Album Review: Soundgarden “King Animal” 35th Anniversary Vinyl

“King Animal” 35th Anniversary Vinyl

Soundgarden

Republic Records

Producer: Adam Kasper/Soundgarden

2 LP’s

Tracks: 13

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Soundgarden’s sixth and final album “King Animal” is the latest in a series in specially packaged re-releases from the platinum selling band which celebrates the groups 35 year career. Like the previous three releases from this series “King Animal” comes pressed on 180 gram colored vinyl and is packaged in full color, dual gate fold sleeves complete with album liner notes.

The final release from Soundgarden after the group’s reformation in 2010 “King Animal” picks up roughly where its predecessor “Down On The Upside” leaves off. Not it in theme but in stylistic approach as the album features a wide range of textures and sounds giving listeners a smorgasbord of musical ear candy to digest. The latest LP release comes pressed on double white/yellow marble 180 gram vinyl which gives the albums 13 tracks a balanced warmness as it plays through your speakers. Tracks like the rawkus “Non-State Actor” and the eerie “Bones of Birds” were personal highlights as were the fast paced “Attrition” and the fanatical thumping of “Eyelids Mouth”.

Being this is not the albums first vinyl treatment aside from the addition of 180 gram vinyl it doesn’t really offer anything that the previous release didn’t already provide. This seems to be a common occurrence with these anniversary releases as none of them have offered anything extra to help entice buyers to grab another copy. With the various bonus content that was made available previously from this release I think it would have been an ideal time to house it all under one nicely packed anniversary collection however, this was not the case. Don’t get me wrong re-releases can be a really cool thing and like the subsequent 3 the packaging is second to none however they really should have given fans a reason to purchase them and “King Animal” is no exception. If you have this release already you may want to skip this one however if you haven’t gotten yourself a copy and just want the core album with no fancy extras, Then grab this anniversary edition as you won’t be disappointed.   

Track Listing:

1.) Been Away Too Long

2.) Non-State Actor

3.) By Crooked Steps

4.) A Thousand Days Before

5.) Blood on the Valley Floor

6.) Bones of Birds

7.) Taree

8.) Attrition

9.) Black Saturday

10.) Halfway There

11.) Worse Dreams

12.) Eyelids Mouth

13.) Rowing

 

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Damn Your Eyes Bassist Oddie McLaughlin Discusses the Bands New Album “Kill The Outside”

New York based heavy metal group Damn Your Eyes have just released a brand new 10 track album titled “Kill The Outside”. The band which consists of former We Are The Enemy and Bonesmith members along with current Black Water Rising bassist Oddie McLaughlin have come together to forge a new musical path which draws deeply from the each of the members own personal experiences. Media Mikes had the chance to speak with Oddie recently about the creation of the new album, its deep personal meaning and what it like balancing duties between two bands.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us about some of the work that went in to the new album “Kill The Outside”?

Oddie McLaughlin: Artie (Alexander) and I have played together off and on since we were first out of high school. We were always writing or learning different material. We recorded I think five songs with this drummer about fifteen years ago and then went our separate ways. Two of those songs from that period we kept. Basically it was just the riffs as there was no melody or vocal lines. That’s really where everything started. I got a call on day asking if I would be interested in starting something new and I said yes so shortly after we started writing songs for this release. When I got together with Artie after talking he already had few songs laid out including the two riffs we originally worked on. He had added some new ideas and things just started rolling. The writing for this album has been amazing and things have come together fairly easy. The songs all fell together nicely. Once we got our singer Kenny (Vincent Jr.) things moved even quicker. It’s just been a great process.

AL: The songs all seem very personal. Were the lyrics pulled from members past experiences?

OM: Oh yeah. Most of it is from Artie and some of it is from the other guys. They pulled from their experiences in the music business to how the world is going today. We expressed our emotions related to some of those events along with a bunch of other things. It’s definitely a record that deals with what is going on around us and personally.

AL: Do you ever find it hard to dig in to some of those emotions?

OM: No. We feel that if we put this stuff out there that it might help someone. Someone might see that they aren’t the only one feeling a certain way. I think it’s a great avenue to get it across to people especially metal fans.

AL: Along with personal lyrics the album also features a variety of musical styles. Was this something the band did consciously or was it something that occurred more naturally?

OM: I think it was something that happened organically. All the guys in the band like different styles of music but at heart we are total metal heads. We like a certain tone which has come from each of us evolving our sounds over the years. We all spent time on our own to craft just the right tone to get to where we are now. That’s what we are in to. The genre of music comes naturally for as we like to chug it out in order for that melody to come with a groove chorus or a main verse riff. We all have been doing this for some time now and we have a solid process which allows for the creation of material to occur fairly easily.

AL: What are the bands plans to tour in support of the album?

OM: We all work regular jobs and a couple of us have kids so planning a tour can be a little tricky. We are always willing and ready to get out there but for now have just a few shows set up to help things get going. I think this is a great band with great songs. I feel that no matter where we play we will go over well and we hope to be able to play as many shows as possible. Playing live is what we absolutely love. Practice, Recording and all that stuff is great but nothing beats performing live on stage.

AL: You also play in Black Water Rising. How do you go about splitting time between the two groups?

OM: It can be tough sometimes balancing two bands and your own personal life. You have to be really careful with scheduling in order not to double book yourself. Just last month this happened where I played with both bands in one night. I played an early show with Damn Your Eyes in Long Island and then had to drive to New Jersey for a show with Black Water Rising. I made it in plenty of time and something like that doesn’t happen often. When you’re booking you have to do things so far in advance that you forget and things get piled up.

For more information on Damn Your Eyes visit their official Facebook page here 

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Album Review: Soundgarden “Down On The Upside” Anniversary LP

“Down On The Upside” 35th Anniversary Vinyl

Soundgarden

AM Records

Producer: Soundgarden

Co-Producer: Adam Kasper

2 LP’s

Tracks: 16

Our Score: 3 out of 5 stars

Soundgarden’s Platinum selling 1996 release “Down On The Upside” is the latest album from the bands catalog to be included in the Seattle natives 35 year Anniversary Collection. The third in a series of vinyl releases commemorating the bands career the 16 track, 2 LP set is being pressed on limited edition 180 gram colored vinyl and comes packaged in a full color, dual gatefold sleeve complete with album liner notes.

Though this is not the first time “Down On The Upside” has appeared on vinyl it is certainly the brightest. Right away listeners will notice the heavy weight, 180 gram, limited edition Orange and Purple marble pressings which play host to some of Sound Garden’s biggest hits of the mid 90’s. Listeners will obviously want to check out “Pretty Noose”, “Blow Up The Outside World” and “Burden In My Hand” but I also would recommend “Rhinosaur” and “Dusty” as well. Visually the release pulls out all the stops as the orange and purple vinyl feature subtle marble swirls which look really cool when spinning on your turntable. The gatefold packaging is also nicely done and is printed on heavy weight card stock fitting of a special release.

Though the album is nice to look at I found it to be pretty lax in the listening dept. The sound quality was ok but it was certainly dated and could have benefited from a remix and re-master. In 1997 the band released a greatest hits compilation including the songs “Karaoke” and “Bleed Together” which we outtakes from the “Down On The Upside” sessions however, neither of those songs were included here making for a big miss in my book. The last disappointment was the fact that no digital download codes were included thus making it slightly difficult to listen on the go. If you purchased a copy of this record upon its initial release then I say stick with that and skip over this re-release but, if this is an album that has been on your list to pick up now is a great time while it is available in a limited edition release.       

