Holding Absence release new single 'Aching Longing' featuring Alpha Wolf

The Lost & The Longing EP out 15th August 2022 via SharpTone Records

Holding Absence and Alpha Wolf have announced a split EP titled The Lost & The Longing, due for release on 15th August 2022 via SharpTone Records (ROW) and Greyscale Records (Australia and New Zealand). The EP includes four new tracks, two of which feature collaborations between both bands.

To mark the announcement, Holding Absence have released their new single 'Aching Longing' featuring Alpha Wolf.

Check out 'Aching Longing' here: https://bfan.link/the-lost-the-longing

Lucas Woodland of Holding Absence comments: "We’re ecstatic to be announcing The Lost and The Longing, our split EP with Alpha Wolf! They are a band we’ve loved as people and musicians for years now, and we’re so grateful they wanted to drop this release with us.

"We can’t wait for people to hear our two new singles 'Aching Longing' and 'Coffin', too! 'Aching Longing' is our band at its heaviest yet, and 'Coffin' is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum… We are always trying to stretch our band into new shapes, and can’t wait for people to hear what we’ve produced with these two tracks!"

Sabian Lynch of Alpha Wolf adds: "We first met Holding Absence back in 2019 at the Impericon fests in Europe and we got along like a house on fire. We really enjoy their super catchy tunes and luckily enough they enjoy our heavy tunes. We talked a bunch over social media and kept up to date with what they were doing and when Lucas (jokingly) mentioned that we should do a split, it surprisingly just seemed like the best idea ever. We both released albums around the same time and it made sense timing-wise for us both to release new music at the same time. Working with them has been a breeze and we’d do it again in a heartbeat."

Holding Absence are:

Lucas Woodland - Vocals
Scott Carey - Guitar
Benjamin Elliott - Bass
Ashley Green - Drums

Alpha Wolf are:

Lochie Keogh - Vocals
Sabian Lynch - Guitar
Scottie Simpson - Guitar
John Arnold - Bass
Mitch Fogarty - Drums

For more information:
http://holdingabsence.com
http://facebook.com/HoldingAbsence
http://twitter.com/HoldingAbsence
http://instagram.com/HoldingAbsence

https://www.alphawolfcvlt.com
https://www.facebook.com/alphawolfcvlt
https://twitter.com/AlphaWolfCVLT
https://www.instagram.com/alphawolfcvlt

http://sharptonerecords.co

The Lost & The Longing tracklisting:

1. 60cm Of Steel - Alpha Wolf ft. Holding Absence
2. Hotel Underground - Alpha Wolf
3. Aching Longing - Holding Absence ft. Alpha Wolf
4. Coffin - Holding Absence

Photo Credit: Konstantinos Stathis

Greek quartet Naxatras, forerunners of global psych rock, have announced their UK headline tour.

Dates are as follows:

14.09 - Brighton, Green Door Store
15.09 - Bristol, The Exchange
16.09 - London, The Underworld
17.09 - Sheffield, Riffolution Festival
18.09 - Glasgow, Ivory Blacks

The news follows the release of Naxatras' stellar new album IV, out now.

Purchase IV here: https://orcd.co/naxatras_iv

Watch the band's newest video ‘Omega Madness’ here: https://youtu.be/WVlr2gP5jas

IV is the band at their creative peak, with all their experience put to use. It’s been almost a decade now since Naxatras first set out from the Greek north to carve out the path fate had set for them.

Since 2012, the group have been honing the rough edges of psychedelic rock, combining heavy riffs, heady soundscapes, astral melodies and a deep appreciation for groove.

IV is - fittingly - the first new music to showcase Naxatras as a quartet. It is a significant departure for the group, already celebrated across Europe for their jamming-based approach to psychedelia. The focus with IV is now more directly on songwriting, musicianship and composition - drawing magic from early 70s prog rock and master songwriters of esoterica.

The new album has gaps that only a keyboard can fill, so Naxatras welcome a new member to the clan: Pantelis Kargas. The whole operation of the band has changed - the previously trademark analogue sound has shifted to a more surgically precise approach, the orchestration multileveled and powerful.

Naxatras' musical imprint began in 2015, with their first album I. Recorded in a single day, the record was a best-selling underground sensation and welcomed with critical acclaim.

