Operatic Black Metal Outfit FOLTERKAMMER Announce First Ever U.S. Tour

Operatic black metal rising stars FOLTERKAMMER are pleased to announce their first ever U.S. tour! The rising powerhouse will be embarking on an East Coast headliner with support from WITCHERY, which kicks off on March 22 in Baltimore and will circle back to the band's hometown of Brooklyn, NY on March 30. The full itinerary can be found below!

Folterkammer guitarist Zac Ezrin comments, ""Folterkammer is thrilled to finally embark on their debut tour. We are honored to share the stage and the road with our good friends in Witchery. We hope to see you all out there very soon. This will certainly be the first of many tours."

"Das Peitschengedicht" is now available on all streaming services and can be heard below.

FOLTERKAMMER U.S. TOUR DATES (w/ WITCHERY):

03/22: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery

03/23: Richmond, VA @ Another Round

03/24: Columbus, OH @ The Summit

03/25: Chattanooga, TN @ Dark Roast

03/26: Nashville, TN @ The End

03/27: Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle

03/28: Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge

03/29: Cleveland, OH @ No Class

03/30: Brooklyn, NY @ Kingsland

Speaking on the empowering themes of the "Das Peitschengedicht" and forthcoming record, Andromeda Anarchia eloquently explains, "This song is our kinky ode to the whip as a torture instrument, and a celebratory hymn to the practices of BDSM, particularly, Femdom. The whip, a symbol of domination, pain and humiliation, is described here not only as playful and kinky, but as a poetic enactment of pain through the depiction of female ferocity on a submissive man, whose back the Domme uses like a canvas.

"It is about this sensual overdrive of stimulation and literally describes the lustful use of a whip as a kind of 'calligraphy brush' to write a poem. The dominatrix verbally humiliates her subject while blood runs down his spine; his blood is the ink with which she paints and signs her artwork of pain and ecstasy.

"The song bridges both musically and thematically the old album (regarding a vicious, violent, and abusive 'Bad Domme' goddess) and the new one (featuring a badass, erotic 'Good Domme'). This opens a new chapter with a change defined not only by the expanded instrumentation and new songwriting styles, but also by the way the described dominant female protagonist treats her subordinates and has refined her skills in humiliation games. It's no longer about being a vicious, exploitative deity, but about being a sensual, naughty, self-confident, kinky lady who knows exactly what she wants, who celebrates female power, who sometimes flirts and cleverly provokes with historical and mythological anecdotes, and even more with her charm and sass.

"This bridging of the debut album and the new album is also reflected in the aesthetics of the video. In the words of our drummer and music video director Brendan McGowan: 'The 'Das Peitschengedicht' video sets the dominating lyrics to footage from the 1922 classic 'Haxan' - whose famous images of devils and demons often overshadow the wicked women within it and their blasphemous behavior.'"

Photo Credit: Alex Krauss

Lineup:

Andromeda Anarchia - Vocals

Zachary Ezrin - Guitars

Brendan McGowan - Drums

Darren Hanson - Guitars

Laurent David - Bass

Guest Harpsichord: Steve Blanco

Album Credits:

Producer: Zachary Ezrin

Recording: Kevin Antreassian at Backroom Studios in NJ

Additional Recording: Laurent David and Antoine Delecroix

Mixing: Colin Marston at Menegroth, The Thousand Caves, in NY

Mastering: Fred Kevorkian

Cover Art: Eliran Kantor

Album Layout: Brendan McGowan

Photography: Alex Krauss

Logo Design: Mister Kams

Photos: Alex Krauss

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ABORTED - Announce New Album Vault Of Horrors + release new single 'Death Cult'

"My family's always been in meat" - since its release in 1974, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre has been slashing itself into the hearts of a loyal fanbase. Today, death metal miscreants ABORTED pay their very own tribute to this classic by releasing their new single 'Death Cult' - a track of intense brutality, characterized by lightning-fast guitar riffs, intricate, pummeling drum patterns and monstrous vocals. Joined by DESPISED ICON's Alex Erian, the band offers their fans a breathtaking ride through the abyss – paired with a cinematic interpretation of the horror classic, that you can watch below.

ABORTED have not only summoned Leatherface, but a whole host of horror movie villains, ready to be unleashed on March 15th. So sit back, grab a snack, and crawl down into the Vault of Horrors - the upcoming album from the death metal veterans, and the first under the flag of Nuclear Blast.
Ten ferocious, gut-wrenching death metal slashers await you in this cabinet of horror movie classics. ABORTED invited the crème de la crème of the heavy music scene to the party, and on each track of the album you will find a different guest vocalist – ranging from Alex Erian (DESPISED ICON) to Johnny Ciardullo (CARCOSA / ANGELMAKER), Ben Duerr (SHADOW OF INTENT), Francesco Paoli (FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE) and more.

Preorder and/or presave Vault Of Horrors now, if you dare:
https://aborted.bfan.link/vault-of-horrors

ABORTED are:
Sven de Caluwé - vocals
Ian Jekelis - guitars
Daniel Konradsson - guitars
Ken Bedene - drums

KMFDM presents title track from new 'Let Go' album, out via Metropolis Records on February 2

Rising up lean and mean, KMFDM is doin’ it again, celebrating 40 years of conceptual continuity in grand style! 'LET GO' marks the group’s 23rd studio album, the core lineup of Sascha “Käpt’n K” Konietzko, Lucia Cifarelli, Andy Selwayand Andee Blacksugar presenting their signature onslaught of pulse-pounding rhythms, scorching electronics, blistering guitars, and vocals full of grit, growl, and grind addressing the social, political, and cultural ills of a world in perpetual turmoil.

The first taste of their new record is the title track 'LET GO', the first of the 11 tracks on the album.

Stylistically diverse as ever, KMFDM continues to bridge the gaps between genres, coalescing into what we know and love as the Ultra Heavy Beat! “Never let them know your next move,” says Käpt’N K, laying down the band’s primary philosophy on this record, commanding you to let go of precept and pretense, to hold on tight, leave your worries behind, and get ready to rock!

From the driving techno, dance, and funk infused thrust of 'LET GO' to the airily melodic and swirling vibes of 'AIRHEAD' and 'TOUCH', the grooving revolutionary oratory and percolating spaghetti western guitar and glitch-laden synth leads of 'TURN THE LIGHT ON' to the sneering and seething riot grrl fury of 'WHEN THE BELL TOLLS', the sinister hip-hop injected 'NEXT MOVE', the downright cinematic and Teutonic electro of 'ERLKÖNIG', and the virulent dub warcry of 'WW 2023' – KMFDM continues to break down barriers and immerse audiences in a bold new reality.

Konietzko and Cifarelli prove as vicious a team as ever, equally sharing vocal and lyrical duties, with longtime associate MC Ocelot appearing to give 'NEXT MOVE'an extra touch of raucous rap energy. All the while, Blacksugar’s prowess on six-strings continues to awe and astound, backed by Selway’s dynamic drumming, meshing with Konietzko’s masterful programming.

Mixed and mastered by Benjamin Lawrenz (VNV Nation, Deep Purple, Saga, Mono Inc., Lord of the Lost), at Chameleon Recording Studios in Hamburg, 'LET GO' signals KMFDM’s 40th anniversary loudly and proudly, with Aidan “BRUTE” Hughes’ distinctive cover artwork mirroring the album’s breakneck power. After four decades, the Ultra Heavy Beat simply refuses to rest in pity and regret, raising a sharpened middle finger at a world in chaos.