Track Listing:

1.) Pretty Noose

2.) Rhinosaur

3.) Zero Chance

4.) Dusty

5.) Ty Cobb

6.) Blow Up The Outside World

7.) Burden In My Hand

8.) Never Named

9.) Applebite

10.) Never The Machine Forever

11.) Tighter and Tighter

12.) No Attention

13.) Switch Opens

14.) Overfloater

15.) An Unkind

16.) Boot Camp

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Harry and the Potters Paul and Joe DeGeorge Talk About Their New Album “Lumos”

Wizard Rock originators Harry and the Potters have been performing their signature brand of magic infused rock since 2002. Consisting of brothers Joe and Paul DeGeorge the duo have performed over 800 shows at various libraries, rock clubs, art spaces, bookstores, basements, and all ages’ venues all over the world. The band’s latest offering “Lumos” is the first studio album in 13 years to be released by the group and Media Mikes had the chance to speak with the brothers recently about its creation, the staying power of Harry Potter and the bands current tour.

Adam Lawton: Can you tell us a little bit about the new album?

Paul DeGeorge: Despite not having released a new studio album in the last 13 years we have still been pretty active touring. We felt that if we were going to be able to continue to exist in this current political climate that it would be nice to have some songs in the set that reflect the current reality. Having never actually written substantially about the seventh Harry Potter book we felt this was a good opportunity to revisit that. In book seven things really come to the fore with Harry and his friends fighting against fascism and exclusion in the wizard world. It felt really relevant to us on that level and we wanted to bring that to our live shows.

Joe DeGeorge: We have a unique position to take a perspective on this as two Harry Potters commenting on our world which has direct parallels to the world we are living in now.

AL: I assume you wrote a lot of this new music more recently?

JD: We set aside some time specifically to write and record this record. Paul doesn’t live close by so it’s been harder the last few years to casually work together as a lot of our time when we are together is touring or visiting with family.

PD: We had set aside a few weeks to put things together for this as we did have some ideas going in but, it wasn’t until last year actually that we carved things out.

AL: Can you tell us about your tour which kicks off June 20th?

JD: We mostly will be hitting libraries much like we have in the past. I am really looking forward to getting out there as playing libraries is a big part of why we started this band. We could play for kids and have it be their first rock show. On this tour we are going to be hitting a bunch of new places both here in the states and in Canada so that should be fun.

PD: Accessibility has always been important to us. We didn’t just want to play for young people and their parents but we also wanted to reach those kids who felt excluded by an age restricted music scene that was 18 or 21+. Some cities are more inclusive however, by touring libraries we are performing in places which are meant for everybody.

AL: With your music being solely based around Harry Potter do you ever feel the need to step outside of that?

PD: Not for this band. We do have other musical projects that we are involved in so if we want to do something else we just start a different band. We have one band that all we sing about are clams. Specifically hard shell clams regional to the North-Eastern seaboard.

AL: With the last film being released in 2011 what do you feel contributes to the staying power/appeal of Harry Potter?  

JD: I think what is so impressive about these stories is that they have such a far reach. It has become a cultural touch stone for the generation of people who grew up reading the books. They are sharing these stories that affected them and how they were markers of their own coming of age with the next generation.

PD: The continued popularity doesn’t surprise me in the least. Look at Star Wars for instance. If you look at music there are lots of bands who continue to play in 2019 that first started 50 years ago and who are just as popular today as they were then. Despite the absence of actual new material I have seen an uptick in the corporate side Harry Potter such as the merchandise and the creation of the parks (which I think are great). These types of things have certainly helped keeps things going. A lot of our fans aren’t really interested in that side of things as we have our own unique crowd.

AL: You both have other projects that you work on. Can you tell us what you currently have going on with those?

JD: I play in a band called Down Town Boys which is sort of this leftist type punk band. Our last record come out in 2017 called “Cost of Living”. Paul owns and run a shop in Kansas with my wife called Wonder Fair that deals with art, art supplies and stationary.

AL: What do you feel is the most rewarding part of taking you music out on the road for people to experience?

PD: It’s a big opportunity to connect with people. It’s great to be able to be a meaning part in people lives. Playing to young kids is such an honor as for a lot of kids we will be their first concert so that’s really great and something we take very seriously.

For more info on the band visit www.Harryandthepotters.com  

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Album Review: Rammstein “Untitled”

“Untitled”

Rammstein

Caroline

Producer: Olsen Involtini w/ Rammstein

2 LP’s

Tracks: 11

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Rammstein’s long awaited seventh album is finally here! The untitled release hit the shelves in the United States on May 17 via Caroline and consists of 11 new tracks produced by Olsen Involtini and the Rammstein. The album which features the singles “Radio” and “Deutschland” is the German based bands first studio album since 2009’s “LIEBE IST FÜR ALLE DA” which peaked at number 13 on the U.S Billboard 200.

After a 10 year recording hiatus German industrialist’s Rammstein are back with a hard hitting package of 11 new songs which certainly make up for the bands extended absence. It doesn’t matter you go for the CD, Digital Download or the 2 LP version (like us) you will not be disappointed. Prior to this release I had always gotten my Rammstein fix in CD or Digital forms. Given the nature of the music I had always felt it would sound best on these formats. With untitled though I decided to give the 2 LP version of the release a try. Needless to say I was not disappointed as the vinyl delivered! The heavy weight vinyl set at 45rpm’s gives the guitars and drums a tight, robust sound that mixed nicely with the electronic and vocal elements of the record. Tracks like “Radio”, “Sex” and, “Weit Weg” are all heavy hitters that will get you moving while more subdued tracks “Was Ich Liebe” and “Hallomann” paint eerie landscapes that could easily be the soundtrack to your favorite thriller or horror film.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder and that is definitely my sentiment as it pertains to the latest offering from Rammstein. The band along with producer Olsen Involtini has put together a great sounding release that is diverse enough to allow for consecutive listens time and time again. The double LP version of the release offers a little something extra for fans as it included 6 beautiful prints of the band (one for each member) printed on high quality paper stock suitable for framing. The only negative I found was that the LP version did also contain a digital version thus making it impossible (without a second purchase) to obtain a mobile version of the album. If this is something you can do without I highly recommend the vinyl however, if you are on the go and don’t have a lot of time to sit down and listen to an album then the digital or CD version of the release will still provide you an equally enjoyable listen.  

Track Listing:

Side A

1.) Deutschland

2.) Radio

3.) Zeig Dich

Side B

1.) Auslander

2.) Sex

3.) Puppe

Side C

1.) Was Ich Liebe

2.) Diamant

3.) Weit Weg

Side D

1.) Tattoo

2.) Hallomann

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SEBASTIAN BACH TO PLAY 1ST SKID ROW ALBUM IN ENTIRETY IN CELEBRATION OF 30TH ANNIVERSARY ON UPCOMING TOUR

CELEBRATES 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF SKID ROW’S LANDMARK, SELF-TITLED DEBUT WITH U.S. TOUR TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY!

Revered vocal powerhouse SEBASTIAN BACH will celebrate the 30th anniversary of SKID ROW’s acclaimed, self-titled breakout debut album with a U.S. Tour where he’ll be performing the record in its entirety plus other songs from his celebrated catalog. The tour will kick off in Nashville, TN on August 30th and will end in Pinellas Park, FL on November 2nd. Tickets and VIP Meet N’ Greet upgrades go on sale Friday, June 7th at http://www.sebastianbach.com/. 

