Photo Credit: Gustaf Sandholm Andersson

Promising new rock band, The Gems, consisting of three ex-Thundermother members: incomparable vocalist Guernica Mancini, powerhouse drummer Emlee Johansson, and guitar and bass virtuoso Mona 'Demona' Lindgren, have released a new single, the energetic 'P.S.Y.C.H.O', cut from their upcoming debut album, Phoenix, out 26th January 2024 via Napalm Records.

Check out the crazy official music video for 'P.S.Y.C.H.O' video here: https://youtu.be/Gbt-HG67NGM

Pre-order Phoenix here: https://lnk.to/THEGEMS-Phoenix/napalmrecords  

Thundermother reached #6 with their last two albums on the Official German Album Charts, and The Gems’ first singles have already gained impressive attention, with 'Like A Phoenix' peaking at #2 on the German Rock Radio Airplay Charts.

The Gems’ extraordinary potential was proven right after the release of their very first standalone single, 'Like A Phoenix', in summer 2023. The single immediately landed at #2 on the German Rock Radio Airplay Charts and turned the heads of avid rock fans around the world. With their previous band, the members of The Gems took over stages at massive festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Sweden Rock Festival, and even toured with the mighty Scorpions, and the newly formed trio has already played their first shows, convincing audiences with their impressive live energy. 

The Gems comment on 'P.S.Y.C.H.O': “P.S.Y.C.H.O is a fast and fun party track, with a chorus that will drive you crazy in the most magnificent way. We’re all bound to bump into some energy vamps so why not propose a toast in their honor? And who begins a song with insane drum fills soaked in flanger? WE DO! Maybe we are the psychos ourselves?! Watch the music video to get some clues…”

Phoenix will be available in the following formats:
•    Die Hard Edition, 1 LP Gatefold Vinyl Orange, Red Marbled (incl Slipmat, 16p booklet, cotton bag (38x42cm) – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – strictly limited to 100 copies worldwide
•    1 LP Gatefold Vinyl Blue – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – strictly limited to 150 copies worldwide
•    1 LP Gatefold Vinyl Violet – The Gems Shop exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
•    1 LP Gatefold Vinyl Black
•    1 CD Digisleeve
•    Digital Album

Captivating, chanting intro track 'Aurora' allows vocalist Guernica Mancini's distinctive, strong and bluesy vocals shine, and sets the scene before the catchy rock’n’roll anthem 'Queens' roars as a celebration of feminine power. Standing up for oneself, fighting back and rising above are some of the main lyrical themes of Phoenix, which 'Send Me To The Wolves' is an outstanding example of. The song’s storyline champions overcoming and not giving in to oppressors, before 'Domino' takes The Gems’ grooviness to the level of legendary classic rock bands of the 70s. With emotional tracks like 'Undiscovered Paths' and 'Fruits Of My Labor', The Gems bring significant depth and variety to the album, distancing themselves from their history. Stunning interlude 'Maria's Song', featuring violinist Maria Jern, fades into the touching ballad 'Ease Your Pain' - giving extra space to the exceptional guitar work of Mona 'Demona' Lindgren. Following track 'Running' shines as a surefire future hit with more impressive guitar work and Emlee Johansson’s hard hitting drums, before the beautifully stripped down acoustic version of 'Like A Phoenix' - backed with acoustic guitar by producer Johan Randén - wraps up The Gems’ debut album. Phoenix was mastered by Plec Johannsons (Soilwork, Hank von Hell, Firewind) and its artwork was created by ex-Thundermother member Giorgia Carteri (Soilwork, The Nightflight Orchestra).

It is clear that the seasoned musicians of The Gems won’t settle in the shadows of their prior successes. With their fresh, convincing debut offering, The Gems take a stand and leave the past behind. Make no mistake - with Phoenix, The Gems will conquer the international rock scene in a heartbeat.
 
The Gems are:
Guernica Mancini – Vocals 
Emlee Johansson – Drums 
Mona 'Demona' Lindgren – Guitar, Bass

The Gems online:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK

Phoenix track list:
a
1          Aurora - Interlude
2          Queens
3          Send Me To The Wolves
4          Domino
5          Silver Tongue
6          Undiscovered Paths
7          Maria's Song - Interlude
8          Ease Your Pain
9          Running
10        Renaissance - Interlude
11        Like A Phoenix
12        P.S.Y.C.H.O
13        Kiss it Goodbye
14        Force Of Nature
15        Fruits Of My Labor
16        Like A Phoenix - Acoustic Version

Photo Credit: Jan Season

One year after the release of their game changing #1 charting album (Germany), Blood & Glitter, Lord Of The Lost are back with their first ever covers album, Weapons Of Mass Seduction, set to be released on 29th December 2023 via Napalm Records. 

