Parker McCollum Surprises Corey Kent with Double-Platinum News at Red Rocks

Sony Music Nashville artist Corey Kent has spent the summer as an opener on Parker McCollum’s Burn it Down Tour. A road veteran himself drawing inspiration from The Eagles, Keith Richards, Turnpike Troubadours and more, Kent brought that bandana-wearing Rock ‘N’ Roll spirit to the tour’s recent Red Rocks stop where the “Hell of a Year” singer gave him a hell of a surprise…news his No. 1 hit  “Wild As Her” had been certified Double-Platinum by the RIAA. Watch McCollum surprise Kent with the news HERE. 
 
“Congratulations to Corey, RCA Nashville and his full team on achieving 2x Platinum certification for “Wild As Her!” This remarkable achievement is a testament to your incredible talent and the undeniable impact your music has had on fans,” shared Jackie Jones, SVP Artist and Industry Relations, RIAA. “It’s exciting to see artists celebrating each other’s success in RIAA’s Gold & Platinum program. Here’s to many more milestones in your career!”
 
The milestone comes as the hitmaker releases his sophomore album, Black Bandana, named a “Best Album” by NPR’s All Songs Considered with Rolling Stone noting his “charismatic vocals lift every song.” The road warrior will kick off his headlining Black Bandana Tour on Sept. 21. Available now, listen to Black Bandana HERE. And watch the video, directed by Wales Toney, for his current single, “Now or Never" featuring Lauren Alaina HERE. 

Title track “Black Bandana” helped set the tone for the album Billboard calls, “music for those whose lives have been seasoned by rocky times." Co-written with Rocky Block, Jordan Dozzi, and Brett Tyler, the slow-burning call to stand your ground pairs tender country-rock reverence with a big-picture mindset, helping tie all of Kent’s struggle, success, and plans for the future together. The album was almost finished when he wrote it, Kent says, but he was happy it “derailed” the project.

“It encapsulates the journey. The reason we’re here is because we didn’t give up, and the whole record is a call to action against all odds,” he explains. “When the going gets tough and everybody quits, you be the one that stays the course and never gives up. I think there’s a lot of people that relate with that.”

Co-writing six of Black Bandana’s 10 songs, what Kent ultimately wanted was to mix themes of integrity, resilience and family with a sonic setting befitting the mission. Finding the midway point between cinematic electric guitars and heart-pounding drums meet a warm, gravel-road rasp, as Kent brings classic rock into the present tense. 
  
Now based in Dallas, the proud husband and father has become a decorated artist on the rise, growing from humble heartland roots into a Platinum certified Number One hit maker with 950 million career streams, and a black bandana on his neck. But today, that Black Bandana is more than an accessory – and not just the title track of his sophomore major-label album, which Music Row calls, “gently but unrelentingly uplifting.” It’s his rally cry.

Rising from the vibrant Red Dirt country scene as the embodiment of authenticity, Kent set his sights on Nashville as a teen, bringing his self-penned catalog of country-rock anthems with him. But after the pandemic coincided with the loss of his first publishing deal, Kent was forced to move to Texas and get a job on a paving crew to pay the bills, yet he stubbornly refused to call music quits. Honky-tonks and dancehalls on both sides of the Red River became his stomping ground, and slowly but surely, the black bandana spirit grew.

Fast forward a few years and the hit single “Wild As Her” proved he was right all along. An untamed tribute to a free-spirited stunner, the track re-invigorated Kent’s career as a now Double-Platinum-certified No. 1 at country radio, and the lead single off his major label album debut, Blacktop. Despite never cracking country radio’s Top 40, Kent’s trust-your-gut second single “Something’s Gonna Kill Me” went Gold (and is now approaching Platinum status), proving his message was connecting. And momentum kept building, with Kent hitting the road alongside Jason Aldean, Ashley McBryde, McCollum and more. Next-big-thing accolades came in from CMT, Opry Next Stage and more, but even as Kent became the most played new artist on country radio for all of 2023, he kept the underdog, who-cares-about-conventional-wisdom mentality. And so did his fans.

For Kent, the point was that his fans have the same independent spirit he does, and he took that lesson into his next chapter. Settled into his ranch in Texas and intent on being fully present as husband and father, while also achieving his dreams, his second album is all about finding balance, keeping clear eyes on what’s important – and waving that Black Bandana for all to see.

Parker McCollum surprises Corey Kent with news his No. 1 hit "Wild as Her" has been certified Double-Platinum by the RIAA | Photo Credit: Zack Morris 

Kent is also connecting with friends on the road in his new podcast “Bus Call.” The podcast finds Kent chatting with everyone from country music star Bailey Zimmerman to 2023 Doak Walker Award winner, OSU Running Back Ollie Gordon. The Texas Troubadour and his guests share laughs, inspirational moments and talk through the ups and downs of both business and personal life. Listen to the first two episodes of season one now and stay tuned for a new episode each month. 

The Oklahoma native will be joined by Braxton Keith, Kaitlin Butts, Max McNown, Karley Scott Collins and Lauren Watkins on select dates for his headlining, international Black Bandana Tour, which kick-offs in Paso Robles, California on Sept. 21. The road warrior will trek across both the U.S. and U.K. with stops in New York, Boston, Atlanta, Dublin, London and more into early 2025. Tickets are on sale now. Purchase at coreykentofficial.com.

Black Bandana Tour Dates:
+9/21/24    Paso Robles, CA         BarrelHouse Brewing Co. - Brewery and Beer Gardens
9/22/24      Long Beach, CA          Boots In The Park
^9/26/24     Reedley, CA                The Wakehouse
^9/27/24     Bakersfield, CA          Buck Owens Crystal Palace
9/28/24      Tempe, AZ                   Boots In The Park
<10/3/24    Hays, KS                     Fox Theatre
10/4/24      Durant, OK                  Choctaw Grand Theater (with Pat Green)
10/5/24      Burkburnett, TX          Friendship Festival
#10/10/24  Little Rock, AR           Little Rock Hall
10/11/24    Bellville, TX               Austin County Fair
#10/12/24 Terrell, TX                   Silver Saloon
-10/16/24   New York, NY           Gramercy Theatre
-10/17/24   Sayreville, NJ            Starland Ballroom
-10/18/24   Uncasville, CT            Mohegan Sun – Wolf Den
-10/19/24   Boston, MA                 Paradise Rock Club
<10/24/24 Cincinnati, OH             Bogart’s
<10/25/24 West Lafayette, IN       Neon Cactus
<10/26/24 Rootstown, OH           Dusty Armadillo
^11/1/24     Milwaukee, WI          The Rave II
#11/8/24    Wichita, KS                 The Cotillion Ballroom
#11/9/24    Stillwater, OK             Tumbleweed Dance Hall
-11/21/24   Atlanta, GA                 Buckhead Theatre
-11/22/24   Charlotte, NC             Coyote Joe’s
-11/23/24   North Myrtle Beach, SC        House of Blues

International Dates
2/1/25        Dublin, IE                    The Academy (Green Room)
2/2/25        Belfast, NI                    The Limelight 1
2/4/25        Glasgow, UK               SWG3 TV Studio
2/7/25        Manchester, UK          Manchester Academy 2
2/8/25        Birmingham, UK         O2 Academy 2
2/9/25        Bristol, UK                   The Trinity Centre
2/11/25      London, UK                 Electric Ballroom

^Braxton Keith
< Kaitlin Butts
-Max McNown
+Karley Scott Collins
#Lauren Watkins

For the latest news and information visit,  coreykentofficial.com and follow @coreykent on X, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Hillhaven Share Fifth Single "Liar"

HILLHAVEN are pleased to share their fifth single "LIAR." It's brutal but built on a note of hope.

Watch the visualizer below.

It follows the buzzy prior singles "Damned to Dream," "The God You Think You Are," "GAPS," and  "SYCOPHANTS." 

"Musically and lyrically, this song ventures into some darker territory," says singer Chris Kelly. "I think we all tend to try and ignore certain parts of ourselves or of those we love. Stuff that scares us — stuff we're ashamed of. Our strongest instinct is self-preservation and egos don't take kindly to things that might break them. They fight back — hard — but oftentimes that fear or shame finally breaks through and we're suddenly forced to look at ourselves and quite literally FACE that darkness. That's when we're at our lowest. This track was born from the bottom, and from the climb back into the light, where we find our motivation again."

The Hillhaven lineup is comprised of  the aforementioned Kelly (Alustrium, ex-Galactic Empire, and who is rumored to play for Babymetal's band) on vocals, as well as From Ashes to New's Maty Madiro on drums; Ricky Armellino on guitars; live From Ashes to New member Jimmy Bennett on guitars; and bassist Jaime GoWell.

There is even more to come from Hillhaven so watch this space...