In a statement from Bach: “In 1989 we put out the first record ‘Skid Row’. 30 years later, people still dig the music we created in a garage all those years ago. In commemoration of this 30th Anniversary digital deluxe release, my band is going to perform the first Skid Row record, in its entirety, on the road, LIVE this fall! It’s going to be fun to do something that has never been done live before! We are looking forward to seeing you all for this one time event! Note: This concert is 100% live in every way! All real! All the time! No tapes! No fakes! Come and see a real rock band while they still exist! We give it to you straight from the heart ‘cuz that’s the only way we know how! See you on the road!” 

Released in the winter of 1989, SKID ROW’s self-titled record is one of heavy rock’s most successful debut albums, landing in Billboard’s Top 10 and going on to sell millions of copies around the world.  The record transformed the band from local New Jersey quintet into a global phenomenon whose rebellious attitude and jaw-dropping talent set the bar and tone for rock music in the late 80’s and early 90’s. SKID ROW’s singles, “18 and Life,” “Youth Gone Wild” and “I Remember You,” are among the decade’s most recognizable rock anthems that still receive heavy airplay on radio stations across the country. The group again achieved commercial success with its second record Slave to the Grind (1991) certified multi-platinum, reaching number one on the Billboard 200.  

SEBASTIAN BACH is recognized globally as a vocalist, television star, actor and beyond! Bach hit the spotlight in the late 1980’s as the iconic frontman for mainstream heavy metal / hard rock act SKID ROW. Since his departure from Skid Row in the mid 90’s, SEBASTIAN BACH still remains one of the most relevant rock figures in pop culture today, with over 20 million records sold, three solo records, network television appearances on AXS.tv, MTV, VH1 and CMT, guest appearances on “Gilmore Girls,” “Trailer Park Boys,” “Californication” and other popular television shows, and several acting stints on and off Broadway. BACH’s last album, Give ‘Em Hell, impressively, landed on the U.S. Top Hard Rock and Top 200 Billboard charts, proving his prowess decades after his initial debut. BACH’s critically acclaimed Harper Collins memoir “18 And LIFE on Skid Row” was released December 6, 2016. 

SEBASTIAN BACH’s band is : 

Drums: Bobby Jarzombek (HALFORD, FATES WARNING) 2005-2019

Bass: Rob DeLuca (UFO, SPREAD EAGLE) 2005-2019

Guitar / Backing Vocals: Brent Woods (VINCE NEIL, CHEVY METAL) 2012-2019 

SEBASTIAN BACH Tour Dates:
Aug 29 – Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
Aug 30 –  Anderson, SC – William A Floyd Amphitheater
Aug 31 –  Charlotte, NC – Amos Southend
Sep 2 – Huntsville, AL – Side Tracks Music Hall
Sep 3 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s
Sep 4 – Cleveland, OH – Phantasy
Sep 6 – Stafford Springs, CT – Palace Theater
Sep 7 – Block Island, RI – Ballard’s (afternoon show)
Sep 9 – Laconia, NH – Granite State Music Hall
Sep 10 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s
Sep 11 – Portland, ME – Aura
Sep 13 – Harrison, OH – The Blue Note
Sep 14 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
Sep 15 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection
Sep 18 – Kansasville, WI – 1175
Sep 19 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
Sep 20 – Lombard, IL – Brauer House
Sep 21 – Dubuque, IA – Q Casino
Sep 22 – Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall
Sep 25 – New York, NY – Sony Hall
Sep 26 – Harrisburg, PA – XL Live
Sep 27 – Lynchburg, VA – Phase 2
Sep 28 – Waterloo, NY – The Vine at Del Lago
Sep 29 – Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s
Oct 1 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
Oct 3 – Wichita, KS – WAVE
Oct 5 – Golden, CO – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse (Outdoor)
Oct 6 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
Oct 10 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage
Oct 11 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go Go (Night 1)
Oct 12 – Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go Go (Night 2)
Oct 17 – Roswell, NM – Liberty Theater
Oct 18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
Oct 19 – Waco, TX – The Backyard
Oct 20 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill
Oct 22 – Houston, TX – House of Blues
Oct 23 – San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater
Oct 24 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
Oct 25 – Lafayette, LA – The District
Oct 26 – Miramar Beach, FL – Village Door Music Hall
Oct 28 – Miami, FL – KISS Kruise Pre Party @ Double Tree
Oct 30 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock
Oct 31 – Savannah, GA – Victory North
Nov 1 – Ft. Myers, FL – The Ranch
Nov 2 – Pinellas Park, FL – England Brothers Park 

For More Information:http://www.sebastianbach.com/

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KNOCKED LOOSE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM “A DIFFERENT SHADE OF BLUE”

COMING AUGUST 23 ON PURE NOISE RECORDS

NEW VIDEO & SINGLE “…AND STILL I WANDER SOUTH”

Knocked Loose have announced their hotly anticipated new album, A Different Shade of Blue — a mammoth of a sophomore release and massive step forward for the band and for hardcore and metal as we know it.  Recorded by producer Will Putney, the new LP was approached slower and more methodically. Abandoning the previous ‘live in studio’ recording approach for something more deliberate, the band cranked out twelve new tracks that deal with all manner of anger, especially loss in lieu of absence. Vocalist and lyricist Bryan Garris found catharsis as well as some of his most intensely personal lyrics to date.

Lead single “…And Still I Wander South” was revealed today which Garris explains, “is about wanting to move on, or better yourself for whatever reason, but you keep going back to the same old thing. Whether that be depression or whatever you may be going through. You always wander back to the same mindset.”

WATCH & SHARE “…AND STILL I WANDER SOUTH” VIA YOUTUBEAVAILABLE NOW ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES

Knocked Loose, comprised of the young Cole Crutchfield (rhythm guitar), Bryan Garris (vocals), Isaac Hale (lead guitar), Kevin Otten (bass) and Kevin Kaine (drums), have taken a huge leap, moving from upstart hardcore-influenced favorites to bonafide key figures of the genre. Their 2016 debut, Laugh Trackswas a revelation, taking the world by storm and establishing the band as a major force spanning genres and generations.

Forged on musical bonds built at an early age, Knocked Loose came together in the small yet relatively formidable hardcore / punk scene of the greater Louisville, KY area. Though the scene was relatively strong, a lack of available bands, touring parties and scarcity of gigs forced diversity- mixing genres and challenging young ears with new ideas, approaches and styles. That diversity­ – death metal bands mingling with youth crew, screamo on the same bill as Am-Rep-style bands and on and on- created the basis of Knocked Loose musically and the genesis for their approach, an amalgam of heavy influences that never commits to any singular style but maintains a loyalty to the hardcore tradition. 

Knocked Loose is the obvious evolution to decades of bands like Integrity, Disembodied, Botch and others- total and complete integration between metal and hardcore into a singular, seamless entity. Since its inception, hardcore has evolved from the germ of “Slayer actually has punk parts” to crossover to the addition of everything from death metal to rap to shoegaze. Knocked Loose is the proverbial fish walking on land- the end of the evolution, and possibly the apex of the metallic hardcore punk movement thus far. Ably combining the teeth-clenching hatred of a hardcore band with the unmitigated technicality and ferocity of metal, Knocked Loose have conceived state of the art hatred- a true melting pot of ideas that combines pit-ready riffs, memorable songwriting and deviously clandestine melody into a boiling-over pot of vitriol.

