Finland’s modern metal quintet My Favourite Nemesis return with a new look, label and album; the band release their new record Eidolon today via Seek & Strike and have also shared a captivating new video for the album's title track. The first taste of Eidolon came via the very well-received single 'Breach'. The track also served as the band’s introduction of new female vocalist Sanna Solanterä (ex-Fireproven), who now joins longtime male vocalist, Janne Piela, for a stunning dual attack. This pairing unlocked a new array of songwriting depth, which is prominent across Eidolon, which is out now across all digital service providers. 

Watch the video for 'Eidolon' here: https://youtu.be/icVRBYlSdVM
 

Stream the album here: https://orcd.co/eidolon

Vocalist Janne Piela comments: "We started writing Eidolon pretty much immediately after we had finished recording our debut album, Rift. We wanted to make this offering more straight-forward than our previous releases. This meant writing more traditional song structures and taking more into consideration how the songs compliment each other, and the album as a whole. Also, this time around, we decided not to work with any outside producers, as we wanted this record to sound exactly the way we envisioned it ourselves."

On the album's lyrics, Piela adds: "Writing the lyrics this time was a very easy process for me. I wanted the album to tell a story about rediscovering yourself after going through traumatic experiences. After deciding on that concept, the whole writing process was a breeze. I really wanted to explore topics such as depression, self-reflection, self-destructive behaviour and rebirth."

"The name Eidolon comes from ancient Greek literature, which I'm personally very fascinated by. An eidolon is a shade or a phantom of a person and that just fit perfectly the themes of this album. The story on the album goes from someone being an empty shell of their former self and in the end becoming whole again."

Speaking of the recording process, Piela notes: "During the recording, we went through some line up changes, with members leaving the band to pursue different goals in life. This certainly put some strain on the whole process. Luckily, we managed to fill the void and finish the record with Sanna and Vade (drums) joining the band. They also provided their own input and finishing touches on the songs. Overall, we are very proud of this album and how far we've come as songwriters and as a band. We pushed each other to make the best music we can together and I think it's safe to say it really paid off."

 Since 2017, My Favourite Nemesis have gained a lot of attention across the Finnish modern metal scene with their catchy guitar riffs and wide variation of instrumental and vocal arrangements. The band’s explosive live performances have successfully convinced audiences in Finland and abroad - notably through two sold out shows with Swedish metal band Dead By April in Finland, and a German tour with Suffocation. My Favourite Nemesis are now ready to bring their unique brand of heavy metal excellence to a world-wide audience.

My Favourite Nemesis are:

Janne Piela- Vocals
Sanna Solanterä- Vocals
Joel Aav- Lead guitar
Janne Suominen- Rhythm guitar
Valtteri Estola- Drums

For more:
https://www.instagram.com/myfavouritenemesis
https://www.facebook.com/MFNofficial

Acclaimed young alt-pop/prog trio Exploring Birdsong have released their new single/video 'No Longer We Lie', from their long-awaited second EP, Dancing in the Face of Danger, to be released tomorrow, 24th March via Long Branch Records.

Watch the video to 'No Longer We Lie' here: https://youtu.be/UgsxdCzJCe8

Stream the single and pre-order the new EP here:
https://exploringbirdsong.lnk.to/dancinginthefaceofdanger

The band comment: 

"'No Longer We Lie' probably encapsulates the over arcing themes of the new EP the strongest, and as a composition, is one of the songs we’re proudest of," comment the band. "The chorus took us the most time to figure out of anything else on the record, but we feel it paid off; it’s one of the least conventional choruses we’ve written but we wanted it to represent the chaos shown in the lyrics throughout the song. ‘We will make them feel hell now’."

A beautifully curious blend of pop-sensibility, delicacy, experimentation and heaviness. British piano-led, guitar-less trio Exploring Birdsong are paving their own musical path with their new record Dancing in the Face of Danger.

