Photo Credit: Fordtography

Future alternative metal greats Defences present their stunning new single/video 'Gold In The Dark' via Long Branch Records.

Watch the video for 'Gold In The Dark' here: https://youtu.be/ojVckyitLFI

Stream here: https://orcd.co/defences_goldinthedark

Previous single 'The Curse' struck the blueprint for Defences' new direction, and 'Gold In The Dark' is where it was solidified. Serving as a direct continuation of the story told in its predecessor, 'Gold In The Dark' recounts the first steps in self-acceptance. Being at peace with your inner darkness first requires you to embrace it, to really shine a light into the parts of you that you choose to hide. 

"I started reading, researching and practising the concept of shadow work during the lockdown years," comments singer Cherry Duesbury. "I realised there were parts of myself I was actively ignoring and pushing down, and it was contributing to why I was feeling so stunted, unhappy in myself and who I was in various ways. Coming across this concept and reading about the psychology behind it - which I've always been fascinated by and studied in school for a while - was really eye-opening and inspiring for me. These are some of my favourite lyrics I've ever written! And the ideas in this song sparked so much inspiration for this era of our band and the themes we explored, lyrically, musically and visually."

On the video, the band comment: "This is one of our favourite video shoots to date! We found an amazing derelict school out in Hereford where they run ghost tours. Once we got there and realised just how beautiful the building was, we decided it would be better to shoot each member in a different room rather than all bunch up in a room. This resulted in a huge amount of negative space in all of these shots, with huge rooms stretching behind as we’re performing, ending up this amazing eerie vibe. It felt a little bit like being in The Shining or The Haunting of Hill House!

"We also wanted to tie the newly established 'Shadow Cherry' to this location, so we showed her room from where she influences the world, resulting in the puppet strings effect seen in the video. This was great, but a lot of hard work to achieve! We had 2 metre-long metal poles with the other end of the ropes attached to them, so just know that any time you see one of us on screen with these ropes around us, all of the other members are just off-camera sweating buckets trying to keep them up!"

A proven hit on the live circuit, Defences have numerous U.K. tours with multiple sell-out headline shows under their belts, as well as festival appearances including Download, Takedown, Turbulence and Burn It Down. With soon-to-be-announced new material, live shows and the support of their strong fan community cultivated in their #TheHeart fan page, 2024 promises to be a big year for the quintet.

Defenses are:

Cherry Duesbury - Vocals
William Young - Keys, Vocals
Calum Wilmot - Guitar
Owen Hughes-Holland - Bass
Kyle Parke - Drums

Defenses online:
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE
INSTAGRAM
HOMEPAGE
TIKTOK

Photo Credit: Heile Photography

Industrial metal project PAIN have celebrated the release of their new album I Am (17th May, Nuclear Blast Records) with their new music video for 'Don’t Wake The Dead'.

Filled with anthems like 'Don’t Wake The Dead' and the hit single 'Party In My Head', alongside atmospheric tracks such as 'I Am' and 'Fair Game,' the album seamlessly blends uplifting catchiness with introspective moments, marking Peter Tägtgren's most personal and boldest work to date. 

'Don't Wake The Dead' - written by Peter's son Sebastian Tägtgren can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/Ldil4-b0K64 
                    
Peter Tägtgren comments:
"The first time Seb showed me the song I was blown away, from the beginning to the end, so dark, yet so beautiful. After I heard the song I had a panic attack: "How do I sing on this? And what?"

Stream/Order I Am here: https://pain.bfan.link/i-am

It's 2021 and a pandemic is strangling the world - and no one seems to be having fun. Seemingly tireless music freak Peter Tägtgren couldn't care less as he hits the jackpot with - pardon the harsh language – a fucking catchy... well, party anthem. We are of course talking about the song ‘Party in My Head’ by Tägtgren's synth-infused metal project PAIN.

"I don't really know what it is about ‘Party in My Head’ that made - still makes - people go crazy for it... But what I do know for sure is that the song has already been enjoyed millions and millions of times. The numbers are pretty crazy! Of course, PAIN is no stranger to writing danceable and catchy, albeit metallic shit... It's always been in the DNA of this project. But let's face it: if the world really needs 'party anthems' from a cynical geezer like me, something's seriously wrong", Peter laughs.

Our beloved planet may be screwed, but there still doesn't seem to be much wrong in PAIN's world as 2024 ticks fast on the calendar. There simply can't be, because PAIN's eagerly awaited new studio album I Am is now here - yes, after eight years of devoted waiting.

