Borders announce new album and stream new single featuring Cane Hill

Photo Credit: Rich Lester

UK genre-defying quartet Borders have released their new single / video 'Godless', featuring Elijah Witt of Cane Hill. They have also announced the release of new album Bloom Season on 18th November via Arising Empire.

Watch the video to 'Godless' here: https://youtu.be/CE_PMNBKI58

Pre-order Bloom Season on CD, limited coloured vinyl and merch at the Arising Empire shop: https://arisingempire.com/bloomseason

On the single, the band comment: "'Godless' is about questioning your faith during your darkest hour. I wrote it when one of my close family members fell ill, I thought to myself if there was a God why would they allow such thing to happen. Coming from a religious background, I wrote this in anger and frustration. It should be normal to question your faith, especially when faith is the problem - and that's what 'Godless' is all about."

Borders combine ferocious, hard-hitting metalcore with elements of hip-hop, grime, hardcore and alternative metal, completed with a dash of introspection and brazen, no-holds-barred atmosphere. The quartet are a young but driven collective hellbent on taking the heavy music community by storm with an onslaught of thought-provoking, sinister and brutally aggressive tracks. Built around an impetus that obliterates any notion of single-genre classification in favour of an immersive yet punishingly heavy experience, Borders continually push the limits of what's expected from any band in the metalcore circuit.

From taking the UK’s live music scene by storm supporting legendary deathcore act Martyr Defiled on their last run to their immersive, conceptual and thought-provoking 2019 debut full length release Purify, the band are well on their way to making themselves a staple in the underground heavy music community - a goal sure to be achieved with their addition to Arising Empire’s ever-growing roster.

Bloom Season track listing:

01. FADE TO BLACK
02. FIX THISS
03. SUFFER
04. NWWM feat. Dropout Kings
05. I GET HIGH
06. GASLIGHT
07. GODLESS feat. Cane Hill
08. CUT THE ROPE
09. MDM

Borders are:
Jordan Olifent | vocals
Gavin Burton | guitar & vocals
Tom Britton | bass
Dan Hodson | drums

Borders online:
https://www.instagram.com/bordersbanduk
https://www.facebook.com/bordersbanduk
https://www.tiktok.com/@bordersbanduk
https://twitter.com/bordersbanduk
https://bordersbanduk.com/

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Basement punk/grindcore group Escuela Grind release new single 'Forced Collective Introspection'

Photo Credit: Jonathan Vahid

Metallic hardcore/grindcore group Escuela Grind have released their barnstorming new single 'Forced Collective Introspection', from their forthcoming album Memory Theater, set for release on 30 September via the band's new label home of MNRK Heavy.

Watch the video for 'Forced Collective Introspection' here: https://youtu.be/9bNU938oYtw

Pre-order Memory Theater now here: https://escuelagrind.ffm.to/memorytheater

Directed by Michael Jari Davidson (Alice in Chains), the barn-burning video is an ode to the 1971 science fiction film, THX 1138, a work of sociological commentary set in a dystopian world where individuality and love are forbidden.

"We again teamed up with director Michael Jari Davidson to create the video for 'Forced Collective Introspection', says Escuela Grind vocalist Katerina Economou. "The video references 1971's anti-authoritarian movie THX 1138, where the band is held in a white void by masked guards, and reduced to objectified numbers. Harassed in prison cells, the band makes their escape in a Shawshank fashion. The theme of the video runs throughout all of our music: we must resist and attempt to escape their control to regain our humanity."

Produced by Converge guitarist/ God City producer Kurt Ballou, Escuela Grind's Memory Theater features nine tracks of sharp, scorching underground music that rage and rip in equal measure. Escuela Grind excel at stitching together a new metallic hardcore monster, borne from the rotten corpses of grind and power violence and littered with gleefully unhinged blasts of percussive bombast and chaos.

The music might be terrifying, but the overwhelming spirit behind Escuela Grind is a message of empowerment. As it destroys musical boundaries, the quartet attack the idea of “gatekeeping” with equal ferocity. Any time Katerina Economou (vocals), Jesse Fuentes (drums), Kris Morash (guitar), and Tom Sifuentes (bass, touring) convene, an aural apocalypse will ensue.

