Heriot, Svalbard, Pupil Slicer, Blood Command + 25 more bands announced

3000 capacity multi-venue event with over 200 artists in Brighton on 2/3/4 September

Super early-bird tickets now available for £75 (with payment plan option)

Washed Out festival has announced its first wave of bands for the three-day event, set to take over the city of Brighton from 2nd to 4th September across multiple venues. With roots in the Brighton DIY community, Washed Out has grown into the biggest rock / punk festival in the South of England at 3000 capacity and boasting some of the most exciting artists around today.

UK alt-rock titans Dinosaur Pile-Up have been announced as the first of three headliners, along with 29 more bands: After London, Aerial Salad, Awakebutstillinbed, Blood Command, Burnt Tapes, Cauldron, Clobber, Cruelty, Delta Sleep, Despize, Dinner Fresh, Gaffa Tape Sandy,  Ġenn Graywave, Heriot, I Feel Fine, Michael Cera Palin, Mourning, Nailbreaker, Out Of Love Public Body, Pupil Slicer, Regal Cheer, Reptaliens, Slow Crush, Snake Eyes, Snayx, Sugar Horse and Svalbard.

Washed Out has joined forces with national promoters New Cross Live for the 2022 event, which takes place across a selection of the city’s best underground venues and bars, ranging from 100 to 900 capacity, including: Chalk, Patterns, Wagner Hall, North Laine Brewhouse, The Hope & Ruin, Komedia, The Prince Albert, Latest Music Bar, with more to be announced.

Washed Out is curated by a team of passionate promoters who champion DIY artists and diversity; art and punk culture are at the heart of everything the festival does. Now in its fourth year, expect an energetic and noisy celebration of the underground punk, emo, indie, hardcore, hip-hop, alternative and experimental music scenes by the sea.

Festival co-founder Patrick Mc Naught comments: "I'm delighted to have teamed up with New Cross Live to create our biggest Washed Out Festival to date! We've got so many exciting announcements still to come. Washed Out is bringing a unique and exciting festival experience that we're sure attendees will love and set it aside from other festivals.”

A limited number of super early bird tickets are available at £75 with an optional payment plan of 3 x £25 instalments.
Purchase tickets here: https://newcrosslive.com/events/washed-out-festival-2022

Check out the festival playlist: https://spoti.fi/3CzZDUE

Washed Outonline:
www.washedoutfestival.com
https://www.facebook.com/Washedoutfestival/
https://www.instagram.com/washedoutfest/

New album Welcome Home out now 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 shared a video for 'Hush'. The track is taken from the band's new album Welcome Home, which was released in January via Spinefarm.

Check out the video for 'Hush' here: https://youtu.be/dwLy5bgw8jo

"'Hush' is definitely one of my favorite songs on the entire record," says Varela. "It's also one of the most different songs, simply because it's more uplifting and fun rather than dark and moody —my usual mood! Writing this song was incredibly therapeutic for me yet also super scary. Because it was so different, I wasn't sure if anybody was gonna like it. However when Welcome Home dropped, it ended up becoming a fan-favorite. I just hope it makes people feel the way it made me feel when I first wrote it."

Stream/purchase Welcome Home here: https://vrsty.lnk.to/WelcomeHome

Welcome Home is the band's debut full-length for Spinefarm and follows 2020's breakthrough Cloud City EP, which accumulated six million streams in less than 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

Photo Credit: Frank Dursthoff

'Apocalypse' out now via Arising Empire

Metal heavyweights Any Given Day return with a video for their brand new single 'Apocalypse', out now via Arising Empire. The track is their first new material since their 2019 full-length Overpower.

Watch the video for 'Apocalypse' here: https://youtu.be/tCL1T6aBog8

Stream/purchase 'Apocalypse' here: https://arisingempire.com/apocalypse

The band states:

"We want to spread the message that we all have to take responsibility in our lives and our society and not just to point at others. Instead of waiting for something to happen, or to look for a scapegoat, we all should ask ourselves how we can be an active part of the solution and not be part of the problem. If we all stand together, we can make an impact and can actually change things as a union."

