Darius Rucker Surprised as CMA Humanitarian of the Year on "The Kelly Clarkson Show"

Three-time GRAMMY Award-winner Darius Rucker was honored with the 2023 CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award during his appearance on “The Kelly Clarkson Show” yesterday, Oct. 23, where he spoke about his late mother Carolyn Rucker and explained how the namesake of his new album, Carolyn’s Boy, directly inspired his passion for giving back. Watch HERE.
 
“When I was a kid, she instilled in us that you help people – not people that are less fortunate; you help people that need help,” Rucker shared with Clarkson of one of his mom’s greatest lessons, also noting, “We grew up in a really poor neighborhood with not much and, you know, there was no reason for me to believe that I was gonna be here and make it. But she always instilled in me ‘believe in yourself, you can do whatever you want.’”
 
As Forbes proclaims, “Carolyn’s boy has done okay. She’d be proud of him for the music, and so much more,” with American Songwriter adding, “Rucker boasts one of the most appealing singing voices in music… But it’s not just his pipes that are appealing. It’s his warm, sunny personality, too.”
 
Rucker also joined the latest ABC News “Prime Playlist” episode to discuss the album and his mother’s influence (watch HERE), in addition to taking “PBS NewsHour” to his hometown of Charleston, S.C. where he shared more about the album and showcased his personally curated Riverfront Revival Music Festival (watch HERE).
 
The CMA Foundation Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual who has served as a humanitarian through community leadership, financial support, personal volunteerism and advocacy. The individual honored has evidenced commitment to worthwhile causes that are important to the Country Music Association and the Country Music community. Rucker is a four-time CMA Awards nominee, taking home the CMA New Artist of the Year honor in 2009. 
 
He pledged his support to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital after an inspiring firsthand visit 15 years ago and, as a result, created the “Darius and Friends” charity auction, golf tournament and concert in 2010. Taking place each year in the days leading into CMA Fest, friends performing with Rucker in past years have included Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill, Ashley McBryde, A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys, Brad Paisley and Kenny Rogers among others. The event has now surpassed the $3.6 million mark, raising funds to benefit the research hospital leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
 
Rucker also 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. – an effort directly inspired by his mom’s career as a MUSC nurse – and has advocated for over 200 charitable causes supporting public education and junior golf programs in South Carolina through the Hootie & the Blowfish Foundation while also serving as a National Chair for the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville.  
 
For more information, 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 topped the charts at Country radio once again with “Beers And Sunshine” in 2021 and his brand new album Carolyn’s Boy, featuring his latest single, “Fires Don’t Start Themselves,” is available everywhere now.
 
About the Country Music Association
Founded in 1958, the Country Music Association is the first trade organization formed to promote a type of music. CMA created the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961 to recognize artists and industry professionals with Country Music’s highest honor. Music industry professionals and companies across the U.S. and around the globe are members of CMA. The organization serves as an educational and professional resource for the industry and advances the growth of Country Music around the world. This is accomplished through CMA’s core initiatives: the CMA Awards, which annually recognize outstanding achievement in the industry; CMA Fest, which benefits the CMA Foundation and music education and is taped for a three-hour network television special, “CMA Fest”; and “CMA Country Christmas." All of CMA’s television properties air on ABC. For more information about CMA and the Association’s awards and initiatives, visit CMAworld.com.

Photo Credit: Weiss Eubanks

AWARD-WINNING ENTERTAINER JASON ALDEAN CELEBRATES 28th CAREER #1 WITH “TRY THAT IN A SMALL TOWN”

Multi-Platinum entertainer Jason Aldean’s “Try That In A Small Town” today topped the Country Aircheck/Mediabase charts, earning the Georgia-native his twenty-eighth career No. 1. The chart-topping single, which hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart earlier this year, marks the first No. 1 off of his highly-anticipated 11th studio album, HIGHWAY DESPERADO, outNovember 3rd. 

 

HIGHWAY DESPERADO features fourteen total tracks and in addition to “Try That In a Small Town”includes “Whiskey Drink,” written by Kurt Allison, Jonathan Edwards, Tully Kennedy, and John Morgan, as well as “Tough Crowd,” and “Let Your Boys Be Country.” The album also features three tracks co-written by Aldean, including the album’s title track. The ACM Artist of the Decade entertainer first introduced new music from the album in May with the release of the fan-appreciation anthem, “Tough Crowd” at this year’s ACM Awards, where the 3X ACM Entertainer of the Year winner was again an Entertainer of the Year nominee. The album, HIGHWAY DESPERADO, is available for pre-save/pre-add now, including exclusive pre-order packages here. 

HIGHWAY DESPERADO follows his album MACON, GEORGIA, which earned praise from Rolling Stone, Stereogum, The Tennessean, Entertainment Tonight, E! News and more.  The album earned Aldean his 27th career-charting #1 single, "Trouble With A Heartbreak,” as well as a Billboard Music Award nomination for “Top Country Song” and awards from ACM, CMT, iHeart, and a GRAMMY nomination for “If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood. Since making his chart debut in 2005, the Georgia native has earned the most Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart - more than any other artist - his “songs of small-town living, love and loss have resonated with a loyal fanbase” (Billboard) and have “vaulted him to the pinnacle of Country music success” (Atlanta Journal Constitution). His current tour of the same name continues through October 27th. For more information on Jason Aldean including additional tour dates and new music, visit www.JasonAldean.com.
 

Photo Credit: Brian Higbee

REMAINING HIGHWAY DESPERADO 2023 TOUR DATES: 
Fri Oct 27 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
Sat Oct 28 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

About Jason Aldean: 

3X ACM Entertainer of the Year and ACM Artist of the Decade Jason Aldean has bolstered 27 No. 1 hits, over 18 billion streams, and more than 20 million albums sold with “his own recipe…one that has vaulted him to the pinnacle of Country music success” (Atlanta Journal Constitution). He has earned the most Top 10 songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart - more than any other artist - since his debut in 2005, with “songs of small-town living, love and loss that have resonated with a loyal fanbase” (Billboard). Currently on his sold-out Highway Desperado tour across the US, the Georgia native continues his “country superstar status" (Variety) with his forthcoming 11th studio album, HIGHWAY DESPERADO, which is set to be released November 3rd. In addition to three tracks co-written by Aldean, the album features “Tough Crowd”-which he debuted at the 2023 ACM Awards as an Entertainer of the Year nominee-as well as his career first Hot 100 chart-topping hit, “Try That In A Small Town,” and fan-favorite tracks “Let Your Boys Be Country” and “Whiskey Drink.” Produced by longtime producer Michael Knox, HIGHWAY DESPERADO is the follow up to Aldean’s tenth studio album, MACON, GEORGIA, which debuted to critical acclaim, with Stereogum naming it an "Album of the Week” and the Tennessean praising that “MACON, GEORGIA finds Aldean honed in on his vision for this era of his career” and “kicks off his career's next era.” The project’s featured the history-making, multi-week No. 1 "powerful duet" (Rolling Stone) ”If I Didn’t Love You” with Carrie Underwood, which earned Aldean his 26th career #1 at Country radio and won ACM Single of the Year, iHeartRadio Country Song of the Year, and CMT Collaborative Video of the Year as well as Billboard and GRAMMY nominations. For more information on Jason Aldean including tour dates and pre-save/pre-add information for HIGHWAY DESPERADO, visit www.jasonaldean.com.

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HUNTERGIRL'S “AIN’T ABOUT YOU” IMPACTS RADIO TODAY

America’s sweetheart, vocal powerhouse, and esteemed songwriter HunterGirl’s powerful “Ain’t About You” today impacts country radio, securing this week’s coveted most-added accolade on Wheelhouse Records, locking in 46 first-week stations in markets including San Francisco, Houston, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Detroit, Minneapolis, Charlotte, Portland, Ore., and San Antonio.

HunterGirl is the first female country artist in over 30 years to write her debut radio single by herself. “Ain’t About You” is produced by award-winning producer Lindsay Rimes (Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini).

“Having a song on country radio has been my dream since I was a little girl,” says HunterGirl. “‘Ain’t About You’ was supposed to be my ‘I’m leaving Nashville song,’ and it ended up being my ‘staying in Nashville song.’ I hope that anyone who is thinking about giving up on their dreams hears this song and decides to give it a second chance.”

“HunterGirl is an amazing singer and songwriter, but what really differentiates her is her heart, which is on full display when she meets fans, radio programmers and even strangers on the street," says Ken Tucker, VP of Promotion, Wheelhouse Records. "She’s a generational talent, and I can’t wait to watch her journey. ‘Ain’t About You’ is a song that she wrote entirely on her own, and for a debut single on a female country artist, that's a benchmark that hasn't been hit in the last 30 years." 

