POWERWOLF Releases New Single + Cinematic Music Video “Dancing With The Dead”

Upcoming Album, Call Of The Wild, to be Released on July 16, 2021

First Formats are Already SOLD OUT

Grab Your Copy NOW!

The return of the wolves – wilder than ever!

2021 is once again completely under the spell of the wolves: With the announcement of their new studio full-length Call Of The Wild, the high priests of heavy metal - POWERWOLF - have not only stirred up the international scene, but their first single, "Beast of Gévaudan", has also cemented their incomparable success.

The second single from the upcoming album is entitled "Dancing With The Dead", and once again underlines POWERWOLF's indispensable skill for pure, bloody heavy metal and hooks that will stay in your head forever. The hit-filled four-minute track just screams for big stages and will not only captivate loyal followers but also new fans immediately.

Featuring Attila's gripping vocals and irresistible riffs, the accompanying cinematic music video takes its recipient back to the past and once again also showcases POWERWOLF's visual strength! The video comes as a cinematic short film and stages a wild dance with the dead.

Watch the new video for “Dancing With The Dead”

Once again created in cooperation with the honorable producer duo of Jens Bogren and Joost van den Broek, the masterpiece will open a new chapter in the band's history on July 16, 2021. The eighth studio album will serve both old and newly recruited POWERWOLF devotees with well-known classic trademarks, and equally surprise and delight them at every stage of this wild 11-track ride!

Matthew Greywolf on Call Of The Wild:

"With Call Of The Wild, we are opening a new, exciting chapter in the history of POWERWOLF. The album sounds unmistakably like POWERWOLF and is so much more at the same time: Besides new territory like the Celtic instrumentation in "Blood for Blood (Faoladh)" or the ballad like "Alive or Undead" we have raised all our trademarks to a new level. Until now, we never sounded so powerful and wild - in the truest sense of the word. We can't wait to finally share this beast of an album with you all!"

Grab Your Copy NOW!

First enthusiastic press quotes on Call Of The Wild:

“The packs mightiest howl so far!”

- Sweden Rock –

“CALL OF THE WILD is not only strong as usual and offers everything you love the band for, but also impresses with various strong surprises in terms of sound, energy and lyrical concept”

- Metal Hammer Germany –

“Call Of The Wild puts a diamond-studded crown on the pack’s output to date!”

- Rock It! -

“A really strong album, with which POWERWOLF - as assuredly as you’d hear ‘Amen’ said in church - will place themselves at the top of the charts again in July.”

- Rock Hard Germany -

“Any way you slice it - the music of Powerwolf is inexplicably catchy”

- Aardschok -

The first music video from the new album for "Beast Of Gévaudan" has already gained more than 1.3 million views on YouTube. Watch the outstanding video again HERE:

Call Of The Wild, the follow-up to their 2018 #1-charting studio album Sacrament Of Sin, manifests the band's inimitable success story and proves once again that they sit unchallenged on the throne of the genre.

Various formats (2-CD Mediabook, 3-LP Vinyl Box, 3-CD Earbook, digital) of the new album include the bonus album Missa Cantorem - a cross-section of the Wolves' success story with newly recorded vocals by friends and companions of the band.

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 top position #1. With Blessed & Possessed (2015), POWERWOLF achieved Gold status (in the Czech Republic) for the first time, while its 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

Doom Metal Kings CANDLEMASS Announce Select U.S. Tour Dates in 2022

Doom Metal Kings CANDLEMASS Announce Select U.S. Tour Dates in 2022

Including Dates Featuring Special Guests The Skull & Frayle
Tickets on Sale this Friday

Swedish Grammis award-winning/US Grammy-nominated doom metal legends CANDLEMASS will officially hit American shores in 2022! The band will perform at the SOLD OUT Hell’s Heroes Festival in Houston, TX on April 22, bookended by two other performances featuring support from special guests The Skull and Frayle.

See below for all tour dates and grab tickets when the go on sale this Friday, June 25 at 10:00am EDT. Visit https://candlemass.se/ for more information and individual venues for tickets.

Mats Björkman of CANDLEMASS says:

“We are really pleased to finally get back to the US of A. Our fans have been waiting and have asked for shows for some years now, and with these three shows we are starting up again in North America. There will eventually be more shows - but that’s still in the works and will not be immediately happening, so come and see us in April if you can make it."

CANDLEMASS USA 2022:

4/20 Boston, MA @ The Middle East

4/22 Houston, TX @ Hell's Heroes Festival * SOLD OUT

4/24 Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall

* = without The Skull and Frayle

CANDLEMASS’ latest full-length, the Marcus Jidell-produced The Door To Doom, follows the plot line mastermind, songwriter and bass player Leif Edling established in the past years: epic world class doom metal that relies on slow mammoth riffing. The album features the Grammy-nominated track “Astorolus - The Great Octopus”, featuring legendary Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi (watch the official music video HERE). CANDLEMASS swiftly followed up in March 2020 with their latest EP, The Pendulum, featuring a fine selection of never-before-heard, unused tracks cut from the The Door To Doom recording sessions. The Pendulum perfectly showcases that these timeless Swedish pioneers are the undisputed kings of epic doom, featuring singles “The Pendulum” (listen HERE) and “Porcelain Skull” (listen HERE). Leading the listener through a maze of frenzied riffing, accented by Johan Langquist's distinctive vocals, the EP reinforces the melancholy sound that has proven CANDLEMASS to be a heavy metal staple.

CANDLEMASS are:

Leif Edling: Bass

Mats "Mappe" Björkman: Guitars

Jan Lindh: Drums

Lars "Lasse" Johansson: Guitars

Johan Langquist: Vocals

NIGHTFALL Shares New Music Video for "Martyrs of the Cult of the Dead (Agita)"

Last week, Greek melodic metal masters NIGHTFALL premiered the NSFW official music video for the song "Martyrs of the Cult of the Dead (Agita)" via OnlyFans! The band is now sharing the censored version of the video via the official Season of Mist YouTube. You can watch the latest version below.

The original video, which was created by Antoine de Montremy, can also be seen for FREE at THIS LOCATION.

NIGHTFALL vocalist Efthimis Karadimas previously commented, "We are honored to have our 'Martyrs of the Cult of the Dead,' aka 'Agita,' being made by Antoine de Montremy, the producer of Chris Holmes' documentary 'Mean Man' (official selection in 2020 Hollywood Gold Awards, Florence Film Awards, Orlando Film Festival and FMX) and his fabulous team. The video is based on 'Agita' lyrics and it represents the struggle with depression through its personification in female form (the word "depression" is a female noun in the Greek language). OnlyFans premiere has been chosen to avoid problems with YouTube's strict policy towards nudity and violence. Especially the latter. This is not a porn video."

Video director Antoine de Montremy added, "In pure Nightfall fashion, approaching this video and the song's concept has been quite a challenge: Efthimis already had a very precise vision for 'Agita' and we wanted to honor both the song and its message.

"Opening up about depression and its very solitary struggle is quite a brave move in nowadays so well polished metal world. Introducing female metaphors and pushing all boundaries was the only path to illustrate this inner struggle between love and hate, comfort and fear, joy and despair.

"Blessed with Hanna and Fanny's outstanding performances - embodying all feelings human mind can experience - and thanks to the greatest filming crew ever, we are happy to unleash the fury of Agita to the world!"

At Night We Prey' is out NOW and can be streamed, downloaded, and purchased HERE.

It has been seven long years since the world was last blessed with new music from the melodic blackened death metal stalwarts of NIGHTFALL. While the band has been absent from the scene since the release of 2013’s Cassiopeia, their legacy has not been forgotten. Comprising the holy trinity of Greek metal – along with ROTTING CHRIST and SEPTICFLESH – NIGHTFALL was the first extreme act in the country to sign an international deal, introducing the world to the burgeoning Mediterranean scene in the early 90s. Now, the band is plotting a triumphant return with At Night We Prey, the darkest and latest chapter of NIGHTFALL’s already storied career. Unlike past efforts, the band abandons any gothic aesthetic, traversing more into a melodic assault that calls to the sounds of Gothenburg, displaying an obvious maturation from the band that showcases their most serious, evolved, and tightest effort to date. 

