Ashley McBryde Receives Doctorate of Music from Alma Mater Arkansas State University

Ashley McBryde joined Arkansas State’s Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony this morning, Saturday May 10, to receive her Honorary Doctorate of Music, with Chancellor Todd Shields recognizing that her “determination and contributions to American Music is a testament to the opportunities that higher education can open and inspire for generations of Arkansas State University alums.” Watch McBryde receive her Doctorate of Music HERE and transcription of her remarks below:

“Earning a degree in music has always been something I've placed a lot of value in. It was something I felt I needed to accomplish. In my time here at A-State, I found my passion not only for performing, but for creating other musicians. The music education program is priceless. I'm so thankful for educators that pushed me to strive for excellence: Greg and Hope Bruner, Robin Dauer, Ed Alexander, Doctor Ken Carroll, Doctor Tom O'Connor and so many more. While my path to music education wound up looking a little different than a traditional one, I never lost my passion for music education, and I work alongside music educators every chance I get. Thank you for shaping me into the advocate I became, the musician I am today and the entrepreneur I didn't know I was going to have to be.

There are doctors in my family, Doctors of Medicine, so I know that when you address someone by that word, you're acknowledging their rank. You're acknowledging a lifetime – time, money, effort, everything they've got that they've spent in pursuit of excellence in their chosen field. The residencies, internships, fellowships, the many accomplishments and the many failures it takes to accomplish them. I have dedicated my life to the pursuit of and the magic of making music, and hopefully I will inspire others to do so.

This stage became my classroom. Board proficiencies were in rooms of tens and then one hundreds and then thousands - those are hard to pass. I've been judged on late night TV shows, morning talk shows, award shows. Those are especially hard to pass because all of social media is there to give you a pass or fail grade on the spot. The people making remarks are the icons and legends of my field, and they just so happen to be names you're familiar with: Wynonna Judd, Vince Gill, Hank Williams Jr. My classmates were Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves, Chris Stapleton, Jon Pardi – it sounds like I'm name dropping, but these are the people I went into the trenches with.
 
I left this campus as a broke, guitar playing, songwriting chick who played in bars for a living, and I stand here today as a GRAMMY-Award winning songwriter. A member of the Grand Ole Opry. And I look forward to being introduced on that sacred stage this week as Dr. Ashley McBryde. Thank you so much.”

McBryde will perform at Opry 100 Honors: Loretta Lynn this Tuesday, May 13. She’s set to perform at CMA Fest at Nissan Stadium; Country Thunder Wisconsin and Alberta; WE Fest; and more festivals this summer among headlining dates. She will also join Little Big Town in West Palm Beach, FL and Orange Beach, AL in August. For tickets and additional information, visit AshleyMcBryde.com.

Photo Credit: Rebecca Worthington

Ashley McBryde Tour Dates
 
May 13            Opry 100 Honors: Loretta Lynn // Nashville, TN
May 15            SKyPAC // Bowling Green, KY
May 16            Peoples Bank Theatre // Marietta, OH
May 17            The Event Center at Hollywood Casino // Charles Town, WV
May 29            American Music Theatre // Lancaster, PA
May 30            Parx Xcite Center // Bensalem, PA
May 31            Paramount Theater // Charlottesville, VA
June 8              CMA Fest – Nissan Stadium // Nashville, TN
June 13            IP Casino Resort Spa – Studio A // Biloxi, MS
June 14            Peach Jam // Clanton, AL
June 20            Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino // Lake Charles, LA
June 21            Wild Adventures Live! 2025 // Valdosta, GA
June 26            Country Stampede // Topeka, KS
June 28            Billy Bob’s // Fort Worth, TX
July 10            Weldon Mills Theatre // Roanoke Rapids, NC
July 12            Country Concert 2025 // Fort Laramie, OH
July 17            Kresge Auditorium // Interlochen, MI
July 18            Country Thunder Wisconsin // Twin Lakes, WI
July 19            The Amp at Log Still // Gethsemane, KY
July 25            Night In The Country Music Festival // Yerington, NV
Aug. 1             Happys Inn // Libby, MT
Aug. 2             Big Valley Jamboree // Camrose, AB
Aug. 7             WE Fest // Detroit Lakes, MN
Aug. 13           Put In Bay // Put-In-Bay, OH
Aug. 15           Country Thunder Alberta // Calgary, AB
Aug. 21           iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre // West Palm Beach, FL (with Little Big Town)
Aug. 23           The Wharf Amphitheater // Orange Beach, AL (with Little Big Town)
Sept. 12           Point of the Bluff Vineyards // Hammondsport, NY
Sept. 13           Spyglass Ridge Winery // Sunbury, PA
Oct. 4              Stars Over Texas Music Festival 2025 // Ennis, TX
 
About Ashley McBryde
GRAMMY, CMA and ACM award winner Ashley McBryde cut her teeth playing country songs in biker bars – and it shows. The Grand Ole Opry member’s 2018 major label debut Girl Going Nowhere (Warner Music Nashville) charmed The New York Times, NPR, Rolling Stone, Paste, The Washington Post and more, all en route to landing a GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album. McBryde closed out 2019 with ACM New Female Artist, CMT Breakout Artist, a New Artist of the Year win at the 53rd Annual CMA Awards and two nominations for the 2020 GRAMMYs for Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance for “Girl Goin’ Nowhere.” Follow-up Never Will was tagged by Rolling Stone as one of the most anticipated of the year alongside NPR, who also ranked her Top 10 RIAA Platinum-Certified single “One Night Standards” as one of the best songs of 2019. The album earned McBryde a 2021 GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making Never Will the only album nominated for Country Album of the Year by the ACMs, CMAs and the Recording Academy in the same award season. Her GRAMMY-winning duet with Carly Pearce, “Never Wanted To Be That Girl,” went all the way to No. 1 and earned McBryde and Pearce the ACM and CMA award for Musical Event of the Year. McBryde was honored with the 2022 CMA International Artist Achievement Award for the most significant creative growth, development and promotion of the country music industry outside of the United States. Her collaborative project Ashley McBryde Presents: Lindeville earned McBryde her third consecutive GRAMMY nomination for Best Country Album, making her a six-time nominee. Her latest album The Devil I Know was released to critical acclaim, earning a title as one of the best country albums of the year from Rolling Stone, Billboard, Slate, PASTE, Holler and more. Hailed as “one of country’s most cherished singer-songwriters” by Cowboys & Indians, McBryde offers poetic nostalgia with “Ain’t Enough Cowboy Songs,” available now. The Arkansas native performs at festivals including CMA Fest; Country Thunder Wisconsin and Alberta; WE Fest; and Country Stampede among additional headlining dates. For more information, visit Ashley McBryde.com or follow her on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok and YouTube.

Wolves at the Gate Drop "DEATH CLOCK" Video

Wolves at the Gate will release new album Wasteland on May 30 via Solid State Records. Pre-order it here. 

The band has shared the video for "DEATH CLOCK."

Watch it below. 

The track is a moody rage, loaded with arena-sized hooks that keep pace throughout the entirety of the song. Ultimately, "DEATH CLOCK" will have fans bouncing and jumping up and down as if they were at a party celebrating the end of the world. It lyrically looks at the inevitable fate that awaits us all.

"'Death Clock' describes the world inside of your head," the band states. "Everyone undoubtedly thinks about death. The song is just being honest when it comes to the fact we all die and how it makes us feel. We wanted it to sound like you're racing against a clock."

Wolves At The Gate have quietly and naturally evolved since their emergence out of the Midwest in 2008. Their vision unfolded across albums such as Captors [2012], VxV [2014], Types & Shadows [2016], Eclipse [2019], and Eulogies [2022]. Blabbermouth rated the latter "9.0-out-of-10.0," while mxdwn summed it up as "powerfully moving." Along the way, the group tallied tens of millions of streams fueled by the likes of "Counterfeit," "Deadman," "Lowborn," "Peace That Starts The War," and more. Not to mention, they've performed alongside everyone from The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and Red to Fit For A King, August Burns Red, and Born Of Osiris. In 2024, a core idea screamed out to guitarist Steve Cobucci, shaping the creative direction of the band's next evolution. It slowly, but surely seeped into the DNA of the music and his words.
 
