CRAIG MORGAN TO RELEASE AMERICAN SOUNDTRACK EP ON FEBRUARY 28

Some people just know innately who they are and what they stand for. Within a few minutes of any interaction with Craig Morgan, it’s readily apparent God, family and country are his foundation. The Country Music hitmaker will continue to celebrate those pillars on his new EP, American Soundtrack, releasing February 28 on BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. 

Pre-add/pre-save Craig Morgan’s American Soundtrack EP HERE

Morgan has long represented the hard-working, God-fearing people who are the backbone of America. He co-wrote all but one of the EP’s six tracks, and each song on American Soundtrack is infused with the singer and soldier’s faith and patriotism.

“I try to celebrate God, family and country in my music and in everything I do,” the Tennessee native says. “That’s what I have always done and I’ve come to realize it’s my platform. I don’t stress about things as much as I used to. I just try to write, sing, produce and play the best music that we can and go where I think God wants me to be.”

The new record will be released the same weekend Morgan joins buddy Blake Shelton on his “Friends & Heroes” 2025 Tour, kicking off February 27 in Lexington and spanning twelve shows through late March. Visit CraigMorgan.com for tickets.

Learn more at craigmorgan.com and engage with Craig on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

Photo Credit: Nate Griffin

About Craig Morgan:
Singer, author, actor, and soldier Craig Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music hitmaker who has amassed nearly 2.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard. With signature hits including “Redneck Yacht Club,” “Almost Home,” “International Harvester,” “Soldier,” “That's What I Love About Sunday,” and his faith-filled tribute, “The Father, My Son and the Holy Ghost,” the multi-faceted entertainer’s music has formed the soundtrack to our lives for over two decades. His new music, American Soundtrack, releasing February 28 (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville) is no exception, with each of the EP’s six songs infused with Craig’s faith and patriotism. The record will be released the same weekend Morgan sets out on Blake Shelton’s “Friends & Heroes” Tour, with twelve shows in February and March. 

Craig received one of country music's highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2008. Prior to becoming a country music star and TV sensation, Craig spent seventeen years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserve and in 2023 enlisted again in the Army Reserve, continuing his military career as a Warrant Officer. He remains an avid supporter of America's military personnel and has made more than sixteen overseas trips to perform for our troops. Craig is a member of the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame and recipient of the USO Merit Award. In 2018, he was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, one of the highest awards the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world. He remains committed to supporting active duty and veteran members of our military through work with Operation Finally Home, the USO and more.  

His emotional and inspiring memoir - God, Family, Country – is available now. In the book, Craig details all aspects from his inspiring life, revealing never-before-heard stories including the impetus behind his recent enlistment in the Army Reserve, how he worked alongside the CIA as a soldier in Panama, fought sex traffickers as an undercover agent in Thailand, forged his own path to country music stardom, and lives his life by the deepest values: God, family, country.  

Learn more at craigmorgan.com and engage with Craig on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Wrath of Logarius Announce Debut Album 'Crown of Mortis'

Despite its fiery and contentious spirit, black metal can get stuck in its own ways. But while they emerged from a mystic scene that's familiar to the well-initiated, Wrath of Logarius aren't bound by black metal's strict sense of tradition.

The band's upcoming debut album officially announces a new realm for the subgenre: formless black metal.  Much like their notoriously hard-to-beat namesake, which approach they take in launching their attack is impossible to predict. But no matter what skeletal form they assume, one thing is clear: Crown of Mortis pronounces Wrath of Logarius as unflinching kings of black metal's new realm.

Crown of Mortis comes out April 4 on Season of Mist.

Watch the commanding video for the album's shape-shifting lead single "Keeper of the Spectral Legion".
Below:

Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/wrathoflogariuscrownofmortis

Wrath of Logarius hail from the misty forests of Northern California, but it's fitting that whispers of their supremacy started by spreading through the digital underground. The band's introductory EP infected the world of extreme metal like a bloodborne virus.  

"To these ears, I hear Cascadian black metal mixed with a blackened form of tech death, with some stunningly beautiful melodic work",  New Noise wrote about Necrotic Assimilation. "All that is to say, good luck figuring out Wrath of Logarius, and that's the point".

On Crown of Mortis, the legend behind Wrath of Logarius has only grown. The album follows in the wake of the band's viral takeover; each song serves the larger narrative of an accursed king with its lead single rolling out the blood red carpet for his army of the dead.

"Ancient - Power - Cosmic - Legion", Noctifier growls during the song's punchy, bone-crushing chorus before his gutturals climb into throat-scraped agony.

Wrath of Logarius summons the full force of their signature formless style on "Keeper of the Spectral Legion". After another studio ritual at Rapture Recordings with producer Cody Fuentes, the band have leveled up in brute strength and hair-raising skill. Lord Marco's flying fingers still pound with technical precession while Urath and Vastador churn chunky death metal riffs into blackened reams of shredding melodic dissonance. 

With Crown of Mortis, Wrath of Logarius build on their throne of formless black metal. Though possessed by a mournful melody, "Long Dead the King" marches to Lord Marco's blistering blasts. The flays from his flying fingers are so precise in their pounding that they erode the mind. But while the band have leveled up in brute strength, the album also ups their chilling sense for atmosphere with hair-raising skill. With the curl of each blackened tendril, "Of the Void" embraces transfiguration by fire and ice. "Open the gates and let revision in", Noctifier beckons amidst swirling dissonance. "Slowly dismantle every part of you".   

Wrath of Logarius also encrust Crown of Mortis with deadly new jewels. Another woodland specter comes to join their ranks on "The Ethereal Mist". Beneath its slithering stomp emerges Vilhelm of Grima with freshly rotten snarls. "Lurker's Tomb" crashes down with knuckle-dragging riffs and brutal double bass kicks, but its trap is sprung by a solo that's treachery lies in its maze-like technicality. "The fear subsides for now I breathe again", Noctifier shrieks as the album's dread-inducing closer ascends into the astral plane.        

On Crown of Mortis, Wrath of Logarius bend black metal to fit their formless rule.   

Line-up
Noctifer - Vocals
Urath - Lead Guitars
Vastador - Guitars
Lord Marco - Drums
 
Recording Studio
Rapture Recordings, Hayward, CA, USA
 
Production Credits
Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Cody Fuentes at Rapture Recordings Studio

Cover Art
Sant V. Schreiber
 
Pre-save & Pre-order
https://orcd.co/wrathoflogariuscrownofmortis


Booking Contact:
martyr.urath@gmail.com
 
Follow Wrath of Logarius
Bandcamp: https://wrathoflogarius.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wrath_of_logarius/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/wrath-of-logarius/1712706210
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0CHi92LvwVayTacWx3nsfa
 
Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipack
12" Colored Vinyl Gatefold - Ichorous Red (Red and Black Marbled)

Tropic Gold Announce New EP + Share "HOLY HORROR" Video

Suffolk-via-Essex trio Tropic Gold will release their new EP, SICK TO DEATH OF EVERYHING, via UNFD on March 7 Pre-save it here.

Today, they share the video for the sexy and sleek track "Holy Horror."

Watch it below.

About the song, the band enthuses, "'HOLY HORROR' refers to someone you'd do anything for at your own expense, despite how they treat you and how it affects you, because you see them as such a holy being. No matter how bad this holy person treats you, you still like it, just because they're still there, and you take it from them to keep them around, without realizing how toxic it is for yourself."

Regarding the deeply personal EP, Tropic Gold siphoned every bit of emotion the members have experienced in recent times and parlayed it into these songs, saying, "SICK TO DEATH OF EVERYTHING had everything poured into it over some really difficult times — the name sums up what was, and has been, going through our heads. It's our most honest and vulnerable body of work, and hope that people hear it and connect so they understand they aren't alone with day to day instability of mental health, life uncertainty, and self-loathing."