As of January 12, the 'LET GO' single will be available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. On February 2, the full 'Let Go' album will be released digitally, on CD and as a Limited Edition Vinyl double LP. Following this, they embark on a month-long US tour, for which tickets are already available for pre-order.

CREDITS
Sascha Konietzko - Bass, Beats, Synths & Vocals
Lucia Cifarelli - Vocals
Andy Selway - Drums
Andee Blacksugar - Guitars
MC Ocelot - Rap
Written by Blacksugar, Cifarelli, Konietzko, Selway
Produced by Sascha Konietzko
Recorded  at Kommandozentrale (Hamburg), Swamp Studios (Florida) & Casa Blacksugar (Brooklyn NY)
Mixed by Benjamin Lawrence & Sascha Konietzko
at Chameleon & Kommandozentrale (Hamburg)
Vocals on 'Airhead' mixed by Veronica Ferraro
Mastered by Benjamin Lawrence at Chameleon (Hamburg)
Art by BRUTE!
Layout by Chris Zander

Artist photos by Bobby Talamine

About KMFDM:

KMFDM (originally Kein Mehrheit Für Die Mitleid, loosely translated by the band as "no pity for the majority”) is a multinational industrial band from Hamburg, Germany, led by Sascha Konietzko, who founded the band in 1984 as a performance art project in Paris, France.

Their early albums were recorded in Germany before moving to the USA, where they found much greater success with Chicago-based seminal record label Wax Trax! Throughout the 90’s, KMFDM constantly evolved with a revolving door line-up, becoming a household name in the US music scene. Their 1995 hit 'Juke Joint Jezebel' catapulted KMFDM into the Billboard charts and got them onto many movie soundtracks, notably 'Bad Boys' and 'Mortal Kombat'. Bands like Rammstein and Korn had their humble beginnings opening on KMFDM tours. The band took a brief hiatus in 1999 after recording their 10hh album for Wax Trax Records.

Konietzko resurrected KMFDM in 2002 on Metropolis Records with a line-up featuring, among others, American singer Lucia Cifarelli (from the band DRILL) and Tim Skold (who later joined Marilyn Manson). Releasing studio albums and touring frequently throughout the 2000’s, Konietzko and Cifarelli returned to Germany in 2008. Over their 22 studio albums and countless singles, dozens of musicians have worked with KMFDM, with sales now in excess of two million records worldwide.

One of the first bands to bring industrial music to a mainstream audience, Konietzko refers to KMFDM's music as "The Ultra-Heavy Beat". Meshing heavy metal guitar riffs, electronic music, and both male and female vocals, their music encompasses various styles, including industrial rock, electronic body music, and even reggae and dub. Fiercely political, many of the band's lyrics take a stand against violence, war and oppression. KMFDM tour after every major release, its band members known to be accessible to and interact with fans, both online and at concerts.

Keep up with KMFDM
Website | Bandcamp | Merch | Facebook | Instagram | KMFDM Twitter | Lucia Twitter | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | BandsInTown | Press contact

Keep up with Metropolis Records
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube

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THE NOISE WHO RUNS defies populism on new 'Come and Join The Beautiful' Army' EP featuring IAN PICKERING (SNEAKER PIMPS)

"Ian Pickering is among the most relevant songwriters of this generation, with topical subject matter, sharp lyricism, a relatable attitude and music that is addictive as F*&@. The same spunk as the progenitors of punk and orderly chaos of early post-punk" ~ The Spill Magazine

"A brooding electronic swirl that ably captures the feeling of floating in space. Dark matter courses through the veins of ‘Mars Attached’... could be the lament of a proxy Major Tom, far from home and reflecting on the life he left light-years behind"~ Joyzine

"Beguiling... anthemic yet accessible, gothic, grand and graceful, delicately dance-driven and dark, coiled and ornate, slow and seductive" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Poetic brutality... the anthemic grace and stature of something by The Sisters of Mercy: it has an Arctic chill through which a lyrical, passionate heat radiates" ~ Backseat Mafia

"Ethereal electronic intimation. Light and dark entangle... true splendour and prowess" ~ Ringmaster Review

UK-France duo The Noise Who Runs comes out fighting in 2024 with their new five-song EP ‘Come and Join the Beautiful Army’ EP. This dark, brooding and sometimes disquieting collection straddles the line between hope and despair, defeat and optimism. These contradictions are embodied in the more full-on electronic approach with a stripped, more keyboard-oriented sound largely absent of any overt electric guitars, and the almost casual, nursery rhyme abstract cynicism of the lyrics.

The Noise Who Runs revolves around songwriter Ian Pickering (of Sneaker Pimps and Front Line Assembly). Native to Hartlepool in the north-east of England, Pickering co-authored such Sneaker Pimps hits as 'Spin Spin Sugar', '6 Underground' and 'Tesko Suicide'. In 2019, he launched this project with Brazilian-French guitarist Felipe Goes, three years after relocating to Lille, France.  

Mixed and mastered by Colin C at The Cell Studio, this album follows their debut album ‘Preteretrospective’, released in April 2023 to rave reviews and airplay in more than 40 countries. Earlier, The Noise Who Runs released the singles 'One Scratch Each', 'Mars Attached' and ‘Tune Out, Turn Off, Drop In’.

Guitarist Felipe Goes says: “I don’t know where the guitars went. I think the amount of guitar that ends up in a song depends on how angry, sad, or whatever I feel. I believe this is the kind of thing that gives me the energy to keep playing and finding new ways to make the songs work. I guess I must have made peace with the world since there’s almost no guitar in any of these songs! Rather ironic isn’t it? Lyrically, this EP is the opposite of peaceful!”.
 
Lyrics, arguably, are Pickering’s greatest strength and certainly the songs on ‘Come and Join the Beautiful Army’ only add to his reputation. Here we have genuine poetry; insightful, disarming, original and unique.

“This EP is a call for solidarity in a world constantly being sown with division and discord. So far, the start of the 21st Century seems remarkably like repeating the mistakes of the early 20th Century. In the First World War, all that flag-waving, jingoistic sense of and pride in nationality across Europe, the othering of governments and nations all engaged in the same exploitation of other continents, resulted in the most obscene and needless carnage and it feels today as if nothing has changed, save that rather than conscript us all and send us to France and Belgium for the slaughter, the big push would appear to be starving us to death in our own homes while we work all the hours of the day for a monthly wage that barely covers the cost of living," says Ian Pickering.
 
“The beautiful army would be the people who reject the pathetic culture wars of populists, who proceed with compassion and empathy rather than instantly resort to knee-jerk outrage and sincerely believe that the some kind of optimistic future can still be salvaged from the slow motion chaos of the inevitable car crash in which we are currently forced to be passengers.”

He adds, “I would question the obsession of brands, marketing and advertising, primarily, on pushing such a vain, shallow concept of the individual - it’s a face-value, nothing beneath the surface kind of ideal. We are all born individuals, that should never need to be overtly demonstrated and insisted upon, it’s quite obviously what we all are. It can’t be proved with trinkets and adornments. The more salient point would be how we all come together as individuals and make a difference, a change for the better for the majority. Maybe the beautiful army lies in the forests away from the trenches; deserters, conscientious objectors and those that have been driven shellshock mad by the constant, oppressive noise of manufactured, idiotic right-wing culture wars.”