"As I was working on the album and especially the lyrics, I began to realize that the Wasteland was a metaphor for a frame of mind that I don't want to live in, but a world I feel myself drawn back into over and over again," Cobucci reveals. "I hate it. It's a world of empty promises. It's a mirage. A counterfeit."

The musicians carefully pieced together what would become Wasteland. Cobucci co-produced the 13-track body of work with Josh Gilbert of Spiritbox, while the band recorded in New Jersey, San Diego, and Los Angeles. This time around, they added multiple dimensions to their signature sound, layering intriguing interludes and electronic overtures into the framework.

WOLVES AT THE GATE ARE:
Steve Cobucci — Vocals/Guitar
Nick Detty — Vocals
Joey Alarcon — Guitar
Abishai Collingsworth — Drums
Ben Summers — Bass

The Dogs of Hope" Charity Comp Featuring KsE, Snapcase, Deadguy, Walter Schreifels, + More to Benefit Alabama Shelter

ALTERNATIVE + METALCORE A-LISTERS UNITE FOR THE DOGS OF HOPE— A COMPILATION ALBUM TO RAISE FUNDS FOR NO-KILL ANIMAL SHELTER IN RURAL ALABAMA

"This isn't about changing the whole world,” says Tom Bejgrowicz, who began volunteering at RCAS in 2020. "It's about changing a world—one animal at a time."

For every one of us who have asserted that "dogs are man's/human's best friend," Iodine Recordings and Tom Bejgrowicz (who has worked with The Beastie Boys, Quicksand, and Johnny Cash) have corralled some of the finest names in the alternative, hardcore, and metal scenes to put their money where their mouths are.

Complete with 14 (13 of them exclusive) tracks from Snapcase, Walter Schreifels (Quicksand, Gorilla Biscuits), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Killswitch Engage, Jeromes Dream, Death Ray Vision, Orange 9MM, Deadguy, Lybica, Roman Candle, Drought, Enforced, and Taken, this is a tribute like none other. Slated for release on August 8, this summer is officially going to the dogs. 

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY OF THE DOGS OF HOPE HERE

Listen to "Pigs on the Wing (Part 1)" by Schreifels below:

With a cover designed by Jeremy Dean (Green Day, The Rolling Stones, The Bronx) and the project mastered by the legendary Jack Shirley (Deafhaven, Joyce Manor, Quicksand), The Dogs Of Hope is a sonic love letter to the canines that roam the streets of Randolph County in Alabama. Their slobbery smiles of trust have emboldened some of the greatest musicians to put pen to paper to share songs for some of the most deserving four-legged friends around.

A living and breathing symbol of the indie community's love for community care, 100% of the sales both digitally and physically from The Dogs Of Hope will be going directly to the Randolph County Animal Shelter (RCAS), nestled in rural Wedowee, Alabama.

This no-kill, privately run facility has to date saved thousands of animal's lives, all despite their lack of public funding or support from the county.

Operating with a small staff at a completely full capacity since 2021, the Randolph County Animal Shelter is a beacon of hope in a region that features no spay/neuter programs. Committed to providing life-changing services for the animals of Wedowee, we can now all be a part of making this ever-changing world a better place to live in by supporting and listening to artists who are already the favorites of millions.

FOR MORE INFO ON ALL OF THE BANDS: 
WALTER SCHREIFELS | ALEX SKOLNICK | KILLSWITCH ENGAGE | SNAPCASE | JEROMES DREAM | DEATH RAY VISION | ORANGE 9MM | DEADGUY | LYBICA | ROMAN CANDLE | DROUGHT | ENFORCED | TAKEN

BLACKLIST UNION Unveil Official Music Video for Single "Mississippi Moonhound" ​

Blacklist Union return with new single "Mississippi Moonhound"— a swampy, swaggering anthem delivering a powerful blast of wild and untamed rock ‘n’ roll. The new single captures the feeling of being haunted by your past while howling into the night for something more. Blacklist Union’s new album Slay the Dragon is scheduled for September 2025 and will be their sixth full-length release.  

In celebration of the release, Blacklist Union unveiled the official music video for "Mississippi Moonhound" which can be seen below:

Blacklist Union have built a reputation on their explosive live shows and unapologetically bold sound. Their previous record, Letters from the Psych Ward, racked up over two million streams, setting the stage for the band’s new album.

Frontman Tony West, known for his larger-than-life presence, took time out to dive deep into several transformative ayahuasca journeys in the heart of the Amazon, preparing for this next era of music.

As Tony put it, “Ayahuasca isn’t a drug—it’s powerful spiritual medicine from another realm. It helped me heal in ways I never thought possible, releasing layers of trauma, heartache, and sorrow. I’m not perfect—not Gandhi or anything—but it changed everything. My entire view of myself, love, the world, people, and my children changed because of those experiences.”

"Mississippi Moonhound" was written by Tony West / Christopher Johnson, produced by Christopher Johnson, and mixed by Claudio Cueni. It was recorded at East West Studios in Hollywood, CA.

STREAM "Mississippi Moonhound"

https://unitedmasters.com/m/mississippi-moonhound

https://linktr.ee/blacklistunion

Blacklist Union frontman Tony West was raised in the Bronx on The Ramones, Bad Brains, and NYHC. Hearing the call of the wild west, he made his way to Los Angeles at 19 years old.

Tony took a break from L.A. to try out Memphis in 1998. While he was there, he attended the first Saliva gig with Paul Crosby on drums. This marked the beginning of a lifelong friendship between Paul and Tony, leading to management, song collaborations, and guest appearances in a few videos. Tony collaborated with guitarist Todd Youth (Murphy’s Law /Danzig) and Malfunkshun, which was kept active by Andy Wood’s brother Kevin Wood. Andy Wood is Tony’s muse, and he was honored to sing in his hero’s band.

I formed Blacklist Union because I wanted to play music that I wanted to hear, and we put out the first Blacklist Union record, After the Mourning, in 2006. The band’s name comes from getting the best musicians with the worst reputations in town. With a shamanistic blend of Stone Temple Pilots, Guns N’ Roses, Warrior Soul, The Cult, and Mother Love Bone... Blacklist Union was born.

Tony West -Lead Vocals
Raf Ransom - Lead Guitar
Dee Hayes - Rhythm Guitar
Larry Harwood - Bass
Justin Perez - Drums

Upcoming Shows:

7/12/25 @ Cruefest at The Whisky in West Hollywood

9/13/25 @ Bar Sinister in Hollywood

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Facebook

X

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

Sodom Release Video for "Witchhunter"

German thrash metal legends SODOM released the video for their new single "Witchhunter." The song is the second single from the upcoming studio album The Arsonist.

"Witchhunter" is Sodom’s homage to their late drummer Chris Witchunter and the video was created by Ex-Sodom guitar player Andy Brings.

Watch the "Witchhunter" music video below:

The Arsonist will be released on June 27 worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer as CD digipak, 2LP version, download, and stream.

Pre-order info is available here.

We all know that good music is always also a question of sound. To this end, the human factor is crucial — along with the right equipment, of course — after all it's about authenticity and individual personality. With that in mind, German thrash metal band Sodom have come to a logical conclusion: To enable the most natural production possible, the drum parts on their latest album The Arsonist were recorded using a 24-track analog tape machine.

No studio tricks, no digital overdubs, or, to quote frontman Tom Angelripper: "No plastic! The difference in sound compared to today's standard drum productions is amazing and has had a positive effect on all the instruments. Naturally, time and effort as well as costs were also higher, but we're happy to fork out for a superior result."