Their acclaimed 2019 debut EP The Thing With Feathers - a concept release centred on the Seamus Heaney poem ‘Bye Child’ and the story of Kevin Halfpenny, one of the most bizarre cases of child cruelty ever recorded - caught the eyes of key players in the UK press (Prog magazine, Kerrang! Magazine, Classic Rock Magazine) and achieved two Progressive Music Awards nominations in the same year.

Dancing in the Face of Danger, recorded and mixed at Northstone Studios, Bridgend, builds on the musical foundations of The Thing With Feathers. The five-track EP has an evolutionary growth; synthesizers and a live string section add texture and gravity to the piano-led core, and whilst the record isn’t conventionally conceptual, lyrically, the band describe each track as ‘having its own tale to tell’.

Rarely are new groups as exciting, talented or unique as Exploring Birdsong. Straddling pop, progressive rock and uncategorisable genre-blending beauty, the band are unplaceable for the most part, but bring to mind elements of Kate Bush, Sleep Token and Agent Fresco.

Rarely too do you hear voices as captivating as frontwoman Lynsey Ward’s. Powerful, controlled, and spine-chillingly tender, Lynsey’s vocals help mark Exploring Birdsong as a prospect to watch, from the release of their acclaimed debut The Thing With Feathers (2019, Long Branch Records) to 2023's EP Dancing in the Face of Danger.

The young group most recently made their European debut at Euroblast festival (Cologne, DE) - their first live performance since their five city inaugural headline tour across the UK in September 2021, including London, Manchester and Birmingham, and following the successful support tours with the likes of Sleep Token and Thank You Scientist. 

Exploring Birdsong are:
Lynsey Ward - vocals, piano
Jonny Knight - bass, synthesisers
Matt Harrison - drums, percussion

Exploring Birdsong online:
https://www.instagram.com/exploringbirdsong
https://www.facebook.com/ExploringBirdsong
https://www.exploringbirdsong.com
https://twitter.com/exbirdsong

Tracklisting:

1 Pyre
2 The Way Down
3 Bear The Weight
4 Ever The Optimist
5 No Longer We Lie

UK breakthrough act As Everything Unfolds have released their new single 'Slow Down'. The track is the final single ahead of their upcoming second album Ultraviolet, due for release on 21st April via Long Branch Records. 'Slow Down' follows the band's UK tour supporting Enter Shikari and their Heavy Music Awards nomination for Best Breakthrough Live Artist. 

Check out 'Slow Down' here: https://youtu.be/bdfat9kbon0

Stream 'Slow Down' and pre-order Ultraviolet here: https://aseverythingunfolds.lnk.to/ultraviolet

Vocalist Charlie Rolfe discusses the meaning of the single: 

"Ever feel like you’re being pulled down? Like someone is your biggest supporter yet your biggest critic, it’s a confusing and conflicting feeling. 'You’re letting me shout out, while you’re telling me to slow down?’ Sometimes people will try to manipulate you into thinking they’re your biggest supporter, but jealousy can lead those same people to drag you down leaving you confused. When charged with platform or responsibility, that weight can carry difficult tasks and burdens. Push through it and be the best version of you that you can be."

Rolfe comments on the new album: 

“The new album Ultraviolet is an open work on the thoughts and feelings surrounding us at the time. The anger, the frustration, the progress, everything on show, nothing to hide. Darkroom practice is something that has been a large part of my creative path, finding links between the emotion in music, putting everything on display for all to listen and exposing a colour photograph, putting it on display for all to see. Only when you are exposed to ultraviolet light can you see life in full colour.”

As Everything Unfolds have also announced two headline shows, to celebrate the release of Ultraviolet. The news follows their recent UK tour as special guests to Enter Shikari. The band will head to mainland Europe next month for Impericon Festival, followed by a German tour including shows supporting Callejon, and UK/EU festival appearances. 

