Southampton-based indie pop artist MIKE GALE celebrates 'Old Man In The Universe' from 20th album 'Thanks For Always Waving'

September 29, 2023

"‘Summer, Be Gone’ actually feels like a warm zephyr floating through an open window on a balmy summer’s day... like water bouncing off silk... a most wonderful and unique chorus which goes against the pop-norm by being a ghostly shimmer of reverb and wistfulness" ~ Joyzine

"Adorned with easy grace, this is triumphal folk-pop at its finest... like something Tame Impala and The Beach Boys might have performed together under the heavy influence of Paul Simon" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Warmth, sophistication, equilibrium and sonic delight... Think Paul Simon meets Sparklehorse and Sufjan Stevens" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"A deft and delicate blend of lo-fi spaciousness, minimalist guitars, gently tumbling beats and a voice which is both wonderfully mellifluous and brilliantly understated, a floating sonic dreamscape and a gorgeous slice of indie-folk" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

British folk-pop artist Mike Gale presents 'Old Man In The Universe', the latest offering from stunning new album 'Thanks for Always Waving'. With 11 tracks on offer, this is a rich and thoughtful collection of world- and folk-inspired indie pop, mastered by Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices, Circus Devils).

With his feel-good brand of folk-inspired indie pop and penchant for generating catchy melodies and harmonies, this is Gale's 20th album in 20 years and the twelfth album released under his own name (he Initially performed under the names Co-Pilgrim and Black Nielson).

Mike Gale explains, "Old Man In The Universe' was one of those very rare songs that came out fully formed when I was writing it, lyrics and all. It's about getting to a certain point in life and realising that most of the dreams that you had for yourself when you were a bit younger aren't going to come true, but not to be too downhearted about that and to recognise the good things that did happen."

Remaining true to his DIY roots, Gale produced, recorded and mixed this album at his home studio. He earlier presented the singles 'Grumble Pie' and 'Summer Be Gone', along with a calming video featuring the artist Kimvi, filmed in Suzhou, China by Matt Wallwork.

'Thanks For Always Waving' album / Bandcamp https://mikegale.bandcamp.com/album/thanks-for-always-waving
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/5XLP83pJpVqy5u6dHJJuc8

"'Thanks for Always Waving' is my 20th album. I wanted to go back to basics a bit with this one - simple pop songs with a stripped down gentle feel. I was very inspired by one of my favourite bands' (Tall Dwarfs) use of homemade percussion for rhythm, and the idea that you don't need a traditional drum sound to make a song groove. Lyrically, the album is mostly about trying to keep a positive outlook and being generally grateful for what you have despite the world seeming like a terrible place most of the time," says Mike Gale.

"The title of the album comes from my love of a YouTube channel called 'Solo Travel Japan', which is basically a guy taking overnight ferry trips to the many Japanese islands. One of the things he says as he leaves port is "Thanks for Always Waving" and it stuck."

A multi-instrumentalist, Gale has been singing for as long as he can remember. But it wasn't until he was around 20 that he formally began playing the guitar and writing music, initiallyy influenced by The Lemonheads. Born in Southampton, Mike Gale spent a good chunk of his childhood in North Devon and then Oxford, New York and Melbourne before returning home to settle on his beloved south coast of England.

With Gale taking melodic and percussive cues from influences such as Tall Dwarfs, Pavement and The Clean, 'Thanks for Always Waving' is ultimately one of his most pop-oriented albums to date, filled with mellow bongo beats and gentle washes of wavey organs.

The 'Thanks For Always Waving' album is out now and available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, .

CREDITS
Written and performed by Mike Gale
Produced, recorded and mixed by Mike Gale
Mastered by Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices, Circus Devils)
Album cover photo by Romeo
Album design by Andy Reaney
Video for 'Old Man In the Universe' by Kerrylyn Genetive
Video for 'Summer Be Gone' by Matt Wallwork, featuring KIMVI
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

VRSTY Drop "The Way It Is" — LISTEN

September 28, 2023

NEW ALBUM LEVITATE ARRIVES OCTOBER 27 VIA SPINEFARM

BAND ON TOUR WITH MONUMENTS THROUGH OCTOBER

New York City-based collective VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") — Joey Varela [vocals], Javy Dorrejo [bass], Chris Cody [drums], and Paul Gregory [guitar] — will drop their new album Levitate. The album is out October 27 via Spinefarm. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the "The Way It Is" visualizer. Listen here.

It's a moody romp that cycles through a variety of emotions and packs a powerful lyrical punch.

"This is definitely the most chill song on the record, and one of the more emotional ones," says Varela. "'The Way It Is' is simply a song about knowing that you must save yourself... because nobody else will."

VRSTY ON TOUR:
WITH MONUMENTS + FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS:
9/26 — Spokane, WA — Big Dipper (Only For The Fallen Dreams)
9/27 — Seattle, WA — Substation
9/28 — Portland, OR — Dante's
9/29 — Sacramento, CA — Old Ironworks
9/30 — Santa Ana, CA — Constellation Room
10/1 — Phoenix, AZ — Nile Underground
10/3 — Austin, TX — Come and Take It Live
10/4 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
10/5 — Dallas, TX — Trees
10/6 — Springfield, MO — The Riff
10/7 — Chicago, IL — Reggie's
10/8 — Detroit, MI — Sanctuary
10/10 — Lakewood, OH — The Foundry
10/11 — Albany, NY — Empire Underground
10/12 — Clifton, NJ — Dingbatz
10/13 — Rochester, NY — Montage Music Hall
10/14 — Manchester, NH — Angel City Music Hall
10/15 — Brooklyn, NY — Meadows

ABOUT VRSTY:
VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") make music as energetic and richly diverse as the city that spawned them. Assembled by band leader Joey Tyler, a Puerto Rican singer from New York City raised on R&B, pop, and Spanish music and equally inspired by metallic post-hardcore, VRSTY blends genres with fearless ambition and visceral enthusiasm. A handful of EPs preceded 2020's debut album, Welcome Home, itself followed by a three-part series of sequel EPs solidifying the band's reputation.

The band (comprised of guitarist Paul Gregory, bassist Javier Dorrejo, drummer Chris Cody, and Tyler) specializes in what Kerrang! described as "endless grooves and danceable parts, punctuated by breakdowns and completed with dark atmosphere." Meanwhile, "Massive,”"from 2020's Cloud City EP, remained the Most Played on SiriusXM's Octane for two consecutive weeks. In a 9/10 review, Outburn described Welcome Home as "effortless, fun, and above all genuine." Blabbermouth raved: "While other bands may have introduced the concept of genre-bending, VRSTY have refined it."

Genuine authenticity and uncompromising passion are crucial to everything about VRSTY. Levitate, the band's stunning sophomore set, is powered by spirited conviction and a commitment to follow their muse wherever it leads. It's an album of rich melodic hooks and headbang-inducing grooves.

Tyler co-produced Levitate with Justin Deblieck (Ice Nine Kills, Motionless In White, Lorna Shore, Fit For A King). George Lever (Sleep Token, Holding Absence, Loathe) handled mixing duties.

VRSTY commands the crowd anytime they perform, connecting with anyone who struggles with feelings of low self-worth, bad relationships, or generally feels like an outsider. It’s a feeling of shared community evident on the band's tours with the likes of 10 Years, Nonpoint, Secrets, and For The Fallen Dreams, among others. Ultimately, VRSTY aims to encourage, provoke, and inspire listeners.

Boys Like Girls Share "NEW LOVE" — LISTEN

September 28, 2023

NEW ALBUM SUNDAY AT FOXWOODS OUT OCTOBER 20 VIA FEARLESS RECORDS

BAND TOURING THROUGH OCTOBER!

BOYS LIKE GIRLS will release their first full length album in 11 years, SUNDAY AT FOXWOODS, on October 20, 2023 via Fearless Records. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the latest single "NEW LOVE." Listen below.

It's a dreamy, shimmery epic that celebrates the universal emotion of love — in all of its different forms. The song's effervescent charm, escalating tempo, and sonic layers will wrap around you like a hug from the BFF you haven't seen in a year, but just reunited with. Put the top down and crank the knobs to 11.

"In early 2019, I was living in Los Feliz, California, renting out a studio in Burbank from the guys in Chromeo," shares frontman Martin Johnson about the song's origin story. "My room was across from Vaughn Oliver, who was busy creating the Power Tools 1 Sample Pack, and backed up right on Ryland Blackinton's room. We knew each other well from days of touring together as early as 2006, supporting Cartel in different bands, and more recently, on the OP tour in 2009 with Cobra Starship and Boys Like Girls. We finally did some work together touring and writing under my moniker 'The Night Game.'"

Johnson continues, "Ryland seems to always have an eerie pulse on my musical taste. It's one of those relationships where you musically finish each other sentences. I remember one day, Brandon Paddock and I were in the studio working on a record when I heard a beat coming through the wall from Ryland's room. It almost sounded like a Garth Brooks country shuffle from where I sat. I realized I was paying more attention to what I was hearing through the wall than what we were listening to out of the speakers. I stood up and stormed in there, Kramer-style, to see what he was cooking up. 'You like that?,'" he asked."

He finishes, "I didn't answer but instead started singing the chorus vocal pop outs in a melody reminiscent of a Dire Straits riff. We recorded them in and started scatting the in-between lyrics. The first verse came about five minutes later. What Ryland didn't know is that I was two or three weeks deep into the relationship with my now-wife and had plenty to talk about. It had been a really really long time since I had written a love song, maybe five years or so, and frankly, almost every song written for The Night Game had an undertone of darkness, desperation and resentment towards the music industry. I knew i was about to chase her across the country to Nashville and these would be my final days in L.A. and likely the last song I would write on the West Coast for some time. A couple years later at Blackbird Studio in Nashville with the boys, Brandon Paddock, and Dannen Rector, we started to assemble the big crashes and arrangement that you hear today. An alternate production with the original demo drums and keys will be available exclusively on the Target version of the album, available October 20. We're BOYS LIKE GIRLS and this is 'NEW LOVE.'"

