Defeated Sanity Return to Brutality on 'Chronicles of Lunacy'

November 23, 2024

No band has flipped death metal on its deformed head like Defeated Sanity. The band's uniquely potent concoction of punishing technical proficiency and jazz-infused chaos has delighted metalheads from their familial beginnings in Berlin to Maryland Deathfest and India. Now, after breaking onto the Billboard charts with their last album, these underground champions are returning to the brutal slamming that cemented their legacy.

"Chronicles of Lunacy is not only a must buy", writes New Noise. "It's one of the top death metal records of 2024. All hail Defeated Sanity".

Chronicles of Lunacy comes out tomorrow, Friday, November 22 on Season of Mist, but you can hear all eight rip-roaring songs today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

Listen Below:

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Chronicles of Lunacy punches you right in the face. Opener “Amputationsdrang” already has you pinned to the mat beneath its non-stop blasts. Get comfortable, too. Defeated Sanity don’t let the album up for air until "Temporal Disintegration" warps into a wiggling bass outro.

"We love experimenting", explains drummer and founding member Lille Gruber. "But we realized that some of our oldest fans might have gotten lost after our last couple of albums. With Chronicles of Lunacy, we wanted to focus more on neck-snapping brutality".

Acting like cavemen isn’t so easy when your band has a Mensa-level maestro like Gruber at the controls. “Lille’s drumming is just ridiculous”, says bassist Jacob Schmidt. Whether Gruber is hammering his snare, pinging between cymbals or riding a colossal groove, Chronicles of Lunacy flows like a never-ending stream of filth. Lead single "The Odour of Sanctity" opens like he's puncturing a wound with blistering blast beats, only to spew over into a monstrously wonky syncopated stomp.

"He's the face of the franchise, so we're never going to abandon those head-scratching moments that set Defeated Sanity apart", Schmidt continues.

Indeed, Chronicles of Lunacy isn't Defeated Sanity for dummies. "Each song deals with a different form of mental corruption", vocalist Josh Welshman says. "Odour" stinks of religious fanaticism. Early crowd favorite "A Patriarchy Perverse" cracks open the mind of co-ed killer Ed Kemper. "Sickness breeding sickness", Welshman growls with guttural vengeance.

While it still hits from every odd angle, Chronicles of Lunacy does draw a jagged red line back to Defeated Sanity's brutal origins. After all, the band now share a label with their namesake. New guitarist Vaughn Stoffey's chunky finger taps whip "Accelerating the Rot" into the fastest song in DS history. "This album is rawer and more straightforward", Stoffey says. "It gets back to what people love about Psalms of the Moribund and Chapters of Repugnance".

To dig up the sheer brutality that long-time fans have come to crave, Defeated Sanity returned to Thousand Cave Studios. The underground hot spot served as the excavation site for their previous two albums, but with Chronicles of Lunacy, producer Colin Marston was encouraged to really get his hands dirty. "We still wanted some of the high fidelity that you hear on modern death metal records", Schmidt says, "but this album also has the old school's crushing low-end".

The band execute this two-headed approach to monstrous effect on “Condemned to Vascular Famine”. At just under six minutes, the song delivers the longest ass beating on Chronicles of Lunacy. At times, all four members sound like they’re climbing up the walls in separate asylums, but after slipping in a brief nod to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the band come slamming down into the album’s ugliest breakdown.

“That’s one of our favorites”, the band says. “It lands at a crossroad of the DS sound that we ended up with on Chronicles of Lunacy. Even though it gets pretty fucking weird at times, there’s still an emphasis on heavy, straight-up slamming”

They're never going to drag their knuckles in a straight line, but on Chronicles of Lunacy, Defeated Sanity return to sheer brutality.

None of their albums are ever going to follow a straight line, but on Chronicles of Lunacy, Defeated Sanity return to sheer brutality.

Lineup
Josh Welshman - Vocals
Vaughn Stoffey - Guitars
Jacob Schmidt - Bass
Lille Gruber - Drums

Guest musicians
Danny Nelson and Paolo Paguntalan provide backup vocals on "Amputationsdrang" and "Accelerating the Rot"

Recording Studio
Thousand Caves Studio in January 2024.

Production
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Colin Marston.
Produced by Colin Marston and Defeated Sanity.

Cover Art
Artwork by Jon Zig
Title lettering by Liz Schmidt
Layout by Alex Eckman-Lawn

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Booking: Daniel Defonce TKO: danieldefonce@tkoco.com

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STORACE New Album 'Crossfire' Out Now Via Frontiers Music SRL

November 23, 2024

Swiss rock legend Marc Storace and his band, STORACE, have unleashed their electrifying new studio album, 'Crossfire', now available through Frontiers Music Srl. The album's intense lead single, "Adrenaline", arrives with a powerful accompanying lyric video.

Marc Storace describes the new single by saying:

“'Adrenaline' is a song about passionate feelings arising from close encounters with the woman of my dreams!”

Watch the Lyric Video for "Adrenaline" Below.

On the release of 'Crossfire', Marc Storace expresses his excitement:

“Tommy Henriksen, in spite of his tight touring schedule with Alice Cooper, The Hollywood Vampires, and his work with his Crossbone Skully, actually 'made time' to produce my 'Crossfire' album! Hell yeah, that’s what I call a good friend! Creating the songs with T felt like magic… And he even got the incredible Olle Romo, Mutt Lange’s very own engineer, to mix the album… Unbelievable! It was like a match made in heaven!! Play It Loud!!”

Pre-Order 'Crossfire' HERE

Maltese-born-Swiss musician Marc Storace started his exceptional musical career in 1970, with the Swiss cult progressive band TEA, which became a very successful band and with whom he released 5 LPs. Marc gained attention for his frontmanship and high-pitched raunchy vocal tone.

In 1979, Marc became the voice of Krokus, the most successful Hard Rock band from Switzerland. After their first album with Marc, 'Metal Rendez-Vous,' Krokus played several world tours, sold over 15 million records, and won many gold and platinum awards.

After the group disbanded, Marc formed the band Blue, who released their self-titled album in 1991, including the widely known hit “You Can't Stop The Rainfall”.

In the 90s and 2000s, Marc acted in two feature films (Anuk and Handyman) and reached gold status with various Krokus formations and three LPs. With many guest appearances such as on Rock Meets Classic, Sweet 50th Anniversary, Ken Hensley Live in Switzerland, Schubert In Rock, and on Manfred Ehlert's albums 'Amen' and the rock opera 'Test', Marc remained present with his fans.

In 2008, fans were surprised by the news that the original Krokus formation would be touring again. The success was tremendous: tours in USA, Japan, Europe and South America as well as 2 new studio LPs, which, in turn, earned platinum status. In December 2019, Krokus played a farewell concert at the sold-out Hallenstadion in Zurich.

At the beginning of 2021, Marc started working on his solo career as STORACE and at the end of 2021, he released his first solo album 'Live And Let Live.' In the middle of the pandemic, Marc started his first tour in Switzerland accompanied by the album's studio band. Since May 2022, Marc has been performing with his new band and rocking the stage like never before.

Marc spent 2023 and 2024 writing and producing the new album 'Crossfire,' a monster piece of Hard Rock, with songwriting shared between Marc Storace, guitar player Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper band) and drummer Pat Aeby (Krokus, Gotus).

'Crossfire,' produced by Tommy Henriksen and mixed by the award-winning engineer Olle Romo, features a collection of Hard Rock anthemic songs, with big choruses, great guitars, and an awesome rhythm section!

STORACE are:

Marc Storace - Vocals

Dom Favez – Rhythm Guitar

Serge Christen – Lead Guitar

Patrick Aeby - Drums

Emi Meyer – Bass

Produced by: Tommy Henriksen

Liverpool's THE WOOD releases debut album, blending blue-eyed soul, southern & indie rock

November 23, 2024

Liverpool-based duo The Wood present their debut 'Days' album, released via Riverdream Records. The Wood is made up of Alex Evans (vocals, backing vocals, percussion) and producer and co-writer Steve Powell (guitars, bass, backing vocals, keys, percussion), who met when Powell was recording Evans at his Ark Recording Studios in Liverpool. Creating music that is difficult to categorise yet somehow sounds familiar, The Wood cleverly mesh blue-eyed soul, southern and indie rock.

