Melodic Death/Doom Unit MARIANAS REST to Release New Album, Fata Morgana, on March 12

First Single & Official Video, “Glow From The Edge”, Out Now

Pre-order "Fata Morgana": https://smarturl.it/MR-FataMorgana out March 12thCast:Heikki Mahlamäki - ManBettina Lehtonen - SeerLaura Rustholkarhu - Woman in pr...

Sophomore Album, Ruins, Reissued on Vinyl for the First Time – Coming March 12

Pre-Order HERE

Emerging from the Finnish coastal town of Kotka, melodic death/doom metal strikers MARIANAS REST will unleash their third studio album, Fata Morgana, on March 12, 2021 via Napalm Records. In anticipation, they have just unveiled the first single from the album, entitled “Glow From The Edge”, along with a moving official video.

The Finns – featuring Jaakko Mäntymaa on vocals and Omnium Gatherum’s Aapo Koivisto on keys – showcase a true virtuosity of heavy riffs, hypnotizing soundscapes and impetuous tempo-changes on their new work of art. Fata Morgana combines intense melodic death metal spiced with significant doom elements and breathes an overall melancholic theme with every note, which the first output, “Glow From The Edge”, is proof of. Atmospheric guitar tones set the stage for this gloomy melodic death and doom metal offering. Spoken words permeate the listener’s brain, soon erupting in harsh and intense growling while the dreamlike backing vocals of guest musician Lindsay Matheson/Schoolcraft are carried along with sophisticated melodies.

Vocalist Jaakko Mäntymaa on the first single, “Glow From The Edge”:

"Glow has a dreamy, mystic aura to it. I think it represents the evolution of the band and therefore it was an easy choice to be the first song released”.

MARIANAS REST deliver the colossal next chapter in their introspective melodic death/doom parable!

Fata Morgana marks the final chapter of a trilogy that began when MARIANAS REST released their first full-length, 2016’s Horror Vacui, followed by the critically acclaimed full-length Ruins (2019). The series encompasses themes of isolation, eventual mental collapse and emergence from that woeful state, respectively – however, the band invites fans to experience the concept from their own perspectives.

The upcoming eight-song epos delivers atmospheric melodies that are as endless and fascinating as the overwhelming beauty of Finnish nature, which tracks like the expressive “The Weight” or authentic “Pointless Tale” are evidence of. Topped by guest appearances of Timo Virkkala, who shares his awesome cello magic, and the bewitching backing vocals of Lindsay Matheson/Schoolcraft (ex-Cradle Of Filth), MARIANAS REST take their creative output to the next level and make Fata Morgana a must-have for fans of bands like INSOMNIUM and MY DYING BRIDE.

MARIANAS REST on Fata Morgana:

"Fata Morgana is a voyage into isolation. A passage to a place where minds get distorted by the cold."

Pre-Order your copy of Fata Morgana NOW!

This melodic melancholy is produced by Teemu Aalto (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum) and MARIANAS REST, recorded and mixed by Teemu Aalto at Teemu Aalto Music Productions and mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers, who received a Grammy nomination with Candlemass feat. Tony Iommi for Best Metal Performance.

A somber manifest of heavy riffs and grieving melodies

As a special bonus, MARIANAS REST will release a limited edition reissue of their aforementioned second studio album, Ruins, on vinyl for the first time ever on March 12, 2021 via Napalm Records. Unleashed back in April 2019, the Finns’ full-length tells the story of how a mind slowly crumbles, about introversion, putting up mental walls and eventually disappearing inside your own head.

Pre-Order Ruins HERE:

MARIANAS REST are:

Jaakko Mäntymaa – vocals

Aapo Koivisto – keys

Nico Mänttäri – guitar

Harri Sunila – guitar

Niko Lindman – bass

Nico Heininen – drums

Chicago Progressive Metal Group Dissona Release Cover of Willy Wonka Favorite, “Pure Imagination”

On the heels of the release of their next album, Dissona releases their version of “Pure Imagination,” the rendition made famous by Gene Wilder in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Chosen by a loyal Patreon subscriber, Dissona takes the brightness and whimsy that made the original such an indelible classic and shades it under the storm clouds of the world’s current state. Orchestration has been pared back and darkened to allow the purity and message of the vocals to act as the herald and banner-man, leading the listener through the fray and out the other side.

“The difficulty of 2020 was well-known and continues to wreak havoc. We hope our ‘Pure Imagination’ may be a light for you in times of need.”

Dissona is currently mixing their upcoming album with an anticipated 2021 release date. It is their most ambitious work to date. If you would like to become a subscriber on Dissona’s Patreon, please visit: https://www.patreon.com/dissona

BLOODY HAMMERS Releases Retro Sci-Fi Music Video for Eerie New Track "Not Of This Earth"

Order the new album "Songs Of Unspeakable Terror" here: https://smarturl.it/BloodyHammers-SOUTFrontman/multi-instrumentalist Anders Manga says about the trac...

Prior to the holiday season, horror-occult-goth metal/rock fusers BLOODY HAMMERS unleashed two grisly, metallic new tracks to the masses' delight - the macabre punk earworm “A Night To Dismember” and swinging, gritty anthem "Hands Of The Ripper". Now, the Transylvania County, North Carolina-based husband and wife duo have released a third single and video on the eve of the release of their new horror punk-inspired full-length album, Songs Of Unspeakable Terror!

Conjuring images of retro sci-fi horror, the video for the sultry, doom metal-inspired track, entitled "Not Of This Earth", compliments the words of the song's extra-terrestrial crooner. Hungry for blood to revitalize his dying planet – he’s not of this earth!

Frontman/multi-instrumentalist Anders Manga says about the track:

"Devallia and I knocked out this video a couple weeks ago in our little cabin basement. The current health crisis has kept us home but the green screen can take us (crudely) anywhere and BEYOND! Lyrically, this song is a straight tribute to Roger Corman's 1957 drive-in sci-fi/horror classic. As much as I think we're inspired by Hammer Films and classic European gothic horror, really, Corrman is just as important and certainly an American treasure."

At the start of 2020, Anders Manga was about to head out on tour for his darkwave side-project when COVID-19 hit. Soon locked in their house under local stay-at-home orders, Manga and his bride and bandmate, Devallia, spent time jamming in their basement and revisiting some of their classic punk favorites. Holed up and barred from the uncertainty of the world, BLOODY HAMMERS conjured 11 new raw-power tracks inspired by that sound, and now they’re unearthed… from the grave!

While Songs of Unspeakable Terror doesn’t stray too dangerously far from the sound listeners have grown to infectiously adore, the full-length explores yet uncharted territory: retro-ized horror punk in all its gritty glory. This beastly record shouldn’t be confused as an all new direction for the band – these songs are a temporary foray into the unknown while still remaining true to the BLOODY HAMMERS sonic trademark.

Kicking off with first single and album opener “A Night To Dismember”, the album careens the listener down a dark, winding auditory road of melodic punk (in a jet-black classic car, of course). Trudging, metallic terrors like “Hands Of The Ripper” and “Witchfinder General” ensnare the listener, while seductive, unrelentingly heavy tracks such as “Not Of This Earth” will have them screaming for more, and head-bobbers like “The Ones Who Own The Dark” prove this offering isn’t short on melody. Laced with spine-tingling vocal lines, bathed in an occult cocktail of granular guitars and accented by a peppering of vintage Mellotron, each track on Songs Of Unspeakable Terror is a bonafide horror punk pillar.

Anders Manga says about the album:

“When the pandemic hit and I realized I’d be stuck at home for a while, I started thinking I needed to dig into a music project. I was oddly inspired by the unknown, and fear that this plague was gonna wipe us all out. I needed a creative escape. We’d just released the BLOODY HAMMERS album, ‘The Summoning’ a few months earlier, so I didn’t think about doing another Hammers album at all. When COVID was really hitting NYC hard, that got me thinking about my favorite bands from that whole NY/NJ area… Misfits, Wendy O. Williams, Ramones, Dead Boys, The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black, Twisted Sister and such. That’s where I found inspiration to do a horror punk-ish record.”

Fans of BLOODY HAMMERS and heavy music fans new to the band alike will enjoy this unique offering, available in digital, CD jewelcase and multiple vinyl variations!

