Smartpunk Labelmates Virginity and The Dreaded Laramie Announce Co-Headlining Spring Tour Dates

ALT-ROCKERS VIRGINITY AND FEMMECORE BAND THE DREADED LARAMIE ANNOUNCE SPRING 2024 TOUR DATES

The tour, which the bands jokingly call "The Dreaded Virginity Tour," spans Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. The shows are an exciting run of dates following their appearances at Smartpunk Records' showcase at SXSW, which is being held in March. 

Their setlists will feature new songs and old fan favorites as both bands anticipate a big year ahead.

"We're so excited to get out on the road with The Dreaded Laramie. We've had the pleasure of sharing the stage with them several times and it's always a blast. I feel like every band has a band or two they really get along with and connect with and TDL is definitely one of those bands for us. We're buds. They are also just one of the best live bands to see right now. They're so energetic and good at setting an atmosphere of fun. Virginity doesn't get the opportunity to tour that often, so to be able to do it with folks we really like is great. We have a new record coming out this summer and we’re really looking forward to road-testing some of these new tunes and going to quite a few cities we’ve never been to." —Casey Crawford, Vocalist of Virginity

Guitarist Chris Pfister followed up with "I'll be there — just tell me what song is next."

"This is a total dream tour. We were actually big fans of Virginity before we met them. I've been keeping up with the band since I heard their incredible album POPMORTEM a few years ago. Last year it was really exciting (and I was kind of starstruck) when we were planning a tour in Florida and they agreed to play the Orlando date with us. We totally hit it off at that show--on top of being an amazing band, they're wonderful people--and it's unbelievably cool that we now get to call Virginity friends, labelmates, and tourmates!" — MC, Vocalist of The Dreaded Laramie

4/19 - Atlanta, GA @ Ideal Sports Bar w/ New Junk City + Big Computer

4/20 - Greenville, SC @ Swanson’s Warehouse w/ Sawyer Norman + Sitris

4/21 - Savannah, GA @ The Sentient Bean w/ Off Work + Crimson Fever

4/22 - Charleston, SC @ Tin Roof w/ Newgrounds Death Rugby + Never Any Ordinary

4/23 - Daytona, FL @ Tir Na Nog w/ Porch Coffin + Orange Blossom Trail 

4/24 - Tampa, FL @ Hooch And Hive w/ Post Sex High + NowInColor*

4/26 - Gainesville, FL @ Loosey’s w/ Mikey Erg! + Off Day + Trust Fall

4/27 - Orlando, FL @ Will's Pub + Lil Indies - Fanarchy Fest w/ Mikey Erg! + Tightwire + Rational Anthem + Vicious Dreams + more!

4/29 - Nashville, TN @ The East Room w/ Arbor & 76th Street*

* = No Virginity

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Fixation Arc (Members of KsE, Drowningman, Cancer Conspiracy, etc.) Share "The Void Stares Back"

In the labyrinth of underground metal, where genres intertwine and creativity knows no bounds, emerges Fixation Arc.

The four-piece is an enigmatic progressive thrash metal supergroup.

Formed as a pandemic project between guitarist Daryl Rabidoux (The Cancer Conspiracy, Drowningman) and drummer Justin Foley (Killswitch Engage, Lybica), the two quickly discovered fertile ground in complex riffs and patterns that grew into their first two songs.

Adding Philip Jamieson (Caspian) on bass and Jonathon Newby (Brazil/JC Autobody) on vocals, Fixation Arc bring together four talents from disparate corners of the musical universe to transcend mere headbanging and breakdowns, and create a cerebral and cathartic experience.

Meticulously crafted and expertly executed, their debut single "The Void Stares Back" delivers four minutes of relentless speed and intricate time signatures that are as intellectually engaging and adventurous as emotionally resonant.

Watch and listen

"'The Void Stares Back' is a headlong dive into darkness, chaos, and an entropic universe," the band says. "It's about seeing things for what they are, and the meaningless rituals we use to forget what's crawling up from the abyss."

ERRA Share "Crawl Backwards Out of Heaven" Video

Prolific metalcore progressives ERRA recently announced their new album CURE, which arrives on April 5 via UNFD. Pre-order it here.  

Today, the band has shared the visualizer for "Crawl Backwards Out of Heaven." Watch it below.

The visualizer captors the raw, explosive, and forward-thinking intensity of the song, which doesn't let up from the first note. 

CURE is the band's sixth album and it highlights and expands on the forward-thinking sound and guitar-driven style that the band has built its reputation on. Following 2021's self-titled release, CURE is a stunning execution of both raw talent and surgical technicality. It's as emotional powerful as it is musically proficient, which is not an easy feat to achieve. Yet ERRA make it look and sound easy. CURE is a sonic thrill ride — one that you hope will never end.

Additionally, the band has announced its upcoming Spring 2024 headline North American tour, with Make Them Suffer, Void of Vision, and Novelists as support. The tour kicks off on April 23 in Philly and runs through June 2 in NYC. All dates are below, with several major markets already sold out. Get tickets here.

ERRA ON TOUR:
WITH MAKE THEM SUFFER, VOID OF VISION, + NOVELISTS:
4/23 — Philadelphia, PA — TLA
4/24 — Baltimore, MD — Soundstage (SOLD OUT)
4/26 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
4/27 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade (Heaven)
4/28 — Birmingham, AL — Iron City
4/30 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Revolution
5/01 — Tampa, FL — Jannus Live
5/03 — Houston, TX — Rise Rooftop
5/04 — Dallas, TX — South Side Music Hall
5/05 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center
5/07 — Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine Theater
5/08 — Las Vegas, NV — House of Blues
5/10 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
5/11 — Santa Ana, CA — Observatory
5/12 — Los Angeles, CA — Echoplex
5/13 — Santa Cruz, CA — Catalyst
5/15 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
5/17 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
5/18 — Portland, OR — Roseland Theater
5/20 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
5/21 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall
5/23 — Lawrence, KS — Granada Theater
5/24 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
5/25 — St. Louis, MO — Red Flag
5/26 — Chicago, IL — House of Blues
5/28 — Detroit, MI — Saint Andrews Hall
5/29 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall
5/31 — Montreal, QC —  Beanfield Theatre (SOLD OUT)
6/01 — Boston, MA — Paradise (SOLD OUT)
6/02 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza (SOLD OUT)

ERRA ARE:
J.T. Cavey — Vocals
Jesse Cash — Vocals + Guitars
Conor Hesse — Bass
Alex Ballew — Drums
Clint Tustin — Guitar

Ian Munsick Releases Heartbreaking Cowboy Ballad, “Yippie-I-A”

White Buffalo: Introduce You To God Due April 5
Via Warner Music Nashville; Pre-Save HERE

Ian Munsick’s sophomore album White Buffalo captured the Wyoming-native’s witty sense of humor across its 18 tracks, encompassing such tongue-in-cheek songs as “Barn Burner” and “Cowshit In The Morning.” Now, as he prepares to release five new tracks with White Buffalo: Introduce You To God, a deluxe version of the celebrated collection due April 5, Munsick casts aside the comical word play and revels in heartbreak with the release of “Yippie-I-A,” out now. 
 
“Cowboy ballads have always had a way of transporting me back to the sagebrush prairies of home. It’s high time I made one for myself,” declares Munsick. “In every one of them, you can hear the distant cry of the lone wanderer. But why does he cry? That’s exactly what inspired ‘Yippie-I-A’. I hope it breaks your heart like only the magic of music can.”
 
Written by Munsick alongside Phil O’Donnell and Carlton Anderson, and produced by Munsick and Jeremy Spillman, “Yippie-I-A” details a cowboy’s anguish and inability to cope with losing his spouse.
 
