"Odyssey" Out This July

May 16, 2024

NEW ALBUM ODYSSEY OUT JULY 19 VIA ARISING EMPIRE

Sable Hills have dropped the video for new single "Battle Cry," featuring Kenta Koie from the Japanese metalcore band Crossfaith.

Watch it Below.

Stream the song at midnight ET tonight here.

The song lives on their new album Odyssey, out July 19 via Arising Empire.

"Battle Cry" addresses the fight against complacency and the quest for meaning in adversity, challenging listeners to assess their own engagement with life's challenges. As the song intensifies, it encourages listeners to assert themselves, becoming not just a backdrop of aggression but an anthem for self-expression and resilience.

Sable Hills has captivated audiences with electrifying headline tours like Chaos J.P. 2023, featuring global acts such as Like Moths To Flames and Knosis, led by Ryo Kinoshita, former vocalist of Crystal Lake. This tour marked a significant return to Japan for these artists after a long break.

The band rose to fame with their 2019 debut album EMBERS, earning critical acclaim and dominating Japan's metal and loud music scenes. They shared stages with top Japanese bands like Coldrain and Crystal Lake, as well as international acts like Fit For A King and After The Burial, showcasing their broad appeal. Appearances at major festivals like Bloodaxe Festival and True North Festival have further solidified their reputation.

Their second album DUALITY, produced with industry heavyweight Mark Lewis, was another career milestone. It led to a tour from Japan to Europe, with stops at major festivals like Wacken Open Air in Germany and Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic. At Wacken Open Air 2022, Sable Hills made history by becoming the first Japanese band to win the METAL BATTLE.

In 2023, the band continued their successful streak, selling out their show at Spotify O-WEST and performing at major events like BLARE FEST and KNOTFEST, and returning to Wacken Open Air. Their self-hosted FRONTLINE FESTIVAL at Kawasaki Club Citta was especially successful, drawing nearly 1,000 attendees.

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

January 11, 2024

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

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

Watch the video below.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Swedish Prog Metal Trio VOKONIS Release New Single "Null & Void"

September 13, 2021

Swedish prog-metal trio VOKONIS have released their new track, ”Null & Void”. A stand-alone single, and a continuation of the band’s fourth studio album 'Odyssey'. Dynamic and experimental, the single further explores the depths of Vokonis’ sound. The single features Per Wiberg (Spiritual Beggars, Opeth) on organ.

Simon Ohlsson (vocals and guitar) comments:

"Null & Void is a track we, unfortunately, had to leave out from 'Odyssey' due to the constraints of the LP format. When we had to select which tracks made it onto the album we all agreed that it's one of our favorite songs from the album sessions. We liked it so much we decided to make it a stand-alone release to continue the lore of 'Odyssey'. It continues with storytelling and the experimentation with dynamics. The ending of the song is one of our favorite moments where Per Wiberg really let loose with the organs. It's going to be a real staple in our live-set for years to come."

”Null & Void” is out now on all streaming platforms via The Sign Records.

Stream the single: https://orcd.co/nullvoid

Get Vokonis' latest album Odyssey: https://vokonis.bandcamp.com/album/odyssey

VOKONIS Line-up:

Simon Ohlsson - Guitar and Vocals

Jonte Johansson - Bass and Vocals

Peter Ottosson - Percussion - Drums

Connect with Vokonis:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialVokonis

https://www.instagram.com/vokonisofficial/