Scotty McCreery Releases Ode to Fatherhood with "Love Like This"

Triple Tigers recording artist Scotty McCreery is never one to shy away from getting personal in his music, whether mourning the loss of his grandfather with the triple-platinum blockbuster “Five More Minutes” or capturing the anticipation of proposing to your long-time love with platinum hit “This is It.” McCreery is getting personal again with the release of his latest track, “Love Like This.” Listen to “Love Like This” HEREand watch the lyric video Below. 
 
“Becoming a father is the greatest thing that’s happened to me,” shares McCreery. “Raising Avery as he grows and watching my wife Gabi be a rock star as his Mom has been the joy of my life these last 15 months. I knew I wanted to write a song about Avery. I even photographed the room number on the hospital door so I could put that into the lyrics.”
 
Written by McCreery, Frank Rogers and Aaron Eshuis and produced by Rogers, Derek Wells, and Eshuis, the ode to McCreery’s son Avery captures the boundless and indescribable love a new parent feels for their child.
 
     When I first laid eyes on you, that’s when I knew
     I’ve never known a love like this, I’ve never felt this way
     Girl, I think I might have thought I did
     But everything changed today
     ‘Cause I’m looking at you, looking at him
     And I don’t have a clue what this feeling is
     But watching you give our baby boy a kiss
     Now I know I’ve never known a love like this, no
 
“Love Like This” has already become an audience favorite on McCreery’s headlining Cab in a Solo Tour, which continues this Thursday in Brookings, SD with additional stops this weekend in Des Moines, IA and Omaha, NE. The upcoming dates follow three consecutive sold out stops in Troy, OH; Shipshewana, IN; and Durham, NC; and near capacity crowds in Atlanta, GA; and Chattanooga, TN. McCreery is joined by Anne Wilson as direct support as well as Greylan James and Noah Hicks on select dates. The tour, produced by Live Nation, will continue to trek across the U.S. through mid-March with stops in Boston, Philadelphia, Syracuse and more.  

Tickets for the Cab in a Solo Tour are on sale now at ScottyMcCreery.com.
 
Cab in a Solo Tour Dates:
2/8/2024          Brookings       SD                   Dacotah Bank Center +^
2/9/2024          Des Moines     IA                    Vibrant Music Hall+^
2/10/2024        Omaha             NE                   Steelhouse +^
2/22/2024        Independence  MO                  Cable Dahmer Arena +#
2/23/2024        Norman           OK                  Riverwind Casino
2/29/2024        Philadelphia    PA                   The Met +#
3/1/2024          Boston             MA                  MGM Music Hall at Fenway +#
3/2/2024          Syracuse          NY                  Landmark Theatre +#
3/14/2024        Johnstown       PA                   1st Summit Arena +#
3/15/2024        Wallingford    CT                   Toyota Oakdale Theatre +#
3/16/2024        Schenectady    NY                  Proctors Theatre +#
 
+ Anne Wilson
^Greylan James
#Noah Hicks

McCreery has launched a campaign with Tunespeak where fans can earn points to gain chances to win a variety of prizes. The ultimate prize winner will receive two tickets and airfare to this year’s ACM Awards in May. Other winners will receive merch packs, signed vinyl, and more. No purchase is necessary. Interested fans can enter the campaign and learn more information at http://tnspk.co/nqwrra.

McCreery recently released the official music video for his current radio single, “Cab in a Solo.” The video made its broadcast premiere on CMT, followed by an airing on the Paramount billboard in New York City’s Times Square before making its online debut on YouTube with McCreery joining for a special live chat with fans. Watch the video HERE.
 
Written by McCreery, Rogers and Brent Anderson and produced by Rogers, Derek Wells, and Aaron Eshuis, “Cab in a Solo” is his fastest moving single ever, garnering the most first-week adds at country radio (120) of his career and continuing to move quickly up the charts, currently in the Top 15 on Mediabase and Top 20 on Billboard. Stream “Cab in a Solo” HERE.
 
McCreery also recently released new song “Can’t Pass the Bar,” with MusicRow dubbing it a “TGIF romp,” while Taste of Country observes, “fiddle and guitar drive a country throwback that would have fit a Brooks & Dunn album 25 years ago,” and Country Now notes “McCreery turns up the honky-tonk vibes.”
 
Last year, McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, joining previously inducted artists like Eric Church, Charlie Daniels, Andy Griffith, Ronnie Milsap, Thelonious Monk, Nina Simone, James Taylor, Randy Travis and more. And in December, one of his country music heroes, Garth Brooks, invited him to join the Grand Ole Opry, an honor that McCreery has dreamed about since he was a kid. His Grand Ole Opry induction date will be announced soon.

About Scotty McCreery:
Scotty McCreery has been a household name for nearly half his life, ever since making history in 2011 as both the first country artist and the youngest male artist of any genre to debut his first studio album, the Platinum-certified Clear as Day, at No. 1 on the all-genre Billboard Top 200 Albums chart. The 30-year-old has sold more than 4 million albums and achieved 5 consecutive No.1 hits: the RIAA Platinum-certified “Damn Strait,” the RIAA Gold certified “You Time,” the RIAA Gold certified “In Between,” the RIAA Platinum certified “This is It,” and the RIAA Triple Platinum certified ‘Five More Minutes.” His current single “Cab in a Solo,” which McCreery wrote with Frank Rogers and Brent Anderson, is from a forthcoming album due out in 2024. The North Carolina native has earned one Triple Platinum, five Platinum and four Gold singles; one Platinum and two Gold albums; won the 10th season of “American Idol” in 2011 at age 17; was named the ACM New Artist of the Year in 2011; won the CMT Music Award for Breakthrough Video of the Year (“The Trouble with Girls”) in 2012; and BMI Awards for writing One of the Top 50 Country Songs of the Year five times (in 2015 for “See You Tonight,” in 2018 for “Five More Minutes,” in 2019 for “This is It,” in 2021 for “In Between,” and in 2022 for “You Time”). He was awarded Pandora Billionaire status in 2021 in recognition of his music achieving more than one billion streams on Pandora. His song “Five More Minutes” inspired two popular holiday movies which aired on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries Network: “Five More Minutes” in 2021 and “Five More Minutes: Moments Like These” in 2022. He released his first book Go Big or Go Home: The Journey Toward the Dream in 2016. His most recent album is Same Truck: The Deluxe Album. This fall McCreery was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and was most recently invited to become a member of the Grand Ole Opry by Garth Brooks. The singer/songwriter married his high school sweetheart Gabi in 2018, and the couple had their first son Avery in October 2022. For more information, visit ScottyMcCreery.com.

Chase Rice Celebrates Fans with "Oklahoma" Music Video; New Music in the Works

As he kicks off 2024 in the studio recording newly-crafted music, Diamond-certified singer/songwriter Chase Rice continues to celebrate 2023’s critically acclaimed album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell with today’s release of the official music video for fan-favorite track “Oklahoma” featuring Southall. Filmed across three dates during his recently-wrapped Way Down Yonder Tour, the video adds a visually stunning component to the standout song. Watch Below.
 
Billboard celebrates “Oklahoma” as the “album centerpiece…a potential signature song for an artist who’s somehow managed to totally change his handwriting a decade in,” while SPIN notes the “rambling seven-minute epic” epitomizes the “bracing and introspective set of songs” that comprise “a smart, funny and heartbreaking masterpiece with stylistic left turns” and PopCulture declares the “somber, haunting southern rock track” to be “one of the absolute best songs in Rice’s entire musical repertoire.”
 
“This song was inspired by a trip I took to Oklahoma where I ended up staying for about a week longer than I was supposed to, bird hunting and playing music,” reflects Rice. “When we recorded it with Read Southall – who is as Oklahoma as it gets – we just let everyone keep jamming out to finish the song. That created this really cool moment that fans have embraced at our shows, so we wanted to capture that live energy in this video and celebrate everyone who has come out to see us on the road.”
 
“It was an opportunity to shed light on the somewhat obscure reasons I hold my home state of Oklahoma so near and dear to my heart,” adds Southall. “At first thought of the collaboration, I will admit, I was a little nervous. I hardly ever write with other songwriters. However, after the recording process and hearing it all come together, I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of it.”
 
