The Shadow Majlis releases 'Mazdur' video, formidable world-postpunk from debut album 'The Departure'

March 13, 2024

"A powerful achievement... I believe that there are certain tracks and moments that act as portals into another dimension - I'm not being fanciful here!" ~ David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets)

"With Ali Jafri at the helm on vocals, guitars, bass, electric sitar, synths, programming, this debut offering from The Shadow Majlis is diverse and stunning, involving a dream-team – not only in terms of production, but also collaborators, ranging from true music legends of our generation and top-notch artists from around the world" ~ The Spill Magazine

Toronto's The Shadow Majlis presents his debut album 'The Departure' and the video for 'Mazdur', showcasing genre-fluid excellence and raw emotional experience, while fusing elements of Eastern modes with post-punk. An alternative neo-global style that transcends borders, this is a departure from the norm - a journey into something other, where there are no limits.

Revolving around Ali Jafri, a formidable multi-instrumentalist known for his involvement in various projects - as a member of David J's live band, playing rock-sitar for Pigface (or through his projects ARIEL, The Gotham City Drugstore, Saintfield or his solo work). On this album, Ali Jafri offers a multi-cultural artistic and musical vision, together with David J (Bauhaus, Love & Rockets) on bass and drummer-percussionist Rakesh Tewari (Jaffa Road, The Special Interest Group).

Produced and mixed by three-time Grammy Award winning producer David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Tool, David Sylvian, Mastodon, Smashing Pumpkins, Muse, Real World Studios), with Darren McGillengineering the album. Mastered by Noah Mintz, the cover art was created by Stephen Seto (Splintercage).

The most poignant and powerful artistic output stems from tragedy, and The Shadow Majlis is no exception. Amid a deluge of personal upheaval, this album has been Jafri's means to address his grief over losing his seven-year-old son Oisín, who passed away in September 2022 after a nine-month battle with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (a highly aggressive form of brain cancer), the dissolution of his conjugal relationship, and a year-long state of temporary homelessness. Recovering from such devastation is no simple task, but The Shadow Majlis has offered Jafri medicine for his soul, while presenting us an alternative sonic reality in which we can all find solace and relief.

"Mazdur means “labourer”, which came to me as İ watched how hard it was for Oisín to fight his losing battle to cancer. All the changes and adjustments. İ chose to have the song “mutate” through the different styles it weaves through. From the classical guitar to the dub reggae and ending on industrial with MRİ sounds mixed in. MRİs were hard on Oisín. Existing became hard labour for him but he wasnt ever far from having a laugh. He had a gracefulness about him which became apparent when it was observed by us as one of the constants through all the change. İ dream of him sometimes, he’s ever graceful then," explains Ali Jafri.

"Going “dub” on this was David J’s idea - hard to refuse. When İ realized he wanted to play dubby stuff, my reaction was ummm hello?? Yes please! My demo was originally more like the first half of the song, which Bottrill and İ had worked on. We saw Skinny Puppy during our sessions, which inspired the industrial ending. We recorded it the next day as a good way to conclude the “mutation” furthest away from its original form. The ending was also a good place for some of the angst I was feeling and that Oisín was feeling. The machine voices say “We Come To Leave”, a recurring line on the album - making it a concept, I guess."

The album features numerous guest performers, including vocalist Olena Tsybulska (DakhaBrakha), guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite (The Mission, Peter Murphy, MGT, Tricky, Gary Numan), cellist Anne Bourne (Loreena McKennitt, Jane Siberry), Tuvan throat singer Soriah, Ravi Naimpally (Niyaz, Constantinople) on tabla, Pankaj Mishra on sarangi, Selmanpak Ayduz on ney, Kerem Koktas on kemanche, and Sasha Singer-Wilson on backing vocals.

Blending alternative music with the rich, diverse instrumentation and rhythms of world music, The Shadow Majlis leaves a distinct imprint on the ever-evolving soundscape. Recorded in Toronto, LA, Portland, Istanbul, Kyiv and Iceland, this is truly an international affair, with languages such as Urdu, Farsi, Arabic, Icelandic and Ukrainian woven with English throughout this album.

Calling the album a powerful achievement, David J says, "I believe that there are certain tracks and moments that act as portals into another dimension - I'm not being fanciful here!"

'The Departure' album is out now, available everywhere digitally, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. This album's creation was made possible through funding received from FACTOR.

ALBUM CREDITS
Ali Jafri - vocals, guitars, bass VI, electric sitar, percussion, programming, synthesizers, electronics, solfeggio pipes
David Bottrill - backing vocals, electronics, synthesizers
David J (Bauhaus, Love and Rockets) - bass
Rakesh Tewari (Jaffa Road, The Special Interest Group) - drums, percussion
Olena Tsybulska (DakhaBrakha) - vocals
Mark Gemini Thwaite (Peter Murphy, Tricky, The Mission) - guitars
Anne Bourne (Loreena McKennit, Jane Siberry) - cello
Sasha Singer-Wilson - backing vocals
Soriah - Tuvan Throat Singing, Flute
Ravi Naimpally (Niyaz, Constantinople) - tabla
Pankaj Mishra - sarangi
Selmanpak Ayduz - ney
Kerem Koktas - kemancheh
Oisin Adams-Jafri - vocals, percussion, solfeggio pipes
Zayn Jafri - piano
Oscar Adams-Jafri - solfeggio pipes

All songs written by Ali Jafri and David Bottrill, except 'Elliðakot' (written by Ali Jafri) and 'The Departure (Kolyskova)' (written by Ali Jafri, David Bottrill and Olena Tsybulska)
Produced & Mixed by David Bottrill
Engineering by Darren McGill at Union Sound Company & David Bottrill at at Mainstatiion Music and Imagine Sound
Mastered by Noah Mintz at Lacquer Channel
Graphic Design & Illustration by Stephen Seto
Photography by Justin Minister @secondhand_daylight
For Oisín...

HeartSupport (August Burns Red) + Beneath the Skin (Memphis May Fire) Team Up for Even More Mental Health Initiatives

March 13, 2024

ORGANIZATIONS STARTED BY JAKE LUHRS (AUGUST BURNS RED) + BRTTANY MULLINS (WIFE OF MEMPHIS MAY FIRE'S MATTY MULLINS) TO OFFER EVEN MORE RESOURCES FOR MENTAL HEALTH VIA THE VEHICLE OF MUSIC

Sometimes, the most powerful collaborations amongst bands in the same scene take place off the stage.

Such is the case for the HeartSupport x Beneath the Skin partnership.

HeartSupport, the long-running, nonprofit launched by August Burns Red vocalist Jake Luhrs, has welcomed Beneath the Skin, the organization run by Brittany Mullins, wife of Memphis May Fire's Matty Mullins, into its stable of services.

The resulting partnership elevates and strengthens the mental health support that each organization offers.

Luhrs and Mullins have collaborated in the past, with Mullins doing interviews, participating in initial recovery programs, serving as a keynote speaker at the 2019 gala, and creating a t-shirt fundraiser for HeartSupport through Memphis May Fire, among other things. It was truly a symbiotic and organic connection that is now further established in both organizations.

HeartSupport is a music-based non-profit that helps metal fans succeed in their mental health. HeartSupport builds resources with the music and artists they love, and connect fans to trained peers and mentors who support them on their mental health journey.

Beneath the Skin is a transformative mentoring program dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace their true selves and navigate life's challenges with resilience and authenticity. Through genuine connection, Beneath the Skin helps participants cultivate self love, a sense of belonging, and self-worth. This program fosters a supportive community where individuals can explore their personal growth journey in a safe and nurturing environment. It connects a Mentor and a Mentee to have weekly mental health support conversations for a year.

The organizations' shared missions lead to this partnership.

The joint program will help music fans to grow in their mental health self-efficacy and help foster their confidence in their ability to handle their own mental health. Ultimately, the purpose of program is to get people from a place of “I can't do this" to "I've got it from here."
Both Luhrs and Mullins are available for interviews to discuss the partnership, the tenets and pillars of the program, and how you can get involved!

Darkest Hour Announce Perpetual | Terminal Ale Available at DC Show

March 13, 2024

DARKEST HOUR — Mike Schleibaum [guitar], John Henry [vocals], Aaron Deal [bass], Travis Orbin [drums], and Nico Santora [guitar] — are pleased to announce their new beer collaboration with DC Brau. It arrives in celebration of the band's recently released 10th album Perpetual | Terminal, out now via MNRK Heavy.

Perpetual | Terminal-Ale, an Amber Ale, is a true collaborative effort. Schleibaum even dropped the hops into the kettle with his own hands.

The beverage will be available at the band's April 6 hometown show at the Black Cat in Washington, DC. So come out and raise a glass!

DARKEST HOUR ON TOUR:
WITH MOUTH OF WAR, FILTH IS ETERNAL, I AM, + SOMNURI:
3/13 — Mesa, AZ — Nile Theater
3/14 — Los Angeles, CA — 1720
3/15 — San Diego, CA — Brick By Brick
3/16 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Post (Roseville)
3/18 — Portland, OR — Dantes
3/19 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
3/21 — Salt Lake City, UT — Metro Music Hall
3/22 — Denver, CO — Marquis
3/23 — Wichita, KS — Lodge Room @ TempleLive
3/25 — Minneapolis, MN — Turf Club
3/26 — Chicago, IL — Reggies
3/27 — Detroit, MI — The Sanctuary
3/28 — Cleveland, OH — Asylum Room @ Templelive
3/29 — Pittsburgh, PA — Preserving Underground
3/30 — Toronto, ON — Axis
4/01 — Ottawa, ON — Brass Monkey
4/02 — Montreal, QC — Fairmount Theatere
4/03 — Quebec City, QC — La Source de la Martiniere
4/04 — Cambridge, MA — Sonia
4/05 — Brooklyn, NY — The Meadows
4/06 — Washington, DC — Black Cat

ABOUT DARKEST HOUR:
Darkest Hour, as a whole, have weathered time, trends, and tides of change and stand stronger nearly three decades since their formation. Their unique sonic style incorporates death metal exorcisms, thrash recklessness, hardcore punk attitude, and melodic catharsis at the speed of a circle pit.

