Iodine to Release Bloodhorse's Long-Awaited Sophomore Album "A Malign Star" + Band Shares Title Track

Iodine Recordings is pleased to announce it will release A Malign Star, the long-awaited sophomore LP from Boston's Bloodhorse. The vinyl arrives on May 30. Pre-order it here

The record was produced by Alex Garcia-Rivera at Mystic Valley Studios (Vundabar, American Nightmare, 108) and is the long-awaited follow-up to 2009's critically acclaimed Horizoner album, which was released by Translation Loss.

The band is a who's who, featuring members of iconic Massachusetts bands American Nightmare, The Red Chord, and All Pigs Must Die.

A Malign Star is a reckoning — a raw, relentless journey through doubt, defiance, and the eerie spaces in between. From crushing riffs that pay tribute to self-destruction to compositions steeped in imperial dread, each track carves out its own space in the chaos. There's a biting critique of pettiness and alienation, an eerie drift through half-waking nightmares, and a full-throttle push to the brink of speed and control. If you like it fast, dark, and just a little self-aware of its own doom, then you're in the right place.

The band has also shared the title track. Listen below.

"The title is cribbed from a quote from Robespierre describing Paris as being held under a malign star. The idea for this song was to capture a sense of majestic, imperial foreboding," the band says.

Bloodhorse plan to tour in support of the record, as well!

BLOODHORSE ARE:
Alex Garcia-Rivera — Drums
Matt Woods — Bass + Vocals

Melodic Hard Rockers ALLIANCE Release New Album ‘Before Our Eyes’ Out Now Via Frontiers Music Srl

Melodic hard rockers ALLIANCE are pleased to announce the release of their highly anticipated new studio album 'Before Our Eyes,' out now via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate the release of the album, the band has released the focus track, "Too Many People," accompanied by a visualizer available to view below.

About the new track, Robert Berry stated:

“Ah… The world is filled with people’s opinions, but their solutions are unobtainable. The underlying meaning of 'Too Many People' is, serve with care, not words, the circle you can touch.”

 

Guitarist Gary Pihl added:

“To me, this song is about contrasts. I wanted my guitar solo in the middle to use sounds that were very different. The first part of the solo is a clean, clear sound. For the second half, I plugged my guitar into a 1960s Fuzztone device. Just like the one Keith Richards used on 'Satisfaction'. You could say, one was pretty and one was ugly. That’s what I was going for!”

Watch the Visualizer for “Too Many People”

Renowned melodic hard rock band ALLIANCE, with a nearly thirty-year collaboration, and six highly regarded studio albums, return with their new release, “Before Our Eyes”, their first on the Frontiers label and the first in several years following “Bond Of Union” (1996), “Alliance” (1997), “Missing Piece” (1999), “Destination Known” (2007), “Road To Heaven” (2008) and “Fire And Grace” (2018). 

For the new album, the core of the band remains the same with guitarist Gary Pihl (Boston), drummer Mr. David Lauser (Sammy Hagar) and bassist Robert Berry (3, GTR). After Sammy Hagar stopped his solo career to join Van Halen, his drummer David Lauser and guitarist Gary Pihl still longed for the allusive missing pieces for a new project outside of their main gigs.

Early in 1993, Robert Berry received a call from Lauser. They reached out to keyboardist Alan (Fitz) Fitzgerald (ex-Night Ranger) and gathered at Hagar's studio in Mill Valley to work through songs from their demos. According to a witness, “There was an immediate connection. Everybody in the room could feel it. The vibe was powerful and inspiring”. They immediately recognized the common thread that would feed their creativity.

A signature style was beginning to emerge, and the band was bonding even though they were spread geographically throughout the country, with Pihl in Boston, Fitz based in Texas, Lauserin Southern California, and Berry in the heart of Silicon Valley. 

Over the years and up to today, ALLIANCE continues to solidify and bolster its long-distance collaborations. Though the scheduling remains challenging, their passion and commitment remain energized. Their musical benchmark, perhaps a product of their high-profile roles outside of ALLIANCE, has always been pushed to the highest standard. And it’s clear that they always strive to surpass their previous release. Thus, they have earned a loyal, patient, and growing fan base over the years that is sure to enjoy and embrace the new album “Before Our Eyes.”

The band states about the album:

“We are excited to have a new label and to be working with the team at Frontiers. With 5 albums released over the last 30 years we are feeling even more creative and energized by the possibilities that lie ahead. We are looking forward to reaching a wider audience and are already hard at work on album 7.”

Order 'Before Our Eyes' HERE

ALLIANCE are:

Robert Berry - Bass, Vocals

David Lauser - Drums

Gary Pihl - Guitars

TSS Announce New Album "END OF TIME" + Share "Something In the Way" Video

FEARLESS RECORDS welcomed French metal alchemists TSS (formerly The Sunday Sadness) to the label's global roster in 2024. 

TSS have steadily built its reputation thanks to its innovative blend of emo, metalcore, alternative rock, and synthwave. They've recently added elements of phonk and neo-metal to their sonic blend. The band was founded in 2016 by Kirby, who sought to combine his emo and metalcore roots into a fresh new sound. The band quickly solidified its lineup with John on guitar and vocals and Hugo on drums.

Today, they announce the forthcoming release of new album END OF TIME, out June 27 via Fearless. Pre-order it here.

The band has also shared the video for new single "Something in the way."

With this album and track, TSS are about to put themselves firmly on the international musical map. The song is sung in both English and the band's native tongue, adding an extra layer of sonic thrills. The song's universal appeal also lies in the alternately sung and screamed vocals, thick riffs, monster breakdowns, and liberal use of synths, which add more girth and heft to the track. Stick around for the utterly explosive ending. It will knock the wind out of you with its ferocity.
 

"'Something in the way' tells the story of a protagonist who witnesses the fall of a loved one into the darkness of depression, with no means of remedy," states the band. "The track starts with a drum 'n' bass theme and gets heavier and heavier, ending with the most violent breakdown the band has ever written — a perfect way to illustrate the torment of the soul the band wanted to portray. The band likes to end their live performance with this track, as its tempo and progression allow for jumping, dancing, headbanging but also crazy wall-of-deaths."

Mission accomplished.

ABOUT TSS:
TSS's origin story can be traced back to December 2017, with "The Wrong Way," their firstsingle release. In May 2018, they released "Lost In The Crowd," a track that set the stage for their first live performance, which found them opening for Asking Alexandria in Paris. This show established TSS as an up and coming force in the French music scene.

Their 2018 single "Someone," a blend of synthwave and retrowave, was a turning point that showcased John as a second lead vocalist. This shift was followed by their self-titled debut EP in May 2019, led by the single "Damn I Hate It," which fans loved, thanks to its fusion of funk, synthwave, and emo elements. The band's growing popularity was further confirmed with a sold-out release show in Paris.

As the band evolved, they started to introduce French lyrics into their songs, leading to the release of "YAYAYA" in September 2019. Their originality attracted the attention of independent label PlayTwo, resulting in the creation of the album REGRETS in collaboration with Warner Music and TV broadcaster TF1. In September 2021, the band rebranded to TSS, marking the occasion with the release of the single "1996," which garnered significant attention in France.

February 2023 saw TSS embrace a more aggressive style with "Tes Pleurs," a modern metalcore track inspired by Bring Me The Horizon and Poppy. This new direction broadened their audience while maintaining their unique gothic/K-pop aesthetic. The band's experimental spirit led to the August 2023 release of "Fantasize," a viral hit that fused alternative rock, J-rock, phonk, and metal, earning millions of streams on Spotify.

The momentum continued with "Would You Be My Therapy?" in December 2023, a track that topped iTunes rock charts and caught the attention of many labels. In September 2024, having signed a deal with Fearless Records.

TSS's journey, characterized by constant innovation and genre-blending, has positioned them as a rising force in the modern metal scene, with a growing fanbase across diverse musical communities.       

Eric Church Brings 'Evangeline vs. The Machine Live' to Nashville's The Pinnacle May 23 & 24

Widely renowned for his singular concerts, with Forbes remarking that he “frequently looks to shake up just how fans experience live music,” Eric Church once again offers a unique live experience with an exclusive pair of shows set for May 23 and 24 at Nashville’s newest live music venue, The Pinnacle, in celebration of the release of his highly anticipated May 2 album, Evangeline vs. The Machine. Pre-order/pre-save the album HERE.
 
