FUMING MOUTH UNLEASH NEW ALBUM, LAST DAY OF SUN, TODAY!

Clear the pit…One of the year’s most anticipated metal records has arrived. New England’s acclaimed purveyors of death FUMING MOUTH have released their long-awaited full-length, Last Day of Sun, today via Nuclear Blast Records. An album that almost never was, Last Day of Sun is a work of perseverance, survival and resurrection with seething fury that knows no bounds.

Overcoming cancer in 2022, vocalist/guitarist Mark Whelan and crew rebounded with Last Day of Sun, setting a new pace for death metal in the process. Featuring the raw, brutal tracks ‘The Silence Beyond Life’ and ‘I’ll Find You,’ the record unravels with cataclysmic riffs and dire, ferocious vocals that take fans on a tumultuous journey through the arduous process of suffering and healing.

Today, FUMING MOUTH has revealed a new lyric video for their track “Kill The Disease,” a raging song about Whelan’s battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Whelan comments on the song:

“This is the one true song that has to deal with my cancer diagnosis from the album. If you have any disease in your life stand up and fight back against it.”

Last Day of Sun was recorded and produced by CONVERGE guitarist and Grammy Award winner Kurt Ballou and features artwork from Stefan Todorovic.

Purchase/Stream Last Day of Sun: https://fumingmouth.bfan.link/ldos

‘KILL THE DISEASE’ LYRIC VIDEO:

FUMING MOUTH is currently on the road in North America in support of Last Day of Sun, and will head to the UK for their first ever tour there in January 2024. Tickets are available now at https://fumingmouth.com/pages/tour.

FUMING MOUTH North American Tour Dates:

w/DEVIL MASTER & FINAL GASP

Nov 6 - Milwaukee, WI - X-Ray Bar

Nov 7 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen

Nov 9 - Denver, CO - High Dive

Nov 11 - Salt Lake City, UT - Aces High

Nov 13 - Vancouver, BC - Cobalt

Nov 14 - Seattle, WA - Substation

Nov 15 - Portland, OR - Dante’s

Nov 17 - Berkeley, CA - Thee Stork Room

Nov 18 - Los Angeles, CA - Midnight Hour

Nov 19 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick

Nov 20 - Mesa, AZ - Pub Rock

Nov 21 - Albuquerque, AZ - Moonlight

Nov 24 - Austin, TX - Mohawk

Nov 25 - Dallas, TX - Cheap Steaks

Nov 28 - Tampa, FL - The Orpheum

Nov 29 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl

Nov 30 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506

Dec 1 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club

Dec 2 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar

Dec 3 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts

About FUMING MOUTH:

A fiery, resurrected rage barrels its way out of hell’s erupting chasms with blistering fury; Fuming Mouth has returned. Lead singer, guitarist, and founder Mark Whelan emerges triumphant after a life-threatening battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, rekindling the inferno of their music with Fuming Mouth's second full-length album, Last Day of Sun.

What initially began as a full-on, fictional concept album underwent a profound transformation into a concept-reality hybrid, largely influenced by Whelan's harrowing conflict with his health and anear brush with death. Just three weeks away from recording the album, Whelan was struck with a devastating cancer diagnosis. While bravely fighting the illness, he rewrote melodies, drum sections, and lyrics, infusing the music with his personal journey of struggle and hope.

The recording sessions began in October 2022, with Grammy Award winning Kurt Ballou of Converge at his studio, God City, in Salem, Massachusetts. Ballou reached out to Whelan after his battle with cancer and encouraged him to get back to their previously scheduled recording session. Working closely with Ballou in both engineering and production, the band found a wonderful and collaborative experience, as Ballou invested himself wholeheartedly in shaping their sound and vision. Salem itself also helped shape the album, as the Halloween Season had begun. Droves of tourists and residents mixing with people in costume made the streets of Salem seem like Last Day of Sun had come to life. The city where the Witch Trials took place presented the perfect setting for the album to be recorded.

At the genesis of this record, there was no other artist that could have captured the album's essence better than Mariusz Lewandowski, with whom the band had already established a creative relationship through his work on the cover art of The Grand Descent. Tragically, Mariusz passed away while working on the album artwork, presenting the band with an immense obstacle to overcome. In tribute to his spirit and legacy, they joined forces with the talented artist Stefan Todorovic who crafted an evocative album cover depicting a Faustian city crumbling amidst the gray and sandy storms of the apocalypse. A colossal monster blocks the sun and hovers above the city as it burns, smoky buildings topple to the ground; all a visual representation of the chaos and darkness that permeates the album.

Fuming Mouth stands resilient, a testament to the indomitable human spirit. Amidst the carnage and depression lies a flicker of hope - a beacon of light that emanates from within. But as the last rays of the sun cast their shadow, the question remains. Will the people in Last Day of Sun survive? Will their worst inhibitions play out, will they rip each other to shreds, will they give up? Will everything they’ve built have been for not? Will they find a way to overcome, or will their panic lead to failure? 

FUMING MOUTH is:
Mark Whelan - Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Budwey - Guitar
Pat Merson - Bass
James Davis - Drums

Follow FUMING MOUTH:

https://www.fumingmouth.com/

https://www.facebook.com/fumingmouth/

https://www.instagram.com/fumingmouth/

https://twitter.com/FumingMouth

https://www.youtube.com/@FumingMouth

https://www.tiktok.com/@fumingmouth

KILLINGTON PIT RELEASES THEIR 2ND SINGLE "KILL THE KING"

Following the release of their hugely successful debut single – a cover of Accept’s “Balls To The Wall” in August 2023 – Killington Pit return with a remake of the Rainbow classic “Kill The King.”

This recording sees the band joined by rock music veterans, guitarist Stef Burns (Alice Cooper/Huey Lewis & The News) and vocalist guitarist Jeff Blando (Slaughter/Lynchmob/Vince Neil). 

Killington Pit was born of the pandemic. The members connected during the lockdown and began recording together. As time progressed friendships grew and a core band formed with Terry LeRoi, Will Hunt, Troy McLawhorn and Chuck Garric. 
 
The bands first single in August 2023 (“Balls To The Wall”) has had over 900k streams on Spotify and 250k views on YouTube.

Terry LeRoi says, “Recording “Kill The King” was an incredible experience! We were fortunate enough to have 2 insanely talented special guests on this recording; Stef Burns and Jeff Blando! It really was a privilege working with everyone on this! I’ve always been a huge fan of the Blackmore/Dio “Rainbow” era and paying tribute to that band and those musicians is a true honor. “Kill The King” is a legendary track and was one of our first choices as we were assembling our collection of songs for the Killington Pit covers album. I had read some past articles where Ronnie explained the song was inspired by the game of chess. That inspired us to create a video that we hope Ronnie would’ve loved and the fans of Rainbow will truly enjoy!"
 
Stef Burns (Alice Cooper / Huey Lewis & The News) says, “Kill The King is killer!! It was super fun blasting out that classic Rainbow track with great players such as Will Hunt, Blando, and my Alice Cooper brother Chuck Garric! Terry sings his butt off! Of course I’m a longtime Blackmore fan so that made it extra fun.”
 
Jeff Blando (Slaughter/Lynchmob/Vince Neil) says, “What a blast it was rocking out with all these great and talented musicians. My partner in crime, William Hunt on drums, Power Vocals from Terry LeRoi, Wild Man Chuck Garric on bass and I’ve always wanted to jam with the Incredible Stef Burns on guitars. Getting to pay homage to one of my all-time favorite vocalist, Mr. Ronnie James Dio was an incredible fun and rocking experience. I hope everyone digs this track as much as I had fun being a part of it. ROCK ON!!!!”

Will Hunt (Evanescence) says:  “I had a blast tracking this classic Rainbow tune Kill The King with the fellas. It was a great opportunity personally for me to pay homage to the legendary Cozy Powell who was taken from us way too soon. I wanted to copy a lot of what he did because it was so perfect for the song while adding some of my own flavor to it. I think the end result is pretty bombastic.”

Chuck Garric (Alice Cooper) said, “It’s an honor to pay homage to my mentor and my friend!…..To the King “Ronnie James Dio” 
 
LeRoi adds, "Over the coming months we will be releasing our full length covers album with accompanying videos. 2024 will see us playing select shows worldwide and releasing original Killington Pit music. We’re looking forward to sharing this with all of the fans!”

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
https://killingtonpit.com

VITRIOL Announces New Album, Unleashes Music Video for First Single, "The Flowers of Sadism"

Death metal battalion VITRIOL is proud to reveal that it will be releasing its sophomore full-length, 'Suffer & Become,' on January 26, 2024 via Century Media Records! In celebration, the band is now unleashing the emotionally-charged, pummeling first single, "The Flowers of Sadism," along with a music video! The clip, which was created by Vile Luxe Entertainment, can be found below.

VITRIOL guitarist and vocalist Kyle Rasmussen explains of the single's deeply personal themes, "'Flowers' explores the topic of early developmental trauma and the resulting emotional alchemy that can lead to the development of sadistic impulses. While not being an ideal strategy in the presence of healthier alternatives, embracing my more vicious instincts was the key to my psychological and emotional survival at a time when my environment was both hostile and inescapable. It marks the beginning of a complicated journey of seduction by the necessary evils adopted in the pursuit of that survival."

Pre-orders are now live for 'Suffer & Become' HERE. The album will be available digitally as well as in Standard CD Jewelcase, Ltd. Deep Blood Red LP (All ex-US Retail), Orange Crush LP (All US Retail), and Red / Yellow / Black Transp. Splatter LP (Band Exclusive).

