Bordeaux, France-based masters of technical death metal EXOCRINE have released a guitar play-through for their latest single 'Abyssal Flesh'. The band's new album Maelstrom will be released on 26th June via Unique Leader Records.

Watch 'Abyssal Flesh' here: https://youtu.be/h_kF9TwlP_E

Maelstrom is the band's fourth album since their inception in 2013 and their first with new drummer Théo Gendron. They have also released the music video for the title-track. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/Afl6zx2beX8

The band commented: "We really pushed our limits this time, in composition and production. We put all our creativity into this album to make Maelstrom as surprising as possible while remaining true to our style.

"The arrival of Théo in the band has allowed us to try new things like extreme tempos, but also very difficult and proggy parts. We’ve really pushed ourselves to create a sound that works perfectly on the album but also on stage.

"Because it’s our 4th album we wanted to deeply explore our imagination, that’s why we have some guests on Maelstrom in order to further enrich our universe. This time we’ve really experimented with new sounds and instruments.

"Anyway, it is certainly intense, but also crazy and fun!"

EXOCRINE are:

Sylvain Octor-Perez – Guitar
Jordy Besse – Bass / Vocals
Nicolas La Rosa – Guitar
Théo Gendron - Drums

Pre-order bundles available now at: bit.ly/exocrineindiemerch
Bandcamp pre-orders: bit.ly/exocrinebandcamp

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/Exocrine
https://www.instagram.com/exocrine_official
https://uniqueleader.com
https://www.facebook.com/UniqueLeaderRecords
https://twitter.com/UniqueLeaderRec

Dublin indie/emo quintet THE WINTER PASSING return to the forefront this summer with their new album New Ways Of Living, due for release on 3rd July 2020 via Big Scary Monsters. In light of the announcement, the band have also released a video for their brand new single 'Resist'.

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/lUfDAW44L6A

Emerging from Dublin’s thriving DIY punk and hardcore scene, THE WINTER PASSING are among the city’s most forward thinking indie/emo outfits. Formed by siblings Rob and Kate Flynn and guitarist Jamie Collison in their hometown of Tipperary, the band have become known for their fiery DIY work ethic, pressing their own records and tapes and booking their own shows across the world. Armed with a deluge of influences, from Sonic Youth, No Doubt and American Football to a collective fascination with film photography, Irish colloquialism and rural seaside towns, the band have consistently created an infectiously raw mix of punk energy and indie rock quirks. Fans have come to love them for their ability to expertly layer their many inspirations with a heady mix of vulnerability, that make their sound difficult to categorize yet easy to love.

Their 2017 EP Double Exposure garnered strong critical acclaim from Upset Magazine, The Irish Times, Clash Magazine and more, with Clash saying it is “one that boasts rhythmic flexibility while lyrically the group have rarely hit harder”.

In 2019 THE WINTER PASSING released two new songs, ‘Original Sin’ and ‘Patience Please’, which knocked the band’s songwriting and musicianship to the next level. With each member bringing their unique set of skills and influences to the table, the band locked themselves away at The Ranch Production House to record their second album, New Ways Of Living, with producer Neil Kennedy. The band approached their new material with a heavy focus on strong melodies and the Flynn’s poetical outpourings centered around their experiences with loneliness, bullying, self-awareness, and Irish working-class anxieties. 

THE WINTER PASSING’s energetic live show has taken them far and wide: playing shows in the UK and Europe with the likes of Modern Baseball, The Wonder Years, Touche Amore, The Dirty Nil, Four Year Strong and more. In 2019 the band sold out their Dublin headline show at Whelan’s and have played packed out festival slots at FEST, 2000trees Festival, Manchester Punk Festival and Booze Cruise Bristol.

THE WINTER PASSING are back and ready to bash down the doors of the alternative world. Armed with a slew of anthems and ballads alike, they’re a band whose creative outgoings and DIY ethos make them one of the most exciting bands coming out of Dublin right now, acting as a beacon of hope and catharsis in a forever murky sea of noise.