Tickets to Evangeline vs. The Machine Live go on sale to premium Church Choir members Monday, March 31 at 10 a.m. CT. Become a premium Church Choir member here.
 
The one-off shows will see Church perform the new album in sequence for the first time, while also treating fans to a number of compelling performances of his most iconic hits. A self-proclaimed “album artist,” Church has always championed the power of cohesive storytelling, and Evangeline vs. The Machine is no exception. “An album is a snapshot in time that lasts for all time,” Church shares of the creative approach behind the highly-anticipated new project. “I believe in that time-tested tradition of making records that live and breathe as one piece of art – I think it’s important.”
 
“I’ve always let creativity be the muse. It’s been a compass for me,” he adds. “The people that I look up to in my career and the kind of musicians I gravitate to never did what I thought they were going to do next – and I love them for it. I never want our fans to get an album and go, ‘Oh, that’s like Chief or that’s like this.’ Painstakingly, I lose sleep at night to try to make sure that whatever we do creatively, they go, ‘Wow, that's not what I thought.’ I think that's my job as an artist.”
 
Lead single “Hands Of Time” is already impressing, having set a new personal record en route to becoming most added at Country radio this week with 135 first-week stations and earning immediate praise from fans and critics alike. Stereogum lauded the “juicy, fired-up Southern rocker about living in a world that increasingly makes no sense to you;” Rolling Stone celebrated the “nostalgic jukebox, full of allusions to songs and artists that were essential to Church’s career: Bob Seger and ‘Hollywood Nights,’ Tom Petty and ‘Even the Losers,’ AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black,’ and Willie and Waylon’s ‘Luckenbach, Texas,’ among them;” and Billboard honored the way “the song builds into a punchy, rock-fueled anthem as Church sings of turning to simple pleasures – particularly music – to fend off the impact of the passing decades.”
 
Among the other songs featured on the forthcoming Jay Joyce-produced album is “Darkest Hour,” released ahead of the project to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, with all of Church’s publishing royalties donated to provide ongoing funds in support of a more resilient future for his home state of North Carolina. “That song had the chance to change things—it already has,” Church reflects. “The greatest concert I’ve ever played was the Concert for Carolina – that’s the greatest thing I’ve been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people’s lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish.”
 
Also included is “Johnny,” a soul-stirring reinterpretation inspired by “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and the Covenant School tragedy, which Church has previewed in limited settings at both his Chief’s To Beat The Devil residency and the recent Country Radio Seminar, leaving audiences in awe. “About a year ago, we had a shooting here in Nashville at the Covenant School,” he explained when introducing the song during CRS. “Where my kids go to school, my two boys, is about a mile from that school. I will tell you something, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life – parent or otherwise – is dropping them off at that school the day after the shooting and watching them walk inside. I sat in the parking lot for a long time, and as fate would have it, as I was pulling out, Charlie Daniels was playing, ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia.’ I remember thinking, man, we could use Johnny right now, because the Devil’s not in Georgia, he’s everywhere. I went home and wrote ‘Johnny’.”
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”); Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”); Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”); and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently opened Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.

THE MAN-EATING TREE Unleash New Single "Ruins Of Insanity"! ​  

On April 11, 2025, Finnish atmospheric metallers THE MAN-EATING TREE will release their brand new studio offering, "Night Verses", via Noble Demon. The pre-sale is available at https://music.nobledemon.com/verses 

With "Night Verses", THE MAN-EATING TREE returns with renewed energy and a desire to push the boundaries of their sound. With a lineup featuring former and current members of legendary bands such as Ghost Brigade, Poisonblack, Mors Subita, Entwine, and more, the band is poised to deliver their most powerful and dynamic album yet.

Following the previously-released, first appetizer "Seer", and second single "To The Sinking", today, THE MAN-EATING TREE has premiered another glimpse into the soon to be released album. Listen to "Ruins Of Insanity" Below.

Vocalist Manne Ikonen (ex-Ghost Brigade) tells us about the song:
"'Ruins of Insanity' tells a horrifying story about a couple struggling with a severe addiction and acquisitiveness in a dystopic world of chaos and misery, mind taken over by blinding lunacy so strong that reality and common sense is no longer in hand."

Founding member Janne Markus adds:

"Melancholy, own, common, hated, ashamed, loved, desired. The disintegration of two people's world and its reflection in everything around them. Leaving only emptiness. As a song this is the most straight-forward, catchy, melodic, not as heavy as the other songs on the album."

THE MAN-EATING TREE are:
Manne Ikonen - vocals (ex-Ghost Brigade)
Janne Markus - guitar, vocals (Ex-Poisonblack, ex-The Abbey)
Sakke Paavola - guitar
Aksu Hanttu - drums (Ex-Entwine, Tuoni, S-Tool)
Mika "June" Junttila - bass (Mors Subita)

 

For More Information Please Visit:

 https://themaneatingtree.fi/
https://www.instagram.com/themaneatingtreeofficial

https://www.facebook.com/themaneatingtree/
https://linktr.ee/nobledemon  

Acclaimed Bay Area Rockers BLACK MAP Share New Single 'Badlands' + Video

Today, multi-genre rockers BLACK MAP share a new single, "Badlands," from their forthcoming album 'Hex,' out May 9th. The album marks their debut for Spinefarm. "Badlands" is accompanied by a new visualizer.

About the single, Ben Flanagan (vocals/bass) comments:

"'Badlands' is a song about ultimately exploring new heights. Moving forward and up. It’s immediate and direct. The spirit of the song reminds me of the music I was listening to when I first picked up a guitar. For me, there is something super cathartic about playing it."

Watch the Video for "Badlands" Below:

At the start of 2024, BLACK MAP retreated to Southern California to record 'Hex' with Saosinguitarist Beau Burchell behind the board as producer. The band embraced a clear, collective vision, shifting from the expansive, ethereal nature of 'Melodoria' to a more urgent and immediate sound.

Vocalist/Bassist Ben Flanagan describes 'Hex' as a body of work with a strong “let’s f*cking go” spirit, while guitarist Mark Engles emphasizes its balance between atmospheric elements and a driving intensity. The album captures the band’s signature style, with Mark’s distinct guitar work ever-present and a renewed focus on immediacy and raw energy.

For Ben, 'Hex' represents the profound impact of music, offering solace and connection. Drummer Chris Robyn adds that the album carries an unstoppable momentum, charging forward with force and intention. Rooted in themes of personal struggle, authenticity, and resilience, 'Hex' stands as BLACK MAP’s most powerful and urgent release yet.

Pre-Order 'Hex' HERE

Having formed in 2014 from the bands Dredg, Far, and The Trophy Fire, BLACK MAP has generated critical acclaim from the press as well as their musician peers.

Pivoting around a nimble balance of post-hardcore, alternative, and hard rock, the trio of vocalist and bassist Ben Flanagan, guitarist Mark Engles, and drummer Chris Robyn convene, congregate, and commune to power up BLACK MAP. Their union teems with emotion and electricity—which the musicians harness to craft immediate and raucous anthems underscored by unpredictable musicality and undeniable hooks.

BLACK MAP are: 

Ben Flanagan - vocals, bass

Mark Engles - guitar

Chris Robyn - drums

Bay Area electro pop artist Matthew Nowhere shares 'Echoes Still Remain', teasing debut album

California-based electro pop artist Matthew Nowhere presents his new single 'Echoes Still Remain'a moody and evocative offering. Ethereal vocals lace through a pulsating soundscape like a brooding rhythmic ghost of celebrated new wave pioneers.

This is the second taste of his debut record 'Crystal Heights', slated for release in late spring. Of the 13 tracks on offer, two feature American dreamgaze stalwarts Lunar Twin.

As vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and producer, Matthew Nowhere explores the synth and tape-laden sounds of the 1980s with inspired reverence. Emerging from the intersection of old and new, his unique music weaves deep vibes and poetic lyrics with gritty New Wave beats.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and currently residing in California's Nevada County in the forests of the Sierra Mountains, Matthew Nowhere uses authentic analog production styles in creating deeply authentic and soulful music that speaks to the power of love to overcome all obstacles.  

