Rising Singer-Songwriter Chase Wright Named a 'Highway Find' on SiriusXM's The Highway

2021 brought a year of milestones for rising singer-songwriter Chase Wright, including the release of his 10-song debut album Intertwined and kicking off his first-ever headlining tour with Tin Roof. His rising-star also caught the eye of SiriusXM’s The Highway. Today, the Indiana-native added another highlight to his growing resume with SiriusXM naming him a “Highway Find.” Host Storme Warren surprised Wright with the news during an appearance on the show.

“I listen to The Highway every day so I know how big of a deal this is. To be named a ‘Highway Find’ is an absolute dream come true,” shared Wright. “I can honestly say hearing that I’m the next ‘Highway Find’ has genuinely left me speechless…thank you to Storme, Macie, Nick and the whole SiriusXM team.”

SiriusXM’s The Highway channel has an ongoing commitment to spotlight great new country music talent. Being named a “Highway Find” is as highly-anticipated by country artists as fans alike, and the coveted recognition puts Wright in company with some of today’s biggest country stars including Luke Combs, Maren Morris, Dan + Shay and Florida Georgia Line to name a few.

After being discovered posting covers on Instagram, then ASCAP executive Robert Filhart invited Wright to Music City for an ASCAP songwriters’ workshop where he met many of his future collaborators. He began making monthly trips to town to write and eventually would sign his first publishing deal with Toby and Molly Music before graduating from college. The finance major would go on to sign with Filhart and Clint Higham at Morris Higham for management. From Instagram to life on the road, Wright spent 2021 on a 12-city headlining trek for Tin Roof’s “Nashville Hit the Roof” Series. He will kick off a headlining run of shows this fall beginning Sept. 30 in Bristol, Tenn.

The artist Billboard noted “continues to impress with original material” released debut album Intertwined last year. Produced by Jared Keim and Zach Abend, tracks like “Lying With You,” which has been getting airplay on SiriusXM The Highway’s On The Horizon show, “Hangin’ On” and “What She Sees In Me” join fan-favorites on the album, including “Why Should We,” Wright’s debut single “My Kinda Morning” which MusicRow celebrated for its “melodies wrapped in spacious production, and rap-inspired cadences,” “Wish You’d Miss Me” that Country Now called “the quintessential heartbreak ballad” and “Drive” which led Sounds Like Nashville to implore listeners to “get in early with…this promising young artist.”

Post-breakup tracks like “Missing You” and “Why Can’t It Be Over” round out the album alongside title-track “Intertwined” featuring Canadian popstar Delaney Jane.

Photo Credit: Jason Myers

Upcoming Tour Dates
9/30 Sidetracks Bristol, TN
10/1 Cullman Oktoberfest Cullman, AL
11/3 The Whiskey Baron Colorado Springs, CO
11/4 Warehouse 25 Sixty-Five Grand Junction, CO
11/5 Sundance Steakhouse & Saloon Fort Collins, CO

For more information and latest news, follow along on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter HERE.

About Chase Wright:
Chase Wright is doing more than make his childhood dreams come true: he’s introducing himself as a bold new Nashville artist with a freewheeling approach to genre, firm footing in relatable storytelling and soft spot for big choruses. Respect for country music’s way around a story without feeling beholden to it defines the Indiana native’s energetic songs, which rely on electric loops and pop-rock chords alongside more traditional sounds made from steel strings and wood. It’s a confident blend that belies the fact that 26-year-old Chase first picked up a guitar as a freshman track star at DePauw University. After graduating with a degree in economics, Chase packed his bags for Nashville, where he has since earned a publishing deal with Toby & Molly Music and signed with Morris Higham for management. Named a Spotify Hot Country Artist to Watch for 2022, fans have been streaming his music to the tune of 110 million times. Wright’s debut album Intertwined is available now.

ORIANTHI Releases New Single "Fire Together"

(Photo credit: Jim Donally)

NEW ALBUM 'ROCK CANDY' OUT OCTOBER 14, 2022

Platinum-selling recording artist and world-class guitarist Orianthi has released another smokin' single from her upcoming new album, 'Rock Candy'! Please enjoy the brand new track "Fire Together".

You can pre-order/save 'Rock Candy' on CD/Ltd. Ed. Pink Vinyl/Digital right here:https://orcd.co/rockcandy

LINE-UP:

Orianthi - Vocals, Guitars

Jacob Bunton - Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Violin, Backing Vocals

Kyle Cunningham - Drums

Produced, Engineered, & Mixed by Jacob Bunton

British alternative pop artist SICKY takes us to the edge on 'The Bridge' single, previewing new album

"This music is down-the-middle catchy and clever. It is, at the same time, gleeful, tuneful, and a hell of a lot of fun... recalls such artists as Gene, Manic Street Preachers, Muse and Super Furry Animals" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

UK-based alternative 'dirty pop' artist SICKY presents his new single 'The Bridge', a lively danceable offering that is a pragmatic Northern Soul-inspired bucket of joy.

A Black Country boy now residing in Shropshire, SICKY is the solo project of Mick Butler, who has played in various bands, ranging from the brass soaked pop of Papa Mantra to the dirty stomp of SUMO. Now he derives pleasure from banging out tunes and crafting new material. Literally everything you hear in his music is him squeezing noises out of anything that'll sing.

'The Bridge' is the lead track from his new 'Garbage Town' album, which is being released a year on from his lockdown album 'Bowling Balls', a collection that was partially inspired by Ray Bradbury's book 'The Martian Chronicles'.

"The Bridge is a song of few words, but underneath, they have huge meaning. Inspired by someone close to me, who had the sheer guts and determination to take on a darkness and set things straight. On the musical side of things, it was inspired by frequenting a Northern Soul night that happens once a month in my local town (called 'Motown in Lowtown' - I kid you not)," says SICKY.

"Those classic tunes tend to stay with you on the drunken walk home and beyond.... As a kid I used to wade through my older brothers box of northern delights (he would have killed me had he known) Those records became ingrained and still sound cool today."

This music is inspired by Prince and Bowie, perhaps in equal measure, as well as Nirvana, Supergrass, Blur, Queens Of The Stone Age, Fun Lovin' Criminals and Elvis.

SICKY explains: "Garbage Town is not a place - it's a state of mind. The lyrics talk of breaking free and leaving all the bad stuff in your head behind. Feels like all roads have led to this album. I play and record/produce everything myself so I'm a bit like a decathlete... Quite good at a couple of things and pretty average at the rest. Hopefully it sounds like in your face dirty pop."

'The Bridge' is out now and is available across all good digital platforms, including via Spotify and Apple Music. The full 'Garbage Town' album will be released on November 18 and can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written by Mick Butler (SICKY)
Recorded, mixed and produced by SICKY in Shropshire
Mastering by Streaky at Streaky Mastering
Written & recorded in January 2022. Mixed in July 2022

Keep up with SICKY
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

Darius Rucker's Riverfront Revival Festival Releases Full Music Schedule

October 8 and 9 at Riverfront Park in Charleston, S.C.
Daily Tickets Now Available
HERE

The inaugural Riverfront Revival, a hometown music festival curated and headlined by three-time GRAMMY winner Darius Rucker in partnership with SRE Entertainment, continues to build anticipation with the release of its full music schedule:

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8
1:00-1:45 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Drew Dangerfield
1:45-2:30 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Nikki Lane
2:30-3:15 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Lauren Hall
3:15-4:00 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Maggie Rose
4:00-5:00 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Mitchell Lee
5:00-6:00 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Larry Fleet
6:00-7:00 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Blue Dogs
7:00-8:00 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Jimmie Allen
8:00-9:15 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): SUSTO
9:15-11:00 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Darius Rucker

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9
2:00-2:45 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Lauren Jenkins
2:45-3:30 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Funk You
3:30-4:15 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Radney Foster
4:15-5:00 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): The War and Treaty
5:00-6:00 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Wild Rivers
6:00-7:00 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Trampled by Turtles
7:00-8:15 p.m. (Magnolia Stage): Charley Crockett
8:15-10:00 p.m. (Live Oak Stage): Brothers Osborne

Set to take place October 8-9, 2022 at North Charleston’s gorgeous Riverfront Park, Riverfront Revival presented by Discover South Carolina will feature curated offerings of the Lowcountry’s best food, libations, art and culture along with music performances mixing the best of country and rock. Doors open at 12 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Daily tickets are also now on sale for $94.50 (plus fees) and general admission weekend passes are still available in limited quantities for $174.50 (plus fees). All tickets can be purchased HERE. A dollar from every ticket sold will go to MUSC’s Arts in Healing program.

