Columbus, Ohio based post-rock band, THE END OF THE OCEAN, released their sophomore full-length, -aire, on Friday 18 January via Equal Vision Records / Rude Records. To celebrate, the band has also shared the official video for their single 'desire', which Revolver called “a sprawling and furious, yet pensive entry”.

-aire, the band’s first release since 2012, balances rich, thoughtful melodic passages, high-energy riff-wielding and truly epic climatic outpourings. THE END OF THE OCEAN have always been championed for their maelstrom of nostalgia, hope, beauty, melancholy, chaos and tranquillity. Fans can now experience a bigger, bolder version of that tempest with -aire.

The band kicked off their U.S. headlining tour on Friday with a hometown show at Ace Of Cups in Columbus. Fellow post-rock standouts, Tides of Man, will be supporting the band on the full tour.

Speaking on the release of the album the band says:

“It has been roughly seven years that these songs have resided within us. Whether we consciously knew it or not, they were brewing and restless in our psyche. With this record now fully realized and recorded, we couldn’t be happier to share it. This record is for us. And this record is for you, too.”

UK rock quintet BRIGHTLIGHT CITY have released their new single 'Feast On Fire', the first taste of their forthcoming debut album. The track has recently featured on Killing Moon's New Moon playlist and precedes a run of live dates that see the band support Press To MECO, Gold Key and more. 

Check out 'Feast On Fear' here: https://youtu.be/NM1BCDsYm1w

See BRIGHTLIGHT CITY live at one of the following dates: 

01.02.2019 - Aldershot, Westend Centre (supporting Press To MECO)
08.02.2019 - Winchester, Railway Inn
09.02.2019 - Croydon, Front Room (supporting Gold Key) 
15.02.2019 - Guildford, The Star Inn (supporting Skies)
02.03.2019 - Staines, The London Stone 
16.03.2019 - Canterbury, UCA Bar 
29.03.2019 - Kingston, Fighting Cocks (Undead Collective showcase)
11.04.2019 - London, Nambucca (supporting Brigade) 
19.04.2019 - Swindon, Level 3 
01.06.2019 - London, Camden Rocks Festival 

BRIGHTLIGHT CITY released their Adventures EP in 2015, followed by standalone singles ‘Gravity’ and ‘Thieves’ in 2016 and Our Future’s Not Dead EP in 2017. The last 12 months have seen the five-piece working tirelessly on their debut album, details of which will be revealed soon. 
 
For fans of Don Broco, Thursday and Hell Is For Heroes, 'Feast On Fear' is an stellar introduction to the band's new material, as soaring vocals intertwine with dynamic melodies and warm percussion to create a powerful alt-rock landscape. 
 
BRIGHTLIGHT CITY’s live show has been recognised in both the UK and beyond, having been shortlisted for Relentless’ Here To Be Heard in 2014, winning a slot alongside Rise Against and Millencolin at Envol et Macadam Festival in Canada in 2015, as well as sharing stages with Dead!, The Kenneths, Max Raptor, Fizzy Blood, Bad Sign, Young Legionnaire and Blood Youth. 
 

For more information:
https://www.brightlightcityofficial.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/brightlightcityofficial
https://twitter.com/blcband

THE ROYAL have released a video for their single 'State Of Dominance', taken from their third studio album Deathwatch which will be released on March 8th 2019 via Long Branch Records.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/dRN_NETcEns

Dutch metal band THE ROYAL keep exploring the wide variety of today's metal scene. After the release of their first label release Seven - which was hailed for its catchy riffs and uplifting songs - THE ROYAL played numerous club shows and festivals across 25 European countries during a two month tour. This was followed by a series of intercontinental shows during a four week tour in Japan and China.

Having spent much time on tour writing songs and discussing heavy topics, THE ROYALdecided to explore the darker side of metalcore on their upcoming album Deathwatch. The new record is a mix of catchy riffs with heavy breakdowns and ambient sounds. There is a lot of raw emotion put into this upcoming record, in which the band processes what has been a very emotional past year.

THE ROYAL's DIY work ethic with writing, producing, design and more has resulted in an album true to the band's vision. Whether it’s vocalist Sem Pisarahu writing about life struggles, or the exceptional guitar work of JD and Pim, if you like shadowy, epic-sounding, emotional metal music, rest assured, this album is for you.

