Photo Credit: Rhysia Rhys

Cinema peaked in 1998 with Blade's iconic Vampire Rave Club scene - now, 25 years later, the inspiration for the stunning video for the brand new gürl single 'HEXY', starting to bite as of today.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/1AYUTLqOjtg to see how their best visual feast yet ends in a blood bath.

Stream: https://fanlink.to/Hexy

After cracking 1,000,000 streams and gaining incredible support from BBC Radio 1 and Kerrang! Radio, you’d be forgiven for thinking gürl might want to play it safe with this first single off their second EP, Parma Violence.

This is far from the truth. The new anti-pop trio are here to shock and seduce with their nastiest release to date. 'HEXY' shows the darker and edgier side of the bubblegum razorblade three-piece from the UK, but, in typical gürl fashion, tongue in cheek. Or rather, tongue in fang.
 
This hernia-inducing nu-punk anthem redefines the bleeding edge of alternative music and sits somewhere between Nova Twins, Bring Me The Horizon, Ashnikko, and Beastie Boys.

Watch gürl on their upcoming UK tour. Dates as follows:

Sep 30: Bristol, Misery Loves Company
Oct 10: Brighton, The Prince Albert
Oct 14: Manchester, The Deaf Institute
Nov 03: Cambridge, The Six Six
Nov 28: Bristol, The Exchange
Nov 30: London, The Black Heart

Purchase tickets here: https://gurl.tix.to/2023
 
Produced by Rhys May (BMTH, Enter Shikari), with assistance from Dan Lancaster (MUSE, Don Broco, BMTH), 'HEXY' is bursting with huge 808s, baritone guitars, and nu punk vocals that firmly cement the trio as pioneers shaping the sound of modern rock.
 
Says Joshua Dalton (vocals):
"Tired of being sexy? Try being HEXY. We sandwiched creepy horror sound fx and Beastie Boys-inspired vocals between thicc guitars and 808s, and effectively wrote a love song from a perspective of utter cynicism. The result is our Halloween anthem. We're not the kinda band that would release a Christmas song (yet), but we refuse to let "Thriller" corner the market on Halloween.

"As for the video, everyone knows cinema peaked at Blade 1998. If you live your entire life having only ever watched this Wesley Snipes classic, you've seen all you need to see of the moving pictures art form.  So, naturally, we felt the opening blood rave scene would be perfect for HEXY."

gürl are anti-pop: Froot Loops and butcher knives, bubblegum and razor blades, and fashion posing as music, all wrapped in diva choruses with heavy guitars, rock drums and trap production. Think Ashnikko meets Loathe and Billie Eilish meets Bring Me The Horizon, but drenched in a magnificent shade of pink. The result is dangerous: it’s glam, it’s heavy, it’s camp, it’s sarcastic, it’s narcissistic, it’s ironic, and most importantly, it goes hard.

The Bristol-based outfit were founded by vocalist/lyricist Joshua Dalton and guitarist Jonny Turner, on the condition that they would be called gürl, offering a cynical reflection on music marketing by choosing a name that ‘cool people’ would wear on a t-shirt. They started out with neo-soul but soon found that they could (and should) go much harder, combining outrageous lyrics, stadium-sized riffs, heavy-hitting drums, and irresistible basslines, all glued together by tasteful (but never meek) trap elements.
 
Vocalist/lyricist Joshua Dalton cares about words and means what he says. Following his father’s death, he found his road to Damascus by realising that each time he found himself in a dark place, he turned to music: "Every fight, every sleepless night, every break-up: music is this unrelenting, limitless, untameable source of joy."
 
Guitarist Jonny Turner thinks about little other than, well, playing the guitar. The co-founder, co-writer and co-producer alongside Joshua has honed his skills in countless bands and shows, learning to translate the electric shocks received he experienced playing rural Romanian bars directly into the energy he now projects on stage.
 
