Photo Credit: Oscar Dziedziela

Orbit Culture’s highly anticipated new album, Descent, is released today, 18th August. This new effort is loaded with their unique blend of captivating song-writing with infectious hooks and crushing riffs. To celebrate the release, the band have unveiled a video for the album’s title-track.

Watch the 'Descent' official music video here: https://youtu.be/nqFgNsTcQTo

Stream and purchase the album on CD and vinyl here: https://linktr.ee/orbitculture 

Niklas Karlsson (guitars/vocals) states: "With the video for ‘Descent,' you are fully engaged in the madness. It’s the pillar of feeling disgusted and chained by your own obsessive desires, whatever it may be. You are stuck in your own castle of self hate.

“We wanted this album to sound as big and aggressive as possible, while maintaining a pleasant listening experience. I took a lot of inspiration from the movie Dune, not because of the story or anything, but because the combination of imagery and music created this vast picture and we wanted to convey that epic feel with this new album.

"Spread over the whole album is of course, once again, a lot of metaphors. In reality, it’s just about being more closed up and defensive about the things you feel as you’re descending into madness. However, at the end of the album, being defensive was all along just being caring for your closest ones. It was better to walk alone and destroy yourself, rather than bring down anyone else trying to help you. It’s dark and it’s raw, but it’s only a perspective of me seeing the world at certain times of the year, and it helps to get it out there once in awhile.” 

Following a huge year of festivals and touring, including opening the In Flames world tour, Orbit Culture show no signs of slowing. The band next play a number of EU festivals and select dates before heading to the UK to support Trivium and Bleed From Within. Dates:

Aug 17: DE Reload Festival
Aug 18: DE Summer Breeze

UK tour with Trivium and Bleed From Within

Aug 23: UK Cambridge Corn Exchange
Aug 24: Norwich UEA
Aug 25: Nottingham Rock City
Aug 26: Oxford O2 Academy
Aug 28: Stoke Victoria Hall
Aug 29: Liverpool O2 Academy
Aug 30: Sheffield O2 Academy
Aug 31: Newcastle NX
Sept 02: Edinburgh O2 Academy
Sept 03: Leeds Stylus
Sept 04: Bristol Academy
Sept 06: Folkestone Leas Cliff Hall
Sept 07: Southampton O2 Guildhall

Orbit Culture then head to North America to support Avatar, commencing 9th September in Quebec, Canada.

For more information:
https://www.orbitculture.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OrbitCulture/
https://www.instagram.com/orbitculture
twitter.com/orbitculture
https://www.youtube.com/user/OrbitCultureOfficial

Descent tracklist:

1. Descending    
2. Black Mountain    
3. Sorrower    
4. From The Inside
5. Vultures Of North    
6. Alienated    
7. The Aisle Of Fire    
8. Undercity    
9. Descent    
10. Through Time

Prog metal sensation Pomegranate Tiger has revealed his new single 'Metasphere', another glimpse of forthcoming album All Input Is Error.

All Input Is Error, the artist's first album in eight years, will be released 7th September. Pre-order All Input Is Error: https://bio.site/pomegranatetiger

Watch the video for 'Metasphere' here: https://youtu.be/N_TlALW2XxE

Watch the singles here, the first two tracks from the album:

'Devils to Ourselves': https://youtu.be/_KWWuk1XPdg
'Dagger Dance': https://youtu.be/lM3DteDyS3M

Pomegranate Tiger comments:

"'Metasphere' is about the battle between humans & AI over our entire world of art - what art is & what is considered art, our place in it all, and if we can all fit in here together. 

"Is human art the only kind of art that exists? Why or why not? What is the definition of art? Should AI have a role in making art? Should it be helping artists create? Can you call AI art, art?

"'Metasphere' literally translates to "Métis" & "Sfyri" in Greek, with "Métis" referring to the goddess of Wisdom, Good Council & cunning, while "Sfyri" quite literally meaning "hammer". Hammers are rich in symbolism and are known to personify building and creating and thus in short 'Meta-Sphere', 'The wise cunning hammer' refers to the intelligent, yet sharp and potentially dangerous "modern tool" A.I. can be in our society.

