MESSER Official Music Video for Single “Hope In This World”

Stream MESSER Everywhere!

https://messer.ffm.to/messer

"Hope In This World"

https://messer.ffm.to/hope

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The MESSER Machine is fired up once again with another positive energy-driven song, “Hope In This World.”

“Hope In This World” is the newest creation from this modern rock power house known for their catchy hooks and high energy live performances. With 3 top 25 active rock singles, MESSER is poised to raise the bar even higher. Re-energized and focused, MESSER is ready to deliver an experience that goes beyond the music.

"Our new single was born out of the pandemic. We couldn’t just sit here and do nothing. We have a platform and we are compelled to use it for good" says the band.

They continue, "One of the most powerful things you can give someone is hope. We live in a world more divided than ever, making it hard to see a way for us to find a place of peace and harmony.'Hope In This World' is a song about bridging the gap between us that seems to be growing every day. The core message of this song is helping people find hope despite the negativity. It's easy to get trapped in boxes of belief and confusion. This song is about the lifeline we cling to for change, the light at the end of the tunnel."

Be a part of the Machine and help us find some Hope In This World.

Messer continued their momentum from their breakout year with the release of "Simple Man", the 3rd single and video from their self-titled debut album, which bowed at #3 on the Soundscan New Artist chart and was named "New and Noteworthy" at iTunes and Amazon Music. The Dallas, Texas based band had a banner year in 2018 with first single “Make This Life” reaching #25 on the Active Rock radio charts, and second single "Save Myself" also made it into the Top 30 - the only truly independent act to do so.

"Simple Man" peaked at #23 on the Active Rock charts, and is the highest charting single for the band to date. It garnered attention throughout the rock world with spots on key Hard Rock playlists @ Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora Radio, Google Play Music, Youtube and Slacker Radio. The band has received accolades @ Loudwire, AXS, Alternative Press, Revolver, New Noise, Pure Grain Audio, and more.

The band was relentless touring hard in 2019, opening for Pop Evil, Scott Stapp, and headlining their own tour. Messer played more than 250 shows in 2019, including a 40-city sold out tour with RED and Lacey Sturm. The band was personally invited by Kevin Lyman to play the Texas leg of the final Vans Warped Tour.

The band's cutting-edge modern rock sound was born through serendipitous connections in the thriving Deep Ellum music scene of Dallas, an area that has given rise to iconic Hard Rock and Metal bands like Pantera, Drowning Pool, Hell Yeah, and King's X. The band grew their fan base locally, and began to branch out regionally and nationally, opening for notable bands such as Sick Puppies, Candlebox, Hinder, Vince Neil, Black Stone Cherry, Drowning Pool, Metallica, Scott Stapp Of Creed, and Avenged Sevenfold, among others. It was on one of these tours that the band caught the attention of Los Angeles based writer/producer, Chad Gendason. The band felt an immediate camaraderie with Chad and a lasting bond was made. Messer started writing with Chad, and their first collaboration became "Simple Man". Fan favorite "Whiskey" soon followed and the songs started to flow into what would become their self-titled debut album "Messer". The album was mixed by Ben Grosse (Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Disturbed) and mastered by Tom Baker (Papa Roach, David Bowie, Motley Crue).

Messer is:

Dereak Messer, Lead Vocals

Jonathan Simmons, Guitar/Vocals

Kenn Youngar, Drums/Vocals

Maddox Messer, Bass/ Vocals

Messer Show Dates:

Wednesday March 2nd @ Galaxy Theater for music video premier / acoustic performance

Saturday May 7th in Ft. Smith, Arkansas @ 7 Steel Horse Ralley

Saturday Jul 30th in Jackpot, Nevada @ Edgefest

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

Spotify

Thrash Metal Legends DESTRUCTION Reveal Raging New Single “No Faith In Humanity”

Watch New DESTRUCTION Studio Session Footage An In-Depth Look into the Making of Diabolical HERE

Diabolical out April 8, 2022 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order HERE

German thrash metal icons DESTRUCTION celebrate their 40th anniversary with their hard-hitting new full-length, Diabolical, out April 8, 2022 via Napalm Records! Today, the relentless legends reveal their new single, "No Faith In Humanity", raging uncompromisingly with non-stop headbanging action! As one of the most legendary existing German thrash metal bands, DESTRUCTION grace the wall of fame with greats like Kreator,Sodom and Tankard - still going strong after four decades of Thrash Metal! Prepare for neck breaking energy!

"Furious, vicious, aggressive - a real thrash firework!"

- Metal Hammer

On their 15th studio record, DESTRUCTION brings out heavy artillery full of honest and uncompromising thrash metal, catapulting you straight into the seventh heaven of metallic bliss and causing a massacre of razor-sharp sound no fan of the genre should miss!

DESTRUCTION singer/bassist SCHMIER about the new video:

“This back-to-the-roots dystopic crusher drops an in-your-face message: only solidarity is the key for the survival of our kind!”

“The sonic performance delivers extreme riffs, pounding drums and a shredding solo-part that shows that DESTRUCTION, more than ever, stands for brutal guitars, vociferous vocals, quick as lightning drums and acoustical mayhem! We hope you enjoy it!”\

Watch the new music video for “No Faith In Humanity”

SCHMIER states about the recording:

“This was the most fun we had working on a record in a very long time and you can hear that. Yes. it was theoretically a difficult album but we did not think this way while we recorded it. We just followed our emotions, jammed and rocked out with a strong gut feeling! This recording was like a therapy to me, we all know how difficult times are at the moment. So I’m super happy how everything turned out!"

Guitar shredder DAMIR adds:

“It was a real honor for me to record this album. The studio work for Diabolical was very spontaneous and we had a lot of fun creating these dynamic, multifaceted and brutal but diverse songs. I loved every second of working on this record!”

Delivering the most brutal thrash metal for over 40 years!

After the charging start of opener "Under The Spell", DESTRUCTION shows no mercy on title track "Diabolical", with raging drums, bloodthirsty riffs and hellish vocals that sink deep down into your bones. "No Faith In Humanity" relentlessly rages on with non-stop headbanging action, while DESTRUCTION continues to smash eardrums on "Hope Dies Last" - providing unbeatable brutality with unstoppable speed, destructive verses and screeching voices. "Tormented Soul", on the other hand, is loaded with proper heavy metal and explosive drums. The grand finale of the 47-minute parade of devastation is provided by cover track "City Baby Attacked By Rats", originally by GBH, guaranteeing whiplash by combining rough hardcore punk with brute thrash metal.

DESTRUCTION riffkiller FURIA about the new record:

“Diabolical is an album of extremes, everything is more brutal and more technical but at the same time more melodic and to the point. It's a pure and devastating DESTRUCTION album with no gimmicks, full of power and adrenaline. I'm excited for what the future is bringing and can't wait to play the new songs live!”

Diabolical will be available in various formats in different territories, including a digital album and CD (bundled with a t-shirt + an exclusive “Mad Butcher”-bust), 1LP gatefold editions in black, crystal clear, marbled yellow/red!

Pre-Order Diabolical HERE:

After the charging start of album opener "Under The Spell", DESTRUCTION shows no mercy on title track "Diabolical", with raging drums, bloodthirsty riffs and hellish vocals that sink deep down into your bones. "No Faith In Humanity" relentlessly rages on with non-stop headbanging action, while DESTRUCTION continues to smash eardrums on "Hope Dies Last" - providing unbeatable brutality with unstoppable speed, destructive verses and screeching voices. "Tormented Soul", on the other hand, is loaded with proper heavy metal and explosive drums. The grand finale of the 47-minute parade of devastation is provided by cover track "City Baby Attacked By Rats", originally by GBH, guaranteeing whiplash by combining rough hardcore punk with brute thrash metal.

DESTRUCTION are:

Schmier - Bass, Vocals

Martin Furia – Guitars

Randy Black – Drums

Damir Eskić – Guitars

Eli Young Band Surprised with Pandora Billionaire Plaque During Grand Ole Opry Performance

Multi-Platinum Band Surpasses Streaming Milestone as “Love Talking” Impacts Country Radio

Photo Credit: Chris Hollo, Grand Ole Opry

Multi-Platinum hitmakers Eli Young Band were surprised with a Pandora Billionaire Plaque following their Grand Ole Opry performance last night, Feb. 22. The moment commemorates over 2 billion streams on the platform, and the band has been added to Pandora’s Country Billionaires Radio in celebration of the honor.

“Sometimes these moments sneak up on you and refill the gas tank,” reflected lead singer Mike Eli in response to the surprise presentation. “We love to play music and when something like this comes along and reminds you that people are listening, it just feels so good. The first and last time someone will call us billionaires!”

Last week, the musical band of brothers delivered new single “Love Talking” to Country radio, earning early praise from American Songwriter for its “silky smooth” delivery showcasing “the fruits of the band’s recent creative explosion.” All Access concurred, “In this two minute and 50 second smash, lead singer Mike Eli’s voice embraces listeners like a warm hug,” with MusicRow remarking that “the echo gives the sound some extra juice, and the band is as proficient as ever.” Billboard also named the song among the best of the week upon its release, noting that “this ultra-romantic new release from the group swirls with an irresistible melody and propulsive rhythm.”

“Love Talking” is the lead single off the band’s forthcoming sixth studio album, planned for release later this year via The Valory Music Co.

Fans will have a chance to see the new single performed live, along with the band’s multi-decade catalog of chart-topping hits, as EYB returns to the road for their 51-city Love Talking Tour. Tickets are available at EliYoungBand.com.

For more information and to see all upcoming tour dates, visit www.eliyoungband.com and follow on social media @EliYoungBand.

