Drake Milligan to Kick Off 2024 With New Music and More Milestones

Stoney Creek recording artist DRAKE MILLIGAN is keeping his boot on the gas as the new year begins, following a chart-topping breakout with plans for a brand new EP. 

Set for release on February 16, the pure-country hitmaker’s Jukebox Songs EP marks another bold chapter of high-energy twang. Produced by fellow Texan and traditionally-minded star, Trent Willmon, the EP will once again highlight Milligan’s smooth, booming baritone vocal, towering over four fresh tracks full of instant-classic intensity and diverse country soul...including an unforgettable heartbreak anthem. Pre-order/pre-add/pre-save HERE.

“Jukebox Songs is exactly what it sounds like," says Milligan. "My goal for this EP was to write and find songs that feel classic and memorable - the kinda tunes would fit right in on some old Rock-Ola in the corner of a smoke-filled bar on the outskirts of nowhere Texas. It’s a continuation of the old-meets-new Country sound I’ve always gone for, and this time with my friend Trent Willmon at the reins as producer, I’m very excited to keep this honky tonk train rollin.’” 


Penned by Bobby Pinson, Matt Rogers & Ben Stennis, “Don’t Leave Me Loving You” is a timeless, classic-country style ballad, aching and built on a still-tender emotional wound. The track places Milligan’s standout Texas baritone before a delicate, rootsy arrangement. Listen now below.

Meanwhile, Milligan will also soon return to his primetime-TV roots. He’s set to compete on NBC’s upcoming America’s Got Talent spin-off show, Fantasy League, and will also hit the road alongside Cody Johnson to open 10 dates on his 2024 U.S. arena tour. 

Both build on a streak of early success, stemming from Milligan’s America’s Got Talent emergence and his breakout album debut, DALLAS/FORT WORTH. 

Named “One of the Best Country Albums of 2022” by Billboard, Saving Country Music and Whiskey Riff, the project dominated iTunes upon its release, hitting #1 on both the iTunes All-Genre and Country Albums Charts, while simultaneously holding positions #1, #2, #3 and #5 on iTunes Country Video Chart and spawning back-to-back #1s on the iTunes Country Songs Chart.

Milligan went on to be named an “Artist to Watch” by CMT, Pandora and Music Mayhem, while DALLAS/FORT WORTH also landed in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Country Albums Sales Chart, leading to his new chapter.

Earlier this year, the singer-songwriter returned to America’s Got Talent to debut his current single, “I Got A Problem,” and appeared on both The Kelly Clarkson Show and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards – where he opened the show with performance of his duet with The Reklaws "Honky Tonkin' About" (a 2023 #1 on Canadian Country Radio).

Other 2023 highlights include Milligan’s nomination for Breakthrough Male Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards, his main stage debut at Stagecoach and a standout performance at Nashville’s CMA Music Festival.

Milligan likewise made his Grand Ole Opry debut in late 2022 and has already become an Opry regular, while earning critical acclaim from USA Today, Billboard, People, Taste of Country, Parade, American Songwriter,Country Now, Saving Country Music, Country Swag and Hollywood Life, to name a few.

Milligan recently made his debut headlining date at Billy Bob’s Texas, thrilling a hometown crowd of nearly 4,000 fans (twice) and adding his hands to the famous “Wall of Fame.” He was then asked to return to headline the venue’s massive 2023 New Year’s Eve concert, capping another big year.

View a complete list of Drake Milligan’s tour dates here.

About Drake Milligan:

Drake Milligan burst onto the national music stage entering the Billboard Emerging Artists Chart at #5 after dominating iTunes with his debut album, Dallas/Fort Worth, charting back-to-back #1 hits on the iTunes Country Songs Chart, #1 on iTunes All-Genre Chart and reclaimed the #1 spot on iTunes Country Albums Chart, all while simultaneously holding positions #1, #2, #3 and #5 on iTunes Country Video Chart. In the UK, Milligan’s debut album spent 11 consecutive weeks in the Top 20 of the Official Country Artists Albums Chart. A student of classic Country music with the swagger of early Rock ‘n’ Roll, the Fort Worth, Texas native is an electrifying entertainer who cites George Strait and Elvis Presley – the King of Country and the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll – as musical heroes, and his unique twist of traditional Country has been embraced by fans, peers and the media alike. Milligan has performed on The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Grand Ole Opry, Stagecoach and CMA Music Festival, and earned high praise from People, BBC, USA Today, Parade, American Songwriter, CMT.com, Billboard, ET, Access Hollywood, Cosmopolitan, Cowgirl Magazine and Taste of Country. Following his Dallas/Fort Worth debut – named “One of the Best Country Albums of 2022” by Billboard and others – Milligan uncorked a Canadian Country Radio #1 in 2023 (“Honky Tonkin’ About” with The Reklaws), garnered 5 million views in just a few months with “Cowgirl For Christmas,” and headlined the massive New Year’s Eve celebration at the famed “World’s Largest Honky Tonk,” Billy Bob’s Texas, where he had also delivered two sold-out homecoming shows in the previous year. Looking ahead, the Stoney Creek Records phenom has dropped “Don’t Leave Me Loving You” – a timeless heartbreak ballad with a modern edge – and is set to release his new EP, Jukebox Songs, on February 16. The acclaimed “Artist to Watch” (CMT, Pandora, etc.) will also return to his primetime TV roots for the America’s Got Talent spin-off show, Fantasy League, and hits the road alongside Cody Johnson on his 2024 U.S. arena tour.


KEEP UP WITH DRAKE MILLIGAN
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Phoenix's SNAILMATE offer antidote to a pressurized year: treat yourself to a 'Stress Sandwich'

"Ferocious and evocative... an intense sonic fusion of thrash rock, hip hop and punk complete with an infectious layered screamo chorus and daring synths. Fuzzy basslines glide over intense drumming full of emotion for an enthralling must listen"~ Earmilk

“This homage to being chronically, unwaveringly lazy is another standout hybrid gem from the pair, and proves as eccentric as it is downright catchy” ~ Phoenix New Times

“A genre-bending rollercoaster ride that defies convention and categorization. This album seamlessly weaves together elements of synth music, punk and metal while drawing inspiration from an eclectic mix of artists ranging from Daft Punk and Public Enemy to Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park... unique and electrifying” ~ Skylight Webzine

"How this isn’t pouring from every MF-ers lips in time of need is a mystery" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

Phoenix-based Snailmate crowned 2023 by releasing their album 'Stress Sandwich' and relentlessly touring. Rleased via Toronto's Indiestructable Records, they offer a twisted humorous take on existential anxiety, delivering funky, poppy, screamy fun through alternative raps. The duo's also presents the video for 'Trash, Baby', created by Chase A Warren.

Alternatively described as synthpunk grindcore pop nerd rap, this has practically become a way of life for the duo, reinforced by their earlier albums 'Live In Japan' (2019) and 'Love in the Microwave' (2017), plus a myriad of EPs and singles. Known for their frenetic and impressive shows (numbering over a thousand now), 2023 saw the ban

Snailmate is lyricist-vocalist and synth wizard Kalen Lander and drummer-backup vocalist Bentley Monet, whose music fuses synthpunk, grindcore, pop and nerd rap for an unpredictable and explosive sound. Together they craft music that is cathartic and relatable yet unique and genre-defying, using humor and wit to tackle topics from isolation and queer identity to bangers about hot sauce and nostalgia.

Produced by Ari Leopold at Lava Lake Studio in Phoenix, 'Stress Sandwich' is about growth, exploring themes such as vulnerability, disappointment, and art-making as a beautiful yet imperfect process. They go head to head with depression, anxiety, imposter syndrome, anger, hunger, laziness... but also fun things! These 10 tracks - laced with sarcasm, breathless lyricism and unpredictable genre-bending energy - will leave you satisfied and wanting more.

"This album has been in the works for so long. It took years to process all these feelings and experiences and distill them into just ten short songs, but I’m really glad we didn’t try and finish this thing any sooner. It would have tasted so much different. The flavors needed time to develop. I couldn’t have written 'Toll Road' until that bastard stole our money. 'The Snailmate Show' wasn’t a thing before we were forced to quarantine and couldn’t play live. And until we had to go through some intense physical changes, 'My Weird Gross Body' just wouldn’t have been the same," says  Kalen Lander.