Powerflo Return! Band Announces New Album "Gorilla Warfare" Out 11/1 + Shares Video For Title Track

POWERFLO — vocalist Senen "Sen Dog" Reyes (Cypress Hill), vocalist/guitarist Billy Graziadei (Biohazard), bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-Fear Factory), and drummer Fred Aching — are back.

The hard rock supergroup will release their new album GORILLA WARFARE on November 1 via New Damage Records. Pre-order it here.

Alongside the album announcement, the band is also sharing the video for the title track. Watch it below. The song and video features Ernie C of Body Count.

"We bring it to a new level with Gorilla Warfare," says Graziadei about the album. "The second record always defines a band, I'm proud as hell of this release. Metal, punk, and hardcore all held together by the power flow of SenDog spitting mad verses all over it! The album is the best of Cypress Hill, Biohazard, and Fear Factory, all combined into one massive beating! We even have a bit of BillyBio mixed into the fray."

As for the title track and first single, he continues, "I finished working on the song but felt it needed something else. After working on some ideas, I wasn't feeling it so I called up buddy Ernie C from Body Count to see if he was down for helping me out. He came into the studio, loved the vibe and laid down some pure fire! That became the title track and the first single!"  

POWERFLO combine the passionate, chaotic, and authentic urgency of a brand-new band with the unrivaled experience of its trailblazing members. All the members are genre giants who shaped heavy music and hip-hop and continue to innovate in this band. Their collective creative fingerprints are all over subculture, including early mashups of hardcore and rap, metal and industrial, and more. 

"Powerflo's mix of agit-rap, thrash metal, and punk attitude is a revelation to those who only know Sen Dog from his Cypress Hill joints," wrote long-running metal tastemaker Revolver. "His vocals are clear and sharp, and he drives the band's full-throttle crunch like a natural-born frontman.
Powerflo are energetic, pissed off, and built to last, with bite and hooks. 

The blistering second album, Gorilla Warfare, is a full-circle moment for the guys and the genre.

The groundbreaking Judgment Night soundtrack, released in 1993, was an early building block of the rap-metal mashups to come and featured both Cypress Hill and Biohazard. Sen appeared on Biohazard’s classic third album, State of the World Address (1994). Christian appears on Cypress Hill's Skull & Bones (2000) and Stoned Raiders (2001) and performed as part of their live band many times. 

Powerflo's self-titled debut arrived in 2017. Produced and recorded by Billy and mixed by Tue Madsen (Meshuggah, Dark Tranquility, Sick Of It All), the second album came together with even more confidence, ambition, and fearlessness.Gorilla Warfare cements Powerflo as a heavy hitter with a bright future and career, even as it brings its members full circle with a genre they helped pioneer. 

As Billy points out, "The three of us are survivors. We've experienced many great times and challenges. Powerflo is so enjoyable because we have a blast doing this band together."

Mörk Gryning Announce New Album ' Fasornas Tid'

"Those still piercing yet classy staccato riffs blazing through the northern sky will satisfy even the most jaded fan of classic Swedish black metal" - Louder Sound

"Worth the fifteen year wait" -  Metal Insider

A band back on the scene with high-quality work. Welcome back, demons! - This Is Black Metal

Ever since they emerged with one of the genre's most important - and imposing - milestones in 1993, Mörk Gryning have stood as a shining example for the raw and timeless spirit of Swedish black metal. Not even a 15-year hiatus could slow this band's unbridled fury from igniting the underground.

Now that they've returned, Mörk Gryning are more active than ever. Today, the band are announcing  their seventh album. Fasornas Tid pays a brutal homage to the scene's raw ferocity and ageless spirit with a dystopian symphony that's driven by an insatiable hunger for self-destruction. Lead single "Tornet" will test even the most battle-tested metalhead's with its blackened passage through psychological hell. 

Listen to "Tornet" Below.

Fasornas Tid is out December 13th on Season of Mist.

Pre-save & Pre-order

https://orcd.co/morkgryningfasornastid

"Tornet" storms ahead with unbridled fury. Featuring savage guest vocals from AVSLUT's C, the lead single off Mörk Gryning's new album seethes with the venom of death metal and melodic black metal. Meaning "The Tower" in English, the song symbolizes the ultimate torment, with the band rising to test the very threshold of suffering.  

Line-up:
DRAAKH KIMERA – Lead Vocals, Guitar
GOTH GORGON – Bass, Backing vocals, Lead Vocals on “Det Svarta”
S-L – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
C-G – Drums
AEON – Keyboards, Backing Vocals

Recording Studio:
Wing Studios, Stockholm, Sweden

Production Credits:
Produced by Sverker Widgren & Mörk Gryning
Mixed & Mastered at Wing Studios, Stockholm by Sverker Widgren

Guest Musician:
C of AVSLUT on "Tornet" & "An Ancient Ancestor Of The Autumn Moon"

Cover Art:
C-G

Pre-save & Pre-order

https://orcd.co/morkgryningfasornastid

Follow Mörk Gryning:
Bandcamp: https://morkgryning.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morkgryningband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morkgryning/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/135tanf7FBI7ozrU3RelCX
Apple Music: http://music.apple.com/artist/m%C3%B6rk-gryning/75786010
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3616372
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/es/artist/62666

GRAND MAGUS - Release Lyric Video For New Single 'The Wheel Of Pain'

Today, battle-hardened heavy metal warriors GRAND MAGUS have released 'The Wheel Of Pain', which is the second single from their upcoming 10th studio album, Sunraven. 

Sunraven will be released on October 18th through Nuclear Blast Records and conceptually deals with the legendary poem Beowulf, an ancient tale of epic proportions about heroes and monsters, honor and bravery, victory and defeat. In short, themes that have always played an important role in the lyrical concept of GRAND MAGUS.

JB (vocals & guitar) commented:
“The album is about Beowulf and Grendel. In essence, Sunraven is Beowulf, and that’s my own invention. But some of the songs are written about and from the perspective of Beowulf, and some of the songs are written about and from the perspective of Grendel, the monster he faces in Denmark. That kind of steered me and carried me through the lyrical process this time. I’ve never done anything like this before. I’ve always been fascinated by that tale. These myths and legends are about all the basic things that we sing about – life, death, glory, dishonor, love, hate, overcoming difficulties, facing impossible opposition and so on.”

PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE THE NEW ALBUM SUNRAVEN:
https://grandmagus.bfan.link/sunraven.ema

LISTEN TO THE SINGLE 'THE WHEEL OF PAIN': 
https://grandmagus.bfan.link/the-wheel-of-pain.ema

WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO FOR 'THE WHEEL OF PAIN' BELOW.

Sunraven is available in the following formats:

Jewelcase CD

Gatefold LP (Solid Gold)
Gatefold LP (Orange & Yellow Sunburst)

Digital Album

ABOUT GRAND MAGUS

Not every band can be 100 percent authentic and true. Not every band has the necessary cojones to summon the spirit of heavy metal. But GRAND MAGUS are not every band. A trio of windswept warriors, driven by the belief in the power of this ageless music that so many of us consider a real-world lifeline, they return in 2024 with glad tidings of heroism and valor.
 
Over the course of 25 years, the Swedish trio have established themselves as stoic standard bearers for heavy metal in its purest, most triumphant form. From their early years as honorary combatants in the doom scene, GRAND MAGUS have grown in confidence and stature with every passing year. Initially signed to legendary UK imprint Rise Above Records, they released acclaimed albums like 2003’s Monument and 2005’s fiery breakthrough opus Wolf’s Return, and garnered effusive plaudits for live shows that always resounded with the thump of metal’s beating heart.
 
Later signed to first Roadrunner and then Nuclear Blast Records, GRAND MAGUS have marched on through the decades with their now trademark sign a continual benchmark for red-blooded heaviness. Bulging with fresh anthems, albums like Triumph & Power (2014) and Sword Songs(2016) took the band to new heights, as their status as a thunderous, rabble-rousing live band continued to grow. In 2019, the ninth studio album Wolf God put the seal on a second decade of active service, and GRAND MAGUS set off on tour as 2020 dawned; only to be confronted with a worldwide Covid shutdown that might have even spelled the end for Stockholm’s finest.

When work finally began on the tenth GRAND MAGUS album, JB made tentative steps towards something bigger and better than past achievements. With a final deadline waiting at the end of 2023, he began to piece together some ideas in January, slowly forming the backbone of what would become the new GRAND MAGUS album, Sunraven. After reconvening with bassist Fox and drummer Ludwig Witt in Halmstad, Sweden, the new songs swiftly came to life.

Not just the tenth GRAND MAGUS full-length, but their first bona fide concept album, Sunravenis a full-bore return to the heavy metal might of Wolf God and Sword Songs, but with an underlying story that adds greater depth to the Swedes’ earthy bombast. Made manifest via a gritty but grandiose production courtesy of the band and co-producer Staffan Karlsson, Sunravenwas inspired by the revered Old English epic poem of Beowulf. In true heavy metal style, these nine new songs dive deep into heroic fantasy, but with the same real-world resonances that are scorched into the genre’s calloused skin.

