Morgan Wallen’s Highly-Anticipated “Lies Lies Lies” Available 7/5

As his Billboard Hot 100 six-week No. 1 hit with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help” becomes 2024's longest running No. 1 – and as he prepares to return to London for his headlining BST Hyde Park debut on July 4 – East Tennessean Morgan Wallen readies his highly-anticipated “Lies Lies Lies” for release on Friday, July 5 via Big Loud/Mercury/Republic. Pre-save HERE.
 
Written by Jessie Jo Dillon, Josh Miller, Daniel Ross and Chris Tompkins, and produced by Joey Moi, “Lies Lies Lies” was originally recorded by Wallen at London’s iconic Studio Two at Abbey Road Studios on Dec. 5, 2023 following his sold-out show at The O2 on Dec. 3, 2023. Recorded as part of his Abbey Road Sessions, the digital series, including “Lies Lies Lies,” was released on March 3, 2024 to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Wallen’s record-breaking third studio album, One Thing At A Time.
 
“Lies Lies Lies” depicts the narrator’s attempt to convince a past love that he’s moved on in one breath, before admittedly deeming them all “lies” and caving into his true feelings. With Holler noting Wallen injects “a sense of tenderness and vulnerability into his delivery” with his “distinctive, charismatic drawl,” “Lies Lies Lies” has become a staple on his Pollstar and Billboard-awarded Country Tour of the Year, One Night At A Time. 
 
Wallen will rein in the song’s release in the city where it was originally recorded, as he prepares for his first-ever headlining set at BST Hyde Park London on July 4. Featuring openers Riley Green, ERNEST, Ella Langley, Alana Sprinsteen, Zandi Holup and more, limited tickets remain and can be purchased at BST-HydePark.com. 
 
Wallen will commemorate the show with U.K. exclusive merch available at Hyde Park while supplies last. A limited edition “Lies Lies Lies” t-shirt will also be available online-only at Shop.MorganWallen.com beginning July 5 at 9am ET. 
 
A portion of every ticket purchased to his live shows benefits The Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF), which operates on the core belief that all children deserve a chance to thrive, play, and create through sports and music. To further celebrate his Hyde Park debut, MWF has earmarked $20,000 to support London Youth Choirs (LYC). LYC’s mission is to improve access to singing and music for disadvantaged young people, and Wallen’s donation will support them to find their unique voice and to thrive through music.
 
As Wallen continues to tease new music, his 5x Platinum One Thing At A Time recently returned to the top of Billboard’s Country Albums chart, totaling 53 weeks spent at No. 1, the sole second-longest lead in the chart’s history, only behind Dangerous: The Double Album, which remained at No. 1 for 97 non-consecutive weeks. 
 
His recent Post Malone collaboration, “I Had Some Help,” skyrocketed to No. 1 on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart in just seven weeks – the quickest climb to No. 1 since Garth Brooks’ “More Than a Memory” in 2007 – and has been declared a Song of the Summer contender by Spotify, Variety and more. 

About Morgan Wallen:
When 11-time 2023 Billboard Music Awards-winner and Top Male Artist Morgan Wallen released his third studio album One Thing At A Time in 2023, its instant success left The New York Times proclaiming Wallen as “one of the biggest stars in pop, period.” One Thing At A Time has remained atop the all-genre Billboard 200 chart for 19 non-consecutive weeks, surpassing Garth Brooks’ Ropin’ the Wind with the most weeks at No. 1 for a Country album, and was the most-streamed album of the year on Spotify. The album’s 6x-Platinum single “Last Night” reeled in over 1.5 billion streams globally, becoming the most-streamed song of any genre in the U.S. across Apple Music and Spotify, and the longest running No. 1 solo song in Hot 100 history (16 weeks total). Recent collab with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” debuted at country radio with 167 first week adds, becoming only the second single in chart history to debut with the support of all reporting stations, opening at No. 15 on the Mediabase charts. Since its release, “I Had Some Help” has remained No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 all-genre charts for six weeks, becoming the longest-running No.1 of 2024.
 
With 14 chart-toppers at country radio, Wallen played for 5 countries/3 continents in 2023 for his One Night At A Time World Tour stadium tour. Performing to over 2.4 million fans, One Night At A Time was named a Pollstar and Billboard Country Tour of the Year, surpassing attendance records in numerous stops; including Ohio Stadium, where Wallen became the largest weekend ever for the venue. The 36-show 2024 extension of One Night At A Time takes Wallen to 24 additional stadium-plays, and will include Wallen’s first European run with seven shows this fall. Wallen donates a portion from every ticket sold to his Morgan Wallen Foundation.
 
About Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF):
Access to sports and music transformed and enriched Morgan Wallen’s life in ways he never could have imagined growing up as a kid in East Tennessee. They have been a constant presence since the age of three. Playing sports instilled in him the values and benefits of discipline, hard work and commitment. Exposure to music at a young age has led him to become the country artist he is today. 
 
Morgan Wallen Foundation (MWF) has a core belief that all children deserve a chance to thrive, play, and create through sports and music and supports programs for youth in these two areas – sports and music. MWF is also dedicated to being there for communities in times of need. Whether it’s providing supplies in the wake of natural disasters, meals for first responders, distributing groceries to food insecure families, we are there to help.
For more information go to www.morganwallenfoundation.org.

July 12th at H0l0

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW

The wait is over. Easily our most requested return to NYC by far, the founder of @misguided_label himself: @dlv_official . This time however, he’s bringing along the Bonnie to his Clyde: The fierce and prolific @djktk1111 . Cruising from their recent Untold Secrets vinyl release, DLV & KTK are ready to break Brooklyn asunder as they showcase Misguided Label in partnership with AGAPĒ on July 12th, 2024.

As a prime resident of the @heiss.techno collective based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, @im.kessler is down to educate us on how they rip it in the south 🇦🇷 . Our very own day-one @animal__music will bring his original and unreleased music to the forefront as he sets the tone for the evening’s festivities. Prepare yourself for a night of chaotic bliss as we rewrite the script of what raving is really about. The music is king 👑.

 📍 H0l0 1090 WYCKOFF AVE

🚪 DOORS  10:00 PM - 6:00 AM
🎫 TICKETS AVAILABLE AT $27.50

TLG | ZOID Takes "Crack Cocaine" to # 1!

The Prince Of Darkness makes a rare daytime appearance in Hollywood to pose with Billy Morrison in front of the Sunset Blvd. billboard touting their hit "Crack Cocaine."

Photo credit: Jane Stuart @JaneStuartPhotos

Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne & Steve Stevens have a collaborative hit with "Crack Cocaine" and go to the top of the radio charts with it !

Morrison's release, "Crack Cocaine," a riveting collaboration with legendary icons Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens has skyrocketed into the nation’s top of the Active Rock Mediabase chart at #1 this week! "Crack Cocaine" features the masterful guitar work of Steve Stevens and was co-written by Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne, and Steve Stevens. This electrifying track serves as the second single from Morrison's highly regarded solo album, The Morrison Project, that released on April 19, 2024, via TLG|ZOID / Virgin Music Group.

"The dedication and belief that TLG| ZOID have demonstrated throughout this whole release has proved to me that it is the music and honesty that achieves success. I know Ozzy, Steve and myself are grateful to Dennis and Peter at TLG|ZOID for standing behind 'CRACK COCAINE' and giving us all a Number One rock song," says Billy Morrison.

