Canadian Hard Rockers HAREM SCAREM New Studio Album 'Chasing Euphoria' Out Now via Frontiers Music Srl

Today, Canadian hard rockers HAREM SCAREM are pleased to announce the release of their highly anticipated new studio album 'Chasing Euphoria,' out now via Frontiers Music Srl. In addition, the band has released the album's focus track, "In A Bad Way," which is accompanied by a visualizer, available to view below.

Vocalist Harry Hess comments on the new single:

“'In A Bad Way' is a throwback to our Deep Purple and early Whitesnake influences. If you were part of the music scene in the mid to late 80s, this will speak to you.”

Watch the Visualizer for “In A Bad Way”

HAREM SCAREM is finally back with their highly anticipated return album 'Chasing Euphoria,' their first new album in 5 years. Their new record is an absolute belter for all melodic hard rock fans and shows clearly why when a discussion arises on who are the current heavyweights of the melodic hard rock scene, the list of names being bantered about cannot avoid a mention of HAREM SCAREM. 

'Chasing Euphoria' brings back the band’s classic sound and shows a band at the top of their game. A cohesive unit still able to deliver a power-rock-packed punch, swaggering riffs, and hooks to die for. Harry Hess and Pete Lesperance, without a doubt, show the world that their partnership still works!

Order 'Chasing Euphoria' HERE

Arguably Canada’s finest melodic hard rock band, HAREM SCAREM were formed in 1987 by guitarist Pete Lesperance and singer Harry Hess, formerly of the heavy metal band Blind Vengeance. The lineup was rounded out by Darren Smith (drums) and Mike Gionet (bass).

They recorded a demo in 1999, and on its strength, they were signed with Warner Music. Their self-titled album was a significant success in Canada and paved the way for the release of the heavier 'Mood Swings' album in 1993, often considered the crown jewel of their early releases.

Enjoying a particular success in the land of the Rising Sun, HAREM SCAREM kept on releasing albums regularly during the 90s until they decided to ultimately change their name and music style to Rubber between 1999 and 2001. 

In 2002, the band returned to melodic hard rock with the milestone album 'Weight Of The World,' which was their first proper release in the European marketplace thanks to their newly signed deal with Frontiers. With the Italian label, HAREM SCAREM released another five original albums (not counting 2006’s 'Human Nature') until they took a break from recording in 2008 after the release of the album 'Hope.'

In December 2012, it was announced that a reunited HAREM SCAREM would headline the 10th Firefest festival in Nottingham, UK, in October 2013, to perform the 'Mood Swings' album in its entirety. The band regrouped and performed at Firefest and moved forward re-recording 'Mood Swings II,' a twentieth-anniversary re-recording of their critically acclaimed and fan-favorite second album. 

The three new songs on that release showed renewed musical vigor and chemistry. This new energy was confirmed on 2014's 'Thirteen' release, which was a definitive return to the sound that put HAREM SCAREM on the map over 20 years earlier. 

Two more acclaimed albums followed: 'United' (2017) and 'Change The World' (2020), where the band presented a new lineup featuring Harry Hess (lead vocals, keyboards), Pete Lesperance (guitars, keyboards), long-time drummer Creighton Doane, Mike Vassos on bass, and backing vocals from original sticksman Darren Smith.

With well over a million records sold in 43 countries and 12 top 40 hits around the globe, the new year will see HAREM SCAREM return and ready to dominate! Check them out on tour in Europe in spring!

HAREM SCAREM are:

Harry Hess - Lead & Backing Vocals, Keyboards

Pete Lesperance - Guitars and Bass

Creighton Doane - Drums

Darren Smith - Lead and Backing Vocals

TEETH | RELEASE NEW EP I AM THE WAY TO OBLIVION + RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'LET IT IN'

Coming off a string SOLD OUT shows with the CANCER BATS and a North American direct support run with NORMA JEAN, Canadian hardcore/metal powerhouse TEETH delivers their newest offering in the form of a 2 song EP. l Am the Way to Oblivion is raw and features unrelenting aggression while serving blended chaotic riffs, crushing breakdowns, and visceral intensity. The EP is now available for purchase on all streaming platforms.

The cherry on top of the sundae is the music video for their latest track, 'Let It In'. Watch the  music video for the frantic assault of jagged guitars, pummeling drums, and feral vocals, capturing the chaos of confinement.

TEETH comments, "A descent into obsession, and the battle for control. ‘Let It In’ is about the cycles we can’t break, and the darkness that begs to be let inside”.

Stream l Am the Way to Oblivion:
https://teeth.bfan.link/i-am-the-way-to-oblivion

I Am the Way to Oblivion EP was recorded earlier this year at Destroyer Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. It was produced by the band and engineered by Chris LeMasters. For the mixing and mastering of the EP, the band once again worked with Lance Prenc (ALPHA WOLF, POLARIS, VOID OF VISION). The album artwork was created by Tiltshift Visual and Chris LeMasters.


In May, they hit London Music Hall as direct support for IN FLAMES, headlining Pouzza Fest in Montreal, and were just announced as part of the lineup for legendary New England Metal and Hardcore Festival.  The band is set to announce more North American tour dates soon!

TEETH live dates
05.01 London, ON @ London Music Hall w. IN FLAMES
05.17 Montreal, QC @ Pouzza Fest
09.20 Worcester, MA @ New England Metal and Hardcore Festival

Driven by rage, TEETH’s sound is an unfiltered, cathartic eruption of fury and despair.

TEETH is:
Blake Prince | Vocals
Chris LeMasters | Guitar
Bryan Beerbaum | Guitar
Marc Quagliarini | Bass
Seb Lalonde-Ricardi | Drums

More information:
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Soulful Sound & Introspection: Kelsey Michael's 'Lethowsow' album is out now via Dimple Discs

Emerging from southwestern England, Kelsey Michael unveils her first solo effort, 'Lethowsow', released by Peckham-based imprint Dimple Discs. Drawing inspiration from the iconic piano-driven sounds of 60s and 70s artists like Laura Nyro and Carole King, this seven-song collection blends modern art-pop sensibility with powerful vocals, feel-good melodies reminiscent of classic pop, and mesmerizing folk drones.

With this album, Kelsey Michael's unique sound having garnered BBC 6 Music support from Radcliffe and Maconie, and also Gilles Peterson, in addition to rave reviews from an array of publications, with UNCUT's Rob Hughes dubbing this "Nyro-esque rapture" and "beguiling... infused with natural wonder".

Kelsey's own history in the music scene is many-storied. Previously a theatre performer and movie soundtrack singer, you may also recognize her voice from Jocelyn Pook’s score for Stanley Kubrick’s final film 'Eyes Wide Shut' or through her collaborations with Anglo-Irish avant-pop band The High Llamas and their endlessly inventive songwriter Sean O’Hagan. In fact, she features on five of Sean’s albums, including his  2019 solo release 'Radum Calls Radum Calls'.

Many moons have passed since her first job as a backing singer for music legends The The on their European tour. Since then Kelsey Michael has released two EPs with her previous London-based band Minnow, the second of which (‘Out Of The Woods’) came out on Stereolab label Duophonic and also involves Sean O’Hagan, receiving notable praise from The Wire and The Guardian, among others.

Celebrating song whilst transporting us to the magical wild West Cornwall landscape - Kelsey’s chosen home, anchor and inspiration - this album is a cinematic breath of fresh air. "Lethowsow" (pronounced Laith-oh-so), means ‘the milky ones’ in old ‘Kernewek’ language - this old Cornish name being given the treacherous Seven Stones reef off Lands End, a large stretch of vertical rocks like sharks’ teeth which are always covered with white water. Kelsey loved the soft sound of this word, describing the rocks in a magical way, as if they were characters.

For Kelsey, this album represents the awesome and humbling power of nature, the sea being a major character in this release. 'Swimming' takes us wading into waves, "cooling off the heat deep inside", with watery glissando from stunning harpist Benjin Musiq. 

