Chase Rice Announces New Album Arriving February 10: 'I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell'

CHASE RICE TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM
I HATE COWBOYS & ALL DOGS GO TO HELL
FEBRUARY 10, 2023

Rice Honors His Late Father, Daniel Rice, With Album Cover
“If I’m gonna put my dad on the cover of an album, it has to be something he’d be proud of… He’d be proud of this one,” Rice shared exclusively with MusicRow.

Lead Songs “Way Down Yonder” and “Key West & Colorado” Available Everywhere Now

Pre-Save / Pre-Add HERE

For multi-Platinum singer/songwriter Chase Rice, a year off the road spent reconnecting with his passions both musically and personally resulted in a brand-new album featuring a sonic return to his roots: I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell set for release Feb. 10, 2023 is available for pre-save / pre-add HERE.

Featuring 13 tracks, ranging from emotional reckoning to admiration of a Western way of life and including recent releases “Key West & Colorado” and “Way Down Yonder,” plus a reimagined album version of “If I Were Rock & Roll,” the project honors his late father, Daniel Rice, with its cover art.

“My dad was one of those good guys you read about – tough, hardworking, always helping other people out,” Rice notes of the man gracing the album cover. “I try to live my life in a way that would make him proud. I haven't always measured up to that, but I get closer to that man I want to be and the man he’d be proud of every single day.

“Making this album was a big step towards that musically, too,” he continues. “Not only is it the most vulnerable I've ever been, it’s also something he’d enjoy listening to and is full of stories I wish I could tell him. I’ve always wanted to honor him by using this photo as an album cover, and I know this project is the one that deserves that. I can’t wait for y’all to hear it.”

Building on solo songwriting sessions with just his acoustic guitar, plus trips with friends where songs were born from real life as opposed to Music Row writing appointments, Rice took the same approach into the recording process with producer Oscar Charles. Forgoing a traditional studio, Rice and Charles turned his rural home into their 24/7 workspace, bringing in a live band with no click track to capture a rugged, authentic sound.

“It was incredible,” Rice shared with CMT of working with Charles. “He gets in there, grinds, and doesn’t just try to do the same old thing… If I didn’t feel like we had something vocally, we didn’t just tweak it. He would say, ‘step up and sing it right.’ We wanted to make everything great. He pushed me, and we pushed each other… This album brought my voice and songs to life in a way people have never heard before.”

The resulting sound is a raw, passionate side of a reinvigorated Rice, who serves as a writer on all 13 tracks, including three solo writes.

“‘What can I put out that makes me come to life?’,” he explained to PopCulture of the writing and recording process. “Because if I come to life when I’m on the stage and up there singing songs that I’m passionate about and love, man, people are gonna love them that much more… I’m at the place in my life now where I just want people to know who I really am as opposed to who they think I am. I think this record's a good start.”

For all the latest news on his forthcoming music as well as upcoming tour dates, visit ChaseRice.com and follow Rice on Facebook, Twitter and TikTok @ChaseRiceMusic and on Instagram @ChaseRice.

About Chase Rice
With nearly 2.4 million albums sold and over 2.4 billion total streams, plus a legion of passionate fans at his high-energy concerts across the globe, Chase Rice has established himself as a powerful force in Nashville and beyond. With the forthcoming album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell crafted in his rural Tennessee home-turned-studio, his sound continues to evolve to reflect the realities of his life, as evidenced by recent releases “Key West & Colorado” and “Way Down Yonder.” The new music serves as a follow up to his three-part project, The Album, featuring his latest Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen. (feat. Florida Georgia Line)” and Platinum-certified Top 10 hit “Lonely If You Are.” This is the same gravelly-voiced Chase Rice fans first fell in love with years ago – but better, freer; unbeholden and uninhibited. The new music builds upon the success of his sophomore album, Lambs & Lions, which featured the Triple-Platinum, two-week chart topper “Eyes On You” – Rice’s first No. 1 as an artist and the most-streamed song of his career. Lambs & Lions followed Ignite the Night, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the all-genre chart, producing a pair of Top 5 hits; “Gonna Wanna Tonight” and Platinum-certified “Ready Set Roll.” In addition to selling out arenas with Kane Brown and Jason Aldean plus stadiums with Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks, Rice also consistently sells out venues across the U.S. and Europe on his own headlining tours.

HEIDEVOLK Return with New Album “WEDERKEER” + Premiere Music Video for First Single!

Pagan & Folk Metal Giants HEIDEVOLK

Return with New Album, 'WEDERKEER'

& Premiere Music Video for First Single!

'WEDERKEER' out February 24, 2023

via Napalm Records

Pre-Order HERE!

Five years since the release of their much-acclaimed album, 'VUUR VAN VERZET', February 24, 2023, will see Dutch folk metal collective HEIDEVOLK return with their seventh studio album on Napalm Records - continuing to keep the pagan flame burning!

Ever since their impressive 2005 debut, 'De strijdlust is geboren', HEIDEVOLK has taken the heavy music scene by storm, conquering stages throughout the world with their very own brand of folk metal. With dual clean vocals, irresistibly catchy songs, traditional instruments and fast metal riffing all fueled by their folkloric fire and pagan pride,

HEIDEVOLK delivers for an uncompromising sound and musical adventure. Their new masterpiece, 'WEDERKEER', makes no exception, and proves why the Arnhem-based six-piece is one of the best, unrivaled and most exciting bands of their genre and beyond!

Today, the band has shared a music video for their first album single, “Klauwen Vooruit”, that immediately kicks off with the raw pagan metal power HEIDEVOLK are loved for, merging folkloric soundscapes, fast-paced riffs and ultra large choirs.

Says the band:

"We’re incredibly excited to present you the first song and music video of our new album. 

'Klauwen Vooruit' (The Hunter’s Claw) brings you the story about the extraordinary pact between Wolf and Raven. A bond between predator and scavenger where ravens alert wolves to nearby prey. The wolves respond to the raven’s call, kill the prey, eat their share and leave the carcass for the ravens to feast on… And there is more coming up, a lot more!"

Watch the new HEIDEVOLK video for “Klauwen Vooruit”

In a world of myths, nature and legends of the Veluwe, Netherlands, the concept album is a powerful odyssey of the Self, deeply rooted in metal and folklore. 'WEDERKEER'(meaning to “return” or “revive”) invites the listener to take a step back from the incessant barrage of media and stimuli and look inside, find out who we are, what is driving us, what our values are, and what we’ve learned from life up until now.

"After an unprecedented five-year wait since 'Vuur van Verzet' we are back with our new album." the band continues. "WEDERKEER will take you on an introspective journey through stories about growing up and crafting your own path. From hunting the aurochs to gain its untamed courage, to the mental struggles in the depth of a crisis. From the shield-wall to protect kith and kin, to the fierce fight of a senseless battle. We wrapped these stories in furious metal songs and folkloric soundscapes and we can’t wait to share it all with you!"

While each of the twelve new songs individually deal with an aspect of this in mostly story form, based on the interpretations of the runes, HEIDEVOLK knows how to perfectly unleash proud hymns and direct, in-your-face metal songs!

Recorded at Sandlane Recording Facilities, mixed by Joost van den Broek and mastered by Darius van Helfteren, the addition of various folk musicians on vocals, violins, cello, bukkehorns and more traditional medieval instruments make 'WEDERKEER'not only a bombastic folk and pagan metal record at its best, but a glorious album return of HEIDEVOLK!

PRE-ORDER WEDERKEER HERE!

'WEDERKEER' will be available in the following formats:

=> 6-page CD Digipak

=> 2 LP Gatefold Vinyl Dark Green

=> Deluxe Wooden Box

=> Digital album

HEIDEVOLK are:

Bass guitars, backing vocals:  Rowan Roodbaert

Guitars, backing vocals: Koen Vuurdichter

Vocals, accordion: Jacco Bühnebeest

Guitars : Mat Snaerenslijper

Vocals: Daniël Den Dorstighe

Drums: Kevin Houtsplijter

...And Oceans Unveils New Song, "Likt Törnen Genom Kött"

Symphonic black metal formation ...AND OCEANS is now unveiling a brand new single, "Likt Törnen Genom Kött." The song is taken from the band's upcoming full-length album, 'As in Gardens, so in Tombs,' which will be released on January 27, 2023 via Season of Mist. Listen below:

...AND OCEANS comment on the track: "After the latest straight forward track, we are exploring the sound of the 90s a bit more with a lot of melodies and taking down the tempo a bit with this third single. This is also the first song fully in Swedish in ages and like Mathias mentioned; 'this song just screamed for Swedish lyrics.'"

The album can be pre-ordered HERE and pre-saved HERE.

It’s rare for a band to commandingly return with their best effort to date, but Finland’s ...And Oceans are here to prove that 2020’s Cosmic World Mother was the sound of creative floodgates bursting through into a new body of water, an ocean if you will. Well, that was their pinnacle up until their new album, As In Gardens, So In Tombs, is let out into the world. Everything that ...And Oceans’ first full-length in 18 years did well – blistering symphonic black metal, heady themes that dealt with the connection between philosophy and psychics, and ...And Oceans’ trademark adventurous songwriting - As In Gardens, So In Tombs manages to eclipse and recontextualize. It’s the sound of a band seizing every ounce of momentum and upping the ante in every way. While ...And Oceans has never written the same album twice, in many ways, their latest sounds like an opportunity for the Finnish group to pick up and improve upon what they started. Symphonic black metal is never this fun, free, and fantastic.

Lead single “Cloud Heads” is a great introduction into the magic and serves as a statement of intent. Swirling melodies, blastbeats that sound like the rumbles after The Big Bang, and ethereal symphonic touches result in a song that’s equally fierce and pleasant to take in. A kinder, gentler (but not gentle) version of ...And Oceans.

