Country singer/songwriter and actress Kellie Pickler, known for her RIAA Gold-certified debut album Small Town Girl, her RIAA Platinum-certified single “Best Days of Your Life” and five Emmy Nominations for Pickler & Ben, will join SiriusXM’s The Highway, beginning Monday, February 14.
“I am so excited to join the SiriusXM family as a host on The Highway,” shares Pickler. “This is such a fun and amazing opportunity to really connect with Country music fans across North America. I’m looking forward to sharing some of my current favorite songs and artists, along with chatting with some very special guests!”
Kellie Pickler will host middays from 12pm-4pm ET Mondays through Fridays on SiriusXM’s The Highway via satellite (ch. 56) and on the SXM App.
Last year, Pickler was announced as one of the USO’s Global Ambassadors, supporting the organization’s Give More Than Thanks initiative – a campaign encouraging all Americans to find actionable ways to express their gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our troops and their families.
SiriusXM’s The Highway plays new Country music including the hottest country superstars, up-and-coming artists, and the very latest discoveries direct from Nashville. SiriusXM is available to subscribers in their car, on their phone and connected devices at home with the SXM App. Streaming access is included for most subscribers. Go towww.siriusxm.com/ways-to-listen to learn more.
About Kellie Pickler
Country singer/songwriter and actress Kellie Pickler grew up immersed in country music in the small town of Albemarle, North Carolina with the words of Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn and Dolly Parton shaping her musical footing. At the age of 19, she gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of “American Idol.” In 2006, she signed with 19 Recordings/ BNA Records and released her debut album, Small Town Girl, which has gone on to sell more than 900,000 copies worldwide and produce three hit singles: “Red High Heels,” “I Wonder” and “Things That Never Cross a Man’s Mind.” She followed that in 2008 with her self-titled sophomore record, featuring country radio hits “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful,” “Best Days of Your Life” (co-written with Taylor Swift and her first Top 10) and “Didn’t You Know How Much I Loved You.” Having established herself as not only a powerful vocalist but also a songwriter, Pickler released her third studio album, 100 Proof, in 2011 to huge critical acclaim. The album was named the No. 1 Country Album of The Year by Rolling Stone and listed on the “Best of 2012” by The Washington Post.
In 2018, Kellie made her Hallmark Channel debut with “Christmas at Graceland,” their highest-rated movie in history and most-watched movie of the year, playing the film’s lead, Laurel: a finance executive who rediscovers her passion for singing; a role she reprised in the June 2019 sequel “Wedding at Graceland.” For the films, Kellie recorded and performed beloved Christmas songs including: “Silent Night,” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” “Joy To The World,” and Elvis Presley hits “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and “Hound Dog.” In-between touring, Kellie filmed her third Hallmark Channel movie “The Mistletoe Secret,” which premiered in November 2019.
Pickler is an avid supporter of the U.S. military, having completed twelve USO Tours. She has been honored with the Department of Defense Spirit of Hope Award, the USO Heart for the Warrior Award and the Chris Kyle Patriot Award.
About SiriusXM
Sirius XM Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: SIRI) is the leading audio entertainment company in North America, and the premier programmer and platform for subscription and digital advertising-supported audio products. SiriusXM’s platforms collectively reach approximately 150 million listeners, the largest digital audio audience across paid and free tiers in North America, and deliver music, sports, talk, news, comedy, entertainment and podcasts. Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. SiriusXM's subsidiaries Stitcher, Simplecast and AdsWizz make it a leader in podcast hosting, production, distribution, analytics and monetization. The Company’s advertising sales arm, SXM Media, leverages its scale, cross-platform sales organization, and ad tech capabilities to deliver results for audio creators and advertisers. SiriusXM, through Sirius XM Canada Holdings, Inc., also offers satellite radio and audio entertainment in Canada. In addition to its audio entertainment businesses, SiriusXM offers connected vehicle services to automakers. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com.
Bad Omens Release Official Music Video For "Like A Villain"
Los Angeles-based rock sensation Bad Omens has released their new music video for "Like A Villain". The song is taken from the band's upcoming album 'THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND' out on Friday, February 25 (via Sumerian Records). Prior to today's release, Bad Omens have shared music videos for the album title track "THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND" and "ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE" which combined have clocked up 2.7 million views on YouTube, and the single releases (also including "What do you want from me?" and "Like A Villain") have totaled over 15 million streams and counting across platforms. Watch the "Like A Villain" music video here or at the link below and pre-order 'THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND' here.
Bad Omens slither through boundaries, only to ultimately choke convention in the process. The quartet—Noah Sebastian (vocals), Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson (guitar), Nick Ruffilo (bass), and Nick Folio (drums)—materialize with ghostly atmospherics, striking hooks, and the tingles of sensual high-register harmonies uplifted by cinematic production. Racking up over 250M worldwide streams to date and earning acclaim, the band presents an uncompromising and undeniable vision on their third full-length album, 'THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND' (Sumerian Records).
“Making the record changed us as songwriters and musicians. In many ways, I feel like it set me free as an artist because every decision made in the writing process was for myself, with no fear for anyone else’s expectations of what our third album should sound like. Be it our fans or our record label.”
They’ve always wielded this level of magic though…
The group’s 2016 self-titled debut, 'Bad Omens', yielded fan favorites such as “Glass Houses” and “The Worst In Me” which eclipsed 22.6 million Spotify streams. On its heels, 2019’s 'Finding God Before God Finds Me' spawned “Dethrone” (11.2 million Spotify streams) and “Careful What You Wish For” (9.8 million Spotify streams). Along the way, they toured with numerous marquee acts and received tastemaker praise.
After their first headline tour was canceled mid-way at the top of the global pandemic, the band found themselves at home in Los Angeles with plenty of time. Where they absorbed and imparted a different palette of unexpected inspirations. Channeling what the frontman describes at times as a “cursive sound” they embraced newfound confidence and boundlessly loose creativity. Anything went in the studio, and all “rules” were broken. Noah and Jolly wrote, produced, and engineered the music themselves while GRAMMY® Award-nominated producer and songwriter Zakk Cervini (Halsey, Grimes, Poppy, blink-182) lent his talents with the mix and master. Challenging himself, Noah decided to “make a track sampling items around the house, none of which were musical instruments”.
This ultimately became the framework for the first single “THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND”. Claps puncture the icy soundscape as his voice stretches from a breathy moan into an evocative and entrancing hook, breaking from a whisper into the seductive chant, “It wasn’t hard to realize. Love’s the death of peace of mind.” It culminates on a climactic scream uplifted by a distorted crunch.
“The whole record really details the loss of peace of mind,” he explains. “The lyrics in the title track are a little more specific in terms of the conflict at the heart of something more intimate and personal.”
By speaking it aloud, Bad Omens offer a level of comfort and empathy, with a sinister shroud. At the same time, they also give rock music a sexy new shape on 'THE DEATH OF PEACE OF MIND'.
“Sonically, we want to do something you can’t arrive late or early too,” he leaves off. “You can’t cheat your way to the final act. You have to get on the ride and process it until the end. The songs are meant to be heard from start to finish. We want you to take the whole trip with us.”
Find Bad Omens Online
ABBATH Premieres New Song, "Dread Reaver"
Norwegian metal legend ABBATH will drop its third full-length album, 'Dread Reaver,' on March 25 via Season of Mist! The band is now premiering the title track, which can be heard below.
Pre-orders for 'Dread Reaver' are available in the Season of Mist shop HERE. Pre-save the album on streaming services HERE.
The ravens gaze ominously from above. The seas roar in anticipation. The mountains creak yet again. Abbath’s remarkable new album, Dread Reaver, is upon us all. Two years in the making, Abbath’s third full-length is the culmination of everything before it. A fusion of debut Abbath (2016) and follow-up Outstrider (2019), the aptly titled Dread Reaver extends its fantastical fangs outward and drives its cloven hooves onward. Indeed, there’s nothing like an Abbath record. This is the darkest metal for epic journeys and ancient battles. Comprised of eight riveting tracks and a red-hot cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaver shows Abbath triumphing over all trials and tribulations, riding hard into merciless glory as the one and only “Lemmy of black metal.”
Abbath was formed by Olve Eikemo (aka Abbath) in Bergen, Norway, in 2015. After splitting with vaunted extreme metallers Immortal, the beguiling frontman and storied songwriter only had one path: Abbath. Years before, he had proven that venturing out of the Immortal constellation was not only plausible but doable with the I project, a short-lived, one-album (Between Two Worlds) band featuring notable musicians from Immortal, Enslaved, and Gorgoroth. Indeed, once Eikemo was free of Immortal’s shackles, he was able to assemble a cadre of like-minded conspirators for his solo debut album, Abbath. So crucial was Abbath that the Norwegian Embassy in the UK ran a music/culture piece, while in Norway, the album was nominated for a Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy). Metal Hammer Germany even gonged Abbath with its Best Debut award. Follow-up album, Outstrider, was equally lauded. Billboard’s coverage sent shockwaves through the rock/metal scenes, while Kerrang! labeled it “dominating and creative,” awarding it 4Ks. Decibelalso heaped praise on Outstrider, giving it the Best New Noise trophy. New album Dread Reaver will yet again lionize Abbath as leader of the frost-bitten pack.
