Photo - Oli Duncanson

Single & video streaming now via Arising Empire

UK genre-defying quartet Borders have released their new single / video 'Suffer', the band's third release on Arising Empire.

Watch the video to 'Suffer' here: https://youtu.be/JOMesY3E_F8

Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/suffer

On the single, the band comment: "'Suffer' is a protest anthem about the state of our ruling class, politicians, and the 1% who openly break laws while they face little to no consequences from the police. These same police also power trip through covert prejudice towards people of colour.

"We all want to stand up and do something about it and while it's very easy to 'sit back and neglect it' this is a call to arms to stop letting yourself suffer at the hands of the pigs in charge."

Borders combine ferocious, hard-hitting metalcore with elements of hip-hop, grime, hardcore and alternative metal, completed with a dash of introspection and brazen, no-holds-barred atmosphere. The quartet are a young but driven collective hellbent on taking the heavy music community by storm with an onslaught of thought-provoking, sinister and brutally aggressive tracks. Built around an impetus that obliterates any notion of single-genre classification in favour of an immersive yet punishingly heavy experience, Borders continually push the limits of what's expected from any band in the metalcore circuit.

From taking the UK’s live music scene by storm supporting legendary deathcore act Martyr Defiled on their last run to their immersive, conceptual and thought-provoking 2019 debut full length release Purify, the band are well on their way to making themselves a staple in the underground heavy music community - a goal sure to be achieved with their addition to Arising Empire’s ever-growing roster.

Borders are:
Jordan Olifent | vocals
Gavin Burton | guitar & vocals
Tom Britton | bass
Dan Hodson | drums

Borders online:
https://www.instagram.com/bordersbanduk
https://www.facebook.com/bordersbanduk
https://www.tiktok.com/@bordersbanduk
https://twitter.com/bordersbanduk
https://bordersbanduk.com/

[photo by Kevyn Reece]

'Surrender To The Blade' video streaming now

Eternal Steel out 9th September via MNRK Heavy

Texas thrash-death unit I AM have unleashed their new single 'Surrender To The Blade', the second track taken from their Eternal Steel full-length, out 9th September via MNRK Heavy.

Watch the video to 'Surrender To The Blade' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTn4xIFZUJ8

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, the band channel 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 catalogue of Sepultura, I AM mine the heaviness of Morbid Angel and the dexterity of the Big Four to create something ground-breaking of their own.

Guitarist Tom Reyes comments on 'Surrender To The Blade': “When I sat down and that first riff came out, immediately the idea was to just make a metal head banging anthem. Nothing flashy or complex, we just wanted it to sound huge and capture a good groove. [First single] ‘The Iron Gate’ was a newer direction for us, so with each step in that direction, we wanted to compliment a twist on our heavy roots. Actually, the verse riff was meant for a song on Hard 2 Kill -- hats off to anyone who can guess which one -- but it ended up being a much better fit for this song. Then [founding vocalist] Andrew [Hileman]’s lyrical concept fit perfectly with the instrumental. You hear the first riff and it’s a no brainer; it’s a raising-your-sword-for-battle-type of anthem.”

Watch previous video '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 are 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).

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.

Pre-order Eternal Steel on CD, cassette and vinyl here: http://iam-eternalsteel.com/

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 top music creators and artists and works with some of the greatest musical talent including The Lumineers and Pitbull, the music publishing catalog of Chuck Berry, plus premier music companies Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang. The company’s music department services Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning producers. Its catalogue 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: Andreas Bryske

"An extremely solid body of work" – Metal Hammer

New album Through Life and Death out now via Arising Empire

Swedish modern metal four-piece Eyes Wide Open have released a punishing cover of Slipknot's 'Duality' via Arising Empire. 

Check out the video for 'Duality' here: https://youtu.be/vXoxS0Xq8mg

Stream 'Duality' here: https://arisingempire.com/duality
 

On the choice of song, the band state:

"I first heard 'Duality' when a coworker had a burned CD in the truck at my first ever summer job ,and I listened to it everyday for the whole summer. I was hooked! Since we started Eyes Wide Open we’ve been having discussions about covers and never really got to the point were we found "that" song. But this time we boiled it down to a track that’s been stuck with all of us and it just felt right! We had a great time during the recording and hope people will enjoy this tribute."

Based in Karlstad, Sweden, Eyes Wide Open carry the torch on behalf of the Swedish melodic death metal scene. Their sound, which is mixed with modern influences inspired by metalcore, combines catchy melodies, heavy drumming, pumping rhythms and versatile vocals.

Following on from their fourth album, 2019's The Upside Down, Eyes Wide Open's latest record Through Life And Death hits like a juggernaut and paves the road that leads to the top tier of the scene. Lyrically, the album explores depression, greed, betrayal, and every inner demon of the human mind.

