ORIGIN Announce The Chaosmos North American Tour 2022 With Direct Support ABYSMAL DAWN

ORIGIN Announce The Chaosmos North American Tour 2022 With Direct Support ABYSMAL DAWN
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 The Space Control Tour 2022 With Co-Headliners MISERY INDEX Kicks Off On May 6th!

This Spring, genre-defining technical death metal giants ORIGIN are gearing up for not one but two North American tours to celebrate their 25 year anniversary as a band. They will start their journey on May 5th with "The Space Control Tour 2022" with co-headliners MISERY INDEX. Today, the band announces The Chaosmos Tour 2022 will kick off on May 23rd, this time with American death metal masters ABYSMAL DAWN as direct support. The 21-day trek will make stops in Los Angeles, Vancouver, and Minneapolis prior to its conclusion in Lawrence, Kansas on June 15th. The opening bands include Brooklyn-based experimental metal outfit TOMBS and Canadian technical death metal band KILLITOROUS.

Drummer John Longstreth comments, "Here we are again! Announcing yet another tour! I am happy to report to you that ORIGIN will be hitting the road with ABYSMAL DAWN, TOMBS, and KILLITOROUS! After a two year break, I think it's easy to understand that everyone may be a little apprehensive, nervous, or maybe just flat out rusty from a 2-year break of not doing what we love, and LUCKILY we get to share this new beginning with some familiar touring friends in ABYSMAL DAWN! No one is going to feel all that embarrassed about if I can't remember how to set up a drum kit, or if Charles Elliott has taken on clean singing, or someone forgets where their dirty, sweaty, stinky, salty stage laundry goes in the van! (it goes in the trailer, dear reader, NOT the van. in a blue Ikea bag, if ya must know). Along with us comes Ottawa's KILLITOROUS, and TOMBS From Brooklyn, NY to shake things up with everything black, death, tech, doom, and straight out METAL! So come out and get up close and see what all 4 of these bands have been ruminating in for the past 2 years! See you on tour!"

ORIGIN will be touring in support of Unparalleled Universe which was recorded and mixed by longtime producer/engineer Robert Rebeck at Chapman Recording in Lenexa, KS. Mastering was handled by Colin Marston at Menegroth - The Thousand Caves. Watch the music video for "Infinitesimal To The Infinite" below

Purchase general admission tickets at www.originofficial.com/tour

Confirmed dates for ORIGIN for "The Chaosmos Tour 2022" with direct support ABYSMAL DAWN and openers TOMBS and KILLITOROUS are:
5/23/2022 Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM
5/25/2022 Rockhouse Bar & Grill - El Paso, TX
5/26/2022 HQ - Denver, CO
5/27/2022 The Black Sheep - Colorado Springs, CO
5/28/2022 Metro Music Hall - Salt Lake City, UT
5/29/2022 Nile Underground - Mesa, AZ
5/30/2022 1720 - Los Angeles, CA
5/31/2022 Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA
6/01/2022 Full Circle Brewery District - Fresno, CA
6/02/2022 The Great Northern - San Francisco, CA
6/03/2022 Dantes - Portland, OR
6/04/2022 El Corazon - Seattle, WA
6/05/2022 Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC CANADA
6/07/2022 The Starlite Room -Edmonton, AB CANADA
6/08/2022 Dickens - Calgary, AB CANADA
6/10/2022 Good Hill - Winnipeg, MB CANADA
6/11/2022 The Caboose - Minneapolis, MN
6/12/2022 Crucible - Madison, WI
6/13/2022 Wildwood - Iowa City, IA
6/14/2022 Bigs Bar - Sioux Falls, SD
6/15/2022 The Bottleneck - Lawrence, KS

ORIGIN'S "The Space Control Tour 2022" With Co-Headliners MISERY INDEX!
5/06/2022 Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL
5/07/2022 Emerson Theater - Indianapolis, IN
5/08/2022 The Sanctuary - Detroit, MI
5/09/2022 Velvet Underground - Toronto, ON
5/10/2022 Mavericks - Ottawa, ON
5/11/2022 Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC
5/12/2022 La Source De La Martieniere - Quebec City, QC
5/13/2022 Sonia - Boston, MA
5/14/2022 Saint Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, NY
5/15/2022 Dingbatz - Clifton, NJ
5/16/2022 The Blind Tiger - Greensboro, NC
5/17/2022 Masquerade (Hell) - Atlanta, GA
5/18/2022 Brass Mug - Tampa, FL
5/20/2022 Acadia - Houston, TX
5/21/2022 Amplified Live - Dallas, TX
5/22/2022 Come And Take It Live - Austin, TX

ORIGIN just wrapped up in the studio. Stay tuned for more information on the band's forthcoming record.


Order your copy of Unparalleled Universe here!

ABYSMAL DAWN + TOMBS Announce North American Tour

Los Angeles death metal icons ABYSMAL DAWN and NYC/New Jersey metal collective TOMBS will be supporting ORIGIN along with KILLITOROUS this spring on the North American Chaosmos Tour! The trek will kick off on May 23 in Albuquerque, NM and will conclude on June 15 in Lawrence, KS. The full run of dates can be found below!

ABYSMAL DAWN will be touring in support of their new EP, 'Nightmare Frontier,' which was just released in February! The offering is a follow up to the band's critically-acclaimed 2020 full-length, 'Phylogenesis,' which was named one of the best albums of 2020 by Metal Injection, Metal Insider (#7), Teeth of the Divine, Cursed Zine, and more! In addition, drummer James Coppolino is listed as one of Sick Drummer Magazine's favorite drummers of 2020 and the band's song "Soul Sick Nation" was among Loudwire's "66 Best Metal Songs of 2020."

'Nightmare Frontier' is available to order at the Season of Mist E-Shop, Abysmal Dawn Bandcamp, and Abysmal Dawn Store. The single and EP can be streamed via your favorite streaming services HERE.

'Nightmare Frontier' was mixed and mastered by Charles Elliott at Tastemaker Audio. Drums were engineered by John Haddad at Trench Studios, while tracking for all instruments was handled by Elliott.

TOMBS will be touring in support of 2020's 'Under Sullen Skies,' which was been named one of the best metal releases of 2020 by Metal Insider, Decibel Magazine, The Pit, Riff Magazine, Chicago Music Guide's Global Music Podcast, and others while drummer Justin Spaeth has been dubbed one of the best drummers of 2020 by Sick Drummer Magazine. 'Under Sullen Skies' can be streamed, downloaded, and ordered HERE.

TOMBS will also be embarking on a co-headliner with label-mates CLOAK next month! All live dates are below. The band is also gearing up to release a brand new EP, which will be announced soon! Stay tuned!

