Mysterious collective Sleep Token have released their unique take on OutKast's classic 'Hey Ya', continuing their tradition of uncategorisable, genre-challenging videos. 

Listen to their version of 'Hey Ya' here:

https://www.facebook.com/sleeptoken/videos/1236339539782264/

Sleep Token are a masked anonymous group of musicians united by their worship of an ancient deity - crudely dubbed 'Sleep' as no modern tongue can properly express its name.

'Sleep' lurks in the subconscious minds of man, woman, and child alike. Fragments of beauty, horror, anguish, pain, happiness, joy, anger, disgust, and fear coalesce to create expansive, emotionally textured music that simultaneously embodies the darkest, and the brightest abstract thoughts.

Sleep Token are led by the tormented and talented Vessel and combine the emotional, dulcet tones of post-rock, the expansive atmosphere of cinematic scores, the hooks of indie pop, and the crushing, suffocating grooves of metal. Their first track 'Thread The Needle' debuted at HeavyBlogIsHeavy.com and is available to watch here:

Sleep Token on Bandcamp: https://sleeptoken.bandcamp.com
Sleep Token on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sleeptoken
Sleep Token on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sleep_token

Catch Sleep Token playing this year's UK Tech-Metal Fest, with news of a debut live show (or shows) forthcoming...

From new album: Engram of Decline, released 14 April 2017 via Kolony Records

French prog-metallers FRACTAL UNIVERSE have released a drum playthrough video for new track 'Parricidal Ghosts', from their sonically stunning debut album Engram of Decline on 14 April 2017.

'Parricidal Ghosts' is the first track to be released from the upcoming debut, which you can hear here:

France has long had a reputation for producing exciting, forward-thinking metal bands of the highest order: Gojira, Alcest, Gorod, to name just three. Groovy progressive death metal, intensely rhythmic and jazzy and mightily powerful all at once: as much Gojira as blues-tinged Opeth, Engram of Decline has a width and breadth of influences that will leave many competitors grasping at their shadow and gasping in the dust.
 
Not for nothing are Fractal Universe gaining a fine reputation. The album, although weighing in at one hour, does not overstay its welcome – the majority of tracks sitting at a manageable four-five minute length. Cementing the band’s progressive credentials are two exciting guest appearances: Jorgen Munkeby of Shining (saxophone solo – ‘Backworldsmen’) and Michael Keene of The Faceless (guitar solo – ‘Collective Engram’).
 
A band who’ve already played alongside The Black Dahlia Murder and God Dethroned, as well as Motocultor Festival (w/Testament, Soulfly, etc), and Bang Your Head Festival (w/Exodus), Fractal Universe are set to tour across April, as well as being handpicked for MetalDays Festival this year. Stay tuned for more news as it comes from this highly exciting new band.

Pre-order Engram of Decline here https://fractaluniverseband.bandcamp.com/album/engram-of-decline

British doom duo PHLEFONYAAR will release their new album Septic, Bitter and Hardbitten on 14 April 2017 via Cavernous Records.

The band have released album track Temple Bells After Midnight as a taster of what's to come:  https://phlefonyaar.bandcamp.com/track/temple-bells-after-midnight

Whether it’s sitting in their underpants in a car park, drinking tea and being serenaded by drunken truck drivers or being so annihilated on cheap lager whilst trying to sell the police wooden pegs, PHLEFONYAAR's antics offstage are as bizarre and bleakly intoxicating as the music they produce. 

Comments purveyor of vocal chaos, Paul March: "We're back to generally bring you our feel good, happy day-glow, end time message with our latest release, Septic, Bitter and Hardbitten. It's a full on rollercoaster of sparkling hardcore unicorn porn fun, I kid you not. So what's new I hear you cry, why should I care about two scallywags playing the filthiest sludge doom rock this side of equator? Well if you said that then you've already answered your own question and maybe this isn't for you, the doors over there. For the rest of us, I'm not gonna yap on about production or hand you a line like some slick snake oil salesman peddling his wares in a backwater town in the ass end of nowhere about this or that or how sincere I am about stuff. No no no. That's not how this is gonna get done.