For more details, visit RiverfrontRevival.com and follow @riverfrontrevival on Facebook and Instagram.

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX Streams Entire New Album "Banefyre"

Progressive rock collective CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX will be releasing a brand new album, 'Banefyre,' THIS Friday, September 9 via Season of Mist! The band is now streaming the effort in its entirety ahead of its release! Listen below.

The band comments on the stream: "Finally after two years of weirdness, we get to unleash our own kind of weirdness on the world. There’s some very dark Magik going on here with 'Banefyre.' Things are going to start changing, in ways that people will never know. Strap in and treat this like a film. Start at the beginning and get lost in it until the end. Maximum volume yields maximum results."

Pre-orders for 'Banefyre' are now live HERE while the album can be pre-saved across digital streaming services HERE.

The thread that binds CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s bold and towering discography — a dozen studio albums, a half-dozen mini-albums, a handful of compilations and swaths of bootlegs — could not be more apropos circa 2022. Since its 2004 creation by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Justin Greaves, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX has served as the voice for the voiceless, whether it be animals, the unequal and the different. Greaves and longstanding vocalist and lyricist Belinda Kordic have often proffered that these beings cannot fend for themselves. Henceforth, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s mission has been to shed light on the human condition and the inequalities that befall humankind and its creatures. Their battle marches on with their latest studio album, Banefyre.

Banefyre follows 2020’s Ellengæst — an effort that found CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX employ a series of notable guest vocalists alongside Kordic, prompting Metal Hammer to describe it as their “most cohesive and emotionally devastating record.” Kordic is now paired with Swedish vocalist Joel Segerstedt, who made his CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX debut last year via the “Painful Reminder/Dead is Dead” single. Piano, synth and trumpet player Helen Stanley and additional guitarist Andy Taylor complete the lineup. Greaves says Stanley and Taylor “fit so well creatively,” which has made CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX feel like a band when making plans and decisions.

Also central to this is Segerstedt. According to Kordic, the vocalist and lyricist lives a mere five minutes from her in Sweden and has quickly integrated himself into the band. “What I like about Joel is that he’s a good person,” she says. “There’s no fakeness with him; he has cajones. He’s not a bitch-talker, either. I can’t handle people who don’t have a backbone, but Joel is real and can speak his mind.”

“I like how Joel has come in and spoke for himself,” adds Greaves. “He’s in the band for the right reasons. I see him the same way as Belinda — she took an interest in the whole artistic thing behind CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, like the vocals, lyrics, artwork and aesthetic. It’s the same with Joel. He has taken an interest in all of those things. In the past, we had people who didn’t contribute artistically and only cared about what they got out of the band. But Joel is really proactive and takes the initiative.”

Greaves assembled 13 songs (including “No Regrets,” a bonus track for his new project with Kordic, Johnny the Boy) imbued with the depth and introspection that will reinforce CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s standing as a band that defies genre. The album was tracked at Chapel Studios in South Thoresby, Lincolnshire, with vocals cut at Monolith Studio and Kapsylen Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. Kurt Ballou handled mixing in GodCity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts — a pivotal move in determining the album’s overall sound.

“I love the album so much because it was a different approach with the production,” says Greaves. “For my part, it was a little bit of a reaction. I didn’t want to do the same warm, safe CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX album. I’m aware that when we did [2012’s] I, Vigilante, everyone wanted I, Vigilante again. As it so often happens with this band, people complain about the next one, then grow into it. Ellengæst is like I, Vigilante. It’s a shorter album. It hit the mark and was done really well, but everyone will expect another Ellengæst. I feared that, but I care enough not to make another Ellengæst. It’s the right thing to do. That’s why we got Kurt to mix it — we wanted that analog, raw power. Even though the album has mellow moments, those are edgy as well. We just didn’t want to do the same album twice. We’re never going to be a band that people can rely on.”

Greaves’ summation of his band notwithstanding, his distinctive guitar playing and enduring knack for immersive songwriting is the propellent behind the haunting, chant-laden “Ghostland,” pensive “The Reckoning” and forlorn “Everything is Beautiful but Us,” the band’s spot-on analysis of the retreat of humankind indoors during the pandemic that revealed nature’s priceless beauty. The album is also stocked with no less than four ten-minute-plus cuts (“Rose of Jericho,” “Down the Rabbit Hole,” “I’m Okay, Just Not Alright” and “The Scene is a False Prophet”) that are intermixed with drama and melancholy.

It all ties into Banefyre’s central theme of the persecution of people who are deemed “different” by society. The album title is a play on the song “Bonefire” that Kordic named and wrote lyrics for. In classic CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX fashion, Greaves turned it into the Olde English translation to represent the bonfires that engulfed witches and politicians through the 15th and 18th centuries, hence, the name Banefyre.

The album begins with “Incantation for the Different,” which was written and orated by Chicago-based witch, artist, author and occultist Shane Bugbee, who, according to Greaves, “brought us some positive, dark energy.” Banefyre then delves into the Salem Witch Trials (“Wyches and Basterdz”), fox hunting in Great Britain (“The Reckoning”), politicians of an unscrupulous and dishonest kind (“Bonefire”) and the New York City Blackout of 1977 (“Blackout77”).

Greaves says Banefyre’s topics may have a decidedly negative and pessimistic tone, but a glimmer of hope and joy remains. “There’s always the random bits, but overall, Banefyre is about the people who have suffered because they are different. The album covers inequality and oppression, like ‘Incantation for the Different,’ which is about overcoming when you’re put down because you’re not like everyone else.”

In true CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX fashion, the Lucy Marshall-created Banefyre cover leaves plenty to the imagination, depicting four animals seated at a table — interacting and dressed like human beings. “It’s sort of like Planet of the Apes showing what animals could do to humans,” says Greaves. “The cover was specially commissioned and is unique to the album. It’s incorporating all the classic CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX elements with the love for animals and twisting the narrative around.”

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s reputation was built on the back of their studio albums and live shows. The pandemic prevented the band from supporting Ellengæst, but it did provide them additional time to bring in new members to their live configuration.

“We’ve done one show since 2019,” says Greaves. “We are going to do something in Europe this year. Hopefully, we can get back on track. We’re also going to do something in the States — that’s not just talk, we’re actually going to do it. It’s well overdue. The live band is fucking amazing. We have the five of us and now we have Jordi [Farré] on drums, Paco [Fleischfresser] on synth and a really good friend of mine, Matt Crawford on bass.

“We did the Leipzig show and even though the rehearsals were better than the show itself, that lineup, our live band, is so good. Because we haven’t been under pressure to put a live band together since 2019 and spent so long talking to people, we’ve got a better band from those results. Out of disaster, we’ve got quite a good, positive thing.”