Rice once again collaborated on the video with director Kaiser Cunningham, who also directed the critically acclaimed feature for fellow standout album track “Bench Seat.” The emotionally-charged short film spotlighting addiction and mental health earned widespread recognition at film festivals both across the U.S. and internationally, with 31 selections and 16 awards at events including the Cannes World Film Festival, Oniros Film Festival, Benelux International Film Festival and more.
 
In addition to working on new music, Rice is also set to embark on his headlining Get Western Tour today, Feb. 8, with festival dates to follow this summer and new tour dates to be announced soon. For all of the latest information and to purchase tickets, visit ChaseRice.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter/X and TikTok @ChaseRiceMusic and on Instagram @ChaseRice.

About Chase Rice
With more than 2.6 million albums sold and over 2.7 billion total streams, plus a legion of passionate fans at his high-energy concerts across the globe, Chase Rice has established himself as a powerful force in Nashville and beyond. With the critically acclaimed album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell crafted in his rural Tennessee home-turned-studio available everywhere now, Rice’s sound continues to evolve to reflect the realities of his life; from emotional reckoning to an admiration of the Western way of life. The new music, including his latest single “Bad Day To Be A Cold Beer” plus standout tracks “Oklahoma” and “Bench Seat,” serves as a follow up to his three-part project, The Album, which featured his latest Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” and the Platinum-certified Top 10 hit “Lonely If You Are.” This is the same gravelly-voiced Chase Rice fans first fell in love with years ago – but better, freer; unbeholden and uninhibited. The new music builds upon the success of his sophomore album, Lambs & Lions, which featured the 3x Platinum, two-week chart topper “Eyes On You” – Rice’s first No. 1 as an artist and the most-streamed song of his career. Lambs & Lions followed Platinum-certified Ignite the Night, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the all-genre chart, producing a pair of Top 5 hits; Platinum-certified “Gonna Wanna Tonight” and Double Platinum “Ready Set Roll.” In addition to guesting on sold-out stadium shows with Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks, Rice consistently sells out venues on his own headlining tours, including the current Get Western Tour in support of his new music.

Credit: Evan DeStefano

TREVOR RABIN RELEASES DEMO VERSION OF 'FRAGILE' ON DIGITIAL SERVICES

Trevor Rabin, the South African guitarist, singer, multi-musician, writer and producer, released ‘Rio’, his first solo album of vocal material in 34 years, in October last year. The deluxe edition of the album included 3 bonus tracks, including a demo version of a track titled ‘Fragile’.

 

That track has now been officially released on digital services, and you can listen now below:
https://trevorrabin.lnk.to/FragileDemo-Single

 

Trevor had this to say about the track: “I’m particularly pleased with the space, in terms of production, and happy with the simplicity of the lyric. Life is harsh, fickle and Fragile. My intention regarding the guitar solo was for it to drip onto the “page” so to speak.”


‘Rio’ is available as a Ltd CD+Blu-ray Mediabook & Ltd Deluxe Gatefold Red 180g 2LP + Blu-ray (including 8-page LP-booklet and obi strip), both featuring bonus material, 5.1 surround sound & liner notes. Also available as Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g 2LP+LP-booklet (with etching on side D), and as Digital Album. The cover for the album was created by Trevor himself: “I dabble with digital art so I sent some images of mine to the label and was pleasantly surprised when they liked them.”
 

Order ‘Rio’ here: https://trevorrabin.lnk.to/Rio

Watch the previously released videos below:

Big Mistakes: https://youtu.be/KPzga7UJwy4
Push: https://youtu.be/udpVPB223O0
Oklahoma: https://youtu.be/NzN62Oouhyo

The Ltd CD+Blu-ray Mediabook & Ltd Deluxe Gatefold Red 180g 2LP + Blu-ray also features the following bonus tracks:
1. Spek & Polly
2. Fragile (Demo)
3. Georgia


Given that his previous vocal-led solo album, ‘Can’t Look Away’, was released in 1989 (2012’s ‘Jacaranda’ was all-instrumental), Rabin has kept us waiting for more than three decades for a follow-up. Trevor admits that there was pressure from all sides, including his own family, to have speeded up the process. However, the delay is excusable. Since leaving Yes following the ‘Talk’ album in 1994 and largely as a prequel to touring as part of ARW in 2016, the guitarist entered the time-consuming world of movie soundtracks. Not just any old movies, either. Trevor’s name appears as composer for such blockbusters as Con Air, Armageddon, Remember the Titans, Enemy Of The State, Deep Blue Sea, Glory Road, and Gone In 60 Seconds and both National Treasure movies, amongst many others. “Over the past ten years I was having ideas, concepts that I couldn’t implement due to my busy schedule,” he explains, adding: “To be honest, those years flew by in a flurry. I knew that this was the time, and once I found my momentum I worked on the album 24/7.” The process proved a labour of love and as with his first and second solo records, ‘Trevor Rabin’ and ‘Face To Face’ (from 1977 and ’79 respectively), Rabin handled just about all of the instruments himself.

Stylistically, ‘Rio’– is tough to categorize. Besides guitar-driven rock-meets-pop, ‘Goodbye’ is Country & Western with an edgy drive, while ‘Tumbleweed’ begins in a burst of harmonies. No wonder its working title was ‘The Demographic Nightmare’.

“I wanted to get into many different areas,” Rabin states. “Of course there are ‘prog things’, but overall there are a lot of styles going on.”

 


TREVOR RABIN Online:
www.instagram.com/trevorrabin.official
www.facebook.com/TrevorRabinMusic
https://twitter.com/trevorrabin

INSIDEOUTMUSIC Online:
www.insideoutmusic.com
www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic
www.twitter.com/insideouteu

Sleep Theory Share "Fallout — Reimagined" Lyric Video — WATCH

PAPER HEARTS EP OUT NOW VIA EPITAPH RECORDS

BAND TOURING WITH BEARTOOTH THROUGH FEBRUARY

WILL RETURN TO THE ROAD WITH WAGE WAR + NOTHING MORE IN APRIL + FOR MAJOR FESTIVALS

Breakout four-piece Sleep Theory — vocalist Cullen Moore, guitarist Daniel Pruitt, bassist Paolo Vergara, and drummer Ben Pruitt — were one of the biggest success stories of 2023. With monthly streams numbering at nearly 10 million per month, a Top 10 track at Active Rock, and a full slate of touring though early summer, the band continues to grow by leaps and bounds.

Today, they release the lyric video for "Fallout — Reimagined." It's a softer, contemplative, and cinematic take on the raw-edged original but it's just as powerful. Watch it below. 

"When we decided to reimagine this song, we wanted to peel back some of the musical layers and let the lyrics take center stage," the band explains. "Each one of us in the band has our own personal connection to this song, and by sharing this version, we hope to connect even more with you. Our goal is to create a space where everyone can relate to the emotions and stories embedded in our music. We're excited to share this new rendition and hear how it resonates with you all."

Watch the video for the original here.

The band's Paper Hearts EP is out now via the Epitaph Records. Get the EP, which has been streamed over 57 million times, here.

Sleep Theory are in the middle of a 40-date trek with Beartooth, The Plot In You, and Invent Animate in Winter 2024. The band will next hit the road with Wage War and Nothing More in the spring. All upcoming Sleep Theory tour dates are below, including festival appearances at Sonic Temple, Rock Fest, So What?!, Welcome to Rockville, and more. 

Since bursting onto the scene earlier this year, Sleep Theory have gone from strength to strength — and they show no signs of slowing down.

The Paper Hearts EP features two buzzy singles — "Numb" and "Gone or Staying" — and the songs have established Sleep Theory as one of the most exciting and talked about artists of 2023. The band was praised by Loudwire for its ability to "adapt 2000s arena rock and nu-metal for the future with their anthemic metal-tinged sound that would please any fan of Linkin Park and their ilk. At once enthralling, emotional and disarming, Sleep Theory's supercharged single 'Numb' is everything a radio rock fan could want. You'll be humming it for days after." 

