Billy Morrison Releases Solo Album 'The Morrison Project' on Vinyl and CD Unveils Video for "It's Come To This"

May 27, 2024

Billy Morrison's highly anticipated solo album, The Morrison Project, is slated for release on Vinyl and CD in stores and online today, May 24, 2024, via TLG|ZOID / Virgin Music Group.

Receive a free digital album download with purchase from Amazon Music - https://ffm.link/tmpamazon

The album is available digitally HERE

There is also a limited edition 12" collectible through Revolver Magazine - https://shop.revolvermag.com/collections/billy-morrison

Morrison's recent release, "Crack Cocaine," a riveting collaboration with legendary icons Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens has skyrocketed into the nation’s top 10 Rock Mediabase chart at #8 this week and at #9 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart."Crack Cocaine" features the masterful guitar work of Steve Stevens and was co-written by Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne, and Steve Stevens.

Accompanying the release of The Morrison Project is a visually stunning music video, featuring not only Billy Morrison, but acclaimed actor Joe Manganiello and Spino the Iguana. The video was directed by Ivo Raza, (who also directed "Crack Cocaine") and filmed in the desert outside of Lancaster/Palmdale.

“It’s Come To This” was written by Billy Morrison and Erik Eldenius and marks the third single/video from the album.

THE MORRISON PROJECT was produced by Billy Morrison, mixed by Barry Pointer, and mastered by Dave Donnelly. The songs on the album were recorded in Los Angeles at various studios and were written by Billy Morrison in collaboration with his guests.

The Label Group (TLG) has embarked on a significant partnership with TLG | ZOID, which is distributed by Virgin Music Group, to promote Billy Morrison's solo album, The Morrison Project. This collaboration marks the establishment of TLG | ZOID as the new Rock arm within The Label Group's family of labels. The Morrison Project features a diverse range of guest artists, including Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, DMC, Al Jourgensen, Steve Vai, Steve Stevens, Linda Perry, Tommy Clufetos, JOHN5, and more. The album aims to showcase Morrison's songwriting prowess and creative vision, offering a multi-genre musical experience.

In addition to this musical endeavor, TLG has formed a strategic alliance with dCommunity to pioneer a fan-centric and artist-focused community within the metaverse, leveraging blockchain technology. This innovative approach aims to enhance fan engagement and interaction in the Web 3 community, positioning "The Morrison Project" as a showcase for these new technologies.

The British guitarist, singer, and songwriter is primarily known as Billy Idol’s rhythm guitar player for the past 15 years alongside lead guitarist Steve Stevens, has expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with TLG, highlighting the importance of a record deal that respects the artist's creative freedom and ensures widespread distribution across all platforms. This collaboration not only signifies a forward-thinking move in the music industry but also aligns with the evolving landscape of entertainment, where the integration of digital and virtual spaces is becoming increasingly prevalent.

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SHAWN PERRY Releases Debut Album 'All American Heartbreak' Along with Single "Hookin' Up" via Neon Belly Records

May 27, 2024

Shawn Perry released his debut album All American Heartbreak along with single "Hookin' Up" via Neon Belly Records distributed by The Label Group / Virgin Music Group.
The album will be available on all streaming platforms and will be for sale on all digital storefronts. Physical copies of All American Heartbreak will be available on CD and LUXURY Vinyl in select brick and mortar locations and on Amazon.com.

The album is a genre twisting blend of hard rock, country, metal, vintage hip-hop and pop. "All my favorite things," says Perry. He adds, "I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed making it. I hope it brings a smile to your face, and proves that real musicians, playing real instruments, releasing products you can hold in your hand, touch, feel and smell are not dead, but are in fact poised for a comeback."

The song "Hookin' Up" will be released as a single with the album. The song was inspired by the real life romance of a friend who met his wife on Tinder. Shawn Perry later officiated their wedding. The line (falling' down drunk eating chicken in a bathtub) was inspired from a line of dialogue from the short lived Kate Walsh TV show Bad Judge.

All songs' music and lyrics are by Shawn Perry, with "Amen" co-written by Shawn Perry and Keven Thiede.

The album was produced by Shawn Perry and Ben Schigel, known for his work with Walls of Jericho, Drowning Pool, Chimera, and Machine Gun Kelly. The track "Lawnchair" was produced by Christian Davis Stalnecker, who has worked with El Debarge and Backstreet Boys.

Recording took place at Spider Studios in Cleveland, Ohio, Rock-N-Roll Dojo in Vermilion, Ohio, and The Castle in Nashville, Tennessee.

Ben Schigel mixed the album, except for "Lawnchair," which was mixed by Christian Davis Stalnecker.

The album was mastered by Grammy Winner Maor Appelbaum in Los Angeles, California, with the vinyl remaster done by Welcome to 1979 in Nashville, Tennessee.

Album Roster:

Shawn Perry: Vocals, Guitar, Percussion, Keys

Corey Linden: Guitars Vocals

Steve Albenze: Guitars

David Romwebber: Guitars

Greg Henry: Drums

Jeff Koteles: Drums

Russ Richards: Keys

Ben Schigel: Keys, Percussion

Carlos Flores: Bass

Paul Lewis Bass:

Genevive Gilbert: Violin

Additional Vocals: King Pala, Tyler Choen, John Calo, Lauren Koteles, Maryssa Elayne, Christian Davis Stalnecker

Shawn Perry is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, actor and entrepreneur known across the globe for his signature blend of big hooks, searing guitars, good times and raisin’ hell.

Shawn Perry was in tens of millions of households around the world during his time on the MTV series MADE, and various appearances on VH1, NBC, FOX, several independent films.

Over his career, Shawn Perry and his various musician projects have shared the stage and lineup card with numerous music legends, including: Poison, Warrant, Guns-N-Roses, The Darkness, Slash, Creed, Korn, Megadeth, Puddle of Mudd, Papa Roach, P.O.D., Chimera, Chickenfoot, Motionless in White, Jackyl, Volbeat, Queensryche, Rob Zombie, Skillet, Thousand Foot Krutch, The Hollywood Undead, Steel Panther, Thin Lizzy, Michael Stanley, Killswitch Engage, Powerman 5000, The Guess Who, and Hellyeah. Heck, he has even played a show with actor Corey Feldman of "Goonies" and "Lost Boys" fame...ah, the memories...

Since Shifting his focus to a solo career in 2015 with the release his debut EP Country Girls Shawn Perry and his band have performed at some of the largest festivals in Ohio (Rockin’ on the River, and Ohio Bike week, Country, Blues and BBQ Festival). They have also been fixtures at some of the top music venues in the Midwest including: The world- famous Cleveland Agora, The Odeon, The Thirsty Cowboy, Lyman Harbour and Jewel’s Dance Hall, sharing the stage with world class artist like Saving Abel, Aaron Carter, Sponge, Blessid Union of Souls, Finger Eleven, We Are Harlot (featuring members of Asking Alexandria), Demun Jones (formerly of Rehab), The Devil You Know (helmed by ex-Killswitch Engage vocalist Howard Jones), Charlie Farley and Country legend Colt Ford. They have also appeared on the Fox 8 Morning Show and had their music featured on I heart media’s (Clear Channel) nationally syndicated morning show Rover's Morning Glory.

In 2019 Shawn Perry and his crew released the single “Lawnchair” to critical and commercial acclaim. The song was recorded by Grammy winning producer Christian Davis at the Castle in Nashville and mastered by Grammy winner Maor Applebaum in Los Angeles. The song made it’s debut on the country charts in March 2019 and has been steadily climbing ever since. In 2020 Shawn Perry and his band hit the studio to record ten new songs for their new album Throwin’ Shade. The first single from the album “Six Feet Apart,” a U2 inspired power anthem, was released in October 2020 to critical and fan acclaim. In June of 2021 "Lawnchair" which will be included on the forthcoming album Throwin’’ Shade was re-released through TLG Entertainment/Universal once again earning rave reviews for it’s fun in sun good time vibes. Shawn Perry will be releasing several singles throughout the rest of 2021 starting with the barn burner "Hardrock Hillbilly" before dropping the rest of the album at the end of the year.

Shawn Perry and his band are endorsed artists for Ernie Ball/Music Man, Gibson, EVH Amps, Mapex Drums and Sabian Cymbals.

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The Intemperate Sons Release New Single "Falling Under"; New Album 'Dark Day’s Night' Due Out June 5th via FRAME|WORK

May 27, 2024

"Falling Under" is the latest track off the upcoming album, Dark Day’s Night that is set for release on June 5th, 2024. This album has taken a darker turn than the debut, reflecting the crazy times we live in today. Everyone has their own demons that no one else can see. The brightest souls burn the shortest wick before their candle fades away. This track was produced by Amir Derakh and The Intemperate Sons at The Kitchen Recording Studios in Dallas, TX.

The Intemperate Sons release all their music through the Frame|Work record label at the direction of Amir Derakh and Ryan Shuck. A brand-new music video for the single will follow on 5/31/24 to the usual platforms. All Intemperate Sons’ tracks are mixed by Amir Derakh at Synthicide in Long Beach, CA. All mastering is done by Mike Marsh Mastering in the U.K.

Pre-order began on Monday March 18th where fans have the exclusive opportunity to secure a limited edition 12" vinyl LP, offered in various package configurations.