“Love Talking” Lyrics & Credits Available HERE

Love Talking Tour Dates:
March 4 College Station, Texas | Hurricane Harry’s
March 5 Kyle, Texas | Down South Railhouse
March 8 Modesto, Calif. | Gallo Center for the Arts
March 9 San Diego, Calif. | Moonshine Beach
March 10 Tucson, Ariz. | Rialto Theatre
March 11 Chandler, Ariz. | Wild Horse Pass – Motor Sports Park
March 24 Athens, Ga. | Georgia Theatre
March 25 Richmond, Va. | The National
March 26 Rocky Mountain, Va. | Harvester Performance Center
March 28 Nashville, Tenn. | Assembly Food Hall
April 1 Katy, Texas | Wildcatter Saloon
April 2 Oklahoma City, Okla. | Beer City Music Hall
April 7 Green Bay, Wis. | EPIC Event Center
April 8 Clear Lake, Iowa | Surf Ballroom
April 9 Fargo, N.D. | Sanctuary Event Center
April 13 Cincinnati, Ohio | Bogart’s
April 14 Columbus, Ohio | The Bluestone
April 15 Bloomington, Ind. | Bluebird Nightclub
April 21 Gulf Shores, Ala. | The Hangout
April 22 Tampa, Fla. | Dallas Bull
April 23 Fort Myers, Fla. | The Ranch
April 28 Hampton Beach, N.H. | Wally’s Pub
April 29 Manchester, N.H. | The Pub
April 30 Portland, Maine | Aura
May 6 Providence, R.I. | Fete Music Lounge
May 13 Fayetteville, Ark. | George’s Majestic
May 20 Helotes, Texas | Floore’s Country Store
May 21 Amarillo, Texas | Big Texan Starlight Ranch
June 2 Dewey Beach, Del. | Bottle & Cork
June 3 Washington, D.C. | The Bullpen
June 10 Kamas, Utah | DeJoria Center
June 11 Burley, Idaho | King Fine Arts Center
June 17 New Braunfels, Texas | Whitewater Amphitheater
June 18 El Campo, Texas | Greek Brothers
June 22 Aspen, Colo. | Belly Up
June 25 Santa Fe, N.M. | Hilton Santa Fe Buffalo Thunder
June 29 Lincoln, Neb. | Bourbon Theatre
July 14 Little Rock, Ark. | The Hall
July 16 Beaufort, S.C. | Beaufort Waterfront Park
July 19 Washington, Pa. | Wild Things Park
July 21 Brooklyn, N.Y. | Brooklyn Bowl
July 22 Huntington, N.Y. | The Paramount
July 23 Philadelphia, Pa. | Brooklyn Bowl
August 5 Minneapolis, Minn. | Fine Line Music Cafe
August 7 Wisconsin Dells, Wis. | Crystal Grand Music Theatre
August 11 Petaluma, Calif. | McNear’s Mystic Theatre
August 13 Fontana, Calif. | Tailgate Fest
August 26 Denver, Colo. | Grizzly Rose

About Eli Young Band
The musical band of brothers – Mike Eli, James Young, Jon Jones and Chris Thompson – play their own instruments, write their own songs and cling fast to their Texas roots. The trailblazing group has come a long way since their formation in 2000 at the University of North Texas, with the multi-Platinum hitmakers’ dynamic career thus far producing four chart-topping singles; 3x Platinum “Crazy Girl,” 2x Platinum “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” and Platinum “Love Ain’t” and “Drunk Last Night.” “Crazy Girl” also landed as Billboard's No. 1 Country Song of the Year and won the ACM Award for Song of the Year, with EYB also earning multiple GRAMMY, CMA, CMT, ACA and Teen Choice Award nominations. They have performed on national television shows such as TODAY, Conan, Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live! and FOX & Friends. While selling out venues from coast-to-coast as strong headliners, EYB has also shared the stage with Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Tim McGraw, Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Chris Young, Darius Rucker and Dave Matthews Band. EYB offers the first glimpse at a forthcoming project later this year via The Valory Music Co. with lead single “Love Talking” and a headline tour of the same name. For more information and to see all upcoming tour dates, visit eliyoungband.comand follow on social media @EliYoungBand.

About Pandora
Pandora, a subsidiary of SiriusXM, is the largest ad-supported audio entertainment streaming service in the U.S. Pandora provides consumers a uniquely-personalized music and podcast listening experience with its proprietary Music Genome Project® and Podcast Genome Project® technology. Pandora is also the leading digital audio advertising platform in the U.S. Through its own Pandora service, its AdsWizz platform and third party services, such as SoundCloud, the Company connects brands to the largest ad-supported streaming audio marketplace in the country. Pandora is available through its mobile app, the web and integrations with more than 2,000 connected products.

Metal Visionaries EVERGREY Announce New Album, “A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament)”

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), out May 20, 2022 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order Starts NOW

Soaring First Single “Save Us” + Official Music Video Out Now

A new era of EVERGREY: A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) is dark melodic metal

mastery!

Gothenburg’s finest export of darkness, EVERGREY, enters an bewildering new chapter in the band’s history with their thirteenth studio album and Napalm Records debut, A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), to be released on May 20, 2022 via Napalm Records. This overwhelming journey through progressive heaviness and searing emotionality reaches new heights and is preceded by the arrival of the soaring first single “Save Us”, in which heavy prog and melancholic beauty climax in a soulful chorus that proves EVERGREY to be top songwriters in their genre!

The pounding album opener reflects everything the new full-length stands for, as it kicks in immediately with stunning guitar work and unveils a chorus sure to top the annals of EVERGREY history. Listen carefully and you will hear the voices of hundreds of fans who were invited by EVERGREY to send recordings of their voices to later provide group vocals for the track – making their everlasting mark on EVERGREY history.

For the astonishing music video, the five-piece teamed up with longtime companion Patric Ullaeus to create a bewitching visual experience that exemplifies EVERGREY.

Watch the official music video for “Save Us” below.

Celebrating over 25 years of metal mastery, EVERGREY, led by founder, singer and guitarist Tom S. Englund, are known for wandering the realms of progressive and heavy melodic metal and painting sonic renderings with their twelve studio records released as of today. A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), the follow-up to the unit’s highly successful 2021 full-length, Escape of the Phoenix (which landed at numerous chart positions worldwide), reveals a 10 track mélange of which every note, every riff and every word seeps pure poetry – creating a ceaseless intensity that mesmerizes from the very first second.

The new album was recorded at Top Floor Studios Gothenburg, engineered by Jakob Herrman and produced by Tom S. Englund and Jonas Ekdahl, with mixing and mastering by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios (Volbeat, Destruction, Epica and many more), whereas the hauntingly beautiful album artwork was conjured by Giannis Nakos at Remedy Art Design. Nakos is known for creating artworks for acts like Oceans Of Slumber, Amaranthe, The Agonist and The Crown as well as merchandise for Morbid Angel, Suffocation or Cryptopsy – just to name a few.

EVERGREY on the new album:

“Here it is! A new album! Yet again! This is what we love about music, it never ends! Our mission is to write music so here you are! 10 new songs! 10 new EVERGREY songs that we hope you will have by your side as your life continues to shift and grow. 10 songs that we wish will be part of the soundtrack when you're creating new memories and new possibilities in your life. 10 songs that we feel privileged to have you listen to. 10 songs that have risen through the ashes of two years where our creativity has had more time than ever to flourish.

10 songs we really hope you will enjoy as much as we did writing them. As usual we have given it our best and we can't wait to hear what you have to say! A new year, a new album, a new record label = new possibilities. All this can only be positive, right?

Enjoy!

Tom, Jonas, Rikard, Johan & Henrik”

Get your copy of A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) NOW!

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) impresses with flawless, meticulous production that deftly depicts both heartfelt honesty and scorching metallic intensity, while its instrumental force of furious, technically driven riffs, skyrocketing solos and dramatic synths merges with the expert, brooding vocal performance of Englund – one of the most distinctive vocalists in metal. He skillfully balances harsh and heavy tones with an inarguably soulful approach, all topped by melancholic, thought-provoking lyricism that digs deeper with every spin, leaving a long-lasting impact. Songs like “Midwinter Calls”, which also contains fan participation with atmospheric audience recordings from the band’s latest tour through Sweden, and “The Great Unwashed”, draw the listener in with grooving, glistering instrumentation, flowing between boisterous dynamics and a next level vocal performance, while emotive “Wildfires” turns the volume down as a goosebump-worthy ballad that hurts and heals all at once. “Call Out The Dark” begins atmospherically with accented keys, suddenly evolving into an intense opus of symphonic and power metal attributes in the blink of an eye, whereas the record’s longest track, “The Orphean Testament”, impresses by revealing its heaviest facet. A sensitive introduction lures the listener into “Heartless”, and offers one of the album’s most engaging verses, followed by a hauntingly beautiful chorus and variety in pace to create a magnificent listening experience.

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) will be available in the following formats:

•2LP Gatefold “Die Hard” Marbled Red/Black (incl. Slipmat + 7inch (black) w/ 2 exclusive Bonus Tracks) – limited to 500 copies worldwide

•2LP Gatefold Glow in the Dark – limited to 500 copies worldwide

•2LP Gatefold Gold – Band exclusive, limited to 300 copies worldwide

•Deluxe Box (incl. Canvas, Pendant, Liner Notes on Pergament Paper) – limited to 500 copies worldwide

•CD Digisleeve

•Digital Album

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) is a striking testament to the fact that while the Swedish five-piece doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone at this phase, they still impressively showcase that, after over 25 years of existence, their creativity sees no bounds – dropping yet another sensation within their impressive catalog!

EVERGREY are:

Tom S. Englund - vocals, guitars

Henrik Danhage - guitars

Rikard Zander - keys

Jonas Ekdahl - drums

Johan Niemann - bass

SHAPE OF DESPAIR Streams Full Album Ahead of Release

Finnish funeral doom icons SHAPE OF DESPAIR are now streaming their entire new album, 'Return to the Void,' ahead of tomorrow's release! The album can be heard in its entirety at THIS LOCATION.

'Return to the Void' is available for pre-orders HERE. Pre-save the album across your favorite streaming platform HERE.

Finnish funeral doom icons SHAPE OF DESPAIR return from the wintry Nordic gloom on their new album, Return to the Void. Between the success of the majestically downtrodden Monotony Fields (2015) and today, the members of SHAPE OF DESPAIR have been composing (glacially) and otherwise ensconced writing/performing with their other projects like FINNTROLL, IMPALED NAZARENE, THROES OF DAWN, and COUNTING HOURS. The Finns have never been or found the need to be prolific, however. The race into the cold darkness is a contemplatively unhurried task. Return to the Void is musically and thematically that same journey, one of perpetual solitude and aching hopelessness, driven straight into the heart of frigid twilight. As ever, this is cheerless music for sunless days.

“Not long after Monotony Fields, I started composing for Return to the Void,” says guitarist/founding member Jarno Salomaa. “At first, the title song sounded too primitive. I thought I would make a solo album out of it, but after a while, the song reminded me of older RAVEN material. Naturally and eventually, it started to feel like a SHAPE OF DESPAIR song."

SHAPE OF DESPAIR was formed out of the ashes of RAVEN in Helsinki in 1998. Actually, the transformation into the present-day moniker wasn’t as violent as it sounds. A simple name change—initiated by Salomaa—coincided with the Finns' developing predilection for protracted if icy metal. SHAPE OF DESPAIR’s grand debut, Shades of… (2000), was proof that the fledgling sextet's stately doom was already ascendant. From there, the Helsinkians morphed in membership but continued their funereal march into legend with Angels of Distress (2001) and Illusion’s Play (2004) before hibernating for almost a decade. While Return to the Void is the natural follow-up to Monotony Fields and represents over six years of songwriting development, the main narrative (and indeed the timely return of drummer Samu Ruotsalainen) is rooted in the past.

“Return to the Void isn’t the follow-up to Monotony Fields in the traditional sense,” Salomaa says. “As stated, the songwriting goes way back to the first music we put together for RAVEN. I will say my approach has changed after all these years of making music. I found new and different ways to shape the arrangements and my compositions. What matters most, I think, is that it still has the SHAPE OF DESPAIR atmosphere.”

Return to the Void is no doubt SHAPE OF DESPAIR. From the void-gaze of “Dissolution” and gelid beauty of “Reflection in Slow Time” to the collapsing cathedral in “Forfeit” and the void-fall that is the stunning title track, the Finns have outdone themselves, overcoming the heights of previous lighthouse tracks “Woundheir,” “Angels of Distress," and "Sleep Mirrored" with surprising ease. Funeral doom is often narrow in scope, but Return to the Void defiantly opposes that with its massively scaled and forlornly inspired valleys and angelic (powered by Natalie Koskinen’s empyrean vocals) peaks. Coupled with Henri Koivula’s caliginous lyrics, SHAPE OF DESPAIR provides a masterclass display of a genre expansive and filmic.

