THE HALO EFFECT - unveil new cover of Kent's classic "If You Were Here"

As the summer festival season winds down after a string of unforgettable performances, THE HALO EFFECT surprise fans with a brand-new release — a cover of the beloved 1997 hit 'If You Were Here' by Swedish alternative pop-rock icons Kent (originally released in Swedish as “Om du var här”).

Handpicked by bassist Peter Iwers, the track is a heartfelt tribute to a band that helped shape Sweden’s musical landscape. The Halo Effect’s rendition blends Mikael Stanne’s rich, emotive clean vocals with a hypnotic, pounding bass line and soaring melodic guitars, honoring the song’s essence while infusing it with the band’s signature sound.

Listen to 'If You Were Here' on all platforms: https://thehaloeffect.bfan.link/iywhsg

Watch the visualizer for 'If You Were Here' Below.

THE HALO EFFECT live:

29.08. RO Campulung Muscel – Posada Rock Festival 

30.08. GER Schramberg-Tennenbrom – Metalacker Festival  

21.11. BU Sofia – Joy Station 

22.11. TUR Istanbul – If Besiktas 

25.11. JP Osaka – Bigcat  

26.11. JP Tokio – Toyosu Pit 

29.11. FI Joensuu – Unholy Winterfest 

 

THE HALO EFFECT is:
Niclas Engelin | guitar
Jesper Strömblad | guitar
Mikael Stanne | vocals
Peter Iwers | bass
Daniel Svensson | drums

UK Alt-Punks KID KAPICHI Release New Single "Stainless Steel" + Lyric Video

UK alt-punks KID KAPICHI dawn a new age with the release of their new single “Stainless Steel,” a deeply personal track for frontman Jack Wilson. The new track arrives alongside an official lyric video, available below.

 

“I wrote the lyrics during a particularly difficult few months last year,” explains Jack. “I realized that I’m not invincible or immune from my own mental health issues, hence ‘I’m not made of stainless steel…’ It came about during one of the darkest periods of my life, and a lot of the songs written around that time feel like a blur or like they were written by someone else. Listening back to them now feels like advice given to me from my past self. It's comforting to know that I got out of that place and am doing better, but it’s also a stark reminder that you aren’t in control of when you may slip again.”

 

Jack continues, “'Stainless Steel' also felt like a new direction for us; slowing things down and stripping things back after years of sensing that 'more is more'. It finally felt like less could be...”

Watch the Lyric Video for "Stainless Steel"

Produced by Mike Horner & Ben Beetham alongside KID KAPICHI, and mixed by George Perks, “Stainless Steel” is the band’s first single since the departure of longstanding friends and co-conspirators, guitarist Ben Beetham and drummer George MacDonald, marking the turning of a new page.

 

Since coming together a decade ago in Hastings, UK, KID KAPICHI have always been more brotherhood than band; like-minded musicians bound together by the belief that music and message can happily co-exist, and that being proud of where you’re from should in no way limit your ambition or narrow your view of the world.

 

New line-up details will be announced shortly.

Stream / Listen to "Stainless Steel" HERE

Meanwhile, KK have confirmed an extensive UK headline tour for October / November 2025. These “up-close & personal” shows will see the new line-up taking to the road for the very first time.

A number of UK festival appearances are also in place for August, preceded by a warm-up headline show in Bristol.

OBSIDIAN TONGUE Announces West Coast Headliner

Progressive black metal duo OBSIDIAN TONGUE will be embarking on a West Coast U.S. headliner next month! The trek will kick off in Seattle, WA on September 18 and will dominate 10 cities until the final stop in Spring Valley, CA on September 27. The tour will not only celebrate the release of OBSIDIAN TONGUE's latest studio album, 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn." The full itinerary can be found below!

'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn,' which is out now via Profound Lore Records and can be ordered HERE.

Comprised of multi-instrumentalist Brendan Hayter (Thrawsunblat/Obsequiae live) and drummer Raymond Capizzo (Falls Of Rauros/Panopticon live), OBSIDIAN TONGUE returned to the all-analog Mystic Valley Studio, where their first two records were made, to print their Covid-era home sessions onto two-inch tape. Mixed and mastered in the analog domain as well by Alex Garcia-Rivera, 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn' boasts a unique and unmistakable sonic force amidst the modern digital landscape; created with a total absence of click tracks, quantization, or sound replacement of any kind. 

OBSIDIAN TONGUE Tour Dates:

09/18: Seattle, WA @ BYC

09/19: Eugene, OR @ John Henry's

09/20: Portland, OR @ High Water Mark 

09/21: Olympia, WA @ The Crypt

09/22: Medford, OR @ Rockafairy Express

09/23: Nevada City, NV @ The Owl Cave

09/24: Santa Rosa, CA @ The Shop

09/25: Fresno, CA @ Summer Fox Brewing

09/26: Los Angeles, CA @ Five Star Bar 

09/27: Spring Valley, CA @ The Bancroft

Sixteen years into the band’s existence, Obsidian Tongue clearly show no signs of running out of new ways to alter their sound - song by song, album by album.

Lineup:

Brendan Hayter - Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Synth

Raymond Capizzo - Drums

Recorded @ Mystic Valley Studio

Mixed & Mastered by Alex Garcia-Rivera

Photos by: Stephanie Sintra

Pre-Orders: https://linktr.ee/obsidiantongue

Recommended for Fans Of: Agalloch, Blut Aus Nord, Dødheimsgard, Wolves in the Throne Room

Links:

Instagram

Facebook

Apple Music

Spotify

Bandcamp

Cultus Black Announce Debut Headlining Tour, “The Autumn Horror Road Show” ​   

Cultus Black, the enigmatic masked collective known for their unsettling stage presence, has officially announced their debut headlining tour “The Autumn Horror Road Show”. Kicking off October 3rd, the band will unleash their signature blend of metalcore and nu-metal across the east coast —just in time for the Halloween season.

 

Over the past few years, Cultus Black has earned a reputation for their chaotic and theatrical live shows while touring alongside heavyweights such as Static-X, Fear Factory, Combichrist, and Vampires Everywhere. Now, they’re stepping into the spotlight with an immersive headline experience of their own.

 

Joining "The Autumn Horror Road Show" on select dates are industrial-metal pioneers Crossbreed, adding even more intensity to an already unforgettable night.

 

If you’re craving an intense live show with unsettling visuals and heavy music…then this is the tour for you.

Tickets and full tour dates are available now at www.cultusblack.com

 

October 3rd- Capital city Music Hall -Harrisburg, Pa

October 4th - The foundry - Cleveland, Oh

October 5th - The Spot - Roanoke, VA

October 8th - The Orpheum - Ybor city, FL

October 9th - Conduit - Winter Park, FL

October 10th - Ground Zero - SC

October 11th - Chapel of Bones - Raleigh, NC

Anciients Release New Video for "Is It Your God"

After almost a decade of soul searching through the Canadian wilderness, Anciients are finally returning to the U.S. Starting next week, the heavy, heady and heartfelt Canucks will guide neighboring metal legions through the many peaks of their latest JUNO Award-winning album Beyond the Reach of the Sun. During this month-long trek, the band will blaze across both coasts and the Southwest with special stops down south around ProgPower USA.

"It's been a long time coming", frontman Kenny Cook says, "We look forward to seeing our American fans out on the road!"

As they prepare to hit the road hard, today, Anciients are releasing a new video for the one track off Beyond the Reach of the Sun that really tested their mettle. "Is It Your God" questions the existence of a higher power with grungy grooves and faith-shaking death growls. But its heavenly fusion of soulful leads, cosmic keys and mind-blowing riffs prove why this band are guiding lights for progressive metal.

