Portuguese-Canadian-Swedish collective Lusitanian Ghosts releases invigorating new single 'Shameless'

"Magnetic appeal... creating a broader cultural and sonic arsenal, while maintaining a buoyancy that takes the listener on a fantastic ride from start to finish" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Lusitanian Ghosts impressively channel tools of the past to create a beautiful sonic vision. Innovative in their use of traditional instruments to make modern pop-rock, this music is upbeat, quirky, feels familiar and is catchy as hell" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Highly melodic and sonically great...  a pertinent, contemporary collection of songs that is full of dignity" ~ Amplify Music Magazine


Trans-Atlantic alternative neo-folk collective Lusitanian Ghostspresent 'Shameless', a song about love, regret and reconciliation, which previews  the band's forthcoming 'Lusitanian Ghosts III' album (out in autumn via European Phonographic). This is the second taste of their full-length album, following up the first life-affirming single 'The Long Train'.

Lusitanian Ghosts is a Portuguese-Canadian-Swedish project that resurrects lost Portuguese chordophones and other European string instruments, promoting ancient sounds in the 21st century. Re-casting these heritage folk violas into rock n roll songs, the European artist collective writes from a socio-political perspective on building a better world, creating songs for the heart and mind, recording on analogue tape and releasing moving music on vinyl.

Order the 'Shameless' single  https://ffm.to/x5mke41

Founded by Neil Leyton and Micke Ghost, the collective is currently made up of João Sousa, Abel Beja (from Primitive Reason), ToZé Bexiga (from Raia) and Jan-Eric Olsson, performing on traditional Portuguese chordophone instruments, ancient regional guitars like the Amarantina, Beiroa, Campaniça, Braguesa, Toeira and Terceirense. These instruments, once on the verge of extinction, are the real "Lusitanian Ghosts" - Lusitania being an ancient Celtic tribe in what would become the central territory of Portugal.

"We were having a photo shoot with Katja Ruge at Clouds Hill in Hamburg and she was telling us over and over again to look fierce. So there I was, lookin’ all fierce when this really cool, post punkish bass line appeared in my head. It just kept going so, as soon as we had a little break, I took Janne aside and asked him to play it on the Rickenbacker bass. When I heard it I started singing ”Shameless” to myself and quickly gathered Abe and ToZe to play some chords, Johnny to play some rhythm on his knees and Neil to sing some backup," explains Micke Ghost.

"The song kind of wrote itself and pretty soon we were all singing Shameless from the top of our lounges. It couldn’t have been more than twenty minutes from when I heard the bass line until it was finished. We recorded it really quick pretty much live off the floor right after the photo shoot was over. Sometimes you get lucky. Shamelessly lucky!"

Engineered and mixed by Sebastian Muxfeldt (Elbow, Peter Doherty, Teenage Fanclub) at Clouds Hill Studios in Hamburg, the Ghosts once again offer a brilliant taste of the sonic prism through which they present ancient sounds in the 21st Century.

Recorded and mixed on analogue tape, this music features the violas Amarantina, Campaniça and Terceira in glorious mono and stereo versions, bringing a new vintage chordophone rock n roll sound from the Ghosts. It was tracked on a Studer A820 2″ analogue tape machine, mixed down to 1/4 inch tape on the AEG Magnetophon 15 A, including both stereo and mono mixes.

From a deep love of rock n roll rooted in strong vocal traditions from Elvis Presley to David Bowie, Neil Leyton and Micke Ghost craft folk-rock songs that will appeal to fans of The Waterboys, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, and newer alt-folk-rock experimental crossings of rock n roll with other genres and traditions, like XIXA.

Lusitanian Ghosts' sophomore album 'Exotic Quixotic' was released with a Deluxe Edition featuring bonus tracks, adaptations of the title track into Portuguese and Polish, feat. Joana Negrão (A Cantadeira) and Misia Furtak.

As of June 6, 'Shameless' will be available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

SINGLE CREDITS
Mikael Lundin aka Micke Ghost - vocals and Viola Amarantina
António “ToZé” Bexiga - Viola Campaniça
Janne Olsson - bass and Viola Beirão
João Sousa - drums and Adufe
Abel Beja - viola Terceira, backing vocals
Neil Leyton - fashionista vibes, backing vocals

Written by Neil Leyton and Mikael Lundin aka Micke Ghost
Published by Lusitanian Music Publishing
Produced by Neil Leyton and Mikael Lundin
Recorded at Clouds Hill Studios, Hamburg
Engineered & mixed by Sebastian Muxfeldt
Assisted by Schulie Pieper
Mastered by Chris von Rautenkranz at SoundGarden Hamburg
Cover art photography by Swedish photographer Stina Wigg


Keep up with Lusitanian Ghosts
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Booking contact | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Singer/Songwriter Julia Poorman Releases New Single "View of You" to all major platforms!

Stream/Download "View of You"

https://linktr.ee/juliapoorman

Singer/songwriter Julia Poorman released her latest single "View of You" to all major platforms. The single was written by Julia Poorman and Danny Roselle. It was produced by Danny Roselleat Lakehouse Recording Studio in Asbury Park, NJ and mixed at Rosedome Studio in Summit, NJ.

_"'View of You' tells the story of a beautifully unexpected relationship that blossoms between two people. Over time, they've come to realize that their connection was predestined and not merely a coincidence. The song speaks to the emotional journey of forming a deep bond, overcoming doubts, and finding solace in each other's presence. It's a heartfelt and tender account of love and companionship, emphasizing the importance of faith, patience, and trust in one another,"__ says Julia.

Writing songs has always been second nature to Julia. As a young girl living in New York's Finger Lakes Region, her little poems could be found stuffed in her night stand expectantly waiting for melodies to bring them to life. As soon as she'd pick up the paper, the music would come flowing out and a song would be born.

Throughout her youth, music served as a reliable and cathartic outlet for Julia. To her, it's an entire dimension filled with comradery, boundless expression, and healing.

As a young adult, Julia took a brief step back from her musical endeavors to help build a business and life with her fiance. Navigating the world as an entrepreneur brought many rewarding opportunities for growth and unforgettable experiences, but she was left feeling a void in her creative nature.

In 2021, Julia unexpectedly lost her father. One of the last text messages he sent her was a photo of him listening to her original self-titled EP from 2012. She knew she needed to get back to her roots to begin to heal. Music became a necessary therapy again, and the melodies and lyrics just didn't stop.

Julia now feels the importance of creating music that puts people in their own flow state, a vibrational catalyst for self-exploration and healing. Her passion reclaimed, she feels as though this is just the beginning.

Lead & Backing Vocals- Julia Poorman
Guitars, Bass, Piano- Danny Roselle
Drums- Christopher O'Hara

Show Announcement!
June 10th at Mood Gallery in Neptune City, NJ

Photo Credit: Estelle Massry

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Instagram

Spotify

TikTok

H.E.A.T Share Live Version of "Rock Your Body" — LISTEN

NEW LP EXTRA FORCE OUT SEPTEMBER 1 VIA EARMUSIC

Swedish Hard Rock sensation H.E.A.T deliver an electrifying live rendition of their hit track "Rock Your Body." Recorded during their European tour last year, the band's performance captures their unmatched stage presence and contagious energy.

Listen to the new single here.

After receiving widespread acclaim for their 2022 album Force Majeure, H.E.A.T show no signs of slowing down in 2023. Recently, the band released two new studio tracks — the empowering anthem "Freedom" and the heartfelt rock ballad "Will You Be."

In addition, H.E.A.T are constantly crafting visual content, including the release of a music video and an exhilarating 360-degree video experience.

To honor their devoted fans and create a true collector's gem, the band presents Extra Force – a strictly limited release. The specially priced LP, available on September 1, features a compelling mix of new studio tracks, unreleased live recordings, and timeless H.E.A.T classics previously sung by Erik Grönwall, now for the first time with original singer Kenny Leckremo on vocals!

What else is this band up to in 2023? Stay tuned and let H.E.A.T entertain you!

Hazing Over Share New Track "Disavowed" — LISTEN

NEW EP TUNNEL VISION OUT JULY 7 VIA 1126 RECORDS

Pittsburgh extreme metal enigma Hazing Over have released their second single "Disavowed" from their upcoming EP Tunnel Vision. Speaking on the track, guitarist and songwriter Owen Traynor says, "'Disavowed' is our first song with clean singing and concludes the juxtaposition of internal and external panic explored throughout the record."

For Tunnel Vision, the group teamed up with producer Taylor Young [Twitching Tongues, God’s Hate] and recorded the six-track collection at The Pit Recording Studio in Van Nuys, CA. During this time, the band leveled up from every angle. They sharpened their sound with throat-slitting hooks, hardcore grooves, and even moments of clean singing on the standout "Disavowed." Elsewhere, "Tunnel Vision" illuminates the band’s knack for a mind-numbing metallic barrage, while "Tightrope Walker" never relents with 65 seconds of pure bloodletting.

However, it just paves the way for a whole lot more from Hazing Over.  Stay tuned and experience Tunnel Vision now.