Munsick’s release of White Buffalo last year earned accolades from Billboard, American Songwriter, People and MusicRow with Grammy.com remarking, “Munsick's ability to turn his Western upbringing into relatable sentiments is the epitome of what makes him special… his passion for his homeland — from the culture to the people — rings through in both the lyrics and the musicality.”
 
Munsick kept the momentum going in 2024 with the release of White Buffalo: Voices of the West. The feature-length documentary is now available on Apple iTunes, Apple, Google Play, Kanopy (Libraries), Microsoft, Vudu, YouTube Rentals and Amazon TVOD. The Tennessean praised Voices of the West, which features conversations with members of the Blackfoot and Crow tribes as well as the Blackfeet Nation, as “essential to maintain and humanize the tie to Western culture.”  
 
Munsick is overseas this week, performing at CMC Rocks in Willowbank, Australia. He returns stateside with his Boots, Buckles & Bolos Tour on March 23 with a show in Du Quoin, IL. His headlining run continues through the spring, including a sold-out date at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre on June 5. This summer Munsick joins CMA Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson as direct support on her Country’s Cool Again Tour. 
 
For his full tour schedule and to follow along with updates, visit IanMunsick.com or follow @IanMunsick across social media.

ABOUT IAN MUNSICK
A native son of Wyoming, Ian Munsick painted a stampeding, spirited portrait of the American West with his sophomore album White Buffalo, out now. Spanning unfiltered tales of romance and ranch life, hard-working anthems with honkytonk hooks and mountain-time odes to family and forever-young fun, it builds upon the spacious roots-pop beauty he introduced on his major label debut, Coyote Cry. Now, Munsick is preparing to release a deluxe version of the album, including five new tracks, titled White Buffalo: Introduce You To God on April 5, 2024. Over the past four years, Munsick has accumulated nearly half a BILLION global streams and a host of accolades. He has been named an “Artist to Watch” by Spotify, CMT, Fender, MusicRow and most recently was named a Martin Showcase Artist. A seasoned entertainer, having grown up tending cattle by day and playing music in a family band each night, Munsick toured recently alongside country music superstars Morgan Wallen and Cody Johnson, and will serve as direct support for select dates of Lainey Wilson’s Country’s Cool Again tour this year, while simultaneously headlining his own Boots, Buckles & Bolos Tour. The Warner Music Nashville recording artist and multi-instrumentalist is representing his home, and its special cast of people, like never before. The first release from White Buffalo, standout duet “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson), hit No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 30 Countdown, was named one of Amazon Music’s Best Country Songs of 2022 and recently received RIAA Gold-certification alongside “Long Haul” off his debut album Coyote Cry; while Munsick’s solo version of “Long Live Cowgirls” is available at country radio now. Fans of Ian Munsick will always find an open heart, natural awe and plainspoken honesty as he rides on… bringing the West to the rest. 

NIKITAA DROPS EMPOWERING ANTHEM “GODLESS” A Defiant Ode to Liberation

R&B Pop Singer-Songwriter, Nikitaa, unveils their latest single "Godless," a compelling anthem of liberation and self-worth. Co-written by Nikitaa, "Godless" captures the journey from vulnerability to empowerment, resonating with those who have broken free from toxic relationships. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Nikitaa themself, "Godless" stays true to its theme

of defiance, incorporating choral and orchestral elements to create a powerful pop ballad. With raw honesty, the track celebrates the courage to walk away from manipulation and reclaim personal power.

Nikitaa, an LA-based artist born and raised in India, infuses their music with ethereal Pop/R&B influences and their South Asian heritage, creating what they call Goddess Pop - music that emphasizes the fluidity of gender and emotional expression. As a genderfluid demisexual person, who predominantly uses they/them pronouns, Nikitaa is always emphasizing the importance of representation and inclusivity in the music industry. With almost 6 million YouTube views/Spotify streams combined, Nikitaa’s music has captured the attention of listeners instantly. Their third single “Majesty'' landed placement on NMF playlists across the world, and their singles through 2020 were released during lockdown with self-directed and produced videos that soared on Spotify and YouTube.

Looking ahead, 2024 promises to be a groundbreaking year for Nikitaa, with an EP on the horizon that is sure to captivate listeners. Inspired by artists like Beyonce for her knack for genre bending, fluidity in style and vocal prowess, and Jon Bellion for his overall songwriting; Nikitaa continues to push boundaries, blending genres and incorporating Indian and Middle Eastern instrumentation into their music.

MORE INFO:
Throughout 2023, Nikitaa explored themes of vulnerability and strength in singles like “Scheming,” “On My Own,” “Peter Pan,” “Throne,” “Daddy Era,” and “Truman Show,” receiving recognition from Rolling Stone India, Radio One India, and Ones To Watch playlist Now Watching. Additionally, Nikitaa's keen ear and exceptional lyricism have led to brand placements with Splice’s Pride Month and South Asian Heritage Month campaigns.

Nikitaa’s work as a songwriter extends beyond their own projects, with credits on tracks for artists such as Trophy Boy (Nightmare, T.O.F.U, & Trophy Boy), Srushti Tawde (Breakfast Over Bae), RIKA (Grown Up), Aastha Gill, Munawar Faruqi, and Robica.

NIKITAA ON SOCIALS:

INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | WEBSITE | TWITTER | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK

BAT ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM UNDER THE CROOKED CLAW + RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE, 'RITE FOR EXORCISM'

Richmond, Virginia metal-punk trio BAT has been delivering their own blood-spattered horror since ascending from the underground a decade ago on a dark, leather-winged trajectory. The brainchild of MUNICIPAL WASTE guitarists Ryan Waste & Nick Poulos, BAT leans heavily on the dirtier side of speed metal. On May 17th, the band welcomes the release of their second full-length album Under The Crooked Claw via Nuclear Blast Records.

Jam-packed with tight, concise songs loaded with punchy choruses and lightning-laced leads, each of the 13 tracks offers a new horror short story mixing the perfect blend of heavy metal, punk, and rock ‘n’ roll or as Waste coins it "primitive heavy speed". 

The band offers the first single entitled, 'Rite For Exorcism' along with a video clip directed by Norman Cabrera, produced by Maya Kay, and cinematography by Rob Lucas at Wolfpack Studios.
 
BAT's Ryan Waste states, “This record came together during dark times and its aggression is surely a reflection of that. Nick, Chris, and I hammered out song after song in a grimy, mold-ridden warehouse, turning our anger at the state of the world into what became 'Under the Crooked Claw'. To set the tone for the album, I called upon legendary Italian horror maestro Fabio Frizzi to compose an intro, just before BAT’s raw force assaults your ears. While simultaneously working on a heavy metal horror script with Norman Cabrera, I shared some of the new BAT songs with him. With our shared taste in film and vision, we devised two video concepts for the upcoming record based on my lyrics. The first offering is our twist on a tale of an exorcism gone awry, that Norman completely nailed to the cross.”

Stream the new single 'Rite For Exorcism' on all platforms now at:  
https://bat.bfan.link/rfesg

Pre-order/pre-save Under The Crooked Claw:  
https://bat.bfan.link/utcclp

Watch the music video for 'Rite For Exorcism' below

The power trio, completed by drummer Chris Marshall, decamped to Philadelphia in June 2021 where Arthur Rizk recorded the basic tracks for Under The Crooked Claw. Yavé Rust tracked lead guitars and vocals later when the band was back in Richmond, ultimately to be mixed by Rizk and mastered by Joel Grind. The artwork for the album was inked by Brandon Holt and colored by Margaret Rolicki.