Pre-order Dark Day's Night HERE

Immerse yourself in the gritty sonic landscape of The Intemperate Sons' second album, Dark Day's Night. With tracks like the haunting title song, the introspective "Falling Under," and the reflective "Way Back When," this album weaves a compelling story of resilience amidst turmoil. "Unrealized" and "CØNTRØL8" delve into the battle for autonomy in a disordered world, while "Game of Keep Away" offers a raw take on the struggle of self-destruction and survival. The album also features a heavier, more intense cover of Nirvana's "Dumb," adding a unique layer to this already diverse album. Dark Day's Night is not just an album; it's a journey through the shadows, echoing with the sounds of defiance and liberation.

The Intemperate Sons emerged onto the rock scene in the summer of 2019 in Dallas, TX, to bring their distinct sound to the genre. A deep love for music brought family members Keith Watson (drums), Jake Watson (guitars) and Max Watson (vocals, guitars, keys) together along with close friend Mark Marks, who provides the groove on bass to unite everything together. The band's sound has been described as a 90's alternative style that is obsessed with the 70's.

Keith is well acquainted with entertaining massive crowds of concert goers and has played with many successful bands in Dallas, such as Gun Hill, Natural Born Thrillers and Agents of Solace, on top of opening for Lynch Mob, Joe Lynn Turner and Sponge. He is the primary lyricist for the band and has written the music for some of their most successful songs, including “Dust to Dust,” “The Color Within,” and “Unrealized.”

Multi-talented and gifted with the ability to play various instruments, Max is also the lead vocalist of the group. Along with being musically dexterous, he has also collaborated with Keith to write lyrics on the released songs “Going Crazy” and “Way Back When.” In the studio, Max usually surmounts expectations and goes above and beyond to prepare prior to a session with his own vocal harmonies.

Jake is the song architect of the Sons and extremely instrumental in the crafting of the music. His inventive ways of bringing lyrics to life in clever ways are unprecedented and fascinating to see in the studio setting. He is a prolific writer of music as well and is credited with helping create the songs “What’s Done is Done,” “Remission,” “Way Back When” and “Wading in the Gray.” Both Max and he play lead guitar on many of the songs as well. The other members of the band fondly refer to him as the “art director” since he enjoys taking charge in those areas for the group.

Prolific and unifying, Mark is an accomplished bass player and well known in Dallas. He was in the regionally successful band, Haggard, and had opened for Sebastian Bach of Skid Row. His input in song writing has been invaluable to the process of creating captivating melodies.

Despite the pandemic putting a pause on many major events, The Intemperate Sons lived up to their name and let nothing hold them back from making music. Constantly hard at work in the studio, they have collaborated with Amir Derakh (Julien-K, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy, Rough Cutt) and Ryan Shuck (Julien-K, Adema, Dead by Sunrise, Orgy). Both have lent their musical talents to various songs and ultimately have brought the Sons on to their label, Frame|Work. This led the band to also recently join the management roster at The Label Group. Ryan worked with Amir to produce the band’s upcoming track, “Game of Keep Away,” and has had a huge impact on the group. He’s been especially influential on Max’s vocal melodies and delivery. Amir also plays guitar on this latest ballad and has been mixing all of the band’s music as well as performing on multiple songs.

Another notable collaboration has been with Tony Franklin (The Firm, Roy Harper, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Whitesnake), primarily on the first album, The Color Within. He has been a valuable friend of the band and has played bass on some of their best tracks from that album, including “Running Man,” “Dust to Dust” and “The Color Within.”

The Intemperate Sons’ take on alternative rock is a dark and powerful concoction of hard rock mixed with folk and grunge concepts. The band has earned a serious reputation for writing and performing tracks that scratch deep into the backbone of the human experience. There is no shortage of darkness in their writing style, which has a retro vibe with many guitar-driven tracks stacked on top of a groovy rhythm section. The heavier style fits perfectly with the two and three-part vocal harmonies that are a huge part of their overall sound. It has been said that musicians that are related form unique sounds and communicate at a frequency only they can understand. This frequency has become engrained in their songwriting, arrangements, guitar melodies and vocal harmonies. The band has been compared to Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots and even R.E.M.

The Intemperate Sons are:

Max Watson (vocals, backing vocals, guitars, keys, bass)

Jake Watson (guitars, bass and backing vocals)

Keith Watson (drums, backing vocals)

Mark Marks (bass)

The Intemperate Sons Show Dates:

Sat May 25 @ The Mystical Market 2024 in McKinney, TX
Sat June 15 @ Verma Fest - 3 Nations Brewing in Carrollton, TX
Fri June 21 @ Adair's Saloon in Dallas, TX
Sat July 27 @ The Railhead Saloon in Lawton, OK
Sat Aug 3 @ Hanovers Draught Haus in Pflugerville, TX
Fri Sep 20 @ Fitzgerald's Bar & Live Music Venue in San Antonio, TX
Sat Oct 26 @ Lonestar Bulldog Rescue Benefit in Denton, TX
Wed Nov 13 @ Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA

For More Information Please Visit:

The Intemperate Sons

FRAME|WORK

Black Veil Brides Share Video for Cover of Sweeney Todd's"My Friends" From New "Bleeders" EP Via Playbill

May 27, 2024

BLACK VEIL BRIDES kicked off a new season of redemption and revenge with "Bleeders," a cinematic music video, battle cry, and tour conceived by band leader Andy Biersack.

The "Bleeders" single and accompanying cinematic music video — watch the video, directed by Jensen Noen, here — coincides with the forthcoming EP of the same name, out June 21 via Spinefarm. Pre-order the Bleeders EP here.

The band has already accumulated over 5 million streams on the track and video in just a few short weeks of release, with the single already Top 30 at rock radio.

The EP is both a soundtrack and a signpost of everything BVB past, present, and future. The band's inaugural release in a new partnership with Spinefarm boasts the title track, as well as a loving rendition of Sweeney Todd’s "My Friends."

Today, the band has shared the video for "My Friends," which exclusively premiered via Playbill.

"From the first time I picked up my dad's copy of the original cast recording and heard Len Cariou's powerful and sinister portrayal of Sweeney, I was hooked on this show," says Biersack. "As a little kid, I would insist that all my family gather around and watch me perform songs like 'My Friends' in my full homemade costume. It's beyond a dream come true to get to do a rendition of this song and collaborate with our longtime friend and visionary director Joshua Shultz on the video. We wanted to do something that felt true to the spirit of the original and all subsequent iterations while also feeling distinctly Black Veil Brides and we are thrilled with how it turned out."

The Bleeders Tour is currently wrapping up a successful Spring 2024 run this coming weekend. The tour transformed the band's theatrical and allegorical tales of vengeance into real-world philanthropy, incorporating a virtual blood drive with the American Red Cross. "As Bleeders, it's our mission to effect positive change. Help us to help others in this time of need," read a statement from the band, comprised of Biersack, Jake Pitts, Jinxx, Christian "C.C." Coma, and Lonny Eagleton.

One pint of blood can save as many as three lives. As of today, fans have pledged nearly 2,200 pints.

Before the birth of the BVB Army, the thousands of lyric tattoos, and the gold and platinum records that followed, Black Veil Brides was simply a dark vision dreamt up by an only child in Ohio.

He already loved Batman and KISS. Then, the striking visage of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, on the cover of his dad's dusty CD (released a dozen years before he was born) kicked open the door for Biersack. Sweeney Todd cleared the way for The Phantom of the Opera, Misfits, and all that followed, culminating in the birth of Andy Black and the ascension of Black Veil Brides.

The group's cinematic scope and unwavering commitment to self-expression strikes a familiar chord with their fellow "bleeders" who seek refuge (and revenge) in the power of the dark and imagination.

There are over 160 million views of "Knives and Pens," an early demo committed to music video before Andy (who moved to Hollywood at 18 and lived in his car) met his band of brothers. The RIAA-certified platinum single "In the End," itself close to 170 million views, proved the group whose merch dominated Hot Topic before they’d even made their debut album was built to last. In 2021, "Scarlet Cross" became their highest-charting, Top 10 single. "Fallen Angels" went gold in 2023.

They combine a unique identity with an unquenchable creative thirst. They're an object of devotion for those who sing their anthems in unison, a diverse BVB Army who never surrenders. Bleeders offers a taste of what will become Black Veil Brides' most visceral, cinematic, and unrelenting era yet.

Black Veil Brides and their audience slash away at the darkness together, bleeders one and all.

The band will return to the stage this summer supporting Falling In Reverse. All dates are below.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES ON TOUR:
WITH FALLING IN REVERSE, DANCE GAVIN DANCE, + TECH N9NE:
8/19 — Nampa, ID — Ford Idaho Center
8/20 — Airway Heights, WA — BECU Live at Northern Quest
8/22 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre
8/23 — Ridgefield, WA — RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
8/25 — Salt Lake City, UT — Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/27 — Albuquerque, NM — Isleta Amphitheater
8/29 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
8/30 — Houston, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
9/1 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
9/2 — Charlotte, NC — Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre
9/4 — Raleigh, NC — Red Hat Amphitheatre
9/6 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live
9/7 — Scranton, PA — Montage Mountain
9/9 — Boston, MA — Leader Bank Pavilion
9/10 — Buffalo, NY — Darien Lake Amphitheater
9/12 — Burgettstown, PA — The Pavilion at Star Lake
9/13 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
9/15 — Sterling Heights, MI — Michigan Lottery at Freedom Hill
9/16 — Indianapolis, IN — Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park
9/17 — Chicago, IL — Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
9/20 — Franklin, TN — FirstBank Arena
9/21 — St Louis, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/23 — Denver, CO — The JunkYard
9/25 — Phoenix, AZ — Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
9/26 — Los Angeles, CA — Kia Forum

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.

