified history,” emphasizing their ability to connect modern society with the rudiments of humanity’s beginnings through music.

“Our ancestral Nordic civilizations did not just pop up, exist and disappear in isolation”, says Faust, a throat singer and one of Heilung’s three composers. “With singing these primordial songs we want to give tribute to these cultures, reconnect to the beginnings and remember that we all, from East to West, from past to present, are connected through the exchange of ideas and inspiring each other”.

While Heilung features authentic and archaic instrumentation that ranges from rattles and ritual bells to human bones and throat singing, their captivating brand of music is far from primitive. Producer and founding member Christopher Juul implements subtle electronic elements that elevates the musical atmosphere and provides a more in-depth and layered soundscape.

Indeed, Heilung’s success has been unprecedented, achieving milestones in its few short years of existence that many do not see in a lifetime. The collective already had rapidly been growing a buzz upon the self-release of their first full-length Ofnir in 2015, but their dizzying upward trajectory really took off from the moment they set foot on the stage at Castlefest in 2017 for the now-legendary debut of their live ritual. Luckily for those who were not fortunate enough to bare witness to this magical event, the full ceremony was captured on film, having since been viewed by tens of millions of fans across the globe.

As Heilung trekked across Europe and brought their mystifying experience to new audiences, talk of this new band and their stunning ceremony made way to Season of Mist label owner Michael Berberian, who quickly offered the band a record contract after seeing their undeniable musical impact for himself.

By 2019, Heilung launched their second full-length record, Futha, which contrasted the masculine and battle-heavy themes of their debut with a feminine counterpart that celebrated fertility and female energy. Upon the first week of the record’s release, it graced the Billboard charts with coveted numbers, debuting at #3 on the Heatseekers Charts and #4 on the Billboard World Music Chart, placing on a total of seven Billboardcharts while meeting critical-acclaim from the press on a global scale.

Their music has even appeared in places that extend far beyond typical concert venues. From hit television series like Game of Thrones and Vikings to video game giants like Conqueror’s Blade VII: Wolves of Ragnarök and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II to the blockbuster Robert Eggers film The Northman, Heilung’s music has risen far above the underground and has transcended into a greater world. Even a global pandemic couldn’t slow down Heilung’s success; it only strengthened them and gave them the gift of time to complete work on their third album. In English, Drif translates as “Gathering”. The music embodies this philosophy by tying together the beginning of civilization with today’s modern society.

Heilung now perform their rituals all over the world. They sold out their first North American tour in 72 hours. Upon returning to the United States in 2021, they were greeted by another sold-out crowd, this time at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. This performance will be released on vinyl, CD and Blu-ray in 2024, along with another performance at the Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith, London.

During the lead-up to the new LIFAs, Heilung will embark on headlining tours of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, they will cast their spell over more of the world’s biggest stages, including Roskilde Festival, Download Festival and Glastonbury. But no matter where they are, Heilung always begin their performance with a humbling reminder of where we all come from.

“Remember, we are all brothers. All people, beasts, tree and stone and wind, we all descend from the one great being that was always there, before people lived and named it, before the first seed sprouted.”

Line-up:
Kai Uwe Faust
Christopher Juul
Maria Franz

Links:
Official Website: https://www.amplifiedhistory.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amplifiedhistory
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amplifiedhistory
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7sTKZr30LqC928DZ5P9mNQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Heilung
Bandcamp: https://heilung.bandcamp.com/music
Bandsintown: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/1977594-heilung

Pre-order & pre-save LIFA Iotungard: https://orcd.co/lifaiotungard

Available Formats:
Digital Download
2CD Digipak
2x12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear and Black Marbel
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Silver
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Gold and Orange Mixed
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Red Rocks Sand-Filled

The Intemperate Sons Release Music Video for Single "Falling Under"; New Album 'Dark Day’s Night' Due Out June 5th via FRAME|WORK

June 1, 2024

"Falling Under" is the latest track off the upcoming album, Dark Day’s Night that is set for release on June 5th, 2024. This album has taken a darker turn than the debut, reflecting the crazy times we live in today. Everyone has their own demons that no one else can see. The brightest souls burn the shortest wick before their candle fades away. This track was produced by Amir Derakh and The Intemperate Sons at The Kitchen Recording Studios in Dallas, TX.

The Intemperate Sons release all their music through the Frame|Work record label at the direction of Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck. A brand-new music video for the single will follow on 5/31/24 to the usual platforms. All Intemperate Sons’ tracks are mixed by Amir Derakh at Synthicide in Long Beach, CA. All mastering is done by Mike Marsh Mastering in the U.K.

Pre-order began on Monday March 18th where fans have the exclusive opportunity to secure a limited edition 12" vinyl LP, offered in various package configurations.

Pre-order Dark Day's Night HERE

Immerse yourself in the gritty sonic landscape of The Intemperate Sons' second album, Dark Day's Night. With tracks like the haunting title song, the introspective "Falling Under," and the reflective "Way Back When," this album weaves a compelling story of resilience amidst turmoil. "Unrealized" and "CØNTRØL8" delve into the battle for autonomy in a disordered world, while "Game of Keep Away" offers a raw take on the struggle of self-destruction and survival. The album also features a heavier, more intense cover of Nirvana's "Dumb," adding a unique layer to this already diverse album. Dark Day's Night is not just an album; it's a journey through the shadows, echoing with the sounds of defiance and liberation.

The Intemperate Sons emerged onto the rock scene in the summer of 2019 in Dallas, TX, to bring their distinct sound to the genre. A deep love for music brought family members Keith Watson (drums), Jake Watson (guitars) and Max Watson (vocals, guitars, keys) together along with close friend Mark Marks, who provides the groove on bass to unite everything together. The band's sound has been described as a 90's alternative style that is obsessed with the 70's.

Keith is well acquainted with entertaining massive crowds of concert goers and has played with many successful bands in Dallas, such as Gun Hill, Natural Born Thrillersand Agents of Solace, on top of opening for Lynch Mob, Joe Lynn Turner and Sponge. He is the primary lyricist for the band and has written the music for some of their most successful songs, including “Dust to Dust,” “The Color Within,” and “Unrealized.”

Multi-talented and gifted with the ability to play various instruments, Max is also the lead vocalist of the group. Along with being musically dexterous, he has also collaborated with Keith to write lyrics on the released songs “Going Crazy” and “Way Back When.” In the studio, Max usually surmounts expectations and goes above and beyond to prepare prior to a session with his own vocal harmonies.

Jake is the song architect of the Sons and extremely instrumental in the crafting of the music. His inventive ways of bringing lyrics to life in clever ways are unprecedented and fascinating to see in the studio setting. He is a prolific writer of music as well and is credited with helping create the songs “What’s Done is Done,” “Remission,” “Way Back When” and “Wading in the Gray.” Both Max and he play lead guitar on many of the songs as well. The other members of the band fondly refer to him as the “art director” since he enjoys taking charge in those areas for the group.

Prolific and unifying, Mark is an accomplished bass player and well known in Dallas. He was in the regionally successful band, Haggard, and had opened for Sebastian Bach of Skid Row. His input in song writing has been invaluable to the process of creating captivating melodies.

Despite the pandemic putting a pause on many major events, The Intemperate Sonslived up to their name and let nothing hold them back from making music. Constantly hard at work in the studio, they have collaborated with Amir Derakh (Julien-K, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy, Rough Cutt) and Ryan Shuck (Julien-K, Adema, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy). Both have lent their musical talents to various songs and ultimately have brought the Sons on to their label, Frame|Work. This led the band to also recently join the management roster at The Label Group. Ryan worked with Amir to produce the band’s upcoming track, “Game of Keep Away,” and has had a huge impact on the group. He’s been especially influential on Max’s vocal melodies and delivery. Amir also plays guitar on this latest ballad and has been mixing all of the band’s music as well as performing on multiple songs.

Another notable collaboration has been with Tony Franklin (The Firm, Roy Harper, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Whitesnake), primarily on the first album, The Color Within. He has been a valuable friend of the band and has played bass on some of their best tracks from that album, including “Running Man,” “Dust to Dust” and “The Color Within.”

The Intemperate Sons’ take on alternative rock is a dark and powerful concoction of hard rock mixed with folk and grunge concepts. The band has earned a serious reputation for writing and performing tracks that scratch deep into the backbone of the human experience. There is no shortage of darkness in their writing style, which has a retro vibe with many guitar-driven tracks stacked on top of a groovy rhythm section. The heavier style fits perfectly with the two and three-part vocal harmonies that are a huge part of their overall sound. It has been said that musicians that are related form unique sounds and communicate at a frequency only they can understand. This frequency has become engrained in their songwriting, arrangements, guitar melodies and vocal harmonies. The band has been compared to Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and even R.E.M.

The Intemperate Sons are:

Max Watson (vocals, backing vocals, guitars, keys, bass)

Jake Watson (guitars, bass and backing vocals)

Keith Watson (drums, backing vocals)

Mark Marks (bass)

The Intemperate Sons Show Dates:

Fri June 14 @ Trees in Dallas, TX
Sat June 15 @ Verma Fest - 3 Nations Brewing in Carrollton, TX
Sat July 27 @ The Railhead Saloon in Lawton, OK
Sat Aug 3 @ Hanovers Draught Haus in Pflugerville, TX
Fri Sep 6 @ The Zone Grill & Bar in Abilene, TX
Sat Sep 7 @ Fitzgerald's Bar & Live Music Venue in San Antonio, TX
Sat Oct 26 @ Lonestar Bulldog Rescue Benefit in Denton, TX
Wed Nov 13 @ Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA

For More Information Please Visit:

The Intemperate Sons

FRAME|WORK

NEONFLY Announces Live EP and Presents Music Video for "Highways to Nowhere"!

