ICE NINE KILLS To Provide Official Song For TERRIFIER 3 Movie

Worcester, MASpencer Charnas, frontman and creative force behind the cinematic horror metal band Ice Nine Kills, announced their official music collaboration for the highly anticipated horror sequel, Terrifier 3, at Ice Nine Kills' third annual fan convention, Silver Scream Con, alongside franchise star, David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown), yesterday.

The upcoming new single, “A Work of Art,” pays homage to the beloved slasher franchise and will be featured in Terrifier 3 when it opens in theaters nationwide on October 11th.

“The Terrifier franchise gave us Art the Clown, the greatest new horror icon in decades,” says Charnas. “We are beyond honored by the invitation to play within the viciously delightful universe Damien Leone and his incredible team have created. The Art and INK fanbases are one and the same, and we heard the screams for this collaboration loud and clear.”

The official music video, starring the franchise’s David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown, will premiere at Fantastic Fest on Thursday, September 19th, following the World Premiere of Terrifier 3, and will also play in select AMC Theaters nationwide for early showings on Thursday, October 10th.

CREDITS

The official music video for “A Work of Art” is directed by longtime INK collaborator Jensen Noen and stars Catherine Corcoran (Terrifier), Leah Voysey (Terrifier 2), Sirius XM’s Jose Mangin and Vincent Rockwell, Richard Christy (Drummer for Death, Control Denied, and Charred Walls of the Damned), and System Of A Down’s Shavo Odadjian. The 7 minute long video features special FX by Emmy Award-winning effects artist Christopher Nelson (“American Horror Story,” Suicide Squad, Halloween Ends).

The video is written by Spencer Charnas and Andrew Justin Smith, with music by Ice Nine Kills, WZRD BLD, Paul Wiley, and Francesco Ferrini. Lyrics by Spencer Charnas and Steve Sopchak, based on characters created by Damien Leone. Art the Clown make-up effects provided by Heather Albert. Executive Produced by Spencer Charnas, Mike Mowery, Chris Nillson, Eric German, Phoenix Vaughn, Damien Leone, Phil Falcone, and Ruth Deveraux. Casting provided by Cast A Spell Casting.

Terrifier 3, written and directed by Damien Leone (Terrifier, Terrifier 2) and produced by Phil Falcone, stars David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, Krsy Fox, Jason Patric, Chris Jericho, and Daniel Roebuck as Santa Claus.

About Ice Nine Kills

Decadent, devious and fiercely insane, Ice Nine Kills celebrate pop culture’s darkest edges, mining a cinephile library’s worth of iconic horror on 2018’s The Silver Scream which spawned Top 10 Mainstream Rock single “A Grave Mistake ” and Top 20 hit “Savages. The creative marriage made in hell of music and fiction began in earnest with the Top 5 Hard Rock album, Every Trick in the Book, which brought the previous three records’ themes to new levels and which the band perfected on 2021's chart- topping smash hit ’The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood .

 

The phenomenally successful album, released in October 2021, scored Ice Nine Kills their first Top 20 position (#18) on the Billboard Top 200, topped the Digital and Current Hard Music charts, hit Top 5 on the Current Rock, Independent, Current Albums and Album Sales charts and has clocked up 177 million cross-platform streams to date and 15 million YouTube views for singlesHip To Be Scared”,Assault & Batteries ”, “Rainy Day”, "Funeral Derangements", "Take Your Pick ", "The Shower Scene" and most recently, "Welcome To Horrorwood".

 

Since the release of 'The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood ', Ice Nine Kills have seen phenomenal growth. Throughout 2022 they toured the US extensively on 3 legs of The Trinity of Terror tour. During 2022 and throughout 2023 they supported Metallica in packed, sold-out stadiums around the world on their M72 World Tour. They toured the US with Slipknot and launched their enormously successful horror convention, The Silver Scream Con, which just celebrated it's second, sold-out edition in the fall of 2023. Spencer was featured in the music video for the official song from Scream 6 - Demi Lovato's "Still Alive", an Ice Nine Kills flyer was used in the movie which also featured a Spencer-recommended easter egg.    

 

Beginning in the spring of 2023, as well as wowing packed-out stadiums around the world with Metallica, Ice Nine Kills headlined numerous sold-out shows on their Wurst Vacation European tour and thrilled tens of thousands of fans at Download Festival to huge acclaim from both critics and fans alike. They then toured the US with Falling In Reverse on their Popular Monstour run and hit the road for 'Fear The Premiere' US headline shows in August. Ice Nine Kills closed out 2023 on a high with the release of ' Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire ', an exclusive VIP event in Hollywood for the debut of new single "Meat & Greet" and the premiere of the full "Welcome To Horrorwood Saga" movies (featuring all music videos from the album as one chronological clip) and the phenomenally successful, inaugural run of the Kiss of Death co- headline tour with In This Moment.

 

The band’s synergy of music and lifestyle draws favorable comparisons to Slipknot and Rob Zombie. Visionary trailblazers and multimedia raconteurs, Ice Nine Kills have built a thrilling world for a growing legion of devoted true believers, with theatrical shows, high-concept videos, and inventive band-to-fan communion. Their wildly creative output has seen them become recipients of the prestigious Clio Award for Music Marketing for their "Merry Axe-mas" mobile game and their live streaming event from October 2020, The Silver Stream be nominated for 5 awards at 2022's Horror Hound Film Festival Awards in the categories of Judges Choice, Best Sound, Best Supporting Performance, Best Cinematography and Best Feature. With almost 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 717 million career streams to date and over 204 millio

Spencer Charnas & Art The Clown | Credit F Scott Schafer

Singer/Songwriter Angie K Releases Bilingual "Stay" for Hispanic Heritage Month; Announces New EP Coming 10/25

Rising country singer/songwriter and Holler “Artist You Need to Know,” Angie K is bringing her penchant for authentic storytelling,  powerful vocals, and unwavering pride in her Latin heritage to latest release, “Stay.” Available today, the sultry and bilingual new track, released in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, effortlessly weaves together heartfelt lyrics with melodies that evoke both traditional country sounds and the rhythms of Latin music, showcasing her versatility as an artist. 
 
