EXHORDER RELEASES 2ND SINGLE, 'FOREVER AND BEYOND DESPAIR,' FROM UPCOMING RECORD

NOLA thrash and groove trailblazers EXHORDER will release their much anticipated 4th full-length record, Defectum Omnium, on March 8th with Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band has revealed the record’s 2nd single, ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’; a ripping and gripping pit thrasher with massive riffs and blistering solos. You know, what EXHORDER are known for!

Commenting on the new song, vocalist/guitarist Kyle Thomas says:

“Our second single ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ embraces many of the punk rock ingredients that we grew up on. Exhorder got its start on the punk rock scene of New Orleans, so it only made sense to dig back into this part of our roots. With aggressive angst and sarcastic themes, this song is absolutely a middle finger to the hypocrisies of the establishment.”

‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ Music Video

EXHORDER’s latest and greatest features 12 crushing tracks and ominous cover artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), the album follows the band’s critically revered 2019 release Mourn The Southern Skies. The new single follows the band’s recent release of their metal anthem “Year of the Goat.”

Pre-order/Pre-save Defectum Omnium: https://exhorder.bfan.link/defectum-omnium

Stream ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’: https://exhorder.bfan.link/forever-and-beyond-despair

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

Get Escuela Grind's new EP right now!

ESCUELA GRIND GET REVOLVER MAGAZINE
FAN POLL PICK FOR 5 BANDS MOST LIKELY TO BREAK OUT IN 2024

"While it's unlikely that any grindcore band could scale to Sleep Tokenor Turnstile heights, Escuela Grind would be the ones to pull it off," says Revolver.

Recorded with Will Killingsworth, mixed by the GRAMMY-winning Kurt Ballou (High on Fire), and mastered by Nick Townsend (Cheap Trick, Dr. Dre), the EP houses four new songs including the lead cut, "Ball and Chain", and "Meat Magnet", featuring a guest appearance by Napalm Death vocalist Barney Greenway.

Fresh off U.S. spotlight tour dates with Baroness, and the extreme metal legends, Napalm Death, who took the young U.S. band under its proverbial wing in 2023, Escuela Grind is inarguably one of the hungriest young groups in music today. Escuela Grind has engaged in a seemingly unending live gauntlet since the September 2022 release of its LP, 'Memory Theater', relentlessly trekking the globe to bring its eye-opening energy and sound to welcoming music fans the world over. 

In sync with the release of 'DDEEAATHHMMEETTAALL', Escuela Grind has kicked off a massive U.S. headlining tour, which launched on January 10. The five-week, 39-city winter trek will criss-cross the country, running through February 17. Support on the Escuela Grind tour is provided by Take Offense, Come Meirda, Slow Pulse, Bonginator, Frog Mallet, and Brat.

GET TICKETS HERE

SEE ALL ESCUELA GRIND MUSIC + MERCH

Capstan Announce New Album "The Mosaic" + Share "Misery Scene" Video

Florida five-piece CAPSTAN — Anthony DeMario [vocals], Joe Mabry [guitar], Harrison Bormann [guitar], Andrew "Boz" Bozymowski [bass, vocals], and Scott Fisher [drums] — are pleased to announce their new album The Mosaic, out May 24 via Fearless Records. Pre-order it here. 

Today, the band has shared the video for "Misery Scene." Watch it below.

Here, the band mixes dreamy choruses with buzzy, dramatic guitars, and cinematic sonic flourishes. The song will fill the room with its majestic melodies and singalongs. Misery never sounded quite so good. If Queen were a post-hardcore band, they would have made a song like "Misery Scene."

"'Misery Scene' is the beginning of a change of lyrical direction for Capstan; ever introspective, the lyrics address the writer's previous inability to break their cycle of self-destructive choices, as well as the toxic and ubiquitous admiration of poor mental health in artists. It is a song about making a conscious shift from the glorification of being unhappy for the perceived sake of art, to the desire to make a more positive impact on others' lives," says Mabry.

To make a mosaic, tiny pieces interlock as a larger picture. In similar fashion, distinct elements coalesce as one in Capstan. The band mixes metallic precision with pit-splitting hardcore grooves and the kind of hooks you can't shake. Since 2015, Capstan have progressed with each subsequent move. Following Seasonal Depression [2015] and In The Wake of Our Discord [2018], they made waves with their full-length debut, Restless Heart, Keep Running, in 2019. They toured with the likes of Trash Boat, Doll Skin, Silverstein, and many more. After amassing tens of millions of streams and earning acclaim from the likes of KERRANG! and New Noise, the group paint a definitive body of work on their aptly titled third full-length offering, The Mosaic.

CAPSTAN ON TOUR:
WITH HOLDING ABSENCE, CASEY, + ACRES:
2/11 — Montreal, QC — Le Studio TD
2/13 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage
2/14 — New York (NYC), NY — Gramercy Theater
2/16 — Philadelphia, PA — The Foundry
2/17 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium

ARISING EMPIRE ALERT: Thrown Share New Video

Swedish heavy weight thrown, who've amassed 7 million streams worldwide, return with their brand new track 'backfire.'

'backfire' hits back hard, flipping the script on haters and standing tall against the unwarranted shade and obsession thrown its way.

Watch the video below.

Last year, thrown released their debut EP EXTENDED PAIN, which has been sitting on Spotify's Top 200 Global Metal Chart for almost a year, amassing over 36 million streams across its five songs. They've grown to nearly 1 million listeners with their explosive tracks, thrown took the stage by storm touring with Knocked Loose, Fit For A King, Emmure. Counterparts, and other massive artists through the U.S. and Europe.

THROWN ON TOUR:
5/10 — Destin, FL — Club La
5/11 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade
5/12 — Nashville, TN —Eastside Bowl
5/14 — Charleston, SC — Music Farm
5/15 — Charlotte, NC — The Underground
5/16 — Baltimore, MD —Sound Stage
5/17 — Pittsburgh, PA — Preserving
5/19 — Harrisburg, PA — HMAC
5/20 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza
5/22 — Boston, MA — Paradise Rock Club
5/24 — Grad Rapids, MI — Elevation
5/25 — Chicago, IL — House Of Blues
5/26 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
5/28 — Des Moines, IA — Wooly's
5/29 — St. Louis, MO — Red Flag
5/30 — Lawrence, KS — The Granada
5/31 — Denver, CO — Summit
6/1 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
6/3 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theater
6/4 — Seattle, WA — The Crocodile
6/6 — Sacramento, CA — Ace Of Spades
6/7 — Pomona, CA — The Glasshouse
6/8 — San Diego, CA — House Of Blues
6/9 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
6/11 — Dallas, TX — House Of Blues
6/12 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center
6/13 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall
6/14 — Oklahoma City, OK — Beer City Music Hall
6/15 — Little Rock, AR — The Hall
6/16 — New Orleans, LA — House Of Blues 

Dalton Dover Releases 'Take Me Home: Covers' + Video for "Go Rest High On That Mountain"

Rising country artist Dalton Dover releases Take Me Home: Covers via UMG Nashville/Mercury Records, a musical journey that pays homage to his roots while honoring some of the songs that laid the groundwork for the artist and songwriter he is today. Listen HERE. Also out today is the official music video for “Go Rest High On That Mountain,” shot in Georgia, near Dover’s childhood home.
 
“My grandfather is the person that introduced me to country music. He’d play his records, and I remember thinking, ‘I want to do that. I want to tell stories and write songs that are relatable to everyone,’” shares Dover. “The songs we chose are timeless, so I wanted to stay faithful to the spirit of each one, but I loved getting to put some of my own style into it too.”
 
The project includes Vince Gill’s “Go Rest High On That Mountain” with backing vocals from the 22x GRAMMY winner himself and a rousing performance of Alabama’s “Mountain Music.” The Georgia native introduced the collection with John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” with MusicRow praising, “Think again, if you think you’ve heard this oldie often enough. Dover’s slowed-down, gentle, caressing, thoughtful reading of the lyric brings a whole new dimension to the song,” as Wide Open Country observes, “By singing one we all know, Dover drew attention to his smooth twang and his innate ability to make us feel the emotions packed in every line.” 
 