While some musical influences are easily identified – Pantera, Hatebreed, Obituary and more ­- the band’s palette and canvas has expanded by leaps and bounds, incorporating Gothenburg-style death metal (At the Gates, early In Flames), slam metal (Devourment, Dying Fetus), blood-thirsty thrash (Sodom, Kreator), black metal (Craft) and the mind-boggling complexity of latter noisy hardcore like Snapcase and Bloodlet. Clocking in at a lean and mean 37 minutes and featuring guest vocals from Emma Boster of Dying Wish and Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die, A Different Shade of Blue grabs the listener by the throat from the jump and slowly tightening that grip for the duration.

A Different Shade of Blue is due on TKTKTK via Pure Noise Records this August 23. For further info and pre-order details, visit here.

Pre-order “A Different Shade of Blue” Here

Track Listing:

1 – Belleville

2 – Trapped In The Grasp Of A Memory

3 – A Serpent’s Touch (Ft. Emma Boster)

4 – By The Grave

5 – In The Walls

6 – Guided By The Moon

7 – Mistakes Like Fractures

8 – Forget Your Name (Ft. Keith Buckley)

9 – Road 23

10 – …And Still I Wander South

11 – Denied By Fate

12 – Misguided Son

Knocked Loose Live Dates:

05/23: Haarlem, Netherlands – Patronaat

05/24: London, UK – Islington Academy

05/25: Leeds, UK – Slam Dunk

05/26: Hatfield, UK – Slam Dunk

05/27: Paris, France – Gibus

05/28: Karlsruhe, Germany – Stadtmitte

05/29:  Berlin, Germany – Cassiopeia

05/30: Leipzig, Germany – Conne Island

05/31: Antwerp, Belgium – Metal Fest

06/01: Köln, Germany – Club Volta

06/02: München, Germany – Feierwerk

06/03:  Aarau, Switzerland – Kiff

06/05: Columbus, OH – Express Live *

06/07: Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cove at Harrah’s Casino*

06/08: Madison, WI – The Sylvee*

06/10: Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom*

06/11: Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom*

06/12: San Antonio, TX – The Tobin Center*

06/14: New Orleans, LA – The Fillmore*

06/15: Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company*

06/16: Augusta, GA – Bell Auditorium*

06/18: Chattanooga, TN – The Signal*

06/20: Raleigh, NC – The Ritz*

06/21: North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues*

06/22: Richmond, VA – The National*

06/23: Poughkeepsie, NY – Mid Hudson Civic Center*

06/27: Portland, ME – State Theatre*

06/28: Providence, RI – The Strand Theatre*

07/28: Montreal, QB – Heavy Montreal

08/23: La Grange, KY (Oldham Country) – CityPlace Expo Center (Record Release Show)

* w/ A Day To Remember

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RAMMSTEIN NEW ALBUM OUT NOW

One-Day-Only Rammstein Pop-Up Tattoo Shops Open May 20

RAMMSTEIN has released its long awaited seventh album, available as of today for purchase and/or streaming via Caroline Records in the U.S.

Comprised of 11 new RAMMSTEIN tracks including “ZEIG DICH” and singles “RADIO” and “DEUTSCHLAND,” the new record is RAMMSTEIN’s first studio album since 2009’s LIEBE IST FÜR ALLE DA.

To date, “RADIO” and “DEUTSCHLAND” have amassed combined streams and views exceeding 100 million.

The new album is produced by Olsen Involtini with RAMMSTEIN.

The band will debut material from the new album on its upcoming sold out stadium tour, beginning May 27 and running through August 23. See below for dates.

Two independent record stores–Fingerprints Music in California and Looney Tunes in New York—will be hosting Rammstein pop-up tattoo shops—Fingerprints on May 20 from 2pm to 8pm, and Looney Tunes on a date to be determined. Fans who purchase the album and present a receipt with coupon will receive a free (and real) Rammstein logo tattoo–First Come, First Served Basis.

RAMMSTEIN is CHRISTOPH SCHNEIDER, FLAKE LORENZ, OLIVER RIEDEL, PAUL LANDERS, RICHARD Z. KRUSPE, and TILL LINDEMANN.

RAMMSTEIN
EUROPE STADIUM TOUR 2019

05/27/19 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins-Arena (SOLD OUT)
05/28/19 – Gelsenkirchen, Germany – Veltins-Arena (SOLD OUT)
06/01/19 – Barcelona, Spain – RCDE Stadium
06/05/19 – Bern, Switzerland – Stade de Suisse (SOLD OUT)
06/08/19 – Munich, Germany – Olympiastadion (SOLD OUT)
06/09/19 – Munich, Germany – Olympiastadion (SOLD OUT)
06/12/19 – Dresden, Germany – Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion (SOLD OUT)
06/13/19 – Dresden, Germany – Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion (SOLD OUT)
06/16/19 – Rostock, Germany – Ostseestadion (SOLD OUT)
06/19/19 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Telia Parken (SOLD OUT)
06/22/19 – Berlin, Germany – Olympiastadion (SOLD OUT)
06/25/19 – Rotterdam, Netherlands – De Kuip (SOLD OUT)
06/28/19 – Paris, France – Paris La Défense Arena (SOLD OUT)
06/29/19 – Paris, France – Paris La Défense Arena (SOLD OUT)
07/02/19 – Hannover, Germany – HDI Arena (SOLD OUT)
07/06/19 – Milton Keynes, United Kingdom – Stadium MK
07/10/19 – Brussels, Belgium – Stade Roi Baudouin (SOLD OUT)
07/13/19 – Frankfurt am Main, Germany – Commerzbank-Arena (SOLD OUT)
07/16/19 – Prague, Czech Republic – Eden Aréna (SOLD OUT)
07/17/19 – Prague, Czech Republic – Eden Aréna (SOLD OUT)
07/20/19 – Luxembourg, Luxembourg – Roeser Festival Grounds (SOLD OUT)
07/24/19 – Chorzów, Poland – Stadion Śląski
07/29/19 – Moscow, Russia – VTB Arena, Central Dynamo Stadium
08/02/19 – Saint Petersburg, Russia – Pazprom Arena
08/06/19 – Riga, Latvia – Lucavsala
08/10/19 – Tampere, Finland – Ratina Stadion (SOLD OUT)
08/14/19 – Stockholm, Sweden – Stockholm Stadion (SOLD OUT)
08/18/19 – Oslo, Norway – Ullevaal Stadion (SOLD OUT)
08/22/19 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel-Stadion
08/23/19 – Vienna, Austria – Ernst-Happel-Stadion

 

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HARRY AND THE POTTERS ANNOUNCE THEIR FIRST NEW ALBUM IN 13 YEARS: LUMOS – OUT JUNE 21st

The pioneers of wizard rock return with a double LP chronicling the all-too-relevant events of the seventh Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“The Potters specialize in lo-fi indie rock, sung from the perspective of the protagonist, played by both [Paul] DeGeorge and his brother Joe. Musically, they take cues from the nerdy meanderings of They Might Be Giants and Magnetic Fields, adding on silly lyrics sourced from the books’ plot lines.”-Rolling Stone ” …a gimmick, a daydream, and a beautiful geeky power-fantasy all wrapped in one… they wrote music about what they adored, they had no fear, and along the way they fostered a beautiful thing.” VICE’s Noisey 

On June 21st, wizard rock pioneers Harry and the Potters (Paul and Joe DeGeorge), will release their first full-length album since 2006: Lumos. Using the magic of rock and roll, it chronicles the events of the seventh and final Harry Potter book where J.K. Rowling’s teen wizard and his friends are on the run from a xenophobic, authoritarian regime and must work diligently to take down a dark wizard who capitalizes on fear and emboldens supremacist wizards. In other words, the subject matter of Lumos is extremely relevant. Harry and the Potters will embark on their first national tour of libraries since 2011 in support of the new album. 

