Playing YouTube Live Stream Concert This Thursday April 16
Grammy Award-Winning Album Mettavolution Out Now on ATO Records

“Rodrigo y Gabriela has a hard act to follow every time they release an album: themselves… Their career offers insight into how creative you can be with just two guitars.” – NPR 

“Mettavolution reassures that for as long as they’re around, Rodrigo y Gabriela will be echoing their influences as only they can.” – PITCHFORK 

“Beauty, anguish, and euphoria, it’s all here, wrapped up in a visceral earthly music struggling toward enlightenment.” – NO DEPRESSION

World-renowned acoustic guitar duo Rodrigo y Gabriela won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album earlier this year for their virtuosic fifth record Mettavolution, and today they share their thrilling new single “Gamma State.” Originally written during the Mettavolution sessions, the track is now streaming across all platforms. Listen to “Gamma State” HERE. 

Rodrigo y Gabriela have been keeping busy in quarantine in their Ixtapa, Mexico studio, performing for their fans on Instagram on a daily basis. They recently covered Rage Against The Machine’s “Killing In The Name Of” and launched a Dua Lipa Cover Song Challenge, covering the pop star’s smash hit “Don’t Start Now” and challenging their friends and fans to record their own versions of the track and tag @rodrigoygabriela on Instagram. “The idea is to bring fresh music performances into our world today no matter what so we can enjoy and heal at the same time,” they say.

This Thursday, April 16, Rodrigo y Gabriela will be performing a concert from their studio on YouTube Live. The show starts at 4pm EDT / 1pm PDT / 9pm BST and will be streaming HERE.

Three years in the making, Mettavolution brings together Rodrigo y Gabriela’s passionate interest in Buddhism, the history of human evolution and the liberation of the potential we have as a species; all expressed through the medium of two acoustic guitars. The album features six original tracks and an incredible 19-minute cover of Pink Floyd’s “Echoes” and was recorded with Grammy-winning producer Dave Sardy (Oasis, LCD Soundsystem). It debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Americana/Folk Albums chart upon its 2019 release, also arriving at #2 on Rock Albums and #10 on Top Album Sales. The record received praise from NPR, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and more, and the duo performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live and BBC’s The One Show before their triumphant Grammy win in February. 

Listen to Mettavolution HERE.

“FIRST EVERLASTING”

SELF-TITLED DEBUT OUT MAY 8

Today, punk rock supergroup Fake Names share “First Everlasting,” from the band’s forthcoming album. The band – which includes Brian Baker (Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Bad Religion), Michael Hampton (S.O.A., Embrace, One Last Wish), Dennis Lyxzén (Refused, International Noise Conspiracy, INVSN), and Johnny Temple (Girls Against Boys, Soulside) – will release their self-titled debut record on May 8 via Epitaph.

“It’s a more existential song, about taking a look at yourself and accepting the role you’ve played in your own life,” he Lyxzén about the track. “It’s about growing up and moving forward, and learning from past mistakes and failures.”

LISTEN TO “FIRST EVERLASTING” NOW

In early 2016, Brian Baker and Michael Hampton met up at Hampton’s Brooklyn home to play some guitars and see “if anything shakes out”. Friends since first grade, the two guitarists ended up writing four songs that day, and closed out the session deciding to continue the collaboration and get a band together to play the songs live as soon as possible.

Baker and Hampton recruited Johnny Temple (another elementary school alumni) to play bass. Later that year while Baker and Temple were performing at Chicago’s Riot Fest, they ran into Refused frontman Dennis Lyxzén (also on the bill) and spontaneously asked if he’d be interested in joining their new band. To their amazement, he said yes. The band gelled, and they started to record music that winter.

Co-produced by Hampton and Geoff Sanoff (A Perfect Circle, Jawbox), Fake Names’ self-titled debut gives a nod to early UK Punk and Power Pop as well as the seminal groups from which the members emerged, yet remains modern and pertinent, with infectious melodies and vocal harmonies complementing Lyxzén’s heartfelt vocals and thought-provoking lyrics.

FAKE NAMES TRACK LISTING
1.     All For Sale
2.     Driver
3.     Being Them
4.     Brick
5.     Darkest Days
6.     Heavy Feather
7.     First Everlasting
8.     This Is Nothing
9.     Weight
10.  Lost Cause

Fake Names is Michael Hampton (guitar/vocals), Johnny Temple (bass), Dennis Lyxzén (vocals) and Brian Baker(guitar/vocals).

“Weapons of Tomorrow”

Warbringer

Napalm Records

Tracks: 10

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Warbringer returns with their highly anticipated sixth studio album, Weapons of Tomorrow, their second release on Napalm Records. The Californian thrash metallers leave no neck unbroken. This album is a pure adrenaline heavy metal powerhouse. Modern influences and old school thrash clash into an intricately woven, expertly produced metal classic. Have your neck brace handy, this release is relentless.

In a blaze of gunfire the album begins with “Firepower Kills,” a fiery tornado of riffs burning behind John Kevill’s earth scorching vocals. Not to mention a guitar solo surely to melt any face presented to it. Warbringer has never disappointed when it comes to guitars and Weapons of Tomorrow is no exception. All five members are at peak performance and every track from the very start shows this.

