Chordophone collective Lusitanian Ghosts release upbeat 'September' single ahead of new 'Lusitanian Ghosts III' album

September 1, 2023

"Magnetic appeal... creating a broader cultural and sonic arsenal, while maintaining a buoyancy that takes the listener on a fantastic ride from start to finish" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Lusitanian Ghosts impressively channel tools of the past to create a beautiful sonic vision. Innovative in their use of traditional instruments to make modern pop-rock, this music is upbeat, quirky, feels familiar and is catchy as hell" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Highly melodic and sonically great... a pertinent, contemporary collection of songs that is full of dignity" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Trans-Atlantic alternative neo-folk collective Lusitanian Ghosts presents their new single 'September', heralding the release of the third long-player 'Lusitanian Ghosts III' from this Portuguese-Canadian-Swedish chordophone collective (out September 15 via European Phonographic).

Recorded and mixed at Clouds Hill Studios in Hamburg by Sebastian Muxfeldt (Elbow, Peter Doherty, Teenage Fanclub), the single (like the coming album) will be released in both stereo and mono versions. Earlier, the band previewed the singles 'The Long Train', 'Shameless' and 'Got Enough'.

Founded by Neil Leyton and Micke Ghost (a.k.a. Mikael Lundin), Lusitanian Ghosts is a Portuguese-Canadian-Swedish project reviving lost instruments and presenting ancient sounds in the 21st Century. Re-casting these heritage folk violas into rock n roll songs, the European artist collective writes from a socio-political perspective on building a better world, creating songs for the heart and mind, recording on analogue tape and releasing moving music on vinyl.

Together with João Sousa, Abel Beja (from Primitive Reason), ToZé Bexiga (from Raia) and Jan-Eric Olsson, Lusitanian Ghosts plays traditional Portuguese chordophone instruments, ancient regional guitars (Amarantina, Beiroa, Campaniça, Braguesa, Toeira, Terceirense). These instruments, once on the verge of extinction, are the real "Lusitanian Ghosts" (Lusitania being an ancient Celtic tribe in what would become the central territory of Portugal).

'Lusitanian Ghosts' digital order https://lusitanianghosts.bandcamp.com/album/lusitanian-ghosts-iii

'September' evokes the Portuguese emotion of "saudade" - a happy-sad longing or yearning, a certain condition of the heart and soul. Here, Lusitanian Ghosts bring to the fore the Portuguese folk chordophone violas Amarantina, Campaniça and Terceirense, skilfully played by Michael Lundin, ToZé Bexiga and Abel Beja respectively.

ToZé's viola Campaniça, from the Portuguese heartland of Alentejo, also gets a processed treatment on this track, belying the fact that Lusitanian Ghosts make music with absolutely no guitars - just chordophones, bass and drums. Althought a brand new rock n roll alt-folk sub-genre, these songs feel warmly familiar.

"Musically, this one started out with an old bassline that I’d been toying around with for years but never got anywhere with. When I read Neil's lyrics that riff came to mind and we used it for the song originally. As it turned out, Janne came up with a much better bassline so my old one is still lying around waiting to be used in a future song. We couldn’t really decide if this was supposed to be a fast or a slow song, the chorus worked well both fast and slow so we just slowed it down in the ending so we got both. It turned out very well. A catchy little tune with ToZé on his baddest Pearl Thompson behaviour," says Micke Ghost.

Neil Leyton adds, "To me, September was always the most intense month of each year during my formative years... spending Summers on the beach in Portugal, then flying back to Canada for school... this song is about some of those intense childhood and growing up memories, both the good ones as well as the not so good ones... growing up is hard, but then you're an adult and you totally miss it, haha. This is also the perfect song to really introduce the wide breadth of emotions that are coming up on the rest of the Lusitanian Ghosts III album... coming, you guessed it, September 15th!"

'September' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Lusitanian Ghosts III' album will be released on September 15. It can be pre-ordered digitally via Bandcamp and also on vinyl, with both mono version and stereo version available.

SINGLE CREDITS
Neil Leyton - vocals
Mikael Lundin aka Micke Ghost - vocals and Viola Amarantina
João Sousa - drums and Adufe
Abel Beja - viola Terceira and backing vocals
António “ToZé” Bexiga - Viola Campaniça
Janne Olsson - bass and Viola Beirão
Published by Lusitanian Music Publishing
Written and Produced by Neil Leyton and Mikael Lundin
Recorded at Clouds Hill Studios, Hamburg
Engineered and Mixed by Sebastian Muxfeldt
Assisted by Schulie Pieper
Mastered by Chris von Rautenkranz at SoundGarden Hamburg
Album cover painting 'Hamnen' (The Harbour) by Yngve Forsberg
Album cover art photography by Swedish photographer Stina Wigg
'September' lyric video created by LyricFind (Toronto)

SEVENDUST ANNOUNCE RELEASE OF MASSIVE BOXSET 'SEVEN OF SEVENDUST'

August 31, 2023

Since their formation in 1994, SEVENDUST have attained success with three consecutive RIAA gold-certified albums, a Grammy nomination, have sold millions of records worldwide, and toured with some of rock’s most renowned names (Ozzy Osbourne, Tool, and Megadeth, among others). Several of their classic albums will be issued via BMG as part of a nine-LP boxset releasing October 13, 2023, while the seven-CD boxset will be released on October 27, 2023. Both LP and CD boxsets are titled, Seven of Sevendust.

The link to purchase is https://sevendust.lnk.to/7of7

The group has released a total of thirteen studio albums, and this compilation features seven incredible records from their catalog – 2005’s Next,2007’s Alpha (two-LP), 2008’s Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow (two-LP), 2010’s Cold Day Memory, 2013’s Black Out the Sun, 2014’s Time Travelers & Bonfires, and 2015’s Kill the Flaw.

Seven of Sevendust will be available as both a deluxe nine-LP boxset (list price: $199.98) and a seven-CD clamshell (list price: $69.98).

Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Sevendust consists of members Lajon Witherspoon (lead vocals), Clint Lowrey (lead guitarist), Vince Hornsby (bassist), Morgan Rose (drummer), and John Connolly (rhythm guitar). Their latest album is the just-released Truth Killer – their fourteenth studio release overall.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:
www.sevendust.com
https://sevendust.lnk.to/7of7

UK indiepop duo KARAMELIEN releases single 'Living With The Moon' - one step for stronger mental health - heralding debut album

August 31, 2023

'A true work of beauty and professionalism, taking you to your very own ascension heights" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"Upbeat, a joyous folk-rock affair... bedecked in kaleidoscopic sixties sparkle, a slight splash of psychedelia and a whole tsunami of charm and grace" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"A hug of soulful indie pop with groove as infectious as its melodic breath and lyrical smile is poetic... seductive captivation" ~ Ringmaster Review

UK indiepop duo Karamelien presents their new single 'Living With The Moon',the title track from their forthcoming album by the same name. An energetic, upbeat, guitar-driven track that celebrates the rewarding path of learning to live with mental health challenges, accepting them, and feeling the freedom of just ‘going with the flow.

A poignant but cheeky track, it is wistful while also being full of a f*ck-you attitude. It’s about finding triumph through adversity. But most of all, it’s a great singalong indie pop anthem with a hook that may invade your brain and stay there for days.

Based in East Grinstead, Karamelien is singer-songwriter Léanie Kaleido and guitarist Mark Foster - two long-time friends, whose music has forged an even stronger bond between them.

'Living With The Moon' single https://ditto.fm/living_with_the_moon_karamelien

"I wrote this song after a year of counselling for depression and anxiety, linked to menopause and not helped by Covid-enforced inactivity and unease. On our final session, my amazing counsellor Jude, who I have kept in touch with, described the acceptance of good and bad days as ‘like living with the moon’. I told her that would make a great song title and promised her I’d write it – and I did!" says Léanie Kaleido.

“So, the lyrics are a thank you to myself for getting the help I needed at the time, a finger to the armchair critics and the toxic people who didn’t help, and a willing surrender to the lunar power over us all. It’s about the feeling of freedom you get when you stop worrying so much about what everyone else thinks and learn to accept your weaknesses and discover your hidden strengths.”

Earlier, the duo released the single 'Wait For Me' featuring piano, mixing and production by Chris Mars (A Flock of Seagulls, Damian Wilson) and two tracks produced by RIDE's Mark Gardener at OX4 Sound Studio - 'Lionhearts' and the epic 'Ascension Heights', which features a guitar sample from Léanie's late father Top Topham (original founding guitarist of The Yardbirds). This particular song also features bassist Mo Pleasure (Earth, Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson) and involved Paul Statham (Dido, Simple Minds, Kylie Minogue).

