Solace to be released 21st January

Hardcore punks Torchbearer have revealed their new single 'Dopesick', and announced their new album Solace, due 21st January.

Watch 'Dopesick' here: https://youtu.be/TWZYn3j9nbA
Pre-save Solace here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/torchbearer1/solace

Torchbearer frontman Andy Mansell comments of the single: "I wanted to address the way lives are destroyed by addiction, when all you need is more and what’s keeping you going is killing you."

Produced by Charlie Wilson (TRC, Counting Days), 'Dopesick' follows the band's previous single 'Frostbite'. Two glimpses into Torchbearer's relentless ethos and approach - a band with a message, whose new material discusses racial prejudice, police brutality, corruption, confinement and mental health. Victims are not alone - Torchbearer are heavy, for heavy times.

Over the last 18 months the band have been directly impacted by the issues they confront in their material, leading to a blistering, visceral listen in Solace. Torchbearer have long strived to imbue positivity throughout, but it is undeniable that Solace captures a relentlessly bleak chapter of their lives. The band lost loved ones, dealt with mental health struggles, and - much like the rest of the world - experienced existential and political disillusion.

Dedicating Solace to those who have fallen and those who are grieving, Torchbearer present an album of cathartic release and ferocious comfort.

In their time Torchbearer have toured alongside Mountain Caller, High Hopes, The Amsterdam Red Light District, Yards and From Eden To Exile, and shared stages with Battalions, Rough Hands and more.

Watch Torchbearer live:

November:
25th Nambucca, Holloway
27th Fuel, Cardiff

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/torchbearerlondon/
https://www.torchbearer.life/
https://twitter.com/torchbearerldn
https://www.instagram.com/torchbearerlondon/

Tracklisting:

1. Solace

2. Frostbite

3. All Out Warfare

4. Never Forgive

5. Dopesick

6. Psychosis

7. Mekong Delta Blues

8. Wolves & Sheep

9. 4 Walls

10. Hail Mary

Credit: Sam Richon

'Sapiens' streaming now via Out of Line Music

Parisian modern metal five-piece ASHEN have released their futuristic new single / video for 'Sapiens', out now via Out of Line Music.

Watch the music video to 'Sapiens' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEigNMADCQ4

Stream / purchase 'Sapiens' here: https://ashen.lnk.to/Sapiens

'Sapiens' portrays the blunt and uninhibited rage of a man, marginalised and forgotten. Vocalist Clem Richard explains:

“We wanted to speak as someone living in a state of mental distress, left in the margins, with no one around to provide either help or compassion. Psychological illnesses are often seen in a caricatured way, to a point where those affected are isolating themselves by fear of being mocked.”

Guitarist Niels Tozer adds: “The isolation of the character we developed in this song gave birth to him feeling abandoned, trapping him inside this self-destructive rage. Worn out and too far gone, he roams alone, with no more hope to one day be understood and accepted by his peers.”

'Sapiens' follows the successful release their Out of Line Music debut and previous single 'Outlier' two months ago. Guitarist Antoine Zimer reflects on the feedback that they received:

“We've been totally overwhelmed by the amount of love and positive feedback we received after the release of 'Outlier'. The song has a strong backstory with a very personal and emotional context, and we were moved to see that people understood it and that the song received as much love as we put into it.”

ASHEN will be heading out on their first European tour in 2022 with the established French band Novelists FR. Between modern rock, alternative metal, and metalcore, ASHEN establishe themselves as a serious hope for the modern rock and metal scene with a true identity.

ASHEN are:
Clem Richard - Vocals
Niels Tozer - Guitars
Antoine Zimer - Guitars
Thibaud Poully - Bass
Tristan Broggia - Drums

ASHEN online:
https://www.instagram.com/ashen.band
https://www.facebook.com/ashenfr

'Coherent' streaming now

TENSE EP available 19th November via Armalyte Industries

“TAYNE is a vital, cathartic listen.” - The Line Of Best Fit

London-based experimental/noise rock band TAYNE have revealed their new reimagined single 'Coherent', taken from their new upcoming EP TENSE, due 19th November via Armalyte Industries.