Line-up
Justin Greaves : Guitars, Drums, Bass, Samples, Saw
Belinda Kordic : Vocals, Percussions
Helen Stanley : Grand Piano, Synthesisers, Monochord, Trumpet
Andy Taylor : Guitar, Baritone Guitar, 12 String Guitar
Joel Segerstedt: Vocals, Guitar

www.facebook.com/CBP444
www.instagram.com/cbp_444
www.crippledblackphoenix.net
https://evilgreed.net/collections/crippled-black-phoenix
https://crippledblackphoenixsom.bandcamp.com
https://riseupandfight.bandcamp.com


Recording:
Recorded at Chapel Studio, Lincolnshire, November 2020 & April 2021.
Engineered by Pieter Rietkerk
Additional vocal sessions recorded at:
Kapsylen Studio, Stockholm - Engineered by Jörgen Jugglo Wall.
Monolith Studio - Engineered by Tomas Asklund
Churchstreet Studio, Bergen - Engineered by Rene Misje
Mixed live by Kurt Ballou at God City Studio
Mastered by Magnus Lindberg
Produced by Justin Greaves

Artwork: Original paintings created for this album by Lucy Marshall
Layout master: Benedikt Demmer

Pre-Save link: https://orcd.co/cbp-banefyre
Pre-sale link: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/CBP-Banefyre

BLACKLITE DISTRICT Releases Official Visualizer for "With Me Now"!

South Dakota-based rock artist KYLE PFEIFFER, better known as BLACKLITE DISTRICT, has released the official visualizer for "With Me Now." Produced by Brett Hestlawith visuals by Amber Pfeiffer, "With Me Now" is the first single released from the upcoming 1990 Deluxe Edition, which drops November 11 and features 5 new tracks!

“It was amazing to go back into the studio with Brett Hestla producing, and my original drummer Graham Spillman, to recreate the magic that we captured a decade ago. The best part is that these songs now have a permanent place in the catalog, and I don’t think they would fit better anywhere other than the upcoming deluxe edition of 1990!” - KYLE PFEIFFER

Purchase / Stream "With Me Now" Online

Metal Powerhouse DEAD BY WEDNESDAY Releases Intense New Lyric Video

Heavy metal powerhouse DEAD BY WEDNESDAY, from New England, continues to pummel people’s eyes and ears with the release of a new intense lyric video for their song “Invincible.” The single is taken from their brand new album Capital Conspiracy, that released June 24th, 2022 on Mindsnap Music / Salt of the Earth Records. This crushing new opus from DBW is a total lesson in authentic musical aggression and was produced by Nicky Bellmore (drummer & producer of Dee Snider, Corpse Grinder, & Jasta). DBW’s album is available in stores as well as anywhere music is streamed or downloaded. Capital Conspiracy also hit # 1 on the nationally renown NACC Top 30 Loud - Hard Rock Radio Charts!

Watch “Invincible” below.

Grab the album Capital Conspiracy here:

https://orcd.co/dead-by-wednesday_capital-conspiracy

Dead By Wednesday just returned from the successful Generation Dead Tour 2022 with their new friends and tour mates Generation Kill (Featuring the former Exodus vocalist Rob Dukes). Now they’re gearing up and getting ready to perform on Friday night, September 30th at a very unique and large apocalyptic-Mad Max style event which takes places in CA. in the middle of the Mohave desert called The Wasteland Weekend 2022 Festival!! It is even fully equipped with a real life Thunder Dome! Check it out…

WASTELAND WEEKEND 2022 Festival, performing on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

Get tickets here: https://www.wastelandweekend.com/tickets/

DEAD BY WEDNESDAY is:

Esteban Alvarez - Vocals

Opus - Drums

Mike Modeste - Bass

Dave Sharpe - Guitar

For more information:

www.dbwmusic.com

www.facebook.com/deadbywednesday

www.instagram.com/deadbywednesday

www.twitter.com/deadbywednesday

www.reverbnation.com/deadbywednesday

www.youtube.com/DBWtv

Beauty Is Betrayal Release New Single "Rebel" via Daeth Records / TLG / INgrooves

"'Rebel' is a journey through the gut bustin’ rollercoaster ride of emotions when a relationship ends. The mourning of once was, while battling the bitterness of being left. Rebel is a mix of beauty immeshed in chilling melodies & lyrics. Highlighting the duality struggle of wanting to be alone, and not wanting to be alone," says the band.

Beauty Is Betrayal is born and raged in Sacramento, CA. Formed back in 2015 by front woman Bri Cowgill, alongside Burn Halo’s very own guitar player, Ryan Frost. The powerful duo bonded over dark humor, the love of weird things, and of course, inner anger. Beauty is armed with talented hard working members including, Burn Halo's former drummer Johnny Badbones, guitarist Alex Lovato and bassist Jaden Daniels. Beauty’s sound includes hauntingly evil guitar riffs, fast heavy drums, and a unique blend of Cowgill’s & Frost’s powerful vocals takes you on a twisted journey. The band has gone on to main support national bands including: Escape The Fate, Motionless In White, After The Burial, New Years Day, Oh, Sleeper, Burn Halo, HED P.E., and many more. Beauty is fearless and dramatic when it comes to their live performance. They demand attention with not only their music, but their theatrics showcasing bloody suites & masks, intense high energy, and comedic crowd interactions. “Music is designed to bring people together. When you see a live show, everyone is in that room for the same reason: we can each be and feel all the things we want without consequence. In that moment we are free & unified, THAT is the biggest take away,” Cowgill expressed. Recently, Beauty has just released music videos for both their successful cover of "Dark Horse" by Katy Perry, and their latest original track, "Rebel"

"Rebel" Stream/Buy Link:

https://ffm.to/beautyisbetrayalrebel

https://linktr.ee/beautyisbetrayal

Rebel - Beauty Is Betrayal (Official Video):

For More Information Please Visit:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

TikTok

YouTube

RAZOR SHARE NEW SONG “A BITTER PILL”

'CYCLE OF CONTEMPT' IS OUT SEPTEMBER 23 

ON RELAPSE RECORDS

 

LISTEN/PRE-ORDER HERE

Canadian thrash metal legends RAZOR return with 'Cycle of Contempt', their first new full-length album in 25 years! 'Cycle of Contempt' is a direct, cutthroat record that pulls no punches and takes no prisoners.

 

Listen to RAZOR’s new song “A Bitter Pill” on YouTube HERE.

 

'Cycle of Contempt' is out September 23 on LP/CD/CS/Digital. 

Physical pre-orders are available via Relapse.com HERE

Digital Downloads/Streaming HERE.

 

Watch RAZOR’s “Flames of Hatred” official lyric video HERE.

Listen to "A Bitter Pill" (Official Audio) HERE 

Anyone that cut their metal teeth with The Big Four, and then dug a little deeper into the indie scene, should receive a major endorphin rush when they discover that speed and thrash masters RAZOR are about to release their first studio offering in 25 years entitled 'Cycle of Contempt'.

 

From the catchy, concise riffs and insistent beats of album opener “Flames of Hatred” to the double-barreled assault, muted power chord chugging and combative gang vocal of album closer “King Shit”, 'Cycle of Contempt' is a trenchant reminder of a time when clubs around the world were packed with long-haired bands that played as fast as they could to mosh pits that spun and tumbled like clothes in a short-circuiting dryer.

 

As energetic and exciting as "Evil Invaders" and as urgent and powerful as RAZOR’s1989 speed-fest "Violent Restitution", 'Cycle of Contempt' showcases a band that never stopped spewing venom.

 

“I tried to write songs that everybody could listen to and say, “Yeah, I know a guy who's done that to me or done this, or I know that situation. I can relate to that,” band founder Dave Carlo says. “And I didn’t want to make everything specifically about me because when you do that, you exclude people. I wanted to include everyone that’s ever felt pissed off about anything.”