ABOUT HAZING OVER:
As if harnessing the energy of the apocalypse in short-controlled bursts, Hazing Over temper unapologetic metallic bludgeoning with a hardcore groove, pit-splitting power, and unexpected catchiness. The Pittsburgh, PA quintet—Jake Yencik [vocals], Owen Traynor [guitars, synths], Cody Walsh [guitar], Shantanu Vyas [bass], and Ryan Yester [drums]—teeter between a gloriously repugnant distorted buzz and searing rhythms. 

After initially making waves under the name of Shin Guard, the band reconfigured and officially roared to life as Hazing Over on the 2021 PestilenceEP.  It clocked over a half-million streams on Spotify—unprecedented for a collective this extreme. Stereogum fittingly hailed it as "some wild shit." Meanwhile, they incinerated stages with the likes of nothing,nowhere. Building a rabid audience independently and earning widespread acclaim from the likes of FLOOD, Brooklyn Vegan, and more, they hone this approach into a more dynamic and dangerous beast on their 2023 EP, Tunnel Vision [1126 Records].

Necrofier premiere new album with full album stream

PRE-ORDER

NECROFIER are streaming 'Burning Shadows in the Southern Night' in full over on Black Metal Promotion. Bask in the dark and fiery glory of all ten tracks HERE.

'Burning Shadows in the Southern Night' makes strides where second albums often stumble. It doubles down on the heavy metal guitar workouts that made this scorching black metal band's first album unique. But while these Texans still honor the malignant virtues of black metal, this time around, they switched things up by taking an old-school approach to the studio. Their new album was produced by GRAMMY nominee Joel Hamilton, whose nimble hand makes these songs sound lean and thunderous.

"Joel is one of the world's best engineers" says Christian "Bakka" Larson, the band's vocalist and guitarist. "He wanted to record something heavy, so we made the trip to New York City to record at legendary Studio G."

"With a full vintage Neve front end and a host of Telefunken and Neumann microphones, we tracked the record the old way", adds drummer Dobber Beverly.

With its sweltering melodic leads, lead single "Burnt by the Sacred Flame" already showed what separates NECROFIER  from their contemporaries. But the album packs plenty more heat. It opens with ominous piano and mournful, operatic vocals before plummeting into the raging void of "Total Southern Darkness". "Whispers That Burn in the Dark" is whipped along by blast beats that pound the air like a horde of bats, while the merciless climb of "Destroying Angels" is spearheaded by Bakka's demonic roar.

"Texas has a style all of its own," Bakka says. "We are always trying to outdo the rest of the world". 

'Burning Shadows in the Southern Night" is out tomorrow, June 2, 2023. The album can be pre-saved across all streaming platforms HERE and pre-ordered through the Season of Mist website HERE. 

NECROFIER are celebrating the release of 'Burning Shadows in the Southern Night' while out on tour with MIDNIGHT and EARLY MOODS. They're hitting several cities in the western part of the United States, with stops in Vancouver and Idaho.

Tour Dates
June 1  Denver, CO @ HQ [TICKETS]
June 4  Vancouver, BC @ The Red Room [TICKETS]
June 5  Portland, OR @ Dante's [TICKETS]
June 6  Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS]
June 7  Boise, ID @ The Shredder [TICKETS]
June 9  Reno, NV @ The Cypress [TICKETS]
June 10 Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonial [SOLD OUT]
June 11 Oakland, CA @ Eli's Mile High Club [TICKETS]
June 13 Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst [TICKETS]
June 14 Bakersfield, CA @ Temblor Brew [TICKETS]
June 15 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar [TICKETS]
June 16 Tuscon, AZ @ The Rock [TICKETS]

Deep within the scorching cauldron of Texas, the alchemists of Necrofier have brewed another potent dose of American black metal with their sophomore full-length, ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night.’ The Houston four-piece honors the time-tested virtues of traditional black and heavy metal, even taking an organic sonic approach, tapping seven-time Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Joel Hamilton (Unsane, Tom Waits, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, etc.) to lend his magic touch for a natural sound. 

“The goal going into the new record was to start setting ourselves apart from our contemporaries,” explains Necrofier drummer Dobber Beverly. “One of those ways was changing what the record sounded like. Moving away from the clinical and sterile nature that most productions suffer from and back into a real room with real instruments and performances. Our friend and esteemed producer/engineer Joel Hamilton had expressed interest in venturing back into the metal world and offered to make the record with us at his facility, Studio G Brooklyn. The results will speak for themselves hopefully, as this record breathes and spits fire wherever it’s played.” 

“Dobber and Joel have become good friends since they recorded the last Oceans of Slumber album with him, adds Necrofier guitarist and vocalist Bakka. "After that, Joel wanted to record something heavy, so we made the trip to New York City to record in his legendary studio. It was an amazing experience in a great studio; besides having all the gear, he also created an environment where we challenged ourselves and brought everything up to the next level.” 

‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ doesn’t just simply pick off where Necrofier’s debut album left off, but displays a conscientious effort to double down on the elements that made ‘Prophecies of Eternal Darkness’ successful. The solos are more plentiful and intricate, the hooks are more anthemic, and the overall musicianship is bolder and more daring. Speaking of the band’s evolution, Bakka explains, “I think this collection of songs represents us very well. We have grown together as a band and it shows in the new songs. Also, for this record we flew to NYC and recorded all day long for 10 days straight. I love recording this way because it captures a certain magic. The whole band is immersed in the process and it's all we would think, do, live and breathe during the process.” 

Another core facet of Necrofier’s allure is being a black metal band from Texas. “Where you live always helps shape someone,” says Bakka. “It helps shape our style and tone in ways, it’s hot most of the year, so as we burn, it gives us warmer tones and more of a heavy metal influence than when compared to our brothers from the North."

To that avail, Necrofier isn’t your typical black metal band, and so this isn’t your typical black metal record as there’s a healthy amount of traditional metal influences, particularly within the guitar work. While conceptually, the band doesn’t heavily rely on Satanic themes, exploring deeper human philosophies and the occult like burning for your dreams or spiraling out on a psychedelic trip and exploring the beyond. “While there isn’t overt satanic worship in the lyrics, I would still say that he is a friend of ours,” Bakka cheekily says. “There are Occult themes on this record, but at the same time, it does take a philosophical approach.” 

Further illustrating the influence of their environment, Necrofier also heavily explores one of Southern America’s most fabled myths. “The new record touches on selling your soul at the crossroads,” adds Bakka. “I like to take a different approach and touch on the elements of the esoteric world and dive into the forbidden or hidden that surrounds us in our lives every day.” 

As the Texan black metal outlaws saddle up for record two, they are leading the charge as one of the contemporary purveyors of black metal revivalism. ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ is certain to elicit a sense of nostalgia for those who dare to lay ears on this vicious new offering.  

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

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

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

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

Mastering: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering

Cover Art: Burney

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/necrofierbsitsn

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NecrofierBSitSN

Violent J, Ouija Macc and Esham Release New Album '3 Headed Monster Obliteration' via Pyschopathic Records

Stream on Spotify or Apple Music

Also available at https://psychopathicmerch.com/

Violent J (Insane Clown Posse), Ouija Macc and Esham released a new record today titled 3 Headed Monster Obliteration via Pyschopathic Records.

The 3 Headed Monster Tour kicked off May 30th in Pontiac, MI at The Crofoot and concludes on June 21st in Columbus, OH at The King of Club's.

3 Headed Monster Tour Dates:

June 1st Ft Wayne, IN @ Piere's Entertainment Center

June 2nd Chicago, IL @ Chop Shop

June 3rd Minneapolis, MN @ Lyric at Skyway Theatre

June 5th Denver, CO @ The Roxy

June 6th Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep

June 7th Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater

June 9th San Antonio Texas @ Vibes Event Center

June 10th Ft. Worth, @ The Rail Club

June 11th Houston, TX @ Scout Bar

June 13th New Orleans, LA @ The Parish

June 14th Tampa, FL @ Club Skye

June 16th Atlanta, GA @ Aisle 5

June 17th Nashville, TN @ EXIT/IN

June 18th Lousiville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall

June 20th Sauget, IL @ Pop's

June 21st Columbus, OH @ The King of Club's

About Violent J:

Violent J is an American rapper, record producer, professional wrestler, actor, writer, director, and one half of the multi gold and platinum selling hip-hop group The Insane Clown Posse. He is also the co-founder of Psychopathic Records, Juggalo Championship Wrestling, and The Gathering of The Juggalos Music Festival.

Violent J started his career in the mid 1980s in the backyard and independent wrestling circuits. By the late 80s he began spending more and more time on music until that became his only focus in life. In 1991 Insane Clown Posse and Psychopathic Records were born. By 1995 ICP had received their first big label record contract and became a national touring band.

In 1997 Insane Clown Posse found national fame when their controversial album The Great Milenko was pulled off record store shelves just 4 hours after its release. Shortly after the media frenzy, ICP found themselves in a bidding war with every major record label eventually signing a deal with Island/Def Jam.