"The record's theme centers around the duality of survival while embracing rebirth,'" says Schleibaum. "We keep killing parts of ourselves to make new parts and survive. The story of the record is the story of the band. We're still here, and we're giving the world a body of work that's representative of our music today. We've realized relationships, tours, good times, everything that seems to give life meaning, is terminal — and will inevitably end. Nevertheless, we're 46-year-old dudes who love this music enough to put up with the trials and tribulations of being artists in a touring band."

Darkest Hour clawed their way out of the DMV area in 1995. Throughout the ensuing years, they tallied tens of millions of streams and quietly built a diehard fan base. Canvasing the globe, they packed thousands of shows and touched down on every continent, save Antarctica. Along the way, they notably notched five Top 3 debuts on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums Chart. 2017's Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora marked the group's third #1 bow on the latter in addition to crashing the Top 10 of the Top Vinyl Albums Chart. It also represented a creative and critical high watermark. Beyond praise from Revolver, EXCLAIM!, and more, MetalSucks rated it a rare perfect score of "5-out-of-5" and hailed it as "the best album Darkest Hour have ever made." New Noise cited it as "one of the best of 2017," and Metal Hammer dubbed it "a monumental return." PopMatters crowned it "a masterclass in following your beliefs no matter where they might take you."

New ZBB Music Coming Soon!

March 13, 2024

UK avant-pop artist NICK HUDSON gears up for new album 'Kanda Teenage Honey', previewing two new tracks + video for 'Khevsureti'

March 13, 2024

“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)

Brighton alternative pop artist Nick Hudson presents his new album 'Kanda Teenage Honey', an expansive collection of 16 tracks, recorded largely in a huge former Soviet movie studio in Georgia under the shadow of the Ukraine war. Previewed this week by the tracks 'Ortolan'and 'This Heat', Hudson recently released the singles 'For My Silence' and 'Khevsureti', which recently garnered him coverage in Billboard.

Mixed by and featuring Toby Driver of Kayo Dot, this album is graced with numerous talented guests, including Mogwai's Stuart Braithwaite, Stuart Dahlquist (Asva, Burning Witch, Sunn O))), Lizzy Carey (Bat For Lashes), Robert Wyatt collaborator Alfreda Benge, Christopher Nell (legendary German performer and collaborator of US theatre visionary Robert Wilson), and 14-year-old soprano prodigy Poppy Efemey.

Recorded with Ilya Lukashev at Leno Studio and Sano Studio in Tbilisi, this album was mastered to analogue tape by Paul Pascoe (Barry Adamson, Beat Hotel, Sleaford Mods) at Church Road Studios in Hove, Hudson collaborates with some incredible Georgian musicians and his friend Seva, a Russian dissident who fled the FSB, having worked for Navalny. Hudson explains, "He contributes a poem narrating his thoughts on exile, through which I've layered field recordings of the recent Tbilisi and Paris protests, where many of us got tear-gassed."

"Russia attempted to invade Georgia most recently in 2008 and we've seen a vast influx of Russians fleeing the conflict and resettling in Tbilisi (which endures and suffers a pro-Russian government ideologically in conflict with most of its citizens). This geopolitical tension has inevitably made its way into the lyrical and musical texture of the record via the songs 'Hollow Man' and 'Sky Burial While Alive'. It also contains oligarch-hexing magic realism and a tribute to that vastly-neglected demographic – the old-school homosexual. Musically it encompasses art rock, black metal, ambient music, agitprop folk, charred goth rock, symphonic vastness and piano ballads -all infused with the energies and landscape of Georgia," says Nick Hudson.

In 2021, Hudson released his 'Font Of Human Fractures' album and the 'K69996ROMA:EP'. His band The Academy of Sun released their opus album 'The Quiet Earth' the year before. He's collaborated with such legends as Wayne Hussey (The Mission), Matthew Seligman (David Bowie, Tori Amos, Morrissey), Massive Attack's Shara Nelson, plus David Tibet (Current 93) and queercore icon GB Jones. His vast output also encompasses painting, film and a novel.

"As an album, 'Kanda Teenage Honey' explores ideas of preserving the sacred from the corrosively kleptocratic institutions of church and state: spiritual and material kleptocracy. The title itself refers to a very real preservation of innocence derived from a story I heard of a local villager whose teenage son was shot and killed: the father had his son's body preserved in honey. As such, there are secular hymns for peace and lucid stillness, tales of saints de-martyring themselves and falling in love free of judgement from anachronistic scrutiny - a thinly veiled parable of queer love. Two very close friends died within six months of each other during my first year in Georgia – there are requiems in the songs 'Archipelago' and 'Bardo', plus an acappella tribute to the Siberian husky that helped me grieve them during a retreat to the sublime mountainous region of 'Khevsureti' by the Chechen border, where despite being an ostensibly Orthodox country, pagan traditions are still passionately observed. I dreamed eighty-percent of 'Bardo' in the energised serenity of this beautiful region while mourning my friend Jesse. Patrick, honoured in 'Archipelago', was one of my earliest mentors and a dynamically brilliant pianist. They are much missed," explains Nick Hudson.

"'Ortolan' references the summer of 2021, when I fled to the same Isle Of Wight monastery at which Scott Walker had sought refuge in the sixties, as my mental and physical health hit a nadir and I was forced to leave the city I'd called home for twenty years. 'This Heat' refers to a return journey from a plague necropolis at the Chechen border, where giddily drunken park rangers piloting a 4X4 hurtled us passengers down a treacherous mountain pass and I briefly thought it might be the last song I'd ever write. Since then, I've come to learn that Georgians are some of the virtuosic drivers in the world, even drunk, and I need not have feared."

Hudson also just released his book 'The Land Exists So The Seas Don't Argue', showcasing a decade of lyrical output in five albums plus ephemera – satellite poems that inhabit the same world as each of the primary cosmologies. With a foreword by renowned Scottish author Chris Kelso, this collection embodies a searing intensity and unity of vision - paganism, queer love, grief, death, ecstasy, radical politics, social satire, hymns to nature, her rhythms and forces.

As of March 15, 'Kanda Teenage Honey' is available via Bandcamp, as well as other fine music platforms, such as Spotify and Apple Music. On March 16, Hudson celebrates with an album launch concert in Tbilisi, Georgia, which will be livestreamed for those who cannot be there in person.

CREDITS
Composed, arranged and produced by Nick Hudson
Engineered by Ilya Lukashev & Nick Hudson at Leno and Sano Studios, Tbilisi
Steinway recorded by Ilya Lukashev & George Gvarjaladze at Leno Studios, Tbilisi
Mixed by Toby Driver
Mastered to analogue tape by Paul Pascoe, Church Road Studios, Hove
Nick Hudson - piano. acoustic guitar on 2, Faemi 1M, programming, vocals, foley, protest field recordings
Beqa Minadze - electric guitars
Gigi Koberidze - drums
Greg Massi - guitar on 4
Lizzy Carey - all strings
Toby Driver - hammered dulcimer on 10
Poppy Efemey - soprano on 10
Stuart Dahlquist - bass on 13
Samuel Gottlebe - classical guitar on 10, 12 and 15
Kianna Blue - Issa G Thang on 13
Alfreda Benge - cosmological rhetoric on 3
Oliver Hill - guitar on 8
Christopher Nell - duet vocal on 12
Stuart Braithwaite - black metal Ivor Cutler on 8
Vsevolod Osupov - poem and recitation on 11
Oli Spleen, Kianna Blue and Jon Griffin - choir on 9
Ana-STASI-a - thelemic seduction on 14
Wolfgang Dubieniec - mood on 3
Videos directed, filmed and edited by Nick Hudson
'For My Silence' artwork by Kenneth Anger
'Khevsureti' cover painting by Berdia Arabuli
Album artwork by Nick Hudson and Gary Mallard
Artist photography by @_Carl_Solomon_
Rings featured in photos by @Fauda.Silver

The latest album from Enterprise Earth is out now

March 13, 2024

Enterprise Earth has unleashed upon the world their hotly-anticipated new album 'Death: An Anthology'.
In celebration of the news, the band shared their intensely brutal yet deeply poignant latest offering "Blood and Teeth" along with the accompanying music video. Speaking about "Blood and Teeth", the band shared:
"'Blood and Teeth' lays out a gut-wrenching story of poisonous attachment, a cycle of self-harm and submission to the tragic realization of how much pain one can put themselves through for the sake of another’s admiration. Musically, this is the most elaborate song on 'Death: An Anthology'.

Moving through a clean piano intro, to blazing leads over a catchy groove, to death metal riffage, to a catchy metalcore adjacent chorus, to a dare we say sexy bridge, only to unleash the filthiest breakdown of the album at the end. The video is a direct visual representation of this and we hope it evokes an emotional response similar to the ones felt in its production."
When asked about the album, guitarist, backing vocalist, and producer Gabe Mangold commented:
"I consider 'Death: An Anthology' to be our most expressive, intense, diverse, and finest work that Enterprise Earth has ever achieved so far and I hope I can say that with every body of music that we release. This album was SO much fun to create from every facet and while there are many peaks of brutality and valleys of melodic expressiveness, I hope the listener experiences the same emotions while listening that we did while creating: sheer enjoyment, empowerment, unity, catharsis, and so much more. Drown in Abyss, let it take us."

Enterprise Earth will be touring with Inferi, Crown Magnetar, and Tracheotomy starting March 11th. Tickets available now!

