BLACKBRIAR - RELEASE BRAND NEW SONG 'MOONFLOWER'

Today BLACKBRIAR release their brand new song 'Moonflower' featuring Marjana Seminka. After the album release of A Dark Euphony in September last year the band shows once again, that they are always working on new songs and their creativity seems to know no bounds. 

Zora Cock comments:
“Moonflower tells a love story between a female vampire and a mortal girl and transports you to a bygone era where darkness and desire intertwine. It's inspired by the 19th-century gothic novel 'Carmilla', a timeless story that predates even the infamous Dracula. The song features a guest songstress Marjana Semkina, who I think is the most perfect fit for making this Moonflower an ethereal, haunting, and dark duet.”


Stream/Order the album A Dark Euphony here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/a-dark-euphony
Watch the video for 'Moonflower' below.
Stream `Moonflower`here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/moonflower.ema

After their successful co-headliner tour together with AD INFINITUM, BLACKBRIAR announced more European tourdates for October/November this year. BLACKBRIAR will join KAMELOT´S Awaken The World Tour as a special gusts. Together with AD INFINITUM and FROZEN CROWN they will share the stage withKAMELOT all over Europe and the UK.

The US tour together with BATTLE BEAST starts in May this year. All dates are listed below.

05/09 The Palladium, Worcester MA
05/10 Brass Monkey, Ottawa ON
05/11 Opera House, Toronto ON
05/12 House of Blues, Cleveland OH
05/14 House of Blues, Chicago IL
05/15 The Varsity Theater, Minneapolis MN
05/16 Grenada Theater, Lawrence KS
05/17 The Gothic Theatre, Denver CO
05/18 The Depot, Salt Lake City UT
05/20 The Neptune Theater, Seattle WA
05/21 The Rickshaw, Vancouver BC
05/22 Revolution Hall, Portland OR
05/24 Goldfield Trading Post, Roseville CA
05/25 The Observatory, Santa Ana CA
05/26 The Nile Theater, Phoenix AZ
05/28 Echo, Dallas TX
05/30 The Masquerade, Atlanta GA
05/31 The Underground, Charlotte NC 
06/01 Baltimore Sound Stage, Baltimore MD
06/02 Gramercy Theatre, New York NY

About BLACKBRIAR:

“Some say that there is beauty in darkness - terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on A Dark Euphony.” Such are the words of vocalist Zora Cock about the band’s upcoming sophomore album, set to release in fall 2023 on Nuclear Blast Records. A telling sign coming from a band who has reveled in gothic beauty and metallic darkness since their onset, spanning three EPs and a full-length album, along with long-time collaborator Joost van den Broek.

Formed in 2012 by Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, and Frank Akkerman, they crafted their first single in 2014 with 'Ready to Kill,' but it was 2015’s second single 'Until Eternity' that truly propelled them into the scene.  A sweeping track with an equally compelling and beautiful video, it continues to draw many to the act with over 20 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding the band, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, as well as acquiring a second guitarist in Robin Koezen. This EP layed down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal and breathtaking sound and  brought about new opportunities for the act, including tour dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and more, where the band played alongside EPICA, HALESTORM, IN THIS MOMENT, DELAIN and MaYan.

To keep moving ahead with full control of their creative ideals, the band successfully crowdfunded their follow-up EP, We’d Rather Burn, and brought it to life in October 2018. This EP would be the first time the band worked alongside esteemed producer Joost van den Broek to arrange and produce the effort, and this fruitful collaboration allowed BLACKBRIAR’s whimsical and enigmatic sound to reach new sonic heights.  Released the same day as their self-made video for 'I’d Rather Burn,' this EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens.  In the time following, keyboardist Ruben Wijga (ex-Re-Vamp) took a larger role within the band and began playing shows, after being involved in the songwriting process since Fractured Fairytales.

A busy 2019 followed, the band released a haunting single in May entitled 'Snow White and Rose Red.'  A duet with Ulli Perhonen, their take on the Grimm’s fairytale featured striking cinematic visuals to accompany the spellbinding track. Continuing to dig deeper into fairytale realms, BLACKBRIAR closed the year with their third EP, Our Mortal Remains.  Ever-sharpening their intoxicating blend of storytelling and breathtaking musicianship, the EP brought about new live exposures for the act as well.  Small, sold out tours with EPICA in 2019 and 2020, as well as a sold out opening for DELAIN’s Apocalypse & Chill release show in Utrecht followed, with more future plans then being put on hold due to COVID-19. 

Championing their continued independence, which included everything from songwriting, maintaining their web presence, overseeing merch, as well as shooting and producing their own videos and photos, BLACKBRIAR reached out to their ever-growing and loyal fanbase for assistance to make their full-length album a reality in 2020. Fans fervently heeded the call, reaching the € 25,000 goal in under 24 hours and ending with a total of € 70,000 and achieving all five stretch goals.  An impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which also showcases a strong internet presence with over 230,000 YouTube subscribers and 56.5 million channel views as well as 37.9 million Spotify streams and 275,000 monthly streamers on the platform.  

Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing exclusively with Doomstar Bookings to help properly support their highly anticipated first full-length album, The Cause of Shipwreck, which released in April.  Once again recorded with renowned producer Joost van den Broek (EPICA, AYREON, POWERWOLF) at Sandlane Recording Facilities, this release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics that entice you into a deadly yet spellbinding musical paradise. On the live front, launching into success with six sold out Dutch club shows, they later extended into more European territories such as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic as the band moved into 2022. 

Despite a very successful 2021, the band still hungered for more, unleashing their latest single, 'Fairy of the Bog' in December.  A song about ‘het meisje van Yde’ (Yde girl), it’s a mixture of folklore, myth, and ancient local history wrapped into a more mystical and magical package that showcases what BLACKBRIAR does best. Due to winning ‘Drents Talent Award Culture 2021’ from ‘Stichting Kunst & Cultuur,’ BLACKBRIAR performed ‘I’d Rather Burn’ live on television together with the Dutch ‘Noordpool Orchestra in early 2022. In April, the band parted ways with founding member and bassist Frank Akkerman. Not a band to slow down, they welcomed Siebe Sol Sijpkens from The Netherlands as their new bassist.  A happy and energetic performer with a lifetime of global performances, he is a welcome addition to the act as they continue to strive forward.

With their vision looking firmly into the future, with a major label behind them, they set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet.  The band previously released the song 'Crimson Faces' to celebrate their partnership with Nuclear Blast Records, and now the world eagerly awaits the release of A Dark Euphony this fall. Set to contain 10 new original songs as well as a bonus track, they recently released their first single from it with 'My Soul’s Demise.' According to Zora, “We've had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.” With this in mind, the band launched a preorder campaign in April for the release, full of unique perks, which has been quite successful already. They have also been preparing on the road, with festival shows Wave Gotik Treffen, SummerBreeze, and Rock the Lakes in 2023, as well as being a special guest on CHARLOTTE WESSELS’s Club Tour.

With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in EuroSonic/Noorderslag‘s Popgala Noord (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify near 1.5 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey into darkness and beauty.

BLACKBRIAR is:
Zora Cock - VOCALS
René Boxem - DRUMS
Bart Winters - GUITARS
Robin Koezen - GUITARS
Siebe Sol Sijpkens - BASS
Ruben Wijga - KEYS

UADA Unveils New Music Video for "Retraversing the Void," Kicking Off North American Tour This Week

Enigmatic black metal masters UADA are now unveiling a mind-bending new music video for the song, "Retraversing the Void," which is taken from the band's latest full-length, 'Crepuscule Natura.' The evocative clip can be found below.

UADA comments, "Originally filmed in 2021 and then re-filmed in 2023, the story of 'Retraversing the Void' spins light on the ever-old cliche' tale of rising from the fall. 

"As life is full of ups and downs, it is of utmost importance to remember our worth, dedication, and inner potential so that we may understand the universes plan in guiding us along our path. 

"While it may be common to feel lost from time to time, we must know we are always where we are meant to be in order to learn from the experiences life presents. 

"We hope the symbolism within provides an awakening analogy of opening our perception to the balance of all things as well as the ability to listen to the greater powers (be it the higher-self, an ancestral messenger, or perhaps a deity known as one of many gods) who often speak upon deaf ears. 

"We are all the substance that is and ever was."

The video comes just in time to kick off UADA's upcoming Western U.S. tour! The band will be supporting ROTTING CHRIST in the Pacific Northwest and Canada from March 25 - April 1. UADA will be book-ending the trek with a run of headlining shows from March 22 - March 24 on the West Coast and then will hit the Midwest from April 3 - April 7. ABIGAIL WILLIAMS will be support on all dates while DEATH SUPPORT will join the final leg. The full itinerary can be found below!

In addition, UADA will also be appearing at Milwaukee Metal Fest on Friday, May 17.

'Crepuscule Natura,' was released worldwide on September 8, 2023 via Eisenwald and isavailable HERE. The album was named among the best albums of 2023 by Knotfest, This Day in Metal, Riff Riot, Metal Sucks, Metal Hammer Germany, and many others!