As the world overground traverses life blissfully unaware, The Wood have been holed up in a warehouse basement studio amongst the imposing brick edifices of Liverpool's ancient dockland. Working. Always working. Here, the great warehouses stand shoulder to shoulder against the wind coming in off the river, like dockers waiting for a shift. These historic streets stand as a testament, a monument to their past. To the trade and exchange of goods, of ideas. The movement of people in the hope of something new. An escape of some sort. These streets have tales to tell. There are stories and secrets they hold. And at night, silence falls and they keep those stories to themselves.

This is the perfect backdrop for The Wood. working underground and out of the limelight, little by little, day by day. Making music born of a natural love of creation, a determined passion for collaboration and even a sense of creative urgency, there's no grand master-plan here. No rulebook. No great intention of world domination. Just a simple desire, a common need to create music that speaks, music that feels and music that is honest and real to itself. Music that is true.

The Wood bring rock solid grooves, creating melodies full of beauty, passion, pain and the power of real soul. This album also involves several notable artists, including Martin Smith and Simon James (The Coral, Shack) on brass, and Jake Howden-Woodward (Nova Twins) on drums. They recently teased 'Thornside Walk', a song of hope, redemption and eventual triumph, following the lead single 'Let It Loose' with its surreal video, filmed and edited by Dylan Cox at the Pro Flex Gym in Liverpool, which features boxer Jake Harrison, along with a host of other shady characters.

As a producer, Steve Powell is an expert at unearthing sonic magic, having recorded many notable artists records, including Michael Head and The Strands, John Power, def.fo, The Stairs and Ella Guru He also produced and played guitar on the first Michael Head and the Red Elastic Band record 'Arturius Revisited' and number one indie album 'Adios Senor Pussycat'.

For The Wood, knowing what they want but not necessarily where it will lead them, time has been their friend, their growth leading them to 'Days' - an album of rich textures, built around songs filled with soul, purpose and an innate sense of release. Above all, this is a truthful record - from the shuffling groove and mariachi trumpet of the album's opening track and first single ‘Let It Loose', to the mountainous gospel-tinged chorus of 'River' and the immensely intricate production of 'Back to the Start'. The simple yet sheer yearning beauty of 'Stay with Me' sounds immediate and familiar. The melody of 'Autumn Dreams' seems to float, dancing gracefully around the notes almost preternaturally in the voice of Alex Evans - the kind of melody that can make a summer's day feel autumnal.

There's pain here, real pain, loss and heartache. There is hope, light, redemption and a sense of future. There is also a lot of love in this record - an indefinable but instantly accessible kind of love. Above all, 'Days' is a record crafted for listening, and not just hearing. The Wood have much to do in their basement hideout while the rest of us go about our business, because 'Days' marks just the beginning for this uniquely talented songwriting duo.

As of November 22, the 'Days' album is available everywhere online, including Bandcamp and Spotify . The Wood performs next on December 6 at A.R.C @ Camp&Furnace Liverpool.

Industrial icon SKOLD & alt-rock maverick Love Ghost release Metropolis-backed album 'Love Ghost x SKOLD'

November 23, 2024

Alternative rock maverick Love Ghost and industrial legend Tim Skold (SKOLD, Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM, Marilyn Manson, Motionless in White) have released their debut 'Love Ghost x SKOLD' album, following a string of singles that include ‘Nightshade and Cocaine’, 'Payback' and 'Ski Mask'.

This 13-track record is released through iconic American label Metropolis Records, continuing the label's long relationship with Tim Skold. Mixing fire with brimstone, these two innovative artists have joined forces, forging the raw energy of grunge with the driving rhythms of industrial rock, taking us through an adrenaline-filled journey that Finnegan Bell dubs "literally musical storytelling".

"We very deliberately tried to not have a specific “sound” for this album and instead make music that is genuinely honest and pure in that sense. We both have stylings and character so we didn’t feel that was something that needed much attention and instead focused on making a rad collection of songs that we felt are really cool. I think real and true diversity come from making sure you don’t stifle the raw creativity," says Tim Skold.

Finnegan Bell adds, "I would agree with Tim, we made music that we felt was from the heart and stimulated our imagination. The music sounds like multiple universes coming together to create something unique and we are proud of that. I’ve also always felt that art should be in the eye of the beholder, because it means something different for every individual person that is experiencing it."

Swedish musician and record producer Tim Skold is best known for his work with KMFDM, Shotgun Messiah, Marilyn Manson, and Motionless in White, as well as performing as SKOLD and half of Not My God (with Nero Bellum). A full-fledged band member of Marilyn Manson for several world tours, Skold produced the band's #1 Billboard US charting album 'The Golden Age of Grotesque', cover versions of 'Tainted Love' and 'Personal Jesus', and the controversial album 'Eat Me, Drink Me'. He later co-produced two Motionless in White albums. As SKOLD, he has released several albums and toured extensively with Front Line Assembly and Motionless in White, among others.

Based in LA, Love Ghost is an enigmatic indie band dishing up a distinctive blend of grunge, alt-rock and post-punk, informed by the Seattle tradition as much as Soundcloud-era fearlessness. Founded by vocalist-guitarist Finnegan Bell, the band quickly garnered attention for their raw, energetic sound, mature lyrics and numerous collaborations. Having toured internationally, they've also earned plaudits from such publications as Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, American Songwriter and New Noise.

"For me, writing is something that has always been so intuitive - like it clicks or sometimes it doesn't click. But for this project, we just kind got into the studio and had really good chemistry. Now you know that a lot of songs came from that. Sometimes Tim would have an idea or sometimes I would. It just felt like electricity. Every single time that we would get together, we would have a new idea and we would have a new song basically," says Finnegan Bell.

In his turn, Tim Skold notes that, in a fleeting and constantly evolving music industry, this project presented unique opportunities that differ from his collaborations with such high-profile artists as Marilyn Manson and Ye, where heightened fame and media attention can significantly complicate the creative process, not to mention logistics.

The 'Love Ghost x SKOLD' album is out now, available via Spotify, Apple Musicand Bandcamp.

MARILYN MANSON - NEW ALBUM, 'ONE ASSASSINATION UNDER GOD - CHAPTER 1' OUT TODAY VIA NUCLEAR BLAST

November 22, 2024

The wait is over… One Assassination Under God - Chapter 1, the 12th album by MARILYN MANSON has been released worldwide today via Nuclear Blast Records. The new album is available now for purchase and stream at https://mm.bfan.link/oaug-ch-1

With the record’s release comes a new video for the title track, ‘One Assassination Under God’, directed by Bill Yukich.

'ONE ASSASSINATION UNDER GOD’ MUSIC VIDEO BELOW:

Stream MARILYN MANSON:

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SUNSTORM Release New Album 'Restless Fight' Today via Frontiers Music SRL

November 22, 2024

Today, AOR/Melodic Rock quintet SUNSTORM are proud to unleash their latest album,'Restless Fight', available through Frontiers Music Srl. The album's lead single, "Shot In The Dark", comes complete with an electrifying visualizer that captures the band's melodic rock essence.

Guitarist Aldo Lonobile comments on the focus track:

“'Shot In The Dark' is one of Ozzy’s most iconic song, the riff, the chorus, everything is just perfect and it features one of my favourite guitar players: Mr. Jake E Lee! When Serafino proposed us to record our own cover version, we were very excited, it reflects the original version, hoping that fans will appreciate it”.

Ronnie Romero expresses his enthusiasm for the release, by saying:

“I really love the new album! I believe it keeps the SUNSTORM essence with an AOR base, but bringing a fresh more guitar oriented and a heavier sound. It was fantastic to work with Aldo for the first time and I believe the fans are going to like the album very much!”

Watch the Visualizer for "Shot In The Dark" Below

SUNSTORM is a project created, overseen, and directed by Serafino Perugino, President of Frontiers Records, and it was originally designed to showcase a musical style similar to singer Joe Lynn Turner’s Melodic Rock/AOR roots.