"Stay" is the latest new music from Angie K and will be featured on her forthcoming self-titled EP, Angie K. Produced by acclaimed writer/producer and BMI Songwriter of the Year, Stephony Smith, the EP is set for release independently on October 25, 2024. Listen to “Stay” Below.
 
“I wrote ‘Stay’ about my relationship of nine years. That may not seem long in the scope of things, but it’s long enough to have truly had to give each other the space to change and grow,” shares Angie K. “There’s such a depth that comes with that. We’ve seen so many sides of each other, both given each other reasons to give in when it gets tough, but every day we show up for each other. We learn to be better for each other. Over and over again. It’s beautiful.” 
 
Written by Angie K along with David Borys, Tom Pino and Jason Haag, the independently released track finds her pleading with a partner in both English and Spanish to stay and fight for their love. 

The queer country artist first made her mark on Music City with bilingual track, “Real Talk,” catapulting her onto the country scene as a “Highway Find” on SiriusXM’s The Highway. The new music follows the  powerhouse vocalist’s recent releases "Death of Me" and “Red Dirt on Mars," which left Billboard praising her "disarming vulnerability." She also recently explained the influence Smith had on her when it came to releasing "Death of Me" in a "Holler Nashville Session" sharing, "It's a very vulnerable song, and I almost didn't put in on the record, but I'm glad I did - just because of the stories I've heard of people relating to it." Listen to “Red Dirt on Mars” HERE and listen to "Death of Me" HERE

The 2023 CMT Next Women of Country artist has been in the studio working on the forthcoming EP with Smith, who penned the smash hit “It’s Your Love” for Tim McGraw/Faith Hill and has received cuts from some of music’s biggest stars including The Chicks, Shania Twain, Barbara Streisand, Kenny Chesney, Terri Clark, Reba McEntire and more. 

Named a 2024 CMT LISTEN UP artist with CMT also calling her an “up-and-coming female artist to watch," this year is certainly shaping up to be a breakout year for Angie K. Born and raised in El Salvador till age 11 and raised in Georgia, her love for country music was nurtured from a young age. Her mother’s dedication, saving up to bring her to Nashville to the Grand Ole Opry, came full circle with her making her Opry debut last month, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

American Songwriter was on hand for the emotional evening sharing, “Her voice rang strong and clear through the Grand Ole Opry House, compelling fans to raise their phones on the last song and fill the darkened theater with light—a moving display of acceptance and adoration for a woman who has dreamed of standing in the hallowed circle since before her feet touched North American soil.”

For the latest news and tour dates, visit officialangiek.com and follow @officialangiek on InstagramTikTok, and Facebook.  

About Angie K
A member of CMT’s 2023 Next Women of Country class, Angie K was named earlier this year to CMT’s 2024 LISTEN UP Class and named an “Artist You Need to Know” by Holler. With a nod to Angie K’s Latin roots, her first bilingual single “Real Talk” catapulted her onto the country scene as a “Highway Find” on SiriusXM’s The Highway. And as an out and independent artist she has accumulated over 20 million+ streams, 500k+ followers and even played on the Nissan Stadium stage during the 2022 CMA Fest. Angie has also shared the stage with Tanya Tucker, Trace Adkins, Melissa Etheridge and more.
 
With CMT calling her an “up-and-coming female artist to watch"  this year, 2024 is certainly shaping up to be a break out year for Angie K. She made her Grand Ole Opry debut in August, and took the main stage  at Nashville Pride and the Reverb Stage at CMA Fest this year. She will release her self-titled EP, Angie K, on Oct. 25. For upcoming tour dates and more information, visit officialangiek.com/ and follow along @officialangiek on InstagramTikTok, and Facebook

Miranda Lambert Sends 'Postcards from Texas' Today, Sept. 13

With NPR’s “All Songs Considered” lauding Miranda Lambert as “the most accomplished and consistently great artist in contemporary country music” as Postcards from Texas leads today’s discussion of the most impactful new releases, the show also declares, “This is an album that proves that she’s a backbone of country; she can make these really beautiful, minimalist country songs that get to the heart of very clear, concise ideas about love and homeland.” Listen to the latest project from the most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history HERE.
 
“Usually when you make a record, it’s a snapshot of the past two or three years and where you are in that moment,” reflects Lambert. “Postcards from Texas instead draws on all the different stages of my life and my career, all the influences that have ever inspired me, and gives you a really full picture of who I am.”
 
With a perky backbeat and a come-hither tone, Lambert kicks off Postcards from Texas with “Armadillo,” the plucky, magical-thinking road adventure that sets the tone for the 14-song romp across her home state that is both nostalgic and forward-facing. With an emphasis on the wide-ranging musical palette of Texas itself, Lambert and co-producer Jon Randall created a mélange of sleek ‘70s country (“Looking Back On Luckenbach,” “Wildfire”), slow-burning Neil Young swagger (“Wranglers”), grassy pluck (“Bitch On The Sauce (Just Drunk)”), a hilarious shuffle (“Alimony,” celebrated by the Associated Press as “such a rewarding lyric reversal, it feels almost prototypical – as if plucked from some great country music songbook instead of written into it”) and classic songwriter fare (“No Man’s Land,” “I Hate Love Songs”), plus an unrepentant take on David Allen Coe’s “Living On The Run.”
 
