REVEALS LEAD SINGLE “ELLA“

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

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 the release of her new album, Folkesange.

Due out March 20 via 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.

Today, Myrkur has unveiled lead single and album opener, “Ella” which she explains is “the result of years of studying, playing and listening to traditional Nordic folk music. This is my version of a new folk-song, with roots planted in history and in the past. It is my ode to mankind and our connection with nature – a rite of passage as a woman and a rebirth-ritual in the sea.”

She continues, “Three years ago I decided to share a video where I performed an old Scandinavian folk-song on the nyckelharpa. After this I realized that I had a strong need to create an album within this universe and that other people also wished to hear this. So I started working on picking out what old songs to reinterpret as well as write my own version of this. Ella is this.”

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.

Folkesange sees its release March 20, 2020 via Relapse. There will be several limited deluxe vinyl versions available.

For more info and to pre-order, go here . “Ella” is available today on all streaming services here.

MyrkurFolkesangeRelapse RecordsMarch 20, 2020
Pre-Order Here

Track Listing

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 ViljeVinter

Myrkur Live Dates:

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

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

QUEENSRŸCHE, RATT, AND CHRIS JERICHO’S BAND FOZZY ARE SET TO JOIN KISS AS THEY CELEBRATE A DECADE AT SEA

The most popular Gold Record Award winning American group of all time and iconic Rock and Roll Hall of Famers KISS have once again partnered up with the industry leaders in music festivals at sea, Sixthman to announce the upcoming voyage of The KISS Kruise X. The KISS Navy will set sail for their tenth mission from Miami to Harvest Caye, Belize & Roatan, Honduras from October 30 – November 4, 2020 aboard Norwegian Pearl.

The announcement comes on the heels of 2019’s sold-out KISS Kruise IX, from where the band announced live onboard that their final show of all time will take place in July 2021. Fans can go to TheKissKruise.com for more information on pricing and availability. From KISS’s electrifying shows and exciting activities with each member of the band to autograph sessions with artists from the lineup and much more, the tenth adventure is sure to be an experience of a lifetime.

Beyond their onboard rock shows, KISS is bringing their rare memorabilia collection, the KISS Expo, back to the high seas. Additionally, Queensryche, Ratt, and Chris Jericho’s band Fozzy are set to join KISS as they celebrate a decade at sea with more to be announced in the near future.

A destination of her own, Norwegian Pearl offers guests Norwegian Cruise Line’s signature freedom and flexibility to enjoy 11 onboard bars and lounges, 15 dining experiences, a casino, one outdoor pool, hot tubs, and a full menu of spa treatments. Prices for the cruise start at $1,380 with flexible payment options available and a low deposit of $250 per person. 

Connect with the KISS Kruise at TheKissKruise.comand on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram #TheKISSKruise

Having released their most gripping album to date, I Loved You At Your Darkest, Behemoth return once again to spread the word of the unholy. On January 24th, the band releases the I Loved You At Your Darkest Tour Edition – an obsidian gem in their discography, including the I Loved You At Your Darkest track-listing with brand new, alternate artwork by Nicola Samori; plus, an exclusive BBC Radio 1 session and unreleased documentary, “Thou Darkest Art”, taken from the band’s career affirming art gallery exhibition in London last year.

Pre-order the I Loved You At The Darkest Tour Edition here: metalblade.com/behemoth

Today, the band has released an official music video for “Rom 5:8”. Behemoth comments: “To celebrate the monumental start of the Slipknot European tour – we proudly present the official video for ‘Rom 5:8’. Ready your voices, Legions, we shall need them!”

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/Uz5hTiDY48E

I Loved You At Your Darkest marked a milestone in the history of Behemoth, being not only the most successful album of the band, but also an audiovisual masterpiece: from its detailed, blasphemous artwork, to the highly vicious and at the same time deeply emotional tracks, Behemoth once again played with fire – and ignited a wildfire burning the narrowminded bigotry of Christianity down to the ground.

Last week, the band already released the digital Live At Maida Vale EP with exclusive tracks that were recorded during an BBC Radio 1 Session. Just like the atmospheric “Wolves Ov Siberia”: https://youtu.be/XAi3-_6imx8

Behemoth will be joining Slipknot on their European “We Are Not Your Kind Tour”, which kicks off tomorrow in Dublin. See below for all dates!

