Photo Credit: Andreas Bryske

Swedish modern metal four-piece Eyes Wide Open have released a video for their brand new single 'We're The Walking Dead', out now via Arising Empire. The track features a guest appearance from Australian producer Misstiq.

Check out the video for 'We're The Walking Dead' here: https://youtu.be/O0-iUMfehGk

Stream 'We're The Walking Dead' here: https://arisingempire.com/thewalkingdead

Based in Karlstad, Sweden, Eyes Wide Open carry the torch on behalf of the Swedish melodic 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 full-length Through Life And Death (2021) 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

Heavy hardcore quintet LIONHEART have released new single / video 'LIVE BY THE GUN' featuring the legendary Ice T of Body Count, taken from their new album Welcome To The West Coast III, out 9th December via Arising Empire.

Watch the video to 'LIVE BY THE GUN' here: https://youtu.be/b0AVdINQOmc

Welcome To The West Coast III is 11 tracks of crushing riffs and violence-inciting grooves, which boasts a star-studded guest feature line-up including Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed) Ice T (Body Count), Alex Taylor (Malevolence) and more, joining frontman Rob Watson for a maximum vocal assault. The album is available to pre-order on CD, limited coloured vinyl, a limited special box, plus exclusive merch options.

Watch the video to previous single 'DEATH COMES IN 3'S', featuring Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, here: https://youtu.be/TR5tNmfI-1U

Pre-order here: https://arisingempire.com/wttwcIII

Welcome To The West Coast III was produced by Jamey Jasta, mixed and mastered by Will Putney and the photography / artwork created by renowned California street photographer Angel Macias.

The band will be touring Europe this autumn with support from Terror, Get The Shot and Dying Wish.

LIONHEART are:
Rob Watson | Vocals
Nick Warner | Guitar
Walle Etzel | Guitar
Richard Mathews | Bass
Jay Scott | Drums

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/lionheartca/
https://www.instagram.com/lionheartca/
https://twitter.com/lionheartca?lang=de

Track listing:

01. THE TRILOGY INTRO
02. DEATH COMS IN 3'S feat. Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed)
03. HELL ON EARTH
04. LIVE BY THE GUN feat. Ice-T (Bodycount)
05. COLD WATER FAREWELL
06. STORIES FROM THE GUTTER PT. II feat. Antmoney (E-Town Concrete)
07. NEW MONEY _ OLD PAIN
08. DEATHBED CONFESSION feat. Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed)
09. AT WAR WITH THE GODS feat. Los (Desmadre)
10. BONNIE & CLYDE '05
11. EXIT WOUNDS feat. Alex Taylor (Malevolence)

Bay Area, California’s reigning kings of heavy hardcore first stormed into the scene in 2007 with their debut album: The Will To Survive. Taking influence from bands like Blood For Blood, and Madball; LIONHEART came out swinging with a full-blown assault of blistering metallic hardcore. They quickly followed it up with 2010’s Built On Struggle, 2012’s Undisputed and years of non-stop touring.

Following a short break after their release Undisputed, the band came back stronger than ever with 2014’s Welcome To The Westcoast. The album debuted at #1 on both iTunes Metal and GooglePlay Metal Charts. LIONHEART stormed into the scene again in January 2016 with Love Don’t Live Here. The album title, a nod to a classic R&B/ Motown Song by the same name, shows the band's unwillingness to conform to the typical hardcore mould, as well as the bitter and unforgiving lyrical content the band is known for. November 2017 saw LIONHEART unleash Welcome To The Westcoast II. A sequel to Welcome To The Westcoast (2014), the album brought forth a new era in California Hardcore, and saw them again debut at #1 across the iTunes Metal Charts and Google Play Metal Charts.

2019, after endless touring around the globe, LIONHEART returned with their most punishing album to date: Valley Of Death. Backed by a combination of blistering metallic hardcore and heavy West Coast groove, front-man Rob Watson provides an insight into a life of torment, violence, and an unrelenting will to overcome. With Valley Of Death LIONHEART climbed into the German Top 20 Album Charts, as well as #1 on iTunes Metal Charts and Google Play Metal Charts.

Photo Credit: Einar Jarl

Hotly-tipped Icelandic synth-punk trio Kælan Mikla will make their return to the United Kingdom supporting the legendary Ville Valo across five dates in March 2023.

