French prog-metallers FRACTAL UNIVERSE have released their new playthrough video to 'Narcissistic Loop', taken from their debut album Engram of Decline, released via Kolony Records on 14 April 2017.

Watch the video 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, 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 have been handpicked for MetalDays Festival this year. Stay tuned for more news as it comes from this highly exciting new band.

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

London prog-metallers DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE are very excited to announce vocalist David Pear joining the band and have unveiled new single 'Shinigami Fall'.

Check it out here: 

Guitarist Save Addario said: "As a band, and as individuals, we feel great pride in what DCF has achieved. We look forward to our new journey and the challenges that are about to face. We welcome David to the Deadly Circus Fire family with truly open arms, and we hope our fans will have open ears and help us to make David feel at home. We are already working on our 3rd studio album and we are glad to showcase the first track  “Shinigami Fall” for you all to enjoy!"

David adds, "I am very honoured and happy to announce a new chapter in my life and musical career beginning now; I have joined forces with one of my favourite band ever since the discovery of 'The King and The Bishop’ through a Metal Hammer release back in 2012/13 and it was love at first listen. It is not often that you get a chance from your favourite band to join their family! I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with such amazingly talented and creative musicians. I look forward to be able to write and perform at a whole new level now with Deadly Circus Fire. This is only the beginning of a new entirely journey!"

As well as working on the new record, Deadly Circus Fire will be showcasing new material at a number of select show over the next few months, including the already announced Hammerfest on 15-18 March 2018.

MusicPlanet Live today launches its FREE fully functional social music site and mobile app for all users. 

MusicPlanet Live launched for artists, promoters and venues in April and already has over 4000 active users registered to the site with the number growing daily. This rapidly growing community already includes the majority of the UK's venues, and demonstrates the thirst and need for a dedicated music portal which eases communication between fans, bands, and musical spaces.

From today the site is now the most comprehensive online music tool. Music fans can connect with artists and venues, buy gig tickets and merchandise, and search the globe for their new favourite acts. 

Artists can notify ALL of their fans with targeted posts and updates, as well as furthering gig opportunities from small to large-scale. Venues and promoters can now interact and connect with fans, encouraging exposure, communication, and growth. All for FREE.

All users can now also access Music:Mapped, the ground-breaking powerful navigation and search tool which shows the location of venues and artists across the world: https://www.musicplanetlive.com/navigate

To celebrate the launch, 90 independently promoted MusicPlanet Live-branded gigs took place throughout June, showing the immense support for the site and its ethos from the live music community. The shows included Stray From The Path, Oceans Ate Alaska, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Natives, The Red Paintings, Bad Omens, Napoleon and Loathe.

A packed out free launch show was also played at the first venue to sign-up - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth - with Astroid Boys, Heck, Shields and Create to Inspire supporting the site.

Jon Lovegrove, owner of the Sanctuary venue in Basingstoke, said “We look forward to working with MPL as their site is a wonderful resource for venues like ours, as well as supporting artists and promoters as well.  It will benefit us by allowing our reach to expand exponentially thanks to the way the site works; it will be a great way to bolster an already buzzing local music scene!”

Create to Inspire vocalist Sean Midson said “MusicPlanet Live is something I and many musicians have been waiting for, for quite some time. To have a free and accessible social media/networking site purely for musicians to utilise is a blessing, and we cannot thank the awesome people that head MPL for getting us involved and making everything music-related that little bit easier." 

THE HIRSCH EFFEKT have released their new single and video 'LIFNEJ', coinciding with the upcoming release of their new album Eskapist which is due for release on 18th August via Long Branch/SPV.
 
Watch 'LIFNEJ' here:

After their awe-inspiring Holon album trilogy, THE HIRSCH EFFEKT have delved deep into the darkest corners of their mind and talent to craft their most extreme and complex chapter in the form of Eskapist. Socially critical, caustically political and musically overwhelming, the fourth album from the band is both a lesson and a gift in progressive metal, prog and core.

All three band members – drummer Moritz Schmidt, guitarist and singer Nils Wittrock and bassist and singer Ilja John Lappin – shared the writing duties of this staggering record and worked with Tim Tautorat (who has previously worked with In Flames, Manic Street Preachers), Max Trieder and various guest musicians in Hanover, Leipzig and Berlin. The complex compositions, interfused with prog, tech and sludge metal, constantly shift between the different styles, adding depth and volume. 

In its many different forms, escapism is the link between different pieces and the force that binds the album together. Once again, the band's lyrics tackle issues that hurt and their music, which demands to be listened to, strikes almost incomparable in its intensity. This album offers fans the chance to escape from society, their "circumstances" and their private life.