"This song asks how someone can believe in a higher power when given a life full of despair and anguish", Cook says. "Do you continue to restrict your happiness while living this life, in hopes of joy for eternity? Or do you question whether it's all for nothing?"

Watch the video for "Is It Your God" below.

Get tickets for Anciients U.S. Tour
https://www.season-of-mist.com/bands/anciients/

Quest Beyond Our Minds 2025 U.S. Tour
with Dawn of Ouroboros, Armed for Apocalypse, Nott and Exist

August 27 - Seattle, WA @ Substation [TICKETS]*
August 28 - Portland, OR @ Dante's [TICKETS]*
August 29 - Boise, ID @ The Shredder [TICKETS]**
August 30 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon [TICKETS]**
August 31 - Colorado Springs, CO @ What's Left Records [TICKETS]**
September 2 - Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street [TICKETS]**
September 4 - Atlanta, GA @ ProgPower USA [TICKETS]
September 5 - Gastonia, NC @ The Rooster [TICKETS]***
September 6 - New Orleans, LA @ No Dice [TICKETS]***
September 7 - Austin, TX @ Come And Take It [TICKETS]***
September 8 - Houston, TX @ Pub 529 [TICKETS]****
September 9 - Dallas, TX @ TX Tea Room [TICKETS]****
September 11 - Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Underground [TICKETS]*****
September 12 - San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick [TICKETS]*****
September 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ Knucklehead [TICKETS]*****
September 14 - San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside [TICKETS]*****
September 16 - Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonel [TICKETS]*****
September 17 - Reno, NV @ The Cellar*****
September 18 - Eugene, OR @ John Henry's [TICKETS]******
September 19 - Richland, WA @ Ray's Golden Lion [TICKETS]******
September 20 - Bellingham, WA,@ The Shakedown [TICKETS]******
* w/ Dawn of Ouroboros + Nott
** w/ Dawn of Ouroboros
*** w/ Dawn of Ouroboros + Exist
**** w/ Armed for Apocalypse + Exist
***** w/ Armed for Apocalyspe
****** w/ Armed for Apocalyspe + Nott

Beyond the Reach of the Sun is available now on Season of Mist.

Order & Stream
https://orcd.co/anciientsbeyondthereachofthesun

With all being said and done, Anciients have returned! They stand ready to ascend the prog metal ladder and get back to doing what they do best with a weighty and dense, but wholly accessible, album. It’s a collection of ten songs that possesses the ability to have those furiously banging heads also tapping into their power of self-reflection and contemplation to ponder the finality of existence, the value of life and their place in the universe.  

“Totally! We’re going to take as many of the opportunities that come to us. The hiatus is over and I think with the new members and everyone being on the same page we’re ready to get out there as soon as possible. We missed out on a huge block after the last record, so we’ve got to make up for lost time. Now that everyone is happy and healthy, we plan to hit it hard.”


Lineup
Kenny Cook (vocals, guitar)
Mike Hannay (drums) 
Brock MacInnes (rhythm guitar)
Rory O'Brien (bass)

Guest musicians
Justin Hagberg plays keyboard on "Forbidden Sanctuary", "Is It Your God", "Melt the Crown", "Candescence", "In the Absence of Wisdom".

Jess Gander plays synths on "Candescence" and "Cloak of the Vast and Black".

Recording studio
Rain City Recorders

Producer / sound engineer
Jesse Gander
Assisted by Szymon Wojciech

Mastering studio and engineer
Stu McKillop @ Rain City Mastering

Mixing studio and engineer
Jesse Gander Rain City Recorders

Cover artwork artist 
Adam Burke @ Nightjar Illustrations

Bio
Kevin Stewart-Panko

Pre-order & Stream:https://orcd.co/anciientsbeyondthereachofthesun


Follow Anciients
https://anciientriffs.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-reach-of-the-sun
https://www.facebook.com/ANCIIENTSRIFFS
https://www.instagram.com/anciients/
https://twitter.com/ANCIIENTS
https://www.youtube.com/user/ANCIIENTS
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/anciients/603538280
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YQOcYukzO6U1MjFcavDUE?si=4QWahfZxQjOmAI7nYrav6g&nd=1&dlsi=0142e5e62ae54105

Restraining Order Drop "Were You There" Visualizer

New England fivesome RESTRAINING ORDER — Pat Cozens [vocals], Dylan Tobia [guitar], Kyle Beaudreault [guitar], Jake Miller [guitar], Keith Freeman[bass], and Will Hirst [drums] — traffic in no nonsense hardcore punk. 

After amassing millions of streams, praise from Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, and more while regularly reducing venues to piles of ash, the group will deliver its third full-length Future Fortune on September 12. It marks the first release for Blue Grape Music, the band's new label home. Pre-order it here.

The band has shared the visualizer for new single "Were You There." Watch and listen below.

"A song about unconditional love, for the ones that are more than friends and more than interest, the people you are happy to have in your life," states Cozens about the song.

Restraining Order have a handful of local dates scheduled around the album release, as well as a tour supporting KOYO and Ben Quad this fall. All currently confirmed dates are below.

RESTRAINING ORDER LIVE:
9/11 — Amherst, MA — The Drake
9/12 —  Hamden, CT — Space Ballroom
9/13 — Massapequa, NY — VFW

WITH KOYO, BEN QUAD, + LEAVING TIME:
10/23 — Toronto, ON — Velvet Underground
10/24 — Cleveland, OH — Mahall's
10/25 — Detroit, MI — The Sanctuary
10/26 — Chicago, IL — Reggie's
10/28 — Milwaukee, WI — X Ray Arcade
10/29 — Des Moines, IA — Wooly's
10/31 — Denver, CO — Marquis
11/2 — Boise, ID — The Shredder
11/3 — Portland, OR — Mission Theatre
11/4 — Seattle, WA — The Vera Project
11/6 — Berkeley, CA — Cornerstone
11/7 — Los Angeles, CA — Lodge Room
11/8 — San Diego, CA — Voodoo Room
11/9 — Mesa, AZ — Rosetta Room
11/11 — San Antonio, TX — Paper Tiger
11/12 — Dallas, TX — Club Dada
11/14 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade
11/15 — Orlando, FL — Vans Warped Tour
11/17 — Charlotte, NC — Amos Southend
11/18 — Richmond, VA — Canal Club
11/20 — Washington DC — Pearl Street
11/21 — Boston, MA — Arts at the Armory
11/22 — Philadelphia, PA — First Unitarian Church
11/23 — New York, NY — Racket

The album will be available in several exclusive vinyl variants as of September 26.

Emerging in 2017, Restraining Order hit their stride with 2019's This World Is Too Much. The latter spawned the fan favorite "Don't Really Think," which amassed over 1.1 million Spotify streams and counting. The 2023 follow-up, Locked In Time, incited tastemaker applause. Stereogum hailed it as "a great entry point for the present-day hardcore landscape" and New Noise Magazine celebrated how, "Restraining Order introduce a new flavor of hook-filled, catchy tracks." Plus, Revolver christened them one of "7 Bands Leading Massachusetts Hardcore's New Wave.”"Along the way, they shared stages with the likes of Angel Du$t, Citizen, Drug Church, Fiddlehead, Fucked Up, Kublai Khan TX, LustSickPuppy, and more. The group eventually caught the attention of Blue Grape Music in 2024 and signed to the label. 

‘Band Together Texas’ Rallies Over $8.5 Million in Funds for Central Texas Flood Relief

Notable Texas artists, actors and athletes joined Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas Sunday night for their “Band Together Texas” benefit concert, honoring the lives lost in the Central Texas floods, and celebrating the every day heroes and first responders who saved countless others. The event, which benefitted The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country and Central Texas Community Foundation, raised over $8.5 million and counting.
 
