FEUERSCHWANZ Releases Black Metal Version of “Schubsetanz” + Official Video

February 11, 2021

Limited 7" Picture Vinyl out April 22, 2021 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW!

FEUERSCHWANZ goes Black Metal!

German medieval rock masters FEUERSCHWANZ have released a black metal version of their own tremendous hit “Schubsetanz” together with an official video. The song will be available as a strictly limited 7'' picture vinyl, out April 22, 2021 via Napalm Records, which also includes a live version of "Kampfzwerg" (Fighting Dwarf) from the band’s latest chart-breaking studio album, Das Elfte Gebot (GER #3).

FEUERSCHWANZ premiered this diabolic offering for the first time at a recently-celebrated concert live stream, Die Letzte Schlacht. "Schubsetanz (Black Metal Version)" showcases a whole new facet of the six-piece in the most trve and evil way.

FEUERSCHWANZ about the song:

"'Schubsetanz ist Rittersport' (Schubsetanz is a sport made for knights) - for years this song from the album Methämmer is a fan favourite at our concerts! We love the moment when hordes of metal-clad heavy metal warriors unite for the most beautiful of all dance styles, full of grace and violence: The 'Schubsetanz'! That's why the song made it onto the setlist of our legendary 11:0:A gig and was celebrated there in a special, corona-compliant way - packed into airtight rubber balls and to the sound of a specially created black metal version, we celebrated the moshpit - 2020 corona style!

However, fans noticed that this unpolished rough diamond in all its raw violence deserved its own version and immediately started an online petition demanding a full-length version.

We, as humble servants of our fans, spared no expense and effort and descended through the nine circles of hell, broke the seventh seal and snatched the tape from the incarnate himself, where those sounds were banned, that should have been hidden."

FEUERSCHWANZ in corpse paint with blast beats and double bass - what sounds like an incompatible mix turns out to be a perfect symbiosis on "Schubsetanz (Black Metal Version)". Hauptmann Feuerschwanz and his comrades-in-arms show us their dark and evil side in incomparable FEUERSCHWANZ style on this exquisite cover of their own hit single. As a bonus track, the vinyl’s B-side will feature a live version of "Kampfzwerg" (Fighting Dwarf), recorded at the live stream event Die Letzte Schlacht. Both tracks will be available digitally as well.

Schubsetanz (Black Metal Version) will be available in the following formats:

-7" Picture Vinyl (limited to 500 copies)

Pre-order your copy Straight out of Hell NOW:

FEUERSCHWANZ are:

Hauptmann Feuerschwanz - vocals, guitar

Johanna von der Vögelweide - violin, hurdy-gurdy

Sir Lanzeflott - drums

Jarne Hodinsson - bass

Prinz Hodenherz - flutes, bagpipe, vocals, guitar

Hans der Aufrechte - guitar

Leeds-based music mavericks I LIKE TRAINS release 'The Truth (Vessels Remix)' Follows up the 'KOMPROMAT' LP, their first album in 8 years

February 11, 2021

“I Like Trains are too smart for most, or too interested in realism and fate when so many are content to indulge inwashy escapism” – The Quietus

“This is grand civic music, less to be listened to and more to be visited like a museum or war memorial, and all the more interesting because of it” – The Guardian

“The group takes its listeners on a trip down the shadowy back alleys of British history. It's all quite incredible, in every sense” – Pitchfork

Leeds-based trailblazers I LIKE TRAINS present a searing take on post-truth politics gets a hefty bass-heavy rework by Vessels. The electronic artist re-envisions a more upbeat version of ‘The Truth’, the lead track from the band's hard-hitting ‘KOMPROMAT’, their fourth studio album, released in 2020 via Schubert Music’s recently founded Atlantic Curvelabel.

The band has also announced a string of tour dates, slated for autumn 2021. Tickets may be obtained at iliketrains.co.uk/shows.

Formed in 2004, I LIKE TRAINS is David Martin (vocals/guitar), Alistair Bowis (bass), Guy Bannister (guitar/synths), Simon Fogal (drums) and Ian Jarrold (guitar).

“I don’t usually have a remix in mind when it come to our own music, but ‘The Truth’ was always designed to make people move, and it seemed logical to gear it up properly for the dance floor," says I LIKE TRAINS vocalist David Martin.

"We asked for something dark, relentless and filthy and Vessels delivered it in spades. Our bands go a long way back. We were playing shows together in Leeds basements when we were starting out, and have gone on to take our own paths and carve out our own niches. We’ve always been close so it’s great to be able to come together again, and take stock of those journeys.”

A resonant and timely rally against the powers-that-be, this ominous offering is the latest leg of the expository musical quest, following singles 'Dig In' and 'A Steady Hand', both of which also offer videos by long-time visual collaborator Michael Connolly - congnizant reactions to a world that has changed beyond all recognition. They also recently shared a series of deepfake remixes of the

Their latest musical output digs beneath populism’s rise, from the divide and conquer tactics that caused Brexit in the UK, to Trump’s ascent and the subsequent reign of lies and misinformation, to discover the grubby hands that have engineered it all.

'The Truth (Vessels Remix)' is out now, available everywhere online, including
Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify. ‘KOMPROMAT’ is also available digitally, on black vinyl LP, limited edition silver vinyl LP and CD. All formats can be ordered via Bandcamp.

Death Metal heavyweights NO RAZA have unleashed a brand new and killer video clip for the track "Atrición".

February 11, 2021

Formed in 1997 in Colombia, South America, now based in Florida, US, NO RAZA's latest, critically acclaimed album, Transcending Material Sins, was released on March 20th 2020 through German powerhouse label Noble Demon. Eleven powerful and merciless Death Metal anthems, following in the footsteps of Grave, Asphyx and Obituary!

Get your ears and eyes on it and watch the music video for "Atrición"

Vocalist Juan Guillermo Cano about the song:
"Atrición (Attrition) is repentance through the eternal punishment and suffering of sin that is experienced by having harmed both living beings and our main goddess called Mother Earth, an offense that must be paid through tribulation and eternal martyrdom. This is a very special video because it was made during these difficult times for humanity, it is the result of everything that our kind has destroyed and damaged throughout his path in this planet, now it is only the beginning of an era of fury and condemnation from the sacred nature."

NO RAZA is:
Juan Guillermo Cano (Vocals - Guitar)
Jairo Hernán Gómez (Drums)
Mike Spillane (Bass)
Camilo Sanchez (Guitar)

Find NO RAZA online:

Official Website

Facebook

Twitter

Find NOBLE DEMON online:

[photo credit © Tim Tronckoe] POWERWOLF - Vinyl Re-Release of Gold Status Album Blessed & Possessed out April 9, 2021 via Napalm Records

February 11, 2021

Pre-Order Your Copy NOW!

With their latest internationally successful outputs, the high priests of heavy metal, POWERWOLF, have truly proven that metal is alive and they are at the top of the scene: While heavy metal’s finest are constantly working on Call Of The Wild, the successor to their globally acclaimed full-length, The Sacrament Of Sin, they are also offering a new, very special treasure to their fans.

Their 2015 album Blessed & Possessed, which achieved Gold status for the first time in the Czech Republic and held fast at the top of the German charts for several weeks, will now be re-released in a vinyl edition on April 9, 2021 via Napalm Records.

Once again, POWERWOLF prove that they truly deserve their title as one of the most successful metal bands of today! Their latest Best Of album, Best Of The Blessed (which charted on #2 in the German album Charts), highlights their impressive career in glorious style - and the upcoming re-release is just the beginning of a very heavy 2021, including the release of the new studio album Call Of The Wild and the bombastic Wolfsnächte 2021 tour!