UADA North American Tour Dates 2024:

(w/ Abigail Williams):

03/22: Eugene, OR @ John Henry’s

03/23: Santa Cruz, CA @ The Blue Lagoon

03/24: San Francisco, CA @ Neck of the Woods

(w/ Rotting Christ + Abigail Williams):

03/25: Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom

03/26: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

03/27: Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater

03/29: Calgary, AB @ Dickens

03/30: Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room

03/31: Regina, SK @ The Exchange

04/01: Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theater

(w/ Abigail Williams + Death Support)

04/03: Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium

04/04: Bismark, ND @ Amvets 

04/05: Billings, MT @ Thirsty Street Brewing

04/06: Bozeman, MT @ Fillings Station 

04/07: Missoula, MT @ Monks Bar

U.S. Festival Appearances:

05/17: Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest

Ever since the cloaked Pacific Northwest band appeared on the music radar, UADA has always been electrified by both polar worlds. Their echelon was stark and meaningful. Within the stretch of three albums as well as dense and triumphant live shows across the globe, they have not only spiked the map of extreme metal music but their unrelenting touring schedule and unbridled will to push forward into new horizons has also earned them a reception in all the extremes imaginable, be it worship or spite.

Five sonic vessels form the nucleus of 'Crepuscule Natura,' and within it`s 41 minutes, the record easily creates a sonic and aesthetic bridge between the band`s debut, 'Devoid of Light' (2016), and their sophomore effort 'Cult of a Dying Sun' (2018), only to forge onward upon the relentless path set forth with 'Djinn' (2020). Here, a more refined and muscular, yet no less melodic stronghold awaits. On 'Crepuscule Natura,' UADA provides all their memorable hooks, tasteful leads, and riding blasts in their distinct style, balancing their epic surging melodies with powerful spurts of aggression. Just like the band's smoke-heavy shows, the momentum and emphasis of their craft always stays grandiose, mythical, and triumphant – all the while making sure to birth a couple of new fan favorites and soon-to-be staple live songs.

'Crepuscule Natura', once again graced by the artwork of legendary Kris Verwimp and photography by Peter Beste, shows UADA on fire to unleash the marrow of black heavy metal.

Album Credits:

All music by UADA

Mixed and Mastered by Jake Superchi at Obsidian Spells

Album Cover & Moon emblem by Kris Verwimp

Photography by Peter Beste

Layout by Valkenstijn

Released via Eisenwald

Follow/Stream UADA:

BANDCAMP

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

SPOTIFY

APPLE MUSIC

YOUTUBE

WEBSTORE

Digital album released on September 8, 2023

CD formats to be shipped on or around September 15, 2023

Vinyl formats to be shipped on or around November 3, 2023

NONEXISTER Release Debut Album + Share Video For "Storm"

NONEXISTER have released their debut album Demons on, March 15

To mark the occasion, the Zurich based quintet has unveiled the video for their new single, "Storm," a song which encompasses everything that defines NONEXISTER's music: It's dark, intense, and a little dystopian, featuring an infectious guitar riff and plenty of electronic noise. 

Sound engineer and co-band leader Marco Neeser says, "In production, I first created a noisy industrial atmosphere to set the mood for the song, and then I let this emblematic riff hit, which drives the song."

"Storm" highlights the rising global threat of right-wing extremism. 

Singer Nik Leuthold states, "What's happening right now sometimes feels like a global re-run of 1930s Europe. It's frightening. However, in my lyrics, I'm always interested in the bigger picture — in this case extremism and sectarianism in general. It's too easy to simply blame it on frustration; convenient lies, victimhood, and self-righteousness are attractive to many people. But I'm sure most of them would be scared to death if it actually came to the point they are currently shouting about." 

Since their first single, "Your Pain Up My Veins," the band has consistently released captivating, cinematic videos, winning numerous awards including the California Music Video & Film Award, the Global Music Award and the Europe Music Award, among others. Their latest offering is just as compelling as its predecessors: you can watch the video for "Storm" here.

Leuthold says of the video, "I really wanted to make this video with Dave Bullivant after seeing how nuanced and multi-layered he can be with a given theme on 'How Do You Dare.' When it comes to right-wing extremism, it can very quickly become trite or cliché, but once again he has managed to convey the song's subject matter in a very subtle way. Yet he has illustrated the underlying threat so powerfully with his stark black and white images, which sometimes remind me of the movie Sin City. I think Dave has once again created an extraordinary work of art."

Director Dave Bullivant says, "This track speaks so eloquently on the dangers of rising extremism in its various guises and how easily people can be drawn into a situation that they may later regret. The lure of community, power and acceptance can so often override one's sense of morality. I wanted to abstract this idea and portray the inner conflict of two friends encountering a roaring mob. We shot using a pretty unique camera, there are only two of this model that have been modified to only shoot black and white. We then took this unique camera and did something no one has ever done before, and shot the final scene using only UltraViolet light. The resulting image is truly unique and quite beautiful."

After six singles, the band is proud to present their work in its entirety. Demons is a collection of the first creative phase as NONEXISTER, the essence of all that inspired them from the beginning. The band is beyond excited that this twisted, gnarly beauty is finally going out into the world.

Leuthold says, "I'm over the moon that our debut album Demons is finally out. It's been a long journey and I'm very proud of the result. Working with Marco has been a great stroke of luck, taking us both into worlds we wouldn't have gotten to on our own. And so many great people have helped shape the final product, tweaking every detail so that this baby is now a true beauty."

Neeser shares his enthusiasm, saying, "We are happy to finally announce the release of our debut album Demons. We have been working on it for several years and are proud of the result. It's dark, disturbing, dynamic, full of contrasts, and deeply emotional."

Demons will be released via the band's own label, with distribution via  The Orchard, digitally, on CD and on transparent vinyl (which includes a 
bonus track). You can purchase here.

NIGHT VERSES Completes Their Sonic Odyssey 'Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night' Out Now Via Equal Vision Records

"Night Verses still shreds" - Metal Injection

"re-establishes the band as one of the most rightfully revered among progressive metal." - Knotfest.com

"a beast-mode reintroduction to venerated guitarist Nick DePirro." - Guitar World

"a phenomenal return from one of our generation’s most thrilling progressive rock acts" - Boolin Tunes



"Night Verses is still the gold standard for technical instrumental music" - Everything Is Noise

"Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night further cements Night Verses as one of the standout acts in instrumental metal today" - Metal Storm

"Finely tuned and expertly executed, instrumental metal has long needed a true champion.....NIGHT VERSES is that champion and Every Sound… is that proof." - Distorted Sound

Prog-metal visionaries Night Verses have today unveiled their complete double album 'Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night', now available in full via Equal Vision Records. The release of Part 2 concludes the band's expansive musical journey that began with the lauded release of Part 1 last September with the full album now being available across all streaming platforms HERE

In addition to the full album, Night Verses have also dropped visualizer for focus track 'Plague Dancer' (watch below) which follows the momentum of their recent hit 'Glitching Prisms', which featured guest vocals from Incubus’s Brandon Boyd. The album's intricate soundscape is further enriched by collaborations with Justin Chancellor of Tool, Author and Punisher, and Anthony Green of Circa Survive.

Night Verses share: “We are beyond grateful to finally have this album out as a whole. We spent 5 years writing it and covered a lot of territory that was completely new for us, especially when it came to making each collaboration unique. Ultimately it was meant to be enjoyed as one piece, so we are excited for our fans to hear this body of work start to finish in its entirety. This one specifically sounds best in motion: Driving through the desert, skating by the beach, etc. We definitely recommend committing to the full hour completely immersed with headphones or in a decent car stereo, it’s not intended to be listened to on an iPhone speaker."

'Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night' is a reflection of Night Verses’ dedication to pushing the envelope and creating a fully immersive listening experience. Fans can now explore the depth and breadth of the band's ambitious auditory experience in full for the first time .

Listen to 'Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night' now on all major streaming platforms, and let the music transport you to new dimensions of prog-metal excellence.

Night Verses will be hitting the road in support of their new album. Starting with Kill Iconic Festival in California on March 23rd, they then head to Europe to support Tool throughout May and June, return to the US to play Post Festival in Indiana in July, then head to the UK to play Arctangent Festival in August. For full dates and routing head to nightverses.com

ABOUT NIGHT VERSES: 

Hailing from Fullerton, CA, NIGHT VERSES first galvanized listeners with their 2012  EP ‘Out Of The Sky’, merging prog, alt-metal, post-rock and ambient electronica into their own intoxicating strain of cinematic metal.

They continued to hone their bold songwriting and genre-bending musicianship on their debut full-length, 2014’s ‘Lift Your Existence’. After the mass critical acclaim that followed, they returned in 2016 with the full-length ‘Into The Vanishing Light’ produced by legendary producer Ross Robinson (Slipknot, At The Drive In). The album was the band’s first release after signing with Equal Vision Records, and marked their last album with a vocalist. 

The band released their first instrumental album 2018, with the critically acclaimed ‘From The Gallery Of Sleep’, which cemented them as fearless, genre-defying innovators. Dubbed “The Salvador Dali of prog-metal” by Noisey / Vice, the album was hailed as "boundary-breaking prog" (Revolver), "ambitious and creative" (Exclaim!) and "a layered prog masterpiece" (Distorted Sound).

Now after a 5-year wait that's felt like an eternity, NIGHT VERSES are back to reclaim their rightful place at the forefront of progressive heavy music. With over 15 million career streams and unanimously glowing critical praise for their first four releases, the stage is set for NIGHT VERSES to ascend to even greater heights.

NECROPHOBIC Shares New Music Video for "Mirrors of a Thousand Lakes," New Album Out Now

"Necrophobic’s take on black metal has always skewed more melodic and surprisingly accessible compared to their contemporaries. While the black metal influence is there, hints of Iron Maiden and Mercyful Fate still peek through..." - Metal Insider

"...the strongest album that Necrophobic has released during their late-career surge." - Angry Metal Guy

"ln The Twilight Grey' will still conjure demons and summon darkness, but within a world of deep textures and deeper thoughts. Their best album since the debut..." - Blabbermouth

"...fast, fierce, and yet surprisingly melodic." - Bravewords

ORDER // STREAM // DOWNLOAD

Swedish blackened death metal masters NECROPHOBIC are pleased to finally share their tenth studio album, which officially hits the streets and streaming services everywhere today, March 15, via Century Media Records!