Formed in 2012, Any Given Day ignited interest with their 2014 debut My Longest Way Home (Official German Album Charts: #28). They continued to prove they were more than just an internet phenomenon with 2016’s Everlasting (Official German Album Charts: #14). The band went on to share stages of every size with the likes of Caliban, Bury Tomorrow, Trivium, and Suicide Silence, receiving euphoric reactions and rapidly growing their fanbase.

On their 2019 full-length Overpower (Official German Album Charts: #19), Any Given Day perfected their unique blend of unruly brutality, compelling melodies and unbelievable catchiness. Surrounded by the great musicianship of his fellow band mates, one-of-a-kind vocalist Dennis Diehl handles both growls and clean vocals, putting many others to shame with his distinct, epic vocal lines. The album is packed with pummelling, in-your-face modern metal and epic arcs of suspense, all wrapped up in an uplifting message.

Stream/purchase Overpower here: https://AnyGivenDay.lnk.to/Overpower

Any Given Day are:
Dennis Diehl | Vocals
Andy Posdziech | Guitar
Dennis Ter Schmitten | Guitar
Michael Golinski | Bass
Leon Stiller | Drums

For more information:
http://www.instagram.com/anygivenday
https://www.tiktok.com/@anygivendayofficial
http://www.facebook.com/anyxgivenxday
https://twitter.com/anyxgivenxday
https://anygivenday.eu

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

Taken from new album Lustful Sacraments out now via Blood Music

UK/ IRE tour with HEALTH commences 2022

Dark electronic master Perturbator, aka James Kent, has released a stunning and thought-provoking new video for 'God Says' featuring Hangman's Chair, taken from new album Lustful Sacraments, out now via Blood Music.

Directed by Metastasis, watch the video here: https://youtu.be/vp_GZnEAd1c

James Kent commented on the single:"'God Says' is a song about completely giving yourself up to hedonism. It is perhaps the darkest song on the album and that is in great part thanks to Hangman's Chair's haunting contribution to it."

On the video, Metastasis commented: "Directing this music video has been quite a ride. A six months long ride, day and night, 38,257 frames rendered, a lot of challenges, but definitely, by far my best memory in terms of video directing."

"I wanted a journey in a monochrome, neo-gothic, over-identified Metropolis dipped in a wet and never-ending night, enlightened by thousands of flickering bleak neon-lights, painting vice and decadence. I wanted a collision between Fritz Lang, Orson Welles, Blade Runner, old Batman, Dick Tracy and even Roger Rabbit."

On the collaboration, Hangman's Chair commented: "Our first meeting with James was back in 2017 at the Sainte Marthe during the recording sessions of Banlieue Triste and our collaboration on the song 'Tired Eyes'. There was mutual respect at first and we discovered we had a lot in common.

"Immediately, we felt it was a good match and the connection between us was going to grow bigger and stronger. And since then we even started to see each other besides the musical context.

"So when he asked us to participate on the track 'God Says' that closes his new album, it was an honour to return the favour."

Purchase Lustful Sacraments here: http://www.blood-music.com/store

Watch previous videos:
'Death of the Soul': https://youtu.be/h_XSKj_qX4g
'Dethroned Under a Funeral Haze': https://youtu.be/5Wp2-qLMn-8

Catch Perturbator on tour in 2022 with support from HEALTH:

UK / Eire dates:

12/11/22 - Academy, Dublin
13/11/22 - SXW, Bristol
15/11/22 - St Lukes, Glasgow
16/11/22 - Academy 2, Manchester
17/11/22 - Electric Brixton, London

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

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

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

Kimaera, the Arab world's trailblazing symphonic death metal band, today release their new album IMPERIVM.

Stream and listen here: https://linktr.ee/Kimaera

The band release their album in honour and recognition of frontman and founder JP Haddad, who tragically has passed away at the age of 39. JP was a true pillar of metal in the Middle East - leading Kimaera as the first metal band from Lebanon to tour internationally and sign an international record deal.

The new album IMPERIVM depicts JP's love for ancient Roman culture and is a fitting tribute for the man.