Check out 'Coherent' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAklvH0HlJg

The band comment on the reimagined single:

"We experimented with newer sounds, focused on stepping away from our usual sound palette to create more string based arrangements with percussive drums, ambient tones, drone, and reverb resulting in a dreamlike sound. 'Coherent' is lyrically tragic and musically bittersweet, with drums that create a pulse and strings that draw out the tension and emotion in the track."

Pre-order TENSE here: https://linktr.ee/Tayneband

The band comment on the idea for TENSE:

"The inspiration came from remixes off our Coherent EP, which showed us that we could take an already existing idea and morph it into something new to form a different identity. We really enjoyed that notion and wanted to explore it. “Experimental” is a word associated with our band, and that’s at the core of what we do. Our newest EP, TENSE, is an exercise in experimenting with our sound. This concept and the aid of lockdown resulted in the TENSE EP."

TENSE follows closely after July's Coherent EP, which featured two remixes by JESU and Poisonous Birds. 

TAYNE's concept originated as a satire on contemporary pop music. With heavier music seeping into the mainstream, TAYNE were formed to try and test the limits of "pop music" ideologies. Heavy, industrial soundscapes serve as a juxtaposition alongside calculated, overproduced sounds and vocals with the classic verse-chorus-verse pop structures.

TAYNE’s music has been described as an aural assault, welding atmospheric vocals, punishing guitars and pulsating electronics to create immersive and intense sounds. The band released their album BREATHE in 2018, with themes exploring self-doubt and insecurities. Since then, TAYNE have gone on to share the stage with the likes of HEALTH and Acid Mothers Temple.

The band's new material was recorded and produced with Wayne Adams of PETBRICK / BIG LAD in his studio in London.

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/tayneband/
https://twitter.com/tayneband/
https://www.instagram.com/tayneband/

Featuring members of Our Mirage; Time, The Valuator; The Evolutionist; We Are Perspectives; Breakdowns at Tiffany's

'Broken' video streaming now via Arising Empire

German metalcore supergroup Alleviate - featuring members of Our Mirage, Time, The Valuator, The Evolutionist, We Are Perspectives and Breakdowns at Tiffany's - have released their new single/video 'Broken' via Arising Empire.

Watch the video to 'Broken' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_Eh-WdBuAQ

Stream 'Broken' here: https://alleviate.lnk.to/broken

The band comments:

"'Broken' is about overcoming the depression that's been caused by this cruel world. Being let down and left alone by everyone, the protagonist finds strength deep within their own thoughts. Alleviate tries to alleviate through singing about personal experiences, giving advice to the listener with music that enhances that feeling."

For the new single, the DIY band wrote and produced their own music at Timo’s recording studio, Mega Blaster Recordings (Our Mirage). They teamed up with famous music video producer Mirko Witzki (Witzki Visions) who is known for his work with Any Given Day, Ghostkid, Caliban and Our Mirage, to shoot a performance video that resembles the song in an astonishing, cinematic way.

'Broken' follows debut single 'Die for Me', a track inspired by personal experiences which reflects on how to find your own strength during the darkest periods of life.

Formed during the pandemic in 2020, Alleviate consists of five successful musicians from five different bands across a variety of metal sub-genres. They combine the best of technical metalcore, deathcore, djent and post-hardcore in one powerful and beautiful piece of art. Evolving guitar riffs and heavy breakdowns, combined with deathcore vocals and catchy choruses, make Alleviate a truly unique prospect for 2021.

The name Alleviate itself represents what the band basically stands for; giving hope and spreading a positive message into the world.