“Return to the Void is a title we thought would best describe the album,” says Koivula. “It is a return for us in many ways. We were heading [musically] towards early SHAPE OF DESPAIR. Plus, Samu’s back in the band. Overall, my lyrics have a red line through them—a sense of solitude and depression. The state where you find that everything has lost its meaning. There is no past or future, only this one moment drifting near the firmament.”

The Return to the Void project started in 2020 and continued through May 2021. Production duties were wrested from the previous producer Max Kostermaa and in-sourced to the band directly. Ruotsalainen, Salomaa, Koivula, and Miika Niemelä engineered, respectively, at Beat Domination Studios, D-Studios, and Doom Cave Studios. The group also looked inside their ranks for mixing, handing the job off to [drummer] Ruotsalainen (FINNTROLL, METSATÖLL). The mastering was given to award-winning ace Svante Forsbäck (VOLBEAT, RAMMSTEIN) at Chartmakers West in Espoo. If the previous SHAPE OF DESPAIR productions were huge, Return to the Void is unfathomably massive. One listen to “Solitary Downfall” and the album’s crushing egress "The Inner Desolation," and it’s readily apparent that SHAPE OF DESPAIRhave crafted a temple of sound to ruminate the cruelty of existence.

“We recorded the album on our own, which allowed us the freedom to record whenever and however long we wanted,” says Salomaa. ”Everything was done in late winter, with the mixing taking place between February and March of 2021. We had a couple of weekends to mix with Samu, but most of it was done without us. The mastering was then finalized in May 2021. [The sound is] mainly raw but still heavy. The main focus was to keep our sound world intact. I think this album sounds the most accurate we’ve ever wanted our albums to sound.”

SHAPE OF DESPAIR’s next steps are to release Return to the Void via Season of Mist. The striking cover art via long-time design partner and silent member Mariusz Krystew (David Galas, Thor’s Hammer) is yet again a reminder that the Finns are as visually engaging as they are compositionally and lyrically. That they mixed old and new for Return to the Void is proof that there’s purpose and meaning to Salomaa’s ill-lit aesthetic. Once the album is released and protocols pending, Shape of Despair hope to hit the road where they’ll pontificate their wintry despondency from the stage to audiences near and far.

Style:Funeral Doom Metal

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/shapeofdespairofficial
https://www.instagram.com/shape_of_despair
https://twitter.com/shapeofdespair
https://shapeofdespair.bandcamp.com/

Recording line-up:
Henri Koivula - vocals
Natalie Koskinen - vocals
Jarno Salomaa - guitars and keyboards
Tomi Ullgrén - guitars
Sami Uusitalo - bass
Samu Ruotsalainen - drums

Recording studio:Beat Domination Studio, D-Studio and Doom Cave

Producer / sound engineer:Produced by Shape of Despair

Engineered by Samu Ruotsalainen, Miika Niemelä, Jarno Salomaa and Henri Koivula

Mixing studio and engineer: Beat Domination Studio / Samu Ruotsalainen

Mastering studio / engineer:Chartmakers West / Svante Forsbäck

Biography:Chris Dick

Cover art:Mariusz Krystew

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

Available formats:CD digipak, vinyl black and coloured

SUMO CYCO to Support Buckcherry on US Tour + Announces North American Headline Dates!

Beginning April 29 in Des Plaines, IL!

Order SUMO CYCO's Latest Album, Initiation, via Napalm Records HERE

After setting the music world ablaze last year with the release of their mind-bending latest full-length album, Initiation, fans have been chanting for SUMO CYCO to return to the road. Now, their calls have been answered with the announcement of a slew of US and Canadian tour dates, beginning April 29! The first half of the tour sees SUMO CYCO supporting rock icons Buckcherry and special guests Blacktop Mojo, while the second half will feature SUMO CYCO headlining all dates with support from Black Satellite.

Tickets for all dates are on sale Friday, February 25 at 10:00 AM EST. See below for all confirmed shows - several of which see SUMO CYCO returning for their first headliners in cities they appeared in with Jinjer in 2019.

Frontwoman Skye “Sever” Sweetnam says about the upcoming tour:

“We are beyond excited to get back out on the road after two years! We feel like it’s about time we reconnect with all of you in person and start the party again! We have the privilege of joining Buckcherry for some dates as well as taking the reins for our first headline shows in many cities. We’re as hungry as the fans are for live music to thrive again. So watch out, we’ll be blaring our Cyco sounds to a city near you!”

SUMO CYCO 2022 Tour Dates:

* = w/ Buckcherry, Blacktop Mojo

4/29/22 - Des Plaines, IL @ Des Plaines Theatre *

4/30/22 – Kansasville, WI @ 1175 *

5/1/22 – Bloomington, IL @ Castle Theatre *

5/3/22 – Indianapolis, IN @ Hi Fi (The Annex) *

5/4/22 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall *

5/6/22 - St Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre *

5/7/22 – Flint, MI @ Machine Shop *

5/8/22 – Horseheads, NY @ The L Live *

5/10/22 – Hermon, ME @ Morgan Hill Event Center *

5/11/22 – Portland, ME @ Aura *

5/13/22 – Rochester, NY @ Montage Music Hall *

5/14/22 – Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho *

5/16/22 - Murrells Inlet, SC @ Suck Bang Blow *

5/17/22 - Black Mountain, NC @ Silverados *

5/18/22 – Athens, GA @ Georgia Theatre *

5/19/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

5/20/22 – Birmingham, AL @ Iron City *

5/21/22 - Greenville, SC @ Radio Room

5/22/22 - Greensboro, NC @ The Blind Tiger

5/24/22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe

5/25/22 - Harrisburg, PA @ HMAC

5/26/22 - Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery

5/27/22 - Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz

5/29/22 - Hampton Beach, NH @ Wallys

5/31/22 - New Bedford, MA @ The Vault

6/1/22 - Montreal, QC @ Turbohaus

6/2/22 - Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti Bar & Spectacles

6/3/22 - Ottawa, ON @ Brass Monkey - REBEL 101.7 FREE SHOW

6/4/22 - Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck

6/6/22 - Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works

6/7/22 - Cleveland, OH @ The Winchester

6/9/22 - Westland, MI @ The Token

6/10/22 - Battle Creek, MI @ Music Factory

6/11/22 - Chicago, IL @ Reggies

About SUMO CYCO and Initiation:

Over the course of the past several years, Ontario, Canada’s SUMO CYCO – featuring teen pop-superstar/songwriter turned rock goddess Skye “Sever” Sweetnam as well as producer/guitarist Matt “MD13” Drake and bassist Oscar Anesetti – have proven themselves as one of the hardest working DIY-to-overnight sensation stories in heavy music, boasting an undeniable following of fans with their impressive mixture of metal, pop and everything in between. Even after garnering early viral acclaim and signing to Napalm Records in 2020, the band's seasoned DIY attitude and self-starting viral savvy continues to propel their creativity at every step, converting audiences all around to their infectious world of sound!

Prior to signing with Napalm Records, SUMO CYCO won awards such as "Best Female-Fronted" band at the Toronto Independent Music Awards, top finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition, Indie Week Canada “Best of the Fest” (prize included a trip to play Indie Week Ireland), as well as Best Hard/Loud Recording at the Hamilton Music Awards 2015. The band has shared stages with The Offspring, Coal Chamber, Our Lady Peace, Life of Agony, Hollywood Undead, Jinjer, The Birthday Massacre, Nonpoint, Butcher Babies, and FOZZY to name a few.

After launching their most recent, breakout album Initiation (2021) with the hooky hit "Bystander" (which recently hit the 1 million views mark on YouTube) it was immediately clear that SUMO CYCO is lightning in a bottle. Garnering hundreds of thousands of cross-platform streams and nearly instantaneous, rabid response to their self-produced music videos, the band turned the heads of fans and critics alike! Alternative Press dubbed SUMO CYCO a “New Artist You Need To Hear" and Kerrang called the album "a breathless blur of energy and action”. Revolver praised the band's first single as “...ridiculously catchy..." and SiriusXM's Jose "Metal Ambassador" Mangin, who said "...the chorus will stick in your head for days to come...", went on to feature it on Octane and Liquid Metal. Upon release, the album landed at #1 on both the Canadian and UK iTunes Metal Charts, and within the top 5 in the United States.

Initiation invites a mass of new followers into SUMO CYCO's warped, dystopian-like world of “Cyco City”! As with their prior full-length albums Lost In Cyco City (2014) and Opus Mar (2017), and countless singles, Initiation is based in the imaginative conceptual location of the same name. Last fall, SUMO CYCO took the album a step further and dropped the official Digital Deluxe Edition of Initiation, featuring peppy new single "Sun Eater", plus additional limited edition tracks "New Jive", "We Are The Nation" and "Awakened".

Order Initiation & the Initiation Digital Deluxe Edition HERE

LORDS OF THE TRIDENT Release Music Video For New Single "Acolyte"

Even more exciting news for Trident fans! Earlier this month the band announced the details for the fifth installment of their Mad With Power Festival! This year's installment features headliners Aether Realm and Psychostick, along with a full lineup of great bands...including Lords of the Trident! Speaking about the festival, Von Wrathenstein shares:

"We're so excited to finally unveil the lineup for this year's Mad With Power fest! For those who are unfamiliar: Mad With Power combines amazing heavy metal from all over the US with free-play arcade and pinball games. It's truly a fest like no other! Last year we sold over 400 tickets in less than 3 weeks, so if you want to go, make sure you get tickets as soon as possible! Tickets go on sale for Lords of the Trident Patreon backers in mid-April, and the general public in mid-May."

About the LORDS OF THE TRIDENT Patreon:

The full album (The Offering) is available right now for members of the Lords of the Trident Patreon who pledge $5 or more. This pledge not only gets you an immediate copy of the new album, but also their three previous albums (Shadows from the Past, Pull the Plug, and Power Outage) as well as 20+ internet-exclusive singles, 25+ full-concert bootlegs, and a mountain of exclusive content for Patreon backers only. The full album will not be released publicly until April, so being a backer is the only way to hear it before it releases. 100% of the money pledged goes directly to the band and helps them play more shows, make more content, and survive the evils of the music industry.

"So far, those brave enough to join our METAL ARMY via the Patreon have been absolutely raving about the album non-stop! I've lost count of the number of times people have said "Album of the Year", and just the other day there was a FOUR-PAGE discussion on our discord about how good the songwriting and drumming was. We've been asking our top-tier backers to help us pick the next music videos to release, and almost all of them have been a dead tie. To say we're happy with the reception so far is a vast understatement!"

New Album 'The Offering' Out April 1st (Listen NOW on Patreon)

American heavy metal band LORDS OF THE TRIDENT have released the third single from their upcoming studio album, 'The Offering'. The new track, "Acolyte", is out today and is accompanied by a music video.

