UK alt-rock newcomers The Fever Kings have released their debut single 'Drown'; an emotional rock anthem dealing with mental health issues and internal struggles. This ear-worm of a track promises to get stuck in many a head through its powerful and catchy melodies. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/f_FzVfVTufg

Stream the song here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/thefeverkings/drown
 

The Fever Kings comment: "This song speaks about the common struggles of suffering from mental health issues, and the urgency in wanting a helping hand to drag you out of the darkest places in your mind. We hope for this song to resonate with anyone who can relate to the emotions felt during these internal battles and to acquire the strength to push through whatever is currently standing in your way."

Hailing from the North East of England, alternative rock four-piece The Fever Kings were born out of the brutal COVID lockdowns, and the burning desire that Jack, Chris, Alex and Thomas felt to get back to music after long months of social hibernation. Since January 2022, the band have been writing music to serve the soul, carrying influences from Foo Fighters, Biffy Clyro, Jimmy Eat World and Lifehouse through their tasteful sense of melody, and their incredibly dynamic energy.

With just a handful of shows under their belt, the quartet have seen a phenomenal response to their music. After selling out their debut live performance, The Fever Kings have truly created a buzz around the North East. 2023 will see the band releasing their first singles and touring the UK in support.

Catch The Fever Kings live:

May 06: Newcastle HMV
May 13: Newcastle Bobiks

The Fever Kingsare:

Jack Songer- Guitar, vocals 
Thomas Myerscough- Keys 
Alex Brown- Bass 
Chris Gilks- Drums 

For more:
https://www.thefeverkings.com
https://www.facebook.com/thefeverkings 
https://www.instagram.com/thefeverkingsofficial

Holding Absence have released their captivating new single 'A Crooked Melody', out now via SharpTone Records. The track marks the quartet's first new music of 2023. 

Accompanied by a beautifully stylised video that was directed by Lewis Cater, 'A Crooked Melody' is an exceptional example of Holding Absence's keen ability to craft insatiably catchy songs, that serve as a vessel for poignantly relatable lyrics.

Check out the video for 'A Crooked Melody' here: https://youtu.be/4guUJmAnld4

Stream 'A Crooked Melody' here: https://bfan.link/a-crooked-melody

Frontman Lucas Woodland comments: 

“'A Crooked Melody' is simply a song about denial. It’s the lie we tell ourselves every night to help us sleep, but deep down we know the truth. The big difference between a crooked melody and a lie, however, is that it’s sweet, enchanting and easier to swallow.”

Tomorrow Holding Absence start an extensive North American tour as main support to The Plot In You, alongside Thornhill and Banks Arcade. The band are also booked for main stage performances at both Slam Dunk Festival and 2000trees Festival this year. All dates are below.

Apr 07: New Haven Toad's Place, CT* 
Apr 08: Asbury Park Asbury Lanes, NJ*
Apr 09: Harrisburg HMAC, PA*
Apr 11: Montreal Club Soda, QC*
Apr 12: London Music Hall, ON*
Apr 14: Richmond Canal Club, VA*
Apr 15: Charlotte The Underground, NC* 
Apr 16: Charleston Music Farm, SC*
Apr 18: Nashville Eastside Bowl, TN*
Apr 20: Fort Lauderdale Revolution, FL*
Apr 21: Orlando The Beacham, FL*
Apr 22: Pensacola Vinyl Music Hall, FL*
Apr 24: New Orleans House Of Blues, LA*
Apr 25: Austin Empire, TX*
Apr 27: Tuscon The Rock, AZ*
Apr 28: San Diego House Of Blues, CA*
Apr 29: Santa Ana The Observatory, CA*
Apr 30: Berkeley Cornerstone Berkeley, CA*
May 02: Portland The Bossanova Ballroom, OR*
May 03: Vancouver Rickshaw Theater, BC*
May 04: Seattle Croc Theater, WA*
May 06: Grand Junction Mesa Theater Lounge, CO*
May 07: Colorado Springs Black Sheep, CO*
May 09: Lawrence The Bottleneck, KS*
May 10: Des Moines Wooly's, IA*
May 11: Grand Rapids Intersection, MI* 
May 12: St Louis Old Rock House, MO*
May 13: Cincinnati Bogart's, OH* 
May 27: Hatfield Slam Dunk Festival South, UK 
May 28: Leeds Slam Dunk Festival North, UK
Jul 05-08: Cheltenham 2000trees Festival, UK