Shortly after the band went on their first tour, with live shows in Greece and five neighbouring Balkan countries. The second album - II - followed in 2016, with the same attitude in live performance, live recording, and fully analogue mentality.

However the road proved to be the band's calling - summer 2016 led to Naxatras' first full European tour, sowing the seeds of high anticipation. 

An established act with the release of III, 40 more European dates followed, with a firm fanbase in every city on the continent. The album release show in Athens was to more than 1,000 devotees, a sold-out spectacle, and the subsequent tours included performances at Desertfest, Rock Im Waid, Duna Jam, Ozora and a series of appearances in Australia.

Naxatras are:

John Delias - Guitar, Vocals
John Vagenas - Bass, Vocals
Kostas Charizanis - Drums and Percussion
Pantelis Kargas - Keyboards and Synthesizers

For more:

http://www.naxatras.gr
http://www.facebook.com/naxatras
http://www.instagram.com/naxatras
http://naxatras.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6HN1s0JzLowapZ7nhOAJ71?si=w5UAkxrZQDujUwmi7tl8aA
https://www.youtube.com/naxatrasofficial

TRACKLISTING:

1: Reflection (Birth)
2: Omega Madness
3: Journey To Narahmon
4: The Answer
5: Ride With Time
6: Radiant Stars
7: Horizon
8: The Battle of Crystal Fields
9: Reflection (Death & Rebirth)
10: Shape of the Evening

Photo Credit: Kevyn Reece

Texas thrash-death unit I AM will release their Eternal Steel full-length on 9th September via MNRK Heavy and have unveiled first single 'The Iron Gate'.

Premiered via Brooklyn Vegan, watch the video to 'The Iron Gate' here: https://youtu.be/GgzIQ3-zZno

Brandishing a unique blend of furious thrash and death metal like a weapon of mass destruction, I AM is purely no-nonsense in their patented “Texas Death” assault. Armed with riffs, speed, and overwhelming power, “I AM writes songs that make you want to move” (Decibel Magazine).

Across three full-length slabs of bludgeoning intensity and snarling rage, I AM put a Southern stamp and revitalised swagger into deathcore, a subgenre rarely as raw, energised, and diverse as this band. In the spirit of fellow Southern icons Pantera and newer Texan heroes Power Trip, I AM channels discontent and anger into empowering anthems, as likely to inspire a gruelling workout as to incite the pit. Reminiscent of the combination of death metal heaviness and thrash metal speed found in the early catalog of Sepultura, I AM mines the heaviness of Morbid Angel and the dexterity of the Big Four to create something ground-breaking of their own. Vocalist Andrew Hileman - who started the band in 2011 - guitarists Tom Reyes and Chris Burgess, bassist Erik Rodriguez, and drummer Ian Scott deliver their Texas Death in clubs, theatres, and festivals, with bands like The Acacia Strain and Kublai Khan.

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Randy Leboeuf (Kublai Khan, Sentinels, The Acacia Strain), Eternal Steel, the quintet’s debut for MNRK Heavy, combines the onslaught of the band’s well-received Hard 2 Kill (2018) with the primal bite of Life Through Torment (2017) into a singular statement of intent.

“We took what we did well on Hard 2 Kill to new extremes on Eternal Steel,” notes Reyes. “It’s faster than the last album, it’s heavier than the last album, and it expands on every other aspect of our sound. ‘Heavy’ doesn’t always have to mean ‘slow.’ Frequently for us, the faster parts are equally as heavy.”

Comments Hileman, “When searching for solace and protection, I tend to find it’s often met with opposite hostility. The process of growth only occurs when forced into these uncomfortable situations. ‘The Iron Gate’ is that place of cruelty that I find so beautiful for the soul. Beware and enter if you dare.”

Adds premiere partner BrooklynVegan, “This might be an overall faster record, but first single ‘The Iron Gate’ largely finds I AM exploring their slower, doomier side, with just a small dose of thrash peppered in… It's a very heavy, very Texas, very promising first taste of the LP.”

I AM have earned a reputation for devastation in the live environment, converting doubters and curious onlookers alike into diehard believers with sweat and determination. And across the two most recent records, they established themselves as a band who never writes the same song twice.
 