Tropic Gold offer up a thoroughly modern and moody meld of alternative, metal, pop, and electronica, cajoling their passions for a dynamic culture pool of music and production styles into a single sonic petri dish. Though originally formed in 2019, the quartet have spent years in the lab, developing their sound and strong aesthetics behind the closed doors of a bespoke, self-built multi-media studio.

The Tropic Gold method is truly hands on, with guitarist Joshua Lee handling all production and recording duties, as well as diving into the weeds on their visual curation, manning the camera and edit suite as often as the production chair. 

SICK TO DEATH OF EVERYTHING follows their 2023-released What A Wonderful Experience EP via UNFD, which yielded for "Maniac," "ADRENALINE" and "DTTTH."

Pairing swathes of moody atmospherics with soaring, ear worm choruses, the band’s songs feel like they would be equally A Vibe™ pulsing across sticky, cramped dance floors as soaring atop airy arenas. Coming on like a new romantic Bring Me The Horizon or a post breakup Don Broco, who just discovered their parents copy of The Cure'sDisintegration or a 45rpm copy ofSing The Sorrow playing at 33rpm… tl;dr: Tropic Gold are as gloomy as they are catchy.  Sharing a sonic space with the likes of the aforementioned BMTH and Broco, PVRIS, (latter day) Architects, Caskets, Spiritbox's plaintive moments and even Enter Shikari (albeit on Valium), Tropic Gold are just getting started in figuring out how to weaponise their cocktail of slap and swag.

TROPIC GOLD ARE:
Jacob Parris — Vocals
Joshua Lee — Guitars + Programming
Amy Barnett — Drums

Caliban Announce New Album "Back From Hell" + Share Video for Title Track

For over two decades, CALIBAN have stood as one of the defining forces in metalcore.

With their upcoming album Back From Hell that is scheduled for a release April 25, 2025, the German band continues to evolve its sound while staying true to the intensity and emotion that has defined its career.

Led by founding members Andreas Dörner (vocals) and Marc Görtz (guitar), the band's current lineup includes new vocalist and bassist Iain Duncan, whose clean vocals, songwriting skills, and diverse perspective and experience bring a fresh dimension to their already powerful dynamic.

Complemented by longtime drummer Patrick Grün and guitarist Denis Schmidt, CALIBAN's formidable lineup is poised to deliver a relentless and emotionally charged experience that reaffirms their status as metalcore pioneers.

Following the success of their recent singles — "I Was a Happy Kid Once," "Echoes," and "Guilt Trip (feat. Mental Cruelty)"— CALIBAN are set to release their most ambitious work yet. Back From Hell explores themes of inner struggle, resilience, and catharsis, blending their signature crushing riffs and guttural vocals with atmospheric melodies and modern production.

CALIBAN are thrilled to reveal their new single and video, "Back From Hell" (Feat. The Browning), with singer Jonny McBee featured in the video that was directed by Mirko Witzki for Witzki Vision.

Watch it below.

The band comments: "'Back Fom Hell' is a declaration of survival. It's about facing your deepest fears and coming out stronger on the other side. This song reflects the struggle of rising from darkness, fighting your way back from rock bottom, and refusing to accept defeat. We wanted it to be a raw, aggressive anthem for anyone who's ever felt trapped but found the strength to break free."

The album is up for pre-order here.

CALIBAN ARE (L-R IN PHOTO ABOVE):
Iain Duncan — Bass + Vocals
Patrick Grün — Drums
Andreas Dörner — Vocals
Marc Görtz — Guitar
Denis Schmidt — Guitar

Traitors Drop "No Witness" Video

Formed in 2013 in South Florida, TRAITORS emerged as a pioneering force in the deathcore scene, known for their signature blend of slow, sludgy downtempo riffs.

The band will drop the new album — and fifth overall — titled PHOBIAS. The album is due out on February 21. Pre-order it here. 

Traitors just dropped the video for the incendiary new single "No Witness." Watch it below.

"'No Witness' captures the overwhelming sense of isolation and internal chaos that comes with battling mental health struggles," shares the band. "The song plunges into a mind in turmoil, where no one else can see or understand the depth of anguish within. The relentless weight of negative thoughts, self-doubt, and despair is vividly portrayed, as the lyrics wrestle with the desire for relief and the crushing reality of feeling trapped in one's own head. Dark, raw, and introspective, 'No Witness' reflects the inner war with no escape in sight."

Regarding the album, Traitors explain that it "delves into the darkest corners of the human mind, exploring themes of mental anguish, inner torment, and destructive cycles," Shelton continues. "As a successor to the EP Night Terrors, this collection of tracks amplifies the intensity, confronting fears and personal demons head-on. The lyrics paint vivid pictures of isolation, manic episodes, self-loathing, and violent outbursts. Each song grapples with the overwhelming weight of trauma, regret, and fractured identity, offering no resolution but instead laying bare the relentless mental battles within. It's an unfiltered expression of pain and the struggle to survive amidst chaos."

In other words, PHOBIAS is not for the weak.

It's a sonically and emotionally pummeling record from back to front. It's a musical bloodletting that will leave you feeling cleansed afterwards. 

TRAITORS ARE:
Tyler Shelton — Vocals
Alan De La Torre — Guitar
Luke Fladino — Guitar
Josh Herman — Bass
Soul Kerr — Drums

ABOUT TRAITORS:
TRAITORS debut single "Arrogance" quickly gained traction, propelling the band into the spotlight just four months after its release. This momentum led to their first nationwide tour, establishing Traitors as a formidable presence in the metal community. The release of their critically acclaimed EP Night Terrors in 2015 further solidified their reputation, showcasing the band's ability to infuse raw aggression with hauntingly atmospheric elements. Traitors have continued to evolve their sound over the years, releasing four full-length albums, including The Hate Campaign and Anger Issues, which have become cornerstones of their discography. Throughout their career, Traitors have maintained a relentless touring schedule, sharing stages with metal heavyweights and earning a dedicated fanbase. Their music, characterized by visceral lyrics and crushing breakdowns, resonates deeply with listeners, offering a cathartic outlet for anger and frustration. As they gear up for the release of their fifth studio album in 2025, Traitors remain at the forefront of the deathcore genre, continually pushing the boundaries of heavy music while staying true to their roots. With a career marked by consistency and innovation, Traitors stand as a testament to the enduring power of heavy metal.

Fastbreak's "Fast Cars, Fast Women" Is Back On Vinyl, Thanks to Iodine Recordings + Label Partners With Big Wheel

In the late '90s, no one carried the torch for Youth Crew hardcore like Fastbreak.

Formed in 1994, the Connecticut band quickly made a name for themselves in the New England area, thanks to their explosive approach to fast-paced hardcore music and unrelenting positivity. Their sound was a true successor to the upbeat style of bands like Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today. Their energy made them a staple in Connecticut hardcore, as they became a fixture playing alongside bands like H2O, Bane, Ten Yard Fight, Right Brigade, and more.

Despite their significant impact on the hardcore scene, Fastbreak's recordings had long been out of print and unavailable on streaming services. This is why Iodine Recordings is proud to re-release Fastbreak's seminal debut album, Fast Cars, Fast Women. It'll be available on vinyl for the first time in 26 years! Collectors, rejoice!

It is available digitally today. The physical arrives on March 28. Pre-order it here.

While we have you, watch the video for "120 Bucks" below.

The song is the lead-off track from the album and is a one-minute ripper of fast, aggressive yet melodic hardcore. From the first note until the galloping outro, each band member is going all out.

"No, you haven't convinced me yet" implores the singer to a target of impassioned disappointment. A former friend, family member, or flame? Providing that we've all felt a similar betrayal, here's 60 vital seconds of fevered hardcore to scream along with!