“We Are Not Your Kind” world tour – Europe & UK 2020
w/ Slipknot, Behemoth
Jan. 14 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Arena
Jan. 16 – Manchester, UK – Arena
Jan. 17 – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
Jan. 18 – Glasgow, UK – The SSE Hydro *SOLD OUT*
Jan. 20 – Sheffield, UK – FlyDSA Arena
Jan. 21 – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
Jan. 22 – Cardiff, UK – Motorpoint Arena *SOLD OUT*
Jan. 24 – Birmingham, UK – Arena *SOLD OUT*
Jan. 25 – London, UK – The O2 *SOLD OUT*
Jan. 28 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – Ziggo Dome *SOLD OUT*
Jan. 29 – Frankfurt, Germany – Festhalle *SOLD OUT*
Jan. 30 – Paris, France – AccorHotels Arena
Feb. 1 – Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg – Rockhal *SOLD OUT*
Feb. 2 – Lyon, France – Halle Tony-Garnier
Feb. 4 – Budapest, Hungary – Papp László Budapest Sportaréna
Feb. 6 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena
Feb. 8 – Stuttgart, Germany – Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle *SOLD OUT*
Feb. 9 – Munich, Germany – Olympiahalle *SOLD OUT*
Feb. 11 – Milan, Italy – Mediolanum Forum
Feb. 12 – Zurich, Switzerland – Hallenstadion
Feb. 14 – Vienna, Austria – Stadthalle
Feb. 16 – Hamburg, Germany – Barclaycard Arena *SOLD OUT*
Feb. 17 – Berlin, Germany – Mercedes-Benz Arena
Feb. 18 – Dortmund, Germany – Westfalenhalle *SOLD OUT*
Feb. 20 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Royal Arena
Feb. 21 – Stockholm, Sweden – Ericsson Globe *SOLD OUT*
Feb. 22 – Oslo, Norway – Telenor Arena
Feb. 24 – Helsinki, Finland – Hartwall Arena *SOLD OUT*

The Crystal Coconut definitely granted ALESTORM fans their wish: the visionary world travelers have officially entered the recording studio and will return with their upcoming album, Curse of the Crystal Coconut, to be released via Napalm Records in summer 2020. This release will mark the band’s sixth studio album, and promises new anthems bursting with the chaotic energy ALESTORM fans have come to love. Prepare yourself for a level of epic symphonic folk metal insanity that no other band on the high seas could ever aim to touch!

ALESTORM’s latest album, No Grave But The Sea, was a worldwide success – reaching #1 on the US Heatseekers album charts, #14 on the German album charts and other top 20 placements in Austria, New Zealand, Switzerland and Belgium. Grab your best rum, take a swig and hold tight – further album details will be revealed soon (but let’s hope King K. Rool doesn’t steal the demos first).

ALESTORM on Curse of the Crystal Coconut:“Oh wow, humans of planet Earth! We’re super excited to announce that today we have entered Krabi Road Studios in Thailand to begin the recording of the 6^th ALESTORM album, which will be called Curse of the Crystal Coconut! We may or may not have stolen that title from Donkey Kong. Anyway, we’ll be here for the next 3 weeks recording 13-ish songs, some of which will be so absolutely terrible that they’ll never see the light of day. The ones that somehow turn out alright will be released on Napalm Records sometime in the early summer! LOTS OF UPDATES COMING SOON, stay tuned and we’ll tell you all about it.”

Catch ALESTORM on tour and get the chance to listen to some new songs!
21.02.20 ES – Madrid / La Rivera
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

Record-breaking rock juggernaut FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH are already having a happy new year as they release “Full Circle,” the electrifying second track from their highly  anticipated 8^th studio album F8, out February 28^th. “Full Circle” is the follow up track to the current hit single “Inside Out” (official music video) that crashed into the Top 10 shortly after its release. “Full Circle” is available now on all streaming platforms and fans who pre-order the album digitally will receive an instant download of “Full Circle” and “Inside Out” along with one more new track before the album release date. Listen to “Full Circle” here.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH have amassed over 3 billion streams to date, over 2 billion video views andare the 3^rd biggest artist in the hard rock space measured by total consumption (sales and streams) – surpassed only by Metallica and AC/DC. Building upon the already impressive achievements of 4 Platinum and 6 Gold records, the band will release their new album F8  in the following formats: CD, digital download, mastered for iTunes download, double gatefold vinyl and picture disc vinyl. F8 is available for pre-order  now, as well as special band-curated F8merchandise bundles of albums with exclusive t-shirts, hoodies and more.

The new album, F8 was produced by FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH with long time producer KEVIN CHURKO (Ozzy Osbourne, Disturbed, Slash, etc). 

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH will embark on their nearly sold out European Arena Tour with special guest Megadeth, mid January, before continuing their U.S Arena tour in April 2020. The U.S. spring tour will feature special guests Papa Roach, I Prevail, as well as highly acclaimed newcomer Ice Nine Kills. For all dates, VIP and more info, please visit www.fivefingerdeathpunch.com.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has become one of the most recognizable names in music. They frequently play all major festivals and sell out arenas around the world. Every record since the relase of their 2007 debut album The Way of the Fist, was certified Gold or Platinum by the RIAA.

The band has earned numerous awards and honors and is one of the few recipients of the prestigious Soldier Appreciation Award from the Association Of The United States Army. 

In 2019, the band collaborated with Brantley Gilbert, Brian May and Kenny Wayne Shepherd to release their version of the latter’s hit “Blue On Black,” now one of the Top 10-Selling Rock Songs of 2019, with proceeds from the track being donated to the Gary Sinise Foundation. Their eighth full length album, F8 will be released globally via Better Noise Music on February 28^th, 2020 and will undoubtedly raise the bar again.

Text “5FDP“ to 888 295 5337 (U.S. only) or sign up for the email list at Fivefingerdeathpunch.com to receive breaking FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH news!

California based Heart to Heart have signed with InVogue Records.

The band will be releasing a new single this month along with an EP in the coming months.