Since 2021, SUNSTORM features one of the most impressive vocal talents of recent years, Lords of Black and Rainbow singer Ronnie Romero. Romero’s debut album with SUNSTORM, 'Afterlife' was released in early 2021 and showcased a rejuvenation of SUNSTORM's previous musical formula, mixing Melodic Rock/AOR with more '70s oriented hard rock, ala Rainbow (for which Romero performed as singer).

Romero's voice and prolific musical activity have brought him to the forefront of the hard rock/metal scene where he can be seen/heard with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, The Michael Schenker Group, Lords of Black, The Ferrymen, and Elegant Weapons with Judas Priest guitarist Richie Faulkner.

Ronnie Romero is also a prolific solo artist, with the release of his first two cover albums 'Raised On Radio' and 'Raised On Heavy Radio' – where he pays tribute to legendary artists from the metal world – and his latest work 'Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters', the first to feature all-new original material, released in September 2023.

With the new album 'Restless Fight', the third to feature Ronnie Romero, SUNSTORMchanged its skin. The new line-up that backs Romero, comes from a heavy background.

On guitars, Aldo Lonobile, musician, songwriter and producer (Geoff Tate's Sweet Oblivion, Archon Angel feat. Zak Stevens, Ring Of Fire feat. Mark Boals), Andrea Arcangeli (from the Italian progressive metal band DGM) on bass, Alfonso Mocerino (ex-Temperance, Virtual Simmetry) on drums and Antonio Agate (one of the most talented Italian keyboard players and arranger for symphonic orchestras, featured in countless albums) on keyboards. It brings back SUNSTORM’s classic AOR/Hard Rock formula with a strongest dose of energy, reaching a more dynamic and bombastic approach.

Order 'Restless Fight' HERE

Since the inception of the new album’s production, the discussion has centered on the concept of keeping the roots of SUNSTORM’s musical style: the AOR sound of the early records that everyone wanted, but with special attention to the 80s way to arrange the guitars and keys in order to reach more powerful vibrations. The aim was to give a fresh appeal to the new music so that it could be the perfect foundation for Romero, who with his powerful vocal style, is the perfect fit to deliver the goods for the music.

The result is 'Restless Fight,' an album where Ronnie’s vocal acrobatics sit perfectly into Lonobile’s way to play guitars, clearly influenced by the 80’s guitar heroes such as Jake E. Lee/Steve Stevens, to name a few.

'Restless Fight' stands pretty tall in its own right and SUNSTORM is here to stay with a lot more to say!

SUNSTORM are:

Ronnie Romero – Vocals

Aldo Lonobile – Guitars

Andrea Arcangeli – Bass

Antonio Agate – Keys

Alfonso Mocerino - Drums

Swedish Punk Rock Band DEVIL'S CIGARETTE New Album 'I Wanna Be On TV' Out Now via Wild Kingdom Records/Sound Pollution

November 22, 2024

DEVIL'S CIGARETTE is setting the rock world ablaze with their incendiary energy and audacious style. This quintet of teenage renegades channels raw rebellion into a sound that captures the very essence of rock 'n' roll.

Today, the Swedish Punk Rock Band DEVIL'S CIGARETTE proudly release their debut album 'I Wanna Be On TV' via Wild Kingdom Records/Sound Pollution.

To celebrate the release of the album, DEVIL'S CIGARETTE have released a music video for the title track, "I Wanna Be On TV", available for viewing below.

DEVIL'S CIGARETTE brings raw energy and youthful rebellion back to rock 'n' roll, drawing influence from icons like The Stooges, The Beatles, and MC5. Their fast, gritty sound is a fresh take on classic rock, with an edge that appeals to fans young and old. The band has earned a reputation for intense live performances, capturing that same explosive energy in their debut album, 'I Wanna Be On TV'.

Order 'I Wanna Be On TV' HERE

OPETH Streams Visualizers for Song, "§4 ," New Album 'The Last Will & Testament' Out Today

November 22, 2024

The wait is finally over and OPETH's highly anticipated 14th studio album, 'The Last Will & Testament,' is now available worldwide today, November 22, via Moderbolaget // Reigning Phoenix Music! To celebrate this release, the Swedish prog legends are now sharing a visualizer for the song "§4," which can be found below.

Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt comments on the track, "'§4' is an oddball song, just written by instinct. I'm not a clever guy when it comes to writing music. People call us 'thinking man's metal,' I think that's laughable. I listen to music from so many different genres, it's impossible to me to stick to one genre. I find the idea boring to try and belong somewhere, we're a bit all over the place, and I think this song shows our diversity. For '§4' I was inspired by something called 'twelve note music,' which I think is a classical term, where you're supposed to play twelve notes und you cannot repeat a note twice. I heard some of that music by classical pianists playing, and it sounds wicked, it sounds evil, it sounds really strange - so that inspired the initial guitar theme. There's a melodrome theme in the beginning, it just sounds odd, like it doesn't fit in, almost like a free-form jazz solo or something like that. But it quickly kind of lands in an almost traditional metal theme with a common response type death metal vocal that has a stereo double-tracked normal vocal response.

"I can't remember what happened during the writing process, but I reached a point where I just stopped and felt, 'ok, time for something strange!' We ended up with a flute solo by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, which was kind of an accident in a way, because I asked him to do a narration, not flute. As he was doing the spoken word bits, he asked me 'do you need a flute solo?' I was like, 'yes, please!‘, while I didn't really have a part for a flute solo! I had to shuffle through the songs quickly in my head before he would change his mind. I had him on the hook, of course I was gonna find a piece! So, he played almost like a common response type flute solo in '§4.'

"This is a great song with the ending piece being one of the more evil pieces of music I've written in a long time: it sounds really menacing, sick almost!“

Order ‘The Last Will & Testament’: HERE

Opeth's fourteenth album was written by Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). ‘The Last Will & Testament’ was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and Opeth, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of Opeth mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on ‘The Last Will & Testament’ were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting "photograph" reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's infamous "Overlook Hotel" photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, Queen) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flautist and Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson's signature notes fly on "§4" and "§7", he narrates on "§1", "§2", "§4", and "§7". Joining Anderson, Europe's Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on "§2”, while Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1".

‘The Last Will & Testament ‘is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of Opeth's finest material to date. Just as Opeth welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story—this time with growls.

Moreover, OPETH has landed the the cover story for Decibel Magazine's current December 2024issue! The in-depth interview with the band was conducted by journalist Chris Dick while the photos were shot by Ester Segarra. The issue can be found HERE.

After three decades of dazzling the world, Opeth have made their most daring creative leap yet. The Last Will & Testament is a progressive and dramatic triumph, and yet more proof that expecting the unexpected is the only way forward for fans of Sweden’s finest.

“It’s a restless record for me,” concludes Åkerfeldt. “It’s an explosion of ideas, which I like. It’s a bit shorter and snappier. But I definitely didn’t want to rehash anything. The only thing that has come back is some of those death metal screams, but the mindset is still much more forward looking. In typical Opeth fashion, it’s not a direct record that you understand and that you love or hate right away. It takes time and if you put that time into it, you might like it… or hate it! It feels like it was written on a whim. Which it was, in a way! I hear things on this album and think, where the fuck did that come from?”

Lineup:

Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals, guitars

Fredrik Åkesson – Guitars, backing vocals

Martin Mendez – Bass guitar

Waltteri Väyrynen – Drums and percussion

Joakim Svalberg – Keyboards, backing vocals

Special Guests:

Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) - spoken word (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7) // flute (tracks 4, 7)

Joey Tempest (Europe) - backing vocals (track 2)

Mirjam Åkerfeldt - spoken word (track 1)

All Music and Lyrics written by Mikael Åkerfeldt

Lyrical concept by Mikael Åkerfeldt, dramatic consultation by Klara Rönnqvist Fors

Produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt

Co-produced by Opeth and Stefan Boman

Engineered by Stefan Boman, Joe Jones and Opeth

Mixing by Stefan Boman and Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe, Stockholm, Sweden

Mastering and vinyl lacquer cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road studios, London, UK

Strings conducted by Dave Stewart at Angel Studios, London, UK

Strings arrangement by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Dave Stewart

Drum technicalities by Kit Cunningham

Artwork by Travis Smith with directions from Mikael Åkerfeldt

Biography by Dom Lawson

About Reigning Phoenix Music

Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme, hard, and heavy music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists, by offering best services and practices in the industry. But most important is to help the artists amplify their art and talent to a winning formula for success!