*supporting The Plot In You 

Tickets for all dates are available here: https://www.holdingabsence.com

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

Photo by: Daniel Carne 

Nu-metal rising stars Sicksense, featuring Killer V (Vicky Psarakis of The Agonist) and Rob The Ripper (Robby J. Fonts of Stuck Mojo), have announced their new EP Fools Tomorrow, set for release on 11th June. They have also unveiled the title-track single (featuring Fozzy guitarist Billy Grey) with a brilliantly entertaining music video, as fans have come to expect from this fun quintet.

Watch the video for 'Fools Tomorrow' here: https://youtu.be/lniJJ_3zct0

Stream the single and pre-order Fools Tomorrow here: https://soundescapeagency.com/sicksense/foolstomorrow

Killer V comments on the single: "'Fools Tomorrow' is about recognizing one's shortcomings. We've all been our own worst enemies at some point in our lives. There's power in acknowledging that sometimes we are the problem. Taking responsibility for your actions and owning up to your faults is better than placing the blame on others. It's all about personal accountability. While it may be tough for many to admit when they're wrong, it ultimately shows strength of character and allows for personal growth."

On the video she continues: "'The Fools Tomorrow' music video follows various outcasts navigating their way through school life, while facing differences, misunderstandings and bullying. Inevitably, everyone comes together amidst the chaos, showcasing that we’re honestly all more alike than we are different."

Outliers never stick to the script. Instead, they constantly and consistently surprise. As such, Sicksense bob and weave past any and all boundaries, flipping convention upside down and fusing heavy metal, hip-hop, and alternative like never before. Extreme screams puncture nimbly rapped verses, tempering a male-and-female call-and-response and giving the metal game a truly “new” sound. Unpredictability drives the quintet—Vicky “Killer V” [vocals, keys], Rob The Ripper [vocals], Breakdown Bran [guitar], Spot-On Sam/SOS [bass], and The Trve Cody Taylor [drums]. After piling up hundreds of thousands of streams and views independently with their debut EP Kings Today, the group present their scorching signature style on second EP Fools Tomorrow. 

On the new EP, Killer V continues: "The songs across Fools Tomorrow deal with a lot of introspection and how we as individuals fit into this crazy world of ours. We take a raw, open and honest approach with this EP and the music and stories take you on an emotional rollercoaster. We hope you enjoy being on this ride with us."

Sicksense have also announced two EP release headline shows at Turbo Haus in Montreal, Canada, on the 9th and 10th of June. Get tickets here: https://soundescapeagency.com/sicksense/events

Sicksense are:
Killer V – Vocals/Keys
Rob The Ripper – Vocals
Breakdown Bran – Guitars
Spot-On Sam/SOS – Bass
The Trve Cody Taylor - Drums

Sicksense online:  
https://www.facebook.com/sickxsense
https://twitter.com/sickxsense
https://www.instagram.com/sickxsense
https://www.tiktok.com/@sickxsense

Tracklisting:

01 Feed Them To The Wolves    
02 Fools Tomorrow    
03 Invitation    
04 Run And Hide    
05 Erase, Rewind

Australia’s breathtaking progressive instrumental trio The Omnific will make their emphatic return to Europe and the UK in May & June 2023, with headline shows in London and Eastern Europe, in addition to supporting fellow Australian prog metal heavyweights Ne Obliviscaris across Europe. The band will perform tracks from their 2021 acclaimed debut album Escapades for the first time internationally, plus a selection of deep cuts from their lauded back catalogue.