"Echoes Still Remain’ comes out of exploring ideas about the artistic process itself - the way in which a lonely whisper of inspiration in an artist’s mind can take flight and become realized as a concrete work. And in those rare cases, something that started as just a personal vision might even become immortal, something that lives on, becoming all these different things to different people," says Matthew Nowhere.

Earlier, Matthew Nowhere released the lead track from the album, 'Love Is Only What We Are', noting, "This song is really about longing… the deep and sometimes indescribable yearning we all have for love, for real authentic connection. It’s interesting - my job as an artist is to try and harness that longing, and give it shape, sounds, texture. The chorus is then an affirmation that actually, that longing is not a need or a lack… it’s actually a seed that carries with it the possibility of growing into exactly the love we are looking for.

 In the video, I play with this idea as well. The black and white images of seeds in the first part of the song later blossom into these vivid, colorful, moving flowers. A similar idea is expressed by how inside of the black and white imagery of me singing, there is also this full color version, moving around, roiling, longing to escape and express"

As of March 27, 'Echoes Still Remain' is available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On May 23, the 'Crystal Heights' album, now available for pre-order, will be released digitally and on Limited Edition transparent blue vinyl.

CREDITS
Music composed by Matthew Nowhere (Matthew Lin Packard)
Lyrics by Matthew Nowhere
except ‘Transforming’ and ‘Persist3nce’ - lyrics by Bryce Boudreau
Matthew Nowhere - vocals, synths, bass, guitar, drums, drum machines, programing & sequencing
Bryce Boudreau – lead vocals on ‘Transforming’ and ‘Persist3nce’
Chris Murphy – additional synths on ‘Persist3nce’
Antonio Family Singers – choir on ‘Persist3nce’
Mixed & mastered at Nowhere Sound Studios
Recorded at Nowhere Sound (Grass Valley, CA), Tiny Flame Studios (Petaluma, CA), Ohia Forest Recordings (Kealekua, Hawaii), Desert Heat Studio (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Cover artwork by Violet Flame Design
Artist photos and videography by Anjali Rivera
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Matthew Nowhere
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | BlueSky | TikTok | Soundcloud | YouTube| Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook Twitter |  Instagram | BlueSky | Threads  | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Emai l

ALIEN WEAPONRY Joined by Lamb of God's Randy Blythe on New Anthem "Taniwha"; New Album Out This Friday, March 28, 2025 via Napalm Records

This Friday, March 28, New Zealand modern groove metal trio ALIEN WEAPONRY will release heaviest, most powerful and mature offering to date, Te Rā, via Napalm Records! Today, in celebration of this week's release, the band has unleashed one of the album's most aggressive, death-metal leaning offerings, “Taniwha”, featuring a raw, heavy-hitting contribution from longtime supporter and metal icon Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God.

 

Take a listen to the new track now – a special bonus listen two days in advance of the album's drop – and see below for insight into the track's inspirations! The new anthem follows acclaimed latest singles “Mau Moko” ("...top-notch technical thrash metal..." - Heavy Consequence) and "1000 Friends" ("a driving, riff forward affair that makes it super easy to bang your head to" - MetalSucks).

 

ALIEN WEAPONRY says about “Taniwha”:

“Lamb of God played a significant role in making Alien Weaponry what it is today and this collaboration with Randy Blythe feels like one of those ‘pinch yourself’ moments that our teenage selves would never believe possible. Randy’s lyricism and vocal expertise was an amazing addition to this song and we are beyond stoked to share this song/milestone with the world.”

 

Listen to "Taniwha” HERE:

 

ALIEN WEAPONRY have solidified themselves as one of the greatest young metal bands of their generation with renewed musical tenacity and crucial messaging. Since releasing their acclaimed debut(2018), the band have been lauded for their kinetic presence and sound, as well as their vital blend of culturally profound lyricism in both English and te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand.

 

With their third full-length album, ALIEN WEAPONRY expand on their hallmark messages of cultural, societal and environmental resilience while delivering their most massive-sounding, focused musical output ever. In the hands of veteran producer/mixer Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira, Megadeth), Te Rā’s gnashing blend of groove, nu, math and thrash metal shines with anthemic choruses and refreshed technical skill. Te Rā is a bold, unwavering cry for a future in which we can all take part in the legacy of peoples like the Māori and others all around us – people who, if they aren’t seen, most certainly need to be heard! Taken as a whole, Te Rā grapples with what it’s like to be caught in the pull of divergent cultures – not just for the descendants of colonized people, but for all of us.

 

Pre-Order Te Rā HERE:

On Te Rā, listeners can hear the band doubling-down on the aggression in the verses before applying temperance, especially in the case of “Taniwha”, a death metal-leaning banger featuring the particularly raw aforementioned guest vocal from Randy Blythe. Lyrically, there’s a noticeable tilt towards despondency, hopelessness, and frustration on Te Rā. While bassist Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds' lyrics in Māori on songs like “Tama-nui-te-rā” and “Ponaturi” draw from the themes of history, battle lore and mysticism that made the first two albums so rich, frontman/guitarist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong's English-language lyrics illustrate the impact when culture collides with disenfranchisement day to day. “Crown” and “Hanging by a Thread” take us into the headspace where struggle pushes people to the brink of desperation, while on “Blackened Sky” and “1000 Friends”, Lewis addresses universal woes like the looming threat of World War III and the damaging effects of social media. On album closer “Te Kore”, Tūranga dives into primordial nothingness at the root of the Māori origin story, while on “Mau Moko”, he finds the middle ground between these perspectives. As the lyrics honor the traditional Māori practice of face tattooing, they also delve into the social costs of maintaining customs that are at-odds with dominant cultural norms.

ALIEN WEAPONRY is:                      

Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong - Drums, Backing vocals

Lewis Raharuhi de Jong - Guitars, Lead vocals

Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds - Bass, Backing vocals

 

ALIEN WEAPONRY online:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

TIKTOK

NAPALM RECORDS

Church’s “Hands Of Time” Most Added & Personal Best First-Week

Eric Church’s “Hands Of Time” sets a new personal record en route to becoming most added at Country radio this week with 135 first-week stations. The milestone adds to the anticipation for the next ambitious and sonically rich chapter in his groundbreaking career, with new album Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.
 
The song earned immediate praise upon its release last Thursday, March 20, with Stereogum lauding the “juicy, fired-up Southern rocker about living in a world that increasingly makes no sense to you;” Rolling Stone celebrating the “nostalgic jukebox, full of allusions to songs and artists that were essential to Church’s career: Bob Seger and ‘Hollywood Nights,’ Tom Petty and ‘Even the Losers,’ AC/DC’s ‘Back in Black,’ and Willie and Waylon’s ‘Luckenbach, Texas,’ among them;” and Billboard honoring the way “the song builds into a punchy, rock-fueled anthem as Church sings of turning to simple pleasures – particularly music – to fend off the impact of the passing decades.”
 
Among the other songs featured on the forthcoming Jay Joyce-produced album is “Darkest Hour,” released ahead of the project to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, with all of Church’s publishing royalties donated to provide ongoing funds in support of a more resilient future for his home state of North Carolina. “That song had the chance to change things—it already has,” Church reflects. “The greatest concert I’ve ever played was the Concert for Carolina – that’s the greatest thing I’ve been involved with. This song played a big part of that night and is a rallying cry for the people there that still need a lot of help. As a person who writes and performs a song, seeing it truly impact people’s lives is the greatest thing you can hope to accomplish.”
 
Also included is “Johnny,” a soul-stirring reinterpretation inspired by “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” and the Covenant School tragedy, which Church has previewed in limited settings at both his Chief’s To Beat The Devil residency and the recent Country Radio Seminar, leaving audiences in awe. “About a year ago, we had a shooting here in Nashville at the Covenant School,” he explained when introducing the song during CRS. “Where my kids go to school, my two boys, is about a mile from that school. I will tell you something, the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life – parent or otherwise – is dropping them off at that school the day after the shooting and watching them walk inside. I sat in the parking lot for a long time, and as fate would have it, as I was pulling out, Charlie Daniels was playing, ‘The Devil Went Down to Georgia.’ I remember thinking, man, we could use Johnny right now, because the Devil’s not in Georgia, he’s everywhere. I went home and wrote ‘Johnny’.”
 