June 1, 2024

UK alternative metal act NEONFLY has announced the release of the band's upcoming live EP Master Tapes - 10 Years Live at Masters of Rock, set to be released on June 19 via Noble Demon.

Having graced the festival for the 4th time in ten years back in 2022, this digital EP commemorates their decade-long journey since their first captivating performance on the international stage. Masters of Rock festival holds a special place in NEONFLY's hearts as it provided them with a crucial platform that kick-started the band's global presence. With each performance, NEONFLY has established a profound connection with their fans and the festival community, culminating in this special EP that commemorates their decade-long adventure at Masters Of Rock festival from humble beginnings to the here and now.

NEONFLY comments: "Our journey with Masters of Rock began in 2012 when we played to a packed second stage, winning the hearts and minds of everyone present. This led to us returning the following year and being promoted to an early afternoon slot on the Main Stage. Since then, the Czech fans, and especially those at Masters of Rock, have always held a special place in our hearts. Playing there feels like coming home, and we wanted to show our gratitude to all the fans who rocked out with us over the years, as well as to the fantastic team at Pragokoncert for their unwavering support."

Our first live recording dates back to our Main Stage debut in 2013, where we premiered the yet-to-be-released track "Heart of the Sun," later featured on our second album. The live version has been remixed and remastered for this release. In 2015, we returned for another epic Main Stage performance, proving that Neonfly was here to stay and a force to be reckoned with. That show also marked the debut of our visually captivating fire-breathing act, performed by guitarist Frederick Thunder, which has since then become a festival staple for us. Two tracks are taken from that show, "A Gift to Remember" and "Morning Star."

"'Although we performed at Metalfest 2017, also organized by Pragokoncert, it took seven years for us to return to Masters of Rock. Originally scheduled for 2020, the pandemic put our plans on hold until 2022, turning our return into a special moment, marking our 10-year 'MORversary.' "Highways to Nowhere" and "This World is Burning" are taken from that show, with their respective videos edited by Frederick Thunder."

Watch the music video for the first single "Highways to Nowhere", which the band performed at the Masters of Rock Festival 2022:

Guitarist Frederick Thunder about the track: "‘Highways to Nowhere’ has been a staple in our setlist since our second album ‘Strangers in Paradise’ came out. It’s really punchy and straight-forward, and it’s a great song to start the set with a bang and set the tone for the rest of the show. Even after all these years, the song only seems to have grown in popularity as evidenced by the number of people who request it and the way it’s positioned itself as one of our most popular songs on streaming platforms. It seemed like a great option as the starting track of our EP to celebrate what Neonfly is all about live."

**- Original photograph by Veronika Hesounová -**

Revisiting unforgettable moments from their triumphant return in 2022 after a seven-year hiatus, NEONFLY offers a vibrant snapshot of their spirited performances with anthems like "Highways to Nowhere" and "This World is Burning," capturing the essence of their 10-year "MORversary." With their seamless blend of raw energy, intricate melodies, and captivating visuals, NEONFLY's live recordings transcend mere music, embodying a celebration of unity, resilience, and passion shared with fans worldwide.

Master Tapes - 10 Years Live at Masters of Rock will be coming out digitally on June 19 via Noble Demon. The EP is available for pre-save at THIS LOCATION.

Neonfly are:

Willy Norton - Vocals

Frederick Thunder - Guitars

Paul Miller - Bass

Declan Brown - Drums

Find Neonfly online:

Find NOBLE DEMON online:

Portland's FEDERALE presents 'No Strangers' single & announces tour dates. The new 'Reverb & Seduction' album marks 20 years

June 1, 2024

This is the second single from their 'Reverb & Seduction' album, out this summer via Jealous Butcher Records. Earlier, the band released the lead track 'Heaven Forgive Me', featuring The Black Angels' Alex Maas on backing vocals.

In the 20 years of their existence, Federale has carved out a unique niche within the indie music landscape, blending their signature spaghetti-Western instrumental sound with increasing doses of moody vocal arrangements in the spirit of Lee Hazlewood and late-period Leonard Cohen. Through it all, songwriter and lead singer Collin Hegna – who also spent the last 20 years as a dues-paying member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre – maintains a strictly retro vibe. Federale's records have always sounded period-correct for an alternate-universe 1971, where rock and roll never caught on.

Their sixth studio album, 'Reverb & Seduction' marks the band’s twentieth anniversary. The band’s most immersive and varied album to date, with do-it-all frontman Collin Hegna at the height of his powers, this is a tour-de-force road trip from psych rock to country duets, never straying too far from the spaghetti western roots that inspired the band many blood-moons ago.

“'No Strangers' is an ode to the story songs of Lee Hazlewood. But this time our narrator is on a warpath. Like the leader of a biker gang or a band of musical outlaws, our protagonist rolls into town a Stranger and finds the hypocritically self righteous town folks are none too happy to see him. This doesn't worry him though, because our antihero plans to even the scales in any way necessary. Musically the marriage of strings, pedal steel and reverbed-out guitars transports us to a nondescript time and a nondescript place that is definitely in the past and definitely in the desert. It may be a rugged, dangerous place. But it sure sounds cool. Too bad The Stranger had to burn it all down in the end," says Collin Hegna.

"Each Federale release has sought to embrace influences ever farther afield from the band’s original concept as an ode to Spaghetti Western film music. But one aesthetic constant (as far as non-instrumental songs go) has been the dark, narrative driven folk ballad".

Comprising 10 tracks, 'Reverb & Seduction' was recorded at Revolver Studios in Portland and engineered by Collin Hegna, Matt Thomson and Andrew Joslyn, who boasts five 5 Grammy Award winning albums. Mixed by Jeff Stuart Saltzman (The Black Keys, The High Violets), Matt Thomson and Collin Hegna, this album was mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering.

These new musical homages are complemented by a new lineup of well-known Portland rock-scene vets, including talents from The Shivas, Roselit Bone, Dandy Warhols, Rogue Wave and Delines. Going forward, Federale expects to fully embrace the role of a working, touring band, starting with a West Coast tour timed to coincide with the new record's July release. A European tour will follow in late fall 2024.

'No Strangers' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Band camp. The full 'Reverb & Seduction' album, which can be pre-ordered now, and will be released on July 12, available on CD and vinyl wherever fine records are sold. Tour tickets are also now available for order.

SINGLE CREDITS
Written, arranged and produced by Collin Hegna
Mixed by Jeff Stuart Saltzman
Mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering
Recording Engineering - Collin Hegna, Matt Thomson, Andrew Joslyn
Recorded at Revolver Studios in Portland, OR
Dave Mudle - drums
Rick Pedrosa - pedal Steel & Guitar
Andrew Joslyn - strings
Hunter Lea - harpsichord
Collin Hegna - all other Instruments, percussion & vocals
Released by Jealous Butcher Records
Management: Andy Ross @ Exit Strategy Productions
Publicity: Shauna McLarnon @ Shameless Promotion PR
Video created by Little Richard’s Almanac, animated by Ron Laboray and Niki Elliott
Tour poster designed by Tobias Berblinger

Frenchy and the Punk unveil blissfully alluring 'Like In A Dream' single amidst headlining UK tour

June 1, 2024

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

"Steeped in a melancholic grace, Frenchy and the Punk weave light into their darkness, both visually and aurally... a potent goth-alternative concoction, a boozy blend of classic post-punk infused with daring, catchy guitar work that pushes the boundaries of the genre" ~ 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 presents 'Like In A Dream',
a single that pierces the gloom with flickers of light, their sound steeped in melancholic grace. This is the second offering from their 'Midnight Garden' album, forthcoming via NYC indie imprint EA Recordings.

Torchbearers of a new era in post-punk, the duo earlier released the lead track - the dance floor frenzy 'Hypnotized', one year since releasing their critically-acclaimed 'Zen Ghost' album.

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.

“’Like In A Dream’ was one of the songs we came up with in Paris. I often write lyrics in a stream of consciousness way as if the lyrics were attached to the guitar riff that Scott is playing. It can be that old, ‘which comes first?’, question. Do the riffs present themselves because the lyrics exist or are the lyrics born out of the guitar riffs. Or are Scott and my subconsciouses so connected that they both exist and emerge together? This song is about perspective, the cycle of life, and the ever beautiful embrace of love,” says Samantha Stephenson.

Scott Helland adds, “On ‘Like in a Dream’, in the majority of the song, I play heavily reverbed single note guitar lines. It was a real treat to record, in what I like to call “the Gilmour type of feel”. I wanted those notes to ring and just be felt in an emotive way and to keep within that dreamy floaty-ness that Samantha conjures vocally and lyrically. The single note lines differ from the wall of acoustic and semi electric tones and chords that usually make up our songs, though that wall of sound does come in as the lead up to the end of this track.”

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.

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,

“We filmed the majority of the footage for ‘Like In A Dream’ at Art OMI and sculpture park in Ghent, NY, mostly utilizing the piece by LevenBetts called ‘Zoid’. The minimalist nature of the design and how it captures light with its repetitive geometric shapes seemed like a perfect structure to play within," says Stephenson.

"The stark architecture placed in an expansive landscape mirrors and complements the minimalist and dreamy feel of the song. Another portion of the dance footage was filmed during the recent eclipse in April. It felt like an interesting time to capture movement. In a moment of time when so many came together to witness a beautiful natural phenomenon, it felt like an escape from the mundane which also felt in harmony with the song.”