To celebrate this release, NECROPHOBIC is now sharing a brand new music video for the single "Mirrors of a Thousand Lakes." The footage was taken from one of the band's rare club shows at M.A.U. Club in Germany back in January 2024 by Paloosa Productions. The performance had such a positive impact on the band that they decided to preserve it and turn it into a “road video” that happened in the magic of the moment that evening. Watch it Below.

'In the Twilight Grey' is now available HERE and can be found in the following formats:

Ltd. Deluxe Gatefold combat green 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster incl. 2 bonus tracks (1.000x)

Gatefold black LP

Gatefold dark green LP (300x)

Ltd. CD Mediabook (comes with a special, extended booklet and 2 bonus tracks)

Standard CD Jewelcase

Digital album

Enigmatically titled 'In the Twilight Grey,' NECROPHOBIC’s tenth studio album immediately asserts its separation from everything that has gone before. Colder and more biting than recent efforts, the album is full of brutish metal songs, hewn from unnamed obsidian horrors.

NECROPHOBIC has always been a dynamic and daring band. 'In the Twilight Grey' hammers the Swedish blackened death metal masters' boldness home via some of the most hard-hitting and direct songs they have ever recorded. Equally, the new album is home to several songs that push NECROPHOBIC’s music down strange, new avenues. Fueled by the dark side, lead guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt understands the importance of retaining the essence of the band’s early days, even as the means of expression continues to evolve.

Yet again 'In the Twilight Grey' was produced, mixed and mastered by Fredrik Folkare (of death metal icons Unleashed) at Chrome Studios, Stockholm and engineered in close collaboration by Folkare and the band themselves. For the artwork they teamed up with Jens Rydén, another likeminded and highly regarded institution from the Swedish metal scene.

With over thirty years of active, nefarious service under their spikes and bulletbelts, NECROPHOBIC are undisputed legends of the death and black metal scene. Formed in 1989 by drummer Joakim Sterner, the Stockholm blackhearts propagated a singular and fearless vision from the very start.

Eschewing the self-conscious amateurism and primitive sonics that many of their peers held dear, NECROPHOBIC established a bold and vivid identity of their own, conjuring a densely melodic, but endlessly wicked take on macabre extreme metal that countless lesser bands have since emulated.

You can take a deep dive into their history via the rereleases of their entire back catalogue that Century Media Records made available in 2022 HERE.

Line-Up:

Johan Bergebäck - Rhythm guitar

Joakim Sterner - Drums

Sebastian Ramstedt - Lead guitar

Anders Strokirk - Vocals

Tobias Cristiansson - Bass

Cover Artist + Photos: Jens Rydén

Production, Mixing, Mastering: Fredrik Folkare @ Chrome Studios

Engineering: Fredrik Folkare + Necrophobic

Links:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

YOUTUBE

SHOP

Photo by Jens Rydén

Windwaker Drop "Enter the Wall" EP + Share "The Wall" Video

Australia's WINDWAKER — vocalist Liam Guinane, guitarist Jesse Crofts, bassist Indey Salvestro, drummer Chris Lalic, and synths/samples specialist Connor Robins — have dropped the new, four-song EP Enter the Wall today, February 15, via Fearless Records. Get it here. 

The band has shared the video for "The Wall." Watch it Below.

"The Wall" is a fusion of technical guitars with sporadic synths that makes this song so unsettling yet satisfying. The song is built around a southern hip-hop groove led with a mixture of gravely raps and manic screams, evolving around a backdrop of unrelenting metal passages. The track is as fun as it is fierce.
 
Lyrically, the song is a "reference to staring absently into a void," the band states. Windwaker continue. "It's the moment when reality crumbles away around you, leaving you with nothing but your own thoughts. Visually, it paints the picture of a person sitting in a dimly lit room at night as a black hole mercilessly sucks away the environment around them piece by piece. The main hook repeats twice in the same way a thought circulates in your mind. It always leads back to the same conclusion, setting off that thought again, and again, and again..."

Windwaker released their Fearless Records debut Love Language in 2022.

Stay tuned for even more new music from the band... because it's coming.

Chicago rocker LEON FREAR 'Wild Rice' album now out on vinyl. Watch the videos for 'A Murder of Crows' and 'She Fed Me Water'

"Frear has a way of telling stories that draw you in, bringing to the surface a multitude of common points, memories and feelings that resonate with the listener... Leon Frear lives to tell a resounding tale through gifted songwriting and clever story-telling" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Track of the Day. The way he tells the story makes it seem like he and the listener are commiserating together... great story" ~ Chasing Destino

"With a unmistakeable voice deserving of becoming a regular fixture in the mind-memory of music lovers everywhere... catchy and contemplative, showcasing clever lyrics channeled through his smooth and deep timbre... an invested labor of love" ~ Rock n Roll Biz
​
"Frear has a voice which somewhat recalls Marty Willson-Piper of The Church fame and his side project Nocturum... This is something for fans of Nick Cave and related" ~ Side-Line Magazine

"The combination of evocative lyrics and a dynamic musical backdrop creates an immersive experience, inviting listeners to delve into the complexities of love, longing, and self-discovery" ~ Skylight Webzine

Dubbing his brand of post-alternative music “vocabulary rock”, Frear aims to shift the emphasis away from the man and towards the music and lyrics, while inviting the listener to commiserate together through this exploration of grief, depression and sadness.

"I try to put less emphasis on sticking to one type of music and more emphasis on crafting songs with strong lyrics. So I’m really just trying to write in a way that the music compliments the lyrical meaning. And I think that can make pinning down my musical style a little more difficult. Broadly speaking, I cut my teeth on the post-punk guitar records of the late 90’s and early aughts and I think those influences still come through in the way I write music," says Leon Frear.

"Musically, I grew up listening to a lot of punk and indie bands. And the biggest influences for me are people I can admire for the way they behave and the way they treat people. Vanessa from Pylon, punk icons like Roger Miller and Patti Smith. Or bands who have had honorable careers like Fugazi or REM. These are the artists who I strive the most to be like."

The 'Wild Rice' album is out now, available digitally from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Also pressed on double vinyl for maximum fidelity, this first run pressing is limited to 100 copies.

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Leon Frear
Recorded by Leon Frear in his Chicago home studio
Mastering by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Studios
Vocals and instruments performed by Leon, except
Faye Whitt - backup vocals on 'Murder of Crows'
Front cover collage by Faye Whitt
Ronald Grandpey - Director / animator for  'Secret Second Moon' video
Artist photos by Jeremy Glickstein

Keep up with Leon Frear
Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Liverpool-London power pop artist JAMES CLARKE FIVE releases loaded 'Zoom and The Gadflies' album

"Sounds like XTC had they taken a more glam rock route... Man, this is pop perfection. And then some" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Wondrous, positive and generally upbeat... Pure, perfect power pop… no exaggeration" ~ The Spill Magazine

"With fantastic diversity, wrapped in a tight layer of suave musical mastery, James Clarke Five's brand of music melds the best of rock and Brit pop, imbued with spirits past and present" ~ Amplify Music Mag 

"Infectious energy... successfully marries retro vibes with a modern twist, offering listeners a refreshing take on the glam rock era" ~ Skylight Webzine 

"One outgoing manipulation of pleasure, the kind of track that has inhibitions wandering as you openly bounce down the street with it" ~ Ringmaster Review 

"Some kinda locked-in-his-bedroom genius... very listenable pop" ~ Dagger Zine

UK power pop artist James Clarke Five presents the album 'Zoom and The Gadflies', released via UK label Favourite Recordings, an 11-track collection of clever power pop with story-driven lyrics. Mixing classic baroque pop with strong melodies and distinctive chord changes, his melodic guitar-driven sound brings overtones of glam rock and psychedelia.

Now based in London, James Clarke Five is the solo project of James Hughes, who is perhaps best known as keyboardist and vocalist for Liverpool 80's new wave band The Cherry Boys. Contemporaries of Echo & The Bunnymen and The Teardrop Explodes, its members also played with The LA’s, Cast, The Icicle Works and Lightning Seeds.

With clear nods to XTC, Adam and the Ants and Joe Meek, this album was previewed by the singles 'Gadfly Groove' (on the personal transformation of a quiet introvert to an outgoing persona), '(Who's Been On The) Big Rock Candy' (about a couple who pursue increasingly daring deeds to a pounding, feedback-driven backdrop), and 'Ghost' (bittersweet reflections on childhood and the passing of time with a melodious, atmospheric, harpsichord-driven sound).

At the age of 12, James picked up a guitar, which he has scarcely put down since. Following The Cherry Boys, Hughes was a founder member of Exhibit B, who released the cult classic album 'Playing Dead' and several singles.  

Upon moving to London in the early 2000s, Hughes launched James Clarke Five with the barnstorming single 'Get Out Of Bed' and later found success with his song 'Sexbombe Uber Alles', the main theme of the film 'Last Shop Standing'. Their most recent albums 'Underneath The Lemon Tree' (2021) and 'ParlourSounds' (2018), released by iconic Canadian label The Beautiful Music, garnered rave reviews. His music has also appeared in the film 'Soundtrack to Sixteen' and has amassed over 1.25 million Spotify streams to date.