Ultraviolet headline shows:

Sep 12: Manchester Academy 3 UK 
Sep 13: London O2 Islington Academy UK

Additional live dates: 

Apr 07: Vienna Arena, AT (Impericon Festival)
Apr 08: Leipzig Halle Eins, DE (Impericon Festival)
Apr 09: Prague Futurum Music Bar CZ (w/ Dragged Under)
Apr 12: Bologna Freakout Club IT
Apr 13: Milan Legend Club IT 
Apr 14: Zurich Komplex 457, CH (Impericon Festival)
Apr 15: Oberhausen Turbinenhalle, DE (Impericon Festival)
Apr 16: Munich Backstage, DE (Impericon Festival)
Apr 30: Corby Mayday Mayhem, UK 
May 04: Nuremberg Hirsch, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 05: Stuttgart Im Wizemann, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 06: Weissenfels Kulturhaus, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 09: Berlin Privatclub, DE
May 10: Hannover Lux, DE 
May 11: Trier Mergener, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 12: Augsburg Kantine, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 14: Kassel Franz Ulrich, DE 
May 17: Mainz KUZ/Lehrsaal, DE 
May 18: Munster Sputnikhalle, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 19: Dresden Reithalle, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 20: Karlsruhe Substage, DE (w/ Callejon)
May 21: Frankfurt Batschkapp, DE (w/ Callejon)
Jun 28: Galicia Resurrection Fest, ES 
Jul 08: Cheltenham 2000trees Festival, UK 
Aug 09: Eschwege Open Flair Festival DE
Aug 10: Rothenburg ob der Tauber, DE (Taubertal Festival)
Sep 09: Torquay Burn It Down Festival, UK 

Ignoring traditional genre boundaries with their distinctive sound,As Everything Unfoldshave aspired to create a unique listening experience, combining a multitude of genres within the alternative realm and beyond. With over 25 millionstreams to date, following the release of their debut albumWithin Each Lies The Other, their craft does not go unnoticed.

As Everything Unfoldshave been nominated for a Heavy Music Award, appeared at European festivals includingDownload Festival,Graspop,Rock For People,Full Force,and shared stages withEnter Shikari, Wargasm, Holding Absenceand many more. 

With the release of their new album and an array of live dates in the pipeline, 2023 promises to be a huge year for As Everything Unfolds.

As Everything Unfolds are:

Charlie Rolfe- Vocals
Adam Kerr- Guitar
George Hunt- Bass
Jon Cassidy- Synth
Jamie Gowers- Drums

For more information: 
https://www.facebook.com/AsEverythingUnfolds
https://twitter.com/aeuofficial
https://www.instagram.com/aeuofficial/
https://www.musicglue.com/aseverythingunfolds/

Ultraviolet tracklist:

1. Ultraviolet
2. Felt Like Home
3. Slow Down
4. Saint Or Rogue
5. Blossom
6. Infrared
7. Flip Side
8. Twilight
9. Rose Bouquets
10. Daylight
11 All I've Ever Known

Photo Credit: Marc Sharp

Post-hardcore/alt-rock quartet To Kill Achilles return with a video for their brand new single 'Rats', out now via Arising Empire. The track marks the band's first new music since their 2021 album Something To Remember Me By.

Check out the video for 'Rats' here: https://youtu.be/GxDJNihcGxs

Stream/purchase 'Rats' here: https://arisingempire.com/rats

Through years of embracing honesty and channelling hardships into expression, To Kill Achilles begin their next chapter with new single 'Rats'. 

'Rats' is full of the same ferocity we've come to expect from To Kill Achilles, with sincere lyrics depicting real life experiences. The music is a mixture of aggression, sadness, hope and beauty, with soaring choruses that promote the journey towards positivity.

The band's previous material told the story of mental degradation without hope, causing them to feel drained from repeating the same lines of how it hurts to be here. Their new material deals with courage, control, acceptance and ultimately the end goal that anyone in this circumstance seeks: the other side. This is the journey of getting better, taking control of your life and the experiences around you.