Quiet is nice. Quiet is comfortable. But quiet is dangerous, too — because quiet is the perfect disguise for a revolution.

Nick Zoppo knows this. Zoppo is the frontman of Heart to Heart, an energetic California rock quintet that formed a decade ago and has toured North America countless times. Even though the band cultivated a dedicated following and released two stellar full-lengths, Heart to Heart slowly receded from the music scene, laying mostly dormant the past few years. What made Zoppo put his passion on hold? His other passion: professional wrestling.

“In 2015, I moved to Chicago to train with WWE Superstar Seth Rollins,” Zoppo explains, “and three months turned into three-and-a-half years. In that time period, we were still playing a few shows and were still sending music ideas back and forth, it was just a little more tough with me being in the Midwest. I inevitably had to move back to California, and once I came back, we started rocking and rolling again.”

Zoppo’s alter ego, the “Outlandish Zicky Dice”, took the independent wrestling scene by storm, landing him bookings all across the world. Inspired by his character, Zoppo returned to Heart to Heart with a renewed passion, and his fellow bandmates — guitarist/vocalists Johnathan Hayes and Alex Lulow, bassist Justin Bratcher, and drummer AJ Wright — were just as excited to get to work.

The result is Heartbreaker, a six-song release that’s as musically aggressive as it is inherently melodic. It’s the kind of stuff that would stop you in your tracks at Warped Tour, or would make you open Shazam on your phone to identify the song if you overheard it coming from someone’s car stereo.

“Heartbreaker is a new, completely different, mature sound for Heart To Heart,” Zoppo says. “This record means the most to me, especially lyrically. I think of real pain in my life that I connect to music, and that’s what I draw on when writing lyrics.”

Look no further than Heartbreaker’s opening track, “Ø Love,” which finds Zoppo keenly observing, “We all learn from loss and pain and suffering.” Or check out “Someone Else,” which includes a potent bit of dialogue from Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. Or just press “play” on standout track “Insufferable,” which sounds like the dissolving of a relationship in real time — and according to Zoppo, it was.

“It was literally what we were going through at the time,” he says. “I am telling the story as it happens — we were breaking up while I was in the studio. I’m speaking my mind and not holding anything back.”

It’s clear that Zoppo approaches each song as if it could be his last, using his lyrics as a way to directly speak his mind, no matter who may get caught in the crossfire. His approach may ruffle a few feathers (“I get texted from the subjects of songs sometimes,” he says with a chuckle), but it also allows for deeper bonds to be formed, as you can hear in the emotionally gripping “The (Q)uiet War,” a passionate song about mental health, which includes a real voicemail message from a musician friend of Zoppo’s who was near the point of ending his own life.

“You can just hear the true emotion and true pain in it,” he says of his friend’s confession, assuring that the friend is in a much better headspace now. “It’s a war inside your head daily. Even me — I play this character that’s full of himself in the wrestling ring, but I’m also trying to remember if I took my depression medication this morning. I like being a public figure that can talk about these things openly, and hopefully try to motivate someone else to remind them there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. It’s completely okay to not be okay.”

Zoppo not is only constantly working on himself, he is also helping others — the singer/wrestler is currently working toward his masters degree in special education, and he makes time in his busy schedule to work in a special ed class as well. All of this goes into making Zoppo a surprisingly vulnerable frontman — but while vulnerability might shine through in the studio, once he gets onstage, all bets are off.

“When I would go onstage, I would be this character that eventually turned into Zicky Dice,” he says. “Angus Young from AC/DC used to say he would black out onstage, and I feel that’s the same for me. I’m all about entertaining the crowd. Yeah, they’re there to listen to music. But this is a chance to give them a performance. I look forward to sharing these songs with the world as an older, more mature me and a more mature band.”

With Heartbreaker, Heart To Heart are ready to reintroduce themselves to the world. They’re older and wiser, sure; they all carry a few more scars, both physical and emotional; but their musicianship is more advanced than it’s ever been, and they’re ready to kick the listener in the face, sonically speaking.

“We really took our time and tried a lot of different things we haven’t done musically before,” Zoppo says. “New vocal techniques, harmonies, guitar overlays… We were in the studio for months, because we knew Heartbreaker had to be something incredible. Everyone here has a lot of shit on the line. We all really want to be our best.”

Quiet has ended. A revolution is about to begin. Heart to Heart are ready for you. Are you ready for them?

The first thing that popped into my head when Will Muse got on the phone was “no way this kid is 16!”  With a voice, and a heart, that belies his youth, Muse is quickly becoming one of the most exciting talents to watch in 2020.

The music video for his first single, “I Can Change,” has been viewed more than two million times.  His sophomore release, “Spend,” was released in April of this year and received heavy airplay on Radio Disney.  This past month the singer/songwriter released his third single, an expressive song about falling in love called “Shape of Your Faith.”  He also created the Music for Wishes Foundation, which helps the Make-a-Wish Foundation grant wishes for children in his Somerset, Kentucky town.  Again…no way this kid is 16!

Will recently took some time out of his busy schedule (he attends school daily, concentrating on his music once homework is done) to talk to me about his new song and his plans for the new year.