The journey towards SUNDAY AT FOXWOODS began in May when "BLOOD AND SUGAR" marked the band's official return, garnering widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike. The track showcased BOYS LIKE GIRLS' evolution, while staying true to their distinctive pop-rock roots, leaving listeners eager for more. "LANGUAGE" further solidified their comeback as it resonated deeply with both longtime fans and newcomers, reigniting the band's musical flame. "THE OUTSIDE" delved into the bittersweet nostalgia of growing up and the power of music to shape one's identity.

With their return gaining momentum, BOYS LIKE GIRLS are also back on the road. The tour promises a dynamic lineup with a variety of openers on select dates, including support from 3OH!3, The Ready Set, LOLO, Four Years Strong, Max Mernis, The Summer Set, Every Avenue, and SayWeCanFly. All dates are below.

BOYS LIKE GIRLS ON TOUR:
9/23 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — The Revolution+
9/24 — Lake Buena Vista, FL — House of Blues Orlando+
9/26 — Houston, TX — Bayou Music Center+
9/27 — Dallas, TX — South Side Ballroom+
9/28 — Austin, TX — Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater#
9/30 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren%
10/1 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium&
10/2 — Las Vegas, NV — House of Blues Las Vegas&
10/4 — San Diego, CA — SOMA%
10/6 — San Francisco, CA — The Masonic†
10/8 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom†
10/10 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore Ballroom†
10/11 — Seattle, WA — Paramount Theatre†
10/13 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot†
10/14 — Denver, CO — Fillmore Auditorium†
10/16 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore Minneapolis†
10/18 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee†
10/19 — Chicago, IL — Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom@
10/21 — Cleveland, OH — House of Blues Cleveland@
10/22 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit@
10/24 — Toronto, ON — HISTORY^
10/26 — Boston, MA — MGM Music Hall at Fenway†
10/27 — New York, NY — Hammerstein Ballroom†
10/30 — Philadelphia, PA — The Fillmore Philadelphia†
10/31 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring†
11/1 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz†

SUPPORT KEY:
+ – Four Years Strong and LOLO
# – Four Years Strong, LOLO, Max Bemis
% – 3OH!3, LOLO
& – 3OH!3, LOLO, The Ready Set
† – The Summer Set, LOLO
@ – The Summer Set, LOLO, Every Avenue
^The Summer Set, LOLO, SayWeCanFly

August Burns Red Announce 2023 Christmas Burns Red Details

September 28, 2023

AUGUST BURNS RED ANNOUNCE 2023 CHRISTMAS BURNS RED DETAILS

"RESCUE & RESTORE" 10TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR KICKS OFF NOVEMBER 10

NEW ALBUM DEATH BELOW OUT NOW VIA SHARPTONE RECORDS

Grammy-nominated Lancaster five-piece AUGUST BURNS RED — JB Brubaker [lead guitar], Brent Rambler [rhythm guitar], Matt Greiner [drums], Jake Luhrs [vocals], and Dustin Davidson [bass] — know how to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year in style. Today, the band has announced the details of their annual Christmas Burns Red event for 2023!

The fourth annual Christmas Burns Red festival will find the band performing Rescue & Restore on Friday, December 8 and a 20-Year Anniversary set on Saturday, December 9.

Christmas Burns Red 2023 will take place at Freedom Hall at the Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The lineup is below.

FRIDAY, 12/8:
August Burns Red (Performing Rescue & Restore in full)
Texas in July
Brand of Sacrifice
Spite
Crystal Lake
Once Nothing

SATURDAY, 12/9:
August Burns Red (Performing a 20-year anniversary set)
Between the Buried and Me (Performing Colors in full)
Kublai Khan
Galactic Empire
Signs of the Swarm
Kaonashi

Tickets, VIP, and lodging packages are available here.

"Christmas Burns Red has become the highlight of the year for us as a band," says ABR. "It's been amazing to see CBR turn into a community gathering of ABR fans from all over the world. This December, we've put together our most exciting line up yet. We're ready to deliver Rescue & Restore from start to finish and then play a massive set spanning our entire career the following night. We look forward to seeing lots of familiar faces and hopefully some new ones as well."

ABR will also embark on the 10th anniversary "Rescue & Restore" tour next month. The North American tour kicks off November 10 in Worcester, Massachusetts and runs through December 9 in the band's hometown of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. All dates are below. The band will perform the Rescue & Restore album in full in each night, along with other fan faves and classics. Brand of Sacrifice, Spite, and Crystal Lake will serve as support. VIP tickets are available immediately here. The package includes a meet and greet with the band, photo opportunity, autograph opportunity, an unreleased "Spirit Breaker (Reprise)" 7" record”, VIP laminate, and early entry/access to merch in venues that allow. Get tickets here.

ABR released Death Below on March 24, via SharpTone Records. Get it here.

AUGUST BURNS RED ON TOUR:
WITH BRAND OF SACRIFICE, SPITE, + CRYSTAL LAKE:
11/10 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium
11/11 — Montreal, QC — L'Olympia
11/12 — London, ON — London Music Hall
11/14 — Fort Wayne, IN — Piere's
11/16 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
11/17 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade
11/18 — Orlando, FL — House of Blues
11/20 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ's Live
11/21 — Dallas, TX — The Factory
11 22 — Austin, TX — Emo's
11/24 — Tempe, AZ — Marquee
11/25 — Anaheim, CA — House of Blues
11/27 — Sacramento, CA — Ace Of Spades
11/28 — Los Angeles, CA — The Belasco
11/29 —  Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
11/30 —  Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
12/2 — Denver, CO — The Fillmore
12/4 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore
12/5 — Chicago, IL — Radius
12/6 —  Cincinnati, OH — Bogarts
12/8 — Lancaster, PA —Christmas Burns Red
12/9 — Lancaster, PA — Christmas Burns Red

ABOUT AUGUST BURNS RED:
August Burns Red is likely the only metal act ever described as "thrillingly empathetic" (Kerrang!). It's a testament to the ferocious band's ability to recognize and connect with the mixture of brokenness and hope found in their audience and within themselves. A hard-working collective with a shockingly stable lineup for the vast majority of their career, August Burns Red pour every ounce of themselves into their music. Atmospheric, riff-laden, aggressive bursts of controlled chaos, filled with shifting time signatures and tempos, deliver confessional, self-reflective, and authentic emotion.

Tour stops with Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, and Bring Me the Horizon; several major international hard rock festivals (Rock Am Ring, Download, and Aftershock, to name a few); and the Vans Warped Tour are among the destinations around the world to witness ABR's live prowess. Massive headlining treks celebrating 10-year anniversaries for Constellations and Leveler demonstrated the enduring relevance of the band’s catalog, nearly 20 years into ABR's storied career. 2020's Guardians debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hard Music, Rock Albums, and Vinyl Albums charts.

Revolver, who put the band on their cover the same year, observed August Burns Red "embrace the pain so well." It's a truth never more evident than on Death Below, their stunning ninth studio album. Recorded with longtime producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland, Death Below encompasses all of the pissed-off strength of the band's past without sacrificing an ounce of catchy, melodic might. Death Below boasts guest appearances from ABR allies Jesse Leach (Killswitch Engage), Spencer Chamberlain (Underoath), Jason Richardson (All That Remains), and JT Cavey (ERRA). "It's getting difficult for the members of August Burns Red to keep one-upping themselves," marveled Billboard shortly before Guardians arrived. With Death Below, they emerge victorious again.

Taking Back Sunday Share New Single "Amphetamine Smiles" — WATCH + LISTEN

September 28, 2023

SPECIAL ALBUM RELEASE SHOWS ANNOUNCED

Taking Back Sunday — John Nolan (lead guitar, piano, vocals), Adam Lazzara (lead vocals), Shaun Cooper (bass), and Mark O'Connell (drums) — have shared "Amphetamine Smiles," the third preview track from their forthcoming new album 152, due October 27 via Fantasy. The new track, a passionate call for reconnection that's as much about the band themselves as it is the world at-large, exemplifies the stirring reassurance that make Taking Back Sunday so special.

Listen to "Amphetamine Smiles" below.

This morning, fans can tune-in HERE for special livestream Q&A with Taking Back Sunday at 8:45AM PT/11:45AM ET, 15-minutes prior to the worldwide premiere of the "Amphetamine Smiles" official video at 9:00AM PT/12PM/Noon ET.

"You could document the writing, arranging, and recording of 'Amphetamine Smiles,' but there's no way to explain how it came together," said Nolan. "It's the product of some kind of magic."

To celebrate the release of 152, the band's first album in seven years, Taking Back Sunday announced a series of special, intimate album release shows: November 6 at Lodge Room in Los Angeles; November 9 at Eastside Bowl in Nashville; and November 13 at Bowery Ballroom in NYC. On-sale begins Friday, September 29 at 10:00AM local time.

For more information, visit here.

In addition, the band also announced the ninth Annual Taking Back Sunday Holiday Spectacular at Mulcahy's Pub and Concert Hall in Wantagh, NY on December 13 and 14, and Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on December 15 and 16. Tickets are on sale now.

Produced by Tushar Apte (whom the band met through a mutual collaboration with noted DJ Steve Aoki) and mixed by Neal Avron (Twenty One Pilots, Bleachers), 152, the long-awaited LP features, 10 intensely vulnerable and absorbing new tracks all delivered with fresh ambition and newfound purpose. Inspired by the long layoff and the cloud of uncertainty that blanketed the world (and music industry) these past few years, 152 stands among the most genuinely reflective and emotionally pure efforts of Taking Back Sunday's illustrious career. Pre-order 152 HERE.

