'Susi' streaming now

UKKO out now via Long Branch Records

Finnish northcore quintet Atlas unveil new album UKKO and in celebration release latest single 'Susi' via Long Branch Records.

Watch the video for 'Susi' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAy0E8CEXp4
Stream 'Susi' and order UKKO here: https://smarturl.it/atlas_ukko

On the new single, guitarist Tuomas Kurikka states: "This is our way of honouring those we've loved and lost. Heavy looping rhythms, huge percussions, haunting atmospheres, dark soundscapes, and ominous melodies create an album that celebrates northern spirits. UKKO is a blend of something ancient combined with a cold and harsh perspective of these stray modern days. You could say that the album is a sacrifice to the old Finnish pagan gods."

Atlas are a five-piece modern metalcore band from Tampere, Finland labelling themselves as 'Northcore'. The quintet's sound combines mammoth riffs and gloomy soundscapes, that draw inspiration from the cold of the North. Their releases include 2016 EP Northern Lights, 2018 standalone singles 'Birthright' and 'The Catalyst' and debut full-length Primitive, as well as their 2019 single trilogy.

The quintet explore a new sonic palette on their second album UKKO, drawing inspiration from Finnish folk music and poetry, combined with the dark soundscapes and dynamic songwriting the band have become known for. Lyrically and thematically, UKKO explores themes of death, healing, rebirth and faith, presented in a seamlessly blended mix of English and Finnish. UKKO was mixed and mastered by Buster Odeholm (Vildhjarta, Oceano, Humanity's Last Breath, Born of Osiris), who brought his unique approach and sound to the album.

Atlas have played throughout Europe with the likes of Monuments, Miss May I, VOLA, Kadinja, Adept, Eskimo Callboy, One Morning Left and We Butter The Bread With Butter. Their debut album Primitive climbed the Finnish album charts to number six and came to life on a European tour with Monuments, receiving praise from fans and critics alike.

Atlas are:
Patrik Nuorteva - Vocals
Leevi Luoto - Guitar & Vocals
Kevin Apostol - Bass
Tuomas Kurikka - Guitar & Vocals
Aku Karjalainen - Drums

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

UKKO tracklist:

1. Talvi
2. Synti
3. Taivaanranta
4. Susi
5. Ukko
6. Henki
7. Lehto
8. Veri
9. Joki
10. Uhri
11. Pohjannaula

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 a lyric video for their new single 'Closer'. The track is the fourth single from the band's new album Welcome Home, due for release on 21st January 2022 via Spinefarm Records.

Check out the lyric video here: https://youtu.be/xTV3uE18ahk

'Closer' is yet another banger, with thunderous riffs led by Varela's smooth, R&B-inspired vocal styles and unshakeable melodies. The song explores the notion of wanting to get to know that person you meet and can't get out of your head.

"'Closer' literally came out of nowhere," Varela recalls. "It started as just a fun idea to get our creative juices flowing in the studio and ended up becoming its own thing. It's definitely one of the more different songs on the record. Lyrics-wise, it's also one of the easiest songs to connect to - if you're an adult, that is!"

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

Photo Credit: Pavel Trebukhin

'Pale Tongue' out now via Arising Empire

Modern metal quintet The Oklahoma Kid have released a video for their brand new single 'Pale Tongue', out now via Arising Empire. Known for their unique blend of genres, the avant-garde five-piece continue to push boundaries and break old conventions with 'Pale Tongue'.

Check out the video for 'Pale Tongue' here: https://youtu.be/5xKttDVzsco

Stream/purchase 'Pale Tongue' here: https://theoklahomakid.lnk.to/paletongue

'Pale Tongue' takes you on a disturbing trip, with psychedelic visuals and heavy rhythms deeply influenced by early millennial industrial music and Neue Deutsche Härte. The single was recorded and produced by Jan Kerscher (Ghost City Recordings) and mixed/mastered by Lance Prenc (Alpha Wolf, Polaris, Dealer).

Guitarist Andreas Reinhard comments:

“We are always trying to get different influences into our music, that’s why we were looking for a
producer outside our genre, to get some new input. When we first met up with Jan, we know he was a
perfect match to record and produce our new material.”

