FANS OF THE DARK Announce New EP 'Cover Me' - Digital EP Out December 9, 2022

FANS OF THE DARK

Announce New EP "Cover Me"

Digital EP Out December 9, 2022



New Single & Video for "In For The Count" Out Today!

On the heels of their second album 'Suburbia', FANS OF THE DARK have announced the release of a new covers EP, 'Cover Me' on December 9, 2022.

The band covers tracks by Balance, Blue Öyster Cult, REO Speedwagon, and Rush, all of whom have been an influence on the band's style.

A single and video for the Balance cover, "In For The Count" is out today.

Watch the Video

Pre-order / Save the "Cover Me" EP, a digital only release, HERE

As with 'Suburbia', drummer/songwriter Freddie Allen and vocalist Alex Falk are once again joined by guitarist Oscar Bromvall and new bassist Rickard Gramfors for the 'Cover Me' EP.

The quartet's musical prowess displayed on that album is perfectly suited to tackle the four artists and tracks on this EP. The songs were also picked specifically for having connections to the overall theme of the band's second album: the world where the band grew up and where they first got in touch with hard rock music, horror films on VHS, 80's teen culture, and all else that shaped them - the suburbs. And also because, quite simply, the band loves the songs.

Like 'Suburbia', 'Cover Me' was produced and mixed by multi-talented musician and producer Lars Fredrik Swahn (Dungen, The Amazing) and co-produced by Allen.

FANS OF THE DARK is an exciting new band formed in the summer of 2020 by Freddie Allen, drummer and main songwriter, and lead vocalist Alex Falk. The pair went to high school together in Stockholm and after a few years reconnected recently with a vision to create a band which would mix the melodies and approach of classic and melodic rock with elements of the great metal music of the '80s.

Their musical output over the course of their first two albums is one of the most exciting things you'll hear emerging from the fruitful melodic rock in Sweden, showcasing a tight, inventive musical approach with outstanding vocals.

FANS OF THE DARK are:

Alex Falk - vocals

Oscar Bromvall - guitars

Rickard Gramfors - bass

Freddie Allen - drums

PHIL FIRETOG TRIO & CO. RINGS IN THE HOLIDAY WITH "LONG ISLAND CHRISTMAS EVE"

Alternative acoustic rock musicians, Phil Firetog Trio & Co., has released their merry and bright new single, “Long Island Christmas Eve.” Blending comforting acoustics, a cheerful beat, and personal, storytelling lyricism, the track has listeners reminiscing on their own family’s holiday traditions. "Long Island Christmas Eve" is available now on all streaming platforms.

Establishing a traditional festive sound from the get-go, “Long Island Christmas Eve” sets the mood with beautiful acoustics and bright, cheerful orchestration. Soft, harmonic background vocals complement lead vocalist Phil Firetog in his nostalgic ode to reuniting with long-distance friends and family for the holiday. Confirming this vision, Firetog sings, “And no matter the distance, we couldn’t miss this; let's keep our tradition of a very merry Long Island Christmas Eve.” Continuing to articulate his relationship with Christmas Eve through his lyricism, Firetog captures the heartstrings of listeners by inviting them to relate and reminisce on their own individual relationships with the holiday. “‘Long Island Christmas Eve’ is a festive and nostalgic reminder of the friendships we all have, keeping in touch with those who may have moved far away,” exclaimed Firetog. “This song is based on my own personal tradition of a Christmas Eve dinner, meeting up with friends who may live out of town, but return home for the holidays.”

“Long Island Christmas Eve” instills jubilance and nostalgia in listeners as they paint their own picture of what the holiday looks like for them.

German Gothic Rock Band MONO INC. Release New Single "At the End of the Rainbow"

MONO INC. Release New Single "At the End of the Rainbow"

New Album 'Ravenblack' Out January 27 - PRE-ORDER

Germany's biggest Gothic Rock band, MONO INC., have released the fifth single from their upcoming twelfth studio album! Fans can check out the new track, titled "At the End of the Rainbow", along with a lyric video (see below). The band's new full-length effort, 'Ravenblack' (pre-save), will see a January 27, 2023 release via NoCut Entertainment.

'Ravenblack' succeeds MONO INC.'s most recent album, 2020's 'The Book of Fire', which reached #1 on the German Music Charts!

MONO INC. Bio (Ravenblack):

MONO INC. emerged from the ashes of several band projects, from the frustration of being forced in unwanted directions by major record companies, and from ardent desire to make uncompromising music.

In 2000 Martin Engler (drummer, songwriter and producer), Carl Fornia (guitar) and Miky Mono (vocals) relaunched their previous band project as Mono Inc. From 1995 to 1997 the three had already played together in the band Wild Thing and then from 1998 to 2003, initially as a trio under the name Mono69, they went in search of their own special sound. In 2003 Manuel Antoni joined as bass player, completing the quartet, which is why the Monos call 2003 their founding year. Independently, they produced their debut album “Head Under Water” and submitted it to all major labels. They were rejected consistently. Since the band was unwilling to compromise its style for a coveted record deal, they decided in 2004 to set up their own independent label NoCut. The mechanisms of the music business were well known to Martin and Carl: Martin had professional experience as songwriter and producer under contract with EMI for various interpreters since 1990 – Carl on the other hand because he gave up his mechanical engineering studies in 1993 to join a music management company in Hamburg.

In the summer of 2021, MONO INC. played a total of eleven "corona-compliant" open-air shows of their own with changing support bands. Under the motto "We Are The Raven", the band was happy to celebrate with their fans again and let the raven fly after a long forced break. In December, the platinum version of their # 1 charting album 'The Book of Fire' was released, which contains a live CD as well as all songs as instrumental versions.

At the beginning of 2022, Val Perun replaced Manuel Antoni on bass. Together with their new band member, MONO INC. made up for the long-awaited "The Book of Fire" tour in Spring 2022. Much to the fans' delight, the single "The Raven's Back" was released on June 17, 2022, which could hardly describe the feeling of regained freedom better. At the same time, the new, eagerly awaited studio album 'Ravenblack' was announced, which will be released on January 27, 2023.

MONO INC. are looking forward to going on tour with their new album in spring 2023 and then starting an eventful festival summer

MONO INC. are:

Martin Engler – vocals

Katha Mia – drums

Carl Fornia – guitars

Val Perun – bass

TO THE GRAVE Drop Brutal New Track "Axe of Kindness" with Gory, Horror Inspired Music Video

New Album

'DIRECTOR'S CUTS'

Coming February 24th via Unique Leader Records 

Pre-Order HERE

On tour throughout Europe in January 2023 with Shadow of Intent/Enterprise Earth/Angelmaker 

Australian extreme metal squad To The Grave have unveiled their powerful new single / video 'Axe of Kindness', the second taken from their new album, 'Director’s Cuts', out 24th February, 2023, via Unique Leader Records. Pre-order the album now here. Stream "Axe of Kindness" here and watch the new video (graphic content: viewer discretion advised) below.

"Axe of Kindness" continues the band's strong vegan message. The band comment: 

"Axe is a tongue-in-cheek horror concept in the vein of The Purge, we had a little fun going ultra-violent on the idea of someone who’s had enough with a world full of apathy and plans to exact vengeance for animals by going door-to-door with a fire axe."

At just over 44 minutes in length, 'Director’s Cuts' is an album packed with ambition and conscience. To The Grave have never shied away from channeling the real horrors of animal cruelty and its impact into the violent, emotional intensity of their music. Songs such as ‘Red Dot Sight’, ‘Found Footage’ and ‘Cut Off The Head’ perfectly conjure images of a world gone astray.  

'Director’s Cuts' was recorded by bassist Matt Clarke, with drums recorded live at The Brain Studios in Sydney and mixed and mastered by Lance Prenc at Prenc Audio (Void of Vision, Alpha Wolf, Polaris) in Melbourne with album photography by Animals Uncovered. 

The band comment on the new album: 

"This is the refinement of our combined musical tastes, fuelled by our sadness and anger at the state of the world. We made the music we wanted to make without really considering how it would fit into any little genre boxes, because we knew if we loved it completely then everyone else would too. These songs are hard and heavy without being technical just for the sake of it.”

Watch the video to their first single "Red Dot Sight", a hard-hitting track about anti-vegan public figures and the media perception against vegan activists, here.