“You’d have to look pretty far and wide to find anyone in music who has been as consistently good or eternally enjoyable as Miranda Lambert,” declares Rolling Stone’s review. With her ninth solo studio project adding to that celebrated discography, the accomplished writer and vocalist of many colors and emotions delivers an album that is in turns sleek, ragged, rocking and honky tonk ready. Think of it as Lambert’s love letter to her home state. Recorded at Austin’s legendary Arlyn Studios, the pair of GRAMMY-winning creative forces drew on some of Texas’s best-known musicians to further root this song cycle in the textures that have defined her storied career. If you like freewheeling, high-flying, seat of your pants ecstasy and slightly salty “here’s how it is,” Lambert’s first album for Republic Records pushes all those buttons, and more.
 
“There’s the line ‘livin’ on a Lone Star love’ in ‘Looking Back on Luckenbach,’ and that could be the thesis statement for this record,” Lambert reflects. “It really sums up the entire journey that I’ve taken with this new path… Going back to the root and putting a lot of steel guitar on it, a lot of country – a lot of kinds of country – it’s just kind of finding my place again artistically.”
 
“At this stage in her career, Lambert doesn’t have anything to prove — and that’s one of many reasons why Postcards from Texas is a ride that works,” applauds the Associated Press, with local cultural authority Texas Monthly adding, “On paper, Lambert seems to have all she ever wanted and more… Rather than taking a victory lap, though, Lambert is pushing into territory that’s as risky as it is familiar.”
 
A masterclass in the phases and stages of a songwriter raised on the potent forces of Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, George Strait, Steve Earle and Guy Clark, this is Lambert at her truest and most real. “There are tearful, pedal-steel ballads that could have been written at any point in the past 50 years, but also songs with a more contemporary, arena-ready rock sheen,” notes the Daily Mail, yet as Rolling Stone raves, “the album never feels like a tribute to anything other than her own independent muse.”
 
From start to finish on Postcards from Texas, the woman known for her staunch individualism, no-mess attitude and unwavering truth-telling moves through the expansive freedoms and musical gears that makes Texas such a mythic, magical place – looking back on the journey thus far while also keeping an eye down the road to where all of it might take her.
 
“The beginning and ending were on purpose,” she admits. “We’re gonna start out and end in the same level of brokenness. ‘Living on the Run,’ because of what it says, makes you feel like you’re about to get in the car with that armadillo again, and start it all over. I feel like it’s the signal to start the journey all over again, because that’s what life is.”

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, available everywhere now 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 TimesTIMERolling StoneBillboardStereogumPeople 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

BLANCO BROWN REMINDS US THAT TRUE JOY OFTEN LIES IN SIMPLICITY WITH HIS SOULFUL NEW TRACK "BACK 2 BASICS”

Discover the pure essence of romance with GRAMMY®-nominated Blanco Brown's latest single, "Back 2 Basics." Featuring infectious melodies and smooth vocals, this title track from his forthcoming new EP, Back 2 Basics, celebrates the beauty found in the simple, fundamental aspects of love. Let the captivating rhythms and heartfelt lyrics remind you of the magic in life's most essential moments. Listen and pre-save, pre-add and pre-order the EP dropping October 18 here.

 

"The world can be tough, 'Back 2 Basics' is about the comfort we find in the simplicity of being with the one we love," says Blanco.

Set to resonate with fans old and new, “Back 2 Basics” is a testament to Blanco Brown's unique ability to blend heartfelt emotion with music that connects with fans globally. As the anticipation builds for the release of the full EP, the song promises to be a standout addition to his ever-evolving discography. Touted as “a one-of-a-kind talent in the industry” by Country Swag, Brown’s EP navigates feelings of desire and admiration as he uses his signature Trailer Trap sound to explore his heart in this romantic lineup of songs.

 

Blanco Brown first captured attention with his groundbreaking fusion of country, hip-hop, and soul, exemplified by his viral sensation “The Git Up,” which achieved 11x Platinum status and amassed over four billion streams across all social and streaming platforms. The infectious blend of beats and an irresistible dance challenge showcased his unique ability to bridge musical genres and connect deeply with listeners. However, Blanco's meteoric rise was interrupted when a drunk driver hit him head-on while he was riding his motorcycle, resulting in multiple broken bones, 12 blood transfusions, and requiring resuscitation in the ambulance. Despite the severity of the accident and the challenging rehabilitation process, Blanco made a remarkable recovery, relearning fundamental skills like walking and holding a microphone. Now, with a renewed appreciation for life and his craft, Blanco is celebrating a second chance to pursue his dreams and share his music with the world.