As of September 1, the 'Living With The Moon' single will be available on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The full album will be released on October 27 and can already be pre-ordered on Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Written by Léanie Kaleido
Léanie Kaleido – vocals, piano, keys, tenor electric guitar
Mark Foster – guitars
Lee Pomeroy – bass
Produced by Ian Caple Recording
Mastered by Jon Astley

Hollow Front Announce "The Fear Of Letting Go" + Share "We're All Left Suffering" Video

August 31, 2023

HOLLOW FRONT ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM THE FEAR OF LETTING GO

ALBUM ARRIVES OCTOBER 27 VIA UNFD

BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR "WE'RE ALL LEFT SUFFERING"

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based metalcore slingers HOLLOW FRONT have announced their new album The Fear of Letting Go. It arrives October 27 via UNFD. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for "We're All Left Suffering," a track that finds Hollow Front in absolute beast mode, fusing vitriolic fury, riffs, and vocals, with forward-thinking guitar shred!

"This track is an anthem for the broken spirited," says vocalist Tyler Tate. "We live in a world riddled with heartache and constant struggle. Whether mentally, physically, or financially, we are a collective of human beings doing our best to survive."

He continues, "I think with everything that's happened in the world over these last three years, things might seem hopeless. It feels like the whole world has gone mad, and we're all just here suffering along for the ride. It can be incredibly discouraging being a human in today's social and economic climate. So I think this song is for those people who are sick of dealing with the bullshit life is throwing at them, and just want to truly breathe for once."

"We're All Left Suffering" follows "Letting Go," which addressed the exit of singer/guitarist Dakota Alvarez and served as a swan song for him.

EPICA - reveal new video of 'Beyond The Matrix (Live At The AFAS Live)'

August 31, 2023

On October 6th, EPICA’s new digital EP Live At The AFAS Live will be finally available, and today the band reveals another uplifting hit with ‘Beyond The Matrix’.

Coen Janssen comments: “This is our ‘ultimate’ live track! We haven’t found an audience yet that didn’t bounce with is during the chorus. Can you imagine how awesome it looked to see the whole AFAS jump simultaneously?! A great view to end the show full of adrenaline!!”

For those who don’t want to wait another month to enjoy the live videos from the band’s biggest home country headline show to date, you can now tune in to the new heavy metal streaming platform Thunderflix, where EPICA’s latest BluRay release from 2021, Omega Alive, is exclusively available as full stream – check it out here and subscribe to see many more metal shows at: https://www.thunderflix.com/checkout/subscribe/purchase?campaign=epica

Vinyl fans are also in luck as on October 13th, EPICA will finally re-issue their fifth albumRequiem For The Indifferent on transparent red double vinyl. Initially released in 2012, the record featured the evergreen and fan-favorite ‘Storm The Sorrow’ and has been out of print for over 8 years: https://bfan.link/requiem-for-the-indifferent

Emerging Grunge Band G.U.S.H. Revives 90s' Nostalgia with Debut Single, "I Hate Myself"

August 31, 2023

Emerging grunge trio G.U.S.H. is leading the charge in 90s' grunge revival, calling to a very specific nostalgia familiar to kids who grew up during the heydays of MTV and Nickelodeon. The alt-rockers are now making their debut with their first ever single, "I Hate Myself," along with a music video that calls back to the analog days. The clip can be found below.

G.U.S.H. comments on the album's heavy themes and creation, "G.U.S.H. is a modern take on 90s grunge music. Songwriter Roger LeBlanc has taken the traditional sound of grunge music and added elements of shoegaze, post-rock, and metal. This new path has given LeBlanc an opportunity to express the weight of living with a debilitating chronic mental illness through low tuned heavy riffs coupled with intimate lyrics and a dynamic vocal delivery that rides the lines between mania and violence.

"This album is a window into mental illness and addiction and deals with the grieving process, the suicide of a dear friend, and the loss of who LeBlanc once was. The creation of this album acts as a therapeutic process through which the themes of trauma and healing can be explored while offering a sense of solidarity and empowerment. LeBlanc wants to let people who are struggling know they are not alone and that there can be quality of life achievable through self compassion, patience, and acceptance, and hopes that it inspires others to embark on their own journey of healing and love."

Currently, G.U.S.H. is an independent D.I.Y. act and is gearing up to reveal their debut self-titled full-length, for which more info will soon be announced! In the meantime, you can stream the new single across all streaming platforms HERE and peep the artwork and tracklisting below!

The 90s’ was the last decade to champion alternative music; grunge topped the charts as glam metal started to falter, MTV was not only dedicated to serving household audiences with new and legacy music, but also saw the dawn of Mike Judge cartoons that paid homage to rock and metal culture, and even Nickelodeon sought artists such as Devo, Iggy Pop, Blondie, and Third Eye Blind to participate in their children’s programming, be it through musical introduction numbers for iconic TV shows or unlikely cameos. As millennials broke into the aughts and approached their teen years, the alt-mania started to fade away. MTV gradually stopped purveying music and became a hub for reality television instead. Nickelodeon lost its edge and iconic branding. And above all, the rockers who wrote some of the most legendary music of the era started to meet their demise. Now, nearly 30 years after grunge started to take the airways, a new era is being ushered in with G.U.S.H., an emerging band from Canada who is an amalgamation of 90s’ alt-nostalgia.

“90s alternative music played such a huge role for me, especially at such an impressionable age,” says G.U.S.H songwriter Roger LeBlanc. “My two cousins were Gen ‘X’ers and they introduced me to what would be the foundation that I base all music I create off of. Albums like ‘Nevermind,’ ‘Razorblade Suitcase’ and ‘Mellon Collie’ and ‘The Infinite Sadness.’ These all influenced what I love in my music – pop song structure, catchy hooks, guitar driven jams and an upfront drum production, all dripping with angst. Deftones showed me that you can mash up two totally opposing influences and make something unique and powerful.”

LeBlanc continues, “I think we were the first generation to really be left to our own to figure out life. Both parents were expected to be working in the 90’s and that created such a unique form of anxiety in every aspect of life which embodies itself in all the cultural aspects of the time. The cartoons were weird, so were the toys. Video games were really starting to explode and the internet had arrived. I kind of raised myself in that sense. MTV (Much Music in Canada) and PC Gamer magazines is where I got the only news I cared about in those days. I think the main way these play into G.U.S.H. is that it is kind of a call back to a more simple time for me, although the lyrics can be austere, this really is a project about healing and finding yourself again.”

For some, LeBlanc’s foray into alternative music might be a surprise, as he last musical venture was with the now defunct post-black metal horde Numenorean. In some ways, G.U.S.H. is a major diversion from Numenorean, but when one really reads between the lines, there’s a duality within the post-rock elements found within both projects, calling to more nuanced 90s acts like the Deftones, who always painted outside the lines with layers of texture. “I wanted to get back to the basics,” explains LeBlanc of this musical change. “I wanted to explore what made me fall in love with music to begin with. This is music I’ve always wanted to play and to be honest I really pushed to have more aspects of it in my black metal project. I just couldn’t find anyone who wanted to play or write music like this with me, so I just did it myself. Then I surrounded myself with artists who wanted to be there. At the end of the day, I wanted to fall in love with music all over again and just have fun. I feel like I lost that in my previous project and I am so excited to have it back.”

What’s striking about G.U.S.H.’s debut is the stark contrast between the bright music and dark lyrics, reminiscent of the forlorn icons of the 90s who battled their demons publicly through their deep and mournful words against the backdrop of high-energy riffs and beats. “I wanted to convey what it’s like to live with chronic mental illness and the challenges I face being Bipolar,” LeBlanc candidly explains. “I wanted to explore my practice of wearing a mask to protect the ones I love and to be able to function professionally as an artist. The lyrics are what I’m truly feeling and the conversations I have with myself. The cheerful instrumental aspect of the sound is the mask I wear when I’m out in the world. This also plays into the experience of the mood swings and crippling depression associated with being Bipolar.”

The stigma that often goes along with mental health struggles is one that had started to become erased and challenged by the forefathers of the grunge genre. Artists became more open about their battles with depression, anxiety, and addiction, paving the way for individuals to speak more candidly about their own personal demons and to seek help before it’s too late. “I think things got a little more basic in the 90’s with regards to music and being openly pissed off and depressed was okay,” LeBlanc explains. “The faces of music became more about the human condition, not really pretending to be anything else. Like, hair metal in the 80’s which was huge before Nirvana hit the scene. Those bands were very much a suspension of belief with tons of gimmicks. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, but I think different generations expect different things from their artists. 90’s grunge and alternative was just a group of folks playing in a band and writing emotionally charged music. The emphasis was on stripped down songwriting and less with the gimmicks or makeup or being ‘heavier’ than the other band. It was about writing good catchy jams and owning the pop influence. I hope that it influences people to not shy away from pop music, just because it’s pop music. There’s so much to learn from other people's creations. I hope that people hear all the influences in our music and go ‘Oh, shit, I never thought to do that, I’m totally going to steal that!’”