See THE WINTER PASSING live:

01/08/2020 - Truck Festival

Supporting Aaron West and The Roaring Twenties:

29/08/2020 - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
30/08/2020 - Bristol, Exchange
31/08/2020 - Glasgow, Saint Luke’s
01/09/2020 - Birmingham, Mama Roux’s
02/09/2020 - Manchester, Gorilla
04/09/2020 - London, O2 Islington Academy

For more information:

https://www.thewinterpassing.com
https://www.facebook.com/thewinterpassing
https://www.twitter.com/WinterPassingYO
https://www.instagram.com/thewinterpassing 

Aggressive yet euphoric, empowering yet simultaneously enslaving, THE FIVE HUNDRED are renowned for overcoming adversities and laying siege to every stage they play. Today the band release new single, 'Black Dogs', a song about isolation and the plague of mental health, which spreads through society like a contagion of anxiety, paranoia and suicidal ideations.

Watch the video for 'Black Dogs' here: https://youtu.be/yDR3PuMtydY

Stream 'Black Dogs' here: https://thefivehundred.lnk.to/blackdogs

Vocalist John Woods-Eley speaks of the personal mental torment that inspired him to write the track: “When you are suffering from mental health issues, you feel completely alone in your head, standing on the edge, descending into darkness. No one can jump inside you and help you fight your demons. You’re just on your own. We live on a beautiful planet, but an ugly world, surrounded by breath-taking beauty, but all we want to do is set it on fire… that depresses, terrifies and angers me in equal measures. Look around us at what we have created. Plagues, floods and fires. You can’t make this shit up, it’s f*cking biblical!”

'Black Dogs' is the first single taken from a new album coming in October 2020 via Long Branch Records.

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/wearethefivehundred
https://www.instagram.com/thefivehundred

PRIMORDIAL RADIO is very proud to announce a virtual all-dayer on Saturday 9th May raising money for NHS Charities Together. The online event will feature takeover shows, live interviews, acoustic sessions, cooking show, guitar workshop, presenter & member shows and a live quiz (InkQuizition). Confirmed appearances include:

Bill Courage (Voiceover) – Radio Takeover
Crofty’s Tracks (Sky Sports F1 Commentator) - Radio Takeover
Devilskin - Radio Takeover
Empyre - Live Acoustic Session 
Hands Off Gretel – Live Acoustic Set
Headbangers Kitchen – Live Cooking Show 
Kill The Ideal - Radio Takeover
Kim Jennett – Live Acoustic Set
Lorna Adams - Live Acoustic Session
Massive Wagons - Radio Takeover
Phil Demmel  - Radio Takeover 
Skarlett Riot  - Radio Takeover
Skindred - Radio Takeover
TesseracT – Live Guitar Workshop

Radio takeovers will be on-air at primordialradio.com with live sessions, workshop, cooking show and quiz being broadcast on social media via PRIMORDIAL RADIO’s Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Twitch. Non-members of the station will also be able to listen to the radio stream for the day with no sign up needed. 

Full schedule available at - http://primordialradio.com/lockdownalldayer and donations will be open on the day at - http://primordialradio.com/nhs 

PRIMORDIAL RADIO’s Music Director Pete Bailey commented “Throughout this pandemic, we’ve all been tested and challenged in ways that seemed unthinkable just a few months ago. With the NHS being on the frontline the bravery, courage, love and support they have shown has been awe-inspiring. With that in mind, we wanted to play our role to support the NHS as much as we possibly can and look forward to seeing you all virtually on Saturday 9th May!”

More information on Primordial Radio
www.primordialradio.com
Primordial Radio is a UK based rock and metal radio station free from regulation and advertising that reflects a true rock and metal environment. In 2017, Moose, Dewsbury, Pete Bailey and Engineer Mark said, “F*ck that” and decided to flip the existing radio model on its head and successfully raised £285,000 from 1300 investors across the UK rock and metal community to launch the station which now has 2500+ members.

More information on NHS Charities Together
https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/
NHS Charities Together is a collective experience representing, supporting and championing the work of the NHS’ official charities. NHS Charities give £1million a day to the NHS, providing vital funds to help the NHS do more. Through NHS Charities Together member charities collaborate on nationwide fundraising and advocacy campaigns, such as celebrating the NHS Birthday every year on 5th July with the NHS Big Tea.

NHS Charities Together also provides specialist advice and guidance to our members through visits, and one-to-one support via email and phone calls. Our bespoke conferences and training days cover the most relevant issues and development needs for NHS Charities, as well as providing ample opportunities for networking and mutual support. Members also have access to online resources and support through the exclusive members area on our website.