From the album's intricate riffs and anthemic vocals to its elegantly warm synths and economical string arrangements, the quartet work-shopped these new tracks like never before. Previously released single "S'old," struggles with the obligations of adult responsibility and acceptance, while "The One," (also previously released) is a far-reaching anthem of love and brotherhood. "Keep Going" tracks the self-defeating darkness of betrayal, while "Quit Trying," is wrapped with "can't run from who you are" self-awareness. All through 152, the consistent thread is one of generosity, gratitude and ultimately, hope.

TAKING BACK SUNDAY ON TOUR:
9/29 — Cocoa, FL — Cocoa Riverfront Park
9/30 — Jupiter, FL — Dastoberfest
11/6 — Los Angeles, CA – Lodge Room (Album Release Show)
11/9 — Nashville, TN – Eastside Bowl (Album Release Show)
11/13 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom (Album Release Show)
12/1 — Melbourne, Australia — Good Things Festival 2023
12/2 — Sydney, Australia — Good Things Festival 2023
12/3 — Brisbane, Australia — Good Things Festival 2023
12/13 – Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall (Holiday Spectacular)
12/14 – Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall (Holiday Spectacular)
12/15 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom (Holiday Spectacular)
12/16 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom (Holiday Spectacular)

HELGA release first single off debut album

September 28, 2023

Summoning a plethora of layers and genre, HELGA culminate their premier album 'Wrapped in Mist' into dirgeful lamentations of mortality and mental health, punctuated by formidable drums, spectral strings and chugging riffs. The album's first single, 'Skogen mumlar' (The Forest Murmurs), transcends forthwith into emotive dreamscapes that leave hairs trembling on goose-pimpled skin. Ennio Morricone echoing as the intro's muse.

"I've always had a fascination with Swedish folklore," says vocalist Helga Gabriel. "This song is about the forest-dwelling beings from those stories of old."

Watch the haunting video for 'Skogen mumlar' below.

'Wrapped in Mist' comes out November 24.

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/wrappedinmistpresave
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/HelgaWrappedInMist

Hailing from the Swedish hinterlands of Dalarna and
Halifax, West Yorkshire, HELGA amalgamated in 2019 in
York, North Yorkshire. United by singer, Helga Gabriel, the
quintet delve into a musical alchemy on their pursuit of
darker manifestations.

“We draw on many different influences from Swedish folk
to progressive metal to post-rock to black metal to pop.
Distilling this into a single style is a challenge.” -Cai S.

Summoning this plethora of layers and genre, HELGA
culminate their premier album Wrapped in Mist into
dirgeful lamentations of mortality and mental health,
punctuated by formidable drumming, spectral strings and
chugging riffs.

The album’s opening track, Skogen mumlar (The Forest
Murmurs), transcends forthwith into emotive dreamscapes
that leave hairs trembling, Ennio Morricone echoing as the
intro’s muse.

But as the journey through Wrapped in
Mist transpires, songs such as Farväl (Farewell) reveal
HELGA’s black metal and darker sensibilities. Bewitching
through this myriad range, the album’s waltzing coda flirts
with a melodic baroque that crescendos with Opeth-esque
climax.

The inception of Wrapped in Mist promises to plunge
HELGA deep into the spotlight of mesmerising live
performances following release. From the hills and forests
of rural dwelling, this is a band destined for a journey worth
following.

Lineup

Helga Gabriel - Vocals

Cai Sumption - Guitar

Cameron Gledhill - Guitar

Ryan Fairclough - Bass

Sami Javed - Drums

Recording

Guitars and vocals recorded by Tom Peters at Trapdoor Studios
Drums recorded by Bob Cooper at Chairworks Studios

Production

Produced and mixed by Luiz Felipe Netto

Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege

Additional musicians

Damian Bolotin - Violin on "Skogen mumlar", "Vast and Wild" and "Wrapped in Mist".
Antonio Guerra - Grand piano on "Mountain Song" and "Vast and Wild".
Mafram do Maracanã - Percussion on "Skogen mumlar" and "Wrapped in Mist"
Bruno Migliari - Double bass on “Mountain Song”, “Skogen mumlar” and “Wrapped in Mist”
Luiz Felipe Netto - Acoustic guitar on "If Death Comes Now" & "Wrapped in Mist", as well as additional electric guitars, keyboards and string arrangements.
Ayran Nicodemo - Violin on "Mountain Song", "Skogen mumlar", "Vast and Wild" and "Wrapped in Mist"
Bruno Serroni - Cello on "Farväl" and "Vast and Wild"
Joe Zeitlin - Cello on "Farväl", "Mountain Song", "Skogen mumlar", "Vast and Wild" & "Wrapped in Mist"

Cover art by David Thiérrée

Album layout by Per Wiberg

Photos by Ester Segarra

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/wrappedinmistpresave

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/HelgaWrappedInMist

Links
https://helgamusic.bandcamp.com
https://facebook.com/helgadalarna
https://instagram.com/forestchildhelga

BEYOND THE GATES 2024 Announces Behemoth, Satyricon, Watain, Venom, Trelldom (First Ever Concert!) + More!

September 28, 2023

Welcoming Behemoth, Satyricon, Watain, Venom, Trelldom (first concert ever!) + more to the lineup!

Taking place in the heart of Bergen (NO) from July 31-August 3, 2024!

“As a festival, Beyond the Gates is immediately lovable. Bergen is intrinsically part of that embrace… Sure, Norway’s expensive, but seeing the best bands out there, taking in a Tolkienesque fjord or two, pilgrimaging to Fantoft church, hitting up Gaahl’s art gallery (Galleri Fjalar) nestled in the quaint houses at Bryggen while Freyr gleefully and continually pisses rain on you from the heavens? All worth its weight in hordes of kroner.” - Decibel Magazine, December 2022 issue

"The curation at this festival is bonkers, and plays out like a who’s who of Scandinavian icons. Watching the bands that started this crazy scene, in a city where much of its origin story takes place, is a pilgrimage any fan should absolutely take in their lifetime."

- Metal Injection

BEYOND THE GATES 2024 PASSES

Beyond the Gates Festival is now revealing the first wave of bands who will grace the 2024 lineup! The lineup consists of a mixture of legendary artists and purveyors of the true cult underground, which can be found below! The epic four-day metal event will take place once again in the heart of Bergen (NO) from July 31 - August 3, 2024!

Current Beyond the Gates 2024 lineup:

Behemoth

Satyricon

Watain

Venom

Trelldom (First concert ever)

Vreid (Celebrating 30 years!)

Djevel

Cult of Fire

Dødheimsgard

Darkspace

Manbryne

Grab your limited Gold Passes now HERE. These includes all live concerts, including the Day and Night Shift concerts.

Beyond the Gates comments,

"We are incredibly proud to announce the first batch of bands for Beyond the Gates 2024. We say this every time, but we do promise that next year is going to be something you’ve never experienced before. On the back of that statement, please welcome the juggernaut that is Behemoth. The band hasn’t played in Bergen since 2012, so their return is much welcomed. We’re also very excited to be able to present Satyricon, who is releasing a new album next spring, and will return to the live scene for the first time in five years!

"Founders and innovators Venom and Watain will also grace Beyond the Gates with a visit next year with their spectacular and energetic live shows.

"Moving on, Trelldom, featuring the iconic singer Gaahl, who will do their first live appearance ever since their formation in the early 90s. Vreid will celebrate 30 years of Sognametal, while Norwegian black metalers Djevel and Dødheimsgard will grant us with exclusive sets.

"Completing the first round of names are the Czech’s Cult of Fire with their massive live show, the mysterious Darkspace from Switzerland and Polish Manbryne, who will do their first concert outside of their home country.

"As always, the festival will be stacked with numerus activities you can experience in addition to the live concerts: Guided tours, fairs, market and so forth."

Back in August, thousands of metalheads descended on the black metal mecca and witnessed legendary metal performances across several venues, including the legendary Grieghallen, where many seminal Norwegian black metal albums were recorded in the 90s. Highlights included a blistering performance of Eld in its entirety by Enslaved, demolishing sets from Norwegian heavy-weights such as Taake and Gorgoroth, a rare and devatstaing performance from Nidrosian black metal enigma Mare, and of course, a rare and special 30th anniversary set by Dimmu Borgir, who broke out songs that haven't been played in decades!

In addition to the mind-blowing performances, attendees were also treated to a wealth of once-in-a-lifetime events including wine tasting with Gaahl, a special photo exhibition from iconic black metal photographer Peter Beste, a tour of Grieghallen with legendary producer Pytten (where he recorded seminal albums such as Enslaved’s Vikingligr Veldi, Frost and Eld, the first two Emperor albums, In the Nightside Eclipse and Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk, Gorgoroth’s Pentagram and Antichrist, Mayhem’s De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, and Immortal’s Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism, Battles in the North), guided tours of black metal landmarks with Tore Bratseth (Old Funeral, The Batallion, Bömbers), a Dimmu Borgir exhibition hosted by Finn Håkon Rødland, a live taping of Alan Averill's 'Agitator's Anonymous' podcast, artist talks, and so much more!

Don't let the FOMO get you down and get your tickets now to experience Beyond the Gates 2024!

Since the inception of the Beyond the Gates festival, fans have been coming to Bergen to see performances of their favorite Norwegian artists in their home environment. As most visitors know, nature and local culture has always been a poignant source of inspiration for the bands emerging from the Bergen scene. Yet again, Beyond the Gates will give all of the traveling fans the opportunity to get an unique insight into all aspects of the Norwegian Metal scene and the local culture in general. In that regard, we’re putting together a series of events before and during the festival so that all of you can discover what inspired – and still does - the Norwegian metal scene.