4/11 Phoenix, AZ Nile Underground
4/12 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick
4/13 Anaheim, CA Chain Reaction
4/14 San Francisco, CA Neck of The Woods 4/16 Portland, OR Dante's
4/17 Seattle, WA Madame Lou's
4/18 Spokane, WA The Big Dipper
4/19 Missoula, MT ZACC
4/20 Calgary, BC Dickens
4/21 Edmonton, BC Starlite
4/23 Winnipeg, MB Park Theatre
4/24 Minneapolis, MN Amsterdam Bar
4/25 Des Moines, IA xBk
4/26 Chicago, IL WC Social Club
4/27 Cleveland, OH TempleLive (Jester's)
4/28 Detroit, MI Sanctuary
4/29 Toronto, ON Hard Luck
4/30 Montreal, QC Fairmount Theatre
5/01 Portland, ME House of Music
5/02 Worcester, MA Palladium Upstairs
5/03 Mechanicsburg, PA Lovedraft's
5/04 Brooklyn, NY Meadows
5/05 Albany, NY Empire Underground
05/07 Virginia Beach, VA Scandal's Live
05/08 Greensboro, NC Hangar 1819
05/09 W. Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern
5/10 Tampa, FL Crowbar
5/11 Orlando, FL Conduit
5/12 Fort Walton Beach, FL Downtown Music Hall
5/14 Houston, TX Scout Bar
5/15 Austin, TX Come and Take It Live
5/16 Ft. Worth, TX Haltom Theater (Side Stage)
5/17 Lubbock, TX Jake's
5/18 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
5/19 Denver, CO HQ
GET TICKETS & VIP HERE

Enterprise Earth - Death: An Anthology Ghostly 2LP
SHIPPING NOW
Enterprise Earth - Death: An Anthology Copper Nugget 2LP
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Enterprise Earth - Death: An Anthology CD
SHIPPING NOW
Enterprise Earth - Casket of Rust Longsleeve Shirt
SHIPPING NOW
SHOP ALL ENTERPRISE EARTH MUSIC AND MERCH
GET TICKETS & VIP HERE
WATCH ENTERPRISE EARTH VIDEOS HERE

NIGHTWISH - Re-Sign With NUCLEAR BLAST

March 13, 2024

Once, I Had A Dream - And This Is It...

It's safe to say that this collaboration is one of the most magical and enchanting in modern metal history: 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the partnership between Finland's symphonic metal legends and NUCLEAR BLAST. Today, the international metal label is proud to announce that NIGHTWISH said "I Do" again and renewed their contract with a worldwide multi-album deal.

Tuomas Holopainen states:
“20 years ago our journey together with Nuclear Blast started, and the time has now come to renew our vows. Superbly excited to see what kind of magic we can cook up together this time!”

Marcus Hammer states:
“It’s an honor to renew this partnership to continue writing music history. We´re more than proud to carry on the collaboration with this exceptionally gifted group of musicians and their management team. Thanks for your friendship and trust, Floor, Tuomas, Emppu, Troy, Kai, and Jukkis. Looking forward to celebrate your upcoming album and everything beyond! Kiitos!”

About NIGHTWISH
Working with NUCLEAR BLAST since the release of their highly lauded 2004 album Once, NIGHTWISH have gained international fame and success selling more than ten million records and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released six No #1 albums and thirteen No #1 singles. In October 2018, NIGHTWISH was inducted into the Tähtikatu – Walk of Fame Finland, becoming the honorary gallery's eleventh member. 2020 saw the release of the band's last studio record, Human. :II: Nature. that crowned the band's discography with another No. #1 success in Finland and Germany as well several other impressive chart entries worldwide.
The band recently announced the completion of recordings for their new studio album planned for autumn 2024.

About NUCLEAR BLAST
For 35 years and counting, Nuclear Blast Records has been synonymous with the worldwide advancement of heavy music. Founded in Donzdorf, Germany in 1987, Nuclear Blast is part of Believe, one of the world's leading digital music companies. Nuclear Blast boasts a roster of over 150 bands. Their offices in Los Angeles, London, Hamburg, and Paris have helped build the label’s trusted global reputation with numerous album chart entries, high-profile tours, and continual signings of new and heritage acts. The label has additional representatives in Australia, Brazil, and Sweden, amongst others.

More info:

www.nightwish.com
www.facebook.com/nightwish
www.nuclearblast.de/nightwish
www.instagram.com/nightwish/
www.twitter.com/NightwishBand

Chase Rice Unveils New Cleveland Cocktail & Bourbon Lounge "I Hate Cowboys"

March 11, 2024

Multi-Platinum entertainer Chase Rice is set to expand his hospitality ventures with the introduction of I Hate Cowboys, a cocktail and bourbon lounge with a Western feel located adjacent to his popular Welcome to the Farm venue in the Flats East Bank entertainment district of Cleveland, Ohio. Set to open March 16, the 2,400 sq. ft. new venture is again in collaboration with Forward Hospitality Group, Rice’s partner for both the Cleveland location of Welcome to the Farm as well as a second iteration in St. Pete, Fla.

I Hate Cowboys takes its name from Rice’s popular song featured on his recent critically acclaimed album, I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell, with the venue seamlessly blending the rugged allure of a classic Western bar found in any-town-America with the intimacy and refinement of a modern cocktail lounge. Celebrating the beauty of contrasts, I Hate Cowboys embodies the spirit of late 20th century Americana, paying homage to renegades and risk-takers while striking a perfect balance between high-end sophistication and down-to-earth authenticity.

Guests at I Hate Cowboys can expect an exclusive selection of rare and allocated Bourbons and Tequilas, alongside delicately crafted cocktails and uncomplicated canned beers. The food menu features select items including a bison tartare, bone marrow, kale Caesar, a smash burger and the venue’s signature fried chicken.

“The I Hate Cowboys album honored the rebellious spirit of the American West that I fell in love with during my travels over the past few years, and this lounge concept felt like the perfect way to bring a celebration of that way of life to even more people,” says Chase Rice, who again played an integral part of the design process for the venue. “We’ve had so much fun bringing my Tennessee Farm to y’all at Welcome to the Farm, and can’t wait to introduce this new space next door that represents another side of me.”

I Hate Cowboys joins the original Welcome to the Farm venue in bringing Rice’s distinct perspective to the Cleveland area. Since opening in 2021, Welcome to the Farm has played host to frequent live music and special events including an annual Derby Day party, a Folds of Honor benefit and the "Nashville's Next" concert series highlighting rising artists, with the brand expanding in 2022 to the second location in St. Pete’s Central Arts District near the coast of Tampa Bay.

For more information on I Hate Cowboys and upcoming events, please visit IHateCowboysCLE.com and follow on Instagram @IHateCowboysCLE. For all things Chase Rice, visit ChaseRice.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter/X and TikTok @ChaseRiceMusic and on Instagram @ChaseRice.

About Chase Rice
With more than 2.6 million albums sold and over 2.7 billion total streams, plus a legion of passionate fans at his high-energy concerts across the globe, Chase Rice has established himself as a powerful force in Nashville and beyond. With the critically acclaimed album I Hate Cowboys & All Dogs Go To Hell crafted in his rural Tennessee home-turned-studio available everywhere now, Rice’s sound continues to evolve to reflect the realities of his life; from emotional reckoning to an admiration of the Western way of life. The new music, including his latest single “Bad Day To Be A Cold Beer” plus standout tracks “Oklahoma” and “Bench Seat,” serves as a follow up to his three-part project, The Album, which featured his latest Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen.” and the Platinum-certified Top 10 hit “Lonely If You Are.” This is the same gravelly-voiced Chase Rice fans first fell in love with years ago – but better, freer; unbeholden and uninhibited. The new music builds upon the success of his sophomore album, Lambs & Lions, which featured the 3x Platinum, two-week chart topper “Eyes On You” – Rice’s first No. 1 as an artist and the most-streamed song of his career. Lambs & Lions followed Platinum-certified Ignite the Night, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums and No. 3 on the all-genre chart, producing a pair of Top 5 hits; Platinum-certified “Gonna Wanna Tonight” and Double Platinum “Ready Set Roll.” In addition to guesting on sold-out stadium shows with Kenny Chesney and Garth Brooks, Rice consistently sells out venues on his own headlining tours, including the current Get Western Tour in support of his new music, and he will join Dierks Bentley’s Gravel & Gold Tour this summer.

Randall King, Kevin Fowler & Aaron Watson Unite for 'PanHandle Boys: West Texas Fire Relief Concert'

March 11, 2024

In response to the devastating wildfires that have swept through West Texas, three renowned Amarillo-native country artists, Randall King, Kevin Fowler and Aaron Watson have joined forces to present "THE PANHANDLE BOYS: West Texas Fire Relief Concert." The fundraiser is set to take place on Sunday, March 24, at the picturesque Starlight Ranch in Amarillo, TX and all of the proceeds will benefit The Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund. Tickets are on sale now at PanHandleBoys.com.

This intimate acoustic ‘in-the-round’ event will allow attendees to experience heartfelt performances in a stripped-down, soulful setting, creating an atmosphere of unity and support for the West Texas communities in need. The trio of artists, each deeply rooted in their love for the Texas Panhandle, showcase their Texan spirit and genuine concern through the swift organization of this benefit concert, demonstrating the power of solidarity in times of need.

“As the news broke about the wildfires raging across the panhandle, the place I was born and raised, I knew we had to do something to help. Amarillo is my hometown,” shares Kevin Fowler. “These are my people. I’m so excited to join forces with my fellow panhandle boys, Aaron Watson and Randall King to do what we can to help support all the families affected by these fires and the heroes out there on the front lines.”

Additionally, Randall King said, “My heart goes out to my homeland. So many families, lives and ways of living have been affected by these fires and I want to do my part to help in the best way I know how. When Kevin reached out for this opportunity, I absolutely had to jump on the chance to help heal the panhandle through the power of music.”