 

An unrelenting slab of old-school thrash that showcases RAZOR's encyclopedic knowledge of the past along with Carlo’s growth as a songwriter, player, and lyricist, 'Cycle of Contempt' is here to show that RAZOR are as dominating as ever.

FOLLOW RAZOR:

www.razorband.com

https://www.facebook.com/razorofficialthrash/

https://www.instagram.com/razorbandofficial/

https://razorband.bandcamp.com/

MACHINE HEAD Announces Fall "ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN" U.S. Tour

Ticket Pre-Sale Begins Weds, Sep 7th

Public On-Sale Friday, Sep 9th

Following the release of their 10th full-length album “ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN” to staggering 10/10 reviews across the board and Top 10 chartings across the globe, MACHINE HEAD will embark on an intimate venue tour through small-town America as part of their Electric Happy Hour (Live). Dates include some tour favorites that MACHINE HEADhave had over the years including oft-missed places such as Minot, North Dakota, Springfield, Missouri, Huntington, West Virginia and Charleston, South Carolina.

Enthuses frontman/founder Robb Flynn, “Were fucking STOKED to get out and demolish venues in some of our favorite small towns in America. We have had an awesome and productive pandemic break writing our new album 'ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN,' but now it’s time for Machine Head to go melt some faces!! The reaction to our 'Electric Happy Hour (Live)' shows in Scotland so far are nothing short of incredible, so for this first leg of this U.S. run we will continue and will see us performing solo for 2 ½ to 3 hours a night.” We LOVED performing our online shows which we dubbed Electric Happy Hour for you Head Cases over the pandemic, the loose, beer-drenched and unscripted setlist, the deep-cuts, the random cover songs, it gave us the freedom to do whatever the fuck we wanted for as long as we wanted every night was liberating. It’s not what everyone else is doing, and frankly, there are not a lot of bands who could even pull it off, but Machine Head CAN pull it off, and we are excited as fuck to do it again. We are carving our own path here, playing by our own rules, and as an artist, it’s the best feeling in the world, so come down and rage!!

Bassist Jared MacEachern proclaims, “We’re finally bringing 'ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN' and more to you, America! We're gonna kick it off in the small towns, a real nooks and crannies kind of run. We’re gonna be raging right in each others faces, so be ready for a sweaty, beer-drenched, throat-ripping good time!"

Blabbermouth Pre-Sale - Weds Sep 7th @ 10AM-10PM Local Time
Public On-Sale - Friday Sep 9th @ 10AM Local Time
Tickets will be available at https://www.machinehead1.com/pages/tour

MACHINE HEAD will also be offering an extremely limited number of VIP Packages in 2 tiers. For more info: www.machinehead.vip

Platinum "Soundcheck” Package:
One (1) General Admission Ticket
Soundcheck Viewing
Meet and Greet w/ Machine Head
Group Photo w/ Machine Head
Exclusive Meet and Greet Shirt
Machine Head Flag
Souvenir Laminate w/ Lanyard
Early Entry

Gold VIP Tour Package:
One (1) General Admission Ticket
Meet and Greet w/ Machine Head
Group Photo w/ Machine Head
Exclusive Meet and Greet Shirt
Machine Head Flag
Souvenir Laminate w/ Lanyard
Early Entry

11/3/2022 Fulton 55 - Fresno, CA
11/6/2022 Urban Lounge - Salt Lake City. UT
11/8/2022 Knitting Factory - Spokane. WA
11/10/2022 Revolution - Boise. ID
11/12/2022 The Gaslight Social - Casper. WY
11/13/2022 Black Sheep - Colorado Springs. CO
11/15/2022 The Original - Minot, ND
11/16/2022 The Hall at Fargo Brewing - Fargo, ND
11/18/2022 Bigs Bar - Sioux Falls, SD
11/19/2022 Royal Grove - Lincoln, NE
11/20/2022 Outland Ballroom - Springfield, MO
11/21/2022 Red Flag - St.Louis, MO
11/22/2022 High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI
11/23/2022 Deluxe @ Old National Center - Indianapolis, IN
11/25/2022 The Forge - Joliet, IL
11/26/2022 Machine Shop - Flint, MI
11/27/2022 A&R Music Bar - Columbus, OH
11/28/2022 Legends - Cincinnati, OH
11/30/2022 The Paramount - Huntington, NY
12/1/2022 Portland House of Music - Portland, ME
12/2/2022 Stone Pony - Asbury Park, NJ
12/3/2022 Reverb - Reading, PA
12/4/2022 Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
12/6/2022 Elevation 27 - Virginia Beach, VA
12/7/2022 The Loud - Huntington, WV
12/8/2022 Underground - Charlotte, NC
12/9/2022 Eastside Bowl - Nashville, TN
12/10/2022 Music Farm - Charleston, SC
12/12/2022 Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
12/13/2022 Orpheum - Tampa, FL
12/15/2022 The Hall - Little Rock, AR
12/16/2022 Whiskey Nights - Oklahoma City, OK
12/17/2022 WAVE - Wichita, KS
12/18/2022 Amplified Live Inside Stage - Dallas, TX
12/20/2022 Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM
12/21/2022 The Rock - Tucson, AZ
12/22/2022 HOB - San Diego. CA
12/23/2022 Ace of Spades - Sacramento, CA

MACHINE HEAD’s new album, "ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN," is a 13-track concept album set in a decimated futuristic wasteland where the sky is stained crimson red. The crux of the story is based on two main characters:

Character #1 Ares: (pronounced Aries), our main, who loses the love of his life (Amethyst) and goes on a murderous rampage against the vile sect responsible for her murder.

Character #2 Eros: (pronounced Arrows) the perpetrator, who loses his mother to a drug overdose and becomes radicalized in the aftermath. Eros goes off the deep end manifesting his own killing spree.

The album's lyrics detail how their lives intertwine.

The colossal concept album comes with a list of equally colossal packaging for various physical formats, including 16 different vinyl editions worldwide, a deluxe vinyl box set (with bonus tracks), CDs (both old-school longbox and jewel box options), multi-color cassettes, and a limited-edition Digipak with bonus tracks.

Order your copy of "ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN" here: https://tentontradingco.com/
Stream the record here: https://machinehead.bfan.link/of-kingdom-and-crown

WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS: THE RETURN OF EMERSON LAKE & PALMER

Sole surviving member Carl Palmer, in association with the Estates of his bandmates Keith Emerson & Greg Lake, has announced the much-anticipated WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS- THE RETURN OF EMERSON LAKE & PALMER Tour. Launching on Friday, November 18th., 2022 at the 2300 ARENA in Philadelphia, PA, the tour will actually reunite ELP LIVE ON STAGE through modern technology.

After exploring the idea of a Hologram tour in detail, Palmer (with the Estates of Emerson and Lake) opted for what they felt was a more honest approach using live footage of Keith and Greg on massive video walls alongside Carl (and his band) playing LIVE on stage. The voice and instrumentation of Greg Lake and the unmistakable keyboard mastery of Keith Emerson will be mixed with Palmer’s onstage live drumming to magically reunite ELP once again. Paul McCartney's duet with John Lennon at the end of his recent Got Back tour is a good idea of what ELP fans can expect from this show.

Emerson and Lake passed away nine months apart in 2016, leaving Palmer to carry on the band’s enormous musical legacy.

“About five years ago I explored the idea of trying to reunite the band using digital holograms,” said Carl Palmer. “We saw a few shows of other artists but it did not seem like an honest approach. We were able to use just the camera shots of Keith and Greg, with the sterling audio tracks of their performances resulting in a combination of film and onstage performance that brings back the magic of ELP.”

