With many claiming Ritual Violence as this year's heaviest album, Californian sludge metal crew Armed For Apocalypse have unleashed one more blast of relentless fury. New single 'Lifeless', which deals with the pain of the death of a loved one, has premiered alongside a new video in celebration of the album's release, via Candlelight Records.

Check out the new video ‘Lifeless’ here: https://youtu.be/NrkQwDrCwHI
Order the album here: https://armedforapocalypse.lnk.to/RitualViolence

Vocalist Nate Burman comments on the caustic new single: “Over the past few years it seemed like dealing with the death of a loved one was becoming way too frequent a thing. It was a lot to deal with and I wondered why it kept happening to me so often. The lyrics for lifeless are a bit personal. They follow a day in my life where I had to put down my dog. It was all the feelings I had holding him in my arms as he passed."

New album Ritual Violence is an uncompromising aural onslaught and sees the band at their most aggressive. Both a product and expression of their never-die attitude, it’s the album Armed for Apocalypse always wanted to make, with the engineer they wanted to make it Kurt Ballou, God City (Converge, High On Fire, Every Time I Die ) and the label they wanted to partner with, Candlelight Records. Featuring guest appearances from Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) on track 'Foredoomed' and Trevor Phipps (Unearth) on 'Suffer For A Living', it is Armed for Apocalypse refined to its purest form: 0 percent frills,100 percent heavy riffs.

Forming in California in the aughts, Armed for Apocalypse quickly released 2009’s Defeat (Ironclad Recordings). That’s where they laid out their mission statement: we are going to tune low, play riffs, and make heavy metal that makes you bang your fucking head. Real amps turned up, real drums hit hard, no bullshit. 2013’s The Road Will End (Ironclad) complicated their thesis, the band experimenting with new structures and incorporating a broader sonic palette. But member changes and new life directions led to a challenging five years before their next release, 2018’s Palm Reader EP. Now, in 2022, they return more focused than ever with their most potent and unwavering album to date. Ritual Violence is eleven tracks of bludgeoning skullf*ckery; a record from a band who are confident in who they are, and what they want to do. And who won’t let anything get in the way of that. Not the years. Not the heartache. Not an industry that devalues its creators. Nothing.

Armed for Apocalypse has never done it the easy way. But on this latest record is a statement and a promise: they will do it their way.

Armed for Apocalypse are:
Nate Burman - Vocals / Guitar
Cayle Hunter - Guitar
Charlie Fischer - Bass
Nick Harris - Drums

Armed for Apocalypse online:
Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

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

Tracklisting:
01: Under My Shame
02: Frail
03: Full Of Phlegm
04: Hourglass
05: Lifeless
06: Live Through The Storm
07: Foredoomed
08: Thieves Of Existence
09: Suffer For A Living
10: Flesh And Blood
11: Eternally Broken

Hardcore / thrash / crossover band, Cage Fight, have released new single 'Eating Me Alive' featuring the late, great Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder). Opening up about struggles with mental health, the 'Eating Me Alive' lyric video has been released on World Mental Health Day, the international day for global mental health education, awareness and advocacy against social stigma.

Check out the lyric video for ‘Eating Me Alive’ here: https://youtu.be/AaSuZKE9pdc

One of, if not the final recording by Strnad, the video was originally planned for 13th May (album release day), but was postponed due to his tragic unexpected passing just days before. Trevor's support for Rachel Aspe's work played a key role in the formation of Cage Fight, which is why his contribution to their debut album is so special. And the subject matter - struggles with anxiety and mental health - makes this poignant song even more significant.

Vocalist Rachel Aspe commented: "Over COVID I was looking for a new project and releasing covers for something to do, but also to hopefully connect with other musicians. When I released my cover of 'Statutory Ape', Trevor picked up on it and shared from The Black Dahlia Murder's pages, and it got a lot of attention. Trevor messaged me to say he loved it, and hoped that I'd find a band off the back of the cover. Not long after James (Monteith, guitar) contacted me about Cage Fight and the rest is history.