Iodine to Release Onelinedrawing "Scan Anxiety" 7"

Jonah Matranga has been making music for over 30 years. A prolific artist, he has become an enduring institution in the scene with a devoted fan base, rich lineage, and varied career that has straddled the line between the underground and mainstream. His work is so far-reaching that it has been lauded far and wide, from Pitchfork to EW, and lots of everything in between!

Matranga has always written from the heart and performed in an intimate way that can't be replicated. This is most apparent in his solo yet collaborative project Onelinedrawing. 

Iodine Recordings will release the Onelinedrawing "Scan Anxiety" 7" physically on October 11. It will be available digitally upon pre-save/pre-order, which can be done here. It features the original track "Scan Anxiety" and a cover of Phoebe Bridgers' "Chinese Satellite." As OLD fans know, you can expect the unexpected when it comes to Matranga's covers, as he has offered his take on songs by The Sugarcubes, 7 Seconds, Jawbox, and more over the years. 

Watch the "Scan Anxiety" video below.

Overall, Matranga says, "'Scan Anxiety' was written for someone in a desperate situation. I don't know what 'Chinese Satellites' was written about, but it feels similar somehow. If these songs find you feeling overwhelmed and help you through to a more serene place, that's what they were meant to do."

He further explained his MO for pairing these songs on the 7", saying, "I've loved making unique recordings for decades now, and that's how 'Scan Anxiety' started. Some people were putting together a collection of songs for their friend who was going through cancer, and they asked me to be part of it... I just fell in love with the song, and wanted it in the world one way or another. Even though it was written about someone else's story, it became really personal for me. 'Chinese Satellite' started as a unique recording too, it's just a gorgeous tune with a haunting lyric. I'll sing any song like that forever, whether I wrote it or not. I hope that Phoebe, Conor, and Marshall dig it."

TOUR DATES:
10/17 — Holy Frijoles — Baltimore MD
10/18 — Avenue Coffee — Lock Haven PA
10/19 — Bull House —  Mechanicsburg PA
10/20 — Leonard House — Southbury CT

Charlotte Sands Teams Up With Sumerian Comics To Drop Cover of AFI Hit, "Miss Murder"

Pop-rock artist, Charlotte Sands is the latest addition to the laundry list of diverse talent contributing to the official soundtrack for Sumerian Comics' 'American Psycho' comic book series with the release today of her take on the AFI mega-hit "Miss Murder". Listen to the song HERE and watch the official music video below.

Speaking on her contribution to the soundtrack and tackling a cover of such huge song, Charlotte shares

"I am so grateful to get to be a part of such an incredible project alongside so many artists I love and so many songs that have been such an enormous part of my life. I grew up listening to “Miss Murder” and I’m so humbled to have gotten to create my own version of it and imagine an entirely new world for it to exist in. I enjoyed every single moment of this process and couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to help me bring it all to life."

Nathan Yocum, President of Sumerian Comics, adds:

“We’re beyond excited to have Charlotte Sands reimagine AFI's iconic track ‘Miss Murder’ for our American Psycho comic book series soundtrack. Her signature blend of edgy pop and rock breathes new life into the song, capturing the dark, rebellious essence of both the track and the series in a way that is undeniably powerful.”

The 'American Psycho' comic book series by Sumerian Comics is a bold reimagining of Patrick Bateman’s notorious saga. The five-issue series delves into a dual storyline format; one tracing the chilling exploits of Bateman, and the other introducing a contemporary narrative featuring Charlene Carruthers—a social media-savvy millennial whose descent into violence mirrors the chilling escalation of her predecessor. This innovative take reinterprets the iconic tale with a story written by Michael Calero (Quested), vivid artwork by Piotr Kowalski (The Witcher, Bloodborne, Sex) and striking colors by Brad Simpson (Kong of Skull Island, Stray Dogs, Blade Runner Origins).

Today's release joins previously released tracks from the likes of Royal & The Serpent who tackled Leadbelly classic "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", Carpenter Brut feat. Krystoffer Rygg who released a cover of Billy Idol's "Eyes Without A Face", Ice Nine Kills feat. Reel Big Fish, who gave the Katrina and The Waves smash hit, "Walking On Sunshine" the ska punk treatment, Puscifer, who recorded a brand new, original single, "The Algorithm" for the comic book series, Unlike Pluto who covered Eurythmics "Sweet Dreams",Perturbator, who covered "Dangerous" by Depeche Mode and Ramsey, who covered Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night". Between them, the previously released tracks have racked up over 6.1 million streams with current sales for the comic book series topping 80,000 units.

Fans of the 'American Psycho' franchise can look forward to more from the accompanying soundtrack for the comic book series that perfectly complements the visual frenzy and deepens the narrative's impact, making each issue a multifaceted experience of sight and sound. Head to the Sumerian Comics website for more information and to order your copies of 'American Psycho'.

About Sumerian Comics

Sumerian is an American comic book and graphic novel publisher headed up by Behemoth Comics co-founders Nathan Yocum and Ryan Swanson, alongside Sumerian Records founder and film director Ash Avildsen. Sumerian’s titles are distributed worldwide by Diamond Comic Distributors to the comic market and Simon & Schuster to the book market. Sumerian averages over half a million physical comic books sold yearly.

About Charlotte Sands

Charlotte Sands isn’t afraid to speak or play loud. In November of 2020, she leaked a song called "Dress" that she wrote about Harry Styles wearing a dress on the cover of Vogue. Within hours, the song became an anthem of self-expression for thousands (now, millions) of listeners across the globe.

The electric-blue-haired singer/songwriter’s musical career didn’t start with the overnight success of a viral song. At 18, she stole her mom's car, found a roommate on Craigslist, and left her home in Hopkinton, MA for Nashville, TN, with a plan to take a year off of school before attending Berklee College of Music. She never went back.

In the years leading up to her debut album can we start over?, released early 2024, Sands has been prolific – constantly releasing music, charting at Top 40 Radio in the US as an independent artist for over 15 weeks, nominations for Breakthrough Artist at A2IM’s Libera Awards, taking home an award at London’s Heavy Music Awards, and touring with legendary acts like My Chemical Romance and 5 Seconds Of Summer.

Through it all, Sands remains true to her personal mission of “creating a safe space for all to feel accepted and celebrated for their weirdness and diversity.” And as evident by the overwhelmingly positive comments that flood her social media, her fans take pride in championing her as they recognize how she champions them.

OCEANS OF SLUMBER Premiere New Album

"Another album that firmly deserves its place among the pantheon" - Metal Hammer

"Simultaneously the heaviest and most melodic record they have ever made...Oceans of Slumber have given the best possible reply to those that questioned their vision. Where Gods Fear to Speak is a deeply moving and monstrously heavy next chapter in one of modern metal's most fascinating stories" - Blabbermouth (9/10)

"Where Gods Fear to Speak continues their astonishing streak of encapsulating, rich albums that take you to another plane of reality" - Distorted Sound (8/10)

"Serves as yet another reminder as to why they deserve so much more" - No Clean Singing

"It will confront your will. It will expand your mind. It will pull at your heart" - The Prog Mind (9/10)

"The delicate balance of rhythmic bombast and melodies that keep you wanting more is a chemistry that is hard to find but the collective members in Oceans of Slumber have me stunned" - No Echo

"At the end of the day, this still sounds like an Oceans of Slumber record, it's just a record that has a lot more heaviness while still keeping those nuances alive and well. - A&P Reacts

"Another stunning release in a stunning run of albums" - The Razors Edge

"A stellar album, packed with the highest quality doom-drenched progressive metal, and rich in depth and feeling" - Wonder Box Metal

Despite the many accolades that they've received over the past decade, Oceans of Slumber have never rested on their laurels. The Houston heavies have come to redefine the Southern Gothic by casting their tales of hope and despair against an ever-shifting backdrop of progressive metal. While it was produced by their long-time collaborator and GRAMMY nominee Joel Hamilton, the band's sixth album and first for Season of Mist expands their vision to dark, cinematic new heights.

"A vengeful prog metal monster that needs to be heard", Metal Hammer writes in a four-star review.

Where Gods Fear to Speak comes out tomorrow, Friday, September 13, but you can hear all ten monumental songs today by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.  

Listen to Where Gods Fear to Speak below.

Where Gods Fear to Speak comes out September 13 on Season of Mist. 

Pre-order & Stream

​https://orcd.co/oceansofslumberwheregodsfeartospeakalbum

Oceans of Slumber defy any and all conventions. Where Gods Fear to Speak opens with more of the sultry, doom metal headbanging that the band's long-time acolytes have come to expect, but the album's spellbinding title track breaks entirely new ground. Punishing blast beats and a blackened torrent of melodic tremolo picking collide with powerhouse cleans, a skyrocketing guitar solo and synths that swirl like the aura of a mystical planet.