'Come and Join The Beautiful Army' is out on January 12 from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
All songs written by Ian Pickering
Recorded and produced by The Noise Who Runs
Felipe Goes - guitars, pianos, keyboards
Ian Pickering - vocals, keyboards, pianos, beats
Mixing, mastering and additional production by Colin C. at The Cell Studio 
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR
Artist photos by Élodie Duhoo
Original front cover illustration ‘The Marching Boots’ by Alex Armitage


Keep up with The Noise Who Runs
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Soundcloud | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Instagram | LinkedIn | Email

Defocus Announce New Album "there is a place for me on earth" + Share "flatlines" Video

Heavy act DEFOCUS follow up on their previous three singles — "biased, "let the bond be my grave, and "crooked mind" — with their electrifying new single "flatlines." This release marks a thrilling preview of their upcoming album, there is a place for me on earth, set to hit the shelves on March 1 via Arising Empire.

Watch the video below.

Founded by Simon Müller, Jeffrey Uhlmann, Jonas Mahler, and Marcel "Bambam" Heberling, the Aalen-based quartet spent time making music together before coming to light in early 2019, instantly proving their worth in the scene with their energetic live shows and their debut album In The Eye Of Death We Are All The Same.

"Mastery of the essentials 7/10" — Metal Hammer

"Modern Metalcore, which qualitatively ranks directly at the top. At the latest, when an ARCHITECTS commemorative 'Blegh' is hurled at you in the first song, it's clear that DEFOCUS are taking their lead from the grandees" —  FUZE

DEFOCUS ARE:
Simon Müller — Vocals
Jeffrey Uhlmann — Guitar
Marcel "Bambam" Heberling — Bass
Jonas Mahler — Drums

Reconciler Release Title Track for Upcoming Album "Art For Our Sake" -

NEW ALBUM "ART FOR OUR SAKE" COMING OUT VIA SMARTPUNK RECORDS ON FEBRUARY 2

Reconciler are delivering true punk hits on their upcoming album "Art For Our Sake." The title track is available to stream now.


"Art For Our Sake" follows the release of "Never Fade Away" 

"The title of this song is a twist on the French philosophy, L’art Pour L’art (Art for Art’s Sake), which argued that art shouldn’t need to have meaning, purpose, or conveyance of any emotional, moral, or political information to have value. I prefer to believe that art is a dialogue between the artist and the viewer/listener/experiencer. Art is pure soul and its made from blood sweat and tears, that’s why its valuable and necessary. I wrote Art For Our Sake partly as a manifesto and I think its an accurate reflection of what we strive for in this band. We get to make music as art over commodity. We do it to enrich our lives and feed our souls and to hopefully benefit those around us while we’re at it. As with most any hard-lined stance, hypocrisy inevitably surfaces though. As a working artist, I have to make honest work that comes from the right place within, but I also have to assign monetary value to that work and my survival depends on it. It’s easy for money to speak louder than my heart," says the band's vocalist Joseph Lazzari. This song is about working to grow creatively and spiritually, but recognizing that life is messy and complicated, rarely clean and easy. We have to feed our souls to live well, but we have to put food on the table to stay alive - and sometimes that means you have to sharpen your teeth."

Reconciler is a band from Atlanta, GA who first amplified in the summer of 2016. Harkening to a sound alternately Southeast and East Bay, they released their debut LP, Set Us Free, in February of 2019 to critical acclaim from punk and Americana outlets alike. The band spent 2019 playing often across the Southeast and East coast and announced their first European shows, slated for June 2020. Shortly After the first anniversary of Set Us Free, the world shut down and all plans were canceled indefinitely. Reconciler wouldn’t see another stage for 18 months despite releasing a split 7 inch with the legendary Gainesville outfit, Ship Thieves in January of 2021 and offering another new track on the Grace vinyl comp alongside many noteworthy acts including Hot Water Music, Samiam, and Catbite the following October. Reconciler has been hard at work rebuilding and refining its focus and is beyond ready to return with their sophomore album, Art For Our Sake, via Smartpunk Records. This 13 track LP stands as a testament to the band’s tenacity and work ethic and is certain to offer Reconciler’s strongest output to date.

ABOUT SMARTPUNK RECORDS:
Smartpunk has been a recognizable name in the scene for a long time (remember that sponsored Warped Tour stage?!). After exchanging several hands and countless ideas of what it could and should be, they decided to start a record label in 2016 with the main idea of focusing solely on reissuing records that have been out of print or never on vinyl. After all, they’re a label of vinyl dorks themselves! After releasing Set Your Goals' "Mutiny" and Gameface's "Good,” they started to venture into signing newer bands. They actively balance in between many worlds—putting out amazing music from friends and bands that rock, reissuing older titles, and partnering with other incredible labels in our scene and doing exclusive color variants of their releases.

"Since forming the record label, Smartpunk Records has released timeless albums such as Less Than Jake’s Anthem, Nominee’s Lowlife, RIVALS’ Sad Looks Pretty on Me, Virginity's POPMORTEM, and melodic skate punkers The Swellers' My Everest."

AMARANTHE - 🚀Release New Single 'Re-Vision' From Upcoming Album The Catalyst

Two weeks into the new year, AMARANTHE, one of Sweden's most influential modern metal bands, kicks off 2024 with the crushing pop metal song 'Re-Vision.' With its electronic pulse, powerful riffs, and irresistibly lethal hooks in the chorus, the song demonstrates why AMARANTHE are one of the most unique acts in modern metal.

AMARANTHE's Olof Mörck states:
“It is time for the fourth single from The Catalyst, ‘Re-Vision’, and this time we went all in. Ponderous cyberpunk and synth wave rhythms clash with AMARANTHE’s signature sound in an equally thrilling and memorable blend, sure to act as a permanent cybernetic implant into your brain. The prodigious video, once again actualized by long-time collaborator Patric Ullaeus, serves as the perfect counterpoint to ‘Re-Vision’, more ambitious and explosive than any AMARANTHE video to date! As predictions from the 80’s Artificial Intelligence seem to become truer every day, we are ready to serve you a cataclysmic yet captivating foresight into the future of AMARANTHE: Re-Visioned."

'Re-Vision' is the fourth single from AMARANTHE's forthcoming album The Catalyst, that will see the light of the day on February 23rd, 2024, via Nuclear Blast Records. The album will be available digitally and in different physical formats including CD, Vinyl, a 2CD Special Edition, and a band-exclusive Vinyl that will come with a signed poster. Presave or preorder your format of choice here:
https://amaranthe.bfan.link/the-catalyst.a01

'Re-Vision' comes with a fantastic new video that the band released today. Watch it below.

The Catalyst is the most conceptually coherent piece of work in AMARANTHE's storied history. Dedicated to notions of transformation and revelation, it delves deeper than any previous album, as Olof Mörck explains.
 
"We’ve done these things before, but we’ve never been as theatrical as we have this time," Mörck grins. "In fact, we all questioned whether we went too far this time, but I also figured that this band was always this way. Literally, the first seconds of our first video was a big explosion! But yes, The Catalyst is more theatrical than ever. We’ve never really been symphonic or orchestral before, but this time we just thought why not? Because we can! The key to this album is that we let go of the boundaries and decided to do something even more adventurous."

The Catalyst represents the culmination of 15 years of hard work and the breathless pursuit of a wholly original musical vision. Change is inevitable. Victory is assured.

Formed in 2008, AMARANTHE walked their own unique path from the start. With a sound that combined the sharpest, cutting edges of melodic metal, electronic rock, and razor-sharp pop, their impact was immediate and undeniable. Kicking off with their self-titled debut in 2011, the Swedes blazed a trail through the European metal scene and beyond, swiftly establishing themselves as a dazzling one-off, not least due to the unprecedented triple vocal attack that paired clean tones with exquisite melodic sensibilities and feral growls. Over the next few years, the sextet steadily grew in stature, releasing a series of praised studio records that jabbed persistently at the boundaries of modern metal.