TOMBS/CLOAK U.S. Dates (w/ Restless Spirit):
04/05: Providence, RI @ Dusk
04/06: Philadelphia, PA @ Silk City [TICKETS]
04/07: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery [TICKETS]
04/08: Winston Salem, NC @ Break Time [TICKETS]
04/09: Greenville, SC @ Radio Room [TICKETS]
04/10: Atlanta, GA @ Boggs [TICKETS]
04/16: Brooklyn, NY @ Kingsland* [TICKETS]
*Tombs only, no Cloak

ABYSMAL DAWN + TOMBS (supporting ORIGIN):
05/23: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad [TICKETS]
05/25: El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill [TICKETS]
05/26: Denver, CO @ HQ [TICKETS]
05/27: Colorado Springs, CO @ The Black Sheep [TICKETS]
05/28: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall [TICKETS]
05/29: Mesa, AZ @ Nile Underground [TICKETS]
05/30: Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 [TICKETS]
05/31: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick [TICKETS]
06/01: Fresno, CA @ Full Circle Brewery District [TICKETS]
06/02: San Francisco, CA @ The Great Northern [TICKETS]
06/03: Portland, OR @ Dantes [TICKETS]
06/04: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS]
06/05: Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater [TICKETS]
06/07: Edmonton, AB @ The Starlite Room 
06/08: Calgary, AB @ Dickens 
06/10: Winnipeg, MB @ Good Will [TICKETS]
06/11: Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze [TICKETS]
06/12: Madison, WI @ Crucible 
06/13: Iowa City, IA @ Wildwood [TICKETS]
06/14: Sioux Falls, SD @ Bigs Bar [TICKETS]
06/15: Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck [TICKETS]

ABYSMAL DAWN Lineup:
Charles Elliott: guitars, vocals
Eliseo Garcia: bass, additional vocals
James Coppolino: drums
Vito Petroni: guitars

For more on ABYSMAL DAWN, visit their official FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and BANDCAMP.

TOMBS Lineup:
Mike Hill – guitars, vocals, electronics, synth
Todd Stern – guitars
Drew Murphy – bass, vocals
Justin Spaeth – drums, guitars, electronics, synth
For more on TOMBS, visit their official FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and BANDCAMP.

Experience the Darkest Love Story Ever Told: THE LONELY ONES Release New Single "The Way Out"; Announce New Tour

Hard rock band The Lonely Ones are kicking off the new year with their latest single "The Way Out" available on all major platforms via Imagen Records.

The band finished off 2021 with a bang playing shows with Sevendust and PLUSH. In support of the new single the band will be on tour playing shows and festivals throughout the year!

2022
April 2 - Clifton, NJ - Dingbatz VIP Available
April 7 - Westland, MI - Token Lounge
April 8 - Battle Creek, MI - Music Factory
April 9 - Huntington, WV- The Loud
April 10 - Louisville, KY - Zanzabar
April 15 - Cheviot, OH - Legends
April 16 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall VIP Available
April 22 - Marietta, OH - Adelphia VIP Available
April 23 - Akron, OH - Empire VIP Available
April 27 - Memphis, TN - Growler's
April 28 - Nashville, TN - Mockingbird Theatre
April 29 - Huntsville, AL - Sidetrack's
April 30 - Ocean Springs, MS - The Juke Joint
May 1 - Natchez, MS - Locust Alley
May 26 - Joliet, IL - The Forge VIP Available
May 27 - South Bend, IN - Cheers Pub VIP Available
May 28 - Madison, WI - Bratfest

VIP Upgrades are available for select shows:

Head over to https://www.national-acts.com/thelonelyones to pick yours up today!

The band is available for interviews!

The Lonely Ones are: 
Marty McCoy - guitar / vocals 
Tommy Johnson - drums 
Jymmy Tolland - guitar / vocals 
Tru Roberts- bass / vocals

For More Information Please Visit:

https://www.facebook.com/thelonelyonesband/

NEW VIDEO ALERT! Black Swan "Eagles Fly"

NEW STUDIO ALBUM "GENERATION MIND" DUE APRIL 8, 2022

Ready for another new Black Swan Band track? Please enjoy the new single & video, 'Eagles Fly'! Below.

Taken from the band's upcoming sophomore album, "Generation Mind", which is out April 8th on CD/LP/Cassette/Digital.

Pre-order/save HERE: https://orcd.co/generationmind

Vinyl, Cassette, and T-shirts are all available exclusively from the label's webstores.

LINE-UP:

Robin McAuley - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals

Reb Beach - Guitars, Background Vocals

Jeff Pilson - Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keys, Background Vocals

Matt Starr - Drums, Percussion

Casey McAuley - Additional Background Vocals

Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/BlackSwanRockNRoll

AXEL RUDI PELL Releases New Single "Survive"

AXEL RUDI PELL Releases New Single "Survive"

New Album 'LOST XXIII' Out April 15th, 2022

German guitar wizard AXEL RUDI PELL has released a new single, "Survive". The song is taken from the upcoming studio album 'Lost XXIII'.

Speaking about the new track, Axel Rudi Pell shares: "SURVIVE is about many crazy things happening recently in the world. We have a pandemic still going on and very critical situations in different countries. Who is our enemy and will we survive? A melodic hard rocking track in our typical ARP style!"

Fans can check out the lyric video for "Survive" below! The new album from ARP, 'Lost XXIII', will see an April 15th, 2022 release via SPV/Steamhammer.

'Lost XXIII' will be released on April 15th, 2022 through SPV/Steamhammer in the following configurations:

=> Limited CD DigiPak (incl. poster and 1 bonus track)

=> CD jewel case

=> 2LP Gatefold, 140 g, half red/half black vinyl, printed inner sleeves

- Limited box set (incl. limited CD digipak, 2 LP gatefold exclusive box set color circled red/black vinyl, high quality framed art print, A1 double-sided poster, photo card, sticker - Europe only!!)

=> Download / Streaming

Pre-Order Link: https://smarturl.it/ARPLostXXIII

=> 2LP Gatefold exclusive colored edition only at the Napalm shop

Pre-Order Link: https://napalmrecords.com/english/axel-rudi-pell

Exclusive CD/LP Bundle with a T-shirt only at the Steamhammer shop

Pre-Order Link: https://shop.steamhammer.de/artists/axel-rudi-pell/store

AXEL RUDI PELL Lineup:

• Johnny Gioeli - Lead and Backing Vocals

• Axel Rudi Pell - Lead and Rhythm Guitars

• Ferdy Doernberg - Keyboards

• Volker Krawczak - Bass

• Bobby Rondinelli - Drums

AXEL RUDI PELL Online:

www.axel-rudi-pell.de

https://www.facebook.com/axelrudipellofficial/

https://www.facebook.com/steamhammerofficial/

Children of the Sün Release New Single "Leaves"

Sophomore Album, 'Roots', Out March 18th!

