Synthwave trio ZETA, made up of Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) and Katie Jackson, have released a stunning video for their track 'Causway'.

Premiered via Prog magazine, check it out here: https://youtu.be/s17CReWmKQs

Tompkins said to Prog mag: “We'd like to thank Kyle Kadow and Steven Cleavland for their amazing work on the Causeway video. They cast the roles perfectly and completely nailed the look, style and story to the video. This song hits home pretty hard and it's a difficult and emotive subject, which is pretty obvious to read if you watch the video and listen closely to the lyrical content. This is definitely one of the most exciting and well made videos I've ever had the pleasure of working on.”

'Causway' is taken from their debut self-titled album, which hit number 9 in the Billboard Dance charts, 2 in the Synthwave and 3 in the Electronic Bandcamp charts.

ZETA have also announced the release an instrumental version of their debut album. Katie told Prog mag:

"We're really pleased to finally be getting this out to everyone as it's been in the works for a while. Along with the release of our new video, this album features a couple of bonus versions of The Distance, including a radio edit version exclusively with this release through our Bandcamp page."

Purchase the album here:
http://zetamusicuk.bandcamp.com

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/zetauk

UK metalcore band SHIELDS have announced their long awaited new album. Life In Exile will be out April 20 via Long Branch Records.

The album news follows the band's tour with Escape the Fate and release of new single 'It's Killing Me', their first new material in nearly three years.

Watch the new video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA5pkbo4cFQ

Purchase: https://shields.lnk.to/ItsKillingMe

The London-based metal band were established in 2012, releasing their first EP in 2013. Since then, SHIELDS have toured the UK relentlessly, gathering a strong following. In April 2015 SHIELDS dropped their second EP Guilt which for the next two years would take them on tours running laps around Mainland Europe and the UK, and land them festivals and shows with the likes of Born Of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, Ice Nine Kills and Veil Of Maya to name a few. During their extensive touring schedule the band were writing on and off the road for their next release.

Shields are:

Joe Edwards - Vocals
Sam Kubrick - Guitars/Vocals
Lawrence Welling - Bass
Alex Rayner - Drums

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/Shieldsuk/
http://www.spv.de/portfolio/long-branch-records/

London cinematic metal quintet THE EVER LIVING have announced the release of debut album Herephemine on 4 May via Chromism Records: a 12-track transcendental journey through darkness, euphoria and dense atmosphere.

The band have also announced a special one off release show on 17 May at the Boston Music Room, London.

As the long awaited follow up to the band’s self-titled debut EP, Herephemine expands on their established sound by further exploring sonic extremes with greater dynamics and deeper production. Clocking in at 66 minutes, THE EVER LIVING fully utilise intensity as much as they do space, creating an immersive world for the listener to explore.

Seeking fresh inspiration, Chris Bevan Lee (Keyboards / Vocals) and Andrei Alan(Guitars) travelled to Georgia to explore its Soviet architecture and history. It was there that many of the album's themes and ideas were spawned.

Not afraid to experiment with juxtaposing ideas,THE EVER LIVING effortlessly combine melody and dissonance, chilling screams and lush atmospherics, and intensity and space, to create their multi-layered sound. Almost like a living organism, the brooding bass and drums drive the guitars and synths, which entwine together to create colour and darkness throughout. With Jonny Renshaw (Devil Sold His Soul) at the producing helm, the band’s vision of Herephemine has been fully realised with sonic excellence.

"The main theme around Herephemine is experiences with excess through technology and other means. Not just personally but as a comment on the current feelings towards creating and consuming. We wanted the album to give the listener an immersive experience with multiple layers, changes in style and different types of colour" - Chris Bevan Lee

Known for their engrossing performances, THE EVER LIVING will unveil their new live experience at their album launch show on 17 May at Boston Music Room. The band will take the show nationwide later this summer, dates to be announced soon.
 

French progressive metal quintet THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT have announced the release of their dystopian concept album of album Savages, out 13 April via Apathia Records.

The band have also unveiled new single 'Ink', featuring guest vocals from  Adam Warren (Oceano). Check it out here

Savages is a dark projection of the future of humanity, should it not take drastic action to alter its course. What are the consequences of the global warming, the rise of right-wing populism and the politics of nostalgia, the growing rich-poor divide? According to THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT the future is very bleak.