Pressing the pause button on your annihilation, “Defiance of Fate” creeps in. A melodic black metal thrash fusion you’ve needed desperately in your miserable life. Blended throughout the album are thrash metal ragers, as well as sweeping jaw-dropping epics. The former, “The Black Hand Reaches Out” is sure to go down in thrash history or at least open up some brutal circle pits. With never a dull moment, Weapons of Tomorrow is a metal genre fusing modern masterpiece.

Over ten years in, this band isn’t here to party, they’re here to destroy everything in their wake. A legit modern thrash metal band that trades in the red cups for ammunition boxes. The New Wave of Thrash, a genre this very band helped create, is over. Warbringer cement themselves as straight to the point, no nonsense, pure fucking thrash metal.

Track Listing:

1. Firepower Kills
2. The Black Hand Reaches Out
3. Crushed Beneath The Tracks
4. Defiance of Fate
5. Unraveling
6. Heart of Darkness
7. Power Unsurpassed
8. Outer Reaches
9. Notre Dame (King Of Fools)
10. Glorious End

Watch “Treasure Chest Party Quest”HERE

New Album, Curse of the Crystal Coconut, Out May 29
 Pre-Order NOW

Curse of the Crystal Coconut will be available in the following formats:

• LTD Deluxe Wooden Box Set (including 2-CD Mediabook, exclusive 7’’ Single, Track Stems on USB Stick, Pendant, Flag, Postcards)
• 2 CD Mediabook – including 16th century interpretations of all songs
• 1 CD Jewel Case
• LP Gatefold BLACK Vinyl
• LP Gatefold RED Vinyl
• LP Gatefold GOLD Vinyl
• LP Gatefold PURPLE Vinyl
• LP Gatefold Silver Vinyl (Napalm Records US Store exclusive)
• Music Cassette + Walkman Bundle in Pirate Bag RED (strictly limited to 250)
• Digital Album
• Digital Deluxe Album

Tracklist:

1. Treasure Chest Party Quest
2. Fannybaws
3. Chomp Chomp
4. Tortuga
5. Zombies Ate My Pirate Ship
6. Call of the Waves
7. Pirate’s Scorn
8. Shit Boat (No Fans)
9. Pirate Metal Drinking Crew
10. Wooden Leg Pt. 2 (The Woodening)
11. Henry Martin

Catch ALESTORM on tour and get the chance to listen to some new songs!
04.06.20 SE – Solvesborg / Sweden Rock
12.06.20 CH – Interlaken / Greenfield
19.06.20 BE – Dessel / Graspop Metal Meeting
20.06.20 FR – Clisson / Hellfest
03.07.20 ES – Barcelona / Rock Fest
04.07.20 IT – Villafranca di Verona / Rock The Castle
09.07.20 CZ – Vizovice / Masters of Rock
26.07.20 FR – Séléstat / Rock Your Brain
31.07.20 UA – Ternopil / Faine Misto
06.08.20 HR – Pula / Headbanger’s Holiday
08.08.20 NL – Leeuwarden / Into The Grave
14.08.20 DE – Dinkelsbühl / Summer Breeze
21.08.20 DE – Haddeby / Baltic Open Air
22.08.20 PL – Cieszanow / Cieszanow Festival
05.09.20 DE – Selb / Festival Medieval
more tba!

ALESTORM are:
Christopher Bowes – vocals, keytar
Gareth Murdock – guitar
Mate Bodor – bass
Peter Alcorn – drums
Elliot Vernon – keyboard

Atreyu have shared the video for “Super Hero” from their 2018-released album In Our Wake. The track features appearances from Avenged Sevenfold frontman M.Shadows and Underoath drummer/vocalist Aaron Gillespie.

Watch it HERE.

“Our song ‘Super Hero’ was written about what it’s like to be a parent and the vast amount of time, effort, energy, and hard work it takes to be a real-life superhero for your children,” the band says. “The song also has a broader meaning, especially given the current situation the entire world is dealing with. There are many superheroes out there who appear in many forms — namely the first responders, medical personnel, and health care workers who are putting others first as they work to fight COVID-19 and to save lives. We dedicate this song to them.”
Atreyu are working on their eighth album, due out via Spinefarm Records later this year. 

ATREYU ONLINE:

https://www.facebook.com/Atreyu/

https://twitter.com/atreyuofficial

http://www.atreyuofficial.com

https://www.instagram.com/atreyuofficial/

Watch the Haunting “Quiet Now” Music Video HERE
 
Impacting at Rock Radio Now
 
New COLD Album, The Things We Can’t Stop, Out Now | Order HERE

Foo Fighters have rescheduled the remainder of their April/May Van Tour 2020.

For a full listing of the rescheduled Van Tour dates, see below. Tickets for the original shows will be honored for the corresponding new performances. 

For further information, please continue to check in at foofighters.com from the safety of your homes—we want to rock with each and every one of you when we get back out there!