Dates as follows:

March
Friday 10, England, Bristol, O2 Academy
Saturday 11, England, Nottingham, Rock City
Monday 13, Scotland, Glasgow, Garage
Tuesday 14, England, Manchester, O2 Ritz
Wednesday 15, England, London, O2 Forum Kentish Town

Tickets can be purchased here.

A unique voice, Kælan Mikla inhabit a world of folklore and fairytales, of magic and mysticism. Cinematic layers of synth, ethereal vocals sung in their native tongue, spine-chilling screams and programmed drums - these are the elements at the heart of the band's sound, pulling the listener ever-deeper into their musical space.

On the tour, the band comment: "We are honored to be joining VV for his Neon Noir tour in 2023. We’ve known Ville Valo for his incredible work with HIM since we were little and we’re so excited to be a part of this next chapter!"

Kælan Mikla was founded in 2013 as an entry in a poetry competition. After winning the event, the group were encouraged to continue making music, and soon established themselves as a solid part of the Reykjavik grassroots scene. In 2015, following their appearance at Iceland Airwaves, Kælan Mikla released their song 'Kalt', attracting a host of attention nationally and abroad.

Since then, the group have travelled continuously. Including touring with Alcest, Kælan Mikla have played alongside Placebo, Pixies, Slowdive, Deftones, and recently performed with Mammút at a special all-female gig in Reykjavik's iconic Gamla Bíó.

Kælan Mikla's powerful presence has enchanted fans all over the world, including The Cure's Robert Smith, who has asked the band to play several of the festivals he has personally curated, across the US and in the UK. In their time, Kælan Mikla have released four albums, all with Toronto-based Artoffact Records. Their 2018 record, Nótt eftir nótt, made #14 on Revolver Magazine’s best albums of 2018 list, and their most recent, 2021's Undir Köldum Norðurljósum, received rave reviews worldwide.

Watch Kælan Mikla's 'Sólstöður' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBa1iM29mGI

Kælan Mikla are:
Sólveig Matthildur Kristjánsdóttir - synth
Margrét Rósa Dóru Harrýsdóttir - bass
Laufey Soffía - vocals

For more:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaelanmikla/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kaelanmikla/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/28meEMqGpDrolyQ9OVoDAH

Photo Credit: Kathi Sterl

German post-hardcore quartet Our Mirage have released a video for their new single 'Help Me Out'. The track is taken from the band's upcoming third album Eclipse, due for release on 25th November via Arising Empire.

The video for 'Help Me Out' is the second in a trilogy of videos, following recent single 'Black Hole'.

Check out the video for 'Help Me Out' here: https://youtu.be/5yAJUFm5lOg

Pre-order Eclipse here: https://arisingempire.com/eclipse

Hailing from Germany, Our Mirage hit your feelings deep. From their ambient music to poignant lyrics that really strike a nerve, this young group are becoming known for the emotion that they pour into their music. On their 2020 album Unseen Relations, released via Arising Empire, Our Mirage delved deeper, using their intuition to focus on relatable problems and struggles that we deal with on a regular basis.

Check out Our Mirage's previous singles:

'Summertown (ft. Breakdown Bros)': https://youtu.be/bpdQY8KZ5Qw
'Calling You': https://youtu.be/_XaDNT9iB40
'Through the Night': https://youtu.be/BYtGodlgbEQ
'Remedy': https://youtu.be/Idao4nFlOoQ

Our Mirage are:
Timo Bonner | Vocals
Steffen Hirz | Guitars
Manuel Möbs | Bass
Daniel Maus | Drums

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/OurMirageBand
https://www.instagram.com/ourmirageband/
https://www..ourmirage.de

Photo Credit: GLK Media

Mercurial Bristol quartet Phoxjaw have released their new single 'apples', from their hotly-anticipated new album notverynicecream, to be released 11th November via Hassle Records.

Watch and stream 'apples' here: https://youtu.be/GdnO0cHiUX8

The band comment: "‘Apples’ is a menacing, disorientating rollercoaster ride that descends into disarray. The intention was to convey the plunge into one's insanity and asks the age-old question: what has anyone done to deserve certain hardships within life? Taking themes from religion, film and cataclysmic events to ponder this idea. One of the sonically bolder tracks from the up and coming album, ‘apples’ sets up the heavy and ugly side of this record."

'apples' follows the band's previous two singles, 'sungazer' and 'thesaddestsongever'.