Purchase your vinyl copy HERE:

The Blessed & Possessed vinyl re-issue will be available as:

- LP Gatefold Marbled White/Black, inclusive exclusive A1 Blessed & Possessed poster (strictly limited to 300)

ABOUT POWERWOLF:

The story of POWERWOLF, beginning in 2004, reads like a true fairytale, but is the result of the most hard-working and entertaining live band on the heavy metal planet. POWERWOLF has not only received plenty of Gold and Platinum awards to date, but numerous releases have entered the official German album charts at the pole position #1. With Blessed & Possessed (2015), POWERWOLF achieved Gold status (in the Czech Republic) for the first time, while the predecessor, Preachers Of The Night (2013), hit the official German album charts at #1 and the incredible DVD, The Metal Mass (2016), came in at #1 of the German DVD-Charts. POWERWOLF's holy mass in the name of heavy metal is unstoppable – their latest magnum opus, The Sacrament of Sin (2018), again entered the album charts at #1. The accompanying, almost completely sold out Wolfsnächte headline tour, in which POWERWOLF headlined large venues with their phenomenal stage performances, became a single major triumph - as well as the numerous summer festival shows in which crowds were thrilled and completely captivated by the ‘wolf and their unique, (un)holy metal mass. With the new studio album Call Of The Wild and the Wolfsnächte 2021 tour charging through the largest halls in Europe, 2021 will again be a year completely under the sign of the wolf pack!

POWERWOLF are:

Attila Dorn – vocals

Falk Maria Schlegel – organ

Charles Greywolf – guitar

Matthew Greywolf – guitar

Roel van Helden – drums

EMPTINESS Streams New Album 'Vide' in Full

February 11, 2021

The shape-shifting Belgian quartet EMPTINESS returns with 'Vide,' their first new album in four years. 'Vide' (the French word for empty) sees the band veer away from the mechanical foreboding of 2017's 'Not For Music' into a more introspective and deconstructed direction. It unfolds like a fever dream, with each track falling into hazy rhythmic patterns and featuring haunting vocals that hang in the ether.

Founded in Europe's center of gravity, Brussels (BE), in the year 1998, EMPTINESS embarked on their musical journey with a burning vision to delve deep into darkness and horror. While the band was taking musical inspiration from different extreme styles such as black and death metal, the Belgians approached the music in an open minded manner of continuous experimentation.

Following their inception, EMPTINESS first released the two demos 'Eternal Rising' (2000) and 'Necrorgy' (2002) that received a remarkable welcome in the underground. Yet with each new album, 'Guilty to Exist' (2004), 'Oblivion' (2007), 'Error' (2012), and 'Nothing but the Whole' (2014), the Belgians were also increasingly leaving a mark in mainstream music press.

EMPTINESS scored the devil's luck and won the perfect production set-up to create new sinister soundscapes during the recordings of 'Not For Music' in 2017. After recording in their own Blackout Studio, the Belgians received an invitation to further enhance the production of 'Not for Music' by Jeordie White aka Twiggy Ramirez (MARILYN MANSON, A PERFECT CIRCLE, NINE INCH NAILS). The final mix and mastering was done by Sean Beavan (GUNS N' ROSES, NIN, SLAYER).

'Vide' (2021) was meant as a claustrophobic album, a journey of an infinite mind stuck into a world too small. Questioning the essence of once perceptions, this album invites you to rethink your grasp of reality. To that end, it was important for EMPTINESS to be isolated during its experimentations. Recordings would take place sometimes in confined spaces like apartments or a cabin in the woods, and sometimes on a city roof allowing to contemplate a strange human world from above. Involvement was strictly limited to the band members who took care of all audio production and visuals work. The pandemic and lockdown happened while recording was in progress; a materialization of the imaginary world being created. The album either by coincidence or not, is in tune with our dissonant times.

Line-up
Jérémie Bézier: Bass, Vocals
Olivier Lomer: Guitar, Synths
David Alexandre Parquier: Synth
Jonas Sanders: Drums, Percussions

Style: Misery Pop

Recording Studio & Sound Engineers:
Recorded with a portable recording setup, in an apartment, a cabin in the woods and a rooftop. Drums recorded in Blackout studio (BE).
Producer/Sound engineer: Jérémie Bézier
Mixing & Mastering: Jérémie Bézier

Cover art: Olivier Lomer

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

For more on EMPTINESS, visit the band's official FACEBOOK, WEBSITE, and BANDCAMP.

"Emptiness is an old man, isolated for too long, bitter, he's changing again." Belgian dark metal outfit EMPTINESS has teamed up with the prestigious Roadburn Festival to premiere the full album stream of their new opus 'Vide' ahead of tomorrow's release! You can now listen to the album in full.

EMPTINESS comments on the stream:
"Nothing to enjoy here, it's death.
Enjoy death."

'Vide' is due on February 12 and is completely produced by vocalist/bass player Jérémie Bézier, who is trying to create something authentic and avoid all external energies. The tracking mostly happened during the Belgian lockdown, in his apartment and rooftop 7th floor in Brussels. Pre-orders are now available HERE.

THIRDFACE DEBUT NEW SINGLE "NO REQUIEM FOR THE WICKED"

February 11, 2021

DEBUT FULL LENGTH DO IT WITH A SMILE
OUT MARCH 5TH VIA EXPLODING IN SOUND RECORDS

LISTEN: "No Requiem For The Wicked"

PREORDER: Do It With A Smile

"Thirdface deliver a crushing brand of hardcore." - Consequence of Sound

“Thirdface aren’t fucking around.” - Stereogum

“...gloomy post-hardcore, whiplash-inducting punk, metallic riffage, and more.” - BrooklynVegan

“A searing and innovative take on hardcore” - Treblezine

“Hardcore of the cathartic, nasty kind” - VISIONS

The Nashville hardcore group Thirdface debuted their latest single “No Requiem For The Wicked” from their upcoming debut album, Do It With A Smile, due out on March 5th via Exploding In Sound Records. Premiered today with Consequence of Sound, “No Requiem For The Wicked” is a direct call-out of clout chasers and those that take from their communities but never reciprocate. The fiery track puts Thirdface’s vicious hardcore on full display with a pummeling introduction before ripping into equally heavy and varied intricacies, all well under the 2-minute mark. “No Requiem For The Wicked”, which follows the widely lauded lead single “Villains!”, is also available to stream now on YouTube, Bandcamp, and Spotify, and pre-orders for the album are available here.

Nashville, as a music scene, breeds variance. It’s about as unpredictable as Tennessee weather, where shockwaves of different genres create ripple effects larger than a mixed bill. Coming together from different projects and spaces within the DIY community, Thirdface — vocalist Kathryn Edwards, bassist Maddy Madeira, guitarist David Reichley, and drummer Shibby Poole — blends together the resilient work ethic of their surroundings and the guiding principles which allow them to flourish past a night of local sets. Thirdface applies this knowledge through the furrowed brows of hardcore, references to horror films and Black westerns, and an unrelenting approach that saves no breath. And on their debut full-length (and first outing for Exploding in Sound Records), they Do It With a Smile.

