London prog-metallers DEADLY CIRCUS FIRE have announced a Heavy Metal Truants fundraiser show and a support slot with Uneven Structure and Voyager.

The Heavy Metal Truants support three charities in equal measure – Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, Childline/NSPCC and Teenage Cancer Trust; all profit from the show will go directly to them.

Tickets available here: http://www.seetickets.com/event/deadly-circus-fire/london-the-black-heart-camden/1126802

The band recently announced that vocalist David Pear joining the band and unveiled new single 'Shinigami Fall'. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/iNFnLQ-MeUc

Dates:
24.08.17 - Heavy Metal Truants Fundraiser @ Black Heart, Camden
09.10.17 - Underworld, Camden
15 - 18.03.2018 - Hammerfest

UK rockers Of Allies have released the video for their new single '17', giving a glimpse into their debut album due this Autumn.

The quartet premiered the video via MOSH/Hit The Floor, check it out here: 

Of Allies have already caught the eyes and ears of the UK press, including Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and Marshall Amps, as well as radio play on Huw Stephens’ Radio 1 show and BBC Introducing. The band's last single 'Lost Not Found' was added to Spotify's New Noise playlist.

It's no surprise, boasting an undeniably British stamp; a thick, multi-layered sound that is fast becoming this band’s trademark. For fans of Twin Atlantic, Lower Than Atlantis and Fightstar, Of Allies tread the lines between alternative rock, melodic rock and UK rock whilst always hinting at something darker.

Having recently played a hometown show with TesseracT the band are playing several dates around the UK:

15.07.2017 - Lower Darwen, Sunbird Records
21.07.2017 - Stockton, Music Lounge
28.07.2017 - Liverpool, The Jacaranda Club
4.08.2017 - Withernsea Festival
05.08.201 - Humber Street Sesh Festival

UK extreme noise-makers HELPLESS have released their vicious new single 'Ceremony Of Innocence', coming ahead of debut album Debt on September 8 via Holy Roar Records. 

First premiered on Metal Hammer, who called HELPLESS 'the UK's nastiest band', you can now watch the video to 'Ceremony Of Innocence' here:

Supported also by BBC Radio 1, who gave the track its first play, 'Ceremony Of Innocence' and the rest of Debt is available to pre-order here: http://bit.ly/HelplessUK 

Debt, a 10 song excursion in dissonance, does everything it needs to in the time it takes most bands to open up. This is no drawn out prog opus; instead, a supremely dark, engagingly short, sharp, shock to the system. If further musical pointers are needed then perhaps the menace of early Gaza and the turn-on-a-dime musical dexterity of Breather Resist often combined with grindcore would be a good place to start.

Having previously delivered on their promising self titled EP, HELPLESS have returned with a savagely blunt album that not only increases their sonic intensity tenfold, but expands their palate from a chaotic hardcore base into grindcore, noise rock and even figurative elements of death and black metal. This is not for the faint of heart.

Debt will be released on September 8 via Holy Roar Records. 

Catch the band on the following dates:

16.09.17 - Morvah, Cornwall
11.11.17 - Sonance @ Cube Microplex, Bristol

Debt track listing:

1) Worth
2) Out Of Commission
3) Grief Vultures
4) Moral Bankruptcy
5) Sertraline
6) Weightless Prayers
7) Ceremony Of Innocence
8) Sinkhole
9) Manufactured Consent
10) Denied Sale

It is with great regret that the organisers of Fort Fest have had to cancel the 2017 event. 

Despite the strong line up featuring Pulled Apart By Horses, Rolo Tomassi, Toploader, Fort Hope, Normandie and many more, the three-day festival as Scald End Farm in Bedfordshire will not be taking place on 4-6 August due to low ticket sales.

Jon Hewitt said on behalf of organisers The Fort Records: “We are deeply saddened that we have had to cancel Fort Fest. After a very promising start last year, ticket sales have been extremely disappointing and there was no prospect of us being able to deliver the festival that we had planned or that everyone involved deserves. We would like to apologise to everyone who has bought tickets and to the bands and traders that supported Fort Fest.  Full refunds will, of course, be forthcoming this week.”

All ticket holders will be refunded with the next seven days.

UK metal powerhouse SWORN AMONGST return heavier than ever with a new line up and new single ‘The Cleansing’. The band also welcome vocalist Darryl Jones, bassist Kieran Agnew and guitarist/vocalist Ashley Currie, who have begun SWORN AMONGST’s next chapter and ‘The Cleansing’ is a taster of much more to come.

Check it out here:

Fusing extreme brutality with big hooks has always been a talent SWORN AMONGST possess, and ‘The Cleansing’ does not disappoint, however the band set out to return with a fresh sound. Drummer Jonny Harper explains:

“With 'The Cleansing' we wanted to develop our sound, building on the heaviness we had on 'Under A Titan Sky', but be more vocally expressive and experiment with different styles whilst retaining an aggressive delivery, punishing rhythms and an anthemic chorus. The song is about the breakdown of the self destructive human race and recent events that have caused global repercussions, unrest and fear”

'The Cleansing' is the band's first release since their highly acclaimed album Under A Titan Sky, which received huge acclaim from Metal Hammer, Kerrang, Scuzz TV and many more.

SWORN AMONGST have announced an August headline run with support from Lotus Eater,check them out on one of the following dates:

August
22 London, The Crowndale
23 Exeter, Cavern
24 Birmingham, Subside
25 Edinburgh, Opium
26 Manchester, Satan’s Hollow

September
30 Luton, Castlefest 2017

Currently working on new material, expect more exciting news from SWORN AMONGST very soon.

Fast-rising Canadian progressive metallers ONI have released a drum playthrough to ‘Thrive’, a rhythmically intricate and detailed track that showcases Joe Greulich’s phenomenal ability behind the kit.