Talking about "Acolyte", vocalist Fang VonWrathenstein comments:

"This is the first "storyline" video from our album, and the young guardian was played by my neighbor's 7-year-old kid. I promised him a pizza party in my arcade basement in exchange for his time, but he didn't know we'd be filming in zero-degree weather outside, so the look of discomfort from the cold wasn't acting! This is also our first 70mm widescreen video, so if we ever make it to Cannes or Sundance, we'll have to play this one on the big screen, haha!"

The new album from Lords of the Trident, 'The Offering', will be released on April 1, 2022 - but it's available NOW via the band's Patreon.

To celebrate the formal release of the album, the band is playing a special release party at The Annex at The Red Zone in Madison, WI on April 2nd - featuring special guest performer Grant Truesdell of Unleash The Archers!

"We're beyond excited to announce that Grant Truesdell from Unleash the Archers is making the trek from Canada to join us for this year's fest! We'll be playing the whole album with Grant for the first time ever, so if you can make the journey to see it, you should absolutely plan on attending this historic event!"

About LORDS OF THE TRIDENT:

Since 2008, the immortal warriors of Lords of the Trident have been pillaging cities and melting faces with their brand of adventurous and epic heavy metal. Sharing the stage (and the tour circuit) with bands such as Unleash the Archers, 3 Inches of Blood, and Seven Kingdoms, their high-energy, pyrotechnic-laden live performances are a sight to behold. Producing more video content, live streams, and music than a band twice their age, the Wisconsin-based quintet are releasing their fifth full-length album (and tenth overall release) The Offering this year. If you like battle, bloodshed, axes, fire, and losing limbs, then mosh your way to the front row and receive your free ticket to Valhalla. If you don’t like these things – too bad. They’re playing anyway, and they’ll make sure to steal your girlfriend in the process.

LORDS OF THE TRIDENT is:

Fang VonWrathenstein – vocals

Asian Metal – guitar

Baron Taurean Helleshaar – guitar

Pontifex Mortis – bass

Master Hercule “Herc” Schlagzeuger – drums

LORDS OF THE TRIDENT Online:

Website: http://www.LordsOfTheTrident.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lordsofthetrident/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/LordsOfTheTrident

Twitter: http://twitter.com/LordsOfTrident

Patreon: https://patreon.com/lordsofthetrident

Spite Announce US Headline Tour; Special Guests Boundaries, Vatican, No Zodiac (5/20 - 6/5 only) and Bodybox

SPITE

Announce

ONE STEP TO BECOMING GOD US HEADLINE TOUR

Tickets Go On Sale At 10am PST, Friday February 25th

From www.spitecult.com

California metal band, SPITE, have announced the One Step Closer To Becoming God US Headline Tour today.

Support comes from Boundaries, Vatican, No Zodiac (5/20 - 6/5 only) and Bodybox.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, February 25th at 10am PST from www.spitecult.com

Full tour dates below.

SPITE announced their new label partnership with globally renowned Rise Records at the end of 2021 and have released two new singles since. "Made To Please" and "Caved In" since. News on more new music from SPITE coming soon.

ABOUT SPITE

Starting in 2016, SPITE have spent the last 5 years developing their sound and reputation through their live shows. After their largest, most successful tour to date in Spring 2020, they spent the better part of the following lockdown writing. Now for the first time, the band is releasing music on a new label, where they feel the record correctly represents the energy they bring to the stage. With 36 million Spotify streams, 130,000 monthly Spotify listeners and over 8.6 million YouTube views across their previous output including popular music videos for Kill Or Be Killed, The Offering and Judgement Day SPITE have established themselves as a lethally furious force to be reckoned with.

SPITE are

Darius Tehrani - Vocals

Lucas Garrigues - Guitar

Alex Tehrani - Guitar

Ben Bamford - Bass

Josh Miller - Drums

Find SPITE Online

SpiteCult.com

CHRISTIAN DEATH Shares Video for David Bowie Cover, "Quicksand"

Gothic death rock pioneers CHRISTIAN DEATH are now sharing the official music video for the cover of David Bowie's "Quicksand" along with a music video! The song was recorded on a whim by CHRISTIAN DEATH in the first week of January 2020 to honor both the birthday and death anniversary of Bowie. The video can be seen and heard below.

CHRISTIAN DEATH will be releasing their brand new full-length, 'Evil Becomes Rule,' on May 6, 2022 via Season of Mist! The band previously released the first single, "Blood Moon," which can be heard at THIS LOCATION.

In addition, CHRISTIAN DEATH will be embarking on a North American tour this May, which includes a back-to-back appearance during both days of Cruel World Festival in California! The trek will kick off on May 5 in Akron, OH and will conclude in Brooklyn, NY on May 29! Tickets are on sale now - the full run of dates can be found below and more dates are TBA!

'Evil Becomes Rule' can be pre-ordered HERE and pre-saved across digital streaming services HERE.

In addition, CHRISTIAN DEATH has been reissuing their acclaimed catalog via Season of Mist! All special editions and reissues can be found at THIS LOCATION.

CHRISTIAN DEATH Live Dates:
05/05: Akron, OH @ Empire Concert Club [TICKETS]
05/06: Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club [TICKETS]
05/09: Denver, CO @ HQ* [TICKETS]
05/10: Salt Lake City, UT @ Liquid Joe's* [TICKETS]
05/12: Albany, CA @ Ivy Room* [TICKETS]
05/14-15: Pasadena, CA @ Cruel World Festival [TICKETS]
05/17: San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar* [TICKETS]
05/18: Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater* [TICKETS]
05/20: San Antonio, TX @ Rock Box [TICKETS]
05/21: Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
05/22: Ft. Worth, TX @ @ Rail Club Live
05/24: St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag [TICKETS]
05/26: Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe [TICKETS]
05/29: Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus [TICKETS]
* w/ LUNA13

"The founding fathers of American goth rock, Christian Death took a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion and conventional morality, with an appetite for provocation that made Marilyn Manson look like Stryper. Regardless of who was leading or performing in the group, Christian Death set themselves up to shock, both in their cover art and their lyrics, which wallowed in blasphemy, morbidity, drug use, and sexual perversity. Their self-consciously controversial tactics set them apart from the British goth scene, having more to do with L.A. punk and heavy metal, and thus the band dubbed its sound ‘death rock’ instead; however, their sensibility was ultimately similar enough that the ‘goth’ designation stuck in the end. Their music also relied on slow, doomy, effects-laden guitar riffs and ambient horror-soundtrack synths, and their theatrical performances were strongly influenced by British glam rockers like David Bowie and Roxy Music, as well as industrial provocateurs Throbbing Gristle. The latter was especially true of the band's first incarnation, led by vocalist and founder Rozz Williams, - When Williams left in 1985, guitarist Valor Kand took over leadership and sent the group in a more intellectual, political, and metal-oriented direction. A subsequent dispute over ownership of the Christian Death name lead many of their fans to take sides. Christian Death had an enormous influence on the American goth scene, shaping the sensibility of countless goth, metal, and even industrial acts that followed. Sadly, the Kand-Williams dispute ended in tragedy in 1998, when a heroin-addicted Williams took his own life.” ~ Steve Hue VH1, ROLLING STONE

There has been a ridiculously huge revolving door of membership in the Los Angeles band known as Christian Death. In the beginning, not long after the local California release of the first album, ‘Only Theatre of Pain,’ the band irrevocably and formally broke up. This left Rozz Williams at home with his overtly religious parents in Pomona, CA to contemplate his insufferable boredom, his only relief being found on the pages of his lyrics. After being invited to the record release party for Pompeii 99, a band already enjoying success in L.A., Rozz met band leader, singer and guitarist Valor Kand. Before long they were inseparable friends and Rozz was invited to join Pompeii 99. Together as Pompeii 99, while rehearsing for a planned European tour, the head of a French record label that Valor had been negotiating with, proposed the notion of renaming his band Christian Death. Neither Valor nor Rozz wanted to entertain this, however, the incentives proposed by the label eventually prevailed and thus Pompeii 99 was reborn as Christian Death. The second Christian Death album, ‘Catastrophe Ballet,’ which resulted from this deal, was recorded in Wales (UK) (a place where several future Christian Death albums were also to be born). A month before the release of Catastrophe Ballet, the French label head released a compilation which he called ‘Deathwish,’ comprised of previously recorded, unreleased outtakes and single tracks he had licensed.

Recording the second album was followed by the very first Christian Death tour which began in Paris and on to most European countries. The emotional stress of this first tour was hard on Rozz causing him to return to Los Angeles months before the other members, who remained in Europe. Upon Valor’s return to Los Angeles, work began immediately on the third album, ‘Ashes.’ Meanwhile, the release of a live album called ‘The Decomposition of Violets’ recorded in Hollywood was also released.

After the release of ‘Ashes,’ plans were underway for the second European tour when Rozz, just weeks before the first scheduled date in Italy, announced his plans to quit the band. With no intention of cancelling the tour, Valor returned to lead vocals, the bass player became the guitarist, and the guitar tech became the bass player; the tour proceeded as planned, but without Rozz.

Now fronted by Valor, the band relocated from California and settled in London, which they used as a base to tour Europe relentlessly in the midst of controversy, riots, bomb threats and protests by extremist Christian groups. Many concerts were canceled as a result of direct pressure by influential religious organizations.

From England, the band release nine more studio albums and four live albums in the territories of England, Germany, Italy, France, Japan and USA, with each release in each territory having different artwork, configurations and bonus tracks. Among these releases was the critically acclaimed album ‘Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ,’ which depicted a controversial image of Jesus shooting heroin. The single ‘Church Of No Return,” which went to No.12 in the UK charts and ultimately landed the band numerous spots on MTV, VH1, Super Channel, BBC and countless other Euro television and radio shows. Meanwhile in the USA, Christian organizations began burning their albums in public and on Christian Television networks.

In 1994, Valor relocated Christian Death back to the USA, with the lineup centering around himself and Maitri on bass and vocals. “He returned with 1994's ‘Sexy Death God,’ which many longtime fans greeted as his best and tightest effort in quite some time.”~ Steve Hue VH1

Once again based in the USA, for the first time, it was possible to do full North American tours, of which there were many, which also included Mexico where the live album “Amen” was recoded at the first ever show in Mexico City for Century Media. Later to be followed by the studio album: ‘Pornographic Messiah,’ which was also recorded in Mexico, then mixed in Holland.

“In 2000, they added drummer Will "Was" Sarginson (ex-Cradle of Filth and Blood Divine) and toured Europe alongside Britain's Cradle of Filth, one of the more popular black metal bands of their time. The two groups got along well enough for several Cradle members to guest on Christian Death's 2001 album ‘Born Again Anti Christian,’ helping it become one of the most metallic records in their catalog.

“The following year, vocalist and bassist Maitri, by then the second most continuous member of Christian Death, issued her black metal-influenced solo album, ‘Lover of Sin’ (confusingly labeled on the cover as ‘Christian Death Presents...’). In 2003, Cradle of Filth guitarist Gian Pyres officially joined Christian Death for their European tour.” ~ Steve Hue, VH1

In response to the post 9/11 period, the album ‘American Inquisition,’ was recorded and released with Season of Mist. The tours for this album included new territories for the band: Brazil, Chile, Peru, Ecuador. Australia, and New Zealand. Around this time, Christian Death released multitrack versions of several songs for the “Rock Band” video game series as well at that time bootleg figurines of both Rozz and Valor began to appear.