After honing his live show with festival dates and supporting acts such as Luke Combs, Tyler Hubbard, Sam Hunt, Parker McCollum, Justin Moore and Chase Rice, Dover will join Larry Fleet on The Earned It Tour later this month ahead of his headlining Never Giving Up On That Tour kicking off in April. Tickets are on sale now at DaltonDoverOfficial.com.
 
Dover is signed with United Talent Agency for worldwide booking representation in all areas, along with Sony Music Publishing Nashville in partnership with Droptine Music Publishing. For more information, visit DaltonDoverOfficial.com or follow along on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook.

Dalton Dover Tour Dates
 
Feb. 13 // Grand Ole Opry // Nashville, TN
Feb. 15 // ETSU Martin Center for the Arts* // Johnson City, TN
Feb. 16 // The Ritz* // Raleigh, NC
Feb. 17 // Tabernacle* // Atlanta, GA
Feb. 29 // Iron City Bham* // Birmingham, AL
March 1 // The Fillmore Charlotte* // Charlotte, NC
March 2 // The National* // Richmond, VA
March 7 // KUZZ Class of 2024 Show at Buck Owens’ Crystal Palace // Bakersfield, CA
March 14 // Jannus Live* // St. Petersburg, FL
March 15 // The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon* // Fort Myers, FL
March 16 // Clewiston Sugar Festival // Clewiston, FL
March 26 // Breland & Friends 2024 at Ryman Auditorium // Nashville, TN 
April 5 // House of Blues – Bronze Peacock // Houston, TX
April 6 // The Lot // Mansfield, TX
April 11 // 40 Watt Club // Athens, GA
April 12 // The Barrelhouse Ballroom // Chattanooga, TN
April 13 // The Open Chord // Knoxville, TN
April 20 // Coast City Country // Vancouver, Canada
April 26 // Terminal South // Tifton, GA
April 27 // Capitol Theatre // Macon, GA
June 20-22 // Country Jam // Mack, CO
June 28 // Country Fest 2024 // Cadott, WI
July 4 // I-105 Country Freedom Fest // Quarryville, PA
Aug. 17 // Lasso Festival // Montreal, Quebec
 
*Supporting Larry Fleet

About Dalton Dover
Lauded by MusicRow as a “master country talent,” Dalton Dover’s latest release Take Me Home: Covers showcases his roots and influences growing up in Georgia. His debut radio single “Giving Up On That” via UMG Nashville/Mercury Records was the most-added track at Country Radio upon its debut with 60 first week adds and can be found on his latest EP Never Giving Up On That, featuring eight tracks including “Night To Go,” “Baby I Am,” “Hear About A Girl,” and more. Named a 2024 Tidal Artist to Watch, Pandora 2023 Artist to Watch, an Amazon Music 2023 Breakthrough Artist to Watch: Country Class and a member of CMT’s LISTEN UP 2023 Class, he will embark on his headlining Never Giving Up On That Tour in early 2024. Dover made his Grand Ole Opry debut in December 2022, followed by his international debut in 2023 at C2C: Country to Country Festival’s CMA Songwriters Series before joining Chase Rice on the Way Down Yonder Tour. This summer, Dover performed across four stages at CMA Fest, including the Nissan Stadium Platform stage and played Luke Combs’ Whiskey Jam Bootleggers Tailgate Party at Gillette Stadium in July. By the age of 16, Dover had picked up a guitar and started teaching himself to play, yet it was his grandfather who turned him on to country music and artists such as Keith Whitley, Rhett Akins, Joe Diffie and Steve Wariner. Performances at local bars soon followed along with sharing covers of some of his favorite songs on TikTok. It was there he caught the ear of producer Matt McV and A&R veteran and founder of Droptine, Jim Catino, who quickly signed Dover. His debut track “You Got a Small Town,” produced by McV, quickly garnered critical acclaim from Billboard, MusicRow, Country Now and Wide Open Country. With his debut and his follow-up “Baby I Am” earning notable playlisting, Dover was named a Spotify Hot Country 2022 Artist to Watch along with a spotlight as Billboard’s February Country Rookie of the Month and a nod for MusicRow’s 2022 Discovery Artist of the Year. For more information, visit DaltonDoverOfficial.com or follow along on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and Facebook.

Scotty McCreery Releases Ode to Fatherhood with "Love Like This"

Triple Tigers recording artist Scotty McCreery is never one to shy away from getting personal in his music, whether mourning the loss of his grandfather with the triple-platinum blockbuster “Five More Minutes” or capturing the anticipation of proposing to your long-time love with platinum hit “This is It.” McCreery is getting personal again with the release of his latest track, “Love Like This.” Listen to “Love Like This” HEREand watch the lyric video Below. 
 
“Becoming a father is the greatest thing that’s happened to me,” shares McCreery. “Raising Avery as he grows and watching my wife Gabi be a rock star as his Mom has been the joy of my life these last 15 months. I knew I wanted to write a song about Avery. I even photographed the room number on the hospital door so I could put that into the lyrics.”
 
Written by McCreery, Frank Rogers and Aaron Eshuis and produced by Rogers, Derek Wells, and Eshuis, the ode to McCreery’s son Avery captures the boundless and indescribable love a new parent feels for their child.
 
     When I first laid eyes on you, that’s when I knew
     I’ve never known a love like this, I’ve never felt this way
     Girl, I think I might have thought I did
     But everything changed today
     ‘Cause I’m looking at you, looking at him
     And I don’t have a clue what this feeling is
     But watching you give our baby boy a kiss
     Now I know I’ve never known a love like this, no
 
“Love Like This” has already become an audience favorite on McCreery’s headlining Cab in a Solo Tour, which continues this Thursday in Brookings, SD with additional stops this weekend in Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE. The upcoming dates follow three consecutive sold out stops in Troy, OH; Shipshewana, IN; and Durham, NC; and near capacity crowds in Atlanta, GA; and Chattanooga, TN. McCreery is joined by Anne Wilson as direct support as well as Greylan James and Noah Hicks on select dates. The tour, produced by Live Nation, will continue to trek across the U.S. through mid-March with stops in Boston, Philadelphia, Syracuse and more.  

Tickets for the Cab in a Solo Tour are on sale now at ScottyMcCreery.com.
 
Cab in a Solo Tour Dates:
2/8/2024          Brookings       SD                   Dacotah Bank Center +^
2/9/2024          Des Moines     IA                    Vibrant Music Hall+^
2/10/2024        Omaha             NE                   Steelhouse +^
2/22/2024        Independence  MO                  Cable Dahmer Arena +#
2/23/2024        Norman           OK                  Riverwind Casino
2/29/2024        Philadelphia    PA                   The Met +#
3/1/2024          Boston             MA                  MGM Music Hall at Fenway +#
3/2/2024          Syracuse          NY                  Landmark Theatre +#
3/14/2024        Johnstown       PA                   1st Summit Arena +#
3/15/2024        Wallingford    CT                   Toyota Oakdale Theatre +#
3/16/2024        Schenectady    NY                  Proctors Theatre +#
 
+ Anne Wilson
^Greylan James
#Noah Hicks

McCreery has launched a campaign with Tunespeak where fans can earn points to gain chances to win a variety of prizes. The ultimate prize winner will receive two tickets and airfare to this year’s ACM Awards in May. Other winners will receive merch packs, signed vinyl, and more. No purchase is necessary. Interested fans can enter the campaign and learn more information at http://tnspk.co/nqwrra.

McCreery recently released the official music video for his current radio single, “Cab in a Solo.” The video made its broadcast premiere on CMT, followed by an airing on the Paramount billboard in New York City’s Times Square before making its online debut on YouTube with McCreery joining for a special live chat with fans. Watch the video HERE.
 