ORANSSI PAZUZU - Release Video For New Single 'Muuntautuja'

May 27, 2024

Four years after their critically acclaimed latest album Mestarin kynsi, Finnish psychedelic metal superconductors ORANSSI PAZUZU have unveiled a music video for their brand new single, 'Muuntautuja'. With influences as diverse as Black Metal, Psychedelia, and Electronic Music, the band creates a sonic convulsing mass that transports listeners to otherworldly realms.

Drawing inspiration from eclectic sources ranging from Death Grips to Portishead, Nine Inch Nails (Downward Spiral era), Beherit and My Bloody Valentine, ORANSSI PAZUZU are a feast for those who dig deep, heavy and strange. With inhuman and biological sound, 'Muuntautuja' is electronically charged, both organic and inorganic in origin.

'Muuntautuja' (which means "shapeshifter") sees the band continuing to push the boundaries of metal music, creating a sound that defies categorization. It's also the first sample of a new ORANSSI PAZUZU album, which is due to be released in autum 2024. More details will follow soon.

ORANSSI PAZUZU commented:
"After three years of slow-burn brewing and enlightening space-time experimentation, please welcome Muuntautuja - The Shapeshifter, a new song from our forthcoming album. Let it open your skull towards the void and guide you to the intoxicating state of transformation."

LISTEN TO 'MUUNTAUTUJA':
https://oranssipazuzu.bfan.link/muuntautuja

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR 'MUUNTAUTUJA' Below.

Fox Lake joins MNRK Heavy

May 27, 2024

MNRK Heavy is pleased to welcome Colorado-based hardcore group FOX LAKE to its roster for the release of their upcoming new full-length!

Born in the high elevation of Denver, FOX LAKE brings an elevated and energetic sound to the heavy music scene. The band started in 2017 as four friends jamming in their basement looking to branch out from the typical metalcore sound by incorporating elements of their favorite genres: hardcore, hip-hop, and rock ‘n’ roll. FOX LAKE has continually leveled up by giving audiences undeniable grooves, punch rhythms, and an anti-establishment swagger. It’s all culminated into a sonic, brass-knuckled punch to the face that’s landing on anyone in their proximity.
Comments Scott Givens, MNRK Heavy’s SVP Rock & Metal, “FOX LAKE is an amazing band that makes a great addition to the MNRK Heavy roster. They have put in a ton of work building their career to this point, and we are honored to have been chosen as their label as they enter the next phase of their career. I look forward to a long partnership with the band.”

In celebration of the signing, FOX LAKE drops a video or their new single, “Savior,” issuing of the track, “Whether it be from the corruption, lies, abuse of power, or just plain disrespect, so many people, regardless of their political identity, have lost faith in our systems. The belief that our institutions are looking out for us seems to be a thing of the past. ‘Savior’ is a rallying cry for anyone who feels disenfranchised. It’s an energetic wake-up call to confront our responsibilities. We need to look out for each other because no one else will.”

Fox Lake - 8 Ball Shirt
PRE-ORDER

Zeal & Ardor Share Visualizer For New Single "Clawing Out"

May 27, 2024

BAND WINS PRESTIGIOUS SWISS MUSIC PRIZE

NEW ALBUM GREIF SET FOR RELEASE ON AUGUST 23

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. 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 delivering gentle, harmonious new song "to my ilk" on the announcement of their astonishing, forthcoming new album GREIF last month, today the Swiss iconoclasts delight in flipping the table over delivering snarling, staccato new single "Clawing out."

Ringleader Manuel Gagneux proclaims, "We like to surprise people. So, of course, after releasing our softest song to date with 'to my ilk,' we want to create some whiplash with 'Clawing out!' Not satisfied with a mere heavy riffed song, we elected to borrow some elements from other musical styles to further the impact. Revel with us in righteous violence — justificatum malum factum."

Watch a visualizer for the track Below.

Get the track here.

This week, ZEAL & ARDOR were also honored to win a coveted, prestigious Swiss Music Prize, the highest national recognition in the field of music in Switzerland, at the award's 11th edition. Designed to reward outstanding and innovative Swiss musical creation and bringing it into the limelight, candidates are selected from all regions of Switzerland across all musical disciplines.

Manuel divulges, "It's rare that we get a prize that holds such esteem as this one does. Not just due to it being a national one, but because of the staggeringly talented alumni we have the privilege of calling our peers. It feels immensely validating and flattering. Sincerely: Thank you."

After gathering tens of millions of streams and earning widespread critical acclaim, ZEAL & ARDOR prove as dynamic and dangerous as ever on fourth full-length, self-produced album, GREIF, set for release on August 23.

Rather than stagnating, basking in global acclaim garnered from three previous albums — Devil Is Fine [2017], Stranger Fruit [2018] and Zeal & Ardor [2022] — Manuel opted to shake things up for GREIF. Instead of creatively flying solo again, this time he welcomed his bandmates into the studio, featuring three voices for the first time and emboldening the sound from every angle. 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. Decamping to Marc's studio Hutch Sounds in Switzerland, the record came to life in just five months.

"We've really evolved into a tight-knit unit," explains 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."

"I wanted to expand upon what we had and introduce new colors," Manuel continues. "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 is available to pre-order now on CD, transparent vinyl, and digitally.

"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.

Belgian dark synth-rock duo LOVELORN DOLLS present 'Diary of Nothing' ahead of 'Deadtime Stories' album

May 26, 2024

Belgian alt-rock duo Lovelorn Dolls release their fourth album 'Deadtime Stories', embracing a stronger identity – creepy cute ambiance, eerie Tim Burton-esque scenes, guitar-driven sounds, catchy dark melodies, childlike synths, industrial tones, and Kristell’s distinctive voice, all boldly and fully embraced.

Hailing from Brussels, Lovelorn Dolls is Kristell Lowagie (lyrics, vocals) and Bernard Daubresse (programming, guitars, synth). They are back in a big way after a 5-year hiatus that saw Kristell transform into the photographer/ visual artist Kristell In Wonderland, exhibiting throughout Europe. With a gothic rock underbelly, their sound resembles a mix of Theatre of Tragedy, Lacuna Coil and The Birthday Massacre.

Lovelorn Dolls have also unveiled their video for 'Diary Of Nothing', the final song of this sonic storybook. A newspaper with blank pages recalls the empty and empathetic heart of the protagonist, who reminds us of Wednesday Addams. The video refers to the tumultuous sibling relationship between Wednesday and her brother Pugsley, whom she loves to mistreat. Kristell, who plays the main role, also takes great pleasure in mistreating her sidekick, the outcome of working with the same person for 15 years.

"We had a lot of fun creating this video for one of our favorite songs on the album. This song alone sums up the "Lovelorn Dolls” spirit for me," says Kristell Lowagie.

'Deadtime Stories' be released on May 24 via Alfa Matrix / SPLEEN+, joining other great artists on this label, including Front 242, Ayria, Recoil, Leather Strip and Alien Vampires. Earlier, the female-fronted duo previewed singles 'A Heart Cries', 'Dream World' and 'Beautiful Chaos' and also released the 'Deadtime Stories: the Book' featuring the lyrics, accompanying illustrations and photos by Kristell In Wonderland.

The title itself is a cynical play on words, referencing children’s rhymes with a dark twist. Each song delves into themes of death, endings, suicide, broken dreams, loss, and the perilous allure of fame. The artwork also encapsulates this, depicting a lonely girl reading in a cemetery fog.

Produced, mixed and mastered by Maxx Maryan, known for his work with cult electro-goth metal duo Helalyn Flowers and IMJUDAS, the album features several guest appearances, including by Dero Goi (ex-vocalst of OOMPH!) in the duet 'Dancing at Your Funeral', which Goi co-wrote and co-produced. American Gothic rapper VVitchboy also appears on the energetic and enchanting track 'Death & Glory'.

Earlier, Lovelorn Dolls released the 'Beautiful Chaos' EP, an ode to love stories gone wrong with five bonus remixes roam from minimal EBM to industrial goth and ethereal wave via contributors The Breath of Life, Absynthe of Faith, Audiopyre, Restriction 9 and Antidote for Annie.

Out May 24, the 'Deadtime Stories' album is available from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered via the label or directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Lyrics & vocals by Kristell Lowagie
Music by Bernard Daubresse
Kristell Lowagie - vocals
Bernard Daubresse – guitars & synths
Additional arrangements, programming and synths by Maxx Maryan Recorded in Brussels and Rome
Produced, mixed and mastered by Maxx Maryan
Released via Alfa Matrix
All artwork, design & illustrations by Kristell Lowagie
Artist photos by Kristell In Wonderland

Manchester's THE SPEED OF SOUND releases ‘A Cornucopia: Minerva’ album from epic 3-album set, plus video for 'Trickledown'.