NHS Charities Together also provide the National voice for NHS Charities, champion key projects and themes that best enhance patient care and experience, and the impact NHS Charity funds make.

One of Australia's most prominent up and coming rock acts, GLASS OCEAN have released 'Beyond Us,' the first single from their highly anticipated debut album due out later this year.

Premiered by Prog Mag, watch the video to 'Beyond Us' here: https://youtu.be/rGzLpcYVo7E 

Listen to the track here: http://smarturl.it/glassocean 

Vocalist Tobias Atkins comments about the themes behind the song: "It's about facing who we are and that our shortcomings appear to be scarier than any horror movie or nightmare. I think it's generally a very difficult thing to look straight in the eye. For those that don't, we drift through life either unaware of a looming travesty, or we are awake and in fear. I think the punishment is far greater not meeting it head on. 'Beyond Us' is about running from and also confronting the things we wish to forget or leave behind in time."

GLASS OCEAN’s eclectic sound has seen fans and critics captivated by their blend of sweet swirling guitars, off-kilter pounding rhythms, and immersive pop sensuality engulfed by soulfully swooning vocals. 

Formed in the summer of 2013, by vocalist Tobias Atkins and Northlane drummer Nic Petterson, the band recently added new Melbourne based members Nguyen Pham (Circles, AlithiA, Enlight), and Julian Dobric (Sentia) to complete their highly skilled line-up.

GLASS OCEAN have attained a reputation for being one of Australia's most unique and must-see acts since performing compelling sets on the PROGFEST 2019 Australian tour alongside international heavyweights The Ocean, Monuments, Skyharbor and many others. The band have also embarked on several of their own headline Australian tours as well as sharing stages with high profile acts such as Seether, Wolfmother, Tesseract, Anathema and more, growing a die-hard following across the country. 

The group's innovative sound has garnered praise amongst industry circles, receiving a nod of approval from established international artists such as TesseracT and Polyphia, as well as scoring Triple J radio airtime and Tobias being interviewed on the Channel 9’s Today Show in Australia. The band’s early releases Glass Ocean EP (2014) and II EP (2015) cumulated the band’s online following with impressive music videos clocking up over 200,000 YouTube views.

Watch the band's videos for previous singles
Light Of The Moon, The Mystery & Ghost

The band's long awaited debut album will be released later in 2020 via Wild Thing Records.

GLASS OCEAN are for fans of TesseracT, INXS, The 1975, Karnivool, Circa Survive, Yes & more

Follow Glass Ocean
Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | YouTube

Wild Thing Records
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube

BandBond, a FREE smartphone app that connects bands and fans, launches today.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/1Pd4MIlx0ao

Social media reach for artists can be as low as low as 5% on current platforms, meaning fans currently don't receive all their updates, and bands don't reach all their fans, unless they pay.

From today music fans can make a free account on BandBond and never miss a post from their favourite artists again. With BandBond, you will see 100% of all content that the artists you follow post. As well as native posts, BandBond consolidates posts from Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, so you can see everything a artist posts in one place. 

Masterminded by Martin Brändström of Dark Tranquility, BandBond has been created by the music community, for the music community, to take communication back into its hands.

Over 300 bands, including Alien Weaponry, Behemoth, Employed To Serve, Lacuna Coil, Conjurer and Meshuggah, have already signed up to BandBond pre-launch with many more being added every day.

The idea of BandBond was born out of frustration when co-founder Martin Brändström, was in charge of the band’s online social media. It quickly became clear to him that the communication with the fans - that the band had earned over the years by touring the world  and recording albums - now had a gatekeeper in the shape of drastically increased price tags set by the social media giants.

“The relationship between a band and its fans is unique and not something you can market like toothpaste or soft drinks”, Martin explains. “Without sponsoring a post you will only reach a fraction of your followers. It’s really kind of strange that someone can charge you to reach the fans that actually wants to be reached, and to make you pay for the display of content that you yourself, as a band, has created which generates traffic to their platform ...”

Together with music studio colleague and long time metalhead Joacim Starander, Martin started to outline the idea of a new home for all things metal where the bands and the fans who share the love for metal can have their relationship uninterrupted and free.

BandBond 1.0 is just a starting point. Future features and directions will be dictated by the needs of the bands and the metal community.