So what are we to call this otherworldly occurrence?

"Dark cinematic metal" says the band's maestro Dobber Beverly. Underground metalheads will always recognize him as the drummer for grindcore legends Insect Warfare, but Dobber is a classically trained pianist who composed every grand note on Where Gods Fear to Speak. "We've taken the raw and heavier direction of our last two albums and elevated it to the scale of a blockbuster IMAX movie".

Staying true to Ocean of Slumber's irreverent musings, Where Gods Fear to Speak takes more inspiration from The Handmaid's Tale, The Dark Tower and Cormac McCarthy than it does Opeth. Each song acts as another gripping plot twist along a narrative arc that's part science fiction, part western gunslinger with a heavy dose of post-apocalyptic romance. Lead single "Poem of Ecstasy" splices together an album's worth of stand-out moments into its own mini-epic, cutting from a moonlight piano sonata to outlaw country, doom-laden power metal and what can only be described as "dystopian grindcore".

"I'll do everything to stay by your side" frontwoman Cammie Beverly belts, her cleans pushing back against the charging blast beats like a force field.

Performing such a radical play on extreme metal requires a talented cast of characters. Dobber's Necrofier bandmate Semir Ozerkan adds heat with harsh backing vocals and warm but bruising bass fills, while co-guitarists Alex Davis and Chris Kritikos roar through Where Gods Fear to Speak like a sandstorm. The album also gets a lift from two special guests. Moonspell's Fernando Ribeiro casts his big bad shadow over the chugging, rumbling "Run From the Light". Amidst a spirited tug of war between distorted tremolo picking and folksy acoustic strumming, "Prayer" is visited by gothic angel Mikael Stanne of Dark Tranquility. 

Even with all that talent on display, Oceans of Slumber still cede the spotlight to their leading lady. Cammie has always possessed one of the strongest voices in metal. Even though the album was recorded a cool 8,000 feet above sea level in  Bogotá, Colombia, the grueling altitude couldn't stop her bottomless belt from scaling the slippery crush of "The Given Dream". But Where Gods Fear to Speak has her flexing a guttural new muscle. 

"I've always wanted to do death growls", Cammie says. "Where Gods Fear to Speak presented the perfect opportunity. Mixing harsh vocals in with my cleans speaks to the internal struggle between pleasure and pain that's at the heart of this album".  

To celebrate Where Gods Fear to Speak, Oceans of Slumber are playing an album release show for their hometown fans. They'll be joined at Houston's Scout Bar by their friends in Anova Skyway, Dyer Infernum and Metropolis Burning.

"Crowds really took to the new songs when we were on tour earlier this year with New Years Day and Lacuna Coil", Dobber says. "We're excited to play more songs off the album for the very first time during what'll be our final show of the year".

Where Gods Fear to Speak Record Release Show
Saturday, October 19 - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar [TICKETS]

Later this month, the band are saddling up with their fellow Houston heavies in Necrofier for a fiery performance at Metal Injection Festival.  

"We are thrilled to celebrate Metal Injection's 20th anniversary at this year's festival", says Cammie. "We'll be sharing the stage with amazing bands like Jinjer, Converge, God Forbid, 3 Inches of Blood, Hanabie, Cave In, Rivers of Nihil and our good friends in Necrofier. We can't wait to rock out with you and hit the streets of New York City". 

Metal Injection Festival
Sunday, September 22 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Monarch & Meadows [TICKETS]

Lineup
Cammie Beverly - vocals
Dobber Beverly- drums, piano
Semir Ozerkan - bass
Alex Davis - guitar
Chris Kritikos - guitar, synth

Recording
Audiovision Studios in Bogotá, Columbia
Assistant engineering at Audiovision by Deyra Castillo and David Dueñas Piña

Production
Produced and engineered by Joel Hamilton
Mixed by Joel Hamilton at Studio G in Brooklyn, New York
Additional engineering by Chris Kritikos
Assistant engineering by Justin Termotto

Artwork
Giannis Nakos - Remedy Art Design

Biography
Dom Lawson

Follow Oceans of Slumber
https://oceansofslumber.com/
https://oceansofslumber.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/oceansofslumber/
https://www.instagram.com/oceansofslumber/?hl=en
https://www.youtube.com/user/oceansofslumber
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2JSza6IRxLr1Ez3wqKd0SY?si=aWrsTRHCSCemMNRQaSk5tw

Pre-order & Stream

​https://orcd.co/oceansofslumberwheregodsfeartospeakalbum

Dead Icarus announce debut album 'Zealot'

Dead Icarus , the new band of former Atreyu lead vocalist and Gold-selling artist Alex Varkatzas, as well as Gabe Mangold of Enterprise Earth and Brandon Zackey, are thrilled to announce their debut album ZEALOT. It will arrive October 31 via MNRK HEAVY.

Produced and co-written by Mangold, ZEALOT is a precise and pummeling execution of airtight technical riffs, miles of solos, blast beat assault and battery, and screamed, growled, and sung vocals.

Today, the band has shared the video for the latest single "Bearing Burdens and Saving Skin."

The song (spin) kicks off with furious hardcore energy and evolves with guttural death growls and monster, chunky breakdowns.

"I couldn't be more excited and proud to shared our first full length album ZEALOT with the world," Varkatzas says. "To be a 'ZEALOT' means to be fanatical and uncompromisingly devoted to one's beliefs. A lot of emotion and energy went into its crafting. I worked very hard to step up my vocal performance and really committed to holding nothing back and trying new things in order to match the dynamic nature of the songs."

He continues, "We kick things off with 'Bearing Burdens and Saving Skin,' a fast, chaotic, catchy ripper. Lyrically, the song deals with dishonesty and unrelenting revenge. We match it with a dark and wild video by MyGoodEyeVisuals, which was shot in a cemetery inside a haunted house and serves as a precursor to the subsequent videos we have in the works. Be ready, we are just getting started..."

Dead Icarus leans on the uncanny creative union between vocalist Varkatzas, guitarist and producer Gabe Mangold, and drummer Brandon Zackey. The band truly gets its wings from the undying commitment made by its members. The musicians pursue their artistry with a resolute sense of focus, manifesting in the precise execution of airtight technical riffs, virtuosic solos, blast beat assault and battery, and hard-hitting vocals. 

Countless fans worldwide initially got to know Varkatzas as co-founder and original frontman for influential Southern California metalcore stalwarts Atreyu. After two decades earmarked by chart-shaking success, a pair of Gold albums and Gold singles, sold-out shows around the globe, and critical renown, he embarked on his next chapter in 2020. Enter Mangold. Celebrated as guitarist for Enterprise Earth, he and Alex instantly clicked and forged a musical partnership, yielding their 2024-released Ad infernum EP. Inciting critical applause, Revolver promised, "Fans of old-school Atreyu will definitely enjoy."

Dead Icarus will also embark on their first tour this September with Enterprise Earth and Nekrogoblikon. All dates are below. More worldwide touring is planned for 2025 and beyond.

We Are PIGS + Souleye Drop "GHOST TOWN" Visualizer

eptember 6 will see the release of "Ghost Town," a result of the alt know-how of Esjay Jones and the hip-hop stylings of Souleye, creating an ultra-addictive single that will have heads banging around the world. 

WATCH THE VISUALIZER BELOW.

Souleye (husband of seven-time Grammy-winning Canadian singer/songwriter Alanis Morissette) has an impressive resume. Having been referred to as "one of the most inventive hip-hop artists of his generation" by The Source, his passion for the genre can be traced back to his formative years, as an adolescent in New England, who would record episodes of Yo! MTV Raps on his boombox. He began freestyling and writing songs in his mid-teens, and at 20, he was bestowed with the name "Souleye" during a shamanic visualization meditation. Throughout the course of his career, Souleye has been viewed as a genre-bending act, as evidenced by his longevity and his discography, which features a dozen studio albums! Furthermore, he has collaborated with numerous artists, including his wife, Alanis Morissette, and various hip-hop and electronic music artists, such as Sunspot Jonz and Random Rab.

Collaborator and Grammy-featured producer Esjay Jones is perhaps one of the busiest and tenacious women in all of the music industry. Having worked with everyone from Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins, Brian "Head" Welch of Korn, and Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction to the late, great Chester Bennington, Jones consistently has her finger on the pulse of what makes a song pop in any genre. Not only does she have a stranglehold on the rock world, but with business partner and Kittie frontwoman, Morgan Lander, Esjay Jones has also stepped into the world of non-alcoholic beverages. Their creation, specifically crafted for heavy music lovers everywhere, KittiePIG, is a non-alcoholic beer that is making waves within the hardrock venues and bars around the country. Promising "All Headbang, No Hangover," there has never (ever) been a better tasting, or more badass can of bubbles to hit the market. For more info on KittiePIG and wholesale purchasing, go here! 

