OCEANS - Release New Single 'Slaves To The Feed'!

February 12, 2024

OCEANS are back with their first new music of 2024! The German nu-metal band proudly presents their latest single 'Slaves To The Feed', which provides another strong message towards the importance of mental health and raising awareness on this topic. The new song sees OCEANS collaborate with Australian keyboardist MISSTIQ as well as Josh Collard from EARTH CALLER.

To coincide with the release of 'Slaves To The Feed', OCEANS are unleashing a second new single! 'Breed Consume Die' sees the Germans once again prove their musical versatility as they let their heavier side come to the fore. Josh Collard from EARTH CALLER is also featured on this song, which serves as a social wake-up call.

As if the release of two new singles wasn't enough, OCEANS have also delivered a brand new music video for their single 'Slaves To The Feed', which you can watch below.

Timo Rotten comments:

"Social media makes us sick. It makes me sick, I'm fucking addicted to my smartphone. Even though it has made my life miserable to a certain extent, I still keep scrolling. And why is that? Because people tell me it's part of the business. We as a band are both part of the solution and part of the problem."

Stream the new singles here: https://oceans.bfan.link/slavesttfeed

Get your copy of OCEANS' last album Hell Is Where The Heart Is here:
https://oceans.bfan.link/hell-is-where-the-heart-is

Watch the previously released visualizer video for 'Chop Suey' here:
https://youtu.be/hfv9crPEPS0

TOUR DATES

Just in time for the release of the two new singles, OCEANS are going on tour. As support for OUR MIRAGE, the nu-metallers will be playing several shows across Germany in February and March. In addition, OCEANS will play two more shows in April as special guests for ANCHORS AND HEARTS.

Make sure to grab your tickets now: https://bnds.us/0ibwu7

About:

Ever since their inception, up and coming German outfit OCEANS have dropped jaws everywhere they went. With a unique sound that sits somewhere between nu-metal, progressive, post and death metal and putting mental health at the top of their agenda, the four piece quickly became a known constant in today’s metal landscape. OCEANS have become known for their inclination towards innovation and experimentation within their genre; covering songs by the likes of Alessia Cara and collaborating with prominent musicians such as MACHINE HEAD’s Robb Flynn and CALIBAN’s Andy Dörner amongst others. Having released two EPs in 2019, their debut album in 2020 and another EP in 2021, the band featuring visionary mastermind Timo Rotten can easily be described as one of Europe’s hardest and fastest working bands in the genre. Enter 2022 and OCEANS have already proved that they’re set to continue on their upwards trajectory with the release of their trilogy Hell Is Where The Heart Is - Part I: Love, it’s follow-up Hell Is Where The Heart Is - Part II: Longing and Hell Is Where The Heart Is - Part III: Clarity, which together form their second album Hell Is Where The Heart Is.

OCEANS is:
Timo Rotten | vocals, guitar
Patrick Zarske | guitar
Thomas Winkelmann | bass
J.F. Grill | drums

More info:
www.oceansofficial.com
www.facebook.com/oceansofficialde
www.twitter.com/ocnsofficial
www.youtube.com/oceansofficial
www.nuclearblast.de/oceans

Listen to Royal Tusk's new song 'Hated'

February 12, 2024

Alberta rock trio Royal Tusk have released a new song 'Hated,' from their third full-length album, 'Altruistic,' due February 23, 2024.

Spending nearly a year writing throughout the pandemic, the trio eventually hunkered down in Alberta’s Audio Department recording studio where they self-produced Altruistic. In the midst of the process, Carriere wound up in the throes of a year-long battle to get healthy after suffering from a blood clot in his lung. He lost over 20lbs and could barely speak...

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT 'ALTRUISTIC' HERE

Rick Monroe & The Hitmen Release New Single "Worth The Hurt" via TLG/Virgin Music Group

February 12, 2024

Rick Monroe & The Hitmen released their new single "Worth the Hurt" today, via TLG/Virgin Music Group. Co-written by Monroe, Jared Weeks and Scott Wilson of Saving Abel, and multi-Grammy and multi-Dove award-winning producer and composer, Skidd Mills (Skillet, Third Day, Saliva, Katie Arminger), "Worth The Hurt" is an antithetical Valentine's Day song that highlights the addictive qualities and unhealthy co-dependence of a love gone wrong. The single impacts radio on February 13th.

The single serves as a tantalizing preview of the exceptional content that awaits fans in the group's highly anticipated full-length vinyl project, SIX GUN SOUL, scheduled for release on April 12. This album features previously acclaimed singles such as "World's Gone Crazy" and "God’s Ear." The latter has garnered praise from discerning critics like Robert K. Oermann (Music Row) and respected musicians, including Shawn Drover (formerly of Megadeth).

Stream / download "Worth The Hurt" at https://ffm.to/worththehurt

World-class entertainers Rick Monroe & The Hitmen have no desire to trace the trail of every trend. Instead, they serve up a “poly-jam-orous” recipe they call “Blue Jean Rock”--artistically organic, and spiced with heavy blend of their musical influences to reflect country sensibilities with a rock and roll beat.

Rick Monroe & The Hitmen have built a solid legion of fans across the globe and recently surpassed over 4.3 MILLION logged views on YouTube and over 1 MILLION captured streams without the benefit of ever appearing on a core editorial playlist.

Monroe is no stranger to the stage: he’s performed in 17 countries – and every U.S. state including Washington DC & Puerto Rico. The seven-time Jägermeister Country Brand Ambassador has toured with Queensrӱche, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Lee Bice, Aaron Lewis, Eli Young Band, Pat Green, and Randy Houser, as well as has opened for Country Music Legends like Charlie Daniels Band, Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt, Patty Loveless and more. He has entertained the USO, AFE, U.S. troops in Vietnam, and former Soviet President, Mikhail Gorbachev. His brother called him “Elvis Gump” because of all the amazing people and places his career has led him.

For those who aren’t familiar with his music, Rick advises them to come to the show for a good time and to be ready for “just about anything.” “I love to play,” the singer notes. “And I want everyone to play along. I like to think of my shows as an interactive sport"--one that he will now play with the help of his permanent bandmates, Bobby Perkins (guitar), Alan Beeler (bass), and Jason Bohl (drums), also known as The Hitmen because "they kill it every single night!"

Rick enjoys sponsorships and/or endorsements with NOS/Full Throttle energy drink, Number Juan Tequila, Tony Chachare Cajun Seasonings, GHS Strings, SE electronics, Roper Western Wear, Shubb Capos, Speakeasy Original, Westone Audio & Fishman Audio.

For More Information Please Visit:

Necrofier Hosting Reddit AMA

February 12, 2024

The four horsemen of Necrofier are saddling up for this year's Decibel Magazine Tour. The Houston black metal band will be riding high from Roseville, California all the way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for 20+ nights of hell-raising with their tourmates Hulder, Devil Master and Worm.

Hear what life is like out on the left-hand path when Necrofier front man Christian "Bakka" Larson joins the black metal subreddit this Thursday, February 15 at 11 am Central Time. You can ask him anything: what are his favorite amps and pedals, how he got into organizing Hell's Heroes, why it is, in fact, okay to toss a severed pig's head around in the pit.

"2024 is starting off crazy with the Decibel Tour and Hell's Heroes", says Bakka. "Ask me questions on Thursday before all the madness begins".

