Brighton indie punk trio GENDER ROLES return with double A-side single 'Dead or Alive / So Useless' via Big Scary Monsters. The first new music heard from the band since the release of their stunning debut PRANG, GENDER ROLES kick off 2021 with two sing-a-long anthems and some much needed positivity.

Following the premiere of 'So Useless' on the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show on Sunday 31st January, the video for 'Dead or Alive' has been unveiled today. Watch here: https://youtu.be/OY_NYExjynM

'Dead or Alive / So Useless' will be available tomorrow (3rd February) on all digital platforms. Stream here: https://orcd.co/deaduseless

The band comment: "'Dead or Alive' and 'So Useless' are tracks that came together just after writing PRANG, they feel to us like a stepping stone between PRANG and the new record we're working on so it made sense to give them their own special release. The songs were originally supposed to be released in 2020 but who gives a f*ck about that stupid year anyway? 2020? Never heard of it. We're SO stoked to get this new music out into the world right now, we were lucky to spend a lot of 2020 working on new music and there'll be plenty more from us before the year is out!"

'Dead or Alive / So Useless' will be available on a limited 7", which is set for release on 26th March on two variants. An aquamarine variant is available to pre-order exclusively via the band's Bandcamp from Friday 5th February at 8am: https://genderrolesuk.bandcamp.com
The other is a Seafoam 7", only available to subscribers of the Big Scary Monsters Legends vinyl subscription service, as their bonus 7" in March. More info here: https://bsmrocks.com/products/subscription-box

'Dead or Alive / So Useless' follows the release of debut album PRANG, which Kerrang! called "an album packed with unskippable delights," and DIY stated that GENDER ROLES are "the UK's most vibrant young punk prospects". PRANG also dominated the radio waves, with seven tracks featuring on BBC Radio, enjoying support from Annie Mac, Radio 1 Rock Show, Huw Stephens, Steve Lamacq, as well as strong support from Radio X's John Kennedy, Kerrang! Radio's Alex Baker, Amazing Radio and more.

Following their near sold-out UK headline 'PRANG Tour' at the end of 2019, GENDER ROLES were set to head out on an extensive UK / European headline tour in 2020, along with scheduled appearances at Download Festival and Reading & Leeds, which were cancelled due to the pandemic. The band turned their focus to new material and have written some of their finest work to date, so expect to hear a lot more from this energetic trio very soon.

GENDER ROLES online:

https://www.facebook.com/genderrolesuk
https://www.instagram.com/genderrolesuk
https://twitter.com/genderrolesuk
https://genderrolesuk.bandcamp.com

More information on GENDER ROLES:

Forming after a chance initial meeting at drummer Jordan Lilford’s Brighton Pride party in 2015, GENDER ROLES, also consisting of guitarist/vocalist Tom Bennett and bassist Jared Tomkins, found that Brighton’s DIY scene was the ideal hub to cut their teeth and allow themselves to grow as a band. The inspiration and ethos they could draw on in those early days has been integral to the act they’ve become.

While the coastal city remains the band’s home, it cannot be said to have contained them. Gigging throughout Europe and the States, packing out tents at festivals such as 2000 Trees, and sharing the stage with heroes from Jamie Lenman to Touche Amore and Pup, GENDER ROLES have built on those early foundations to amass a growing fanbase, drawn to their melodic grunge/punk and dry, candid sense of humour.

Documenting that growth have been the band’s two EPs released so far, 2017’s Planet X-Ray and 2018’s Lazer Rush. While the theme for those EPs was “overcoming the past and looking forward to the future together”, the new, debut album, PRANG, focuses on much more immediate issues, even if it did come from a particularly happy place for GENDER ROLES.

2021 sees GENDER ROLES return with a new double a-side single 'Dead or Alive / So Useless,' with more new music planned for later in the year.

Purchase PRANG here: https://bsm.rocks/prangout

Spanish brutal death metallers BONECARVER have released a menacing video for their new single 'Evil', taken from their new album of the same name, out 5th March via Unique Leader.

Watch 'Evil' here: https://youtu.be/Kt7UtBzj4QU

Formerly known as Cannibal Grandpa, the quartet return with their most uncompromisingly brutal record yet, and a new name to represent their reinvention.

The video ties in with the album concept, as the band explain: "Evil represents the death of the Cannibal Grandpa and the birth of BONECARVER. We continue the legacy of Cannibal Grandpa, telling stories about American serial killer Albert Fish, who died in the electric chair. Some of the atrocities he committed are part of the conceptual side of every one of our albums. When Cannibal Grandpa left this world, a darker and more ancient evil woke up to bring balance. Evil that reflects the pain and perdition behind the things we understand and the things we don't. Evil that pursues life and destroys our dreams. Evil living behind a mask. A mask that contains the darkest desires and the most shameful acts of humanity. A cursed object that contains a deity from the deepest abyss. The face of a hard look carved in bone."

'Evil' follows debut single 'Revolver', watch here: https://youtu.be/aijY6MNotto

Formed in 2014, BONECARVER released their first demos on YouTube and started playing live under the name Cannibal Grandpa. In 2015 they released their first album and played with bands as Rise of The Northstar, Here Comes The Kraken and Resurrection Fest, and embarked on their first European tour in 2017 in France, Belgium and The Netherlands. The same year they released their second album Septum Signa Inferno via Slam Worldwide, with Rok from Within Destruction featuring as a guest for a single 'Mandinga'. In 2017 they played more than 50 shows in Germany, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland and Czech Republic, Download Festival in Madrid, DeathFeast in Germany and Fall In The Brawl Festival in the UK.

The quartet have always been fascinated by serial killers and their unique combination of innovative extreme metal styles and murder tales quickly took them to the top of the Spanish death metal underground. They represent Madrid’s brutality at its best. They are determined leaders of modern Spanish extreme metal.

In summer of 2020 they signed a deal with Unique Leader Records and changed their name to BONECARVER. "Sometimes we must destroy standards in order to rebuild. Destroy the ordinary to create extraordinary new start, create a fresh moniker from the ruins."

BONECARVER will appear at Resurrection Festival, Spain, on 4th June 2021, with more dates to be announced.

BONECARVER online:

https://Instagram.com/bonecarverofficial
https://www.facebook.com/bonecarverofficial
https://twitter.com/Bonecarvermetal
https://www.youtube.com/c/bonecarverofficial

Track listing:

1. Revolver
2. Overtorture
3. The Scythe
4. MALLEVS MALEFICARVM
5. Wormhole
6. Moon Maniac
7. Nest Of Traitors
8. Hound Pound
9. The Blacksmith's Massacre
10. Evil

Photo Credit: Benjamin Pohle

German metalcore quartet ANNISOKAY have released new single / video 'Under Your Tattoos', taken from new album Aurora, out today via Arising Empire.

Watch the video for 'Under Your Tattoos' here: https://youtu.be/6ITHzK_Diis

'Under Your Tattoos' follows previous singles 'The Cocaines Got Your Tongue', 'The Tragedy', 'Bonfire Of The Millennials', 'STFU', 'Like A Parasite' and 'Face The Facts', which have been streamed collectively over eight million times on Spotify.

Aurora is now available in digital, CD and vinyl formats, as well as a special limited edition fan box. Purchase / stream the album here: https://Annisokay.lnk.to/Aurora

Aurora sees ANNISOKAY reinventing themselves, welcoming new frontman and heavy vocalist Rudi Schwarzer - a long-time friend of the band - who stepped into the role in late 2019. Once again guitarist/clean vocalist Christoph Wieczorek oversaw production duties on the album, which is full of heavy riffs, driving percussion, melodic, goosebump-inducing cleans and aggressive shouts.

Formed in 2007, ANNISOKAY are at the forefront of German metal with their cutting edge sound, which has earned them huge success at home and has seen them breakthrough internationally. The four-piece have embarked on successful tours throughout Europe, the UK, Japan and the USA, including several headline shows in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, a US run with I Set My Friends On Fire, two sold-out shows in Russia supporting Parkway Drive, and, more recently, the Xmas Bash Tour with Emil Bulls, which marked Schwarzer's first tour with the band.

ANNISOKAY’s first three studio albums were released through Long Branch Records/SPV, all of which charted in the Top 100 Official German Album Charts. In 2018, the band signed to Arising Empire to release their fourth studio album Arms, which reached #26 and marked their highest chart entry to date.

ANNISOKAY will embark on a European headline tour in 2021, with support from Future Palace and Set Your Sails.

Dates:

13.03.21 Göttingen - Exil
22.04.21 Prag - Rock Cafe
23.04.21 Cham - L.A. Eventhalle
24.04.21 Wien - Chelsea
28.04.21 Zürich - Dynamo, Werk 21
29.04.21 Wiesbaden - Schlachthof
30.04.21 München - Backstage
01.05.21 Schweinfurt - Stattbahnhof
05.05.21 Hannover - Musikzentrum
06.05.21 Hamburg - Gruenspan
07.05.21 Essen - Turock
08.05.21 Osnabrück - Bastard Club
14.05.21 Jena - F-Haus
26.05.21 Stuttgart - Universum
27.05.21 Nürnberg - Z-Bau
28.05.21 Berlin - Hole44
29.05.21 Köln - Helios37

Tickets are on sale here: https://tourlink.to/annisokay

ANNISOKAY are:
Rudi Schwarzer | Vocals
Christoph Wieczorek | Vocals / Guitar
Norbert Kayo | Bass
Nico Vaeen | Drums

For more information:
www.annisokay.com
www.facebook.com/annisokay
www.instagram.com/annisokay
www.twitter.com/annisokay

Aurora tracklisting:

01. Like A Parasite
02. STFU
03. The Tragedy
04. Face The Facts
05. Overload
06. Bonfire Of The Millennials
07. The Cocaines Got Your Tongue
08. Under Your Tattoos
09. The Blame Game
10. I Saw What You Did
11. Standing Still
12. Friend Or Enemy
13. Terminal Velocity

Original Mongolian Folk Metal group NINE TREASURES are have streamed their single 'Three Years Old Warrior', taken from their forthcoming 'best of' LP, Awakening From Dukkha, released 19th March.

Stream the track here, originally taken from their 2014 self-titled LP: https://youtu.be/r92in8uDRAk

Few bands can claim to have an identity and sound as remarkable as NINE TREASURES. Forming in 2010, one of the original Mongolian Folk Metal bands have one simple goal: to take Mongolian heavy metal worldwide.

Now, a decade on; three albums, millions of streams and several European tours and festival shows (Wacken Open Air, Woodstock Poland) later, NINE TREASURES are well on their way, having led a Mongolian metal revolution.

The band are celebrating their journey so far with their new ‘Best Of’ record, Awakening From Dukkha, to be released 19th March. Collecting songs from their 3-LP oeuvre, Awakening From Dukkha is both a stellar introduction to a seminal band for the new listener, and a significant recognition of the group’s achievements so far.

Pre-order the LP here: https://ninetreasures.bandcamp.com/album/awakening-from-dukkha

A celebration of the past it may be, but for vocalist/guitarist Askhan and his bandmates, this decade-spanning collection is also a rebirth for NINE TREASURES:

“Our fans deserve to hear us at our best, which is why we were so motivated to make this album. Now we’ve done that, we just want to keep NINE TREASURES going as long as possible, make music that we’re proud of and spread a little positivity… and tour the world again!”

“It’s always been about the music with us,” he says. “When I started this band I had no idea how things worked, and I thought it was all about marketing, promotion and fancy videos, but after 10 years of doing this, I’ve realised that everything revolves around the music itself. That’s why our focus is on making our music as great as it can be – we’re constantly progressing.”

The music Askhan speaks of is a unique combination of old school heavy metal and traditional Mongolian folk, which sees NINE TREASURES utilise both conventional vocals and Mongolian throat singing. Likewise, guitars, bass and drums collide with traditional string instruments such as the balalaika and the morin khuur, resulting in a sonic kaleidoscope that follows no set template. Unlike much of contemporary rock and metal, there are no rules when it comes to NINE TREASURES, and that makes the quality of the band’s output all the more impressive.

“It’s not as simple as just putting a guitar chord behind some Mongolian melodies,” Askhan explains. “Our music is so much deeper than that. We don’t follow a model, and we work to ensure the two distinct facets of our sound complement one another. I’ve changed the way I play the guitar in order to accommodate the Mongolian elements, and vice-versa. To do this takes a lot of analysis and experimentation.”

Named after a group of objects referenced in ancient Mongolian poems, NINE TREASURES’ music touches on the mythology and fairy tales of their homeland, but the band’s songs contain more universal references, too. Having recently begun practicing Buddhism – “It changed my life,” Askhan says – NINE TREASURES’ frontman is now intent on using their music to bring comfort and ease the suffering of others. “I want to share the teachings I’ve learned with others like me who have experienced anxiety,” Askhan continues. “We want NINE TREASURES to bring some positive energy into the world – the greatest thing we can do with this is to help people.”

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/ninetreasuresofficial
https://twitter.com/NineTreasures
https://ninetreasures.bandcamp.com

NINE TREASURES ARE:

Askhan (Vocalist/Guitarist)
Orgil (Bassist)
Tsog (Morin Khuur)
Saina (Balalaika)
Namra (Drums)

TRACKLISTING:

1: Black Heart
2: Arvan Ald Guulin Honshoor
3: Fable Of Mangas
4: Nomin Dalai
5: Tes River's Hymn
6: Ten Years
7: The Dream About Ancient City
8: Praise For Fine Horse
9: The End Of The World
10: Wisdom Eyes
11: The Stubborn
12: Three Years Old Warrior

New UK metal group HERIOT continue their rise with brilliant and brutal new single 'Recreant'.

Premiering on Knotfest, who called the band "relevant, contemporary, and rooted in reality", you can watch the video for 'Recreant' here: https://youtu.be/ixIe8g1vHiY

Stream here: https://smarturl.it/4k713e

The new single showcases a triumphant young band, fully focused and with a razor-sharp edge. Now a fourpiece with the addition of guitarist/vocalist Debbie Gough, HERIOT have already started to turn heads in the UK metal scene and beyond. Weaponising metallic sludge and hardcore, HERIOT had already made a statement of intent with November 2020's 'Cleansed Existence' single and will only turn it up from here.

In the words of HERIOT: "'Recreant’ reflects on the ever-growing abuse of power in today’s world. With governments, politicians and influencers wrongfully using religion, nationalism and wealth to divide communities, class and race.

"In this release we’ve tried to hone in on some of our darker influences to best suit the lyrical content in this song. As a band we’ve delved deeper into our doom and sludge roots. This track allowed for a lot more experimentation into the use of textures and industrial elements to embellish the intensity of our sound.

"This track touches on the contrast between the privileged and deprived and how the system is carefully manipulated to cater for the wealthy, even showing encouragement for minority groups of people to subconsciously vilify themselves."

HERIOT are:

Jake Packer - Vocals/Bass
Debbie Gough - Vocals/Guitar
Erhan Alman - Guitar
Julian Gage - Drums

For more information:

https://heriotmetal.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/heriotmetal
https://www.instagram.com/heriotmetal
https://twitter.com/heriotmetal

Japanese folk metal pioneers GYZE return with a new single 'Samurai Metal' via Out Of Line and accompanying video which features cameos from Dragonforce, Battle Beast and more.

Watch the video to 'Metal Samurai' here: https://youtu.be/1bO_AuaW-Ok

Stream here: https://gyze.lnk.to/SamuraiMetal

Lauded as pioneers of Japanese folk metal, GYZE once again entwine traditional Japanese instruments with modern metal power on 'Metal Samurai'. The song was written on a Shamisen (Japanese traditional string instrument) and performed in both English and Japanese. Aruta, the bass player of GYZE, takes on lead vocal duties in 'Samurai Metal'.

The video sees GYZE performing in traditional Japanese robes and features prominent guests including Marc J Hudson from Dragonforce, Juuso / Joona / Eero from Battle Beast, Nils Courbaron from Sirenia, Felipe Munoz from Frosttide, Mika Lammassaari from Mors Subita as well as Pedro Almeida of A&P Reacts.

GYZE combine traditional Japanese music with powerful metal to create their very own sound. Neck-breaking high-speed riffs, melodic guitar riffs and crazy solos are complemented by epic orchestral arrangements, Japanese instruments and a traditional folkloric style.

GYZE have earned their cult status through festival appearances, a joint tour with Battle Beast and the release of three albums, various EPs and singles. Highly praised by the Japanese media, the band were recently the cover stars of BURRN! Magazine.

2021 will see GYZE push their metallic power and speed further than ever before, whist continuing to sharpen their exotic twists. Expect to see a lot more of GYZE very soon.

GYZE online
https://www.facebook.com/gyzejp
https://www.instagram.com/gyze_official/
https://twitter.com/OFFICIAL_GYZE
https://www.gyze.jp/

Out Of Line online:
https://www.outofline.de/
https://www.facebook.com/outoflinelabel
https://twitter.com/outofline
https://www.instagram.com/outoflinemusic1995/
https://www.youtube.com/user/outofline1995

AROGYA have announced their signing to Out Of Line Music and are set to release their forthcoming album Genesis on 23rd April 2021. The quintet are the first ever synth-rock band to emerge from India and the first band from Northeast India to sign with an international record label.

To celebrate, AROGYA have released a video for their new single 'Broken', depicting the story of a man who lost his lover and has given up all hope. A miracle then happens, leading him back to the spirit and arms of his love again. The story is to be continued in the music video for 'Misery's Lair'.

Check out the video for 'Broken' here: https://youtu.be/g23FvU-LMJ8

The band explains:

"The concept of the video and screenplay was the brainchild of AROGYA, by Rain & Janice. The whole video was edited, and special effects were created by none other than our multi-talented drummer Rui. We believe in making and presenting our own unique image/brand with a strong thematic storyline and be fully involved, from the creation of the song to the music video."

Stream/purchase 'Broken' here: https://arogya.lnk.to/Broken

Pre-order Genesis here: https://www.outoflineshop.de/back-catalogue/arogya-genesis-cd.html

AROGYA worked with producer Chris Harms (Lord of the Lost) on their new album Genesis, which deals with the story of creation both musically and thematically: the past manifests itself in their propulsive synth-rock which highlights 80s nostalgia, while washed-out metal dominates the present and a fine pinch of dark-pop stands for the future.

Visual Kei elements bring even more playful light to the colourful potpourri of AROGYA's sound. The profound lyrics, sometimes shouted in a soulful clear voice, sometimes in a heavy metal style with evil growls, deal with love, pain, transience, hope and the effort to escape the inner darkness. Genesis offers a possibility of catharsis, lyrically for the mind and sonically for the body, which also draws to the band's name AROGYA, meaning "healer" in Sanskrit.

AROGYA are:

Rain | Vocals
Deadnoxx | Guitar
Mr.G | Guitar
Bipz | Bass
Rui | Drums

For more information:
https://www.arogyaband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/arogyaofficial/
https://www.instagram.com/arogya.tv/

https://www.outofline.de/
https://www.facebook.com/outoflinelabel
https://twitter.com/outofline
https://www.instagram.com/outoflinemusic1995/
https://www.youtube.com/user/outofline1995

Genesis tracklisting:

1. Sky Afar
2. Broken
3. Dust
4. Lonely Night Descends
5. Dark World
6. Misery's Lair
7. Charade
8. Lies
9. Break Free
10. Throne

Crushing down-tempo, slam-infused deathcore six-piece DISTANT have released new single 'The Eternal Lament', ahead of their new EP Dusk of Anguish which is set for release via Unique Leader on 19th March.

Check out 'The Eternal Lament' here: https://youtu.be/XXRy2IjuJ_8

Add to your Spotify playlists here: https://spoti.fi/3a4s3IH

Pre-orders: https://orcd.co/duskofanguish

The band commented: "Dusk is upon us as 'The Eternal Lament' sequels the previous Dawn of Corruption EP. The song welcomes the next chapter of the lore around Tyrannotophia by premiering on the upcoming Dusk of Anguish EP. Ruthlessness and gloom spread across this song and leaves the listener in awe from heaviness in its purest form."

Hailing from Rotterdam, The Netherlands and Bratislava, Slovakia, DISTANT have produced some of their most brutal work with the announcement of their third release for Unique Leader, featuring guest appearances from members of THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE and ALPHAWOLF.

Following on from 2020's critically acclaimed Dawn Of Corruption EP, Dusk Of Anguish is the second instalment of the dreadful story of Tyrannotophia - the realm of the doomed and the sound of the world's damnation. Dusk of Anguish picks up where Dawn of Corruption left off, as dusk shines down and an age of pain is ushered through the ashes of the fallen kingdom. With the establishment of a new ruler of Tyrannotophia a cacophonic madness is unleashed and waves of torment and purgatory stalk its lands.

DISTANT attempt to portray this ongoing carnage, dragging the listener straight to the depths of hell and depravity via their atmospheric, downtempo, deathcore juggernaut. Once again the EP features special appearances; this time John Robert C. of The Last Ten Seconds Of Life and Lochie Keogh of Alphawolf take guest spots on the EP to stunning effect.

Featuring cover artwork by Calean Stokkermans (The Acacia Strain, Lorna Shore, Misery Index), DISTANT perform the dark hymns of the fallen kingdom for listeners to experience the atmospheric despair and the grotesque void to come.

Since 2014 the band have bludgeoned their way across Europe, with the release of their first two EPs Slither (2015) and Tsukuyomi (2017). Recently the band joined forces with Unique Leader to release their debut full-length album Tyrannotophia (June 2019) and Dawn of Corruption EP (2020).

Pre-orders: https://orcd.co/duskofanguish

For more DISTANT info:
Facebook || Twitter || Website || Instagram || Youtube || Bandcamp || Spotify

Tracklisting

1. The Offering
2. Dusk Of Anguish ft. John Robert C. (The Last Ten Seconds Of Life)
3. The Eternal Lament
4. Cryogenesis ft. Lochie Keogh (Alphawolf)
5. Graveborn
6. Rakva

Australian brutal death metallers DISENTOMB have released new single, 'Broken Under Your Symbol of Atonement', the first new music heard from the band since 2019's The Decaying Light album.

Out now via Unique Leader, watch the visualiser here: https://youtu.be/9wjk87gNHGo

'Broken Under Your Symbol of Atonement' offers another atmospheric and distinctive take on the brutal death metal genre that the four piece has become known for. Once again DISENTOMB have expanded on their unique amalgamation of dissonance, straight up brutality and ambitious song writing that they solidified on their previous albums The Decaying Light (2019) and Misery (2014). The themes of nihilism, Lovecraftianesque lore and antitheism that DISENTOMB has crafted since forming in 2009 sets the perfect tone for 2021.

Vocalist Jord James comments:

"Our new single 'Broken Under Your Symbol of Atonement' is our most accomplished work to date, expanding on the dissonant sounds we released on The Decaying Light (2019) and Misery (2014).

"Since forming in 2009 we have had the goal of writing music we want to hear, which has developed over the years into a distinctive style of atmospheric and bleakened Brutal Death Metal and that can certainly be heard on this new single."

DISENTOMB will be releasing more standalone singles in 2021. Expect more bleakened brutality very soon.

DISENTOMB online:
https://www.facebook.com/disentomb
https://www.instagram.com/disentomb_