Written by McCreery, Rogers and Brent Anderson and produced by Rogers, Derek Wells, and Aaron Eshuis, “Cab in a Solo” is his fastest moving single ever, garnering the most first-week adds at country radio (120) of his career and continuing to move quickly up the charts, currently in the Top 15 on Mediabase and Top 20 on Billboard. Stream “Cab in a Solo” HERE.
 
McCreery also recently released new song “Can’t Pass the Bar,” with MusicRow dubbing it a “TGIF romp,” while Taste of Country observes, “fiddle and guitar drive a country throwback that would have fit a Brooks & Dunn album 25 years ago,” and Country Now notes “McCreery turns up the honky-tonk vibes.”
 
Last year, McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, joining previously inducted artists like Eric Church, Charlie Daniels, Andy Griffith, Ronnie Milsap, Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone, James Taylor, Randy Travis and more. And in December, one of his country music heroes, Garth Brooks, invited him to join the Grand Ole Opry, an honor that McCreery has dreamed about since he was a kid. His Grand Ole Opry induction date will be announced soon.

About Scotty McCreery:
Scotty McCreery has been a household name for nearly half his life, ever since making history in 2011 as both the first country artist and the youngest male artist of any genre to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified Clear as Day, at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The 30-year-old has sold more than 4 million albums and achieved 5 consecutive No.1 hits: the RIAA Platinum-certified “Damn Strait,” the RIAA Gold certified “You Time,” the RIAA Gold certified “In Between,” the RIAA Platinum certified “This is It,” and the RIAA Triple Platinum certified ‘Five More Minutes.” His current single “Cab in a Solo,” which McCreery wrote with Frank Rogers and Brent Anderson, is from a forthcoming album due out in 2024. The North Carolina native has earned one Triple Platinum, five Platinum and four Gold singles; one Platinum and two Gold albums; won the 10th season of “American Idol” in 2011 at age 17; was named the ACM New Artist of the Year in 2011; won the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“The Trouble with Girls”) in 2012; and BMI Awards for writing One of the Top 50 Country Songs of the Year five times (in 2015 for “See You Tonight,” in 2018 for “Five More Minutes,” in 2019 for “This is It,” in 2021 for “In Between,” and in 2022 for “You Time”). He was awarded Pandora Billionaire status in 2021 in recognition of his music achieving more than one billion streams on Pandora. His song “Five More Minutes” inspired two popular holiday movies which aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Network: “Five More Minutes” in 2021 and “Five More Minutes: Moments Like These” in 2022. He released his first book Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream in 2016. His most recent album is Same Truck: The Deluxe Album. This fall McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and was most recently invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks. The singer/songwriter married his high school sweetheart Gabi in 2018, and the couple had their first son Avery in October 2022. For more information, visit ScottyMcCreery.com.

MILWAUKEE METAL FEST 2024 Reveals Final Lineup + Pre-Party Details; MUNICIPAL WASTE, TERRORIZER MACABRE + More Added

The festival now welcomes:

MUNICIPAL WASTE, AUTOPSY, TERRORIZER, MACABRE, NUNSLAUGHTER, GATECREEPER, SKELETAL REMAINS, CREEPING DEATH, UPON STONE, STABBING, MONOCHROMATIC BLACK, DEATHRAY VISION, BACKLASH, BEWITCHER, MORBIKON, DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, ENGINEERED SOCIETY PROJECT, HATRIOT + TIME TO KILL

The legendary festival that was successfully resurrected in 2023 is set to return May 16 - 19, 2024 at The Rave/Eagles Club!

GET PASSES + TICKETS HERE

The moment fans have been waiting for is now here; Milwaukee Metal Festival 2024 is now revealing the final lineup, adding 19 new artists to the already stacked program!

The festival is now welcoming:

MUNICIPAL WASTE, AUTOPSY, TERRORIZER (performing a special 'World Downfall' 35th Anniversary set), MACABRE, NUNSLAUGHTER, GATECREEPER, SKELETAL REMAINS, CREEPING DEATH, UPON STONE, STABBING, MONOCHROMATIC BLACK, DEATHRAY VISION, BACKLASH, BEWITCHER, MORBIKON, DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, ENGINEERED SOCIETY PROJECT, HATRIOT + TIME TO KILL

In addition, the details for the pre-party on May 16 have also been revealed! The event is free to anyone who holds a 3-day pass for the festival and will be headlined by a special Jasta and Friends set, featuring Bobby Blitz, Zetro, Bobby Hambel & more. There will also be performances by TOXIC RUIN and H1Z1.

Co-organizer Jamey Jasta comments, "We’re beyond excited to welcome such a stellar crop of new additions to the fest; Autopsy played the third edition of MMF thirty five years ago, to have them back is truly special and you can’t have Milwaukee Metal Fest without Macabre! I speak for our entire MMF team that now is the time to start building up tomorrow’s headliners. Additions like Upon Stone, Lords Of The Trident, Stabbing, Monochromatic Black, etc. are all great examples of the talent & passion that is out there that some of us will get to see for the first time in Milwaukee” 


After a successful return of Milwaukee Metal Festival in 2023, the iconic midwestern, multi-day event will kick off with a pre-party on May 16 while the main festival will run May 17 - 19 at The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, WI. The event promises to have more food, vendors, live podcasts and other surprises!

The festival returned to prominence in 2023 under the watchful eye of Hatebreed frontman and podcaster Jamey Jasta and Sound Talent Group's Tim Borror, as well as the team at The Rave / Eagles Club, where so many of the original festivals took place.

Single day tickets and passes are available at Etix.com.

Fans can visit the official Milwaukee Metal Fest site and sign up for the mailing list for first access to information and exclusive content HERE.

Follow Milwaukee Metal Fest:

Website

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Sleep Theory Share "Fallout — Reimagined" Lyric Video — WATCH

PAPER HEARTS EP OUT NOW VIA EPITAPH RECORDS

BAND TOURING WITH BEARTOOTH THROUGH FEBRUARY

WILL RETURN TO THE ROAD WITH WAGE WAR + NOTHING MORE IN APRIL + FOR MAJOR FESTIVALS

Breakout four-piece Sleep Theory — vocalist Cullen Moore, guitarist Daniel Pruitt, bassist Paolo Vergara, and drummer Ben Pruitt — were one of the biggest success stories of 2023. With monthly streams numbering at nearly 10 million per month, a Top 10 track at Active Rock, and a full slate of touring though early summer, the band continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Today, they release the lyric video for "Fallout — Reimagined." It's a softer, contemplative, and cinematic take on the raw-edged original but it's just as powerful. Watch it below. 

"When we decided to reimagine this song, we wanted to peel back some of the musical layers and let the lyrics take center stage," the band explains. "Each one of us in the band has our own personal connection to this song, and by sharing this version, we hope to connect even more with you. Our goal is to create a space where everyone can relate to the emotions and stories embedded in our music. We're excited to share this new rendition and hear how it resonates with you all."

Watch the video for the original here.

The band's Paper Hearts EP is out now via the Epitaph Records. Get the EP, which has been streamed over 57 million times, here.

Sleep Theory are in the middle of a 40-date trek with Beartooth, The Plot In You, and Invent Animate in Winter 2024. The band will next hit the road with Wage War and Nothing More in the spring. All upcoming Sleep Theory tour dates are below, including festival appearances at Sonic Temple, Rock Fest, So What?!, Welcome to Rockville, and more. 

Since bursting onto the scene earlier this year, Sleep Theory have gone from strength to strength — and they show no signs of slowing down.

The Paper Hearts EP features two buzzy singles — "Numb" and "Gone or Staying" — and the songs have established Sleep Theory as one of the most exciting and talked about artists of 2023. The band was praised by Loudwire for its ability to "adapt 2000s arena rock and nu-metal for the future with their anthemic metal-tinged sound that would please any fan of Linkin Park and their ilk. At once enthralling, emotional and disarming, Sleep Theory's supercharged single 'Numb' is everything a radio rock fan could want. You'll be humming it for days after." 