The Oklahoma Kid teamed up with Pavel Trebukhin (Imminence, Landmvrks, Annisokay) for the music video, which was filmed inside a bunker to create a striking visual experience

Formed in 2012, The Oklahoma Kid have consistently pushed boundaries with their breathtaking modern metal, bridging the gap between technical intricacy and energising rhythms. The band's 2014 debut EP Fortuneteller established their position within the German metal scene with their signature blend of genres.

In 2015 they revealed their sophomore EP Doppelganger, working with renowned producer Aljoscha Sieg (Eskimo Callboy, We Butter The Bread With Butter, Nasty) to deliver their signature bouncing grooves and futuristic synthesisers, complete with catchy hooks and singalongs. The band's unique video for 'Scharlatan', which was directed by Pavel Trebukhin (Alazka, Stick To Your Guns, Annisokay), also won the national PopFish Music Video Award.

2017 saw The Oklahoma Kid enter the studio to work on their debut album Solarray, a release that displayed the band's full sonic scope and capabilities - ranging from huge wall-of-sound arrangements to fragile melodies.

The Oklahoma Kid have electrified crowds with their passionate, relentless performance, touring with Stick To Your Guns, Carnifex, Evergreen Terrace and Hatebreed.

The quintet are no long an insider tip, they are a force to be reckoned with. Whether you experience them live at a festival or on record in your living room, The Oklahoma Kid will change your perception of what metal is capable of.

See The Oklahoma Kid on The Good Fellas Tour 2021:

05.03.22 Berlin, Privatclub
06.03.22 Köln, MTC
17.03.22 Hamburg, headCrash
18.03.22 Rostock, Peter-Weiss-Haus
23.03.22 München, Backstage
24.03.22 Frankfurt, ELFER
25.03.22 Leipzig, Bandhaus

Tickets on sale here: https://www.eventim.de/artist/the-oklahoma-kid/

The Oklahoma Kid are:
Tomm Brümmer | Vocals
Fred Stölzel | Guitar
Andreas Reinhard | Guitar
Robert Elfenbein | Bass
David J. Burtscher | Drums

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/theoklahomakidofficial
https://twitter.com/tok_official
https://www.instagram.com/theoklahomakidband

New album Zero and Below out 4th March via MNRK Heavy

'Chemical Godz' video streaming now

New Orleans, Louisiana sludge metal pioneers Crowbar will release their long awaited new full-length, Zero And Below,on 4th March via MNRK Heavy. In celebration, the band have unveiled the record’s artwork, tracklisting, and first single/video, 'Chemical Godz', premiered via Revolver.

Watch the video to 'Chemical Godz' here: https://youtu.be/EneeLfh7A0Y

Crowbar songs are unapologetic emotional outpourings, with a bare-knuckle resolve alongside its soul-searching vulnerability, reliably delivered with crushing heaviness. Zero And Below, which cements the band’s dense catalogue exactly one dozen studio albums deep, is the most unforgivably doomy Crowbar record since their 1998 landmark effort, Odd Fellows Rest.

Produced, mixed, and mastered by Duane Simoneaux at OCD Recording And Production in Metairie, Louisiana, Zero And Below is reverently old-school, counterbalanced by a resonant melodicism that’s stunningly mature. Songs like 'Chemical Godz,' 'Bleeding From Every Hole,' and 'It’s Always Worth The Gain' demonstrate what Crowbar does better than any other band: powerful, evocative, and crushingly heavy music. Celebrating a recent 30th anniversary, Crowbar is led by one of the most beloved figures in heavy metal, riff overlord Kirk Windstein, whose menacing bellow and smooth drawl put resilient, unrepentant strength behind even the most sombre odes to suffering.

Comments Windstein of first single, 'Chemical Godz,' “We are all so excited to release the song and video for ‘Chemical Godz!’ It’s been nearly two years since the album was completed. It was such a sad time for so many people going through the Covid-19 epidemic and we felt it wasn’t a good time to release any new material. Get ready because the heavy is coming! We hope y’all enjoy the song and video. Stay safe out there!”

Adds Revolver, “With a galloping groove and raspy howls from Windstein, ‘Chemical Godz’ resides on the heavier and more upbeat side of Crowbar's mucky sound, but lyrically, this is some bleak stuff…”

Zero And Below will be available on CD, LP, cassette, and digitally. Pre-order here: https://crowbar-zeroandbelow.com

In conjunction with the release of Zero And Below, Crowbar will join Sepultura and Sacred Reich for the North America Cuadra Tour 2022. Initially scheduled as a 2020 run, the journey kicks off 4th March and runs through April 9th. Additional support will be provided by Art Of Shock.

