UK indie pop band Rocket Kings present 'Paving The Way', heralding new album
"Harmonious, easy going and melodic with a 10/10 feel-good factor, Rocket King delivers a sound that will happily settle in your ears and leave you humming along unconsciously. This song has us looking forward to what delights the entire album may bring" ~ Amplify Music Magazine
Reading-based indie pop outfit Rocket Kings presents the single 'Paving The Way', previewing their forthcoming album by the same name. With 12 tracks on offer, this is the band's sophomore album, chalked full of original songs. Expect top tunes, ukuleles, melodies, harmonies - like a sweet cocktail of The Beautiful South, Belle and Sebastian and The Cranberries.
Formed in 2016, Rocket Kings are a 5-piece made up of Dave Stewart (ukulele, vocals), Bex Crossland (vocals, ukulele), David Heath (drums), Jess Tuthill(ukulele, vocals), and Yoshiko Nakayama (bass). United by their love of music, their positivity is infectious through the upbeat, original pop-rock songs they perform. With three ukuleles in their line-up, along with bass and drums: this is ukepop as you've never heard it before!
"The idea for the album's title track ‘Paving the Way’ originally came while doing a lot of walking during lockdown, but then the song evolved into the bigger picture of the band’s journey. It evokes a feeling of what we do, trying to do something innovative and unique and challenging perceptions, whilst ultimately just enjoying playing our songs," says Dave Stewart.
"The video contains contributions from our friends and family from all around the world. We have been playing this song live for a while now and it has already become a firm favourite with audiences. It is a great feeling when a group of friends can be immensely proud of the culmination of a year’s worth of creativity in the studio."
'Paving The Way' album order / Bandcamp https://rocketkings.bandcamp.com/album/paving-the-way
The 'Paving the Way' album was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Josh McCrohan at Creative Control Studio in Bracknell. Dave Stewart produced this record together with McCrohan, who has become a really important factor in Rocket Kings' sounds. Having provided professional sound services for Ian Anderson, Jethro Tull, Echo & The Bunnymen, Squeeze, Paul Young and Fairport Convention, among others, his input has been invaluable.
The 'Paving the Way' album follows on from their 2021 album ‘Everyday Adventures’. The band debuted on the music scene with ‘The Spellbound EP' in 2018. The band's influences are diverse, ranging from Teenage Fanclub, Lou Reed and The Kinks to The Wedding Present, Status Quo and The La’s. The band also recently shared a series of demos (from 2016), called 'Intense Whirlwind'.
The 'Paving The Way' single is out now, available exclusively via Bandcamp. The full 'Paving the Way' album will be released on September 15 for download and on limited edition vinyl and CD. It can be pre-ordered via Bandcamp. The album will also be available via other fine digital outlets, including Spotify and Apple Music
CREDITS
All songs written by Dave Stewart except ‘Damn Tired’ and ‘Say it with a Smile’, which were written by Jess Tuthill
Recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered by Josh McCrohan at Creative Control Studio in Bracknell
Produced by Dave Stewart and Josh McCrohan
Bex Crossland sang, played the ukulele, piano and tambourine.
Greg Forys played bass.
David Heath played the drums.
Dave Stewart sang, played the ukulele, shaker and tambourine.
Jess Tuthill sang and played the ukulele.
Richard Vanryne played trumpet on ‘The Yellow Bird of Fortune’ and ‘Say it with a Smile’.
The choir on ‘The Time of Our Lives’: Ben Ash, Nicola Blair, Jude Brindley, Dawn Challis, Chris Clements, Anna Freshwater, James Gildersleve, Jason Helmore, Ruth Horbury, Alison Hull, Jane Jones, Stella Murphy, Barbara O’Donovan, Frances Osang, Zoe Robinson, Helen Savidge, Chris Taylor, Jayne Tricker, Alan Turner.
Front cover photo by Liz Pearmain
Keep up with Rocket Kings
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Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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NIGHT VERSES Announce Ambitious New Double Album ‘Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night'; Drop New Single "Karma Wheel"
Prog metal voyagers NIGHT VERSES have dropped Part 1 of their phenomenal new double album ‘Every Sound Has a Color In The Valley Of Night’ today via Equal Vision Records. The release has been long-awaited by fans and critics alike and is the band's first in over 5 years. Its highlighted by focus track and album opener, '8 Gates Of Pleasure', the visualizer for which can be watched below. Listen to the mind-blowing full albumHERE.
Speaking on the long-awaited release of Part 1, NIGHT VERSES collectively share:
"It’s kind of a weight off our shoulders to finally release this album after writing for so long, if we're being honest. We started writing these songs before we even released our last record in 2018, so it’s been a long time coming. That being said, we genuinely needed all of that time to get this record to where it’s at. We wrote and rewrote these songs a million times. We wrote tons of parts and songs that we loved but just didn’t make the cut. Between the 3 of us, the most important thing was that we were 100% satisfied that we made the best record we could. As of now, I think we accomplished that.
"Between 2012 and 2017 we put out records and toured around non-stop. That part of our lives still has a huge impact on us, and we talk a lot about certain landscapes and specific drives - how we’d purposefully create playlists that matched the moods and feelings we had while essentially driving around the world together. That influence ended up being an underlying concept for this record. There’s a ‘map’ included in the vinyl artwork that shows all the locations that correspond to the songs, and where they are meant to be listened to (to hopefully express themselves to the fullest extent, as those are the locations we were channeling when writing the songs.) Ultimately we want the listener to absorb the album however comes natural to them, but if we can act as a guide to assist it with the locations - then that’s just an added bonus, in our minds anyway."
The band have released two singles prior to the album dropping. Their comeback single “Arrival” which heralded the end of their hiatus and “Karma Wheel” which offered a second glorious expedition into this boundary-pushing new era of NIGHT VERSES. Speaking on the inspiration behind today's focus track, '8 Gates of Pleasure', the band continue
"With ‘8 Gates Of Pleasure’ (and all of our album openers), we’ve always had two sort of ‘requirements’ we apply. 1. It needs to feel like a thesis statement of the entire record, a song that hints at all the pieces of the rest of the album. 2. It needs to be immediately unpredictable, something that keeps you from knowing what’s coming next.
Quinten Tarantino said a good story needs to unfold without you knowing what to expect. We get a lot of influence from films and other art forms outside of music - and that concept specifically has always stuck with us. We definitely tried to lean into it when we were developing this song, especially once we knew it was going to be the album opener."
Every Sound Has a Color In The Valley Of Night’ will be released in two parts. Part 1 is out today and Part 2 will be due out in early 2024. Across both parts, the album features a star-studded cast of guests including Tool bassist Justin Chancellor, Author & Punisher, Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd and Circa Survive's Anthony Green, 'Every Sound Has A Color In The Valley Of Night' sees NIGHT VERSES tear up the rulebook with a kaleidoscopic vision and truly living up to the accolade given to them by Noisey who referred to the band as “the Salvador Dali of Progressive metal”.
Night Verses L- R: Aric Improta (drums), Nick DePirro (guitar), Reilly Herrera (bass)
Fearless as ever in their exploratory vision, NIGHT VERSES once again raise the bar for creativity and innovation in heavy music.
ABOUT NIGHT VERSES:
Hailing from Fullerton, CA, NIGHT VERSES first galvanized listeners with their 2012 EP ‘Out Of The Sky’, merging prog, alt-metal, post-rock and ambient electronica into their own intoxicating strain of cinematic metal.
They continued to hone their bold songwriting and genre-bending musicianship on their debut full-length, 2014’s ‘Lift Your Existence’. After the mass critical acclaim that followed, they returned in 2016 with the full-length ‘Into The Vanishing Light’ produced by legendary producer Ross Robinson (Slipknot, At The Drive In). The album was the band’s first release after signing with Equal Vision Records, and marked their last album with a vocalist.