Dennis Sanders of TLG|ZOID adds, "When Billy and I first discussed partnering on The Morrison Project, we had no intention of going to radio in a big way, but after hearing the song, we all decided it was just too good not too. Even though I believed with all my heart we had a hit in 'Crack Cocaine' I never thought we'd top the chart. It just doesn't happen to a small independent label. Virgin Music Group built a great team, and here we are."

"When Denny and I discussed joining forces to create TLG|ZOID, we were ecstatic to be able to launch the label with Billy’s album and this song. I knew it was a hit the moment I heard it," Peter Tsiolis of TLG|ZOID continues.

WATCH the video for "Crack Cocaine" below

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.

TLG | ZOID, backed by the distribution prowess of Virgin Music Group, boasts a stellar track record of releasing music from both beloved fan-favorites and critically acclaimed artists. Additionally, TLG | ZOID has entered into a strategic alliance with dCommunity, signaling a progressive approach to the evolving music industry landscape. This visionary partnership positions TLG | ZOID as a frontrunner in integrating artist-centric initiatives and fan engagement within the dynamic realms of the metaverse and blockchain technology.

WINTERSUN Reveal New Album Time II

12 years following WINTERSUN's TIME I, Finnish heavy metal quartet led by Jari Mäenpää announce their new album TIME II.  TIME II will be released on August 30th via Nuclear Blast Records.

Jari Mäenpää comments: "TIME II is an epic journey from light to darkness and back to light, exploring the universe and energy, contrasting dark stormy landscapes to calm and beautiful cherry blossom tree gardens with misty, snowy mountains that will leave you breathless. It has songs with furious speed of drums, guitars, and bass and beautiful melodic slower songs with a magical exotic influence. It has massive orchestrations and choirs spiced with ancient world instruments and glimmering synths. It has Jari's soaring, clean singing contrasted with his aggressive style. It is a highly detailed and complex album where you will find new things with every listen."

Pre-order TIME II here: https://wintersun.bfan.link/time-ii.ema

About WINTERSUN:

Finally, our patience will be rewarded when Finnish WINTERSUN’s Time II album is revealed to the world on August, 30th by Nuclear Blast. ‘It has been quite a journey’ admits mastermind Jari Mäenpää who has been working on his expansive Time project since early 2004.

Time II includes six epic tracks with individual stories. Yet the subjects are all linked and this red line gives it a conceptual feeling. Entering WINTERSUN’s universe, we are brought into the right mood with the eastern-influenced, atmospheric intro ‘Fields Of Snow’. The first real WINTERSUN track is the metallic brilliance of ‘The Way Of The Fire’, with fire representing the energy of stars as a source of life, which is also connected to time. In ‘One With The Shadows’ we experience the magic of an opulence of vocal harmonies, while orchestral arrangements loom up as ornamental moves. Jari has a remarkable vision on the lyrics, ‘Now I think it is about regret. You are living in the shadows as long as you don’t turn regret into something positive to continue your life. In ‘Ominous Clouds’, clouds are gathering as the interlude journeys towards the next exploring adventure ‘Storm’.

This is the heaviest and darkest track on the album,’ explains Jari. ‘It even has influences from classical music, more precisely from Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’, furious guitars and heavy drums prevail, while the tone remains chaotic.’ The last track, ‘Silver Leaves’, with an array of harmonious sounds, is partly performed with traditional Chinese instruments like the ‘erhu’ (similar to the violin or fiddle). Ending on a positive note the song tells the story of finding a calm place and state of mind after the storm, being satisfied with your life, and enjoying nature around you, as reflected by the cherry tree garden on the cover. The artwork was created by Cameron Gray, while the booklet was designed by Hungarian artist Gyula Havancsák (lyrics, credits & thanks pages) and Onni Wiljami Kinnunen (band photos pages).

WINTERSUN is:

Jari Mäenpää | vocals, guitars, computer, programming
Teemu Mäntysaari | guitars
Jukka Koskinen | bass
Kai Hahto | drums

PLAGUESTORM Re-Releases Latest Album "Purifying Fire" with Bonus Track; Out Now on Noble Demon!

Celebrating the three-year milestone since his last full-length album, Argentinian solo artist PLAGUESTORM is thrilled to unveil the re-release of Purifying Fire today through Noble Demon. The reissue comes with a bonus track - an instrumental orchestrated version of the album's title track, previously exclusive to physical copies.

PLAGUESTORM mastermind Sebastián Pastor comments:
"Originally, this instrumental version was released as a bonus track on the digipack version of the album 'Purifying Fire' (2021). To celebrate the album's 3 years of existence, Plaguestorm is releasing this track today, making it available digitally for all fans around the world!"

Listen to "Purifying Fire" HERE

Founded by Sebastián Pastor in early 2014, PLAGUESTORM delivers a wide range of furious and raging Melodic Death Metal. Sweeping melodies, heavy, dark and melancholic arrangements, mixing the old and new Scandinavian sound of Death Metal, as if it were based on a Swedish manufacturing standard. Featuring 9 tracks full of anger and rage, desolation and sadness, Purifying Fire was praised by fans and critics alike.

As on his previous releases, Sebastián Pastor was in charge of composing and writing all the lyrics and music (as well as recording the acoustic and electric guitars, bass, drum prog, and keyboards / synthesizers / strings), while the vocals do come from Mikael Sehlin, known to many as the vocalist of Amaranthe. For the guitar solos PLAGUESTORM got the support of Diego Martinez, as well as Pablo Roman, while the orchestral arrangement for the song “Purifying Fire” was made by Sebastián Nuñez Szymanski.

PLAGUESTORM is:
Sebastián Pastor
Guitars/Bass/Drum Programming
Music/Lyrics/Mix/Mastering

Find Plaguestorm online:

Facebook

Instagram

BandCamp

Find NOBLE DEMON online:

https://linktr.ee/nobledemon

Canadian indie-pop trio WILD REMEDY presents 'Take The Punches' from debut 'Songs From Home' EP as they kick off Canadian tour

"Channelling hope, their heartfelt delivery fosters a sense of connection with the artist rooted in the human condition and shared experience... Lingering long after the last note fades, their music is a heartfelt invitation to join them in their grassroots hope-filled journey of personal growth, expression and inner reflection" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Wild Remedy's inevitable success will rest entirely on their undeniable raw talent... utterly captivating. The band creates music that feels eternally relevant, their voices blending seamlessly to ground us emotionally before launching us into a world of soaring melodies" ~ Amplify Music Magazine


Canadian folk-influenced indiepop trio Wild Remedy presents the single 'Take The Punches' from their debut 'Songs From Home' EP, timed in sync with the launch of their Central Canadian tour dates. This is an honest collection about the realities of growing up and becoming, all set to dance-worthy rhythms and unforgettable melodies.  

Making music that radiates like a beacon of hope, this all-female trio of Ottawa-born musicians' music is rooted in a love for chilling harmonies and all things folk. Just recently, the trio shared the video for 'Wild Remedy', created and animated by Jordan Van Der Linden, having shared 'What I Did Find' and the near-title track 'Home Song' earlier.

In these five tracks, Wild Remedy breathes fresh life into the Canadian folk genre by taking listeners on a journey of self-discovery to an inspiring soundtrack that will leave a lasting echo in the listener's heart. 'Songs From Home' is Wild Remedy's invitation to be part of something truly inspiring, invigorating and soul-nourishing. Their endearing brand of storytelling is also a vulnerable reflection of the trio’s heart and a please where listeners can find solace and contentment in their music.