MIKE SMITH:  What triggered your interest in music?

WILL MUSE:  When I was growing up my parents were always listening to a lot of cool, classic music.  It definitely influenced me.  From the age of three years old I was listening to Guns and Roses, Pearl Jam, Aerosmith…great classic rock like that.

MS:  How old were you when you wrote your first song?

WM:  When I wrote my first song I was about 12. 

MS:  Was it good enough, in your opinion, that you realized this was something you not only enjoyed but had a true talent for?  Something you not only could do but could do well?

WM:  Yes.  Songwriting has always been a great outlet for me to express myself and my feelings.  To explain my passions through music. 

MS:  As a singer/songwriter there are two different parts of what you do.  Do you have a preference between creating and performing?

WM:  I love to create music.  To create the lyrics and the melodies.  But I really love giving a good live performance.  That really excites me.  One time I was performing my first single, “I Can Change,” and a lady in the audience came up to me after the show.  She was crying because she had been so moved and so touched by the message of the song.  It’s moments like that that bring me joy with my music.

MS:  What was the inspiration for your latest single, “Shape of Your Faith?”

WM:  I wrote it with a fun, groovy and retro vibe in mind, musically.  Lyrically I wanted to talk about how love can take different forms in the way it shapes your life.

MS:  Can you talk about your Music for Wishes Foundation?

WM:  Back in 2017 I wanted to combine my passion for music with my passion for helping people.  Here where I live in Somerset, Kentucky I saw the need for a Make-a-Wish fundraiser so we put on an event that year that consisted of a concert, a dinner and a silent auction.  Besides myself, several other artists perform at the concerts.  This past year we had Pam Tillis, which gave me the opportunity to do a finale’ song with her.  We’ve raised over $85,000.00 to help grant wishes for the local children.

MS:  What’s next for you musically?

WM:  I have a couple more singles I hope to release including a really fun duet.  I’ve also shot a few more music videos and I have a tour coming up in the spring (2020).  I’ve got a lot of great things coming up that I’m really excited about.

“Tid The Season” 2019

Every Time I Die, Against Me, The Damned Things, Terror, Harms Way, All Get Out, Mercy Union

Friday, December 13^th, 2019

Riverworks, Buffalo, NY

Our score 4 out of 5 stars

Buffalo’s favorite sons Every Time I Die kicked off their two day “Tid The Season” event on December 13^th at the expansive Riverworks complex in Buffalo, NY. The annual event which this year was spread across two days features tons of great music, ice skating, curling, a bucking reindeer and on day two a full card of Pro Wrestling. With both nights of the event being sold out well in advance the venue quickly became packed with fans from all points of globe who were anxious to see what the ETID boys had in-store as a thank you to their rabid fan base.

With Riverworks now in its 3^rd year of hosting the annual Christmas show the venue and crew operate a tight ship as the night’s first group Mercy Union started promptly at 5pm. The New Jersey based group performed a brief upbeat set which helped warm fans up as they patiently made their way in from the cold and on to the venues large corridor and balcony. Leaving little time for the energy to wane indie rockers All Get Out would perform next. The group wasted little time getting acquainted with the growing crowd as they blasted through songs from their “Northport Sessions” release which the audience seemed to enjoy. Harms Way would follow taking the evening into a much heavy direction as vocalist James Pligge and company laid down a thunderous dirge of homegrown Chicago hardcore which almost instantly whipped the crowd into a circular frenzy for nearly the entire set. Hardcore veterans Terror would take the stage next serving as the explosive catalyst that the capacity crowd had anxiously been waiting for. Helmed by Buffalo native Scott Vogel the band easily put down one of, if not the best performance of the night. As the band blasted through songs from their seven album catalog, countless bodies made their way over the heavily manned security gate seemingly fueling the bands ferocity. Later on in the set Vogel stoked the coals even further buy demanding the crowd put the security to work which in turn caused even more bodies to fly towards the stage nearly decimating the yellow shirt clad staff.

The collective group known as The Damn Things followed for what would be the groups second ever Buffalo performance. Consisting of Anthrax’s Scott Ian, Alkaline Trio’s Dan Andriano, Fall Out Boy’s Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley and fronted by Every Time I Die vocalist Keith Buckley the group put on a really impressive set for a group who doesn’t play together all that often. Songs like “Cells”, “Omen” and “We’ve Got a Situation Here” sounded great and showcased each of the member’s musicality outside of their natural habitats. Filling the slot normally labeled as “Direct Support” was the punk rock group Against Me! which on paper may have had some scratching their heads given the aggressive sound of the other bands on the bill however the staple four piece group quickly alleviated any doubts people had as they performed songs like “I Was A Teenage Anarchist”, “Dead Friend” and “Cliché Guevara” before closing out the sixty minute set with the song “Black Me Out” from the groups 2014 album “Transgender Dysphoria Blues”. 