Joining the gürl group in the summer of 2022, Jay Parker turns up both temperature and volume with four strings and attitude. Creative from the get-go, she received her first guitar as a backcombed, eyelinered, skinny-jean-wearing teenage scene kid – a gift from her parents, alongside early inspiration ranging from Missy Elliot to Green Day and Pink Floyd. Though Jay has since graduated in fashion communication and also shines as a model, stylist, photographer, baker, and connaisseur of salty snacks, her calling is and has always been music, with all the sweat, tears, and blistered fingers that come with it.

For more information:
https://gurl.band/
https://www.facebook.com/thegurlband/
https://twitter.com/thegurlband/
https://www.instagram.com/thegurlband/

Photo Credit: Mind Art Visual

KK’s Priest - the iconic heavy metal group of iconic Judas Priest alum and GRAMMY Award winning/nominated musicians K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim “Ripper” Owens (vocals), along with A.J. Mills (guitar), Tony Newton (bass) and Sean Elg (drums) - will proudly reveal their new sophomore offering, The Sinner Rides Again, on 29th September 2023 via Napalm Records.

Today, in anticipation of the approaching album release, the band has revealed a brand new, 13-minute documentary film directed by up and coming British filmmaker Sam Singer. The piece was filmed at the first official KK’s Priest show on 6th July 2023 at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, England. The documentary gives a raw, behind-the-scenes look at the band preparing for the concert, and includes exclusive live footage as well as personal commentary from K.K. Downing, Tim "Ripper" Owens, and the band.

Watch the documentary here: https://youtu.be/Sy2Ntg6tzrU

On the heels of their highly-lauded 2021 debut album, Sermons Of The Sinner, which debuted within the Top 20 on charts in the United States, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Finland and more - KK's Priest return to sin again. With The Sinner Rides Again, KK's Priest double down on the ripping melodic force of their debut, Sermons Of The Sinner - which Metal Hammer UK dubbed “hugely enjoyable” and Metal Injection cited as boasting “catchy hooks and plenty of guitar wizardry”. The Sinner Rides Again wields nine tracks of pure hellfire, produced and written by Downing and mixed/mastered by Jacob Hansen.

After stepping out of the Judas Priest spotlight, the return of K.K. Downing was uncertain. Nearly ten years after its onset, the genre-defining guitar icon returned from his hiatus with proof that he was nowhere ready to cease writing classic metal songs or to put away his famous Flying V guitars - taking part in acclaimed international comeback performances (including with his former Judas Priest bandmates when they were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November 2022) that would act as harbingers of the formation of KK's Priest.

Downing was recently quoted saying, “We've lost a lot of great people – Dio, Lemmy, for example – but this amazing and unique style of music must be preserved for as long as possible and I feel it within me to continue to play my role, as I always have, and to defend this metal genre, which we all know and love.” The Sinner Rides Again is a testament to this call for the classics while speeding full force into the future, delivered by some of heavy metal’s most essential performers.

Media acclaim highlights for The Sinner Rides Again singles:

"The riffs fly at you at breakneck speed, the harmonized guitar solos are as sweet as they come, and those shreds will most certainly singe an eyebrow or two along the way." - Guitar World

“K.K. Downing at his very best!” - Götz Kühnemund, Deaf Forever

"...tapping into the fist-pumping energy of classic heavy metal like it’s 1983 all over again."
- Metal Hammer UK

Watch the video to recent single 'Strike Of The Viper' here: https://youtu.be/4MpvliGPpgE

Catch KK's Priest live w/ Paul Di’Anno & Burning Witches across the UK in October:

Oct 7 2023: Birmingham O2 Institute
Oct 8 2023: Glasgow SWG3
Oct 10 2023: Nottingham Rock City
Oct 11 2023: Manchester O2 Ritz
Oct 12 2023: London O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
 
KK's Priest live one-offs:
Dec 2 2023: Mexico City, MX Life After Death Horror Fest
Mar 2-7 2024: Monsters of Rock Cruise
 