FOO FIGHTERS VAN TOUR 2020
RESCHEDULED SHOWS

Previously scheduled for 4/12/2020
NEW DATE 12/5/2020
Phoenix, AZ
Talking Stick Resort Arena
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/Phoenix

Previously scheduled for 4/14/2020
NEW DATE 12/3/2020
Albuquerque, NM
Santa Ana Star Center
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/ABQ

Previously schedule for 4/16/2020
NEW DATE 12/1/2020
Oklahoma City, OK
Chesapeake Energy Arena
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/OKC

Previously scheduled for 4/18/2020
NEW DATE 10/17/2020
WICHITA, KS
INTRUST Bank Arena
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/WKS

Previously scheduled for 4/20/2020
NEW DATE 10/9/2020
KNOXVILLE, TN 
Thompson-Boling Arena
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/KTN

Previously scheduled for 5/10/2020
NEW DATE  10/15/2020
GREEN BAY, WI
RESCH CENTER
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/GBWI

Previously scheduled for 5/12/2020
NEW DATE 10/7/2020
GRAND RAPIDS, MI
VAN ANDEL ARENA
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/GRMI

Previously scheduled for 5/14/2020
NEW DATE 10/13/2020
CINCINNATI, OH
HERITAGE BANK CENTER
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/Cincy

Previously scheduled for 5/16/2020 
NEW DATE 10/5/2020
DETROIT, MI
LITTLE CAESARS ARENA
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/Detroit

Previously scheduled for 5/18/2020
NEW DATE 10/3/2020 
CLEVELAND, OH
ROCKET MORTGAGE FIELDHOUSE
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/Cleveland

Previously scheduled for 5/20/2020 
NEW DATE 10/1/2020
HAMILTON, ON
FIRSTONTARIO CENTRE
https://FooFighters.lnk.to/HON

Featuring Bobby Blitz, Mike Portnoy, Mark Menghi and Phil Demmel

They’ve been teasing their formation and the arrival of new music for months, and now the wait is nearly over! BPMD – the new heavy metal juggernaut featuring icons Bobby Blitz (Overkill) on vocals, drummer Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Sons of Apollo), bassist Mark Menghi (Metal Allegiance) and guitarist Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) – is pleased to announce that they have signed a worldwide contract with Napalm Records, joining the label’s growing roster of premier talent. 

The members of BPMD first came together in the summer of 2019 with one goal in mind: to pay homage to some of their favorite classic rock tunes, give them their own heavy twist, and to have a blast doing it. We all could use a bit of fun, and that’s what BPMD is here to provide – a party on wax performed by some of the greatest musical talents in the world! 

BPMD will officially announce the release of this music – arriving in the form of their first full-length album – very soon. Stay tuned for more details and music, coming soon! 

BPMD bassist Mark Menghi says:“We’re super excited about our first BPMD record. Last summer, I was inspired and came up with this crazy idea and here we are, not even a year later, and it’ll see the light of day in these very trying times. The planet needs something to feel good about, and I 100% whole-heartedly believe these tunes will do the trick. Buckle up and make way for BPMD…” 

BPMD frontman Bobby Blitz drops a few more hints:“The BPMD sessions were very fun. They took us all back to our roots and even pre-roots. As it developed, we all realized it was something special, as did Napalm Records, with one listen!”  

BPMD will make their performance debut at Bulldozer Bash 5 in Old Bridge, NJ on Saturday, May 30! The event, which will take place at Old Bridge Elks Lodge, is a benefit show to raise funds for the Old Bridge Militia Foundation, a 100% non-profit 501 C3 charity foundation. Show details will be announced soon, but for now, visit https://oldbridgemilitia.org. 

Keep your eyes (and ears) at the ready – new music from BPMD is just around the corner. 

For more information on BPMD, please visit:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

TWITTER

BPMD WEBSTORE

NEW ALBUM 2020 OUT THIS FALL 2020

Powerhouse rock ‘n’ roll band FOZZY announces rescheduled Save The World Tour starting July 10^th in Columbus, OH and ending on September 5^th in Orlando, FL. Due to the growing concerns of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and willingness to comply with CDC and government regulations, Fozzy realized it was necessary to reschedule their headline tour, originally scheduled from April 16^th-May 9^th, out of necessity to keep fans safe and healthy. With that said, Fozzy is excited to hit the road again this summer and will be joined by support from Through Fire, Royal Bliss, Black Satellite (8/20-8/30), and Zero Theorem (7/10-8/8). For more information on upcoming tour dates and to purchase tickets, visit the band’s website HERE. 

“In light of the pandemic that’s gripping the world’s attention, it’s time to make the right move and postpone the April/May leg of Save The World Tour for everyone’s safety and well being. However, we promise you, once the World is back on its axis and TRULY saved, Fozzy will be back to hold you in our loving arms and literally ROCK all your troubles away!! See everybody soon and in the meantime and between time, please stay healthy and safe. We will get through this together,” states Fozzy frontman Chris Jericho. 

Fozzy is gearing up to release their new full-length album 2020 this fall. The album features the band’s newest hit song “Nowhere To Run“, which recently hit Top 10 on the Rock Radio Chart. The song is the band’s third track to hit Top 10 on Rock Radio, following “Judas” and “Painless“. Listen to the anthem HERE and stay tuned for more details about the forthcoming release soon. 