Souleye and Esjay will join forces for a second time beyond their massive song collaboration by launching the first-ever SOULEYE FEST on October 26 at Four-Twenty Bank in Palm Springs. The "can't miss" event is complimentary and embraces art, music, and plant- based medicines. So there's something for everyone and is a great way to spend the day. Additionally, Souleye will also release his 13th studio album, Floating In Plasma, that night.

JOHN DOUGLAS marks 20-year anniversary of TRASHCAN SINATRAS 'Weightlifting' with new video. Headline North American tour begins Oct. 1

Acclaimed Scottish troubadour John Douglas, presents a live rendition of 'Weightlifting', commemorating the landmark Trashcan Sinatras album released 20 years ago this week. The offering also previews Douglas' forthcoming 'Lost in North America Tour - Part One', an intimate snapshot of the talent, charisma and depth of this celebrated songsmith. 

Throughout October, Douglas takes to American stages, showcasing original material and new recordings of fave Trashcan Sinatras' material. Joined for West coast and Midwest dates by Lily Vakili of Vakili Band, he is joined for East Coast dates by award-winning singer-songwriter Lauren Calve. Further, attendees of two special shows will be treated to guest appearances by fellow Trashcan Sinatras Frank Reader and Paul Livingston in Seattle, with Reader also joining Douglas in LA.

"'Weightlifting' was a milestone record in our journey. It took us a long time to make that record due to various hilarious sidetracks, including adventures in Japan with us as a six-piece band, and many many strung out, aimless days and nights in our adopted home of Kilmarnock, Scotland, a mad detour attempting to record in Hartford, USA (skillfully avoiding the nightly gunshots), and even a meeting with the landed gentry in Ayr County Court, where our banishment from the land of honest toil was finally ended," says John Douglas.

"We returned from all those adventures with songs - songs of love, loss, redemption, forgiveness, bravado, friendship, wisdom, peace and tranquility. Songs that we swore ourselves to... and here we are 20 years on and it looks like we somehow built them to last. Somehow, from the chaotic depths, we found ourselves at the top of our game. It’s a miracle of a record."

It's been a fine year for Douglas, including a UK headlining tour, releasing his eponymous debut album via Reveal Records, UK Top-40 charting of Trashcan Sinatras' reissued album 'Cake' (33 years since it debuted), and a new Trashcan Sinatras documentary, produced by award-winning Irish journalist Ken Sweeney, which also features Douglas performing beloved Trashcans' songs.

'Weightlifting' is the second instalment in Douglas' 'Me & Midnight Sessions’, following 'Oranges & Apples'. Earlier, he shared live videos for 'I Just Want To Go Home', 'Lost', 'I'm Not The Fella', 'Always' and 'Leave Me Alone' - all tracks from his debut album, recorded with renowned producer Mark Freegard (New Model Army, Lush, The Breeders, Del Amitri, Marillion).

Douglas shares, "This video was filmed in Ibrox, Glasgow in a flat that was once shared by a young couple, who had come to the end of their time together. On the night of my filming, I had helped one of them move out the final pieces of furniture and accompanied them as they said goodbye to what they used to call home. I returned later, on my own, to the now empty flat... just before midnight... and filmed  myself singing what felt like a very appropriate song. A bittersweet night that will hopefully allow a healing to begin and for pain to be left behind. I changed the lyric a little to suit the mood."

John Douglas' debut album is available on CD and digitally via Bandcamp, as well as from fine online platforms. His 'Lost in North America Tour - Part One' kicks off in Los Angeles on October 1.

TOUR DATES
October 1   LOS ANGELES - Hotel Cafe  *
(Special guest appearance by Trashcan Sinatras' Frank Reader)
October 2   SAN FRANCISCO - The Lost Church  *
October 4   PORTLAND - Mission Theater  *
October 5   SEATTLE - Ballard Homestead, Fremont Abbey  *
(Special guest appearance by Trashcan Sinatras' Frank Reader & Paul Livingston)
October 7   SALT LAKE CITY - The Beehive  *
October 8    DENVER - Mercury Cafe, Jungle Room  *
October 10  KANSAS CITY - Knuckleheads  *
October 11   MINNEAPOLIS - Icehouse MPLS  *
October 12   CHICAGO - GMan Tavern **
October 15   TORONTO - The Monarch  **
October 16   CLEVELAND - Beachland Tavern  **
October 17   COLUMBUS - Natalie's Grandview  **
October 19   BOSTON - City Winery Boston  **
October 20   NEW YORK - Cafe Wha?  **
October 21   PHILADELPHIA - City Winery Loft  **

* with Lily Vakili of Vakili Band
** with Lauren Calve


Keep up with John Douglas 
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Keep up with Reveal Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud  

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New music from Reece Young

1349 Premieres Blistering New Single, "Inferior Pathways"

True Norwegian black metal horde 1349 will be releasing their eighth full-length, 'The Wolf and the King,' on October 4, 2024 via Season of Mist! The Norwegian horde is now unleashing the latest offering from the record, "Inferior Pathways," which can be heard below.

1349 frontman Ravn comments, "With this single, some might say we have saved the best for last. I say that 'Inferior Pathways' is the perfection of quintessential 1349 executed in the darkest and most sinister way.”

The forthcoming offering was mastered by Jarrett Pritchard and produced and mixed by Prichard & 1349 frontman Ravn at NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P.

Pre-order for 'The Wolf and the King' are now live HERE.

Recorded at Amper Tone in Oslo, Norway, and New Constellation R.M.P. in Orlando, Florida, The Wolf and the King was produced and mixed by Ravn and Jarrett Pritchard (Eulogy, Pulchra Morte), the band’s long-standing sonic wizard who also worked on their previous two albums. The lyrics were written by the band’s longtime wordsmith, Svartalv, who has been working with 1349 for twenty years.

Jordan Barlow’s elaborate artwork for The Wolf and the King reflects the album’s chronological position in 1349’s discography. “This is our eighth album, and the artwork and lyrics are filled with references to this number of infinity,” Ravn explains. “You can basically go on a quest finding references to the number in the artwork.” 

All told, The Wolf and the King is the exalted output of the joint force that is 1349. “We all work together to make the best black metal possible every time we release an album,” Ravn says. “This is our common goal. We’re a band on a mission.” 

1349 Lineup:

Archaon - Guitars

Frost - Drums

Ravn - Vocals

Seidemann - Bass

Recording Studio:

Amper Tone (Oslo, Norway) & NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P. (Orlando, USA)

Production Credits:

Produced by Jarrett Pritchard & Ravn

Mixed by Jarrett Pritchard & Ravn at NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P.

Mastered by Jarrett Pritchard at NEW CONSTELLATION R.M.P.

Cover Art: Jordan Barlow

Bio: J. Bennett

Pre-Order // Stream: https://orcd.co/1349thewolfandtheking

Links:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

X

Apple Music

Spotify

Dark Tranquillity Announce 25th Anniversary Vinyl Re-issue Of "Projector" + On Tour Now!🤘

Gothenburg's iconic melodic death metal pioneers Dark Tranquillity have not only just successfully released their 13th studio album Endtime Signals via Century Media Records, but are also pleased to announce a long overdue vinyl re-issue of their fourth album Projector from 1999.

Projector, which also marked the beginning of Dark Tranquillity's long-standing relationship with Century Media Records as their worldwide record company partners and the band's first release to receive a nomination for a Swedish Grammis Award, saw the group explore a more diverse and atmospheric side to their ever relevant and constantly progressing melodic death metal approach, making the album a total fan-favorite and a special release to finally re-visit with a new vinyl edition in order to celebrate its 25th anniversary. 

Originally recorded with Fredrik Nordström at Gothenburg's Studio Fredman (In Flames, Arch Enemy, At The Gates, etc.), the album's main 10 songs now come with a fresh 2024 vinyl remaster crafted by Dan Swanö at Unisound (Opeth, Katatonia, Edge Of Sanity).

The new Projector (Re-issue 2024) vinyl version will be released on November 1 with pre-order starting today for the following three available variants:

— Ltd. brick red LP — All outlets
— Ltd. neon orange LP — 300x copies available from Bengans, EMP & Napalm Records
— Ltd. transp. sun yellow LP — 300x copies available from cmdistro.de & various other retailers

Pre-orders are live here.

Dark Tranquillity's newest album Endtime Signals has been recently released to much acclaim and entered international official album sales charts as follows:
Germany #6, Switzerland #5, Austria #7, Sweden #13, Finland #15, Spain #84.

Get Endtime Signals here.

Dark Tranquillity have just kicked off a North American co-headline tour with Amorphis in support of their newest album Endtime Signals and have a European headlining tour ahead as well.