Closing out the night were event hosts Every Time I Die. As the group came to the stage cloaked behind a giant curtain where a fire place was being projected while Christmas music blared over the PA you could feel the anticipation come to a boiling point. As the curtain dropped and several air cannons and sparklers erupted the moment everyone was waiting for had finally arrived. The band opened the set their song “Floater” before bridging into the songs “Pelican” and “Glitches”. Guitarist Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams along with bassist Steve Micciche dominated the stage from all angles while drummer Clayton “Goose” Holyoak and vocalist Keith Buckley handle business from their prospective perch’s. The band who has been touring off and on this year in between writing for a new record sounded great as always and in between numbers thanks fans for their continued support over the years. To further show their support the band treated the crowd to a new song they have been working on titled “Back Distance”. Like much of the bands previous work fans quickly showed their acceptance and appreciation for the song as they kicked, swung and flailed throughout signaling their approval.

Having attended this event for the last few years I always wonder how ETID will top the previous years show. With 2019’s show being split over two days I wasn’t sure how things were going to play out or if the band was going to really give their all on the first night knowing how big of a day Saturday generally is. Not only did ETID and the rest of the bands on the bill all turn in solid performance they all seemed to give just a little extra due to the magnitude and energy of the crowd. Yes it would have been great to see some killer pro wrestling on both days of the bill but there has to be room to grow. Given the successful sell out of both days and ETID’s uncanny ability to one up themselves time after time my hope is that they continue to build on making a really fun, fan friendly event for us die hard ETID-iots.  

Every Time I Die Set List:

1.) Floater

2.) Pelican of the Desert

3.) Glitches

4.) Wanderlust

5.) Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space

6.) Holy Book of Dilema

7.) She’s My Rushmore

8.) Decayin’ With the Boys

9.) Thirst

10.) No Son of Mine

11.) Godspeed Us to Sea

12.) The New Black

13.) White Void

14.) We’rewolf

15.) It Remembers

16.) The Coin Has a Say

17.) Ebolarama

18.) INRIhab

19.) Bored Stiff

20.) Cities and Years

21.) Map Change

22.) Two Summers

23.) Idiot

24.) Fear and Trembling

25.) Back Distance

26.) Indian Giver

III SCHEDULED FOR RELEASE ON FEBRUARY 21, 2020 VIA CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER HERE

Coming on the heels of the recent announcement that DEMONS & WIZARDS will release their first album in 15 years III on February 21, 2020, the band is back to unveil the music video for their debut single “Diabolic.” The newest musical opus showcases the sound that fans have come to love from the band. The just released music video borrows stylistic elements from the album cover to tell the time old tale of good vs evil with Hansi Kürsch and Jon Schaffer as the main characters. Watch the video for ‘Diabolic’, which was created by iCODE Team here: https://youtu.be/frMkdkCV2D0.

Hansi Kürsch states: “‘Diabolic’ for sure is a musical statement and its message is very clear and precise: We take no prisoners! We had a hard time figuring out a proper opener to ‘III,’ but when ‘Diabolic’ took shape, we realized it was the perfect introduction to the album!”

Jon Schaffer adds: “This song is a sequel to ‘Heaven Denies’ and it is dark, heavy, vicious,melodic, and totally atmospheric, everything I love about songwriting and making records in eight minutes! ‘Diabolic’ has the right attitude to make a strong statement as the first song that people will hear after 15 years!”

DEMONS & WIZARDS is one of the most legendary collaborations in the history of heavy metal, uniting the talents of Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth) and Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) who are friends for nearly three decades.

DEMONS & WIZARDS musically embodies both musician’s stylistic trademarks and has resulted so far in two hugely celebrated studio albums, Demons & Wizards and Touched by the Crimson King. Both records have been reissued in 2019 on time with the group’s extremely successful return to the world’s stages. Now, the band presents III, a stunning monument of dynamic and powerful heavy metal that simply has all you would expect from these iconic musicians! III is epic, melodic, crushingly heavy, atmospheric, and all in between. 65 minutes of heavy metal mastery! III can now be pre-ordered in a variety of luxurious and limited formats: https://demonswizards.lnk.to/III.

The track-listing for III is:

01. Diabolic

02. Invincible

03. Wolves In Winter

04. Final Warning

05. Timeless Spirit

06. Dark Side Of Her Majesty

07. Midas Disease

08. New Dawn

09. Universal Truth

10. Split

11. Children Of Cain

The III recording line-up consists of:

Hansi Kürsch – Lead & Backing Vocals

Jon Schaffer – Rhythm and Lead Guitars, Bass Guitar, 6 and 12 string Acoustic Guitars, Mandolin, Keyboards, Backing Vocals

Guest Musicians on III:

Brent Smedley – Drums

Jim Morris – Additional Guitars, Backing Vocals

Jake Dreyer – Additional Guitars

Ruben Drake – Bass

Thomas Hackman, Olaf Senkbeil, John Jaycee Cuipers, Zakery Alexander, Jeff Brant, Todd Plant, Jerome Mazza – Backing Vocals

PA’dam chamber choir – Classical Choir

Los Angeles punk band BAD RELIGION and Chicago cult rock heroes ALKALINE TRIO have announced a North American co-headlining tour. The trek will kick off on March 26 in Los Angeles, California and wrap on April 19 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Tickets will go on sale Friday, December 13 at 12 p.m. local time.