In 2012, Maitri released the second Lover of Sin album, ‘Horny Beast,’ which featured members of Nile, Morbid Angel and other popular death metal bands.

The following year, the band kicked off a full tour of The Americas that extended into 2014, with a full back catalogue digital global release. The year culminated with the band’s performance at Hellfest Open Air Festival, in which they supported Kiss, Rob Zombie, and Limp Bizkit.

With the 2015 release of 'The Root of All Evilution,’ the band hit the roas again that autumn in Europe, which continued into North America in 2016. The band again returned to Europe and drew the final curtain in Israel.

The song “Between youth” was re-released in 2017 and featured in the Vice TV series on HBO, ‘Balls Deep.’ Later, in Autumn 2017, Christian Death completed the longest North America Tour to date. The tour package included Lords of Acid, Combichrist, En Esch, and Night Club.

From 2018 onward, the band continued to dominate the world and perform throughout Europe and the United States, which included and appearance at the Cloak and Dagger festival in Los Angeles, CA as well as pulling off a mini-tour in 2021 despite a global pandemic. That same year, the band formed their union with Season of Mist and started to roll out the vinyl and CD reissues of all 16 studio albums, which included all new special editions and certain bonus features.

Now, the band is gearing up to release a brand new offering via Season of Mist, ‘Evil Becomes Rule.’ With the release of their 17th studio album, CHRISTIAN DEATH shows no signs of faltering or slowing down. The godfathers of death rock have simultaneously perfected and redefined their signature sound, which has served as a core inspiration for many bands of both the past and present, such as DANZIG, CELTIC FROST, and TYPE O NEGATIVE, to name just a few. ‘Evil Becomes Rule’ isn’t merely a musical endeavor, but an artistic expression that blends elements of gothic rock, post-punk, and dark pop, cultivating a poetic aesthetic that is certain to continue to influence the next wave of gothic rock.

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/christiandeath
https://twitter.com/ChristianDeath
https://www.instagram.com/christiandeath.official
http://www.christiandeath.com
http://www.youtube.com/christiandeathofficial

Recording lineup:
Valor - Lead vocals, guitars, violin, cello, piano (inside and out), keyboards, percussion
Maitri - Lead vocals, bass guitar
Pao - Drums

Live lineup:
Valor - Lead vocals, guitar
Maitri - Lead vocals, bass guitar
Chuck Lenihan (Chains) – secondary guitar
Pao - Drums

Guest musicians:
KWA-B: vocals on “Who Am I (Part 2)”
Chuck Lenihan (Chains): lead guitar break on “The Warning”

Recording Studios: Appalachia House Studios and Mainely Sound, Maine, USA

Producers: Valor + Maitri

Engineers: Valor and Todd Underwood

Mastering: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering - California - U.S.A
http://www.maorappelbaum.com/

Cover Art: Phil Worobey

Pre-sales: http://redirect.season-of-mist.com/ChristianDeath

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

Magnolia Music Group Launches with Flagship Artist Randy Houser

Randy Houser Signs as Flagship Artist

Radio Promotion Team Includes Co-VPs Heather Propper, Kimmie Trosdahl

Magnolia Music Group launches today with Platinum-selling Country musician Randy Houser as its flagship artist. Heather Propper and Kimmie Trosdahl join as Co-VPs of Radio Promotion; Emily Hoch signs on as Coordinator and Kyleigh Roberts joins as Director of Content.

“We are thrilled to have Heather and Kimmie onboard, as they personify the passion, experience, work ethic and talent that will position Magnolia to thrive,” shares Nick Hartley, Steadfast founder and manager for Houser. “The timing couldn’t be better for Magnolia to ramp up radio, streaming and visual roles as Randy gets ready to deliver the best music of his career, all while preparing for an aggressive touring schedule and roles in two major feature films due later this year.”

“I couldn’t be more excited about the creation of Magnolia Music Group and feel like it’s time to be more present than ever,” shares Houser. “Magnolia’s commitment to artistry is very important to me and has been a cocoon of safety for me while writing and recording new music. I can’t wait to emerge and share what we’ve been creating!”

Propper spent five years at KMLE/ Phoenix, followed by over a decade at Stoney Creek/BMG and Warner Music Nashville. Trosdahl was most recently with Warner Music Nashville, with prior stops at Wheelhouse/BMG and Bigger Picture, while Roberts’ previous stops include Roy Orbison’s Still Working Music Group.

Magnolia will leverage data and new technologies as it positions itself for long-term sustainability across label, publishing and catalogue divisions. Magnolia will be distributed by Empire and utilize Thinkswell’s marketing services.

Magnolia is currently hiring additional positions in radio, streaming and visual departments, with new team members to be announced soon.

Congratulate the Magnolia Label Team:
- Heather Propper - Co-VP of Radio Promotion at Heather@MagnoliaMusicGroup.com
- Kimmie Trosdahl - Co-VP of Radio Promotion at Kimmie@MagnoliaMusicGroup.com
- Emily Hoch - Coordinator at Emily@MagnoliaMusicGroup.com
- Kyleigh Roberts - Director of Content at Kyleigh@MagnoliaMusicGroup.com

Rising Hard Rock Outfit BOMBER Reveals New Single “A Walk Of Titans (Hearts Will Break)” + Music Video

New Album, Nocturnal Creatures, out March 25, 2022 via Napalm Records

Pre Order NOW!

With tours through Europe, an upcoming performance at Sweden Rock and a passionate following under their belts, hard rock upstarts BOMBER are sure to leave their mark on modern hard rock!

Today, the band reports back with the second single off their upcoming debut album, Nocturnal Creatures, to be released on March 25, 2022 via Napalm Records. “A Walk Of Titans (Hearts Will Break)” is a song about change – the end of relationships, the question of which bridges to burn and bridges yet to cross, as well as the sacrifices we make and the cost of moving forward. It lures with peaceful melodies and Anton Skölds’s powerful, standout voice, aiding to BOMBER’s distinctive hard rock sound.

Anton Sköld on the single “A Walk Of Titans (Hearts Will Break)”:

“Titans is by far the darkest song on the album. I wrote the bulk of the music in one session while going through break-ups in both my personal and professional life. It was very much a subconscious thing. Love (Andersson) came up with a bunch of lyrics which fit the mood perfectly. Add Rasmus Grahn’s ultra heavy drumming and the song was a wrap.”

Love Andersson and Rasmus Grahn add:

“This song is incredibly complex in terms of overdubs and other elements. There are over a hundred channels squeezed into five minutes of music. Just mixing it was a gargantuan task, but in the end we got it right. This thing is earth-shakingly heavy!

We never intended it to be a single but wherever we went people reacted very strongly to it. The label (Napalm Records) included. Sometimes the bigger hits are not the most obvious ones.”

Watch the music video for “A Walk Of Titans (Hearts Will Break)”

Max Huddén on the video:

“The video shoot was an intense experience. It was freezing cold (you can see our breath if you look closely!) and the fire alarm kept going off all day. But everyone on set kept positive - we just knew we were onto something great"

Nocturnal Creatures marks the great comeback of hard rock’s golden age!

After explosive live shows in Sweden and a subsequent tour of Germany, Sweden’s hard rock upstarts BOMBER prove that the glorious era of rock isn’t over and that they’re already setting the highest standards on Nocturnal Creatures. On ten powerful tracks, the four piece turns the night into an intoxicating adventure that convinces both old and new fans of the prominent classic and hard rock genre. Album opener and title track “Nocturnal Creatures”opens the gates with epic storytelling and interludes the following passionate ride through “Zarathustra”, while “Fever Eyes” ensnares with wistful weeping choirs and guarantees a quickly increasing temperature. “Black Pants Magic” emerges into an unforgettable high-class rock experience through its industrious and catchy hook, while songs like “A Walk Of Titans (Hearts Will Break)” and “You’ve Got Demons” surprise with dynamic melodies and Anton Sköld’s powerful voice. On “The Tiger”, BOMBER send their listeners right into the eye of a raging thunderstorm of riffs driven by brilliant grooves, while “Kassiopeia” sets the strings on fire with its marvelous solos. Bursting album closer “Aurora” presents Nocturnal Creatures’ crowning achievement, bringing the 40-minute escapade to the edge of the world.

With their new studio album, Nocturnal Creatures, the rising stars of Sweden establish a milestone in the legacy of hard rock that leads the once so majestic genre to new glory – marked by their very own special vision!

BOMBER on Nocturnal Creatures:

“This is an album filled with big drums, loud guitars and great vocal performances. But there are certainly many layers and emotional depth to this album as well. We all went through some difficult times during the writing process. We strongly believe that having put our heart and souls into the songs makes them more relatable to a wider audience, so we did just that.

The conceptual theme of the album is the night, and all that belongs to it. Night-time is when set our imaginations free, and we can truly release whatever is living deep inside of us. Sometimes the night can summon fears, but it can also be a comforting place. We used these concepts as songwriters to bring you stories of what can happen under the cover of darkness. From tales of spirits and ghosts to the stars above - to stories of love and heartbreak. Going through life has many challenges, it can mean going through a lot of hardships and sacrifice – but it’s also about finding our joy, meanings, and the good in all of us. That´s what this album is about.

Welcome to the night…

We're all nocturnal creatures.”

Pre-Order Nocturnal Creatures NOW:

Nocturnal Creatures will be available in the following formats:

Jewel Case CD Edition

1LP Gatefold BLACK

1LP Gatefold MARBLED Crystal clear & sky blue - limited to 300 copies worldwide

Shirt & JC Bundle

Digital Full Length Album

BOMBER is:

Anton Sköld - lead vocals, guitar

Love Andersson - bass guitar, vocals

Rasmus Grahn - drums, vocals

Max Huddén - guitar, vocals

VENUS 5 ANNOUNCE DEBUT SINGLE 'TOM AND MS. AMY LEE'

AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING PLATFORMS, MUSIC VIDEO OUT NOW

INTERNATIONAL GROUP TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM IN SPRING 2022

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to present the debut single, 'Tom And Ms. Amy Lee' from the new international metal group Venus 5! The single serves as a preview for the band's upcoming debut album, which will be released this summer. Venus 5 is composed of five amazing singers hailing from different European territories. In alphabetical order, they are: Herma (also of SNB, another Frontiers recording artist), Karmen Klinc, Jelena Milovanovic, Tezzi Persson (also of Infinite & Divine, another Frontiers recording artist), and Erina Seitllari. Each vocalist is an outstanding vocal talent, while at the same time representing a killer, unique visual portraying a character created for Venus 5. You will simply have to experience them with your ears and eyes to believe it. Speaking of, the video for 'Tom And Ms. Amy Lee' can be seen below.

Stream/Download 'Tom And Ms. Amy Lee' HERE: https://orcd.co/tamal

Born from an idea developed by the always creative Serafino Perugino, Frontiers’ President & Head of A&R, Venus 5 is primed to be one of the most fresh and exciting new musical prospects to emerge from the European metal scene in recent years. The concept for Venus 5 started with the idea of creating a “metal” version of pop projects like Pussycat Dolls and the like. Assembling the vocalists and musicians required a tremendous amount of time and energy as the right talent had to be in place to work together cohesively with great chemistry and to bring musical credibility to the project. The end result is that five outstanding vocal stars in the making have been brought together from different musical environments (and countries) to work together with the vision of creating a monster album that could be unleashed on an unsuspecting public.