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.

As of May 28, 'Lost In A Dream' is out everywhere online, 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 has just kicked off their UK tour, alongside Miranda Sex Garden. American tour dates follow in late June.

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
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

Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify | Tidal | Songkick | BandsInTown | Press contact

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

LOST LOVE HAS LEFT COLIN STOUGH “SOBER”

May 31, 2024

Hot off the announce of new EP Lookin’ For Home, 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough delivers the official music video for his latest release off the six-track collection, “Sober.”

“This video shows the push and pull of memories after a breakup. Thinking back to the good times, trying to forget the bad as it’s happening, and looking for solace in all the wrong places,” shares Stough.

Directed by David Dutton with DP Alan Fisher, Stough takes a solo ride on his real-life Harley-Davidson Heritage Softail bike in the clip, while being tormented by vivid memories of a love gone wrong. Built around the bitter sting of a breakup, the slow-burner was co-written by Stough with Mason Thornley and Sam Martinez. All about missing someone so bad you can’t even numb the pain – “I could hang out all night / I could drink this bottle dry / Trying to get me gone and I ain't getting any closer / Without your love I’m sober” – a woozy mix from producer Martinez creates a tone that stands on the edgy fringe of Stough’s peers. Pairing down-tuned acoustic twang and a lonesome slide guitar, the song’s building blocks make for a weary ballad of emotional desperation. But when Stough’s powerful, bluesy vocal ruptures into the chorus, the true toll of finding no relief takes center stage.

Featured as a writer on every track, fans can now pre-save/pre-add Lookin’ For Home (out July 12) and get a preview of the project with “Sober” Below. Next taking this new music on the road, Stough’s stacking music festival dates like CMA Fest 2024 on June 8 on the Hard Rock Stage in Nashville, TN. Doubling up, the Season 21 finalist on American Idol will also join a program at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center on the CMA Close Up Stage for “Idol Hour with Chayce Beckham, HunterGirl, Colin Stough and ‘American Idol’ Season 22 Runner Ups Jack Blocker and Will Moseley.” Earlier in the week, Stough is tapped for a FREE performance during the 19 Takeover at 6th & Peabody on June 6. Follow along for updates on his jam-packed week of appearances during CMA Fest 2024 here.

ABOUT COLIN STOUGH:
While Country Rock phenom and Gattman, Mississippi, native Colin Stough is only knocking on the door to his twenties, he has traversed a long journey in a few short years – starting with his debut EP Promiseland and follow-up EP Lookin’ For Home (expected July 12). After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued his artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2023. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style has helped Stough’s music rack up more than 19.8 MILLION global on-demand streams. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Chase Matthew, Kidd G, and Drake White.

PHOTO CREDIT: RYAN “SPIDEY” SMITH
EP ARTWORK: MICHAEL SAVOIE

Fancy Hagood & Friends Serve Up 'Smothered, Covered & Fried' EP on June 5

May 31, 2024

Singer-songwriter Fancy Hagood knows that life is more fun with friends, and his new EP, Smothered, Covered & Fried, is a savory compilation of favorite songs and kindred artists. The EP will be released June 5 with a pre-add/pre-save available May 30 here.

The collection brings together some of Hagood’s most beloved and iconic tracks, featuring an incredible lineup of artists who add their unique flavor to each song. The EP includes “Hell On Hells” with She Returns From War and Jamie Wyatt, “From This Moment On” with TJ Osborne, “Better Man” with The Kentucky Gentlemen, and “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” with Brooke Eden.

“Smothered, Covered & Fried is one of my favorite projects I’ve ever worked on,” says Hagood. “Getting to collaborate with other queer country artists to put our own spin on songs that everyone is familiar with feels really powerful. This EP is a collective of artists proudly saying that country music is for everyone!”

In addition to the collaborations, the EP includes Hagood’s version of the Stevie Nicks classic, “Landslide.” “I have loved this song as long as I can remember,” says Hagood. “I covered it on Instagram years ago and it brought love into my life for the very first time. That chapter of my life has come to an end, and I wanted to honor the beauty of being loved and loving someone else by putting my own spin on Stevie’s timeless song.

"The lyric ‘I’ve been afraid of changing, cause I built my life around you’ means so much more to me. The opportunity to sail through the changing tides as seasons end and new ones begin feels more and more like a gift. It was a gift to feel loved for the first time.”

Fancy Hagood’s Smothered, Covered & Fried is more than just an EP; it’s a celebration of community, collaboration and the inclusive spirit of music. By bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, Hagood is not only redefining the genre but also showcasing that great music knows no boundaries.

Dayseeker Announce "Dark Sun Protocol" Fall 2024 Headline Tour

May 30, 2024

REPLICA ACOUSTIC ALBUM ARRIVES PHYSICALLY ON JUNE 14

Southern California's DAYSEEKER — Rory Rodriguez [vocals], Gino Sgambelluri [guitar], Ramone Valerio [bass], and Zac Mayfield [drums] — just wrapped an incredibly successful, sold-out headline tour of the U.S. last week, which included appearances at several festivals.

Dayseeker will return to the road for a new headline trek this fall and it's big deal for both the band and fans. They will play the biggest venues of their career so far, while also hitting cities they've not performed in recently!

The "DAYSEEKER: DARK SUN PROTOCOL" tour will kick off September 27 in Dallas and run through November 2 in Los Angeles.

Alpha Wolf, Catch Your Breath, and Kingdom of Giants will also appear.

All dates are below. Tickets go on sale on Friday, May 31 at 10am local time. Get tickets here.

"We're really excited for 'Dark Sun Protocol,' considering it's been years since we've headlined some of these cities," says Rodriguez. "This will be our biggest and best live show to see so far — guaranteed."

DAYSEEKER ON TOUR:
WITH ALPHA WOLF, CATCH YOUR BREATH, + KINGDOM OF GIANTS:
9/27 — Dallas, TX — Studio @ The Factory
9/28 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center
9/29 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
10/1 — St. Petersburg, FL — Jannus Live
10/2 — Atlanta, GA — The Eastern
10/4 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
10/5 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz
10/6 — Baltimore, MD — Rams Head Live
10/8 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE
10/9 — Cleveland, OH — Agora Theater
10/11 — Boston, MA — Roadrunner
10/12 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall
10/13 — Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Steel
10/15 — Chicago, IL — Salt Shed
10/16 — Royal Oak, MI — Royal Oak Music Theatre
10/17 — Toronto, ON — Rebel
10/18 — Newport, KY — MegaCorp Pavillion
10/20 — Minneapolis, MN — Skyway Theater
10/22 — Denver, CO — Mission Ballroom
10/23 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
10/25 — Seattle, WA — Showbox Sodo
10/26 — Boise, ID — Knitting Factory
10/27 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom
10/29 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
10/30 — San Francisco, CA — Warfield
11/1 — Tempe, AZ — The Marquee
11/2 — Los Angeles, CA — Novo

In other Dayseeker news, the band's acoustic album Replica arrives physically on June 14 via Spinefarm. Pre-order it here.

The stripped down, intimate renditions of familiar fan favorites highlight the band's songcraft and allow the listener to experience Dayseeker in an entirely new way. The collection also includes appearances from Holding Absence's Lucas Woodland and indie artist Amber DeLaRosa.

Replica is the somewhat unexpected (yet welcomed) result of a specific gig in 2022, when the band's gear overheated at Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Thinking on his feet, Rodriguez grabbed an acoustic guitar from the van, plugged in, and performed "Without Me." Soon, he had pulled together a five-song set on the fly as thousands of fans flocked to the stage.

"I felt like we let people down, but I had so many friends say, 'Everyone will remember the day your equipment stopped working and you still played the set as a really special moment’,'" he recalls. "It felt natural for our songs. We usually will do extra tracks for a Deluxe version or re-release, but we decided to commit to an entire acoustic album this time."

LISTEN TO REPLICA TRACKS:
"Neon Grave" (Acoustic)
"Burial Plot" (Feat. Caleb Shomo) (Acoustic)
"My Immortal" (Acoustic)

ABOUT DAYSEEKER:
Dayseeker are a quiet killer. The band has steadily built a buzz over the past several years — and they have reached a tipping point. Dayseeker have become a scene standout with 2019's Sleeptalk, which was hailed by Alternative Press as "a warm and welcome release to higher ground" and as "much needed fresh air into the post-hardcore scene.

The album has gone on to accumulate over 125 million streams, and it positioned the band as a formidable force — and one that is primed to take its next big leap. In 2021, the band dropped a deluxe version of Sleeptalk, featuring four reimagined versions of album tracks, which offered fans a fresh and unique take on songs they already love. It also demonstrated the depth and breadth of the band's creative vision, scope, and possibilities. However, Dark Sun catapulted the band beyond the scene's stratosphere. The album is out now via Spinefarm and is at 80 millions streams.

ABOUT SPINEFARM:
Spinefarm represents some of the biggest and most important rock acts in the world. Founded in Finland in 1990, the label established itself as an independent powerhouse for successful European metal acts from Nightwish to Children Of Bodom. Acquired by UMG in 2002, Spinefarm Music Group is now home to a host of artists that reach millions of fans across the globe and showcases the very best in rock, punk and metal. From massive metal names such as Bullet For My Valentine (with over 3 billion streams to their name) to alt-rock legends Killing Joke and genre-benders Sleep Token, Spinefarm's artists are — and always have been —true leaders in their chosen field. The roster also includes renowned names like Atreyu, Airbourne, Saint Asonia, and While She Sleeps, as well as fast-rising young artists like Dayseeker, Dead Poet Society, Kid Kapichi, BRKN LOVE, and Creeper. Spinefarm, now flanked by associated SMG labels Candlelight (Emperor, Ihsahn, Urne) and Snakefarm (Marty Stuart, Austin Meade, The White Buffalo), has grown from its independent origins into a true global rock powerhouse.