Originally released in 1998, every idea, riff, and rhythm on the record feels as fresh as ever. Songs like "Said and Done" and "Places Trades" are bursting with pure exuberance and energy. In a time when bands were getting darker and gloomier, Fastbreak was a breath of fresh air, bringing a more inviting energy to the genre.

Fastbreak's ideas were extremely ahead of their time, predicting the future fusion of hardcore and pop-punk that would go on to take over the world. Their influence can be heard in countless bands that followed, blending the raw energy of hardcore with the immediacy of a positive attitude and approach. It’s a painfully underrated record, but thankfully, listeners now have a chance to realize just what was going on.

Fastbreak's Fast Cars, Fast Women features Patrick Rorick on vocals, Steven Pica and Neal St. Clair on guitar, Don Raymond on bass, and Luke Garro on drums. The album was produced by Dean Baltulonis and mastered at Metropolis Studios.

The release includes bonus tracks from Ten Yard Fight split 7" and Salad Days Demos. The expanded deluxe gatefold packaging displays dozens of never-seen photographs, as well as retrospective Essays from Rama Mayo of Big Wheel Recreation and Chris Wrenn of Bridge Nine Records

It was remastered by Jamal Ruhe (Guided By Voices, Death, Misfits).

As diehard scenesters know, members of Fastbreak went on to perform in In My Eyes, Piebald, and Right Brigade. 

FASTBREAK WERE:
Neal St. Clair — Guitar
Luke Garro — Drums
Don Raymond — Bass
Steven Pica — Guitar
Patrick Rorick — Vocals

Dorothy Announces New Album "The Way" + Shares "Tombstone Town" Lyric Video (Feat. Slash)

DOROTHY, the vocalist with the powerhouse voice, is thrilled to announce the March 14 release of her new album The Way on Roc Nation.

The album is truly a watershed moment for the artist, ultimately cementing her place among hard rock's elite players. 

Pre-order it here.

Today, she has shared the lyric video for the new single "Tombstone Town," featuring guitar icon Slash. Dorothy's arena-sized voice collides with Slash's legendary playing.

Watch + listen below.

"'Tombstone Town' is a sexy boot-stomper about betrayal, revenge, and mercy. Slash lends us his legendary guitar playing, and the music video has surprising twist at the end," Dorothy shares with a glint in her eye.

Slash himself sums it up perfectly: "'Tombstone' Town is a sexy rock n’ roll grind, featuring Dorothy's inimitable swagger and great guitar hook."

About the album, the vocalist, who shared the stage with Creed frontman Scott Stapp at his Opry debut last fall, enthuses, "This album is a love letter to the fans. I'm letting them know everything is going to be okay, and we"ll help each other find the way — even if we get lost at times."

Projecting a full-bodied voice with every inch of her being, Dorothy Martin kindles a spark of hope into a flame as bright as the sun itself. The Budapest, Hungary-born maverick singer, songwriter, performer, and frontwoman of the Los Angeles-based eponymous band, Dorothy brings gusto, grit, and glory back to hard rock, exuding superstar-size confidence coupled with the quiet resolve of an old school Western anti-hero. She has unassumingly blazed her own trail with sold out tours, major collaborations, and over 1 billion streams already in the rearview. 

However, her vision really catches fire on her fourth full-length album, The Way[Roc Nation].

Dorothy arrived with the force of a hurricane back in 2016, serving up the full-length debut ROCKISDEAD. Surging on all platforms on which fans discover new music, "Raise Hell" reeled in over 85 million Spotify streams followed by "Wicked Ones" with 77 million Spotify streams. The band organically attracted a diehard global fanbase with 28 Days in the Valley [2018] and Gifts From The Holy Ghost [2022]. KERRANG! hailed the latter as "a hot-blooded rock ‘n' roll record through and through," and RIFF raved, "Holy Ghost serves as a triumphant battle cry and a return to form." Perhaps, Outburn put it best, "It's her most bombastic and gloriously, victorious rock and roll work yet." Simultaneously, the singer took flight as the rare dynamo equally at home on a track with Slash and Nita Strauss of Alice Cooper or Staind and Scott Stapp of Creed. She even notably dueted with Stapp at the Grand Ole Opry. 

Over the course of 2024, she carefully architected what would become The Way alongside songwriter and producer Scott Stevens [Halestorm, Shinedown, Daughtry]. Expanding the creative palette, they leaned into heavier rock spiked with a healthy helping of Southern swagger and country-style storytelling.

New Model Army Announce Live Album "Live SO36" + Share New Single "Never Arriving (Live At SO36)"

Raw, unfiltered, and brimming with energy, Live SO36 captures New Model Army at their most visceral. This is the full electrifying performance, recorded on July 16, 2022 at Berlin's legendary SO36 venue, with 19 Songs, mixing both fan-favouites such as "The Hunt," "Vengeance," and "Poison Street" with rarer songs from all eras of their long history — and can be seen as a companion piece to their 2023 live release Sinfonia, which had been recorded the day before.

"When the idea of doing a New Model Army concert with a full orchestra at Berlin's magnificent Tempodrom venue was first floated, we had a thought: That if we were going to do something so extravagant, we should also do the exact opposite on the same weekend. So, we booked the following two evenings at Berlin's legendary Punk Rock sweatbox, the SO36 in Kreuzberg, and returned to being the simplest, stripped-down version of New Model Army we could be — without orchestra, keyboards, or double drums.

"Over the two nights, we performed 38 different songs (to add to the 21 performed with the orchestra), with the intention that the weekend should be seen as a whole. The Sinfonia project, in all its magnificence, was released in 2023. Now, at last, comes the sweaty, full-on rock and roll. Both nights were recorded although only the first was filmed. Here it is!" – New Model Army

Pre-order the album Live SO36 HERE.

Live SO36 will be available as 2CD+DVD Digipak, including the full show audio and video, and 'Black 2LP Gatefold.

The Dark Share Video For New Single - Circles

The Dark have dropped "Circles," a dynamic fusion of metal and disco that explores duality through tension, acceptance, and big questions. Packed with disco beats, heavy riffs, and acid bass, the track pushes boundaries both sonically and visually, featuring gritty, distorted aesthetics. "Circles" is a bold statement from a band redefining the limits of their sound.
 
"The whole song is about duality," says the band. "It's the heat of the moment, and it's the big picture. It's the sexual tension, and it's acceptance. It's asking the big questions and then ignoring them. It's metal and it's disco. Even when it came time to make the visuals, we said, 'Let's film it on the nicest camera I have and then run it through a cheap old TV and ruin it... that's perfect.
 
"'Circles' is probably my favorite track on the EP to produce. I got to check all my favorite boxes. The disco influence, the call and response verses, the riffs in the chorus, acid bass everywhere, the freaking innuendos... and then a massive inhale at the end... absolute blast."

Watch the video below.

Stream the song here.

LANDMVRKS Share Video For New Single - A Line in the Dust

French metalcore stars LANDMVRKS have unveiled their latest single, "A Line In The Dust" featuring Mat Welsh from While She Sleeps. A fiery and emotional anthem that continues to build anticipation for their forthcoming fourth album, The Darkest Place I’ve Ever Been, set for release on April 25.

Following the explosive double single "Sulfur and Sombre" and "16,"  "A Line In The Dust" showcases the Marseille-based quintet's signature blend of punishing riffs, melodic hooks, and deeply personal lyricism. Frontman Florent Salfati's powerful vocals lead the charge in what is already being hailed as one of the band's most emotionally resonant tracks to date.

Known for pushing boundaries and captivating over 900,000 monthly Spotify listeners, LANDMVRKS continue to carve their name into the global metalcore scene. With pre-orders for The Darkest Place I've Ever Been now live, fans can expect the album to be their most ambitious and impactful release yet.