Sweden’s Woodstock-rockers Children of the Sün have released a new single, titled ”Leaves”. A true manifestation of the six-member group’s musical flair, ”Leaves” moves from heavy sections characterized by 70s blues-rock riffs, through calmer parts oozing with psychedelia, and into immense choruses with strong, melodic vocals.

Children of the Sün on ”Leaves”:

"Leaves is about feeling stuck in unstable love that comes and goes as it pleases. It has come to the point where you have to let go to save yourself. The falling autumn leaves are a symbol for volatility."

"Leaves” is the third and final single leading up to Children of the Sün’s sophomore studio album, 'Roots', which will be released on March 18th, 2022 via The Sign Records.in CD, LP, and digital formats.

Stream "Leaves" Here!

Children of the Sün Bio:

Inspired by Janis Joplin, Rival Sons, and the free lovin’ spirit of 1969’s legendary Woodstock Festival, Children of the Sün embody both the carefree and reflective sides of classic rock music. Following their 2018 success in the Swedish music competition Livekarusellen, the band released a self-titled EP and later came under the wing of The Sign Records, joining acts such as Hällas, MaidaVale, Skraeckoedlan, and The Hawkins. In 2019 the band released their first full-length album Flowers which was received with great love from the audience and the vinyl sold out just a few months after the release.

The song “Her Game” from their debut album got chosen by the Swedish nationwide newspaper Aftonbladet on their list of best rock songs of 2019.

Since then the band has played on festivals and stages around Sweden including Arvika Hamnfest, Festival Of The Midnight Sun, Putte i Parken, The Sign fest and hosted their own show in a barn out in the woods together with drummer Björn Fryklund (Freak Kitchen) Earlier this year they supported Trummor & Orgel on their tour.

Children of the Sün look forward to releasing their next album, 'Roots', via The Sign Records on March 18th, 2022.

Children of the Sün is:

Josefina Berglund Ekholm - Lead Vocals

Ottilia Berglund Ekholm - Choir

Wilma Ås - Choir, Keys

Jacob Hellenrud - Guitar

Ida Wahl - Bass

Johan Lööf - Drums

Connect Children of the Sün:

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/childrenofthesuun/

Bandcamp: https://childrenofthesunofficial.bandcamp.com/

Darkwave-electro trio VONAMOR present 'Lucky You' from debut eponymous album

"Captivating avant-garde new-wave... charmingly ensures via an 80s call-and-response style throwback; with an ensnaring melody" ~ Post-Punk.com

"Dynamic and exciting... a clear indication of how original and passionate, if not also complex, their artistic vision can be" ~ The Spill Magazine

"An addictive necromantic mood" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Chilling and fiery… Stellar offering" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"A dark delicious slice of darkwave excellence" ~ Skylight Webzine

"Charismatic and talented... avant-garde sensibilities and diverse influences, delivering music that is unique and haunting" ~ The Record Stache

Following the release of their stunning self-titled debut album, Italian postpunk-darkwave-electro trio VONAMOR present their new single 'Lucky You' via a new seductive and prophetic videoclip, directed by Francesca Bottaro.

VONAMOR is made up of sisters Giulia Bottaro, Francesca Bottaro and Luca Guidobaldi, with Francesco Bassoli and Martino Cappelli joining in for live performances. This project started in 2016. Initially focused on communicating images and composing scores for short films, they morphed into the trio we know today with their style, literary echoes, imperious art-pop and enigmatic aesthetics.

Their album, which boasts the artistic production of the eclectic producer Lucio Leoni, follows their recent singles 'You the People' and 'Take Your Heart' and earlier videos for 'Never Betray Us' and 'Fast-Forward Girl'.

Combining classical influences with electronic music, VONAMOR confirms their will and ability to communicate audio-visually, offering glimpses of the contemporary world in an artistic and forward-looking vision, even though it may be sometimes dark or seductively morbid.

In the video for 'Lucky You', VONAMOR catapults us into a world oscillating between the poised aesthetics of a fashion shoot and the anguish of a world suffocated by plastic. Black and white illuminates, invigorating half-naked bodies, as if embalmed by layers of plastic. Aesthetically attractive images become suffocating and then turn into ethereal ones, in a continuous flow between claustrophobia and breathe. In being transported to a world of pills, cellophane and tin cans, we can join the trio in wondering whether we've “screwed it all up”, in a prophetic interweaving of voices (and languages) singing of wars that “are not so cold anymore”, of “fake news and fake truths and things that must have been misunderstood”.

The 'VONAMOR' album offers a wildly emotional trip through stories of love, belonging, submission, protest, power, desire, abuse and the passion that affects our everyday lives. Here we find stories of femme fatales and fearful memories, of burning desires, motherly loves and fatal tragedies, falling empires and latent revolutions. Music about a messed-up world that is always moving too fast, yet makes us dangerously linger between reality and dystopia, sanity and madness. Music conveying the hope that we recover our true and authentic bond with mother nature and other human beings.

“Through our darkwave music and words, we search for the question, the ambiguity, the multiform influence of a variety of demons. We feel the urgency of questioning ourselves, our fellow human beings and the reality around us," says Giulia Bottaro.

The full 'VONAMOR' album is out now, both digitally and on CD. It is available across online stores and streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, Spotify and elsewhere, and can be ordered directly from Time To Kill Records.

CREDITS
Music and lyrics written and performed by VONAMOR ©℗ 2020
Giulia Bottaro (vocals, bass, metal flute)
Francesca Bottaro (drum station, sequencer, saxophone, clarinet, synth)
Luca Guidobaldi (vocals)
Francesco Bassoli (LP - guitars and loops)
Martino Cappelli (live performances - guitars, mandolin, bouzouki, oud, loops).
Edited by VONAMOR
Recorded in Rome at Monkey Studio & L'Albero Recording Studio by Lucio Leoni & Luca D’Aversa
Artistic production, sound engineering and mixing by Lucio Leoni - Lapidarie Incisioni
Mastering by Elephant Mastering
Art direction and design by Francesca Bottaro
Photography by Marco Stramaglia
Label and physical distribution: Time to Kill (TTK) Records
Digital distribution: Believe Intl
Artistic production by Lucio Leoni. Digital distribution by Believe International
Label and physical distribution by Time to Kill (TTK) Records
Video direction, editing on 'Take Your Heart' by Fabio Santomauro
Video direction, editing on 'Lucky You' & 'You The People' by Francesca Bottaro

Keep up with VONAMOR
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Tidal | Deezer | Spotify |

Red Handed Denial Announce New Album 'I'd Rather Be Asleep'; Drop New Track/Video "Cloud 9"

Canadian Metalcore powerhouse, Red Handed Denial, have announced the release of their highly anticipated new album, I'd Rather Be Asleep which will drop on Friday, June 3rd, 2022 with pre-orders being available now HERE. Today's announcement is highlighted by the release of the official music video for brand new track "Cloud 9". Listen HERE and watch the video below.