Wild Remedy is made up of Amy Russett, Colleen Roberston and Shay Mahoney,who now has one foot in Ottawa and one in Montreal. Influenced by everything from alternative pop to folk-rock, gospel to disco, the band has been an emerging force in the Canadian folk scene since 2022, entertaining audiences with their catchy originals, new takes on folk classics, and haunting harmonies.

With strong harmonies and upbeat folk acoustics as strong points, Wild Remedy's songs range from a classic stomp-and-holler sound that makes you want to dance, to thought-provoking indie vibes that leave the listener feeling uplifted. Wild Remedy spins a beautiful sonic web between singer-songwriter offerings, indie pop and Canadian folk - perhaps what it might sound like if Joni Mitchell and Boygenius had a not-so-secret folk band.

“The release of this EP is monumental not only in our musical career as a band, but also our journey as artists and musicians, ourselves. Each song is a glimpse into fractions of our life stories, and to be sharing it with the world is a privilege. These songs have been written as a result of some of the hardest moments we’ve lived through over the last two years, but to take those challenges and make them into music is such a beautiful resolution to those stories. We’re eternally grateful to be on this journey together and with each person who listens,” says Shay Mahoney.

Stirring the heart and echoing a bright sound and iconic harmonies, Wild Remedy pays homage to their folk roots. Their music offers the simplicity found in many Americana-Country songs, while drawing from the dynamic storytelling key of indie-folk.

Having bonded over their mutual love of music and songwriting, the trio met in 2020 and finally and made their local debut in 2022, performing at farmers markets around the Ottawa area. With Amy’s powerhouse vocals and guitar, Colleen’s smooth alto tones, and Shay’s ability to sing and play anything (including guitar, mandolin, cajon and harmonica), folks started to take notice. In 2023, the band released their first two original single songs, involving producer Nate Hardy, which were met with loads of love and grew them a grassroots fanbase.

The 'Songs From Home' EP is available via Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. Wild Remedy's 'The Wild Tour' with fellow Canadian indie folk trio Wild Bloom takes place in the last few days of June, followed by a handful of shows in July and August. 

JC Miller presents new single 'Wayward Son' on the passing of time and the inexorable current of life

"It isn’t just Americana; his songs feel like small vignettes in the everyday lives of ordinary people scraping a hard-fought living out of America’s West. 'Before Nightfall' isn’t just about a place but it is also a point in history which his music directs us, and as the modern world fades out" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"With talent and authenticity,.there's a realness to JC Miller's songwriting, focused on everyday struggles and the invisible and indivisible connection between past and present" ~ Rock-n-Roll.Biz

"Candid and catchy, this riveting and memorable music takes us to another time and place. With its frank lyrics, infectious melody, and pure Southern rock grit, this is a must-listen, packing an emotional punch and showcasing impressive musical talent... the elements that allowed such artists as Wilco and Ryan Adams to transcend legendary status" ~ Amplify Music Magazine


Americana / southern rock stalwart JC Miller presents his new single 'Wayward Son' about the march of time. This catchy slice of relatable southern rock, released via American indie imprint Tilt Records.

Channelled through Americana-tinged rock, 'Wayward Son' is ultimately a lament for lost time and the relentless hand of fate. Struck by a case of the proverbial existential blues, JC Miller brings the story of the Wayward Son to song, following up his recently-released single 'Before Nightfall'.

A Southern California-based Detroit-born guitarist and songwriter, JC Miller's songwriting efforts are comparable to storytelling through sonic archaeology, unearthing the spirit of Americana and giving it voice through addictive melodies.

Evoking a grounded sense of place through his music, Miller's sound has a Southern-fried edge and a transportive authenticity. He makes songs that feel at home in neon-lit diners, long highway drives, desert expanses, and sun-soaked small towns.

A prolific artist, his output is a product of his partnership and friendship with iconic musician-producer Marty Rifkin, known for his work with Tom Petty, Glen Campbell and Jewel, and also as a member of Bruce Springsteen's The Sessions Band on pedal steel guitar.

"'Wayward Son' was brought on by the feeling of being uprooted and overtaken by events and time… “In the fast lane comes change, still going but slowing to a crawl”… the opening lines say it all … My “truck-flattened history” … I’m “Longing for something I can’t quite name”… reaching, groping, yearning," explains JC Miller.

"I read a lot of Larry McMurtry and I love the character development and the fact that he achieves a majesty -- not through aggrandizing things but quite the opposite – questioning the essence of the lost rancho days, the wildcat era, the blasting juke boxes, the rough side of roadside taverns … the world on the road… The end of an era does not invalidate it … by being honest in his appraisals McMurtry prompts us to admire these flawed heroes even more IMO…

Creating music for wanderers, Miller pays homage to his guitar and songwriting heroes, inspired by timeless artists like Neil Young, Leon Russell and The Band as much as the unfussy yet potent prose of writers like Larry McMurtry, Ernest Hemingway and Cormac McCarthy.

“I’m not trying to hide my sources. I’m trying to add footnotes, carry on the southern and western, southwestern frame of mind. I feel like I am representing another generation of storytellers. I’m trying to paint a picture through music, where the lens is focused on the deeply personal, but it can also be universal," says JC Miller.

Music is a labor of love for JC Miller, having spent years as a sideman and composing for corporate titans like Coca-Cola and Nike. Now he's ditched the boardroom for the pleasure of creating his own music.

Imbued with an intentional sense of timelessness, JC Miller crafts anthems that resonate with the soul of America, inspired by the gradual rediscovery of history - of his own family’ and America at large. Tastefully blending classic Americana and rock echoes from history, woven through his masterful guitar work, each song is like a map, charting the path to self-discovery.

'Wayward Son' is out now, available everywhere online, including Spotify, Apple Musicand elsewhere.

CREDITS
Written by JC Miller
Recorded by Marty Rifkin at Marty Rifkin Studios (Santa Monica, CA)
Mixed & mastered by Marty Rifkin
Produced by Marty Rifkin
Performed by JC Miller & Marty Rifkin
JC Miller - guitars, banjo, piano, keyboard bass, vocals
Marty Rifkin - pedal steel, drum programming
Cover artwork by JC Miller
Artist photos by Ava Doré
Music Producer: Marty Rifkin
Executive Producer: Gabrielle Doré
Released by Tilt Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


Keep up with JC Miller
Website | LinkTree | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Soundcloud | Instagram | Link edIn | Email

Necrofier Add New Dates with Goatwhore & Vitriol

Necrofier are joining their Satanic brethren in Goatwhore and Vitriolthis September for a dark and fiery month-long run across North America. The Venomous Evocation tour includes stops for face-melting performances at Full Terror Assault and Metal Injection, plus five new dates in Indianapolis, Cleveland, Ottawa, Syracuse and Mechanicsburg.