Join the AMA: https://www.reddit.com/r/BlackMetal/

Get tickets for Decibel Magazine Tour: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/events/tour/

Decibel Magazine 2024 Tour Dates
February 21- Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post [TICKETS]
February 22 - Oakland, CA @ Thee Stork Club [TICKETS]
February 23 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex [TICKETS]
February 24 - San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick [TICKETS]
February 25 - Mesa, AZ @ The Nile [TICKETS]
February 27 - Austin, TX @ Empire Control Room [TICKETS]
February 28 - Dallas, TX @ Trees [TICKETS]
March 1 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade [TICKETS]
March 2 - Orlando, FL @ The Abbey [TICKETS]
March 3 - Miami, FL @ Gramps [TICKETS]
March 5 - Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 [TICKETS]
March 6 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage [TICKETS]
March 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts [TICKETS]
March 9 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Monarch [TICKETS]
March 10 - Cambridge, MA @ The Middle East [TICKETS]
March 12 - New Kinsington, PA @ Preserving Underground [TICKETS]
March 13 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop [TICKETS]
March 14 - Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick [TICKETS]
March 15 - Chicago, IL @ Reggies [TICKETS]
March 16 - St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag [TICKETS]
March 17 - Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck [TICKETS]
March 18 - Denver, CO @ HQ [TICKETS]

Necrofier will be performing songs off their latest album, Burning Shadows in the Southern Night, which is out now on Season of Mist.

Order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NecrofierBSitSN
Stream: http://httsp//orcd.co/necrofierbsitsn

The Decibel tour winds down in March, but Necrofier will be keeping the black flame burning. They'll light up Milwaukee Metal Fest on Friday, May 17, alongside labelmates and fellow American black metal conspirators Profanatica.

Get tickets: https://www.etix.com/ticket/e/1040289/milwaukee-metal-fest-2024-milwaukee-the-rave-eagles-club

Decibel premiered Necrofier's sinister video for "Destroying Angels".

While it's awfully hard to pick just one, "Destroying Angels" might be the most satantic track on Burning Shadows in the Southern Night. Dobber Beverly is so cold and merciless behind the drum kit that his fills could flay flesh. "Sacrifice my life in blood", Bakka screams. His bloodlust sounds so murderous, it's like he's being burned at the stake by those searing guitar riffs.

"'Destroying Angels is about transforming yourself into something new after learning things you believed to be true were not. The song was also written while on mushrooms and lyrically is inspired by Selim from The Devil's Blood. RIP'

Watch what happens when a harem of witches catch an innocent princess wandering through their enchanted forest.

https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2023/09/12/video-premiere-necrofier-destroying-angels/

Praise for Burning Shadows in the Southern Night

“It’s great-sounding black metal that almost feels more like a live record than a studio album” – A&P Reacts

“Incorporates classic heavy metal, hard rock and some subtle folk elements, resulting in an eclectic sound that keeps the listener interested” – Distorted Sound

“One huge, tar-coated bastard of an album” – Sentinel Daily

"You can hear the legacy of Europe's most prominent metal bands alive and well in Texas" - Scream Blast Repeat

"The Texas-based black metal band impress with their fire, hunger and ability to blend savagery and dark melody with precision and deftness" - Man of Much Metal

"Atmosphere and melody is absolutely the name of the game...Necrofier have a talent for drawing together a true heavy metal sensibility" - Ave Noctum

Deep within the scorching cauldron of Texas, the alchemists of Necrofier have brewed another potent dose of American black metal with their sophomore full-length, ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night.’ The Houston four-piece honors the time-tested virtues of traditional black and heavy metal, even taking an organic sonic approach, tapping seven-time Grammy-nominated producer and engineer Joel Hamilton (Unsane, Tom Waits, Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, etc.) to lend his magic touch for a natural sound.

“The goal going into the new record was to start setting ourselves apart from our contemporaries,” explains Necrofier drummer Dobber Beverly. “One of those ways was changing what the record sounded like. Moving away from the clinical and sterile nature that most productions suffer from and back into a real room with real instruments and performances. Our friend and esteemed producer/engineer Joel Hamilton had expressed interest in venturing back into the metal world and offered to make the record with us at his facility, Studio G Brooklyn. The results will speak for themselves hopefully, as this record breathes and spits fire wherever it’s played.”

“Dobber and Joel have become good friends since they recorded the last Oceans of Slumber album with him, adds Necrofier guitarist and vocalist Bakka. "After that, Joel wanted to record something heavy, so we made the trip to New York City to record in his legendary studio. It was an amazing experience in a great studio; besides having all the gear, he also created an environment where we challenged ourselves and brought everything up to the next level.”

‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ doesn’t just simply pick off where Necrofier’s debut album left off, but displays a conscientious effort to double down on the elements that made ‘Prophecies of Eternal Darkness’ successful. The solos are more plentiful and intricate, the hooks are more anthemic, and the overall musicianship is bolder and more daring. Speaking of the band’s evolution, Bakka explains, “I think this collection of songs represents us very well. We have grown together as a band and it shows in the new songs. Also, for this record we flew to NYC and recorded all day long for 10 days straight. I love recording this way because it captures a certain magic. The whole band is immersed in the process and it's all we would think, do, live and breathe during the process.”

Another core facet of Necrofier’s allure is being a black metal band from Texas. “Where you live always helps shape someone,” says Bakka. “It helps shape our style and tone in ways, it’s hot most of the year, so as we burn, it gives us warmer tones and more of a heavy metal influence than when compared to our brothers from the North."

To that avail, Necrofier isn’t your typical black metal band, and so this isn’t your typical black metal record as there’s a healthy amount of traditional metal influences, particularly within the guitar work. While conceptually, the band doesn’t heavily rely on Satanic themes, exploring deeper human philosophies and the occult like burning for your dreams or spiraling out on a psychedelic trip and exploring the beyond. “While there isn’t overt satanic worship in the lyrics, I would still say that he is a friend of ours,” Bakka cheekily says. “There are Occult themes on this record, but at the same time, it does take a philosophical approach.”

Further illustrating the influence of their environment, Necrofier also heavily explores one of Southern America’s most fabled myths. “The new record touches on selling your soul at the crossroads,” adds Bakka. “I like to take a different approach and touch on the elements of the esoteric world and dive into the forbidden or hidden that surrounds us in our lives every day.”

As the Texan black metal outlaws saddle up for record two, they are leading the charge as one of the contemporary purveyors of black metal revivalism. ‘Burning Shadows in the Southern Night’ is certain to elicit a sense of nostalgia for those who dare to lay ears on this vicious new offering.

Lineup:
Bakka – Vocals, Guitar
Semir Ozerkan – Guitars
Dobber Beverly – Drums
Mat Valentine - Bass

Guest Musicians:
Cammie Beverly (Oceans of Slumber) – Vocals on “The All Seeing Shadows” and “The Fall From Heaven”

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Necrofier
https://twitter.com/necrofier
https://www.instagram.com/necrofier/
https://necrofier.bandcamp.com

Producer/Sound Engineer/Mixing: Joel Hamilton at Studio G, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Mastering: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering

Cover Art: Burney

Stream: https://orcd.co/necrofierbsitsn

Order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NecrofierBSitSN

Avatar Announce Spring 2024 Headline Tour

February 12, 2024

TREK INCLUDES KEY FESTIVAL APPEARANCES

The heavy metal 'n' roll, dark, madcap visionaries collectively known as AVATAR — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — will return to the U.S. for a headline tour this May. The trek kicks off on May 8 in Indianapolis and includes appearances at key festivals such as Sonic Temple.

Oxymorrons and Conquer Divide will serve as support. All dates are below. Tickets go on sale on Friday, February 16. Get tickets here.

2024 will be quite a year for Avatar! With headline tours in Europe and Latin America announced, and festival dates in the U.S., the band is set to have a monumental start to their year. Europe already has nine sold-out shows, with many others on their way to selling out. Avatar's first headline tour in Latin America is a milestone in and of itself. The band will headline a Sonic Temple stage this May — their first headline set at a DWP Festival.

The band's latest album Dance Devil Dance is out now.