Here is what music fans can expect:
RETURN OF ELP SIZZLE REEL

After establishing themselves in bands such as The Nice, King Crimson, and The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, ELP was formed in early 1970 as one of rock’s first (and biggest) supergroups. With record sales of over 50 million and decades of sold-out tours through the 1970s and again in the 1990s, Emerson Lake & Palmer has remained one of the best-selling classic rock bands of all time. The band’s complete recorded catalog, now under the direction and distribution of BMG MUSIC, continues to be a steady force on the international music scene. The tour will coincide with the new BMG box set of classic ELP hit singles pressed on vinyl with reproductions of the original picture sleeves.
 
The tour is being launched with the full approval of the Emerson and Lake Estates, as well as the various managers who have represented the members of the band. WELCOME BACK MY FRIENDS- THE RETURN OF EMERSON LAKE & PALMER will start in the US during Fall 2022 and eventually play all over the world where ELP toured throughout its career. 
 
TICKETS WILL BE ON SALE SEPTEMBER 9TH., 2022
 

FRI NOV 18.  2300 ARENA  - Philadelphia, PA.                     BUY TICKETS
SUN NOV 20  PENN’S PEAK – Jim Thorpe, PA.                    
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TUE NOV 22   SHEA CENTER -  Wayne, NJ                           
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WED NOV 23. PATCHOGUE THEATER -  Patchogue, NY     
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FRI NOV 25.  TOWN HALL- New York, NY                              
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SAT NOV 26. COLLEGE ST. MUSIC HALL -New Haven  CT 
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SUN NOV 27. WILBUR THEATRE -  Boston MA                    
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THU DEC 1. ARCADA THEATRE- St. Charles. IL                  
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FRI DEC 2.  DES PLAINES THEATRE- Des Plaines IL          
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SAT DEC 3. THE GOODYEAR THEATRE – Akron, OH         
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WATCH FOR MORE DATES TO COME

HATCHETS FOR HANDS Premiere "Mephistis" Music Video

Melodic death metal duo HATCHETS FOR HANDS are back with a new single - their first offering since the release of 2020's 'Cabaret of Decay'. The NorCal-based outfit has partnered with Metal Insider to premiere the video for "Mephistis". The track features guest drums from John Tempesta (White Zombie, Testament), and fans can check out the occult music video below.

Speaking about “Mephistis” and working with John Tempesta, the band shares:

“After several years of friendship, John joined us on a writing session above The Rainbow Bar & Grill in LA,” says Hatchets For Hands drummer/vocalist Cullen Poythress. “After a few whiskies together at the bar afterward, we knew it was on. We had to have Johnny T’s heavy-handed groove on ‘Mephistis’, and it was an honor to have him join us behind the kit on this one.”

About HATCHETS FOR HANDS

Formed in San Francisco, California in 2009, Hatchets For Hands is the death metal duo of guitarist/bassist Brian Parks and drummer/vocalist Cullen Poythress. The band is defined by familiar elements of American thrash and traditional death metal mixed with the soaring leads and darkened melodies associated with Northern Europe's more melodic exports. 

HENGET Signs to Season of Mist

Season of Mist are proud to announce the signing of HENGET! The Finnish avant-garde outfit, containing members of KING SATAN and THE ABBEY, will release their debut album via Season of Mist in 2023!

The cornerstone of HENGET is lain in the soil of black metal, yet their music also draws heavy influence from their peers of death metal, psychedelia and progressive rock, such as ARCTURUS, DODHEIMSGÅRD, BEHEMOTH and KING CRIMSON.

HENGET comment on the signing: "It is such an honour to form another circle in Season of Mist’s ever-growing spiral! We are truly thankful for their support and understanding of our artistic visions. Viva Henget & Season of Mist, viva North Star!"

Band picture credit: Joonas Juntunen

HENGET is a Finnish psychedelic/avant-garde black metal band founded in Finland during late 2021 by guitarist-songwriter Jesse J. Heikkinen and vocalist-lyricist King Aleijster de Satan. Their goal was to create something unique and artistic, something beautiful yet violent, inspired by the world of psychedelia and the occult. HENGET’s debut album 'Beyond North Star' was recorded between Late 2021 and early 2022. Drawing inspiration from the ways of ancient Shamanism, it depicts a violent hallucinatory journey to the depths of the mind and beyond. 'Beyond North Star' was written and composed through old esoteric techniques such as automatic writing, all combined in visionary experimental artistry.
 

Line up: 
King Aleijster de Satan: Vocals
Jesse J. Heikkinen: Guitars & additional keys
Lasse J. Launimaa: Keyboards
Pálmi R. Jóhannsson: Bass guitar
Ville J. Rissanen: Drums

Links:
www.facebook.com/hengetband
www.instagram.com/hengetband

Gothic electro-rock trio Dispel gears up for new album. Preview 'Glasya’s Heresy (Acoustic Version)'

"Old-school style gothic electro evoking both classical darkness and mysticism. An authentic taste of medievalism... Everything here speaks perfection and commitment" ~ Post-Punk.com

"Haunting and huge...Dispel soars defiantly.... Highly melodic, this song emits incredible talent" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

“Somewhere between Mallory’s Morte D’Arthur, a Tarot card reading and a late night session of Dungeons & Dragons. It is a strange but rewarding path” ~ Dancing about Architecture

Dark electro-goth collective Dispel will release their sophomore album 'Inferno' on October 12, ahead of which they present 'Glasya’s Heresy (Acoustic version)', a deep crystal offering accompanied by a saga-laden video filmed in South Africa.

Dispel’s first acoustic ballad, Ravensea's haunting voice is bolstered by the rich piano prowess of Kate Farquharson. This penetrating taster previews an album where she sings of the sorrows, temptations and fascinations of this forbidden dominion. Laced with dark melodies, vocal depth and spiritual quests, Dispel creates a unique musical narrative, channelled through the prism of historic lore, mythology and mysticism.

Earlier this year, Dispel also released 'Journey Into Limbo', a high-energy slice of shimmering gothic metal.

On 'Inferno’, Dispel follows Dante and his guide Virgil down to every layer of the Nine Hells, awarding each level of mortal sin its own song. Sprinkled with additional source material and diabolical personalities from ancient mythology and fantasy literature, this undertaking took two years to complete.

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Dispel is a trio made up of Ravensea, Sean Gallowsand Scott Dispel, a founding member of the old- school hardcore band Face Valueand former drummer for TEXTBEAK. A studio engineer and producer, in 2005, he was voted Cleveland's best nightclub DJ by Scene Magazine.

Produced by Dispel, this album was mastered at The Cage Studios in Coventry, UK by Martin Bowes of Attrition, well known for his work with Nine Inch Nails, Psychic TV and Steven Severin of Siouxsie & the Banshees.

"Influenced by an equal mix of darkwave beats, Medieval literature, and conceptual rock albums, the music behind Dispel was born. But soon after the completion of our debut album ‘Lore’, the world went on lockdown! So we headed back into the studio to create another conceptual album, but we had to up the ante. A spiderweb-ridden bookshelf held the key - “Dante’s Inferno” in its timeless glory," says Scott Dispel.

"Putting a literary masterpiece to music was no small task, we had to do it justice through attention to detail, utilizing actual texts and adding mythological personalities, herein combining rock music and world literature."

Dispel has roots in the early 90’s hardcore punk scene, when a German underground goth-Industrial club inspired Scott Dispel to transition from performing with Face Value to pursuing electronica. Inspired by Sisters of Mercy, Clan of Xymox, Depeche Mode, VNV Nation and Blutengle, he formed Dispel after completing a music degree and recording studio internship.

Inspired by fantasy gaming, mythology and mysticism, this music took form upon meeting Ravensea, a Berklee vocal performance / music therapy major with a powerful voice and insight into music's power to transcend language and cultural barriers.