During the first decade of NIGHTFALL’s lifespan, the band headlined stages across Europe. Thereafter, went on to dominate international festivals such as Brutal Assault, Sonisphere, and Wacken, the latter of which the band solidified their legacy as the first ever Greek band to earn an envied spot at the renowned festival. The band eventually made the decision to switch to a studio act before they went completely silent. When reflecting upon the sudden disappearance after a steady rise from the underground, vocalist and founding member Efthimis Karadimas explained that it was due to an all too familiar beast – depression. “It's because of depression that kicked in as early as mid-00s. I can write for hours and get into details about stuff gone wrong or mistreated situations, but the basis of all discouragement to move on has been depression and the effort required to get over it.” Despite the dark days, Karadimas did not abandon music entirely, moving on to form THE SLAYERKING, a gothic doom metal band that has released two agonizing full-length records between 2016-2019.

Alas, the abrupt departure of the band was not the final “goodbye” as NIGHTFALL has been reinvigorated with a new lineup and coveted deal with Season of Mist. Karadimas has reunited with original NIGHTFALL guitarist Mike Galiatsos, who helped define the band’s sound during the early years. With the addition of drummer and producer Fotis Benardo (ex-SEPTICFLESH) as well as guitarist Kostas Kyriakopoulos (THE SLAYERKING), the band is finally ready to release the tenth studio album At Night We Prey. In addition to the long-awaited new music, Season of Mist will also be re-issuing the band’s original albums that were produced by Holy Records back in the 90s. This is not the only news the band has to share as NIGHTFALL has also vowed to finally perform again. “We are gonna play these live, including stuff never played live before,” says Karadimas.

At Night We Prey is a very dark and personal effort, tackling the topic of Karadimas’s battle with depression. “A beast I have experienced its teeth deep into my soul, I decided to come out and share that experience with metalheads,” Karadimas laments. “This is the least I can offer now to the big fight against depression. If we do not stop this, it will eat us all alive. Share your pain, speak openly about it. This is the only way to kill the demons in your mind.”

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

https://www.instagram.com/nightfallband
https://www.facebook.com/nightfallbandofficial

Line-up
Efthimis Karadimas : Bass, vocals
Mike Galiatsos : Guitar
Kostas Kyriakopoulos : Guitar
Fotis Benardo : Drum

Recording studios: Devasoundz studios and Soundflakes studios (Athens)
Producers: Efthimis Karadimas and Fotis Benardo 
Engineers: Fotis Benardo, Thimios Krikos, Aggelos Karatzas
Mixing studio and engineer: Orgone studios, London, by Jaime Gomez Arellano
Mastering: Maor Appelbaum Mastering, Los Angeles, by Maor Appelbaum

Guest musician: Female vocals by Eleni and Souzana Vougioukli

Cover art: Travis Smith

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

Available formats: 
CD Digipak
LP in various colours
Digital

For more on NIGHTFALL, visit the band's official FACEBOOK, BANDCAMP, and INSTAGRAM.

EMPTINESS Releases Live Video from the Roadburn Redux Festival

"Emptiness is an old man, isolated for too long, bitter, he's changing again."

Belgian dark metal outfit EMPTINESS are now releasing their full concert performance that aired via the Roadburn Redux Festival! The virtual edition of the prestigious festival took place in April 2021! The EMPTINESS show can be watched in its entirety via the official Season of Mist YouTube channel below

EMPTINESS is supporting their latest album, 'Vide,' which is out now 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.

Stream, download, and purchase 'Vide' HERE.

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.

BOKASSA Announces New Album, Molotov Rocktail, out September 3

Norwegian Power Trio BOKASSAAnnounces New Album, Molotov Rocktail, out September 3, 2021 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order Starts NOW!

Raucous First Single + Video “Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)” Out Now

After recently signing with Napalm Records, Norwegian power trio BOKASSA are fully charged up and ready to set everything ablaze on their upcoming album, entitled Molotov Rocktail, out September 3, 2021 via Napalm Records.

The follow up to Crimson Riders (2019), released during their tour with METALLICA, displays their trademarked brand of stoner punk at its best throughout all 11 tracks. Today, the band kicks things off with their raucous first single “Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)”, during which the three-piece unites heavy stoner rock riffs with melodic singalong choruses, alongside an energetic music video! Norway’s most exciting export and Lars Ulrich’s “new favorite band” brings the noise and delivers energy like THE BRONX, RED FANG, BILLY TALENT and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE. Hundreds of thousands of streams and fans across the world can attest: BOKASSA are on their way to becoming the elite of stoner punk!

Bokassa adds:

“‘Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)’ was one of the first tracks written for Molotov Rocktail and a single candidate from the get go because of its crunchy riffage and affective hook. As with ‘So Long, Idiots!’ our protagonist has become more and more disillusioned with the world, and tries his best to avoid it, while existing comfortably in his own bubble. We also think it may be the only song that includes the word ‘Didjeridon’t’?”

Watch the music video for “Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)”

Hailing from Trondheim, Norway, hard rock trio BOKASSA have recently made a name for themselves with their brand of hard-hitting, melodic, catchy punk and stoner rock, right from the first full length, Divide & Conquer (2017). During the Worldwired tour with METALLICA, the band released the critically acclaimed Crimson Riders (2019). On top of this, the Norwegians were nominated for the prestigious Spellemann-Award as Breakthrough of the Year in 2020. Now, BOKASSA are ready to enter the next explosive chapter with their exciting new album, Molotov Rocktail!

Pre-Order Molotov Rocktail NOW:

Vocalist and guitarist Jørn Kaarstad’s unmistakably raspy voice and crushing guitar riffs hit satisfyingly hard with the snappy drumming and fat bass tone of drummer Olav Dowkes and bassist Bård Linga. Songs like “Herticules” effortlessly pull off the transition between melodic choruses and punishing breakdowns, while the title track “Molotov Rocktail” is two minutes of pure stoner punk paradise with its dense songwriting and dynamic production. The album closer’s intro riff (“Immortal Space Pirate 3 Too Old For This Sith”), meanwhile, could be lifted straight off a classic BEHEMOTH album. On Molotov Rocktail, BOKASSA’s daring but cohesive tightrope act of singalongs and neck breaking grooves is highly contagious – mixed and mastered by Machine (CLUTCH, THE BRONX, EVERY TIME I DIE) the powerhouse from Trondheim misses no chance to entrance the listener with every second of runtime!

Molotov Rocktail will be available in North America in the following formats:

CD Digipak

Digital Album

1LP Gatefold Black

1LP Gatefold Pink [300x]

BOKASSA are:

Jørn Kaarstad - Lead Vocals,Guitar

Bård Linga - Bass, Vocals

Olav Dowkes - Drums, Vocals

IGNEA Signs Worldwide Record Deal with Napalm Records

New Album from Ukrainian Firestarters to be Released in 2022

“Dynamic songwriting paired together with breathtaking vocals pave the way

for absolute excellence.”

(Metal Injection)

Napalm Records is pleased to welcome outstanding Ukrainian melodic modern metal five-piece IGNEA to its growing roster. The outfit has just inked a worldwide record deal with the premier rock and metal label and mixes heavy riffs and storytelling with symphonic, electronic and folk elements, creating a powerful soundtrack-like experience. Staying true to the melodic essence of their music, IGNEA also includes touches of brutality by occasionally incorporating extreme vocals, breakdowns and blast beats.

In 2013, IGNEA kicked off with their debut EP Sputnik. Things started revving up after the release of the incredibly powerful and popular single “Alga” – the first-ever original song from a Ukrainian band recorded with a full symphonic orchestra – gathering over six million views on YouTube and counting! The track is cut from the band’s debut album, The Sign of Faith(2017), in which IGNEA combines heavy soundscapes with clean and extreme vocals, adding authentic Middle Eastern melodies spliced with a melodic essence, to create a breathtaking auditory experience.

IGNEA’s second full-length, The Realms of Fire and Death, was released in 2020. Their national awards, The Best Ukrainian Metal Act, chose it as metal album of the year, andIGNEA was also named the best Ukrainian metal band of 2020.

IGNEA is currently preparing for great things to come soon and will unveil new music later this year. In addition, the unit is working on its third record and debut with Napalm Records for 2022 - more to be announced soon!