Low-tuned riffs, crushing grooves and painfully abrasive vocals deliver this message with huge effect and urgency, however there is a glimmer of hope, illustrated by hints of electronica and even jazz. It’s an album of anger, suffering, despair and conflict, with many twists and turns; an impressive achievement for a band so young in their career.

THE DALI THUNDERING CONCEPT will be touring the UK and Europe far and wide in 2018, dates to be announced soon.

Currently announced:

23 February - Complexity Festival, Haarlem - NL
w/ Sikth, Employed To Serve, Carnifex and more

Pre-order here:
http://apathia.link/tdtc
https://thedalithunderingconcept.bandcamp.com/album/savages 

Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/thedalithunderingconcept

Italian metalcore troupe ARMS LIKE ANCHORS have released their new single 'Slaves'.

Premiering the video via Impericon, you can now watch 'Slaves' here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BobZ-umekgs

From Milan, Italy, the five-piece have already played with Of Mice & Men, Being As An Ocean, Napoleon, Your Demise and more. Following the release of their previous two EPs The Strangers and In A Golden Reign, the band are preparing to release their debut full-length later this year.

Lebanese blackened death metal band KAOTEON will release their pummeling new full-length album, Damnatio Memoriae, featuring bass wizard Linus Klausenitzer of Obscura and drum master Fredrik Widigs of Marduk as special guests, on 23 February 2018.

In celebration of the impending release, KAOTEON are streaming the entire album in partnership with Noisey. Stream Damnatio Memoriae and read an in-depth interview with the band here: https://noisey.vice.com/en_us/article/d3wy5a/kaoteon-want-to-smash-middle-eastern-metal-stereotypes

Anthony Kaoteon tells Noisey: “On the first album I wanted the riffs to be direct and in-your-face. Even when I was playing melodies, in the background was blood, fire and death, because that’s our background; growing up there would be planes flying overhead, bombs and explosions. I was dead, but now I’m out of the coffin and facing the world with a better view.”

Damnatio Memoriae pre-orders are available now via https://kaoteon.bandcamp.com

The band also recently released a guitar playthrough of the track 'Raging Hellfire', featuring guitarist Anthony Kaoteon via Guitar World. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/BrX_gOBxMc4

“Kaoteon are as metal as you can get.” 
Metal Hammer

“Death and black metal influences still feature heavily in the mix, but new elements have also begun to creep in which suggest exciting new sonic avenues. The title track introduces a sense of the epic thanks to its decidedly 80s heavy metal histrionics, while the proggy, intricate guitar-work of "A Breath" suggests whole new musical realms entirely.”
Noisey

“Fans of Behemoth, Marduk (who share drummer Fredrik Widigs with Kaoteon!), Watain and the like should have no problems whatsoever getting into the band’s groovy, atmospheric, frosty death metal attack.” 
MetalSucks
 
KAOTEON are an unusual east-west international extreme metal collaboration, originally hailing from the Middle East but now based in Amsterdam. KAOTEON fled their native Lebanon after the release of their debut 2011 full-length, Veni Vidi Vomui, due to facing censorship at its highest levels for simply being a metal band. They have been put in jail for devil worshipping, attacked by religious groups, and raided several times by police trying to use them as scapegoats to mask political and religious problems in the region. It's a terrifying but enthrallingly honest story of a metal band trying to exist, succeed and break out of the Middle East. 

Damnatio Memoriae succeeds at portraying the band’s justified “f*ck-the-world” outlook with nine poisonous tracks that brim with exhilarating magnetism and needle-sharp riffing. The album was self-recorded by KAOTEON, with mixing and mastering credited to renowned Swedish producer Daniel Bergstrand, who is recognised for his celebrated work with bands such as Behemoth, Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir and many more of today’s top metal artists.

Damnatio Memoriae track listing: 

1. Damnatio Memoriae
2. Barren Lands
3. Raging HellFire
4. Venom of Exalt
5. The Will
6. Non Serviam
7. Light of Compassion
8. Into the Mouth of Kaos
9. A Breath

KAOTEON online:
www.facebook.com/kaoteon
www.instagram.com/kaoteon
https://kaoteon.bandcamp.com

Bristolian prog-metallers VALIS ABLAZE will release their long-awaited debut album Boundless on 6 April via Long Branch Records.