The band have also unveiled the opening track of their upcoming offering, an electrifying cover of Billy Idol’s 'Shock To The System'. Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/uAso8IelhYY

Weapons Of Mass Seduction features plenty of genre-crossing tracks and wraps up the busiest and most successful year in the band’s history so far. In addition to storming the charts with their latest studio album, being invited by the legendary Iron Maiden as special guest on their European tour (again), numerous sold-out headline shows, and opening gigs for Powerwolf and Amon Amarth, the band represented Germany at the Eurovision Song Contest finals in Liverpool in May of this year. Lord Of The Lost made it clear once again that they do not limit themselves when it comes to genre norms and influences. 

Vocalist Chris Harms on 'Shock To The System': "I remember exactly when I heard this song for the first time. I was 13 years old, it was summer and I was sitting in the back of the Opel Manta convertible in which I drove to the open-air pool with my older sister and her boyfriend. Rarely has the energy of a single song gripped me so much. We'd like to give a little bit of that energy back with our tribute to Billy Idol and this song through our cover and accompanying video."

Pre-order Weapons of Mass Seduction here: https://woms.lordofthelost.de

Weapons Of Mass Seduction features a wide range of songs from different eras and genres performed in true Lord Of The Lost style, all surprisingly fitting for the band and hence forming a cohesive collection of covers. Classic heavy metal track 'Turbo Lover', originally by Judas Priest, meets modern pop hits in songs such as Sia’s 'Unstoppable', Bishop Briggs’ 'River' and Zella Day’s 'High'. Ultravox’ 'Hymn', followed by Michael Jackson’s legendary 'Give In To Me' and Keane’s 'Somewhere Only We Know', expand the multifaceted selection even further. With added rougher elements such as heavier vocals, Bronski Beat’s captivating 80s electro pop hit 'Smalltown Boy' gets a dark makeover in the hands of Lord Of The Lost. The unit’s cover of another legendary 80s song, '(I Just) Died In Your Arms', features a guest appearance from rising singer-songwriter Anica Russo, who also took part in Germany’s ESC 2023 preliminary round Unser Lied für Liverpool (EN: Our Song for Liverpool). An emotional version of The Pretty Reckless’ 'House On A Hill' closes Weapons Of Mass Seduction impactfully. 

A special 2 CD edition of the new covers album provides a cross-cut of covers previously released or already covered live over the course of Lord Of The Lost’s career. Among them are the Roxette cover 'The Look' feat. Blümchen – already known from Blood & Glitter – 'Children Of The Damned', a homage to Iron Maiden, with whom Lord Of The Lost experienced intense times during the last two years, and the cover of the Finnish ESC song 'Cha Cha Cha' by Käärijä - sung by Chris Harms completely in Finnish.

Weapons Of Mass Seduction will be available in the following formats:    
●    3 CD Boxset, incl 2 CD 6 pages Digisleeve (Ltd Deluxe Edition) and CD 3 incl 10 acoustic songs, exclusively available in the Deluxe Box + pink Sweatband with black logo, sharped patch and sticker - Napalm Records Mailorder and LORDSHOP exclusive – strictly limited to 1000 copies worldwide
●    2 LP RECYCLED COLOR Vinyl - Die Hard Edition incl Slipmat, record butler and 12 inch booklet – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
●    2 LP RECYCLED COLOR Vinyl incl 12 inch booklet - LORDSHOP exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
●    2LP Gatefold RECYCLED BLACK Vinyl
●    2 CD 6 pages Digisleeve (Ltd Deluxe Edition), 12p booklet
●    1 CD 6 pages Digisleeve, 12p booklet
●    Cassette (PINK w/ Black print) - Napalm Records Mailorder and LORDSHOP exclusive – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide
●    Digital Album

Lord Of The Lost are:
Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Class Grenayde – Bass
Gared Dirge – Piano, Synths, Percussion, Guitar
Niklas Kahl – Drums

For more information:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Tiktok 
Napalm Records 

Weapons Of Mass Seduction tracklist: 

CD 1
1.    Shock To The System (Billy Idol Cover)
2.    Unstoppable (Sia Cover)
3.    Smalltown Boy (Bronski Beat Cover)
4.    Turbo Lover (Judas Priest Cover)
5.    Hymn (Ultravox Cover)
6.    Give In To Me (Michael Jackson Cover)
7.    River (Bishop Briggs Cover)
8.    Somewhere Only We Know (Keane Cover)
9.    (I Just) Died In Your Arms (feat. Anica Russo) (Cutting Crew Cover)
10.    High (Zella Day Cover)
11.    House On A Hill (The Pretty Reckless Cover)