In addition, there will be exclusive listening parties, music and culture panels, in-depth live interviews, and a wealth of of events and activities that will give you a Beyond the Gates Experience that will last for a lifetime. Stay tuned for more...

Links:

Official Beyond the Gates Website

Facebook

Instagram

Tickets

BLACKBRAID + GAEREA Kick Off North American Tour

September 28, 2023

GET TICKETS HERE

STREAM // DOWNLOAD // SHOP BLACKBRAID HERE

STREAM // DOWNLOAD // SHOP GAEREA HERE

Indigenous black metal project Blackbraid and cathartic black metal outfit Gaerea have joined forces for a full North American tour in support of Wolves in the Throne Room. The trek will kick off today, September 29 in St. Louis, MO and will then conclude on October 24 in Denver, CO. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE

Blackbraid will be supporting its brand new album, 'Blackbraid II,' which was released independently on July 7, 2023 and met with critical acclaim from The New York Times, Metal Injection, Metal Sucks, Distorted Sound Magazine, Ghost Cult Magazine, and many more! The record is available to stream, download, or order HERE.

Meanwhile, Gaerea returns to support its incendiary 2022 release, 'Mirage,' debuting a brand new live aesthetic! 'Mirage' was ranked among the best records of last year by Decibel Magazine, A&P Reacts, Ghost Cult Magazine, Sick Drummer, and more! The album is available HERE.

BLACKBRAID + GAEREA (Supporting Wolves in the Throne Room)

Crypt of Ancestral Knowledge North American Tour

09/29: St Louis, MO @ Red Flag [TICKETS]

09/30: Chicago, IL @ Metro [TICKETS]

10/01: St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall [TICKETS]

10/03: Detroit, MI @ El Club [TICKETS]

10/04: Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace [TICKETS]

10/05: Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount [TICKETS]

10/06: Boston, MA @ Big Night Live [TICKETS]

10/07: Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom [TICKETS]

10/08: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Monarch [TICKETS]

10/10: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts [TICKETS]

10/11: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage [TICKETS]

10/12: Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club [TICKETS]

10/13: Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 [TICKETS]

10/14: Atlanta, GA @ The Loft [TICKETS]

10/15: Tampa, FL @ Orpheum [TICKETS]

10/17: Dallas, TX @ Echo Lounge & Music Hall [TICKETS]

10/18: Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live [TICKETS]

10/20: Albuquerque, NM @ Sister [TICKETS]

10/21: Tucson, AZ @ Encore [TICKETS]

10/23: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall

10/24: Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater [TICKETS]

Blackbraid is a solo indigenous black metal project from from the depths of the Adirondack wilderness creating music as raw and powerful as the mountains from whence it came…

Blackbraid is an independent artist and is not contracted to or owned by any music label.

Creator of Blackbraid: Sgah’gahsowáh

Follow // Listen:

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Instagram

Official Merch Store

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

The beauty of Gaerea lies in the directness and simplicity found within their florid tapestry of extremity and aggression. Whether it is in the less-polished aural dynamite of their self-titled EP, or in the lustrous textures of 'Mirage,' Gaerea is building a mighty edifice of underground metal. With talons dipped in the inky blood of black metal and scraped across the flesh of human suffering, Gaerea is leading a charge into the future of darkness, and all those who find beauty and power in the dark side of existence would do well to take heed.

Follow // Listen:

Bandcamp

Official Website

GAEREA Unveils Unnerving Torture Art Experiment for "Dormant," On Tour in North America Tomorrow

September 28, 2023

waterboarding

/ˈwôdərˌbôrdiNG/

noun

a form of torture, typically used as an interrogation technique, in which a person is strapped head-down on a sloping board with the mouth and nose covered while water is poured over their face, causing them to experience a sensation similar to that of drowning.

BUY // STREAM // DOWNLOAD GAEREA

Would you submit yourself to human torture to go beyond your limits to expressing art? Voluntary suffering for the greater goal in pursuit of artistic excellence is what one of the members of cathartic black metal band GAEREA (PT) went through for the visualization of "Dormant."

The video (recorded by the great Claudio Marino, distinguished for working with giants like BEHEMOTH, WATAIN, SHINING) simply can’t be classified as a music video. It’s an eight- minute excruciating compilation of being waterboarded, trapped in a cycle of unending pain, with each passing moment feeling like an eternity, time becomes the cruelest enemy.

GAEREA comments: “Complementing the song's aural journey, the video art installation accompanying 'Dormant' delves into the anguish and struggle for survival. The visuals depict the main character, trapped and enclosed in a tormenting world, as water relentlessly pours over his body, simulating drowning and suffocation. This immersive and visceral experience offers a harrowing glimpse into the protagonist's fight for life, evoking a range of emotions and challenging viewers to confront their own mortality.”

"Dormant" had previously only been available to fans who purchased the bonus-edition of 'Mirage.' Now, the enigmatic horde is sharing the track digitally along with this masterful and real work of torture art. There are no actors, no gimmicks, and no special effects. The disturbing video can been seen below.

In addition, Gaerea will be unveiling a secret screening event to kick start their imminent tour in North America! The clandestine event will take place tonight, September 28, at the original Kuma's Corner in Chicago, IL! The event is free to attend and starts promptly at 7:30 P.M. and band will be present for a meet and greet with fans who dare to enter the vortex. Plus, fans can enter a raffle in which one lucky winner will be given a pair of tickets to see the band's performance at Metro on September 30.

Gaerea previously commented, "This is the death of 'Mirage' and the moment we start to let go of our world just so another one can be born. This unique event will showcase everything Gaerea has ever stood for. Get ready to witness something truly special, crafted specially to each and everyone of you who wishes to join us for an evening we shall never forget."

Following the event, Gaerea will be kicking off its North American tour with Wolves in the Throne Room, Blackbraid, and Hoaxed on September 29 in St. Louis, MO, which will then conclude on October 24 in Denver, CO. Tickets are now available and can be found HERE while the full itinerary can be found below!

Gaerea will be supporting its incendiary 2022 release, 'Mirage,' debuting a new live aesthetic! 'Mirage' was ranked among the best records of last year by Decibel Magazine, A&P Reacts, Ghost Cult Magazine, Sick Drummer, and more! The album is available HERE.

In celebration of the event, Kuma's has collaborated with Gaerea for a signature burger, which is inspired by the Francesinha sandwich, a comforting dish that is native to the band's hometown of Porto (PT). The Gaerea burger is modeled after Kuma's famous Slayer burger with a Portuguese twist. The sandwich has a bed of fresh house-cut fries, texas toast, an angus beef patty, sausage, uncured ham, shredded monterrey jack cheese, and a fried egg, all smothered in a decadent Francesinha sauce.

TICKETS TO NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

GAEREA (w/ Wolves in the Throne Room, Blackbraid, Hoaxed)

Crypt of Ancestral Knowledge North American Tour

09/29: St Louis, MO @ Red Flag [TICKETS]

09/30: Chicago, IL @ Metro [TICKETS]

10/01: St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall [TICKETS]

10/03: Detroit, MI @ El Club [TICKETS]

10/04: Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace [TICKETS]

10/05: Montreal, QC @ Theatre Fairmount [TICKETS]

10/06: Boston, MA @ Big Night Live [TICKETS]

10/07: Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom [TICKETS]

10/08: Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Monarch [TICKETS]

10/10: Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts [TICKETS]

10/11: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage [TICKETS]

10/12: Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club [TICKETS]

10/13: Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 [TICKETS]

10/14: Atlanta, GA @ The Loft [TICKETS]

10/15: Tampa, FL @ Orpheum [TICKETS]

10/17: Dallas, TX @ Echo Lounge & Music Hall [TICKETS]

10/18: Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live [TICKETS]

10/20: Albuquerque, NM @ Sister [TICKETS]

10/21: Tucson, AZ @ Encore [TICKETS]

10/23: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall

10/24: Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater [TICKETS]

Behind black shrouds of obscurity and desolation, the men of GAEREA deliver their odes in cascading maelstroms of aggression and beauty. Emerging from the age of pandemic to whatever awaits humanity next, the Portuguese horde remains on the frontlines of the next generation of extreme metal. With an EP and two albums to their name, GAEREA has rapidly distinguished themselves from the thousands of bands toiling away in the underground. Brewing their cauldron of sound from a recipe of pounding black-metal blast mixed with a touch of harrowed, reflective longing, many devotees of the darkened arts have flocked to their banner. With the emergence of third full-length album Mirage, those numbers are sure to grow.

Underground metal itself is a strange and cyclical beast. Trends come and trends go. But at no point in the genre’s history have we borne witness to what happened to the world in 2020. GAEREA met this challenge by releasing their second album, the aptly titled Limbo, to excellent world reception. In the meantime, they found the total suspension of interactive life as it was previously known to be the perfect breeding ground for further creation and making. As the troupe’s main songwriter elaborates, “I lost two precious years of my life, years that I would rather have spent touring and growing as an artist. But they were crucial for us, these years, because not too many bands stayed relevant and productive. The pandemic gave us the time to make the best release we could. All the promo-shoots, interviews, videos, we all had time to prepare for everything. Mirage was the product of a sudden inspiration. The basic parts were written over about two weeks.”

Such a stunning admission goes to show that art is fickle, and the artist is merely a vessel through which the sweet sorcery we call music may flow. It can mute itself to frustrating silence – or it can explode into being regardless of all consideration. For this band on the rise, it is most certainly the latter. Sizzling with ambition from day one, GAEREA may present one unique face to their audience, masked and enshrouded, but the truth is they have not remained changeless. “We are not the same band who recorded Limbo,” he insists. “We are more eager to take on the world. If the pandemic taught us anything it is that nothing is certain.”