LANDMVRKS' relentless drive, paired with their world touring success in 2024 and past hits like "Creature," ensures that A Line In The Dust is another bold step in solidifying their legacy as a force to be reckoned with in modern metalcore.
 
A Line In The Dust continues to develop the story of the creature, who, in a moment of self-awareness, realizes who she truly is and that she is trapped in her own world. 

The addition of Mat Welsh emphasizes the effect of duality and adds a universal dimension to this story.

Watch the video below.

 Stream + download "A Line In The Dust" here.

LANDMVRKS ON TOUR:
3/8 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
3/9 — Montreal, QC — L'Olympia
3/10 — Toronto, ON — History
3/11 — Cleveland, OH — The Agora
3/12 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore (scaled)
3/14 — Chicago, IL — The Riviera
3/15 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
3/16 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore
3/18 — Denver, CO — The Ogden
3/19 — Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine Theater
3/21 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
3/22 — San Diego, CA — Observatory Northpark
3/23 — Phoenix, AZ — Marquee (scaled)
3/25 — San Antonio, TX — The Aztect Theatre
3/26 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
3/28 — Orlando, FL — House of Blues
3/29 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade
3/30 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
4/1 — Norfolk, VA — The NorVA
4/3 — Pittsburgh, PA — The Roxian
4/4 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore
4/5 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom

H.E.A.T Announce New Album "Welcome To The Future" + Share Video For New Track "Disaster"

Hard rock sensation H.E.A.T light up 2025 with the announcement of their brand-new studio album Welcome to the Future, set for release on April 25 on earMUSIC. 

The first single "Disaster," which premiered yesterday on rock radio stations across Europe, is out today and guaranteed to snap listeners out of their winter sleep. The track comes with an explosive music video that merges '80s arcade aesthetics with metal madness, directed by the renowned Patric Ullaeus (known for his work with Europe, Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, and many more rock superstars).

LISTEN + WATCH "DISASTER"

Welcome to the Future delivers everything that fans of the celebrated Swedish rock band love: an innovative, heavy, highly dynamic, and refreshingly melodic sound, the unmistakable vocals of frontman Kenny Leckremo, and an inimitable talent for catchy anthems that leave you hooked for days.

Welcome to the Future is now available for pre-order and will be released in multiple formats: CD jewel case, black vinyl, ltd. neon orange vinyl, and digital. 

ACCESS THE NEW ALBUM

In support of the album, H.E.A.T will kick off their 2025 tour next week, bringing their breathtaking shows to stages across the UK, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Peru.

The fun is just beginning!

JOHN MORGAN’S DEBUT ALBUM, CAROLINA BLUE, AVAILABLE APRIL 25

Prolific #1 hit songwriter John Morgan’s highly anticipated debut album, Carolina Blue, will release Friday, April 25, as his debut radio single “Friends Like That (feat. Jason Aldean)” soars toward Top 10. Pre-order/pre-save/pre-add HERE and listen now to “Crickets.” 

“With Carolina Blue, I hope there’s relatability in the songs we chose and that the lyrics within them strike a chord,” John shares of his excitement of the debut. “I’m a dad and married and in a different stage of life than I was when I first moved from North Carolina to Nashville. I don’t try to be anything I’m not. I’ve never been good at that and know folks can snuff that out pretty quick. I hope these songs give people a message that there’s value in whatever they are doing. Most of the people that hear this are working the blue collar jobs I’d be doing if this wasn’t working, and I want them to hear their stories and feel their worth in this album.”

Having “already established his bonafides in the songwriting realm” (Billboard), being lauded as an “accomplished songwriter” by People and “Music City Songwriting Star” by the Tennessean, the boldly gritty North Carolina native will deliver a tantalizing robust 12-track debut. A brilliantly curated collection of songs, the authentically humble and tenaciously driven powerhouse artist - who has “stadium-ready written all over him” (All Country News) - not only co-wrote every track on the project but also co-produced it alongside Brent Anderson. 

Exploring the complex layers of relationships a man can have with women throughout his life - whether he’s yearning for momma’s cooking and a Smoky Mountain porch or going on-and-on about the one who caught his eye - the record includes the previously released “I Know Better,” the blue-collar, 18-wheeler anthem “Long Ride Home,” and today’s jaunty new track "Crickets” that boasts a tempo-ready groove proving that sometimes Mother Nature is the only soundtrack needed. 

Heading out with Chase Matthew along with making his 2025 Stagecoach Festival debut, the tactful artist that Saving Country Music advised to “keep on your radar” just dropped the official music video for his rowdy party starter “Friends Like That.” Featuring Jason Aldean, the skillfully clever song is currently surging into the Top 10 at country radio and has received critical acclaim from Billboard, MusicRow, Tennessean and more.

About John Morgan: 

With a style that’s defined by melodic grit and a craftsman’s approach to songwriting, John Morgan brings a blue-collar toughness to country that’s pulled straight from the only life he knows. Hailing from a tiny town called Sylva, deep in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, John grew up immersed in bluegrass tradition and even toured the festival circuit each summer in a family band, before diving into songwriting, inspired by six-string legends from Tony Rice to John Mayer. Now, “a Music City songwriting star” (Tennessean), he has earned cuts with Jon Pardi, Dustin Lynch, Thomas Rhett and an outstanding 16 for Jason Aldean, including the superstar’s #1 songs - “Trouble With A Heartbreak” and the GRAMMY® nominated, ACM Single of the Year “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, along with Aldean’s latest single at country radio “Whiskey Drink” currently climbing the charts. Praised by People as an “accomplished songwriter,” Aldean signed the sought-after, powerhouse artist “with guitar skills that will knock your cowboy boots off" (Nash News) to Night Train Records, his imprint with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. Having made his Grand Ole Opry debut and logging hours on the road opening for Aldean, ERNEST, Riley Green, Nate Smith and Jameson Rodgers, his party starter smash "Friends Like That" - featuring Jason Aldean - is currently surging into the Top 10 at country radio. With the Tennessean praising the “live concert favorite whose banjo and steel underpinnings still allow room for a hard-rocking core,” John's breakout radio single has Billboard applauding, “Broken hearts aren’t typically pleasurable, although the breezy melody and pulsing guitars on ‘Friends Like That’ make loneliness sound attractive.” Giving fans a taste of new music with the jaunty “Crickets,” confident “I Know Better” and heartrendingly smooth “Long Ride Home,” John Morgan’s highly anticipated debut album, Carolina Blue, drops April 25. 

KEEP UP WITH JOHN MORGAN
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | X

BraveWords Records Announce the New Jack Starr Solo Album,"Out of the Darkness Part II" will be Released April 25, 2025

BraveWords Records is excited to announce the new Jack Starr solo album,"Out of the Darkness Part II" will be released April 25, 2025.

Jack Starr talking about the new album, “This is the album I always hoped I would make, one that would be filled with power and glory but also melodic and passionate at the same time. This is the sequel to my 1984 album Out of the Darkness, and it truly is a worthy successor that I believe will be embraced with the same affection that greeted the original. So yes, Out of the Darkness Part 2 is here, and I urge everyone to listen to it. Keep the metal burning.”

Video for "Rise Up" from the album Out of the Darkness Part II: Below

Giles Lavery - Vocals (Warlord / Alcatrazz)
Jack Starr - Lead Guitar
Eric Juris - Lead Guitar (Warlord)
Gene Cooper - Bass
Rhino - Drums (Ex Manowar)

Guests Mark Zonder - Drums (Warlord ex Fates Warning)
Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards (Alcatrazz / Warlord / New England)

Produced and mixed by Thomas Mergler
Co-Produced by Giles Lavery & Jack Starr
 
https://www.facebook.com/jackstarrofficialpage/
https://www.youtube.com/@stratluvr
https://www.instagram.com/jackstarrofficial/
https://www.bandsintown.com/a/184296

About Jack Starr:
Starr emerged on the rock and metal scene in 1981, forming, together with Joey Ayvazian, David DeFeis and Joe O’Rielly, the first incarnation of the heavy metal band Virgin Steele. The new band was selected in 1982 by Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records to appear on the label's compilation album U.S. Metal Volume 2. After only two albums, Virgin Steele of 1981 and Guardians of the Flame of 1982, Starr left Virgin Steele in 1983.
 