This Spring, BAT is joining forces with their friends in the legendary EXCITER to play for all the Heavy Metal Maniacs in Latin America for the first time!

More information:
https://bewareofthebat.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bewareofthebat/
https://www.instagram.com/bewareofbat/
https://www.youtube.com/@BATBAND

BAT is:
Ryan Waste | Bass & Vocals
Nick Poulos | Guitar
Chris Marshall | Drums

ABORTED - Open The Vault Of Horrors + Release Music Video For 'Condemned To Rot (feat. Francesco Paoli)'

One day before the kickoff of their European tour, ABORTED open the Vault of Horrors as the new album of death metal's finest finally sees the light of the day.
Ten ferocious, gut-wrenching extreme metal slashers await you in this cabinet of horror movie classics. ABORTED invited the crème de la crème of the heavy music scene to the party, and on each track of the album you will find a different guest vocalist – diving down into the dark abyss of horror movie culture. 
So sit back, grab a snack, and crawl down into the Vault of Horrors. Order your copy now:
https://aborted.bfan.link/vault-of-horrors

But that's not the end of the show for today. Fresh from the grave, the living dead are about to return (again). Feast your eyes on the music video for 'Condemned To Rot' here, featuring FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's Francesco Paoli:

Yam Haus Dive Deep In Brand New Single "First To Try"

The Minneapolis-based indie alt-rock trio, Yam Haus, are thrilled to announce the release of their latest single, "First To Try." This heartfelt track marks the band's first release of 2024 and serves as a candid reflection on exploring anxiety and the search for self-acceptance. Fans can listen to the brand new track HERE, and watch the new lyric video below.

With its raw honesty and poignant lyrics, "First to Try" offers a glimpse into the inner turmoil that many individuals grapple with silently. Through their music, Yam Haus seek to shed light on these universal struggles, by providing a safe space for listeners who may be facing similar challenges.

Speaking on today's news, the band shares:

"First to Try is about anxiety and self loathing and believing lies about yourself. A lot of these lies are formed when you’re young and you carry them with you into adulthood and they affect the people closest to you. It’s about feeling stuck in cyclical behaviors that cause more pain than necessary. It’s about feeling trapped by your own humanity, unworthy of love, and feeling powerless to do anything to fix it. I believe this is something we all feel to varying degrees throughout our lives."

As Yam Haus continue to carve their path in the music industry, the trio remain steadfast in their commitment to finding strength in raw emotion and breaking down stigmas across various difficult topics. Venturing into the remainder of 2024 and beyond, their message remains clear: vulnerability is not weakness, but rather a source of strength and connection.

Having shared the stage alongside renowned acts such as The Killers, Flaming Lips, Death Cab for Cutie, Blue October, and Bishop Briggs, Yam Haus have established themselves as a force to be reckoned with in the indie alt-rock realm. Their relentless dedication to the stage and genuine connection with audiences shine through their impressive history of over 100 shows to date, half of which had taken place just last year.

With over 20 million streams across their total catalog, Yam Haus continue to captivate audiences worldwide with their honest lyricism and authentic narratives. Their latest EP, "Stupid and Famous", fueled with infectious energy and genuine resonance, cemented their reputation as a band unafraid to bare their souls through their music.

Be sure to stay tuned for more new music from Yam Haus coming soon.

ABOUT YAM HAUS

A lot of musical acts try to build on the success of their early music. But for indie-rock band Yam Haus, each time they release new music is a new step in their musical evolution — particularly this time around. It’s been a half-decade, three EPs, more than a dozen singles, a lost band member, an appearance on American Song Contest and a global pandemic since the Minneapolis-based trio last put forth a major release. But now they’re back with Stupid and Famous, a seven-track EP that effectively serves as the emergence of their new rock-focused musical identity. 

Helmed by award-winning mixer/producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Phoenix, M83), Stupid and Famous is a catchy blend of indie-rock that still serves up the unforgettable hooks Yam Haus became known for, while also bringing a new level of songwriting maturity and musical complexity to their profile. With four of the seven tracks (“Rafters,” “Sandcastle,” “Stupid and Famous,” and “Shakin’ Yer Hips”) released as singles ahead of the EP, Yam Haus is quickly shedding its pop image and establishing itself as a genuine guitar-driven act. The band is growing up alongside the Gen Z audience that dove into their old music, while also allowing their personality, emotions, authenticity and humor to shine a bit more and earn an expanded audience with the new output. 

But despite the sustained success on both sides of the pandemic — both digitally (15 million streams, 20 million YouTube views, 2 million TikTok likes, 25k+ followers on TikTok, Instagram and Spotify) and physically (100+ shows including 50+ headlining and supporting artists like Blue October and Bishop Briggs) — Yam Haus feels like they’re just getting started. At the very least, Pruitt’s committed to the journey in ways not easily changed. “I got the band tattooed on my ass, so I’m here for the long game.”

SPOKEN New Album 'Reflection' Out Now Via XOVR Records. New Track "In The Dark" Also Released

Today, Spoken celebrates an impressive milestone with the release of their 10th studio album and their first in 7 years, 'Reflection', via XOVR Records, the recently launched label co-founded by Korn’s Brian 'Head' Welch. Alongside the album, the band has unveiled focus track, "In The Dark", a further testament to Spoken's enduring sound and creative vision, which comes accompanied by an official music video. Listen to the full album HERE and watch the video below.

Frontman Matt Baird expresses his excitement: "It’s finally here! Our new record 'Reflection' is out. We’re so excited for you to hear this collection of songs, and have the opportunity to play them on the road. Thank you for listening."

Brian 'Head' Welch speaks to the band's enduring legacy: "Spoken is a band with a great story, passionate tenacity and an impeccable track record. It’s been seven long years since their last release, and I’m confident 'Reflection' will completely satisfy the die-hard Spoken fans while gaining many more."

The album is available now on all streaming platforms, and the music video for "In The Dark" can be viewed on the band's official YouTube channel.

'Reflection' marks a significant milestone for Spoken, coming seven years after their last album. With an intriguing blend of melody, aggression, thought-provoking lyrics, dynamic guitar riffs, and meticulously crafted drums, the album emerges not just as a culmination of Spoken's artistry, honed over two decades. It's a sonic mirror that reflects the band’s growth and the connection they share with their fans. It's an exploration of the journey of life, a testament to resilience and the power of moving forward with hope. 

Fans can gain intimate insight into the band's journey as Baird joins Welch in conversation for XOVR Record's 'Artist Spotlight' series, now streaming on the XOVR Records YouTube and can be watched below.

Spoken are

Matt Baird

J.R. Bareis

Dylan Levernoch 

Jared Wisner

BLACKBRAID to Perform at SOULCRUSHER FESTIVAL in The Netherlands

"To get right to it, Blackbraid II is an early contender for black metal record of the year... able to take the traditional sounds of black metal and then further shape and move them in a very distinct and novel direction." - Metal Injection (10/10)

GET TICKETS HERE

Blackbraid Live 2024 (EU/UK):

06/02: Scarborough (UK) @ Fortress Festival

06/21: Kauhajoki (FI) @ Nummirock Metal Festival

06/23: Ukmergė (LT) @ Kilkim Zaibu Festival

08/10: Helsinki (FI) @ Helsinki Metal Fetsival

10/11-12: Nijmegen (NL) @ Soulcrusher Festival

Blackbraid Live 2024 (US):

09/21: Los Angeles, CA @ C.Y. Festival

"...you can hear a delicately strummed acoustic guitar here, a traditional flute there. Catchy riffs, most notably on the single 'The Spirit Returns,' coexist with ambitious tracks like the 13-plus-minute 'Moss Covered Bones on the Altar of the Moon,' which waxes and wanes like an epic saga." - The New York Times

"To get right to it, Blackbraid II is an early contender for black metal record of the year... able to take the traditional sounds of black metal and then further shape and move them in a very distinct and novel direction." - Metal Injection (10/10)

"...one of the finest albums to grace black metal in years and you just get the feeling there is still more to come from this truly special band." - Distorted Sound Magazine (10/10)

"Sgah’gahsowáh channels his heritage and love for the earth through his music, and with that, he also brings a certain energy that conjures up desert dunes and rolling planes from North America just as well as a Norwegian black metal band conjures up snowy, bleak hills." - Metal Sucks (4.5/5)

"...forging a new path forward for black metal in 2023, one that will likely continue to set him apart from his contemporaries and become one of the biggest new faces in the genre for years to come." - Heavy Music HQ (4.5/5)

'Blackbraid II' follows up the solo black metal project's critically-acclaimed debut, which was named among one of the best metal albums if 2022 by Rolling Stone (#14), Decibel Magazine (#4), Metal Hammer UK (#7), and more!