This lack of certainty plays heavily into newest creation Mirage. As its name suggests, the inability to trust what our senses are telling us could be construed as one of the album’s central themes. Rather than constrict their art to mythological references or anti-religious tropes, GAEREA instead plumb the depths of the human experiences of isolation and suffering. “The concept, the subject, of each song is everyone, you, me . . . if people were alone together in Limbo, in Mirage they are truly alone. Nobody is truly real until they are alone.”

If existential dread could be turned into sound, GAEREA have carved their own philosophical path through its stygian tunnels. It isn’t Satan, demons, death, or even suicide that is waiting for us there. “What if people finally reached their goal,” he posits, “to end their suffering, and instead of dying they find themselves in a new reality, lost in a big city they were once a part of – they don’t know if anyone else is still alive. They are alone inside their own world.” This theme of being alone in a world full of familiar scenes, unable to end things and unable to reach anyone else, might well terrify the listener more effectively than any glimpse into the imagined hellscapes of our nightmares. Being isolated in your own world is the real nightmare, and GAEREA strum the chords of this horror with nuance and a miserable grace.

Boasting a superior production that threads the needle between clarity and causticness, GAEREA unwaveringly admit their loyalty to countryman and producer Miguel Tereso of Demigod Recordings. “Miguel is fantastic,” enthuses the band’s primary composer. “He comes from a brutal death metal background. I thought if this guy can pull off a punchy, modern, but still authentic production with a slam / death metal band, I wonder what he can do with a band like GAEREA. He has a vision for a sound, and that is what I really like. He is not a black metal fan, but it’s this very external set of ears and eyes from a guy who really knows his craft, and he brings all of that to our sound.” The fruits of this union are quite evident, as the turbulent moods of the title track are so wonderfully tossed between tension-building moments, and the explosive payoffs which set GAEREA apart from so many who try but come up short.

Tormented leads and building riffs sit atop some seriously explosive drumming, waxing and waning, on “Arson,” a tempest of moods and one of the album’s centrepieces. Emotion, at times sounding triumphant in brilliantly wrought guitar leads, is skewered by vocals that bustle with shattering despair. The dichotomy is magnificent to behold. GAEREA’s composer makes no mistake. “I want to hear the throat on the album, and if we are a vocals-driven band, I don’t want to over-process them during the recording. Striking that balance is one of the beauties for me in this record.”

In a world that increasingly elevates the shallow and the narcissistic, GAEREA pursues an artistic struggle of inward isolation, honest self-examination, and a dogged refusal to bow to the void that awaits. Thus, the persistence of their shadowed visages, draped in the masks which codify their anonymity while also creating a reliable extreme metal brand that fans can appreciate, especially in the live setting. “GAEREA are truly ourselves when we put these masks on, and we transcend into something different, and primitive,” he asserts. “It still makes total sense, and this band would not be a band anymore if we ever dropped the masks.”

As GAEREA prepares the release of Mirage, the world has resumed functioning, and as it lurches onward into its bleak future, one could stipulate that the pressure may be on to continue its rise amid the clamor of this renewal of activity. Does this challenge intimidate GAEREA? “We want to do better, but I don’t feel any pressure because we are in very good hands with the people we work with. We are building a strong team that really cares for us, stage-wise, promotional-wise, website and sales-wise. We are building a very structured confident teams that aims for the same goals we do. What I truly care about is continuing our ever-growing concept of the band GAEREA, and not becoming sterile, and I would not want people to be unaffected by our music. In the end we’re trying to express something within ourselves, and I don’t want it to be too complicated.”

The beauty of GAEREA lies in the directness and simplicity found within their florid tapestry of extremity and aggression. Whether it is in the less-polished aural dynamite of their self-titled EP, or in the lustrous textures of Mirage, GAEREA is building a mighty edifice of underground metal. With talons dipped in the inky blood of black metal and scraped across the flesh of human suffering, GAEREA is leading a charge into the future of darkness, and all those who find beauty and power in the dark side of existence would do well to take heed.

WE ARE GAEREA.

Style: Cathartic Black Metal

Recording Studio: Demigod Recordings

Producer/Sound engineer: Miguel Tereso

Mix/Master: Miguel Tereso (Demigod Recordings)

Cover artwork: Saros Collective

Bio: Nic Franco

Photos: Sonja Chantik

Follow // Listen:

Bandcamp

Official Website

Lake Malice Announce Debut EP "Post-Genesis" & Release Brand New Single "Mitsuko"

September 27, 2023

WHAT THE PRESS ARE SAYING:

“Lake Malice are the UK’s most exciting new alt.metal band.”

Kerrang!

“They are destined to be the talk of the town. Dark, chaotic and devilishly fun, they ebb and flow between techno breaks and towering heaviness.”

Metal Hammer

“The sound of British heaviness to come.”

Rock SoundOne of the UK heavy music scene’s most exciting prospects, Lake Malice, have today released their raging new single ‘Mitsuko’, which they describe as “the pissed off love child of Linkin Park and Pendulum, wrapped up in the unfiltered aggression of Loathe.” The track will feature on their debut EP ‘Post-Genesis’, which the duo have announced will be released 27th October via SO Recordings (Enter Shikari / Placebo / Deaf Havana). As well as being destined for a digital release (pre-save now), ‘Post-Genesis’ will be available as a limited edition 12” vinyl HERE or at the band’s plethora of upcoming live dates (from release date, and while stocks last).

Alice Guala (vocals) and Blake Cornwall (guitar/production) explain of the track:

"Mitsuko is a deeply personal and intense torrent of ‘full-on rage’, dealing with the complexities of family values, and raw emotions of a fragmented childhood. The title takes inspiration from the original ‘Battle Royale’ manga, where the character Mitsuko shares a similar struggle of family heartbreak and abandonment.”

Following extensive touring with the likes of As Everything Unfolds, Bloodywood, Skindred, Vukovi, Vended and Enter Shikari this year alone, Lake Malice are only now announcing their first ever headline shows across Europe, which will culminate in a date at The Black Heart in London on 6th December. Lake Malice really hit the ground touring in 2023, also delivering overwhelmingly energetic sets at festivals such as The Great Escape, Download and 2000trees, at which Kerrang! proclaimed they “have no right to be burning this hot already.”

Lake Malice have been assuredly unleashing a string of innovatively heavy alt-anthems for a post-Pandemic world since 2021. This year’s ‘Bloodbath’ and ‘Stop The Party’, which will also appear on the forthcoming EP, have taken things up a gear, lighting up the airwaves of BBC Radio 1 and Kerrang! Radio, as well as receiving love from outlets like Kerrang! Online, Rock Sound and Metal Hammer and many more. The band’s unique splicing of hyperpop and metal also earned them two nominations at the Heavy Music Awards this year in the ‘Best UK Breakthrough Artist’ and ‘Best Breakthrough Live Artist’ categories.

Spy-surf sound adventurer GUITARMY OF ONE presents 'Kolchak Meets The Sea Mobster' + video from 'The Wave Files' album

September 27, 2023

“An accomplished ex-punk who has made the striking transition to atmospheric soundtracks” ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Helland has tapped something interesting and, dare we say, magical... Soundtracks for the movie in our minds" ~ PopMatters

"A clever and flexible visionary musically... A fascinating listen through and through, each song is engaging with anticipation towards the end of each ending in delight at the start of the next" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Fom hardcore punk to thrash metal, to folk-punk cabaret, to working with J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), and more; Helland never fails to surprise with his continuous evolution as an artist" ~ Ghost Cult Magazine

"Outlandish, playful, mysterious... plays out like the soundtrack to an old detective television show" ~ Alt77

Riding high on his latest spy-surf themed album ‘The Wave Files’, NYC-based artist Guitarmy of One is back with a new video for 'Kolchak Meets The Sea Mobster', which was inspired by the 70s thriller detective show 'Kolchak the Night Stalker'.

With its heavy dark surf rock vibe and spy noir riffing, this song conjures espionage on the open sea and the mystique of detectives on the case. This is the latest offering from this adventurous 10-track album, crowdfunded earlier this year via Kickstarter - a driving fun mix of dark ominous guitar riffs, surf guitar swells and foreboding reverb drenched melodies.

Guitarmy of One is the solo project of guitarist Scott Helland, an ex-hardcore punk bass player turned instrumental songwriter, whose first band (Deep Wound) was formed with alt-rock trailblazers J Mascis and Lou Barlow (Dinosaur Jr). He later joined hardcore/ crossover thrash stalwarts Outpatients, School of Violence and Darkside NYC before ultimately forming post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk in 2005.

Helland explains, "The video for this song takes my spy guy character on an excursion to meet the Sea Mobster for an exchange of information with the aid of Agent Camille. When writing 'The Wave Files' album, I had certain characters from classic detective/spy/thriller shows in mind. The music for this song was specifically inspired by Kolchak, the main character in the 70s thriller detective show 'Kolchak the Night Stalker'. Although the video doesn’t necessarily mirror the type of scenes from the show, it does follow a mini story of intrigue."

Following 'The Spy Detective Collective’ album, ‘Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’ was the first taste of 'The Wave Files' LP. The album involves coded intrigue, each song blatantly and not so blatantly containing the word ‘sea’ in the lyrics. This record's concept is rooted in spy and detective shows from the 60s, 70s and 80s - like the sonic equivalent of those shows, riding the waves of intrigue and espionage.

For instance 'Hawaii 5-0' inspired the song 'Jack Lord of the Sea', the tv show 'The Saint' inspired 'Seance for the Saint', and the sci-fi thriller 'Soylent Green' gave birth to 'Soylent Seafoam Green'. Even real life mobsters like Legs Diamond played a role in writing the song 'Sea Legs Diamond'.