"Had it not been for Trevor's support Cage Fight may never have happened; it was a huge honour to have him guest on this song and it meant the world to us. He was one of the greatest supporters of the scene and new music, and is truly missed. RIP Trevor".

On the song's content, bassist Jon Reid commented "'Eating Me Alive' is about the day-to-day struggles and challenges with mental health that are so prominent to so many people and how the sorrow and loneliness can have a tangible effect. This is something personal to us and we wanted to let people know that they are not alone. We can all have these feelings and that most importantly there is help out there, and we can all find something special."

"We have chosen to release this on World Mental Health day as a sign of solidarity."

With the new single, Cage Fight are urging fans to show support by purchasing the Trevor Strnad memorial shirt. All proceeds will help Trevor's family cover expenses incurred by his death and benefit the Common Ground Resource & Crisis Center. Purchase and donate here: https://www.nightshiftmerch.com/products/trevor-strnad-memorial-t-shirt

'Eating Me Alive' is taken from their debut album, Cage Fight, out now on the Candlelight label. Stream / purchase the album here: https://cagefight.lnk.to/CageFight

2022 has been an explosive year for Cage Fight with the release of their highly acclaimed self-titled debut album, tours with Sepultura, Raging Speedhorn & Cro-Mags, shows with Svalbard, Napalm Death and more, as well as appearing at many festivals including Bloodstock, Burn It Down, including headlining Derby Alt Fest.

Now firm favourites on the live circuit, Cage Fight have announced their first ever UK headline tour, presented by Primordial Radio. The band will also play Techabiliation festival in November.

Catch them on the following dates:

19 Nov - Derby, Techabiliation Festival
30 Nov - Manchester, Satan's Hollow
09 Dec - Leeds, Boom
10 Dec - Birmingham, Asylum
11 Dec - London, Black Heart

Headline tickets now available on pre-sale via Primordial Radio here: https://primordialradio.com/cagefight

Tickets go on general sale on Wednesday 12th October.

Techabiliation tickets now available here: https://www.gigantic.com/uk-tech-fest-tickets/derby-the-hairy-dog/2022-11-19-12-00

Cage Fight are:
Rachel Aspe - vocals
James Monteith - guitar
Jon Reid - bass
Nick Plews - drums

Cage Fight online:
facebook.com/cagefighthc
instagram.com/cagefighthc
twitter.com/cagefighthc
linktr.ee/cagefighthc

Tracklisting:

01: Intro feat. Jeremy Sylvester
02: The Mirror Shattered
03: Killer
04: Hope Castrated
05: Make A Decision
06: Guillotine
07: Cage Fight!
08: Shine Don’t Fade
09: One Minute
10: Tell Me What Real Is
11: Respect Ends
12: Eating Me Alive Feat. Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder)
13: My Dreams
14: Bitch In The Pit (Body Count cover)

Staunchly backed Welsh rock quartet, Holding Absence, have announced a UK headline tour, set to take place in January and February 2023. The news follows the band's extensive run across North America supporting Silverstein and The Amity Affliction, as well as the recent release of their split EP The Lost & The Longing with Alpha Wolf.

The tour, dubbed Live & In Monochrome, will see Holding Absence revisiting towns and venues they've not played for a few years, showcasing a host of rarely performed songs, some of which have never been played live before. Support on all dates comes from Australian metalcore act Void Of Vision.

Frontman Lucas Woodland comments:

"Our bands roots were initially planted by playing in grassroots venues far and wide across the UK, and as we reach the end of our TGMOML cycle, we thought now was a better time than ever to go back to some of those venues, towns and cities!

"After a long 2022 of touring the world, the Live & In Monochrome tour is our way of being able to play some older songs to our oldest fans (or newer fans that missed us back at the start), before making a head-start on LP3. We can’t wait!"