"Quite literally, AI experts predict in less than 10 years, any input by humanity into any certain domain of world knowledge will be futile. All Input is Error AI will make new discoveries...far greater than any human. Will it also make the greatest known music & art known to mankind? Will we as people accept this? Will it eventually be the norm? 

"We are quite literally at the iPhone 1 moment, within the scope of AI's entire history. The next 10 years is completely unimaginable. Buckle up!"

Pomegranate Tiger is a one-man tour-de-force of musical creativity and energy. Founded in 2010, Pomegranate Tiger (Martin Andres) released his first record, Entities, in 2013. Entities was an underground sensation, garnering millions of streams, and became the #1 metal bestseller on Bandcamp, and #11 best-selling album across all genres. The album also broke the iTunes Top 100 Rock albums chart.

Pomegranate Tiger soon followed the success of Entities with his 2015 album Boundless, which received praise from The Guardian, Total Guitar, Metal Injection, MetalSucks and more. Boundless became the #1 best-selling metal album for a number of weeks on Bandcamp and again broke the iTunes Top 100 Rock.

All Input Is Error carries the torch of Pomegranate Tiger's storied legacy, challenging musical conventions and embarking on a melodic odyssey and rhythmic stampede that transcends time. Pomegranate Tiger is set to captivate listeners with his unbridled creativity and unwavering dedication to pushing sonic and technological boundaries: and the new album is a typically heady, future-facing return from this one-of-a-kind brain.

For more information:
www.pomegranatetiger.com
www.facebook.com/pomegranatetiger
www.instagram.com/pomegranatetigerofficial
https://pomegranatetiger.bandcamp.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/30T39voTL4EiHKGNE0mQxO?si=d-UDzE7ET8al1xE9rpVXdw
https://www.youtube.com/user/pomegranatetiger

Tracklisting:

1 Devils to Ourselves
2 Dagger Dance
3 The Great Filter
4 Poison Pen
5 The Cryptographer
6 Metasphere
7 Burn The Spirit
8 False Dawn
9 All Input Is Error
10 Keyways

Globally-renowned Australian instrumental prog trio The Omnific have revealed their progressive masterpiece 'Phat Mackerel', out now via Wild Thing Records. The track comes as the band’s first new offering since their acclaimed 2021 debut album, Escapades, which cemented The Omnific’s status as torchbearers of the next generation of progressive rock and metal, thanks to their unparalleled musicianship and unmistakable, earthmoving dual-bass lineup.

Stream 'Phat Mackerel' here: https://ffm.to/phatmackerel
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/8-A3o5me3Cg

By eschewing guitars for a second bass, the supernatural intertwining duality of bassists Matt Fack (Fackrell) and Toby Peterson-Stewart, backed by flamboyant drummer Jerome Lematua, tap into this distinct frequency that sings in ways that vocals could not replicate; a constant that has remained true since the band’s formation in 2016. The Omnific’s mosaic of progressive rock, djent, funk, and synth-driven soundscapes has captivated a worldwide following, with the young virtuosic band accruing millions of streams and views on Spotify and YouTube, respectively.

The Omnific have built a reputation for delivering stunning technical live shows that include international headlining tours, and sharing stages with the likes of Between The Buried And Me, Intervals, and Twelve Foot Ninja. This year, the group toured with Ne Obliviscaris in Europe, and Polyphia on their sold-out Australian tour; following Polyphia’s own Clay Gober featuring on the Escapades hit track Antecedent.

The Omnific will be touring their new single with their recently-announced 46-date Phat Mackerel World Tour, covering Australia, Europe, UK, USA, and Canada.

The EU / UK dates will see the Australians perform at legendary German festivals Reeperbahn and Euroblast, plus headline dates.