“As devastating as all of this has been, it’s hard to not feel hopeless but for one night, we’re going to do our part to try and bring a smile to people’s faces,” Aaron Watson explains. “I’m honored to be joining the boys for this incredible benefit and to raise money to try and help these families get back on their feet.”

For those unable to attend the concert but still eager to contribute, donations can be made directly to the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund at PanHandleBoys.com.

ABOUT PANHANDLE DISASTER RELIEF FUND:
The Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund is an initiative by the Amarillo Area Foundation dedicated to providing vital assistance to those affected by disasters in the Panhandle region. With a commitment to supporting our community during times of crisis, the Panhandle Disaster Relief Fund aims to offer immediate relief and long-term recovery efforts to individuals and families impacted by natural disasters, such as wildfires, floods, and severe storms.

EXHORDER RELEASES NEW ALBUM, 'DEFECTUM OMNIUM,'

March 11, 2024

NOLA thrash legends EXHORDER have released their long-anticipated new album, Defectum Omnium, today with Nuclear Blast Records. Sonically unrelenting, the band’s 4th record in a career spanning nearly 4 decades is classic EXHORDER. Revisiting their early influences of punk, hardcore and thrash, the band self-produced 12 merciless tracks that sound as vital as when they first carved their groove in metal in 1985. Featuring crushing songs like ‘Year of the Goat’ and ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ and ominous cover artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), Defectum Ominum finds EXHORDER at the top of their game with one of the year’s most vicious records.

Vocalist/guitarist Kyle Thomas has said of the new record:

“It’s been quite a journey for Exhorder since the 2019 release of Mourn the Southern Skies. Lineup changes as well as the 2020-2021 pandemic and lockdown presented hurdles that weren’t easy to overcome. But we persevered, kept our heads down and went to work with intense focus and real goals. One of those goals was to bring our fourth full length album to our fan base. Defectum Omnium is a collaborative effort in songwriting, much as it was in the early days of Exhorder. We produced it ourselves, as we felt no need or desire to bring in anyone from the outside based upon our shared vision. It was also important to us not only to continue the natural progression this band has been in since the early 90’s, but to put a foot back into our roots. The influence punk and hardcore had on this band from getting our start in the New Orleans punk rock scene has a strong presence. We’ve also made sure to keep plenty of our thrash roots as well in our songwriting process. But we have also managed to keep our doom roots alive, which first surfaced on the song (Cadence of) the Dirge back in 1992. In fact, on one new song we have guest appearances by Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin from Trouble, and they absolutely killed it!

From the time that we began pre-production until the actual release date, we can promise you that every bit of Defectum Omnium was crafted with great care, and we are really excited about it! Our goal was to make an album that WE loved and gives the experience of a journey.”

With today’s record release, EXHORDER has unveiled a new video for their next standout track, and album opener ‘Wrath of Prophecies.’

Thomas adds on the new single:

“Our third single, Wrath of Prophecies, is the opening track on Defectum Omnium. It is the oldest song title on the album, dating back to 2009. However, it was never truly completed as a song, though it did have its own line of merchandise at the time. Lyrically, it is a nod to the prophecies of Nostradamus, which were much more prevalent topics at that time based upon what many people felt were predicted end times. Regardless, it fit right into the overall theme of despair and hopelessness that Defectum Omnium embodies. Musically, it is a fierce and unrelenting thrasher. With the vocals committing to the song as soon as the entire band kicks in, “Wrath of Prophecies” grabs you by the throat right out of the gates. It is obvious and evident that there is something the listener must pay attention to, or turn away and play ostrich. Lacing melodies in with venomous, spitting aggression, this song is a feature example on this album of our commitment to returning to our roots, and not just the punk ones.”

Purchase/Stream Defectumm Omnium: https://exhorder.bfan.link/defectum-omnium

‘WRATH OF PROPHECIES’ MUSIC VIDEO BELOW

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

Portland psych-rockers SUN ATOMS honor Leonard Cohen on 'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)' & announce tour dates

March 11, 2024

"Sun Atoms is a tripped-out opus packed with droning electronics, shimmering guitars, dayglo melodies and a deep, whispered delivery" ~ Brooklyn Vegan

"Swirling keyboards, chiming psych tinged licks and the foreboding attitude dashed vocals craft a foreboding and bristling concoction, it has echoes of the Mission, The Sisters of Mercy or the propulsive sound of Leonard Cohen‘s 'I'm Your Man’ album" ~ God is in the TV Zine

"Ebbing and flowing like Love and Rockets under a Spiritualized raga; the spirit of Bowie’s classic Moonage Daydream echoes through the band’s astral fabric” ~ First Look

"Artistic leap into an enthralling intersection of post-punk, indie rock and new wave... a gateway for your consciousness to coast into fascinating sonic realms" ~ Spill Magazine

“Sun Atoms bend and blend through luminary influences Leonard Cohen, The Cure, Moon Duo and Nick Cave in an amalgamation that combines psychedelic, dark wave, and post-modern pop” ~ The Big Takeover

"Sun Atoms fuses styles and sounds like a long lost Basquiat painting found in deep space among comets and stars” ~ Maximum Volume

Portland alternative pop / postmodern rock outfit Sun Atoms presents a unique fuzzed-out tribute to iconic songwriter Leonard Cohen with 'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)', released as the flipside of their new 'Ceiling Tiles' single.

Released via Little Cloud Records digitally and on 7" vinyl and mixed by the iconic Jagz Kooner (Massive Attack, Primal Scream, Oasis, Garbage), this single is the first taste of the band's sophomore album (out ths summer). The accompanying video, produced by Bradley Tuazon, follows ghosts on a velvety caper through an endless maze through streets and a 113,000+ square foot state-of-the-art concert venue, the band members appearing like rare birds in the roles of madcap non-conformist odd fellows living outside of the lines.

Sun Atoms is made up of bassist Peter G. Holmström (The Dandy Warhols, Pete International Airport), vocalist Jsun Atoms (The Upsidedown, Daydream Machine), multi-instrumentalist June Kang, Mars de Ponte (LoveBomb Go-Go), L.A. drummer Eric Rubalcava and Boise native Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez(Hi Hazel).

2021 brought the band's debut album 'Let There Be Light', also produced by Holmström and mixed by the iconic Stephen Street (Blur, The Smiths, The Cranberries), involving performances by the likes of The Vandelles' Jasno Swarez, The Black Angels’ Alex Maas and Gregg Williams (Sheryl Crow, Blitzen Trapper).

"When I was a child, I saw a being made of light climb through my bedroom window, they stood at the foot of my bed and reached out to touch my foot," explains Jsun Atoms. "Mesmerizing and haunting, much like the new Sun Atoms single 'Ceiling Tiles', which reveals a story of characters living under a faux sky being manipulated to make it appear that the stars are aligning, when in fact, above this tiled Truman Show, the stars are doing just that. The characters in the song go about their day-to-day dance while the globe they are spinning on becomes an eye."

Sun Atoms kicked off 2024 by playing three sold-out shows at Portland’s historic Revolution Hall, opening for Dinosaur Jr., which presented the perfect chance to shoot their new video. With its long stairways and iconic brick facade as the ideal backdrop for this monochromatic video, here unfolds a mysterious tale of characters living between worlds and connected by Jean Cocteau’s famously mirrored portal.

Sun Atoms has also played shows with Modest Mouse, Fishbone, Besnard Lakes, The Veldt and New Candys, as well as performing at Seattle’s Freakout Fest and Portland’s Lose Yr Mind Fest with Allah Las, Broncho and Night Beats.

The 'Ceiling Tiles' single is available on beautiful 7" vinyl and from fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. Sun Atoms are touring the West Coast in March-April, kicking off with Treefort Festival, where they join Ty Segall, A Place To Bury Strangers, Neko Case and Built To Spill. Tickets for this tour are now available to order.

CREDITS
'Ceiling Tiles' written by Peter G. Holmström, Jsun Atoms, June Kang, Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez, Mars de Ponte, Eric Rubalcava
Produced and Engineered by Peter G. Holmström at Air Traffic Control
Recording (additional drums) by Gregg Williams at The Trench Studio
Recording (add. vox) by Tommy Dietrick / Joshua Tree Recording Studio
Initial tracking by Eric Crespo at Red Lantern Studios
Mixed by Jagz Kooner at Stone Circle Studios
Mastered by Keith Tenniswood at Curve Pusher
Peter G. Holmström - bass, guitar, sequencers, keys
June Kang - MPC, synths, percussion
Derek Spencer Longoria-Gomez - guitar, vocals
Mars de Ponte - guitar, keys, vocals
Eric Rubalcava - drums, percussion
Jsun Atoms - vocals, guitar
Cover artwork by James Coffman. Layout by Sean Gothman
Video directed and Edited by Brady Tuazon
'Tower of Song (in the key of JAMC)' written by Leonard Cohen
Released by Little Cloud Records 2024
'Ceiling Tiles' video directed by Brady Tuazon with support from Nigel Coutinho, Ryan Gamo, Erik Meharry and Hannah Glavor
Artist photos by Erik Meharry

KMFDM touring USA in support of new 23rd studio album ‘LET GO’, marking illustrious 40-year career

March 11, 2024

Iconic music mavericks KMFDM have kicked off their month-long 20-date US tour, launched in support of their new 'LET GO' album, recently released via Metropolis Records. Celebrating 40 years of conceptual continuity in grand style, KMFDM is doin’ it again, rising up lean and mean.

'LET GO' marks the group’s 23rd studio album, with the core lineup of Sascha “Käpt’n K” Konietzko, Lucia Cifarelli, Andy Selway and Andee Blacksugarpresenting 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 album arrives hot on the heels of the banger 'LET GO' and the latest single 'AIRHEAD' with its accompanying 210 Media-produced video taking us on a sentimental joyride down memory lane through a bygone era of American life.