In 1984, Starr started his solo recording career with the album Out of the Darkness, featuring former Riot vocalist Rhett Forrester, members of The Rods and former Rainbow drummer Gary Driscoll. It was released in Europe by Music for Nations and was picked as one of the best albums of the year by the music magazines Kerrang! and Metal Forces.
 
Starr changed the name of his band to Jack Starr's Burning Starr and between 1984 and 1989 he produced albums, both solo and with the band. The music of those albums was classic American eighties heavy metal, a style between Poison and Metallica. In 1989 the band dissolved and Starr joined short-lived bands like Strider and Smoke Stack Lightning.
 
In the following years, Starr once again assembled a group of musicians for a new incarnation of Burning Starr, which performed at the Magic Circle Festival 2008 and released the album Defiance on Manowar's label Magic Circle Music in 2009. In 2011 they released Land of the Dead with Limb Music. The albums includes ex-Manowar guest musicians Ross the Boss and David Shankle. The band played at the 2013 Keep It True festival and recorded a DVD.
 
About BraveWords Records:
BraveWords Records has released albums by Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse, The Chris Slade Timeline, Rhett Forrester and Rob Robbins, Prophets of Addiction and future releases from Lillian Axe, Crimson Glory and ASKA.

There is a serious void which desperately needs to be filled, hard-working and creative bands that have yet to find a partnership and a mutual vision with a professional team. The music-fuelled minds behind BraveWords Records, Brian Adams, Giles Lavery, Tim Henderson and Michael Brandvold, have built the ultimate home for an artist that will take you where you want to be. Collectively, with nearly 100 years of music industry experience under our belts, the BraveWords Records team will take care of all the crucial aspects of your project from global distribution (digital and physical), publicity and media coverage (web, radio, visual), social media blanketing and streaming opportunities (such as Streaming For Vengeance). Where most labels have forgotten the concept of actually marketing a release sensibly, BraveWords Records will construct a viable and comprehensive marketing plan, including visibility at BraveWords.com, which attracts a million visitors monthly. BraveWords Records has all senses on high alert as the music industry continues its never-ending transitioning, so the artist will always be aware of new opportunities to build their brand and strive for world domination. BraveWords will also have a focus on licensing film and TV content, both contemporary and retrospective across many genres. As artists and labels transition to the many new mediums available today for their work, BraveWords intends to stay ahead of the curve in providing and actively seeking opportunities for our roster of clients.

With the rapid spread of the world wide web, BraveWords.com was born in 2000 and quickly became the CNN of heavy metal. With its team of global writers and photographers, the site flourished with 24/7 updated news, features, reviews, audio and video steams.

For nearly 30 years, BraveWords wears their metal heart loudly on their sleeve, as they celebrate the greatest genre of music with the most dedicated and passionate fans on the planet!
 

http://bravewordsrecords.com

https://www.thestoreformusic.com/shop.php#!/Bravewords-Records/c/170260296
http://www.facebook.com/BravewordsRecords
http://www.instagram.com/BravewordsRecords
http://www.twitter.com/BravewordsRec

https://youtube.com/@BravewordsRecords

https://www.tiktok.com/@bravewordsrecs

https://www.threads.net/@bravewordsrecords
http://bravewords.com

DESTRUCTION Release Second Single "A.N.G.S.T." + Official Music Video Out Now

German Thrash-Teutons DESTRUCTION strike again with their second single, "A.N.G.S.T." As one of the biggest names in thrash metal with a 40+ year career, they unleash raw paranoia, shredding guitar solos, and Schmier's intense vocals while criticizing evil forces who prey on the weaknesses of others. Tackling fear, the song urges fans to confront their inner demons and break free from mental chains.

Taken from their 16th studio album, Birth Of Malice, out March 7, 2025 via Napalm Records, "A.N.G.S.T." proves fear is no match for thrash! The single is accompanied by an incredible music video that honors the horror genre and its iconic special FX – images taken from your deepest nightmares creeping in your head to stay.

Fans all over the world worship DESTRUCTION alongside fellow German thrash icons Sodom and Kreator, celebrating their influence on generations of bands worldwide. On Birth Of Malice, scene-legend and original member Schmier once again combines his dual vocal/bass attack with crashing riffs from battle axe masters Martin Furia and Damir Eskić, while Randy Black blasts pummeling drums to new heights. As witnessed on their previous thrash-fest Diabolical (2022), DESTRUCTION return with their uniquely raw and brutal sound, delivering merciless songs with a touch more variety and groove this time. All twelve songs from the butchers hit with a direct, clean sound – resulting in addictive metal anthems for a new generation of thrashers! 

DESTRUCTION on "A.N.G.S.T.":

"Our very first German song title is one of two very different tracks on this new album. I wanted to write a groovin' live track with staccato riffs, evil bloodcurdling vocals and dark atmosphere."

Watch the Official Music Video for "A.N.G.S.T." HERE.

Pre-Order Your Copy Of Birth Of Malice NOW!

German thrash metal legends strike again – get ready for DESTRUCTION's 16th face-smashing attack!

The band's newest onslaught is opened by the brutal "Destruction," with a luring intro transforming into a true thrashing hymn with razor sharp guitars honoring the band's 40+ year legacy, where mastermind Schmier reflects on the old days. Like the title Birth Of Malice suggests, lyrically, Schmier delves deep in human errors ” like selfish behavior on "Greed" and "Evil Never Sleeps." A clear statement is made with carnage on "Scumbag Human Race," exploring the mistakes mankind makes and pushing authorities in its memorable chorus "I will count your days!." The same rebellious attitude can be witnessed on the banging "No Kings – No Masters." DESTRUCTION also shifts to futuristic topics on the album, like the unconscious influence of technology and new forms of war on "Cyber Warfare." To close this brutal tour de force on a positive note, the thrashing legends celebrate their strong allyship with metal colleagues Accept by presenting their own version of classic neck breaker "Fast As A Shark." 

All of these heavy topics are combined in the brutal cover artwork, designed by talented Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák, known for his works for bands like Accept, Kreator and Blind Guardian. Birth Of Malice was recorded at Switzerland’s Little Creek Studio by V.O.Pulver, and guitarist Martin Furia mixed and mastered the masterpiece at The Black Mancave in Hannover, Germany. DESTRUCTION mark themselves once again as a tight metal-machine, switching between ruthless thrash and pounding melodic moments, proving they are more than ready to slaughter again on this new album, and at their upcoming shows all over the world!

DESTRUCTION IS:
Schmier — Bass, Vocals
Martin Furia — Guitars
Randy Black — Drums
Damir Eskić — Guitars

The Great Old Ones Premiere 'Kadath'

It's been six long years since The Great Old Ones released their last cosmic chapter of Lovecraftian lore. Finally, the French band has returned with another batch of dark tales, though now with a new twist. On Kadath, the post-black scribes climb out of Cthulhu only to descend into the dark heart of the Dreamlands. 

"Great stuff for metalheads who like their fiction the same way they like their metal - dark, heavy, and highly disturbing" Metal Trenches wrote in their 9/10 review of Kadath.

Kadath comes out tomorrow, Friday, January 24, but you can hear all seven transcendant songs today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

Listen to Kadath. below.