Pre-order notverynicecream here: https://hasslerecords.ffm.to/notverynicecream

Watch the video for 'thesaddestsongever' here: https://youtu.be/EMZ8YKEbXLw

Watch the 'sungazer' video here: https://youtu.be/TyQlirPt-Fo

notverynicecream is another staggering release from one of the UK's most inventive and unusual bands. Eclectic, irreverent, titanically heavy and saturated throughout with a signature sense of British whimsy, the album will only see Phoxjaw's star rising further.

Written in various states of lockdown, notverynicecream is a glimpse into Phoxjaw's future mindset. A sugar-sweet sense of abandon covers darker feelings of loneliness, depression, and isolation. Where the band's debut album, Royal Swan, was a record of nationally-expressed extroversion, notverynicecream is Phoxjaw's declaration of introversion. Nihilism, nostalgia and suffering served in a sugary cone; progressive, punishing sonics glossed over with lustrous hyper-pop influences.

notverynicecream follows a triumphant period for the Bristolian oddballs - the group made their debut Download appearance in 2022, performed two magnificent sets at 2000trees, and have shortly returned from a sell-out tour with Norwegian deathpop group Blood Command, as well as their debut performance at Germany's Reeperbahn Festival.

Phoxjaw are:

Danny Garland - vocals/bass
Josh Gallop - guitar/keys
Kieran Gallop - drums
Alexander Share - guitar/vocals

For more information:
https://www.phoxjaw.com
https://www.facebook.com/phoxjawofficial/
https://twitter.com/phoxjaw
https://phoxjaw.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/phoxjaw/

Tracklisting:

1: evermore
2: apples
3: icecreamwitch
4: sungazer
5: thesaddestsongever
6: tortoise
7: dancingtrees
8: knives
9: thelastmackerel
10: shotgunlipstick
11: lastmancalledjohn
12: serpentsdripfromtheskies

Swedish alternative metal act AVIANA have released a video for their single 'Illuminate', taken from new album Corporation, out now via Arising Empire.

Watch the video to 'Illuminate' here: https://youtu.be/4BmmXwxBhN4
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/corporation

Corporation is a collection of perfectly crafted heavy bangers, which includes previous singles 'Paradox', 'Anomaly', 'Obsession', 'Transcendent', 'Rage', 'Oblivion', 'Overcome' and 'Retaliation'. 'Illuminate' is the last song released in this chapter and completes the new full-length.

Vocalist Joel Holqvist comments:

"This song 'Illuminate' is the last out of our collection of singles, which we have assembled into an album entitled Corporation. You will understand more about the Aviana Corporation as time goes on. But without giving away too much, this release symbolises a collective name of two big plots in the new world of the storyline that we have been creating and are building up in the new era of the band."

“A potent cocktail of riffs, breakdowns and occasional electronics; the future of Aviana is looking much brighter now”
Metal Hammer

“a fantastic third album” – Distorted Sound

AVIANA made a big impact on the global metalcore scene with their return in February 2021. Led solely by vocalist Joel Holmqvist as a consequence of past members leaving the band, Holmqvist has exceed all expectations and taken the band further down the path for greatness.

Speaking on the album, Holmqvist concludes:

"There is an album coming in September, finally. But I never wanted to have people sit around and wait for new AVIANA music. Instead I’ve been working continuously to try and get new stuff out there for the fans. You should consider this album more of an ‘Collection of Singles’ rather than something else. There will be new songs on the album which haven’t been released yet, but also songs that we’ve already put out since 2021 will be on the album.”

AVIANA are:
Joel Holmqvist - vocals
Death - guitar
Fear - guitar
Dark - drums

For more information:
http://www.avianaofficial.com
http://www.facebook.com/avianaswe
http://www.instagram.com/avianaswe

Tracklisting:

01. Curriculum
02. Obsession
03. Rage
04. Paradox
05. Oblivion
06. Retaliation
07. Anomaly
08. Transcendent
09. Illuminate
10. Overcome
11. Negligence

The Greek lovechild of Botch and The Dillinger Escape Plan, the raucously brilliant Blame Kandinsky have announced their forthcoming album Eclectic Ruiner, to be released 2nd December via Venerate Industries.

Blame Kandinsky have also revealed their first glimpse of the album via the strikingly beautiful and viscerally funny video for 'Ruined'.