EU / UK Dates (with special guests Walkways, Future Static, Shell Beach):

Sep 17: HU, Budapest, A38*
Sep 18: AT, Vienna, B72*
Sep 19: CZ, Prague, Klubovna*
Sep 21: DE, Hamburg, Reeperbahn Festival, Bahnhof Pauli
Sep 22: DE, Hamburg, Reeperbahn Festival, Molotow +
Sep 25: DE, Munich, Backstage Club
Sep 27: DE, Frankfurt, Nachtleben
Oct 01: DE, Cologne, Euroblast Festival +
Oct 03: UK, Manchester, Canvas 2 +
Oct 04: UK, London, Camden Assembly +

* No Shell Beach
+ No Walkways / Shell Beach

Tickets from theomnific.com/tour 

A keen eye may catch that the name "Phat Mackerel" comes from a spoonerism of Fackrell’s name, one which he has been tagged with for his entire life. Now years later and with the trio’s combined power, The Omnific slap and tap their way through virtual realms, seeking to finally settle the score with the track's titular foe. Adam Bentley (Felix Martin, Arch Echo) and Ermin Hamidovic (Plini, Periphery, Devin Townsend) return for mixing and mastering duties respectively, injecting this latest single with the same shine and pop that made Escapades so immediately visceral. Airy atmospheric textures serve as a scale-setting backdrop to the dexterous wallop of twin bass guitars and the precise punch of percussion, culminating in an epic display of technical ability, unbridled creativity, and the quirky charisma that The Omnific imbues in its craft.  

Debuting alongside 'Phat Mackerel' is an accompanying music video for the track. Captured by director Jamie McVicker (Plini, I Built The Sky), the nostalgic visual accompaniment depicts The Omnific’s mission to defeat The Mack, with the trio’s quirky sense of humor and passion for retro gaming immediately shining through, even capping off with a boss fight against Phat Mackerel himself. As if he were Captain Ahab to Phat Mackerel’s Moby Dick, Fack concludes, “Born to be Matt Fackrell, forced to be Phat Mackerel. After a life filled with the name Phat Mackerel, it's now time to eradicate the fish once and for all!”

“a bright future for the instrumental outfit” - Metal Hammer (UK)
“a veritable masterclass in the art of the bass player” - Prog Magazine (UK)
“The Omnific never cease to entice, excite and amaze” - The Music (AU)

Follow The Omnific:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp | YouTube | Twitter | Spotify
 
Follow Wild Thing Records:
Web | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube

Photo Credit: Timo Ehlert

German metalcore powerhouse Annisokay have released a video for their new single 'Throne of the Sunset'. The track is taken from their upcoming EP Abyss Pt I, due for release on 22nd September via Arising Empire. 

Check out the video for 'Throne of the Sunset' here: https://youtu.be/OmJZ27l8jXQ

Pre-save Abyss Pt I here: https://arisingempire.com/abyss

Annisokay have been captivating audiences since their formation in 2007. With their exceptional blend of heavy guitar riffs, driving drum rhythms, melodic clean vocals and aggressive shouts, the band has amassed a dedicated and rapidly growing fanbase across the globe.

Annisokay will embark on a European headline tour later this year, with support from Fixation and Shields in the UK. 

UK dates are as follows:

Oct 12: London The Garage 
Oct 13: Nottingham Rescue Rooms 
Oct 14: Manchester Rebellion 
Oct 15: Brighton Chalk 

Tickets are on sale here: https://www.eventim.de/artist/annisokay/

Last year, Annisokay released a special edition of their highly successful and critically acclaimed album Aurora, which entered the official German album charts at #18, their highest chart entry to date. Aurora (Special Edition) is still available in CD and coloured vinyl formats and features three remastered classics, 'Coma Blue', 'Good Stories' and Japan bonus track 'Parallel Universe', released for the first time worldwide. The new edition also features a full live set with new frontman Rudi Schwarzer.

Stream, purchase Aurora (Special Edition) here: https://annisokay.lnk.to/specialedition

Annisokay's unique sound pushes the boundaries of the metal genre, incorporating elements of pop, progressive metal, and electronic dance music (EDM) to create a distinct and unforgettable experience. The band's clean vocalist, Christoph Wieczorek, possesses a truly exceptional voice that conveys powerful emotions and has become a signature feature of their music. With a penchant for exploring dark moods and themes, Annisokay's lyrics tackle social issues, human emotions, and the complexities of relationships.

Following the success of Aurora, Annisokay embarked on their highly successful Aurora tour in 2022, a European headline tour with many sold-out shows, further showcasing the band's magnetic stage presence.