"The previous record Coming Home came out in 2016 - and of course there was a tour after that. In 2019, I released an album called F & M with Rammstein singer Till Lindemann, a project I left in 2020. In 2021, it was time for my death metal band Hypocrisy to get active with a new album Worship - and of course we toured again. If that wasn't enough, let's add that there was a studio album with Joe Lynn Turner in 2022... In other words: the last eight years have passed in the blink of an eye", Peter sighs.

"After all this, it was the perfect time for PAIN to go full force again. I felt excited to say the least. Needless to say, the success of ‘Party in My Head’ gave the album process an explosive start!"

Let's get one thing straight: the powerful-sounding I Am is truly a versatile - if not the most versatile - musical missile in PAIN's rich discography. The new songs go everywhere with heavy industrial riffs, haunting melancholic vibes and groove-filled rhythms - without forgetting surprises, of course.

"There's no boundaries with PAIN. I just get an interesting idea for a song and along the way it can turn into anything. Sometimes I also like to deliberately surprise people by following an exciting musical path where unexpected things happen", Peter describes.

"If I had one big goal this time, it was to add more intensity and edge to the songs. Coming Home turned out great, but looking back now, I was maybe a little too deep into my 'David Bowie worship' with the orchestral stuff and the acoustic guitars. This time around, I definitely wanted more tempo, aggressiveness and an industrial atmosphere. Going back towards the old times of PAIN? Maybe a bit..."

“I Am is also more of a family affair than ever before. My son Sebastian - also a PAIN drummer - wrote the music of ‘Revolution’ and ‘Don't Wake the Dead’. These absorbing songs add width to an already versatile album. All in all, completing I Am required a lot of composing, writing, thinking, experimenting, doing and re-doing. It was a long and sometimes challenging process, but never painful!"

Speaking of surprises... What song will give fans the biggest wow effect this time?

"It must be ‘Go With the Flow’. I dare to insist that when it starts rolling, even the deep connoisseurs of PAIN music are wondering what the heck is going on here. I would say it's my 'Depeche Mode in the 80s' song'", Peter laughs.

"Lyrically, ‘Go With the Flow’ represents a slightly brighter moment in the darkness. I always tend to think that everything is going to hell, but with this song I tell myself, 'come on dude, let things be for once and go with the flow'."

There may be these rare rays of light from the beacon, but darkness still prevails.

"The album's title track starts with the line 'there's no hope in the valley of death'. And if I look at the lyrics, I could dig up a lot other examples of similar sinister moods. But hey, a sarcastic guy like me and such gloomy times we live in... Are you expecting some sunny faces here? Well, sunny or not, PAIN is going to be busy for the foreseeable future. There will be a lot of touring to support the record. Summer festivals, extensive tours here and there and more", Peter says.

"And what about the future anyway? Ask me again in eight years and there have been a few studio albums from different bands, a lot of gigs and something else. Yes, I am what "I Am"..."

For more:

Website: https://www.painworldwide.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/_pain
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/painbandofficial
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@painband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pain

I Am tracklisting:

1. I Just Dropped By (to say goodbye)
2. Don't Wake The Dead
3. Go With The Flow
4. Not For Sale
5. Party In My Head
6. I Am
7. Push The Pusher
8. The New Norm
9. Revolution
10. My Angel
11. Fair Game

Photo Credit: Pete Ray

UK post-hardcore stalwarts Polar are back to electrify the music scene with their latest single, 'We Won't Sleep'. This powerful anthem of resistance, infused with intense lyrics and pulsating rhythms, is a relentless call to action. The track opens with a bold challenge to the status quo, intensifying into a declaration of unstoppable energy and change. Accompanied by a dynamic music video that captures the essence of rebellion, the song and its visuals stimulate the senses, portraying the urgency and chaos of revolution.

Watch: https://youtu.be/gELPOWU_Xk4

Stream: https://arisingempire.com/wewontsleep

In 2023, amidst significant lineup changes that led to the departure of several original members, founding vocalist Adam Woodford took the reins. Determined to turn adversity into opportunity, Woodford revitalised Polar by bringing on new members Stefan Whiting (bass), Bruno Consani (guitar), Simon Richardson (guitar), and Max Flohr (drums). This fresh lineup has injected new energy and perspective into the band, further amplifying the defiant and transformative message of 'We Won't Sleep'!

Since their formation in 2009, Polar have carved out a distinctive niche with their intense, chaotic sound and electrifying live performances. Over the past 15 years, they have built a solid reputation, establishing themselves as a powerful presence in the music scene.