Drummer Jerome Lematua comments: "We're stoked to bring back the bass to Europe and the UK for the first time in 4 years, after such a crazy time for the world in between! We're so excited to perform songs from Escapades live for our fans, who have been waiting so patiently. We can't wait to see you all soon!"

Utilising their unique line-up of two other-worldly intertwining bassists, Matt Fack and Toby Peterson-Stewart, backed by flamboyant drummer Jerome Lematua; Melbourne’s The Omnific create an extraordinary mosaic that dances between progressive rock, djent, funk, and synth-driven soundscapes. With the young virtuosic band impressively clocking in over 10 million Spotify streams and four million YouTube views to date, and following touring with the likes of Between The Buried And Me, Intervals, Twelve Foot Ninja, COG, Galactic Empire, and Circles; The Omnific will be taking their pulsating performances to new heights for their first international dates in support of Escapades.

With their musical craft and live show unlike any other; an audio visual attack on the senses, full of character, swagger, showmanship, and stellar technical performances, The Omnific stands tall as the world’s most prominent bass driven instrumental rock act.

Joining The Omnific in London as very special guests are Tel Aviv alternative metal masters Walkways. Walkways' incredible sophomore album Bleed Out, Heal Out, released on Nuclear Blast, elevated the band’s profile to another level, and spread their unique emotional brand of heavy music to all four corners of the globe. 

Following an exciting few years of touring, including Wacken Open Air appearances, direct support for Avenged Sevenfold, Disturbed, In Flames, Devin Townsend, Jinjer, and many more - the band are now working on their much anticipated third full-length, and will take a short break from the studio to join The Omnific for an epic one-off show in London.

Full The Omnific tour dates as follows:

Headline: 
May 17: UK London The Black Heart

With Ne Obliviscaris:
May 20: NL Leiden, Gebr. de Nobel
May 21: FR Paris Petit Bain
May 22: FR Nantes Ferrailleur
May 24: PT Porto Hard Club
May 25: PT Lisbon RCA Club
May 26: ES Madrid Chango
May 27: ES Barcelona La Nau
May 29: CH Solothurn Kofmehl Halle
May 30: DE Munich Strom
May 31: AT Vienna Viper Room
Jun 1: CZ Prague Futurum
Jun 2: DE Berlin Hole44
Jun 3: DE Leipzig Naumanns
 
Headline:
Jun 4: PL Warsaw Chmury
Jun 6: HU Budapest Robot
Jun 7: RO Timisoara Manufactura
Jun 8: RO Bucharest Quantic Club
Jun 9: BG Sofia Singles

The Omnific's monumental debut album Escapades, released on October 8, 2021 via Wild Thing Records, achieved significant international acclaim, impressively landing #3 on the Australian AIR Independent Album Charts. Their most refined and artistic work yet, Escapades is a record for those seeking to be challenged, and for those who wish to be blanketed by atmosphere with swirling textures, syncopation, euphoric highs, and melancholic lows. The record was brought to life by the esteemed duo of mixing engineer Adam Bentley (Felix Martin, Arch Echo), and mastering engineer Ermin Hamidovic (Periphery, Devin Townsend Band, Plini), and features Clay Gober of Polyphia as guest bassist on the single 'Antecedent', which received a colossal reception internationally. 

Escapades received extensive coverage from press outlets such as Metal Hammer (UK), PROG Magazine (UK), Guitar World (US), Bass Player (UK), and Bass Magazine (US), with Heavy Mag (AU) declaring “the album is an easy 10 out of 10”. Significant Spotify editorial playlist wins were realised on ‘Progressive Metal’, ‘Got Djent’, Prog Rock’, ‘Epic & Melodic’, and ‘Instrumental Madness’, coupled with several major radio spins on Australia’s Triple J.  