ABOUT TO THE GRAVE

One of Australia’s most uncompromising bands, To The Grave return with their heaviest album to date, both sonically and thematically. Since the release of their 2019 debut album 'Global Warning', the caustic five piece have garnered international success, with 2021’s follow-up 'Epilogue', a re-issue of 'Global Warning' with bonus tracks, solidifying their position as “one of the country's heaviest exports.” (Revolver).

To The Grave have steadily built an audience in the underground, accumulating more than 11 million Spotify streams, racking up over 5.4 million YouTube views, all whilst decimating live audiences alongside Parkway Drive, Polaris, Cattle Decapitation, Thy Art Is Murder, Vulvodynia and Alpha Wolf.

Now, following a sold-out national headline tour in 2022 and revitalized by a new lineup, the band are more focused than ever, looking ahead to the release of their second album 'Director’s Cuts' in February 2023.

The eleven tracks lyrically expose a societal and environmental hell on earth whilst pushing the boundaries of accessible extremity, full of barbed hooks, thick with atmosphere and drenched in groove. Razor-sharp guitars played with an exploratory approach - blending everything from whammy pedal squeaks and chiming cleans to death metal chainsaw tones - are entwined with live drums to give a level of dynamism that musically sets this band apart from the extreme metal pack, yet they maintain the weight of the heaviest bands today. Vocalist Dane Evans commands a multifaceted performance, bursting with vocal energy from throat-ripping dissonant screeches to low end gutturals. 

To The Grave are

Dane Evans - Vocals

Jack Simoni - Guitars, Programming

Luke Ringin - Guitars, Vocals

Matt Clarke - Bass, Vocals

Simon O’Malley - Drums, Vocals

Find To The Grave Online

https://linktr.ee/tothegraveau

Anti-Flag Share "VICTORY OR DEATH (WE GAVE 'EM HELL)" Video Feat. Campino

New Album 'Lies They Tell Our Children' 

Out January 6 Via Spinefarm

Band Touring With

Flogging Molly & Skinny Lister in 2023

Incendiary Pittsburgh punk rockers ANTI-FLAG are inching closer to the release of their 13th album 'Lies They Tell Our Children' on January 6 via Spinefarm.

Pre-Order it HERE

For this record, the band recruited several high profile and like-minded artists to feature on the songs.

For "VICTORY OR DEATH (WE GAVE 'EM HELL)," A-F looked to Campino of Die Toten Hosen.

Watch the video below. Video is directed by INDECLINE.

"From the first play through of the chord progression of 'Victory or Death,' we knew where it needed to go lyrically. It sounded like hope. It sounded like empathy. Carrying the stories of freedom fighters who were forgotten, perhaps never known, or far too often had their legacies softened, made out to be less radical and safe for American History books.

"This song stands as homage and a testament to the people who've laid the groundwork for progress. Using all within their sometimes limited power to alleviate suffering, challenge the status quo of violence, and demand a reckoning with societal norms that further marginalize and exploit people.

"In spirit with the concept behind Lies They Tell Our Children, we were leaning hard on and embracing our inspirations as a band. Touring with Die Toten Hosen in 2008 was an eye-opening experience. One that has stuck with us through the years. So it only made sense for us to reach out to Campino to see if he had interest in being a part of this track. Not only was he willing to sing the verse we wrote for him, he also penned his own in German. Our hearts and minds were blown away by it.

"This song is one of the most important moments on the album. We’re grateful to share this with the world. To pay our respects to the activists and agitators who lived their lives to leave the world better than they found it.

"March on to our very last breath, it's victory or death…"

For even further insight into this impactful song, go HERE

The Limited Edition 'Lies They Tell Our Children' Olive Green vinyl

is available for pre-order HERE.

 'Lies They Tell Our Children' was recorded, produced, and mixed by Jon Lundin.

'LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN' TRACK LIST:

"SOLD EVERYTHING"

"MODERN META MEDICINE" (Feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage)

"LAUGH. CRY. SMILE. DIE." (Feat. Shane Told of Silverstein)

"THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES" (Feat. Tim McIlrath of Rise Against + Brian Baker of Bad Religion)

"IMPERIALISM" (Feat. Ashrita Kumar of Pinkshift)

"VICTORY OR DEATH (WE GAVE 'EM HELL)" (Feat. Campino of Die Toten Hosen)

"THE HAZARDOUS"

"SHALLOW GRAVES" (Feat. Tré Burt)

"WORK & STRUGGLE"

"NVREVR" (Feat. Stacey Dee of Bad Cop/Bad Cop)

"ONLY IN MY HEAD"

Anti-Flag are currently on tour. All dates are below, including their 2023 dates with Flogging Molly and Skinny Lister. Get tickets HERE.

ANTI-FLAG ON TOUR:   

U.S DATES 2022:

12/3 — Pomona, CA — The Glass House — ANTIfest

(With Bad Cop Bad Cop, The Bombpops, We Are The Union, and Suzie True)

12/4 — Phoenix, AZ — Crescent Ballroom

(With The Venomous Pinks, We Are the Union, The Limit Club)

12/8 — Brooklyn, NY — Saint Vitus

(With Teenage Halloween)

12/9 — Buffalo, NY — Rec Room

(With Cancer Bats and Plasmid)

12/10 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall – ANTIfest

(With Cancer Bats, Dilly Dally, Dead Tired, Indian Giver)

ANTI-FLAG ON TOUR 2023:

WITH FLOGGING MOLLY & SKINNY LISTER:

2/2 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater

2/3 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore

2/4 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall

2/5 — Columbia, SC — The Senate

2/7 — Knoxville, TN — The Mill Mine

2/8 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium

2/10 — Chattanooga, TN — The Signal

2/11 — Louisville, KY — Old Forester’s Paristown Hall

2/14 — Norfolk, VA — The NorVa

2/15 — Richmond, VA — The National

2/17 — Rochester, NY — Main Street Armory

2/18 — Montclair, NJ — The Wellmont Theater

2/19 — Hanover, MD — The Hall at Live! Casino & Hotel

2/21 — Charleston, SC — Charleston Music Hall

2/22 — Asheville, NC — The Orange Peel

2/24 — Atlantic City, NJ — Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

2/25 — Bethlehem, PA — Wind Creek Event Center

2/26 — Huntington, NY — The Paramount

2/28 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium

3/1 — Syracuse, NY — Landmark Theatre

3/3 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee

3/4 — Grand Rapids, MI — 20 Monroe Live

3/5 — Ft. Wayne, IN — The Clyde Theatre

3/7 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ’s Live

3/8 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom

3/10 — Kansas City, MO — Harrah’s Voodoo Lounge

3/11 — Omaha, NE — The Admiral

3/12 — Boulder, CO — Boulder Theater

3/14 — Tucson, AZ — Rialto Theatre

3/16 — Las Vegas, NV — The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Chelsea Theatre

3/19 — Reno, NV — Grand Sierra Resort

KATATONIA Releases Second Single “Austerity” & Official Video!

Spellbinding New Album, 'Sky Void of Stars',

out January 20, 2023 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order HERE!

With eleven full-length records under their belts, Swedish melancholic metal unit KATATONIA don’t need to prove anything to anyone. Yet, it comes as no surprise that the outfit is about to impressively solidify their unique stance in the world of metal and beyond once more with their 12th album, the hauntingly beautiful 'Sky Void of Stars'.

Today, the unit unveils the second single and 'Sky Void of Stars' album opener“Austerity”, along with a visually palpable video. The heartfelt offering crashes through the dark with memorable, mind-bending rhythms as it shifts with elaborate guitar riffs that perfectly showcase the musical expertise and experience of the band. Topped off by the dark, conjuring voice of Jonas Renkse and mesmerizing lyricism, the gloomy mood for the album is set. The song is now available via all digital service providers worldwide.

KATATONIA on “Austerity”:

“We hereby present you our new single and the opening track of 'Sky Void of Stars' – ‘Austerity’. Energetic and dark, stern and disenchanted. Enjoy.”

Watch the Official Video for “Austerity”

"Melancholy at its best! Already one of the best Doom albums of 2023!“ (EMP)

"Another heartfelt offensive by KATATONIA" (Metal Hammer, DE)

“...Katatonia hit with highly energetic atmosphere, holding a gloomy ambience with epic sounds and poetic lyrics to get lost in.” (Prog Report)

Founded in 1991, KATATONIA have continually embraced the dark and the light alike, and, living through genre evolutions beyond compare, ripened their own particular form of expression. From doom and death metal to soul-gripping post rock, they’ve explored endless spheres of the genre, accumulating only the very best aspects.