Pre-save & Pre-order

https://orcd.co/tgookadath

On Kadath, The Great Old Ones draws the listener deeper into the dream-haunted world of Lovecraft's strapping young hero. Always one to keep his head in the clouds, Randolph Carter embarks on a mind quest through the treacherous Dreamlands. But as the divine gods of old would have it, his nocturnal journey springs to life with otherworldly perils that push him to the brink of insanity.

The two-part epic "Me, The Dreamer" opens the album like an accursed bout with insomnia, tossing and turning amidst raging riffs. Just as Carter glimpses the stoned visage of the Gods on Mount Ngranek, "In the Mouth of Madness" sucks him into the grip of the nightgaunts with unflinching blast beats. 

"Climbing the huge stone steps, seeing yellowish-red eyes, I’m running under, under the sign of Koth" vocalist Benjamin Guerry wails on "Under the Sigh of Koth" as the band tear through the very fabric that dreams are made of.

Recorded under the vigilant eye of Francis Caste at Studio Sainte-Marthe, Paris, Kadath's production is nothing short of sorcerous. Each note and whispers are imbued with the power to transport the listener, offering an escape into an epic, immersive universe. Benjamin Guerry’s haunting vocals and guitars, alongside the mesmerizing contributions of Aurélien Edouard and Alexandre Rouleau on guitars, the deep resonance of Gregory Vouillat's bass, and the relentless assault of Julian Deana's drums, forge an album of unmatched emotional depth and technical prowess.

Thus, behold the latest chapter in their eldritch saga, Kadath - their unyielding quest to explore the outer margins of reality and imagination. An invitation to journey beyond the familiar, into a world of cosmic dread and awe-inspiring beauty, where the ancient gods still roam and dreams bleed into reality.

Line-up:
Benjamin Guerry - Guitars, Vocals
Aurélien Edouard - Guitars
Hugo Bernart - Guitars
Gregory Vouillat - Bass
Julian Deana - Drums

Recording Studio:
Recorded at Studio Sainte-Marthe, Paris, France

Production Credits:
Produced, Mixed & Mastered by Francis Caste at Studio Sainte-Marthe, Paris, France

Biography:
The Great Old Ones, with additions by Sébastien Gamez

Cover Art:
Jakub Rebelka

Photographer:
Daphnea Doto & Solweig Wood


Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/tgookadath

Follow The Great Old Ones:
Website:https://www.thegreatoldonesband.com/
Bandcamp:https://thegreatoldones.bandcamp.com/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/thegreatoldones
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thegreatoldonesofficial/
YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/user/thegreatoldonesband
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1U6VZQrgQ4CNXbS6FpP0QC
Deezer:https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/4377965
Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/artist/the-great-old-ones/596465875 

Killswitch Engage Drop "I Believe" Video

Three-time Grammy-nominated hard rock heavyweights and platinum-selling band Killswitch Engage — Jesse Leach, vocals; Adam Dutkiewicz, guitar; Joel Stroetzel, guitar; Mike D'Antonio, bass; and Justin Foley, drums — are gearing up for the release of their new album THIS CONSEQUENCE out February 21 via Metal Blade. Pre-order it here.

Today, they have shared the video for the new single "I Believe." Watch it below.

"'I Believe' is about undying hope," shares Leach. "During difficult times perspective is everything. Knowing deep down that 'this too shall pass' has been a beacon of light for me. I do believe there is meaning behind suffering. If we are able to push through difficult times and come out the other side, there is a renewed sense of purpose."

He continues, "I know there are much more commonalities between all of us as humans than there are differences. The good far outweighs the bad. This is my message to anyone who's listening — things will get better! However, you have to believe that they will!. There is power in faith, there is power in manifestation and prayer! Keep the faith and push forward with the confidence of better days ahead. Do not let this world pull you down into despair. Tomorrow is a new day and a new possibility for change!"

Their upcoming winter headline tour features support from Kublai Khan TX, Fit For a King and Frozen Soul, and kicks off on March 5 in Nashville and runs through April 12 in Portland, Maine. The band has also announced dates for May, which will feature support from Shadows Fall, Fit for a King, and Boundaries. Tickets and VIP packages are available here.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE ON TOUR:
WITH KUBLAI KHAN TX, FIT FOR A KING, + FROZEN SOUL: 
3/5 — Nashville, TN — The Pinnacle  
3/6 — Chesterfield, MO — The Factory         
3/8 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ's Live       
3/9 — Oklahoma City, OK — The Criterion    
3/11 — El Paso, TX — Don Haskins Center Arena      
3/13 — Las Vegas, NV — The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas      
3/14 — Reno, NV — Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort        
3/15 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live      
3/17 — Garden City, ID — Revolution Concert House           
3/18 — Seattle, WA — The Paramount          
3/19 — Vancouver, BC — PNE Forum
3/21 — Penticton, BC — South Okanagan Events Centre      
3/22 — Tsuut'ina, AB — Grey Eagle Resort & Casino       
3/24 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theatre            
3/27 — Peoria, IL — Peoria Civic Center        
3/28 — Waukee, IA— Vibrant Music Hall      
3/29 — La Vista, NE — The Astro       
3/30 — Kansas City, MO — The Midland Theatre
4/1 — Grand Rapids, MI — GLC Live 20 Monroe       
4/3 — Corbin, KY — The Corbin Arena           
4/4 — Pittsburgh, PA  — Stage AE     
4/5 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall           
4/6 — Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Special Events Center           
4/8 — New Haven, CT — College Street Music Hall   
4/9 — Buffalo, NY — Buffalo RiverWorks      
4/11 — Laval, QC —Place Bell
4/12 — Portland, ME — Cross Insurance Arena    

WITH SHADOWS FALL, FIT FOR A KING, + BOUNDARIES:
5/8 — Columbus, OH— Sonic Temple*
5/10 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room @ Old National Centre
5/11 — Memphis, TN — Minglewood Hall
5/13 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore New Orleans
5/14 —  Birmingham, AL — Avondale Brewing Company
5/16 — Daytona Beach. FL — Welcome To Rockville*
5/17 —  Myrtle Beach, SC — House of Blues
5/18 — Virginia Beach, VA — The Dome
*Festival Date

ABOUT KILLSWITCH ENGAGE:
Killswitch Engage first shook the structure of heavy music upon climbing out of snowy industrialized Western Massachusetts in 2000. A musical outlier, the band pioneered a union of thrashed-out European guitar pyrotechnics, East Coast hardcore spirit, on-stage hijinks, and enlightened lyricism that set the pace for what the turn-of-the-century deemed heavy. 2002's Alive Or Just Breathing became avowed as a definitive album, being named among "The Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of the Decade" by Decibel and celebrated by everyone from Metal Hammer to Revolver. Not only did they bust open the floodgates for dozens to follow, but they also garnered three GRAMMY® Award nominations in the category of "Best Metal Performance" in 2005, 2014, and 2019, respectively, a gold certification for The End of Heartache [2004], and a platinum certification for As Daylight Dies [2006]. The group landed three consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 with Killswitch Engage [2009], Disarm The Descent [2013], and their career high best bow at #6 with Incarnate [2016]. The latter two releases, along with 2019's Atonement, would also both capture #1 on the Top Rock Albums and Top Hard Rock Albums charts. The band's total streams are nearing 3 billion to date, while they've remained consummate road warriors who've sold out countless headline tours and have shared stages with everyone from Iron Maiden to Slipknot to Slayer to My Chemical Romance to Mastodon to Parkway Drive, which is a testament to their ability to cross genres and appeal to all fans of hard rock. KsE have remained a featured attraction at every major North American and European festival through the years. The band is celebrating an astonishing, 25-year career as one of the most vital and genre-defining bands of the '00s and continues its incredible legacy.

Paradise Slaves (Ex-36 Crazyfists, Diecast) Announce Debut Album "With Hell In His Eyes" + Share "Dreamer" Video

PARADISE SLAVES, the brand new band featuring former members of 36 CRAZYFISTS and DIECAST, will release their debut album With Hell In His Eyes on May 2 via Spinefarm.