"I’m left alone with broken bones
Let down, torn apart far away from home
It's like the world is bearing down on me
And my heart is buried in concrete"

Alleviate are:
Timo - clean vocals (Our Mirage)
Marius - shouts (Breakdowns at Tiffany’s)
Ramon - guitar (The Evolutionist)
Marc - guitar (We Are Perspectives)
Yunus - drums (Time, The Valuator)

Alleviate online:
https://www.instagram.com/Alleviate.official
https://www.facebook.com/Alleviate.official
https://twitter.com/alleviateoffic1
https://www.tiktok.com/@alleviate.music

New album Welcome Home out 21st January 2022 via Spinefarm Records

New York City-based collective VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") - Joey Varela [vocals], Javy Dorrejo [bass], Chris Cody [drums], and Paul Gregory [guitar] - have released their new single 'Soul'. The track is the third single from the band's new album Welcome Home, which has a rescheduled release date of 21st January 2022 via Spinefarm Records.

Listen to 'Soul' here: https://youtu.be/Q632VJUaCtQ

As the title suggests, VRSTY's new single oozes with soul, built on galloping, western-style nuances and urgent percussion, topped off by Varela's smooth vocals. The track blends different styles and hopscotches across genres, resulting in a completely fresh style all its own.

"I love this song so much," comments Varela. "It's funny because this song was written way before the idea of a record was a thing and even before Spinefarm came along. This song came from a dream I had, where I sold my soul to the devil and I heard the song playing in my head as I was dreaming.

"I woke up and wrote it, and it ended up becoming my favourite thing ever. It was also the first song I shared when I started putting together the record and it was the one everybody instantly fell in love with. In a weird way it's like this song is its own person and it sucks everyone in."

Pre-order Welcome Home here: https://vrsty.lnk.to/WelcomeHome

Welcome Home is the band's debut full-length for Spinefarm Records and follows last year's breakthrough Cloud City EP, which has accumulated six million streams in less a year and yielded the head-turning singles 'Shameless' and 'Massive'. The latter was the most played on SiriusXM's Octane for two weeks in a row in late 2020. VRSTY have perfected their seamless and fearless cross-pollination of metallic grooves with R&B-influenced, after midnight vocal swagger on their new 14-track offering. VRSTY aren't just offering their own take on a genre; they have authored a fusion style that is entirely their own.

"Welcome Home is an incredibly personal album to me," Varela shares. "I know everybody says that, and hey, maybe they're not lying when they do. I sure as hell am not. It was definitely a task, at first, trying to figure out how to phrase or sing something without getting too personal. But somewhere along the way, I threw that idea out the window and decided to say exactly what I felt. You won't find me trying to sound cool or using any fancy wordplay. It's just me in my rawest form, saying exactly what I've felt or experienced over the years, which is what has made me who I am today. I think if anybody ever wants to get to know me, this record will give you everything you need to know. No secrets. Just me."

For more information:
https://www.vrsty.nyc
https://www.facebook.com/vrsty.nyc
https://www.instagram.com/vrsty.nyc
https://twitter.com/vrsty_nyc

Welcome Home tracklisting:

1. Finesse (Feat. Notions)
2. Soul
3. Closer
4. Sick
5. Paranoid
6. Never Again
7. We, Always
8. Welcome Home
9. Love Sick
10. Hush
11. King Of Pop
12. Gravity
13. Only Sad
14. 11am

'Trauma Culture' video streaming now

Metalcore quintet Half Me have signed to Arising Empire Records and released new single 'Trauma Culture' in celebration.

Watch the video to 'Trauma Culture' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcpA9wJ--KE

Stream 'Trauma Culture' here: https://halfme.lnk.to/traumaculture

Vocalist Chris comments:

"I am thrilled to finally share 'Trauma Culture' and open the door to our new narrative. 'Trauma Culture' represents relationship mania, a form of mental illness that is often overlooked for the extent of collective and individual damage dealt. Radical world views are colliding in this era of hyper-communication.