In the summer of 2000 ICP co-founded The Gathering of the Juggalos which is has become the longest running independent music festival in the country. Completely void of any sponsors The Gathering has become infamous and attracts its attendees from all parts of the globe.

For most of the first 10 years of ICP’s career they had always experienced an uphill battle. Generally never receiving any radio play, video play, or respect from their peers in the music industry. By 2010 that had finally changed, and they became part of pop culture.

Violent J continues to release new music with ICP and currently has just released his 4th solo project Bloody Sunday. Now in his prime, Violent J has no plans of ever slowing down and will continue to entertain the masses from now until the end of time.

About Ouija Macc:

Born & raised in Sin City, Ouija is the gutter through & through. Delivering a shocking brand of grimy & terrifying bangers you just can't find anywhere else. There is a place where Detroit Wicked Shit of Insane Clown Posse & the Memphis Phonk of Three 6 mafia collide in a big bang... This explosion is where Ouija Macc's universe of sound was born."

About Esham:

Hailing from Detroit's brutal Eastside, producer, lyricist, and storyteller Esham rose to legendary status at the young age of 15 when his debut album "Boomin Words From Hell" sold over 100K copies solely by word-of-mouth. The infamous and highly coveted "red tape" details the perils of being young and black in a city ravaged by drugs and violence – and Esham's wavering faith.

Scathing with religious, sexual, and political commentary, Esham blurred the lines between genres to create a new sound that was unlike anything anyone had ever heard.His recipe became a blueprint for a whole new style of music that inspired some of our generation's most notorious artists.

Over the years, Esham has amassed a devoted following and secured his place in hip-hop history as the originator of the Wicked Shit and president of Reel Life Productions. With 50+ releases and counting, he continues to push the envelope and reinvent his sound – giving fans and critics – something to talk about.

For All Things Insane Clown Posse Visit:

https://linktr.ee/insaneclownposse

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ICP Twitter

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Ouija Macc:

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

Twitter

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ESHAM:

Spotify

Facebook

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The Devil's Trade release title track off forthcoming album!

THE DEVIL'S TRADE is proud to unveil the title track off upcoming new album 'Vidékek vannak idebenn', which finds singer-songwriter Dávid Makó and his new bandmates leaning into a more dynamic, heavier sound.

"Vidékek vannak idebenn" is dark and ominous, roiling with fierce electric guitar and booming electronic percussion. It's now streaming on all digital platforms HERE.

"Vidékek vannak idebenn" will be released on July 14, 2023 via Season of Mist. It's available for pre-order HERE. 

THE DEVIL'S TRADE comments on the track: "'Vidékek vannak idebenn' is the first song I have ever written in Hungarian," says  Makó.  "As usual it has a deeply personal layer but it also has another layer that is about the typical Eastern European political struggle: ignoring our history we make the same mistakes again and again till a point where our world gets so rotten and corrupted the only escape seems to be hiding in our own inner worlds. Luckily my inner world is flourishing more than ever."

THE DEVIL'S TRADE Mastermind Dávid Makó comments: "My next album and the new path I chose with it is the biggest step I have taken since I started The Devil's Trade and I can't be grateful enough to Alcest for this opportunity to share my new music with their people."

liminal
/ˈlɪmɪnl/
adjective
TECHNICAL

1. occupying a position at, or on both sides of, a boundary or threshold.

"I was in the liminal space between past and present"
 
It is of no surprise liminal space is a key element in the next phase of The Devil’s Trade’s fourth album, ’Vidékek vannak idebenn’ (a title that loosely translates to ’There Are Landscapes Within’) as Dávid Makó, the man behind the moniker has indeed arrived to a threshold in his career, where the phase starting with his self-released debut ’Those Miles We Walked Alone’ ended after his latest album ’The Call of the Iron Peak’. The concept of liminal space itself is a not necessarily pleasant state of mind where you left behind your old life, but new doors haven’t exactly opened just yet. 

As Makó states ’The process my first three records pieced together ended, that was no path for me to take anymore, but to take a step forward I had to make decisions I wasn’t inspired enough to make.’ – and from this frustrated, sort of paralyzed state of floating, a new incarnation of The Devil’s Trade was born and so was ‘Vidékek vannak idebenn’ along with it.

While still true to his solo artist roots, delivering gut-wrenching melodies of darkness and beauty on his own, Makó needed an expansion to his universe. With the addition of long-time friend and former bandmate Gáspár Binder on drums and a live keyboard player, he finally took the much needed step forward and ‘Vidékek vannak idebenn’ portrays the next sonic phase of The Devil’s Trade.

A soundtrack to the next phase of his life. A soundtrack to souls stuck in liminal space, hungry to adapt to new realities and to grow further, outside the boundaries which so often shackle them.

Style: Dark Doom Folk

Recording studio: Templom, Budapest Hungary
Producer: Makó Dávid
Mix/Master: Szabolcs Szűcs

Recording line-up:
Dávid Makó: vocals, guitars, keyboards, banjo
Gáspár Binder: drums

Line-up:
Dávid Makó: vocals, guitars, banjo
Gáspár Binder: drums
Gábor Tóth: keyboard

Cover artwork: 
Bálint Benkő (Volume Of Voids)

Links:
www.facebook.com/TheDevilsTrade
www.thedevilstrade.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/user/mdgytdt
www.instagram.com/thedevilstrade

Booking contact:
Doomstar Bookings: zoltan@doomstarbookings.com

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/TDTVVI

Formats:
Digital
Digipak
Vinyl in various colours
Merch

SINGER-SONGWRITER, HUNTER BLAIR AMBROSE RELEASES 1980s SYNTH-POP INSPIRED SINGLE, “RUNAWAY”

LA-based singer, songwriter and instrumentalist, Hunter Blair Ambrose, has released her single “Runaway,” today. Co-written by Hunter, “Runaway” is a dance-pop track written from the perspective of someone letting go of their past traumas and regrets to start anew. The title “Runaway” refers to running away from one’s past, but also running away from the vulnerability that new experiences and love forces us into. Hunter elaborates; “I

recently made a huge change in my life, moving cross country from New York to Los Angeles, and this song is fully inspired by that. Taking a chance on a new chapter, being afraid of all the possibilities of starting your life over. I know that moving across the country meant I’d have a fresh start when it comes to everything, new relationships, new friendships, new work opportunities, a new beginning.”

“Runaway” features an emotive vocal performance with danceable, electric production that echoes a retro 1980s synth pop influence with modern touches. “Runaway” showcases Hunter’s innate ability to craft personal narratives into a synth-pop 1980’s inspired hybrid. She sonically drew inspiration from The Weeknd’s album Dawn FM, but also synth-pop songs with 1980s production influences from artists like Majid Jordan, Zara Larsson, and SG Lewis. “Runaway” has a four on the floor dance beat, with an explosive chorus inspired by melodies and vocal stylings from Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande. Additionally, the single’s lyrics tell the story of someone losing themselves in music as an escape, but also fearing what could happen if they open themselves up to love again.

Hailing from New York, and currently residing in Los Angeles, Hunter Blair Ambrose began to display a profound love for the performing arts from her earliest years, starting at just 5 years old. What started as singing and studying music, turned into formal vocal lessons, piano training and continuing to study music and theater through grade school, high school and college. Hunter’s professional career in pop began at 17 years old under the mentorship of Grammy Award winning producer, Narada Michael Walden. After recording and co-writing her first tracks as a solo artist with Narada from 2013-2014, Hunter attended the Berklee College of Music. While studying there, she met several producers, writers, and engineers, eventually forming a core team to create her first studio EP and album Scorpio Rising (2020) and Scorpio Season (2021). The lead single, “November” went on to become a viral hit and featured an interpolated sample of Lady Gaga’s 2010 hit “Alejandro.” Inspired by the likes of Charli XCX, Dua Lipa, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Rosalia, Rihanna; Hunter relates to artists who put an effort into stylized content that correlates with their art. Blending illustrious production with often visceral lyrics to bring her audience into her artistic universe; Hunter is known for her powerful vocals, vast range, and provocative visuals to her artistry. “As I’ve moved through my life, I have amassed various life experiences and have gained many new artistic influences which all come together to affect my songwriting and style of music I create. As I’ve evolved as a human being, so has my art. With every release, I reflect where I am at any present moment in time through my music.” - Hunter Blair Ambrose

“Runaway” Credits:
Written by: Hunter Blair Ambrose, Jason Strong Producer/Mixing: Jason Strong Mastering: Randy Merrill

Listen below:

https://soundcloud.com/hunterambrose/runaway/s-zCDLLkaDtlT?si=9f7313ec7ad74308af281d80b1a66c2a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

CONNECT WITH HUNTER BLAIR AMBROSE:

INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE | TWITTER | TIKTOK | FACEBOOK

Plain White T's Drop New Song "Happy!" — LISTEN

Earlier this year, the Plain White T's shared the brand new single and video "Spaghetti Tattoo," an acoustic love song in which frontman Tom Higgenson recounts a memorable first date. The video finds the band appearing as puppets, with scenes that pay homage to famous moments from film history. Watch it here.