This album also features vocal performances by folk artist Angeline Morrison (creator of 'The Sorrow Songs: folk songs of black British experience') and Maria Heseltine, as well as Kelsey's daughter, May Robson (MAY). Acoustic bassist Ben Kypreos and percussionist Greg Dyer also contribute to this album's sound with rich harmony and a magically fresh sound.

Earlier, Kelsey Michael shared the feel-good 'Mounts Bay Morning' and the Jobim- and Morricone-influenced lead track 'Music Of The Waves', the video for which features the lush landscape that is so inspirational to her, with images of hedgerow, shore and moors thrown up to catch the light, along with a tumble of beautiful Cornish place names.

Named for the Isles of Scilly freight ship, folklore-filled sea ballad 'Gry Maritha' serenades this hardy blue boat in rhapsodic style - think Gerry and The Pacemaker’s 'Ferry across the Mersey 'in session with The Carpenters. Telling multiple stories, it touches on the folklore of the waters of the Scilly crossing whilst simultaneously uncovering hidden moments of a mother and child whose daily rhythms overlap with the ship’s departure and return.

'Tide Comes In / The Crossing' gets real about rural poverty in Penzance, still finding cause to celebrate the resilience, creativity and community support networks so often invisible to visitors. The inevitable ebb and flow of the tides gives certainty in troubled times when it can feel there is little to rely on.

This immersive music experience comes home to the wonder of small domestic moments in 'Washing Line', featuring exquisitely phrased guest vocals by Angeline Morrison. By hanging the stuff of our lives on the washing line, so to speak, we are able to gain perspective, let go of habitual obstacles and move on. In this final song, we are given musical headspace and a moment to pour some balm on modern life.

'Lethowsow' is out now on CD and vinyl via Dimple Discs, and is also available digitally via Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

Keep up with Kelsey Michael
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Dimple Discs
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Ian Munsick Releases 3rd Studio Album, ‘Eagle Feather’

When Wyoming native Ian Munsick performed his sold-out Red Rocks Amphitheatre debut last year, a surprise on-stage adoption by the Crow Tribe moved him to his core, setting him on a creative trajectory toward his third album. Inspired by the gifts his Native friends presented him that night, including an eagle feather he proudly wears in his hat, the concept and title of Eagle Feather was born.
 
Listen to Eagle Feather, available everywhere now, HERE.
 
Eagle Feather is the culmination of a three-part thematic trilogy where Munsick used animals as inspirational spirits, which started with Coyote Cry, his debut album. With the eagle feather representing honor, strength and wisdom, it highlights Munsick’s personal growth through life experiences and lessons learned that have shaped him into who he is. 
 
“If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been listening to my music for at least a couple years. Some of you have probably even been spreading the word of the west for a decade. No matter what side of the coin you’re on, Eagle Featheris for YOU,” Munsick proclaims. “I can confidently say that this is the best album I’ve made. But it’s not mine anymore… it’s yours. 
 
“All the countless hours we spent pondering lyrics, crafting melodies and tweaking tones were all because we want you to love every second of this project,” he adds. “You have blessed my career beyond belief. Thank you will never be enough, but hopefully this album will. Your next favorite song of mine awaits.”
 
Eagle Feather opens with the first of three Prairie Laments that bookend the project, appearing at the beginning, middle and end. Setting the tone for the album, Munsick longingly declares his love for Wyoming, and his desire to set his legacy there.
 
In between, Munsick sets forward the pillars upon which the album’s meaning and message are based: honor, love and authenticity, which in turn, is a code of how to live. 
 
Tapping into his friends was pivotal for this album, as evident in the title track, co-written with singer-songwriter Stephen Wilson Jr. Getting together to write on a late afternoon in Nashville, Munsick shared with him the honor of being adopted into the Crow Tribe. As he listened, Wilson started to play his gut string in his unique tuning. From that, Wilson said, “Gave you my heart like eagle feather,” and just like that, a song was formed. 
 
For a good portion of 2024, Munsick was on the road with another rising Wilson: Lainey. While on the road, he cooked up the deeply personal and delicately poignant “Feather In My Hat.” Munsick knew that if Wilson lent her vocals, it would give it another layer of emotional depth. After a show at New York City’s legendary Radio City Music Hall, Munsick asked Wilson if she’d contribute her vocals. The answer was a resounding yes. 
 
Watch the “Feather In My Hat” official music video, out now, below.

Munsick was also able to draw from personal experiences and stories to show how life’s little moments can be its most impactful. One example of this can be found on “Wolf Creek Road,” a powerful moment where Munsick reflects on a true story after a night out at the rodeo when he was a teenager, when he had a close call and rolled his car. His father, none too pleased, drove him back to that area to show him a wooden cross on the side of the road and didn’t say a word. For Munsick, the silence was deafening and said everything. That “what might have been if you weren’t careful” moment is somberly reflected throughout the song’s gut-wrenching four minutes. 
 
The heaviness of the album culminates in its last track, “The Gate.” The track features three generations of Munsicks, with his father and young son participating in the intro and outro, symbolizing leaving the world, or in this case, the gate, just as good as you found it.
 
To commemorate the album’s release, Munsick partnered with Montana Silversmiths to launch an exclusive jewelry collection featuring unique pieces that blend traditional Western style with contemporary flair, available now exclusively at Boot Barn Nashville stores and BootBarn.com.

About Ian Munsick
A native son of Wyoming, Ian Munsick has accumulated over 900 million global streams across two albums – Coyote Cry and White Buffalo – and a host of accolades, including 19 awards and 14 festival selections for his documentary, White Buffalo: Voices of the West. Having painted a stampeding, spirited portrait of the American West with his sophomore album White Buffalo in 2023, Munsick is expanding on the concepts of the land, people, culture and stories that inspire him, readying the project’s follow-up 20-track album, Eagle Feather, due on April 18, 2025 via Warner Music Nashville. In addition to selling over 100,000 headlining tickets in 2024, Munsick also opened on select dates of Lainey Wilson’s Country’s Cool Again Tour and supported Morgan Wallen on select dates of his record-setting One Night At A Time Tour. Munsick is currently headlining his spring Horses Are Faster Tour. He has been named an “Artist to Watch” by Spotify, CMT, Fender, MusicRow and most recently was named a Martin Showcase Artist. Standout duet “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson) off of White Buffalo hit No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 30 Countdown, was named one of Amazon Music’s Best Country Songs of 2022 and recently received RIAA Gold-certification alongside “Long Haul” and “Horses Are Faster.” Fans of Ian Munsick will always find an open heart, natural awe and plainspoken honesty as he rides on… bringing the West to the rest. Online at IanMunsick.com.

Out Today! - Exterminatus - Echoes From A Distant Star Part 1

Formed in the depths of Vancouver, Canada, in 2013, the death metal colossus EXTERMINATUS is poised to unleash their third studio assault, Echoes From A Distant Star Part 1, on April 18, 2025. The album is a culmination of over a decade of relentless crafting and intense recording sessions, symbolizing the band's evolution into a formidable force within the metal scene.

The narrative of Echoes From A Distant Star Part 1 unfolds across its tracks, each serving as a chapter in a grand cosmic saga that explores the origins of the universe and the haunting truths hidden within its expansive reach. The journey begins with the turbulent force of "Cosmic Disturbance" and traverses through a series of dark revelations, culminating in an unexpected twist with a metal rendition of "Rock Me Amadeus."

Drawing inspiration from the cosmic and dystopian visions found in the works of Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke, as well as the expansive narratives of "Stargate SG:1" and the "Mass Effect" series, the album offers a profound exploration of existence through its lyrical and musical depth. Songs like "Primordial Sea" and "Starbound" feature brutal drum patterns and shredding riffs, echoing the thematic and sonic complexity that EXTERMINATUS is known for.