AVATAR ON TOUR:
WITH OXYMORRONS + CONQUER DIVIDE:
5/8 — Indianapolis, IN — Egyptian Room
5/9 — Huntsville, AL — VBC Mars Music Hall
5/10 — Greensboro, NC — Piedmont Music Hall
5/11 — Norfolk, VA — The Norva
5/12 — Sayreville, NJ — Starland Ballroom
5/14 — Portland, ME — State Theater
5/15 — Wallingford, CT — The Dome
5/16 — Reading, PA — Reverb
5/17 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple*
5/18 — St. Louis, MO — Pointfest*
5/19 — Milwaukee, WI — Milwaukee Metal Fest *
*Festivals

New Model Army Share "Language" Lyric Video — WATCH

February 12, 2024

NEW MODEL ARMY and earMUSIC are celebrating the worldwide chart success the band’s recent studio album Unbroken by releasing the lyric video for the song "Language."

Watch it Below.

With their U.K. and European "Unbroken Tour" about to start, their most recent studio album reached top positions in the official album charts all around the world. Produced by Tchad Blake (Arctic Monkeys, Pearl Jam, The Black Keys, U2), it's a very New Model Army album, full of guitars but with the emphasis on the rhythmic power of bass and drums which characterizes all the band's work. With Unbroken, the band continues to push the boundaries of its signature sound, while staying true to its heart.

"Not much hits me as genuine these days, but New Model Army hits it for me. Wonderfully recorded and produced by themselves, mixing this album felt like a gift. Here's hoping lots of people feel the same way about listening to it," says Blake.

GET UNBROKEN HERE.

FORMATS:
CD Hardcover Mediabook /Black LP Gatefold / Ltd. Red LP Gatefold / Digital

Swedish alt-rockers Then Comes Silence sign to Metropolis Records & announce new 'Trickery' album

February 11, 2024

"Then Comes Silence are everything a band should be - good tunes, good playing and singing, and good looking. Their songs are ear-worms, once heard difficult to forget, as catchy as gonorrhea but far better for your health" ~ Wayne Hussey

”I can see them being huge” ~ Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth)

"Truly love it" ~ She Past Away

"Hellacopters of Gothic Rock" ~ Jyrki 69 (The 69 Eyes)

"The only band that have been voted in as album of the month three times!" ( 'Blood' in 2017 / 'Machine' in 2020 / 'Hunger' in 2022) ~ Sonic Seducer Magazine

Iconic US-based label Metropolis Records is excited to announce the signing of beguiling Swedish post-punk outfit Then Comes Silence for the release of their seventh album, titled ‘Trickery’. This record celebrates friendship, unity and belonging to a group - your tribe. The first single - ‘Ride or Die’, which has already emerged in Germany's authoritative DAC Charts, will be released on March 1.

"Metropolis Records is thrilled to announce the return of Then Comes Silence. The new album “Trickery” will be the band’s first worldwide release with us. It’s a fantastic album and we are excited to get to share it with you. It’s a refinement of the band’s signature sound, a focused distillation of everything TCS has released to date. Metropolis will be releasing the first single from the record, ‘Ride or Die’ on March 1st," says Jim Smith of Metropolis Records.

Hailing from Stockholm, Then Comes Silence was founded by Alex Svenson in 2012, originally inspired by frequent touring with A Place To Bury Strangers and an attraction to horror and the occult. Today he is joined by drummer Jonas Franssonand Hugo Zombie (Los Carniceros del Norte) on guitar.

'Trickery' follows their 2022 album 'Hunger', released via Nexilis Records / Schubert Music (Europe) and Metropolis Records (North America). After dual record deals for the past few albums, Then Comes Silence has signed exclusively with Metropolis Records for this album.

"For this forthcoming album 'Trickery', we had a change of deal and went full member of the Metropolis Records family. We are ready to embrace the crowd again with our heart and can't wait to get the album out," says frontman Alex Svenson

'Ride or Die' single pre-save https://ingrv.es/ride-or-die-qgn-r
'Trickery' album pre-order https://thencomessilence.bandcamp.com/album/trickery
Album pre-save https://ingrv.es/trickery-fqf-x

Recorded by Jörgen Wall (Jay-Jay Johanson, The Hellacopters) over three days at Stockholm's Kapsylen Studio and mixed by Tom van Heesch (Rammstein, Apocalyptica, Backyard Babies), this album was mastered by Svante Forsbäck / Chartmakers (Rammstein, Amaranthe, Ville Valo, The Rasmus, Apocalyptica).

These sessions capture the heart and essence of rock. With electronic elements being essential to the new recordings, 'Trickery' is also a salute to punk music, to which Then Comes Silence traces their roots.

After debuting with their eponymous album in 2012, Then Comes Silence put out two more albums before releasing 'Blood' via Nuclear Blast in 2016. Their subsequent 'Machine' album was jointly released via Oblivion/SPV and Metropolis Records in 2020.

Then Comes Silence unexpectedly became a three-piece just ahead of their 2022 US tour, then setting out to answer the question "could they continue with only three members"? Proving to work well, the band transformed into a trio, their metamorphosis leading to a different way of creating music and performing live.

Then Comes Silence has toured and played live with The Fields of the Nephilim, The Chameleons, A Place To Bury Strangers and most recently with The Bellwether Syndicate and Vision Video. With many festivals to their name, highlights include M'era Luna, Wave Gotik Treffen, Amphi Festival, Castle Party and W-Festival.

The 'Ride or Die' single will be unleashed digitally everywhere on March 1. The full 'Trickery' album will be released on vinyl and CD, as well as digitally, on April 5. In March and April, Then Comes Silence will be touring North America extensively with Vision Video.

The Last Ten Seconds Of Life 'No Name Graves' Album Out Now + Release "Letalia Infernalis" Lyric Video (via Unique Leader Records)

February 11, 2024

The Last Ten Seconds Of Life have released their new album 'No Name Graves' (via Unique Leader Records). In celebration of their latest full-length, the band has shared the lyric video for "Letalia Infernalis". Leading up to release day, the band have shared "Of All Humanity, the Sum" and "Broken Glass Incantation". Stream 'No Name Graves' in its entirety here and watch the lyric video for "Letalia Infernalis" below.

The Last Ten Seconds Of Life Are:

Wyatt McLaughlin

Tyler Beam

Andrew Petway

Dylan Potts

Esoteric Announce North American Tour

February 11, 2024

Esoteric move at their own punishing pace. The band climbed out of the post-industrial wreckage of metropolitan England back in the early '90s, when the underground was hell-bent on death-defying speed. That these Birmingham Britons bucked that trend by hitting the brakes ran circles around some slower-witted metalheads. But while ahead of the curve, they're now rightfully regarded as one of the heaviest -- and headiest -- hitters in funeral doom.

Today, Esoteric are announcing their first North American tour in more than 10 years. This marks just the second time that they've toured North America. The band will creep through the Midwest before trudging across Canada. They'll then seep down the East Coast before heaving the full bore of their cosmic weight onstage at Maryland Death Fest.

Vacant Eyes will join for the first leg of this tour, followed by Chthe'ilist for the second. Spectral Voice will also appear on select dates, including MDF.

"We are really looking forward to crushing stages across North America with these three incredible bands", says Esoteric's long-time vocalist and guitarist Greg Chandler.

Get tickets: https://www.esotericuk.net/live

Esoteric 2024 North American Tour
May 10    Minneapolis, MN @ White Rock Lounge+
May 11    Chicago, IL @ Reggies#+
May 12    Toronto, ON @ Garrison+
May 13    Ottawa, ON @ Dominion Theater+
May 14    Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar+
May 15    Quebec City, QC @ L'Anti Bar+
May 16    Portland, ME @ Space+
May 17    Worcester, MA @ Ralph's Rock Diner*
May 18    Providence, RI @ Fete Lounge*
May 19    NYC, NY @ TV Eye*#
May 20    Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground*
May 21    Richmond, VA @ The Camel*
May 22    Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie*#
May 23    Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Death Fest#
* with CHTHE'ILIST
# with SPECTRAL VOICE
+ with VACANT EYES

These North American dates will come on the heels of Esoteric's performance at The Dome in London with Bell Witch and Knoll.