"To be honest the main pressing reason this should be listened to is just so you can laugh derisively and prove me wrong. So go listen, turn it up loud, maybe have a little dance, drink some screech or high end cough syrup (the good stuff) and if it doesn't end up making you feel like a coyote chewing on a cigarette, you can come back and tell us how we ruined your evening. Either way you won't regret it."

A true monument in primal sound, Septic, Bitter and Hardbitten creeps, disorientates and lunges throughout 7 crucifyingly heavy tracks and is the product of a mere duo. Full of pummeling hooks and dark visions, the end result is a maelstrom of focused noise that is starkly terrifying. PHLEFONYAAR's gloomy expressionism unravels in slow motion throughout the album to leave you with something which won't tuck you up in bed at night and kiss you sweet dreams. 

Having thrown their sound at stages across Europe, touring with bands such as Nachtmystium and Dark Fortress and providing support to Baroness on the night before their bus crash, the band are set to spend the rest of 2017 gigging and touring. 

Septic, Bitter and Hardbitten will be released on 14 April 2017 via Cavernous Records.

Get more PHLEFONYAAR news and info at:

Facebook || Bandcamp 
 

 

COMPLEXITY FEST has announced the performance times for all three stages of the festival, taking place on 25 February in Haarlem, Netherlands.
 
The festival will take place in three separate halls in the Patronaat venue, and the timetable has been crafted to avoid any significant clashes or overlaps.
 
Doors will open for Complexity Fest at 2:00pm, and the first act will begin at 2:30pm.
 
The first 50 visitors will also receive goodie bags containing a Complexity T-shirt and other memorabilia.
 
In collaboration with Uiltje Brewing Co, the festival is also presenting Complexity Black Ale, which will be available for purchase.
 
The ale has been described as dark with a “fresh and adventurous” taste, which combines a Columbus hop with a mixture of malts to give it a distinct flavour.
 
Very limited batches of bottles are available solely at Complexity Fest.

The tiered tickets for Complexity are nearly all gone, with €35 tiers only available for purchase here. €17.50 and €25 tickets have completely sold out.
 
More information: http://www.patronaat.nl/25-2-2017/complexity-fest-2017

UK TECH-FEST has revealed 15 more bands for this year’s festival which takes place at the Newark Showground from 6 to 10 July 2017.
 
Salt Lake City deathcore maestros CHELSEA GRIN will make their debut appearance at the festival, as will Californian death wizards THE FACELESS and Montreal prog outfit BEYOND CREATION in UK exclusive appearances, meaning Tech-Fest will certainly be one of the heaviest festivals in the UK in 2017.
 
This also features the exclusive final UK show from EXIVIOUS, who recently announced the band was to be going their separate ways.
 
Other exclusive appearances come from Munich progressive mavericks PANZERBALLET, Swedish ominous-death outfit HUMANITY’S LAST BREATH and Zurich death metallers VIRVUM.
 
Full announcement below:
 
Chelsea Grin
The Faceless (UK Exclusive)
Beyond Creation (UK Exclusive)
Igorrr
Uneven Structure
Humanity’s Last Breath (UK Exclusive)
Exivious (UK Exclusive – Final UK Show)
Panzerballett (UK Exclusive)
Persefone
DSME (Drewsif Stalin’s Musical Endeavors)
Virvum (UK Exclusive)
Ghost Iris
James Norbert Ivanyi
Sleep Token
Dreamwaves
 
The bands join an already stacked Tech-Fest line-up featuring the likes of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, OBSCURA, ABORTED, THE ARUSHA ACCORD, HACKTIVIST and so much more.