“You won’t mistake one track for another,” Reyes assures. “Not in a way that sounds scattered or disorganized. It’s just that we have a range within our sound. We exercise free rein creatively.”
 
Eternal Steel songs like 'Iron Gate,' 'Infernal Panther,' 'Queen Incarnate,' and the title track are demonstrative of the diverse extremes on offer. Menacing moods, blistering thrash, and crushing death collide all over the record. The lyrics harness the power of dark subject matter in ways that serve and inspire the listener. “For example, the topic of ‘fear’ is addressed in the song ‘The Primal Wave,’ but in a way where that fear is used to fuel you to overcome obstacles,” Hileman explains.
 
The death n’ roll groove of Obituary, the street-smart violence of Cro-Mags, it all coalesces into something fresh, exciting, and distinctly I AM. Hearkening to the past of classic metal with a hard shove forward into the future, these guys transcend genre limitations with a sound built to last.
 
“The band’s music is an angry headbanger’s dream.” – Kerrang!

“I AM reigns supreme.” – New Transcendence 
 
I AM are:
Andrew Hileman – vocals
Tom Reyes – guitar
Chris Burgess – guitar
Erik Rodriguez – bass 
Brandon Busa – drums
 
For more information:
http://www.facebook.com/iamtxmusic
http://twitter.com/iamtxmusic
http://www.instagram.com/iamtxmusic
http://iamtxmusic.bandcamp.com
http://www.mnrkheavy.com
http://www.facebook.com/MNRKHeavy
http://www.twitter.com/MNRKHeavy
http://www.instagram.com/MNRK_heavy
 
About MNRK Music Group: 

MNRK Music Group is one of the largest independent music companies in the world, with recording, music publishing and management divisions operating in every major music market. MNRK is committed to discovering and guiding leading music creators and talent, and is home to numerous top tier artists, the iconic Death Row Records and the music publishing catalog of Chuck Berry, plus premier music companies Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang. Its catalog across divisions consists of 54,000 music tracks, including multiple GRAMMY winners and platinum selling hits. To learn more visit mnrk.com

Eternal Steel track-listing:

1. The Primal Wave
2. Surrender To The Blade
3. The Iron Gate
4. Eternal Steel
5. Vicious Instinct
6. Infernal Panther
7. Queen Incarnate
8. Heaven On Earth
9. Price Of Pain
10. Eye Candy
11. Manic Cure

Photo Credit: Prissilya Junewin

Tangerine Tragic album out now via Arising Empire

Modern metal quintet The Oklahoma Kid have released a video for their brand new single 'Waldsterben', taken from their new album, Tangerine Tragic, out now via Arising Empire.

'Waldsterben' is filled with ruthless aggression in the wake of an undeniable truth.

Check out the music video for 'Waldsterben' here: https://youtu.be/1MW5AYlJCWQ

Known for their unique blend of genres, the avant-garde five-piece continue to push boundaries and break old conventions. 'Waldsterben' follows previous singles 'Dye Black to Pink', 'A Velvet Feel', 'Come Undone', 'Melt Into You', and 'Pale Tongue'. Each track is a disturbing trip with psychedelic visuals and heavy rhythms, deeply influenced by early millennial industrial music and Neue Deutsche Härte, with melodic heaviness bursting at the seams.

Order Tangerine Tragic here: https://arisingempire.com/tangerinetragic

Following the success of debut album Solarray (2019) The Oklahoma Kid set their focus on writing new music with one simple goal in mind, to better themselves and create something that fans will truly crave, resulting in new album Tangerine Tragic. Built on the strengths of Solarra, Tangerine Tragic experiments with new ideas and concepts that are as gentle as a breeze and also strike hard as a wrecking ball. The album was recorded and produced by Jan Kerscher (Ghost City Recordings), and mixed and mastered by Lance Prenc (Alpha Wolf, Polaris, Dealer), giving the production its full blown punch.

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 knew he was a perfect match to record and produce our new material.”

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.