“Within the metal scene we’re used to doing things ourselves. Back in the days when we didn’t get coverage in mainstream media we started our own fanzines, traded tapes all over the world, did local radio shows etc”, Martin states. “In these days, when you’re forced to use social media, it’s strangely harder for bands to reach out than it ever was. Within the passionate metal community we’ve taken control by ourselves before. Why not do it again...?”

The 300+ bands who have signed up all share the frustrations with social media, with Loathe, Dark Funeral, Belzebubs, Kamelot and TesseracT speaking out to support BandBond.

Loathe state: "With social media seemingly restricting reach to supporters of bands and artists alike, we have teamed up with BandBond to promote their new application in which multiple feeds from your favourite artists merge into one to create a generalised hub for you to connect with. It's an exciting venture and something that is extremely valuable given recent worldwide circumstance."

Dan Tompkins, TesseracT: "It's extremely frustrating that social media posts are so severely restricted unless you pay. As an artist that simply wants to reach fans it makes life very difficult. A solution to this problem is long overdue.”

Download BandBond now:

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/se/app/bandbond/id1477841137
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=se.droid.bandbond

French melodic death metal unit TEMNEIN have released a hialrious Doctor Who-inspired video 'Rise Of The Sontarans', taken from their third full-length, Tales: Of Humanity And Greed, out 22nd May via Blood Blast.

Watch 'Rise Of The Sontarans' here: https://youtu.be/zN_qpuTOgiw

Listen here: https://backl.ink/131113897

The band commented: "The lyrical concept is about the Sontarans, a group of belligerent characters who looks like angry potatoes and appears on the TV program Doctor Who. Directed by Vincent Tournaud, this video includes many references to Dr Who's universe and shows a close friend of the band trying to cook potatoes that looks weird…Because those are Sontarans!

"It's the shortest song off the album but also the most dynamic and live-oriented, so it was the perfect fit for a video."

Produced by “El Mobo” (Loudblast, ETHS, The Great Old Ones, Eryn Non Dae, etc.) at Conkrete Studio in Bordeaux, France, Tales: Of Humanity And Greed is thematically based on various stories, myths, and legends exploring classic childhood occidental fairy tales, unsung fables from Asia and Inuit lands, pop culture universes (ie Legend Of Zelda, Majora’s Mask, Doctor Who etc.), and so much more. Each story is linked however to a common theme: the repetition of human error and avidity across time. Musically, TEMNEIN here employs shorter song structures than previous offerings adding more dynamics to their melo-death foundation. More doom/death and post-metal influences have crept into the band’s sound consequently enhancing the overall atmosphere. The records comes swathed in the stunning artwork of Vincent Fouquet (Meshuggah, Kataklysm, Moonsorrow, Kampfar, Nordjevel etc).

Tales: Of Humanity And Greed will see a physical release by the band on 22nd May with worldwide digital distribution by Blood Blast, a new service powered by Nuclear Blast and Believe Music.

Pre-order Tales: Of Humanity And Greed here: https://temnein.bandcamp.com/merch

Forged in France in 2009, TEMNEIN invokes the spirits of At The Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Ghost Brigade, Insomnium, Opeth, In Mourning, and the like while remaining singular in their output. The band have released two prior full-lengths: 404 B.C. (2014) through Mighty Music and White Stained Inferno (2017) through Massacre Records both of which reaped critical accolades from various international metal outlets. Of White Stained Inferno, Decibel Magazine wrote in part, “In addition to a slew of driving, main riffs, TEMNEIN fit in fancy leads, licks and melodies, furious and rhythmic drumming and plenty of vocals.” Added The Metal Observer, “The band effortlessly combine melody and aggression, delivering a number of fantastic songs that will live long in the memory.”

Over their decade-plus time together, TEMNEIN has toured through Europe, the UK, Russia, and Japan, including support slots with the likes of At The Gates, Beyond Creation, Hate, Mors Principium Est, The Crown, Svart Crown, and many others. The band has performed a host of European festivals including Durbuy Rock Festival, HRH Fest, AalborgRock & Metal Fest, and Loud Farm Fest with more live invasions to be announced in the weeks to come.

TEMNEIN:
Florian Frandidier – guitars
Julien De Giorgio – bass
Valentin Treuillier – drums
Jocelyn Fidry – vocals
Morgan Rappe – guitars

Online:
http://www.temnein.net
http://www.facebook.com/temnein
http://twitter.com/temneinmetal
http://www.instagram.com/temnein_metal
http://temnein.bandcamp.com

Desert groove rockers PATRÓN won't let quarantine stop the party with new video 'Who Do You Dance For,' the second single taken from their debut self-titled album, which is set for release via Klonosphere on 29th May 2020.