DARK TRANQUILLITY ON TOUR:
9/9 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall
9/10 — Dallas, TX — Trees
9/11 — San Antonio, TX — The Rock Box
9/13 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
9/14 — San Diego, CA — Brick By Brick
9/15— Los Angeles, CA — Echoplex
9/17 — San Francisco, CA — DNA Lounge
9/18 — Roseville, CA — Goldfields Roseville
9/20 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
9/21 — Vancouver, BC — Rickshaw Theatre
9/22 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
9/24 — Salt Lake City, UT — Metro
9/26 — Denver, CO — Marquis Theatre
9/27 — Lawrence, KS — Bottleneck
9/28 — Minneapolis, MN — The Cabooze
9/29 — Joliet, IL — The Forge
10/1 — Toronto, ON — Opera House
10/2 — Montreal, QC — Fairmount Theatre
10/3 — Quebec City, QC — La Source de la Martinière
10/4 — Cambridge, MA — The Middle East Down
10/5 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage
10/6 — New York, NY — Gramercy Theatre

DARK TRANQUILLITY ARE:
Mikael Stanne — Vocals
Johan Reinholdz — Guitar
Martin Brändström — Electronics
Christian Jansson — Bass
Joakim Strandberg Nilsson — Drums

NEW COUNTRY DUO HEARTWRECKERS SIGNS PUBLISHING DEAL WITH BMG

New country duo Heartwreckers, Brock Butler and Ryan Garrett, have signed a new publishing deal with BMG. 

The duo released its debut EP, Shut Up And Drink, on Friday, June 28 following a run of shows kicked off by opening the 28th Annual Key West Songwriters Festival Presented by BMI, nine performance dates supporting Denmark’s Nashville Nights Spring Tour ‘24, and the UK’s Buckles & Boots Music Fest. Butler and Garrett returned stateside to join Tim McGraw on his Standing Room Only summer arena tour, with special guest Carly Pearce, performing to capacity arena crowds in Chicago, Kansas City and more.

Scott Siman, President of EM.Co (management for Tim McGraw and publishing partner for Heartwreckers) says, “I’m looking forward to the world discovering Heartwreckers’ music. Brock and Ryan are each powerhouses on their own, and together their writing and performing just goes to another level."

Tim McGraw, also a publishing partner on Heartwreckers, adds, “The guys were awesome on the tour this year and I’m thrilled we could partner up with BMG Publishing.”

Chris Oglesby, VP, Publishing, BMG Nashville, says, “Ryan and Brock are strong vocalists and performers in a live setting but what sets these two apart as Heartwreckers is their depth of talent as songwriters. They have tapped into what connects with listeners; there’s a rawness and vulnerability that balances the ‘in your face’ truth-telling songs they’re becoming known for. They understand their craft and are dedicated to growing as artists and writers. We couldn’t be more thrilled to partner with Scott, Tim and team EM.Co on what I believe will be an enduring career.”

Heartwreckers’ debut EP Shut Up And Drink is a collection of five envelope-pushing country songs produced by Andrew Baylis (Jelly Roll, Austin Snell) that caps off a banner summer for the Texas natives who’ve been featured on “The Paul Finebaum Show,” in Hook & Barrel Magazine, Toledo Blade and Today’s Country Magazine. The duo has earned playlisting on Spotify’s New Music Friday Country, COUNTRY, and Next From Nashville.

In March, Heartwreckers’ third single “All Goes South” was chosen by ESPN for its SEC Network college baseball season theme. 

The duo says, “The Shut Up And Drink EP is a collection of stories written about our personal experiences. The songs are true stories about making the best out of any situation, all while dealing with the struggles of heartbreak, mental health and addiction.”

Listen to Shut Up And Drink HERE.

Photo ID (L-R): Jackie Martinez Marushka, Marushka Media; James Stewart, EM.Co; Matt Cottingham, Partner, Lewis Brisbois; Scott Siman, President, EM.Co; Brock Butler and Ryan Garrett, Heartwreckers; Joe Carter, Carter & Company; Keith Lazorchak, Hard 8 Working Group; Mike Taliaferro, Taliaferro Entertainment; Chris Oglesby, VP, Publishing, BMG Nashville; Amy Scott, Director, Artists & Repertoire, BMG Nashville; and Camryn Clark, Manager, Artists & Repertoire, BMG Nashville
Photo Credit: Paula Nelson, BMG 

George Strait’s New Album, COWBOYS AND DREAMERS, Arrives

It’s been 15 years since The New York Times distinguished George Strait as “a country superstar in complete command of his gift,” and with the arrival of his 31st studio album for MCA, Cowboys And Dreamers, that statement rings just as true today. Filled with classic country honky-tonkers about drinkin’ and not thinkin’ as well as sad songs and ballads about loss and cheatin’, listen to the album Cowboys & Indians Magazine notes is “​​a cornucopia of trad-country-arrangement beauty,”.

Dedicated to three of Strait’s very good, longtime friends and collaborators who he lost this year – manager Erv Woolsey, road manager Tom Foote and fiddler Gene Elders who plays on four tracks on this album – the Texas Troubadour shared, “I will never forget all of the good times we had together.”

Produced by Chuck Ainlay, who has been mixing Strait records since 1985, Tony Brown (Strait’s 1993’s Easy Come, Easy Go; 2008’s Troubadour) and Strait, the album’s title comes from a song penned by Jessie Jo Dillon, Keith Gattis and Bubba Strait. 

“It is a really cool song,” shared Strait of the title track. “So cool that I thought that I should name the whole album after it. And sometimes I feel like the last of a dying breed trying to find where I fit. That pretty much says it all. ‘Somewhere between high on top of the world, and fighting with calling it quits.’” While the Keith Gattis reaffirming “Wish I Could Say” offers, ‘Wish I could tell you how the world ain’t ended, And how it’s all going to be ok.’

The follow-up to Honky Tonk Time Machine, Strait’s 27th No. 1 Billboard Country album, Cowboys And Dreamers, named “album of the week” by Associated Press, features 13 new songs, including three already released tracks -- “Three Drinks Behind,” “MIA Down in MIA” and “The Little Things” -- as well as “Honky Tonk Hall Of Fame” featuring Chris Stapleton and Strait’s rendition of Waylon Jennings’ “Waymore’s Blues.” All making appearances in his live set, Strait has one final show in 2024, supersizing his long-standing “Strait to Vegas” show at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium to mark the 37th installment of the engagement with Chris Stapleton and special guests Little Big Town.

About George Strait
George Strait is the King of Country Music, having sold more than 105 million albums and counting while earning more than 60 major entertainment industry awards as well as countless nominations. The Texas singer-songwriter is the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for over three decades. With 33 different Platinum or multi-Platinum albums, he’s earned the third-most certifications of any artist in any genre, following only The Beatles and Elvis Presley, and with a total of 60, Strait has more No. 1 songs than any other artist in history.
 
The Texas troubadour's 31st career studio album, Cowboys And Dreamers, is available now. It follows 2019’s best-selling country album, Honky Tonk Time Machine, on MCA Nashville. That album quickly became Strait’s record-extending 27th No.1 Billboard Country album. The Country Music Hall of Fame member also earned his 100th entry on the Billboard Country Airplay chart with his single “The Weight of the Badge” from the project. For more information, visit GeorgeStrait.com.

Scotty McCreery Releases "Fall of Summer (NC State Version)" Due to Fan Demand

When NC State men’s and women’s basketball teams made their historic run to the NCAA Final Four last Spring, Triple Tigers recording artist Scotty McCreery tweaked the lyrics to his current single “Fall of Summer” from his current album Rise & Fall with an update for his beloved Wolfpack singing, “I said come see me at NC State.” The change has remained a popular one at his live show and even taken on a life of its own on social media with fans inserting their own school name in the lyrics. McCreery, who was just announced yesterday as a performer at the 2025 Stagecoach Festival, has heard the call from fans and due to popular demand is releasing “Fall of Summer (NC State Version).” Available today, listen to the updated “Fall of Summer” Below.
 
Written by McCreery, Frank Rogers and Brent Anderson and produced by Rogers, Derek Wells, and Aaron Eshuis, “Fall of Summer,” is currently climbing the chart at country radio and was most added its first week. Filled with mature nostalgia, and built on one of the album’s most modern, cinematic sounds, the midtempo and reflective standout finds the country crooner’s vocal at a low simmer, as a guy looks back on a season of life that ultimately faded, but also made room for the here and now.

Rise & Fall is McCreery’s most critically acclaimed album to date, with Billboard naming it one of the 50 Best Albums of 2024 (So Far). The album’s first single, “Cab in a Solo,” recently became his sixth #1 hit. Listen to the album Rolling Stone says is “every bit as legit as Jamey Johnson’s That Lonesome Song, Garth Brooks’ In Pieces, or Randy Travis’ Storms of Life,” HERE. 
 