Memory Theater, Escuela Grind's sophomore album, is seven minutes shorter than Slayer’s Reign in Blood, but with a few songs running past the three-minute mark, it’s downright epic by grindcore norms. Delivering on the promise of several split records, a handful of EPs (including GGRRIINNDDCCOORREE and PPOOWWEERRVVIIOOLLEENNCCEE, both released in 2020), and the full-length, Indoctrination, the nine songs on Memory Theater offer a near-psychedelic trip to the genre’s soul. The album title references a specific historical concept, constructing a “space” from one’s internal ideas, knowledge, and perception. An architect by trade, Economou explores philosophy, politics, and experiential experimentation, building a kind of structure amidst the band's musical cacophony.

Escuela Grind, who performed as one of the featured acts at the 2022 Psycho Las Vegas festival, are currently in the midst of a U.S. headlining tour. The 23-city Forced Collective Introspection" tour launched on September 3 in Salem, MA and includes performances at New England's RPM Fest, Illinois' Full Terror Assault Open Air, and Cleveland's Hacked Up for BBQ death fest.

For more information on Escuela Grind:
Facebook || Website || Twitter || Instagram || MNRK Heavy

Track listing:

1. Endowed With Windows
2. My Heart, My Hands
3. Cliffhanger
4. Strange Creature
5. Faulty Blueprints
6. All Is Forgiven
7. Forced Collective Introspection
8. The Feed
9. Memory Theater

About MNRK Music Group

MNRK Music Group is one of the largest independent music companies in the world, with recording, music publishing, and management divisions operating in every major music market. MNRK is committed to discovering and guiding top music creators and artists and works with some of the greatest musical talent including The Lumineers and Pitbull, the music publishing catalog of Chuck Berry, plus premier music companies Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang. The company’s music department services Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning producers. Its catalog across divisions consists of 54,000 music tracks, including multiple GRAMMY winners and platinum-selling hits.To learn more visit mnrk.com.

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Floridian thrashers Rhythm of Fear release video for politically charged single 'Insidious System'

Photo Credit: Marcus Marino

Floridian thrashers Rhythm of Fear have unleashed their sobering new single / video 'Insidious System', taken from new album Fatal Horizons, due for release on 14th October 2022 via MNRK Music Group.

Check out the video for 'Insidious System' here: https://youtu.be/Fss-d739ZG8

Pre-order Fatal Horizons here: http://www.fatalhorizons.com

The band comment on 'Insidious System': "'Insidious System' is about the corrupt system that we have appointed to protect us. A system that should serve and protect but instead enforces and collects. A system that thrives off of fear and manipulation. A system that infringes on our basic human rights. It’s been going on for so long and we can only hope that the more people realize how poisonous it all is the better chance there is for change.”

Rhythm of Fear worship at the alter of thrash metal and crossover. Summoned from the sadistic swamps of Jacksonville, in Florida's heavy-metal rich soil, the masters of gargantuan groove conjured a reverence unrivalled by their peers. Committed to the unrelenting riffage, Rhythm of Fear gleefully reinvigorates the timeless collision of speed, musicianship, and attitude.

Unapologetic bangers like 'Dark Energy' and 'Ten Theories' quickly became underground classics to a growing legion of like-minded supporters who snapped up the band's 2011 demo, The Mass Illusion EP (2015), and full-length debut Maze of Confusion (2016). The appetite for devastation only intensified with the Ritual Dementia EP (2019), featuring 'Vortex of Torment' and the impassioned 'Over And Out'; a deep cut from the early power metal years of Pantera.

Now, the band threatens to conquer the hearts and minds of all in metal, with the vitriolic, thrashtastic, cirle-pit-inciting Fatal Horizons, their sophomore slab of cleverly crafted crossover. Produced, engineered, and mixed by Joey Jones (Royal Thunder, Cloak), with sci-fi/horror artwork from Mario Lopez (Toxik, Skeletal Remains, Evil Invaders), Fatal Horizons' thirteen-tracks are richly thematic and devilishly accessible in equal measure.

Rather than simply rehash the past, Rhythm of Fear absorb and examine metal history's greatest strengths, reassembling the parts into a fresh Frankenstein forged by the band's unique identity and experience. This is straight forward and in your face.

“On Fatal Horizons, we’ve come even more into our own,” notes vocalist Jay Santiago. Maze Of Confusion was very thrash metal and very hardcore driven. Aside from our lead guitar player, all of us grew up in the hardcore scene. We established ourselves as a true crossover band, with fast metal parts and funky hardcore grooves. There’s still a bit of groovy flavor, but Fatal Horizons is even thrashier.”