Escuela Grind's 'Dreams on Algorithms' vinyl comes with a free gift

November 21, 2024

Massachusetts metal band Escuela Grind has released its new LP, ' Dreams on Algorithms', via MNRK Heavy (High on Fire, Slomosa).
Recorded at Salem, Massachusetts' GodCity studio with Converge's Kurt Ballou, and mastered by Nick Townsend (Dr. Dre, Betty Davis) the record is the highly anticipated follow-up to Escuela Grind 's celebrated 2022 full-length debut, 'Memory Theater', a recording hailed as "an opus of extremity" by The New York Times.
ORDER / STREAM 'DREAMS ON ALGORITHMS'

Atmospheric Black Metal Four-Piece GRIMA Announces New Studio Album, 'Nightside', out February 28, 2025!

November 20, 2024

With 10 years of experience behind them, Siberian atmospheric black metal legion GRIMA will release their sixth album and Napalm Records debut, 'Nightside', on February 28, 2025. After several shows across Europe, including some with fast-rising German death metal force Kanonenfieber, GRIMA are set to honor the spirit of the Siberian Forest, Taiga, with their impending next chapter. . In addition to their unforgettable sound echoing the mesmerizing cold of the Siberian evening wilderness, the band’s eerie, piercing look – towering like living trees with intimidating carved wooden masks and branched fingers – adds another haunting element to their brutal yet beautiful output.

Alongside the album announcement, GRIMA present their first output and reveal the new single “Skull Gatherers”, an atmospheric and haunting black metal track that conjures powerful imagery of inevitability, cold, and eternal slumber. “Skull Gatherers” is underlined with a bewitching official music video and serves as a perfect soundtrack for the gray season.

GRIMA on “Skull Gatherers”:

“'Skull Gatherers' tells the story of the Skull Gatherers, particularly devoted servants of GRIMA, who are dedicated to harvesting trophies from the bodies of the deceased and weaving them into an endless collection. Each lyric and chord resonate with the somber silence and chill of the earth, the final resting place for those who have found peace in the Taiga. The song transcends listeners into a realm of nocturnal shadows, rugged nature, and mysticism – the perfect soundtrack for those prepared to confront what lies beyond the boundary between life and death.”

Watch the Official Music Video for “Skull Gatherers”

The brand-new single, “Skull Gatherers”, is constructed with folk instruments such as the Russian accordion bayan, but GRIMA also incorporate death metal-like growls into their delivery on “Impending Death Premonition”. While fans of their dark, deep, and melancholic sound can look forward to tales like in “Flight Of The Silver Storm” and “The Nightside”, GRIMA also showcase focused effort and skill on the album’s more brief, accessible offerings. “Beyond The Dark Horizon” and “Curse Of The Void” are as dreamy and complex as their big brothers, but also satisfy as more direct black metal anthems. With their mysterious visual aura and intriguing sound inspired by the unforgiving nature around them, GRIMA continue to prove themselves as an unmissable band to watch within the genre with their new album 'Nightside'.

GRIMA about the album:

“GRIMA is a secretive cult devoted to an ancient, long-forgotten Siberian forest deity, lying in wait, shrouded within the endless embrace of the Taiga. Our music is a ritual of reverence to the ancient magic of the forest, an endless dance of mysterious entities and ancient spirits, a beautiful and terrifying legend cloaked in the form of Siberian Atmospheric Black Metal. 'Nightside' is a mysterious and melodic recording, infused with the mesmerizing cold of the Siberian night wilderness—brutal, yet equally beautiful and irresistibly alluring. A mysterious nocturnal land where winds slam the shutters of cabins in abandoned villages, guiding stars only lead you deeper into the silver storm, and a dead man is knocking his claw on an ancient pine, counting down the remaining time of yet another lost.”

Pre-order your copy of 'Nightside' NOW

Mixing, mastering, and helming 'Nightside’s harsh, powerful but also clear-as-an-icicle sound is black metal-experienced producer Vladimir Lehtinen. The two driving forces behind the band’s unique sound, Vilhelm and Morbius, both deliver different aspects of the band’s impactful, massive guitar riffs, leads and melodies, while Vilhelm also soars as the voice of the woods. Guest musicians Vlad (drums) and Serpentum (guitars) also join the fold both in studio and on stage.

GRIMA are:

Vilhelm - vocals, guitars

Morbius - guitars

KREATOR - Release Digital Album, "Live in Chile" + Full Video Of 2023 Show

November 20, 2024

The mighty KREATOR have released a digital album and full video stream of their monumental live performance at Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile, which was held and recorded on April 23rd, 2023.

Fans can relive the mayhem and massive circle pits that erupted throughout the night, showcasing the raw energy that only KREATOR and their Chilean Hordes can command.

With Live In Chile you can experience one of the world's most renowned extreme metal bands rip through a breathtaking, career-spanning set full of fan favourites and songs from their most recent album, Hate Über Alles, proving that they're still at the very top of their game.

Almost coinciding with the release, KREATOR's European co-headline tour with US thrash legends ANTHRAX and guests, TESTAMENT, kicks off Thursday, November 21st. Tickets are still available for some of the shows. Scroll down for all dates.

LISTEN TO KREATOR - LIVE IN CHILE:
https://kreator.bfan.link/liclp

WATCH KREATOR - LIVE IN CHILE Below:

ABOUT KREATOR

Decades into their game-changing career, German metal legends Kreator find themselves more successful and influential than ever. They’ve stuck to their guns, weathered the trends and outlasted their peers – never once wavering from the ferocious noise that excited them as teens. If anything, that thirst for sonic warfare is just as strong, if not stronger, today. Where others have suffered from creative malnourishment and artistic uncertainty, something which even metal’s biggest and best are prone to, Kreator have always charged full steam ahead – thanks to the red-eyed conviction and fearless determination of founding singer and guitarist Miland ‘Mille’ Petrozza. On 1985 debut Endless Pain, the Essen innovators created the template for extreme noise to come, fusing elements of thrash and black metal in ways that had never been heard before. Their sophomore album of the following year, Pleasure To Kill, became one of the landmark albums of 1986 – making metal history alongside key releases from Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth. And onwards they marched, bringing hellish anthems to the masses in every album that followed, with a track record few could ever rival.

The last decade has been a particularly exciting time for the group, with 2012’s Phantom Antichrist proving how they could embrace modern production techniques and move with the times without forsaking the underground spirit and defiance which made them a household name in the first place. Its successor, 2017’s Gods Of Violence, saw them topping the German charts for the very first time in their career, a feat virtually unheard for a band of such thunderous intensity.

They returned in 2022 with fifteenth opus Hate Über Alles – which marked their first studio album with Frédéric Leclercq (ex-Dragonforce, Sinsaenum) on bass, joining Mille, guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö and drummer Jürgen ‘Ventor’ Reil – the metal titans are once again channelling an unholy heaviness strong enough to tilt the earth off-axis.

UK Black Metal Standouts THE INFERNAL SEA Release Deluxe, Reimagined Version of 'Hellfenlic'

November 18, 2024

As UK black metal luminaries THE INFERNAL SEA launch their European tour in France tonight, the band have also unleashed the deluxe edition of their acclaimed 2024 album 'Hellfenlic'. Titled 'Hellfenlic Deluxe (Reincarnated Evil)', this expanded version is now available through Candlelight, offering fans a deeper dive into the band’s unrelenting darkness.

Originally released in January, this enhanced version takes each track to new, reinterpreted heights, offering fresh arrangements that reimagine the original compositions. With every song reworked, 'Hellfenlic' in its deluxe form challenges listeners to approach the album from a completely different perspective, inviting them to rediscover its dark intricacies in a whole new light.

To celebrate the release of 'Hellfenlic Deluxe (Reincarnated Evil)', THE INFERNAL SEAhave also released a brand new visualizer for "Black Witchery (Curse of The Coven Remix by Nekravol".

Watch the Visualizer for "Black Witchery"

(Curse of The Coven Remix by Nekravol) Below.