CAVALERA - RELEASE ANIMATED MUSIC VIDEO FOR SECOND SINGLE, 'FROM THE PAST COMES THE STORMS’

May 30, 2024

CAVALERA has become synonymous with extreme metal music, a name that to this day still holds the highest regard, a family legacy built upon decades of musical aggression. In 2023, Max and Iggor Cavalera achieved what some would say was an impossible feat; they revisited their earliest releases, Morbid Visions, and Bestial Devastation, and re-recorded them with bone-breaking intensity. A risk that few would dare to even attempt, yet they artfully and prolifically attained their trademark raw sound by means that could only be described as magic or time travel.

It seems that the ball would not stop rolling as now they are entering the final chapter of their early-days trilogy. Schizophrenia is an iconic album in terms of early thrash and death metal, a household name for those of us invested in extreme metal. This was the point where the Cavaleras refined their dark, dingy, speed-influenced songs, into something a bit more mature, developed, and technical. Decades later, they have once more unlocked the asylum that is Schizophrenia, opening the doors to that banished, twisted recording which will be unleashed unto to world on June 21st via Nuclear Blast Records.

Today, the band releases the pummeling second single entitled 'From The Past Comes The Storms'. Costin Chioreanu was once again enlisted to create the animated music video.

Max Cavalera states, "'From The Past Comes The Storms' is a ferocious album opener. It is a pioneer song using the ’80s Metal movement’s mentality. I love the apocalyptic vision in Costin’s video, bringing the circle of life and death and war and pain. This is going to be a banger to play live!"

Iggor Cavalera comments, “’From The Past Comes The Storms’ was one of the first songs we wrote for schizophrenia, also included in a demo version. I love the rawness between the old school black/death metal influences mixed with thrash. The video illustrates the vibe of the song very well!”

Stream the new single 'From The Past Comes The Storms' on all platforms now at:
https://cavalera.bfan.link/from-the-past-comes-the-storms

Pre-order/pre-save Schizophrenia:
https://cavalera.bfan.link/schizophrenia

Watch the animated music video created byCostin Chioreanu for 'From The Past Comes The Storms', Below

No stranger to collaborations, the Cavalera brothers enlisted Travis Stone (PIG DESTROYER) on lead guitars, and that choice becomes obvious within the first song. The full lineup would consist of more Cavalera alumni, as Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD AND DIE, HEALING MAGIC) once more brought his talents on bass to the fold. Thundering and thrumming the low end with brute force, it is clear that the double Iggor and Igor combination is a rhythm section to be reckoned with.

It should come as no surprise that the CAVALERA brothers always felt that these songs deserved a fresh take with modern production. From April 15th to June 5th, 2023 the band re-recorded the album at Focusrite Room in Mesa Arizona. Mixing and mastering was handled by Arthur Rizk(SOULFLY, GO AHEAD AND DIE, TURNSTILE).

Schizophrenia’s album cover has obsessed and fascinated fans for decades. The brothers left no stone unturned and no detail unnoticed, also revisioning the original cover artwork of the album, restored in hand-painted watercolors by Eliran Kantor.

With the impressive catalog that the CAVALERA brothers have created over the years, you will soon see that Schizophrenia will also sit amongst their greatest achievements. Max and Iggor have relinquished an album that for many years was locked away behind rusty, iron cell doors, barred by straight jackets and haunted by madness. From the past comes the storms as Schizophrenia is set loose on the world once more!

CAVALERA is:
Max Cavalera | Vocals, Guitar
Iggor Cavalera | Drums, Percussion
Igor Amadeus Cavalera | Bass
Travis Stone | Lead Guitar

More information:
https://www.cavaleraconspiracy.net/
https://www.facebook.com/cavaleraconspiracy/
https://twitter.com/cavconspiracy
https://www.instagram.com/cavaleraconspiracy/
https://www.youtube.com/@CavaleraConspiracy
https://www.tiktok.com/@cavconspiracy

COLIN STOUGH IS LOOKIN’ FOR HOME – OUT 7/12

May 27, 2024

With the buzz around 19 Recordings/BMG Nashville artist Colin Stough building, the singer-songwriter claims a place to make his creative stand with the new EP, Lookin’ For Home. Releasing July 12, fans can now pre-save/pre-add Lookin’ For Home and get a preview of the project with pensive track “Sober” Below.

“Each one of these songs is a piece of my heart, and they outline trials and tribulations that I’ve been through personally. They’ve made me into who I am today,” shares Stough. “The EP title Lookin’ For Home comes from that feeling that something is missing – that no matter where you are, who you’re with, or what you’re doing, you feel like you don’t belong, and there’s something just over the horizon that would make it better.”

Carving out a high-energy corner at the intersection of Country and Southern Rock, Lookin’ For Homefeatures six songs sharpening Stough’s hard-edged vision of musical honesty. The follow-up to his Promiseland EP debut, Lookin’ For Home burns with even more passion and raw vocal strength, presenting a full-spectrum view of a free spirit on the run, who’s painfully aware of life’s difficult contradictions. Dealing with everyday themes like work and weekends, and true love and the torment of heartbreak, the set never shies away from the messy truth – and with Stough featured as a writer on every track, that messy truth often grapples with the dividing line between right and wrong, tradition and ambition, the push and pull between small-town comfort, and the drive to leave his mark on the outside world.

Meanwhile, all throughout songs like the recently released “Makes Two of Us,” Stough wraps reflections on vulnerability, hope, belonging, and more, in an electrifying new sound, fusing the familiar crunch of Country Rock with a dark, gravelly take. Weaving it all together with a dynamic Mississippi rasp, he matches down-home tenderness with icy explosions of pure power in equal measure, as a burgeoning star rises firmly on his own.

Delivered today (5/24), he further captures the crippling torment of a bleeding heart in “Sober.” Built around the bitter sting of a breakup, the slow-burning ballad was co-written by Stough with Mason Thornley and Sam Martinez. All about missing someone so bad you can’t even numb the pain – “I could hang out all night / I could drink this bottle dry / Trying to get me gone and I ain't getting any closer / Without your love I’m sober” – a woozy mix from producer Martinez creates a tone that stands on the edgy fringe of Stough’s peers. Pairing down-tuned acoustic twang and a lonesome slide guitar, the track’s building blocks make for a weary ballad of emotional desperation. But when Stough’s powerful, bluesy vocal ruptures into the chorus, the true toll of finding no relief takes center stage.

Taking his new music on the road this summer, Stough’s stacking music festival dates like CMA Fest 2024 on June 8 on the Hard Rock Stage in Nashville, TN. Doubling up appearances, the Season 21 finalist on American Idol will also join a program at Fan Fair X inside Music City Center on the CMA Close Up Stage for “Idol Hour with Chayce Beckham, HunterGirl, Colin Stough and ‘American Idol’ Season 22 Runner Ups Jack Blocker and Will Moseley.” Find additional details here.

Canadian indie folk trio Wild Remedy gets to the root of life on new 'Home Song' single

May 27, 2024

"Wild Remedy's inevitable success will rest entirely on their undeniable raw talent... utterly captivating. The band creates music that feels eternally relevant, their voices blending seamlessly to ground us emotionally before launching us into a world of soaring melodies" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Canadian indie folk trio Wild Remedy presents their effervescent single 'Home Song', previewing their debut 'Songs From Home' EP. Making music that radiates like a beacon of hope, this all-female trio of Ottawa-born musicians' music is rooted in a love for chilling harmonies and all things folk.

Every folk band needs a song about home, and “Home Song” is Wild Remedy’s take. Paying homage to their folk roots, the lyrics mimic the simplicity found in many Americana-Country songs, yet draw in the dynamic storytelling key of the indie-folk genre. This near-title track is sure to have audiences tappin’ and clappin’ along with catchy percussion, and an unforgettable sound.

Wild Remedy is made up of Amy Russett, Colleen Roberston and Shay Mahoney, who now has one foot in Ottawa and one in Montreal. Influenced by everything from alternative pop to folk-rock, gospel to disco, the band has been an emerging force in the Canadian folk scene since 2022, entertaining audiences with their catchy originals, new takes on folk classics, and haunting harmonies.

With strong harmonies and upbeat folk acoustics as strong points, Wild Remedy's songs range from a classic stomp-and-holler sound that makes you want to dance, to thought-provoking indie vibes that leave the listener feeling uplifted. Wild Remedy spins a beautiful sonic web between singer-songwriter offerings, indie pop and Canadian folk - perhaps what it might sound like if Joni Mitchell and Boygenius had a not-so-secret folk band.

“I initially wrote ‘Home Song’ to poke a bit of fun at our folk genre; every folk band needs a song about ‘home’. I had the guitar melody written for a while and it just lived in my voice recordings for about six months (along with many other half-written songs). But the lyrics came one night as I took the metro home after shooting pool with a friend," says Shay Mahoney.

"I was thinking about how life might be different if I had chosen a different career path, lived in a different city, or maybe just stayed home in Ottawa after high school. But as I thought about it, I discovered that more things make up ‘home’ than we realize. And ‘Home Song’ was born from this discovery: I could wander ‘round the globe, and home would still be found in the places where – and in the people with whom – I know I belong.”