Dates:

January
18th - Exeter, Phoenix
19th - Oxford, O2 Academy2
20th - Leicester, O2 Academy2
21st - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
22nd - Lincoln, The Drill
24th - Sunderland, Independent
25th - Edinburgh, Mash House
26th - Hull, Welly 2
27th - Carlisle, Brickyard
28th - Liverpool, O2 Academy2
30th - Stoke, Sugarmill
31st - Bristol, Fleece

February
1st - Portsmouth, Wedgwood Rooms
2nd - Colchester, Arts Centre
4th - Ramsgate, Music Hall
5th - Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms

Tickets are available on fan pre-sale from 10am BST on Wednesday 12th October, with general sale tickets available from 10am BST on Friday 14th October: https://www.holdingabsence.com/

Holding Absence recently released The Lost & The Longing split EP with Alpha Wolf via SharpTone Records. The EP includes four new tracks, two of which feature collaborations between both bands.

Check out 'Aching Longing feat. Alpha Wolf' here: https://youtu.be/XxwWxjdo-0k

Check out 'Coffin' here: https://youtu.be/oykJDd4qAYk

Holding Absence are:
Lucas Woodland - Vocals
Scott Carey - Guitar
Benjamin Elliott - Bass
Ashley Green - Drums

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

http://sharptonerecords.co

Global doom metal supergroup MMXX have released their new single/video, ‘Shadow Haven Feat. Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity/Nightingale).

The third single to be released from their highly anticipated forthcoming album Sacred Cargo (Candlelight Records, 11th November) bursts forth with sombre grace and melancholy, paving the path for the band's debut with a rich-textured soundscape, soulful vocals, and powerful beauty.

Check out the video, ‘Shadow Haven Feat. Dan Swanö’: https://youtu.be/t4kK-UOGQ6I
Streaming and purchase options here: https://MMXX.lnk.to/SacredCargoPR

Commenting on the new single, drummer Jesse Haff explains: "Andrea shared what would become 'Shadow Haven' with me at the very end of the writing process for Sacred Cargo. Even before Dan Swanö brought his magic to the song, I was immediately hypnotised by the composition, and felt it would be the perfect album finale. Dan's dynamic vocals then elevated it to a completely different level. We're all very proud of the final result. Egan wrote the lyrics about how many of us learned to find peace in the quiet secluded time during pandemic lockdown, despite the misery unfolding around us."

Born during the initial lockdown of Rome and New York City, and incubated as the seasons passed, doom metal supergroup MMXX is the sound of global isolation. At the core of MMXX is Andrea Chiodetti (ex-The Foreshadowing) on guitars and keys, Jesse Haff on drums (Daylight Dies and Gökböri) and Egan O’Rourke on bass (Daylight Dies). Together they channelled inspiration for composition after composition to collaborate with a geographically, culturally, and stylistically diverse collection of celebrated vocalists and musicians from around the world.

"Sacred Cargo started during one of the darkest moments of lockdown," explains guitarist Andrea Chiodetti, "it was a creative expression, processing what was happening to the world around us. What makes this project unique is that every piece and its lyrics (provided by each singer), all composed during the height of the pandemic, is able to give voice to a deeply intimate part of all of us. They’re lyrics that belong to every person who lived through and shared that collective experience."

The end result, Sacred Cargo, is a dynamic and diverse sounding release, simultaneously densely heavy whilst retaining elements of etherealness and light, with each guest vocalist layering in their own perspective to culminate in this eclectic compendium of music reflecting an experience sadly understood by all.

Drummer Jesse Haff adds: "It's amazing to me that the grand vision of this album—one in which we had different vocalists from around the world contributing their own lockdown experience—was actually achieved. Andrea and I imagined our ideal end result and just went for it, but underestimated how much coordination would be required by everyone to truly pull it off. I'm amazed that so many talented people connected with the intent behind the project and agreed to participate. I'm deeply grateful for that. We didn't have to describe some foreign science fiction concept—unfortunately it is a directly understood reality experienced by all. I think the idea of directly channeling our unique perspectives into a collective expression resonated with everyone, as an obvious way to mark this era of our lives."

Appearing on forthcoming album Sacred Cargo, guest vocalists include Dan Swanö of Edge of Sanity, Nightingale (Sweden), Yann Ligner of Klone (France), Mick Moss of Antimatter and Sleeping Pulse (UK), Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride (UK), Mikko Kotamaki of Swallow the Sun (Finland), Carmelo Orlando of Novembre (Italy), Marco Benevento of The Foreshadowing (Italy), Chris Cannella of Autumns End (USA), and Egan O’Rourke of Daylight Dies (USA).