Having grown up winning singing and songwriting competitions and cutting her teeth performing on Lower Broadway, the American Idol runner-up came home from back-to-back writing sessions one day with an ache she just couldn’t shake. Seeing the success of her friends - signing record and publishing deals - she couldn’t help but wonder if she was on the right path, still chasing her musical dream in Nashville, when she hadn’t made much leeway. 

Discouraged with a breaking heart, trembling voice and eyes filled with tears, she put pen to paper for a 45-minute conversation with Jesus. Written just two weeks before she auditioned for ABC’s American Idol, the hauntingly honest words of “Ain’t About You” flooded out of her like a resounding prayer, reminding her there’s “purpose in the wait.” 

Scared of rejection, she kept the song a secret, until she finally had some liquid courage and sang it for American Idol winners Chayce Beckham and Noah Thompson at a BBQ cookout where they were passing around a guitar. It wasn’t until she heard their shocked response and fervent encouragement that she finally decided it was time to share it, and since the release of the heart-stirring song, it has already received tremendous praise from People, PopCulture, American Songwriter, CMT, Entertainment Tonight, Taste of Country, The Boot and more: 

Photo Credit: David McClister

“HunterGirl ‘peeled back her soul’ and the song - a soulful tearjerker of a ballad questioning if ‘tomorrow's the day those closed doors will open up’ poured from her like water and wine.”
– Tennessean


“It's an inspiring anthem for anyone seeking their true calling, made even more powerful by the circumstances under which she wrote it.” – Sweety High


“‘Ain’t About You,’ is a product of this experience as it uncovers an authentic look into the power of prayerand patience in her personal journey.” – Country Now


“The raw track is full of chilling conviction. The striking and painfully relatable lyrics truly fall out of the Tennessee girl in the most honest and humble of ways.” – All Country News


“HunterGirl showcases exactly why America fell in love with her in this song.” – Country Swag

About HunterGirl:

A Tennessee native, singer/songwriter HunterGirl has been performing since she was three years old and writing songs since she was nine. In her early teens, she performed at venues across the United States, competed in singing competitions and won the 2014 Texaco Country Showdown. After graduating high school, she moved to Nashville and immediately started playing gigs at Nashville’s most famous venues including Tootsie’s, Rippy’s, Jason Aldean’s Bar, The Listening Room, and HonkyTonk Central, winning songwriting contests such as “Nash Next” and the prestigious “Nashville Songwriter Association International” in her spare time. Due to having family members who served in the military, HunterGirl holds a deep admiration for our Country’s armed forces and tenaciously works with many veteran organizations, where she uses music therapy to transform veterans’ stories into songs. She’s shared the stage with Country superstars Old Dominion, Florida Georgia Line, Kane Brown, Alan Jackson, Lainey Wilson, Trace Adkins, Charlie Daniels, Sara Evans and more. Last year, she competed on American Idol, where the “country singer with a bright future” (Hollywood Life) delivered standout performances that Taste of Country called “impressive,” “shining,” “chill-worthy,” and “glowing,” winning the hearts of millions across the country. Praised by Idol judge and Country superstar Luke Bryan as the “new age Miranda Lambert” and his “favorite female Country voice,” “HunterGirl has wowed the Country music community since she stepped foot onto the American Idol stage” (Billboard). “Despite missing out on the win, her crooning vocals and intimate original song, ‘Red Bird,’ has made her one to watch in the Country scene (American Songwriter). Skyrocketing to No. 1 on iTunes All-Genre and Country charts, “the budding Country star” (Taste of Country) performed her heartfelt and deeply personal original track “Red Bird” on Live with Kelly & Ryan and has appeared on Good Morning America. Now, with the release of her label debut tracks “Hometown Out Of Me,” “Lonely Outta You” and her hauntingly powerful debut radio single “Ain’t About You,” driven by her distinct and genuine vocals, unwavering tenacity, and heart of gold, HunterGirl is on the fast track to becoming Country’s next big female artist.

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Windsor's Jared Anthony and Legendary Rap Icon Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels of RUN-DMC Team Up for New Rap/Rock Collaboration

Jared Anthony is an edgy, melodic rapper/singer/songwriter/producer from Ontario, Canada. His musical style blends many influences of pop, rock, and alternative, with a heavy melodic hip hop vibe, but with an eclectic and creative new kind of sound that makes Jared Anthony stand out. Jared Anthony recently collaborated with Legendary Rap Icon, Rock-N-Roll Hall of Famer and Grammy Lifetime Achievement recipient Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels of RUN-DMC on his newest single “Sold My Soul (Bought It Back With Rock 'n' Roll)”.

PREVIEW “SOLD MY SOUL” HERE

“Sold My Soul”, which is scheduled for release Friday, October 27th on all major platforms, will feature an all-star lineup including Jared Anthony and DMC on vocals, John Moyer (Disturbed) on bass, Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves) on rhythm guitar, Will Hunt (Evanescence) on drums, and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Guns ‘N Roses, Sons of Apollo, Asia) on lead guitar. Thal also co-produced (along with manager John Gomez), mixed, and mastered the song. With endorsements by some of the most respected rap and rock performers/musicians in the world, Jared Anthony is poised to breakout and be an artist to watch for in 2024.

“'For ‘Sold My Soul’, we were going for that Old School meets New School rap/rock vibe, I’m super pumped about this new collaboration with the legend DMC, and can’t wait to drop it,” says Jared Anthony.

“This song is to show that the OGs and the Young Gs can work together, so we can make the world better,” said DMC.

Jared Anthony and DMC got to perform “Sold My Soul” together at Rock The Park Music Festival in London, ON to a packed crowd. Watch Teaser Video HERE

Jared Anthony and DMC recently filmed a video for the upcoming “Sold My Soul”track that was directed by Dale "Rage" Resteghini. The official video drops on YouTube on October 31st (Halloween) and premieres on The Power Hour Showwith Matt Pinfield on AXS TV Nov 2nd, so make sure to tune-in at 11pm EST!

Dale has worked with some of the biggest artists in the world and the list of names is almost endless; Guns N’ Roses, Fall Out Boy, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Hatebreed, Pitbull, Diddy, Soulja Boy, Slipknot, Ice Cube, Flo Rida, Cypress Hill, All That Remains, TI, Gym Class Heroes, Method Man, Escape The Fate, Redman, Sevendust, Rick Ross, Tyga, Li’l Wayne, Lil Kim, Trivium, The Game, Everlast, Akon, Lil Jon, Ludacris, Three 6 Mafia, Vanilla Ice, and that is just a sample.

The video will also feature cameos by John Moyer (Disturbed), Doc Coyle (Bad Wolves), Will Hunt (Evanescence), and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Guns ‘N Roses, Sons of Apollo, Asia).

Jared Anthony’s previous single “Back Of My Heart” was a collaboration with enigmatic artist CLEVER, who’s written songs and collaborated with JuiceWRLD, Post Malone, Justin Beiber, and Chris Brown. Prior to that, Jared’s single “Over My Head” featured guest musicians, Matt Noveskey (bass) and Will Knaak (guitar), from platinum-selling alternative rock band Blue October, and Evan Stanley, son of KISS legend Paul Stanley. Additionally, Jared Anthony’s song "Mayday" was a featured track in the best-selling basketball series video game, NBA 2k. His music has garnered over 30 million streams on Spotify, nearly 200k monthly listeners, and his fan base continues to grow exponentially.

In 2021, Jared Anthony and management formed a partnership with music industry guru, Steve Stoute and his new music platform, UnitedMasters. Stoute, who is the founder and CEO of UnitedMasters and Translation, recently closed a $50M Series C at a $550M valuation to further support and empower the artists they work with to find commercial success in the creator economy. UnitedMasters, meanwhile, has helped launch the careers of artists like platinum-selling rapper NLE Choppa, plus Lil Tecca, Tobe Nwigwe, Lil XXEL and others.

"UnitedMasters has an amazing team of like-minded creatives who sincerely want to see their artists succeed in the music industry and grow into global acts,” says manager John Gomez.

“Jared's music has clearly connected with his fans, and his blending of genres only seems to be increasing in popularity,” said Gomez. “Nowadays, artists and bands don’t have to stay within the confines of a particular genre and Jared Anthony is at the forefront of this current hybrid nature in popular music,” concludes Gomez.