While comparisons to this being a "metal version" of pop projects might lead one to think that the visual aspect of Venus 5 would take the lead, please make no mistake, the music here is front and center. There was zero interest in making this strictly about appearance, which needed to be secondary to talent. A team effort by producer Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere, Timo Tolkki’s Avalon, Sweet Oblivion, etc.) and his team of writers, including Jake E (Cyrha, ex-Amaranthe) who co-produced the vocals, Stefan Helleblad (Within Temptation, who also plays guitars on the album), and Per Aldeheim (Def Leppard, H.E.A.T, Stanfour, etc.) have created an approach to the music which offers a feast of musical goodness.

Venus 5 is certainly and highly recommended for all the lovers of the sounds in the current European metal scene, taking influences from, for example, Within Temptation’s latest albums and Amaranthe, but adding addictive, catchy melodies. A unique flavor that only Venus 5 can offer with such an outstanding amount of vocal abilities within the band.

Stay tuned for news about the band's debut full-length, which will be released this summer!

Line-up:

Herma - Vocals

Karmen Klinc - Vocals

Terese 'Tezzi' Persson - Vocals

Jelena Milovanovic - Vocals

Erina Seittlari - Vocals

Stefan Helleblad - Guitars

Aldo Lonobile - Guitars

Gabriele Robotti - Guitars

Dann Arisi - Bass

Alfonso Mocerino - Drums

Antonio Agate - Keyboards, Piano, & Electro arrangements

Extreme Heavy Metal Powerhouse EVIL INVADERS Reveals New Single “Sledgehammer Justice” + Music Video

New Album, Shattering Reflection, out April 1, 2022 via Napalm Records

Pre Order NOW!

Belgian unit EVIL INVADERS attack and take no prisoners! ”Sledgehammer Justice“, the second single and most extreme song of their upcoming album, Shattering Reflection, is a furious outburst blending traditional heavy metal with speed and thrash standards, in which the Belgian quartet goes full throttle with hammering rhythms and guitar solo madness! The single comes along with a thrilling music video chock full of authentic 80s vibes and horror elements that will shake you to the core!

”Sledgehammer Justice” delivers another powerful taste of what to expect from their new full-length. The album follows previous record Feed Me Violence (2017), which was highly acclaimed by fans and the international press (Deaf Forever 9,5/10 [DE], Rock Tribune 9/10 [BE], Powerplay 9/10 [UK], Spark 5/6 [CZ]).

Evil Invaders on “Sledgehammer Justice”:

“‘Sledgehammer Justice’ is the most straight-forward song from our upcoming record Shattering Reflection. It has the coolest videoclip we've released so far! This skull-crushing bomb of adrenaline is gonna drive you wild”

Watch the music video for “Sledgehammer Justice”

EVIL INVADERS are back and deliver a remarkably melodic and extreme Heavy Metal masterpiece!

EVIL INVADERS’s Shattering Reflection promises to be a game-changer for the Belgian four-piece, as the band finds their own formula – twisting heavy metal into yet another extreme direction. The album takes off with speeding banger “Hissing in Crescendo”, followed by the epic anthem “Die For Me”, already destined to become an EVIL INVADERSall-time classic. A calmer side is explored on tracks like mid-tempo opus “Forgotten Memories”, creating a dense, heavy wall of sound with equally piercing vocals and lyrics underlined by guitar solo virtuosity. That thrilling epos stands in line with “In Deepest Black”, further showcasing how the band has managed to craft a pure classic heavy metal anthem with melodic guitar lines and catchy choruses, creeping relentlessly into the listener’s head. It also proves that frontman Joe has undoubtedly matured vocally, as his voice enters a whole new dimension in all facets. On the contrary, “Sledgehammer Justice” is a furious outburst of classic thrash/speed metal in which the Belgian quartet goes full throttle with hammering rhythms and guitar solo madness! Another album highlight is dark opus “The Circle”, creating a horrifying atmosphere with stomping drums and excellent guitar lines. Fans of King Diamond will definitely dig this one! Throughout the album, the band manages to keep the balance between fast extreme heavy metal with sharp shredding and mosh-worthy tracks, as well as melodic, intense and chorus-oriented mid-tempo anthems.

Shattering Reflection is a monster of an album that indisputably proves that, within in a new generation of metal bands, EVIL INVADERS have developed and matured record after record, just like classic metal bands of yore. Fans will instantly clamor to hear Shattering Reflection in full, and see these sinister tracks performed live on stage!

Joe (vocalist & guitarist) on Shattering Reflection:

"I’m very satisfied with what we achieved on Shattering Reflection. We’ve created a very versatile and surprising album. Because it had been so long since we’ve released anything new, we had a lot of demo material to choose from and I think that’s what made this record so interesting. We had the time to experiment with the songwriting, arrangements and vocal lines. Also the collaboration with Francesco Paoli as a producer was really cool. We managed to truly give the songs a unique vibe.

It feels like we’re at the start of a new chapter for the band and I’m excited to hear people’s reactions to the new stuff! It was a long and heavy process but it was totally worth it!"

Pre-Order Shattering Reflection NOW:

Shattering Reflection will be available in the following formats:

-Jewel Case

-1LP Sleeve BLACK

1LP Sleeve MARBLED BLACK & BLUE – limited to 300 copies worldwide

-Shirt & Jewel Case Bundle

-Digital Full Length Album

EVIL INVADERS is:

Joe - Vocals & Guitars

Senne Jacobs - Drums

Max - Guitars

Joeri - Bass

EVIL INVADERS online:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

PONTUS Releases Official Music Video for "Sukhothai - Dawn of Happiness"!

New York based Progressive Instrumental Space rock musician PONTUS has revealed an ensemble music video for "Sukhothai - Dawn of Happiness," off of his recent LP, Black Hole BBQ. "Sukhothai - Dawn of Happiness" was filmed between April 2020 and November 2020, at different stages during the lockdown period in New York City, showcasing the creativity needed to continue providing music in the pandemic new normal.

"The idea for the video came after numerous Zoom meetings where we were all boxed in and separated. It reflects that time and it often feels like we’re still in it. I had some help from my wonderful sons who walked across the screen, and also wanted to be part of the video. We were all together for almost a year, working, going to school (remotely), making creative projects, and part of that was making this music video. There were several locations where this was filmed – mainly in the studio where I work and different parts of my apartment. I also had help from my friend Dan Kramer who recorded the bass track for the album. When all the footage was completed the next several months were spent organizing the technical aspects of putting together the video and planning out the 3x3 video format. Each video box had a multicam clip included – so editing this project was very technically challenging. My goal was to capture these remote work sessions, feeling separated and locked away – but still closely bonded with my family. I don’t think we will ever spend this much time together as a family and in the end, what kept us all going was the love for each other. " - Pontus Gunve

"Have you – like me – missed Pontus H.W. Gunve’s magic of melting contradictory modes and impressions into rich melodic canvases? Go and grab a bunch (Not forgetting your friends) of it! ‘cause you are missing big time! " - Salim Ghazi Saeedi - Art Rockin' Magazine

"If you like your music laid back and intense at the same time, with an eastern vibe that won't quit, this is right up your alley ... In fact to me it's so awesome that I will be 
not only recommending for years to come, I will be following this artist’s progress from here out.” - Larry Toering - Music Chronicles

“There are few musicians in the mold of Pontus Gunve. Rarely content to rely on the traditional, but instead plundering it for his own uses...” - Jason Hillenburg - Music Street Journal

“People make music to get a reaction. Music is communication.” – Yoko Ono

If there is truth in that statement, then perhaps the true measure of a musician is the reaction and response his or her music gets. Pontus Gunve has garnered quite a few reviews over the years that can be an indication of that relationship. It’s a great place to start in understanding Pontus Gunve and his group PHWG.

Pete Feenstra at Get Ready to Rock said, “Pontus has a keen sense of the musical possibilities his impressionist style offers him.” Translated from Swedish, Jan-Erik Zandersson said this in Nya Upplaga, “Musically, this is a kind of progressive post-rock with a historical focus.” In a review of Gunve’s latest disc, Andrew Metzglerof Mountain Weekly News said, “The only way I can describe The Observer is by comparing it to Pink Floyd, Beats Antique, Umphrey’s McGee, Queen, and The John Butler Trio (2006 period)…Take elements from all of those bands, combine them with a few classic instruments and you can have an inkling as to what Pontus HW Gunve is bringing to the table.”

So, where does Pontus Gunve come from? The simple answer is New York City. That’s only the geographical location for his current stop on the musical journey that is his life, though. Gunve grew up in Sweden and was first fully gripped by his passion for music there when he saw Jean Michel Jarre’s Rendezvous Houston: A City in Concert on television as a child. Blown away by Jarre’s all-encompassing high-tech stage show and the endless layers of his album Oxygene, he began to explore the capabilities of computers to create different sounds and textures. His fascination with rock music led him to electric guitar, which he began to study voraciously, simultaneously imagining ways to expand its boundaries. At the same time, he experimented with sequencing and learned how to build computer and synthesizer modules that could be used practically during performances and on recordings.

Pontus Gunve’s music embraces the theory that music is a multi-dimensional experience and an adventure in wordless storytelling that fully absorbs the audience’s mind, body and spirit. Flowing through time and space, the lush sonic textures he creates evoke the ethereal landscapes of other-worldly multi-media artists such as Jean Michel Jarre and Boards of Canada while still clearly inspired by the thick, dark compositional textures of legendary heavy metal bands like Megadeth. And his energy as a guitarist celebrates numerous influences, from the technical proficiency of Steve Vai and the raw, exotic approach of Marty Friedman, to the minimalistic moments created by legendary blues performers. Gunve’s finely-tuned skills in the studio as both a producer and engineer allow him to seamlessly unify many different musical styles and a wide range of instruments into intricately-crafted, mesmerizing recordings resonating with unexpected surprises.

Of course, again, looking to reviewers can give us more insight into that sound. AtMusic Street Journal, Jason Hillenburg said of Gunve’s latest disc, “There are few musicians in the mold of Pontus Gunve. Rarely content to rely on the traditional, but instead plundering it for his own uses, Gunve brings a European sensibility to dense, intensely musical instrumentals. His album, The Observer, ranks as one of the most challenging and, ultimately, rewarding releases of the year.” Scott Kahn had this to say of the single “Cavalry of Camels” at MusicPlayers.com: "World Music meets Prog Metal in the latest single from Pontus Gunve. This is big orchestral stuff that rocks thanks to the solid guitar and drums anchoring the complex rhythms. The percussion and string section really give the music its international, ethnic vibe... Melodic, rocking, beautifully produced... I'm not fully sure how we'd categorize it, but we definitely enjoy listening to it." At Mr. Music Chronicles, Larry Toering said, “There is just no describing the sheer quality on offer here. It's something one must hear for themselves to really dig into properly, so it comes highly recommended…If you like your music laid back and intense at the same time, with an eastern vibe that won't quit, this is right up your alley. In fact, to me it's so awesome that I will be not only recommending for years to come, I will be following this artist’s progress from here out.”