Following the release of three stunning EPs - Sonorous (2016), Kismet (2017), The Minds Eye (2019) - the band attracted interest, and fans from all over the globe, with Metal Hammer proclaiming “a bright future for the instrumental outfit”. An ensuing viral online fanbase transpired, strongly devoted to the band’s playthroughs, gear demo, and music videos, sparking a series of industry signings; Wild Thing Music Group (management), Wild Thing Records (label), and Sheet Happens Publishing (sheet music). In addition, The Omnific forged close-knit partnerships with internationally renowned companies Darkglass Electronics, Neural DSP, and Dingwall Guitars, influentially representing these brands online.

The Omnific traversed Europe and the UK with Intervals in 2019, and the upcoming ‘Escapades Across Europe’ tour is their much anticipated live return to Europe - post Covid.
 
Follow The Omnific:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | YouTube | Twitter | Spotify
 
Follow Wild Thing Records:
Web | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube

Photo Credit: Paul Klings

Fiery multinational rock trio PLAIINS have unveiled new single 'Wooha! (speak easyyy)'. Fusing post-punk with a touch of metallic heaviness, the new single pokes fun at rockstar machoism and hedonism.

Watch the video to 'Wooha! (speak easyyy)' here: https://youtu.be/Mw_UQ8QFw7M

Stream here: https://linktr.ee/plaiinsband

Vocalist / guitarist Chris Reardon comments: "The idea for 'Wooha!' was brought in by our bass player Tal with that awesome riff. It had this IDLES, Sleaford Mods, post-punk, protopunk kind of vibe and immediately once I started throwing ideas on it the words "speak easy" in that exaggerated way came out.  Lyrically the song is about rock star machismo, arrogance, and their hedonistic view on things. Around the time I wrote the lyrics for this song I had met quite a few musicians and people in the scene which kind of sickened me. To me their behaviour was so embarrassing and playing to all those rock star cliches. This kind of "lad mentality". I thought that kind of thing had died out a bit....sadly it hasn't. I feel like we all have the capability to turn into those people. So many external inputs like wealth or materialistic things for example can inflate our image of ourselves. And I wanted a line to also be a warning to myself to never let myself go that way."

On the video he continues: "I directed this one with Tim Erdmann who has shot all of the PLAIINS stuff to date. I wanted something that was a mixture between Talking Heads, Peter Gabriel and the UK punk band Slaves incorporating still life objects, like from Renaissance era painting and spinning it on its head with Surrealist and Modern art quirkiness. All items put together have metaphorical meaning connected to the song 'Wooha!' Whether broad or specific. "

Watch the videos to previous singles:

'Chelsea Smile' - https://youtu.be/ltS1HX-hanE
'POLIDICKS' -  https://youtu.be/hA8i6nJyHfY

PLAIINS have also announced an appearance at Dijikpop Festival NL, a German headline tour, plus some additional headline shows. UK dates will be announced soon.

Dates:

Apr 06: DE Leipzig Conne Island
Apr 25: DE Hannover Cafe Glocksee
Jul 09: NL Dijikpop Festival

German headline tour:

Sep 14: DE Stuttgart JuHa West
Sep 15: DE Nürnberg Club Stereo
Sep 17: DE Berlin Badehaus
Sep 20: DE Düsseldorf The Tube
Sep 21: DE Köln Stereo Wonderland
Sep 22: DE Münster Sputnik Café
Sep 23: DE Alfeld Alfeld Rockt Café
Oct 02: DE Hamburg Molotow Skybar  

Founded in 2021 PLAIINS is an in-your-face rock band that pull influences from punk, alternative rock, indie and metal that have quickly grown to prominence on the underground circuit with their infectious hooks, hard hitting lyrics and huge sound.