AMARANTHE is:
Elize Ryd | vocals
Mikael Sehlin I growls
Nils Molin | vocals
Olof Mörck | guitars, keyboards
Johan Andreassen | bass
Morten Løwe Sørensen | drums

Visit AMARANTHE:

www.amaranthe.se
www.facebook.com/amarantheband
www.instagram.com/amarantheofficial
www.twitter.com/amaranthemetal
www.youtube.com/amaranthetv
www.nuclearblast.de/amaranthe

Kenny's Mixing + Mastering 1st New Album Since 2020

With “Take Her Home” Scaling the Charts,
8x Entertainer of the Year Dials In New Project
 
Looking to Distill Life’s Best Parts: Joy, Adventure, Living LoudAs a new year comes into focus, Kenny Chesney returns to the thing he loves most: music. With his unparalleled passion for songs, players, the road, the songwriter/superstar from East Tennessee has announced 23 stadium shows for 2024 and is now leaning into what will be his first collection of music since 2020.

“I’m ready,” he enthuses from Nashville, where he’s recorded across various studios. “Because of the amount of time we’ve had to work… and not just work, but really just hang out, write, experiment and play with different kinds of music… I got to go places, do some things we wouldn’t normally try because we have such a clear vision of what we’re trying to do.”
 
Pausing he adds, “Of course, I have to figure out which of the songs makes this record… what or why we’re holding some of these recordings for… and what’s the best collection of songs we can give No Shoes Nation. We’ve been having an ongoing conversation about life, love, friendships, what we lose and the people we remember since ‘Young,’ and that’s something I’m mindful of.”
 
The man The Los Angeles Times called “the People’s Superstar” has not only had several writing retreats “just to write and have fun,” he has co-written several songs that will make the final project. “I never want to just force songs on a record because I wrote them. But I love the process of writing, whether I’m writing with friends or new people… It opens up how you see the world, and music. But I’ve got four or five that I feel pretty sure are gonna be on this album.”
 
Chesney also drew from the crème of Nashville’s seminal musicians. In addition to his touring compadres Nick Buda (drums), Kenny Greenberg (guitars) and Danny Rader (guitars, banjo, bouzouki), he and co-producer Buddy Cannon have enlisted Pat Buchanan (electric guitar), Chad Cromwell (drums), Dan Dugmore (steel guitar), Michael Rojas (B3, Wurlizter, piano) and Dan Tyminski (acoustic guitar) among the players.
 
Defining his place in American music by distilling the best part of being young, alive and seeking what the world has to offer, that hunger for music and performing has never abated. As the chiming acoustically-grounded life-in-three-acts “Take Her Home” continues its sweep up the charts, the Country Music Association Album of the Year and Academy of Country Music Single of the Year winner continues celebrating how life looks and feels in the flyover.
 
“There is so much to say – and sing – about lives people between the coasts are experiencing,” Chesney offers. “It doesn’t take a lot to be happy, if you choose to seek it, just like the passion people beyond New York and L.A. employ every day is every bit as thrilling. To me, that’s what my songs are made of… and looking at this list, I wouldn’t be surprised if this record comes in a little bit longer than normal, because there are too many good songs to leave behind.”
 
With his Sun Goes Down 2024 Tour adding an unprecedented third show at Foxborough, Mass.’s Gillette Stadium, Chesney’s ability to capture common moments in his songs in a way that makes them remarkable is as powerful now as ever. Look for something special later this spring.
 

Sable Hills Sign With Arising Empire + Share Video for New Track "Odyssey"

Arising Empire proudly welcomes Tokyo riff lords Sable Hills, a band that has rapidly risen to prominence in Japan's metal scene, to its roster.

This introduction is perfectly timed with the release of the video for the new single "Odyssey." Stream it here.

Watch the video below.

It is also the title track of their new album Odyssey, set to be released in April 2024.

"The new song 'Odyssey' is the beginning of our long journey," says guitarist Rict Mishima. "We have a new member and a new label. Finally, we're ready to go. The song is very melodic, and also heavy. Very metal, and also hardcore. We release this song with 100 precent confidence and are so excited to show our new sound to you."

Sable Hills are charting an exciting new course, marked by the integration of guitarist/vocalist Wataru into the band. Following their previous single "A New Chapter," "Odyssey" showcases Wataru's fresh and engaging vocals, supported by the technical brilliance of Atrium Audio's Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland. These engineers are celebrated for their work with renowned bands such as August Burns Red and Polaris, bringing a refined touch to the band's sound.

Sable Hills have captivated audiences with their electrifying headline tours, notably "Chaos J.P. 2023," which featured international acts such as Like Moths To Flames and Knosis, led by Ryo Kinoshita, former vocalist of Crystal Lake. This tour marked an important return to Japan for these acts after a long hiatus.

The band's ascent to prominence was ignited by their debut album EMBERS, released in 2019 and which received widespread acclaim and positioned them at the pinnacle of Japan's metal and loud music scenes. Their ability to share the stage with renowned Japanese bands like coldrain, Crystal Lake, and international heavyweights such as Fit For A King and After The Burial demonstrates their appeal.

Participation in major festivals like the Bloodaxe Festival at Club Citta Kawasaki and the True North Festival at Shin-Kiba Studio Coast has further enhanced Sable Hills' reputation. The release of their second album DUALITY, in collaboration with Mark Lewis, a notable figure in the metal music industry, marked another high point in their career. The album's release tour, extending from Japan to Europe, featured their performances at globally recognized metal festivals, including Wacken Open Air in Germany and Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic. At Wacken Open Air 2022, Sable Hills achieved an historic victory, winning the METAL BATTLE 2022 — a first for a Japanese band.

In 2023, the band continued to blaze a trail of success. They sold out their show at Spotify O-WEST and performed at major festivals including coldrain's BLARE FEST, KNOTFEST, and Wacken Open Air 2023 for the second consecutive year. Their self-organized FRONTLINE FESTIVAL at Kawasaki Club Citta was a resounding success, attracting nearly 1,000 attendees.

With the release of Odyssey, Sable Hills are not just expanding their discography but also reinforcing their position as a dynamic entity. Arising Empire is proud to be associated with a band of such caliber and is excited about the journey ahead with Sable Hills.

PHOTO CREDIT: Jessie Kojima

SABLE HILLS ARE:
Takuya Mishima — Vocals
Wataru Yuasa — Guitar + Vocals
Rict Mishima — Guitar
Takuya Ueda — Bass
Keita Kondo — Drums

Watch 'So I Set My Self On Fire' from Dead Icarus

Dead Icarus, the new project of former Atreyu lead vocalist and Gold-selling artist Alex Varkatzas, has shared the third single, titled "So I Set Myself on Fire.

"'So I Set Myself on Fire' is about finding inspiration in darkness," Varkatzas said. "It's about letting your inspiration consume you so fully that it changes you into something else — a driven, unstoppable force of nature."

Enterprise Earth "Casket of Rust" music video out now!

Enterprise Earth has released their latest offering "Casket of Rust" today, taken from their eagerly anticipated upcoming album 'Death: An Anthology' out on February 2, 2024.

When asked about the inspiration behind the track, vocalist Travis Worland commented: 

“Lyrically, it touches on the death of yourself in a relationship. You’re killing off anything you had in order to appease another person and destroying pieces of yourself. You built this casket for so long that it has time to decay and rust before you bury yourself in it.”