“It was an honor to share the stage with DMC and I also got to showcase at the Canadian Music Week Festival for their 40th Anniversary, which was a blast,” says Jared Anthony.

“I’m looking forward to performing more live shows in North America and beyond in 2024,” concludes Jared Anthony.

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The Devil Wears Prada + Fit For A King Announce Winter 2024 Leg of Metalcore Dropouts Tour

SECOND SEMESTER KICKS OFF IN JANUARY

FIT FOR A KING + THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA are thrilled to announce the Winter 2024 leg of the Metalcore Dropouts Tour. The Fall 2023 leg wrapped up last week and the co-headline pairing is so good it needs to keep going!

The Metalcore Dropouts 2nd Semester Tour finds Counterparts returning as support, along with Avoid as openers. 

Leg 2 kicks off on January 16 in Kansas City and runs through February 24 in Minneapolis.

Tickets and VIP upgrades are available here and here and go on sales on Friday, October 27.

"When the Metalcore Dropouts tour started out with such a bang, we knew we had to keep the party going for all of the cities that we missed along the way," says TDWP's Jeremy DePoyster. "The shows have been absolutely psychotic and the hangs have been even better, and we are thrilled to be able to bring our buddies in Avoid along this time. These have been the best TDWP shows of our career, and the energy is pure chaos, insanity, and fun.  The Second Semester will be nonstop mayhem across North America — do NOT miss this tour!"

"Our time on Metalcore Dropouts was so incredible that we wanted to bring the show to even more cities," says FFAK's Ryan Kirby. "So behold… the second semester!"

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA + FIT FOR A KING ON TOUR:
WITH COUNTERPARTS  + AVOID:
1/16 — Kansas City, MO — Uptown Theater
1/17 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ's Live
1/19 — Cincinnati, OH — Bogart's
1/20 — Milwaukee, WI — The Rave
1/21 — Cleveland, OH — House of Blues
1/23 — Buffalo, NY — Town Ballroom
1/24 — Albany, NY — Empire Live
1/26 — Harrisburg, PA — HMAC
1/27 — Huntington, NY — Paramount
1/28 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom
1/30 — Hartford, CT — The Webster
1/31 — Richmond, VA — The National
2/2 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz
2/3 — Myrtle Beach, SC — House of Blues
2/4 — Orlando, FL — House of Blues
2/6 — Corpus Christi, TX — Brewster Street Ice House
02/7 — Austin, TX — Emo's
2/9 — Tucson, AZ — Rialto Theatre
2/10 — San Diego, CA — Soma
2/11 — San Francisco, CA — The Regency Ballroom
2/13 — Boise, ID — Knitting Factory
2/14 — Spokane, WA — Knitting Factory
2/15 — Vancouver, BC — Commodore Ballroom
2/16 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom
2/17 — Seattle, WA — Showbox SoDo
2/20 — Edmonton, AB — Midway Music Hall
2/21 — Calgary, AB — The Palace Theatre
2/23 — Winnipeg, MB — The Park Theatre
2/24 — Minneapolis, MN — The Fillmore

Extortionist Announce Signing With Unique Leader Records And Announce New Upcoming EP 'Devoid' Out December 1

Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, heavy metal mainstays Extortionist have today announced their new signing with Unique Leader Records. In celebration of the news, the band announced their first EP with the label 'Devoid' (set for release on Friday, December 1) and unleashed their new track "Out of Touch" with the official music video. Speaking on today's news, the band shared:

"Extortionist is excited to announce our signing to Unique Leader Records. We are ecstatic to work alongside Jamie and the team at ULR in this next chapter of the band's life. Devoid, our brand new EP, releases worldwide on December 1st, 2023.

Our leading single, "Out of Touch" is both literal and metaphorical in its lyrics, videography, and themes. The story depicts a person battling the 'Hivemind.' This character represents the internal, mental war between authenticity and compromise." 

Pre-save 'Devoid' here, stream "Out of Touch" here, and watch the music video below. Be sure to stay tuned for more Extortionist news coming very soon.

Band names go a long way in helping paint a figurative picture in the listener's mind of what to expect before one ever hits “play.” When it comes to Extortionist, you think crime—you think gritty, raw, merciless and unsavory and maybe, just maybe, a little sprinkling of suaveness. When it comes to the Pacific Northwest’s resident moshslingers, those premonitions from their name are exactly what you get. As a band who have proven themselves exemplary at styles of heavy music ranging from downtempo deathcore to grunge-tinted metal, Extortionist are more than just a jack-of-all-trades; they’re masters. Utilizing bold, roaring guitars overtop crushing, steamrolling percussion and vocals that run the gamut from guttural to grating, pitched singing and topped off with—you guessed it—a now-infamous dodgeball-smack snare, Extortionist have proven that not only are they incredible at what they do, they’re a band that the heavy scene just can’t go without.

Emerging from the relatively understated pastures and prairies of Coeur d’Alene in early 2013, to say Extortionist have been on a journey since their inception would be an understatement. With "The Black Sheep" instantly earning them notoriety with its combination of feral grooves and eviscerating breakdowns, Extortionist proved themselves early on as prodigal masters of all things punishingly heavy. As the band grew and gained more experience on the road in light of the success of their debut EP, their style and dynamic grew as well. After nearly four years of touring and writing, Extortionist would unleash 'The Decline' in 2017, a band that saw their breed of brutalizing deathcore hybridized with riff-heavy metalcore and more introspective lyrics that tackled suicidal ideation and substance abuse. 'The Decline' was met with immense critical praise and continued to open up larger opportunities for the Northwestern act, ultimately earning them multiple co-headlining tours from coast to coast, and a spot on Stay Sick Records, alongside other up-and-coming heavyweights like SPITE and Bodysnatcher. Barely a year and a half after their signing, the band announced their sophomore full-length release, 'Sever the Cord', which saw them experimenting with the inclusion of grunge and alternative influences, adding even more depth and grit to their dynamic. Their sophomore album earned them not only critical acclaim, but nationwide tours alongside The Browning, Betraying the Martyrs, Lorna Shore and First Blood. 'Sever the Cord' was followed shortly thereafter by an eponymous EP which saw them diving deeper into a more exploratory realm of metalcore, colliding ferocious riffs into moments of warm, nostalgic melody. While their self-titled release was widely heralded as the band’s strongest work to date, was declared their Swan Song, as in the weeks that followed towards the back-end of Summer 2019, Extortionist announced their dissolution.

That isn’t the end of Extortionist’s story, however. As 2019 gave way into 2020 and the chaotic months that followed, the heavy music community felt the band’s absence all too strongly. In the early months of 2021, Extortionist announced their return with a series of shows in Spokane, Washington alongside AVOID and Seconds Ago as well as a new single, “Once More in Torment”. Once more highlighting the seamless blend of raunchy aggression and groove-heavy catchiness that only Extortionist can provide, the band’s comeback track is a strong reminder of just how missed they were throughout their nearly two-year absence. Frontman and founding member Benjamin Hoagland states “This is the best place we’ve ever been in as a band...Extortionist lives, and we’re here to stay.” Indeed, with a full-length record in the works and a ferocious return to live performance already underway, it would seem that Exortionist’s relative break was only a brief moment with which to collect themselves before reasserting their dominance over the contemporary metalcore scene. - Connor Welsh

Photo Credit - Jordanne Chapman

Capstan Share Double Singles "Bete Noire" + "Heart to Heart"

Florida five-piece CAPSTAN — Anthony DeMario [vocals], Joe Mabry [guitar], Harrison Bormann [guitar], Andrew "Boz" Bozymowski [bass, vocals], and Scott Fisher [drums] — have shared a double single!

Today, fans can listen to "Bête Noire" and "Heart to Heart."

"'Bête Noire' criticizes a broken system that rewards greed and exploitation while leaving ordinary people in suffering," the band shares. "The song calls for collective action to challenge this unjust status quo and emphasize the need to dismantle the oppressive structures that perpetuate inequality. The repeated chorus lyric of 'Hail to the thief' underscores the message of resistance against those who benefit from this system at the expense of others."

The song is truly a carnival of sounds – thinks gnarly riffs, moshy breakdowns, alternately sung and screamed vocals, and experimental, unusual, and upbeat melodies. It's a gloriously dizzying and layered mix.


The band has also dropped the video for "Heart to Heart." Watch the clip, featuring Belmont and Jason Tyler, below.

Sonically, the song harks back to the glory days of Warped Tour, pop-punk, and emo with its vocal harmonies, singalong choruses, rowdy riffery, and standout solos. It's the best kind of throwback since it transports you to a time long since past — without OD'ing on nostalgia. It also has a very poignant lyrical lean.