Chris Reardon from the UK / Hong Kong (vocals / guitars), Tal Pinhas from Israel (bass / guitars) and David “Dizzy” Suhlrie from Germany (drums) have a chemistry that concocts songs with power, aggression, big riffs and infectious hooks, that captivate audiences with their uniqueness. Lyrically the band confronts issues in politics, inequality, heartbreak, and mental health, inspired by their diverse range of cultural perspectives. 

Since the release of their first single 'The Wolf' in April 2022, PLAIINS have been consistently added to some of the world’s biggest playlists on Spotify including All New Rock, All New Punk, Fresh Finds Rock and Alternarock. PLAIINS were quickly added to BBC Introducing’s new favourites with frequent airplay and their single 'C-A-P-I-T-A-L' released in December 2022, gained ‘Track Of The Week’. The band's previous single continue their momentum with radio play across UK, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Canada. 

2022 saw the band hit the live circuit, with a highlight supporting Press Club, playing in Berlin to a sold out crowd. 2023 promises to be a big year for PLAIINS with more new music and touring on the horizon. More news soon.

PLAIINS are:
Chris Reardon - vocals / guitars
Tal Pinhas - bass / guitars 
David “Dizzy” Suhlrie - drums

PLAIINS online:

LinkTree Facebook Instagram

Scottish alt/pop rock band happydaze have announced their new EP, Full Free Radical, to be released 12th May via Thriller Records.

Along with the news, the quartet have also released the title-track single, '(Full Free) Radical', with a retro-inspired video.

Watch: https://youtu.be/k77YCygrS5A
Stream: https://orcd.co/happydaze-fullfreeradical

'(Full Free) Radical' is produced by Mike Green (New Found Glory, All Time Low, Real Friends) and features the band's signature sound with a sing-along chorus that will take you straight to summer, along with a nostalgic 90's video vibe to have you reaching the rewind button.

On the EP, vocalist Luke comments: "Full Free Radical is the product of the last year of our lives. It’s about the decisions you make that change your life forever, the coming and going of people on your journey and taking care of the important things along the way. We have spent the last year finding out who we are as a band while finishing this record, wanting to make something that felt familiar but also new and exciting. The songs are honest, real and the truest representation of who we are as a band so far, we can’t wait to give them away to the world."

The new single is the third release of 2023 from the quartet, following the smash successes of previous singles 'Faded' and 'Cool Blue', which premiered on BBC R1, and follows their highly successful 2022, including support tours with Boston Manor and Neck Deep. 

The story of happydaze began in an abandoned barn, at a battle of the bands contest outside of Edinburgh, Scotland. It was there a 15yr old Luke Bovill (vocals) met Pete Bunting (drums) for the first time. Despite being competitors on the day the two kept in touch, always expressing a desire to one day collaborate and play together. Following the break up of bands and numerous creative relationships dissolving, early 2020 found the pair able to start something new. At this point Luke brought in college friend Rory Gault-Gordon (guitar) and at a later date Pete asked Adam Campbell (guitar) from the Edinburgh scene to join. It was here happydaze was formed.   
 
Shortly after the band came together, the upheaval and uncertainty of the global pandemic placed the world on pause. Despite the clear restrictions the band threw themselves into happydaze with a focus and enthusiasm that was immediately different from any of their previous projects. Luke remembers “Like everyone, we were unsure of how long we would be stuck in the house for, and we quickly realised we had the time to work on what we REALLY wanted happydaze to be. This ended up being months and months of zoom calls to write songs - me in my flat, Pete in the studio, which is fortunately round the corner from his place - going over every detail. 16 hour days in rooms with no windows, building something up from scratch. The band really gave us purpose in such uncertain times, and now that we have opportunities to share it with the world and hear how the songs resonate with people.”
 