Songs Of Unspeakable Terror will be available in the following formats:

- CD Jewelcase

- LP Gatefold Black

- LP Gatefold Red/Black Split-Splatter (limited to 100, European Napalm Mailorder Only)

- Deluxe Vinyl Edition: LP Gatefold Red + 2 Patches - (limited to 100, North American Napalm Mailorder Only)

- Digital Album

BLOODY HAMMERS is (on Songs Of Unspeakable Terror):

Anders Manga: Vocals, Guitar, Mellotron, Drums

Devallia: Bass

New Album, Songs Of Unspeakable Terror, out this Friday via Napalm Records

Pre-Order HERE

`OATES SONG FEST 7908 No American family should have to go without food

John and Aimee Oates have partnered with FeedingAmerica.org, nugs.net and Drive Entertainment Group to create and produce: “OATES SONG FEST 7908”

An all-star collection of like-minded artists have answered the call to participate in a virtual streaming broadcast on March 20, 2021. The show will be streamed free of charge on multiple internet platforms and will include a donation component for viewers to support FeedingAmerica (www.feedingamerica.org) whose mission is to support food banks across the country.

Some of the artists who have committed to performing are: Bob Weir, Daryl Hall, Dave Grohl, Sammy Hagar, Jim James, Keb Mo, Shawn Colvin, Michael Franti, Big Kenny, Malina Moye, Jim Lauderdale and of course, the host John Oates.

To bring this virtual performance to life, John Oates invited and has captured as his co-host the MVP of Social Distancing and internet sensation Saxsquatch, who also happens to be the number one streaming musician in the U.S.

Says Oates, “This will be an entertaining and innovative way for the music community to share their songwriting creativity in an effort help feed Americas’ hungry families in need.”

“OATES SONG FEST 7908” was inspired by a live show produced by Oates in 2010 that took place at the Historic Wheeler Opera House in Aspen Colorado. “7908” is the altitude of Aspen Colorado and John and Aimee wanted to honor the shows roots. Added Oates: “Due to the Covid 19 Pandemic when it became clear that live shows would not be possible, Aimee and I pivoted to the idea of creating a virtual version for charity and ‘Oates Song Fest 7908’ was born.’”

Streaming for the show will be hosted by NugsTV

More about John Oates Here

NEW VIDEO ALERT! 3.2 (Robert Berry) "A Bound Of Union"

ROBERT BERRY’S NEW 3.2 ALBUM

"THIRD IMPRESSION" DUE FEBRUARY 12, 2021

Subscribe To Our Channel: http://radi.al/SubscribeFrontiers | From the album THIRD IMPRESSION. Buy or Stream: https://orcd.co/thirdimpression | Watch the 'A ...

3.2 (Robert Berry) will release "Third Impression" on February 12th, but today has released a new single and video for 'A Bond Of Union’.

Pre-order/save "Third Impression" HERE: https://orcd.co/thirdimpression

"Third Impression," the follow up to 3.2's debut album, "The Rules Have Changed," is a fine match for its predecessor. It mixes epic songs, such as album opener “Top Of The World” and closing song “Never”, the latter co-written by Robert with Emerson, with more melodic and AOR moments.

Look out for “Third Impression” on February 12, 2021.

MÖRK GRYNING Announces Two-Hour Radio Special via Gimme Metal

Legendary Swedish black metal formation MÖRK GRYNING will be hosting a two-hour radio special via Gimme Metal on Friday, January 22 @ 3:00 P.M. EST! This will be a rare opportunity for fans to interact with the band as they will be present in the chatroom for the duration of the show! Moreover, there will be a very special merch giveaway for some lucky winners. To tune in, sign up for FREE at THIS LOCATION.

The band is supporting their recently released and long-awaited opus, 'Hinsides Vrede,' which was named one of the best albums of 2020 via Metal Insider, Chicago Music Guide's "Global Music Podcast," The Terminus Podcast, Teeth of the Divine, and others!

The album can be streamed, downloaded, and purchased HERE.

Moreover, MÖRK GRYNING has reissued four of their previous full-length albums in vinyl and digipak formats, including their seminal debut record. The following records are now available HERE.
'Tusen år har gått…' (1995)
'Return Fire' (1997)
'Maelstrom Chaos' (2001)
'Pieces Of Primal Expressionism (2003)

After fifteen years of slumber, Swedish black metal cult MÖRK GRYNING have awakened to unleash their fury upon the masses with their deadly new album Hinsides Vrede. Translating into “otherworldly wrath” or “wrath of the world beyond,” Hinsides Vrederepresents the impending doom of a world coming undone at its seams. The quintet temper their deathly assault with their signature melodic edge, and with recall the halcyon days of Swedish extremity. The comeback of MÖRK GRYNING is complete, and Hinsides Vrede opens up a deadly new chapter in their evolving legacy.

Founded in 1993 in Stockholm, MÖRK GRYNING were among the incipient purveyors of the melodic black and death metal scene. In May 1995, founding members Goth Gorgon and Draakh Khimera entered the Unisound Studios to record their now legendary debut album Tusen År Har Gått, produced by legend Dan Swanö (OPETH , DARK FUNERAL, DISSECTION , etc.) The haunting and melodic offering quickly gained attention among the cult of the underground, solidying their place among black metal’s clandestine elite.

The arrival of guitarist Avathar in 1999 further defined the band’s sound, adding further dimension with icy solos. The three-piece later traveled to famous Grieghallen Studios in Bergen, Norway to finish their third full-length, Maelstrom Chaos, which produced by Pytten (MAYHEM, BURZUM, EMPEROR).

In early 2003, MÖRK GRYNING entered the Dug Out Studio (MESHUGGAH, DEVIN TOWNSEND, IN FLAMES, DARK FUNERAL) with producers David Bergstrand and Örjan Örnkloo. Never shy to reinvent themselves, the aptly titled Pieces of Primal Expressionismreshaped the band entirely. The record put forth a daring grandiosity of dissonant harmony that had previously been unexplored in MÖRK GRYNING’s prior efforts.

By the time of the release of the band’s self-titled full-length in 2005, MÖRK GRYNINGseemingly disbanded for good. Fans likely did not expect a second act after the band’s grand finale, however, the flames of chaos were reignited in 2017 when the band performed a rare and long-overdue anniversary set at Party San Open Air. Following appearances across Europe on the festival circuit, founding members Goth Gorgon, Draakh Kimera and Avatar reunited for real and MÖRK GRYNING signed a new deal with Season of Mist.

With Hinsides Vrede, MÖRK GRYNING have rediscovered the synergy they had while writing their legendary debut record and have returned to their foundations. Yet, by striving to reinvent themselves with every record, the long-awaited comeback of the band is by no means a reiteration of a glorious musical past, but is still certain to appease both old and new fans alike.

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/mork-gryning-vrede

Genre: Melodic black metal

Photographer: Peter Wendin

Recording studio: Wing Studios, Sverker Widgren

Producer / sound engineer, mixing and mastering: Wing Studios, Sverker Widgren

Line-up:
Draakh Kimera – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Drums
Goth Gorgon – Bass, Guitar, Backing Vocals
Avathar – Lead Guitar
Recording line-up:
Draakh Kimera: Lead & Backing Vocals, Guitars, Drums, Keyboards
Goth Gorgon: Bass, Lead Guitar, Backing vocals, Lead vocals on “Black Spirit”, Keyboards
Avathar: Lead Guitar
C-G: Drums on “Fältherren” & “Black Spirit”
Aeon: Backing Vocals, Piano on “For Those Departed” & “On The Elysian Fields”

Guest musicians:
Laura Ute: Vocals on “Black Spirit”

Live members:
C-G – Drums
Aeon – Keyboards
For more on MÖRK GRYNING, visit the band's official FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP, and INSTAGRAM.

JOHN DIVA & THE ROCKETS OF LOVE Stream Release Party For The New Album This Friday!

The new JOHN DIVA & THE ROCKETS OF LOVE album "American Amadeus" will be released on January 15th, 2021!Pre-Order Link: https://JohnDiva.lnk.to/AmericanAmade...

The glamrocker of JOHN DIVA & The Rockets Of Love will stream a release party for the new album "American Amadeus" this Friday.

.Besides live music you can also expect exclusive interviews, a lot of alcohol and the evening will be hosted by "Dog Eat Dan" (Dog Eat Dog).

