ASINHELL, Featuring Volbeat's Michael Poulsen, Share "Pyromantic Scryer" Video

April 23, 2024

For more than 20 years, vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen has been spearheading Danish rock and roll machine Volbeat, releasing eight full-lengths, selling millions of albums, and filling stadiums worldwide. Before fronting Volbeat, however, Poulsen formed death metal band Dominus, which recorded four fast, brutal albums in the mid '90s. When Poulsen was putting together songs for Volbeat's 2021 album, Servant of the Mind, he wrote a bunch of death metal riffs and saved them on his phone. Then, when he was done with the Volbeat record, he reopened the rusty gates to Armageddon and started putting together songs for his new death metal band Asinhell, whose debut album Impii Hora (Latin for "Ungodly Hour"), is a tribute to Poulsen's favorite old-school groups.

Impii Hora was released September 29 via Metal Blade. Get it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for "Pyromantic Scryer." Watch it below.

"'Pyromantic Scryer' was the first song I wrote for the album and it surely has an Entombed vibe, and as I've said before, it was L.G. Petrov who kicked started the birth of Asinhell," says Poulsen.

"Pyromancy is the 'art' of prophecy/augury by any means of fire," says vocalist Marc Grewe. "The song is about a mad man who thinks he can predict the future from fires. Fires he sets himself. In his delusion, he thinks he is a misunderstood messiah. The song can also been seen metaphorical on some things that are going on (and wrong) in the world of today… a small spark of a mad man (or group/cult) can set the world on fire. I think the video created by Shan Dan shows this dangerous behavior in a quite drastic way!"

Poulsen has rekindled the death metal fire that fueled his first band Dominus. He began jamming on riffs with longtime friend and neighbor, drummer Morten Toft Hansen (Raunchy). The two started playing in Morten's tiny garage: no mics, no P.A. — just a drum kit and a combo amp turned all the way up like they used when they were teenagers. Soon, the pair were completing a new song every time they got together. When it came time to add vocals, Poulsen turned to his good friend, who also happened to be one of his all-time favorite death metal growlers: Marc Grewe (Insidious Disease, ex-Morgoth).

"I had known Michael quite a long time and he always mentioned that we should do a death metal project one day, but I never took him too seriously because he was so busy with Volbeat," Grewe says. "Then he called for real and said, 'Yeah, I want to do it now. Are you up for it?' Immediately, I was like, 'Yes, of course!'"

With Asinhell fully formed, the three convened with Volbeat producer Jacob Hansen to produce, mix, and play bass on their debut album. When it was time to add lead guitar to the album, Michael looked no further than friend and The Arcane Order axeman Flemming C. Lund.

ASINHELL ARE:
Michael Poulsen — Guitar
Marc Grewe — Vocals
Morten Toft Hansen — Drums

Zeal & Ardor Announce New Album "GREIF" + Share New Track "to my ilk"

April 23, 2024

Inventive and iconoclastic, ZEAL & ARDOR isn't just a band; it's a living and breathing entity.

Like any other sentient being, it consumes, evolves, and transforms from one season to the next. Its shape may change though its spirit remains the same. Founded and fronted by Manuel Gagneux, it has only sharpened its claws, lengthened its teeth, and steeled its nerves over the years, growing more undeniable and unpredictable in the process.

After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, this beast proves as dynamic and dangerous as ever on its fourth full-length, self-produced album, GREIF, set for release on August 23.

The title, GREIF, is inspired by an annual tradition in Gagneux's hometown of Basel, Switzerland. A mythical hybrid creature parades through the streets for the children in symbolism of Basel's working people balking at the oppressive elite on its other side. Given the animal's amalgam of energies and physicality, the name proved apropos.

"The GREIF is a lion, a snake, and a bird," he notes. "During the parade, he turns his backside to the aristocrats and sticks it to the man. It reflects where we are."

At the beginning of this next chapter, the evocative group have chosen to first showcase the album's conclusion, sharing its plaintive and poetic final track, "to my ilk." Loose blues guitar snakes around strong claps as Manuel's voice echoes through a choir. "It has another level of emotion, and it came out just the way I imagined," he remarks.

Watch a visualiser for the track below. Listen here.

Gagneux had the option to rest on his laurels, basking in the global acclaim garnered from three previous albums: Devil Is Fine [2017], Stranger Fruit [2018], and Zeal & Ardor [2022] — praised by NPR, Stereogum, Revolver, AV Club, Paste, Brooklyn Vegan, Alternative Press, Kerrang!, Metal Hammer, Metro, The Guardian, and many others. But rather than stagnating, Manuel opted to shake things up for GREIF. Instead of creatively flying solo again, this time he welcomed his bandmates into the studio. As such, the musicians — Tiziano Volante [guitar], Marc Obrist [vocals], Denis Wagner [vocals], Lukas Kurmann [bass], and Marco Von Allmen [drums] — spread their wings alongside him.

"We've really evolved into a tight-knit unit," adds Marc. "Before Zeal & Ardor, we were basically strangers, but we're like a little family now. Each member brings his own unique flavor to the mix, and we all try to make Manuel's songs better in our own way. The most interesting part for me was the new approach of how we work together in the studio."

Decamping to Marc's studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months. The frontman excitedly leveraged the talents of his cohorts, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle.

"I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors," Manuel goes on. "There are angry and accusatory moments, but there’s also some solace and happiness. I'm widening the palette of colors we have to paint with. These are avenues we haven't tried."

GREIF will be available on CD, transparent vinyl, and digitally. Pre-orders begin on Friday, April 26 here.

"We invite listeners to hear the full spectrum of the different sides and sounds that make Zeal & Ardor," Tiziano leaves off. "There are some gorgeous moments, but it packs in a lot of intensity and charm. In Manuel's songwriting and the process with every member, there’s a certain intentionality as well as an element of randomness and accident. I can't wait to see people’s reactions."

In January 2024, ZEAL & ARDOR released Play With The Devil, a documentary film by Olivier Joliat and Matthias Willi. The documentary intimately chronicles Manuel Gagneux's journey from the inception of ZEAL & ARDOR through initial tours and a soul-searching period of crisis. The bold mix of Black Metal with old work songs and field hollers by the enslaved — his answer to a racist provocation on the internet — is politically explosive. As a person of color in metal, Gagneux and his music have shone a light on religion, racism, segregation, and cultural appropriation. However, the sudden surge in acclaim and the weight of being hailed a visionary leader by fans threatened to overwhelm the softly-spoken, introverted artist. Play With The Devil is available now for streaming on major platforms. For more information and to watch, visit here.

Dead Leaf Echo's LG Galleon announces debut CLONE album, shares video for 'Dividing Line'

April 22, 2024

"Loud, aggressive disharmonies flow into a flood of raging and conflicting emotions where droning reverb-injected riffs, angsty and obsessive excruciatingly ringing John McGeoch-esque guitar strains" ~ White, Light White Heat

"Feeding what are now greedy expectations, fuelled by this smashing earworm, Clone ignites a firestorm of sonic pleasure - enthralled and fascinated with its sonic impression, emotional turbulence and convincing delivery" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Highly Urgent Political Rock" ~ Destroy // Exist

"A monument to what seems like a dying art form, CLONE emerges from the streets of Brooklyn—streets that have been fertile ground for underground music for decades—to remind us of what a band can truly be in an age of digitization, pre-fabrication, and superficiality" ~ Idioteq

Post-punk outfit Clone - a Brooklyn-based supergroup featuring members of The Veldt, Dead Leaf Echo, Namesake and Pilot to Gunner - announces their debut record 'CL. 1' and presents the lead track 'Dividing Line', a song about how Donald Trump tried to start a class war within the USA.

The 'CL. 1' album will be released via Portland-based Little Cloud Records and North Carolina's 5BC Records this summer. The video for 'Dividing Line', which involved claymation, drawing and digital rendering, was created by Preston Spurlock.

Clone is led by LG Galleon, best known as frontman of Dead Leaf Echo, On this album, he is joined by NYC musicians Gregg Giufree (Pilot to Gunner), Max Idas and Dominick Turi. Live, he is joined by Paul Liziragga (Namesake) and Alex Cox (The Veldt). Clone started playing shows in summer of 2019, building their fanbase organically, brick by brick, word of their incendiary live shows spreading. Each time they play, more are won over.