 With further press coverage from American Songwriter, Billboard, Celebrity Access, and Punktastic and with forthcoming coverage at Men's Journal, Consequence, and Alt Press, they've enjoyed major nods from SiriusXM's Octane. They've toured with everyone from Shinedown to Set It Off, shared stages with I Prevail and Falling In Reverse, and have appeared at Louder Than Life, Rock Fest, ShipRockled, and Point Fest. They also count Jellyroll and Disturbed David Draiman as fans.

PHOTO CREDIT: Alex Bemis

SLEEP THEORY ON TOUR:
WITH BEARTOOTH, THE PLOT IN YOUR, + INVENT ANIMATE:
2/11 — Tampa, FL — Jannus
2/13 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall
2/14 — New Orleans, LA — House of Blues
2/15 — Houston, TX — White Oak Music Hall
2/17 — San Antonio, TX — Boeing Center at Tech Port
2/18 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
2/20 — Phoenix, AZ — Van Buren
2/21 — San Diego, CA — Soma
2/22 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
2/24 — Sacramento, CA — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
2/25 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom
2/27 — Seattle, WA — Showbox SoDo
2/28 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory
3/1 — Boise, ID — Knitting Factory
3/2 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
3/3 — Denver, CO — The Fillmore
3/5 — Fargo, ND — Sanctuary Events Center
3/6 — St. Paul, MN — Myth Live
3/8 — Chicago, IL — Riviera
3/9 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee
3/10 — Sauget, IL — Pop’s
3/12 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room at Old National Center
3/13 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works
3/14 — Fort Wayne, IN — The Clyde Theater

WITH WAGE WAR, NOTHING MORE, + VEIL OF MAYA:
4/16 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore
4/17 — Birmingham, AL — Avondale Brewery
4/18 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore
4/19 — Tampa, FL – Amalie Arena*
4/20 — Orlando, FL – Central Florida Fairgrounds*
4/22 — Grand Junction, CO — Las Colonias Park
4/24 — Riverside, CA — Riverside Auditorium
4/25 — San Diego, CA — Observatory Northpark**
4/28 — Albuquerque, NM — Revel
4/30 — Kansas City, MO — The Midland Theatre
5/1 — Des Moines, IA — Val Air Ballroom
5/3 — Green Bay, WI — EPIC Event Center
5/4 — East Moline, IL — The Rust Belt
5/5 — Omaha, NE — The Astro
5/7 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee
5/10 — Daytona, FL – Welcome To Rockville
5/12 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE**
5/14 — Norfolk, VA — The National
5/15 — Greensboro, NC — Piedmont Hall
5/17 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
5/18 — Maryland Heights, MO – Pointfest
5/19 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple
6/1 — Fort Worth, TX – So What!? Fest
7/18 — Cadott, WI – Rock Fest
7/20 — Grand Rapids, MI — Upheaval Fest
 *With Staind, Seether, Asking Alexandria, Dayseeker, Ayron Jones, Tim Montana
**Nothing More, Veil Of Maya + Sleep Theory only

ENSLAVED | release single + visualizer 'Forest Dweller' feat. Jo Quail'

The tree set ablaze at the end of my days
Awaiting my deserved death yell
Long forgotten, no one whispers my name
In the mountains and forests, I'll dwell

Norway's trailblazing cosmic voyagers, Enslaved, released their latest avant-garde creation Heimdal, one year ago. To celebrate the studio album's first year of existence, the band recently announced the Heimdal (Deluxe) digital album, due out on March 1st 2024.

Heimdal (Deluxe) will include the studio album in full, as well as alternative versions of two album tracks 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia', both with sublime performances from renowned cellist Jo Quail, bonus track 'Gangandi', plus the entirety of 'The Otherworldly Big Band Experience' - Enslaved's stunning 2022 streaming event featuring fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant.

Today, Enslaved have released the alternative version of their track 'Forest Dweller', featuring internationally acclaimed composer and virtuoso cellist Jo Quail, alongside a beautiful visualizer video created by Costin Chioreanu.

Guitarist Ivar Bjørnson commented,

"It is an absolute honour to have Jo Quail on these special versions of 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia'. We are all big fans of her unique work and style; I have personally had the pleasure of working with her for some time through By Norse Music (the label co-founded with Einar Selvik and our manager Simon Füllemann). When we had the chance to invite guest artists for the release show in Bergen of 'Heimdal' back in March 2023, Jo Quail was a given. She blew our (and the audience’s) collective minds with her powerful interpretation and performance on 'Forest Dweller' and 'Congelia' - to the degree that it simply could not be the end of the story. She has a take on her art that is one of a kind - impossible to categorise, haunting, emotive and atmospheric; we feel that this version of us joining forces underlines the artistic and musical kinship we feel being present between our two camps. So here we are; for the world to hear! Be sure to check out Jo’s releases while you are at it!!!"

Jo Quail added,

"I’ve long been a fan of Enslaved, and I have huge admiration for the way their masterful compositions broaden and deepen with each release. When the band invited me to collaborate I had to re-read the email several times! I was honoured and humbled by this invitation from a band so greatly revered by so many of us all over the world, and I was tremendously excited by the chance to explore our sonic worlds together. Enslaved are the same people on and off stage, which is not always a given, and it’s something that, in my opinion, translates in their music and performance - the connection with their audience in concert draws us in deeply and it’s nothing short of inspiring. It was an absolute honour to be invited by Enslaved to perform Forest Dweller and Congelia with them in March 2023. I approached these two quite diverse tracks with immense respect, as both were already fully developed and everything sat perfectly and exactly where it needed to be, so any contribution from me needed to underpin or enhance the existing story arc rather than divert from it. Enslaved are musically very generous; they were wholly supportive of my suggestions for cello parts, and the result was a collaboration that I shall treasure for all time. I’m thrilled that this now has life beyond that one very special concert, and I hope you enjoy the result!"

PRE-SAVE HEIMDAL (DELUXE): https://enslaved.bfan.link/heimdal-deluxe.ema
LISTEN TO TRACK 'FOREST DWELLER - FEAT. JO QUAIL': https://enslaved.bfan.link/forest-dweller-alt.ema
WATCH THE 'FOREST DWELLER - FEAT. JO QUAIL' VISUALIZER BELOW.

Enslaved's latest studio album Heimdal (released March 2023) is both a departure and a communion with roots forged over three decades ago in the turbulent birth throes of Norway’s black metal scene. It's a record that points towards new beginnings, and a dawn that’s on the other side of the apex of the land. A psychedelic journey through arcane Norse folklore, connecting with one's ancient ancestors and our future selves.

'The Otherworldly Big Band Experience' was an Enslaved show like none other, their biggest, boldest project to date - a colossal, kaleidoscopic stage show featuring a stellar setlist covering their career, both past and present. Including some tracks never previously performed live. 

Enslaved will be touring the UK and Europe in March 2024. The 16-date run will take the band across 10 different countries, with support coming from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer.

Tickets are on-sale now from https://enslaved.no/

Never faltering, Norway’s iconic Enslaved continue to exist as one of the most original and dependable components in our scene's indestructible backbone. Possessing the reputation as one of the most riveting live acts around, they never fail to offer us talent of the highest calibre, always doing justice to their signature black/progressive sound. Enslaved was formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, releasing their first demo Yggdrasill in the summer of 1992, their legendary mini-album Hordanes Land coming out in 1993, and with their debut full-length Vikingligr Veldi arriving in the spring of 1994.

Enslaved are a band in stellar form - a band at its most existentialist and self-conscious, proud Bergeners bearing the torch of their hometown’s extraordinary musical history. Their most recent material shows Enslaved at their most unleashed and thought-through - a lethal combination unfurling a potential that’s easily rekindling the furor of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, most haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong.