 With further press coverage from American Songwriter, Billboard, Celebrity Access, and Punktastic and with forthcoming coverage at Men's Journal, Consequence, and Alt Press, they've enjoyed major nods from SiriusXM's Octane. They've toured with everyone from Shinedown to Set It Off, shared stages with I Prevail and Falling In Reverse, and have appeared at Louder Than Life, Rock Fest, ShipRockled, and Point Fest. They also count Jellyroll and Disturbed David Draiman as fans.

PHOTO CREDIT: Alex Bemis

SLEEP THEORY ON TOUR:
WITH BEARTOOTH, THE PLOT IN YOUR, + INVENT ANIMATE:
2/11 — Tampa, FL — Jannus
2/13 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall
2/14 — New Orleans, LA — House of Blues
2/15 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall
2/17 — San Antonio, TX — Boeing Center at Tech Port
2/18 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
2/20 — Phoenix, AZ — Van Buren
2/21 — San Diego, CA — Soma
2/22 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
2/24 — Sacramento, CA — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
2/25 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom
2/27 — Seattle, WA — Showbox SoDo
2/28 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory
3/1 — Boise, ID — Knitting Factory
3/2 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
3/3 — Denver, CO — The Fillmore
3/5 — Fargo, ND — Sanctuary Events Center
3/6 — St. Paul, MN — Myth Live
3/8 — Chicago, IL — Riviera
3/9 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee
3/10 — Sauget, IL — Pop’s
3/12 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room at Old National Center
3/13 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
3/14 — Fort Wayne, IN — The Clyde Theater

WITH WAGE WAR, NOTHING MORE, + VEIL OF MAYA:
4/16 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
4/17 — Birmingham, AL — Avondale Brewery
4/18 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
4/19 — Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena*
4/20 — Orlando, FL – Central Florida Fairgrounds*
4/22 — Grand Junction, CO — Las Colonias Park
4/24 — Riverside, CA — Riverside Auditorium
4/25 — San Diego, CA — Observatory Northpark**
4/28 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel
4/30 — Kansas City, MO — The Midland Theatre
5/1 — Des Moines, IA — Val Air Ballroom
5/3 — Green Bay, WI — EPIC Event Center
5/4 — East Moline, IL — The Rust Belt
5/5 — Omaha, NE — The Astro
5/7 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee
5/10 — Daytona, FL – Welcome To Rockville
5/12 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE**
5/14 — Norfolk, VA — The National
5/15 — Greensboro, NC — Piedmont Hall
5/17 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
5/18 — Maryland Heights, MO – Pointfest
5/19 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple
6/1 — Fort Worth, TX – So What!? Fest
7/18 — Cadott, WI – Rock Fest
7/20 — Grand Rapids, MI — Upheaval Fest
 *With Staind, Seether, Asking Alexandria, Dayseeker, Ayron Jones, Tim Montana
**Nothing More, Veil Of Maya + Sleep Theory only

ENSLAVED | release single + visualizer 'Forest Dweller' feat. Jo Quail'

The tree set ablaze at the end of my days
Awaiting my deserved death yell
Long forgotten, no one whispers my name
In the mountains and forests, I'll dwell

Norway's trailblazing cosmic voyagers, Enslaved, released their latest avant-garde creation Heimdal, one year ago. To celebrate the studio album's first year of existence, the band recently announced the Heimdal (Deluxe) digital album, due out on March 1st 2024.

Heimdal (Deluxe) will include the studio album in full, as well as alternative versions of two album tracks 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia', both with sublime performances from renowned cellist Jo Quail, bonus track 'Gangandi', plus the entirety of 'The Otherworldly Big Band Experience' - Enslaved's stunning 2022 streaming event featuring fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant.

Today, Enslaved have released the alternative version of their track 'Forest Dweller', featuring internationally acclaimed composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail, alongside a beautiful visualizer video created by Costin Chioreanu.

Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson commented,

"It is an absolute honour to have Jo Quail on these special versions of 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia'. We are all big fans of her unique work and style; I have personally had the pleasure of working with her for some time through By Norse Music (the label co-founded with Einar Selvik and our manager Simon Füllemann). When we had the chance to invite guest artists for the release show in Bergen of 'Heimdal' back in March 2023, Jo Quail was a given. She blew our (and the audience’s) collective minds with her powerful interpretation and performance on 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia' - to the degree that it simply could not be the end of the story. She has a take on her art that is one of a kind - impossible to categorise, haunting, emotive and atmospheric; we feel that this version of us joining forces underlines the artistic and musical kinship we feel being present between our two camps. So here we are; for the world to hear! Be sure to check out Jo’s releases while you are at it!!!"

Jo Quail added,

"I’ve long been a fan of Enslaved, and I have huge admiration for the way their masterful compositions broaden and deepen with each release. When the band invited me to collaborate I had to re-read the email several times! I was honoured and humbled by this invitation from a band so greatly revered by so many of us all over the world, and I was tremendously excited by the chance to explore our sonic worlds together. Enslaved are the same people on and off stage, which is not always a given, and it’s something that, in my opinion, translates in their music and performance - the connection with their audience in concert draws us in deeply and it’s nothing short of inspiring. It was an absolute honour to be invited by Enslaved to perform Forest Dweller and Congelia with them in March 2023. I approached these two quite diverse tracks with immense respect, as both were already fully developed and everything sat perfectly and exactly where it needed to be, so any contribution from me needed to underpin or enhance the existing story arc rather than divert from it. Enslaved are musically very generous; they were wholly supportive of my suggestions for cello parts, and the result was a collaboration that I shall treasure for all time. I’m thrilled that this now has life beyond that one very special concert, and I hope you enjoy the result!"

PRE-SAVE HEIMDAL (DELUXE): https://enslaved.bfan.link/heimdal-deluxe.ema
LISTEN TO TRACK 'FOREST DWELLER - FEAT. JO QUAIL': https://enslaved.bfan.link/forest-dweller-alt.ema
WATCH THE 'FOREST DWELLER - FEAT. JO QUAIL' VISUALIZER BELOW.

Enslaved's latest studio album Heimdal (released March 2023) is both a departure and a communion with roots forged over three decades ago in the turbulent birth throes of Norway’s black metal scene. It's a record that points towards new beginnings, and a dawn that’s on the other side of the apex of the land. A psychedelic journey through arcane Norse folklore, connecting with one's ancient ancestors and our future selves.

'The Otherworldly Big Band Experience' was an Enslaved show like none other, their biggest, boldest project to date - a colossal, kaleidoscopic stage show featuring a stellar setlist covering their career, both past and present. Including some tracks never previously performed live. 

Enslaved will be touring the UK and Europe in March 2024. The 16-date run will take the band across 10 different countries, with support coming from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer.

Tickets are on-sale now from https://enslaved.no/

Never faltering, Norway’s iconic Enslaved continue to exist as one of the most original and dependable components in our scene's indestructible backbone. Possessing the reputation as one of the most riveting live acts around, they never fail to offer us talent of the highest calibre, always doing justice to their signature black/progressive sound. Enslaved was formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, releasing their first demo Yggdrasill in the summer of 1992, their legendary mini-album Hordanes Land coming out in 1993, and with their debut full-length Vikingligr Veldi arriving in the spring of 1994.

Enslaved are a band in stellar form - a band at its most existentialist and self-conscious, proud Bergeners bearing the torch of their hometown’s extraordinary musical history. Their most recent material shows Enslaved at their most unleashed and thought-through - a lethal combination unfurling a potential that’s easily rekindling the furor of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, most haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong.

Enslaved are:
Ivar Bjørnson | guitars 
Grutle Kjellson | vocals
Arve 'Ice Dale' Isdal | guitar
Håkon Vinje | keyboards, clean vocals
Iver Sandøy | drums

Avatar Issue Vinyl Bundles With Exclusive Tracks, Limited to Only 300 Copies

AVATAR RELEASING 7" SINGLES AS BUNDLES WITH EXCLUSIVE + UNRELEASED TRACKS

ONLY 300 BUNDLES ARE AVAILABLE + A "MUST OWN" FOR DIEHARD FANS + COLLECTORS

The heavy metal 'n' roll, dark, madcap visionaries collectively known as AVATAR — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — are releasing three exclusive 7" single vinyl bundles via the band's web store. The three vinyls, "Dance Devil Dance," "Chimp Mosh Pit," and "The Dirt I'm Buried In" each have a B-side with exclusive content. 

