Kublai Khan TX Unleash New Album 'Exhibition Of Prowess' via Rise Records + Release "Mud" Visualizer

Texan titans Kublai Khan TX have released their new album 'Exhibition Of Prowess' (via Rise Records), the band's fifth album and first full-length since 2019's 'Absolute'. In celebration of the release, the quartet dropped the official visualizer for their track "Mud" taken from the album. Speaking about the track, vocalist Matt Hunnycutt commented:

"'Mud' is the scissors slowly closing in on the final thread keeping sanity intact. Entrenched and trapped with nowhere to go but deeper underground. Reflections and thoughts mirroring a man’s will to survive in a world obsessed with extinction. Low-tech, primordial soundwaves. Sludge-covered, sun-blistered frequencies of war and peace. "Mud" is mankind."

Leading up to today, the quartet released "Theory Of Mind", "Low Tech" and most recently, "Supreme Ruler" which altogether have clocked up over 15 million streams and counting on Spotify and 2.5 million views on YouTube. 'Exhibition Of Prowess' is available now on all streaming platforms at the link here, and watch the "Mud" official visualizer below.

Be sure to catch Kublai Khan TX tear up stages across North America with Lorna Shore, Whitechapel and Sanguisugabogg, as well as at a newly announced performance at Aftershock Festival on Saturday, October 12 in Sacramento, California. Get your tickets at the link here before it's too late.

Kublai Khan TX Tour Dates with Lorna Shore, Whitechapel + Sanguisugabogg

Sep 19 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS

Sep 20 - Toronto, ON - HISTORY

Sep 21 - Moon Township, PA - UPMC Events Center

Sep 22 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Special Events Center

Sep 24 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live Orlando

Sep 25 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle

Sep 27 - Louder Than Life Fest - Louisville, KY**

Sep 28 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant

Sep 29 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom

Sep 30 - The Midland Theatre - Kansas City, MO*

Oct 2 - New Orleans, LA - The Fillmore New Orleans

Oct 3 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues

Oct 4 - San Antonio, TX - Boeing Center at Tech Port

Oct 5 - Dallas, TX - Southside Ballroom

Oct 7 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren

Oct 8 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl

Oct 9 - Anaheim, CA - Chain Reaction

Oct 10 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues

Oct 11 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern

Oct 12 - Aftershock Fest - Sacramento, CA

Oct 14 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom

Oct 15 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom

Oct 17 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex

Oct 18 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium

Oct 19 - Omaha, NE - Steelhouse Omaha

Oct 20 - Minneapolis, MN - The Fillmore Minneapolis

Oct 21 - Cudahy, WI - X-Ray Arcade

Oct 22 - Chicago, IL - Radius

Oct 23 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit

Oct 24 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora*

Oct 25 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring

Oct 26 - Asbury Park, NJ - House Of Independents

Oct 27 - New York, NY - Hammerstein Ballroom

Oct 28 - Boston, MA - MGM Music Hall

Oct 29 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore Philadelphia

Oct 30 - Wallingford, CT - Toyota Oakdale Theatre

*Not A Live Nation date

**No Kublai Khan & Sanguisugabogg

Apocalypse Fest

Nov 1 - Wilkes/Barre, PA - Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET Drop New Single/Music Video - "Alive"

Seven Hours After Violet, the groundbreaking heavy metal band fronted by Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down, has just dropped their electrifying new single, “Alive.” The track, which continues to showcase the band’s unique blend of heavy music and melodic sensibility, is available now on all major streaming platforms, accompanied by a stunning music video. Stream "Alive" HERE. Watch the official music video Below. Pre-Order the debut album, 'Seven Hours After Violet' HERE.

“Alive” is the latest offering from the band’s highly anticipated self-titled debut album, set to release on October 11th, 2024, through 1336 Records, Shavo’s joint label venture with Sumerian Music Group. They exploded into existence back in June with the release of their debut single 'Paradise' garnering much praise and excitement from both fans and critics alike. "Paradise" was followed by second single, the gloriously ethereal "Radiance" last month, which showcased a different side of the band's arsenal and gave a glimpse of the incredible dynamism featured on their upcoming debut full-length. "Alive" furthers the unique sonic world building of Seven Hours After Violet.

Speaking on the project's third single, Shavo shares:

"Alive" dives deep into the duality of pain and vitality, where suffering becomes a twisted reminder of existence. It’s about the dark thrill of feeling alive through intense emotions, even when they blur the line between ecstasy and despair. A haunting space where agony and empowerment collide.”

Seven Hours After Violet is an alternative metal supergroup assembled by Shavo, featuring Taylor Barber (vocalist of Left to Suffer), Morgoth (multi-platinum producer and guitarist of Winds of Plague), Alejandro Aranda (Scarypoolparty and American Idol), and Josh Johnson (drummer of Winds of Plague). The band emerged from a chance encounter between Shavo and Morgoth in early 2022 and rapidly became an unstoppable force of creativity and experimentation that evolved from a potential solo project into a full-fledged band. Their upcoming self-titled debut album is the result of some of the best, most talented minds in heavy music coming together to create something limitless and exceptional.

A variety of pre-order merch bundles for Seven Hours After Violet's self-titled debut are available now by clicking HERE

Seven Hours After Violet will play their first ever live show at this year's recently announced Mayhem Fest, taking place at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino on October 12th. For tickets and further information, head to mayhemfest.com

Stay tuned for more from Seven Hours After Violet as they continue to push the boundaries of heavy music.

About Seven Hours After Violet

When the universe aligns, magic happens. This was certainly the case when Shavo Odadjian, the legendary bass player of System of a Down, crossed paths with platinum-selling producer, songwriter and guitarist, Morgoth at a party on 2.22.22. Their initial sessions were a spontaneous combustion of creativity, transforming from a potential solo venture into a full-fledged band. “We wrote a song right away. It wasn’t like any writing session I had been part of before, riffs were just flowing out of me without me even having to try. Every time I felt like I couldn't write anything. Morgoth would hand me a guitar and say, “go, go, go”. I needed that, you know? I needed someone to push me when I wasn't pushing myself. ” Shavo recalls. As music continued to pour out in torrents, with Shavo writing and performing all the guitar and bass parts and Morgoth producing and providing the beats, atmospherics and FX, Morgoth suggested they turn it into a Shavo solo project. However, with his eye now firmly set on the live arena, Shavo decided to create a full band.

Finding the right vocal talent to compliment the musical landscape created by Shavo and Morgoth was crucial. Morgoth’s recommendation of Taylor Barber from Left to Suffer was a game-changer. Shavo was blown away: “He was singing in falsetto one minute and growling the next—it was ridiculous. He became the singer because he knocked every song out of the park.” With Shavo on bass and Morgoth on guitar, the band also brought in Morthgoth’s Winds Of Plague band mate, Josh Johnson on drums and Alejandro Aranda, known for his solo project Scarypoolparty and as runner-up on American Idol, as lead guitarist and backing vocalist.

Once the new music was complete, mixed by Zach Jones and mastered by Maor Applebaum, Shavo partnered with Ash Avildsen,founder and CEO of Sumerian Music Group to create the brand new joint label venture 1336 Records, with Seven Hours After Violet being the first singing.

Seven Hours After Violet Are

Taylor Barber - Vocals

Morgoth - Guitar & Production

Shavo Odadjian - Bass

Alejandro Aranda - Guitar/Backing Vocals

Josh Johnson - Drums

LOLITSLEA Releases New Single + Video "Exit Plan" Featuring Tom Denney

Friday, lolitslea released "Exit Plan" featuring guest guitar riffage from Tom Denney.

Lyrically and musically, it is a homage to nostalgia and youth as lolitslea taps into the 2008 punk and post-hardcore influences that are synonymous with the era and pines for the simplicity of her youth. The track showcases her vocal range with a soaring chorus and packs a punch with an A Day To Remember-esque breakdown provided by the band's ex-guitarist Tom Denney himself.

When asked about the song, lolitslea says, "'Exit Plan' runs circles around the themes of liminal spaces, the backrooms, and realizing life will never be what it was back in 2008. Where my biggest regret in life was selling my Nintendo DS to a local pawn shop. This tune was co-produced and co-written by Tom Denney, formally from A Day To Remember."

 lolitslea is the epitome of bright, nostalgia-driven music for today's youth (imagine if Artist Vs Poet or Hey Monday came out in 2024). Growing up in the small, yet touristy beach town of Point Pleasant, NJ, lolitslea was homegrown from all kinds of music from the Asbury Park alternative scene and Warped Tour era. The neon-pop punk bangers on her upcoming album "NOTHING LASTS FOREVER!" are relatable, danceable, and oh-so-fun!

LOLITSLEA 2024 TOUR DATES:
10/9 —  Philadelphia, PA —  The Rotunda
10/10 —  Asbury Park, NJ —  Bond Street Bar
10/11 —  Baltimore, MD —  Zen West
10/12 —  Raleigh, NC —  Kings
10/15 —  Orlando, FL —  Will's Pub
10/18 —  Atlanta, GA —  Smith's Olde Bar
10/19 —  Murfreesboro, TN —  1507 Diana St

ABOUT LOLITSLEA:
Growing up in the small, yet touristy beach town of Point Pleasant, New Jersey, lolitslea was homegrown from every and all kinds of music that came out of the Asbury Park alternative scene and Warped Tour era. The independent artist has intertwined the boldness of punk and the colors of pop to bring back the bright sounds of the Neon Pop Punk scene we all grew to love in the mid-2000s. Think Artist Vs Poet or early Fall Out Boy.