THE INFERNAL SEA draw from a vast musical palette, influenced by a wide array of genres, including electronic and industrial. Having come of age in the 90s, they were immersed in a time when metal bands were boldly crossing genre lines, experimenting with new sounds and styles. Acts like Fear Factory and White Zombie were at the forefront, pushing the boundaries of their art and creating genre-defying remix albums that shattered conventions and expanded the possibilities of what metal could be.

THE INFERNAL SEA comments on the deluxe album:

"Our goal was to imagine how these songs might have sounded if someone else had shaped them – to explore the possibilities of an alternate vision. These reimagined tracks aren’t meant to replace the originals; far from it. Instead, they’re designed to challenge listeners, encouraging them to approach 'Hellfenlic' from fresh perspectives and discover new layers within the music.

"It's been highly satisfying if not mind-bending to hear other people's takes on these tracks, in a genre where you almost never see this happen. There is a wide range of sounds, influences and flavours on offer here all while staying true to the intent of the original songs, infernal gratitude to all who gave their most precious time to this unusual project."

Stream 'Hellfenlic Deluxe (Reincarnated Evil)' HERE

THE INFERNAL SEA have been a plague on this Earth since 2011, composing fierce and terrifying black metal from the Fenlands of England, conjuring compelling tales of English & European history throughout the Medieval period.

Over several releases, THE INFERNAL SEA have solidified their reputation as black metal wraiths—enigmatic and elusive, their true identities obscured by plague doctor-inspired masks and shadowy shrouds. In January 2024, they released 'Hellfenlic', a ferocious new album whose title, derived from Old English, translates to "a Fen of Hell." The record delivered eight tracks of seething, raw black 'n' roll fury, continuing the band's unrelenting assault on the senses. 'Hellfenlic' follows their trio of studio albums — 'Negotium Crucis' (2020), 'The Great Mortality' (2016), and 'Call of the Augur' (2012), further cementing their place as one of the genre's most powerful and uncompromising forces.

THE INFERNAL SEA have continued to elevate their live performances with a terrifying and captivating ritualistic stage show, enthralling audiences wherever they may roam. This has included performances at key UK festivals such as Bloodstock Festival, Incineration Festival, Damnation Festival, A Night of Salvation, Reaper Fest, Cosmic Void as well as a whole host of key support slots to bands such as Anaal Nathrakh, 1349, Taake, Napalm Death, Akercocke, Nargaroth, Primordial, Hellripper, Tsjuder, Mork, Rotting Christ, Hulder, Strigoi, Abigail Williams, Arch Enemy and many more.

Continuing to captivate audiences with their electrifying, raw live performances, THE INFERNAL SEA kick off their European headline tour in France today.

Iodine Recordings to Reissue Six Going on Seven's Classic "Heartbreak's Got Backbeat"

November 16, 2024

Heartbreak's Got Backbeat is the sophomore album from Boston-based indie rock/emo band Six Going On Seven. It's long been out of print — for 25 years.

Until now, courtesy of your friends at Iodine Recordings, the label which continues to re-introduce beloved and hard-to-find titles on vinyl to a diehards as well as a new generation of fans. The label remains a caretaker of fan favorites from the early '00s, and before and after.

The album is now available digitally, while the physical release of Heartbreak's Got Backbeat arrives on February 5 of next year. Get it here.

Often referred to as a "band's band," Six Going on Seven came up alongside many of the household names that set the tone for the era: Jimmy Eat World, Hot Water Music, and The Get Up Kids.

6GO7 sharied the stage with the aforementioned band and many others. Originally released on Some Records in 1999 and produced by Brian McTernan at Salad Days Studio (Hot Water Music, Cave In), the album is being presented on a limited-edition vinyl pressing with all new artwork and remastered by Jack Shirley (Quicksand, Joyce Manor) at The Atomic Garden.

"'Let's take the long way 'round, turn right here. Go down this hill we can leave the car at Cathedral Park Pier...,'" so begins the first track of our second record. This, an homage to roots in St. Johns (Portland, OR) and more specifically, my childhood home, first love and the push/pull of moving on and paying tribute to the things that shape us," says vocalist/bassist Joshua English. "It's a perfect representation of what we were/are/will be as a trio, 3:05 of bass/drums/guitar and nostalgia..."

SIX GOING ON SEVEN WERE:
Joshua English — Vocals + Bass
James Bransford — Guitar
Will Bartlett — Drums

San Francisco's AURSJOEN releases debut 'Strand' EP (ethereal / post-punk)

November 15, 2024

San Francisco-based ethereal artist AURSJOEN presents her debut 'Strand' EP, released via Stratis Capta Records and produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Mephisto Waltz, Christian Death) at 13 Studio in Chicago.

AURSJOEN is the project of Ria Aursjoen, who is vocalist and keyboardist for critically acclaimed post-punk outfit Octavian Winters, whose 2023 debut EP 'The Line or Curve' was followed by 2024's double A-side single 'Nebula / Velveteen' with electronic legend Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated). A classically-trained singer and multi-instrumentalist, her musical past is steeped in genres ranging from Celtic and Nordic folk to darkwave and progressive metal.

This music is lush, layered and sweepingly cinematic. This dynamic slice of ethereal gothica is dark and light in equal measure. Octavian Winters bandmate Stephan Bryan Salit contributes atmospheric guitars on two songs. While Aursjoen’s voice and composition are distinctly recognizable and unique, the performances and sweeping arrangements somewhat recall Faith’s work with Faith and the Muse.

"The title 'Strand' holds two meanings, first being something that is spun or drawn off of something larger, like a strand of hair or a strand of a web. There is a sense that it is not only a piece of a larger whole, but also that it has its own emerging existence, reaching outward and beyond. The word “strand” also means beach in Danish. A beach marks the boundary of one’s defined world; it is a place to gaze out, to dream of possibilities and adventures to come, a point of departure for journeys to new places," explains Ria Aursjoen.

These ideas all relate to this collection of work as AURSJOEN, which heralds Ria Aursjoen’s emergence in a new direction, without leaving behind her ongoing work with Octavian Winters.

She adds, “This record is very special for me, as this is the first time I have had free creative rein to release work that is entirely my own. I have always enjoyed collaborating with other musicians, but I had built up a huge amount of my own material that had nowhere to go. This collection includes a piece written 10 years ago ('Apollo') and one written on the spot in the studio ('Strand'). It’s very exciting and fulfilling for me to bring all that together into one package. The listening arc of this EP represents many different times of life for me. William Faith and I have woven everything together with a recognizable sound that has continuity as well as variety.”

In the lead up to this EP, Aursjoen shared the second single 'For Want Of', offering a glimpse into her versatility as an artist and keeping with the cinematic orchestration found in her ethereal debut 'Nytår'. Sensual and mystical, both beauties nod to her Scandinavian ancestry. Both songs are accompanied by a haunting video created by filmmaker David Kruschke.

"What I really love is to create music that is more than the sum of its parts, where the interplay (either harmonically or rhythmically) between different motifs gives birth to something extra, something “meta” that you can’t predict or engineer. I think those two states of feeling did that in my life too… a different self, a new era was born for me out of that ice and fire," says Ria Aursjoen.

As someone who has synesthesia, a rare neurodiverse condition in which senses overlap, Aursjoen experiences sound as visual structures, colours and textures. As a child, she wrote her musical ideas down in a unique system of notation she created, based around her visual perceptions of music. Ria Aursjoen is also a published writer and visual artist, having won two national art competitions by the age of eight and illustrated a children’s book. She creates much of Octavian Winters’ artwork and currently works with inks and parchment velum to create palimpsest-style art.

As of November 15, the 'Strand' EP is out everywhere and is available for pre-order, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
All songs written & performed by Ria Aursjoen
Arranged by Ria Aursjoen and William Faith
Guitars on 'Lilypad' & 'Apollo' by Stephan Bryan Salit
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago
Published by Airdaughter Music BMI
Released by Stratis Capta Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
'Nytår' and 'For Want Of' videos by David Kruschke
Cover artwork by Ria Aursjoen

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

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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IMPELLITTERI Shares New Single "Hell On Earth" + Music Video

November 9, 2024

Renowned metal group IMPELLITTERI have unveiled an enthralling new single, "Hell On Earth". The track is taken from the band's brand new album 'War Machine', out now via Frontiers Music Srl. This electrifying song is accompanied by a music video, which you can view below.