Enslaved are:
Ivar Bjørnson | guitars 
Grutle Kjellson | vocals
Arve 'Ice Dale' Isdal | guitar
Håkon Vinje | keyboards, clean vocals
Iver Sandøy | drums

Berlin's CIRCOLO VIZIOSO channel outrage at Russian invasion of Ukraine into 'Walls' single. Debut album out March 1

"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

"Hailstorm distortion... that great feel like it has its own time signature; speeding up and slowing down depending on their anger levels or the nervous urgency that bubbles to the surface. It sounds fresh and in the moment, in part due to it being written in a little over an hour" ~ Joyzine

"Cathartic, a taste of the actual sound of the grassroots music makers, a reminder of just how false the world we are offered through advertising, media, marketing, branding... A timely, sonic wake-up call" ~ Big Takeover Magazine


Kraut-inspired punk rock duo Circolo Vizioso presents their new single 'Walls', a song written in outrage over the Russian invasion in Ukraine. This is the second taste from their debut album 'Verrueckt' (out March 1), a potent chaser to the first single 'Choppy', a high-octane song spawned from a bout of depression brought on by a failed love story.

This album arrives four years after releasing 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.

About this new single, Tony Scafidi explains, "The Bluesy guitar line let the cat completely out of the bag I guess. I was listening to a tonne of Blues and amazing bluesmen like Cedell Devis, R.L. Burnside, Johnny Farmer, who I learned about from an old Fat Possum Records documentary, and my bandmate Paul had an amazing text he had written against the war in Ukraine and the filthy growth of the extreme right wing movements in Washington and shortly later in Berlin, attacking Capitol Hill and the Reichstag. Paul walked into the rehearsing room while I was having a massive solo blues jam, started singing to it and off we went on to finish 'Walls' an hour later."

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 by these artists 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."

'Walls' is available via Bandcamp (with other platforms to follow), while 'Choppy' is available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music, Spotify. The full 'Verrueckt' album, which will be released on March 1, is 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
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


Keep up with Circolo Vizioso
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | LinkedIn | Email

HIGHER POWER - sign to Nuclear Blast Records and release video for new single 'Absolute Bloom'

Nuclear Blast Records are proud to announce the signing of Leeds, UK based alternative rock band HIGHER POWER. The quintet were birthed from the effervescent UK hardcore scene, and through blending elements of shoegaze, grunge, punk, thrash and more have managed to establish themselves as a wholly unique prospect in the world of modern heavy music.

To commemorate their signing to the label, the band have released a brilliantly tongue-in-cheek video for their new single 'Absolute Bloom'. The track is a vibrant, hook-laden anthem that sees their penchant for 90's alternative music take the fore.

On 'Absolute Bloom', vocalist Jimmy Wizard comments "I’m super excited to release this song. It’s really personal to me in this transitional period of my life, about wanting a deeper more meaningful connection to the real world and not quite being equipped to do so, but finding hope and figuring it out. The music reflects that with a song that's so big and upbeat.”

Watch the new video for 'Absolute Bloom' below.

Stream 'Absolute Bloom' on all platforms now at: https://higherpower.bfan.link/absolute-bloom

Photo Credit: Nat Wood

HIGHER POWER are currently on tour across the US supporting Neck Deep. Catch the band live at one of the remaining dates for your first opportunity to hear 'Absolute Bloom' live. The band also have appearances planned at both Northern Unfest and Outbreak Festival this year.

8th Feb - Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom
9th Feb - Kansas City, MO - The Truman
10th Feb - Minneapolis, MN - Skyway Theatre
13th Feb - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
14th Feb - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater & Ballroom
16th Feb - Boston, MA - Roadrunner
17th Feb - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall
18th Feb - Brooklyn, NY - Brooklyn Steel
20th Feb - Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live
21st Feb - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
23rd Feb - Cincinnati, OH - Megacorp Pavilion
24th Feb - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
25th Feb - Chicago, IL - The Salt Shed
27th Apr - Glasgow, UK - Northern Unfest
28th Jun-30th Jun - Manchester, UK - Outbreak Festival

Remaining tickets for all dates can be found at: higherpowerleeds.com

Benighted Crawl Under Your Skin on New Album

BENIGHTED weave a writhing tale of psychological horror on their new album, which was recorded at Kohlekeller Studio. Famous for working with bands like Aborted and Powerwolf, producer Kristian Kohlmannslehner helped Benighted twist their brutal brand of death metal into something truly tormenting.  

Ekbom refers to delusional parasitosis, a real-life phenomenon that makes people believe their skin is infested with bugs. Just try not to shiver while watching the  creepy-crawly music video for lead single "Scars".  

Watch Below:

Ekbom comes out April 12, 2024.

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/BenightedEkbom
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/benightedekbompresave   

"Scars" will make the hairs on the back of your neck jump. The song blasts straight into Julien Truchan's signature pig squeal. The riffs are as fast as they are nimble, but Benighted compliment their grinding technicality with clever drum breaks and harmonic passages. Creepy, gruesome and still absolutely brutal, the French band are back to crack open the deepest, darkest recesses of our skulls. 

Video created by Kick Your Eye Productions.

Benighted are hitting the road in April for the Hellfest Warm-up Tour. Along with their signature style of brutal death metal, the French band are bringing along the support of Ten56 for these 13 lucky shows. Rise of the North Star, Stinky & KAMIZOL K will also join them on select dates.

Dive into the darkest realms of the human psyche as Benighted, the French purveyors of brutal death metal & grindcore, unleash their tenth full-length album Ekbom in April 2024. The madness that has defined their discography continues with this radical soundtrack to the twisted times we inhabit.

Born from French Death and Black metal bands Dishumanized, Darkness Fire, and Osgiliath, Benighted emerged in 1998 with a mission to explore a more brutal, heavy, and modern form of musical expression. The impact of their first self-produced and self-titled full-length album in 2000 transformed BENIGHTED from a side-project into a main act, quickly amassing a devoted fan base. Subsequent albums like Psychose (2002), Insane Cephalic Production (2004), Identisick (2006), and Icon (2007) further cemented their visceral, skull-breaking sound into extreme death metal history.

After a detour into the realms of Necrobreed in 2017, Benighted celebrated their 20th anniversary by capturing the live madness with Dogs Always Bite Harder Than Their Master in 2018.

With Obscene Repressed, they once again took sadistic pleasure in pushing the boundaries of brutality, delving into the disturbed mind of little Michael. His relentless battle against demons, fueled by unresolved oedipal issues with his mother, provided a grotesque tableau for Benighted's sonic butchery. Not content with merely slaughtering everything in their auditory path, Benighted crafted thematically explorative pieces, each turn in their music revealing new layers of horror and despair.

As the relentless journey continues, Benighted is set to unleash Ekbom in April 2024, an album that draws inspiration from the nightmarish 'Ekbom syndrome.' This rare neurological disorder, also known as Delusional Parasitosis, forms the thematic core of the upcoming release. A feeling of having a vile concoction of parasites, worms, and insects crawling under your skin is an apt description of what BENIGHTED have to offer on this newest release. The auditory assault mirrors the repulsive sensations of the syndrome, a visceral and unsettling journey into the abyss of the human mind.

Madness reigns yet again, this time intertwining with the haunting echoes of Ekbom syndrome. Brace yourselves for another mind-shattering chapter in the Benighted saga as they continue to carve their niche in the putrid annals of extreme metal, leaving a trail of sonic disgust in their wake.

Line-up
Julien Truchan - Vocals
Emmanuel Dalle - Guitars
Pierre Arnoux - Bass
Kevin Paradis - Drums

Recording studio
Kohlekeller Studios, Germany (Powerwolf, Aborted, Crematory)

Producer, Sound, Mixing & Mastering engineer
Kristian Kohlmannslehner

Guest musicians
Oliver Peters (Archspire) on "Nothing Left to Fear"
Xavier Chevalier (Blockheads) on "Fame of the Grotesque"

Biography: Sébastien Gamez

Cover art: Grindesign (Rob Borbas)

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

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

Links:
Official Website: https://www.benighted.fr/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brutalbenighted
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benighted_band/
Bandcamp: https://benighted.bandcamp.com/music
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/brutalbenighted
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benighted_band
Twitter: https://twitter.com/@_BENIGHTED
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0dUwIwaPc6UukkCZTaaf7J
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/benighted/267088245
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3919180 

Booking Contact:
France: Rage Tour - philippe@ragetour.com
Worldwide: Redback Promotion - ronny@redback-promotion.com

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Transparent Yellow & Black Marbled
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Golden
12" Liquid Vinyl Gatefold - Blood Red Liquid-Filled

Poolside At The Flamingo Announce New EP 'Accabadora'; Drop Title Track With Music Video

The world of extreme metal is about to be shaken to its core as Poolside At The Flamingoannounces their new EP 'Accabadora', set for release on May 22nd, 2024 via Blood Blast Distribution. Accompanying the announcement is the release of the EP's title track, complete with a strikingly irreverent music video with some very special cameo appearances from the band members' kids. Listen to the title track HERE and watch the official music video below.