Combining the thrilling sounds of spy-themed instrumental surf guitar music with punk vitality, Guitarmy of One creates a sonic adventure to the realms of intrigue, danger and surf-soaked excitement with Helland channeling that raw and unconventional spirit into a quirky fusion of genres.

"I wanted this album to be music you want to travel with - in your mind or physically. It’s action music, and I think it should ignite your imagination and take you on a journey. Wordless music relies on the visuals it creates so if it can take you on a sonic adventure across continents, or at least counties, my work is done," says Scott Helland.

Influenced by Spanish guitar, punk and metal, Guitarmy of One conjures up images of secret agents, high-speed chases, and hidden agendas through his intricate layered compositions. His mix of surf guitar techniques (i.e. reverb-drenched chords, lightning-fast tremolo picking, and tremolo bar vibrato albeit with a Bigsby bridge pedal) creates a sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking.

'The Wave Files' is out now and available across digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the full album can also be ordered on CD.

CREDITS
Written, performed and produced by Scott Helland
All instrumentation by Scott Helland
Engineered by Jason Sarubbi Split Rock Studio, New Paltz, NY
Mastered by Jason Sarubbi
Cover Art by Nukui Bogard
Layout and Single Design Samantha Stephenson
Artist photos by Samantha Stephenson

San Francisco's OCTAVIAN WINTERS present 'Surreal' plus eerie spacious video, previewing debut EP 'The Line or Curve'

September 27, 2023

"Feels like it was recorded in a studio deep beneath the earth, drawing power from subterranean caves and bubbling magma. There’s tectonic thunder in the pounding drums and rumbling bass... Such power, strong and true, a voice that scales the wall of sound beneath her with ease" ~ Joyzine

"A dark musical weave forged of post-punk and gothic strands. A sonic web that is a neat blend of pulsing bass grooves and shaded ethereality, dark and delicious guitar slashes, and haunting sound washes" ~ The Big Takeover

"Seriously compelling incitement, which Aursjoen’s tones and the electronically atmospheric mists around her only escalate" ~ Ringmaster Review

San Francisco post-punk outfit Octavian Winters presents the new video for 'Surreal', which sums up this experience for viewers. The third single from their debut album 'The Line or Curve' (out October 13), the mood of this video perfectly fits that of this song, which is about being disconnected from your environment and the feeling that you can’t quite put your finger on objective reality.

Recorded in San Francisco by Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated) at OW Studio and Room 5 Recording, this EP was produced by Octavian Winters and William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Christian Death, The March Violets), whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn, Faith also mixed and mastered the album at 13 Studio in Chicago.

Born into the ghostly isolation of San Francisco in 2022, Octavian Winters is Stephan Salit (guitar), Randy Gzebb (drums), Jay Denton (bass) and Ria Aursjoen (vocals, keyboards), who together weave their visceral and ethereal sound into a texture all its own – of stories once told but half-remembered, under a dusk of shadows and stars, in an abandoned city under the winter moon.

Order the 'The Line or Curve' EP https://octavianwinters.bandcamp.com/album/the-line-or-curve

Earlier, the band released the singles 'Undertow' and 'Ondine'. Drawing from darkwave and post-punk traditions, Octavian Winters dives into the ethereal, their layered music counterpointing edged grooves alongside lush synth textures and soaring vocal harmonies.

“Randy Gzebb and Stephan Salit first created the slow, melancholy progression that was to be the core of 'Surreal'. To me, it had a beautifully dark and watery feel, like being caught at night on a foggy ocean. The first words that came to me as I was working up the vocal melody were “it’s surreal, so find a way”, and I thought it was curious that I couldn’t seem to get away from those words and make anything else feel right," . says Ria Aursjoen.

"Usually I will start with the melody and placeholder lyrics but, in this case, it came at once from the start and those words stuck. I started to unspool the feeling behind them: the idea of being disconnected from everything and everyone, and feeling like you can’t quite put your finger on objective reality. I feel this is a distillation of many people’s experiences over the last three years of lockdowns and schism. The song also explores the theme of the “in between” or existing in a state that is neither here nor there, and in which it is impossible to tell what is real and what are just projections."

Octavian Winters formed in late 2021 when Gzebb and Salit, former bandmates in Thrill of The Pull, met up to discuss a film/television publishing deal for Thrill’s catalog (a four-year licensing deal has since been finalized with Expressive Artists). A subsequent jam session produced several motifs, inspiring several more jams in the next weeks. Gzebb invited Aursjoen, whom he had met earlier via another project, to a session and the musical chemistry was immediately evident. Gzebb brought in bassist Jay Denton to round out the line up.

Each member of Octavian Winters brings their own rich musical tapestry to the collective and have shared the stage with many iconic acts over the years, including Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke, Lords of the New Church, Savage Republic, Christian Death, The Frozen Autumn, Everything Goes Cold and Black Tape for a Blue Girl.

Ria (Amenti) Aursjoen, who has synesthesia and has nurtured generational musical seeds planted by her opera diva grandmother, has recorded and performed in the UK and US in genres ranging from Celtic folk to progressive metal and darkwave. She left her graduate work in theoretical physics to pursue music, touring as a Celtic harpist and vocalist for several years before making her home in San Francisco.

Drummer Randy Gzebb relocated to California from Canada, immersing himself in the San Francisco and Los Angeles music scenes in various projects. He was a member of '80s gothic rock band Love Club, who were signed by Sandy Pearlman (The Clash and The Dictators), released on MCA Records, and produced by Bill Buchanan (Fields Of The Nephilim, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, The Leather Nun).

Stephan Salit, who considers performing live his sacred space, has recorded and performed with a wide variety of groups including Specimen. Approaching each song as a canvas that calls for colour and depth, he views his playing as painting with sound.

Bay Area native Jay Denton, who spent some time on the road with Jack Kerouac, has had a diverse career performing classical and contemporary composers, and with various jazz and rock bands, playing extensively with the house band at San Francisco’s famous Condor strip club. Jay has toured in London, Japan and across the USA..

'Surreal' is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. 'The Line or Curve' EP will be released on October 13 via Stratis Capta Records. On October 31, Octavian Winters will be playing Bottom of The Hill in San Francisco (with Dead Souls and The Reptile House), followed by a Sacramento show on November 8 at Cafe Colonial (with Ashes Fallen).

CREDITS
Music written by Octavian Winters. Lyrics by Ria Aursjoen
Ria Aursjoen - Vocals / Keyboards
Stephan Salit - Guitars
Randy Gzebb - Drums
Jay Denton - Bass
Recorded at OW studios San Francisco, CA
Vocals recorded by Mark Pistel, Room 5 Recording, San Francisco, CA
Mixed and mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio, Chicago, IL
Produced by Octavian Winters and William Faith
Artist photos by Dina Marie Robinson
Jay Adams - Video director, cinematographer, editor producer
Eric Olson - Design
Steve Devaney - Design at Uroboros Choke
Concept, storyboard, set and costume design by Ria Aursjoen

Keep up with Octavian Winters
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Dalton Dover Premieres Video for "Giving Up On That" on CMT, CMT Music, CMT.com and Paramount's Times Square Billboard

September 27, 2023

On the heels of the release of his Never Giving Up On That collection, Dalton Dover premieres the official music video for his latest single “Giving Up On That” on CMT, CMT Music, CMT.com and Paramount’s Times Square Billboard. Directed by Tristan Cusick, the video was filmed near Dover’s hometown in Rome, Georgia. Watch it below.

“Every scene in the video is just somewhere that means something to me, places where I grew up,” Dover shared with CMT.com. “The people in the video are some of the most important people in my life. Growing up, you’re playing all these small venues around here. Little did you know 12 years later, you’d sign a record deal and film your first music video at the same exact place, the same bar that you played one of your first hometown shows in.”

Last week, Dover revealed his eight-song project Never Giving Up On That via Mercury Records/UMG Nashville, featuring two new songs including “Dirt Roads and Jesus” and an alluring cover of “If I Ain’t Got You,” among fan-favorite hits such as “Baby I Am,” “You Got A Small Town” and “Night To Go,” as well as “Giving Up On That,” which debuted as the most-added song at Country radio and continues to climb the charts. Listen to Never Giving Up On That HERE.

Dover made his international debut earlier this year at C2C: Country to Country Festival’s CMA Songwriters Series before joining Chase Rice on the Way Down Yonder Tour. This summer, he performed across four stages at CMA Fest, including the Nissan Stadium Platform Stage, and played Luke Combs’ Whiskey Jam Bootleggers Tailgate Party at Gillette Stadium in July. He has been on the road with select dates supporting Tyler Hubbard, Parker McCollum, Justin Moore and Priscilla Block among festival performances. For more information and tickets, visit DaltonDoverOfficial.com.

Dalton Dover Upcoming Tour Dates

Sept. 27           Pasadena Rodeo Pasadena, TX
Oct. 5              Capitol Center for the Arts                                         Concord, NH
Oct. 7              Homespun Festival                                                     Rockmart, GA
Oct. 8              WPOC Sunday in the Country                                   Columbia, MD
Oct. 13            WXCY BBQ Fest                                                       Aberdeen, MD

Dying Wish Share "Path to Your Grave" Video — WATCH

September 27, 2023

NEW ALBUM SYMPTOMS OF SURVIVAL OUT NOVEMBER 3

Portland's own DYING WISH will release their new album Symptoms of Survival on November 3 via SharpTone Records. Pre-order the album, produced by Randy LeBoeuf, here.

The band has dropped the video for "Path to Your Grave." Watch it below.

"'Path to Your Grave' was written in mind as 'Fragments Part Two,'" says Emma Boster. "'Fragments' is written about my struggle of my relationship with my stepfather, who was manipulative, controlling, and abusive towards me. That mistreatment has resulted in a lot of unhealthy habits and patterns in my life that I have struggled to move on from. 'Fragments One' was me talking about my experience publicly for the first time. After expressing my grief, the song concludes with 'I would bury you if I could.' This song also concludes with the same seven words but has a different outlook. Since releasing 'Fragments,' I have grown to a new level of acceptance with my trauma and this song is about that acceptance. The anger and the hurt is still there, but now, it just stings a little less. It has a much more triumphant expression."