Ludwig Von Beethoven said, “Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life. “ Gunve translates his sensual impressions of the universe into intricate, personal and melodic musical passages that vividly illustrate his life’s rich and complex journey and allow him to connect powerfully with his own musicians, the audience and with each space he performs. He has composed music and worked as a sound designer for a wide range of independent films and Web projects as well as for various large-scale art projects in Sweden. He founded his own instrumental project, PHWG in 2007, a group that combines video, electronic instruments, cello, violin, drums and tabla/darbuka. With that group he has released Four full albums and ONE EP, Black Hole BBQ (2019), IV (EP – 2016), The Observer (2013), Movements (2008), and Great Wall of Sound (2006).

JOSHUA ROBERTS releases New Single, “Spin the World (Around Again)”!

Houston, TX based guitarist and singer / songwriter JOSHUA ROBERTS has revealed the lead single, "Spin the World (Around Again)," off of his third album, Lost & Found. Produced by Chris Castaneda and recorded at 512 Studios in Austin, Texas, Lost & Found features some of Texas’s finest guitar players, including David Pulkingham (Patty Griffin, Pulkingham / Layne, Alejandro Escovedo), Rodney Pyeatt (Stoney LaRue, Mike McClure, Rick Trevino, Selena), Chris Castaneda (Castaneda Project, Pride & Joy), and, on steel guitar, Cody Angel (Jason Boland, Kyle Park). All the music was written by Joshua Roberts.

“As we recorded Lost & Found, it was like we were witnessing a 90’s alternative album write itself into the 21st century. Guitar driven music with lyrics that speak to real experience, love lost, and life found.” - Joshua Roberts

Joshua Roberts is a guitarist and singer/songwriter from Houston, Texas. Roberts was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, one of three brothers, who all found themselves creative and musically active at a young age. When he was 5 years old, Joshua's family moved to Texas where eventually all three brothers would see this creativity all the way through college. Both of his brothers both earned art degrees, and Joshua earned a degree in music.

While still in high school, Roberts started an alternative rock band named Willis Brownstone with his friends Caleb Jones, Ryan Patrick, and Matt McDaniel. In 2004, the band released their debut album, Summer Salt, featuring the group’s second drummer Jeremy Bryant. The band put out their second album, Without Hesitation, in 2007, which was recorded live in Waco, Texas. In 2007, Joshua also recorded and released his first solo album Concede with Willis Brownstone band mates Caleb Jones and Jeremy Bryant. Unfortunately, Joshua severely injured his left hand in January 2008, and all touring for the new solo project stopped, and Willis Brownstone was by then on permanent hiatus.

After years of rehabilitating his hand and playing mostly in the studio for various artists and projects, Joshua eventually teamed up with Caleb Jones once again, and the duo wrote and produced Joshua Roberts’s second album Electroharmonic, which was released as an EP in 2018. Joshua’s third album, Lost & Found, was released in February 2022 and features an amazingly talented list of guest musicians including: David Pulkingham, Rodney Pyeatt, Chris Castaneda, Omar Vallejo, and Cody Angel. The 8-song album was recorded in Austin, Texas, at 512 Studios and produced by Chris Castaneda.

Joshua currently lives in Houston, Texas.

VOYAGER Wins Eurovision Australia Public Poll

The first rounds of results are in! Perth's premier electro power pop sensation VOYAGER have won the Aussievision's Australia Decides 2022 public pollin their bid for Eurovision for the song "Dreamer!" The last two polls winners, Kate Miller-Heidke and Montaigne, went on to win 'Australia Decides!' The results can be seen HERE.

In addition, VOYAGER was also ranked #1 by the official Aussievision podcast jury! The full episode and team review can be heard at THIS LOCATION.

During the Opening Night Show on Friday, February 25, a jury of artists and industry experts will vote for their favorite performance. The Australian public are eligible to vote for their favorite performances via SMS from February 25 at 6:00 A.M. EST // 12:00 P.M. CET // 10:00 P.M. AEDTuntil February 26 at approximately 5:45 A.M. EST // 11:45 A.M. CET // 9:45 P.M. AEDT. The public vote makes up half of the overall vote. The artist and song that receives the most points overall will go on to represent Australia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2022 in May.

OPENING NIGHT SHOW + Jury Vote:
Friday, February 25 @ 7.30 P.M. AEST (Not televised – Tickets available)
(Jury Preview Show)
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

MATINEE SHOW: Saturday, February 26 @ 1.00 P.M. AEST (Not televised – Tickets available)
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

LIVE TV FINAL + Public Vote + Winner Announcement: Saturday, February 26 @ 7:30 P.M. AEST (Live and Exclusive TV Broadcast on SBS – Tickets available)
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Eurovision – Australia Decides 2022 airs live and exclusively on SBS and SBS On Demand on Saturday, February 26.

Broadcast times across Australia:
WA: 5:30pm – 7:30pm AWST
NT: 7:00pm – 9:00pm ACST
QLD: 7:30pm – 9:30pm AEST
SA: 8:00pm – 10:00pm ACDT
NSW/VIC/TAS/ACT: 8:30pm – 10:30pm AEDT

VOYAGER has also recently premiered the official music video for "Dreamer," which can be seen below.

For several years, VOYAGER has been petitioning to be selected as one of Australia's musical representatives in Eurovision - Australia Decides. After being shortlisted in the previous year's competition, the band has finally been tapped to represent Western Australia, making it the first time that the region has hope of winning the Eurovision title! The band will soon reveal the song that has been selected in the contest!

Earlier this week, VOYAGER also announced their very own signature beer along with a very special contest! ‘𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙠𝙮' is a juicy IPA brewed by Bright Tank Brewery and will go on sale on February 23 at THIS LOCATION! The band and brewery have also partnered with Lumber Punk Axe Throwing for a very special contest. With every purchase of ‘𝘿𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙢𝙚𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙎𝙠𝙮,' fans can grab a chance to join the band for an axe-throwing session courtesy of Lumber Punks Axe Throwing, and then on to Bright Tank to drink beer and do a meet and greet with all members of Voyager! More info can be found HERE.
"Integrating new-romantic 80s vocals against intricate textures of flashy synth, technical Opeth-esque riffs and ambient soundscapes, Voyager are a genre-defying cosmic melting pot of prog metal, djent and power pop." - Metal Hammer

In 2020, VOYAGER's music video for "Runaway" was exclusively premiered via 'Eurovision - Australia Decides!' Following an application via the Song Portal, the band finally received recognition for submitting a track and were paid tribute on the live television broadcast that aired on Saturday, February 8 on the Gold Coast. The can be seen at THIS LOCATION.

The song was taken from VOYAGER's 2019 release 'Colours in the Sun,' which received a wealth of international accolades. Recently, the single "Brightstar" was the first place winner in the Rock / Alternative category of the USA songwriting contest! Last year, 'Colours in the Sun' was the winner of The Independent Music Award in the Rock/Hard Rock Album category. The record was released in November of 2019 and landed a coveted #1 placement on the Australian Independent Albums chart! 'Colours in the Sun' also debuted at #7 on Independent Label Albums as well as #27 on Official iTunes Australia.

'Colours in the Sun' can be downloaded and streamed HERE.

Since their 1999 formation, whatever genre norms, boundaries and regulations thrust upon Perth, Australia’s Voyager have been smashed. They embrace, if not brandish pop; employ a keytar on stage, and, bring forward a positive, if not uplifting feeling to their music, running head-first into the endless parade of heavy bands who see the world in a different light. It’s perhaps why the title of their seventh full-length and first for Season of Mist, Colours in the Sun, is apropos: Voyager simply prefers to see the bright side of things.

“Observations of the malaises of the modern world and the baffling obsession with purity and difference all make me think,” says frontman and founding member Danny Estrin. “We’ve never had it better and we’ve never had it more colorful. To me that’s progress, it’s adaptation, it’s evolution and it’s astounding.”

The follow-up to 2017’s Ghost Mile, Colours in the Sun finds Voyager enmeshed in rich, melodic, song-first tapestries, led by Estrin’s smooth, capable clean vocal delivery. Estrin is self-aware of his vocals, calling them “unique and ‘80s.” But whatever tag Estrin affixes to his voice, they are the propellent throughout Colours in the Sun, serving up a steady diet of soaring, emotive choruses, where melody is paramount and along the way, even getting some help from another distinctive belter, Leprous’s Einar Solberg on “Entropy.”

“Einar and I became good friends on our tours through Europe and Australia,” notes Estrin. “I couldn’t help but ask him to guest on the album. He is a fantastic musician and vocalist. I sent him a reference track which he swiftly ignored and laid his own tracks down. The result is stunning!”

The kaleidoscope of sounds that comprise the album’s ten cuts is the result of Voyager’s far-reaching influences, many of which go beyond the traditional realms of metal and rock. Estrin calls it “catchy at the top, proggy at the bottom, as if Dream Theater and Depeche Mode had a baby.” It’s almost as if the term “progressive” is too limiting for Voyager, particularly when the guitar tandem of Simone Dow and Scott Kay merge for complex rhythms while doing battle against Estrin’s vaudeville-like keyboards (!) on “Reconnected.”

The “proggy at the bottom” notice is served by way of the rhythm section of bassist Alex Canion and drummer Ashley Doodkorte, who stretch their musical tentacles across busy, active cuts such as “Saccharine Dream” and the syncopated “Water Over the Bridge.” “I think we found our ‘voice’ on V (2014) and have been building on that ever since,” says Estrin. “The synthwave prog sound is really something that has naturally developed and has been refined even more on the new album. Every record is progress — that’s what progressive music is all about!”

According to Estrin, the Colours in the Sun album title encompasses a “vibrant multitude of people coming together under the hot Australian sun to create a beautiful and colorful soundscape.” It’s capped off by artwork courtesy of Doodkorte, who made the piece out of photographs near his house in Perth. A closer inspection reveals there are seven suns on the cover, one for each Voyager album, topped off by an updated version of the band’s logo comprised of five strokes, one for each member. No doubt a fitting visual summation of a band whose progress can be the described in the most literal and figurative of terms.

“It’s been a slow steady growth over the years,” concludes Estrin. “Other bands come and go after a year of fame. I really feel like we’ve built up an incredible fanbase, especially over the last decade, and the deal with Season of Mist seemed the logical step to take it to the next level together.”

Style: Electro Progressive Metal

Line-up
Danny Estrin - Vocals
Simone Dow - Guitars
Alex Canion - Bass
Scott Kay - Guitars
Ash Doodkorte - Drums

Recording studio:
Sumo Studios - Drums
Templeman Audio - Guitars and Bass

Producer / sound engineer:
Aidan Barton - Vocal Producer

Mixing studio and engineer:
Matthew Templeman
Fraser Cringle (assistant engineer)

Mastering studio and engineer:
Simon Struthers

Guest musicians:
Einar Solberg from LEPROUS on ‘Entropy’.