Watch 'Ruined' here: https://youtu.be/A9qnia0rpAg

Pre-order Eclectic Ruiner here: https://www.venerateindustries.store/blamekandinsky

Guitarist Marios Samaris comments: “The concept behind the album is one’s lifelong struggle. In a world that’s asphyxiating with indecency, racism, inequality and greed, we try to stay empathic and honest. Eclectic Ruiner shares the thought that pain is not an illusion, it is a part of us with a million faces that we observe and it observes us back.“

Of 'Ruined' itself, Marios says: “‘Ruined’ talks about those periods when you lay really low and you go through a battle with yourself trying either to accept you’re drowning, or to fight back and stand up again. There is no other person involved, it’s just you talking to your past self. The tricky part is that while this is coming over and over again, dredging up the past feels like two sides of the same coin, sometimes it makes you stronger and other times it shuts you down.“

A highly regarded group from Athens, Blame Kandinsky in their time have played alongside Cavalera Conspiracy, and toured multiple times across Europe. The band released their debut album Spotting Elegance In Chaos in 2017, recorded 100% live, capturing the very essence of a group steeped in the creative tradition of the best mathcore and melodic hardcore.

Due to COVID activity hiatus, Blame Kandinsky used the years to focus entirely on the compositional honing of Eclectic Ruiner. The group’s second album is a broad concept record about everyday struggle – it describes the idea that pain is not an illusion, and empathy is essential in order to survive.

In a world asphyxiated by indecency, racism, inequality, and greed, the brutal honesty of Eclectic Ruiner shines though. Elements of Fall of Troy, The Chariot, Every Time I Die, and even Converge also blossom on a record that overflows with fury, melody, and passion. A true gem from the East.

Blame Kandinsky are:

Stratos Isaakidis / Vocals
Marios Samaris / Guitars
Kostas Antoniou / Bass
Chris Vigos / Drums

For more:

https://www.facebook.com/BlameKandinskyBand
https://www.instagram.com/blamekandinsky/

TRACKLISTING:
1 Vague
2 Complicit
3 Ruined
4 Discomfort
5 Empty
6 Piquerism
7 Gertrude
8 Lisp
9 Delusional
10 Chasten
11 Ego

Photo Credit: UlleMedia

German rock / nu-metal quintet From Fall To Spring have released a video for their new single 'LIGHT UP THE SKY', out now via Arising Empire.

Check out the video for 'LIGHT UP THE SKY' here: https://youtu.be/T3vIw0y5mvU

Stream/purchase 'LIGHT UP THE SKY': https://arisingempire.com/lightupthesky

'LIGHT UP THE SKY' follows previous singles 'BEASTMODE', 'BARRIERS', 'BLACK HEART', 'RISE', 'BRAINFCK' & 'DESTINY', which have accumulated more than five million streams on Spotify, underlining the band's potential to become one of Germany's breakout acts.

'LIGHT UP THE SKY' serves as another taste of their highly anticipated debut album, more news on this soon.

Formed in Germany, identical twins Philip and Lukas Wilhelm, both in charge of vocals and guitar, keyboard player Simon Triem, bass player León Arend and drummer Benedikt Veith, are showing off a new standard within the nu-metal scene.

With a unique approach to the genre, From Fall To Spring combine bone-crushing 808s with heavy guitars and catchy harmonising melodies, crowned with high speed rap rhythms.

With this mixture, From Fall To Spring create an unprecedented sound in the modern rock scene. Working with producers Seb Monzel and head of Pitchback Studios, Aljoscha Sieg (Eskimo Callboy - 'Hypa Hypa'), From Fall To Spring are building a production which can easily hold its own among international acts.

From Fall To Spring have remained unstoppable throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, generating a massive hype across online platforms. Starting a new sonic chapter, their single 'RISE' went viral on TikTok and instantly became a milestone not only in the band’s career, but in the whole German metal scene. Follow-up 'BR4INFCK' left no doubt that From Fall To Spring have what it takes to make it to the very top. Despite being an independent release, the song was championed by Spotify’s biggest metal playlists, garnering attention from both fans and industry alike. Now signed to Arising Empire, From Fall To Spring have found their perfect match and can’t wait to conquer the world.