Defying common definitions and shredding pre-conceived notions about who or what KMFDM is or isn’t genre-wise, this unique gem lyrically harkens back to growing up in America during the 70s and 80s. It'll have you reminiscing with a wink and a laugh as Lucia Cifarelli sings: "Born the year of the Chia pet - Blondes were in, but I’m brunette - Vietnam and Donkey Kong - I was busy getting high with Cheech & Chong.”

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.

Always stylistically diverse, KMFDM continues to bridge the gaps between genres, coalescing into what we know and love as the Ultra Heavy Beat! 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.

The 'LET GO' album is out now, available from fine music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. It is also being offered on CD and as a Limited Edition Vinyl double LP. Tour tickets are available here.

ALBUM 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

TOUR DATES
03/06 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
03/07 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
03/08 Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
03/09 New York, NY – Irving Plaza
03/10 Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl
03/11 Harrisburg, PA – Harrisburg Midtown Arts CEnter
03/12 Boston, MA – Royale
03/14 Cleveland, OH – Agora Theater & Ballroom
03/15 Chicago, IL – Metro Chicago
03/16 Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club
03/17 Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
03/18 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
03/20 Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater
03/21 Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
03/22 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
03/23 San Diego, CA – The Observatory
03/24 Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco Theater
03/25 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore
03/27 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
03/28 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile

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

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
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Fallujah Commemorates 'The Flesh Prevails' with 10th Anniversary Edition and North American Tour

March 11, 2024

Technical Death Metal artisans Fallujah have announced their plans today to mark a decade of their seminal, landscape-changing album 'The Flesh Prevails' with a remastered 10th-anniversary edition remixed and remastered by Zack Ohren, set for release on July 5th, 2024 available on all formats, via Unique Leader Records. To further celebrate this milestone, the band has also announced the massive, 30-date The Flesh Prevails 10th Anniversary North American Tour this summer featuring support from Persefone, Vulvodynia, and Dawn of Ouroboros.

Jamie Graham of Unique Leader Records reflects on the album's impact: "'The Flesh Prevails' shook the Technical Death Metal world by storm on its initial 2014 release and remains one of the most revered albums in our catalogue. Fallujah’s pioneering hybrid of ethereal, epic soundscapes weaved into their intricacies created a record that stood alone as a supreme body of work. 10 years on, the record feels fresher and more essential than ever. A remaster from the golden ears of Zack Ohren took this superb album to an even higher level."

Fallujah share: “This summer we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of our sophomore album 'The Flesh Prevails'. We will be performing the album in its entirety, featuring songs that have never before been played live. Joining us are torch-bearers of atmospheric prog Persefone, South African slam lords Vulvodynia, and the ever-ethereal Dawn of Ouroboros; we couldn’t ask for a better way to welcome another decade of Fallujah.”

The Flesh Prevails 10th Anniversary Tour will hit the road on Friday, July 5th in Atlanta, GA and will hit a further 28 cities across North America before culminating In Nashville, TN on August 3rd. Full routing below, tickets will go on sale on March 15th at 12am local HERE.

Fallujah | The Flesh Prevails 10th Anniversary Tour

W/ Persefone, Vulvodynia and Dawn of Ouroboros

Fri | 5-Jul | The Masquerade (Hell), Atlanta, GA

Sat | 6-Jul | Hangar 1819, Greensboro, NC

Sun | 7-Jul | Dingbatz, Clifton NJ

Mon | 8-Jul | Le Poisson Rouge, New York, NY

Tue | 9-Jul | Sonia, Boston, MA

Wed | 10-Jul | Empire Underground, Albany, NY

Thu | 11-Jul | Foufounes Électriques, Montreal, QC

Fri | 12-Jul | Lee's Palace, Toronto, ON

Sat | 13-Jul | Reggies, Chicago, IL

Sun | 14-Jul | Skyway Theater - Studio B, Minneapolis, MN

Mon | 15-Jul | Park Theater, Winnipeg, MB

Tue | 16-Jul | The Exchange, Regina, SK

Wed | 17-Jul | The Starlite Room, Edmonton, AB

Thu | 18-Jul | Day Off

Fri | 19-Jul | El Corazon, Seattle, WA

Sat | 20-Jul | Hawthorne Theater, Portland, OR

Sun | 21-Jul | Goldfield Trading Post, Roseville, CA

Mon | 22-Jul | Neck Of The Woods, San Francisco, CA

Tue | 23-Jul | Full Circle Brewery District, Fresno, CA

Wed | 24-Jul | 1720, Los Angeles, CA

Thu | 25-Jul | Brick by Brick, San Diego, CA

Fri | 26-Jul | Backstage Bar, Las Vegas, NV

Sat | 27-Jul | Nile Underground, Mesa, AZ

Sun | 28-Jul | Launchpad, Albuquerque, NM

Mon | 29-Jul | Granada Theater, Dallas, TX

Tue | 30-Jul | Come and Take it Live, Austin, TX

Wed | 31-Jul | White Oak Music Hall, Houston, TX

Thu | 1-Aug | House of Rock, Corpus Christi, TX

Fri | 2-Aug | Southport Music Hall, New Orleans, LA

Sat | 3-Aug | Eastside Bowl, Nashville TN

The anniversary edition and tour are testaments to Fallujah’s enduring legacy, promising fans a refreshed experience of an album that has been a beacon for technical mastery and genre-defying artistry.

Fans can pre-order 'The Flesh Prevails' 10th-anniversary edition starting today HERE and gear up for a tour that will bring Fallujah's expansive sonic universe to life.

BRODEQUIN Release Tormented New Single

March 11, 2024

Brodequin know their history. As with the rest of the band's brutal discography, their new album, Harbinger of Woe was inspired by medieval times. But while its first two singles wielded fresh instruments of torture, the title track cracks into the psychology of a trained killer.

Listen to "Harbinger of Woe" below.

Harbinger of Woe comes out March 22, 2024.

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/brodequin-harbinger-of-woe

Pre-save: https://brodequin.fanlink.tv/HarbingerOfWoe

"Harbinger of Woe" delivers plenty of punishment. Brennan Shackelford flails his drum kit with the pinging precision of a dungeon master. But the song isn't inhumane. After all, someone was responsible for administering these historic beatings. Heck, back in the Middle Ages, executioners were considered a necessary evil.

"He is despised and rejected / feared by most members of society", Jamie Bailey gurgles as if bound and gagged by his own microphone.

Sure, it's not painless. But when being dragged to the gallows, all anyone can hope for is someone to put them out of their misery quick and easy. When the breakdown hits, Mike Bailey's riff comes slicing in like a guillotine.

"In many ways, the title track is representative of the whole album", Brodequin says. "'Harbinger of Woe' uses several quotes that capture the violent mindset of the Medieval Period. But lyrically, we're also trying to portray an expert in his craft, who's well-acquainted with being shunned from society, along with all the other negative aspects of his profession. If you found yourself in this unfortunate position, you'd want this highly skilled professional to put you down as quickly and efficiently as possible".

Early praise for Harbinger of Woe

" Like the sonic version of some chemical weapon banned by international law...it's non-stop, it's unrelenting, and it's brutal as fuck - Metal Sucks

"Absolutely crushing...equal parts driving death metal and slamming brutality" - Metal Injection

"Raw and guttural as ever" - Decibel

"Among the myriad methods employed, a prominent example was the affixing of an individual to a pillar, or, more commonly, a tree trunk through the use of long iron nails".

That's Jamie Bailey, talking in true Brodequin fashion about the very first single from Harbinger of Woe.

Watch the medieval video for "Of Pillars and Trees", which was created by Matti Way of From the North Films: https://youtu.be/yh7awqeuZJQ

Their second single only cranks up the torment, but the source material for "Suffocation in Ash" dates all the way back to ancient Persian history.

"Basically, the victim, who's held in a tower that's specifically designed for this sort of thing, is immersed in ash", Jamie explained.

Listen to "Suffocation in Ash": https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/brodequin-premiere

The Middle Ages might’ve brought the world out of The Dark Ages. But for every compass or printing press, those enlightened thinkers were also responsible for inventing the most torturous devices in human history. None were more brutal than the brodequin. Not only did the French use this instrument to cripple their victims, but to squeeze their legs to the point where bone marrow would spill out of their wounds.

You could say the same about Brodequin. The band come with their own long and sordid history. Brothers Jamie and Mike Bailey have been playing brutal death metal since 1998. Putting his history degree to good use, Jamie’s lyrics are inspired by real historical events, staying true to death metal’s core thematic pillars of dismemberment, torture, abuse and murder. But their artwork broke from genre’s generic splatter illustrations by digging into intricate period woodcuts and beautifully grotesque oil paintings.

“There simply was no point in history that was more brutal than the medieval period,” says Jamie. “At the same time that such barbarity was deployed, there was also an explosion in fine art, architecture and music. It all comes to feed our identity as a band”.

Brodequin’s first album catapulted them far beyond their kingdom of Knoxville. “This band has stuck out in the underground with relentless, barbaric intensity”, says Dying Fetus’ vocalist and guitarist John Gallagher, who named Instruments of Torture one of the most brutal death metal albums ever. Festival of Death put another flesh-tearing arrow in their quiver (“Some of the fastest, most brutalizing death metal ever recorded” - Sputnik Music). But after sieging festival stages across Europe with Methods of Execution, the band had to be put on ice.

“We had a series of deaths in our family”, Jamie explains. “Mike and I knew we had to step away until we had the time and were at a place mentally to give Brodequin the attention it deserved.”

Now, after 20 years of peaceful silence, Brodequin have returned with fresh instruments of torture. The Brothers Bailey are back with a new drummer, a new label and their long-awaited fourth album.