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

Tangerine Tragic Tracklisting:

1. To Dance With Fire
2. Pale Tongue
3. A Velvet Feel
4. Words Like Violence
5. Replaced
6. Come Undone
7. Waldsterben
8. Dye Black to Pink
9. Melt Into You
10. Lost Purpose
11. Ohnmacht

A Vast Field of Silence album available via Dunk!Records

'A classy record' - PROG Magazine

Chicago instrumental progressive quintet Outrun the Sunlight have streamed a live video for their track 'Emerald Joy' and announced the release of their most recent album A Vast Field of Silence via Dunk!Records.

Watch 'Emerald Joy' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxpOk3q7NEk

Purchase A Vast Field of Silence LP here:

EU: https://bit.ly/avfos-eu
US: https://bit.ly/avfos-us

The band comment: "We're so excited to share that our new album is now available on vinyl in Europe thanks to the good people at Dunk!Records. To celebrate, we wanted to share our first live recording since the release of our new album. We performed at the iconic Chicago venue, Reggies, and had it filmed by Jordan Nelson and edited and mixed by our guitarist, Austin Peters. This video also marks the debut of our live guitarist, Konstantine "Ken" Stebliy, who we're so stoked to be working with."

A Vast Field of Silence is the Chicagoans fourth LP, and four years in the making. The thematic record is a wordless concept album, based around a recurring melody appearing throughout. Most clearly stated in the album opener ‘Awareness’, the beautiful theme is typical of Outrun the Sunlight, an unusually cinematic and compositionally-heavy group in the genre.

Although anchored to the theme, A Vast Field of Silence is a satisfyingly surprising record, one that is a journey of a listen. Going beyond simply instrumental progressive, the band incorporate elements of acoustic ambient, jazz, post-rock, and metal. Bearing comparisons to Cloudkicker, The Contortionist, and Russian Circles, A Vast Field of Silence is Outrun the Sunlight at their best.

The band have a huge depth and range of musical talent at their disposal: Kyle Kunkler (keys) is a professional dance piano accompanist (ballet, modern, and more) and composer, and custom-coded a majority of the synths heard on the album. Luke Angle (drummer) is a professional music instructor, from big-band jazz to math rock via country & western. Phil Kalas (bass) is also a composer, under the name Asleep In The Stars, while guitarists, Cody McCarty and Austin Peters formed the group in 2011, and have known each other since playing together in high school bands from 2008. Austin, aside from Outrun the Sunlight, has also practiced embodiment meditation since 2017, and is the founder of “Simple Being”, which produces recorded meditations with voice and ambient music.

With forming in 2011, the band released both Architecture of the Cosmos EP and debut LP The Return of Inertia in the same year. Signing with Rogue Records America in 2012, the duo re-released The Return of Inertia (Vocalist Version) which included vocalists from around the world, plus two bonus tracks. In 2014, the addition of drummer, Pedro Villegas, and bassist, Connor Grant, brought the band to the stage, and they released their second album Terrapin also on Rogue Records. In August 2015, following the release of Live at Electrical Audio EP, the group toured in the east coast United States with Native Construct (Metal Blade Records) and Wings Denied.

In 2016 Outrun the Sunlight went on to perform on Chicago internet music series, Audiotree, releasing the live album Outrun the Sunlight on Audiotree Live. They then released Red Bird independently in 2017, their third LP, the first instance that the group performed together on an album. A band not content to rest, they then released a live in-studio record, Emerge, in January 2021.

With the Covid-19 interruption and introduction of a new drummer, Outrun the Sunlight’s newest LP has eventually been four years in the making, from first conception ‘til release – but well worth the long wait.

Outrun the Sunlight are:

Austin Peters - Guitar
Phil Kalas - Bass
Kyle Kunkler - Synth + Keys
Luke Angle - Drums

Track listing:

1. Awareness
2. Emerald Joy
3. A Way With Honesty
4. Old Wound
5. Dreamless Chaos
6. Luminous Stillness
7. Brindle
8. Zero Dimension
9. Molten Light
10. A Vast Field of Silence

Taken from Vault Session, live underground performance

Canadian progressive metalcore quartet Fayne have released their new single/video 'Reified'.

Watch 'Reified' here: https://youtu.be/04uONPLq12E

Stream 'Reified' here: https://faynemusic.com

'Reified' is taken from Fayne's stunning live underground Vault Session. The full Vault Session will be released at the end of Summer 2022. The new single follows Fayne's incredible two-part song cycle released late 2021, 'Empath' / 'Hubris'.