North American Venomous Evocation Tour
September 5 - Cave In Rock, IL @ Full Terror Assault [TICKETS]
September 6 - Iowa City, IA @ Gabe's [TICKETS]
September 7 - St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club [TICKETS]
September 8  - Cudahy, WI @ X Ray Arcade [TICKETS]
September 9 - Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle Brewing [TICKETS]
September 10 - Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups [TICKETS]
September 11 - Cleveland, OH @ No Class [TICKETS]
September 12 - Toledo, OH @ Frankie's Inner City [TICKETS]
September 13 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Spirit Hall [TICKETS]
September 14 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme [TICKETS]
September 15 - Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary [TICKETS]
September 17 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's Palace [TICKETS]
September 18 - Ottawa, ON @ Brass Monkey [TICKETS]
September 19 - Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar [TICKETS]
September 20 - Boston, MA @ Middle East Club [TICKETS]
September 21 - Syracuse, NY @ The Song and Dance [TICKETS]
September 22 - Brooklyn, NY @ Metal Injection Festival [TICKETS]
September 23 - Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedrafts [TICKETS]
September 24 - Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery [TICKETS]
September 25 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 [TICKETS]
September 27 - Orlando, FL @ Conduit [TICKETS]
September 28 - Miami, FL @ Gramps [TICKETS]
September 29 - Jacksonville, FL @ Jack Rabbits [TICKETS]
September 30 - Pensacola, FL @ Handlebar [TICKETS]

Axe shredders can now conjure the wickedly distorted riffs and eerie, melodic dissonance that Necrofier harnessed on their most recent album, Burning Shadows in the Southern Night. Idiot Box Effects has blessed the band with their very own custom guitar pedal.

"The new Echo Drive is a collaboration between me and the KILLER black metal band Necrofier", says Atarimatt, who's been making effects and noiseboxes full time under the name IdiotBox since 2011. "Plug this sucker in and bring on TOTAL SOUTHERN DARKNESS!!!"  

The Necrofier Echo drive is a tube screamer-style overdrive pedal. It runs into two separate echo circuits. The left switch is for echoes, while the right switch does overdrive. Each knob is named after a different raw ingredient in the band's evil alchemy: Reflection (echo 1), Chaos (echo 2), Alchemy (echo signal mix), Flame (overdrive volume), Strike (overdrive intensity) and Darkness (tone).

A limited run of first-edition, autographed Necrofier Echo Drive pedals are available on Bandcamp while supplies last. The pedal can also be purchased through the IdiotBox Effects webstore.    

Necrofier Bandcamp

https://necrofier.bandcamp.com/merch/necrofier-echo-drive

Idiotbox webstore

https://www.idiotboxeffects.com/product/necrofier-echo-drive

Lineup:
Bakka – Vocals, Guitar
Semir Ozerkan – Guitars
Dobber Beverly – Drums
Mat Valentine - Bass

Guest Musicians:
Cammie Beverly (Oceans of Slumber) – Vocals on “The All Seeing Shadows” and “The Fall From Heaven”

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Necrofier 
https://twitter.com/necrofier 
https://www.instagram.com/necrofier/ 
https://necrofier.bandcamp.com

Producer/Sound Engineer/Mixing: Joel Hamilton at Studio G, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Mastering: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering

Cover Art: Burney

Stream: https://orcd.co/necrofierbsitsn

Order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NecrofierBSitSN

Slaughter To Prevail Concert Film 'Live In Moscow' Hits Streaming Platforms, Drop Live Clip of Hit Single 'Baba Yaga'

Following it's global PPV livestream premiere event last year, Russian Deathcore demolishers, Slaughter To Prevail, have announced that their 'Live In Moscow' concert movie is now available to view on streaming platforms HERE. The epic, sold-out show took place on December 15th, 2021 at 1930 in Moscow, in front of 2500 fans. The concert film is directed by Nikita Korzhov with sound by Aleksandr Zhelekov and features a blistering 12 song set list.

To celebrate 'Live In Moscow' hitting streaming platforms today, the band have released a clip from the show of their performance of massive hit single, 'Baba Yaga'. Watch below.

Slaughter To Prevail performed at Hellfest Open Air Festival over the weekend, and attempted to set the world record for the biggest Wall of Death with thousands of fans participating. Watch the carnage unfold here.

About Slaughter To Prevail

Slaughter To Prevail released their debut EP, 'Chapters Of Misery' in 2016 and followed with their debut full-length album, 'Misery Sermon' in 2017. They released stand alone singles "Agony" and "Demolisher" in 2019 and 2020 respectively, followed by their second full-length, Kostolom, released in 2021 to huge critical acclaim with Revolver describing the album as "one bloody deathcore barrage after another" when including it on their 25 Best Albums Of 2021 list and Metal Injection stating that "Kostolom proves that Slaughter to Prevail can get hooky without getting wimpy". Kostolom spawned massive hit singles "Baba Yaga" and "Zavali Ebalo".

They released anti-war anthem '1984' in August of 2022 to oppose Russia's war on Ukraine. The video for which has racked up 3.5 million views and over 15.7 million Spotify streams. They followed this with the release of track "Viking" in 2023 which was debuted on their US headline tour to much excitement and acclaim from fans. The video for the track currently has  8 million views and 14.9 million Spotify streams. Next stand alone single, 'Conflict' hit in February this year, clocking up 1.8 million YouTube views and 4.5 million Spotify streams. Most recent single, 'Kid Of Darkness', dropped 1 month ago and has already hit 2 million views on YouTube and 1.7 million Spotify streams.

The band are one of the most popular and heavily featured bands within the YouTube 'reacts' community, on account of vocalist Alex Terrible's insane vocal abilities and his own YouTube channel which has over 1.25 million subscribers.

To date, the band have over 1 billion cross-platform streams. Expect more from one of the most brutal and rapidly ascending forces in modern metal soon.

Slaughter To Prevail Are

Alex Terrible - Vocals

Jack Simmons - Guitar

Mikhail Petrov - Bass

Dmitry Mamedov - Guitar

Evgeny Novikov - Drums

Find Slaughter To Prevail Online:

SlaughterToPrevail.com

MORTIIS Adds New Dates to Upcoming North American Headliner

Dungeon synth master MORTIIS has now added two new performances to his upcoming North American "The Dungeons are Calling" headlining tour, now stopping in Salt Lake City, UT on September 15 and Phoenix, AZ on September 22. The updated itinerary can be found below!

The tour will be in celebration of MORTIIS' seminal 1993 album, 'Født Til Å Herske,' which played a significant role in popularizing the dungeon synth genre and was re-recorded in 2023. The new itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.

MORTIIS has previously announced BRIGHTER DEATH NOW as direct support, who will be performing parts of his "Necrose Evangelicum" album from 1995 for this tour for the first time! The band will join from the tour kickoff through the Los Angeles stop on September 21. Local openers will also be added, which are handpicked by Mortiis himself!

MORTIIS' live soundscape will be accompanied with visuals created by renowned artist and illustrator David Thierree, known for his work with Mortiis, Behemoth, and others.

Previously announced support for the tour includes Sombre Arcane (September 4-17), Malfet (September 14 - 28), and appearances by Fogweaver in Denver, CO and Albuquerque, NM.

MORTIIS w/ BRIGHTER DEATH NOW

("The Dungeons are Calling" North American Tour Dates):

09/04: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery*~

09/05: Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz*~

09/06: Boston, MA @ Sonia*~

09/07: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie*~

09/08: New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge*~

09/09: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground*~

09/10: Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary*~

09/11: Chicago, IL @ Reggie's*~

09/12: St. Paul, MN @ White Rock Lounge*~

09/13: Lincoln, NE @ 1867 Bar*~

09/14: Denver, CO @ The Oriental*^#~

09/15: Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon *^#~ [JUST ADDED]

09/17: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon*^~

09/18: Eugene, OR @ John Henry's^~

09/19: San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge^~

09/20: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick^~

09/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom^ ~

09/22: Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live ^~ [JUST ADDED]

09/23: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad^#

09/24: Haltom City, TX @ Haltom Theater^

09/25: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live^

09/26: Houston, TX @ Secret Group^

09/27: New Orleans, LA @ The Goat^

09/28: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Altar)^

~ w/ Brighter Death Now * w/ Sombre Arcane ^ w/ Malfet # w/ Fogweaver

Links:

Facebook

Instagram

X

Bandcamp

Spotify

Apple Music

Official Shop

New! Limited Edition ZBB USA Tee

Feed The Wolves Release New Single "Breakaway" via TLG / Virgin Music Group

FEED THE WOLVES, the electrifying hard rock quintet hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, has officially launched onto the music scene with their debut single, "Breakaway" that was released through TLG / Virgin Music Group.