Powered by Abbath’s creative musical imagination, Dread Reaver runs riotously out of the gate. The album’s edifice affords tracks like “Acid Haze,” “Scarred Core,” “The Deep Unbound,” and the album’s closing title track ample room to champion the extremes of black metal, heavy metal, and hard rock. While there are nods to NWOBHM greats, thrash metal’s luminaries, and black metal icons, Dread Reaver is unmistakably Abbath. There is no other fingerprint. Paired with thought-provoking lyrics based on the historical figure of Othryades, Abbath’s new album not only shouts exultant but reads like an ancient pyrrhic tale steeped in violence, sorrow, and grit. The idea of a Dread Reaver—a fearless duelist—can also be read as a metaphor for life’s actions and subsequent struggles. Be warned: Dread Reaver is Abbath at his most menacing and accomplished.
Dread Reaver was produced by Endre Kirkesola, Abbath, and Dag Erik Nygaard at Dub Studio in Kristiansand and Bergen Lydstudio, respectively. Kirkesola and Nygaard also engineered. Mixing was performed by Abbath and Kirkesola, while the mastering was done by maestro Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Rob Halford) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering in Los Angeles. The goal was to field a storming production that sat firmly at the crossroads of Abbath’s heroes Kiss, Motörhead, Manowar, and Bathory. From the anthemic thrust of opener “Acid Haze” and the epic pound of “Dream Cull” to the rampaging “The Book of Breath” and the wicked cover of Metallica’s “Trapped Under Ice,” Dread Reaversounds as massive as Norwegian mountain and as fiery as the depths of Hell. Truly, the recording lineup of Abbath (guitar, bass, vocals), Ukri Suvilehto (drums), Ole André Farstad (guitars), and Mia Wallace (bass) found their sonic muse.
Abbath and Season of Mist will release Dread Reaver on February 25th, 2022. The album features a Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik (Immortal) cover and will be supported by singles “Dream Cull”, “Dread Reaver” and “The Book of Breath.” Of course, it’ll all be powered by Abbath’s wry, larger-than-life persona. If “Ace of Spades” catapulted Motörhead to fame and notoriety, then Dread Reaver will find Abbath atop extreme metal’s gigantic heap, the spoils of icy blood, scorching sweat, and steely tears at his feet. As “Myrmidon” states, “Die with a smile, stare glassy-eyed up / At boiling skies! / Valkyries descend to gore-caked fen / Fallen warriors arise!” Lightning strikes thrice with Abbath’s incredible Dread Reaver!
Recording line-up:
Abbath - Guitar, bass & vocals
Ukri Suvilehto - Drums
Ole André Farstad - Lead & acoustic guitars
Mia Wallace - Bass on Acid Haze, Scarred Core, The Deep Unbound & Dread Reaver
Simon Dancaster - Lyrics
Recording studio: Recorded in Dub Studio / Additional recordings: Bergen Lydstudio
Producer / sound engineer: Endre Kirkesola / Dag Erik Nygaard
Mixing studio and engineer: Abbath and Endre Kirkesola
Mastering studio / engineer: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering - California - U.S.A
Biography: Chris Dick
Cover art: Bjørn Stian Bjoarvik / Photos by Francisco Munoz
Links:
www.facebook.com/abbathband
www.abbath.net
www.instagram.com/abbath_official
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AbbathDreadReaver
Available formats: Digital, CD digipak, CD digibox, vinyl black and coloured
FORTUNE CHILD Releases Second, Classic Rock Gem Single, "Slow Down"!
Debut LP, Close to the Sun, Out 3/1/2022!
Jacksonville, FL based Rock band FORTUNE CHILD has released the sophomore single, "Slow Down.". Showcasing their '70s rock proficiency, the guitar driven track is off of the band's upcoming, debut LP, Close to the Sun, which is produced by the legendary Kevin Elson (Journey, Mr. Big, Europe, and Lynyrd Skynyrd).
“'Slow Down' is a song about balance. We work extremely hard to be the best at what we do which makes the situation feel more serious, but we always make sure to take the time to reflect on what an amazing experience it’s been so far.” - FORTUNE CHILD
It's no secret that these North Florida natives respect their Rock 'N' Roll elders. It's the true feel of the 70's (bell bottoms, mustaches and all) but with a touch of modern flair. Having just formed in 2021, Fortune Child (Christian Powers/ vocals, Buddy Crump/ lead guitar, Melanie Jo/ drums, Jon Ward/bass) has quickly garnered the support of the Southeast US Rock 'N' Roll scene and will continue to do so with each passing day. These cats know how to rock, and it seems that there's no stopping them once those first notes rip through the air.
For 2022, the band has partnered with legendary rock producer Kevin Elson (Journey, Mr. Big, Europe, Lynyrd Skynyrd) to produce their full length debut album, Close to the Sun, due in early March. Their first single, "Far", is already well on its way, having found its own rightful spot on Yahoo! News and has gathered press coverage in countries as far away as Australia and Russia. It even got a good old-fashioned thumbs up from Billy Gibbons himself and has turned the heads of some of the industry's heaviest hitters. This sort of thing leads us all to wonder: What could come next for this brand new Rock 'N' Roll freight train?
Swedish Folk Metal Mainstays MÅNEGARM to Release New Album,“Ynglingaättens Öde“
Swedish Folk Metal Mainstays MÅNEGARM to Release New Album,Ynglingaättens Öde, on April 15, 2022 via Napalm Records
Pre-Order Starts NOW!
First Single & Official Video, “Ulvhjärtat”, Revealed
MÅNEGARM keep the heathen fire alive with vibrant folk and Viking spirit!
Swedish folk metal pillars MÅNEGARM have made a name for themselves in the international scene by releasing nine full-length records since their debut, Nordstjärnans tidsålder, back in 1998. Now, the Scandinavian crew takes another stroll through ancient sagas and myths of long forgotten times on the successor of 2019’s chart-topping Fornaldarsagor with their upcoming 10th studio album, Ynglingaättens Öde (EN: the fate of the Ynglinga kin), out April 15, 2022 via Napalm Records.
In their multifaceted world of sound, MÅNEGARM incorporate Pagan inspired lyricism based on the old Norse poem Ynglingatal, which describes the fate of an old Norse dynasty - the house of Ynglinga. Ynglingaättens Öde offers balanced variety and atmosphere, breathing new life into ancient myths.
To sink deep into this unique occasion and to keep the Viking flame burning bright, the three-piece have just released their staggering brand new track, entitled “Ulvhjärtat” (EN: the Wolfheart), alongside a gripping official music video. An acoustic introduction acts as a prelude for a stomping yet catchy hymn with harsh riffs, engaging drums and anthemic melodies, as MÅNEGARM underline their standing as spearheads in the world of Viking metal once more.
MÅNEGARM on “Ulvhjärtat“:
“'Ulvhjärtat' is about Ingjald Illråde, who was the last king of the Ynglinga dynasty that ruled over Uppsala and Svetjud. As a young boy, Ingjald was weak and frail but during a great feast, the midvinterblot, Ingjald was advised by his foster-father, the blind man Svipdag, to eat a wolf´s heart to gain strength. Ingjald followed the old man’s advice but the outcome was not only that Ingjald became hardened and stronger… he also took on the mind and temper of the wolf.