This rejuvenated lineup has not only taken centre stage at Resurrection Festival but has also completed tours across Europe and the UK. Together, they have produced Polar's 6th studio album with Jack Murphy at Crystal Sound Studios, exploring the theme of change's destructive power. This album is considered by the band as their most impactful work to date. With renewed positivity and unyielding determination, Polar has reached new heights of strength and shows no signs of stopping.

Polar are:
Adam Woodford | vocals
Bruno Consani | guitar
Simon Richardson | guitar
Stefan Whiting | bass
Bradley Hanson | drums

For more information:

https://www.instagram.com/polaruk
https://www.facebook.com/polaruk
https://www.tiktok.com/@polaruk
https://twitter.com/polaruk
https://www.polaruk.co

Photo Credit: Dan Almasy

Pallbearer's highly-anticipated new album, Mind Burns Alive, is out now via Nuclear Blast Records.

To mark the release, the band have unveiled a video for the title track, directed by Dan Almasy - who created all the videos for the album. 

“This album is for everyone who has ever felt overcome by life’s negative turns, for those who have watched people you care about degrade into the shadows of themselves, for those who search for something to believe in, and come up wanting,” vocalist/guitarist Brett Campbell shares. “This world is hard; it will eat you up, and we must lift each other up in order to make it through.”

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

Purchase or stream Mind Burns Alive here: https://pallbearer.bfan.link/mind-burns-alive.ema.

Mind Burns Alive is available digitally, and on a variety of physical formats, including limited-edition vinyl, and CD, as well as a companion merch collection.

Pallbearer will be touring the album across Europe with Graveyard and Baroness in October and November. Brett Campbell comments: "We are elated to be bringing songs from Mind Burns Alive to Europe alongside Baroness and Graveyard. Playing alongside Baroness is always a treat, and we are looking forward to hearing our first time tour mates Graveyard every night, as well. Hope to see you on the road.”
 
The band has also confirmed three special European performances: The Copenhell Metal Cruise (Copenhagen to Oslo) from 25-27th October, Hell’s Ball Belgium (Kortrijk) on 9th November, and Helldorado in Eindhoven (The Netherlands) on 16th November. All ticketing links can be found at Pallbearerdoom.com.

Full dates:

October 25 – 27  Copenhagen, DK  Copenhell Metal Cruise *
October 29  Gothenburg, SE  Trägår’n **
October 30  Stockholm, SE  Fållan **
October 31  Copenhagen, DK  Amager Bio
November 2  Berlin, DE Huxleys Neue Welt
November 3  Krakow, PL  Klub Studio **
November 6  Milan, IT  Live Club
November 7  Zurich, CH  X-TRA
November 9  Paris, FR  L’Olympia
November 10  Kortrijk, BE  Hell’s Balls Belgium *
November 11  Wiesbaden, DE  Schlachthof
November 13  Munich, DE  TheaterFabrik
November 14  Hanover, DE  Capitol
November 16  Eindhoven, NL  Helldorado *
November 17  Cologne, DE  Carlswerk
November 18  Luxembourg, LU  Rockhall
November 20  London, UK  O2 Forum Kentish Town
November 21  Bristol, UK  Marble Factory
November 22  Manchester, UK  New Century Hall
November 24  Dublin, IE  The Academy
November 25  Belfast, UK  Limelight 1
November 26  Glasgow, UK  SWG3 Galvanizers
November 28  Nottingham, UK  Rock City
 
*-Festival performances
**-Baroness and Pallbearer only

Pallbearer are Brett Campbell (vocals/electric guitar/synthesiser), Devin Holt (electric and acoustic guitar/vocals), Mark Lierly (drums/percussion) and Joseph D. Rowland (vocals/bass guitar/synthesizer). The Little Rock, Arkansas based band formed in 2008 and have since released four albums: Forgotten Days (2020), Heartless (2017), Foundations of Burden (2014) and Sorrow and Extinction (2012). In their review of Forgotten Days, Pitchfork described the foursome’s music as “soaring majesty on an album that find a new way forward by refining their past,” Stereogum dubbed the collection as “warm and melodic and comforting,” while Revolver said the songs are “sweeping and melancholic” living “between the majesty of vintage Black Sabbath and the morbid romanticism of Type O Negative.” Decibel have featured the band on their cover multiple times, declaring the band’s unique musical vision as “intense, emotional thunder.”