"This album was written and recorded over a period of two and-a-half years.  As it progressed song by song, I found that it was showing a common theme inspired by the music that excited me as a child: people like Adam and The Ants, and also the likes of T Rex and the 'production style' of the Glam Rock era," explains James Hughes.

"So it gathered pace in that direction, which for me was a very exciting, if initially subconscious, development.  But then all my music is in some way an homage to the music I love, with of course my personal quirks in the mix - for example the penultimate song Buddy and Joe which is my take to the music of Joe Meek, Telstar etc.  On the other hand, D'You Not Think is inspired by psychedelic-era fairgrounds and steam organs (albeit with a 'political' lyric) and for me this song personifies the great fun I had putting this album together."

Recorded in his home studio in London, James produced and mastered this album. He performed all instruments and vocals with the exception of Mack The Sax, who plays saxophone on 'Gadfly Groove' and Karen Bates, who provides backing vocals on 'It's Been So Long'.

As of March 15, 'Zoom and The Gadflies' album is available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple and Bandcamp.  

CREDITS
All songs written by James Clarke (AKA James Hughes), except 'It's Been So Long' by Donaldson / Adamson
Karen Bates - backing vocals on track 8
Mac The Sax - saxophone on track 3
All other instruments and vocals by James Clarke
Produced by James Clarke
Cover artwork by James Clarke


Keep up with James Clarke Five
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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

THE ARSON CHOIR PARTNER WITH OUTBURN TO RELEASE THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR THEIR EIGHTEEN VISIONS COVER OF 'TOWER OF SNAKES'

Southern Californian mathcore quintet THE ARSON CHOIR blends nostalgic and modern riffs to create their raw and organic sound. An intense live show filled with dissonant chords and creative melodies showcases a new style of fast and loud. Today, the band pays homage to EIGHTEEN VISIONS' who heavily influenced their sound. Head to Outburn.com to watch the performance video directed by Gene Ramirez for their cover of 'Tower Of Snakes'.

Check out the music video below.

Stream the 'Tower Of Snakes' cover on all platforms now at: https://lnk.to/towerofsnakes

The 'Tower Of Snakes' cover was recorded by Michael Eichstedts at Summit Studios while mixing and mastering were handled by Jeff Dunne (MAKE THEM SUFFER, ICE NINE KILLS, and KNOCKED LOOSE). The cover is a variation of the artwork created by Rai Ciego.

Catch THE ARSON CHOIR live on the following dates:
03/24/2024 Phoenix, AZ - Yucca Tap Room
09/13-15/2024 Portland, OR - Bridge City Fest

The Gentlemen of THE ARSON CHOIR are:
Phillip Penegar | Vocals
Marc Motley | Rhythm Guitar
Eric Carrizales | Lead Guitar
Eric Whitt | Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals

Order Invisible Monsters in the format your choice here:  
https://www.waragainstrecords.com/store

Photo By: Kitty Catalino

More information:
Website: www.thearsonchoir.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/TheArsonChoir 
Instagram: www.instagram.com/thearsonchoir 
Bandcamp: www.thearsonchoir.bandcamp.com 
Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/2ir53QtigznLj1maMuVeNH

VLTIMAS Streaming New Album

The members of VLTIMAS are all legends in their own right. David Vincent blessed the sick for Morbid Angel. Rune Eriksen made grand declarations of war as Mayhem's blasphemous axe man. No one is more vile than Flo Mounier, who's been drumming for Cryptopsy since their earliest exhumations of the underground. But on their second album together, VLTIMAS are mightier than ever.      

EPIC comes out this Friday, March 15. But you can listen to the whole album today on Season of Mist's YouTube channel in partnership with Decibel magazine. 

Listen to EPIC: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/vltimas-epic-premiere

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/VLTIMASEPIC

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/vltimasepic

VLTIMAS have so much history under their bullet belts that some gatekeepers may have wondered if there were any new realms for them to conquer. After all, their first album was voted album of the year by BangerTV.

And yet - their new album boldy declares that these devils aren't content with merely living among the lords of chaos. Though written amongst the many comforts of Vincent's Texas ranch (long walks, plenty of booze) EPIC is dark, extreme and unrelenting. Everyone gets to flex their muscles. Rune rips off fiery riffs from all angles on blistering lead single "Miserere". Though it starts off as a slow burn, Flo blazes through "Scorcher" with blast beats that are so wickedly precise they belong in a museum. David's growl could still summon underground hordes to the alter of madness, but "Invictus" rolls out a new style of death metal vocals.

"I'll not be blinded and I'll never be for sale", he sings with a grizzled battle cry.

But EPIC amounts to a heck of a lot more than just the sum of VLTIMAS' devilish talents. It's a testament to everything these underground heroes have stood for the past 30 years: crushing speed, surgical precession, strength in one's own convictions.

Early Praise for EPIC

"VLTIMAS could hardly fail, given the pedigree of everyone involved, but this suggests that Vincent, Eriksen and Mounier are not leaving anything to chance. EPIC live up to its name and then some" - Blabbermouth (8/10)

"An album that is so varied that it could be heard a dozen times yet not be completely comprehended...it is sure to stand as one of the most original studio outings of the year" - Sonic Perspectives(8.9/10)

"A smooth and dynamic ride...you almost feel like you're listening to the soundtrack to a dark, theatrical play. It has that epic-ness to it, pun intended" - A&P Reacts

"Evil D has blessed us again with the fruits of one of his more recent ventures....a very solid sophomore effort for VLTIMAS" - Metal Injection (8/10)

"EPIC lives up to its title, treading the line between imperious grandeur and ridiculous pomposity" - Metal Hammer (4/5)

"A mix of black and death metal among other influences, EPIC represents a major victory for VLTIMAS' expanding team" - Metal Insider

"Any time you have a chorus with 'Die, Die, Die' - come on - that is classic" - Teeth of Divine

Extreme metal powerhouse VLTIMAS (pronounced 'uhl-tuh-mas') assault metaldom once more with their highly-anticipated sophomore album, EPIC, through Season of Mist. Featuring Norwegian guitarist Rune "Blasphemer" Eriksen (ex-Mayhem, RUÏM), American vocalist David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel), and Canadian drummer Flo Mounier (Cryptopsy), the multinational quintet, rounded out by Dutch bassist Ype TVS (ex-Dodecahedron) and Portuguese guitarist João Duarte (Corpus Christii), continue to venture down their path. Moored by strength and integrity, VLTIMAS fortified their signature with wicked invention, as applauded by Decibel Magazine, BangerTV, Louder, and many others, on their debut, Something Wicked Marches In (2019). Singles "Miserere," "Scorcher," and "Invictus" showcase a band of musicians at the top of their game, united in their pursuit of oneness.

"We wrote every bit of EPIC together at my ranch in Dime Box, Texas," offers Vincent. "The writing sessions were as organic as they could be. There were times when, at the end of the night, Rune would take his guitar and play something ridiculous. Flo would play something even more ridiculous on top of it. I'd say to the guys, 'I need to capture this.' So, the magic [of VLTIMAS] is being in the same room together, discussing, playing, and recording music and everything else we're doing together. We have unbelievable camaraderie."
 

While the members of VLTIMAS are not atavists, their preferred creative methods are time-tested and battle-hardened. Technology has its place, but the group thrive when they're together, not separated by the world. Eriksen, renowned as a riff innovator, is more effective when he's got a highly capable sideman like Vincent or Mounier, whose drumming in Cryptopsy and his celebrated instructional Extreme Metal Drumming 101 DVD has proven to be a no-limits player, by his side. Whether it's the moody, angular attack of "Miserere," the wicked groove of "Mephisto Manifesto," or the dark fury of "Nature's Fangs," the chemistry and enterprise of VLTIMAS is undeniable.

"The main goal [of VLTIMAS] is to be real," Eriksen reveals. "To channel the very moment, to let true inspiration out. I don't believe I ever set myself a goal on what an album should or needs to sound like before I or we write it because that means I have to compromise during the process. For EPIC, we focused on more direct songs, trimming the fat, as opposed to Something Wicked Marches In, which had a progressive and 'playful' flair."

VLTIMAS was a profane concept—a constellation of riffs against a modest frame—when formed by Eriksen in 2015. After departing Mayhem in 2008 and putting his gothic doom outfit Ava Inferi to rest in 2013, the Norwegian's fingers still itched with infernal fury. VLTIMAS was his vent, and when Mounier and Vincent joined, he finally had the cadre of professionals to make it a reality. Together, they devised complementary schemes and themes rooted in rightness. In a world gone mad, VLTIMAS had a vision. On Something Wicked Marches In, they commanded attention with metaphors about the apocalypse, the ancient goddess Lilith, and truth. Lyrically, EPICspears into the very nucleus of strength through Vincent's brio of double entendre and clever wordsmithing. The songs are designed to be heard, read, and interpreted—there are no shortcuts.

"Everything we're doing and messaging is about strength and honor," says Vincent. "These are the fundamentals that I incorporate into my life, which I believe in. I want to share with others, hoping they'll incorporate strength and honor into their lives. I wouldn't say I like spelling lyrics out. I use a lot of double meanings on purpose because I want to inspire the listener to think. I'm not a short attention span guy, and I don't appreciate it. EPIC is holistic and meant to be experienced that way."