The band released their first instrumental album 2018, with the critically acclaimed ‘From The Gallery Of Sleep’, which cemented them as fearless, genre-defying innovators. Dubbed “The Salvador Dali of prog-metal” by Noisey / Vice, the album was hailed as "boundary-breaking prog" (Revolver), "ambitious and creative" (Exclaim!) and "a layered prog masterpiece" (Distorted Sound).
Now after a 5-year wait that's felt like an eternity, NIGHT VERSES are back to reclaim their rightful place at the forefront of progressive heavy music. With over 15 million career streams and unanimously glowing critical praise for their first four releases, the stage is set for NIGHT VERSES to ascend to even greater heights.
French Synthwave Producer & Singer SIERRA Releases Debut Album "A Story Of Anger" Today
Today, September 15, lauded French synthwave artist, producer and singer SIERRA releases her debut album, A Story Of Anger via Virgin Records France.
It’s led by the single “Power,” a collaboration with synthwave icon Carpenter Brut. SIERRA first appeared on Carpenter Brut’s album Leather Terror last year, and now he’s repaying the favor adding a dark, horror-fueled backbeat to the layered dance track.
Listen to “Power” HERE: https://SIERRAFr.lnk.to/Power
See the video for “Power” BELOW.
In total, A Story Of Anger features 11 emotive tracks that tap into SIERRA’s own unique brand of sound, inspired by synthwave, EBM and darkwave and with moody ebbs and flows that spiral from violence and melancholy to sweetness and brutality.
In addition to Carpenter Brut, A Story Of Anger also features new collaborations with Corvad and L.A.-based noise rock/industrial act HEALTH.
This weekend, SIERRA kicks off a 13-date tour across North America, including prominent placement on all dates of the Cold Waves Festivals in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. See all details below.
Two more EPs came in 2020 (All About Love) and 2022 (See Me Now), the latter of which resulted in SIERRA supporting Carpenter Brut on his worldwide tour across 20 countries.
Most recently, SIERRA was tapped to be part of a fashion campaign as her track “Unbroken” was used by Yves Saint Laurent Beauty for its new global campaign “Bold”.
Order A Story of Anger here: https://linktr.ee/sierra.synthmusic
SIERRA Tour Dates
September 16 Montreal, QC @ Newspeak
September 17 New York, NY @ Cold Waves Festival
September 19 Toronto, ON @ The Garrison
September 20 Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room
September 21 Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Café
September 22 Cleveland, OH @ The Foundry
September 23 TBA
September 24 Chicago, IL @ Cold Waves Festival
September 25 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge
September 26 Salt Lake City, UT @ Quarters
September 28 Los Angeles, CA @ Cold Waves Festival
September 29 San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
September 30 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
(Photo Credit: Benoit Julliard)
Find SIERRA Online
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sierra.synthmusic/
Darius Rucker Brings "Southern Comfort" to Fans With Today's Release; New Album 'Carolyn's Boy' Out 10/6
Three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Darius Rucker is once again captivating audiences with what Billboard praises as “one of the most distinctive voices of country’s modern era” as he further previews his highly anticipated new album, Carolyn’s Boy, with today’s release of feel-good song “Southern Comfort.” Listen HERE and preorder the album out Oct. 6 HERE.
Written by Chris LaCorte (“Ain’t That Some,” “Blue Tacoma”), Matt Rogers (“‘Til You Can’t,” “Freedom Was a Highway”) and Josh Osborne (“Never Wanted to Be That Girl,” “Body Like a Back Road”), the heartfelt homage to the South captures the essence of a region deeply rooted in tradition, hospitality and the joy of shared moments:
That gentle breeze makes me think I’m three sheets to the wind
When the fireflies light me up right makes the whole world spin
If sunsets were like whiskey, man, I’d be seeing double
Ain’t nothing in this bottle gets me drunk as Southern Comfort
Today’s release joins current single “Fires Don’t Start Themselves” as well as No. 1 hit “Beers And Sunshine,” recent release “Have A Good Time” in previewing his first solo project in six years, Carolyn’s Boy, named for his late mother as an “homage to the greatest woman I’ve ever known.”
Having shared the new music with fans across the country all summer on his Starting Fires Tour, Rucker is gearing up to take his wide-ranging catalog of hits across the pond with a recently announced run of European tour dates in early 2024. Tickets to the following shows are on sale now via DariusRucker.com:
April 19, 2024 Cologne, Germany || Cologne Live Music
April 21, 2024 Zurich, Switzerland || Zurich Kaufleuten
April 22, 2024 Munich, Germany || Backstage
April 24, 2024 Amsterdam, Netherlands || Paradiso
April 27, 2024 Manchester, U.K. || O2 Apollo
April 28, 2024 Newcastle, U.K || O2 City Hall
April 30, 2024 Birmingham, U.K || O2 Academy
May 1, 2024 Bristol, U.K || Beacon
May 3, 2024. London, U.K || Eventim Apollo
May 5, 2024 Leeds, U.K || O2 Academy
May 6, 2024 Glasgow, U.K || O2 Academy
May 9, 2024 Dublin, Ireland || Olympia Theatre
May 11, 2024. Belfast, U.K || Waterfront Hall
Rucker will also celebrate the release of his new album during the second year of his personally curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival set for Oct. 7-8 in his hometown of Charleston, S.C. In addition to Rucker himself, fans will be treated to performances by Turnpike Troubadours, Lainey Wilson, Band of Horses and more. View the full lineup and daily schedule HERE. Limited tickets remain at RiverfrontRevival.com.
For more information on all things Darius Rucker, visit DariusRucker.com and follow on social media @DariusRucker.
Photo Credit: Jim Wright
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 with his forthcoming album, Carolyn’s Boy, set for Oct. 6 release.
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.
OUT NOW: DUSTIN LYNCH CRUISES IN “CHEVROLET” COLLABORATION WITH JELLY ROLL
Turning the ignition on a forever-young kind of freedom, MULTI-PLATINUM star Dustin Lynch hits the road in“Chevrolet.” With an assist from his BBR Music Group labelmate Jelly Roll, it’s a brand-new Country anthem with “classic” written all over it. Available today (9/15) across all streaming platforms and digital retailers, listen to “Chevrolet” here.
“There is something in the air in Nashville right now, where writers are on the same wavelength and doing cool things like interpolating classic songs into something new. When ‘Chevrolet’ came across our plate, it floored me. Everyone knows Dobie Gray’s ‘Drift Away’ – the melody of that song is timeless,” shares Lynch. “Having Jelly Roll on it adds an extra edge.”
Delivering his statement-making sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy, out September 29, “Chevrolet” – written by Chase McGill, Jessi Alexander, Hunter Phelps, and Mentor Williams – fast follows the release of the showdown title track. The nostalgic dirt road rocker co-produced by Zach Crowell and Ben Phillips is proof of Country music’s unique ability to summon a picture, a mood, and especially a memory via the instantly recognizable throwback melody of the 1973 Dobie Gray hit “Drift Away.” Pre-save/pre-add Killed The Cowboy (Broken Bow Records) here.
Currently performing headline dates and music festivals, Lynch is also bringing his Top 10 single “Stars Like Confetti” (off Blue In The Sky) to the stage. Click here for a full list of tour stops.