Atmospheric death/doom with a progressive touch collides with traditional Middle Eastern and orchestral instruments, to produce a complex dark sound with a cross-generic flair on the new album. Their transcending of musical boundaries is inspired by Epica’s melodies, Dimmu Borgir’s black symphonies, Behemoth’s aggression, Katatonia’s darkness and Middle Eastern oriental music.

Formed in 2000 by the late JP Haddad, Kimaera’s path has helped put Lebanese metal on the world map, signing with Stygian Crypt Productions after releasing their first single 'God’s Wrath' in 2004. Since then, they have continued to secure firsts in their home country, where they are known as the “Lebanese ambassadors of doom”. They were the first Lebanese metal band to release songs internationally, to tour outside Lebanon, and to release professionally produced music videos, gaining a loyal worldwide following.

Their music has attracted attention both in their native Middle East and in Europe. Metal Hammer magazine included their single 'A Silent Surrender' in its September 2011 covermount CD, and they have shared the stage with renowned international bands at festivals across Europe and the Middle East, including Masters of Rock (Czech Republic, 2010, featuring Epica, Behemoth and Annihilator), Unirock Open Air (Turkey, 2011, featuring Decapitated, Vader and Mayhem), Beirut Rock Festival (Lebanon, 2011, featuring Katatonia and Moonspell), Metal Heads’ Mission (Ukraine, 2012, headlined by Nile), Doom Upon Russia tour (opening for Amorphis on the last night in 2013), and, after a period of hiatus, the Beirut Metal Fest (Lebanon, 2017, headlined by Legion of the Damned) and Zobens Un Lemess (Latvia, 2017, headlined by Amorphis).

After the release of their debut Ebony Veiled in 2006, followed by Solitary Impact in 2010, and The Harbinger of Doom in 2013 (released by Eternal Sound Records, Germany), on 15th March, 2022 Kimaera launch their fourth studio album IMPERIVM, in which they continue to reject being defined by boundaries.

Despite hailing from one of the most war-torn regions in the world in which they have had to overcome ongoing political, economic and security hurdles, Kimaera refuse to be seen simply through the prism of current conflict. They have instead chosen to engage with their country’s ancient history through an original take: Their new album’s theme is inspired by Roman history, with Lebanon having been part of the Roman Empire with all its power, brutality and majesty. The Middle Eastern ethnic instruments whose sound infuses the album also have their origins in ancient Rome, giving the album a distinct aural mark.

Kimaera are dedicating their new album to the band’s founder and frontman JP Haddad, whose untimely death is mourned by the whole of the metal community in Lebanon. The album will be launched posthumously at a tribute event to JP Haddad, taking place in Beirut, Lebanon on 15th March, 2022.

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/KimaeraOfficial

Electronic music legend Klaus Schulze has continued his long-term cooperation with German label SPV, and has announced the title of his forthcoming studio album.

Deus Arrakis will be released in 2022. More details to follow shortly.

"After many years of successful collaboration with SPV, it was only natural to put my new album back into the proven hands of an excellent team," Klaus Schulze comments on the contract extension. "I'm happy that the fruitful collaboration continues and wish us all a successful release for my new album Deus Arrakis, which is very close to my heart."

SPV Managing Director Frank Uhle adds: "Klaus Schulze is not only an exceptional artist who surprises us again and again, but also a long-time partner and friend of SPV. I am extremely pleased about the renewed collaboration on the new album Deus Arrakis and the trust of Klaus and his team in SPV, which we also accept this time with respect and pride."

74 year old composer, musician and producer Klaus Schulze, who was born in Berlin and now settled in rural northern Germany, is known all over the world as the pioneer of Electronic Music and master of the Moog synthesiser. He shaped the 'Berlin School' and is the forefather of innumerable Electronic Music styles and genres. The ‘godfather of Techno Music' – as he is fondly called by some internationally-known DJs and remixers – has rolled out his extensive sounds, played his legendary sequences and created his unique 'Schulze atmosphere' for more than 50 years now. Beginning with Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel, Klaus has created over 50 solo albums, including Irrlich, Mirage, X, Dune, Farscape, Kontinuum, Silhouettes, and now Deus Arrakis. Creating either under the moniker of Richard Wahnfried or in his various collaborations with great artists like Arthur Brown, Michael Shrieve, Rainer Bloss, Lisa Gerrard or lately Hans Zimmer: Klaus Schulze always remains faithful to his unmistakable style of making music, while keeping an open mind for innovations and experiments.