Watch the video to 'Who Do You Dance For' here: https://youtu.be/xKVdgtb4fDA

With very special guests Joey Castillo on drums, Nick Oliveri on bass and Aurélien Barbolosi on guitar, this groovy track's accompanying video was recorded in lock-down across the world.

PATRÓN is a new project fronted by Lo (aka Patrón) frontman of the band Loading Data. The self-titled debut album was produced by Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Eleven, Them Crooked Vultures, Chris Cornell Band) and also happens to be the last album ever recorded in his legendary studio 11AD, in Los Angeles.  

Lo had some well known friends record the album with him: Joey Castillo (Danzig, Queens of the Stone Age, The Bronx), Barrett Martin (Mad Season, Screaming Trees, Tuatara), Nick Oliveri (Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Mondo Generator), Aurélien Barbolosi (Aston Villa) and Monique St Walker (Blackbird Days).

PATRÓN is a melting pot of influences, a new entity, a sort of Frankenstein creature, borrowing as much from stoner rock, 50s rock n roll, the Rat Pack as from 80s pop. It's sexy, it’s groovy, it’s loud and heavy.  Heady melodies that will stick to your skin like a thirsty alcoholic tick.

PATRÓN are: 
Lo aka Patrón : Lead Vocal / Guitar / Keyboard
Joey Castillo : Drums
Nick Oliveri : Bass
Aurélien Barbolosi : Guitars
Alain Johannes : Bass, Guitar, Keyboard, Vocal
Barrett Martin : Drums
Monique St Walker : Vocals
Aurelia : Vocals

Pre-order Patrón here: https://shop.season-of-mist.com/patron-patron-cd-digipak

Live plans for 2020 have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More news on this soon.

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPatron1/

UK thrashers SHRAPNEL have streamed their new single 'Might Of Cygnus', taken from their third full length album Palace For The Insane, due 15th May via Candlelight Records. 

Stream the new single and pre-order the record here: https://shrapnel.lnk.to/PalaceForTheInsane

Listen to new single 'Salt The Earth' here:  https://shrapnel.lnk.to/PalaceForTheInsane

Nathan Sadd (guitar) comments: "We’ve been so excited about sharing 'Might Of Cygnus' for a while now! It’s one of our favourite songs from the new record because it’s a blend of everything we do. It one of the best songs we’ve ever written, and is an absolute rager! It’s certainly not a prog song, but the title and lyrics are a tip of the hat to Rush and Neil Peart. We love A Farewell To Kings and Hemispheres, so we felt it would be cool to do a little tribute. We finally got to do a sci-fi themed thrash banger, which is something we’ve wanted to do for a while! For us, Cygnus is an explosive start to the new record and the new lineup. We can’t wait to get on the road and open the live show with it! Thrash, space, and Rush!"

Palace For The Insane lives up to its title with heroic ferocity, combining a relentless barrage of insane riffs, shredding leads, pounding rhythms, and savage vocals. SHRAPNEL's trademark extreme aggression remains a fundamental part of their sound, but this time around they exhibit vastly more dynamism, versatility and newly-refined songwriting skills.

Palace For The Insane marks SHRAPNEL's first recorded venture as a four-piece. Their first album recorded in collaboration with Samuel Turbitt of Ritual Sound Studios, it feels like a wholesale creative rebirth, with the voracious energy of a debut.

While taking on complex subject matters, the album is not shy in paying homage to SHRAPNEL's old-school thrash roots. Those more partial to the faster side of this purest form of thrash will be floored by the sheer speed and technical wizardry of songs 'Bury Me Alive', 'The Mace', and 'Infernal Choir'. This is definitely a new and improved SHRAPNEL, but necks are still going to get utterly wrecked.

Formed in 2009, SHRAPNEL have been on a campaign of destruction ever since. From the blistering underground EP No Saviours through to the 10th anniversary release in 2019, Decade of Decimation, the band has grown from strength to strength with no intention of slowing down.

Released on 15th May via Candlelight Records, preorders are now available here: https://shrapnel.lnk.to/PalaceForTheInsane
 
SHRAPNEL online:

Facebook | Twitter | Candlelight