MMXX are:
Andrea Chiodetti - Guitar/Keys
Jesse Haff - Drums
Egan O’Rourke - Bass

MMXX online:
Website || Facebook || Instagram

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

Sacred Cargo Tracklist

1: This Breath Is Not My Breath Feat. Mikko Kotamäki
2: Perdition Mirror Feat. Mick Moss
3: The New Forgotten Ones Feat. Yann Ligner
4: Faint Flickering Light
5: The Tower Feat. Mick Moss
6: Unavailing Feat. Marco Benevento, Chris Cannella
7: Der Nukleus Feat. Carmelo Orlando
8: SacredCargo Feat. Aaron Stainthorpe
9: Espirare
10: Shadow Haven Feat. Dan Swanö

Photo Credit: Ekaterina Gorbacheva

Up-and-coming solo shred guitarist Morgan Reid has shared his new single 'Goliath Online'; a groove-filled instrumental metal track with an emphasis on industrial, mechanical riffs and sci-fi scales, with rhythm guitars reminiscent of the likes of Meshuggah. The music video features some choreographed dancing from Reid himself, his wife Tine Reid and fellow dancer Isabelle Schramm.

Stream 'Goliath Online' here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/morganreid/goliath-online

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/DR6IW-LNA_Q
Morgan comments: "'Goliath Online' and its accompanying dance film/music video is a cyberpunk story about the awakening of a female cyborg - her brutal creation, a body dismembered and repurposed by nanobots on the production line for war. The inner struggle with her singular purpose, destruction. A mechanical existence that overshadows her boiling human emotion, yet her tech boasts an ever-soaring lust for battle. How does she feel trapped inside this cold mechanical shell? Does the heat of battle bring not joy? This dark satire is about the glorification of war and violence in our society."
'Goliath Online' is taken from Morgan's long-awaited debut album Terran, to be released 25th November. It follows singles 'A Formless Icon', 'Grand Champ' and 'Djinn & Juice'. The project is supported by Initiative Musik gGmbH with project funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media (Germany).

Born in Toronto, Canada, Morgan is well-known for his fierce technical shredding, slamming riffs, bombastic windmills and his expressive, melodic lead lines.

Known as guitarist for tech-death outfit Bloodshot Dawn, Morgan has been at the pinnacle of the guitar world for a good number of years already. Now a JTC guitarist, Morgan made it to the top 5 of Per Nilsson's Guitar Messenger Contest in 2013, alongside Plini, and with his first live performance garnered praise at Guitar Idol 4 in 2014.

Soon after Morgan joined Bloodshot Dawn, following the departure of their previous guitarist who left to join Scar Symmetry. His first ever gig with the band was a sweaty one, the aptly named Incineration Fest in London, which preceded Morgan's first tour of Japan with the band.

In following years Morgan has toured with the likes of Decapitated, Virvum, Fleshgod Apocalyse, and across Canada, Japan and Europe. With Bloodshot Dawn Morgan has also performed at Hellfest, Bloodstock, Hammerfest and Metaldays, among others.

Beside music, Morgan is also a professional dancer and choreographer. Having moved to Europe at the age of 18 to enrol in a prestigious dance program, Morgan's dance has been integral to his development as a composer and songwriter. His skills as a dancer, and beyond as a yoga enthusiast and martial artist, have helped him develop his own unique, dynamic style with the instrument through years of practice and research.

For more:
https://www.instagram.com/morganreidguitar
https://www.facebook.com/Morganreidguitar
https://morganreidguitar.com

Photo Credit: Felix Albertin

German alternative/dark-pop quartet Letters Sent Home have released their mighty new single 'Fire', taken from their upcoming new EP, Fire In Me, released 2nd December via new label home of Hassle Records.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgGw5f_iUDU

Pre-order Fire In Me here: https://hasslerecords.ffm.to/lsh_fire-in-me

In celebration of the news, Letters Sent Home have also announced their debut UK live performance: the group will be supporting alt rockers Blackout Problems at London's Black Heart on 16th November.