CD 2
1.    The Look (feat. Blümchen) (Roxette Cover)
2.    Ordinary Town (Celebrate The Nun Cover)
3.    Cha Cha Cha (Käärijä Cover)
4.    Judas (Lady Gaga Cover)
5.    Children Of The Damned (Iron Maiden Cover)
6.    Wig In A Box (Hedwig and the Angry Inch Cover)
7.    Bad Romance (Lady Gaga Cover)
8.    The Most Radical Thing To Do (The Ark Cover)
9.    This Is The Life (Amy MacDonald Cover)
10.    It's A Sin (Pet Shop Boys Cover)
11.    Ordinary World (Duran Duran Cover)

CD 3 - Ltd Deluxe Edition only
1.    Starman (David Bowie Cover)
2.    Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon (Neil Diamond Cover)
3.    The Days Of Pearly Spencer (David McWilliams Cover)
4.    Hey You (Pink Floyd Cover)
5.    I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night (The Electric Prunes Cover)
6.    Where Do You Go To My Lovely (Peter Sarstedt Cover)
7.    Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season) (The Byrds Cover)
8.    In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus) (Zager & Evans Cover)
9.    All I Have To Do Is Dream (The Everly Brothers Cover)
10.    Perfect Day (Lou Reed Cover)

Photo Credit: Mitch Chamberlain

Fresh from the frenzy of their sold-out intimate headline tour, Australian pop-punks Between You & Me (BYAM) have today shared their brand new single and music video, 'YEAH!'. 

Listen to 'YEAH!' here: https://orcd.co/yeahh
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/qqVZH1RT36w

Opening with sunny acoustic chords reminiscent of early 2000s radio hits, 'YEAH!' bursts into a feel-good verse carried by the distinct vocals of frontman Jake Wilson, before moving into what is perhaps the band’s most pronounced singalong chorus yet. In line with its bright and upbeat sound, Jake says the song is about: “living your best life and not caring what anyone else thinks. 

“I imagine this song playing in the montage scene of an early 2000s bratty comedy film. Stylistically it’s a big shift for BYAM, but we wanted to bring beachy summer vibes to a fun and carefree song.”

The band teamed up once again with Canadian producer Sam Guaiana (Armageddon - 2021 LP), who flew to Australia earlier this year to record with the band at Beveridge Road Recording Studios in Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges. 

'YEAH!' is BYAM's second independent release, and follows their addictive February single 'Nevermind' which, on their recent run of intimate headline shows, proved to be a new fan-favourite. Sonically 'Nevermind' earmarked a new era for BYAM, and according to the band perfectly captured “the spirit of our band and our live show.” The single was swiftly added to rotation on triple j, and arrived ahead of a massive stint in the USA supporting Knuckle Puck and Real Friends, followed by an Australian tour joining Slowly Slowly on the road upon their return. BYAM also joined You Me At Six and Set It Off on their recent Australian run.

In 2021, Between You & Me’s acclaimed record Armageddon (Hopeless Records) took the band to new heights, featuring hit singles 'Deadbeat', 'Butterflies', 'Change' and 'Go To Hell' ft. Mikaila Delgado of Yours Truly. The electrifying 10-track record landed as triple j’s Spotlight Album on release, alongside an interview on the station’s Breakfast program, and has since clocked up over 13.5 million global streams in addition to support from BBC Radio 1 (UK), Spotify, and more. To celebrate the album, Between You & Me stepped out on their biggest headline Australian tour in 2022, finishing with a milestone sold-out hometown show at Melbourne’s The Corner Hotel. As the year drew to a close, the band took to the USA, joining American pop-punk outfit State Champs on an extensive month-long run.

With new singles 'YEAH!' and 'Nevermind' minting BYAM’s newly independent era, the band are more motivated than ever to continue their global takeover. Fans both at home and abroad can expect more new music and touring news to come. 

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

Photo Credit: Scott Chalmers

UK hard rock sensations South Of Salem have revealed their new single/video 'Static', taken from their highly-anticipated second album Death Of The Party.

Stream 'Static' here: https://ingrv.es/static-xv1-k
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/f1e7aOkIuE4

Death Of The Party will be released 19th January by the band's own Spider Party Records. Pre-order here: https://southofsalem.myshopify.com

South Of Salem are riding high following their debut headline tour. Sold out across the UK, the band sold over 2000 tickets, and ended their tour with a huge show at Inverness' Monsterfest. Not content to rest, South Of Salem have announced a mega album headline show at Bournemouth's O2 Academy on 20th January. 