Full line-up so far:

The Black Dahlia Murder - UK EXCLUSIVE
Chelsea Grin
The Faceless - UK EXCLUSIVE
Obscura - UK EXCLUSIVE
Aborted
Beyond Creation – UK EXCLUSIVE
Igorrr
The Arusha Accord
Hacktivist
Uneven Structure
Ingested
The Algorithm
Humanities Last Breath - UK EXCLUSIVE
Oceans Ate Alaska
Exivious – UK EXCLUSIVE FINAL SHOW
Panzerballett
Dyscarnate
Carcer City
Persefone
Drewsif Stalins Musical Endeavours
Exist Immortal
Sarah Longfield
Alaska
Virvum (UK EXCLUSIVE)
The Fine Constant
Within Destruction
Aenimus
Toska
Ghost Iris
James Norbert Ivanyi
The Royal
Hieroglyph
Sleep Token
FRCTRD
Fraktions
Nycosia
Dreamwaves

Full weekend tickets currently available at a price of £74.99 + £20 Camping.
Purchase tickets here: http://uktechfest.gigantic.com
 
Venue address:
Newark Showground
Lincoln Rd
Newark-on-Trent
Winthorpe
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 2NY

TICKETS https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/S5J3H8CR/language/en
EVENT PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/events/232756610389176/ 
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.uktechfest.com
UKTMF YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/UKTechMetalFest
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/uktechmetalfest/
FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/uktechfest

Sponsor links:

Metal Hammer - http://www.metalhammer.co.uk
Zilla Cabs - http://www.zillacabs.com
Carillion Guitars - https://www.facebook.com/CarillionGuitars
Double Slit guitars - https://www.facebook.com/DoubleSlitGuitars
Strandberg - https://www.facebook.com/strandbergGuitarworks 
Moomin Merchandise - https://www.facebook.com/MoominMerch
Hands On Printing - https://www.facebook.com/handsonprinting 
Rawas - https://www.facebook.com/Rawas.co.uk 
OHMZ - https://www.facebook.com/Ohmzss/ 
Stay Close Clothing - https://www.facebook.com/StayCloseClothing
Bandit Banners - https://www.facebook.com/banditbanners
Tired Moon - https://www.facebook.com/tiredmoonmusic
Against Them All Clothing - https://www.facebook.com/AgainstThemAllClothing

Philadelphia’s CKY - Chad Ginsburg, Jess Margera and Matt Deis - will return to the UK for a limited run of extremely intimate shows. This marks the band’s first UK tour since 2011 and it’s a welcome return. 
 
Further upping the ante for this spate of shows, the band plans to debut new songs from their upcoming album in the live setting. The new record is the band’s first since 2009.
 
2017 will be a massive year for CKY, who have sold north of a million albums over the course of their nearly-20-year career. Fans can expect new music and more tour dates from a band that is re-energised and refreshed, and emerging with a career-defining effort that will prove to be worth the wait. 
 
May 8: Brighton, UK, Concorde 2
May 9: Bristol, UK, The Fleece
May 10: Portsmouth, UK, Wedgewood Rooms
May 11: Cambridge, UK, The Junction
May 12: Reading, UK, Sub 89
May 13: Birmingham, UK, O2 Academy
May 15: Glasgow, Scotland, UK, King Tuts
May 16: Manchester, UK, Rebellion
May 17: Sheffield, UK, O2 Academy 2
May 19: Liverpool, UK, O2 Academy 2
May 20: Colchester, UK, Colchester Arts Centre
May 21: London, UK, The Underworld

https://www.facebook.com/ckyalliance
twitter.com/ckymusic
instagram.com/ckymusic

Manchester musical activists HOMETRUTHS have revealed a new single and music video for the song 'Genocide' exclusively via Metal Hammer.

Taken from their debut EP Open Your Eyes, set for release on 3 March 2017 via CI Records, 'Genocide' delivers a rapid emphatic punch of in-your-face hardcore, where the band's outspoken disappointment and anger at the wealth, corruption and greed in government is fully emphasised. 

Watch the band in action: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9vQe5c4wKw

Embed code: <iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b9vQe5c4wKw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Frontman Gaz Davies told Metal Hammer:

"Although the song is not specifically directed at Donald Trump, given the current situation we thought it was appropriate. We have yet another person moving into a position that allows manipulation, corruption and greed. We do not find the current government systems to be beneficial, effective or in any way practical. We believe that the only way we aren’t going to continue having president after president with no real change to the system itself is to start again."