With Eskapist, THE HIRSCH EFFEKT give their final comment on our time. In simple terms - remarkably intense music.

Pre-order Eskapist here: http://www.thehirscheffekt.lnk.to/eskapist?mc_cid=9f7c86038a&mc_eid=[UNIQID] 

Melodic tech-rock quintet FIRST SIGNS OF FROST have signed to BASICK RECORDS, set to release their new EP The Shape Of Things To Come on the 11th August.

To coincide with the announcement the band have released a lyric video for their new single 'Look Alive Sunshine', check it out here:

Pre-orders of The Shape Of Things To Come are also available here: https://basick.supplies/collections/first-signs-of-frost

"Over the past two years we have been quietly and solidly working away to bring something different to the table, a record that not only reflects who we are and the history of the band, but more importantly showcases our future," says frontman Daniel Lawrence. "'The Shape Of Things To Come' is as poignant an EP title as possible, it is the first of many releases we have planned in the near future and we cannot wait to share this with fans old and new. We hope you enjoy this record as much as have bringing it to life."

Drawing influence from the likes of Deftones, Tool and Glassjaw, London's First Signs Of Frost push the boundaries with their unique blend of technical instrumentation, epic soundscapes and anthemic vocal melodies. 

2015 saw the band resurface after a six year hiatus, having initially disbanded after the departure of vocalist Daniel Tompkins. With a fresh line-up the band have bounced back with a new lease of life, expanding and moulding their sound to showcase more groove and ambiance than ever before. 

Throughout their career First Signs Of Frost have toured with and supported names including Deaf Havana, Enter Shikari, Architects, You Me At Six, We Are The Ocean, Senses Fail and Devil Sold His Soul. Keep your eyes peeled for live dates in 2017.  

French symphonic progressive metal act ADAGIO have premiered their new single 'The Ladder' ahead of the release of forthcoming album, Life, on July 26th via Zeta Nemesis Records. 

Listen to the new track here: 

Taking their time to create their unique and highly personal fifth full-length album, Life, it has been seven years since Adagio’s last studio release, Archangels In Black.

"The impetus behind the band’s dormancy spanning almost a decade was our commitment to doing justice to our material," says guitarist Stéphan Forté. "To release the album in an incomplete or premature state would be a disservice to the music, the band, and most of all, to the fans."

With Life, ADAGIO pushes the experience past just music, plunging the listener into a powerful introspective experience. Stéphan says: "Fear, joy, sorrow, love, pain, ecstasy... What if we could visit each of these emotions like exhibits in a museum? ‘Life’ takes you on contemplative journey, exploring the complex yet beautiful contortions of the subconscious mind." Each track is like a portrait in a gallery giving the audience a glimpse into the minds of the band members.

Stylistically, Life brings ADAGIO back to their progressive roots while expanding their musical boundaries. From the heavy 'Subrahmanya' which is available as the first single now, and which combines traditional Eastern Ethnic and Djent influences, to the dark and mesmerizing 'I'll Possess You,' Life is an epic canvas of atmospheres which will take the listener back to the ethereal places they had once visited but never managed to find again.

This album features several lineup changes for ADAGIO. Life marks the return of singer Kelly "Sundown" Carpenter, who had previously performed live vocals for the band. It also brings us the new addition violinist Mayline, adding new ethnic textures and dimensions to the band’s sound.

Life will be released worldwide through Zeta Nemesis, funded through a highly successful crowdfunding campaign. "The crowdfunding campaign was a great accomplishment for us; we're incredibly thankful that our fans had such great faith in us, even after our long absence from the scene," Stéphan says. "This organic grassroots process has yielded the purest results and we are confident that this release will be heralded as the band's finest effort yet."

Life will be released on July 26th; to pre-order it and download your digital version for FREE, visit: http://store.adagio-online.com

LIFE track listing:

1) Life
2) The Ladder
3) Subrahmanya
4) The Grand Spirit Voyage
5) Darkness Machine
6) I'll Possess You
7) Secluded Within Myself
8) Trippin Away
9) Torn

ANDY JAMES and ANGEL VIVALDI have announced their forthcoming 'Wave of Synergy' co-headline tour.