Their forthcoming debut EP 'Songs from Home' is an honest collection about the realities of growing up and becoming, set to dance-worthy rhythms and unforgettable melodies. The release includes Wild Remedy's first singles 'What I Did Find' and 'Wild Remedy', as well as new folk hits that both stir the heart and echo the bright sound and iconic harmonies that the band has become known for.

Having bonded over their mutual love of music and songwriting, the trio met in 2020 and finally and made their local debut in 2022, performing at farmers markets around the Ottawa area. With Amy’s powerhouse vocals and guitar, Colleen’s smooth alto tones, and Shay’s ability to sing and play anything (including guitar, mandolin, cajon and harmonica), folks started to take notice. In 2023, the band released their first two original single songs, involving producer Nate Hardy, which were met with loads of love and grew them a grassroots fanbase.

With the release of their debut EP, Wild Remedy breathes fresh life into the Canadian folk genre by taking listeners on a journey of self-discovery to an inspiring soundtrack that will leave a lasting echo in the listener's heart. 'Songs From Home' is Wild Remedy's invitation to be part of something truly inspiring, invigorating and soul-nourishing.

'Home Song' is available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full 'Songs From Home' EP will be released on June 14. Wild Remedy's EP release party will take place in Ottawa on June 21, followed by 'The Wild Tour' with Wild Bloom, and a handful of shows in July and August.

CREDITS
Written by Amy Russett, Colleen Robertson, Shay Mahoney
Lyrics by Shay Mahoney
Vocals by Amy Russett, Colleen Robertson, Shay Mahoney
Shay Mahoney - acoustic guitar, percussion
Nate Hardy - electric guitar, bass, organ, percussion
Recorded in Ottawa, Ontario
Produced by Nate Hardy
Mixed and Mastered by Peter Wang
Single and album artwork by Shay Mahoney

The Intemperate Sons Release New Single "Falling Under"; New Album 'Dark Day’s Night' Due Out June 5th via FRAME|WORK

May 27, 2024

Pre-order began on Monday March 18th where fans have the exclusive opportunity to secure a limited edition 12" vinyl LP, offered in various package configurations.

Pre-order Dark Day's Night HERE

Keith is well acquainted with entertaining massive crowds of concert goers and has played with many successful bands in Dallas, such as Gun Hill, Natural Born Thrillers and Agents of Solace, on top of opening for Lynch Mob, Joe Lynn Turner and Sponge. He is the primary lyricist for the band and has written the music for some of their most successful songs, including “Dust to Dust,” “The Color Within,” and “Unrealized.”

Despite the pandemic putting a pause on many major events, The Intemperate Sons lived up to their name and let nothing hold them back from making music. Constantly hard at work in the studio, they have collaborated with Amir Derakh (Julien-K, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy, Rough Cutt) and Ryan Shuck (Julien-K, Adema, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy). Both have lent their musical talents to various songs and ultimately have brought the Sons on to their label, Frame|Work. This led the band to also recently join the management roster at The Label Group. Ryan worked with Amir to produce the band’s upcoming track, “Game of Keep Away,” and has had a huge impact on the group. He’s been especially influential on Max’s vocal melodies and delivery. Amir also plays guitar on this latest ballad and has been mixing all of the band’s music as well as performing on multiple songs.

The Intemperate Sons are:

Max Watson (vocals, backing vocals, guitars, keys, bass)

Jake Watson (guitars, bass and backing vocals)

Keith Watson (drums, backing vocals)

Mark Marks (bass)

The Intemperate Sons Show Dates:

Sat May 25 @ The Mystical Market 2024 in McKinney, TX
Sat June 15 @ Verma Fest - 3 Nations Brewing in Carrollton, TX
Fri June 21 @ Adair's Saloon in Dallas, TX
Sat July 27 @ The Railhead Saloon in Lawton, OK
Sat Aug 3 @ Hanovers Draught Haus in Pflugerville, TX
Fri Sep 20 @ Fitzgerald's Bar & Live Music Venue in San Antonio, TX
Sat Oct 26 @ Lonestar Bulldog Rescue Benefit in Denton, TX
Wed Nov 13 @ Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA

For More Information Please Visit:

The Intemperate Sons

FRAME|WORK

ORANSSI PAZUZU - Release Video For New Single 'Muuntautuja'

May 27, 2024

Four years after their critically acclaimed latest album Mestarin kynsi, Finnish psychedelic metal superconductors ORANSSI PAZUZU have unveiled a music video for their brand new single, 'Muuntautuja'. With influences as diverse as Black Metal, Psychedelia, and Electronic Music, the band creates a sonic convulsing mass that transports listeners to otherworldly realms.

Drawing inspiration from eclectic sources ranging from Death Grips to Portishead, Nine Inch Nails (Downward Spiral era), Beherit and My Bloody Valentine, ORANSSI PAZUZU are a feast for those who dig deep, heavy and strange. With inhuman and biological sound, 'Muuntautuja' is electronically charged, both organic and inorganic in origin.

'Muuntautuja' (which means "shapeshifter") sees the band continuing to push the boundaries of metal music, creating a sound that defies categorization. It's also the first sample of a new ORANSSI PAZUZU album, which is due to be released in autum 2024. More details will follow soon.

ORANSSI PAZUZU commented:
"After three years of slow-burn brewing and enlightening space-time experimentation, please welcome Muuntautuja - The Shapeshifter, a new song from our forthcoming album. Let it open your skull towards the void and guide you to the intoxicating state of transformation."

LISTEN TO 'MUUNTAUTUJA':
https://oranssipazuzu.bfan.link/muuntautuja

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR 'MUUNTAUTUJA' Below.

Dark Folk Artist Kati Rán Streams New Album 'SÁLA' Ahead of Release

May 26, 2024

Dutch artist and Nordic Folk pioneer Kati Rán is now sharing the title track from her upcoming full-length, 'SÁLA,' which is out now via Svart Records! The song can be found along with a visualizer at THIS LOCATION and features an array of special guests including Kristian 'Gaahl' Espedal, Heilung warriors, Jaani Peuhu and more!

Kati Rán comments,

"Well well, what can I say or write about this auspicious day, where SÁLA has been born. Such a big event, when you have put all your heart and soul and craft into it makes any artist speechless at first. It’s both a strange feeling of relief and sentimental nostalgia, as we release SÁLA today, so that these songs can live their own lives and their meaning have their own interpretation for all the listeners out there, henceforth.

"In the last two years I myself and Jaani Peuhu have tenaciously co-produced, written/re-arranged, recorded and re-recorded, edited, mixed and tweaked some more and laughed and cried daily to bring this album into its final form out today as it's 'parents' of sorts. I think I can speak for both of us and say that we hope it may bring some healing and light for anyone who finds themselves in a dark place, pleasure for anyone who wants to navigate its literary depths, or simply to have fun with it for all who enjoy listening to good new Dark Folk music. Thank you all. Thanks you Svart Records. And my thanks to Jaani for believing in me and for all the help given while we produced this album together, when before only I believed in it and worked on this alone. It definitely made a difference."

'SÁLA' the album is based on the primeval mythological Northern Cosmos and a patronage by its oceanic nordic deity 'Rán,' as reinterpreted by the artist and other mythological female characters surrounding its musical journey.

'SÁLA' is Old Norse for both 'Sea' and 'Soul,' befitting the Northern-themed album shaped after the shrouded Norse ocean goddess Rán and her 'nine daughters'. It takes inspirations from different weather conditions and nature phenomena and embraces our most vulnerable emotional sides and psychological states, questions our mind and expresses any 'forbidden' or 'taboo' sensitivities and acts as shamanic form of soul-retrieval.

'SÁLA' explores historical literature and mythological source material from the North, as much as it offers new interpretation and poetic lyrics straight from Kati's Rán own gold feathered pen as we journey into the conscious, subconscious, and liminal worlds of the North. Through the act of creating SÁLA and the thirteen tracks it offers, we are given a life raft, or a beacon for all who feel lost or challenged at times by life's turbulences. As much as the creation and crafting of this album was an alchemic process for the artist herself to turn obstacles in life into new found sources of power and wisdom, it aims to welcome anyone in need of support to enjoy and explore the depths it has to offer.

To shape the immense and cinematic Nordic soundscape that Kati Rán and Jaani Peuhu have tenaciously crafted together for 'SÁLA', we hear contributions by a wide array of musical guests and friends of the Nordic Dark Folk genre, the resurrection of extraordinary sounds sourced from Kati's travels and recording sessions at varying locations deep in Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands, and a wide range of the artists own vocal expression and instrumental performances.

Ultimately, SÁLA is a homecoming to the existing Nordic Folk genre, as well as a sublime new vision and genre expansion for all lovers of Nordic mythology with its historic and modern sounds, the depth of its skaldic material, heart-pounding drums and its soft and divinely sounding hymns and poetry with which Kati Rán lures our ships to sail further beyond any known horizon of the genre.

Special vinyl editions in gold, transparent smoke, and black as well as digipack CDs are available for pre-order HERE.

'SÁLA' features an impressive lineup of diverse musicians who lent their talents to the record, including Gaahl, Napalm Death's Mitch Harris, members of Heilung, Sígur Rós, and many others!

Kati Rán is known for her collaborative audio work for Netflix’s tv series 'VIKINGS: VALHALLA,' films and work for videogames, her stage appearances with Wardruna, Myrkur and Gaahls Wyrd to name a few, and her previous releases of the successful album; and Nordic dark folk tracks “Blodbylgje” and Icelandic track “Unnr | Mindbeach”; that run millions of streams and gathered a tightly knit Nordic Folk music loving audience around her.