In 2023, the band welcomed the talented and dedicated Peter Leukhardt as their new bassist. Annisokay's dedication to evolution and experimentation sets them apart in the modern rock/metal landscape. As they continue to push boundaries and explore new sonic territories, the band remain committed to delivering powerful, emotionally resonant music that leaves a lasting impact on listeners worldwide.

Annisokay are:
Rudi Schwarzer | Vocals
Christoph Wieczorek | Vocals / Guitar
Peter Leukhardt | Bass
Nico Vaeen | Drums

For more information:
www.annisokay.com
www.facebook.com/annisokay
www.instagram.com/annisokay
www.twitter.com/annisokay

Abyss Pt I tracklisting:
1. Into the Abyss
2. Human
3. Ultraviolet
4. Throne of the Sunset
5. Calamity
6. Time

END - guitarist Will Putney, vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarist Gregory Thomas, bassist Jay Pepito, and drummer Matt Guglielmo - will release their second album The Sin of Human Frailty on 27th October via Closed Casket Activities. 

The band have also shared the video for the enraged first single 'Gaping Wounds of Earth'. Watch it here: https://youtu.be/cDGbUFs_vpI

Pre-order The Sin of Human Frailty here: https://closedcasketactivities.com/collections/end
 
"'Gaping Wounds of Earth' is a jarring and chaotic exploration into what it feels like to be uncomfortable in your own skin," the band comment. "The spiral of a broken human continues. As in all our work, there is no light at the end of this tunnel."

Formed in 2017, END's From the Unforgiving Arms of God EP spawned the fan-favourite 'Necessary Death,' and led to them signing with label Closed Casket Activities. Highlighted by 'Covet Not' and 'Absence', the band bulldosed the senses with their 2020 full-length debut, Splinters From an Ever-Changing Face. Brooklyn Vegan hailed 'Pariah' as "an absolutely filthy dose of modern metalcore," and Kerrang! went as far as to describe their debut LP as "catharsis fed through a distortion pedal and shaped into a dense, destructive wrecking ball." Perhaps, Invisible Oranges put it best: "These gentlemen have come together to summon a fury seldom heard on any album from the realms of hardcore, grind, and black metal…"

In 2023, the members congregated once again to write and record what would become this sophomore release.

"Part of the goal was to do things our way," states Putney. "We didn't want to lean on our influences too heavily, whether it's in terms of production, guitar tone, arrangement, or other elements. We were like, 'Let's just make a record that sounds like END.' I feel like there's more of an identity to the band than there has ever been on this record."

The final result is a unique blend of HM2-driven rind and metallic hardcore crossover with moments of industrial chaos over ten tracks. Featuring guest vocal appearances by J.R. Hayes (Pig Destroyer), Debbie Gough (Heriot), and Dylan Walker (Full of Hell), this Graphic Nature Audio recording clocks in over 30 minutes of unhinged aggression and grind. Produced and engineered by Will Putney and featuring the art of Alex Eckman-Lawn, this release pushes the complexity of END both sonically and visually. Vinyl comes packaged in a ten panel die-cut jacket, pressed on deluxe coloured vinyl and with a digital download code.

END will embark on a U.S. tour with Full of Hell in the autumn. 

END are:
Will Putney - guitar
Brendan Murphy - vocals
Gregory Thomas - guitar
Jay Pepito - bass
Matt Guglielmo - drums

END online:
https://www.yourfuckingend.com
https://www.facebook.com/listentoend
https://www.instagram.com/yourfuckingend

Track listing:

01 A Predator Yourself
02 Gaping Wounds of Earth
03 The Sin of Human Frailty
04 Thaw
05 Embodiment of Grief
06 Twice Devoured Kill
07 Worthless Is The Lamb
08 Hollow Urn
09 Infest
10 Leper

Photo Credit: Steve Dutton

About Dirty Sound Magnet:

