Psychedelic Garage Rockers SCOTT HEPPLE & THE SUN BAND Announce New Album 'English Mustard' Out on May 2nd via Rise Above/Popclaw

Today, Psychedelic Garage Rockers SCOTT HEPPLE AND THE SUN BAND are proud to announce their new album 'English Mustard,' due out May 2nd via Rise Above/Popclaw. To celebrate the announcement, the band has released their new single "Velvet Divorce,"accompanied by a music video available to view below.

Watch the Music Video For "Velvet Divorce"

Since 2021, Newcastle’s SCOTT HEPPLE has grown from solo recordings into a full band with Thomas Keith (guitar), Sophie Keith (bass, vocals), and Luc Hindmarsh (drums). Their lo-fi debut 'Ashes to Wildflowers' (2023) and mini-album 'Lama' (2024) gained underground praise, leading to shows across Europe and the UK. A standout performance at Shindig! Magazine’s ‘Happening!’ night secured a deal with Rise Above Records, with their debut single "Smoke and Frown" dropping last August.

SCOTT describes their sound best:

“I hate it when bands feel stuck to one sound or genre. Sometimes I want to make a loud doomy song, or a folk song, or a love song or a crazy fast garage-rock song. Sometimes all of that ends up being in the same song!”

'English Mustard' is a major leap forward. Recorded in six days at Tilehouse Studios with Toe Rag’s Liam Watson (The White Stripes’ 'Elephant'), the all-analogue album refines their raw energy without losing grit.

“Recording with dream equipment we’d normally never get to use felt surreal,” says SCOTT. From the acoustic "The Gooseberry" to the fuzzed-out "Fake A Smile," the album captures the dynamic, unfiltered essence of SCOTT HEPPLE & THE SUN BAND.

Pre-Order 'English Mustard' HERE

Psychedelic Garage Rockers THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP Announce Debut Album '... Is Forming' Due Out May 2nd via Popclaw/Rise Above

Psychedelic Garage Rockers THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP are proud to announce their debut album '... Is Forming,' due out May 2nd via Popclaw/Rise Above. To celebrate the announcement, the band has released the first single from the upcoming album titled "Colours Changing," accompanied by a music video available to view below.

The track features an authentic late ‘60s psychedelic feel with its swirling harmonies, fizzing fuzz guitar, spacey Mellotron and woozy stop-start backbeat. 

Watch the Video For "Colours Changing" below.

'... Is Forming' is the highly anticipated debut album from THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP and features a dozen memorable compositions by the band’s Alexandra Rose and Leon Jones. It is sure to continue the momentum from their acclaimed 2024 single releases and their ecstatic live performances on stages across the UK and Europe.

THE CRYSTAL TEARDROP formed in Stoke-on-Trent in early 2023, “inspired,” explains Alexandra Rose, “by a mutual passion for the sights, sounds and creative experimentation of the late 1960s.” In addition to Alexandra on lead vocals and guitar, the band comprises Leon Jones (guitar, sitar), Stuart Gray (keyboards, Mellotron), Ed Quigley (bass, vocals), and Huw Woodward (drums, percussion). Intuitively blending elements of garage rock, folk-rock, power pop, and psychedelia, the band has created an appealing concoction infused with their own perspectives and personalities.

To best capture their sound, they recorded at an all-analog facility, Tilehouse Studio in North London, working closely with producer Liam Watson of Toe Rag fame.

On the recording experience, Alexandra comments:

“Liam’s experience and technical know-how ensured that the recordings combine the essential elements of the band’s original material with the authentic feel of classic productions from the late 1960s. The analog recording environment allowed the group to utilize a wide range of classic techniques including phasing and reversed tape as well as an original Leslie speaker for vocal effects.”

Pre-Order '... Is Forming' HERE

FRIENDS OF HELL RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR "SHADOW OF THE IMPALER"

In these bleak days, we think you might agree, it’s about time we had some dark news that was actually good? Well, Rise Above Records is certainly chuffed to announce the signing of this exciting new DOOM METAL MACHINE known as Friends of Hell. Brainchild of former Electric Wizard bassist, Tas Danazoglou, Friends of Hell also feature the enigmatic talents of former Reverend Bizarre vocalist Albert Witchfinder.

The band has released a video for the track "Shadow of the Impaler." Watch it below.

Their fantastic self-titled album will be released worldwide via Rise Above Records on March 18th 2022.

UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS Announce North American Tour Dates w/ Direct Support from King Buffalo

Psychedelic rock n' roll trailblazers UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS are returning to the stage in North America next year! The band is thrilled to announce their 2022 headlining dates, which will be supported by special guests King Buffalo. The month-long tour kicks off in Brooklyn, NY on March 2nd and concludes on April 3rd in Boston, MA. A complete list of dates can be found below.

The band shares, "WARNING: We'll be returning to the stages of North America for the first time since 2019. Support from King Buffalo. See you there!"

Tickets for all dates on the upcoming tour go on sale this Friday (December 10th) at 10am local time.

UNCLE ACID & THE DEADBEATS wsg. King Buffalo (North America 2022):

March 2 - Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Steel

March 3 - Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer

March 4 - Pittsburgh, PA @ The Roxian

March 5 - Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Sound Stage

March 7 - Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel

March 8 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

March 9 - Tampa, FL @ The Ritz

March 11 - New Orleans, LA @ House Of Blues

March 12 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live

March 13 - Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues

March 15 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom

March 16 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory

March 17 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Belasco

March 18 - Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theater

March 21 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater

March 22 - Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore

March 23 - Seattle, WA @ Showbox Market

March 25 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot

March 26 - Denver, CO @ The Ogden Theatre

March 27 - Kansas City, MO @ The Truman

March 29 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue

March 30 - Chicago, IL @ Thalia Hall

April 1 - Toronto, ON @ The Danforth

April 2 - Montreal, QC @ Club Soda

April 3 - Boston, MA @ Big Nite Live

For More Info on Uncle Acid Visit:

https://www.uncleacidband.com

https://www.facebook.com/uncleacid/

White Dog Signs to Rise Above Records

White Dog hail from Austin, Texas and are a brand new signing to Rise Above Records. We are very excited to bring you their self-titled, debut full-length al...

Self-Titled Album Set For Release September 25th 

“From the beginning we were beating the streets of Austin. This city is fuckin’ wild. There's always something going on and the party never ends so that good time rock ‘n’ roll thing definitely rubbed off on us as little pups...”

In a world full of fakes and clowns, nothing quite hits the spot like a band that walks it, talks it and rocks it for real. Born amid the musical and cultural whirlwind of Austin, Texas, White Dog already sound like the perfect antidote to plastic sonic bullshit and sanitized radio fodder. In fact, as guitarist Carl Amoss explains, White Dog are the bastard sons of their city’s entire underground scene /and/ the spirit of rock ’n’ roll itself. Alongside drummer brother John, bassist Rex Pape, co-guitarist Clemente De Hoyos and singer Joe Sterling, these old school troublemakers are on a clearly defined mission. 

White Dog are set to release their self-titled Rise Above Records debut on September 25th.  Today the first single from the album entitled “The Lantern.”  Listen to it HERE.  

Pre-orders will be available in the coming weeks.

Like all the greatest bands, White Dog were swift to establish a gang mentality, locating common ground and setting up shop in the middle of it. As you will hear on the band’s fiery and fearless self-titled debut album, Carl and his comrades have a chemistry that can only be conjured through true friendship and shared ideals.

With a sound that owes a noble debt to the greats of proto-metal, heavy progressive rock and turbocharged psychedelia, White Dog explore all kinds of exhilarating territory on their debut. From the flailing, psych-rock kaleidoscope of opener Sawtooth to the edgy, Witchcraft-like strut of Lanterns, and on to the lysergic garage rock of Crystal Panther and wickedly epic closer Verus Cultus, the Texans’ first full-length is a triumph for unpretentious authenticity and the art of old school songwriting.

True to their shared belief in playing untamed rock ’n’ roll that sounds real and alive, White Dog was conceived and executed with analogue values firmly at the forefront. As a result, the album feels almost like a real-time fever dream, with the ultimate psychedelic house band wailing away as reality disintegrates elsewhere. 

The final piece of the White Dog jigsaw came when the band signed up with revered UK imprint Rise Above Records. Firmly in their natural habitat, Carl and his band mates are looking forward to a bright future, supported by like-minded people and buoyed by a strong sense that mind-expanding rock ‘n’ roll is still a formidable force, even in this insane world.

