"Glacial post rock collapsing into icy black metal blasts. It's epic and stirring stuff. Absolutely crushing." - Daniel P Carter, BBC Radio1 Rock Show

Danish powerhouse MØL have set the Blackgaze landscape alight with their refreshing new take on the sound and today have released the stunning new video for their track 'Bruma. 

First premiered by Invisible Oranges, you can now watch the video here: https://youtu.be/uHlZA5OYj2I  

Comments MØL on Bruma: "As human beings, we fear the expiration of life and avoid the topic if confronted with the question of death. In modern culture we struggle to let go of our youth, as if we would go on living forever, and avoid the hard truth that everything eventually will come to an end. We all strive to make a mark that will last past our own lifetime — to make something that will make us timeless. However, in doing so we lose sight of the present. This is what the song challenges." 

MØL are set to release their unyieldingly stunning and cathartic debut album Jord via Holy Roar Records on 13th April. Taking the shimmering tropes of Slowdive and seamlessly blending them with a sharp strain of Black Metal to create an exceptional collision of beauty and wretchedness - this instantly deems them as one of the best in their genre.

To celebrate the forthcoming release of their debut album Jord, MØL recently announced a UK tour supporting Svalbard (24.05.18 - 25.05.18) and Helpless and Monolithian (26.05.18 - 27.05.18).

Jord will be released by Holy Roar Records in the UK/EU and Deathwish Inc in the USA on April 13th. UK/EU pre-orders are available here. USA pre-orders are available here. 

Find Out More:
Facebook || Instagram || Bandcamp || Spotify || Holy Roar Records

Tour dates: 

24th May - Black Heart, London with Svalbard
25th May - Soan, Nottingham with Svalbard
26th May - Mother's Ruin, Bristol with Helpless / Monolithian
27th May - Green Door Store, Brighton - Creeping Death Fest

For all press enquiries contact lisa@holdtightpr.com

British heavy prog psych band BOSS KELOID have released a massive new single 'Peykruve' which is taken from their forthcoming third album Melted On The Inch, due for release via Holy Roar Records on April 27th 2018. 'Peykruve' breathes an entirely new life into BOSS KELOID's sound and had its first radio listen on BBC Radio 1 Rock Show with Daniel Carter and its online premiere via Decibel Magazine here. 

The band have also just announced a forthcoming European album release tour in support of Sunnata.

Comments guitarist Paul Swarbrick:  "We're really excited to be playing these cool cities with the incredible Sunnata. We'll be playing our new album 'Melted On The Inch' in full, and it will be the first time we play any of these new songs. The shows will be the first time we've played live with Matt on keyboards and Alex (vocals) is now on second guitar duties too. They will also be the first shows with our new bassist Chid. It'll certainly be interesting to see how the Boss Keloid live experience will bring a fresh dynamic."

Tour Dates with Sunnata: 
7 May - Belgium, Antwerp. Music City
8 May - Germany, Hamburg. Hafenklang
9 May - Denmark - Copenhagen. KB18
10 May - Sweden, Malmo. Plan B
11 May - Sweden, Gothenburg. Truckstop Alaska
12 May - Norway, Oslo. Blitz

In addition to their critically acclaimed releases, BOSS KELOID have become revered for their devastatingly heavy live shows, gigging and touring extensively with an array of artists such as Bongzilla, John Garcia, Crowbar, Scissorfight, Bongripper, Conan, Mars Red Sky and Raging Speedhorn plus appearing at renowned festivals such as Bloodstock, ArcTanGent, Desertfest London, Hammerfest, HRH Doom Vs Stoner and Uprising.

Forthcoming album Melted On The Inch is six anthemic tracks showcasing a matured, evolved BOSS KELOID, as the UK-based quintet continue to flirt with new genres. These are undoubtedly the biggest, most intense songs Boss Keloid have ever written. This is their line in the sand and the results are inspiring. 

Melted On The Inch will be released by Holy Roar Records in the UK/EU and Deathwish Inc in the USA on April 27th. UK/EU pre-orders are available here. USA pre-orders are available here. 

Find out more about the band
Facebook || Twitter || Bandcamp || Spotify ||  Holy Roar Records

 

What the press are saying: 
 

"Melted On The Inch is insanely exciting, it sounds like nothing else on earth." - Dom Lawson (Metal Hammer, Prog Mag, The Guardian)

Album of the Month - Fuze Magazine (Germany) 

10/10 - Rock Hard Magazine (Germany)

"One of the most unexpectedly adventurous and unique albums I've heard this year." - Dean Brown (Pop Matters, Metal Hammer, The Quietus)

"Boss Keloid have very much created a record, nay a whole universe, that belongs entirely to themselves." - Atomsmasher

"Probably the most eccentric and adventurous band in the UK doom scene." - Astral Noize

"A rich tapestry that in just six songs manages to span prog, stoner, sludge, metal, hard rock and an entire planet’s worth of world music." - Electric Flavourland


Contact lisa@holdtightpr.com for all press enquiries

Acclaimed Australian prog-guitar virtuoso PLINI has announced a European tour with MESTIS (Javier Reyes of Animals as Leaders) acclaimed instrumental prog new comers ARCH ECHO in support.