Ingjald grew up to be an ambitious king determind to make his kingdom grow, but his mind grew darker and darker. His treacherous mind made him invite nearby kings just to burn them alive and expand his kingdom, his ferocious and ruthless rule contained betrayals and oath breaking and he finally came to be called 'Ingjald the illruler'…”
On Ynglingaättens Öde vocalist Erik Grawsiö tells the stories of kings, warriors and battles with clear vocals and contrasts them with grim growls and fierce battle cries! With the uncompromising ten-minute opus “Freyrs blod”, MÅNEGARM lure the listener deep into ancient times. The track spans a wide arc between black metal elements that flow into more melodic parts and even acoustic interludes with guitar and violin tunes, just to turn once again into thunderous soundscapes. With this majestic opener, MÅNEGARM showcase why they are regarded as Swedish genre pioneers with good reason, as they inimitably manage to combine vicious black metal foundations with classic folk and Viking elements. On the way there are acoustic introductions echoing, as on “Stridsgalten”, acting as preludes for intense metal songs with harsh riffs and engaging drums, underlined by anthemic melodies. “Stridsgalten” marks another highlight of the album, as it features outstanding contributions from prominent guests Jonne Järvelä (Korpiklaani), Robse Dahn (Equilibrium) and Pär Hulkoff (Raubtier/Hulkoff). All renowned in the folk and Pagan metal scenes, together they proudly present a stomping track telling the story of a bloody battle to honor Odin. “Vitta vettr” features black metal trademarks like blast beats and freezing riffs, creating a darker atmosphere. On the other hand, there’s the ballad-like “En snara av guld”, transporting melancholia by Lea Grawsiö Lindström’s gentle vocal harmonies (daughter of vocalist Erik Grawsiö). This very sublime moment lines up with mighty tracks like hammering “Auns söner” and heroic “Adils Fall”. The album closes with the acoustic “Hågkomst av ett liv”, conjuring an atmosphere of sitting at a warm, sparkling fire while listening to tales of olden days, formed by the mesmerizing vocal duet of vocalists Ellinor Videfors and Grawsiö. With Ynglingaättens Öde, MÅNEGARM underline their standing as spearheads of the world of Viking metal once more and keep Pagan traditions alive, even after 25 years of existence.
MÅNEGARM on the album:
“Thousands of working hours turned into this beast - our new album, Ynglingaättens Öde. We truly believe this album is our strongest and most complete album to date and despite the dark days of the pandemic, we have created a concept album that is 100% MÅNEGARM and packed with strong melodies, riffs and powerful choruses. This time, we explore an old Swedish Norse dynasty of rulers where we detail their deeds, their rule and above all - their deaths.
So come join us on this journey and meet the fate of the Yngliga kin!”
Pre-order your copy of Ynglingaättens Öde NOW!
Ynglingaättens Öde will be available in the following formats:
- Wooden Box (incl. Digipack, 7" Single, album cover flag, logo patch) – limited to 500 copies worldwide
- 1LP Gatefold Marbled Gold & Black – limited to 300 copies worldwide
- 1LP Gatefold BLACK
- Shirt & Digipack Bundle
- Digipack CD
- Digital Full Length Album
[Wooden Box (incl. Digipack, 7" Single, album cover flag, logo patch) – limited to 500 copies worldwide]
MÅNEGARM are:
Erik Grawsiö - vocals & bass
Markus Andé - guitars
Jakob Hallegren - drums
Cage Fight + Share Video for "Shine Don't Fade"
UK THRASH/HARDCORE OUTFIT CAGE FIGHT SIGN WITH CANDLELIGHT
SELF-TITLED ALBUM OUT MAY 13
BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR "SHINE DON'T FADE"
Hardcore/thrash crossover band Cage Fight, which features TesseracT guitarist James Monteith and former Eths vocalist Rachel Aspe, have announced their debut self-titled album, Cage Fight. The record is due out May 13 on Candlelight. Pre-order it here.
One of the most furious hardcore records to emerge from the UK in recent years, the anger and frustration of Cage Fight's self-titled debut album is the perfect catharsis for our times.
Aspe comments, "I cherish the ability to channel my anger through this outlet. In a world full of uncertainty and frustration, this type of music was the only thing I found solace and balance in. These songs have a deep meaning for me and I hope this is something that other people can relate to."
Bassist Jon Reid, adds, "In the wake of the greatest media heist in modern British times and the fall out of the cataclysmic debacle that is Brexit, it seemed perfect stimulus to write lyrics that confronted the continued world of systemic racism, cultural divide, and an antiquated class system wrapped up with personal mental health issues and the challenges of modern living."
The album's artwork — a grabbing hand with the Cage Fight logo tattooed on the palm — visually portrays the violent rage at the core of the band's music. Legitimately inked by Aspe, a tattoo artist by trade, the process of creating the image is as impactful as the final artwork itself.
CAGE FIGHT ARE:
Rachel Aspe — Vocals
James Monteith — Guitar
Jon Reid — Bass
Nick Plews — Drums
London indietronica artist Rodney Cromwell releases 'Opus Three' single with lush dark B-side
"One of the most infectious numbers of this young year... bewitchingly brilliant... one of the most inventive and idiosyncratic musicians out there" ~ STEREO EMBERS MAGAZINE
"Rodney Cromwell's music belongs to the future" ~ NME
"Cool-flowing retro synth delight" ~ THE SPILL MAGAZINE
"Yanking the mundane into the sublime. Its sweeping synths transverse a sonic landscape bridging an ancient sentiment and an almost folk instrumentation with pure hertz tone glory" ~ POST-PUNK.COM
“His new lo-fi disco laments are joyfully simple and painfully funny” ~ HUFFINGTON POST
"Makes a delightful lo-fi synthpop racket with a load of old gear and a deep appreciation of classic outfits" ~ ELECTRONIC SOUND
“A reminder of good pop tunes from a magical era” ~ LOUDER THAN WAR
London-based indietronica artist Rodney Cromwell presents his new ‘Opus Three’single, out February 3 via Happy Robots Records, a floor-filling synth-driven dance number about disconnected lovers trying to conjure optimism as the world stands on the brink of apocalypse. This is the second taste of Cromwell's ‘Memory Box' LP, which is out on March 18.
"At it’s heart, ‘Opus Three’ is the simplest of dance numbers - a full-fat 120 bpm beat, layered with a chunky Moog Opus 3 synth line, overlaid with percussion and the buzzing tones of a 1960’s pocket stylophone. Inspired by Anna Kavan's surreal novel ‘Ice’, this song is about two lovers on the brink of apocalypse, separated by distance and lost in time, trying to find positivity in a world where there is little. “Don’t let it be, catastrophe” repeats the chorus, trying to conjure optimism from somewhere," says Rodney Cromwell (the nom de plume Adam Cresswell).
The B-side ‘Perception Management’ is an atmospheric dystopian synth instrumental conveying a sense of ‘post-truth pop’.
Mixed and co-produced by Richard Bennett at Acme Hall Studios (New York) and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Goldfrapp, Paul Weller, Pixies), the 'Memory Box' album' mixes synthpop, hauntology, dreampop and European coldwave, using analogue synths and drum machines with minimal computer sequencing. Cromwell creates a distinctive and compelling organic, dream-like world, inspired as much by Alice in Wonderland and Franz Kafka as by sonic influences like Kraftwerk, The Cure, Polyrock and Stereolab.
The album's lead single 'Memory Box' premiered in Post-Punk.com and was voted by fans into the Dandelion Radio Official Festive 50. It has received press and radio coverage across the globe, including national radio play in Japan, Finland and Spain, as well as multiple spins on BBC 6 Music in the UK.
His debut 'Age of Anxiety' LP (2015) and 'Rodney's English Disco' EP (2018) garnered Rodney Cromwell features in Electronic Sound Magazine, NME, Huffington Post, Record Collector, Paste, BBC6 Music and national RNE3 in Spain, for whom he recorded a live session. The album featured in scores of 'Best of' lists, including Electronic Sound and The Electricity Club, who named him 'Most Promising New Act'. He has played lives shows with acts like Pram, Death & Vanilla, M!R!M, Rowetta and Steve Davis. In 2020, he also performed as part of Damo Suzuki of Can’s backing band.
'Opus Three' is out on February 3 via Happy Robots Records with distribution by Cargo Records. It will be available on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Memory Box' EP can also be obtained. The full 'Memory Box' album is slated for release on March 18.
CREDITS
Written and recorded by Adam Cresswell
Mixed and co-produced by Richard Bennett at Acme Hall Studios, New York
Mastered by Pete Maher
Album artwork by Martin J Langthorne
Released via Happy Robots Records
Keep up with Rodney Cromwell
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Amazing Radio | Booking contact | Press contact
Keep up with Happy Robots Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube
CHIP Z'NUFF ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ALBUM "PERFECTLY IMPERFECT"
"PERFECTLY IMPERFECT" DUE MARCH 18, 2022
NEW SINGLE & VIDEO 'HEAVEN IN A BOTTLE' OUT NOW
Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to present the new solo album from Chip Z'Nuff, "Perfectly Imperfect". Chip is, of course, well known for being one of the co-founders of popular Chicago rock band Enuff Z'Nuff. The first single and video from the album, 'Heaven In A Bottle' is out today. See the video below.
Pre-order/save "Perfectly Imperfect" on CD/Digital HERE: https://orcd.co/imperfect
The songs for "Perfectly Imperfect" were written by Chip, except for 'Heaven In A Bottle', which is an older track written with former Enuff Z'Nuff vocalist Donnie Vie and ''Honaloochie Boogie', which is a Mott The Hoople cover. The album includes guest appearances from Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Steven Adler (Adler's Appetite, ex-Guns 'N Roses), Daxx Nielsen (Cheap Trick) and Daniel Hill (Enuff Z'Nuff).
"All songs are written as I see the world through my rose-colored glasses. It’s my heroin letter to the new generation," says Chip.