Emerging from the gloom, KATATONIA is a beacon of light - breathing their unique, never stagnant, atmospheric sound through this new 11-track offering, all written and composed by vocalist Jonas Renkse. Significantly shaping the genre while still staying true to their own musical values, they orbit the musical universe - leaving their imprints on the scene. Projecting their sound to the endless realms, 'Sky Void of Stars' shines bright in metal and beyond!

KATATONIA on the new album, 'Sky Void of Stars':

“Our 12th album, 'Sky Void of Stars', is a dynamic journey through vibrant darkness. Born out of yearning for what was lost and not found, the very peripheries of the unreachable, but composed and condensed into human form and presented as sounds and words true to the KATATONIA signum. No stars here, just violent rain.”

Pre-Order 'Sky Void of Stars' HERE

KATATONIA is one of a kind in a state of perpetual evolution. With their previously released first single, “Atrium”, KATATONIA hit with a highly energetic atmosphere, holding a gloomy ambience with epic sounds and poetic lyrics to get lost in.

Songs like down- tempo “Opaline” and moody “Drab Moon” fully embrace their melancholic sound while fragile “Impermanence” is accented by the original doom metal roots of the band. Like a dark star, these pieces relume the dreariness, creating an ambient auditory experience with memorable hooks while still inducing the crashing sounds of hard guitar riffs and pounding drums.

The experimental mastery of the quintet and their atmospheric approach is purely vivid, making this album a thrilling sensation. With “Birds”, the artists show off their explosive potential with a quick and energetic sound, proving their genre-defying style.

'Sky Void of Stars' is now available for pre-order in the following configurations:

=> Ltd. Deluxe Wooden Box (incl. Mediabook + Digipack Atmos Mix BluRay + Crow Pendant + Star Chart Artprint + Pin) – Napalm Records exclusive

=> Die Hard Edition 2LP Gatefold Ink Spot / FOREST GREEN (incl. Slipmat, Patch, 12 pages poster) – Napalm Records exclusive

=> 2LP Gatefold DARK GREEN – Napalm Records exclusive

=> 2LP Gatefold MARBLED TRANSPARENT/DARK GREEN –  OMerch exclusive

=> 2LP Gatefold MARBLED CRYSTAL CLEAR/BLACK –  OMerch exclusive

=> 2LP Gatefold BLACK

=> 1CD Ltd Mediabook (incl. Bonus Track)

=> 1CD Jewelcase

=> Digital Album

KATATONIA are:

Jonas Renske – Vocals

Anders Nyström – Guitars

Roger Öjersson – Guitars

Niklas Sandin – Bass

Daniel Moilanen - Drums

JOHN DIVA & THE ROCKETS OF LOVE Announce New Album 'The Big Easy' Out March 17th, 2023

JOHN DIVA & THE ROCKETS OF LOVE

Announce New Album

'The Big Easy' out March 17th, 2023

Tour Coming in Spring 2023!

Pre-Order HERE

"Remember 80-something — we never seemed to miss a thing" – these first lines of John Diva’s latest song “Back In The Days“ are a perfect summary of what this band stands for: Spandex pants, juvenile folly, a love for partying, and a Walkman with a fresh set of batteries. John Diva & The Rockets Of Love are bringing back carefree 80s vibes, yet manage to make them sound brand new. 

With their debut album 'Mama Said Rock Is Dead', the group stormed to No. 24 on the album charts in 2019. On its successor, 'American Amadeus', the five U.S. Germans explored the boundaries of Glam Metal and also scored a major chart success. Sold-out tours, extravagant video clips, appearances at Wacken and well beyond: the brightly colored pirate ship that is John Diva & The Rockets Of Love has set sail to a nostalgic world of tan lines, Aviator glasses, and 80s Rock.

The same goes for their third album 'The Big Easy' (out March 17, 2023, via Steamhammer/SPV), which marks the five rockers’ return.

The name of the record says it all: "We wanted to record an album that sounds like Cherry Cola," guitarist Snake Rocket explains the process of creating 'The Big Easy'. "Also, we put great emphasis on the fact that the record is intended as an album and doesn’t sound as if we jammed together an intro and eleven random songs. The record works in that order precisely." It only took six months from initial song idea to finished album. Never has John Diva & The Rockets Of Love sounded more like a unit – never has the group oozed so much joy and California sunshine from every pore.

John Diva & The Rockets Of Love are synonymous with wild parties, passionate live shows, but also liberal messages in their lyrics. Bullshit? Not at all. In their lyrics, the five musicians clearly reject the sexism that is so common in their genre, for example in songs like "Boys Don't Play With Dolls“: "In our music, everyone is welcome and appreciated," frontman John Diva emphasizes.

Right on. Because isn’t carefreeness exactly what we all need right now?

The new album "The Big Easy" will be released on March 17th, 2023 worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer as CD DigiPak, LP Gatefold version, CD/LP bundle with shirt (only at the Steamhammer Shop), download and stream HERE

"Hair Metal with a sleazy attitude. Your mom wouldn’t like it." 

What does that mean? The answer is the video for the previous single 

"God Made Radio" - Watch it

The Bellwether Syndicate present enigmatic 'Beacons' single & video, navigating through realism

"Goth Rock Tornado... hair-raising speed, riff-racing insanity and badass drum/bass force... William Faith‘s edged Goth-infused vocals rumble all over this super-duper sucker-punch steamroller" ~ Turn Up The Volume

"Anything but conventional when it comes to rock music... the band is one of the most unique dissonant sounds in the scene" ~ Outburn Magazine

“Amazing, stunning... Post-punk on a not-very-discreet death rock orientation” ~ The Noise Journal

“The time seems right for a new wave of post-punk to be ushered in. But I suspect that is already underway, and The Bellwether Syndicate is leading the charge” ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"A glittery piece of glamorous darkness...with William Faith’s crooning vocals and Sarah Rose smoothly cascading guitars” ~ Post-Punk.com


Chicago-based alternative post-punk outfit The Bellwether Syndicate presents 'Beacons', the second single from single from the band's 'Vestige & Vigil' album, scheduled for release in April 2023 via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe and Sett Records in North America. The single debuted at #4 in the DAC/German Alternative Charts.

'Beacons' exerts its nautical feel in both tone and verse, with the ‘set adrift’ narrative supported by liquid, chorused guitars and distress-signal bass and synth, before the whole thing kicks into a full steam ahead chorus, with chiming, glorious guitars chasing the pulsing beat and soaring vocal all the way home.

The Bellwether Syndicate is made up of William Faith (vox, guitars), Sarah Rose Faith (vox, guitars), Philly Peroxide (keyboards, percussion), Stevyn Grey (drums) and Corey Gorey (guitars).

"'Beacons' is simply a love song to our family: our people — our fans. We’d be truly lost at sea without them, and every time we get ready to play a live gig, they really are the beacons that guide us home, to that moment where we’re together in a safe harbor and everything is possible. That moment is everything to us, and it’s what we live for," says William Faith.

Earlier, the band released the lead track 'Dystopian Mirror', which reached #11 in the German Alternative Charts (DAC). This glam-noir single wields a relentless assault of hard-edged guitars, buzzsaw synths and tribal beats set the stage for a guided tour through the realm of the unwell, spat out with sardonic conviction by the voices in your head.

Six years in the making, the 'Vestige & Vigil' LP was produced by William Faith, whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn, and Chad Blinman (Face To Face, Faith and The Muse, Jarboe). Recorded by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago, it was mixed by Blinman at The Eye Socket. This album comes 9 years after debuting with 'The Night Watch' EP and four years since their latest single 'Republik'.

William Faith is a former member of seminal goth acts Christian Death, Mephisto Walz and Shadow Project and also co-founder of Faith & The Muse. In 2010, he moved from his native Los Angeles to Chicago to form The Bellwether Syndicate with his wife, Sarah Rose Faith a.k.a. Scary Lady Sarah.

An underground legend in her own right, Sarah has been one of the scene’s most eminent DJs and club promoters for decades. She hosts Nocturna, the longest-running goth event in North America, which takes place at Metro in Chicago. Apart from forming the nucleus of The Bellwether Syndicate, the two often DJ together as The Pirate Twins.

As of December 2, 'Beacon's will be available from all fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where 'Dystopian Mirror' can also be found.