“Brodequin had been away for so long that I was stunned by the level of interest from fans and record labels”, Jamie says. "Before playing Hellfest, the band was approached backstage by a metalhead rocking a Brodequin t-shirt who happened to work for Season of Mist. Soon enough, they were hitting it off with Michael Berberian. The rest, as they say, is history.

“We all hung out for hours”, recalls Jamie. “The extraordinary level of enthusiasm shown toward our music made Season of Mist the obvious choice”.

As has been the case with this band for their entire career, Harbinger of Woe lives up to its name. Lead single “Of Pillars and Trees” is classic Brodequin. Mike’s distorted guitar chords churn like limbs through a meat grinder. The way Brennan Shackelford pings, blasts and flays his snare through “Suffocation in Ash” with the all encompassing speed of a sandstorm. Jamie’s growls are so phlegmy, so rotted, that to drag them out from whatever dark bowel movement spawned them would make an executioner sick to their stomach. And yet — somewhere deep inside all that carnage hides a terrifying beauty. The title track leaves you deaf, dumb and blind, begging on your knees in the face of a punishing, almighty riff.

“This album is a journey into this lost period of history where brutality and beauty coexist. Beauty, in the arts the were created, but also the beautiful brutality that was needed to engineer deadly devices like the brodequin”.

With Harbinger of Woe, Brodequin reclaim their throne as the most brutal band in all of death metal.

Line up:
Jamie Bailey: Bass/Vocals
Mike Bailey: Guitar
Brennan Shackelford: Drums

Recording
Drums recorded at Brennan's Drum Room in Dallas, Texas.

Guitar, bass and vocals recorded at Navarre 24 in Harriman, Tennessee

Producer and sound engineer
Mike Bailey

Mastering studio and engineer
Brad Boatwright

Mixing studio and engineer
Josh Welshman

Artwork
Original artwork done by Jose de Brito.
Additional elements by Jamie Bailey.

Pre-order: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/list/brodequin-harbinger-of-woe

Pre-save: https://orcd.co/harbingerofwoepresave

Links:
www.brodequinofficial.com
www.facebook.com/brodequinTN
www.brodequin.bandcamp.com
www.instagram.com/brodequintn

Suck Brick Kid Announce Upcoming Album + Release Double Single via Smartpunk Records

March 11, 2024

SUCK BRICK KID will drop their new album The End Is What I Want via Smarpunk Records on May 17.

Pre-orders for the album are available here.

Ahead of the album release, the band is also debuting two singles: "It's Okay…Probably" and "Unacceptable."

So it's double the fun.

Think back to the last time you visited your local dive bar or venue's doodle-filled bathroom and peered at the walls. Did you stop to take note of the musings or the scrawling so delicately placed on the wall? Did it make you laugh? Did it make you cry? Did it make you angry or upset? Did you contribute? Did you rewrite history?

Don't worry — your secret is safe with us.

Ultimately, though, Suck Brick Kid's upcoming album is a fun, yet introspective punk record about how they think you felt when you inscribed your life's work to that snot rocket-inhabited bathroom stall. It's a little dirty, a little irreverent, and totally fun. It's also a major source of inspiration for the new album. More on that in a second, though...

Speaking about the new single "It's Okay...Probably," the band says, "Mental health is no joke — but we are. This track is a colorful re-telling of someone who is 'going through it' but is masking or pushing it all deep down to not appear 'crazy.' However, after hearing what this character is dealing with, we are certain you may end up just using the 'C' word to describe them."

With a decade of beers literally under their belt, Suck Brick Kid have defined themselves as "loud as fuck and fast as fuck." This is mainly because their vocabulary is small and rudimentary, at best. But also because they really do both of these things better than most. They don't take themselves too seriously and that's infinitely refreshing!

With a slew of conceptual albums already out, Suck Brick Kid aimed high for this new release and found inspiration in one of the lowest places imaginable...a dive bar bathroom. Bathroom graffiti is often over-looked, over-pissed-on, or even over-appreciated (I saw you draw a penis on that stick figure you dirty dog) but Suck Brick Kid wanted to tap into the mindset of some of these individuals and explore what they were (maybe) going through when they made their mark. This opened up possibilities for the songs that vocalist Grant Tchekmeian and guitarist Ian Marchionda cleverly navigated, as they crafted some of the most insane and absurd lyrical content to date. The End Is What I Want should strike a chord with any lover of punk music, dive bars, both of those things, or people who just like a cheeky poop joke — no that was not one, but you see what I did there.

This record is sure to put this band six feet under, in wooden suits, and left for the worms.

But before that happens, they've graced stages of FEST in Jacksonville, Florida, and have also toured alongside Unwritten Law, Palisades, Set Your Goals, and more. However, the band is survived by the following family members (Grant Tchekmeian on vocals, Ian Marchionda on guitar, Daniel Valery on drums, and Hayden Cler on bass).

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.

HxCx Faves Stretch Arm Strong to Release New EP "The Revealing" on 5/10 + Share "Illuminating"

March 11, 2024

It's a good new day for hardcore fans, as beloved band Stretch Arm Strongannounce the brand new release, titled The Revealing. The six song, pipebomb of an EP arrives on May 10 via Iodine Recordings. Pre-save it here.

This is the first taste of new music from SAS in nearly two decades. Listen to the new single "Illuminating" below.

"We all have a brilliant light inside of us," the band states about the new track. "Our light can seem inadequate and dim in times of darkness and struggle. We may need another person to shine their light on us so that we can see a path forward. Sometimes, we can be the one to shine the light for others.
'Illuminating' was inspired by a story that was shared with us about a friend helping another friend see their own light."

The Revealing also features a guest vocal from HxCx legend — Sick of It All frontman Lou Koller.

ABOUT STRETCH ARM STRONG:
Formed in Columbia, South Carolina in 1992, Stretch Arm Strong quickly made a name for themselves in the world of hardcore with their frenetic musicianship and unflinching positivity that crossed boundaries of belief and genre. The band initially went on hiatus in 2008 but made a significant return at Furnace Fest 2021. The festival's energy was palpable, leading the band not only to reconnect with countless friends from shows over the years but also with each other, reminding them of how rewarding playing music in Stretch Arm Strong is.

It was only a matter of time before the question of coming back together to write new music would arise. Recording with Steve Evetts, who was initially slated to produce 1999's Rituals of Life, turned out to be total kismet. Their combined chemistry shines through, displaying an energy that recalls their heaviest moments as a band. "It was really refreshing to put an exclamation mark on this thing," says guitarist David Sease. "We did it the way we wanted to, had a good time, and expressed ourselves." The result of this is The Revealing, a true gem of a record and the model for what can be achieved on an EP.

From the outset, it doesn't sound like any time has passed since Stretch Arm Strong stopped. Opening track "The Mirror" slams forward with total ferocity and youthfulness, showcasing why they're still an important part of the scene. "Still Believe Part III" follows up on previous entries with an absolute crusher, concluding with a monster of a breakdown. On "Take a Stand," Stretch Arm Strong enlists Lou Koller from Sick of It All for a killer guest spot.

With six songs clocking in at under fifteen minutes, the EP’s brevity is a testament to the lightning in a bottle Stretch Arm Strong captured by taking the stage once more. No longer being kids and now being full-fledged adults with families and worlds outside of music, the bond between Stretch Arm Strong and their love for playing is a testament to what this music means both for them and the countless listeners that have joined them throughout this time. It's a release that’s worthy of the band's exceptional discography, and a record that can only exist with a once-in-a-lifetime friendship and focus that the band has.

SAS is Chris, David, Jeremy, John and Scott.

Bedlight for Blue Eyes Re-Release "Life on Life's Terms" on Vinyl via Smartpunk Records 💿

March 11, 2024

In a world where emo anthems ruled the airwaves and MySpace profiles were the epitome of cool, Trustkill Records had released Bedlight For Blue Eyes' 2007 record Life on Life's Terms, which helped define a genre and became the soundtrack to a tumultuous era. With songs like "Michael" and "Walk With Me," this album, produced by Kenneth Mount and Zack Odom (Cartel, Mayday Parade,) is a time capsule of emotion and melody.

It is available on vinyl for the first time via Smartpunk Records here.

"I'm really excited about the release of Life on Life's Terms' on vinyl for the first time ever. This album means a lot to us and our fans. It's great to see these songs getting played again after so many years. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this record and especially to our fans for all their support," says vocalist Daniel Rinaldi.

"It's always so awesome to work with people that I looked up to growing up going to shows and playing music, and Trustkill is no different! When the opportunity to press this Bedlight record came up, I knew this would be an exciting one to bring to life! I remember when the album initially came out, I was BLOWN away by the songs and Daniel's voice especially. Always exciting to add awesome records like this one to the Smartpunk family," says Matt Burns, Label Manager of Smartpunk Records

The Plot In You Release New Single + Music Video "Don't Look Away" via Fearless Records

March 9, 2024

Ohio-based powerhouse The Plot In You have released their crushingly-heavy latest banger "Don't Look Away" and the accompanying official music video. Prior to today, the band released "Closure", which is climbing the charts and rising into the Top 40 at Active Rock radio. Both tracks can be found on the band's forthcoming EP 'Vol. 2', out on Friday, May 3rd (via Fearless Records). Speaking about "Don't Look Away", vocalist Landon Tewers shared:

“'Don't Look Away' is a collection of thoughts and feelings about the human experience living in our current world. Dealing with one's personal convictions and strife while comparing the suffering of others."

Stream "Don't Look Away" here, watch the music video below, and pre-save 'Vol. 2' here.

North American fans have their chance to see the band's incredible live show with Beartooth, Invent Animate and Sleep Theory on the final days of this tour. For ticket information please click here.