Operating in what’s rapidly becoming an antiquated model, they’re a unit of parts. Egalitarian in their writing process, one where songs are built upon inchoate sparks offered freely by any member, letting the jams run free in their rehearsal space until there’s a complete song, guided by the alchemy of intuition. There’s no rule book here, and no one defining member, but there is a palpable chemistry.

Co-produced by LG Galleon, their debut record 'CL.1' is a damn auspicious opening volley, completely recorded and mixed by NYC legendary producer Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans, Brian Eno, John Zorn, Herbie Hancock, Iggy Pop, Helmet, Dresden Dolls, Cop Shoot Cop) at his famed BC Studio, built by Brian Eno, and mastered by Fred Kevorkian.

Clone's lyrics involve the struggles and critiques of the working person's daily life. About the new single 'Dividing Line', LG Galleon says, "This song is called the “Donnie” song. Yes it’s about Donald Trump. It’s when our former failed leader tried to incite a race riot during the Pandemic. The chorus goes “Get up, cause Donnie wants to start a fire, get up cause Donnie wants to start a riot, start a fire fire fire fire fire fire fight."

Evocative, in ethos and ambition, of a time when music still could change lives. Rooted in belief in its galvanizing, redemptive power, the kind which used to be written for the lonely and the scarred and the diffident (before something truly was lost), something deeply enmeshed within the human psyche that could be shared. Clone are fitfully reclaiming this, which at its crux, is the imagination of youth. It’s captured vividly here, and their private universe of sonic exploration is now open to all.

'Dividing Line' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. As of June 21, the 'CL. 1' album will be released in digital and CD formats.

CREDITS
All tracks written by Clone
Lyrics by LG Galleon (onewithwave music ASCAP)
Performed by LG Galleon / Gregg Giufree / Max Idas / Dominick Turi
LG Galleon - guitar, vocals, keys
Gregg Giufree - drums
Max Idas - bass
Dominic Turi - guitar, keys
Recorded and mixed by Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans) at BC Studios
Co-produced by LG Galleon
Mastered by Fred Kevorkian
'Dividing Line' video by Preston Spurlock
BnW artist photography by Silvia Saponaro
Album cover art designed by Roy Burns iii
Single cover artwork by Jacques Urioste

Bandcamp https://clonebk.bandcamp.com/track/dividing-line-single
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/2erYq66VOoe3KCAuhApdNZ
'Immutable' https://youtu.be/nIzBvX7nt08
Bandcamp https://clonebk.bandcamp.com/track/immutable
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/0Q5Qlxiq97crgRjsLC24C5
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/nz/artist/clone/1498878509
'CL. 1' album order https://littlecloudrecords.com/products/clone-cl-1-pre-order

UK electro-goth outfit History of Guns presents 'No Longer Earthbound', teasing eighth album

April 22, 2024

“Invisible hooks that will sink further in” ~ Auxiliary Magazine

"As a band, Hertfordshire's History of Guns is something of a musical chameleon. Like Killing Joke and Nine Inch Nails, they’ve taken on new forms whilst remaining easily identifiable in their journey from goth rock to post-punk and darkwave to EDM and wider electro-goth hybrid territory. The tension of opposites that characterises much of their work propels it forth to an electronic beat, the vocals uncoiling, snake-like, atop a steady electronic catchment" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

“Polished, dramatic, full of poise and binding sentiment, and one of awesome sound and feeling” ~ Liverpool Sound and Vision

UK electro-goth post-punk band History Of Guns presents 'No Longer Earthbound', previewing their new 'Half Light' album - their eighth record to date - to be released via the Liquid Len Recording Company. Serving up their unique meta-modernist Industrial sound, this song is about leaving the planet (through space travel, virtual reality or death) and about recalibrating our thoughts away from our own problems and looking at a more global and cosmic picture.

After going on hiatus in 2012, they returned in 2022 with a new album - 'Forever Dying In Your Eyes' - then set about finishing an electronic project they’d begun in 2008. The result is this 'Half Light' album, produced by Max Rael and mixed by Max Rael and Caden Clarkson with mastering by Pete Maher (U2, Pixies, Nick Cave, J&MC, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails).

Formed in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire in 1996, History of Guns became frontrunners of the UK's Wasp Factory / FuturePunk scene of the early 2000s and their 2004 single 'Your Obedient Servant' was ultimately championed by The Quietus and Mick Mercer as one of the “thirty best goth singles of all time”.

At times anything from a duo to a full 5-piece rock band, on this album, founding members Del Alien (vocals) and Max Rael (keyboards, programming) are joined by guitarist Caden Clarkson, the newest member of History Of Guns. The band's ever-changing lineup revolves around the two core members, exploring the human condition through various musical genres.

Max Rael says, "This is a song about shifting focus away from this planet and to other places or realities.The existentialist question about why worry about saving the planet and endangered species when ultimately life will be unlivable on Earth in 1.3 billion years? If everything ends anyway, where else could we go? We pictured escaping the planet either through space travel, virtual reality or death. It is also about what we choose to leave behind as we shed one existence and go looking for another. That’s not to say History Of Guns don’t care about the planet. We recycle! Though apparently most of it ends up in landfill anyway."

Influenced by Killing Joke, PWEI, Bauhaus, Coil, Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy and Nine Inch Nails and Swans, History of Guns was a big part of the UK underground industrial scene of the 00s, playing Whitby Gothic Weekend, as well as Futurepunk and Back to the Futurepunk events.

“Philosopher Dirk Bruere got me interested about the idea of quantum suicide and immortality, where in a “many worlds” interpretation of Quantum Mechanics, it may be that there is no such thing as death from a subjective point of view. It’s about getting out of our heads, and taking a wider view, to the extent of how much do we choose and shape the reality we’re experiencing," says Max Rael.

"The death of the idea of one objective reality, and the embrace of many different co-existing realities would be a major step forward. Ironically the more aware we are of our own confirmation bias the harder it becomes to see. And also the sense that we have to kill the person society wants to shape us to be, to realise the potential of what we can make of ourselves.”

Del Alien - an original punk turned goth - is an anti-authority seeker of truth and the questions behind the questions. Max Rael is in love with the idea of using music to create a separate universe for creating stories and escaping into, was an autistic, music-obsessed child, absorbing a dozen genres before diving into trance after Britpop ruined the alternative scene.

As of April 22, 'No Longer Earthbound' will be available from fine music platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music. The 'Half Light' album will released on June 20

ALBUM CREDITS
Produced by Max Rael
Mixed by Max Rael and Caden Clarkson
Recorded at Apollo Audio (Hertford), Soul Studios (Bishops Stortford)
Mastered by Pete Maher
Del Alien - vocals
Max Rael - keyboards, programming, guitars
Caden Clarkson - guitar
Andy Webster & Marnie from SPUCKTUTE - vocals on 'Never Give it Up'
Amon Ásentir & Mark Eris from Xykogen - vocals on 'Arcadia'
Arcadia Choir (Emma Mills, Priyanka O’Neill, Sohm O’Neill and Ninotschka G.) - vocals on 'Arcadia'
Nykky Spectre - vocals on 'An Invitation'
Cover artwork by Amara O'Neill
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Bandcamp http://historyofguns.bandcamp.com
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/4n2EfG19UlV8cQC9zNW36L
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/history-of-guns/278029998

KURT DEIMER Announces New Tour Dates with Texas Hippie Coalition!

April 22, 2024

Kurt Deimer announced that he will be touring alongside Texas Hippie Coalition on select dates this spring and summer, as well as, special appearances alongside the legendary band, Tesla.

Kurt's newest single, "Dance," released on March 1, 2024, is a testament to resilience and the ability to find inspiration in challenging circumstances. The single is a precursor to his highly anticipated debut album, And So It Begins.., slated for release later this year.

Kurt unveiled the eagerly awaited music video, a visual masterpiece captured against the stunning backdrop of a Los Angeles rooftop. Directed by the visionary Kurt Deimer himself, the video seamlessly weaves together captivating imagery and dynamic visuals.

WATCH Kurt Deimer - "Dance" (Official Video) below

STREAM "DANCE" HERE

Stay tuned for further updates and announcements regarding ticket sales, additional tour dates, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content by following Kurt Deimer'sofficial social media channels.