Crowbar online:
http://www.facebook.com/crowbarmusic
http://www.twitter.com/crowbarrules
http://www.instagram.com/crowbarmusic
http://www.martyrstore.net

MNRK Heavy online:
http://www.mnrkheavy.com
http://www.facebook.com/MNRKHeavy
http://www.twitter.com/MNRKHeavy
http://www.instagram.com/MNRK_heavy

Zero And Below tracklisting:

1. The Fear That Binds You
2. Her Evil Is Sacred
3. Confess To Nothing
4. Chemical Godz
5. Denial Of The Truth
6. Bleeding From Every Hole
7. It's Always Worth The Gain
8. Crush Negativity
9. Reanimating A Lie
10. Zero And Below

More info on Crowbar:

The moment you hear it, you know it’s Crowbar. Praised by Pitchfork, VICE, and Metal Hammer. Twice immortalised by MTV’s Beavis and Butt-Head. The group is worshipped by the heartbroken and downtrodden - those who exorcise their demons in smoke-covered riffs of mournful devastation. A genuine band’s band, with a wide-ranging influence across multiple genres, Crowbar “helped draw up the sludge metal blueprints” (Kerrang!). Celebrating a recent 30th anniversary, Crowbar is led by one of the most beloved figures in heavy metal, riff overlord Kirk Windstein. His menacing bellow and smooth drawl put resilient, unrepentant strength behind even the most somber odes to suffering.

Crowbar songs are unapologetic emotional outpourings, with a bare-knuckle resolve alongside its soul-searching vulnerability, reliably delivered with crushing heaviness. Zero and Below, which cements the band’s dense catalogue as exactly one dozen studio albums deep, is the most unforgivably doomy Crowbar record since their landmark 1998 effort, Odd Fellows Rest. Zero and Below is reverently old-school, counterbalanced by a resonant melodicism that’s stunningly mature. Songs like 'Chemical Gods,' 'Bleeding from Every Hole,' and 'It’s Always Worth the Gain' demonstrate what Crowbar does better than any other band: powerful, evocative, and crushingly heavy music.

Gargantuan-sounding career-resurgence slabs Sever the Wicked Hand (2011), Symmetry in Black (2014), and The Serpent Only Lies (2016) sits mightily alongside Crowbar classics like Time Heals Nothing (1995), comprising a robust catalogue worthy of examination, dedication, and repeat listens. Songs like 'Planets Collide,' 'Existence is Punishment,' and 'All I Had (I Gave)' are anthems as demonstrative of the sludge sound as early songs by Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth represent thrash.

Sever the Wicked Hand introduced guitarist Matt Brunson and drummer Tommy Buckley to the Crowbar faithful. Symmetry in Black began a partnership with producer Duane Simoneaux. Rolling Stone named it one of the 20 Best Metal Albums of 2014; Pitchfork praised it as well. Exclaim! honoured The Serpent Only Lies as “another worthy album to add to Crowbar’s influential and highly revered catalogue. Rounded out by bassist Shane Wesley, Crowbar and Simoneaux work their magic repeatedly on Zero and Below. As Metal Hammer astutely observed, Crowbar “exists in a genre of one.”

[Photo by Chris Klumpp]

New album The Chosen out 14th January via MNRK Heavy

“...The Chosen is Enterprise Earth’s most-everything record to date: it’s the heaviest, the most vicious, the most technical, and, not for nothing, the catchiest offering in the band’s already-impressive repertoire, and it’s already destined to be one of 2022’s must-hear metal releases.” -- MetalSucks

“It's just riffs, forever until you're part of the ground…” -- Metal Injection

Progressive deathcore practitioners Enterprise Earth will release their anticipated new full-length, The Chosen, on 14th January 2022 via MNRK Heavy and are today unveiling their crushing third single from it, 'Legends Never Die.' 

With 'Legends Never Die,' the band’s sprawling, forward-thinking approach to deathcore continues to progress in new directions. Dark and ravenous, the track will immediately resonate with listeners as it pays homage to the band’s older sound and boasts what made their previous record, Luciferous, so brutal.