"I beat myself up a lot during this whole process. I felt like I was taking too long to write the lyrics, and that meant that I was bad at writing. I had lost my touch. But then I really started to understand how, when I FINALLY finished the words for a song, it was perfect. It couldn’t have been perfect if I’d forced it out any sooner. And I think 'The Laziest Man in the World' encapsulates that sentiment better than anything." 

As part of the LGBTQ community and with Bentley being a transgender artist, Snailmate inspires their listeners to be unapologetic and unashamed of who they are, cultivating a fervent fanbase based on inclusivity and shows as a safe space for all genders and people of all sexualities.

'Stress Sandwich' is out now, available digitally from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It can also be ordered on vinyl and CD vinyl from the band's own store, where ample merch is also available, including their very own award-winning hot sauce!

CREDITS
Performed by Kalen Lander & Bentley Monet
Written by Kalen Lander & Bentley Monet
Produced by Kalen Lander & Ari Leopold
Recorded, Mixed & Mastered by Ari Leopold @ Lava Lake Studio in Phoenix, AZ
Music video by Chase A Warren

LIVE DATES
Jan. 12   Tempe, AZ @ The Beast
Jan. 14   Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live
Mar. 23  Phoenix, AZ @ Gracie's Tax Bar
Apr 19  Los Angeles, CA  @ The Offbeat

Stress Sandwich' album   https://snailmate.bandcamp.com/album/stress-sandwich
CD, vinyl & merch  https://snailmateband.storenvy.com
Spotify  https://open.spotify.com/album/4Hw9gzWkUvZ2tLNCKjTU7S

Keep up with Snailmate
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | Soundcloud | YouTube | Patreon | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Art-Punk Kraut-Rock duo CIRCOLO VIZIOSO presents 'Choppy' single, previewing debut album

"From Sonic Youth, The Black Angels to Fugazi and Nirvana, this is a band who wears their inspirations on their sleeves, blending these in a fascinating way. Raw and visceral, Circolo Vizioso makes for a highly recommended listen, presenting groundbreaking music with a signature sound" ~ The Spill Magazine


Kraut-inspired punk rock duo Circolo Vizioso presents 'Choppy', a high-octane song spawned from of a bout of depression brought on by a failed love story. This is the first taste of their debut album 'Verrueckt' (out March 1), following their 5-track 'Isolation' EP (2020). Here they offer a potent taste of their unique brand of high-intensity, lyric-driven punk, created mainly with electric violin, guitar and drums.

Hailing from Berlin, Circolo Vizioso is made up of Tony Scafidi (guitar, bass, drum, hi-hat, vocals) and Paul Geigerzaehler (violin, snare drum, vocals). The band plays abrasive, groovy punk music that is influenced, on the one hand, by the sound of 1990s New York, Chicago and Washington embodied in such bands as Fugazi, Blonde Redhead and Sonic Youth, and by the sound of early 80's and 90's Eastern German and Eastern European punk bands like Dezerter, Sandow and Schleimkeim on the other.

"I'd had a severe break up and the song went out as a sort of persistent beat, prolonging an apex point that hardly makes it out of the main riff, opening up only at the very yet repeating it self only faster," says Tony Scafidi.

"Metaphorically, it's kind of like when a couple try to sort things out and get back together, but then fail due to continued use of old commuication tools for a completely new situation they can no longer manage. At the time, I was also listening to The Black Angels a lot and having sleeping problems. There's a weird cocktail here."

Formed in March 2020 on a balcony in Friedrichshain, Berlin during the first Covid-19 lock-down, Circolo Vizioso was born as an attempt to keep art and music alive and to provide support to their neighbours during a time when no concerts were happening and no cinemas, museums or galleries were open.

In spirit, Circolo Vizioso is a last ditch effort to resist the isolation and the lack of social and human contact, as well as the hunger for music and art during this unusual time.

About the upcoming 'Verrueckt" album, Paul Geigerzaehler explains, "We wanted an album that could express anger, frustration and disaffection against an unfair world and all the discomfort entwined with that and we wanted to do it with direct and bare lyrics, abrasive violin lines, fat distorted guitar solos, and big fuzzy riffs. Yet we wanted people to dance to all this batshit crazy world in a sort of self-exorcising dance, where one can head to bed with the feeling that they have at least sweat their daily demons out for the night."

As of January 5, 'Choppy' will be available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full 'Verrueckt' album, which will be released on March 1, is already available for pre-order directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music and Lyrics by Paul Geigerzaehler and Tony Scafidi
Tony Scafidi - guitar, bass, drum, hi-hat, vocals
Paul Geigerzaehler - violin, snare drum, vocals
Audrey Quillons - backing vocals on 'Walls' and 'Verruecht'
Produced by Paul Geigerzaehler and Tony Scafidi
Sound Engineer - Smail Shock Production at B Studio in Berlin
Mixed and Mastered by Sacha Tilotta in Catania, Italy

PEYTON PARRISH #1 Album in the World!

SOUL is Available at:

Apple Music

Explore music from Peyton Parrish on Spotify

Imagine a hard rock artist having the #1 album in the world, beating out Chris Stapleton, Taylor Swift, and Niki Minaj. Well, it happened this week!

Peyton Parrish has built an army of fans worldwide through his YouTube and TikTok, amassing an average of 20 million plays per single he releases. Currently, he has over 1.6 million monthly listeners and is growing!

The new single "Poetry Glass" was released over the holidays and has flown over 1 million spins. The video has over 1.6 million views.

WATCH "Poetry Glass" below.

The 10-track album is a blend of rock, electronic and pop with Peyton’s signature raspy vocals. SOUL includes “Poetry Glass,” an edgy pop-rock anthem with a catchy hook and melody. The album also features “Stuck in the Dark,” a moving ballad showcasing Peyton’s vocal range, as well as “Fallen Angel,” an uplifting song with a powerful message of inner strength. “This album is really personal for me,”said Peyton. “The songs explore relationships, challenging life experiences and finding the strength within yourself to get through them all. I put my whole heart and SOUL into this record, and I can't wait for my fans to experience the journey with me.”

Peyton’s previous album Rise of Vikingr dropping number #1 on the iTunes charts with viral hits "Dane", "Dragur", and "My Mother Told Me" metal version.

Renowned for his unique blend of throaty Viking-inspired metal and post-grunge rock, Peyton Parrish has made a mark through original compositions and gained widespread recognition for his inventive cover renditions. In 2023 his rock-inspired Disney cover album The Most Magical Album on Earth gave Peyton Parrish his first Billboard #1 album. Other accolades include Billboard #1 with his cover of Hercules "Go the Distance" following his first Billboard #1 with his cover of Mulan's "I'll Make a Man Out of You".

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Instagram

YouTube

Facebook

TikTok

LUCIFER - Release Video For New Single 'Maculate Heart'

Heavy rock megalith LUCIFER are kicking off the new year in style with a brand new single called 'Maculate Heart', which is yet another preview to be released before their magnificent new album, Lucifer V, drops on January 26th, 2024.
 

Consisting of nine unholy hymns, LUCIFER's fifth offering can easily be regarded as their magnum opus and sees the band channeling all their strengths known from previous records into one monumental mass of electrifying heavy rock and roll.


Infectious and hook-heavy stunner 'Maculate Heart' might be the most accessible song LUCIFER have ever recorded and it's being released today as a slightly trimmed radio edit for your listening pleasure. Bring it on!

In case you missed the announcement of LUCIFER's upcoming Satanic Panic European tour with Angel Witch, Attic, The Night Eternal and Crank, please scroll down to the bottom for all dates and more infos.

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE LUCIFER V:
https://lucifer.bfan.link/lucifer-v

LISTEN TO 'MACULATE HEART - RADIO EDIT'':
https://lucifer.bfan.link/maculate-heart

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR 'MACULATE HEART - RADIO EDIT' below.

THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED RELATED TO LUCIFER V:

'Slow Dance in A Crypt' Official Music Video:
https://youtu.be/9tR8nGUfvC0

'At The Mortuary (Halloween Edit)' Official Music Video: 
https://youtu.be/jkvQILyvro0

'A Coffin Has No Silver Lining (The Sistine Version)' Promo Music Video:
https://youtu.be/-EZkgyp9D18

ABOUT LUCIFER


Since its inception in 2014 In Berlin, the highly prolific band led by charismatic singer Johanna Platow Andersson has released four electrifying albums on Rise Above (LUCIFER I) and Century Media Records (LUCIFER II-IV), as well as and numerous stand-alone singles infused with 1970s hard rock, proto heavy metal, doom and occult rock, with a nod to their main influences such as Black Sabbath, Pentagram & Blue Öyster Cult. They have played over 200 shows in the Europe, Japan, North & South America, including festivals such as KISS Kruise, Psycho Las Vegas, Hellfest, Wacken and many more, most recently supporting the band GHOST on their European tour in spring 2023. Two of their shows have been recorded and broadcasted by prestigious German national TV program Rockpalast.