"'Heart to Heart' depicts a heartfelt and comforting conversation between partners," Capstan explain. "The lyrics acknowledge the speaker's own shortcomings in listening and paying attention but emphasizes the enduring love and connection they share. The chorus highlights the importance of open communication and vulnerability in their relationship, inviting the other person to let their guard down and be themselves. The song is a message of love, understanding, and the power of shared moments."

Captan are touring next year with Holding Absence.

CAPSTAN ON TOUR:
WITH HOLDING ABSENCE, CASEY, + ACRES:
1/16 — Seattle, WA, US — Neumos
1/17 — Portland, OR, US — Hawthorne Theatre
1/19 — Roseville, CA, US — Goldfield Trading Post - Roseville
1/20 — Los Angeles (LA), CA, US — Echoplex
1/21 — Anaheim, CA, US — Chain Reaction
1/23 — Mesa, AZ, US — The Nile
1/24 — Albuquerque, NM, US — Launchpad
1/26 — Denver, CO, US — Marquis Theater
1/27 — Lawrence, KS, US — The Granada (half house)
1/28 — Dallas, TX, US — South Side Music Hall
1/30 — San Antonio, TX, US — Rock Box San Antonio
1/31 — Houston, TX, US — RISE Rooftop
2/2 — Tampa, FL, US — The Orpheum
2/3 — Atlanta, GA, US — The Masquerade - Hell
2/4 — Nashville, TN, US — The Basement East
2/6 — Lakewood, OH, US — Mahall's
2/7 — Chicago, IL, US — Bottom Lounge
2/9 — Detroit, MI, US — The Shelter
2/10 — Toronto, ON, Canada — Velvet Underground Toronto
2/11 — Montreal, QC, Canada — Le Studio TD
2/13 — Baltimore, MD, US — Baltimore Soundstage
2/14 — New York (NYC), NY, US — Gramercy Arts Theater
2/16 — Philadelphia, PA, US — The Foundry
2/17 — Worcester, MA, US — The Palladium

Capstan released their second album SEPARATE in 2021 via Fearless Records.

A Foreign Affair Share Poignant "Losing The Memory" Video

Sacramento five-piece A FOREIGN AFFAIR have shared the video for the poignant new single "Losing the Memory." Watch it below.

The song appears on the band's new album Still Frame, which is out now.

"I wrote this song as a form of therapy to process my mother's diagnosis with Alzheimer's this year," says singer Alex Strobaugh. "This disease affects so many families and I wanted to pay respect to that pain. In this music video, there are clips from home videos that my family took growing up and it is incredibly personal to me so I hope this conveys a feeling of empathy towards anyone who might be going through the pain that it can bring."

Learn more about how you can help those affected by Alzheimer's disease here.

A Foreign Affair features Alex Strobaugh, former vocalist of Incredible; the tasteful lead guitar playing and electronic nuances by Jared Cambridge; the clean and rhythmic guitars of Nick Blevins; the soulful and punchy bass lines from Jordan Hoover; and hard hitting drum playing from Joe Iuele.

National Recording Artist Frank Ray to Serve as Ambassador for National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund

The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) is pleased to announce that Frank Ray, renowned country music recording artist and former member of law enforcement, has agreed to serve as honorary Chief Ambassador of the fund’s Ambassador Program. Frank Ray's commitment to raising awareness about law enforcement issues and supporting NLEOMF's mission to honor the fallen, tell the story of American law enforcement, and make it safer for those who serve will make a significant impact on the organization’s mission.

In his role as Chief Ambassador, Ray will set the tone for other ambassadors by demonstrating the initiative’s goal of building awareness and generating support for the organization via agencies across the country. This is done through the vision set forth by NLEOMF and the ambassador’s responsibility to inspire all citizens year round to value law enforcement and help display the vital role it plays in our society as a way to honor the sacrifice of thousands of men and women whose names are engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.

“As a former law enforcement officer, it is my absolute honor to partner with an esteemed organization like NLEOMF, which cares deeply for the men and women in blue who proudly serve their communities and fellow citizens daily while honoring the lives lost in the line of duty,” said Ray. “Being an ambassador will allow me to continue serving and stay connected to the profession. I look forward to using my platform to create awareness about mental health in this profession, lend a voice to the burden that many officers face, and share our supportive message with them so they know they are not alone.”

Because of his deep-rooted commitment to the well-being of first responders, earlier this year, Ray launched a first responder-oriented mental health campaign, aptly named "FRAY" to champion First Responders Mental Clarity. He joined US Senator Ben Ray Lujan (New Mexico) for a panel discussion at the US Capitol, focusing on the critical mental health challenges faced by first responders. This initiative will be a cornerstone of his role as ambassador and its ties to NLEOMF’s Officer Safety and Wellness Program.

“We are honored to have Frank Ray join us as Chief Ambassador of this signature program,” said Bill Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. “His dedication and his unique perspective as a former law enforcement officer make him an ideal fit into our ambassador program, and we look forward to working together to make a difference.”

Since the inception of the Ambassador program in early 2022, ambassadors have served as NLEOMF liaisons to law enforcement agencies, providing training and technical assistance to officers as well as attending events as representative of the organization. Learn more about the program and how to become an ambassador here.

About the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund:
Established in 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring the fallen, telling the story of American law enforcement, and making it safer for those who serve. The first pillar of this mission, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C., honors the names of all of the 23,785 officers who have died in the line of duty to date throughout U.S. history. Additionally, NLEOMF maintains and publishes comprehensive details on the circumstances surrounding official line-of-duty deaths. The Officer Safety and Wellness pillar uses that data, coupled with best-practice program models, to produce programming directed at solutions to improve survivability and enhance wellness. NLEOMF’s third pillar, the National Law Enforcement Museum (LawEnforcementMuseum.org) is committed to preserving the history of American law enforcement and sharing the experiences of service and sacrifice for generations to come.

 

About Frank Ray:

Texas chart-topper, bilingual recording artist and former police officer - Frank Ray is busting open the doors for a modern Latino Country movement. Growing up just three miles from the border in New Mexico, Frank, born Francisco Gomez, was immersed in the best of both worlds - enriched by his Mexican culture and surrounded by Texas Country music. Praised as “easygoing contemporary Country with Pop-Soul hooks and a dash of Southwestern spice” (Rolling Stone), Frank’s “catalog is representative of his fun personality and flair” (Country Now), expertly blending ‘90s Texas Country, Latin, R&B and Pop. As an entertainer, Frank delivers electrifying, high-energy performances that has something for everyone. With immense cross-cultural appeal and a panorama of influences, Ray “is looking to stretch Country music’s cultural boundaries” (Los Angeles Times).  

  

In the three short years since embarking on his musical journey full-time, he has racked up two No. 1 singles and three Top 10 singles on Texas Country Radio, become a staff songwriter, landed Frank Rogers (Brad Paisley, Darius Rucker) as his producer, signed a record deal with BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records and much more. Along with being named an “Artist to Watch” by Rolling Stone and Amazon Music USA as well as a “Listen Up Artist” by CMT, Ray has appeared on USA Network’s Real Country, been profiled in the Los Angeles Times and on NBC's TODAY.  

  

Recently on tour with Old Dominion and now performing at major music festivals across the U.S, this former police officer visits first responders through his mental-health initiative FRAY championing First Responders Mental Clarity, at each tour stop providing first responders with the tools, resources and training to promote their mental wellbeing, as well as that of their families and communities. Having shared stages with Luke Combs, Kane Brown, Brett Eldredge, Luke Bryan, Kip Moore, LANCO, Hunter Hayes and more, the versatile entertainer was just named to CRS New Faces’ Class of 2023. Featured on his self-titled, label-debut album, the cheeky “Somebody Else’s Whiskey” is currently climbing the Country radio charts. The album, Frank Ray, is available across streaming platforms. Ray also celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with the release of Raíces (Así Se Hace), a five-track project entirely in Spanish, on September 22.

COLIN STOUGH REACHES THE COUNTRY ROCK PROMISELAND WITH DEBUT EP

Country newcomer and 19 Recordings/BMG artist Colin Stough reaches a milestone that was once just a pipe dream today (10/20), releasing his debut EP, Promiseland.

A heady collision of grungy Southern Rock and pure-Country style featuring six fresh tracks – with all but one co-written by Stough and produced by the likes of Alex Maxwell, Sean Rogers, and Austin Shawn – helps introduce a Mississippi-born vocal flamethrower and guitar slinger with a true underdog story.