To Kill Achilles have extensively toured across the UK, the majority of Europe and Russia with bands such as We Came As Romans, Counterparts, While She Sleeps, I Killed The Prom Queen, Betraying The Martyrs and many more.  

Stream/purchase Something To Remember Me By here: https://tokillachilles.lnk.to/SomethingToRememberMeBy

To Kill Achilles are:

Tindal | Vocals
Larry | Guitar
Tippett | Bass
Baz | Drums

For more information:
https://www.tokillachilles.com
https://www.facebook.com/tokillachilles
https://www.instagram.com/tokillachillesband
https://www.tiktok.com/@tokillachilles
https://twitter.com/tokillachilles

Photo Credit: Scott Chalmers

Ferocious four-piece Saint Agnes return with new album Bloodsuckers, set for release on 21st July via Spinefarm, and have unveiled the album's raw title track.

Watch the video to 'Bloodsuckers' here: https://youtu.be/5FAbDf3Ft8I

Stream the single and pre-save the album here:  https://SntAgnes.lnk.to/BLOODSUCKERS

Hailing from the UK, Saint Agnes are all about honest lyrics, intense vocal performances, plus rage-fuelled music intended to give a voice to those closer to the fringe than the centre. With its violent riffs, venomous vocals and punk attitude, the title track single serves as a no holds barred introduction to the Bloodsuckers album.

Vocalist Kitty A. Austen comments on the single and video: "I wrote 'Bloodsuckers' when I couldn’t take it anymore, when I decided to stop allowing people to crush me, to diminish me. I took my rage and my pain and used it as fuel and I burned. We are not defined by what has been done to us. We decide who we are. We choose who we want to be. We are whole. We are worthy. The video is an introduction to Team Bloodsuckers. Join us."

Saint Agnes have announced a one-off 'Bloodsuckers' single launch headline show on the 20th April at The Black Heart, London. Tickets go on sale on 31st March here: https://www.seetickets.com/event/saint-agnes-special-london-show/the-black-heart/2609094

The band will then join Monster Magnet on their spring / summer European run, before returning to the UK to perform at 2000trees festival.

Saint Agnes are also excited to welcome new bassist Ryan Brown into the fold, replacing Ben Chernett.

As much gang as band, Saint Agnes seek to empower those who’ve been battered and bruised yet refuse to lie down, and it’s a thread that runs deep within Bloodsuckers – SA’s first album for Spinefarm, the follow-up to 2019’s Welcome To Silvertown, issued on the band’s own label.
 
In addition to … Silvertown, Saint Agnes have released a number of singles, videos and EPs, embarked on headline tours in both the UK and Europe, and appeared at a host of festivals, including Download, 2000trees, Isle of Wight and Kendal Calling.
 
One thing’s for sure, it’s got nothing to do with rule-books or playing it safe…
 
From the title track (also lead single / video) onwards, Bloodsuckers is a genre-jumping body of work, taking in elements of metal, punk, industrial and grunge, without being bound by any specific style; the 11 tracks here come straight from the source, largely self-produced and mixed (NIN collaborator Sean Beavan lends his mixing and production skills to ‘Follow You’), and this self-contained approach provides an extra emotional weight throughout, with doom trap provocateur and Kerrang! cover artist Mimi Barks further fuelling the chaos on the short, sharp shock that is ‘Body Bag’.
 
Created in the months following the unexpected and untimely death of Kitty’s mother, Bloodsuckers explores a number of themes, including mental illness, pent-up rage, undying love and, of course, grief; from the trash-metal howl into the night that is ‘Bloodsuckers’ right through to broken ballad, ‘This Is Not The End’, a poignant reflection of Kitty’s still-raw emotions, this is a call to outsiders everywhere…

Concludes Kitty: “Creating this album gave me a reason to get to my feet at a time when I really wasn’t sure if I could. I’ve tried to put everything I’ve been feeling into it, all the pain, the rage, the grief, even the unexpected moments of beauty and belief. I hope it makes you feel less alone. I hope it makes you feel bigger, badder and stronger. We might be damaged but that doesn’t mean we’re worthless. This is a record for the defeated, the crushed. We might be broken but that doesn’t mean we’re not whole. Bloodsuckers forever, Saint Agnes forever.”
 