"Everything that happens around me has to do with me, and there is something I have to do to face this plot. Challenging the rules of society became a vessel of this dogma. With 'Trauma Culture' I process personal experiences as well as sociopolitical observations and I can't wait to bring that hurt and sadness to the stage. While I condemn radicalisation, I empathically care for the victims of isolation."

In the space of just two years, the band have made an impact in the music scene by self producing their music and videos, displaying their intensive and energetic demeanour. Debuting with four singles initially, it was their latest single 'Exitwound' (featuring Jack Bergin of Void of Vision) that gave the group a breakthrough and landed the band in the spotlight of Knotfest’s Countdown to Oblivion.

Musically, Half Me blend a modern rendition of metal and hardcore with highlights of 90s nu-metal. Pounding riffs and breakdowns are accompanied by brutal, yet sometimes elegant, vocals that all balance together to formulate the band’s own distinctive sound. Riding the high of their recent success, Half Me have sights set on releasing their highly anticipated debut album in 2022.

Half Me are:

Christopher Zühlke | vocals
Christopher Hesse | guitar
Julius Jansen | guitar
Tobias Max Sajons | bass
Maximilian Eisersdorff | drums

Half Me online:
Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok

Photo: Mortimer Bellchambers

Announce instrumental re-release of debut album Griseus

Bellum I out 3rd December via Blood Music

Legendary atmospheric metal band Aquilus stream their orchestral and instrumental version of 'The Fawn', initially released on their debut full-length record, Griseus. The re-release of their debut album will be available alongside new album, Bellum I, due 3rd December via Blood Music.

Listen to the instrumental track 'The Fawn', premiered by Revolver, here: https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-aquilus-new-instrumental-neoclassical-version-fawn

The re-release of Griseus will be available in a two CD format featuring all instrumental versions of tracks. On the idea to re-release the previous material, Horace Rosenqvist states: 

"There were lots of requests for an instrumental, neoclassical version of Griseus over the years. I'm glad to find the opportunity to release it alongside the new record, and the new remaster from Cutting Room Studios came out great."

Preorder Bellum I here: http://www.blood-music.com/

"Bellum I is an atmospheric metal album with a fusion of classical film, folk, and black metal influences, continuing in the tradition of the work started on the first album, Griseus, and evolving to new levels," says Rosenqvist.

'Into Wooded Hollows' and 'Lucille's Gate' are the first tastes of new music from the enigmatic band since the release of Griseus, which slowly amassed a following of devoted fans, climbing its way to being voted one of the top albums of the decade on MetalStorm.

For eight years, a follow-up masterpiece was in the making. The opus grew so furiously, the decision was ultimately made to split the work into two parts, culminating with the release of the first album, Bellum I.

Bellum I showcases the band's rare amalgam of authentic classical, European folk and black metal influences, alongside Aquilus' unique multi-instrumentation and compositional complexity.

Metal influences, ranging from early Metallica to the early works of Solefald, Opeth and Katatonia, combine with the classical romanticism of Rachmaninov and Chopin.

Bellum I also continues Aquilus' signature blend of acoustic elements, with an assortment of acoustic guitars and pianos to violins, mandolas, fipple flutes, balalaika, gusli and bowed psaltery, recalling the aura and dexterity of emotive film composers Bernard Herrmann (Psycho, The Twilight Zone) and Thomas Newman (Shawshank Redemption, Six Feet Under) . 

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Aquilus' music is composed and produced by Horace Rosenqvist and recorded in collaboration with session musicians. The amount of detail poured into each note is immeasurable; years of dedication undertaken to produce the final product.

Bellum I is a testament to the beauty and chaos of creation.