BLACKBRAID E-SHOP

Indigenous black metal master BLACKBRAID will be performing in The Netherlands for the first time this October! The project will be appearing at this year's edition of Soulcrusher Festival, which will take place from October 11-12 in Nijmegen (NL), alongside an eclectic mix of artists such as ZEAL & ARDOR, LAMP OF MURMUUR, PHARMAKON + more! Tickets can be found HERE.

This will not be Blackbraid's only appearance across the Atlantic this year as other festival appearances have been confirmed such as Fortress Festival (UK), Nummirock Metal Festival+ Helsinki Metal Festival (FI), and Kilkim Zaibu Festival (FI). For American fans who are looking for their fix, Blackbraid will also be performing at C.Y. Festival in Los Angeles, CA on September 21. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.

'Blackbraid II' can now be streamed everywhere or ordered via Bandcamp or The Official Blackbraid Merch Store!

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 II' Album Credits:

- Composed & performed by Sgah'gahsowáh

- Drums, recording, mixing & mastering by Neil Schneider

- Visual development & graphic design by Wolf Mountain Productions 

- Guitar solo in “Twilight Hymn of Ancient Blood" performed by Randy Moore

- “A Fine Day to Die" originally composed by Quorthon (Bathory)

Album Art: Adrian Baxter

Photographer: Wolf Mountain Productions

Follow // Listen:

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube

Instagram

Shop/Pre-order:

Official Merch Store (USA)

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

Management: Ashley @ Wolf Mountain Productions

The Rocky Valentines Share "Stick It Out"

The Rocky Valentines recently announced the release of their debut album Erase via Tooth & Nail Records on March 29. Pre-order it here. 
 
The album was mixed by Bob Hoag (The Ataris, Fine China) and mastered by Jason Livermore (Descendents, All, NOFX), and features artwork by Jake Quintanar.

The band is "all in the family," as singer Charles Martin is the son of Jason Martin of longtime T&N band Starflyer 59. In fact, they released a split, four-song EP on the label last year. 

Today, The Rocky Valentines dropped the new single "Stick It Out." Listen below.

"This song was about being sick on my high school graduation day, and seeing everything change before my eyes," Martin explains. "The lyrics talk about sticking things out in life, whether it's the stress of school or relationships or whatever."

 Martin sings that he feels like "a one-man band." He's not specifically singing about the lack of bandmates on "Scream and Shout," but the album credits aren't exactly littered with other names either. With an assist on bass throughout from Steve Dail (Project 86, Crash Rickshaw), and a recording credit for his father, Jason Martin (Starflyer 59), the younger Martin does the bulk of the work himself across the LP's eight tracks.

Building on 2022's four-song, self-titled EP, Erase exhibits a host of influences — most of which stopped being relevant before the 20-year-old Charles was born — bundled up in arrangements that never feel cluttered.
 
Erase is a record that harkens back to some of rock's best moments, though its most important influence might be Charles himself. Mixing Grant Hart's earworm melodies with heavier-than-hell guitar riffs in the style of Tony Iommi, Martin combines it all with a measured restraint, allowing his vocals to shine without a lot of studio trickery.
 
Lyrically, Erase evokes a young man in the throes of his salad days but is self-aware enough to be bookended by tracks about growing older — album-opener "Sing the Song" — before closing with the title track’s funeral setting.

All of it melds together to reveal a young artist mastering his craft while maturing into adulthood.

Capstan Share Lyric Video for New Song "Empire"

Florida post-hardcore five-piece CAPSTAN — Anthony DeMario [vocals], Joseph Mabry [guitar, vocals], Harrison Bormann [guitar], Andrew "Boz" Bozymowski [bass, vocals], and Scott Fisher [drums] — recently announced their new album The Mosaic, out May 24 via Fearless Records. Pre-order it here. 

The band has just shared the new single "Empire." Listen here. Watch the lyric video below. 

Capstan go big with "Empire." The larger-than-life song cycles through a grip of moods in the space of four minutes. Layered vocals, gnarly guitar works, breakdowns, and atmospheric keyboards and electronic flourishes are sprinkled throughout the track. It's a sonic adventure that shows off the band's willingness to experiment and try new things at once!

"'Empire' is an introspective piece," says Mabry. "The lyrics confess guilt regarding privilege, its cost, and mass complicity in atrocities committed in the name of western imperialism. Recognizing the global scope of violence, poverty, and inequality, and acknowledging that the system is decidedly and irreparably broken is imperative to the possibility of progress."

To make a mosaic, tiny pieces interlock as a larger picture. In similar fashion, distinct elements coalesce as one in Capstan. The band mixes metallic precision with pit-splitting hardcore grooves and the kind of hooks you can't shake. Since 2015, Capstan have progressed with each subsequent move. Following Seasonal Depression [2015] and In The Wake of Our Discord [2018], they made waves with their full-length debut, Restless Heart, Keep Running, in 2019. They toured with the likes of Trash Boat, Doll Skin, Silverstein, and many more. After amassing tens of millions of streams and earning acclaim from the likes of KERRANG! and New Noise, the group paint a definitive body of work on their aptly titled third full-length offering, The Mosaic.

"Wherever You Are Tonight" is Kenny's 4th + Final Grat Track

Having made the decision BORN, his first new album in over four years, would be a project that would offer a complete sense of who he is and what his music is made of, Kenny Chesney wanted his final grat track to be something that reached beyond the here and now to embrace those people who’ve left us. “Wherever You Are Tonight,” a piano-grounded ballad, is a philosophical consideration of where people go after they pass, but also suggests that while we can’t see them, it doesn’t mean they’ve actually left us.
 
“The thing about this song that struck me,” Chesney said, “is that idea people we love never truly leave us. We can’t see them, or know where they go after they pass on, but everything we shared remains... who we are because of them, that doesn’t change. But this song suggests that beyond the grief, the pain and the memories, wherever the people we love are, they’re not so far away.
 
“There’s a line in the lyric: ‘You’re not gone, just out of sight/ You’re here with me, wherever you are tonight...’ And that might be, since we don’t know what happens next. Maybe you can be in two places at once; you can be in heaven and on my right shoulder. Who’s to say? But for all the people who’ve passed on, I love the idea that they’re still here.”
 
Written by GRAMMY-winner Mike Reid, best known for Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” and three-time Songwriter of the Year Gary Burr, both in the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, “Wherever You Are Tonight” is a song not of sadness, but also celebration. Mining Chesney’s at times ruminating on life deep dive song sense, the four minute song is delivered as a late night conversation that reflects on the power of life-changing friendships.
 