About Blanco Brown:
Blurring the lines between Country, Hip-Hop & Soul, Blanco Brown makes a southern sound that he proudly calls "Trailer Trap." Honing in on his unique sound, Blanco balances both the metropolis and country settings in which he grew up. His viral hit “The Git Up” (certified 11x PLATINUM across three countries) took the world by storm, claiming the top spot in charts across the globe and spawning nearly four billion views across social platforms. It claimed the No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 12 weeks and was the top-selling digital Country song in the US for 13 weeks, resulting in Billboard naming him as their No. 1 Top New Country Artist for 2019. Apart from being a GRAMMY®-nominated engineer who has worked with the likes of Fergie, Childish Gambino, Kane Brown and Chris Brown, the multi-talent’s multi-national Platinum-certified collaboration “Just the Way” with Parmalee garnered more than 500 million on-demand streams, earning Brown his first No. 1 hit on Country radio (in the US and Canada). More recently, he doubled down on his genre-bending collaborations, teaming with Nelly on the funky, country inspired track “High Horse,” T.I. for “Trap Still Bumpin’,” LOCASH and the late Leslie Jordan for the funky “Let It Slide,” while pairing with Diplo for “Do Si Do” and Lee Brice and R3HAB for the remix of Brice’s hit song, “Soul.” In 2021,  Blanco Brown also lent soaring vocals to the song “Never Gonna Tame You (Original Song from “The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses”),” written by Diane Warren. Recovering from a life-threatening accident and leaning on music to heal, Blanco instantly captured the attention of festival audiences across the nation opening his set with a breathtakingly powerful cover blend of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” Showcasing his world-class vocal talent and captivating stage presence throughout 2023, Blanco released the emotionally charged track “I’ll Never,” unlike anything the No. 1 hitmaker has ever released, followed by a momentous tribute to the late, great John Denver with Brown’s release of "Take Me Home, Country Roads.” With his April 5th release of Heartache & Lemonade, part one of three 2024 EP’s, this A-Town resident’s branded “Trailer Trap” sound amplified the stories & arrangements on the project. Blanco’s dripping-with-soul vocals also sonically shine throughout as displayed in the lead focus track "Sunshine, Shine.” Part two of three 2024 EP’s, Cedar Walls & Whiskey, dropped June 14th with fans getting their first taste of this collection with the Diane Warren penned “Snapshot.” Rounding out the 2024 EP releases is Brown’s latest project Back 2 Basics, celebrating the beauty found in the simple, fundamental aspects of love. The title track first taste of the EP carries the essence of the project and will be available to fans on September 13th with the forthcoming EP releasing on October 18. 

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Brantley Gilbert Inks Passion, Pain & Perspective on Seventh Studio Album 'Tattoos'

Multi-Platinum country-rock trailblazer Brantley Gilbert knows life has a way of leaving a mark. You can either hide it or embrace it. With his seventh studio album Tattoos, available now via The Valory Music Co., he opts to embrace it. Listen HERE.
 
“All my albums, they capture a chapter of my life,” Gilbert explains. “If somebody wants to know who I am, what I’ve been through and where I stand, they can start at the beginning and listen through, and that’s why it was undeniable that Tattoosshould be the title – because my tattoos do the same thing.
 
“People get ‘em for a lot of reasons, but for most of us, tattoos talk about our victories and losses, our struggles and the whole nine,” he observes. “I was one of those kids who had to learn the hard way. But if I would’ve listened to the advice of others, I don’t know I would have ended up where I am.”
 
Landing on Grammy.com’s “Must-Hear Albums in September,” Tattoos features 10 songs all co-written and co-produced by the Georgia native with a trusted cast of long-time collaborators. The set matches Gilbert’s ink in both striking design and depth of meaning. Through flowing curves and jagged lines, shadow and light look back on a life of blue-collar pride and full-throttle rebellion – along with addictive love, abiding faith and blessings beyond what any of us deserve.
 
Those themes are nothing new to this longtime craftsman, but when the title track “Tattoos” took shape, so too did the album’s reflective theme. Written on an annual retreat to rural Texas with Jake Mitchell, Randy Montana and Cole Taylor, Gilbert knew the slow-burning anthem was something special.
 
“I knew I had one that really captured who I am,” he says. “It doesn’t sound like anything else you’ve heard before, and it really gives you the long and short of my life, which is what my tattoos do.”
 
With about 90 songs to choose from, Gilbert carefully laid his Tattoos out from there. Some came from an all hands-on-deck weekend at Lee Brice’s Nashville property, with Jelly Roll and more, determined to write with no pre-conditions. Others found their way to Gilbert through friends who know his creative soul, and after joining forces with primary co-producer Brock Berryhill, the pair spent late night after late night whittling the pack down to its essential elements.
 
The result – predictably enough – is an electrifying mix of in-your-face aggression and roughneck reflection, as Gilbert delivers another full-spectrum soundtrack to modern country life. But this time, he was careful to put an emphasis on his early days, both in sound and substance, focusing on real instruments over synthetic effects and put to use in a variety of big-picture, small-town settings.

Like the community spirit those towns rely on, the album’s standout feature may be its guest appearances – a trend starting with the first track, “Dirty Money” featuring Justin Moore, as Billboard calls it a “pride-fueled celebration of those who earn their ‘dirty money’ straight from the ground, providing food for communities through raising and harvesting crops,” noting, “this track revs up with all the gritty churn of a combine, as a bed of industrial-scale, frothy guitars, sharp percussion and thudding bass carry the two artists’ intertwined, distinctive drawls.”
 
Lead single “Over When We're Sober” with Ashley Cooke mixes can’t-stop romantic intoxication with a top shelf vocal blend, capturing the raw magnetism of a romantic buzz. Co-written with Justin Wilson, Jelly Roll and Berryhill, the sweet-and-sour concoction jumps out from the speakers.
 
 “God Isn’t Country” – which features a vocal master class from Rascal Flatts legend (and longtime friend) Gary LeVox – fuses feel-good faith with awe for the natural world. And with the hand-over-heart declaration that is “Me and My House” ft. Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones, Gilbert adds another unique tattoo to his collection. A defiant tip of the hat to the independent country rap world Gilbert has always admired, the track is also a nod to bold self-determination – a pledge to uphold his traditional ideals.
 
This deep into his career, Gilbert’s nostalgia is also plain to see. With the namesake of his current headlining tour, “Off The Rails” captures the hard-charging energy of fan favorites like “Kick It In the Sticks,” while heartfelt ballads like “Gone By Now” celebrate the love shared by the star and his wife, Amber. Described as a “transparent” look into his heart, its sunset sonics speak to early romantic ballads.
 