The band’s seventh LP, Judas, spurred hits like “Painless“, “Burn Me Out“, and title track, “Judas“, which spent five weeks at #1 on the ‘‘Big Uns Countdown’ on Sirius/XM’s Octane channel and peaked at #5 on the Active Rock Mediabase Chart. The song has over 34 million U.S. streams to date and the music video has over 36 million views to date. Watch the music video HERE. 

Since the beginning, Fozzy has been about hard work, dedication, and delivering great rock ‘n’ roll to their devoted fans worldwide; reminding them that music is all about invoking dirty, sweaty jubilation and doing it loudly! The band formed in 2000 to release their self-titled debut album. Throughout the years, Fozzy released six progressively popular records, including 2012’s Sin & Bones, featuring the hit single “Sandpaper“, which found the band reaching a level of legitimacy that drew a mass audience to drink in their trademark heavy melodic groove. More recently, the hard rockers released their seventh studio album, Judas, which includes their explosive title track. “Judas” catapulted up the Active Rock Radio Chart. Fozzy’s follow-up singles “Painless“, which peaked at #7 on the Active Rock Mediabase Chart, and “Burn Me Out“, which peaked at #17 on the Active Rock Mediabase Chart, solidified the band as Rock superstars. 

FOZZY SAVE THE WORLD TOUR:

w/support from Through Fire, Royal Bliss (All Headline Dates), Zero Theorem (7/10-8/8), Black Satellite (8/20-8/30)

July 10 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall

July 11 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation @ Intersection

July 12 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge

July 13 – Indianapolis, IL – Hi-Fi

July 16 – Cadott, WI – Cadott Rockfest*

July 30 – Harrison, OH – Blue Note

July 31 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop

August 1 – Sheboygan, WI – Brat Days*

August 2 – Angola, IN – Eclectic Room

August 3 – Belvidere, IL – Apollo Theater

August 6 – Ft. Madison, IA – Riverfest*

August 7 – Sioux Falls, SD – District

August 8 – Minot, ND – Original

August 9 – Sturgis, SD – Iron Horse*

August 20 – Lancaster, PA – The Chameleon

August 21 – Pittsburgh, PA – Jergel’s

August 22 – Cleveland, OH – The Winchester

August 23 – Buffalo, NY – Iron Works

August 24 – Baltimore, MD – Soundstage

August 27 – Johnson City, TN – Capone’s

August 28 – Chattanooga, TN – Songbirds

August 29 – Charlotte, NC – Underground

September 3 – Savannah, GA – Victory North*

September 4 – Tampa, FL – 98Rockfest*

September 5 – Orlando, FL – Earthday Birthday*

September 18 – Appomatax, VA – Blue Ridge Rockfest

*supports do not appear 

All show and VIP information is available here: https://www.fozzyrock.com/fozzy/.

LISTEN & SHARE: SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP | APPLE
READ MYRKUR’S TRACK BY TRACK GUIDE WITH APPLE MUSIC HERE

Danish composer, vocalist and classically trained multi-instrumentalist, Myrkur (Amalie Bruun), journeys into the heart of Scandinavian culture. Through Bruun’s crystalline vocals, an array of traditional instruments and storytelling, ‘Folkesange’ offers listeners an immersive, emotional and transcendent experience that resonates in today’s turbulent times.

“Burrowing into a lifelong love of Scandinavia’s traditional music and writing her own modern versions, and without sacrificing her intensity.” – THE GUARDIAN (FOLK ALBUM OF THE MONTH)

“Ella has the steady, almost ominous tread of her earlier, darker works, and her layers of voice have an almost eerie resonance. The song swells and subsides (she refers to it as “a rebirth-ritual in the sea”) before building to an almost orchestral-sounding finale.” – WNYC’s SOUNDCHECK

“Lush acoustic instruments and a restrained composition give full breadth to Myrkur’s voice, and the pristine production is more fitting of new age music than black metal” – CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND

“transcendent… sweeping, hypnotic” – REVOLVER

“Scandinavian heritage has been a very important element of black metal since its beginning, but no musician before Myrkur has translated it so successfully to its music to attain recognition both within the genre and without, and although her work polarized the black metal community intensely in the beginning, ever more people are realizing the unique merit and quality of Myrkur’s work” – ULTIMATE GUITAR

“ethereal…” – METAL HAMMER (COVER STORY)

“enchanting, melodic” – LOUDWIRE

“gorgeous…It breaks new ground with its wild, almost lyrical sound, and really transports the listener back to days of old.” – EXCLAIM!

“indeed in the trad-folk realm, with a little ethereal dream pop in the mix too” – BROOKLYN VEGAN

“she’s the Lana Del Ray of Black Metal” – THE PIT

“Bruun has a way of breathing new life into the past, by taking these old folk songs and reenvisaging them as expansive explorations into the netherworld of black metal” – LINE OF THE BEST FIT

“a gracious, quite accessible offering, one that invites us to other worlds, times, and cultures.” – THE PROG MIND

Myrkur’s Amalie Bruun has always paved her own path and challenged underground preconceptions of heavy genres. Just after newfound motherhood, Bruun set out on a journey into the very heart of the Scandinavian culture that marked her own childhood with on her latest album, Folkesange. Available today on Relapse Records, Folkesange relinquishes black metal for a refined yet far-reaching evocation of traditional folk, combining songs ancient and new to sublimely resonant effect.