The sold-out evening spanned nearly three hours and was livestreamed via iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, YouTube, Facebook and nugs.net, with a call to action directing fans to donate to continued relief efforts. 
 
Actor Matthew McConaughey opened with a monologue underscoring the importance of the event: “The devastating floods that took so many lives, businesses and homes last month broke a lot of hearts. As that day gets further away into the distance of our rearview mirror, it’s only natural that our concern and attention recede just like those flood waters—but we must remember, for the families who suffered, they are just beginning the lengthy journey to rebuild their lives.
 
​​"Tonight is about restoration… we are here to revive--Because even in the hardest times, we have to believe in the power of joy. So while we honor the heavy truths that brought us here, we will also celebrate the light that must continue to shine.”
 
“Thank you Austin, Texas for showing up tonight. Thank you, everybody, for tuning in and showing up for us. We are banding together as Texans tonight,” Lambert addressed the audience following her duet with McCollum on the George Strait classic, “True,” marking the first live performance of the evening. “It’s going to be a magical night of music, and for an amazing cause. My buddy Parker and I, we called each other right away and we asked, ‘What can we do? We can sing, so let’s go sing.’ And that’s what we’re doing tonight!”
 
Following Lambert’s performance of “Bluebird” and “The House That Built Me,” she introduced her friend, Red Dirt singer Wade Bowen, for a touching in memoriam honoring victims lost in last month’s floods. As Bowen sang an acoustic rendition of “A Beautiful World,” names, images and videos of flood victims flashed across the screen as the crowd remained silent, in a powerful moment that could be felt by viewers at home and in the arena alike. 
 
“I’d like to give a shout out to Miranda Lambert, she’s the whole reason all of this is going on,” McCollum shared as he took the stage to perform “Solid Gold Country” and “Handle On You.” “She texted me right away and asked, ‘What can we do?’ I said, ‘I’ll do anything I could ever possibly do to help these people.’ So, good on all of y’all for being here on a Sunday night. I’ve never been more proud to be born and raised in the great state of Texas than I am tonight.”

The full lineup of Texas talent joins together on-stage at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday night, Aug. 17, for a triumphant final sing along of “On The Road Again” | Photo Credit: Jeff Johnson

Between the 29 songs played throughout the night, actor Dennis Quaid; former UT Longhorns coach Mack Brown and players Emmanuel Acho, Colt McCoy and Vince Young; MLB star and Houston native Roger Clemens; television host and Dallas native Chris Harrison; and Austin-based fashion designer Kendra Scott took pause to reflect on moments of remembrance, bravery and resiliency in the Hill Country.
 
Acho, who spoke with camp counselors from Camp Mystic on a recent episode of Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho, brought 19-year-old counselor Ainslie Bashara on-stage in a touching moment celebrating her heroic actions which saved 16 lives.
 
Honoring first responders, Scott paid tribute to public information officer for the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department, Razor Dobbs, and the Fire Chief, Charles Holt; while Harrison acknowledged the Texas Game Wardens in attendance. 
 
Reigning ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean, who performed at the Moody Center on Saturday, Aug. 16, extended his stay, joining as a surprise guest after generously donating his stage and production crew. Taking the stage with an uptempo performance of “She’s Country,” Aldean then welcomed Lambert on-stage for a duet of “Amarillo Sky.”
 
“Thank you guys so much. Yeah, I had to stay an extra day here in Austin, I can’t think of a better cause to be here for than this,” Aldean shared. “Huge thank you to Miranda Lambert and Parker McCollum for doing this tonight.”
 
“Jason was here last night, as you already know, but he left all of his stuff for us to use, and stayed an extra day to sing a song for us, so you’re an honorary Texan tonight, friend,” Lambert added.
 
Later, Brooks & Dunn’s Ronnie Dunn let music speak where words failed. “I tried to come up with something to say earlier. It was profound, it would do what it needs to do, but I don’t think there’s a song on Earth – no words, no rhyme, no reason – that can heal the pain, the suffering, the sorrow brought on by what’s happened here. So, I’m just going to share a story with you,” he concluded, before delving into his show-stopping performance of faith-based “I Believe” with The Levites Music Group, a choir comprised of members Shedrach Rowry Jonathan Davis, Kevin Overton-Hadnot, De’Juana Shaw, Kraven Rowry and Agnes Henry.
 
After Cody Johnson’s performance of his No. 1 hits “Dirt Cheap” and “Til You Can’t” – as well as a cover of “How Great Thou Art” –  the all-star roster of Texas talent including Lambert and McCollum, Ryan Bingham, Wade Bowen, Ronnie Dunn, Dylan Gossett, Jack Ingram, Johnson, Lyle Lovett, Lukas Nelson, Jon Randall and Randy Rogers joined together on-stage for a triumphant final sing along of “On The Road Again.”
 
Band Together Texas was made possible with the generous support of partners including WoodNext Foundation, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, John Paul & Eloise DeJoria Family Foundation, Woodforest National Bank, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Four Seasons Hotel Austin, H-E-B, Kendra Scott, Moody Center, Poncho, Tecovas, Uber and Whataburger.

Memphis May Fire Announce Fall 2025 Headline Tour

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE — Matty Mullins (vocals), Kellen McGregor (guitar), Cory Elder (bass), and Jake Garland (drums) — will embark on a headline tour this fall. Memphis May Fire: THE SHAPESHIFTER TOUR LEG 2 kicks off on November 17 in Florida and runs through December 16 in Arkansas.

Rain City Drive will serve as direct support, with Nevertel and If Not For Mealso appearing.

Various pre-sals are currently active and run through 10pm local time on Thursday, August 14. Get details and VIP packages here.

Regular tickets go on sale on Friday, August 15 at 10am local time. All dates are below. Get tickets here. 

"The first leg of the Shapeshifter Tour was absolutely unforgettable, and we knew we had to keep it going," shares Mullins. "We’'e beyond excited to announce L2g 2, hitting more cities and bringing along our friends in Rain City Drive, Nevertel, and If Not For Me. We can't wait to see y'all out there and make this next chapter of the tour even bigger than the first."

MMF dropped their latest album SHAPESHIFTER on March 28 via longtime label Rise Records. Get it here. The album received critical acclaim and recognition from SPIN, New Noise, Idobi, and more.

Listen to music from SHAPESHIFTER below.

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE ON TOUR:
WITH RAIN CITY DRIVE, NEVERTEL, + IF NOT FOR ME:
11/17 — Pensacola, FL — Vinyl Music Hall
11/18 — Chattanooga, TN — The Signal 
11/20 — Greensboro, NC — Piedmont Hall 
11/21 — Myrtle Beach, SC — House Of Blues
11/22 — Richmond, VA — The National 
11/23 — Washington DC — The Howard
11/25 — Hartford, CT — The Webster
11/26 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom 
11/28 — Buffalo, NY — Electric City 
11/29 — Detroit, MI — Majestic 
11/30 — Chicago, IL — House Of Blues
12/1 — Madison, WI — Sylvee 
12/3 — Boulder, CO — Boulder Theater 
12/5 — Boise, ID — Treefort Music Hall 
12/6 — Missoula, MT — Wilma
12/7 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory
12/9 — San Luis Obispo, CA — Fremont Theater 
12/10 — Riverside, CA — Riverside Municipal Auditorium 
12/11 — Las Vegas, NV — The Portal 
12/12 — Tucson, AZ — Encore
12/14 — Oklahoma City, OK — Tower Theatre
12/15 — Kansas City, MO — The Truman
12/16 — Fayetteville, AR — Ozark Music Hall  

Leslie Mandoki and his band, the Mandoki Soulmates, is returning to Budapest on August 21, 2025 and streaming live on Youtube

In a homecoming concert spectacular, Leslie Mandoki and his band of global musical luminaries, the Mandoki Soulmates, is returning to Budapest on August 21, 2025 at 7:00pm Central European Time to celebrate fifty years of Mandoki’s life and artistry in freedom on the national stage of his birthland. The 50 year anniversary concert will be live streamed directly from Budapest onto Youtube and can be watched from across the globe! The live stream will begin at 1:00pm Eastern Time. Here is the link for the livestream! https://www.youtube.com/live/t19CDG83nL0?si=n8Wjk2KRr8QKl6od

The performance will feature iconic Mandoki Soulmates songs, global hits made famous by members of his all-star band, and new material from their latest album, including We Stay Loud, Blood in the Water, and Devil’s Encyclopedia. Mandoki says “we invite everyone who believes in the power of music as both an act of profound artistic expression as well as a mode of liberation.”