CREDITS
Written and performed by The Bellwether Syndicate
Produced by William Faith & Chad Blinman
Recorded by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago
Mixed by Chad Blinman at The Eye Socket
Additional programming and treatments by Chad Blinman
Mastered by Josh Sebek
William Faith - Vox and guitars
Sarah Rose Faith - Vox and guitars
Corey Gorey - Guitars (live)
Philly Peroxide - Keyboards and percussion (live)
Stevyn Grey - Drums (live)
'Dystopian Mirror' video filmed by William Faith & David Staudacher
'Beacons' video filmed by William Faith & Sarah Rose Faith
Both videos directed by William Faith


Keep up with The Bellwether Syndicate
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with William Faith
Website | Twitter | Instagram | LinkTree

Keep up with Sett Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Email

WIG WAM ANNOUNCES NEW STUDIO ALBUM 'OUT OF THE DARK' OUT FEBRUARY 10, 2023

NEW SINGLE & VIDEO

FOR THE TITLE TRACK OUT TODAY!

2023 TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED

WITH MORE TO BE ADDED

Norwegian rock n' roll warriors Wig Wam have announced they will release their new studio album, 'Out Of The Dark' on February 10, 2023.

Coming on the heels of renewed, enthusiastic interest in the band thanks to their classic track "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" being used as the theme song for HBO's popular Peacemaker television series, 'Out Of The Dark' sees an already extremely talented band feeling truly reinvigorated and inspired. 

A new single and video for the title track of the new album is out now.

Pre-Order / Save "Out Of The Dark" on CD/LP/Digital HERE

(Please note that the LP release date will be May 12, 2023)

The band has also announced multiple tour dates in the U.S., Europe, and Australia, with more dates to be added. Be sure to check the Wig Wam website for updates. A full list of confirmed dates can be seen below. 

"We came out of the pandemic and had a pretty rough 'rebirth' doing a comeback in the midst of this dark period of live music. The album is, of course, also a 'happier' album, even though some of the song lyrics reflect on darker themes in our society, but they all have one thing in common: A positive outcome. Never giving up," explains vocalist Åge Sten Nilsen of 'Out Of The Dark'. 

Wig Wam, vocalist Glam (Åge Sten Nilsen), guitarist Teeny (Trond Holter), bassist Flash(Bernt Jansen), and drummer Sporty (Øystein Andersen), formed in Halden, Norway in 2001 and have been mixing '80s inspired glam metal with classic hard rock, with entertaining lyrics and over-the-top imagery thrown in, to create a good old fashioned rock n' roll vibe for over two decades.

In 2005, the year after the release of their debut album (first titled '667.. The Neighbour of the Beast' and later changed to 'Hard To Be A Rock N' Roller'), the band had their first international breakthrough when they represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest, placing ninth with the song "In My Dreams". The band would go on to release three more studio albums, 'Wig Wamania' (2006), 'Non Stop Rock 'N Roll' (2010), and 'Wall Street' (2012) before splitting up in 2014.

The band would reunite in 2019 and work on a new album, 'Never Say Die' that was released in early 2021. In 2022, the band had a stroke of good fortune when film/television director James Gunn selected their 2010 song "Do Ya Wanna Taste It" (from the album 'Non Stop Rock 'N Roll') as the opening theme song for the HBO Max show Peacemaker starring John Cena. The show, based on a DC Comics character, showcased the band to a whole new audience who had been previously unaware of them and has seen the band taking on renewed interest and booking more and more live dates around the world.

WIG WAM 2023 TOUR DATES

01.07. Tower Theater - Fresno, CA USA

01.08. Goldfield - Roseville, CA USA

01.09. Whiskey A Go Go - Los Angeles, CAUSA

01.18. Rock Island Fest - Key West , FL USA

🇺🇸 More US dates to come 🇺🇸

Wig Wam are:

Glam (Åge Sten Nilsen) - vocals

Teeny (Trond Holter) - guitars

Flash (Bernt Jansen) - bass

Sporty (Øystein Andersen) - drums

REXORIA Release New Track & Lyric Video for "Set Me on Fire"

The First Taste of Their

Upcoming Full Length Album 'Imperial Dawn'

REXORIA will release their upcoming full length album 'Imperial Dawn' on February 3, 2023. Today the band unleashes the first single and lyric video for the track "Set Me On Fire."

The band comments on the new single:

"Set Me On Fire" is an energetic REXORIA song with power throughout! The lyrics are about strength and courage which matches the music. This is a melodic metal song that brings a lot of new energy!"

Watch the Lyric Video

Strong melodies, heavy riffs and exciting keyboards makes 'Imperial Dawn', an album impossible to sit still to. The album contains a wide spectrum of songs ranging from new electronic hard rock to emotional folk inspired songs, so there is something for everyone on this album.

The album is mixed by Stefan Hellblad from Within Temptation and mastered by Thomas ”Plec” Johansson which guarantees top quality. 

REXORIA has previously done several European tours and has played with bands such as Battle Beast, Bloodbound, Dynazty, Hardcore Superstar and Raubtier to name a few.

Listen to / Pre-Order 'Imperial Dawn' HERE

UNDERGROUND METAL DARLINGS RIKETS RETURN WITH FUTURISTIC NEW SINGLE, "MISERY"

Stream "Misery" HERE

In 2010 the Rikets world collapsed as vocalist Scott Rose's health had suddenly took a turn for the worse, and he eventually "took his ball and went home".

Initially penned in 2014, the concept of "Misery" was born and then left to sit on a hard drive, unmixed and left in oblivion. Fast forward to 2020, losing family and friends during the pandemic, Scott felt it was time to fire up the writing machine and deliver the goods once again.
Going thru the pandemic as a frontliner, Rose had become increasingly pissed off, and one phone call with good friend Nic Bell inspired Rose to team up and get back in the studio along with Ben Schigel (Spider Studios) yet again. They re-recorded "Misery" to its final state, as well as the base skeletons for 5 more songs slated to be released thru Godsize Records.

With "Misery" being the first piece of metal music Scott had written in 10 years, he felt there was more to say and more creative doors needed to be opened.

"'Misery' is a journey into chaos and love lost coupled with a creepy sci-fi tale of how man and machine are fused together in bastard form," says Rose. "The transhumanism agenda is ruining our society"

The lyric "I am just bile, wires and disgust", is not far off from Rose's everyday reality, as he is constantly hooked into IV machines, and has been brought back to life not once, but multiple times now.

On December 2nd 2022, "Misery" will finally see the light of day, as Rikets prepares for more blistering single releases leading up to a fire breathing new E.P., ironically titled Tales from the Construct Alpha.

Join us as Rikets embarks on a new chapter of dark synthwave, fused with Alt-metal, which is right in line with the bands signature sound.. The All American Death Cult once again has re-emerged, with explosive new material set to infect the masses in 2023.

Follow the band on Facebook and Instagram.

BEYOND THE BLACK - Release New Single "Dancing In The Dark"

RELEASE NEW SINGLE
"DANCING IN THE DARK"
+
NEW ALBUM BEYOND THE BLACK OUT JANUARY 13TH 2023!

Today BEYOND THE BLACK releases their fourth and last single "Dancing In The Dark", before the album drops on January 13th. With "Dancing In The Dark", the band delivers the perfect anthem to leave the past behind and welcome new things in your life.

Jennifer Haben comments:
"Dancing In The Dark is about taking the choice to not give in when it‘s getting tough, and to fight for yourself! The song shows yet another musical dimension of the upcoming album and comes with memories of an amazing European tour, where it became a fan favorite!“

Watch the video for "Dancing In The Dark" below.
Stream "Dancing In The Dark" here: https://beyondtheblack.bfan.link/dancing-in-the-dark

Pre-Order the new album Beyond the Black here: https://beyondtheblack.bfan.link/beyond-the-black

German Symphonic Metal ascending stars BEYOND THE BLACK can already look back across a stratospherically successful career, despite their youthful years. Upon release, their 2015 debut album hit like a bomb in their home country. Songs Of Love And Death besieged the German Top 15 for weeks, which led to the band being awarded the Metal Hammer Award for “Best Debut” in 2015. Its successor Lost In Forever (2016) entered the German charts at #4 and paved the way for a huge tour throughout Germany, and across countries like the UK, Russia, and Japan. Since the band’s live debut in 2014, they have played some of the world’s biggest Metal festivals like Wacken Open Air (several times) and have toured as support to heavyweights such as AEROSMITH, KORN, SCORPIONS, SAXON, and WITHIN TEMPTATION. During the campaign for their third record Heart Of the Hurricane (2018), BEYOND THE BLACK landed their first-ever European headline tour, which took them across 10 countries, with most dates selling out.