On Myrkur‘s first two full-length studio albums (2015’s M and 2017’s Mareridt), she recast black metal in the most personal yet expansive of terms, their blending of Bruun‘s Danish folk roots with tempestuous internal struggles breathing new life into a subgenre whose followers can be rigidly possessive.

After the nightmare-induced visions that wrought themselves throughout 2017’s immensely acclaimed Mareridt, Folkesange offers an emotional sanctuary, a means to reconnect to something permanent and nature-aligned. It’s an awareness that’s become deeply bound to the album’s organic, regenerative spirit.

Storytelling, rites of passage, and the invocation of a continuity that passes through time and generation are all part of folk music’s tapestry, and Folkesange taps into all these currents in their most essential form. In part a purist’s approach to the genre, free from over-interpretation and fusion, the use of Kulning (an ancient Scandinavian herding call) and traditional instruments throughout, such as nyckelharpa, lyre and mandola offer adeeper, more tactile connection to their source, an unbroken line of communication back to the past.

But the album is no museum piece; it resonates in the here and now, aided by the spacious production of Heilung member and musical collaborator Christopher Juul. Cinematic yet intimate, Folkesange exists in a state of boundless reverie, bourne by string-led drones, cyclical, elegiac rhythms and Bruun‘s frictionless voice, all carrier signals for deep-rooted, ancestral memories, and associations felt on an elemental level.

An immersive experience in its own right, but also belonging to a wider, pagan folk-based renaissance that has attracted a devoted following worldwide, Folkesange answers a need that has become ever more pressing in turbulent times. A zeroing in on a resonance that is both intrinsic and enduring, it’s a rediscovery of personal grounding, and an experience that reaches beyond culture to remind us of a shared, deeply rooted inheritance. A tuning fork that binds the personal and the universal, Folkesange is a reminder that the most transcendent experiences are those closest to home.

“Leaves of Yggdrasil” (Official Music Video)

Folkesange Tracklisting:
1 – Ella

2 – Fager som en Ros

3 – Leaves of Yggdrasil

4 – Ramund

5 – Tor i Helheim

6 – Svea

7 – Harpens Kraft

8 – Gammelkäring

9 – House Carpenter

10 – Reiar

11 – Gudernes Vilje Vinter

Myrkur Live Dates:
07/04: Montreux, CH – Montreux Jazz Lab

07/09 – 07/11: Gavle, SE – Gefle Metal Festival

07/18: Otrada Estate, RU – Russia Metal Meeting

07/24 – 07/25: Sibiu, RO – ARTmania Festival

08/05 – 08/08: Jaromer, CZ – Brutal Assault Festival

08/12 – 08/15: Wittelshofen, DE – Summer Breeze Open Air

08/13 – 08/15: Borre Vestfold, NO – Midgardsblot

Take Two have been performing in and around the Tri-State area since the groups formation in 2012. The four piece band who lists Corning, NY as their home-base bring a unique mix of sounds and styles to the pop-punk genre which they associate themselves with. The group’s latest release “We Aren’t Big” is set for release on March 13^th and Media Mikes had the chance to speak with bands guitarist Adam Lawton about the band, the new release and making the transition to a heavier sound.     

Ryan Albro: What can you tell us about Take Two?

Adam Lawton: The band is made up of Josh Cavaluzzi, AJ Kish, Nick Murray and I. The original line up of the band formed in 2012 while some the guys were going to college together in Upstate New York. After a short time they were looking for new guitarist and that’s when I joined the band. We put out our self-titled debut shortly after.  Around that same time we got hooked up with the Cold Cock Whiskey artist program which allowed us to connect with a bunch of other bands and play some new places around NY, NJ and PA. After a couple more lineup changes including Josh moving from drums to vocals and downsizing to a four piece we released two EP’s (Weekend Warriors and Natures Chicken) Through the release of those and connections we made we joined the Dirtbag Clothing Artist program and also started working with ACE Products Group both of which have been amazing! Because of them we were able attend our first winter and summer NAMM shows which took us to Los Angeles and Nashville. Now on March 13^th we are set to release a brand new album titled “We Aren’t Big”   

RA: Can you give us some background on the new album We Aren’t Big?

AL: “We Aren’t Big” is the bands 4^th studio release. It consists of 9 tracks four of which are brand new. The other five come from two previously released EP’s (Weekend Warriors and Natures Chicken). We re-recorded those with the current lineup of the band

RA: What was the inspiration for the album’s title?

AL: (Laughs) that started out as a joke between the guys in the band. We were on our way to a show one day and we stopped for some food. A couple of us had already ordered when the cashier asked our singer Josh if we were in a band. He replied “Yes, but we aren’t big”. Of course we all lost it and we were like “what do you mean we aren’t big!?” We are huge in our own minds. (Laughs) So since that day we all would joke with each other about being a band but it’s not big. When it came time to decide on an album name that one liner came up and it instantly stuck.

RA: Which songs are you most proud of from We Aren’t Big?