Pre-order it here.

"To me, the overall concept of With Hell In His Eyes is to never surrender, continue to fight, and continue to be grateful for life," states singer Brock Lindow. "Those were my thoughts. I'm a 49-year-old man who has lived and learned a lot. No one is perfect. Coming to this realization, trying to be better each day is a definitely goal."

Today, the band has also shared the video for "Dreamers."

Watch the video, comprised of footage of the band in performance mode, here. 

A chugging palm-muted riff slips into an airy verse punctuated a breathy melody. The rush climaxes on a chantable chorus "I would've traded everything, but it kept running from me."
 
"My wife is from South Africa, and we battled immigration for five years," Lindow explains, offering a deep look at the highly personal subject matter. "She couldn't leave the entire time, and her parents had gotten sick. It was really rough. It's about our situation, the personal struggle, the hardships we dealt with."

The Boston-by-way-of-Anchorage quartet cements an uncanny union between aforementioned vocal powerhouse Lindow (36 Crazyfists), solo artist and guitarist Tyler Stroetzel, guitarist Jon Kita (Diecast), bassist Brad Horion (Diecast), and drummer Ryan Manning (Pentagram, Blitzkid). 
 
Mutual admiration and respect sparked the initial flame for Paradise Slaves, yet their newly forged friendship lit up their chemistry as brightly as a pyre. That same energy surges through their full-length debut album.
 
As the story goes, Killswitch Engage guitarist Joel Stroetzel shot a text over to Lindow mid-pandemic. As it turned out, his younger brother Tyler was putting together a solo album, Dark Verses, Vol. 1, and wanted Lindow to sing on a track. Right away, the duo hit it off as collaborators and buddies. 
 
Following the first song, they continued to write and record. Given his longstanding friendship with Brock, Kita naturally fit in and joined the fold followed by Horion and Manning. Jamming away, they nodded to formative inspirations such as Soundgarden and Alice In Chains twisted up with just the right amount of hardcore grit and heavy metal eloquence. In between, they performed alongside the likes of Killswitch Engage, Fit For An Autopsy, and more. Eventually, the group congregated at Tin Bridge Studios in Massachusetts in order to record.

"This band is something I didn't expect," admits Lindow. "After it fell in my lap, I was making new music with new people and we became brothers, and for that, I'm so grateful. When you get a gift like this, you need to put your best foot forward and have some fire. I definitely still have the same fire and love for making music as I always had and it manifests in Paradise Slaves."

EMPLOYED TO SERVE Share New Single "Atonement" (Feat. Will Ramos of Lorna Shore) + Music Video Out Now!

Leading lights of British metal, EMPLOYED TO SERVE, take pride in their place on the heavy metal world stage as they return with a brand new single "Atonement" feat. Will Ramos of Lorna Shore. The band also shares the release date of April 25th for their long-awaited new studio album, ‘Fallen Star.’

“We want to fly the flag for heavy metal and the traditions that it holds,” offers guitarist and songwriter Sammy Urwin, “But at the same time we want to play our part in taking things forward.”

The track features Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos, who in addition to his guttural growls, offers clean vocals for the first time ever on an album feature. The song is built around distorted guitars, battering-ram rhythms, and a Judas Priest-style solo, before shooting into what vocalist Justine Jones describes as “an arena rock chorus!”

“'Atonement' takes aim at those who try to lord their power over you. The only way to defeat these people is by rising above their behaviour and pushing forward on your own path,”explains Sammy. “We wanted to lead with this single because it is the track that encompasses the ethos of EMPLOYED TO SERVE as a whole. We're strong believers of working hard and not letting life and the negative people in it affect your goals and aspirations.”

The music video was largely filmed in Scranton, PA, home of the American mockumentary sitcom, The Office (US). 

Justine adds, "The studio was a shrine to the show, and Dwight, which was fun to explore in between filming! We wanted to portray someone in power/authority trying to wear down their captive through aggression. I found it very hard to keep a straight face while choking out Sammy, by take 15 or so I got more into it as the jetlag and hot weather made me feel more unhinged...”

Watch the video for "Atonement" feat. Will Ramos below.

Since meeting in their teens on the outskirts of London, vocalist Justine Jones and guitarist / co-vocalist Sammy Urwin have had their sights fixed on the road ahead. At first, it was all about standing with the local scene bands they admired, but before long they were forging a path of their own, lifers with a mission, evolving from the feral mathcore of their early EPs to detonating a full-throttle career high with 2021 album, ‘Conquering’.

And now there’s ‘Fallen Star’, an 11-track tour-de-force that sees the collective EMPLOYED TO SERVE vision refined to an even sharper degree.



Produced and mixed by Lewis Johns, a longstanding presence behind the desk, it features a number of special guests, including Killswitch Engage’s Jesse Leach on "Whose Side Are You On?" and Svalbard’s Serena Cherry on "Last Laugh". 

‘Fallen Star’, the band’s third album via Spinefarm, is a record of dizzying diversity, yet also one that is utterly uncompromising. Taking a deliberately different path to the cathartic anger of fan favourite release, 'The Warmth of a Dying Sun' (2017), ‘Fallen Star’ focuses on positive themes, such as finding inner confidence, sticking fearlessly to beliefs and embracing the power that flows within a tight-knit group.

Pre-Order 'Fallen Star' HERE

Today marks the start of the pre-order for ‘Fallen Star’, which will be available in various formats including a limited run of ‘black sunburst’ and ‘orange w/ black splatter’ vinyl. Pre-order'Fallen Star' HERE.

EMPLOYED TO SERVE have played every type of big show imaginable, from Bloodstockthrough to Glastonbury in the UK, and Hellfest, Wacken and Roskilde across Europe. On previous the album, ‘Conquering’, they pulverised arenas all over the UK and Europe in support of metal behemoths, Gojira.

In support of ‘Fallen Star’, EMPLOYED TO SERVE kick-off what is shaping up to be a mammoth touring schedule for 2025 with an April UK headline run, taking Celestial Sanctuaryand Burner along as special guests. The 5-date stint finishes with their biggest London appearance yet, at 02 Academy Islington.

Tickets go on sale @10am UK time on Friday, January 24th.

EMPLOYED TO SERVE will appear at a plethora of European summer festivals, including Graspop (Belgium), Jera On Air (The Netherlands) & 2000 Trees (UK). Details of further worldwide touring will be revealed in due time. 

EMPLOYED TO SERVE have come, have seen, have conquered, and now reign supreme as one of Britain’s brightest stars, hell bent on forging their legacy of Heavy Metal Unity. Long may it continue. 

EMPLOYED TO SERVE are:

Justine Jones – vocals

Sammy Urwin – guitar/vocals

David Porter – guitar

Nathan Pryor – bass

Casey McHale – drums

Extreme Metal Icons CRADLE OF FILTH Announce New Album "The Screaming Of The Valkyries" + Reveal New Single

GRAMMY Award-nominated extreme metal institution CRADLE OF FILTH is thrilled to unveil their upcoming 14th studio album, The Screaming Of The Valkyries, out March 21, 2025 via Napalm Records. Available for pre-order now, the album excels as a succinct summation of the ghosts of Cradle's past, while taking bold new steps into the future.

CRADLE OF FILTH reigns supreme as one of the most revered, formative and notorious names in music – from the depths of the extreme metal underground to the peaks of mainstream pop culture itself, and are responsible for breaking ground for many of today's top metal artists with their trademark mixture of blackened heaviness, macabre theatricality, and scintillating gothic style. Now, following the release of 2021's Existence Is Futile (#20 Billboard 200 with Hard Rock Genre), iconic frontman Dani Filth & Co. emerge again with a legacy-cementing opus.