Switzerland’s Dirty Sound Magnet are an unstoppable, unbreakable force of rock. The uniqueness of their mesmerizing music and kinetic live performances has won audiences the world over. Their show is unpredictable; shamanic stage presence, rock star charisma, instrumental prowess, poetic vocals, tantalizing dynamics. As teenagers hailing from Fribourg, Stavros Dzodzos (guitar, vocals), Marco Mottolini (bass, backing vocals), and Maxime Cosandey (drums, backing vocals) devoured hundreds of albums, while rehearsing with great intensity. Their passion rapidly turned into an addiction and total dedication to their art, crafting a sound that has been likened to a fusion of Led Zeppelin's energy and instrumental virtuosity, Iggy Pop's raw energy, and The Doors' mysticism, additionally imbued with modern psych influences of bands like Tame Impala and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. This stylistic pedigree, along with thought-provoking lyrics reflecting contemporary social turmoil, Dirty Sound Magnet have created their own distinct musical formula.

In only a few short years since the band's formation, Dirty Sound Magnet swiftly established themselves within Europe’s burgeoning psychedelic rock scene, extensively touring the continent throughout 2017 to 2020. Since the release of the band’s third and most successful studio album DSM-III, Dirty Sound Magnet have performed over 130 shows, including sold-out tours in the UK, Germany, and Mexico, won the Swiss Live Talents award for ‘Best Swiss Rock Band’ for the second time, previously taking it home for the band's 2017 debut album, Western Lies. 

Dirty Sound Magnet's music is in a constant state of evolution, and their upcoming record, Dreaming In Dystopia, due on October 20, 2023, via Australian label Wild Thing Records, is a testament to their artistic progression. 

The Unknown will be available in the following formats:
- 1CD Digipak             
- 1-LP Gatefold Black Vinyl                 
- Digipak + Shirt                      
- 1-LP Gatefold Crystal Clear             
- 1-LP Gatefold Solid Red (UK only)
- Digital Album

Evile have also announced a headline UK tour, dates are as follows:

Oct 13: Brighton The Arch 
Oct 14: Colchester Arts Centre 
Nov 03: Milton Keynes The Craufurd Arms 
Nov 10: Manchester The Bread Shed 
Nov 11: Birmingham Devil's Dog 
Nov 17: Edinburgh La Belle Angele 
Nov 18: Sheffield Corporation 
Dec 01: Derby The Hair Dog 
Dec 02: Swansea The Bunkhouse 
Dec 08: Southampton Suburbia 
Dec 09: London New Cross Inn

Evile are
OL Drake – Vocals & Lead Guitar
Adam Smith – Guitar
Ben Carter – Drums
Joel Graham – Bass    

For More Info Visit:
https://evilecult.com
https://twitter.com/evile
https://www.facebook.com/evileuk
https://www.instagram.com/evileofficial
https://label.napalmrecords.com/evile

The Unknown track listing:

1. The Unknown
2. The Mask We Wear
3. Monolith
4. When Mortal Coils Shed
5. Sleepless Eyes
6. Out of Sight
7. At Mirror's Speech
8. Reap What You Sow
9. Beginning of the End
10. Balance of Time

Photo Credit: Kathrin Riedo

Shimmering psychedelic rock trio Dirty Sound Magnet have unveiled their epic new single, the eight-minute psychedelic opus 'Insomnia'. 

The new track is taken from their forthcoming record, Dreaming In Dystopia, to be released 20th October via Australian label Wild Thing Records.

Watch the lyric video here: https://youtu.be/XGgehtNSgCc
Stream here: https://ffm.to/dsm_dreamingindystopia

The origins of ‘Insomnia’, the next single from Dirty Sound Magnet’s upcoming album and the record’s epic closer, comes from a direct result of Dzodzos, Mottolini, and Cosandey writing and performing with each other as long as they have, gradually written, retooled, and refined over the last ten years. Over the track’s eight-minute runtime, Dirty Sound Magnet leap from passages of subtle, spacy ambiance to galvanizing bass grooves, fiery guitar leads, and punchy, precise percussion, in the process melding prog and psychedelic rock in a fashion only possible by those with a deep passion and understanding for how these genres tick.