Saint Agnes are:-
 
Kitty A. Austen - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
Jon James Tufnell - Guitar, Vox, Bass
Andrew Head - Drums
Ryan Brown - Bass

Saint Agnes online:
https://www.facebook.com/wearesaintagnes
https://www.instagram.com/wearesaintagnes
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZVjtrzewE0VgjsG9PONcEQ

Tracklisting:

1. Bloodsuckers
2. Animal
3. I Mean Nothing To you
4. Outsider
5. This Is Not The End
6. Follow You
7. I Am
8. At War With Myself
9. Middle Finger
10. Body Bag (ft. Mimi Barks)
11. Forever And Ever

Photo Credit: Lars Juveland

Australian pop-punk troupe Between You & Me have today released their playful, energetic and addictive new single 'Nevermind' - their first new music since their acclaimed second album Armageddon released in 2021 via Hopeless Records.

The single comes with a vibrant music video cut with footage from the band’s recent stint in the USA while touring with State Champs. 

Listen to 'Nevermind' here: https://orcd.co/byamnvrmnd
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/9DMBXXfa3Pc

Newly independent, Between You & Me are more motivated than ever to continue their global takeover. Frontman Jake Wilson says "We knew that the next song we released after Armageddon was going to be tough because we put all that we had into the album and are very proud of what we were able to create together. Since our band is now independent, there felt like a lot of added pressure to prove a lot of people wrong and remind everyone that we’re still here and we aren’t dropping off anytime soon." 

Having explored different genres and approaches to songwriting on the new release, Wilson adds: "As we’re growing in our career and as individuals we’ve enjoyed playing with different genres and finding our niche. ‘Nevermind’ is the next chapter for BYAM that perfectly captures the spirit of our band and our live show."

Featuring the huge singles 'Deadbeat', 'Butterflies', 'Change' and 'Go To Hell' ft. Mikaila Delgado of Yours Truly, the band’s 2021 record Armageddon offered up a heart-on-sleeve account of what it is to be human, delving into themes of love and friendship through to the political and environmental state of the world. The electrifying 10-track record has since clocked up over 10.5million global streams in addition to support from BBC Radio 1 (UK), Spotify, and more. 

In celebration of the album release, Between You & Me stepped out on their biggest Australian headline tour yet in 2022, ending the stint in their hometown of Melbourne with a milestone sold-out show at The Corner Hotel. As the year drew to a close, the band took to the USA, joining American pop-punk outfit State Champs on an extensive month-long run. 

'Nevermind' comes ahead of the band’s massive USA tour in support of Knuckle Puck and Real Friends, before they tour Australia with countrymen Slowly Slowly. 

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

Photo Credit: Austin Spruill

US metal quartet Of Virtue have released a video for new single 'Cannibals', out now via Arising Empire.

Check out the video for 'Cannibals' here: https://youtu.be/ULt4BlOcb7o

Stream/purchase 'Cannibals' here: https://arisingempire.com/cannibals

Produced by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland (August Burns Red, Polaris, Hollow Front), with additional production by Chris Shifflett, and mixed and mastered by Dan Braunstein, (Spiritbox, Dayseeker, Volumes) - Of Virtue's heavy new material hits you straight in the face.

On the single, vocalist Tyler Ennis comments: 

"'Cannibals' is set during one of the most dangerous periods of my road to recovery from alcohol, because I was finally taking accountability. Before then I had never noticed how much my choices affected the people around me. Upon reflection I hated myself for what I had done to them. I was lying, stealing, I was erratic and unpredictable. Overall, I felt that I deserved every bad thing that happened to me. The hardest part was that I felt more worthless in my sober state than while intoxicated, and it got to the point where I believed my actions were beyond forgiveness. Because of that dark time in my life 'Cannibals' serves to remind myself that we cannot change the past but only learn from our mistakes, and that we shouldn't let them shape my our of the world in a self-loathing state." 