ABOUT DUSTIN LYNCH:
Dustin Lynch has "built one of the most consistent recording careers in modern country music” (Billboard), achieving eight #1s, four Top 5 albums, 10 GOLD and PLATINUM certified singles, and tallying over 5.4 BILLION cumulative global streams. His sixth studio album, Killed The Cowboy (Broken Bow Records), makes a statement on September 29. The follow-up to Blue In The Sky, which delivered the history-making PLATINUM, six-week #1 “Thinking ‘Bout You (feat. MacKenzie Porter)” – the most-played song at Country radio in 2022 landing at #1 on the Mediabase and #2 on the Billboard Year-End Country Airplay charts – also featured current Top 10-and-rising single “Stars Like Confetti” and hit “Party Mode.” Since his PLATINUM breakout “Cowboys and Angels” in 2012, Lynch has headlined packed venues and toured with Country’s biggest names like Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Brad Paisley, and Kane Brown. Likewise, the Tennessee native has earned industry recognition as a Grand Ole Opry member, as well as high-profile nominations for the Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and CMT Music Awards.
KEEP UP WITH DUSTIN LYNCH
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | TIKTOK
Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen
DORO - Drops Video For New Single ´Bond Unending´ Feat. Sammy Amara (BROILERS)
DORO PESCH's new masterpiece Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud - will be released worldwide on October 27th via Nuclear Blast.
Today sees the release of DORO's third album single 'Bond Unending', in which the metal queen presents her fans with another high-profile duet partner, namely Sammy Amarafrom the German rock heavyweights BROILERS.
DORO's powerful voice combined with Sammy's signature gritty sound creates a dynamic and unforgettable mix that will give you goosebumps.
'Bond Unending' is a sonic explosion of pure energy, passion, and rock 'n' roll magic.
The single is accompanied by a stunning video that contains clips from DORO's huge anniversary live performance which took place at Wacken Open Air on August 2nd of this year.
DORO: "'Bond Unending' is a song about deep friendship. Sammy and I wrote it in the middle of the night. We had so much fun together. The chemistry was great right from the start."
Watch the video below.
Listen to the song here: https://doro.bfan.link/bond-unending
Pre-save the album here: https://doro.bfan.link/conqueress
Conqueress - Forever Strong and Proud will be released with 15 brand new songs and 5 bonus tracks and comes in the following formats:
Jewel case
2CD Digibook with 36p booklet (including bonus tracks)
2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Splatter white/black
2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Marbled white/blue
2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Red transparent (US only)
2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts | Picture
Box Set 2LP in gatefold with 2 inserts (incl bonus tracks) + 2CD Digibook with 36p booklet (including bonus tracks) + Pendant + Numbered & Signed Certificate + Poster + Patch + Pick (NB mailorder only)
PLAGUESTORM Unveils Latest Single "Gardens of Fire" from Upcoming EP "Empty Eyes"!
Plaguestorm, the renowned solo artist from Argentina, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming EP Empty Eyes. Following the release of the first single "Thrown Into The Void", Plaguestorm has revealed the second track "Gardens of Fire"today, which is now available for streaming. Listen to the song below.
Stream the single HERE
Mastermind Sebastián Pastor comments:
"Gardens of Fire is a slow and steady song. It tells the story of a boy who is indoctrinated "in the name of God" since he arrived on this earth, in which he could never find the promised paradise. It's a song with many melodies, melancholic and dark, with a beautiful guitar solo... musically you can hear the great influence that Hypocrisy has on me... I think you already figured this out."
Plaguestorm has released a series of impressive albums including Everything's Gone Wrong (2015), Mother of Plagues (2019) and the recently dropped Purifying Fire (2021). This time around, Pastor is joined by the incredible vocal prowess of Okko Solanterä (HORIZON IGNITED) and the masterful drumming skills of Eugene Ryabchenko (FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE), along with the talented Diego Martinez. With such prominent support, Plaguestorm's upcoming offering is set to leave a lasting impact, showcasing his undeniable talent and delivering a sound that will appeal to fans of heavier and melodic sounds.
Empty Eyes was mixed and mastered by Sebastián Pastor and will be coming out on October 20 via Noble Demon. The EP is available for digital pre-order at THIS LOCATION
PLAGUESTORM is:
Sebastián Pastor
Guitars/Bass/Drum Programming
Music/Lyrics/Mix/Mastering
Find Plaguestorm online:
Find NOBLE DEMON online:
BLACKBRIAR - release new single 'Forever and a Day'
Today BLACKBRIAR release their brand new single 'Forever and a Day'. The new album A Dark Euphony will be released on September 29th via Nuclear Blast Records. A Dark Euphony features 11 brand-new tracks.
Zora Cock comments:
“Forever and a Day is a tragically romantic song, inspired by 19th-century mourning traditions. While listening, I imagine a Victorian lady, dressed in a heavy black mourning gown. She lost her love a long time ago, and can't move on. One day, she replaces her black gown into a day dress to spend the day with someone, to see if there could be another future for her, only to realize she can't give her heart to another. It's the final single of our forthcoming full-length album.”
Stream 'Forever and a Day' here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/forever-and-a-day
Watch the lyric video for 'Forever and a Day' below.
Pre-order the album A Dark Euphony here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/a-dark-euphony
Also check out the latest singles 'Cicada', 'My Soul´s Demise' and 'Crimson Faces' here:
Stream 'Cicada' here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/cicada
Watch the video for 'Cicada' here: https://youtu.be/cKYTrDM2mpw
Stream 'My Soul´s Demise'here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/my-soul-s-demise
Watch the new video for 'My Souls Demise'here: https://youtu.be/QvPS2Cf2VNw
Stream 'Crimson Faces'here: https://blackbriar.bfan.link/crimson-faces
Watch the new video for 'Crimson Faces'here: https://youtu.be/9zOVTkAMY9A
About BLACKBRIAR:
“Some say that there is beauty in darkness - terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on A Dark Euphony.” Such are the words of vocalist Zora Cock about the band’s upcoming sophomore album, set to release in fall 2023 on Nuclear Blast Records. A telling sign coming from a band who has reveled in gothic beauty and metallic darkness since their onset, spanning three EPs and a full-length album, along with long-time collaborator Joost van den Broek.
Formed in 2012 by Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, and Frank Akkerman, they 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 act with over 20 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding the band, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, as well as acquiring a second guitarist in Robin Koezen. This EP layed down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal and breathtaking sound and brought about new opportunities for the act, including tour dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and more, where the band 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 to arrange and produce the effort, 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,' this EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens. In the time following, keyboardist Ruben Wijga (ex-Re-Vamp) took a larger role within the band and began playing shows, after being involved in the songwriting process since Fractured Fairytales.
A busy 2019 followed, the band released a haunting single in May entitled 'Snow White and Rose Red.' A duet with Ulli Perhonen, their take on the Grimm’s fairytale featured striking cinematic visuals to accompany the spellbinding track. Continuing to dig deeper into fairytale realms, BLACKBRIAR closed the year with their third EP, Our Mortal Remains. Ever-sharpening their intoxicating blend of storytelling and breathtaking musicianship, the EP brought about new live exposures for the act as well. Small, sold out tours with EPICA in 2019 and 2020, as well as a sold out opening for DELAIN’s Apocalypse & Chill release show in Utrecht followed, with more future plans then being 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 album a reality in 2020. Fans fervently heeded the call, reaching the € 25,000 goal in under 24 hours and ending with a total of € 70,000 and achieving all five stretch goals. An impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which also showcases a strong internet presence with over 230,000 YouTube subscribers and 56.5 million channel views as well as 37.9 million Spotify streams and 275,000 monthly streamers on the platform.
Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing exclusively with Doomstar Bookings to help properly support their highly anticipated first full-length album, The Cause of Shipwreck, which released in April. Once again recorded with renowned producer Joost van den Broek (EPICA, AYREON, POWERWOLF) at Sandlane Recording Facilities, this release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics that entice you into a deadly yet spellbinding musical paradise. On the live front, launching into success with six sold out Dutch club shows, they later extended into more European territories such as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic as the band moved into 2022.