In a world that seems to be spiraling out of control, Kurt Deimer is a man with a very clear mission: Work Hard, Rock Hard, Play hard and Spread positivity. In fact, his mantra could be summed up: “Take the high road, do the right thing, encourage others.” It sounds like a tall order these days in a world full of warring factions. And it’s an unusual mission for a singer/songwriter vocalist whose music could be described as hard rock, even heavy metal – genres that are not always synonymous with positivity.

Deimer, for his part, describes his work as good old fashioned rock and roll. “And it’s as good a vehicle as any for spreading good vibes” he says. “I’m here to encourage others to treat people with respect, dignity and kindness,” he says. “I’ve been through a lot of things in my life and I try to share that with others and be a beacon of hope for my listeners.”

That positivity and perseverance has paid off for the native of Cincinnati, Ohio. He’s not only launched a movie franchise, Hellbilly Hollow, by filming and starring in a feature length horror film of the same name. He’s also recorded more than two dozen songs with legendary producer Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, James Brown and the Rolling Stones), his management team includes Brian Wheat, manager of TESLA who discovered him while opening for TESLA.

Chris Lord-Alge says he was drawn to Kurt’s originality as an artist. “I saw something completely different in Kurt, and that was the lure for me. He isn’t a typical rock or country artist – I love hearing him talk and narrating a story, and I was drawn to taking those stories and helping turn them into music. He’s a personality, he’s someone you want to talk to.”

Things have not always been positive in Deimer’s world. At age 20, as a young rock vocalist, he found himself in the grips of drug addiction. He later discovered he was using substances to medicate an underlying anxiety condition. At that young age, he quit drugs, got help for his anxiety and never looked back.

He eventually started buying and selling rental properties and used that money to start the first of several successful companies he owns. Despite making his mark in the business world, Deimer didn’t feel ready to settle down and “join the country club and play golf all day” – so at an age when most people start thinking about slowing down, he started to speed up.

Inspired by the artists that helped shape him – Boston, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Marley and AC/DC, to name just a few – he started writing song lyrics.

Inspired by his love of movies and acting roles in films including the 2018 ‘Halloween’ remake – where his character was killed by Michael Myers – and John Travolta’s ‘Trading Paint,’ he started hashing out a movie concept that became his eventual Hellbilly Hollow feature film and franchise.

Deimer has supported Geoff Tate on an expansive cross-country tour that highlighted material from his debut EP, that came out on November 19, 2021, which includes a duet with Tate and a trilogy of music videos directed by Scottish filmmaker Paul Boyd [Sting, Deadmau5, The Cult] that spotlight Deimer’s cinematic vision and charismatic presence. Along with many other supporting shows including TESLA, Drowning Pool and Yngwie Malmsteen all this within the first two years of touring.

For Deimer, the inspiration is to make the world a better place one song at a time, singing about the ills of the 21st century and offering solutions instead of excuses. “When people listen to my music, I want to help them decompress and feel better after a brutal day. That’s what music always did for me, and that’s what we need more of today.”

Kurt Deimer Upcoming Tour Dates:

5/16 Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/17 Bristol, TN - The Mountain with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/18 Huntsville, AL - Shagnasty's with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/20 Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Altar) with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/21 Knoxville, TN - The Concourse with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/24 Leesburg, VA - Tally Ho Theater with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/25 Black Mountain, NC - Silverados with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/26 Greensboro, NC - Hangar 1819 with Texas Hippie Coaliton
5/29 Colorado Springs, CO - Pikes Peak Center with Tesla
5/31 Dallas, TX - House of Blues with Tesla
6/01 Dallas, TX - House of Blues with Tesla
6/04 Austin, TX - ACL Live with Tesla
6/05 San Antonio, TX - Aztec Theatre with Tesla
6/07 Houston, TX - House of Blues with Tesla
6/08 New Orleans, LA - The Fillmore with Tesla
6/11 Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom with Tesla
7/17 Wyandotte, MI - District 142 with Texas Hippie Coaliton
7/19 Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs with Texas Hippie Coaliton
7/21 Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theatre with Texas Hippie Coaliton
7/26 Sioux Falls, SD - Bigs Bar with Texas Hippie Coaliton
7/27 Lincoln, NE - Cosmic Eye Brewing with Texas Hippie Coaliton
7/28 Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads Saloon with Texas Hippie Coaliton

For More Information Please Visit:

Savage Lands Release Single Feat. Heilung, Chloé Trujillo

April 22, 2024

Donate

Using royalties from their first ever-single, Savage Lands recently protected 60,000 square feet of Costa Rican rainforest from getting chopped down. But on their new single, "Black Rock Heart", these angry metalheads are warning us that if we don't listen up, the world as we know it might not be around much longer.

Watch the video for "Black Rock Heart" featuring Kai Uwe Faust from Heilung and Chloé Trujillo below.

Just listening to "Black Rock Heart" helps support Savage Lands. 100% of the song's royalties fund the musician-run non-profit's preservation efforts in Costa Rica. Donations can also be made at https://savagelands.org/donation/

Savage Land's first single was a fitting tribute to the endangered howler monkey. But even though it's still plenty heavy, "Black Rock Heart" aims at more spiritual concerns. The video begins with an ominous warning: the spirits of nature are reaching out to us... Of course, who else could represent these magical beings but visionary artist Chloé Trujillo and Heilung's chief of ceremonies Kai Uwe Faust.

Channeling the protective powers of an Obsidian stone, Chloé sends Kai to warn of the doomsday scenario that's unfolding right before our eyes. Don't mistake the derelict buildings or rusted heavy metal machinery that dot this deserted landscape for the work of AI. Savage Lands shot this video on location in Salton Sea, which is the site of the biggest environmental disaster in California history.

"That we tried to create an ocean just shows our own ignorance" says guitarist Sylvain Demercastel, who co-founded Savage Lands alongside Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren. "The Salton Sea is a very symbolic area. It was the perfect place for us to shoot this video. Sadly, there's hardly a tree in sight".

Kai bangs on his hand drum. Still, even when he's screaming in the band's face, the message falls on deaf ears. Black Bomb A's Sebastian Poun strains his voice into a bat-like shriek before exploding on a room full of TVs, computers and other man-made creations that are supposed to make us happy.

"We wanted this song to reflect our mounting frustration with the way the real estate heat wave is destroying Costa Rica's ecosystem", says Sylvain. "Black Rock Heart" does sound angrier and more aggressive than what we've previously heard from Savage Lands. Sylvain shoots off a guitar solo that howls away like a flare gun, but the riff is a wicked stroke of downpicking that's only sharpened by the low end's blackened groove. "It's got a bit more black 'n' roll to it, which plays into the title".

But "Black Rock Heart" isn't all doom and gloom. Just as Chloé's clean singing cuts through those venomous shrieks like a salve, the song ends with a positive sign. The black arrow that falls from the sky is a final message for us to act on the benefit of our planet, before it's too late.

"That's the reason why we started Savage Lands", says Sylvain. "It's up to us to do something".

Kai and his fellow Heilung warriors are continuing to support Savage Lands on their 2024 tour dates. The Nordic collective are donating $1 for every ticket sold to the non-profit's ongoing forest preservation efforts in Costa Rica.

"The question is: 'Do you like to breath'?", Kai asks. "Do you like trees. Then you really should follow Savage Lands".

Savage Lands are planting their eco-friendly flag at Hellfest!They'll play the main stage on Friday, June 28, with help from some very special guests.

Stop by the Savage Lands booth to learn more about the green zones, nature sanctuaries and other preservation projects that they're building in Costa Rica. Make a donation and receive the chance to win a one-of-a-kind guitar.

Artists occasionally support causes through donations to organizations. With SAVAGE LANDS, Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren teamed up with his guitar-wielding friend Sylvain Demercastel to create their own US 501(c)3 non-profit.

Savage Lands raises money for reforestation and the creation of sanctuaries free of human destruction in Costa Rica. Using their own royalties, donations and other fundraising efforts, the organization builds nature sanctuaries, establishes green zones and other land preservation projects. They partner with other non-profits, scientists and forest engineers, as well as Decibel Magazine and Season of Mist.