While the band’s demo was written entirely by Reichley and recorded by Poole, Do It With a Smile is Thirdface’s first collaborative effort. Poole recorded it in the attic of a standalone garage where the majority of the band lived at a critical point of transition. That said, their record carries with it what was forced into harsh relief that year: frustration at the cyclical torture of wage slavery, ever-present and ever-thin allyship and feminism, and a low hum of negative thoughts, hopelessness, and the struggle to survive in an unforgiving world. Edwards turns those dark moments into relentless examples of catharsis, whether by using Buffy the Vampire Slayer as a stand-in (“Chosen”) or directly addressing evils in a community, like clout-gobbling men (“Local”) or exceptionalizing allies that speak over who they claim to support (“Ally”).

Thirdface’s brand of Southeast hardcore is informed by the storm clouds that circle over the working class and Black people in the South. Do It With a Smile seeks retribution for all of these crimes: sometimes in the world of Clive Barker, oftentimes in the communities that will receive it. It’s a wild and tumultuous journey. But tonight, Thirdface rides.

Tracklist:
1. Customary
2. Local
3. Chosen
4. Grasping At The Root
5. Buck
6. Ally
7. Villains!
8. Legendary Suffering
9. No Requiem For The Wicked
10. Interlude
11. No Hope
12. No Relief

Download Press Photo (Credit: Diana Zadlo)
Download Artwork

Canadian Alt-Metal Favorites SUMO CYCO to Release New Album, Initiation, on May 7, 2021 via Napalm Records

February 11, 2021

Pre-Order HERE

Watch the Energetic Music Video for Brand New Single “Bystander”

Canadian alt-metal crossover stars SUMO CYCO are about to transcend into an explosive new era with their upcoming full-length, Initiation, scheduled for release on May 7, 2021 via Napalm Records! Interlaced with infectious heavy metal grooves, pop-perfected hooks, electronic undertones and a dose of punk flavor, Initiation breaks all the rules while delivering a cohesive yet purely unbridled sonic adventure.

SUMO CYCO has cemented their name by garnering an impressive legion of fans with their hardworking attitude and storybuilding prowess. With Initiation, SUMO CYCO takes it to a whole new level – demonstrated by their new single, “Bystander”! Crowned by expert, airtight vocal domination from Juno-nominated pop star-turned-rock frontwoman Skye “Sever” Sweetnam, the track features an aggressive, fast-paced attack of low, grooving metal riffage, relentless drums and slinking electronic accents. Its accompanying music video reflects the track’s energetic, chaotic vibe with sharp, vivid visuals. Don’t just be a bystander, check it out now!

Frontwoman Skye “Sever” Sweetnam says about “Bystander” and its video:

“‘Bystander’ was inspired by the frustration of our lives turning upside down in this pandemic. I felt like instead of living my life, I was now a slave to a screen, watching the world fall apart right before my eyes, totally helpless. The music video depicts my character trapped in a floating house watching news events taking place on TV, and at the same time, right outside my window. This entire video was produced, filmed and edited by Matt and I in our home studio!”

Initiation invites a mass of new followers into their warped, dystopian-like world of “Cyco City”! As with its predecessors Lost In Cyco City (2014), Opus Mar (2017) and countless singles, Initiation is based in the imaginative conceptual location of “Cyco City”. But unlike most concept albums, the lyrical content is inspired by the band’s real-time environment – featuring timely, personal themes of love, sacrifice, anxiety, empowerment and more that all listeners can relate to.

Sweetnam adds about the album:

The album’s title, Initiation, stems from wanting to invite the audience to be “initiated” into our world. There are usually two congruent themes to each of our albums – one is real-world inspiration, and the other is “Cyco City”, a comic book-esque alternate universe where all our music videos take place. With Initiation, we introduce four gangs or clubs. Our music videos for Initiation all include a theme of these clubs – whether it’s gang vs. gang, a forbidden love between opposing sides, or the idea of having to choose where you belong.

Outside of the story, the lyrics relate to the polarization of the world we live in now. We all have a longing to belong, but what makes one feel accepted or ostracized from a group? To be INITIATED, would you be willing to try to understand another point of view? I have always written lyrics about internal struggle, the war within oneself. Throughout the album, we bounce back and forth between struggle and overcoming. It reflects the times, and there are moments that seem a bit dark.”

Pre-order Initiation HERE

At the album’s start, SUMO CYCO lights a spark with the seductively hooked track “Love You Wrong”, connecting like a punch and setting the stage for the vigor to come. The blitz continues with standouts like lethal room-mover “Bystander” and electronic-infused, in-your-face rock anthem “Vertigo” – the latter standing tall with its airtight, gritty pop sensibility and featuring the production mastery of Juno Award-winning producer Kane Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, In This Moment, Papa Roach). Swiftly followed by erratic, addictive nod-to-the-times “Bad News” and heavy, creeping success “No Surrender”, Initiation proves not even halfway through that the band’s songwriting ability and the commanding performance prowess frontwoman Skye “Sever” Sweetnam, guitarist Matt “MD13” Drake, bassist Oscar Anesetti and drummer Matt "Trozzi" blend a recipe for greatness. The album continues winding through a mastery of heavy-meets-pop execution before ending with the full-throttle, sugar n’ salt packed album closer “This Dance Is Doomed” (while various editions cap off with sultry, confident “Awakened”).

By the end of Initiation, listeners will wonder just what exactly SUMO CYCO can’t do, proving them as a band on the rise, and that unconventionality always stands out from the pack.

Initiation tracklisting:*

1) Love You Wrong

2) Bystander

3) Vertigo

4) Bad News

5) No Surrender

6) M.I.A.

7) Cyclone

8) Run with the Giants

9) Overdrive

10) Power & Control

11) This Dance Is Doomed

12) Awakened (not available on standard digital version)

*Various new tracks, such as “New Jive” and “We Are The Nation” are available in different groupings on various formats of Initiation (i.e. Die Hard Limited Edition).

Initiation will be available in North America in the following formats:

- Digital Album

- CD Digipak

- LP Gatefold Orange Vinyl

- Die Hard Limited Edition: LP Gatefold Purple/Yellow/Pink Inkspot Vinyl + 7” Orange Transparent Vinyl Single w/ Two Bonus Tracks + Signed Photo (Napalm Mailorder only – limited to 300 worldwide)

Die Hard Limited Edition: LP Gatefold Purple/Yellow/Pink Inkspot Vinyl + 7” Orange Transparent Vinyl Single w/ Two Bonus Tracks + Signed Photo (Napalm Mailorder only – limited to 300 worldwide)

SUMO CYCO is:

Skye “Sever” Sweetnam – vocals

Matt “MD13” Drake – lead guitar

Matt "Trozzi" – drums

Oscar Anesetti – bass

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SIRENIA Releases Energetic Third Single, Cover of Desireless’ ‘80s Hit “Voyage Voyage”

February 10, 2021

New Album, Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, out this Friday, February 12

via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW!

French-Norwegian symphonic metal institution SIRENIA will unveil their tenth studio album, Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, this Friday, February 12 via Napalm Records. The 11-track album skilfully portrays the band's multifaceted nature and offers a versatile symphonic metal vortex through splicing heavy sounds with modern influences.

After releasing catchy first single “Addiction No. 1” in late 2020, followed by smashing “We Come To Ruins” shortly after, the four-piece around mastermind, bandleader, multi-instrumentalist, composer, songwriter and producer Morten Veland now offers another surprise and presents the third single, “Voyage Voyage“, a cover of Desireless' 1986 hit. With this bonus track on Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, SIRENIA once again successfully combine symphonic soundscapes with electronic vibes, showcasing a whole new facet of their ability while staying true to their roots at the same time. Presented in her mother tongue, the lyrics fit perfectly for France-based singer Emmanuelle Zoldan.