“Across the 13-track collection, McCreery exhibits his continued growth as a vocalist and songwriter,” notes Holler. People echoes the sentiment, writing that the album “brims with a newfound confidence and maturity,” while Country Now calls it “his best record yet,” and American Songwriter declares it a “career album” as Rise & Fall finds him exploring not only heartbreak but rowdy nights, nostalgia, faith, newfound joy, fatherhood and enduring love, resulting in a project full of insightful storytelling. The album was produced by McCreery’s longtime production team of Frank Rogers, Derek Wells and Aaron Eshuis. 
 
McCreery co-wrote 12 of the 13 songs on the album, which Billboard observes, “Light-hearted fare such as ‘Stuck Behind a Tractor’ and ‘And Countin’’ mesh with heartbreak brushoffs such as ‘Lonely,’ the bluegrass-inflected album-closer ‘Porch’ and the faith-filled ‘Red Letter Blueprint.’” It is available digitally as well as on CD and vinyl. In addition, Amazon is releasing a limited-edition forest green vinyl version of the album. Order autographed vinyl and CDs of Rise & Fall HERE.

McCreery also recently joined Callista Clark on the duet “Gettin’ Old” via Dreamcatcher Artists label (listen HERE). Clark wrote the song with Averie Bielski and Karen Kasowski, while Joey Hyde and Frank Rogers share production credits.
 
Of the collaboration McCreery shared, “I’ve been a fan of Callista and her talent for some time, especially after having her out on my European tour a few years ago. I loved this song from the first time I heard it and was honored that she asked me to sing it with her.” 

The two recently shot a music video for the track, conceived, produced and directed by award-winning film maker Roman White, which will be released soon. A preview of the video can be seen now on both Clark and McCreery’s socials.

Having spent almost half his life in the spotlight making country music, the North Carolina native is in the midst of his headlining Fall of Summer Tour. Named after his current single of the same name, the tour will take the North Carolina native across the U.S. and Canada with stops in Santa Fe, NM; Bakersfield, CA; Stamford, CT; Windsor, Ontario; Kansas City, MO, Las Vegas, NV, and more.

Tickets are on sale now. Purchase at ScottyMcCreery.com.
 
Fall of Summer Tour Dates: 
9/13               Santa Fe, NM                          Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino
9/14               Abilene, TX                            Mulligans Outdoor Bash
9/21               Central Point, OR                   Bi-Mart Amphitheatre at the Expo
9/23               Bakersfield, CA                      Kern County Fair
9/28               Columbia, SC                         Segra Park
9/29               Fort Myers, FL                       Island Hopper Festival
10/4               Nixa, MO                                Aetos Center for the Performing Arts
10/5               Benton, MO                            Benton Speedway
10/17             Bloomington, IL                     Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts
10/18             La Porte, IN                            La Porte Civic Auditorium
10/19             Wisconsin Dells, WI               Crystal Grand Music Theatre
11/2               Las Vegas, NV                       The Sandbar at Redrock Casino Resort & Spa
11/7               New Brunswick, NJ                State Theatre New Jersey
11/8               Stamford, CT                          Palace Theatre
11/9               Hampton Beach, NH              Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom
11/15             Cherokee, NC                         Harrah's Cherokee Casino
11/16             Choctaw, MS                          Pearl River Resort
11/21             Windsor, ON                           The Colosseum at Caesar’s Windsor
11/22             Orillia, ON                              Casino Rama Resort - Entertainment Centre
12/6               Kansas City, MO                    Ameristar Kansas City Casino
12/7               Hinton, OK                             Sugar Creek Casino
 
About Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery has been a household name for nearly half his life, ever since making history in 2011 as both the first country artist and the youngest male artist of any genre to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified Clear as Day, at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. With his latest album Rise & Fall, featuring his sixth No. 1 single “Cab in a Solo,” current single “Fall of Summer,” and 12 additional tracks, McCreery explores classic themes of heartbreak, rowdy nights, nostalgia, faith, newfound joy, fatherhood, and enduring love, and through it all, felt comfortable being himself, resulting in a project full of electrified twang, rich baritone vocals and insightful storytelling. The 30-year-old has sold more than 4 million albums and achieved 6 No.1 hits: the recent “Cab in a Solo,” the RIAA Platinum-certified “Damn Strait,” the RIAA Gold certified “You Time,” the RIAA Gold certified “In Between,” the RIAA Platinum certified “This is It,” and the RIAA Triple Platinum certified ‘Five More Minutes.” The North Carolina native has earned one Triple Platinum, five Platinum and four Gold singles; one Platinum and two Gold albums; won the 10th season of “American Idol” in 2011 at age 17; was named the ACM New Artist of the Year in 2011; won two CMT Music Awards, the first for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“The Trouble with Girls”) in 2012, and the second for Digital-First Performance of the Year (“It Matters to Her” from “CMT Stages”) in 2024; and BMI Awards for writing One of the Top 50 Country Songs of the Year five times (in 2015 for “See You Tonight,” in 2018 for “Five More Minutes,” in 2019 for “This is It,” in 2021 for “In Between,” and in 2022 for “You Time”). He was awarded Pandora Billionaire status in 2021 in recognition of his music achieving more than one billion streams on Pandora. His song “Five More Minutes” inspired two popular holiday movies which aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Network: “Five More Minutes” in 2021 and “Five More Minutes: Moments Like These” in 2022. He released his first book Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream in 2016. Last year McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry by Josh Turner and Randy Travis, after being invited late last year by Garth Brooks. The singer/songwriter married his high school sweetheart Gabi in 2018, and the couple had their first son Avery in October 2022. For more information, visit ScottyMcCreery.com.

Miranda Lambert Brought “Wranglers” to NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” Ahead of 9/13 ‘Postcards from Texas’

Clad in a denim-inspired Lauren Sussi outfit and the Lone Star-based Standard Hat Works hat that appears on the cover of her highly anticipated album Postcards from Texas, three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Miranda Lambert brought the heat to last night’s edition of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” treating viewers to a fiery performance of lead single “Wranglers.” The album, which arrives as her debut project for new label home Republic Records next Friday, Sept. 13, has already been named among the most anticipated albums of the year by Vulture, GRAMMY.com, Texas Monthly and more. Pre-order / pre-save HERE and watch the performance Below.
 
Written by Audra Mae, Ryan Carpenter and Evan McKeever - based on a real woman-to-woman conversation between Mae and Lambert - the song arrived as the biggest-streaming debut of her 20+ year career and is now ascending the charts at country radio. In both a symbolic and physical return to Texas for the first studio album recorded by Lambert in her home state since her independent teenage debut, “Wranglers” was recorded at Austin’s legendary Arlyn Studios and produced by Lambert together with frequent collaborator Jon Randall, along with the rest of the forthcoming album, including liberated anthem “Dammit Randy,” humorous shuffle “Alimony” and free-spirited ballad “No Man’s Land”,” all also out now as early previews of the project.
 
“‘Wranglers’ is a classic tale of a woman taking her power back,” Lambert shared of the track upon its release. “I think we can all identify with the character in this song, because we have all had a time in our life where we needed to find our strength, and also get a little revenge on someone who did us wrong or hurt us. This offers such a cool, raging take on how something like this unravels; I am so proud to sing this song.”
 
“What results is a three-minute tale of the power and destruction of female rage,” declares Holler of the song. “With a foreboding drum roll, acoustic guitar and a sinister sounding whistle opening the track, Lambert’s signature Texas twang cuts through almost defiantly as Mae adds some chilling background vocals throughout. Fit with a strong and compelling chorus, ‘Wranglers’ showcases Lambert’s tried and true combination of country sensibility and high-octane, rock-infused instrumentation, that features sizzling guitar licks and a goosebump-inducing howl at the song’s close.”

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The Postcards from Texas preview initially made its debut during her headlining set at Stagecoach Music Festival earlier this year, followed by the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history performing the song live during this year’s ACM Awards show, with Billboard praising the “rocking performance of the scorching woman-done-wrong’s revenge tale, electrifying the crowd.”
 
The song “showcases her at her defiantly full-tilt best…. an instant classic stadium-ready anthem that exuberantly celebrates liberation from a bad situation,” adds Cowboys & Indians, with the Tennessean declaring that the “Wranglers” chapter of her storied career “finds her in greater control of her artistic and creative direction than ever” and Cowgirl Magazine celebrating it as “a heartfelt return to her musical roots, reminiscent of her earliest albums… blending traditional elements with modern flair.”
 
Following this week’s late night television appearance, Lambert will return to screens next Wednesday, Sept. 11 to serve as a presenter on the all-genre MTV Video Music Awards. She also took fans behind the making of the album with TalkShopLive, available to watch on demand here, and appears on the current covers of both Us Weekly and Nashville Lifestyles, with the latter declaring, “Lambert may call Nashville home, and she may revisit and draw inspiration from her home state Texas, but perhaps it’s being at home within herself and the authenticity that comes with it that has cemented her country star status and all that’s yet to come.”