The party will be streamed exclusively and for free at 08.00 pm CET on GetNext:

https://getnext.to/john-diva

The new album "American Amadeus" will be released on January 15th, 2021 through SPV/Steamhammer as CD digipak, 2LP gatefold edition (with 3 bonus tracks), download and stream: https://JohnDiva.lnk.to/AmericanAmadeus

Check out these videos from the new album:

"Bling Bling Marilyn: https://youtu.be/m-_taZCiTO0

"Drip Drip Baby": https://youtu.be/LELRlVEHE0U

"American Amadeus": https://youtu.be/Spdnke5I-wQ

Prog Sensation VOYAGER Covers Aussie Modern Classic "This Boy's In Love" by The Presets

Australia's premiere synth-prog outfit have played to their strengths and have covered the Australian modern classic "This Boy's in Love," originally by Electronic duo The Presets. Fusing together Voyager's signature epic electro progressive power prog metal with a huge pop song, the VSets version is sure to be a hit!

'This Boy's in Love' - originally written by The Presets way back in 2008.Audio mixed and mastered by a Aidan Barton at Sovereign Studios.===================...

The band comments on the cover: "The Presets song is one of those songs that I heard and thought 'I wish I'd written this.' At the time it came out it was so fresh in Australia, and so bizarre that it became so popular because it's really very much Euro Style Dark Synthie EBM. Given that a lot of Voyager songs start out as electronic ideas, this semi-obscure modern Australian classic was a no brainer to cover. We hope you enjoy!"

Moreover, Guitarist Scott Kay recently taught fans how to play a riff from the band's song "Colours" in the latest installment of Guitar World's "Sick Riffs" series! In addition to the play-through, Kay also includes the tablature. Watch and learn at THIS LOCATION.

The song is taken from the band's 2019 release, 'Colours in the Sun,' which can be downloaded and streamed HERE.

'Colours in the Sun' was recently the winner of The Independent Music Award in the Rock/Hard Rock Album category. The record was released in November of 2019 and landed a coveted #1 placement on the Australian Independent Albums chart! 'Colours in the Sun' also debuted at #7 on Independent Label Albums as well as #27 on Official iTunes Australia.

Moreover, the band has reissued 2017's 'Ghost Mile' as a digipak version, which contains three bonus tracks which were recorded during the VOYAGER show at ProgPower in 2017. It can be ordered HERE.

ICYMI: Earlier this year, VOYAGER's music video for "Runaway" was exclusively premiered via 'Eurovision - Australia Decides!' Following an application via the Song Portal, the band finally received recognition for submitting a track and were paid tribute on the live television broadcast that aired on Saturday, February 8 on the Gold Coast. The video is now available worldwide and can be seen at THIS LOCATION.

Since their 1999 formation, whatever genre norms, boundaries and regulations thrust upon Perth, Australia’s Voyager have been smashed. They embrace, if not brandish pop; employ a keytar on stage, and, bring forward a positive, if not uplifting feeling to their music, running head-first into the endless parade of heavy bands who see the world in a different light. It’s perhaps why the title of their seventh full-length and first for Season of Mist, Colours in the Sun, is apropos: Voyager simply prefers to see the bright side of things.

“Observations of the malaises of the modern world and the baffling obsession with purity and difference all make me think,” says frontman and founding member Danny Estrin. “We’ve never had it better and we’ve never had it more colorful. To me that’s progress, it’s adaptation, it’s evolution and it’s astounding.”

The follow-up to 2017’s Ghost Mile, Colours in the Sun finds Voyager enmeshed in rich, melodic, song-first tapestries, led by Estrin’s smooth, capable clean vocal delivery. Estrin is self-aware of his vocals, calling them “unique and ‘80s.” But whatever tag Estrin affixes to his voice, they are the propellent throughout Colours in the Sun, serving up a steady diet of soaring, emotive choruses, where melody is paramount and along the way, even getting some help from another distinctive belter, Leprous’s Einar Solberg on “Entropy.”

“Einar and I became good friends on our tours through Europe and Australia,” notes Estrin. “I couldn’t help but ask him to guest on the album. He is a fantastic musician and vocalist. I sent him a reference track which he swiftly ignored and laid his own tracks down. The result is stunning!”

The kaleidoscope of sounds that comprise the album’s ten cuts is the result of Voyager’s far-reaching influences, many of which go beyond the traditional realms of metal and rock. Estrin calls it “catchy at the top, proggy at the bottom, as if Dream Theater and Depeche Mode had a baby.” It’s almost as if the term “progressive” is too limiting for Voyager, particularly when the guitar tandem of Simone Dow and Scott Kay merge for complex rhythms while doing battle against Estrin’s vaudeville-like keyboards (!) on “Reconnected.”

The “proggy at the bottom” notice is served by way of the rhythm section of bassist Alex Canion and drummer Ashley Doodkorte, who stretch their musical tentacles across busy, active cuts such as “Saccharine Dream” and the syncopated “Water Over the Bridge.” “I think we found our ‘voice’ on V (2014) and have been building on that ever since,” says Estrin. “The synthwave prog sound is really something that has naturally developed and has been refined even more on the new album. Every record is progress — that’s what progressive music is all about!”

According to Estrin, the Colours in the Sun album title encompasses a “vibrant multitude of people coming together under the hot Australian sun to create a beautiful and colorful soundscape.” It’s capped off by artwork courtesy of Doodkorte, who made the piece out of photographs near his house in Perth. A closer inspection reveals there are seven suns on the cover, one for each Voyager album, topped off by an updated version of the band’s logo comprised of five strokes, one for each member. No doubt a fitting visual summation of a band whose progress can be the described in the most literal and figurative of terms.

“It’s been a slow steady growth over the years,” concludes Estrin. “Other bands come and go after a year of fame. I really feel like we’ve built up an incredible fanbase, especially over the last decade, and the deal with Season of Mist seemed the logical step to take it to the next level together.”

Style: Electro Progressive Metal

Line-up
Danny Estrin - Vocals
Simone Dow - Guitars
Alex Canion - Bass
Scott Kay - Guitars
Ash Doodkorte - Drums

Recording studio:
Sumo Studios - Drums
Templeman Audio - Guitars and Bass

Producer / sound engineer:
Aidan Barton - Vocal Producer

Mixing studio and engineer:
Matthew Templeman
Fraser Cringle (assistant engineer)

Mastering studio and engineer:
Simon Struthers

Guest musicians:
Einar Solberg from LEPROUS on ‘Entropy’.

Cover artwork artist:
Ashley Doodkorte

Bio:
David E. Gehlke

Shop: https://smarturl.it/Voyagerinthesun
Download/stream: https://som.lnk.to/Voyagerinthesun

Available formats:
CD Digipak
LP in various colours

For more on VOYAGER, visit the band's official FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, YOUTUBE, WEBSITE, and BANDCAMP.

COP International Records Announces Signing Of Azam Ali

Electro-Ambient Producer & Singer Has Storied Career

Including Co-Founding World Music Duo Vas &

Folk/Trance Group Niyaz,

Plus Collaborations And Shared Stages With

Serj Tankian, Peter Murphy & The Crystal Method

Upcoming Album Will Be A Collaboration With

The Legendary John Fryer, To Be Released In 2021

During COP International’s 30th Anniversary Year

COP International Records is pleased to announce the signing of accomplished sonic architect Azam Ali to its growing roster of artists. Coming off her 2019 solo album Phantoms, which Billboard hails as “ripe with dreamy sounds and melancholic lyrics, bridg[ing] the gap between organic and electronic with grooves that gently ground the songs,” Los Angeles-based Ali is currently working on her debut for COP International alongside the legendary John Fryer for a fully collaborative album that will also feature Fryer’s musicianship. Fryer—whose production credits include Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and Love & Rockets—also acts as COP International’s A&R agent and signed Ali in late 2020.

Azam Ali has an incredibly diverse career as a singer and producer, first forming the best selling world music duo Vas in 1996 and co-founding the Canadian-American electro-folk group Niyaz in 2004, which went on to be nominated for two JUNO Award Nominations. The latter group was a forebearer of contemporary Middle Eastern music combining acoustic sounds and modern electronica with medieval Sufi poetry and traditional folk from her native Iran. The music’s incredible power captivated fans the world over, leading to critical acclaim from NPR and BBC, global tours and showcases in major film and television productions including “True Blood,” “Missing,” “Nip Tuck,” “Bones” and “Crossing Over.”