EPIC was recorded by producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Grave Miasma) with engineer Jonathan Mazzeo (First Fragment, Sickening) at Arda Recorders in Porto, Portugal. VLTIMAS tracked the album throughout May 2023. Arellano also handled the mix and master. Like everything the band does, the main goal was to be honest. The maxim of no sample replacement or re-amping—EPICwas captured on outboard gear—was adhered to and enjoyed by the team. The result is a sonic expression that sounds like nothing else. From the crushing title track to the epic musicality of closer "Spoils of War," EPIC is an absolute beast.

"Stress, long walks, too much alcohol, yet very focused once in the recording mode," Eriksen says of the sessions. "We booked a month, but somehow, that flew by instantly. We worked up until the very end. I even added a few solos at my local Soundscape Studio in Almada, Portugal. Art unfolds, and once you think you are done, there's always another idea popping up."

VLTIMAS brought Italian artist Daniele Valeriani (Mayhem, Unanimated) to visualize EPIC. The aesthetic, as illuminated by music and message, was iconic boldness. The three-eagle head crest with three different crowns, accompanied by transfigured symbols of the Passion and the "impossible triangle," projects effortlessly. In EPIC, the group will dominate. There's no escape from "Miserere," "Mephisto Manifesto," "Scorcher," and "Invictus." Together, they thrust, by resolve and inventiveness, VLTIMAS into the uppermost echelons of extreme metal.

"[EPIC is] old meets contemporary, a symbiosis of all the great things we love about extreme metal," offers Eriksen. "All combined into one album."

"I want to be as emotional and honest [with VLTIMAS]," Vincent adds. "I want to tell stories; I want to have the themes that appeal to me; I want to have some messaging that someone can take away, in this case, strength. EPIC is strength."

Lineup
David Vincent - Vocals
Rune Blasphemer Eriksen - Guitars
Flo Mounier - Drums
Ype TVS - Bass
João Duarte - Guitars

Recording studio
ARDA Recorders

Producer
Jamie Gomez Arellano

Sound engineer
Jonathan Mazzeo

Mixing and mastering engineer
Jaime Gomez Arellano

Mixing and mastering studio 
Arda Recorders, Orgone Studio

Cover art
Daniele Valeriani

Additional artwork and layout
Adrien Bousson

Biography
Chris Dick

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/vltimasepic

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/VLTIMASEPIC

Links:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vltimas/1445457453
Bandcamp: https://vltimas.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vltimas/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vltimas/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kz64zyv2xtkdhboztpdwa
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/vltimas?lang=en

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Skull Gold
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Dracula
12" Picture Vinyl

SINGER, SONGWRITER AND ACTRESS, MAYA J, UNLEASHES SASSY NEW POP TRACK “PRINCESS” ON HER BIRTHDAY

Maya J, the dynamic artist known for her prowess in acting, songwriting, and musical composition, has unveiled her newest musical masterpiece, "Princess." Released on her birthday, this sassy mid-tempo

Pop-R&B-trap fusion is poised to captivate audiences worldwide with its infectious beats and empowering lyrics. Fans and critics alike have already heralded "Princess" as a "Certified Pop Banger," perfectly suited for those embracing their confident era, and some even say it’s 100% HBCU-ready for the field and band.

Presented by Glitter Rain Entertainment, Maya J's RIAA-member record label that she has been operating since 2014, "Princess" marks another milestone in her musical journey. As both the creator and performer, Maya J infuses the track with her trademark style, seamlessly blending pop sensibilities with elements of R&B and trap. "Princess" boasts Maya J's signature violin tricks woven throughout the recording, showcasing her multifaceted talent. Notably, the strings and violin showcased in the song are performed live by Maya J herself, offering listeners a rare glimpse into her instrumental prowess.

Describing her vision of a princess, Maya J shares, "A graceful, poised, & classy young lady. Charitable and/or accomplished. Amiable. Defends and protects herself as well as others; her kindness shall not be taken for weakness." Through her music, Maya J not only entertains but also imparts valuable insights on strength, grace, and self-assurance. The release of "Princess" follows the success of Maya J's previous single, "Chills," which quickly garnered acclaim and landed a spot on Apple Music's Best New Music Playlist. With each release, Maya J continues to push the boundaries of her artistry, blending her background as a violinist with her lifelong passion for music to create truly harmonious compositions.

MORE INFO:
Maya Jenkins has consistently demonstrated her commitment to excellence in her craft, both in music and acting. A product of a New York/Los Angeles acting conservatory and training at renowned LA actor studios, Maya J's dedication to her artistry is evident in every project she undertakes. Her musical journey began with the debut single "Symptoms of You" in 2016, followed by a series of successful releases. Maya J's artistic achievements include the well-received "Come Find Me" and "Like You," with the latter showcasing her skills not only as a songwriter but also as a director and co-producer of the accompanying music video. Maya J's creative contributions extend beyond her solo career; her song "Tell Me" was selected for the season 2 promotional trailer of ABC Family’s hit series, “Famous in Love” in 2018.

CONNECT WITH MAYA J:

INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE | WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

ABORTED - Open The Vault Of Horrors + Release Music Video For 'Condemned To Rot (feat. Francesco Paoli)'

One day before the kickoff of their European tour, ABORTED open the Vault of Horrors as the new album of death metal's finest finally sees the light of the day.
Ten ferocious, gut-wrenching extreme metal slashers await you in this cabinet of horror movie classics. ABORTED invited the crème de la crème of the heavy music scene to the party, and on each track of the album you will find a different guest vocalist – diving down into the dark abyss of horror movie culture. 
So sit back, grab a snack, and crawl down into the Vault of Horrors. Order your copy now:
https://aborted.bfan.link/vault-of-horrors

But that's not the end of the show for today. Fresh from the grave, the living dead are about to return (again). Feast your eyes on the music video for 'Condemned To Rot' here, featuring FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's Francesco Paoli:

SPOKEN New Album 'Reflection' Out Now Via XOVR Records. New Track "In The Dark" Also Released

Today, Spoken celebrates an impressive milestone with the release of their 10th studio album and their first in 7 years, 'Reflection', via XOVR Records, the recently launched label co-founded by Korn’s Brian 'Head' Welch. Alongside the album, the band has unveiled focus track, "In The Dark", a further testament to Spoken's enduring sound and creative vision, which comes accompanied by an official music video. Listen to the full album HERE and watch the video below.

Frontman Matt Baird expresses his excitement: "It’s finally here! Our new record 'Reflection' is out. We’re so excited for you to hear this collection of songs, and have the opportunity to play them on the road. Thank you for listening."

Brian 'Head' Welch speaks to the band's enduring legacy: "Spoken is a band with a great story, passionate tenacity and an impeccable track record. It’s been seven long years since their last release, and I’m confident 'Reflection' will completely satisfy the die-hard Spoken fans while gaining many more."

The album is available now on all streaming platforms, and the music video for "In The Dark" can be viewed on the band's official YouTube channel.

'Reflection' marks a significant milestone for Spoken, coming seven years after their last album. With an intriguing blend of melody, aggression, thought-provoking lyrics, dynamic guitar riffs, and meticulously crafted drums, the album emerges not just as a culmination of Spoken's artistry, honed over two decades. It's a sonic mirror that reflects the band’s growth and the connection they share with their fans. It's an exploration of the journey of life, a testament to resilience and the power of moving forward with hope. 

Fans can gain intimate insight into the band's journey as Baird joins Welch in conversation for XOVR Record's 'Artist Spotlight' series, now streaming on the XOVR Records YouTube and can be watched below.

Spoken are

Matt Baird

J.R. Bareis

Dylan Levernoch 

Jared Wisner

Dead Icarus, Feat. ex-Atreyu Singer Alex Varkatzas, Drops "Ad Infernum" EP + Video for Title Track

Dead Icarus, the new project of former Atreyu lead vocalist and Gold-selling artist Alex Varkatzas, have shared a fourth single in the form of "Ad Infernum."

Watch the video, directed by Monte Legaspi, Below.

"Everyone loves the romanticized cliche of 'dying for what they believe in," says Varkatzas. "But death is the end of all things. Sometimes living with the consequences of one's actions can be more severe than death itself. Sometimes, simply persevering, in the face of constant adversity, is the victory. 'Ad Infernum' asks, 'Are you ready to live through what you believe in?'"

Dead Icarus are also digitally releasing the Ad Infernum EP. Get it here. It includes the four previously issues tracks and a killer Pantera cover.

ABOUT DEAD ICARUS:
DEAD ICARUS is Alex Varkatzas, founding vocalist of metalcore giants Atreyu, who have sold over 1 million records across two decades of his tenure. An uncompromising, brutal, impassioned, confessional assault, Alex's new musical vehicle Dead Icarus introduces itself to the world with the Ad Infernum EP via MNRK Heavy. Produced and co-written by Gabe Manfold of Enterprise Earth, Ad Infernum sounds both fresh and familiar for the legions of metalheads who revere the unapologetic aggression of Pantera or the dynamic metalcore of Killswitch Engage. The previously released singles have gotten love from Revolver, Loudwire, Blabbermouth, Metal Injection, Knotfest, and more so far.

ABOUT MNRK MUSIC GROUP:
MNRK Music Group is one of the largest independent music companies in the world, with recording, music publishing, and management divisions operating in every major music market. MNRK is committed to discovering and guiding top music creators and artists and works with some of the greatest musical talent including The Lumineers and Pitbull, the music publishing catalog of Chuck Berry, plus premier music companies Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang. The company’s music department services Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning producers. Its catalog across divisions consists of 54,000 music tracks, including multiple GRAMMY winners and platinum-selling hits. 