Photo Credit: Errick Easterday

Progressive post-hardcore quartet Greyhaven have released their chilling new single 'ORNAMENTS FROM THE WELL'. The track is taken from their upcoming album This Bright And Beautiful World, due for release on 15th April 2022 via Rude Records (UK/EU) / Equal Vision Records (RoW).

Check out the visualiser for 'ORNAMENTS FROM THE WELL' here: https://youtu.be/qmSQcORnQVk

Stream/purchase 'ORNAMENTS FROM THE WELL' here: https://greyhaven.lnk.to/OFTW

Pre-order This Bright And Beautiful World here: http://greyhaven.shop/

'ORNAMENTS FROM THE WELL' highlights a continued shift into a new era of the band, evoking a mix of anguished alt-rock and post-hardcore, punctuated by moments of raw brutality. The new song is the tenth and final track of the album, and a fitting conclusion to the band's most emotive release yet. Serpentine riffs permeate the song, building a sinister tension that helps the band's distinct melodic sensibilities shine. The lyrics are stark and brooding, adding a palpable sense of darkness to the track that is punctuated by a swirling accompany visualiser.

Vocalist Brent Mills comments on the song's theme:

"Last song on the record. First and only song I had finished lyrics for when we left for the studio. I didn’t realize it would set the tone for the record as far as the theme goes, but this song really showed me where I was and what to lean into when writing the rest of the songs. The song is purely about depression and sinking headfirst into what feels like endless hell. I really didn’t think I could keep going at the time, but somehow here I am and that’s where this song comes from.”

With two records under their belt (Cult America and Empty Black), Greyhaven utilised their classic chaotic energy when writing This Bright and Beautiful World. Written in five different locations, the band wanted all of their ideas to present themselves once they entered the studio with producer Will Putney at Graphic Nature Audio. Taking pride in simply being “four guys who like to play music”, Greyhaven left with a diverse set of 10 songs that dive into themes of frustration, depression, the inability to fully express yourself and appreciating the darker parts of life, even though that may seem impossible at times.

Greyhaven are:
Brent Mills | vocals
Nick Spencer | guitar
Johnny Muench | bass
Ethan Spray | drums

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

This Bright and Beautiful World Tracklist:

1. IN A ROOM WHERE EVERYTHING DIES
2. ALL CANDY
3. A PAINFUL AND NECESSARY ACTION
4. MORE AND MORE HANDS
5. OF SNAKES AND SWANS
6. FOREIGN ANCHOR
7. FED TO THE LIGHTS
8. THE QUIET SHAKES
9. AND IT’S STILL TOO LOUD
10. ORNAMENTS FROM THE WELL

Credit: Joe Guppy

Páthos due 1st July via Nuclear Blast

'It Dwells' single streaming now

The future of British metal lies in safe hands with Conjurer, who today have announced their long-awaited new album Páthos, which will be released 1st July via Nuclear Blast.

Conjurer continue their journey as the country’s most exciting young metal band with the incredible new album. Celebrating the news, the Midlands quartet have also streamed the first single from Páthos, the mighty 'It Dwells'.

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

Pre-order Páthos and stream 'It Dwells' here: https://conjurer.bfan.link/it-dwells.ema

A triumphant return from Conjurer following their world-renowned 2018 debut Mire, Páthos is a band flexing their creative muscles, deepening their approach and thought, and expanding their sound.

Bassist Conor Marshall comments: "Excited to finally be able to share the album with everyone! I’m sure this is the same for every band trying to release an album during the pandemic but it feels like we’ve been holding on to it for so long, so it’s nice for it to not be my problem any more and to be able to actually talk about it!"