Miranda Lambert Performs “Wranglers” on NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024 | Photo Credit: Todd Owyoung/NBC

About Miranda Lambert
Critically acclaimed groundbreaker/songwriter/superstar Miranda Lambert has defined her multi-faceted career as an artist, entertainer, entrepreneur, advocate and businesswoman with an unflinching quest for excellence, honesty and conviction. With her ninth solo studio album, Postcards from Texas, set for release Sept. 13 via Republic Records, the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history, including their top honor for Entertainer of the Year, has also won three GRAMMYs and 14 Country Music Association Awards. A TIME100 honoree and perennial best-of-the-year list maker at the New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, Stereogum, People and more, NPR has called her “the most riveting country star of her generation.”
 
A multi-dimensional superstar, she’s earned seven No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 hit radio singles, more than 80 prestigious awards and countless RIAA certifications; conquered Las Vegas with her twice-extended Velvet Rodeo residency; blurred genres with Leon Bridges, the B-52s, Loretta Lynn, Enrique Iglesias, Sheryl Crow and Elle King; and delivered her LGBTQ+ inclusive anthem “Y’All Means All” for Netflix’s “Queer Eye.” She’s taken those standards to become a New York Times bestselling author and the first female restaurateur on Lower Broadway with her Tex-Mex cantina Casa Rosa, while also expanding her creative reach with her Wanda June Home collection exclusive to Walmart and her Idyllwind clothing and boot line at Boot Barn. Her passion for rescue animals inspired the creation of her MuttNation Foundation, which has raised nearly $10 million since inception to promote adoption, support shelters across the country, advance spay & neuter and assist with the transport of animals during times of natural disaster.
 
MirandaLambert.com | Facebook | Twitter/X | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

Ian Munsick Honored with Museum Exhibit, ‘Voices of the West’ Screening at Center of the West

Wyoming native Ian Munsick returned to his home state this week to commemorate the opening of his curated exhibit hosted by Exclusive Tours at Center of the West. Honoring the legacy of “Buffalo Bill” Cody, known for his embodiment of the authentic Western lifestyle, Munsick also joined the museum for a screening and panel discussion on his award-winning documentary, White Buffalo: Voices of the West.
 
“From the very beginning of my career, Buffalo Bill Cody has been a huge inspiration in terms of his dedication of sharing authentic western culture with the world,” shares Munsick. “Having my own exhibit on display in the Buffalo Bill Center of the West is a great honor for me in that I feel like I’m following in his footsteps 150 years later. I believe that Voices of the West has been an instrumental piece of our vision to ‘bring the west to the rest’ as it showcases a piece of cowboy culture that really hasn’t been captured in any format. The Native American cowboy is a sacred secret that deserves to be recognized and appreciated, and that was our primary objective with this documentary. Screening the film at the Center of the West will be a real treat. 
 
“The spirit of the west is just as important today as it was in the ‘Wild West’ era and it’s evermore important to share the legacy of those who continue to shape it. I’m just fortunate to help spread that message,” he adds.
 
The panel discussion featured Ian and Caroline Munsick alongside Rylon Bird, Director, cinematographer, owner of Valley of the Chiefs Productions and member of the Crow Nation Tribe; and Noel Two Leggins, Youth Coordinator for Big Horn College and member of the Crow Nation. Moderated by Hunter Old Elk, Assistant Curator of the Plains Indian Museum, member of Crow and Yakama Nations, the four panelists invited audience members to contribute their questions and insights, while offering a platform to recognize the integral role Native Americans have played in shaping cowboy traditions and culture.
 
Voices of the West spans nearly an hour, and delves into conversations with Pro Buckin’ Horse producer and entrepreneur from the Blackfoot Tribe, Dougie Hall; rancher, horse trainer and actor from the Crow Tribe, Stephen Yellowtail; cowgirl from the Blackfeet Nation, Sammy Jo Bird; and Munsick as the four explore the modern-day relationship between cowboys, ranchers and Native American tribes – and how they often rely on each other to live off the land out west. 

Since its release in January, Voices of the West has been selected for eight film festivals and has won nine awards, including six Telly Awards for Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Use of Music, Best Videography & Cinematography, Best Documentary: Long Form (Above 40 minutes), DEI: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 
 
Voices of the West is available to stream now on Apple iTunes, Apple, Google Play, Kanopy (Libraries), Microsoft, Vudu, YouTube Rentals and Amazon TVOD. 
 
To complement the documentary screening, the Center of the West recently opened a special exhibit honoring Munsick, featuring 11 items signifying pivotal career moments. Items on display include his custom Manuel suit that he wore for his Grand Ole Opry debut, Red Rocks debut boots from Boot Barn, a bolo gifted to him from Morgan Wallen and more. The exhibit will be on display until January 2025. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit CenterOfTheWest.org.

Exclusive Tours at Center of the West hosted a film and panel discussion for White Buffalo: Voices of the West | Pictured L to R: Caroline Munsick, Ian Munsick, Rylon Bird, Noel Two Leggins | Photo Credit: Hulli

About Ian Munsick:
A native son of Wyoming, Ian Munsick painted a stampeding, spirited portrait of the American West with his sophomore album 18-track White Buffalo: Introduce You To God, out now. Spanning unfiltered tales of romance and ranch life, hard-working anthems with honkytonk hooks and mountain-time odes to family and forever-young fun, it builds upon the spacious roots-pop beauty he introduced on his major label debut, Coyote Cry. Over the past four years, Munsick has accumulated nearly 750 million global streams and a host of accolades. He has been named an “Artist to Watch” by Spotify, CMT, Fender, MusicRow and most recently was named a Martin Showcase Artist. A seasoned entertainer, having grown up tending cattle by day and playing music in a family band each night, Munsick toured recently alongside country music superstars Morgan Wallen and Cody Johnson, and as direct support for select dates of Lainey Wilson’s Country’s Cool Again tour, while simultaneously headlining his own Boots, Buckles & Bolos Tour and Country & WESTern Tour presented by Boot Barn. The Warner Music Nashville recording artist and multi-instrumentalist is representing his home, and its special cast of people, like never before. The first release from White Buffalo, standout duet “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson), hit No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 30 Countdown, was named one of Amazon Music’s Best Country Songs of 2022 and recently received RIAA Gold-certification alongside “Long Haul” and “Horses Are Faster.” Fans of Ian Munsick will always find an open heart, natural awe and plainspoken honesty as he rides on… bringing the West to the rest. Online at IanMunsick.com.

Bryce Leatherwood Announces Debut Single “Hung Up On You”

Republic Records / Mercury Nashville recording artist Bryce Leatherwood is arriving at Country radio with his debut single “Hung Up on You” available today on all DSPs. Written by Brandon Lay, Jeff Middleton and Neil Medley, the song will impact Country radio on Monday, Sept. 23. Listen Below.
 
“The second I heard ‘Hung Up On You,’ I knew it was a song I had to record,” reflects Leatherwood. “It just felt like me, yet it carries the influences of artists I look up to. I can hear a little of Eric Church’s ‘Smoke A Little Smoke’ and some of the rock elements reminiscent of Allman Brothers that I grew up admiring. It felt true to all aspects of my artistry and my role models, and I’m excited for it to be my first single at Country radio.
 
“Growing up, Country radio is what we listened to at home, so taking this one to the airwaves is a full circle moment for me,” Leatherwood adds. “All I’ve ever wanted to do is make my family and everyone back home proud, and having them hear my voice on the radio is a dream come true.”
 
Metaphorically comparing the intoxicating effects of love with those of alcohol, Leatherwood delivers an upbeat anthem where the only cure for his swirling thoughts about what comes next is the continued presence of the girl he loves: 

“Hung Up On You” is Leatherwood’s latest release as he continues to tease new music to come. Leatherwood was featured in Boot Barn’s 2024 spring campaign Taking Flight, a highlight on up-and-coming country musicians, and was also named a 2024 Artist to Watch by Music Mayhem and Country Now earlier this year.
 
After graduating college, the Woodstock, Georgia native competed on the NBC hit television show The Voice and was crowned the Season 22 winner and signed a management deal with Morris Higham Management in December 2022. Following his success on The Voice, Leatherwood began pursuing a full-time music career, inking a record deal with Republic Records and Mercury Nashville in October 2023. 
 
Leatherwood concluded his first-ever headlining tour, The Neon Does Tour, and performed at CMA Fest’s Good Molecules Reverb Stage this summer, and will make his Grand Ole Opry debut next Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
 
To follow along with updates and for more information, visit bryceleatherwood.com or follow along on Instagram HERE, Facebook HERE, X HERE or Tik Tok HERE.