The title track, "Accabadora" is a gloriously brutal slab of grindcore meets deathcore with a hint of death metal and thematically pays homage to Sardinian folklore figure, the Accabadora, also known as The Lady of Good Death, who would visit the homes of the elderly and infirm to put an end their suffering. Shedding light on the depth and intensity of the song, the Poolside At The Flamingo share

"This is the title song of the EP for a reason. It starts out fast and unpredictable but leads smoothly to pit-opening breakdowns. A hint of melody can MAYBE even be noticed in the final closing. This song is about the fabled 'Accabadora' who will come to end the life of those suffering in pain,"

The new EP stands as a bold statement from Poolside At The Flamingo, showcasing their growth as musicians and their commitment to pushing the boundaries of extreme music. With palpable pride in their upcoming work, the band continues

"The Accabadora EP is the first release that we're truly proud of and feel embodies the sound that we're looking to achieve. The songs on this EP were written with more care and attention than any other album/ep we've released. To us, it's the perfect blend of erratic grindcore and soul-crushing breakdowns."

Stay tuned for more from Poolside At The Flamingo soon and get ready for sheer, unbridled brutality on May 22nd when they release the 'Accabadora' EP.

About Poolside At The Flamingo

Poolside at the Flamingo is a 4 piece deathcore/grindcore band based in Colorado, USA. 
Formed in 2005, Poolside At The Flamingo toured extensively in the "Myspace" days playing with the likes of Through The Eyes of the Dead, The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza, See You Next Tuesday and MANY more. 

Their debut album "This Will End Badly..." (2006) was recorded live in a residential basement. Their next official album, "The Sound Below" (2017), was produced by Dave Otero at Flatline Audio and more recently they released "Self Titled" (2023).

Poolside At The Flamingo Are:

Scotty Bohnen: Vocals

Danny Bohnen: Guitar

Rudy Garcia: Drums

David French: Bass

STEVE HACKETT LAUNCHES 'CIRCO INFERNO'; THIRD SINGLE FROM NEW ALBUM 'THE CIRCUS AND THE NIGHTWHALE'

Legendary rock guitarist Steve Hackett is set to release his new studio album ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ on Friday, February 16th, 2024, via InsideOut Music. A rite-of-passage concept album with a young character called Travla at the centre of it, ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’s’ 13 tracks have an autobiographical angle for the musician who says about his 30th solo release: “I love this album. It says the things I’ve been wanting to say for a very long time.”

With just a week and a half to go till the albums release, Steve has launched the track ‘Circo Inferno’, and you can now listen to it below.

Steve said of the track: “Circo Inferno is the most frenzied point in this album’s narrative… A plea for rescue within the maelstrom of a Dantesque circus, involving swirling Phrygian runs, insistent sax, full on vocals and blistering guitar…”

The albums opening track ‘People of the Smoke’ was released in December. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_iujNWzPL0
Watch the video for ‘Wherever You Are’ HERE: https://youtu.be/6LwYc8_orY8

The new album is available to pre-order on several different formats, including a Limited CD+Blu-ray mediabook (including 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit high resolution stereo mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP & as Digital Album. All feature the stunning cover painting by Denise Marsh.
Pre-order now here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/TheCircusAndTheNightwhale

‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ is Steve’s first new music in over two years. Recorded between tours in 2022 and 2023 at Siren studio in the UK – with guest parts beamed in from Sweden, Austria, the US, Azerbaijan and Denmark, the line-up for ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ includes some familiar faces alongside Steve on electric and acoustic guitars, 12-string, mandolin, harmonica, percussion, bass and vocals. Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Craig Blundell (drums) and Amanda Lehmann on vocals. Nick D’Virgilio and Hugo Degenhardt return as guests on the drumstool, engineer extraordinaire Benedict Fenner appears on keyboards and Malik Mansurov is back with the tar. Finally, Steve’s brother John Hackett is present once more on flute.

Summing up ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’, Steve says: “It’s a lovely journey that starts dirty, scratchy and smoky and becomes heavenly and divine. How can you resist it?”

Steve Hackett & band will tour the world extensively in 2024, including a brand new UK tour ‘Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo’, which will see him return to the legendary Royal Albert Hall. He will also return to North America early this year, with European shows booked in for the Summer. For the full list of dates, head to: http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html
 

STEVE HACKETT Online:
www.hackettsongs.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Hackett/123101228589
www.twitter.com/HackettOfficial
http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html

INSIDEOUTMUSIC Online:
www.insideoutmusic.com
www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
 www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic
www.twitter.com/insideouteu

NITE Announce Shows Around Hell's Heroes

NITE are carrying the torch for Bay Area metal to Houston, Texas for Hell’s Heroes this March. The blackened San Franciscan four-piece are known for galloping riffs and an undeniably heavy rhythmic chug, but along the way, they’re making several pit stops at some familiar haunts.

Pump your fist to the melodic thrashing of “The Trident”, along with other choice cuts from Voices of the Kronian Moon and their recently reissued debut Darkness Silence Mirror Flame. Fans on this tour will also get a first taste of NITE's forthcoming third album, as the band will be road testing some brand new material.  

Don't miss select shows with ice metal masters Persekutor and the trad metal warriors of Intranced. The lineup is especially stacked on March 29 in Palmdale, California, where NITE will also be joined by Fresno heavies Haunt and New York's Tanith, which features members of Satan.  

Get tickets: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/nite-tix

Stream: https://open.spotify.com/album/6A51bOclEcCXsNWNGh9nTj
Order : https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/nite-merch

2024 March to Hell Tour
March 16 - Los Angeles, CA @ 1st Street Pool Hall w/ Persekutor, Intranced, Acero Letal. [TICKETS]
March 17 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Dive w/ Persekutor, Intranced. [TICKETS]
March 18 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon [TICKETS]
March 19 - Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive [TICKETS]
March 20 - Tulsa, OK @ The Whittier Bar [TICKETS]
March 21-23 - Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Hell’s Heroes VI w/  Queensryche, Solitude Aeturnus, Cirith Ungol) [TICKETS]
March 24 - Austin, TX @ The Lost Well [TICKETS]
March 25 - El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill [TICKETS]
March 26 - Albuquerque, NM @  Long Hair Records [TICKETS]
March 27 - Tempe, AZ @ Yucca Tap Room (FREE SHOW)
March 28 - Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer w/ Persekutor, Intranced [TICKETS]
March 29 - Palmdale, CA @ Transplants Brewing Co. w/ Haunt, Tanith, Persekutor, Intranced [TICKETS]

The San Francisco Bay Area has a history steeped in forward-thinking, technically dazzling metal, and NITE carries that torch with pride. Founded in 2018, their blackened heavy metal brand barrels towards the peril of an unknown future, while keeping one eye on the days when blistering leads once ruled the land. Guitarists Van Labrakis (Satan’s Wrath, Mencea) and Scott Hoffman (Dawnbringer, High Spirits) let loose galloping riffs and harmonies that evoke the classic sounds of the N.W.O.B.H.M., with Labrakis’ grizzled voice driving their dark, melodic metal into the modern era.

With Avinash Mittur (Wild Hunt) replacing founding bassist Bryan Coons in early 2021, he and drummer Patrick Crawford (Serpents of Dawn, Older Sun) make up a rhythm section that’s fierce yet breathlessly precise: a freewheel pounding reminiscent of the early days of heavy metal, with a Rickenbacker-powered roar fueling the low end. NITE’s debut full-length Darkness Silence Mirror Flame, released in March 2020 by Creator-Destructor Records, earned widespread praise. It showcased their fist-raising classic heavy metal that nearly every fan of the genre once fell in love with, but with a twisted and shadowy edge that the titans of old could never imagine. NITE is the flame of the past illuminating the darkness of tomorrow.