The extraordinary venue is Budapest’s icon of icons, Szentháromság Tér atop the Buda Castle hill, a fitting crescendo in Mandoki’s performing life, which began in the then-notorious “Bem Club,” the locus of artistic rebels and rebellion in the oppressive 1970s Budapest. The concert promises surprises both evoking Mandoki and The Soulmates’ musical journey, as well as the band’s latest album, A Memory Of Our Future, a resounding international success, recently honored at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.     

The Backstory
Over 50 years ago, the young Leslie Mandoki and his band, JAM, started making the scene at the infamous Bem Club, a so-called “cultural center” in communist-era Budapest that was quickly becoming a hotbed of the underground counter-culture for young people. After experiencing unrelenting artistic and personal repression, Leslie and two like-minded friends summoned the courage to make their way, by any means necessary, to the West. Compelled by this longing for freedom, his friends, the young animator Gábor Csupó (now known worldwide for The Simpsons, Rugrats, Duckman, and Aaahh!!! Real Monsters), and musical blood brother László made a dramatic escape through the Karawanken Tunnel to Germany in 1975—50 years ago!

Perhaps Leslie himself expressed the roots of his personal and artistic odyssey best: “The Bem Club was the place where music became the battlefield of inner revolution and the fight for freedom. It was there that I first understood that behind every sound, there are ideas—and that every melody rises from the depths of the soul. I learned that music is not just storytelling, but a kind of world-building: creating new realities from sounds, thoughts, and shared dreams. The stage is a space where there is both a mirror and a gateway, to ourselves and to one another. The friendships forged there were not fleeting moments, but encounters of destinies attuned to one another. All of this shaped not only my artistic path but also the way I’ve seen life, freedom, and human dignity ever since.”

This crucible of Leslie’s westward journey and new life eventually led to the founding of the Mandoki Soulmates band. The group shared an artistic creed based on the spiritual and musical foundations for what has become the broader Soulmates collective. Now more than just a band, this is a creative fellowship, a cultural atelier, a bridge connecting generations and civilizations, a cry for freedom echoing across the world’s grandest stages, and one that will be celebrated with this concert. 

Mandoki Soulmates Mega Concert—50 Years in Freedom
August 21, 2025, 7pm
Szentháromság Tér, Buda Castle, Budapest

A Memory Of Our Future - Album Order:
https://mandokisoulmates.lnk.to/Physical

Vianova Drop Heavy Curveball With "Obsolete"

Vianova, Berlin's promising force in modern metalcore and rock, drop the video for the brand new banger "Obsolete," and it's a heavy curveball.

Watch the video below.

Stream the single here.

What begins smooth and mellow soon erupts into a powerful burst of energy, driven by Alexander Kerski's (known from The Voice of Germany) standout vocal performance and the band’s explosive instrumental work that demands headbanging. It's an existential reflection on human value in a world shaped by automation, societal pressure, and emotional detachment.

Catch the band live at the dates below in Europe.

10/4-10/6 — Köln, DE — Euroblast Festival
2/7 — Königsbrunn, DE — Matrix (Raptor Metalcore Festival) 

During the 2020 pandemic, Vianova reinvented their musical and visual identity, evolving their sound with the arrival of bassist Raoul Zillani. This new phase embraced a more technical, aggressive, and imaginative style, culminating in their EP Looking For... and the follow-up, ...A Way Out, released in 2023. These efforts garnered international attention and led to management by Lukas Magyar (Veil of Maya) in mid-2023. The band has since performed extensively across Germany, solidifying their position as a rising force in the metalcore genre.

Now back with fresh music, Vianova push their sound even further. This new chapter aims for a raw, fierce, and dynamic approach in both mixing and songwriting. Influences from genres outside metalcore — such as soul, jazz, R&B, and 80's synths — reflect their commitment to breaking genre boundaries. Accompanying this sonic evolution is a vibrant visual transformation, characterized by a focused and youthful energy that injects fun into a metalcore landscape often perceived as stagnant.

VIANOVA ARE:
Alexander Kerski — Vocals
Felix Vogelsang — Guitar
Raoul Zillani — Bass
Paul Vogelsang — Drums

Bask Bend the Law on New Single "The Traveler"

For as long as they've been together, Bask have called Asheville, North Carolina home. But ever since they came rumbling down from the Land of the Sky, it was clear that these Southern trailblazers were cut from a different neck of the woods. On their upcoming fourth album, the band take Heavy Americana to a whole new dimension. The latest single from The Turning revolves around "The Traveler", a mysteriously ageless gunslinger who refuses to go down amidst a mind-melting blaze of glory.

"This song introduces one of the main characters behind our new album", Bask says. "You're sure to be banging your head, just in 9/4".   

Watch the surreal video for "The Traveler" below.

The Turning comes out next Friday, August 22, 2025 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/basktheturning

To kick off this heavy and heady new frontier, Bask are touring the East Coast next week. Hear them perform songs from The Turning during the album's first trip out on the road. 

The Turning 2025 East Coast Tour 
August 20 - Atlanta, GA @ 529 [TICKETS]
August 21 - Savannah, GA @ El Rocko [TICKETS]
August 22 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel [TICKETS]
August 23 - Raleigh, NC @ Chapel of Bones [TICKETS]
August 24 - Richmond, VA @ Fuzzy Cactus [TICKETS]
August 26 - Philadelphia, PA @ MilkBoy [TICKETS]
August 28 - Searsport, ME @ Starboard Lounge [TICKETS]
August 29 - Providence, RI @ Parlour [TICKETS]
August 30 - Wallingford, CT @ Cherry Street Station [TICKETS]
August 31 - Boston, MA @ O'Briens [TICKETS]

Whereas Bask's previous treks were inspired by tall tales, The Turningspools forth from the most fantastical corners of their imagination. "When we started writing this album, the songs were twangy, but also spacier and more psychedelic than anything we've done before", says vocalist and guitarist Zeb Wright, who is also the band's lyrical guide. "And so I asked myself, 'What does this feel like? What do all these things come together and make?". Following a retreat to Echo Mountain Recording with producer Kenny Harrington, they returned with the answer: a 40-odd minute, sci-fi opus that stretches not just across dimensions but generations in man's never-ending quest for immortality.

In keeping in line with its far-out concept, The Turning truly straddles the line between cosmic and country. Just as the video for "The Traveler" puts a surreal twist on the classic talk show format, the album's latest single also introduces a colorful wrinkle in the form of Bask's newest member Jed Willis. "These guys have become friends and brothers to me over the past decade or so", Willis says. His pedal steel glows with all the natural beauty of a Harvest Moon above the song's down-home melodies, though its dimension-hopping desperado needs help getting out of Dodge in order to avoid another run-in with the long, cold hand of fate.