“The music of ‘Insomnia’ is the result of years of experimenting and jamming,” recalls Dzodzos. “As far as I can remember, we've been trying to bring it all together. We knew that the song had the potential to become one of our epics, though even as a complex instrumental track, it was still missing something. Fast forward to two years ago when I was dealing with an entire summer of sleepless nights. From that experience, we got the idea to connect a gentle ballad about insomnia to that instrumental first written a decade ago. With lyrics now in place, things finally clicked."

The addition of lyrics to what would become ‘Insomnia’ inspired Dirty Sound Magnet to debut an accompanying lyric video with the single. “‘Insomnia’ is a song with multiple layers of meaning,” explains Dzodzos. “On one hand, it's about that uncanny feeling when the entire world is asleep and you’re awake. On the other, it's as much about chasing sleep as it is for ideas and inspiration.”

Dreaming In Dystopia is Dirty Sound Magnet's fourth LP, and arrives as the band continue to establish themselves as one of the most exciting acts to emerge from Switzerland this century.

Since its founding in 2016, Dirty Sound Magnet have released three studio recordings, each melding the sounds of rock’s golden age with the genre-agnostic experimentalism of today.

In their time, the trio of Stavros Dzodzos (guitars, lead vocals), Marco Mottolini (bass, backing vocals), and Maxime Cosandey (drums, backing vocals, special effects) have already performed over 650 shows throughout Europe, the UK, and Mexico. Thanks in part to this tireless work ethic and becoming known internationally for their mesmerizing live shows, Dirty Sound Magnet have, in just this short period of time, taken home the 2022 Swiss Live Talents award for ‘Best Swiss Rock Band’ and performed as support for various rock heavyweights including Wolfmother (AU), Rival Sons (US), and Monster Magnet (US).

While 2023’s Dreaming In Dystopia sits as Dirty Sound Magnet's most wonderfully expansive release to date, it also represents the most introspective chapter in the band’s story so far. The album sees the trio explore how, despite the chaotic nature of the world we live in, certain things like the profound power of music and self-expression remain constant. It’s reflective in a way that allows Dirty Sound Magnet to not only express and iterate on their ever-evolving flavour of psychedelic rock but also puts into perspective just how far the trio has come as musicians and performers.

Track-list:
 

01. Melodies from Distant Shores (4:19)
02. Dreaming in Dystopia (3:42)
03. The Tragedy of Men (3:37)
04. Lonely Bird (3:59)
05. Utopia (4:28)
06. Flowers, Angels and Chaos (4:37)
07. Lost My Mind (3:39)
08. Insomnia (8:25)

About Dirty Sound Magnet:

Switzerland’s Dirty Sound Magnet are an unstoppable, unbreakable force of rock. The uniqueness of their mesmerizing music and kinetic live performances has won audiences the world over. Their show is unpredictable; shamanic stage presence, rock star charisma, instrumental prowess, poetic vocals, tantalizing dynamics. As teenagers hailing from Fribourg, Stavros Dzodzos (guitar, vocals), Marco Mottolini (bass, backing vocals), and Maxime Cosandey (drums, backing vocals) devoured hundreds of albums, while rehearsing with great intensity. Their passion rapidly turned into an addiction and total dedication to their art, crafting a sound that has been likened to a fusion of Led Zeppelin's energy and instrumental virtuosity, Iggy Pop's raw energy, and The Doors' mysticism, additionally imbued with modern psych influences of bands like Tame Impala and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. This stylistic pedigree, along with thought-provoking lyrics reflecting contemporary social turmoil, Dirty Sound Magnet have created their own distinct musical formula.

In only a few short years since the band's formation, Dirty Sound Magnet swiftly established themselves within Europe’s burgeoning psychedelic rock scene, extensively touring the continent throughout 2017 to 2020. Since the release of the band’s third and most successful studio album DSM-III, Dirty Sound Magnet have performed over 130 shows, including sold-out tours in the UK, Germany, and Mexico, won the Swiss Live Talents award for ‘Best Swiss Rock Band’ for the second time, previously taking it home for the band's 2017 debut album, Western Lies. 

Dirty Sound Magnet's music is in a constant state of evolution, and their upcoming record, Dreaming In Dystopia, due on October 20, 2023, via Australian label Wild Thing Records, is a testament to their artistic progression. 