Mastermind Morten Veland on choosing “Voyage Voyage” for the album:

"As our new album is influenced by the eighties to some extent, we thought it would be fitting to do a cover version from this era, and include it as a bonus track on the album. 'Voyage Voyage' by the artist Desireless is one of my favourite songs from this decade and it was a very interesting song to cover. In terms of covers, I love to find songs from a completely different genre and then put SIRENIA's touch and sound to it. It never made any sense to me to do a cover version of a different rock or metal band, as the versions would end up too similar anyway."

A modern ride straight into the heart of symphonic metal!

On Riddles, Ruins & Revelations, SIRENIA remain as true to their album title word-play as they do to their dedication to symphonic soundscapes, drawing the listener into a pounding narrative about the darkest aspects of life. All eleven songs accumulate step by step to an integral sound artwork, where the versatile mezzo soprano voice of singer Emmanuelle Zoldan always shines in high-profile. In addition, there are many enchanting, instrumental surprises lurking on the way that absolutely need to be discovered: With the opening"Addiction No. 1" the formation delivers an immense and catchy tune that will have fans of bands like Beyond The Black and Amaranthe falling in love immediately. "We Come To Ruins" is directed at all the headbangers out there and offers a contrast of harshness. With "Downwards Spiral", Emmanuelle is supported by the remarkable voice of long-time friend Joakim Næss on clean vocals, who has joined the band on previous releases.

Most parts of Riddles, Ruins & Revelations were recorded at Audio Avenue Studios in Stavanger, Norway, and mixed and mastered entirely by Morten Veland himself.

Morten Veland states:

"Riddles, Ruins & Revelations is SIRENIA's tenth studio album. The album is very diverse, as a SIRENIA album should be. There's a lot of material that shows the band from a new side, and there is lots of material that is to be expected from the band musically. All in all, the album will take the listeners through a journey that will cover both familiar and unexplored musical landscapes. We hope that you will enjoy the journey."

Pre-Order Riddles, Ruins & Revelations HERE:

Riddles, Ruins & Revelations will be available in the following formats:

-CD Digipack + Wristband

-CD Digipack

-Digital Album

[CD Digipack + Wristband – Napalm Shop]

SIRENIA is:

Morten Veland - guitars, bass, vocals, keyboards, programming

Nils Courbaron - lead guitar

Emmanuelle Zoldan - vocals

Michael Brush - drums

Connect with SIRENIA online:

Fellini-inspired fantasy rockers Moonshine Booze return with new 'Pandemonio' album

February 10, 2021

"Catchy and fun.. a mix of desert rock with bluesy influences... closer to Terrorvision or Black Eyed Snakes" – Rebel Noise

"Awesomely whacked-out... fun and engaging like a circus side-show" – Amplify Music Magazine

"Captivating music... your next earworm... sacred rock fire" – IThink Magazine

"Piquantness, reverie, melancholy and boozing, these are their coordinates for a very special blues country feeling... when you return from this journey, you will have something more in your head and in your heart, you'll have visited many places, your pants will be dirty, bullets will whistle past your head, and chairs and bottles will be flying" – IYE Magazine

"This band masterfully blends rock and blues with some good darkness, producing a nice thick dark sound, without giving up lighter shades, creating a good hybrid" – Given to Rock

Moonshine Booze present their new 'Pandemonio' album, released on January 15 via Overdub Recordings. This is the band's second album, following up their 2018 debut album 'Desert Road', released via Seahorse Recordings.

Ahead of this new LP, the band released two singles: 'The Hole' and 'The Tide', each having its own surreal boisterous video (the second is directed by Jessica Montebello).

With classic rock elements and balanced rhythms, 'Pandemonio' showcases the band's unique alt-indie rock with bizarre variations; a twisted and cynical mixture of spaghetti-rock soaked in bluesy tones. Through hard work with retro style arrangements, plenty of colour has been injected into all 15 songs, appearing in a specific order to create a linear journey. The raw, cutting and electrified sound is framed by their vision and extravagance.

“The political and social turmoil of the past years have given all of us enough pressure, and to us, the release of the 'Pandemonio' album represents a new dawn; the creature has been freed. In this work, our sound has become even more sharp and eclectic, and for this, we have to thank the vastness of red wine that has fueled our inspiration,” says guitarist Emiliano Zapata.

Moonshine Booze formed in the summer of 2014 in Teramo, Italy. This trio is Andrea Manila (vocals), Emiliano Zapata (guitar) and Fabio Manchos (drums). Having been active on the music scene for over twenty years in various bands, both in Italy and The USA, the trio has gathered and relaborated experiences from different musical genres, putting them to good use in their new project.

Initially, this band just wanted to put out a series of classic covers from Johnny Cash to Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Little Walter and J.B. Leinor, but this has turned into something so much more. Combining grit blues rock with alternative country, Moonshine Booze's music has been described as psychedelic country blues-tinged rock, as well as brazen desert alcoholic acoustic rock.

'Pandemonio' will be available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music and Spotify, and it can also be obtained directly from the artist via Bandcamp. Released through Overdub Recordings, this record is distributed throughout Europe, in both digital and in physical formats, via code 7/Plastich Head.

CREDITS
Andrea Manila - Vocals & Bass
Emiliano Zapata - All Guitars & Vocals
Fabio Manchos - Drums & Percussions
Songs, lyrics and production by Moonshine Booze
Arranged by Emiliano Zapata
Recorded and mixed by Marco Pallini at Skunk Studio
Mastered by Luigi Di Eugenio at Labora Studio
A&R by Marcello Venditti - (P) Overdub Recordings - ©Moonshine Booze
Photos by Lama Donna
Artwork and Layout by Emiliano Zapata

TRACK LIST
01- The Hole
02 -Too Many Questions
03 - The Tide
04 - What If
05 - Crazy Again
06 - Trouble Man
07 - The Spoiled Princess
08 - Ponderosa
09 - Seeing Me In Trouble
10 - Pandemonio
11 - Right The Ship Jack
12 - Beyond The Moonlight
13 - Keep On Turning
14 – Little Love
15 – Pulse

Keep up with Moonshine Booze
Facebook | Soundcloud | Bandcamp | YouTube | Instagram | Apple Music| Spotify | Booking

London indie pop-rock outfit Distant Voices previews 'Lights of The City' single ahead of debut LP

February 10, 2021

"Loud, swift, positive and loaded with youthful adventure... An uber-rad track with upbeat tempo and high expectations as the author sets off across Europe on a quest for fun and discovery. We love it and so will you" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Hybrid child of Iggy Pop and Kenny Logins, this is one artist who should definitely be on your radar for 2021. High energy, positive vibes, and a vivacity that makes you want to get on the dance floor and rip it!" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"A styled hook and a vibrant sense of musical self" ~ Jammerzine

Straddling several genres at the same time, Distant Voices has announced the forthcoming album 'Long Road To Home'. Ahead of this, they are previewing the high-velocity rock n' roll lead single 'Lights of The City' complete with a fast-moving video, created by Alit Gonzalez.

Based in London, Distant Voices is the solo project of Valdis Stekelis, who wrote and began writing these tracks in 2019, finally finishing a year later due to the delayed realities of the UK lockdown. The band name itself was chosen during that period to reflect these unusual times, where live music (as we have previously experienced it) is a scarce occurrence and where we consume music with a less personal connection to the people making it.