However, it's not only the complex production process that testifies to the band's exceptional creative spirit, but also their diverse songwriting, which saw all four Sodom musicians — the aforementioned Tom Angelripper (vocals, bass), Frank Blackfire (guitar), York Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums) — involved in the development of the material on The Arsonist. 

Tom Angelripper continues, "Frank contributed those typical Sodom riffs and hooks again, whereas York favors more epic songwriting. As a perfect complement to both of them, Toni, who is also an excellent guitarist, contributed a number of songs and helped to make the album even more versatile."

Chicago's Push Puppets to release 4th album 'Tethered Together'. Enjoy the video for ‘Similar’

Chicago-based indie pop-rock outfit Push Puppets presents their new dynamic and multifaceted album 'Tethered Together', their fourth to date, out on May 16 via Flowering Tree Music.

The creative outlet for singer-songwriter and guitarist Erich Specht, Push Puppets creates songs with earworm melodies and shiny production that belie often-bittersweet sentiments. Specht (lead vocals, guitar) is joined by a core of Steve Frisbie (backup vocals, guitar), Kyle Magnusson (keyboards), John William Lauler (bass) and Greg Essig (drums). Most of the songs on this album also involve a string quartet, with a horn section on one.

"This album offers a nod to the artistic excesses of the 70s, whether it's a wall of phased vocals or a moment where guitars and strings rip a quick line together between phrases.  The tracks are widely varied yet cohesive - and within a given song, you're likely to be taken elsewhere," says Erich Specht.

‘Tethered Together’ was produced by Doug McBride (Smashing Pumpkins, Veruca Salt, Silversun Pickups, Cheap Trick), via Flowering Tree Music and Erich Specht, this album being mixed and mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios in Chicago.

The video for their latest single ‘Similar’, created by Metamorse Studio, features eye-popping animations of DNA, brain synapses, x-rays, fireworks and other evocative imagery. Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales produced this video, along with 'All Together On 3', joined by a string quartet, comprised of Stephanie “Sly” Young on violin, Katherine Andrick on viola, Molly Rife on cello and Kelly Jozwiak on violin (note: Janis Sakai performs in the audio recording).

This record is graced with impeccable songwriting that shines with lush harmonies, angular guitars, dramatic keyboards and strings backed by a smoking rhythm section. Erich Specht muses on relationships and loss, as well as the weight and joy of life, in a manner that is poetic and seems effortless, his lyrics fitting to the melody like pieces of a puzzle. Wearing his vulnerabilities like a badge of honor, this music takes us on a journey to unexpected places.

Erich Specht shares, “Our music is not about a genre or a particular fashionable sound.  We’re slaves to the song and try to allow it to reach its potential with no regard for how it fits the style of the time.  There are plenty of bands chasing trends, and we’re happiest staying away from them. I think when you set out to make a song complicated, it can sound contrived.  I love it when I chase a part I’m imagining that happens gracefully, and then I discover that there’s something weird about it.”

The album kicks off with the arena-rocking anthem ‘Similar', which explores universal connections. Genre-bending experimentation is showcased on 'Hearts Aren’t Souvenirs' while 'Probably' offers a poignant tribute with a dramatic string-laden conclusion. A standout track, 'All Together On 3' builds progressively to a cathartic blend of live strings and desperate vocals highlighting the strength found in unity.

The album continues its sonic journey with the dramatic and evolving "Launching a Satellite," culminating in a striking interplay between strings and electric guitar. 'This Whole Endeavor' hooks the listener with a memorable piano riff while recounting the ebb and flow of a past relationship. A lighthearted interlude arrives with the retro rocker 'Tell Colleen to Calm Down', followed by the Spanish-tinged and inhibition-shedding 'Shake It Like You Mean It'. The album delves into the pain of lost love in the Americana-tinged 'Hearts Are Fragile' before reaching a powerful and dramatic conclusion with 'The Logical Conclusion', driven by intense strings and piano.

The 'Tethered Together' album, now available for pre-order, will be released on CD on May 16 and digitally on fine digital platforms. Push Puppets will hold their album release show at Robert's Westside in Forest Park, IL on May 30.

ALBUM CREDITS
Lyrics & music by Erich Specht (ASCAP)
Produced by Doug McBride and Erich Specht
Mixed & mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios
Recorded in Chicago at Gravity Studios and Erich Specht's home studio
Erich Specht – lead vocals, guitars, string arrangements
Steve Frisbie – backup vocals
Kyle Magnusson – keyboards
John William Lauler – bass
Greg Essig - drums
Stephanie “Sly” Young – violin
Janis Sakai – violin
Katherine Andrick – viola
Molly Rife – cello
Mitch “The Lip” Goldman – trumpet on ;Hearts Aren't Souvenirs’
Tom Trinka – saxophone on ‘Hearts Aren't Souvenirs"
Norman Friede – trombone on ‘Hearts Aren't Souvenirs’
Tommi Zender – add. vocals, guitar, charango on ‘This Whole Endeavor’ & ‘Hearts Are Fragile’
Cover artwork by Crow Prints
Released & published by Flowering Tree Music (ASCAP)
Videos produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales
Editing and animation for 'Similar' video by Metamorse Studio
Artist studio photos by Gintas Zaranka
Artist live photos by Gabi Bucataru
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR 


Keep up with Push Puppets
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Limberlost Release New Single "Alien"; Full Length Album "Beautiful Scars" Drops 6/13! ​

The wait is over—Limberlost is back with their powerful and highly anticipated new single, “Alien”, the lead track from their upcoming concept album, Beautiful Scars. Blending soul-stirring vocals, deep rock grooves, heavy guitars, and a touch of industrial metal, “Alien” takes listeners on an emotional and sonic journey like never before.

This anthemic rock masterpiece blurs the lines between dysphoria, self-identity, and the mysteries of the universe. It speaks to those moments of isolation, questioning one’s place in the world, and the deep desire to understand who we are and why we are here. With haunting melodies and a relentless rhythm section, “Alien” delivers a gripping soundscape of raw emotion and intensity, setting the tone for the epic narrative of Beautiful Scars.

Taking influence from Evanescence, Linkin Park, and Within Temptation, Limberlostpushes the boundaries of modern rock, crafting a sound that is both cinematic and crushingly powerful. “Alien” is more than just a song—it’s an experience, a rallying cry for those who have ever felt lost, different, or disconnected.

Get ready to immerse yourself in the anthem of self-discovery and cosmic wonder—“Alien” is here, and it’s only the beginning. Stream it now and join the movement. 

STREAM "Alien" :

https://promo.theorchard.com/yVObHnJm3HrWl5lCDjKz  

https://orcd.co/limberlost_alien

WATCH the Official Music Video for "Alien" below:

Upcoming Shows:

Aug 23 @ Mainstage of the International Singer-Songwriter Association Awards in Atlanta, GA

Sep 28 @ Rock the Locks Festival in Umatilla, OR w/ Third Eye Blind and Dorothy 

Limberlost is a powerhouse American rock band delivering a bold fusion of modern and classic rock with soaring vocals, electrifying guitar riffs, and thunderous rhythms. Known for their anthemic sound, raw energy, and emotionally charged storytelling, they create music that resonates with fans of classic rock legends and contemporary rock revivalists alike. Their songs capture themes of strength, resilience, and empowerment, making them a force in the rock scene. With a commanding stage presence and dynamic compositions, Limberlost is redefining female-fronted rock, bringing authenticity, passion, and rock authority to audiences worldwide.

Limberlost’s rise is backed by Paul Crosby Management, led by Paul Crosby, drummer of the multi-platinum rock band Saliva. His industry expertise and strategic vision have positioned the band for massive success in today’s rock landscape.

Limberlost is known for their captivating female led vocals. Leads Brittany Lauren and Sammie Gorham both classically trained and accomplished opera singers that bring their beauty, power and precision to cut through rock’s sometimes predictable expectations.