May 26, 2024

"Buzzing fuzz guitar lines emerge from a delicate acoustic introduction to intersect with the crashing chords and the ‘bulbous pulsing’ rhythm section" ~ Record Collector Magazine

"it’s clear that the sonic kaleidoscope presented on The Speed of Sound’s new album is worth the wait - a musical compass in a direction we should all explore" ~ The Spill Magazine

“Unmistakeable sound a winning formula” ~ The Big Takeover

“A triumph of industry, imagination and talent, coolly novel and damned addictive” ~ Louder Than War

‘Unique and other worldly” ~ Vive Le Rock

“A form of Art-Pop that is wry, incisive, yet a deeply listenable examination of post industrial culture” ~ Rock At Night

"A riotous maelstrom of musical mayhem” ~ The Manc Review
Manchester indie rock psychonauts The Speed Of Sound are releasing the album 'A Cornucopia: Minerva'. The first record of the three-album set 'A Cornucopia: Minerva, Victory, Bounty', this is also the band's second release issued via California-based cult label Big Stir Records,

Full of ambition, energy, and eccentric melodic brilliance, these future-retro-modernist garage-psych stalwarts offer up their new collection as Vinyl and CD 3-album sets under the umbrella title 'A Cornucopia'. Essentially 'Minerva' is being released as a deluxe edition, including two full-length bonus albums 'Victory' and 'Bounty'.

Hailing from Manchester, The Speed of Sound is made up of father and son John Armstrong (guitars and vocals) and Henry Armstrong (keyboards), Ann-Marie Crowley (vocals and guitar), Kevin Roache (bass guitar) and John Broadhurst (drums).

With 'A Cornucopia: Minerva' coinciding with the band’s 35th anniversary, The Speed Of Sound returns triumphant, defiant and redemptive, following up their 2021 critically acclaimed album 'Museum Of Tomorrow'. Named for the goddess associated with wisdom, the arts and strategic warfare, this album explores themes of resistance to mainstream cultural dominance, championing individual identity and artistic creativity whilst being a vigorous musical celebration of subcultural existence in the face of predominantly bland pop culture.

With the album's release The Speed of Sound also presents the video for 'Trickledown', having earlier shared 'The Great Acceleration' and 'West Wind'. Here, they show another side of their craft with this delicate and spaciously haunting floating air, comprised of a soft-hued tonal palette just rich enough in reverb. 'Trickledown' puts forward a subtly expressed and quietly understated critique of Economic Theory, wrapped in a smoothly cast ballad of sheer silk gossamer lightness. A harmoniously mellow and hypnotically absorbing experience like fireworks in slow motion, the lyrics contrasts with razor sharp precision.

John Armstrong notes, “This could easily have been a traditional angry punk song, but gentle smoothness fits the soothing lie behind the Theory. I find the concept of Trickledown Economics bizarre. The idea of everyone owing their economic wellbeing to the existence of the mega-rich is pure sleight of hand fantasy; that they have amassed so much stashed away itself demonstrates it isn’t reaching further down. The stanza borrowed from Shelley’s Masque Of Anarchy (1819) in the middle section shows the general situation hasn’t changed in 200 years.”

'Minerva' presents 14 fresh and variegated tracks, each one a burst of differently-hued radio friendly sonic technicolor. These new pieces range from the recklessly fast Bo Diddley rhythm successfully merged with a Wagnerian horn section of lead single 'West Wind' to the haunting and spacious ballad critiquing Economic Theory that is 'Trickledown' to the stripped back mediaeval folk-tinged starkness of 'The Harvest' to the stratospheric vastness of 'The Great Acceleration'.

The album passes seamlessly through the acoustic guitar-driven groove of 'SS-100-X', the spacious iridescence of 'Eight Fourteen Monday', the lively ascendence of 'The Party Sniper', the glowing radioactivity metaphor of 'Half Life' to the bright uplifting dementia and identity-loss focused 'Mind Palace'. While the bouncing vibe of 'Bodysnatchers' reminds us to stay awake and not slip into the drabness of normalcy, the crunching melodic punch of 'Clickbait' zings into the typewriter introduction of 'Yet Another Tuesday', onwards to the punkifed rhythm and blues of 'So Faux' and the closing acoustic riot of 'Question Time'.

With their inbuilt eclectic and genre-defying style, The Speed Of Sound expand from their base-camp foundation of 1960s, punk and new wave influences, encompassing wide dynamic and stylistic variation, crossing borders and pushing boundaries at every opportunity while retaining continuity. Their music bursts with experimentation whilst retaining hooks and melodic sensibility, plus sharp barbed wit, lyrical depth and all-pervading sense of joy.

Irrespressible and uplifting, The Speed Of Sound have continuously produced music laced with optimism and lyrical bite, tapping the DIY ethos of punk and the restless lust for experimentation of psychedelia. Formed in 1989 with a pre-history dating back to the day Andy Warhol died in 1987, their music has always been idiosyncratic, counter-intuitive and perpetually looking for something new.

As of May 24, 'Minerva' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It will also be released on CD and vinyl via Big Stir Records. The 'Bounty' and 'Victory' albums will see digital editions over the next year,

CREDITS
All songs written by John Armstrong
John Armstrong - guitars and vocals
Ann-Marie Crowley - vocals and guitars
Kevin Roache - bass guitar
John Broadhurst - drums
Henry Armstrong - keyboards
Bob Dinn - trumpet and flugelhorn
Chris Guest - harmonium, vibraphone, organ, shakers, tambourine
Alex Armstrong - typewriter on 'Yet Another Tuesday'
Voices on 'Mind Palace' by Janet Stacey Dando, Henry Armstrong, Nick Frater, Jason Edge (courtesy of The Electric Stars), John Broadhurst, Mark Britton (courtesy of Amoeba Teen), Janet Armstrong, Louise Turner, Peter Watts & Ruth Rogers (courtesy of Spygenius) and Kevin Roache, plus Ivy Frater (heartbeat)
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Vibratone Sound Studio in Manchester by Chris Guest, Adam Crossley and The Speed Of Sound.
Main sleeve image: Purple Spaceman © Lina Landers 2022
Artist photographs by Shay Rowan
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with The Speed of Sound
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Keep up with Big Stir Records
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Blackmore's Night Returns To The Stage + Announce Remixed Compilation Reissue Album

May 26, 2024

Legendary guitarist formerly of Deep Purple and Rainbow, Ritchie Blackmore, and award-winning singer Candice Night return to the stage in June and July 2024 in the United States.

6/22 — The Sherman Theater — Stroudsburg, PA
6/23 — District Music Hall — Norwalk, CT
6/30 — Academy of Music — Northampton, MA
7/5 — The Vogel — Red Bank, NJ
7/6 — The Vogel — Red Bank, NJ

"Join us this summer as the mystical fires glow at midnight, to all our friends, fans, Blackmore's Night Family: grab your tambourine or your tankard of ale, and sing and dance with Blackmore's Night 'Under a Violet Moon.' Let us transport you back in time to a magical evening with music that will brighten your hearts and soul," states Ritchie Blackmore, Candice Night, and their band of Minstrels, May 2024.

Blackmore's Night defines its music as Renaissance Folk Rock. A unique and original genre of music inspired by the melodies and the tradition of the Renaissance period, "Blackmore-ized" into contemporary music. This is the sound of Blackmore's Night. And what a success it has been, since it all started...

Never intended to be a band thinking about charts and sales, it ended up being one of the most successful acoustic projects of all time, remaining a best[seller for over 25 years, while maintaining the purity of its original intention intact.

The band's last album Nature's Light brought the band back to the German Top 10 (#7) and it has reinforced the relationship with the fanbase all over the world.

In 1997, Blackmore's Night released their debut CD, Shadow of the Moon, which immediately went gold in Japan and earned awards worldwide.

The album's reissue, released in 2023, re-entered the charts in Germany in the Top 20, thanks to a shiny new mix of the album, in a celebration of the music that started the journey for Candice and Ritchie. Meanwhile, their devoted fan base has been growing exponentially as the band continues performing their mystical music for all ages. From grandparents to children, everyone is enjoying their medieval mood music and gypsy dances. Clearly, the music of Blackmore's Night connects with fans on a deep level, allowing them to experience an entirely different era of merriment.

In the age of digital music, new fans discover Blackmore's Night every single day — making the band possibly the most streamed artist of its genre.

At the helm of this band, is award winning lyricist and vocalist, Candice Night, who not only contributes her unique, entrancing vocals, but deftly navigates seven medieval woodwinds, including chanters, shawms, pennywhistles and recorders. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and celebrated guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, who traverses between acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, mandola, and hurdy gurdy.

Further enhancing the band's inspired sound are keyboardist/back-up vocalist Bard David; Violinist, Scarlett Fiddler; back up vocalist/rhythm guitar, Lady Jessie; bassist/rhythmic guitarist Earl Grey; and percussionist Troubadour of Aberdeen.

With lyrics penned by Night, the collective embraces the aura of the old-world inn, from madrigals and ballads to good old-fashioned Renaissance-inspired pub songs.

Every Blackmore's Night’s studio CD has debuted in the top 2 of the Billboard New Age charts, many of which entered and remained at the Number 1 spot for weeks.

The media Awards such as "Best Album of the Year" "Best Vocal performance of the Year" or "Best Guitar Performance" collected over the years are hard to keep count of.

Their sold-out concerts in castles and UNESCO sites worldwide are filled with thousands of fans dressed in Renaissance garb, dancing and singing as if time stood still. No clocks...no pressure... just the gaiety and camaraderie of a medieval pub. Everyone joins in and loses their stress in the music.

2022 marked the official 25th Anniversary of Blackmore's Night.

This year in 2024, they celebrate the 25th year of their 3rd CD, Fires at Midnight. A 25th year edition of Fires... will be released by earMUSIC, as with the debut album, the music has been remixed from the original multi-track masters for a new sonic experience.