Her incredible and sweeping vocal range has also led to Ali being sought out for collaborations in the studio and on stage with Serj Tankian (System Of A Down), Peter Murphy (Bauhaus), The Crystal Method, Pat Mastellato and Trey Gunn of King Crimson, Dredg, Chris Vrenna (formerly of Nine Inch Nails), Ben Watkins of Juno Reactor, Buckethead and more. As well, Ali has worked with a range of composers such as Harry Gregson- Williams, Mychael Danna, Graeme Revell and Ramin Djawadi and has appeared in scores for “Thor- The Dark World,” “Matrix- Revolutions,” “300” and “John Carter,” among others.

While much of her career has focused on Indian, Persian and Eastern European singing techniques, Phantoms was the first album with fully English lyrics, expanding Ali’s fan base even more and further establishing her as one of the best singers in the industry today.

Of her signing to COP International Records, Azam Ali says, “2020 was a year of loss for so many globally, however there were also some precious gains. One of them for me has been producing music with the legendary John Fryer, whose productions have been a part of my life for decades. It is beyond a dream come true to be creating a body of work with him. And what better home for this music than COP International. From my first conversation with founder Christian Petke, I knew I wanted to collaborate with him for the release of this music into the world. I cannot wait to share what we are creating with everyone."

John Fryer adds, “Working with the legendary siren Azam Ali is like a dream come true, she is one of the best vocalists in this universe and beyond. It's one of those special moments that you hope will last forever.”

Expanding further, COP International founder Christian Petke sees the signing of Azam Ali to the roster as a prime example of how the industrial-leaning label looks to expand into new sonic territory in 2021, which happens to be the label’s 30th anniversary: “When John Fryer and I started to talk in earnest about the future of COP International we pretty much immediately opened up the format. We want a label that has roots, but is broad enough to bridge the gaps between genres. It is an audacious endeavor, because the bar is high when you look at Mute or 4AD as a role model. And of course we have our secret weapon with John Fryer. Every band that he produces has a unique character. They sound like the best version of themselves. But there is also an undeniable quality in the production that connects them across the label,” he says, adding, “Signing Azam Ali makes perfect sense if you look through this open lens. She transcends the term vocalist—her voice seduces, nurtures, and captivates you like one of the siren’s of Homer’s Tales. John sent me a track of theirs and I was immediately hooked. The more I dug into her back catalog the more I was impressed. Some voices have that special magical quality and Azam can carry you away on a wave of sorrow, desire and wistfulness. Pairing Azam and John is a match made in heaven. Her ethereal voice meets the fuzzy edges of John's deconstructed, distorted soundscapes. Music is a bit like alchemy—you take elements and transmute them into something far more valuable, and Azam and John are turning lead into gold.”

More announcements and releases from Azam Ali/John Fryer and COP International will be forthcoming in 2021.

Find Azam Ali Online

Website: https://azamalimusic.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/azam.ali.music/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/azamaliofficial/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/azamaliofficial

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/3delara

SYDNEY SHERWOOD Releases Official Lyric Video for "Creep"

Sophomore EP, Headspace, Out February 27th, 2021

"Creep" by Sydney Sherwood available NOW on all major music platforms!Follow Sydney: https://www.instagram.com/sydsherwoodmusic/?utm_source=ig_embed&hl=enhtt...

New Jersey based Singer / Songwriter SYDNEY SHERWOOD has released the official lyric video for "Creep," which was created by Jared Dylan of Red 13 Studios, and is the first single off of her upcoming, sophomore EP, Headspace. Produced and co-written by Brian Craddock, guitarist of Daughtry and owner of The Cat Room Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee, Headspace is due to release on February 27, 2021.

"Being someone that has struggled with anxiety, when it came to writing 'Creep,' I really wanted to give an inside look on what anxiety feels like, the emotions you experience while in a panic attack, and the idea that the same mind that thinks of the beauty of life is also the one that thinks negative thoughts which can really drag you down. I found in my experience that some people didn’t understand what it was like to have anxiety and would just tell me to “be positive” or “just don’t think about it” and I wished they understood or could feel what was going on inside. My main goal with this song was to illustrate the war that goes on in your head when you have anxiety as well as how you can either choose to let fear overcome you or you can overcome that fear. - SYDNEY SHERWOOD

"Sydney is rock's answer to pop's P!NK or country's Carrie Underwood, she exudes all the power and confidence and sings with no-nonsense authority, all while remaining firmly situated in heavy alternative rock. Sydney Sherwood cannot be merely compared to female singers of her generation and writes and performs with a conviction that fans of 3 Doors Down or Daughtry would instantly recognize." - Joe Makoviecki (Singer, songwriter of Jackson Pines)

Sydney Sherwood is an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from New Jersey. Sydney began singing and playing guitar at the age of 10 as a way to express her emotions as she was separated from her family during her brother’s years of cancer treatment.

On March 3, 2019, Sydney released her first EP, Beauty from Ashes. Her release show was held at TheStone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. In 2019, Sydney also received a golden ticket to Hollywood from American Idol celebrity judges; Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie.

Sydney’s goal is to touch the lives of others through the music that she writes, as she takes inspiration directly from her life experiences and hardships.

BLACK SABBATH HEAVEN AND HELL AND MOB RULES DELUXE EDITIONS AVAILABLE MARCH 5

2-CD And 2-LP Versions Of First Black Sabbath Albums With
Ronnie James Dio On Vocals Feature Newly Remastered Audio
Along With Rare And Unreleased Music

Live Versions Of “Heaven And Hell” And “The Mob Rules”
Available Today As Digital Singles

Singer Ronnie James Dio joined Black Sabbath in 1979 which resulted in two back-to-back classic albums: Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules. On those memorable albums, Dio’s soaring tenor and gothic songwriting were the perfect foil for the band’s bone-crushing mix of razor-sharp riffs, intense grooves, and dark imagery.

Rhino salutes the long shadow cast by this short-lived lineup with newly remastered versions of both albums expanded with rare and unreleased music. HEAVEN AND HELL: DELUXE EDITION and MOB RULES: DELUXE EDITION will be released separately on March 5. Each album will be available on 2-CDs ($19.98), or a 2-LPs ($31.98). Due to space constraints, both vinyl editions include a selection of bonus material from the CDs. The music will also be available via digital download and streaming services the same day. A rare live version of “Heaven And Hell” and a previously unreleased live version of “The Mob Rules” are both available today as digital singles. Click HERE to listen now.

Dio joined Black Sabbath for the first time in 1979 and quickly found kindred spirits in guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. When Heaven And Hell was released in April 1980, the album was met with effusive reviews for the band’s return to form on metal masterpieces like “Neon Knights” and the title track. The album reached #9 in the U.K. and #28 in the U.S., where it was also certified platinum.

HEAVEN AND HELL: DELUXE EDITION adds several bonus tracks that have never been released in North America, including versions of “Children Of The Sea” and “Die Young” recorded live in 1980 in Hartford, CT. The set concludes with live rarities like “E5150” and “Neon Knights” that originally appeared in 2007 on the Rhino Handmade’s limited edition collection, Black Sabbath: Live At Hammersmith Odeon.

To follow-up Heaven And Hell, the group returned to the studio in 1981 to begin recording Mob Rules, with drummer Vinny Appice joining the band for the first time. Released in October 1981 and certified gold, the album was another Sabbath classic, including standouts like “The Sign Of The Southern Cross,” “Turn Up The Night” and the title track.

MOB RULES: DELUXE EDITION boasts an expansive selection of rare and unreleased recordings. Along with additional tracks from Live At Hammersmith Odeon, the collection also includes a newly mixed version of “The Mob Rules.” The cherry on top is an entire concert recorded in 1982 in Portland, OR. Highlights include stellar performances of “Neon Knights” “Heaven And Hell” and “Voodoo.”

The Dio-fronted lineup disbanded in 1982 but reunited a decade later to record Dehumanizer and tour before going on hiatus again. The group came together again in 2006 to record three new songs for Rhino’s era-spanning collection, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years. The collaboration led to a highly anticipated world tour in 2007 where the group was billed as Heaven And Hell. Their final album of new material, 2009’s The Devil You Know, again demonstrated the musical bond between the band members was unparalleled.

Caveman Battle Doom Masters CONAN to Release New Live Album, Live At Freak Valley, on March 12

Pre-Order NOW

First Single and Video “Satsumo” Out Now

Thanks to HMHTV for the video footage! https://www.facebook.com/HMHTVPre-Order "Live At Freak Valley" here: https://smarturl.it/Conan-LAFV

Hail Supreme Doom! Live At Freak Valley!