If the most profound treasures are often the most deeply buried, the journey to uncover them is vital process of discovery. Five years after the 15-minute single “Blodbylgje” signaled the birth of a new, more primordial, and immersive vision after the dissolution of her band L.E.A.F., Nordic dark folk artist Kati Rán has expanded on its oceanic theme for her long-awaited full-length album, 'SÁLA.' Embarking on a far-reaching musical and personal travelogue, it’s a reawakening of both the feminine narratives submerged and fragmented within Norse mythology, and the enduring, healing powers held within.

Named after the Old Norse word for ‘soul’ and ‘sea’, 'SÁLA' is an act of "soul retrieval," the shamanic art of trauma recovery, be it illness, death, heartbreak or loss, and the reintegration of a splintered self. Across its 13, wide-ranging, elegantly unfolding tracks, the album is an embodiment of different feminine voices and perspectives – from the Norse nine daughters of the sea, or ‘billow maidens’, through various historical and fictional figures to the late-night voices we hear in our most liminal states – all with tales to tell, riddles to solve, challenges to be accepted and guidance to offer. It’s a multiplicity that, like the ocean itself, belongs to a vast, restless dynamic: a matrix of mysteries, unfathomable depths and ever-shifting currents, accumulating into an elemental, regenerative source of power.

Recorded in a barn in Húsafell, Iceland – home to glacier ice caves and a rare lava stone marimba rediscovered for the track “Stone Pillars” – as well as Finland, Norway and at home in Kati’s native Netherlands, 'SÁLA' is as much chronicle of Kati’s own perspective-shifting recording process as it as a pilgrimage through different viewpoints and internal states. That itinerate urge is also reflected in the use of different languages, ranging across Norwegian, Old Norse, Icelandic, and, for the first time, English, her combination of ancient texts, historical reimagining’s and unguarded personal reflection backed up by deep research into the most resonant recesses of Nordic lore.

Spun throughout every thread of 'SÁLA' is a sense of communion - with the power of stories to offer moral guidance and the thrill of the unknown; with the element of water, recreated across the album both in field recordings and the agelessly organic nature of the music itself; with the archetypes whose qualities we are called upon to embody at our most critical moments; and with the internal hidden realms forever whispering at us from the far edges of our consciousness.

Appropriately, it’s a collaborative venture too. As well as working closely together with Finnish producer Jaani Peuhu, there are contributions from across the musical spectrum, including extreme metal vocalist extraordinaire Gaahl, the Icelandic female choir Umbra Ensemble, renowned Norwegian jazz musician Karl Seglem, Björk and Brian Eno contrabassist Borgar Magnason, members of pagan folk acts Völuspá, Gealdýr, Heilung and Theodor Bastard and even Napalm Death’s Mitch Harris on vocals.

For all the many sources 'SÁLA' draws from, the result is a singular, intimately transformative rite of passage, and a retuning of the heart to the reverent continuity of the sacred. It will take you from the opening title track’s chest-pounding rhythmic pulse emerging from a traditional Norwegian bukkehorn (recorded by Karl Seglem), a galloping horse-rider and Kati’s glacial, velveteen chant, through “Kólga’s” recounting of female persecution through the ages borne on the most gossamer-light yet unbreakable of timbres and “Stone Pillar’s” gently percolating, deep wells of abandonment and incantations to recovery. 'SÁLA' closes with the track “Sátta” - Old Norse for ‘peace’ and ‘reconciliation’ – ending the album as it began with the bukkehorn, as it weaves rich drones and experience-stamped poems and prayers, Kati’s vocals the most sensitively tuned of emotional barometers. An album made in dedication, and in thrall to, its own sense of destiny, 'SÁLA'” is, as all quests must ultimately be, a homecoming.

Lineup:

Kati Rán

Special Guests:

Gaahl (Gaahl, Wyrd, Wardruna)

Mitch Harris (Napalm Death)

Jaani Peuhu (Swallow the Sun, IANAI, Lord of the Lost, Hallatar)

Karl Seglem (Norwegian jazz and folk legend)

Borgar Magnason (Björk, Sígur Rós, Brian Eno)

Gealdýr

Emilie Lorentzen (Heilung)

Nicholas Schipper (Heilung)

Yana Veva (Theodor Basterd)

Umbra (Icelandic female choir)

Sól Geirsdóttir, Varg Saastad (Völuspá band)

Marianne Heikkinen, Salla Marja (Saruru)

Páll Guðmunsson (Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Steindór Anderssen, Sígur Rós) Florian Ravn (Skáld)

Production: Jaani Peuhu, Kati Rán, Christopher Juul

Mastering: Jaime Gomez Arrelano

Cover Art: Photographer Arne Beck, Illustrator Halfdan Skrifa, Graphic design Jari

Laurén, Charlotte Boer, Deluxe Box Edition with cover painting by Marzena Ablewska-Lech

Bio: Jonathan Selzer

Links:

THE HELLACOPTERS - Release Video For Brand New Single 'Stay With You'!

May 26, 2024

Swedish high-energy rock 'n' roll legends THE HELLACOPTERS are very pleased to reveal a brand new single called 'Stay With You', the first new original Hellacopters song since the release of their triumphant, chart-topping comeback album, Eyes Of Oblivion, in April 2022.

And unsurprisingly, 'Stay With You' picks up exactly where the band left off two years ago. It's a no-bullshit action rock stunner that cuts right to the chase and yet again the band has delivered a stylish music video to be released alongside, which was directed and edited by Emil Klinta.

Nicke Andersson (guitars & vocals) commented:
"We’re in the middle of recording our new full-length album which has no date of release just yet. In the meantime, we’re very excited about the release of our new single “Stay With You”. It was originally intended to be included on the upcoming LP but we decided to do a Beatles and release it as a stand-alone track with a B-side. “Stay With You” is a straight-up minor key rocker and it’s backed with our interpretation of The Cure’s “Fire In Cairo”. We hope you dig."

'Stay With You' is out today on all streaming platforms.

The song will also be available as a limited 7'' single via Lightning Records. The B-side contains a cover version of 'Fire In Cairo' by THE CURE.

Pre-orders are live NOW at https://lightningrecords.se/shop/

LISTEN TO 'STAY WITH YOU' HERE:
https://hellacopters.bfan.link/swysg

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'STAY WITH YOU' Below.

THE HELLACOPTERS released their eighth studio album titled Eyes Of Oblivion on April 1st, 2022. It marked the first full-length since the release of their temporary farewell record Head Off in 2008 and was met with massive acclaim from fans and media alike. Charting at #1 in Sweden, #3 in Germany, and #6 in Finland, the band celebrated a triumphant return culminating in a show with the mighty Iron Maiden in Gothenburg in July 2022, and gigs with Ghost in Germany in June 2023. In February 2024 their beloved classic album Grande Rock was rereleased on physical formats, featuring a re-worked companion piece with additional guitar, piano, and vocal tracks called Grande Rock Revisited.

WORMWITCH Unveils New Song, "The Helm and the Bow," ft. Erlend Hjelvik (Kvelertak), Announces New Album

May 26, 2024

Blackened speed metal entity WORMWITCH will unleash their eponymous fourth studio album on July 26, 2024 via Profound Lore Records! The Canadian horde sets out to combine a melodic blackened death assault with the ferocity and attitude of crust punk and classic rock and roll, jettisoning the burdens of ceremony and pomp that dominate the genre today. To celebrate this revelation, WORMWITCH is now unveiling the first single from the offering, "The Helm And The Bow," which features guest vocals from KVELERTAK's Erlend Hjelvik. The track is now available below.

WORMWITCH comments, "We’ve been looking forward to today… we finally get to start stringing out these new tracks. This one is one of my favourite’s from the album, and I’m not just saying that. I won’t tell you what it’s about because real ones will know. We got some vocal contributions from our buddy Erlend who absolutely nailed it, can’t thank him enough for lending us his voice.”

The album can be pre-ordered in various formats HERE.

Like black wings from an obsidian sky, WORMWITCH descended from the darkness in 2015, somewhere upon the rain-soaked woodlands of coastal British Columbia. Animated from the bones of several local punk and metal bands, the new entity set out to combine a melodic blackened death assault with the ferocity and attitude of crust punk and classic rock and roll, jettisoning the burdens of ceremony and pomp that dominate the genre today.

WORMWITCH released their first demo, 'The Long Defeat' in 2015, and shortly after signed to Prosthetic Records, under whom they released 'Strike Mortal Soil' (2017), 'Heaven that Dwells Within' (2019), and 'Wolf Hex' (2021). During that time the band toured with the likes of The Black Dahlia Murder, Suffocation, Midnight, Necrot, Uada, Bewitcher, and many others, earning themselves a dedicated cult following and international critical praise. In 2022, WORMWITCH struck out to independently release a string of singles and embark upon several tours of North America. After a busy festival season, 2024 saw the release of a six-song split with Atlanta black-thrashers Sadistic Ritual.

Now, with blades meticulously honed and tempered under the light of a feral Canadian moon, WORMWITCH emerges once more to offer their fourth full length record. Simply self-titled, “Wormwitch” is a statement of a band coming into it’s own - a revelrous celebration of devilish speed, searing melody and diabolical intensity.