The formidable lineup delivering this sonic onslaught includes Max Sepulveda on drums, Tabreez Azad wielding guitar and vocals, Elia Baghdaniyan on guitar, Luka Bresan as the lead vocal force, and Lucas Abreu anchoring the low end on bass. The band themselves drove the production, with recording, mixing, and mastering helmed by Max Sepulveda and Zack Ohren at The Beat Lab, ensuring every note conveys the intended ferocity. The album's striking visuals were crafted by Mark Cooper, encapsulating the album's thematic essence.

Key tracks like "Cosmic Disturbance" come alive with an accompanying music video, while "The Signal" and "Primordial Sea" are depicted through haunting lyric videos, offering a window into the album’s dark narrative.

Echoes From A Distant Star Part 1 marks a pivotal chapter for EXTERMINATUS, as they delve into the abyssal depths of death metal, challenging the boundaries of the genre with philosophical narratives and thunderous compositions. 

About EXTERMINATUS:

Since their formation in 2013, EXTERMINATUS has evolved into a dominant force within the technical death metal scene. Their journey began with the debut album Veni Vidi Vici, which immediately set the tone for their aggressive style characterized by rapid-fire riffs, relentless drumming, and devastating vocals. By the time their second album Laniakea was released in 2018, EXTERMINATUS had firmly established themselves not just as a project but as a mainstay, pushing the boundaries of technical death metal.

The current lineup features the dual-guitar attack of Tabreez Azad and Elia Baghbaniyan, combined with the unstoppable rhythm section of Max Sepulveda and Lucas Abreu, and the ferocious lead vocals of Luka Bresan. This potent combination creates a sound that is both brutally precise and expansively atmospheric, drawing comparisons to luminaries like Aeon, Decapitated, and The Faceless, yet with a distinct identity that is entirely their own.

Thematically, EXTERMINATUS ventures into the cosmic unknown, exploring vast astronomical themes and the fundamental forces of the universe. Their narratives delve into complex physical phenomena and the chilling mysteries of space, a theme that resonates deeply in their upcoming release, Echoes From A Distant Star Part 1, scheduled for release on April 18, 2025. This album promises to fuse their signature technical complexity with a hauntingly eerie cosmic atmosphere.

EXTERMINATUS's impact on the scene is underscored by their dynamic live performances, highlighted by appearances at festivals such as Armstrong Metalfest and Loud As Hell Festival. Collaborations with notable figures like Andrew Baena, Dean Lamb, and Mike Greenwood have further solidified their reputation, expanding their influence and showcasing their ability to innovate within the genre.

With their intricate compositions, powerful performances, and forward-thinking approach, EXTERMINATUS not only captivates their audience but also promises a continual evolution. As they prepare to release Echoes From A Distant Star Part 1, they stand at the forefront of technical death metal, ready to explore new sonic territories and deepen their exploration of the cosmos.

EXTERMINATUS is:

  • Tabreez Azad – Guitar/Vocals

  • Elia Baghbaniyan – Guitar

  • Luka Bresan – Lead Vocals

  • Max Sepulveda – Drums

  • Lucas Abreu – Bass


Album Credits:

  • Producer: EXTERMINATUS

  • Recording Studio: The Beat Lab

  • Engineer: Max Sepulveda

  • Mastering: Zack Ohren

  • Mixing: Max Sepulveda

  • Album Cover Artist: Mark Cooper

  • Album Formats: Digital and CD


Connect With EXTERMINATUS:


HEAVEN'S GATE (ft. Members of MUNICIPAL WASTE, CANNIBAL CORPSE, etc.) Releases New Album, 'Tales From a Blistering Paradise'

Hardcore punk outfit HEAVEN'S GATE is now releasing its brand new full-length, 'Tales From a Blistering Paradise,' today, April 18! The album is now available worldwide digitally as well as vinyl via Beach Impediment and CD and cassette via To Live A Lie. Listen and order HERE.

The cover artwork was created by Steak Mountain aka/Christopher Norris and can be found below along with the tracklisting.

When most people think of Florida, they might picture retirement villages with seniors playing pickleball, luxurious Lamborghinis cruising to the beach, or leather-skinned swamp folks with a passion for NASCAR. However, Florida is also home to some of the fiercest punk bands imaginable. HEAVEN'S GATE is one such band. Instead of exuding the raw grime of ASSÜCK, HEAVEN'S GATE channels their rage into a powerful, concise, blast-beating behemoth. With members of bands that will wow you, the band really wants their music to speak for itself, so we won’t mention that they have the ranks of CANNIBAL CORPSE, MUNICIPAL WASTE, REVERSAL OF MAN, or WARTHOG members aboard. Their riffs are infectious in the way that bands like BIB and BLOODKROW BUTCHER haunt you but more in a way if you spit-shined the sound and added a good measure of blast beats to put a smile on the face of those who worship at the altar of SPAZZ, INFEST, Dystopia or DRI. This album fills so many wants in an album while not being derivative or really being a copy of any related bands. Without boring you more with a description, do yourself a favor and check out HEAVEN’S GATE and you won’t be disappointed.

Lineup: Vocals: Tony Foresta

Guitar: Mike Goo

Bass: Jeff Howe

Drums: Paul Mazurkiewicz 

Album credits:

Recorded by Ryan Boesch at Candor Studios

Additional Tracking by Eric Payne

Mixed by Will Killingsworth

Mastered by Joel Grind

Cover Artwork: Steak Mountain aka/Christopher Norris

Finnish Powerhouse Vocalists LAURENNE/LOUHIMO Release New Album 'Falling Through Stars' via Frontiers Music Srl

Today, LAURENNE/LOUHIMO - the collaboration between powerhouse Finnish vocalists Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) and Netta Laurenne (Smackbound) – are proud to release their sophomore album 'Falling Through Stars,' out now via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate, the band has released a new single titled "All For Sale" which is accompanied by a visualizer, available to view below.

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO is one of the most exciting projects on Frontiers Music Srl and, in this second chapter, deliver a full force metal assaults with the power to blow you away. 

Talking about the new single, Netta Laurenne commented:

“'All For Sale' is one of the metal ballads on the new album. It is a story of lost love that evolves into the realization that love is never truly lost but instead serves as a teacher. That heartache has a deeper purpose in our lives as a catalyst and healer.”

This new album from LAURENNE/LOUHIMO offers listeners a mix of heavy metal and hard rock tracks that explore the variety of the genre while maintaining a straightforward, easy-to-enjoy appeal.

 

'Falling Through Stars' has shades of all eras of Rainbow here and there, as well as Judas Priest and many other 80s icons of the style. All of these influences are expertly filtered into Netta and Noora's way of composing music. 

Watch the Visualizer for “All For Sale” Below:

The idea of a possible collaboration between Netta and Noora became a reality once the pandemic started and cleared out calendars for both artists. It felt like a perfect time to start the project and share all the things they have in common, from the same original town to similar idols and influences.

The main highlights of the album are, naturally, the vocal melodies created and shared by Netta Laurenne and Noora Louhimo.

'Falling Through Stars' has been once again produced at the Sonic Pump studio under the guidance of Nino Laurenne (who also played the guitars and contributed to the songwriting). The production is clear and powerful and gives the deserved value to the two stars here.

 

Songs like “Falling Through Stars,” “Damned,” “Loud And Clear,” or “Wait” are just a few of the highlights of a great album that will please all melodic metal fans!

Commenting on the album, Netta states:

“'Falling Through Stars' is the second collaborative album with Noora, and it gave us the opportunity to step in and out of our comfort zones to meet halfway. We had a great time writing and recording the album, which I co-produced with my husband, Nino Laurenne. This album takes us on a journey through both the past and future of metal. We’ve aimed to incorporate styles, instruments, and emotions spanning from the ’70s to the present day. It’s a dynamic album that showcases both raw power and delicate moments, and we’re excited to share it with everyone.”