For more information:
http://www.facebook.com/AquilusMusic
https://aquilus.bandcamp.com/

Track listing:

1. The Night Winds of Avila

2. Into Wooded Hollows

3. Eternal Unrest

4. Moon Isabelline

5. The Silent Passing

6. Embered Waters

7. Lucille's Gate

8. Empyreal Nightsky

'Rule of Two' video streaming now

Gravitas Maximus album out 10th December via Unique Leader Records

Brutal death metal pioneers Pyrexia have unveiled their new single, 'Rule of 2', from their upcoming album Gravitas Maximus, due out on 10th December via Unique Leader.

Watch the video to 'Rule of 2' here: https://youtu.be/koaUVBRb-y0

Pre-order Gavitas Maximus here: http://orcd.co/gravitasmaximus

Legendary brutal death metallers Pyrexia return with new album Gravitas Maximus. Now entering their fourth decade, the quintet return heavier and stronger than ever, proving once again to be one the most important forces in extreme music.

On the album, guitarist Chris Basile comments: "When you write an album like Sermon of Mockery, it’s like Moby Dick with this giant whale that you have to conquer. I spent over two decades throwing harpoons and missing every time. Gravitas Maximus goes right through the heart of the whale and kills it dead. Along with everything else."

Gravitas Maximus was recorded at Chapel Sound Recording Studios, aka “The Chapel”, Long Island, New York by Chris Basile, and mixed and mastered by Miguel Teresso at Demigod Recording Studio, Portugal.

Check out the video to previous single 'Pawn to King' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDP_dvGFKRs

In 1987 guitarist Chris Basile joined the band Mortuary along with Terrence Hobbs, Doug Cerrito and Mike Smith, all of Suffocation. Together over 30 songs were written by the band with many of the songs and riffs written during this period appearing on both Pyrexia and Suffocation’s early releases leading too many comparisons.

In 1990 Basile met with Guy Marchais, Rob Shimonski, Daryl Wagner and Mike Andrejko and Pyrexia was formed. They went on to release their 1991 demo Liturgy of Impurity and later the classic 1993 full-length Sermon of Mockery, cementing their place in the anoles of death metal history.

Pyrexia continued to release one seminal release after another including their 1997 System of the Animal, and even joining forces with Trevor Peres of Obituary in 2001 to form the band Catastrophic, which went on to release their debut album The Cleansing on Metal Blade records.

In 2006 Pyrexia signed with Unique Leader records and began an extensive campaign of touring and performing both in America and overseas under the UL moniker. A tradition that continues today with no end in sight.

Pyrexia are:
Chris Basile - Guitars
Shaun Kennedy - Bass
Jim Beach - Vocals
Danny Trapani - Guitars
John Glassbrenner - Drums

Pyrexia online:
https://www.facebook.com/PYREXIADEATHMETAL
http://www.pyrexiadeathmetal.com/
https://www.instagram.com/pyrexiaofficial/

Tracklisting:

1. We are Many
2. Apostles to the Grave
3. The Day the Earth Shook ( Survival of the Fittest )
4. Pawn to King
5.The Art of Infamy
6. Rule of 2
7. Bludgeoned by Deformity
8. Gravitas Maximus

Photo Credit: Cole Bennetts

Co-written with Matt Mason of DMAs

Streaming now

"trailblazers of the scene" - Rolling Stone

Australian four-piece Triple One have revealed their stadium-sized anthem 'COME OVER', their second single of their year following the award-nominated 'BLOOD RAVE'.

Co-written with Matt Mason of rock trio DMAs, you can stream 'COME OVER' and watch the video here: https://ffm.to/comeover111

Direct video link: https://youtu.be/E9rI7OFMEao

While Triple One have earned notoriety for their slapstick humour and boorish punchlines, 'COME OVER' sees them delve into the introspective artistry that has evolved triumphantly since their first single. The song combines Triple One's raw storytelling with more abstract references, describing "a situation where you're stuck in a loop of bad habits in a relationship, and not really being aware of that until it's too late. Ultimately, you have to know when to move on; but we often choose what we want, rather than what's actually good for us." What results is an intimate listen that highlights the group's intensely relatable songwriting, reaching a die-hard fanbase that stretches across Australia and well into Europe.
 