Esoteric's will vary their setlist throughout this tour, pulling from across their vast, 30-year discography, including songs off their latest album, A Pyrrhic Existence.

Order: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/EsotericShop
Stream: https://www.esotericuk.net/media/audio

Praise for Esoteric and A Pyrrhic Existence

"Once again, Esoteric has raised a bar and set a standard that other acts should strive for" - Metal Injection, 10/10

"Masters of the long-form technique; now, more than ever, they represent the creative potential of a genre so mired in impatient perception" - Angry Metal Guy, 4/5

"A slow trudge through the apocalypse...I want the kind of sonic despair a band like Esoteric are capable of delivering" - No Clean Singing

For nearly thirty years Esoteric have been pushing the limits of sonic intensity. From the mind-bending darkness of their 90’s double albums Epistemological Despondency (1997) and The Pernicious Enigma (1997), to the expansive epics found on their recent opuses The Maniacal Vale (2008) and Paragon of Dissonance (2011), they have never compromised their initial aim – to unleash aural mayhem on unsuspecting listeners. Late 2019 sees the release of their most accomplished work to date, A Pyrrhic Existence.

Begun in the post-industrial decay of Birmingham in 1992, the band initially took influence from personal excursions into inner space, contemporary death metal, and their own warped take on 70’s progressive and psychedelic music. The early years saw them perform live infrequently, often to perplexed (and sometimes hostile) audiences.

The prevailing ethos in the underground, and indeed heavy music in general in the early 90’s was one of speed. Along with a few of their contemporaries scattered across the globe, Esoteric eschewed this in favor of slow building intensity, extended and multi-layered compositions, and free form noise breaks. A foreboding and pervasive sense of unease permeated the early recordings - this was truly dark music.

Throughout the 90’s the band remained very much in the underground, perfecting their craft, unmoved by trends or the expectations of the fickle masses. Albums such as The Pernicious Enigma (1997) and Metamorphogenesis (1999) saw them develop and refine their sound, evolving naturally, never appearing contrived. Problems finding dedicated members meant decreased activity in the late 90’s – finding a suitable drummer proved particularly difficult.

2003 saw the band rejuvenated. With the line-up complete for the first time in years and signing to Season of Mist for the release of their fourth album Subconscious Dissolution into to Continuum(2004), they performed their first live shows since 1997.

The growing interest in the style of music Esoteric had been peddling without compromise since 1992 meant more opportunities to perform on stage, something the band has relished. Esoteric has developed into a formidable and respected live act, playing tours and festivals throughout Europe and beyond, sharing stages with bands and artists including Ahab, Alcest and Draconian and festivals appearances at Brutal Assault, SWR Barroselas, Damnation Festival, Madrid is The Dark and more.

Released in 2008, ‘The Maniacal Vale’ proved to be the bands most ambitious and successful album to date, simultaneously honoring the chaos of the earlier releases whilst expanding into territory that at first glance may seem at odds with the bands ethos, yet has always lurked within their compositions - namely, a sense a melody and grandeur. Having been hinted at on previous albums, this side of the band was fully realized. This was followed in 2011 by ‘Paragon of Dissonance’, an album equal to its predecessor in compositional scope and ambition.

2019 will see the release of the bands seventh opus, A Pyrrhic Existence, 98 minutes of new material that once again expands on the band’s sound, yet retains elements of all their preceding works. It is a culmination of 27 years of uncompromising dedication to their craft - detailed and layered compositions and a high level of musicianship, foreboding production, and equal measures of utter darkness and melodic diversity.

Line-up
Greg Chandler: Vocals, Guitars
Mark Bodossian: Bass, synths
Joe Fletcher: Drums
Jim Nolan: Guitars
Gordon Bicknell: Guitars

Cover art: Lisa Schubert

Graphics and layout: Mauro Berchi

Production, mixing, mastering: Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios

Follow Esoteric
http://www.facebook.com/esotericukofficial
http://www.instagram.com/esoteric_uk
http://www.esotericuk.net/
http://www.esotericuk.bandcamp.com/

EXHORDER RELEASES 2ND SINGLE, 'FOREVER AND BEYOND DESPAIR,' FROM UPCOMING RECORD

February 11, 2024

NOLA thrash and groove trailblazers EXHORDER will release their much anticipated 4th full-length record, Defectum Omnium, on March 8th with Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band has revealed the record’s 2nd single, ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’; a ripping and gripping pit thrasher with massive riffs and blistering solos. You know, what EXHORDER are known for!

Commenting on the new song, vocalist/guitarist Kyle Thomas says:

“Our second single ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ embraces many of the punk rock ingredients that we grew up on. Exhorder got its start on the punk rock scene of New Orleans, so it only made sense to dig back into this part of our roots. With aggressive angst and sarcastic themes, this song is absolutely a middle finger to the hypocrisies of the establishment.”

‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ Music Video

EXHORDER’s latest and greatest features 12 crushing tracks and ominous cover artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), the album follows the band’s critically revered 2019 release Mourn The Southern Skies. The new single follows the band’s recent release of their metal anthem “Year of the Goat.”

Pre-order/Pre-save Defectum Omnium: https://exhorder.bfan.link/defectum-omnium

Stream ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’: https://exhorder.bfan.link/forever-and-beyond-despair

Following the release of Defectum Omnium in April, EXHORDER will kick off a US tour with Bay Area thrash legends VIO-LENCE, Virginian extreme metalheads DECEASED and LA death metal band MORTAL WOUND. The brutality starts April 5th in Cambridge, MA and will culminate April 13th in Chicago, IL.

Tickets are on sale now at the links below.

EXHORDER US Tour Dates:

April 5 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East (Tickets)

April 6 - Brooklyn, NY - Monarch (Tickets)

April 7 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts (Tickets)

April 8 - Baltimore, MD - The Ottobar (Tickets)

April 10 - Cleveland, OH - The Winchester (Tickets)

April 11 - Cincinnati, OH - Legends (Tickets)

April 12 - Detroit, MI - Sanctuary (Tickets)

April 13 - Chicago, IL - Reggies (Tickets)

About EXHORDER:

Formed in 1986, EXHORDER’s journey has proven exciting, yet tumultuous. After a twenty-seven-year absence following their final Roadrunner Records release in 1992, EXHORDER re-entered the game with an album considered by many to be a contender for the "Best Comeback Album" category. The band released Mourn the Southern Skies in October of 2019 through Nuclear Blast Records. Fraught with euphoric peaks and crippling valleys throughout its existence, lineup changes, and the 2020-2021 pandemic, EXHORDER has since clawed back through the muck to prepare yet another album to add to the discography. In the spring of 2024, EXHORDER presents yet again via Nuclear Blast their fourth full-length recording, Defectum Omnium, the Latin phrase for "The Failure of All". Singer Kyle Thomas wryly explains that the album title is representative of the current state of affairs that the world is in. "The world is a dumpster fire, and we are all complicit.", he explains. "People have been talking about, ‘...viruses killing us off, blah-blah, blah...', when in actuality WE are the virus to the Earth. Mother Nature is simply trying to shake off the fleas, and her ‘viruses’ are the antibodies combating US. Earth will survive, and we will join the dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, and saber-toothed tigers soon enough in her history."

Produced by EXHORDER and mixed by Jens Bogren, Defectum Omnium puts a foot back into the roots of the band's inception. The scales have tipped favorably towards the presence of punk and thrash more so than on Mourn the Southern Skies. Tracks like ‘Wrath of Prophecies’, ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’, and ‘Sedition’ are what EXHORDER comes by most honestly when referring to their beginnings. There is also a strong presence of doom influence, as always. ‘The Tale of Unsound Minds’ and the haunting ‘Defectum Omnium/Stolen Hope’ will raise utter despair from the depths of your soul. The thick New Orleans grooves EXHORDER has been known for beating out since day one are still undeniable, and they stand out in tracks like ‘Year of the Goat’, ‘Under the Gaslight’, and ‘Three Stages of Truth/Lacing the Well’.