"Hell On Earth" takes the band into pure metal territory with a killer riff, highly energetic vocals, an anthemic chorus, aggressive rhythm section, and illustrious guitar soloing, all of which have become a staple of the IMPELLITTERI sound.

About the new track and its video, Chris stated,

“I think ‘Hell On Earth’ shows that we always strive to write a great riff and great song long before any solo or screaming vocal is created! On ‘Hell on Earth’ I had this really fun addictive riff that just allowed everyone in the band to shine. It was amazing how powerful the song sounded when we first played it together…. The music really inspired an interesting lyric and amazing vocal performance from Rob Rock!

The band and I are humbled by all the love we have been getting from our newly released music videos and singles so far!“

With legions of fans worldwide, IMPELLITTERI is known for exciting music, addictive riffs, and mesmerizing melodies. New album 'War Machine' features guitar hero Chris Impellitteri’s guitar virtuosity and lead singer Rob Rock’s vocal range powered by the incredible rhythmic foundation of bassist James Pulli, and former Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph.

With 'War Machine,' the IMPELLITTERI band presents a mind-blowing, highly energetic, and thrilling new musical adventure.

Watch the Video for "Hell On Earth" Below

To date, IMPELLITTERI has sold 2 million+ records worldwide and has performed on the same stages as Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Journey, and more. The band has been featured on multiple magazine covers, television, radio, and internet shows. In its glorious past, IMPELLITTERI was also featured on MTV, VH1, and Headbangers Ball.

Chris Impellitteri is an iconic guitar player and a huge inspiration for many players. He has been named one of the fastest guitar players of all time by magazines like Guitar One and Guitar World, while Burrn! Japan, voted Chris as the best rock guitarist. In 2023, Impellitteriwas inducted into the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame.

'War Machine' delivers one of the band's best albums to date. From the opening riff of the title track to songs like today's “Out Of Mind (Heavy Metal)” or “Hell On Earth”, the album is a manifest of bone-crushing riffs, hyper-technical solos, and anthemic choruses.

Chris on the album:

“This new album has been an absolute thrill to make with my friends Rob Rock, James Pulli, Paul Bostaph, and our engineers Mike Plotnikoff, Jun Murakawa, and Jacob Hansen!

"This music expresses where we are today as a band emotionally and technically! This is probably the most sincere album we have made because we just played music that moved us emotionally without chasing any trends or other bands. We definitely played our asses off! And so, I truly hope everyone gets a chance to listen to this new album and rock with us!! I am looking forward to touring behind this album!!"

Order 'War Machine' HERE

IMPELLITTERI are:

Chris Impellitteri : Lead Guitarist

Rob Rock : Vocalist

James Pulli : Bassist

Paul Bostaph: Drummer

Produced By : Chris Impellitteri

Studio: NRG Recording studios , Studio B

Recorded By: Mike Plotnikoff, Jun Murakawa

Mixed & Mastered: Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios

Heavy // Hitter Drop "Heaven's Gate" Video — WATCH // EP Out NOW

November 9, 2024

Orlando, Florida juggernauts HEAVY//HITTER — Austin Hayes [vocals], Dane Loeprich [guitar], Chris Perez [bass], and Josh Archeval [drums] —dropped their new EP, Moments of Misery, November 8, via Blue Grape Music. Get it here.

The band has also shared the video for "Heaven's Gate." Watch it below.

The high impact, black and white performance video, courtesy of Lawnchair Youth, will leave you wanting to to fight your way to the front of the pit at the next Heavy // Hitter show in your town.

"This song is about living your life the way you think is right because you're trying to get to your own personal gateway of heaven," says Hayes. "So, you're going to do anything you can to reach that point and feel like you're worthy of this prize at the end. Everybody wants a slice of heaven."

HEAVY//HITTER will be touring throughout the fall, with headline dates and a trek in support of Carnifex and Cryptopsy on deck. All confirmed dates are below.

HEAVY//HITTER are, have always been, and always will be... unabashedly and undeniably real.

Since 2019, the band have buzzed as an underground upstart. They bulldozed a path with the Street Violence EP in 2021. They picked up plugs from Lambgoat, Lawnchair Youth, and more. Between packing houses live, they caught the attention of Blue Grape Music and signed to the label.

Unwavering drive, hustle, and a committed grind brought them to this point.

"Before I started this band, I quit music for five years," says Austin. "I tried to go to college. I was a general manager at Domino's Pizza. I did construction. Nothing was fulfilling, so I got back into music and started HEAVY//HITTER  with Dane. I just never gave up on this band. We always want more, and we’re not going to stop."

The band decamped to Los Angeles where they recorded Moments of Misery with producer Austin Coupe. Inspired by the likes of Suicide Silence, Knocked Loose, and Carnifex, they refined an "OG deathcore sound with newer hardcore and metalcore elements," according to the fontman.

Ultimately, HEAVY//HITTER hold nothing back.

"When you listen to us, I hope you feel the emotion we put into the record. That's what music is about. We're not a machine. We're human and honest," Hayes shares.

What more could you want from a band?

HEAVY//HITTER ON TOUR:
HEADLINE DATES:
11/8 — Augusta, GA — Grantski Records
11/14 — Orlando, FL — Will's Pub (Hometown Release Show)

ABOUT BLUE GRAPE MUSIC:
In 2022, industry veterans David Rath and Cees Wessels formed Blue Grape Music. The name will be familiar to rock music fans, as it was the merchandise company also launched by Wessels, who founded the venerable and esteemed record label Roadrunner Records in the '80s. Roadrunner earned a reputation as an iconic label that turned hard rock and metal acts into household names for several decades under Wessels' tutelage. Rath spent 21 years in the A&R department at Roadrunner, working on albums by a variety of RIAA-certified and culturally important acts, including but not limited to Slipknot, Korn, Turnstile, Gojira, Coheed and Cambria, White Reaper, Slash, Trivium, Dream Theater, and more. When the label changed management and ownership, Rath guided the company and oversaw the signings of bands like Young the Giant and Vance Joy. Ultimately, the Blue Grape executive team is powered by experience and a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-your-hands-dirty, by-any-means-necessary work ethic. Blue Grape's inaugural signing was the two-time Grammy nominee Code Orange and since then, the label has gone on to sign San Francisco punks Spiritual Cramp, hardcore heavyweights GEL, and Baltimore sludge slingers GASKET, with several new signing announcements expected to be announced this year. Blue Grape is distributed globally by The Orchard.

Portland's SUN ATOMS release 'Everything Forever' album feat. guests from MODEST MOUSE, THE VANDELLES & more

November 9, 2024

Portland psychedelic gaze-wave outfit Sun Atoms present their sophomore album 'Everything Forever', released on November 8 via Little Cloud Records. Meticulously crafted with cosmic energy, their magnum opus features notable guest appearances by Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock, Jasno Swarez of The Vandelles, and Lauren Andino of Tremours, amongst others. This sophomore album realizes the promise that was there in the debut not only musically, but in a sacred sense. This album gets between the ears, then heads south down past the brain and into the heart.

Sun Atoms is made up of vocalist Jsun Atoms (The Upsidedown, Daydream Machine), producer and bassist Peter G. Holmström (The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport), multi- instrumentalist June Kang, saxophonist-trumpeter- guitarist Mars de Ponte (LoveBomb Go-Go), drummer Eric Rubalcava and guitarist Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez (Hi Hazel).

Homström and iconic mixing engineer Jagz Kooner had just finished The Dandy Warhols' latest album, generating an extraordinary symbiosis. Credited with creating some of the most genre-defining songs of the last 30 years, Kooner began his career working with Andrew Weatherall, remixing and producing for the likes of Bjork, The Chemical Brothers and New Order, as well as mixing for Primal Scream, Massive Attack, Oasis, Garbage and Killing Joke. With Pete producing and Jagz mixing in one of the great marvels of prehistoric Britain (Avebury Henge) at Jagz's Stone Circles Studios, the pair pushed the sonic envelope into the great abyss. The coup de grace was having Keith Tenniswood (Spiritualized, Death in Vegas) master the album at Curve Pusher UK.