Despite a very successful 2021, the band still hungered for more, unleashing their latest single, 'Fairy of the Bog' in December. A song about ‘het meisje van Yde’ (Yde girl), it’s a mixture of folklore, myth, and ancient local history wrapped into a more mystical and magical package that showcases what BLACKBRIAR does best. Due to winning ‘Drents Talent Award Culture 2021’ from ‘Stichting Kunst & Cultuur,’ BLACKBRIAR performed ‘I’d Rather Burn’ live on television together with the Dutch ‘Noordpool Orchestra in early 2022. In April, the band parted ways with founding member and bassist Frank Akkerman. Not a band to slow down, they welcomed 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 set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet. The band previously released the song 'Crimson Faces' to celebrate their partnership with Nuclear Blast Records, and now the world eagerly awaits the release of A Dark Euphony this fall. Set to contain 10 new original songs as well as a bonus track, they recently released their first single from it with 'My Soul’s Demise.' According to Zora, “We've had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.” With this in mind, the band launched a preorder campaign in April for the release, full of unique perks, which has been quite successful already. They have also been preparing on the road, with festival shows Wave Gotik Treffen, SummerBreeze, and Rock the Lakes in 2023, as well as being a special guest on CHARLOTTE WESSELS’s Club Tour.
With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in EuroSonic/Noorderslag‘s Popgala Noord (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify near 1.5 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey into darkness and beauty.
BLACKBRIAR is:
Zora Cock - VOCALS
René Boxem - DRUMS
Bart Winters - GUITARS
Robin Koezen - GUITARS
Siebe Sol Sijpkens - BASS
Ruben Wijga - KEYS
It's Time to Celebrate! Don Broco Drop "Birthday Party" Video — WATCH
Following their incredible main stage performances at Reading & Leeds Festivals, DON BROCO hit the road again in the UK this autumn.
To celebrate the news, the band is releasing the brand new single, titled "Birthday Party."
Watch the video for the song, which is a real bop, here.
"Birthday Party" is yet another left-turn from the Bedfordshire four-piece, who continually evolve and surprise with new musical directions. A skittery, genre-bending electro-blast of crunching beats and distorted guitars, it's topped off with vocalist Rob Damiani's ennui-drenched vocals, full of disappointment and dismay.
Damiani explains, "Birthdays can be the absolute worst. You get all hyped up for what you think is a guaranteed top day, but when that doesn't work out you can't help but feel EXTRA bad. I don't really like birthdays because of this, but one year tried throwing a last min shindig and in classic form it was not well attended, haha. I can't say I took it well but my only option was having a party for one and this song is the story of that night."
As for the tour, DON BROCO blew audiences away in March, when they headlined huge venues, including the likes of Alexandra Palace and Cardiff Motorpoint Arena. For the fall tour, they will be taking to the stages of some of the smallest venues they've played in years.
Damiani says, "We're buzzing to be heading out on The Birthday Party Tour in November and December, hitting up some of our favorite spots in the UK that we haven't been to in a little while and some future faves we've never been to before! BROCO at KOKO the first time around was a huge night for us and can't wait to be back for round 2!"
The 16-date Birthday Party Tour will be a much more celebratory affair, with DON BROCO playing a hits-packed set and getting up, close and personal with their exuberant fan-base. Making the shows even more special will be the fact that anyone with a ticket who is celebrating their birthday on the day of each gig will be treated to their own mini-birthday party by being invited to an exclusive meet-and-greet with the band before the show. Full details will be revealed on the band's website in due course.
California outfit Octavian Winters present 'Surreal', final single before debut EP 'The Line or Curve'
"The track feels like it was recorded in a studio deep beneath the earth, drawing power from subterranean caves and bubbling magma. There’s tectonic thunder in the pounding drums and rumbling bass... Such power, strong and true, a voice that scales the wall of sound beneath her with ease" ~ Joyzine
San Francisco post-punk outfit Octavian Winters presents the single 'Surreal', which is about being disconnected from your environment and the feeling that you can’t quite put your finger on objective reality. This is the quartet's third single from their debut EP 'The Line or Curve',
Recorded in San Francisco by Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated) at OW Studio and Room 5 Recording, this EP was produced by Octavian Winters and William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, Christian Death, The March Violets), whose credits include Jarboe, Clan of Xymox, Bootblacks and Autumn, Faith also mixed and mastered the EP at 13 Studio in Chicago.
Born into the ghostly isolation of San Francisco in 2022, Octavian Winters is Stephan Salit (guitar), Randy Gzebb (drums), Jay Denton (bass) and Ria Aursjoen (vocals, keyboards), who together weave their visceral and ethereal sound into a texture all its own – of stories once told but half-remembered, under a dusk of shadows and stars, in an abandoned city under the winter moon.
Drawing from darkwave and post-punk traditions, Octavian Winters dives into the ethereal, their layered music counterpointing edged grooves alongside lush synth textures and soaring vocal harmonies.
“Randy Gzebb and Stephan Salit first created the slow, melancholy progression that was to be the core of 'Surreal'. To me, it had a beautifully dark and watery feel, like being caught at night on a foggy ocean. The first words that came to me as I was working up the vocal melody were “it’s surreal, so find a way”, and I thought it was curious that I couldn’t seem to get away from those words and make anything else feel right," . says Ria Aursjoen.
"Usually I will start with the melody and placeholder lyrics but, in this case, it came at once from the start and those words stuck. I started to unspool the feeling behind them: the idea of being disconnected from everything and everyone, and feeling like you can’t quite put your finger on objective reality. I feel this is a distillation of many people’s experiences over the last three years of lockdowns and schism. The song also explores the theme of the “in between” or existing in a state that is neither here nor there, and in which it is impossible to tell what is real and what are just projections."
'Surreal' https://open.spotify.com/track/2VMPEyxZuBQ6Pphk0VMPKP
Octavian Winters formed in late 2021 when Gzebb and Salit, former bandmates in Thrill of The Pull, met up to discuss a film/television publishing deal for Thrill’s catalog (a four-year licensing deal has since been finalized with Expressive Artists). A subsequent jam session produced several motifs, inspiring several more jams in the next weeks. Gzebb invited Aursjoen, whom he had met earlier via another project, to a session and the musical chemistry was immediately evident. Gzebb brought in bassist Jay Denton to round out the line up.
Their previous single 'Undertow' is a dark propulsive offering underlining an aspect of separation from the world and the darkness that comes out of it - a sort of ominous current capable of pulling someone away from all hope. The video was directed, filmed, edited and produced by Jay Adams.
Octavian Winters debuted with the single 'Ondine', drawing from a mythical tragedy of love for a sea nymph, and the search ever after for her after she returns to the sea. The music itself transports the listener to a mythical world of sea elementals and an almost courtly love,
Each member of Octavian Winters brings their own rich musical tapestry to the collective and have shared the stage with many iconic acts over the years, including Nine Inch Nails, Killing Joke, Lords of the New Church, Savage Republic, Christian Death, The Frozen Autumn, Everything Goes Cold and Black Tape for a Blue Girl.
Ria (Amenti) Aursjoen, who has synesthesia and has nurtured generational musical seeds planted by her opera diva grandmother, has recorded and performed in the UK and US in genres ranging from Celtic folk to progressive metal and darkwave. She left her graduate work in theoretical physics to pursue music, touring as a Celtic harpist and vocalist for several years before making her home in San Francisco.