The first local band to headline the 1800-capacity venue, South Of Salem are swiftly becoming acclaimed as one of the country's most exciting new rock groups around. 

The band comment: "Coming off a sold out UK tour we which ended on Sunday we are stoked to release our new single and video. 

"'Static' is the second single from our upcoming record Death Of The Party coming out January 19th which we hope will chart right here in the UK. 

"Much like the end of programming on an old analogue TV, 'Static' is symbolic of the end. The song is about embracing life and living it to the fullest before it's over. It is about making your own path and not allowing people to dictate where you should be heading. It’s about living with no regrets before we cut to static."

Get your tickets here: https://www.seetickets.com/event/south-of-salem/o2-academy-bournemouth/2815398

Forming in 2019, South Of Salem's brief history is already impressive, building legions of fans even at this early stage. In their time, the band have supported WASP, Wednesday 13, and packed out sets at Bloodstock 2021 and Stonedead 2023. Even more impressive considering they first hit the stage in 2020, with their live career then immediately halted by the Covid pandemic.

Death Of The Party will only up the ante: an all-out hard rock explosion of classic heavy metal, 80s sleaze and horror, with elements of Murderdolls, Avenged Sevenfold, and beyond. Recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Twin Atlantic, and many more), Death Of The Party is a huge record: anthemic, dark, punchy and powerful. You only need to listen to first single, the floorfiller that is the metallic-edged opening to the floorfiller 'Left For Dead' (watch here). South Of Salem are a band here to not mess around.
  
Inspired by rock gods as varied as Alice Cooper, Guns N' Roses, Zakk Wylde, and Murderdolls, to name a few, South Of Salem also take inspiration from the horror genre, to present a new twist on hard rock. Vocalist Joey is an avid collector of horror movies, with over 2000 DVDs and VHSs in his collection; he also writes spooky children’s books, with four published. Guitarist Denis – an avid fan of Zakk Wylde – has roadied for the legend himself, and is also a vinyl collector. His prize record is a Type O Negative test-press of Origin Of The Feces, with a scratch and sniff peel-away sticker. Thankfully, it’s still factory-sealed. 

Follow South Of Salem:

https://instagram.com/southofsalemofficial/
https://facebook.com/southofsalemofficial/
https://tiktok.com/@south.of.salem
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5hJLHVZ83c7qJlPkf8SMw6
https://southofsalem.com

Tracklisting:
 
1: Vultures 
2: Static 
3: Jet Black Eyes 
4: Stitch The Wound 
5: Left For Dead 
6: Hellbound Heart          
7: Bad Habits (Die Hard) 
8: Death Of The Party 
9: A Life Worth Dying For 
10: Villain

Photo Credit: Matteo Vdiva Fabbiani for VD Pictures

POWERWOLF - Germany’s most actively successful artist currently - have announced their biggest headline tour to date, with shows taking place at arenas across Europe.

After bidding farewell to their fans last week with five celebrated shows, excitement for the star group's next live shows in October 2024 begins now.

In trademark POWERWOLF style, the Platinum selling, award-winning, #1 charting band are upping their game once again – not only with the new tour, but a new studio album for 2024.

Amid 16 shows in total, the tour will visit venues in Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Budapest, Prague and Vienna, and will heat up the Wolfpack with an unprecedented production.

POWERWOLF Wolfsnächte 2024 dates: 
w/ HammerFall, Wind Rose

Oct 04: DE Hamburg Barclays Arena
Oct 05: NL Amsterdam AFAS Live
Oct 06: BE Antwerp Lotto Arena
Oct 10: LU Esch Sur Alzette Rockhal
Oct 11: DE Stuttgart Schleyerhalle
Oct 12: DE Frankfurt Festhalle
Oct 14: IT Milan Alcatraz
Oct 16: CH Zürich The Hall
Oct 17: FR Paris Zenith
Oct 18: DE Oberhausen Rudolf Weber Arena
Oct 19: DE Berlin Velodrom
Oct 21: PL Krakow Tauron Arena
Oct 22: HU Budapest MVM Dome
Oct 23: AT Vienne Gasometer
Oct 25: DE Munich Olympiahalle
Oct 26: CZ Prague Sportovni Hala Fortuna

POWERWOLF will be accompanied by Swedish heavy metal legends HammerFall as special guests, and the scene's rising stars, dwarf metal band Wind Rose, will provide powerful support.

After the massive success of 2021 album Call Of The Wild, POWERWOLF's new album will land in 2024 - with more details to follow. Fans can look forward to new songs being played on the Wolfsnächte 2024 Headline Tour!

Tickets go on sale on 10th November at 09:00am GMT via all known ticket agencies.