One trait about Defectum Omnium that deserves to be pointed out is that it is more of a journey and experience than just a regurgitated selection of songs on autopilot. With peaks and valleys much like a roller coaster ride, one listener described the album as having "...a little something for everyone.". As EXHORDER has always been hard to classify by one genre, the album is loaded with heaviness, aggression, speed, and venom. It also has an equal presence of mystery, melody, and harmony, and vacillates between darkness and light. Themes that dart back and forth between surviving oppression, despair, revolution, and brittle hope take you through the band's madness by way of the musical path that they have forged. With touring plans underway in support of Defectum Omnium, EXHORDER finds itself poised to finally achieve the brass ring potential that has always seemed to be just out of their reach.

Follow EXHORDER:

https://www.exhorder.com/

https://www.facebook.com/exhorderofficial

https://www.instagram.com/exhorderofficial/

https://www.youtube.com/@ExhorderOfficial

https://www.tiktok.com/@exhorder_official

Get Escuela Grind's new EP right now!

February 11, 2024

ESCUELA GRIND GET REVOLVER MAGAZINE
FAN POLL PICK FOR 5 BANDS MOST LIKELY TO BREAK OUT IN 2024
"While it's unlikely that any grindcore band could scale to Sleep Tokenor Turnstile heights, Escuela Grind would be the ones to pull it off," says Revolver.
Recorded with Will Killingsworth, mixed by the GRAMMY-winning Kurt Ballou (High on Fire), and mastered by Nick Townsend (Cheap Trick, Dr. Dre), the EP houses four new songs including the lead cut, "Ball and Chain", and "Meat Magnet", featuring a guest appearance by Napalm Death vocalist Barney Greenway.
Fresh off U.S. spotlight tour dates with Baroness, and the extreme metal legends, Napalm Death, who took the young U.S. band under its proverbial wing in 2023, Escuela Grind is inarguably one of the hungriest young groups in music today. Escuela Grind has engaged in a seemingly unending live gauntlet since the September 2022 release of its LP, 'Memory Theater', relentlessly trekking the globe to bring its eye-opening energy and sound to welcoming music fans the world over.

In sync with the release of 'DDEEAATHHMMEETTAALL', Escuela Grind has kicked off a massive U.S. headlining tour, which launched on January 10. The five-week, 39-city winter trek will criss-cross the country, running through February 17. Support on the Escuela Grind tour is provided by Take Offense, Come Meirda, Slow Pulse, Bonginator, Frog Mallet, and Brat.
GET TICKETS HERE
SEE ALL ESCUELA GRIND MUSIC + MERCH

616 Releases Cover of HIM's "For You" Feat. Bam Margera via Cleopatra Records!

February 11, 2024

In the dynamic world of 616, Matthew Lidwin stands as a Singer/Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire. Originating from the heart of beer city, Milwaukee, Lidwin has been crafting his own original music for over a decade, showcasing his prowess in drums, guitar, bass, keys, vocals, and lyrics. A true artisan of his creations, Lidwin has recently joined forces with the legendary Cleopatra Records, marking a significant milestone in his musical journey.

Throughout his career, Lidwin has collaborated with notable figures in the industry, including Bam Margera, Gas Lipstick of the Love Metal goth rock band HIM, and producers like John Fryer (NIN, HIM, Depeche Mode) and Eric LaBrosse at Cherry Pit Studios. Despite experiencing multiple lineup changes, Lidwin has persevered, reaching a new pinnacle after a decade of dedication.

From the age of 14, Lidwin has been writing and recording his original music, and now, at 32, he is more dedicated than ever. His hit singles, such as "Baby Blue,""Cinderella Valentine," "Dead And Beloved," and "One Way to Love," have soared to the top of the charts, securing the #1 position. A shining star emerging from Milwaukee, Lidwin is determined to conquer every facet of being a musician while simultaneously contributing to the industry's growth.

In a testament to Lidwin's journey, Bam Margera shared his admiration for the artist. Recalling their early encounters, Margera expressed pride in Lidwin's growth, from dropping out of school to record his first album to achieving recognition on the charts. Margera particularly highlighted Lidwin's singles "Cinderella Valentine" and "Baby Blue" as personal favorites.

Currently, Lidwin has been recording music at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. Sun Studio is known worldwide as “The Birthplace of Rock’N’Roll”. Lidwin is highly influenced by Elvis Presley and is recording a cover of "We Can Make the Morning" there.

STREAM "For You" feat. Bam Margera

https://orcd.co/for_you

To experience the electrifying sound of 616 and stay updated on upcoming releases, connect with Matthew Lidwin on social media and streaming platforms.

About Cleopatra Records:

Cleopatra Records is a renowned independent record label that has been a stalwart supporter of diverse musical genres, fostering the growth of emerging and established artists across the globe. With a rich history spanning decades, Cleopatra Records continues to be a driving force in the music industry.

About Matthew Lidwin:

Matthew Lidwin, known by his stage name 616, is a Rock N Roll artist and Singer/Songwriter from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With a passion for crafting original music and a versatile skill set in various instruments, Lidwin has made a significant mark in the music scene. Now signed to Cleopatra Records, he continues to captivate audiences with his unique sound and unwavering dedication to his craft.

New York City Hard Rock Group Wildstreet Release New Single "Sick To Death" + Official Music Video

February 11, 2024

Following the success of III (2021), New York City hard rock group Wildstreet has released their new single "Sick To Death" along with the music video to all major platforms. The single was written with Once Around guitarist/producer Wrath Starzand features drummer Dave Abbruzzese (Pearl Jam), and Sebastian James Hadtrath (Once Around) on vocals.

Wildstreet began in 2006 and released their self-titled debut album on Retrospect Records in 2009. The band spent the next 4 years touring nonstop and performing at US festivals including: Rocklahoma (5 consecutive years), SXSW & M3 Rock Festival. Wildstreet rocked alongside Black Veil Brides, Vains of Jenna, The Bouncing Souls, The Last Vegas, Twisted Sister, Michael Monroe, Crashdiet, Diemonds, Kix, LA Guns and more. The band won the Best Buy/Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands for Rockstar Energy’s Uproar Festival, and opened for Avenged Sevenfold, Sevendust and Three Days Grace in Camden, NJ.

In 2011, the band released Wildstreet II..Faster..Louder! to widespread critical acclaim. They made an appearance on “The Jimmy Fallon Show” and their songs were licensed to TV shows on E!, MTV, VH1, Oxygen, TBS and in a THQ video game. Later that year, the band released the official music video for “Poison Kiss,”which included a cameo by Don Jameson of “The Metal Show.” Wildstreet now had the attention of rock fans worldwide. In 2012, the band released the single “Easy Does It,” and it’s official music video. The video went viral on YouTube. Wildstreet has well-over 6 million views and nearly 10k subscribers on that platform.

"Sick To Death" can be streamed here:

https://linktr.ee/wildstreet

WATCH Wildstreet - "Sick To Death"

BELOW

After taking a 2 1/2 year break off and dodging rumors of a band breakup, Wildstreet exploded back onto the NYC scene in 2016, headlining Gramercy Theatre with new lineup. In early 2017, the band rocked NYC with Faster Pussycat, The Biters and headed to Rocklahoma for the 6th time. In 2017 Wildstreetreleased "Raise Hell" the first single of their highly anticipated full length album, III. Over the next four years, the band released 6 singles and 4 music videos. The band signed with Golden Robot Records in 2020,

Wildstreet III was released on June 25, 2021 with the music video for their epic single "Mother". Since this massive release, the album has over 2.5 million streams on Spotify. Spending most of the year on tour in the USA, the band also were among the first to bring live music back to post-pandemic Europe, and played for rock fans in Switzerland and France for the first time. They concluded year releasing their cover of The 69eyes "Mrs.Sleazy."