Wormwitch Lineup:

Robin Harris: Bass, Vocals

Colby Hink: Guitars

Israel Langlais: Drums

Recording & Mixing: Michael Kraushaar at Little Red Sounds at New Westminster, BC

Mastering: Brad Boatright at Audiosiege

Guest vocals: Erlend Hjelvik (Kvelertak) on "The Helm And The Bow"

Cover Artwork: Abomination Hammer

Photos: Lucien Cyr

Links:

Boston Manor Announce New Album "Sundiver" + Share New Single "HEAT ME UP"

May 25, 2024

Boston Manor frontman Henry Cox is opening the next chapter of a story that began with 2022 album Datura. That record opened with the lines, "Do me a favour, close that window, keep the heating in, there's a fire in the car park, I see it smouldering." Sundiver, then, is the yin to Datura's yang. Arriving on September 6 via SharpTone Records, Sundiver is Boston Manor’s fifth album and one that represents a glimmering dawn for the Blackpool five-piece. Grown from a seedbed of optimism and sobriety, the LP celebrates new beginnings, second chances and rebirth. With two members recently stepping into fatherhood, hope is baked into every note.

Like anything worth doing though, that hope has been hard-won. On Sundiver, change doesn't just happen it is willed into existence, forged in the flame of grief and bent into shape with a hammer blow of positivity. Working with long-time producer Larry Hibbitt, alongside engineer Alex O'Donovan, the band switched recording from London to the leafier pastures of the home counties. There's a brightness searching to get out of Sundiver that feels like a purposeful about-turn from the darkness of [2022 album] Datura.

This year's pair of earlier single releases explored second chances ("Container") and "What If?" scenarios ("Sliding Doors"), bringing with them a refreshed mindset, the band clearly ready to create something immersive, embracing the unpredictable, glorious, devastating nature of life as a human being. Lyrics foxtrot from parallel universes to personal growth, vivid dreamscapes to raw grief. Individually they're single strokes full of meaning and magic. Together, they're a landscape.

"'Heat Me Up' ended up being the first track we finished on the album," says Cox. "We'd gone down to Welwyn Garden City where we were going to record the album to write and do some pre-production. It was actually our day off, it was a blistering hot day and we had nothing to do, so we had a barbecue in the garden and wrote a song. Sometimes tunes take months to write but this just flew right out in an afternoon. It's a song about being utterly obsessed with someone and being grateful for what you have."

Continuing about the album as a whole, he says: "Sundiver is the culmination of two years work and four years of planning. Going into the pandemic, we knew our next record would be a double album released in two parts. The first a short shadowy-noiry electronic record set over one night and the second a sprawling rock record that documents the following day. Both albums are products of their environments, we made Datura in the dead of winter in a windowless studio complex that mostly just produced techno, we'd enter before the sun rose and leave long after it set, basically never seeing sunlight. We made Sundiver in Welwyn Garden City over two summers, we barbecued every day and would walk across the road to a meadow and just take naps in the sunshine when we weren't recording."

He continues, "We've essentially been working on this album and building up to it since the pandemic. We were obsessed with trying to make a record that felt like blistering sunshine, or that wavy/hazy horizon you get when the pavement is super hot, but we didn't want it to sound 'happy' or 'major key.' Sundiver is by far Boston Manor's best and most ambitious record to date, and we couldn’t be happier with it, I really hope our fans love it as much as we do."

BOSTON MANOR are today announcing that their new album Sundiver is set for release on September 6 via SharpTone Records. Pre-order the album here.

News of the band's fifth studio album arrives alongside the release of its lead single "HEAT ME UP."

"Could you please open that window, let the new world in."

The sage simplicity of Sundiver's opening lyrics says it all.

London electronic indiepop stalwart RODNEY CROMWELL presents 'Madeline Trip', previewing his summer EP

May 25, 2024

"A magical-realist synthpop collage" ~ Bandcamp Daily

“Rodney Cromwell's music belongs to the future” ~ NME

“His new lo-fi disco laments are joyfully simple & painfully funny” ~ The Huffington Post

"Motorik mechanisation within a hypnotic electronic backdrop...Glorious" ~ Electricity Club.co.uk

"Delicious Melodies that are both simple and direct" ~ HI-FI World

"Buoyant" 4/5 ~ Shindig! Magazine

"Glorious pure synthpop... one of the most innovative, enjoyable electronic acts around" ~ XS Noise

London-based indie electronic artist Rodney Cromwell has announced that he will release his new 'Exercise Class' EP on June 14 via Happy Robots Records. This four-track offering follows his 2023 EP 'The Winter Palace Remixes'.

Previewing the new 'Exercise Class' EP, Cromwell drops as a teaser 'Madeline Trip', the shortest track on this EP, being a 55-second electronic hauntological trip inspired by Marcel Proust’s seven-volume novel ‘In Search of Lost Time’. This is also the first song usually introduced to Cromwell's live audience when his band enters onto stage.

Rodney Cromwell is the solo moniker of Adam Cresswell of two John Peel faves - 90s indie folk band Saloon and 2000s electronic duo Arthur and Martha. Since debuting with the 'Age of Anxiety' album, Cromwell has been featured in NME, Electronic Sound, Huffington Post, Paste, Shindig!, Louder Than War, The Big Takeover, Magic RPM, Post-Punk.com and Bandcamp Daily. National radio play includes BBC 6 Music in the UK, RTE in Ireland, airplay in Tokyo, and RNE3 in Spain, for whom he also recorded a live session.

Rodney Cromwell live is a joyful mixed-media extravaganza, incorporating analogue synths, video visuals and live instrumentation, interjected by Rodney’s 'offbeat wit'' (NME). Described 'like a spiritual experience", he has shared the stage with icons such as A Flock of Seagulls, Damo Suzuki, Pram, Death & Vanilla, Rowetta, M!R!M and Steve Davis. In 2022, he recorded a live session for Electronic Sound and supported Blancmange on a number of dates, further cementing his reputation as one of the most exciting live acts on the electronic music scene.

The 'Exercise Class' EP will drop into your inboxes soon, just in time for the summer. With its dead-pan spoken-word lyrics, melodic chorus and Cromwell’s signature classic synth sound, the title track draws influences from LCD Soundsystem, Metronomy and New Order’s ‘Blue Monday’, as well as the iconic soundtracks of Jane Fonda workouts videos.

As with all output from this retro-futuristic songcrafter, Rodney Cromwell's new releases brings music is as fitting for the indie-disco dancefloor as a sweaty exercise studio.

On May 24, 'Madeline Trip' will be available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full 'Exercise Class' EP, which is already available for pre-order, will be released on June 14.

CREDITS
Written & performed by Adam Cresswell
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Adam Cresswell
Catalogue Number Bot41
Released by Happy Robots Records
Distributed by Cargo Records UK
Publishing by Songtrust
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Portland outfit FEDERALE presents 'No Strangers' single with star-studded cast. Forthcoming 'Reverb & Seduction' album marks 20 years

May 25, 2024

“Equal parts Ennio Morricone, Lee Hazelwood, and Nick Cave with a touch of Chris Isaak’s less romantic side… few if any artists are brave and/or creative enough to channel this ghostly, often ominous vibe into moving, sensual and stirring music” ~ American Songwriter

"Their most immersive and varied album to date, Collin Hegna and his merry band of music-makers take us on a fantastic journey... and on ‘Heaven Forgive Me’, Hegna channels the post-punk vibes of such bands as The Church, Pink Turns Blue and The Mission to our delight" ~ The Spill Magazine

Portland-based outfit Federale presents 'No Strangers', which pays homage to Lee Hazlewood. This is the second single from their 'Reverb & Seduction' album, out this summer via Jealous Butcher Records. Earlier, the band released the lead track 'Heaven Forgive Me', featuring The Black Angels' Alex Maas on backing vocals.

Joining in this Hazlewood tribute are Dave Mudie (drummer for The Dandy Warhols' Courtney Barnett), Andrew Joslyn (Nancy Wilson, Kei$ha, Macklemore, Leslie Odom Jr., Mark Lanegan) on strings, and Hunter Lea (Grammy nominated Nancy Sinatra / Lee Hazlewood re-issue producer) on harpsichord.

In the 20 years of their existence, Federale has carved out a unique niche within the indie music landscape, blending their signature spaghetti-Western instrumental sound with increasing doses of moody vocal arrangements in the spirit of Lee Hazlewood and late-period Leonard Cohen. Through it all, songwriter and lead singer Collin Hegna – who also spent the last 20 years as a dues-paying member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre – maintains a strictly retro vibe. Federale's records have always sounded period-correct for an alternate-universe 1971, where rock and roll never caught on.

Their sixth studio album, 'Reverb & Seduction' marks the band’s twentieth anniversary. The band’s most immersive and varied album to date, with do-it-all frontman Collin Hegna at the height of his powers, this is a tour-de-force road trip from psych rock to country duets, never straying too far from the spaghetti western roots that inspired the band many blood-moons ago.

“'No Strangers' is an ode to the story songs of Lee Hazlewood. But this time our narrator is on a warpath. Like the leader of a biker gang or a band of musical outlaws, our protagonist rolls into town a Stranger and finds the hypocritically self righteous town folks are none too happy to see him. This doesn't worry him though, because our antihero plans to even the scales in any way necessary. Musically the marriage of strings, pedal steel and reverbed-out guitars transports us to a nondescript time and a nondescript place that is definitely in the past and definitely in the desert. It may be a rugged, dangerous place. But it sure sounds cool. Too bad The Stranger had to burn it all down in the end," says Collin Hegna.

"Each Federale release has sought to embrace influences ever farther afield from the band’s original concept as an ode to Spaghetti Western film music. But one aesthetic constant (as far as non-instrumental songs go) has been the dark, narrative driven folk ballad".