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Spotify | YouTub

Photo Credit: Andy Ford

Following their earth-shattering return with an announcement of a world tour, new single and epic 11-minute cinematic video for title track ‘War Of Being’, UK prog-metal luminaries TesseracT continue their journey into The Strangeland in the form of new single ‘The Grey’. 

Watch the visualiser for the track here: https://youtu.be/LvLMaL0THhw

'The Grey' is the second song taken from TesseracT's forthcoming War Of Being album, released 15th September via Kscope.

‘The Grey’ builds on signature grooves that undulate in TesseracT’s sound, flanked by polyrhythmic rhythms tied together by the band’s iconic melodies. It’s yet another example of the multi-faceted appeal of their sound and proves that they can craft immediate and affecting tracks just as masterfully as their epic 11-minute opuses. 

Regarding the track, Amos Williams had the following to say: 

"'The Grey' explores the story and character within The Strangeland of the same name. A character who has suppressed their own voice to the point that they have blended into the shadows, their story lost amongst the white noise of the world. Through the song we experience their journey as they wrestle with their frustration and sorrow at how they have ended up this way. 

"It's a powerful, energetic piece that pushes each member of TesseracT to a next level of musicianship and expression. And continues to shine a light upon the diversity that can be expected from War Of Being." 

Alongside the release of the single is a fully functional, immersive video game titled War Of Being. Launched on 11th August, the user can enter the world of the album bridging the gap between listening and experience to create a living, breathing concept that brings you closer to the world of TesseracT than ever before.

In celebration of the early access game, the band have made a visualiser for the single which incorporates areas seen in the game alongside the track itself. The visualiser, made by Amos Williams, is available to view here: https://youtu.be/LvLMaL0THhw

In the game’s ‘Early Access’ fans can expect to explore several surreal landscapes, meet characters from the concept of War Of Being and solve puzzles in order to unlock parts of TesseracT’s second single ‘The Grey'. The end of the game will unlock the full song where the player can listen from within the same breathtaking landscapes used in the ‘War Of Being’ music video. 

Download and play here: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2475790/War_Of_Being

After finishing the album recording in August 2022, singer and frontman of TesseracT, Daniel Tompkins immediately began his focus on developing the War Of Being VR and desktop computer game based entirely on the album’s original concept, created by Amos Williams and himself. Tompkins is the lead designer and developer of the game alongside Adam Boyt (Programmer / Developer) and Kirsty Harvey (3D Designer).

Regarding the game Dan said the following: 

"As a keen gamer and live streamer, I have always understood the potential waiting for a musical project to bridge the gap between the gaming and music worlds and with such a visually stunning concept, I could see that this was the perfect opportunity to bring it to life in virtual reality and as a desktop game.

"This has been without a doubt the biggest project I have personally ever undertaken and is a huge achievement for our developers. It has pushed us to our absolute limits and I'm so proud to have accomplished the beginnings of a fully developed game on Steam."

The game will be available exclusively on Steam for £4.99 UK and playable in VR on Viva / Rift S and Oculus accompanied by a SteamDeck playable version.

War Of Being was recorded at Middle Farm Studios in the United Kingdom with Peter Miles (Architects/Sylosis/Dodie) co-producing with the band alongside Katherine Marsh of Choir Noir (Bring Me The Horizon / Architects / Marillion). Assisting with additional programming and production, the band were joined by Randy Slaugh (Periphery, Architects, Devin Townsend). With additional engineering by Forrester Savell (Karnivool). The artwork, which features characters ‘ex’ and ‘el’ was created in collaboration between AI and human as a means to extend the concept into its presentation.

Alongside the brand new album the band will be embarking on a worldwide tour that will begin in 2023 running through to 2024, performing shows throughout the US, EU, UK, Asia and Australia with support from Intervals, Unprocessed, Alluvial and The Callous Daoboys.