Order 'Falling Through Stars' HERE

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO are:

Netta Laurenne - Lead & Backing Vocals

Noora Louhimo - Lead & Backing Vocals

Sampo Haapaniemi - Drums

Pasi Heikkilä - Bass

Vili Itäpelto - Keyboards & Programming

Mikko Kosonen - Solo/Acoustic/Lead & Additional Guitars

Nino Laurenne - Rhythm & Solo Guitars

WITHIN DESTRUCTION Release New Album 'ANIMETAL', Drop Video for New Track "HIDE & SICK

Slovenian cyber-metal disruptors Within Destruction have officially unleashed their highly anticipated new album, ANIMETAL today via Sumerian Records. Alongside the release, the band has dropped a brand-new music video for the track “HIDE & SICK,” further pushing their vibrant, hyper-stylized ANIMETAL universe into overdrive.

Listen to ANIMETAL HERE

Watch the video for brand new track “HIDE & SICK” below.

Speaking on today’s release, drummer Luka Vezzosi shares:

“We believe that Animetal is our most authentic release to date—a true fusion of who we are as individuals smashed together into a cohesive, high-energy experience. At its core, the music is still metal, but we’ve pushed the boundaries of borrowing and blending elements from other genres to make things even more dynamic, unpredictable and exciting. We hope listeners can connect with it and enjoy the ride as much as we had while writing it.”

True to its name, ANIMETAL delivers an audio-visual blitz of glitchy brutality, trap-influenced breakdowns, and J-pop-inspired earworms—all wrapped in the band’s signature aesthetic. With each track, Within Destruction expands their genre-defiant sonic palette while maintaining a core heaviness that anchors the chaos.

ANIMETAL features previously released singles including “CYBERGIRL,” “KANASHIBARI,” “DEMON CHILD,” and the emotionally charged “INCOMPLETE.” The album sees Within Destruction continue their streak of evolution, seamlessly weaving in clean vocals, gutturals, electronic and anime inspired flourishes, and a flair for the theatrical.

Stream the album and purchase accompanying merch bundles (including the infamous instant noodles) are available now at https://sumerian.lnk.to/animetal

Within Destruction kicked off their 2025 with a bang. The band hit the road in the US in January for their Super Sugoi Headline dates.They then joined Born of Osiris for their US run. Now, the band are wowing fans across Australia and Asia on their spring tour across both continents to celebrate the release of ‘ANIMETAL.’ Tickets and further information are available HERE.

About Within Destruction

Within Destruction are an innovative metal group from Slovenia. They have been disrupting the deathcore and metalcore scenes since their formation in 2010. Known for their intense sound, the band uniquely incorporates electronic elements and anime samples into their music, adding layers of unpredictability that have captivated fans worldwide. They gained international recognition with their 2016 album 'VOID,' and their irreverent approach to metal, which has built a dedicated global following.

Their third album, 'DEATHWISH,' which was mixed and mastered by Will Putney, further solidified their reputation. Featuring fan-favorite tracks like "Human Defect" and the title track, leading to their first European headliner tour, as well as a breakthrough in the U.S. market. In 2020, they took a bold step with 'YOKAI,' an album that divided fans by blending metalcore with electronic and trap influences, all while integrating anime-inspired themes.

Continuing to push boundaries, the band released 'LOTUS' in 2022, leaning further into metalcore and embracing clean vocals, which sparked both outrage and admiration among listeners. Known for their ambitious live performances and relentless dedication, Within Destruction remains a force in modern metal, constantly evolving and challenging genre norms. With ‘ANIMETAL,’ they’re poised to deliver their boldest statement yet. 

Epica Release "Aspiral" + Video for "Fight to Survive"

Symphonic metal forebears EPICA are thrilled to finally release their brand-new studio album, Aspiral, today. The band invites fans to immerse themselves in the full sonic journey as it is meant to be experienced: from start to finish in one go.

"All of us in the band pushed each other to create the best possible album," Epica share. "We've once again explored new musical and lyrical frontiers, and we hope Aspiral resonates with you as deeply as it does with us. The whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts — this album is meant to be experienced in full."

Stream Aspiral here. 

In conjunction with the album release, EPICA have unveiled a sci-fi-themed music video for "Fight to Survive – The Overview Effect." The track draws inspiration from the cognitive shift experienced by astronauts after observing Earth from space — a powerful moment of awe, interconnectedness, and a profound appreciation for the planet’s fragility.

"Musically, this song encapsulates the full spectrum of EPICA," the band explains. "From heavy to soft, uplifting to melancholic — 'Fight to Survive' embodies it all."

The visually striking video was once again brought to life by Remko Tielemans and produced by Kollektiv Kunststoff, who also directed the band's previous singles "Arcana" and "Cross the Divide."

With Aspiral now released, EPICA are ready to bring their new music to life on stage. The band will embark on a North American tour next month, kicking off in the United States and Mexico, followed by a summer filled with major European festival appearances.


Tickets, VIP upgrades, and tour info is available here.

EPICA ON TOUR:
5/6 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza
5/8  — Atlanta, GA  — Masquerade
5/10  — Los Angeles, CA  — The Bellwether 

BATTLE BEAST - NEW ALBUM 'CIRCUS OF DOOM – LIVE IN HELSINKI 2023' OUT NOW

With six records since their formation in 2008, four consecutive number #1 albums, and the strongest line-up the Finnish power/symphonic metal group ever had, it’s about time BATTLE BEAST present a proper live album! With 'Eden (Live in Helsinki 2023)' they celebrate the release of Circus Of Doom – Live in Helsinki 2023, a triumphant display of entertaining and monumental heavy rock. The new live album Circus Of Doom - Live In Helsinki 2023 filmed & recorded at Helsinki Ice Hall in front of 3.000 ecstatic fans will be released on April 11th via Nuclear Blast Records. BATTLE BEAST´s european tour starts with a bang on October 17th with their biggest German headline show to date at Hamburg’s Inselpark Arena, the tour will keep the band on the road until mid-December. To complete the bill with melodic metal superiority, DOMINUM will join the tour as their special guest and Sweden’s rising power metal force MAJESTICA as their opening act. All tourdates are listed below. 

Noora Louhimo quotes excited: ”It was such a special moment to perform our song ”Eden” - the long time favorite of our fans, in Helsinki Ice Hall. The audience got to be part of the song as the heavenly choir and sang with us the whole time. I still get goosebumps while thinking about it. Go check it out and enjoy!”    

Order/Stream Circus Of Doom - Live In Helsinki 2023 here: https://battlebeast.bfan.link/circus-of-doom-live
Watch the new live video for 'Eden (Live In Helsinki 2023)' below:

About BATTLE BEAST:
Close to two decades into their career, with six records, 300M+ streams, four consecutive number #1 albums, and the strongest line-up the Finnish symphonic heavy metal group ever had, it’s about time BATTLE BEAST release a proper live album. Now, Circus Of Doom – Live in Helsinki 2023 finally comes out via Nuclear Blast Records on April 11th, 2025 as digital album and Limited Edition CD plus Blu-ray Digipak. 

Offering 117 minutes of playing time, 15 songs, a stunning 24-page booklet showing the band’s impressive stage and performance in a series of photos by Jaakko Manninen, and artwork by Jan Yrlund, Circus Of Doom – Live in Helsinki 2023 is a triumphant testimony to BATTLE BEAST’s one of a kind adventurous and monumental music. Recorded in the Helsinki Ice Hall on January 27, 2023, mixed by the band’s “keytarist” Janne Björkroth and mastered at the legendary Finnvox by Mika Jussila, this massive live package is a highlight for every dedicated fan out there and perfectly captures the ambitious dystopian carnival show BATTLE BEAST put up during their past touring cycle. And rest assured that Noora, Janne, Joona, Juuso, Eero and Pyry are already preparing an even more exciting new chapter for their fantastic tale that will hit you straight to the heart and take you beyond the burning skies.