Deathwatch is available for pre-order here: https://TheRoyal.lnk.to/Deathwatch

Introducing CLIMATE OF FEAR, a new UK melodic death metal fivepiece who are already causing quite a stir. For fans of At The Gates, Carcass, early Arch Enemy, and Stampin' Ground, the band's debut full-length The Onset Of Eternal Darkness will be out 1st March via Demons Run Amok. Melodic and terrific, in both senses, CLIMATE OF FEAR combine the best of death metal, heavy metal, and hardcore.

Pre-order the record: https://shop.demonsrunamok.de/de/musik/8266-14869.html

Listen to the first two singles here:

'The Cult of Retribution'
'From Enslavement to Extinction'

Formed 2017, CLIMATE OF FEAR have already found themselves busy, touring relentlessly throughout the UK and across Europe (from Spain to the Czech Republic), supporting US veterans Merauder and playing with Leeched. In their short history, CLIMATE OF FEAR have also played with Vein, Sick Of It All, Malevolence, and Twitching Tongues, as well as festivals including Ieper Fest.

The band are staunch anti-capitalists, anti-religion, and anti-propagandists, whose lyrical themes found within The Onset Of Eternal Darkness include environmental nihilism and anti-exploitation.

Tour news coming soon.

CLIMATE OF FEAR are:

Owen Derrill, Bass
 Alfie Armour, Guitar
 Paul Williams, Vocals
 George Bigneil, Drums
 Sam Ellis Thompson, Guitar

Metallic hardcore's finest newcomers ITHACA have released their new single, 'Impulse Crush', from their forthcoming debut full-length record, The Language of Injury, to be released 1st February 2019 via Holy Roar Records.

Premiered via Kerrang! online and Kerrang!'s Facebook, you can now watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2xNhQlE7HA

Stream via Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0jeVL8MREQ2bBt6p0ZMUfY?si=O_Bd1boTRTichNKzsAHOLw

Pre-order the album: smarturl.it/ITHACA

Fast becoming championed as UK heavy music's new band of 2019, ITHACA have already found support from Metal Hammer, Kerrang!, BBC Radio 1, Decibel, Revolver and many more.

Formed out of a mutual love of metallic hardcore but despair at its lack of ambition, ITHACA draw influence from everything from Southern doom to 90's math rock, as well as the untethered savagery of early Poison The Well and melodious battery of Oathbreaker.

The result is crushing grooves and shrieking guitar squalls that give way to haunting melodic passages and desolate reprieves. The debut album will be the band's most ambitious and emotionally raw material to date, following from their 2015 Trespassers EP (COF Records/Soaked in Torment). 

ITHACA have previously toured with Employed to Serve, Venom Prison, Renouncedand more. 

Watch the band live:

February
01 Old Blue Last, London - LP release support (supported by Calligram and Nihility)
02 Flamingo Snuff #2, Brighton (supported by Watchcries)
16 Boston Music Room, London (with Svalbard)

ROYAL TUSK have released new video / single 'Reflection'; directed by Keenan Kirk, this is the second video from the band's latest LP, TUSK II. 
 
Watch 'Reflection' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtX2FTu5Xn8

“The video for Reflection was a blast to make,” say the band. “We wanted to show the pure rawness that is a Royal Tusk live show, no bells or whistles. We avoided the usual quick edits and stylized after-effects you often see in performance videos by constructing a practical effect which was really challenging to pull off.

"Without giving too much away, We only had one chance to shoot it, so what you get is an inspired, genuine, and raw performance, flaws and all. Just like a live rock show should be. What better time to drop it as we set out for our first American tour. Give it a spin, then come see it for yourself.”
 
ROYAL TUSK have also announced a new batch of European tour dates in support of Monster Truck. “Since the release of Tusk II we’ve been shown nothing but love and support from our European fans,” says bassist Sandy MacKinnon. “Y’all have raised the bar high, so now it’s time for us to bring it. We couldn’t be more excited to be alongside our rock n roll brethren, Monster Truck. One thing is for sure, this tour is going to rock, rock real hard!”
 