IGNEA's vocalist Helle Bogdanova states:

“I truly believe that our cooperation with Napalm Records will go under the banner of synergy that will bring the best out of IGNEA and also make our label proud to have us in the roster. IGNEA means ‘burning’, and mixing fire with Napalm can be simply nothing else but a blast. So, 'strike a match, let’s make it bright'!”

Pierce into IGNEA’s stunning universe and listen to “Alga” & “Jinnslammer”:

IGNEA is:

Helle Bogdanova - vocals

Yevhenii Zhytniuk - keyboards

Xander Kamyshin - bass

Ivan Kholmohorov - drums

Dmitry Vinnichenko - guitars

Pennies By The Pound release 'Heat Death of the Universe' LP with support from Ride's Mark Gardener

"Pennies By The Pound have more in common with 60s psych-driven rock and 80s American college rock than with their Fenno-Scandian peers. Such a big and extravagant classic psychedelic rock. Wherever they may draw their influences from, one thing is for sure: this is brilliant music for here and now, wherever that may be" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

“There’s special cases like Susitaival, who will forever remain as a 90’s teenager, regardless of how the world changes or how one’s body might age” ~ Niko Peltonen (Soundi)

"A trippy ride that recalls the familiar vibes and sounds of none other than Bob Mould, The Church / Marty Willson-Piper, Marillion and Jethro Tull. Yes, all of them and yes, this is actually possible. Loads of flair and professionalism from the band" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Indeed a wonderful affair... Pennies By the Pound should be on everyone’s radar as a must-have album of 2021 and a band to watch in future" ~ The Record Stache

Finnish prog-psych rockers Pennies By The Pound have released their album 'Heat Death of the Universe' via Lilith Records, mastered by Ride frontman Mark Gardener at his OX4Sound Studio near Oxford. This long-player was produced, recorded and mixed by Rauli 'Rake' Eskolin, a rather achieved Finnish producer who has worked on over a dozen No. 1 records in Finland in the past 20 years.

Pennies By The Pound's sound blends '80s prog rock and '90s-early '00s alternative rock - essentially heavily guitar-driven with a touch of keyboards... Big choruses, quite a few guitar and keyboard solos and grandiose arrangements.

"Lyrically, there is a loose theme on the album about the way people continue to actually socially distance themselves from others (even without or before the pandemic) due to the influence of social media and maybe the internet in general. The album title is a nod to that, the "heat death of the universe" being the lack of and eventual end of real-life social connections between people," says Johannes Susitaival.

Hailing from Helsinki, Pennies by the Pound was formed in 2016 by Johannes Susitaival as a solo project, but it quickly became a three-piece involving musicians from his past bands. Ahead of this, the band previewed lead track 'Indigo Screams', along with accompanying lyrics video.

While still part of a punk rock band, Johannes began exploring some quite different musical avenues, which led to the self-produced 'Bloodshed and the Blinding Sunlight' EP in 2018. Having found their ideal producer after several years of searching, they began recording demos in 2019 for what would become this album. Due to the pandemic, they were finally able to record these tracks in autumn of 2020.

"This album is rooted in the fact that I became heavily interested in '80s Marillion a few years ago, especially the 'Clutching at Straws' LP. You can definitely hear the influence on the record, but there's a lot of '80s Rush too, spiced up with contemporary influences like Muse and Radiohead. As an artist, I've always been hesitant to make records that sound the same as the previous ones I've done, so the sound keeps evolving," says Johannes Susitaival.

"I wanted to make a record that is borderline ridiculous, in some ways, and definitely not very contemporary. Then again, for the first time in my life, I had a chance to work with a producer, whose work I have admired since the turn of the millennium and this definitely influenced the album and its sound".

The 'Heat Death of the Universe' album is out as of May 21. It can be obtained directly from the band via Bandcamp, as well as the standard platforms like Apple Music and Spotify.

CREDITS
Johannes Susitaival - vocals, drums, keyboards, rhythm guitar
Vesa Ranta - lead guitar, rhythm guitar
Tomi Laaksonen - bass guitar
Rauli Eskolin - additional keyboards, background vocals on track 6
Alexander Meaney - additional lead guitar on track 5
Kaisa Ranta - additional vocals on tracks 3 and 7, background vocals on track 6
All songs written by Johannes Susitaival, except for track 5 written by Johannes Susitaival and Mikko Maksimainen
All arrangements by Pennies by the Pound and Rauli Eskolin
Produced, recorded and mixed by Rauli "Rake" Eskolin
Recorded at E-Studio, Sipoo, Finland and Soundtrack Studio, Porvoo, Finland
Mastered by Mark Gardener in OX4 Sound Studio near Oxford


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

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

Indie Pop outfit The Mystery Plan announce new album, preview lead track 'Silver Lining' feat. Big Supreme

Indie Pop outfit The Mystery Plan announce new album, preview lead track 'Silver Lining' feat. Big Supreme

"Fantastic - Big Supreme shines brightly here against the backdrop of brilliant grooving trip-hop / hip-hop laden electronic backbeats and well-placed angelic vocals, creating the perfect pillow of Mystery Plan sound to lay this gem upon" – Big Takeover Magazine

"A chilled, dreamy, hypnotic sound" – Overblown Magazine

"Pulsing dance grooves, the sort of thing that Bristol’s underground scene revelled in during the 90’s, but then swathes itself in layers of shimmering sonics" ~ The Swindonian

"Pure sensual dreamtronica awash in haunting melodies. It's guaranteed to set the serotonin flowing in the farthest recesses of any late night minds" – Guitar Magazine

"Marvelous work... stunning and shining funk-o-beauty" ~ Stereo Embers Magazine

The Mystery Plan has announced their new album 'You Also Have Eyes', set for release in mid-July via boutique label Ten Millimeter Omega Recordings. Produced by Jason Herring, Rob Tavaglione and the legendary John Fryer, this long-player continues a tradition of collaboration with Fryer that includes their 2020 'Zsa Zsa' record and 2017 'Queensland Ballroom' album.

Ahead of this LP, the band presents the single 'Silver Lining' featuring Big Supreme on vocals. Written during the pandemic, this song is an ode to looking at the bright side of things.

"Sitting down to write 'Silver Lining', I knew I wanted to be upbeat and optimistic. Since we were in the middle of a pandemic, I wasn't really in the place to do so lyrically. I've known Big Supreme for decades now, and of always loved his words and his flow. He is the younger brother of Charlotte DJ/producer That Guy Smitty, who I am also in the group Muchacho with," says Jason Herring.

"So I asked him if he would like to write something and record with us, and he said yes. I let him know, kind of, how I was feeling while writing the music. A few weeks later he sent me recordings of what he did with 'Silver Lining'. I loved it. He knew exactly what the song was, Sincere Appreciation and hopefulness. Hopefully we'll get to work together again. He's quite amazing."

Big Supreme (a.k.a. Chris Jones) is a rapper from Charlotte, who has been on the scene since the 1990s. He got his start by winning rap battles on the local Hip-Hop station for months and months, holding the record for the longest run on that station.

The band's sixth full-length album, 'You Also Have Eyes' is a compilation of select tracks from their latest few records, including 'We All Get Down', which was co-written, produced and mixed by Ian Masters (Pale Saints, Spoonfed Hybrid, ESP Summer), as well as three new songs exclusive to this CD and digital releases - 'Silver Lining, 'Weird Things Humans Do', and the Peter Anderson (the Ocean Blue) mix of 'Wonder Why'.

This album also involves contributions by Micah Gaugh (The Veldt / Apollo Heights / Dope Sagittarius), Rob Tavaglione and Snap Nation.

Formed in Charlotte, North Carolina in 2010, The Mystery Plan is comprised of Jason Herring, Amy Herring, Jefferson Chester, Otis Hughes and Patty McLaughlin. To date, they've managed to release 11 EPs and LPs combined.

'Silver Lining' is available digitally across streaming platforms, including Spotify and Bandcamp. The full 'You Also Have Eyes' LP will be released on July 16 on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally, with the CD and digital releases entailing expanded editions. It can be pre-ordered directly from the band.