Today, the band has followed up that moment with the new single "Happy." Listen below.

The Plain White T's new single "Happy! is a chill, and, well, happy track. Lyrically, it offers an optimistic take on getting through a rough patch and looking forward to the future when a bad situation inevitably improves! Ironically, the melodies and chords a melancholy as Higgenson declares, "I wanna be happy, happy, happy / What's the point of being sad? / I wanna feel good." It'll have you dancing like no one is watching.

"The thing I love about 'Happy' is that the lyrics are so optimistic and fun, but the chords and the melodies are so melancholy," Higgenson explains. "It's like, 'Ok, I know I'm going through something right now, but I just wanna get over it already and feel good again!' Like I know things are gonna get better, but I'm not quite there yet."

The Plain White T's were also in the news recently with a beautifully heartwarming story of Higgenson performing their signature smash "Hey There Delilah" bedside for a cancer-stricken fan who was named after the track. Read more at CNN, PEOPLE, and Newsweek.

ABOUT PLAIN WHITE T'S:
Since emerging in 1997, Chicago quartet Plain White T's — Tom Higgenson [vocals], Tim Lopez [lead guitar, vocals], Mike Retondo [bass], and De'Mar Hamilton [drums] — have remained visible and viable. They have consistently delivered unforgettable pop rock anthems that take up real estate in your brain for months at a time. They have amassed over 2.7 billion total global streams, earned two Grammy nominations, and collected several Platinum-plus and Gold certifications across their impressive catalog. Their signature single "Hey There Delilah" went quadruple-platinum, topped the Billboard Hot 100, and earned the pair of aforementioned GRAMMY® nominations in 2008 — for "Song of the Year" and "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal." They have made their pop culture mark by appearing on highly visible shows such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Sesame Street, iCarly, 90210, Beavis & Butthead, and Frankenweenie, all the while nabbing press accolades from TIME, Billboard, ESPN, Rolling Stone, AV Club, MTV, MSNBC, and more. Plain White T's have proven to be a reliable musical force, as well as a career band that shows no signs of stopping or slowing down. Their new single "Spaghetti Tattoo" is due out via longtime label Fearless Records in 2023.

CLOAK Streams New Album 'Black Flame Eternal' via Black Metal Promotion

Blackened heavy metal masters CLOAK have partnered with Black Metal Promotion for the advanced stream of their upcoming full-length, 'Black Flame Eternal!' The record is due this Friday, May 26, and can be heard below.

Cloak comments, "With more than two years in the making, we're ready to release the new era of the band into the world with fire and fury! Today we present to you the full stream of our third album "Black Flame Eternal". Hail to the true supporters, we've only just begun..."

Moreover, CLOAK will be hitting the road for a run of live shows in support of the record's release! The full run of dates can be found below! In addition, the band will be hosting an album listening party this Saturday, May 27, in conjunction with their appearance at Hell in the Harbor festival in Baltimore, MD. The official after party will take place at Angel's Rock Bar and will be headlined by label-mates TOMBS.

ICYMI: CLOAK recently debuted the blood-soaked music video for their brand new single, "The Holy Dark!" Watch at THIS LOCATION.

CLOAK is following up 2019's 'The Burning Dawn,' which was named one of the Best Albums of the year by Metal Insider (#6), A&P Reacts (#8), Treble Zine (#11), and others.

'Black Flame Eternal' is due on May 26, 2023 and can be pre-saved across all streaming services HERE and pre-ordered HERE.

CLOAK Live Dates:
05/25: Raleigh, NC @ Kings [TICKETS]
05/27: Baltimore, MD @ Hell in the Harbor Fest [TICKETS]*
06/10: Atlanta, GA @ The Earl [TICKETS] **HOMETOWN SHOW**
06/14: Mobile, AL @ Alabama Music Box
06/15: New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
06/16: Austin, TX @ Oblivion Access Festival [TICKETS]*
06/17: Houston, TX @ Black Magic
08/05: San Juan, PR @ La Respuesta (JUST ADDED)
*festival date

“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” - Rudyard Kipling

In an era that is designed to beat down and weaken the individual, Black Flame Eternal is an album that represents strength, empowerment, and total opposition. With mounting pressure to engage in modern societal tribalism, Cloak invokes a spiritual rebellion that exists beyond good and evil with album number three. 

“All of our albums are created with a spiritual focus, dealing with how we see life, death, and everything in between. I think the earlier records dealt more with the mysteries that surrounded delving deeper into the world of dark spirituality, whereas the new material has taken what we’ve learned and used it to move forward with force,” says Cloak frontman Scott Taysom of the record’s underlying philosophy. “Black Flame Eternal is a statement of spiritual empowerment in every sense. For the first time we want people to grasp on to this sentiment, instead of keeping it completely personal within our world of Cloak. The themes and the sheer power can be felt much more within the songs that this album contains."

“Our goal is complete spiritual liberation, which is where true power and freedom exists,” he adds. “We’ve reached a point in history where people are forced to pick a side or to join a team, so to speak. Cloak stands in complete opposition to this. We aim to be a giant middle finger in the face of the empty modern world.”

While Cloak might rage against societal conventions, the Atlanta quartet embraces the rebellious and time-tested traditions of heavy metal. Whether it be the conjuring the chaotic spirit of Swedish black metal purveyors Watain and Dissection, summoning the deep, dark and sensual groove of Danzig, or evoking the raw speed and raucous energy of Motörhead, the influence of metal’s founding fathers is deep within Cloak’s DNA. Cloak’s charm, however, does not merely lie within its romanticism of the past, but rather is the way each of these genres has shaped Cloak’s own personal identity. And with Black Flame Eternal, the record sees Cloak continue to strengthen its own unique established sound.

Cloak recognizes the importance of a band’s third record, with Taysom explaining, “These influences will always be important to us, as they are some of the best and most important bands of our time. On the other hand, what is so special about getting to the third record of our career is that inspiration starts to move inwards. We had enough experience and material at this point to really know what we do best and how we can utilize these skills in the best way possible. If you look at some of the most iconic bands, their third albums were massive steps towards greatness. So to us, we feel our third record will be a very important one in our time as a band.”

The Atlantan’s evolution is evident in the fury displayed on Black Flame Eternal,which flawlessly compliments the grandiose melodic atmosphere. “This was a conscious effort. Early on before the album even started, I knew it was going to be a much more aggressive and powerful album. I wanted to take a step away from certain sounds and add a bit of brutality back in. The overall vibe matches who we are much more, so it was only fitting to move towards this sound. It almost feels like we are going back to our roots as people in certain ways,” explains Taysom.

Black Flame Eternal follows up sophomore effort The Burning Dawn, which was released in November 2019, with hell unleashing its fury on the globe just a few short months later. As plans to tour the new album around the world came to a screeching halt, the band did not stagger or falter, and instead used this gift of time to write. When reflecting upon the lost years and its impact, Taysom seemingly embraces the situation with little regrets, “Considering Cloak is a sacred space for us, these exterior things did not have as much of an impact as one might think. But it was impossible to ignore some of what was going on throughout these tumultuous years. It’s bound to affect people’s personal lives and the way the mind works during these interesting times. One thing that it did greatly affect was the fact that we could not promote The Burning Dawn properly after the one U.S. tour we did with 1349. We feel this hurt the record, but there was nothing we could do. We were one of the earliest out of the gate after venues started to open back up, and we’ve been continuing to tour in promotion of that album all the way up until now.”

Cloak utilized every minute of this time to focus on fully realizing its vision for Black Flame Eternal. “The initial stage of the writing process started in January of 2020, and lasted all the way until May 2021. It was the longest spanning album process for us so far, with many long days, nights, and weeks trying to piece the songs together the best we could.” While the record did not come together swiftly or easily, the care and attention put into its creation is evident in its powerful composition.

Making up for lost time, these road warriors have already embarked on several high profile North American tours since the autumn of 2021, commanding audiences in every major city with their chaos magick. Each performance merges the spirit of black metal with the backbone of rock ‘n’ roll as the band consistently delivers a blistering set from start to finish. Taysom describes Cloak’s live approach as “a mixture of ethereal atmosphere and total abrasive chaos. The mixture of these two opposing energies is where Cloak lies; the meeting of high and low. To us, this is where the most interesting moments happen, both emotionally and physically.”

With no borders or boundaries, Cloak is ready to embark on this new chapter as the leader of its own pack. The band bows to no one, forging its own path as one of the governing metal forces of this decade as ‘Black Flame Eternal’ promises to scorch the earth and leave its hallowed mark.