KK's Priest are:
Tim "Ripper" Owens - Vocals
K.K. Downing - Guitar
A.J. Mills - Guitar
Tony Newton - Bass
Sean Elg - Drums
 
KK's Priest online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

The Sinner Rides Again track listing:
1. Sons Of The Sentinel
2. Strike Of The Viper
3. Reap The Whirlwind
4. One More Shot At Glory
5. Hymn 66
6. The Sinner Rides Again
7. Keeper Of The Graves
8. Pledge Your Souls
9. Wash Away Your Sins

The Sinner Rides Again will be available in the following formats:
-Digital Album
-1CD Digipak Edition          
-1LP Gatefold in Black
-Wooden Box Edition (incl. Digipak, Flag, Logo Wristband, Artprint, Patch) - Napalm Mail Order only, limited to 500
-1LP Gatefold in Marbled Orange and Black - Napalm International (excl. North America) Mail Order only, limited to 300
-1LP Gatefold in Transparent Orange - Napalm North American Mail Order only, limited to 300
-1LP Gatefold in Orange, Blue and Black Inkspot - Napalm Mail Order only, limited to 500
-Cassette Tape Edition in Red with White Print - Napalm Mail Order only, limited to 200

Photo Credit: Piotr Kwasnik

In 2021, New Zealand's global metal frontrunners Alien Weaponry released their second full-length album, Tangaroa (Napalm Records) - a record immersed in important historical accounts and cultural heritage of the Māori people. The trio's role in uniquely spreading vital tales of their culture to an international audience resulted in recent accolades - last year and for the second time, the band were awarded one of the most significant and prestigious awards in New Zealand’s music industry, the Aotearoa Music Award for Te Kaipuoro Rakapioi Toa (Best Rock Artist).
 
Today, Alien Weaponry continue to share their history with the release of an artistic new music video for Tangaroa album track 'Īhenga'. The video tells the story of Īhenga - perhaps the greatest explorer of the Te Arawa people - and the nephew of one of the de Jong brothers’ ancestors, Kahumatamomoe.
 
The singing style on the track is known as mōteatea - an ancient form of poetry or chant sometimes used to convey who you are and where you come from by reciting your landmarks.
 
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/mKG9dT8r1Z8

The band comment on the video: "When the Te Arawa people first came to Aotearoa (New Zealand) from Hawaiki (greater Tahitian Island group), they set about exploring the new land. Īhenga traveled throughout the North Island of Aotearoa and named many places that still have these names today."

Order Tangaroa here: https://smarturl.it/Tangaroa-NPR

Alien Weaponry won over fans and critics alike with their latest album, Tangaroa. The album coalesces the band’s growing maturation with an undisturbed songwriting process, resulting in their most inspired, honest and informed material yet. In addition to lyrics written in te reo Māori, many Tangaroa tracks feature traditional instruments, called taonga puoro, providing the tracks their own warrior-like attitude. While Alien Weaponry sourced inspiration from their culture and environmental surroundings while writing most of Tangaroa, the band also looked inward - drawing vision for other portions of the album from within.
 
Since releasing their acclaimed debut Tū (2018), Alien Weaponry's kinetic presence and sound - combining elements of thrash and groove metal with lyrics in the native indigenous language, te reo Māori - has attracted throngs of fans and media supporters across the globe. In addition to amassing millions of cross-platform streams and YouTube views, the band has seen bounds of success at SiriusXM Liquid Metal, was recently hailed the “future of metal” by Metal Hammer and was voted by Revolver Magazine fans as “one of the bands most likely to break out in 2021”.
 
Furthermore, in the last few years alone, Alien Weaponry has had the privilege of performing with the likes of Guns N' Roses, Gojira, Slayer, Black Label Society and more.
 