After topping the charts with her college a cappella group (Twisted Measure), lolitslea set off to grow her project. lolitslea's sound has been produced and developed by emo icons such as Chase Coy (formally with Universal Music Group), Tom Denney (formerly A Day To Remember), and Roye Robley (Meet Me @ The Altar, Fluorescents), with features from Kellin Quinn (Sleeping With Sirens), Bemo Rouge, Joshua Roberts (Magnolia Park), glimmers, Smooth Brain, and more to come.

lolitslea is finishing up her debut full-length to be released October 2024. Following that, she'll be busy in writing sessions with Dan Swank (All Time Low, Taylor Acorn), Cassadee Pope (Hey Monday), Cameron Walker, and many more.

Pistols at Dawn Drop "Obsession" — WATCH + LISTEN // Announce European Tour Dates

Atlanta foursome PISTOLS AT DAWN — Adam Jaffe [drums], Will James [lead guitar], Gabriel Cuevas [bass], and Jon Sookdew Sing [lead vocals] — have shared the new single "Obsession."

Watch the lyric video below.

"Sometimes our dreams completely overtake us," the band says. "To the point where we lose sight of our loved ones and become something unrecognizable. 'Obsession' takes the point of view of the person you're letting down in pursuit of your ambition."

"Obsession" follows their previously released and insanely hooky single "Not Sorry," which is currently climbing the active rock radio charts. 

Pistols at Dawn recently played a packed show at NYC's Bowery Electric. The band will head to Europe this weekend to support Des Rocs.

Pistols At Dawn craft the kind of rock music that doesn't just reach the rafters; it breaks through the ceiling. Sky-high hooks stretch into the heavens, a powerful low-end rumbles without apology, and riffs roar at all the right moments. Thus far, the Atlanta band have emerged as a phenomenon. They've amassed nearly 10 million global streams and views, infiltrated the Billboard and Mediabase Top 40 Active Rock charts, earned acclaim from American Songwriter, Brave Words, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, and embarked upon global tours alongside heavy-hitters such as Alter Bridge, Mammoth WVH, and Fozzy, to name a few. The quartet canvased the world throughout 2022 and 2023. Upon returning stateside, they opted to decamp to Los Angeles in order to assemble new material. Stayed tuned for more, because Pistols at Dawn are leveling up.

GARFUNKEL & GARFUNKEL RELEASE TOUCHING INTERPRETATION OF “TIME AFTER TIME”

Multiple GRAMMY® winner Art Garfunkel & his son, Art Garfunkel Jr.bring a fresh, heartfelt interpretation to 80's hit "Time After Time." This touching recreation seamlessly blends Art’s signature warmth with his son's youthful energy. The duo's version is both a nod to the original's emotional depth & a testament to their personal connection. Their harmonies & subtle reinterpretation breathe new life into the beloved track, making it a moving tribute to the timelessness of the song & the bond between father and son. The track is the first taste of music from their collaborative studio album – aptly titled Father And Son. Arriving on November 8th, 2024, the album features a selection of personal favorites from the last century. Listen to “Time After Time” and pre-order, pre-add and pre-save Father and Son here. 

“‘Time After Time’ is one of my all-time favorites from the 80s,” says Garfunkel Jr. about the new, epically orchestrated rendition of the iconic hit, which Lauper first released four decades ago. “It’s a song that fits perfectly on this album, because it also deals with our relationship, this unique bond between my father and me. From one generation to the next, it’s about time passing, about passing on the baton, but here we are working together in the studio and thus begins the next cycle, as my father takes this exciting next step with me,” says the 33-year-old.

“It felt like a dream. It was simply quite wonderful. I love working with him,” adds hit-making veteran Art Garfunkel, who launched his career with Simon & Garfunkel in the late 1950s, referring to their shared time in the studio. “I like to say my son is a better singer than I am. I mean, I’m pretty good, but he is better.” 

Garfunkel & Garfunkel’s Father And Son features a dozen timeless hits and standards spanning almost an entire century. It’s an extremely personal selection, an essential set of longtime favorites they’ve been listening to for as long as they can remember. The result is a beautiful testament to the unique bond between “father and son,” and a lavishly arranged musical journey through different genres, covering much of the 20th century.

“We were going for a real modern orchestral vibe, with lots of strings,” Art Garfunkel and Art Garfunkel Jr. say about the new project’s lush and lavish sound. Incorporating a series of stunning, truly cinematic string arrangements, Garfunkel & Garfunkel bring iconic songs from various eras into the present. In the studio, they enlisted three international greats to capture the unique father-son dynamic: trusted hit producer Felix Gauder (Pet Shop Boys, Jimmy Somerville) was joined by top-notch Italian string arranger Davide Rossi (Coldplay, Alicia Keys) and famed UK studio wizard Ash Howes (Kylie Minogue, Ellie Goulding).

“This one is truly a father-son project, it’s all about this unique connection,” Jr. adds. “We recorded about a dozen of our most cherished songs. I brought more of the 80s influences into the project, and my father brought more of the Great American Songbook – wonderful songs from the 1940s and so on. These two influences came together in a pretty exciting way. Overall, it’s definitely an expression of our bond.” 

About Garfunkel & Garfunkel:
Art Garfunkel, renowned for his work with Simon & Garfunkel and his impressive solo career, is set to release a new collaborative album with his son, Art Garfunkel Jr., on November 8th, 2024. Titled Father And Son, the album features a dozen English-language cover songs spanning nearly a century, blending their unique influences. Art Garfunkel Jr., who has achieved success with two top 10 albums in Germany, brings 80s influences to the project, while his father contributes his expertise in the Great American Songbook. The album showcases their strong father-son bond with lush orchestral arrangements, reflecting their deep connection and diverse musical backgrounds. The collaboration highlights their shared musical journey, with standout tracks including renditions of classics like “Let It Be Me,” “Blue Moon,” and “Blackbird.” Produced by Felix Gauder and featuring arrangements by Davide Rossi and Ash Howes, Father And Son captures the essence of their partnership and musical evolution. The album pays homage to their favorite songs and underscores the personal and artistic synergy between the two, making it a significant addition to their respective legacies.

Ian Munsick Releases “Western Woman”

Much as he did with his RIAA Gold-certified single “Long Live Cowgirls” featuring Cody Johnson in 2022, Wyoming native Ian Munsick is intertwining his love of the west and respect for the women who shape it with his latest release, “Western Woman,” available now. Listen below.
 
“Western women are different. They have to be. Surviving the rugged landscapes of the west and the rigorous lifestyle that comes along with it is something that not everyone can do,” Munsick reflects on the song’s inspiration. “Western women are the most competent, hard working, do-it-with-a-smile people in this country. They deserve a song. We have dedications to southern girls and city girls, but how about all the wifes, mothers, daughters and sisters holding down the west? This one’s for them.” 
 
Written by Munsick, Billy Montana and Randy Montana, “Western Woman” is backed by Charlie Worsham on the mandolin and Tim Hayes on the fiddle, creating a sound both warm and resonant, reminiscent of traditional country.
 
Munsick was recently honored by Exclusive Tours of the Center of the West with a screening of his documentary, White Buffalo: Voices of the West, and a special exhibit honoring his career. Featuring 11 items signifying pivotal moments, the exhibit includes his custom Manuel suit that he wore for his Grand Ole Opry debut, Red Rocks debut boots from Boot Barn, a bolo gifted to him from Morgan Wallen and more. The exhibit will be on display until January 2025. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit CenterOfTheWest.org.
 
Since its release in January, Voices of the West has been selected for 14 film festivals and has won 13 awards, including six Telly Awards for Best Directing, Best Editing, Best Use of Music, Best Videography & Cinematography, Best Documentary: Long Form (Above 40 minutes), DEI: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. 

Munsick most recently released a love song dedicated to his wife, “Caroline,” and a celebration of the simple things in life with “Good Dogs & Sad Songs.” He’s currently on the road, traveling throughout the Rocky Mountain region with his headlining Country & WESTern Tour presented by Boot Barn, with nine shows throughout the west this fall, and can be seen on select dates of Lainey Wilson’s Country’s Cool Again Tour.
 
For his full tour schedule and to follow along with updates, visit IanMunsick.com or follow @IanMunsick across social media.
 
About Ian Munsick:
A native son of Wyoming, Ian Munsick painted a stampeding, spirited portrait of the American West with his sophomore album 23-track White Buffalo: Introduce You To God, out now. Spanning unfiltered tales of romance and ranch life, hard-working anthems with honkytonk hooks and mountain-time odes to family and forever-young fun, it builds upon the spacious roots-pop beauty he introduced on his major label debut, Coyote Cry. Over the past four years, Munsick has accumulated nearly 750 million global streams and a host of accolades. He has been named an “Artist to Watch” by Spotify, CMT, Fender, MusicRow and most recently was named a Martin Showcase Artist. A seasoned entertainer, having grown up tending cattle by day and playing music in a family band each night, Munsick toured recently alongside country music superstars Morgan Wallen and Cody Johnson, and as direct support for select dates of Lainey Wilson’s Country’s Cool Again tour, while simultaneously headlining his own Boots, Buckles & Bolos Tour and Country & WESTern Tour presented by Boot Barn. The Warner Music Nashville recording artist and multi-instrumentalist is representing his home, and its special cast of people, like never before. The first release from White Buffalo, standout duet “Long Live Cowgirls” (with Cody Johnson), hit No. 1 on SiriusXM’s The Highway Hot 30 Countdown, was named one of Amazon Music’s Best Country Songs of 2022 and recently received RIAA Gold-certification alongside “Long Haul” and “Horses Are Faster.” Fans of Ian Munsick will always find an open heart, natural awe and plainspoken honesty as he rides on… bringing the West to the rest. Online at IanMunsick.com.