POWERWOLF state: “We are stoked to announce the biggest tour in POWERWOLF's history and the release of a brand new album in 2024! Without going into the details of the album yet, WOLFSNÄCHTE 2024 will be a breathtaking experience not to be missed! You can expect a massive production and some surprises you haven't seen from us before! Our friends from Hammerfall and Wind Rose will join us to ensure a perfect evening!”

POWERWOLF has conquered countless stages at the world's biggest summer festivals, and their last Wolfsnächte headline tours (2019, 2022), as well as their highly anticipated North American debut in early 2023, were almost completely sold out - resulting in a massive triumph. They have performed headlining sets at Wacken and Summer Breeze, as well as held premium slots at genre festival giants such as Hellfest, Graspop, Masters of Rock and many more, captivating enormous audiences. No other German metal band has been able to write a success story even remotely comparable in recent years.

POWERWOLF are undoubtedly one of the most celebrated and successful heavy metal bands of the last decade. Multiple #1 album chart entries, Gold and Platinum records, huge sold out arena shows, as well as headline slots at the biggest festivals have paved their way. In less than 20 years of band history, POWERWOLF have made it to the very highest league of heavy metal.

ABOUT POWERWOLF:

POWERWOLF is a name that instantly brings tears of joy to the eyes of metal fans worldwide. The story of the frontrunners of today's German metal scene, which began in 2004, only knows one direction: ever upwards! It may seem like something out of a fairytale, but it is the result of embodying the highest quality in the heavy metal universe. Outstanding album productions, bombastic live shows and the tireless drive for perfection on and behind the stage, as well as the perfect integration of new developments, are representative of this exceptional band.

POWERWOLF boast a remarkable collection of Gold and Platinum awards, with many of their albums - including a live streaming event - landing at the top of the Official German album charts, where they remained in the top 100 for months. In 2018, they achieved Gold status in the Czech Republic for the first time with their album Blessed & Possessed, while both its direct predecessors, Preachers Of The Night (2013) and the subsequent masterpiece The Sacrament Of Sin (2018), as well as the groundbreaking streaming event The Monumental Mass: A Cinematic Metal Event (2022), entered the Official German Album Charts at #1. In addition, the thrilling DVD, The Metal Mass (2016), secured the #1 spot on the German DVD charts, as well as #4 on the album charts. The new studio album, Call Of The Wild, entered the album charts at #2 and remained there for 17 (!) weeks, while the hit single 'Dancing With The Dead' added another entry to their collection of Platinum records. The Best Of album, Best Of The Blessed (2020), also successfully entered the German charts at #2, while the special album, Interludium, reached #3.

Over the course of their career, the band has not only fascinated metal fans, but has also won over international press and critics. Countless cover stories in the most important magazines, critics’ awards such as the Metal Hammer Award, and effusive album and concert reviews underpin POWERWOLF's outstanding international status. 

With the current studio album, Call Of The Wild, the special album, Interludium, and the upcoming Wolfsnächte Tour 2024 with support from HammerFall and Wind Rose, as well as a new studio album in 2024, it is clear that the metal world continues to be under the spell of the Wolfpack. POWERWOLF's holy mass in the name of heavy metal is unstoppable!

POWERWOLF are:
Attila Dorn – vocals
Falk Maria Schlegel – organ
Charles Greywolf – guitar
Matthew Greywolf – guitar
Roel van Helden – drums

More Info:
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

Rising rock trio Florence Black have released their new single 'WARNING SIGN'. The track is the fourth glimpse into their upcoming second album BED OF NAILS, due for release on 1st December. 

Check out 'WARNING SIGN' here: https://youtu.be/rkSTuHq_Qt4

Stream 'WARNING SIGN' here: https://songwhip.com/florence-black/warningsign

Pre-order BED OF NAILS here: https://florenceblack.tmstor.es

Florence Black say: 

"The song is full of powerful imagery and metaphors. A candle bleeding light, suggests that something is slowly dying. Being on the back roads, which suggests being lost and alone. A lot of the lyrics lean towards finding the strength to stand up for yourself and to learn from your mistakes." 

Returning to work with renowned producer Romesh Dodangoda, BED OF NAILS follows Florence Black's charting debut full-length WEIGHT OF THE WORLD, which cemented them as one of the most electrifying names in UK rock. 

The band comment on the new album: 

"Since our debut album release in 2021, we have been really busy touring in the UK and EU and, alongside our busiest touring year in 2022, we had written and demoed more than fifty songs. We spent a long time selecting and arranging our songs and feel that they are not just our best to date, but also the ones that show our development as a band. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved. BED OF NAILS is based around the theme of love. The good, the bad and everything in between that emotion. We had an amazing time in the studio recording it with Romesh. He has helped us to create the exact sound we were aiming for and we believe that we have achieved exactly what we had imagined the album to be."