SINGLE CREDITS
Produced by Jason Herring and Rob Tavaglione
Mixed by Justin Aswell
Vocals by Big Supreme
Music by Jason Herring
Percussion by Jefferson Chester
Recorded at Bulls Hit Records and Catalyst Recording, Charlotte

Keep up with The Mystery Plan
Bandcamp | Facebook | Label FB | Twitter | Soundcloud | Spotify | YouTube | Reverbnation | Press contact

Keep up with Big Supreme
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Phoenix dream-electronic artist FLDPLN (Andrew Saks) presents 'Escalator' single, previewing new LP

"A whole new world of electronic-based dreampop... With a perfect sense of space and symmetry, Saks’ particular sonic trajectory presents a sound unlike pretty much anything else out there on the ambient-pop-gaze music landscape" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Electronic reverie... there is some continuity between the blissful escapism of Saks' previous band Sway and FLDPLN... ecstatic yet chill, and harmonious while offering an unexpectedly welcome fusion" ~ The Record Stache

"Up up and away in bliss... an artist that definitely should be explored... dreamy, blissfully textural" ~ Amplify Music Magazine
Phoenix-based dream-electronic artist FLDPLN presents his new single 'Escalator', previewing his full-length album by the same name. Scheduled for release on July 30, it will be available both digitally and on color vinyl via the label Sillas Famosas.

FLDPLN (“field-plan”) is the new solo project of Andrew Saks, former frontman of Southern California shoegaze band Sway ('The Millia Pink and Green' EP, 'This Was Tomorrow'). Here, he creates electronic-based dreampop that is deeply influenced by 80s pop with shoegaze-like textures and ambient aesthetic, created by layered saxophones and synths.

A mostly electronic project that generally defies genre pigeonholing, FLDPLN is an outlet for dreamy, blissfully textural songs featuring synthesizers, vocals and layered saxophones. Saks effectively captures blissful feelings, sharing them with spirits seeking a sense of nostalgia.

'Escalator' was written, produced, recorded and mixed by Andrew Saks at his home studio in Phoenix, Arizona. This follows up his 2018 album 'Let You Down' and his 2021 single 'Cashout', release in 2021.

“Escalator is really the result of my years of dabbling in electronic music production combined with my desire to reconnect with my roots, having been a saxophone player for most of my life," says Andrew Saks.

"For this album, I wanted to write songs that are true to the way I hear things in my head, dreamy, blurry, beautiful without compromise and incorporate the horn as a textural instrument as well as another melodic voice.”

FLDPLN

'Escalator' single

Sillas Famosas

22 June 2021

View Promo 

Phoenix dream-electronic artist FLDPLN (Andrew Saks) presents 'Escalator' single, previewing new LP

FOR FANS OF: Tycho, Slowdive, M83, Bonobo, Sway, Pale Saints, The Midnight
FCC clean
Photos by Angela Saks
Photo artwork by Andrew Saks

FOR SHARING
'Escalator' https://youtu.be/Lh6iS92kYss 
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/album/3V7pKnC07ZqpGJQsyThsUu 
Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/fldpln/escalator/s-2d12zarJxU8 
Album teaser https://youtu.be/H47SwiolC8A
Bandcamp https://fldpln.bandcamp.com/ album/escalator
Pre-order https://fldpln.bandcamp.com

FOR REVIEW & AIRPLAY
Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/fldpln/sets/escalator/s-237ZGnDnHT3 
Online press kit https://shamelesspromotion.haulix.com/Public/View/91325 
Download via Dropbox https://bit.ly/3uLBZiq

"A whole new world of electronic-based dreampop... With a perfect sense of space and symmetry, Saks’ particular sonic trajectory presents a sound unlike pretty much anything else out there on the ambient-pop-gaze music landscape" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Electronic reverie... there is some continuity between the blissful escapism of Saks' previous band Sway and FLDPLN... ecstatic yet chill, and harmonious while offering an unexpectedly welcome fusion" ~ The Record Stache

"Up up and away in bliss... an artist that definitely should be explored... dreamy, blissfully textural" ~ Amplify Music Magazine


Phoenix-based dream-electronic artist FLDPLN presents his new single 'Escalator', previewing his full-length album by the same name. Scheduled for release on July 30, it will be available both digitally and on color vinyl via the label Sillas Famosas.

FLDPLN (“field-plan”) is the new solo project of Andrew Saks, former frontman of Southern California shoegaze band Sway ('The Millia Pink and Green' EP, 'This Was Tomorrow'). Here, he creates electronic-based dreampop that is deeply influenced by 80s pop with shoegaze-like textures and ambient aesthetic, created by layered saxophones and synths.

A mostly electronic project that generally defies genre pigeonholing, FLDPLN is an outlet for dreamy, blissfully textural songs featuring synthesizers, vocals and layered saxophones. Saks effectively captures blissful feelings, sharing them with spirits seeking a sense of nostalgia.

'Escalator' was written, produced, recorded and mixed by Andrew Saks at his home studio in Phoenix, Arizona. This follows up his 2018 album 'Let You Down' and his 2021 single 'Cashout', release in 2021.

“Escalator is really the result of my years of dabbling in electronic music production combined with my desire to reconnect with my roots, having been a saxophone player for most of my life," says Andrew Saks.

"For this album, I wanted to write songs that are true to the way I hear things in my head, dreamy, blurry, beautiful without compromise and incorporate the horn as a textural instrument as well as another melodic voice.”

A short time after Sway disbanded, Andrew (who handled half of the guitar duties in the band) decided to put down the guitar and return with resolve to his first love - the saxophone - which he has played from the age of 12.

The idea behind FLDPLN was to incorporate his love for electronic music production and early 90’s post-punk sensibilities, while allowing saxophones and synthesizers to be used to fill-in texturally, where guitars have typically been the fundamental building element of the “shoegaze” and “dream pop” sub-genres.  Saxophone textures are layered, at times co-mingling with synthesizers to create a soft, warm bed of sound, the perfect backdrop for the whisper-like vocals reminiscent of Andrew’s hushed voice with Sway.

At times, Andrew’s horn playing features soaring leads that lift the dreamlike and serene to near-anthemic heights while, in other instances, they convey an emotional, whisper-like voice. While certainly nowhere near new to experimental music, the tone and texture of the saxophone in this context effectively lends itself to ethereal lullabies and reflective daydreams.

While textures and sound are an integral component of the music, Andrew does not shy away from hook-laden songwriting. This music is highly influenced by childhood memories of going to bed each night, falling asleep with Walkman headphones on and later waking up in the darkness, in a partial dream-state with the pop songs of the 1980’s - Pet Shop Boys, New Order, Bruce Springsteen, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, Debbie Gibson, Human League still whispering in his ears.

The 'Escalator' single is now available everywhere across online stores, such as Apple Music, and streaming platforms like Spotify. The full 'Escalator' LP will released on July 30 and can already be pre-ordered digitally and on color vinyl via Bandcamp.

Keep up with FLDPLN
Website | Bandcamp | Instagram | Soundcloud | Twitter | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

The Gorstey Lea Street Choir take flight on high-spirited 'That Chitty Bang Majik', mixed by George Shilling (Blur, Primal Scream, Cathal Coughlan)

"Psychedelic delight that will bring you to a state of bliss or trigger flashbacks to brilliant musical offerings of yesteryear... Superb musical mastery, fascinating dynamics and professionalism in production" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Pleading, swirling Powerpop that clearly references the heroic Pop of the 80’s with a contemporary bent' ~ Fresh On The Net

"A ridiculously talented duo... sublime" ~ Egg Box Essentials

"This group is fantastic, creating a landscape of sonic adrenaline-powered dream-rock bliss... somewhere between Ride’s Carnival of Light, Kula Shaker and Ocean Colour Scene. Somewhere we’re happy to be taken" ~ The Record Stache

Britain's The Gorstey Lea Street Choir present 'That Chitty Bang Majik', a propulsive upbeat brass laden indie pop track that builds to a crescendo of question and answer vocals, it's main lyrical themes being isolation, lack of communication, escapism and 'Carpe Diem frustration.

This is the second taster from their forthcoming 8-track album '...from Prince's Park to Farsley - Volume I', to be released via Britain's 500 Broadcast Recording Co. This single follows up the release of lead track 'Bluebird, Hollywood... Domino'.