In 2022, Wildstreet released 4 new singles "One Tattoo," "Born To Be (RLK)", "Won’t Be Apart" and "Say Goodbye" ft Todd Long (Ghosts Of Sunset). They rocked for the 2nd time at Rockfest in Cadott, Wisconsin and at Rocklahoma for the 7th time. They toured throughout the USA all year and did their first tour in Mexico!

Wildstreet have toured 16 countries since 2020 while working on their latest EP. The EP features a number of guests including Dave Abruzzese (Pearl Jam), Erik Eldenius (Billy Idol), Steeve Estatof (The Voice France) and more. The release date of the upcoming EP is set for April, 19 2024 and the band will also release the music video for "The Road", which is the final single of IV.

For More Information Please Visit:

MY DYING BRIDE | announce new album 'A Mortal Binding' + release single/video 'Thornwyck Hymn'

February 11, 2024

THE TWISTED WATERS THEY CALL OUT MY NAME
I WILL SWIM WITH THEM BUT THEY'RE NOT TO BLAME

British death-doom legends, My Dying Bride, are proud to announce their 15th studio album, A Mortal Binding, set to be released on 19th April via Nuclear Blast Records. Today's news is accompanied by the release of tempestuous, heart-wrenching new single 'Thornwyck Hymn'. The track comes with a stunning video directed by Daniel Gray, depicting a maritime story of unfolding desire and tragedy.

My Dying Bride's Aaron Stainthorpe commented,

“Set upon the rugged coast of Yorkshire, Thornwyck village has spent an eternity being haunted by the chill waters that wash it’s shore – and the hidden folk who dwell in the salty depths.
Woe betide anyone who fares into the briny sea, or even steels to close to it’s edge for they may never set foot back on mother earth”

You can pre-order A Mortal Binding here: https://mydyingbride.bfan.link/a-mortal-binding
Listen to 'Thornwyck Hymn' here: https://mydyingbride.bfan.link/thornwyck-hymn
Watch the 'Thornwyck Hymn' video below.

A Mortal Binding, the much-anticipated follow-up to The Ghost of Orion (2020) finds the Yorkshire-based quintet delighting in anxiety, loss, and toil to resplendent effect. From the raw distress of 'Her Dominion' and twisted horror of 'Thornwyck Hymn' to the funerary violins of the 11-minute monolith 'The Apocalyptist' and the classic-feeling 'The 2nd of Three Bells', A Mortal Binding is pinnacle My Dying Bride. If Songs of Darkness, Words of Light (2004) elevated the band to new heights and A Map of All Our Failures(2012) expanded upon the group’s mid-tens grandeur, then A Mortal Binding stages My Dying Bride’s next exultant phase of elegiac misery.

A Mortal Binding formats:

CD jewelcase
Vinyl 2LP gatefold - green
Vinyl 2LP gatefold - red w/ black smoke
Vinyl 2LP gatefold - clear w/ black smoke

My Dying Bride hired The Ghost of Orion studio wizard Mark Mynett to produce, mix, and master A Mortal Binding. The group holed up at Mynett’s Mynetaur Productions(Paradise Lost, Rotting Christ) in Manchester, UK, where they tracked the album consecutively from July to September 2023.

For over three decades, My Dying Bride from West Yorkshire have been the voice of the hopeless and broken, combining haunting sounds with crushing misery and melancholy. With their signature sound they've shaped the doom metal scene like barely any other act and integrated both soft violin melodies and violent death metal growls into their music, whilst always staying strictly loyal to themselves. And since the early Nineties, the band's masterminds and founding members Andrew Craighan and Aaron Stainthorpe forged beautiful grief into studio albums with songs of epic length. As My Dying Bride edge past their 33rd year, they’re aging gracefully, remaining as vital and heart-wrenching as ever. The flower withers once more on My Dying Bride’s upcoming new record A Mortal Binding, due out on 19th April 2024.

My Dying Bride are:
Aaron Stainthorpe | vocals
Andrew Craighan | guitars
Lena Abé | bass
Shaun MacGowan | keyboards / violin
Neil Blanchett | guitars
Dan Mullins | drums

Capstan Announce New Album "The Mosaic" + Share "Misery Scene" Video

February 11, 2024

Florida five-piece CAPSTAN — Anthony DeMario [vocals], Joe Mabry [guitar], Harrison Bormann [guitar], Andrew "Boz" Bozymowski [bass, vocals], and Scott Fisher [drums] — are pleased to announce their new album The Mosaic, out May 24 via Fearless Records. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for "Misery Scene." Watch it below.

Here, the band mixes dreamy choruses with buzzy, dramatic guitars, and cinematic sonic flourishes. The song will fill the room with its majestic melodies and singalongs. Misery never sounded quite so good. If Queen were a post-hardcore band, they would have made a song like "Misery Scene."

"'Misery Scene' is the beginning of a change of lyrical direction for Capstan; ever introspective, the lyrics address the writer's previous inability to break their cycle of self-destructive choices, as well as the toxic and ubiquitous admiration of poor mental health in artists. It is a song about making a conscious shift from the glorification of being unhappy for the perceived sake of art, to the desire to make a more positive impact on others' lives," says Mabry.

To make a mosaic, tiny pieces interlock as a larger picture. In similar fashion, distinct elements coalesce as one in Capstan. The band mixes metallic precision with pit-splitting hardcore grooves and the kind of hooks you can't shake. Since 2015, Capstan have progressed with each subsequent move. Following Seasonal Depression [2015] and In The Wake of Our Discord [2018], they made waves with their full-length debut, Restless Heart, Keep Running, in 2019. They toured with the likes of Trash Boat, Doll Skin, Silverstein, and many more. After amassing tens of millions of streams and earning acclaim from the likes of KERRANG! and New Noise, the group paint a definitive body of work on their aptly titled third full-length offering, The Mosaic.

CAPSTAN ON TOUR:
WITH HOLDING ABSENCE, CASEY, + ACRES:
2/11 — Montreal, QC — Le Studio TD
2/13 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage
2/14 — New York (NYC), NY — Gramercy Theater
2/16 — Philadelphia, PA — The Foundry
2/17 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium

Kill The Lights Drop "Sleep With The Devil" Video

February 11, 2024

SOPHOMORE ALBUM DEATH MELODIES ARRIVES MARCH 8 VIA FEARLESS RECORDS

Kill The Lights, which features former members of Bullet for My Valentine, Throw the Fight, Threat Signal, and Still Remains, have announced their sophomore album Death Melodies. It will be released on March 8 via Fearless Records. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band has shared the video for the new single "Sleep With the Devil." Watch it below.

Singer James Clark says, "'Sleep With the Devil,' lyrically, deals with the struggle of addiction and the daily fight to stay sober. Every day you wake up, you are in a constant battle, with the inner voices and demons that tell you that you are not good enough, and you should give up. Simply looking at yourself in the mirror is a reminder of how you've let yourself, your family, and friends down. It's a constant negative cycle that fuels your desire to mask the pain and disappointment by abusing yourself."

Certain bonds cross any and all borders and boundaries. Kill The Lights harbor this kind of connection between them. Even though you’ve got Michael "Moose" Thomas [drums] and Jason "Jay" James [bass] in Bridgend, Wales, James Clark [vocals] in Minneapolis, MN, Jordan Whelan [guitar] in Grand Rapids, MI, and Travis Montgomery [guitar] in Dallas, TX, the musicians lock into an impenetrable groove that eclipses physical distance. The band is especially adept at fusing classic, galloping guitar riffing with modern metal conventions, like alternately sung and screamed vocals and breakdowns that will incite pits to erupt.