After two verses of piano, strings drift in like mist and an electric guitar cuts through. But the star of this heartfelt song is Chesney’s warm, slightly porous tenor; strong enough to shoulder the emotions, but also vulnerable and hopeful enough to hold a space for what requires faith.
 
As BORN’s May 22 release draws closer, the eight-time Entertainer of the Year and only country artist in Billboard’s Top 10 Touring Artists of the Last 25 Years for the last 15 years wants to provide a complete picture for what No Shoes Nation can expect. Already cited as one of spring’s most anticipated albums in any genre by Esquire and one of Holler’s “Country Albums to Look Forward To,” Nashville Lifestyles offers BORN “continues his reign as master of the bigger picture... themes of gratitude, nostalgia, optimism, and resilience, the album celebrates the wild act of just living.”
 
“There’s so much on BORN,” Chesney explains. “And I know some people like different pieces of the music for different reason. It was important to me for people to have a sense of everything that’s here, so while five songs early feels like an awful lot, I think it’s a pretty good sense of what these 15 songs taken as a whole represent. I can’t wait for No Shoes Nation to show me what their favorites are.”
 
With the Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour kicking off at Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium on April 20, the BORN tour edition is also available for pre-order through a link provided to ticket buyers and premium fan club members. Containing three live tracks, it adds the pulse of No Shoes Nation to a collection of songs designed to offer a look at shrugging off the things that pull you down and celebrating the euphoria of being in the moment with people you connect with.

CHAYCE BECKHAM SETS DEBUT ALBUM, BAD FOR ME, FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 5

Nominated at this year’s CMT Music Awards for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year for his PLATINUM hit single “23” that's surging toward #1 on country radio, Amazon Music’s “Breakthrough Artist to Watch” Chayce Beckham tonight releases the first track from his highly anticipated debut album - Bad For Me - coming Friday, April 5, with the rowdy anthem “Waylon in ‘75.” Tonight, listen to the new song HERE and pre-order/pre-save/pre-add the album HERE. 

“Once I finished recording this album and had time to live with it, I felt the title Bad For Me fit perfectly. It sums up a lot of my own faults,” says Beckham. “I like a lot of stuff that’s bad for me, even though it ends up being kryptonite but that’s all a part of being human. I am so proud of this record. I just hope there’s a song on this album that makes somebody feel something.”

Produced by Bart Butler (Jon Pardi, Midland, Warren Zeiders), apart from “23” (Ross Copperman), Bad for Me puts Beckham’s wild card under a microscope as his soul-searching songwriting takes centerstage. Carefully crafting a series of deeply personal stories, his true-to-Beckham mix of dusky Western sonics and smoldering rock energy come to the forefront, as fiddle, steel and loping rhythms stand beside a rebellious, untamed spirit and his rustic vocal. 

Continuing to open his soul like most would never dare, Bad For Me’s themes like substance abuse, guilt and romantic remorse are in plain view, joined by the inner struggle of a man wishing he was more. Battling the bottomless pit of wondering how things got the way they are, this album also shows an appreciation for life itself, and a promise to keep up the fight. 

Featuring the 19 Recordings/Wheelhouse Records/BMG artist’s solo-written, PLATINUM hit song “23” that’s streaming over 4.6M per week and surging toward #1 at country radio, the former fork-lift driver’s debut features 13 tracks, including several he wrote entirely by himself before he won American Idol, including the poignant fan-favorite “Mama” that he actually performed on the show, along with the propulsive barroom rocker “Drink You Off My Mind.”

Currently on his own headlining “Bad For Me” Tour, Beckham will join Luke Bryan on his “Mind Of A Country Boy” Tour this summer. For tickets and all touring updates, visit www.ChayceBeckham.com. 

Photo Credit: Robby Klein

Upcoming Tour Dates:

3/16 - Bendigo, Australia - Meatstock Festival (Bendigo City Centre)

3/23 - Alpine, CA - Country Fest

3/28 - Rootstown, OH - Dusty Armadillo 

4/4 - Catoosa, OK - Track 5 

4/5 - Pocola, OK - Choctaw Casino 

4/6 - Manhattan, KS - The Hat

4/11 - Ft Worth, TX -Tannahill's Tavern and Music Hall

4/12 - Grant, OK - Choctaw Casino

4/13 - Stillwater, OK - Tumbleweed Dance Hall

4/17 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome*

4/18 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place*

4/19 - Vancouver, BC - Coastal City Country Fest

4/24 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Centre*

4/25 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre*

5/2 - Columbus, OH - The Bluestone

5/3 - Warrendale, PA - Jergels

5/4 - Winchester, VA - Shenandoah Valley Apple Blossom Festival (Discovery Museum)

5/9 - Schenectady, NY - Frog Alley

5/10 - Binghamton, NY - Touch of Texas

5/11 - Jordan,NY - Kegs Canalside

5/16 - Asheville, NC - Salvage Station

5/17 - Barco, NC - Morris Farm

5/18 - Charlotte, NC - Coyote Joe's

5/23 - Bishop, CA - Mule Days

5/24 - Apple Valley, CA - HillTop Tavern and Inn

6/6 - Fargo, ND - Happy Harry's Ribfest @ Fargo Dome

6/9 - Greenwood Village, CO - Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre/KYGO

6/14 - Orange Beach, AL - The Wharf Amphitheater*

6/15 - Orange Beach, Al - The Wharf Amphitheater*

6/18 - Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere

6/21 - Buffalo, NY - Taste of Country (Sahlen Field)

6/27 - Cadott, WI - Country Fest 2024

6/29 - Brainerd, MN - Lakes Jam

7/12 - Rhinelander, WI - Hodag Country Festival

7/18 - Ankeny, IA - The District at Prairie Trail

7/19 - New Berlin, IL - Danenberger Family Vineyards

8/9 - Oro Station, Ontario - Boots and Hearts

8/15 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center*

8/16 - Montréal, Québec - Parc Jean-Drapeau/ Lasso Fest

8/17 - Atlanta, GA - Truist Park*

8/22 - Oklahoma City, OK - Paycom Center*

8/24 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena*

8/25 - Chicago, IL - Wrigley Field*

10/20 - Sacramento, CA - Discovery Park

*with Luke Bryan

About Chayce Beckham: 

Three years after becoming the only artist to win American Idol singing his own songs, 19 Recordings/Wheelhouse Records/BMG country artist Chayce Beckham is living proof of his belief that “You can’t tell someone how to write a song.” Currently nominated at this year’s CMT Music Awards for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year for his PLATINUM hit single “23” surging toward #1 on country raadio, the fiery singer-songwriter laid out a course only he could follow, and today remains even more dedicated to his unique creative compass. A California native schooled on tough times and a mix of country, rock, hip hop and beyond, Beckham started a habit of heart-on-his-sleeve songwriting after some hard times when he felt he had nothing left – and when combined with his warm vocal rasp on “23,” that drive helped him charm the nation on Idol's 19th season in 2021. With more than 358 million streams and counting, the bluesy and brutally honest anthem debuted at #1 on both iTunes’ Country and All Genre singles charts, and now leads Beckham’s first album, Bad for Me, as the emerging star finds his stride. Co-writing nine of 13 songs (three solo), the project shows Beckham opening his soul like most would never dare and embracing a timeless country-rock sound defined by fiddles, steel guitar, and plenty of against-the-grain attitude. With dusky shades of heroes like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson, the set aims to reinforce next-big-thing predictions from CMT, Amazon Music, MusicRow and more, while Beckham hits the road this summer on Luke Bryan’s "Mind Of A Country Boy" Tour and his own headlining 2024 “Bad for Me” Tour.