LUCIFER, now located in Stockholm, have been nominated twice for a Swedish Grammy in the category 'Best Hardrock/Metal Album' as well as the Swedish Radio Award P3 and several GAFFA nominations. Amongst others, they have graced the cover of the leading US metal magazine, Decibel, before their first album was released.

The group has concluded recording their fifth studio album, LUCIFER V, the first one to be released by their new label, Nuclear Blast Records, due out on January 26th 2024. Although LUCIFER is known to notoriously deliver critically acclaimed albums, supreme songwriting and quality recordings, LUCIFER V is rumored to be their best album yet. Combining elements of all their previous albums into one monumental mass of electrifying heavy rock and roll. Eerie landscapes shaped by soaring guitar riffs, the thunderous pounding of bass and drums from some sort of groovy inferno, haunted melodies to weep into your drink to, the screeching tires of a 1971 Cadillac hearse, the humorous morbidity and tragic wit of Johanna’s lyrics. If death had a best friend, it would be LUCIFER and they would hang out together at the local cemetery, shooting the shit. In November 2023, LUCIFER embarked on a full North American co-Headline tour with occult rock legends, Coven.  Catch LUCIFER live in February 2024 when LUCIFER brings The Satanic Panic Tour to Europe together with Angel Witch and guests Attic and The Night Eternal.

LUCIFER is:

Johanna Platow Andersson (vocals)
Nicke Andersson Platow (drums)
Linus Björklund (guitar)
Martin Nordin (guitar)
Harald Göthblad (bass)

Worship LUCIFER:
www.lucifer.church

Letdown. Releases New Double Single "Anxiety/Making Miseries" via Big Loud Rock

Breakout alt-rock sensation Letdown. is kicking off the New Year with a band, releasing new double single "Anxiety" and "Making Miseries" today via Big Loud Rock. "Anxiety" will be featured on MTV's wildly popular reality series The Challenge, airing this upcoming Wednesday, January 10. When asked about the inspiration behind today's dual release, Letdown. mastermind Blake Coddington shared:

"‘Anxiety’ is an introspective song that delves deep into my personal inner fears. It echoes a sense of unease, and the tumultuous journey through the labyrinth of my own anxieties. Painting a picture of vulnerability, the song encapsulates the essence of my inner turmoil - a cathartic exploration of the struggles I face inside myself, inviting listeners to confront their own fears.”

"‘Making Miseries’” is about the negative effect a bad relationship with someone and even yourself can have on your mental state. The song dives right in with the feeling of your whole world being upside down every way you think about it. The song is a wild ride outlining the details and truth of what we're doing to each other and ourselves and what it looks like."

Having wrapped up a momentous 2023 with his track "Crying In The Shower" peaking inside the Top 20 at U.S. Alternative Radio and performing at renowned festivals including Aftershock and Louder Than Life, 2024 promises even more exciting Letdown. news to come. Stream "Anxiety" and "Making Miseries" here, watch the visualizer below, and stay tuned for more Letdown. news coming very soon.

Letdown. (period included) may have started as a pandemic project for Blake Coddington, but the Chicago/Nashville-based rocker is in a very different place in 2023. Having spent the last three years cultivating a fervent fanbase through a number of single releases and emerging as a striking live act — finally bringing his music into the physical lives of his online fans across several sold-out, headlining shows this past year — Coddington is rapidly growing his presence away from the internet for the first time in Letdown.’s short history. 

The powerful vocals and emotional lyrics over catchy, upbeat drums and guitars originally served as a cathartic way for the songwriter to express himself while working a dead-end job that he hated. But 2022 saw Letdown. being signed to Big Loud Rock and move beyond his beginnings as a viral, at-home musician. This year, however, represents a whole new start for the passionate vocalist, or as Coddington himself puts it: “It’s Season II of Letdown., and it’s definitely the biggest chapter yet.” 

With his debut EP, 'Crying In The Shower', releasing February 24, 2023 and the ability to continue his touring success with an upcoming month-long run in Europe, as well as North American dates supporting Giovannie & The Hired Guns this spring, “Season II” is looking a lot more action-packed than Letdown.’s first couple of years. It was just three years ago that he began throwing videos on YouTube expecting to get a few hundred views, yet now he’s become a known and respected musical commodity both in-person and online with over 643K followers and 5.1M likes on TikTok, 25+ million views on his YouTube channel, over 80M on demand streams and editorial playlisting from the likes of Spotify’s All New Rock, New Noise, Rock Out and Rock Hard. “I always feel weird when people ask me how long I’ve been around, because I got so used to telling people that Letdown. was this new thing,” Coddington laughs. “But now we’re touring and we’ve got a record coming out with a label involved and all of this stuff. I know I’m not ‘seasoned’ yet, but it feels new, exciting and different.” 

As for the new EP itself, pushing forth a collection of seven songs is still a bit of a new experience for Coddington, who’s gotten this far by steadily releasing a single at a time. The title track and opener is a perfect example of the wild, emotional ride that Letdown. enjoys taking his fans on. The song builds into a pumped-up anthem that you can’t help but sing along to, and behind the reactive hook and catchy rhythm, Letdown. takes listeners through the experience and inner turmoil of trying to get over someone you can’t forget by wailing, “crying in the shower, but I can’t wash you away.” 

“You ever listen to happy songs when you're upset or sad or depressed and they make you feel even worse?” Coddington asks with a smirk. “That’s what ‘Crying in the Shower’ is for me. It's like, ‘Here's a list of terrible things, set to an incredibly upbeat, happy beat’ — which is almost a metaphor for me. I’m a happy-looking guy who is quite the opposite on the inside.” Elsewhere, the EP continues to document Coddington’s internal struggle as he searches for answers in times of darkness, uncertainty and self-doubt on stadium-sized singles “Go To Hell”, “Empty”, “Shipwreck” and “Ugly”, a soaring, pop-rock belter featuring Kelsy Karter & the Heroines that encompasses the types of thoughts related to self image and how we perceive ourselves. “That song is a literal depiction of how I feel about myself,” Coddington adds. “It may be a dichotomy between the actual person that I am and the person that I see in the mirror as my flaws are sometimes all I see. As I try to disassociate from the me that I hate, I also struggle with the reality that we are one and the same.” 

In regards to the release of his first full body of music, Coddington remains thrilled for his future, the development of Letdown., and continuing to connect with those who have found solace in his powerful online community. “Getting to put out something like an EP seems so classic to me, which makes me really excited about it.” he says. “I’m honestly just excited that people won’t have to select another song after each one and can just ride the wave. I think we've really curated it in a way that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster — in the best way possible.”

The Requiem Share "Kill The Lights"

DEBUT ALBUM A CURE TO POISON THE WORLD ARRIVES FEBRUARY 16 VIA FEARLESS RECORDS
 

South Florida alt rock band THE REQUIEM — Damien [vocals], Felipe [lead guitar], and Salem [bass] — will release their debut album A Cure to Poison the World on February 16 via Fearless Records. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the lyric video for "Kill The Lights."

Watch it below.

Here, they show off their alt-rock chops and capture the essence of post-hardcore tension and release. Push and pull riffing and emotive vocals carry the track forward. It's a deceptively simple song that packs a lot of palpable emotion into just a few minutes. 


"'Kill The Lights' is about the feeling of resentment and disgust some of us get at a young age towards our environment, people, and difficult situations we've been inadvertently brought up on," the band says.

Regarding the album as a whole, the band sees it as a catalyst with which to directly connect with fans. "I want people to actually be able to relate to the music and identify," Damien says. "It's the same way I felt my favorite artists spoke for me." Felipe shares the sentiment, saying, "Our goal is to be our most pure form These songs thematically reference growing up, the struggles of becoming an adult, and lessons we've learned."

ABOUT THE REQUIEM:
No matter how sunny it may be in Broward County, a different energy exists beneath the surface. Each generation it seeps out, either in the area's shock rock luminaries during the nineties or a bevy of post-Soundcloud rap stars in the twenty-tens. That brings us to The Requiem. The Broward County, FL trio—Damien [vocals], Felipe [lead guitar], and Salem [bass]—piece together elements of alternative, rock, emo, and even eighties into an uncompromising and undeniable vision of what music can be without boundaries. After piling up over 1 million streams independently and stirring up buzz, the group captivate on a series of 2023 singles and more to come.
 