Fayne, from Montreal, deliver heavy-driven drums, crushing guitar riffs and bass lines, crowned with powerful clean and screaming vocals. Elements of The Contortionist, Car Bomb, and Misery Signals all crash and collide in glorious splendour, heard to full effect on 'Empath'.

Fayne’s progressive metalcore experience causes physical and emotional responses you never knew existed. Introspection, the process of understanding and the hunt to discover what’s behind the veil of everyday life, are some of Fayne’s state-altering musical themes.

The band began to make waves in the mid -00s, performing alongside Alexisonfire, Underoath, and Hopesfall. After pursuing other musical interests, the band reunited with 2014's The Queen Of Kings, leading to a self-booked 9-day tour through Quebec and Ontario, as well as supporting slots for The Contortionist and Vanna.

Fayne then recruited Justin Furtado (formerly of Red Skies and Feels Like Home) on vocals, before releasing their debut LP Journals in 2017. Released in 2018, the band's single 'Grimspeak' saw success with strong streaming figures, holding the #4 spot on CJLO's LOUD! Chart, and placing them at #67 on CJLO's Best Metal Band of 2019 list.

For more information:
Facebook || Instagram || Twitter || Spotify || Bandcamp || TikTok

'Sinner' video streaming now via Arising Empire

US metal quartet Of Virtue have unveiled their powerful new single / video 'Hypocrite' via Arising Empire Records.

Watch the video to 'Hypocrite' here: https://youtu.be/O3FUbedB6hc

Stream 'Hypocrite' here: https://arisingempire.com/hypocrite

Produced by Andrew Baylis (Sleeping With Sirens) & Evan McKeever (VRSTY), mixed and mastered by Dan Braunstein, known for his work for Spiritbox, Dayseeker, Volumes, and visualised by Dana Willax & Orie McGinness (Bad Omens, Wage War, Kingdom of Giants), this blistering new track hits you straight in the face and leaves no doubt that this four-piece is on the cusp of blowing up.

The band comment: "'Hypocrite' is all about the negativity building up inside of us. Everything that you hate about yourself, looking at you in the mirror. We know who we are but we refuse to change, eroding our potential by burning bridges in the meantime."

Watch the video to 'Sinner' here: https://youtu.be/0B6NLYcDcv8

Of Virtue combine an eclectic taste for the melodic with a catchy and ethereal foundation in heavy music, a penchant for punishing breakdowns, and immolating riffs. They define themselves as a multifaceted, diverse and engaging act that draws on influence from metal and alternative music of all genres to create something that any type of fan can fall in love with.

Progression, or more generally, change, is a constant in music; in order to adapt and survive, you must grow and develop - and no band knows that more than midwestern metal act Of Virtue.
What began as a humble, promising metalcore act born from the blistering chill and barren fields of mid-Michigan, erupted into an internationally recognised and critically acclaimed alternative powerhouse. From opening slots on regional metalcore tours to reaching #28 on Billboard’s Current Hard Music chart, performing in over 30 countries across three continents and accruing a staggering six million streams on Spotify alone, Of Virtue’s growth is nothing short of jaw-dropping.

Of Virtue were formed in 2008 and catapulted themselves into the Michigan metalcore scene in 2009 with their debut EP To Breathe Again. Combining elements of melodic hardcore and metalcore into a mosh-friendly and energetic amalgam, the band almost instantaneously cemented themselves as a staple within their local scene.

In the months that would follow, the band would create and release their debut full-length record, Heartsounds (2011), followed by an extensive regional touring cycle. Heartsounds saw Of Virtue expand on their sound with lyrics speaking of positivity and determination, all of which was underscored by a blend of metalcore that was both vicious yet passionate and inspiring. By 2015, the band would release Salvation, a sprawling and ambitious example of meticulous melodic metalcore which would earn them nationwide attention as a promising, prodigally talented metal act. Shortly thereafter, Of Virtue released their third full length record, What Defines You in 2019.

What Defines You saw a marked incorporation of alternative rock and hard rock into their backbone of bold, robust metalcore with an overwhelmingly positive message. The result was a release that would launch them into the stratosphere of heavy music. Even in the setting of a global pandemic, Of Virtue continue to blossom worldwide, accruing new listeners and fans in countries tens of thousands of miles away and expanding their reach even in a time where live performances were all but impossible.