In addition, Candice Night has been working intensely on very personal and intense solo music, which will be pure joy for anybody who has loved Blackmore's Night.

Those unique troubadours, The Wizard's Consort, will be opening the musical evening of concerts with Blackmores Night

Last important note from Candice and Ritchie: we feel very strongly at helping local no-kill animal shelters. So, wherever we play, we always invite a local animal shelter or animal rescue organization to set up a donation table at our concert. We are happy to announce that the following organizations will be present at our upcoming concerts to help raise funds for our less fortunate furry friends.

Details about the organizations for each concert, as well as ticket pre-sales at the link here.

Dark Folk Artist Kati Rán Streams New Album 'SÁLA' Ahead of Release

May 26, 2024

Dutch artist and Nordic Folk pioneer Kati Rán is now sharing the title track from her upcoming full-length, 'SÁLA,' which is out now via Svart Records! The song can be found along with a visualizer at THIS LOCATION and features an array of special guests including Kristian 'Gaahl' Espedal, Heilung warriors, Jaani Peuhu and more!

Kati Rán comments,

"Well well, what can I say or write about this auspicious day, where SÁLA has been born. Such a big event, when you have put all your heart and soul and craft into it makes any artist speechless at first. It’s both a strange feeling of relief and sentimental nostalgia, as we release SÁLA today, so that these songs can live their own lives and their meaning have their own interpretation for all the listeners out there, henceforth.

"In the last two years I myself and Jaani Peuhu have tenaciously co-produced, written/re-arranged, recorded and re-recorded, edited, mixed and tweaked some more and laughed and cried daily to bring this album into its final form out today as it's 'parents' of sorts. I think I can speak for both of us and say that we hope it may bring some healing and light for anyone who finds themselves in a dark place, pleasure for anyone who wants to navigate its literary depths, or simply to have fun with it for all who enjoy listening to good new Dark Folk music. Thank you all. Thanks you Svart Records. And my thanks to Jaani for believing in me and for all the help given while we produced this album together, when before only I believed in it and worked on this alone. It definitely made a difference."

'SÁLA' the album is based on the primeval mythological Northern Cosmos and a patronage by its oceanic nordic deity 'Rán,' as reinterpreted by the artist and other mythological female characters surrounding its musical journey.

'SÁLA' is Old Norse for both 'Sea' and 'Soul,' befitting the Northern-themed album shaped after the shrouded Norse ocean goddess Rán and her 'nine daughters'. It takes inspirations from different weather conditions and nature phenomena and embraces our most vulnerable emotional sides and psychological states, questions our mind and expresses any 'forbidden' or 'taboo' sensitivities and acts as shamanic form of soul-retrieval.

'SÁLA' explores historical literature and mythological source material from the North, as much as it offers new interpretation and poetic lyrics straight from Kati's Rán own gold feathered pen as we journey into the conscious, subconscious, and liminal worlds of the North. Through the act of creating SÁLA and the thirteen tracks it offers, we are given a life raft, or a beacon for all who feel lost or challenged at times by life's turbulences. As much as the creation and crafting of this album was an alchemic process for the artist herself to turn obstacles in life into new found sources of power and wisdom, it aims to welcome anyone in need of support to enjoy and explore the depths it has to offer.

To shape the immense and cinematic Nordic soundscape that Kati Rán and Jaani Peuhu have tenaciously crafted together for 'SÁLA', we hear contributions by a wide array of musical guests and friends of the Nordic Dark Folk genre, the resurrection of extraordinary sounds sourced from Kati's travels and recording sessions at varying locations deep in Norway, Iceland, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands, and a wide range of the artists own vocal expression and instrumental performances.

Ultimately, SÁLA is a homecoming to the existing Nordic Folk genre, as well as a sublime new vision and genre expansion for all lovers of Nordic mythology with its historic and modern sounds, the depth of its skaldic material, heart-pounding drums and its soft and divinely sounding hymns and poetry with which Kati Rán lures our ships to sail further beyond any known horizon of the genre.

Special vinyl editions in gold, transparent smoke, and black as well as digipack CDs are available for pre-order HERE.

'SÁLA' features an impressive lineup of diverse musicians who lent their talents to the record, including Gaahl, Napalm Death's Mitch Harris, members of Heilung, Sígur Rós, and many others!

Kati Rán is known for her collaborative audio work for Netflix’s tv series 'VIKINGS: VALHALLA,' films and work for videogames, her stage appearances with Wardruna, Myrkur and Gaahls Wyrd to name a few, and her previous releases of the successful album; and Nordic dark folk tracks “Blodbylgje” and Icelandic track “Unnr | Mindbeach”; that run millions of streams and gathered a tightly knit Nordic Folk music loving audience around her.

If the most profound treasures are often the most deeply buried, the journey to uncover them is vital process of discovery. Five years after the 15-minute single “Blodbylgje” signaled the birth of a new, more primordial, and immersive vision after the dissolution of her band L.E.A.F., Nordic dark folk artist Kati Rán has expanded on its oceanic theme for her long-awaited full-length album, 'SÁLA.' Embarking on a far-reaching musical and personal travelogue, it’s a reawakening of both the feminine narratives submerged and fragmented within Norse mythology, and the enduring, healing powers held within.

Named after the Old Norse word for ‘soul’ and ‘sea’, 'SÁLA' is an act of "soul retrieval," the shamanic art of trauma recovery, be it illness, death, heartbreak or loss, and the reintegration of a splintered self. Across its 13, wide-ranging, elegantly unfolding tracks, the album is an embodiment of different feminine voices and perspectives – from the Norse nine daughters of the sea, or ‘billow maidens’, through various historical and fictional figures to the late-night voices we hear in our most liminal states – all with tales to tell, riddles to solve, challenges to be accepted and guidance to offer. It’s a multiplicity that, like the ocean itself, belongs to a vast, restless dynamic: a matrix of mysteries, unfathomable depths and ever-shifting currents, accumulating into an elemental, regenerative source of power.

Recorded in a barn in Húsafell, Iceland – home to glacier ice caves and a rare lava stone marimba rediscovered for the track “Stone Pillars” – as well as Finland, Norway and at home in Kati’s native Netherlands, 'SÁLA' is as much chronicle of Kati’s own perspective-shifting recording process as it as a pilgrimage through different viewpoints and internal states. That itinerate urge is also reflected in the use of different languages, ranging across Norwegian, Old Norse, Icelandic, and, for the first time, English, her combination of ancient texts, historical reimagining’s and unguarded personal reflection backed up by deep research into the most resonant recesses of Nordic lore.

Spun throughout every thread of 'SÁLA' is a sense of communion - with the power of stories to offer moral guidance and the thrill of the unknown; with the element of water, recreated across the album both in field recordings and the agelessly organic nature of the music itself; with the archetypes whose qualities we are called upon to embody at our most critical moments; and with the internal hidden realms forever whispering at us from the far edges of our consciousness.

Appropriately, it’s a collaborative venture too. As well as working closely together with Finnish producer Jaani Peuhu, there are contributions from across the musical spectrum, including extreme metal vocalist extraordinaire Gaahl, the Icelandic female choir Umbra Ensemble, renowned Norwegian jazz musician Karl Seglem, Björk and Brian Eno contrabassist Borgar Magnason, members of pagan folk acts Völuspá, Gealdýr, Heilung and Theodor Bastard and even Napalm Death’s Mitch Harris on vocals.

For all the many sources 'SÁLA' draws from, the result is a singular, intimately transformative rite of passage, and a retuning of the heart to the reverent continuity of the sacred. It will take you from the opening title track’s chest-pounding rhythmic pulse emerging from a traditional Norwegian bukkehorn (recorded by Karl Seglem), a galloping horse-rider and Kati’s glacial, velveteen chant, through “Kólga’s” recounting of female persecution through the ages borne on the most gossamer-light yet unbreakable of timbres and “Stone Pillar’s” gently percolating, deep wells of abandonment and incantations to recovery. 'SÁLA' closes with the track “Sátta” - Old Norse for ‘peace’ and ‘reconciliation’ – ending the album as it began with the bukkehorn, as it weaves rich drones and experience-stamped poems and prayers, Kati’s vocals the most sensitively tuned of emotional barometers. An album made in dedication, and in thrall to, its own sense of destiny, 'SÁLA'” is, as all quests must ultimately be, a homecoming.

Lineup:

Kati Rán

Special Guests:

Gaahl (Gaahl, Wyrd, Wardruna)

Mitch Harris (Napalm Death)

Jaani Peuhu (Swallow the Sun, IANAI, Lord of the Lost, Hallatar)

Karl Seglem (Norwegian jazz and folk legend)

Borgar Magnason (Björk, Sígur Rós, Brian Eno)

Gealdýr

Emilie Lorentzen (Heilung)

Nicholas Schipper (Heilung)

Yana Veva (Theodor Basterd)

Umbra (Icelandic female choir)

Sól Geirsdóttir, Varg Saastad (Völuspá band)

Marianne Heikkinen, Salla Marja (Saruru)

Páll Guðmunsson (Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Steindór Anderssen, Sígur Rós) Florian Ravn (Skáld)

Production: Jaani Peuhu, Kati Rán, Christopher Juul

Mastering: Jaime Gomez Arrelano

Cover Art: Photographer Arne Beck, Illustrator Halfdan Skrifa, Graphic design Jari

Laurén, Charlotte Boer, Deluxe Box Edition with cover painting by Marzena Ablewska-Lech

Bio: Jonathan Selzer

Links:

THE HELLACOPTERS - Release Video For Brand New Single 'Stay With You'!