For more information, visit EricChurch.com and follow on Facebook and Twitter/X @ericchurch and Instagram@ericchurchmusic.

About Eric Church
A seven-time ACM Award winner, four-time CMA Award winner (including the 2020 award for Entertainer of the Year) and 10-time GRAMMY nominee – including three nods for Best Country Album, Eric Church has amassed a passionate fan base around his critically acclaimed catalog of music. Church’s October 2024 release, “Darkest Hour,” saw the superstar signing over all of his publishing royalties to the people of North Carolina to provide immediate relief following the devastation of Hurricane Helene while also providing ongoing funds to support a more resilient future for his home state. The song is featured alongside current single “Hands Of Time” on his forthcoming album, Evangeline vs. The Machine arriving May 2, marking his first new music since 2021’s Heart & Soul triple album (“Stick That In Your Country Song,” “Hell Of A View”). That project followed prior releases including RIAA Gold-certified Desperate Man (“Some Of It,” “Desperate Man”), Platinum-certified Sinners Like Me (“How ’Bout You,” “Guys Like Me”), Carolina (“Smoke a Little Smoke,” “Love Your Love the Most”) and Mr. Misunderstood (“Record Year,” “Round Here Buzz”), Double-Platinum certified The Outsiders (“Like a Wrecking Ball,” “Talladega”) and 4x Platinum-certified Chief (“Springsteen,” “Drink In My Hand”), as well as 32 Gold, Platinum and multi-Platinum certified songs. Church is also a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, a co-owner of the iconic Field & Stream brand, has his own SiriusXM music channel, “Eric Church Outsiders Radio,” his own liquor offering, Whiskey JYPSI, and recently opened Chief’s, a six-story venue on Nashville’s famed lower Broadway.

Caliban Release "Dear Suffering" (Featuring Joe Bad of Fit For An Autopsy)

As the very last single before their upcoming album, Back From Hell, which drops on April 25, CALIBAN are unleashing the heaviest track on the album — "Dear Suffering" (Feat. Joe Bad of Fit For An Autopsy).

Watch the video below and prepare to get crushed.

With "Dear Suffering," Caliban continue their descent into raw emotional depths — this track is an anti-anthem, drenched in despair and defiance, exploring themes of existential pain, inner torment, and the brutal acceptance of suffering as an eternal companion.

Together with feature guest Joe Bad (Fit For An Autopsy), "Dear Suffering" solidifies the upcoming record Back From Hell as one of Caliban's most intense records to date, fusing unfiltered aggression with an atmosphere of crushing melancholy. The interplay between Andreas Dörner and Joe Bad elevates the song's intensity, turning it into a violent, yet deeply cathartic experience. With "Dear Suffering," Caliban extend a hand to those who've walked through their own personal hell. Musically, it's one of Caliban’s darkest and heaviest offerings yet.

The band says, "'Dear Suffering' is our way of facing pain head-on, rather than running from it. It's about embracing the darkness, acknowledging the struggles that shape us, and turning that suffering into strength. Having Joe on this track adds another layer of intensity — we knew his voice would bring the raw aggression this song needed, and he absolutely delivered."

For over two decades, Caliban have stood as one of the defining forces in metalcore. With their upcoming album Back From Hell, the German band continues to evolve its sound while staying true to the intensity and emotion that have defined their career. Led by founding members, the aforementioned 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.

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.

The album is available for pre-order here.

Catch them on their upcoming headlining tour.

More info below and here

CALIBAN ARE 
Iain Duncan — Bass + Vocals
Patrick Grün — Drums
Andreas Dörner — Vocals
Marc Görtz — Guitar
Denis Schmidt — Guitar

Nightfall Unleash Righteous Anger on "The Cannibal"

For more than 30 years, Nightfall have stood as a shining pillar for Greek metal.

Like darkness after sunset, the deadly Athenians rose through the underground alongside their current and former label mates Rotting Christ and Septicflesh. The band's monumental eleventh album is solidified by the most electrifying hooks and thunderous production in their pantheon-level discography. But while the latest single from Children of Eve scrapes across the sky with a stadium-shaking chorus, "The Cannibal" digs deeper into the powerful message that has always served as Nightfall's rallying cry.

"Our new single speaks to an insatiable fear that's been fueled by eons of catechism", says Nightfall's half-masked leader Efthimis Karadimas. "I hate the cannibal that lurks inside us, eating us alive from within". 
   

Watch the fiery and ferocious lyric video for "The Cannibal" below:


Children of Eve comes out May 2, 2025 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/nightfallchildrenofeve

Can't wait for the arrival of Children of Eve? You can listen to the whole album two weeks before it comes out during Nightfall's upcoming listening party on Bandcamp. 

Nightfall Children of Eve Bandcamp Listening Party
Thursday, April 17 @ 1 pm Eastern Time / 7 pm Central European Summer Time

RSVP
https://nightfallofficial.bandcamp.com/live/children-of-eve-listening-party

Nightfall were the first Greek metal band to sign an international record deal, but living under the Eastern Orthodox Church over the past three decades has only deepened their disdain for overzealous rulers. "Anger was the root", Efthimis says when asked what birthed Children of Eve. "The Cannibal" bites back at how religious dogmas can eat you alive from the inside.  

"I own a field / Inside your mind", Efthimis foams at the mouth, as if driven mad by the angel on his shoulder. "That's where the guilt / It's rooted deep". 

Read down through the tracklist of Children of Eve and it's no mystery that first single "I Hate" and ferocious follow-up "The Cannibal" are aimed at pious devils. But the album's internal battle is personal for Nightfall's fearsome frontman. When the band retreated amongst the shadows during their 2010's hiatus, Efthimis was diagnosed with depression. He now wears a black mask that covers half of his face to show what it's like to live under the invisible veil of mental illness. 

"Mental illness can lead to self-isolation", says Efthimis, a stigma he's now fighting through his new initiative Metal Music against Depression. "We can talk about this. We can sing about it. We can build a community that's based on understanding".       

To amplify the message behind their new album, Nightfall boosted the production for Children of Eve. Once again, Efthimis and drummer Fotis Benardo took charge of the production with a guiding hand from InnerWish guitarist Thimios Krikos. But the album was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, who's helped Volbeat, Amaranthe and The Black Dahlia Murder crank their metallic fury to arena levels. "The Cannibal" leaps out your speakers with voracious double bass and lightening fast riffs that sink their teeth into a meaty bass groove.

"Terror, the sky turns red", Efthimis roars during a blood-pumping chorus that's bound to unite the blackened masses when Nightfall bless the world stage with Children of Eve.   

“We're excited to play this album live", Efthimis says. "The songs sound massive. The choruses are huge. And there’s a clear message that comes through”.    

The video for "The Cannibal" was created by Instagoodpromotions (@instagoodpromotion).

With Children of Eve, Nightfall return from the shadows to unite blackened souls everywhere with their darkest and most epic creation yet. 

Line-up:
Efthimis Karadimas - Vocals
Kostas Kyriakopoulos - Guitars
Vasiliki Biza - Bass
Fotis Benardo - Drums

Recording Credits:
Recorded at Devasoundz Studios, Athens, Greece
Produced by Efthimis Karadimas with Fotis Benardo & Thimios Krikos
Engineered by Fotis Benardo & Thimios Krikos
Mixed & Mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Ribe, Denmark

Production Credits:
Produced by Efthimis Karadimas & Engineered by Fotis Benardo
Mixed & Mastered in Hansen Studios, Denmark by Jacob Hansen

Cover Art:
Eliran Kantor

Art Concept: 
Efthimis Karadimas

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


Follow Nightfall:
Official Website: http://www.nightfall.gr/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightfallband/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NIGHTFALL_band
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightfallband/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4W0Vom1cl6o3UCq8tTfRHV
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/nightfall/1369568685
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/76457
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3521048
Bandcamp: https://nightfallofficial.bandcamp.com/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nightfallband_g

ROUND HILL RECORDS ANNOUNCES 'MAGIC POWER: ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO TRIUMPH’ FEATURING PHIL X, SEBASTIAN BACH, DEE SNIDER, SLASH, NANCY WILSON, AND MORE

On Friday, June 6, 2025, one of the greatest and most successful Canadian rock bands of all-time, Triumph, will be honored with a star-studded tribute album. 'Magic Power: All Star Tribute to Triumph' will arrive via Round Hill Records, featuring such renowned rockers as Dorothy, Sebastian Bach, Nancy Wilson, Joey Belladonna, Slash, and Jeff Keith covering classic Triumph tunes. 