FEED THE WOLVES was formed in 2022 by Wally Wood, Joey Rodriguez, Jarrett Conant, Kyle Cogburn, and Chad Corder. The band recorded an EP in 2023 titled Vessel that is comprised of 5 absolute rock hits! Wally Wood and Joey Rodriguez are former members of the band Allele which had hits such as "Closer to Habit" that reached Top 10 at Active Rock Radio, as well as songs that made their rounds on video games Smack Down vs. Raw, TV spots such as Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes, ABC's Dancing with the Stars, Netflix hit show Kobra Kai, Showtime's Nurse Jackie and more.

Chad Corer and Kyle Cogburn are former members of the Orlando, Florida based band Shut Up and Dance, as well as the band Broadway (Uprising Records).

FEED THE WOLVES will be releasing singles throughout 2024 through TLG / Virgin Music Group.

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Facebook

Industrial-Electronic music legend Bill Leeb (Front Line Assembly, Delerium) signs to Metropolis Records for debut solo album

Iconic US-based label Metropolis Records is thrilled to announce the signing of beguiling industrial-electronic music legend Bill Leeb for his debut solo offering. Titled 'Model Kollapse', this record explores the intricacies of artificial intelligence and the very survival of humanity itself. The first single ‘Terror Forms’ will be released on July 9.

Based in Vancouver, Bill Leeb is the mastermind behind electro-industrial scene mainstays Front Line Assembly and ambient-pop duo Delerium, having gotten his start with Skinny Puppy (under the pseudonym Wilhelm Schroeder). He is also a key member of other occasional recording projects, including Noise Unit, Intermix and Cyberaktif.

"We are proud to announce that Metropolis Records has signed Bill Leeb for his first solo project. Bill Leeb has had a prolific career as a founding member of Skinny Puppy, Front Line Assembly and Delerium. His music has been highly influential, and we are excited to see what this new chapter in his career will bring for him and his listeners," says Nina Heckman of Metropolis Records.

"I'm honored to fulfill my father's (Dave Heckman) lifelong vision and to be doing this project with a lifelong family friend I can honestly call family (Bill Leeb).  This project is near and dear to all of our hearts here at Metropolis and I know it would make my father proud."

Leeb acknowledges the role that Metropolis Records has played in his recording career since the late 1990s, noting that “Metropolis Records have been and are one of the most important labels for alternative music on this planet and this album was made possible by my long-standing friendship with Dave Heckman (RIP), who continuously has supported us through the ages and gave us complete artistic freedom”.  Tragically, Heckman died in the summer of 2022.

The first single ‘Terror Forms’ features Shannon Hemmett of post-punk quartet ACTORS and her solo project LEATHERS, who are also based in Vancouver. This album also involves contributions by LA-based artist Mimi Page, a long-term Delerium collaborator, and Jason Corbett of ACTORS and Jacknife Sound Studio.

‘Model Kollapse’ marks Leeb's first solo venture since the mid-80s days of Front Line Assembly, when he used to make recordings in his bedroom and released them on limited edition cassette format. Almost four decades on, his new album was recorded and produced in Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles with assistance from Vancouver/Toronto-based production duo Dream Bullet and long-term FLA/Delerium cohort Rhys Fulber, plus regular mixing engineer Greg Reely.

Hard-edged yet melodic, danceable and very much song-oriented rather than soundscape-driven, the album carries traces of hard-edged electronic dance music pioneers such as Front 242, DAF, KMFDM and Skinny Puppy, as well as his own oeuvre. However, it also displays the influence that acts like these had on latter day artists such as Gesaffelstein and ADULT, not to mention music that came to be known as darkwave.

Influential as Front Line Assembly was in the industrial music world, Leeb formed Delerium in 1987, originally as a side project, exploring dark ethereal ambient trance, voiceless soundscapes and electronic pop music. Since their 1994 album 'Semantic Spaces', Delerium has received two Juno awards and grown to massive fame through collaborations, involving vocals by Leigh Nash (Sixpence None the Richer), Lisa Gerrard (Dead Can Dance), Kirsty Hawkshaw (Opus III), Emily Haines (Metric), Jacqui Hunt (Single Gun Theory), Matthew Sweet, Kristy Thirsk (Rose Chronicles)and Sarah McLachlan. The latter produced the worldwide hit 'Silence', which reached #1 in numerous countries and whose remixes are hailed among the greatest trance songs of all time (with the Tiësto remix having been voted the 12th-greatest dance track of all time by Mixmag readers).

The ‘Terror Forms’ single will be unleashed digitally everywhere on July 9. The full ‘Model Kollapse’ album will be released on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally, on September 13.


Keep up with Bill Leeb
Instagram | Facebook | Front Line Assembly Facebook | Delerium Facebook | FB Group| Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Metropolis Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | LinkedIn | Email

Rock Legends The Exies Release Anticipated "Closure" EP After Decade-Long Hiatus

After a successful sold-out reunion show at the legendary Viper Room, The Exies have today returned with the release of their long-awaited comeback EP, "Closure". Fans can listen to the brand new EP HERE.

As a significant milestone in The Exies' illustrious career, "Closure" marks their first body of work in over a decade and features a collection of tracks that delve into themes of reflection, resilience, and new beginnings. This 6-track EP features the band's signature - a blend of infectious rock anthems weaved together with introspective lyrics, embodying the band's lasting legacy.

Speaking on the release of the "Closure" EP, frontman Scott Stevens shares:

"For me “Closure “ is putting that period of my life to rest. Those moments gave me self reflection like I’d never known.

I felt belief, tragedy, legacy, struggle, disillusionment, and finally acceptance. 

It was the therapy I needed to move forward in a new era."

Formed in 1997, The Exies released two influential LPs with Virgin Records, 'Inertia' and 'Head For The Door', achieving combined sales of over 500k and spawning singles that charted at rock radio. Both albums secured positions on the Billboard 200 chart. Their third album "A Modern Way of Living with the Truth" came out in 2007 before the group disbanded in 2010.

The Exies’ music gained significant exposure through placements in numerous video games and tours alongside rock giants like Motley Crüe and Velvet Revolver. Following their hiatus, Scott Stevens continued to leave an indelible mark on the musical landscape with co-written songs amassing over 2 billion streams and selling over 40 million albums.

Now, The Exies have picked up right where they left off, with their sold-out reunion show and latest EP, bringing together the nostalgia of their storied past and the freshness of their current creative evolution.

Join The Exies as they embark on the next chapter of their extraordinary musical journey.

ABOUT THE EXIES

The Exies, formed in 1997 and named in homage to John Lennon’s shortened term for the 1960s art students in Hamburg that called themselves “the existentialists”, had a prosperous journey, peaking with 2003’s Inertia and 2004's Head For The Door. Both albums were released by Virgin Records and, combined, sold more than 500,000 copies.