"Don't be frightened of me". Wright belts with clean and clear conviction, though an organ-provoked premonition reveals that the intentions of "The Traveler" aren't so honorable. The doomy breakdown doesn't open the pit but an all-consuming black hole.

“We’ve been through so much together", bassist Jesse Van Note reflects. "We were robbed in Sweden. A tire literally fell off our van while we were driving. During COVID, we didn’t get together as much. We’re also older now and there are challenges and responsibilities that come with that. I have two kids. Some of us have bought houses. We’ve all been through marriages and different relationships. For things to snowball on top of the band one after another, it kind of had us feeling like maybe this was the end of our era”.  

While its story line is admittedly "out there", The Turning does hit close to home. The album's dwellings on family, aging, death and rebirth were cast in a deeper, darker light when Bask returned for mixing and mastering after Hurricane Helene reached Asheville. "The Traveler" ends with its boots one step closer to the grave. But the band still ascend amongst the stars with a shredding solo that defies the laws of physics.

"Seeing this album finally come to light is therapeutic for us", guitarist Ray Worth says. "The Turning is Bask at our finest. It's our most cohesive and heartfelt effort, an ode to our mountain home in the sky". 


The video for "The Traveler" was directed, filmed and edited by Eric Bader. It was produced and designed by Caroline Bader.

Additional video credits
Starring
Joshua Robbins as The Host
Andy the Doorbum as The Magician
Erik Button as The Fox
Caroline Bader as The Witch
Henry Bader as The Child
The Puppet as Himself

"Music is an emotional outlet, but at the end of the day, it's also a way for us to hang out with our best buds", the band says. "The Turning was a challenge, but we weathered the storm and came out the other side with a beautiful album that sounds like Bask".   

Line-up:

Jesse Van Note – Bass
Scott Middleton – Drums
Ray Worth – Guitar
Zeb Wright – Guitar/Vocals
Jed Willis - Pedal Steel

Guest musicians
Clay White - Trumpet
Franklin Keel - Cello
Alex Taub - Piano, Hammond B3 Organ

Recording Studio 
Echo Mountain Recording

Producer 
Kenny Harrington

Engineer
Kenny Harrington

Mixing Studio
Acre AudioMixing

Mixing Engineer
Andrew Schneider

Mastering Studio
West West Side Music

Mastering Engineer
Alan Douches

Available Formats
Digital Download
CD Digipack
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Black)
12" Vinyl Gatefold (Transparent Orange)

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/basktheturning

TRIBAL GAZE REVEAL NEW ALBUM, INVEIGHING BRILLIANCE, OUT OCT 17TH

Following their recent signing with Nuclear Blast Records, Texas death horde TRIBAL GAZE has announced their 2nd full-length album, Inveighing Brilliance, will be released on October 17th. Injecting a heavy dose of scorching old school death metal straight into the veins of the modern metal scene, TRIBAL GAZE hold nothing back on their massively anticipated followup to 2022’s highly praised The Nine Choirs.

The band has unleashed their furious first single, ‘Beyond Recognition,’ with an intense video directed by David Brodsky (CATTLE DECAPITATION, CANNIBAL CORPSE).

Commenting on the impending record and new single, guitarist Quintin Stauts says:

“I think this album, like our others, is us trying to create memorable parts in songs. Parts that make you have to rewind and hear it again. The aim is always to make songs that we love listening to. We’re just trying to add something of value to the death metal world. Our single Beyond Recognition is a good representation of where we’re at mentally. Pissed during the fast parts, pissed during the slow parts.”

TRIBAL GAZE will tour North America in support of Inveighing Brilliance this fall, sharing the stage with THE ACACIA STRAIN, CATTLE DECAPITATION, ABORTED, FROZEN SOUL and more. Tickets are available HERE.

Stream ‘Beyond Recognition’: https://tribalgaze.bfan.link/beyond-recognition

Pre-Order Inveighing Brilliance: https://tribalgaze.bfan.link/inveighing-brilliance

“BEYOND RECOGNITION” MUSIC VIDEO BELOW

TRIBAL GAZE Tour Dates with THE ACACIA STRAIN, BODYSNATCHER and INGROWN:

08.01 Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
08.02 Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall
08.03 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
08.05 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
08.06 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
08.07 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
08.08 Los Angeles, CA @ 1720
08.09 San Diego, CA @ Soma
08.10 Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater
08.12 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
08.13 Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
08.15 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
08.16 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
08.17 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
08.19 Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
08.20 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
08.21 New York, NY @ Irving Plaza
08.22 Philadelphia, PA @ TLA
08.23 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

TRIBAL GAZE Tour Dates with CATTLE DECAPITATION, ABORTED and FROZEN SOUL:

11.16 Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater
11.18 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
11.19 Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
11.20 San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center
11.21 Houston, TX @ Bad Astronaut Brewing Co
11.22 Baton Rouge, LA @ Chelsea's Live
11.24 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
11.25 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
11.26 Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution Live
11.28 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
11.29 Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club
11.30 Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage
12.02 Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
12.03 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
12.05 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda
12.06 Toronto, ON @ Concert Hall
12.07 Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrew's Hall
12.09 Chicago, IL @ House of Blues
12.10 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
12.12 Denver, CO @ Summit
12.13 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
12.15 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
12.16 Seattle, WA @ The Showbox
12.18 Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
12.19 San Diego, CA @ Observatory North Park
12.20 Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco

About TRIBAL GAZE:

Arising from the scorched earth of Texas, Tribal Gaze return with “Inveighing Brilliance”, a death metal monolith shaped by ancient violence and unforgiving truth. Recently signed to Nuclear Blast Records, the band conjures visions of primal wrath and nihilistic clarity—a sound rooted in the rawness of old-school death metal but sharpened with modern intent. From their name, inspired by unseen forces watching from deep forests, to the crushing weight of their riffs, Tribal Gaze channels something ancient, unknown, and violently present.

“Inveighing Brilliance” is a meditation on the illusion of beauty in nature and existence, and how it pertains to both Mother Nature, and our wretched, human society. Even in moments of light, brutality lurks—eggs are stolen from nests, flesh is torn for survival. This album dissects this duality, revealing the suffering embedded in every living moment. With digital artwork by Dom Pabon (Final Resting Place) that evokes sci-fi decay and meditations of ancient ruin, the album looks and sounds like a lost realm where reality fractures under the pressure of its own contradictions.

Tracks like “Beyond Recognition” and “To the Spoils of Faith” expand on these apocalyptic themes. The former imagines an outside force annihilating humanity in judgment of its arrogance, built on some of the band’s most punishing riffs to date—swinging between chaos, groove, and sheer obliteration. The latter churns with mechanized fury and contempt for blind belief, echoing Meshuggah-like timing with lyrics that drag faith to its own ironic hell. Across the record, Tribal Gaze capture the violence of thought and sound in equal measure—uncompromising and vividly self-aware.

Their ascent to Nuclear Blast was anything but formulaic. After leveling stages on tour with Frozen Soul, the band caught the attention of legendary A&R Monte Conner, who waited outside a venue in New York just to share his admiration. That moment solidified a new chapter for Tribal Gaze—a label that values creative freedom and pushes bands to expand without dilution. With “Inveighing Brilliance”, they’ve done just that: stripped away illusion, stared into the abyss, and made it echo.

Follow TRIBAL GAZE:

Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

INFERNO FESTIVAL NORWAY 2026 Reveals First Wave of Bands; DEICIDE, OLD MAN'S CHILD

INFERNO FESTIVAL NORWAY 2026 is now proudly welcoming the first wave of bands to next year's edition, which will once again take place across several venues in Oslo (NO) during Easter from April 2 - 5! Deicide, Old Man’s Child, The Kovenant, Kanonenfieber, Incantation, Whoredom Rife, Darvaza, Perchta, and Myr are confirmed to conquer the festival!