Alien Weaponry are:                      
Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong - Drums, Backing vocals 
Lewis Raharuhi de Jong - Guitars, Lead vocals         
Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds - Backing vocals & guitar
 
Alien Weaponry online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM 
NAPALM RECORDS

Tangaroa tracklisting:
1. Titokowaru
2. Hatupatu
3. Ahi Kā
4. Tangar
5. Unforgiving
6. Blinded
7. Kai Whatu
8. Crooked Monsters
9. Buried Underground
10. Dad
11. Īhenga
12. Down The Rabbit Holeoa

Photo Credit: Daniel Esteban

Montreal modern-punk outfit NOBRO have announced their debut album Set Your Pussy Free, due for release on 27th October via Dine Alone Records. The band have also released a video for their new single, the road-dog punk-rock anthem 'Where My Girls At'. 

Check out the video for 'Where My Girls At' here: https://youtu.be/d4MinjchH0s

Stream 'Where My Girls At' here: https://nobrostream.com/WMGA

'Where My Girls At' recounts the band’s formation and early days playing the dive bar circuit, selling t-shirts out of garbage bags and building the bonds that have taken them to where they are today. “Where my girls at, where my girls at?/Gonna start me a rock and roll band!” vocalist and bassist Kathryn McCaughey calls on the jubilant chorus.

“It’s an upbeat anthem where heartbreak takes a backseat to girl power and rock 'n' roll,” she explains. “Instead of wallowing in love's disappointment, you can pick up a guitar and call on your girls. This celebration of sisterhood and female empowerment is a reminder that with friends by our side, anything is possible - even starting a band on a whim.”

Through the weeks of 12-hour studio days, McCaughey was still working full-time at a bar at night. "The desperation in my voice on the record is real,” she grins. “It was a struggle, but I felt like I stayed true to myself, you know?” NOBRO’s collective joy is just as palpable, showcased in their new music video.

Set Your Pussy Free is a caustic, celebratory, glorious party-punk firework show. Produced by Dave Schiffman (PUP, Rage Against The Machine), it’s a record about the ecstatic pursuit of personal escape and liberation even as the walls are closing in, a 21st century power-punk analogue of Born To Run that rages against modern life’s restrictive pressures and dares them to a game of chicken. If a hurricane is bearing down on NOBRO, they’re spitting into it, arm-in-arm, with middle fingers raised.

Bandmates Kathryn McCaughey (vocals/bass), Karolane Carbonneau (guitars), Lisandre Bourdages (keys/percussion) and Sarah Dion (drums) make clear that they aren’t interested in playing by whatever rules have been set around them. NOBRO were playing a show the day after the United States Supreme Court overturned the right to access an abortion in the country. The four women were shaken and furious, but that night McCaughey led a righteous toast against the decision: “This next song is dedicated to setting our vaginas free!”

It was a spur-of-the-moment response to the news, but the phrase stuck with McCaughey. It began to feel like something more than a throw-away slogan. It felt like something deeper, a defiant rallying cry to kick against the exhausting struggles of life. “As a musician or artist or even a woman, you have to throw off the weight of societal pressures and expectations, especially as you get older,” says McCaughey. “You have to take risks and chances.” NOBRO is the space where the quartet gets to take those risks and chances. It’s a place for cultivating power and happiness in a hard, mean world. That means the stakes are high. “Music is where we lift each other up,” McCaughey continues. “I wish it was more like a fairy tale. We just want this f*cking thing to work. But we’re all gonna succeed together, or we’re all gonna fail together.”

NOBRO wrote most of SYPF with Toronto-based producer Thomas D’Arcy (July Talk, The Sheepdogs, Yukon Blonde), and Schiffman joined the band in Montreal for nearly a month to prep and record at Mixart Studios in the dead of winter. “We allowed ourselves to go in crazier directions, just to see where it would take us,” says Bourdages. She adds that because of how it was recorded - live off the floor, all four members playing at the same time, mistakes and all - this new LP represents who NOBRO are more than any other release. 