“’Cloud Heads’ is certainly one of my favorites!” vocalist Mathias Lillmåns shares. “It was sort of an icebreaker song. It was one of the first songs we wrote straight after Cosmic World Mother was finished, and the first lyrics I wrote for the album. It was the song that paved way (or broke the ice) for the rest of the album.”

Part of the reason the band even needed to “break the ice” with this record is the pace at which their last was written, as guitarist Timo Kontio acknowledges:

“Well for me starting to do Cosmic World Mother was more nerve wrecking and even in doubt whether we should make new music or not. In the end it was quite an easy project to do, to our relief. So when we started to make this album, it was more relaxed and more or less go with the flow mentality. We had the first ‘difficult comeback album’ done, and everything came quite easily! It was really refreshing to make this kind of music after so long.”

“I was only supposed to produce guitars for Cosmic World Mother,” Lillmåns adds, “but a month before the recordings were supposed to start, my phone suddenly rang. I could sense that this phone call was going to be important when I saw it was Timo calling. I was asked to join the band and also to write lyrics for the whole thing. Immediately when I saw the first version of the [album] cover, I got this vision of what the concept of the album would be, and I wrote most of the album in sort of a frenzy with the next few weeks.”

“It’s strange with the new album,” he continues, “because I have always been forced to use tight deadlines for myself when writing music or lyrics. It seems I need the pressure to create something I’m happy with. Also, for some reason I get most done when traveling, I used to take trains to nowhere just write sometimes back in the day! This time there were no pressure, no traveling, and I was not on the edge of a burn out, and it went smoother than ever before! The lyrics just kept on coming, not as fast and not in such a trancelike frenzy as the last album, but good stuff on a steady basis.”

So while Cosmic World Mother was the sort of ravishing fever dream of an album that poured out of ...And Oceans in fits and starts, As In Gardens, So In Tombs was the result of the band taking the time to sweat the small stuff. The result can be found everywhere – melodies are brighter, the orchestral elements feel more essential, and Lillmåns’ vocals have swallowed a mushroom (in a garden or tomb?) as done a Mario-like levelling up. Even in the way the album sounds, As In Gardens, So In Tombs sounds warmer, the kind of record meant to be played while walking alone in nature. That sense of measured purpose was very intentional as Lillmåns notes:

“[The record] definitely feels grander and more melodic. I think stepping up the production also was something that helped in this sense! Having Juho Räihä at SoundSpiral Audio taking a bigger role in the recording and having it sent over to Tore Stjerna at NBS Production definitely made it sound more massive and took a load off our shoulders to focus on the music itself!”

Who could’ve guessed that leaving the musicians to focus on the music would have good results?

As noted earlier, musically and thematically, everything about Cosmic World Mother was rapidly birthed from its creators. The themes of that record weighed heavily on the band and carried over into this record. Cosmic World Mother was about how energy is eternal and how only changes form. This record doubles down on that notion by focusing on how humanity's energies toward enlightenment are often the same path, even if we have different languages, religions, customs, etc. I have this vision of us all playing different levels of a video game but ending up at the same ending. Energy is the most efficient recycler in the universe. So where and how did Lillmåns find inspiration to write the lyrics for this album? Did he end up walking gardens and pacing graveyards?

“I went back to gardens, moved away from the city into the nature. I always felt like I needed to be in a dark place to create lyrics that came from the heart, ‘when the body suffers, the mind flowers,’ kind of state. This time I was at ease, and it was surprisingly efficient. I usually don’t want to spoil too much and having people to think for themselves, but yes, I had the time to sit down and read during the pandemic and came to some conclusions (as in nature, so in books). I think it’s a very calming thought, that whatever happens, whenever it happens, makes no difference. We have always and always will be a part of the circle of eternal energy; we have always existed and will always exist in some form. A notion that became ever so clear when reading up on different religions, worldviews, customs, and philosophies.”

Recording Studio:
Drums & Bass at D-studio
Guitars & Vocals at SoundSpiral Audio
Keyboards & electronics at Ryijy’s cave.

Producer/Sound engineer: Juho Räihä
Mix/Master: Necromorbus Studio / Tore Stjerna

Line-up:
Timo Kontio - Guitar
Mathias Lillmåns - Vocals
Teemu Saari - Guitar
Pyry Hanski - Bass
Kauko Kuusisalo - Drums
Antti Simonen - Keyboards

Cover artwork: Adrien Bousson
Bio: Nick Senior
Pictures: M.Laakso

Pre-sales: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/AndOceansShop
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/andoceans-gardens

Formats:
CD Digipak
CD Clamshellbox
2x 12” Gatefold (Black)
2x 12” Gatefold (Crystal clear, red & blue marbled / limited to 600)
2x 12” Gatefold (Gold & black marbled / limited to 300)
Cassette

BLACKBRIAR - Sign To Nuclear Blast Records + Release New Song 'Crimson Faces'

Having refined their broody, mesmerizing vision of gothic/symphonic metal to cinematic levels, with three EPs and a full-length album behind them, BLACKBRIAR continues to set their sails towards the future. The Netherlands-based band are proud to announce their signing to Nuclear Blast Records and are currently working towards their second full-length album, accompanied by long-time collaborator, Joost van den Broek. Today, the band have released a brand-new song titled 'Crimson Faces'.

Stream "Crimson Faces" here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/crimson-faces
Watch the new video for "Crimson Faces" below:

Singer, Zora Cock comments on the signing:
"Dear fans, we're so excited to have partnered up with Nuclear Blast Records!!! Having been an independent band for many years, we’ve finally found the perfect fit that makes our dreams come to life! Joining forces with this incredible label is a huge step for Blackbriar! We promise you a lot of exciting things are coming, starting with a brand-new single that's OUT NOW! Listen to 'Crimson Faces' on all music platforms, and let us know what you think! ❤ Love, Blackbriar."

Jens Prueter, Head Of A&R Nuclear Blast Europe:
“Please warmly welcome Blackbriar to the Nuclear Blast family! It has been a pleasure to meet them at Joost van den Broek’s studio and to get a sneak preview of the exciting things to come. We’re thrilled to work with such a creative team. It’s amazing what the band have already achieved completely DIY, creating a unique world of their own. Expect to be enchanted –this is probably the biggest gift artists can give us.”

Zora Cock continues about the new single:
"'Crimson Faces' tells a story of being haunted by ghosts, jealousy, and insecurities, based on the old classic Gothic novel 'Rebecca'. You asked us to make a different kind of music video, one of us performing instead of portraying a story, and we thought 'Crimson Faces' was the perfect song to do this with. We hope we’ve fulfilled your wishes!"

BLACKBRIAR LIVE:
June 9-11, 2023 Into The Grave, Leeuwarden, Netherlands

More to be announced soon.

About BLACKBRIAR:
Formed in 2012 by Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, and Frank Akkerman, Blackbriar crafted their first single in 2014 with 'Ready to Kill,' but it was 2015’s second single 'Until Eternity' that truly propelled them into the scene. A sweeping track with an equally compelling and beautiful video, it continues to draw many to the band with over 18.1 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding them, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, as well as acquired a second guitarist in Robin Koezen. This EP laid down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal, breath-taking sound, and brought about new opportunities, including tour dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and more, where they played alongside EPICA, HALESTORM, IN THIS MOMENT, DELAIN and MAYAN. To keep moving ahead with full control of their creative ideals, the band successfully crowdfunded their follow-up EP, We’d Rather Burn, and brought it to life in October 2018. This EP would be the first time the band worked alongside esteemed producer Joost van den Broek, and this fruitful collaboration allowed BLACKBRIAR’s whimsical and enigmatic sound to reach new sonic heights. Released the same day as their self-made video for "I’d Rather Burn," the EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens. Keyboardist Ruben Wijga (ex-Re-Vamp) began to take on a larger role and began playing shows, having been involved in the songwriting process since Fractured Fairytales.

A busy 2019 followed, and the band released the haunting single "Snow White and Rose Red" in May. A duet with Ulli Perhonen, their take on the Grimm’s fairy tales featured striking cinematic visuals to accompany the spellbinding track. Continuing to dig deeper into fairy tale realms, BLACKBRIAR closed the year with their third EP, Our Mortal Remains. Ever sharpening their intoxicating blend of storytelling and breath-taking musicianship, the EP brought about new live opportunities as well. Small, sold-out tours with EPICA in 2019 and 2020, as well as a sold-out opening performance for Delain’s Apocalypse & Chill release show in Utrecht followed, with future plans then put on hold due to COVID-19. Championing their continued independence, which included everything from songwriting, maintaining their web presence, overseeing merch, as well as shooting and producing their own videos and photos, BLACKBRIAR reached out to their ever-growing and loyal fanbase for assistance to make their full-length debut album a reality in 2020.

Fans fervently heeded the call, reaching the € 25,000 goal in under 24 hours, ending with a total of € 70,000. It was an impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which shows their strong internet presence, with over 214,000 YouTube subscribers and 46.1 million channel views, as well as 27.6 million Spotify streams and 150,000 monthly listeners. Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing with Doomstar Bookings to help properly support their first full-length album, The Cause of Shipwreck, which was released in April. It was recorded with renowned producer Joost van den Broek (Epica, Ayreon, Powerwolf) at Sandlane Recording Facilities, and this release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics. On the live front, the band launched into success with six sold-out Dutch club shows, later extending into more European territories such as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic.