Comprising 10 tracks, 'Reverb & Seduction' was recorded at Revolver Studios in Portland and engineered by Collin Hegna, Matt Thomson and Andrew Joslyn, who boasts five 5 Grammy Award winning albums. Mixed by Jeff Stuart Saltzman (The Black Keys, The High Violets), Matt Thomson and Collin Hegna, this album was mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering.

These new musical homages are complemented by a new lineup of well-known Portland rock-scene vets, including talents from The Shivas, Roselit Bone, Dandy Warhols, Rogue Wave and Delines. Going forward, Federale expects to fully embrace the role of a working, touring band, starting with a West Coast tour timed to coincide with the new record's July release. A European tour will follow in late fall 2024.

As of May 22, 'No Strangers' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Band camp. The full 'Reverb & Seduction' album, which can be pre-ordered now, will be released on July 12 via Jealous Butcher Records, available on CD and vinyl wherever fine records are sold.

SINGLE CREDITS
Written, arranged and produced by Collin Hegna
Mixed by Jeff Stuart Saltzman
Mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering
Recording Engineering - Collin Hegna, Matt Thomson, Andrew Joslyn
Recorded at Revolver Studios in Portland, OR
Dave Mudle - drums
Rick Pedrosa - pedal Steel & Guitar
Andrew Joslyn - strings
Hunter Lea - harpsichord
Collin Hegna - all other Instruments, percussion & vocals
Released by Jealous Butcher Records
Management: Andy Ross @ Exit Strategy Productions
Publicity: Shauna McLarnon @ Shameless Promotion PR
Video created by Little Richard’s Almanac, animated by Ron Laboray and Niki Elliott

Replacire Release Razor-Sharp New Single

May 22, 2024

When Replacire started thinking about their third album, they gravitated around a simple idea. Write some caveman riffs to feed the mosh pit the next time they went out on tour. Of course, like any good technical death metal band that’s worth its weight in colored sands, these whiz kids deviated from their initial thought pattern. It wasn’t easy. Heck, they ended up crawling down a seven-year rabbit hole. But on The Center That Cannot Hold, the Boston band flex all their muscles

"This was a grueling process", says guitarist Eric Alper. "But it was worth it in the end".

On the surface, Replacire starts and ends with Alper. After all, the band is just his name spelled backward. Alper is a competitive bodybuilder with a mean and lean right rhythm hand, but don't let those beefy credentials fool you. When it comes to the studio, his brain does all the heavy lifting. By day, Alper produces music for other artists, as well as TV and movies. He's a proud alumnus of Berklee College of Music, which is where he formed Replacire with four classmates back in 2009.

Using the money that they savvily raised on Kickstarter, Replacire self-released their debut album by the end of 2012. A hybrid of thrash, prog and death metal, The Human Burden punched through the underground like a cyborg's fist. "This is what would have happened if Chuck Schuldiner were still alive today and mixed up with the likes of Obscura and Opeth at the same time", Metal Injection gushed. After tours with Hate Eternal and Beyond Creation and an unintentional private showcase for a certain label rep, Replacire signed with Season of Mist in 2016. The band wasted no time before making a quick first impression. While still head-spinning, their second album landed with the decisive force of a first-round knockout.

“This group has set the tone for modern, rhythmically-centered death metal”, proclaimed Loudwire, who named them one of the top 5 bands amongst the next generation of death metal. “It’s time to wake up and hop aboard Replacire’s train”.

Indeed, Replacire were chugging along with a full head of steam. But there's a reason why their new album is called The Center That Cannot Hold. After all, this is extreme metal. Things were bound to go flying off the rails at some point. Before they could even step out on their next headlining tour, the band's lineup completely turned over. While their momentum stalled, Alper went searching for replacements.

Luckily, he didn't have to go any further than his old stomping grounds. Alper linked up with Zak Baskin, who had filled in on bass for parts of Do Not Deviate. Alper then reconnected with Kee Poh Hock, a guitar whiz who'd lived with Baskin when all three were students at Berklee. Even though he graduated a few classes after them, Joey Feretti was so advanced behind the drum kit that he became Alper's roommate. With mighty vocalist James Dorton joining fresh off Black Crown Initiate's breakout, the new-and-improved Replacire were all set to hit Alper's Ugly Duck Studio come March of 2020.

No one needs to be reminded of what happened next. Replacire always grind in the studio, taking their sweet time to fine tune every technical detail down to the last seventh string. "It never ceases to amaze me the way other metal bands just churn stuff out", Alper says. "It doesn't come easy for us. So many hours go into so few seconds of music". But when the pandemic shut the world down, writing slowed to a crawl amidst the endless slog of Zoom sessions. With live music shut down for the foreseeable future, suddenly, their well-laid plan for pumping out an album of crowd killers seemed more and more like a flimsy proposition. To stay afloat, Alper sold the band's van and moved out of their rehearsal space.

"Everything that I had built to support the band was falling apart", Alper says.

The mounting stress would've left a lesser band bloody-tongued and screaming. But despite being stuck inside this perfect shit storm, Replacire banged their heads together and pushed through. "Living Hell" was inspired by a nasty spell of sleep paralysis that Dorton suffered after witnessing a traumatic event. "In the wake of suicide", he groans, shrouded by eerie pangs of distortion. Alper was battling his own bouts with anxiety and depression that were brought on by a rather severe case of writer's block, but even when all he could stand to do was lay on the couch while humming through a half-finished riff, Poh Hock would pick up his Strandberg and zip past the finish line. "The Helix Unravels" could twist all of Mensa into a pretzel with its interlocked chugs and squealing fret bends.

The Center That Cannot Hold is crammed full of mind-bending tech-death workouts. Baskin’s unfettered groove serves as the perfect springboard for another transcendent Hock solo halfway through "Hoard the Trauma Like Wealth", though his reverberated bass echoes like a sea of voices trapped at the bottom of a well on "The Ghost in the Mirror". The title track unspools under Feretti's syncopated snare hits and precision blasting, though Alper was the real drill sergeant. "I wanted the vocals to sound like they do on Slipknot's self-titled album, where Corey is gasping for air". Dorton took the inspiration to heart, running through full takes, with no stops, for hours on end. Heck, his vocal chords were so tattered and torn that he narrowly avoided a trip to the hospital.

"We poured all of our blood, sweat and tears into this album", Alper says. "It took years off my life. There were plenty of times where I wanted to quit. But I'm glad we didn't, because this is our best album. Everything from the overall production down to the lead guitar parts took a step up. The tone is more serious The songs are still techy buy they're also a lot heavier. I'm proud of us".

On The Center That Cannot Hold, Replacire stand stronger than ever.

Line-up
Eric Alper - Guitars
James Dorton - Vocals
Kee Poh Hock - Guitar
Zak Baskin - Bass
Joey Ferretti - Drums

Recording Studio
Ugly Duck Studios

Production Credits
Eric Alper - Producer & Sound Engineer
Jens Bogren - Mixing & Mastering Studio Engineer (Fascination Street Studios)

Cover Art
Andrew Tremblay (@actremblayart)

Biography
Will Yarbrough

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

Follow Replacire:
Bandcamp: http://replacire.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Replacire
Instagram: https://instagram.com/replacire
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/replacire
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Replacire
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Replacire/videos
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/replacire/576863051
Deezer: https://deezer.page.link/6prhUUWzLoxLRVhK8
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0t8nNth1Y9dRxGoiHHSSoa

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black

"A band on their way to the top" - Angry Metal Guy
"Leave you with a smile on your face and the horns in the air" - Metal Injection
"Mixes the pummeling intensity of Dying Fetus with the proggy eccentricity of Leprous" - No Clean Singing
"Engrossing brutality and neck-breaking charm. Truly the best of both worlds" - Dead Rhetoric

There's no box that Replacire can't break. The Boston tech-death band boasts multiple Berklee graduates, one hell of a voice actor and a competitive bodybuilder. But while writing and recording their upcoming third album, all too often, they felt trapped inside their own personal torture chamber. Hence why it's called The Center That Cannot Hold. Still, these guys banged their heads together and pushed way beyond the finish line. On new single "The Helix Unravels", they sound tighter than ever.

Listen to "The Helix Unravels" below.

The Center That Cannot Hold comes out June 21, 2024 on Season of Mist.

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

Replacire are always thinking up ways to break metalhead brains. "The Helix Unravels" stems all the way back to 2017. The song's opening frenzy was already drilled into Eric Alper's skull when the band was still hot off their first headlining tour. But just as they were all set to enter Alper's Ugly Duck Studio come March of 2020, the music industry hit a brick wall.

"The pandemic was hard on us", says Alper. "To stay afloat financially, we had to sell our tour van and move out of our practice space. It felt like everything that we had built up to support the band was falling apart".

As if that wasn't enough weight on his shoulders, the mounting stress knocked Alper into a nasty bout of writer's block. "There were days when all I could do was lay on the couch and hum a half-finished riff", he says. Luckily, Poh Hock was right beside him to help pick up the slack. Hock twists and turns "The Helix Unravels" into a tight, three-minute burst that works all of tech-death's core muscles: glitching fret bends, jazzy interludes and downpicked chugs that could break even the thickest of necks.

Still, it's the band who tie "The Helix Unravels" together. Joey Feretti never takes his foot off the bass drum pedal while Zak Baskin holds down a stomach-churning groove. "Say that we will see this through", James Dorton screams through clenched teeth before unleashing his mighty death growl.

"We poured all of our blood, sweat and tears into this album", Alper says. "There were plenty of times where we felt like quitting. But I'm glad we didn't. The Center That Cannot Hold is the album that Replacire has been striving for since the very beginning".

With "The Helix Unravels", Replacire prove their one of the tightest bands in tech-death.