Through Life and Death is available on CD, coloured vinyl and special bundles via Impericon & EMP. Purchase here: https://eyeswideopen.lnk.to/throughlifeanddeath

Check out Eyes Wide Open's previous singles:

'Cross My Heart' video: https://youtu.be/6XXKRjgNYcE
'End of Days' video: https://youtu.be/bP01dkvsMJE
'Eraser' video: https://youtu.be/zMyMuvALbSY
'Burn 'Em' video: https://youtu.be/RGFnRgrfaTQ
'Devastation' video: https://youtu.be/_KPVJv6S_c0
'Brother' video: https://youtu.be/DTZKRUhoe-E

Eyes Wide Open are:
Erik Engstrand | vocals
Kristofer Strandberg | guitar
Jesper Lindgren | bass
Lucas Freise | drums

Eyes Wide Open online:
https://www.instagram.com/ewo_swe
https://www.facebook.com/Eyes.Wide.Open.Swe
https://www.e-w-o.net

Photo Credit: Joseph Varley / Dark Spirit Photography

Hate Monolith EP released 2nd September via Unique Leader

'Autophagia' single/video out now

Tech-death titans Xenobiotic have announced their new EP, Hate Monolith, to be released 2nd September via Unique Leader Records.

The Australian five-piece have also streamed their new single, 'Autophagia', which you can view here: https://youtu.be/G-IvYz4TUeU

Pre-order Hate Monolith here: http://orcd.co/hatemonolith

The band comment: "Hate Monolith is about my discontentment for the state of humanity. When writing for the EP I was going through a lot of anger directed at myself through things I should have changed, but I wanted to lash out at someone other than myself. In my eyes I see humanity as born to kill itself, and it makes me disgusted to be a part of a race I loathe so much."

Xenobiotic are a 5 piece progressive death metal outfit from Perth, Western Australia. As the follow up to their critically acclaimed debut full length, Prometheus, Xenobiotic returned with their earth shatteringly destructive sophomore album Mordrake, unleashed globally through Unique Leader Records.

Mordrake found the group delving further into the bands unrelentingly crushing technical intensity combined with sickening, ruinous atmospherics that has garnered them attention across the world. The new album was a calamitous, almost uncomfortably bleak listen. With Mordrake, Xenobiotic have proven that they are a limitlessly extreme band and not for the feint of heart.

The group said of Mordrake: 

“This album is more than just an arrangement of music. It is our darkest secrets, our worst fears and our most vivid nightmares. It is everything that casts a shadow over us all."

The 11 track album was recorded and mixed by Matthew Templeman (Make Them Suffer, Voyager) with mastering by Simon Struthers at Forensic Audio. Artwork for the effort was done by Mariusz Lewandowski (Psycroptic, Bell Witch, Fuming Mouth).

Following the release of Mordrake, March 2020, Xenobiotic faced the most unfortunate of circumstance for a band, releasing an album at the start of the COVID pandemic. 

While it was a time where the band could not continue on its journey of devastating audiences around the world through touring, Xenobiotic did however sign a partnership with New York based leading international heavy music agency, Extreme Management Group, joining a roster alongside other icons of brutality Suffocation, Cattle Decapitation, Cryptopsy, Origin and more. 

During this time the band would not be stopped, continuing to write and record which has led to the band’s new EP, Hate Monolith. Mixed and mastered by renowned Cryptopsy guitarist and producer, Christian Donaldson (Ingested, Beyond Creation, The Agonist) with art by Giannis Nakos at Remedy Design (Suffocation, Evergrey, The Agonist) the EP continues to see Xenobiotic tear open ears with maniacal, emotive and progressive death metal brutality and expansive, darkened soundscapes. 

Xenobiotic ARE: 
 
Nish Raghavan – guitars
TJ Sinclair – vocals
David Finlay – guitars 
Toby Thomas – bass

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/xenobioticau 
https://www.instagram.com/xenobioticau

TRACKLISTING:
1 Autophagia
2 The Wretched Strive
3 Nether
4 Pathos
5 Sever the Ties

Wither On The Vine due for release 30th September via Candlelight Records

Irish dark metallers Darkest Era have released their contemplative new single 'Tithonus', inspired by a poem of the same name by Tennyson. It's the second track to be taken from their forthcoming new album, Wither On The Vine, which is set for release on 30th September via Candlelight Records.

Check out new single / video, ‘Tithonus’ here: https://youtu.be/QwNZYJiCsgM
Pre-order the album here: https://darkestera.lnk.to/WitherOnTheVinePR

Guitarist Ade Mulgrew comments: “The lyrics are adapted from the 1859 Tennyson poem of the same name. Based on Greek mythology, it depicts a man who is granted eternal life yet not eternal youth. Cursed to age endlessly while his lover Eos, Goddess of the Dawn, retains youth everlasting. He begins to envy the natural cycle of the living world and the mortality of men. My interpretation is simple; to harvest as much richness of meaning from every moment as possible."