May 26, 2024

Swedish high-energy rock 'n' roll legends THE HELLACOPTERS are very pleased to reveal a brand new single called 'Stay With You', the first new original Hellacopters song since the release of their triumphant, chart-topping comeback album, Eyes Of Oblivion, in April 2022.

And unsurprisingly, 'Stay With You' picks up exactly where the band left off two years ago. It's a no-bullshit action rock stunner that cuts right to the chase and yet again the band has delivered a stylish music video to be released alongside, which was directed and edited by Emil Klinta.

Nicke Andersson (guitars & vocals) commented:
"We’re in the middle of recording our new full-length album which has no date of release just yet. In the meantime, we’re very excited about the release of our new single “Stay With You”. It was originally intended to be included on the upcoming LP but we decided to do a Beatles and release it as a stand-alone track with a B-side. “Stay With You” is a straight-up minor key rocker and it’s backed with our interpretation of The Cure’s “Fire In Cairo”. We hope you dig."

'Stay With You' is out today on all streaming platforms.

The song will also be available as a limited 7'' single via Lightning Records. The B-side contains a cover version of 'Fire In Cairo' by THE CURE.

Pre-orders are live NOW at https://lightningrecords.se/shop/

LISTEN TO 'STAY WITH YOU' HERE:
https://hellacopters.bfan.link/swysg

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'STAY WITH YOU' Below.

THE HELLACOPTERS released their eighth studio album titled Eyes Of Oblivion on April 1st, 2022. It marked the first full-length since the release of their temporary farewell record Head Off in 2008 and was met with massive acclaim from fans and media alike. Charting at #1 in Sweden, #3 in Germany, and #6 in Finland, the band celebrated a triumphant return culminating in a show with the mighty Iron Maiden in Gothenburg in July 2022, and gigs with Ghost in Germany in June 2023. In February 2024 their beloved classic album Grande Rock was rereleased on physical formats, featuring a re-worked companion piece with additional guitar, piano, and vocal tracks called Grande Rock Revisited.

WORMWITCH Unveils New Song, "The Helm and the Bow," ft. Erlend Hjelvik (Kvelertak), Announces New Album

May 26, 2024

Blackened speed metal entity WORMWITCH will unleash their eponymous fourth studio album on July 26, 2024 via Profound Lore Records! The Canadian horde sets out to combine a melodic blackened death assault with the ferocity and attitude of crust punk and classic rock and roll, jettisoning the burdens of ceremony and pomp that dominate the genre today. To celebrate this revelation, WORMWITCH is now unveiling the first single from the offering, "The Helm And The Bow," which features guest vocals from KVELERTAK's Erlend Hjelvik. The track is now available below.

WORMWITCH comments, "We’ve been looking forward to today… we finally get to start stringing out these new tracks. This one is one of my favourite’s from the album, and I’m not just saying that. I won’t tell you what it’s about because real ones will know. We got some vocal contributions from our buddy Erlend who absolutely nailed it, can’t thank him enough for lending us his voice.”

The album can be pre-ordered in various formats HERE.

Like black wings from an obsidian sky, WORMWITCH descended from the darkness in 2015, somewhere upon the rain-soaked woodlands of coastal British Columbia. Animated from the bones of several local punk and metal bands, the new entity set out to combine a melodic blackened death assault with the ferocity and attitude of crust punk and classic rock and roll, jettisoning the burdens of ceremony and pomp that dominate the genre today.

WORMWITCH released their first demo, 'The Long Defeat' in 2015, and shortly after signed to Prosthetic Records, under whom they released 'Strike Mortal Soil' (2017), 'Heaven that Dwells Within' (2019), and 'Wolf Hex' (2021). During that time the band toured with the likes of The Black Dahlia Murder, Suffocation, Midnight, Necrot, Uada, Bewitcher, and many others, earning themselves a dedicated cult following and international critical praise. In 2022, WORMWITCH struck out to independently release a string of singles and embark upon several tours of North America. After a busy festival season, 2024 saw the release of a six-song split with Atlanta black-thrashers Sadistic Ritual.

Now, with blades meticulously honed and tempered under the light of a feral Canadian moon, WORMWITCH emerges once more to offer their fourth full length record. Simply self-titled, “Wormwitch” is a statement of a band coming into it’s own - a revelrous celebration of devilish speed, searing melody and diabolical intensity.

Wormwitch Lineup:

Robin Harris: Bass, Vocals

Colby Hink: Guitars

Israel Langlais: Drums

Recording & Mixing: Michael Kraushaar at Little Red Sounds at New Westminster, BC

Mastering: Brad Boatright at Audiosiege

Guest vocals: Erlend Hjelvik (Kvelertak) on "The Helm And The Bow"

Cover Artwork: Abomination Hammer

Photos: Lucien Cyr

Links:

BBR MUSIC GROUP/BMG NASHVILLE SIGNS COUNTRY MUSIC DUO RYAN AND RORY

May 25, 2024

BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville is thrilled to announce the signing of country music duo Ryan and Rory. Ryan Follesé is a Nashville native, 2X PLATINUM #1 hit singer-songwriter and American Music Award winner. Rory John Zak, from Raleigh, North Carolina, is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter who has played over 300 shows per year since he was 17. The duo today released the buzzy party starter “Pour Decisions.” The lively, summer smash is a nod to the universal heartache band-aid and launches their highly anticipated self-titled debut EP, coming July 26. Listen to “Pour Decisions” Below and pre-order/pre-save/pre-add the EP HERE.

“Filling a much-needed space in the format, country duo Ryan and Rory are introducing themselves with a fresh sound on ‘Pour Decisions,’" shares JoJamie Hahr, BMG Nashville, EVP Recorded Music. “Ryan Follesé's award-winning success and masterful songwriting paired with Rory John Zak's multi-instrumental abilities and relentless passion for delivering captivating performances provides a firm foundation as we lean towards their debut, self-titled EP in July.”

“‘Pour Decisions’ is our song of the summer, whether you’re in the car, on the beach or boat, or making ‘pour decisions’ with your friends at the bar while having a good time,” says Rory.

“This song is one of those rare experiences where it felt like you have a co-writer up above and the song kind of writes itself. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does everyone feels it. We can’t thank our co-writers, studio personnel, our team and label enough for making this special song our very first release,” says Ryan.

Son of #1 songwriters Adrienne and Keith Follesé (Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Martina McBride), Ryan co-wrote all six tracks on the debut, including five with his hitmaker family, while Rory added his masterful instrumentals and expertly smooth harmonies to Ryan’s robust lead vocals.

Up next, Ryan and Rory will open for Sam Hunt on Friday, August 23 in Memphis, Tenn. at Radians Amphitheater and on Saturday, August 24 in Gary, Indiana at Hard Rock Live. For tickets and tour updates, visit ryanandrorymusic.com.

Photo ID (L-R): Jordan Keller (KTAG Law), Dustin Kovacic (KTAG Law), John Hamlin (Switched On Management), Jon Loba (BMG), Ryan Follesé, Rory John Zak, Darin Murphy (CAA), Chris Burrus (CAA), Peter Strickland (BMG), Ford Pickert (Switched On Management); not pictured: JoJamie Hahr (BMG) and Katie Kerkhover (BMG)

Shady Ladies of Music City Podcast Returns for Season 3

May 25, 2024

Susan Nadler and Evelyn Shriver are back for an all-new season of the Shady Ladies of Music City podcast. With a focus on “Then & Now,” Season 3 features more stories from their careers in the industry with commentary on the state of the business and Country music today. Episodes 1 and 2 are available today.

Each with storied careers and diverse backgrounds working with George Jones, Tammy Wynette and Randy Travis, the pair became the first women to hold top positions at a major country-music label in Nashville.

"We launched this podcast as a way to archive a lot of the stories about a town and industry we love," said Nadler.

Shriver adds, "Now that we're out of the day-to-day, we can talk about it in a different way that illustrates a lot of how things used to be and perhaps even answer why they are the way they are today."

Season 3 episode guide below. Listen and subscribe wherever you stream your podcasts.

MAY 23
1. WELCOME TO THE THIRD SEASON
Highlighting the differences of “Then and Now”

2. INCLUSIVITY IN COUNTRY MUSIC?

MAY 30
3. HOW ARE WOMEN FARING IN COUNTRY MUSIC?
A conversation with TRACY GERSHON and BEVERLY KEEL

JUNE 6
4. STAR DIRECTOR
A conversation with TREY FANJOY

JUNE 13
5. IS THE TRUTH INCONVENIENT?
A conversation with Vice President AL GORE

JUNE 20
6. DOES COUNTRY RADIO STILL RULE?
A conversation with BUFFY COOPER

JUNE 27
7. THE OUTSIDER
A conversation with SHELBY LYNNE

JULY 11
8. IS IT ALL ABOUT THE BRAND?
A conversation with EBIE McFARLAND

JULY 18
9. REFLECTIONS on the Good Times

JULY 25
10. THE MUSICIAN DUDE
A conversation with MICKEY RAPHAEL

AUGUST 1
11. THE GAME CHANGERS - DOLLY, SHANIA & TAYLOR

Two Weeks Before Kenny Chesney Plays Pittsburgh, No Shoes Navy's Dropping Anchor!