Enterprise Earth - Death: An Anthology Ghostly 2LP

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Brighton artist NICK HUDSON presents 'For My Silence', a statement of clarity after the storm - first taste of his new album

“Beautifully written, recorded, produced and arranged... all complimented by vocal that lives up to the same standard. No cheating, no fronting, just honest crafted musicality”  ~ Billy Gould (Faith No More)

"Kanda Teenage Honey is shockingly emotional, thoughtfully orchestrated and wonderfully curious lyrically. It is a record for true music lovers" ~ Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu)

"There isn’t really anyone making music like Nick Hudson“ ~ The Quietus

“Nick Hudson is a unique talent. His song writing and performances are breathtaking.  He is long overdue being heard by a wider audience. This solo album is a peak in an already stellar career” ~ Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai)

"Scott Walker channeling Coil” ~ MOJO Magazine

"Genius” - BBC Radio (BBC Introducing)

British avant pop artist  Nick Hudson presents his new single 'For My Silence',  the first offering from his forthcoming album 'Kanda Teenage Honey', recorded largely in Georgia under the shadow of the Ukraine war, featuring some incredible Georgian musicians in a huge former Soviet movie studio.

Mixed by Toby Driver and mastered to analogue tape by Paul Pascoe at Church Road Studios in Hove, this album was recorded and engineered by Ilya Lukashev at Leno Studio and Sano Studio in Tbilisi.

"This is a song about apologizing to those you love for the period in which you disappeared to make bad life choices, while also singling out those who stood by and did nothing in the name of friendship during this period. The period in question was the third lockdown, where I literally had a glimpse of hell courtesy of a significant mental health collapse," says Nick Hudson.

"This is a reflective song, both confessional and confrontational.  The piano for the record was tracked on a 1953 Steinway grand in Leno Studio in Tbilisi – a former Soviet movie studio whose live room is vast enough to record orchestras."  

This is Hudson's first release since the 'Lights Svoboda' single, released in 2022 support of Ukraine, for which all proceeds were contributed to charities directly involved in humanitarian aid efforts.

Hudson adds, "The video stars my friend Nika – a 17-year-old Georgian aspiring actor, and whom I've found myself mentoring in cinema.  It was shot in a Stalin-era secular graveyard on the mountains outside of Tbilisi and incorporates footage of the actual vocal sessions in the studio, captured by Vlad Gutsin, a 20-year-old refugee from Tomsk. Gigi Koberidze and Beqa Minadze, on drums and guitar respectively, are two of the finest musicians I've had the privilege to work with."

A prolific figure on the UK music scene, Hudson's latest album 'Font Of Human Fractures' was released in 2021, followed by the 'K69996ROMA:EP' later that year. These were Hudson's first solo works in 5 years, only one year had passed since 'The Quiet Earth', the opus album from his band The Academy Of Sun.

Nick's vast output also encompasses painting, film, and a novel. Hudson has also collaborated with Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Matthew Seligman (Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey), members of Kayo Dot, David Tibet (Current 93), Asva, queercore icon GB Jones, as well as Massive Attack's Shara Nelson. Having toured 3 continents, highlights include shows with Mogwai, Toby Driver and Keith Abrams (Kayo Dot), and Timba Harris (Mr Bungle, Amanda Palmer).

Hudson has also just released his book 'The Land Exists So The Seas Don't Argue'. Limited to 50 numbered and signed copies, this is the first volume featuring his lyrical output across the last decade, encompassing five albums plus ephemera created at the same time as the main works – satellite poems that inhabit the same world as each of the primary cosmologies. This collection is possessed of a searing intensity and unity of vision - paganism, queer love, grief, death, ecstasy, radical politics, social satire, hymns to nature and her rhythms and forces. The book also features a foreword by renowned Scottish author and artist Chris Kelso.

As of January 11, the single 'For My Silence' will be available on Bandcamp, followed by other platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music, soon afterwards. The full album 'Kanda Teenage Honey' will be released on March 15.

CREDITS
Composed, produced and arranged by Nick Hudson
Nick Hudson – Steinway piano, acoustic guitar & all vocals
Gigi Koberidze – drums
Beqa Minadze – electric guitars & ebow
Engineered by Ilya Lukashev at Leno and Sano Studios, Tbilisi
Produced by Nick Hudson
Mixed by Toby Driver in NYC
Mastered by Paul Pascoe at Church Road Studios, Hove, UK
Video directed by Nick Hudson
Video actor - Nika Shavgulidze
Artist photography by Carl Solomon
Single cover artwork by Kenneth Anger

'Kanda Teenage Honey' album order  https://nickhudsonindustries.bandcamp.com/album/kanda-teenage-honey
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/track/4WcMfCi66CMy2zRZnjnxSJ 
Bandcamp  https://nickhudsonindustries.bandcamp.com

Keep up with Nick Hudson / The Academy of Sun
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STEVE HACKETT LAUNCHES 'WHEREVER YOU ARE' SECOND TRACK TAKEN FROM 'THE CIRCUS AND THE NIGHTWALE'

Legendary rock guitarist Steve Hackett is set to release his new studio album ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ on 16th February 2024, via InsideOut Music. A rite-of-passage concept album with a young character called Travla at the centre of it, ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’s’ 13 tracks have an autobiographical angle for the musician who says about his 30th solo release: “I love this album. It says the things I’ve been wanting to say for a very long time.”

Today a brand new track is revealed, titled ‘Wherever You Are’, and you can watch the video now here: https://youtu.be/6LwYc8_orY8

Of the track, Steve comments: “’Wherever You Are’ is a song of love winning through, shattering the chains of the physical world… Light obliterating darkness. A new universe has opened up with the hope that such a strong love could even survive death. The dreams of childhood realised, there is a sense of everything coming around full circle… Even the three part harmony guitar at the end of Genesis’ The Musical Box is revisited in spirit with the joy of celebration during this song.”

The albums opening track ‘People of the Smoke’ was released in December. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_iujNWzPL0

The new album is available to pre-order on several different formats, including a Limited CD+Blu-ray mediabook (including 5.1 Surround Sound & 24bit high resolution stereo mixes), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180g Vinyl LP & as Digital Album. All feature the stunning cover painting by Denise Marsh. Pre-order now here: https://stevehackett.lnk.to/TheCircusAndTheNightwhale

Steve will celebrate the release of his new album with two HMV in-store events in London & Birmingham, where he will be taking part in a Q&A and signing albums. Find out more details on those here: https://ow.ly/HUaT50Q7paJ

‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ is Steve’s first new music in over two years. Recorded between tours in 2022 and 2023 at Siren studio in the UK – with guest parts beamed in from Sweden, Austria, the US, Azerbaijan and Denmark, the line-up for ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’ includes some familiar faces alongside Steve on electric and acoustic guitars, 12-string, mandolin, harmonica, percussion, bass and vocals. Roger King (keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements), Rob Townsend (sax), Jonas Reingold (bass), Nad Sylvan (vocals), Craig Blundell (drums) and Amanda Lehmann on vocals. Nick D’Virgilio and Hugo Degenhardt return as guests on the drumstool, engineer extraordinaire Benedict Fenner appears on keyboards and Malik Mansurov is back with the tar. Finally, Steve’s brother John Hackett is present once more on flute.

Summing up ‘The Circus And The Nightwhale’, Steve says: “It’s a lovely journey that starts dirty, scratchy and smoky and becomes heavenly and divine. How can you resist it?”