Lumos was first announced to Harry and the Potters’ fans with a Kickstarter campaign on April 23rd, doubling its funding goal within 24 hours of launch.  

Lumos is an album for this political moment. For the parents raising a younger generation reading these books for the first time, it’s an opportunity to connect the dots: the systems facilitating oppression in the wizard world – state-run media, children being separated from their mixed-blood parents, surveillance systems, and pureblood supremacy – strongly echo the daily reality of creeping neo-fascism. For the generation of Harry Potter fans that has grown up into a world where cartoonish villains occupy the halls of power, it’s a reminder that there is a pathway forward. Now is the time for Dumbledore’s Army, for the Order of the Phoenix. We are being called upon to become the heroes that this moment necessitates.

Paul DeGeorge tells Rolling Stone, “we’re hoping that parents and their young kids might see us play at the library, hear a song explicitly critiquing pureblood supremacy and then later have a real discussion about white supremacy and how it manifests in their own lives.”

These are wizard fight songs, but there are also songs about riding dragons, magic pictures of cats, and using cool spells while camping. There is even a platonic friendship power ballad duet with Kimya Dawson, who makes a special guest appearance as Hermione Granger. Truly there is something here for the whole family – especially if the whole family is invested in defeating Voldemort.

Tracklist:

1. Lumos

2. You’re Not the Wizard

3. Good Riddance (Privet Drive)

4. The Trace

5. On the Importance of Media Literacy Under Authoritarian Rule

6. Hermione’s Army

7. What Happened to the Cat?

8. The Banality of Evil (Song for Albert Runcorn)

9. Gone Campin’

10. Where’s Ron? (featuring Kimya Dawson as Hermione Granger)

11. No Pureblood Supremacy

12. Voldemort in Your Head

13. The Sword, The Cup, and the Dragon

14. The Cloak

15. The Stone

16. The Wand

Tour dates (More to be announced): 

June 21 – Gloucester, MA – Sawyer Free Library 
June 22 – Buffalo, NY – Buffalo and Erie County Public Library
June 23 – London, ON – The Rec Room
June 24 – Toronto, ON – The Rec Room
June 26 – Ann Arbor, MI – Ann Arbor District Downtown Library
June 28 – Athens, OH – Athens Public Library
June 29 – Louisville, KY – Louisville Free Public Library
June 30 – Chicago, IL – Beat Kitchen
July 1 – DeForest, WI – DeForest Area Public Library
July 2 – Dubuque, IA – Eagle Point Park (rain location: Carnegie-Stout Public Library)
July 3 – Minneapolis, MN – Cedar Cultural Center
July 4 – Rapid City, SD – Memorial Park Bandshell
July 5 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Strings Music Festival
July 6 – Boulder, CO – Band Shell in Central Park
July 7 – Denver, CO – Mercury Cafe
July 8 – Provo, UT – Provo Library at Academy Square
July 9 – Salt Lake City, UT – Kilby Court
July 12 – Missoula, MT – Missoula Public Library
July 13 – Calgary, AB – The Rec Room
July 14 – Edmonton, AB – The Rec Room
July 16 – Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Public Library
July 17 – Anacortes, WA – Causland Park
July 18 – Olympia, WA – Olympia Timberland Library
July 19 – Seattle, WA – Seattle Public Library
July 20 – Portland, OR – St. Johns Library
July 20 – Portland, OR – Gresham Library
July 21 – Eugene, OR – Downtown Eugene Public Library
July 23 – Santa Clara, CA – Northside Branch Library
July 24 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
July 25 – Oakland, CA – Oakland Public Library Main Branch
July 27 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Public Library
July 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
July 31 – Huntington Beach, CA – Huntington Beach Public Library
August 1 – Las Vegas, NV – Clark County Library 
August 2 – Phoenix, AZ – Burton Barr Central Library
August 3 – Tucson, AZ – Flowing Wells Branch Library
August 4 – El Paso, TX – El Paso Public Library
August 5 – San Antonio, TX – The Magik Theater
August 6 – Houston, TX – Houston Public Library – Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza
August 7 – New Orleans, LA – New Orleans Public Library – Main Library
August 8 – Ridgeland, MS – Ridgeland Public Library
August 9 – Dallas, TX – LeakyCon
August 11 – Dallas, TX – Renner Frankford Branch Library
August 12 – Austin, TX – Mohawk
August 14 – Shawnee, KS – Monticello Library
August 15 – Tulsa, OK – Tulsa City County Library – Hardesty Regional Library
August 16 – Springfield, MO – The Library Center
August 18 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Public Library
August 20 – Washington, DC – Woodridge Library
August 21 – Lewes, DE – Lewes Public Library
August 22 – Brooklyn, NY – Knitting Factory
August 24 – Boston, MA – Boston Public Library (Dartmouth Street Steps)

Harry and the Potters are the first wizard rock band. They play songs exclusively about the Harry Potter books. The band consists of brothers Joe and Paul DeGeorge. They grew up in a suburban Boston house that has a cupboard under the stairs. Since 2002, Harry and the Potters have performed over 800 shows in libraries, rock clubs, art spaces, bookstores, basements, and all ages venues all over the world. Their high-energy live show has become legendary. Pitchfork placed the band in their Best Live Shows of 2005 list noting, “the greatest rock and roll tour of the year took place this past summer in public libraries across America… The Decemberists wish they could lit-rock like this.”

Inspired by equal parts Fugazi and They Might Be Giants, Bruce Springsteen and Negativland, the band continues to occupy a bizarre niche that brings their DIY punk ethos to the fandom of a mainstream cultural phenomena. Their commitment to playing all ages shows has meant extensive touring in unconventional spaces like libraries (where a large number of teens and pre-teens undoubtedly saw their first concert ever). As fandom and convention culture has gone mainstream  – and in the process become increasingly corporatized – over the past decade, it feels refreshing to see a free Harry and the Potters show at the local library.

The band helped co-found the pioneering fan activist organization The Harry Potter Alliance and were profiled in the 2008 documentary We Are Wizards. With their annual Yule Balls (2005-present) and the Wizard Rock EP Club (which released albums from over 30 different wizard rock bands between 2007-2009), the band has raised over $100,000 for the Harry Potter Alliance and other literature-related charities.

In 2019, they will release Lumos, their first full-length album in over a decade, and will embark on an extensive summer tour of libraries across the United States.

For more info visit: www.harryandthepotters.com

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Sum 41 Announce Seventh Full-Length Album “Order In Decline” Due Out July 19 Via Hopeless Records

First Single “Out For Blood” Streaming Now

Legendary rock icons SUM 41 have announced their seventh full-length album, Order In Decline, will be released July 19, 2019 via Hopeless Records. Looking back at the band’s storied 23+ year career, this record is undoubtedly Sum 41’s heaviest and most aggressive album to date, while also being their most dynamic and raw.

During three years of relentless touring surrounding the band’s massive comeback record 13 Voices, frontman Deryck Whibley was feverishly putting together song ideas that would eventually become Order In Decline. Within three weeks of returning home, the majority of the music for the new album was written and then it was time for lyrics.