The Gorstey Lea Street Choir are Michael Clapham and Russ Phillips, two friends whose musical collaboration is rooted in a friendship that blossomed over 35 years ago. Having met as teenagers in the mid-'80s, it took until 2016 for them to turn their teenage plans — discussed back when both were involved in aspiring Manchester bands — into a reality with the birth of this project.

Recorded at the Gorstey Shack (Russ’s converted garage) and Magic Garden Studios in Wolverhampton with producer Gavin Monaghan (Robert Plant, Editors, Ocean Colour Scene, Scott Matthews, Squeeze, Goldblade), 'That Chitty Bang Majik' was mixed by legendary producer George Shilling (Blur, Primal Scream, Cathal Coughlan, Teenage Fanclub, Mike Oldfield) and mastered by Ride frontman / producer Mark Gardener at his OX4 Sound Studio in Oxford.

"The song came about last January after a Christmas repeat that we had both watched of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' Michael stated, 'we love the film and the soundtrack and we started discussing 'the flying car'' and before you know it '...that Chitty Bang Magic' was born," says Russ Phillips.

"This song represents the poppier side of our indie credentials whilst still retaining our core vibe, 12 string guitars chime alongside brass punctuations and Moog synths, with the two vocal Gorstey chant upfront, telling the story of the track. We are really looking forward to folks hearing the rest of the LP in early July when it arrives, the 4 new tracks and the 4 re-imaginations of 'Extended Play One' tracks by Choque from Black Star Liner," says Michael Clapham.

Based in the former Staffordshire mining town of Burntwood, their music runs with the moods, widely described as dystopian, electric, hopeful, hopeless and thoughtful... The sort of sounds Henry Spencer would have played if he had a Sony Walkman.

‘…from Prince’s Park to Farsley - Volume I’ is the follow up to the duo's ‘extended play one’ album, which was released in December 2020 and received support from BBC 6 Music, BBC Introducing, Amazing Radio, and a whole host of DAB and worldwide radio stations.

In 2018, Russ and Michael entered Wolverhampton's Magic Garden studios to work with old friend and producer legend Gavin Monaghan, resulting in their debut single 'The British Isles' featuring an inspired spoken-word intro from Joe Strummer. Chris Hawkins from BBC Radio 6 Music picked up on the track, kicking things off again after a 35-year hiatus.

As of June 22, 'That Chitty Bang Majik' will be available everywhere digitally, including Apple Music and Spotify. The '...from Prince's Park to Farsley - Volume I' LP, set for release on July 9, can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written and arranged by Michael Clapham and Russ Phillips
Performed by The Gorstey Lea Street Choir
Recorded at the Gorstey Shack and Magic Garden Studios with Gavin Monaghan
Mixed by George Shilling
Mastered by Mark Gardener at his OX4 Sound studio in Oxford
Video edited by Michael with original drawings and cartoons from Russ.
The #carshare footage is one take with a wink and a nod to #PeterKay #carshare and #JamesCorden #carpoolkaraoke @JKCorden @peterkay_co_uk


Keep up with The Gorstey Lea Street Choir
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Booking | Press contact

LOVE THE HATE Release Official Music Video for Upcoming Single, "Solid Ground"! FFO Chevelle, Deftones, Breaking Benjamin

LOVE THE HATE Release Official Music Video for Upcoming Single, "Solid Ground"!

"Solid Ground" Available to Purchase / Stream July 6, 2021!

June 22, 2021 - Mobile, AL based Heavy Rock band LOVE THE HATE has released the dark, modern official music video for their upcoming, brutal new single, "Solid Ground." Directed and filmed by Thomas Crane of KillDevil Films (Saliva, Todd La Torre [Queensryche], Eve to Adam), "Solid Ground" features Kristi Craft and Billy Culbertson.

"'Solid Ground' deals with the familiar feelings of heartbreak, loneliness, and uncertainty in moving on in the wake of a toxic relationship." - Love The Hate

Catch LOVE THE HATE Live: 
07/02 @ Cockeyed Charlies w/Silent Trust - Mobile, AL 
07/03 @ Anxiety Fest Mississippi - Biloxi - MS 
09/03 @ OnyxFest The Third - Jacksonville, FL 
09/24 @ Daphne Civic Center - Daphne, AL

Click for Additional Dates & Ticketing Information.

Love The Hate is a modern rock band based out of Mobile, Alabama. Influences include such bands as Chevelle, Breaking Benjamin, 10 Years, and Deftones.

Doc St. Andrie - Vocals 
Frank Killian - Guitar 
Leon Craft - Bass 
Marshall Mears - Guitar 
Troy Dearmon - Drums

OBLIGATORY HUMAN DESTRUCTION Release Self-Titled Album via Art is War Records

OBLIGATORY HUMAN DESTRUCTION Buy/Stream link:

https://sym.ffm.to/kdv5wmy

OBLIGATORY HUMAN DESTRUCTION has released their new self-titled album via Art is War Records!

"OBLIGATORY HUMAN DESTRUCTION´s debut album is aggressive, cold, beautiful and absolutely relentless. The album is a dive into very personal experiences and hopefully it can be as significant outlet for someone else as well as it has been for me. If you like bands such as Decapitated, Aborted, Benighted with a hint of melody hear and there, this album is a must check for you. Big shout out to the albums mixing engineer/post-producer Stefan Pommerin @ Illusia Productions, Juuso Laatio & Petteri Staven (cover Art), Juho Näppä (promo photos) and Nikos Stavridakis @ VisionBlackArt (cover layout & music video post-production) for all the help. Without your help this album would not have been released" states Mika Lammassaari.

OBLIGATORY HUMAN DESTRUCTION is founded by the guitarist and composer, Mika Lammassaari (Mors Subita, Heavy Trip [band music]). This project's main cause is to work as an outlet for his heavier compositions and lyrical ideas. The music combines sounds of modern extreme metal with a taste of grindcore and death metal. Fans of aggressive modern metal should definitely give the upcoming debut album a spin.

"Holy Man" Official Music Video:

For More Information Please Visit:

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NEONFLY Premiere Lyric Video for "Steal The World" and Celebrate Release of Brand New Album! "The Future, Tonight" out now on Noble Demon

"Loud, fast, lively and honest!"

Metal Hammer

"Outstanding quality!"

Time For Metal

"This really is top-drawer stuff!"

Sentinel Daily

"This is how Melodic Metal should sound in 2021!"

Hardline Magazin

UK's alternative metal act NEONFLY celebrates the release of their brand new album, The Future, Tonight, out now on Noble Demon! With their third full-length, the band has taken an aggressively modern sound and approach that reflects NEONFLY's musical maturity and evolution: ten modern rock anthems, heavy yet catchy allied with hard-hitting riffs, big metal grooves and decidedly socially conscious lyrics. While The Future, Tonight marks a departure from the band's more traditional metal roots, NEONFLY presents us a new, addictive sound that is both musically enthralling and artistically engaging. The Future, Tonight was produced by Grammy award nominated producer Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Motörhead), with keyboards and orchestra arranged by Miro Rodenberg (Avantasia, Kamelot).

In support of their new album and to celebrate the release in glorious style, NEONFLY just shared a crushing, new lyric video for the song "Steal The World", featuring a guest appearance by Heart of a Coward's Kaan Tasan!

Watch the brand new NEONFLY video here

"Steal the world is a track that again showcases our moves into new musical territories, pushing a much more contemporary and aggressive sound for the band with our own trademark always socially conscious lyrics." vocalist Willy Norton comments. "We invited Kaan from Heart of a Coward to do some guest vocals on this, he’s a great friend and a fantastic singer, and his performance brings a lot of power and attitude to the track. The song is about the way everyone nowadays -from celebrities to your next door neighbour- can go online to express all sorts of false ideas, beliefs, lies, conspiracy theories, either on purpose to exploit people, or simply out of sheer ignorance. The lyrics are written from the perspective of a very cynical individual who deliberately preaches online falsehoods to wreak havoc in general, exploit the vulnerable and cause serious harm in the real world."