Lineup
Van Labrakis - Guitar, Vocals
Scott Hoffman - Guitar
Bryan Coons - Bass
Pat Crawford - Drums

Recorded, mixed and masteredby Van Labrakis at 210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container.

Producedby Van Labrakis and NITE.

Artworkby Misanthropic-Art Illustrations

Order:https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/nite-darkness-silence-mirror-flame

Formats:Digital, CD digipak, vinyl black and colored

Lineup:
Van Labrakis: Guitar / Vocals
Scott Hoffman: Guitar
Avinash Mittur: Bass
Patrick Crawford: Drums

Recording Studio: 210 Studios San Francisco and The Hoagie Container 

Producer: Van Labrakis and NITE

Mixing, mastering, sound engineer: Van Labrakis

Cover Art: DEIH

Links:
Website: http://nitemetal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nitemetal
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nitemetal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nitemetal
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7-UhuJNohvsMB2DP05LAQ
Bandcamp: https://nitemetal.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6MjCnAA9RF0vy3j6QYyLG0
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nite/1499573755

NeverWake Release Re-Imagined Cover of Creed's "Bullets"; Announces Tour Dates with Silvertung!

Stream/Download "Bullets"

https://ffm.to/neverwake

WATCH "Bullets" (Visualizer) below.

Neverwake just dropped their revamped rendition of Creed's "Bullets" on all major platforms today! The band is currently on tour alongside Silvertung. Plus, mark your calendars because the band has been added to the Saturday lineup at Rockfest on July 20th!

"This is one of the first songs that helped bridge me into heavier music. When you're a young kid in the 2000s listening to the radio you've obviously heard of Creed. So your parents buy you their new album for Christmas. The first song you hear is "Bullets" and something awakens inside of you. That's the only way I can describe it. It was such a mind blowing song to me at the time because I thought I had known who Creed was and what they sounded like.. but apparently I was wrong. In some way it showed me the potential a band has in expanding their arsenal of sound. Years later and that song still resonates with me and I get chills every time I listen to it. The song is already metal as hell so we wanted to give it the full outfit and go to town with our version of it," says Johnny DiCarlo.

NeverWake is a haunting sinew of hard rock and metalcore out of Pittsburgh PA. Captivating melodies are entwined with heavy grooves that refuse to leave the mind. Explosive riffs weave their way over a strong foundation. NeverWake has been capturing the minds of listeners worldwide. They have toured the US, played various national festivals, shared the stage with bands such as Falling In Reverse, All That Remains, and many more.

Just recently they have worked with powerhouse musicians such as John Moyer of Disturbed. There are no signs of slowing as the band is on course to release continually throughout the year and tour mid 2024. NeverWake consists of Johnny DiCarlo on lead vocals/lead guitar, George Scott on bass guitar/vocals and Justin Sanford lead guitar/vocals.

NeverWake is currently endorsed by Schecter Guitars, EMG pickups, DR Handmade Strings,and Splawn Amplification. NeverWake is signed to Melodic Revolution Records.

Renowned UK producer Fran Ashcroft presents 'Waiting For The Britpop Revival', teasing new album

"Liverpudlian psychedelia that’s very soft on the ear and gently melodious" ~  Monolith Cocktail

‘Refreshingly analogue, utterly charming and, by the third or fourth listen, has completely wormed its way into your ear... Waiting For The Britpop Revival’ is built on a chuntering pub-piano with Fran Ashcroft’s softly lilting voice bouncing along as a nice counterpoint to the crunchy guitars colliding in the solo" ~ Joyzine

"A sonic bridge between eras... quite simply superb" ~ Liverpool Sound & Vision


Renowned British producer Fran Ashcroft has announced his forthcoming album 'The Songs That Never Were', to be released on January 23 via Think Like a Key Music. While only his sophomore album as a solo artist, Ashcroft's name stands behind dozens of other albums that have come to grace the music plane over the past few decades. Ahead of this, he presents the lead track 'Waiting For The Britpop Revival', a 2-track offering with a traditional A-side and B-side.

Longtime producer for artists big and small, and formerly of British power-pop trailblazers The Monos, Fran Ashcroft has recorded in some of the world's most renowned studios and with some iconic names, including Damon Albarn (Blur), Abbey Road Studios, Thunderbirds Are Go!, PRT Records and Studios, Spin Jupiter Spin (Dandy Warhols), , Darling Nikkie (Lords of Acid) Big Fish Music in Japan, and Fruits Der Mer Records, to mention a few.

A treasure trove of recordings that defies time, Ashcroft describes this album as "a bridge across time" and "a collaboration between myself and me of fifty years ago", made possible by two broken tape recorders and a little bit of AI technology. Here, he ingeniously constructs a sonic viaduct spanning 50 years to allow something novel to take shape amidst the echoes of his past - one where old and new harmonize in a truly innovative yet delightfully vintage experience.

"I’ve never made a record quite like this one. Nobody has. it was like building a bridge of time between my present day self and me from 50 years ago. The song I heard in my head at 5 a.m. that morning reminded me of one I’d written many years before, which I was never quite happy with.  I thought, you could almost put this new tune right over it. So I dug the old tape out of the archives to see if I was right. And I was - the chords were the same, and it was even in the same key! If I could only remove and replace the vocals on the old mono recording, it would be an entirely new song," says Fran Ashcroft.

"Were there other songs that could be treated in a similar way? Of course there were! I expected these new recordings  to be all be about using AI technology - but that was just a convenient tool, like any other. But this actually turned out to be a collaboration between my present-day self and me from 50 years ago - like some kind of bridge of time had been built between us. It sounds weird, I know - here, each song, whether an old recording or a new idea, was developed and transformed into something completely different from what it was to begin with - as if I were working with a co-writer and a quite strange one at times. But  music exists outside of time and this, I think, makes this record what it is."

This new album shows Ashcroft to be an artist in his own right, following up his self-recorded, written and performed album 'A Tour Of British Duckponds', released in 2023. Ashcroft also recently added author to his credits, publishing 'The Analogue Approach to Digital Recording' last year via the Crowood Press. As a record producer, he is best known for his less-is-more approach to recording, using the minimum number of microphones and tracks to get the best sound.

From the tender age of 8, he knew he wanted to make records. After initial encouragement from Apple Records, he first stepped inside a recording studio in 1973, with a band comprising electric guitar, drums and 2 cellists. This led to securing a publishing deal and forming one of the first British powerpop bands, The Monos, who ultimately endured the inevitable major label traumas. After this, he was able to turn his attention towards producing records, which he has done ever since.

As of February 6, 'Waiting for the Britpop Revival' will be available digitally from online music platforms. The album 'The Songs That Never Were' will be released on February 23, both digitally (as MP3, WAV or FLAC) and on 350g CD with a glossy 6-panel digisleeve. It can be pre-ordered directly from the label.

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written and arranged by Fran Ashcroft
Recorded, produced, mixed & mastered by Fran Ashcroft
Album / single outer sleeve photos by John Drazek
B&W inner sleeve photos by Gez Prior and Min Nolan
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Artist photos by Rob Clarke


Keep up with Fran Ashcroft 
Website / Store | Book order | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | LinkedIn | Email

Singer/Songwriter/ Multi-Instrumentalist Sierra Levesque Releases NEW Single "WRONG ABOUT YOU"!

Stream/Purchase "WRONG ABOUT YOU":

https://sierralevesque.hearnow.com/wrong-about-you

https://linktr.ee/sierralevesquemusic

Sierra Levesque, the formidable singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, has taken the music scene by storm with the release of her new single, "WRONG ABOUT YOU." The track, a masterful blend of Levesque's distinct artistry and the renowned production expertise of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, released on February 2, 2024.

“I really wanted to showcase a different side of myself, musically, with this song. It’s a slower rock ballad based on piano, and it showcases a lot of my vocal range and emotion.” says Sierra.

WATCH Sierra Levesque - WRONG ABOUT YOU (Official Music Video) below.

Sierra Levesque is an 18-year-old Rock singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist, bassist, and drummer from Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. Her goal is to help lead the NEW GENERATION of Rock 'N Roll.