Pallbearer are:

Brett Campbell – Vocals, Guitar
Devin Holt – Guitar
Joseph D Rowland – Bass, Vocals
Mark Lierly – Drums 

For more information:

Pallbearerdoom.com
Pallbearer.bandcamp.com
Instagram.com/pallbearerdoom
Facebook.com/pallbearerdoom

Mind Burns Alive track list:

Where The Light Fades
Mind Burns Alive
Signals
Endless Place
Daybreak
With Disease

Photo Credit: Matteo Vdiva Fabbiani for VD Pictures

Today, POWERWOLF present the long-awaited first single from their upcoming studio album, Wake Up The Wicked, out 26th July via Napalm Records.

'1589' tells the story of Peter Stump, who lived near Cologne, Germany in the 16th Century and is known today as the "Werewolf of Bedburg". After being defamed as a werewolf, the farmer confessed to several murders under torture, and was cruelly executed on 31st October 1589. This morbid story has fascinated people all over the world ever since and has been picked up by National Geographic, among others.

For the video for '1589', POWERWOLF travelled to England to stage Stump's fate in the dark woods in a cinematic way. With carefully selected locations, countless actors and crew members and impressive special effects, it marks the most elaborate music video production in the band's history to date - and thus offers a worthy first taste of what fans can expect with Wake Up The Wicked.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/5S0-oP9JsL0

POWERWOLF are undoubtedly one of the most successful current heavy metal bands worldwide. Headline and premium slots at premier rock and metal festivals like Wacken, Hellfest and Graspop, as well as massive sold-out arena shows have further solidified the Wolfpack’s standing at the very top of the scene. POWERWOLF’s high quality releases are steadily praised by critics and fans alike, building upon the successful reach of their songs and impressive official music videos, which have been streamed tens of millions of times across platforms to date.

Pre-order Wake Up The Wicked here: https://lnk.to/PW-WakeUpTheWicked

Wake Up The Wicked – the highly anticipated successor to the extremely successful previous studio album, Call Of The Wild (2021) – will be released just in time for the award-winning band’s first ever full North American tour, starting in August 2024, followed by their biggest European headline tour to date, the Wolfsnächte 2024. Wake Up The Wicked is once again produced by the outstanding Joost van den Broek at Sandlane Recording Facilities and marks a new benchmark and undisputed career highlight for the band. The new album is hard, surprising and full of variety. While staying true to their established, loved sound, POWERWOLF go one step further and showcase a different facet of their deft musical and technical skills. This is evident, for example, on the outstanding single '1589', which is based on a true story from the 16th Century. 

20 years after their formation in 2004, POWERWOLF are expanding their repertoire with the highest quality and adding many future live hits to their extraordinary discography. Wake Up The Wicked is yet another statement cementing the status of the band as a leading force in the world of heavy metal.

Wake Up The Wicked Tracklisting:
1.    Bless 'em With the Blade
2.    Sinners of the Seven Seas
3.    Kyrie Klitorem
4.    Heretic Hunters
5.    1589
6.    Viva Vulgata
7.    Wake Up the Wicked
8.    Joan of Arc
9.    Thunderpriest
10.   We Don't Wanna Be No Saints
11.   Vargamor

POWERWOLF 2024 North American Tour:
w/ Unleash The Archers

Aug 29: Los Angeles The Hollywood Palladium, CA
Aug 31: Denver The Ogden Theatre, CO [low tickets]
Sep 03: Chicago The Riviera Theatre, IL
Sep 04: Cleveland The Agora Theatre, OH
Sep 05: Silver Spring The Fillmore, MD
Sep 07: Tampa Jannus Landing, FL
Sep 08: Atlanta The Masquerade, GA [sold out]
Sep 09: Charlotte The Fillmore, NC
Sep 12: Philadelphia The Fillmore, PA
Sep 13: Worcester The Palladium, MA
Sep 14: New York City, Brooklyn Paramount NY
Sep 15: Laval Place Bell, QC

POWERWOLF Wolfsnächte 2024 dates: 
w/ HammerFall, Wind Rose

Oct 04: DE Hamburg Barclays Arena
Oct 05: NL Amsterdam AFAS Live [low tickets]
Oct 06: BE Antwerp Lotto Arena
Oct 09: FR Nantes Zenith
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 [low tickets]
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 Vienna Gasometer [sold out]
Oct 25: DE Munich Olympiahalle
Oct 26: CZ Prague Sportovni Hala Fortuna

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

Powerwolf Wake Up The Wicked tracklisting:

1.    Bless 'em With the Blade
2.    Sinners of the Seven Seas
3.    Kyrie Klitorem
4.    Heretic Hunters
5.    1589
6.    Viva Vulgata
7.    Wake Up the Wicked
8.    Joan of Arc
9.    Thunderpriest
10.    We Don't Wanna Be No Saints
11.    Vargamor

Photo Credit: HelloBipo

German trio Future Palace have released a video for their brand new single 'The Echoes of Disparity', out now via Arising Empire. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album Distortion which will be released on 6th September.