Tickets and passes can be found HERE.

The full lineup is now as follows with more TBA:

Deicide

Old Man’s Child

The Kovenant

Kanonenfieber

Incantation

Whoredom Rife

Darvaza

Perchta

Myr

+ more TBA!

Adam Ezra Group - REVELATE IS OUT NOW

Revelate is out around the globe now!!

Revelate is live on all streaming platforms!!  Stream Revelate!

You all have been so incredible, sparking new fans and listeners from all over the world by streaming our last release, “Sweet Beautiful Thing.”  Revelate is the first song we’re releasing from the album we’ve been working so hard on for the last year and a half, and will be releasing in full over the next 10 months.  We can’t wait for you to hear it, and fingers crossed that more and more folks out there get excited about listening!! 

Acres to Extend New Album "The Host" With More Material + Band Shares "Push Me Away" Video

UK band ACRES will release the continuation of The Host on September 26 via Solid State Records. Pre-order it here. 

What, exactly, is the continuation of the band's critically acclaimed album, which arrived earlier this year? We're glad you asked.

It's even more Acres music, which is always a good thing.

The expanded edition is a continuation and completion of the original, adding three new tracks.

The band shares the video for one of those new songs — "Push Me Away" (Feat. Landon Tewers).

Watch it below.

"'Push Me Away' is almost like a confession of self-doubt, a reflection on feeling like you're the weight holding someone back, and believing they'd be better off without you," the band says. "When we wrote this in the studio, we instantly knew this was the song we wanted to have a feature on and we honestly couldn't think of anyone better than Landon. We're so grateful he wanted to be part of this!"

Acres are touring with Like Moths to Flames this fall. All dates are below.

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

PHOTO CREDIT: Ray Duker

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

ACRES ON TOUR:
WITH LIKE MOTHS TO FLAMES:
10/24 — Cincinnati, OH — Bogarts
10/25 — Lakewood, OH — The Roxy
10/26 — Chicago, IL — The Bottom Lounge
10/28 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
10/29 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
10/31 — Denver, CO — Gothic Theatre
11/01 — Salt Lake City, UT — Urban Lounge
11/03 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
11/04 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theater
11/06 — Roseville, CA — Goldfield Trading Post
11/07 — Pomona, CA — Glasshouse
11/09 — Tucson, AZ — 191 Toole
11/11 — San Antonio, TX — The Rock Box
11/12 — Dallas, TX — Trees
11/13 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
11/15 — Tampa, FL — The Orpheum
11/16 — Orlando, FL — Abbey
11/18 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade (Hell)
11/19 — Charlotte, NC — The Underground
11/21 — Philadelphia, PA — Brooklyn Bowl
11/22 — Baltimore, MD — The Recher
11/23 — New York, NY — Gramercy Theatre
11/25 — Boston, MA — Paradise Rock Club
11/26 — Montreal, QC — Fairmount Theater
11/27 — Toronto, ON — Opera House
11/29 — Pittsburgh, PA — Preserving Underground
11/30 —Detroit, MI — St. Andrews Hall

The Acacia Strain Drop Video for "HOLY MOONLIGHT"

THE ACACIA STRAIN  — Vincent Bennett, vocals; Devin Shidaker, lead guitar; Griffin Landa, bass; Mike Mulholland, guitar; and Matt Guglielmo, drums — recently announced their upcoming album You Are Safe From God Here. It arrives on October 24 via Rise Records. Pre-order it here.

"This record unapologetically The Acacia Strain; take that however you want," the band declared upon announcement. "It's angry, it's sad, it's us. We made a record that made us feel uncomfortable. We hope it makes you feel the same way."

Uncomfortable isn't a bad thing. Discomfort challenges you to expand yourself and it can transform you. 

The Acacia Strain have today shared the video for new single "HOLY MOONLIGHT."

Watch it below.

For a new release from The Acacia Strain, expect an uncompromising sonic assault that further solidifies their reign as titans of extreme music. This latest offering delves deeper into the crushing territories of sludge, doom, and death metal, while retaining the raw, unbridled aggression of their hardcore punk roots.
 
Lyrically, frontman Vincent Bennett once again navigates the bleak landscapes of misanthropy, nihilism, and existential dread, delivering his venomous pronouncements with unflinching intensity. Fans can anticipate a relentless barrage of bone-shattering breakdowns, cavernous riffs, and a palpable sense of impending doom that has become synonymous with The Acacia Strain's destructive sound.
 
Following their innovative dual release of Step Into The Light and Failure Will Follow in 2023, which showcased both their traditional shorter, pulverizing tracks and their expansive, sludgier compositions, this new album promises to push the boundaries of their established ferocity while maintaining the unparalleled heaviness their dedicated fanbase craves. Prepare for an auditory experience that is as punishing as it is profound, a testament to The Acacia Strain's enduring legacy in the realm of extreme metal.

THE ACACIA STRAIN ON TOUR: 
8/15 — The Orpheum — Tampa, FL
8/16 — Altar @ The Masquerade — Atlanta, GA
8/17 — The Underground — Charlotte, NC
8/19 — Canal Club — Richmond, VA
8/20 — Baltimore Soundstage — Baltimore, MD
8/21 — Irving Plaza — New York, NY
8/22 — Theatre of Living Arts — Philadelphia, PA
8/23 — New England Sadness + Failure Fest — Worcester, MA

Boston alt-rockers BURN KIT releases 'Looking Through The Window At You' single & 'Split' 7" vinyl with Turquoise -

Boston alt-rock outfit Burn Kit presents their new single 'Looking Through The Window At You', a grungewave tune that bonds together influences of alt-rock, post-punk and grunge rock.

Burn Kit is a five-piece band comprised of vocalist Valentino Valpa, guitarist Joshua Sawhill, guitarist Frank Nordaby, drummer Andrew Mattern with bass duties split between Padraic McGuire (touring) and Christopher Belmonte (studio recordings).

Formed in 2024, their music channels a hardcore energy with a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshing. They wasted no time, their first year seeing them complete five tours involving 138 shows in 38 different countries, not to mention the recording of 'Demo Tape', a handful of singles and their most recently-release - their debut 'Fallen Rose' EP.

Apart from being released digitally, 'Looking Through The Window At You' is one side of Burn Kit's new 'Split' 7", a double A-side single with Chicago band Turquoise. Each of these tracks is exclusive to this one-off limited edition black vinyl with 270 copies pressed. 

"The song 'Looking Through The Window At You' confronts the always-known locked door that exists within all human minds. The fact that no person truly fully knows one another. There are always things we are thinking, things we won’t say and appearances we keep up admist our automation of modern daily living," says Valentino Valpa.

Turquoise's contribution to this double A-side single is 'Oblivious', a driving indie-punk anthem that channels a 90s alt-rock vibe sprinkled with a Hüsker Dü influence. Effortlessly striking a balance between muscled-up hardcore indebted riffs and soothing, textured melodies, 'Oblivious' appears as the band gears up for an album release. With Burn Kit also approaching their sophomore EP, the stars aligned perfectly to offer these two one-off tracks to their growing audience.

The seed for this 7” release was planted when Turquoise played a Chicago hardcore basement show with Burn Kit vocalist Valentino’s previous project. The two stayed in touch and once Burn Kit formed, this idea could finally become reality. Recorded and mixed in March-April 2025 by Ryan Stack at The Electric Cave in Portsmouth, NH, 'Looking Through The Window At You' was engineered by Marc McElroy and mastered by Dan Coutant at Sunroom Audio in Cornwall, NY.