Drummer Randy Gzebb relocated to California from Canada, immersing himself in the San Francisco and Los Angeles music scenes in various projects. He was a member of '80s gothic rock band Love Club, who were signed by Sandy Pearlman (The Clash and The Dictators), released on MCA Records, and produced by Bill Buchanan (Fields Of The Nephilim, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, The Leather Nun).
Stephan Salit, who considers performing live his sacred space, has recorded and performed with a wide variety of groups including Specimen. Approaching each song as a canvas that calls for colour and depth, he views his playing as painting with sound.
Bay Area native Jay Denton, who spent some time on the road with Jack Kerouac, has had a diverse career performing classical and contemporary composers, and with various jazz and rock bands, playing extensively with the house band at San Francisco’s famous Condor strip club. Jay has toured in London, Japan and across the USA..
As of September 15, 'Surreal' will be available from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. 'The Line or Curve' EP will be released on October 13 via Stratis Capta Records. On October 31, Octavian Winters will be playing Bottom of The Hill in San Francisco (with Dead Souls and The Reptile House), followed by a Sacramento show on November 8 at Cafe Colonial (with Ashes Fallen).
CREDITS
Music written by Octavian Winters
Lyrics by Ria Aursjoen
Ria Aursjoen - Vocals / Keyboards
Stephan Salit - Guitars
Randy Gzebb - Drums
Jay Denton - Bass
Recorded at OW studios San Francisco, CA
Vocals recorded by Mark Pistel, Room 5 Recording, San Francisco, CA
Mixed and mastered by William Faith at 13 Studio, Chicago, IL
Produced by Octavian Winters and William Faith
Artist photos by Dina Marie Robinson
Jay Adams - Video director, cinematographer, editor producer
Eric Olson - Design
Steve Devaney - Design at Uroboros Choke
Concept, storyboard, set and costume design by Ria Aursjoen
Featuring Cathenge art installation by David Normal
Keep up with Octavian Winters
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Tiktok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact
Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Email
NYC-based new romantic post-punks Black Rose Burning unleash 'Ad Astra' album
"A compelling blend of ominous Goth atmospheres, dark, but dynamic dancefloor anthems, New Wave ’80s tunefulness, and electronics-embedded tech tracks, all draped with the silky, reflective, and longing vocals of George Grant" ~ Big Takeover Magazine
"Leaning towards Ultravox and Colourbox on the new wave spectrum, they sometimes channel vibes from Phantasmagoria-era The Damned and Butterfly on a Wheel-era The Mission" ~ Amplify Music Mag
"Space might be the final frontier but Black Rose Burning are already stellar" ~ Onyx Music Reviews
"Smoulders from the ashes of goth-rock, whilst emerging from the dry-ice ambience of 80s nostalgia. Like a noir-new romantic, Black Rose Burning peacock preens from the underworld of art-pop, whilst intermixing its post-punk palette" ~ The Manc Review
NYC-based alternative rock outfit Black Rose Burning presents their invigorating third full-length album 'Ad Astra', mastered by Jason Corbett of ACTORS at Jacknife Sound. Earlier, the band released the singles 'Fight!', 'Night Terrors'and 'Sing to Me (E.L.E.)'.
Formed in 2018 by instrumentalist, producer and engineer George Grant, Black Rose Burning also involves guitarist Frank Morin (World Inferno Friendship Society) and drummer Luis Infantas (Monster Zero).
“’Ad Astra’ is the result of the real first time collaboration of the musicians who have been playing with my project in a live setting and myself. On previous records, I recorded them solo – playing and programming all of the instruments. It only made sense to take it to a whole new level by taking a slight back seat and letting the fantastic musicals brains I have surrounded myself with, to step into some spotlight and show their talent. Sonically it’s a major leap forward in the ever-growing sound of Black Rose Burning in every way. Letting experts do what they do has resulted in - a lush soundscape that’s better than I could have ever hoped for. And even though I again wrote all the material, having partners who understand my vision is both invaluable and awe inspiring,” says George Grant.
“Lyrically, I approached this record, from the standpoint of my psuedo-motto ”Love Won, Love Lost and Outer Space”. Interlaced with technical and futuristic themes are also stories of broken hearts, broken dreams as well as songs about hope. I quite honestly took my love, as an avid Sci-Fi fan, and poured it into quite a few of these songs and into the overall feel of the record. But don’t get me wrong - there’s plenty of both love and heartbreak written into it as well. The artwork by Antonella at Eshmoon DM brilliantly reflects the feel also - from the colors to the design and the themes - of my infatuation with Science Fiction”
In 2021, Black Rose Burning released their second album 'The Wheel', one year after debuting 'The Year of the Scorpion' album. George Grant's soulful vocal delivery, instantly recognizable voice, solid instrumentation crossing several genres are standout features of this music. Roughly 40 years of songwriting across various genres has helped George embellish on clever hooks, drive and the gothic-pop sensibilities of The Cult's early years.
'Ad Astra' was recorded in George’s own studio, PV Recording Company, which has hosted notable artists over the years, including Emelio Zeff China (Peter Murphy), Knox Chandler (Siouxsie And The Banshees), Chibi (The Birthday Party Massacre), Nellie McKay, Julia Marcel, Paul Bakija (Reagan Youth), Ego Likeness and Voltaire (with whom Grant also played bass for 10 years).
On September 15, the 'Ad Astra' album will be released on CD and available digitally from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. That same night, Black Rose Burning plays their album release show at NYC's Mercury Lounge for The Red Party.
CREDITS
Music and lyrics written by George Grant
George Grant - bass guitar, vocals, synth programming
Luis Infantas - drums and triggers
Frank Morin - all guitars
Recorded by the band @ PVRCo (Putnam Valley Recording Company)
Mastered by: Jason Corbett (Actors)
Cover Art by Antonella Di Mattei @ Eshmoon DM Design
Artist photos by Shane K. Gardner
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
TOUR DATES
Sept 16 - New York City @Mercury Lounge (The Red Party)
Oct 6 – Tampa, FL @ Crobar (Absolution Fest)
Oct 13 – Richmond, VA @Fallout w/ Empathy Test
Keep up with Black Rose Burning
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | YouTube| Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact
Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | LinkedIn | Email
WATAIN - Release Live Album "Die In Fire - Live In Hell" To Commemorate Their 25th Anniversary!
To commemorate their 25th anniversary as a band, ruthless Swedish black metal collective WATAIN has announced the release of a live album titled Die In Fire - Live In Hell (Agony And Ecstasy Over Stockholm) which will be released on November 3rd, 2023 through Nuclear Blast Records.
After 25 years of madness and mayhem that manifested in seven studio albums, WATAIN‘s intense and much talked-about live rituals remain in a league of their own. Experience the raw power and fiery precision captured perfectly on this live recording from a sold out show that took place in October 2022 in Stockholm, and features fan favourites from albums such as Casus Luciferi, Lawless Darkness, The Wild Hunt, Trident Wolf Eclipse and of course the band's latest offering, The Agony And Ecstasy of Watain, as well as the BATHORY cover 'The Return Of Darkness And Evil'. The audio was recorded by Jamie Elton and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio.
With all artwork created by vocalist and front man Erik Danielsson, Die in Fire – Live in Hell is not only a sonic but also a visual reflection of WATAIN’s touring cycle for The Agony & Ecstasy of Watain, and beyond that a symbol of gratitude for their loyal followers worldwide! Die in Fire – Live in Hell is a very personal release dedicated to all those who have joined WATAIN on their path of lawless black metal darkness during the past 25 years.
WATAIN have shared a first single from Die In Fire - Live In Hell, the epic 'Before The Cataclysm (Live In Stockholm 2022)'. Below you can watch a music video for this track, which was directed by Johan Bååth (Opus Diaboli, I'm in the Band).