Check out the video for 'The Echoes of Disparity' here: https://youtu.be/mTxV0uJlAtw

Stream 'The Echoes of Disparity' here: https://arisingempire.com/theechoesofdisparity

'The Echoes of Disparity', featuring a standout collaboration with Charlie Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds, makes a strong statement regarding societal pressure and control over women's bodies. Maria showcases an impressive vocal range, transitioning between powerful shouts and crystal-clear vocals, adding depth and emotion to the song's important message.

The world is a firework of overstimulation, and Future Palace have dedicated their upcoming album Distortion, to this feeling of overwhelm. On the new record, the band delves into the nearly oppressive mass of mental illnesses and societal problems, creating music that, fittingly, delivers more hooks than ever before, shifting seamlessly from the quietest depths to the loftiest heights. While their previous album, Run, leaned toward musical extremes, Distortion is the ultimate culmination of all the tones Future Palace have absorbed on their Europe-wide journey as one of the most exciting acts in alternative guitar music.

Future Palace's music has always explored internal struggles, and Distortion is the brutal climax of this approach. The album title, derived from the psychological term cognitive distortion, reflects a world where changing perceptions trap individuals in recurring pitfalls. Distortion addresses various mental illnesses and personal struggles, from ADHD to depression to narcissism. The band's third album is a powerful force of emotions, cycles, and cries of desperation, overwhelming listeners with its intensity.

The band's creativity shines as they tackle demanding topics with fresh perspectives. On Distortion, they build on their previous work by incorporating new elements, like orchestral interjections in 'The Echoes of Disparity', which combines brutal screams and chant-like passages to convey psychological struggle. 'Panic Paralysis' features a massive vocal motif with an arabesque touch, while 'They Take What They Want' dives into emotional depths, blending raw metalcore with gentle vocal passages and massive choirs.

Despite the album's emotional intensity, Distortion was created amid excessive demands. Produced by Julian Breucker and Christoph Wieczorek, known for their work with Annisokay, Beyond the Black, and Smash Into Pieces, the recording process was grueling. Singer Maria Lessing recorded the album with a root infection and after wisdom tooth surgery, adding stress but enhancing the songs' authenticity. Guitarist Manuel Kohlert notes that the album reflects the band's experience as a heavy touring band, capturing the feelings of being on the road and contemplating their existence.

Despite its challenges, Distortion carries a piece of hope. 'Decarabia' tells a bittersweet story about a depressed couple, while 'The Echoes of Disparity', featuring Charlie Rolfe of As Everything Unfolds, is militantly rebellious, addressing abuse of power and the oppression of women. Lessing emphasizes the importance of female support to convey the song's message loudly.

The album features the most powerful metalcore breakdowns meeting trembling darkwave beats, anthemic emocore refrains à la Bad Omens contrasted with sacred choirs, and the coldness of industrial clashing with the powerful emotionality of Sleep Token, making Distortion an album like a manifesto.

Tour dates:
17.10. DE Nuremberg, Hirsch
19.10. HU Budapest, Analog Music Hall
22.10. CZ Rague, Rock Cafe
23.10. PL Warsaw, Hydrozagadka
24.10. PL Gdansk, Drizzly Grizzly
26.10. FI Helsinki, On the Rocks
28.10. SE Stockholm, Kollektivet Livet
29.10. DK Copenhagen, Pumpehuset
30.10. NO Oslo, John Dee
31.10. SE Gothenburg, Musikens Hus
01.11. DE Hamburg, Gruenspan
02.11. DE Bremen, Schlachthof
28.11. DE Hanover, Musikzentrum
29.11. DE Frankfurt, Batschkapp
30.11. DE Cologne, Kantine
02.12. FR Paris, Supersonic Records
04.12. UK London, The Garage
05.12. UK Manchester, Rebellion
06.12. BE Antwerp, Trix
07.12. NL Amsterdam, Melkweg
09.12. DE Stuttgart, club Cann
10.12. CH Bern, Stellwerk
12.12. CH Zurich, dynamo
13.12. DE Munich, Backstage Werk
15.12. DEBerlin, Huxleys