Florence Black have performed at some of Europe’s biggest festivals this summer, including Hellfest, Resurrection and Sweden Rock Festival. The band will conclude 2023 with an appearance at Planet Rockstock. 

The trio will also embark on a UK headline tour in support of BED OF NAILS, set to take place in February 2024.

Full live dates:

Nov 30: Trecco Bay Planet Rockstock

Feb 01: Glasgow Classic Grand 
Feb 02: Newcastle University 
Feb 03: Manchester Academy 3
Feb 05: Nottingham Rescue Rooms 
Feb 06: Wolverhampton KK's Steel Mill 
Feb 08: Bournemouth The Old Fire Station
Feb 09: London The Dome 
Feb 10: Cardiff Tramshed 

Tickets are on sale here: https://www.florenceblack.uk

Florence Black [Planet Rock, Best New Band 2022] are award-winning guitarist Tristan Thomas (lead singer/guitar), Jordan Evans (bass/backing vocals) and Perry Davies (drums/backing vocals) from Merthyr Tydfil, in the rock/metal goldmine of the South Wales valleys.

Back in 2021, the band's standalone single 'BIRD ON A CHAIN' reached number 1 in the iTunes Rock chart. Their anticipated and critically acclaimed debut album WEIGHT OF THE WORLD followed in September, peaking at number 6 in the Official UK Rock & Metal Album Chart, Official UK Physical Album Sales Chart (#25), Official UK Independent Breakers Chart (#3) and Official UK Album Downloads Chart (#33). Singles from the album achieved their own successes: 'CAN YOU FEEL IT?' and fan-favourite 'SUN AND MOON' both became ‘Track of the Week’ in Classic Rock Magazine and both placed highly in the iTunes download chart on release. 'SUN AND MOON' was also added to Planet Rock Radio’s A-list and was highly praised by Kerrang! Magazine.

Florence Black kicked off 2022 with tours alongside Kris Barras Band and Ugly Kid Joe, followed by a tour as special guests on Steel Panther's Res:Erections tour. In a year peppered with festival appearances across Europe and the UK, they embarked on their biggest performances yet, with two sold-out stadium shows to 90,000 fans in Frankfurt, opening for German giants Bohse Onkelz. Florence Black were immediately invited back out to join Bohse Onkelz on their completely sold-out arena run of Germany in August and September. The band rounded off their busiest, most successful live year to date with their own largely sold-out WEIGHT OF THE WORLD headline run in October.

For more information:
https://www.florenceblack.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/florenceblackUK/
https://twitter.com/florenceblackUK/
https://www.instagram.com/florenceblackuk/

BED OF NAILS tracklisting: 

1. START AGAIN
2. DON’T HOLD ME DOWN
3. BED OF NAILS
4. TAXMAN
5. LOOK UP
6. WARNING SIGN
7. BEAUTIFUL LOVER
8. THE WAY HOME
9. SOLID 9
10. ROCKIN’ RING
11. THE FOREST
12. BACK TO THE END  

Photo Credit: Chazz Adnitt

Fightstar became one of the biggest cult sensations in the UK’s early 2000s alt-rock scene with a Top 10 breakthrough hit (‘Paint Your Target’), two Top 20 albums (Be Human and Behind The Devil’s Back) and two Kerrang! Award nominations (for Best British Band and Best British Newcomer). Although they haven’t played since 2015, there has always been a devoted fanbase clamouring for their return. Now those calls have been answered with the news that Fightstar will play their biggest ever headline show - and their first gig in over eight years - at the OVO Arena Wembley on 22nd March 2024.
 
Fightstar still consists of their original line-up - Charlie Simpson (vocals/guitar), Alex Westaway (guitar), Dan Haigh (bass) and Omar Abidi (drums) - who formed the band to explore their shared passion for influences such as Deftones, Taking Back Sunday, Silverchair and Mono.
 
Charlie Simpson says: “Next year marks 20 years since Fightstar played our first show in a tiny nightclub in Northampton, mainly in front of friends and family. To be sat here today about to play our biggest ever headline show at London’s legendary Wembley Arena is something that is hard for us to comprehend. We are so thankful to all our fans who have been so loyal to us and we can’t wait to celebrate this milestone with them. This will be a very special night for all of us.”

Fightstar will be joined by special guests Twin Atlantic and Loathe. 
 