PRE-SAVE/PRE-ORDER DIE IN FIRE - LIVE IN HELL HERE:
https://watain.bfan.link/die-in-fire-live-in-hell.ema
WATCH THE OFFICIAL LIVE VIDEO FOR 'BEFORE THE CATACLYSM' Below.
Die In Fire - Live In Hell is available in the following formats:
Digital Album
CD
Vinyl (2LP w/ 8 page booklet)
1 LP transp. yellow, 1 LP transp. red
1 LP gold , 1 LP oxblood - band exclusive
Coinciding with the release, WATAIN will play two very special anniversary shows at UKK in their hometown Uppsala on Friday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 4th. The first night was sold out within minutes, so a second one was added and a few tickets are still available here: https://secure.tickster.com/sv/8ttcd34a5687cc9/selectproductgroup
Visit WATAIN at:
https://linktr.ee/watainofficial
Triple Tigers Taps Two Co-Presidents: Kevin Herring + Annie Ortmeier
Today, Nashville-based label Triple Tigers named Kevin Herring and Annie Ortmeier as Co-Presidents. Both will report to George Couri, Triple Tigers Co-Founder and Triple 8 Management Founder. Herring was upped from Senior Vice President of Radio Promotion, a post he held since 2017, while Ortmeier joins the company following her tenure as Senior Vice President Streaming Marketing at UMG Nashville. The new structure will strengthen the company’s efforts as it doubles down the dual focus of radio and digital/streaming/social for the future. Concurrently, industry leader, label partner and former president Norbert Nix is set to launch VISCYRL, a soon-to-be-announced new venture with The Orchard.
Since its launch in 2016 as a joint venture between Thirty Tigers, The Orchard and Triple 8 Management, the success of Triple Tigers Records has been unprecedented in the history of Country music. The label boasts a radio singles batting average of 10-out-of-14 artist singles released topping the charts, with 13 of those 14 being certified Gold, Platinum, Double and Triple Platinum by the RIAA. Most recently, Triple Tigers artist Scotty McCreery’s Aug. 21 launch of “Cab In A Solo” garnered 120 first-day adds, making it the third-biggest radio start in country music this year, as Russel Dickerson’s latest single, “God Gave Me A Girl” currently climbs the top 10 at country radio.
“Triple Tigers 2.0 is here,” shared Couri. “I look forward to stepping into a more active role, as well as having Kevin and Annie form a dual attack in the worlds of both radio and streaming & digital. Kevin’s radio singles batting average here is unmatched in the industry, and Annie comes from leading streaming and digital strategies at the biggest label in the business. With our company intentionally focused on maintaining a very small group of artists who benefit from dedicated attention, there will be tremendous impact on our roster.”
The Triple Tigers roster currently includes Scotty McCreery, Russell Dickerson and Jordan Fletcher. Triple Tigers’ longtime distribution partner is The Orchard, a global leader and member of Sony Music Entertainment.
“I am very proud and honored to be entrusted with a leadership role at Triple Tigers,” said Herring. “This is an amazing group of people and artists who are dedicated to making world class country music and lifting up the artists, songwriters, format and community.”
“I am excited to be joining George, Kevin and the team at Triple Tigers,” added Ortmeier. I have admired Triple Tigers and the incredible success they have had thus far, and am looking forward to being able to build upon that success with Scotty, Russell, Jordan and the team!”
Congratulate Herring via kevin@tripletigers.com and Ortmeier via annie@tripletigers.com. Reach Couri via george@triple8mgmt.com and Nix at norbert@viscyrl.com.
L to R: Kevin Herring, Annie Ortmeier, George Couri | Photo Credit: Robby Klein
Alkaloid Streaming New Album A Day Early
Alkaloid are metal's maddest scientists. The Bavarian band have crafted songs about what lies beneath the Arctic crust, on top of an ongoing, multi-part saga about a galactic civilization that ascends to god-like levels of domination.
'Numen' is their most intricate, thought-provoking and batshit insane album yet. The 70-minute behemoth hits shelves and streaming platforms tomorrow, but you can listen to all eleven tracks now thanks to our friends at No Clean Singing.
Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/alkaloid-numen
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/numenpresave
Alkaloid are still bonded together by their love of extreme metal. After all, they are a super group that's assembled from foundational members of Obscura, Dark Fortress, Triptykon and other genre heavyweights. The fiery, finger-tapped solo that squiggles loose halfway through lead single "Clusterfuck" is crushed like an ant between colliding moons.
But Numen finds the band playing around with all kinds of experiments. "The Cambrian Explosion" flips death metal on its horned head with seductive flurries of jazz and flamenco, while the title track is a dizzying seven-minute yarn of how a supermassive black hole came to burp up an unheard-of cosmic artifact that gives both the song - and the album - its name.
"We proudly present our third album 'Numen', says Alkaloid. "Where 'The Malkuth Grimoire' dealt with the rearrangement of existing particles into new forms, and 'Liquid Anatomy' with the creation of new particles, this album looks at the universe from the perspective of imaginary deities detached altogether from the cycle of life and death of incarnated organisms. This hypothetical viewpoint is reflected on the scales of both biological and cosmological processes. If one could shape and manipulate life and the cosmos itself, how would one go about it, and what would it mean for everything in that cosmos?
Progressive extreme metallers Alkaloid prepare to unfurl their new many-tentacled full-length, 'Numen' via Season of Mist. Featuring members of Triptykon, Obscura, Dark Fortress, and Obsidious, the Germany-based quartet of Morean (vocals, guitars, concepts), Hannes Grossmann (drums), Christian Münzner (guitars), and Linus Klausenitzer (bass) construct upon, expand away from, and journey between previous full-lengths The Malkuth Grimoire (2015) and Liquid Anatomy (2018) on Numen. In every respect, Alkaloid recommence the purposeful warp of various metallic genres they dimensionally blur. Tracks like the video single for "Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” and “Numen” posit heavy cosmological/Lovecraftian theoretic themes on top of musically-adept songs that are accessible yet undeniably intricate.
“We’ve all been around the block a few times by now as metal musicians,” says songsmith Morean. “The feeling that we’ve outgrown the narrow niche of pure extreme metal was a main motivator to start this band in the first place, ten years ago. The ‘prog’ tag is handy for us because, per definition, it already encompasses a wider range of possible styles and influences we can get away with than any one specific metal genre. This means we could ensure from the beginning that we’ll always be able to write whatever we want, no matter how crazy our ideas become. The heart of this band is always the songwriting, and we all like complex and virtuosic music in all its diverse manifestations. However, we do share a love for death metal as the smallest common denominator in the band, and we wanted to make sure no one thinks that just because we include melodies, clean guitars, and influences from other genres, we’d automatically sacrifice the brutality and relentless esthetic of extreme metal.”
'Numen' was written during the pandemic, but it was planned long before the scourge of disease wracked humanity. As a result, the songwriting sessions were predictably not "in the room" but over the Internet after the band members had isolated and worked on their constituent parts. Demos flew back and forth. Then, Tunker left amicably for personal reasons. Alkaloid could’ve folded, but the close-knit group soldiered on. They intensely relied on the professionalism and dependability of the collective to drive 'Numen' to completion. The complications of the two years it took to sonically inscribe the album into aeonic vastness didn’t fragment the end result. Instead, the process accelerated Alkaloid’s lambent, eldritch explorations. “Clusterfuck,” “The Cambrian Explosion,” “Numen,” and “A Fool’s Desire” expertly bridge the past to the future, where Alkaloid’s originative, daedal storytelling captures (and holds hostage) the imagination.