"We want to represent our generation in the best way possible," exclaims Damien. "Rock music has lost the sloppiness and the vulgarity it used to have. When you're young, you need to embrace that attitude and danger. We want to bring all of that back to alternative music."
 
The band embarked on this mission back in 2020. Damien teamed up with Salem and Felipe. Together, they nodded to influences as diverse as The Used, AFI, Pierce The Veil, and Finch as well as Ozzy Osbourne, Mötley Crüe, and Genesis. They gained traction with the independent single "Corpse Party," reeling in 371K Spotify streams and counting.

LEON FREAR releases 'A Town Called Chapel', a mixed emotion ode to his hometown, ahead of debut album

"Frear has a voice which somewhat recalls Marty Willson-Piper of The Church fame and his side project Nocturum... This is something for fans of Nick Cave and related"~ Side-Line Magazine

"Track of the Day. The way he tells the story makes it seem like he and the listener are commiserating together... a song with a great story" ~ Chasing Destino

"With a unmistakeable voice deserving of becoming a regular fixture in the mind-memory of music lovers everywhere... catchy and contemplative, showcasing clever lyrics channeled through his smooth and deep timbre.  fabulous from start to end and is obviously confessional while also being an invested labor of love" ~ Rock n Roll Biz

"The combination of evocative lyrics and a dynamic musical backdrop creates an immersive experience, inviting listeners to delve into the complexities of love, longing, and self-discovery" ~ Skylight Webzine

Indie musician and songwriter Leon Frear presents 'A Town Called Chapel', the second offering from his debut album 'Wild Rice', which introduces the listener to a man still affected years later by the frisson and fallout of a clandestine love affair.

A seasoned musician, this album represents a new start for him under this moniker. Now based in Chicago, Frear describes this single as “a poison pen love letter to an historically musical time and place, to big blown-up plans and irreplaceable, lost relationships. No matter what else I say, It's a letter I sign with love.”

“The song ‘A Town Called Chapel,’ is the opening track on my album because it paints the landscape and provides background on the insular, dissolute college town / former-small-town music mecca that this whole experience sprang from," says Leon Frear.

"It's a song about knowing that you need to leave a situation that is grimy, bad for you and a little hedonistic. But you're so used to it - the feeling is so warm and comfy that you just can't bear to leave. I might sound hypercritical of the place and maybe that makes me a hypocrite. But I’m also from there and a fair target for these less flattering descriptions myself. Love, lust, and naïveté. All that stuff. It's part of me. It's my home."

This follows the artist's debut single 'Secret Second Moon' with its fantastic animated video, created by French artist Ronald Grandpey. It's a powerful introduction to a collection of songs that reflects a dramatic period in which Frear experienced a life-altering love affair, its implosion and aftermath, followed by a decade of reflection and changes.

Informed by his own personal experience, Frear's music speaks of love, lust, broken promises, broken phones, and multiple incinerated bridges. This 10-track collection was produced by Frear in his home studio in Chicago, playing every instrument and capturing every breath to tape during a recording process that took years in isolation to complete.

About the forthcoming album, Leon Frear says, "'Wild Rice' is the story of those times, but told in reflection. The songs came from a place of true grief, regret and a little bit of anger. But through all of those things, I gained wisdom and became a better person. And while the details may be different, I think every human on this planet shares in the experience of feelings of grief. Ultimately, I think it is an album about empathy."

"Sonically, I was inspired to make Wild Rice while listening to old Leonard Cohen albums, Harvest by Neil Young, Stories from the City by PJ Harvey and lots of old ballads by Nick Cave. Those albums and artists sound weary and world worn and I did my best to capture a similar feeling."

Laced with hints of sadness and regret, anger and remorse, somehow the lyrics are tempered with a sardonic wit that leaves the listener wondering if Frear doesn’t secretly savor feeling bad, just for laughs. If there’s an opportunity to mock an uncaring universe, this is an opportunity Frear doesn’t let go to waste.  

Dubbing his brand of post-alternative music “vocabulary rock”, Frear aims to shift the emphasis away from the man and towards the music and lyrics, while inviting the listener to commiserate together through this exploration of grief, depression and sadness.

As of January 4, 'A Town Called Chapel' is available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.  The 'Wild Rice' album will be released (on vinyl and digitally) on March 1.

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by Leon Frear
Recorded by Leon Frear in his Chicago home studio
Mastering by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Studios
Vocals and instruments performed by Leon, except
Faye Whitt - backup vocals on 'Murder of Crows'
Front cover collage by Faye Whitt
Ronald Grandpey - Director / animator for  'Secret Second Moon' video
Artist photos by Jeremy Glickstein

Keep up with Leon Frear
Bandcamp | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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VITRIOL Reveals Play-Through Video for Furious New Song, "Shame and Its Afterbirth"

PRE-ORDER

Death metal battalion VITRIOL is now unleashing its third new single, "Shame and Its Afterbirth," along with a dual guitar and bass play-through clip! The track is taken from the band's upcoming sophomore full-length, 'Suffer & Become,' which is due on January 26, 2024 via Century Media Records! The furious new song and video can be found below.

VITRIOL guitarist and vocalist Kyle Rasmussen comments, "'Shame' begins the story of 'Suffer & Become' with a celebration of our nature. It speaks to how modernity estranges one from the voiceless voice within them, and on the consequences of ignoring the call of their instincts. It also happens to be my favorite song (musically) that I've ever written. I set out to carve deep valleys and build tall mountains when writing this album, and I believe this song to be the best example of that achievement."

Pre-orders are now live for 'Suffer & Become' HERE. The album will be available digitally as well as in Standard CD Jewelcase, Ltd. Deep Blood Red LP (All ex-US Retail), Orange Crush LP (All US Retail), and Red / Yellow / Black Transp. Splatter LP (Band Exclusive).

For Portland, Oregon's VITRIOL, nothing comes easy. Nothing. The title of their second Century Media album, 'Suffer & Become,' says it all. "The title really sums it up," says guitarist and vocalist Kyle Rasmussen. "I pushed things to a point while making this album where it almost became untenable. Things that were supposed to be done in weeks took months. It wasn't easy, but I think it was suffering well spent."

At the core of 'Suffer & Become' lies a profound sense of extremity and unease. This very essence defines Vitriol as the vanguard in death metal's evolutionary path—a sonic landscape characterized by its profound darkness, density, and the infusion of nanotechnological precision interwoven with intense, seething emotions. Not easy listening in the slightest. Since forming in 2013, Rasmussen and longtime co-conspirator, bassist, and co-vocalist Adam Roethlisberger have worked with a single-minded vision: to push the genre to its breaking point and invent a new uncompromising paradigm in the process. VITRIOL is a masterclass in pain – and that's just their jumping-off point.

Recounting VITRIOL's initial journey into the outer fringes of extremity, Rasmussen is characteristically thoughtful. "I was starving for something that didn't pull any punches," says Kyle of VITRIOL's caustic mission statement, which detonated into the realm of extreme metal with 2013's 'Antichrist' demo. "Death metal was important to me because it speaks to an aggression, a frustration that I had when I was younger. It wasn't just a sonic connection but an emotional connection, which made music almost a means to an end. What I saw happening in extreme metal at the time was almost a removal of emotion in favor of musicality, that fire, that piss and vinegar spirit. Basically, I wanted something that wanted me dead."

With 2017's 'Pain Will Define Their Death' EP, VITRIOL took its spot as one of the underground's most uncompromising exponents, leading them to join forces with Century Media. The resultant album, 2019's "To Bathe from the Throat of Cowardice," was nothing short of a crucial next step for the band and the genre itself. Decibel Magazine said, "Vitriol leave no doubt they are one of the best the genre has to offer, with shades of Nile, Hate Eternal, and Anaal Nathrakh frequently peeking through." Hitting the road that year, at first in Europe with Nile and then in the US with Cattle Decapitation and Atheist, and then Vader before the onset of Covid, VITRIOL was quick to establish themselves as much of an uncompromising force onstage as they are on record.