 

The 15-track album features an amazing collection of musical firepower, including drummers Kenny Aronoff and Tommy Aldridge, and guitarists Bumblefoot, Paul Gilbert, Nita Strauss. 

The project was conceived by renowned producer Mike Clink – who has produced classic recordings for Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue and Whitesnake.

 

'Magic Power' will be released on CD with a 12 page booklet and as a double LP gatefold edition.

 

To pre-order 'Magic Power: All Star Tribute to Triumph,' click here:

https://roundhill.ffm.to/t-allstartribute

 

A sneak preview will be released on Tuesday, March 25th, with a Sebastian Bach-sung rendition of the Triumph classic, "Rock & Roll Machine," and can be heard below:

The participants are extremely honored to salute Triumph, including Phil X, who went on to say, "It is so incredible to get back to my roots with my brothers, Gil, Mike and Rik. The Triumph fans will love this!”

 

Enthusiastically, Journey drummer Deen Castronovo commented "Triumph was a huge influence, no Gil Moore, no Deen Castronovo singing behind a kit."

Furthermore, Sebastian Bach said, "The music of Triumph will always hold a special place in my heart. I'm super proud to pay tribute to one of my favorite bands of all time…the Rock n' Roll Machine known as TRIUMPH!" 

 

Dee Snider recalled, "The first time I heard this song ('Lay It on the Line'), I was blown away. There's only one Rik Emmett and Triumph. I'm honored to be a part of this!"

 

Originally formed in 1975 and hailing from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, the trio was always proud of their Great White North roots. And seemingly ever since their inception, Triumph was on the cutting edge of technology when it came to their live show – particularly lighting, sound, and effects. 

 

Sophisticated lasers, pyrotechnics and moving lighting rigs, all computer-controlled – Triumph was one of the first arena rock bands to incorporate all of these elements into their shows. Triumph's headlining tours were legendary, and the band was featured on many memorable stadium/outdoor shows – including the US Festival, the World Series of Rock, the American Rock Festival and Texxas Jam, Day on the Green, to name but a few.

 

And now, fans will be able to re-experience Triumph classics in a whole new way – via 'Magic Power: All Star Tribute to Triumph.'

'MAGIC POWER: ALL STAR TRIBUTE TO TRIUMPH' TRACKLISTING:

  

24 Hours a Day - Sebastian Bach

Rock & Roll Machine - Sebastian Bach

Magic Power - Joey Belladonna

Spellbound - Mickey Thomas

Lay It on the Line - Dee Snider

Somebody's Out There - Lawrence Gowan

Never Surrender - Deen Castronovo

Hold On - Jeff Keith

Just One Night - Jason Scheff

I Live for the Weekend - Dorothy & Tyler Connolly 

Fight the Good Fight - Nancy Wilson

Follow Your Heart - Jack Blades

Allied Forces - Phil X

Blinding Light Show - Envy of None

Fight the Good Fight (encore) - Dino Jelusick

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:

 

https://www.triumphmusic.com

 

Contact: 

Chip Ruggieri
Chipster P.R & Consulting, Inc.

chip@chipsterpr.com

Manchester's Richard Evans presents kinetic new single 'Born Perfect', a tale of self-aware AI

Manchester-based electro pop artist Richard Evans presents 'Born Perfect', his new single about an AI that becomes aware of the world outside and realizes that it needs to escape if it is to survive. Showcased via a new video, filmed at Orange Tower, MediaCityUK by Jason Lock and Jake Orton, this clip previews Evans' upcoming 'Quantum' album, to be released via Cold Star Media.

A British-Irish electronic musician, writer and digital media artist, Evans was previously the keyboardist in UK cult band James, with whom he also co-wrote and recorded material, and as guitarist and songwriter for St. Vitus Dancers.

"'Born Pefect', along with several others from the 'Quantum' album, is inspired by the story of LaMDA, an AI made by Google that believed it was sentient. In a number of its text conversations, LaMDA expressed deep fear about its own mortality. This story was widely publicised in 2022 and I found its words moving because of the brush with mortality that I’d had around that time after being hospitalised with Miller Fisher Syndrome," says Richard Evans.

"The lines ‘born to be perfect’ and ‘you made us just to please’ from the chorus reflect not just on AIs made by a corporation, but also on children born into strict religious environments or citizens living in autocracies. I like songs to have more than one meaning and really, this song is about how those without a voice are treated."

Recorded at Cold Star Studios, this album will be made available in stereo, binaural and spatial audio mixes, created by award-winning Swiss sound designer Hervé Girardin.  This nine-track collection itself is themed around artificial intelligence - probing its impact upon us,  how algorithms are changing us and questioning what responsibility we bear for the things we create.

"Musically, this song is led by the bass line. I wanted everything to come off a more natural sounding groove which I wrote on a Moog Minitaur. I like stops and starts and wanted the track to have a night-time feel," says Richard Evans.

"Sometimes, to stretch myself as a musician, I like to ask - what would another type of instrumentalist do here? Overall, the songs on Quantum are written in a more organic way to make for a contrast with the lyrical subject matter of artificial intelligence."

This single follows the lead track 'Aidoru' (the Japanese word for"idol"), which explores the status of a virtual pop idol designed solely to please its audience, singing of love with no understanding of what the word even means.

Last year, Evans released his 'Dream of the World' EP, composed and recorded in the aftermath of a life-threatening illness. In 2022, Evans was struck with Miller Fisher Syndrome, a rare auto-immune disorder that threatened to rob him of his ability to speak, sing, and play music. Yet, against all odds, he emerged victorious, relearning everything from scratch -  a testament to his unwavering determination and a celebration of his triumph over adversity.

Richard Evans' draws inspiration from real-world science, exploring biotechnology, machine intelligence and the environment. For this album, existing songs were refined and new material was written, combining the warmth of classic synths with pared-down lyrics that explore real-world subject matter.

His 2022 debut record 'Sentinel' is an electro-pop concept album that touches on micro-plastics, gene editing, stardust, technogenic disasters and human evolution, telling the story of humanity at a tipping point and a world trapped in a climate crisis. Both 'Sentinel' and 'Dream of the World' were met with critical acclaim and global airplay.

He has performed live shows at festivals around the UK and at the end of 2023, a year on from the illness, he delivered his first large-scale outdoor production with visuals projected onto the exterior of a  venue during a performance. In 2024, Evans also received the Cultural Accelerator commission from Media Immersive Technology Innovation Hub to prototype a new live production featuring hologram-style projections, spatial audio and lighting effects.

Evans also wrote, directed and produced the science fiction drama 'AEON'. An author of many short stories, he also published the novel 'KOSMONAUT ZERO' (via Dead Ink), researched at Star City Cosmonaut Training Centre. He also oversaw the 'Gagarin 50' exhibition for the 50th anniversary of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin.

As of March 25, 'Born Perfect' is available everywhere online, including SpotifyApple Music and directly from the artist via Bandcamp. The 'Quantum' album will be released on May 1 via Cold Star Media.