Speaking on Red Handed Denial's new album announcement and their latest single, vocalist and YouTube sensation, Lauren Babic shares:

"We are so excited to share "Cloud 9" with you, the second single off our new album, I'd Rather Be Asleep. "Cloud 9" is reminiscent of the classic shreddy RHD sound that our fans are more used to, but it's a testament to how versatile our upcoming album is. We've been waiting so long to spill the beans about the album details and it feels so good to finally tell everyone. It's a very special album and we can't wait for you to hear the rest on June 3rd!"

"Cloud 9" follows previous single, "Father Said" which was released in January. To date, the track has clocked up nearly 500k cross-platform streams and was included on major editorial streaming playlists including All New Metal on Spotify and Breaking Hard Rock, Breaking Metal and New In Rock on Apple Music.

Red Handed Denial delicately balances heavy subject matter with soaring melodies. The Toronto quartet continue to captivate audiences with this hybrid. After racking up over 5 million-plus streams independently and touring with various heavy hitters, the group draw up the perfect escape plan from a world on the brink as they launch their new era, highlighted by today's release.

Following 2013’s Stories of Old, the Wanderer EP yielded “Trespasser,” which gathered 953K-plus Spotify streams. They only increased their momentum with Redeemer in 2019. “Empire” racked up over 948K Spotify streams. The group surprised audiences everywhere with a cover of “Telephone” by Beyoncé and Lady Gaga, racking up over 1.1 million Spotify streams.

Along the way, Trivium tapped them as an opener, while they shared stages with everyone from Protest the Hero and The Contortionist to I See Stars, Silent Planet, and A Skylit Drive.

Red Handed Denial Are

Lauren Babic - Vocals

Tyson Dang - Drums

Chris Mifsud - Guitar

Dominick De Kauwe - Bass

Find Red Handed Denial Online

www.redhandeddenial.com

EPK Here

VRSTY Share "Hush" Video — WATCH

New York City-based collective VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") — Joey Varela [vocals], Javy Dorrejo [bass], Chris Cody [drums], and Paul Gregory [guitar] — have shared the video for "Hush." Watch it below.

The song lives on VRSTY's new album Welcome Home, out now via Spinefarm.

"'Hush' is definitely one of my favorite songs on the entire record," says Varela. "It's also one of the most different songs simply because it's more uplifting and fun rather than dark and moody —my usual mood! Writing this song was incredibly therapeutic for me yet also super scary. Because it was so different, I wasn't sure if anybody was gonna like it. However when Welcome Home dropped, it ended up becoming a fan-favorite. I just hope it makes people feel the way it made me feel when I first wrote it."

Welcome Home is the band's debut full length for the label and follows last year's breakthrough Cloud City EP, which has accumulated six million streams in less than a year and yielded the head-turning singles "Shameless" and "Massive." The latter was the most played on SiriusXM's Octane for two weeks in a row in late 2020. VRSTY have perfected their seamless and fearless cross-pollination of metallic grooves and R&B-influenced, after midnight vocal swagger on this 14-track offering. VRSTY aren't just offering their own take on a genre; they have authored a fusion style that is entirely their own.

"Welcome Home is an incredibly personal album to me," Varela shares. "I know everybody says that, and hey, maybe they're not lying when they do. I sure as hell am not. It was definitely a task, at first, trying to figure out how to phrase or sing something without getting too personal. But somewhere along the way, I threw that idea out the window and decided to say exactly what I felt. You won't find me trying to sound cool or using any fancy wordplay. It's just me in my rawest form, saying exactly what I've felt or experienced over the years, which is what has made me who I am today. I think if anybody ever wants to get to know me, this record will give you everything you need to know. No secrets. Just me."

Michael Ray Debuts Official Music Video for "Holy Water" Today

Music Video for Hitmaker’s Latest Single Premieres
TODAY at 4pm CT via YouTube with a Special Livestream at 3:45pm CT

Ray Partners with MusicFX for No. 1 Country Music Airplay Commemorative NFT for “Whiskey And Rain” Available Tuesday, March 22

Following the song’s debut at Country radio, hitmaker Michael Ray premieres the official music video for “Holy Water” today, March 16, at 4pm CT via YouTube. Ray will join for a special livestream ahead of the premiere at 3:45pm CT.

Directed by Spidey Smith and filmed near the Florida-native’s hometown of Eustis, “Holy Water” follows the engrossing story of a Florida preacher and his lucrative midnight side hustle. Written by Ashley Gorley, Hunter Phelps, Ben Johnson and Michael Hardy, “Holy Water” offers a prime example of Ray’s ability to sing mouthfuls of detail with the smooth, unhurried delivery of a veteran storyteller:

Somewhere inside them back Florida pines there’s a town with a Choctaw name
There’s a little white church in a real tight curve on the edge of a field full of grain
Yeah, the preacher was a stand-up man shaking hands every Sunday morning at the door
He loved his congregation, but he ran an operation selling more than the word of the Lord

“Holy Water” follows Ray’s fourth No. 1 single “Whiskey And Rain,” which marked his first multi-week chart topper, and to celebrate, Ray has partnered with MusicFX.io (“MusicFX”) for his very first NFT. The Michael Ray No. 1 Country Music Airplay Commemorative NFT will be strictly limited to just 100 tokens for fans to enjoy this achievement alongside him. The NFT will drop exclusively on MusicFX on March 22, 2022.

One lucky fan will receive a Golden Ticket NFT along with their No. 1 Country Music Airplay Commemorative NFT, earning them two tickets with VIP passes to meet Ray at a show of the fan’s choosing, while another five fans will receive a Bronze Ticket bonus that will reward them with an exclusive MusicFX Michael Ray merch pack.

For more information on the Michael Ray No. 1 Country Music Airplay Commemorative NFT, visit MusicFx.io.

About Michael Ray
For Michael Ray, music is his grandfather singing and sweating on a rural Florida stage. It’s the childhood refuge he found during the pain of his parent's divorce. It’s family and stories, history and hope. Ray says music saved him, but it did even more: Music made him. In five short years, Ray has built an impressive foundation: four No. 1 songs – RIAA Platinum-certified “Think a Little Less,” RIAA Gold-certified “Kiss You in the Morning,” RIAA Gold-certified “One That Got Away” and RIAA Gold-certified “Whiskey And Rain” – plus “Get to You” and “Her World or Mine,” brings his tally to five Gold-certified singles. Ray has garnered over 1 billion global streams, over 650,000 album equivalents, over 100 million YouTube views, and has performed at the Grand Ole Opry over 60 times. Now, two hit albums into that all-too-rare blend of critically acclaimed and commercially successful career, Ray has released Higher Education, a seven-song collection produced by GRAMMY-nominated producer Ross Copperman. Proof that heartbroken wallowing can feel good if it swings, “Whiskey And Rain” marked his first multi-week No. 1, cementing Ray as the ideal bridge between vintage country cool and modern country’s best sounds. His latest single “Holy Water” is impacting Country radio now. Learn more about Ray at MichaelRayMusic.com or follow him on Instagram and Twitter @MichaelRayMusic and Facebook.com/MusicMichaelRay.