Adding to their momentum is the recent addition of Metal Hall of Fame bass player Steve Unger, known for his work with legendary bands Metal Church and Autograph. His veteran stage presence and technical prowess bring a new depth to Limberlost’s already dynamic sound, elevating their live performances and recording capabilities to the next level.

If that’s not enough the addition of Steve’s son Devon Unger on Lead Guitar. Not only can his melodies mesmerize, and his shredding solos make you want to scream “Hell Ya!” but he will have the ladies eating out of his hands.

Wrap it up with Anthony Ciarochi on Keys and Mike Burt (Founder) on drums. Two solid industry veterans that anchor the stage presence and the sound.

For More Information Please Visit:

Official Website

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

YouTube

Orbit Culture Tell "The Tales of War" — LISTEN + WATCH

Sweden's Orbit Culture are commencing a new beginning with "The Tales of War." 

Watch the menacing video by Riivata Visuals that finds the band braving a raging storm.

The band comments, "'The Tales of War' marks the beginning of a new chapter for Orbit Culture. While other songs evolved and shifted during the writing process, this one stayed exactly as it was from the very start. It captures everything that defines Orbit Culture — the cinematic elements, the build-up, the verses, and the chorus. From the beginning, we knew this had to be the first song to introduce this new era. On almost every show we've ever played, we've used these long, cinematic intros to set the mood — but this time, we figured: Why not bake that feeling straight into the song itself? Even as we move forward and leave parts of our past behind, we needed a bridge to the future — and this track became that bridge."

Hailing from the small town of Eksjö, Sweden (located between the revered metal cities of Gothenburg and Stockholm), the quartet (guitarist and vocalist Niklas Karlsson, guitarist Richard Hansson, bassist Fredrik Lennartsson, and drummer Christopher Wallerstedt) has grown into a global force, melding together, riffs that are equal parts thrash, death metal and industrial with arresting hooks and a layered atmosphere that invites comparison to Gojira, Metallica and Static-X while carving out something that is uniquely their own.

Orbit Culture's 2023 album, Descent, and its subsequent EP release, The Forgotten, topped many year-end lists in 2023 including Metal Hammer who described the album as "a formidable entwining of modern metal’s most effective and exciting strands into an impressive milestone."

 Exhaustive worldwide touring and a steady stream of crowd-pummeling festival slots across the globe, have set the stage for something much larger.

PALEFACE SWISS Announce Cursed: The Complete Edition; Drop New Video "River Of Sorrows" Unplugged Feat. Ron Deris

Paleface Swiss continue their unstoppable rise with the announcement of Cursed: The Complete Edition, an expanded version of their internationally acclaimed third album, Cursed (released in January of this year). The deluxe edition will be released digitally on June 7, with a range of exclusive vinyl variants available from July 18. Today’s news is punctuated with the release of “River Of Sorrows (Unplugged)” feat. Ron Deris, a stripped down, acoustic version of fan favorite ballad and album closer. 

Watch the video for “River Of Sorrows (Unplugged)”  below and stream the track on DSPs now HERE.

Pre-order Cursed: The Complete Edition on vinyl HERE.

When Cursed dropped earlier this year, it tore through expectations—debuting at #17 worldwide on Spotify, #3 in the US, and #1 in the UK, while drawing critical acclaim and amassing millions of streams. Paleface Swiss further cemented the album’s popularity by following its release with sold out tours across Europe, the UK and North America, selling an impressive 55,000 tickets across both runs. Now, Cursed: The Complete Edition gathers the full spectrum of that creative era, featuring all original tracks, three previously stand-alone singles from 2024 (“Best Before: Death,” “Please End Me,” and “The Gallow”), a brand new bonus track titled “I Am A Cursed One,”and today’s new, stripped back acoustic version of their signature ballad “River of Sorrows” featuring special guest Ron Deris.

Written and recorded in isolation in the Canary Islands, Cursed was produced by Ron Deris at Misueno Studios, with final touches from longtime collaborator Florent Salfati (Landmvrks). Each song is tied to a symbolic flower, forming a broader conceptual arc built on themes of betrayal, sorrow, rage and resilience. Standouts like “Hatred,” “Love Burns,” and “My Blood on Your Hands” showcased a band willing to evolve—balancing staggering heaviness with emotional depth. 

The new material featured on Cursed: The Complete Edition finalizes that arc. The brand new, currently unreleased track “I Am A Cursed One” delivers a final, furious statement, while “River of Sorrows (Unplugged)” offers a rare glimpse of the band putting their vulnerability front and center, stripped of the usual chaos that surrounds it. Pre-order your copy on vinyl now HERE.

Known for their incomparable live performances and fearless approach to intense and vulnerable topics, Paleface Swiss has built a reputation as one of the most vital, unfiltered and rapidly rising forces in the world of modern metal today. With ‘Cursed’, Paleface Swisstook listeners into their darkest, most intricate and artistically diverse chapter yet, Combining their trademark Nu-Core heaviness with raw vulnerability, a rare and special combination for a band within their genre.

Now, with Cursed: The Complete Edition, an ever-growing army of devoted fans, critical acclaim, sold-out tours across the globe and multiple stellar festival performances garnering new fans wherever they go, Paleface Swiss continue their unrelenting global takeover.

ABOUT PALEFACE SWISS

Since their debut Chapter 3: The Last Selection in 2020, Paleface Swiss have risen from underground darlings to global heavyweights in the world of metal. With explosive riffs, punishing beatdowns, a brutally heavy rhythm section, and frontman Zelli’s signature vocal savagery, the band quickly gained momentum—landing four breakout tracks on Spotify’s Heavy Beatdown playlist Their 2022 follow-up Fear & Dagger pushed even further, earning praise for its emotional weight and unflinching heaviness, with standout reviews from Metal Injection, New Transcendence, and Wall of Sound. Singles like “The Orphan,” “Dead Man’s Diary” (feat. LANDMVRKS' Florent Salfati), and “My Grave / Lay with Me” solidified their place among the new wave of deathcore’s most innovative acts.

In the years that followed, Paleface Swiss took their chaos on the road—touring with Body Snatcher, Counterparts, and The Ghost Inside, and leveling festival stages from Sick New World to Hellfest. Their live reputation exploded, converting crowds with a show that fuses unrelenting brutality and raw vulnerability. Between headline tours and viral fan demand, they released standalone anthems “Best Before: Death,” “Please End Me,” and “The Gallow”—each now included on their latest offering Cursed: The Complete Edition, the most ambitious and complete chapter of their journey so far. To date, the band have amassed over 110 million streams, 21 million YouTube views, with their Spotify Monthly listeners recently peaking at over 1 million. Their recent, sold-out Cursed Tour across Europe, the UK and North America sold over 55,000 tickets.

PALEFACE SWISS Are: 

Vox: Marc “Zelli” Zellweger

Guitar: Yannick Lehmann

Bass: Tommy-Lee Abt

Drums: Cassiano 'Cassi' Toma



Find Paleface Online 

www.palefaceswiss.com

La Suspendida Live is set to arrive on May 30th, 2025.

La Suspendida Live is set to arrive on May 30th, 2025. The recorded performance of the jazz metal opera at Le Forum (Vauréal, France) on November 16th, 2023, will be available in video form. This is in conjunction with the live tracks releasing on streaming platforms and physical formats via Excursus Production / Silent Pendulum Records. This production is not just a performance; it’s a collision of worlds—a blend of the raw power of metal, the precision of classical opera, and the adventurous spirit of experimental jazz.

Directed by David Unger, who described the shoot as, “The most mind-blowing shoot I’ve directed in recent years: the first Metal opera in history! (Filmed with 8 cameras, including a crane and a Ronin—let me tell you, it was a blast!)” La Suspendida Live captures a story and soundscape like no other.