Following the release of a series of singles in ‘21, the band’s debut EP Underground Summer Sound was released early ‘22. With the world opening up happydaze jumped straight into touring, playing their first headline shows in the UK to the fanbase they’d built during the past year. This was swiftly followed by a run opening for Neck Deep that also took them into mainland Europe for the first time, as well as further UK shows in the year with Between You & Me and dates with ROAM. Alongside the band continued to build their audience and pick up media coverage at Rock Sound, Kerrang!, Radio 1 Rock Show as well as Spotify editorial support at New Music Friday, All New Rock, Pop-Punk’s Not Dead and Misfits 2.0. 
 
Shortly after the release of the debut EP, their thoughts returned home, restless with plans for the next phase for the band. “Our studio space in Edinburgh is a renovated old house” - picks up Luke - “We have a sick community of bands around us in separate rooms, you can hear them through the walls and when you’re outside in the car park. We write & rehearse there, we’ve recorded there, shot music videos there. It really is a second home, for all of us.” In addition to their community, further international influences helped enhance the happydaze sound: “We had the privilege and time to have songwriting sessions with so many amazing producers and musicians - Matt Squire (Panic at the Disco, Good Charlotte), Mike Green (Sum 41, All Time Low), Sky Acord (Issues, Twenty One Pilots) - all of which has helped shaped our songwriting. Alongside we all appreciate and love electronic, emo-trap, soundcloud-pop-punk music. This has evolved to adopting elements of drum and bass, garage, lofi beats, anything we enjoy listening to we try to incorporate those vibes into our songs.”

Keep up with the band on: Spotify, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Full Free Radical Tracklist
1.    "Faded"
2.    "(Full Free) Radical"
3.    "Cool Blue"
4.    "Day in and Out"
5.    "Thinkinofu"
6.    "Heaven You Felt"
7.    "Same to Me"

Few bands can claim to have played a festival set so hard that the stage broke. Fewer still can claim to have done so when still barely teens.
 
Then again, Manchester-based thrashcore band Tortured Demon are already onto something special.

Following the announcement of their new album Rise Of The Lifeless, to be released 2nd June, Tortured Demon have now announced their debut headline tour.

Dates as follows:

Oct 5: Manchester Academy 3 (co-headline with Red Method)
Oct 6: Nottingham Old Salutation
Oct 7: Glasgow Ivory Blacks (Moshville Times Oktoberfest)
Oct 10: Southampton Joiners
Oct 11: Norwich B2
Oct 12: London Black Heart

Tortured Demon will be supported by Somerset death metal force Unburier. 
 
Get tickets from: tortureddemon.com

Stream the band's single 'Rise Of The Lifeless' here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/tortureddemon/rise-of-the-lifeless 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/DMT8uodjmOE

Pre-order Rise Of The Lifeless here: http://tortureddemon.com/merch-store

Aged between 17-22, the group have already opened for Evile and Xentrix in 2022, and, at Bloodstock 2021, such was their performance, the Jagermeister Stage fell down around them.
 
Drawing the largest crowd ever seen on that stage, Tortured Demon have since been invited back to perform at Bloodstock 2023, where surely they wouldn’t be able to repeat the feat.
 
Releasing their debut in 2021, recorded when all bandmembers were still at school, Tortured Demon have moved up a gear with their new record, Rise Of The Lifeless.
 
Rise Of The Lifeless will be self-released by the band worldwide, except for Japan, where they’ve already inked a deal with Spiritual Beast/Universal Music Japan. Tortured Demon’s debut – In Desperation’s Grip – was DiskUnion (Tokyo’s leading record store)’s best-selling international metal record on release week. Again, no mean feat for a band so young.
 
Suffice to say, the quartet have been hammering their way through the UK Metal Scene. Their line-up consists of brothers Jacob (Vocals and Guitar, 17) and Joe Parkinson (Drums, 19), joined by Billy Houigan (Lead Guitar, 19) and Sean Xavier (Bass and Backing Vocals, 23) completing the ground-shaking quartet. Combining Thrash riffs and Hardcore breakdowns with technical drums, all whilst maintaining a strong focus on quality songwriting, Tortured Demon bring a fresh yet classic sound to the UK scene.
 