Filmed inside an old industrial brass factory in Belfast, Ireland, director Anaïs Mulgrew explains the video: "The music of Tithonus gave me the vision of an angel in torn drapes, desperately dancing to feel his life-force as it inexorably fades away. And so it tells the story before Floodlands, on how a life loving being becomes the ashes in the Mourner’s hands."

Eight years have passed since Darkest Era’s last album, 2014’s Severance. In that time, the Northern Irish-centred band have undergone personal and personnel changes, while the world itself has entered its own new dark era. Now, they are ready to return with third album, Wither On The Vine.

Recorded at Wales’ legendary Foel Studios with producer Chris Fielding (Electric Wizard, Primordial, Winterfylleth, Witchsorrow), it finds the band exploring their shadowy take on the traditional heavy metal sounds of Iron Maiden and Thin Lizzy, whilst incorporating elements of doom, black metal, blackgaze and anything else that casts a musical shadow. Expanding their horizons as to where their sound could go on Withered On The Vine, guitarist Ade Mulgrew says it could best be described as simply “dark metal”.

Speaking on the album, Ade adds: "The album presents a bleak reflection of the world as it stands today; politically, socially, environmentally. Among themes of human tragedy and personal introspection, there are also songs touching on pagan spirituality, the Dionysian perspective and even gothic romance. Stylistically the album mixes black metal and doom metal elements with an almost classic rock sense of tone. We hope the album resonates with listeners seeking music with genuine power and emotional weight, pulling them into its dark visions."

After a long absence, far from withering away, Darkest Era have returned as experts in their craft, and made a definitive dark metal statement.

Darkest Era are:
Krum – Vocals
Ade Mulgrew – Guitar
Sarah Wieghell – Guitar
Daniel O’Toole – Bass
Cameron Åhslund-Glass - Drums

Darkest Era online:
Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Youtube

Candlelight Records online:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Youtube

Tracklisting:
01: One Thousand Years Of Night
02: Floodlands
03: A Path Made Of Roots
04: Tihonus
05: The Collapse
06: With Tragedy In Our Blood
07: The Ashen Plague
08: Wither On The Vine

Photo Credit: Konstantinos Stathis

IV LP out now

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

Dates are as follows:

02.10.22 SWI Pratteln, Up in Smoke
03.10.22 ITA Bologna, Freak Out Club
04.10.22 AT Innsbruck, PMK
05.10.22 AT Salzburg, Rockhouse
07.10.22 DE Munich, Keep It Low
10.10.22 POL Warsaw, Hydrozagadka
11.10.22 DE Berlin, Zukunft
12.10.22 DE Wiesbaden, Schlachthof
14.10.22 DE Oldenburg, Cadillac
15.10.22 BEL Antwerpen, Desertfest
16.10.22 NL Utrecht, DB´s

View the band's incredible tour poster below, with artwork by Chris RW - the mirror image of the spectacular album artwork, by the same artist.

Shortly before this, Naxatras will be touring the UK; dates here:

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

Naxatras will be touring their 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

Dirty Loops (credit: Charlie Bluck)

RADAR Festival - the UK's most exciting new progressive music festival - has announced a new home for 2023.

Following the sell-out success of RADAR 2022, the festival's second ever edition (featuring Leprous, Haken, Dirty Loops' debut UK performance and many more), RADAR 2023 is moving from Guildford's Corner House to Manchester's BEC Arena.

RADAR Festival organisers comment: "RADAR Festival is moving to Manchester!

"After four years, two packed out events and one pandemic RADAR Festival is moving to a new venue, the BEC Arena, Manchester. This gives us a substantial capacity increase and the potential to create a truly amazing event.

"This bigger space means bigger bands, bigger production, and a bigger experience for everyone that supports us. We’re beyond excited.

"In our two events, we have welcomed customers from America to Australia and everywhere in between, creating a truly international event. The BEC Arena is a hub of large scale live events and we can’t wait to bring our vibrant, eclectic event to the North West.

A limited amount of early bird tickets are on sale at 2022 prices now, and stay tuned for our first line-up announcement."

RADAR Festival 2023 will be held 28-30th July.

Limited early bird tickets available from: https://bit.ly/RDR2023

RADAR Festival have shared a glimpse of the new site which you can view below.