While the millennials will never get to experience the haunting live prowess of legends like Kurt Cobain or Layne Staley, and Gen Z starts to see the last of the 90s heroes leave this plain such as Chris Cornell and Scott Weiland, G.U.S.H. emerges as an answer to those yearning for the nostalgia that they never got to experience first hand. The band joins the ranks of some of LeBlanc’s favorite modern acts who strive to capture the cultural essence from before the turn of the century. “There’s a couple of really great modern bands that inspired me on this journey,” he remarks. “Dilly Dally, Dead Soft, Superheaven, Narrow Head, Teenage Wrist, Fleshwater and Loathe. All fucking awesome!” He cheekily adds another piece of his childhood that seems to have made its way into the 2020s. “Also, bucket hats are back…I don’t know if that’s a good thing though?”

As G.U.S.H. makes its debut as an independent artist, the band captures the irony of how musical digitalization has now empowered artists to be their own creators. Napster once caused grievous harm to musicians by eliminating music sales, but now with the rise of digital streaming services and Bandcamp, this unlikely medium has started to allow artists to become DIY entities and not tied to the limiting corporate structure of a record label. As the band begins its journey, there is no doubt that they will be among the leaders of the grunge revival movement, one that kids will rediscover in another 20 years and feel inspired to mimic. “I hope that it inspires people!” exclaims LeBlanc. “I hope that folks will get out of this album what I get out of the albums I love. I also hope it helps all my sad folks feel a little better knowing they aren’t alone. That’s what Nirvana and Deftones did for me. I hope that I can give that back in some way to someone else.”

Recording Lineup:

Roger LeBlanc (Guitar/Vocals)

David Horrocks (Drums)

Josh Schroeder (Bass)

Live Lineup:

Roger LeBlanc (Guitar/Vocals)

David Horrocks (Drums)

Jeremy Shannon (Bass)

Ben Taillefer (Guitar)

Album Cover Artist:

Matthew Springer

Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Josh Schroeder

Links:

Instagram

Awake The Dreamer Share New Video

August 31, 2023

Awake The Dreamer have shared the new single "Labyrinth," an anthem of self-discovery, empowerment, and liberation!

Watch the video below.

Dive deep into the narrative of someone courageously breaking free from the chains of their past, rising above previous struggles, and awakening a fierce determination that fuels a newfound agency. This song is more than just a melody; it's a declaration of the strength it takes to reclaim control and build a better future for oneself. It's a musical journey that celebrates the power of self-determination and the strength that comes from within.

"We are really excited to continue the next chapter of Awake The Dreamer and for all awesome things we have in store coming in the near future. See you out there," enthuses vocalist Max Andrén.

The history of Awake The Dreamer leads us back to 2015, when the Stockholm based Melodic Post-Hardcore/Metalcore act was formed by childhood and high school friends. Since dropping the Grow EP in 2016, the band been seen touring all across Europe and Asia alongside bands like Ice Nine Kills, Northlane, Adept, and Crystal Lake, to name a few.

In September 2019, the band dropped the debut album Damaged Souls via Arising Empire. A 10-track introduction to hard-hitting, melodic post-hardcore/metalcore, which also included features by Adept's Robert Ljung on "Vigilant" and Crystal Lake's Ryo Kinoshita on "Atmosphere."

"Being a smaller band that didn't even have an album out by the time we had toured Europe and Asia quite finally caught up to us and then the pandemic hit. Like that wasn't enough, we unfortunately had former members leaving the band, so it became natural for us to just start from scratch in order to re-develop a new sound. A sound which we are really happy and proud of. It feels great to start releasing music again and we are really excited to be back," says bassist Benjamin Turesson.

AWAKE THE DREAMER ARE:
Max Andrén — Vocals
Victor Sandberg — Guitar
Johan Norsander — Guitar
Benjamin Turesson — Bass

Mavis Share New Video

August 31, 2023

ARISING EMPIRE WELCOME MAVIS TO ITS ROSTER

BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE "TORTURED LAND" — WATCH

German metalcore ensemble MAVIS, featuring vocalist Phil Donay, guitarist Manu Weller, bassist Mo Amrein, and drummer Jakob Schulz-Klein, are thrilled to reveal their new association with prominent label Arising Empire, along with the news of forthcoming music!

Following an impressive debut in the metalcore community with their initial three singles in 2020, this Southern German group is gearing up to release more tunes soon. MAVIS' brand new single, titled "Tortured Land," is out now. Watch the video below.

For the recording, mixing, and mastering of their new tracks, MAVIS collaborated with Manuel Renner of Überlärm Studios, a professional gaining recognition for his collaborations with bands such as Senna, CONSVMER, Vicious Rain, and The Butcher Sisters, among others. Together, they crafted a sound that accentuates the band's melodic yet spirited aspects while retaining a robust and vibrant energy.

"Tortured Land" features a visually compelling music video, filmed in collaboration with Danny Jakov of deadapefilms, encapsulating MAVIS' intensely dynamic performance style. The narrative portrays the challenge of confronting inner demons and anxieties, illustrating how facing them alone can exacerbate the issues, causing them to expand like a delicate glass sphere until it shatters, wreaking havoc on everything in its path.

MAVIS ARE:
Phil Donay — Vocals
Manu Weller — Guitar
Mo Amrein — Guitar
Jakob Schulz-Klein — Drums

Resolve Shares New Videos — WATCH🙌

August 31, 2023

SECOND FULL-LENGTH HUMAN DROPS SEPTEMBER 15 VIA ARISING EMPIRE

Resolve continue the roll out of their new album Human (out September 15 via Arising Empire) with the release of a brand new track titled "Older Days."

The new single features special guest vocals from both ten56.and Paleface Swiss as Resolve explore areas of both Trap and Hip-Hop, showcasing a whole new side to the band.

Watch the video below.

Vocalist Anthony Diliberto shares, "I wanted to express how I find comfort in surrendering to my inner demons, to the point that getting rid of them would make me an entirely different person, which I'm scared to encounter."

Bassist Robin Mariat continues, "When it came to picking it as a single for the Human campaign, we knew it was the one track we should try and do something different with its release. So we called for two of the most accomplished vocalists we know, Aaron Matts from ten56. and Zelli from Paleface Swiss to come to our studio and spice it up a bit more with us. Not only that, but we thought it could also be fun to film all three vocalists do a vocal run-through for the track once It was all done."

Pre-order Human now at the Arising Empire Shop.

Ever since their public reveal in February 2017 with the debut single "Exposed," Resolve have been eager to show their peers that they won't settle for anything but greatness. Their strong work ethic and attention to details allowed them to open shows for Architects, Every Time I Die, While She Sleeps, to name a few — within the first few months of the band's career.

RESOLVE released their debut album Between Me and The Machine in 2021 and had support from the likes of Kerrang! Magazine, Rock Sound, Metal Hammer, and Kerrang! Radio, while their tracks were rightfully placed on Spotify editorial playlists like New Core, New Metal, and Kickass Metal, gaining millios of streams worldwide.

RESOLVE ARE:
Anthony Diliberto — Vocals
Antonin Carré — Guitar
Robin Mariat — Bass
Nathan Mariat — Drums

LUCIFER - Announce North American Co-Headline Tour With COVEN

August 31, 2023

Having just wrapped up the recording of their fifth studio album, Stockholm based heavy rock megalith LUCIFER announce that they will be touring North America with occult rock legends COVEN and L.A. doom rockers EARLY MOODS in November 2023. Tickets for the SATANIC PANIC co-headline tour of LUCIFER & COVEN go on sale on Friday, September 1st, at 10 AM local time.

Please scroll down for a complete list of dates.

Singer Johanna Platow Andersson commented:
"As I write this, we are literally still in the studio recording the last few hearse screeching guitar solos, funeral whispers and organs of our new album 'LUCIFER V'. I am excited to report that most of the songs have already been sent off to mixing at Robert Pehrsson's Studio Humbucker (Death Breath, Tribulation, Dead Lord etc.) and I cannot wait to let this record loose.

In addition we are extremely thrilled to announce that we are finally coming back to North America and we are in phenomenal company! Together with COVEN and our special guests EARLY MOODS we are kicking off a month of SATANIC PANIC in early November and are hoping to see many of our Fallen Angels while we make our way across the USA and Canada."

THE SATANIC PANIC TOUR 2023
Lucifer & Coven
Special Guests: Early Moods

Nov 8, Los Angeles, Teragram Ballroom
Nov 9, San Diego, Brick By Brick
Nov 10, Santa Cruz, The Atrium
Nov 11, Berkeley, The Cornerstone
Nov 13, Portland, Star Theater
Nov 14, Vancouver, Hollywood Theatre
Nov 15, Seattle, Substation
Nov 18, Denver, The Oriental Theater
Nov 19, Omaha, The Waiting Room
Nov 21, Minneapolis, Fine Line
Nov 22, Chicago, Bottom Lounge
Nov 24, Toronto, Lee’s Palace
Nov 25, Montreal, Le Studio TD
Nov 26, Cambridge, The Sinclair
Nov 28, Philadelphia, Underground Arts
Nov 29, New York, Le Poisson Rouge
Nov 30, Baltimore, Soundstage †

† Only Lucifer & Early Moods

Worship LUCIFER:
www.lucifer.church

syk Sign with Season of Mist

August 31, 2023

Season of Mist is proud to welcome syk to our label!