Steve Hackett & band will tour the world extensively in 2024, including a brand new UK tour ‘Genesis Greats, Lamb Highlights & Solo,' which will see him return to the legendary Royal Albert Hall. He will also return to North America early this year, with European shows booked in for the Summer.

For the full list of dates, head to: http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html
 

STEVE HACKETT Online:
www.hackettsongs.com
www.facebook.com/pages/Steve-Hackett/123101228589
www.twitter.com/HackettOfficial
http://hackettsongs.com/tour.html

INSIDEOUTMUSIC Online:
www.insideoutmusic.com
www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV
 www.facebook.com/InsideOutMusic
www.twitter.com/insideouteu

I AM MORBID to Perform 'Altars of Madness' in Full at MILWAUKEE METAL FEST 2024

GET EARLY BIRD PASSES HERE

After a successful return of Milwaukee Metal Festival in 2023, the iconic midwestern, multi-day event is now revealing 11 more bands and daily schedules for the highly anticipated 2024 edition, with more TBA! The festival is now welcoming I AM MORBID, who will be performing the iconic Morbid Angel record, 'Altars of Madness,' in its entirety on Sunday, May 19!

In addition, fans can use code DEATH5 to save $5 on single day tickets at therave.com/metalfest.

The daily lineup is now as follows:

Friday, May 17:

Blind Guardian

Kamelot

Symphony X

Destruction

Marduk

Hammerfall

Metal Church

Incantation

Eternal Champion

Profanatica

Visigoth

UADA

Belushi Speed Ball

Night Demon

Necrofier

Hellwitch

Silva

Ancient Entities

Illusion of Fate

& more

Saturday, May 18:

Mr. Bungle

Testament

Hatebreed

Katatonia

Death to All (Unique set #1)

Deicide

Possessed

The Red Chord

Soilent Green (Reunion)

Skinless

Martyr AD

Heathen

Devourment

Internal Bleeding

Cenotaph

Cloak

Embryonic Autopsy

Eyes of the Living

& more

Sunday, May 19:

Slaughter To Prevail

Avatar

In Flames

I Am Morbid ('Altars of Madness' set)

Death to All (Unique Set #2)

Lacuna Coil

Paleface Swiss

Bleed From Within

Exhumed

It Dies Today

Alluvial

Casket Robbery

Viogression

Errors of Humanity

Amerakin Overdose

Beyond Threshold

& more

The festivities will kick off with a pre-party on May 16 while the main festival will run May 17 - 19at The Rave/Eagles Club in Milwaukee, WI and is promised to have bigger headliners, more food, vendors, live podcasts and other surprises!

The festival returned to prominence in 2023 under the watchful eye of Hatebreed frontman and podcaster Jamey Jasta and Sound Talent Group's Tim Borror, as well as the team at The Rave / Eagles Club, where so many of the original festivals took place.

Single day tickets and passes are available at Etix.com.

Fans can visit the official Milwaukee Metal Fest site and sign up for the mailing list for first access to information and exclusive content HERE.

More details will soon be announced! Stay tuned...!

Follow Milwaukee Metal Fest:

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PROFANATICA Announces Additional Dates for February Headlining U.S. Tour

USBM legends PROFANATICA will embarking on an East Coast U.S. headlining tour in early 2024, with support from NUNSLAUGHTER + TOMBS! The band is now revealing additional shows, which now includes stops in Greensboro, NC and Orlando, FL. The trek will kick off on February 13 in Providence, RI and will conclude on March 3 in Brooklyn, NY. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found at THIS LOCATION.

The band will also be appearing on the 2024 edition of Milwaukee Metal Fest on Friday, May 17, in which the current lineup and tickets can be found HERE.

PROFANATICA is supporting its new full-length, 'Crux Simplex,' which was released on September 22, 2023 via Season of Mist. The record can be streamed, downloaded, and orderedHERE.

PROFANATICA U.S. TOUR 2024 (w/ NUNSLAUGHTER + TOMBS):

02/13: Providence, RI @ Alchemy

02/14: Bensalem, PA @ Broken Goblet

02/15: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery

02/16: Chesapeake, VA @ Riff House

02/17: Greensboro, NC @ The Pour House

02/18: Piedmont, SC @ Tribbles

02/20: Orlando, FL @ Conduit

02/21: Pompano Beach, FL @ Pipers

02/22: Cape Coral, FL @ Nice Guys

02/24/: Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn

02/25: Louisville, KY @ Portal

02/26: Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary

02/27: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground

02/28: Ottawa, ON @ Brass Monkey

02/29: Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti

03/01: Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar

03/02: Boston, MA @ Sonia

03/03: Brooklyn, NY @ Market Hotel

03/17: Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest*

*Profanatica only

PROFANATICA are at the vanguard of the first wave of American black metal. Founded and led by infamous master of black perversion Paul Ledney (drums/vocals), they have purveyed primeval blasphemy for nigh on thirty-three years.

Ledney formed the band from the ashes of the first INCANTATION lineup when he split and took with him all of the members sans John McEntee. That early trio of ex-INCANTATION members reeled off three ground-breaking demos of some of the most extreme and blasphemic metal of its time in rapid succession. The band flyers that permeated the tape-trading circuit were no less shocking and featured the trio bloody and naked and in the throes of what was most certainly a primeval summoning of some kind. In short order, they had inked a deal with the fledgling Osmose Productions for what became one of that labels first releases (Osmose release #5); a legendary split with Colombia's MASACRE.

Something so volatile could only last briefly, and after another brief recording session the band collapsed under the weight of its own extremity. but the recordings made in this two year window went on to see dozens of reissues in the coming decades, in a testament to how formidable and formative they are to the black metal scene worldwide.

After almost fifteen years spent with his equally polarizing solo project HAVOHEJ, Ledney reignited the flames of PROFANATICA in 2006. Reemerging with a new deal from Hells Headbangers, Ledney and his new band released 'The Enemy of Virtue', a collection of that vaunted early material, and a new fulllength, 'Profanatitas de Domonatia'. A triumphant return, 'Profanatitas de Domonatia' picked up right where these Kings of US Black Metal left off, delivering a savage stream of chainsaw guitars and relentless battery upon which they desecrated everything sacred.

This set-in motion another frenetic burst of work for PROFANATICA. The next decade saw them

unleash four new full-length albums of blasphemous perversions, sacrilegious incantations, and furious black metal. In addition, the band issued six mini-albums and EP's, a full DVD of early footage, and began touring internationally in Europe and in Central and South America. For the first time PROFANATICA were appearing near or at the top of the bill at festivals like Maryland Death Fest, Messe Des Mortes, Hells Headbash, Prague Death Mass (Czech Republic), Chaos Descends (Germany), Black Sun (Spain), Tyrant Fest (France), SWR Fest (Portugal) and many more.

In fall 2018, PROFANATICA joined forces with Season of Mist and undertook their biggest tour to date supporting WATAIN and ROTTING CHRIST across Europe. And a year later, the trio vomited forth a most vulgar strain of black metal ejaculate with their SoM debut album 'Rottng Incarnation of God.'

The band embarked on an extensive twelve-country European headline tour in the album's wake. Shortly after returning home that winter, the world ground to a halt in 2020. Save a live-streaming concert production for the legendary Rock al Parque in conjuncton with BATUSHKA, little was heard from PROFANATICA.

That is until spring 2023, when PROFANATICA emerged from their den of iniquity on a European headline tour to promote a new album. 'Crux Simplex' is a ten-track offensive of sin and sacrilege, a nasty affront that bastardizes the first 10 stations of the cross. As per their legacy, PROFANATICA deals in bestial, first-wave black metal barbarity, and their eighth album unveils ungodly levels of bile and blasphemy. 