The Shadow Majlis releases 'Mazdur' video, formidable world-postpunk from debut album 'The Departure'

"A powerful achievement... I believe that there are certain tracks and moments that act as portals into another dimension - I'm not being fanciful here!" ~ David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets)

"With Ali Jafri at the helm on vocals, guitars, bass, electric sitar, synths, programming, this debut offering from The Shadow Majlis is diverse and stunning, involving a dream-team – not only in terms of production, but also collaborators, ranging from true music legends of our generation and top-notch artists from around the world" ~ The Spill Magazine


Toronto's The Shadow Majlis presents his debut album 'The Departure' and the video for 'Mazdur', showcasing genre-fluid excellence and raw emotional experience, while fusing elements of Eastern modes with post-punk. An alternative neo-global style that transcends borders, this is a departure from the norm - a journey into something other, where there are no limits. 

Revolving around Ali Jafri, a formidable multi-instrumentalist known for his involvement in various projects - as a member of David J's live band, playing rock-sitar for Pigface (or through his projects ARIEL, The Gotham City Drugstore, Saintfield or his solo work). On this album, Ali Jafri offers a multi-cultural artistic and musical vision, together with David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) on bass and drummer-percussionist Rakesh Tewari (Jaffa Road, The Special Interest Group).

Produced and mixed by three-time Grammy Award winning producer David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Tool, David Sylvian, Mastodon, Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, Real World Studios), with Darren McGillengineering the album. Mastered by Noah Mintz, the cover art was created by Stephen Seto (Splintercage).

The most poignant and powerful artistic output stems from tragedy, and The Shadow Majlis is no exception. Amid a deluge of personal upheaval, this album has been Jafri's means to address his grief over losing his seven-year-old son Oisín, who passed away in September 2022 after a nine-month battle with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (a highly aggressive form of brain cancer), the dissolution of his conjugal relationship, and a year-long state of temporary homelessness. Recovering from such devastation is no simple task, but The Shadow Majlis has offered Jafri medicine for his soul, while presenting us an alternative sonic reality in which we can all find solace and relief.

"Mazdur means “labourer”, which came to me as İ watched how hard it was for Oisín to fight his losing battle to cancer. All the changes and adjustments. İ chose to have the song “mutate” through the different styles it weaves through. From the classical guitar to the dub reggae and ending on industrial with MRİ sounds mixed in. MRİs were hard on Oisín. Existing became hard labour for him but he wasnt ever far from having a laugh. He had a gracefulness about him which became apparent when it was observed by us as one of the constants through all the change. İ dream of him sometimes, he’s ever graceful then," explains Ali Jafri.

"Going “dub” on this was David J’s idea - hard to refuse. When İ realized he wanted to play dubby stuff, my reaction was ummm hello?? Yes please! My demo was originally more like the first half of the song, which Bottrill and İ had worked on. We saw Skinny Puppy during our sessions, which inspired the industrial ending. We recorded it the next day as a good way to conclude the “mutation” furthest away from its original form. The ending was also a good place for some of the angst I was feeling and that Oisín was feeling. The machine voices say “We Come To Leave”, a recurring line on the album - making it a concept, I guess."

The album features numerous guest performers, including vocalist Olena Tsybulska (DakhaBrakha), guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Mission, Peter Murphy, MGT, Tricky, Gary Numan), cellist Anne Bourne (Loreena McKennitt, Jane Siberry), Tuvan throat singer Soriah, Ravi Naimpally (Niyaz, Constantinople) on tabla, Pankaj Mishra on sarangi, Selmanpak Ayduz on ney, Kerem Koktas on kemanche, and Sasha Singer-Wilson on backing vocals.

Blending alternative music with the rich, diverse instrumentation and rhythms of world music, The Shadow Majlis leaves a distinct imprint on the ever-evolving soundscape. Recorded in Toronto, LA, Portland, Istanbul, Kyiv and Iceland, this is truly an international affair, with languages such as Urdu, Farsi, Arabic, Icelandic and Ukrainian woven with English throughout this album.

Calling the album a powerful achievement, David J says, "I believe that there are certain tracks and moments that act as portals into another dimension - I'm not being fanciful here!"

'The Departure' album is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. This album's creation was made possible through funding received from FACTOR.

ALBUM CREDITS
Ali Jafri - vocals, guitars, bass VI, electric sitar, percussion, programming, synthesizers, electronics, solfeggio pipes
David Bottrill - backing vocals, electronics, synthesizers
David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) - bass
Rakesh Tewari (Jaffa Road, The Special Interest Group) - drums, percussion
Olena Tsybulska (DakhaBrakha) - vocals
Mark Gemini Thwaite (Peter Murphy, Tricky, The Mission) - guitars
Anne Bourne (Loreena McKennit, Jane Siberry) - cello
Sasha Singer-Wilson - backing vocals
Soriah - Tuvan Throat Singing, Flute
Ravi Naimpally (Niyaz, Constantinople) - tabla
Pankaj Mishra - sarangi
Selmanpak Ayduz - ney
Kerem Koktas - kemancheh
Oisin Adams-Jafri - vocals, percussion, solfeggio pipes
Zayn Jafri - piano
Oscar Adams-Jafri - solfeggio pipes

All songs written by Ali Jafri and David Bottrill, except 'Elliðakot' (written by Ali Jafri) and 'The Departure (Kolyskova)' (written by Ali Jafri, David Bottrill and Olena Tsybulska)
Produced & Mixed by David Bottrill
Engineering by Darren McGill at Union Sound Company & David Bottrill at at Mainstatiion Music and Imagine Sound
Mastered by Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel
Graphic Design & Illustration by Stephen Seto
Photography by Justin Minister @secondhand_daylight
For Oisín...

Keep up with The Shadow Majlis
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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

Darkest Hour Announce Perpetual | Terminal Ale Available at DC Show

DARKEST HOUR — Mike Schleibaum [guitar], John Henry [vocals], Aaron Deal [bass], Travis Orbin [drums], and Nico Santora [guitar] — are pleased to announce their new beer collaboration with DC Brau. It arrives in celebration of the band's recently released 10th album Perpetual | Terminal, out now via MNRK Heavy. 

Perpetual | Terminal-Ale, an Amber Ale, is a true collaborative effort. Schleibaum even dropped the hops into the kettle with his own hands.

The beverage will be available at the band's April 6 hometown show at the Black Cat in Washington, DC. So come out and raise a glass!

DARKEST HOUR ON TOUR:
WITH MOUTH OF WAR, FILTH IS ETERNAL, I AM, + SOMNURI:
3/13 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
3/14 — Los Angeles, CA — 1720
3/15 — San Diego, CA — Brick By Brick
3/16 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Post (Roseville)
3/18 — Portland, OR — Dantes
3/19 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
3/21 — Salt Lake City, UT — Metro Music Hall
3/22 — Denver, CO — Marquis
3/23 — Wichita, KS — Lodge Room @ TempleLive
3/25 — Minneapolis, MN — Turf Club
3/26 — Chicago, IL — Reggies
3/27 — Detroit, MI — The Sanctuary
3/28 — Cleveland, OH — Asylum Room @ Templelive
3/29 — Pittsburgh, PA — Preserving Underground
3/30 — Toronto, ON — Axis
4/01 — Ottawa, ON — Brass Monkey
4/02 — Montreal, QC — Fairmount Theatere
4/03 — Quebec City, QC — La Source de la Martiniere
4/04 — Cambridge, MA — Sonia
4/05 — Brooklyn, NY — The Meadows
4/06 — Washington, DC — Black Cat

ABOUT DARKEST HOUR:
Darkest Hour, as a whole, have weathered time, trends, and tides of change and stand stronger nearly three decades since their formation. Their unique sonic style incorporates death metal exorcisms, thrash recklessness, hardcore punk attitude, and melodic catharsis at the speed of a circle pit.
  
"The record's theme centers around the duality of survival while embracing rebirth,'" says Schleibaum. "We keep killing parts of ourselves to make new parts and survive. The story of the record is the story of the band. We're still here, and we're giving the world a body of work that's representative of our music today. We've realized relationships, tours, good times, everything that seems to give life meaning, is terminal — and will inevitably end. Nevertheless, we're 46-year-old dudes who love this music enough to put up with the trials and tribulations of being artists in a touring band."
 
Darkest Hour clawed their way out of the DMV area in 1995. Throughout the ensuing years, they tallied tens of millions of streams and quietly built a diehard fan base. Canvasing the globe, they packed thousands of shows and touched down on every continent, save Antarctica. Along the way, they notably notched five Top 3 debuts on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. 2017's Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora marked the group's third #1 bow on the latter in addition to crashing the Top 10 of the Top Vinyl Albums Chart. It also represented a creative and critical high watermark. Beyond praise from Revolver, EXCLAIM!, and more, MetalSucks rated it a rare perfect score of "5-out-of-5" and hailed it as "the best album Darkest Hour have ever made." New Noise cited it as "one of the best of 2017," and Metal Hammer dubbed it "a monumental return." PopMatters crowned it "a masterclass in following your beliefs no matter where they might take you."

The latest album from Enterprise Earth is out now

Enterprise Earth has unleashed upon the world their hotly-anticipated new album 'Death: An Anthology'. 

In celebration of the news, the band shared their intensely brutal yet deeply poignant latest offering "Blood and Teeth" along with the accompanying music video. Speaking about "Blood and Teeth", the band shared:

"'Blood and Teeth' lays out a gut-wrenching story of poisonous attachment, a cycle of self-harm and submission to the tragic realization of how much pain one can put themselves through for the sake of another’s admiration. Musically, this is the most elaborate song on 'Death: An Anthology'.