It's fitting that syk have become one of the most twisted bands in extreme metal. After all, these Italians have successfully navigated a decade of twists and turns. Stefano Ferrian started the band in 2013, and while their lineup and labels have changed, the music has remained pleasantly unexpected.

"We just haven’t heard anything even remotely like this before", said New Noiseabout syk's second album 'I-Optikon'. Not to be outdone, last year's follow-up 'Pyramiden' earned them a nomination from the Progspace Awards.

Signing with Season of Mist isn't the only thing that's new about syk. Not only does the band have a new lineup that pushes Ferrian front and center, they're working on a new album that's scheduled to come out sometime next year.

"We still can't believe that we're signing to Season of Mist!" says syk. "SOM has always been one of the leading metal labels out there. They've released a huge number of our favorite acts in the current metal scene. Being part of their roster is just incredible. We're so grateful and excited to be cherished by such a metal colossus! It's definitely an opportunity that we didn't want to miss. A new syk era is about to begin!"

Stay tuned for updates on syk's forthcoming fourth album 'eartHFlesh'.

syk found the light back in 2013. Stefano Ferrian and Federico De Bernardi had already played together as members of Psychofagist, but once that band broke up, they decided to start a new one.

Ferrian and De Bernardi recruited Dalila Kayros after being impressed by her vocals while on tour. On May 1, 2014, their first album as syk was released through L'Inphantile Collective.

Later that same year, syk were contacted by Philip H. Anselmo at Housecore Records. Anselmo liked 'Atoma' so much that he offered to produce their next album. Metal Trenches called their follow-up 'I-Optikon' "unlike anything else I have heard".

With second guitarist Marcello Cravini now in tow, Syk toured Europe for most of 2017 and 2018. They supported Godflesh and tore through Roadburn Festival, before De Bernardi stepped away from the band for personal reasons in 2019.

Despite looking long and hard, syk didn't find a new drummer until late 2020, when Mauro Maraldo joined the band. Immediately, the band went into the studio to record 'Pyramiden', which earn a nomination from the ProgSpace Awards in a category that included Cult of Luna and Allegaeon.

Unfortunately, after releasing their last album, Maraldo and Kayros also left the band for personal reasons. But since syk is all about evolution, Ferrian and Cravini decided to continue on with a new lineup. Alan La Roca joined on bass, while Federico Leone took his place behind the drums.

Even though syk has always been guided by his vision, the biggest difference about the band's new lineup is that Ferrian has stepped up to the mic. As a result, 'eartHFlesh', their upcoming album for Season of Mist, sounds even angrier, while still staying plenty progressive.

For management contact Alessandro Castelli with K2 Music Management: a.castelli@k2music.org

For booking, contact sykopost@gmail.com

Follow syk
https://www.instagram.com/syk_officialband
https://www.facebook.com/syk.official
https://syk-official.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwGCWRkavCbr7DanM6W7wvw

Follow Season Of Mist:
Online: http://www.season-of-mist.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/seasonofmistofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seasonofmistofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SeasonofMist

Avatar Land First No. 1 With "The Dirt I'm Buried In" + Fossil Named After Band

August 30, 2023

AVATAR LAND FIRST #1 SINGLE OF CAREER WITH "THE DIRT I'M BURIED IN"

IT'S THE LONGEST TREK TO #1 IN 20 YEARS ON BILLBOARD'S MAINSTREAM ROCK CHART!

NEW ALBUM DANCE DEVIL DANCE OUT NOW VIA BLACK WALTZ RECORDS, DISTRIBUTED BY THIRTY TIGERS

HEADLINE TOUR KICKS OFF IN SEPTEMBER WITH KEY FESTIVAL APPEARANCES

SUPPORTING IN THIS MOMENT + ICE NINE KILLS IN FALL 2023 IN U.S.

SWEDISH FOSSIL NAMED AFTER BAND

The heavy metal 'n' roll, dark, madcap visionaries collectively known as AVATAR — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson— are having a banner year in 2023, with lots of firsts!

They've achieved their first #1 single "The Dirt I'm Buried In" from their magnum opus and ninth album, Dance Devil Dance, produced and mixed by Jay Ruston which was released in February. The track has surged itself to #1 on Mediabase's Active Rock Chart. On Billboard's Mainstream Rock Chart, the single rises to #1 on its 31st week, making it the longest trek to #1 in 20 years! Read more about it over at Billboard.

"If you told the 16 year old me that we would hit the top of the U.S. radio charts, I'd ask you what you're smoking. If you then would proceed to tell me that a fossil would be named after us, I'd ask you what you're smoking, and if you could share. Hitting the charts was never a priority, but now that we're here, I'm grateful. It shows the reach of what we're doing and it is baffling. The fossil shows something else. That to me is a sign of people truly making our music a part of their lives. It's a true honor. A beautiful gift. All we can say is thank you. We fully intend to keep earning your participation, over and over again," says Eckerström.

Another first — Avatar have been immortalized as a fossil from Southern Sweden; discovered by Dr. Ben Thuy, a paleontologist at the Luxembourg Natural History Museum. This fossil is now known as Ophiocoma avatar. Read below to learn a little more about the Avatar fossil.

Some 80 million years ago, when dinosaurs roamed our planet, southern Sweden was located at the shores of a subtropical sea. One particular location, the old quarries at Ivö Klack, exposes an exceptional palaeo-environment that is only rarely preserved in the fossil record: a rocky shore with oyster-encrusted boulders. The mud that accumulated between these boulders millions of years ago contains the fossil remains of the animals that lived in and around the rocky shore. One of these animals is the brittle star named after Avatar: Ophiocoma avatar.

Brittle star skeletons tend to fall apart very quickly after death. As a result, most brittle-star fossils consist of tiny skeletal fragments that are collected with the sieve. The original fossil of Ophiocoma avatar is a fragment from the arm skeleton that carried the long arm spines.

The Avatar brittle star belongs to a genus that nowadays lives along tropical and subtropical shores. They are known to hide under rocks and in crevasses at daytime and emerge at night to collect food particles with their spiny arms. A remarkable feature of living Ophiocoma species is that many of them are capable of sight, without even having eyes or a brain! They can literally see with their entire body surface, and some even change color between day and night as part of a sunglass effect. Whether the Avatar brittle star exhibited the same features is impossible to determine based on fossils alone. What we can say, however, is that Ophiocoma avatar is by far the oldest known representative of this exciting group of brittle stars.

The name Ophiocoma avatar, is valid for eternity. Avatar is now a part of the Earth's history, of the palaeontological heritage of Sweden, and has gained a small piece of immortality.

The band will return to the road this fall for their headline "Chimp Mosh Pit Tour" and will be supporting Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment for their "Kiss of Death" Tour. All dates are below, including key festival appearances. Get tickets HERE.

FALL 2023 CHIMP MOSH PIT TOUR DATES:
9/10 — Alton, VA — Blue Ridge Rock Fest +
9/12 — Quebec City, QC — Imperial Bell
9/13 — Montreal, QC — Olympia
9/14 — Toronto, ON — Phoenix
9/15 — Grand Rapids, MI — The Intersection
9/16 — Des Moines, IA — Wooly's
9/17 — Bloomington, IL — The Castle
9/19 — Houston, TX — Rise *
9/20 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom
9/22 — Louisville, KY — Louder Than Life +
9/23 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall
9/24 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
9/25 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ's Live
9/26 — Wichita, KS — Cotillion
9/28 — Fargo, ND — Fargo Brewing Company
9/29 — Winnipeg, MB — Burton Cummings Theater
9/30 — Saskatoon, SK — Coors
10/1 — Calgary, AB — Palace Theater
10/2 — Edmonton, AB — Midway Music Hall
10/4 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore Ballroom
10/5 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory
10/6 — Eugene, OR — McDonald Theater
10/7 — Sacramento, CA — Aftershock +
10/8 — San Louis Obispo, CA — Fremont Theater
11/26 — Albany, NY – Empire Live ^
+ Festivals
^ No Orbit Culture or Native Howl