“This tour is extra special,” explains BAD RELIGION co-songwriter and lead singer Greg Graffin. Not only are we celebrating our 40th anniversary, but we get to do it with ALKALINE TRIO, who are such a great band. [I am] really excited about this!”

“BAD RELIGION was one of my first loves,” says ALKALINE TRIO co-lead vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba. “I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard ‘Suffer’ around age 12. They are one of the very reasons I started playing punk rock music and continue to today. This tour is going to be epic on many levels. We’ve done Warped Tour and festival shows many times over the years, but this will be the first time it’s just us and I couldn’t be more thrilled!”

Tour dates:

Mar. 26 – Los Angeles, CA – The Palladium

Mar. 27 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl

Mar. 28 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theatre

Mar. 30 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom

Apr. 01 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s

Apr. 02 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey

Apr. 04 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues

Apr. 06 – Norfolk, VA – The NorVA

Apr. 07 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore

Apr. 08 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo RiverWorks

Apr. 10 – Asbury Park, NJ – Convention Hall

Apr. 11 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium

Apr. 13 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE

Apr. 14 – Toronto, ON – Rebel

Apr. 15 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore

Apr. 17 – Columbus, OH – Express Live!

Apr. 18 – Chicago, IL – Radius

Apr. 19 – Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Club

Coming up on 40 years as a band, BAD RELIGION formed in 1980 in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The band has become synonymous with intelligent and provocative West Coast punk rock and are considered one of the most influential and important bands in the genre. BAD RELIGION has continually pushed social boundaries and questioned authority and beliefs armed only with propulsive guitars, charging drumbeats, thoughtful lyrics and an undying will to inspire and provoke anyone who will listen.

The band recently released 17th studio album, “Age Of Unreason”. The critically acclaimed record offers a fiery and intensely relevant musical response to the times, with songs that address a myriad of socio-political maladies, including conspiracy theories, racist rallies, Trump‘s election, the erosion of the middle class, alternative facts and more. There is a stylistic consistency to the band’s iconic and influential sound — hard fast beats, big hooks and rousing choruses, yet each new song remains distinctive, utilizing composition, melody and lyrics to deliver a unique narrative consistent with the band’s longstanding humanist worldview.

Since emerging in 1996, ALKALINE TRIO have become one of punk rock’s most progressive and unique bands of the last decade, rousing a dedicated legion of passionate supporters with nine fan-adored albums and relentless worldwide touring. The band’s recent release, “Is This Thing Cursed?”, debuted No. 2 on the current alternative albums chart, No. 9 on the top current albums chart and No. 68 on the Billboard 200. The album hearkens to the creative process of the early days, when the band rehearsed in a tiny apartment on the edge of Chicago’s Humboldt Park in the band’s hometown. Produced and mixed by Cameron Webb (PENNYWISE, MOTÖRHEAD), it is the first ALKALINE TRIO album written almost entirely in the studio. According to the band, the album-making process was similar to that of “Maybe I’ll Catch Fire” — ALKALINE TRIO‘s darkly charged sophomore full-length.

Hello…it’s me!

A few weeks ago I noted in a review of a concert I attended that Todd Rundgren was CRIMINALLY NOT IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. The time has come to change that.

Apparently someone at the hall took notice because this year Rundgren is one of the nominees for election. Right now he’s trailing in the vote (apparently only five performers/bands are inducted each year) so I’m asking everyone of our readers to click HERE and vote for Rundgren. The man has been a major influence on the rock and roll scene, both as a performer and a producer, for almost five decades. He deserves a place among the very best because he is among the very best. Thank you!!

Los Angeles, CA — Romantic Rock’s highly anticipated Punk Rock & Paintbrushes Holiday Art Show makes its return to Los Angeles later this month, with a grand opening night and red carpet artist reception onSaturday, December 21 at Self Help Graphics & Art. This annual art exhibition celebrates the fine art and photography of creatives who share a passion for both music and art, and this year has partnered with Vans Footwear to give back to the community through “The Art Of Shoes.” 

“The Art Of Shoes” will feature one-of-a-kind designs painted onto Vans shoes by Punk Rock & Paintbrushes Holiday Art Show participating artists and other iconic punk rock musicians. Each pair of Vans shoes will be auctioned off, starting at $200 per pair, with all proceeds benefiting The Sidewalk Project, a Los Angeles non-profit whose initiative is to enrich the lives of the Los Angeles houseless community. “Each band and artist that is a part of this project is giving their time to support both The Sidewalk Projectand Punk Rock & Paintbrushes, and we are SO honored to have every single artist joining us,” says Emily T. Nielsen, founder of both Romantic Rock and Punk Rock & Paintbrushes. “Every artist on this project is connected to us and that is what this is about…the punk rock ART community.” 

Musicians and artists participating in “The Art Of Shoes” at the Punk Rock & Paintbrushes Holiday Art Show include: Mike Ness of Social Distortion, Noodles of The Offspring, Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, Matt Skiba of blink-182 and Alkaline Trio, AlisonMosshart of The Kills, Dan Pawlovich of Panic! At The Disco, Warren Fitzgerald of The Vandals, Eric Melvin of NOFX, ChristianJacobs of The Aquabats, Jennie Cotterill of Bad Cop / Bad Cop, Pete Dee of The Adicts, Matt Hensley of Flogging Molly, Eric Wilson of Sublime, Jason Cruz of Strung Out, Jared Watson of DIrty Heads, Jen Razavi of The Bombpops, Johnny Ness, Soma Snakeoil, Steve Caballero, ChadCantColor, and Chris Shary + LoriHerbst. 