The band comment: "“Fire” is a perfect introduction into that new mindset as it portrays a world full of hatred which can only be saved through love - the love we feel and especially give. “The fire in me is burning me to the ground”, meaning only love will be the end of me. I will not die with hatred in my heart."

Fire In Me will be available as a limited vinyl release of 200 copies, pressed on crystal clear vinyl and handnumbered and signed by the band. Available exclusively from the Hassle Records store, the physical EP features new versions of Letters Sent Home's hit 'Misery Loves Company', including a stripped-back version.

Letters Sent Home formed in 2017 in Wolfsburg, based on the close bonds of friendship of Emily, Lara and Robin, quickly finding a forth member in drummer Louis. The band began their journey fully in 2020 with their first single 'Mosaic Mirror' - and the process that the band have lived through can be described as rollercoaster, full of highs and lows.

Driven by courageous ambition, Letters Sent Home came closer to their goals with their first, self-titled EP in late 2020, which served as the foundation for an incredibly successful 2021.

The group's second EP, Misery Loves Company, offered a greater expansion of sound, but also two top-class guest features, underlines the band's increasing heft. Besides Being As An Ocean's Joel Quartuccio, Letters Sent Home also teamed up with Halflives singer Linda Battilani. Both post-hardcore-infused alternative rock songs, they sit alongside the band's synth-laden dark-pop influences, showcasing a fine modern pop-rock sound.

The Misery Loves Company EP led to national attention across key alternative media outlets and an ever-growing fanbase, as well as Hassle Records, their new label home for third EP Fire In Me. A stunning listen, it's a fine demonstration of Letters Sent Home's non-conforming rock sound and their strong lyrical identity.

Thematically the band touch on the topic of mental health, and vocalist Emily's personal experiences. The band raise awareness on these themes not just through their music but with initiatives such as their Helpless But Hopeful Festivals and accompanying podcast.

Having now signed with established London-based independent label Hassle Records, Letters Sent Home look set to establish themselves as one of the most promising acts to watch out for over the coming year – new EP Fire In Me coming December 2022, with the quartet already working on crafting their debut album.

For more information:
Website: https://www.letterssenthome.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letterssenthomeband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letterssenthome/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7GuZKdkzjJgmsop5Zj767Q

Letters Sent Home are:

Emily Paschke (Vocals)
Robin Werner (Guitar, Keys)
Louis Schramm (Drums)
Lara Ripke (Bass, Backing Vocals)

Tracklisting:

A1. Fire 
A2. Born To Die 
A3. Phoenix 

B1. Misery Loves Company (feat. Joel Quartuccio)
B2. Misery Loves Company (Stripped)
B3. Misery Loves Company (LSH Version)

Hotly-tipped electro-punks CLT DRP have released their stellar new 7'' single 'Aftermath', with B-side cover by indie rockers The Big Moon.

Stream here: https://listen.smallpondrec.com/aftermath-the-big-moon

Watch CLT DRP's 'Aftermath' video here: https://youtu.be/qBRRoTviKz4

'Aftermath' is centred on themes of sexual assault and gendered violence, and the internalised guilt and frustration that can follow in the wake of sexual assault.

CLT DRP's Annie comments:

"Generational grief’s discourse within feminism is something that I don’t believe gets paid much attention to. There’s been so much progress culturally around the education of sexual health, consent and intersectional feminism while I’ve been growing up. Unfortunately even within that progress - it feels as though a lot of disconnect surrounding the victim blaming narrative has stayed the same. The onus continues to remain on the women to solve the problem of sexual assault / gendered violence and I notice that there is still a slight trace of resentment clashing between generations. There are all these conversations around how lucky my generation is that culturally, these topics are being spoken about and normalised in our lifetime. The reality surrounding that is most of these women and victims of sexual assault have carried this generational trauma and grief and passed it down. Men are learning about power dynamics and trying to be better but the women in this world have been left to pick up the pieces. More emotional labour, more time forgiving their perpetrators than themselves. Shame, that’s never been erased from family tree to family tree. Trauma that’s never been paid for and then becomes recycled on to our children.