Flamboyant & Eccentric Metal Outfit TROLLFEST Release New Single, “Piña Colada” + Music Video

Flamingo Overlord out May 27, 2022 via Napalm Records

Pre-Order NOW!

An official statement from the Department of the Flamingos:

At the time of TROLLFEST’s last official transmission, we alerted you of their eccentric flamboyance and grooviness. This new alert is being dispatched to signal the arrival of a third, straight up pop single from TROLLFEST, no longer high-classified and officially out to entertain with good, positive vibes!

TROLLFEST’s new single, “Piña Colada”, is the latest offering cut from the most colorful, outlandish and adventurous album of 2022, Flamingo Overlord, to be released via Napalm Records on May 27, 2022. The track is a much-needed, energetic anthem with metallic reggae flavor, and takes the stance that sometimes you just want that fruity drink, and no other libation will do! The video perfectly captures the mood of knowing that your best friend is on a tropical island and you are stuck at your same old bar in the middle of winter, covering all genres of entertainment from happy humor to horror.

Singer Jostein “Trollmannen” Austvik about the “Piña Colada” music video:

“Friends are important, that is why we have made a video to remind everyone how horribly wrong things can go when you are alone. Also, don't be a picky fuzzmaker and pester your bartender!”

Eirik “TrollBANK“ Renton (bouzouki, vocals & DJ) adds:

“Ever been to a bar and the bartender refuses to give you what you ordered? Yups, we too - that what's this video is all about, and some other things also.”

“Piña Colada” proves once again that TROLLFEST has it all and more! Catchy, groovy and threatening to have you seeing Flamingos wherever you walk in life, TROLLFEST’s Flamingo Secret Agents will soon be everywhere.

In addition to their beloved trademarks, on Flamingo Overlord, TROLLFEST don’t shy away from adding new elements to their already expansive soundscape.

Flamingo Overlord begins with the insanely catchy “Dance Like A Pink Flamingo” – the unforgettable track made world-famous with the band’s zany performance at Eurovisionqualifier Melodi Grand Prix earlier this year – clearing the way for the bar anthem “All Drinks On Me”, which keeps the energy and drinks flowing before venturing into “Twenty Miles an Hour”. The track continues the party with a groovy funk flavoured sound, featuring a rap and saxophone solo that will leave listeners going bonkers! “Flamingo Libre” will soon whisk you away and have you dreaming of tropical drinks and magical nights, while “Pina Colada” stands as a much-needed summer anthem best suited for blasting while convertible cruising. Flamingo Overlord closes with the mysterious “Bob Venke”, telling the unlikely story of the mighty Flamingo Overlord's quest for world domination.

Pre-Order Flamingo Overlord NOW:

Flamingo Overlord will be available in the following formats in various territories:

-1-LP Gatefold PINK

-1-LP Gatefold MARBLED PINK/WHITE (limited to 300)

-1-CD Digipak

-1-CD Digipak + Shirt Bundle

-Digital Album

TROLLFEST is:

John Espen Sagstad (Mr.Seidel) - guitar

Fabian Jiru (Grimdrap Glutenfri Fleskeng) - guitar

Jostein Austvik (Trollmannen) - vocals

Eirik Renton (TrollBANK) – bouzouki, vocals & DJ

Kai Renton (Fjernkontrollet) - synth, accordion

Dag Stiberg (DrekkaDag) - saxophone

Øyvind Erik Strønen Johannesen (Lodd Bolt) - bass, vocals

Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow (Kjellkje) - drums, vocals

GRONIBARD Shares New Song, "Mon Siamois Maléfique"

The French perverts of GRONIBARD are not yet done violently assaulting your auditory senses and are now dropping a second new single, "Mon Siamois Maléfique!" The song, if you can even call it that, is taken from the band's new album, Regarde les Hommes Sucer,' which is due on May 20!

GRONIBARD again felt the need to deliver a personal note on the second single:

"You know that we love to tell love stories, so here is a new one:

"This fairytale talks about two Siamese brothers. The first one is a deviant and wants to physically seduce the other one that is 'sensible.'

"As they share the same 'Johnson,' is it bad? Is it okay?
"For sure the answer is 42, but the question remains."

And when you haven't gotten enough of their first single 'Fast Gays of Humanity', go on and get some more in you HERE.

'Regarde Les Hommes Sucer' is now available for pre-orders HERE.

Clean your underwear, Gronibard is back! After 14 years of deafening silence that nobody has necessarily missed, the grindcore quintet returns with ‘Regarde Les Hommes Sucer,’ a new album that smells of the anus and other delicate aromas. Faithful to its original values, Gronibard deliberately remains – given the limited skills of each of its members, this is in any case the communication strategy that the group has adopted – stupid and limited to what happens under the belt. 

1998. While the Blues are defending at all costs to catch a World Cup title, the five maniacs from Lille (FR) - which is not unlike the backwoods Alabama - attack and decided to record their first demo. Two hours and five guitarists later, this extreme affair is over. 600 copies are sold in stride. Not bad for a title made from excerpts from D-rated 70’s sexploitation films. Without mastering their instruments, without knowing how to compose, without the slightest promotion, our Grindcore Zuckerbergs seem to have found the magic formula.  

2001. While towers are collapsing on the other side of the world, Gronibard signs its first contract with a record label. Luck? Coincidence? History will judge. The only certainty is that within just a few short days, the group’s self-titled debut LP is boxed. The result: a big box in the metal scene. Last, but not least, a candidate from Nouvelle Star (France’s version of ‘American Idol’) - the TV show that everyone was talking about at the time - took over one of the group's songs. Admirably surrounded by their loved ones, Anal Capone and his band fortunately manage to keep a cool head and display a calm that many Scandinavian bands envy. Then everything blurs. Allergic to the outrageous Stakhanovism of the time, Gronibard took some time to relax, too much time, perhaps. Upon dropping an EP in 2005 and a second LP in 2008... the band went completely silent. The flat encephalogram. A cruising speed that could have sent the group to the depths of the Mariana Trench.  