ICE NINE KILLS + IN THIS MOMENT "KISS OF DEATH" TOUR
11/3 — Gary, IN — Hard Rock Live
11/4 — Maplewood, MN — Myth Live *
11/5 — Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater *
11/7 — Indianapolis, IN — Blue Ribbon Pavilion
11/8 — Cincinnati, OH — The Andrew J Brady Music Center
11/9 — Milwaukee, WI — Eagles Ballroom
11/11 — Green Bay, WI — Epic Events Center *
11/12 — Louisville, KY — The Louisville Palace Theatre *
11/14 — Greenville, SC — Bon Secours Arena
11/16 — Estero, FL — Hertz Arena
11/17 — Jacksonville, FL — Daily's Place
11/18 — Orlando, FL — Orlando Amphitheater
11/20 — Atlanta, GA — Coca Cola Roxy
11/21 — Greensboro, NC — Greensboro Coliseum Complex
11/22 — Reading, PA — Santander Arena
11/24 — Wallingford, CT — Oakdale Theatre
11/25 — Bangor, ME — Cross Insurance Center
11/27 — New York, NY — Hammerstein Ballroom
11/28 — Washington, DC — The Anthem
11/30 — Norfolk, VA — Chartway Arena
Dec 01 — Johnstown, PA — 1st Summit Arena
Dec 02 — Wheeling, WV — Webanco Arena
*ITM ONLY

LISTEN TO OR WATCH:
"Dance Devil Dance"
"Valley Of Disease"
"Violence No Matter What" (Feat. Lzzy Hale)

Taking Back Sunday Announce New Album "152" + Share New Single "S'old"

August 30, 2023

Taking Back Sunday — John Nolan (lead guitar, piano, vocals), Adam Lazzara (lead vocals), Shaun Cooper (bass), and Mark O’Connell (drums), announced their eighth studio album 152, set for release October 27 via Fantasy Records. Named for the section of road in North Carolina between Highpoint, Chapel Hill, and Raleigh where the band and their friends would meet up as teenagers ⎯ 152 is the multl-platinum selling rock band's first full-length offering since 2016's Tidal Wave. To mark the occasion, Taking Back Sunday released a brand-new track, "S'old," a fiery declaration of commitment and accountability.

Listen/watch the official video for "S'old" HERE.

Pre-order 152 HERE.

Commenting on their new album 152, Taking Back Sunday states, "'152' offers a lot more hope and light than we first realized when we were in the thick of it, putting it all together. We've been fortunate enough, through our music, to grow up with a lot of people going through the same things at the same time, and probably feeling the same way. Our hope is that you're able to find a little bit of yourself in this new collection of songs, because you're not alone, and neither are we."

Produced by Tushar Apte (whom the band met through a mutual collaboration with noted DJ Steve Aoki) and mixed by Neal Avron (Twenty One Pilots, Bleachers), the long-awaited LP features 10 intensely vulnerable and absorbing new tracks all delivered with fresh ambition and newfound purpose. Inspired by the long layoff and the cloud of uncertainty that blanketed the world (and music industry) these past few years,152 stands among the most genuinely reflective and emotionally pure efforts of Taking Back Sunday's illustrious career.

"You would think after 20 years, we knew what each other is going to do," said Lazzara. "But there were so many times making this record where I heard the initial idea and thought I knew where it would go, but then I was super surprised. It's those kinds of surprises that make it so exciting. That's why we all still want it so badly."

Added O'Connell, "When we're writing songs, the one thing we ask ourselves, 'Is it capable of making people feel something?' You try to make people feel emotion. That's the one goal we went in with, and we think we did it."

From the album's intricate riffs and anthemic vocals to its elegantly warm synths and economical string arrangements, the quartet work-shopped these new tracks like never before. That musical ambition, both musically and lyrically, is evident on the soaring album opener, "Amphetamine Smiles," a powerful tale of reconnection that is as much about the band themselves as it is the world at-large. From send-up to seriousness, Taking Back Sunday continually challenged one another, exploring musical ideas in new and exciting ways. So many of these tracks dig deep and connect on a gut level. "S'old" struggles with the obligations of adult responsibility and acceptance, (the previously released single) "The One," is a far-reaching anthem of love and brotherhood, "Keep Going," tracks the self-defeating darkness of betrayal, and "Quit Trying," drips with a 'can't run from who you are' self-awareness. All through 152, the consistent thread is one of generosity, gratitude and ultimately, hope.

Over two decades, Taking Back Sunday have cultivated a massive, dedicated fanbase built around music that reverberates with sincerity, desire, and connection. The influential, beloved rock powerhouse, originally from Long Island, NY, brought songcraft and pop sensibilities to punk's rigid conformity that expanded the genre’s contours and carried the band to new heights.

Despite the sizable gap between releases, a new generation of fans have discovered Taking Back Sunday and their enduring legacy has only grown in stature. The new album proves it was well worth the wait.

152 is Taking Back Sunday at their very best, a gripping and self-assured statement from an essential band once again at the peak of their prodigious powers.

TAKING BACK SUNDAY ON TOUR:
9/09 — Las Vegas, NV — Freemont Street Experience – (Free Show)
9/29 — Cocoa, FL — Cocoa Riverfront Park
9/30 — Jupiter, FL — Dastoberfest
12/1 — Melbourne, Australia — Good Things Festival 2023
12/2 — Sydney, Australia — Good Things Festival 2023
12/3 — Brisbane, Australia — Good Things Festival 2023
More dates will be announced soon!

Darius Rucker to Preview New Album 'Carolyn's Boy' with Performances of "Fires Don't Start Themselves" & More This Friday on TODAY

August 30, 2023

As anticipation mounts ahead of his first solo album in six years, Carolyn’s Boy, three-time GRAMMY winner Darius Rucker is set to deliver an unforgettable show on NBC’s “TODAY” Citi Concert Series stage this Friday, Sept. 1 during the 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. hours. In addition to songs from his multi-time Diamond certified catalog of hits, fans will hear a preview of music off the forthcoming album, set for Oct. 6 release and available for preorder here.

“I wanted to name the record Carolyn’s Boy because Mom never got to see any of my success,” Rucker previously shared with “TODAY” host Craig Melvin of the project. “She died before any of this happened, so it’s just another homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.”

Featuring current single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” No. 1 hit “Beers And Sunshine,” recent release “Have A Good Time” and more, the 14-song tribute to a woman who embodied joy boasts Rucker as a songwriter on 11 tracks and includes a collaboration with rising trio Chapel Hart as well as Rucker’s powerful take on the Rihanna ballad “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

In addition to his musical offerings, the famed sports fan continues to expand his creative endeavors off the stage and onto the field. Rucker’s Fanatics apparel line recently launched its third season of NFL gear while expanding to include all 30 MLB teams and select NCAA markets. Rucker's passion for sports and music will also converge as he performs the national anthem at the USC vs UNC game this weekend to kick off the college football season, which he will play an important part of as the new voice of ESPN’s “College GameDay” theme song.

For more information on all things Darius Rucker, including his personally-curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival returning to Charleston on Oct. 7 & 8, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.

About Darius Rucker
Rucker first achieved multi-Platinum status in the music industry as lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the GRAMMY Award-winning band Hootie & the Blowfish, who have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide including their Double Diamond-certified (21x Platinum) debut Cracked Rear View, which remains among the top 10 best-selling studio albums of all time. Since releasing his first Country album in 2008, Rucker has earned a whole new legion of fans with four No. 1 albums on the Billboard Country chart, including RIAA Platinum-certified Learn to Live and True Believers, plus 10 No. 1 singles at Country radio and 11 Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum certified hits. Rucker was inducted as a Grand Ole Opry member in 2012 and in 2014 he won his third career GRAMMY Award for Best Solo Country Performance with his Diamond-certified (11x Platinum) version of “Wagon Wheel,” one of the top five best-selling Country songs of all time. He co-hosted the 54th annual CMA Awards in 2020 and topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in 2021. Rucker’s new single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” is available everywhere now as a preview of his forthcoming album set for Oct. 6 release, Carolyn's Boy, as he performs new music for fans this summer on his Starting Fires Tour.

As a lifelong philanthropist, Rucker co-chaired the capital campaign that generated $150 million to help build the new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. and has raised over $3.6 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital through his annual Darius & Friends benefit concert and golf tournament. In addition, Rucker has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation and serves as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville, Tenn. Rucker is also an avid sports fan, with his Darius Rucker Collection by Fanatics apparel line available at Fanatics.com, and he is part of the Music City Baseball investment group working to bring an MLB team to Tennessee in addition to serving as a partner at the MGC Sports & Entertainment agency.

Indie folk-pop artist Mike Gale set to release milestone 20th album 'Thanks For Always Waving'

August 30, 2023

"‘Summer, Be Gone’ actually feels like a warm zephyr floating through an open window on a balmy summer’s day... like water bouncing off silk... a most wonderful and unique chorus which goes against the pop-norm by being a ghostly shimmer of reverb and wistfulness" ~ Joyzine

"Adorned with easy grace, this is triumphal folk-pop at its finest... like something Tame Impala and The Beach Boys might have performed together under the heavy influence of Paul Simon" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Equal parts charming and entertaining. A presentation of Gale's unique mind and it's abilities as a wonderfully adept melody making machine" ~ Headstuff

"A beautifully articulated songbook throughout. Swimmingly brilliant in it's indie slacker charm" ~ Monolith Cocktail

British folk-pop artist Mike Gale presents his stunning new album 'Thanks for Always Waving' (out September 8). With 11 tracks on offer, this is a rich and thoughtful collection of world- and folk-inspired indie pop.