"Doing 'Black Seeds of Vengeance' alongside Karl Sanders [of Nile] onstage in Europe on our very first tour was nothing short of a 'pinch me' moment," Kyle recounts from VITRIOL's early touring days. "More recently, we were touring with Morbid Angel, and Steve Tucker, who is my favorite Morbid Angel vocalist, came out of his dressing room in a VITRIOL t-shirt and exclaimed that we were one of his favorite new bands! That blew my mind as a fan, first and foremost – a total 'Holy Fuck!' moment." 

'Suffer & Become' is nothing short of a benchmark for VITRIOL (rounded out by guitarist Daniel Martinez and Matt Kilner). It's as dense and blackened as anything to erupt from Rasmussen's vision of sonic disorder. From the onset of the opening track, "Shame and Its Afterbirth," there's a new sense of openness, grandeur, and occasional beauty in VITRIOL's aural arsenal. "I wanted to have an album that had a stark duality to it," says Kyle. "Very high highs and very low lows. We're very familiar with the lows but not so much with the triumphant highs. I wanted the album to have more of a sense of optimism to it, both lyrically and musically. I wanted the album to convey a sense of optimism that probably gets lost in the black maelstrom that is the first album." 

Produced by Rasmussen and mixed by Dave Otero (Archspire, Cattle Decapitation), 'Suffer &

Become' isn't merely the sound of VITRIOL upping the ante in death metal's musical arms race; it is also the sound of salvation for its driving force. "Living in the world of that first album was very difficult for me," says Rasmussen. "It's not a nice place. It was very intentionally imbalanced in the same way a horror film is imbalanced. I wanted a healthier world for me to live in, and I believe I achieved that."

Not that the writing and recording of 'Suffer & Become' was anything short of soul-rending. Rasmussen labored over the creation of the album in the studio, on tour in hotel rooms, to the point of painstaking obsessiveness. Kyle is straightforward about the grueling record-making process and its personal impact. "The record feels a bit like a Jungian Dante's Inferno," he states. "Plumbing the circles of my personal, psychological, and spiritual hell and then purposely refocusing it so it's not the unhinged, dark catharsis of the first album. This record is a lot more vulnerable."

Songs like "Weaponized Loss" or "The Flowers of Sadism" are what Kyle describes as a "dark baptism" in comparison to the absolute darkness of "To Bathe…". The sound of VITRIOL remains as joyless and dark as ever, but with a glimmer of hope. VITRIOL has taken its trauma-put-to-sound approach to the next level and discovered a new sense of beauty in the blackness. 'Suffer & Become' is death metal with a bloody, beating heart.

Line-Up:

Kyle Rasmussen - Guitars and Vocals

Adam Roethlisberger - Bass and Vocals

Matt Kilner - Drums

Daniel Martinez - Guitars

Producer // Mixing // Mastering:

Dave Otero

Album artwork:

Dylan Humphries

Photo Credit:

Peter Beste

Bio:

Mike Gitter

Physical Formats:

Standard CD Jewelcase

Ltd. Deep Blood Red LP (All ex-US Retail)

Orange Crush LP (All US Retail)

Red / Yellow / Black Transp. Splatter LP (Band Exclusive) 

Photo by Peter Beste

KILL THE THRILL Release Harrowing Video for New Single

KILL THE THRILL are blessed with an elusive vision. Over the past 30 years, the French duo have been dreaming up an abrasive-but-hypnotic blend of industrial rock, post-punk and dark wave. The videos for the first two singles off their upcoming fifth album, Autophagie, immersed audiences in a cinematic fever dream that would give David Lynch nightmares.


Today, Kill The Thrill are releasing another hypnotic video for their roaring, electro-charged new single.

Watch the video for "A la dérive" below.

The video was masterfully crafted by Guillaume Mariotti at Mystère Public.

We open on a train, suspended against a mottled sky. As the song rumbles to life, a series of seemingly disconnected footage fills the screen, overlapping like the inkblotter of a Rorschach test: a flaming wheelbarrow, storms at sea, refugees wandering through the desert, a mirage that slowly fades into ash.    

In English, "A la dérive" loosely translates to a vague sense of wandering, of not knowing where to go after being severed from one's roots.

"They come back from afar / With nothing", sings Chris Dick. His voice is raw with bitterness, straining each note to a breaking point. "Floating body and soul".

But "A la dérive" is carried by a wave of crushing momentum. The drums pound out a relentlessly off-kilter beat, tumbling end over end like a tireless machine. Beneath a soar of strings, the sawing riffs give off more shock than an entire electric grid. Even the interlude of lap-steel guitar leaves behind the same shimmer as a fallen star.

Here's what Dick and bassist Marylin Tognolli have to say about their new single:

"With A La Dérive, Kill The Thrill plunges into the inhumanity of survival and uprooting. The narrative force of the track sticks to our retinas with a sense of urgency."


Autophagiecomes out January 26, 2024 on Season of Mist.

Pre-order:https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/kill-the-thrill-autophagie
Pre-save:https://orcd.co/kttautophagiepresave

Photo by Pierre Gondard

KILL THE THRILL was formed in 1989 and is composed of Nicolas Dick on vocals, guitar and lap-steel, Marylin Tognolli on bass for its founding members. Stemming from the French noisy wave of the early 90's, their music is often described as dark, abrasive and hypnotic, full of epic moments, with a dense and rich sound mixing elements of industrial rock, post-punk, dark new wave and experimental metal.

Forging an atmosphere as dreamy as chaotic, with multiple layers and atmospheres, sometimes ambient, sometimes more hostile. Kill the Thrill interlaces orchestrated soundscapes, enriched with innumerable layers and arrangements, playing amongst the rifts to create a unique and personal work, so far from everything and so close to everyone.

The group released its first album in 1993 entitled DIG, followed by an EP: PIT (on the labels Noise Product CH and Semetary), and at that time had three musicians, already working with samples and playing with blocks of sound.

In 1996, the trio became a duo with a second album entitled LOW (Noise Product CH), recorded, mixed and produced by Nicolas Dick. The artist ErikM intervened on the interludes with sound tracks which frame each title of the group. The album is hailed by the press as a perfect balance between melody and distortion.

Over the years, tracks have appeared on a large number of compilations: La Famille (Noise Product Belgium), Serial Killer Vol 1 (Roadrunner), Brutale Generation (Semetary / WMD), Ah Quelle Belle journée (Amanita records), A Wild State Of Noise And Disorder (Pandemonium), 5 Years Of Fury (Noise Product CH), Tribute To Godflesh (Nihilistic H. Rec.), Fear Drop 14 : "Coal Fire" The Cure masterpiece Pornography, Dark 80's (Atropine Records) etc.

Frederic De Benedetti joined the band on guitar and it's again as a trio that the album 203 BARRIERS was released by Season Of Mist in 2001, the album again entirely recorded and produced by Nicolas Dick. With this new opus Kill the Thrill’s music has evolved towards a daring, disturbing and more extreme sound. With international promotion and distribution, signing with the label Season Of Mist allowed an opportunity of further development for the band.

Kill the Thrill has shared stages all over Europe with other artists such as Godflesh, Killing Joke, Zeni Geva, Isis, Young Gods, Treponem Pal, Einstürzende Neubauten, La Muerte, Neurosis, Jesu, Jim Rose Circus, Grötus, Dillinger, Escape Plan, Dälek, etc.

The album TELLURIQUE released in 2005 (Season Of Mist, recorded and produced by Nicolas) combines a cold and clinical industrial/metal sound with a new wave sensibility, bathed in a heavily melancholic atmosphere, but leaning more in the direction of noisy, distorted shoegazing mists than the fires of metal. The album is described by the press as an organic journey in which you must immerse yourself to feel its harshness and beauty.

This exacerbated trio asserts itself as a true entity in symbiosis, with an unfiltered and no holds barred take on music and sound.

Anger has no origin, and when the events from which it arises, physical bodies and soundwaves, can no longer contain patience and intelligibility, the sounds become the violence.

But with Kill the Thrill, violence is always suggested more than frontally expressed, it remains hemmed in and contained.

In 2015 the band reissued its first under the title 1989 (Atypeek Records), a digital-only album intended as a nod to KILL THE THRILL’s origins.
During a few years of silence put to good use on the personal and musical projects of the members of the group, Kill the Thrill took the time to polish their new album, AUTOPHAGIE. 

With ‘Autophagie,’ KILL THE THRILL once again immerses the listener into a realm of abrasive hypnotic artistry. A cacophony of turbulent, noisy soundscapes meander throughout the album, with Nicolas's mesmerizing vocal lines hauntingly delivered at a frenzied pace. This turbulent journey is anchored by subtle yet resolute rhythmic percussion that serve as a guiding force, allowing the listener to traverse this tumultuous auditory landscape with a sense of purpose, even as the surrounding elements cascade over the senses.