Donate: https://savagelands.org/donation/

"If you want to make a difference, take action! Our greatest hope with Savage Lands is that it will inspire you to join us, and if you can, to start your own initiative to help preserve animals, forests, and our planet", says Dirk.

Learn more about Savage Lands
https://savagelands.org/

Stream
https://orcd.co/savagelandsblackrockheart

Recording lineup for "Black Rock Heart"
Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth) - Drums
Sylvain Demercastel - Guitar
Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A) - Bass
Poun (Black Bomb A) - Vocals
Chloé Trujillo - Vocals
Kai Uwe Faust - Vocals

Lineup for "Black Rock Heart" Video
Florian Pons - Drums
Sylvain Demercastel - Guitar
Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A) - Bass
Poun (Black Bomb A) - Vocals
Chloé Trujillo - Vocals
Kai Uwe Faust (Heilung) - Vocals

Recording
Savage Lands at Daufembach Studio in Los Angeles, CA
Additional songwriting by Florian Pons and Stephane Buriez

Production
Adair Daufembach
Additional production by Stephane Buriez

Suck Brick Kid Release New Single "What I Do When I Black Out Is None of My Business" via Smartpunk Records

April 22, 2024

SUCK BRICK KID have dropped their new single "What I Do When I Black Out is None of My Business" via Smarpunk Records

Pre-orders for the album are available here .

The band showcases their natural ability to turn inebriated escapades and some questionable bathroom graffiti findings into inspiring, vibrant punk anthems.

The track, inspired by a real-life venue bathroom doodle that the band stumbled upon during a night out, is a fast-paced first impression of the themes on their upcoming album.

Speaking about "What I Do When I Black Out is None of My Business," the band says, "We actually did some method acting for this track…once we achieved that state of 'blacked-out-ness,' we were able to let it all flow out. This song is one of our favorites from the record because it explores an area we are all too familiar with. Being a burden to yourself and everyone else around you because you just 'know how to have a good time.' Luckily the laundromat is just around the corner.."

ABOUT SUCK BRICK KID:
With a decade of beers literally under their belt, Suck Brick Kid have defined themselves as "loud as fuck and fast as fuck." This is mainly because their vocabulary is small and rudimentary, at best. But also because they really do both of these things better than most. They don't take themselves too seriously and that's infinitely refreshing!

With a slew of conceptual albums already out, Suck Brick Kid aimed high for this new release and found inspiration in one of the lowest places imaginable...a dive bar bathroom. Bathroom graffiti is often over-looked, over-pissed-on, or even over-appreciated (I saw you draw a penis on that stick figure you dirty dog) but Suck Brick Kid wanted to tap into the mindset of some of these individuals and explore what they were (maybe) going through when they made their mark. This opened up possibilities for the songs that vocalist Grant Tchekmeian and guitarist Ian Marchionda cleverly navigated, as they crafted some of the most insane and absurd lyrical content to date. The End Is What I Want should strike a chord with any lover of punk music, dive bars, both of those things, or people who just like a cheeky poop joke — no that was not one, but you see what I did there.

This record is sure to put this band six feet under, in wooden suits, and left for the worms.

But before that happens, they've graced stages of FEST in Jacksonville, Florida, and have also toured alongside Unwritten Law, Palisades, Set Your Goals, and more. However, the band is survived by the following family members (Grant Tchekmeian on vocals, Ian Marchionda on guitar, Daniel Valery on drums, and Hayden Cler on bass).

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.

Lowlives Share "You Don't Care" Video

April 22, 2024

West coast based raucous rockers LOWLIVES have shared their new single and music video for "You Don't Care."

The track is taken from their debut album, Freaking Out, due out May 31 via their new label home Spinefarm and marks the end of the band's three-part, "Helvis" video narrative.

Watch the music video for "You Don't Care" below.

Stream "You Don't Care" here.

Pre-save Freaking Out here.

ABOUT LOWLIVES:
LOWLIVES aren't so much about carefully stoking the embers as pouring on gasoline with merry impetuosity. With vocalist Lee Downer and drummer Luke Johnson joined by guitarist Jaxon Moore and bassist Steve Lucarelli, the nascent band was founded on a shared love of '90s alternative and grunge, and a shared desire to make music once more for little more than the love of doing so.

"During my time away from music, someone bought a pair of child's ear defenders for my wife and I as a present when we announced we were pregnant," Johnson recalls. "I'd put them away in the cupboard, thinking we'd never need them, that I wouldn’t be playing any shows again. But they became this thing that nagged at me, the feeling that my daughter would never know the original me, for whom music was everything. Over time, those feelings came flooding back, as did the hunger, and the innocence. A massive part of me had been missing, and I wanted to get back to doing something pure and for the sheer love of it. That's what Lowlives is. Whatever happens, happens. Let's just Thelma And Louise this off a cliff."

Debut album Freaking Out, set for release in May 31 via Spinefarm, arrives imbued with that same such spirit. The intervening years have, after all, been above all about nurturing exactly that, first through jam sessions at Luke’s home studio and latterly fledgling adventures on the road. A 2018 tour of the UK, hastily arranged following the cancelation of a high-profile support billing the band were mere hours from embarking upon, was formative in bonding the quartet on and off the stage. Performing to an audience of two before bedding down in a trashed squat will do that to even the most seasoned, tour-hardened souls. "It really did cement who we are and what we're about," Johnson says, laughing at the fond memories of the 13-date fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants trek.

Recorded at Chapel Studios with producer Adrian Bushby, the 10 tracks that arrive under Freaking Out's banner are the scintillating end product of their self-funded two-week stay, where the four musicians would work all day with joyous abandon on fleshing out the sketches of songs with which they arrived, before retiring at night to unwind over cans of cider and the football.

"The experience of being forced into that situation of living and working together brought us even closer together, I feel," nods Downer. "We were able to work collectively in a way we hadn't previously, due to the geography of where we all live in the States."

Downer points to his passion for Nirvana and Alice In Chains shining through on tracks such as "Vertigo" and "Swan Dive," Johnson likewise to his obsession with The Smashing Pumpkins on "You Don’t Care." Fans of early-day Foo Fighters, Bush and Stone Temple Pilots will feel at home between Freaking Out’s sheets; admirers of Billie Joe Armstrong ("Freaking Out"), Matt Skiba ("Damien"), and Rivers Cuomo ("Loser"), likewise. Freaking Out is an unashamed celebration of its influences, and the simple beauty of the coalescence of guitar, bass, drums and vocals. "We're making music that excites us because it's what we want to hear," Johnson says, simply.

But make no mistake: there is depth here, too, deeply ingrained in lyrics that mine fears, anxieties, vulnerabilities, and the existential questions that keep us staring at the ceiling in the early hours. Freaking Out is, above all, the distillation of what LOWLIVES is truly about. It's rock music to make you fall in love with rock music all over again. "I thought by now I'd have the answers / Or the power to save my soul," Downer sings on the impassioned "Closer Than You Know." LOWLIVES might not hold that key, but it's the spark that he and Johnson have been missing in their lives, and looking for all along. Let it in, and you might find it's the same for you, too.

LOWLIVES ARE:
Lee Downer — Vocals/Guitar
Jaxon Moore — Guitar
Steve Lucarelli — Bass
Luke Johnson — Drums

ABOUT SPINEFARM:
Spinefarm represents some of the biggest and most important rock acts in the world. Founded in Finland in 1990, the label established itself as an independent powerhouse for successful European metal acts from Nightwish to Children Of Bodom. Acquired by UMG in 2002, Spinefarm Music Group is now home to a host of artists that reach millions of fans across the globe and showcases the very best in rock, punk and metal. From massive metal names such as Bullet For My Valentine (with over 3 billion streams to their name) to alt-rock legends Killing Joke and genre-benders Sleep Token, Spinefarm's artists are — and always have been —true leaders in their chosen field. The roster also includes renowned names like Atreyu, Airbourne, Saint Asonia, and While She Sleeps, as well as fast-rising young artists like Dayseeker, Dead Poet Society, Kid Kapichi, BRKN LOVE, and Creeper. Spinefarm, now flanked by associated SMG labels Candlelight (Emperor, Ihsahn, Urne) and Snakefarm (Marty Stuart, Austin Meade, The White Buffalo), has grown from its independent origins into a true global rock powerhouse.