Recognized by Guitar.com as being “Gen Z’s Most Ambitious New Guitarist” and one of "10 Young Shredders Shaping Rock and Metal Today", Sierra just had her first full-length feature on the Guitar World Magazine website discussing her career, inspirations, and original music.

Her musical influences throughout the years have been Pop, Rock and Metal acts such as Avril Lavigne, Ghost, Heart and Scorpions.

Having won the 2019, 2022, and 2023 MyFM Spirit Award for "Best Local Musician" in Pembroke, Sierra has just been nominated for “Artist of the Year” at the 2024 Ottawa Awards by Faces Magazine.

As Sierra continues to grow her social media following, she has already received notoriety from some powerful figures in the Rock music industry including Nancy Wilson (Heart), Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Sons Of Apollo, Asia, ex Guns 'N Roses), Debbie Gibson, Susanna Hoffs (The Bangles), DJ Ashba (SIXX A.M, ex Guns 'N Roses), and Desmond Child (Songwriter for Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, KISS)to name a few.

Sierra's powerful vocals, hard rocking guitar riffs, and relatable original songs always take every stage by storm!

Upcoming Tour Dates:

February 23, 2024 at Urban Angus Steak and Wine in Arnprior, Ontario
March 23, 2024 at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois Opening for Art of Anarchy

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

Twitter

MERRIMACK Wrestle with Gravity on New Single

Prepare to delve deep into an abyss of existential turmoil. Today, MERRIMACK are unveiling the third piece of their new album Of Grace and Gravity.

Listen to "Under the Aimless Spheres" below.

Of Grace and Gravity is out March 8, 2024.

 

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


"Under the Aimless Spheres" is a visceral exploration of existential angst and spiritual dissolution. The new single echoes the French black metal band's enigmatic mastery and captivating lyrical depth.

The lyrics, laden with poetic intensity, evoke a journey through the tormented landscapes of the soul. "We hope in her loins for the assumption, The oath is palavered at her breast". Merrimack tempt the divide between faith and disillusionment, confronting the weight of our cryptic existence. 


With each writhing verse, Merrimack slinks along the contours of existential despair, casting a light on the ferments of stone and sighs of the earth. "Under the Aimless Spheres" is as challenging as it is extreme, a tumultuous dance of divine contempt and mortal longing. Yet it's also familiar, thrilling territory for a band that's always cutting along the fine line between what's sacred and profane.

MERRIMACK are back with their new album 'Of Grace and Gravity'. Their third release for Season of Mist arrives after the re-print of their long sold-out debut 'Ashes of Purification', which followed the sizeable impact that their last album, 'Omegaphilia', had on the Black Metal Scene.

Merrimack can be categorised as extreme traditionalists that are driven by a burning desire to hone their skills and striving to bring their art to perfection. The band was founded by guitarist Perversifier a.k.a. Amfortas in 1994 with a clear vision to keep the black metal flame burning as an act of aesthetic terrorism – as adamantly based in the underground as opposed to any attempts to co-opt, commercialise or turn the style into a self-parody. Introduced by a number of demo recordings (‘Prologue’ – 1995, ‘Act 1’ – 1995, ‘Horns Defeat Thorns’ – 2001) and split releases (with Hirilorn in 1998 and Sargeist in 2002), the French gained respect in the scene by remaining true to their words.

Although Merrimack decided to reach out to a larger audience with the release of their first full-length ‘Ashes of Purification’, the Parisians did not sever their roots with the underground at any time. With the following albums, ‘Of Entropy and Life Denial’ (2006) and ‘Grey Rigorism’ (2009), Merrimack closed ranks with the most influential, active, and authentic acts of the French black metal scene. Their classic combination of harsh sound with epic structures appealed to critics and fans alike and put the band on their celebrated first US tour with MARDUK and NACHTMYSTIUM in 2009.

After recording ‘The Acausal Mass’ (2012) in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666) again, Merrimack embarked on a European tour with Norwegian icons MAYHEM and accepted invitations to prestigious festivals such as Hellfest in their native France, Germany’s Party-San Open Air and Summer Breeze as well as Montreal’s Messe des Morts in Canada. With their previous album, ‘Omegaphilia’, Merrimack were breathing fresh life into an exhausted genre. While ignoring epithets such as progressive, post-, and avant-garde, the French focused on razor-sharp songwriting, captivating melodies, and close to perfect arrangements.

The ensemble now presents their latest album 'Of Grace and Gravity', an aural journey where grotesque assemblies of roosters and goats languish at the foot of heavens. Wallowing guitars and hypnotized passages of blasting drums collide with gravity-bound atoms in oblivious occlusion. Merrimack, in their enigmatic mastery, expose the futility of belief in occult ministries and slashes at the mask of the sky. The listener, questioned in their faith of the shadows and occult idols. Dare believe in the sulfurous whispers echoing through this blackened masterpiece.

Line-up
Perversifier - Guitars
A.K. - Guitars
Blastum - Drums
Vestal - Vocals
Daethorn - Bass

Recording Studio
Studio Sainte Marthe, Paris, France       

Sound, Mixing & Mastering Engineer
Francis Caste

Artwork Artist
Belial Necroarts - Front cover
Opposition Artworks - Inner illustrations
Adrien Bousson - Layout

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

Links:
Bandcamp: https://merrimack.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merrimackofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/merrimack666/
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/99176
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3XWKabUW6Y9pm9vyNGlrhV
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3642745
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/merrimack/41660594
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B000QKG2N8

Booking Contact:
merrimack@satanslegions.com

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Transparent Clear
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - White
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Transparent w/ Black Splatters

Photo by Vagus Nox

ERRA Announce Spring 2024 North American Headline Tour

ERRA ANNOUNCE SPRING 2024 NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR

MAKE THEM SUFFER, VOID OF VISION, + NOVELISTS TO APPEAR

Prolific metalcore progressives ERRA recently announced their new album CURE, which arrives on April 5 via UNFD. Pre-order it here.  

Watch the video for the new single "CURE," which Revolver christened as "massive," below.

Additionally, the band has announced its upcoming Spring 2024 headline North American tour, with Make Them Suffer, Void of Vision, and Novelists as support. The tour kicks off on April 23 in Philly and runs through June 2 in NYC. All dates are below.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, February 9 at 10am local time. Get tickets here.

ERRA ON TOUR:
WITH MAKE THEM SUFFER, VOID OF VISION, + NOVELISTS:
4/23 — Philadelphia, PA — TLA
4/24 — Baltimore, MD — Soundstage
4/26 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
4/27 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade (Heaven)
4/28 — Birmingham, AL — Iron City
4/30 — Ft. Lauderdale, FL — Revolution
5/01 — Tampa, FL — Jannus Live
5/03 — Houston, TX — Rise Rooftop
5/04 — Dallas, TX — South Side Music Hall
5/05 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center
5/07 — Albuquerque, NM — Sunshine Theater
5/08 — Las Vegas, NV — House of Blues
5/10 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
5/11 — Santa Ana, CA — Observatory
5/12 — Los Angeles, CA — Echoplex
5/13 — Santa Cruz, CA — Catalyst
5/15 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades
5/17 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
5/18 — Portland, OR — Roseland Theater
5/20 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
5/21 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall
5/23 — Lawrence, KS — Granada Theater
5/24 — Minneapolis, MN — Varsity Theater
5/25 — St. Louis, MO — Red Flag
5/26 — Chicago, IL — House of Blues
5/28 — Detroit, MI — Saint Andrews Hall
5/29 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall
5/31 — Montreal, QC —  Beanfield Theatre
6/01 — Boston, MA — Paradise
6/02 — New York, NY — Irving Plaza

ERRA ARE:
J.T. Cavey — Vocals
Jesse Cash — Vocals + Guitars
Conor Hesse — Bass
Alex Ballew — Drums
Clint Tustin — Guitar

Borknagar Drop "Moon" Video — WATCH / New Album Out "Fall" 2/23!

NEW ALBUM FALL OUT FEBRUARY 23 VIA CENTURY MEDIA

BORKNAGAR, Norway's pioneers of avant-garde/progressive black metal, will release their monumental 12th studio album Fall on February 23 via longtime record label partners Century Media Records.

Pre-order it here.