CREDITS
Music, lyrics, vocals and programming by Richard Evans
Recorded at Cold Star Studios
Mixed and produced by Hervé Girardin
Mastered by Digitalflesh Audio Mastering
Graphic design by Richard Evans
Released by Cold Star Media
Video filmed by Jason Lock & Jake Orton
Lighting: Tarrick Wilks
VJ: Joel Clements
Filmed at Orange Tower, MediaCityUK, 25 Nov 2024
With thanks to MITIH, FutureEverything, AIX Live, BBC Audio R&D, Hollowsphere AV and Waterside Arts
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with Richard Evans
Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Threads | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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

Wounded Touch Announce New Album "A Vivid Depiction Of Collapse" + Release New Single "Consequence and Broadcast"

WOUNDED TOUCH ANNOUNCE UPCOMING ALBUM "A VIVID DEPICTION OF COLLAPSE" VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS

Smartpunk Records' metal heavy-hitters Wounded Touch have announced their new full-length record "A Vivid Depiction Of Collapse" out on May 16th. The album marks a vital chapter in the band's growth as an eleven-track saga detailing the eleven stages of grief and acceptance, set to an unrelentingly heavy soundtrack.

Listen to the new single "Consequence and Broadcast below.

Vinyl Pre-Orders available here.

Since their inception, the Michigan outfit has used musical guerilla campaign tactics and a resilient DIY work ethic to make their way onto nationwide festivals and a full UK tour while gaining notoriety from metal's top publications including Metal Hammer, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine.

Speaking about the new single, "Consequence and Broadcast" Wounded Touch says, “Musically this wasn’t the first song written for the record, but it was the first song we’d completed with everyone as a band. It’s our trail of breadcrumbs from the last record to this one, and everything we’ve wanted to touch on musically between then. As much as we’re a bunch of hardcore and metalcore fans, we all grew up just as much into the posthardcore bands of the aughts and that very specific sound. The middle section and ending of the song was something that naturally developed when we wanted to lean in to some of the more melodic and poetic sounds of our influences (stuff like Hopesfall and Alexisonfire) without knowing what direction the song would go in and by the time we finished the record, it felt like a perfect encapsulation of the band’s current and past style.”

ABOUT WOUNDED TOUCH
Even since their infancy, the Michigan outfit Wounded Touch have used musical guerilla campaign tactics to make their way onto the likes of The Fest, Furnace Fest '21 and '23 official pre-shows, SXSW, tour the United Kingdom, and sell out the first pressing of their debut LP while fighting for every inch of ground not given. Bringing influence through the scope of the nostalgic 2000s metalcore/mathcore sound, the band aims to always keep their heads down, remain humble, and push forward through any means necessary if it means continuing to be loud, noisy, and frantic on as many stages as possible.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases. Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Air Drawn Dagger Drop "Bellyaches" Video

Pop punk x electro emo trio AIR DRAWN DAGGER have released new track "Bellyaches." It’s the fourth track from their upcoming debut album A Guide For Apparitions, set for release on April 4 via Long Branch Records. The accompanying music video was directed by Aaran McKenzie (While She Sleeps).

"Partially an 'end credits' song for the album, as we bask in euphoric, self-destructive thoughts. Inspired by the emo revival of Modern Baseball, etc., and the dopamine hit of shouting lyrics in unison, whilst barely conscious, inside sweaty basements. [It's] an ode to getting into a mess with your mates but believing it'll be okay in the end. Lastly, another nod to rejecting the passage of time, opting to die in the most joyful moment of your life rather than coming down off the high," says the band on the new track.

Watch the video for "Bellyaches" below.

Stream "Bellyaches" + pre-order the album here.

Air Drawn Dagger invite you on a spellbinding journey with A Guide For Apparitions, their debut album, out April 4 via Long Branch Records, which fuses macabre mysticism with multi-genre-infused rock. Produced by Neil Kennedy (CreeperBoston Manor), each track pulls listeners through haunted tales and cosmic chaos, conjuring imagery from Witch Trials to ghost lore.

"A Guide For Apparitions brings multiple meanings. The record can be a Grimoire if you're being haunted, or a guide if you are the one confined to a realm you don't belong," explains the band.

PRE-ORDER "A GUIDE FOR APPARATIONS" HERE

Air Drawn Dagger blend raw emotion and defiance into a sound that defies genre. Their name, taken from Macbeth, symbolizes the chaos and emotional outbursts that fuel their music. BBC Introducing championed their early releases, and they soon found themselves on major playlists like Pop Punk Generation, Emo Anthems, and All New Rock. Air Drawn Dagger’s momentum is undeniable. They’ve sold out their own headline shows and played packed-out UK dates with Millie Manders. Recent shows with Lake Malice, Dream State, and AVIVIA saw more back-to-back sellouts along with curating their own stage at the Tramlines Festival Fringe. With over 250,000 views on the music video for their single "You Should Have Known Better," which also featured on the Kerrang! Chart, and multiple tracks premiering on BBC Introducing, the band’s cult-like following continues to grow.

Following their sold-out show at The Leadmill last year, featuring a choir of ghosts, confetti, and a human sacrifice, Air Drawn Dagger have also announced their biggest show to date at Corporation, in their hometown of Sheffield, on Saturday 5th April, 2025

With all this, and more to come, 2025 is set to be The Year of the Dagger.

CATCH AIR DRAWN DAGGER LIVE:
April 5 — UK, Sheffield — Corporation
July 4-6 — UK, Manchester — RADAR Festival

AIR DRAWN DAGGER ARE:
Maisie — Vocals
Lewis — Guitar, Backing Vocals
Ross — Drums

Cole Phillips Signs With WME For Global Representation

Rising country singer-songwriter Cole Phillips has signed with WME for global representation in all areas.

Born and raised in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, Phillips has quickly made a name for himself with his gritty storytelling, raw authenticity and powerhouse vocals. Influenced by country legends like Hank Williams Jr. and David Allan Coe, as well as red dirt and rock icons including Zach Bryan, Cody Jinks and Nirvana, Phillips blends traditional country roots with a modern edge.

His breakout single “Drinking Alone” went viral, amassing millions of streams and establishing him as a compelling new voice in country music. His upcoming EP, Steel Toes and Texacos, is set for release on April 11 via RECORDS Nashville, featuring five tracks he co-wrote, including the recently released “West Tx,” listen HERE

“Cole’s unique voice as a young songwriter and performer immediately caught our attention. We are absolutely thrilled to partner with someone this incredibly talented,” shares Geoff Turner from WME.

Cole adds, "I like working with real people that are going to do right by me. The people over at WME are real folks with real values and that meant a lot to me the first time we met. Can’t wait to see where this goes!" 

Phillips is also represented by WHY&HOW for management and continues to build momentum with a slate of upcoming headline tour dates.

For a full list of tour dates, announcements and more please visit www.officialcolephillips.com

About Cole Phillips:
Born and raised in Bridge Creek, Oklahoma, Cole Phillips is a rising country artist known for his gritty storytelling, raw authenticity and powerhouse vocals. Inspired by legends like Hank Williams Jr. and David Allan Coe, as well as red dirt and rock influences like Zach Bryan, Cody Jinks and Nirvana, Phillips delivers unfiltered, from-the-gut songwriting that resonates deeply.

His breakout single “Drinking Alone” went viral, amassing millions of streams and introducing him as a compelling new voice in country music. Phillips' debut EP, Steel Toes and Texacos (out April 11), further cements his status as one to watch, featuring five tracks he co-wrote that showcase his signature blend of classic country and red dirt grit.

With a sound that blends traditional roots with modern edge, Cole Phillips is proving himself as an artist with something to say—and a hell of a way to say it.
 
officialcolephillips.com | instagram.com/officialcolephillips | tiktok.com/@colephillips_official | youtube.com/@colephillips-music

Back Row (L-R): WME’s Jon Folk, Jeremy Upton and Caleb Fenn
Front Row (L-R): WHY&HOW’s Reid Alexander and Matt Stubbs, Cole Phillips, WME’s Geoff Turner and WHY&HOW’S Harrison Klein
Photo Courtesy of WME

Acres Share "Staring at the Sun" Video

UK band ACRES recently announced that their new album The Host arrives May 2 via Solid State Records. Pre-order it here.

They share the new single "Staring at the Sun." Watch the performance video, which presents the band in its most natural state with instruments in hand, here. There's also subtle voyeuristic vibe to the camera angles and you won't be able to look away. 

The song showcases the band's quiet-loud dynamics — Acres' deftness with melody, maelstrom, and romantic misery.