Dying Wish will also hit the road next month. All dates are below.

DYING WISH ON TOUR:
WITH BOUNDARIES, OMERTA, FOREIGN HANDS, GATES TO HELL, ROMAN CANDLE, + EXCIDE:
10/20 — Santa Cruz, CA — The Vets Hall
10/21 — Fresno, CA — Full Circle Brewery
10/22 — Las Vegas, NV — American Legion Post 8
10/24 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Underground
10/26 — San Antonio, TX — The Rock Box
10/27 — Dallas, TX — Wrecking Ball Fest*
10/28 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall
10/31 - 11/4 — Downtown Miami, FL — Headbangers Boat*
11/6 — Tampa, FL — The Orpheum
11/7 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade Purgatory
11/8 — Greensboro, NC — Hangar 1819
11/9 — Baltimore, MD — Metro Gallery
11/10 — Philadelphia, PA — Underground Arts
11/11 — Brooklyn, NY — Meadows
11/12 — Worcester, MA — Palladium
11/14 — New Kensington, PA — Preserving Underground
11/15 — Columbus, OH — Ace of cups
11/16 — Detroit, MI — The Sanctuary
11/17 — Chicago, IL — Cobra Lounge
11/18 — Saint Paul, MN — Amsterdam
11/19 — North Kansas City, MO — The Rino
11/21 — Denver, CO — Marquis Theater
11/22 — Salt Lake City, UT — Kilby Court
11/24 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theater
11/25 — Seattle, WA — Vera Project
11/26 — Spokane, WA — Big Dipper
11/27 — Boise, ID — The Shredder
11/29 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Posts
11/30 — San Francisco, CA — Neck of the Woods
12/1 — San Fernando, CA — Midnight Hour
12/2 — Anaheim, CA — Chain Reaction
*Dying Wish Only

SiM's New Album 'PLAYDEAD' Out Now (via UNFD) + Drop Official Music Video For "UNDER THE TREE

September 27, 2023

Release day is upon us, and Japanese reggae punx SiM have unleashed their new album 'PLAYDEAD' out via UNFD. In celebration of the album release, the band has also shared the official music video for "UNDER THE TREE (Full Length Ver.)" as featured on the immensely popular anime series 'Attack On Titan'. When asked about the track, vocalist MAH commented:

"This is the full version of “UNDER THE TREE” which was produced as the theme song for Part 1 of the final season’s last chapter of ‘Attack on Titan’. “The Rumbling” depicts the screams of the main character, Eren Yeager. The song expresses the terror of the Titans and utter despair. The story of the anime also starts with the annihilation of the world, so the timing of the work couldn’t have been better synchronized.

While bearing in mind that this is the “prequel” to the final version, I felt the need to sing about the torment of the other main protagonist (and it’s no exaggeration to say this), Mikasa Ackerman. In contrast to “The Rumbling”, “UNDER THE TREE”starts with the dark and heavy piano. Then Mikasa begins singing quietly as if lost, expressing her evident frustration. She tries to talk to Eren and tries chasing him, but he slips away, and she tries to find any way of holding him closer. Then she’s hit by a realization, and she vows to keep waiting “under that tree”.

As this is just Part 1 of the anime, I decided only to sing up to this point. While creating the full version, I carefully considered whether to mention the conclusion of the narrative. But I wouldn’t dare. Once you watch the whole story, listen to the song again, and re-read the lyrics, only then will everything become apparent. That’s what this is about."

'PLAYDEAD' is now available on all streaming platforms at the link here, and be sure to watch the official music video for "UNDER THE TREE (Full Length Ver.)" below.

Fans can still catch SiM's high-energy live show on the remaining days of the Jackpot Juicer North American Tourwith (Dance Gavin Dance, Rain City Drive, and Within Destruction) as well as at Swanfest in Philadelphia, PA. For ticket information please click here, and be sure to stay tuned for more SiM news coming soon.

Jackpot Juicer North American Tour Dates

September 27 || Boston, MA || MGM Music Hall at Fenway

September 29 || New York, NY || The Rooftop at Pier 17 (LOW TICKETS)

September 30 || Asbury Park, NJ || Stone Pony Summer Stage

SWANFEST 2023

October 1 || Philadelphia, PA || Mann Center (LOW TICKETS)

Fancy Hagood Returns Oct. 4 w/ "Southern Sound," Offering Candid Reflection of LGBTQ+ Experience

September 27, 2023

Fancy Hagood captivated music fans of all genres with his often-autobiographic debut album Southern Curiosity in 2021. Wednesday, October 4, he’s back with the next chapter -- his new single “Southern Sound.”

“Southern Sound” captures listeners with its layered melodic production, vivid storytelling, and Fancy’s dynamic vocal performance. The combination creates a sonic mini-movie that follows a young couple as they brave adversity in hopes of building a future together.

“I think it's a beautiful marriage of who I am as an artist and where I've been in my career, but also where I'm going,” says Fancy, a proud member of the queer community, of “Southern Sound.” “It’s me fully setting my roots down here in Nashville and chasing after that original dream of country music and no longer operating in fear of who can relate to my music. Because I think a lot of people are.”

Lyrics include: We got the windows down | Turn me on so loud | Only wanna feel how I feel right now | Faded Levi jeans, boy you look so mean | I’ll be your speed queen, love you’ll be my sweetest thing.

Fancy co-wrote “Southern Sound” with Jon Green and Tofer Brown, who also produced the track as well as Southern Curiosity. The Arkansas native further brings the song to life in the music video, which will be available soon. The video tells the story of a young gay couple seeking refuge or shelter, detailing the unfortunate truth of many LGBTQ+ people displaced from their homes because of familial conflict over their sexuality. The moving clip also offers resources for young adults in the LGBTQ+ community who need a safe place to shelter.

“I’m really excited about this next chapter because I feel like the theme of my career has always been ‘starting,’” Fancy says. ‘“Southern Sound’ builds from ‘Southern Curiosity.’ We’re not starting over. We’re betting more on the house, and it feels really, really, good. It feels true to who I am as an artist, melodically and lyrically.”

About Fancy Hagood:
Fancy Hagood is a proud queer artist from Bentonville, AR, who now calls Nashville home. After college, Fancy got a job at Forever 21, where his coworkers dubbed him “Fancy” after a Drake song of the same name. He released his debut album, “Southern Curiosity,” which has accumulated more than 30 million streams. “Southern Curiosity” was nominated for Best Country Record at The Libera Awards 2022.

The same year, he collaborated with Kacey Musgraves on “Blue Dream Baby.” The song prompted Sir Elton John to declare: “We need more people like Fancy.” His hero, Brandi Carlile, called Fancy an "artist to watch."

In addition to his artist career, Fancy also hosts Trailblazers Radio on Apple Radio.

NONPOINT Announces The Million Watts Tour 2023 with (hed p.e.), Sumo Cyco, and Special Guest VRSTY this December!

September 27, 2023

NONPOINT announced The Million Watts Tour 2023 with (hed p.e.), Sumo Cyco, and Special Guest VRSTY this December! The tour will kick off on December 1st in Harrisburg, PA at HMAC on Herr. The tour is in support of the band's latest single "A Million Watts."

Tickets go on sale Friday, September 29th at 10 AM EST!

Tickets available at https://nonpointstore.com/pages/tour-dates

"A Million Watts" is the 3rd single from the forthcoming Heartless EP due out on Nov 17, 2023. The EP will be available digitally and as a limited edition cassette along with a Nonpoint branded cassette player.

WATCH "A Million Watts" (Official Music Video) below.

Stream "A Million Watts" here:

https://lnk.to/Nonpoint_AMW

South Florida-based rock band Nonpoint, has been captivating audiences with their energetic sound and passionate performances for over two decades. Formed in 1997, the band has consistently pushed the boundaries of what modern rock can be, combining heavy metal, nu-metal, and hard rock into a unique and powerful musical force. Over the course of their 20-year career, Nonpoint has released several critically acclaimed albums and garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in the industry.

Throughout their career, Nonpoint has been celebrated for their signature sound and powerful lyrics, which often tackle social and political issues. Their hard-hitting sound and emotional live performances have earned them a dedicated fanbase, as well as recognition from the music industry. Nonpoint has received multiple award nominations and has been praised by publications such as Rolling Stone, Revolver, and Alternative Press.

Nonpoint is:
Elias Soriano (Lead Vocals)
Robb Rivera (Drums)
Rasheed Thomas (Guitar /Backing Vocals)
Adam Woloszyn (Bass)
Jason Zeilstra (Lead Guitar)

2023 The Million Watts Tour Dates:

12/1 Harrisburg, PA @ HMAC on Herr

12/2 Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground

12/3 Hampton Beach, NH @ Wallys

12/5 Montreal, QC @ Foufounes

12/6 Toronto, ON @ Lees Palace

12/8 Green Bay, WI @ Epic Event Center

12/9 Belvidere, IL @ The Apollo Theatre

12/10 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge

12/12 Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom

12/14 Angola, IN @ Eclectic Room

12/15 Flint, MI @ Machine Shop

For More Information Please visit:

http://nonpoint.com/

https://www.facebook.com/nonpointofficial/

https://twitter.com/nonpoint

https://www.instagram.com/nonpointband/

https://nonpointstore.com/

https://361degreesrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/361degreesrecords/

Any Given Day Share "Unbreakable" Video — WATCH

September 27, 2023

Metal heavyweights ANY GIVEN DAY, who hail from the heart of the German Ruhr area, have released their new single "Unbreakable" worldwide via Arising Empire!