For Portland, Oregon's VITRIOL, nothing comes easy. Nothing. The title of their second Century Media album, 'Suffer & Become,' says it all. "The title really sums it up," says guitarist and vocalist Kyle Rasmussen. "I pushed things to a point while making this album where it almost became untenable. Things that were supposed to be done in weeks took months. It wasn't easy, but I think it was suffering well spent."

At the core of 'Suffer & Become' lies a profound sense of extremity and unease. This very essence defines Vitriol as the vanguard in death metal's evolutionary path—a sonic landscape characterized by its profound darkness, density, and the infusion of nanotechnological precision interwoven with intense, seething emotions. Not easy listening in the slightest. Since forming in 2013, Rasmussen and longtime co-conspirator, bassist, and co-vocalist Adam Roethlisberger have worked with a single-minded vision: to push the genre to its breaking point and invent a new uncompromising paradigm in the process. VITRIOL is a masterclass in pain – and that's just their jumping-off point.

Recounting VITRIOL's initial journey into the outer fringes of extremity, Rasmussen is characteristically thoughtful. "I was starving for something that didn't pull any punches," says Kyle of VITRIOL's caustic mission statement, which detonated into the realm of extreme metal with 2013's 'Antichrist' demo. "Death metal was important to me because it speaks to an aggression, a frustration that I had when I was younger. It wasn't just a sonic connection but an emotional connection, which made music almost a means to an end. What I saw happening in extreme metal at the time was almost a removal of emotion in favor of musicality, that fire, that piss and vinegar spirit. Basically, I wanted something that wanted me dead."

With 2017's 'Pain Will Define Their Death' EP, VITRIOL took its spot as one of the underground's most uncompromising exponents, leading them to join forces with Century Media. The resultant album, 2019's "To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice," was nothing short of a crucial next step for the band and the genre itself. Decibel Magazine said, "Vitriol leave no doubt they are one of the best the genre has to offer, with shades of Nile, Hate Eternal, and Anaal Nathrakh frequently peeking through." Hitting the road that year, at first in Europe with Nile and then in the US with Cattle Decapitation and Atheist, and then Vader before the onset of Covid, VITRIOL was quick to establish themselves as much of an uncompromising force onstage as they are on record.

"Doing 'Black Seeds of Vengeance' alongside Karl Sanders [of Nile] onstage in Europe on our very first tour was nothing short of a 'pinch me' moment," Kyle recounts from VITRIOL's early touring days. "More recently, we were touring with Morbid Angel, and Steve Tucker, who is my favorite Morbid Angel vocalist, came out of his dressing room in a VITRIOL t-shirt and exclaimed that we were one of his favorite new bands! That blew my mind as a fan, first and foremost – a total 'Holy Fuck!' moment." 

'Suffer & Become' is nothing short of a benchmark for VITRIOL (rounded out by guitarist Daniel Martinez and Matt Kilner). It's as dense and blackened as anything to erupt from Rasmussen's vision of sonic disorder. From the onset of the opening track, "Shame and Its Afterbirth," there's a new sense of openness, grandeur, and occasional beauty in VITRIOL's aural arsenal. "I wanted to have an album that had a stark duality to it," says Kyle. "Very high highs and very low lows. We're very familiar with the lows but not so much with the triumphant highs. I wanted the album to have more of a sense of optimism to it, both lyrically and musically. I wanted the album to convey a sense of optimism that probably gets lost in the black maelstrom that is the first album." 

Produced by Rasmussen and mixed by Dave Otero (Archspire, Cattle Decapitation), 'Suffer &

Become' isn't merely the sound of VITRIOL upping the ante in death metal's musical arms race; it is also the sound of salvation for its driving force. "Living in the world of that first album was very difficult for me," says Rasmussen. "It's not a nice place. It was very intentionally imbalanced in the same way a horror film is imbalanced. I wanted a healthier world for me to live in, and I believe I achieved that."

Not that the writing and recording of 'Suffer & Become' was anything short of soul-rending. Rasmussen labored over the creation of the album in the studio, on tour in hotel rooms, to the point of painstaking obsessiveness. Kyle is straightforward about the grueling record-making process and its personal impact. "The record feels a bit like a Jungian Dante's Inferno," he states. "Plumbing the circles of my personal, psychological, and spiritual hell and then purposely refocusing it so it's not the unhinged, dark catharsis of the first album. This record is a lot more vulnerable."

Songs like "Weaponized Loss" or "The Flowers of Sadism" are what Kyle describes as a "dark baptism" in comparison to the absolute darkness of "To Bathe…". The sound of VITRIOL remains as joyless and dark as ever, but with a glimmer of hope. VITRIOL has taken its trauma-put-to-sound approach to the next level and discovered a new sense of beauty in the blackness. 'Suffer & Become' is death metal with a bloody, beating heart.

Line-Up:

Kyle Rasmussen - Guitars and Vocals

Adam Roethlisberger - Bass and Vocals

Matt Kilner - Drums

Daniel Martinez - Guitars

Producer // Mixing // Mastering:

Dave Otero

Album artwork:

Dylan Humphries

Photo Credit:

Peter Beste

Bio:

Mike Gitter

Physical Formats:

Standard CD Jewelcase

Ltd. Deep Blood Red LP (All ex-US Retail)

Orange Crush LP (All US Retail)

Red / Yellow / Black Transp. Splatter LP (Band Exclusive) 

Photo by Peter Beste

New Model Army Announce New Album "Unbroken" + Share "First Summer After"

The brand new studio album Unbroken, releasing on January 26 on earMUSIC, is the modern face of New Model Army, bringing together both their old school energy and their contemporary sophistication to create one of the finest albums of their long career. It was written and recorded over quite a long period of time, with the process interrupted by both the delayed 40th Anniversary shows and the recent Sinfonia live orchestral project.

Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared "First Summer After." Watch the video below.

It is a classic New Model Army road trip song, full of twists, turns, and adventures, and the music video was filmed and put together by regular collaborator Tom Harding.

"We were writing and recording ideas in our own studio from mid-2021 and had already decided early on that our number one choice to mix it would be the legendary Tchad Blake. The album sounds like us, but different again, and it has been beautifully mixed – full-on, dynamic, and musical," the band says.

It's a classic New Model Army album — full of guitars but with the emphasis on the rhythmic power of bass and drums which characterizes all the band's work, with Unbroken, the band continue to push the boundaries of their signature sound while staying true to their heart. The subjects and moods are variable, creating a diverse collection of tracks which touch on topics ranging from social and political commentary to deeply personal reflections. 

"Not much hits me as genuine these days, but New Model Army hits it for me. Wonderfully recorded and produced by themselves, mixing this album felt like a gift. Here’s hoping lots of people feel the same way about listening to it," states Tchad Blake.

Unbroken will be released January 26 via earMUSIC as CD Hardcover Mediabook, Heavyweight Black LP Gatefold, Ltd. Heavyweight Red LP Gatefold and on Digital.

Letdown. Releases "Crying In The Shower (Reimagined)" via Big Loud Rock

Breakout alt-rock sensation Letdown. has released a new, deeply moving version of his widely acclaimed track, "Crying In The Shower (Reimagined)" via Big Loud Rock today. With its emotionally charged lyrics paired with a stripped-down orchestral melody, Letdown. breathes new life into the poignant remix, accompanied by a gorgeously cinematic music video. Speaking on today's news, Blake Coddington, the mastermind behind Letdown.'s evocative music, shared:

“I took a song that I feel is very personal to us all about loss regret and moving on, and turned it towards my roots as a songwriter using orchestral and classical instruments and playing styles. I think it takes the song in a whole new emotional direction.”

Letdown. recently showcased his incredible live talents by performing at renowned music festivals such as Aftershock and Louder Than Life after releasing his debut EP 'Crying In The Shower' earlier this year. Stream "Crying In The Shower (Reimagined)" here, watch the official music video below, and be sure to stay tuned for more Letdown. news coming soon.

Letdown. (period included) may have started as a pandemic project for Blake Coddington, but the Chicago/Nashville-based rocker is in a very different place in 2023. Having spent the last three years cultivating a fervent fanbase through a number of single releases and emerging as a striking live act — finally bringing his music into the physical lives of his online fans across several sold-out, headlining shows this past year — Coddington is rapidly growing his presence away from the internet for the first time in Letdown.’s short history. 

The powerful vocals and emotional lyrics over catchy, upbeat drums and guitars originally served as a cathartic way for the songwriter to express himself while working a dead-end job that he hated. But 2022 saw Letdown. being signed to Big Loud Rock and move beyond his beginnings as a viral, at-home musician. This year, however, represents a whole new start for the passionate vocalist, or as Coddington himself puts it: “It’s Season II of Letdown., and it’s definitely the biggest chapter yet.” 

With his debut EP, 'Crying In The Shower', releasing February 24, 2023 and the ability to continue his touring success with an upcoming month-long run in Europe, as well as North American dates supporting Giovannie & The Hired Guns this spring, “Season II” is looking a lot more action-packed than Letdown.’s first couple of years. It was just three years ago that he began throwing videos on YouTube expecting to get a few hundred views, yet now he’s become a known and respected musical commodity both in-person and online with over 643K followers and 5.1M likes on TikTok, 25+ million views on his YouTube channel, over 80M on demand streams and editorial playlisting from the likes of Spotify’s All New Rock, New Noise, Rock Out and Rock Hard. “I always feel weird when people ask me how long I’ve been around, because I got so used to telling people that Letdown. was this new thing,” Coddington laughs. “But now we’re touring and we’ve got a record coming out with a label involved and all of this stuff. I know I’m not ‘seasoned’ yet, but it feels new, exciting and different.” 