Heavily distorted and down-tuned sounds turn the legendary fields of the German Freak Valley Festival into madness. The undisputed masters of fantastical otherworldly sludgy doom, CONAN, will cast a spell on the listener and propel them straight into the crowd, captured in dust.

Three years after the release of the ferocious caveman battle doom masterpiece Existential Void Guardian, CONAN waves the flag of Pain again and releases Live At Freak Valley on March 12, 2021 via Napalm Records. After their 2013 live album, recorded at Roadburn festival, and the self-released Live At Bannermans, their third live album could not be recorded at a better place than Freak Valley Festival.

“Satsumo” is oppression, massiveness and rage. The first single and video breaks out as a harbinger of the devastation that CONAN brought at their massive show at Freak Valley Festival. With mechanical wizardry heaped upon their pure-hearted compositions, they cement their colossal and brutish live ascendancy! HAIL CONAN!

Pre-Order your copy of Live At Freak Valley NOW!

Live At Freak Valley will be available in the following formats:

- 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl White / Black Marble (Napalm Records mailorder only) - strictly limited to 200

- 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl Grey

- 1 CD Jewelcase

- Digital album

Line up:

Jon Davis - vocals, guitar (2006-present)

Chris Fielding - bass (2013–present)

Johnny King - drums (2017–present)

DRAGONY Reveals Third Single & Official Video for Rousing Power Metal Anthem, “Legends Never Die”

Get the new album "Viribus Unitis" now: https://smarturl.it/ViribusUnitisVideo concept by Dragony Video recording & editing by Wolfgang Pecka, Viennashots (h...

New Album, Viribus Unitis, out this Friday, January 15 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW!

“We will stand and fight together

Ride until the storm is weathered

No one lives forever

But Legends Never Die”

Austrian symphonic power metal heroes DRAGONY are about to release their epic new full-length, Viribus Unitis, this Friday, January 15 via Napalm Records, and today, unveil their third single, “Legends Never Die”. Prepare for “the most Austrian metal album of all time”(Stormbringer.at), as we return to the days when the country was ruled by emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, empress Sisi. But forget everything you’ve heard and read so far! According to DRAGONY and their upcoming opus Viribus Unitis, history took a completely different turn.

After setting the stage with their first offering, “Gods Of War”, featuring special guest songwriter Tommy Johansson (SABATON) and Tomas Svedin (SYMPHONY OF TRAGEDY), followed by glory metal hymn “Golden Dawn”, DRAGONY now unveil their third single, “Legends Never Die”: History is (re-)written in this contemporary-sounding closer! With its catchy chorus, everything is set for the grand finale. Along with rapid riffing and keys on point, the song serves as an epilogue to the story of Viribus Unitis, looking at the way the legends of the Habsburg rulers were created and have been adapted and re-told throughout the years.

Singer Siegfried Samer on “Legends Never Die”:

"Legends Never Die" can be regarded as the epilogue to the storyline of Viribus Unitis, that culminates in the final, epic battle in the song "Battle Royale".

In "Legends Never Die", we take a step back to look at the story we just told from an outside perspective, and remind ourselves and the listener that eventually, most history can be turned into "just a story", and that even though all empires fall one day, all men must die, and all times - good and bad - must pass, at the end of the day, the memories of those persons and events that influenced us, regardless of whether it was through politics, through philosophy, through music, literature or through other forms of art, will always stay with us and are thus immortalized; and that the stories that may be told about these legendary persons and events, just like these "legends" themselves, never truly die.”

“DRAGONY united their forces, twisted history and with power metal they rule the world!” (Rock Hard SK/CZ)

Founded in 2007 and after releasing three studio records, DRAGONY returns to its rock opera roots on their brand new output. On Viribus Unitis the Austrian-based unit unveils what really happened at the time of the last Habsburg ruler of Austria, emperor Franz Joseph, his wife, empress Sisi, and their son, the troubled Archduke Rudolf.

Let’s clear the assumption that Rudolph died after trying to take his life at castle Mayerling in 1889. No way! Instead, after his mother Sisi is assassinated in 1898 in Switzerland, he subsequently gets in contact with dark powers which, driven by his desire to be with her again, make him turn to black magic and demonology. Now history takes its true course. There are not only zombies and cyberpunks lurking – DRAGONY also managed to prove further entanglements of well-known personalities you could never imagine…

For the exciting adventure cemented in their upcoming album, DRAGONY are supported by well-known colleagues like Tommy Johansson (SABATON, MAJESTICA, SYMPHONY OF TRAGEDY), Tomas Svedin (SYMPHONY OF TRAGEDY), Michele Guaitoli (VISIONS OF ATLANTIS) and Georg Neuhauser (SERENITY) - just to name a few. Mixing and mastering on Viribus Unitis was handled by Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann of ORDEN OGAN in his Greenman Studios in Germany.

Siegfried Samer on the new album, Viribus Unitis:

"Viribus Unitis marks both a return to our musical roots as well as a next step into the future for DRAGONY, as we are returning to a "rock opera concept" album similar to our debut Legends, but at the same time, we have evolved musically and are delivering what we consider our heaviest and most diverse album to date. And even though we are taking a bit of a creative approach with the source material, the concept story of the album is deeply intertwined with the history of Austria and in particular with the end of the Habsburg monarchy, which is often romanticized in Austria and ingrained in our collective consciousness. We are therefore thrilled to be able to release this very special album on an Austrian label, Napalm Records, and hope that both old and new fans of DRAGONY will enjoy the brand new songs!”

VAN CANTO's Inga Scharf about the new album, Viribus Unitis:

"With Viribus Unitis, DRAGONY have delivered an album with expressive and melodically rousing songs. Power, melodies and catchy riffs - a history lesson of a very special kind that catches your ears incredibly quickly and stays there. And best of all: every time you listen to it again, you discover your next favorite song."

SABATON’s Tommy Johansson on his appearance as guest songwriter on “Gods Of War”:

“What DRAGONY did to ‘Gods of War’ is far beyond what I could have expected it to turn out when this song was written. How they play and sing this song is just glorious! It’s so powerful and you can sing along to the chorus right away. I’m happy and honored I got to be a part of DRAGONY, and the song suits well to the rest of this epic album!”

Viribus Unitis will be available in the following formats:

- 4 Page Digipack

- LP Gatefold RED Transparent

- 4 Page Digipack + Shirt

- Digital Album

Could DRAGONY’s rewriting of history mark a new revelation of hidden truths previously shrouded in fantasy? Only Viribus Unitis tells all!

Pre-Order Viribus Unitis HERE:

DRAGONY is:

Frederic Brünner - Drums

Herbert Glos - Bass

Manuel Hartleb - Keyboards

Andreas Poppernitsch - Guitars

Simon Saito - Guitars

Siegfried Samer - Vocals

PONTUS Releases Official Music Video for Title Single off of 'Black Hole BBQ'

Black Hole BBQ !!!Album available on Bandcamp : https://phwg.bandcamp.comhttps://www.pontusmusic.comhttps://www.facebook.com/PHWGmusic/Track Titles1.) Black ...

New York based Progressive Instrumental Space rock band PONTUS has released the official music video for the title single off of their album, Black Hole BBQ. The video for "Black Hole BBQ" was pieced together by different videos taken from the recording process and edited in with some live footage taken throughout the years. Included are short videos of the live studio tracking of drums, cello, and the percussion. The making of the album and the video was a collaboration with both Faculty and students at Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema in Brooklyn. Pontus’ day gig is at Feirstein graduate school where he manages the post production facility and teaches music technology. The musicians performing on Black Hole BBQ include Pontus H.W. Gunve (All guitars, composition, and production), Tripp Dudley(Drums, Tabla, and Percussion), Ian O’Brien (Modular Synth), Chris Kelly and Dan Kramer (Bass), Eric Allen (Cello), Katie Thode(Flute). The album was mixed by Rocky Gallo at Virtue and Vice Studios and mastered by Mike Kalajian at Rogue Planet Mastering.