Christian Hayes Releases Debut EP ‘Last I Love You’ via Capitol Records

When Rome, Georgia native Christian Hayes emerged onto the music scene this year with the release of "Leaving,” “LILY” (an acronym for “last I love you”) and “Cheyenne,” he gained instant recognition with Holler declaring him among their list of “Country and Americana Artists You Need To Know” and Nashville Briefing naming him an “Artist To Watch.” Now, Hayes arrives on Capitol Records with his debut EP, Last I Love You,encompassing those three songs along with newly released “Black Gold” and “My Memory.”
 
Listen to Last I Love You HERE.
 
The record casts a wide net, bouncing between campfire ballads, cinematic soundscapes and raw, rowdy barn-burners. At the center of that sound is Hayes himself: a wise-beyond-his-years musician who knows he can't move forward without taking a look at his past. 
 
"This record is about who I used to be, and it sets the stage for who I'm going to be. It's the last 'I love you' to my old self,” Hayes shares. “I have skeletons in my closet, just like everyone else, and I want people to hear the authenticity in these songs. I'm not hiding anything."

Fusing Americana with cinematic folk, Last I Love You was produced by Lukas Bracewell and is an autobiographical introduction of Hayes’ journey to Music Row, beginning with “Black Gold,” which chronicles a two year stint in which he worked for his now ex girlfriend’s father selling oil and gas. Often clocking in 14-16 hour days – sometimes seven days a week, with very little pay – the period that “Black Gold” recalls was a formative one in Hayes’ life.
 
“I often struggled with self-love, so I sought that in other places,” Hayes recalls. “This EP highlights my journey in overcoming that discontentment and learning how to love myself. A lot of these lessons are highlighted, in the track ‘Black Gold,’ which is a true story that narrates my journey selling fuel which led me to the self-realization that the relationship and the job that I had were taking more than they were giving.”
 
“Black Gold” will be added to rotation on SiriusXM’s The Highway this weekend timed to its release.
 
Released in February 2024, "Leaving" was Hayes' debut single, an up-tempo song about making dumb mistakes and running away from problems. “LILY” followed in April. Its poignant evocation of the reluctant end of a relationship – along with the instant-classic refrain “I guess this is my last I love you” – struck a chord with listeners, who turned it into a viral hit, quickly sending combined global streams past the three million mark. Hayes released “Cheyenne,” an expressive, melodic journey through self-discovery and heartbreak, in July.
 
"People have told me about how much 'LILY' has helped them," Hayes explains. "It makes them feel like they're not alone. With three million streams and counting, the song reminds me that I'm not alone, either. It's brought a sense of togetherness to me and my audience, and maybe it's healed me more than it's healed anyone else."
 
To coincide with the EP release, Hayes is unveiling his first official music video today for “LILY.” Starting in a bedroom setting, illuminated by moonlight, and evolving into a new bedroom as the song progresses, the video symbolizes the journey of moving on from a past relationship, anchored by Christian’s raw performance.
 
The EP is capped with the reflective track “My Memory.” Evoking nostalgia for the home he grew up in, “My Memory” poetically recalls Hayes’ time spent on the front porch and its lasting impact on his life. The spot where he honed his craft and wrote the more than 900 songs he has in his journal, his front porch is also where he bonded with his father and matured beyond the defiant ways of his childhood.
 
Genuine and articulate, Hayes comes from a long line of storytellers that includes his Grandpa Jack – a poet by profession – who gave Christian his first journal. Born and raised in the foothills of Appalachia, Hayes began playing guitar at age eight. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve and attended the University of Alabama.
 
Hayes recently signed with Capitol Records, as well as with William Morris Endeavor (WME) for booking, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) for publishing, Wildrose Projects for management and Flood Bumstead McCready & McCarthy (FBMM) for business management. 
 
All songs on Last I Love You are self-penned except for “Black Gold,” which Hayes co-wrote with Jonathan Hutcherson.

Christian Hayes – Upcoming Tour Dates
Sept. 21 – AMERICANAFEST Showcase @ City Winery - Nashville, TN 
Oct. 26 - River South Festival - Bainbridge, GA
Oct. 29 - Eddie's Attic - Atlanta, GA
 
ABOUT CHRISTIAN HAYES
Raised in the Appalachian foothills of northern Georgia, Christian Hayes grew up surrounded by southern storytelling. His grandfather — a poet by profession — encouraged him to begin writing in a journal at 7 years old, sparking a habit that would eventually take Hayes to Nashville. A veteran of the US Navy Reserve, Hayes began applying the discipline of his military training to his work as a songwriter, amassing more than 900 original songs by his mid-twenties. Five of those songs appear on Last I Love You, his debut for Capitol Records available now. Produced by Lukas Bracewell and steeped in Hayes' unique version of American roots music, Last I Love You features the viral single "LILY" (which racked up more than 3 million streams before the EP's official release), the anthemic "Black Gold," and a mix of effortless melodies, cinematic folk and rowdy, barn-burning Americana.

Follow Christian Hayes:
Website | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube

Chase Rice Releases Independent Album GO DOWN SINGIN’ + Poignant "You In '85" Music Video

Diamond-certified songwriter Chase Rice debuts his highly anticipated independent album, Go Down Singin’, a reflective 11-song collection that captures the raw, unvarnished truth of his personal journey. Today’s release marks a continuation of Rice’s creative evolution that began with last year’s critically acclaimed I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, an album celebrated by Billboard as “one of 2023’s most unexpected artistic pivots” and one of the best of the year across all genres. Listen to Go Down Singin’ HERE.
 
“It’s my first release in over 10 years as a fully independent artist,” notes Rice. “All we thought about when making this music was ‘how do we put the very best songs that I’ve got on one album?’ No thoughts of what’s popular right now, or what will work blow up or go viral, simply ‘who am I and what am I best at?’ It’s got songs about the music industry and what it can do to your soul; it’s got love lost songs; it’s got a song about my dad once again; it’s even got a murder song that might be my favorite song on the album. I hope you guys love this as much as I loved making it.”
 
Mirroring the cover art of the critically acclaimed I Hate Cowboys album, which features an image of his late father holding two Coors Banquets during the late ‘80s in Wyoming, Rice recreated that photo himself for Go Down Singin’ as he continues to honor the man who not only served as his childhood hero, but who also still shapes his music and the person he is today. That tribute is especially poignant with today’s release of the official music video for album track “You In ’85,” which features home footage of Rice and his late father. Watch below.

“I’ve always written songs like these but was never inspired enough to put them out,” he shared with the Tennessean. “Now I'm at a place where records I wasn’t inspired to let see the light of day define my career. Come hell or high water, this is the kind of music that I now make. For the first time in my career, people are buying into me more than drinking beers and enjoying the vibes I’m singing about.”
 
“Maturity and clarity are the reality on Chase Rice’s new album, Go Down Singin’,” declares Cowboys & Indians of the honest and vulnerable project, continuing, “Even though Rice launched his singer-songwriter career as a bro-country prodigy in 2011 when he penned ‘Cruise’ with Florida Georgia Line, that isn’t who Rice is. It’s who he was. Nowadays, Chase Rice is the seasoned artist behind what is sure to be one of 2024’s most well-received country albums of the year.”
 
“Stripping back to raw, acoustic elements, the album presents an authentic and deeply personal exploration of Rice’s life, career, and the emotional experiences that come with it,” adds Entertainment Focus. “Blending folk, country, and rock influences, Rice crafts songs that are both musically diverse and lyrically profound... From soulful acoustic ballads to anthemic rockers, each track tells a story, offering listeners a raw and heartfelt glimpse into Rice’s world. With its blend of introspection, nostalgia, and storytelling, this album solidifies Chase Rice’s growing reputation as a nuanced and mature voice in country music.”
 
As made evident by that introspective approach taken with the new music, Rice recognizes that life has to happen before you can really understand it. Playing football, getting hurt; NASCAR pit crews, moving on. Being swept up in a dream, hit singles, massive tours, stalling momentum. Growing up a good kid, but never quite becoming a man – and then suddenly the man you look up to the most is gone. 
 
Marveling at being a work-in-progress, he considers the 11-song cycle an arrival on the brink of “being the man my father always believed I could be.” He also knows that in the end, the things that matter about what you love have little to do with fame or money. Like every great athlete, it’s about the heart: how hard it beats, how deep it reaches into whatever it is. Now, after what seems like so many chances, the Florida-born, North Carolina-raised dreamer is making good on what his father told him so many years ago, “Boy, anyone can play guitar, but no one is gonna really listen to you until you start singing.”
 