As for the new EP itself, pushing forth a collection of seven songs is still a bit of a new experience for Coddington, who’s gotten this far by steadily releasing a single at a time. The title track and opener is a perfect example of the wild, emotional ride that Letdown. enjoys taking his fans on. The song builds into a pumped-up anthem that you can’t help but sing along to, and behind the reactive hook and catchy rhythm, Letdown. takes listeners through the experience and inner turmoil of trying to get over someone you can’t forget by wailing, “crying in the shower, but I can’t wash you away.” 

“You ever listen to happy songs when you're upset or sad or depressed and they make you feel even worse?” Coddington asks with a smirk. “That’s what ‘Crying in the Shower’ is for me. It's like, ‘Here's a list of terrible things, set to an incredibly upbeat, happy beat’ — which is almost a metaphor for me. I’m a happy-looking guy who is quite the opposite on the inside.” Elsewhere, the EP continues to document Coddington’s internal struggle as he searches for answers in times of darkness, uncertainty and self-doubt on stadium-sized singles “Go To Hell”, “Empty”, “Shipwreck” and “Ugly”, a soaring, pop-rock belter featuring Kelsy Karter & the Heroines that encompasses the types of thoughts related to self image and how we perceive ourselves. “That song is a literal depiction of how I feel about myself,” Coddington adds. “It may be a dichotomy between the actual person that I am and the person that I see in the mirror as my flaws are sometimes all I see. As I try to disassociate from the me that I hate, I also struggle with the reality that we are one and the same.” 

In regards to the release of his first full body of music, Coddington remains thrilled for his future, the development of Letdown.,

and continuing to connect with those who have found solace in his powerful online community. “Getting to put out something like

an EP seems so classic to me, which makes me really excited about it.” he says. “I’m honestly just excited that people won’t

have to select another song after each one and can just ride the wave. I think we've really curated it in a way that takes you on

an emotional rollercoaster — in the best way possible.”

SUFFOCATION | HYMMS FROM THE APOCRYPHA OUT NOW + REVEAL 3D LYRIC VIDEO FOR 'DELUSIONS OF MORALITY'

"Ricky Myers' studio debut is a work that really does its job and will blow heads. No Death Metal fan should miss this work."
The Dark Melody (Latin America)

"With this album, I strongly believe in the relevance of this new version of Suffocation that could have simply decided to roll on the catalog of the past on tour but decided to give us a damn good cake!"
ARS Media (Canada)

The wait is over! New York death metal legends SUFFOCATION unleash their ninth full-length album Hymns From The Apocrypha via Nuclear Blast. 

The band offers fans the third track 'Delusions of Mortality' which combines progressive melodies and Ricky Myers' monstrous vocals. Check out the 3D lyric video created by Tamara of Aimed & Framed.

SUFFOCATION's Ricky Myers comments, "'Delusions of Mortality' is the third single off our new album HYMNS FROM THE APOCRYPHA. The lyrical content pertains to these dimensional beings granting us ancient scriptures scribed of our true origin, purpose, and the reason why humanity was created. Revealing knowledge that is too much for man to comprehend but at the same time, it allows mankind to remove the veil and see the truth. This existence is nothing but a delusion."

Purchase Hymns From The Apocrypha on various formats and stream now.
https://suffocation.bfan.link/hftaa.

Watch the 3D lyrics video for 'Delusions of Mortality', below.

Next week, SUFFOCATION kicks off their 26-date trek alongside INCANTATION on November 7th in Baltimore. The 'Ancient Unholy Uprising' tour will make its way across North America with performances in Montreal, Seattle, and Houston before its conclusion in Greensboro on December 4th. Joining the band each night are SKELETAL REMAINS and STABBING. 

Purchase tickets here: 
www.suffocationofficial.com/tour

Confirmed dates for SUFFOCATION's 'Ancient Unholy Uprising' tour 2023 with co-headliners INCANTATION and support SKELETAL REMAINS and STABBING are:

11.07.2023 US Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
11.08.2023 US Reading, PA - Reverb
11.09.2023 US Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
11.10.2023 US Providence, RI - Alchemy
11.11.2023 CA Trois-Rivières, QC - Amphithéâtre Cogeco 
11.12.2023 CA Montreal, QC - Studio TO
11.13.2023 CA Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
11.14.2023 US Detroit, MI - The Sanctuary
11.15.2023 US Chicago, IL - Reggies
11.16.2023 US Madison, WI - The Annex
11.17.2023 US Lawrence, KS - The Granada
11.18.2023 US Denver, CO -  HQ
11.20.2023 US Richland, WA - Ray's Golden Lion
11.21.2023 US Seattle, WA - El Corazon
11.22.2023 US Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom
11.24.2023 US San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
11.25.2023 US San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
11.26.2023 US Los Angeles, CA - 1720
11.27.2023 US Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge
11.28.2023 US Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
11.29.2023 US Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street Collective
11.30.2023 US Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
12.01.2023 US Houston, TX - Scout Bar
12.02.2023 US San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
12.03.2023 US New Orleans, LA - Southport Music Hall
12.04.2023 US Greensboro, NC - Hangar 1819

SUFFOCATION took about a month and a half to record Hymns from the Apocrypha. They holed up at Hobbs and Boyer's InLine Studio in Long Island. The duo engineered and co-produced with Christian Donaldson (BENEATH THE MASSACRE, INGESTED), who was also re-enlisted to mix and master, with Dominic Grimard (CRYPTOPSY, SHADOW OF INTENT) assisting. With stunning cover art by Greek illustrator Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design (VOMITORY, THE CROWN), Hymns from the Apocrypha is characteristically SUFFOCATION. It's uncompromisingly brutal, artistically gutsy, and aurally heavy. Clearly, SUFFOCATION, as they head into their 35th Anniversary, are at the peak of their potential. Death metal or die!

Photo credit: Jason Carlson

Hymns from the Apocrypha will be available digitally and in the following formats:

• CD Jewel

• Vinyl

  • Brown w/ White Splatter

  • White w/ Brown Corona (Mailorder exclusive, limited to 600)

• Cassette

  • Smoky Tint (Band exclusive, limited to 200)

  • Gold (Mailorder exclusive, limited to 500)

SUFFOCATION has exclusive Hymns from the Apocrypha merch available at www.nightshiftmerch.com/collections/suffocation.

SUFFOCATION line-up:
Terrence Hobbs | Guitar
Derrek Boyer | Bass
Eric Morotti | Drums
Charlie Errigo | Guitar
Ricky Myers | Vocals

More Information:
www.facebook.com/suffocation
www.instagram.com/suffocationofficial
www.twitter.com/suffocation
www.tiktok.com/@suffocationofficial
www.youtube.com/suffocationofficial
open.spotify.com/user/suffocation_official?si=617347e88d9e423c
www.twitch.tv/suffocationofficial

COLOSSAL STREET JAM Release "No Way to Live" Via FRETBAR RECORDS!

New Jersey rock band COLOSSAL STREET JAMhas released their single, "No Way to Live," with Independent, taste-maker label, FRETBAR RECORDS. With soaring vocals from front-man GENE POTTS, Hammond organ by ERIC SAFKA, melodic guitar in the talented hands of SAL MARRA, and a rhythmic foundation from DAVE HALPERN, this new release will quickly become a hit, with an electrifying new music video slated to release late November, 2023, followed by the full album in 2024.

Keep your eye on COLOSSAL STREET JAM!

"No Way to Live", the actual song , started out about the daily struggles in life we all go thru. The song ended up being the start of an album and songs that touch on so many social and emotional issues during a rough time for everyone in the world. We never set out to make a concept album, but it definitely has that feel when you go from song to song." - GENE POTTS

"We are very excited to have signed with Fretbar Records and Jimmy Warren Entertainment Group. The band will hit the road to support "No Way to Live" throughout 2024 and our single will be on radio worldwide starting this week." - COLOSSAL STREET JAM

“'NO WAY TO LIVE' reminds me of what great rock n roll was in the 70’s. We believe fans are going to dive in and fall in love with COLOSSAL STREET JAM.” - JIMMY WARREN (President, FRETBAR RECORDS)

It’s once been said that all roads lead to home…
That’s precisely where this long-time band of brothers & creative soulmates found themselves, when their well-traveled musical roads converged.

It was at this poignant juncture that COLOSSAL STREET JAM was born.
One may define their electrifying synergy as the cosmic melding & explosive concoction of abstract minds, unique talent, inherent soul, and tireless passion for their beloved craft.

Having a deep & mutual admiration for one another, as well as having tremendous respect for their many, and diverse collective influences, who helped shape their gritty, melodic, psychedelically tinged hard rock stylings, each member truly brings their own individuality, and nuance to the mix.

An eclectic potpourri for the senses, CSJ ultimately, and seamlessly fuse their independent ideas to deliver a singular vision & signature sound that can easily be coined as “New Classic Rock” for the ages.

This hard-driving, 70’s inspired, 5-piece ensemble is comprised of Gene Potts (vocals)… Sal Marra (guitar/ vocals)… Tony Flora (bass)… Dave Halpern (drums)… and Eric Safka (keys).

With their roots firmly planted and their musical heritage tightly in place, CSJ has long been an integral part the legendary Asbury Park, NJ music scene.

Always proud to honor these roots, and the place that gave them their start, the band forever carries with them that feeling of tradition, and heart that has endeared them to growing audiences both nationally and internationally.

In 2016, the band’s release, Living Free, was met with critical acclaim and worldwide press. The albums single, “Songbird” received extensive radio airplay both locally, and globally.

In 2018, that same record won an award for Australian Indie Album of The Year For Internet Radio.

It subsequently remained on the Indie charts, Down Under, for 6 months.

Later that year, in November of 2018, CSJ released their follow up album, Just Take Hold…

Once again, they were greeted with extensive Indie and College radio airplay for that record’s namesake single, “Just Take Hold”, as well as for their cover version of the Sugarloaf classic, “Green Eyed Lady”.