The vision was brought to life by Laurent David, bassist and producer, who led his experimental jazz trio KILTER to collaborate with an incredible array of artists. On stage, you’ll witness operatic soprano Andromeda Anarchia, the Montreal-based GROWLERS CHOIR (whose guttural metal vocals hit like the roar of an ancient beast), and the string quartet SEVEN)SUNS. Visual artistry and storytelling intertwine, thanks to stage direction by Jacques David, illustrations by Julie Castro-Grohowki, and a libretto penned by Metropolitan Opera’s William Berger. The entire production pulses with a light show designed by Mathieu Derothe-Renaud that feels like a living heartbeat for the story.

More on La Suspendida: 
At its core, La Suspendida tells the tale of María Elena, a woman caught between life and death, wandering Limbo after her death at the hands of a doctor who could not let her go. Like its title suggests, she is suspended—not just in her story, but in the vibrant tension between musical genres and theatrical styles.

Laurent David reflected on the ambition and creativity required to bring the project to fruition: “Putting the whole team together and creating a film with staging and a light show was truly a big challenge for me! I’m incredibly proud to share this work with you, and I hope the blend of genres will be your cup of tea!

I often refer to this opus as a ‘jazz metal opera,’ but it might make more sense to explain it in a different way. Our goal was to tell a story. The best way to express it, as I envisioned it, was to incorporate elements like growls, screams, and the raw power of metal music. At the same time, the saxophone served as a voice from another world. Naturally, concrete music, drones, and dissonances were also essential.

Take the time to listen, let the story unfold, and see how this subject resonates with your own life experiences. And most importantly… enjoy!”

This collaboration draws talent from across the globe, including Kenny Grohowski (IMPERIAL TRIUMPHANT) and Ed Rosenberg III, fusing their music into a tempest of atonal melodies, operatic drama, and aggressive rhythms. Produced by Oléo Films with support from QwestTV and the CNC, La Suspendida Live is a true testament to the art of breaking boundaries and building something entirely new.

In a sea of textual melancholy, discordance and haunting longing, the opening instrumental piece, "Overture: Death & Transfiguration", sets the stage for the opera, encapsulating the themes of death and transformation. It begins María Elena’s journey, transitioning from the realms of the living to the afterlife. Followed by María Elena's solo "Limbo: A Place with No Weather", we are introduced to her point of view as she finds herself in a timeless limbo. Across the collection of instrumental pieces, solo, chorus, and tutti, La Suspendida powerfully brings the story to life through multiple narrative perspectives and soundscapes. The penultimate "Double Call: Laudes Mortuarum Reprise and Finale" (Tutti), María Elena asserts her unique existence and power as La Suspendida. But she soon confronts the chorus’ call to join the dead, acknowledging the end of her struggle and the illusion of control. In the atmospheric, ghostly serenity of "Lullabye" (Tutti), Elena finally finds her peace at rest. 

The live release of La Suspendida is more than a performance—it’s an exploration of boundaries, both artistic and existential. Capturing this moment was about bringing the energy of metal, the depth of opera, and the power of storytelling to life in a way that resonates deeply with audiences. It’s a celebration of what happens when genres collide and transform together on stage.

Credits:
Libretto by WILLIAM BERGER
Music by KILTER: Ed Rosenberg III, Laurent David, Kenny Grohowski
Produced by Laurent David
Maria Elena: ANDROMEDA ANARCHIA
The Choir Of The Dead: GROWLERS CHOIR
String Quartet: SEVEN)SUNS
Recorded and mixed by Antoine Delecroix
Mastering by Fred Kevorkian (Brooklyn, NY, USA)

Light Show: Mathieu Derothe-Renaud
Artwork: Julie Castro-Grohowski
Logos: Peurduloup
Libretto translation: Anne-Pierre Hocquet

Links:
Website: https://www.lasuspendida.com/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092385337326 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lasuspendidaopera/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lasuspendidaopera

East-West fusion outfit TIAN QIYI presents 'Watch The Sunrise', heralding sophomore album 'Songs For Workers'

Genre-defying UK-based music outfit Tian Qiyi are back this summer with their sophomore album 'Songs For Workers', to be released via Pagoda Records, having already generated plays from Gideon Coe, Mark Riley and Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music, and from John Kennedy on Radio X London.

Tian Qiyi presents 'Watch The Sunrise', the stunning lead track to their new 10-track collection and an introduction to their groundbreaking musical journey, which bridges generations and cultures, blending deep dub grooves with Chinese and Celtic traditions.

More than just a band, Tian Qiyi brings together brothers John Tian Qi Wardle and Charlie Tian Yi Wardle with their father, legendary bassist Jah Wobble (John Wardle). The band's unique sound reflects their rich family heritage, blending their father's pioneering work in post-punk and dub with the Chinese cultural influences of their mother, Zilan Liao.

"'Watch the Sunrise' draws from the folk traditions we grew up learning from our grandad. It’s a melody-driven track, grounded by a steady beat throughout. Charlie gets to show off his string skills, layering four different bowed instruments from China and Mongolia, adding a rich, textured sound that pays homage to our East Asian roots," says John Tian Qi Wardle.

Building on the foundation of their acclaimed 2024 debut album 'Red Mist', with standout singles 'Red Mist' and 'Incantation', The Wardle brothers continue to forge a sound that blends dub, post-punk, and experimental production with rich influences from Traditional Chinese, Mongolian, and Irish music.

"With 'Sunrise', we wanted to explore a more structured songwriting approach different to the rest of the album — a song with defined verses and a chorus, without leaning too far into a commercial sound. The idea for the main melody came after I’d been listening to a lot of traditional music from Xinjiang; I was drawn to how expressive and rhythmically rich it was, and how it carried this feeling of movement and openness. When I brought the melody to John back in England, he started playing the rhythm that now drives the track," says Charlie Tian Yi Wardle.

"Lyrically, I wanted to explore spiritual, mainly Buddhist ideas. In ‘watching the sunrise’, with night turning to day and dark to light, we understand there is an interdependence necessary in order for either word to hold any conceptual meaning. Similarly, I wanted to explore the interdependence between life and death, rationality and faith, and the role of the ego, perception and the idea of a self/non self within this."

'Songs for Workers' represents the next evolution in Tian Qiyi's mission to create border-crossing musical experiences that honour their diverse influences while crafting something uniquely their own, further exploring the intersection of traditional Asian and Celtic soundscapes with contemporary dub production techniques.

John Tian Qi handles all drumming and percussion - both Eastern and Western - on the album. Charlie Wardle’s unique vocal style is to the fore, as is his incredible musical dexterity on traditional Chinese and Mongolian instruments, bringing a funky and, at times, psychedelic quality to the music, in addition to that which is expressly traditional.

Jah Wobble plays bass on most of the album’s tracks, while John Tian Qi contributes bass on 'Luoyang' and 'Siege' and synth / Moog bass on 'Watch The Sunrise', highlighting Tian Qiyi's growing creative independence and production chops.  

Fully produced by Tian Qiyi, 'Songs For Workers' marks a bold step forward in their cross-cultural, multi-generational musical journey. Rooted in heritage and driven by experimentation, their sound is shaped by the magnetic tension between ancient tradition and dub futurism, East and West, land and spirit—a musical space that is uniquely their own.


Drawing inspiration from Miles Davis's groundbreaking electric period and the experimental spirit of Krautrock, the band creates expansive, boundary-pushing soundscapes that defy easy categorization. Jah Wobble's involvement adds a deep, distinctive dub foundation to the family's cross-cultural vision, while the brothers' mastery of traditional Chinese instruments reflects their maternal heritage.

The duo's name itself carries deep personal significance, combining elements of the brothers' middle names: "Tian," shared by both siblings, paired with "Qi" (meaning "together") and "Yi" (meaning "one"). This linguistic fusion mirrors their musical approach, where disparate elements unite to create something entirely new—much like their parents' union of Eastern and Western cultural traditions.