"Have you – like me – missed Pontus H.W. Gunve’s magic of melting contradictory modes and impressions into rich melodic canvases? Go and grab a bunch (Not forgetting your friends) of it! ‘cause you are missing big time! " - Salim Ghazi Saeedi - Art Rockin' Magazine

"If you like your music laid back and intense at the same time, with an eastern vibe that won't quit, this is right up your alley ... In fact to me it's so awesome that I will be 
not only recommending for years to come, I will be following this artist’s progress from here out.” - Larry Toering - Music Chronicles

“There are few musicians in the mold of Pontus Gunve. Rarely content to rely on the traditional, but instead plundering it for his own uses...” - Jason Hillenburg - Music Street Journal

“People make music to get a reaction. Music is communication.” – Yoko Ono

If there is truth in that statement, then perhaps the true measure of a musician is the reaction and response his or her music gets. Pontus Gunve has garnered quite a few reviews over the years that can be an indication of that relationship. It’s a great place to start in understanding Pontus Gunve and his group PHWG.

Pete Feenstra at Get Ready to Rock said, “Pontus has a keen sense of the musical possibilities his impressionist style offers him.” Translated from Swedish, Jan-Erik Zandersson said this in Nya Upplaga, “Musically, this is a kind of progressive post-rock with a historical focus.” In a review of Gunve’s latest disc, Andrew Metzglerof Mountain Weekly News said, “The only way I can describe The Observer is by comparing it to Pink Floyd, Beats Antique, Umphrey’s McGee, Queen, and The John Butler Trio (2006 period)…Take elements from all of those bands, combine them with a few classic instruments and you can have an inkling as to what Pontus HW Gunve is bringing to the table.”

So, where does Pontus Gunve come from? The simple answer is New York City. That’s only the geographical location for his current stop on the musical journey that is his life, though. Gunve grew up in Sweden and was first fully gripped by his passion for music there when he saw Jean Michel Jarre’s Rendezvous Houston: A City in Concert on television as a child. Blown away by Jarre’s all-encompassing high-tech stage show and the endless layers of his album Oxygene, he began to explore the capabilities of computers to create different sounds and textures. His fascination with rock music led him to electric guitar, which he began to study voraciously, simultaneously imagining ways to expand its boundaries. At the same time, he experimented with sequencing and learned how to build computer and synthesizer modules that could be used practically during performances and on recordings.
Pontus Gunve’s music embraces the theory that music is a multi-dimensional experience and an adventure in wordless storytelling that fully absorbs the audience’s mind, body and spirit. Flowing through time and space, the lush sonic textures he creates evoke the ethereal landscapes of other-worldly multi-media artists such as Jean Michel Jarre and Boards of Canada while still clearly inspired by the thick, dark compositional textures of legendary heavy metal bands like Megadeth. And his energy as a guitarist celebrates numerous influences, from the technical proficiency of Steve Vai and the raw, exotic approach of Marty Friedman, to the minimalistic moments created by legendary blues performers. Gunve’s finely-tuned skills in the studio as both a producer and engineer allow him to seamlessly unify many different musical styles and a wide range of instruments into intricately-crafted, mesmerizing recordings resonating with unexpected surprises.

Of course, again, looking to reviewers can give us more insight into that sound. AtMusic Street Journal, Jason Hillenburg said of Gunve’s latest disc, “There are few musicians in the mold of Pontus Gunve. Rarely content to rely on the traditional, but instead plundering it for his own uses, Gunve brings a European sensibility to dense, intensely musical instrumentals. His album, The Observer, ranks as one of the most challenging and, ultimately, rewarding releases of the year.” Scott Kahn had this to say of the single “Cavalry of Camels” at MusicPlayers.com: "World Music meets Prog Metal in the latest single from Pontus Gunve. This is big orchestral stuff that rocks thanks to the solid guitar and drums anchoring the complex rhythms. The percussion and string section really give the music its international, ethnic vibe... Melodic, rocking, beautifully produced... I'm not fully sure how we'd categorize it, but we definitely enjoy listening to it." At Mr. Music Chronicles, Larry Toering said, “There is just no describing the sheer quality on offer here. It's something one must hear for themselves to really dig into properly, so it comes highly recommended…If you like your music laid back and intense at the same time, with an eastern vibe that won't quit, this is right up your alley. In fact, to me it's so awesome that I will be not only recommending for years to come, I will be following this artist’s progress from here out.”

Ludwig Von Beethoven said, “Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life. “ Gunve translates his sensual impressions of the universe into intricate, personal and melodic musical passages that vividly illustrate his life’s rich and complex journey and allow him to connect powerfully with his own musicians, the audience and with each space he performs. He has composed music and worked as a sound designer for a wide range of independent films and Web projects as well as for various large-scale art projects in Sweden. He founded his own instrumental project, PHWG in 2007, a group that combines video, electronic instruments, cello, violin, drums and tabla/darbuka. With that group he has released Four full albums and ONE EP, Black Hole BBQ (2019), IV (EP – 2016), The Observer (2013), Movements (2008), and Great Wall of Sound (2006).

The Kings of Quarantine-Reveal Stunning Cover of JANE'S ADDICTION’S "Mountain Song"!

feat. Members of SLAVES ON DOPE and MASTODON--Team with Members of LIMP BIZKIT, IN FLAMES, 311, VERUCA SALT, FILTER, & THE USED 

janesaddiction #mountainsong2021 #covers #slavesondope #limpbizit #311 #mastodon #theused #verucasalt #filter #inflames #kingsofquarantineLimp Bizkit, 311, ...

100% of Proceeds to Benefit ROADIE RELIEF!

"Mountain Song" LIVE 1/12/2021 at 12:00 pm EST

Montreal, Québec - Hot on the success of their cover of FAITH NO MORE'S legendary 1987 single "We Care A Lot," SLAVES ON DOPE's Jason Rockman and Kevin Jardine, along with Bill Kelliher of MASTODON, are back with their project, THE KINGS OF QUARANTINE, this time with a brilliant cover of JANE'S ADDICTION'S iconic 1987 "Mountain Song." The new video features a myriad of artists including Wes Borland(LIMP BIZKIT), Tanner Wayne (IN FLAMES), P-Nut (311), Louise Post(VERUCA SALT), Richard Patrick (FILTER) and, Bert McCracken (THE USED). One hundred percent of the profits for "Mountain Song" will be donated to ROADIE RELIEF, a fundraising effort to aid qualifying Roadies who have submitted an application for financial help during the Covid-19 crisis.

THE KINGS OF QUARANTINE came together in 2020 after a discussion between Jason and Bill about possibly collaborating on a cover song. "Mountain Song" is the second installment in a series of covers that will be released throughout 2021 in an effort to bring some joy and entertainment to music lovers worldwide.

“We hope to not only put a smile on people’s faces, but also help the touring staff that have been severely affected by the pandemic”, says Jason Rockman. One hundred percent of the profits will be donated to Roadie Relief, a fundraising effort to aid qualifying Roadies who have submitted an application for financial help.

After the success of their first release "We Care a Lot," which brought awareness to the cause and stands at 370,000 views on YouTube and counting, THE KINGS OF QUARANTINE have no plans of slowing down!

Almost everyone you know has seen a concert that has moved them. Those productions can take over 100+ traveling crew members to set up by the time doors open.

Before and during the show they sweat and hustle to get everything ready. After the show they spend more hours erasing evidence that they were ever there at all. Many of these key players work an average of 20 hour days, then move on to the next city to make it happen all over again.

Many of these crew members, "roadies," have been doing this as a career for decades. Some of these roadies, while experts in this field, have never had any other job experience. Since the world pandemic, well over a hundred thousand of these people are left with no income and no financial assistance.

There are no concerts or live events for the foreseeable future. At the beginning of 2020, job opportunity ceased to exist and 2021 remains uncertain. Many are unable to claim unemployment as their expert level trade skills are not recognized and they do not qualify. This on-going problem is leaving 100s of roadies without a secure livelihood.

The government has fallen short. Contacting congressmen and women, senators, and governors to raise the issue has been met with no resolution. Their replies are a formal brush-off and roadies are left hitting a dead end.

The goal with this gofundme is to offer some relief to some of the dedicated people in the roadie community. Just like you, they have families, mortgages, car payments, and day care. Commonly these workers lean on their savings between tour cycles, but those funds have run thin or run out. Please donate if you can, every little helps.

Click to Donate Directly to ROADIE RELIEF

THIRDFACE SHARE NEW SINGLE "VILLAINS!"

"Villains!" by Thirdface from their album 'Do It With A Smile' out March 5, 2021 on Exploding in Sound Records. Pre-order at: http://bit.ly/thirdfaceThirdfac...