And writing. Though he co-wrote “Cruise,” arguably one of country’s biggest songs this century, Rice realized he’d only been skimming the surface. With Go Down Singin’ Rice emerges as a spirit settling into a more philosophical place yet still wildly committed to living wide open in pursuit of his dream and being the best man possible. Whether measuring the pitfalls and triumphs on the lean fiddle’n’harmony assessment of “Oh Tennessee,” the cascading acoustic guitar passage of simple wisdom from father to son in “Numbers,” or the smoky looking back at first loves in “Little Red Race Car,” there’s a knowing appreciation for how he got here.
 
In a voice sturdy as a retaining wall, Rice confesses, “I’m 39 now, and that’s part of it. I’ve journaled since I was 15 years old, but there’s something about being able to tell other people. I’m a deep person, but I don’t know to show it in real life, so I’m trying to do it in my music. 

“For me, Go Down Singin’ is everything about where I am and what I want. I’m starting to see myself as who I want to be, not who I thought I should be. That’s a good start. And I think a lot of men struggle with this stuff, too.”
 
Getting honest, digging down, Rice shifted his approach. Working with Oscar Charles (Boy Named Banjo, Madeline Edwards, Elvie Shane), the pair worked to create a sound that was as honest, as real instrument grounded as the songs that were emerging. Written largely on guitars and piano, Go Down Singin’ shows a man reckoning with growing up.
 
“For one record, I thought I was Ed Sheeran. For one, I thought I was Florida Georgia Line,” he offers. “I was 22. I got into the party scene, I got lost. I didn’t know. I was very influenced by Eric Church, and wanted to be like him, though mostly, I was just so confused. You fall into things, being in the studio, and you look back…”
 
Now when Rice looks back, it’s for the sake of the songs. Reckoning with where he is, there’s a reflective sensibility that tempers the life rising and falling “That Word Don’t Work No More,” the honesty of “If Drinkin’ Helped,” and especially, “You In ‘85,” which sifts through memories of his father.
 
“That started as such a sad vocal. Oscar came in, started talking to me about what the song meant,” he begins. “I realized: this is a celebration and an opportunity. If you could sit down as a man now, have that one conversation with your father and say all the things… It shifted everything about who I am, and reminded me of all the small things that matter.” Pausing, he acknowledges, “I’m becoming the man he knew that I could be. I’m not there yet, but I’m getting there, getting to be someone my family can be proud of.”
 
As a writing process, “That Word Don’t Work No More,” “If Drinkin’ Helped,” “You In ‘85” and “Oh Tennessee” mark a creative – if seemingly unlikely – collaboration with three-time Grammy winner Lori McKenna, who is also featured on “That Word.” Known for vulnerable but clear-eyed emotion, the Americana force came to see Rice play in Boston and recognized the wounding and the promise inside him.

“I wanted to bring her ‘Oh Tennessee,’ because it was the story of moving to Nashville, getting anything you wanted and losing it all,” he recalls. “I knew she would understand, and from there, well, we had so much to say.”
 
Getting beneath the surface took hold. Even on fun songs like “Little Red Race Car,” the desire of burning through the mundane in “Fireside,” or the spoken voice-noted homage to fellowship, black dogs and tradition “Arkansas,” there’s a sense of detail and purpose that gets beyond slinging hooks. “You realize, even in a song like ‘Arkansas,’ you’re talking more about life than killing ducks; you’re talking about dogs and what’s going on. It’s so much more.”
 
And it’s also country music traditions. Like “Haw River,” a classic murder ballad based on avenging the children a bad preacher took advantage of. “We were in Wilmington, North Carolina, and there were four girls by the bus. One said, ‘I’m Kayla from Haw River,’ and my ears just went up. Blake said, ‘We should make that a murder ballad…,’ and we were off. Between the series ‘1923,’ about those priests beating up and raping Native American girls, and our imaginations, it got pretty dark.”
 
It also gets pretty light. “Hey God It’s Me Again,” a stately shuffle, takes stock of where he is, where he’s going and what really matters. Beyond taking stock, it’s as much a song of gratitude as it is begging for help, an ask for clarity and a place to go to feel connected.
 
“There’s a little bit of ‘Here I am again…’ for sure,” allows the man who’s had three No. 1s, his own sold-out tours and key stadium support slots with Garth Brooks and Kenny Chesney. “But I’m trying… I was a lost kid who lost his Dad. I’m not alone. I know lots of people struggle, too. The last record dealt with that loss, and this one is about taking all that and becoming who you’re meant to be. I wrote ‘Hey God’ with Randy Montana and Cory Crowder, and I remember saying, ‘I don’t want to write with a track, I just want to write with guitars today. I knew: this needed to be absolutely real.”
 
For more information, visit ChaseRice.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter/X and TikTok @ChaseRiceMusic and on Instagram @ChaseRice.

Photo Credit: Ben Christensen

About Chase Rice
With more than 2.6 million albums sold and over 2.8 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 independent album Go Down Singin’ available everywhere now as the follow-up to the critically acclaimed I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, Rice’s sound continues to evolve to reflect the realities of his life; from emotional reckoning to an admiration of the American West. The new music 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 recent Get Western Tour in support of his new music, and he is currently serving as direct support on Dierks Bentley’s Gravel & Gold Tour.

NIGHTWISH - Release New Album "Yesterwynde" + Drop Music Video for "Lanternlight"

The time has come, the clock strikes twelve and another era in the wonderful and literally fantastic history of NIGHTWISH has begun: Today, the Finnish Symphonic metal veterans release their new album Yesterwynde, a stunning journey through memory and monumental music. Known for heavy, orchestral, melodic, and folk trademarks, the band’s tenth studio album is a dark chest of wonders that, once opened, pulls the listener into a magical world beyond time.
Tuomas Holopainen about the new album:
"Yesterwynde is finally here and ready to open its cabinet of stories, timelessness & hope for you dear listener. We are infinitely grateful that we get to share this ocean and all of its islands with you all."

Stream the album here or get your physical copy:
https://nightwish.bfan.link/yesterwynde.a01

For this release, NIGHTWISH also offers fans the chance to listen to Yesterwynde on Roblox! Roblox is an online immersive platform boasting close to 80M daily active users globally. Nuclear Blast has partnered with four experiences RoBeats (music & rhythm), and RPGs Deepwoken, Dungeon Quest & World Zero, where users will be able to play the game while listening to the album from September 20th to September 22nd. Find out more here: https://nblast.de/nightwish-roblox

Together with the release, NIGHTWISH have dropped a music video for their song 'Lanternlight', an intense, quiet, reflective ballad touching themes of loss and mortality.

Tuomas on the video:
“Lanternlight” was the first song written for the album and the natural finale of the Yesterwynde journey. A love song, reaching for the timeless; a music to immortalize the memories of those dearest to us."

Watch the video below.

About NIGHTWISH
Working with NUCLEAR BLAST since the release of their highly lauded 2004 album Once, NIGHTWISH have gained international fame and success selling more than ten million records and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released six No #1 albums and thirteen No #1 singles. In October 2018, NIGHTWISH was inducted into the Tähtikatu – Walk of Fame Finland, becoming the honorary gallery's eleventh member. 2020 saw the release of the band's last studio record, Human. :II: Nature. that crowned the band's discography with another No #1 success in Finland and Germany as well several other impressive chart entries worldwide. 

Line-Up:
Floor Jansen | Vocals
Tuomas Holopainen | Keys
Emppu Vuorinen | Guitars
Jukka Koskinen | Basses
Troy Donockley | Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Bouzouki, Bodhrán, Aerophone, Vocals
Kai Hahto | Drums & Percussion

More info:

www.nightwish.com  
www.facebook.com/nightwish
www.nuclearblast.de/nightwish  
www.instagram.com/nightwish/ 
www.twitter.com/NightwishBand

Beartooth Announce "The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" + Share "ATTN." Video

Hot on the heels of their most successful tour to date – spanning 60+ shows across North America and over 100k tickets sold — and a year after the release of their chart-topping fifth album The Surface, which earned the band their first pair of #1 singles at US Active Rock radio ("Might Love Myself" + "I Was Alive") and nominations at the Heavy Awards and Libera Awards, Beartooth have even more good news to share with fans.

The platinum-selling and billion-streaming Columbus rock band — Caleb Shomo, vocals; Zach Huston, guitars; Will Deely, guitars; Oshie Bichar, bass; and Connor Denis, drums — have dropped The Surface (Deluxe Edition) today, September 20, via Red Bull Records. Get it here.

The expanded edition of the album features the brand new song "ATTN.," which you can listen to here.

Watch the video below.

In classic Beartooth fashion, it's rife with hooks, supremely catchy verses, arena-filling, sing-along choruses, and monster breakdowns. The anthemic highs are reflective of Shomo's introspective journey to finding and loving his authentic self. 

The high-energy video sees Shomo voyage through the subway system to his next stop, before taking an elevator back to the streets above — a metaphor for his professional and personal path from ground zero to the top.

"'ATTN.' is about the ultimate conclusion that I've come to after this whole album cycle and living with these songs for as long as I have now," says Shomo, who has spent the past few years diligently cultivating a positive mental attitude after years of sharing his inner demons via his lyrics.  "I think self-love has led to a deeper understanding of my value as a person, to myself and to others. I will always be proud of my art, and I will always be proud of the work that I've put in to say what matters to me. I think that's a great lesson for anybody to take in their own work and their own life."