'Glasya's Heresy (Acoustic Version)' and 'Journey Into Limbo' are out now, available across online music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On October 12, the full 'Inferno' LP will be released on CD, vinyl (with full color insert) and digitally.

CREDITS
Ravensea – Vocals
Scott Dispel - Drums & Keyboards
Sean Gallows - Vocals & Bass
Leonard (Maldurin) Kemenani - Guitar
Jamie (Valkyrie X) Baisden - Bass
Kate Farquharson - Piano
Joe Cilento - Acoustic Guitar
Barry Gelderblom – Vocal Narrative
Keith Farquharson - Production (special thanks)
Recorded and mixed at Dispel Studios US
Mastered by Martin 'Attrition' Bowes @ Cage Studios UK
'Glasya’s Heresy' cover artwork by Klaudia Bezak

Keep up with Dispel
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify

The Persian Leaps previews 'Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget', lead track from October EP

"Silky fuzz and solid hooks echo The Smiths, Orange Juice and Teenage Fanclub with great enthusiasm... celestial guitar jangle" NME Magazine

"A little bit of R.E.M., a little bit Lemonheads. A dash of The Smiths, a hint of The Replacements... all-reaching, down to earth, good American indie rock" ~ Spill Magazine

"Unpretentious and infectious... vast riffs, euphonious vocals and pop sensibility. captivatingly pleasurable blustery indie rock"Louder Than War

"Truncated treatises in big-guitar post-punk power-pop" The Big Takeover

"Huge riffs echoing through your speakers, melodious vocals and the sort of pop sensibility we’ve come to expect from bands like Nada Surf"Austin Town Hall

Midwestern power pop / indie rock outfit The Persian Leaps have announced plans to release their new 'Machines for Living' EP in early October via Land Ski Records. The enthralling lead track 'Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget' previews this latest collection.

The latest in a fruitful string of releases, this EP follows their widely acclaimed 'Drone Etiquette' album, released in late 2021, the Leaps dish out a fine new collection of 90s college rock-inspired compositions, their distinct sound built on a magnetic alternative rock foundation.

Based in Minneapolis, The Persian Leaps surrounds principal songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Drew Forsberg, who came up with the band's name in college while daydreaming through his Greek Archaeology class. Writing solo under that name for years, he finally assembled a band in 2012.

'Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget' is a cover with an interesting, personal story. "My uncle, Jon Asher, was lifelong best friends with the folk/rock superstar Dan Fogelberg until Dan passed away in 2007. In the mid-1960s, as teenagers, they had a band in Peoria, IL called The Coachmen. They were successful locally and opened up for touring bands like The Who and The Hollies. Their only recorded output was a 45 released on Ledger Records in 1967. 'Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget' was the A-side. I listened to it often when I was growing up. It was inspiring to have an uncle who had released a record – it gave me hope that I could do it myself someday," says Drew Forsberg.

From their 2013 debut 'Praise Elephants' EP, which NME Magazine described as “celestial guitar jangle”, they released an EP every autumn until 2017. From their sophomore 'Drive Drive Delay' EP in 2014 to their fifth 'Bicycle Face' EP, their music has been widely praised. Delivering one perfect power pop cocktail after another, 2018 eventually brought their 18-track 'Pop That Goes Crunch' anthology.

That year, the Persian Leaps returned to their roots as a studio project, releasing the 'Electrical Living' LP in 2019 and the 'Smiling Lessons' EP in 2020 together with Jon Hunt, a musician and designer of the cover artwork for most of the band's releases to date.

'Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget' is out now, available on Bandcamp, and will also be offered as an instant gratification track when ordering the full 'Machines For Living' EP. As of October 7, this EP will be released across online platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Drew Forsberg - Vocals, guitars, keyboards, bass, drum programming
Recorded by August Ogren, The Terrarium
Mixed by Neil Weir, Blue Bell Knoll
Mastered by Bruce Templeton, Microphonic Mastering
Cover art by Jon Hunt
Maybe Time Will Let Me Forget written by Jon Frederick Asher (BMI)
Originally performed and recorded by the Coachmen [Ledger Records, 1967]
All Other Songs Land Ski Music (BMI)
(c) 2021 All Rights Reserved

Keep up with The Persian Leaps
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify |

OBSCURA - Release Video For "The Neuromancer"

Virtuosic extreme metallers OBSCURA are ready to start their European tour, to finally take their acclaimed sixth studio album A Valediction out to their fans live.

To celebrate this, they have released a brand new video for "The Neuromancer", their latest single from A Valediction.

"The Neuromancer" was filmed by Mirko Witzki (Arch Enemy, PowerwolfKreator) at the famous Kupfersaal in Cologne, Germany in August 2022. The theatre was built in 1820 and has been protected for decades after being declared a historical monument.

Frontman Steffen Kummerer comments: "We produced a brand new music video with Mirko Witzki for one of the most challenging and demanding songs off our album A Valediction. ´The Neuromancer´  features high-speed riffing, sharp solos, and a spot-on performance by the entire band. Catch us performing this monster on our upcoming 'A Valediction Europe' Tour with guests Persefone and Disillusion. Make sure to pick up your tickets!“

Check out the video below.

Line up:
Steffen Kummerer - vocals & guitar
Christian Münzner - guitars
Jeroen Paul Thesseling - bass
David Diepold - drums

Candy Coffins preview lead single 'Everyday a Fresh Atrocity' from loaded new LP

"A compelling example of the band at their considerable best, walking a fine-tuned line between darkness and the silver-lining of new romanticism. Haunting with loads of energy, this song boasts some impressive guitar work and, of course, excellence in frontman Jame Lathren's nervous, edgy vocal delivery" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Candy Coffins take no prisoners with lush instrumentation and sombre storytelling. Their gothic post-punk vortex engulfs you. Poignant vocal melodies swoon amongst soft guitars and expansive synths to craft a song that will continue wandering the sonic corridors of your mind" ~ The Record Stache

Post-punk new romantics Candy Coffins have announced they will release a new album in October. Entitled 'Once Do It With Feeling', this 10-track offering comes two years after the band's latest 'Somehow Misplaced' EP.

Ahead of this, the band presents 'Every Day A Fresh Atrocity', the first taster of this stunning album with accompanying video created by Jame Lathren. Candy Coffins provides current fans a needed fix while also presenting much to pique the interest of new listeners.

"The song 'Every Day A Fresh Atrocity' explores the dark corners where our work often resides, both sonically and lyrically. It conveys the feeling of the haunting suffocation of a broken relationship, compounded by a reality that seems to become more dystopian each day," says frontman-songwriter Jame Lathren.

"The full album chronicles a relationship from the onset of the first crack to its complete crumbling dissolution. All the feelings and emotions of tumult are captured here, from both persons’ perspectives."

This album showcases mature strides in songwriting, the band relating the themes addressed both confidently and cohesively. Emotionally and sonically saturated, their music boasts Cure-esque textures and melody, as well as the thematic elements and visceral delivery of The Afghan Whigs.

Based in Columbia, South Carolina, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Jame Lathrenformed Candy Coffins in 2018. A small-town boy with admiration for artists who were not on popular radio, Jame Lathren had a rich youthful experience as a cultural outcast. His resilience, sensitivity and hyper-awareness of his emotional state would ultimately permeate his own music, getting right to the heart of the emotions surrounding the human condition.

After disbanding his previous post-punk band Crown The Cake, he formed Candy Coffins with hometown guitar legend Tom Alewine (Bachelors of Art), followed by seasoned music scene veterans Alex Mabrey on bass and Justin Purdy on keys, and former Iron & Wine touring drummer Jonathan Bradley. Their dynamic and textured approach has contributed to the band's trademark lush sound, channeling and bolstering Lathren’s emotive songwriting and delivery.