Likewise, “The Hell That Raised Us” tributes the wild-and-free nature of a rural childhood, and while “Out Here” waves a good-timing flag for those living by their own rules, Gilbert finishes with “Miss These Towns,” completing the sonic self-portrait. A stripped-down lament about watching the decline of rural communities all over the U.S. (including his own), Gilbert knows change is inevitable, and not always a bad thing. But he’s been around long enough to know the value of respecting your past.
 
In celebration of his new album Tattoos, Gilbert will headline Brantley Gilbert’s World’s Largest Album Release Party on Broadway in downtown Nashville tonight, September 13. The free multi-artist concert is part of FREEDOM FRIDAY events kicking off the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix weekend (September 13-15). Presented by 1st Phorm Energy, with additional partnership from Rousch, Polaris, and Modern Buggy, the 4th annual FREEDOM FRIDAY concert honors members of the Military, Police, Fire, First Responders and Frontline Heroes. The 160th Special Ops Aviation Regiment will perform a helicopter aerial demonstration and a pre-concert flyover by the 101st Airborne Division.
 

Off The Rails Tour Dates

Sept. 13           Brantley Gilbert’s World’s Largest Album Release Party // Nashville, TN
Sept. 19           Mountain Health Network Arena // Huntington, WV
Sept. 20           Santander Arena // Reading, PA
Sept. 21           DCU Center // Worcester, MA
Sept. 26           LJVM Coliseum // Winston-Salem, NC
Sept. 27           The Corbin Arena // Corbin, KY
Sept. 28           Florence Center // Florence, SC
Oct. 3              Knoxville Civic Coliseum // Knoxville, TN
Oct. 4              First National Bank Arena // Jonesboro, AR
Oct. 5              Ozarks Amphitheater // Camdenton, MO
Oct. 10            Raising Cane’s River Center Arena // Baton Rouge, LA
Oct. 11            Cadence Bank Arena // Tupelo, MS
Oct. 12            The Sounds Amphitheater // Gautier, MS
Oct. 17            Enmarket Arena // Savannah, GA
Oct. 18            McKenzie Arena // Chattanooga, TN
Oct. 19            Atrium Health Amphitheater // Macon, GA
 
*Festival Date
 
About Brantley Gilbert
As one of the godfathers of country’s modern rock-and-rap edge, multi-Platinum The Valory Music Co. trailblazer Brantley Gilbert knows life has a way of leaving a mark. With his seventh studio album, Tattoos, available now,  the Georgia native chooses to embrace it – inspired by the idea that his tattoos tell a story, just like his songs. And just like his songs, he’ll never hide the truth they reveal. An era-defining artist forever bonded to his fans, Gilbert’s been mining the timeless values of hard-working dedication, high-octane thrills and humble faith since his 2009 debut, A Modern Day Prodigal Son, creating a chart-topping grit-and-grace fusion which helped set the stage for today’s genre-blending format. With his dedicated BG Nation behind him, the fiery performer-songwriter has racked up more than 8.3 BILLION career streams, boasting back-to-back Platinum albums and seven No. 1 hits including the RIAA 7x Platinum “Bottoms Up;” 2x Platinum “Country Must Be Country Wide;” 2x Platinum “You Don’t Know Her Like I Do;” 2x Platinum “One Hell of An Amen;” and the Platinum-certified “What Happens In A Small Town” with Lindsay Ell. His world-class pen helped create a watershed hit with Jason Aldean’s 4x Platinum country-rap game changer, “Dirt Road Anthem.” And possessing a can’t-fake-it quality of fierce independence, the ACM, CMA and AMA award winner has toured alongside everyone from Willie Nelson and Toby Keith to Kenny Chesney, Nickelback and more. Tattoos further cements his legacy – 10 cowritten, co-produced tracks with an electrifying mix of in-your-face aggression and roughneck reflection, as Gilbert’s diesel-powered smoke-and-soul vocal delivers another full-spectrum soundtrack to modern country life. Tracks like full-throttle “Off the Rails” and intoxicating chart-climbing single “Over When We’re Sober” with Ashley Cooke lead a set packed with guest appearances from Gary LeVox, Justin Moore and Off The Rails tour mates Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones, as the superstar headlines across the U.S. through October 2024. For more information, visit BrantleyGilbert.com or follow on Instagram, TikTok and X@BrantleyGilbert and Facebook.com/BrantleyGilbertMusic.

Koe Wetzel’s “Casamigos” Out Now w/ Official Music Video

When Koe Wetzel’s highly anticipated fifth studio album 9 Lives arrived in July, it debuted at No. 15 on the all-genre Billboard 200 and No. 5 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, earning critical praise commending his most vulnerable work to date. Lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph – his first-ever at country radio – has already cracked the Top 30 in just 10 weeks, while “Sweet Dreams” earned a nod at this month’s NBC People’s Choice Country Awards and the duo of songs marked Wetzel’s first two Hot Country Songs Top 10 hits, also debuting on at No. 29 and No. 47 respectively on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100 chart. Despite the album’s impressive wave of success, there was just one thing missing: “Where is ‘Casamigos’!?” read countless comments on his social posts. Today, the man celebrated by the Los Angeles Times for establishing his fanbase on the road answers that question emphatically, with “Casamigos” and its accompanying official music video available to stream everywhere now.
 
“It took a while to get this song right,” Wetzel concedes. “I think it changed five or six different times; lyrically, musically, the melody, everything about it. We’d get used to it for a month or so and then we’d change it up again, but once the final was done we knew the song was special. I think going through those ups and downs is one of the reasons why we kept it off the record to begin with, just so it could have its own light and its own time because we’re super happy with the song and now it’s one of my favorites on the record.”
 