KEEP UP WITH CHAYCE BECKHAM

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | X

DE'WAYNE Signs to Fearless + Shares "synthesizer" Video

FEARLESS RECORDS is pleased to announce the addition of rock artist DE'WAYNE to the global roster.

DE'WAYNE is an artist who has taken risks his whole life and is now putting that exact energy into the music he creates.

DE'WAYNE is an alternative rock singer from Houston, Texas, who is redefining how it's done by showcasing a raw and tasteful blend of genres. The music combines elements of rock, pop, and soul, with a mission to show people we shouldn't live in boxes — and neither should our music. Throughout his nascent career, he has constantly reinvented himself, leaving fans both guessing and thrilled, all the while picking up new ones along the way. The NME called out his ability to be "equally at home belting out throaty howl or indulging in his velvety soulfulness" and praised, "the sense of fun and experimentation that’s crucial to good mainstream-minded rock music is very much alive" that defines DE'WAYNE's music.

Today, DE'WAYNE has shared the video for "synthesizer."

Watch it Below.

"synthesizer' is a love letter to my best friend," DE'WAYNE says. "Sometimes, it's easier to say these things in a song rather than in person. I was inspired by The Commodores, who wrote 'Brick House' about the perfect woman — in their eyes. I wanted to take the word synthesizer and make it SEXY and give it a new meaning. To anyone who listens to this, I hope they find the synthesizer in their life."

The song has already been added to Spotify's flagship rock playlist MARROW, which is a mirror and vehicle, and a reflection of what is truly driving today's rock youth culture, evolution, and limitless trajectory. 

BLOODSTOCK reveal Lemmy Forever Memorial, Lemmy's Ashes to Live At BLOODSTOCK in 2024

BLOODSTOCK, by arrangement with Motörhead management, have announced that the legendary, late, great Lemmy Kilmister will be permanently memorialised at the heavy metal festival.  Some of Lemmy’s ashes will be housed at BLOODSTOCK- one of only a few places globally - in a unique urn, with the festival commissioning a Bust of Lemmy to incorporate the ashes.  Fans will be able to view the installation and pay tribute to Lemmy and his legacy in the RAM Gallery on site.  Once the festival is over, the Bust of Lemmy will move to Nottingham’s Rock City venue, where fans will have access to the ashes; they will return each and every year to their primary home on the hallowed turf of BLOODSTOCK at Catton Park. 

Motörhead’s manager, Todd Singerman comments: “BLOODSTOCK has always been a special place for Motörhead and for Lemmy. The people and the energy matched Lemmy’s values perfectly. Alan and Vicky were also great friends, and basically family of Lemmy, as he was the reason that they originally got together. This is definitely a fitting honor in the continuing series of enshrinements of Lemmy’s ashes in his most loved places.”

BLOODSTOCK’s Vicky Hungerford adds “We were humbled and honoured to be approached by Motörhead management to have Lemmy’s ashes at BLOODSTOCK. Lemmy holds a very special place in everybody’s heart, but to myself and my husband he was the reason we met and fell in love. Nothing will mean more to us and the BLOODSTOCK family than to honour his legacy  and have Lemmy forever at BLOODSTOCK “

The memorial will be part of a bigger picture theme for the festival this year to commemorate this special news and celebrate the remarkable legacy of Lemmy and Motörhead.  The RAM Gallery on site will be extended this year to accommodate an expanded Motörhead theme, including a full wall of Motörhead artwork, as well as archive memorabilia, plus you can relive a moment in time by visiting a recreation of Lemmy’s touring dressing room (attached on to the gallery, accessible from within the gallery marquee).  On site this year,  BLOODSTOCKers will see the Motörhead Bomber in the arena, witness various bands paying tribute to Motörhead in their live sets, and the opening and closing of the festival will be marked with a sounding of the famous Motörhead air raid siren.  BLOODSTOCK will also welcome Motörhead’s Phil Campbell to the festival this year and are thrilled to have his participation in these special celebrations. Even more Motörhead themed activations are still in the works, so stay tuned as this exciting development continues coming together. 

Standard weekend tickets to BLOODSTOCK, priced at £185 (+ bkg fee) are available now in the 2024 ticket store. Early Bird, VIP and campervan tickets are already sold out.  

BLOODSTOCK’s 2024 Ronnie James Dio main stage headliners are AMON AMARTH, OPETH, and ARCHITECTS. Across the weekend you can also expect to see CLUTCH, HATEBREED, CARCASS, ENSLAVED, MALEVOLENCE, SATYRICON, ROTTING CHRIST, SYLOSIS, WHITECHAPEL, DEICIDE, GRAND MAGUS, DESERT STORM, THE VINTAGE CARAVAN, SOEN, GREEN LUNG, COMBICHRIST, XENTRIX, EXIST IMMORTAL, ETERNAL CHAMPION, GROVE STREET, MIMI BARKS, CRYPTA, FORBIDDEN, NERVOSA, BEAST IN BLACK, KORPIKLAANI, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, FLOGGING MOLLY, SEPTIC FLESH, IGORRR, RUIJIN, GROVE STREET, UNPEOPLE, NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA, HELLRIPPER, INFECTED RAIN, CULTURA TRES, SADUS, LUDOVICO TECHNIQUE, BURNER, RED RUM, EVERGREY, RAISED BY OWLS, TAILGUNNER, SOUTH OF SALEM, and ANKOR with more still to be announced. 

Get full festival information over at bloodstock.uk.com.  BLOODSTOCK will take place at Catton Park, Derbyshire on 8th-11th August 2024.

Delve into the Dark Abyss with Friends Of Hell's Infernal Return! - New Album out 4/5 on Rise Above Records

New Album 'God Damned You to Hell'

due Out April 5th via Rise Above Records

Pre-Order HERE

Today, FRIENDS OF HELL share "Gran Inquisidor", the first single from their upcoming new album 'God Damned You To Hell' due out April 5th on Rise Above Records.

Listen HERE

The long-awaited follow-up to FRIENDS OF HELL’s demonically thrilling debut, 'God Damned You To Hell' is a scorched earth campaign against all that is holy. Even more defiantly old school and obnoxious than its predecessor, its primitive barrage of horrified heaviness owes a ghoulish debt to the greats of heavy metal and doom while summoning some abominable demons of its own. Songs like "Bringer Of Evil" and "Let The Devil Take You" harbor ruthless hooks that draw from all manner of leather-clad and spiked sources, while the blasphemous rituals of closer "All The Colours Of The Dark" cement FRIENDS OF HELL’s burgeoning reputation as harbingers of tangible, tumultuous darkness.

“This second album is way superior to the first one,” avows Danazoglou. “The songs are better, and the music is heavier and more evil! That was the plan from the beginning. The only surprise was that the line-up changed. Hellbutcher’s vocals are just devastating and Beelzeebubth and Sprits are just amazing guitarists! Most of the recording took place here in Cyprus with Sprits at the helm of production. This time things were easier [to complete] than the first album. We were more focused and willing to deliver a devastating blow to weak and fake metal music!”

Listen to "Gran Inquisidor" Below.

Heavy metal has a long history and profound connection with devilry, deviance, and the dark side. The ignominious return of FRIENDS OF HELL can only strengthen that bond.

Steeped in purest old-school metal and the dirtiest doom, the new album 'God Damned You To Hell' is a rusty spike in the eye of unbelievers.

As they begin their infernal mission in earnest, FRIENDS OF HELL has grown from a spontaneous idea into a fearsome force for guitar-driven infamy. 'God Damned You To Hell' takes a pick-axe to modernity and builds a new monument to Satan in its place. As Danazoglou explains, there really is no other way. Hails!