With their mixture of international talent and confirmed homegrown success, RADAR Festival have already positioned themselves as champions of forward-thinking guitar-led progressive music. No genre boundaries, welcome to all, RADAR Festival was launched in 2019 to acclaim, with performances from Animals As Leaders, Agent Fresco, Rolo Tomassi, among others. Following the COVID hiatus, RADAR Festival 2022 expanded to three days with triumphant appearances from Leprous, Haken, Dirty Loops, Plini, Conjurer, Soen and more.

For more information:
Instagram: RDRfestival // Facebook: RDRfestival
Twitter: @RDRfestival // Website: www.radarfestival.co.uk

Photo Credit: Dustin Miller

Alternative rock quintet Anberlin have released a video for 'Two Graves'. The track was released last year as an early taste of new music and features on the band's new EP Silverline, out now via Rude Records (UK/EU) and Equal Vision Records (ROW).

Check out the video for 'Two Graves' here: https://youtu.be/ucPsNE59bG8

Stream/purchase Silverline here: https://anberlin.lnk.to/silverline

Silverline marks the Anberlin's first new collection of songs in eight years and showcases their expansive sound, ranging from rock anthems to post-rock inspired tracks. Entering Feral Sound Studios in Tampa, FL, the band self-produced the EP alongside help from friends Tim McTague (of Underoath), Chad Carouthers, and JJ Revell. The five songs on Silverline showcase the band’s penchant for creating incredible alternative rock, filled with engaging tempo changes and introspective lyrics.

'Nothing Lost' explores the importance of a support system who can challenge your mistakes, while 'Asking' looks past the surface to deeper connections with others and yourself. The EP ends on a strong note, with the swirling, rhythmic chorus of lead single 'Circles'.

Anberlin have also announced a tour celebrating their 20th anniversary. In select cities they’ll be doing three nights of full album performances for Never Take Friendship Personal, Cities, and New Surrender. They’ll also be appearing at Riot Fest in Chicago, IL and When We Were Young in Las Vegas, NV. Tickets for all shows are on-sale here: https://anberlin.com/

Anberlin are:
Stephen Christian (vocals)
Nate Young (drums)
Deon Rexroat (bass)
Joey Miligan (guitar)
Christian McAlhaney (guitar)

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

Silverline EP tracklisting:

1. Two Graves
2. Nothing Lost
3. Body Language
4. Asking
5. Circles

Photo Credit: Christoph Eisenmenger

German progressive metal trio The Hirsch Effekt share their new single / video 'Palingenesis', the second single taken from the new SOLITAER EP, out 26th August via Long Branch Records.

Watch the 'Palingenesis' video here: https://youtu.be/7SgQ1xLBmn4
Stream here: https://thehirscheffekt.lnk.to/solitaer

The Hirsch Effekt bassist Ilja John Lappin commented: "'Palingenesis' is my contribution to the SOLITAER EP, on which each band member wrote a song. It's the memory of a path that I inevitably had to take. When life as we knew it suddenly came to a stop with the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic, I was forced to confront a very dark place that I had mentally arrived at. A crisis of purpose, sealed by a cycle of loneliness and depression as well as the tireless, and at the same time, unstable routine of the previous years, unfolded with full force in a new, unknown surrounding. During this long period of isolation, I took a desperately needed break for myself. Unable to stop. Unable to understand who I actually had become over the years and where I had landed in life. 'Palingenesis' is a hymn to the battle itself. To your own strength, of which you're often sure you no longer have, especially when greater, darker clouds are gathering on the horizon once again. A hymn to the fight back to your own heartbeat."

All formats are available for pre-order here: https://thehirscheffekt.lnk.to/solitaer

The Hirsch Effekt will tour the UK including an appearance at ArcTanGent festival in August:

17.08.22 UK, London - New Cross Inn /w Sunfall Tickets
18.08.22 UK, Reading - The Face Bar /w Sunfall Tickets
19.08.22 UK, Brighton - Green Door Store / w Sunfall Tickets
20.08.22 UK, Bristol - ArcTanGent Tickets

The Hirsch Effekt are:

Moritz Schmidt (Drums)
Nils Wittrock (Guitar, Vocals)
Ilja John Lappin (Bass, Vocals)

For more information:
http://www.thehirscheffekt.de/
https://www.facebook.com/thehirscheffekt
https://www.instagram.com/thehirscheffekt
https://www.youtube.com/thehirscheffekt

Tracklisting SOLITAER LP:

Side A
PALINGENESIS
NARES

Side B
AMORPHUS
GREGAER (Solitaer Version)

Tracklisting SOLITAER / GREGAER CD:

SOLITAER
1 PALINGENESIS
2 NARES
3 AMORPHUS
4 GREGAER - Solitaer Version
GREGAER
5 NATANS - Orchestral Version
6 DOMSTOL - Orchestral Version
7 KOLLAPS - Orchestral Version
8 GREGAER - Orchestral Version