Tickets for the show will go on sale from 9am GMT on Friday 10th November: https://biglink.to/FightstarTickets2024

Fightstar debuted in 2005 with the EP They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, which they followed with four albums: Grand Unification (2006), One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours (2007), Be Human (2009) and Behind The Devil’s Back (2015). Tracks such as ‘Palahniuk’s Laughter’, ‘Paint Your Target’, ‘Overdrive’ and ‘The English Way’ attracted a diehard following, leading to headline shows including the O2 Academy Brixton, The Troxy and the O2 Forum Kentish Town, as well as festivals such as Download and Reading & Leeds.
 
Since they were last together in 2015, Charlie Simpson has returned to fill arenas with Busted, continued a successful solo career and won The Masked Singer. Alex Westaway and Dan Haigh have released two further albums with their band Gunship, who have collaborated with everyone from John Carpenter to Dave Lombardo, while Omar Abidi has established a successful career as a sound engineer for a variety of major events, featured in Guy Ritchie’s version of Aladdin and drummed in a viral Argos advert campaign.

For more information: 
https://www.facebook.com/fightstarmusic/
https://twitter.com/Fightstarmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/fightstar_music/
https://www.youtube.com/user/Fightstarmusic/

Photo Credit: Layla Burrows

Legendary psych-rock troupe Gong celebrate the release of their long-awaited new album Unending Ascending with new single/video ‘My Guitar Is A Spaceship’ - what can only be described as the essence of Gong in visual form.

Take the intergalactic voyage with Gong here: https://youtu.be/RrJRaWzXvW8
Order the album and stream here: https://gong.lnk.to/unending

‘My Guitar Is A Spaceship’ was the first track to be written for the new album, as Kavus Torabi explains: "The song came into being in the spring of 2022 and we actually debuted it on the Glade Stage at Glastonbury Festival that summer. It was the first song we wrote for the new album. More than anything we’ve done together, it seemed to pop out fully formed. That morning none of it existed and then an hour later all of it did."

He continues: “I don’t think we were even trying to write a tune at that point! What a feeling, we sort of couldn’t believe we came up with it. I said “Man, can you imagine debuting this song at Glastonbury Festival?”. Sure enough, two days later we received a message asking us if we’d like to headline the Glade Stage that year. At this point the existence of magic is not even up for debate.

"The tune is just one propulsive, cycling riff that seems to blast us and the audience upward, hence the lyrics, from which we took the title of the album. Once we’d written this, we knew the rest of the album would be great, it kind of defined the direction we would take as we wrote the remaining seven songs. I honestly can’t conceive of a Gong gig, moving forward, where we don’t play it."

Following the success of 2019’s The Universe Also Collapses, Gong’s intergalactic voyage has once more entered Earth’s orbit with their new album Unending Ascending.

Out now via Kscope, the new album promises another mind-expanding set of songs. Opener ‘Tiny Galaxies’ crackles with the electricity of supercharged sixties psych-pop, while ‘My Guitar Is A Spaceship’ is as close to an anthem as anything Gong have previously recorded. This uptempo, single-riff stomper is already a live favourite, garnering a positive reaction from a crowd of 90,000 Blur fans at Wembley Stadium in July 2023, when Gong frontman Kavus Torabi dropped it into his DJ set before Paul Weller took to the stage.

‘Ship of Ishtar’ is a rapt cosmic hymn where Gong make time itself stand still. Jet streams of kaleidoscopic melodies envelop ‘O, Arcturus’, to be followed by the lively polyrhythmic angularity of ‘All Clocks Reset’. ‘Choose Your Goddess’, a surprisingly muscular slice of ritualistic trance rock, ratchets up the intensity yet further. On ‘Lunar Invocation’ the band summons the Moon deities of yore with ululating feedback and squalling cymbals before the post-credits of ‘Asleep Do We Lay’ lull lugubriously, gently beginning the cycle all over again.

Gong’s Unending Ascending is available on CD / Black LP and Digitally (sorry, the Limited Edition Green LP sold out!).

Gong will be appearing alongside Ozric Tentacles on a co-headline tour throughout the UK in November/December 2023 as well as ‘The Last Blast’ Tour in 2024. 