In May and December of 2019, CSJ completed two successful European tours, which journeyed them throughout The Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.

As the world paused for the next couple years, due to the global pandemic, CSJ was still hard at work on their next creative endeavor.

In 2021, they released a new single, “No Way To Live”…

Just as before, they garnered massive airplay, both locally and overseas.

On March 1st, 2023, the long-awaited full length, 11- song album, which was on hold, due to the state of the world was finally released.

Baring the same name, as that previous single, this record triggered the launch of a full-scale publicity campaign, along with upcoming shows in both the US and Europe.

COLOSSAL STREET JAM has shared stages nationwide with the likes of Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, Robbie Krieger of The Doors, The Black Crowes, Kings X, Stone Temple Pilots, Rival Suns, Blackberry Smoke, The Drive By Truckers, The Hold Steady, Gov’t Mule, Johnny Winter, Sebastian Bach, Bruce Dickinson, Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies, Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Morse, Zebra, Deep Purple, Leslie West, Clarence Clemons, and countless others.

FRETBAR RECORDS is an independent label supporting many of the hottest new rock bands.

Jagwar Twin & angelbaby Join Forces to Release Infectious New Single "Life Is Good"

Jagwar Twin, the alternative-rock sensation, is thrilled to announce his latest collaboration with angelbaby, a top grossing Web3 artist, in the release of their new single, "Life Is Good". In this electrifying alliance, the trailblazing Jagwar Twin and the chart topping angelbaby fuse together their respective charismatic rock roots and vocal prowess to set the stage for an anthem that will resonate far and wide. Fans can stream the brand new track HERE.

Speaking on today's single release, Jagwar Twin shares:

"Life Is Good is about the time we are living in. The world is undergoing a massive transformation. We are becoming more aware of our shadows, collectively and individually, and as more light comes in, more darkness is seen."

In addition, angelbaby reflects on the track:

"It’s so easy in life to get caught up in the negative sh**, but also we can’t pretend that everything is just perfect. From the music to the lyrics to the live drums, this song is like walking a tightrope. For me singing life is good is like keeping your eyes locked on the horizon and all the dark lyrics represent your mind wanting you to look down."

With an impressive 345 million catalog streams and 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Jagwar Twin stands out as a dynamic force challenging the status quo of the alternative music scene. His genre-defying artistry has captivated audiences through the seamless blend of rhythmic accordion hooks, melodic children’s choirs, and gritty breakbeats, accompanied by profoundly introspective, almost cryptic lyrics.

Jagwar Twin's previous album, 33, had channeled the magnetic showmanship of Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie and Bad-era Michael Jackson, all while unapologetically embracing authenticity and vulnerability. Fueled by chart-toppers like "It's Your Time," "I Like To Party," "Down To You," and smash hit "Happy Face," which has garnered over 100 million streams, Jagwar Twin serves as a powerful catalyst. His innovative style urges listeners to embrace their true selves, recognize their self-worth, and place trust in their individuality. 

Be sure to stay tuned for more Jagwar Twin news coming soon.

Photo Credit - Hume, Inc

ABOUT JAGWAR TWIN

Emerging out of the California suburbs of Orange County, Jagwar Twin creates worlds steeped in lore with his own genre of alternative rock: accordion hooks, children’s choirs, and gritty breakbeats paired with deeply thoughtful, almost hieroglyphic lyrics. Jagwar Twin’s music explores light and dark, good and evil, and the war within himself and each of his cult-like followers.

ABOUT ANGELBABY

angelbaby has emerged as a notable figure in the realm of virtual rap/pop, backed by an ensemble of award-winning songwriters and vocalists. His recent track “before you,” featuring PRETTYMUCH, from his anticipated album “Clio,” quickly racked up over 100,000 streams in just a week. He has had significant mentions in Forbes, Billboard, and Fast Company. Beyond the digital world, angelbaby’s presence resonates in live settings. Recent performances at events like Art Basel and SXSW, coupled with opening sets for renowned artists like Chromeo, T-Pain, and Dillon Francis, attest to his expanding footprint in the music industry. Signed to CAA, his future looks as promising as his track record.

WATAIN - New Live Album "Die In Fire - Live In Hell" Out Now

The new live album, Die In Fire - Live In Hell, by ruthless Swedish black metal collective WATAIN is out today through Nuclear Blast Records.

After 25 years of madness and mayhem that manifested in seven studio albums, WATAIN‘s intense and much talked-about live rituals remain in a league of their own. Experience the raw power and fiery precision captured perfectly on this live recording from a sold out show that took place in October 2022 in Stockholm, and features fan favourites from albums such as Casus Luciferi, Lawless Darkness, The Wild Hunt, Trident Wolf Eclipse and of course the band's latest offering, The Agony And Ecstasy of Watain, as well as the BATHORY cover 'The Return Of Darkness And Evil'. The audio was recorded by Jamie Elton and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio.

With all artwork created by vocalist and front man Erik Danielsson, Die in Fire – Live in Hell is not only a sonic but also a visual reflection of WATAIN’s touring cycle for The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain, and beyond that a symbol of gratitude for their loyal followers worldwide! Die in Fire – Live in Hell is a very personal release dedicated to all those who have joined WATAIN on their path of lawless black metal darkness during the past 25 years.

BUY OR LISTEN TO DIE IN FIRE - LIVE IN HELL HERE:
https://watain.bfan.link/die-in-fire-live-in-hell.ema

Erik Danielsson (vocals) commented:

”With the videos for the live album we have attempted to convey at least a fraction of the primal psychedelic malevolence that possess us when we perform. 

The majority of the footage is from the same concert in Stockholm at which the album was recorded. It was then slaughtered and remolded by the skilled and manic artists credited at the end of the video. Turn off your mind, shut out the modern world and dissappear into these analogue nightmare visions of darkness and ecstasy.”

WATCH THE OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO FOR 'ECSTASIES IN NIGHT INFINITE': 

Die In Fire - Live In Hell is available in the following formats:

Digital Album

CD

Vinyl (2LP w/ 8 page booklet)

• 1 LP transp. yellow, 1 LP transp. red

• 1 LP gold , 1 LP oxblood - band exclusive

Coinciding with the release, WATAIN will play two very special anniversary shows at UKK in their hometown Uppsala on Friday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 4th. The first night was sold out within minutes, so a second one was added and very few tickets are still available here: https://secure.tickster.com/sv/8ttcd34a5687cc9/selectproductgroup 

Visit WATAIN at:
https://linktr.ee/watainofficial

Michael Franti & Spearhead Deliver 'Big Big Love' Ahead of Sold Out Soulshine at Sea Cruise

Dubbed by American Songwriter as “an energizing batch of songs that spotlight the common threads that connect us,” Michael Franti & Spearhead release their 13th studio album Big Big Love, available everywhere now. With all 17 tracks cowritten by Franti, Big Big Love reflects his tenacity, inclusiveness and optimism, despite both his own losses and worldwide hardships over the last few years.
 
“Togetherness is the central theme in all the songs on this record,” shares Franti. “How do we get that feeling of togetherness, that feeling of closeness, that we so often overlooked and took for granted, but now has become so important? Not only just in terms of how we interact with each other in our neighborhoods or our personal relationships, but on a worldwide scale. How do we bridge these gaps so that people can feel close to one another again?
 
“There are forces in the world that use our division to achieve their greedy goals, their political aims, or just to divide people because they want to try to take advantage of it,” he elaborates. “I want to really use my music and my time in my life to bring closeness to people and help them feel like they’re not alone in this world.”
 
With a stirring video accompaniment, “Hands Up To The Sky” quickly became a fan-favorite during live shows. Written by Franti, Greg Hvnsen and Daniel Lubwama Kigozi, the uplifting track permits listeners to make space in their minds and hearts by letting go of emotions and allow room for the joy that follows once on the other side.
 
“Writing ‘Hands Up’ was an important part of my healing journey and putting together the video was cathartic,” reveals Franti. “I lost my father to COVID and after several months of grieving, I saw live music again for the first time – a Balinese band called The Munchies. At one point, I closed my eyes and put my hands up to the sky. My whole body started trembling, tears started coming down my cheeks, and I was laughing and crying and dancing and singing and shouting and just feeling everything over the previous few years rise up and out.
 
“I needed the music to help me open all the parts of my soul that were blocked due to just trying to figure out how to get through life each day. It was a reminder to me of how important music is, as it also brought that feeling of togetherness that I missed so much during the pandemic. That feeling of just being around other people watching a band play and experiencing that together.”
 
Franti & Spearhead embarked on their Big Big Love Tour earlier this year with 60+ dates and 20+ sold out shows with iconic stops at Red Rocks Amphitheater, Summerstage in Central Park and the Greek Theatre followed by festival plays this fall at Oceans Calling and Farm-to-Fork Festival.
 
Following today’s release, Franti’s sold out Soulshine at Sea Cruise will set sail Nov. 4-8 from Miami, Florida to Costa Maya, Mexico with a lineup featuring John Butler of John Butler Trio, SOJA, Tank & The Bangas, Hirie, Fortunate Youth, Tropidelic, Southern Avenue, The New Respects, Bombargo, Navio and Shut Up & Dance. Soulshine at Sea includes unique curated activities with Franti and his wife Sara as well as soul-renewing wellness opportunities with instructors including Gina Caputo, QVLN & Sunshine Zerda, Jillian Keaveny, Kate Mak, Daphne Tse, Cappy Franti and DJ Shoshi.
 