Lineup:
Scott Taysom - vocals/guitar
Max Brigham – guitar
Billy C. Robinson – bass
Sean Bruneau - drums

Links:
http://www.facebook.com/cloakofficial
https://www.instagram.com/cloak_atlanta/
https://cloakatlanta.bandcamp.com/

Recording Studio: The Green House 

Mixing: Cameron Webb

Mastering: Audiosiege

Cover Art: Jordan Barlow

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/cloakbfe

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/CloakBFE

Australian dark pop artist Suburban Spell presents 'Natural Science', second taste of new 'Falling Down' EP

Catchy hooks and delicate synth lines that soar... Stunning, deep, beautiful” ~ Auxiliary Magazine

"Fantastic... driving, propulsive, and unfiltered, examining the experience of “signing up to a life of suburbia at an early age, only to realise many years later that the suburban dream is all a fabrication"" ~ Post-Punk.com

“Catchy melodies and a subtle touch of old Xymox and New Order … Recommended” ~ Sonic Seducer

"Shimmering, smoothly frantic... freewheeling but taut... elusive but striking... one of our favorite records of the year” ~ Stereo Embers Magazine


Melbourne-based synthwave artist Suburban Spell presents 'Natural Science', a statement on the weight of scientific evidence and the powerful push by doubters to challenge such knowledge based on baseless contradictory viewpoints. This is the second single from his 'Falling Down' EP, named in reference to the long-term outcomes of bad choices and giving into guilty pleasures.

The new EP follows the 'Split Levels - Remixes' EP (February 2023), a series of reworkings of his acclaimed 'Split Levels' album, involving goth-rock / post-punk legend William Faith (Christian Death, Mephisto Walz, Shadow Project, Faith & The Muse, The Bellwether Syndicate), along with New Zealand's Robots In Love, Australia's Ontic, Pittsburgh's Tragic Impulse and Italian artist Kurs.

'Falling Down' EP  https://suburbanspell.bandcamp.com/album/falling-down
'Natural Science' https://open.spotify.com/track/2tC6TOePdGL06SbBvLG37n

Suburban Spell is the solo project of Peter Endall, whose music combines the austere beauty of Kraftwerk, 80's melodic sensibilities, driving rhythms and some noisy grind thrown in for good measure. Influenced by the heyday of new wave and 70's-80's electronica, this music carries the beautiful imprints of such artists as Ultravox, OMD, Visage, Jean-Michel Jarre, The Cars, Gary Numan and New Order.

Peter's previous band Schizo Scherzo was active in the heady days of Melbourne's 80's music scene, playing alongside such acts such as The Eurythmics, Pseudo Echo, Real Life and Fergal Sharky. Having re-emerged on the music scene as Suburban Spell, he has found his niche in modern Australian electronica.  

Earlier, Suburban Spell released the lead track 'Bright Gold Cross', with a slick video of shadow-play, Created by Dingo Cross Films in Melbourne, it was produced and directed by Paul Puccio and Cassie Dart.

"The concept behind 'Natural Science' was written about the baffling science deniers who gained a lot of momentum during the Covid 19 pandemic. How documented facts from the world's leading institutions were flatly rejected, based on a belief system that didn't align with a particular view point, coupled with selective research to echo whatever that belief system was." says Peter Endall.

"When that mind-set becomes a natural way of thinking, it's very difficult to offer an alternative view point, and Natural Science appears to be denied. I don't want to sound all knowing and it's good to challenge the accepted science, however I believe there are immutable laws of science that are irrefutable), what I call Natural Science."

Suburban Spell's music is a commentary on the fragility of suburban lifestyle, never-ending efforts to keep up appearances, and an exploration of society's dark and fragile underbelly. This music is also a commentary about Endall's own vulnerabilities in the urban landscape and the wider societal norms that interlace with politics, religion and pop culture.

As of May 23, 'Natural Science' will be available across fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the 'Falling Down' EP can already be ordered ahead of its June 23 release.

SINGLE CREDITS
Written, produced and recorded by Suburban Spell
Mixed by Adam Calatzis at Toyland Studios,
except 'Salvation Army' - mixed by Alex Quayle of Salt Studios
Mastering by Joe Carra at Crystal Mastering
Video created by Dingo Cross Films
Video produced and directed by Paul Puccio and Cassie Dart
Video stills by Paul Puccio (DCF Studios)
Other artists photos by Kristen Solury


Keep up with Suburban Spell
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn | Press contact

FIFTH ANGEL - Release Video For New Single 'Resist The Tyrant'

US metal legends FIFTH ANGEL have released a new single from their upcoming new studio album, When Angels Kill, which will be out on June 16th via Nuclear Blast Records.

The song 'Resist The Tyrant' which is being carried by infectious guitar leads and a captivating chorus is a prime example of those powerful and hard-hitting heavy metal anthems that can only be written and performed by the absolute masters of the genre.

In this day and age, tyranny is not fiction, it never was. While not a political song and rather woven into the album concept of When Angels Kill, 'Resist The Tyrant' bears a powerful message that will resonate with those oppressed or fighting oppression today. Its rebellious spirit has been remarkably captured in a new FIFTH ANGEL music video also premiering today.

The video introduces the four main characters in the story of this epic concept album. The four main characters of the story are: the protagonist Phoenix, a young man, and his best friend in the resistance, Dylan, Phoenix's love interest Lana, also a member of the rebellion, and the global Tyrant Dionne Profontis.  

LISTEN TO THE SINGLE 'RESIST THE TYRANT':
https://fifthangel.bfan.link/rttsg

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'RESIST THE TYRANT': Below

PRE-ORDER OR PRE-SAVE "WHEN ANGELS KILL":
https://fifthangel.bfan.link/wakfa.ema

AVAILABLE FORMATS:

- CD
- Gatefold 2LP (Transparent Red)
- Gatefold 2LP (Sky Blue)
- Digital Album


MORE FROM "WHEN ANGELS KILL":

'WHEN ANGELS KILL' (OFFICIAL VIDEO):
https://youtu.be/7zig9QIpc9Q

 

ABOUT FIFTH ANGEL:
 
The Seattle music scene in the mid 1980’s was a breeding ground of exceptional talent. Heavy metal was a new wave of music that was sweeping the globe, and FIFTH ANGEL is one of the forefathers of the legendary Seattle metal scene that produced iconic metal bands such as Queensryche and Metal Church.
 
In 1984, school friends Ted Pilot (vocalist), Ed Archer (guitarist) and drummer Ken Mary (Alice Cooper, Flotsam and Jetsam, House of Lords) joined forces with lead guitarist James Byrd and bassist John Macko. Inspired by the success of Queensryche, who shunned playing clubs for the sake of writing, recording and releasing their own music independently, FIFTH ANGEL chose a similar path. They focused on honing their writing and recording skills, crafting the incredible debut album “FIFTH ANGEL,” which today stands as a metal classic that has influenced countless bands.
 
Co-produced with famed music producer Terry Date, (Pantera, Soundgarden, White Zombie), “Fifth Angel” was Date’s first ever production. The album, recorded at Steve Lawson studios in Seattle and first released in the United States on Shrapnel Records, was distributed in Europe through a fledgling label named RoadRunner Records based in the Netherlands. The album quickly became a cult classic in the European metal community, charting higher than many major label releases.
 
Epic Records caught wind of the band, and were so impressed with “Fifth Angel” they signed the band to a seven album, $21 million dollar deal. Re-mastering the recording and re-releasing the album with new artwork, Epic unveiled FIFTH ANGEL to a worldwide audience in 1988.
 
The band received rave reviews, and was touted in the press as the “next big thing” in all the major metal magazines of the day, including Hit Parader, Kerrang!, RIP, Metal Edge, Metal Forces and many others. Kerrang! went as far as attaching a flexidisc of the band’s music onto their cover, and giving the center fold out of the magazine to the band as well.
 
In late 1988, the band entered the studio once again, this time with producer Terry Brown (Rush). Epic Records released “Time Will Tell” by FIFTH ANGEL in August of 1989. “Time Will Tell” saw the departure of lead guitarist James Byrd, and the introduction of guitar prodigy Kendall Bechtel. The video for “Time Will Tell” was released from the album, and went into rotation on MTV. An additional single from the album, “Midnight Love,” became the theme song for shock jock Howard Stern’s #1 ranked US radio show for over four years.
 
However, the winds of change were beginning to stir over the music industry, and when grunge music hit the US music market hard in the early 90’s, (music that ironically was based out of Seattle as well), FIFTH ANGEL disbanded. But that’s not the end of the story…
 
FIFTH ANGEL was invited to headline the Keep It True festival in Germany in 2010. The reception was incredible, with the sold out crowd singing the lyrics to every song. This positive momentum planted the seeds for a new album.

Finally, several of the members began writing and recording together, and the collective enthusiasm was very strong over the music that was created. Nuclear Blast signed the band to a new recording contract based on a three-song demo that was submitted in 2017, and in the fall of 2018 FIFTH ANGEL released their first new album in nearly 30 years, “The Third Secret.”

The album featured the incredible talents of Kendall Bechtel, Ken Mary and John Macko. Original guitarist Ed Archer soon returned, and along with two new members, Steve Carlson on lead vocals and Ethan Brosh on lead guitar, the lineup was completed after an unexpected departure at the end of 2018 by Bechtel.
 
“The Third Secret” topped the charts on Deaf Forever (DE), Rock Hard (DE) and numerous other international magazines, and brought the group back on the charts. In 2019, the band returned to the festival stages, headlining the Metal Assault festival in Würzburg, Germany, and then appearing at the Rock Hard and Alcatraz festivals in the Summer of that year.
 