Like the tracks on the album as a whole, 'Lights of the City' was inspired by Stekelis' travels around Europe, based on events from that extensive journey. This lead track reflects the beginning of this trip with all its excitement and promise, but also a light sense of anxiety about what lies ahead.

This album was recorded at EAS Studios near London in collaboration with producer-engineer Ed Sokolowski, who has worked on albums by Melanie C, Fleur East, Hugel, David Archuleta and Lukas Rieger. Sokolowki mixed and mastered this album, as well as co-producing it with Stekelis. Joe Montague also contributes drums on multiple tracks.

"This is the first body of work completed under the Distant Voices name, which I am very keen for people to hear and hope that they will enjoy it. The album was inspired by events that happened during my journey around Europe in 2019 and, in fact, they appear chronologically in the track listing," says Valdis Stekelis.

"There is a range of different feeling tracks on the album – from lively to melancholy and also psychedelic. They are tied together - both in terms of the subject matter and also due to the underlying elements of a retro feel with electronic flavour. It was a lot of fun to make and is truly inspired by events that really affected me at the time".

As of February 17, 'Lights of The City' will be available everywhere digitally. The 'Long Road to Home' album will be released on March 26 and can already be pre-ordered from the artist via Bandcamp.

TRACK LISTING
01. Lights Of The City
02. Stranger Among Friends
03. Walk Along The Cobblestones
04. I Need A Friend
05. Nothing Really Happened In Vienna
06. Halfway To Rome
07. View From Lake Geneva
08. Last Night In Amsterdam
09. I’m Coming Home

Keep up with Distant Voices
Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify

POP EVIL PREMIERES MUSIC VIDEO FOR LATEST SINGLE “BREATHE AGAIN”

February 10, 2021

NEW ALBUM VERSATILE COMING IN SPRING 2021
VIA ENTERTAINMENT ONE

STREAM: "Breathe Again"

Michigan's own, POP EVIL, debuted the official music video for their latest hit single “Breathe Again”, from a string of hit singles the band has dropped during the turbulent year of 2020, including “Let The Chaos Reign” and “Work”, which rose to one of their fastest Top 10 hits yet. The video marks the first set of visuals from their sixth full-length, Versatile, that’s expected this spring via Entertainment One (eOne). The futuristic and partly animated video, directed by Johan Carlén captures Pop Evil in a new light as they dive into their greatest stylistic shift to date, striking on some of their heaviest moments as a band while still balancing their unflinching groove with cinematic melody.

POP EVIL has been a staple at major festivals and in theaters and clubs for over a decade, despite the group's relative youth. As they've ruled the roost with No. 1 Billboard Rock singles like "Trenches," "Deal with the Devil," "Torn to Pieces," "Footsteps," and "Waking Lions," they've taken their inspired message to the people, on tours with modern rock titans and veteran acts alike. The band bunkered down in Los Angeles in the winter of 2019 to put the finishing touches on the yet to be titled new album due out in 2021 via eOne. The band also enlisted new creative teams of producers and collaborators to emphasize the band's sound's uniquely varied aspects.

As "Breathe Again," "Let The Chaos Reign," and "Work" might suggest, the contrast and fearless genre-defying cross-cultural pollination have never been more pronounced than on album number six. The preproduction process yielded close to 30 songs, whittled down to the most potent 12 representing everything about POP EVIL. This new effort will be the highly anticipated follow up to their self-titled album that came out two years ago to high critical praise, with outlets like Loudwire saying, "their self-titled effort continues that delivers a solid top-to-bottom listen." Collectively, the band's previous five albums account for over 600 million worldwide streams.

POP EVIL is: Leigh Kakaty (Lead Vocals), Nick Fuelling (Lead Guitar), Dave Grahs (Rhythm Guitar), Matt DiRito (Bass), Hayley Cramer (Drums)

An Homage to Three Decades of Explosive Metal:

February 10, 2021

Napalm Records to Release BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT’s EP, Paint The Sky With Blood, on April 23, 2021

Pre-Order Your Copy HERE

"Like ourselves, Alexi was beyond stoked about these songs and anxious to get these out so we are happy that we can fulfill his wish. Needless to say that we are honored and proud to be a part of his very last creative work and unleash it the way he wanted it to. It’s time to let the beast out of the cage one more time as a celebration of Alexi’s music, legacy and the man himself."

- BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT

In 2020, the news was flooded: Led by the extremely talented Alexi Laiho, newly formed supergroup BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT was about to become the striking successor to legendary metal band CHILDREN OF BODOM. Their sonic plans were massive – including an EP release in the spring followed by a full-length album later in the year.

The EP, Paint The Sky With Blood (out April 23 via Napalm Records), was recorded in Finland back in 2020 and was meant to be the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Sadly, that chapter ended far too soon, and now, the three-track piece embodies a whole new meaning. Paint The Sky With Blood is an overwhelming tribute to an outstanding artist and an exceptional sonic heritage – matchless late guitarist/vocalist Alexi Laiho – and at the same time, a modern homage to the genre itself.

A storm of raging guitars and blaring drums merge with Alexi Laiho’s versatile vocal power, leading into a heavy attack – title track “Paint The Sky With Blood” – opening the 14 minute EP of the same name. The track is strikingly reminiscent of early-CHILDREN OF BODOM elements, while also adding exciting modern influences into the fold. Second stunner “Payback’s A Bitch” and its massive riffing are on a quest for retribution, delivering a hard-hitting, second to none offense. The interplay of Alexi Laiho, guitarist Daniel Freyberg, drummer Waltteri Väyrynen (Paradise Lost), bassist Mitja Toivonen (ex-Santa Cruz) and live keyboardist Vili Itäpelto is not only a testament to the band's extraordinary musical ability, but also showcases their skill in deftly incorporating a variety of genre influences.

Closing cover track “Where Dead Angels Lie” is an absolute triumph – originally performed by Swedish extreme metal formation Dissection, the track shines as a timeless classic with a new edge. Eerie riffs and vocals alternating between menacing murmurs and characteristic guttural, distorted vocals stay faithful to the original while branding this version with an undeniable BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT punch.

Paint The Sky With Blood Tracklisting:

01. Paint The Sky With Blood

02. Payback’s A Bitch

03. Where Dead Angels Lie (Dissection Cover)

Paint The Sky With Blood will be available in the following formats:

- 10" Spined Sleeve Oxblood

- 10" Spined Sleeve Inkspot Ox/Black

- 10" Spined Sleeve Black

- Deluxe Box

- 1 Digipak Mini CD

- Digital Album

BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT are:

Alexi Laiho - guitar & vocals

Daniel Freyberg - guitar

Mitja Toivonen - bass

Waltteri Väyrynen - drums

ALTARAGE Reveals New Album Details, Shares First Single

February 10, 2021

Enigmatic Spanish metal extremists ALTARAGE will be releasing their next full-length, 'Succumb,' on April 23, 2021 via Season of Mist Underground Activists! The album artwork, tracklist, and additional details can be found below. In conjunction, ALTARAGE has dropped the first chaotic single, "Magno Evento," which can be found along with a visualizer

ALTARAGE comment on the track: "Life’s a bitch. Get high. Succumb. Die."

'Succumb' is available for pre-orders now at THIS LOCATION.