Wheel Share New Single "Disciple"

April 22, 2024

Anglo-Finnish progressive metallers Wheel previously announced their third studio album Charismatic Leaders, which arrives on May 3.

Today, they launch the third single — the dramatic and brooding "Disciple."

Listen here. Watch the visualizer below.

Vocalist and guitarist James Lascelles comments, "'Disciple' is a heated debate between a current and an ex-cult member and both believe they are saving the other — they are also utterly unwilling to consider the opposing point of view. The discourse between these two made up characters is a reflection of multiple topical debates in modern society and the writing process has given me a chance to reflect on my own behavior; particularly how I respond to ideas I strongly dislike."

The album's first single "Empire" was released last month, and the video currently has over 250k views. Watch it here. Their second single, "Porcelain," was also released earlier this month. Listen here.

Charismatic Leaders was meticulously crafted to meet Wheel's ever-heightening benchmarks and recording with engineers/co-producers Daniel Bergstrand and Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah) stretched from August to December 2023. The end result, mixed by Forrester Savell, has consolidated all the gains of what came before: singer/guitarist Lascelles, lead guitarist Jussi Turunen and drummer Santeri Saksala's third album represents their heaviest and most conscious music to date.

Charismatic Leaders clocks in at just under 50 minutes, and will be available as a Limited CD Digipak (also featuring the Rumination EP tracks as bonus), and a Gatefold 180g LP, both featuring artwork from Lucas Mayer (Long Distance Calling, Blackout Problems). Pre-orders are live here.

Wheel will be celebrating the release of their new album with their first ever shows in Australia, supporting labelmates Caligula's Horse, as well as their first ever North American headline shows. Those are posted below.

WHEEL ON TOUR:
5/2 — Orlando, FL — Conduit
5/5 — Philadelphia, PA — The Foundry
5/6 — Vienna, VA — Jammin Lava
5/7 — New York, NY — Mercury Lounge
5/8 — Boston, MA — Brighton Music Hall
5/9 — Montreal, QC — Petit Campus
5/10 — Toronto, ON — Adelaide Hall
5/12 — Chicago, IL — Beat Kitchen
5/13 — Minneapolis, MN — 7th St. Entry
5/16 — Denver, CO — Moe's
5/19 — Phoenix, AZ — Underground
5/20 — San Diego, CA — Brick by Brick
5/21 — Los Angeles, CA — 1720
5/22 — Berkeley, CA — Cornerstone
5/23 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Post
5/25 — Seattle, WA — Barboza

Scotty McCreery Welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry Family

April 21, 2024

Multi-Platinum selling country artist Scotty McCreery was officially welcomed into the Grand Ole Opry family tonight by Opry member Josh Turner who was joined by a surprise guest, Country Music Hall of Famer and Opry member Randy Travis.

McCreery performed his Top 6 and climbing single, “Cab in a Solo,” “Fall of Summer” from his upcoming album Rise and Fall and Travis’ iconic “Three Wooden Crosses” before being joined onstage by his friends and heroes, Turner and Travis.

“I stand here tonight proud of the fact that I bridged the gap between the generation of Randy Travis and Scotty McCreery,” shared Turner. “Only time will tell who will be inspired by Scotty.”

After sharing the chorus of the George Jones classic “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes,” an emotional Turner continued, “Scotty is not only a fine singer and a songwriter but he’s a great man, husband, and now father. I’m proud of him and I’m proud that he is filling the shoes of the artists before him. With artists like him, country music is in great shape.”

Turrner then presented the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry with his official Opry Member Award and passed the mic for remarks and reflections from the night’s honoree.

“If you’ve listened to any of my interviews over the last 15 years of doing this, they’d say, ‘what is your biggest goal?’ and I’d always say, ‘One day I wanna be a member of the Grand Ole Opry,’” shared McCreery. “I gotta go home and start writing a new bucket list.”

Pointing to his 18-month-old son Avery in the audience and holding back tears, McCreery added, “He might not understand tonight but one day I’ll be able to tell him, ‘Hey buddy, this was your daddy’s dream and it came true.’”

McCreery capped the poignant night with a tender performance of his first No. 1 hit, “Five More Mintues”, which he debuted on the Opry stage in 2016.

McCreery’s Opry induction and performance will air as a Saturday night Opry Live later this spring on the Opry Facebook and YouTube channels, streaming free on the Circle Now app, and via Circle Country digital streaming partners.

While performing on an Opry Country Christmas show in December, McCreery was surprised onstage by Opry member Garth Brooks who wished him “Merry Christmas” and went on to officially invite him to be the newest member of the Opry family. WATCH THE INVITATION MOMENT HERE

L to R: Opry host **Bill Cody**; **George Couri** (Founder, Triple 8 Management and Founding Partner, Triple Tigers Records), **Josh Turner**, **Randy Travis**, **Bill Anderson**, **Scotty McCreery**, **Scott Stem** (McCreery's manager, Triple 8 Management); **Gina Keltner,** Associate Producer, Talent, Grand Ole Opry; **Dan Rogers**, Sr Vice President/Executive Producer, Grand Ole Opry. | Photo Credit: Chris Hollo

The Triple Tigers recording artist, who just earned a CMT Music Award for Digital-First Performance of the Year, will release his new album Rise and Fall on May 10. He wrote 12 of the 13 songs on the album, including his current hit “Cab in a Solo,” the fastest moving single of his career which garnered his most first-week adds at country radio (120) and is currently Top 6 in Mediabase. Stream “Cab in a Solo” HERE. McCreery is also touring across the country throughout the year. Tour dates and ticket information can be found at ScottyMcCreery.com.

On May 11, McCreery will return to perform at the Opry just one day after he releases his new album Rise and Fall. The first 400 ticketholders who purchase the album in the Opry Shop that evening will gain access to an exclusive album release celebration and acoustic performance with Scotty directly following the show in the Opry House’s Studio A.

T Graham Brown, invited by Vince Gill to join the Opry during a taping of his Sirius XM show “Live Wire” in February is scheduled to be inducted into the Opry on Friday, May 3. Among artists scheduled to appear on the Opry in the coming weeks are Lauren Alaina, Dierks Bentley, Lee Brice, Henry Cho, Vince Gill, The Isaacs, Chris Janson, Jelly Roll, Jamey Johnson, Lady A, Kathy Mattea, Ashley McBryde, Craig Morgan, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Carrie Underwood, Anne Wilson, and Charlie Worsham, among many others.

Tickets are on sale now for at (615) 871-OPRY and opry.com.

Scotty McCreery was officially welcomed in to the Grand Ole Opry family tonight by Opry member Josh Turner who was joined by a surprise guest, Country Music Hall of Fame Member Randy Travis with wife Mary. | Photo Credit: Chris Hollo

About Scotty McCreery:
Scotty McCreery has been a household name for nearly half his life, ever since making history in 2011 as both the first country artist and the youngest male artist of any genre to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified Clear as Day, at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The 30-year-old has sold more than 4 million albums and achieved 5 consecutive No.1 hits: the RIAA Platinum-certified “Damn Strait,” the RIAA Gold certified “You Time,” the RIAA Gold certified “In Between,” the RIAA Platinum certified “This is It,” and the RIAA Triple Platinum certified ‘Five More Minutes.” His current single “Cab in a Solo,” which McCreery wrote with Frank Rogers and Brent Anderson, is from a forthcoming album due out in 2024. The North Carolina native has earned one Triple Platinum, five Platinum and four Gold singles; one Platinum and two Gold albums; won the 10th season of “American Idol” in 2011 at age 17; was named the ACM New Artist of the Year in 2011; won two CMT Music Awards (one in 2012 for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“The Trouble with Girls”) and a second in 2024 for Digital-First Performance of the Year (for “It Matters to Her” from “CMT Stages”); and BMI Awards for writing One of the Top 50 Country Songs of the Year five times (in 2015 for “See You Tonight,” in 2018 for “Five More Minutes,” in 2019 for “This is It,” in 2021 for “In Between,” and in 2022 for “You Time”). He was awarded Pandora Billionaire status in 2021 in recognition of his music achieving more than one billion streams on Pandora. His song “Five More Minutes” inspired two popular holiday movies which aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Network: “Five More Minutes” in 2021 and “Five More Minutes: Moments Like These” in 2022. He released his first book Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream in 2016. His most recent album is Same Truck: The Deluxe Album. Last fall McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and was most recently invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks. The singer/songwriter married his high school sweetheart Gabi in 2018, and the couple had their first son Avery in October 2022. For more information, visit ScottyMcCreery.com.