Notes guitarist Gabe Mangold, “For the third single, we wanted to showcase another facet of The Chosen, something that people who really enjoyed the death metal vibes of Luciferous would like. ‘Legends Never Die’ is fierce musically, yet poetic lyrically. Together, we felt we created an 'epic' vibe with this one. Enjoy!”

View the 'Legends Never Die' visualiser here:  https://youtu.be/b3QY4PDWrFw

A masterpiece of monstrous brutality and enveloping ambiance, The Chosen is Enterprise Earth’s heaviest and most diverse effort yet, with shifting attitude, vibe, and desperate aggression stitched throughout its songs. Brooding, thick with atmosphere and groove-driven, old-school death metal with modern flourishes, the music of Enterprise Earth switches gears from earth-shattering breakdowns to sickeningly slow sludge to blast furnace pummeling with seemingly effortless ease. Composition after composition is ominous, ambitious, lurching, and inviting with vocalist Dan Watson on a “me against the world” mission taking on personal struggle, isolation, self-doubt, and alienation like a man possessed, determined to persevere at all costs. 

The Chosen was engineered, produced, mixed, and mastered by the band’s Gabe Mangold (now the group’s sole guitarist) save for the drums. Drummer Brandon Zackey tracked his relentlessly jaw-dropping and diverse drum performance with producer Jason Suecof (August Burns Red, Demon Hunter, Death Angel). 

The Chosen will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digitally. Find preordering options here. 

View the band’s previously released video for 'Where Dreams Are Broken' here and 'Reanimate // Disintegrate' here.  

For more information:
Facebook || Website || Twitter || Instagram || MNRK Heavy 

1. Where Dreams Are Broken 

2. Reanimate // Disintegrate   

3. Unleash Hell  

4. I Have To Escape 

5. The Tower

6. They Have No Honor 

7. Overpass

8. You Couldn't Save Me 

9. Unhallowed Path 

10. Legends Never Die 

11. My Blood, Their Satiation 

12. Skeleton Key 

13. The Chosen 

14. Atlas

UK metal heavyweights Conjurer have released their video for 'Thankless', from their globally-acclaimed debut LP Mire (2018).

In anticipation of huge things to come in 2022, Conjurer draw the curtain over a frustrating year for live music by releasing the 'Thankless' video. The video features a collage of frenetic live footage recorded at different festival and club shows, as well as some backstage impressions, and gives you a hint of what to expect from Conjurer's eagerly-awaited return to stages in 2022 - including several festival appearances and a tour with French blackened post-metallers Celeste.

Conjurer - 'Thankless' (Official Video):
https://youtu.be/lCZoS1CbMng

Listen to Conjurer's full length Mire (2018) here:
https://bfan.link/Conjurer-Mire

Conjurer comment: "We are so thankful to have 'Thankless' back online - this video catalogues a band starting to come into their own, our first time playing festivals without being the ‘unknown up and comers’. Captured as always by our main man Joe Guppy."

More videos from Mire:

Conjurer - Choke (Official Video):
https://youtu.be/u_KCxp5CSvg

Conjurer - The Mire (Official Video):
https://youtu.be/sTFFMHmzIkQ

Conjurer's still untitled second full-length, and follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2018 debut album Mire, is set to be released in the not-too-distant future. Stay tuned for more information.

For more information:

http://www.facebook.com/conjureruk
http://www.instagram.com/conjureruk
http://www.twitter.com/conjureruk

Conjurer are:
Brady Deeprose (guitars, vocals)
Dan Nightingale (guitars, vocals)
Conor Marshall (bass)
Jan Krause (drums)

The future of British metal lies in safe hands with Conjurer, who continue their journey as the country’s most exciting young metal band with their signing to Nuclear Blast worldwide.

Conjurer’s debut full-length Mire (2018) was released to a storm of attention from across the metal world, garnering significant acclaim from Metal Hammer UK, Kerrang!, BBC R1, Visions Mag (DE), Metal Obs (FR), MetalSucks, Metal Injection, Loudwire and many more. Recipients of award nominations (Kerrang!, Heavy Music Awards, Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods) and countless albums of the year lists, Mire is a stunning listen, capturing the attitude of a young band who already know exactly who they are.