“Our song themes are and always will remain the same,” Taz Danazoglou states. “Satanism, witchcraft, horror, and death! If the public loved the first album, the second one will blow their minds. It’s on another level. Another level downwards into the pits of hellfire! The one thing that has really changed is that with this line-up, we will play live and bring mankind to its knees. We want to play and destroy stages. Other than that, we will then focus on the third album which will be the final nail in the coffin lid for mankind!”

Are you ready to feel the flames?

Pre-Order 'God Damned You To Hell' HERE

Formed by underground stalwart Tas Danazoglou (Satan’s Wrath/ex-Electric Wizard) in 2021, FRIENDS OF HELL emerged as avowed defenders of dirty, evil metal. Initially fronted by doom maverick Albert Witchfinder (Opium Warlords/ex-Reverend Bizarre), they appeared from nowhere, scabby-knuckled and militant, armed with a self-titled debut album that reeked of gruesome authenticity. Released in March of 2022, FRIENDS OF HELL adhered to a strict ethos of scything doom riffs and punk-as-fuck belligerence while conjuring a disorientating storm of occult grimness that dripped with horror. Not surprisingly, fans of the real thing recognize diehard purity when they hear it, and FRIENDS OF HELL were widely acclaimed as the latest and hottest entity to be belched from Lucifer’s maw.

“After the first album was released we were really amazed by the response!” says Danazoglou. “It was included in the best-of-year lists of countless places. The plan was then to play live in a few selected festivals but unfortunately, that was impossible with the old line-up. Albert quit, followed by our guitarist Jondix quitting too, so then myself and original bassist Taneli Jarva (ex Impaled Nazarene/Sentenced) were joined by Hellbutcher on vocals, Beelzeebubth on guitar and Sprits joined us as second guitarist. So we could argue that there were some major developments which in the end worked for the best.”

SACRAMENTO’S SIMON SAYS ANNOUNCE SPRING HEADLINING RUN, DIGITAL REISSUE OF ‘PERFECT EXAMPLE’

Reunited Sacramento Emocore/Nu-Metal pioneers Simon Says have announced they will hit the road this Spring for a string of dates, the band’s first in over 20 years, kicking off with a hometown Sacramento reunion show at Goldfield Roseville on 3/22. Simon Says will hit the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood on 4/4, before a string of cross country dates in May, supported by LA rock act Oceans On Other Planets.

3/22 | Roseville, CA | Goldfield - Roseville

4/4 | West Hollywood, CA | Whisky A Go-Go

5/5 | Des Moines, IA | Lefty’s*

5/7 | Joliet, IL | The Forge*

5/8 | Pittsburgh, PA | Crafthouse*

5/10 | Lakewood, OH | The Winchester Music Tavern*

5/11 | Hanover, PA | Rock On The Hill Music Festival*

(w/ Jimmie’s Chicken Shack)

5/12 | Toledo, OH | Ottawa Tavern*

8/10 | Three Forks, MT | Rockin' The Rivers (w/ Stone Temple Pilots, Hoobastank)

(* w/ Oceans on Other Planets)

Simon Says has also announced the digital release of their breakthrough independent release Perfect Example, remastered by Richard Easterling (Taproot)which will be available on digital outlets for the first time on Friday, April 5th via THC: Music.

The band announced in September they had reunited with their original lineup - Vocalist Matt Franks, Guitarist Zac Diebels, Bassist Mike Arrieta, and drummer Mike Johnston, for the first time in over 20 years, and are working on material for a new studio album to be released in 2024 via THC: Music/Amplified Distribution.

Additionally, the band’s 2 major label releases Jump Start and Shut Your Breathhave both been made available on all digital and streaming platforms for the first time.

Simon Says formed in the buzzing Sacramento scene of the early 90s, among the ranks of contemporaries like Far, Papa Roach, Will Haven etc, and released their first demo EP in 1994, followed by two independent LPS, the cassette only Little Boy, and the follow-up Perfect Example, which would sell more than 5000 copies, and define the sound that would see the band signed to Hollywood Records a short time later. In 1999 Simon Says released their major label debut Jump Start, which yielded the hit modern rock singles “Life Jacket”, and “Slider”, which both charted in the Top 40 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock charts.

The band would go on to release their darker and heavier fan favorite sophomore LP Shut Your Breath in 2001, which spawned the single “Blister (Nothing)”, which again found its way onto the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, and saw the band touring Worldwide performing alongside Creed, Staind, Filter, Limp Bizkit, Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Deftones, Monster Magnet, Rollins Band, Kid Rock, Type O Negative, and many more, before disbanding in 2001.

Franks, Diebels, and Arrieta, with drummer Dave Marich, formed the short-lived Key To Arson, which released the independent LP Light ‘Em Up, before disbanding in 2004.

Despite the 20+-year hiatus, the members of Simon Says have stayed active, not veering far from their musical roots, with guitarist Zac Diebels producing music in his Sacramento studio, and dabbling in his project Automatic Static with Simon Says vocalist Franks, who also plays bass in progressive Sacramento band SAGES, with Far drummer Chris Robyn. Bassist Mike Arrieta had a brief stint in Cleanse, while drummer Mike Johnston found a niche as one of the top internet drum instructors with mikeslessons.com, spawning the celebrated Youtube drum instruction page “mikeslessons” with over 230k followers.

Says vocalist Franks, “It really happened by accident. We got back together and got in a room to even discuss this stuff, because of the huge amount of fan interest in the first two records, which, at the time, were not even available digitally. So, we got together to discuss that, and try to figure out how to reconnect with our former label, Hollywood, and find a path to release for those records, which really sparked a renewed interest and friendship for all of us, after getting in the same room after so long.”

He adds, “As so much time had passed, you realize hurt feelings from 20 years ago don’t really matter anymore, and I think we all have kind of a renewed appreciation and respect for each other, and the ability for us to even be able to play music together. We’re just thankful there are so many fans still pulling for us, and looking forward to whatever new experiences this next chapter will bring, for us, and the fans.”

Visit Simon Says on the web at simonsaysus.com, or at facebook at facebook.com/simonfnsays.

MARKO HIETALA & TARJA TURUNEN Release Video For Duet Single ´Left On Mars´

Experience the celestial harmonies of two iconic voices as Marko Hietala and Tarja Turunen unite in a mesmerizing duet like never before!

Embark on a journey through space and time with ´Left On Mars´,  a captivating single and accompanying video that transcends boundaries of genre and imagination. Inspired by a tale of love and longing, this ethereal ballad combines Marko's emotive lyrics and powerful riffs with Tarja's hauntingly beautiful vocals, creating a symphony that resonates deep within the soul.

Marko Hietala about the song: “A love song to my wife which ends up uniting two old friends. Even if the song itself sucked, I would be pleased about the result!”

Check out the video for ´Left On Mars´ Below.
Listen to the song on all platforms: https://markohietala.bfan.link/left-on-mars

Marko´s guitarist and album producer Tuomas Wäinölä remembers hearing the song for the first time at Marko's place in Kuopio:

” It was a strong one immediately. I think Marko had the idea of it being a duet too, straight from the beginning. After that, it was just a matter of grinding and demoing it well.
The fun part was taking the song to Switzerland on a USB drive, like proper agents! We had this secret meeting when we had a Pratteln Outdoor gig with Tarja, both playing our own sets.
And yeah, it was great to see them together on stage and finally singing the same tune again!”
 

From the initial spark of inspiration to the final note, every moment of ´Left On Mars´ exudes passion and creativity. Marko's evocative storytelling sets the stage for Tarja's enchanting performance, forming a cosmic connection that transports listeners to a world beyond imagination.