Watch the video below.

"Unbreakable" is an anthem of overpowering resilience and unyielding determination. Each line of the song, each melody, serves as a testament to the human capacity to rise above challenges, betrayals, and losses.

ABOUT ANY GIVEN DAY:
Although hailing from Germany, ANY GIVEN DAY are living The American Dream. Founded in 2012, they ignited interest in 2014 with their debut, My Longest Way Home (Official German album charts: #28). Then, they boldly proved they were more than just an internet phenomenon with 2016's Everlasting (Official German album charts: #14). ANY GIVEN DAY look back on countless tours and shows with the likes of CALIBAN, BURY TOMORROW, TRIVIUM, or SUICIDE SILENCE on stages of every size. On Overpower (Official German album charts: #19), ANY GIVEN DAY perfected their blend of unruly brutality, melodies, and catchiness. Stream and purchase Overpower here.

ANY GIVEN DAY ARE:
Dennis Diehl — Vocals
Andy Posdziech — Guitar
Dennis Ter Schmitten — Guitar
Michael Golinski — Bass
Leon Stiller — Drums

WORMHOLE Hosting Bandcamp Listening Party

September 27, 2023

WORMHOLE are rising up from the underground. When they're not blasting aliens in Metroid, the band have been fine-tuning their signature combo of brutal slam and technical death metal both in and outside of Baltimore. With 'Almost Human', they're proving that there is no ceiling they can't tech-slam through.

"Straight up, Almost Human is a contender for Album of the Year for me", says Michael Centrone of New Noise.

"Wormhole delivered a record that holds the power to redefine how brutal tech death and slam-oriented artists write future materials", writes Angry Metal Guy.

'Almost Human' zips the whole tech-slam experience into a tightly clenched polygon fist. The rhythm section of drummer Matt Tillett and bassist Basil Chiasson rip through multiple time shifts, while brothers Sanil and Sanjay Kumar shoot off eerie, pixelated pangs of dissonance. Julian Kersey's vocals are so rotten that you can practically smell the stench wafting through the speakers.

That's still a lot to digest. Join Wormhole on Bandcamp tomorrow night and chat with the band about all the glitchy riffs, belching death growls and black hole-sized breakdowns on 'Almost Human'.

RSVP to the Bandcamp listening party.
Date: Thursday, September 28.
Time: 9:30 pm EST.

When you invent your own genre, you can make the rules, and in space, no one can correct your math. If Wormhole’s excellent The Weakest Among Us was 50% tech death and 50% slamming brutal death metal, their Season of Mist debut is a veritable leveling up of the Baltimore-based act’s trademark “tech slam.” It’s the kind of record that can scramble your brain and give your neck a nice chiropractic workout; Almost Human feels like the future of extreme metal, dropped down from either outer space or delivered by Nintendo cartridge (more on that later).

So, what the hell exactly is “tech slam?” Well, the gleefully amorphous and unholy term comes from an ethos that guitarists Sanil “Noni” Kumar and Sanjay Kumar discovered and perfected over (probably) thousands of hours of Metroid and Doom games, as well as, you know, actual musical mastery. Almost Human, out September 22, 2023, is more powerful, more agile, and more confounding for pie-chart-enthusiasts than anything else that came before it. The sequel is always bigger, darker, and in this case, covered in much more pixelated space horror viscera. My Wormholio calculator puts their sound at 91% tech and 89% slam, with an increase in awesome stats somewhere in the 420% range. There’s also a clear emphasis on amplifying their dissonant death influence, the kind of eerie melodies that feel like being stomped on by Samus.

There’s a clear balance to everything on Almost Human: the songs are more adventurous while also being instantly memorable. No two songs sound alike, and that diversity in songcraft (level design?) sees Wormhole pushing and pulling along their tech and slam dials to figure out what’s best for the song; spoiler, it’s always riffs. What also becomes evident after repeated listens is how carefully the Kumar brothers understand a sense of place, humor, and a consistent vibe. This is still the same band that’s known for throwing on Saturday morning cartoons, and Almost Human continues to hammer home that Wormhole the musical entity is deadly serious, but the guys that make tech slam are not stoic creatures. There’s a warmth and sense of joy when chatting with them that only gets brighter when you ask their favorite Metroid game (that’s a question for a live show). So, what is this vibe they are chasing? Sanjay shares:

“The tech slam imagery is based on Metroid lore, Doom lore, and we haven't written a song about it yet, but Alien as well. Those three things are brutal sci-fi universes, so we're trying to embody that sound. The slam riffs, you can connect the brutal killing of stuff with the brutal chunky riffs; that's been a match that's existed since the nineties. So that's the slam part, and then the tech part was harder to fit that vibe, so we kind of do it differently. I lean into very dissonance-vibe stuff, like Artificial Brain and Dysrhythmia. I think disso-death and heavy, they aren't usually paired together, even though they should be.”

“And then as far as chasing the vibe,” Noni adds, “I kind of go about it two ways. With the Metroid soundtrack or universe, that vibe, there's some dark and gloomy atmosphere, but there's a lot of pretty imagery as well. We wanted to find a way to match that very pretty, kind of out-there sound cohesively in songs with a very aggressive and guttural approach.”

Like another famous sci-fi horror masterpiece of a different media, Wormhole’s shifting, amorphous style is perfectly suited to blend in and amaze just about any fan of heavy music. That’s The Thing: they can pull off whatever they want, but it’s always boiled down to that tech slam vibe. Do you like tech, melody, breakdowns, atmosphere, or dissonance? Tech slam can fill whatever void you seek.

If previous albums were early generation, lower-resolution visions of tech slam, Almost Human is the 4K reboot, where you can see every pixel of terror and awe. Wormhole are absolutely ready for their closeup. Prepare your worms and your holes, tech slam is here to stay.

Line-up
Julian Kersey: vocals
Sanil Kumar: guitar
Sanjay Kumar: guitar
Bass: Basil Chiasson
Drums: Matt Tillett

Recording studio: Guitars and vocals were recorded at Wormhole HQ. Drums were recorded at AJ Viana Productions.

Producer & engineering: 'Almost Human' was produced and engineered by Wormhole and AJ Viana. Bass parts were produced and engineered by Alex Weber.

Mixing: AJ Viana at AJ Viana Productions

Mastering: Alan Douches

Artwork: Adam Burke at Nightjar Illustration

Photos: Eric DeCarlo

Biography: Nick Senior

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AlmostHuman
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/almosthumanpresave

Available formats
CD Digipack
Digital Download
Vinyl (Black)
Vinyl (Grey)
Vinyl (Orange)
Vinyl (Green)

Links
https://wormholemetal.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wormholemetal/
https://www.instagram.com/wormholetechslam/?hl=en
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2foAanYCza7knczRDB8DFt?si=hxz_IV21RzuSeLcibU2tkQ&nd=1

'Jeane' by The Smiths immortalized in power pop version by Minneapolis' The Persian Leaps

September 27, 2023

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

"Striking, upbeat and invigorating... steadfast straightforward relatable and infectious power pop. They translate strong melodies and interesting themes into catchy songs with drive, positive energy and charm" ~ The 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

Power pop / indie rock outfit The Persian Leaps presents their new single 'Jeane',released via Land Ski Records. This propulsive and addictive rendition of one of The Smiths' lesser known tracks celebrates the band's colossal body of work and the impact it has had on so many people. Originally released in 1983 as the B-side to 'This Charming Man' on 7-inch vinyl, it would later be re-released in several formats in 1992.

Based in Minneapolis, The Persian Leaps surrounds principal songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Drew Forsberg, who wrote solo under that name for years before finally assembled a band in 2012. Steadily serving up 90s college rock-inspired compositions, their distinct sound is cleverly built on a magnetic alternative rock foundation.

"This cover of 'Jeane' is my tribute to The Smiths, who have been an important influence on me since 1985. I never took guitar lessons, but I did buy a 'Meat Is Murder' songbook and learn to play the songs as best I could. Without the Smiths, The Persian Leaps would still exist, but we'd sound very different, with less jangle and happier lyrics," says Drew Forsberg.

"Despite being a huge fan of The Smiths since 1985, I'd never actually heard 'Jeane' until 5-10 years ago. The song blew me away. It's not unusual to track down a rarity or B-side and find it interesting if underwhelming, but 'Jeane' felt to me like an essential Smiths song that's been unfairly overlooked. It also sounds unfinished to me - as though with a few more takes and some production love, it could have been an A-side. I'd always wanted to cover a Smiths song and "Jeane" felt like one I could put my own mark on and perhaps even introduce to people who don't know the original."

Bandcamp https://thepersianleaps.bandcamp.com/track/jeane-single
Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/persianleaps/jeane-single/s-9SMx5CzgGor
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/album/jeane-single/1701442762
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/3hxIgB3RiAloklnSqJ9r5r

This single follows The Persian Leaps' widely acclaimed 'Machines for Living' EP (2022) and the 'Drone Etiquette' album (2021).

The Leaps got off on the right foot with their 2013 debut 'Praise Elephants' EP, described by NME Magazine as “celestial guitar jangle”. They then released an EP every autumn until 2017, delivering one perfect power pop cocktail after another - from 2014's sophomore 'Drive Drive Delay' EP to their fifth 'Bicycle Face' EP. Following the massive 2018 anthology 'Pop That Goes Crunch', the Leaps' return as a studio project, releasing the 'Electrical Living' LP in 2019 and the 'Smiling Lessons' EP in 2020 as a duo together with Jon Hunt.

As of September 13, 'Jeane' will be available 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
Photos by Rouse Productions
Written by Johnny Marr and Steven Patrick Morrissey (BMI)
Originally performed and recorded by the Smiths [Rough Trade, 1983]

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