The band has released a limited number of albums in its career so far, but is resistant to all erosion, the secret of its longevity residing in the timelessness of the music.

An atypical band whose music is enough to itself ; a discrete band for imposing music ; a group which reveals next to nothing but pursues its sonic quest, outside of common standards. A living ambiguity: cold and hot, the calm and the storm.

"A long flow of orgasmic lava, a wave of shimmering noises that carries away everything in its path. One immerses oneself entirely in its bewitching atmospheres. We leave for a long descent on a carpet of guitars, their richness is inside, under this heap of notes and noises, under this black and disturbing mass. It's up to you to understand what you can during a journey that is sublime".

To Kill the Shiver reaches for the ineffable.

Line-up
Nicolas Dick - Lead vocals, guitar, lap steel, sample
Marylin Tognolli - Bass Guitar
François Rossi - Drums

Recording Studio            
Le Puits Sonore

Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer
Nicolas Dick

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

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/kill-the-thrill-autophagie

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
2x12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Clear Transparent
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Green
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Clear Transparent w/ Black & White Splatter

Links:
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kill-the-thrill/73438869
Bandcamp: https://killthethrill.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/killthethrill/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/killthethrill_band/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KillThe_Thrill
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@KillTheThrill-band

Meteor Shower Welcomes Darkspace Reissues

> Quadrantids ACTIVE.
> Meteor shower visible from Earth.
> Triumvirate reach out to the inhabitants of Earth.
     > Wroth
     > Yhs
     > Zharaal

Tonight, some lucky earthlings will be able to see the Quadrantid meteor shower. Against a blackened sky, this shower can produce more than 100 meteors, if only for a brief moment. 

To commemorate this cosmic occurrence, Darkspace have reissued their entire catalogue through Season of Mist. Hear how the mysterious Swiss band have pioneered cosmic, ambient, black metal over the course of their six releases. 

Now available on CD and vinyl with new artwork
Dark Space -I
Dark Space I
Dark Space II
Dark Space III
Dark Space III I

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

The next Darkspace transmission, Dark Space -II, comes out February 16th, 2024.

Hear a sneak peek of "Dark -2.-2":

DARKSPACE was founded by Wroth, Zorgh and Zhaaral in 1999 in Berne (Switzerland).

In two decades, four albums and an EP were released: Dark Space -I to Dark Space III I. The band rarely appeared live.

In 2019 Zorgh quit while the band was awarded the Music Prize of the Canton of Berne for the creation of their soundscapes and their atmospheric performances.

In 2022 Yhs joined Wroth and Zhaaral to complete the three again.

Line-up
Wroth - Guitars, Vocals
Yhs - Guitars, Vocals
Zhaaral - Bass, Vocals

Pre-order Dark Space -II: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/DarkSpace-II
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/dark-2-2

Links:
Official Website: https://www.darkcyberspace.com/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/darkspace/329478213
Bandcamp: https://darkspace.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dark.space87/?fref=ts
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4sww0FgGlUX3NCrrJleszz

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digisleeve
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black

Metal Band WAR ANGEL Releases New Single "Armageddon" feat. Rob Dukes + Official Music Video

The Iranian metal band initially known as Demonic Ritual came into existence in 2013 when vocalist Mani Kewmars founded the group. After navigating numerous lineup changes and releasing two demo tapes, Nima Kewmars, the vocalist's younger brother, joined as the lead guitarist and primary songwriter.

The entry of the Mottaghi brothers—Farhad on rhythm guitar and Faramarz on drums—prompted a renaming of the band to WAR ANGEL.

In 2017, they marked their presence with the debut album Symphony of War.

Their second album, Tales of the Damned, released in 2020, showcased a shift in musical style and lyrical content compared to their debut work.

The album's lead single, "Tomb of the Pharaoh," caught the attention of notable artists like Gary Holt, leading to his support of the band by sharing the song's music video on social media. This was a monumental moment as the band had long idolized Exodus and Generation Kill since childhood. Subsequently, the band established contact with Rob Youells and Rob Dukes.

“Getting to know Mani and War Angel has reminded me what this music can mean to people. Having so much creative fire in their gut, its amazing what they have accomplished with such limited resources. It’s like those organisms that not only survive, but thrive in boiling temperatures near volcanic vents in the ocean. They formed their band in a most inhospitable environment, but in spite of that, these songs and this video have come into existence. It’s all very impressive and inspiring. The bridge between worlds having Dukes in the mix is crazy cool," says Rob Youells, drummer for Generation Kill.

In a heartwarming display of solidarity, War Angel collaborated with Rob Dukes on "Armageddon," both a song and a music video that embodies a powerful message: "We're Standing Side by Side, Brotherhood of Man!"

"'Armageddon' was a dream come true for me. As a child I grew up with heavy metal music because my father was a metalhead. We were always cast away and ridiculed for that in this country, but no matter what we endured. Bands like Iron maiden, Exodus, Slayer, Metallica and mercyful fate shaped who I am and, later on, Generation Kill in my teenage years had a great influence on me because I really liked Mr Dukes' albums with exodus in both lyrical and musical themes the most.
So, when I first talked with Rob Youells it was like a dream. leading to a conversation about Rob Dukes' alleged dislike for the Middle East. Youells dispelled the misconception, highlighting the Dukes' compassionate nature while expressing his aversion to politics and war crimes. In a beautiful gesture of peace, Mr Dukes agreed to do guest vocals on a War Angel song, and we immediately began writing the song and lyrics. The song is about the importance of mankind being united against the common problems like pollution, social media addiction, war, poverty and being controlled by the governments through the media. The song was recorded, and Mr Dukes delivered the vocals, which were on fire! Then we recorded the music video and Mr Dukes provided us with footages of himself singing. An indescribable feeling! Now the song is out, and we just want people to hear it, because we worked really hard for it, and it's our only dream and goal right now.
We made this song in the most harsh environment and in the most horrible time, with so many obstacles and difficulties that will bring everyone down, we endured and pushed through to make it happen. It's everything we are now. Everything we ever had. Everything we wanted to be," Says the band's vocalist Mani Kewmars.

Rob Dukes adds, “It was an honor to work with War Angel from Iran on the song 'Armageddon'. They are a great band playing metal in one of the most oppressive environments on Earth, yet they keep moving forward, regardless of the continual prospect of prison, or worse. They come from a dire situation and it’s inspiring. I only hope one day, somehow, I can join them onstage somewhere and play it live with them. They are what metal music stands for - giving the finger to the establishment of oppressors!”

War Angel's musical style encompasses various subgenres of metal, blending high-pitched epic vocals of heavy metal with the relentless riffs of thrash metal and the impactful breakdowns of metalcore.

Facing challenging circumstances in a country where metal is prohibited, and where authorities persecute metalheads, the band exhibited resilience. Despite the risks—including potential danger to their lives—stemming from a government with strict religious beliefs, the band persists in their passion for metal music, driven by their sole desire to be heard.

Operating with minimal to no budget, the band self-recorded and produced all their songs and music videos, showcasing their dedication amidst adversity.

For More Information Please Visit:

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YouTube

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VIPASSI Release Visualizer for New Single

VIPASSI have been carefully unlocking a mystery. The Australian quartet's new album, Lightless, explores all sorts of twisted phenomena, from the hooded ritual of "Phainesthai" to the distorted maze of "Labyrinthine Hex".   

Today, these instrumental seekers are turning their all-seeing eye toward the future on new single, "Morningstar".

Watch the chilling visualizer below.

Lightless comes out January 26.

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/vipassi-lightless

"Morningstar" gazes into an uncertain vision of the future. The song is blown open from the inside-out by a fretless low end that's warped and bottomless as a wormhole. 

"A terrifying glimpse of the world beyond, visions of the future and its potential". That's how drummer Dan Presland describes his band's new single.

The breakdown is heavy, with blast beats that whirl by like asteroids. But on "Morningstar", Vipassi reach somewhere beyond the celestial. The way the  dissonant riff floats through an eerie synthetic glint will have you seeing more than just stars.  

"'Morningstar' is the true beginning of the spark that propels us through the album's journey toward its haunting finale", the band says.

As a purely instrumental band, Vipassi are blessed with a telepathic chemistry. No wonder they spin epic stories without uttering a single word.