Dates kick off on 18th April in Bristol, UK and continue on to BeNeLux, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria, Denmark, Norway and finally culminate on 23rd May in Stockholm, Sweden. This is the first time the band will embark on a fully-fledged European tour.

UK dates with Monster Truck:

18.04.2019 - Bristol, O2 Academy 
19.04.2019 - Birmingham, O2 Academy 2
20.04.2019 - Manchester, O2 Academy 2
22.04.2019 - Glasgow, SWG3 TV Studio 
23.04.2019 - Newcastle, O2 Academy 2 
25.04.2019 - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms 
26.04.2019 - Norwich, Waterfront 
27.04.2019 - London, Electric Ballroom 

ROYAL TUSK are about to embark on a batch of U.S. tour dates on the first ever SiriusXM Accelerator Tour. The band will be supporting New Zealand rock band Like A Storm alongside Afterlife. The band have also been confirmed to play the 2019 Rock USA Festival taking place on July 18th, 19th, 20th 2019 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. 

Portuguese hardcore quintet PUSH! have streamed their new single 'With Love', the first track from their upcoming LP Dark Dive (8th February).

First premiered via DeadPress, you can now watch 'With Love' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YESGJ5q_86w

And pre-order Dark Dive here: http://www.hyperurl.co/PUSHDarkDive
 

Dark Dive was mastered by Stu Mckay (Malevolence, Brutality Will Prevail) and follows a very busy four years for the band. Since 2015 PUSH! have played extensively in Portugal and Spain, sharing the stage with Madball, Strife, Backtrack, Brutality Will Prevail, Sworn Enemy, and the Portuguese legends Devil In Me and For The Glory. PUSH! have also played several major festivals in Portugal, such as the European Pool Party 2015, alongside Broken Teeth and All For Nothing. 

For fans of Madball, Deez Nuts, Stamping Ground and and even some early Metallica, PUSH! shine an important spotlight on an underrepresented part of the world. The band's previous two albums (Breathe In The Future. Breathe Out The Past. and This Is Cruel. This Is Life.) were released in 2014 and 2016 respectively.

PUSH! will be announcing their first EU tour shortly.

Watch the band's previous video - 'Cult' - here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0liVG5DNT0

Sludgecore leviathans MASTIFF have released their new single, 'Vermin', taken from their forthcoming album, Plague, which is set for release on 1 February 2019 via APF Records.

The video and interview premiered via Decibel Magazine, you can now watch the video here.

Like a black mould that just won’t clean away, the UK's premier misery spreaders MASTIFF have gained notoriety and applause from metal outlets worldwide for their abrasive blend of churning sludge and formidable hardcore, creating a release dominated by raw, unadorned aggression and volatility. 

Plague is the band’s first full-length album on APF Records, and represents the misanthropic quintet at their most intense and unrelenting. Born of their disgust at humanity’s false nature, and the way in which our deceit and lies spread through social media, Plague is the culmination of a lifetime of frustration, hatred and sorrow, filtered through the most brutal and pummelling material MASTIFF have ever concocted.

Across eight tracks of mutable anger, raw power and bitter resignation, MASTIFF manage to capture the sound of a country in its death throes.  From the opening blast of ‘Hellcircle’ to the apocalyptic finality of ‘Black Death’, the album is a work of nail-biting extremity, and finds the band veering wildly from Nails-esque grind into the depths of harrowing doom. The end result, a band that sounds like it’s trying to rip itself apart through music.

Plague follows on from the band's 2016 debut release Wrank and 2017’s EP Bork. In addition to their critically acclaimed releases, MASTIFF have become revered for their rabidly heavy live shows, gigging extensively with an array of artists such as Agnostic Front, Crowbar, Iron Monkey, Conan andBiohazard plus appearing at renowned festivals such as Bloodstock, Deserfest London, Riff-Fest, Techfest and Dreadfest.

Plague will be released via APF Records, 1 February 2019. Ltd edition vinyl pre-orders are now available via APF Records here. CD and digital pre-orders available here. 