Get them here.

The "Dance Devil Dance" vinyl will include the unreleased track "Make It Rain."

The "Chimp Mosh Pit" vinyl will feature the unreleased track "On the Other Side of Tonight."

The "The Dirt I'm Buried In" vinyl will include the bonus track "The Dirt I'm Buried In (Live in Paris)."

Neither "Make It Rain" nor "On the Other Side of Tonight" have ever been released before! The only way for fans to listen to them will be through purchasing these extremely limited vinyls, which are bundled as a collector's item for fans!

Only 300 of each vinyl have been made, furthering their status as "must owns" for your Avatar collection. 

2024 will be quite a year for Avatar! With headline tours in Europe and Latin America announced, and festival dates in the U.S., the band is set to have a monumental start to their year. Europe already has nine sold-out shows, with many others on their way to selling out. Avatar's first headline tour in Latin America is a milestone in and of itself. The band will headline a Sonic Temple stage this May — their first headline set at a DWP Festival.

U.S. FESTIVAL DATES: 
5/17 — COLUMBUS, OH — SONIC TEMPLE
5/18 — 3/YLAND HEIGHTS, MO — POINT FEST
5/19 — MILWAUKEE, WI — MILWAUKEE METAL FEST 

Jenna Paulette Signs With Independent Label Leo33

Leo33, an innovative independent record label at the forefront of redefining the music landscape, proudly announces the signing of hot, new up-and-comer Jenna Paulette to its artist roster. Hailing from Lewisville, Texas, Paulette’s roots are entrenched in the agricultural industry embodying the true spirit of a working cowgirl. As a result, Paulette brings a unique perspective and genuine passion for country music to Leo33. 
 
Expressing her excitement about joining Leo33, Paulette states, “I’m thrilled to be part of the Leo33 family and collaborate with a label that values authenticity in addition to creativity. This partnership marks a new chapter in my career and I can’t wait to share more music and stories with my fans.”
 
Katie Dean, the Head of Leo33, shares her enthusiasm for welcoming Paulette to the label, saying, “Jenna’s authenticity and commitment to storytelling aligns perfectly with Leo33’s vision of fostering innovative music. We’re excited to support Jenna in her artistic endeavors and provide a platform for her unique voice to reach a broader audience.”
 
Leo33 continues to push boundaries in the music industry, prioritizing a forward-thinking approach. Jenna Paulette joins Leo33’s exciting roster alongside fellow artist Zach Top, and the label anticipates more announcements in the near future.  
 
Paulette’s debut album, The Girl I Was, was released in March 2023 and has amassed over 30M on-demand streams. She swiftly earned her critical acclaim including media coverage from People Magazine, Grammy.com, and more. Additionally, Paulette has been named an Apple Music’s Country Riser of the Month as well as one of CMT’s Next Women of Country. Paulette is set to release her first taste of new music on March 1 with the release of “Darlin’” which she co-wrote with Jess Cayne and Matthew Morrisey. “Darlin” is a deeply sentimental track highlighting the torment of a toxic relationship yet praising the power of healing and finding genuine love. Fans can pre-save the song HERE. 
 
Paulette’s musical journey has been defined by impactful storytelling, exemplified most recently in the official music video for “You Ain’t No Cowboy” which was released on World Mental Health Day. The video, inspired by the true story of her own cowboy, Ross, challenges mental health stigma in the agricultural community and has over 145,000 views. Paulette is currently on the road with Aaron Watson as part of his The Armadillo Dance Hall Tour and just played to a packed crowd at the Mercury Lounge in New York City. Additional upcoming stops include Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Tampa, Atlanta and more. 

Jenna Paulette performs at New York City's Mercury Lounge on Wednesday, Feb. 7
Photo Credit: Al Feliciano

THE ARMADILLO DANCE HALL Tour Dates:
Feb 8 // Alexandria, VA // The Birchmere
Feb 9 // Warrendale, PA // Jergel’s
Feb 10 // Medina, OH // The Thirsty Cowboy
Feb 15 // Pensacola, FL // Wild Greg’s Saloon
Feb 16 // Tampa, FL // Dallas Bull
Feb 17 // Atlanta, GA // Terminal West
Feb 22 // El Paso, TX // Lowbrow Palace
Feb 23 // Roswell, NM // The Liberty
Feb 24 // Sahuarita, AZ // Desert Diamond Casino 

jennapaulette.com | facebook.com/jennapaulettemusic | instagram.com/jennapaulette | tiktok.com/@jennapaulette | youtube.com/@jennapaulette

About Jenna Paulette: 
A CMT Next Women of Country in 2022 and Apple Music’s Country Riser of the Month for March 2023, singer-songwriter Jenna Paulette — a cowgirl who came of age amid the gritty realities of ranch life — is part of Nashville’s growing wave of female artists who are rewriting the rules and charting their own paths. Paulette settled in Nashville in 2015, where she struck up a mentorship with Ashley Gorley – a veteran songwriter with 60+ No. 1 tunes under his belt – which ultimately led to her publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music in June 2021. Since collaborating with songwriters Will Bundy, Rhett Akins and Jessie Jo Dillion, as well as opening for Mason Ramsey, Parmalee, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker and most recently Aaron Watson, Paulette has landed brand partnerships with Justin Boots, Boot Barn, Ely Cattleman and Ranch Water.
 
Her debut album The Girl I Was, is available now, showcasing Paulette’s finely calibrated blend of toughness and sensitivity in tracks like “Country In The Girl” and “Pretty Ugly.” Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Grammy.comremarked it as “transformative,” noting “fuses the sounds of Twain and Miranda Lambert, tackling mental health with the somber ‘You Ain't No Cowboy’ and waxing philosophical on ‘Country In The Girl.’ Paulette continued to spotlight her authentic western lifestyle, performing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo, making her Grand Ole Opry Debut and performing in multiple festivals including CMA Fest. As Paulette readies her sophomore album in 2024, she recently signed with independent label Leo33. For more information, visit www.jennapaulette.com.

Ryman Auditorium Celebrates 15th POLLSTAR Theatre of the Year Award

Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium was named Theatre of the Year for the 15th time at the 35th Annual Pollstar Awards  in Los Angeles last night. 

Named one of the “10 Best Live Music Venues in America” by Rolling Stone magazine, the Ryman (2,362 capacity) was first recognized by Pollstar in 2003 as Theatre of the Year and has gone on to be recognized 15 times with Theatre of the Year awards. Other accolades include Venue of the Year nods from both the Academy of Country Music and the International Entertainment Buyers Association, and Venue of the Year presented by the Country Music Association.
 
Known as the “Mother Church of Country Music,” Ryman Auditorium is holy ground for a number of music’s greats. A bucket list venue for many, the hallowed stage has seen the likes of Bono, Ed Sheeran, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Harry Styles, Kacey Musgraves, Lizzo, Marcus Mumford and Noah Kahan, to name a few. The Ryman is known around the globe equally for its world-class acoustics and history-making contributions to the live music industry.

Built in 1892, Nashville’s historic Ryman Auditorium hosted over 250 shows and 9 residencies last year. In addition, the major exhibition, Rock Hall at the Ryman, continues to celebrate the Ryman’s mark on rock & roll history. The interactive exhibit commemorates the venue being named a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame landmark. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees featured include James Brown, The Byrds, Eric Clapton, Foo Fighters, Joan Jett and Dolly Parton, in addition to country music icons Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and Hank Williams, who were early practitioners of what would become rock & roll music. 