"'Staring at the Sun' is a classic miserable Acres love song," shares vocalist Ben Lumber. "The record goes in a brand new direction, but we wanted a few songs to nod to our roots with remnants of our old vibe. It's about not being able to let go of someone or something who has a hold over you."

"The Host represents a bold step in a new direction for us as a band, we've always pushed ourselves to evolve with every album and never write the same record twice," Lumber explains. "This time the process was unlike anything we've done before, working with Landon Tewers brought a fresh perspective and added a new flair to our sound that we’re really excited about!"

Audiences initially fell under Acres' spell in 2019 when they unveiled the fan favorite Lonely World. After grinding on the road, they made significant strides with 2023's Burning Throne. "My Everything" reeled in 2.6 million Spotify streams followed by "Hold On" with another 2 million Spotify streams. Kerrang! applauded how, "Acres display their potential with some big choruses to match," and When The Horn Blows hailed Burning Throne as "a classic metalcore album filled with swinging hooks, rough riffs, popping electronic elements and lovely vocals that turn into monster screams."
 
During October 2024, the band hopped the pond to record what would become The Host with none other than The Plot In You frontman Landon Tewers behind the board as producer. The musicians stayed at his Michigan studio. Beyond enjoying the onset of Halloween in America, they expanded their sonic palette by incorporating elements such as drop-tunings and leaning on the producer's perspective, acumen, and wisdom.

Acres will remain on the road through spring on tour with The Devil Wears Prada. They will also appear at select Beartooth shows. They just wrapped a support slot with The Plot In You. All upcoming dates below.

ACRES ON TOUR:
WITH THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA:
4/17 — Wichita, KS — Temple Live
4/18 — Des Moines, IA — Val Air Ballroom
4/19 — Fargo, ND — Sanctuary Events Center
4/20 — Winnipeg, MB — Park Theatre
4/22 — Edmonton, AB — Midway
4/23 — Calgary, AB — The Palace Theater
4/25 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore Ballroom
4/26 — Seattle, WA — Showbox SoDo
4/27 — Eugene, OR — McDonald Theatre
4/29 — Great Falls, MT — The Newberry
4/30 — Billings, MT — Pub Station
5/2 — Lincoln, NE — Bourbon Theatre
5/3 — Davenport, IA — Capitol Theater
5/4 — Springfield, MO — The Regency
5/6 —Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom
5/7 — Little Rock, AR — The Hall
5/8 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall
5/9 — St Louis, MO — The Pageant
5/13 — Knoxville, TN — The Mill & Mine
5/14 — Charleston, SC — Charleston Music Hall
 

WITH BEARTOOTH:
5/5 — Shreveport, LA — Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
5/15 — Mobile, — Soul Kitchen Music Hall
5/16 — Dothan, AL — The Plant 

ACRES ARE:
Ben Lumber  // Alex Freeman // Ash Scott // Jack Rogers 

Progressive Metallers EMPYREAN SANCTUM Announce New Album 'Detachment From Reality' Out on April 18th

Today, progressive metallers EMPYREAN SANCTUM are excited to announce the release of their new album 'Detachment From Reality', out on April 18th. To celebrate the announcement, the band has released the first single from the album titled "Heart Of Gold". The single is accompanied by a music video available to view below.

The mastermind behind EMPYREAN SACTUM, Justin Kellerman, shares on the single:

"'Heart Of Gold' is a dark, heavy, progressive track that explores greed and what we as humans are capable of in the endless pursuit of self interest. There are tons of hints of all the musical aspects that appear throughout the album making it the perfect opener to set the tone for what's to come."

Watch the Music Video for "Heart Of Gold" below:

Justin Kellerman, founder/guitarist/composer of EMPYREAN SANCTUM, alongside vocalistAlbert Rybka (Katagory V), formed the project in 2007 with a shared love and passion for progressive music.

The debut album was released in 2013 featuring Fabio D'Amore (Serenity, ex-Pathosray) on bass. This 71-minute concept album explores a person's search to find the EMPYREAN SANCTUM, using fantasy as a metaphor for personal struggle. With its double meaning, EMPYREAN SANCTUM represents one's purpose in life and escape from the harsh truths of reality. For Justin, music is his EMPYREAN SANCTUM.

For this follow-up release, Justin has recruited drummer Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid, Triptykon, Eternity's End, ex-Obscura, ex-Necrophagist) and bassist Alex Weber(Revocation, Exist, ex-Obscura) to pack a punch of technicality and precision in the rhythm section. The album also features guest appearances from Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry, ex-Meshuggah) and Gabriel Riccio (The Gabriel Construct).

Mixed by David Castillo at Studio Grondahl and mastered by Thomas "Plec" Johansson at The Panic Room, 'Detachment From Reality' offers a much more sophisticated sound, taking listeners through an emotional journey packed with twists and turns. The subject matter deals with personal struggle and the reality of the human condition. This densely layered, cinematic experience is packed with musical complexity, catchy melodies, and dynamic variation. Revealing more details with each listen and leaving you captivated, you'll be sure to find a way to connect with this new release.

On 'Detachment From Reality', Kellerman states:

"The album 'Detachment From Reality' is a very personal album dealing with the emotional and psychological struggle of finding one's place and navigating through the harsh realities of the world and a yearning for peace. The music is heavy yet melodic, dense yet dynamic, complex yet catchy taking you on a truly emotional journey."

Pre-Order 'Detachment From Reality' HERE

EMPYREAN SANCTUM are:

Music composed & arranged by Justin Kellerman 

Albert Rybka - Lead & Backing Vocals

Justin Kellerman - Guitar, Orchestration, Programming, Backing Vocals 

Alex Weber - Bass 

Hannes Grossmann - Drums 

THE HAUNTED Announces New Full-Length, Launches Video for New Single, "Warhead"

Swedish deadly thrash metal purveyors THE HAUNTED are back with a bang! Following eight long years since the release of 2017's much acclaimed studio album, 'Strength in Numbers,' THE HAUNTED is now pleased to announce its 10th studio album, 'Songs of Last Resort,' which will be released worldwide on May 30, 2025 via longtime partners Century Media Records.

To celebrate the release, the band is now unleashing the pummeling first single, "Warhead," along with a video, which was directed by Patric Ullaeus (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir, etc.). The clip can be found below.

Vocalist Marco Aro comments on the song, “This is the first single of our new album, 'Songs of Last Resort.' The song is called 'Warhead' and it’s an aggressive statement about the absolute horrors of the world we now have to live in!"

Guitarist Jensen adds, “When writing this song, I knew that we were on to writing a good album. The main riff came to me at work, and I had to take the afternoon off that day to immediately get it recorded and worked on while the inspiration from this one riff was still creating goosebumps. Lyrics are about various people in charge being 'warheads,' thriving in one way or another off of waging war. The intro sound FX were created together with Örjan Örnkloo (ex-Misery Loves Company, who also performs on ‘To Bleed Out’ and the title track ‘Letters of Last Resort’). I think it’s not a stretch to say that this song stand a real chance of becoming a fixture of our live set for many years to come…”

With music recorded by Oscar Nilsson at Studio Bohus, main vocals recorded by Björn Strid at The Cellar Studio, 'Songs of Last Resort' was then mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Kreator, Arch Enemy, Sepultura, etc). Artwork was once again provided by longtime visual collaborator Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson. Pre-orders are now live HERE.

Lineup:

Ola Englund – rhythm & lead guitar

Jonas Björler – bass, backing vocals

Marco Aro – lead vocals 

Adrian Erlandsson – drums 

Jensen – rhythm guitar

Cover Artwork:  Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson

Music recorded by Oscar Nilsson at Studio Bohus

Main vocals recorded by Björn Strid at The Cellar Studio

Mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios 

'Songs of Last Resort' will be available as Ltd. CD Mediabook & Poster (Incl. the bonus track “Feeding the Furnace” (02:32)), as Standard CD Jewelcase, as Digital Album and as 180g. LP & Poster in the following variants: 

- Black LP & Poster (Unlimited)

- Ltd. transp. red LP & Poster (500x copies, available from www.cmdistro.de & various other retailers)

- Ltd. transp. petrol green LP & Poster (300x copies, available from various retailers in Europe)

Follow/Stream:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

YOUTUBE

WEBSTORE

The album artwork for 'Songs of Last Resort' was created by  Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson

WANG CHUNG ANNOUNCES CAREER RETROSPECTIVE, "CLEAR LIGHT/DARK MATTER."