'Aftermath' was a way to process how I felt about the conversation around sexual assault. I’ve been a bystander before because I was too scared to speak up, I’ve second guessed accusations because it was too painful to believe the truth or blocked out my own experiences because I didn’t want to admit that I was a victim. When you pride yourself on independence it’s really hard to paint yourself in that light, as not in control. When someone starts sharing their story it almost holds a mirror to you and your experiences that you’ve managed to bury, it’s triggering and so many women I know were never taught how to deal with that conversation or that trauma. I used to be so jarred by women my mother’s age in how little they spoke about their trauma and how little empathy they had sometimes for women/LGBTQ+ individuals younger than them. I soon realised that that’s how they processed their experiences and who was I to judge or ask of them to be anything more than okay with how they chose to deal with it at the time. If anything, I admire them now in a way I never used to. It fills me with more love and empathy than I could have imagined having when I carried so much anger and judgement."

On their collaboration, The Big Moon comment:

“We’re lucky to be both friends and fans of Annie and CLT DRP, so we were really glad to be asked to be part of this release. 'Aftermath' is such a powerful song - so personal yet universal - the weight of that really hit us and we feel grateful to have been part of the song’s life in some small way.”

CLT DRP will be releasing a zine to accompany Aftermath - a visual lyric book with perspectives from the band on the wake and reality of dealing with sexual assault. It touches on victim-blaming, gendered violence, and notions of responsibility. Confronting the sense of self-reflection that trauma instils in victims, the song and zine are a vital moment from a truly special trio.

Pronounced 'CLIT DRIP' for those confused or too shy to ask, CLT DRP have been turning heads since 2017. The genre-bending trio's non-apologetic and yet playful approach has seen them garner praise from TheLineOfBestFit, Gigwise, and plenty more. Their music gets you moving, invites you in with power, and makes you question your environment and yourself.

In their time, CLT DRP have already supported Nova Twins, Warmduscher, among others, and performed at 2000trees and ArcTanGent festivals.

CLT DRP will be touring with De Staat shortly. Dates as follows:

14/10 Manchester, UK, Academy 3
15/10 Dublin, IE, Grand social
16/10 Glasgow, UK, King Tut's
18/10 Birmingham, UK, Mama Roux
19/10 Leeds, UK, Brudenell
20/10 Bristol, UK, Thekla
04/11 Cluji, RO, Form Space
05/11 Bucharest, RO, Club Control
06/11 Sofia, BG, Terminal 1
08/11 Budapest, HU, Turbuina
09/11 Vienna, AT, Arena
10/11 München, DE, Strom
11/11 Oberhausen, DE, Resonanzwerk
13/11 Zürich, CH, Plaza

Black metallers Abduction have released a snarlingly bleak new single/video for 'A Psylacybic Death' featuring Revenant Marquis.

'A Psylacybic Death' is the second visceral single to be released from Abduction's new album, Black Blood, which is set for release on 21st October via Candlelight Records.

View the video for 'A Psylacybic Death' here: https://youtu.be/JRfsfGOxHJg
Pre-order the album here: https://Abduction.lnk.to/BlackBloodPR

Abduction state: "'A Psylacybic Death' speaks, obtusely, of wisdom lost through time. The song entails a drug induced death ritual inspired by the Eleusinian Mysteries whereby the subject hallucinates and is visited by creatures of the cosmic realm, before dissolving from tangible terra firma into the ether. The illusive RM of Revenant Marquis performed a particularly heinous ritual across this track, at my request. I am very pleased to have collaborated with him. 'I wish no ill, but all to death.'"

Formed in 2016 as a shadowy single-man entity, Abduction have made astonishingly fast progress, carving a fearsome reputation for themselves as a standout act in an increasingly crowded extreme metal scene.

Performing alone in the early years – a rare sight, despite the many one-man bands in the genre ­– Abduction’s central protagonist A|V then expanded the band into a full live outfit, to better create intense, ritualistic and immersive performances, both at underground shows and larger festivals.