PLINI will also perform at Download, Be Prog! My Friend, Leimentaler OpenAirand Brutal Assault festivals.

Dates: 

9/6 - Download Festival, Donington, UK*
11/6 - Petit Bain, Paris, France
12/6 - Ferrailleur, Nantes, France
13/6 - BT59, Bordeaux, France
14/6 - Rex, Toulouse, France
15/6- Ninkasi Kao, Lyon, France
16/6 - Leimentaler OpenAir, Oberwil, Switzerland*
17/6 - Antonnoir, Besancon, France
19/6 - Patronaat, Haarlem, Netherlands
20/6 - Lux, Hannover, Germany
21/6 - Kulttempel, Oberhausen, Germany
22/6 - Bastard Club,  Osnabrück, Germany
24/6 - Z-Bau, Nuremberg, Germany
25/6 - Le Grillen, Colmar, France
26/6 - Legend Club, Milan, Italy
28/6 - Le Secret Place, Montpellier, France
30/6 - Be Prog! My Friend, Barcelona, Spain
11/8 - Brutal Assult Festival, Jaroměř, Czech Republic*

*PLINI only

Check out PLINI's latest single 'Salt + Charcoal' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6HQNHerp84

Stream/download the track here: https://ffm.to/plini-sc 

The self-produced, self-managed guitarist and composer is riding the waves of critically acclaimed debut LP, Handmade Cities, released at the end of 2016, following tours with Animals as Leaders and Intervals. Acclaimed by Guitar World, Steve Vai, and many more, Plini has has cultivated a worldwide following, with more than ten million views on YouTube.

PLINI will end the year on tour in Europe with TesseracT and Between the Buried and Me:

09/11/18 - DE, Cologne, Live Music Hall
10/11/18 - NL, Nijmegen, Doornroosje
11/11/18 - BE, Vosselaar, Biebob
12/11/18 - FR, Paris, Le Trabendo
13/11/18 - DE, Aschaffenburg, Colos-Saal
14/11/18 - DE, Hamburg, Gruenspan
15/11/18 - DK, Copenhagen, Pumpehuset
16/11/18 - NO, Oslo, Parkteatret
17/11/18 - SE, Stockholm, Kägelbanan
19/11/18 - DE, Berlin, Lido
20/11/18 - DE, Stuttgart, Im Wizemann
21/11/18 - AT, Vienna, Flex
22/11/18 - DE, Munich, Backstage
23/11/18 - CH, Aarau, Kiff
24/11/18 - IT, Parma, Campus Industry
25/11/18 - LU, Esch, Rockhal

UK rockers EVA PLAYS DEAD have announced an EP tour in May to celebrate their forthcoming release The Fix, out on 27th April 2018 via Playing Dead Records. Support comes from All Ears Avow.

Dates

26/04 - London, Thousand Island (EP release show*)
30/04 - Nottingham, Bodega (EP release show*)
02/05 - Newcastle, Little Buildings
03/05 - Birmingham, The Hammer & The Anvil
04/05 - Manchester, Satan’s Hollow
05/05 - Lancaster, The Bobbin
06/05 - Leicester, The Shed
07/05 - Canterbury, The Junction

*Eva Plays Dead only.

The EP is supported by a PledgeMusic campaign which has already hit 63%. Sticking to their DIY roots, the band have also set up Playing Dead Records to release the hugely personal EP in order to maintain full creative control.

Exclusive EP and ticket bundles are available here: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/evaplaysdeadthefix 

The Fix is a highly personal release, detailing frontwoman Tiggy’s relationship with being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Tiggy has recently released a Q-and-A on the subject:

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlfEumD2uu8

Watch EVA PLAYS DEAD's newest single 'Get Back' here: https://youtu.be/YsuKonDsBro
 
Raucous, raw, and topped off with frontwoman Tiggy’s thunderous vocals, The Fix is a reinvention of classic rock at its best. Listen for the peaks of track four, ‘Bones’, or the heady anger of opener ‘Spin’ – this is an irresistible no-holds-barred five-track barrage, an angrier release than its predecessor Sounds of the Written Word.
 
EVA PLAYS DEAD are a young band with an already impressive history: notable supports include SOiL, New Year’s Day, Alien Ant Farm, Skindred, Devilskin and more, and the band have garnered the attention of Kerrang!, Planet Rock Radio and TeamRock amongst others.