Chip Z’Nuff is an American singer, songwriter, bassist, producer, and radio personality. Having founded the popular glam rock band Enuff Z’Nuff in 1984 in the illustrious city of Chicago, the band saw its self-titled major label debut released in the summer of 1989. Chip has released over twenty albums with Enuff Z’Nuff, as well as having toured with the likes of notorious rock acts such as Missing Persons, Steven Adler, Cheap Trick, Poison, The Tragically Hip, Foreigner, Alice Cooper, REO Speedwagon, Ace Frehley, and others. The Grammy-nominated artist has produced dozens of records throughout his robust career and had his music hailed by former late night television host David Letterman and the popular radio personality Howard Stern. In addition to writing, recording and touring with Enuff Z'Nuff, Chip also currently hosts The Monsters of Rock radio show on the Dash Radio Network playing the finest hits in hard rock and heavy metal to a collective audience of over 800,000.
LINE-UP:
Chip Z'Nuff - Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Melotron
Joel Hoekstra - Lead Guitar on Tracks 2, 6, & 8
Daxx Nielsen - Acoustic Drums on Tracks 3, 4, 5, 6, & 9
Daniel Hill - Drums, Percussion, and Orchestration on Tracks 1, 2, 7, & 8
Steven Adler - Acoustic Drums on Track 10
https://www.facebook.com/EnuffZnuffOfficial/
https://www.instagram.com/chipznuff/
DEATH DEALER ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF NEW EP FUEL INJECTED SUICIDE MACHINE
DEATH DEALER has announced the upcoming release of a new EP titled FUEL INJECTED SUICIDE MACHINE (the second Steel Cartel Records product to implement the variant cover art vinyl product). The band features Ross The Boss (Ex-MANOWAR, ROSS THE BOSS BAND, DICTATORS), Sean Peck (CAGE, THE THREE TREMORS, DENNER/SHERMANN, WARRIOR), Mike Lepond (SYMPHONY-X, STEEL ASSASSINS), Stu Marshall (DUNGEON, NIGHT LEGION, ARKENSTONE), and Steve Bolognese (ROSS THE BOSS, INTO ETERNITY) and is coming off of their successful 3rd full-length release of the award-winning album CONQUERED LANDS.
The new EP release features 4 new songs of pure heavy metal goodness, and stunning cover artwork by Marc Sasso (DIO, HALFORD, ADRENELINE MOB, CAGE) and is being released on Vinyl and Digipak FEBRUARY 25th worldwide on STEEL CARTEL RECORDS. The digipak and vinyl versions both have an additional FREE STEEL CARTEL SAMPLER cd with 11 tracks from such bands as CAGE, SNOWY SHAW, THE THREE TREMORS, SLEDD, SEVENTRAIN, REFEXICON, MONARCH, SPIRITUAL SICKNESS and others. Many of the tracks on the sampler are new and unreleased! Each track has an introduction recorded by one of the corresponding band members and they are hilariously entertaining!
The title track can be heard here via an insane lyric video that really sets the tone for the entire 4 song journey. The theme of the record harkens back to the MAD MAX series of movies and tales of survival in a dystopian future.
Mike Lepond said “We had such a powerful positive reaction from our last record, that we felt we should get something out sooner rather than later. We had so much material written and recorded that were able to get an EP ready that is amazing sounding.”
Sean followed up by saying “I am really stoked on how the EP came out it is a great mix of heavy speed songs and classic Death Dealer mid-tempo head bangers too. The packaging again is stunning looking with custom artwork everywhere and some cool new collector’s elements we have included in the pre-order options.”
Stu Marshall said “We stayed extremely busy during all the COVID bullshit and I happy to formally announce not only is the EP here now, and the songs on the EP will NOT appear on any upcoming releases, but the 4th album is completely done and the 5th album is almost finished as well. Haaa,it was crazy how the lads and I really grinded out what I feel is our finest metal to date during that period. After all we had plenty of time on our hands so why not make more heavy metal?”
Ross The Boss chimed in about the release. “Once again we are focusing on the metal fans out there that love the music and support what we do. There will only be one song from the EP that hits the streaming platforms so this will not be on Spotify or any of that other shit. We put our hearts and souls into rock and roll and we got a tremendous amount of support for that stance we took on our last record, both from the fans that bought our stuff and the press that respected us for not just giving it away. Heavy Metal fans treat the music and physical product like a cherished thing of value to hold in your hands and collect. So this time, same thing we will give you the first track free but we are focused and embrace the hard-cores that support us by buying the albums.”
As usual STEEL CARTEL has constructed some amazing pre-order package combinations that are targeted to the heavy metal freak in all of us and the hard-core collectors. The RULER OF THE WASTLAND packages include Digi-pak and Vinyl combinations with 2 options for the vinyl colors, a Custom Death Dealer metal key chain, Band sketch print, and 2 insane T-Shirt designs. And as usual there is a “Gotta Have it All” package that has a version of everything included for the ultimate collector. In addition, all RULER OF THE WASTELAND paks will get 2 brand new, surprise cover tracks emailed to them for free! In addition, all pre-order packages will receive 2 secret, never to be released cover tracks done by the band both heavy metal classics, but to discover which songs they are you will have to grab a bundle. Like all STEEL CARTEL products, only the Video single will hit the streaming platforms, the rest will remain on physical product only.
STEEL CARTEL is also implementing a new concept for their vinyl releases, borrowed from the comic-book industry which is the addition of “Variant” cover artwork. The DEATH DEALER EP will be the first product from STEEL CARTEL to implement this. The 1 in 5 cover artwork shown below will be an option available for purchase in the store here. That means that for every 5 vinyls pressed, 1 of the variant covers is made, making it a rare collectible.
MORE INFORMATION
STORE
https://deathdealermetal.com/store.html
Andorran Prog Metallers PERSEFONE Reveal New Single “Architecture of the I” + Lyric Video
New Album, metanoia, out this Friday, February 4
Pre-Order NOW!
Extreme progressive metal maestros PERSEFONE have returned with the next single from their upcoming album, metanoia, entering the last round before its long-awaited release this Friday. The third single, “Architecture of the I”, features grim growling, sharp screams and technically precise riffing – creating dark sound walls that alternate with calmer atmospheric parts underlined with electronic elements – once again showcasing the band’s variety in just one epic song! Underlining this opus of sound is a mesmerizing visualizer video that enters another universe – just a sneak peak of what’s to come with their new album metanoia.
PERSEFONE on “Architecture of the I”:
“‘Architecture of the I’ represents one of the most progressive songs on metanoia. On this track, we really let the song come alive as we were writing, and because of that, the listener will find in there a huge dynamic range from one of the most fast and heavy riffs in the whole album, to some of the most introspective passages.
This song has been a challenge for us to write and perform, and we are sure that it will also present a challenge for the listener to keep track with its particular pace and structure. Now it's up to you to find the purpose of all those notes within the album.
The stunning video was created by our guitar player Filipe and his partner K (DeadFlag Studios and Gráfica de Ferro).”
Watch the new music video for “Architecture of the I”
PERSEFONE set a new standard in extreme progressive metal with their latest opus, metanoia!
PERSEFONE is known for their brand of rich soundscapes and technically precise work, setting new standards in modern extreme progressive metal. Founded in 2001, PERSEFONE has released five studio albums, each showcasing the band’s myriad of musical principles: high technicality, distinct melodies, plenty of head-turning riffs and musical acrobatics. The band has toured worldwide with notable acts like Obituary and Leprous, has hit stages at important festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Metal Days, Brutal Assault, ProgPower and 70,000 Tons of Metal, and is now set to release their new album, metanoia!
Featuring collaborations with standout artists like Steffen Kummerer (Obscura, Thulcandra), Einar Solberg (Leprous), Angel Vivaldi and Merethe Soltvedt (Two Steps From Hell), metanoia exploits the full potential of contrasts in every song, with each track representing a story evolving from beginning to end and constantly growing in strength – redefining typical musical boundaries. Mixed by David Castillo (Leprous, Soen, Opeth) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Enslaved, Ihsahn, Sepultura), the new full-length stretches over 10 songs, each appearing to glide seamlessly from one to the next.
metanoia sets off with the opulent opener “Katabasis”, drawing dramatic, cinematic soundscapes mixed with electronic influences. The soft, clear vocals of Miguel Espinosa alternate with sharp growls and pierce through constantly changing riffs. PERSEFONEbalances soft passages with intense walls of sound on tracks like “Aware of Being Watched” – in which clean vocals and jazzy sections alternate with intense riffing carried by dense drumming – while solid, rich sound takes on orchestral dimensions on songs such as “Leap of Faith”. Vivid and dynamic instrumentation, tempo and rhythm make up the intense ride “Merkabah”, showcasing the band’s hardest yet most vulnerable sides as screams and blast beats are followed by soft instrumentation – spanning the song’s intensity to its maximum. A special surprise is the 11-minute masterpiece “Consciousness Pt III”, which continues a series of songs from the band’s fourth album Spiritual Migration (2013). The album closes with another opulent set of songs, “Anabasis Part I”, “Anabasis Part II” and “Anabasis Part III”. “Anabasis Part I” starts off with calm, dreamy piano sounds, drifting over to the intense “Anabasis Part II” and leading seamlessly into “Anabasis Part III”, gently closing the album with a cinematic outro.