Despite a very successful 2021, the band still hungered for more, unleashing their latest single, "Fairy of the Bog" in December. The track is a mixture of folklore, myth, and ancient local history in a more mystical and magical package, showcasing what BLACKBRIAR does best. In April, the band parted ways with founding member and bassist Frank Akkerman, welcoming Siebe Sol Sijpkens from The Netherlands as their new bassist. A happy and energetic performer with a lifetime of global performances, he is a welcome addition to the act as they continue to strive forward. With their vision looking firmly into the future, with a major label behind them, they’ve set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet. With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in EuroSonic/Noorderslag‘s Popgala Noord Awards (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify nearing 1 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey ahead. BLACKBRIAR continues to soar, ready to lure you into the sea to be swept away by addictive hooks, cinematic soundscapes, and darkly whimsical storytelling.

BLACKBRIAR is:
Zora Cock - VOCALS
René Boxem - DRUMS
Bart Winters - GUITARS
Robin Koezen - GUITARS
Siebe Sol Sijpkens - BASS
Ruben Wijga - KEYS

Saliva Releases New Single "High On Me" to all major platforms!; Announce December Tour Dates

Multi-Platinum, Grammy nominated band Saliva released a brand new single "High On Me" to all major platforms! The band will be on tour in December with Awake At Last and Seventh Day Slumber.

"High On Me" can be streamed/downloaded HERE

"'High on me' is about a day in the life of someone’s opioid addiction. Is it me or the drugs that keep you sticking around? The opioid epidemic is something so many struggle with and most never make it out the other side. I’ve had many friends die from it and it saddens me when I hear of someone losing that battle," says Bobby Amaru, vocalist of the band.

Saliva will continue to release tracks and ultimately a full album in Spring of 2023. The new music has a contemporary feel but sticks to the blue collar roots that their fans love.

After acquiring front man Bobby Amaru in 2011, Saliva became infused with new blood, energy, and spirit. The same energy launched Saliva’s career in 2001 with the release, _Every Six Seconds – a certified Double Platinum-selling album, containing the hits, “Click Click Boom” and 2002 Grammy nominated, “Your Disease.” Saliva’s in-your-face, anthemic writing style continued with a certified Gold-selling album *Back in to Your System_ with hits: “Always,” “Raise Up,” and the Nikki Sixx co-written, “Rest In Pieces.”*

Upon adding former Shinedown and Fuel bassist, Brad Stewart, as a permanent member, Saliva solidified their new lineup consisting of: Wayne Swinny, Sammi Jo Bishop and Amaru.

Saliva Tour Dates:

12/1 Woodford, VA @ THE GROOVE
12/2 Reading, PA @ REVERB
12/3 Winchester, VA @ BLUE FOX
12/4 Norwalk, CT @ WALLSTREET THEATER
12/8 Derry, NH @ TUPELO MUSIC HALL
12/9 Providence Rock Day @ PLATFORMS DANCE CLUB
12/10 Horseheads, NY @ THE L
12/11 Frenchtown, NJ @ ARTIES BAR AND GRILL

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

YouTube

Der Weg einer Freiheit Shares New Live Video for "Eiswanderer"

German black metal experimentalists DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT are now releasing a brand new live video for the song "Eiswanderer," which was recorded during their recent European headlining tour with label mates REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER and BIZARREKULT in September 2022. The video can be seen below.

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT comment on the video: "A song we haven't played live for quite some time and that turned out to be one of our favourites to play on our past tour! Many of you have been asking for it, so we included EISWANDERER in the setlist and recorded this live version at our shows in Vienna and Munich for all of you who didn't have the chance to join the tour. We hope you enjoy!"

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT previously announced another massive European tour along with with IGORRR, AMENRA and HANGMAN'S CHAIR in March & April 2023! The full run of dates can be found below!

The band will be supporting their latest album, 'Noktvrn,' which was released in November 2021 and cracked the Billboard Charts for the first time ever! In the U.S., the band landed the Current Hard Rock Music Albums (#27) and Top New Artist Albums (#30) while in Germany, the band made the Offizielle Deutsche Charts (official German charts) (#34). The album was named one of the best records of 2021 by Metal Injection, No Clean Singing, The Big Takeover, Heaviest of Art, and more!

Order 'Noktvrn' HERE.

Progressive, avant-garde black metal experimentalists DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT have never stopped smashing through the boundaries of the genre they’ve called home since forming in early 2009. And with 2021 welcoming the release of fifth album, Noktvrn, the Germans are looking to expand the minds and perspectives of their ever-increasing fanbase, similar to how they pushed themselves in every element of the new album’s creation. Ironically, supporters being able to pay witness to the leaps and bounds the band has made over the course of 12 years, five albums and one EP and live recordings should count themselves lucky for being able to do so.

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT may have existed and thrived over the course of that time, but forging on beyond its self-titled debut wasn’t part of guitarist/vocalist/mastermind Nikita Kamprad’s original plan.

Formed out of the ashes of black metal quartet FROSTGRIM and good time-lovin’ melodic deathcore posse, FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND, Kamprad and original vocalist Tobias Jaschinsky founded DER WEG EINER FREIHEITas an expression of both their love of black metal and the search for liberation through art, as evidenced by taking the idea of their moniker — which translates to ‘The Way of Freedom’ — to heart.

“FROSTGRIM could be seen as the direct predecessor to DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT,” says Kamprad, from his studio in Würzburg, in the state of Bavaria, “because it was Tobias, our former singer, and I. We had this black metal band together when we also had FUCK YOUR SHADOW FROM BEHIND. We were a part of both bands and when they split up, there was nothing left. For me, black metal was always the most important musical genre where I could see myself doing music. So, I created songs for myself and basically they became the first DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT album. It is officially self-titled, but it actually doesn’t have a title. It’s just Der Weg einer Freiheit because initially after I wrote and released that first album, the band was supposed to be over. But the feedback from friends, fans and the press was so immense and so many people wanted to see the band live and to see it continue, in the end, I was like ‘why not?’ There was no reason why I couldn’t go on with new stuff.”

Originally self-released, the debut was picked up by Viva Hate Records who then issued follow-ups in the form of the Agonie EP and second full-length, Unstille which were supported via appearances at name festivals such as Summer Breeze Open Air and Wolfszeit Festival as well as on European tours opening for the likes of WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, NEAERA. 2014 had DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT joining forces with Season of Mist for third album, Stellar which was issued a few months later in March of 2015.

With the label and a groundswell of support behind them, the band’s star continued to rise in Stellar’s shadow with showings at Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and Roadburn, a tour in support of MOONSPELL and their first headlining runs. 2017 saw the release of album number four, Finisterre, which continued the steady growth of the band’s profile. In addition to drawing bigger crowds at festivals and on tours, they ventured overseas for the first time, playing in Japan and Iceland.

“I was doing music for six or seven years when I started DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT and I was always in bands that would meet up and write in a rehearsal space, but I always wanted to have my own band. I had the opportunity to do my own thing and that’s why this band is called DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT because it’s basically about my way of achieving my own freedom. For some people that way is through sport or cooking or writing; for me, it was about writing music and lyrics.”

Twelve years on, Kamprad is taking advantage of the freedoms afforded to him as he strives to personify the band’s titular expression. Being joined by drummer Tobias Schuler, bassist Nicolas Ziska and guitarist Nicolas Rausch has made DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT more a unit than ever and allowed Kamprad to feel comfortable relinquishing his steely grip on the band’s creative reins during the writing process which began in late 2019 and was completed by September of 2020. This has allowed for vast differences in Noktvrn’s creation that have expanded the album’s overall breadth beyond black metal and extreme music to incorporate the influence and inspiration of classical composer Frédéric Chopin’s Nocturnes, his series of 21 so-called “night pieces.” This, in turn, birthed the album’s artistic mandate requiring that material only be created during the wee hours.

“I always wanted to do an album about the night and dreams and I’m really, really big fan of Chopin and his night pieces in general. For me, it made sense that this album should have a title that connects with this theme. To the left of me right now is a piano and some of Chopin’s sheet music for the Nocturnes. One day I probably looked at it and wanted to pay tribute to this great composer. That’s why we chose to write the title a little bit differently with the ‘k’ instead of a ‘c’ and a ‘v’ instead of a ‘u’ to make it more special. We also chose the ‘v’ in particular because it’s our fifth album and that’s the Roman numeral for five. It’s just something special we did with the name, even though we weren’t sure at first about the lettering because it can be seen as generic, especially in black metal. We have reasons that are deeper than what you see on the surface; not because we want to be ‘true’ — or ‘trve’ — or something,” he explains with a laugh.

The Chopin and classical music influences on Noktvrn are much more than surface cosmetics. Lilting acoustic guitar piece ‘Finisterre II’ opens the album. Jericho-like horns are the bleating accent to the proggy black metal of ‘Monument.’ Baroque arpeggiation familiar to the tuxedo-and-coat tails crowd are spiralled around Oslo’s Helvete shop in ‘Morgen.’ There are also tendrils of folk, shoegaze and indie rock that make brief and appropriate appearances, but it’s the night-time theme that runs deep as Kamprad discovered early on in the writing process.

“‘Immortal’ was one of the first songs I wrote for the album and it was really, really weird because I wrote the song when it was very, very late when I fell into a night-time rhythm that was not my usual rhythm. Here, I felt I was having different kinds of dreams and thoughts. Sometimes I’d be half-awake, half-asleep and not really aware of what my real state of mind was. That was an experience that made me think about giving the entire album the nocturnal or night theme. I’m a very passionate sleeper; I love sleeping and dreaming and dreams are important to me because there’s a freedom in them. In this night rhythm, my head was in a different state and I wanted to create in this state because it was something different for me.”