BATTLE BEAST is:
Noora Louhimo | vocals
Eero Sipilä | bass
Joona Björkroth | guitars
Juuso Soinio | guitars
Janne Björkroth | keyboards
Pyry Vikki | drums

Maryland-based blackened power metal artist EXILED HOPE is excited to announce the release of Apocrypha,

Maryland-based blackened power metal artist EXILED HOPE is excited to announce the release of Apocrypha, the third installment of its ongoing musical narrative. This twelve-track album follows a new protagonist who seeks guidance from familiar (yet otherworldly) forces as he uncovers the truth about the path to success laid out before him, further expanding the story EXILED HOPE has crafted.

“The Summoning” is the track that opens the album, showcasing the struggles and deep battle ahead for the protagonist, setting a preface for the upcoming melodies. “The Day Will Come” and “Blood Of The Ancients” follow suit, melodically taking inspiration from the likes of KAMELOT and NIGHTWISH to add softer tones of suspense. On a lighter note, “Dreamwalker” introduces variety and balances the album’s heavier songs through a two-part ballad, featuring Metal Matt as the first guest appearance in the discography. “Over For You” swiftly transitions into a unique blend of folk and melodic death metal, featuring rapid guitar riffs and empowering lyrics.

“Altar Of Moloch” is the second song with a cameo, Imperator Mortem, and is the “call to action” of this album, giving a sobering to the protagonist for the second half of his treacherous trek.  “The Silence Is Deafening” depicts a lovers’ quarrel, with two conflicting perspectives that create a sense of distance, confusion, and resentment—emotions that drive the protagonist through the second phase of their journey. “Behold My Shattered Skies” takes a complete 180 from the overall nature of Apocrypha, embracing a full folk style infused with hints of synth, drawing inspiration from the video game The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt.

The longest track on the record is “Deathslayer”. At 8 minutes and 11 seconds, “Deathslayer” gives contrast to the vocals, with layers of growls and lighter choral layers, and shows the protagonist’s inner power being used to its fullest extent. “Lightborn” is a love letter to the bands that heavily inspired this album. With sweet synths and hard hitting riffs, this song also serves as an inspiration to choose the higher path and recognize one’s worth.

“Remnants” is a strictly instrumental piece of ambience, the calm before the storm that is the finale, “Forbidden Majesties”. “Forbidden Majesties” closes out Apocrypha perfectly, wrapping up the ambience with notes of both heavier and lighter styles, giving the natural conclusion this album deserves.

Sofia, the visionary behind EXILED HOPE, comments on the album “The release of Apocrypha represents 3 years of practice, exploration, trial and error, learning, and a lot of overthinking. I started working on this album in July 2021, then realized that I didn't have the skills I needed to create the music I wanted to create. After I released "Dreamwalker" as a single in April 2022, I took a short hiatus from working on original music to sharpen up my skills, take lessons, and play around with making covers as practice. During this time, I also started law school, which was such a huge time commitment that I didn't touch my guitar for the entire fall semester in 2022. I started working on music again during winter break, since I didn't feel like myself when I completely stepped away from it, and had learned better time management skills at that point. That knowledge resulted in the release of several more singles to generate attention for the album in 2023 and 2024, and I can finally, confidently say that I have a cohesive work that I am proud of, after years of nitpicking it endlessly. The songs each have their own unique character, given the long time span over which I nitpicked and tinkered with them, but they also flow together like chapters in a book or scenes in a movie. That's what I think makes a great album: songs that stand out on their own while carrying the album through their pacing and placement. Apocrypha feels detailed and relatable, yet larger-than-life, and I hope you enjoy the journey of listening to it as much as I enjoyed the journey of creating it. Creating music is about the journey as much as it is about the destination, or the final product.”

About EXILED HOPE:

Multi-instrumentalist Sofia Frasz established EXILED HOPE in 2019, and draws musical inspiration from the likes of AVANTASIA, NIGHTWISH, KAMELOT and CRADLE OF FILTH to name a few. EXILED HOPE’s releases all take place in the same fictional universe and combine to form a dark fantasy metal opera. Each album centers on a character dealing with both an internal and external conflict in this world, and the lyrics explore how they navigate those conflicts. This is intended to provide some kind of escapism through the lyrical world building, while still keeping the songs grounded in real, relatable emotions despite their fantastical setup. EXILED HOPE is working towards the next album, Apocrypha, due to be released April 11th, 2025. Through EXILED HOPE, Sofia has composed music for two short films, Hallowed Paths and What Happens After Midnight, and has collaborated with UK melodeath outfit STEEL FORGE.

EXILED HOPE is:

Sofia Frasz - all instruments and all vocals

Kolby Cooper's Highly-Anticipated Album 'Love You, Goodnight' Out Now

Dubbed “Country music’s newest badass” by People, Kolby Cooper returns with Love You, Goodnight—a no-holds-barred, emotionally charged album that hits like a shot of whiskey and stays with you like a scar that sparks a good story. Fueled by raw honesty, gritty vocals and a rebel spirit that refuses to play it safe, it’s a thrill ride through heartbreak, redemption and everything in between. Stream Love You, Goodnight now—available everywhere HERE.
 
“Making this album really kicked my ass. It took longer than I wanted it to, yet we dug down deep on this one and I think it really gives a glimpse into my life over the last few years,” shares Cooper. “There’s the part of me that is focused on being a great husband and dad to my wife and kids and then there’s the other side that is trying to make this dream happen out here on the road...and with all of that I think you will feel that there is an underlying theme of brokenness on this album that maybe writing and singing about it helps others not feel quite so alone.”
 
Establishing himself as a skilled songwriter, Cooper has been recognized as “the current buzzworthy artist in country music” (People) and is making waves with his 2025 headlining tour. At just 25 years old, he has spent the past six years captivating audiences and is “well on his way to headlining shows at Yankee Stadium and Red Rocks Amphitheatre” (Sounds Like Nashville).

The brand-new album arrives as Cooper has amassed over 440 million on-demand streams, made his Grand Ole Opry debut and filled stages across the country, including dates opening for acts like Jelly Roll and Koe Wetzel. The Texas native and father of three presents Love You, Goodnight, featuring 14 incendiary anthems, each showcasing a different facet of life on the road. All written or co-written by Cooper, including a powerhouse duet with fellow Texan Danielle Bradbery, the country outlier has already given fans a sneak peak with previously released heart-pounding tracks like “Under My Skin,”  “Running Away,” “Hate You Too,” “Kill Me,” “Mama” and the poignant “Hello From The Road.” 

LOVE YOU, GOODNIGHT TOUR 2025 DATES:
April 11—Huntsville, TX—Jolly Fox Club
April 12—Poteet, TX—Poteet Strawberry Festival 2025*
April 23—Stephenville, TX—LJT Texas Music Festival 2025*
April 25—Waco, TX—The Backyard Bar Stage and Grill
April 26—Bay City, TX—Rusty Hook Ranch
May 1—Midland, TX—The Tailgate
May 2—Christoval, TX—Cooper’s BBQ/LIVE!
May 3—Abilene, TX—Potosi Live
May 9—Rice, TX—The Ranch Saloon
May 10—Elgin, OK—Elgin Municipal Park*
May 15—Grand Junction, CO—Warehouse25sixty-five Kitchen + Bar
May 16—Laramie, WY—The Cowboy Saloon & Dance Hall
May 17—Casper, WY—The Gaslight Social
May 29—Little Rock, AR—The Rev Room
May 30—Fort Smith, AR—The Majestic
June 12—Roswell, NM—The Liberty
June 13—Albuquerque, NM—Dirty Bourbon
June 14—Las Cruces, NM—Whiskey Dicks
June 19—Phoenix, AZ—Crescent Ballroom
June 20—Tucson, AZ—191 Toole
June 27—Denver, CO—Grizzly Rose
June 28—Colorado Springs, CO—The Whiskey Rose
July 4—La Vernia, TX—4th of July Festival*
July 5—Big Lake, TX—Star Spangled Celebration*
July 12—Jacksonville, IL— Morgan County Fair*
August 1—Broken Bow, OK— Hochatown Saloon 
August 2—Alexandria, LA—Rapides Parish Coliseum*
August 9—Oro Station, Canada—Boots and Hearts Music Festival 2025*
August 10—West Chester, OH—Voices of America Country Music Fest 2025*
August 14—Minneapolis, MN— Varsity Theater 
August 15—Rosemont, IL— Joe’s Live
August 16—Grand Rapids, MI—Elevation
September 6—Nashville, TN— Basement East
September 11—Louisville, KY—Bourbon & Beyond 2025*
September 12—Kansas City, MO— PBR Big Sky
September 13—Hugoton, KS—High Plains Fest*
September 18—Wichita, KS—Cotillion 
September 19—St.Louis, MO— Delmar Hall
September 20—Manhattan, KS— The Hat
*Festival