Just 19 years old and coming off a standout third-place finish on Season 21 of American Idol in 2022, Stough was still in high school until last year and had been working full-time as an HVAC technician after graduation. But once his mother convinced him to audition for Idol, that life became history.

Now based in Nashville, and mixing a freight train of full-bodied vocal rasp with a down-home blend of Hard Rock and twang, his debut EP marks the culmination of a whirlwind journey – and the start of an exciting new chapter.

“This EP represents who I am and where I’m from,” Stough says. “It speaks to my life these past few years and has become a source of comfort for me. Maybe that’s why I called it Promiseland. I hope it can be that for you, too.”

Along with preparing for the release of Promiseland, Stough has spent 2023 headlining shows across the nation, while also supporting fellow rising star Kidd G and Country-Soul troubadour Drake White. A series of previous singles have so far racked up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, with “‘Til the Day One Does” on deck.

A brooding ballad of romantic longing wrapped in dark Western sonics and Stough’s blowtorch vocal, the low-down anthem co-written by Stough alongside Geoff Warburton, Gavin Lucas, and Austin Shawn is all about an on-the-run loner who may be hard to love – but nevertheless, holds his head high. Crunchy guitars, banjo, and whispering steel set the stage for what’s to come.

"This song is badass, man. It just feels cool, like something you’re supposed to drive around and listen to,” Stough explains. “It touches on the fast lifestyle that I’ve been forced to become adjusted to – but also, it hints at an ability to change. Something that I think we all have to do and can relate to.

About Colin Stough:

A 19-year-old Country Rock phenom and native of Gattman, Mississippi, Colin Stough has come a long way in a few short years – and with his debut EP Promiseland, the 19 Recordings/BMG artist is still just getting started. After learning to play guitar at 8 years old, Stough first pursued artistic dreams at 10, boldly trading childhood possessions for his first guitar at a local pawn shop – an instrument he still plays to this day. After graduating high school, the naturally gifted singer and self-taught songwriter began working full-time as an HVAC technician, before his mother convinced him to audition for American Idol. Impressing judges Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, and Lionel Richie, Stough stunned viewers and soon built a thriving fan base, finishing third on Season 21 of the show in 2022. He spent the ensuing months writing and recording original music, while also touring nationwide to put his blowtorch vocal and guitar-slinging edge on full display. After signing with 19 Recordings/BMG, his distinctive mix of Southern Rock distortion and pure-Country style have helped tracks like “I Still Talk To Jesus” and “Bad Day” rack up more than 9.4 MILLION global on-demand streams, and in September 2023, Stough released the single “Promiseland,” along with an official music video. The hard-hitting anthem is the title track to Stough’s debut EP, which is out now and puts the emerging artist on track to reach even more dreams in the future. Stough has headlined across the country and opened for established artists like Kidd G and Drake White. Stay tuned for much more to come.

Photo Credit: Mike Rodway

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Fancy Hagood's Cinematic Music Video for "Southern Sound" is Out Now.

Singer/songwriter Fancy Hagood is venturing deep into truth and storytelling with his new video for his song “Southern Sound,” which is out today and can be seen below.
 
“Southern Sound” frames the story of a young queer couple as they brave adversity in hopes of building a future together. The deeply emotional, cinematic music video brings the song to life as it delves into some of the difficulties the LGBTQIA+ community often faces within their own families. 
 
“It’s an important story to tell because it’s happening to so many LGBTQIA+ kids,” Hagood told GLADD, who premiered the clip today. “I was inspired to make this video after so many horrible legislative bills harmful to the queer community were introduced across our country. It’s important to shed light on the fact that this is reality for some people.”
 
In the video, a young gay couple seeks refuge after the father of one young man discovers his sexuality and violently kicks him out of the family home. Hagood said it’s an unfortunate truth for many LGBTQIA+ people who have been displaced from their homes because of familial conflict over their sexuality. The moving clip also offers resources for young adults in the LGBTQ+ community who need food, housing, and council.
 
But the video is a message of hope and community and to make it connective, Hagood enlisted the help of family and friends to anchor key moments of the plotline. 
 
The ‘angry father’ at the beginning of the music video is the Brothers Osborne’s father, “Big” John Osborne. On tour with the award-winning duo. eldest brother John and Fancy often co-write and play live together. In addition to performing alongside Fancy onstage, lead singer TJ (and John) has been a guest on Fancy’s “Trailblazer’s Radio” show and a trusted mentor. 
 
Osborne sibling Natalie is Hagood’s manager and says of her father Big John, “he’s such a supportive father and human but has many times witnessed parents who wouldn’t embrace their child’s identity. He understood the importance of this video and wanted to be part of the story.”
 
The video was directed by Ford Fairchild. A Nashville based queer director, Fairchild also directed Brooke Eden’s “Outlaw Love” music video, which Hagood stars in. Hagood cameos in his own “Southern Sound” video as the bartender who encourages the young couple and helps them find a safe place to shelter. 
 
“I don’t know how qualified I am to give advice, but to any LGBTQIA+ youth out there struggling in any way, I would just want them to know how important they are,” said Hagood. “I would want them to know their life has so much value, and they are so worthy of love and the choice to be themselves 100%. It takes so much courage to choose yourself over the ideas people try and place on us.”
 
 “Southern Sound,” written by Hagood along with Jon Green and Tofer Brown, is the first song released from a forthcoming 2024 album. It’s the follow-up to his 2021 highly acclaimed album Southern Curiosity.

About Fancy Hagood:
Fancy Hagood is a proud queer artist from Bentonville, AR, who now calls Nashville home. After college, Fancy got a job at Forever 21, where his coworkers dubbed him “Fancy” after a Drake song of the same name. He released his debut album, “Southern Curiosity,” which has accumulated more than 30 million streams. “Southern Curiosity” was nominated for Best Country Record at The Libera Awards 2022.
 
The same year, he collaborated with Kacey Musgraves on “Blue Dream Baby.” The song prompted Sir Elton John to declare: “We need more people like Fancy.” His hero, Brandi Carlile, called Fancy an "artist to watch."
 
In addition to his artist career, Fancy also hosts Trailblazers Radio on Apple Radio.

MADELINE MERLO DELIVERS HER LATEST EUPHONIC TRACKS “TAKE A BROKEN HEART” AND “YOU’LL THINK OF ME” VIA BBR MUSIC GROUP/WHEELHOUSE RECORDS

Award-winning, breakout country artist and songwriter Madeline Merlo captivates audiences with a sensational joint release via BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records featuring original track "Take a Broken Heart” coupled with Merlo’s stunning rendition of Keith Urban's iconic #1 song, "You'll Think of Me.”

 

Produced by Zach Crowell, “Take A Broken Heart”  speaks to all the places you can go with your broken heart as you drive forward leaving your ex in the past.

“'Take A Broken Heart' is a song that I wrote on a beach writing trip and have been dying to put it out since,” said Merlo. "The song is reminiscent of a conversation I’ve had with my friends many times and a song I have needed to hear myself at times. If someone breaks your heart, don’t give it back to them.”

 

Also produced by Zach Crowell, Merlo delivers a vulnerable and female perspective on Keith Urban’s “You’ll Think Of Me”, a track that tells of being kept awake at night by memories of an ex and finding comfort in the fact that someday the ex will be the one thinking of her on lonely nights. When asked about the opportunity to record one of her favorite Country songs of all time, Merlo explained it as “a dream come true. I sincerely hope fans will enjoy my version of the timeless song, 'You’ll Think Of Me.'"

 

Having “already proven her songwriting chops” (Billboard), Merlo has “long made a career by telling big emotional stories in the span of 3 minute or so songs” (American Songwriter). Similar to her critically acclaimed label-debut EP, Slide, that scored her praise from Billboard, E! News, PopCulture, MusicRowand more, Merlo continues to build her niche as a songwriter and artist, as she brings to life powerful female stories, from budding romances, to growing up and to the lessons learned in-between. “…Ready to make her name and talent known in the American country music landscape” (Country Swag), the “rising country star's” (People) newest projects, “Take A Broken Heart” and “You’ll Think Of Me”, are out now and supplement her previous release "Tim + Faith" that debuted in September to praise and profiles from Billboard, Circle, CMT,  Country Swag & more.