Over the last 6 months Tortured Demon have been writing and recording their second album Rise Of The Lifeless with producer David Radahd-Jones, whilst playing select shows. Tortured Demon have built a loyal live following nationwide thanks to their high-octane live show, and will surely make this year their own.

For more information:

facebook.com/t0rtureddem0n
instagram.com/tortureddemon
youtube.com/channel/UCpQa93uA8p-Pg1DN3ZWOm6g
open.spotify.com/artist/0AW5c3Fi90qaIBNU35VpCb
twitter.com/tortureddemonuk

Tracklisting

1: An Empire Condemned
2: Rise Of The Lifeless
3: Virtual Death
4: Global Threat
5: Disfavour
6: Conflict Of Interest    
7: Erase Your Life
8: This War Will Come To You
9: Eyes In The Fire
10: The Damage Is Done

Demonstealer, India's premier solo metal musician, has streamed his new video 'The Art of Disinformation', from his new album The Propaganda Machine, out today, 31st March, via Black Lion Records.

Featuring Sebastian Lanser (Obsidious), Kilian Duarte (Fallujah), Anabelle Iratni (Veile, ex-Cradle of Filth), the video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/tTuAaul91S4

Order The Propaganda Machine here: https://snd.click/propaganda

Featuring a stellar line-up of metal musicians across the globe, The Propaganda Machine is another chapter in the story of one of heavy music’s most tenacious underground legends. The album is a brilliantly wicked 40-minute ride featuring the likes of Hannes Grossmann (Alkaloid, Triptykon, Blotted Science), Martino Garattoni (Ne Obliviscaris, Ancient Bards), and Ken Bedene (Aborted). Technical symphonic death metal at its finest – no holds-barred, full-throttle heaviness. Relentless in its brutality, triumphant in its melodies. Vocally the album is also hard-hitting, marking a lyrical turn to reality and escape from fantasy - an eviscerating take on the polarised world today, and a record that fully speaks truth to power.

Sahil Makhija, better known as Demonstealer, has long been one of the pillars of the heavy metal scene in India. From being at the vanguard of a fledgling metal scene to becoming one of its most visible and respected proponents today, Demonstealer is integral to the growth of the Indian metal community.

In 2000, Demonstealer formed Demonic Resurrection, one of India’s best known and biggest metal bands. Over the last two decades the band has become one of the most recognisable faces of Indian metal, nationally and internationally. Also in 2000 he established India’s first recording studio dedicated solely to metal - a home to all of the country's top metal bands.
 
Five years later he launched Demonstealer Records – India’s first metal record label. The roster included the best in India’s burgeoning metal scene, and licensed internationally renowned acts, including Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir. Demonstealer also founded and ran Resurrection Festival, alongside Demonic Resurrection bassist Husain Bandukwala. For years it was India’s only dedicated extreme metal festival. Needless to say, Demonstealer’s impact on the national scene cannot be overstated.

Aside from the success of Demonic Resurrection (5 studio albums, Metal Hammer Golden God award, multiple tours and festivals across UK and Europe), Demonstealer’s solo career is notable. From his debut album And Chaos Will Reign (2008) to 2021’s The Holocene Termination, Sahil has been blazing a thunderous solo trail.