Shomo continues, "Other people's perception of what you do does not dictate whether something is good or bad — that is only somebody's view. What matters is you, yourself, believing in your work and if it makes you happy and pushes you to be a better version of yourself. That is all that matters at the end of the day. Chasing that feeling and trusting it and finding a group of people that will empower you in that journey is what it's all about."

The Surface (Deluxe Edition) also includes new mixes of beloved album tracks and live cuts, the latter of which truly capture the band in its natural habitat — on stage and laying all of its cards face up on the table with and for their fans. The live renditions on the package were recorded at the Hard Rock in Sacramento, where they brought an unforgettable performance to a sold-out crowd. This fall, they’ll bring "ATTN." to audiences for the first time, as they embark on an 18-date run hitting iconic venues like Alexandra Palace.

Lastly, the track "In Between" is now officially an RIAA certified platinum single with over 1-million song sales in the U.S.

The Surface, was released in October 2023 on Red Bull Records. It has garnered 190 million streams to date, debuted at #1 on Billboard Hard Rock Albums, Luminate Alternative Albums, and Luminate Record Label Independent Current Albums, as well as #5 on Billboard's Top Album Sales. The single "I Was Alive" landed at No. 1 on both the Billboard Mainstream Airplay Chart and the US Mediabase Active Rock radio chart. Just six months prior, the album's previous single, "Might Love Myself," also hit No. 1 and was the band's first-ever chat topper at the format. Beartooth achieving back-to-back, chart-topping singles at radio was a huge testament to their decade of growth and the power of The Surface.

Like its predecessors, The Surface was an intensely personal and powerful journey for Shomo, who has never shied away from sharing his demons in his music and with his fans. However, the frontman has turned a corner with a more optimistic outlook and demonstrates exceptional growth as both an artist and a human being through the songs that comprise the album.

ABOUT BEARTOOTH:
Caleb Shomo first turned the pain of his struggle with mental health and self-image into music in 2013. Beartooth began as a living document, a diary, a journal of repressed rage and depression. Alone in his basement studio, screaming and singing, playing all the instruments, and self-producing a batch of furious but melodic songs filled with reflection and confession, the Ohio native stared into the abyss, initially with no intention of returning to the heavy music world that burned him as a teen. 

A decade later, the different pieces of his body of work connect in title, sound, and spirit. As the frontman hits 30, Beartooth's fifth album, The Surface, completes this era in 2023. Even more importantly, it kicks off a new chapter filled with surprising optimism and just as honest. Depression is a sick, disgusting, aggressive disease below the surface. Caleb stands ready to bask in the light.

In its celebrated debut, The Surface hit #1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Albums chart and #5 across Billboard’s Album Sales, Alternative Albums, Top Current Albums, and Vinyl Albums charts. A product of Beartooth's fervent fanbase and radio-ready hits, the band also earned their first #1's on the Mediabase Active Rock and Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay charts for both "Might Love Myself" and "I Was Alive."

Like Nine Inch Nails, Beartooth remains a one-person band in the studio. On the heels of the introductory Sick EP (2013), Disgusting (2014) produced BEARTOOTH’s first Gold single, "In Between." Aggressive (2016) and Disease(2018) expanded on the desperation and pain, each a step closer to a balance between the blood and tears of classic recordings and the shimmer of modernity.  

Rolling Stone heralded Beartooth as one of 10 Artists You Need to Know. The rabid response to Caleb's music demonstrated how many people related to his struggle for self-acceptance. Below (2021) topped the Rock and Alternative charts and several Best Rock/Metal Albums of the Year lists. Today, the Beartooth catalog boasts more than 1.3 billion streams across all platforms.  

Beartooth began as both bomb and balm, an outright refusal to suffer in silence, weaponizing radio-ready bombast, delivering raw emotion mixed with noise-rock chaos. Other bands play the "devastating riffs and catchy hooks" game, but this music is the difference between life and death, and now, a sort of life after death while still here. The band Forbes sees "inching towards a tipping point of becoming the latest arena headliner" is now one step closer.

Void Of Vision Release New Album "What I'll Leave Behind" + Share Video For "Neurotic"

"'What I'll Leave Behind' is an expressive and beautiful offering that sees experimentation and originality flourishing in the face of trauma and affliction…With new trajectories ahead, Void Of Vision is an unstoppable force to be reckoned with- and that is the message they will leave behind for years to come" — Wall Of Sound, 10/10

"Brutal, raw, emotive, gut wrenching despair and confusion. No thought is left off the page and those lyrics are sensationally captured in a musically refined album… Musically and visually, it’s almost a celebration track, a tale of freedom and acceptance. Now it’s time to take on the world" — HiFi Way

"This band just continues to reinvent themselves in the best possible way" — The Break Down With Nath + Johnny

Today, Melbourne's Void Of Vision release their fourth studio album What I'll Leave Behind via UNFD.

A stupefying collection of explosive riffs, viscous textures and serrated metalcore, What I'll Leave Behind finds Void Of Vision channeling their trademark wares into new and scintillating territory, redefining modern heavy music through a sharp and compelling lens.

Today, Void Of Vision also share a brand new video for the track "Neurotic;" the ultimate ode for vocalist Jack Bergin's road to self discovery alongside staggering odds.

"'Neurotic' is my own personal ego death anthem," Bergin shares. "I've spent so many years of my life in the most neurotic headspace. I've been a self-absorbed, egocentric, and overall shitty person behind the curtain and managed to pull it off under the guise of music. It only took until very recently to realise sometimes we all have to let go of a piece of ourselves to move forward and saying it all out loud in the moment is a part of that step that just makes it more real."
 
He continues, "Becoming self-aware and conscious of my own personal growth since radiotherapy has made me realize what's really important. The artificial fantasy we trap ourselves in is only built to last so long, feeling it all come to a halt is near bliss. I'm losing unnecessary connections, so many fake people and so much wasted time that is giving me more happiness than I have ever found within this bleak rat race. "
 
He finishes,"Unplugging from it all just feels so fucking good."

Watch the video for "Neurotic" below.

Tracing a long and harrowing personal journey for vocalist Jack Bergin, What I'll Leave Behind ultimately captures events that trace back to 2022 when Bergin woke up in an ambulance. Following a seizure and countless tests, Bergin would soon discover the fundamental, tectonic-plates-of-life shifting reason: he had a "glitch" in his head. An arteriovenous malformation (AVM), to be precise, a tangle of blood vessels in his brain, revealed by MRI and CT scans.

Balancing touring, music video filming and the recording of the CHRONICLES III: UNDERWORLD EP, Bergin's increasing exhaustion alongside his creative commitments prompted him to step back and reconfigure, adapting a shadow-self and creative gimmick dubbed the Angel Of Darkness, accompanying the single of the same name and aiming to help Bergin take space to get through each day, whilst still propelling Void Of Vision's artistic world forward.

Alas, the steps taken were not enough; in April of 2023, hospital visits and further scans revealed that the AVM had ruptured, and Bergin was suffering a brain bleed. Surgery was now essential; immediately it was clear that Void Of Vision's schedule, including headline shows, festivals and the recording of their next album, needed to be wiped clean, as Bergin was hospitalised for the foreseeable future.

Experiencing what he today acknowledges was little short of an existential crisis, Bergin spent the weeks in his hospital bed in a state of exhaustive, draining introspection, reflection and analysis, oscillating between contradictory emotions, facing his own mortality and questioning everything: "Was / is it all worth it? What am I doing with my life? Who am I without the band? What will I leave behind?"

From this state of conflict, Bergin’s internal war of attrition, came What I'll Leave Behind, Void Of Vision's fourth album, with the new album also finding Bergin and his bandmates, James McKendrick (guitar/vocals), George Pfaender (drums) and Mitch Fairlie (guitar) more focused than ever; the genre polyamory of the CHRONICLES era smelted and reforged into a sound that is distinctly, unmistakably, joyously their own. Nasty, heavy, yet sleekly surgical, it offers the perfect soundtrack for a journey from disaster to acceptance, via trauma, uncertainty, loss and learning.

Void Of Vision have solidified their standing as one of the most innovative and sonically explosive acts in the heavy scene for over a decade. From their debut EP, 2014's Broken // Bones through to 2016's Children of Chrome, 2017's Disturbia, 2019's Hyperdaze and the release of the amalgamated CHRONICLES series in 2023, a new future was heralded last year by the arrival of a standalone single Angel Of Darkness; an alt metal rager weighted equally by searing heaviness and pulsing pop, helmed by the titular Angel Of Darkness as the band's representative during the single's campaign.

With recent unforgettable performances at home and abroad in their wake alongside Stray From The Path, ERRA, Holding Absence, Polaris and the first ever edition of Knotfest Australia, Void Of Vision are currently on the road supporting Aussie juggernauts Parkway Drive on their gargantuan 20 Year Anniversary Tour in Australia, with a packed Brisbane show on Wednesday 18 September kicking of proceedings, a second show in Brisbane tonight to coincide with the release of What I'll Leave Behind, and shows still to come for Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and closing out in Perth.

Void Of Vision will also be returning to North America this November and December, supporting The Ghost Inside and also appearing as part of August Burns Red's annual Christmas Burns Red event.

"The most beautiful things / Are what I'll leave behind..."