About Madeline Merlo:
Award-winning songwriter and “rising Country star” (Country Now) Madeline Merlo “has long made a career by telling big emotional stories in the span of 3 minute or so songs” (American Songwriter). After scoring impressive Canadian radio play and winning the Canadian Country Music Association’s Rising Star Award (and being nominated twice for Female Artist of the Year), the “breakout talent” (American Songwriter) released a super-charged new song “Same Car” along with her spirited four-track EP Slidevia BBR Music Group/Wheelhouse Records. Produced by Zach Crowell (Dierks Bentley, Sam Hunt, Dustin Lynch) and backed by iridescent beats, Merlo’s collection of songs — all co-written by Merlo — deliver powerful female stories, from budding romances, to growing up, to the lessons learned in between. Winner of the season 2 premiere of the NBC songwriting reality TV series Songland, the Canadian songstress’ captivating track “Champagne Night,” recorded and released by Lady A, went on to be a three-week No. 1 song on US Country radio and earned her the 2021 Canadian Country Music Association Award for Songwriter of the Year. A captivating addition to her repertoire showcasing her authentic storytelling and powerful vocals, Merlo released “Tim + Faith” in September 2023, infused with the warm feeling of everlasting love, the melodious ode and moving tribute pays homage to 90s Country music and the devoted marriage between country music power couple, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill. The latest from Merlo comes with a sensational joint release featuring Merlo’s original track "Take a Broken Heart” and her stunning rendition of Keith Urban's iconic song, "You'll Think of Me.”

Photo Credit: Jack Owens

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HOLY WARS Announce Highly Anticipated EP "CULT CLASSIC"

Genre-blurring provocateurs HOLY WARS are thrilled to announce the forthcoming release of their latest EP, “CULT CLASSIC” on November 10th via Pale Chord Records. Pushing boundaries and defying labels, the "CULT CLASSIC" EP serves as the next chapter in their fearless journey. Fans can pre-save the upcoming EP HERE.

"CULT CLASSIC" a 5 song slasher of venomous assault.

“CULT CLASSIC” sends you into an electrifying odyssey of raw emotion and unrelenting force. From the standout prowess of tracks like "Deus Ex Machina," "BODY//TEMPLE," and title track "CULT CLASSIC", listeners are launched into a tumultuous sonic realm, where ever-shifting tempos, indelible riffs, infectious lyrics, and haunting melodies fuse into a world of distorted beauty. Thematically, this EP pays homage to the cult horror classics but with a twist: the true terror resides not in external monsters, but within—the God of the machine, the mind itself.

Among these gems, "VenoM" exudes a defiant charisma, poised for confrontation, while "TENSION//RELEASE" unveils a hidden layer of depth, threading themes of depression and grief beneath its fabric, providing a breath of fresh air into the EP's intense composition.

Speaking on the EP announcement, vocalist Kat Leon shares:

“Making this EP was a fun and intrusive experience. I wanted to pose the question of what if the horror aka “the monster” was actually inside us? In most thrillers, the monster is an external enemy but in this body of music I really wanted to lean into the internal enemy but also acknowledging how this internal enemy is influenced by our external world and what we are made to feel about ourselves and about others. Cult classic is the climax track revealing the true enemy - the unattainable ideology of what it takes to thrive in a society that is holding each individual under its thumb. I hope this EP and every song displaying the internal struggle of the self, empowers the listener and allows them to have the freedom to unplug and let go of the ever powerful ego."

Sonically, the "CULT CLASSIC" EP lands with the force of a gut punch, melding the eclectic influences of alternative rock, nu metal, hip hop, punk, and pop blurring the lines into a heady concoction with precise intention. Woven within the tapestry of this EP are lyrics that map out a personal voyage—a trek through the self, the ego, and the projections that intertwine with a restless, aggressive psyche.

Nick Perez's deft guitar work and masterfully raw production deliver a sonic landscape that demands replay, teasing nuances and subtleties that may have initially slipped by. Kat Leon's lyrical and vocal prowess strikes at the core with venomous assault that oscillates from intimate whispers to thunderous screams.

Their two previous singles, "BODY//TEMPLE" and "Deus Ex Machina" are a testament to their unrelenting creative spirit and mark the first of many HOLY WARS releases via their brand new label home, Pale Chord, where they join an impressive roster of fellow groundbreaking artists such as Spiritbox, Harper and Thousand Below. These pivotal milestones only further the band’s incessantly gaining momentum garnered from their authentic, DIY approach, which has already yielded nearly 10 million global streams and 700,000 YouTube views across their total catalogue.

Armed with their unpredictable sound, provocative artistry, and the strength of their new label, HOLY WARS continue to defy genres and blow minds. Embrace the weird and stay tuned for more from these sonic shapeshifters soon.

ABOUT HOLY WARS

Los Angeles based duo HOLY WARS, composed of Kat Leon (Vocals) and Nick Perez (Guitars/Production), have a unique and constantly evolving sound that fuses an infectious medley of genres, packed with attitude and lyrical finesse. Newly signed to Pale Chord via BMG, HOLY WARS are excited to usher in a new era of ambitious music starting with new single “Deus Ex Machina”. 

 

Recorded music aside, HOLY WARS’ live shows are an electrifying breeding ground that converts any first timer to a lifelong fan. HOLY WARS take every opportunity to feed off the energy of the crowd and use it to amplify Leon’s charismatic and fearless stage presence which has since allowed them to win over a wide range of audiences. It is no surprise that the band’s high-intensity live performances have led the group to share the stage alongside legendary groups such as Coheed and Cambria, Alkaline Trio, and Papa Roach, to the next generation of up and coming rock artists including The Warning and Scene Queen.

HOLY WARS hit the festival circuit for the first time, gracing the main stages at Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple and Louder Than Life while evaporating the DWP Presents stage at Aftershock, as well as So What?! and Furnace Fest.

Find Holy Wars Online

www.holywarsmusic.com

Post Profit Share Announce "Self Defeater" EP + Share "Drug Emporium" Video

CO-HEADLINE TOUR WITH SILLY GOOSE SET FOR NOVEMBER
 
Newly signed SHARPTONE RECORDS band POST PROFIT — Matt Jackson [vocals, guitar], Nick Hawner [guitar +vocals], and Zach Hicks [drums + vocals] — have announced their new, six-song EP, Self Defeater, out November 17. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for "Drug Emporium." Watch it below.

Visually, it's a youthful romp that will transport you back to those high school afternoons — when you headed for the skateboard and bike ramp as soon as the homeroom bell rang.

 Musically speaking, if you dig The Deftones and Quicksand, you'll love Post Profit and their chunky post-hardcore sound.

"This song is about the growing pains of growing up in the real world," the band explains. "While there's nostalgia in the music, the lyrics are about moving yourself forward and evolving. And since we're all fans of skateboarding, it only made sense to include it in the video."

Fresh off a spate of dates supporting Nothing More and Dead Poet Society, Post Profit will return to the road and embark on a co-headline tour next month with Silly Goose. All dates are below. Get tickets here.

POST PROFIT ON TOUR:
WITH SILLY GOOSE:
11/1 —  Orlando, FL— Level 13
11/3 —  Chapel Hill, NC — Local 506
11/4 —  Washington, DC — DC9
11/6 —  New York, NY — Mercury Lounge (Late Show)
11/8 —  Pittsburgh, PA — Preserving Underground
11/9 —  Ferndale, MI —Loving Touch
11/11 —  Columbus, OH — Summit Music Hall
11/12 —  Chicago, IL — Cobra
11/13 —  St. Louis, MO — Blueberry Hill - Duck Room
11/15 —  Austin, TX — Empire Control Room
11/16 —  Houston, TX — WHL Studio
11/18 —  New Orleans, LA — Parish @ House of Blues
11/20 —  Nashville, TN —The End

ABOUT POST PROFIT
Some would say Post Profit have been waiting for this moment since the cradle, with each member being introduced to musical instruments between the ages of 2 to 6. 

Zach and Matt forged a friendship as toddlers ever since their moms became best friends from church in Longview, TX. Nick would later learn of Matt's vocal prowess through the high school intercom. "Matt's father was the high school principal," explains Nick. "And he'd have Matt on there in the mornings singing about refraining from drugs and alcohol and striving for good school attendance." 

Over the next few years, the trio would really get to know each other from attending and performing at local shows. Nick and Zach especially hit it off and quickly became inseparable, spending much of their time listening to music, eager to put their own band together. Meanwhile, Matt was sinking his teeth into a Dallas based metalcore band called Far From Earth.
 
During early 2017, Matt started hosting open jams every Sunday at a smoky East Texas dive bar and one night asked Zach to join on drums. Zach dragged his new friend Nick along on guitar and the trio quickly formed a strong musical bond. They would soon start slipping originals into their covers sets and after months of unrelenting practices and bar jams they booked their first show at a Halloween party in Tyler, TX.
 