Festivals 2024
13.06 - 15.06. CH, Greenfield Festival
15.06. AT, Nova Rock Festival
21.06 - 23.06. DE, Full Force Festival
23.06. BE, Graspop Metal Meeting
26.06 - 29.06. ES, Resurrection Fest
31.07. - 03.08. DE, Wacken Open Air
14.08 - 17-08. DE, Summer Breeze Open Air
15.08 - 17.08. DE, Reload Festival
15.08 - 18.08. FR, Motocultor Festival

Future Palace are:
Maria | Vocals
Manuel | Guitar
Johannes | Drums

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/futurepalace
https://www.instagram.com/futurepalaceofficial
https://tiktok.com/@futurepalace
https://twitter.com/futurepalacede
https://www.future-palace.de

Tracklist
1. Uncontrolled
2. Malphas
3. Panic Paralysis
4. The Echoes of Disparity feat. Charle Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds
5. Dreamstate
6. Decarabia
7. in Too Deep
8. Rays of Light
9. A Fool on a Devil's Reins
10. They Take What They Want
11. Amethyst

Photo Credit: Jumpei Inomata

Tokyo riff lords Sable Hills have shared a brand new single of the band's highly anticipated third album Odyssey, due for release 19th April via Arising Empire. 'Battle Cry', featuring Kenta Koie from Crossfaith, is now streaming via the links below.

Stream 'Battle Cry' here: https://arisingempire.com/battlecry
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/mJ63vfRqhAc

'Battle Cry' addresses the fight against complacency and the quest for meaning in adversity, challenging listeners to assess their own engagement with life's challenges. As the song intensifies, it encourages listeners to assert themselves, becoming not just a backdrop of aggression but an anthem for self-expression and resilience.

'Battle Cry' demonstrates Sable Hills’ ability to combine introspective themes with dynamic, impactful music. This track is set to resonate with both new and longtime fans, preparing them for an album full of raw energy and bold intensity. With the pre-order available, fans are eagerly awaiting the full experience.

Sable Hills have captivated audiences with their electrifying headline tours, notably Chaos J.P. 2023, which featured the likes of Like Moths To Flames and Knosis, led by Ryo Kinoshita, former vocalist of Crystal Lake. This tour marked an important return to Japan for these acts after a long hiatus.

The band's ascent to prominence was ignited by their debut album EMBERS (2019), which received widespread acclaim and positioned them at the pinnacle of Japan's metal scene, allowing them to share the stage with renowned Japanese bands such as coldrain, Crystal Lake, and international heavyweights Fit For A King and After The Burial. Appearing at major festivals Bloodaxe Festival at Club Citta Kawasaki and True North Festival at Shin-Kiba Studio Coast further enhanced their reputation.

The release of their second album DUALITY marked another high point in their career. The album's release tour, extending from Japan to Europe, included performances at Wacken Open Air in Germany and Brutal Assault in the Czech Republic. At Wacken 2022, Sable Hills achieved an historic victory, winning the METAL BATTLE 2022, a first for a Japanese band.

In 2023, the band kept on striving forward, selling out their show at Spotify O-WEST and performing at major festivals including coldrain's BLARE FEST, KNOTFEST and at Wacken Open Air for the second consecutive year. Their very own FRONTLINE FESTIVAL at Kawasaki Club Citta was a resounding success, attracting close to 1000 attendees.

Sable Hills are:
Takuya Mishima - Vocals
Wataru Yuasa - Guitar & Vocals
Rict Mishima - Guitar
Takuya Ueda - Bass
Keita Kondo - Drums

Sable Hills online:
www.instagram.com/sablehillsjp
www.tiktok.com/@sablehillsjp
www.facebook.com/sablehillsjp
twitter.com/sablehillsjp
www.sablehills.jp

Beloved Canadian rock quartet Rarity have released a video for their new single 'who gives a f*ck?' The track is the final single from their upcoming third album Lower Feeling, due for release on 7th June via New Damage Records. 