Of course, the musicians boast an incredible pedigree. Moose co-founded multi-platinum international heavyweights Bullet For My Valentine, while Jay also played in the band. James fronted Throw The Fight, and Jordan and Travis handled guitar duties for Still Remains and Threat Signal, respectively. Upon forming Kill The Lights, they uncovered uncontainable chemistry, releasing their debut LP The Sinner in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Among many highlights, "The Faceless" posted up 2 million-plus Spotify streams and counting followed by "Through The Night" and "Shed My Skin," which each crossed the 1 million mark. Metal Hammer rated it 4-out-of-5 stars and proclaimed "Kill The Lights nail the groove and the glory." After piling up millions of streams and earning acclaim from the likes of KERRANG!and New Noise, a sense of unwavering unity drives their second full-length offering, Death Melodies.

Gwen Stefani & Blake Shelton Team Up For Dynamic New Single, "Purple Irises"

February 10, 2024

Today, global superstar Gwen Stefani reunites with fellow music icon and frequent collaborator, Blake Shelton, for the dynamic new single "Purple Irises." Introspective and nostalgic, the enduring anthem explores how time tests — and often strengthens — the bonds we share. “Purple Irises” was produced by award-winning producer Scott Hendricks and recorded in Nashville, TN at Smoakstack Studios. "Purple Irises" comes just days before Stefani brings her unique magic to Super Bowl weekend with a performance at the Super Bowl LVIII TikTok Tailgate before the big matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas. Shelton will join Stefani at Super Bowl LVIII TikTok Tailgate for a debut performance of “Purple Irises.”

“Purple Irises" is available now at all digital retailers via Warner Music Nashville / Interscope Records. Listen Below.

“Purple Irises is a song that comes from the idea that when you plant something you are planting hope and watching love grow,” says Stefani. “Weathering all the different seasons of growth. We are in this together, we planted the seeds together and we are growing together.”

Stefani’s iconic catalog is filled with insight and vulnerability, but she raises the bar here by capturing time-tested love with unfiltered affection and raw honesty. It doesn't hurt that she has palpable creative chemistry with real-life partner Shelton. They have previously shared the mic on the platinum hits "Nobody But You" and "Happy Anywhere," both of which topped Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart.

"We love this song so much,” said Shelton. "It’s a song Gwen wrote with a couple of friends of hers, and I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. She knew there was something different about it and asked me to come in and sing with her. My longtime producer, Scott Hendricks, produced it, and Gwen’s been wanting to work with him for a long time now, and it’s turned into this really cool and different song that can live anywhere."

Throughout her career, Stefani’s versatility — as showcased on recent offerings such as 2023’s "True Babe" and the Saweetie-featured "Slow Clap" — has been a large part of her staying power and perennial appeal. Those songs followed "Let Me Reintroduce Myself," which reached No. 1 on the iTunes chart.

A three-time GRAMMY® Award winner, Stefani has achieved global success as a performer, songwriter, and frontwoman of No Doubt, and a multi-platinum solo artist, among other accomplishments. To date, she’s sold more than 60 million units worldwide. Her 2015 solo album, This Is What the Truth Feels Like, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She also previously spent seven seasons as a coach on the Emmy®-winning NBC series The Voice.

Gwen Stefani & Black Shelton -- "Purple Irises"

Dark Folk Artist Kati Rán Signs to Svart Records, Announces New Album

February 10, 2024

Dutch artist and Nordic folk pioneer Kati Rán is now pleased to reveal that she has signed with Svart Records, where she will be debuting her brand new full-length, 'SÁLA,' on May 24, 2024! For a glimpse of what's to come, Kati Rán is now sharing a short docu-clip about the record, which can be seen below.

Kati Rán elaborates: ”For me, signing to Svart Records was the most natural next step. Collaborating and releasing my music with Svart’s long-standing expertise in bringing out amazing artists and vinyl for true music connoisseurs, I’m grateful to be able to bring my audience a beautiful, elevated experience to enjoy my new Nordic Dark folk album SÁLA.

Together with Jaani Peuhu (Swallow the Sun, IANAI, Lord of the Lost, Hallatar) and Christopher Juul (Heilung), my new album has been tenuously crafted and produced and is curated by my many years of writing, researching, and traveling the Northern landscapes, taking on board with me incredible artists, sounds, and musicians to breathe the Nordic soul into the heart of this album.

"I’m looking forward to opening the floodgates to SÁLA with the release of the first single and opening track “STONE PILLARS” on the 23rd of February. It embraces our most vulnerable side, questions our mind, and attempts to resurrect or reposition ourselves through spinning with the Fates. It dips right into the heart of things."

Svart Records is delighted to expand its international artist roster with the signing of established dark Nordic folk artist Kati Rán and to release her second full-length album 'SÁLA.' Special vinyl editions in gold, transparent smoke, and black as well as digipack CDs are available for pre-order HERE.

'SÁLA' features an impressive lineup of diverse musicians who lent their talents to the record, including Gaahl, Napalm Death's Mitch Harris, members of Heilung, Sígur Rós, and many others!

Kati Rán is known for her collaborative audio work for Netflix’s tv series 'VIKINGS: VALHALLA,' films and work for videogames, her stage appearances with Wardruna, Myrkur and Gaahls Wyrd to name a few, and her previous releases of the successful album; and Nordic dark folk tracks “Blodbylgje” and Icelandic track “Unnr | Mindbeach”; that run millions of streams and gathered a tightly knit Nordic Folk music loving audience around her.

If the most profound treasures are often the most deeply buried, the journey to uncover them is vital process of discovery. Five years after the 15-minute single “Blodbylgje” signaled the birth of a new, more primordial, and immersive vision after the dissolution of her band L.E.A.F., Nordic dark folk artist Kati Rán has expanded on its oceanic theme for her long-awaited full-length album, 'SÁLA.' Embarking on a far-reaching musical and personal travelogue, it’s a reawakening of both the feminine narratives submerged and fragmented within Norse mythology, and the enduring, healing powers held within.

Named after the Old Norse word for ‘soul’ and ‘sea’, 'SÁLA' is an act of "soul retrieval," the shamanic art of trauma recovery, be it illness, death, heartbreak or loss, and the reintegration of a splintered self. Across its 13, wide-ranging, elegantly unfolding tracks, the album is an embodiment of different feminine voices and perspectives – from the Norse nine daughters of the sea, or ‘billow maidens’, through various historical and fictional figures to the late-night voices we hear in our most liminal states – all with tales to tell, riddles to solve, challenges to be accepted and guidance to offer. It’s a multiplicity that, like the ocean itself, belongs to a vast, restless dynamic: a matrix of mysteries, unfathomable depths and ever-shifting currents, accumulating into an elemental, regenerative source of power.

Recorded in a barn in Húsafell, Iceland – home to glacier ice caves and a rare lava stone marimba rediscovered for the track “Stone Pillars” – as well as Finland, Norway and at home in Kati’s native Netherlands, 'SÁLA' is as much chronicle of Kati’s own perspective-shifting recording process as it as a pilgrimage through different viewpoints and internal states. That itinerate urge is also reflected in the use of different languages, ranging across Norwegian, Old Norse, Icelandic, and, for the first time, English, her combination of ancient texts, historical reimagining’s and unguarded personal reflection backed up by deep research into the most resonant recesses of Nordic lore.

Spun throughout every thread of 'SÁLA' is a sense of communion - with the power of stories to offer moral guidance and the thrill of the unknown; with the element of water, recreated across the album both in field recordings and the agelessly organic nature of the music itself; with the archetypes whose qualities we are called upon to embody at our most critical moments; and with the internal hidden realms forever whispering at us from the far edges of our consciousness.