These wearable works of art will be available online for early bidding starting on Saturday, December 14 at www.32auctions.com/SIDEWALK. On December 21 at the 

Punk Rock & Paintbrushes Holiday Art Show opening night, the shoes will be on display with updated prices reflecting the online bids. The auction will be open for onsite live bidding until 11pm on December 21st, and again the next day from 11am to 4pm. On December 22 at 4pm the auction will close, and shoes will be awarded to the highest bidders. 

Punk Rock & Paintbrushes Holiday Art Show will feature multiple original works, prints and more from select artists in the music community including Tim Armstrong, Matt Henlsey, Carla Harvey, Jim Lindberg,AlisonMosshart, Soma Snakeoil, Natalia Fabia, Johnny Ness, Sara Wright, and many others, along with music from special guest DJs including Noodles of The Offspring, Jonny “Two Bags” Wickersham of Social Distortion, Stacey Dee of Bad Cop / Bad Cop, and Joe Sib of SideOneDummy Records. The night will also boast a full cocktail bar, a coffee booth featuring Oakland Coffee, red carpet, photo booth, live body painting, and more. 

To RSVP to this all ages event, please visit: https://prpb2019.eventbrite.com The Punk Rock & Paintbrushes art exhibition will also be open on Sunday, December 22 from 11am to 5pm, and will feature musical performances from Warren Fitzgerald (of The Vandals) and friends of “The Sidewalk Project,” DJ RyToast of Tyrone’s Jacket, Bent Duo and State To State. 

Sponsors for Punk Rock & Paintbrushes Holiday Art Show include: Oakland Coffee (founded by Green Day), AO Hemp (owned/founded by Nathen Maxwell of Flogging Molly), Punk Rock Bowling, The Sidewalk Project, KROQ, Vans Footwear, and Jägermeister.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Florida Man is arrested for disorderly intoxication and lewd acts with historical statues. 

While originally hailing from New Jersey, FIRE DEUCE frontman Cleveland Stever has become an honorary member of the infamous “Florida Man” alumni whose esteemed members include the guy who killed his imaginary friend, the guy who called 911 after his cat was denied entry into strip club and the guy high on flakka who broke into jail to visit friends. Stever joins the ranks after waking up in a Tampa area jail cell for dangerously excessive drinking and defiling a monument. Fueled by the reckless pounding of White Claws combined with unrelenting humidity, an embarrassingly impressive lack of self-control and as he states, “for being too goddamn patriotic,” Stever finds himself at the wrong end of the law, and as a result has to raise bail money before he’s shanked. 

Facing time in the slammer and increased pressure from the suits at his record label to recoup their money he spent on White Claw, Stever has abandoned all self-respect and what’s left of his dignity for his next record. Knowing firsthand that playing metal and rock pay squat these days, he’s revived FIRE DEUCE and is jumping on the country-pop bandwagon. 

Today, FIRE DEUCE has released a video for his first single, appropriately named, “White Claw,” which recounts both Stever’s love of that sweet, sweet hard seltzer and his misadventures that landed him in all this bullshit in the first place. View it now before the cease-and-desist letter is sent. The audio single will be available on all streaming services on November 29th.

WATCH THE VIDEO FOR “WHITE CLAW”: https://youtu.be/tvB2wYr8W3c

FIRE DEUCE’s new EP, Lords of Diesel, will be released on January 10th. Pre-order for the EP will launch on Friday, November 29^th at www.EvilInk.com. 

Featuring Jørgen Munkeby of Shining
Watch the Cinematic New Video HERE!

Adam Nergal Darski has been a fixture in the music industry for years. As the frontman of black/death metal spearhead Behemoth, Nergal has been known to preach unholy sermons, praise Satan and sing about explicit blasphemy. Naturally, the next step was to channel those themes into another genre commonly dubbed as the Devil’s music – blues. ME AND THAT MAN is exactly that – Nergal’s solo project will surprise and bewitch the listener. The visionary creative founded the band in an effort to showcase his true ability to adapt to any genre.

Released in 2017, ME AND THE MAN’s debut album, Songs of Love and Death, delivered thirteen stunning pieces full of multifaceted riffs and honest lyrics. In summer 2018, a line-up change followed, but Nergal’s solo project was far from over. Stay tuned for more details coming very soon.