With Franti’s second voyage with Sixthman, in an effort to offset their carbon footprint, they have partnered with Arief Rabik and the Bamboo Village Trust, an Indonesian non-profit organization that follows the Village-Based Bamboo Agroforestry Model to promote bamboo as a sustainable alternative to timber and harness the potential of bamboo to rehabilitate billions of hectares of degraded lands worldwide. Money raised throughout the voyage will go towards the foundation’s work to to help reduce deforestation and restore degraded land along the equatorial belt.

Michael Franti & Spearhead | Photo Credit: Wayan Rodesh

About Michael Franti
Michael Franti is a globally recognized musician, activist and award-winning filmmaker revered for his high-energy live shows, inspiring music, worldwide philanthropic efforts and the power of optimism. Throughout his multi-decade career, Franti has earned three Billboard No. 1’s with triumphantly hopeful hits “Sound of Sunshine,” “Say Hey (I Love You)” and “I Got You,” as well as six Top 30 Hot AC singles, 10 Top 25 AAA Singles and three Billboard Top 5 Rock Albums. Spearhead’s Follow Your Heart was released in June 2022 and debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Pop Chart behind Harry Styles. Franti & Spearhead’s 13th studio album Big Big Love is available everywhere now, featuring 17 songs all cowritten by Franti.

The Bay-Area native resides in Bali when he is not on tour and owns Soulshine Bali, a 32-room top-rated boutique hotel located in Ubud, Bali that focuses on joy through wellness and music, offering unique retreat opportunities and accommodations, along with special events and celebrations. Franti continues to foster community both on and off stage with a wish granting non-profit, Do It For The Love, which brings those with life threatening illnesses, veterans, and children with severe challenges to concerts worldwide, fulfilling over 3,300 wishes and touching the lives of over 12,000 people to date.
 

MichaelFranti.com | Facebook.com/MichaelFranti | Instagram @MichaelFranti
TikTok @MichaelFranti | Twitter @MichaelFranti

BLANCO BROWN PAYS TRIBUTE TO A COUNTRY ICON WITH HIS RENDITION OF "TAKE ME HOME, COUNTRY ROADS"

11x Platinum Country recording artist Blanco Brown steers John Denver’s classic hit "Take Me Home, Country Roads" through his signature “TrailerTrap” lane on his latest Wheelhouse Records release available today.  This track marks a momentous tribute to the late, great John Denver that was a personal request from his estate and showcases Blanco's profound appreciation for the timeless song that has resonated with generations of music enthusiasts. Download HERE.

"Getting asked by the John Denver estate to put a new spin on this song was just incredible,” recalls Blanco. “I remember hearing this song at football games and it always had that big anthem feel.  When the estate shared the original tracks, I could hear John’s banter before and after, so I really got a feel of what John was feeling when he sang this hit. I just love this song and we got to toss some 808 beats and high hats on it to give it a whole new energy.”

Breathing new life into a beloved classic and infusing it with a fresh and modern twist, his soulful and unique interpretation combines elements of country, hip-hop, and R&B, creating a musical fusion that will connect with audiences across economic and environmental backgrounds worldwide. Brown's smooth, heartfelt vocals and innovative production techniques pay homage to the original while adding his signature contemporary flair.

This release is a testament to Brown’s artistry and his commitment to preserving the rich heritage of country music while bringing it into a new era.

Photo Credit: J. Kaviar

About Blanco Brown:

Blurring the lines between Country and Hip-Hop, Blanco Brown makes a southern sound that he proudly calls "Trailer Trap." Honing in on his unique sound, Blanco balances both the metropolis and country settings in which he grew up. His viral hit “The Git Up” (certified 11x PLATINUM across three countries) took the world by storm, claiming the top spot in charts across the globe and spawning nearly four billion views across social platforms. It claimed the No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 12 weeks and was the top-selling digital Country song in the US for 13 weeks, resulting in Billboard naming him as their No. 1 Top New Country Artist for 2019. Apart from being a Grammy-nominated engineer who has worked with the likes of Fergie, Childish Gambino, Kane Brown and Chris Brown, the multi-talent’s multi-national Platinum-certified collaboration “Just the Way” with Parmalee garnered more than 500 million on-demand streams, earning Brown his first No. 1 hit on Country radio (in the US and Canada). More recently, he doubled down on his genre-bending collaborations, teaming with Nelly on the funky, country inspired track “High Horse,” T.I. for “Trap Still Bumpin’,” LOCASH and the late Leslie Jordan for the funky “Let It Slide,” while pairing with Diplo for “Do Si Do” and Lee Brice and R3HAB for the remix of Brice’s hit song, “Soul.” In 2021, Blanco Brown also lent soaring vocals to the song “Never Gonna Tame You (Original Song from “The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses”),” written by Diane Warren. Recovering from a life-threatening accident and leaning on music to heal, Blanco released “Nobody’s More Country” in 2021. Then, while hitting the road hard this summer, he instantly captured the attention of festival audiences across the nation opening his set with a breathtakingly powerful cover blend of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” Showcasing his world-class vocal talent and captivating stage presence throughout 2022, Blanco released emotionally charged track “I’ll Never,”  unlike anything the No. 1 hitmaker has ever released.  Brown’s latest release of "Take Me Home, Country Roads” marks a momentous tribute to the late, great John Denver and showcases Blanco Brown's profound appreciation for the timeless song that has resonated with generations of music enthusiasts.

KEEP UP WITH BLANCO BROWN
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Drake Milligan Releases Fan-Demanded “I Got A Problem (Full Length)”

Stoney Creek Records recording artist DRAKE MILLIGAN is giving fans what they crave, releasing the full length, original version of his current single following a captivating return to America’s Got Talent. The newly recorded “I Got A Problem (Full Length)” is out today (11/3).

With a rich, warm vocal and a sound tipping its hat to neon-lit ‘90s romance, the track remains a heartfelt tribute to an all-consuming love – but now comes with an added layer of refinement. 

Featuring a new piano intro to showcase the effortless ease of Milligan’s beyond-his-years baritone, “I Got A Problem (Full Length)” captures the track just like the rising star performed it as an America’s Got Talent guest in September – returning to the scene of his national-TV breakout last season. 

The cool-and-collected performance was so riveting, it prompted host (and early believer) Simon Cowell to invite Milligan to be a part of an upcoming AGT spin-off show – and led fans to demand it be released.

Meanwhile, Milligan’s global profile continues its skyrocketing growth, with successes piling up across North America, Europe and beyond.

Mixing traditional country twang and a dose of right-now swagger, Milligan and multi-PLATINUM duo The Reklaws are currently rising up the Canadian charts with their inside the Top 10 collab single, “Honky Tonkin’ About,” earning acclaim from outlets like Billboard and even a performance at the 2023 Canadian Country Music Awards last month.

The creative partners also traveled to Romania to film a time-warp music video with a star-studded cast, enlisting Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), Robert Knepper (Prison Break) and Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds) for a clip which premiered at the crossroads of the world on October 19, taking over CMT/Paramount’s famous Times Square billboards in New York City. Watch the video HERE.

Meanwhile, Milligan has already performed over 100 U.S. shows this year, and will keep the throttle pinned as the calendar flips, opening for fellow Texan Cody Johnson in 2024,  along with an extensive headlining tour of the U.S. 

As for the rest of this year, he’ll first head to Canada for four snowy shows in December, and will then close out the year with a hometown bang, set to rock the World’s Largest Honky Tonk – Billy Bob’s Fort Worth – on New Years Eve, marking the third time this year he has sold out the venue. 

From there, he’ll fly to Europe for six shows including stops in Germany, TheNetherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and the U.K., and Milligan already has two international festivals on tap for 2024. He’s booked for big-time appearances in Australia (CMC Rocks QLD 2024 – March 15) and Norway (Den Forvitnelege Countryfestivalen 2024 – July 27).

It all follows the acclaimed release of Milligan’s 2022 album debut, Dallas/FortWorth, and looking ahead, fans can expect all new music in 2024.

View a complete list of Drake Milligan’s tour dates here.

About Drake Milligan:

Drake Milligan burst onto the national music stage entering the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart at #5 after dominating iTunes with his debut album Dallas/Fort Worth, charting back-to-back#1 hits on the iTunes Country Songs Chart, #1 on iTunes All-Genre Chart and reclaimed the #1 spot on iTunes Country Albums Chart, all while simultaneously holding positions #1, #2, #3 and #5 on iTunes Country Video Chart. In the UK, Milligan’s debut album spent 11 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 of the Official Country Artists Albums Chart. A student of classic Country music with the swagger of early Rock ‘n’ Roll, the Fort Worth, Texas native is an electrifying entertainer who is packing Country fans into clubs night after night on tour. Milligan cites George Strait and Elvis Presley – the King of Country and the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – as musical heroes. His unique twist of traditional Country has been embraced by fans, peers and the media alike. Milligan has performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Grand Ole Opry, Stagecoach and CMA Music Festival. He has earned high praise from People, BBC, USA Today, Parade, American Songwriter, CMT.com, Billboard, ET, Access Hollywood, Cosmopolitan, Cowgirl Magazine and Taste of Country. Following his debut album – co-produced by award-winning Tony Brown and Brandon Hood – the Stoney Creek Records artist is back with new music, dropping the good-time, romantic tune, “I Got A Problem,” alongside his fun-loving duet “Honky Tonkin’ About” with Canadian supergroup The Reklaws.

KEEP UP WITH DRAKE MILLIGAN
WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | X

CBS Presents "WILLIE NELSON'S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION" Concert Special, Airing Dec. 17

CBS presents "WILLIE NELSON’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION," a concert special honoring the legendary career of music icon Willie Nelson, Sunday, Dec. 17 (8:30-10:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+)*. The news was announced during Nelson’s appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” last night, Thursday, Nov. 2.
 