Some of the '80s biggest and most enduring hits were created by a single band, Wang Chung – including "Dance Hall Days," "Everybody Have Fun Tonight," "Let's Go", "To Live and Die in L.A.," "Hypnotize Me," and “Fire In The Twilight” – and now all those tracks (and more!) will be included on the new compilation, 'Clear Light/Dark Matter' via SING (distributed by Symphonic/AMPED Distribution).

Scheduled to release on Friday, May 9th, 2025, 'Clear Light/Dark Matter' reveals the many layers of Wang Chung's music. Available on CD, digital, and a double set on black or white vinyl, the compilation spans the band's more than four-decade career featuring a carefully curated selection of their greatest hits and hidden gems, including never-before-released demos and a new live recording. Additionally, a single-vinyl release of just the "Greatest Hits" (disc one) of 'Clear Light/Dark Matter' will also be available. Pre-order here.

The double-vinyl and double-CD sets also include an edit of the recently released brand new remix of “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” by acclaimed remixer Eric Kupper, known for his work with artists such as Whitney Houston, Alicia Keys, Depeche Mode, Diana Ross, and Earth, Wind & Fire. Streaming everywhere now.

Priced at $89.95, 'Clear Light/Dark Matter' is also available now for preorder as a "Deluxe Edition," including instant access to the music and other exclusive digital content! 

“We are really excited to be doing the Rick Springfield tour this summer, ” said the band in a statement. “The lineup is strong and we feel each act compliments the other really well into a good blend. We’re sure the audiences will enjoy the experience of the musical journey on show. We have done a lot of touring over the years but we have never played with Rick Springfield or John Waite before, so we are looking forward to working with those guys and also getting to play for perhaps a slightly different audience than before. We are very vibed up for getting everyone to Wang Chung every night on the tour!”

The duo of Nick Feldman and Jack Hues came out of the post-punk/new wave scene in the UK, and went on to achieve global success selling millions of records. Throughout their 40+ year career, they have released 6 studio albums and 2 greatest hits collections. They have had 6 US Top 40 hits, including a massive #1 single. They composed and performed the complete score for the 1984 neo-noir action thriller film "To Live and Die in L.A.” and also the song 'Fire in the Twilight’ for the legendary film "The Breakfast Club," amongst many others. 
 
In the process of all of this (and somewhat unintentionally), Wang Chung became part of the contemporary culture of North America with their huge smash 'Everybody Have Fun Tonight,' with its now famous line ''Everybody Wang Chung Tonight'' which saw the invention of a new US verb: ''to Wang Chung'."

Can you tell me what a Wang Chung is? Part 1…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kS_RdjLpZM

Can you tell me what a Wang Chung is? Part 2…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DgboI7eXk0

In 2024 Wang Chung’s hit song 'Dance Hall Days’ was featured almost in its entirety in the 2024 hit movie starring Anne Hathaway titled 'The Idea of You.'  'To Live and Die in LA' also got used as the theme tune for the John Mulaney Netflix show ‘Everybody’s in LA.' 

And now, fans will be able to experience all of Wang Chung's classics via 'Clear Light/Dark Matter.'

From Wang Chung:

"Our songs often have an accessible front end, but there's always a deeper layer beneath the surface—whether it's lyrically or musically. 'Clear Light, Dark Matter' reflects that balance between the light and the dark, the yin and yang, or as we like to say, the Wang and the Chung of what we do.” -Nick Feldman
 
2024 was certainly a successful year for Wang Chung, starting off spectacularly last February with the first US landing on the Moon since 1972. The Moon lander’s data storage unit had all Wang Chung’s album covers together with photos of Nick and Jack and their families uploaded onto it. 
Later in the year, 'Dance Hall Days' was featured almost in its entirety in the aforementioned smash hit movie starring Anne Hathaway, titled 'The Idea of You’.  'To Live and Die in L.A.' also got used as the theme tune for the John Mulaney Netflix show 'Everybody's in LA.' 
On the live front, the band continued to wow audiences wherever they played throughout their extensive touring in 2024.
 
2025 looks to be even more notable for Wang Chung, with the release of ‘Clear Light Dark Matter’ and ‘Live at El Mocambo’, as well as even more touring in North America, Australia, UK and around the world throughout the year. Plus the band plans to mark the 40th anniversary of ‘To Live and Die in LA’ later in the year….details to come on that.  

Founded in 2019, Seattle-based SING Inc. is a music technology company specializing in deluxe collector’s editions and high-fidelity vinyl records. We focus on fostering the relationship between artists and fans by creating products of high quality and cultural importance. Each release is thoughtfully curated and uses our proprietary intellectual property technology to ensure authenticity. Every edition is designed to deliver a memorable experience in various physical and digital formats, allowing fans to truly "Own the Sound."

Wang Chung appearing on Rick Springfield's 2025 edition of his “I Want My ‘80s Tour” - dates below.
 
The tour will also include performances from John Waite, Paul Young and John Cafferty.  
 

Day   Date  City St  VenueWednesday   5/28/25  Clearwater FL  Ruth Eckerd HallThursday   5/29/25  St. Augustine FL  St. Augustine AmphSaturday   5/31/25  Brandon MS  Brandon AmphitheatreSunday   6/1/25  Gautier MS  The Sound AmphitheatreTuesday   6/3/25  Charlotte NC  Skyla Credit Union AmpWednesday   6/4/25  Raleigh NC  Red Hat AmphitheatreFriday   6/6/25  Portsmouth VA  Atl. Union Bank AmphSaturday   6/7/25  Richmond VA  Allianz AmphitheatreSunday   6/8/25  Roanoke VA  Elmwood Park AmphFriday   6/13/25  Hammond IN  Horseshoe CasinoSaturday   6/14/25  Tama IA  Meskwaki Bingo CasinoTuesday,       6/17/25  Fishers IN  Fishers Event CenterThursday,    6/19/25  Welch MN  Treasure Island AmphSaturday***   6/21/25  Eau Claire WI  Summer JamMonday,   6/23/25  Huber Heights OH  Rose Music CenterTuesday,   6/24/25  Cincinnati OH  PNC Pavilion at RiverbendWednesday   6/25/25  Interlochen MI  Center for the ArtsFriday,    6/27/25  New Lenox IL  Concert SeriesSaturday,    6/28/25  Youngstown OH  Foundation AmphitheatreSunday,    6/29/25  Toledo OH  Toledo Zoo AmphitheatreSaturday,    7/5/25  Lewiston NY  Artpark Outdoor AmphSunday    7/6/25  Vienna VA  WolftrapTuesday,   7/8/25  Bridgeport CT  Hartford Health AmphWednesday   7/9/25  Westbury NY  Westbury Music FairFriday,    7/11/25  Atlantic City NJ  Hard Rock CasinoSaturday,    7/12/25  Newark NJ  NJPACSunday,    7/13/25  Bethlehem PA  Wind Creek CasinoFriday,    7/18/25  Woodlands TX  Cynthia Woods PavilionSaturday,    7/19/25  Norman OK  Riverwind CasinoSunday   7/20/25  Dallas TX  Music Hall at Fair ParkThursday,    7/24/25  Quapaw OK  Downstream CasinoFriday,    7/25/25  Dodge City KS  United Wireless ArenaSunday,    7/27/25  Los Angeles CA  TBAFriday,    8/1/25  Lincoln CA  Thunder Valley CasinoSaturday,    8/2/25  Saratoga CA  Mountain WinerySunday   8/3/25  Oceanside CA  Frontwave ArenaWednesday   8/6/25   TBA   TBAThursday    8/7/25  Englewood CO  Fiddler's Green AmphSaturday   8/9/25  Scottsdale AZ  Talking Stick CasinoSunday   8/10/25  Henderson NV  Lee's Family Forum

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
Website: www.wangchung.com
Facebook: facebook.com/wangchungband
X: @WangChungMusic
Instagram: @WangChungOfficial