Check out the video for 'who gives a f*ck?' here: https://youtu.be/_106KeWxl3o

Stream 'who gives a f*ck?' here: https://raritystream.com/wgaf

Pre-order Lower Feeling here: https://www.dinealonestore.com/collections/rarity

Commenting on the new tracks, vocalist Loeden Learn says:

"'Who gives a f*ck' is about trying to separate the constant depression we experience and the crazy world we live in. The fact that nothing in this world really matters at the end of the day and we’re all just specs of dust in an always evolving and changing planet. The earth will keep turning long after we’re gone and that the only thing that matters is happiness, whatever that means to you personally. Just trying hard to live the best life you can. Who gives a f*ck, at the end of the day." 

Rarity's follow-up to 2019's lauded record, The Longest Lonesome, finds the perfect balance between catchy pop-punk anthems and the gripping intensity of their post-hardcore roots.

Discussing the new album, Learn adds:

"This record at the end of the day is about growth. Growth as human beings, growth as friends, growth as four musicians trying to make the best songs they possibly can in a band they love. This record is a record of love, a record of passion and a record of brutal honesty. The lyrics are personal and introspective, with themes that I absolutely hated talking about with every fibre of my being. My worst fears and greatest dreams. This record is about losing self control, not being able to hold your brain together in times of sadness and pain, and taking things you have no control over way too seriously.

"While the lyrics may convey feelings of sadness and anger, the record itself couldn’t be further from. We loved writing this record, and we miss waking up every day being able to make this record. It is everything Rarity as a band have always wanted to be, and we’re just so happy to be here. We’re happy we’re able to make music and live this crazy emotional rollercoaster of a life that we live. We wouldn’t have it any other way. We truly sincerely hope people enjoy Lower Feeling as much as we enjoyed making it, because we really truly loved every second of it."

Originally uniting in 2014, the members of Rarity started touring straight out of high school and quickly amassed an avid following. In 2015, the Hamilton, ON-based outfit dropped their debut EP, Alive in Your Eyes, featuring the breakout single 'Anne Hathaway' and showcasing a mature blend of buoyant pop-punk and intricate post-hardcore that belied their relative youth.
 
A critically-acclaimed full-length, I Couldn’t Be Weaker, came the next year and, with fan-favourites like 'Stranger' and 'Exhale', proved the band’s quick rise to prominence was well-earned. Rarity saw their stock soar to impressive heights with high-profile tours and festival slots and, for a while, it seemed that they were unstoppable.
 
But then, in 2017, the band watched as their foundation started to weather and crumble. They faced a cesspool of legal struggles, illnesses, strained relationships, and the departure of two founding members. That left drummer Evan Woods, singer Loeden Learn, and guitarist Adam Clarke with some difficult decisions.
 
It would’ve been easy to throw in the towel – and they almost did – but self-doubt, strain, and conflict soon spurred unbridled creativity and Rarity, augmented by the addition of bassist Cole Gardner in 2018, realised there was plenty to fight for.
 
The band emerged in 2019 with their critically praised comeback record The Longest Lonesome, which was still rooted in accessible, hook-laden melodies, but with a sharper edge and more potent distillation of their various influences – from metal and hardcore to pop-punk, alternative, and much in between.
 
Now, Rarity look forward to starting their next chapter in 2024, re-energised and with a new found wealth of creativity, as they continue to carve their own niche in the pop-punk/post-hardcore scene. 

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

Lower Feeling Tracklisting: 

1. Keep it to Yourself  
2. OKAY 
3. Brain Dance 
4. who gives a fuck?
5. Kiss! 
6. Sick to my Stomach 
7. New Paint 
8. Creature Comfort 
9. Shit Eater 
10. Ignore Everything

Photo Credit: Tim Tronckoe

Charismatic Dutch singer/songwriter Charlotte Wessels has announced details of her new album The Obsession, due for release on 20th September via Napalm Records. Wessels has also released a video for her new single, the haunting 'The Exorcism'. 

Check out the video for 'The Exorcism' here: https://youtu.be/yWqsWZJkKeE

Stream 'The Exorcism' here: https://orcd.co/cw-theexorcism

Pre-order The Obsession here: https://lnk.to/CW-TheObsession/napalmrecords

The Obsession marks Wessels’ Napalm Records debut, and while her earlier solo endeavours - full-length song compilations Tales From Six Feet Under (2021) and Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II (2022) - already gained her a remarkable number of devotees, The Obsession truly takes her career to the next level. The new album promises a cohesive exploration of fear and liberation, as well as spellbinding melancholia and dark, catchy elements meeting progressive and heavier soundscapes. The storytelling within the songs give the multifaceted album even more depth, making The Obsession an exciting listening experience and Wessels’ most mature offering so far.     