HOMETRUTHS garnered attention recently for putting up propaganda posters around the UK depicting images of Donald Trump, Nigel Farage and Pope Francis with lacerations around their eyes, with the hashtag #OpenYourEyes scrawled alongside. The response started almost immediately and has become synonymous with the band's voice and message.

Gaz continues:

"The best way to achieve this is to enlighten people to what is going on in the world. It’s the aim of the entire EP. People are not stupid if non-bias evidence is presented to them and they are allowed to form their own opinion, it is only a matter of time before people start to realise that there is something wrong with the world."

It's time to take the power back and take notice of HOMETRUTHS.

Pre-order Open Your Eyes:

Digital: http://smarturl.it/htuk-oye
Physical & Merch: http://bit.ly/htuk-oye

Open Your Eyes tracklisting:

1. Embers
2. Feral
3. Divide
4. Vigilante
5. WMD
6. Genocide

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/hometruthsuk
https://twitter.com/hometruthsuk

New album The Great Collapse will be released on 17 March via Long Branch Records. 

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY have released brand new track 'Iron Moon' from their upcoming new album The Great Collapse.

Featuring a guest performance from Kevin McCaughey (Ion Dissonance), stream the track here: https://youtu.be/AFAMEIAMvGs

"Iron Moon's one of our more aggressive songs, lyrically it's sort of an attack on the complacent and routine life," says guitarist and producer Will Putney. "The world is full of people stuck in these dead end paths, just accepting a world that's handed to you, a world where you have no voice or no opportunity to even get ahead. It's a song written in defiance of that and is a reminder that you don't have to settle for being exploited or controlled by anyone."

The new single is released on the heels of the band's music video for 'Heads Will Hang' premiered last month via Alternative Press and directed by Max Moore (Code Orange, Of Mice And Men).

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY will release The Great Collapse on 17 March via Long Branch Records (Europe) and Entertainment One (Rest of the world). 

European live dates:

03.08.17 DE - Wacken - Wacken Open-Air
16.08.17 DE - Dinkelsbühl - Summer Breeze Festival
18.08.17 DE - Allstedt - Destruction Derby

with more to be announced.

https://www.facebook.com/FitForAnAutopsyOfficial/
https://www.instagram.com/fitforanautopsy/
https://twitter.com/fitforanautopsy

Different Animals will be released 8 June via Fearless Records

Los Angeles heavy rock five-piece VOLUMES are thrilled to announce that new album Different Animals will be released 8 June via Fearless Records.

The band has also released  brand new song and video for the album's second single 'On Her Mind' (feat. Pouya), and follows the single 'Feels Good', which was the first track released with new vocalist Myke Terry.

Check out 'On Her Mind' here:

Different Animals is available to pre-order HERE, with instant download of 'On Her Mind' with each purchase.

"We're very excited on this next release," guitarist Diego Farias says. "We have painstakingly worked on this album for the past 2+ years and all through so many ups and downs within our band. It's been a trip to say the least; however, we are so excited and proud with what we are about to give you, our fans, who have stuck by us, through the good and bad...with this album."

Formed in 2009, VOLUMES are known to blend together an eclectic mix of musical influences, forging a creative bond between several types of genres that are worlds apart. The line up includes Myke Terry (Vocals), Gus Farias (Vocals), Diego Farias (Guitar), Raad Soudani (Bass), Nick Ursich (Drums). VOLUMES have been a stand-out in their genre for having two dynamic vocalists, utilizing different ranges of singing and screaming to create a layered, charismatic, volatile sound which leaves listeners begging for more. The combination of their efforts results in a fusion between intricate patterns, melodies; aggressive, straight to the point, metal. The band is currently putting the finishing touches on their third full-length, which will follow 2014's No Sleep, and Via (2011), which both peaked at #1 on the iTunes Rock & Metal Charts. 

The band will hit the road for The New Reign Tour in the USA as support to Born of Osiris, with additional support from label mates Oceans Ate Alaska, Within The Ruins, and Fire From The Gods, and will hit the UK later in 2017.

https://www.facebook.com/volumesband
https://soundcloud.com/pouya-kevin