PERSEFONE about the new album:
“metanoia is the next step in our personal pursuit for existential growth through music. This album is a call for a deep change, a call for an inner journey through fear and pain, a call for a leap into a meaningful and rooted place. Making this album has forced us to face many musical and personal hurdles and fears, and the result of that confrontation lives within all the notes and words captured on this new chapter in our journey. May you will find meaning in all this musical chaos.”
Save your copy of metanoia NOW!
metanoia will be available in the following formats:
- Digipack
- 2LP Gatefold BLACK
- 2LP Gatefold CLEAR (incl. Slipmat & Logopatch) - Limited to 100
- 2LP Gatefold Marbled White & Black - Limited to 300
- Digipack & Shirt Bundle
- Digital Full Length Album
PERSEFONE is:
Marc Martins – vocals
Miguel “Moe” Espinosa – keyboards and vocals
Carlos Lozano – guitar
Filipe Baldaia – guitar
Toni Mestre – bass
Sergi “ Bobby” Verdeguer - drums
We Are PIGS Teams With Revolver To Premiere New Track "Anorectic," Announces Alien Ant Farm's Terry Corso As Member Of Nu Metal Revival Troupe; EP & Tour News Coming Soon
Alt Metal Hybrid Project
We Are PIGS
Officially Welcomes Terry Corso (Alien Ant Farm)
As Newest Member Of The Nu Metal Revival Troupe
Led By Producer / Songwriter / Artist Esjay Jones
Releasing Latest Track “Anorectic”
Alongside Brand-New Raw Performance Video
Premiered Via Revolver
Details For Upcoming EP & Tour Coming Soon
“Anorectic” Follows Previous Releases
“Kids” (With Brian “Head” Welch of KORN, Love And Death)
“MOOT” (Featuring Morgan Lander Of KITTIE) &
“Duality” (Slipknot Cover With Terry Corso)
We Are PIGS is shaking things up in 2022 with the announcement of Terry Corso (5x worldwide Platinum, Grammy-nominated act Alien Ant Farm and Powerman 5000) as an official member of the troupe that’s hell bent on reviving nu metal. Led by noted producer-songwriter-artist Esjay Jones, the project aims to bring back the raw integrity of the early 2000s genre coupled with modern trap beats and programming for a fresh version 2.0.
That thrilling combination is heard on the new track “Anorectic,” alongside a brand-new video, helmed by Nobel Savage Cinema, released today and premiered via Revolver who called the track a “rager.” See it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5znZNvii84
Corso – who contributes guitar and backing vocals alongside songwriting and programming to the project – first met Jones when she was hired to contribute co-writing duties to an Alien Ant Farm track and the two quickly worked on the very first We Are PIGS release, a cover of Slipknot’s “Duality” in May 2020. See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUpHKe3UWoo
While Alien Ant Farm are on hiatus, Corso looks forward to being part of We Are PIGS and says, “Esjay and I finish each other’s ideas and she’s one of the most motivational and complimentary artists to work with. She’s good at getting the best out of you and has always had faith in my art, which means a lot to me.”
Adding his thoughts on “Anorectic,” Corso says, “We are super excited about finally getting around to releasing an original song we wrote together and I think it’s a great representation of the band. We are trying to make this nu metal revival with contemporary aspects, which is great since I was part of the nu metal movement when it happened with Alien Ant Farm. I think people are hungry for that kind of music again.”
The video for “Anorectic,” filmed at the legendary Nude Bowl in Palm Springs, California, also aims to bring back the early 2000s nostalgia with a “live performance”-style video that captures the raw, erratic, high-energy feeling of the scene and is a great introduction to what We Are PIGS are planning to bring live along with drummer Edo Tancredi.
More details will be announced soon about the project’s first-ever tour dates and a debut EP release.
Characterized by a pig-masked front woman, We Are PIGS was started by Esjay Jones as an alt metal hybrid project combining brutal riffs, brazen screams and ethereal melodies with strong lyrical messages. After debuting with a cover of Slipknot’s “Duality” in 2020, followed by original single “Pulse Queen” in early 2021, We Are PIGShas found an incredible following and support through playlist placements on Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music.
Recent releases have included “Kids” with Brian “Head” Welch of Korn and Love And Death as well as “MOOT” featuring KITTIE’s Morgan Lander and “Blood Diamond,” a collaboration with M.O.B. In addition, Jones has worked behind the scenes as a sought-after producer for acts including Grey Daze (Chester Bennington) and a soon-to-be-released collaboration with Billy Corgan.
About We Are PIGS/Esjay Jones
We Are PIGS is the alt metal hybrid with brutal riffs, brazen screams and ethereal melodies created by South African born producer / songwriter / artist Esjay Jones. In the summer of 2020, We Are PIGS made its debut with a cover of Slipknot’s “Duality” and the first original single “Pulse Queen” followed at the tail end of the year that has boasted 15 additions to editorial playlists between Spotify, Amazon Music and Apple Music. Esjay Jones has been highlighted recently by the Recording Academy as well as recognized for solely producing the much-anticipated second LP for Grey Daze (Chester Bennington’s first band), matching his vocals with collaborations from Dave Navarro, Richard Patrick (Filter) and Bennington’s 9-year-old twin daughters, Lila and Lilly. Esjay has also worked with Sean Kingston, Jeffree Star, Olivia Holt, Escape The Fate, Mystery Skulls with Nile Rodgers and Brandy, Chester Rushing (Stranger Things), Alien Ant Farm, and many others. Esjay has had over a decade of success in the music industry: during the first part, she cemented herself as one of South Africa’s top rock vocalists fronting Durban-based band Stealing Love Jones. The band achieved mainstream success with four #1 Singles, as well as sharing the stage with major international acts like One Republic, Fall Out Boy, Violent Femmes, Seether, Jimmy Eat World, and many more.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WeArePigsBand
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wearepigsband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearepigsband/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-87023704
Dance Gavin Dance Announce Spring Headline Tour
Dance Gavin Dance
Announce
Spring Headline Tour
Tickets On Sale Friday, February 4 at 10AM Local
Sacramento chart topping, genre defying quintet, Dance Gavin Dance have announced a headlining tour which will travel throughout the U.S. this spring. Support comes from metalcore favorite Memphis Mayfire, as well as Volumes and Moon Tooth. Tickets go on general sale at 10 AM local on Friday, February 4th from www.dancegavindanceband.com. VIP packages are available now via dancegavindance.vip
The tour marks the band’s return to the road after their extremely successful 2021 US tour in support of their 2020 chart topping release, Afterburner. The album hit the charts twice last year, first following its initial digital release in April 2020 and a second time for its physical release in July 2020. The Afterburner 2021 US Tour, although being one of the first coast-to-coast indoor tours to hit the road post-pandemic, was successfully completed and saw Dance Gavin Dance sell a whopping 78,500 tickets across 33 shows making it the band's biggest tour to date.
Dance Gavin Dance drummer and founding member, Matt Mingus, shares
“It brings us great pleasure to announce our upcoming tour with Memphis May Fire, Volumes, and Moon Tooth. We will be playing some cities we haven’t had the chance to play in a while and are surely looking forward to it. With the band being as healthy and as happy as ever this will be a tour you won’t wanna miss!”
The upcoming Spring 2022 headlining tour will kick off at Swanfest, the one day festival headlined and curated by Dance Gavin Dance, in their hometown of Sacramento, CA on April 23rd. The tour will travel to a further 18 cities to end in Birmingham, AL on May 20th. Tickets go on general sale at 10 AM local on Friday, February 4th from www.dancegavindanceband.com. VIP packages are available now from dancegavindance.vip Full Dates below.