The star-studded special, recorded live earlier this year across two nights before a sold-out crowd at the legendary Hollywood Bowl, celebrates Nelson’s milestone 90th birthday and the 12-time GRAMMY® Award-winner’s contributions to popular culture and music. This historic concert event of the year features unforgettable collaborations and once-in-a-lifetime performances by Willie Nelson, Beck, Gary Clark Jr., Sheryl Crow, Snoop Dogg, Norah Jones, Miranda Lambert, Dave Matthews, Nelson’s sons Lukas Nelson and Micah Nelson, Keith Richards, George Strait and Chris Stapleton. The special is hosted by stars Jennifer Garner, Chelsea Handler, Woody Harrelson, Ethan Hawke, Helen Mirren and Owen Wilson.  
 
“It is the sincere privilege of our lives to have produced these shows celebrating our beloved Willie, and to partner with CBS to bring this special to fans around the world,” said Mark Rothbaum and Keith Wortman, creators and executive producers of WILLIE NELSON’S 90th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. “Viewers will now have the chance to sing, laugh and cry, and experience the joy of this celebration like never before.” 
 
"WILLIE NELSON’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION" is a production of Blackbird Presents. 
 
*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to steam live but will have access to on-demand the day after the special airs.

About Willie Nelson:
With a seven-decade career, Willie Nelson has earned every conceivable award as a musician and amassed reputable credentials as an author, actor, and activist. He continues to thrive as a relevant and progressive musical and cultural force. In recent years, he has delivered more than a dozen new albums, released a Top 10 New York Times' bestsellers book, again headlined Farm Aid (an event he co-founded in 1985) and his annual Willie Nelson's 4th of July Picnic, been honored by the Library of Congress with their Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, received his 5th degree black belt in Gong Kwon Yu Sul, headlined the annual Luck Reunion food and music festival during SXSW, launched his cannabis companies Willie's Reserve and Willie's Remedy, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone and AARP The Magazine. Nelson started this decade by releasing four albums of newly recorded music—First Rose of Spring (2020), That’s Life (2021), The Willie Nelson Family (2021), and A Beautiful Time (2022, GRAMMY Award winner for Best Country Album)—and three books—Me and Sister Bobbie: True Tales of the Family Band (2020), Willie Nelson’s Letters to America (2021), and Me and Paul: Untold Tale of a Fabled Friendship (Throughout 2023, Willie celebrates his 90th birthday with multiple projects and events including a two-night star-studded concert, Long Story Short: Willie Nelson 90, that took place in April at the famed Hollywood Bowl, and released as a feature film in June. The year began with the debut of "Wille Nelson & Family," a new five-part film documentary series directed by Thom Zimny and Oren Moverman that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival as well as the release of a new album, I Don't Know a Thing About Love, which features 10 performances that pay tribute to American songwriter Harlan Howard. From June to October, Nelson headlines the annual Outlaw Music Festival Tour. In the Fall, two new releases debuted: an album, Bluegrass (with newly recorded studio performances of 12 Willie Nelson-penned classics showcasing Willie with a bluegrass ensemble released September 15), and a book, Energy Follows Thought (with stories behind the lyrics of 160 of his favorite songs, along with never-before-seen photos and ephemera arrived on October 31). On November 3, Nelson will be inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. These creative endeavors as well as new songs and performances that add to his classic catalog, find Willie Nelson rolling at an artistic peak, writing and singing and playing with the seasoned wit and wisdom that comes from the road.
 
About Blackbird Presents:
Blackbird Presents is an award-winning creator and producer of premium music-driven content via a range of strategies including all-star concert events, tours, festivals, broadcast specials and films. Its projects feature the biggest music stars in the world (including Dolly Parton, Bruce Springsteen, Keith Richards, George Strait, Steven Tyler, Willie Nelson, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, Jimmy Buffett, The Roots, Carlos Santana, Peter Gabriel, Miranda Lambert, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Brandi Carlile, Lionel Richie, Reba McEntire, John Mayer, Kacey Musgraves, Darius Rucker, Jack Johnson, Robert Plant, The Avett Brothers, Sheryl Crow, Juanes, Van Morrison, Sturgill Simpson, Lady A, Little Big Town, Ringo Starr, Idina Menzel, Becky G, Nathaniel Rateliff, and many others), produced for a portfolio of studio and network partners including CBS, Viacom, A&E, AMC, CMT, Live Nation, AEG, Nederlander, Facebook, PBS and more. Recent music, film, and television projects include Willie: Life & Songs Of An American Outlaw, Biography: Kenny Rogers, Imagine: John Lennon 75th Birthday Concert, Peace Through Music: A Global Event For Social Justice, Sing Me Back Home: The Music of Merle Haggard, The Life & Songs of Kris Kristofferson, Outlaw: Celebrating The Music of Waylon Jennings, I'll Take You There: Celebrating 75 Years of Mavis Staples, The Life and Songs of Emmylou Harris, The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: Celebrating Mac and His Music, and All My Friends: Celebrating The Songs and Voice of Gregg Allman, which earned a GRAMMY® Award nomination for Gregg Allman and Taj Mahal's awe-inspiring performance of Statesboro Blues.
 
Blackbird Presents is also the creator and producer of The Outlaw Music Festival Tour, in partnership with Willie Nelson; The American Roots Music & Arts Festival, in partnership with Eric Church; and The Last Waltz 40 Tour in partnership with Robbie Robertson.

SPIRITBOX Celebrate Release of New EP With 3-Part Music Video Premiere Event

The wait is over and SPIRITBOX, have released their highly anticipated new EP ‘The Fear of Fear' (out now via Rise Records/Pale Chord). In celebration of the release the band have initiated a 3-part video premiere event, releasing the official music videos for the 3 brand new tracks on the album. The event beings now with the release of the music video for "Ultraviolet". Tomorrow - Friday, November 3rd, the band will premiere the music video for "Angel Eyes" and on Saturday, November 4th, at 12pm PT they will premiere the official music video for "Too Close/Too Late".

Watch the brand new video for "Ultraviolet" below.

Be sure to subscribe to the Rise Records YouTube Channel to catch the upcoming premieres of "Angel Eyes" and "TooClose/TooLate".

‘The Fear of Fear’ builds on the band’s momentum from their massively successful 2021 debut album ‘ Eternal Blue’, which topped charts and dominated critics’ year-end lists. The 6-track EP features previously released singles “The Void ”, "Jaded" and "Cellar Door". Listen to ‘The Fear Of Fear’ now HERE.

SPIRITBOX have been touring extensively this year, having conquered massive tours in Europe and North America, including their first ever US headline tour which completely sold out. The band completed a UK headline run followed by multiple major summer festival shows, and recently wrapped up an extensive run across the US with Shinedown and Papa Roach.

'The Fear of Fear' puts a triumphant exclamation point on another phenomenally successful year for 'Metal's hottest band'(Billboard). With their sights set firmly on 2024, the seems to be no stopping Spiritbox and their meteoric rise to global domination.

ABOUT SPIRITBOX: 

Spiritbox are arguably *the* hottest band in heavy music. Their debut album, Eternal Blue, dropped September of 2021 and rolled in on a global tsunami of critical acclaim, perfect score reviews and features everywhere including Spin, Forbes, Billboard and Alternative Press to multiple front covers including Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Alternative Press, Rock Sound, Distorted Sound, Pollstar, and Revolver. The album spawned a string of hit singles including "Holy Roller", "Constance", “Circle With Me”, "Secret Garden" and most recently, "Hurt you". 'Eternal Blue' charted #13 Billboard Top 200, #1 Rock, #1 Hard Rock, #1 Vinyl, #2 Internet Albums, #2 Independent, #3 Digital Albums, #3 Album Sales and top 20 of the official charts in Australia (#8), Germany (#17) and UK (#19). To date, Eternal Blue has clocked up 265 million streams.

Spiritbox followed the release of Eternal Blue with the 3-song Rotoscope EP, in 2022. The title track for which came accompanied by an official music video shot by Max Moore, which has run up over 3.6 million YouTube views. The EP has clocked up 28.5 million streams.

They end 2023 with the release of 'The Fear of Fear' EP. Consisting of six tracks, each with their own high-concept music video, the release encapsulates each facet of the Spiritbox spectrum. From glacial and emotive to earth-shatteringly heavy, each track provides a further dive into the sonic world-building of one of the most exciting bands to emerge from heavy music in recent years.

To date, Spiritbox have accumulated over 436 million career streams across platforms and 76.4 million YouTube views. They were also nominated for 2 Juno Awards last year for Breakthrough Group Of The Year and Metal/Hard Music Album of The Year last year.

Find SPIRITBOX Online:

spiritbox.com

Until I Wake to Release Deluxe Edition of "Inside My Head" + Band Shares "Cold" Live Video

BUFFALO ROCK BAND UNTIL I WAKE RELEASE DELUXE EDITION OF DEBUT ALBUM INSIDE MY HEAD

EXPANDED VERSION INCLUDES SEVERAL EXTRA TRACKS — TWO BRAND NEW SONGS + TWO SONGS REVISITED

BAND SHARES LIVE VIDEO FOR "COLD" — WATCH

TOURING THROUGH END OF 2023 WITH IMMINENCE
 

Buffalo quartet Until I Wake — vocalist Cody Johnson, bassist Ryan Ridley, guitarist August Geitner, and drummer Alex Curtin — have released the deluxe edition of their debut album Inside My Head today via Fearless Records. Get it here.

The deluxe version features four new songs — two original tracks and two revisited.

The band has shared the live video for "Cold." Watch it below.

Until I Wake have been steadily bubbling under in the hard rock world for the past few years. They released a self-titled EP in 2021. Early praise was swift and streams numbered in the tens of millions worldwide. Press accolades from Outburn, Kerrang!, and Alternative Press followed. The band's Fearless Records' debut Inside My Head amassed 31 million streams to date. They've appeared at major rock festivals including Louder Than Life, Upheaval, and So What and will open for Attila on the About That Life 10-Year Anniversary Tour this fall, in addition to appearing at Blue Ridge Rock Festival.