Before they’d even finished the Heart Of the Hurricane touring cycle, BEYOND THE BLACK had already gone back to the studio to write and record album number four. The result was Horizons, released in June 2020, which entered the German album charts at #3 (CH #6, AT #16, BE #53) marking the band’s most successful album release to date.

Now, two years later, BEYOND THE BLACK are back to launch a new chapter. Following the release of recently highly acclaimed tracks "Reincarnation," "Is There Anybody Out There" and "Winter Is Coming," the band releases their new, fifth studio album – the self-titled Beyond the Black on January 13th, 2023!

Also, check out the latest releases from BEYOND THE BLACK:

Watch the video for "Winter Is Coming" here: https://youtu.be/QKW7_jOjTQ8
Listen to "Winter Is Coming" here:https://beyondtheblack.bfan.link/winter-is-coming

Watch the video for "Is There Anybody Out There?" here: https://youtu.be/_PjhX07dsIg
Stream "Is There Anybody Out There?" here: https://beyondtheblack.bfan.link/is-there-anybody-out-there

Watch the video for "Reincarnation" here: https://youtu.be/9JFFiH1Pg4k
Stream "Reincarnation" here:: https://bfan.link/btb-reincarnation

Pre-order the new album Beyond the Black here: https://beyondtheblack.bfan.link/beyond-the-black

SOULFLY “TOTEM” U.S. TOUR 2023 TICKETS ON SALE!

Underground icon, extreme metal trailblazer, third-world warrior, and leader of a diverse and dedicated tribe, Max Cavalera not only survives but thrives, blasting out riff after killer riff. The same voice, body, and spirit which launched SOULFLY in 1997 summons impossibly heavy noise to this day, throwing down ten slabs of monstrous music on the band's twelfth album, Totem, which was released this past summer.

Today, the tickets for the band's "Totem" U.S. Tour 2023 are now on sale. The 57-date trek will kick off on January 25th in Tucson and make its way across the US making stops in Austin, Virginia Beach, Brooklyn, and Seattle before the final date in Tempe, AZ on April 1st. Joining the band on select dates are BODYBOX plus HALF HEARD VOICES (Jan 25 - Feb 16), SKINFLINT (Feb 17 - Mar 5), and DRIFT (Mar 6 - Apr 1).

SOULFLY's Max Cavalera comments, “After the amazing reception Totem got from fans, I’m very excited to bring this intense tour across America! Once again, we’re bringing new upcoming bands to our Tribe. Support the underground!"

Tickets for the tour are now on sale at https://www.soulfly.com/tour.

Confirmed dates for SOULFLY's "Totem" U.S 2023 Tour with BODYBOX, HALF HEARD VOICES, SKINFLINT, and DRIFT are:
1/25/2023 The Rock - Tucson, AZ *
1/26/2023 Orpheum - Flagstaff, AZ *
1/27/2023 Inspired Moments Event Center - Farmington, NM *
1/28/2023 Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM *
1/29/2023 RockHouse - El Paso, TX *
1/31/2023 The Vanguard - Tulsa, OK *
2/01/2023 Trees - Dallas, TX *
2/02/2023 Come And Take It Live - Austin, TX *
2/03/2023 The Rock Box - San Antonio, TX *
2/04/2023 Scout Bar - Houston, TX *
2/05/2023 The Parish @ HOB - New Orleans, LA *
2/07/2023 Downtown Music Hall - Ft. Walton Beach, FL *
2/08/2023 Underbelly - Jacksonville, FL *
2/09/2023 The Haven - Orlando, FL *
2/10/2023 The Orpheum - Tampa, FL *
2/11/2023 Culture Room - Ft. Lauderdale, FL *
2/13/2023 New Brookland Tavern - West Columbia, SC *
2/14/2023 Tue - Elevation 27 - Virginia Beach, VA *
2/15/2023 Broken Goblet Brewing - Bensalem, PA *
2/16/2023 Baltimore Soundstage - Baltimore, MD *
2/17/2023 Dingbatz - Clifton, NJ ~
2/18/2023 Music Hall of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY ~
2/19/2023 Sun - Space Ballroom - Hamden, CT ~
2/20/2023 Brighton Music Hall - Boston, MA ~
2/21/2023 Higher Ground - Burlington, VT ~
2/23/2023 The Lost Horizon - Syracuse, NY ~
2/24/2023 Rec Room - Buffalo, NY ~
2/25/2023 Lovedrafts - Mechanicsburg, PA ~
2/26/2023 Crafthouse - Pittsburgh, PA ~
2/28/2023 Skully's Music Diner - Columbus, OH ~
3/01/2023 The Machine Shop - Flint, MI
3/02/2023 The Music Factory - Battle Creek, MI ~
3/03/2023 The Forge - Joliet, IL ~
3/04/2023 The Apollo Theatre - Belvidere, IL ~
3/05/2023 Turf Club - St. Paul, MN ~
3/07/2023 Waiting Room - Omaha, NE +
3/08/2023 Outland Ballroom - Springfield, MO +
3/10/2023 HQ - Denver, CO +
3/11/2023 Moxi Theater - Greeley, CO +
3/13/2023 Pub Station - Billings, MT +
3/14/2023 The Newberry - Great Falls, MT +
3/15/2023 The Knitting Factory Spokane - Spokane, WA +
3/16/2023 El Corazon - Seattle, WA +
3/17/2023 Bossanova Ballroom - Portland, OR +
3/18/2023 WOW Hall - Eugene, OR +
3/19/2023 Virginia Street Brewhouse - Reno, NV +
3/21/2023 The Phoenix Theater - Petaluma, CA +
3/22/2023 Goldfield Trading Post - Roseville, CA +
3/23/2023 The Atrium @ The Catalyst - Santa Cruz, CA +
3/24/2023 DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA +
3/25/2023 Strummer's - Fresno, CA +
3/26/2023 Ventura Music Hall - Ventura, CA +
3/28/2023 Transplants Brewing Company - Palmdale, CA +
3/29/2023 Teragram Ballroom - Los Angeles, CA +
3/30/2023 Glass House Concert Hall - Pomona, CA +
3/31/2023 Music Box - San Diego, CA +
4/01/2023 The Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ +
* - BODYBOX plus HALF HEARD VOICES (Jan 25 - Feb 16),
~ - SKINFLINT (Feb 17 - Mar 5)
+ - DRIFT (Mar 6 - Apr 1).

Order your copy of Totem, here: https://www.soulfly.com/totem
Stream Totem on all streaming platforms: https://bfan.link/soulfly-totem

SOULFLY is:
Max Cavalera | Vocals & Guitar
Zyon Cavalera | Drums
Mike Leon | Bass Guitar

Order your copy of Totem, here: https://www.soulfly.com/totem

Deströyer 666 Drops New Music Video for "Never Surrender"

Black thrash outlaws DESTRÖYER 666 are now sharing the brand new music video for the song "Never Surrender." The song is the title track of the band's brand new offering, which is out today! Watch the video below.

'Never Surrender' is available HERE.

DESTRÖYER 666 continue to do what they are best at: kicking ass and hammering out heavy metal that is slamming straight into the face. No compromise, no sell out, no bullshit!

DESTRÖYER 666 don’t do whiny nostalgia but simply stick to their old school roots, which are reaching straight down into the golden age of metal while allowing themselves to sound fresh and remain relevant. The band originally started out as a solo project of BESTIAL WARLUST guitarist KK in Australia in 1994. As early as with debut album ‘Unchain the Wolves’ (1997), fast-tracked towards international acclaim. The even stronger second full-length, ‘Phoenix Rising’ (2000) had the Australians relocating to Europe to be able to satisfy the soaring demand for touring and festival shows. After a round of line-up changes, third full length ‘Cold Steel… For an Iron Age’ (2002) cemented the band’s excellent reputation. After a hiatus caused among other issues by disenchantment with the business, DESTRÖYER 666 returned with ‘Defiance’ in 2009 and followed up on this success with the rough and gritty ‘Wildfire’ (2016) seven years later that saw them touring and performing at all the relevant metal festivals worldwide on a regular basis again. The Australians filled the gap between the latest albums with the hard-hitting EP, ‘Call of the Wild’ (2018) that comes with a distinct taste of an unrepentantly classic flavour.

The outlaws from down under deliver another pummelling and relentless lesson in aggression with full length number 6(66). ‘Never Surrender’ is a furious assault of black thrash, chainsaw riffs, and warlike drums, offering no moment of reprisal as it rages on for 40 unyielding minutes.