For More Info Visit:

https://www.instagram.com/whitedogusa/

CATHEDRAL To Release 2LP Reissue of 20th Anniversary Concert

'Return to the Forest' + 'Freak Winter' 

Out May 8th

UK Doom Metal band CATHEDRAL are releasing a 2-LP record celebrating the band's 20th anniversary concert in London. The first half of the release, 'Return to the Forest' covers the band's first ever live performance of their album 'Forest of Equilibrium' at the London show. The second half of the record, 'Freak Winter' features another full set of the band's classics and fan favorites from the evening. The full record will see a May 8th, 2020 release in four different pressing types. See below for more details.

'Return to the Forest' Lineup: Lee Dorrian, Garry Jennings, Adam Lehan, Mark Griffiths, Mike Small

'Freak Winter' Lineup: Lee Dorrian, Garry Jennings & Leo Smee w/ keyboard wizard Dave Moore

'Return to the Forest' & 'Freak Winter' Vinyl Pressings:

• Black Sparkle Vinyl (500 of each)

• Black Vinyl (500 of each)

• Purple Vinyl - US Edition (500 each)

PRE-ORDER: 'Return to the Forest'

PRE-ORDER: 'Freak Winter'

CATHEDRAL Online:

https://www.facebook.com/cathedral/

Witchskull to Release A Driftwood Cross April 24th via Rise Above Records

The skies are dark. The atmosphere is thick with dread. The future looks bleak. Only pure, red-blooded heavy fucking metal can save us now. Belching effortlessly classic and crushing anthems from the riffian depths, with all the power and panache of Black Sabbath at their peak, Witchskull return in 2020 to stir our souls once again.  Witchskull will release their new album A Driftwood Cross April 24th via Rise Above Records.  Pre-order the album on Amazon and iTunes.

Students of monolithic, turbo-charged and fuzzed-out doom will already be familiar with this Australian trio. Erupting into the consciousness of riff worshippers the globe over with 2015’s monumental, self-released debut The Vast Electric Dark, Witchskull instantly revealed themselves as co-opters of metal’s dark history and purveyors of some of the heaviest, grooviest and fiercest metal available to human ears.

After securing a natural home at Rise Above Records, the band’s follow-up album Coven’s Will (2018) briskly upgraded their worldwide profile, securing countless great reviews and generating a ferocious buzz in the underground. With a reputation for heroically thunderous live shows, and an unerring knack for writing the kind of riffs that cause structural damage to buildings, Witchskull hit the road in support of their sophomore opus, very much with the wind in their sails.

Every band claims that their new album is bigger, bolder and badder than its predecessors, but Witchskull could hardly say anything else about their third full-length A Driftwood Cross. With a sound that marries the very best imaginable doomy and fuzzy tones with Olympian levels of sonic punch and truly sizzling ensemble performances, the Aussies’ third album sounds colossal and proudly rooted in the old school, but timeless and tenacious, too. From fiery, propulsive rippers like opener Black Cathedrals and the lithe, snappy Baphomet’s Child through to more languorous, lumbering fare like The Red Altar and the warped mysticism of the closing title track, it’s a dazzling blend of the primal and the cerebral: a tour-de-force of atavistic finesse, fit for any age.

Recorded with Jason Fuller (Blood Duster) manning the controls, A Driftwood Cross … has all the energy and rough edges of a spontaneous, DIY recording, but with tons of sonic heft and substance to back up those glorious riffs. Fuller’s greatest contribution has been to draw the very best out of Jason, Tony and Marcus, resulting in a record that crackles and throbs with belligerence and bravado.

In keeping with the ominous, occult vibes that oozed from 2018’s Coven’s Will, the new Witchskull album takes a similarly dark and dastardly thematic path, taking in the shadowy menace of Black Cathedrals, the overt devilry of Baphomet’s Child and nature’s slow motion revenge in the crushing March Of Winter. Defying the blank-eyed conformity of much modern heavy music, these are songs borne of curiosity and imagination, via a profound belief in the power of the story.

Eight neck-threatening explosions from the pitch-black Sabbathian hearts of three diehard artisan riff-makers, A Driftwood Cross places Witchskull firmly at the forefront of the amorphous scene they emerged from. With burgeoning mortal threats looming over us all, the only path to salvation is through the sound of distorted guitars and tectonic rumble. Heavy music for heavy times. Suddenly, the future looks a little brighter.

A Driftwood Cross Track Listing:

1. Black Cathedral

2. Baphomet’s Child

3. The Silent Place

4. The Red Altar

5. Dresden

6. March of Winter

7. Nero Order

8. A Driftwood Cross

For More Info Visit:

https://www.facebook.com/witchskull/

https://www.witchskull.com