About the Grand Ole Opry: The Grand Ole Opry is the home of country music where artists and fans gather, in person and virtually, to celebrate and be part of country’s past, present and future. Founded in Nashville in 1925 and today the longest-running live broadcast show in the world, the Opry strengthens its roots by constantly evolving. The Opry’s members are country’s most emblematic artists, and the show regularly showcases country music’s top new talent. The Opry welcomes legions of fans to visit the Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee – Music City, USA – to experience one of the 3-5 live shows it hosts per week; take a backstage tour; listen to live broadcasts on opry.com and wsmonline.com, SiriusXM Willie’s Roadhouse, or its flagship home WSM Radio; and watch Opry Live on Saturday nights and Opry content all week long on the Circle Network. The Grand Ole Opry is owned by Ryman Hospitality Properties (NYSE: RHP) and part of a strategic investment with Atairos and NBCUniversal. For more information, visit opry.com.

Kenny Chesney Kicks Off Sun Goes Down w/ New Record, Old Friends + Fun

April 21, 2024

It looked like Raymond James Stadium’s famed pirate ship was rocking on a sea of humans, hands in the air as Kenny Chesney delivered two hours of back-to-back life-affirming hits to a beyond sold out crowd at his Sun Goes Down 2024tour kick-off. With 60,529 tickets sold – including an unprecedented wave of standing room only tickets in the North Zone Plaza – the audience seemed as hungry for the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar’s music as Chesney was to throw it all down on that stage.

It was a night of surges and highlights. Telling the packed crowd they’d been in rehearsals since February and were so glad to be playing for actual human beings, the audience cheered even harder. Often it felt like a competition to see who could out-love the other, as the audience pulled an extra last chorus of “American Kids” and sang so loud it poured onto the stage during “The Good Stuff.”

From the moment Chesney came down the drum riser, the band full-tilt into “Living in Fast Forward,” it was obvious they’d come to play hard. A cascade of “Beer In Mexico” into “Keg in the Closet” into the five guitars blazing “KC/DC” march down the T, bringing the music as close to No Shoes Nation as possible, the momentum never stopped. Whether the sexy “Somewhere with You,” the countryfied Chris Stapleton-penned “Never Wanted Nothing More” or the gulp life down “Til It’s Gone,” it was song forward, muscular music sent into the near perfect night.

“You think about it, you anticipate, you wait – and no matter how many times you’ve done this,” Chesney marveled after the show, “there is nothing like the way that crowd hits you. They came to sing, to cheer and just love the night, and they sure did.”

With the cars wrapped all the way around the stadium before 9 a.m. and folks in line not much later, No Shoes Nation came ready. Tiki bars, pirate flags, corn hole courts, grills’n’blenders and sundry skeletons created a tableau in the parking lot that was distinctly redolent of Chesney’s poets and pirates reality. That sense of friendship extended to the stage as well.

When Uncle Kracker emerged from the wings for “When The Sun Goes Down,” their multiple week No. 1, the crowd erupted in shrieks seeing the two friends reunited. As the song came to a close, production manager Ed Wannebo rambled onstage with the ceremonial massive margarita; but instead of one giant tumbler, he had a pair. With a toast, a drink and a laugh, they two shared Kracker’s remake of Dobie Gray’s “Drift Away,” again with the crowd singing along full voice.

“Nobody sings like No Shoes Nation,” the man deemed “the King of the Road” by the Wall Street Journal and “country’s king of stadium concerts” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune, “When I hear those voices coming back at us, how much they mean these songs, I feel like I’m home, and home is a really good place to be.”

Once again, presented by Blue Chair Bay® Rum, Sun Goes Down 2024 brings all the high velocity energy and songs people know by heart back to America’s favorite football stadiums.

Kenny Chesney
SUN GOES DOWN 2024 Stadium Tour
with Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney & Uncle Kracker

Saturday, April 20, 2024           Tampa, Fla.                       Raymond James Stadium
Saturday, April 27, 2024           Charlotte, N.C.                  Bank of America Stadium
Saturday, May 4, 2024              Minneapolis, Minn.          U.S. Bank Stadium
Saturday, May 11, 2024            Arlington, Texas               AT&T Stadium
Saturday, May 18, 2024            Atlanta, Ga.                       Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Saturday, May 25, 2024            Landover, Md.                  FedEx Field
Saturday, June 1, 2024              Pittsburgh, Pa.                   Acrisure Stadium
Saturday, June 8, 2024              Philadelphia, Pa.               Lincoln Financial Field (SOLD OUT)
                                               more tickets available
Saturday, June 15, 2024            Chicago, Ill.                      Soldier Field
Saturday, June 22, 2024            Milwaukee, Wisc.             American Family Field
Saturday, June 29, 2024            Cincinnati, Ohio               TQL Stadium
Saturday, July 6, 2024               Kansas City, Mo.              GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
Saturday, July 13, 2024             Seattle, Wash.                   Lumen Field
Tuesday, July 16, 2024              Salt Lake City, Utah         America First Field
Saturday, July 20, 2024             Los Angeles, Calif.           SoFi Stadium
Saturday, July 27, 2024             Denver, Colo.                   Empower Field at Mile High
Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024              Nashville, Tenn.               Nissan Stadium
Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024             Columbus, Ohio                Historic Crew Stadium
Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024            Detroit, Mich.                   Ford Field
Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024            East Rutherford, N.J.        MetLife Stadium
Friday, Aug. 23, 2024                Foxborough, Mass.           Gillette Stadium (SOLD OUT)
                                               more tickets available
Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024            Foxborough, Mass.           Gillette Stadium (SOLD OUT)
                                               more tickets available
Sunday, Aug. 25, 2024              Foxborough, Mass.           Gillette Stadium (SOLD OUT)
                                               more tickets available

“...because everything gets hotter when the sun goes down...”

Capstan Share "What You Want" Video

April 21, 2024

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 video for the new single "What You Want. It's a fans first anthem, once that captures the band's soaring, emotional, and supremely catchy sonic style. Capstan indulge in a little '80s energy with this track, as it has a glorious throwback vibe, all the while maintaining a modern edge.

Watch it below.

"Perhaps an unexpected tune from Capstan, 'What You Want' pokes fun at coming to terms with some surprising and difficult truths about the music industry," the bad muses. "Still, ever earnest, this song is a commitment to what Capstan is and always will be, and a pledge to our most loyal fans."

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.

Australia's Void Of Vision Share Video for New Single "Empty"

April 21, 2024

Raw, ferocious and oozing with caustic dexterity, come and witness the high octane new single "Empty" from metalcore mavericks Void of Vision, officially out today via UNFD.

Watch the video below.

Following the quartet's transmutation via the razor-sharp 2023 single "Angel Of Darkness," "Empty" is a sweltering blend of pummeling beats and oscillating melodics, complete with jagged riffs, voracious vocals and a fiery breakdown that all combine to unite the recent journey behind the scenes in particular for frontman Jack Bergin.

"'Empty' was written halfway through our Australian tour in October last year," shares Bergin. "We'd just completed our first run of shows back since I had surgery following a brain AVM rupture in April, which left me facing mixed emotions I didn't expect. On one hand, we were playing our largest ever headline shows to date and selling them all out, and on the other, I was facing the fear of getting up on stage every night risking another potential rupture every set I played."

Bergin continues, "Performing under the 'Angel Of Darkness' persona for the single campaign, I'd get up on stage and play it down from the usual high energy show we're known for, leaving every second of gratitude or appreciation to be communicated by a backing track in between songs to communicate with the audience. A protective measure sure, yet I felt vapid and far from the engaging stage persona that had led us to playing these bigger stages in the first place. We were at the peak of our career and I felt nothing but imposter syndrome up where I usually feel most at home."