They have also released the first video / single from the album, check out 'Paradox' here: https://youtu.be/AsqBsup-xMU

Having quickly risen through the ranks, VALIS ABLAZE released their first EP Insularity in 2017 which saw them added to many bills in the prog-metal world, including supports with Tesseract, Sikth and a set at UK Tech Fest. Not only did they pick up a legion of fans along the way, progressive minded label Long Branch saw the huge potential and snapped them up for their debut album.
 
Although wearing their influences clearly on their sleeves, VALIS ABLAZE provide an intriguing alternative to the progressive metal norm; swells of creative ingenuity shine throughout, as well as thought out details and subtle complexities that will keep the listener returning again and again.
 
With their debut full-length, VALIS ABLAZE present an even more refined sound: low end grooves juxtaposed with soaring vocal lines, crisp milton-cleans and atmospheric synths, all driven by intricate rhythm work and growling bass. A huge spectrum of energy, emotion, power and beauty.
 
VALIS ABLAZE will be touring Europe far and wide in support of Boundless, stay posted for more news.

Pre-Order Boundless here:
https://valisablaze.lnk.to/Boundless 

Do you feel trapped by Valentine's Day? Are you sleeping alone tonight? Are you waiting for your lost love to call?

INKLINGS' explore the darker side of dating at singlelife.online, a quiz that might have the answers for you. Taken over 1000 times already, it could be what you need this year.

The quiz accompanies the band's melancholic new ode to Valentine's - 'Single Life'. Watch the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mvLf71S5nA

Single Life is an anti-love song about the absence of love. The jealousy of those in relationships compared to the loneliness behind free and easy single faces. 

Inklings are long-time collaborators Kier Kemp and Michael Lane. They formed in late 2016, musically astray after the end of previous projects (FVK, Up), simply wanting to make uplifting music that told a story. They approach their brand of indie rock with an emotional satire influenced by stories of life in London and Berlin.

The duo started 2017 at a run with tour supports (Dead!, Vukovi, Grumble Bee) and collaborations with producer and friend William Vaughan (Crystal Bats). 2018 will see the release of two new singles, a special live session, a documentary and an EP later in the year.

For more information:

http://www.inklingsmusic.com/

Live music hub MusicPlanetLive has announced £1 Million of incentives and grants to support emerging UK artists and promoters.

Over the next six months MusicPlanetLive will be funding artists, projects and events up to £5k each across the UK. In addition to the grants, the site is designed so artists, venues and promoters of all levels can use its service to generate income through various means.

MusicPlanetLive has already sponsored a wide range of shows and provided funding for many emerging artists including Chapter and Verse, Lotus Eater and Big Beat Manifesto. This announcement affirms MusicPlanetLive's commitment to supporting live music and the next generation of talent.

Last week saw the official launch of NuuRadio, the site's in-built user-generated interactive radio station which features artist takeover shows, industry news and more. Featured artist shows have so far included Opeth, Employed to Serve, Northlane and Wednesday 13 as well as Grammy award winning Sting producer Kipper Eldridge. 

Further details can be found on MusicPlanetLive.com and the industry back-end nuuradio.com:

www.musicplanetlive.com
https://nuuradio.com/artist-benefits/
https://nuuradio.com/funding/

MusicPlanetLive said:

"We are funding proactive emerging acts of all genres who have the drive, determination and passion to promote their music and not expect everything on a plate. We want to see more people at more shows and keep live music thriving from grassroots venues to the biggest arenas. We’re also providing finance for hard working promoters to help them put on the shows they want. We want these shows to happen, we want the venues paid, the artists paid and as such we want to help cover costs, so promoters can afford to put on a show risk free. We’re finding huge support from many artists who believe in what we are doing, we all share the same passion, and the more people using the sites features, the better it works for all.

“We want to create a live music platform that works for all artists and everyone in the industry, this is our mission and commitment. This is NOT just another new social platform – it’s a complete working tool for the entire live music industry, and we’re just getting started. Designed with the music world in mind, this will be the best way for artists to grow fan base, reach audience for free and the opportunity to make income on a regular basis."

In an unprecedented show of support for grassroots musicians and promoters, MusicPlanetLive aims to provide the ultimate service for the industry and the only place to go for fans of Live music.