Until I Wake will be on tour through 2023. All dates are below.

UNTIL I WAKE ON TOUR:
WITH IMMINENCE:
11/26 — Pittsburgh, PA — Thunderbird Cafe + Music Hall
11/27 — Pittsburgh, PA — Thunderbird Cafe + Music Hall
11/28 — Chicago, IL — Metro
11/29 — Detroit, MI — St. Andrews Hall
11/30 — Toronto, ON — The Opera House
12/1 — Montreal, QC — Fairmount Theatre
12/2 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium 
12/3 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza

HEADLINE:
12/29 — The Rapids Theatre — Buffalo, NY (With Altruist, Fight From Within, Tim The Truth, + An Easy Death)

Miranda Lambert's Y'ALL EAT YET? Scores Another First

For Miranda Lambert, who added New York Times best-selling author to her impressive list of accolades with “Y’ALL EAT YET? Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen,” her lifestyle book became as much an homage to multi-generational female friendship, the power of food and laughter to carry you through hard times and the will to chase impossible dreams as it was a collection of anyone-can-make-them recipes. Unconventional in its lane, like its groundbreaking, multiple GRAMMY-winning author, “Y’All Eat Yet?” – co-written with journalist Holly Gleason – is making its mark in unprecedented ways.
 
Most recently, it is among the nominees for Best Book, Non-Fiction at the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards. It joins Jon Burlingame’s “Music for Prime Time: A History of American Television Themes and Scoring,” Gerrick Kennedy’s “Didn’t We Almost Have It All: In Defense of Whitney Houston,” Mark Kernes’ “Preachers Vs. Porn: Exposing Christianity’s War on Sexxx” and Alessandra Mattanza’s “Street Art Is Female” in a very competitive and eclectic category.
 
“I knew when I started working on this book, I wanted it to be something that shared more than how many cups of flour,” Lambert says. “I was raised by such strong, smart women – my mother and her friends and my Nonny and her friends – that I wanted to celebrate them as much I wanted to make these ladies actually write down their recipes. We live in a world where it’s easy to forget how powerful having that kind of force in your life can be...
 
“It never occurred to me when we were writing that it was anything more than just talking about where I came from. I am so honored and surprised to be nominated for this award. I promise that the last thing on my mind when we finally finished and got it out was getting nominated for anything, let alone something like this with such an impressive group of books.”
 
With Texas Monthly raving “it’s a Texan’s dream” and Forbes calling it a “celebration,” Lambert’s book arrived to multiple kudos. Shondaland opined, “Miranda Lambert’s Secret Ingredient is Sisterhood;” Rolling Stone offered it “sees the singer opening up her heart and home in more intimate ways than ever before;” Eating Well concurred, “Reading her new cookbook will make you feel like you’re part of her family;” and Southern culture monthly Garden & Gun celebrated the book as “dedicated to her tight-knit clan of women and the laughter, comfort and good food they fill spaces with.”  Even trade Publishers Weekly assessed, “Lambert uses stories of food to celebrate friendship, good times, and the importance of kinship,” while Booklist boiled it down to the fact that the book “quite simply, will enchant.”
 
“Y’ALL EAT YET? Welcome to the Pretty B*tchin’ Kitchen” is available at retailers and stores across the country including Walmart, Target, Buc-ee’s, Cracker Barrel, Kroger and Whole Foods, Nashville’s Parnassus Books, plus online via Amazon and HERE.

WINTERHORDE Announces New Album "Neptunian" And Releases Video For First Single!

WINTERHORDE, the Progressive Extreme Metal group hailing from Northern Israel, has announced the release of its highly anticipated fourth studio album, Neptunian, due out December 8 via Noble Demon. In preparation for this monumental release, the band has unveiled the first single "The Spirit of Freedom", which showcases the band's unique blend of enchanting tenderness and brutal intensity. The track is accompanied by a brand new video, which you can watch below.

WINTERHORDE bassist and founder, Alexander Latman, comments on "The Spirit Of Freedom":
"This song deals with the unbreakable spirit of simple people, who are ready to die for keeping their land free. We wanted to show this spirit, not only in the warrior himself but also in his family members who are filled with pride of their fallen loved one. The simple people are those who sacrifice their lives for unnecessary wars waged by rich people’s games. They die, but never give up their freedom and identity. The conflict of life versus freedom at any cost".

Since their formation in 2002, WINTERHORDE has been on a relentless journey of musical evolution, constantly pushing the boundaries of their craft. Their unwavering dedication to becoming something greater with each chord they play and record has earned them a well-deserved reputation as one of the most articulate and innovative acts in today's extreme metal. Following the success of their third studio album, Maestro (2016), WINTERHORDE took a six-year hiatus to regroup and recharge. Now, filled with a new lineup and an abundance of creative energy, the band is ready to embark on their next musical odyssey with Neptunian.

To give fans a taste of what's to come, WINTERHORDE released the off-album digital single, "The Greatest Plague of Earth," in June 2022. The overwhelming response to this release caught the attention of powerhouse label Noble Demon, leading to a record deal and the forthcoming release of Neptunian in December 2023. The album was expertly mixed and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Paradise Lost, Insomnium, Moonspell), ensuring a powerful and immersive listening experience.

Neptunian will be coming out on December 8 and is now available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION

WINTERHORDE are:
Zed Destructive - Harsh vocals
Yoni "Oblivion" Oren - Clean vocals
Moshe Benofel - Electric and acoustic guitars
Omer "Noir" Naveh - Electric and acoustic guitars
Oleg "Olgerd" Rubanov - Keyboards
Alexander "Celestial" Latman - Bass
Alex Zaitsev - Drums

For WINTERHORDE online:

Facebook

Instagram

BandCamp

Find NOBLE DEMON online:

Official Website

Facebook

BandCamp

Twitter

YouTube

TikTok

Spotify

Autumn Kings Drop "Go for Gold" Video

It's a super catchy jam that will live rent-free in your brain. The accompanying visual strings together performance footage and tells the band's story. It's like a digital bio set to music.

"We are so excited to share the story of Autumn Kings to the world, how we came from a small town of LaSalle, Ontario, where music seemed like a pipe dream in a sea of normal jobs," the band states. "It's the story of all of the rejections, all the times we were told 'no,' all the years of grinding for no pay, all the lost girlfriends, and all the time away from home… "

The band continues, "But it's also about the highs of touring the world with our friends and fans worldwide singing our songs back to us, and putting out three albums worth of music that we wrote ourselves with no industry backing, and we wouldn't have it any other way. Unkillable, unrelenting grit. This is the identity of Autumn Kings."

Autumn Kings continue to grow at a furious pace, collecting over 300,000 monthly Spotify listeners and over 45 million cumulative streams without record label assistance. They have had their music played on Football Night In America; at Detroit Red Wings games; in Major League Baseball stadiums; and on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. 

They spent the summer of 2023 touring Pacific and Japanese military bases and have opened for Bush, Dorothy, Tea Party, X Ambassadors, and Mutemath. With all this momentum, they plan to release new music in 2024. 

You may not have heard of Autumn Kings before, but aren't you glad you did? There is plenty more to come.

Stream Carnation's New Album

'Cursed Mortality' isn't a revival. It's a bold step into the future for one of the most brutally innovative bands in all of death metal.

Carnation's new album comes out tomorrow, November 3. But you can get a sneak peak at 'Cursed Mortality' thanks to Outburn, who are premiering the full album stream a day early. 

Carnation have been bringing back old-school death metal for the past two decades. On 'Cursed Mortality', the Belgian band are still deadly serious about inflicting maximum corporeal punishment. "Maruta" is named after an especially brutal army unit, while "Cycle of Suffering" pumps thunderous double bass kicks over a solo that grabs you by the throat.

"The manic mayhem that puts a big smile on the faces of death metal fans is front and centre..." according to Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life.   

But 'Cursed Mortality' also shows off Carnation's range - literally. "Replicant" flexes clean vocals. Even "Metropolis", which barrels ahead like a train with its brakes cut, comes with a personal touch; the band are all too familiar with the relentless pace of modern life after vocalist Simon Duson had the life sucked out of him by his last job.

"It's so refreshing when a band tweaks their formula and its pays off in spades", The Metal Pit writes in an early review of 'Cursed Mortality'.

The album's title track now stands as Carnation's magnum opus, a nearly eight-minute long reflection on growing old that's shadowed by melodic leads, gloomy synths and tortured growls. 

"This is definitely my favorite record from Carnation", says A&P Reacts. "It feels like a more natural and focused album".    

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/cursedmortalitypresave
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/CarnationCM

"Finally, after two years of hard work and unwavering commitment, the release date for our third album 'Cursed Mortality' has arrived", says Carnation. "We've been anticipating this moment for many months, and we can't emphasize enough how excited we are to release this album. We hope we were able to strike a balance between our strong death metal foundation and the new progressive elements that we've added as a result of our evolution as artists. This record has been a labor of love for us, and we are genuinely curious about its reception. Most importantly, we would like to thank all the fans, press contacts, promoters, Season of Mist, District 19, and everyone else that we had the pleasure of working with to create this album. Cheers!"

For the last decade, CARNATION has been at the forefront of reviving old school death metal. There’s something to be said about the artfulness of taking something so primitive and walking that fine line between keeping its classic authenticity without sounding tired or dated. CARNATION has always teetered this line, injecting a fresh and contemporary approach without losing the genre’s time-honored traditions. However, the band’s third endeavor sees CARNATION erasing those boundaries entirely and abandoning any and all conventions as they traverse into daring new territory. ‘Cursed Mortality’ pulls the Belgian death dealers deeper into experimental new waters, taking risks as the band steps out of the shadows of its predecessors and comes into its own identity. 'Cursed Mortality's' statement is clear: This is no longer simply a revival; this is CARNATION’s rebirth.