VOID OF VISION ON TOUR:
WITH THE GHOST INSIDE:
11/21 — The Van Buren — Phoenix AZ
11/22 — Riverside Municipal Auditorium — Riverside CA
11/23 — The Catalyst — Santa Cruz CA
11/25 — Roseland Theater — Portland OR
11/26 — The Showbox — Seattle WA
11/27 — The Pearl — Vancouver BC
11/29 — Union Hall — Edmonton AB
11/30 — Palace Theatre — Calgary AB
12/ 1 — Knitting Factory — Spokane WA
12/ 2 — Knitting Factory — Boise ID
12/ 3 — The Depot — Salt Lake City UT
12/ 5 — Diamond Ballroom — Oklahoma City OK
12/ 6 — Emo's Austin — Austin TX
12/ 7 — House Of Blues — Houston TX
12/ 8 — House Of Blues — Dallas TX
12/ 10 — Brooklyn Bowl — Nashville TN
12/ 11 — Agora Theatre and Ballroom — Cleveland OH
12/ 13 — Newport Music Hall — Columbus OH

San Francisco's AURSJOEN unveils 'Nytår', an ethereal Nordic haunt previewing debut album

San Francisco-based artist AURSJOEN presents her debut single 'Nytår', a haunted beauty of a track that is both sensual and mystical. A nod to her Scandinavian ancestry, this reverie-infused music is lush, layered and sweepingly cinematic. Dark and light in equal measure, this dynamic slice of ethereal gothica is complemented by a haunting video, created by filmmaker David Kruschke.

AURSJOEN is the project of Ria Aursjoen, who is vocalist and keyboardist for critically acclaimed post-punk outfit Octavian Winters, who released their debut EP 'The Line or Curve' in 2023, followed by their 2024 'Nebula / Velveteen' single with electronic-industrial legend Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated). A classically-trained singer and multi-instrumentalist, her musical past is steeped in genres ranging from Celtic and Nordic folk to darkwave and progressive metal.

AURSJOEN's debut 'Strand' EP, slated for release on November 15 via Stratis Capta Records). Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Mephisto Waltz, Christian Death) at 13 Studio in Chicago, Aursjoen is joined by Octavian Winters bandmate Stephan Bryan Salit, who lends his creative flourish to the mix, contributing dynamic and atmospheric guitars on two songs.

This first single 'Nytår', which means 'New Year' in Danish, was written on New Year’s Eve of 2022. The world was slowly emerging from the pandemic and still seemed half-stopped. Ria Aursjoen nevertheless felt bright hope nested inside that cold night. Set in the gathering gloom of a timeless winter evening, with crystals of ice flying on the dark wind, this song is a meditative lament that captures the cold and dark before the song rises like the sun itself as the singer invokes the return of the light and warmth.

Ria Aursjoen reveals the origins of 'Nytår': "This song started when I was experimenting with a slow-moving string arrangement that captured my imagination and made me think of walking down a dark road in winter, against the wind. The more I saw the image in my mind, the more it reminded me of Denmark, where I spent years as a child. It especially reminded me of how the world looked and felt when I would go out with my ice skates in the winter twilight to skate on the pond near my house at the outskirts of Copenhagen, so I wrote the lyrics in Danish. Midwinter in Denmark is very dark and very cold with short days. You spend time dreaming of the spring returning, waiting for it. My memories of that time as well as the language itself transported me back to those feelings and guided the way the song evolved both lyrically and musically.”

Aursjoen comes from a familial line of musicians, her grandmother Lillian an opera singer and grandfather Morris a singer and self-taught multi-instrumentalist. Having taught herself to play piano by ear at age three, she considers it her instrument of choice for songwriting; “I have been playing for as long as I remember, so piano feels like an extension of myself, a native language if you like”.

Nevertheless, singing unlocked something even more powerful within her, even to the extent that she was frequently in trouble at school for disturbing other students by constantly singing to herself during class. She shares, “The neighbours would complain about me singing loudly outside their windows while I waited for the school bus. They told my mother they didn’t know what I could possibly have to sing about that early in the morning. Fortunately, my mother never took the complaints seriously and never tried to discourage me. She has been my biggest supporter, and a great friend, and I wouldn’t be here today as an artist if not for her.”

As someone who has synesthesia, a rare neurodiverse condition in which senses overlap, Aursjoen experiences sound as visual structures, colours and textures. As a child, she wrote her musical ideas down in a unique system of notation she created, based around her visual perceptions of music. She admits, “I avoided regular music notation as much as I could. I coaxed my mother (a great sight reader) into playing my piano homework. Then I’d listen and learn it by ear – eventually my piano teacher discovered I had been faking note reading and I had to buckle down and really learn it… I am glad I did, but I still find it clunky and unintuitive, and still write music in my personal system of notation.”

Aside from music, Ria Aursjoen is a published writer and visual artist, having won two national art competitions by the age of eight and illustrated a children’s book. She creates much of Octavian Winters’ artwork and currently works with inks and parchment velum to create palimpsest-style art.
 
As of September 11, 'Nytår' is available everywhere digitally, including Bandcamp. The full 'Strand' album, out November 15 via Stratis Capta Records, is already available for pre-order.

CREDITS
All songs written & performed by Ria Aursjoen
Arranged by Ria Aursjoen and William Faith
Guitars on 'Lilypad' & 'Apollo' by Stephan Bryan Salit
Produced, recorded, mixed & mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio in Chicago
Published by Airdaughter Music BMI
Released by Stratis Capta Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
'Nytår' video by David Kruschke
Cover artwork by Ria Aursjoen


Keep up with AURSJOEN
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

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

Vicious Rain Share New Single & Video

Swiss act Vicious Rain — vocalist David Häusermann, guitarist and vocalist Mauro Gugerli, guitarist Tristan Meier, bassist Loris De Notaristefano, and drummer Michael Teufelberger — have just released their brand new single, "Hysteria," featuring Half Me.

This fresh track from the Swiss rock band continues to build their emerging presence in the music industry. The release is perfectly timed with the eagerly awaited announcement of their debut album, There Is Beauty In Letting Go, set to drop on October 11 via Arising Empire.

"Hysteria" explores the chaos and emotional turbulence within a relationship where both individuals are deeply in love, yet they recognize their incompatibility. This powerful track conveys the intensity of facing the difficult truth and the emotional roller coaster that comes with choosing to let go. It poignantly highlights how love, even when it leads to separation, leaves an indelible bond between the individuals involved.

Watch the video below.

Stream the song and pre-order the album here.

Formed in late 2022, Vicious Rain are an alternative metalcore band hailing from Baden, Switzerland. The members bring several years of professional recording and live show experience to the mix. Combining influences as intertwined singing/screaming vocals — with a pinch of hope-infused singalongs, screaming melodic leads topped with crushing breakdowns — embracing everything from the heavy side of the genre all the way to the more intimate and melodic side. The band's spirit is marked by their shared belief in the importance of solidarity and the role of the individual accomplishment of a common vision. Lyrically, the band expresses its stance on recent and recurring personal matters, without mincing their words while believing that self-reflection is the key to growth.
 
VICIOUS RAIN ARE:
David Häusermann — Vocals
Mauro Gugerli — Guitar + Vocals
Tristan Meier — Guitar
Loris De Notaristefano — Bass
Michael Teufelberger — Drums

HELGA Winners of The John Lennon Songwriting Contest

Already, on their debut album, HELGA weaved together a dark and enchanting assortment. Wrapped in Mist shifts from progressive, Ennio Morricone-inspired folk to abrasive black metal and booming post-rock. "Simply put, this is an incredibly strong debut from a very talented group of musicians" New Noise wrote in a 4-star review. 

Today, the UK band are proud to announce that they've received another strong accolade. Their song "Burden" won the grand prize in the Rock category during the first session of this year's John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

"'Burden' is a song that was born out of friendship", HELGA says. "We never thought of it as something that could win a songwriting contest. We are utterly surprised, moved and honored to have won the grand prize. Thank you, JLSC, for believing in our music".

Their prize includes a Taylor AD17e acoustic-electric guitar and other recording gear. Next April, "Burden" will compete head-to-head with the Session II winner in an online vote to determine the overall winner for the Rock category.   

Watch the video for "Burden".

"Burden" recounts a tale of relinquishment and its complexity. Spectral strings and imposing drums converge into a reassuring mélange of emotions, as vocalist Helga Gabriel recognizes having finally found her place in this world.

"'Burden' was the first track that was written for [Wrapped in Mist]", guitarist Cai Sumpton told Knotfest. "I remember hearing the crescendo to the song… I was so blown away by that. I thought the vocals from Helga were stunning and I knew that it was my job to do that section justice. Helga loves post rock stuff, I used to be in a post-rock band. I just knew that was my time to shine".

"It's inspired by me moving away from Sweden to the UK and that sort of melancholy that I felt moving away from home, away from the woods", Helga told Knotfest during the same interview.  But also meeting Cai and Cameron [Gledhill], my bandmates, and the friendship that grew out of this whole thing. I really loved the post rock stuff that Cai and Cameron put into this. I was so happy about it".