Last fall the Ryman welcomed a new addition to its collection of unique music artifacts – Johnny Cash’s legendary tour bus, “JC Unit One.” The bus is now on public display outside of the Ryman, allowing guests to step inside and experience a piece of country music history during the venue’s tour hours. JC Unit One, which Cash used for the 1991 Highwayman Tour that transported Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson, traveled to Nashville from its home at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The bus’s journey to the Ryman is part of the venue’s ongoing partnership. Access to “JC Unit One” is included with the purchase of a regular Ryman tour admission ticket.

Photo Credit: Jason Kempin

About Ryman Auditorium
A National Historic Landmark, Ryman Auditorium was built by Captain Thomas G. Ryman in 1892 as the Union Gospel Tabernacle. A 15-time winner of the prestigious Pollstar Theatre of the Year award, the historic venue is well-known as the Mother Church of Country Music and is the most famous former home of the Grand Ole Opry (1943-1974). The Ryman has been featured in numerous film and television projects including Coal Miner’s Daughter, The Johnny Cash Show, American Idol, Nashville and more. While offering a diverse lineup and thriving concert schedule (with over 200 shows per year), the venue is also open for daytime tours year-round. A coveted underplay for many, her iconic stage has seen the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Lizzo, Mumford and Sons, Garth Brooks, Foo Fighters, Wu Tang Clan, Coldplay, Michelle Obama and Little Big Town in recent years. Ryman Auditorium is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP), a Nashville-based REIT that also owns and operates the Grand Ole Opry, 650 AM WSM and Ole Red. For more information, visit ryman.com.

Nita Strauss Announces March 2024 U.S. Headline Tour Dates

It's been quite a busy winter for guitar legend NITA STRAUSS and she is showing ZERO signs of slowing down. In fact, she continues to ramp up for 2024!

Strauss is currently on the second leg of a national North American tour with Mammoth WVH, supporting her most recent solo album The Call of the Void, out now via Sumerian Records. Get it here. She is also is fresh off a televised performance of The National Anthem prior to NASCAR's 2024 Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum.

Today, the Los Angeles-born guitarist has announced a slate of U.S. headline tour dates set for March 2024. 

Diamante and Starbenders will serve as support for the trek, which kicks off March 12 in Worcester and runs through March 29 in Leander, Texas.

All dates are below.

Tickets and VIP upgrades are available here.

NITA STRAUSS ON TOUR:
WITH DIAMANTE + STARBENDERS:
3/12 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
3/13 — Mechanicsburg, PA — Lovedraft's
3/15 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave Bar
3/16 — Minneapolis, MN — Studio B at Skyway Theatre
3/17 — Omaha, NE — The Waiting Room
3/18 — Des Moines, IA — Wooly's
3/20 — Colorado Springs, CO   The Black Sheep
3/22 — Dallas, TX — Granada Theater
3/23 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom
3/24 — Memphis, TN — Growlers
3/26 — Ft Wayne, IN — Piere's
3/28 — Ft Smith, AR — Temple Live
3/29 — Leander, TX — The Haute Spot

Strauss has truly become a force to be reckoned with — dazzling over a million audience members per year around the world. Fans instantly recognize her as the touring guitarist for rock legend Alice Cooper and for pop superstar Demi Lovato; as the official guitarist of the Los Angeles Rams; and as a beloved solo artist. She has played multiple sports events including NASCAR Races and WWE Pay Per Views, most notably her critically acclaimed performance at WrestleMania 34 in 2018.

HIGHER POWER - sign to Nuclear Blast Records and release video for new single 'Absolute Bloom'

Nuclear Blast Records are proud to announce the signing of Leeds, UK based alternative rock band HIGHER POWER. The quintet were birthed from the effervescent UK hardcore scene, and through blending elements of shoegaze, grunge, punk, thrash and more have managed to establish themselves as a wholly unique prospect in the world of modern heavy music.

To commemorate their signing to the label, the band have released a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek video for their new single 'Absolute Bloom'. The track is a vibrant, hook-laden anthem that sees their penchant for 90's alternative music take the fore.

On 'Absolute Bloom', vocalist Jimmy Wizard comments "I’m super excited to release this song. It’s really personal to me in this transitional period of my life, about wanting a deeper more meaningful connection to the real world and not quite being equipped to do so, but finding hope and figuring it out. The music reflects that with a song that's so big and upbeat.”

Watch the new video for 'Absolute Bloom' below.

Stream 'Absolute Bloom' on all platforms now at: https://higherpower.bfan.link/absolute-bloom

Photo Credit: Nat Wood

HIGHER POWER are currently on tour across the US supporting Neck Deep. Catch the band live at one of the remaining dates for your first opportunity to hear 'Absolute Bloom' live. The band also have appearances planned at both Northern Unfest and Outbreak Festival this year.

8th Feb - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom
9th Feb - Kansas City, MO - The Truman
10th Feb - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
13th Feb - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
14th Feb - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater & Ballroom
16th Feb - Boston, MA - Roadrunner
17th Feb - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall
18th Feb - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel
20th Feb - Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live
21st Feb - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
23rd Feb - Cincinnati, OH - Megacorp Pavilion
24th Feb - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
25th Feb - Chicago, IL - The Salt Shed
27th Apr - Glasgow, UK - Northern Unfest
28th Jun-30th Jun - Manchester, UK - Outbreak Festival

Remaining tickets for all dates can be found at: higherpowerleeds.com

Thy Art Is Murder Announce Spring 2024 Headline North American Tour

Australia's extreme metal titans Thy Art Is Murder will return to North America for a headline tour this Spring. It's the first North American tour in support of the new album Godlike, out now. Get it here.

The tour kicks off on April 11 at L'Olympia in Montreal and runs through May 11 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ. Support acts are Angelmaker, Signs of the Swarm, and Snuffed on Sight.

"After decimating Europe on our largest headline tour ever, we are incredibly excited to bring our new album Godlike to North America's shores," the band states.

All dates are below.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, February 9 at 10am local time. Get tickets here.

THY ART OF MURDER ON TOUR:
WITH ANGELMAKER, SIGNS OF THE SWARM, + SNUFFED ON SIGHT:
4/11 — Montreal, QC — L'Olympia
4/12 — Toronto, ON — Opera House
4/13 — London, ON — London Music Hall
4/14 — Detroit, MI — Saint Andrews Hall
4/15 — McKees Rock, PA — Roxian Theatre
4/17 — Harrisburg, PA — HMAC
4/18 — Cleveland, OH — House of Blues
4/19 — Grand Rapids, MI — Elevation
4/20 — Chicago, IL — House of Blues
4/21 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
4/23 — Denver, CO — Ogden Theatre
4/24 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot
4/26 — San Francisco, CA — Regency Ballroom
4/27 — Los Angeles, CA — The Fonda
4/28 — Santa Ana, CA — The Observatory
4/29 — Tucson, AZ — Rialto Theatre
5/01 — Dallas, TX — Studio at The Factory
5/03 — Baton Rouge, LA — Varsity Theatre
5/04 — Jacksonville, FL — The Underbelly
5/05 — Tampa, FL — The Ritz Ybor
5/07 — Raleigh, NC — The Lincoln Theatre
5/08 — Richmond, VA — The National
5/09 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore
5/10 — Worcester, MA — Palladium
5/11 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom

Thy Art Is Murder ascended the ranks of extreme metal's top tier bands with a meteoric underground rise as explosive as humankind's seemingly inevitable descent into doom and death. With their new album, Godlike, Australia's most harrowingly brutal export since George Miller's Mad Max franchise invites audiences worldwide to join them in a fresh Armageddon.  The sixth explosive album in the band's arsenal, Godlike cements Thy Art Is Murder as death metal's modern torchbearers. A soundtrack to a divisive post-modern dystopia, Godlike sees Thy Art Is Murder explore new depths and dynamics without sacrificing an ounce of intensity or urgency the band have staked their career on.

Bryce Leatherwood Announces 11-City ‘Neon Does Tour’

While Republic Records / Universal Music recording artist Bryce Leatherwood works on his first full-length project in 2024, he’ll also carry his neotraditional sound and American Songwriter-celebrated “silky baritone and subtle twang” to fans across 11 cities with his Neon Does Tour. 
 