On May 9, 'Watch The Sunrise' is available on fine digital platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The full 'Songs for Workers' album will be released on June 28 and is now available for pre-order.

SINGLE CREDITS
Performed by Tian Qiyi
Composed by John Tian Qi Wardle, Charlie Tian Yi Wardle, Jah Wobble
Charlie Tian Yi Wardle - Morin Khuur, Er Hu, Ghijik, Vocals
John Tian Qi Wardle - Drum Kit, Synth Bass, Percussion, Yang Qin
Engineered & Mixed by John Tian Qi Wardle
Recorded at Pagoda Studio
Released by Pagoda Records
Published by Domino Publishing / 30 Hertz
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


Keep up with Tian Qiyi
Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | TikTok | YouTube | Apple Music | Spotify | Booking contact | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Instagram | BlueSky | Threads  | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Ema il

JOHN GARCIA (ex-KYUSS) Announces North American Tour w/ TELEKINETIC YETI

American desert rock pioneer and former KYUSS frontman JOHN GARCIA will be embarking on a North American tour, in which he will be supported by psychedelic rock duo TELEKINETC YETI! Garcia will be performing music from his his celebrated projects, including KYUSS, SLO BURN, HERMANO + more! The trek will run through the West Coast and parts of the midwest from June 26 throughout July 13. Garcia will also perform an additional headliner on July 19 in Pioneertown, CA. The full itinerary can be found below while the tickets can be found HERE.

JOHN GARCIA North American Tour Dates

(w/ Telekinetic Yeti):

06/26: San Diego, CA @ The Casbah

06/27: Los Angeles, CA @ Fonda Theatre

06/29: Sacramento, CA @ Ace Of Spades

06/30: San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall

07/01: Portland, OR @ Dantes

07/02: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon

07/03: Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre

07/05: Calgary, AB @ Dickens

07/06: Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room

07/08: Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre

07/09: St Paul, MN @ Turf Club

07/10: Milwaukee, WI @ Club Garibaldi

07/11: Omaha, NE @ Slowdown

07/12: Denver, CO @ Marquis

07/13: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge

07/19: Pioneertown, CA @ Pappy & Harriet's#

#No Telekinetic Yeti

Kyuss, Slo Burn, Unida, Hermano, Vista Chino - whatever John Garcia had a hand in turned immediately to success. The frontman understood to create his own style within those bands and established himself as the most distinctive voice of the entire Desert / Stoner Rock scene.

John Garcia has delivered a multi-faceted and extremely intense solo album that will stir up more dust than a sandstorm in the California desert. 

Live lineup: John Garcia - Vocals

John Bennet - Guitar 

Billy Cordell - Bass 

Greg Saenz - Drums

GINA BIRCH ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM TROUBLE

Legendary artist, Raincoats co-founder, songwriter, filmmaker, and feminist icon Gina Birch has announced her eagerly awaited second solo album, Trouble, arriving via Third Man Records on Friday, July 11. Pre-orders are available now. Trouble is heralded by the album’s blistering centerpiece, “Causing Trouble Again,” available for streaming now.

Ride-or-Die Love Takes Center Stage in Maya Kuriel’s New Single “Alibi”

Rising pop sensation, Maya Kuriel, has officially dropped her second single of 2025, "Alibi" — a brooding, cinematic anthem that fuses passion with peril. Released today, the track showcases Maya’s signature

ability to turn intense emotion into immersive sonic experiences. "This song is for anyone who's ever chosen love over logic," says Maya.

Produced by Gavin Hudner and co-written by Maya, Julia Joy Thompson, Gavin Hudner, and Peyton Incollingo, "Alibi" plunges listeners into a shadowy world where loyalty and secrecy reign supreme. With moody, atmospheric production and evocative lyrics, the song paints a vivid portrait of two lovers on the run — bound by a vow to protect each other at all costs. Imagine Bonnie and Clyde reimagined for the digital age: late-night getaways, new identities, and a relentless pursuit of freedom and love.

"Alibi" follows Maya’s earlier 2025 release, "Dead Weight," a chilling and emotionally raw track that delves into the heavy toll of toxic relationships. While "Dead Weight" explored emotional entrapment, "Alibi" flips the script, celebrating a reckless yet unwavering devotion. With her genre-blurring storytelling and hauntingly emotional vocal delivery, Maya Kuriel continues to carve out a bold new space in the pop landscape.

MORE INFO:
Born and raised in Seattle and now based in Los Angeles, Maya Kuriel is a first-generation Korean American artist redefining the landscape of pop music. She’s a sonic architect crafting a world where eerie synths, raw emotion, and grungy production collide. Maya embraces the underrepresented, carving out a space for Asian voices in a genre that’s long overdue for a shake-up. Her music drips with moody textures and cinematic tension, luring listeners into a hypnotic haze of haunting melodies and pulsating beats. Since her debut in 2020, Maya has amassed over 2.5 million streams across all platforms, captivating audiences worldwide with her powerful vocal melodies and introspective lyrics. With a voice that floats between ethereal beauty and unfiltered grit, she’s the storm brewing on the edge of pop’s horizon—one that refuses to be ignored.

MAYA KURIEL ON SOCIALS:

YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | TIKTOK | TWITTER

MUNICIPAL WASTE | NORTH AMERICAN 2025 TOUR WITH HEADLINERS CANNIBAL CORPSE & FULCI NOW ON SALE!

Richmond Virginia speed freaks MUNICIPAL WASTE kicked off the year touring the U.S with the Kerry King band, followed by the ultimate Spring kickback party weekend celebrating their 25th anniversary. The band will perform later today at Sonic Temple as well as next Saturday at Welcome To Rockville. Earlier this week, the band continued the momentum with the announcement that they would be joining headliners CANNIBAL CORPSE on their North American Tour this Fall. The 28-date trek will commence on September 15th in Nashville and will make stops in Pittsburgh, Anaheim, and Richmond before concluding in Charlotte, NC on October 22nd! The package will include death metal mavens FULCI.

Tickets for the tour can be purchased, here: https://www.municipalwaste.net/tour

Confirmed dates for MUNICIPAL WASTE joining CANNIBAL CORPSE's North American Tour 2025 with FULCI are:
09.15 Nashville, TN @ Marathon Music Works
09.17 Knoxville, TN @ The Mill & Mine
09.18 Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
09.19 Pittsburgh, PA @ The Roxian
09.20 Worcester, MA @ NE Metal and Hardcore Fest
09.22 Buffalo, NY @ Buffalo RiverWorks
09.23 Cleveland, OH @ The Agora
09.24 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
09.26 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
09.27 Green Bay, WI @ Epic Event Center
09.28 Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
09.29 Kansas City, MO @ The Truman
09.30 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
10.02 Phoenix, AZ @ Van Buren
10.03 Ventura, CA @ Ventura Theater
10.04 Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
10.05 San Diego, CA @ Soma
10.07 Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater
10.09 San Antonio, TX @ The Aztec Theatre
10.10 Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
10.11 Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
10.12 Huntsville, AL @ Mars Music Hall
10.14 Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
10.15 Richmond, VA @ The National
10.17 Long Island, NY @ The Paramount
10.18 Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
10.19 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
10.21 The Ritz Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
10.22 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore

Since 2001, MUNICIPAL WASTE have uncompromisingly stuck to their guns as hard-partying and even harder-hitting torchbearers of 21st century thrash metal. The Richmond, VA quintet Tony Foresta [vocals], Ryan Waste [guitar], Philip “Landphil” Hall [bass], Dave Witte [drums], and Nick Poulos [guitar] - have transformed from a cult favourite into metal mainstays for a generation. Along the way, Decibel touted 'The Art of Partying'in its coveted Hall of Fame and asserted it “revved up interest in thrash and inspired a fresh wave of youthful new bands.” Metal Hammer christened 'The Art of Partying' one of “The 50 Greatest Thrash Metal Albums Ever,” while Loudwire pegged 'The Art of Partying' as “The Best Thrash Album of 2007” and 'Hazardous Mutation' as “The Best Thrash Album of 2005.” The guys have sold out countless shows on multiple continents and piled up tens of millions of streams in the process.