With tasteful nods to Joy Division, The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs, The Afghan Whigs and The Cult, as well as contemporaries like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spiritualized, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Interpol, Candy Coffins’ sound is dark and emotionally restless, but with elements of hope and elation. Defiantly unique, their sound is a welcome respite from musical mediocrity.

'Every Day A Fresh Atrocity' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Once Do It With Feeling' LP will be released on October 21 and can already be pre-ordered at https://candycoffins.bandcamp.com.

CREDITS
Jame Lathren - vocals, guitars
Tom Alewine : guitars
Alex Mabrey - bass
Jonathan Bradley - drums, percussion
Justin Purdy - keys
Additional instrumentation by John Furr
Additional vocals by Margaret Rose Champagne
All songs by Jame Lathren (BMI) © 2022
Produced & Engineered by John Furr at Pow Pow Sound (Columbia, SC)
Mixed by David Barbe at Chase Park Transduction (Athens, GA)
Mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering (Charlotte, NC)
Single cover artwork by Jame Lathren
Album cover artwork by Phoenix Lathren and and Tom Alewine
'Everyday a Fresh Atrocity' video created by Jame Lathren

LIVE SHOWS
September 16 - Velo Fellow, Greenville, SC
October - album listening party (TBA)
October 29 - At The Addition, Columbia, SC


Keep up with Candy Coffins
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | BandsInTown

Catch VAJRA LIVE on Fall 2022 DESCENT TOUR!

New York based, alternative dark rock band VAJRAhas announced select, East Coast dates for their DESCENT TOUR. The limited tour starts October 20 in Providence, RI and wraps up October 23 in Hampton Beach, NH.

"We will be back on the road after three years. It's been such a wild, difficult ride during that time for all of us, and we can't wait to finally share space and experience playing songs from 'Irkalla' live for the first time ever." - VAJRA

Tour Dates:
10/20 @ Alchemy - Providence, RI
10/21 @ Reverb - Reading, PA
10/22 @ The Kingsland - Brooklyn, NY
10/23 @ Wally's - Hampton Beach, NH

Click for Additional Dates & Ticketing Information.

The band has also released the official music video for "Crown or Crucify." The single, which reached TOP 40 on the Mediabase Active Rock Chart, is off of their Thunder Cult Records released EP, Irkalla.

"We are currently in the studio with Sahaj Ticotin (Ra, Motley Crue) recording the second album, follow-up to our 'Irkalla' EP, which was released last year. Also, in the spirit of Jane's Addiction's "The Gift", we're creating a 100% DIY short film, inspired by the Sumerian classic hero myth 'The Descent of Inanna'."

New York-based dark rock mavens Vajra originate and radiate outward from the sensual and multi-range vocals of composer and visionary Annamaria Pinna. Pinna and core bandmates, guitarist Dave Sussman(formerly of industrial metal pioneers Bile and the early New York incarnation of Criss Angel's Angeldust) and drummer Jimmy DeMarco(Soultone Cymbals Artist) conjure music from a diverse panoply of threads.

At its core, Vajra can be called dark rock, but the spectrum isn't always pinned to the tinges of the abyss. Hauntingly dark and hypnotic, Vajra’s music weaves Eastern Indian themes with melodic, progressive rock, creating foreboding and mysterious lullabies. "The influences are varied," affirms Pinna. "Living in different places like Mumbai, Tuscany, NOLA, San Francisco and New York color my experience. Dad was a monk before he met my mom, and his spirituality has infused the way I perceive my experience. I've studied yoga, meditation, dance, composition at Julliard and law, and I have this condition called Synesthesia, which affects how I process music. Nature, life, art, Tarkovsky, von Trier, Kubrick, Lynch, philosophers and consciousness astronauts (e.g., Terence McKenna, Alan Watts, Baba Ram Das, Joseph Campbell, etc.), mysticism, the occult, history, dance and politics are influences. Musically, it's a lot of everything including Tool, A Perfect Circle, Om, Classical Hindustani, Alice In Chains, Duran Duran, Black Sabbath, Deftones, Pink Floyd, Kate Bush, Fever Ray, soul music, The Mars Volta, etc. And, I believe there is divinity in creativity."

"We are travelers who go outside the bounds of a sense-based perception to catch a musical or lyrical idea and then translate it to the material realm. When we get out of our own ways, we are translators or conduits for energies that move through us. Honoring what comes through is important for us. Musically, lyrically, and visually we explore what we are driven to explore, and we release what we decide to release when the time is right," offers Pinna. "It's mainly instinct. We usually release on auspicious days. For 'Irkalla', each release also was released on a day that was a derivative of three in terms of numerology. For 'Pleroma', it was the summer solstice."

The long silence between debut self-produced cult album Pleroma (2012) and the group’s inspiring and mind-bending EP, Irkalla - both featuring powerhouse session drummer and long-time friend, Blake Fleming (ex-The Mars Volta) - was the product of a rigorous touring schedule and a complex confluence of unexpected life events that paused Pinna’s songwriting. Indeed, the creation process for Irkalla pushed forward in the darkest shadows and the most brilliant of lights.

"Things shift and move throughout the album depending on the song and each moment within the song," Pinna reveals. “Perhaps the music and lyrics of Irkalla reflect an esoteric space to explore the dark night of our souls. What is important is that the music may provide a portal to go on a journey. The journey will be different for each individual. My musical heroes have done this for me."

Conceptually, Irkalla is the first part of a trilogy exploring the various levels of consciousness. Not the medical definition, but rather the philosophical (Eastern and Western) and esoteric. The use of the Sumerian word, "'Irkalla'," which is a mythological Underworld of sorts for which there's no return, is both metaphorical and literal. The trials and tribulations Pinna experienced while writing Irkalla appeared overlapping and ceaseless: her own personal Hell. Like an alchemist, she used her venture into the lowest level of consciousness as a theme that slithered throughout the album's six snake-like songs. The metaphoric association to the ancient Underworld also plays out in the bonus tracks on Irkalla , where Vajra deconstruct their influences and spirit animals into a three-part music ritual dedicated to the Shadow Queen (her Sumerian name is Ereshkigal and her Greek counterpart is Hekate).

"Irkalla focuses on the lowest level of consciousness," Pinna says. "It is the base, material, selfish, ego aspects of ourselves (i.e., the ego-driven, lie, cheat, steal, aspects of the self). It is the place that we must shine a light and acknowledge before we move to the next levels of awareness. Also, I'm obsessed with the Sumerian history right now. I was contemplating Goddess energy, and when and what prompted what I see as an imbalance between the masculine and feminine energies. I was wondering what it really meant to have a God and why it was considered, by some, a 'He.' I'm also fascinated by what is behind the concepts of heaven and hell."

Vajra recently released videos for "Maya," "Crown or Crucify," "Sever the Tie," “Wavering” and "Wind," which were internally-written, shot, produced and edited by Pinna and Sussman and was co-shot with DeMarco. The videos operate as separate story puzzle pieces to the larger short film of Irkalla's whole. The video for “Maya” was awarded nine Official Selections awards at the Cannes International Cinema Festival 2021, the New York Independent Cinema Awards 2021, the Montreal Independent Film Festival 2021, the 2021 ARFF Paris, Venice Shorts 2021, Chicago Indie Film Awards, the Kalakari Film Festival, Boston Independent Film Awards 2021, Berlin International Art Film Festival 2022.