North American Tour 2024 Dates:

Mar 8: Chicago, IL @ Riviera (Sold Out)

Mar 9: Madison, WI @ The Sylvee (Sold Out)

Mar 10: Sauget, IL @ Pop's (Sold Out)

Mar 12: Indianapolis, IN @ Egyptian Room (Sold Out)

Mar 13: Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works (Sold Out)

Mar 14: Fort Wayne, IN @ The Clyde Theater

Through balancing even the most extreme dynamics, The Plot In You consistently overturn and upend expectations. On any given track, it might seem like they’re about to go one way, but the band will turn on a dime and shift course before the crowd can even catch a breath. This uncanny element of surprise has entrenched the gold-selling Ohio quartet—Landon Tewers [vocals], Josh Childress [guitar], Ethan Yoder [bass], and Michael Cooper [drums] — on the cutting edge of heavy music. Whether it be threads of alternative, electronic, pop, or R&B, nothing is off limits, and everything is fair game for their creative process. That process has continued to morph. Following a series of fan-favorite releases, the band made major waves with DISPOSE [2018]. “FEEL NOTHING” surged on social media as a viral phenomenon, generating hundreds of millions of streams and picking up a gold certification from the RIAA. The musicians only maintained this momentum with Swan Song in 2021. Hysteria rated it “9-out-of-10”. Simultaneously, they sold out shows coast-to-coast. During 2023, the band kickstarted another era with Vol. 1. “Divide” generated 9 million Spotify streams right out of the gate followed by “Left Behind”, exploding to the tune of 15.9 million Spotify streams. Upon the arrival of “Forgotten”, Revolver praised it among the “6 Best New Songs Right Now.” They only continue to challenge convention by extending this three-song EP series with Vol. 2 [Fearless Records].

SKELETAL REMAINS Shares Instrumental Play-Through for "Verminous Embodiment," New Album 'Fragments of the Ageless' Out NOW

March 9, 2024

SHOP // STREAM // DOWNLOAD

American death metal purveyors SKELETAL REMAINS are now celebrating the release of their latest opus, 'Fragments of the Ageless,' with a searing instrumental play-through for the single, "Verminous Embodiment." The clip can be found below.

The band explains that instrumental version is going back to the original idea of the song, “With ‘Verminous Embodiment,’ we originally wanted to do something a little more chaotic and over the top with the original intentions for the song to be an instrumental. But, as the writing process continued, we kept hearing a vocal pattern being sung over the groovy verse riff, so the inspiration for lyrics soon followed after. Heavily inspired by an episode of 'The X-Files' entitled ‘Home.'"

"Verminous Embodiment" is taken from the band's latest opus, 'Fragments of the Ageless,' which has just arrived today, March 8, via Century Media Records! The album is now available HERE.

In addition, SKELETAL REMAINS is currently on the road in the states for a special West Coast run of album release shows! The trek arrive in Los Angeles, CA tonight for a very a special homecoming celebration! The trek will then conclude on March 10 in Las Vegas, NV. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE.

"'Fragments Of The Ageless' is a gargantuan effort that is bound to spur gatekeeping purists to uncross their arms and start banging their heads like it's 1993." - Blabbermouth

"The record is sonically incredible, and I don’t believe that there’s a weak track in the bunch." - Decibel Magazine

"...dragging their collective caskets through the underworld, before barnburners of a guitar solo bring the songs to epic climaxes, returning to their flesh-ripping sonic assault without taking a breath." - Heavy Music HQ

"...this is some maximalist ass-kick metal born from the tropes of a genre older than I am and yet Skeletal Remains is proof positive of what’s still possible after these four-ish decades, after refining and polishing, cutting to form and sharpening to a honed edge." - Lambgoat

"With plenty of dense blasting, killer solos, and just the right amount of melodic leads, Skeletal Remains has a little bit of everything for the death metal fan." - Metal Trenches

Skeletal Remains’s ultra-brutal new album, Fragments of the Ageless, is upon us! The Americans—featuring Mike De La O (guitars), Chris Monroy (guitars/vocals), Pierce Williams (drums), and newcomer Brian Rush (bass)—kept busy after their much-hailed The Entombment of Chaos landed into a chaotic world in 2020. Rather than sit idle, the re-energized quartet crafted their penultimate statement. Tracks like “Void of Despair,” which Monroy describes as “aggressive and spastic,” “To Conquer the Devout,” “Relentless Appetite,” and “Verminous Embodiment” are death metal manifested in sound fundamentals, killer musicianship, and the right attitude. While Skeletal Remains have had four full-lengths since forming in 2011, Fragments of the Ageless is the band in their highest grotesque gear yet.

“With every record, we try to push ourselves to make a better record,” Monroy says. “We don’t get into, ‘We need to sound more like this or that.’ What comes out of us is natural. Actually, that’s how it’s been since the first record [Beyond the Flesh]. As death metal fans, we write what we enjoy and want to listen to. Having Pierce and Brian join the band played a big part in the new album. They live in Portland, and the rest of the band is in Los Angeles, so there’s a bit of a gap, but we use technology a lot when we write. They gave us a fresh set of ears.”

The principal songwriting for Fragments of the Ageless started during the pandemic but picked up considerable steam once the band were back on the road in 2022, where they played countless shows and festivals in the U.S., Europe, South America, Central America, and Australia. With Pierce and Brian fully in the fold, Monroy and De La O found themselves, in a way, back to square one, namely the “entire band effort” that comprised their 2012 debut, Beyond the Flesh. The savage DNA of Skeletal Remains is intact, but it’s been altered—no, improved!—iteratively to attack more, devour absolutely, and technically inspire. Tracks like video singles “Void of Despair,” “To Conquer the Devout,” “Relentless Appetite,” as well as deeper album cuts “Forever in Sufferance,” “Verminous Embodiment,” and “Unmerciful” are ravenous.

“It’s more brutal than the last one,” says Monroy. “We were pushing ourselves to be more extreme—vibing on that as much as possible. Obviously, we’re not tech-death now, but I think we took inspiration from the techier side of things. We took things up a notch and dialed in on the technicality and ever-increasing intensity while maintaining catchiness. We still have songs like ‘Eternal Hatred’ [from The Entombment of Chaos]. There’s always room for super-simple mid-paced songs in Skeletal Remains. On one end, we’ve increased in density and brutality; on the other, we wrote a few songs with longer and more ‘epic’ structures. 'Fragments' is simply the next evolutionary step in our sound.”

Lyrically, Skeletal Remains took the left-hand path. Rather than topics and themes inspiring the cover art, Dan Seagrave’s (Suffocation, Entombed, et al.) famously atramentous detail conversely informed the lyrics and album title. Monroy says they had working titles that they conveyed to Seagrave, but the final painting sparked the title, Fragments of the Ageless. Of course, the usual influx of sci-fi, historical, personal struggles, and fantastical also played a part.

“Seagrave completed the cover art before we had a title,” Monroy says. “That was kind of weird, but it worked in our favor. The cover art directly inspired a few of the lyrics and musical themes, tying multiple pieces together, which is a first for us. We did show him different pieces of art—10 in all, I think—that we liked, so there was direction. We wanted a mixture of things, with the final idea being a creature being taken apart and its DNA extracted. Seagrave’s crazy brain made it all come to life.”

Skeletal Remains recorded Fragments of the Ageless at various home and professional studios. Most of the guitars, bass, and solos were tracked DIY. The band wanted the drums to sound as imposing as possible, so they booked Trench Studios (Intronaut, Hirax) with John Haddad, while the vocals were cut at Birdcage Studios with Allen Falcon (Pestilent Death). Once the album’s core had been recorded, Monroy and the team sent their sick slab to Swedish studio ace Dan Swanö (Asphyx, Incantation) for mixing and mastering. If the blistering leads of “Void of Despair” and “Verminous Embodiment” don’t impress, then check out the blasting drums of “Cybernetic Harvest” and “Relentless Appetite.”

“Dan really gets it,” says Monroy. “He’ll send us mixes, and he’ll automatically add stuff like effects and little details throughout the back and forth. He knows what we want before we can tell him. Dan understands what we’re going for. There’s mutual understanding and respect. Of course, he’s been mixing and mastering for a long time and has made a name for himself, but we’re really happy with the production on 'Fragments.' It jumps out at you.”

Monroy says the band’s goal with Fragments of the Ageless is to continue death metal’s lineage—to honor the past and present. The future, however, is lined with more touring and festivals. Having just come off a stateside run with Suffocation and Incantation late last year, Skeletal Remains are poised to ravage more of the world, with high-profile slots at Wacken (Germany) and Alcatraz (Belgium) festivals already secured.

Death… Is just the beginning with Skeletal Remains’s Fragments of the Ageless.

Line-up:

Chris Monroy - guitars/vocals

Mike De La O - guitars

Pierce Williams - drums

Brian Rush - bass

Album Art:

Dan Seagrave

Album Title Logo:

Kyle Bowen

Bio:

Chris Dick

'Fragments of the Ageless' Formats:

Ltd. CD Digipak

Ltd. Gatefold transp. magenta LP

Ltd. Gatefold lemon colored LP (300x) available at cmdistro.de and Evil Greed

Ltd. Gatefold transp. light blue LP (300x) available at cmdistro.de and various other retailers

Ltd. Gatefold Opaque Spring Green LP (US version)

Ltd. Gatefold Sunspot LP (500x) available from US Indie outlets and SKELETAL REMAINS

Digital album

Follow:

OFFICIAL WEBSITE

INSTAGRAM

FACEBOOK

STREAM // DOWNLOAD

George A. Romero’s 'DAWN OF THE DEAD' Returns to Theaters for 45th Anniversary

March 9, 2024

"When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth."

GET TICKETS HERE

New Amsterdam Entertainment Inc.® is proud to announce George A. Romero’s 'Dawn of the Dead' will be celebrating the 45th Anniversary of its North American debut with a blow-out celebration event! The definitive zombie classic returns to both Theatres and Drive-Ins for screenings across the U.S. and Canada from April-May, 2024, with very special official anniversary collectables coming from FRIGHT-RAGS and ISH!