On stage, the group will gradually become as rare as a good piece of Ultra Vomit. In its early days, however, GRONIBARD fired on all cylinders and played everywhere: in a festival in Portugal with strippers, in the courtyard of a Belgian brasserie (for the occasion, these art connoisseurs were paid in sausages), Maryland Death Fest in 2005 to which the band arrived in luxury – rolling up in a hot dog van. Innovators and fans of scratching bearded men, the quintet goes so far as to share a date with Corbier (a popular French television animator at the time) from Club Dorothée during a historic “cassoulet show.”  

Upon feeling exhausted from playing so many gigs, the underachievers decided, unlike the Rolling Stones, to only do the dates that make the members of the group laugh. Pleasure, pleasure, nothing but pleasure… and just the right amount of auditory sodomy. Returning to the Motocultor festival in 2019, the already cult band sends mud flying through the audience. Generally wearing only their instruments on stage, the members of Gronibard are quality people, which the marital status of the group's line up proves top notch: Anal Capone (vocals), Albatard (bass), Godemichel (drums), Necronembourg (lead guitar and vocals), Merdic (backup guitar).  

2022 might be a French presidential year, but the election lives in the shadows of Gronibard’s unsuspecting comeback, as the band are geniuses when it comes to going viral while making zero effort. Society has vastly changed since the band’s last album, ‘We Are French Fukk You’, which dropped 14 years ago. They too made changes to their lives, finally finding some women to impregnate. 

From now on, social networks make the law, without too much discernment. The nuance is no longer relevant. No big deal, that was never really Gronibard's main quality, any PhD student will agree. A fruitful brainstorm and a few beers end up removing the group's last doubts. GRONIBARD then diligently leans on the adage of "the third album always being difficult." Thanks to enormous groundwork (two to three rehearsals per year) and deep reflection on its musical direction (as good fans of Fad Gadget, they considered releasing a synthpop album before giving up), Gronibard is back with ‘Regarde Les Hommes Sucer,’ its most successful album to date. All on an exceptional label: Season of Mist.  

Stuck at the anal stage since its creation, the group finds itself in perfect harmony with these shitty times.  And this album then? ‘Regarde Les Hommes Sucer’ lasts 34 minutes and contains 16 short, compact, and fitting songs. Gronibard respects nothing and targets anything that moves, including itself. Among the many pieces of excellence, let us mention the conceptual “Mon siamois maléfique,” the boiling “L’enfer des zombites,” the fantastic “Sperm Smoker” or the very shady “Le monstre des zizis.”  

Message to all headbangers: you are not done with having a headache.  

P.S. to fans of the band – hide your dongs well, Gronibard is back! 

Line-Up: 
Anal Capone: Vocals
Necronembourg: Guitars & vocals 
Merdic: Guitars 
Albatard:  Bass 
Godemichel: Drums 

Produced by: Frédéric PECQUEUR 

Recording studio: Studio C&P 

Mixing & Mastering: Frédéric PECQUEUR 

Cover art: Mat. 

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

Album formats: 
CD  
12” Gatefold vinyl (Black)  
12” Gatefold vinyl (Solid Gold / 200 copies)  
12” Gatefold vinyl (Smokey / 300 copies)  
Digital 

Links: 
www.gronibard.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/gronibard

London indietronica artist Rodney Cromwell set to release 'Memory Box' album March 18. Watch the video for 'Opus Three'

"Rodney Cromwell's music belongs to the future" ~ NME

"Yanking the mundane into the sublime. Its sweeping synths transverse a sonic landscape bridging an ancient sentiment and an almost folk instrumentation with pure hertz tone glory" ~ Post-Punk.com

“His new lo-fi disco laments are joyfully simple and painfully funny” ~ Huffington Post

"Makes a delightful lo-fi synthpop racket with a load of old gear and a deep appreciation of classic outfits" ~ Electronic Sound

"One of the most infectious numbers of this young year... bewitchingly brilliant... one of the most inventive and idiosyncratic musicians out there" ~ Stereo Embers Magazine

"Cool-flowing retro synth delight" ~ The Spill Magazine

“A reminder of good pop tunes from a magical era” ~ Louder Than War

'Memory Box' - the new album by London-based indietronica artist Rodney Cromwell - will be released on March 18 via Happy Robots Records, presenting a sonic pallet that is rich, colourful, often surprising and utterly unique. Ahead of this, Rodney Cromwell (the nom de plume Adam Cresswell), presents the video for ‘Opus Three’.

Mixed and co-produced by Richard Bennett at Acme Hall Studios (New York) and mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Goldfrapp, Paul Weller, Pixies), the 'Memory Box' album' mixes synthpop, hauntology, dreampop and European coldwave, using analogue synths and drum machines with minimal computer sequencing. Cromwell creates a distinctive and compelling organic, dream-like world, inspired as much by Alice in Wonderland and Franz Kafka as by its sonic influences - artists including Kraftwerk, The Cure, Polyrock and Stereolab.

Opening with two synthpop numbers, the dystopian coldwave of ‘Intercom’ - with its twisted robot voices - promises us “order will be resumed shortly.” Order comes swiftly in the form of ‘Opus Three;’ a pounding dance-floor filler, reminiscent of the best of Vince Clarke, encouraging us to dance in the face of catastrophe.

Title-track ‘Memory Box' is a haunting trip down a psychological rabbit-hole of half-remembered memories and half-formed truths with sweeping synths traversing a sonic landscape, turning the mundane into the sublime. The album’s central songs plunge us deeper into this theme with almost Kafkaesque abandon. ‘Fluctuations’ is a pounding krautrock number about the dangers of TV shopping and ‘Waiting Room’ a love song for exhausted souls. The uplifting glam-stomp of ‘Wristwatch Television’ looks towards the utopian future promised in 1950’s style magazines, but never delivered.

'Calculations' a melodica-driven dreampop instrumental, melds Brian Eno with Mogwai, pulling us back towards reality. The album closes with its purest synthpop number, ‘The Winter Palace', layered with ice-cool ARP synth strings, the thinnest of vintage drums and lush harmonies, as Cromwell sings of a love bound by ‘drudgeries hold’.

His debut 'Age of Anxiety' LP (2015) and 'Rodney's English Disco' EP (2018) garnered Rodney Cromwell features in Electronic Sound Magazine, NME, Huffington Post, Record Collector, Paste, BBC6 Music and national RNE3 in Spain, for whom he recorded a live session. The album featured in scores of 'Best of' lists, including Electronic Sound and The Electricity Club, who named him 'Most Promising New Act'. He has played lives shows with acts like Pram, Death & Vanilla, M!R!M, Rowetta and Steve Davis. In 2020, he also performed as part of Damo Suzuki of Can’s backing band.

Earlier, the lead single 'Memory Box' was voted by fans into the Dandelion Radio Official Festive 50. Both tracks received press and radio coverage in multiple countries with national radio play in Japan, Finland and Spain, as well as multiple spins on BBC 6 Music.