First single 'The Exorcism' is an astonishing proof of Wessels’ matchless talent and genre-bending songwriting qualities and, on top marks, the heaviest solo offering she has released so far. Quietly drawing the listener into this sonic sphere, the song bursts into a heavy attack shortly after. It’s calm and loud, reduced and bombastic, fragile and confident alike and presents Charlotte Wessels’ thrilling, full vocal range, heating the anticipation for everything that’s about to come.      

Wessels comments on 'The Exorcism': “I’ve been thinking a lot about fears and behaviors I’ve had since I was a child, and how at certain moments in life I thought I’d overcome them for good, but they’d always rear their ugly heads again in time. I keep wondering why. Did I invite them back in? 'The Exorcism' is a call for these demons to stay away - but also a message to myself and others facing similar challenges, to hang on – even if they don’t.”

Whilst still writing and producing the songs in her Six Feet Under basement home studio and sharing their first incarnations with her patrons, Charlotte Wessels is now taking the songs off her new album The Obsession to the next level with a band of her fellow ex-Delain cohorts: Timo Somers (guitars, additional arrangements), Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass) and Joey Marin de Boer (drums), as well as Sophia Vernikov (piano/hammond) contributing to the new heavier sound. The album also features arrangements by Vikram Shankar (Silent Skies, Pain of Salvation), cello by Elianne Anemaat, was mixed by Guido Aalbers (Muse, Coldplay, The Gathering) and mastered by Andy VanDette (Porcupine Tree, VOLA, Dream Theater).            

Wessels on the new album: "On the one hand, this album tells a very personal story – through its unintended theme of fear, obsessive thoughts and the escapes from them – and at the same time it represents the joy of finding the songs' true forms with everyone involved in the making of this record. That’s why I chose The Obsession as a title. It refers to my personal challenges with OCD that inspired many of the songs - but I’ve also started referring to the band as The Obsession - because there were moments in the studio with them that truly reminded me of why I'm obsessed with making music in the first place."

Themes like fear, obsessive thoughts and escapism run rampant on the album, presenting dark and heavy on songs like 'The Exorcism', 'The Crying Room' and 'Ode To The West Wind' (feat. Alissa White-Gluz/Arch Enemy). In addition, there are songs that offer a more upbeat approach to the subject – like 'Dopamine' (feat. Simone Simons/Epica) which deals with SSRI-induced numbness, or 'Praise' – which sings the gospel of needing external validation in order to feel anything. The reimagining of fan-favorite 'Soft Revolution' won’t leave a dry eye in the room, while 'Soulstice' and 'Serpentine' present an unprecedented dark sensuality. Each song itself functions like an exorcism, an attempt to cast out a little of the fear it deals with.     
 
Wessels adds: “I’m extremely grateful and proud to add Simone Simons and Alissa White-Gluz to the line-up of this album. They are creative powerhouses that I have so much love and respect for. Whenever we get to work together is an absolute treat and they really elevated the songs with their performances.”
 

Charlotte Wessels live: 

Aug 17: NL Ulft Dru Park, Huntenpop Festival
Sep 14: NL Rotterdam, Baroeg Open Air
Oct 04: NL Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg – Ronda        

The Obsession will be available in the following formats:
Gatefold 2-Vinyl SPLATTER + 2 Bonustracks (“Backup Plan” + “Breathe; Extended“), D-Side Etched – ltd. to 200 copies worldwide *Napalm Records Mailorder Only*
Gatefold 2-Vinyl RECYCLED BLACK + 2 Bonustracks (“Backup Plan” + “Breathe; Extended“), D-Side Etched
Gatefold 2-Vinyl INKSPOT + 2 Bonustracks (“Backup Plan” + “Breathe; Extended“), D-Side Etched *Patreon Exclusive*
Digisleeve + Shirt Bundle
Digisleeve
Digital Album

Charlotte Wessels online: 
WEBSITE
YOUTUBE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
X
NAPALM RECORDS

The Obsession Tracklist:

1.   Chasing Sunsets
2.   Dopamine
3.   The Exorcism
4.   Soulstice
5.   The Crying Room
6.   Ode To The West Wind
7.   Serpentine
8.   Praise
9.   All You Are
10. Vigor And Valor
11. Breathe;
12. Soft Revolution (2024)

[Gatefold 2-Vinyl SPLATTER + 2 Bonustracks (“Backup Plan” + “Breathe; Extended“), D-Side Etched – ltd. to 200 copies worldwide *Napalm Records Mailorder Only*]

[Digisleeve + Shirt Bundle]