Lyrically, Noktvrn has Kamprad taking enormous steps outside what has become his regular modus operandi since he took over the mic following Jaschinsky’s departure in 2012. The new album has him expanding his reach beyond not only his usual collection of personal thoughts and mother tongue, but also the style and texture with which he would previously deliver his meanings, ideas, and recollections.

“Usually, the lyrics have mainly been about myself, but on this album there were two events in the last two or three years connected to anxiety attacks. I haven’t experienced them myself, but a couple people who are very close to me have. The lyrics for the song ‘Am Rande der Dunkelheit’ are based around these people’s experiences and them telling me how they felt in a situation where they think they can’t breathe, that they think they’re dying and their life is coming to an end. I tried to imagine through the lyrics how they might have felt. I was trying to find my own words to describe the experience while trying to describe it if I had lived it myself.

“Another completely new thing on this album are the songs ‘Immortal’ and ‘Haven’ which are in English, which we’ve never done before. I always wanted to sing in English ever since I took over the vocals. Singing is the most direct musical expression I feel. Playing guitar is cool, but singing is even more my thing and I always want to push the boundaries so I implemented clean singing as well but, for me, doing clean vocals is very uncomfortable and difficult in German. I think singing clean vocals in English sounds nicer because German is a hard language which fits the harsh vocals perfectly. I wanted to try it out to see how it felt, and surprise, surprise, it felt great! I really like it and imagine there will be more English lyrics in the future.”

Barring a pair of live albums, all previous DER WEG EINER FREIHEITreleases were created almost entirely from the ground up by Kamprad. He would write the songs on his own and do the bass, guitar and vocal tracks himself with Schuler playing drums while engineering, producing and mixing along the way. Kamprad may still be the songwriter-in-chief who produced and mixed Noktvrn (with assistance from Jan Kerscher), but this album makes a significant developmental step as it not only welcomes song writing contributions from the other members, but has the band ably demonstrating their ability by recording live off the floor.

“The new album is the most natural sounding DER WEG EINER FREIHEITalbum,” he says excitedly, “not only the sound, but the riffing and because we recorded the songs live. Music today, especially metal, can be too difficult and technical for bands to even play and record their own songs from start to finish. For me it was very important during the song writing to focus on playing the songs all the way through without stopping. That created a very natural flow through the songs and throughout the whole album. Also, it was a new thing that the whole band was involved in the whole recording process and the last stages of the song writing. Writing and recording mainly by myself was a very exhausting and streamlined process that I liked at some points, but after Finisterre I couldn’t do that anymore and had to change something.

“I still wrote the songs here in my studio then showed them to the others,” he explains. “Then, we met up for rehearsal and pre-production and played through the songs, recorded them and really analysed all the small details, the iteration of parts, the transitions, the guitar sound, the drum beats and everything, even the cymbal hits! What came out were still my songs, but with all kinds of input from the guys. They’re the same songs, but going over all the details brings them to another level. When we entered the studio all we had to do was focus on playing and nothing else because everything was settled already. That was a new and very good experience for us as a band.”

All of the above makes Noktvrn a beacon of musical forward thought, drastic jumps and transformative risks. In his soft-spoken humble manner, Kamprad laughs at the idea that DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT is little more than a personal expression vehicle; instead, he refers to the band as “a very professional hobby,” while downplaying what makes these black metal mavericks entirely special.

“Maybe what is the special thing about us is that we never stopped. Since the beginning, we haven’t taken a break and we’ve always tried to be present with tours and shows and festivals, so there was never a break.”

Line-up
Nikita Kamprad: guitars, vocals
Tobias Schuler: drums
Nico Rausch: guitars
Nico Ziska: bass

Style: Black Metal

Guest musicians: Dávid György Makó – The Devil’s Trade - on “Immortal”

Recording studio: Ghost City Recordings, Germany

Producer / sound engineer: Nikita Kamprad (producer engineer), Jan Kerscher (engineer)

Mixing studio / engineer: Nikita Kamprad / own studio

Mastering studio / engineer: Philipp Welsing, Original Mastering

Cover art: Max Löffler

Links:
http://derwegeinerfreiheit.de/
https://www.facebook.com/derwegeinerfreiheit
http://instagram.com/derwegeinerfreiheit
http://derwegeinerfreiheit.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/derwegeinerfreiheit
http://www.twitter.com/dwef_official

Available formats: CD digipak, clamshell box, vinyl black and coloured

Society 1 Enter Studio With Dagon Destroyer And Danny Carey of Tool Snare Drum

SOCIETY 1 front-man MATT ZANE recently met with a former label Earache Records representative to discuss re-releasing a 20th Anniversary version of their most successful album Exit Through Fear. Unfortunately after some consideration the label decided to pass on
the idea.

"I go to The Rainbow in Hollywood to meet up with our old A&R guy that actually signed us 20 years ago. I basically said to him, you still own the album and I'm unable to do something without you guys. Let me make it easy, we already have a tour booked with STATIC-X, FEAR FACTORY and DOPE, I'll deliver a few alternative versions of songs, re-edit our Download performance and bring back some of the original guys. I thought it was a no-brainer." said Zane

Not owning the rights to the original album led Zane to get creative on how to promote the 20th anniversary and create something special for the fans of the band's most popular era.

"I went back into the digital vaults and found the demos from the writing sessions. PAUL RAVEN (KILLING JOKE, PRONG) was on most of them and BILL KENNEDY (NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON, U2) was producing. Those two aren't with us anymore so it was really cool to revisit that stuff"

Now SOCIETY 1 has entered Skylit Sound with drummer DAGON DESTROYER, who toured with the band during the Exit Through Fear era and was featured in the history making "Nothing" video to record four B-Sides that didn't make the original release.

To add to the unique nature of this project Dagon recorded with DANNY CARY'S actual snare drum he used on the TOOL album, Undertow.

Catch SOCIETY 1 LIVE on 2023 Rise Of The Machine tour with STATIC-X, FEAR FACTORY and DOPE.

Tour Dates:
02/24 @ TBA - Fresno, CA
02/25 @ The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
02/27 @ Roseland - Portland, OR
02/28 @ Showbox - Seattle, WA
03/01 @ Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, B.C.
03/02 @ Knitting Factory - Spokane, WA
03/03 @ Revolution Music Hall - Boise, ID
03/04 @ Virginia Street Brewhouse - Reno, NV
03/05 @ Ace Of Spades - Sacramento, CA
03/07 @ Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
03/08 @ El Rey Theater - Albuquerque, NM
03/09 @ Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
03/10 @ House of Blues - Dallas, TX
03/11 @ The Aztec Theater - San Antonio, TX
03/12 @ House Of Blues - Houston, TX
03/14 @ Buckhead Theater - Atlanta, GA
03/15 @ Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
03/16 @ Underground - Charlotte, NC
03/17 @ Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
03/18 @ T.L.A. - Philadelphia, PA

-> * Not Rise Of The Machines

Click for Additional Dates & Ticketing Information.

Click to follow DAGON THE DESTROYER Online

LUCID ILLUSIONS Releases Newest Single "Gone"!

Houston, TX based, Blues Punk trio LUCID ILLUSIONShas unveiled their newest single, "Gone." Engineered by Conner Graham and produced by the band themselves, "Gone" is the third single off of the band's upcoming, debut album, Something New.

Purchase / Stream "Gone" Online

"Something New is about taking risks, thinking for yourself, and doing the things in life that make you happy." - LUCID ILLUSIONS

Lucid Illusions is an up and coming three-piece rock band from Houston, TX. Recently coined as “blues punk,” they bring a raw rock sound, engaging performance, and a genuine love for what they do to the stage! The band has played with acts such as Papa Roach, Seether, Bush, Warrant, Everclear, Sick Puppies, Saliva, and more. In 2021, Lucid Illusions completed a project called 365 Days of Covers which consisted of recording a new cover song on video every day throughout the whole year. Most recently, they opened for Houston’s BuzzFest 2022 and were named Best Local Band of 2022 by the Houston Chronicle. The band is beyond dedicated to their craft and are ready to take on anything thrown their way!

Catch LUCID ILLUSIONS Live:
11/02 @ Wildcatter Saloon - Katy TX
11/11 @ Acadia - Houston TX
12/02 @ Warehouse Live - Houston TX
12/03 @ Warehouse Live - Houston TX

Nautik Doom Metal Masters AHAB Announce New Album, 'The Coral Tombs', And Share Epic Lyric Video For First Single!🐳

The Coral Tombs out January 13, 2023

via Napalm Records I Pre-Order HERE!!

Following their much acclaimed, chart-impacting 2015 album, 'The Boats Of The Glenn Carrig', and the epic 'Live Prey' release (2020), 2023 will see extreme doom metal masters AHAB celebrate their 19th band anniversary in glorious style: On January 13, 2023, the German four-piece will return with their fifth studio album, entitled 'The Coral Tombs', on Napalm Records! The release will mark their first full-length offering in eight long years.

The kings of nautik doom – a genre they invented – once again interpret a maritime novel, inspired this time by Jules Verne’s masterpiece 20000 Leagues Under The Sea. Throughout seven new tracks, AHAB take their fans on a new musical journey with Captain Nemo and Professor Arronax. Of their entire discography, 'The Coral Tombs' is arguably the closest the band has come to their sound resembling a real soundtrack: it’s evil, it’s longing, it’s sad, it’s meditative, it’s cavernous, it’s vast, it’s ridiculously epic and as heavy as the colossal squid itself!

But give ear, as today AHAB has shared a lyric video for their first single and album opening track, "Prof. Arronax’ descent into the vast oceans". The song not only features ULTHA‘s Chris Dark on guest vocals, but sees AHAB unleash a colossal thunder of blast beats and pitch-black vibes before shifting into the epic grandeur of the melancholic-yet heaviness the band is known and loved for. 