FIFTH ANGEL will appear this spring at the Keep It True festival once again with the current lineup, and will also perform at Alcatraz (BE) later in August 2023.

FIFTH ANGEL line-up on "When Angels Kill"
Steve Carlson - Vocals
Ken Mary - Drums
John Macko - Bass
Ed Archer - Guitars
Steve Conley - Guitars
Jim Dofka - Lead Guitars

PRE-ORDER OR PRE-SAVE WHEN ANGELS KILL:
https://fifthangel.bfan.link/wakfa.ema

CADAVER - ANNOUNCE AGE OF THE OFFENDED + RELEASE MUSIC VIDEO FOR TITLE TRACK

Norwegian death metallers, CADAVER are proud to reveal The Age Of The Offended will be unleashed on July 21, 2023 via Nuclear Blast Records. True to the band’s primitive roots and an audacious, ground-breaking, psychedelic horror-show, the album is an angry, fucked up album for angry, fucked up times, defiantly created against the odds. Today, the band offers fans the first taste of the album with the title track.

Anders Odden comments, "We began working on The Age of the Offended during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. We aimed to push the boundaries of our music adding all the flavors we like in the mix. We rejoined forces with Eilert Solstad, the bass player from ...In Pains as well as guitar wizard, Ronni Le Tekrø. This collaboration led to an album that sounds out of this world and sends our music into the stratosphere. The theme, The Age Of The offended, is a node to the times we live in. The chaos, conflicts, and turmoil of the human condition will never stop inspiring us. The title track reflects this vision by pointing to the zeitgeist and works as the perfect soundtrack to the current post-apocalyptic world.* 

Stream the new single "The Age Of The Offended" here:  https://cadaver.bfan.link/taotosg

Watch the music video for "The Age Of The Offended" here: 

The Age Of The Offended was recorded at Daufembach Studio, Villa Necro, Studio Tomb, and Studio Studio. Adair Daufembach was responsible for producing, engineering, mixing, and mastering. Kjartan Hesthagen also assisted with the engineering working in tandem with the band and Adair. The band enlisted Fleshflies to create the artwork for The Age Of The Offended.

Pre-order/ pre-save The Age Of The Offended: https://cadaver.bfan.link/taotolp.ema

The Age Of The Offended will be available digitally and in the following formats:

• CD Jewel

• Vinyl

  • Orange w/ Silver, Blue Splatter Vinyl (Limited to 1300, worldwide)

  • Blue w/ Orange, Black Splatter Vinyl (Limited to 800, NB EU)

CADAVER is:
Anders Odden | Vocals, Guitar
Dirk Verbueren | Drums
Ronni Le Tekrø | Guitar
Eilert Solstad |  Bass

Off Road Minivan Share "Victim Complex" — LISTEN

MAY THIS KEEP YOU SAFE FROM HARM OUT JUNE 23 VIA TOOTH & NAIL

Hudson Valley, NY-based quartet Off Road Minivan, featuring Fit For a King bassist Ryan "Tuck" O'Leary, will release their second album May This Keep You Safe From Harm on June 23 via Tooth & Nail Records. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared "Victim Complex." Listen below.

"'Victim Complex' is about a person I was friends with for 18 years. I learned a lot from him, and he was partly the reason why I got in Fit For A King. However, the same individual did a lot of shit. His personality is extreme, and a lot of people can take it or leave it. Eventually, everyone left. He has a 'Victim Complex,'" says O'Leary.

Off Road Minivan, whose lineup is rounded out by Evan Garcia Renart, Miles Taylour Sweeny, and Mike Planko, came to life in 2018 with the Spiral Gaze EP. On its heels, 2020's full-length debut, Swan Dive, immediately captivated audiences. Throughout the past three years, the band members wrote and sent ideas back-and-forth. Simultaneously, they stitched together a throughline carried by the real-life interviews with members of Tuck's family.

"I've been secretly recording my family for at least a-year-and-a-half, including the voice clips from my grandmother, who was the first," Tuck says. "I'd listen back later and find the right part I needed for the album. I essentially wanted to preserve these moments forever. I got my mom, dad, sister, grandmother, brother-in-law, nephew, best friend, and wife on tape. Now, I'll have it all on vinyl format for the rest of my life."
 
As for the album's title, it's also rooted in the familial. 

"When my grandfather joined the military and was going off to war, my grandma gave him a bible with a metal cover," reveals Tuck. "On the front, it said, 'May this keep you safe from harm.' Even if you got shot in the heart, the bible would protect you. When I first started touring, different family members gave me mementos to feel safe on the road. The bible was from my grandmother. Now, I've got it tattooed on my chest, so I don't have to bring the original with me. All of this is about preservation of time. It's a way to document some of my most fragile moments and share the delicate, untouched vulnerable side of myself maybe you haven't experienced from Fit For a King. It's the other swing of the pendulum."

Audio Karate Drop First New Song in Nearly 20 Years With "A Show of Hands"

California's melodic-punk outfit Audio Karate return with their first studio recordings in almost 20 years!

The band reunited in early 2018 following the reissue of their two classic LPs Space Camp and Lady Melody. They later released two albums worth of previously unreleased material on Malo and ¡Otra! and got back on the road for festival appearances and playing with the likes of Descendents and other punk legends. The band quickly realized that playing together was an important part of their lives, and they went into the studio to record the new song "A Show of Hands" in 2022, while also re-recording their song "A Monster in Disguise," adding some much needed production work, making it a much more powerful song.

This limited edition 7-inch EP is being presented by Iodine Recordings, which includes beautiful artwork by Jeff Caudill (Gameface) and photography from the studio and recent tour dates, and was mastered by Jack Shirley (Joyce Manor, Jeff Rosenstock). These songs showcase the power, and precision of Audio Karate's songwriting, which masterfully strikes a balance of hyper-melodic punk rock, emo, and post-hardcore.

It's out June 30. Pre-order it here.

"'A Show of Hands' is our first recording of the modern era, recorded at New Monkey Studio (previously Elliot Smith's studio) in late 2021," says guitarist Jason Camacho. "Pandemic stuff had made it so we hadn't been in a room together in a minute and we were beyond happy with the outcome. Instantly recognizable as an Audio Karate song, it blends elements of everything one would expect from AK, rolling bass lines, hummable riffs, rusty nail gargled vocals, and catchy hooks."

AUDIO KARATE ON TOUR:
6/2 — San Francisco, CA — 924 Gilman
7/28 — Chicago, IL — Reggies *
7/29 — Milwaukee, WI — X-Ray Arcade *
7/30 — Champaign, IL — The Space *
8/19 — Los Angeles, CA — The Paramount
10/28 — Gainesville, FL — The FEST
*With Tightwire 

Hollywood Vampires Share "Manic Depression (Live In Rio)" Video

SONG APPEARS ON UPCOMING ALBUM LIVE IN RIO OUT JUNE 2 VIA EARMUSIC

The Hollywood Vampires, the rock supergroup consisting of Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Tommy Henriksen, have released a blistering live version of the Jimi Hendrix classic "Manic Depression," recorded during their show at "Rock in Rio" 2015 in front of 100,000 fans. The track features Depp's energetic guitar work, Cooper's distinctive voice, Perry's inimitable solos, and is backed by the thunderous rhythm guitar of Tommy Henriksen.

Watch the video below. Stream the song here.

"Manic Depression" was originally released on Hendrix's 1967 debut album Are You Experienced and has become a staple in the rock music canon. The Hollywood Vampires' live version brings a new energy to the song with its explosive instrumentation and electrifying solos that capture the frenzied spirit of Hendrix's original. It's a song that never fails to captivate audiences and transport them back to the magic of the '60s. The live version of "Manic Depression" is available on all major streaming platforms. The Hollywood Vampires are on tour and will be performing throughout Europe throughout the summer.

In 2015, the Hollywood Vampires not only released their first album, but also played one of their biggest concerts, which will now be released as their first live album. After this success and the media interest in the ultimate rock group, sold-out concerts, and tours all over the world followed, and finally, in 2019, the second album Rise. Over 50,000 physical units sold, millions of streams, and worldwide cover stories in major magazines later, fans, press, and the band were ready to bring these songs to the stage. Unfortunately, part of the tour had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will finally be made up for this summer. Fittingly, the first live album will be released a few days earlier on June 2.

The new album Live in Rio will be released as CD+DVD Digipak, CD+Blu-ray Digipak, limited + numbered 2LP Gatefold Black, and can be pre-ordered here.

JASON NEIL (ARCANIUM) Set to Redefine Modern Metal with New Project, MIND INCISION!

Denver, CO based metal musician and front-man JASON NEIL, formerly of Arcanium, has brought together a new cast of some of the most creative characters with his newest heavy rock band, MIND INCISION! Formed in September 2022, MIND INCISION also includes lead guitarist JON MAGGARD, bassist AEON CRUZ (MOTOGRATER), rhythm guitarist KYLE LOUCKS, and drummer KELLY MORSE, making them a “super group” of some of the best independent metal talent!

Debut EP, The First Cut, Out 2023!