The Future, Tonight is out NOW on Noble Demon and available for purchase HERE

Neonfly are:

Willy Norton - Vocals

Frederick Thunder - Guitars

Paul Miller - Bass

Declan Brown - Drums

Find Neonfly online:

Official Website

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Twitter

YouTube

Find NOBLE DEMON online:

Official Website

Facebook

BandCamp

Twitter

YouTube

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Spotify

Top 40 Rockers Kingdom Collapse Release Official Music Video for New Single, "Unbreakable”

San Antonio, Texas hard rock band Kingdom Collapse released the official music video for their single "Unbreakable" today. The single has already received early love on Octane's Test Drive with Jose Mangin stating "This is going to be a big time Octane future hit. I can already freakin’ tell.” In addition, the single has also been picked up by the Adrenaline Workout, Kickass Metal and New Metal Spotify Editorial Playlists!

Kingdom Collapse - Unbreakable (Official Music Video)

Relevance. It is one of the most innate human desires; to know that we are not alone and that others go through the same struggles. This is why the Texas-based band, Kingdom Collapse, is carving out their spot in the rock world. They seek to give a voice to people who share similar troubles and crave relevancy in an apathetic world.

The world responded to a relevant theme of betrayal when their first single, “Suffer,” amassed over 5,000,000 YouTube views and 900,000 Spotify streams organically. The group’s 2020 hit radio single, “Uprise,” broke into the Billboard Mainstream Rock Top 40 as well as the Mediabase Active Rock charts for 9 weeks straight. “Uprise” went on to become Sirius XM Octane’s #1 Most Played song for two consecutive weeks and has since accumulated over 1,700,000 Spotify streams, tipping the band’s total stream count over 4 million.

The group features Jonathan Norris on vocals, David Work on guitar, Aaron Smith on bass and Elijah Santucci on drums. Together, with a mutual vision, they are bringing their shared experiences to the masses and looking to help as many people as they can with a feeling of solidarity.

The band’s 2021 follow-up radio single, “Unbreakable,” is an anthem that is emotionally honest and relevant to today's times. Written and produced by lead singer, Jonathan Norris and mixed/mastered by Chris Mora of War Horse Recordings, it sends a positive message to listeners by teaching that even life’s hardest moments can be a benefit. Norris writes, “‘Unbreakable’ comes from a lyrical standpoint of looking back at various struggles that life has thrown at you and coming to realize that those struggles ultimately made you stronger. We’ve all been there, and it’s about finding the silver lining in the midst of dark times.”

Kingdom Collapse has been playing stages across the US and has already shared the stage with the likes of 10 Years, From Ashes To New, Cold, Red, Saliva and many other hard rock heavy-hitters. In May of 2021 the band signed with one of the leading booking agencies in the industry, Dynamic Talent International, and will be announcing more tour dates soon.

For More Information Please Visit:

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Melodic Death Metal Unit HIRAES Drops Third Single, “Eyes Over Black” + Official Video

Melodic Death Metal Unit HIRAES (ex-Dawn Of Disease) Drops Third Single and Official Video for “Eyes Over Black”

Debut Album, Solitary, out this Friday, June 25 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW

German based melodic death metal unit HIRAES will finally unleash their highly anticipated sonic monster with ultimate strength and drop their debut album, Solitary, this Friday, June 25 via Napalm Records!

Today, to stir the anticipation even more, the powerhouse combining the full force of all four instrumentalists formerly of Dawn Of Disease (Lukas Kerk, Oliver Kirchner, Christian Wösten and Mathias Blässe) with the powerful vocals of Britta Görtz (Critical Mess, Ex-Cripper) sets free its third exciting melodic death emergence with razor-sharp single, “Eyes Over Black”. HIRAES' explosive new offering smashes in with catchy hooklines and immediately marks a sonic reminiscence of late In Flames. The song comes along with a powerful music video, shot in a crushing live set-up to demonstrate the inexorable strength of the band even more and gives a glimpse of what fans can expect when HIRAES are finally be able to smash stages worldwide!

HIRAES on “Eyes Over Black”:

“Aren't we all starving for live concerts during this pandemic? With our brand new video for 'Eyes Over Black' we want to capture this feeling of being on stage again as well as giving you an insight of the energy and intensity that our future live shows will bring to the audience. We cannot wait to finally get back on stage and present our powerful, catchy and monumental songs from our debut album "Solitary". Until the time finally comes again, enjoy "Eyes Over Black" and hope with us that we will see each other on the road pretty soon!”

Get in the mood for some blazing live vibes and watch the video for

“Eyes Over Black”

HIRAES already established its own remarkable identity built upon a smashing femme vocal attack, intense melodies and charging guitars, led by guitarist Lukas Kerk as main songwriter. An atmospheric, instrumental intro introduces the album opener “Shadows Break'', whilst showcasing the impressive vocal onslaught of seasoned frontwoman Britta Görtz shortly after. “Grain Of Sand” sets the next exclamation mark while delivering an unrelenting attack of smashing riffs along with an inexorable vocal performance, followed by standouts such as brutal “1000 Lights” and fast-twitching title-track “Solitary”, proving that HIRAES don’t decelerate for a second.

This massive melodic death metal assault leaves no scope for weakness and serves an exciting take on the genre with hymnlike melodies, enthralling drums and guitar riffing as well as breathtaking hooklines. Topped with the distinctive and versatile performance of Britta Görtz, this powerful new formation and its debut, Solitary, is a must have for fans of bands like Insomnium, At The Gates, Arch Enemy and Amon Amarth.

HIRAES say about the album:

“Our debut album Solitary is the result of the collaboration of five musicians who burn with passion for melodic death metal. With its incredible emotional energy, it will captivate fans of the genre in no time. Hymn-like melodies and catchy riffing meet versatile drumming and the very varied growls of our singer Britta. The result is a unique blend of the best that melodic death metal has to offer. Rounded off by stunning sound, refined at Fascination Street Studios under the direction of Jens Bogren, and strong artwork by Costin Chioreanu, we are really more than satisfied with our first album. We can't wait to finally present Solitary to the metal community on June 25, 2021!”

Order the hard-hitting debut album Solitary NOW!

Solitary will be available in the following formats:

- 1 LP Gatefold SILVER

- 1 LP Gatefold BLACK

- 1 CD Jewel Case

- Digital Album

[1 LP Gatefold SILVER]

HIRAES are:

Britta Görtz - vocals

Lukas Kerk - guitars

Oliver Kirchner - guitars

Christian Wösten - bass

Mathias Blässe - drums

THY CATAFALQUE Streams New Album 'Vadak' in Full

Avant-Garde entity THY CATAFALQUE is now streaming its tenth full-length, 'Vadak,' in full ahead of Friday's release! The album can be heard in is entirety below.

In addition, mastermind Tamás Kátai will be hosting a very unique and special radio show via Gimme Metal on Thursday, June 24 @ 11:00 A.M. EDT! Not only will Kátai be in the live chat to hang out with fans, but there will also be opportunities to win some THY CATAFALQUE CDs and vinyl! You can sign up for free and tune in HERE.

'Vadak' is out on June 25! Pre-orders are now live HERE.

THY CATAFALQUE’s humble genius Tamás Kátai abandons any and all prenotions of tradition. Intertwining elements from a vast swath of unrelated genres, from jazz to pop to folk, and everything in between, THY CATAFALQUE masterfully crafts an eclectic sound that breaks down any generic barriers or borders. Following the massive success of 2020’s critically-acclaimed ‘Naiv,’ the entity returns with ‘Vadak,’ another esoteric monument in its already storied catalog.

Meaning “Wildlings” in Hungarian, the album title is a deliberate clue to the exotic and feral essence of ‘Vadak.’ Like seedlings scattered throughout the forest by the mere forces of nature, THY CATAFALQUE’s imaginative sound grows with an organic sense of whimsy, cultivated within the vast influences of our megacosm. Thematically, ‘Vadak’ is a foreboding lesson in mortality. Emphasizing the fragility that is shared by man and beast alike, the record explores our Freudian life instincts, in which we inherently fear and run from the ultimate goal of existence: death.