Gale's music is positively-vibed folk-inspired indie pop. Generating catchy melodies and harmonies, this will be his 20th album in 20 years. Initially writing and performing under the Co-Pilgrim and Black Nielson monikers, this is the twelfth album released under his own name.

Mastered by Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices, Circus Devils), this album was produced, recorded and mixed by Gale as his home studio. In the lead up to the album's release, he released the singles 'Grumble Pie' and 'Summer Be Gone', along with a calming video featuring the artist Kimvi, which was filmed in Suzhou, China by Matt Wallwork,

"'Thanks for Always Waving' is my 20th album. I wanted to go back to basics a bit with this one - simple pop songs with a stripped down gentle feel. I was very inspired by one of my favourite bands' (Tall Dwarfs) use of homemade percussion for rhythm, and the idea that you don't need a traditional drum sound to make a song groove. Lyrically, the album is mostly about trying to keep a positive outlook and being generally grateful for what you have despite the world seeming like a terrible place most of the time," says Mike Gale.

Album pre-order https://mikegale.bandcamp.com/album/thanks-for-always-waving

"The title of the album comes from my love of a YouTube channel called 'Solo Travel Japan', which is basically a guy taking overnight ferry trips to the many Japanese islands. One of the things he says as he leaves port is "Thanks for Always Waving" and it stuck."

A multi-instrumentalist, Gale has been singing for as long as he can remember. But it wasn't until he was around 20 that he formally began playing the guitar and writing his own music, citing The Lemonheads as a big influence in those early years. Born in Southampton, Mike Gale spent a good chunk of his childhood in North Devon and then Oxford, New York and Melbourne before returning home to settle on his beloved south coast of England.

With Gale taking melodic and percussive cues from influences such as Tall Dwarfs, Pavement and The Clean, 'Thanks for Always Waving' is ultimately one of his most pop-oriented albums to date, filled with mellow bongo beats and gentle washes of wavey organs.

As of September 8, 'Thanks For Always Waving' will be available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, .

CREDITS
Written and performed by Mike Gale
Produced, recorded and mixed by Mike Gale
Mastered by Todd Tobias (Guided By Voices, Circus Devils)
Single cover photo by Akira Deng
Video filmed by Matt Wallwork in Suzhou, China
Actress featuring Kimvi

Portland indie pop artist BERKLEY releases debut 'Pueblo' album, revisiting the good, the bad and the ugly

August 30, 2023

"Equal parts catchy and groovy... recalls the carefully manufactured hits of pop kingpin Beck and songwriting savants Miike Snow. Shimmering synths envelop the listener like a warm bath.. a melodious electric guitar floats atop in the form of a rock-tinged bass line" ~ Dallas Observer

“Earnest and immediate pop-rock with shades of Americana and ’70s Laurel Canyon rock & roll" ~ Bandcamp Daily

"Intimate, catchy and approachable, not to mention lyrically sound and candid - listening to this collection of tracks feels like wandering the sonic halls of the artist’s own personal history... happy to take this stroll through his timeline" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Superb. Here we have a super-catchy melody, a high feel-good factor, impeccable delivery and production. Fans of Ben Folds, Ethan Gold and Ben Kweller should take note" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

Portland indie pop artist Berkley releases the full-length debut 'Pueblo' album via Oregon label Big Secret Records. Moving towards the full vision of the small world Berkley has built with his singles 'Pueblo Nights', 'Your Place' and 'Fiesta Day',the songwriter expands personal flashbacks of his youth growing up in Pueblo, Colorado into 10 tracks of gauzy, straight-ahead reflections on how one creates the myths of their life and whether they are worth living or erasing.

Presented as individual impressionist snapshots, 'Pueblo' offers an introduction not just to Berkley's songcraft, but to the person behind the guitar. Universal themes coming from this exploration of trauma — healing and forgiveness — reveal that Berkley couldn't write about his hometown without writing about himself and his relationships. Losing friends, lovers, feeling self-conscious, demanding but fearing a larger existence: that's not just Pueblo. That's life.

Here, Berkley revisits the good, the bad and the ugly, understanding that hindsight is 20/20 and concluding that, ultimately, some things never change. Interrogating the small spaces shared between what-ifs of the past and the realities of the present is where Berkley’s songwriting shines. With laid-back pop grooves driven by shaky electric guitar tones and chiming keyboards, this is sincere and relatable pop-rock with slight shades of Americana and classic 70's AM rock.

Berkley is the nom-de-plume of Andrew Jones, a recording engineer whose production and songwriting adventures include recording with former Cher bassist and ASCAP award winner Bob Parr, a power pop collaboration with members of The Offspring, and the “gorgeous” (AV Club) synthesizer project Sound for Bombs.

'Pueblo' album order https://bigsecretrecords.com/pre-order-pueblo-now

As Berkley, Jones weaves together a wide range of influences, diving in with renewed vigor for writing and performing. In terms of his origins, after touring in his own punk and metal bands in his teens and early 20s, Andrew Jones took a chance on the Los Angeles songwriting scene, ultimately finding himself as part of a team of writers tasked with developing early ideas for Michael Jackson’s comeback album.

Following Jackson’s death, Jones re-evaluated his path in music and stopped writing and performing for three years while he taught university writing and literature. Jones’ muses returned in 2010 when he quit his teaching job to immerse himself in jazz guitar studies and rekindle his relationship with music and his primary instrument.

On September 1, the 'Pueblo' LP is available digitally, on CD and random-colored vinyl. The CD offers a lyric sheet, exclusive photos and art. The LP includes lyrics and credits on a full-size insert with work from Pueblo photographers and liner notes from International Latino Book Award-winning poet Juan J. Morales. The vinyl features vintage KDZA broadcasts and field recordings captured in Pueblo locales significant to Berkley's life, making for a seamless listening experience track to track, side per side. This is how Pueblo is meant to be heard.

ALBUM CREDITS
Music and lyrics by Andrew Jones a.k.a. Berkley
Berkley - vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, drum machine, piano
Ramon Muzquiz - drums, percussion, Rototoms
Bob Cummins Jr. - piano
Jasper Johnson - bass guitar on 'Pueblo Nights'
Emily Gould - drums on 'Dark Energy'
Aryanna Gil - vocal on 'Oldies'
Luke Schneider - pedal steel guitar on 'Oldies'
Engineered, mixed, and mastered by Andrew Jones
Additional recording at Huge Planet, Nashville, TN by Jake Davis
Field recording in Pueblo by Andrew Jones and Josh Knobbs “Factor”
Album photography by Lauren Carey and Sean Beeman
Album layout and design by Dan Gremminger
Recorded at Echo Lab in Denton, Texas (1,2,3,4,6)
Recorded at The Nest in Denton, TX (7,10)
Recorded at Big Secret Studios in Portland, OR (5,8)
Recorded at Emily Gould Drumming Studio in Colorado Springs, CO (9)

Atoll Unleashes New Album 'Human Extract' via Unique Leader Records

August 30, 2023

Atoll fans, rejoice! Today, the Phoenix, AZ extreme metal quintet has unleashed their latest album 'Human Extract', out via Unique Leader Records. Prior to today, the band dropped the album's titular title track "Human Extract" about a horrifying tale of alien abduction, and "The Simmering", a bone-shatteringly heavy story of being boiled alive. In celebration of the news, Atoll has released a visualizer for their song "The Final Conflict". Speaking about the track, vocalist Wade Taylor commented:

"'The Final Conflict' unearths the darkest corners of the human psyche, immersing you in a lyrical narrative that explores the eschatological battle between good and evil. Prepare to witness the rise of the Son of Satan, the clash of celestial powers, and the impending judgment day. Atoll's chilling lyrics evoke a sense of foreboding, painting a vivid picture of the final battle that will leave you breathless."

Stream 'Human Extract' in its gruesome entirety at the link here, available now on all platforms.

Emerging from the scorched desert wasteland in 2014, the Phoenix, Arizona-based death metal quintet, Atoll, has been aggressively serving up their unique style for nearly the last decade. Brilliantly blending groove-based slamming brutal death with more traditional death metal elements, grind, and at times even a sprinkle of ‘core, funk, and thrash. Their composition favors a "riff piling" approach rather than the more common and simplistic verse-chorus-verse arrangement, giving the music something of a progressive element with very few repeated riffs, and less predictable movements. Atoll has remained a staple in the metal fest scene, and you may have caught them live playing with the likes of Skinless, Gorgasm, Ingested, and Aborted. Their love of the tour bus life and an importance placed on always having the highest quality, high-energy performances have gained them a reputation for being a consistent, unrelenting live force.