“I did some really sweet tours with Arcanium over the 5 or 6 years we toured. Bullet For My Valentine, Butcher Babies, Ill Nino, Otep, and Machine Headwere amongst some of the funnest.

What’s cool is the very first tour I scored as the vocalist of Arcanium, was with Megadeth. I grew up listening to Megadeth and was completely floored that Dave Mustaine had hand picked us for their tour.

The difference between Mind Incision and Arcanium for me is that the band writes music that is diverse. There is slow melodic tones and riffs, and also chunky driving powerhouse riffs. So the album came out great!

We're currently seeking tours and have a couple offers on the table, as well as generated some industry professional interest since coming back to the scene with Mind Incision. I think this band is going to take off. We’re not here to fuck around and party. We are here to get out there and do some incredible things with the music we are creating for some good causes as well as for the fans, and if you liked I first 3 singles, you ain’t seen nothing yet!”

"'Zero230' is inspired by soldiers who are suffering from PTSD or anyone that knows someone who is or has suffered in the past. In this song we talk about how a soldier wakes up in the middle of the night from dreams that take him back to the war and how it affects his/her everyday life. With no actual way to get rid of it. If you know someone that is suffering from PTSD please get them the help they need by sharing these links and phone numbers below." - MIND INCISION

Wounded Warrior Project
VA Government Health USA
DAV
PTSD Foundation of America - 1-877-717-7873

Purchase / Stream "Zero230" Online

MIND INCISION IS:
Jason Neil - Lead Vocals
Jon Maggard - Lead Guitar
Kyle Loucks - rhythm Guitar
Aeon Cruz - Bass
Kelly Morse - Drums

Formed in December of 2022, Mind Incision was born of five Denver musicians featuring well known local and national Artists such as Arcanium and Motograter, to Cevrance and Mother of Exile. While encompassing several styles of metal, Mind Incision creates a unique and power driven sound, coupled with vocals that compliment the driving music well, and can be heard and understood through screaming and singing parts throughout. The group has signed with Music Gallery International’s management Shawn Barusch and are seeking touring opportunities NOW! With the release of their E.P. The First Cut, which was produced, mixed and mastered by Denver's own Dave Otero at Flatline Audio, Mind Incision prepares to finish the record with Dave after their breakout tour in 2023.

Avant Garde Black Metal Band HENGET Streams New Album in Full

Guitarist Jesse J. Heikkinen (The Abbey, Iterum Nata) and vocalist King Aleijster de Satan (King Satan, Saturnian Mist) have teamed up for a mind-bending progressive black metal project, HENGET. The emerging Finnish band is now streaming its fortjcoming debut album, 'Beyond North Star,' in its entirety ahead of Friday's release! Stream below.

HENGET comments, "Here it is then, the full album stream of our debut album, 'Beyond North Star.' It has been artistically and spiritually really intense and exciting journey from the moment of inception to this day. We hope that something from all of this will be transferred to you as well with the complete album. Let the walls between the realities crumble and may the metaphysical North Star descend upon our foreheads."

Drawing inspiration from the world of occult and the ways of ancient Shamanism, 'Beyond North Star' depicts a violent hallucinatory journey to the depths of the mind and beyond with a psychedelic outlook. 

HENGET will be debuting its first full-length, 'Beyond North Star,' on May 19, 2023 via Season of Mist!

Pre-orders are now available HERE. The album can be pre-saved on various digital platforms HERE.

The album artwork for 'Beyond North Star' was created by M.T. Salminen

The creation process has always been a very fascinating riddle isn’t it? After all, there’s no strict formula. Some spent weeks, months or even years meticulously working on every tiny detail over and over again until it feels perfect while others just have to let it all out, no matter how it all comes out, it just has to. And no, no matter how hard you try, you can’t force it. You just can’t. You need to have that vision, that unstoppable yearning to turn your dreams into reality. 

King Aleijster de Satan has long stopped asking himself all those questions. Although he’s only thirty-four years old, the Tampere based Finn is a bullet-proof veteran of the black metal scene: he used to run and sign bands for Saturnal Records. He also ran the Blackvox studio from 2013 to 2020 where he recorded multiple bands. Purely on the musical front, besides being the long-time standing frontman of Saturnian Mist he also because various experiences, in Arvet among others. But with the industrial rumblings of King Satan, he’s learnt to expand his mind and look over all those useless fences to see what lied beyond. In the end, it’s all about being free both as an individual and as an artist, to go where your instincts and muse take you, no matter what.   

And nothing encapsulates more this quest for freedom than HENGET. As a matter of fact, it lies at the very center of it as most of the music AND lyrics were on purpose improvised on the spot. Ever tried to capture lightning in a bottle? King Aleijster de Satan and his comrade Jesse Heikkinen just did with HENGET first album, Beyond North Star, Heikkinen having proved to be quite a versatile artist since dabbling with ‘progressive esoteric folk’ with Iterum Nata, the equally ‘out there’ Hexvessel or The Abbey.

“When I got in the studio to do the vocals, I only had various notes, sometimes hastily written on a small piece of paper and more or less some kind of loose structures to go with it. Most of them I gathered in between 2016 and 2019 after, let’s say experimenting quite a bit. I admit natural psychedelics and other shamanic methods influenced me a lot to reach another level of consciousness, besides my long interest towards the occult and mysticism. Those weren’t meant to get lost into but instead to be used as mere tools to help me opening new doors in my brain, a bit like a shaman would do when engaged in a ritual to reach a trance like of state. That’s also why I booked a two weeks session just for the vocals: I needed that amount of space to really dive in my subconscious. Overall, that was one of most intense recording experience I ever had but I wouldn’t recommend it to everyone because the toll you have to pay once it’s done is pretty heavy.” 

Originally, the pair planned to unite in Saturnian Mist but then, Jesse “had to move to another city and it made things too complicated. But we still wanted to work together as he is probably the best songwriter I know. And since I had this idea for this other thing where I knew I wanted to push the limits and go over the edge in terms of songwriting, I needed somebody of his calibre.” “Indeed, Aleijster approached during summer 2021” confirms the multi-instrumentist. “He had a quite clear vision of what kind of concept he wanted to do lyrically speaking for a long time. It did coincide with my own desire to express something personal yet aggressively, an urge I hadn’t felt in a long time. Based on his background, we agreed this should happen within some kind of black metal frame but without still paying attention to much conventions or rules. I was given free rein to do whatever I felt like and I quickly realized I wanted it to be quite intuitive while making sure the music would be as crazy as possible, like some typhoon swallowing everything in its path… So using mostly vintage instrumentation, I recorded most of the music by myself in my own studio, pushing the button ‘rec’ and then totally letting myself go, following Aleijster ‘automatic writing’ method and ending up with some pretty interesting result.”
 
There’s something strangely seductive about the eight tracks included on Beyond North Star, as if the listeners were invited to enter some alternative and colourful place, dangerous and scary yet always otherworldly. Some may argue that all along you will most likely cross there the ghosts of Dødheimsgård, Arcturus or King Crimson. But Aleijster remains pretty reluctant to label it but “if we really need to, I guess it’s avant-garde black metal.” After hesitating with Henkivallat (‘spiritual realms’), which they ended up using as a songtitle instead, the name HENGET was chosen because of its double meaning as it can be translated both as ‘life’ but also ‘spirits’, “a perfect name for an occult band”. Beyond North Star is a “loose” concept album, like one long journey, even if the songs are not exactly tied up together. Something the 70’s prog rock loving Jesse is quite happy with while its title is a reference to that actual spiritual journey the listeners are about to undertake. One they will never forget.

Three ambitious music videos in total have been shot already to promote the album and HENGET has gathered a full line-up in order to start playing live. Saturnian Mist drummer Ville Rissanen was the first one to be asked, soon followed by Lasse Launimaa, a teenage years friend of Jesse who also plays in cult symphonic black metal band Thyrane on keyboards.
  
Recording studio: 
Space Junk Studio, Tampere, Finland (Drums)
Beyond North Star, Salo, Finland
Studio Sampolaaris, Tampere, Finland (Vocals)

Producer / sound engineer:
Produced by Jesse J. Heikkinen & King Aleijster de Satan
Sound engineering: Kimmo Nyyssönen (Drums), Jesse J. Heikkinen, King Aleijster de Satan

Mixing studio and engineer:
Beyond North Star Studio & Jesse J. Heikkinen

Mastering studio and engineer:
Wavecrawler Audio & Teemu Iso-Kulmala

Line-up:
King Aleijster de Satan – Vocals
Jesse J. Heikkinen – Guitars, additional keys
Lasse J. Launimaa – Keyboards 
Ville J. Rissanen – Drums

Cover artwork: 
M.T. Salminen

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/hengetband
https://www.instagram.com/hengetband

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/Henget

Formats:
Digital
Digipak
Vinyl in various colours

Nita Strauss Announces New Album "The Call of the Void" + Shares "The Golden Trail" Feat. Anders Friden of In Flames⚡

GUITARIST NITA STRAUSS ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM THE CALL OF THE VOID OUT JULY 7 VIA SUMERIAN RECORDS

SHARES NEW SINGLE "THE GOLDEN TRAIL" FEAT. ANDERS FRIDÉN — LISTEN 

TOURING WITH ALICE COOPER THROUGH SEPTEMBER

HEADLINE TOUR SET FOR JUNE

Fresh off the news that she would be returning to her role as guitarist with the legendary Alice Cooper, Los Angeles-born guitar hero and musical force of nature Nita Strauss has just announced her brand new album The Call of the The Void, out July 7 via Sumerian Records. Pre-order it here.
 