In Buddhist tradition, VIPASSI is the twenty-second of the twenty-eight Buddhas. Etymologically, the name has its roots in clear vision – a being of extreme contemplation. The band of the same name is a world-spnning instrumental extreme metal band from the lands of Australia, France and the UK.

With members of acts such as Ne Obliviscaris, Black Lava, Hadal Maw & Virvum, their work on the 2017 debut album ‘Sunyata’, which has a loose signification of Emptiness or Void, set the grounds for a technically impressive and fully instrumental exploration of sonic textures in what can best be described as – a divine experience reaching the depths of the human soul.

Originally made as a project between Daniel Presland (Drums) and Ben Boyle (Guitars) as far back as 2007 to explore new concepts and sounds not currently engaged by their projects at the time, the band has since then grown and expanded to an international connection of like-minded musicians and virtuosos with Arran McSporran (Fretless Bass) and Benjamin Baret (Guitars).


Further exploring their labyrinthine textures and layers of sounds, the band Vipassi is back with their sophomore album ‘Lightless’. The album shifts from the realm of the void towards a clash of light and dark – and sees the band expanding into even more technical and experimental realms, pushing the limits of their own ideas and abilities to heights unimagined when the band began all those years ago.

Lineup
Daniel Presland - Drums
Ben Boyle - Guitars & Synths
Arran McSporran - Fretless Bass
Benjamin Baret - Guitar Solos

Recording
Bushido Studios, Melbourne, Australia with additional recording in Gandia, Spain & Bordeaux, France.

Production
Sound Engineer - Troy Mccosker
Mixing & Mastering Engineer - Mark Lewis

Cover Art
Xenoyr - https://www.xenoyr.com/

Bio
Sébastien Gamez

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/vipassi-lightless

Available formats:
CD Digipak
Digital Download
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Black & White Splatters

Links
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vipassi/1082297817
Bandcamp: https://vipassi.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vipassiband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vipassiband/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7GWniL0LcVnR9Ptiaa5J1

Photo by Joe Ritson

Deathgrind Outfit CLOT Reveals New Music Video for Song "Autophagia"

Deathgrind outfit CLOT is now sharing a new vicious performance video for the song "Autophagia!" The track is taken from the band's recently released full-length, 'Grief Tethers,' which was a special co-release between Familiar Face Records and Terminus Hate City; Familiar Face Records is releasing cassettes alongside Terminus Hate City who is housing the rest of this release. The video can be found below.

'Grief Tethers' was released on July 21, 2023 and can be ordered HERE.

Grief tethers itself to those it visits like a ghostly anchor, choosing when to materialize on a whim, silently informing our days.

Clot's Grief Tethers is a special co-release between Familiar Face Records and Terminus Hate City: Familiar Face Records is releasing cassettes alongside Terminus Hate City who is housing the rest of this release.

Regarding Grief Tethers, Clot's Christian Perez writes, "The heavy malaise that accompanies grief’s cyclical nature is palpable, and I strived to capture and present it in a way that proves there is understanding and proves there is life after loss, even through the constant strife that life piles on."

Recording Lineup:

Yasin Knapp – Guitar, Bass Guitar, Misc

Christian Perez - Vocals & Lyrics

Cameron Austin - Drums

Daniel Weed - Guitars, Vocals

Live Lineup:

Yasin Knapp - Guitar

Christian Perez - Vocals

Cameron Austin - Drums

Daniel Weed - Guitars, Vocals

Stephen DeFoor – Bass, Vocals

Special Guests:

Jamie Eubanks (of Knoll) - Guest Vocals on “Autophagia”

George Geanuracos (of Yankee Roses) - Guest Vocals on “Blood Faucet”

Connor Ray (of Malevich, Ladybird, Of the Vine) - Baritone Electric Guitar, Vocals, Pump Organ

Stephen DeFoor - Electric Guitar

Avery Payne (of Living in Fear) - Bass Guitar

Zack Smith – Drums

Tanner Hill – Saxophone

Sebastian Marquez - Bass Clarinet

Mixing & Recording: Sobek Sound by Connor Ray

Mastering: Audiosiege by Brad Boatright

Cover Artist: Brittany Gabey (https://gabeaux.net/)

Album Formats:

100 Mystery Color Vinyl (limited items left!) via THC

CD + 100 tapes via Familiar Face Records with alt cover art

Digital

Links:

BANDCAMP

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

YOUTUBE

SCAREFIELD Unleashes "Ancient Evil" - A Thrash Metal Epic with a Lovecraftian Twist!

SCAREFIELD, the electrifying, horror infused force in the world of thrash metal, SIMONE MANULI and MARKUS KRISTOFFERSSON, is set to shake the foundations of the music scene with their latest single and accompanying animated music video, "Ancient Evil." This track is part of their highly anticipated EP, NIGHTMARE TALES, an H.P. Lovecraft inspired masterpiece that promises to plunge fans into a sonic realm of darkness and chaos.

“We’ve always been enthralled by the works of H.P. Lovecraft ever since first reading the story ‘The Call of Cthulhu’. It’s been a great pleasure as musicians to try and put the feelings of cosmic dread we’ve felt reading the stories to paper and into the music itself. When writing the song ‘Ancient Evil’ we wanted to make sure the dynamics of the song fit well with the lyrics and the progression of the story. Even the instruments provide feelings of doom and magnitude, from the chanting of the cultists in the chorus to the impending dread of the guitar solo. It could appear like an easy listening metal song but the structure is more complex than expected: different bpms and time signature, from classic 4:4 to 5:4 and 7:4, several vocal lines and electric guitar layers, very fast double kick drum parts. It will remind you of many metal band styles: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Blind Guardian. It’s what we were looking for and we hope you like it as we do.” – SCAREFIELD

"Ancient Evil" encapsulates the essence of SCAREFIELD's signature sound—ferocious, relentless, and unapologetically heavy. The track weaves a tale of cosmic horror inspired by the works of the legendary H.P. Lovecraft, plunging listeners into a world where ancient malevolence lurks in the shadows.

The accompanying animated music video for "Ancient Evil," created by ANDREA MANTELLI, is a visual feast, bringing the nightmarish narrative to life with stunning and eerie imagery. Fans can expect a journey through eldritch landscapes and encounter otherworldly creatures, perfectly synchronized with the band's sonic onslaught.

“Since the story of the track ‘Ancient Evil’ was so important and could obviously not be displayed through a live action video, we decided animation was the way to go. The illustrations picked for the animations are meant to provide the listener with a sense the magnitude of the story in the song as a world-shattering event of cosmic horror as the high priest of the great old ones awakens!”

“Imagine yourself around a campfire telling scary stories with your friends. Imagine the clear skies of a starlit night and warm glow of fading embers. Imagine the chill running down your spine as you hear a noise from the darkness behind you. This is NIGHTMARE TALES.”

In addition to the new single, NIGHTMARE TALES features four previously released singles, each meticulously remixed and remastered to deliver a fresh and intensified sonic experience. SCAREFIELD's dedication to pushing the boundaries of their music is evident in these reimagined tracks, promising both longtime fans and new listeners an immersive and powerful journey through the realms of thrash metal.

“This EP is the culmination of our previous quartet of singles paving the way for our upcoming album, *A QUIET COUNTRY*. The EP contains remixed and remastered versions of our first 3 singles as well as our metal cover of 'House of the Rising Sun,' and a brand new track called ‘Ancient Evil’ from our upcoming album, about the dreaded Cthulhu.”.

Four of the tracks off of NIGHTMARE TALES were written and recorded by MANULI / KRISTOFFERSSON, with drums recorded by JOE MARTINO, produced and mixed by MANULI, and mastered by RONNIE BJÖRNSTRÖM. The metal cover of "House of the Rising Sun" features RICH GRAY (bass) from ANNIHALATOR and HUGO RIBEIRO (drums) from MOONSPELL, readapted by MANULI / KRISTOFFERSSON, with vocals recorded by KRISTOFFERSSON and acoustic and electric guitars by MANULI. The album features Illustrations by NICK THE SCARECROW.

“During the road towards the release of our upcoming album, A QUIET COUNTRY, we wanted to provide a taste of what’s to come, enter our EP NIGHTMARE TALES! This EP contains within it 5 songs of varying style which we feel perfectly displays the range listeners can expect from us moving forward. It is like the publication of a short story to wet the appetite for the upcoming novel. If you like what you hear, you will love what comes next.”