Watch the new AHAB lyric video for

"Prof. Arronax’ descent into the vast oceans"

"How else could we have started our new album after 8 years wait? I love the unexpected, so it feels kinda natural to start that thunderous," guitarist Christian Hector comments.

"The song tells the first milestone of "20,000 leagues under the sea“, when the Nautilus attacks and Professor Arronax and Conseil go over board and nearly drown. Of course we also introduce Captain Nemo in the first song. I cut the video myself as Napalm Records asked us for some videos - it’s a lyric nautic video. We’ll do two DIY videos and one professional video."

'The Coral Tombs' was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jens Siefert at RAMA Studios in Mannheim, Germany. Along with AHAB’s exceptional vocalist Daniel Droste, the album features guest appearances of ULTHA’s Chris Dark as well as none other than the master of extreme doom himself, Greg Chandler – singer and mastermind ofESOTERIC, who closes the album and an incredible ride through the depths of vast oceans and the abysmal nature of mankind.

AHAB not only invented and still steer the ship of their genre, but 'The Coral Tombs' is poised to top 2023 Album of the Year lists and will see the band sailing again as one of the best extreme doom metal bands of all time!

Pre-Order 'The Coral Tombs' HERE!

'The Coral Tombs' will be available in the following formats:

=> 1CD Digisleeve

=> 2LP Gatefold BLACK

=> 2LP Gatefold CURACAO

=>3LP Die Hard/Slow Vinyl Edition CLEAR/ORANGE MARBLED in Slipcase

=> Musicassette

=> Ltd. Edition Musicassette (Clear Frosted / recycled plastic)

=> 2LP Gatefold Glow In The Dark (Band only)

=> Digital Album

=> CD Digisleeve + Shirt Bundle

AHAB is:

Cornelius Althammer – drums & percussion

Daniel Droste – vocals & guitar

Christian Hector – guitar

Stephan Wandernoth – bass

CONSTELLATIA Streams New Album

South African progressive black metal band CONSTELLATIA will be releasing its sophomore full-length, 'Magisterial Romance,' Out Now via Season of Mist! The band is now streaming the offering in its entirety!

CONSTELLATIA comments: "After what feels like aeons, we are happy to share the full stream of our second album, Magisterial Romance. We hope you enjoy our efforts and we look forward to seeing some of you next year."

Following the end of Wildernessking’s career, Keenan Oakes had to continue making music, despite the difficulties of playing in a metal band in Cape Town, South Africa. Regardless, Oakes joined forces with Crow Black Sky’s Gideon Lamprecht in 2018 to create the musical entity known as CONSTELLATIA. Taken from the word ‘constellation’, CONSTELLATIA refers to the nature of existence and the natural world, the cosmos, and extracting meaning and happiness from it all. The band’s somber take on progressive black metal encapsulates inherently human subjects; a distillation of life’s meander, sadness and tribulations.

Inspired by artists such as Opeth, Mastodon, The Cure, Primordial, Neurosis, Wolves in the Throne Room, Pink Floyd, Beach House, Agalloch, Emperor and Cult of Luna, Constellatia imbue their stark musical landscape with ferocity and reverie. Following the release of their debut record via Isolation Records in 2019, The Language of Limbs, CONSTELLATIA was very quick to garner the attention of listeners around the world, leading to their acknowledgement and subsequent signing to the large, independent record label, Season of Mist. While The Language of Limbs sounds bleak and tends to instill a sense of longing within the listener, it too sparks an idyllic feeling of catharsis with the mesmerizing atmospheric soundscapes and subtle intoxicating harmonies.

Now with Season of Mist’s support moving forward with their sophomore record, CONSTELLATIA have the footing and foundation to fully expand on their musical endeavours. The new album which is set to release on November the 11th 2022, shows CONSTELLATIA continuing to evolve on their already mature sound, creating these larger-than-life romantic compositions that express the emotional spectrum of simply being; an amorphous progressive metal experience enriched with lavish ambiance and ripe with spirit, unique to them alone.
From the very start, the goal with CONSTELLATIA was to create emotionally dense and textured metal that is both transcendent and incredibly human. With the release of their upcoming record later this year, CONSTELLATIA will reveal just how much more dynamic and vulnerable their music has become. It may seem that the band is now hitting their stride, but they have only just begun. Plans are being made to tour the many corners of the world in support of their new album and subsequent releases.

To love
The wheels of this great turning
Dispel the grey aura you’ve known
Deepen the joy, stars aglow

Follow CONSTELLATIA on Facebook, Instagram and Bandcamp.

Genre: Progressive black metal

Mastering studio and engineer: Fascination Street - Tony Lindgren

Producer / Mixing engineer: Gideon Lamprecht 

Line-up:
Gideon Lamprecht - Lead guitar
Adam Hill - Rhythm guitar
Keenan Oakes - Bass, vocals

Recording Line-up:
Gideon Lamprecht - Lead guitar
Adam Hill - Rhythm guitar
Keenan Oakes - Bass, vocals
Frank Schilperoort - Drums

Guest musicians:
Alison Rachel (Honeymoan) - vocals on "Adorn"
Skye MacInnes (Honeymoan) - additional guitars on "Adorn"

Cover Art: Kent Andreasen

Biography: Written by JP Pallais

CANDY COFFINS present 'Tangled Up in Teacups', a Cure-esque dive into an unhealthy relationship

"Lush instrumentation and sombre storytelling. Their gothic post-punk vortex engulfs you. Poignant vocal melodies swoon amongst soft guitars and expansive synths to craft a song that will continue wandering the sonic corridors of your mind" ~ The Record Stache

"A passionately powerful collection that, while steeped in pop nostalgia, is loaded with resonant melodies and an overall denser shimmer...channels the best from 1980s music in modern compositions that are entirely appealing for the here and now" ~ The Spill Magazine

"The band at their considerable best, walking a fine-tuned line between darkness and the silver-lining of new romanticism. Haunting with loads of energy... nervous, edgy vocal delivery" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"An enthralling and fascinating listen with their sonic imagery, emotional turbulence and new romantic underpinnings" ~ Skylight Webzine

Post-punk new romantics Candy Coffins present 'Tangled Up In Teacups', a superb single showcasing the third act crescendo of a relationship in a tailspin - the detachment, the anger, the self-absorption, the exhaustion. It is a waltz of protection via insulating flippancy and a voice that reveals one’s entire arc of emotions.

The accompanying video, which juxtaposes a pensive and inaccessible Jame Lathren with stunning ballet dancers Mira Lathren and Bella Leone in an urban landscape, was produced and directed by The Pierson Collective.

This song can be found on the band's new album 'Once Do It With Feeling', a 10-track collection considered to be their best work to date. With Cure-esque textures and melody, as well as thematic elements and the visceral delivery of The Afghan Whigs, this record showcases solid songwriting, an approach and delivery that is confident and cohesive, as well as emotional and sonic saturation.

"The full album chronicles a relationship from the onset of the first crack to its complete crumbling dissolution. All the feelings and emotions of tumult are captured here, from both persons’ perspectives," says frontman-songwriter Jame Lathren.

Earlier, the band released two singles - 'Every Day A Fresh Atrocity', exploring the dark corners and haunting suffocation of a broken relationship, and 'Seaside Girls', paying tribute to the playful abandon of youth with a healthy dose of indierock.

Vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Jame Lathren formed Candy Coffins in 2018 in Columbia, South Carolina. A cultural outcast, his resilience, sensitivity and hyper-awareness of his emotional state would ultimately permeate his own music, getting right to the heart of the emotions surrounding the human condition.

After disbanding his previous band Crown The Cake, he formed Candy Coffins with hometown guitar legend Tom Alewine (Bachelors of Art), followed by seasoned music scene veterans Alex Mabrey on bass and Justin Purdy on keys, and former Iron & Wine touring drummer Jonathan Bradley. With dynamic and textured approach, the band's trademark lush sound bolsters Lathren’s emotive songwriting and delivery.

With tasteful nods to Joy Division, The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs, The Afghan Whigs and The Cult, as well as contemporaries like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Spiritualized, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Interpol, Candy Coffins’ sound is dark and emotionally restless, but with elements of hope and elation. Defiantly unique, their sound is a welcome respite from musical mediocrity.

The 'Once Do It With Feeling' LP is out now and is available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where it can be ordered directly from the artist.

CREDITS
Jame Lathren - vocals, guitars
Tom Alewine : guitars
Alex Mabrey - bass
Jonathan Bradley - drums, percussion
Justin Purdy - keys
Additional instrumentation by John Furr
Additional vocals by Margaret Rose Champagne
All songs by Jame Lathren (BMI) © 2022
Produced & Engineered by John Furr at Pow Pow Sound (Columbia, SC)
Mixed by David Barbe at Chase Park Transduction (Athens, GA)
Mastered by Dave Harris at Studio B Mastering (Charlotte, NC)
Album cover artwork by Phoenix Lathren and and Tom Alewine
Video produced and directed by The Pierson Collective
Dancers: Mira Lathren and Bella Leone
Assistant to Miss Lathren and Miss Leone: Monica Damon
Assistant to Jame Lathren: Lauren Ellis
Mr. Lathren’s Hair and Make-up by Kristin Rochester

Keep up with Candy Coffins
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | BandsInTown

Polish Black Metal Icons BATUSHKA Sign Worldwide Contract with Napalm Records

Napalm Records is proud to team up with one of the most exciting acts in today’s black metal scene, welcoming BATUSHKA to its ever-growing roster! Hailing from the deepest shadows of eastern Poland, the band has just inked a worldwide record deal with the Austrian rock and metal label.