He furthers, "Everything quickly snowballed into more bottled up emotions surfacing, all of a sudden finding myself coming to terms with unprecedented body dysmorphia after my hospital stay. I had never even processed losing all my hair from alopecia until I had to return to societal norms after hiding away for months straight off the back of touring. I'd just been diving into a world of fashion and makeup trying to cover everything up just to hide my face and body in a world where I couldn't avoid comments and remarks, no matter how I presented myself."

Bergin finishes, "Following the Sydney date of tour we found ourselves in the studio on an off day, laying down the foundations of what would by the end of the day, become 'Empty.' I took the first words off the top of my dome, and screamed that chorus at the top of my lungs, leaving the take from that very demo the exact same as the intro in the final track you hear today. It feels suiting to return now with a song all about perception, not only by the public but also one self.. and it feels like true growth now feeling entirely realized and ready for whatever is to come."

ABOUT VOID OF VISION:
Melbourne's Void Of Vision have solidified their standing as one of the most innovative and sonically explosive acts in the modern heavy scene for over a decade. Performing at Australia's first-ever Knotfest edition, alongside Slipknot, Parkway Drive, Megadeth and more, to collaborating with metal-meets-electronic DJ and producer PhaseOne, Void Of Vision also recently unveiled the amalgamated CHRONICLES series as a complete album, bringing together the previously standalone EPs LUST, HEAVEN, and UNDERWORLD into a gripping snapshot of Void Of Vision's relentlessly inventive past, present, and future.

From their debut EP, 2014's Broken // Bones through to 2016's Children of Chrome, 2017's Disturbia, 2019's Hyperdaze, and the release of CHRONICLES, a new future was heralded in 2023 by the standalone single "Angel Of Darkness": An alt metal rager weighted equally by searing heaviness and pulsing pop, helmed by the titular Angel Of Darkness as the band's representative during the single's campaign.

Supporting Invent Animate last year as well as touring the UK and Europe supporting Stray From The Path, Void Of Vision closed out 2023 with their biggest Australian headline shows to date. And kickstarting 2024 with an appearance at Homegrown Festival in Melbourne and with a special headline show in Narre Warren, Void Of Vision are firmly poised for an explosive year ahead, touring North America supporting ERRA as of next week, before joining Aussie juggernauts Parkway Drive on their gargantuan 20 Year Anniversary Tour in Australia this September along with I Prevail and The Ghost Inside

Crossfaith Announce "AЯK" + Share New Song "L.A.M.N" (Feat Bobby Wolfgang"

April 21, 2024

Japanese rockers Crossfaith have announced their new album AЯK. It arrives on June 26 via UNFD and Warner Music Japan, and marks the band's first album in six years. Pre-order the record digitally here.

It is a welcome return for the band — after adjusting the global pandemic and a band hiatus, as well a membership change — and serves as quite a milestone.

The album's title AЯK is a message of saying goodbye to the past and hello to a new beginning, and their fresh sound and perspective is reflected in the new material.

Crossfaith have also shared the visualizer for the brand new single "L.A.M.N" (Feat. Bobby Wolfgang).

Watch and listen to this certified banger below.

It's a ferocious anthem, delivered in Crossfaith's signature metal x industrial hybrid style. It will incite mosh pits the world over, thanks to its vicious breakdowns and incendiary message. Punishing riffs and thunderous percussion will send the blood and adrenaline coursing through your veins.

The band comments, "This song is like an antithesis to phenomena like lookism and other political correctness going over the edge today. Through this song, the band conveys the message that it is alright to break down in this corrupted society. It is completely natural that everyone is different. It features Bobby Wolfgang, who is one of the artists we've always wanted to collaborate with, and he definitely brought that edge to this song"

This track follows the previously released single "ZERO." Watch the video here.

Additionally, the band recently announced Daiki Koide as its new guitarist.

The AЯK era kicks off now. Stay tuned for more.

ABOUT CROSSFAITH:
"Playing heavy music is how I feel alive," says singer Kenta Koie. "We want Crossfaith to be the band making music that no one has ever heard before. Crossfaith formed in 2006 and released their debut album The Artificial Theory for The Dramatic Beauty in 2009, followed by The Dream, The Space (2011), Apocalyze (2013), Xeno (2015), and Ex Machina (2018). Each one saw the band blend its love of punk rock, metal, and electronic music in daring new ways. "Good art is how I express myself to other people. It's hard to talk from the bottom of my heart, that's why I write these songs," Koie says. In keeping with their progressive musical journey, 2020's SPECIES EP saw the band continue to push their own sonic soundscape to new grounds.The band dropped the pandemic-penned single "Gimme Danger" in 2022.

Doomcrusher Share "Reflect" Video

April 21, 2024

Heavy act Doomcrusher have just released their sophomore single "Reflect," out now worldwide via Arising Empire!

Watch the video below. Stream the song here.

In the crucible of the apocalyptic atmosphere that envelopes our world, Doomcrusher were forged. Born out of the deepest desire to be the harbinger of change, the band emerged with a resolute mission: to defy the impending doom that looms on the horizon.

Founded by Andy Posdziech (Any Given Day), Jean Bormann (Rage), Marv Kinkel, and Rob Lee, Doomcrusher's sound is a powerful fusion of stomping and heavy mid-tempo industrial riffs, seamlessly intertwined with uncompromising gutturals that resolve into unfolding and uplifting hooks.

The band's sound is further enriched by sophisticated electronic elements, adding depth and complexity to their musical tapestry. The ambition is clear — to redefine modern core music while staying true to the roots of the metal genre. Their music is not merely an auditory experience; it's a journey through the realms of sound, a deliberate exploration of the boundaries of heavy music.

Doomcrusher stand as a defiant force against the inevitable, a rebellion that crushes the darkness of doom with an unwavering belief in the transformative power of music.

DOOMCRUSHER IS:
Marv Kinkel — Vocals
Andy Posdziech — Guitar
Jean Bormann — Guitar + Vocals
Rob Lee — Bass
Silas Fischer — Drums

Calva Louise Sign To Mascot Records + Share Video For "Under The Skin"

April 21, 2024

Calva Louise have revealed the extraordinary cinematic sci-fi video for their new song "Under the Skin," and the news they have also signed to Mascot Records — home to P.O.D., VOLA, Defects, Conquer Divide, Dragged Under, 10 Years, and Oxymorrons.

Feast your eyes on the video for "Under the Skin" below.

Stream the song here.

Calva Louise are storming into 2024, playing Download Festival, 2000Trees, and Primordial General Mayhem. In May, they'll take on a 10-date co-headline tour of the U.S. with Vukovi and play So What!? Festival, Welcome to Rockville, and Sonic Temple. They'll also perform at Vainstream Rockfest (Germany) and Dynamo MetalFest (Netherlands). Calva Louise are gearing up for an explosive 2024, with even more shows on the horizon!

The British based band is truly international with its members hailing from across the globe and has been ripping through the U.K. underground for the past few years, driven by the creative vision of the Venezuelan songwriter Jess Allanic (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboard) along with French bassist Alizon Taho (Bass/Backing Vocals) and New Zealander Ben Parker (Drums/Backing Vocals).

BBC Radio 1's Alyx Holcombe declared them one of the "Artists You Need to Know in 2024." They've picked up airplay on BBC Radio 1, 6 Music, and Radio X. Metal Hammer highlighted them as a band proving that metalcore is back and more diverse and exciting than ever, hailing their "guitar licks with hellish screams."

"Under the Skin" was co-written by Jess Allanic and Pendulum's Gareth McGrillen and is a mesmerizing blend of raging metal riffs, swirling electronica, and Jess' extraordinary ability to flit between ethereal vocals and demonic howls. It swoons in and out of a stunning narrative, with melodic twists along the way that are punctured by an attack of hypnotic assertiveness.

This first single release is accompanied by Calva Louise's most ambitious music video production, including a sci-fi movie-style short film, telling a story about intertwined dimensions where the characters are looking to perpetuate their consciousness beyond the real world.

The lyrics of "Under the Skin" follow a complex sci-fi narrative and is the introduction of a conceptual storyline consisting of characters called "Travellers" and their counterparts called the "Doubles."

Allanic says, "The lyrics deal with the obstacles that arise in the human duality as one is looking for freedom and the other is looking to perpetuate their consciousness, but the expectations are not the same for both sides."