Irkalla was produced by New York native Daniel 'Sahaj' Ticotin (Ra, Mötley Crüe). Pinna was introduced to Ticotin in 2018 after both were on different spiritual missions while in India. The twosome hit it off as former expats and with similar interests in music. The majority of the sessions were captured in Los Angeles, with keyboards and some harmony vocals being put to proverbial tape at Pinna's home studio in New York. The drums were also tracked in upstate New York at a different studio by Fleming. Based on his impressive work for the non-album single, "The Mirror," Vajra again hired two-time Grammy winning studio ace Camilo Silva F. Between Ticotin's sage experience as producer/mixer and Silva's deft mastering job, 'Irkalla', with all its hidden caves and spectacular peaks, sounds positively explosive.

For sure, Vajra have the future pegged to today with the launch of riveting music videos and the broadcast of their striking Tas Limur (Volto, Tool) designed cover art. It's from here that the adventurous outfit will continue to unfurl angels and demons, light and dark, as they prowl into the future on new indie Thunder Cult Records.

“Must-See Act” - Rolling Stone
“It’s time to get to know Vajra” - Loudwire
“Powerful, catchy and sentimental all at once.” – Revolver

Candy Coffins present post-punk delight on 'Everyday a Fresh Atrocity', previewing loaded new LP

"A compelling example of the band at their considerable best, walking a fine-tuned line between darkness and the silver-lining of new romanticism. Haunting with loads of energy, this song boasts some impressive guitar work and, of course, excellence in frontman Jame Lathren's nervous, edgy vocal delivery" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Post-punk new romantics Candy Coffins have announced they will release a new album in October. Entitled 'Once Do It With Feeling', this 10-track offering comes two years after the band's latest 'Somehow Misplaced' EP.

Ahead of this, the band presents 'Every Day A Fresh Atrocity', the first taster of this stunning album. Candy Coffins provides current fans a needed fix while also presenting much to pique the interest of new listeners.

"The song 'Every Day A Fresh Atrocity' explores the dark corners where our work often resides, both sonically and lyrically. It conveys the feeling of the haunting suffocation of a broken relationship, compounded by a reality that seems to become more dystopian each day," says frontman-songwriter Jame Lathren.

"The full album chronicles a relationship from the onset of the first crack to its complete crumbling dissolution. All the feelings and emotions of tumult are captured here, from both persons’ perspectives."

This album showcases mature strides in songwriting, the band relating the themes addressed both confidently and cohesively. Emotionally and sonically saturated, their music boasts Cure-esque textures and melody, as well as the thematic elements and visceral delivery of The Afghan Whigs.

Based in Columbia, South Carolina, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Jame Lathrenformed Candy Coffins in 2018. A small-town boy with admiration for artists who were not on popular radio, Jame Lathren had a rich youthful experience as a cultural outcast. His resilience, sensitivity and hyper-awareness of his emotional state would ultimately permeate his own music, getting right to the heart of the emotions surrounding the human condition.

After disbanding his previous post-punk band Crown The Cake, he formed Candy Coffins with hometown guitar legend Tom Alewine (Bachelors of Art), followed by seasoned music scene veterans Alex Mabrey on bass and Justin Purdy on keys, and former Iron & Wine touring drummer Jonathan Bradley. Their dynamic and textured approach has contributed to the band's trademark lush sound, channeling and bolstering Lathren’s emotive songwriting and delivery.

With tasteful nods to Joy Division, The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs, The Afghan Whigs and The Cult, as well as contemporaries like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spiritualized, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Interpol, Candy Coffins’ sound is dark and emotionally restless, but with elements of hope and elation. Defiantly unique, their sound is a welcome respite from musical mediocrity.

As of August 23, 'Every Day A Fresh Atrocity' will be out everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Once Do It With Feeling' LP is already available for pre-order. It will be released on October 21.

CREDITS
Jame Lathren - vocals, guitars
Tom Alewine : guitars
Alex Mabrey - bass
Jonathan Bradley - drums, percussion
Justin Purdy - keys
Additional instrumentation by John Furr
Additional vocals by Margaret Rose Champagne
All songs by Jame Lathren (BMI) © 2022
Produced & Engineered by John Furr at Pow Pow Sound (Columbia, SC)
Mixed by David Barbe at Chase Park Transduction (Athens, GA)
Mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering (Charlotte, NC)
Single cover artwork by Jame Lathren
Album cover artwork by Phoenix Lathren and and Tom Alewine
'Everyday a Fresh Atrocity' video created by Jame Lathren

LIVE SHOWS
September 3 - Art Bar, Columbia, SC
September 16 - Velo Fellow, Greenville, SC
October - album listening party (TBA)
October 29 - At The Addition, Columbia, SC


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Seattle indie rockers Black Nite Crash announce new album, tease first single 'The Take'

"Slow and brooding, their mixture of psychedelia and rock, with this steady yet mysterious backdrop and consecutive male-female-vocals, is a winning formula, producing an inescapably transcendent vortex of sound" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Seattle-based psychedelic rock outfit Black Nite Crash have announced they will release their new album 'Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash' in mid-October. To quench your sonic thirst for now, they present the lead track 'The Take', a storyteller-led pulsating noir singalong with a trippy silhouette-laden video directed by Jim Biggs with assistance from James Stone.

Formed in Seattle twenty years ago, Black Nite Crash has, over the years, involved more than 30 members around Jim Biggs, the last remaining original member. Yet somehow, the band has maintained a coherent sound and vision throughout.

Born of the desire to do something more simple and direct than the myriad Radiohead wannabes flooding the indie and alternative airwaves at the time, the band embraced loud guitars, memorable hooks and solid pop tunes with simple arrangements, which have guided the band in their compositions through to today.

Today Jim Beggs (vocals, guitar) is joined by John Parker (bass), James Stone(guitar), Tony Zuniga (drums) and Claire Tucker (guitar/vocals).

"This album was started before the pandemic and then endlessly delayed until now, which speaks to the perseverance of the band. This is the band's fifth full length in nearly twenty years of existence, and it looks to be the start of a period of more frequent releases as we work through our backlog of unreleased recorded songs, not to mention the surplus of new material we're working on even now," says Jim Biggs.

"After a long career of creating fuzzed out noise pop with wall of sound guitars somewhere between psychedelia and shoegaze, we're branching out into more subtle dynamics and stretching our sound to include different stylistic flourishes - everything from Murder Ballads to Baggy pop tunes. There's also something about it that sounds like the wide open west; for a band that lives in the soggy Pacific Northwest, the sound of the desert has long seemed to haunt our music (to be fair, the band, as constituted on this release includes Tony and Sharim, both from Las Vegas and Jasun is from Arizona). All of that being said, we are not completely abandoning our fuzzy pop tunes."

Work on the 'Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash' LP began before the pandemic, the songs a reflection of a band finding its feet again, with (then) relatively new members Claire Tucker and Sharim Johnson putting their imprint on this batch of songs. Then can lockdown before tracking could be completed.

In that time, longtime bassist Jasun Hadaway, who made a big contribution to the album, left the band. As things opened back up, we began to slowly progress towards completing the album. Sharim left the band just as longtime collaborator Matt Brown (Trespassers William) finished the mixing and the band handed the recording to mastering genius Adam Straney. The result is the most diverse set of songs the band has ever released, combining the band's standard fuzzed out guitars with some newer flavours.

As of August 24, 'The Take' will be available everywhere online, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full album 'Washed in the Sound with Black Nite Crash' will be released on October 14 through the Neon Sigh label.

SINGLE CREDITS
Jim Biggs - guitars, vocals
Jasun Hadaway - bass
Tony Zuniga - drums, percussion
Claire Tucker - guitars, vocals
Sharim Johnson - guitars
Matt Brown - organ
Written by Biggs / Black Nite Crash
Engineered and mixed by Matt Brown at Crackle and Pop and Spaceranch Studios in Seattle, assisted by Skyler Holcombe
Produced by Matt Brown and the Band
Mastered by Adam Straney at Breakpoint Mastering
Video directed by Jim Biggs with assistance from James Stone

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