Regarding the album's title, Strauss shares, "Have you ever been at the top of a high building and had the fleeting thought, '… I could jump right now?'

"This feeling is sometimes called 'The Call of the Void,' also known as 'high place phenomenon.' It's not a suicidal impulse, rather the exact opposite — a subconscious decision to live your life, to step back from the ledge, and take control. As researcher April Smith aptly put it: 'An urge to jump affirms the urge to live.'

"I wanted the follow up to Controlled Chaos to be exciting, new, and fresh, to take listeners to a new place and take myself somewhere new as an artist too. We have some amazing collaborations on this album with incredible musicians, as well as the instrumental guitar music that first inspired me to play.

"Some pieces of music come into the world gracefully and easily. This album is not one of them! The Call of the Void was born kicking and screaming, a labor of love for sure, but also of blood, sweat and plenty of tears. I couldn’t be more proud of the end result. Making this album helped me learn and grow so much as a musician and songwriter and I'm excited to finally unleash it on the world."

"When I was first learning how to play guitar, In Flames were my Beatles; my first favorite band," Strauss shares. "Anders' iconic vocal style is burned into my mind! To write a song like this and have him sing on it, as a kid who grew up with In Flames posters on my walls, is an absolute dream come true."

"“It was a lot of fun to collaborate with Nita on 'The Golden Trail,'" says Fridén. "She's an amazing guitar player and I can hear the history of metal flowing through her fingers!"

In Flames' fourteenth studio album Foregone is out now. It’s an unequivocal masterpiece from a band whose artistry and influence on modern metal is undeniable Foregone combines the greatest aggressive, metallic, and melodic strengths of the band's landmark records with the seasoned song writing of their contemporary era. Get it here.

All Nita Strauss tour dates are below. Get tickets here. Meet & greets are available here.

NITA STRAUSS + ALICE COOPER ON TOUR:
5/13 — Knoxville, TN — The Tennessee Theatre
5/14 — Spartanburg, SC — Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium
5/15 — North Charleston, SC — North Charleston Performing Arts Center
5/17 — Shreveport, LA — Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
5/18 — Biloxi, MS — Beau Rivage Theatre
5/20 — Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome to Rockville*

SUMMER HEADLINE TOUR:
WITH LIONS AT THE GATES:

6/13 — Nashville, TN — Exit / In
6/14 — Atlanta, GA — The Loft
6/15  — Greensboro, NC — The Hangar 1819
6/17 — New York, NY — The Meadows
6/18 — Toronto, ON — Horseshoe Tavern
6/19  — Mechanicsburg, PA — Lovedraft's
6/21 — Harrison, OH — The Blue Note
6/22 — Flint, MI — The Machine Shop
6/23 — Angola, IN — The Eclectic Room
6/24 — Bloomington, IL — The Castle Theatre
6/25 — Madison, WI — Majestic Theatre
6/26 — Omaha, NE — The Waiting Room
6/28 — Denver — The Bluebird Theater
6/29 — Salt Lake City — Urban Lounge
6/30 — Boise, ID — Neurolux
7/1 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
7/2 — Vancouver, BC — The Rickshaw Theatre
7/3 — Seattle, WA — El Corazón
7/5 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Post
7/6 — Los Angeles, CA — Whisky a Go Go
7/8 — Las Vegas, NV — The Space
7/9 — Phoenix, AZ — Crescent Ballroom
7/11 — San Antonio, TX — The Rock Box
7/12 — Dallas, TX — Trees
7/13 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
7/14 — New Orleans, LA — The Parish @ House Of Blues

WITH DEF LEPPARD + MOTLEY CRUE:
8/5 — Syracuse, NY — JMA Wireless Dome
8/8 — Columbus, OH — The Ohio State University Ohio Stadium
8/11 — Fargo, ND — Fargodome
8/13 — Omaha, NE — Charles Schwab Field Omaha
8/16 — Tulsa, OK — Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium
8/18 — El Paso, TX — Sun Bowl Stadium

CO-HEADLINE "FREAKS ON PARADE" TOUR WITH ROB ZOMBIE:
8/24 — Dallas, TX — Dos Equis Pavilion
8/26 — Tampa, FL — Mid-Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/27 — West Palm Beach, FL — iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
8/29 — Raleigh, NC — Coastal Credit Union Music Park @ Walnut Creek
8/30 — Virginia Beach, VA — Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheatre
9/1 — Tinley Park, IL — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/2 — Des Moines, IA — Wells Fargo Arena
9/5 — Clarkston, MI — Pinke Knob Amphitheatre
9/6 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
9/8 — Scranton, PA — The Pavilion @ Montage Mountain
9/9 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell Health Theatre @ Jones Beach
9/10 — Hartford, CT — XFINITY Theatre
9/12 — Nashville, TN — Bridgestone Arena
9/15 — Bonner Springs, KS — Azura Amphitheatre
9/16 — Englewood, CO — Fiddler’s Green
9/19 — Ridgefield, WA — RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheatre
9/20 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre
9/22 — Concord, CA — Pavilion
9/23 — Anaheim, CA — Honda Center
9/24 — Phoenix, AZ — Ak-Chin Pavilion

ABOUT NITA STRAUSS:

 Nita Strauss has dazzled over a million live audience members per year across six continents worldwide. Fans may recognize Nita from her tours with Alice Cooper, Demi Lovato, and as the official guitarist of the Los Angeles Rams NFL team, as well as her successful career as a solo artist. Her 2022 single "Dead Inside," featuring David Draiman of Disturbed, became the first song by a female solo artist to go to #1 at rock radio. Nita's skill, exuberant stage presence, and love for all things about her instrument have earned her a stellar reputation in the music industry and endorsements including Ibanez Guitars, Marshall Amplification, DiMarzio pickups, Monster Energy, and more. She has been featured on the covers of worldwide print magazines including Guitar World and Guitar Player, and on dozens of albums, trailers, and soundtracks. Nita's second album is due in 2023. Her debut solo album Controlled Chaos is currently available worldwide through Sumerian Records.

AlienBlaze Releases New Single "Lovesick" featuring OmenXIII via Sumerian Records

AlienBlaze has unveiled her new single “Lovesick” featuring fellow Sumerian Records artist OmenXIII, seeing AlienBlaze enter a new hybrid world of rock meets rap. “Lovesick” is produced by Kid Brunswick and mixed by Dan Lancaster (Muse, Bring Me The Horizon). Listen to the track at the link here.

AlienBlaze is a 20-year-old mad-as-hell singer/songwriter and lead guitarist crafting genre-fluid anthems resulting in a fascinating hybrid of everything from dark alternative pop, grunge and emo, to rock and electronic elements. Her dominating presence emits an angsty appeal, encouraging a sense of self-empowerment to her young audience.

In her school years, AlienBlaze spent most of her time at home through sickness, so spent hours and hours learning the electric guitar on her mum’s old guitar, wanting to play like her guitar inspirations Jerry Cantrell of Alice In Chains and Slash. Blaze’s sense of alienation from her peers is what inspired her to add the ‘alien’ part to her name as an artist.

Her latest single “Lovesick” features fellow Sumerian Records artist OmenXIII, seeing AlienBlaze enter a new hybrid world of rock meets rap. The artist shares, “I always wanted Lovesick to be a tortured love song, but it actually works even better as a duet. I just love what OmenXIII has done with his verse and I think our two styles actually give the song an extra intensity.”

Produced by Kid Brunswick and mixed by Dan Lancaster (Muse, Bring Me The Horizon), “Lovesick” takes inspiration from a multitude of artists such as Bring Me The Horizon, Linkin Park and The Cure, as well as EDM/ rap elements from Lil Peep and the lyrical style of Billie Eilish. Featuring raucous guitars, colliding percussion and a throbbing bass line, OmenXIII’s verse adds an interesting twist to the track, allowing things to cool off before AlienBlaze re-enters with her bold and brazen energy.

Covering topics such as the everyday experiences of a young adult, to more poetic themes including pathetic fallacy and imagery from nature, AlienBlaze delivers her message in a way that allows listeners from all walks of life to interpret it.

Since only uploading her first song to Spotify in 2019, she has received attention from numerous Spotify editorial playlists, garnering hundreds of thousands of plays. She has also had praise from the likes of Oli Sykes (Bring Me The Horizon), Rou Reynolds (Enter Shikari), Grimes, and Ellie Roswell (Wolf Alice), as well as from publications including Wonderland Magazine, NOTION and Kerrang!. AlienBlaze will be performing at The Great Escape on Friday 12th May.