The music video shows the Travellers and their Doubles transporting energy capsules which they recovered from the Hybrids-Scorpions (the story's villains) to the Main Hologram Generator, the maker of the "Realworld."

The story focuses on one of the Doubles Vic, that betrayed Commander Jonnie, also a Double, and his crew composed of both Travellers and Doubles, after being infected (and therefore under the control) of a Hybrid-scorpion that sneaked into Jonnie's Hedron-Ship. Jonnie's plans had been interrupted due to the anticipated invasion of the Hybrids that kidnapped multiple Hedron-Ships back in the Mother-Hedron-Ship, where their city was built. Meanwhile, the infected Doubles began to abandon their counterpart Travellers and started to usurp their lives in the holographic "Realworld." The Hybrids then got a free pass to continue sucking the energy of the countless Travellers who had been getting trapped in the "Dreamworld."

The video is a feast for the eye and was directed, edited and with VFX by Allanic.

2023's mesmerising album Over The Threshold was a breakthrough moment for the band. They had built a formidable reputation on the live circuit, with sold-out shows across the U.K. It came off of the back of a headline performance on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading and Leeds festival along with tours with the likes of Cassyette, Highly Suspect, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, Death Valley Girls, and not to mention, electric performances at Riot Fest (U.S.) and SXSW (U.S.).

All their music videos form part of a larger science-fiction project that guides the Lore behind the songs, providing an immersive experience for the audience. The main concept of duality means the existence of two sides within the human experience: the avatars or "Travellers" fighting like THIRD CLASS CITIZENS to reach the energetic source of their willpower: the "Doubles."

In this story, there are foreign entities, the "Hybrid-Scorpions" (half organic and half machines), who steal life energy from both Travellers and Doubles. Their FEAST IS OVER when the stolen energy is retrieved and attached to weapon-like tools that they use (the Hedron-Bazookas), while the Hybrids have corrupted some Doubles (OPORTUNISTA). The Travellers' aim is to reach their Doubles with the help of the Commanders (SQUARE ONE), since they have been working for decades to unify both sides OVER THE THRESHOLD of duality.

Rock Sound called Third Class Citizen "a masterstroke in atmospheric songwriting and more than enough reason for you to keep your eyes firmly on the band this year."

Writing for Kerrang!, Boston's Manor's Henry Cox said, "I don't know how you'd even begin to describe them – they blend elements of punk and rock and electronica and indie and all sorts of stuff. It's a super-unique sound. Definitely give Calva Louise a go."

Talking about signing to Mascot Records, the band says, "We are honored to be part of the Mascot family, and with their help, we hope to keep developing a high level of immeasurable value for the distribution and promotion of our music around the world through a unique sound for our next album and for our live shows."

CALVA LOUISE ON TOUR:
5/8 — Carrboro, NC —Cat's Cradle Back Room*
5/9 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade Purgatory Stage*
5/11 — Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome To Rockville (FESTIVAL)
5/13 — Nashville, TN — The Basement*
5/14 —St. Louis, MO - Blueberry Hill — Duck Room*
5/16 —Ferndale, MI — The Loving Touch*
5/17 — Chicago, IL — Subterranean*
5/18 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple (FESTIVAL)
5/19 — Washington, DC — DC9*
5/21 — Philadelphia, PA — Kung Fu Necktie*
5/22 — Boston, MA — Brighton Music Hall*
5/23 — Brooklyn, NY — Baby’s All Right*
5/28 — L.A. CA — The Echo
6/2 — Fort Worth, TX — So What!? (FESTIVAL)
* WITH VUKOVI

Vicious Rain Share "Like A Nightmare" Video

April 20, 2024

Swiss act Vicious Rain — vocalist David Häusermann, guitarist and vocalist Mauro Gugerli, guitarist Tristan Meier, bassist Loris De Notaristefano, and drummer Michael Teufelberger — have released their forth single "Like A Nightmare."

Watch the video below.

Stream the song here.

With "Like A Nightmare," Vicious Rain takes another step forward in their musical journey. This single is a compelling addition to their growing catalog, showcasing the band‘s emotional depth and raw power. Get ready for a sonic experience that challenges your perspective. This is Vicious Rain, and "Like A Nightmare" is their latest chapter. Following the path paved by their third single, "Crown Of Thorns," Vicious Rain showcase their unwavering commitment to expressing raw emotions, pouring their heart and soul into every note. The band's dedication to its craft and the sheer passion the members exude leaves no doubt that their future is bright.

"'Like A Nightmare' is all about the messy side of love. It's like being drawn to something you know will hurt you, but you cn'‘t help yourself. The song captures that feeling of being stuck in a cycle of desire and pain, leaving you feeling hopeless and trapped," says vocalist David Häusermann.

Formed in late 2022, Vicious Rain are an alternative metalcore band hailing from Baden, Switzerland. The members bring several years of professional recording and live show experience to the mix. Combining influences as intertwined singing/screaming vocals — with a pinch of hope-infused singalongs, screaming melodic leads topped with crushing breakdowns — embracing everything from the heavy side of the genre all the way to the more intimate and melodic side. The band's spirit is marked by their shared belief in the importance of solidarity and the role of the individual accomplishment of a common vision. Lyrically, the band expresses its stance on recent and recurring personal matters, without mincing their words while believing that self-reflection is the key to growth.

VICIOUS RAIN ARE:
David Häusermann — Vocals
Mauro Gugerli — Guitar + Vocals
Tristan Meier — Guitar
Loris De Notaristefano — Bass
Michael Teufelberger — Drums

Self Deception Share "Beautiful Disaster" Video

April 20, 2024

Self Deception are dropping their latest single "Beautiful Disaster." This captivating track captures the essence of our cosmic insignificance, drawing inspiration from Carl Sagan's profound "The Pale Blue Dot" speech.

Watch the video below.

As vocalist Andreas Clark reflects, "'Beautiful Disaster' is a homage to Sagan's timeless wisdom, reminding us of our place in the vast universe. It's a testament to the struggles we face as mere specks in the grand scheme of things, yet finding solace and beauty amidst the chaos."

The single marks a significant departure in Self Deception sound, as they delve into experimental territory with producer Nicklas Eklund. Exploring an arena approach, the track promises to deliver a powerful auditory experience that resonates with listeners on a cosmic level.

Accompanying the release is a visually stunning music video, conceptualized by Pavel Trebukhin to further immerse audiences in the cosmic journey depicted in "Beautiful Disaster."

This release sets the stage for Self Deception's forthcoming album Destroy the Art, slated for release on October 25. The album promises to be a culmination of the band's artistic evolution, featuring their distinctive fusion of introspective lyrics and mesmerizing melodies. With their broad musical palette, Self Deception never fail to surprise listeners with their innovative and genre-defying sound, ensuring an unforgettable musical experience for fans old and new.

The band has shared previously singles "Hysteria" and "Matthew McConaughey."

Self Deception are also set to appear at Louder Than Life + Aftershock festivals later this year.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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New Music From UNFD

April 20, 2024

NOBLE DEMON Releases Brand New Label Sampler; "Noble Demonic Metal - Chapter 4" Out Now!

April 20, 2024

In celebration of its fifth birthday, Noble Demon has released another installment of its "Noble Demonic Metal" sampler series. Noble Demonic Metal - Chapter 4features a hand-picked selection of the best songs from their talented roster of artists, showcasing the label's most successful singles as well as hidden gems from recent albums.

Despite facing challenges such as the global pandemic, economic crises, and production delays, Noble Demon has continued to grow and thrive over the past five years. With a solid roster of 30 bands, extensive worldwide distribution, digital marketing expertise, and a passion for promoting independent metal music, the label stands stronger than ever.

Listeners can now enjoy the full Noble Demonic Metal - Chapter 4 sampler on their favorite streaming service or by downloading it from THIS LOCATION

Furthermore, the steadily growing label is excited to announce yet another message:
"Since not all of the above mentioned 30 artists are officially part of the label roster yet, the Noble Demon will gladly announce a few more new killer signings very soon. So, watch out and follow our social media channels in order to not miss the best in independent metal! \m/"

So make sure to keep your eyes peeled for more news to come in the weeks ahead and make sure to follow the label online!

Find NOBLE DEMON online: