Perturbator announces new album and unveils first single & video
Photo credit: David Fitt; art director: Alexis Zacchi; make up artist: Anne Verhague; photographer assistant: Lucas Matichard

Photo credit: David Fitt; art director: Alexis Zacchi; make up artist: Anne Verhague; photographer assistant: Lucas Matichard

Dark electronic master Perturbator, aka James Kent, returns with new single 'Death of the Soul' and announced his highly-anticipated new full-length album, Lustful Sacraments, out 28th May via Blood Music.

'Death of the Soul' serves as a stunning preview of the nine-song collection, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/h_XSKj_qX4g

Kent said of the song: “The track takes inspiration from old school EBM a la DAF or Front 242, Valnoir (Metastazis) has managed to perfectly pair visuals that reflect the nihilistic tone of it.”

Lustful Sacraments - which was written, performed, produced and mixed by Kent - represents his most mature work to date, merging the dark synthesised tones that brought Perturbator to worldwide prominence with classic post-punk, goth, and heavy techno rhythms. The album deftly weaves Perturbator’s cinematic textures with thundering drums, subtle electronic melodies and in-your-face guitar hooks.

“It’s an album about bad habits, dissatisfaction and addiction,” adds Kent of the album that serves as a follow-up to 2017’s New Model EP. He concludes: “An overall look at how we, as a species, lean towards self-destruction.”

Lustful Sacraments also features special guest appearances from Hangman's Chair and True Body.

Album pre-orders, which include both a gatefold 2LP and a 2LP picture disc as well as a cassette, CD and digital release, are available here: http://www.blood-music.com/store

Digital pre-save/ 'Death of the Soul' stream: https://perturbator.lnk.to/DeathOfTheSoul

Perturbator has also announced a UK/Euro headline tour, with the UK dates commencing on 5th November at London's The Electric Ballroom. Support comes from Health and Author & Punisher.

Tickets are available now: https://tinyurl.com/y3erb9tr

UK / Eire dates:

5/11 - The Electric Ballroom, London
6/11 - St Lukes, Glasgow
7/11 - Academy 2, Manchester
9/11 - Opium, Dublin
10/11 - SWX, Bristol

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/Perturbator/
https://twitter.com/The_Perturbator
https://www.instagram.com/perturbatormusic/
http://www.perturbator.com

Track-listing:  1 – Reaching Xanadu 2 – Lustful Sacraments 3 – Excess 3 – Secret Devotion (ft. True Body) 4 – Death Of The Soul 5 – The Other Place 6 – Dethroned Under A Funeral Haze 7 – Messalina, Messalina 8 – God Says (ft. Hangman's Chair)

Track-listing:

1 – Reaching Xanadu
2 – Lustful Sacraments
3 – Excess
3 – Secret Devotion (ft. True Body)
4 – Death Of The Soul
5 – The Other Place
6 – Dethroned Under A Funeral Haze
7 – Messalina, Messalina
8 – God Says (ft. Hangman's Chair)

Artist: Metastazis

Artist: Metastazis

Dark electro master Perturbator is considered by many as the face of retrosynth.

In 2012, Perturbator's onslaught of initial releases ('Night Driving Avenger,' 'Terror 404,' 'Nocturne City,' and 'I Am the Night') rocketed him through the ranks of retrosynth producers – receiving tons of accolades and comparisons to John Carpenter, Goblin, and Vangelis. As he continued to hone his skills as a producer, PERTURBATOR actively searched for something deeper within electronic music.

This took a darker turn with his 2014 smash breakthrough Dangerous Days and went deeper into the mire with 2016's Billboard-chart topping The Uncanny Valley. But James “Perturbator” Kent was feeling the limitations of the genre he helped redefine.

The 2017 album New Model eschews the nostalgia and pop culture references controlling the synthwave scene, feeling that they interfere with true subject matter. Of course, there are a vast array of influences at work on New Model - ranging from Kraftwerk to Lorn to D.A.F and Nine Inch Nails – but Kent wanted to break out and explore releasing music on its own merit, rather than regurgitating tropes.

2021 will see the release of a new Perturbator album, more details soon.

… French dark-futuristic act Perturbator… [mixes] metal’s energy and lack of self-consciousness with the blazing synths of ​’80s gore flicks and video games.” -Kerrang

“…it’s dark and creepy and overwhelming…” - Decibel

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Mountain Tamer: LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT concert film
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Psychedelic doom trio Moutain Tamer will release their brilliant new concert film, LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT: Vol V on 6th March.

Watch the band's single, 'Living In Vain', here: https://youtu.be/jFEN_UYJ3X0

LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT is a livestream concert film series, deep in the heart of the California wilderness, with performances from Earthless, Nebula, Spirit Mother, Mountain Tamer, and Stoner.

Tickets are available to purchase now: http://cdwa.tixr.com

Watch the teaser here.

Forthcoming schedule:

MOUNTAIN TAMER (Vol V): Saturday 6th March, 2021
STONER (Vol IV) (Brant Bjork + Ryan Gut + Nick Oliveri): Saturday 20th March, 2021

Inspired by Pink Floyd's iconic Live At Pompeii film, each of the concert films will be premiered online, and presented in a two-hour long live, hosted program. Some of the biggest desert rock legends will be on set attending and hosting, and the bands themselves will join the stream.

Each film will be released as a live album, with LP, CD, and DVD pre-orders to be announced soon.

LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT organisers have implemented a custom link program which gives a portion of sales to their affiliates who sell tickets to the shows. They're creating a network of clubs, promoters, record stores and venues across the globe to help support the musical scene in this more desperate of years.

If you're interested in joining, please get in touch here.

To support your local participating venue, buy through their link. More information to follow.

There is no overestimating the level of undertaking on show in the LIVE IN THE MOJAVE DESERT series. Driving tonnes of gear 30 miles out into the desert to film five bands in four days, with 25 people onsite daily - the level of effort shows in a stunning range of unique musical experiences.

For more information:

Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Email List
Website

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Exploring Birdsong announce rescheduled tour dates
Photo Credit: Robin Clewley

Photo Credit: Robin Clewley

Rising stars Exploring Birdsong have announced their rescheduled headline tour dates.

Dates are as follows:

20.09 Birmingham, Castle And Falcon
21.09 London, 229 The Venue
22.09 Bristol, The Exchange
24.09 Glasgow, Garage Attic
28.09 Manchester, Rebellion

Tickets available from: www.exploringbirdsong.com

Vocalist Lynsey Ward comments: "After so long away from live gigs, the prospect of getting back to it in February was so exciting. It was a huge blow when it became clear that we wouldn’t be able to make that happen as we’d planned. However, we can’t wait to see everyone in September! We’re keeping everything crossed and working hard to make these shows worth the wait!"

The dates will showcase songs from the trio's globally-acclaimed debut EP The Thing With Feathers, released via Long Branch Records, and comes ahead of their sophomore release planned for 2021 (further information TBA).

Buy the The Thing With Feathers EP here: https://exploringbirdsong.lnk.to/thethingwithfeathers

Watch the video for single 'The Downpour' here: https://youtu.be/goy88FK28dg

The band have also recently announced signing with management Wild Thing Presents (Caligula's Horse), AMF Publishing (Cult of Luna, Leprous, The Ocean), and booking agency NMC Live (Agent Fresco, Sólstafir, Nordic Giants).

Rarely are new groups as exciting, talented or unique as Exploring Birdsong, the piano-led guitarless trio from Liverpool. Straddling progressive rock, pop, and uncategorizable genre-blending beauty, the band are riding high following the release of their 2019 debut EP The Thing With Feathers (Long Branch Records).

Rarely too do you hear voices as captivating as frontwoman Lynsey Ward’s. Powerful, controlled, and spine-chillingly tender, Lynsey’s vocals help mark Exploring Birdsong as a prospect to watch, not least in the band’s staggering ‘The Downpour’, described by the band as “our Great Gig In The Sky”. Also playing keyboards, she is backed by the jawdropping talents of Matt Harrison on drums/percussion and Jonny Knight on bass/second keyboards (and sometimes playing both simultaneously).

The Thing With Feathers is broadly speaking a concept release, centred on the Seamus Heaney poem ‘Bye Child’ and the story of Kevin Halfpenny, one of the most bizarre cases of child cruelty ever recorded. This is mirrored in the EP title and cover art, with broken backbones becoming broken wings. The title itself also references Emily Dickinson’s “’Hope’ is the thing with feathers” poem.

Having recently graduated from Liverpool’s Institute of Performing Arts, the young group caught the eyes of key players in the UK press (Prog magazine, Kerrang! Magazine, Kerrang! Radio, Classic Rock Magazine) as well as placing high in the Prog Readers' Poll and picking up two Prog Award nominations – all prior to their debut EP release.

Among other early achievements, Exploring Birdsong were hand-picked to support Sleep Token (on their much-anticipated debut headline performance and subsequent debut headline tour), have toured with proggers Godsticks, and delivered stellar performances at HRH Prog and Winter’s End festivals. Exploring Birdsong have also supported Thank You Scientist across the UK and have recently signed with NMC Live, AMF Publishing, and Wild Thing Presents.

Lynsey recently duetted with Caligula's Horse's Jim Grey on their most recent critically acclaimed record Rise Radiant, for the bonus track, a cover of Peter Gabriel’s 'Don't Give Up'. Listen here.

Unplaceable for the most part, Exploring Birdsong bring to mind elements of Steven Wilson, Kate Bush, Rush, Sleep Token, and Agent Fresco. A new release is scheduled for 2021, via the esteemed Long Branch Records, following the label's release of 2019's critically acclaimed debut EP The Thing With Feathers.

http://www.facebook.com/exploringbirdsong
www.instagram.com/exploringbirdsong

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Kaoteon and Deathtribe guitarist releases politically charged acoustic single
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Anthony Assaker, guitarist and songwriter of Lebanese breakthrough metal bands Kaoteon and Death Tribe, has released a politically-charged solo acoustic song, 'Who's To Blame'. Highlighting issues such as discrimination, racism and social injustice in the world, an unlisted version of the song went viral within the Middle-Eastern community during the US election, racking up over 70k plays.

The video was filmed in Amsterdam, where Anthony now resides. Now officially released, watch 'Who's To Blame' here: https://youtu.be/fEgwBjpxli8

Anthony comments on 'Who's To Blame': "This is not just a music track but rather a shout out to everyone listening to stop for a second and think about important topics like discrimination, racism prejudice and social injustice that we have created over centuries and they are blinding us in our day-to-day lives. I have been playing guitars since I was of young age with the earliest memory from 1992. Only two years after we were allowed to go out from the bomb shelters of Beirut and back home. Forward 30 years from the end of the civil war, Lebanon is still in ruins. I came to the conclusion it is not easy to be Lebanese. Sometimes it feels like cancer, sometimes it is a blessing, but most definitely it is a very hard job! This is not limited to this war torn, politically corrupt and religiously segregated country. Any form of prejudice comes heavy, many nations have it worse, many races are discriminated, many cultures are framed. In 2020, I felt the need to record a track (I never sang and maybe I shouldn’t) that I can pass on to others in the hope that I could inspire them to accept the other without judgement. To give hope to those who are still oppressed in many parts of the world, to women, to black lives, to the LGBTQ+ communities. Scientifically, we are all equal, we are one race, the human race, our blood is one colour, our planet is the same. Our differences make us beautiful and stronger. Open up, ask questions and make apologetic mistakes without judgement, Every single journey is beautiful and we have to make sure that we provide equal opportunities to everyone."

On the track's unexpected attention over the US elections, Anthony continues:

"I composed this track and worked on the music video during the US presidential elections especially after a crazy 2020. It was really surprising to see the track gaining a lot of attention while being unlisted as I shared it with friends, cousins and expats in the US who shared it with their connections. In a way, I feel that this track has played a role in the US awakening in one way or another, even if it touched one soul or inspired one person. This is why I do music in the first place. To have a voice for the voiceless."

Anthony Assaker has a busy year ahead of him, with more acoustic tracks in the pipeline, as well as Death Tribe and Kaoteon albums in the works. More news soon.

Stream 'Who's To Blame' here: https://anthonyassaker.hearnow.com/

Anthony Assaker online:
https://anthonyassaker.bandcamp.com

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Rave The Reqviem release new video 'Phantom Pain'
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Sweden electro-metallers Rave The Reqviem have launched their new music video 'Phantom Pain', taken from the album, Stigmata Itch, which was released in December 2020 via Out Of Line Music.

Watch 'Phantom Pain' here: https://youtu.be/e5tcQnEEDOc

THE PROPHET of Rave The Reqviem commented “'Phantom Pain' is a groovy mid-tempo industrial metal track with heavy riffs, catchy hooks, and a bombastic symphonic breakdown. The lyrics deal with the destructive nature of relationships and the self-criticism that follows. How is it possible that your loved ones stay by your side despite all of your flaws?”

Stream Stigmata Itch here: https://ravethereqviem.lnk.to/StigmataItch

Rave The Reqviem play a modern hybrid of metal and electronic music, delivered with catchy choruses and majestic symphonies which supplied The Chvrch of RTR with a steady stream of new believers from day one. Supported with a devoted underground following, they set sail for wider horizons and signed with the German label Out Of Line Music who released their album Fvuneral [sic] in 2018 - an album which achieved top-tier reviews and was the gateway to major festivals, gigs and extensive support tours. With their fourth magnum opus Stigmata Itch (2020), the first album to feature their new vocalist The Sister Svperior, the band have refined their sound to a spiritual level. The sky is the limit, and the band aim for nothing less. Prepare for an intense ride with cutting-edge metal, heavy electro beats, sweet melodies, and glorious symphonies that will make you lift your hallelujah.

Rave The Reqviem online:

https://www.facebook.com/ravethereqviem

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Mental Cruelty release new single featuring guitarist Yo Onityan
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German haunting death metallers Mental Cruelty have released new single / video 'Ultima Hypocrita' featuring Japanese virtuoso guitarist Yo Onityan. This is the first new music heard from their upcoming album A Hill To Die Upon, out 28th May via Unique Leader.

Watch the video to 'Ultima Hypocrita' here: https://youtu.be/NcgO2FCYOHw

The video script for 'Ultima Hypocrita' was written by guitarist Marvin Kessler and filmed last week in seven days. The song is closed with a musical and emotional highlight, a guitar solo performed and written by Japanese guitarist Yo Onityan, who also plays in Rings Of Saturn.

Founded in 2016 in Germany, the quintet have established themselves as one of the most exciting bands on the extreme underground, touring Europe with Rings Of Saturn and Nekrogoblikon in 2019 and North America with Signs Of The Swarm and Disentomb. Now with two albums under their belts, including 2019's critically acclaimed Inferis, produced by Sky Van Hoff (Rammstein, Kreator), they have become well known for their signature blackened breakdowns, blast beats, epic arrangements and slamming brutality.

Mental Cruelty will further explore their sound on new album A Hill To Die Upon, which heralds a new era for the band.

Mental Cruelty are:
Lucca Schmerler - Vocals
Marvin Kessler - Lead Guitar
Nahuel Lozano - Rhythm Guitar
Viktor Dick - Bass Guitar
Danny Straßer - Drums

Pre-order A Hill To Die Upon here:
Digital: https://orcd.co/ahilltodieupon
N. America: https://www.indiemerch.com/uniqueleader
Europe: https://www.impericon.com/en/unique-leader-records.html

Mental Cruelty online:
https://linktr.ee/mentalcruelty
https://www.facebook.com/MentalCruelty/
https://www.instagram.com/mental_cruelty/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPP0hCej0JX5hBT7p00N-Sw

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A Pale Horse Named Death enter studio and announce new band members
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A Pale Horse Named Death are currently recording their fourth studio album, scheduled for release late 2021 via Long Branch Records / SPV.

Led by founding Type O Negative and Life of Agony member Sal Abruscato, the band released their debut album And Hell Will Follow Me in 2011 and firmly implanted their roots in the metal scene with the sophomore albums Lay My Soul to Waste in 2013, and When The World Becomes Undone in 2019.

"I am really looking forward to releasing APHND’s fourth album later this year," says Sal Abruscato. He adds: "2021 is the 10 year anniversary since APHND’s first album And Hell Will Follow Me was released so it’s even more special for me to release a new album this year. There has been so much depression and anxiety for so many during this pandemic, how the world has literally become undone in 2020. I started working on material back in early 2020 and felt I needed to evolve, switch things up with more instrumentation, different vibes and unleash a new album for the fans this year! We are in the middle of production and I can’t wait to release it. Looking forward to working with Long Branch Records and SPV again as well!"

Alongside Sal Abruscato on guitars and lead vocals, A Pale Horse Named Death's lineup includes Joe Taylor and Eddie Heedles on guitars. They are also pleased to welcome Chris Hamilton (Blood Simple, Downset) on drums as well as Oddie McLaughlin (Black Water Rising, Damn Your Eyes) on bass.

A Pale Horse Named online:

http://www.apalehorsenameddeath.com
https://www.facebook.com/APHND

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Heavy prog-psych band Boss Keloid sign with Ripple Music
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British heavy prog-psych band Boss Keloid have announced their signing to Ripple Music for the release of their as-yet untitled fifth full-length album in summer 2021.

After earning worldwide acclaimed reviews for Melted On The Inch (2018), Herb Your Enthusiasm (2016) and The Calming Influence of Teeth (2013), Boss Keloid’s notoriety for producing heavy and magnificently multi-layered music has continued to grow. Rising from the stoner/prog underground in the UK, for more than a decade Boss Keloid have produced some of the most mind altering, genre bending music whilst gaining a reputation album on album for never musically standing still.

Now the band are ready to take their next step internationally with their signing to Ripple Music.

Boss Keloid comment: “We are delighted to be signed to Ripple Music for the release of our new album, and grateful to Todd for believing in our music and giving us his backing. We look forward to working with him and joining a fine calibre of bands whose music we've enjoyed for many years.”

President/CEO at Ripple Music, Todd Severin adds: Boss Keloid had long ago established themselves as a tremendous innovator in the heavy underground scene, with a sound unlike any others. We're thrilled to welcome them to the Ripple family and cannot wait to unveil their latest vision of what heavy music can be."

Hailed as one of the heavy music world’s most unbelievably stunning experiences, Boss Keloid are a band driven by a burning need to move forward. With the herald of their fifth studio album upon the horizon, fans can expect Boss Keloid’s unique voice to ring loud and clear, transcending labels like stoner, psych and even metal, fully bursting out of any and all classifications, to create something upliftingly fresh and unique.

Watch the new Boss Keloid album trailer here: https://youtu.be/dFFEdhrQWb0

Boss Keloid are:
Paul Swarbrick | Guitar
Alex Hurst | Vocals and Guitar
Ste Arands | Drums
Liam Pendlebury-Green | Bass

You can watch live videos from their Bloodstock Festival set and the full live session of their 2018 album Melted On The Inch, plus stream the band's entire discography here: https://linktr.ee/bosskeloid

For more information:
Facebook || Twitter || Bandcamp || Instagram || YouTube || Spotify || Ripple Music


About Boss Keloid:

Boss Keloid formed in 2010, Wigan, UK. Their last album Melted On The Inch was released on Holy Roar Records in 2018 to worldwide critical acclaim from the music press, garnering significant support from Metal Hammer UK, Kerrang!, Prog Magazine, BBC R1, The Guardian, Fuze Mag (DE), Rock Hard Mag (DE), MetalSucks, Metal Injection. Total Guitar included guitarist Paul Swarbrick in their ‘best new guitarists in the world today’ feature and their previous albums having graced countless albums of the year lists, multiple times over.

Boss Keloid have appeared at renowned festivals such as Bloodstock 2019, Bloodstock 2016, ArcTanGent 2018, ArcTanGent 2017, Desertfest London 2017, Hammerfest 2019, Hammerfest 2017, HRH Doom Vs Stoner, Uprising, Into The Void Fest Netherlands. The band have also toured extensively with an array of artists such as Bongzilla, John Garcia, Orange Goblin, Crowbar, Scissorfight, Bongripper, Conan, Mars Red Sky, Ohhms, Kurokuma, and Desert Storm.

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Bonecarver release lyric video for new single 'Mallevs Makeficarvm'
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Spanish brutal death metallers Bonecarver have released a lyric video for their new single 'Mallevs Makeficarvm', taken from their new album Evil, out 5th March via Unique Leader.

Premiered via Friedhof, watch the video to 'Mallevs Makeficarvm' here: https://youtu.be/-5XFceuymGY

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

'Mallevs Makeficarvm' follows previous singles 'Evil' and 'Revolver', watch the videos here:
'Evil': https://youtu.be/Kt7UtBzj4QU
'Revolver': https://youtu.be/aijY6MNotto

Pre-order Evil here:
N. America: https://www.indiemerch.com/uniqueleader
Europe: https://www.impericon.com/en/unique-leader-records.html

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

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

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