With this offering, DESTRÖYER 666 takes no prisoners!

Style: Black Thrash

Line-up
KK: guitars, vocals
Ro: guitars, vocals
Felipe: bass
Perra: drums

www.facebook.com/destroyer666page
www.destroyer666.uk

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

Available formats:
Digipak CD
Clamshell Box
Digital
Vinyl in various colours
Cassette

VRSTY Release "Welcome Home Part 3" EP

VRSTY Release 'Welcome Home Part 3'

Today, December 1

New EP Features Three Brand New Studio Tracks

Band Shares Unofficial Video for "D34D"

New York City-based collective VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") — Joey Varela [vocals], Javy Dorrejo [bass], Chris Cody [drums], and Paul Gregory [guitar] — are serving up 'Welcome Home Part 3' today, December 1, via Spinefarm.

"Welcome Home Part 3' was super fun to write because all three of the tracks ultimately sound so different from one another," Varela states. "I also worked with other writers, such as Charlotte Sands, for the first time. That experience was sick! It helped to unearth a creative side that I didn't even know I had."

The band also shared an unofficial and intimate performance video for "D34D." Watch it Below and witness Varela's intensity as a performer and the song's melodic heft.

The 3-song EP features a trio of brand new songs. It follows 'Welcome Home Part 2', which is a Spanish-language version of songs from the band's latest album 'Welcome Home', which is out now. 

Watch the one-take video for "Dig" (Latin Version) HERE. VRSTY decided to craft these re-imagined versions due to Varela's heritage and his love for the sound of Spanish music. Listen HERE.

VRSTY are touring with labelmates Saul though December. Dates are below.

VRSTY ON TOUR:

12/2 — Chesterfield, MI — Diesel Concert Lounge

12/3 — Battle Creek, MI — Music Factory

12/4 — Bloomington, IL — Castle Theater

12/6 — Sioux Falls, SD — Club David

12/7 — Sioux City, IA — The Marquee

12/8 — Fargo, ND — TAK Music Venue

12/10 — Rock Island, IL — Ribco

ABOUT VRSTY:

'Welcome Home' is the band's debut full length for the label and follows last year's breakthrough 'Cloud City' EP, which has accumulated six million streams in less than a year and yielded the head-turning singles "Shameless" and "Massive." The latter was the most played on SiriusXM's Octane for two weeks in a row in late 2020.

VRSTY have perfected their seamless and fearless cross-pollination of metallic grooves and R&B-influenced, after midnight vocal swagger on this 14-track offering. VRSTY aren't just offering their own take on a genre; they have authored a fusion style that is entirely their own. 

"'Welcome Home' is an incredibly personal album to me," Varela shares. "I know everybody says that, and hey, maybe they're not lying when they do. I sure as hell am not. It was definitely a task, at first, trying to figure out how to phrase or sing something without getting too personal. But somewhere along the way, I threw that idea out the window and decided to say exactly what I felt. You won't find me trying to sound cool or using any fancy wordplay. It's just me in my rawest form, saying exactly what I've felt or experienced over the years, which is what has made me who I am today. I think if anybody ever wants to get to know me, this record will give you everything you need to know. No secrets. Just me."

TEMPT PUTS THE ROCK BACK IN CHRISTMAS WITH JOYOUS COVER OF BILLY SQUIER CLASSIC “Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You”

TEMPT PUTS THE ROCK BACK IN CHRISTMAS
WITH JOYOUS COVER OF BILLY SQUIER CLASSIC
“Christmas Is The Time To Say I Love You”
Song is the perfect rock antidote to self described Queen Of Christmas,
Mariah Carey
Video features classic New York City Christmas Scenes

Watch out Mariah Carey! Better Noise Music artist, TEMPT have released an infectious Christmas single covering multi-platinum recording artist Billy Squier’s classic, “Christmas Is The Time To say I Love You.” The band’s performance is uplifting and joyous and truly captures the Christmas spirit. It’s the perfect song for rock fans to celebrate the holidays with. Squier originally wrote the song for an MTV Christmas promo featuring the original VJs.

“We want to put rock and roll back into everyone’s Christmas playlist and this gem of a song does that. It captures the Christmas spirit in a sincere, emotional yet fun way and doing it with the band gave it the right vibe and energy”, said TEMPT lead guitarist Harrison Marcello. “We all get an overdose of Mariah Carey during the holidays but there is no rock song that gives you the emotional lift in the same way unless you’re singing along with Noddy and the Slade guys in the UK. We think that this is the song to change that”

Marcello who is Squier’s godson had heard the song sung during family holiday gatherings and never forgot the feelings of love and connection that the song gave everyone. Squier was blown away when he heard the band’s version, “These TEMPT guys obviously know a good song when they hear one...and they can play it, too! I love their arrangement and recording. Now Christmas is the time to crank up your sound system - or pop in your ear buds - so you can blast this from the roof-tops.”

The video for the song was shot on location in NYC during the 2021 Christmas season. TEMPT lead singer Zach Allen described the process, “This song makes people smile and we wanted to not only celebrate the season but also to celebrate our hometown of NYC and the spirit and energy of the city coming back from COVID. We shot this run and gun style at many iconic locations including, Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, Fifth Avenue, Hudson Yards, and Radio City Music Hall. You can’t keep New York down and we’re so excited that this is finally going to get released”

The band also had a special guest appearance by Saturday Night Live ace drummer, Shawn Pelton. “We have to give a shout out to Shawn Pelton who played drums on the track, said Marcello, Nicholas, our drummer, was stuck in Canada on a COVID lockdown and we were really lucky to have Shawn sit in with us to do the track. He’s a great player with incredible feel. There is one spot in my solo where he catches a run with a drum fill. It’s just amazing. We’re all really excited to share this release and holiday cheer with our fans all over the world. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year”

The band is planning acoustic holiday sing-along performances at children’s hospitals and programs for underserved children in the New York City area.

ABOUT TEMPT
Tempt are lead vocalist Zach Allen, guitarist Harrison Marcello, bassist Chris Gooden and
drummer Nick Burrows. “Living Dangerous feat Dorothy” is out now on Better Noise.

Tempt recently completed a tour of Europe playing major rock festivals including Download, Hellfest, Rock am Ring/Park and Graspop as well as dates supporting, Iron Maiden, Shinedown, Tremonti and Theory Of A Deadman. TEMPT were discovered by journalist Malcolm Dome and manager Andy Gould (Rob Zombie, Linkin Park) and agent Steve Strange (Coldplay, Eminem). Tempt’s last single, “Living Dangerous feat Dorothy” is an infectious rock anthem that’s charismatic, commanding and timeless. The track features acclaimed singer Dorothy Martin from US rock act Dorothy and was produced and mixed by legendary Grammy Award winner, Chris Lord-Alge (U2, Green Day, and My Chemical Romance). The track will be featured on the bands forthcoming debut album.

CONNECT WITH TEMPT
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok

THE ABBEY Unveils New Song + Music Video, "Widow's Will"

Progressive doom rock new-comers THE ABBEY, ft. Natalie Koskinen (SHAPE OF DESPAIR), Jesse Heikkinen (HENGET, ITERUM NATA, etc), Vesa Ranta (SENTENCED, THE MAN-EATING TREE), and Janne Markus (THE MAN-EATING TREE), are now revealing a brand new song, "Widow's Will," along with a dark and beautiful music video! The song is the second single from the band's forthcoming debut full-length, 'Word of Sin,' and can be found below.

THE ABBEY comments on the offering: "This is the first song that guitarist-vocalist Jesse Heikkinen wrote for The Abbey. 'Widow’s Will' is maybe the most straightforward track of the album. It is a love song for Death, dedicated to our late loved ones."

In conjunction, THE ABBEY is now launching pre-sales for the CD and digital formats of 'Word of Sin,' which are due on February 17, 2023! The vinyl counterpart will be released on July 7 and pre-sales will be revealed at a later date.

Pre-order 'Word of Sin' on CD + digital HERE.
Pre-save 'Word of Sin' on streaming services HERE.

Aleister Crowley’s Abbey of Thelema was located in Sicily, Italy, and functioned as ground zero for many of the occultist’s most complex and groundbreaking hedonistic pursuits. Here, Crowley codified his ritual practices and took his concept of “Magick” to new, unforeseen levels. He rebranded the temple as “Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum,” translating to “A college towards the Holy Spirit.” But the Abbey of Thelema was not without its controversy: A young disciple died in 1922 after contracting typhoid fever from the drinking water. And a year later, Crowley was evicted by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s regime, yet the mystery and intrigue behind the Abbey of Thelema remain.