Originally, THY CATAFALQUE emerged as a black metal band founded by singer/keyboard player Tamás Kátai with the aid of guitarist/bassist János Juhász. Following their joined debut 'Sublunary Tragedies' (1999), the Hungarians evolved into quite different directions, but steadily gaining more followers in the process through the following albums, 'Microcosmos' (2001) and the self-released 'Tűnő idő tárlat' (2004).

On their fourth full-length, 'Róka hasa Rádió' (2009), THY CATAFALQUEinvited Ágnes Tóth from neo-folk outfit THE MOON AND THE NIGHTSPIRIT and Attila Bakos to add their haunting vocals. With fifth album 'Rengeteg' (2011), Tamás Kátai finally went solo with the help of guest musicians that again included Ágnes Tóth an Attila Bakos. Dubbing his eclectic musical amalgamation avant-garde metal, the Hungarian explored new sonic possibilities with 'Sgùrr' (2015). The sixth full-length turned out to be slightly more complex than its successor, 'Meta' (2016), which returned to a more direct approach without losing the steadily growing sonic diversity. In 2018, THY CATAFALQUE continued this path with the release of ‘Geometria’. THY CATAFALQUE delivered another spectacular musical mosaic with their ninth full-length entitled ‘Naiv’, inspired by the “Naïve Art” movement.

At its core, ‘Vadak’ expresses the familiar hallmarks that are unique to only THY CATAFALQUE, and yet, it is an unpredictable magnum opus, showcasing the latest evolution from Kátai and his esteemed co-conspirators. The album puts forth an elegance that cannot be matched or rivaled by any musical contemporary, taking fans on an adventure that is rife with excitement, drama, and unbridled craftsmanship.

Line-up
Tamás Kátai - guitars, bass, synths, programs and vocals

Guest musicians
Martina Veronika Horváth | vocals on track 1, 2, 9 and 10
Breno Machado | lead guitar on track 1, 2, 5 and 9
Gábor Dudás | vocals on track 1
Andrei Oltean "Solomonar" | redpipes on track 2
Gábor Veres | vocals on track 5
Julia Pfiffner | female voice on track 6
Patricio Böttcher | saxophone on track 6
Carolina Díez | acoustic guitar on track 7
Artem Koryapin | alto and tenor saxophone, trombone and trumpet on track 7
András Vörös | vocals on track 8
Dadan Bogdanović | saxophone, trombone and trumpet on track 8
Sean Pádraig | Armenian duduk on track 8
Loay Makhoul | tabla, dumbek and riq on track 8
Péter Jelasity | saxophone on track 9
Chris Lyons | violin on track 9
Artem Litovchenko | cello on track 10

Recorded in: Budapest, Hungary | Edinburgh, Scotland | Újvidék / Novi Sad, Serbia | Kolozsvár / Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Kharkov, Ukraine | Tuapse, Russia | Alicante, Spain | Quarten, Switzerland | Haifa, Israel | Austin, Texas, U.S.A. | São Paulo, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2020 / 2021.

Mixed by: Tamás Kátai in Budapest, Hungary, January 2021.
Mastered by: Colin Davis at Imperial Mastering, Texas, U.S.A., February 2021.
All music and lyrics written by Tamás Kátai except track 6 music by János Juhász and Tamás Kátai. Sound samples on track 5 and track 8 taken from Orosz nyelv általános iskola 5. osztály by Lajos Szilvási, 1987. Speech on track 4 made using iSpeech.org.

Cover art & lay-out: Tamás Kátai.

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

Available formats:
CD Mediabook
LP in various colours
Digital

For more on THY CATALFAQUE, visit the official BANDCAMP, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK.

Symphonic Melodic/Death Metal Force BRYMIR Signs Worldwide Record Deal with Napalm Records

The Five Piece From Finland is Working on New Music for 2022!

Napalm Records is proud to announce the signing of melodic/death metal juggernaut BRYMIR, hailing from Helsinki, Finland. The outfit features Joona Björkroth (Battle Beast) on guitars and started out to stir up the scene in 2011 with their debut full-length, Breathe to the Sun, uniting folk metal influences with cinematic soundscapes and hard hitting, fast-paced melodic death impacts that became even more present on the sophomore record, Slayer of Gods (2016).

Since their formation in 2006, BRYMIR has shared stages with various greats like Children Of Bodom, Wolfheart, Ensiferum and Finntroll - just to name a few. After their highly anticipated third release, Wings Of Fire (2019), and smashing festivals like Summer Breeze, Tuska Festival or the Nordic Metal Cruise, BRYMIR are currently working on new music, set for release via Napalm Records in 2022.

BRYMIR frontman and vocalist Viktor Gullichsen on the signing:

“We are beyond excited to announce that BRYMIR has signed a worldwide recording contract with the legendary label Napalm Records. With this newly-forged alliance we are headed towards a whole new level of opportunity and conquest. Are you ready for the coming storm? We sure as hell are!”

Enjoy what lies ahead and watch the official video for “Wings Of Fire”

BRYMIR is:

Viktor Gullichsen - vocals

Joona Björkroth - guitars, backing vocals

Sean Haslam - guitars

Jarkko Niemi - bass

Patrik Fält - drums

THY CATAFALQUE to Host Two-Hour Gimme Radio Special

Mastermind Tamás Kátai of Avant-Garde entity THY CATAFALQUE will be hosting a very unique and special radio show via Gimme Metal on Thursday, June 24 @ 11:00 A.M. EDT! Not only will Kátai be in the live chat to hang out with fans, but there will also be opportunities to win some THY CATAFALQUE CDs and vinyl! You can sign up for free and tune in HERE.

THY CATAFALQUE is supporting its tenth masterpiece, 'Vadak,' which is out on June 25! Pre-orders are now live HERE.

THY CATAFALQUE’s humble genius Tamás Kátai abandons any and all prenotions of tradition. Intertwining elements from a vast swath of unrelated genres, from jazz to pop to folk, and everything in between, THY CATAFALQUE masterfully crafts an eclectic sound that breaks down any generic barriers or borders. Following the massive success of 2020’s critically-acclaimed ‘Naiv,’ the entity returns with ‘Vadak,’ another esoteric monument in its already storied catalog.

Meaning “Wildlings” in Hungarian, the album title is a deliberate clue to the exotic and feral essence of ‘Vadak.’ Like seedlings scattered throughout the forest by the mere forces of nature, THY CATAFALQUE’s imaginative sound grows with an organic sense of whimsy, cultivated within the vast influences of our megacosm. Thematically, ‘Vadak’ is a foreboding lesson in mortality. Emphasizing the fragility that is shared by man and beast alike, the record explores our Freudian life instincts, in which we inherently fear and run from the ultimate goal of existence: death.

Originally, THY CATAFALQUE emerged as a black metal band founded by singer/keyboard player Tamás Kátai with the aid of guitarist/bassist János Juhász. Following their joined debut 'Sublunary Tragedies' (1999), the Hungarians evolved into quite different directions, but steadily gaining more followers in the process through the following albums, 'Microcosmos' (2001) and the self-released 'Tűnő idő tárlat' (2004).

On their fourth full-length, 'Róka hasa Rádió' (2009), THY CATAFALQUE invited Ágnes Tóth from neo-folk outfit THE MOON AND THE NIGHTSPIRIT and Attila Bakos to add their haunting vocals. With fifth album 'Rengeteg' (2011), Tamás Kátai finally went solo with the help of guest musicians that again included Ágnes Tóth an Attila Bakos. Dubbing his eclectic musical amalgamation avant-garde metal, the Hungarian explored new sonic possibilities with 'Sgùrr' (2015). The sixth full-length turned out to be slightly more complex than its successor, 'Meta' (2016), which returned to a more direct approach without losing the steadily growing sonic diversity. In 2018, THY CATAFALQUE continued this path with the release of ‘Geometria’. THY CATAFALQUE delivered another spectacular musical mosaic with their ninth full-length entitled ‘Naiv’, inspired by the “Naïve Art” movement.

At its core, ‘Vadak’ expresses the familiar hallmarks that are unique to only THY CATAFALQUE, and yet, it is an unpredictable magnum opus, showcasing the latest evolution from Kátai and his esteemed co-conspirators. The album puts forth an elegance that cannot be matched or rivaled by any musical contemporary, taking fans on an adventure that is rife with excitement, drama, and unbridled craftsmanship.