Today, a third single off the upcoming Fall album is being released.

Check out "Moon" in a stunning animated clip created by visual artist Costin Chioreanu/Twilight13Media below.

Øystein G. Brun states, "Hi all! We are extremely proud to present you with the third single 'Moon' from our upcoming album Fall. 'Moon' is written by ICS Vortex and adds yet another step to our always evolving musical adventure. As with 'Up North,' we are thrilled to be able to work with our friend Costin Chioreanu/Twilight 13 Media once again for a profound and sophisticated visual completion of the song. We sincerely hope you enjoy the song/video as much as we do! We truly love it!"

Videographer Costin Chioreanu, who also created the single's artwork as pictured above, says,"When I am working with a band with a respectful fanbase who have very high expectations, the pressure over the shoulders is of course more intense than any other daily project. But when it also is the second collaboration with a band like that — a few years ago I already illustrated the song 'Up North' for BORKNAGAR — the pressure gets at least double. I am extremely grateful to these amazing musicians and also Century Media for trusting my skills unconditionally, as this is the drug which keeps me high on bringing into this dimension such unique manifestations of visual art as the animation video I created for 'Moon.' Feeling also very connected with the theme of the song, being at a time in my life completely drowned in the surreal nectar of this type of poem, I could dress it honorably into the right images. I think this video is pushing by all means the limits of heavy metal aesthetics into a new and fresh fruitful zone."

Previously, the album's opening track "Summits" was made available in a visualizer clip created by Wanderley Perna/W Designer here and furthermore the song "Nordic Anthem" was launched in a video created by Marius Martinsen, Kenneth Williams and Lars A. Nedland via the production company High & Low here.
 
Fall includes eight majestic tracks across 54 epic minutes of playing time, once again brilliantly mixed by Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios (Opeth, Amon Amarth, Kreator), and featuring stunning album cover artwork by Eliran Kantor (Testament, My Dying Bride, Sodom), which can be seen below.
 
Fall is the follow up to 2019's widely acclaimed True North studio album and will be available as limited first-pressing Digipak CD, Gatefold 2-LP on 180gr vinyl and as a Digital Album.

The vinyl edition of Fall will be available in the following variants:
*Gatefold black 2LP

*Ltd. Gatefold neon orange 2LP (300x copies, available from cmdistro.de + various other retailers) (SOLD OUT)

*Ltd. Gatefold transp. bottle green 2LP (300x copies, available from EMP + Nuclear Blast)

Fall into BORKNAGAR, share the grand struggle against the wild in all of us...

BORKNAGAR ARE:
(FROM L-R IN PHOTO ABOVE)
(Photo Credit: Jørn Veberg)
ICS Vortex — Bass, Vocals + Choirs
Lars A. Nedland — Keys, Vocals, + Choirs
Øystein G. Brun — Guitars 
Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow — Drums and Percussion
Jostein Thomassen — Guitars

BLANCO BROWN TO RELEASE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED EP "HEARTACHE & LEMONADE" FEATURING STANDOUT TRACK "SUNSHINE SHINE" AVAILABLE NOW

GRAMMY® nominated vocalist, producer, songwriter & global smash Blanco Brown, pours out the new generation of his signature “Trailer Trap” sound with the release of his upcoming EP, Heartache & Lemonade via Wheelhouse Records/BMG Nashville on April 5. This highly anticipated project promises to deliver a fresh and dynamic experience showcasing Blanco Brown's versatility as a singer, songwriter and producer. Download Heartache &   Lemonade HERE. With first sneak peek into the project available today, “Sunshine Shine” features his signature 808 & sets the 11x Platinum star up for another viral moment paralleling his worldwide hit "The Git Up" which has nearly 4 billion views across all platforms.

 

“This EP feels a bit different for me," said Brown. "I’ve now traveled the world, looked death in the eyes and somehow made it back alive. Bitter moments never lasted, sweeter moments brought me back to purpose…Heartache & Lemonade brings about a new chapter. Try turning some of your worst moments into a smile every once in a while.” 

 

“Sunshine Shine” is a feel-good anthem that radiates positivity and resilience, offering a perfect blend of catchy melodies that will undoubtedly resonate with fans across the globe. Leaning into his branded "Trailer Trap" sound, the EP Heartache & Lemonade will solidify why Billboard named him the "Top New Country Artist" (2019).

 

Blanco Brown, known for breaking barriers and pushing the boundaries of country music, brings his distinctive style and charisma to every track on the EP and the project is a testament to Blanco's ability to seamlessly fuse various genres, creating a sound that is uniquely his own.

About Blanco Brown:
Blurring the lines between Country, Hip-Hop & Soul, Blanco Brown makes a southern sound that he proudly calls "Trailer Trap." Honing in on his unique sound, Blanco balances both the metropolis and country settings in which he grew up. His viral hit “The Git Up” (certified 11x PLATINUM across three countries) took the world by storm, claiming the top spot in charts across the globe and spawning nearly four billion views across social platforms. It claimed the No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 12 weeks and was the top-selling digital Country song in the US for 13 weeks, resulting in Billboard naming him as their No. 1 Top New Country Artist for 2019. Apart from being a Grammy-nominated engineer who has worked with the likes of Fergie, Childish Gambino, Kane Brown and Chris Brown, the multi-talent’s multi-national Platinum-certified collaboration “Just the Way” with Parmalee garnered more than 500 million on-demand streams, earning Brown his first No. 1 hit on Country radio (in the US and Canada). More recently, he doubled down on his genre-bending collaborations, teaming with Nelly on the funky, country inspired track “High Horse,” T.I. for “Trap Still Bumpin’,” LOCASH and the late Leslie Jordan for the funky “Let It Slide,” while pairing with Diplo for “Do Si Do” and Lee Brice and R3HAB for the remix of Brice’s hit song, “Soul.” In 2021, Blanco Brown also lent soaring vocals to the song “Never Gonna Tame You (Original Song from “The Mustangs: America’s Wild Horses”),” written by Diane Warren. Recovering from a life-threatening accident and leaning on music to heal, Blanco released “Nobody’s More Country” in 2021. Then, while hitting the road hard last summer, he instantly captured the attention of festival audiences across the nation opening his set with a breathtakingly powerful cover blend of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” and Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey.” Showcasing his world-class vocal talent and captivating stage presence throughout 2023, Blanco released emotionally charged track “I’ll Never,” unlike anything the No. 1 hitmaker has ever released, followed by a momentous tribute to the late, great John Denver with Brown’s release of "Take Me Home, Country Roads.” With forthcoming release of Heartache & Lemonade, this A-Town resident’s branded “Trailer Trap” sound amplifies the stories & arrangements on this EP. Blanco’s dripping-with-soul vocals also sonically shine throughout as displayed in the lead focus track "Sunshine, Shine.”


KEEP UP WITH BLANCO BROWN
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THE HALO EFFECT - drop video for brand new single ´Become Surrender´

Gothenburg´s Finest are back! THE HALO EFFECT present a brand new single to their fans with ´Become Surrender´. The track has been a staple of their live shows for a while now, and has quickly become a fan-favourite. 
It´s a multi-faceted song with neck breaking riffs, grooving drums and beautiful melodies which will leave you spellbound.

 

Mikael Stanne comments: "´Become Surrender´ was written and recorded during theDays Of The Lost sessions, but for some reason we left it out of the album. It has been something we have played during festivals and on our tours and the response has been nothing short of fantastic, so we decided to release it in the interim before we start rolling out singles for the second album. The video was shot during our sold out show at Pustervik here in our hometown of Gothenburg in front of a few of our closest friends and hopefully the joy and love we felt in the room that night shines through.
It's a song about perseverance over distance and not giving in to despair or doubt. Turn it up!”

Check out the video below.

Listen to the song on all platforms: https://thehaloeffect.bfan.link/bssg.ema

photo credit: Markus Esselmark

THE HALO EFFECT is:
Niclas Engelin | guitar
Jesper Strömblad | guitar
Mikael Stanne | vocals
Peter Iwers | bass
Daniel Svensson | drums

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/thehaloeffectse
https://www.instagram.com/thehaloeffectse/
https://twitter.com/thehaloeffectse