Hailed as one of the metal world’s most devastating, thrilling experiences, Conjurer are a band never content to rest. Following Mire’s release in 2018 the quartet soon toured Europe for the first time, appeared at multiple UK festivals, and support of doom titans Conan and Will Haven.

In the following years the band have toured the US twice, supporting Rivers of Nihil (stopping to record an Audiotree session along the way), and then Voivod, with Revocation. 2019 also saw Conjurer’s debut Download Festival appearance, thrilling a packed-out Dogtooth stage, and the release of the joyous collaborative project with Pijn, titled Curse These Metal Hands. Later in the year a split EP with Palm Reader was released, containing two cover songs by each band.

It was only at the end of 2019 that Conjurer closed out their triumphant Mire cycle, with a sold-out UK run – their debut headline tour. Despite Covid-19 preventing live appearances for the majority of 2020 the band have unsurprisingly been busy, writing and recording their highly-anticipated second LP.

Streaming now, via Hassle Records

Featuring new vocalist Nikki Brumen (ex-Pagan)

Blood Command have released a video for their brilliant single 'The End is Her', featuring the band's new vocalist, Nikki Brumen (ex-Pagan).

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/4blcXHQBWWM

Stream here: https://orcd.co/theendisher

The video comes ahead of Blood Command's debut performance with their new frontwoman, at Oslo's Vulkan Arena on 16th December. The show will be a triumphant end to a difficult two years for the band, who've spent the time entirely separated by the gulf of distance and pandemic.

Nikki Brumen comments: "Finally, being in Norway has exceeded any expectation that I ever had. I knew it would be a life changing and surreal experience but I never imagined my time here would be this incredible. The moment that I stepped off the plane (after 26 hours in transit!) I instantly felt at home. When I saw Yngve waiting at the arrival gate, I burst into tears, it was so overwhelming to meet someone after almost two years of working on the band from opposite sides of the globe, and for him to be even cooler than I could have imagined. I have been blown away and so grateful by how welcoming everyone has been, especially my band mates, who are all the nicest and most funny people. We have been working our asses off to make sure our first show is going to blow people’s minds! Being on stage is where we all belong and I have so much love for Blood Command’s music, that I will put everything I have into our live shows. Having waited this long to play live together, and having been separated for so long, has given us all even more drive to make this show the best live Blood Command performance ever!"

The self-described death pop band are a one-of-a-kind proposition. Hardcore meets metal meets pop meets punk, Blood Command have previously been called 'one of the world's best kept secrets' by Rock Sound, achieved one of the Albums of the Year in Kerrang!, and applauded by Metal Hammer, among others.

Blood Command have previously toured with Biffy Clyro, Kvelertak, Rolo Tomassi, and Skindred, following the release of their acclaimed EP Return of the Arsonist, the conceptual successor to 2011's Hand Us The Alphamale EP. The band have also shared the stage with Refused, Tragedy, Comeback Kid, and Gallows, and have played Download Festival, The Great Escape, 2000trees and Roskilde festivals, among others. Now with celebrated UK label Hassle Records and with Nikki at the front, Blood Command's power and prestige only rises higher.

Watch Blood Command live:

Dec 16 Vulkan Arena, Oslo

Kvelertak tour support:

Jan 13 Energimølla Kongsberg, Norway
Jan 14 Union Scene Drammen, Norway
Jan 15 Verket Scene Moss, Norway
Jan 20 Parkbiografen Skien, Norway
Jan 21 Artilleriverkstedet Horten, Norway
Jan 22 KICK Scene Kristiansand, Norway
Jan 27 Sentrum Scene Oslo, Norway
Feb 02 Røkeriet, USF Verftet Bergen, Norway
Feb 03 Terminalen Ålesund, Norway
Feb 04 Samfundet Trondheim, Norway
Feb 05 Samfundet Trondheim, Norway
Feb 08 MeetFactory Prague, Czech Republic
Feb 10 Szene Wien Vienna, Austria
Feb 11 Z7 Konzertfabrik Pratteln, Switzerland
Feb 12 Werk, Backstage Munich, Germany
Feb 13 Kulturzentrum Schlachthof Wiesbaden, Germany
Feb 14 Patronaat Haarlem, Netherlands
Feb 16 TRIX Borgerhout, Belgium
Feb 18 Islington Assembly Hall London, UK
Feb 19 Manchester Academy 2 Manchester, UK
Feb 22 FVTVR Paris, France
Feb 23 LE METRONUM Toulouse, France
Feb 25 Mon Madrid Madrid, Spain
Feb 26 Razzmatazz 2 Barcelona, Spain
Feb 27 Kafe Antzokia Bilbao, Spain
Mar 01 Ninkasi Gerland KAO Lyon, France
Mar 02 Club Vaudeville Lindau, Germany
Mar 03 Matrix Bochum, Germany
Mar 05 VoxHall Aarhus, Denmark
Mar 07 Pustervik Gothenburg, Sweden
Mar 08 Kulturbolaget Malmö, Sweden
Mar 09 Debaser Strand Stockholm, Sweden
Mar 11 Tavastia Klubi Helsinki, Finland
Mar 12 Klubi Tampere, Finland
Mar 13 Lutakko Jyväskylä, Finland