ME AND THAT MAN live: New Tour, New Songs, Same Shit 2020 Tour w/ Frank The Baptist, Mulk

02.04.20 PL – Wroclaw / Zaklete Rewiry

03.04.20 PL – Szczecin / Kosmos

04.04.20 PL – Gdansk / Stary Manez

05.04.20 PL – Torun / Lizard King

15.04.20 PL – Warszawa / Palladium

16.04.20 PL – Krakow / ZetPeTe

17.04.20 PL – Poznan / Tama

18.04.20 PL – Gostyn / Hutnik 

19.04.20 PL – Katowice / P23

20.06.20 FR – Clisson / Hellfest

21.06.20 BE – Dessel / Graspop Festival

25.06.20 ES – Rivas-vaciamadrid / Auditorio Miguel Rios

26.06.20 ES – Madrid / Rock The Night Festival

09.07.20 SE – Gävle / Gefle Metal Festival

05.08.20 CZ – Jaromer / Brutal Assault More tba

Beginning April 23 in San Francisco, CA | Tickets on Sale this Friday, December 6

New Album, Macro, Out Now via Napalm Records – Get Your Copy HERE!

In support of their masterful latest full-length album, Macro, Ukrainian progressive groove metal front runners JINJER have just announced their next headline tour of North America. The tour, dubbed the “Tour of Consciousness”, will present an exciting line-up – featuring support from metal mainstays Suicide Silence and emerging heavy-hitters Toothgrinder. The tour will begin on April 23 in San Francisco, CA and will come to an end in Denver, CO on May 23. Additionally, the tour will include stops at massive festivals such as Sonic Temple and Epicenter.

Tickets will go on sale to the public this coming Friday, December 6 at 10:00 AM local time via all individual venues. Pre-sales for Citi members are available today, and pre-sales via Ticketmaster, Live Nation and local venues will be available tomorrow, December 4, beginning at 10:00 AM local time.

Tickets and VIP packages will be available at http://jinjer-metal.com/

JINJER bassist Eugene Abdukhanov says: “We are simply over the moon! Our last tour of North America was real fire and now we’re coming back to give you even more! More new songs, better sound and stages, and louder shows! On top of everything, we are proud to have our friends from Suicide Silence and Toothgrinder on board for the whole run. It will be fantastic.”

CURRENTLY CONFIRMED NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINE TOUR DATES
Support from: Suicide Silence and Toothgrinder
4/23 – San Francisco, CA @ The Filmore
4/24 – Los Angeles, CA @ Belasco Theater
4/25 – Las Vegas, NV @ House Of Blues
4/26 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Pressroom            
4/28 – Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
4/29 – Dallas, TX @ House Of Blues
4/30 – Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall               
5/2 – Charlotte, NC @ Epicenter **Festival
5/3 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa                       
5/5 – Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw
5/6 – Boston, MA @ House Of Blues
5/7 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Filmore Silver Spring
5/10 – Pensacola, FL @ Vinyl             
5/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theater
5/13 – Nashville, TN @ TBA               
5/15 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple **Festival
5/16 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
5/17 – Chicago, IL @ House Of Blues           
5/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Filmore Minneapolis
5/20 – Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater                 
5/22 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater
5/23 – Denver, CO @ Summit

JINJER is currently out on their nearly completely sold out tour of Europe, performing songs cut from Macro and fan favorites. See below for all currently confirmed European tour dates.

EUROPEAN MACRO TOUR 2019 – Remaining Dates
Special Guest: The Agonist
Support from: Khroma, Space Of Variations
03.12.19 UK – Manchester / Academy 2 *SOLD OUT*
04.12.19 UK – Bristol / Thekla *SOLD OUT*
06.12.19 FR – Paris / La Machine *SOLD OUT*
07.12.19 FR – Annemasse / Chateau Rouge
08.12.19 FR – Toulouse / Le Rex *SOLD OUT*
10.12.19 ES – Murcia / Garaje
11.12.19 ES – Madrid / Mon
12.12.19 ES – Barcelona / Salamandra *UPGRADE*
13.12.19 FR – Toulon / Omega Live
14.12.19 IT – Milan / Magazzini Generali *SOLD OUT*
15.12.19 CH – Zürich / Dynamo
16.12.19 DE – Munich / Backstage Werk
16.12.19 AT – Graz / Dom Im Berg
18.12.19 AT – Vienna / Simm City *UPGRADE*
19.12.19 HR – Zagreb / Tvornica Kulture *UPGRADE*
21.12.19 SK – Bratislava / Majestic
22.12.19 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra
# w/ The Agonist only

MACRO AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2020
03.03.20 AU – Adelaide / Lion Arts Factory
04.03.20 AU – Canberra / The Basement
05.03.20 AU – Melbourne / Max Watts
06.03.20 AU – Sydney / Manning
07.03.20 AU – Brisbane / The Zoo

MACRO OVER LATIN AMERICA TOUR 2020
10.03.20 SV – San Salvador / Buhos
11.03.20 GT – Guatemala City / Rock Ol Vuh
13.03.20 MX – Monterrey / Cafe Iguana
14.03.20 MX – Guadalajara / Foro Independencia
15.03.20 MX – Mexico City / Hell & Heaven Festival
17.03.20 CR – San Jose / Peppers Club
18.03.20 CO – Bogota / Ace Of Spades
19.03.20 PE – Lima / La Oficina Bar
21.03.20 CL – Santiago / Blondie
22.03.20 AR – Teatro Flores
24.03.20 UY – Montevideo / Blast
27.03.20 BR – Limeira / Bar Da Montanha
28.03.20 BR – Sao Paulo / Carioca Club