It was only appropriate, then, that Jesse Heikkinen, a veteran of the Finnish music scene and a solo artist under the Iterum Nata banner, branded his newest musical pursuit as The Abbey. Drawing lyrical inspiration from esoteric organizations, their beliefs and his own practices, Heikkinen and co-lead vocalist Natalie Koskinen (Shape of Despair) weaved ritualistic tales from the darkest corners of themselves to pair with music that is a provocative, alluring kaleidoscope of dark, heavy rock. The result is the mystical Word of Sin, The Abbey’s nine-song debut long-player.

The Abbey tale began when Heikkinen generated the sudden urge to try his hand at singing in a doom metal band after laying down guest vocals for fellow countrymen Fuzzifer. His idea was to form a doom metal band with “big vocals” — a project for fun’s sake that would thrive off writing from the heart and improvisation. Those plans involved former Sentenced and The Man-Eating Tree drummer Vesa Ranta — the first name that came to Heikkinen’s mind for the project.

Ranta, now a professional photographer and filmmaker, provided the steady backbone behind Sentenced’s groundbreaking career that was brought to its conclusion in 2005. According to Heikkinen, Ranta plays “like a battalion of marching giants,” a not-so-subtle nod to the drummer’s mastery of the quarter-note. Ranta quickly took to Heikkinen’s early demos and suggested they add a female singer. Enter Koskinen. Koskinen knew Ranta from a video shoot where she was serving as a makeup artist. Reluctant to try a new band considering her Shape of Despair and career obligations, Koskinen listened to Heikkinen’s first demo and decided to give the project a go. Janne Markus (guitar, also of The Man-Eating Tree) and Henri Arvola (bass) were soon tapped to complete the band’s lineup.

Word of Sin was recorded between April and November 2021 in several locations across Finland. Drums, bass and Markus’s guitars were tracked at Kratio Studio in Oulu by Kyösti Rautio. Rautio also served as co-producer and mixed the album, becoming the unofficial sixth member of The Abbey. Heikkinen, who recorded most of his vocals and guitars in his stepdaughter’s room, surrounded by My Little Ponies, Disney figurines and a pile of esoteric literature, is careful to point out that The Abbey fails to drop into any neat, little subgenre.

“The album was made purely for self-expressive reasons,” he says. “My music is the channel where I can be as true and authentic as possible. It is also a somewhat safe way to explore and express the dark side of myself and the collective consciousness. Word of Sin may seem like a tremendously dark piece as a rock album, but it’s pretty lightweight for a doom metal album! The material proved so strong that it was obvious that it wasn’t going to be another side project. I think using the means of improvisation made the music sound more like its creator instead of it being forced to be this or that — and that seemed to work really well for us!”

Regardless of where Word of Sin falls between the vast channels of doom and heavy rock, the vocal interplay between Heikkinen and Koskinen is undeniable. Each has songs where they take the lead, but their harmonies and trade-offs carry songs like “Rat King” and “Desert Temple” to the fore, creating a restless, captivating atmosphere resembling vintage rock from the 1970s. And, for his first go at singing lead in a band, Heikkinen proves to be quite the capable vocalist, carrying a smooth, almost airy delivery on “Crystallion” and “Widow’s Will.”

“I didn’t think of it that much — my vocals all came naturally,” he says. “I still think I’m more of a guitarist than a vocalist, really. During the writing and recording, I listened to King Crimson’s Red quite a lot, so I’m sure I got some influences from John Wetton’s singing on that album. The vocal harmonies were heavily inspired by bands like E.L.O, Queen and Yes.”

Heikkinen and Koskinen didn’t know each other before the formation of The Abbey. Heikkinen met Koskinen for the first time when she tracked vocals at his home studio, but their partnership generated immediate results. “Nowadays, I usually record my vocals at home, but in this case, as I had yet to meet Jesse in person, I wanted to record my parts at his place,” says Koskinen. “It’s very important to see what kind of energy is between the musicians I’m going to work with in the long run. It turns out that we are a perfect match musically. Later on, I traveled to Oulu to meet the rest of the guys [Janne and Henri] and I must say that we had a very strong bond from the beginning. Sometimes things just happen even when you don’t plan them.”

“The right lines for each were found really easily,” adds Heikkinen. “There already were dozens of vocal tracks in some of my demos, but every time Natalie found her place in the song, she added something new into it.”

The creative process behind Word of Sin proved so fruitful that the members of The Abbey are already thinking about a follow-up. It’s a testament to the material’s inherent strength and the immediate bond between all five musicians.

“The Abbey will most definitely be an active and serious project for me - I do hope it will turn out fun as well,” wraps Heikkinen. And closes Koskinen: “I do have a feeling this band will make a long trip together.”

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/abbeyceremonial
https://www.instagram.com/theabbeyceremonial/
https://theabbey.bandcamp.com

Lineup:
Jesse Heikkinen – Guitar, keyboard, percussions, vocals
Natalie Koskinen – Vocals
Janne Markus – Guitar
Vesa Ranta – Drums
Henri Arvola – Bass

Cover Art: Alexander Reisfar

Bio: David E. Gehlke

Booking contact & management:
erin@aflyingfox.com (Erin Lynch)
https://aflyingfox.com


Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/TheAbbeyWOS
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/theabbeysin

OBITUARY Share New Song “Dying of Everything

Death Metal Legends

OBITUARY

Share New Song “Dying of Everything”

New Album 'Dying of Everything'

Out January 13, 2023 on Relapse Records

Fall North America Tour

Continues Through December;

EU Winter 2023 Tour Begins in January

Listen / Pre-Order HERE

"Propelled by the inhuman vocals of John Tardy, the obscenely brutal guitar tone of Trevor Peres and rhythmic brilliance of drummer Donald Tardy, Obituary redefined heaviness throughout the 1990s. From undisputed classics 'Slowly We Rot' and 'Cause of Death', through an unexpected hiatus to their current creative renaissance, Obituary have pioneered, defined and expanded extreme metal, becoming one of the underground’s most recognized and respected acts." - Decibel Magazine

Legendary Florida Death Metal icons OBITUARY return with their highly anticipated new album, 'Dying of Everything', out January 13 on LP/CD/CS/Digital via Relapse Records!

Today, OBITUARY share the official audio for the album title-track “Dying of Everything”!

OBITUARY comment:

"We picked the title track for the second single to give fans a taste of something a bit different than that typical Obituary style and we are excited to showcase Ken’s writing ability when he and Donald put their heads together and feel it just adds some extra flavor & spice to 'Dying of Everything' and can’t wait for the fans to hear it!!"

Physical 'Dying of Everything' pre-orders are available HERE.

Pre-Order 'Dying of Everything' HERE

Album Art Credit: Mariusz Lewandowski (RIP 1960-2022)

Additionally, OBITUARY continue the North America Great Heathen Tour with Amon Amarth, Carcass & Cattle Decapitation tonight in New York!

OBITUARY kick off 2023 with their Winter Europe tour in January/February with Trivium & Heaven Shall Burn. A full list of tour dates is available below.

'Dying Of Everything' destroys in the time-honored tradition of early OBITUARY classics "Slowly We Rot" and "Cause of Death" while maintaining the killer studio sound that the band has been perfecting in their own studio since 2007’s monstrous 'Xecutioner’s Return'.

Like just about every album in OBITUARY’s vast catalog, 'Dying Of Everything' is instantly memorable; it’s a skill that OBITUARY have only improved upon over the years.

It’s unusual for a band that’s been around since the ’80s to be doing some of their best work in the 2020s, but that’s exactly what OBITUARY have accomplished through their do-it-yourself attitude and relentless touring on a worldwide level. “I think it comes down to passion,” vocalist John Tardy offers. “I say this all the time, but if something’s not fun, I’m not gonna do it. And we’re having more fun than ever.”