For more info:

https://www.facebook.com/Bloodcommand/
https://bloodcommand.bandcamp.com/
https://www.hasslerecords.com/

'Final Execution' out now via Lockjaw Records

Temple Corrupted EP to be released 4th February

Alternative quartet El Moono have released their haunting new single 'Final Execution', with unique visuals created by Jack Zhang (prior credits include Dua Lipa & Elton John's 'Cold Heart'). 'Final Execution' is another tantalising glimpse of the band's new EP Temple Corrupted, which will be released 4th February via Lockjaw Records.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/MNdJlgKLGfA

Pre-order the EP here: https://elmoono.lnk.to/templecorrupted

The EP – a raucous mix of Deftones, Thrice, Black Peaks, and Phoxjaw – marks a new era for the band. It follows heavy pre-Covid touring around the UK and Europe with Black Peaks, Phoxjaw, Haggard Cat and Press to Meco, and fully showcases El Moono’s expansive tastes and approach.

Influences of rock, hardcore, post-hardcore, sludge, grunge and metal, the band's off-kilter and oftentimes mind-bending riffs, emotive songs and expressive lyricism combine to create a sound that’s difficult to pigeonhole.

A band unafraid to experiment sonically, El Moono tracked their EP in an ancient church, and notably features the piano used during Adele's Glastonbury performance.

Temple Corrupted is a concept EP, focused on depression and anxiety, and how societal corruption affects individual mental health. Listen out, for example, for track five, 'Miseria', which directly tackles the first-person experience of self-loathing. The song brings attention to the staggering statistics around suicide, and what might happen in future if our attitudes toward mental health remain the same.

'White Gold' tackles issues around institutionalised segregation of race and the injustices ethnic minorities face, fronting up to how the UK is an ‘ignorant empire’. Unafraid to confront serious events, their track 'Requiem' was inspired by watching a loved one waste away due to illness – a direct nod to guitarist Jamie’s father’s diagnosis of chronic cancer at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

A band fully committed to their message and to change, drummer Chris runs a clothing brand, ‘Over Your Head’ donating profit portions to mental health charities.

‘White Gold’ gained the attention of legendary artist Dan Hillier, who lent his stunning artwork for the cover. El Moono are the third band Dan has worked with after fellow Brighton-based heavyweights Royal Blood and Architects.

A reflection on the fragility of life, Temple Corrupted is a fearsome and impassioned EP from a highly promising group.

For more information:
https://www.elmoono.com
https://www.facebook.com/elmoono
https://www.instagram.com/el.moono
https://twitter.com/elmoono4

Tracklisting:

1. The Wild Hunt
2. Final Execution
3. Requiem
4. Forced To Smile
5. Miseria
6. Splitting the Atom
7. White Gold

Photo credit: Becky DiGiglio

'Drone Carrying Dread' video streaming now; Krüller album out 11th February via Relapse

UK/ EU tour announced for February / March 2022

Author & Punisher, the alias for visionary San Diego musician-meets-mechanical engineer Tristan Shone, returns with the melody-laden new album, Krüller, out 11th February via Relapse Records, featuring a suite of upgraded machines, a distilled vocal process and a handful of guest players including Tool’s Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor.

A taste of the eagerly-awaited record arrives with new single 'Drone Carrying Dread,' and the accompanying, graphically-saturated video. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/5BrAAXCbUXE

The clip was directed by Monte Legaspi and features illustrations from album cover artist Zlatko Mitev.