Appropriately, it’s a collaborative venture too. As well as working closely together with Finnish producer Jaani Peuhu, there are contributions from across the musical spectrum, including extreme metal vocalist extraordinaire Gaahl, the Icelandic female choir Umbra Ensemble, renowned Norwegian jazz musician Karl Seglem, Björk and Brian Eno contrabassist Borgar Magnason, members of pagan folk acts Völuspá, Gealdýr, Heilung and Theodor Bastard and even Napalm Death’s Mitch Harris on vocals.

For all the many sources 'SÁLA' draws from, the result is a singular, intimately transformative rite of passage, and a retuning of the heart to the reverent continuity of the sacred. It will take you from the opening title track’s chest-pounding rhythmic pulse emerging from a traditional Norwegian bukkehorn (recorded by Karl Seglem), a galloping horse-rider and Kati’s glacial, velveteen chant, through “Kólga’s” recounting of female persecution through the ages borne on the most gossamer-light yet unbreakable of timbres and “Stone Pillar’s” gently percolating, deep wells of abandonment and incantations to recovery. 'SÁLA' closes with the track “Sátta” - Old Norse for ‘peace’ and ‘reconciliation’ – ending the album as it began with the bukkehorn, as it weaves rich drones and experience-stamped poems and prayers, Kati’s vocals the most sensitively tuned of emotional barometers. An album made in dedication, and in thrall to, its own sense of destiny, 'SÁLA'” is, as all quests must ultimately be, a homecoming.

Lineup:

Kati Rán

Special Guests:

Gaahl (Gaahl, Wyrd, Wardruna)

Mitch Harris (Napalm Death)

Jaani Peuhu (Swallow the Sun, IANAI, Lord of the Lost, Hallatar)

Karl Seglem (Norwegian jazz and folk legend)

Borgar Magnason (Björk, Sígur Rós, Brian Eno)

Gealdýr

Emilie Lorentzen (Heilung)

Nicholas Schipper (Heilung)

Yana Veva (Theodor Basterd)

Umbra (Icelandic female choir)

Sól Geirsdóttir, Varg Saastad (Völuspá band)

Marianne Heikkinen, Salla Marja (Saruru,´bunny girl metal´)

Páll Guðmunsson (Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, Steindór Anderssen, Sígur Rós)

Production: Jaani Peuhu, Kati Rán, Christopher Juul

Mastering: Jaime Gomez Arrelano

Cover Art: Photographer Arne Beck, Illustrator Halfdan Skrifa, Graphic design Jari

Laurén, Charlotte Boer, Deluxe Box Edition with cover painting by Marzena Ablewska-Lech

Bio: Jonathan Selzer

Links:

Pre-Save // Stream

Onceweresixty 'Don’t Get Stuck' - a deep tease of the Euro-rockers' new album 'Loco Sunset Boulevard / Ghetto Blast Noise Machine'

February 10, 2024

Call it college rock, call it slacker rock, call it 90s rock. Whatever you call it, indie rock trio Onceweresixty are gearing up to release their new album 'Loco Sunset Boulevard / Ghetto Blast Noise Machine'. Paving the way with the lead single 'Don't Get Stuck', they are also offering a lyrics video. Gentle yet vibrant, while mellow and seductive, here they offer a mercurial soundscape.

This 8-track offering - structured in two parts as a double EP - will be released on CD and vinyl by Uglydog Records, together with Beautiful Losers and PrettyOK Records. Here they pay homage the sonic ghosts of such artists as Belle & Sebastian, Pavement, Morphine, Low, Herman Dune, Silver Jews and The Velvet Underground,.

Onceweresixty was founded by Marco Lorenzoni (guitars, vocals and keyboards) and Luca Sella (drums, guitar and vocals), who began collaborating in 2001 via their old band MR60. The band is rounded out by Enrico Grando (keyboards and saxophone), who joined the band shortly after their 2021 release 'The Flood', a concept album about the consciousness of the insignificance of humans against the force of nature, and a society bent on self-destruction.

Over the past three years, this double EP took form at Villa Albrizzi Marini, a magical place in the Venice countryside hills en route to the Alps. Onceweresixty set up their studio on this 1400-villa property, owned by the Armenian Church. Marco Lorenzoni explains, "The Villa - an ongoing project of urban regeneration via art activism - is absolutely inspiring and amazing, and we’re glad to be part of it. Onceweresixty and our own label Uglydog Records have always been at the forefront of promoting the arts, supporting artists and creating social connections. This is our little Warhol Factory in the countryside."

Describing their own music as "weird psych folk pop", Onceweresixty draws their roots back to an ancient tale about the ghost of a beatnik biker living in a broken toy keyboard. "Sometimes he takes control of our minds and makes us play strange weird songs," says Lorenzoni, who continues to tell the tale of the band's origin.

“Immediately upon entering Texas from Las Vegas, drunk on tequila, we lost our way, the desert all around us and not a drop of water. Desperate, we recited a few passages from the Bible by heart, inventing what we didn't remember. It was at that moment that MR60 came to our rescue. He hosted us on his ranch, quenched our thirst and gave us bags of top quality tobacco. There we found everything we needed: out of tune guitars, out of tune tuners, Paleolithic barrel organs, a Stradivarius and a buffalo skull... We never left…

"Well actually, we did leave," Lorenzoni admits. "somehow adult life took us one by one into everyday office routines and familiar responsibilities with bills to pay and so on."

Relaunched as Onceweresixty in 2018 after a 10-year hiatus, the band began conquering new musical territory. Their indie dream of the early 2000s ultimately gave way to colder and leaner sounds, better reflecting the current times. Luca Sella explains, "If MR60 used to compare the north-eastern Italy cultural desert to the Texan desert landscapes, today that desert is a post-apocalyptic land populated by brain-eating zombies. Anger and ignorance are everywhere. Everything is lost. Or maybe not”

'Don't Get Stuck' is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The double EP 'Loco Sunset Boulevard / Ghetto Blast Noise Machine' will be released on March 22. It can be ordered directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Music written by M.Lorenzoni, L. Sella, E. Grando
Lyrics written by M. Lorenzoni
Marco Lorenzoni - guitars, vocals & keyboards
Luca Sella - drums, guitar & vocals
Enrico Grando - keyboards, vocals & saxophone
Recorded and produced by Onceweresixty at VAMpires! Room
Mixed by Mauro Martinuz at Bottega Sonora
Mastered by Federico Pelle at Basement Studio
Cover artwork by Freddy Mason
Studio photos of Onceweresixty by Ilaria Baggio
Live photos of Onceweresixty by Veronica Bassani and Freddy Mason
This record is dedicated to Loco, who was known to be a good dog, and Enrico Pese, who was known to be a good guy

Keep up with Onceweresixty
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SNEAKER PIMPS' IAN PICKERING / THE NOISE WHO RUNS present short film, complementing 'Come and Join The Beautiful' Army' EP

February 10, 2024

"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 presents a short film, showcasing their new five-song EP ‘Come and Join the Beautiful Army’, which also includes the bonus instrumental track ‘Goalmouth Interlude’. Just shy of 20 minutes, the film was spawned from uncertainty over what the second and third singles would be after the opening track 'One Scratch Each'. Ultimately, the idea to create a film for the EP as a whole, rather than just individual songs, seemed a more interesting challenge.

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.

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.

“There are themes and ideas running through all the songs and the film reinforces and highlights those. There are various images that are repeated or linked across the whole thing, sometimes as quite literal broad strokes to fit the lyrics and sometimes more abstract juxtapositions as well as more off the wall, poetic references,” says Ian Pickering.

This audio-visual element complements TNWR's music with certain repeating visuals - swirling vortexes, tunnels, marching boots, protests, water, fire and ice - giving strong cohesion to the EP's themes and raising the finished product comfortably beyond visualiser into art film territory.

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’.

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.”

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