Unconsciously, Whibley saw lyrics reflecting his reactions to seeing the pervasive division, racism and hate around the world, even more so punctuated by the repulsive social and political turmoil invading his own home nations of the United States and Canada. “The last thing I wanted to do was write a social or political protest record, and Order In Decline is not that,” Whibley clarifies. Instead, Order in Decline is a burst of uninhibited feeling, a page out of his journal, a window into his soul that reflects on extremely personal and vulnerable events, because as he confesses, “It’s also very hard not to have feelings about everything that’s going on in the world.”

Armed with the most honest and personal songs of his career, Whibley poured everything he had into the album. Producing, engineering, and mixing the album in his home studio, he pain-stakingly crafted and fine-tuned each song, highlighted by fast and full riffs, guitar solos from lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dave Brownsound, harmonious chords from guitarist Tom Thacker, and the heavy, heart-thumping rhythm section of bassist/backing vocalist Cone McCaslin and drummer Frank Zummo.

Today’s announcement unleashes the highly anticipated first single and video for “Out For Blood.” It is the epitome of a Sum 41 track, featuring anthemic and echoing vocals, an insane guitar solo and never-ending energy that will captivate you from the very beginning. Fans can stream the music video for “Out For Blood” at http://sum41.com/.

Order In Decline: Track Listing

1. Turning Away
2. Out For Blood
3. The New Sensation
4. A Death In The Family
5. Heads Will Roll
6. 45 (A Matter Of Time)
7. Never There
8. Eat You Alive
9. The People Vs…
10. Catching Fire

Order In Decline is available for pre-order now at http://smarturl.it/OrderInDecline. Fans who pre-order digitally will receive an auto-grat download of “Out For Blood.”

Later this month, Sum 41 will be hitting the road and delivering an up close and personal show, through intimate club venues across the United States while on the No Personal Space Tour. The upcoming tour kicks off on April 30th in San Antonio, TX and features support from California-based Assuming We Survive. In addition to these dates, the band will perform at a number of United States Air Force Bases throughout the US.

Special VIP Packages for the No Personal Space Tour are available and include a Q&A with lead guitarist/backing vocalist Dave Brownsound and bassist Cone McCaslin. Limited tickets remain and are on sale now at http://www.sum41.com/tour.

Sum 41 will also be co-headlining the inaugural Rockstar Energy Drink DISRUPT Festival this Summer on select dates throughout the United States and Canada. For more information, head to https://rockstardisrupt.com/.

Upcoming Sum 41 North American Tour Dates

April 27 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah State Fairpark

April 28 – Tempe, AZ – Big Surf Waterpark

April 30 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger

May 1 – Dallas, TX – Cambridge Room

May 2 – Houston, TX – Bronze Peacock

May 4 – Orlando, FL – The Abby

May 5 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – The Culture Room

May 6 – Pensacola, FL – Vinyl Music Hall

May 8 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues Parish

May 12 – Nashville, TN – Basement East

May 14 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade

May 19 – Charlotte, NC – Underground

May 21 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre

May 22 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

May 24 – Cleveland, OH – Phantasy

May 25 – Detroit, MI – Shelter

May 26 – Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge

July 12 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*

July 13 – Thornville, OH – Legend Valley*

July 14 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center*

July 15 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre*

July 17 – Denver, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre*

July 20 – Irvine, CA – Five Point Amphitheater presented by Mercury Insurance*

July 23 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre*

July 24 – Boise, ID – Idaho Center Amphitheatre*

July 26 – Chula Vista, CA – North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre*

July 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion*

July 28 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater*

September 29 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival

* – Rockstar Energy Drink DISRUPT Co-Headline Festival Dates

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ANDY BLACK RELEASES “THE PROMISE” NEW ALBUM “THE GHOST OF OHIO” ARRIVES APRIL 12

NORTH AMERICAN HEADLINING TOUR KICKS OFF APRIL 7th IN SACRAMENTO

With two weeks to go before the arrival of much-anticipated album THE GHOST OF OHIO (Lava/Republic), singer-songwriter Andy Black has released new track “The Promise” – click HERE to listen and HERE for the lyric video.

“’The Promise’ was inspired by my days spent driving from my neighborhood on the west side of Cincinnati and heading towards the city and into northern Kentucky where I spent almost all of my teenage years in bands, working on a dream,” says Black. “Every day I would use that drive as a chance to plan and think and hope and wish that one day I would be able to make music and tour the world. Over the years that dream has remained, but like all of us as we grow up, often our interests and methods change over time. This song is about trying to remain true to what you wanted the most when you had nothing and keeping that very same passion and drive close to your heart.”

“The Promise” is the third song Black’s released over the course of the past several weeks following lead single “Westwood Road” (which has amassed over 1.5 million YouTube views) and title track “The Ghost Of Ohio” and all three songs are available as instant downloads by clicking HERE to pre-order The Ghost Of Ohio ahead of its April 12th release date.

The Ghost Of Ohio sees Black re-teaming with Grammy nominated producer John Feldmann (Blink-182, Panic! at the Disco), who helmed 2016’s acclaimed debut The Shadow Side.

Black discussed the album during a recent interview with Build – click HERE to watch.

Black, who’s always had a reverence for the magical convergence of sight and sound, created the diverse album to also serve as a soundtrack for its graphic novel counterpart, marrying melancholy themes with upbeat rock and pop to tell the tale of someone who died young and whose spirit inhabits an area for a hundred years looking for ways to connect. The album’s artwork was painted by Eliran Kantor (Iced Earth, Testament).

Black will support the new album with The Ghost of North America Tour, a headlining run that will kick off April 7th at Ace of Spades in Sacramento, CA (see itinerary below).

Don’t miss your chance to experience Andy Black’s The Ghost of North America Tour.

Dates are as follows:

Apr. 07: Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
Apr. 09: Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Apr. 10: Portland, OR – Hawthorne
Apr. 12: Las Vegas, NV – Vinyl
Apr. 13: Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre 
Apr. 14: Phoenix, AZ – The Nile Theatre
Apr. 16: Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
Apr. 17: Denver, CO – The Gothic
Apr. 19: Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey
Apr. 20: San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box
Apr. 22: Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Apr. 23: Orlando, FL – Plaza Live
Apr. 25: Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts 
Apr. 26: Greensboro, NC – The Blind Tiger
Apr. 29: Pittsburgh, PA – Mr. Smalls
Apr. 30: Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
May 01: New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
May 03: Worcester, MA – The Palladium 
May 04: Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
May 06: Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation
May 07: Chicago, IL – Metro
May 08: Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater 
May 10: Cleveland, OH – Phantasy Nightclub
May 11: Detroit, MI – The Majestic 
May 13: Toronto, ON – The Opera House 
May 15: Montreal, QC – L’Astral 
May 16: Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts 
May 17: Virginia Beach, VA – Elevation 27

 

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…AND JUSTICE FOR ART: STORIES ABOUT HEAVY METAL ALBUM COVERS – VOLUME 2: Available Now

New Art Book Featuring Amorphis, Metallica, Slayer, Black Sabbath, Behemoth, Judas Priest, Opeth, Obituary, And More

Veteran metal/rock journalist, Ramón “Oscuro” Martos, has finally published his eagerly awaited metal art book, …AND JUSTICE FOR ART: STORIES ABOUT HEAVY METAL ALBUM COVERS – VOLUME 2. This one-of-a-kind collection of graphics and stories reveals all the particulars behind the making of now-legendary album art including Slayer’s Hell Awaits, Judas Priest’s Screaming For Vengeance, Morbid Angel’s Altars Of Madness, Metallica’s Death Magnetic, Black Sabbath’s Heaven And Hell, Queensrÿche’s Operation: Mindcrime, Emperor’s In The Nightside Eclipse, Death’s The Sound Of Perseverance, Type Of Negative’s Bloody Kisses, Carcass’ Surgical Steel, Amorphis’ Tales From The Thousand Lakes, Soulfly’s Archangel, Behemoth’s The Satanist, Opeth’s Sorceress, and many others. 