April 2014 birthed this bulbous abomination that has grown into the mighty Atoll when they conspired to create percussive, not frills, chugging brutality. The band immediately shot up in the local AZ scene and very quickly began to expand their live performances throughout the southwest United States, building up momentum for their 2016 debut album, and straight up slammer, The Gathering Swarm. Produced by the late Griffin “The Father” Kolinski (Knights Of The Abyss) and Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me) the album was quickly picked up and released by Amputated Vein subsidiary, Ghastly Music.

The initial success of their debut album caught the eye of Gorehouse Productions who went on to release the 2017 sophomore album, Fallout Frenzy. The vocals on this album show significant expanse in dynamic range, incorporating highs, mids, and some of the most nasty gutterals you’ll ever hear. Lyrically Fallout Frenzy expanded further on the origins of the band name, embracing themes of the atom bomb tests of Bikini Atoll in the 1950’s, and the subsequent radioactive fallout and mutations that occurred after the bombings.

The critically acclaimed album, Zoopocalypse is released in 2019 through Gorehouse Productions. This album is in-your-face aggression from front to back. A departure from the more rudimentary slams of their earlier works, Zoo implements more technicality, more tremolo and scaling, mathier leads, and a generally more advanced death metal sound that would represent the direction of the band moving forward. The mix/master was completed by Miguel Tereso of Demigod Recordings (Analepsy, Organectomy), and features a guest vocal spot from Matti Way (Disgorge, Abominable Putridity, Pathology)

During the global limbo of lockdown Atoll was able to strike a deal with the legendary Unique Leader Records, and in 2022 put out the Prepuce EP. The mini-release serves as a taster of things to come as Atoll has completed the production of two upcoming full-length albums, scheduled to drop through Unique Leader in 2023 and 2024. This two-part release will be the most technically ambitious to date. Keep your eyes peeled on the tour front, and ears open because, like an atomic tsunami, Atoll is primed to decimate the masses.

Atoll is:

Andy Luffey - drums

Cameron Broomfield - bass

Chris Nick - guitar

Spencer Ferguson - guitar

Wade Taylor - vocals

ICE NINE KILLS Announce' Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire'- A 3LP Deluxe Edition of Chart-Topping Album 'The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood'

August 30, 2023

Theatrical, horror-themed metal masters ICE NINE KILLS have announced the deluxe edition of their chart-dominating 2021 album ‘The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood’ today. Titled ‘Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire’, the expanded release arrives October 20th via Fearless Records and is packed with new and previously unheard versions of fan favourite cuts, an orchestral version of the album and collectible horror artefacts. Pre-order the deluxe 3LP box set now at HERE.

Expanding on ICE NINE KILLS’ signature fusion of blood-soaked metal and cinematic storytelling, ‘Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire’ includes the original album along with new single (more on this coming soon), two reimagined tracks, and physical extras encased in a flame-engulfed box set.

On the deluxe edition, frontman, leader and creative visionary, Spencer Charnas shares:

“Bigger, bloodier and more brutal! We’ve taken the ‘Silver Scream 2’ and literally set it ablaze! 'Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire', is our most ambitious and intricately designed piece of horror memorabilia yet. The 3D, flame-engulfed artwork comes to life through real illuminated lightbulbs built into the packaging, encasing a nightmarish collection including the original album, a new song, reimaginings of fan favorites and the whole album played by an orchestra. Not only that, it also comes with a wearable Silence mask straight out of our nightmarish cinematic universe and a death certificate of authenticity signed by yours truly. This boxset is the ultimate collectible for INK fans and one of the most intricate releases we’ve put out to date.”

‘The Silver Scream 2:Welcome To Horrorwood’ launched ICE NINE KILLS to new heights when it was released in 2021, topping charts and collecting over 339 million streams on the back of hits like “Hip To Be Scared”, “Assault & Batteries”, “Rainy Day”, "Funeral Derangements", "Take Your Pick", "The Shower Scene" and most recently, "Welcome To Horrorwood". Now the final chapter of the saga arrives in fittingly terrifying fashion with ‘Welcome To Horrorwood Under Fire’ - the ultimate collectible for any self-respecting INK fan. Pre-order the deluxe 3LP box set now at HERE ahead of its October 20th release.

ICE NINE KILLS recently announced that they will end 2023 with a freshly sharpened ice pick through the temple, as they co-headline the Kiss Of Death Tour with In This Moment and support from Avatar and New Year’s Day. The 18-date US run will top off an incredible 18 months of touring for ICE NINE KILLS, that has included three sold-out legs of the enormously popular triple co-headline ‘Trinity of Terror’ tour with Motionless In White and Black Veil Brides, a plethora of headline shows across the US and Europe, multiple festival performances around the world, a US run with Falling In Reverse on their Popular Monstour tour and huge support slots for metal behemoths such as Metallica and Slipknot. Not to mention the release of The Silver Screamnovel - the only book with a comprehensive exploration inside the mind of America’s notorious, celluloid-obsessed, rock star turned cinema-copycat murderer, Spencer Charnas written by Bayonet Award–winning television reporter Roy Merkin.

The Kiss of Death Tour

Co-Headlined By Ice Nine Kills and In This Moment

With Avatar and New Years Day

Fri/Nov-3 Gary, IN Hard Rock Live Northern Indiana

Sat/Nov 5 - St Louis, MO @ Dome At America’s Center*

Tue/Nov-7 Indianapolis, IN Blue Ribbon Pavilion (Indiana Fairgrounds)

Wed/Nov-8 Cincinnati, OH The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Thu/Nov-9 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom

Sun/Nov 12- Detroit @ Ford Field *

Tue/Nov-14 Greenville, SC Bon Secours Arena

Thu/Nov-16 Estero, FL Hertz Arena

Fri/Nov-17 Jacksonville, FL Daily’s Place

Sat/Nov-18 Orlando, FL Orlando Amphitheater

Mon/Nov-20 Atlanta, GA Coca Cola Roxy

Tue/Nov-21 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex

Wed/Nov-22 Reading, PA Santander Arena

Fri/Nov-24 Wallingford, CT Oakdale Theatre

Sat/Nov-25 Bangor, ME Cross Insurance Center

Tue/Nov-28 Washington, DC The Anthem

Thu/Nov-30 Norfolk, VA Chartway Arena

Fri/Dec-1 Johnstown, PA 1st Summit Arena

Sat/Dec-2 Wheeling, WV Wesbanco Arena

* Ice Nine Kills only w/ Metallica

Find your tickets all remaining ICE NINE KILLS shows by visiting iceninekills.com/#tour

The nightmare continues as these murdersome metal trailblazers prepare to unleash the most epic episode of the Silver Scream saga yet.

ABOUT ICE NINE KILLS

Decadent, devious and fiercely insane, Ice Nine Kills celebrate pop culture’s darkest edges, mining a cinephile library’s worth of iconic horror on 2018’s The Silver Scream which spawned Top 10 Mainstream Rock single “A Grave Mistake” and Top 20 hit “Savages”. The creative marriage made in hell of music and fiction began in earnest with the Top 5 Hard Rock album, Every Trick in the Book, which brought the previous three records’ themes to new levels and which the band perfected on 2021's chart-topping smash hit ’The Silver Scream 2: Welcome to Horrorwood.’

The phenomenally successful album, released in October 2021, scored Ice Nine Kills their first Top 20 position (#18) on the Billboard Top 200, topped the Digital and Current Hard Music charts, hit Top 5 on the Current Rock, Independent, Current Albums and Album Sales charts and has clocked up 177 million cross-platform streams to date and 15 million YouTubeviews for singles “Hip To Be Scared”, “Assault & Batteries”, “Rainy Day”, "Funeral Derangements", "Take Your Pick", "The Shower Scene" and most recently, "Welcome To Horrorwood".

Since the release of 'The Silver Scream 2: Welcome To Horrorwood', Ice Nine Kills have seen phenomenal growth. Throughout 2022 they toured the US extensively on 3 legs of The Trinity of Terror, their hugely successful, mostly sold-out triple co-headline tour with Motionless In White and Black Veil Brides, supported Metallica at several US stadium shows, toured the US with Slipknot and launched the inaugural edition of their horror convention, The Silver Scream Con.

The first half of 2023 has been just as insane. The year began with Spencer being featured in the music video for the official song from Scream 6 - Demi Lovato's "Still Alive", as well as the band's flyer being used in the movie with a Spencer-recommended easter egg. Since the spring, the band have been touring the world with Metallica on their M72 World Tour, headlined numerous sold-out shows on their Wurst Vacation European tour, played to huge crowds at festivals such as Download and are currently touring the US with Falling In Reverse on their Popular Monstour run. The band also have their 'Fear The Premiere' US headline shows in August, followed by the second iteration of the Silver Scream Con coming in September and will be finishing the year on a high with the the Kiss of Death co-headline tour with In This Moment.