Written by Wetzel together with Amy Allen, Sam Harris, Ben Burgess and producer Gabe Simon, the rowdy singalong sees the dark-haired Texan ruminating on the things lost to his wild ways, while noting that perhaps a certain relationship also disappearing from his life is the one thing he may not actually miss, a theme further brought to life in the official music video out now. Directed by Patrick Tohill (“Creeps”) and shot at a lake house in New Jersey, the music video depicts Wetzel leaving everything behind to start over in New York City. Watch Below
 
Wetzel will bring the tequila-driven anthem to the remainder of his Damn Near Normal World Tour throughout the fall, making stops in St. Louis, Nashville, Indianapolis, across his home state of Texas and more, before closing out the U.S. run at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheatre and heading overseas through November. 
 
For more information and to purchase tickets to all upcoming dates, visit KoeWetzelMusic.com and follow on Instagram and Facebook @KoeWetzelMusic, TikTok @Koe_Wetzel and X @KoeWetzel. 

Remaining Damn Near Normal World Tour Dates:
Sept. 13            Camdenton, Mo.  ||  Ozarks Amphitheater  
Sept. 18            St. Louis, Mo.  ||  Chaifetz Arena  
Sept. 20            Huntsville, Ala.  ||  The Orion Amphitheater  
Sept. 21            Macon, Ga.  ||  Atrium Health Amphitheater  
Sept. 25            Alexandria, La.  ||  Rapides Parish Coliseum  – SOLD OUT  
Sept. 26            Tuscaloosa, Ala.  ||  Mercedes-Benz Amphitheater  
Sept. 27            Nashville, Tenn.  ||  Ascend Amphitheater – SOLD OUT
Sept. 28            Little Rock, Ark.  ||  First Security Amphitheater  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 3               Pikeville, Ky.  ||  Appalachian Wireless Arena  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 4               Indianapolis, Ind.  ||  Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park – SOLD OUT
Oct. 5               Evansville, Ind.  ||  Ford Center  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 10             Abilene, Texas  ||  Expo Center of Taylor County  
Oct. 11             Lubbock, Texas  ||  Cooks Garage  – SOLD OUT  
Oct. 13             Morrison, Colo.  ||  Red Rocks Amphitheatre – SOLD OUT
Oct. 26             Manchester, U.K.  ||  Academy 3
Oct. 27             London, U.K.  ||  The Garage
Oct. 30             Glasgow, U.K.  ||  Oran Mor
Oct. 31             Birmingham, U.K.  ||  Academy 2
Nov. 1              Leeds, U.K.  ||  Brudenell Social Club
Nov.3               Amsterdam, Netherlands  ||  Melkweg (Oude Zaal)
Nov. 5              Hamburg, Germany  ||  Bahnhof Pauli
Nov. 6              Berlin, Germany  ||  Frannz Club
Nov. 7              Cologne, Germany  ||  Club Volta 
 
Additional Shows:
Sept. 14            Prior, Okla.  ||  Born & Raised
Sept. 19            Louisville, Ky.  ||  Bourbon & Beyond
 
About Koe Wetzel
Koe Wetzel never met a genre wall he couldn’t tear down: The Texas singer-songwriter has earned a rabid audience for his songs that mix country, rock, hip-hop, and even Nineties grunge. His 2016 album Noise Complaint endeared him to fans with its no- holds-barred lyrics about drunken nights, broken hearts and stints in jail, and included the Gold-certified hits “Love” (feat. Parker McCollum), “Something to Talk About” and the infamous “February 28, 2016.” Wetzel’s 2020 major label debut, Sellout, only furthered his legend with the Platinum-certified “Drunk Driving” and “Good Die Young” plus the Gold-certified “Kuntry & Wistern.” The 2022 follow-up, Hell Paso, hit No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Albums and spawned hits on both the country and rock charts, including the Gold-certified “Creeps” and “Cabo.” To date, Wetzel has 3.3 billion total streams and has created a genuine experience with his live concerts, which he describes as “total chaos.” In 2023 alone, he sold more than 275,000 tickets, and appeared for a third time on POLLSTAR’s Top Worldwide Tours. Wetzel has played prominent festival sets this summer and opened for Morgan Wallen on the superstar’s One Night at a Time Stadium Tour in Texas, while also headlining his own Damn Near Normal World Tour, currently underway. His new album, 9 Lives (Columbia), is available everywhere now as lead single “High Road” with Jessie Murph arrives as his debut Country radio single while also climbing both the Hot AC and Top 40 charts.

GO AHEAD AND DIE | BETTER DEAD THAN MAINSTREAM: LIVE AT THE MARQUEE THEATER OUT NOW + RELEASE LYRIC VIDEO FOR 'I.C.E. CAGE' LIVE!

Arizona death-crusters GO AHEAD AND DIE's newest offering Better Dead Than Mainstream: Live At The Marquee Theater is now available digitally via Nuclear Blast Records. The audio from the album was taken from their September 25, 2021 show with SOULFLY as well as INCITE and HEALING MAGIC. The night featured a performance of their debut self-titled album which was released two months prior. The audio for the live album was produced, engineered, and mastered by Arthur Rizk. For the album cover, the band enlisted Costin Chioreanu to create the artwork.

To celebrate the live album, the band once again teamed up with Costin Chioreanu who created a lyric video for the track, 'I.C.E. Cage' live.

Stream / purchase Better Dead Than Mainstream: Live At The Marquee Theater digitally, here:
https://bfan.link/gaad-bdtm-live

Watch the lyric video for 'I.C.E. Cage' live below.