AL: We worked hard on all the songs so to pick just one or two is kind of tough. When you are putting these things together you get really attached to certain parts as you spend a lot of time playing them over and over to get them just right. For instance the breakdown in “Fall”, the verses of “Burner” and the solo of “Lock Up” are ones that stick out for me and fun to play.   

RA: What were your inspirations to blend metal and punk on the album?

AL: That was something that happened organically over time. Each time there was a lineup change we tweaked our sound a little bit. We have had this same line up now for quite some time and we are all into various forms of heavy music along with punk. One of the first new songs we had was “Burner” and being that song is fairly aggressive we figured that the other new songs we were going to include with it should follow suit.

RA: What are your thoughts on current influences in the punk genre?

AL: I think if you look at punk over the years it’s a genre that is always evolving and expanding. “Punk” is such a broad term now and there are just so many sub-genres of punk like Folk-Punk, Afro-Punk, Celtic-Punk you name it. I think punk is more of an idea or thought process in that you are doing something different than what is considered the “norm” at that time. You can be “punk” without looking or sounding any one specific way and that’s really cool.   

RA: What are Take Two’s upcoming touring plans and what’s next for the band?

AL: Coming up on March 14^th we will be playing in Buffalo, NY with a bunch of great acts from up there. Being it’s the day after the record comes out we have decided to stream our set via facebook.com/official.taketwo starting at 8:30pme EST. We thought that would be cool way for more people to be able to check out the show and hear the new music in a live setting. From there we will be appearing at this year’s Launch Music Conference in Lancaster, PA. We will be making the rounds that weekend and promoting a song of ours that is featured on the Conference compilation record which they put out each year. Another cool thing we have coming out is we got hooked up with Phameless Records from Philadelphia and have a song appearing on a compilation they have put together so that’s going to be really cool as well. Aside from all of that we have shows booked through the fall around NY and PA and are always looking to add more whenever we can.

For more information on TAKE TWO and to get a copy of “We Aren’t Big” visit the bands official web page at www.officialtaketwo.com

“We Aren’t Big”

Take Two

Tracks: 9

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Punk rockers from upstate New York, Take Two have unleashed a brand new album “We Aren’t Big” upon the world. The album (the band’s 4th release) stampedes onto the scene like a mohawk clad rhinoceros whose metallic punk riffs run you over while the catchy choruses bring you back for another beating. From the vintage comic book cover art, to the New Found Glory and Descendents influences, “We Aren’t Big” screams PUNK ROCK! directly in your face.

Featuring nine raging tracks with a little something for everyone, I found “Hearts Will Remain” to be the stand out hit on the album. Its a classic pop punk track with a chorus capable of getting stuck in your head for eons. 90’s and early 2000’s fans of the genre will definitely approve. Going a little deeper thought provoking tracks like “Shots & Scars”, as well as “Red Eye”, are also solid stand outs as both recount tales of the road and the determination of a band never willing to give up. Now if you’re more in the mood for lights out, fist pumping mosh pits, look no further than “Burner” as nonstop head-banging will certainly ensue as the track closes out with a mega mosh riff which beckons a bloodbath of furious spinning back kicks and seismic circle pit activity measurable by the Fujita scale.

Take Two’s influences certainly shine through, making for a familiar listen However, the new territory the group covers brightens up an otherwise usual punk-fare. The metal riffs and intricate drum fills are a welcome flourish not to mention the heavier vocals and powerful choruses. Much of the album will inspire car ride sing along’s, as well as the previously stated mosh pits and neck cramps. Listening I couldn’t help but reminisce of said trips, beers with friends, and the girl at the rock show.

If you’re a fan of old school pop punk sing along’s, but also smashing beer cans on your forehead before jumpin’ in the pit, “We Aren’t Big” is a must for you! Every track brings something different to the table by mixing what you already love about punk with something new and fresh. The sky is the limit for the ambitious Take Two and I’m eager to see what they come up with next.

Track Listing:

1.) Lock Up

2.) Delf

3.) Shots and Scars

4.) Day Dreaming

5.) Red Eye

6.) Fall

7.) Hearts Will Remain

8.) Nothing to Lose

9.) Burner

Head over to Officialtaketwo.com for links to download “We Aren’t Big”

(Los Angeles, CA, March 9, 2020) — As part of Record Store Day 2020, Varèse Sarabande Records will release five amazing soundtrack LPs: Hackers and Army of Darkness will be available as double LPs and Mortal Kombat and The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance get the picture disc treatment, (Age of Resistance in two different variants), on April 18, 2020, at thousands of independent record stores. A list of participating stores can be found at recordstoreday.com and for more info about these special LPs visit VareseSarabande.com.

HACKERS – Various Artists (Double LP)
On vinyl for the first time, the definitive soundtrack to the film Hackers is being released in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the film. The double LP features never-before-released tracks including “Hackers Suite” performed by composer Simon Boswell, as well as two pieces by Guy Pratt, “One Combination” and “Grand Central Station” featuring David Gilmour.

“This was such a fun thing to do, had to quickly knock it up at home and then David swung by and did his inimitable thing in one take.” – Guy Pratt

Additionally, tracks that were not on the original soundtrack release in 1995, including “Protection” by Massive Attack, and “Open Up” by Leftfield, are part of this special album edition. The commemorative package includes two black vinyl LPs in a gatefold, new notes from director Iain Softley, and unreleased photos of the cast.