Opener ‘It Dwells’ is the perfect introduction – earth-shatteringly heavy, unconventional, uniquely beautiful, and instantly recognisable as Conjurer. The track is centred on the contradictions of the emotion of ‘fear’ – that fear can be comfortable and constant, haunting and crushing. It builds to a point of breaking – the need to end fear battling against your will to go on. The repeated screams ‘I’ll have peace’ are an ambivalent declaration of defiance – give in, or fight, either way fear is gone.

Of the single, guitarist/vocalist Dan Nightingale states: "I think 'It Dwells' is a good introduction to the sound of the record, from the musical influences to the lyrics and how we’ve drawn from what’s been going on in our lives, it’s one of our most personal outings for sure. It’s nice to have been able to step up our game with the music videos for this album as well. Good album. Top track. Boss man."

Páthos is not an album for the half-hearted or faint-hearted. Elements of Sumac, Gojira, old Mastodon and Oathbreaker, the new record is a multi-layered beast – sludge, death, doom, black metal and hardcore influences clash and collide throughout, all masterfully finished by Will Putney’s exquisite mix and master.

The fifty-minute runtime of Páthos is not without its moments of the sublime, with post-metal nods to Conjurer and Pijn’s acclaimed Curse These Metal Hands project throughout. That a band can be at once so triumphantly beautiful and gut-punchingly heavy is testament to Conjurer’s quality, and a surefire sign of their future longevity at the top of Britain’s heavy music scene.

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, NME, Visions Mag (DE), 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.

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. Using the COVID-19 pandemic to record and craft Páthos, Conjurer returned to the live setting performing at the Download Pilot 2021 and Bloodstock 2021 mainstages.

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)

TRACKLISTING:
1 It Dwells
2 Rot
3 All You Will Remember
4 Basilisk
5 Those Years, Condemned
6 Suffer Alone
7 In Your Wake
8 Cracks In The Pyre

Photo Credit: Felix Fröhlich

JULI due for release 29th July 2022 via Arising Empire

German rock quartet blacktoothed have announced their new album JULI, due for release on 29th July 2022 via Arising Empire. The band have also unveiled their new single 'Pulse', which features guest vocals from Kassim Auale (ex-Alazka).

Check out the video for 'Pulse' here: https://youtu.be/Hxu2u-QZ7tM

Pre-order/pre-save JULI here: https://arisingempire.com/juli

blacktoothed's most personal single to date, 'Pulse' explores sleepless nights, depression and anxiety at its lowest. “'Pulse' was the perfect single long before we knew we were even writing an album”, vocalist Hendrik comments. The single also includes the only vocal feature on JULI, as Matti explains: “Working with Kassim felt like the perfect choice, considering just the soul and heart he puts into his voice, so we love the way it vibes with the whole story of the song.”

Produced by Annisokay guitarist Cristoph Wieczorek and Julian Breucker at Sawdust Recordings studio, JULI is blacktoothed narrowing their style. “Recording JULI was a funny three-way experience, involving three different recording sessions over the course of two years, changing band members, finally getting the flow in our songwriting process and, of course, lots of bad jokes and food with our producing team (cheers!) - to sum it up, we might finally know what we are doing musically,” David, Matti and Hendrik recall.

“With JULI, our main concern is to create awareness that we carry a lot of potential to change the lives of our loved ones for the worse, but at the same time recognise how we might be able to help those affected.”

blacktoothed stand out from the crowd, combining an array of stylistic elements from a variety of genres. JULI is characterised by the band's unique combination of striking rock, filigree guitar work and catchy pop-hooks, with a hint of 80's inspiration.

Despite the inspiring and motivating times during their songwriting and recording process, blacktoothed long to be back on stage, as soon as the global pandemic allows. The band have previously performed at Impericon Festival and shared stages with Annisokay, Bad Omens, Hands Like Houses, Polaris, Thundermother, Acres and many more.

blacktoothed are:
Hendrik | vocals
Mathilde | guitar
Steven | bass
David | drums

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/blacktoothed
https://www.facebook.com/blacktoothed
https://www.tiktok.com/@blacktoothed

JULI tracklisting:

01. If You Wanna Say So
02. Saviour
03. So Real
04. Tidal Wave
05. You never Know
06. Between You & The World
07. Pulse
08. Body Bag
09. Seasons
10. JULI