UK dates are as follows: 

Feb 20: UK Nottingham Nottingham Rock City
Feb 21: UK Birmingham O2 Institute
Feb 22: UK Bristol O2 Academy
Feb 23: UK London O2 Forum Kentish Town
Feb 24: UK Manchester O2 Ritz
Feb 25: UK Glasgow SWG 3 Studio Warehouse
Feb 27: IE Dublin Academy

Tickets onsale from: https://www.tesseractband.co.uk/tour-dates

TesseracT online:

https://www.tesseractband.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/tesseractband
https://www.instagram.com/tesseractband
https://twitter.com/tesseractband
https://open.spotify.com/artist/23ytwhG1pzX6DIVWRWvW1r
https://kscopemusic.com/artists/tesseract

TesseracT are:

Daniel Tompkins (vocals)
Acle Kahney (guitar)
James Monteith (guitar)
Amos Williams (bass) 
Jay Postones (drums)

Photo Credit: Natalie Huyen

Californian rock quintet Hail The Sun have released their new album, Divine Inner Tension, out now via Rude Records (UK/EU) / Equal Vision Records (ROW). The band have also shared their new single 'Tunnel Vision Alibi'. 

Check out 'Tunnel Vision Alibi' here: https://youtu.be/oLAqMFp1uB4

Stream/purchase Divine Inner Tension: https://hts.lnk.to/divine

Helmed by notable producer Kris Crummett, Divine Inner Tension finds the veteran rock band questioning what it means to be here and to be alive, on both a micro level - where the importance of our existence is profound and paramount - and on a macro one - where our time on this planet is nothing but irrelevant and insignificant.

One of the main epiphanies California's Hail The Sun had when making this new album was understanding that inspiration didn’t have to come from a place of despair, and letting go of the idea that an artist needs to be tortured in order to create. Instead, the band looked beyond the viscerally emotional to the more spiritual and even enlisted the help of Ice Nine Kills’ Joe Occhiuti, who is also involved with vocalist Donovan Melero’s Kill Iconic Records, on a number of tracks. 

On the album, Melero admits: “This is the first album we’ve written that didn’t come exclusively from a place of suffering or pain. Sadness, heartbreak and nihilism all inspire, but during the pandemic, there was a big shift, and this is more about retelling the story - retelling stories about everyday perceptions. Everything comes from within, so I thought that maybe I don’t have to suffer to feel inspired.”

Though that idea flows through the entirety of the record, it’s best captured by 'The Story Writes Itself', a song that both figuratively and literally sits at the centre of the album. A typically impassioned blast of progressive post-hardcore, it frames the relationship between the universe and the self, and the tension and connection between them, that is so central to this album’s themes. Elsewhere, on '60-Minute Session Blocks' the band grapples with the notion of identity, examining the way people change and fluctuate, often deliberately over time. But then that’s followed immediately by 'Maladapted', which counters that idea completely, instead reverting to the notion of letting go of the self and instead trusting the universe. It’s a journey that began for Melero in 2020, when he was in a particularly bad place.
 
“I was going through a painful separation and really feeling low. Just worthless,” he says. “And mixed with that, the music industry was completely gone. So, I was searching for something more for myself; something bigger than myself. I was trying to find meaning in other things, and I got really into how powerful our thoughts are and the idea of attracting whatever it is we want into our existence. I felt an untapped potential that I always thought was there, but could really start to feel it. And that was the catalyst to beginning this new phase and this album, and that idea of just completely letting go.”
 
That, then, is the ultimate takeaway from Divine Inner Tension. It is possible to be both in and out of control at the same time. We just have to learn how. This album is the perfect guide for doing so, and as it ends with the urgently ominous 'Under The Floor', you’ll feel yourself finally letting go, finally understanding.

Hail The Sun are currently playing shows in the US, with support from Being As An Ocean, Kaonashi, and Origami Button. Head to Hail The Sun's website for full dates and tickets: https://hailthesun.com/

Hail The Sun are:
Donovan Melero: Vocals
Aric Garcia: Guitar 
Shane Gann Guitar
John Stirrat: Bass
Allen Casillas: Drums

Find the band online:
www.facebook.com/hailthesun
www.instagram.com/hailthesun

Track list:

1. Tunnel Vision Alibi
2. Mind Rider
3. Chunker
4. 60-Minute Session Blocks
5. Maladapted
6. The Story Writes Itself
7. (In My Dream)
8. I Saw You Hanging
9. Tithe
10. Feeble Words
11. Little Song
12. Under the Floor