The band’s synergy of music and lifestyle draws favorable comparisons to Slipknot and Rob Zombie. Visionary trailblazers and multimedia raconteurs, Ice Nine Kills have built a thrilling world for a growing legion of devoted true believers, with theatrical shows, high-concept videos, and inventive band-to-fan communion. Their wildly creative output has seen them become recipients of the prestigious Clio Award for Music Marketing for their "Merry Axe-mas" mobile game and their live streaming event from October 2020, The Silver Stream be nominated for 5 awards at last year's Horror Hound Film Festival Awards in the categories of Judges Choice, Best Sound, Best Supporting Performance, Best Cinematography and Best Feature. With over 2 million monthly listeners on Spotify, 717 million career streams to date and over 204 million views on YouTube the band are firmly cemented as one of modern metal's most vicious forces.

ICE NINE KILLS ARE

Spencer Charnas - Vocals

Dan Sugarman - Guitar

Ricky Armellino - Guitar

Joe Occhiuti - Bass

Patrick Galante - Drums

CARNIFEX - RELEASE VIDEO VISUALIZER FOR SECOND SINGLE 'DEATH'S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN' FEAT. TOM BARBER (CHELSEA GRIN)

August 30, 2023

Nourished by nightmares and the throbbing pulse of pragmatic terror, CARNIFEX have returned with their ninth full-length studio album, Necromanteum, out October 6th via Nuclear Blast Records. After existing as a band for over 18 years, CARNIFEX continue to experiment with fresh song arrangements, and adding a unique sense of atmosphere to their inherently deathcore foundation.

The band offers fans the next single from the album entitled, 'Death's Forgotten Children' which features Tom Barber of CHELSEA GRIN. Lyrically the song was inspired by near-death experiences that Scott and Tom have lived through.

CARNIFEX's Scott Ian Lewis comments, “I really had a great time working with Tom. Not only did we collaborate on the vocal patterns but we co-wrote the lyrics, which is something I’ve never done before. The song came out great and we both hope the fans love it as much as we do.”

Stream the new single 'Death's Forgotten Children' featuring Tom Barber (CHELSEA GRIN) here:
https://carnifex.bfan.link/deaths-forgotten-children

Watch the video visualizer for 'Death's Forgotten Children' featuring Tom Barber(CHELSEA GRIN) below;

Pre-order/pre-save Necromanteum here:
https://carnifex.bfan.link/necromanteum

The recording process took place over the course of several weeks with producer Jason Suecof in Florida, and saw the return of live drums since COVID-19 restrictions made doing so on Graveside Confessions impossible. Mastered by Mark Lewis in Nashville, TN, the album was also co-produced by vocalist Scott Ian Lewis and drummer Shawn Cameron. The cover artwork glows with an emerald and lavender fog; a ghostly energy erupting from the depths of a cemetery. Designed by renowned comic book artist E.M. Gist, this gateway represents the questions we ask about what lies on the other side of reality.

Decades ago, wealthy intellectuals began installing psychomanteum in their homes; a secret room completely filled with mirrors, or a single mirror, and in complete darkness, in order to speak to the dead in other dimensions, and gain their knowledge. It was often used as a healing tool to help dissolve grief or considered a form of prophecy. Necromanteumpresents the concept: what if you could use that kind of room to speak with death, itself? What secrets of the world could you uncover from a direct conversation with the grim reaper? Not a monster, but a fellow intellect.

Necromanteum will be available digitally and in the following formats:

CD Jewel
vinyl
- Neon Green w/ Purple Splatter

This fall,CARNIFEXwill head across the U.S. on their 'Necromanteum Tour'. The 24-date trek will kick off on October 10th in Arizona and will make stops in Dallas, Columbus, and Denver before concluding on November 11th in Los Angeles. Joining the band each night are SIGNS OF THE SWARM, TO THE GRAVE, and THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE.

Tickets for the tour can be purchased at http://carnifexmetal.com/.

Confirmed dates forCARNIFEX's 'Necromanteum Tour'with SIGNS OF THE SWARM, TO THE GRAVE, and THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE are:

10.11.2023 U.S. Tucson, AZ – The Rock
10.13.2023 U.S. San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box
10.14.2023 U.S. Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live
10.15.2023 U.S. Dallas, TX – Gilley's (Monster Mosh Fest)
10.17.2023 U.S. New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
10.19.2023 U.S. Murfreesboro, TN – Hop Springs Beer Park
10.21.2023 U.S. Atlanta, GA – Masquerade – Heaven
10.22.2023 U.S. Orlando, FL – Level 13
10.24.2023 U.S. Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
10.25.2023 U.S. Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27
10.26.2023 U.S. Asbury Park, NJ – House of Independents
10.27.2023 U.S. Patchogue, NY – Stereo Garden
10.28.2023 U.S. Reading, PA – Reverb
10.29.2023 U.S. Hartford, CT – Webster Theater
10.31.2023 U.S. Syracuse, NY – The Song & Dance
11.01.2023 U.S. Columbus, OH – King of Clubs
11.02.2023 U.S. Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
11.03.2023 U.S. Joliet, IL – The Forge
11.04.2023 U.S. Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
11.06.2023 U.S. Omaha, NE – Slowdown
11.07.2023 U.S. Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
11.09.2023 U.S. Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
11.10.2023 U.S. Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
11.11.2023 U.S. Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco

Visit CARNIFEX at:
https://www.facebook.com/CarnifexMetal
https://www.instagram.com/carnifex
https://twitter.com/carnifex
https://www.youtube.com/carnifex
http://carnifexmetal.com

ON THORNS I LAY Remember the Fallen on New Single

August 29, 2023

On Thorns I Lay are the Greek gods of doom and gloom. These Athenians have cast death metal with a melodious, gothic glow since the early '90s. Heck, they plucked their name from a Shakespearean sonnet.

Today, On Thorns I Lay are releasing the second single off their upcoming self-titled album, which is their first release for Season of Mist. Watch the war-torn lyric video for "Fallen From Grace" below.

'On Thorns I Lay' comes out on October 13. Pre-order the album HERE. Pre-save it HERE.

"Fallen From Grace" opens their new album on a harrowing note. "This song is about all those who have suffered from wars and genocides", the band says. But despite the heavy subject matter, On Thorns I Lay continue to push their swelling, muscular riffs and smokey, orchestral atmosphere to new heights, thanks to a little help from their friends. Members of the Athens Orchestra are featured here, along with Fanny Melfi, who's sang with their fellow countrymen Septicflesh.

"All the pain and suffering, all the murders and rapes of innocent people, still haunt us and will never be forgotten", says On Thorns I Lay. "Remember the fallen!"

ON THORNS I LAY started as a death metal band together with other cult bands in Greece in the early 90’s such as Rotting Christ, Septic Flesh, Necromantia, Nightfall and started to spread their name in the local and global underground scene.

On Thorns I Lay have released 9 albums so far such as Orama, Crystal Tears, Aegean Sorrow and Threnos gaining great reviews in (Scream Norway, album of the month, Inferno Finland 5/5, Metal Storm Top 5 albums of 2020 and many others…). The have shared the stage with great bands such as Dream Theater, In Flames, Anathema, Amorphis, Katatonia, Rotting Christ, Tiamat, The Gathering, Satyricon, Septic Flesh and many more…

Their music style is pure atmospheric melodic doom death metal!

On Thorns I Lay's last album “Threnos” followed the path of atmospheric, yet emotional Doom Death Metal – paying tribute to the roots and representing the trademark sound of the band once again. On Thorns I Lay continue to tell dense stories of loss and despair.

After their mini tour at the Baltic states with Rotting Christ they signed a deal with the world famous record label Season Of Mist and they have finished the recordings of their 10th album entitled ‘On Thorns I Lay to be released in 2023.

Recording studio
Devasoundz Studios

Producer / sound engineer
Fotis Benardo

Mixing and mastering studio and engineer
Fotis Benardo

Current line-up
Peter Miliadis - Vocals (Dimlight, ex- Slaveatgod)
Christos Dragamestianos – Guitars
Nikolas Paraskevopoulos - Guitars (Dimlight, Yoth Iria)
Kostas Mexis - Bass (Aetherian, ex- Black Path)
Antonis Ventouris - Keyboards
Stelios Darakis - Drums (Dexter Ward, ex- Sacred Outcry, The Eternal Suffering, ex- Mortal Torment, ex- Lloth)

Guest vocals:
Fanny Melfi - Fallen From Grace
Labros Kiklis - Fallen From Grace
Stavros Papagiannakopoulos - Thorns Of Fire, Crestfallen
Ilias Mantikos - Thorns Of Fire
Katerina Tzitzou - Fallen From Grace
Irina Dimaki - Fallen From Grace
Anna Thana - Fallen From Grace
Aris Karatzas - Crestfallen, Newborn Skies, Raise Empires, Among The Wolves

Pre-order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/OTIL
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/otilpresave

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/onthornsilay
https://www.instagram.com/onthornsilayofficial
https://onthornsilay.bandcamp.com
https://www.youtube.com/@UCdzi7TfP1G8z6LjS5Oj5ibw
https://onthornsilay.live

Formats:
Digital
Vinyl Black
Vinyl Colour