Purchase your copy of WASTE 'EM ALL in the format of your choice, here:

https://municipalwaste.bfan.link/waste-em-all

Alternative Metal Band ODC Unveils New Single “Love, I Tore It Apart” + Music Video

The newly signed French alternative metal band ODC are thrilled to unveil their new single, “Love, I Tore It Apart,” out now via BLKIIBLK. The new single is accompanied by a music video, available to view below.

With its polished production, dynamic structure, and vulnerable lyrics, this new single places ODC firmly in the new wave of genre-bending metal acts.

Commenting on the track, ODC states:

“The track blends heavy, syncopated guitar riffs with electronic textures and powerful, emotional vocals - a bold and cinematic take on modern metal. It dives deep into themes of toxic love, identity loss, and emotional struggle, capturing the chaos of a relationship that slowly destroys from the inside.” 

Watch the Music Video for "Love, I Tore It Apart" Below:

ODC is the soundtrack of a hybrid generation. A sonic uppercut, balancing raw power and elegance. It’s also the voice of a generation searching for meaning - standing at the crossroads of styles, cultures, and influences.

Born in Paris in 2017, ODC is the result of two worlds coming together: the world of Celia Do, a vocalist with a striking identity, and that of a composer driven by the same fire - the desire to create an alternative metal project that breaks free from conventions: bold, modern, and uncompromising. From this spark, a true sonic and visual odyssey emerged.

ODC - named after Celia’s stage name acronym - became a totally creative space, where heavy riffs, catchy melodies, and contemporary electronic textures collide in a unique blend of raw energy and polished aesthetic. ODC is a bold blend of metal, modern rock and immersive electronic atmospheres.

Stream / Listen to "Love, I Tore It Apart" HERE

Beyond Forgiveness Release New Single “Cold as Winter’s Ice” + Lyric Video ​

Beyond Forgiveness unveils their latest offering, the powerful new single “Cold as Winter’s Ice”, accompanied by a visually captivating lyric video. This title track serves as the first glimpse into their upcoming album, set for release July 18, 2025.

The forthcoming album dives deeper into the wilderness of universal human experience, pushing the boundaries of symphonic metal even further. 

Where light and darkness interweave, where brutal death metal and angelic classical voices coexist on the same plane, and a story land of myth and legend transport you away into a realm of symphonic beautality, you will encounter the band Beyond Forgiveness.  

The U.S. based band emerged in 2014 as a studio project formed by death metal guitarists Greg Witwer and Richard Marcus. Eventually the band solidified its lineup collaborating with classical vocalist and orchestrator Talia Hoit, drummer Sean Rogers, and bassist Jim Lasselle, combining contrasting musical styles into an epic adventure of symphonic metal. 

In 2016, the band released an EP, The Ferryman’s Shore. The release was embraced by the underground symphonic metal scene with rave reviews, and the band’s signature sound was dubbed “beautality”. The band followed with touring in Europe and two additional full length albums, The Great Wall in 2017, and Live to Tell the Story in 2019, each becoming more symphonically charged. With lyrics ranging from emotional turmoil to Tolkien-esque fantasy, the music explores the paradoxes of a wide range of human experience and musical style. Incorporating extreme metal elements, as well as classical composition, the band continues to push boundaries to create art as a metaphor of life.

Fans can experience the chilling grandeur of “Cold as Winter’s Ice” now, as Beyond Forgiveness continues their journey—blending extreme metal, classical composition, and storytelling into a soundscape unlike any other.

Beyond Forgiveness is:

Vocals/Orchestration: Talia Hoit
Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals: Greg Witwer
Drums: Sean Rogers

With additional performances on the album:

Rhythm Guitar/Vocals: Richard Marcus

Bass: Jim Lasselle

Flute: Ann Vest

Psychedelic-indie rock outfit Messiness shares infectious 'Feature With A Rapper' single

Psychedelic-tinged indie rockers Messiness present 'Feature With a Rapper', following their March debut single 'Previous Life'. This is the second taste of the band's first album, slated for release later this year via Tarla Records and StoneFree Records. Driven by a ferocious baritone sax riff, this is an electrifying fusion of hard psych rock and Mediterranean vibes, laced with a chaotic arsenal of folk instruments, flower-punk relics and aggressive old-school rap.

What starts as a tongue-in-cheek tale of an artist chasing industry clout unravels into a biting critique of creative legitimacy in the digital age. The track’s high-energy delivery mirrors the desperation of an independent musician, who is struggling to navigate a world where access trumps talent, and credibility is a commodity. Playful yet scathing, its explosive sound and razor-sharp irony make it both a wild ride and a ruthless industry takedown.

Revolving around Sicilian singer, composer, multi-instrumentalist, writer and sociologist Max Raffa, Messiness is the welcome result of his remarkable journey, carved through Europe’s cultural landscapes, from sun-bleached Balearic shores to British harbour towns, as Raffa performed in various rock’n’roll bands while conducting the ethnographic research that ultimately shaped his musical vision. Finally landing in Milan’s shadowy outskirts - in the gritty underbelly of Italy’s fashion capital.

Messiness also involves Rosario Lo Monaco on guitars, Filippo La Marca on keyboards, Giovanni Calella on bass guitar, and Luca Anello on drums. Creating accessible, vibrant feel-good indie rock with Britpop leanings, Messiness synthesizes elements of art pop, psychedelic and space rock, their harmonic styles amalgamating the best of British rock, Britpop and Southern European flavours.

In its absurdist circularity, 'Feature with a Rapper' transcends its narrative of industry frustration and becomes a broader indictment of neoliberal cultural economies, where creative legitimacy is both a commodity and a privilege.

"The industry, as depicted here, is a closed circuit, where legitimacy is not earned through talent alone but through prior recognition. This dilemma is exacerbated by the anonymous and decentralized nature of digital platforms; the question “Who are you?” is not simply an expression of unfamiliarity but an existential challenge to artistic worth. In an era where visibility is currency, those without prior capital are functionally non-existent," says Max Raffa.

The protagonist’s journey—from naively seeking validation through established figures to cynically circumventing the process through royalty-free loopholes—mirrors the contemporary artist’s existential dilemma: to play by the rules is to remain invisible, but to cheat the system is to risk exposure as inauthentic. Messiness delivers this critique not with heavy-handed indignation but with a biting, self-aware irony that makes the song as humorous as it is damning. This is ultimately a manifesto of disillusionment—an acknowledgment that, in an industry where credibility is dictated by association, authenticity itself becomes a construct.

As of May 9, 'Feature With a Rapper' is available from fine online music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and directly from the artist via Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Words & Music by Massimiliano Raffa
Produced by Ivan A. Rossi & Massimiliano Raffa
Recorded in Milan by Ivan A. Rossi (at 8brr.rec Studio), Lorenzo Di Blasi (at Sartoria 57 Studio) &
Giovanni Calella (at Diabolicus Studio)
Edited, mixed & mastered by Ivan A. Rossi at 8brr.rec Studio
Massimiliano Raffa – vocals, guitars, Mellotron, synthesizers, sound FX, oud, shawm
Rosario Lo Monaco – guitars
Giovanni Calella – bass
Filippo La Marca – keyboards
Luca Anello – drums & percussion
Beppe Scardino – baritone saxophone
Lucci – Additional vocals.
Cover artwork by Güneş Akyürek
Released by Tarla Records and StoneFree Records
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR


Keep up with Messiness
'Previous Life' single | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music |  Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter |  Instagram | BlueSky | Threads | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Emai l

Attack Attack! Prank the Scene, Announce New Album, & Drop "Dance!" ft. Will Ramos & "Chainless"

After throwing the internet into a frenzy of chaos, speculation, and unexpected genre detours, Attack Attack! are officially back in full force as announcing, "Attack Attack! II", their first full length record since 2012, set for release on August 8th, 2025 via Oxide Records. Fans can pre-order the upcoming record HERE.