Wrapped in Mist is now available on Season of Mist

Order

https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/HelgaWrappedInMist

Stream

https://orcd.co/wrappedinmistpresave

Lineup
Helga Gabriel - Vocals
Cai Sumption - Guitar
Cameron Gledhill - Guitar
Ryan Fairclough - Bass
Sami Javed - Drums

Recording
Guitars and vocals recorded by Tom Peters at Trapdoor Studios
Drums recorded by Bob Cooper at Chairworks Studios 
 
Production
Produced and mixed by Luiz Felipe Netto
Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege
 
Additional musicians 
Damian Bolotin - Violin on "Skogen mumlar", "Vast and Wild" and "Wrapped in Mist".
Antonio Guerra - Grand piano on "Mountain Song" and "Vast and Wild".
Mafram do Maracanã - Percussion on "Skogen mumlar" and "Wrapped in Mist"
Bruno Migliari - Double bass on “Mountain Song”, “Skogen mumlar” and “Wrapped in Mist”
Luiz Felipe Netto - Acoustic guitar on "If Death Comes Now" & "Wrapped in Mist", as well as additional electric guitars, keyboards and string arrangements. 
Ayran Nicodemo - Violin on "Mountain Song", "Skogen mumlar", "Vast and Wild" and "Wrapped in Mist"
Bruno Serroni - Cello on "Farväl" and "Vast and Wild"
Joe Zeitlin - Cello on "Farväl", "Mountain Song", "Skogen mumlar", "Vast and Wild" & "Wrapped in Mist"

Cover art by David Thiérrée

Album layout by Per Wiberg

Photos by Ester Segarra

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

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

Available formats:
CD Digibook
Digital Download
12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold ​- Transparent Clear
12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Black & Yellow "Sunburst"
Merchandise

Links
https://helgamusic.bandcamp.com
https://facebook.com/helgadalarna
https://instagram.com/forestchildhelga

Photo by Ester Segarra

OPETH Announces Postponement of New Album, 'The Last Will and Testament,' Due on November 22, 2024

Swedish prog legends OPETH announce that the release of their 14th studio album, 'The Last Will & Testament,' has been postponed to November 22, 2024 due to unforeseen delays in the manufacturing process.

OPETH’s frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt comments: 

"We strive to deliver the highest quality product possible, and to achieve that, we need a bit more time to ensure the final release meets our standards. We understand this may come as a disappointment, but we sincerely appreciate your patience and continued support. We can't wait to share this new music with you, and we are confident it will be worth the wait.

Following the critical acclaim of their first single "§1", the band just released second single "§3" - Listen Below.

Pre-Order ‘The Last Will & Testament’: HERE

Opeth's fourteenth album was written by Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). ‘The Last Will & Testament’ was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and Opeth, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of Opeth mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on ‘The Last Will & Testament’ were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting "photograph" reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's infamous "Overlook Hotel" photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, Queen) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.

Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flautist and Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson's signature notes fly on "§4" and "§7", he narrates on "§1", "§2", "§4", and "§7". Joining Anderson, Europe's Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on "§2”, while Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1".

‘The Last Will & Testament ‘is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of Opeth's finest material to date. Just as Opeth welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story—this time with growls.

In addition, OPETH will be celebrating the release of 'The Last Will and Testament' with headlining tours in North America, the UK, and Europe! The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are now on sale HERE.

GET TICKETS HERE

OPETH North American Tour Dates (w/ TRIBULATION):

10/11: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave / Eagles Club

10/12: Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater & Ballroom

10/14: Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre

10/15: Montréal, QC @ L’Olympia

10/16: Worcester, MA @ Palladium

10/18: Brooklyn, NY @ Kings Theatre

10/19: Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE

10/20: Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre

10/22: Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle

10/23: New Orleans, LA @ Fillmore New Orleans

10/24: Austin, TX @ Emo’s Austin

10/25: Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theatre

10/27: Denver, CO @ Mission Ballroom

10/29: Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren

10/30: Los Angeles, CA @ YouTube Theater

10/31: San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

Lineup:

Mikael Åkerfeldt – Vocals, guitars

Fredrik Åkesson – Guitars, backing vocals

Martin Mendez – Bass guitar

Waltteri Väyrynen – Drums and percussion

Joakim Svalberg – Keyboards, backing vocals

Special Guests:

Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) - spoken word (tracks 1, 2, 4, 7) // flute (tracks 4, 7)

Joey Tempest (Europe) - backing vocals (track 2)

Mirjam Åkerfeldt - spoken word (track 1)

All Music and Lyrics written by Mikael Åkerfeldt

Lyrical concept by Mikael Åkerfeldt, dramatic consultation by Klara Rönnqvist Fors

Produced by Mikael Åkerfeldt

Co-produced by Opeth and Stefan Boman

Engineered by Stefan Boman, Joe Jones and Opeth

Mixing by Stefan Boman and Mikael Åkerfeldt and Opeth at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe, Stockholm, Sweden

Mastering and vinyl lacquer cut by Miles Showell at Abbey Road studios, London, UK

Strings conducted by Dave Stewart at Angel Studios, London, UK

Strings arrangement by Mikael Åkerfeldt and Dave Stewart

Drum technicalities by Kit Cunningham

Artwork by Travis Smith with directions from Mikael Åkerfeldt

Biography by Dom Lawson

About Reigning Phoenix Music

Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme, hard, and heavy music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists, by offering best services and practices in the industry. But most important is to help the artists amplify their art and talent to a winning formula for success!

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VOLA Release New Track "Cannibal" featuring Anders Fridén of In Flames (via Mascot Records)

Today, VOLA revealed their pulverizing new single, "Cannibal," which features In Flames’ Anders Fridén on vocals. The song is taken from their upcoming album, 'Friend Of A Phantom,' which will be released on November 1 via Mascot Records. You can watch the official video below, which also features Anders Fridén.

Talking about the song, the band says, "VOLA's music is heavily shaped by melodic death metal, so having Anders Fridén from the legendary In Flames featured on 'Cannibal' is a dream come true for us. We feel truly fortunate and are enormously proud of the result."

Anders Fridén explains how he got involved with the song, saying, "I have been a fan of VOLA since their first album. They are constantly evolving and, to me, are one of the most interesting bands out right now." He continues, "During the recording of our last album, I had the opportunity to meet the band and witness an incredible show at The Troubadour in LA. Cut to a few months later, I was approached if I would be interested in being on a song for their next album. It was a yes without hesitation. It's an honor to be part of this monster of a song. Bang your head if you know what's good for you!"

VOLA elaborated on how the collaboration and song came about: "When we toured North America in the fall of 2023, Anders and Björnfrom In Flames attended our concert at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. They came backstage before the show to chat with us, and it turned out they were big fans of the band. Quite a surreal experience, given that In Flames have played a huge part in forming our musical DNA. When we came home from the tour, we dug deep into recording 'Friend Of A Phantom', and during that process, we began discussing whether "Cannibal" would benefit from having guest vocals. We all agreed that having some really powerful screams in there would elevate the song, and having just created a bond with Anders meant that it was the easiest decision in the world to ask him if he wanted to be a part of the track. Anders quickly said yes to participate, and eventually, he both recorded vocals and came to Denmark to shoot the video with us. We were thrilled, to say the least!"

The song marries the euphoric and epic but complex and crushing sound that has become distinctively VOLA with a visually stunning video to accompany the song. "Working with Vertigo and Riivata Visuals on the music video was incredible,” they add. “We filmed the video in a gigantic hall in Denmark, with plenty of big lights and lasers, including a large triangle light at the back of the hall. To top it all off, Anders came to Denmark to join us and be part of the video. It was a fantastic experience, and the footage captured the heavy side of VOLA in its essence."

They have already released three singles from the album. "Paper Wolf" sees an old-school metal atmosphere creep into their blend of sounds. "Break My Lying Tongue" offers a deep dive into themes of misalignment and emotional vulnerability, whereas the most recent single, “I Don't Know How We Got Here”, interweaves stories about tragic events in society with a story about a relationship slowly dying out. "It seeks to portray the feeling of disbelief that follows when something valuable vanishes right in front of us," explains Asger Mygind.

It has been three years since the release of VOLA's defining album, 'Witness.' They've since wrapped up two tours of the US with several venues upgraded due to overwhelming demand, as well as sold-out shows in New York, L.A., and Chicago. Their first tour of Canada resulted in sold-out shows in Toronto and Montreal, and they rounded off the continent with triumphant South American shows in Mexico, Brazil, and a sold-out show in Chile. The Danish-Swedish quartet - Asger Mygind (vocals/guitar), Martin Werner (keys), Nicolai Mogensen (bass), and Adam Janzi (drums) - are now to set free their fourth studio album. Their strength has always been combining a multitude of ideas within a single song, packing it in with a grandiose power that can be as ferocious as it can be delicate.

EXTREME Share "Save Me" Video

"Save Me" is the impressive ninth video from EXTREME's album SIX, released in June of 2023 on earMUSIC. If first single and video "Rise" was a reminder of EXTREME's power and precision and the latest "Beautiful Girls" a relaxed summer jam, "Save Me" reveals yet another facet of the band's depth and the album's diversity.

SIX finds the band on a creative roll and having produced an astounding nine videos from the album, there's no sign of them slowing down.

Watch the video below.

Directed by SIMPLEXITY PICTURES who have done all the SIX music videos this far ... the dynamic duo, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt and Rene Rigal.

"This video was shot with a very claustrophobic feel to show the raw emotion of the heavy subject matter of the song," says Bettencourt.

"It was important to shoot like this to create a lack of oxygen in black void as if 'we' are the voices in your heads... in our own heads, to visually put across the psychological battle of whispers and screams we have all dealt with in coping with life's challenges"

Gary Cherone's schizophrenic vocal in the verses is the dark narrator in our heads taunting and pushing us to a dangerous edge: "Save me from myself / save me from this hell..." is our voice that is screaming in our heads but often painfully silent on the outside.