About Kolby Cooper:
As an old-school troubadour whose fans keep him on the road, Kolby Cooper has spent the last six years winning one crowd after another and slowly building his rep as a rough-around-the-edges, country-rock phenom. But the infinite horizons of the highway come with a cost. Dialing up Love You, Goodnight in response – his second album for BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville with Combustion Music – the burning conflict within his late-night calls home becomes a blowtorch of country grunge, as a modern-day outlaw shoots from the sonic hip, pushing his sound to its high-voltage limit. A 25-year-old husband and father of three, the Texas native grew up in the shotgun seats of his long-haul trucking family members, switching CDs between Waylon Jennings and Cross Canadian Ragweed – but also Nirvana, Blink-182 and more. Starting his own career at 18, the singer-songwriter soon reached exit velocity on his orbit through the Texas live circuit, and his grassroots fan base now drives sold-out national headline tours and supporting runs with Jelly Roll, Koe Wetzel and more. Meanwhile, Cooper has racked up over 440 million on-demand streams, a Grand Ole Opry debut and industry-wide accolades, dubbed “country music’s newest badass” by People. Featuring 14 fuse-busting anthems – each one revealing a different aspect of life on the road, written or co-written by Cooper himself – Love You, Goodnight arrives as a hard-hitting fusion of the Texas country tradition with 2000s-era alt-rock, metal and punk. This ferocious follow-up to Cooper’s roughshod Red Dirt beginnings marks a heavy creative turn to match his heavy soul. More than sonic aggression, these tunes depict epic emotionality and an edgy, East-Texan rasp.


 KEEP UP WITH KOLBY COOPER
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Florida Indie-Punk Rockers Virginity Release "Fidelity Castro" EP via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' power pop darlings Virginity have released their new EP "Fidelity Castro" as a follow-up to their 2024 LP "Bad Jazz" - available to purchase here. The EP is a collection of six dynamic tracks that went from being outcasts on the album tracklist to star songs in their own right.

Listen below.

The band has received critical acclaim from the rock scene's top tastemakers, including New Noise Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, Audiotree, and more. As fan favorites at Smartpunk's SXSW showcase and Florida's beloved FEST, Virginity have cultivated a core fanbase who are foaming at the mouth for these new tracks. 

Speaking about the new EP, Virginity says, "Fidelity Castro started out being a way to just throw a couple of tunes out that had been sitting on the back burner for a while. As we assembled those, we kept returning to the live recordings we’d done in Jordan’s living room when we first started writing for Bad Jazz and felt like a couple of songs had so much life in them that we had to send them out into the world with our new recordings. We’ve also got a Shins tune on here because we’re just fans of that band and that record (Chutes Too Narrow) in particular. That was just something fun to do and a challenge, to make it our own a little. Lastly, we’ve got Love Exists, which is a song so incredibly void of any cynicism (basically an idea that’s nonexistent in our catalog) that we weren’t sure what to do with it. Should we rerecord it, make it a full band affair, or perhaps make it a proper piano ballad or something? Ultimately, we decided the magic was already there and that it should just be put out as is. The arc of this band has been about progressively getting more and more authentic. In a way, Fidelity is our most authentic release yet. There’s a real “scars and all” approach to it. We’re not being precious about any of it and, for now, that’s really inspiring and exciting for us. We really believe that some of these songs are some of the best we have to offer, and we’re so proud of this little collection."

ABOUT VIRGINITY
Virginity’s “Fidelity Castro EP” was originally supposed to be a way to release the leftover scraps from the Bad Jazz recording sessions, but as the band continued to finesse the recordings, the EP morphed into something entirely different. It took on a life of its own, and taught the band it can operate more loosely than it ever has before.

Featuring 5 original tracks and a cover of one of their favorite Shins tunes, the EP shows the band finishing three partially developed concepts from the Bad Jazz sessions as well as 3 demos of songs that never made it to the studio, but showed just as much promise as anything that landed on the album. And while the basic tracks of the demos were recorded live and raw, they show another side of the band’s abilities and yearning to experiment with lo-fi production (a la a recent obsession with Guided By Voices) and attempt to not overthink something that already rocks ass. 

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Swedish Heavy Metallers DREAM EVIL Release New Digital EP 'Thunder In The Night'

Gothenburg’s DREAM EVIL returned loud and strong to the spotlight last year with their seventh studio album, 'Metal Gods' which included ten tracks of pure steel. Today, DREAM EVIL is pleased to launch four additional songs from the 'Metal Gods' sessions with a new digital EP entitled 'Thunder In The Night.'

DREAM EVIL bass player Peter Stålfors checked in with the following comment about the EP:

“It’s so much fun recording a new album, but sometimes it can be a little bit too much fun… and you record too many songs to fit on one album! That was the case when we released ‘Metal Gods’ last summer. But now the time has come to finally release the remaining four songs from ‘Metal Gods’ sessions on this brand-new EP entitled ‘Thunder in the Night.’

"Watch out for the guest guitar soloists, Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) on the title track‘Thunder in the Night’ and Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall) on ‘Fight for Glory.’ It’s not just Heavy Metal, it’s also ‘Thunder in the Night’!”

Check Out the Video for the Album's Titular Track "Metal Gods" Below

With special guest lead guitar appearances by Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) on the title track and Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall) on “Fight For Glory,” these tracks also feature recording/mixing duties by DREAM EVIL guitarist Fredrik Nordström at his legendary Studio Fredman (In Flames, At The Gates, HammerFall, Arch Enemy, Bring Me The Horizon, etc.).

The 'Metal Gods' album and the 'Thunder In The Night' EP also feature cover artwork by Seth Siro Anton (Paradise Lost, Exodus, Rotting Christ, etc.).

Order 'Thunder In The Night' HERE

DREAM EVIL are:

Fredrik Nordström – Lead Rhythm Guitars

Peter Stålfors – Lead Bass

Niklas Isfeldt – Lead Vocals

Sören Fardvik – Lead Drums

Markus Fristedt – Lead Lead Guitar

DoFlame Releases Deluxe Edition, "GET BENT!" + Shares New Track "Lost In Time"

Last year, Toronto hardcore up-and-comer DoFlame released his sophomore album, BENT, on his new label Blue Grape Music, and he's barreling headfirst into 2025.

Today, DoFlame mastermind Mateo Naranjo dropped the deluxe version of the album, titled GET BENT! Listen here.

 

It features the new track "Lost in Time" and the recently released hip-hop infused "Drunk Talk" in a newly shuffled version of the album. Listen below.

 "Lost In Time" funnels DoFlame's sound back towards his brash punk and hardcore roots, but this time, with a big league mix from platinum engineer Josh Wilbur (KORN, Megadeath, Avenged Sevenfold). Appropriately, "Lost In Time" is the final statement from this seminal period of DoFlame development, a memorable punctuation to halcyon days that are worth remembering, but hard to recall.