OBITUARY TOUR DATES:

NA w/ Amon Amarth, Carcass, Cattle Decapitation

Dec 01 New York, NY Hammerstein Ballroom

Dec 02 Toronto, ON History

Dec 03 Laval, QC Place Bell

Dec 05 Madison, WI The Sylvee

Dec 06 Minneapolis, MN The Fillmore Minneapolis

Dec 07 Kansas City, MO Upton Theater

Dec 09 Denver, CO The Fillmore

Dec 10 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex

Dec 12 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo

Dec 13 Portland, OR Roseland Ballroom

Dec 15 Wheatland, CA Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Dec 16 San Diego, CA SOMA

Dec 17 Los Angeles, CA The Forum

Pennies by the Pound present synth-laden indie-pop 'The End Times' single

"One of Finland’s best kept secrets... quite chameleonic. Best known for their British prog-rock stylings, the quartet try a new size on in this current single – synthpop... truly of the 80s, only with a vocal timbre and passion of Marillion" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Big and extravagant.... this is brilliant music for here and now, wherever that may be" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"A trippy ride... Loads of flair and professionalism from the band" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Indeed a wonderful affair... Pennies By the Pound should be on everyone’s radar as a band to watch in future" ~ The Record Stache


Finnish indie outfit Pennies By The Pound are back with their new invigorating single 'The End Times', the second single from their upcoming concept album 'Nothingside', out in early 2023 via the Lilith label.

Relative to the first single 'Burning Wish', which was beautiful expression of optimism and adventure channelled through a fantastic prism of British progressive rock, this synth-laced track explores the opposite end of the spectrum of emotions conveyed on this sophomore album.

Pulsing with the rhythms and sounds of the neon-lit eighties, 'The End Times' takes the listener on a ride through the turbulent times we (as well as the protagonists of the story) are experiencing at present, keeping sight of the light at the end of the tunnel - even if it is an oncoming train.

"This song is something completely different than anything we've ever done before, almost alien to us in many ways. Most of the credit for that goes to our producer Mr. Eskolin, who was instrumental in making this song happen in the first place," says frontman Johannes Susitaival.

"If I've mentioned before about the influence of all sorts of 80s records on this album as a whole, this is definitely the climax of all that. If you check out the video, you'll especially know what I mean. The subject matter of the album as a whole is a bit heavy, so we tried to bring out some light-hearted fun for a change!"

As with previous releases, the Helsinki-based band worked with Ride frontman Mark Gardener, who mastered the track at his OX4 Sound Studioin Oxford, and top national producer Rauli 'Rake' Eskolin, who has had over a dozen No.1 records in Finland to his name in the past 20 years.

Pennies by the Pound was formed by Johannes Susitaival and Vesa Ranta around 2017, with the lineup expanded in the next few years by first Tomi Laaksonen and then Alexander Meaney, both musicians from previous related projects. Having written for a variety of bands, Johannes began exploring his passion for alternative and progressive rock, which led to Pennies' self-produced 'Bloodshed and the Blinding Sunlight' EP in 2018, followed by their debut album 'Heat Death of the Universe' in 2020. This new release takes them to yet another realm beyond that.

As of December 9, 'The End Times' will be released across digital stores and streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where you can also pre-order the full album directly from the band.

CREDITS
Music by Johannes Susitaival and Rauli Eskolin
Lyrics by Johannes Susitaival
Arranged by Pennies By The Pound and Rauli Eskolin
Johannes Susitaival - vocals, guitar, keyboards
Vesa Ranta - lead guitar
Tomi Laaksonen - bass
Alexander Meaney - guitar
Rauli Eskolin - programming, keyboards, guitar
Produced, recorded and mixed by Rauli Eskolin
Mastered by Mark Gardener at OX4 Sound

VIDEO CREDITS
Directed by Martin Brown with Pennies By The Pound
Edited by Martin Brown
Cameras by Martin Brown and Sam Gurung
Post-production by Sam Gurung
With assistance from Jayson Rohde
'The End Times' ISRC FI-LLH-22-00010
'Burning Wish' ISRC FI-LLH-22-00002


Keep up with Pennies By The Pound
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Booking contact | Press contact

Keep up with Mark Gardener / OX4 Sound
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | OX4Sound Twitter | Mark Gardener Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Press contact

CHRIS CONNELLY presents 'Union Square West' ahead of CD release of 'Eulogy to Christa: A Tribute to the Music & Mystique of Nico'

"Connelly, with his beautiful timbre and artistic candour, delivers a haunting and touching rendition of Nico’s music. Nobody performs quite like this masterful musical chameleon and here, he channels her fabulously, honouring her with depth and personability... impeccable delivery and smoothness" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Chris Connelly has never been an artist of convention... a thematic mirror, Connelly’s songs follow her story – adventurous, controversial, and misunderstood"~ Regen Magazine

"Gently stroking ears with its guitar cast melody, the song simultaneously looms up in tension and anxiety... a moment of intense beauty. Connelly’s tones as the music are emotion and tension personified, leaving his own mark on the song whilst equally bringing forth an evocative and haunting reverberation of its original creators" ~ Ringmaster Review


Alternative music legend Chris Connelly presents 'Union Square West', a welcome teaser of his new album 'Eulogy to Christa: A Tribute to the Music & Mystique of Nico', a colossal offering released by Shipwrecked Industries in the USA and Easy Action in the UK. This 20-track collection pays tribute to Nico - iconic muse of The Velvet Underground and one of the most unique, tragic and misunderstood female artists in the history of music.

This video was made by Chris himself, recreating Lou Reed’s screen test by Andy Warhol. Connelly notes, "Warhol's FACTORY was located at UNION SQUARE WEST between 67 and 68. This song celebrates the arrival of NICO at the factory and her profound effect on the artists and characters therein".

Connelly also recently shared the video for 'Femme Fatale' created by Iain W. Mutch / Walkerandwilliam in Scotland. Earlier singles include 'Eulogy to Lenny Bruce', heralded by some as Connelly's finest vocal performance, and 'Ripcord, Ripcord', which Connelly penned about Nico's rape by a military officer and the trauma of being in the rubble of post-war Berlin, both casting a shadow over the rest of her volatile life, creating the haunted spirit of Nico.

'Eulogy to Christa' is a labour of love, empathy, sadness, acting and channeling, along with Chris’s adoration of the dark corner of rock inhabited by the Velvets and their peers. Now based in Chicago, this album from the Scottish counter-culture icon sees Connelly purposefully adopt the personas of Nico, Lou Reed and John Cale – even Andy Warhol makes a cameo!

In four decades of making music, since his days with Fini Tribe in Edinburgh, Chris Connelly has over 20 solo releases and frequently collaborates with other musicians, including notable projects like Ministry, The Revolting Cocks and Pigface. He has also published four books (poetry, autobiographical and fictional narrative).

Initially planned as an album of 10 Nico covers, Connelly ended up writing additional compositions spanning her life, from her first Jimmy Page-composed single, The Velvet Underground years and her intense and unique solo recordings until her death. Connelly follows her from Berlin to New York via Paris, Ibiza, and Rome, then back through Paris, London, Edinburgh, Manchester and up to her tragic and needless death in Ibiza.

On this album, Connelly worked with producer and long-time collaborator Chris Bruce, who is a band member of Meshell Ndegeocello and also worked with Seal, Aaron Neville, Bob Dylan, The Waterboys, My Brightest Diamond, Cheryl Crow and Sam Phillips.

The album was, in part, inspired by the book 'You Are Beautiful and Your Are Alone' by Jennifer Otter Bickerdicke, who contributed to album liner notes, noting “This is a record to be played at full blast, all the way through, as a commemoration not just to Nico the person, the musician, but to art for art’s sake, for making something because it is important and needs to be done – an idea that is as rare and precious as Nico herself.”

The 'Eulogy to Christa' LP is out now digitally, available via Bandcamp, as well as Apple Music and Amazon. The CD version will be released on December 5.

CREDITS
Recorded at The Rock Noir July 2021 / January 2022
Mastered by James Scott at Populist Recording and Mastering
Produced by Chris Bruce
Chris Connelly: Vocals, acoustic and electric guitar, harmonium, harmonica, keyboards, bass
Chris Bruce: Additional instruments and guitar solo on 'Ripcord'
Sleeve design by Greg Rolfes. Layout by Kimberly Blessing
Nico cover photo by Alastair MacKay (Edinburgh Nite Club, August 1981)
Inside photo of Nico taken by Howard Goldblatt (Tuts, Chicago 1982)
Tray photo of harmonium by Jonah Rubash

Publicity by Shauna McLarnon @ Shameless Promotion PR
Management: Kimberly Blessing @ Shipwrecked Industries
Chris Connelly is published by Bicycle Music/Concord BMI
Dedicated to Nico (Christa Päffgen) 1938 - 1988
For the lovers on St. Stephen’s

Keep up with Chris Connelly
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Amazon