Of Virtue are:
Tyler Ennis | vocals
Damon Tate | guitar & vocals
Michael Valadez | guitar
Ryan Trinh | drums

Of Virtue online:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok

Debut album Amongst Liars due 8th July

Photo credit: Duncan Tyler

Modern rockers Amongst Liars have released a rap remix of their latest single, 'All Over Now'. The track is remixed by Eastbourne rapper Alpha Whiskey and DJ Jonny Jazz, bringing a south coast rap and scratch element to the song, giving it a Linkin Park vibe. The remix follows the original 'All Over Now', the second single to be released from the band's upcoming debut album. The band's self-titled record is due to be released 8th July.

Stream 'All Over Now (Rap Remix)': here.
Watch the visualiser for 'All Over Now (Rap Remix)' here: https://youtu.be/-DFwW2OqFrs

Pre-order Amongst Liars here: https://earache.lnk.to/AmongstLiars

On the remix, the band explains:

"We are really excited for people to hear all versions and have loved mixing things up, experimenting and showing what is possible when you work a song with different artists. People are so quick to label music these days and we love bringing different elements into our sound, showing that there can be way more to being a modern rock band!”

The sci-fi music video shows the band travelling to multiple locations in an attempt to find a sustainable planet.

On the inspiration behind the latest single, vocalist Ian George explains:

“'All Over Now' was written in response to the way powerful business people and leaders react to the increasingly important subject of climate change. There have been a lot of people seemingly ignoring the obvious and only getting involved when it helps their own gain. The UK government, for a start, are not clear and directive when it comes to measures that need to be taken by businesses (not that it comes as a surprise.) We feel there needs to be a lot more emphasis and importance put on the future of this planet, and sustainability talked about more openly and with more passion and purpose.”

'All Over Now' doesn't just stop there though. The band will also be releasing one more remix over the coming weeks, as vocalist Ian George explains:

“We decided that, for this single, we wanted to explore a multiverse of music and do B and C-sides, so have collaborated to produce two remixes of the song."

Pihka Is My Name, a Finland-based duo, combine analogue synthesisers, hypnotic piano patterns and cinematic orchestrations on the club remix, just in time for summer.

Pre-save 'All Over Now (Club Remix)' here.

The self-titled debut album is produced by David Radahd-Jones (Heaven’s Basement, The Fallen State, The Cruel Knives, Death Blooms), and upon its release, will be accompanied by a UK tour.

On the new album, the band comment:

“Our self-titled debut album is a commentary on the world we currently live in, tackling issues such as abuse and bullying, war mongering for financial gain, poverty, greed, fake news, unjust and deceitful political misgivings, election fraud, human rights abuses and climate change concerns. But the message of the album is one of positivity and empowerment. There are a lot of inequities in this world, but people can and do get strength and take control, through challenging and standing up to abusers, politicians and general wrong doers.”

Eastbourne/Brighton based Amongst Liars formed in early 2020 and play a unique blend of energetic, modern rock, taking influences from bands and artists such as Audioslave, Royal Blood, Rage Against the Machine, Bring Me The Horizon, Slaves, Jack White, Biffy Clyro, Shinedown, Cleopatrick and Queens of the Stoneage. Lyrically the band speak about modern life, tackling issues such as mental health, homelessness, fake news and government failings.

To date they have released six extremely well received singles amassing over 200k Spotify streams, as well as strong video views across all platforms, widespread support and plays from BBC Introducing, Kerrang!, Primordial and countless national and local radio stations. They recently won the prestigious Great Music Stories ‘Band of the Year 2021’, voted for by listeners across the year and they finished 2021 with an eight date UK headline tour.