UK grime-metal quintet HACKTIVIST have announced that they will part ways with founding guitarist Timfy James.

Timfy will play a final run of dates with the band, including a farewell headline show on 19 May in their home town Milton Keynes at Unit Nine. Tickets for the show also include entry to the after-party, where the band and fans will celebrate Timfy's work and give him a big send off. His last ever show will be at Camden Rocks Festival on 2 June.

Timfy comments: "I'm very sad to say that I have made the decision to leave Hacktivist. I've had an amazing six years touring the world with my brothers and I wish them all the luck moving forward. I also want to thank all of the fans that have supported us this far, without you guys none of this would have been possible. I have every confidence that the band will continue to inspire and push the boundaries of modern music for many more years to come."

Final dates with Timfy:

May 4th - Balalec Festival, Switzerland
May 19th – Unit Nine, Milton Keynes (headline)
June 2nd – Camden Rocks, London

Although sad to see Timfy leave, HACKTIVIST see this as a new chapter for the band and promise to honour their live commitments this summer. 

Bassist Josh Gurner comments: “We’re sad to see Timfy’s time with Hacktivist has come to an end, but we wish the best of luck with his future plans. We want to thank him profusely for the blood, sweat and tears he has put into the band over the past seven years. Timfy has been a driving force in defining the Hacktivist sound, but his departure brings with it the dawn of new ideas and forward thinking. None of this year’s shows will be cancelled, and you will be hearing from us soon with fresh new music.”

Summer live dates:

8 July  Basingstoke, Live
28 July Bristol, The Lanes
12 Aug Boomtown Fair, Hampshire
9 Sept Manchester, Messengers Festival
13 Oct Plymouth, Turbulence Festival

A new guitarist will be announced following Timfy's final show. The new HACKTIVIST line-up will also feature vocalist Jot Maxi, who joined the band in 2017. Check out the band's most recent video '2 Rotten' here: 

https://www.hacktivist.uk.com

Long Branch Records is excited to announce signing an international deal with London rockers BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE. The three-piece are the latest addition to the label's constantly growing roster, and will release their new single 'Celebrity Summer' on 6 April 2018.

"We discovered Black Orchid Empire through a Facebook post we did last year asking for bands that our followers are currently listen to. Black Orchid Empire was one of them", says Long Branch Records label manager Manuel Schönfeld. "Their new demos convinced the team so we stepped deeper into a conversation and it was quickly clear that both management and the band, as well as us as the label, want to team up for new releases. We're happy to welcome another highly talented band to our artist roster."

Paul Visser, vocals & guitar in BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE, adds: "We're beyond stoked to sign with Long Branch, it's amazing to work with a label who understand our music and are passionate about helping us get it out into the world. We absolutely cannot wait to share what we've made with everyone - it's incredibly special to us. See you on the road!”

Following the release of the first single BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE are doing some headline shows and festivals followed by a support tour that will be announced shortly.

Catch BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE live:

21.04. UK, Folkstone - Leas Cliff Hall
02.06. UK, London - Camden Rocks Festival
22.06. UK, York - Fibbers

BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE create dense, powerful rock music that combines fearless complexity, aggressive heaviness and beautiful, hook-laden melody.  

With a gargantuan sound and energetic live performance, the three-piece hailing from London have been unleashing their ferociously tight show across Europe, including a UK tour with HED p.e, several headline runs and much-lauded appearances at Standon Calling, Planet Rockstock, Camden Rocks Festival, German Taubertal Festival and more. Their critically-acclaimed debut album Archetype garnered widespread media attention, with single 'God Is Awake' being selected as Kerrang! Radio's track of the week. 

Having played alongside heavyweights such as Biffy Clyro, Editors and Skunk Anansieand with a dedicated, growing fanbase, BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE demand your attention.
 
Line Up:

Paul Visser - Vocals, Guitar
David Ferguson - Bass, Vocals
Billy Freedom - Drums 

Sheffield trio AWOOGA have released new single and video 'Temporal', taken from their debut full-length, Conduit, set for release on 20 April via Rockosmos.

Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKmD5EsjFy8

On both the song and video, Tam Ali (Bass / Vocals) comments:

“We tried to condense everything that Awooga loves into one song and video.  Joe Pesci’s vile character in Moonwalker starring Michael Jackson, Egyptians and mysterious pyramid shit.  And North Korean military rallies  -   Existence is imperative and short, and yet somehow eternal at the same time.  We tried to petrify that into 4 minutes of electricity.”  