In 2007, The Exies put out their third full-length, A Modern Way Of Living With The Truth, before disbanding three years later. Despite frontman Scott Stevens' pivot to songwriting for others, amassing significant accolades and contributions to over 40 million album sales, the band's 2010 dissolution left him longing for closure. This yearning and finding himself at a loose end in the beginning days of the pandemic, Stevens began to write and soon realized that new The Exies songs were materializing before him it just started to unfold happen without him realizing. Speaking on the experience, Stevens shares

“Once I committed to writing and producing for others, I really went in,” he explains. “I just jumped in the ocean and didn’t think about writing for myself anymore. And that’s why it was so odd when I went for a walk in 2020—outside with a mask on—and all of a sudden I hear a melody in my head and I’m like, ‘Who’s that? What’s that?’ And all of a sudden I realized that that’s my voice. It was very puzzling in the beginning, and then it started happening more and more. I don’t know what spurred it on or what caused it. Time? Not being able to work as much? Maybe my mind drifting a little bit more because I have to work. Nobody was coming over here because nobody was going anywhere. And I didn’t want to Zoom write, because although it’s kind of a way of life now and I love it, I was like ‘What is that?’ I really didn’t think about writing for The Exies again until it started haunting me.”

The first of which, 'Spirits High' was released in 2023 and achieved significant success at rock radio. "For What It's Worth" is the next step in the new era of the band. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for more coming from The Exies soon.

MESSER Releases New Single "Find Out" + Music Video; Announce Tour Dates This Summer!

MESSER, the dynamic rock band renowned for their evocative melodies and powerful anthems, has released a brand new single titled "Find Out" in Dolby Atmos. The track is now available on all major streaming platforms.

“'Find Out' is about these times in our life, when your back is to the wall and a tidal wave of pressure has consumed you. It’s when you refuse to take another step backwards, and you know the only solution is to fight your way forward. This song is for the people that won't back down. For those who will not be silenced. The ones that fight for what they believe in and stand up for what is right. _
When push comes to shove……….Fuck Around, and FIND OUT,”_ says the band.

Along with the single, MESSER has also released a visually compelling music video for "Find Out," available in Dolby Atmos. The music video, filmed, edited, and directed by Maddox Messer, offers fans an immersive audio-visual experience.

WATCH MESSER "Find Out" Official Video below

In addition to this release, MESSER will be headlining tour dates this summer. The tour kicked off on June 25th in Seattle, WA at the Funhouse.

MESSER'S ability to encapsulate raw emotion within their music has resonated with audiences, making their releases highly anticipated events. The band's commitment to authenticity and relatable storytelling continues to solidify their place within the rock music landscape.

Recently, MESSER released their self-titled Deluxe Dolby Edition Album along with bonus tracks on all major music platforms on March 29, 2024.

MESSER Headline Dates:

7/2 - Salt Lake City - The DLC at Quarters

7/5 - Twin Falls, ID - 103.1 The Edge Presents:

The Red, White, and Blue, Electric BBQ Free Show

7/7 - Denver, CO - Black Buzzard at Oskar Blue'

Messer is:

Dereak Messer, Lead Vocals

Bobby Tillotson, Guitar/Vocals

Kenn Youngar, Drums/Vocals

Maddox Messer, Bass/ Vocals

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

Spotify

LOLITSLEA Drops Neon Pop Punk Single "Favorite Singer"

Your summer anthem is officially here! lolitslea is doubling down on her signature neon pop-punk style and combining the boldness of punk and the colors of pop on her new single "Favorite Singer."

The singer is known for infiltrating Instagram's emo explore pages with her unmissable blue and green hair.  She has reached over 30 million users on Instagram and TikTok, and garnered show-stopping features on and with idobi Radio, Emo Nite, SPIN, Jesea Lee, Scene Daddy, and more. lolitslea is tapping into the glory days of Warped Tour pop-punk with fresh, straightforward lyrics that hit hard for today's generation of alt-kids. This single is a sneak peek of more music to come later this year.

"An anthemic, classic pop-rock tune that you can jump up and down to, 'Favorite Singer' is about getting an invite to the hottest holiday party of the year while your Plus 1 fumbles the bag," says lolitslea. "The solution? Invite one of your faves instead. You'll still be pining over your original date, but at least he'll sit at home with FOMO."

ABOUT LOLITSLEA:
Growing up in the small, yet touristy beach town of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, lolitslea was homegrown from every and all kinds of music that came out of the Asbury Park alternative scene and Warped Tour era. The independent artist has intertwined the boldness of punk and the colors of pop to bring back the bright sounds of the Neon Pop Punk scene we all grew to love in the mid-2000s. Think Artist Vs Poet or early Fall Out Boy.

After topping the charts with her college a cappella group (Twisted Measure), lolitslea set off to grow her project. lolitslea's sound has been produced and developed by emo icons such as Chase Coy (formally with Universal Music Group), Tom Denney (formerly A Day To Remember), and Roye Robley (Meet Me @ The Altar, Fluorescents), with features from Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens), Bemo Rouge, Joshua Roberts (Magnolia Park), glimmers, Smooth Brain, and more to come.

lolitslea is finishing up her debut full-length to be released October 2024. Following that, she'll be busy in writing sessions with Dan Swank (All Time Low, Taylor Acorn), Cassadee Pope (Hey Monday), Cameron Walker, and many more.

PHOTO CREDIT: Connor Meany

Florida Indie-Punk Rockers Virginity Release New Album "Bad Jazz" via Smartpunk Records

VIRGINITY RELEASE NEW ALBUM BAD JAZZ  VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS

Physical copies of the album available here

Smartpunk Records' power pop darlings Virginity have released their long-awaited album Bad Jazz.  The release is a follow up after achieving great success with their previous album POPMORTEM, which recieved acclaim from Audiotree, Brooklyn Vegan, The Alternative, and more.

Their third album's title and approach are inspired by the improvisational spirit of jazz - specifically, improvisation born out of necessity. The songs on Bad Jazz come from a place of musical tangents, digressions, and what-ifs. A place of realizing that sometimes your best ideas are the ones that start as jokes. The album is about going with your gut, taking the mistakes and running with them, and letting curiosity take the lead. Singer Casey Crawford has said that Bad Jazz is the record where Virginity became, in his words, “a real band.”

Alongside the album release is the focus track "UR GODZ," which is a tongue-in-cheek commentary about religion in modern society.

Speaking about the new album, Virginity vocalist Casey Crawford says, "Bad Jazz is Virginity finding an identity as a band. I know for myself it's as close to true collaboration as I've ever gotten. It took all four of us to make this thing and if someone had been absent, it simply wouldn't be the same. We pushed ourselves really hard to make the best songs we possibly could on every front. More than anything we wanted this record to have a beating heart. We wanted it to be wholly organic in nature and I think that's why it was so important to us to track it live and to keep the songs alive and malleable all the way up to the moment they were being tracked. It's not a perfect record, but rather a snapshot of us right now. A byproduct of keeping things real and trying to sort of consciously stay in a mindset of creativity is that we had an absolute blast making it. I never had more fun making music than the days we spent writing and tracking this record. When people listen to Bad Jazz I really hope that's what comes through the most."

ABOUT VIRGINITY
Bubbling up from the swamps of Central Florida, Virginity are an indie/power punk band that really just kinda wants to be Superdrag.

Formed in 2018, the band is an attempt to grapple with the existential dread of entering one's 30s (and 40s) with plenty of baggage. Led by the duo of singer/guitarist Casey Crawford and drummer/producer Jim Dreffen, Virginity quickly found infectious melodies and confident songwriting in steady supply. Joined by bassist Jordan Shroyer and guitarist Chris Pfister, Virginity's sound embodies the dark humor of the modern world.