“We still play death metal and we still identify as such” explains frontman Simon Duson. “But we know that this is also our second decade performing it. And while it is very important for us to stay true to the old-school style, we know we had to open things up a bit and reach out to those who might be interested in extreme metal, but aren’t that much into the old aspect of it. It also feels fresher to us because we’ve decided to change our visual approach, with a new logo, a new look on stage and so on. In a way, it really feels like the beginning of a new chapter for CARNATION.”

Album number three is much more than just a new chapter, but rather feels like a sequel to an already storied career, punctuated by press accolades, an impressive history of live performances, and a lauded discography consisting of several EPs, splits, and two critically acclaimed full-length albums.

With the debut of its first EP in 2015, CARNATION quickly garnered the attention of fans, media, and most notably of all, record label Season of Mist, who quickly noticed the band’s potential and picked them up without hesitation. Upon forming this union, the band dropped its first full-length, ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ in 2018. Angry Metal Guy astutely noted that the Belgians’ debut album was “one of the best death metal debuts of the year, and CARNATION have earned their place as one of the most promising new bands in the genre'' while Distorted Sound Magazine echoed these remarks, calling ‘Chapel of Abborhance’ “one of most brutalizing, well executed and, above all, fun, death metal releases of 2018'' in its 9/10 review of the album.

CARNATION’s momentum only seemed to pick up from there. The band kept busy on the road, performing a variety of tours with their death metal brethren in Deserted Fear, Schirenc Plays, Pungent Stench, and Pestilence, while headlining stages in Japan and Brazil. Upon conquering the live circuit and laying waste to audiences across three different continents, the band unleashed its 2020 opus, ‘Where Death Lies,’ which broke them out from the underground with the kind of seismic force that most bands can only dream of. If the critics liked ‘Chapel of Abhorrance,’ ‘Where Death Lies’ was the moment they fell in love, enamored by Carnation’s relentless brutality and crushing precision.

While touring had been halted that year, CARNATION never stagnated nor waivered. The band’s tenacity paid off with their sophomore effort being named among one of the best records of the year by The Pit, Chicago Music Guide, Pandemonium Metal, and many more, while the single “Iron Discipline'' was singled out by Loudwire as one of the best songs of 2020. Legacy outlet Kerrang! also took notice, ranking the band among the “50 Greatest Death Metal Bands Right Now,” cracking the top 20 picks.

While the Belgian slayers still stay true to their roots, they step outside of their comfort zone with more groove, melody, and progression, showcasing their versatility as musicians and clearly defining their own unique sound. ‘Cursed Mortality’ sounds darker, with passages of melancholic melodies that compliment the heaviness.

Most bands might feel anxious about making such dramatic changes, especially to incorporate clean vocals within such extreme music, CARNATION embraces the unknown and does not fall victim to fear or monotony. “As artists, it's something natural,” explains Verstrepen about why the band has shifted direction. “Doing the same thing over and over again doesn't inspire us. We love to create and we love to explore new paths. We knew some people wouldn't like clean vocals in death metal, but we don't want to think of that too much. We stand 100% behind our music and we really like what we did here. Some people will drop out, but there will definitely be others joining! As Lemmy would say, 'You win some, you lose some.'”

Indeed, a personal metamorphosis is always a risk, but one that historically has paid off. The first records of bands like Black Sabbath, Carcass, Death, or even Bathory sound nothing like the mid-late era offerings of those very same artists, and yet, those records that strayed off the beaten path are regarded as some of the most seminal albums in the history of metal. Playing it safe sounds easy, but it isn’t always a part of a legend’s origin story. And CARNATION isn’t here to play by the rules; the band is ready to take a leap of faith and redefine an era.

CARNATION Lineup:
Simon Duson: Vocals
Jonathan Verstrepen: Lead Guitar
Bert Vervoort: Rhythm Guitar
Yarne Heylen: Bass Guitar
Vincent Verstrepen: Drums

Style: Death Metal
FFO: Entombed (early), Bloodbath, Gatecreeper, Skeletal Remains, Grave

Recording studio: Project Zero Studio

Producer / Mixing engineer: Yarne Heylen

Mastering studio and engineer: Joel Wanasek

Biography: Katy Irizarry

Artwork: Mariusz Lewandowski

Logo: Christophe Szpajdel

Links:
https://www.carnationband.com/         
https://www.facebook.com/CarnationBE/          
https://www.instagram.com/carnationbandofficial/
https://www.youtube.com/c/CarnationOfficialBE
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7s6SmrbyQvp26jN5EbnU9u

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/cursedmortalitypresave
Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/CarnationCM

Available Formats:
CD digipak
Digital
12” vinyl in various colours
Merchandise

The Neal Agency Expands Into Publishing, Inks Palmer Anthony as First Artist/Writer

Nearly two years after launching The Neal Agency (TNA), third generation booking agent Austin Neal has developed the company into one of Nashville’s leading boutique talent agencies, with a rapidly growing team of 17 employees and 21 clients. Realizing a goal to further develop artists beyond the touring landscape, TNA has expanded their services to include a new publishing arm with Palmer Anthony as its flagship artist, recently signed to a co-publishing venture with Warner Chappell Music.

“I view the ultimate goal for the company truly as a place to develop artists. If we really believe in somebody from the beginning, being able to help them grow in-house, and having every opportunity to help create and build their careers from the ground up is an important aspect of hat,” shares Neal.

Spearheaded by TNA’s Head of Business Development, Ryan Beuschel, the idea to expand the company to encompass publishing was spurred by Anthony himself, after signing with TNA for booking. “Palmer was a great example of being the first person that we did this with because he was signing to the agency, shopping around, and looking into publishing deals, and he was the one that mentioned it'd be really amazing if we could have worked together,” reflects Beuschel.

With a background in publishing spanning 20 years, Beuschel’s prior experience at Warner Chappell Music as vice president of A&R / strategy made the co-publishing venture a natural fit after introducing Anthony to Warner Chappell Music Nashville President & CEO, Ben Vaughn.

“I met Palmer because of Austin and Ryan, so it's been really cool to watch this partnership come together and to see Palmer build his network throughout town,” shares Vaughn. “Palmer writes some really great songs by himself, but he also was very interested in what he could learn from those that are ahead of him, and we’re excited to open the door for new opportunities to get him in front of experienced writers and watch his career grow.”

Anthony shares in that excitement, stating, “I started in music about five or six years ago, and I was playing shows and was writing stuff just by myself. And I kind of hit a point where I really wanted to grow and learn and I've always entered this country music scene as a fan first. I'm a fan of the writers, a fan of these organizations, and so it's really easy to transition for me to want to co-write more and want to be a part of the scene. I'm still a student, and I’ll probably always be a student. But for me it’s just fun to learn.”

Anthony, an artist out of Texas, growing up primarily in the small Northern California town of Willits, played baseball at the University of California, Santa Barbara, before quickly realizing his passion for songwriting surpassed even his love of the game. After graduation, he moved back to Fort Worth, Texas where he became immersed in the Texas music scene. While honing his entertainment skills, Anthony opened for Riley Green, Randall King, Chase Rice and more.

In addition to Anthony, TNA’s roster proudly represents Cameron Sacky Band, Aidan Canfield, Ashland Craft, ERNEST, Riley Green, HARDY, Ella Langley, mike., John Morgan, Chase Rice, Josh Ross, Seaforth, Nate Smith, Morgan Wallen, Lauren Watkins, Anne Wilson, Jake Worthington and Bailey Zimmerman, along with lifestyle brands Stevenson Ranch and Whiskey Jam.

For more information, visit www.TheNealAgency.com.

The Neal Agency and Warner Chappell celebrate co-publishing venture with Palmer Anthony
Top row L to R: Lewis Brisbois’ Austin Wells, Lewis Brisbois’ Matt Cottingham, TNA’s Haley Teske; What’s
Good Projects’ Ryan Kroon | Bottom row L to R: Warner Chappell’s Bethany Mako; Warner Chappell’s Ben
Vaughn; Palmer Anthony; TNA’s Ryan Beuschel; TNA’s Austin Neal | Photo Credit: Kelly Littlefield

About Warner Chappell Music:
Warner Chappell Music, the global music publishing company of Warner Music Group, is home to a wide array of legendary songwriters and a rich catalog of contemporary hits and influential standards. With offices in more than 20 countries, Warner Chappell provides deep expertise across a range of creative services and the most innovative opportunities for songwriters and copyright holders. Warner Chappell, which has a history dating back more than 200 years, currently publishes and administers music from A-Lin, Angèle, Anderson .Paak, Apache 207, Ava Max, Aya Nakamura, Bruno Mars, Capital Bra, Celeste, Chris Jeday, CJ, Cole Porter, Dan + Shay, Dave, David Bowie, Duran Duran, El Guincho, Fraser T. Smith, Gamble and Huff, Gene Autry Music Group catalog, George Gershwin, George Michael, Grateful Dead, Jesse & Joy, Justin Tranter, Kacey Musgraves, Katy Perry, Kevin Yi, Kool & the Gang, Led Zeppelin, Lin Xi, Lizzo, Madonna, MNEK, Oscar Holter, Pablo Alborán, Pop Smoke, Quincy Jones, Rauw Alejandro, RAYE, Saweetie, Stormzy, Summer Walker, Ta-You Lo, Thomas Rhett, and Tones and I, among many others.

Follow Warner Chappell Music on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.