'Where My Girls At' follows tongue-in-cheek romp 'Let’s Do Drugs', which has crashing percussion, gnarled guitar lines, and raspy vocals. “A ‘dumb’ rock song about getting older,” McCaughey states that “it’s about wanting to have one more wild night, while having no business doing so and failing miserably. Musically it’s a middle ground between maybe ‘(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)’ and ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ but only the dumbest bits of those songs, distilled into something even more dumb. It’s like shotgunning a beer then immediately puking on yourself.”

Accumulating years of work, hundreds of shows, and thousands of miles since 2014, McCaughey, Carbonneau, Bourdages and Dion have been building NOBRO into one of the most fierce and exciting bands in Canada, now riding the momentum from a string of blazing singles and EPs, capped with 2020’s Sick Hustle and 2022’s Live Your Truth Shred Some Gnar. Listeners big and small have been taking note: Iggy Pop played their track 'Bye Bye Baby' on his BBC Radio 6 Music show, and a fictional band in the Netflix series The Imperfects covered their songs. Aside from taking their raucous live shows to every dive bar across Montreal, the band has also toured across North America and Europe with PUP, Alexisonfire, Billy Talent, Fidlar, and The OBGMs. In May 2023, they opened for blink-182 at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena.

NOBRO are:

Kathryn McCaughey | vocals/bass
Karolane Carbonneau | guitars
Lisandre Bourdages | keys/percussion
Sarah Dion | drums

For more information: 
http://www.nobroband.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nobrocity/
https://www.instagram.com/nobromusic/
https://twitter.com/nobromusic/

https://dinealonerecords.com/

Photo Credit: ALESTI

Faceless alternative metal artist ALESTI has shared his new single 'Flawed Design', featuring Trevor Borg (Wind Walkers). Remaining on-brand, the track sounds huge and modern, while highlighting the slower, more emotive side of ALESTI's sound. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/nj1aT9X_jtw

Stream the song here: https://fanlink.to/alestieverywhere
 

For each of his songs, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist ALESTI leaves vocal duties to a different singer. Past collaborations include Dayseeker, The Word Alive and Loveless to name but a few. 

ALESTI comments: "'Flawed Design' expresses a sense of frustration and longing in a relationship or situation that has become repetitive and toxic. It reflects on being stuck in a cycle of making the same mistakes over and over, and returning to the same patterns despite knowing that it's harmful. The lyrics explore a sense of hopelessness and the idea that the relationship is doomed to repeat itself."

ALESTI captures a unique and modern brand of alternative metal, inspired by the ambience of post-hardcore and sprinkled with elements of electronica. Since the project's inception in 2018, the artist has independently released two EPs and a number of singles, achieving over 30 million streams across platforms. His music currently has been played on Kerrang! Radio, attracts 260K monthly listeners on Spotify, and has been featured on a wide range of editorial playlists across Spotify and Twitch.

For more:
https://www.facebook.com/iamalesti
https://www.instagram.com/iamalesti/

Swedish metal stalwarts Kill The Kong are back with one of their heaviest offerings to date with new single, 'Deepfall', which features Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork, Night Flight Orchestra) on guest vocals.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/7UUzsYpxZjU

This boisterous, seven-piece pride themselves on their unique sound, which features two lead singers, two guitarists, bassist, drummer and a percussionist. This new track showcases the band truly honing in their trademark sound, which sucks the listener in and leaves them begging for more.

Kill The Kong state: "The journey of ‘Deepfall' began with distinct origins that evolved when the chorus sparked a transformative trajectory, infusing it with heightened intensity. The commanding central riff instantly captures attention, while the segment that later became Björn Strid's defining vocal contribution held exceptional quality. Björn’s addition is an honor that enriches the track with a potent essence. The video breathes life into the music, complemented by producer Buster Odeholm (Humanity's Last Breath, Thrown) who had an impactful role in the song's realisation. With this fresh approach, we delve into heavier territories, delivering something we feel will quickly resonate with the metal community.

"The music video is the result of us teaming up with our longtime video producer, David Andersson. We aimed to capture a dark atmosphere while keeping a straightforward approach. This collaboration blends the music with Andersson's visuals, effectively conveying our overall vision. The video's direct style amplifies its dark theme, creating an engaging experience. We hope you enjoy it.”