The stories behind these iconic works are told through more than one-hundred exclusive interviews with metal icons like Max Cavalera (Soulfly), Jeff Walker (Carcass), Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer), K.K. Downing (ex-Judas Priest), Satyr (Satyricon), David Vincent (ex-Morbid Angel), Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian), Luc Lemay (Gorguts), Ihsahn (Emperor), Paul Mazurkiewicz (Cannibal Corpse), Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed), and so many more. Additionally, the collection features insightful interviews with legendary illustrators such as Eliran Kantor, Dan Seagrave, Travis Smith, Valnoir, and Costin Chioreanu, who also designed the book’s stunning front cover. 

“This new book features 252 color pages and more than 400 images. It provides firsthand information about hundreds of graphics, which are presented in extremely high quality,” Ramon Oscuro comments. “Although this is a direct continuation of the first volume published in 2015, it’s also a true standalone book. Readers will be able to discover images and stories that haven’t been published until now. This volume is the product of three years of intense work and insightful research. Working on it was an amazing experience.” 

Several musicians have expressed their enthusiasm for the …AND JUSTICE FOR ART book series. Soulfly’s Max Cavalera — who penned the new book’s foreword — has thanked the author, “for helping to keep alive the ritual of the album cover.” Vltimas/ex-Morbid Angel frontman, David Vincent crowned …AND JUSTICE FOR ART, “a historical document about the importance of metal album covers.” Cattle Decapitation vocalist Travis Ryan proclaims, “this is exactly what the music world needs to remind us how important album covers have been to all of us that grew up surrounding ourselves with physical media.” 

…AND JUSTICE FOR ART – VOLUME 2 was funded through a successful crowdfunding campaign launched by Oscuro via Indiegogo. The current edition is limited to 300 copies and is exclusively available at THIS LOCATION. Each copy is personally signed by the author.View the book’s teaser video at THIS LOCATION.

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Amon Amarth reveal Details For New Album “Berserker”

Launches video for first single, “Raven’s Flight”, featuring Josh Barnett (ex-UFC), Erick Rowan (WWE), and more

On May 3rd, Amon Amarth will release their 11th full-length, Berserker, via Metal Blade Records (North America)/Sony Music (International)! For a preview of the album, the video for the first single, “Raven’s Flight”, can be viewed at:http://www.amonamarth.com

Directed by Roboshobo, “Raven’s Flight” will be the first of a trilogy of music videos from Berserker, each one increasingly epic in its scope, further immersing the viewer in the world of Amon Amarth. Much like the songs on Berserker, the videos present Amon Amarth to its fullest. The cast features Josh Barnett as “the Berserker” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Barnett) and Erick Rowan as “Thor” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Rowan), among others. 

To pre-order Berserker, please visit amonamarth.lnk.to/berserker – where the album is available in the following formats: 
–digipak-CD
–deluxe box set [digipak-CD, shield (~12″x12″), patch (~4″x4″) – limited to 500 copies in US] 
–opaque white w/ black splatter vinyl (limited to 1200 copies) 
–opaque white w/ silver haze vinyl (retail exclusive – limited to 1300 copies) 
–clear w/ red splatter vinyl (webstore exclusive – limited to 750 copies) 
–black w/ red haze vinyl (webstore exclusive – limited to 750 copies) 

Comprising 12 monstrous heavy metal anthems that bulge with irresistible melodic hooks, bursts of thrilling savagery and moments of spine-tingling dynamic drama, Berserker is the result of the huge surge of creativity and a collective desire to keep moving forward with no compromise.

From the disarming melodrama and explosive riffing of opener “Fafner’s Gold” and the brutish simplicity of the rampaging “Crack The Sky” to the epic fury of “Raven’s Flight” and the grim, gritty storytelling of “Ironside” and “Skoll and Hati”, Berserker is an album full of trademark Amon Amarth bluster and bite but with every aspect of the band’s sound somehow refined, sonically enhanced and made vastly more potent, both in terms of metal oomph and emotional power.

Neatly summing up the spirit behind these exhilarating new songs is the album’s semi-title track, “The Berserker At Stamford Bridge”: a visceral but vivid historical tale, recounting the Vikings last stand against the English army in 1066 and the mind-bending heroics of one axe-wielding warrior. 

Showcasing an undeniable and startling upgrade for every aspect of Amon Amarth‘s iconic sound, Berserker was recorded in Los Angeles with renowned studio guru Jay Ruston (Anthrax/Stone Sour) manning the controls. After recording several rounds of professional demos for the new songs (initially with fellow Swedish metal icon Peter Tägtgren and then later with Ruston himself) the band crossed the Atlantic to make final the recordings in LA, eager to take a fresh approach to the album-making process. 

“For me, this is Amon Amarth 2.0,” vocalist Johan Hegg declares. “I think what we’ve done here is give ourselves the space to explore other parts of our musicality and who we are as a band. If you’re content with where you’re at, what’s the point of continuing? We always want to come up with new ideas and find new ways of doing things and to create bigger and better shows and really try to improve every aspect of what the band is. We want to try to keep growing and to do this for as long as we have the possibility to do so, because this is the best fucking job in the world.”

The cast for “Raven’s Flight” also features Tess Kielhammer as “Demon Boss” (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4178569/), Shanie Rusth as “Shield Maiden” (https://www.herexchange.net/her-story/2018/9/11/shanie-rusth), Erik Arevalo (https://www.instagram.com/theerikhammer/?hl=en), Victor Henry (https://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Victor-Henry-52195), and Canadian WWE legend Viktor as “Demon Henchman” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor), and many more. 

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GUNS N’ ROSES’ DUFF McKAGAN RELEASES “CHIP AWAY” AND ANNOUNCES MAY 31ST RELEASE FOR SOLO ALBUM TENDERNESS

ALBUM PRODUCED BY AND FEATURING GRAMMY®WINNER SHOOTER JENNINGS

NORTH AMERICAN TOUR KICKS OFF MAY 30 IN PHILADELPHIA

TOUR WILL SEE McKAGAN BACKED BY SHOOTER JENNINGS + BAND

FANS IN LOS ANGELES CAN CATCH SPECIAL GRAMMY®MUSEUM PERFORMANCE ON APRIL 4

Guns N’ Roses bassist and New York Times bestselling author DUFF McKAGAN has released “Chip Away,” a new track from his much-anticipated solo album, TENDERNESS (UME) – click HERE to listen.

“’Chip Away’ is somewhat of a rail against cable news and divisive agendas…all for the almighty dollar,” says McKagan. “The song also highlights the fact that history repeats itself over and over, and that we will all get past this, together.”

“Chip Away” follows the recent release of lead track “Tenderness” and both songs are available as instant downloads by clicking HERE to pre-order TENDERNESS ahead of its May 31st release. 