June
09.06.22 - O2 Acdemy Islington, London, with Theory of a Deadman
23.06.22 - Love Rocks Festival, Bournemouth
30.06.22 - Alma Inn, Bolton
July
01.07.22 - Independent, Sunderland
02.07.22 - Wildfire Festival, Scotland
09.07.22 - HMV Instore, Eastbourne
15.07.22 - The Black Heart, London
22.07.22 - The Temple, Eastbourne
September
30.09.22 - Fighting Cocks, Kingston Upon Thames
October
06.10.22 - The Waterbear Venue, Brighton
07.10.22 - O2 Academy, Islington

Amongst Liars are:
Ian George - vocals
Leo Burdett - guitars
Adam Oarton - drums
Ross Towner - bass

Amongst Liars online:
https://www.amongstliars.com/
https://www.facebook.com/amongstliarsband
https://www.instagram.com/amongstliars/
https://twitter.com/amongstliars

Tracklisting:

1. Cut It
2. Reign
3. Money
4. Burn the Vision
5. All Over Now
6. Drown
7. Black Days
8. Over and Over
9. Slave to Right
10. Tick the Box
11. Without Grace

Photo Credit: Sherri Bemis

New album Make Team Presents Maxim Mental in Maximalism out 8th July
via Dine Alone Records

Solo project of Say Anything's Max Bemis

Maxim Mental, the solo project of Say Anything’s Max Bemis, has released his new single 'Grace Beyond Christ'. The track is taken from his upcoming album Make Team Presents Maxim Mental in Maximalism, due for release on 8th July 2022 via Dine Alone Records.

Watch the visualiser for 'Grace Beyond Christ' here: https://youtu.be/SFO5AWjd-jI

Stream/purchase 'Grace Beyond Christ': https://maximmentalstream.com/GBC

Bemis comments on the new single: "Given my album’s tendency to examine mental health through an almost fun, weirdly sexy lens, this song is about how in the past couple years I’ve had to think about doing…it…a lot despite a hunger for living. I’m indeed a believer in some esoteric version of a higher power, but (and pardon me god-peeps) my wife has saved me from situations involving or possibly leading to it far more than any religion. One could even argue that since I hold the key to my actions and fate, the almost-parental allowance of the freewill needed to up it myself is part and parcel of how Adonai himself works. And that he left the job of being the sweetest and most encouraging and forgiving to my wife Sherri. So yeah, this song is about suicide and how my wife is nicer than Jesus and more stimulating than drugs."

Make Team Presents Maxim Mental in Maximalism was co-written and produced by Grammy nominated producer Will Yip (Code Orange, Title Fight, Turnstile) who is also a longtime collaborator of Max Bemis. 'Grace Beyond Christ' follows the release of previous singles 'Evermore (and the Grammy goes to)' and 'Girls The Truth'.

Say Anything was, despite its place in a genre known for sincerity, somewhat of a satire of the quintessential emo band. Bemis being the Andy Kaufman of it all was enough to delight and confuse an entire generation as to whether he was a “real boy” or Ziggy Stardust infused with Curb Your Enthusiasm and the Vagrant Records discography. The final Say Anything LP was written from the point of Oliver Appropriate, a personification of this intentionally confused public persona; his death during climactic 'Sediment' echoed the end of an era for the band itself. When ready to recover from twenty years of trauma making music, Max’s answer was more natural than that of the obvious invented "characters" of Bowie and other musicians to escape pigeon holes; with Maxim Mental, for the first time, Max had to be solely himself.

Bemis will embark on a US tour across July and August. Throughout the tour, he will perform music across Say Anything's discography, as well as new music from Maxim Mental.

Maxim Mental tour dates:

July 8 - Philadelphia, PA @ Foundry at The Fillmore
July 9 - New York City, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
July 11 - Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall
July 13 - Ferndale, MI @ Loving Touch
July 14 - Chicago, IL @ Lincoln Hall
August 4 - Dallas, TX @ Amplified Live
August 5 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
August 6 - Austin, TX @ Parish
August 9 - San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
August 11 - San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar
August 12 - Los Angeles, CA @ Roxy
August 13 - Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge

For more information:
https://maxim-mental.com/
https://twitter.com/maxbemis/
https://www.instagram.com/maxbemis/

Make Team Presents Maxim Mental in Maximalism tracklisting:

1. Evermore (and the Grammy Goes to)
2. Sunk 'Im
3. Girl's the Truth
4. Grace Beyond Christ
5. Jay Were a Jew
6. Cirque Le Douche
7. Cliffwood
8. Jawbreaker
9. Mime
10. F*cking Part 2 (F*cking on a Trampoline)
11. Mental Music
12. Simple Sweet