Catch the band live:

1st Feb – Nottingham UK: Albert’s
https://www.facebook.com/events/2096022904024972/
 
2nd Feb – Manchester UK: The Bread Shed (APF Records Showcase)
https://www.facebook.com/events/162465091142797/
 
21st Feb – Coventry UK: The Arches Venue (supporting King Witch)
https://www.facebook.com/events/368910680547011/
 
22nd Feb – Stevenage UK: Red Lion
https://www.facebook.com/events/1165362333631212/
 
2nd Mar – London UK: The Black Heart
https://www.facebook.com/events/252968002253712/

Find out more about the band 
Facebook || Twitter || Bandcamp || Instagram || APF Records

GHOST IRIS have released a lyric video for their single 'Final Tale', the second taken from their third studio album Apple Of Discord which will be released on 22nd February 2019 via Long Branch Records.

Check out the lyric video here: https://youtu.be/llLiDZ3myFM

Of the new album, GHOST IRIS comment:

"Apple Of Discord is a record we are incredibly proud of - mostly because it's our most passionate material to date. It reflects the experiences and represents the progress we have made over the last two years, both as a band and as individuals. One might even say that writing this album has been therapeutic for us. Bitterness, deceit, greed and frustration are feelings everyone has experienced one way or another in life, but it´s about how you channel the anger that comes along. And in our opinion, being able to use music to reflect and grow, is one of the most inspiring side effects when being artistically creative and passionate about what we believe in. We hope, you'll all enjoy Apple Of Discord just as much as we do."

Apple Of Discord is available for pre-order here: https://GhostIris.lnk.to/AppleOfDiscord

GHOST IRIS will tour as support to Soen on their UK/Euro headline tour next year. Dates are as follows:

12/03 - NO - Oslo - John Dee
13/03 - DK - Copenhagen - tbc
14/03 - DE - Hamburg - Logo
15/03 - DE - Berlin - Roadrunner
16/03 - DE - Aschaffenburg - Colos Saal
17/03 - DE - Stuttgart - ClubCANN
18/03 - DE- Munich - Backstage Werk
20/03 - DE - Hagen - Kultopia
21/03 - DE - Cologne - Helios
25/03 - UK - London - O2 Academy Islington
28/03 - ES - Barcelona - Salamandra
29/03 - ES - Madrid - Caracol
30/03 - PT - Porto - Hard Club
31/03 - PT - Lisbon - RCA
02/04 - FR - Paris - Backstage
03/04 - CH - Pratteln - Z7
04/04 - IT - Milano - Legend Club
05/04 - IT - Rome - Orion Ciampino
06/04 - IT - Fabricia - Sonic Room

Not only are GHOST IRIS the leading Danish progressive metalcore band, they serve as a perfect example of modern metal. Since forming as a DIY internet phenomenon in 2015, they have built a strong team behind them and made their mark in the main metal community in a very short space of time.

In 2016 the band were most streamed Danish metal album on Spotify at 1.6 million streams, and at the time of writing their general streams are in excess of 5 million.

Their first two albums Anecdotes Of Science and Soul & Blind World have both received grand praise by Metal Hammer, KERRANG! and It Djents/Everything Is Noise for their playful, yet catchy approach to technical metal. Technically enhanced, yet melodic guitars, fast-driven, yet groovy drums and an extraordinarily wide vocal range from diverse angry growls to striking clean vocals are the band's signature. With the aim to provide the listener an experience that is as catchy and varied as it is hard-hitting, GHOST IRIS manage to explore diverse moods and atmospheres.

The new album was mastered by Buster Odeholm (Humanity's Last Breath, Oceano, Enterprise Earth, Currents) at Impact Studios while the artwork was created by Dixon Jong (Intuitive Designs).

GHOST IRIS will step up their touring game on this cycle even further, heading out on multiple national and international tours throughout 2019 and onward, first in support of Soen in March.

Tracklisting:

1. Apple Of Discord
2. The Devil's Plaything
3. Final Tale
4. After The Sun Sets Pt. II
5. Beauty In Expiration (feat. Don Vedda)
6. The Rat & The Snake (feat. Tyler Shelton of Traitors)
7. Heaven Was Pure Hell
8. Cowardly Pride
9. Magenta Moon (feat. Chad Ruhlig of For The Fallen Dreams)
10. Virus