Line-up
Tamás Kátai - guitars, bass, synths, programs and vocals

Guest musicians
Martina Veronika Horváth | vocals on track 1, 2, 9 and 10
Breno Machado | lead guitar on track 1, 2, 5 and 9
Gábor Dudás | vocals on track 1
Andrei Oltean "Solomonar" | redpipes on track 2
Gábor Veres | vocals on track 5
Julia Pfiffner | female voice on track 6
Patricio Böttcher | saxophone on track 6
Carolina Díez | acoustic guitar on track 7
Artem Koryapin | alto and tenor saxophone, trombone and trumpet on track 7
András Vörös | vocals on track 8
Dadan Bogdanović | saxophone, trombone and trumpet on track 8
Sean Pádraig | Armenian duduk on track 8
Loay Makhoul | tabla, dumbek and riq on track 8
Péter Jelasity | saxophone on track 9
Chris Lyons | violin on track 9
Artem Litovchenko | cello on track 10

Recorded in: Budapest, Hungary | Edinburgh, Scotland | Újvidék / Novi Sad, Serbia | Kolozsvár / Cluj-Napoca, Romania | Kharkov, Ukraine | Tuapse, Russia | Alicante, Spain | Quarten, Switzerland | Haifa, Israel | Austin, Texas, U.S.A. | São Paulo, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2020 / 2021.

Mixed by: Tamás Kátai in Budapest, Hungary, January 2021.
Mastered by: Colin Davis at Imperial Mastering, Texas, U.S.A., February 2021.
All music and lyrics written by Tamás Kátai except track 6 music by János Juhász and Tamás Kátai. Sound samples on track 5 and track 8 taken from Orosz nyelv általános iskola 5. osztály by Lajos Szilvási, 1987. Speech on track 4 made using iSpeech.org.

Cover art & lay-out: Tamás Kátai.

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

Available formats:
CD Mediabook
LP in various colours
Digital

For more on THY CATALFAQUE, visit the official BANDCAMP, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK.

HOODED MENACE Shares New Song, "Chime Diabolicus"

Death doom outfit HOODED MENACE will be releasing their new full-length album, 'The Tritonus Bell,' on August 27 via Season of Mist! The band is now sharing the second new single, "Chime Diabolicus," which can be heard below.

Guitarist Lasse Pyykkö comments on the new album and track: "Just like the lead single 'Blood Ornaments,' the second premiere track 'Chime Diabolicus' showcases very well where Hooded Menace is in 2021, offering some 80´s heavy metal vibes, catchy and powerful vocals, better crafted solos, and a faster pace while never forgetting the band´s roots in slow death/doom style. Actually, the slower riff, somewhere in the middle of the song where the second solo kicks in, is one of our heaviest."

Pre-orders are now live HERE

Style: Death Doom

With the immaculate songwriting skills and the perfect balance between harsh death metal fueled outbursts and exquisite melodic melancholy, HOODED MENACE unleash skeletal horror and somber despair onto their craving audience with 'The Tritonus Bell'!

HOODED MENACE were formed in Joensuu, Finland in 2007 by guitarist Lasse Pyykkö, who had also performed in the Finnish cult death metal band PHLEGETHON. The band has always avowed to the strong influence by early CANDLEMASS and CATHEDRAL as well as PARADISE LOST, AUTOPSY, ASPHYX, and WINTER. Their lyrics are often inspired by the classic 1970’s Spanish horror movie series ‘The Blind Dead’.

HOODED MENACE recorded a 2-track demo, ‘The Eyeless Horde’ in 2007, which was released on 7″ the following year. Their debut album ‘Fulfill the Curse’ was released in 2008 and the highly acclaimed sophomore full-length ‘Never Cross the Dead’ came out in 2010. With a penchant for classic vinyl, the Finns also released several split singles and EP's, for example with ASPHYX and COFFINS, before delivering their full lengths 'Effigies of Evil' (2012) and ‘Darkness Drips Forth’ (2015). HOODED MENACE remained in a highly creative mode during their latest full length ‘Ossuarium Silhouettes Unhallowed’ which was released in 2018 via Season of Mist.

Throughout the years, HOODED MENACE toured in Europe and North America, and performed at many major metal festivals such as Hellfest, Roadburn, Maryland Deathfest, Tuska, and Party San Open Air among others.

With their upcoming sixth album 'The Tritonus Bell', HOODED MENACE threw in more classic 80´s Heavy Metal, such as KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE, resulting to the most up tempo (but never fast) HOODED MENACEalbum with the catchiest song material to date!

Line-up:
Harri Kuokkanen - Vocals
Lasse Pyykkö - Lead and rhythm guitar, bass
Teemu Hannonen - Rhythm guitar
Pekka Koskelo – Drums

Recording studio: Horrisound Studios, SF Sound Studio, The Underground Crypt, Sonic Train Studios
Producer/sound engineer: Hooded Menace, Andy LaRocque. Drum recording sessions engineered by Kimmo Perkkiö
Mixing studio and engineer: Sonic Train Studios, Andy LaRocque
Mastering studio and engineer: Sonic Train Studios, Andy LaRocque

Cover artwork artist: Wes Benscoter

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

Available formats:
Digital
CD Digipak
CD Clamshell Box
12" Vinyl Gatefold Black
12" Vinyl Gatefold Crystal Clear & White Marbled (250 copies)
12" Vinyl Gatefold White, Purple & Blue Marbled (200 copies)

For more on HOODED MENACE, visit the band's official WEBSITE, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, BANDCAMP, and TWITTER.

Raven Banner launches hard-hitting Life of Agony doc THE SOUND OF SCARS at Cannes Market

Genre specialist, Raven Banner Entertainment has topped up its Cannes virtual market slate with The Sound of Scars, a deeply personal documentary which chronicles Brooklyn alt/metal band, Life of Agony's rise, fall and rebirth while confronting domestic violence, substance abuse and addiction, depression and lead singer Mina Caputo's gender transition.

Directed by Leigh Brooks and filmed across several countries while Life of Agony was on and off the road. "This isn't a typical music documentary. It's as personal as it gets," says director Brooks. "I first saw the band live at the London Astoria in 1996. Since then, Life of Agony has become an absolute go-to when I felt alone and insecure about myself. This film is an intimate portrait that sheds light on the real life stories that make their music so vital and relevant."

The film takes a deep dive into lead vocalist Mina Caputo’s gender transition. “We’ve never avoided tough conversations and we don’t pretend to have all the answers,” says Caputo. “But this film is a roadmap with many great lessons. It shows a ton of vulnerability... moments of falling downward and others where we rise strong. Enjoy this gift of imperfection. May you find the tools to be braver with this film."

The deal was negotiated between Leigh Brooks of Firebelly Films, Richard Moxon of Moxon Media Consultants, Alan Robert and Joey Zampella of Life of Agony (LOA), and Raven Banner’s Michael Paszt, Michael Da Silva and James Fler.

“The Sound of Scars is one of the most intense 'punch in the face' documentaries we've seen in years,” states Raven Banner’s Michael Paszt. “We're looking forward to sharing the band's incredibly important story with everyone.”

The Sound of Scars utilizes personal archival footage, rare photographs and lost interviews, along with new, never-before-seen conversations with the band and their family members that tells the story of how three friends overcame domestic violence, substance abuse and depression to form one of the most influential bands in its genre. Through the success of their ground-breaking 1993 debut River Runs Red, hailed by Rolling Stone as “One of the Greatest Metal Albums of All Time”, they channelled their cumulative life stories into a soundtrack for a broken generation. At the time, that newfound fame allowed them to escape the tragedies of their pasts, but in the wake of their accomplishments, unforeseen obstacles arose.

“We've completely ripped our deepest selves open for this film,” says guitarist Joey Zampella. “The audience and our fan base will completely understand the mold we were broken from, and what this journey means to us."

“When we first started LOA over 30 years ago, I don’t think any of us could have predicted the impact that this band would have on so many people around the world,” says Alan Robert, bassist for Life of Agony. “We got together as a way of saving ourselves, but ultimately, through the music and the brutal honesty of the lyrics, we ended up saving so many others along the way.”