ALTARAGE deliver exactly what the underground buzz around them promised. Their fourth full-length, ‘Succumb’ is bristling with black and dissonant death metal fury that immediately evokes a plethora of sinister images in the brain. Its origin lies in the destructiveness of nostalgia, among other things……

Little is known about this secretive death metal collective, except their origin from Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque country of Spain. In 2015, ALTARAGE unleashed a demo simply entitled after its year of release, ‘MMXV’ generated massive interest in the extreme metal scene around the globe. This was soon followed by the debut album ‘NIHL’ in 2016 and their second full length ‘Endinghent’ in 2017 which received high praise from critics and fans alike. In 2019, Their relentless soul-crushing sound was sending the scared mind on overdrive once again with their third album ‘The Approaching Roar’.

ALTARAGE now return to mercilessly drag you into an abyss of nightmares and twisted meanings. ‘Succumb’, in their own words, calls the doom inhabitants to reach a whole nothing. Welcome to this new dimension of sonic darkness.

Style: Extreme Metal

Producer/Sound engineer: Altarage
Mixing & Mastering: Altarage

Cover art: David Jorquera

Available formats:
CD Digipak
LP in various colours
Digital

For more on ALTARAGE, visit the band's official WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, and BANDCAMP

Life Of Agony's ALAN ROBERT Pays Homage To Rock Royalty With Newest "The Beauty of Horror"

February 10, 2021

The Beauty of Horror - 'Haunt of Fame' out This Fall via IDW Publishing

SAN DIEGO, CA (February 10, 2021) – With four fearsome coloring books, two seasonal specials, and a haunted journal under his belt, Alan Robert — creator of the coloring book phenomenon The Beauty of Horror and bassist/songwriter for the legendary metal band Life of Agony — is proud to announce the newest edition of the bestselling IDWseries, The Beauty of Horror 5: Haunt of Fame. As with its preceding fourth volume (the wildly successful Creature Feature), 'Haunt of Fame' plunges a sharp knife into the very heart of pop culture!

“It’s like a twisted wax museum filled with all of my favorite pop culture stars,” explains Beauty of Horror creator Alan Robert. “Similar to how Ghouliana took on horror icons in the last book, this time she tackles rock royalty, sports heroes, and famous faces from TV and film. It’s a bizarre mash-up that’s equally horrific as it is hilarious. I really can’t wait to see what coloring fans do with these freaky designs!”

Join the terrifying tyke Ghouliana and her merrily-macabre squad of walking horrors as they spend their 15 minutes with the most famous celebrities to ever brighten our cultural landscape. While coloring the 80 pages of detailed, hand-drawn designs, be sure to help the fan-favorite fiend find all the ghastly memorabilia and easter eggs hidden throughout. The Beauty of Horror 5: Haunt of Fame is presented in the original size and double-sided format that fans love.

The Beauty of Horror 5: Haunt of Fame Coloring Book

by Alan Robert

ISBN 978-1-68405-867-9

$16.99 US / $22.99 CAN

88-page, black-and-white square-bound softcover, 10” x 10"

On-Sale: 9/7/21

“Alan Robert consistently delivers some of the most original and engrossing coloring experiences in the market,” says Nachie Marsham, publisher of IDW. “With its creepy aesthetic and passionate embrace of pop culture iconography, the Beauty of Horror line welcomes a diverse adult audience that’s eager to let loose with their mischievously creative side.”

Ahead of Haunt of Fame’s autumn release, June 2021 will see the debut of the highly-anticipated The Beauty of Horror Tarot Decks, inviting fans and curious newcomers to glimpse the future in two terrifyingly tempting variations: Fear Your Future and Color Your Destiny. Both sets contain 22 major and 56 minor arcana cards, all illustrated by Alan Robert. Fear Your Future is a more traditional tarot set featuring fully-colored standard-sized tarot cards (colored by Locke And Key’s Jay Fotos), while Color Your Destiny has black-and-white oversized tarot cards that are uncoated and ready to color! Each Tarot Deck comes packaged inside a collectible keepsake book with a ribbon lift, ready to add to any discerning tarot card collection.

The Beauty of Horror: Fear Your Future Tarot Deck

by Alan Robert and Jay Fotos

ISBN 978-1-68405-816-7

$29.99 US / $39.99 CAN

78 full-color cards featuring linen finish; standard tarot size 67 x 126mm

On-Sale: 6/15/21

The Beauty of Horror: Color Your Destiny Tarot Deck

by Alan Robert

ISBN 978-1-68405-815-0

$29.99 US / $39.99 CAN

78 uncoated, black-and-white cards; oversized tarot size 80 x 150mm

On-Sale: 6/15/21

Special Note: Fans who supported The Beauty of Horror Tarot Deck Kickstarter will receive their decks and additional goodies beginning in May/June.

With the exciting new Beauty of Horror developments outlined above, now’s the perfect time to experience what GQ calls “an extraordinary collection of deeply unsettling images,”and The Wall Street Journal calls “scary fun!”

Be sure to follow IDW on social media for the latest information regarding IDW’s complete line of The Beauty of Horror products!

For Further Reading:

The Beauty of Horror 1: A GOREgeous Coloring Book • B&W • $17.99 US / $23.99 CAN • ISBN 978-1-63140-728-4

The Beauty of Horror 2: Ghouliana's Creepatorium Coloring Book • B&W • $16.99 US / $22.99 CAN • ISBN 978-1-68405-070-3

The Beauty of Horror 3: Haunted Playgrounds Coloring Book • B&W • $16.99 US / $22.99 CAN • ISBN 978-1-68405-308-7

The Beauty of Horror 4: Creature Feature Coloring Book • B&W • $16.99 US / $22.99 CAN • ISBN 978-1-68405-708-5

The Beauty of Horror: Ghosts of Christmas Coloring Book • B&W • $12.99 US / $16.99 CAN • ISBN 978-1-68405-332-2

The Beauty of Horror: Tricks and Treats Halloween Coloring Book • B&W • $12.99 US / $16.99 CAN • ISBN 978-1-68405-603-3

The Beauty of Horror: Haunt This Journal • B&W • $14.99 US / $19.99 CAN • ISBN 978-1-68405-756-6

About Alan Robert:

Alan Robert is the creator of several critically-acclaimed graphic novels: Wire Hangers, Crawl to Me, Killogy, The Shunned One, and The Beauty of Horror, a bestselling series of horror-themed adult coloring books. Robert is also well known as the bassist/songwriter for the hard rock group Life of Agony for over two decades. A Brooklyn native, Alan’s journey as a comic book creator began at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he attended on a scholarship and studied cartooning under legendary Thor comic writer/artist Walter Simonson.

About IDW;

IDW (OTCPINK: IDWM) is a leading media company providing uniquely compelling stories and characters in various genres for global audiences across all entertainment platforms. The award-winning IDW Publishing and IDW Entertainment divisions holistically evaluate and acquire IP for franchise development across comics and graphic novels, television, theatrical, games, merchandise, and other entertainment platforms, in addition to bringing world-renowned storytelling to life with our creative partners.

THE HIRSCH EFFEKT Announce New EP GREGÆR Out March 26th via Long Branch Records

February 10, 2021

German progressive metal three-piece THE HIRSCH EFFEKT have announced a new EP, titled GREGÆR, for March 26th, 2021 via Long Branch Records.

With GREGÆR, The Hirsch Effekt delivers a unique EP that shows a different side of their musical work. Together with 17 young classical musicians from Hannover, DE, the band recorded orchestral versions of their songs "Natans", "Domstol", and "Kollaps", as well as the brand new song "Gregær". All tracks have been newly arranged for this project by Anthony Williams. On GREGÆR these four recordings now merge into an EP, which will be available as a strictly limited LP version as well as streaming and download.