Click to Purchase / Stream "Ancient Evil" Online

Click to Purchase / Stream 'NIGHTMARE TALES' Online

SCAREFIELD is a speed / thrash metal band inspired by the horror genre, in particular by the colourful and bombastic 80’s horror movies. The music consists of many familiar themes of both speed and thrash metal with additional influences from more modern forms of metal music, such as melodic death metal, as well as classic heavy metal. SIMONE MANULI, the founder of SCAREFIELD, reached out from the plains of northern Italy to the frigid north of the arctic circle in northern Sweden where he would come in to contact with vocalist MARKUS KRISTOFFERSSON. The music, produced by Simone, was co-written and co-composed by the two members, melding their unique styles and influences into an interesting new take on the classic metal styles incorporated.

Self-produced and -written, the music contains massive atmosphere, fast riffs, melodic strings and heavy drums. The vocals are a mix of clean melody and power as well as the harsher death metal style vocals of the modern day. The lyrics contain topics such as personal stories, interesting concepts and of course the aforementioned horror theme!

During 2023 the band released 4 single tracks leading to the upcoming album the following year. These singles included 3 original songs as well as a metal version of the traditional folk song "House of the Rising Sun" featuring RICH GRAY from ANNIHILATOR on bass and HUGO RIBEIRO from MOONSPELL on drums.

Brian ‘Head’ Welch Launches New Record Label; XOVR Records.

Brian 'Head' Welch, renowned for his work with Korn and Love and Death, and his longtime personal manager, David W. Williams, have today announced brand new record label venture - XOVR Records (pronounced Crossover Records). The new label launches with the announcement of the long-awaited tenth album from Spoken, XOVR’s inaugural signing featuring Welch’s Love and Death guitarist and bandmate, JR Bareis. Titled 'Reflection', the record is set to release on March 15th, 2024. A limited number of special pre-order bundles are available now HERE, featuring new merch, autographed collectibles and more. 

To help usher in this new era, Spoken have also released brand new single, album title-track “Reflection” - stream HERE and watch the official music video below. Speaking on the themes of the album and it’s title track, the band share

“Remembering our past should shape us, but never define us, especially if the past brings disappointment, heartache, or pain. Instead, we embrace the lessons learned, and move forward believing our future is alive” 

Speaking on the announcement of his new label venture and Spoken’s new release, Brian ‘Head’ Welch shares 

"It is a complete pleasure to work together with my long time friend and solo manager David Williams to start XOVR. I am equally excited to work on our first release with Spoken, featuring our brother JR from Love and Death. Led by our bro Matt Baird, Spoken has been one of the hardest working bands in rock 'n’ roll; they have an incredible reputation for grinding it out because they love what they do so much. I can't wait for everyone to hear Spoken's latest release, it is truly an epic album! Follow us to keep up to date about future projects we'll be releasing through XOVR, including the band Dose of Adolescence, coming in 2024!"

Reflection' marks a significant milestone for Spoken, coming seven years after their last album. With an intriguing blend of melody, aggression, thought-provoking lyrics, dynamic guitar riffs, and meticulously crafted drums, the album is poised to be a favourite among fans and a catalyst for garnering a new wave of followers. 'Reflection' is not just an album; it's an exploration of the journey of life, a testament to resilience and the power of moving forward with hope.

Spoken are

Matt Baird

J.R. Bareis

Dylan Levernoch 

Jared Wisner

WICKED ANNOUNCE US TOUR WITH BRITISH METAL GREATS RAVEN

Modern-day melodic/theatrical rockers Wicked will be joining forces with Raven (who were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement that also spawned Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, and Saxon)  for a string of dates in spring 2024. Although Wicked – which is comprised of singer/guitarist Chad Michael, guitarist Scotty V, bassist Danny, and drummer Gunnar – will not be part of all the dates (which also includes sets by Vicious Rumors and Lutharo), they are confirmed for nine performances, with more to be announced in January.
 
The group will be touring in support of their newest album, 'Sunburn,' which the band describes as "A deliberate e-brake in our music and state of the band. After years of doing 80 mph in a 30 with no hands on the wheel, we decided there was so much more to what we had to share musically. Produced by 10-time Grammy winner Ignacio Molino, released through The Orchard and accompanied by 5 singles / videos, the album bares an authentic reflection on the highs and lows of being in a relentlessly hard-working rock band with all the euphoria and pain along the way."
 
"We looked inside for inspiration and made an album for us and not anyone else. Don’t miss the blend of inspirations from Third Eye Blind to Thin Lizzy and everything in between, the personified characters from each single like the 'Gorgeous' robot girl, and the cinematic destination music videos. Before you know it, you’ll be 'living like a Sunburn!'”
 
The band's latest single/video is for the title track, which can be viewed below.

And next step for Wicked are the string of what will undoubtedly be kick ass live performances with Raven. 
 
"We are poised to drop our upcoming album 'Sunburn,' and there is no better way than supporting it by joining our friends in Raven for a North American Tour with our brand of high energy rock n' roll!" - Danny
 
“From growing up with Raven always around hanging with my family to being able to share multiple stages with them is an awesome achievement!” - Gunnar 
 
"We have played a few one off shows with Raven, and man, these guys are wild... I can only imagine what kinda trouble we will get into with a full-on tour!" - Scotty V
 
"You bet your ass we are ready to cut our teeth and hit the road with the boys in Raven! All hell's breaking loose over America and there is nothing more WICKED than the live show we have in store for you all!" - Chad Michael 

CONFIRMED DATES:
3.24 NEW ORLEANS, LA SOUTHPORT MUSIC HALL
3.29 AUSTIN, TX LOST WELL
3.30 SAN ANTONIO, TX FITZGERALD'S
4.02 LOS ANGELES, CA WHISKY A GO GO
4.03 SAN FRANCISCO, CA DNA LOUNGE
4.14 CHICAGO, IL REGGIE'S
4.20 TORONTO, ON HARD LUCK
4.25 SAYREVILLE, NJ STARLAND BALLROOM
5.04 POMPANO BEACH, FL PIPER'S PUB
 


FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
https://lnk.to/sunburnsingle
https://lnk.to/lostinthedark
https://linktr.ee/wickedrocknroll

Banks Arcade Announce New EP "Death 2" + Share NSFW "More Want" Video

Alongside the newly-released single and video, "More Want," the Melbourne band has also announced the upcoming release of a brand new EP, with DEATH 2 due out on Friday, February 2 via UNFD.

Following on from previous singles "Worship The Internet" and "Change," both also set to feature on DEATH 2, "More Want" is a corrosive neon eruption, with metalcore, industrial, and modern elements pummeling around an electronic, rave-ready bridge.

Watch the video below.

Speaking on their caustic new single, the band shares, "'More Want' was written in a time where we were dealing with a lot of darkness and felt like  losing a grip on sanity. The song was written in a frenzy and highlights chaotic self talk and someone who is on the edge of breaking. Every aspect of the song was made to highlight a volatile state of mind being aggressive and disconcerting."

Recently flexing their nuanced creative muscles, with the glossy darkness of "Change" and hip hop-soaked heaviness with "Worship The Internet," DEATH 2 doesn't simply build on the previously-established Banks Arcade trademark sound; rather, it catapults the band's heady blend of hard rock, electronic and metal into an entirely new sonic stratosphere, with six tracks lying in wait to dazzle in 2024.

"DEATH 2 expresses the darkest side of Banks Arcade," the band reveals of the forthcoming new EP. "It’s the heaviest this band will ever venture and it explores the most chaotic elements from the different genres we enjoy. With each song exploring death and disorder in a different way, it paints a visceral picture that is symbolic of change and the shedding of the bands previous self."

Banks Arcade bring passion and potent execution to their myriad of influences and creative ideas. Formed over a shared love of music with a razor-sharp avant-garde aesthetic, Banks Arcade have teetered on modernity, their gaze ever-fixed just beyond the horizon via their flourishing sonic wiles. From their 2018 debut EP Endnote to its 2020 follow up Fever Dreams, the group's head-turning singles like "Sick" and "Drown" have gone on to amass over a million individal streams, while their explosive single "Chosen" was chosen by Ubisoft as the official theme song of the Rainbow Six Siege Oceanic Nationals in 2022.

Releasing their full-length Future Lovers in 2022, an LP initially devised as a concept album that evolved into a vessel of personal self-discovery, Banks Arcade cemented their future-facing trademark style while also turning heads courtesy of their emphatic soundscapes, searing metal and hip-hop additions.