Kicking off on April 4 in Statesboro, Georgia; Leatherwood’s Neon Does Tour will make additional stops in Knoxville, Tennessee; Birmingham, Alabama; Indianapolis, Indiana and more. Ticket pre-sales for the Neon Does Tour begin tomorrow, Feb. 7 at 10am local time, while general on-sale starts this Friday, Feb. 9 at 10am local time. To purchase tickets, visit bryceleatherwood.com. 
 
“To start my first headlining tour in the place where my musical journey all started, Statesboro Georgia, is a dream come true. South Georgia fans have built this with me, and I can’t wait for them to hear this new music live,” shares Leatherwood. “When writing and recording these songs we had how they’d play out in the live show in mind, and it’s time to road test what’s ultimately gonna make the record which we’re working on now!”
 
The tour is named after Leatherwood’s recently released single, “Neon Does,” the first song Leatherwood has released as a featured co-writer, further amplifying his versatility as both a singer and songwriter.
 
A Georgia Southern University alum, Leatherwood began honing his craft in college, playing local venues and fostering his country music repertoire. At Georgia Southern, he formed his band in late 2021 and began playing all around the Southeast.
 
After graduating college, he competed on the NBC hit television show The Voice and was crowned the Season 22 winner in December of 2022. Following his success on The Voice, Leatherwood began pursuing a full-time music career, signing with Republic Records and Universal Music Group Nashville in October 2023. 
 
Leatherwood is currently recording and will be releasing new music throughout 2024. For the latest news and upcoming tour dates, visit bryceleatherwood.com and follow along on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok. 

Neon Does Tour:
April 4 // Statesboro, GA // The Blue Room
April 5 // Knoxville, TN // Open Chord
April 7 // Decatur, GA // Eddie's Attic
April 11 // Columbus, OH // The Basement
April 12 // Charlotte, NC // The Evening Muse
April 18 // Birmingham, AL // Zydeco
April 19 // Athens, GA // 40 Watt Club
April 20 // Tifton, GA // Terminal South
May 9 // Chicago, IL // Carol's Pub
May 10 // Indianapolis, IN // 8 Seconds Saloon
May 11 // Louisville, KY // PBR Louisville

About Bryce Leatherwood:
Bryce Leatherwood is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter who aims to carry the torch of country music and continue the legacy of legends prior. Bryce was born and raised in Woodstock, GA, and his passion for music began at an early age. Working on his grandfather’s farm every summer, Bryce was exposed to the classic country hits of George Jones, Merle Haggard and Conway Twitty. Soon thereafter, Bryce began picking up guitars and playing the traditional country music that still inspires him today. Bryce’s music career began to blossom in Statesboro, GA, where he attended Georgia Southern University. During his time in Statesboro, Bryce played college venues and continued to hone his stage presence and his country music repertoire. In late 2021 while still enrolled in college, Bryce formed his band and began playing all around the Southeast. Bryce’s goal was to take the stage and play the best of country music to all ages and audiences. After graduating college, Bryce set his mind on a new task. In 2022, he competed on the NBC hit television show The Voice and was crowned the Season 22 winner in December of 2022. Following his success on “The Voice,” Bryce signed with Republic Records / Universal Music Group Nashville and is currently hard at work on new music.

NITE Announce Shows Around Hell's Heroes

NITE are carrying the torch for Bay Area metal to Houston, Texas for Hell’s Heroes this March. The blackened San Franciscan four-piece are known for galloping riffs and an undeniably heavy rhythmic chug, but along the way, they’re making several pit stops at some familiar haunts.

Pump your fist to the melodic thrashing of “The Trident”, along with other choice cuts from Voices of the Kronian Moon and their recently reissued debut Darkness Silence Mirror Flame. Fans on this tour will also get a first taste of NITE's forthcoming third album, as the band will be road testing some brand new material.  

Don't miss select shows with ice metal masters Persekutor and the trad metal warriors of Intranced. The lineup is especially stacked on March 29 in Palmdale, California, where NITE will also be joined by Fresno heavies Haunt and New York's Tanith, which features members of Satan.  

Get tickets: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/nite-tix

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/6A51bOclEcCXsNWNGh9nTj
Order : https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/nite-merch

2024 March to Hell Tour
March 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ 1st Street Pool Hall w/ Persekutor, Intranced, Acero Letal. [TICKETS]
March 17 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Dive w/ Persekutor, Intranced. [TICKETS]
March 18 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon [TICKETS]
March 19 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive [TICKETS]
March 20 - Tulsa, OK @ The Whittier Bar [TICKETS]
March 21-23 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Hell’s Heroes VI w/  Queensryche, Solitude Aeturnus, Cirith Ungol) [TICKETS]
March 24 - Austin, TX @ The Lost Well [TICKETS]
March 25 - El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill [TICKETS]
March 26 - Albuquerque, NM @  Long Hair Records [TICKETS]
March 27 - Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room (FREE SHOW)
March 28 - Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer w/ Persekutor, Intranced [TICKETS]
March 29 - Palmdale, CA @ Transplants Brewing Co. w/ Haunt, Tanith, Persekutor, Intranced [TICKETS]

The San Francisco Bay Area has a history steeped in forward-thinking, technically dazzling metal, and NITE carries that torch with pride. Founded in 2018, their blackened heavy metal brand barrels towards the peril of an unknown future, while keeping one eye on the days when blistering leads once ruled the land. Guitarists Van Labrakis (Satan’s Wrath, Mencea) and Scott Hoffman (Dawnbringer, High Spirits) let loose galloping riffs and harmonies that evoke the classic sounds of the N.W.O.B.H.M., with Labrakis’ grizzled voice driving their dark, melodic metal into the modern era.

With Avinash Mittur (Wild Hunt) replacing founding bassist Bryan Coons in early 2021, he and drummer Patrick Crawford (Serpents of Dawn, Older Sun) make up a rhythm section that’s fierce yet breathlessly precise: a freewheel pounding reminiscent of the early days of heavy metal, with a Rickenbacker-powered roar fueling the low end. NITE’s debut full-length Darkness Silence Mirror Flame, released in March 2020 by Creator-Destructor Records, earned widespread praise. It showcased their fist-raising classic heavy metal that nearly every fan of the genre once fell in love with, but with a twisted and shadowy edge that the titans of old could never imagine. NITE is the flame of the past illuminating the darkness of tomorrow.


Lineup
Van Labrakis - Guitar, Vocals
Scott Hoffman - Guitar
Bryan Coons - Bass
Pat Crawford - Drums

Recorded, mixed and masteredby Van Labrakis at 210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container.

Producedby Van Labrakis and NITE.

Artworkby Misanthropic-Art Illustrations

Order:https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/nite-darkness-silence-mirror-flame

Formats:Digital, CD digipak, vinyl black and colored

Lineup:
Van Labrakis: Guitar / Vocals
Scott Hoffman: Guitar
Avinash Mittur: Bass
Patrick Crawford: Drums

Recording Studio: 210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container 

Producer: Van Labrakis and NITE

Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Van Labrakis

Cover Art: DEIH

Links:
Website: http://nitemetal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nitemetal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nitemetal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nitemetal
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7-UhuJNohvsMB2DP05LAQ
Bandcamp: https://nitemetal.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6MjCnAA9RF0vy3j6QYyLG0
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nite/1499573755

NeverWake Release Re-Imagined Cover of Creed's "Bullets"; Announces Tour Dates with Silvertung!

Stream/Download "Bullets"

https://ffm.to/neverwake

WATCH "Bullets" (Visualizer) below.

Neverwake just dropped their revamped rendition of Creed's "Bullets" on all major platforms today! The band is currently on tour alongside Silvertung. Plus, mark your calendars because the band has been added to the Saturday lineup at Rockfest on July 20th!