Dance Gavin Dance
Spring Tour 2022
w/ Memphis May Fire, Volumes & Moontooth
4/23 SWANFEST —Heart Health Park, Sacramento, CA
4/26 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
4/27 Boise, ID Revolution
4/29 Wichita, KS Cotillion
4/30 Omaha, NE The Admiral
5/1 Des Moines, IA Val Air
5/3 Ft Wayne, IN Pierre’s
5/4 Cleveland, OH Agora
5/6 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
5/7 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom @ The Rave
5/9 Rochester, NY Main Street Armory
5/10 Albany, NY Empire Live
5/11 Hartford, CT Webster Theater
5/13 Richmond, VA The National
5/14 Raleigh, NC The Ritz
5/15 Columbia, SC The Senate
5/17 Ponte Vedra, FL Concert Hall
5/19 Knoxville, TN Knoxville Auditorium
5/20 Birmingham, AL Sloss Furnaces
Dance Gavin Dance released their ninth studio album, Afterburner, in April of 2020. Since its release, the album has clocked up 124 million streams and topped a multitude of charts on two separate occasions, once with it’s digital release hitting #14 on the Billboard Top 200 and #1 across the Current Albums, Alternative, Billboard Top Albums, Digital, Current Digital Albums, Rock, Heavy Rock and Current Independent Albums charts and again when the physical version was released several months later due to the pandemic, when it hit #1 across Vinyl, Internet, Alternative, Rock, Hard Music, Independent Current Albums, #3 Top Current and Billboard Top Albums and #47 on the Billboard 200 charts. This past Christmas, the band surprised fans with a special holiday gift by dropping ‘Afterburner (Instrumental)’ on streaming platforms. It was previously only available via a Target exclusive double disc CD.
As the undeniable statistics keep mounting up, the fact becomes more and more clear that Dance Gavin Dance are becoming one of this generation's most popular and enduring forces from the world of heavy music. As Pollstar put it in their recent featureon the huge success of the tour - "Sacramento, Calif.-based Dance Gavin Dance is not just any band."
About Dance Gavin Dance
Rejecting tired formulas at every step, Dance Gavin Dance merge progressive rock and post-hardcore with thick groove, brilliantly combining experimental music with hooks and a warped sense of humor. The group has amassed over 1.35 billion global streams, and 1.2 million album equivalent units sold across their catalog in the US alone. With hundreds of thousands of rabid fans engaged with Dance Gavin Dance on socials and their very own festival event, Swanfest, which sold out its inaugural edition in 2019 and is slated to see a triumphant return in 2022 in the band's hometown of Sacramento this April, it all amounts to a full force band facing a mainstream that has overlooked them for too long.
Dance Gavin Dance are:
Tilian Pearson: Vocals
Jon Mess - Vocals
Will Swan - Guitar/Vocals
Tim Feerick - Bass
Matt Mingus - Drums
Find Dance Gavin Dance Online
Pike vs The Automaton Deluxe Box Set still available
HIGH ON FIRE'S MATT PIKE
TO RELEASE DEBUT SOLO LP
'PIKE VS. THE AUTOMATON'
OUT FEBRUARY 18, 2022
From rewriting the hard rock rulebook with his Grammy award-winning trio High on Fire, to reverse engineering doom metal with his genre-defining trio Sleep, Matt Pike has channeled his natural talents and chiseled a steely path straight to the heart of modern-day metal’s molten core.
On February 18, 2022 Pike will release his debut solo LP, ‘Pike vs. the Automaton’, via MNRK Heavy. Pre-orders are live at PikeVstheAutomaton.com.
Walker Hayes' "Country Stuff The Album" Debuts Top 10 on "Billboard" Top 200 Chart + No. 1 in Country Album Sales
It’s been a week since GRAMMY-nominated Walker Hayes released his highly-anticipated Country Stuff The Album, and like with his smash hit “Fancy Like,” he continues to have these pinch-me viral and critically acclaimed moments.
Country Stuff The Album officially debuted in the top 10 on Billboard’s Hot 200 Chart this week, and at No. 2 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart, while landing at No. 1 for country album sales.
The 13-song project showcases why fans love Hayes’ music. Featuring his signature witty lyrics, sticky melodies and autobiographical storylines, he doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. Hitting on sobriety, loss, love and country fun, the album was produced by Hayes with Joe Thibodeau and Multi-GRAMMY Award winner Shane McAnally.
In a week full of high moments, Hayes appeared on ABC’s Good Morning America to talk about the release, the music, and all it’s meant to him. He was also featured in the Tennessean, where he talked about his long journey to success, from moving to Nashville with his wife almost 20 years ago, working at Costco, and his lifechanging moment in a Smoothie King. The Tennessean writes, “If Nashville is a 10-year town, no one told Walker Hayes (and that’s ok by him).”
In the most unexpected moment of the week, Hayes found that he’d yet again gone viral after a performance at the halftime show of the AFC Championship game in Kansas City. After performing his set live to the 75,000-person crowd, including “AA,” “U Gurl,” and “Fancy Like,” Hayes got off stage to hundreds of texts, calls and memes about the show disrupting the halftime broadcast on CBS. Unbeknownst to him, his voice was heard across the country, as halftime hosts James Brown, Phil Simms, Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson and Boomer Esiason attempted to talk about the game, but were drowned out by the performance.
“As a massive sports fan I was so jacked to perform halftime at the game, I just couldn’t wait to get in the stadium,” says Hayes. “We didn’t think our performance would be broadcast — so to see what’s happened, I mean, you can’t make this up! I guess we made broadcast after all!”
Photos from the day and video from the halftime show HERE.
After a weekend of sold-out shows under his belt, Hayes continues The Fancy Like Tour next weekend in Chesterfield, MO.
About Walker Hayes
Monument Records recording artist, Walker Hayes, is a GRAMMY Nominated singer/songwriter originally from Mobile, Alabama. His album County Stuff The Album features single “AA” and smash hit “Fancy Like.” “Fancy Like” has topped every sales and streaming chart since its release, spending a collective 6 months and counting at the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs. The song was featured in a national Applebee’s ad campaign and hit the top 5 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songs.
The proud father of six has performed his music, including the Double-Platinum RIAA certified hit “You Broke Up With Me,” to national audiences on Good Morning America, Late Night with Seth Meyers, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and the TODAY Show, and was profiled for CBS Sunday Morning. His headlining The Fancy Like Tour is currently underway.
BATTLE BEAST ENTER WORLDWIDE CHARTS WITH NEW ALBUM "CIRCUS OF DOOM"
On January 21st, BATTLE BEAST unleashed their brand new masterpiece "Circus of Doom", via Nuclear Blast. In true BATTLE BEAST fashion, the 10 tracks blend true heavy metal with pop and rock-vibes, paired with Noora Louhimo’s unique voice.
Since its release, the album has entered the charts worldwide, including #1 in their homecountry Finland.
Here is an overview of official chart results:
Finland: #1
UK: #1 (Rock), #6 (Indie)
Sweden: #1 (Hard Rock), #5 (Physical)
Switzerland: #5
Germany: #9
US: #7 (Current Hard Music), #10 (Top New Artist)
Eero Sipilä comments: "We are so grateful to our fans around the world for making 'Circus of Doom' such a huge success. We can’t wait to take this album on the road and get to thank all of you face-to-face! The circus is coming to town!”
"Circus of Doom" was recorded at JKB Studios in Helsinki, Finland and produced and mixed by keyboardist Janne Björkroth, while the stunning artwork was created by Jan Yrlund.
Get "Circus of Doom" in the format of your choice, here: https://bfan.link/circusofdoom
Recently, BATTLE BEAST also announced their Circus of Doom North American Tour with DRAGONFORCE that will begin March 20th in Denver, CO through April 23rd in Berkeley, CA. Tickets are on sale now at https://battlebeast.fi/tour.
Commenting on the tour, vocal powerhouse Noora Louhimo states:
”Battle Beast is coming to you sounding and looking better than ever before! We are very excited to unite our forces with Dragonforce for a North America tour. I think this will be an epic combination of heavy metal energy and our fans will be getting 300% of explosive entertainment with our new album ”Circus of Doom” let loose on stage. Get ready to be mesmerized with high screams, new horns and new Battle Beast.”
BATTLE BEAST "CIRCUS OF DOOM NORTH AMERICAN TOUR" DATES:
Mar 20 - Denver, CO - Oriental Theater
Mar 22 - Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater
Mar 23 - St. Louis, MO - Red Flag
Mar 24 - Milwaukee, WI - Rave II
Mar 25 - Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue
Mar 26 - Chicago, IL - Metro
Mar 27 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrews Hall
Mar 29 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Piere's
Mar 30 - Toronto,ON - Opera House
Mar 31 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
Apr 1 - Quebec City, QC - Imperial Bell
Apr 2 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
Apr 3 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
Apr 5 - Reading, PA - Reverb
Apr 6 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater
Apr 7 - Baltimore, MD - Sounstage
Apr 8 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian Theater
Apr 9 - Greensboro, NC - Arizona Petes
Apr 10 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
Apr 12 - Tampa, FL - Orpheum
Apr 13 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
Apr 15 - Dallas, TX - Amplified Live
Apr 16 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
Apr 17 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live
Apr 19 - Mesa, AZ - Nile Theater
Apr 20 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
Apr 22 - Los Angeles, CA - Belasco Theater
Apr 23 - Berkeley, CA - UC Theater
Since their 2011's debut album "Steel," BATTLE BEAST have achieved over 200 million digital streams. Alongside the huge #1 success of their last three albums in the album charts of their home country, Finland, their last album "No More Hollywood Endings" (2019) reached a remarkable #11 in German album charts.