TRACK LISTINGS
Side A

1. “Halcyon and On and On” Performed by Orbital
2. “Hackers Suite” Performed by Simon Boswell
3. “Open Up” Performed by Leftfield

Side B

1. “Cowgirl” Performed by Underworld
2. “Voodoo People” Performed by Prodigy
3. “Connected” Performed by Stereo MC’s

Side C

1. “Original Bedroom Rockers” Performed by Kruder & Dorfmeister
2. “One Love” Performed by The Prodigy
3. “Good Grief” Performed by Urban Dance Squad

Side D

1. “Protection” Performed by Massive Attack
2. “One Combination” Performed by Guy Pratt
3. “Grand Central Station” Performed by Guy Pratt, featuring David Gilmour
4. “Heaven Knows” Performed by Squeeze

ARMY OF DARKNESS – Joe LoDuca (Double LP)
This double LP soundtrack for Sam Raimi’s 1990’s classic Army of Darkness film (a continuation of Raimi’s Evil Dead series, which also starred Bruce Campbell as Ash) features the original cover graphics with new notes and images, and a newly remastered score by composer Joe LoDuca. Years later, LoDuca continued to score Evil Dead projects through the Starz series, Ash vs The Evil Dead. The latter series ran from 2015 – 2018. Army of Darkness is musically distinct, however, in having a secondary contributing composer: Danny Elfman’s (Batman, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, The Simpsons) killer theme “March of the Dead.”

TRACK LISTINGS
Side A

1. “Prologue”
2. “Building The Deathcoaster”
3. “Give Me Some Sugar / Bone’Anza”
4. “Time Traveller”
5. “Ash Splits”

Side B

1. “Little Ashes”
2. “Ash In Chains”
3. “Night Court”
4. “The Forest Of The Dead / Graveyard”
5. “The Pit”

Side C

1. “God Save Us”
2. “Foul Thing”
3. “March Of The Dead” Theme Composed by Danny Elfman
4. “Whites Of Their Skulls”
5. “The Deathcoaster”
6. “On Parapet”

Side D

1. “Ash Bucklers”
2. “Skeletor”
3. “Soul Swallower”
4. “Manly Men”
5. “End Titles”

MORTAL KOMBAT – George S. Clinton (Picture Disc)
Originally released on CD only in 1995 and currently unavailable in any physical format, this score to the first film ever developed for the massive gaming franchise will get the LP treatment in conjunction with the film’s 25th anniversary. Side A of this two-sided picture disc features the iconic Mortal Kombat logo, while Side B features Goro, a fan favorite from the game and film who is generally considered by gamers to be one of the most memorable and difficult bosses in gaming culture. In fact, the four-armed fighter did not lose a battle for 500 years before a first-ever loss to Mortal Kombat hero, Johnny Cage. The music was composed by George S. Clinton with a heavy assist from the guitarist, Buckethead (Guns N’ Roses, Primus), who appears on 10 of the 26 tracks.

TRACK LISTINGS
Side A

1. “Taste Of Things To Come”
2. “Liu Vs. Sub-Zero”
3. “It Has Begun”
4. “The Garden” featuring Buckethead
5. “Goro Vs. Art” featuring Buckethead
6. “Banquet”
7. “Liu Vs. Katana”
8. “Liu’s Dream” featuring Buckethead
9. “Liu Vs. Reptile” featuring Buckethead
10. “Stairway”
11. “Goro Goro”
12. “Kidnapped”
13. “Zooom”
14. “Johnny Vs. Scorpion” featuring Buckethead

Side B

1. “Hand And Shadow” featuring Buckethead
2. “Scorpion And Sub-Zero” featuring Buckethead
3. “Soul Snatchin’”
4. “On The Beach”
5. “Johnny Cage” featuring Buckethead
6. “Goro Chase” featuring Buckethead
7. “Evening Bells”
8. “Monks”
9. “Friends”
10. “Flawless Victory” featuring Buckethead
11. “Farewell”
12. “Kids”

THE DARK CRYSTAL: AGE OF RESISTANCE, The Aureyal & The Crystal Chamber – Daniel Pemberton, Samuel Sim (Picture Discs)
Two truly special picture disc editions featuring imagery unavailable anywhere else! The Aureyal, a symbol representing the unity of the seven Gelfling Clans, presents itself in the visions of various important Gelfling characters and is formally identified as “the sigil of great power” by skekGra the Heretic. The Aureyal picture disc is complemented on the other side with the cover art from the Volume 1 CD and digital release. The Crystal Chamber disc depicts the floor of the Dark Crystal’s chamber; a circle of 18 arcane symbols, one for each of the urSkeks that came to Thra during the first Great Conjunction. The Crystal Chamber picture disc is complemented on the other side with the cover art from the Volume 2 CD and digital release. Consumers should note that the track selections on the two picture discs are completely different. Although available for individual purchase, they are thematically a set.