Last week, the band shared the surreal, psychedelic fever dream of a video for 'Narco Polo' featuring Isaac Brock of Modest Mouse, which Jsun Atoms says "feels like a dada ice cream party inside a Salvador Dali painting". Holmström and Brock have been friends and collaborators for years, and Sun Atoms recently supported Modest Mouse for some West Coast shows. Earlier in 2024, Sun Atoms released the lead single 'Ceiling Tiles' with Leonard Cohen tribute 'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)', and fantastic sonic odyssey 'Take This Love' with B-side 'And The Lion Saw The UFO'.

A genre-defying fusion of psychedelic rock and indie pop, Sun Atoms push the boundaries of their own sonic exploration. Their debut album 'Let There Be Light' (2021). mixed by producer Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries), also involvedThe Black Angels’ Alex Maas,The Vandelles' Jasno SwarezandGregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, Blitzen Trapper).

This year, Sun Atoms played a series of sold-out concerts with Dinosaur Jr., crowning the list of shows they have played with Fishbone, Modest Mouse, Federale, Besnard Lakes, The Veldt, New Candys and TREMOURS. They've also shared the stage with the likes of Ty Segall, A Place To Bury Strangers, Neko Case, Built To Spill. Allah Las, Broncho and Night Beats.

As of November 8, 'Everything Forever' is out everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered on vinyl directly from Little Cloud Records. Sun Atoms has several upcoming concerts in Portland and Seattle, accompanied by The Veldt, Asteroid #4, Los Mundos and Valley Suns, capping off the year with The Dandy Warhols 30th Anniversary show (with LSD & The Search For God and TREMOURS) in Portland on December 11.

ALBUM CREDITS
Written & performed by Sun Atoms
Produced & Engineered by Peter G. Holmström at Air Traffic Control
Additional drums recorded by Gregg Williams at The Trench Studio
Lead vocals & Track 1 recorded by Tommy Dietrick / Joshua Tree Recording Studio
Isaac Brock vocals on Track 5 recorded at his Ice Cream Party studio
Initial tracking by Eric Crespo at Red Lantern Studios
Mixed by Jagz Kooner at Stone Circle Studios (Avebury, England)
Mastered by Keith Tenniswood at Curve Pusher (Hastings, England)
Sequencing by James Scott at Populist Recording
Jsun Atoms - vocals, guitar
June Kang - MPC, synths, percussion
Derek Spencer Longoria Gomez - guitar, vocals
Mars de Ponte - guitar, keys, vocals, horns
Eric Rubalcava - drums, percussion
Peter G. Holmström - bass, guitar, sequencers, keys, xylophone
Gregg Williams – hand drums on Tracks 4,5
Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) – vocals on Track 5
Allison Green (The Black Doors) additional vocals on Tracks 1,7
Jasno Swarez (The Vandelles) additional vocals on Tracks 6,8
Lauren Andino (TREMOURS) - additional vocals on Track 6
Maria Atoms – additional vocals on Track 7
Album cover by James Coffman. Layout by Sea Gothman
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

CONCERTS
Nov. 09 PORTLAND - Show Bar at Revolution Hall (with The Veldt, Asteroid #4 & Los Mundos)
Nov. 16 SEATTLE - Belltown Yacht Club (with Valley Suns)
Dec. 11 PORTLAND - McMenamins Mission Theater (with LSD & The Search For God & TREMOURS) - Little Cloud Records Showcase for The Dandy Warhols 30th Anniversary
Feb. 1 PORTLAND - The Get Down (with Elephant Stone & Asteroid No. 4)

Keep up with Sun Atoms
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify | BandsInTown | SongKick | Booking contact | Press contact

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

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Cocteau Twins legend Robin Guthrie presents new 'Astoria' EP, second of two EPs in 2024

November 9, 2024

Following up his luminous 'Atlas' EP, released this summer, legendary Scottish songsmith Robin Guthrie is back to kiss off 2024 with his new 'Astoria' EP, released via his Soleil Après Minuit imprint. Delivering another four powerful and captivating instrumentals recorded earlier this year, 'Astoria' takes further inspiration from his post-pandemic travels and produced in his studio in Bretagne.

A rich crucible of sound packed into four tracks, Guthrie takes the listener on a peaceful and contemplative journey of dreamy and atmospheric instrumentals. Like a Part 1 and Part 2 of his 2024 output, 'Astoria' and 'Atlas' represent Guthrie's first output since 2021, a prolific year that marked the end of a nine-year hiatus with the release of his 'Pearldiving' album and three EP's - 'Mockingbird Love', 'Riviera' and ' Springtime'.

“My EP 'Astoria' picks up where my release 'Atlas' had set off towards - a conclusion of a journey, like an arrival at a far-off destination. I enjoy the continuity, and the EP format allows me to express these ideas in an episodic form," says Robin Guthrie.

Nearly 45 years since founding legendary dreampop / ethereal wave band Cocteau Twins, Robin Guthrie has certainly been its most prolific member, offering a steady and stellar stream of material over the years with a production style and signature guitar sounds that have shaped multiple genres and generations.

Guthrie's approach to music is akin to that of a painter or a photographer. The adept use of light and shade, melody and counter melody, the carefully and precisely arranged instrumentation, musical textures and colorings gives his music a depth and level of detail which marks a master craftsman.

In his time, Guthrie's output includes film soundtracks and collaborated with many outstanding people, the latest impactful release happening with 2021's 'Another Flower' with Harold Budd, released just a few days before Budd's untimely passing. They had also jointly composed the film scores for Gregg Araki's ‘Mysterious Skin’and ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’. Other notable collaborators include John Foxx, Mark Gardener, Telefon Tel-Aviv, Eraldo Bernocchi and Jay Jay Johanson.

He has produced and remixed countless artists, including Lush, The Veldt, A.R.Kane, Dif Juz, Chapterhouse, Felt, Mahogany and Violet Indiana, which he'd formed with Siobhan de Maré in 1999. More recently, Guthrie worked with Heligoland, Jack Colwell, Resplandor, Fawns of Love, Ummagma, Hatchie and Tam aryn.

The 'Astoria' EP is out now, available on CD and also digitally from fine platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where Guthrie's rich back catalogue can also be found. Released via Soleil Après Minuit, the EP is distributed in North America via The Orchard and in Europe by Cargo.

THE TRAGICALLY HIP CAP OFF 40TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR WITH DELUXE BOXSET

November 8, 2024

Today, The Tragically Hip digitally releases the commemorative boxset of their Diamond-certified debut album, Up To Here, the latest installment of special deluxe packages. Up To Here was originally released September 5, 1989, as The Tragically Hip’s first full-length studio album, an introduction that brought them breakthrough success, including two Canadian rock radio #1 singles, “Blow at High Dough” and “New Orleans is Sinking.” The album also earned the band a JUNO Award for “Most Promising Artist” in 1990.

The expanded reissue of Up To Here is a must-have for collectors, presented as a four-LP set on 180g vinyl, alongside liner notes documenting the history of the debut album era. The reissue includes a 2024 remastering of the original album and five previously unreleased songs that didn’t make it on the original Up To Here album - “She’s Got What It Takes,” “Get Back Again,” “Rain, Hearts And Fire,” “Hailstone Hands Of God,” and “Wait So Long” are also shared as part of this expanded package, remastered and mixed in Atmos. A recording of Live at Misty Moon, the special filmed for MuchMusic in 1990 from the Misty Moon Cabaret in Halifax, is also included, with an accompanying 1-hour concert film on Blu-ray. The package also contains demos from 1988 that were recorded prior to the Up To Here recording session. The four-LP box set, as well as a three-disc CD format, will be released on Friday, November 15. Fans can order Up To Here HERE today via UMe.

In June, The Tragically Hip officially dropped the new single “Get Back Again,” which fans consider to be the holy grail of previously unreleased tracks from the band. The track was recorded before signing to their first major record deal with MCA (now Universal Music Canada), produced by Chris Wardman in November 1988, before the Up To Here sessions, now remixed and mastered to today’s standards. The song recently reached #1 in Canada, marking their first chart-topping hit in 15 years. The band performed “Get Back Again” as part of the Live At Misty Moon set in 1990, which had been the only recorded version of the track from the band until now.