The North American gala premiere of 'Dawn of the Dead' took place on April 12, 1979 at the Gateway Theatre in downtown Pittsburgh. The film began the official U.S. theatrical launch the following day, eventually rolling out across the country. To honor this special milestone, New Amsterdam Entertainment Inc.® is making the movie available again in theatres & drive-ins for coast-to-coast screenings starting April 12, 2024 and running through to the end of May!

Hitting over 90 screens across North America, Independent Theatres and Drive-Ins have joined the celebration. While some will only host one exclusive screening event, others will have multiple showings throughout April and May; the full itinerary can be found below and also at THIS LOCATION.

'DAWN OF THE DEAD' 45th Anniversary U.S. + Canadian Theatres and Drive Ins:

CANADIAN THEATRES (Single Showings):

04/14: Vancouver, BC @ Rio Theatre

05/03: Edmonton, AB @ Metro Cinema @ The Garneau

05/31: Saskatoon, SK @ Broadway Theatre

CANADIAN THEATRES (Running through end of May)

04/12: Hope, BC @ New Hope Cinema

04/12: London, ON @ Imagine Cinema

04/12: Ottawa, ON @Mayfair Theatre

04/12: Montreal, QC @ Cinema Du Parc **IN 3-D!**

04/19: Hamilton, ON @ Playhouse Cinema

04/19: Waterloo, ON @ Princess Original Cinema

05/04: Toronto, ON @ @ Revue Cinema

U.S. THEATRES & DRIVE-INS (Single Showings):

04/12: Monroeville, PA @ Cinemark Monroeville Mall and XD

04/13: Seymour, CT @ The Strand Theater

4/27: Brookline, MA @ Coolidge Corner Theatre

04/20: Rochester, NY @ The Little Theatre

04/26: Savannah, GA @ Lucas Theatre for The Arts

04/26: Wichita, KS @ The Orpheum Theatre

04/27: San Luis Obispo, CA @ Slow Film Fest (Freemont Theatre)

5/15: Iowa City, IA @ FilmScene at Chauncey **IN 3-D!**

05/18: Sterling, IL @ Midway Drive-In

05/19: Sewickley, PA @ Lindsey Theatre (Pittsburgh Moving Picture Festival)

05/25: Lehighton, PA @ The Mahoning Drive-In via Exhumed Films

U.S. THEATRES & DRIVE-INS (Running through end of May):

04/12: Tucson, AZ @ The Loft Cinema

04/12: Gardena, CA @ Gardena Theatre **IN 3-D!**

04/12: Los Angeles @ Alamo Drafthouse Downtown

04/12: San Francisco @ Alamo Drafthouse New Mission

04/12: Santa Ana @ The Frida Cinema

04/12: Denver, CO @ Alamo Drafthouse Sloans Lake

04/12: Littleton, CO @ Alamo Drafthouse Littleton

04/12: Westminster, CO @ Alamo Drafthouse Westminster

04/12: Arlington, VA @ Alamo Drafthouse Crystal City DC

04/12: Washington, DC @ Alamo Drafthouse DC Bryant Street

04/12: Miami, FL @ Night Owl Drive-In

04/12: Atlanta, GA @ The Plaza Theatre Atlanta

05/12: Chicago, IL @ Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville

5/14: Chicago, IL @ Music Box Theatre **IN 2-D & 3-D!**

04/12: Shelbyville, IN @ Skyline Drive-In

04/12: Boston, MA @ Alamo Drafthouse Seaport

04/12: Silver Spring, MD @ AFI Silver Theatre

04/12: Eagan, MN @ Emagine Eagan

04/12: Lakeville, MN @ Emagine Lakeville

04/12: Plymouth, MN @ Emagine Willow Creek

04/12: White Bear Lake, MN @ Emagine White Bear

04/12: Woodbury, MN - Alamo Drafthouse Woodbury

04/12: Springfield, MO @ Alamo Drafthouse Springfield

04/12: St. Louis, MO @ Alamo Drafthouse City Foundry

04/12: St. Louis, MO @ Galleria 6 Cinemas **IN 3-D!**

04/12: Missoula, MT @ The Roxy Theatre

04/12: Cary, NC @ Cary Theatre

04/12: Charlotte, NC @ The Independent Picture House

04/12: Raleigh, NC @ Alamo Drafthouse Raleigh

04/12: La Vista, NE @ Alamo Drafthouse La Vista - Omaha

04/12: Las Vegas, NV @ The Beverly Theater

04/12: Brooklyn, NY @ Alamo Drafthouse Downtown Brooklyn

04/12: Brooklyn, NY @ Nitehawk Cinema

04/12: Brooklyn, NY @ Nitehawk Prospect Park

04/12: Huntington, NY @ Cinema Arts Centre

04/12: New York, NY @ Alamo Drafthouse Lower Manhattan

04/12: New York, NY @ IFC Center

04/12: Staten Island, NY @ Alamo Drafthouse Staten Island

04/12: Syracuse, NY @ Exploradome

04/12: Yonkers, NY @ Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers

04/12: Columbus, OH @ Gateway Film Center

04/12: Tulsa, OK @ The Circle Cinema

04/12: Portland, OR @ Hollywood Theatre

04/12: Phoenixville, PA @ The Colonial Theatre

04/12: Pittsburgh, PA @ The Harris Theater

04/12: Vandergrift, PA @ Riverside Drive-In

04/12: Providence, RI @ The Columbus Theatre

04/12: Sioux Falls, SD @ Sioux Falls State Theatre

04/12: Des Moines, IA @ Des Moines Film / Varsity Cinema

04/12: Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Lakeline

04/12: Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane

04/12: Austin, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Village

04/12: Corpus Christi, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Corpus Christi

04/12: Dallas, TX @ The Texas Theatre

04/12: Denton, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Denton

04/12: El Paso, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse East El Paso

04/12: El Paso, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Montecillo

04/12: Houston, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Lacenterra

04/12: Laredo, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Laredo

04/12: Lubbock, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Lubbock

04/12: Richardson, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Richardson

04/12: San Antonio, TX @ Alamo Drafthouse Park North

04/12: Ashburn, VA, @ Alamo Drafthouse One Loudoun

04/12: Charlottesville, VA @ Alamo Drafthouse Charlottesville

04/12: Winchester, VA @ Alamo Drafthouse Winchester

04/12: Woodbridge, VA @ Alamo Drafthouse Woodbridge

04/12: Chehalis, WA @ McFlier's Chehalis Theater

04/13: Albuquerque, NM @ The Guild Cinema

04/19: Salem, MA @ Cinema Salem

04/19: Jacksonville, FL @ Sun-Ray Cinema

04/19: Santa Fe, NM @ Jean Cocteau Cinema

04/26: Gibson City, IL @ Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In

05/03: Emmaus, PA @ The Emmaus Theatre

With special assistance from United Drive-In Theatre Owners Association, for the first time in decades, many fans will be able to watch 'Dawn of the Dead' under the stars at several ozoners like the classic Midway Drive-In in Sterling, IL, and at a special Exhumed Films event at the world famous Mahoning Drive-In in Lehighton, PA!

The mighty Alamo Drafthouse will be fulfilling thousands of audience requests by unleashing it into 34 of their cinemas across the country and die-hard fans will finally be able to again watch the movie in its premiere city of Pittsburgh, this time at the Row House Theatre! The film will be screened all across North America in historical venues including places like the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, PA, where the original version of 'The Blob' was filmed in 1958!

Meanwhile, The Music Box Theatre in Chicago will present special single showings of both the 2-D and 3-D editions later in May! Stereoscopic fans will also be able to catch it in 3-D at the Galleria Mall in St. Louis, MO, where hopefully they won't have to hunker down to survive a zombie apocalypse! St. Louis is not the only city that is taking the film back to its primary setting; through special arrangement, Cinemark Theatres will be exclusively presenting 'Dawn of the Dead' for One-Night-Only on Friday April 12th...at the MONROEVILLE MALL!

There’s no more room in Hell and the Dead are finally returning...to Canada!

It’s going to be a zombie-rollicking good time across the States, and Canada need not worry!

For horror fans up North, decades worth of scary prayers are about to be answered with big screen showings of the original theatrical edition, Romero's official final Director's Cut, at Independent Canadian Movie Houses and Festivals in 2-D as it first played in 1979. Plus, over 15 years after producer Richard P. Rubinstein first announced it was happening, on April 12th, the genuinely excellent 3-D conversion of George A. Romero’s 'Dawn of the Dead' will finally make its Canadian premier at the Cinéma Du Parc Theatre in Montreal!

That's not all as no party is complete without party favors! For this celebration, New Amsterdam Entertainment Inc.® is joining forces with the highly respected fan favorites FRIGHT-RAGS and Justin Ishmael / ISH to create special edition 45th Anniversary 'Dawn of the Dead' collectables! On March 12th, ISH will be releasing the absolutely beautiful, official 45th Anniversary artwork they commissioned from the amazingly talented artist Paul Mann in a limited edition hand screen-printed poster on their website at: www.justinishmael.com

Also on March 12th, FRIGHT-RAGS will be offering an official 45th Anniversary Trading Card Set along with two 45th Anniversary T-Shirts, with the first featuring Paul Mann’s superb artwork (commissioned by ISH) and the second being a beautiful reproduction of the original vintage Dawn of the Dead Cast & Crew production shirt! Fans will be able to find the cards and shirts on FRIGHT-RAGS’ site here: www.fright-rags.com

DAWN OF THE DEAD in Theatres, at Drive-Ins, on Posters, Trading Cards & T-Shirts?!

Romero's zombies are rising again for a great 45th Anniversary Party to remember!