The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is a 10-episode prequel to the groundbreaking 1982 fan-favorite The Dark Crystal, and stars Taron Egerton, Star Wars’ Mark Hamill, Harry Potter’s Helena Bonham-Carter, Tomb Raider star Alicia Vikander and Outlander’s Caitriona Balfe. The show’s composer Daniel Pemberton reveals, “I wanted the music to be as magical as Thra itself – organic, imperfect, strange, mystical, otherworldly and wonderful. I wanted to create new sounds that felt like they came from the world itself, as well as using thematic largescale orchestral elements to bring an emotion to the journey of the characters.”

The Aureyal Picture Disc

TRACK LISTINGS
Side A

1. “Dzenpo!” – Daniel Pemberton
2. “Remember Your Oath” – Samuel Sim
3. “Puppet Show” – Samuel Sim, Daniel Pemberton
4. “Song Of Thra” – Daniel Pemberton
5. “The Skeksis Arrive” – Samuel Sim
6. “Outcast” – Daniel Pemberton
7. “Outside Podling Wayhouse” – Daniel Pemberton

Side B

1. “An Old Story” – Daniel Pemberton
2. “The Three Brothers Rise” – Daniel Pemberton
3. “Attack Of The Arathim” – Samuel Sim, Daniel Pemberton
4. “Our Sister Is Gone” – Samuel Sim
5. “The Dark Crystal: End Credits” – Daniel Pemberton
6. “The Dark Crystal: The Age Of Hope” – Daniel Pemberton

The Crystal Chamber Picture Disc

TRACK LISTINGS
Side A

1. “The Dark Crystal: Age Of Resistance” – Daniel Pemberton
2. “Another World, Another Time” – Daniel Pemberton
3. “Story Of The Dark Crystal” – Daniel Pemberton
4. “Rian + Mira Dreamfast” – Daniel Pemberton
5. “Aughra Awakes” – Daniel Pemberton
6. “The Crystal Chamber” – Daniel Pemberton
7. “Essence Draining” – Daniel Pemberton

Side B

1. “What Lies At The Dream’s End” – Daniel Pemberton
2. “Together We Fight” – Daniel Pemberton
3. “The Blue Flames Part 1” – Daniel Pemberton
4. “Deet In The Woods” – Samuel Sim
5. “Speak For The Dead” – Daniel Pemberton
6. “Brea And The Library” – Samuel Sim
7. “Her Light Faded” – Daniel Pemberton

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ABOUT VARÈSE SARABANDE RECORDS
Founded in 1978, Varèse Sarabande is the most prolific producer of film music in the world, releasing the highest quality soundtracks from the world’s greatest composers. From current box office hits and top television series to the classics of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Varèse Sarabande’s catalog includes albums from practically every composer in every era, covering all of film history; from Bernard Herrmann, Alex North and Jerry Goldsmith to Alexandre Desplat, Michael Giacchino and Brian Tyler. Varèse Sarabande is a part of Concord.

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Official Tracklist Revealed | Pre-Order Your Copy NOW

Beware the Curse of the Crystal Coconut –
ALESTORM’s ship advances on the horizon!

Curse of the Crystal Coconut will be available in the following formats:

• Wooden Boxset (including Mediabook, exclusive 7’’ Single, Track Stems on USB Stick, Pendant, Flag, Postcards)
• 2 CD Mediabook – including 16th century interpretations of all songs
• 1 CD Jewel Case
• LP Gatefold BLACK Vinyl
• LP Gatefold RED Vinyl
• LP Gatefold GOLD Vinyl
• LP Gatefold PURPLE Vinyl
• LP Gatefold Silver Vinyl (Napalm Records US Store exclusive)
• Music Cassette + Walkman Bundle in Pirate Bag RED (strictly limited to 250)
• Digital Album
• Digital Deluxe Album
   

Tracklist:

1. Treasure Chest Party Quest
2. Fannybaws
3. Chomp Chomp
4. Tortuga
5. Zombies Ate My Pirate Ship
6. Call of the Waves
7. Pirate’s Scorn
8. Shit Boat (No Fans)
9. Pirate Metal Drinking Crew
10. Wooden Leg Pt. 2 (The Woodening)
11. Henry Martin

Catch ALESTORM on tour and get the chance to listen to some new songs!

20.03.20 AU – Melbourne / Download Festival
21.03.20 AU – Sydney / Download Festival
04.06.20 SE – Solvesborg / Sweden Rock
12.06.20 CH – Interlaken / Greenfield
14.06.20 US – Donington Park / Download Festival
19.06.20 BE – Dessel / Graspop Metal Meeting
20.06.20 FR – Clisson / Hellfest
03.07.20 ES – Barcelona / Rock Fest
04.07.20 IT – Villafranca di Verona / Rock The Castle
09.07.20 CZ – Vizovice / Masters of Rock
31.07.20 UA – Ternopil / Faine Misto
06.08.20 HR – Pula / Headbanger’s Holiday
08.08.20 NL – Leeuwarden / Into The Grave
14.08.20 DE – Dinkelsbühl / Summer Breeze
21.08.20 DE – Haddeby / Baltic Open Air
05.09.20 DE – Selb / Festival Medieval

ALESTORM are:
Christopher Bowes – vocals, keytar
Gareth Murdock – guitar
Mate Bodor – bass
Peter Alcorn – drums
Elliot Vernon – keyboard