Moving through a clean piano intro, to blazing leads over a catchy groove, to death metal riffage, to a catchy metalcore adjacent chorus, to a dare we say sexy bridge, only to unleash the filthiest breakdown of the album at the end. The video is a direct visual representation of this and we hope it evokes an emotional response similar to the ones felt in its production."

When asked about the album, guitarist, backing vocalist, and producer Gabe Mangold commented:

"I consider 'Death: An Anthology' to be our most expressive, intense, diverse, and finest work that Enterprise Earth has ever achieved so far and I hope I can say that with every body of music that we release. This album was SO much fun to create from every facet and while there are many peaks of brutality and valleys of melodic expressiveness, I hope the listener experiences the same emotions while listening that we did while creating: sheer enjoyment, empowerment, unity, catharsis, and so much more. Drown in Abyss, let it take us." 

Enterprise Earth will be touring with Inferi, Crown Magnetar, and Tracheotomy starting March 11th. Tickets available now!

4/11 Phoenix, AZ Nile Underground

4/12 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick

4/13 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction

4/14 San Francisco, CA Neck of The Woods 4/16 Portland, OR Dante's

4/17 Seattle, WA Madame Lou's

4/18 Spokane, WA The Big Dipper

4/19 Missoula, MT ZACC

4/20 Calgary, BC Dickens

4/21 Edmonton, BC Starlite

4/23 Winnipeg, MB Park Theatre

4/24 Minneapolis, MN Amsterdam Bar

4/25 Des Moines, IA xBk

4/26 Chicago, IL WC Social Club

4/27 Cleveland, OH TempleLive (Jester's)

4/28 Detroit, MI Sanctuary

4/29 Toronto, ON Hard Luck

4/30 Montreal, QC Fairmount Theatre

5/01 Portland, ME House of Music 

5/02 Worcester, MA Palladium Upstairs 

5/03 Mechanicsburg, PA Lovedraft's

5/04 Brooklyn, NY Meadows 

5/05 Albany, NY Empire Underground

05/07 Virginia Beach, VA Scandal's Live

05/08 Greensboro, NC Hangar 1819

05/09 W. Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern

5/10 Tampa, FL Crowbar

5/11 Orlando, FL Conduit

5/12 Fort Walton Beach, FL Downtown Music Hall

5/14 Houston, TX Scout Bar

5/15 Austin, TX Come and Take It Live

5/16 Ft. Worth, TX Haltom Theater (Side Stage)

5/17 Lubbock, TX Jake's

5/18 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad

5/19 Denver, CO HQ

GET TICKETS & VIP HERE

Enterprise Earth - Death: An Anthology Ghostly 2LP

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 WATCH ENTERPRISE EARTH VIDEOS HERE

EXHORDER RELEASES NEW ALBUM, 'DEFECTUM OMNIUM,'

NOLA thrash legends EXHORDER have released their long-anticipated new album, Defectum Omnium, today with Nuclear Blast Records. Sonically unrelenting, the band’s 4th record in a career spanning nearly 4 decades is classic EXHORDER. Revisiting their early influences of punk, hardcore and thrash, the band self-produced 12 merciless tracks that sound as vital as when they  first carved their groove in metal in 1985. Featuring crushing songs like ‘Year of the Goat’ and ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ and ominous cover artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), Defectum Ominum finds EXHORDER at the top of their game with one of the year’s most vicious records.

Vocalist/guitarist Kyle Thomas has said of the new record:

“It’s been quite a journey for Exhorder since the 2019 release of Mourn the Southern Skies. Lineup changes as well as the 2020-2021 pandemic and lockdown presented hurdles that weren’t easy to overcome. But we persevered, kept our heads down and went to work with intense focus and real goals. One of those goals was to bring our fourth full length album to our fan base. Defectum Omnium is a collaborative effort in songwriting, much as it was in the early days of Exhorder. We produced it ourselves, as we felt no need or desire to bring in anyone from the outside based upon our shared vision. It was also important to us not only to continue the natural progression this band has been in since the early 90’s, but to put a foot back into our roots. The influence punk and hardcore had on this band from getting our start in the New Orleans punk rock scene has a strong presence. We’ve also made sure to keep plenty of our thrash roots as well in our songwriting process. But we have also managed to keep our doom roots alive, which first surfaced on the song (Cadence of) the Dirge back in 1992. In fact, on one new song we have guest appearances by Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin from Trouble, and they absolutely killed it! 

From the time that we began pre-production until the actual release date, we can promise you that every bit of Defectum Omnium was crafted with great care, and we are really excited about it! Our goal was to make an album that WE loved and gives the experience of a journey.”

With today’s record release, EXHORDER has unveiled a new video for their next standout track, and album opener ‘Wrath of Prophecies.’

Thomas adds on the new single:

“Our third single, Wrath of Prophecies, is the opening track on Defectum Omnium. It is the oldest song title on the album, dating back to 2009. However, it was never truly completed as a song, though it did have its own line of merchandise at the time. Lyrically, it is a nod to the prophecies of Nostradamus, which were much more prevalent topics at that time based upon what many people felt were predicted end times. Regardless, it fit right into the overall theme of despair and hopelessness that Defectum Omnium embodies. Musically, it is a fierce and unrelenting thrasher. With the vocals committing to the song as soon as the entire band kicks in, “Wrath of Prophecies” grabs you by the throat right out of the gates. It is obvious and evident that there is something the listener must pay attention to, or turn away and play ostrich. Lacing melodies in with venomous, spitting aggression, this song is a feature example on this album of our commitment to returning to our roots, and not just the punk ones.”

Purchase/Stream Defectumm Omnium: https://exhorder.bfan.link/defectum-omnium

‘WRATH OF PROPHECIES’ MUSIC VIDEO BELOW

Following the release of Defectum Omnium in April, EXHORDER will kick off a US tour with Bay Area thrash legends VIO-LENCE, Virginian extreme metalheads DECEASED and LA death metal band MORTAL WOUND. The brutality starts April 5th in Cambridge, MA and will culminate April 13th in Chicago, IL.

Tickets are on sale now at the links below.

EXHORDER US Tour Dates:

April 5 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East (Tickets)

April 6 - Brooklyn, NY - Monarch (Tickets)

April 7 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts (Tickets)

April 8 - Baltimore, MD - The Ottobar (Tickets)

April 10 - Cleveland, OH - The Winchester (Tickets)

April 11 - Cincinnati, OH - Legends (Tickets)

April 12 - Detroit, MI - Sanctuary (Tickets)

April 13 - Chicago, IL - Reggies (Tickets)

About EXHORDER:

Formed in 1986, EXHORDER’s journey has proven exciting, yet tumultuous. After a twenty-seven-year absence following their final Roadrunner Records release in 1992, EXHORDER re-entered the game with an album considered by many to be a contender for the "Best Comeback Album" category. The band released Mourn the Southern Skies in October of 2019 through Nuclear Blast Records. Fraught with euphoric peaks and crippling valleys throughout its existence, lineup changes, and the 2020-2021 pandemic, EXHORDER has since clawed back through the muck to prepare yet another album to add to the discography. In the spring of 2024, EXHORDER presents yet again via Nuclear Blast their fourth full-length recording, Defectum Omnium,  the Latin phrase for "The Failure of All". Singer Kyle Thomas wryly explains that the album title is representative of the current state of affairs that the world is in. "The world is a dumpster fire, and we are all complicit.", he explains. "People have been talking about, ‘...viruses killing us off, blah-blah, blah...', when in actuality WE are the virus to the Earth. Mother Nature is simply trying to shake off the fleas, and her ‘viruses’ are the antibodies combating US. Earth will survive, and we will join the dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, and saber-toothed tigers soon enough in her history."
 
Produced by EXHORDER and mixed by Jens Bogren, Defectum Omnium puts a foot back into the roots of the band's inception. The scales have tipped favorably towards the presence of punk and thrash more so than on Mourn the Southern Skies. Tracks like ‘Wrath of Prophecies’, ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’, and ‘Sedition’ are what EXHORDER comes by most honestly when referring to their beginnings. There is also a strong presence of doom influence, as always. ‘The Tale of Unsound Minds’ and the haunting ‘Defectum Omnium/Stolen Hope’ will raise utter despair from the depths of your soul. The thick New Orleans grooves EXHORDER has been known for beating out since day one are still undeniable, and they stand out in tracks like ‘Year of the Goat’, ‘Under the Gaslight’, and ‘Three Stages of Truth/Lacing the Well’. 

One trait about Defectum Omnium that deserves to be pointed out is that it is more of a journey and experience than just a regurgitated selection of songs on autopilot. With peaks and valleys much like a roller coaster ride, one listener described the album as having "...a little something for everyone.". As EXHORDER has always been hard to classify by one genre, the album is loaded with heaviness, aggression, speed, and venom. It also has an equal presence of mystery, melody, and harmony, and vacillates between darkness and light. Themes that dart back and forth between surviving oppression, despair, revolution, and brittle hope take you through the band's madness by way of the musical path that they have forged. With touring plans underway in support of Defectum Omnium, EXHORDER finds itself poised to finally achieve the brass ring potential that has always seemed to be just out of their reach.