Pre-Order GREGÆR here: https://smarturl.it/the_gregaer

THE HIRSCH EFFEKT Line Up:

Moritz Schmidt (Drums)

Nils Wittrock (Guitar, Vocals)

Ilja John Lappin (Bass, Vocals)

For More Info Visit:

https://www.facebook.com/thehirscheffekt

https://www.instagram.com/thehirscheffekt

http://www.thehirscheffekt.de

MEMORIAM Release Second Trailer for New Album 'To The End' Out March 26 on Reaper Entertainment

February 10, 2021

Onwards into battle, one more time...In the two years since MEMORIAM released 'Requiem For Mankind', the band haven't rested on their laurels. Their fourth studio album, 'To The End', is due for release on March 26 via Reaper Entertainment.

Today, the band presents the second album trailer for their upcoming studio record. Let lead vocalist Karl Willetts explain more about the lyrical concept and the connections with the album cover via the video Trailer.

The second digital single "Failure to Comply" will be released on February 26th, 2021.

You can pre-save the single on Spotify now: https://smarturl.it/FailureToComply

ICYMI:

The first album trailer can be seen here: https://youtu.be/lfjU9vr8P0E

The lyric video of the first digital single "Onwards Into Battle" can be seen here: https://youtu.be/goDKHYj-UFY

Karl Willetts states:

"Onwards into Battle" is the opening track from the new album "To the End". A powerful introduction that sets the tone of the album and gives the listener a taste of what is to come. Lyrically the track provides continuity from the previous album "Requiem for Mankind" and is similar in many ways to the track "Fixed Bayonets". The lyrics focus on the start of battle "Zero Hour" which is appropriate for the start of the album. Within the theme of "War" the lyrics explore the brutally of trench warfare specifically. The war continues. Let battle commence."

You can pre-order 'To The End' here: www.reapermusic.de/memoriam-end

Marking the beginning of a second trilogy of albums, To The End serves as something of a prologue to the first three MEMORIAM albums. Working backwards and narrating the life story of the leader whose demise was depicted in the first trilogy, the lyrics on the album may play out in a fictional realm, but they incorporate inspiration from real life. A central theme of war is coloured with political fulminations and everyday experiences that combine to create a cohesive and enthralling chronicle.

The four-piece returned to producer, Russ Russell, for the recording of To The End. For the first time, the band demoed the songs and entered the studio with a new level of preparedness. Coupled with their close relationship with Russell, this created an environment that allowed for greater experimentation, as demonstrated by the diverse array of textures and sounds present on the nine tracks on the album.

From the earliest days of the band, they had their eye on the art of Dan Seagrave (Benediction, Dismember, Hypocrisy, Suffocation, etc) as an accompaniment to their music. Having created the artwork for the first three MEMORIAM albums, he has also created the cover for To The End.

MEMORIAM are:

Karl Willetts | vocals (ex-BOLT THROWER)

Frank Healy | bass (ex-BENEDICTION)

Spike T Smith | drums (Sacrilege, Conflict, Killing Joke, The Damned)

Scott Fairfax | guitars (AS THE WORLD DIES, ex-BENEDICTION live)

MEMORIAM online:

https://www.facebook.com/Memoriamuk2020

Nick Hudson (The Academy of Sun) presents 'There Is No Such Thing As You', teasing new L

February 9, 2021

“Nick Hudson is a unique talent. His song writing and performances are breathtaking. He is long overdue being heard by a wider audience. This solo album is a peak in an already stellar career” ~ Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai)

“Scott Walker channeling Coil” ~ MOJO Magazine

"The intimacy of a musical diary as well as an epic theatrical fascination... thrilling tension between its thematic juxtapositions and arrangements of diverse acoustic, electric, and synthetic instrumentation" ~ No Ripcord

“Genius” - BBC Radio (BBC Introducing)

"A song-suite of liberation, violence and ambition that is rich in promise and dizzying in its potential" ~ The Quietus

"A welcome earworm for any music aficionado and especially those with a taste for highly melodic and cutting-edge pop experimentalism" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Brighton-based singer-songwriter Nick Hudson has announced that he will release his new 'Font Of Human Fractures' album this spring. Ahead of this 10-track offering, he presents a teaser for 'Surkov's Dream' (out February 24) and a live rendition (recorded in Sophia, Bulgaria) of 'There is No Such Thing as You' - the studio version of this track also appears on the LP.

This is his first solo studio album since 'Ganymede In A State Of War' (2016). Recorded and mastered at Church Road Studios by Paul Pascoe (Barry Adamson, Beat Hotel), these are neo-classical torch songs, banishing rituals and searing ballads, scored for piano and two violins, underlined with gothic electronica, with dramatic cameos and curveballs. Musically, Hudson is influenced by Coil, Kate Bush, Laibach, Danny Elfman, Nico and Scott Walker.

The new solo release, scored almost entirely for piano and two violins, is a ruminative melting pot from the point of view of a queer man in his late thirties. It is like a dialogue with his younger self, negotiating himself free of toxic programming and banishing the inhibitions that can blight, dull and impotize the best of us.

Nick Hudson is a prolific figure on the UK underground music scene and is perhaps best known as frontman of art-rock band The Academy Of Sun, who released their dystopian epic 'The Quiet Earth' last year to critical acclaim. Apart from music, Nick's vast output also encompasses painting, film, and he has just completed his first novel.

Hudson has also collaborated with Wayne Hussey (The Mission) and Matthew Seligman (Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey), as well as members of NYC's Kayo Dot, David Tibet (Current 93), Asva and Canadian queercore icon GB Jones. As The Academy Of Sun, he has also collaborated with Massive Attack's Shara Nelson. Having toured 3 continents, highlights include appearances with Mogwai, Toby Driver and Keith Abrams of Kayo Dot, and Timba Harris (Mr Bungle, Amanda Palmer).

'Font Of Human Fractures' is a kaleidoscopic and emotionally transparent document of the search for self-worth – and ultimately love – in a thorny, unevenly-stacked world. On April 30, this record will be released on vinyl and also digitally everywhere, including Bandcamp and Spotify. Already on February 24, the first single 'Surkov's Dream' should be revealed.

Keep up with Nick Hudson / The Academy of Sun
Facebook | Bandcamp | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify | Booking

UK indie pop artist Léanie Kaleido announces new LP, presents 'All The Things I'm Made Of' single

February 9, 2021

"Great music with stellar delivery... Sheer light and positivity radiates through the confessional storytelling woven through her piano-based offering, leaving you eager for the next chapter" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

“Gets under your skin and you just end up playing it constantly... with echoes of the more ethereal parts of the British folk movement in the early seventies, Leanie Kaleido has that curiously English charm” ~ Bluesbunny Music Reviews

UK singer-songwriter Léanie Kaleido has announced she will be releasing a new album, entitled 'How To Weigh A Whale Without A Scale', produced by Ride frontman Mark Gardener at his OX4 Sound Studio near Oxford. Gardener also contributes guitar on one track. Ahead of this, she previews the lead track 'All The Things I'm Made Of'.

No stranger to music, Kaleido grew up in a musical household. Her father Top Topham was the original lead guitarist in The Yardbirds and was signed to Mike Vernon's Blue Horizon record label as a solo artist.