Catch GO AHEAD AND DIE live:
11/09/2024 Tempe, AZ - The Marquee Theater @ The Max Cavalera Dynasty Show

GO AHEAD AND DIE unleashed their caustic sophomore album Unhealthy Mechanisms last year via Nuclear Blast Records. A torrential whirlwind born from the livid minds of Igor Amadeus Cavalera (HEALING MAGIC) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY). The sophomore album is a fresh dive into the madness of society and the pollution that ravages our minds.Unhealthy Mechanisms was produced by Igor Amadeus Cavalera while John Aquilino handled the recording in his Platinum Underground Studio steeped in the mystic ambiance of the Superstition Mountains’ foothills. The mixing and mastering were once again handled by Arthur Rizk (CAVALERA, SOULFLY, TURNSTILE). For the artwork, the band enlisted Santiago Jaramillo of Triple Seis Design to create the unnerving design that fits with the album title. GO AHEAD AND DIE's newest record is a testament to declining mental health around the world, and a reminder that we are not alone in our pain. The mind is lost. The fuse is lit. Time to set everything ablaze.

GO AHEAD AND DIE is:
Max Cavalera | Vocals, Guitar
Igor Amadeus Cavalera | Vocals, Guitar
Johnny Valles | Drums
Jackie Cruz | Bass

Visit GO AHEAD AND DIE at:
www.facebook.com/GoAheadAndDieBand
www.twitter.com/GAADband
www.instagram.com/GoAheadAndDieBand
www.youtube.com/@GoAheadAndDie

Texas Hippie Coalition Release New Single, "Bones Jones"

Texas rockers TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION are back with a heavy new track, "Bones Jones."  Wild riffs toss and turn beneath the song, and frontman Big Dad Ritch relays the tale of a “local entrepreneur” and acquaintance from his youth.
 
“In our hometown, there was a guy named ‘Bones’," says Ritch. "He was about six-foot-seven-inches tall like Lurch from The Addams Family. I’d get weed from him, but he sold everything you could think of. Just weed for me though,” he chuckles.

Texas Hippie Coalition will release their new album, Gunsmoke, via MNRK Heavy on October 4, 2024.  This time, Big Dad Ritch and his crew wholeheartedly embrace their country and Southern rock stylings as well as a lifelong passion for westerns. 

With drinks poured, fists raised, and smiles wide, TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION (THC) always know how to have a good time. A collective of tried-and-true rabble-rousers and dyed-in-the-wool storytellers, the Texas quintet—Big Dad Ritch [vocals], Cord Pool [guitar], Nevada Romo [guitar], Rado Romo [bass], and Joey Mandigo [drums]—spike ass-whopping hard rock with a kick of country swagger and a whole lot of Texas grit and gusto.
 
Gathering tens of millions of streams, logging thousands of miles on the road, and energizing countless fans, they deliver ten anthems tailormade to simmer and scorch on Gunsmoke [MNRK Heavy]. “In terms of the lyrics, the vibe, and where THC come from, we definitely went home on this album,” says Ritch. “It represents the wild west Texas-Oklahoma area. You’ve got a little red dirt country spilling over into the storytelling and metal. It’s a return to the dirt where we came from.”

Tour Dates:
September 13 - Keokuk, IA - L-Treyns Bar
September 14 - Harshaw, WI - Bonnie & Clyde Gangster Park
September 15 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
September 20 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverfront Live
September 21- Wilmington, OH - Farm to Bottle Festival
October 10 - Mechanicsburg, PA - Lovedraft's Brewing Company
October 11 - Frenchtown, NJ - Atie's Bar & Grill
October 12 - Laconia, NJ - The Big House
October 13 - Rochester, NY - Montage Music Hall
October 17 - Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse Stage & Grill
October 18 - Marietta, OH - Adelphia Music Hall
October 19 - Flint, MI - The Machine Shop
October 20 - Lakewood, OH - The Winchester

Connect with Texas Hippie Coalition:

Website
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok

Bill Leeb (Front Line Assembly, Delerium) releases debut solo album 'Model Kollapse' + video for 'Muted Obsession' (feat. ACTORS)

"A frenzy-filled dose of sonic adrenaline that is infectious and, paradoxically, suitable for the dancefloor... Is dystopian bliss a thing? They could be on to something big here" ~ The Spill Magazine

"You are getting Leeb’s classic vocals and lyrics, and some FLA style programming... some of the specific textures and bits of production feel different than anything in recent memory from the venerable artist" ~ I Die: You Die

"Instantly recognizable... still sounds like something unmistakably new... sinister synthetic soundscape" ~ Rock and Roll Fables


Legendary electronic music maverick Bill Leeb has released his debut solo album 'Model Kollapse' via iconic alternative music label Metropolis Records. Bringing double delight, he also unveils his new video for 'Muted Obsession', which features Shannon Hemmett and Jason Corbett of post-punk outfit ACTORS

Reflecting the Tim Hill-produced video, Leeb says this song is about “the perception between fantasy and reality. How far would you go in this virtual social world we have created? Are we truly all alone? Who wants to play?”

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

Four decades on, this album was recorded and produced in Vancouver, Toronto and Los Angeles with assistance from Vancouver/Toronto-based production duo Dream Bulletand long-term FLA/Delerium cohort Rhys Fulber, plus regular mixing engineer Greg Reely.

Earlier, Leeb shared ‘Terror Forms’ feat. Shannon Hemmett, which explores the intricacies of artificial intelligence and the very survival of humanity itself, and 'Demons', a song about the omnipresence of technology and the internal battles we wage due to the malevolence we see around us. This album also involves an appearance by long-term Delerium collaborator Mimi Page.

‘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, releasing them on limited edition cassette. It reflects the dystopian, nihilistic world we have created in so many different ways, ultimately asking the question "When will the human voice be lost to AI and technology....or will that be what saves us in the end?"  