Nuno further explains, "The viewer sometimes can't tell where one face ends and the other begins. Like we are small pieces of a human jigsaw puzzle... with one rule... that we will never see the full finished puzzle." Of our full selves.

Reaching a crescendo with Nuno's stinging solo, the video ultimately ends in a dark place, but as Nuno and Gary intended...it is a song of hope...in a dark reality.

"YOU ARE NOT ALONE. There is always someone to call when all seems hopeless."

STREAM SIX HERE.

THE SPEED OF SOUND unveils 'Apocalypse Acropolis' from 'Victory' album. 'A Cornucopia' trilogy marks the band's 35-year anniversary

"Buzzing fuzz guitar lines emerge from a delicate acoustic introduction to intersect with the crashing chords and the ‘bulbous pulsing’ rhythm section" ~ Record Collector Magazine

"it’s clear that the sonic kaleidoscope presented on The Speed of Sound’s new album is worth the wait - a musical compass in a direction we should all explore" ~ The Spill Magazine

“Unmistakeable sound a winning formula” ~ The Big Takeover

“A triumph of industry, imagination and talent, coolly novel and damned addictive” ~ Louder Than War

‘Unique and other worldly” ~ Vive Le Rock

“A form of Art-Pop that is wry, incisive, yet a deeply listenable examination of post industrial culture” ~ Rock At Night

"A riotous maelstrom of musical mayhem” ~ The Manc Review

Manchester indie rock / power pop outfit The Speed Of Sound present their new single 'Apocalypse Acropolis', a thoughtful chapter of the album 'A Cornucopia: Victory'. Released via Big Stir Records, 'Victory' is the second of the three-album set 'A Cornucopia: Minerva, Victory, Bounty'. They also recently shared several tasters, including 'Underground' and 'The Same River'.  

Grounded yet trippy, this song brings a sobering view of the future. A 12-string picking pattern gives way to elevated vocals and overdrive, all while surveying a dead civilisation of industrial ruins and artefacts overtaken by nature, reclaiming the crumbling walls and empty windows of once self-important commercial buildings. All the workplace stress and crushing pressure of deadlines amounted to nothing. Industrial decay merges, becoming inseparable from the ruins of war which drives so much of that trade.

Full of ambition, energy and melodic brilliance, this three-album deluxe edition is available on vinyl and CD. Accompanying the earlier-released 'Minerva' album, The Speed of Sound shared videos for the hauntingly spacious 'Trickledown', the stratospherically vast 'The Great Acceleration', the uplifting 'Mind Palace' and 'West Wind', where a recklessly fast rhythm merges with a Wagnerian horn section.

Formed in 1989 with a pre-history dating back to the day Andy Warhol died in 1987, the band is now made up of father and son John Armstrong (guitars and vocals) and Henry Armstrong (keyboards), Ann-Marie Crowley (vocals and guitar), Kevin Roache (bass guitar) and John Broadhurst (drums). 

Their music has always been idiosyncratic and counter-intuitive, in search of something new. Creating music with lyrical bite, expanding their foundation of 1960s, punk and new wave influences, their dynamic and stylistic variation crossing borders and pushing boundaries at every opportunity. 

Following 2021's critically acclaimed album 'Museum Of Tomorrow', the band returns triumphant, defiant and redemptive with this trilogy, marking their 35th anniversary. Most music is never even recorded, and most recorded music remains unheard. 'Victory' is a celebration of this unheard underground music and the counterculture itself - music made for the pleasure of making it. 

'Victory' includes 14 wide-ranging pieces of unheard and highly contagious fresh and unexpectedly shape-shifting grooves. From the supremely danceable 'Underground'through the unabashed sensuality of 'Monsoon' to the gothic lounge jazz of 'Permafrost' and the strangely linked pairing of 'Apocalypse Acropolis' and 'Apocalypse Metropolis', they offer something special here.

From the hypnotic orange-and-sandalwood scented wisps of masala rock in 'Rock Paper Scissors', acoustic powered spaceflight 'in From The Cradle To The Stars' and the reckless garage punk punch of 'Go For It', it becomes clear. There is the data scraping warning of 'X-Y Axis', the post-nostalgia of 'The Same River',and swaggering rock with a pinch of Brazilian sway in 'A Walk By The Sea', while 'E to F' displays glam rock tendencies and a pinball metaphor before the soaring harmonies of 'Empathic Reaction' and ending with the triumphant shimmering elegance of 'Tranquility Falls'.

As of September 20, the 'Victory' album' is available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where 'Minerva' and the full trilogy 'A Cornucopia: Minerva, Victory, Bounty' can also be obtained on CD or vinyl. The third album - 'Bounty' - shall be released at a later date. 

CREDITS
All songs written by John Armstrong
John Armstrong - guitars and vocals
Ann-Marie Crowley - vocals and guitars
Kevin Roache - bass guitar
John Broadhurst - drums
Henry Armstrong - keyboards
Bob Dinn - trumpet and flugelhorn
Chris Guest - harmonium, vibraphone, organ, shakers, tambourine
Alex Armstrong - typewriter on 'Yet Another Tuesday'
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at Vibratone Sound Studio in Manchester by Chris Guest, Adam Crossley and The Speed of Sound
Main sleeve image: Purple Spaceman © Lina Landers 2022
Artist photographs by Shay Rowan
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Keep up with The Speed Of Sound
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Mastadon | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Big Stir Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Mixcloud | YouTube

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Smartpunk Records Drops Roses Are Red "Conversations" 20th Anniversary Vinyl Re-Issue

Roses Are Red's iconic emo/melodic rock album Conversations was first released on September 21, 2004. Two decades later, the band is celebrating the milestone with three vinyl variants re-released via Smartpunk Records.

It is available on vinyl for the first time via Smartpunk Records here.

During the era of its original release, the band took the emo scene by storm on the Vans Warped Tour in 2004 and 2005, the Take Action Tour in 2006, on tours with My Chemical Romance, Alkaline Trio, and Hawthorne Heights, and in features with Alternative Press, Revolver, Outburn, and more. 

This pressing includes the band’s cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Cherub Rock" and a demo version of "Time Signals Progress." The band will also be performing a special "20 Years of Conversations" show on September 21, 2024 in Rochester, NY. The band’s second album What Became of Me has also been pressed to vinyl for the first time, and will be available September 21.

Roses Are Red is actively releasing new music in 2024 with their first release in 18 years, with "Memento" embodying the modern nostalgia of the elder emos.

Listen to "Memento" below.

When asked about the anniversary release, vocalist Vincent Minervino says,"Revisiting Conversations and the scene around it feels like reconnecting with an old flame. We all have those butterflies in our stomach, just like seeing a DM request from your first love. The entire experience means so much to us, and we couldn't have been more thrilled when Smartpunk approached us about a vinyl pressing to celebrate the 20th anniversary. We can't wait to play the songs again on stage with our old friends, and we are super excited for this new chapter of the band."

ABOUT ROSES ARE RED:
Blurring the line between aggressive melodic rock and hook-driven emo, Roses Are Red came together in late 2002 in Rochester, NY. Claiming influences ranging from Jimmy Eat World to Def Leppard, the quintet debuted in 2003 with the ten-song Handshakes and Heartbreaks on Enterprise Records. Touring behind Handshakes, the band caught the attention of Trustkill Records, signed in early 2004 and entered the studio that summer with Chris Badami (The Starting Line, The Early November). A stint on the summer's Warped Tour preceded the arrival of their label debut, Conversations, that September. Roses Are Red stayed on the road, hitting Europe with Underoath and Silverstein, and returning to the U.S. for 2005's Warped. Sharing stages over time with bands like My Chemical Romance, Story of the Year, and Bullet For My Valentine helped their fan base grow even further. Working with Brian McTernan (Thrice, Circa Survive), the band's next effort, What Became of Me was released in June 2006 as one of Alternative Press's "Most Anticipated" that year. The band participated in the Take Action Tour 2006 alongside Matchbook Romance, The Early November, and Chiodos. In 2024, the band reformed after a 17-year hiatus to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of Conversations and released brand new track "Memento."

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (Remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they're a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' Mutiny and Gameface's Good, they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds — putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake's Anthem, Nominee's Lowlife, RIVALS' Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest.

Pop Evil announce U.S. tour with Bad Wolves

Modern rock powerhouse POP EVIL return with the new single "What Remains."

It's the dawn of a new era for Pop Evil, which the band promises will be its most sonically heavy.

You've been warned, because the track, with its thunderous riffs and rhythmic thrust, fulfills that promise.

 Watch the lyric video for the song, which was produced by Wage War's Cody Quistad Below.

Kakaty continues, "We are also proud to officially announce the newest member of the Pop Evil lineup — Blake Allison." Allison is replacing departed member Hayley Cramer on drums, joining Kakaty and fellow bandmates, guitarists Dave Grahs and Nick Fuelling, and bassist Joey "Chicago" Walser.  

Pop Evil has recently announced its Fall 2024 tour plans. The band will embark on "The Animal Instinct Tour," which is a co-headline run with Bad Wolves. Sierra Pilot and Oni will serve as support. The trek kicks off October 30 in Jacksonville, North Carolina and runs through November 30 in Lexington, Kentucky.

SELL ALL POP EVIL TOUR DATES HERE