Playing this year's UK Tech Fest, Summer Breeze, Full Force, Fallen Fortress, 6K Fest and Upheaval, and accruing a staggering five million streams on their SINNER EP on Spotify alone, Of Virtue’s growth is nothing short of jaw dropping.

Catch them live at the following dates this summer:

Jun 23: Liege 6k Fest BE
Jun 24: Ferropolis Full Force DE
Jul 02: Newark On Trent UK Tech-Fest UK
Jul 15: Grand Rapids UpHeaval USA
Aug 17: Dinkelsbeuhl Summer Breeze DE
Aug 26: Bad Dürkheim Fallen Fortress DE

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 has erupted into an internationally recognised and critically acclaimed alternative powerhouse.

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.

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

UK Tech-Fest has announced additional bands to its 2023 line up including Oceans Ate Alaska, Kublai Khan TX, Hacktivist and Heriot. The 10th edition of the festival will take place at the Newark Showground on 29th June - 3rd July 2023. 
 

Today's full line up announcement sees 21 bands added to the line up: Oceans Ate Alaska, Kublai Khan TX, Hacktivist, Heriot, Paledusk,  Graphic Nature, She Must Burn, Anima Tempo, Sworn Amongst, In Fear, Atlantis Chronicles, Armed For Apocalypse, Arcaeon, Forlorn, Starved, Dreameater, Glass Grave, To Obey A Tyrant, Cave Killer, Glower, From Her Ashes.

Legendary technical death metallers Suffocation will headline the Friday, with deathcore heavyweights Chelsea Grin headlining the Saturday, and modern technical metal pioneers Born Of Osiris closing the festival on the Sunday. 

Festival director Simon Garrod comments: "I'm super excited to announce even more bands for the 10th anniversary of UK Tech Fest. We'll be celebrating ten years of technical and progressive metal excellence with probably our heaviest line-up to date; we still have more bands to announce, so make sure to be there at this very special event!"

Tickets are priced at £79.99 + £20 camping, and can be purchased here: http://uktechfest.gigantic.com/
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/3150546951853429

2023 sponsors and partners:
Pins & Knuckles Merchandise - https://www.pinsandknucklesmerch.com
Strandberg - https://strandbergguitars.com
Aristides - https://aristidesinstruments.com
Hold Tight - https://holdtight.co
Loki Films - https://www.facebook.com/LokiFilms
JWA Creations - https://www.facebook.com/JWACreations2016
D'Addario / Evans / Promark - https://www.daddario.com/
Moomin Merchandise - https://www.moomin-merchandise.com/
Lux CBD - https://thisisluxcbd.com
Capsaarx - https://capsaarx.com

UK Tech-Fest online:
https://uktechfest.com/
https://www.facebook.com/uktechfest

About UK Tech-Fest:

Following the huge success of the first UK Tech-Fest selling out in 2012, the festival went outdoors in 2013 hosting headliners Scar Symmetry, Veil Of Maya and TesseracT. 2014 saw UK Tech-Fest move to the prestigious Newark Showground hosting Sikth's second show after their reunion, and the following year UK Tech-Fest 2015 hosted an exclusive UK appearance from Decapitated. UK Tech-Fest 2016 - The Fifth Anniversary - was a milestone in this festival's career, by far their biggest and best edition to date hosting Animals As Leaders and exclusive appearances from Between The Buried And Me and Protest The Hero. UK Tech-Fest 2017 had its heaviest line-up to date, 2018 had its largest ever attendance and in 2019 solidified its reputation as the UK's most forward-thinking metal festival. 2022 saw the festival's triumphant return after the COVID19 pandemic, headlined by Scar Symmetry, The Ocean and God is an Astronaut, confirming UK Tech-Fest as one of the most important events in the UK calendar.