Kill The Kong are:

Timo Kumpumäki - Vocals
Dennis “Kare” Andersson - Vocals
Micke Karlsson - Guitar
KJ Melgoza - Guitar
Andreas Sjöstedt - Bass
Niklas Hansson - Drums
Erik Lantz - Percussion


Kill The Kong online:
Facebook || Instagram || YouTube 

Photo Credit: Andy Ford

After releasing their second beast of an album, Negative Energy, earlier this year, UK alt-metal outfit VEXED have graced their fans with a new visual highlight.

Featuring special guest and Alpha Wolf vocalist Lochie Keogh, you can watch 'Lay down your flowers' here: https://youtu.be/Ij7wvcMyrR4

Impressing with extreme vocals and bombarding drums, the new video is yet another example of one of the UK's hottest newcomers in alternative metal. VEXED have already received great attention with Negative Energy and singles, including 'Anti-Fetish'.

VEXED vocalist Megan Targett on 'Lay down your flowers': "'The boy who cried wolf’ is a story that we are all familiar with. ‘Lay down your flowers’ is based on the vindication of the people who have had to endure living their lives in constant fear and threat of tragedy. 

"Finding the courage to stand up to those who use your emotions and good nature to take advantage, and claiming back your sanity which was so manipulatively taken from you."

VEXED will bring Negative Energy to six intimate headline shows in the United Kingdom, starting 10th October in Glasgow. 

Dates: 

Oct 10: Glasgow Audio [LOW TICKETS]
Oct 11: Leeds The Key Club [LOW TICKETS]
Oct 12: Cardiff Fuel Rock Club [LOW TICKETS]
Oct 13: Birmingham Devils Dog [SOLD OUT]
Oct 14: Southampton Suburbia [LOW TICKETS]
Oct 15: Cambridge The Six Six [SOLD OUT]

VEXED add: “This tour is so special to us because it is proof that no matter how dark things may get, there are always better days ahead. We invite you to join us in our healing process, a cathartic and brutal celebration of how hitting rock bottom has saved us.”

Tickets are on sale here: https://bnds.us/dvk3eq
 

Check out VEXED's recent singles:

'Trauma Euphoria': https://youtu.be/nDJkqEPFqww
'X my <3 (Hope to die)': https://youtu.be/fxMBSXSOhJU
'Anti-Fetish': https://youtu.be/BrVx05brvIk

Negative Energy is the pinnacle of VEXED's musicianship, with gripping, profound and brave lyricism. Instead of opting for the forced positivity many of their contemporaries demonstrate, the Hertfordshire trio channel every ounce of their Negative Energy into these 13 tracks - recharging themselves for an uphill battle.

Stream/purchase Negative Energy here: https://lnk.to/VEXED-NegativeEnergy/napalmrecords

VEXED formed in 2019, consisting of vocalist Megan Targett, guitarist Jay Bacon, drummer Willem Mason-Geraghty and bassist Al Harper. The band quickly made a name for themselves across the UK metal scene with their hard-hitting sound and dynamic live performances.

Turning heads with their debut singles - including the fearsome 'Elite' featuring Thy Art Is Murder’s CJ McMahon - VEXED quickly created a palpable underground buzz. In 2020, they signed with the independent label Napalm Records, and released their debut full-length album, Culling Culture in May the following year.

Culling Culture features ten tracks that showcase VEXED's signature sound, which combines punishing breakdowns, technical guitar riffs, and Megan Targett's fierce vocals. The album's lyrics explore themes of societal issues such as mental health and social justice and have been praised for their honesty and relatability.
 
The album was a commercial success and received widespread critical acclaim. VEXED's live shows have also garnered a reputation for being intense and energetic, with the band earning support slots with notable acts such as Spiritbox and In Flames, among others.
 