Photo credit: Eva Cuenca

Black Tusk Defy Death on New Single

Praise for Black Tusk

"A raucous style of punky, hard rocking sludge, with minimum fuss and ample bursts of energy and ballsy aggression" - Angry Metal Guy

"Chaotic and raw, but also extremely catchy and memorable" - Metal Injection

"A no frills band that goes full throttle. Black Tusk are here to stay" - Heavy Music HQ

"An engine-wrecking riff-fest from the Savannah badlands" - Metal Hammer

"Black Tusk are pretty much the only Georgia metal act who still sound like they hail from the home state of Sandra Dee and Uga" - Invisible Oranges

"Alive, raw, furious, loud...they almost make your face vibrate" - Heavy Blog is Heavy

"Black Tusk's combination of sludge, rock, hardcore and death metal remains fluid, fertile and most importantly, full of life" - Pitchfork

Black Tusk have done more than their fair share of hard living. In their 19 years as a band, they've switched labels and lost members while navigating the bumps in the road that come with being touring musicians. But their new album bulldozes past any and all obstacles. The latest single off The Way Forward leaves the taste for sin behind, though that doesn't mean this sludge metal crew have cleaned up their act. "Dance on Your Grave" sounds nastier than ever. 

"Everything that happens in our lives is something we can learn from", says Black Tusk guitarist and vocalist Andrew Fidler. "It will sink you or make you wiser. This song is about that". 

Watch the video for "Dance on Your Grave" below.

The Way Forward comes out April 26, 2024.

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/black-tusk-the-way-forward

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

James May has stomped around the swamps of Savannah, Georgia, since he was a young punk. But the Black Tusk drummer moved away to Athens during the course of the pandemic. It was a struggle, but the change in scenery helped him work through his struggles.

Everyday is amazement that I made it, May shouts alongside his longtime bandmate Fidler, backed by the steadfast thump of his double kick drum.        

"Sometimes the worst things you've ever seen or done end up being the best thing that's ever happened to you", says May, who wrote the lyrics to "Dance on Your Grave". "It's sort of a self-exorcism. You gotta be on the edge to know where the cliff is".  

The Way Forward marks Black Tusk's first album as a four piece. But "Dance on Your Grave" shows that these guys are already old friends. Fidler and May used to run in the same touring circles as new bassist Derek Lynch. Lynch makes himself right at home, too, cracking open a cold beer before kicking off this jam session with a filthy bass groove.

"'Dance on Your Grave' was the absolute first song from the new record that I played with the whole band", Lynch says. "We worked on it at a spot in Athens. It kind of gave me a frame of reference for what they were trying to accomplish with a new batch of songs, pushing the tempo while still maintaining a super heavy low end".

The video was shot at Hidden Audio, which serves as Black Tusk's home base. The studio is run by frequent collaborator and now official member Chris "Scary" Adams. Not only did Scary create the video for "Dance on Your Grave". He produced The Way Forward and makes this the band's first album to feature two guitars. Right away, the chemistry between him and Fidler jumps through the roof. After all, Fidler did help build this studio with his own two hands. On "Dance on Your Grave", Fidler lays down firm riffs so that Scary can rip into a solo that never stops climbing.

Photo by Adriana Iris Boatwright

“The big theme of this record is putting your life back together.” That’s Black Tusk guitarist/vocalist Andrew Fidler talking about the band’s new album, The Way Forward. “When everything seems like it’s against you, put your head down and push through. Take those bad things that are happening and use them to help create.” 

The Way Forward might be the Savannah swamp metal crew’s seventh album, but it marks many firsts for Black Tusk. It’s their first with their new lineup, which sees guitarist Chris “Scary” Adams and bassist Derek Lynch joining Fidler and drummer James May. Which also makes it Black Tusk’s first record with a two-guitar lineup. “We were able to add leads and harmonies and all kinds of stuff on the new record that we haven’t done in the past,” Fidler says. “As far as our records go, this one has the most guitar work.”  

You can hear it in the squealing solo of “Dance on Your Grave,” the killer harmonies on ripper “Harness (The Alchemist),” and the glorious dual guitar interplay of the powerful title track.  

“‘The Way Forward’ is my favorite song on the record,” Fidler says. “It’s based on a personal experience that everyone can probably relate to. I got divorced in 2020, and I kinda felt like my entire world was collapsing when that happened. But I pulled myself out of it. I realized that this one thing ending in my life isn’t the end of everything. I’m gonna find a way forward. I’m gonna figure out how to live my life and create and be happy and make new relationships. Which is what I’ve done.”  

In true Black Tusk fashion, the new lineup has expanded their triple-vocal approach to quadruple. “Everyone is doing vocals,” Fidler says. “That’s always been a thing in Black Tusk. Derek said he’d never done heavy vocals before, so I was like, ‘Well, here’s the mic. Here’s some words. Yell at it and see if you like it.’ I was blown away the first time he did it. It sounded good as fuck.”   

That’s Lynch on lead single “Brushfire,” a song for which he wrote the main riffs and lyrical concept. “That was my first real contribution to the band,” the bassist says. “Thematically, I wanted the aggressiveness of the lyrics to keep with the idea of pushing forward even when the world is trying to drag you down. The mood of the lyrics needed to match the pulverizing tempo of the song.”  

The lyrics for second single “Dance on Your Grave” were written by May, who moved from Savannah to Athens, GA, in the time since Black Tusk’s last album. “It’s about his struggles through Covid and what this lifestyle can do to people,” Fidler says. “It’s about getting past the party lifestyle and continuing to do things that are creative.”  

Meanwhile, “Breath of Life” distills Black Tusk’s lyrical philosophy into a righteous five-minute pummeling. “Scary came up with the main riff of this song, and it’s one of my favorite riffs on the record,” Fidler says. “I wrote the lyrics, and it’s just about darkness crushing everything. The world is a fucked-up place that we have to navigate through. That’s what a lot of Black Tusk songs are about.”  

Black Tusk recorded The Way Forward at Adams’ own Hidden Audio studio just outside of Savannah. Adams engineered the album and the whole band produced. “I actually helped him build the studio in the detached garage next to his house,” Fidler explains. “Me and my carpentry company went out there to do it, and Scary helped.”  

“We had about 90% of the riffs and song structures going into the studio, while still experimenting with ideas and inspirations,” Adams explains. “Sometimes we completely reworked parts, which made all the difference. For example, early versions of ‘Breath of Life’ and ‘The Way Forward’ are quite different than the record, and I love where they ended up. Though we did use a few effects and synths here and there for texture and space, to me this record still feels raw and powerful. It captures the feeling of being at a Black Tusk show.”  

The cover art for The Way Forward was done by Brian Mercer, who also created the sleeve for Black Tusk’s 2018 album, T.C.B.T.“T.C.B.T. had a dark cover because it was a dark time for the band,” Fidler says, referring to the period immediately after the passing of their longtime friend and bassist Jonathan Athon. “This time, it’s full blown, full-color Black Tusk. Brian Mercer and James collaborated on the concept, and Brian really knocked it out of the park.”  

“The title is kind of a double play,” Fidler says. “It’s the first record with the new lineup, and this is the direction we’re taking the band in. We’ve been doing Black Tusk for 19 years now, and we still love it. That’s why we called it The Way Forward.”  

Line-up:

Andrew Fidler: guitar, vocals
James May: drums, vocals
Derek Lynch: bass, vocals
Chris "Scary" Adams: guitar, vocals

Recording Studio
Hidden Audio

Producer/sound engineer
Chris "Scary" Adams

Mixing studio and engineer
Chris "Scary" Adams

Mastering studio and engineer
Brad Boatright at Audiosiege

Cover artwork
Brian Mercer

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

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