THE TRAGICALLY HIP IN 2024:
2024 marked the band’s 40th anniversary, which included physical releases (boxset featuring unreleased tracks, also available on DSPs and radio), fan-centric activations (Record Store Day, in-person screenings, listening parties, and public singalongs), the global premiere of a docuseries, a coffee table book in partnership with Genesis Publications, new merch, dedicated support at radio, streaming platforms, syncs, and social media campaigns.

The celebration kicked off in March when fans were teased with the upcoming coffee table book, This Is Our Life. In April, the band was tapped as the Canadian Record Store Day Ambassadors and released exclusive vinyl from their 1993 performance at NYC’s iconic CBGBs.

On August 8th, the band’s hit “Ahead By A Century” was featured in The Umbrella Academy on Netflix. The next day, Prime Video’s trailer was released, leading to a 138% spike in Shazam searches in one day.

No Dress Rehearsal, directed by Mike Downie (brother of the late Gord Downie, lead singer of the band), opened the Toronto International Film Festival in September, where it won the People’s Choice Documentary Award, the first time a series received this honor in the festival’s history. Following the premiere, a massive public singalong of the band’s hits took place in downtown Toronto, attended by fans. The series received rave reviews from Rolling Stone Magazine, SPIN Magazine, NPR, BBC, and others. It also had additional screenings at film festivals and won the 25th Anniversary Audience Award for Top Overall Score at the Calgary International Film Festival.

40 YEARS OF THE TRAGICALLY HIP:
The Tragically Hip has been at the heart of the Canadian musical zeitgeist, evoking a strong, unrivalled emotional connection between their music and their fans. A five-piece group of friends including Rob Baker (guitar), Gord Downie (vocals, guitar), Johnny Fay (drums), Paul Langlois (guitar) and Gord Sinclair (bass), who grew up in Kingston, Ontario, The Tragically Hip have achieved both mass popularity with more than 12 million albums in Canada and over 2 million sold in the U.S, as well as peer recognition through 17 Juno Awards – picking up the distinguished Humanitarian Award in 2021 at the 50th annual JUNO Awards, which recognizes Canadian artists or industry leaders whose humanitarian contributions have positively enhanced the social fabric of Canada and beyond. In 2022, they were inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame for Humanitarianism in pursuit of social and environmental justice. They had previously received a star on the Walk Of Fame in 2002 for Arts & Entertainment. Most recently, the band, along with their manager, Jake Gold, received the War Child Canada Founder’s Award, celebrating over 20 years of support for the global humanitarian organization. The Tragically Hip's tireless activism and philanthropic pursuits have raised millions of dollars for multiple social and environmental causes, such as Camp Trillium, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Sunnybrook Foundation, WAR Child, the Special Olympics, and the Unison Benevolent Fund. Their studio catalogue includes their self-titled debut album The Tragically Hip (1987), Up To Here (1989), Road Apples (1991), Fully Completely (1992), Day For Night (1994), Trouble At The Henhouse (1996), Phantom Power (1998), Music @ Work (2000), In Violet Light (2002), In Between Evolution (2004), World Container (2006), We Are The Same (2009), Now For Plan A (2012), Man Machine Poem (2016) and Saskadelphia (2021). A National Celebration was the final show of The Tragically Hip’s Man Machine Poem Tour, recorded on August 20th, 2016, at the K-Rock Centre in their hometown of Kingston, Ontario, and is their last performance as a five-piece band. Through their career, the band became a cultural touchstone in Canada, who, despite their accolades and numerous recognitions, will always be proudest of the humanitarian work they have done over the years through numerous charitable organizations and causes. The legacy of the band's frontman, the late Gord Downie, continues with The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, which aims to build cultural understanding and create a path toward reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples.

Established in 1984, 2024 marks 40 Years of The Tragically Hip – a milestone for the beloved band. The Tragically Hip broke open the archives, reminiscing with fans on four decades of music, friendship, and philanthropy. The band’s legacy is being honored with a yearlong celebration, which started with the designation of the Record Store Day Canada Ambassadors, the launch of a four-part Amazon Prime Documentary titled No Dress Rehearsal, which won The People’s Choice Award at TIFF, and the 25th Anniversary audience award for top overall score at CIFF. On October 1, in partnership with Genesis Publications, they released a deluxe, hand-crafted book titled This Is Our Life, the band’s story as told in their own words and features more than 300 pages of unseen rarities pulled from the band’s personal collections. The Up To Here boxset celebrates the early days of The Tragically Hip and is the latest installment of a series of reissues released over the last few years honoring the band’s extensive catalog – Road Apples 30th Anniversary Deluxe Boxset (2021), Fully Completely Vinyl Release (2022), Phantom Power 25th Anniversary Deluxe Boxset (2023).

Ray Hawthorne Returns with Humor & Heartbreak: “Ray Hawthorne Sucks” Out Now!

November 7, 2024

Defying expectations, Ray Hawthorne has returned - breaking new ground with humor and self-deprecation with the release of his latest album, "Ray Hawthorne Sucks." Known for his bold and emotive style, Hawthorne takes an unexpected, playful turn with Muppet-inspired elements scattered throughout the album, adding a surreal twist that injects levity into his cathartic lyrics. Fans can dive into to the new album HERE and pick up a limited-edition vinyl HERE.

Alongside today's long-awaited album release, Hawthorne has dropped the music video for "Flatline", a cinematic nod to his debut single,"EMERGENCY (feat. Kellin Quinn)." Set once again in the iconic bedroom that started it all, the video for "Flatline" is a treasure trove of Easter eggs that tell a layered story of his evolution all while featuring Muppet-inspired antics. Fans can watch the bittersweet new video below.

Speaking on today's video release, Ray Hawthorne shares:

"The Flatline music video is like your favorite rom-com if all the characters were actually puppets, and instead of falling in love they do drugs. No matter what you were expecting the Flatline music video to be, I can guarantee this was not it. Also, Kermit only showed up for the orgy scene. What a diva."

Furthering his excitement of his new album release, Ray continues:

"Are you looking for some random guy to spill his heart into mediocre pop punk music? Then THIS is the album for you! Wanna hear songs that sound like they should have been downloaded on Limewire in 2005? Then THIS is the album for you! Did you grow out of your emo phase only to realize life gets way more emo once you start paying taxes? Then THIS is the album for you! Did you ever get scared to walk into a Hot Topic so you just hung out at Orange Julius instead and made fun of posers but you were really just projecting because you thought you were the real poser? Then THIS is the album for you! Do you think Ray Hawthorne sucks? Then THIS. IS. THE. ALBUM. FOR. YOU."

Renowned for his work in North Kingsley, the acclaimed project alongside Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down, Hawthorne initially captured hearts as the Heartbreak Hero with his inaugural solo release "Heartbreak Feels Good in a Place Like This". However, his latest release, "Ray Hawthorne Sucks", shows a more introspective side of Hawthorne - one that channels sarcasm, raw emotion, and brutal honesty into a genre-blurring sound that’s distinctly his own.

While his work in North Kingsley and his debut EP showcased a different persona, Hawthorne’s latest solo venture shatters expectations, leaning into the pounding drums, distorted guitars, and chaotic energy. "Ray Hawthorne Sucks" is a self-aware, tongue-in-cheek title, but it’s also a reflection of the album’s themes—self-criticism, resilience, and emotional vulnerability. Packed with explosive anthems, the album strays from the cinematic, heartfelt tones of "Heartbreak Feels Good In A Place Like This", plunging listeners into a grittier side of post-punk, hardcore, and Hawthorne’s emo roots.

Be sure to to stay tuned for more new music from Ray Hawthorne coming very soon.

ABOUT RAY HAWTHORNE

Ray Hawthorne is basically an emo Muppet. His life revolves around pop culture references, Ninja Turtles action figures, and his dog named Oliver. Oliver laid on Ray’s feet during the recording of every song on his forthcoming album “Ray Hawthorne

Sucks”. This was mostly a positive experience, but there’s a particular section during the song “Panic Mode” where Ray had to yell “HEY HEY HEY HEY” over and over again. This made Oliver very tense, and he thought he was being scolded. Ray felt really bad for confusing Oliver in such a way. After the recording was done treats were had by all, and all was well.