Their debut LP, 2019's With Time, crafted more as a therapy session than a record, caught the attention of FEST legends, Dikembe, who eagerly championed the album under their Death Protector label. Wasting no time, the cathartic Death to the Party EP followed in 2020 (Wiretap Records), which spawned the fan favorite "Bad Call." A third release in as many years, POPMORTEM, (2021 Smartpunk Records) further cemented their reputation for catchy tunes with poignant lyrics and forever looking to subvert expectations.

2024 brings more Virginity to the masses: a new full length record this summer (Smartpunk Records); a second trip to SXSW, the band's first international dates at Pouzza Fest in Montreal, and a slew of dates around the U.S. 

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.

Electronic Group Deep AL Brindle Share Video for "Lost"

Los Angeles-based electronic group Deep AL Brindle — comprised of Diego Castellanos and Alastair Wilson — recently announced their debut album Are You Nervous? The record arrives on July 12 via Tooth & Nail Records. Pre-order it here.

The band's music is often a master class in smooth, chill vibes, and today, Deep AL Brindle have shared the video for "Lost." Watch it below. 

"It's about the complexities of being in a love relationship with someone, never knowing if you're right or wrong," the band says, offering a glimpse into the universally relatable topic.

Deep AL Brindle fashion vibrant and vital electronic soundscapes around a core of live instrumentation with a heartbeat maintained by real drums. After building a rabid hometown following, gaining traction on streaming platforms, and landing a deal with Tooth & Nail Records, the group's two distinct personalities and styles congregate in one ever-evolving vision on their full-length debut album, Are You Nervous? "We bring a counter balance to one another," Castellanos says. "We challenge each other's tendencies, which is cool. As a drummer, Alastair brings the life back into the songs, and his presence reassures me that, as the saying goes, 'Two minds are better than one.'"
 
"It's really been a journey," adds Wilson. "I'm glad we're on it together."
 
A few years back, the pair initially bonded as friends. Soon, this friendship manifested as a creative partnership where they spent countless hours jamming and making music together. During 2019, Deep AL Brindle formally came to life with the release of CTRL V, followed by a string of buzzing singles. Tooth & Nail took notice, and the pair inked a deal with the label. They continued to create at a prolific pace, decamping to Mexico City at the end of 2023 to lay the foundation for what would become Are You Nervous? On this trip, Alastair tracked the majority of his drums at an intimate studio as they absorbed the energy of their surroundings. "It was my first time going to Mexico City," he states. "I grew up skateboarding, and that culture is strong there. We were visiting skate shops, and the studio experience was amazing. The food was great too."
 
Along the way, they made a conscious decision to place Castellanos' vocals front-and-center on the LP. Encouraged by crowd reactions at shows, they chose to "spice it up a bit."
  
 Deep AL Brindle are ultimately creating a place to escape to with the record and much more to come. “This is a prelude of what we’re going to be. It's just the beginning," says Wilson.

Out Country Artist Chris Housman Has "High Hopes" with New Video

Praise for Blueneck:
“…absolutely great straight ahead country in the classic 1990s
Randy Travis, Garth, Dwight Yokam vein.” - NPR All Songs Considered Best Album Pick

“He might be the ‘gayme-changer’ the country music field needed.” - USA Today

“Must Hear…melds a ’90s country sound with songs that reflect Housman’s own truths and journey” -  Billboard 

“songwriting that honors the genre's classic era” and “folds progressive notions like honoring drag queens into the mix” - Tennessean

“solidly country music from a queer perspective” - The DISCovery Award by Music Row 

"an affecting and arresting debut album” - Instinct Magazine

As Pride Month comes to a close, queer country artist Chris Housman is ending the celebration on a high with the release of his music video for “High Hopes.” The playful track, written by Housman and Jerry Fuentes, opens his critically-acclaimed debut album, Blueneck, released May 31, and offers a refreshing take on the heaviness of the world with his banjo-driven instrumentation.
 
Featured this week on “CBS Sunday Morning’s” digital platforms, Housman shares of the song, “In a world where there seems to be a new catastrophic event every day, I had the idea for this song from a level of peace I strive for in life - a place where no amount of bad news today can take away my ‘High Hopes’ for a better tomorrow.” 
 
The new clip, directed by Ford Fairchild, premiered with Popculture yesterday and finds the out singer/songwriter scouring The Troubling Times before finding his “High Hopes.” Shot in downtown Chattanooga on one of only four operational carousels in the state of Tennessee, the 100-year old amusement park ride offered the perfect aesthetic for the recreational video.
 
Housman shared exclusively with Popculture, “(my) co-writer, and I had the idea. We were just talking about how, ‘oh I wish I could just be on a horse, just walking.’ The horse doesn't need to be running, just sitting, (me) in Western attire or something.... like, ‘Dang, that'd be awesome.’ Then he threw out the idea of, ‘Oh, what if you were on a carousel?’ They were like, ‘Yeah, let's find a carousel.’”
 
Watch “High Hopes” below. 
 
Called “one of Nashville's most authentically soulful singer-songwriters “ by the Tennessean, the man USA Today declared a “gayme-changer” has brought together both a queer and country sensibility with this project that, to many, might seem at odds with one another. Yet backed by a rich six string sound, he delivers a classic twang infused with his Kansas baritone to gently, yet unapologetically, speak his truth at every turn. Listen to Blueneck HERE. 

An NPR All Songs Considered Best Album pick noting, “…he is making beautifully crafted music that any classic country fan would love,” Housman co-wrote all 13 tracks on the album, offering a musical bridge for a divided time. Called “irresistible” by Rolling Stone, with “Good Morning America” praising him for “making waves,” and Billboard hailing him as a beacon for “outcasts in the genre,” Housman’s message is a simple one: “Country music is for everyone.” Given the over 5 million streams and 275,000 online followers for an independent artist, it's clearly a message that the world wants to hear.
 
The native mid-westerner’s country credentials go beyond his music though. He was born and raised in Hanston, Kansas, the epitome of small-town America with a population of just 200. His childhood was rooted in the rural and the conservative, growing up on a farm and living for Country music. “At 7 years old, I loved going to Country jam sessions with my family. I would get mesmerized by this guy Tom, who played fiddle,” recounts Housman, “At Christmas, I got a fiddle from Santa, and I picked it up and ran from there.” 
 
His talent was quickly apparent, and by the age of 8, he was performing with the family band, playing in venues across the state. Over time he would add other strings to his bow, learning to sing, play guitar, upright bass, piano, saxophone, spoons, banjo, and even whistle at a competitive level. 
 
“I played a ton of shows as a kid,” he recalls, “but my relationship with Country changed when I turned 18 and I came out as gay.” He moved to Nashville to attend Belmont on an academic scholarship and stopped playing for some time. “I thought, ‘I can continue to be comfortable and out and gay, or I can do country music, but I definitely can’t do both.’" For a while, that was that. 
 
However, the world of country music never quite let Housman go. After years working behind the scenes doing copyright and licensing for other artists, Housman couldn’t ignore the call of the stage anymore. It was a freak accident that brought him back into the fold. In 2014, Housman broke his neck, a shock to the system that made him realize he hadn’t moved to Nashville to just work on other peoples' music. After a brief stint in a duo, he began writing and performing at colleges across the country solo. 
 
In fact, a number of tracks on his debut album have already been resonating with fans. Title track “Blueneck,” a welcoming homespun manifesto that proudly declares “Y’all means all,” went viral on TikTok taking the burgeoning singer from 72 followers to hundreds of thousands overnight and hit No. 1 on the iTunes country chart, No. 4 on iTunes all-music chart, and peaked at No. 16 on the Billboard Digital Country chart.
 