The forthcoming release of Black Blood sees Abduction’s most ambitious and rewarding album to date. Recorded ­– like its predecessor, 2019’s All Pain As Penance – by Ian Boult at Stuck on a Name Studios in Nottingham, this nightmarish yet entrancing listen pushes Abduction into new territories without straying from their core sound. From the hypnotically earnest and haunting opener ‘In Exaltation of the Supreme Being’, to the expansive 11-minute epic ‘Plutonian Gate’, with its marked progressive and psychedelic overtones, to the blend of uncompromising, stripped-down black metal and slower, almost post-metal textures of ‘A Psylacybic Death’, it is an intense and dynamic experience.

Black Blood draws both from the band’s roots and new inspirations. The fact that members of British black metal bands The Sun’s Journey Through the Night and Revenant Marquis appear is a welcome nod to where Abduction come from, yet the fact that the band are atypical for a UKBM act ­– no rousing odes to England or 90s Scandinavian formulas here ­– is perhaps their most precious attribute. Their distinctive qualities have also earnt them a place on the roster of one of extreme metal’s most famous labels, Candlelight Records, a definite milestone.

“Before this album was recorded, I knew I wanted to step things up a few notches in terms of taking this vision to a wider audience,” A|V states. “Candlelight approached me – indirectly, as they didn’t know who I was behind the mask – and offered a deal that more than meets where I want to take this project. Rather than continue to exist in the well-established sphere I’ve grown comfortable in, I decided that now is the time to take a leap into the unknown. Much like the narratives of the songs, there is both trepidation and elation. Time will be the judge…”

Abduction online:
Facebook

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

Tracklisting:

1. Kernos Crown
2. Dismantling The Corpse Of Demeter
3. Plutonian Gate
4. Lightless At The Grand Conjunction
5. A Psylacybic Death
6. In Exaltation Of The Supreme Being

Photo Credit: Jeremiah Sanchez

Baltimore-based quartet Cherie Amour have released their new single and video 'Losing Control', taken from their upcoming album Spiritual Ascension due out 4th November on Rude Records / Equal Vision Records.

Watch the visualiser to 'Losing Control' here: https://youtu.be/hx0FuIoDAA0

The band has built hype throughout the year with a series of singles that have garnered them acclaim from fans and critics alike. 'Sin City', 'Letting Go', and 'Love's Not Your Thing' (all produced by Alan Day of Four Year Strong) will appear on their upcoming album and prove that Cherie Amour have perfected their self-described 'nu-punk' sound.

Pre-order and pre-save the album here: https://cherieamour.lnk.to/SpiritualAscension

'Losing Control' is Cherie Amour's fourth single of the year and showcases the band's ability to explore the sonic landscape between rock, pop-punk, EDM and hip-hop. Their newest song is absolutely dripping with attitude, and serves as a statement on their versatile songwriting ability. While 'Losing Control' leans into a pulsating, club friendly groove, it is by no means formulaic - the band has a fearless creative sensibility they aren't afraid to flex, even when writing dancefloor bangers.

Vocalist Trey Miller has this to say about the latest track: "'Losing Control’ is lyrically about that moment when you see someone across the room at a party and there’s a mutual attraction but also a bunch of other factors that might prevent y’all from building a committed relationship. Sonically, ‘Losing Control’ is really unique; it’s got an EDM flair mixed with chugging guitars and a drum corps-esque breakdown. We wanted to make something that was still 'rock' but could stand its own in a club setting and I think we did that with this song."

The band will join In Her Own Words, Capstan and Shallow Pools on a month long North American tour starting 18th November.

Cherie Amour are:
Trey Miller - vocals
Casey Reid - guitar
Brendan Willis - guitar
Ronnie Sherman - drums

Cherie Amour online:

https://cherieamourband.com
https://www.facebook.com/CherieAmourBand
https://twitter.com/CherieAmourBand
https://www.instagram.com/cherieamourband
https://www.tiktok.com/@cherieamourband

Track listing:

1. Welcome
2. On Deck
3. Sin City
4. Low n Lean
5. Letting Go
6. Mind's Eye
7. Love's Not Your Thing
8. God Be A Woman
9. Spiritual Ascension
10. Losing Control
11. In My Head