Check it out here:

Released ahead of the band’s UK Tech Fest performance, ONI are continuing their relentless touring in support of their stunning debut album Ironshore, released November 2016 via Metalblade. This next run sees the band perform at Bloodstock, Amplified festival, and play select dates across Europe with metal titans Gojira and Death Angel.

Dates:

Jul-09 - UK Tech-fest    Newark, United Kingdom
Jul-11 - Pustervik, Göteborg, Sweden w/ Gojira
Jul-13 - Train, Aarhus, Denmark w/ Gojira
Jul-19 - Le Ferrailleur, Nantes, France w/ Death Angel
Jul-20 - Le Petit Bain, Paris, France w/ Death Angel
Jul-21- Le Rat's, Puget Sur Argens, France w/ Death Angel
Jul-23 - Amplified Festival, Northleach, United Kingdom
Aug-13 – Bloodstock Festival, Catton Park, Walton On Trent, United Kingdom

Since the band’s inception in 2014, ONI have been on a meteoric rise and are showing no sign of slowing. Having toured with Devil You Know, Children of Bodom, The Cavalera brothers and an appearance at Knotfest under their belts, they have quickly grown into a ferocious world class act who are set to make a huge impact in Europe this summer.

Canadian bruisers NECK OF THE WOODS will release debut album, The Passenger, on 15 September via Basick records; a crushing blend of progressive, death-inspired, technical, and groove-laden metal through nine engaging tracks. 

The band have also released new track ‘Bottom Feeder’. Delivered through an animated art video, they describe the premise of as, “Recognising recurring patterns in relationships that lead to imminent failure and learning to break free from these tropes.”

Premiered on Decibel, check out ‘Bottom Feeder’ here:

The Passenger will see digital release via Basick Records and physical via the band direct. The album’s artwork and track listing have also been unveiled; stand by for additional audio samples, preorders, and more.

The Passenger track listing:

1. Bottom Feeder
2. Nailbiter
3. White Coats
4. Open Water
5. You’ll Always Look The Same To Me
6. Face Of The Villain
7. Drift
8. Foothills
9. Before I Rest

UK alt-rockers LIGHTSCAPE are excited to release their new single/video, 'Live In Fear'.

Watch the video, first premiered on Punktastic, here:

As the band state:

“‘Live in Fear’ was written in light of the Paris terror attacks and has coincidentally become very poignant once again at the time of this release, due to recent events. The premise of the song is to send the message that the only way to cope in the volatile situation we seem to be finding ourselves in, is to spread unity and togetherness.”

'Live In Fear' is a foretaste of LIGHTSCAPE's new material, with the quintet due to release an as-yet-untitled EP in the Autumn. A young band, forming in late 2015, LIGHTSCAPE have released two EPs already, both in 2016. Playing alongside Lonely The Brave and Fort Hopeamongst others, the band already have amassed hundreds of thousands of listens, as well as support from Kerrang! and BBC Introducing.

For fans of Young Guns, Holding Absence and any keen listener of atmospheric pop-rock, LIGHTSCAPE are a band on the rise. Catch them playing at:

JULY
07 LONDON Cargo

SEPTEMBER
02 NORWICH Epic Studio

AKERCOCKE, the masters of dark and twisted extreme metal, return with their new album Renaissance In Extremis. Collectively buoyed by a renewed sense of purpose, the band have reunited with former home Peaceville Records, set to release their sixth full-length on the 25th August. 

On returning to the Peaceville family, founding member and drummer David Gray comments:

“Akercocke are proud and privileged to be returning to Peaceville Records this year for our new album, our first release for ten years. Peaceville unleashed the band on the wider metal community and were responsible for laying the foundations of our two-decade history. Therefore, it is wholly appropriate that they assist us once again in our mission to pursue quality progressive death metal to the masses!” 

To coincide with the announcement, the band have released new single 'Disappear', check it out here: 

Akercocke have also confirmed a UK headline tour in support of Renaissance In Extremis, supported by Hecate Enthroned. 
 
Inner Sanctum tour dates:

13/10/2017 - Glasgow, Audio
14/10/2017 - Sheffield, Corporation
15/10/2017 - Milton Keynes, The Crauford Arms
20/10/2017 - Belfast, Voodoo
21/10/2017 - Dublin, Voodoo lounge
22/10/2017 - Nuneaton, Queens Hall
27/10/2017 - Manchester, Rebellion
28/10/2017 - London, Underworld
29/10/2017 - Colchester, The Arts Centre

Ticket details here: www.facebook.com/akercockeofficial

Mixed by legendary studio guru Neil Kernon [Nile, Deicide, Thin Lizzy, Yes] & mastered in NYC by Alan Douches [Death, Misfits, CroMags] at West West Side Music, Renaissance In Extremis is nothing short of a new dawn for these most eccentric of extremists.

A comprehensive reinvention and expansion of the band’s multifarious sound, Renaissance In Extremis delivers euphoric force and mind-boggling weirdness. There are scything thrash and death metal riffs in abundance, warped but elegant melodies and clouds of ugly dissonance; moments of unsettling calm and quiet. Renaissance In Extremis is a bold, bullish and belligerent statement of creative intent: metal’s dark spirit reborn in an explosion of bright ideas and inspirational fury.
 
Renaissance In Extremis tracklisting: 

1. Disappear
2. Unbound by Sin
3. Insentience
4. First to Leave the Funeral
5. Familiar Ghosts
6. A Final Glance Back Before Departing
7. One Chapter Closing For Another To Begin
8. Inner Sanctum
9. A Particularly Cold Sept
 
Renaissance In Extremis is available to pre-order in various formats here: http://found.ee/RENAISSANCE_IN_EXTREMIS