Originating with acts like Abigor and Summoning, Napalm Records has been deeply rooted in the black metal genre since its very beginnings. Three decades later, this spirit remains strong and undoubtedly matches perfectly with the vision of the Polish unit.

After the band’s critically acclaimed debut album, 'Litourgiya' (2015), followed by sophomore 'Hospodi' (2019), BATUSHKA are more than ready to bring their bone-shaking essence of arcane black metal to the next level.

Stay tuned for the next unholy, cataclysmic ritual of sinister black metal - coming soon!

BATUSHKA about signing to Napalm Records:

“PILGRIMS!

We're happy to announce that we've signed up with Napalm Records for the release of our upcoming new album. We have a mutual understanding regarding the telling of this new story and spreading the gospel of BATUSHKA around the globe. Be on the lookout for our new album, and get ready to experience BATUSHKA in all the corners of the world!

After traveling through North America and Mexico for our first long pilgrimage over there, we dare to say that this tour reaches far beyond our wildest expectations! We were surprised and humbled by the reception! We already know that we will return to stages around the globe as soon as possible - not only with a new show, but also with new songs and a new story.

Apart from that, with blessing - BATUSHKA”

Napalm Records A&R manager Sebastian Münch states:

"BATUSHKA are undoubtedly one of the most creative and innovative black metal bands in recent years. We had the pleasure of welcoming BATUSHKA live at this year's edition of the Metal On The Hill Festival in Graz, Austria, and were immediately impressed by the band as a brilliant live act and great entertainers. I am super excited to be a part of the release of the new studio album next year. Welcome to the Napalm family."

[photo credits: Maciej Pieloch Photography]

BATUSHKA are:

ЛЕХ - drums

ТАРЛАХАН - guitars

ДЖЕЙКОБ БОРУТА - guitars

ДЕДУШКА - bass

БЛАЖЕИ - choir

ХИАЦЫНТОС ЯЦА - choir

ЯЗЫЧНИК - choir

ВАРФОЛОМИЕЙ - vocals

BIOHAZARD REUNITE WITH ORIGINAL LINEUP ANNOUNCE LIVE DATES, NEW MATERIAL

Biohazard is back.

Celebrating their 35th anniversary as a band, Brooklyn, NY hardcore metal legends Biohazard have returned, reuniting their original lineup of guitarist/vocalist Billy Gradziadei, guitarist Bobby Hambel, drummer Danny Schuler, and bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld.

The first wave of confirmed dates for the seminal outfit includes multiple international festivals in the summer of 2023, as well as select appearances in America. See the current dates below, with more announcements coming soon.

In addition to touring, Biohazard has a 35th anniversary documentary in the works containing previously unreleased footage spanning four decades. They also plan on returning to the studio to record new material in early 2023.

“Biohazard is an iconic band that ripped it up on the streets of New York when I lived there in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, so I’m excited to be working with them to bring their pioneering hardcore sound to a new generation,” says Andy Gould (Rob Zombie, Pantera, Type O Negative, more). The band is managed by Gould and Paul Gargano and booked by Jim Morewood at the K2 Agency internationally, and Steve Sokol at Pinnacle in North America.

Biohazard pioneered a genre, with a trailblazing sound that fused elements of hardcore, heavy metal, punk, and hip-hop.

BILLY GRAZIADEI: “Over the years, we made some great music together and had so many incredible shows on some pretty amazing tours. After spending so much time and focus on Powerflo and my solo project BillyBio, things just fell in place at the right time and I decided it was the time to recapture that energy and go kick ass again with the original lineup of Biohazard with Danny, Bobby, and Evan!”

BOBBY HAMBEL: “I’m honored to perform with the band again. I can’t wait to get onstage with the guys and do what we do! I’m looking forward to traveling and playing live - see you out there!”

DANNY SCHULER: “Life is short, things happen, and before you know it, it’s too late - that’s why I’m extremely grateful that we are getting the chance to do this again, forgiving the past and focusing on the future. I’ve missed the band and the great times we’ve had, and I’m looking forward to the shows, the travel, and seeing our friends all over the world again… This is gonna be awesome, let’s go!”

EVAN SEINFELD: “It’s been ten years since we all played together, and I’m in a huge place of gratitude for the opportunity to get back to the roots of Biohazard and not only reconnect with the other guys, but also the fans. We’ve been through decades of madness, and it feels like the fantastic four are back together.”

CURRENT TOUR DATES

AUG 4 Czaplinek, Poland - Pol’and’Rock Festival
AUG 10 Jeromer, Czech Republic - Brutal Assault
AUG 13 Catton Park, England - Bloodstock
AUG 19 Eindhoven, Holland - Dynamo Metalfest

(More to be announced…)

GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF RE-RECORD OF DEBUT ALBUM, 'BACK ON EARTH', OUT JANUARY 27, 2023🌏

NEW SINGLE & VIDEO, "LOADED" OUT NOW

Up-and-coming hard rockers Girish And The Chronicles have announced the upcoming release of a re-record of their debut album, 'Back On Earth' on January 27, 2023. 

New single and video, "Loaded" is out today.

Watch the Video

Originally released in 2014, 'Back On Earth' was the first album to introduce GATC to a larger global hard rock audience and kicked off their still ongoing rock n' roll journey.

When asked why the band decided to re-record the album as opposed to simply remastering and reissuing it, front man Girish Pradhan says, "We wanted the whole thing to have a fresh new start. Although we wanted to keep most of the vocal takes, we have been introducing a lot of musical changes to these songs in live performances. So we thought, 'Why not do the same in the new recordings?' We always felt that we had technical challenges back in the day and couldn’t deliver the hard-hitting sound that we had originally intended, so we introduced some new breakdowns, chord sequences, solos, and bass and drum parts to these songs that make them feel closer to where we are now. We didn’t want to mess around too much with the vocals though, which is why I only re-recorded the vocals for 'Angel' and 'Loaded'. As a whole, the whole thing sounds quite different from the 2014 version, but all in all, it stays true to the spirit of the songs, however, we feel that it is closer to the vision we had back in the day."

Thinking back on the making of their debut album, Girish says, "each song has its own story. Most of them were singles, released during the 2009-2013 era of the band. We had a lot of struggles, but we were living our lives to the fullest. More than anything, we were a group of four guys, without a care in the world, who just wanted to get on stage and rock. 'Angel' was the first song ever released. I wrote that tune around 2008. It was actually supposed to be a solo song at that time, but by the time we all assembled, we officially called it the band’s first ever single. 'Golden Crown' might sound funny to a lot of our new listeners, but it was actually a song by two teenagers (me and my brother, Yogesh), meant as a jingle for a local football championship named the Gold Cup, organised by the Sikkim Football Association. I wrote 'Loaded'’s riff and some of its lyrics in 2010, when we were in the process of applying for our first passports. Two of our band members lacked some documents and were told to go back to Sikkim and reapply all over again. We were quite frustrated, thinking of the long journey and the amount of running around we had been doing, for something so simple, plus we were broke as hell. Anyway, the circumstances did help me write the song, and the lines:

'There’s no point in complaining / And shedding tears while it’s raining / There is nothing to lose, / ‘Cause I was the one to choose'

I guess this will be very long to read if I start writing about each and every song, so we'll leave some of it to our fans to interpret!"

Pre-order/save "Back On Earth" HERE

Originally from Sikkim, but now based in the city of Bangalore/Bengaluru in Karnataka, India, GATC are known for their soaring, powerful vocals, biting guitars, thunderous bass, and pounding drums, staying true to the authentic ‘80s heavy metal/hard rock sound which they grew up with.

In their 12-year existence, GATC have been credited by many fans for bringing the classic hard rock culture back to India and are an inspiration to many new and upcoming bands in the scene. The group has gained a cult following globally with '80's and '90s hair metal and hard rock aficionados in addition to being well known in the Indian rock scene for electrifying live shows and have toured across the nation and beyond.

GATC has supported bands ranging in variety from American alt rockers Hoobastank to Finnish rockers Poets of the Fall to German thrashers Destruction. The band has also performed at the Zurbaran Rock Burgos Fest in Spain, sharing the stage with German hard rock legends Bonfire. GATC has also performed at the UrRock Fest in Switzerland in 2021, sharing the stage with Nazareth, Orden Ogan, Firewind, and again in 2022 with headliners Skid Row, amongst others. Additionally, the band consistently has been part of various leading music festivals in India.

Vocalist Girish Pradhan is also part of the international metal group, Firstborne, which is led by Chris Adler, James Lomenzo, and Hugh B. Myrone. He has also toured the UK, France, Spain, Portugal and other territories with his other side projects in the past.

GATC has released three acclaimed albums, their debut 'Back on Earth' (2014), 'Rock The Highway' (2020), and their most recent release, and Frontiers Music Srl debut, 'Hail To The Heroes' (2022).

GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES LINE-UP:

Girish Pradhan - Vocals, Rhythm Guitars

Yogesh Pradhan - Bass, Keyboards, Production

Suraz Sun - Lead Guitars

Nagen Nags - Drums

NYC collective Gramercy Arms present 'Yesterday's Girl', co-written by Lloyd Cole and Dave Derby

"Gentle and perfectly arranged, it is both calming and genuine, straightforward and talented, giving space and voice everywhere that the song and its story requires... clearly at a different level of musical maturity.. A hidden Americana-indiepop gem, Gramercy Arms show that music truly is a journey" ~ The Spill Magazine


NYC-based indie rock / powerpop outfit Gramercy Arms presents their Americana-tinged single 'Yesterday's Girl', a bittersweet remembrance of love lost and friendship regained. This is the first taste of their 'Deleted Scene' album, scheduled for release via Montclair, NJ-based Magic Door Record Label in early 2023,

Co-written by Gramercy Arms frontman Dave Derby and music legend Lloyd Cole, this song was originally penned for Darlene Love’s solo album 'Introducing Darlene Love'. Artfully reimagined by Derby and producer Ray Ketchem as a duet with Derby and Renée Lo Bue (Elk City, Flowers of America) trading vocals for the Gramercy Arms version. The colorful video, directed by acclaimed visual artist Debora Francis, features Derby and Lo Bue.