Other previously released tracks like “Bible Belt,” an examination of religious trauma, and the fable-like “Drag Queen,” which celebrates a teacher of the year who goes from Michael to Michelle after hours, continued the dialogue between his genre and his lived experience. The clever wordplay and radio-friendly pop-country sounds made these songs instant hits with his rapidly expanding fanbase and expedited the release of his debut album.  
 
“It feels like my life’s work. The thing I’ve been making since I picked up the fiddle at 7,” Housman effuses “It’s pretty upbeat and positive but it’s also my soul, my truth.” 
 
The album’s recent release “Guilty as Sin” saw its music video premiere in Times Square through CMT with Queerty calling it "defiantly gay" and generating 350,000 views in just three weeks. A special moment to be sure for an independent artist. However, for Housman, the greatest gift has been the response from fans. 
 
“I see a lot of people out there who grew up loving country music, but gravitated away from it because they didn’t feel welcome there anymore,” shares the tattooed troubadour. “When those people tell me I helped them finally feel seen in the genre…that’s already living the dream as far as I’m concerned.”

Housman is one of six participants in this year’s Equal Access Development Program, an intensive artist and management training initiative created by CMT and management company mtheory to support underrepresented voices in country music.
 
For more information, visit ChrisHousman.com and follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @ChrisHousmanMusic and on X @ChrisHousman.

Photo Credit: Ford Fairchild

About Chris Housman:
If Harlan Howard was right when he said “country music is three chords and the truth,” then Chris Housman is one of the best qualified artists working in Country today. Beyond the classic twang, rich six string backed sound, and disarming Kansas baritone, his offerings in the genre gently, yet unapologetically, speak his truth at every turn. As an openly gay country artist and songwriter, he meticulously brings together two worlds that, to many, are at odds with one another. Whether it’s the metaphoric “Drag Queen” which celebrates a small-town teacher who goes from Michael to Michelle after hours, or the viral sensation “Blueneck,” a welcoming homespun manifesto that proudly declares “y’all means all,” Housman’s music offers a musical bridge in a divided time. Called “irresistible” by Rolling Stone, with “Good Morning America” praising him for “making waves,” and Billboard staunchly affirming him as a saving grace for “outcasts in the genre,” Housman’s message is a simple one: “Country is for everyone.” Given his over 5 million streams and 275,000 online followers, it's clearly a message that the world wants to hear.

Dalton Dover Pays Tribute to Aragon, Georgia with "Here's The Deal"

In a world that frequently romanticizes new beginnings and far-off destinations, Dalton Dover, an Aragon, Georgia native and current resident, releases an anthem celebrating the powerful bond between an individual and their hometown with “Here’s The Deal,” available now via Mercury Nashville.
 
“When I first heard ‘Here’s The Deal,’ I immediately knew I wanted to cut it. It’s the perfect song to pay tribute to the place where my journey began and a place that will always be a part of my story,” shares Dover. “Growing up in Aragon and still living there is such a big part of my identity, along with the people there who make it special. This song is for them, but it’s also for anyone who appreciates where they’re from.”
 
Written by Michael Hardy, Chase McGill and Matt Dragstrem and produced by Matt McVaney (McV), “Here’s The Deal” serves as a heartfelt reminder of the significance of home:

“Here’s The Deal” follows Dover’s current single “Bury Me In This Bar,” written by Dover with Dan Isbell, Jamie Davis and Benjy Davis, which earned MusicRow’s DISClaimer Disc of the Day, praising, “Dover continues his winning ways with this romping, stomping honky tonker with flourishes of steel and galloping rhythm. Thirsty for real country music? Belly up to this bar. You need the song on your playlist, now more than ever.”
 
Filmed at The Nashville Palace, the official music video for “Bury Me In This Bar” premiered with CMT, CMT Music and Paramount Times Square Billboard. Watch the video HERE.
 
Following his third year performing at CMA Fest, Dover will perform at additional festivals this summer before heading out on Sam Hunt’s Locked Up Tour this fall. For tickets and additional information, visit DaltonDoverOfficial.com.

Dalton Dover Tour Dates
 
June 28 // Country Fest 2024 // Cadott, WI
July 4 // I-105 Country Freedom Fest // Quarryville, PA
July 6 // Downtown Barbourville // Barbourville, KY
July 18 // Rotary Amphitheater at Woodward Park // Fresno, CA
July 20 // Grand Ole Opry // Nashville, TN
July 26 // York State Fair // York, PA
Aug. 3 // Jiffy Lube Live // Bristow, VA
Aug. 10 // Hollywood Outdoors // Grantville, PA*
Aug. 15 // CMAC // Canandaigua, NY*
Aug. 16 // Fallsview Casino Resort // Niagara Falls, ON*
Aug. 17 // Lasso Festival // Montreal, QC
Aug. 24 // Ozark Outdoors Resort // Leasburg, MO
Sept. 7 // Rome River Jam // Rome, GA
Sept. 18 // Pepsi Live at Rogers Arena // Vancouver, BC*
Sept. 20 // Scotiabank Saddledome // Calgary, AB*
Sept. 21 // Rogers Place // Edmonton, AB*
Sept. 23 // SaskTel Centre // Saskatoon, SK*
Sept. 24 // Canada Life Centre // Winnipeg, MB*
Sept. 27 // Canadian Tire Cengtre // Ottawa, ON*
Sept. 28 // Budweiser Gardens // London, ON*
 
*Supporting Sam Hunt

About Dalton Dover
Lauded by MusicRow as a “master country talent,” Dalton Dover’s new single “Bury Me In This Bar” is available now via UMG Nashville/Mercury Records, along with his latest release “Here’s The Deal.” His debut radio single “Giving Up On That” was the most-added track at Country Radio upon its debut with 60 first-week adds and can be found on his EP Never Giving Up On That. Named a 2024 Tidal Artist to Watch, Pandora 2023 Artist to Watch, an Amazon Music 2023 Breakthrough Artist to Watch: Country Class and a member of CMT’s LISTEN UP 2023 Class, he will support Sam Hunt on the Locked Up Tour later this fall. Dover made his Grand Ole Opry debut in December 2022, followed by his international debut in 2023 at C2C: Country to Country Festival’s CMA Songwriters Series and has performed across multiple stages at CMA Fest, including the Nissan Stadium Platform stage. In addition to playing Luke Combs’ Whiskey Jam Bootleggers Tailgate Party, he’s supported Chase Rice, Parker McCollum, Larry Fleet, Priscilla Block and more. By the age of 16, Dover picked up a guitar and started teaching himself to play, yet it was his grandfather who turned him on to country music and artists such as Keith Whitley, Rhett Akins, Joe Diffie and Steve Wariner. Performances at local bars soon followed along with sharing covers of some of his favorite songs on TikTok. It was there he caught the ear of producer Matt McV and A&R veteran and founder of Droptine, Jim Catino, who quickly signed Dover. His debut track “You Got a Small Town,” produced by McV, garnered critical acclaim from Billboard, MusicRow, Country Now and Wide Open Country. With his debut and follow-up “Baby I Am” earning notable playlisting, Dover was named a Spotify Hot Country 2022 Artist to Watch along with a spotlight as Billboard’s February Country Rookie of the Month and a nod for MusicRow’s 2022 Discovery Artist of the Year. For more information, visit DaltonDoverOfficial.com or follow along on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X and Facebook.