With the experience of countless gigs across the South, Post Profit soon gained a reputation for their commanding and impactful live performance, including powerful 2021 and 2022 performances at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona, FL. Rallying around influences such as Deftones, Incubus, Failure, and Quicksand, the band refined their original songs and sound into what would become their 2022 debut self-produced album When You Think It's Right It's Always Wrong.  The release garnered over a million cumulative streams independently, and the success of their single "Smother" grabbed the attention of SharpTone Records, eventually landing them a deal.

GO AHEAD AND DIE | RELEASE NEW ALBUM UNHEALTHY MECHANISMS + REVEAL MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'DRUG -O-COP'

Arizona death-crusters GO AHEAD AND DIE unleash their caustic sophomore album Unhealthy Mechanisms via Nuclear Blast Records. A torrential whirlwind born from the livid minds of Igor Amadeus Cavalera (HEALING MAGIC) and Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY). This new installment to the band's dystopian catalog is a fresh dive into the madness of society and the pollution that ravages our minds.

In celebration of the new album, the band delivers an outpouring of raw vision in the form of the track, 'Drug-O-Cop'. The single is the perfect mashup of gritty pissed-off punk angst and extreme metal. Check out the RoboCop parody that features Igor Amadeus and Max as corrupt cops.

Max Cavalera states, ‘Igor and I are looking forward to bringing Go Ahead And Die on the road to the fans. We tackled mental health topics that are often taboo and have added to the corruption of civilization. I consider this to be the gnarliest record I have ever collaborated on.”

Igor Amadeus Cavalera comments, "'Drug-O-Cop' is an old-school punk song to its core. Heavily inspired by the late 70’s and 80’s d-beat scene. One of my favorite songs on the record and a big middle finger to the abuse of power acted out by police forces around the world.” 

Purchase Unhealthy Mechanisms on various formats and stream now at:
https://goaheadanddie.bfan.link/gaaduhmech

Watch the music video for 'Drug-O-Cop' directed by Cody Long, below.

Unhealthy Mechanisms was produced by Igor Amadeus Cavalera while John Aquilino handled the recording in his Platinum Underground Studio steeped in the mystic ambiance of the Superstition Mountains’ foothills. The mixing and mastering were once again handled by Arthur Rizk (CAVALERA, SOULFLY, TURNSTILE). For the artwork, the band enlisted Santiago Jaramillo of Triple Seis Design to create the unnerving design that fits with the album title. GO AHEAD AND DIE's newest record is a testament to declining mental health around the world, and a reminder that we are not alone in our pain. The mind is lost. The fuse is lit. Time to set everything ablaze.

Unhealthy Mechanisms is available digitally and in the following formats:

  • CD Jewel

  • Red Cassette (Limited to 400)

  • Vinyl

    • Red W. Black Splatter

    • White W. Black Splatter

GO AHEAD AND DIEis:
Max Cavalera| Vocals, Guitar
Igor Amadeus Cavalera| Vocals, Guitar, Bass 
Johnny Valles| Drums

“A NEW BEGINNING” . . NIGHT OF MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT SET FOR THE RE-IMAGINED PRESTON BRADLEY CENTER

Preston Bradley Center – located at 941 W. Lawrence, in Chicago, Illinois – has served Uptown for over a hundred years. From Preston Bradley's service vision to the Peoples Church Congregation to hundreds of community-based events, 941 W. Lawrence has been an integral entity. Now, it's poised to serve Uptown and the world once more.
 
And on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 from 5:00-7:30pm (doors open 4:30pm), local musical artists will be performing (including Anji Brooks & Chicago Slim, Chicago Blues All-Stars, Lynne Jordan, Kuumba Lynx, Soul Children of Chicago), as well as a discussion on "our vision for a re-imagined Preston Bradley Center." 
 
Several notable figures of the community will be developing the PBC, including Dr. Daniel Ivankovich, who is an award-winning surgeon and Chicago Blues musician, who trained and worked at Northwestern University, RUSH Medical Center and Cook County Hospital. He is also a former Chicagoan of the Year, CNN Hero and Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee. Also Dr. Karla Ivankovich, a board-certified clinical mental health counselor and President of One Patient Global Health Initiative. She has extensive background in leadership, advocacy, and outreach programming. Dr. Ivankovich is also nationally and internationally awarded as an author, clinical educator and mentor.

Additional speakers will be Jerry Bryant (JBTV), Jacinda Hall-Bullie (Kuumba Lynx), Grace Itter (People’s Church of Chicago), Lynne Jordan, Mark Maddox (Buddy Guy’s Legends), Jaquanda Saulter (Kuumba Lynx), Lowell Thompson, Dr. Walt Whitman II (Soul Children of Chicago), and Micah Williams (Urban Tables).
 
The following services will be offered at Preston Bradley Center:
 
• Mental health services
• Navigators to connect underserved residents with resources 
• Senior/elderly programming 
• Community-building hub of action 
• Youth & family programming 
• Performance & entertainment venue 
• Full-service television and media production center
• Chicago Blues history showcase
 
Please join us on November 15th for an unforgettable night of entertainment and discussion. 

Admission is FREE, so please lock-in your ticket to adventure!
 


FOR MORE INFORMATION: 
Please RSVP to Dr. Daniel Ivankovich at divankovich@gmail.com

INFERNO FESTIVAL NORWAY 2024 Announces VOID OV VOICES x NOSFERTU Silent Movie Collaboration

“Something strange and magical happens in the town of Oslo, Norway over Easter week. Most of polite society flees to the mountains while a scourge of metal heads pour in from all over the globe to experience the four day extravaganza of extreme metal, hedonism & hepatocyte known as Inferno Festival. Subsequently, the entire city becomes a misanthropic miscreant’s soggy dream come true, and we’ve got the whole place to ourselves!” - Metal Injection

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INFERNO FESTIVAL NORWAY is now revealing a silent film concert in which Attila Csihar’s Void ov Voices will create the music for the classic German horror film 'Nosferatu' (1922). The silent film concert will take place at the cinema Vega Scene on Saturday, March 30, at daytime during Inferno Metal Festival 2024. Separate tickets will be available for this performance and can be found at THIS LOCATION.

VOID OV VOICES

Void ov Voices is the solo project of Attila Csihar, known as the vocalist of Mayhem and Tormentor, in which he uses only his own voice to create a dark and atmospheric soundscape. Csihar initiated this project in 2007 and has since performed numerous concerts with this concept. Void ov Voices has previously held a silent film concert in Oslo when they provided the music for 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' during Oslo Fright Fest in 2012. We look forward to another silent film concert with Void ov Voices in Oslo, this time accompanying 'Nosferatu!'

NOSFERATU

The German silent film 'Nosferatu' was released in 1922 and was one of the first movies based on Bram Stoker’s 'Dracula.' Because they lacked the rights to the story, they changed names and locations, so Count Dracula became Count Orlok. However, this did not help, and the judiciary ruled that all the film reels of 'Nosferatu' should be destroyed. Fortunately, several reels survived, and F. W. Murnau’s great masterpiece endured. Now, over a hundred years later, the film still stands as one of the great classics in film history. We are excited to see and hear when Void ov Voices soundtracks the film during Inferno Metal Festival 2024.

Please note that Vega Scene has a limited number of seats, so be sure to act quickly to get tickets for the film concert!

Inferno Metal Festival will take place from March 28-31, 2024 across several venues in Oslo (NO).

So far, the iconic festival has revealed a mixture of classic bands as well as some vital and exciting new-comers. Other recently announced bands include Kampfar, Cynic, Jo Quail, Dödsrit, Tusmørke, Forcefed Horsehead, Inchoation, Terminal, Deathbarrel, H.P. Doomcraft, and many others! More will be announced soon!

The current lineup is now as follows:

Dimmu Borgir

At the Gates

Kampfar

Candlemass

Borknagar

Sólstafir

Finntroll

Me and That Man

Carpathian Forest

Cattle Decapitation

Cynic,

Nordjevel

Winterfylleth

Keep of Kalessin

Vltimas

Arthur Brown

Misþyrming

Saor

Mantar

Koldbrann

Konvent

Khold

Crypta

Signs of the Swarm,

Bell Witch

Extermination Dismemberment

Dödsrit

Dwaal

Jo Quail

Orm

Phantom Fire

Tilintetgjort

Umbra Conscientia

In Twilight’s Embrace

200 Stab Wounds

Automaton

Befouled, Vorga

Zustand Null

Forcefed Horsehead

Tusmørke

Visegard

Imbalance

Nakkeknaekker

Celestial Scourge

Deception,

Vomit Forth

Horrifier

H.P. Doomcraft

Inchoation

Terminal

Deathbarrel

Single day tickets and passes are now available HERE.