---
BATTLE BEAST is:
Noora Louhimo | vocals
Eero Sipilä | bass
Joona Björkroth | guitars
Juuso Soinio | guitars
Janne Björkroth | keyboards
Pyry Vikki | drums
Swedish Post-Rock Duo OH HIROSHIMA Shares New Music Video for Epic Single "All Things Pass"!
New Album, Myriad, out March 4, 2022 via Napalm Records
Pre-Order HERE!
March 4, 2022 will see Swedish post-rock duo OH HIROSHIMA release their haunting fourth studio album, Myriad, via Napalm Records. Following their latest magnum opus, Oscillation(2019), and due to pandemic lockdowns, the band channeled all of their time and creativity into delivering an epic successor. It’s that mixture of emotions – from infinite sadness to moments of clarity and heart-rending melodies blending into a rumbling volcano of aesthetic noise and ferocious power, but also the unique use of trumpets, cello and trombones throughout – that sees OH HIROSHIMA outclass and grow renowned not only in post-rock circles, but beyond.
The mournful key-based intro of their brand new single, “All Things Pass”, leads into the darkest, bleakest facets of OH HIROSHIMA’s epic sonic universe, while its glistening guitar lines and the otherworldly voice of Jakob Hemström match the imposing melancholy of the track and throughout the record. Give ear, as today the brothers share a video clip for “All Things Pass”
Says Jakob Hemström:
"‘All Things Pass’ is a song about the constant flow of time and an embracing of the endless chain of changes it brings. We thought it would be nice to have a song with a clear chorus on Myriad, as that's something we haven't really had in the past, and we think this one did the trick. The video was once again directed by the band and filmed and edited by our drummer, Oskar."
Upon becoming a duo due to former bassist Simon Forsberg departing the band in early 2021, OH HIROSHIMA were provided a challenging chance to step up their songwriting game. There is still a hefty dose of post-rock to be heard on Myriad, but brothers Jakob Hemström and Oskar Nilsson managed to kick down the creative walls of the band, making use of a much broader musical palette.
Recorded by Kristian Karlsson (pg.lost, Cult Of Luna), and once again mixed and mastered by Cult Of Luna’s Magnus Lindberg, with Myriad, OH HIROSHIMA demonstrate outstanding ability – melding captivating melody with epic, fulminating fervency, and delivering a majestic masterpiece that will undoubtedly be an early album of the year contender!
Pre-Order Myriad HERE!
Myriad will be available in the following formats:
- 6 Page CD Digipak
- Purple Gatefold Vinyl LP
- Digital Album
For More Info Visit:
PERPETUAL ETUDE Release Lyric Video for "Our Love"
Swedish heavy metal outfit PERPETUAL ETUDE have released a lyric video for their song "Our Love" - the closing track from their debut album, 'Now Is The Time', which was released last autumn. Check out the lyric video below!
Perpetual Etude was formed in 2019 by Magnus Mild with the sole goal to bring back the best of heavy metal from the '80s. Influenced by the genre when growing up, Magnus teamed up with members from NorthTale, ex-members from Dionysys, Nation, Shadowquest, as well as Göran Edman on “Sail Away” to complete the vision. The result is the best of a whole decade in the astounding debut 'Now Is The Time', an album filled with blazing guitar riffs, keyboard solos, and catchy choruses.
ABYSMAL DAWN Streams Entire EP Ahead of Release Date
Los Angeles death metal titans ABYSMAL DAWN will be releasing a brand new EP, 'Nightmare Frontier,' on February 4, 2022 via Season of Mist! The band is now streaming the new album in its entirety ahead of Friday's release! You can hear the offering below.
The band comments, "Our new EP is a available to check out now! It includes a Bloodborne inspired track, a re-recorded song from our first album, an In Flames cover and a Candlemass cover with some unexpected clean vocals. It was fun to explore and pay tribute to some of our more melodic influences on this one. Enjoy!”
Pre-orders for 'Nightmare Frontier' are now live at the Season of Mist E-Shop, Abysmal Dawn Bandcamp, and Abysmal Dawn Store. The single and EP can be pre-saved across all streaming services HERE.
Moreover, ABYSMAL DAWN will be embarking on an extensive North American tour as direct support for OBSCURA at the start of next year! The trek will kick off in San Diego, CA on February 3 and will conclude on March 23 in Fresno, CA! Tickets are on sale NOW! The full run of dates can be found below!
'Nightmare Frontier' follows up 2020's critically-acclaimed album, 'Phylogenesis.' The album was named one of the best albums of 2020 by Metal Injection, Metal Insider (#7), Teeth of the Divine, Cursed Zine, and more! In addition, drummer James Coppolino is listed as one of Sick Drummer Magazine's favorite drummers of 2020 and the band's song "Soul Sick Nation" was among Loudwire's "66 Best Metal Songs of 2020."
'Nightmare Frontier' was mixed and mastered by Charles Elliott at Tastemaker Audio. Drums were engineered by John Haddad at Trench Studios, while tracking for all instruments was handled by Elliott.
American death metal masters Abysmal Dawn are back! After a six-year gap, the Los Angeles-based outfit and Season of Mist hereby present Phylogenesis. Not that Abysmal Dawn have laid low since the release of 2014’s lauded Obsolescence full-length. Far from it. They toured North America four times and hit Europe and South America for the first time. Meanwhile, founding member Charles Elliott opened his studio, Tastemaker Audio, to accelerate Abysmal Dawn's own recording needs, as well to act as a bridge to other bands in need of a knowledgeable and relatable audio technician. But the road to Phylogenesis wasn’t an easy one. Besides work-horsing it throughout the U.S., Canada, Sweden, Germany, the UK, Brazil, Chile, and beyond in support of Obsolescence, Elliott and crew managed through some of the lowest points in Abysmal Dawn’s career. Internal strife, administrative burdens, musical differences, and motivation all had their various ways with the Californians. Yet, from the darkest depths, they prevailed, heralding a new chapter in the group’s storied history. Indeed, Phylogenesis is Abysmal Dawn’s rebirth!
“There was a brief period after doing two months of touring back-to-back in the U.S. and Europe in 2015 that I almost felt like calling it quits,” Abysmal Dawn’s Charles Elliott says. "It was our first time in Europe and I just had a hard time enjoying it. The band had grown, and I was a bit tired of having to handle most of the managerial aspects of what we do. The joy had been ripped from things and people weren't getting along, and some people acted like they didn't want to be there. But we went our separate ways with some of the members and all of a sudden, the band was fun again. They went on to other things and we're probably all happier in the end. Sometimes, I feel it's a miracle this album or band even still exists. I've avoided swearing on our records in the past, but the album's opening line is actually, 'Fuck you all!' Maybe it's primitive by our past lyrical standards but it's genuine and it's the most heartfelt, ‘Fuck you, we’re still here’ I could put on a record. I’m glad we stuck it out because I think this is our proudest moment so far.”
To say Phylogenesis is an extension or continuation of Obsolescence isn’t exactly as straightforward as it should be. On one hand, all the Abysmal Dawn trademarks—technicality, brutality, and melody—remain ingrained in the songwriting fabric. On the other, the band’s fifth full-length is more cohesive, rhythmically sophisticated, and far more adventurous. Elliott calls it “a major evolution.” Certainly, the six years of constant refinement, edge smoothing, and transition adjustments have paid off. What started as jam sessions between Elliott, bassist Eliseo Garcia, and drummer James Coppolino in 2016 eventually turned into one-offs. That there was no time limit to put Phylogenesis together ended up both a blessing and a curse. Total creative freedom at very little expense is a dream scenario, something a band of Abysmal Dawn’s stature took advantage of for their magnum opus. But without a ticking clock and dollars burning, the pressure to focus was far less severe, resulting in delays and feature creep.
“It was basically James, Eliseo and me meeting up at my place, jamming on ideas, seeing what worked and tweaking them from there,” says Elliott. “With the exception of ‘Hedonistic,’ James wrote all his drum parts. Obsolescence was demoed with me programming all the drums since our drummer at the time had moved up north. It was what it was, but it was pretty frustrating at the time. Having someone to bounce ideas off of in real-time, helped in maintaining the joy and momentum of making this album. Once it was time to record bass and leads, Eliseo and Vito [Petroni; guitars] would trickle in when they had ideas. We had no real deadline and seemingly infinite time to do things. Admittedly, I think it was hard for me to focus on the lyrics, not only because of things in my personal life but because I was focused on getting the guys in to complete their parts so I could focus.”