Deleted Scene' is the group’s third full-length album, following 'The Seasons of Love' (2012) and 'Gramercy Arms'. Lyrically driven and rich on vocal-harmony, interspersed with elements of 60s sunshine pop and folk-rock, Gramercy Arms is a revolving collective of musicians and artists masterminded by Dave Derby (The Dambuilders, Lloyd Cole),

Produced, recorded and mixed by Ray Ketchem (Guided By Voices, Luna, Elk City) at Magic Door Recording with additional recording by Lloyd Cole, this album was mastered by award-winning engineer Greg Calbi (John Lennon, David Bowie, Bruce Springsteen, Talking Heads, Patti Smith, Tom Petty, Bill Frisell, Todd Rundgren).

“Being asked to sing one-half of the lead part on 'Yesterday's Girl' was a wonderful surprise. I showed up at Magic Door Recording prepared to do backing vocals. It was Ray Ketchem who suggested a duet during the session. It's an honor to sing the female lead part on a Lloyd Cole/Dave Derby penned song, originally written for Darlene Love,” says Renée LoBue.

Lloyd Cole further notes: “As I recall, we wrote very quickly hoping to channel Springsteen channeling Spector, with copious help from Blanton’s of Kentucky. I’d completely forgotten it until Dave presented this version and it feels like I won the lottery. It is wonderful. Very happy to have my name in the credits."

Inspired by the artistic heyday of ‘70s and ‘80s-era New York City, Gramercy Arms makes addictive indie pop - exquisite hook-laden melodies filled with lyrics that will have you floating back in time, remembering your favorite mistake.

Apart from Lloyd Cole, 'Deleted Scene' is a star-studded affair, also involving Kevin March (Guided by Voices, Shudder to Think, The Dambuilders), Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices, Nada Surf, Cobra Verde, Death of Samantha), Sean Eden (Luna), Mark Lizotte (Diesel), Phoebe Summersquash (Small Factory), Rainy Orteca (Joan As Police Woman, Dead Air), Renée LoBue (Elk City, Flowers of America), Kendall Meade (Mascott), Verena Wiesendanger (Semi Gloss), Claudia Chopek (Bright Eyes, The Little River Band, Echo of the Ghost), John Leon (Roky Erickson, Royal Arctic Institute), Rafa Maciejak (Lloyd Cole and the Negatives, Ivy), Hilken Mancini (Fuzzy, the Monsieurs, Punk Rock Aerobics), Richard Alwyn-Fisher (King Canutes, The Winter Drinks), Mike Errico, Steve Hurley (Gigolo Aunts), Lysa Opfer (Aeon Station), Carl Baggaley (Elk City, Royal Arctic Institute), Peter Hess (Phillip Glass Ensemble, Slavic Soul Party), Jessie Kilguss and Gary Burton (Dovedale).

As of November 16, 'Yesterday's Girl' will be available across online platforms, including Apple Music and Spotify. It will also be downloadable via Bandcamp,where the album can be pre-ordered.

CREDITS
Produced, Recorded & Mixed by Ray Ketchem at Magic Door Recording
Additional Recording by Lloyd Cole
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound
'Yesterday’s Girl' written by Lloyd Cole and Dave Derby
Publishing Passive-Aggressive BMI / Warner-Chappell
Dave Derby - vocals, guitar, bass guitar,
Renée Lo Bue - vocals
Kevin March - drums
Mike Errico - guitars
Lloyd Cole - guitars
Artist photos by Max Skaff

LIVE SHOWS
Nov. 22 NEW YORK CITY - Sid Gold’s Request Room (8pm)
Nov. 30 NEW YORK CITY - Bowery Electric (7pm)
Dec. 17 BOSTON - Midway Cafe (9pm)
Jan. 21 BROOKLYN, NY - Pete's Candy Store (10pm)
Feb. 22 BOSTON - Midway Cafe (album release show)
Feb. TBD NEW YORK CITY (album release show)


Keep up with Gramercy Arms
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify | Press contact

Keep up with Magic Door Label
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube

Doom Metal Kings CANDLEMASS Unveil Third Single & Lyric Video for “When Death Sighs”

Pre-Order the New Album, 'Sweet Evil Sun',

Out This Friday, November 18, NOW!

“...every bit as good as its predecessor - if not better.” -

(Blabbermouth, US)

“These doom metal pioneers are getting better and better the more they age.”

(Inferno, FI)

“Outstanding attitude, pure doom dominance!”

(Metal Hammer, GER)

"Thirteen albums in, and these Swedes sound more epic than ever"

(Fistful Of Metal, UK)

"With this album, CANDLEMASS prove once again they are the real kings of doom metal." (Rock Hard, IT)

“The godfathers of epic doom metal prove once again that they can wallow in the doomy sonic mire like no one else. Stay doomed!”

(La Heavy, ES)

“CANDLEMASS…Returning to the dark light!”

(Metallian, FR)

Legendary classic doom icons CANDLEMASS recently announced the release of their new album, Sweet Evil Sun, to finally see the light of day this Friday, November 18, via Napalm Records. With this top-notch offering, recorded at NOX studio in Stockholm, the Swedish force centered around Leif Edling continue their unmatched legacy, following the inimitable The Door to Doom (2019) and proving once more that they reign as one of the heaviest metal bands on earth, bringing epic doom to the world of metal.    

After releasing the hammering first single, “Scandinavian Gods” and the heavy doom successor track “Sweet Evil Sun”, it’s time to unveil the next appetizer “When Death Sighs”! Lethargic riffs announcing the ominous arrival of death, while Jennie-Ann Smith, mesmerizing vocalist of Edling's brainchild Avatarium, accents the song’s shimmering, blood-freezing chorus lines. With no exit out of the situation, the haunted atmosphere is supported by an amazing guitar solo closing the dark chapter of the death’s breath, underlined by an eerie lyric video to capture this dark feeling visually.

Watch the Lyric Video for “When Death Sighs”

[Video and illustrations by Costin Chioreanu (Twilight13media)]

After working on this massive piece of art for 18 months in total, with 'Sweet Evil Sun', CANDLEMASS brings back all the grandness of their early years, exploring themes of ambition and strife, hope and failure. It comes as no surprise that, alongside the band, renowned producer Marcus Jidell captured the band’s massive, smoky guitar tones, powerful drums and larger-than-life vocals, offering a truly unique, high quality sonic experience.

Through the power of wall-shaking riffs, incredible vocal performances and the blood and spirit of classic heavy metal, Sweet Evil Sun shines as a masterpiece of impending legend that truly honors the epic doom metal cult of CANDLEMASS.  

The artwork for 'Sweet Evil Sun' was illustrated by the skilled hand of Erik Rovanperä, the architect behind CANDLEMASS’ visual style since 'Psalms for the Dead' (2012).

Leif Edling on the new album:            

“'Sweet Evil Sun' is about hope, striving, adoration and failure. It's about all the personal battles that you have, but also the never-ending decay of humanity.

The record took over a year to make and there's not a bad track on it! We had a fantastic time recording it and are really looking forward to the release. It's Doom, It's Metal! It is the essence of CANDLEMASS put into one album!”

Pre-Order your copy of Sweet Evil Sun NOW!

Sweet Evil Sun' will be available in the following formats:

=> Ltd. Die Hard Vinyl Box (Napalm Shop only)

=> 2LP Gatefold Sun Yellow (Napalm Shop only)

=> 2LP Gatefold Black

=> 2LP Gatefold Purple

=> 1CD 6pp Digisleeve

=> CD Digisleeve + Shirt Bundle

=> Digital Album

CANDLEMASS are:

Johan Lanquist – Vocals

Lars Johansson – Lead Guitar

Mappe Björkman – Rhythm Guitar

Leif Edling – Bass

Janne Lind – Drums

Weathers Announce Signing To Sumerian Records, Drop New Track & Video "Where Do I Sign?"

SoCal Alt-pop trio, WEATHERS have announced today that they have signed a new deal with world-renowned independent label, Sumerian Records. The band have also dropped their first new single out via their new label home, the aptly named "Where Do I Sign?". Find the track on streaming platforms HERE and watch the official music video below.

Speaking on the release of the band's new track, frontman Cameron Boyer shares

“We wanted to make a song as a kind of satire on things we’ve been feeling in the past year. We’ve been joking with each other saying “what’s it gonna take to get to the next level?” And we mentioned selling our souls is our best bet. So we thought we’d turn that into a song and talk about all the things we want in a kind of dark twisted way. It’s a lighthearted mind set with with a darker feel since selling your soul would actually be something very serious.”

On the subject of their new label deal announcement, Boyer adds

“We are stoked to be signing with Sumerian Records. It feels like the perfect fit and we are thrilled to be surrounded by such an excited and dedicated team that believes in our music and vision. We are both inspired and humbled to be a part of their roster alongside some amazing artists including a few that we’ve become friends with on past tours. Calling this a dream come true would be an understatement. We can’t wait for what the future holds.”

Further news about new music from WEATHERS to come soon. Be sure to follow them online to stay up to date.