The title, 'Numen', got its start at the dawning of Alkaloid. It’s a word that Morean fell in love with immediately, and he knew it had a place in his creative endeavors. Whereas The Malkuth Grimoire talked about combining existing elements into new structures, and Liquid Anatomy dealt with the creation of new elements, 'Numen' tries to look at the universe from a kind of meta-perspective from an imaginary god, as if the space that everything happens in was given a voice and a role as observer and shaper of everything that happens. In it, sentient panspermic mycelia are swathed in Lovecraftian nastiness—like Shub-Niggurath and the Fungi from Yuggoth—while the new Dyson chapters interpret the aspiration to reach divinity rather literally, reshaping the entire galaxy by manipulating spacetime itself. Desperate to escape their doom, the Cephalopods from previous songs have returned, too. 'Numen' is dense but not impenetrable. In fact, from the first moments of opener, "Qliphosis," to the final contemplation of closer "Alpha Aur,” Alkaloid prove to be more charismatic than ever.
Line-up
Morean - guitars, vocals
Christian Münzner - guitars
Linus Klausenitzer - bass
Hannes Grossmann - drums
Recording Studio: Mordor Sounds, Nürnberg, Germany.
Producer: Hannes Grossmann & Alkaloid
Recording & mixing: Hannes Grossmann
Mastering: Alan Douches at West West Side Music studio in Hudson Valley, NY.
Guest musicians
Adam Wallis, Cydney McQuillan-Grace, John Schaffer, Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo, Shannon Bedford
Additional choir tracks on "The Cambrian Explosion" and "Shades of Shub-Niggurath"
Former Alkaloid guitarist Danny Tunker contributed to "The Cambrian Explosion"
Artwork & photos: Christian Martin Weiss
Biography: Chris Dick
Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/alkaloid-numen
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/numenpresave
Format
Digital download
CD Digipak w/mediabook
Black Vinyl (Gatefold)
Coloured Vinyl (Gatefold)
Links
https://alkaloid-band.com/
https://www.facebook.com/alkaloid.metal
https://www.instagram.com/alkaloid_metal/
https://twitter.com/AlkaloidBand
https://www.youtube.com/c/Alkaloidbandmetal
https://alkaloid-band.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KMQDFaAsPEKcqKzdvkYKc
Singer/Songwriter/ Multi-Instrumentalist Sierra Levesque Releases Debut Single “GET OFF MY STAGE”!
Stream/Purchase "GET OFF MY STAGE":
https://sierralevesque.hearnow.com/
https://linktr.ee/sierralevesquemusic
Sierra Levesque, the formidable singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, has taken the music scene by storm with the release of her highly anticipated debut single, "GET OFF MY STAGE." The track, a masterful blend of Levesque's distinct artistry and the renowned production expertise of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, became available on all major music platforms on September 1, 2023.
Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, a celebrated musician known for his work with iconic bands like Sons Of Apollo, Asia, and as a former member of Guns 'N Roses, has lent his prodigious talents to produce, mix, and master this groundbreaking single. Thal's touch adds a layer of sonic brilliance that elevates "GET OFF MY STAGE" to a level of sonic excellence that's bound to resonate with music enthusiasts across the globe.
“I am very excited for everyone to hear my debut single, 'GET OFF MY STAGE'! This song is a combination of classic rock and modern pop influences, and it's sure to have any listener humming along!” says Sierra Levesque.
Sierra Levesque is an 18-year-old Rock singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist, bassist, and drummer from Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. Her goal is to help lead the NEW GENERATION of Rock 'N Roll.
Recognized by Guitar.com as being “Gen Z’s Most Ambitious New Guitarist” and one of "10 Young Shredders Shaping Rock and Metal Today", Sierra's love for Rock music came from listening at a very young age to many Classic Rock and Heavy Metal bands from the 70s and 80s.
Sierra has been described as a combination of the powerful voice of Ann Wilson and the skilled, catchy guitar playing of Nancy Wilson.
Her musical influences throughout the years have been Pop, Rock and Metal acts such as Avril Lavigne, Ghost, Heart and Scorpions.
Having won the 2019, 2022, and 2023 MyFM Spirit Award for "Best Local Musician" in Pembroke, Sierra has already gained notoriety from large media outlets, as well as from some powerful figures in the Rock music industry including Nancy Wilson (Heart), Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (Sons Of Apollo, Asia, ex Guns 'N Roses), DJ Ashba (SIXX A.M, ex Guns 'N Roses), Desmond Child (Songwriter for Bon Jovi, Joan Jett, KISS), and Mark Slaughter (Slaughter) to name a few.
Sierra's powerful vocals, hard rocking guitar riffs, and relatable original songs always take every stage by storm!
Osiah Unleash New Single + Music Video "Kardashev Denied" (via Unique Leader Records)
Deathcore quartet Osiah has dropped their new bone-crushing track "Kardashev Denied"and the accompanying music video. Speaking about today's release, the band shared:
"Osiah would like to present to you the debut offering from their upcoming fourth album. The single "Kardashev Denied" marks the band's first appearance as a four-piece, and showcases the bands new found musical identity, crafted and tempered after their experimental offering ‘Chronos’ released earlier this year."
Stream "Kardashev Denied" here and watch the official music video below.
UK Osiah fans have their chance to see the band on tour with Necrotted. For ticket information please click here, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for more Osiah news coming very soon.
Upcoming Tour Dates with Necrotted:
September 29 - Plymouth - The Junction
September 30 - Derby - The Hairy Dog
October 1 - London - New Cross Inn
October 2 - Bristol - The Crofters Rights
October 3 - Manchester - Satans Hollow
October 4 - Sheffield - Corporation
October 5 - Glasgow - Audio
October 6 - Newcastle - The Cluny 2
October 7 - Birmingham - The Devils dog
Hailing from the extreme music melting pot that is the northeast of England, Osiah transcends the deathcore label with what could possibly be the most torturous barrage of filth the UK has produced in recent years. Crushingly intense breakdowns and deathly chops tread a familiar path, but jarringly detuned guitars, unpredictable tempo changes and vocals that range from wide-ranging pitched screams to commanding guttural bowel openers add an extra evil to the sound that cannot be put into words.
After releasing their first EP 'Reborn Through Hate' in 2015, Osiah released their first full-length album ‘Terror Firma’ in June 2016 via Siege Music. The album gained praise from Metal Hammer Magazine, Bloody Disgusting, and many other prestigious publications, cementing the band as the hottest and heaviest band on the UK deathcore scene.
The resulting work lead to the band signing to Unique Leader Records in 2018 and releasing their sophomore album 'Kingdom of Lies' in 2019. In 2021, Osiah released their third album 'Loss' and unleashed their latest EP 'Chronos' in early 2023.
Sammy Radio Announces New Show , RUSH HOUR, with MARK GUYVER!
SAMMY RADIO has announced their new show, RUSH HOUR, hosted by MARK GUYVER! Created for all the RUSH fans of the world, RUSH HOUR is an hour long featured show, every Tuesday, 5pm to 6pm PST, featuring one of the most iconic bands of all time. What a way to end the work day, right? Showcasing an hour of killer studio, live, and bootleg music, the show will also include interview clips from the historic past to the present!
From the beginning of RUSH’s career, to present day, no other band has a catalog so massive and so impressive, that we will literally never run out of content. So if you love RUSH, no matter where you live in this Rock & Roll world, it’s easy to tune in to SammyRadio.Com at 5pm every Tuesday to get your drive time fix of the most loved rock band to ever hit the radio, only heard on the World Famous, Worldwide Streamed Sammy Radio! And don’t forget to download the free Sammy Radio APP, so you can hear kick ass Rock & Roll no matter where you’re at!
Scroll to the bottom of the page, choose your operating system, then simply download. We’ve made it easy for you to hear the best Rock & Roll, anytime, anywhere, all on Sammy Radio.com!!