Cover artwork artist:
Ashley Doodkorte

Bio:
David E. Gehlke

Shop: https://smarturl.it/Voyagerinthesun
Download/stream 'Colours in the Sun': https://som.lnk.to/Voyagerinthesun
Download/stream "Dreamer": https://orcd.co/voyagerdreamer

Available formats:
CD Digipak
LP in various colours

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

TWIN TEMPLE Release Music Video for “Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy” + Currently On U.S. Tour With GHOST & VOLBEAT

The crossroads, the intersection, the place where the devil makes her deals; it’s there that the fusion of two seemingly divergent forms of magic can erupt into the genesis of something never before witnessed, and it was there that TWIN TEMPLE cast a spell that unleashed a fascinating sonic creature from the depths.

Last month, the Satanic Doo-Wop duo revealed their latest single, “Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy”, which included a Spanish cover entitled "Tengamos La Orgía Satánica". Today, the band deliver a magical treat via their “Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy” music video.

Watch the 18+ pentagrammatoon cartoon below.
Spanish version, "Tengamos La Orgía Satánica" here: https://youtu.be/1emB7qsmjuo

TWIN TEMPLE's Alexandra comments, "Come take a trip with us into the depraved pits of Hell and slake thine eyes on our most blasphemous Pentagrammatoon picture yet! Not for the faint of heart, this titillating picture has already been banned before its release. Don’t watch with your pastor looking over your shoulder. Warning - to watch this is to sin. Proceed with caution."

Purchase/listen to "Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy/”Tengamos La Orgía Satánica" here: https://bfan.link/TwinTempleLHASO

TWIN TEMPLE is bringing their black mass to arenas across the world on two of their biggest tours to date. Currently, the duo is finishing the remaining dates across America with GHOST and VOLBEAT before heading to Europe for GHOST's arena tour with UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS. TWIN TEMPLE will also return to Europe for a run of summer festival dates, including Download, Hellfest, and Graspop (www.twintemple.com/shows).

TWIN TEMPLE live:
With GHOST & VOLBEAT
2/21/2022 Chaifetz Arena - St Louis, MO
2/23/2022 Cable Dahmer Arena - East Independence
2/25/2022 Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land - Sugar Land, TX
2/26/2022 Fair Park Coliseum - Dallas, TX United States
2/28/2022 Don Haskins Center - El Paso, TX United States
3/01/2022 Footprint Center - Phoenix, AZ United States
3/03/2022 Honda Center - Anaheim, CA
"Let’s Have A Satanic Orgy/”Tengamos La Orgía Satánica" marks a departure from TWIN TEMPLE’s previous ways of working. “Unlike the 24-hour live session with the band,” explains Zachary, “this time we played every instrument ourselves (other than the saxophone) as well as produced, engineered and mixed the record ourselves. We still kept everything analog and one take to give it a raw feel, but it was just the two of us in the studio together doing everything. It allowed us to expand the sounds and gave us the freedom to add more instrumentation. We always like to stir the cauldron and change things up, and we were excited about challenging ourselves in this evil new way.”

TWIN TEMPLE's Alexandra comments, “We love Latin music. It’s an integral part of early Doo-Wop and a huge influence on us. This latest single is us continuing to explore that concept and sound in our own blasphemous way, of course. We chose to have a flip cover for the 7” as opposed to having an A-Side and B-Side so that the Spanish and English versions are equal. They’ll be released simultaneously as well, to reflect that equality.”

Deviating from the standard path calls for a soundtrack of rebellious music, that which TWIN TEMPLE brilliantly procures with hypnotizing and illustrious melodies. Much like their mood-driven, defiant inspirations, Alexandra concludes that “this [music] is about change; tearing down the old guard, and shaking up the status quo, which to us, is Satanic as fuck.” The hellish flames of the temple can be seen burning bright into 2022, with plenty of further news to come.

LITTLE CAESAR IS SET TO RELEASE THE RE-MASTERED/REPACKAGED ‘AMERICAN DREAM’ ON MARCH 11TH THROUGH DIRTY DEEDS/DEKO ENTERTAINMENT

LITTLE CAESAR IS SET TO RELEASE THE RE-MASTERED/REPACKAGED ‘AMERICAN DREAM’ ON MARCH 11TH THROUGH DIRTY DEEDS/DEKO ENTERTAINMENT.
Little Caesar are best remembered for their version of the soul music song "Chain of Fools, a 1989 hit single from their self-titled debut album on DGC Records, a subsidiary of Geffen Records. John Kalodner did A&R work for the group, and Bob Rock (Metallica, Motley Crue, etc.) produced their debut self-titled album, which was released to positive reviews. On the strength of the singles "Chain of Fools" (a cover of the Aretha Franklin song) and "In Your Arms", Little Caesar hit number 139 on the US Billboard 200 in 1990.

The band recently re-issued their 2009 release ‘Redemption’ which had been re-mastered and repackaged for a Limited “Deluxe Edition” featuring four live ‘Redemption’ tracks. Due to the amazing response of that release, they are doing it again, this time with 2012’s “American Dream”. It is once again re-mastered and repackaged as a Limited “Deluxe Edition” w/ four live “’American Dream’ bonus tracks including “Dirty Water” and others. Singer Ron Young has this to say, “We are really excited about the reissue of American Dream. It still stands up nicely over this last decade You get to hear the moments from when we created it, along with some corresponding live versions of the songs to capture its “in the moment” energy.”

This is the second of a series of re-issues coming through the bands new imprint label Dirty Deeds Records/Deko Entertainment. Next up will be 1998’s ‘This Time It's Different’, set for release later in 2022.

There are limited edition bundles (while supplies last) for ‘American Dream’, which can be ordered via: https://bit.ly/3mhppGJ

Product Includes:
- (1) CD Album of Little Caesar's – American Dream (Deluxe Edition) - Autographed
- (1) Little Caesar T-Shirt
- (1) Little Caesar Sticker

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
www.littlecaesar.net/
www.dekoentertainment.com

Austin electronic artist PARIS MUSIC CORP. releases eponymous album

"An enchanting, mainly uplifting collection of tracks that flow together well and are full of chill to invigorating atmospheres. Original and unique, this ‘Paris Music Corp.’ album creates a universe of its own – one that we definitely urge you to experience for yourself" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Texas-based electronic music artist Paris Music Corp., the moniker of experimental and ambient composer John Andrew Paris, has released a brilliantly fluid self-titled album and colorful chilled video for the lead track 'Light Speed'. With 14 tracks on offer, this is his first record in half a decade, the previous release being the 'Rewind' LP in 2017.

John Andrew Paris hails from Austin, where he has spent decades creating music and collaborating with numerous artists, including Arthur Brown (The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, perhaps best known for his hit single 'Fire'), as well as DJ Rev Kathy Russell, DJ Lucas Ray, Catastrophe Ballet, Le Reve, Life's Eyes, Beast of Eden, OBOYO and Don Wigwam.

Paris has also scored 2 independent films - the historical documentary 'Andy Paris: Bubble Gum King', also released as an album, and the short horror film 'Spectral Wind'. He has also created a clever electronic rework of 'Lord of the Dance' for the Austin Christmas Collection Album.

“I wrote, recorded, and mastered this album in my home studio in Austin. While I have since relocated to Brownsville, this IS an Austin, TX record. Most of it was conceived during the pandemic. Some pieces pre-dated the pandemic in an embryonic state, but 2020 is when I got down to the business of getting those early pieces completed and the new ones written. My inspiration for these pieces is that you never really know when you will pass on so you best be doing your greatest now,” says John Andrew Paris.

“There is a certain haunted feeling in some tunes and others just reflect the ambiguity I like in my writing style. It is a body of work I am very proud of. A lot of the ambient works are a result of on the spot improvisation. I am influenced by a lot of jazz musicians’ approach to music.”

Cinematic and ethereal, Paris Music Corp. music is sometimes ambient and sometimes spacey instrumental electronica. Often with elements of 80’s darkwave and ambient soundscapes, his trademark sound includes heavily processed guitar and bass instruments locked into layered loops and further manipulated using software.Also employing live hand percussion, these dense soundscapes take the listener on a sonic journey to otherworldly places.

Paris Music Corp.'s music is influenced by such artists as Mick Karn, Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, Tim Hecker, Casino Versus Japan and Miles Davis.

The 'Paris Music Corp.' album is available now everywhere digitally, including Apple Music and Spotify. It can also be ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

Keep up with Paris Music Corp.
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KENNY DUBMAN Returns with Anthemic New Single and Music Video, "Old Dog," Featuring CHARLIE STARR of BLACKBERRY SMOKE!

New Jersey based heavy rock artist KENNY DUBMANhas released the official music video for "Old Dog," the debut single with CHARLIE STARR (BLACKBERRY SMOKE) off of his upcoming LP, Conflicted. Produced by Kenny Dubman and Steve Deauctis, Conflictedwas recorded at Sound Spa Productions in Edison, NJ, and features additional guest appearances by Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and SCOTTI HILL (SKID ROW).

"Conflicted is really an album of observations of human nature and behavior...every single track is about things that people do, and the impact these things have on both themselves and others in their sphere. Human emotion drives human behavior, which ultimately shapes our worlds, for better or worse. Every single person is conflicted, in one way or another, at some point in their lives." - KENNY DUBMAN

Kenny was raised in a house where music played all the time, and it was his mom's Hendrix and Santana records that etched their way into his psyche...he had to know how to make those sounds. By age 9 he had started guitar lessons, and by 12, had begun to unravel the mysteries of real rock guitar playing on his own, courtesy of Ace Frehely on the first Kiss Alive album. Ace was playing the Jimmy Page licks...but he played them slowly and methodically enough for a kid to digest and be able to repeat them, albeit clumsily at first. Over time, the pentatonic scale layout of the neck revealed itself, and he was off to the races, never looking back.

By Kenny's senior year in high school, he had joined a newly minted band called Prophet with a bunch of Jersey guys several years his senior. They busted their asses learning progressive rock covers by Kansas, Yes, Rush, Genesis, Pink Floyd....as well as hard rock like Scorpions, Van Halen, Sabbath and AC/DC. By 1982, Prophet was one of the kings of the NJ club band circuit, playing 5 nights per week to packed houses all over the tri state area. In 1985, Prophet would release the first of their 3 albums; the self-titled "Prophet" (1985), followed by "Cycle Of The Moon" (1988), and "Recycled" (1991). All records met with critical acclaim, yet Prophet would never rise above cult following status...a following which still remains today. 
A few original music projects followed in the early 90's, but he was growing weary of the music business and all of it's fickle whims. He lost his passion for creating and trying to forge ahead, and channeled those passions elsewhere.

In 2013, Kenny found himself at an all-time low, having gone through quite a few years of real trauma in his personal life. He had finally shed all his baggage, and was slowly regaining himself and learning to stand again...gradually finding his footing. It was during this period that he stumbled on to an album that would set the course for a whole new musical re-birth for him..."The Whippoorwill" by Blackberry Smoke. Just happened to click on it by chance one day while looking for an album to play while at work. A year later, he was still listening to the whole record every day. A few months after that, song ideas that he thought were worth capturing started to appear for the first time in years. And on July 4th, 2016, Kenny released "Reckless Abandon", his very first 100% solo record. And THAT...is where this awesome journey started for the second time...and he'll never look back again.