Live Lineup:

Mayhemic Slaughter of the Heavens – Drums / Vocals

Destroyer of Holy Hymen – Guitar

The True Perversion of the Heavenly Father – Bass 

Follow Profanatica here:

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Apple Music

ENSLAVED | announce 'Heimdal (Deluxe)' digital album + release single/visualizer 'Gangandi'

One year ago, Norway's trailblazing cosmic voyagers, Enslaved, released their latest avant-garde creation titled Heimdal. To commemorate the studio album's first year of existence, the band are proud to announce the Heimdal (Deluxe) digital album, set to be released on March 1st 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Heimdal (Deluxe) will include the studio album in full, as well as bonus track 'Gangandi', alternative versions of two album tracks 'Congelia' and 'Forest Dweller', both featuring sublime performances from renowned cellist Jo Quail, plus the entirety of 'The Otherworldly Big Band Experience' - Enslaved's stunning 2022 streaming event featuring fellow psychedelic Norwegian prog band Shaman Elephant.

Today, the band have released their deeply mesmerising track 'Gangandi' as a preview to the deluxe digital album, which is accompanied by a visualizer.

Vocalist/bassist Grutle Kjellson commented,

"Gangandi was the last song we made before the recording sessions for Heimdal took place. I remember Ivar driving down to my place from Bergen on a Friday night to play a demo for a new song for me, and I went like, "Daaaaamn, this is something else!" I absolutely loved it, but at the same time, I sensed that it was a little bit to the left of the rest of the material. When I started to figure out what to sing over it, I ended up writing a poem in cross rhyme in archaic western Norwegian, which even separated the whole effort even further away from the rest of the material.

So, ultimately, we ended up not including it on the album, other than as a bonus track on the most “exclusive” and limited vinyl versions.

That said, that doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy the song! Quite the contrary! We love this odd little hybrid of folk rock, early Mayhem, and King Crimson! It just ended up being the weird cousin of the rest of the songs. Kind of like Enslaved itself as a matter of fact."

PRE-SAVE HEIMDAL (DELUXE): https://enslaved.bfan.link/heimdal-deluxe.ema
LISTEN TO TRACK 'GANGANDI': https://enslaved.bfan.link/gangandi.ema
WATCH THE 'GANGANDI' VISUALIZER below.

Enslaved's latest studio album Heimdal (released March 2023) is both a departure and a communion with roots forged over three decades ago in the turbulent birth throes of Norway’s black metal scene. It's a record that points towards new beginnings, and a dawn that’s on the other side of the apex of the land. A psychedelic journey through arcane Norse folklore, connecting with one's ancient ancestors and our future selves.

'The Otherworldly Big Band Experience' was an Enslaved show like none other, their biggest, boldest project to date - a colossal, kaleidoscopic stage show featuring a stellar setlist covering their career, both past and present. Including some tracks never previously performed live. 

Enslaved will be touring the UK and Europe in March 2024. The 16-date run will take the band across 10 different countries, with support coming from British post-hardcore quartet Svalbard and US metallers Wayfarer.

Tickets are on-sale now from https://enslaved.no/

Never faltering, Norway’s iconic Enslaved continue to exist as one of the most original and dependable components in our scene's indestructible backbone. Possessing the reputation as one of the most riveting live acts around, they never fail to offer us talent of the highest calibre, always doing justice to their signature black/progressive sound. Enslaved was formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson, releasing their first demo Yggdrasill in the summer of 1992, their legendary mini-album Hordanes Land coming out in 1993, and with their debut full-length Vikingligr Veldi arriving in the spring of 1994.

Enslaved are a band in stellar form - a band at its most existentialist and self-conscious, proud Bergeners bearing the torch of their hometown’s extraordinary musical history. Their most recent material shows Enslaved at their most unleashed and thought-through - a lethal combination unfurling a potential that’s easily rekindling the furor of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, most haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong.

Enslaved are:
Ivar Bjørnson | guitars 
Grutle Kjellson | vocals
Arve 'Ice Dale' Isdal | guitar
Håkon Vinje | keyboards, clean vocals
Iver Sandøy | drums

ANCIIENTS Re-record Old Favorite with New Lineup

Since winning a coveted JUNO for their last album in 2018, Anciients have been whittling away at their  follow-up. That album is done now and will be released later this year. But before the hard-rocking Canucks come down from the mountain with a new set of genre-breaking commandments for the psychedelic masses, they're flexing their new lineup with a re-recorded version of a proven fan favorite.    

Watch the visualizer for "Raise the Sun (Re-recording)" below, (Created by Scott Rudd Film). 

Anciients first came into existence back in 2011, though Kenny Cook (vocals, guitar), Chris Dyck (guitar) and Aaron "Boon" Gustafson (bass) had already played in a band together. Their potent chemistry, joined with drummer Mike Hannay, spilled over into Heart of Oak, which landed the band an opening slot on tour with Lamb of God, as well as on the long list for a JUNO and the 2013 Polaris Music Prize.

After their second album, Voice of the Void, won a JUNO in 2018 for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year, Anciients underwent several line-up changes. They're now joined by bassist Rory O'Brien and Brock MacInnes on rhythm guitar. You can hear the full brunt of their twin force on this re-recorded version of "Raise the Sun". The riffs sizzle with more than enough righteous fury to burn rubber, while the low end casts a thunderous shadow.   

"With the 10th anniversary of ‘Heart of Oak’ happening while we were recording our new record, we decided to re-record a couple songs with our current lineup", says Cook. "It was a trip down memory lane working on this song, a decade later, with producer Jesse Gander at the helm again. We hope you enjoy the sound of this new version of 'Raise the Sun'." 

Anciients' new album will come out later this year.

More praise for Anciients and "Raise the Sun".

"Initially keys on Fleet Foxes before leaping into a verse so sticky and warm that ASG or Torche might like to have it back" - Pitchfork.        

"Parts progressive finesse, classic rock grandstanding and grass-roots bludgeon" - PopMatters 
 
"Heady stuff...arch-synthesists, cleverly appropriating a number of familiar, inter-related genres to fuse into a seamless ethos" - Metal Injection

"Proggy, sludgy and downright rocking" - Angry Metal Guy

Lineup
Kenny Cook (vocals, guitar)
Mike Hannay (drums) 
Brock MacInnes (rhythm guitar)
Rory O'Brien (bass)

Production
Produced and mixed by Jesse Gander at RainCity Recorders in Vancouver, BC.
Mastered by Stu Mckillop at RainCity Mastering in Vancouver, BC.

Stream: https://linktr.ee/anciients
Order merch:  https://shop.season-of-mist.com/band/anciients

Follow Anciients
https://www.facebook.com/ANCIIENTSRIFFS
https://www.instagram.com/anciients/
https://twitter.com/ANCIIENTS
https://www.youtube.com/user/ANCIIENTS
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/anciients/603538280
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YQOcYukzO6U1MjFcavDUE?si=4QWahfZxQjOmAI7nYrav6g&nd=1&dlsi=0142e5e62ae54105

Solid State/Tooth & Nail Records Welcome Acres to the Roster; Band Shares "A Different Shade of Misery" Video

STREAM "A DIFFERENT SHADE OF MISERY"

SOLID STATE/TOOTH & NAIL RECORDS WELCOME UK BAND ACRES TO THE ROSTER

TOURING WITH HOLDING ABSENCE, CAPSTAN, + CASEY THIS WINTER

SOLID STATE + TOOTH & NAIL RECORDS are pleased to welcome UK band ACRES to the roster. 