ANNOUNCE DEBUT ALBUM DO IT WITH A SMILE
OUT MARCH 5TH VIA EXPLODING IN SOUND RECORDS

PREORDER: Do It With A Smile

Rising from Nashville, TN, Thirdface will release their full-length debut, Do It With A Smile, on March 5th via Exploding In Sound Records (Pile, Ovlov, Big Ups). The band celebrated the announcement with the release of the album’s first single, “Villains!”, a barnburner of a track that lures in the listener with a swirling bass line before the band’s distinctive guitars and rigorous drumming burst in to display the full power of Thirdface’s grinding hardcore.

Debuted today via BrooklynVegan, Kathryn Edwards (vocalist) said about the meaning behind the track, "When writing Villains! I was watching a lot of Fist of the North Star, which gives the song its title. I wanted to write a song about tearing some evil down from its pedestal like Ken from FOTNS would do. But decided to speak on reality which has a lot more inescapable horrors and villains. This one is about the irons of wage slavery." The single is also available to stream now on Bandcamp or Spotify and pre-orders for the album are available here.

Nashville, as a music scene, breeds variance. It’s about as unpredictable as Tennessee weather, where shockwaves of different genres create ripple effects larger than a mixed bill. Coming together from different projects and spaces within the DIY community, Thirdface — vocalist Kathryn Edwards, bassist Maddy Madeira, guitarist David Reichley, and drummer Shibby Poole — blends together the resilient work ethic of their surroundings and the guiding principles which allow them to flourish past a night of local sets. Thirdface applies this knowledge through the furrowed brows of hardcore, references to horror films and Black westerns, and an unrelenting approach that saves no breath. And on their debut full-length (and first outing for Exploding in Sound Records), they Do It With a Smile.

While the band’s demo was written entirely by Reichley and recorded by Poole, Do It With a Smile is Thirdface’s first collaborative effort. Poole recorded it in the attic of a standalone garage where the majority of the band lived at a critical point of transition. That said, their record carries with it what was forced into harsh relief that year: frustration at the cyclical torture of wage slavery, ever-present and ever-thin allyship and feminism, and a low hum of negative thoughts, hopelessness, and the struggle to survive in an unforgiving world. Edwards turns those dark moments into relentless examples of catharsis, whether by using Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a stand-in (“Chosen”) or directly addressing evils in a community, like clout-gobbling men (“Local”) or exceptionalizing allies that speak over who they claim to support (“Ally”).

Thirdface’s brand of Southeast hardcore is informed by the storm clouds that circle over the working class and Black people in the South. Do It With a Smile seeks retribution for all of these crimes: sometimes in the world of Clive Barker, oftentimes in the communities that will receive it. It’s a wild and tumultuous journey. But tonight, Thirdface rides.

THE LION'S DAUGHTER Announces New Album, Unveils First Single

The brand new THE LION'S DAUGHTER track 'Neon Teeth', taken from the upcoming album "Skin Show." Release Date: April 9, 2021. ► Pre-orders now available here...

St. Louis synth metal trio THE LION'S DAUGHTER will be releasing their fourth full-length, 'Skin Show,' on April 9 via Season of Mist! The album artwork, which was once again created by Mothmeister, can be found below along with the tracklist. In conjunction with the announcement, the band has shared "Neon Teeth," the first new single from the record.

'Skin Show' could serve as the soundtrack to Times Square in the 1970s - the epicenter of sin and salacious misdeeds; a haven for sex, drugs, and crime beneath the inviting glow of neon signs from sleazy adult video stores; a place one would not dare walk alone after midnight unless tempted by devil himself. Its deviant, raw, nasty, disturbing, and yet, the most lively, evolved, and polished version of the trio yet.

'Skin Show' is available now for pre-orders HERE.
Skin Show could serve as the soundtrack to Times Square in the 1970s - the epicenter of sin and salacious misdeeds; a haven for sex, drugs, and crime beneath the inviting glow of neon signs from sleazy adult video stores; a place one would not dare walk alone after midnight unless tempted by devil himself. Its deviant, raw, nasty, disturbing, and yet, the most lively, evolved, and polished version of the trio yet.

For the first part of its career, The Lion’s Daughter was deeply rooted in blackened sludge metal. However, when it came time for album number three, the St. Louis trio abandoned all tradition and traversed into new territory through bold experimentations with Future Cult, a synth-laden metal record that could easily serve as the score to a Dario Argento film. Now, the band picks up where it left off, once again delivering an opus that cannot be labeled or defined. “The synths were always something that I heard in my head, but just couldn't figure out the logistics,” explains frontman Rick Giordano regarding the distinct directional change. “I also had to completely stop giving a fuck about how anyone might react to them. Most of the synths on Future Cult are very aggressive and rooted in horror, which I think was a safe way to use them. For this record, I wanted to stop playing it safe. I wanted to use more natural synth sounds and let things take on soft and somber tones at times, rather than just screaming alongside the guitars at all times. There was a lot of experimenting to see what other roles the synths could play in the music and what shapes they could create. I think we spent our early years as a band just trying to figure out who we were, and on Future Cult, the answer became clear to us. Instead of changing that formula, we chose to expand on it and see where else it could lead.”

While Skin Show is rife with the trepidation of eerie synths and a cinematic atmosphere much like its former, it is not a replica, nor does it follow the same formulaic approach. Future Cult delivered darkness in excess – heavy, unnerving, and unmistakably inspired by vintage horror and sci-fi movie scores. In contrast, Skin Show is its brighter counterpart, capturing an essence that, on the surface, might seem tamer and more palatable in comparison. However, the album still dwells deep in deviance. Each passage, no matter how glossy, is offset with belligerent vocals and lyrics that detail sexual violence, shame, abuse, desperation, and paranoia. It’s the type of record that can easily garner coveted radio airplay, and yet, it can also serve as the background playlist for a BDSM orgy in an illegal dungeon or abandoned warehouse. “This was our attempt at a straight-forward pop record,” says Giordano. “It, of course, all still came out fucked because it's us creating it. But I tried to imagine our band playing a giant arena and what that would sound like. I wanted to strip away some of the chaos and just write stronger songs. I didn't want the band to mellow out, but I did want to see if we could mature a bit. If the previous album was an intense sci-fi slasher, this one would be closer to a Hitchcock or DePalma film.”

Make no mistake, while there is a blatant antithesis between the band’s two personalities, the duality is a major part of Skin Show’s identity. Reflected not only in the music, but also through the ominous and unsettling artwork created by Mothmeister. When asked about the collaboration, Giordano says, “We worked with Mothmeister again for the album art and used a similar approach as we did with the music. Things are stripped down, more direct, more focused. There's a sense of fear, isolation, and madness that very much correlates with the music. The character on the outside is in white and surrounded in light, while the character on the inside is in black surrounded by darkness. But it's ultimately two sides of the same character. I think that's a good representation of the themes within the album, dark things within people that they may want to keep hidden.”

The Lion’s Daughter may elude all characterization, fitting in all boxes while also fitting in none at all, but one thing is for certain, the genuine artistry behind Skin Show is forthright and undeniable. Whether it be a poppy opus like the title track or the haunting and sludgy vibes of “The Chemist,” all ten tracks are guaranteed to be bangers, holding the listener at knifepoint and demanding their attention with each and every note.

Recording Lineup:
Rick Giordano - Guitars, vocals, synths, bass
Erik Ramsier - Drums and percussion
Scott Fogelbach - Vocals

Live Lineup:
Rick Giordano - Guitars, vocals, synths
Erik Ramsier - Drums and percussion
Scott Fogelbach - Bass, vocals

Recording Studio: Firebrand Recording (St. Louis, MO, USA)

Producer/Sound Engineer: Sanford Parker

Mixing Studio & Engineer: Sanford Parker @ Hybercube (St. Louis, MO, USA)

Mastering Studio and Engineer: Colin Jordan @ The Boiler Room (Chicago, IL, USA)

Cover Art: Mothmeister

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/TLDshop

For more info on THE LION'S DAUGHTER, visit the band's official FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and BANDCAMP.

GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT Releases New Single & Dark, Poignant Official Video “Fade”

Pre-Order "Ghost Tapes #10" here: https://smarturl.it/GhostTapes10Video produced by @Chariot Of Black Moth: https://www.youtube.com/user/ChariotOfBlackMothFi...

New Album, Ghost Tapes #10, out February 12 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW!