"'Lost In Time' is about those that hold up a facade to get what they want: They lie chronically, hop town to town, and clique to clique," the artist says. "It's a burden to deal with these people, but it's bittersweet knowing they'll eventually get caught in their tracks. Those who move like that and get left behind, forgotten, and lost in time."

DoFlame has several U.S. and European dates booked through spring, with more to be announced in the coming months.  All dates are below.

DOFLAME LIVE:

U.S. DATES:
4/28 — Beat Kitchen   — Chicago, IL#   
4/30 — The Middle East — Cambridge, MA#  
5/1 — Songbyrd — Washington, DC# 
5/2 — Kung Fu Necktie — Philadelphia, PA#  
5/3 — TV Eye  — Brooklyn, NY#  
6/27 — The Rumble — Chicago, IL*
#With Bob Vylan
*Festival

EUROPEAN DATES:
5/16 — The Great Escape — Brighton, UK*
5/17 — Brudenell Social Club — Leeds, UK^
5/19 — The Pits — Kortrijk,  BE^
5/20 — La Source — Brussels, BE^
5/23— Supersonic — Paris, FR^
5/24 — Sniester Festival— Den Haag,  NL*
5/27 — Cassiopeia — Berlin, DE^
5/28— Blue Shell — Cologne, DE ^
*Festival
^Headline Date

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.

Rotting Christ Release New Live Album

ROTTING CHRIST have stood the test of time. Over the past 35 years, Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their brothers-in-arms have risen from Greece's blackened catacombs to become one of metal's most reliable forces.

Backed by a legacy that has both defined and defied black metal, last year, the Greek legends carved out a new set of dark, melodic scriptures with fresh rebellion on the unbreakable Pro Xristou. 

"...this is the most arena-worthy Rotting Christ have been in some time", No Clean Singing wrote about their latest album.  

Now, as they continue to tour the world, Rotting Christ are celebrating 35 years of evil existence with a new live album. This two-hour set was recorded at the Lycabettus Hill Theater in the band's hometown of Athens. Like a pantheon, it spans the band's entire career, from early evil classics like "The Sign of Evil Existence" and the gothic one-two punch of "Sorrowful Farewell" and "Among Two Storms" to " "Δαιμόνων Βρώσης (Demonon Vrosis)",  "Κατά τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού", "Like Father, Like Son" and other chiseled monuments from their modern Hellenic period.

Watch Rotting Christ celebrate 35 Years of Evil Existence Live in Lycabettus on Rotting Christ TV.

35 Years of Evil Existence - Live in Lycabettus is out now on Season of Mist.


Order & Stream

https://orcd.co/rottingchristliveinlycabettus
 

The formidable bond between brothers Sakis and Themis Tolis is not only felt across their unholy discography but also live and in the flesh. Having played more than a hundred shows all across the world in 2024, Rotting Christ continue to keep the true metal spirit alive time and time again.    

Rotting Christ @ Milwaukee Metal Fest
Friday, May 16 - Milwaukee, Wi @ The Rave/Eagles Club [TICKETS]

Pro Xristou (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.

Line-up:
Sakis Tolis - Guitar, Vocals
Themis Tolis - Drums
Kostas "Spades" Heliotis - Bass
Kostis Fouk - Guitar

Biography:
Sébastien J. Gamez

Follow Rotting Christ:
Official Website: https://www.rotting-christ.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia
Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ

Available Formats:
Digital Download
2CD Digipak
3x12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
3x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Gold w/ Linen Lamination & Gold Foil
3x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Gold & Black Marbled
3x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Orange & Black Marbled
3x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Red & Black Marbled

Replaced by Robots releases debut album 'The Experiment' with three audio-visual gems

Indie rock outfit Replaced by Robots has released their powerful debut mini-album 'The Experiment', along with three fun and slick colorburst videos for 'All The Lonely Nights', 'Are We Falling in Love or Am I Just Losing My Mind' and 'The Laboratory'. For this record, they worked with legendary producer Paul Q.Kolderie (Pixies, Dinosaur Jr, Throwing Muses, Radiohead) and Josh Hager (Devo, The Elevator Drops), with mastering by Terry Palmer.

Made up of Goolkasian, Heather Joy Morgan and Adam Wade, the band formed as a sound and vision laboratory, where they search through the wreckage and noise of modern life to find unusual combinations and create moments of beauty.

Flashback to 2024: Goolkasian (The Elevator Drops, The Texas Governor, Lovesick) and Heather Joy Morgan initially met up with stellar guitarist Adam Wade (Funeral Party, The Uprisers) at a secret Chameleons UK show in their living room, a fateful meeting that led to the musical chemistry we see here in Replaced by Robots.

"We got to work with Paul Q. Kolderie, who instinctively did a lot of weird things. He pushed the bass and guitars to the max, giving this record an undeniably glam-era feel and a rhythmic pulse, driving songs like 'All The Lonely Nights'," says Goolkasian.

"We also worked with producer and creative compatriot Josh Hager, who produced 'Are We Falling in Love or Am I Just Losing my Mind?', recalling the Buzzcocks, T-Rex and a million other things but is still, defiantly, its own bird due to the electric and impassioned vocal delivery".

This album indeed feels like a fun experiment, relishing their stature as obsolete bohemians, experimenting and combining our influences until we find something unique and inspiring. The band is clearly enjoying following the creative spirit wherever it leads, from the first surf-inspired drumbeats of 'The Laboratory' to the instantly catchy 3-part vocal harmonies in 'All The Lonely Nights' to the wall of noise on the final track 'Since You Broke My Ouija Board'. It's glam and it's glorious.

"'Laboratory' kicks off with the jangle of a raucous surf guitar and percussive vocals that form a curious rhythm and intermittent wail. It's going to be some kind of party. 'All the Lonely Nights' is an exuberant commercial advert in sparky 3-part harmony for the ennui and sorrow that plagues you up to the very instant that you make a magical connection with the right person. 'The Air of Uncertainty' is an instrumental interlude, a pause to welcome the spirits," says Goolkasian.

Heather Joy Morgan adds, "'Since you Broke My Ouija Board' is a spontaneous expression of grief and longing to connect, for Goolkasian broke my antique oujia board, hurling my spirit telephone into oblivion. And I can't talk to ghosts no more. 'Are we Falling in Love or Am I Just Losing My Mind?' is about seeking true love in the dystopian night, a modern world with uncanny robots and fake people. Is it live or is it Memorex?"

No stranger to chaos, Goolkasian formed the notorious prankster trio The Elevator Drops (Arista / Timebomb) in Boston with Garvy J (Devo) & Fitts. Their songs 'Elevator to Heaven' and 'Beautiful Junkie' earned them touring slots with Echo & The Bunnymen, Garbage and Pulp. Leaving that behind in 1999, the early 2000’s Goolkasian brought new inspiration with Goolkasian now recording as The Texas Governor and touring with pals Future Islands. In the mid-2000’s, Goolkasian & Morgan teamed up with recording engineer Terry Palmer to create “a masterful dream-pop version” of their classic tune 'Beach Foam', inadvertently forming the trio Lovesick.

Hailing from Berlin via the NJ Turnpike, Heather Joy Morgan has a Masters degree in painting from Yale. A compelling wraith with visual flair, she classes up the joint, both on stage and in video. From the pyres of the Funeral Party and The Uprisers, Adam Wadehas always been a goth-punk at heart. His guitar is always too loud and that is how it will remain!