Now VEXED look to their second album, to be released 23rd June via Napalm Records. A punishing listen, from haunting intro track 'PTSD', which sets the stage of dread ahead of the carnage to come, all the way through 'Lay down your flowers' featuring Alpha Wolf vocalist Lochie Keogh and intense finale 'Nepotism'.

Like the best bands, VEXED on Negative Energy blends fury with emotion. 'Default' displays lead singer Megan Targett's high-soaring clean vocals juxtaposed against her menacing deep growls, while the album's most emotional offering, 'It's Not The End', serves as a magnificent dedication to a loved one passing away, truly manifesting their legacy.

A stunning, devastating musical conduit - Negative Energy ventilates VEXED's pain-stricken burdens and breathes life into their fresh approach, delivered with a thunderous vengeance.
 

VEXED are:

Megan Targett - Vocals
Jay Bacon - Guitar
Willem Mason-Geraghty - Drums

VEXED online:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website
Napalm Records

Tracklisting:

1. PTSD
2. Anti-Fetish
3. We don't talk about it
4. X my <3 (Hope to die)
5. Panic attack
6. Lay down your flowers
7. There's no place like home
8. Extremist
9. Default
10. Trauma Euphoria
11. It's not the end
12. DMT
13. Nepotism

Metal For Good - A charity looking to harness the power of rock and metal for an equal society - has announced its first annual fundraising campaign - Metal Merch Day, to be held in October this year.

Metal For Good, which was awarded charitable status at the end of 2022, aims to invite rockers and metalheads across the country to don their favourite rock and metal merch in support of their work on the 20th October.

As well as wearing their merch to work/college/the gym (or whatever they happen to be doing on the day!) for a small charitable donation, rockers and metalheads will be encouraged to organise their own community fundraising events in the weeks before and after, including gig nights, rock and metal themed pub quizzes, or challenge events including rock and metal/fancy dress themed group runs or football matches.

Metal For Good believe that the rock and metal community are a force for change, and in the transformational power of music. All money raised goes directly to community projects helping people through music.

Metal For Good co-founder Katy Baker said: “We’re delighted to be launching our first #metalmerchday campaign, we know that the rock and metal community are some of the loveliest people around, and take huge comfort and benefit from music being such a huge part of their lives. We can’t wait to see social media flooded with pictures of people in their favourite merch, and raise much needed money for grassroots projects using music to change lives”.

You can download a Metal Merch Day fundraising guide here, donate to wear your favourite merch via JustGiving here, or buy the official Metal Merch Day t-shirt here.

About Metal For Good:

Metal For Good uses the positive values of rock, metal, and other alternative subcultures to make a positive difference in communities. Metal For Good recognises that the rock and metal community is unique, brought together through a shared love of great music and a sense of belonging. Through this shared identity, lives are often improved; individuals feel they are part of something bigger, are accepted and that someone has ‘got their back.’

Metal For Good raises funds to provide grants to community organisations that use music to end inequalities, improve mental and physical wellbeing, and provide life-changing opportunities for young people.

Metal For Good was launched last year by Chris and Katy Baker, who are life-long music fans and specialists in the charity sector, fundraising, and branding. Between them, this husband-and-wife team has worked with huge names in both the charity and corporate sector including World Rugby, Jonnie Walker, The Carers Trust, Laureus Sport For Good, and the University of Birmingham.

As well as engaging directly with music fans Metal For Good hopes to work with some of the biggest partners and artists in the industry to invest back into communities via projects which use music to change lives. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales, charity number 1201152.

You can support Metal For Good by buying our merch, or donating via our Just Giving page.

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Photo Credit: Claudio Marino

The day has finally come to drown the world in a mesmerising, inescapable darkness, as iconic Swedish depressive black metal band Shining release their brand-new self-titled studio album via Napalm Records.

Formed in 1996 and centred around mastermind Niklas Kvarforth, who is known as one of the most controversial and musically brilliant artists in the black metal scene and beyond, Shining present their eleventh offering that proves the unit even darker than ever before.
 