“It’s all about hypnotic intensity, blends of intense noise

and melody along with a mix of electronics”

Reigning as one of the most well-known and highly critically acclaimed experimental instrumental groups out there with a respected musical legacy spanning nearly 20 years, Irish four-piece GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT will reach a career benchmark upon the release of their 10th studio album, Ghost Tapes #10 (out February 12, 2021 via Napalm Records).

The second single cut from GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT’s tenth studio album, Ghost Tapes #10, directly calls for action with an intense wall of sound, carried by a furious fuzzed bass line and a fast drum groove that culminates in a heavy, colossal apex. Keeping this energetic level on point, “Fade” comes to an end in an atmospheric and picturesque world of sounds to be discovered.

At 210 BPM, “Fade” is the fastest track that GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT has ever written. Starting off with a 10/8 time signature that fades into a 12/8 beat, the track is further proof of the band’s musical expertise. The song is illustrated by a dark and sinister black and white music video, created by Chariot Of Black Moth, which captures the intensity and showcases that “Fade” stands out among GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT’s former discography.

Pre-Order Ghost Tapes #10 NOW - first formats sold out already!

Ghost Tapes #10 is certainly the most ferocious GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT full-length to date – it still retains all the rich musical and emotive elements the band is known for by wheeling around luminance, but offers harsh and deep reminiscences as well. Works of art like “Burial”, “In Flux” and “Barren Trees”, with additional guitars by Jimmy Scanlan, amongst others, are proof of these creations of sound. The album’s closer, the atmospheric “Luminous Waves”, captivates in a trance-like mindset – putting one deeply in touch with their inner self, drifting away to stirring tunes of guest cello virtuoso Jo Quail.

The artwork was illustrated by David Rooney, who has worked with the band in the past, and plays into the sense of the foreboding and uncertain times we live in. Ghost Tapes #10 will be available as a four-page digipack as well as in multiple limited LP options.

Ghost Tapes #10 will be available in North America in the following formats:

- LP Gatefold Vinyl BLACK

- LP Gatefold Vinyl GOLD (limited to 300 copies)

- LP Gatefold Vinyl Deluxe SPLATTER WHITE/GOLD/BLACK + Brush Print Album Cover Metal Plate, Slipmat (strictly limited to 100 copies) *SOLD OUT*

- LP Gatefold Vinyl SPLATTER WHITE/BLACK (limited to 300 copies) *SOLD OUT*

- Four-page CD Digipak

- Digital Album

GOD IS AN ASTRONAUT is:

Torsten Kinsella - Guitar, Piano/Synths

Niels Kinsella - Bass

Lloyd Hanney - Drums

Jamie Dean - Guitar, Piano

SIRENIA Releases Visualizer For Thundering Second Single “We Come To Ruins”

Pre-Order "Riddles, Ruins & Revelations" here: https://smarturl.it/Sirenia-RRRMorten Veland about "We Come To Ruins":"'We Come To Ruins' is the second single...

Tenth Album, Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, out February 12, 2021 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW!

“I stare into a descending sun

I fall into oblivion

I falter into wastelands and beyond

I comprehend what my life has become”

French-Norwegian symphonic metal outfit SIRENIA recently announced the release of their exquisite upcoming tenth studio album, Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, out February 12, 2021 via Napalm Records. The 11-track album draws the listener deep into a versatile symphonic metal vortex through combining heavy sound with modern influences.

After releasing the album’s first output, “Addiction No. 1”, in late 2020, the four-piece around mastermind, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and producer Morten Veland is ringing in the new year with another catchy yet smashing anthem! “We Come To Ruins” skillfully portrays SIRENIA’s multifaceted nature and adds harshness to the record’s characteristic elements, while transforming the “beauty and the beast“-concept into a modern yet dark atmosphere. Stamping guitar tunes are underlined by evil growls, ushered along by the vocal power of singer Emmanuelle Zoldan shortly after. This song is poised to move all the headbangers out there!

Morten Veland about “We Come To Ruins”:

“‘We Come To Ruins’ is the second single from our upcoming album. This song shows SIRENIA from a heavier side, although it is a very dynamic song with many changes in both atmosphere and intensity. It is probably a more "typical" SIRENIA song than our first single, but still with a modern approach.”

A modern ride straight into the heart of symphonic metal!

With Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, SIRENIA remains as true to their album title word-play as they do to their dedication to symphonic soundscapes, drawing the listener into a pounding narrative about the darkest aspects of life. All eleven songs accumulate step by step to an integral auditory artwork, where the versatile mezzo soprano voice of singer Emmanuelle Zoldan always shines in high-profile. In addition, there are many enchanting, instrumental surprises lurking along the way that absolutely need to be discovered.

The album opener, “Addiction No. 1”, immediately showcases the modern and electronic direction SIRENIA are aiming in with their new epos, while “This Curse Of Mine”, for example, bumps in with heavy riffs. On "Downwards Spiral", Emmanuelle is supported by the remarkable voice of longtime friend Joakim Næss on clean vocals, who has joined the symphonic metal outfit on previous releases. SIRENIA’s tenth full-length ends with a cover of Desireless` 1986 hit “Voyage Voyage”, where the unit again impressively combines symphonic sounds with electronic atmosphere, not only evident on this final epos, but on Riddles, Ruins & Revelations as a whole.

Morten Veland on the album:

"Riddles, Ruins & Revelations is SIRENIA's tenth studio album. The album is very diverse, as a SIRENIA album should be. There's a lot of material that shows the band from a new side, and there is lots of material that is to be expected from the band musically. All in all, the album will take listeners through a journey that will cover both familiar and unexplored musical landscapes. We hope that you will enjoy the journey.”

Pre-Order Riddles, Ruins & Revelations HERE:

Riddles, Ruins & Revelations will be available in the following formats:

- CD Digipack

- Digital Album

SIRENIA is:

Morten Veland - guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards, programming

Nils Courbaron - lead guitar

Emmanuelle Zoldan - vocals

Michael Brush - drums

C.C. STORM Releases Official Lyric Video for "Cross"

Debut Album, Passionately Angry, Out NOW on Psycho Records

Las Vegas based multi-instrumentalist C.C. STORM has released the official lyric video for his single, "Cross." Fully written, composed, vocalized, and instrumentalized by C.C. STORM, "Cross" is off of the artist's debut album, Passionately Angry, which is available NOW via Psycho Records.

"'Cross' is about giving your everything to one person but they can never see the harm they return back to you. You keep giving your best and sometimes, it’s hard to walk away when you believe the person will change. It’s almost the definition of insanity. You keep repeating the same mistake over and over expecting a different result. It never happens." - C.C. STORM

Download / Stream Passionately Angry Online:

"(Passionately Angry) is one of those releases where I came in having no idea what to expect; This is a powerful, personal project that manages to wow despite its brevity. The musical direction is scattershot and it is difficult to tell what the focus here was, but when the songs are all this good, no one is going to care about that" - Taylor Carlson - ZRockr Magazine

Las Vegas transplant, C.C. Storm, launches his debut solo effort, Passionately Angry from local label, Psycho Records.

Storm hails from his native Pocono Mountains, and moved to Las Vegas in 2010. Storm has been playing since 1982 and studied at the prestigious Musicians Institute in Hollywood California. He has been long sought after in various bands due to his knowledge of being able to play intricate parts and being able to sing at the same time. Storm cites KISS as his biggest influence musically but even he says his styles vary.

After taking a long break in the 90's and in the early 2000's, Storm returned to his passion when he decided to move to Las Vegas in 2010. After a rough start and a marriage separation, Storm returned to the stage on a fluke one night after being invited to "KISS KARAOKE" at the world famous Monster Mini-Golf featuring KISS. Stepping up to the microphone with his bass in hand, Storm belted out many KISS Classics which garnered the attention of musicians like Armored Saints' Jeff Duncan and Sunset Strip legend Johnny Lust. Singing Paul Stanley is not an easy task, but after years of studying the Starchild, C.C. nailed it.

Deciding for himself using his real first name wasn't going to cut it, he decided to change his name to C.C., where he then began to work on his first solo album at his long time friend owned Chase Music Studio. Studio owner, Dave Chase, began to hone and shape his sound delivering what was a sudden shock to the local musician scene. Within a few weeks of its initial release, "Cross" was gaining attention amongst the local rock radio scene. Former Faster Pussycat guitarist, Brent Muscat, was spinning it on his radio show regularly.

C.C. is currently recording the follow up to "Passionately Angry" which will be titled, "Rise The Horizon", which will be released by mid 2021.