Other Shows to Not Miss on SAMMY RADIO:
Sammy Hagar’s Top Rock Countdown! Of course hosted by the incredible, legendary SAMMY HAGAR, heard right here on Sammy Radio, Saturday’s at 7pm PST, and Sundays at 9pm PST!
Rock & Roll Happy Hour with MARK & MIKE 3-6 PM PST Only streaming on SammyRadio.com!
All past episodes can be heard at: https://rockandrollhappyhourwithmarkandmike.podbean.com/
Streets of Rock & Roll Radio Show hosted by RON KEEL himself, right here on Sammy Radio, Monday’s, 5-6 PM PST!
The Metal Injection Festival Announces Daily Set Times
The moment fans have been waiting for is here; The Metal Injection Festival is now revealing the daily set times for its inaugural event! The festival will take over Orange County, CA this weekend, September 16-17, across two iconic venues - The Observatory and House of Blues Anaheim. The stacked and diverse lineup is a melting pot of genres, inclusive to both legendary bands as well as emerging and underground artists worth discovering. The full schedule can be found below!
Saturday, September 16 @ The Observatory
10:30 P.M. || Max & Iggor Cavalera (Performing a special Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastationset)
9:00 P.M. || Exhumed
7:45 P.M. || Incite
6:30 P.M. || Fueled By Fire
5:30 P.M. || Dead Heat
Sunday, September 17 @ House of Blues Anaheim
MAINSTAGE:
10:00 P.M. || Testament
8:30 P.M. || Machine Head
7:10 P.M. || Fear Factory - (Performing a special Demanufacture & Obsolete set)
5:55 P.M. || Spirit Adrift
4:40 P.M. || Exmortus
3:30 P.M. || Agriculture
SECOND STAGE:
7:50 P.M. || Kyng
6:30 P.M. || Contracult Collective
5:20 P.M. || Upon Stone
4:00 P.M. || Thrown Into Exile
Tickets for day one are now on sale HERE while day two tickets are available HERE.
ICYMI:
Ecstatic black metal outfit Agriculture has been added to the lineup in place of Xibalba, who can no longer make it due to unforeseen circumstances.
To further spice up the festivities, Metal Injection will be hosting an official after party on the first night of performances! Featuring a rockin' set of heavy metal classics by DJ Painkiller Kim, the rager will take place on September 16 at The Constellation Room (The Observatory) and is FREE for all to attend for festival ticket holders!
Metal Injection recently shared a specially curated playlist to pump up fans ahead of this spectacular event! Featuring music from each band on the lineup, the playlists can now be heard via Apple Music and Spotify.
"I've always dreamed of having my own festival as a kid, I mean what metal head hasn't!?" Explains Metal Injection founder and company director Frank Godla. "I even wrote it down on a future goal plan for Metal Injection in the early days. When my Slay At Home virtual fest really took off during the pandemic, and reached communities in over 60 countries, it suddenly seemed possible, even overdue.
"Today, I bring you the first ever Metal Injection Festival. Two days days of killer bands ranging from thrash, death, industrial, hardcore, and more from legendary names to the ones worth discovering. We'll also have some really sweet giveaways, a learning area for amazing causes I believe in, and special setlists including the legendary Max & Iggor Cavalera performing Morbid Visions and Bestial Devastation records in entirety, and Fear Factory celebrating their game changing Demanufacture and 25th anniversary of Obsolete with us!
"Every new endeavor has to start somewhere, and I couldn't be more stoked to have this group of amazing bands be part of MI history!"
To further commemorate this exceptional event, Metal Injection is now sharing a special video announcement, which can be found below.
Sponsored by Metal Blade Records, Nuclear Blast, Century Media, Thunderflix and ESP Guitars, the face-melting program will also have a learning booth in support of two very important causes, MusiCares and Suicide Prevention. This initiative will help educate attendees on mental health awareness and related resources for fans and musicians in need.
That's not all! Courtesy of ESP Guitars, Metal Injection will be raffling off a pair of ESP axes signed by each headliner. Night one's guitar will be signed by Max Cavalera while night two's prize will be signed by Alex Skolnick.
Keep those horns high and mighty and stay tuned for more info!
Follow Metal Injection:
Invent Animate Share "Heavener" Video
Progressive metalcore head-turners INVENT ANIMATE — vocalist Marcus Vik, guitarists Keaton Goldwire and Trey Celaya, drummer Brody Smith, and bassist Caleb Sherraden — released their head-turning fourth album HEAVENER earlier this year via UNFD. Get it here.
Today, they have shared the visually arresting video for the title track, which does not appear on the original release. The video demands multiple viewings, as it is full of fast-moving, somewhat blurred visuals — offering up a different perspective every time you watch it.
This song has beautiful, shimmering qualities, which show off the band's deftness with dynamics. It was written as a continuation of the album Heavener, with the intention to encompass the entire feeling of the album.
Watch it below.
"In a time of internal panic, having a person that constantly reminds you that they have a place of home, can be crucial when trying to bring someone down to earth again," states Vik. "The song 'Heavener' is about reassurance, it's about trying to convince your closest person that you see and hear them in their internal and helpless drift. A lot of love and pain goes into the work of showing the one closest to you that only they can create their own internal heaven, as they are their own 'Heavener.'"
Goldwire furthers, "We actually had a few 'B sides' sitting around but we're really stubborn in thinking that the next thing we write will always be better than the thing before. Caleb had the idea to make a song titled 'Heavener' after the record was done and I got to work trying to make a song that seemed like it encompassed the feeling of the album as a whole. Going into the lyrics, Marcus, too, wrote a song that defined Heavener for him, since it's not necessarily one idea or thing. We wanted to try our best to wrap everything up into one song as a sort of 'end credits,' so to speak."
The band will return the road in September on a Fall 2023 headline run. Void of Vision, thrown, and Aviana will serve as support. The tour kicks off at House of Blues in Dallas on September 22 and runs through October 23 in Phoenix. All dates are below.
VIP packages are available here.
INVENT ANIMATE ON TOUR:
WITH VOID OF VISION, THROWN, + AVIANA:
9/22—Dallas, TX—House of Blues
9/23—San Antonio, TX—The Rock Box
9/24—Houston, TX—Studio at Warehouse Live
9/26—West Palm Beach, FL—Respectable Street
9/27—Winter Park, FL—The Conduit
9/28—Atlanta, GA—The Masquerade (Purgatory)
9/29—Nashville, TN—The End
9/30—Greensboro, NC—Hangar 1819
10/1—Baltimore, MD—Baltimore Soundstage
10/2—Philadelphia, PA—Warehouse on Watts
10/3—Brooklyn, NY—The Brooklyn Monarch
10/4—Hartford, CT—Webster Underground
10/6—Montreal, QC—Fairmount Theatre
10/7—Toronto, ON—Velvet Underground
10/8—Horseheads, NY—The L
10/9—Lakewood, OH—The Foundry
10/10—Ferndale, MI—The Loving Touch
10/11—Chicago, IL—Cobra Lounge
10/13—Denver, CO—Marquis Theatre
10/14—Salt Lake City, UT—Kilby Court
10/16—Portland, OR—Star Theatre
10/17—Vancouver, BC—Rickshaw Theatre
10/18—Seattle, WA—The Funhouse
10/20—Cupertino, CA—The X Bar
10/21—Fresno, CA—Full Circle Brewery
10/22—Anaheim, CA—Chain Reaction
10/23—Phoenix, AZ—The Rebel Lounge
LISTEN TO INVENT ANIMATE:
"Shade Astray"
"Without A Whisper"
"Immolation of Night"
"Elysium"