May 25, 2024

While people think of Kenny Chesney and the ocean, don’t write off the land-bound boaters. When you have three rivers coming together, and you add the passion of No Shoes Nation, look for pirate flags and boats named “Positive Vibes.”

Two weeks ahead of Kenny Chesney’s 12th show at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium, the No Shoes Navy has begun sailing in, tying up and dropping anchor for the show that – like several other stadiums this summer – stands to break the eight-time ACM and CMA Entertainer of the Year’s personal record.

Pittsburgh’s WTAE-TV sent a crew down to the water to interview walkers and boaters, experiencing the phenomenon through the eyes of fans and locals. “It’s the anticipation of him coming back,” Roy Sparrow, one of the sailors, explained to the ABC affiliate. “Before you know it, there will be boats, probably, 40 feet out, and that’s why it’s so important to hold your spots now, including myself.”

With the Coast Guard outlawing open anchoring in the water, all boats having an aquatic concert experience must be tethered to a boat that’s tied up to the wall. It makes for an incredible overhead spectacle, as well as a whole other way of living the music.

“The first time I saw the pictures, I was blown away,” the East Tennessee songwriter/superstar marvels. “Realizing that all these people have come together, tied up their boats in groups and are having a big time on the river. Pittsburgh and all the people who come from the surrounding states have so much heart, I’m not surprised – but it’s still something to see.”

For Chesney, who celebrates coming of age in the flyover, growing up in small towns or working-class families in his music, being out on the water is something he’s always loved. Whether a lake, a beach or a river, many of his songs contain all the fun a day on the water can be.

“I just want people to be safe,” he says of what’s become a notable No Shoes Nation tradition. “If they wanna float to the songs, sleep on their boat, I’ve done it myself a time or two. I’ve been told a lot of boaters either have tickets and are tailgating on the water, or they’re pre-gaming with friends at their boat, then the ones who couldn’t get tickets can be there waiting after the show. Either way, I love people living the songs.”

Called “country’s king of stadium concerts” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Wall Street Journal’s “King of the Road,” the Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour is shaping up to be a big day where the Allegheny, the Monongahela and the Ohio Rivers come together. Presented by Blue Chair Bay® Rum, it’s all about the friends, high energy and songs people know by heart.

Kenny Chesney’s Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour
with Zac Brown Band, Megan Moroney & Uncle Kracker
May 25            Landover, Md.  ||  Commanders Field
May 30            Syracuse, N.Y.  ||  Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview^
June 1              Pittsburgh, Pa.  ||  Acrisure Stadium
June 6              Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio  ||  Blossom Music Center
June 8              Philadelphia, Pa.  ||  Lincoln Financial Field
June 13            Maryland Heights, Mo.  ||  Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre^
June 15            Chicago, Ill.  ||  Soldier Field
June 20            Noblesville, Ind.  ||  Ruoff Music Center^
June 22            Milwaukee, Wisc.  ||  American Family Field
June 27            Darien Center, N.Y.  ||  Darien Lake Amphitheater^
June 29            Cincinnati, Ohio  ||  TQL Stadium*
July 6              Kansas City, Mo.  ||  GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium
July 11            Boise, Idaho  ||  Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater^
July 13            Seattle, Wash.  ||  Lumen Field
July 16            Salt Lake City, Utah  ||  America First Field*
July 18            Wheatland, Calif.  ||  Toyota Amphitheatre^
July 20            Los Angeles, Calif.  ||  SoFi Stadium
July 24            Phoenix, Ariz.  ||  Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre^
July 27            Denver, Colo.  ||  Empower Field at Mile High Stadium
Aug. 3             Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Nissan Stadium
Aug. 8             Columbus, Ohio  ||  Historic Crew Stadium*
Aug. 10           Detroit, Mich.  ||  Ford Field
Aug. 15           Bangor, Maine  ||  Maine Savings Amphitheater^
Aug. 17           East Rutherford, N.J.  ||  MetLife Stadium
Aug. 23           Foxborough, Mass.  ||  Gillette Stadium
Aug. 24           Foxborough, Mass. ||  Gillette Stadium
Aug. 25           Foxborough, Mass.  ||  Gillette Stadium
* Megan Moroney and Uncle Kracker only
^ Megan Moroney only

Jenna Paulette & Justin Boots Rally Fans to Support the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund

May 25, 2024

When country music songstress Jenna Paulette partnered with Justin Boots last year, Taylor Morton, Public Relations Manager at Justin Boots cited her “unwavering commitment to authentic storytelling” for the inspiration behind the partnership, promising to go beyond just boots with “a shared dedication to celebrating the western way of life.”

Nearly a year later, the country singer from Lewisville, Texas is making good on that promise – holding true to her cowgirl roots and giving back to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund through a multi-faceted campaign. The campaign, which kicked off Tuesday, May 7, received national attention with an Alltroo branded car at NASCAR’s North Wilkesboro All-Star Weekend on Sunday, May 19. It will culminate in a lucky fan and their guest winning a trip to join Paulette in Las Vegas during the 2024 National Finals Rodeo in December complete with their own custom pair of Justin Boots.

"It was really cool for me to learn about the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund, as a professional athlete. It was really hard for me to imagine doing what I did and not having immediate medical attention in the stadium or proper care in the event of an injury following a game,” remarks Kyle Rudolph, former NFL player and co-founder of Alltroo. “It's really cool to learn about how the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund gives these riders the care and attention they deserve when putting their livelihood on the line in these rodeos."

Alltroo is a professional fundraiser that helps nonprofits supercharge their fundraising efforts and gain access to a new community of donors through custom giveaways, known as "Rallies." This Rally is live now and will run through Sept. 3, 2024. Fans who donate to support the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund will receive a designated number of entries for each donation amount, ranging from 40 entries for a $10 donation to 8,000 entries for a $500 donation. View full details HERE.

The Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund provides need-based financial assistance to athletes injured through their participation in professional rodeo. To-date, they have awarded nearly $9.5 million to more than 1,350 injured rodeo athletes and their families.

Kyle Rudolph (Co-Founder of Alltroo), NASCAR’s Bubba Wallace and Jenna Paulette joined forces on Sunday, May 19 at North Wilkesboro’s All-Star Weekend to raise money for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund | Photo Courtesy of Justin Boots

About Jenna Paulette:
A CMT Next Women of Country honoree and an Apple Music’s Country Riser, singer-songwriter Jenna Paulette — a cowgirl who came of age amid the gritty realities of ranch life — is part of Nashville’s growing wave of female artists who are rewriting the rules and charting their own paths. Paulette settled in Nashville in 2015, where she struck up a mentorship with Ashley Gorley – a veteran songwriter with 60+ No. 1 tunes under his belt – which ultimately led to her publishing deal with Sea Gayle Music in June 2021. Since collaborating with songwriters Will Bundy, Rhett Akins and Jessie Jo Dillion, as well as opening for Mason Ramsey, Parmalee, John Michael Montgomery, Clay Walker and most recently Aaron Watson, Paulette has landed brand partnerships with Justin Boots, Boot Barn, Ely Cattleman and Ranch Water.

The deluxe version of her debut album, The Girl I Was (Red Dirt Deluxe), is available now, showcasing Paulette’s finely calibrated blend of toughness and sensitivity in tracks like “Country In The Girl” and “Pretty Ugly.” Wearing her heart on her sleeve, Grammy.com remarked The Girl I Was as “transformative,” noting it “fuses the sounds of Twain and Miranda Lambert, tackling mental health with the somber ‘You Ain't No Cowboy’ and waxing philosophical on ‘Country In The Girl.’” As Paulette continues to tease her sophomore project, she most recently released “Darlin’” and “Hang Your Hat.” She continued to spotlight her authentic western lifestyle last year, performing the national anthem at the National Finals Rodeo, making her Grand Ole Opry Debut and performing in multiple festivals including CMA Fest. Paulette recently signed with independent label Leo33. For more information, visit www.jennapaulette.com.

About Alltroo:
Alltroo was founded by former NFL tight end Kyle Rudolph, current NHL left wing Jason Zucker of the Nashville Predators and two additional business partners. Since 2021, Alltroo has raised more than $4M for charities across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.alltroo.com.

DUSTIN LYNCH ROOTS FOR THE UNDERDOG IN “CHEVROLET” MUSIC VIDEO

May 25, 2024

Providing a timeless soundtrack for an underdog love story, MULTI-PLATINUM star Dustin Lynch releases the Mason Dixon-directed music video for current single “Chevrolet” today (5/22).

“It’s a storyline that everybody can relate to, especially us kids from small towns,” shares Lynch. “There always seems to be some kind of divide in friend groups as kids grow up, and there’s inevitably an underdog. I’d like to think everyone pulls for the underdog, and this video shows that.”

Turning the ignition on a forever-young kind of freedom, the Jelly Roll collaboration – written by Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, and Mentor Williams – is nearing Top 15 at Country radio via Broken Bow Records. Delivered on Lynch’s statement-making sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy, the nostalgic track co-produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Phillips is proof of Country music’s unique ability to summon a picture, a mood, and especially a memory via the instantly recognizable throwback melody of the 1973 Dobie Gray hit “Drift Away.”