Burn Kit live shows are known for their intensity and unpredictability. Frontman Valentino Valpa has been known to frequently dive into the crowd, climb various structures (both inside and outside the venue) and even make his way to other buildings in the middle of a song. Whether it’s stretching a 100-foot mic cable to end up on the roof of an adjacent building while still singing, climbing the staging at a Mexican festival, or performing the song from a tree, Valpa's unpredictability has led to many to describe Burn Kit as “something you have to see live to fully experience”.

Accompanied by songs that invite both catharsis and chaos, this unique bond of energy and mutual understanding with the audience has led Burn Kit to unite a tight-knit group of friends and fans in DIY scenes across the world. Creating an experience that cannot be conveyed via the internet, they remind listeners of our true human nature and the importance of connecting with one another.

As of August 12, the 'Split' 7" can be ordered on vinyl via Bandcamp. 'Looking Through The Window At You' itself can also be found there digitally, as well as other music platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. Burn Kit is touring the USA in September and touring Europe to the end of the year.

CREDITS
Music written by Joshua Sawhill & Valentino Valpa
Lyrics by Valentino Valpa
Valentino Valpa - Vocals
Joshua Sawhill - Guitar
Frank Nordaby - Guitar
Christopher Belmonte - Bass
Andrew Mattern - Drums
Recorded & mixed by Ryan Stack at the Electric Cave in Portsmouth, NH
Engineered by Marc McElroy
Mastered by Dan Coutant at Sunroom Audio in Cornwall, NY.
Artwork & design by Jen D’Amore.
Turquoise music by Nico LaCorcia. Lyrics by Ben Wilson
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

TOUR DATES
Sept. 12th – Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon
Sept. 13th – Las Vegas, NV @ Dive Bar
Sept. 14th – Pomona, CA @ Glass House
Sept. 17th – San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room at House Of Blues
Sept. 18th – Long Beach, CA @ Alex’s Bar
Sept. 19th – San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
Sept. 20th – San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
Sept. 21st – Keizer, OR @ Radness Ensues **
Sept. 22nd – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Sept. 23rd – Seattle, WA @ Funhouse at El Corazon
Sept. 24th – Medford, OR @ Rockafairy **
Sept. 25th – Fresno, CA @ Strummer’s
Sept. 26th – San Diego, CA @ The Print Shop **
Sept. 27th – Glendale, AZ @ The 44

Keep up with Burn Kit
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | BandsInTown | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Instagram | BlueSky | Threads  | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Ema il

PARADISE LOST DELIVERS GOTH METAL MASTERPIECE 'TYRANTS SERENADE'

Legends of doom, PARADISE LOST have debuted their riveting 3rd single ‘Tyrants Serenade,’ a 4+ minute goth metal opus of epic proportions and bleak new staple in the band’s celebrated catalog. The standout track is found on their eagerly awaited album Ascension, out September 19th from Nuclear Blast Records.

Giving context to the song, vocalist Nick Holmes says:

"Observing the death of an individual, and subsequently, how the transition of seasons evokes fond memories. The God of Malevolence serves as an internal voice to dismantle those cherished memories and reintroduces the initial anguish of loss."

On one of their boldest singles to date, PARADISE LOST meld crunchy riffs and soaring guitar melodies with juxtaposing anthemic clean and harsh vocals. The memorable new track is accompanied by a stunning video directed by longtime collaborator Ash Pears (HOST, BLOODBATH, KATATONIA).

In celebration of the new album, PARADISE LOST has also announced a handful of intimate signing sessions and a record release show in Leeds, UK. Tickets are available now at https://tix.to/Ascension.

Sep 20 - Sheffield, UK @ Bear Tree (4PM BST) - Signing Session

Sep 21 - Birmingham, UK @ HMV (2PM BST) - Signing Session

Sep 22 - Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club (7PM BST) - Record Release Show

Sep 24 - London, UK @ Rough Trade East (12PM BST) - Signing Session

Stream ‘Tyrants Serenade: https://paradiselost.bfan.link/tyrants-serenade

Pre-order Ascension: https://paradiselost.bfan.link/ascension

‘TYRANTS SERENADE’ MUSIC VIDEO BELOW.

PARADISE LOST’s first album in 5 years, following 2020’s critically acclaimed Obsidian, was produced by guitarist Gregor Mackintosh and mixed/mastered by Lawrence Mackrory. Ascension is a testament to the band’s longevity and relevance over their 35+ year career, encompassing their signature styles of gothic, death and doom fans have cherished along the way.

Ascension’s album cover fittingly features the painting The Court of Death (1870-1902) by renowned British artist George Frederic Watts, which hangs in the Tate Gallery in London. The painting depicts Death as an enthroned angel flanked by allegorical figures of Silence and Mystery guarding sunrise and the star of hope, while a warrior surrenders his sword and a duke his coronet, showing that worldly status offers no protection. The painting’s bleak, prophetic vision embodies Ascension’s dark, tormented soundscapes as mournful verses collide with dire, foreboding riffs.

Commenting on the record, Holmes states:

"Ascension is a cavalcade of molten misery, a vigorous sorrow filled stroll through a wicked world of glorious triumph and pitiful tragedy."  

PARADISE LOST will embark on the first leg of the “Ascension of Europe” tour this fall. Tickets are available at https://paradiselost.co.uk/tour-dates/.

About PARADISE LOST:

More than three decades into their career, and with over two million albums sold, PARADISE LOST remain the undisputed kings of metal’s dark side. Formed in Halifax in 1988, the band quickly became noted as the pioneers of gothic metal through their early groundbreaking albums like 1991’s aptly-titled Gothic, a mixture of heaviness intertwined with shadowy melody and atmosphere.  

Never a group to remain creatively static, across their career they’ve explored a myriad of avenues of dark music, from sludgy doom-death roots, to conquering the metal mainstream with the enormous, lush sounds of 1995’s Draconian Times, to more experimental, electronic leanings, leaving an influence on a trail of artists as varied as CRADLE OF FILTH, HIM, GATECREEPER and CHELSEA WOLFE.  

Now, in 2025, the Yorkshire quintet return with their staggering 17th album, Ascension, a record that sees their crown continue to gleam as it underlines just how they attained their position. Produced by guitarist Gregor Mackintosh at Black Planet studios in East Yorkshire, with drums and vocals captured at NBS and Wasteland studios in Sweden, its 10 tracks traverse the multitude of sounds in the band’s arsenal, from full-bore heavy metal to sky-high melody, all the while keeping a minor-key melancholy that remains irresistible.

Follow PARADISE LOST:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | Youtube | Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp

Savage Hands Blaze Into A New Era With "Trust Issues"

Maryland's unflinching alt-metal bruisers, Savage Hands, are storming into their next fierce chapter and unleashing their seismic new single, "Trust Issues". Fans can listen to "Trust Issues" HERE.

Kicking down the door to a new era, Savage Hands deliver "Trust Issues", a blast of grit, adrenaline, and the kind of vulnerability that you scream rather than whisper. With this brand new track and their current US run with metalcore titans Attack Attack!, the band are hungrier, angrier, and more self-aware than ever. Careening between glitchy chaos and anthemic melody, the band aren't simply stepping up, but daring the rest of the scene to keep pace.

Currently charging across the U.S. in support of their recent singles, Savage Hands open up about the start to this pivotal new era:

"Honestly, this song is exactly what we are about. We got to write it with a huge idol of ours (Aaron Gillespie) and we were stoked for the opportunity to be able to collaborate and make something so true to our roots.”