Demonstealer is:
Sahil Makhija – vocals, guitar

For more information:
www.youtube.com/demonstealer
www.twitter.com/thedemonstealer
www.demonstealer.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/demonstealerofficial
www.instagram.com/demonstealer
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7A6AxHa4xv84XTYZVnVxUd
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/demonstealer/594767634

Tracklisting:

1. The Fear Campaign
(Hannes Grossmann, Dominic 'Forest' Lapointe, Anabelle Iratni & Dean Paul Arnold)
2. Monolith Of Hate
(James Payne, Martino Garattoni & Anabelle Iratni)
3. The Propaganda Machine
(Ken Bedene, Stian Gundersen & Anabelle Iratni)
4. The Art Of Disinformation
(Sebastian Lanser, Kilian Duarte, Alex Baillie & Anabelle Iratni)
5. Screams Of Those Dying 
(Hannes Grossmann, Dominic 'Forest' Lapointe & Anabelle Iratni)
6. The Great Dictator 
(James Payne, Martino Garattoni & Anabelle Iratni)
7. The Anti-National 
(Sebastian Lanser, Kilian Duarte & Anabelle Iratni)
8. Crushing The Iron Fist 
(Ken Bedene, Stian Gundersen, Sanjay Kumar & Anabelle Iratni)

Photo Credit: Damian John

British / Irish death metal group DeathCollector have announced their debut album, Death's Toll, to be released 23rd June via Prosthetic Records.

The band - featuring members of Bolt Thrower, Memoriam, Ashen Crown, Zealot Cult and more - have also released their lead single, 'A Taste of Ichor', another taste of the incredible forthcoming release.

Watch the lyric video for 'A Taste of Ichor' here: https://youtu.be/0wWwNLVh6E0

Stream 'A Taste of Ichor' via Apple Music | TIDAL | Deezer | Spotify and Bandcamp

Pre-order Death's Toll here.

Speaking on the album announcement, DeathCollector comments:  "DeathCollector came into being towards the end of the pandemic, as a way for friends to keep working on music. But thanks to support from the underground, plus the amazing backing/support from Prosthetic Records, Death's Toll hits the streets this coming June.

"The album is a mixture of all things we've loved in music over the years. Everyone involved has put their heart and soul into this release, and we are eager to see where this opportunity will take us… For now we'll leave you with the first single, 'A Taste of Ichor'. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it!"

Formed in 2021 as little more than a way to pass the time playing cover songs until life creaked back to normality, DeathCollector’s debut EP, Time’s Up, elicited considerable interest in the UK underground and caught the ear of Prosthetic Records. With their roots firmly planted in the scene that has supported them from the word go, DeathCollector are ready to branch out and show the rest of the globe exactly what they’re made of.

With a Bolt Thrower member in their ranks it would be all too easy to lean on the past and rely on name recognition and re-hashing a tried and true formula, but DeathCollector yearns for something more. Aiming to capture the fervent brutality of their live performance on record despite the physical distance between them, Andy Whale (Bolt Thrower/Darkened) decamped to Fordhouse studios to record the drums. Over in Ireland, Mick Carey (Zealot Cult) laid down his guitar parts with engineer Ciaran Culhane, whilst vocals and bass were recorded in home studios in the UK. The record was mixed and mastered by Gord Olson with the intention of creating something that was true to their principles: raw and unbridled.

The result is Death’s Toll; nine tracks of death metal that confidently bridges the old school with a more modern sound without losing any of its organic rawness. The hardcore and punk that influenced the original roots of death metal in the UK scene are flowing through the veins of the band, rounding out a sound that is as gritty as it is authentic.

Lyrically the album traverses the darkest contemplations on mortality; willful self destruction, addiction, and the mental and physical toll that life takes on us until death. DeathCollector sweep up the rot, filth, shame and weakness of humanity and funnel it into their scathing death metal offerings.

DeathCollector is:
Andrew Whale - Drums
Mick Carey - Lead/Rhythm Guitar
Lee Cummings - Bass
Kieran Scott - Vocals

DeathCollector online:
https://www.facebook.com/DeathCollectorOfficial
https://twitter.com/DeathCollector_
https://www.instagram.com/deathcollector_official

Tracklisting:

1. Death's Toll
2. Mental Hedonist
3. DeathCollector
4. Coarse Visions
5. Terrorizer
6. A Taste of Ichor
7. Internal Expansion
8. Revel In The Gore
9. Rearview Guilt