Selling out shows across the nation while headlining his recent KILLED THE COWBOY TOUR, CMT Hot 20 Countdown caught up with Lynch at his last stop in Council Bluffs, IA, for a backstage chat and onstage surprise with host Carissa Culiner. Airing Saturday (5/25), fans can tune in at 9a/8c. He’ll make another splash with the DUSTIN LYNCH POOL SITUATION: NASHVILLE 2024 during CMA Fest weekend. Diving headfirst into the rooftop pool of Margaritaville Hotel Nashville for the second year, the wildest of all Country music-themed pool parties returns on June 7. Welcoming special guest appearances in years past by Little Big Town, Jordan Davis, HARDY, MacKenzie Porter, and more, admittance is FREE on a first-come, first-served basis – but Lynch’s Stay Country Club members will get exclusive early access. Fans can join the Stay Country Club now.

ABOUT DUSTIN LYNCH:
Dustin Lynch has "built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard), achieving nine #1s; four Top 5 albums; 10 GOLD, PLATINUM, and MULTI-PLATINUM certified singles; and tallying over 4.4 BILLION cumulative global streams. His sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy (Broken Bow Records), is boldly making a statement. The follow-up to Blue In The Sky, which delivered the history-making 2x PLATINUM, six-week #1 “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter)” – the most-played song at Country radio in 2022 landing at #1 on the Mediabase and #2 on the Billboard Year-End Country Airplay charts – also featured hit singles: #1 “Stars Like Confetti” and “Party Mode.” Lynch has headlined packed venues to sold-out crowds like his recent KILLED THE COWBOY TOUR, in addition to touring with Country’s biggest names including Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, and Blake Shelton. Since his PLATINUM breakout “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012, the Tennessee native has earned industry recognition as a Grand Ole Opry member, as well as high-profile nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards.

ATTILA Go Old School On Brand New Single "New Devil" Ft. Dickie Allen

May 25, 2024

Atlanta's most notorious purveyors of party metalcore, ATTILA, have released brand new, super-heavy single, "New Devil" Ft Dickie Allen today. The new track sees ATTILA hark back to their early releases, combining huge, obnoxious beatdowns, thrashy riffs and Fronz's signature vocal combo of rapping and screaming. Find the new track on streaming platforms HERE and watch the accompanying visualizer Below.

Speaking on the release of their new track, ATTILA frontman, Chris 'Fronz' Fronzak shares

"New Devil is Attila showing respect to our roots. We grew up listening to heavy music, creating heavy music, and we will continue making heavy music. Lyrically the song is paying homage to our earlier works of art with a lot of references to our older songs. We wanted to make something heavy and it turned out absolutely gross."

"New Devil" Ft. Dickie Allen continues to usher in a new era of ATTILA. It began in April of 2023 with the release of “Bite Your Tongue” which shocked ATTILA fans around the world with the surprise addition of clean vocals from Fronz for the first time ever on one of the band's tracks. Three further stand-alone singles then followed - "Mia Goth", "FU4EVR" and, most recently, "Timebomb". Between them, the 3 new singles have racked up 10.8 million streams on Spotify alone and 790,000 YouTube views.

These new tracks showcase a new direction for ATTILA, maintaining the band’s signature blend of metalcore, nu metal and deathcore whilst also adding new layers of melodic finesse and instrumental technicality. Proving that even after 15 years, they are still one of the most innovative and prolific forces in the genre. The band recently sat down with longtime journalist Ryan J. Downey for a candid look at the ATILLA story thus-far. Watch episode 1 of the interview HERE .

Speaking on the interview series, the band share

"Our interview with Ryan Downey is an opportunity for our fans (or non-fans) to see a completely real and organic side of Attila. There are no gimmicks and no bullshit. Just real stories of our personal lives and how Attila came to be. If you appreciate shit that is 100% raw and real then you will enjoy this interview."

ATTILA are currently wrapping up the last few dates of the US leg of their Angels and Villains tour with co-headliners, Born Of Osiris with special guests Traitors, Extortionist and Not Enough Space. They will then embark on a headline run with Traitors, Not Enough Space and Notions in the run up to there appearance at SoWhat?! Festival Tickets for all dates are available here.

Download Tour Art HERE

BORN OF OSIRIS & ATTILA

THE ANGELS & VILLAINS TOUR 2024

Special Guests:

Traitors, Extortionist and Not Enough Space

05.23.24 Davenport, IA @ Capitol Theater

05.24.24 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II

05.25.24 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge

05.26.24 Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom

ATTILA

The Road To SoWhat Dates

Tuesday, May 28 – Revival Music Hall – Peoria, IL

Wednesday, May 29 – Lefty’s – Des Moines, IA

Thursday, May 30 – The Regency – Springfield, MO

Friday, May 31 – The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK

Saturday, June 1 – Growlers – Memphis, TN

Sunday, June 2 – So What?! – Fort Worth, TX

Be ready for more from ATTILA coming soon.

ABOUT ATTILA

Chris Fronzak (vocals), Chris Linck (guitar), and Kalan Adam (bass) aka ATTILA have been churning out metalcore anthems for nearly two decades, shaping and defining the genre as they go.

Formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2005, ATTILA has released eight studio albums, including their infamous 2013 smash hit, "About That Life" which debuted on the Billboard Top 200 at #22. The band are best known for their uniquely aggressive heaviness, their incendiary, high-energy live shows and their tongue-in-cheek, not-giving-a-fuck attitude. Their music has amassed over 280 million streams and they currently have 807k monthly listeners on Spotify alone.

ATTILA has continued to thrive and evolve over the years, cementing their status as one of the most influential bands in the modern metalcore genre. This new era is just another step in their evolution, with plenty more to come.

ROTTING CHRIST Streaming New Album

May 25, 2024

"Another absolutely outstanding record...Even after a mind-blowing thirty five years and fourteen records, Rotting Christ might actually be at their very best right now" - Metal Injection (9/10)

"With Pro Xristou, Greece's premier extreme metal band have just crafted their most accessible - and perhaps most magnificent - album yet" - Metal Hammer (4.5/5)

"Pro Xristou has all of the Rotting Christ hallmarks...this is the most arena-worthy Rotting Christ have been in some time" - No Clean Singing

"With Pro Xristou, Rotting Christ have summoned every diabolical riff and slaying beast that their career has produced and culminated it into a pummeling, brilliant, Gothic Black Metal attack on the senses" - Teeth of the Divine

"Pro Xristou demonstrated once again that Rotting Christ are dark melodic metal craftsmen and, still, amongst the best in their field" - Ghostcult (8/10)

"Their brand of blackened metal has changed a lot over years, mostly to being melodic, a little Gothic, and even having a tribal feel to some of their songs. “Pro Xristou” embraces these same components but presents them in a much more catchy way..." - Metal Temple (9/10)

"Pro Xristou" is not an album that will surprise us; on the contrary, it will seem familiar. Yet, the album is poised to be a memorable entry in Rotting Christ's distinguished career." - Metal War (9/10)

"One thing is for sure after all this: ROTTING CHRIST will never let us down!" - The Gallery (8/10)

In the pantheon of heavy music, few names resonate as profoundly as ROTTING CHRIST. Behind a legacy that has both defined and defied the realms of black metal, the Greek legends carve out a fresh set of dark, melodic scriptures on their new album. Pro Xristou is a grandiose narrative born of fire, rebellion and an unbreakable spirit.

Pro Xristou came out Friday May 24th, on Season of Mist. But you can listen to all 10 epic songs today by listening to the full album stream on our YouTube channel.

Listen to Pro Xristou below.

Pre-order

https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/RottingChristProXristou

Pre-save

https://orcd.co/proxtristoupresave

From the labyrinthine depths of Hades to the celestial might of Zeus, Pro Xristou embarks on an odyssey through the history of mythology and paganism. The album is a monument, etched with the profound lyrics of Sakis Tolis, that explores themes of defiance and enlightenment, set against the historical background of paganism's last stand against monotheism. The title track sets the tone, opening the album with a battle cry that unites the chthonic with the divine, solidifying Rotting Christ's journey from the underworld to the pantheon of metal gods.

In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,300 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.

Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to push boundaries.

But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any and all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek, English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.

In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristou.

Pro Xristou (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.

Line-up
Sakis Tolis - Guitar, Vocals
Themis Tolis - Drums
Kostas "Spades" Heliotis - Bass
Kostis Fouk - Guitar

Guest Musicians
Amdroniki Skoula - Vocals (on 'La Letra Del Diavolo')
Nikos Kerkiras - Keyboard
Christina Alexiou - Choir
Maria Tsironi - Choir
Alexandros Loyziotis - Choir
Vasilis Karatzas - Choir

Andrew Liles - Narration (on 'The Apostate', 'Pretty World, Pretty Dies')
Kim Diaz Holm - Narration (on 'Ygdrassil')

Recording Studio
Deva Sounds Studios (Athens, Greece)

Producer
Sakis Tolis

Sound Engineer
Fotis Bernando
Aggelos Karatzas

Mixing
Jens Borgen at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)

Mastering
Tony Lidgren at Fascination Street Studios (Örebro, Sweden)

Artwork Artists
Thomas Cole - Artwork
Adrien Bousson - Digital Processing

Biography
Sébastien J. Gamez

Links:
Official Website: https://www.rotting-christ.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia
Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
CD Clamshell Box - Deluxe Digipak w/ Gold Foil + 2 Bonus
Tracks & Extras
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear, Red & Blue Mixed
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Green
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Turquoise
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Yellow
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Blue
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - silver & Black Marbled
Limited Box Set Vinyl - 12" Gold & Black Marbled w/ Gold Foil + 2 Bonus Tracks & Extras
Cassette