Follow EXHORDER:

https://www.exhorder.com/

https://www.facebook.com/exhorderofficial

https://www.instagram.com/exhorderofficial/

https://www.youtube.com/@ExhorderOfficial

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

Portland psych-rockers SUN ATOMS honor Leonard Cohen on 'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)' & announce tour dates

"Sun Atoms is a tripped-out opus packed with droning electronics, shimmering guitars, dayglo melodies and a deep, whispered delivery" ~ Brooklyn Vegan

"Swirling keyboards, chiming psych tinged licks and the foreboding attitude dashed vocals craft a foreboding and bristling concoction, it has echoes of the Mission, The Sisters of Mercy or the propulsive sound of Leonard Cohen‘s 'I'm Your Man’ album" ~ God is in the TV Zine

"Ebbing and flowing like Love and Rockets under a Spiritualized raga; the spirit of Bowie’s classic Moonage Daydream echoes through the band’s astral fabric” ~ First Look

"Artistic leap into an enthralling intersection of post-punk, indie rock and new wave... a gateway for your consciousness to coast into fascinating sonic realms" ~ Spill Magazine

“Sun Atoms bend and blend through luminary influences Leonard Cohen, The Cure, Moon Duo and Nick Cave in an amalgamation that combines psychedelic, dark wave, and post-modern pop” ~ The Big Takeover

"Sun Atoms fuses styles and sounds like a long lost Basquiat painting found in deep space among comets and stars” ~ Maximum Volume

Portland alternative pop / postmodern rock outfit Sun Atoms presents a unique fuzzed-out tribute to iconic songwriter Leonard Cohen with 'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)', released as the flipside of their new 'Ceiling Tiles' single.

Released via Little Cloud Records digitally and on 7" vinyl and mixed by the iconic Jagz Kooner (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Oasis, Garbage), this single is the first taste of the band's sophomore album (out ths summer). The accompanying video, produced by Bradley Tuazon, follows ghosts on a velvety caper through an endless maze through streets and a 113,000+ square foot state-of-the-art concert venue, the band members appearing like rare birds in the roles of madcap non-conformist odd fellows living outside of the lines.

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

2021 brought the band's debut album 'Let There Be Light', also produced by Holmström and mixed by the iconic Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries), involving performances by the likes of The Vandelles' Jasno Swarez, The Black Angels’ Alex Maas and Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, Blitzen Trapper).

"When I was a child, I saw a being made of light climb through my bedroom window, they stood at the foot of my bed and reached out to touch my foot," explains Jsun Atoms. "Mesmerizing and haunting, much like the new Sun Atoms single 'Ceiling Tiles', which reveals a story of characters living under a faux sky being manipulated to make it appear that the stars are aligning, when in fact, above this tiled Truman Show, the stars are doing just that. The characters in the song go about their day-to-day dance while the globe they are spinning on becomes an eye."

Sun Atoms kicked off 2024 by playing three sold-out shows at Portland’s historic Revolution Hall, opening for Dinosaur Jr., which presented the perfect chance to shoot their new video. With its long stairways and iconic brick facade as the ideal backdrop for this monochromatic video, here unfolds a mysterious tale of characters living between worlds and connected by Jean Cocteau’s famously mirrored portal.

Sun Atoms has also played shows with Modest Mouse, Fishbone, Besnard Lakes, The Veldt and New Candys, as well as performing at Seattle’s Freakout Fest and Portland’s Lose Yr Mind Fest with Allah Las, Broncho and Night Beats. 

The 'Ceiling Tiles' single is available on beautiful 7" vinyl and from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Sun Atoms are touring the West Coast in March-April, kicking off with Treefort Festival, where they join Ty Segall, A Place To Bury Strangers, Neko Case and Built To Spill. Tickets for this tour are now available to order.

CREDITS
'Ceiling Tiles' written by Peter G. Holmström, Jsun Atoms, June Kang, Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez, Mars de Ponte, Eric Rubalcava
Produced and Engineered by Peter G. Holmström at Air Traffic Control
Recording (additional drums) by Gregg Williams at The Trench Studio
Recording (add. vox) by Tommy Dietrick / Joshua Tree Recording Studio
Initial tracking by Eric Crespo at Red Lantern Studios
Mixed by Jagz Kooner at Stone Circle Studios
Mastered by Keith Tenniswood at Curve Pusher
Peter G. Holmström - bass, guitar, sequencers, keys
June Kang - MPC, synths, percussion
Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez - guitar, vocals
Mars de Ponte - guitar, keys, vocals
Eric Rubalcava - drums, percussion
Jsun Atoms - vocals, guitar
Cover artwork by James Coffman. Layout by Sean Gothman
Video directed and Edited by Brady Tuazon
'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)' written by Leonard Cohen
Released by Little Cloud Records 2024
'Ceiling Tiles' video directed by Brady Tuazon with support from Nigel Coutinho, Ryan Gamo, Erik Meharry and Hannah Glavor 
Artist photos by Erik Meharry 

TOUR DATES
March 23  BOISE, ID - Treefort Festival, In-store at Record Exchange
March 24  BOISE, ID - Treefort Festival, Shrine Social Club
March 25  SACRAMENTO, CA - Old Ironsides
March 27  LAS VEGAS, NV - The Usual Place
March 28  LOS ANGELES, CA - The Moroccan Lounge
March 29  PIONEERTOWN, CA - Red Dog Saloon
March 30  SAN FRANSCISCO, CA - Kilowatt
April 5  PORTLAND, Oregon - Star Theater
April 6 - SEATTLE, WA - Seagaze Festival, Tractor Tavern Seattle


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KMFDM touring USA in support of new 23rd studio album ‘LET GO’, marking illustrious 40-year career

Iconic music mavericks KMFDM have kicked off their month-long 20-date US tour, launched in support of their new 'LET GO' album, recently released via Metropolis Records. Celebrating 40 years of conceptual continuity in grand style, KMFDM is doin’ it again, rising up lean and mean.

'LET GO' marks the group’s 23rd studio album, with the core lineup of Sascha “Käpt’n K” Konietzko, Lucia Cifarelli, Andy Selway and Andee Blacksugarpresenting their signature onslaught of pulse-pounding rhythms, scorching electronics, blistering guitars, and vocals full of grit, growl, and grind addressing the social, political, and cultural ills of a world in perpetual turmoil.

The album arrives hot on the heels of the banger 'LET GO' and the latest single 'AIRHEAD' with its accompanying 210 Media-produced video taking us on a sentimental joyride down memory lane through a bygone era of American life.

Defying common definitions and shredding pre-conceived notions about who or what KMFDM is or isn’t genre-wise, this unique gem lyrically harkens back to growing up in America during the 70s and 80s. It'll have you reminiscing with a wink and a laugh as Lucia Cifarelli sings: "Born the year of the Chia pet - Blondes were in, but I’m brunette - Vietnam and Donkey Kong - I was busy getting high with Cheech & Chong.”

From the driving techno, dance and funk-infused thrust of 'LET GO' to the airily melodic and swirling vibes of 'AIRHEAD' and 'TOUCH', the grooving revolutionary oratory and percolating spaghetti western guitar and glitch-laden synth leads of 'TURN THE LIGHT ON' to the sneering and seething riot grrl fury of 'WHEN THE BELL TOLLS', the sinister hip-hop injected 'NEXT MOVE', the downright cinematic and Teutonic electro of 'ERLKÖNIG', and the virulent dub warcry of 'WW 2023' – KMFDM continues to break down barriers and immerse audiences in a bold new reality.

Always stylistically diverse, KMFDM continues to bridge the gaps between genres, coalescing into what we know and love as the Ultra Heavy Beat!  Konietzko and Cifarelli prove as vicious a team as ever, equally sharing vocal and lyrical duties, with longtime associate MC Ocelot appearing to give 'NEXT MOVE' an extra touch of raucous rap energy. All the while, Blacksugar’s prowess on six-strings continues to awe and astound, backed by Selway’s dynamic drumming, meshing with Konietzko’s masterful programming.

Mixed and mastered by Benjamin Lawrenz (VNV Nation, Deep Purple, Saga, Mono Inc., Lord of the Lost), at Chameleon Recording Studios in Hamburg, 'LET GO' signals KMFDM’s 40th anniversary loudly and proudly, with Aidan “BRUTE” Hughes’ distinctive cover artwork mirroring the album’s breakneck power. After four decades, the Ultra Heavy Beat simply refuses to rest in pity and regret, raising a sharpened middle finger at a world in chaos.

The 'LET GO' album is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. It is also being offered  on CD and as a Limited Edition Vinyl double LP. Tour tickets are available here.

ALBUM CREDITS
Sascha Konietzko - Bass, Beats, Synths & Vocals
Lucia Cifarelli - Vocals
Andy Selway - Drums
Andee Blacksugar - Guitars
MC Ocelot - Rap
Written by Blacksugar, Cifarelli, Konietzko, Selway
Produced by Sascha Konietzko
Recorded  at Kommandozentrale (Hamburg), Swamp Studios (Florida) & Casa Blacksugar (Brooklyn NY)
Mixed by Benjamin Lawrence & Sascha Konietzko
at Chameleon & Kommandozentrale (Hamburg)
Vocals on 'Airhead' mixed by Veronica Ferraro
Mastered by Benjamin Lawrence at Chameleon (Hamburg)
Art by BRUTE!
Layout by Chris Zander

Artist photos by Bobby Talamine

TOUR DATES
03/06 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
03/07 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
03/08 Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
03/09 New York, NY – Irving Plaza
03/10 Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
03/11 Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Midtown Arts CEnter
03/12 Boston, MA – Royale
03/14 Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater & Ballroom
03/15 Chicago, IL – Metro Chicago
03/16 Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
03/17 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
03/18 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
03/20 Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
03/21 Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
03/22 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
03/23 San Diego, CA – The Observatory
03/24 Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco Theater
03/25 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
03/27 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
03/28 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile


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