Finish Phylogenesis they did, in fact. Under significant duress, Abysmal Dawn had overcome their roadblocks. The results of the group’s undulating professional and personal schedules aren’t to be trifled with, however. Opening track “Mundane Existence” is a firestorm of labyrinthine yet savage riffs, enraged vocals, and machine-gun drumming. It’s death metal personified, enlightened, and perfected. Elsewhere, tracks such as “The Path of the Totalitarian,” “A Speck in the Fabric of Eternity,” and “Soul-Sick Nation” (feat. Fredrik Folkare of Unleashed, Firespawn, et al.) pose real threats to the status quo. In all three, Elliott’s passion for and dominance of death metal’s tenets are tangible. But there’s more to Abysmal Dawn on Phylogenesis than customary ritual. From the ruthless groove of “Hedonistic” and the staccato stabs of “Coerced Evolution” to the late album gem “The Lament Configuration” and the blistering cover of Death classic “Flattening of Emotion,” the songs are designed to slay in ways we’re just beginning to understand.
“We’re a pretty brutal death metal band, but what I feel like sets us apart is that no matter what we do there’s always some underlying sense of melody and hooks,” Elliott says. “There are lots of bands that are ridiculously brutal. There are lots of bands that are over-the-top technically or are blatantly melodic. We combine all that but we try to write something that sticks with you over time; that you'll keep coming back to, and that works well in the live environment. We love all types of music, whether it's fusion or industrial music, and it shines through here and there. But in the end, though, we're a pure death metal band at heart trying to retain that old-school feel with an updated take for a new generation.”
Conceptually, Phylogenesis deals with the breakdown of social constructs humans have built over time. The album title is defined by the evolution of (or diversification) a species. So, Phylogenesis is an ironic take on Elliott’s observations, particularly how social media has accelerated and exacerbated the de-evolution of humanity’s interactive abilities. The cover art, again by Swedish artist Pär Olofsson, isn’t directly correlated to the lyrical narrative, but it does continue where Obsolescence left off. The Olofsson cover art has envisioned what it’s like on the inside of the Obsolescence tower, and that it’s humans that are being fed back to humans. The cover art continuity is akin to Richard Fleischer’s famed Soylent Green film but ripped through Elliott’s demented death metal lens.
“I think the lyrics deal a lot with things we encounter in our modern society and the effect it has on the individual,” says Elliott. “The dehumanization effect and divisiveness caused by bickering on social media (‘The Path of the Totalitarian’), the decay of legitimate journalism (‘True to the Blind’), struggling to find purpose in the pursuit of happiness (‘Hedonistic’), wishing something was greater than yourself (‘Mundane Existence’), the mental illness epidemic (‘Soul-Sick Nation’), embracing pain over numbness to feel alive (‘The Lament Configuration’), having our consciousnesses uploaded to a grid in order to make life sustainable on Earth (‘Coerced Evolution’), and the common theme throughout the band of wishing life on Earth would just start over (‘A Speck in the Fabric of Eternity’). I had started off wanting it to be a concept record but later scrapped that idea because I didn't like how it was going. In the end though, it just naturally all tied together in some way. Even the Death cover seemed to fit lyrically in hindsight. ‘Coerced Evolution’ is really the only song that in the sci-fi vein this time around. As for Pär, yes, he did the cover art once again. We love working with him and we’ve been creating great covers with him since 2006.”
Abysmal Dawn recorded Phylogenesis over a multi-year timeframe. In fact, Coppolino’s drums were tracked as far back as 2017 with long-time collaborator John Haddad at Trench Studios. The rhythm guitars and vocals, as produced by Mike Bear and Elliott, were also done at Tastemaker Audio the same year. So, some of Phylogenesis goes back, but the parts are no less lethal. Slowly but surely, the group’s newest and greatest materialized, with Elliott finishing the lead guitars, bass, additional vocals, re-amping, and mixing sessions in 2019, again at Tastemaker Audio. Abysmal Dawn then packaged up their fifth for mastering ace Tony Lindgren (Rotting Christ) to handle at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. Contemporary yet absolutely remorseless, Abysmal Dawn’s Phylogenesis is death metal for a new age.
“We took our time and went to few studios this time around, so it’s a bit of a laundry list,” Elliott says. “John Haddad engineered the drums at Trench Studios. John has been involved with all our records in some form since From Ashes. Mike Bear helped track and produce the vast majority of my vocals and rhythm guitars out of my studio. Mike produced both Leveling the Plane of Existence (2010) and Obsolescence. I tracked and produced all the leads, bass parts, and other odds and ends and mixed the album as well. Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios mastered the record in the end.”
As for Abysmal Dawn’s next steps, the quartet await the release of Phylogenesis. With past support coming from the Village Voice, Decibel, PopMatters, and Pandora, as well as the group's rabidly-devoted fanbase, the future of death metal is in good hands.
Lineup:
Charles Elliott: guitars, vocals
Eliseo Garcia: bass, additional vocals
James Coppolino: drums
Vito Petroni: guitars
Guest Musicians: Orchestral arrangement on “Behind Space” by Craig Peters (Destroying the Devoid, Deeds of Flesh)
Recording Studio:
Tastemaker Audio, Los Angeles, CA (USA) – everything excl. drums
Trench Studios, California (USA) – drums
Production, mixing, mastering, + sound engineer:
Charles Elliott @ Tastemaker Audio
Additional drum engineering by John Haddad @ Trench Studios
Cover Art:
Pär Olofsson
Biography:
Chris Dick
Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AbysmalNightmare
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/abysmalnightmare
For more on ABYSMAL DAWN, visit their official FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and BANDCAMP.
THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN Release Lyric Video for New Single "Praise the Eternal Nightmare"
New Album 'Escaping Eternity' out February 11th
Melodic black metal outfit THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN have released the third single from their upcoming studio album, 'Escaping Eternity'. The Seattle-based band has dropped a lyric video for "Praise the Eternal Nightmare", which can be seen below.The new album from The Devils of Loudun, 'Escaping Eternity' will see a February 11th, 2022 release via The Artisan Era.
PRE-ORDER 'Escaping Eternity' HERE
About THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN:
Active since 2009, the Pacific Northwest-based act the Devils of Loudun spent years honing their chops before the 2015 release of their first highly praised EP, Entering Oblivion. With the EP showcasing their unique brand of fast-paced, melodic death metal the band quickly gathered a devoted following. With Kyle McGinn of Dead Rhetoric calling the release “the clear cut Bandcamp winner of the year,” and Danny Sanderson of Metal Temple commenting “In less than twenty minutes, this band has managed to craft something that is not only more unique than what most underground Death Metal acts are peddling, but also significantly better. “ The Devils of Loudun wasted no time and in 2016 released their follow-up EP, Enduring Creation. A conceptual sequel to Entering Oblivion, the band’s ever-evolving sound was taken to the next level which again garnered praise from the metal community. Toilet ov Hell commenting "I was hooked the instant I hit play. This is excellent melodeath with a lot of motion and a symphonic flair." Now, after five long years spent crafting and conjuring the next evolution of their form, The Devils of Loudun are ready to re-emerge with their most ambitious and epic release yet.
The Devils of Loudun are:
Vance Bratcher – Vocals (Aethereus)
Scott Hermanns - Guitars (Aethereus)
Drew Tuel - Guitars
Ben Velozo - Keyboards
LJ Cline – Bass
THE DEVILS OF LOUDUN SOCIAL MEDIA:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDevilsOfLoudun
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedevilsofloudun/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5mY8i4sWjrQCjZOI4APqVH
SEVEN YEAR WITCH Release Official Music Video for Newest Single, "Cyanide"!
South Carolina Hard Rock, Blues-Punk band SEVEN YEAR WITCH has released the official music video for their new single, "Cyanide." The track "Cyanide" was recorded at Studio Barbarossa in Orlando, Florida by Josh Saldate, with the music video created by Justin West, who has filmed the majority of the Seven Year Witch music videos.
"'Cyanide' is our most ambitious release to date. The song is telling a tragic love story, and the music video follows closely with it. It feels like a Seven Year Witch movie! Definitely poured our hearts into this one, and it paid off. We strayed from our usual riff-based song structure to a more vocal and chorus-driven structure with this one" - Seth Burden (Seven Year Witch)"
The backwoods of South Carolina isn’t one’s first thought when it comes to a modern shock to the heart of rock n’ roll. Straight out of left-field with an electrifying hybrid of hard rock, blues-punk, and 70’s garage rock, Seven Year Witch emerges with enough stage energy to feed a generation starved of real rock n’ roll. After years of performing under a different name, the group unveiled the Seven Year Witch title in 2018. The band’s reception exploded regionally, as they began to tour heavily and open the stage for countless national acts. Having battled poverty and the scrutiny of rock n’ roll in the bible belt, Seven Year Witch has cut their teeth and made their own luck.