Caustic yet melodic, danceable and very much song-oriented rather than soundscape-driven, 'Model Kollapse' carries traces of hard-edged electronic dance music pioneers such as Front 242, DAF, KMFDM and Skinny Puppy. Remarking that “Metropolis Records is one of the most important for alternative music on the planet, Leeb shares, "This album was made possible by my long-term friendship with label boss Dave Heckman, who continually supported my projects, allowing complete artistic freedom.” Heckman died in 2022.

The term "Model Collapse" refers to an AI phenomenon where trained models, especially those relying on synthetic data or AI-generated data, degrade over time. “As we forge forward on an unprecedented technological scale, it makes me wonder how much longer we can remain in control of various aspects of our lives. Automation has already taken over many industries. With technology running much of the world, will the entire planet eventually be vulnerable to a Model Kollapse? Chaos would surely ensue.”

Since Leeb formed Delerium in 1987, it has received two Juno awards and collaborated with 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 and Kristy Thirsk (Rose Chronicles). Their hit 'Silence' with Sarah McLachlan reached #1 in numerous countries, its remixes also charting (the Tiësto remix was voted the 12th-greatest dance track of all time via Mixmag).

As of September 13, the ‘Model Kollapse’ album is available on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally. It may be ordered directly from the article via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Recorded and produced in Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles and the Okanagan, British Columbia
Written and produced by Bill Leeb and Dream Bullet
Additional production by Rhys Fulber
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Greg Reely
Featuring contributions by Shannon Hemmett, Jason Corbett & Mimi Page
Videos created by Tim Hill
Album artwork by Allen Jaeger
Released by Metropolis Records
Publicity by Shauna McLarnon for Shameless Promotion PR
Artist photos by Bobby Talamine

Keep up with Bill Leeb
Bandcamp | 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

Tigerwine Announce "Toil and Spin" Out 10/25 + Share "Wax Magnetic"

TIGERWINE will release their new album Toil & Spin on October 25 via Tooth & Nail. Pre-order it here.

Today, they share "Wax Magnetic." The track's '90s inspired, push and pull tension and distorted, chunky riffing will find its way onto your workout playlist.

 Listen Below.

'Wax Magnetic' was a last grasp at salvaging a worldview I didn't feel ready to let go of but couldn't hold onto anymore," says Hayden Trobee. "I wanted to keep believing that I had to have some greater purpose or a destination I was headed to, that just being wasn't enough. Waxing magnetic is trying to choose to believe something instead of accepting that being convinced isn’t a choice you can make."

Tigerwine — comprised of the aforementioned Trobee, Steve Lichtenwalter, and Shane Riley — is a post-hardcore band out of Colorado. In 2012, they began crafting their sound and by 2015, they perfected it, earning them a record deal and the opportunity to release their first EP, titled Lull. The next few years were fruitful and furious, with whirlwind tours and a whirlwind full-length release, Die With Your Tongue Out. Two years later, they signed with a new label, Tooth & Nail Records, and released their sophomore album Nothing Is For You in 2020. 

Chokecherry Announce Debut EP + Share "Messy Star" Visualizer

San Francisco shoe gaze x grunge pop trio chokecherry — comprised of vocalist/guitarist Izzie Clark and bassist/vocalist E. Scarlett Levinson, along with drummer Abri Crocitto — are thrilled to announce the October 25 release of Messy Star, their debut EP for Fearless Records. Pre-save it here
 
chokecherry have been steadily building a buzz since meeting on the dating app Hinge. The San Francisco Gate praised chokecherry's "blend of white-hot shoegaze," calling it "the modern sound of the California sun vaporizing the San Francisco fog." Clark and Levinson may not have worked out on the romantic front, but the pair are clearly musical soulmates and it's beautiful thing to witness and hear.

Today, the band shares the visualizer for the title track. Watch it below.

The track marks the final pre-release single from the EP. It's a powerful, cathartic track with an experimental, alt twist and takes influence from some unexpected sources. The accompanying video follows the story of a star that is burning out. It's the band's commentary on the destructive effect that celebrity culture can wreak on artists.
 
 "From the moment we started writing this song, it felt like a journey," the band says. "It began as a heavier shoegaze track, but when we took it into the studio with producer Zach Tuch, he pushed us to experiment with a trip-hop style beat in the verses. This creative choice took the song to a whole new level and gave it such a unique feeling. The format of 'Messy Star' and its departure from our usual method of only using live instruments broadened the feeling of the track and pushed it to a more experimental place. This track is our first incorporation of samples, playing on our shared love for artists like Massive Attack and Radiohead." 

Vocally, the song takes inspiration the likes of Mannequin Pussy and Lana Del Rey, with its mix of sultry coos and melodic yelling. 

The band continues, "The track still felt like a journey, but instead of simply a long drive now, it felt like crawling out from the underworld into heaven itself. The chorus breaks into an entirely new world than the one the verses occupy. It turns from strange trip hop grunge to a more classic heavy shoegaze track with angelic vocals."

Regarding the video, chokecherry explain, "It touches on themes of feeling seen and scrutinized, wanting things other people have (or even wanting to be someone else), and the desire to break away from stardom and the feeling of being watched and perceived. The 'supernova' lyric is a reference to musicians and stars 'burning out' like we have seen in contemporary celebrity culture."

They say it's better to burn out than fade away, but chokecherry thinks that there's something better than BOTH burning out and fading away. We just have to find out what, exactly, "that" is!

Chokecherry will capture the hearts of rock fans everywhere with songs that boast thick, '70s-inspired bass lines laden with strategically placed howls and hums. Their passionate, hypnotic delivery overflows and fills into every word, allowing vulnerability that listeners can truly attach to. If their Spotify streams —2.8 million global streams and counting — are any indication of how many music fans will dig what chokecherry are putting down, then it's time for 2024 to buckle the F up.

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 lifeListen 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 inventionBut 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.