Sonically, 'COME OVER' is a tender statement that still captivates listeners with grandiose flair. Having shared a studio next door to longtime friend Matt Mason of DMAs, he offers the gleaming, nostalgic guitar riffs that open 'COME OVER', building gradually into one of Lil Dijon's most anthemic, stadium-sized hooks: "I wish I knew your hands like I knew I used to/Between my fingers, run through your hair/And it's the same mistakes we making in motion/Pretend you know this, I can't pretend." Producer Billy Gunns continues to effortlessly fuse the hip-hop and alternative worlds that Triple One have long dominated, placing Mason's riffs alongside trap-flavoured 808s and furious drums that foreshadow the song's most momentous drops. Rappers Marty Bugatti and Obi Ill Terrors trade poignant verses describing their own fleeting joys and inner turmoil, giving 'Come Over' a distinctly greyscale finish.

‘COME OVER’ arrives alongside an avant-garde visual accompaniment directed by Marty Bugatti, and is a sardonic take on consumption, hedonism, and fast lifestyles, showcasing the group’s trademark humour and style. Marty Bugatti explains further, “I thought it would be interesting to take the very emotive/introspective song and juxtapose it against a typical pop/rap music video. The song touches on lost love and the monotonous cycle of living in excess and bad habits, whereas the video glorifies material possession. I wanted it to feel like some hotshot director that knew nothing about Triple One came in and said "This is how we make a pop/rap music video" without paying much attention to the actual song itself or the message behind it.”

The group have also announced their Come Over Tour, a 10-date run that brings the transcendent Triple One live show to Australia’s sweatiest underground venues, showcasing a mix of new material and old favourites. These will be the group’s most special and intimate shows yet, before their next project catapults them into the stratosphere. 

'COME OVER' follows Triple One's recent single 'BLOOD RAVE', which recently garnered an inaugural J Award nomination for ‘Australian Music Video of the Year’. The single was added to national radio rotation, as well as earning the group a cover spot on Spotify's The Hybrid playlist. In 2020, Triple One released their debut album Panic Force which debuted at #1 on the ARIA Hip-Hop charts, followed by a sold-out national tour. Their 2019 breakout single 'Butter' has been certified Gold in Australia, while the group have become one of the country's most ferocious live acts, playing at the landmark events including Falls Festival, Listen Out, and this year's virtual Splendour XR.

Stay connected with Triple One:
Website | Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | Youtube

Triple One are impossible to categorise, and even harder to ignore. Brash bars come courtesy of rappers Marty Bugatti and Obi Ill Terrors, melodic hooks by Lil Dijon float in paranormal fashion while greyscale production is expertly crafted by Billy Gunns. Triple One are a sonic experiment between hard, soft, and all the textures in between. 

Triple One's early cult singles 'Doozy' and 'Overflow' scored millions of views and streams internationally, but 2019 was the year that Triple One broke into Australia's consciousness: their singles 'Showoff', 'Tarlo' and 'Valentine Kid' were added to high rotation on triple j, and they were also profiled by Complex, GQ and Highsnobiety. Their 2019 single 'Butter' also dominated radio airwaves and led to the group's debut UK/European tour and five sold-out shows across Australia. 'Butter' was later certified Gold in Australia.

In 2020, Triple One released their debut album Panic Force which debuted at #1 on the ARIA hip-hop charts, and #8 on the ARIA album charts. It was also crowned the triple j 'Feature Album of the Week'. Onstage is where Triple One truly state their case. Having earned a notorious live reputation through relentless gigging across Australia, 2021 saw the band sell out their Panic Force Tour nationally in the midst of difficult pandemic circumstances. The release of 'BLOOD RAVE' and 'COME OVER' heralds the exciting next chapter for Triple One.