The album release arrives with a third single, entitled 'Fidelis Ad Mortem', that features nothing less than a brilliant guitar solo by King Diamond virtuoso Andy La Rocque, who is also responsible for producing, recording, mixing and mastering Shining in his Sonic Train Studios.

'Fidelis Ad Mortem' conjures a sinister, discomforting atmosphere that will surely be loved and feared alike. Slowing things down with reduced instrumentation and intense vocals, the song creeps its way into the listeners’ guts, causing harm and relief at the same time. Together with a visualiser that perfectly fits the mood of the new song and album in general, Shining will drench this planet in a sulphuric void you can’t escape. 

Watch the lyric video for 'Fidelis Ad Mortem' here: https://youtu.be/tiZ1pphDzvY?si=F1axO6YeEV23zBth

Order Shining here: https://napalmrecords.com/shining

Niklas Kvarforth on 'Fidelis Ad Mortem':

"'Fidelis Ad Mortem’ is a song that was partly written by myself all the way back in 2001, but somehow always felt weirdly out-of-context to the vision I had for this band back in those early days, and thus, therefore never deemed suitable of being a part of any of the last nine records that followed. However, now, when Shining finally are having a more or less stable lineup, the band convinced me that we should at least try to record it, while Andy La Rocque gave myself a boost in his role as our producer, which was something I desperately needed in order to take that necessary step backwards and fall blindly into territories both treacherous and unknown.
 
"And I am glad he did, so that this unorthodox piece of anti-humanitarian art can finally be unleashed publicly and hopefully go on to inspire you all. Finally, it so happens that Andy actually found this particular moment of productivity so inspiring that he ended up recording the two solos as well, showcasing his patented skills in a remarkably fiery way, the way only he can.”

Shining incomparably combines influences from various far-reaching genres such as classical music, jazz and progressive rock, conjuring grim moods, aching wounds and deep emptiness. Themes such as self-destruction, suicide and violence play an important role in the band’s music. Over the course of ten studio albums, including masterpieces such as the acclaimed V. Halmstad and Redefining Darkness, Shining has garnered a large and loyal following who adore the musical genius and eccentric nature of Niklas Kvarforth.
 
Niklas Kvarforth on the new album:
“This is our self-titled, eleventh studio album, and it is drenched in an instantly recognisable sound which has been perfected over the last three decades, and that, today, has become the trademark of the band."

The sinister, lurking album opener 'Avsändare Okänd' counts as one of the most vicious and brutal songs in the band’s history. Next track 'Snart Är Dem Alla Borta' starts with a hauntingly mellow intro before progressing into aggression. The first single and homage to Death, 'Allt För Döden', is a well-designed nightmare cut from the pitch-black horrors of Shining, and according to the band, is drenched in an instantly recognisable sound that has been perfected over the last three decades, and that today has become their trademark. Instrumental piano piece 'Attahundratjugo' calms the atmosphere down, before closing track 'Den Permanenta Sömnen Kallar' shakes the listener by instantly kicking off in black metal style from its first seconds.
 
Shining is a hauntingly captivating and skilful album that features a unique metal sound in true Shining manner, serving the very best of black metal creatively combined with several other influences. The band has sparked a fiery interest with all of their previous offerings, and it is certain that their ruthless upcoming album will exceed all expectations.

Check out previous video 'Allt För Döden’ here: https://youtu.be/FeENVJJcX3w

Shining are:
Niklas Kvarforth – Vocals
Charles Hedger – Guitar
Nicolas Barker – Drums
Peter Huss – Guitar
Alex Friberg – Bass
Tuomas Tahvahnainen – Noise and Discomfort

Shining online:
Official Website || Bandcamp || Instagram || Napalm

Shining Tracklisting

1. Avsändare Okänd
2. Snart Är Dom Alla Borta
3. Allt För Döden
4. Fidelis Ad Mortem (feat. Andy La Rocque)
5. Åttahundratjugo
6. Den Permanenta Sömnen Kallar