Today, they unleash not one, but two massive new singles, "Dance!" featuring Will Ramos of Lorna Shore and "Chainless". Fresh off blindsiding fans with a country remix, the real version of "Dance!" sees the metalcore titans teaming up with one of deathcore's most recognizable voices, Will Ramos, for their first ever official feature that blends sheer aggression with off-the-wall energy. On the other hand, "Chainless" offers a powerful, anthemic counterbalance that's wrapped in explosive riffs with unshakable momentum.

Coming off a week of confusion, cowboy hats, and conspiracies, Attack Attack! are setting the record straight:

"selling out is sick"

Attack Attack! will return to the road for their upcoming headlining run, "The Roadside Rumble Tour", which is set to tear through the US beginning Thursday, May 15th. The band will be joined on the road by fellow heavy-hitting forces Convictions, Downswing, and Uncured. Full routing listed below, and tickets are available to purchase now HERE.

Formed in 2007, Attack Attack! has become a staple in the metalcore scene, amassing over 100 million streams across major streaming platforms on multiple chart-topping records. As torchbearers of the genre, the band continue to push the boundaries of metalcore while solidifying their place in its ever-growing legacy. Known for their no-holds-barred approach, Attack Attack! remain unpredictable as ever, with more bold twists in store for the year ahead.

Be sure to stay tuned for more Attack Attack! news coming very soon.

THE ROADSIDE RUMBLE TOUR

*Attack Attack! only

May 15 | Greensboro, NC | Hangar 1819

May 16 | Athens, GA | 40 Watt Club

May 17 | Spartanburg, SC | Ground Zero

May 18 | Daytona Beach, FL | Welcome To Rockville*

May 20 | Pensacola, FL | Handlebar

May 21 | Birmingham, AL | Workplay

May 22 | Memphis, TN | Minglewood Hall

Full tour information can be found HERE.

ABOUT ATTACK ATTACK!

If you went to Warped Tour in the mid 2000’s, shopped at Hot Topic, or were active on Myspace; then you have heard the name “Attack Attack!” While the band’s early career was relatively short-lived, their reputation has done nothing but grow since the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2013. Known for incorporating dance/electronica music with metal, the band consistently bent the rules of songwriting. They took the sounds they liked and crafted seemingly incompatible genres into anthems for local Ohio scene kids, and later, audiences across the globe. After years of silence, Attack Attack!exploded back onto the scene in 2020. They’re here to remind you that rules are made to be broken, adversity is meant to be overcome, and that legends never die.

Out now from HORRENDA -Díoltas

In a powerful fusion of Irish mythology and unbridled metal ferocity, HORRENDA’s 2020 album Díoltas is set to conquer the U.S. with its upcoming physical release. The Dublin-based extreme metal band, known for their intense blending of black and death metal with atmospheric elements, first captured the attention of the underground metal scene with their explosive live performances and innovative sound.

Formed in 2015 by Darragh "Outis" O'Connor, HORRENDA quickly evolved from a solo project into a six-member ensemble that channels raw black metal, death metal, and a unique infusion of Irish folklore. Their live shows, notorious for their chaotic energy and punk-hardcore influences, have earned them a dedicated following and a regular spot at Ireland’s largest metal festival, Siege of Limerick. 

Díoltas, translating to "Revenge" in Irish, is HORRENDA’s most ambitious work to date. The album weaves a dark tapestry of themes ranging from ancient vengeance to the modern decay of Ireland, explored through the lens of Irish history and mythology. 

The opening track, "Balor", named after the Irish mythological giant and god of destruction, sets a foreboding tone, driven by aggressive guitar riffs and relentless drumming. Following up, "Dian" blends haunting melodic undertones with the ferocity of raw black metal, reflecting the intensity suggested by its name, which means "tough" or "intense" in Irish.

One of the highlights, "AxeWound", draws influence from the Swedish melodic death metal band AT THE GATES, while the title track "Díoltas" serves as the album's centerpiece, taking listeners on a harrowing descent into the Irish underworld with its expansive soundscape.

Collaboration takes center stage in "Craven X Horrenda", which sees HORRENDA team up with Irish darksynth-industrial act CRAVEN for a track that fuses black metal with eerie, synthetic textures, creating a standout moment on the album. Another key track, "Doom Tranquility", ironically named, is one of the band’s most aggressive offerings, exploring the paradox of seeking peace amidst chaos.

The album concludes with "Sluagh", referring to the spirits of the unforgiven dead in Irish folklore. It’s a deeply personal track for the band, encapsulating the album’s themes of vengeance, existential struggle, and the supernatural core of Ireland.

The release of Díoltas in physical format in the U.S. is a testament to their growing influence and ambition. With this release, HORRENDA is not just exporting their music but also their dark, intense vision of metal that has been honed on the stages of Ireland and the UK. This release is more than just an album; it’s an invitation to experience the depth and intensity of HORRENDA’s world, a world where folklore meets ferocity in a raw, musical onslaught.

About HORRENDA:

HORRENDA is an experimental blackened extreme metal band hailing from Dublin, Ireland. Formed in 2015 by Darragh "Outis" O'Connor, what began as a solo project quickly evolved into a formidable force within the underground metal scene. The band blends elements of black and death metal with ambient influences, creating a sound that is both intense and atmospheric.

The current lineup consists of Darragh "Outis" O'Connor on guitars and studio backing vocals, Arron "Nomad" O'Shaughnessy as the lead vocalist, Keith "Donn" Smith on bass, Mark "Morrdok" O'Brien and Cormac "Desolatus" Jordan on guitars, and Matthew "Dearg" McKenna on drums. This ensemble has solidified HORRENDA's sound as well as enhanced their live performances, known for their raw, chaotic intensity.

Since their inception, HORRENDA has been a regular presence at Ireland’s largest metal festival, Siege of Limerick, and has shared the stage with notable acts such as ROTTEN SOUND, THE CRAWLING, and CHRIST AGONY. Their music is deeply rooted in Irish folklore and historical themes, which adds a unique layer to their aggressive musical style.

The release of their first full-band album, Díoltas, in 2020 marked a significant milestone in the band's career. It showcased a more developed and aggressive sound, blending the band’s trademark atmospheric elements with hardcore punk energy. HORRENDA continued to expand their reach with a debut at Cardiff’s Eradication Festival in 2022 and the premiere of their music video "Handprints" on Decibel Magazine in 2023.

In addition to their music, HORRENDA is actively involved in collaborative and charity projects, including the All Ireland Metal Project, which united metal musicians from across Ireland during the Covid lockdowns to support various charitable causes.

With a sound that is as innovative as it is intense, HORRENDA continues to push the boundaries of extreme metal, making their mark both locally and internationally. Their dedication to exploring new sonic and thematic territories ensures that they remain at the forefront of the metal scene, captivating audiences with their dark, powerful narratives and uncompromising sound.

HORRENDA is: 

• Darragh "Outis" O'Connor – Guitars, Studio Backing Vocals

• Arron "Nomad" O'Shaughnessy – Lead Vocals

• Keith "Donn" Smith – Bass

• Mark "Morrdok" O'Brien – Guitars

• Cormac "Desolatus" Jordan – Guitars

• Matthew "Dearg" McKenna – Drums
  

Connect with HORRENDA:

• Official Website: https://horrendaofficial.com/

• Bandcamp: https://horrenda.bandcamp.com/album/think-on-your-sins

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HorrendaOfficial

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/horrendaofficial/

• Twitter/X: https://x.com/HorrendaEire

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HorrendaOfficial

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/396IN8R4fgqAlSJB9UHiOU?si=dcJ5NUH3ReGjv5yolDOsiA

• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/horrenda/1139929047