The full track listing for TENDERNESS is as follows:
“Tenderness”
“It’s Not Too Late”
“Wasted Heart”
“Falling Down”
“Last September”
“Chip Away”
“Cold Outside”
“Feel”
“Breaking Rocks”
“Parkland”
“Don’t Look Behind You”

Also available for pre-order is a special limited edition TENDERNESS deluxe book, which includes the album on 180-gram yellow & red starburst vinyl, the CD, and features an exclusive lithograph signed and numbered by McKagan. The hard cover book contains 40-pages of photos from the recording sessions and also presents liner notes written by Duff detailing his experiences with each song and the project as a whole. The vinyl features 10 tracks and a unique sequence carefully selected by McKagan and the album’s GRAMMY®-winning producer Shooter Jennings, while the CD includes 11 tracks.

TENDERNESS sees McKagan reflecting on his experiences traveling the globe over two and a half years on Guns N’ Roses’  Not In This Lifetime tour.  Encountering heartbreak, anger, fear, confusion and divide on his travels during this tumultuous time in our world history, McKagan channeled a collective hurt into songs of monolithic power. 

“We’re becoming divided at a time when we need each other most,” says McKagan. “When huge industries get replaced because of modernization, it’s time to retrain and bolster up those who get swept aside. Homelessness and drug addiction are avoidable in this country if we come together and get private and public cogs turning together in a positive direction. We can at least try to tackle mental illness while we’re at it. But alas, we stump and lie, point fingers and divide. We’re way better than this. As a father, I must say and do something now because I love my girls and my wife, and I love my country, and I feel I must be strong and use my voice now, do it while I’m able or perhaps never get a chance ever again.”

McKagan and Jennings began recording Tenderness a year ago this month, working out of Station House studios, located in Echo Park, CA, where they wrote and recorded in-between McKagan’s tour with seminal rock band Guns N’ Roses and the release of Jennings’ eponymous album, Shooter. TENDERNESS features Jennings and his band along with appearances by The Waters and The Suicide Horn Section (which features Duff’s brother Matt McKagan on trombone), amongst others.

Twelve months later, they’re gearing up to take these songs on the road for a North American tour that kicks off May 30 at TLA in Philadelphia. Prior to the tour’s launch, Los Angeles-based fans can catch McKagan and Jennings discussing the album and giving a special performance at the GRAMMY® Museum in downtown LA.

Don’t miss your chance to see Duff McKagan live. Tour dates are as follows:

DateCityVenue
Thu, May 30, Philadelphia, PATLA
Fri, May 31, Washington DCCity Winery
Sat, Jun 01, Boston, MACity Winery
Mon, Jun 03, New York, NYIrving Plaza
Thu, Jun 06, Chicago, ILThalia Hall
Sat, Jun 08, Nashville, TNThe Cannery
Mon, Jun 10, Austin, TXScoot Inn
Thu, Jun 13, Los Angeles, CAEl Rey Theater
Fri, Jun 14, San Francisco, CAGreat American Music Hall
Sat, Jun 15, Portland, ORAladdin
Sun, Jun 16, Seattle, WAThe Showbox

 

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: 31st, album, announces, chip, duff, guns, ...

Soundgarden to Celebrate 35th Anniversary with Album Of The Month Series

Alternative Hard-Rock Pioneers Set To Celebrate Their 35th Anniversary In 2019 With Innovative Album Of The Month Series And Additional Historical Releases, Beginning With Limited-Edition 25th Anniversary 2LP Edition Of Superunknown

Recognized as one of the most influential bands in rock music the world over, the generation-changing, multiplatinum-selling, Grammy® winning Soundgarden will be celebrating their 35th anniversary in 2019 in grand style.

To that end, A&M/UMe kicks off a year-long commemoration of the storied career and ongoing influence of these immortal Seattle hometown icons with the unveiling of an Album of the Month series done in conjunction with The Sound of Vinyl. Each month The Sound of Vinyl will release a different Soundgarden album on limited-edition color vinyl. 

The first entry in this new program debuts in April, honoring the 25th anniversary of Superunknown with a new special edition of the album, pressed on 180-gram translucent red and gold vinyl. For a limited time, fans can pre-order the complete Album of the Month series of LPs as an exclusive bundle, with a discounted price, and an exclusive lithograph designed and signed by Soundgarden’s long time creative director Josh Graham. Details of the album series, along with specialcontent and other interactive features celebrating the 35th anniversary of Soundgarden, can be found at http://soundgarden35.com.

Released in March 8, 1994, Superunknown debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart andhas since been certified as having sold over 5 million copies in the United States alone. Superunknownfeatures such genre-defining and genre-defying hits as the churning anthem “Black Hole Sun,” the foreboding “Fell On Black Days,” the eclectic individuality of “Spoonman,” the optimistic rush of “The Day I Tried To Live,” and the off-kilter crest of “My Wave.”

Buttressed by Chris Cornell’s four-octave vocal range, Kim Thayil’s one-man guitar army, and the unmatchable in-tandem rhythm section of bassist Ben Shepherd and ace drummer Matt Cameron, Soundgarden emerged from the burgeoning Seattle music scene of the late-’80s and early-’90s totrailblaze the way for a movement that continues to resonate across the popular-music spectrum to this very day. Hailed as grunge innovators, Soundgarden’s sound has always reached beyond mere genre labels to redefine rock music for a generation.

Indeed, the deep roots of Soundgarden’s unmistakable sonic stamp can be mapped directly to the sprawling landscape of the Pacific Northwest. It’s an atmospheric feeling once shared quite vividly by the band’s late frontman, singer/guitarist Chris Cornell. “When I think of Soundgarden, I think of a sound, I think of one entity, one organic thing,” Cornell theorized, “but I guess that the exciting part is that it’s always been really varied. The band is dripping with it — that indescribable longing. It’s not about the society, it’s not about the people, it’s not about the city. It’s some other thing.”

Formed in Seattle in 1984, Soundgarden went on to create a series of groundbreaking, best-selling rock albums until initially dissolving in 1997, then later reforming for a period of time in the 2010s. Soundgarden started their career recording for the legendary Sub Pop label, who at the time were known for their own Single Of The Month club, releasing their very first 7-inch single, “Hunted Down,” in June 1987, followed by their debut EP Screaming Life that October. After a brief run on SST, Soundgarden signed to A&M Records and subsequently released four indelibly classic albums between 1989 and 1996 — 1989’s Louder Than Love, 1991’s Badmotorfinger, 1994’s Superunknown, and 1996’s Down On The Upside —with an additional full-lengther, King Animal, having arisen in 2012 after the band reformed.

Further Soundgarden 35 announcements will be forthcoming, so keep your eyes (and ears) peeled. With the 30th anniversary of their hard-charging major-label debut Louder Than Love just around the corner, 2019 looks to be another banner year for Soundgarden, who remain one of the most revered bands on the planet. Their undeniable influence and esteemed legacy grow stronger and stronger every day.

Soundgarden SUPERUNKNOWN – 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION (2LP)
 

SIDE 01

1. Let Me Drown
2. My Wave
3. Fell On Black Days
4. Mailman

SIDE 02

1. Superunknown
2. Head Down
3. Black Hole Sun

SIDE 03

1. Spoonman
2. Limo Wreck
3. The Day I Tried To Live
4. Kickstand

SIDE 04

1. Fresh Tendrils
2. 4th Of July
3. Half
4. Like Suicide
5. She Likes Surprises

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: 35th, album, anniversary, celebrate, month, series, ...
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