The band are currently on the road supporting Amplifier, check them out on one of the remaining dates:

MARCH 2018
24 Manchester, Academy 3
25 Sheffield, O2 Academy 2

APRIL
26 Glasgow, ABC

MAY
27 Bristol, Exchange

The first single, 'Waterhole', was released last month. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/Jw5iVSQUglY

A culmination of a year’s work resulting in a deep, heavy, tranquil and visceral record, Conduit is set to establish AWOOGA as one of the UK’s most exciting and unique acts in 2018.
 
Following on from 2016’s debut Alpha EP, AWOOGA have further explored the boundaries of dismal sludge and euphoric space to create something that that is very much their own. Conduit is a vast soundscape that fills nearly every wave-length, touches on every emotion. It flows, it confuses, it’s conflicted and it’s beautiful. It is AWOOGA.  
 
Inspiration from Frank Zappa, Alice in Chains and Tool is immediately apparent, AWOOGA also give a nod to Miles Davis, who was a champion of musical diversity and some of the world’s greatest artists.

Transition, change and progression are all fundamental themes of Conduit, and the recording process was very much a direct expression via the individual members’ performances.  Vocalist and bassist Tam Ali explains:
 
“In the exchange between the brain and the mind is the liminal place. This is where we reside. Brutality and Tranquillity. - All pass through the Conduit. The process of writing this album was extremely visceral, and direct flow of energy channelled out of the world and into a studio in the Galician mountains.”
 
AWOOGA have performed at festivals such as Crooked Ways, Tramlines festival supporting Anathema and KAYA festival with Asian Dub Foundation, an impressive feat for a band with only one EP released. This year will see them tour far and wide with many more headline and festival dates to follow.

Pre-order Conduit here: https://www.rockosmos.com/awooga
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Awoogaband/
Website: http://www.awoogaband.com/

Andorran progressive metallers PERSEFONE have released their dark new single 'In Lak'Ech' ahead of their upcoming UK/EU tour. The single will be available to purchase digitally and also on 12" vinyl on the upcoming dates.

Premiering on HeavyBlogIsHeavy, 'In Lak'Ech' can be heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8lOyn49W-s

The band hit the UK on the following dates:

01.04.2018: UK - London, Garage Highbury
02.04.2018: UK - Birmingham, The Asylum
03.04.2018: UK - Manchester, Ruby Lounge 

Almost four years have passed since PERSEFONE unleashed their highly-acclaimed album Spiritual Migration. An impressive tour-de-force of insanely great musicianship that took both the press and the listeners by storm (1.5 million views on YouTube).

With a new guitarist and a new drummer PERSEFONE have now taken their music to the next level with the release of their brand-new album Aathma (ViciSolum Records) in 2017. Aathma was mixed and mastered by legendary producer Jens Bogren in his Fascination Street Studios (Sweden). The album includes the epic 20-minute title-track, with guest appearances from vocalist Merethe Soltvedt and Leprous guitarist Øystein Landsverk.  Aathma also features Cynic's Paul Masvidal, appearing on the song 'Living Waves', as well as on 'An Infinitesimal Spark'. The amazing cover art is created by none other than Travis Smith, who shouldn't need further introduction.

Purchase 'In Lak’Ech' here:
https://persefone1.bandcamp.com/

Purchase Aathma here:
https://www.emp.co.uk/search?q=Persefone+&lang=en_GB

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

UK metal heavyweights HEART OF A COWARD are excited to announce Kaan Tasan joining the band as vocalist. He replaces long-standing member Jamie Graham, who parted with the band in 2017.

The band have also announced a UK tour with tickets on sale on 29 March, check the dates below.

On Kaan joining, the band collectively comment:

"With over 200 submissions to consider, we all had something specific in mind. By no means did we want a carbon copy. We wanted someone that could give the band a new lease of life. As soon as we heard Kaan's demos we all felt it was a no brainer. Already a good friend of the band, Kaan has been on the road with us and seen it all - so is no stranger to the way we do things. 

"We are all really excited to release our new single "Collapse". This new chapter has rekindled our love for the band and writing music together."

Kaan, who many will know from his work with UK Tech-metallers No Consequence, commented: "It's been an exciting new path joining Heart of a Coward. I've always been a fan of the band so to be involved in writing the next record is an awesome experience to say the least! The transformation has felt completely natural and everything has clicked straight away. It's an exciting year for the band and I'm looking forward to taking to the stage and leading our most ferocious live shows to date!"

Check the band out on one of the following dates:

30 May - London, Boston Music Room
31 May - Birmingham, Asylum 2
1 June - Manchester, Rebellion
2 June - Bournemouth, The Anvil

Having recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of their debut album Hope And Hindrance, HEART OF A COWARD have released 3 studio albums to date, toured with some of the biggest names in metal, played festival main stages, and affirmed themselves as one of this decade's most vital heavy acts. Now with Kaan on vocals, are ready to build on their legacy and make this new chapter their most exciting yet.

'Collapse' is available now on all digital platforms.