ABOUT WEATHERS

Prior to their new record deal with Sumerian, WEATHERS had huge runaway success with track "Happy Pills". Released in 2016, the track was certified Gold earlier this year and to date has racked up 31 Million YouTube views and over 156 million streams on Spotify alone. They followed their debut release up with a series of self-released singles which lead into their most recent album release, 'Pillows and Therapy' which came out in August of 2021. The lead single from the album, "Ces't La Vie" peaked at #26 on the Alternative charts. The band have an impressive 280 million cross-platform career streams and over 65 million YouTube views. They have a digital following of 2.5 million across socials and streaming platforms.

WEATHERS have played shows with Cage the Elephant, Jimmy Eat World, Dreamers, Palaye Royale, Badflower, Echosmith and Catfish & The Bottlemen, and have appeared at globally renowned festivals such as Lollapalooza, Firefly and this year's Riot Fest. The band are currently on tour across the UK and Europe supporting Set It Off.

Find Weathers Online

www.weathersband.com

NOFX's Fat Mike Launches New Musical Collective; CODEFENDANTS

When they decided to give MPC’s and distortion boxes to inmates….Crime Wave was born.

What if Killing Joke played reggae but with minor chords and Tom Waits was singing and playing piano? Well, that would probably be terrible. Codefendants are not.

Fat Mike of NOFX's newly launched project, Codefendants, are the breath of fresh air and the steel-toe-cap kick in the nuts music has needed for too long. Impossible to define by traditional standards, Codefendants were forged out of a desire to make an album that sounded like nothing else - a completely genre-fluid album - a cross between hip hop, new-wave, flamenco, and the Beatles. And thus a whole new genre - Crime Wave was born.

Today they release the music video for “Suicide By Pigs”, Episode 1 of a cinematic pentalogy which succeeds previously released music video for Episode 2 and the track “Abscessed” which was surreptitiously released without fanfare on YouTube last month and has already racked up over 33k views. Watch both videos by clicking the images below or by clicking HERE and HERE. If you don’t want to ruin the viewing experience, watch Episode 2 first, followed by Episode 1. It will all make sense, just trust us.

Non-album versions of "Suicide By Pigs" (Baz Mix) and "Abscessed" (10" Version) are available as part of a newly released 10" split also featuring two Get Dead tracks "Safe Places" and "Pepperspray" (Chris Dugan Mix) , out now via Fat Wreck Chords HERE.

Sam King from Get Dead’s graffiti crew were giving tattoos and making flash art to raise money to help rapper Ceschi Ramos when he was in prison. Months later they met at the Gilman Street Project in Berkeley, California. They bonded, talking about their love of hip-hop and punk rock, over a bottle of Jameson. They didn’t know it yet, but they had just started Codefendants.

They began recording songs two years later in Los Angeles with Fat Mike from NOFX as producer. Soon after Fatty joined the band, they decided to make an album that sounded like nothing else. That album will be released in early 2023.

You can’t hear the band on streaming services yet, but you CAN listen to their 6 song demo cassette tape if you send $7 to a PO BOX in Brooklyn. Videos can be seen on YouTube… at least the ones that weren’t banned. They just finished filming a five- song video series that will probably not be seen on YouTube, but will be available at thisiscrimewave.com. The short movie, made up of the five music videos, features the legendary rapper DOC, N8NOFACE, 2Mex, and Stacey Dee from Bad Cop / Bad Cop.

All that Fat Mike has to say about their new album is,

”Get ready for the best aural sex of your life.”

Follow Codefendants Online 

www.thisiscrimewave.com

NYC-based American-French duo FRENCHY AND THE PUNK present 'If The World Doesn't End First'

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey, and accessible, an incredible blend of alt-rock shade and alt-folk light" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Vibrant and danceable. Who says dark can’t also be fun? Zen Ghost, which may be among the year’s best albums to date, is a highly recommended listen" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"Bombastic... a happy medium between the sonic atmosphere and thoughtful melancholy of post-punk music and the unmistakable drama of cabaret... as beautifully manic as some of the finest artists on America's early punk' scene" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review

NYC-based postpunk duo Frenchy and the Punk present their new single 'If The World Doesn't End First', a love song wrapped in an impending apocalyptic scenario that is inspired by current events, past fears and the knowledge that, in the end, the things that don’t matter pass and the one thing that does remains.

This is a superb taste of their seventh album 'Zen Ghost', released via EA Recordings, following up high energy singles 'Mon Souvenir' and Siouxsie-esque 'Come In and Play'. Here, their shadowy sound takes an even darker turn towards the pair’s previously unexplored personal planes and interpretations of the insanity of our increasingly tumultuous age. Dark times make for dark songs.

Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephensonand guitarist-composer Scott Helland, who was co-founder and bassist of Outpatients and also Deep Wound (along with Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascisand Lou Barlow). Influenced by The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, Concrete Blonde and The B52’s, the duo thrive in their trademark blend of post-punk and dark folk music.

"I have a very clear memory of seeing the apocalyptic film ‘The Day After’ as a child and being totally traumatized by it. I had a recurring nightmare for months afterwards that I was running home during a nuclear war to die with my family, I didn’t want to die away from them. It was the Cold War, it felt like the end of the world was possible back then," says Samantha Stephenson.

"Extreme circumstances tend to put things in focus and in perspective. The past six years politically and culturally have been very intense. The pandemic felt like the culmination of years of social and cultural anxiety. There was a point where, after our US and European dates were all cancelled in 2020, we were trying to book some shows with the expectation that it would be possible again in early 2021 but the situation kept shifting. A promoter, suggesting a new possible show date, ended the email with ‘if the world doesn’t end first’. That phrase really hit me. It took me back and I started thinking about how all the trivialities and ridiculous things that we worry and stress about, things that in the end don’t matter, vanish in the face of survival and we are left with the one thing that does matter - love."

Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the freewheeling pair has released numerous recordings, including the acclaimed albums 'Happy Madness' (2010), 'Hey Hey Cabaret' (2012), 'Elephant Uproar' (2013), 'Cartwheels' (2014), 'Bonjour Batfrog' (2014) and 'Hooray Beret' (2019).

French-born, but raised in the UK and USA, Stephenson’s study of piano and dance ignited her eventual rejection of corporate conformity and fueled a quest to lead a truly autonomous life through art and music. A son of jazz-loving teachers, Helland grew up in Western Massachusetts and was a vital player on the region’s fertile early hardcore punk scene.

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC in 1998, when Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The artistic union was immediate, powerful and undeniable. The two began to tour with fevered zeal, turning heads with their striking aesthetic, steadily building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention, and club circuits with their boisterous, revival-like live shows.

Over the years, they've performed live with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, and opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners.

The 'Zen Ghost' LP is out now and can be found across fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It is also available on CD via the band's website.

CREDITS
All songs written by Samantha Stephenson and Scott Helland
Samantha Stephenson - lyrics, lead vocal, percussion, keyboard
Scott Helland - guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals
Jason Sarubbi - upright bass on 'Church of Sound'
Braxton Bellew - additional electric bass on 'Church of Sound'
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi at Split Rock Studios, New Paltz, NY
Mastered at The Cage, Coventry UK by Martin Bowes
Cover photo by Alice Teeple
Pen and ink drawings by Scott Helland
Album cover design by Scott Helland and Samantha Stephenson

TOUR DATES
Dec 2 Camden/London - Black Heart (with Before Victoria & Flesh Tetris)
Dec 6 Edinburgh, UK - The Wee Red Bar
Dec 10 Exeter, UK - Yule Ball (with Professor Elemental)
Feb 4/5 Manchester, CT - Stupid Cupid Steampunk Festival
Feb 18/19 Gettsyburg, PA - MythiCon Festival
April 01 Galveston, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
April 8-9 Baltimore, MD - Between The Worlds
April 15/16 Chicago, IL - Chicago Steampunk Expo
April 22/23 Apex, NC - Festival of Legends


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify

ROYAL THUNDER Release Powerful New Single “The Knife”

Announce January 2023

Concerts in NYC, Chicago & Atlanta

Atlanta-based rock band ROYAL THUNDER have returned with their first new track since the release of 2017’s ‘Wick’.

The trio of Mlny Parsonz (vocals, bass), Josh Weaver (guitar), and Evan Diprima(drums) have dropped a new single, titled “The Knife”, along with a music video.

A powerhouse of darting, bluesy riffs and booming, soulful vocals, “The Knife” re-introduces listeners to the visceral and spirited sound of Royal Thunder.

Fans can check out the music video for the song via the link below.

Speaking about returning to music and releasing their first new material in over five years,

Parsonz comments, “Coming out full throttle has filled my heart to the brim. Actually, I am exploding with joy! To feel like an outlet (music) was being ripped away from my existence, and finding myself here and now, holding it like a new born baby, brings me a sense of freedom and hope that I haven’t felt in years. To everyone, especially Josh and Evan, that has been there on this journey - thank you! Thank you for making this real again.”

Weaver adds, “It feels amazing to be back and doing something that has been a void in my life over the past few years. It’s a new opportunity to do this thing right. We are so thankful to have the overwhelming support of our fans and everyone that has ever believed in us! Very exciting and new things on the horizon for Royal Thunder.”

Watch the Video for "The Knife"

Stream "The Knife" HERE

Earlier this week, the band announced their first live shows of 2023!

These January concerts will see Royal Thunder return to the stage for the first time in more than three years.

Speaking about the upcoming shows, Diprima says, “It’s been a long time coming! We’re honored to be back playing live for anyone who can make it out this January! We have plenty of new material as well as some oldies! Let’s welcome the new year with live music!”

ROYAL THUNDER - 2023 Tour Dates

January 5, 2023 - New York, NY @ Saint Vitus

January 7, 2023 - Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge

January 14, 2023 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

 Stay tuned for more news from Royal Thunder, with additional shows and more music coming soon!