On this long-play, Kaleido plays lyrically astute, laid-back pop, piano-based ballads with the odd quirky guitar ditty thrown in, showcasing Léanie’s eccentric look at life. This new release will thrill Léanie’s existing fans, giving them lashings of melancholia, but peppered with that ever-present tongue-in-cheek commentary that tells you she never has and never will take herself – or anyone else - seriously.

But this third album also cements her as a consistently accomplished songwriter, unbound by the notion of what is ‘cool’ as she sits back and enjoys the thrill of writing unabashedly from the soul.

Léanie, who grew up "snogging posters of Ride and wanting to be PJ Harvey", has, over time, settled into the acceptance that her songs just come out the way they do. “Not especially cool", she says, “but I’m really proud of some of my lyrics. Getting ‘salient verities’ into a song gave me a lot of satisfaction! Now Mark is a really good mate who knows what works best for my songs. And he has the best selection of green tea. I’m now a loose leaf connoisseur, thanks to him!”

Kaleido's 50th year went off with a bang thanks to Gardener's open-armed invitation to record at his Oxford studio. After four or five sessions throughout the less locked-down parts of 2020, and ten songs later, an album was born.

"The songs on this album represent the highs and lows I’ve encountered over the past few years, how I’ve dealt with them and what I’ve learnt through the process. It’s a mixture of love, regret, philosophies, humour and hope. I’ve always been a late developer, and so this to me feels like a coming-of-age album," says Léanie Kaleido.

"Mark Gardener was determined to make my vocals and lyrics 'the stars of the show' and this has steered my sound to something more stripped back and atmospheric. Mark is a top bloke. He made me feel at ease straight away. The anxiety tablets I’d taken with me to stop myself exploding with fear weren’t needed and we got on famously from the start. It was such a laugh recording with someone who once had been the target of my ‘dribbly poster snogs’ and now is just a really good mate who knows what works best for my songs."

'All The Things I'm Made Of' is now available as an immediate-gratification download upon ordering her 'How To Weigh A Whale Without A Scale' LP. As of March 12, the full album will be released everywhere digitally and will be available across online streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It can pre-ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Léanie Kaleido - Vocals, piano, ukulele, strings, drum programming, synth bass
Mark Gardener – Producer, guitar, bass
Jono Harrison – Guitar, drum programming, synth bass (Codeine, Kite String Mantra)
Chris Gussman – Guitar and engineer on ‘Hat Thief’, engineer on ‘Mr Dragonfly’
All songs written by Léanie Kaleido. Copyright @2021
Cover photo by Jono Harrison
Cover created by Sara Truckel

Silent Theory Release Official Music Video for "Shaking Cages"

February 9, 2021

Idaho Rock Band Silent Theory has released the Official Music Video for their new single "Shaking Cages". Originally premiered on METAL INSIDER, "Shaking Cages" was directed/produced by Dawson Scholz.

"Shaking Cages is a song that developed from the feeling of being stranded on an island and doing everything you can to be found. It was also a direct statement from the band to showcase our growth from the last record to now. It grew from the wishful idea that if you set enough fires and shake enough cages you might be seen." - Dakota Jerns

Click to Download / Stream "Shaking Cages" Online.

In a society where new bands pop up every day, Silent Theory is here to set a new standard. The band found success with their single, "Fragile Minds," released June 2016, charting at #97 for Media Base Active-Rock and #29 for Under the Radar charts. It has since surpassed 5 million video views on YouTube and continues to grow rapidly. Following this success in June 2018, through Loudwire, the band released their second single off of the album, Delusions, "Watch Me Burn." The single charted at #67 on the Media Base Active-Rock charts. Silent Theory is made up of brothers Mitch, Scott, and George Swanger, as well as Robert James and Dakota Elliot Tyler. They are currently located in Moscow, Idaho, but finding worldwide success. As of January 2021, they signed with Paul Crosby Management (founding member of Saliva), getting ready to release their latest single, "Shaking Cages," and are currently finishing a new album to be released in April 2021.

2 SHADOWS Releases New Single and Official Music Video, "SCREAMWORKS", Via ROCK SHOP RECORDS!

February 9, 2021

Canada based Hard Rock / Metal band 2 SHADOWShas released a New Single, "Screamworks", Produced by singer/songwriter/The Veer Union Frontman, CRISPIN EARL, accompanied by an Epic New Official Video, via Rock Shop Records

“'Screamworks' is a song about people who make you want to SCREAM. People who would rather manipulate you to serve their own end even when you have a common goal in mind. The song is an expression of the frustration found in dealing with someone who has their head shoved so far up their own….you know. In a lot of ways its hugely cathartic for us and allows us to finally talk about past experiences bottled up for far too long.” - Glen Bridden – (lead Singer) 2 Shadows

2 Shadows is a four piece Metal band based out of Vancouver, Canada, consisting of members Glen Bridden (Lead Vocals), Tryst Germaine(Guitars), James Holder (Guitars) and Mitch Harsch (Drums). The band was founded in 2015 and for the last five 5 years have meticulously and methodically honing in their craft, leaving no stone unturned. Inspired by house hold name acts such as Slipknot, Rammstein and Marilyn Manson, the band is also inspired by the modern breed of Metal acts such as Motionless In White, Asking Alexandria, Bad Omens, and Avenged Sevenfold. 2 Shadows is a combination of the most modern sounding Metalcore blended with visually theatrical imagery, creating a duality that is the core of the band. Lead Vocalist, Glen Bridden, “Our live show is just as important to us as music. We try to make our live show a visual representation of our music. We are constantly building and evolving our stage show so our fans can always expect something different and exciting!”

In 2018, after playing locally and regionally for three years, 2 Shadows ventured out on a Nation Tour across Canada and began garnering attention from Metal fans and industry professionals alike. With the completion of their first National Tour under their belts, the band was hungry to get back to work in the studio and elevate their overall game.

In 2019 the band began working on their new EP, entering into the studio with Singer/Songwriter/Producer/The Veer Union frontman, Crispin Earl, to streamline the bands sound and bring it to that of an international level. After the completion of the EP, the band was ecstatic to announce they inked a deal with Rock Shop Records and on Friday, November 13th 2020, 2 Shadows Released their first single, “Scratching At The Surface” feat. The Veer Union and received critical acclaim. Upon its release, “Scratching At The Surface” feat. The Veer Union was instantly added to the Spotify Editorial Playlists, “New Metal Tracks” and “New Core”, receiving over 240,000 streams in it’s first it’s first two months on Spotify alone and the Official Video received over 500,000 views on YouTube.

On January 15th, 2021 followed up the track with an Acoustic Version and was again instantly added to the Spotify Editorial Playlist, “New Core”. Within two weeks “Scratching At The Surface” feat. The Veer Union (Acoustic) received over 100,000 streams and to date is one of the very few bands on the Spotify Editorial Playlist “New Core” to have both an Acoustic version and “Plugged In” version of the same track, simultaneously on the “New Core” Editorial Playlist.

On February 5th, 2021, 2 Shadows released their NEW SINGLE “Screamworks” via Rock Shop Records and was yet again instantly added to the Spotify Editorial Playlist, “New Core”. 2 Shadows is currently one of the only bands to have 3 song simultaneously on “New Core” Editorial Playlist. On February 6th, 2021, the band Released the “Screamworks” Official Video and within 2 days had over 30,000 views on Youtube alone. 2 Shadows will be releasing a New EP in its entirety via Rock Shop Records in the summer of 2021 and will be out on the road, it it’s support, both Nationally and Internationally as a part of the Rock Shop Records International Tour slated for summer of 2021.