2023 line up in full:

Suffocation, Chelsea Grin, Born Of Osiris, Aborted UK Exclusive, Loathe, Oceans Ate Alaska, Kublai Khan TX, Hacktivist, Heriot, Paledusk, Of Virtue, Graphic Nature, She Must Burn, Anima Tempo, The Five Hundred, Cage Fight, Sworn Amongst, In Fear, Despite Exile, Atlantis Chronicles, Armed For Apocalypse, Arcaeon, The Cartographer, Pulse, Forlorn, Azure, In Retrospect, Shell Beach, Starved, Dreameater, Glass Grave, Chaos Sequence, Karmanjakah, Netherhall, Draconian Reign, To Obey A Tyrant, Akkadian, Cavekiller, Glower. From Her Ashes, Lost To Light, Swarm6ix. 

Photo Credit: Meg Shanks

US rock quartet Picturesque have announced their new EP IYKYK ('if you know you know'), due for release on 21st April via Rude Records (UK/EU) / Equal Vision Records (ROW). The band have also shared a video for their new single 'Strange Habits'. 

Check out the video for 'Strange Habits' here: https://youtu.be/zwbEKvCnGpE

Stream 'Strange Habits' here: https://picturesque.lnk.to/strange-habits

Pre-save IYKYK here: https://picturesque.lnk.to/IYKYK

'Strange Habits' follows Picturesque's previous single 'Hopeless', which marked their return and first new music since their 2020 sophomore album Do You Feel O.K?.

Born out of a post-hardcore scene that’s often characterised more by aggression than accessibility, the quartet steadfastly refuse to be boxed or pigeonholed, and they’re set on embracing musical tropes not traditionally associated with heavy music.

'Strange Habits' is a reminder to fans old and new that the band are relentless in their exploration of the sonic landscape of alternative music. Angular guitars swirl around elements of pop, hip-hop and electronic music, highlighting the band's highly creative approach to songwriting. Picturesque are a formidable instrumental unit, but special attention must (and should) be given to lead singer and creative mastermind Kyle Hollis. Boasting one of the most dynamic voices in alternative music, his soaring vocals cascade through the track in a way that is altogether original. The official music video features Hollis set against a swirling cinematic backdrop, that lends a compelling narrative to the song. 

Time has become an increasingly abstract concept since the pandemic, not least for bands. For while there’s always a distance between the writing of a record and its release, the last few years have truly highlighted the reality of that. It’s something Picturesque have captured perfectly with their brand new EP, IYKYK. Its six tracks might be coming out now, but they’re a very specific snapshot of the past  - what’s more, a past that everyone in the world experienced collectively at the same time, and the accompanying sense of dread, uncertainty and inertia that came with it. It means that IYKYK - shorthand, of course, for ‘if you know, you know’ - paints a picture simultaneously of both who Picturesque are and were.

“These songs were written during the earlier days of the pandemic,” explains Williamson. “We're notoriously slow songwriters, but since we were locked inside, we decided to be productive. So we locked ourselves in a room and wrote, and this is what came out.”

The end result is an EP with which the band set out to challenge themselves, even if - or perhaps precisely because - that seemed like an impossible task at the time. 

And while the band’s shift away from their musical roots started with 2020’s second album, Do You Feel O.K?, it truly is in full force here. For while that record was a world away from Back To Beautiful, their 2017 debut full-length, this EP is a galaxy away.

“Musically, I think every artist kind of hits the threshold for the scene that they came up in, or the particular demographic of their listeners,” the guitarist says. “We asked ourselves ‘How do we break out of just being a rock band, or a Warped Tour band?’ Because we don’t want to be seen as that. We want to be much more.”

Picturesqueare:

Kyle Hollis | vocals
Zach Williamson | guitar
Dylan Forrester| guitar 
Jordan Greenway | bass

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