Armed with their searing new single, "Trust Issues", Savage Hands are hitting the road for Attack Attack!'s monstrous ONE HIT WONDER Tour, alongside fellow metalcore pit-starters Versus Me. Fans can purchase tickets to the ONE HIT WONDER Tour now HERE.

Guided early on by multi-platinum producer Andrew Baylis (Jelly Roll, Sleeping With Sirens, etc), Savage Hands have sharpened their craft into a volatile blend of ominous atmosphere, sledgehammer riffs, and skyscraping choruses. A hybrid sound that dissolves the lines between post-hardcore, metalcore, and alternative rock, all while hitting with precision and purpose.

Propelled by the success of previous singles, "Demon", "Washed Away", and "Halo", the quintet have been in constant forward motion since their 2018 debut, amassing over 55 million streams along the way. From steely Maryland roots to festival stages, Savage Hands' relentless drive has shaped a sound that thrives on the collision of chaos and catharsis bleeding into one another. With their latest releases, "Trust Issues", "Reload Repeat", and "Trace Erase", Savage Hands are opening the door to a new chapter, one that's heavier, sharper and more unapologetic than anything that's come before.

Be sure to stay tuned for more Savage Hands news coming very soon.

ONE HIT WONDER TOUR

Aug 12 | Atlanta, GA | The Masquerade Hall

Aug 13 | Winter Park, FL | Conduit

Aug 14 | Charleston, SC | Music Farm

Aug 15 | Richmond, VA | Canal Club

Aug 16 | Reading, PA | Reverb

Aug 17 | New York, NY | Racket

Aug 19 | Buffalo, NY | Rec Room

Aug 20 | Pittsburgh, PA | Crafthouse

Aug 21 | Detroit, MI | The Shelter

Aug 22 | Cleveland, OH | Globe Hall

Aug 23 | Joliet, IL | The Forge

Aug 24 | Minneapolis, MN | Fine Line Music Cafe

Aug 26 | Des Moines, IA | Wooly's

Aug 27 | Omaha, NE | The Waiting Room

Aug 29 | Denver, CO | Marquis Theater

Aug 30 | Grand Junction, CO | Mesa Theater

Aug 31 | Salt Lake City, UT | Metro Music Hall

Sep 2 | Seattle, WA | The Crocodile

Sep 3 | Portland, OR | The Nova PDX

Sep 5 | Roseville, CA | Goldfield's

Sep 6 | Los Angeles, CA | Echoplex

Sep 7 | Phoenix, AZ | The Rosetta Room

Sep 9 | San Antonio, TX | The Rock Box

Sep 10 | Houston, TX | Scout. Bar

Sep 11 | Dallas, TX | Puzzles

Sep 12 | Tulsa, OK | The Vanguard

Sep 13 | Wichita, KS | Wave

Sep 14 | Springfield, MO | The Regency

Sep 16 | St Louis, MO | Red Flag

Sep 17 | Nashville, TN | The Basement East

Sep 18 | Fort Wayne, IN | Piere's

--

Sep 19 | Louisville, KY | Louder Than Life

Full tour information can be found HERE.

ABOUT SAVAGE HANDS

From day one, Savage Hands have had a razor-sharp, singular focus on who, and where, they want to be. Founded in 2016 in Waldorf, Maryland, the group, under the tutelage of multi-platinum producer Andrew Baylis (Jelly Roll, Sleeping With Sirens) have become staples in the heavy music underground thanks to a series of SharpTone Records releases – 2018’s Barely Alive, 2020’s The Truth In Your Eyes and 2023’s Rock Bottom – that have showcased their punishing blend of post-hardcore, metalcore and alternative rock. Their music is pressure-cooker dynamism careening through airy choruses, crushing drops and hard-charged lyricism, a sound they’ve brought to stages from coast to coast with the likes of D.R.U.G.S., Magnolia Park and While She Sleeps through their fiery, raved-about live show.

And now the band – Mike Garrow (vocals), Justin Hein (guitar), Nathan O’Brien (bass), Alex Gacek (drums) and Jayvon Green (guitar) – are entering a brand-new era of evolution with “Reload, Repeat” and “Trace Erase,” a double single produced by Jonathan Dolese (D.R.U.G.S., Downswing) that doubles down on the maximalist blend of styles and influences that have brought them here. The breakdowns are more thunderous than ever, the skittering beds of electronics more pronounced and Garrow’s coarse-throated roar more harrowing as he details letdown, backstabbing and family trauma – a sonic car crash brought to life three minutes at a time.

INCITE Celebrate Monumental Year With The Release Of 'Savage New Times' Album and Video

Phoenix groovers/thrashers INCITE have today released Savage New Times via Reigning Phoenix Music. The new album features 10 new tracks that showcase exactly why they are broadly viewed as rising stars in the genre.

To mark the occasion, the band has unleashed a performance video for the title track, one of the most intense and truly “savage” cuts on the record.

Frontman Richie Cavalera comments, "'Savage New Times' is a throwback to 80s  metal that inspired us. It’s meant to be a song about being strong, overcoming, and fighting through the dark days of our lives. It’s a killer track and a great way to end an album as our final battle cry!!!"

Watch the video for "Savage New Times" Below.

Purchase Savage New Times HERE: https://incite.rpm.link/savagenewtimesPR

Midnight In Hell 2025 Tour (With SIX FEET UNDER, EXHORDER And WRETCHED)

9/21 Columbus, OH The King Of Clubs
9/22 Baltimore, MD Soundstage
9/23 Raleigh, NC Chapel Of Bones
9/25 Orlando, FL Conduit
9/26 Tampa, FL Orpheum
9/27 Destin, FL Club LA
9/28 Baton Rouge, LA Chelsea’s Live
9/29 San Antonio, TX Paper Tiger
9/30 Lubbock, TX Jake’s
10/2 Tucson, AZ The Rock
10/3 San Diego, CA House Of Blues
10/4 San Luis Obispo, CA Humdinger
10/5 Sacramento, CA Aftershock (Six Feet Under only)
10/7 Seattle, WA El Corazon
10/9 Richland, WA Ray’s Golden Lion
10/10 Portland, OR Nova
10/11 Boise, ID The Shredder
10/13 Denver, CO The Oriental Theatre
10/15 Tulsa, OK The Vanguard
10/16 Des Moines, IA Wooly’s
10/17 Urbana, IL The Canopy Club
10/18 Chicago, IL Avondale
10/19 Cadillac, MI Venue Event Center
10/20 Detroit, MI Sanctuary
10/21 Buffalo, NY Rec Room
10/22 Norwalk, CT District Music Hall
10/23 Brooklyn, NY Brooklyn Monarch
10/24 Bensalem, PA Broken Goblet
10/25 New Kensington, PA Preserving Underground

Purchase Tickets HERE: https://linktr.ee/midnightinhell

About INCITE:

Founded in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2004 by frontman Richie Cavalera, INCITE blends groove and thrash metal with a raw, relentless edge. With Lennon Lopez on drums and EL on bass, the band has honed its unyielding sound across multiple albums, evolving with each release. Their punishing intensity is amplified by producer Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, HATEBREED and mixer Arthur Rizk (Soulfly, Municipal Waste), while striking artwork by Marcelo Vasco (Slayer, Kerry King) captures their ferocity. Known for their relentless touring, Incite has conquered stages worldwide, sharing bills with DEVILDRIVER and SIX FEET UNDER, and proving their grit—like driving 500 miles through a blizzard to make a show. The addition of guitarist Layne Richardson has injected fresh energy, elevating both their live performances and songwriting. With sheer determination and raw talent, Incite has carved out a place in modern thrash, dominating every stage with their unbreakable, unforgiving sound.