In conjunction with Inferno Metal Festival, the Black Metal Bus Sightseeing Tour with Anders Odden (Cadaver, Celtic Frost, Order) is back with an all new routing! Following the success of this special event's inception last year, this incredible experience will take Inferno attendees through some of the places that marked the beginnings of Norwegian black metal!

Between 1991 and 1993, many of the most important events during this dark chapter of Norwegian music history took place in Oslo. Therefore, Inferno Metal Festival has put together a field trip to experience these legendary moments in time, including the site of Helvete, the legendary record store once owned by late Mayhem founder Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth.

Anders Odden formed his first black metal band, Slaught, in 1986 after attending a rehearsal with Mayhem at the age of 14. He was one of the pioneers of the Norwegian scene, dealing with tape trading, organizing of concerts and creating extreme music of his own. He formed Cadaver in 1988, releasing what would be the first Norwegian death metal album on Earache Records in 1990. During this period, Odden performed alongside true Norwegian legends such as Darkthrone, Mayhem, Old Funeral and many more iconic bands.

This field trip has exclusive anecdotes and personal memories of the early life of the scene from someone who was there since the beginning. The daily sightseeing schedule is as follows:

BLACK METAL BUS SIGHTSEEING -

A FIELD TRIP THROUGH NORWEGIAN BLACK METAL

12:00: Departure The Hub, Inferno Festival hotel.

12:30: Langhus station - Photo op - IYKYK

13:30: Visit to NESEBLOD RECORDS the site of “HELVETE” 1991-1993

15:00: Holmenkollen Kapell, re-done after church-fire that took place on August 23, 1992

16:00: Return to the Hub, Inferno Festival hotel.

Tickets for the tour are now available at the below links!

March 28: https://www.ticketmaster.no/event/726031

March 29: https://www.ticketmaster.no/event/726033

March 30: https://www.ticketmaster.no/event/726035

March 31: https://www.ticketmaster.no/event/726037

Official festival hotel - Clarion Hotel® The Hub:

In addition, Inferno Metal Festival is now revealing that the Clarion Hotel The Hub is once again the official hotel partner!

The audience, artists, media, and music industry personnel will gather at Clarion The Hub for happenings, partying and a good night sleep.

Moreover, The Inferno Music Conference will take place at the hotel prior to the festival doors opening on Thursday and Friday, for which more info will be revealed soon! Hotel guests will also be treated to an epic and inclusive breakfast buffet that runs until 11:00 A.M. (it's worth waking up early for!) as well as free access to the swimming pool and sauna.

The Hub boasts Oslo’s best location, right in the city centre, next to Oslo Central Station and the

Airport Express Train. It's also only about a five-minute walk from the iconic rock bars and venues in which Inferno Festival will be hosting bands and special events: Rockefeller & John Dee, Salt, Kniven, Vaterland, Brewgata and Rock In, allowing guest to travel freely without the expense of taxis or transit.

The special Inferno discount price is valid from March 24 to April 1, 2024. Extend your

stay and experience Oslo!

These prices will increase starting on February 28, 2024.

For more information can be found via the official Inferno Festival Website or directly via the hotel's website. The ”Inferno” booking code is enabled to get the discounted prices.

Be sure to stay tuned for more bands, special events and excursions, and more information on the Inferno Music Conference!

The iconic Inferno Metal Festival started in 2001 and is the longest running metal festival in

Norway and one of the most important extreme metal festivals in the world. We are very proud

of this position and we will continue fronting Norwegian metal and bringing bands from all over

the world to Norway. Inferno Metal Festival is being held four days at Rockefeller Music Halls’

two stages Rockefeller and John Dee as well as many smaller clubs around Oslo. The festival takes place during Easter in Norway when not a lot of other stuff is happening in Oslo. The festival are usually sold out and more than fifty percent of the audience are from outside of Norway. The ticket sales are from all over the world including China, Australia, Chile, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, USA, Columbia, Argentina and many more.

Links:

Official Inferno Fest Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Tickets

Craig Morgan’s Enlisted EP AVAILABLE NOW

In late July of this year, country music hitmaker, author and patriot Craig Morgan answered the call from the Army Reserve on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and re-enlisted. The longtime Opry member, who will celebrate his 15th year as a member next week, previously served with the Army’s 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions, was making a commitment to attain 20 years of service.

 

Just as the Army has called on Morgan, the Tennessee native has called on some of his talented friends to contribute to his latest project, available now. Appropriately titled Enlisted (Broken Bow Records), the six-track release offers new takes on four of his biggest hits along with two new tracks and includes appearances by an all-star group of performers including Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Gary LeVox, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton, and Lainey Wilson.

Listen now at craigmorgan.lnk.to/Enlisted

Photo Credit: Nate Griffin

Opening Enlisted is the working-class anthem, “Raise The Bar,” one of the EP’s two brand-new songs, which Craig sings with friend and neighbor, Luke Combs. MusicRow Magazine raves, “[Combs] is as rousing and raucous as peerless country singer Morgan is on ‘Raise the Bar’ … lots and lots of fun.”

 

To celebrate the new release and his 15 years of membership in the Opry, Morgan will take to the iconic stage on October 25 to perform songs from the project, along with Adkins and members of the United States Army Field Band, Six-String Soldiers. Find tickets HERE. He’ll also play the final two weekends of his popular “God, Family, Country Tour 2023,” in partnership with Operation Finally Home. Tickets and VIP experience packages are on-sale now at CraigMorgan.com.

Morgan’s 2023 headlining tour follows last fall’s release of his personal memoir — God, Family, Country, which he wrote with Jim DeFelice, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of American Sniper. The book chronicles Morgan’s road to success, from his humble childhood in Tennessee to his years as an elite military operative to his country music stardom. Country music fans and thrill seekers alike will love this intimate look at his remarkable life. Learn more HERE.

Morgan previously served seventeen years in the Army and Army Reserve with the 101st and 82nd Airborne Divisions as an E-6 Staff Sergeant and Fire Support Specialist and including Airborne, Air Assault Jumpmaster and Rappel Master among his certifications. He is now returning to serve his country in a new way – as a soldier in the Army Reserve. The newly sworn in Staff Sergeant and Warrant Officer candidate will continue touring and releasing new music in his civilian career while simultaneously serving our country in the Army Reserve.

About Craig Morgan:
A multi-faceted entertainer, Craig Morgan has made a name for himself as a country music icon, TV personality, author, celebrated outdoorsman and patriotic Army veteran. One of country music's best-loved artists, Morgan has amassed over 1.5 billion career streams and charted over 25 songs on Billboard, thrilling massive crowds with signature hits including “Bonfire,” “Almost Home,” “Redneck Yacht Club,” “International Harvester,” “This Ole Boy,” “Soldier,” “That's What I Love About Sunday” and his faith-filled tribute to his son Jerry, “The Father, My Son and The Holy Ghost.” Craig just released his newest project, Enlisted, a six-song collection of reimagined hits and brand-new songs featuring collaborations with Trace Adkins, Luke Combs, Gary LeVox, Jelly Roll, Blake Shelton, and Lainey Wilson.

Craig received one of country music's highest honors when he was inducted as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Prior to becoming a country music star and TV sensation, Morgan served seventeen years serving our country in the Army and Army Reserve and in 2023 enlisted in the Army Reserve, continuing his military career. Morgan remains an avid supporter of America's military personnel and has made more than sixteen overseas trips to perform for our troops. He is a member of the U.S. Field Artillery Hall of Fame and recipient of the USO Merit Award. In 2018, he was awarded the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, one of the highest awards the Department of the Army can bestow upon a civilian, in recognition of his significant dedication to our military men and women around the world. He remains committed to supporting active duty and veteran members of our military through work with Operation Finally Home, the USO and more.

He's reprised his popular headlining run — “God, Family, Country Tour 2023,” in partnership with Operation Finally Home — playing thirteen theater and auditorium dates through the end of this month. God, Family, Country, Craig’s gripping new memoir, released last fall in partnership with Blackstone Publishing. He details all aspects from his inspiring life, revealing never-before-heard stories including how he worked alongside the CIA as a soldier in Panama, fought sex traffickers as an undercover agent in Thailand, forged his own path to country music stardom, and lives his life by the deepest values: God, family, country. 

KEEP UP WITH CRAIG MORGAN

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