The band has shared the video for the new single "A Different Shade Of Misery," which was produced by Landon Tewers of The Plot in You. Watch it below. 

The song mixes equal parts brutality and melody, making for quite a thrilling listen.

"Lyrically this song is about regaining control of yourself and confronting your demons," says vocalist Ben Lumber. "I wrote this when I was at a really low point and I'd often sit there thinking, 'Man, you need to snap out of this.' At one point, I felt like my own worst enemy and I was fighting a war inside my own head. It's a really special song because, musically, it's a new direction and the start of a new era for our band. We've always aimed to reinvent ourselves with every release and this was one of those songs that just naturally came to us."

Acres are touring this winter in support of Holding Absence along with Capstan and Casey. All dates are below.

Following the success of 2019's Lonely World, a record that harnessed melody and melancholy, Acres found themselves playing the biggest shows of their career so far and achieving things they had only previously dreamt about. But when the world around them suddenly felt so uncertain, they had a choice to make of what they should do next. Instead of rushing out with something that they didn't fully believe, they locked themselves away and painstakingly created something that not only represented where they had been but also where they wanted to end up. The result was Burning Throne, a perfectly crafted account of what it means to stare into your own oblivion and learn about who you really are from it.

ACRES ON TOUR:
WITH HOLDING ABSENCE, CAPSTAN, + CASEY:
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 Theatre
2/16 — Philadelphia, PA, US — The Foundry
2/17 — Worcester, MA, US — The Palladium

PHOTO CREDIT:  glkmedia (@glk.media)

FARMER WANTS A WIFE - Meet the 32 Women from the Big City Looking for Love in the Heartland, Premiering 2/1 on FOX

Season Two of Farmer Wants a Wife, the most successful dating show in the world, airing in 32 countries and resulting in 201 marriages and 514 children…and counting, returns Thursday, Feb. 1 (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. In a trend that continues to sweep America, there’s been a migration from city-centers to suburban and rural locales, and with that, love follows.

Hosted by superstar entertainer and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Nettles, the anticipated season follows four farmers in search of real, lasting love. Season Two’s new crop of farmers—Ty Ferrell, Mitchell Kolinsky, Brandon Rogers and Nathan Smothers — host a group of single women who leave behind the comfort and convenience of city life for the charms and challenges of country living, as they embark on an adventure that could change the course of their lives forever. With diverse backgrounds in cattle ranching, citrus, potato and barley farming, horse training and more, the upcoming season promises an even more in-depth look at the pursuit of genuine love as each farmer and their group of hopeful singles meet and mutually select one another before the women are invited to experience life on their respective farm.

From there, the farmers show each group what it is really like on an actual working farm, from tending to the land, harvesting crops and feeding cattle, to the behind-the-scenes business operations. As the ladies immerse themselves in the realities of farm life, some will blossom while some will head out to pasture, and ALL will quickly learn a manicure only lasts so long in the great outdoors. With this comes even more fish-out-of-water moments, and only time will tell if the ladies have the patience, spirit and adaptability required to be a farmer’s wife. Together, with the hope of finding their ever-after, they endeavor to discover the beauty, humor, trials and romance that come with finding the one. 

NATHAN -(photo Credit: Michael Becker/FOX)

TY - (Photo Credit: Michael Becker/FOX)

Mitchell - (Photo Credit: Michael Becker/FOX)

Brandon - (Photo Credit: Michael Becker/FOX)

OFFICIAL FARMER WANTS A WIFE SOCIAL INFORMATION
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Kenny's Connective Tissue Starts 2024

As Kenny Chesney gears up for a massive summer tour with 23 major stadium plays, he’s also getting his head right for the focus needed to deliver his intensely high energy shows. That commitment to his fans and music made the perfect reason to join his good friend, as well as acclaimed actor John C. McGinley’s groundbreaking Connective Tissue podcast.
 
“I don’t know anybody smarter than John C.,” Chesney says of his first media appearance of 2024. “He is a thinker, a dreamer, but also someone who believes in the power of preparation and story in creating a life that really matters. I knew talking to him would go to places that really matter, and we did.”
 
From the power and process of flow, the work that goes into being ready, the role of gratitude and the reality of being smart in achieving success, the two men went to more thoughtful places than most modern media. Unguarded, personal and sifting through the white noise that surrounds success, the man known for pivotal roles in “Scrubs,” “Platoon” and “Office Space” created what is almost a late-night philosophical conversation between old friends.
 
“My favorite quote in the Kenny episode is Ernest Hemingway saying, ‘Just because it happened to you, that doesn’t make it interesting’,” McGinley says. “The subjective part is what’s hard, the thing that makes it matter – and that’s where Kenny excels. You’ve got a couple gems that I’ve never heard him talk about; for those who’ve seen him a couple of times, who hear their life in his songs, now they have insight into him for what is basically a 30-minute investment of time.”
 
Built around McGinley’s affinity for storytelling, storytellers, current events, conflicts and kindness, Connective Tissue is meant to mine the connections between those things to create a space for different perspectives and critical thinking. Whether world class businessmen, Oscar-winning screenwriters, creatives from film, music, the arts or hybrids, Connective Tissue seeks the heart of what drives and inspires his guests’ lives, commitment to excellence and success.
 
“There’s a fascination with exploring these things,” McGinley explains. “Whether it’s a real estate guy getting you to spend 20 million on dirt, a director whose worked with some of the biggest stars or Kenny, it’s the stories they tell that draw people to them. These are all people who’re erudite, who are reluctant to talk about themselves, having conversations people rarely get to hear. I’ve kept them to 30-40 minutes, but you’ll learn things you won’t anywhere else. With Kenny, when we leaned into the wisdom of living in gratitude, we really had a stunning conversation, and I can’t think of ever hearing Kenny having a conversation like this.”
 
With a friendship spanning more than a decade, both men share a work ethic and desire to create performances that will endure, including McGinley’s inspired professorial monologue that opened Chesney’s “Rich & Miserable” video. Across different disciplines, McGinley mines the places where excellence emerges, is fought for and empowered, as well as the doubts and pitfalls that all those who excel must meet and overcome.
 
“These are the kinds of life-defining conversations we’ve had over the years,” Chesney says. “It was cool to sit down for Johnny’s podcast and go to places that matter. Hopefully somebody listening can find some inspiration for chasing their own dreams. I sure hope so.”

About Connective Tissue with John C. McGinley
Multi-dimensional creative force John C. McGinley has created a space where storytelling and storytellers, current events, conflicts, creativity and kindness come together at the same table to find the connective tissue between them. A safe space for critical thinking, McGinley and his guests explore different perspectives in the kind of candid conversations listeners will not hear in normal interviews. With guests ranging from Academy Award winning screenwriters, directors and actors to global business forces, massively successful musicians, supermodels, real estate visionaries and other thought leaders across myriad disciplines, McGinley looks for common ground, life lessons, inspiration and the realities that must be faced to achieve next level success. Available bi-weekly on: Apple podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google podcasts, Pandora, Libsyn, Amazon Music and Audible.
 
About John C. McGinley
John C. McGinley is an acclaimed actor, author, producer, pitchman, sports fan and activist. Known for dynamic roles in “Scrubs,” “Office Space,” “Platoon,” “The Rock,” “Wall Street,” “Burn Notice” and Glengarry Glen Ross on Broadway, McGinley’s career has been defined by bold risks and deeply committed performances. With both gravitas and humor, his work has an indelible masculinity. In addition to being a board member for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, McGinley is a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.