From Fall To Spring are:
Philip Wilhelm | Vocals / Guitar
Lukas Wilhelm | Vocals / Guitar
León Arend | Bass
Simon Triem | Keys
Benedikt Veith | Drums

For more information:
https://www.fromfalltospring.de/
https://www.instagram.com/from.fall.to.spring
https://www.facebook.com/from.fall.to.spring
https://twitter.com/from.fall.to.spring

Photo Credit: Nick Fancher

Hard rock group Pop Evil have released their single, 'Paranoid (Crash & Burn)', ahead of their UK headline tour which kicks off in November.

Watch the visualiser to 'Paranoid (Crash & Burn)' here: https://youtu.be/9vFGNqJHwhM

Stream here: https://popevil.ffm.to/paranoid

Following 'Eye of the Storm' which recently reached #1 at Active Rock in the USA, 'Paranoid (Crash & Burn)' oscillates from something more melodic and rhythmic to pure aggression — that “get out of my head” scream is certainly going to resonate.

“It’s about the voices in our head — we all have ‘em, but do we act on them?” says frontman Leigh Kakaty. “It’s a cautionary tale, about processing those voices in a positive way. It’s very aggro and uptempo, and I think it speaks to the depression and anxiety a lot of us have at this stage in our lives.”

Watch a clip of the live version debuted at the Louder Than Life festival here.

Pop Evil teamed up with filmmaker Jensen Noen for the official music video that will be shared later. The video comes ahead of a new album, due for release in early 2023 via MNRK Heavy, more news soon.

Following the band's North American run with Daughtry, they head to the UK and Europe for their The Vortex headlining tour, starting 1st November.

The Vortex tour dates:

UK
01.11.22 - King Tuts, Glasgow
02.11.22 - Rebellion, Manchester
03.11.22 - O2 Institute 2, Birmingham
05.11.22 - Tufnell Park Dome, London
EU
07.11.22 - Trabendo, Paris, France
08.11.22 - Biebob, Vosselaar, Belgium
09.11.22 - Logo, Hamburg, Germany
11.11.22 - Backstage Club, Munich, Germany
12.11.22 - Im Wizemann Club, Stuttgart, Germany
14.11.22 - Luxor, Cologne, Germany
15.11.22 - Nachtleben, Frankfurt, Germany
16.11.22 - Patronaat, Haarlem, Germany

Tickets: www.popevil.com

Pop Evil have massive anthems and built a new rock’n’roll institution on a foundation of showmanship, raw relatability, and hard rock hooks, both forward-thinking and timeless from frontman, Leigh Kakaty, lead guitarist Nick Fuelling, rhythm guitarist Dave Grahs, bassist Joey "Chicago" Walser and drummer Hayley Cramer. No matter the headline-grabbing declarations from legendary icons, lamenting the changing of the guard, the slow-burning success of Pop Evil demonstrates the hunger for hard-hitting honest music persisting worldwide.

Their 2011 album, War of Angels debuted at #8 on Billboard Top Rock Albums with three singles landing on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Top 10 including 'Last Man Standing', 'Monster You Made' and 'Boss’s Daughter.' The momentum continued with their 2013 album Onyx, landing them on the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 for the first time, plus it was #9 on the Billboard Independent Albums in America and #25 on the Billboard 200. The album included three #1 Billboard Mainstream Rock singles with 'Trenches' 'Deal with the Devil' and 'Torn to Pieces.' In 2015, the band released their album, UP, which would make its way to #1 on Billboard Independent Albums, with four Top 5 Billboard Singles such as 'Ways to Get High,' 'Take It All,' and 'If Only for Now'. The hit single, 'Footsteps' is still one of the biggest songs to date and returned Pop Evil to Billboard’s #1 spot for four weeks. Their 2018 self-titled album landed three singles on Billboard Mainstream Rock, 'Waking Lions' at #1 with 'Be Legendary' peaking at #2, and 'A Crime to Remember' peaking at #7. Pop Evil just celebrated their 7th career #1 single in late 2021 with 'Survivor' on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart marking a historic milestone. 'Survivor' joins the previous Top 10 single 'Work,' and #1 single 'Breathe Again,' from their album VERSATILE, out now via MNRK Heavy. Over the course of their career, the band has achieved four gold singles with 'Torn to Pieces,' and 'Trenches' from Onyx, 'Footsteps' from UP and, '100 in a 55' from their debut studio album, Lipstick on the Mirror.

Pop Evil online:
www.popevil.com
www.facebook.com/popevil
www.twitter.com/popevil
www.instagram.com/popevil