The 'Memory Box' LP is out on March 18 via Happy Robots Records with distribution by Cargo Records. Distributed by Cargo Records, it will be available on yellow vinyl LP, and in stores and digitally on all the major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written and recorded by Adam Cresswell
Mixed & co-produced by Richard Bennett at Acme Hall Studios, NYC
Mastered by Pete Maher
Album artwork by Martin J Langthorne
Released via Happy Robots Records

Keep up with Rodney Cromwell
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Amazing Radio | Booking contact | Press contact

Keep up with Happy Robots Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube

Austin electronic artist PARIS MUSIC CORP. presents chilled ambient trip on 'Almost Lost'. The eponymous album is out now

"A confident slice of ambient keyboard creativity" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"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

"Gentle and beguiling, yet creative, forward-thinking and adventurous" ~ The Swindonian

"Weaves a cinematic realm to immerse within but equally a corporeal catchiness... With a Mick Karn meets Gary Numan hue to the darker edge of its ethereal suggestion" ~ Ringmaster Review

Texan electronic and ambient composer Paris Music Corp. a.k.a. John Andrew Paris presents 'Almost Lost', the second flowing single from his self-titled album, following up 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.

"This song came about as a result of me fooling around with some layered loops I had created with my guitar that sounded a little ominous. I had put them on the shelf for a couple of days and could not find the files, thinking I had lost them. When I found them, I decided to write something about an almost lost space transmission," says John Andrew Paris.

"Coming from a soundtrack background, in which I have scored music to existing video, in this case, I had to make a video to my music and these images are what I envisioned. This music is meant to be listened to intently and is for those who are open-minded to hear something different. I aim to create aural adventure in the headphones, but also something that compliments long car rides in the country."

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.

Influenced by such artists as Mick Karn, Pink Floyd, Gary Numan, Tim Hecker, Casino Versus Japan and Miles Davis, John Andrew 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.

Cinematic and ethereal, Paris Music Corp. music is ambient and spacey 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.

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.
Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | Soundcloud | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | LinkTree

San Francisco funk-rock metal trio NO CAPTAINS & KNIGHTRESSM1 reveal '13th Moon' animated video

"An epic and foreboding intro meshed of bass and violin, the drums kick in and so does the coven. With a wickedly pronounced and convincing vocal delivery by frontman Alex Shonkoff, the necromantic raconteur who unravels the twisted bloody fears of a horrific night.... With a wickedly pronounced and convincing vocal delivery... Ominous and menacing" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Foreboding, adrenaline-fuelled and with steady drive... Effective in their performance, 13th Moon' feels like a funky alt-metal version of music you could envision as a modern-day soundtrack to The Wicker Man in an alternate universe. As creepy as it is haunting" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

San Francisco funk-rock metal outfit No Captains presents '13th Moon', viewed through the prism of combined animation and live performance, highlighting the band's fourth album 'Friends Like These'.

This perfect haunt of a track features a spine-singling performance by well-recognized violinist Emily Palen of KnightressM1, whose recent stunning album 'Dreams and Devastation' was met with critical acclaim.

No Captains is a trio made up of Danny Sando (bass and back vocals), Vince Shore (drums and percussion) and Alex Shonkoff (vocals). Making music under the influence of such heavy-hitting bands as Mr. Bungle, Iron Maiden, Tool, Primus, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine, No Captains is on a mission to pump your adrenaline and then let the music take you for a ride.

"This song '13th Moon' was inspired by the odd occurrence of there being 13 full moons this past year. The story is a narration as told by the head Black Cat, who is summoning all the undead creatures to rise up on that 13th full moon to take control of humanity," explains Danny Sando.

Danny's nephew Matthew, newly immersed in the realm of creating animation, ran with the story weaved throughout this tune to create this fun visual experience. At the same time drummer Vince Shore directed some live action shots, editing them together with the animation to bring you a lively trip of a musical experience.

The bass thumps along in a marching feel while the drums hold down a booming tribal essence to bring the listener closer to a trance-like state. A powerful soundtrack to fantastic lyrics inspired by thrillers and monster movies with their characteristic werewolves, mummies and zombies.

This Bay Area based hard funk-rock trio keep their shows highly energetic, making everyone part of the fun. No Captains' music is raw and powerful, offering funky rhythm and melody to dance to, loud and fast to slam around to or, you can just plug in for some high voltage treatment.

The 'Friends Like These' LP is out now and can be downloaded via Bandcamp, with other merch available via the band's own Merch Shop.

ALBUM CREDITS
Recorded, mixed and mastered by B.Z. Lewis of 132 Studios
Produced by Danny Sando and No Captains
Lyrics by Danny Sando, Alex Shonkoff, Vine Shore
Danny Sando - bass & backing vocals
Vince Shore - drums
Alex Shonkoff - lead vocals
Emily Palen (KnightressM1) - violin on '13th Moon'
Dereck Kerby - guitar on 'Throne'
Morty Lopez - guitar on 'Sirens'
Anthony Ciandella - guitar on 'Wrinkle in Slime'
Marc Belluomini - guitar on 'The Tide'
B.Z. Lewis - guitar on 'Maze'
C.L. Berehens: - trombone on 'Quit Your Job'
Lester Raww - vocals on 'Looking Glass' and 'Banjolele on "River Run'

VIDEO CREDITS
13th Moon is a spooky adventure into the culling of our favorite horror creatures. Special Guest on the Violin is Emily Palen/KnightressM1 @EmilyPalen
Animated by Matthew Animates @MatthewAnimates
Music Recoded, edited, and Produced By B.Z. Lewis @ Studio 132
Live shots and Video Directed by Vince Shore
Video Edited and Produced by Vince Shore of Organic Battery Productions

Keep up with No Captains
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Merch Shop | Reverbnation | Soundcloud | YouTube

Collect Call presents 'No Amount of Medicine', a song about imperfection, wrapped in sublime indie pop. 'The Golden Hour' EP is out now

"A fascinating and satisfying listen... This is among the best tracks introduced thus far in 2022" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Catchy as hell... Invigorating and its melodicism is laced with sonic reverie... delicate textural synthesizers, energetic drums and rhythm interlace with a balanced sense of space and sincere introspective lyrics" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Collect Call is a balm for our trouble times" ~ Undercurrent Magazine

"Sweet, thoughtful and quirky... wistful and nostalgic and romantic as well" ~ God is in the TV

"Serenading the ears and imagination, Collect Call makes for a rather fascinating and tantalising listen" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Brighton-based electronic dreampop / indietronic project Collect Call presents the single 'No Amount of Medicine', a beautiful slice of indie pop from the 'The Golden Hour' EP. Earlier, Collect Call released the fragile, yet whimsical, single 'Chase The Light' and the ultra-catchy and endearing single 'Simple'.