Entrance yourself with a brand new CRADLE OF FILTH anthem for a new era – "To Live Deliciously" – out today. The track hits with rhythmic, menacing urgency built around a Libertine lyrical hook that twists and writhes with aggression, atmosphere and melody.

CRADLE OF FILTH master of ceremonies Dani Filth says about the new track:

"The song is about the celebration of life. Of indulging in everything unfettered from the conformities of religion, fashion or state. Free from guilt or constraint. As nature intended.

It could be read as a hedonistic life code. And a positive one if not done at the expense or the suffering of others.

To delight in simply 'being.' Being alive and free in the here and now."

Be one of the first to hear "To Live Deliciously"

On The Screaming Of The Valkyries, frontman Dani Filth's recognizable scream and equally identifiable growl stand mightily alongside twin guitar attacks, symphonic flourishes and explosive rhythm section, implemented by drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka, bassist Daniel Firth, guitarists Marek "Ashok" Smerdaand Donny Burbage, and keyboardist/vocalist Zoe Federoff.

After album opener "To Live Deliciously" hits immediately, second track "Demagoguery" blends dark beauty, blast beats and slaytanic groove as only Cradle can combine. Across the album’s blunt and unforgiving yet inviting expanse, Cradle summons the succulent flavors of classic albums like Dusk And Her Embrace and Cruelty And The Beast with the galloping (but no less fierce) thunder of recent entries Hammer Of The Witches and Existence Is Futile. Flashes of early metal influences coalesce with carnivorous glee into unapologetic death 'n' roll. "White Hellebore" is CRADLE OF FILTH at its most devilishly straightforward, juxtaposing traditional heavy metal with blasts of thrashing fury, spinning back to operatic goth without sounding disjointed. Anchored by arguably the most mournful melody in their catalog, "Non Omnis Moriar" ("I shall not wholly die") could be a cousin to Paradise Lost or Anathema, inverted through Cradle's thorny prism. "You Are My Nautilus" is the darkest song Iron Maiden never wrote, spinning an epic tale with dueling guitars, while "Ex Sanguine Draculae" conjures Dusk-era atmosphere with imaginative new colors. 

Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, England, The Screaming of the Valkyries beckons the brave into a new era of CRADLE OF FILTH misadventure, celebrating massive melancholic melody, blackened thrash, and apocalyptic existential dread with a grinning smattering of unbridled revelry. The Screaming of the Valkyries is a bloody dark love letter to the longtime legion of CRADLE OF FILTH faithful and a stunning entryway for fresh lambs to the sonic slaughter.

Pre-Order The Screaming of the Valkyries HERE.

CRADLE OF FILTH will co-headline the 2025 edition of the North American Chaos & Carnage tour, featuring fellow co-headliners Dying Fetus, as well as Fleshgod Apocalypse, Ne Obliviscaris, Undeath, Vomit Forth, and Corpse Pile. See below for all confirmed performance dates.

CHAOS & CARNAGE TOUR DATES: 
4/17 — Berkeley, CA — UC Theatre
4/19 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
4/20 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
4/22 — Albuquerque, NM — El Rey Theater
4/24 — Dallas, TX — Granada Theater
4/26 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center
4/27 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
4/29 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
5/01 — New York, NY — Palladium Times Square
5/02 — Richmond, VA — The National
5/03 — Reading, PA — Reverb
5/04 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
5/06 — Montreal, QC, CAN — L'Olympia
5/07 — Toronto, ON, CAN — Rebel
5/08 — Pontiac, MI — The Crofoot
5/09 — Chicago, IL — Radius
5/10 — Des Moines, IA — Val Air Ballroom
5/12 — Wichita, KS — TempleLive
5/14 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium 

CRADLE OF FILTH IS:
Dani Filth — Vocals
Marek "Ashok" Smerda — Guitars
Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka — Drums
Daniel Firth — Bass
Donny Burbage — Guitars
Zoe Federoff — Vocals, Keys

PERFECT PLAN Unveils New Single "Heart Of A Lion" + Music Video!

PERFECT PLAN unveils their new single and accompanying video “Heart Of A Lion”, the title track from the upcoming studio album, 'Heart Of A Lion', set for release on February 28th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.

Lead singer Kent Hilli describes the title track by saying:

“'Heart Of A Lion' is inspired by our Swedish football hero Zlatan Ibrahimovic and his story and career. A magnificent football player with a very inspiring story. I can relate to the struggles he had as a youth growing up in Sweden turning his setbacks and people talking him down to fuel for development and reaching higher. The passion, ambition and drive he has is truly one of a kind. He also has the Lion as his “spirit animal” which - together with his unique drive - inspired me for the lyrics and theme of the song”.

Talking about the album, he states:

“The new album is once again showcasing that we have developed and matured as a band in terms of songwriting and production. The melodies, riffs and hooks that we have created on this album are overall the best we’ve done so far. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished. Although our main influences like Survivor, Foreigner, Europe, Whitesnakeare still shining through, there’s that unmistakable PERFECT PLAN sound that is the driving center of it all. And I think we have strengthened that sound and identity."

“With 'Brace For Impact' we wanted to discover a new heavier and “in your face” sound but on this album we are back to the sound of the first 2 albums, with more keyboards and bigger sound taking you back to the 80’s with a modern touch and feel. On this album we once again teamed up with Mårten Eriksson, whom we worked with on 'Time For A Miracle'”, Hilli adds. 

“Mårten brought his extreme talent to the songs both co-producing with us and also did the mixing. Mårtens long experience as both songwriter and producer in the pop-industry brought so much to the table and the end result is simply fantastic. If you liked our previous albums, you are gonna love 'Heart Of A Lion!'."

Watch the New Video for "Heart Of A Lion"

PERFECT PLAN’s fourth studio album, 'Heart Of A Lion' marks the culmination of the band’s musical production to date. Over the course of their first trilogy of albums, 'All Rise', 'Time For A Miracle' and 'Brace for Impact', the Swedes have quickly established themselves as a new gold standard in not only the Scandinavian melodic rock genre, but the melodic rock genre as a whole.

Kent Hilli is a one of a kind singer that gained world reputation almost from the start. His class, range, tone and heartfelt expression caught the attention of his heroes Giant, who picked him to sing on their latest album 'Shifting Time', and saw Kent releasing 2 solo albums in 2021 ('The Rumble') and 2023 ('Nothing Left To Lose').

Completing the line up, Rolf Nordström, guitarist extraordinaire, Mats Byström, the music mastermind who plays bass and form a solid, rock hard base with drummer Fredrik Forsberg. The subtle textures, so important in AOR, come from Leif Ehlin’s keyboards.

'Heart Of A Lion' is a powerful statement from the band offering the absolute best songwriting and production ever: a strong offering, with roots very well planted in the 80’s AOR sound. Produced by the band in collaboration with Mårten Eriksson, the band was determined to top the musical results they reached until now and took a few months – from the end of 2024 – to come out with the right musical material.

Sometimes the stars align, and the result is absolutely stunning: a perfect balance of energy and unforgettable melodies is what you are going to find in 'Heart Of A Lion'.

Pre-Order 'Heart of A Lion' HERE 

PERFECT PLAN offers the “perfect” (pun intended) combination: a superb singer, a well-oiled band of experienced players, and a great songwriting talent with a knack for unforgettable melodies and driving rhythms.

With 'Heart Of A Lion,' PERFECT PLAN has crafted an outstanding piece of work which, while paying tribute to the obvious references to the sound of the classics (think Survivor,Foreigner, The Storm, Giant, etc) and Scandinavian AOR, has a recognizable identity and personal feel.

PERFECT PLAN are:

Kent Hilli – Lead Vocals

Leif Ehlin – Keyboards

Rolf Nordström – Guitar

Mats Byström – Bass

Fredrik Forsberg – Drums