'The Experiment' is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Lyrics by Goolkasian & Heather Joy Morgan
Music by Goolkasian, Adam Wade & Heather Joy Morgan
Goolkasian - vocals, bass, synths
Heather Joy Morgan - vocals, synths
Adam Wade - drums, guitar, synths  
All songs produced & mixed by Goolkasian
except, 'All The Lonely Nights' produced & mixed by Paul Q. Kolderi
'Are We Falling In Love or Am I Just Losing My Mind' produced & mixed by Josh Hager
Mastered by Terry Palmer
Cover art and videos by Goolkasian
Artist photos by Sara Wade
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


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BLEED FROM WITHIN - release video for 'Violent Nature' + new album 'Zenith' out NOW

Metal titans BLEED FROM WITHIN have today released their brand new studio album, Zenith, via Nuclear Blast Records. After their most successful year to date, Zenith's whirlwind of accomplished songwriting, white-hot metal fury and hard-earned confidence proves the best is yet to come from the Scottish heavyweights. To coincide with the album release, they have also revealed a video for storming opening track 'Violent Nature'.

On the release of their new album, the band comment:

"Today is the day. Friday 4th April 2025 marks the release of our greatest work so far. This is the best collection of songs we ever put together and a massive step forward for us creatively. Since we released Hands Of Sin last year, we've worked very hard on delivering something essential to our needs. Something that gave purpose to the time we'd dedicated and something we felt was missing in modern metal. Now, almost a year later, we are ready to share it with the world and see where it takes us. Here's to the future.

Ali, Davie, Goonzi, Kennedy, Steven"

Purchase and stream Zenith now at: https://bleedfromwithin.bfan.link/zenith.ema

Catch BLEED FROM WITHIN across North America in 2025 supporting BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM on 'The Poisoned Ascendancy' tour, before they return to the UK and Europe for 'The Zenith Tour', where they'll be joined by AFTER THE BURIAL and GREAT AMERICAN GHOST.

THE POISONED ASCENDANCY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025
supporting BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM

19.04.25 - MO, Chesterfield - The Factory
20.04.25 - NE, Omaha - Steelhouse
22.04.25 - WI, Green Bay - Epic Event Center
23.04.25 - MI, Grand Rapids - GLC Live At 20 Monroe
26.04.25 - IL, Chicago - Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
27.04.25 - MI, Detroit - The Fillmore
29.04.25 - PA, Pittsburgh - Stage AE
30.04.25 - PA, Philadelphia - The Fillmore
02.05.25 - MA, Boston - MCM Music Hall At Fenway
03.05.25 - QC, Laval - Place Bell
04.05.25 - ON, Toronto - Great Canadian Resort Theatre
06.05.25 - DC, Washington - The Anthem
07.05.25 - NY, New York - The Rooftop At Pier 17
09.05.25 - PA, Bethlehem - Wind Creek Event Center
11.05.25 - TN, Nashville - The Pinnacle
13.05.25 - KY, Corbin - Corbin Arena
14.05.25 - GA, Atlanta - Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre
17.05.25 - NC, Charlotte - Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
18.05.25 - NC, Raleigh - Red Hat Amphitheater

2025 Festival Dates

10.05.25 - US, Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival
16.05.25 - US, Welcome To Rockville
15.06.25 - UK, Download Festival
26.06.25 - NO, Tons Of Rock
05.07.25 - TR, Headbangers Weekend
14.08.25 - DE, Reload Festival

THE ZENITH TOUR 2025
w/ AFTER THE BURIAL & GREAT AMERICAN GHOST

10.09.25 - BE, Antwerp - Zappa
11.09.25 - DE, Cologne - Live Music Hall
12.09.25 - DE, Hamburg - Docks
13.09.25 - DE, Berlin - Kesselhaus
14.09.25 - PL, Warsaw - Progresja
16.09.25 - FI, Helsinki - Tavastia
17.09.25 - FI, Tampere - Olympia-Kortteli
19.09.25 - SE, Stockholm - Klubben Fryshuset
20.09.25 - SE, Gothenburg - Pustervik
21.09.25 - NO, Oslo - Vulkan Arena
22.09.25 - DK, Copenhagen - Amager Bio
24.09.25 - CZ, Prague - Meet Factory
25.09.25 - HU, Budapest - Barba Negra
26.09.25 - AT, Vienna - SIMM City
27.09.25 - DE, Munich - Backstage
28.09.25 - CH, Zürich - Kompex 457
30.09.25 - FR, Villeurbanne - CCO La Rayonne
01.10.25 - FR, Toulouse - La Cabane
03.10.25 - PT, Lisbon - LAV - Lisboa Ao Vivo
04.10.25 - ES, Madrid - Salva Mon Live
05.10.25 - ES, Barcelona - Razzmatazz 2
07.10.25 - FR, Paris - Bataclan
08.10.25 - NL, Tilburg - 013 Poppodium
10.10.25 - UK, London - O2 Forum Kentish Town
11.10.25 - UK, Manchester - O2 Ritz
12.10.25 - UK, Glasgow - Barrowlands
13.10.25 - UK, Glasgow - Barrowlands

Tickets for all dates are available now at bleedfromwithin.com

Bleed From Within are:
Scott Kennedy - Vocals
Craig Gowans - Lead Guitar
Steven Jones - Rhythm Guitar & Vocals
David Provan - Bass
Ali Richardson - Drums 

Debt Neglector Release New Album "Kinda Rips" via Smartpunk Records

Smartpunk Records' Florida-based outspoken political punk rockers Debt Neglector have unleashed their full-length album "Kinda Rips." It is available to stream or purchase on the Smartpunk Records website. 
The record is a diverse plethora of fast, heavy-hitting tracks that mark the band's most personal release to date while still maintaining their brutally honest, personable approach.

Listen below.

It rips. Kinda.

When discussing the album, Debt Neglector vocalist Alex Goldfarb says, "Kinda Rips is 13 pissed-off punk songs about how the world is falling apart around us. Lyrically, it deals with concepts like mental health, parenthood, mortality, impending societal collapse, and how everything just sorta sucks. Musically, we tried to create something that walked the line between catchy and aggressive, pulling influences from a wide variety of some of our favorite bands.”

The band's guitarist Chris Pfister adds, "Yeah, I even stole a chord from Ren & Stimpy, because why the hell not?!"

ABOUT DEBT NEGLECTOR:
Formed in 2016, these Florida punks have spent the last 8 years honing a sound that showcases their ability to blend catchy hooks with a vicious attitude. With four releases firmly under their belt, the “Atomicland” LP (2017), “The Kids are Pissed” EP (2018), the “Bad Faith” EP (2020), and the “Dirty Water” LP (2021), the band has already established themselves as a group that pulls no punches in their pursuit to call out injustice. Just to name a few, the band has screamed, shouted, and sang about systemic failures and distrust of the government, the fear of impending nuclear war, loss, depression, illness, and the USA’s sick obsession with assault rifles. And they’ve put their money where their mouth is by using their releases to double as fundraising efforts for organizations like the ACLU. Musically, their influences cover a lot of familiar and legendary punk rock ground. Taking notes from punk favorites the Descendents, Dillinger Four, and Bad Religion among others, Debt Neglector aren’t afraid to put their own spin on things. Their music keeps both a reverence for the past and a foot firmly placed in the present. The end result allows the band to craft songs with ripping fast drum beats, sing along choruses, quirky chord changes, and headbanging breaks. With past tours covering the US, Canada, and Europe, the band has set their sights on bringing their brand of pissed off punk music to whoever is ready and willing to listen. Debt Neglector are also no stranger to the festival scene with several appearances at The Fest (FL) and Sing it Out Loud Festival, and a showcase at Pouzza Fest (MTL), they have managed to share the stage with the likes of Propaghandi, Descendents and more. In 2024 Debt Neglector returned to the studio to follow up their past releases with a batch of new songs that has now become the “Kinda Rips” LP (Smartpunk Records – 2025). Their new music remains viciously political but also features some deeply personal topics including the pressures of fatherhood, insecurity, and dealing with mortality. The culmination is an album that is dynamic and relatable from a band whose angry and honest approach is a blunt kick in the pants to the powers that be.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.