Collect Call is the solo project of Brighton-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Joseph Thorpe. Creating electronic dream pop that ranges from soft and sensitive to loud and bombastic, his delicate textural synthesisers, energetic drums and rhythm interlace with a balanced sense of space and sincere introspective lyrics.

"No Amount of Medicine was written during the initial stages of the pandemic; a song that is centered around keeping yourself removed from people for fear of this newly discovered virus, but also a distance that was creating space between my partner at the time. No Amount of Medicine can make it sweet enough, the idea that no matter how hard you try to fix things or sweeten a seemingly bad situation it won't become the idealized thing you had in mind. The line was also partly inspired by a famous tune from the Disney adaptation of "Mary Poppins" (I'm sure I don't need to name the one) but I'm sure that Julie Andrews would probably pass if I had asked her to sing on this one," says Joseph Thorpe.

"This song went through several iterations before I felt like I had really nailed the atmosphere and made it coherent with the rest of the songs on the EP, it's by far the oldest song on there. The biggest struggle for me was trying to blend all of these elements (the trip-hop samples, bleakly emotive strings and looped frenetic guitars) with the rest of Collect Call sound. I'm really proud of the final track and how it allowed me to expand upon my sound in areas I didn't even think were possible."

'The Golden Hour' EP is a romantic, nostalgic journey through sound that is about embodying the dying embers of the day and not giving up the ghost when all might seem lost. Thorpe’s music is a beacon for like-minded people, standing its ground with whimsical, lo-fi electronic beats and sincere vocals.

Recorded across a mixture of cupboards, attics and studios, Thorpe meticulously sculpted this EP at Brighton Electric Studios with the help of collaborator Kianna Blue (The Academy of Sun). TAOS bandmate Ash Babb also contributed the cover artwork for this EP. Creating a space for candid self-expression and nuanced vulnerability, Thorpe's music is inspired by Sufjan Stevens and Air, this new 4-track offering is as experimental as it is emotive.

"The recording of this EP came at a point where I was feeling very lost as a musician and writer. I had been sitting on a large collection of songs and wanted to try every conceivable avenue I could musically that didn't really have any sense of cohesion... The Golden Hour for me is a cathartic reminder of staying true to yourself, chasing the light as it fades over the hill and that sometimes less can indeed be more," says Joseph Thorpe.

Collect Call debuted with the single 'Rain: Stop' in June 2020, followed by 'Pretense' that October. Utilising his expansive, eclectic musical knowledge and experience, Thorpe creates cathartic soundscapes involving lucid pianos and enchanting vocals that are the perfect companion in times of loneliness.

'The Golden Hour' is out now, available digitally across online stores and streaming platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written, produced and mixed by Joseph Thorpe
Corin Robinson - additional engineering, mastering
Joseph Thorpe - vocals, keys, drums, guitar, bass, synths
Kianna Blue - piano, additional synthesizers, percussion, sound effects
Lawrie Pringle - bass on 'No Amount of Medicine'
Andrew Stuart-Buttle - strings on 'Simple'
'The Golden Hour' cover artwork by Ash Babb
Artist photos taken by Tan Le


Keep up with Collect Call
Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify |

Merseyside dreampop trio 22 OCEANS team up with Stonepillow charity. All proceeds from new 'Home' EP to aid the homeless

"A personal, introspective song with gracious vocals, grounded in sparse music terrain - most inviting and endearing" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Wonderful slice of ambient atmospherics... calming and elegiac" ~ With Just a Hint of Mayhem

"Highly melodic... charismatic vocals and sweet vocal harmonies" ~ Loud Sounds 8

"Captivating... Home floats on dreampop clouds, whilst drifting towards ambient-pop. Through the pensive lyrics, and sparse soundscape, Home takes you to a reverie retreat, a place of reflection, that uplifts and lingers with a haunting beauty" ~ The Manc Review

British indiepop trio 22 Oceans has announced their partnership with British charity Stonepillow, donating all proceeds from Bandcamp sales - both for digital downloads and CDs - of their new 'Home' EP.

Stonepillow empower homeless and vulnerable people towards achieving sustainable independence and wellbeing. Providing support year-round across Chichester and Arun, they aid the homeless, facilitating a complete recovery journey focused on improving health and wellbeing, and moving towards sustainable independence. Partnering with other agencies across West Sussex, they provide essential support for at-risk people, including safe, secure, high-quality accommodation, as well as mental health support, recovery and wellbeing, and provision of fresh food and essential provisions.

Based in Merseyside, 22 Oceans is the brainchild of Mike Guy. Originally a solo project, 22 Oceans has blossomed into a fruitful trio, graced by the vocal and songwriting talents of twin sisters Carys and Keeley Hughes, whose stellar tandem of vocal harmonies complement a backdrop of lush, layered sounds.

"People who don’t have stable living conditions are always longing for a place to call home, and I thought that music would be a good way to spread awareness to this subject. With homelessness, more people are waiting to feel happy with where they choose to sleep at night, and ‘Home’ was influenced by this topic. I hope that it gives people an idea about how important It is to have a secure environment to return to at the end of the day, and how vital it is for people to have a place to go where they can feel safe and protected," says Carys Hughes.

Their new 5-track 'Home' EP was released via 72rpm Records and mastered by renowned producer Marc Joy (Primal Scream, Mike Peters, Oasis, Bernard Butler, Golden Fable, Louise Trehy) at Ferndale Studios in Wales.

Since emerging on the indie music scene in 2020, 22 Oceans has been presenting a steady string of new music. While influenced by 80’s influenced synthpop, their new single brings this artist into new territory while retaining their trademark ethereal vocals.

Earlier, 22 Oceans released the singles 'Drifting' and 'Broken' feat. Jo Madden. The early 2020 'Butterfly Candy' EP saw Mike Guy collaborate with Wales-based dreampop artist Lights That Change, while the subsequent 'Paradise' EP featured Liverpool vocalist Rachael Dunn and also involved Orchestral Manoeuvres In the Dark (OMD) co-founder and drummer Malcolm Holmes.

"The song is rooted in the feeling of happiness you feel when thinking about the memories you’ve made with people you enjoy spending time with. It is a reflection of how we are always connected to those we love, no matter how much time may have passed," says Mike Guy.

'Home' is out now, available as a single across online stores and streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. The trio is also offering 'Home' as a full 5-track EP, available both digitally and on CD exclusively via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written and Performed by Mike Guy, Carys Hughes, Keeley Hughes
Carys Hughes – Vocals, Keyboards
Keeley Hughes – Vocals, Guitar
Mike Guy – Keyboards, Programming
Produced by 22 Oceans
Recorded at Long Spinney Studio
Mastered by Marc Joy at Ferndale Studios

Keep up with 22 Oceans
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Apple Music| Spotify