Watch Gong live:

With Ozric Tentacles:

Nov 17: Oxford, O2 Academy2
Nov 18: London, O2 Forum (w/ The Crazy World of Arthur Brown)
Nov 19: Manchester, O2 Ritz
Nov 20: Sheffield, O2 Academy2
Nov 21: Colchester, Arts Centre
Nov 23: Northampton, Roadmenders
Nov 24: Bristol, O2 Academy
Nov 25: Gloucester, Guildhall
Nov 26: Birmingham, O2 Academy2
Nov 28: Brighton, Chalk
Nov 29: Norwich, Epic Studios
Nov 30: Bournemouth, O2 Academy
Dec 01: Frome, Cheese & Grain
Dec 02: Liverpool, O2 Academy

Mar 07: Exeter, The Phoenix
Mar 08: Falmouth, Princess Pavilion
Mar 09: Lyme Regis, Marine Theatre
Mar 10: Cardiff, The Globe
Mar 11: Swansea, Patti Pavilion
Mar 13: Southampton, The 1865
Mar 14: Margate, Dreamland
Mar 15: Hull, The Welly
Mar 16: Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
Mar 17: Stockton-on-Tees, Georgian Theatre
Mar 18: Lincoln, Engine Shed
Mar 20: Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
Mar 21: Newcastle, University
Mar 22: Glasgow, St. Luke's
Mar 23: Edinburgh, Summerhall

GONG ONLINE

https://www.gongband.com
https://gongband.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/officialgong
https://twitter.com/gong_band
https://open.spotify.com/artist/47yvARr7dCOKqvjDVwfbf3
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/gong/6663678
https://kscopemusic.com/artists/gong
https://linktr.ee/gongband

Unending Ascending tracklisting:

1 Tiny Galaxies
2 My Guitar is a Spaceship
3 Ship Of Ishtar
4 O, Arcturus!
5 All Clocks Reset
6 Choose Your Goddess
7 Lunar Invocation
8 Asleep Do We Lay

About Gong:

The universe of Gong began in 1969 when Daevid Allen was inspired by a profound psychedelic vision. A founder member of Soft Machine, Allen incorporated his spiritual and metaphysical leanings into an evolving collective. More a mythology than a band in the conventional sense, Gong established itself as one of the most unique, innovative and experimental rock groups of the seventies, through an exploratory mix of rock, jazz and psychedelia with elements of mysticism and surrealism, unafraid to deliver its messages directly, obliquely or whimsically. The current incarnation, who were put together by Daevid after his swansong album with Gong, I See You, honour his intention that Gong do not die with him, urging the band to “carry it on into new unknown heights and depths far beyond anything I could ever imagine myself”.

The collective of Kavus Torabi, Dave Sturt, Fabio Golfetti, Ian East and Cheb Nettles is the most stable in Gong's illustrious history, having written, recorded and toured together for eight years since Allen's passing. A dynamic, powerful and explosive live band, their music draws from the credo of the original Gong while remaining committed to pushing the composition, performances and message into new realms, paying no mind to nostalgia. Gong in 2023 continue the ethics, attitude and lifestyle that was always woven into the fabric of the band.

Photo Credit: Duncan Tyler

Rising UK rockers Amongst Liars just keep upping the tempo, this time with new single 'Ready for This?'. Following recent single 'The Shameful' (voted Metal Hammer Track Of The Week in September), this new stadium-ready anthem further justifies the aching anticipation for the band's upcoming second album Design, due March 2024.

Watch the video to 'Ready for This?' here: https://youtu.be/0bStLOwSUEs
Stream 'Ready for This?' here: https://earache.lnk.to/ReadyforThis
Pre-order Design: https://www.amongstliars.com/shop

The band comment: "'Ready for This' has a pretty simple premise and is written about taking risks in life, being true to yourself and not taking s**t from people who criticise and try to put you down. It comes from recent lived personal experience, so to us is very uplifting when we perform it."

Amongst Liars have just come off a hugely successful two week tour supporting Theory of a Deadman across the UK. While on tour, the band also raised over £600 for the Metal for Good charity, of which they are ambassadors, by donating a percentage of their merch sales and auctioning a signed guitar.

After supporting Ayron Jones on his UK club tour in November 2022, Amongst Liars are now scheduled to go out with Ayron on a French tour in February 2024.

Eastbourne/Brighton based Amongst Liars formed in early 2020 and play a unique blend of energetic, modern rock. Critically acclaimed debut album Amongst Liars was released in July 2022, receiving widespread support from BBC Introducing, Kerrang! and Planet Rock, with singles A-listed on Primordial Radio. Spotify streams are currently hitting the 500K mark, while their YouTube views amount to over 200K.

The band won the prestigious Great Music Stories ‘Band of the Year 2021’ and 'Album of the Year 2022', completed two headline tours and supported Theory Of A Deadman on a full UK tour, as well as another UK tour with Ayron Jones. They will be spending the rest of 2023 putting the finishing touches to their upcoming second album Design.
 

Amongst Liars are:
Ian George - vocals
Leo Burdett - guitars
Adam Oarton - drums
Ross Towner - bass
James Brummeo - keys

Amongst Liars online:
https://www.amongstliars.com/
https://www.facebook.com/amongstliarsband
https://www.instagram.com/amongstliars/
https://twitter.com/amongstliars