"This is one of the first songs that helped bridge me into heavier music. When you're a young kid in the 2000s listening to the radio you've obviously heard of Creed. So your parents buy you their new album for Christmas. The first song you hear is "Bullets" and something awakens inside of you. That's the only way I can describe it. It was such a mind blowing song to me at the time because I thought I had known who Creed was and what they sounded like.. but apparently I was wrong. In some way it showed me the potential a band has in expanding their arsenal of sound. Years later and that song still resonates with me and I get chills every time I listen to it. The song is already metal as hell so we wanted to give it the full outfit and go to town with our version of it," says Johnny DiCarlo.

NeverWake is a haunting sinew of hard rock and metalcore out of Pittsburgh PA. Captivating melodies are entwined with heavy grooves that refuse to leave the mind. Explosive riffs weave their way over a strong foundation. NeverWake has been capturing the minds of listeners worldwide. They have toured the US, played various national festivals, shared the stage with bands such as Falling In Reverse, All That Remains, and many more.

Just recently they have worked with powerhouse musicians such as John Moyer of Disturbed. There are no signs of slowing as the band is on course to release continually throughout the year and tour mid 2024. NeverWake consists of Johnny DiCarlo on lead vocals/lead guitar, George Scott on bass guitar/vocals and Justin Sanford lead guitar/vocals.

NeverWake is currently endorsed by Schecter Guitars, EMG pickups, DR Handmade Strings,and Splawn Amplification. NeverWake is signed to Melodic Revolution Records.

WAYFARER Announces North American Headlining Tour

GET TICKETS HERE

American Gothic purveyors WAYFARER will be embarking on a full North American headlining tour this spring in support of their critically-acclaimed new album, 'American Gothic.' The trek will kick off on April 26 in Jackson, WY and will make its way around the continent before concluding on May 24 in Lincoln, NE with support from SONJA as well as special appearances by VALDRIN on select dates. Tickets will go on sale today, February 6, at 12:00P.M. EST // 9:00 A.M. PST and can be found HERE while the full itinerary can be found below.

Wayfarer guitarist/vocalist Shane McCarthy comments, "This tour has been a long time coming for us - it will actually be the band's first ever full US headlining tour in our 10+ year history. We are looking forward to hitting some places we have never been before (Wisconsin, Montana), some places we haven’t been in 7+ years (Philly, Boston etc), and of course returning to several of the places that have always brought it in the past. We are thrilled to bring AMERICAN GOTHIC to the stage in a big way, and hugely thrilled to be doing so alongside a band the caliber of SONJA, a Philadelphia crew ripping talents that the world needs more of. It will be an honor to be on the road with them, and exciting as well to be joined by Cincinnati's Valdrin on a stretch of dates as a band that is on the cutting edge of American Black Metal.

"Wayfarer and Sonja are coming to town - join us for North American Gothic 2024."

In addition, WAYFARER recently announced that the band will deliver a one-night-only performance of 'American Gothic' at the iconic Bluebird Theater in downtown Denver, CO. The show will include a solo acoustic performance by Paul Riedl (Blood Incantation) and a performance from Denver Sound legends, Munly and the Lepercalians. Tickets are now available HERE. 

American Gothic was released on October 27, 2023 via Century Media (Europe) and Profound Lore Records (North America). The album is sold out in all formats on both labels and was lauded as one of the best albums of 2023 by Rolling Stone, Decibel Magazine (#3), Metal Hammer UK, and many others! The album can be streamed, downloaded, or ordered HERE.

WAYFARER North American Tour Dates

Album Release Show:

3/29: Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater #

(w/ SONJA + Special Guests VALDRIN on select dates)

4/26: Jackson, WY @ Mangy Moose #

4/27: Missoula, MI @ VFW Post 209 #

4/29: Seattle, WA @ Clock-Out Lounge # 

4/30: Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios 

5/1: Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonial 

5/2: Oakland, CA @ Stork Club 

5/3: Los Angeles, CA @ Knucklehead 

5/4: Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Underground 

5/6: Albuquerque, NM @ Sister 

5/8: Austin, TX @ Mohawk 

5/9: New Orleans, LA @ Siberia 

5/10: Atlanta, GA @ Boggs Social & Supply 

5/11: Asheville, NC @ Eulogy * 

5/12: Washington, DC @ Atlas Brew Works * 

5/13: Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda's * 

5/14: Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus * 

5/15: Boston, MA @ Middle East * 

5/16: Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar * 

5/17: Toronto, ON @ The Garrison * 

5/18: Youngstown, OH @ Westside Bowl * 

5/19: Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle 

5/21: Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club 

5/22: Milwaukee, WI @ XRay Arcade 

5/23: St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club 

5/24: Lincoln, NE @ Cosmic Eye 

# WAYFARER ONLY 

* WITH VALDRIN

Photo by Frank Guerra

WAYFARER is the pre-eminent Western American Metal band. Comprised of four black clad

players from Denver, Colorado, the band’s sound draws from the deep wells of black metal,

gothic country, and americana - creating a thunderous and uniquely American genre of metal all

to their own.

After ten years of existence, the band presents AMERICAN GOTHIC - a defining statement of

Western heavy music that explores the dark soul of the nation itself. This time working alongside accomplished producer Arthur Rizk (Eternal Champion, Kreator) the band brings an aggressive and expansive vision to life in a new full length LP.

Led by powerful riffing, bleak melodic sensibilities, and pointed songwriting, this record serves

as a funeral for the American dream. Caked in dust, and buried deep in blood and gunpowder, it

paints a brutal and beautiful portrait, and sees WAYFARER elevate their unique and genuine

brand of metal to new heights.

AMERICAN GOTHIC, the band’s fifth official release, is their third album with longtime partners

Profound Lore Records in North America and first for Century Media in Europe. The album was

released worldwide in the fall of 2023, and now the band rides across stages the world round to

tell its tales.

“What we have now is a world full of oil drillers, and railroad barons. Cattle thieves and company men. This is the new American Gothic.”

Lineup:

Isaac Faulk: Drums

James Hansen: Bass, Vocals

Shane McCarthy: Guitars, Vocals

Joey Truscelli: Guitars

ERRA Announce Spring 2024 North American Headline Tour

ERRA ANNOUNCE SPRING 2024 NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR

MAKE THEM SUFFER, VOID OF VISION, + NOVELISTS TO APPEAR

Prolific metalcore progressives ERRA recently announced their new album CURE, which arrives on April 5 via UNFD. Pre-order it here.  

Watch the video for the new single "CURE," which Revolver christened as "massive," below.

Additionally, the band has announced its upcoming Spring 2024 headline North American tour, with Make Them Suffer, Void of Vision, and Novelists as support. The tour kicks off on April 23 in Philly and runs through June 2 in NYC. All dates are below.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, February 9 at 10am local time. Get tickets here.

ERRA ON TOUR:
WITH MAKE THEM SUFFER, VOID OF VISION, + NOVELISTS:
4/23 — Philadelphia, PA — TLA
4/24 — Baltimore, MD — Soundstage
4/26 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
4/27 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade (Heaven)
4/28 — Birmingham, AL — Iron City
4/30 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Revolution
5/01 — Tampa, FL — Jannus Live
5/03 — Houston, TX — Rise Rooftop
5/04 — Dallas, TX — South Side Music Hall
5/05 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center
5/07 — Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine Theater
5/08 — Las Vegas, NV — House of Blues
5/10 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
5/11 — Santa Ana, CA — Observatory
5/12 — Los Angeles, CA — Echoplex
5/13 — Santa Cruz, CA — Catalyst
5/15 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
5/17 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
5/18 — Portland, OR — Roseland Theater
5/20 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
5/21 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall
5/23 — Lawrence, KS — Granada Theater
5/24 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
5/25 — St. Louis, MO — Red Flag
5/26 — Chicago, IL — House of Blues
5/28 — Detroit, MI — Saint Andrews Hall
5/29 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall
5/31 — Montreal, QC —  Beanfield Theatre
6/01 — Boston, MA — Paradise
6/02 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza

ERRA ARE:
J.T. Cavey — Vocals
Jesse Cash — Vocals + Guitars
Conor Hesse — Bass
Alex Ballew — Drums
Clint Tustin — Guitar