The 22-date run will see them perform at venues throughout the UK and Europe, including an appearance at Euroblast. See them live at one of the following shows:

21/09/2017 - Cardiff UK, Clwb Ifor Bach
22/09/2017 - Milton Keynes UK, The Craufurd Arms
23/09/2017 - Birmingham UK, O2 Academy 3
24/09/2017 - Glasgow UK, Audio
25/09/2017 - Dublin IE, Voodoo Lounge
26/09/2017 - Manchester UK, Factory
27/09/2017 - London UK, O2 Islington Academy 2
29/09/2017 - Cologne, DE - Euroblast Festival
30/09/2017 - Hamburg DE, Knust
01/10/2017 - Berlin DE, Badehaus
02/10/2017 - Krakow PL, Klub Zascianek
03/10/2017 - Warsaw PL, Poglos
04/10/2017 - Prague CZ, Music City
06/10/2017 - Regensburg DE, Eventhall Airport
08/10/2017 - Munich DE, Backstage
10/10/2017 - Pratteln CH, Konzertfabrik Z7
11/10/2017 - Milan IT, Circolo Svolta
12/10/2017 - Puget-Sur-Argens FR, Le Rats
14/10/2017 - Barcelona ES, Razzmatazz
15/10/2017 - Madrid ES, Sala Caracol
16/10/2017 - Lyon FR, La Marquise
17/10/2017 - Paris FR, Backstage By The Mill

Andy James exhibits influence of Andy Timmons and Paul Gilbert, but makes his sound his own with modern metal tone and power, for which he is best known. Exodus is not your typical guitar shred record, it’s a veritable roller-coaster of emotions, infectious melodies and soul that is both captivating and memorable.

Check out his playthrough of latest single 'Made Of Stone' here: https://youtu.be/EMHw2iyBWl0
 
Rated #3 in Prog-Sphere's Top Guitarists of 2014, Angel's critically acclaimed Away With Words Part 1 catapulted him into the group of elite modern guitarists. His previous release Universal Language, is a must-hear staple in today's instrumental album catalog. 2016’s re-release of The Speed of Dark further proves that there’s no slowing down for VIvaldi.
 
Watch the playthrough for 'Acid Reign' here:

TESSERACT have released their new single and lyric video 'Smile', coinciding with their North American tour with Megadeth and Meshuggah.  

Listen to 'Smile' here: http://tesseractband.co.uk

Purchase or stream 'Smile' here: https://tesseract.lnk.to/smile
 
Vocalist Daniel Tompkins explains the lyrical concept & inspiration behind the song:

"Lyrically ‘Smile’ carries a strong and forward sense of irony as we explore and darkest side of the human condition. The song will witness the manifestation of an ’entity’. Consciousness survives through constant manipulation only to propagate pessimism and hopelessness. Our entity observes, consumes and evolves, bearing witness to human existence, mimicking our presence in colossal form."
 
Recorded at both 4D Sound Studios, Brighton and Celestial Sound Studios, Notts UK and produced by Acle Kahney during late spring this year 'Smile' is described by the band as their most collaborative track of recent times.

Bassist Amos Williams explains further:

“We chose this track as although it is part of a greater theme, and is in fact towards the end of a story arc, it stands alone very well. We have a solid idea of where we would like to take this track on the next album as it is in no way finished. It is merely one step in a journey. The verses and choruses stand very far apart from each other. There is a tension we wished to build through a minimalist approach, with small phrases that repeat against accompanying parts of different lengths. These undulate, seemingly getting lost against the nonconventional phrasing of the drums. All this is nothing new to TesseracT fans, but this time we have looked to really align the lyrical and musical messages. “
 
After building up a rabid and loyal fanbase across North America with their previous tours with the Devin Townsend Project, Gojira and multiple headline runs the band are stateside again for a monumental tour with Megadeth & Meshuggah.
 
Guitarist James Monteith comments:

“We couldn't be more excited about going back to the US, the shows are always amazing out there and the fans are some of our most enthusiastic and loyal. There's also the added bonus of touring with two of the most important metal bands ever! Megadeth and Meshuggah are major boundary pushers in the genre and we're massive fans of them both, so it's a real honour to share a stage with them. And not to forget Lilake who are doing some cool things too, so all in all, it's going to be the highlight of our year”

TesseracT will also perform at this year's ArcTanGent Festival. 

SKYWALKER have released brand new video 'Caffeine', taken from their EP Sugar House, set for release on 1 September.

Premiered via Dreambound, watch the video here:

Throughout Sugar House the Liverpool-based four-piece crush speed and aggression with melodic hooks and bouncy choruses. They firmly put themselves in the skate punk scene, taking their emotional post-hardcore inspiration from the likes of Crooks and Counterparts, whilst retaining the strength of their massive pop-punkesque choruses that wouldn't look at out of place in a Neck Deep track.

Unstoppable drive and determination has quickly built SKYWALKER a strong fanbase across Europe, and earned them shows alongside the likes of NOFX, Madball, Anti-Flag, Limp Bizkit and more. 

Pre-order Sugar House here: http://skywalkermerch.bigcartel.com/

UK and European tours will be announced shortly.