“’Drone Carrying Dread’ was the first song I wrote on Krüller,” explains Shone of the album that thematically was inspired by Octavia E. Butler’s Parable series. “I had just gotten home from the final tour of the Beastland album cycle and I spent a couple weeks updating my overall tones with a nice balance of sub, saw/synth and tube amp. This track was basically the one where it all clicked and I had these chords that resonated just right, shaking the entire warehouse. It's a simple but raw progression that was ripe for the addition of melodic guitars, as well as synthesizer programming from myself and co-producer Jason Begin (Vytear). Lyrically, it's about escape and survival, as the events that were unfolding in 2020 were prophesied by the books I was reading throughout the year.”

Shone began work on Krüller after returning from his opening slot with Tool across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, before being cut short due to the March 2020 lockdowns. "Melody has been and is still a part of my sound," says Shone. "I've always bathed them in a lot of reverb, delay, and distortion, though. This time around, I was bothered by the wall of distortion I had created. I wanted a little more clarity. I wanted to refine the sound. I wanted to step back from my own show and analyze it a bit. I had all these competing distortions that I wanted to streamline. I like contrast and wanted the vocals to be immediately noticeable. There's something about mixing punishing drones and rumble with a mellow thing on top that I really like on Krüller.” Shone’s digitised snarls rightfully had their place on earlier tracks like 'Doppler,' 'Terrorbird,' and 'Nihil Strength,' but contrasting mellow vocals atop Author & Punisher’s unparallelled heft made dynamic sense. Indeed, with Shone’s singing on songs like 'Drone Carrying Dread,' 'Maiden Star,' and the exceptional translation of Portishead hit 'Glory Box,' Author & Punisher have projected an air of uncertainty around the steely, often slow-motion grind.

Part of the Krüller revamp included refining the machines that have become synonymous with Author & Punisher. As a result, Shone is also launching a bespoke audio gear company called Drone Machines to coincide with the release of Krüller. The gear company launch follows nearly two decades of Author & Punisher honing in on his craft - meticulously inventing, machining, experimenting, and creating custom musical instruments for his incredible live performances and recordings.

Krüller pre-orders are available now with the 8-song, 52 minute collection available on a selection of limited-edition vinyl variants that tie into the colour palette of the album artwork, CD, cassette and digitally.

Pre-order here: https://orcd.co/authorandpunisher-kruller

Author & Punisher has announced two rounds of 2022 European tour dates with North American performances to be announced soon.

Headlining dates:
February 7 - Tallin, Estonia Sveta Bar
February 8 - Riga, Latvia Melna Piektdiena
February 9 - Vilnius, Lithuania XI 20
February 12 - Haarlem, Netherlands Complexity
February 13 - Antwerp, Belgium Kavka
February 14 - Brighton, UK Patterns
February 15 - London, UK The Underworld
February 16 - Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club
February 17 - Glasgow, UK Stereo
February 18 - Newcastle, UK Cluny
February 19 - Birmingham, UK Castle and Falcon
February 20 - Bristol, UK Fleece
February 21 - Manchester, UK Deaf Institute

Perturbator and Health European dates follow in October 2022.

For more information:
Tristanshone.com
Facebook.com/authorandpunisher
Instagram.com/authorandpunisher
Twitter.com/authorandpunisher
Authorandpunisher.bandcamp.com

Track-listing:

1. Drone Carrying Dread
2. Incinerator
3. Centurion (feat. Justin Chancellor)
4. Maiden Star
5. Misery (feat. Danny Carey)
6. Glorybox (Portishead cover)
7. Blacksmith (featuring VYTEAR)
8. Krüller

More info on Author & Punisher:

Author & Punisher formed in January 2004 as the brainchild of mechanical engineer, artist and sculptor Tristan Shone. His innovation, and the unique way he has melded his seemingly disparate background, has been highlighted in a wide range of outlets, from Wired Magazine who dubbed him a “doom metal auteur,” to Pitchfork who noted he “literalized the idea of sound sculpture.” He has released seven full-length albums and an EP over the years: The Painted Army (2005), Warcry (2007), Drone Machines (2010), Ursus Americanus (2012), Women & Children (2013), Melk En Honing (2015), Pressure Mine EP (2017) and Beastland (2018).