Thematically, Fatal Horizons delves deeper into the human psyche with relatable themes of depression, addiction, and anger. Alien abduction, magic rituals, and the occult pepper their songs with personality and spirit while the justice system and politics are targets within the framework of broader fantasy metaphors.

Album opener 'Obsolescence' confronts addiction. 'Alien Synthesis' is about the aftermath of the abduction. The title track puts the listener at the centre of a black hole. 'Parasomniac' details Santiago’s struggles with the sleep disorder EHS, aka Exploding Head Syndrome, which awakens sufferers with imagined sounds. The simulation hypothesis is at the heart of 'Simulated Times,' inspired by one of Santiago’s dreams. There are instrumental interludes throughout Fatal Horizons, synergising the cosmic themes of mortality. 'Ceremony Of Sacrifice' closes it all with an exploration of Mayan and Aztec mythology.

Rhythm of Fear are:
Jay Santiago - vocals
Cody James - guitars
Justin Styron - Bass
Logan Miano - drums

For more information:
http://www.facebook.com/rhythmoffear
http://www.instagram.com/rhythmoffear
http://www.twitter.com/rhythmoffear

Fatal Horizons Tracklisting:
1. Obsolescence
2. Alien Synthesis
3. Disintegration Of Reality
4. Fatal Horizon
5. Atrocities Beyond The Structures Of The Mind
6. Parasomniac
7. Insidious System
8. Self Destructive Brain
9. Dissolution Of Time In Space
10. Simulated Times
11. Tears of Ecstasy
12. Oath Made In Hell
13. Ceremony Of Sacrifice

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BRKN LOVE release new single 'Under The Knife'

Photo Credit: Daniel Dorta

Toronto-based alt-rock band BRKN LOVE have released their new single 'Under The Knife'. The track features on their upcoming Vol. 2 EP, due for release on 23rd September via Spinefarm Records

Check out 'Under The Knife' and pre-save Vol. 2 here: https://brknlove.lnk.to/Vol2

After the success of their Vol.1 EP, which featured singles 'Dead Weight' and 'Like A Drug', and the recent release of 'Forever’s Enough' off their upcoming Vol.2 EP, 'Under The Knife' once again showcases how well songwriter/frontman Justin Benlolo uses all the tools in his arsenal to firmly position BRKN LOVE in the young, modern rock revolution.

Benlolo comments:

“'Under The Knife' is our most daring single yet. This song takes everything that people have been familiar with before, injects it with a shot of adrenaline, makes it listen to its older brother’s hardcore records and kicks it into a high-speed chase down the highway at 155mph. Needless to say, it’s an absolute rager.

"Lyrically, the song details a toxic relationship in which the people are actually enjoying the pain it brings them. The main character’s perspective is one I’ve never written from before. The character actively admits that the scrutiny and torture is something that is giving his life purpose, and throughout the song it results in him doing anything he can to continue this terrible situation. I felt like although this wasn’t a particularly happy subject, it was something different and relatable in many ways.

"I hope you enjoy the song! Make sure you turn it up LOUD! Thank you.”

BRKN LOVE are gearing up to play a number of shows across North America in support of Dead Poet Society and The Blue Stones, while also playing some of their first US headline dates along the way.

Benlolo adds: 

“We cannot wait to hit the road with our friends, Dead Poet Society and The Blue Stones, this Fall! These shows will truly be ones to remember. It’s been a minute since we’ve gone across Canada and we’re beyond excited to be with friends. On top of that, we are also playing our very first batch of headlining shows plus dates across the USA with more friends! All these shows will truly be ones to remember and the likelihood of them being off the rails is very high.
 
"In conjunction with this tour, we will also be releasing our second LP Black Box, which will make this super special and you can expect lots of new material to be played! It’s not every day that you get great, young, upcoming rock bands playing together like this, so you better come out and party with us!”

For full dates head to the BRKN LOVE website: https://www.brknlove.com/

For more information:
https://www.brknlove.com/
https://www.facebook.com/BRKNLOVEMUSIC/
https://twitter.com/BRKNLOVEMUSIC/
https://www.instagram.com/brknlovemusic/

About BRKN LOVE:

Fronted by the compelling Justin Benlolo, BRKN LOVE have been creating quite the stir since the release of their self-titled debut album. Picking up over 253 million streams to date, with their Spotify monthly listeners peaking at 580k, single 'Shot Down' landed at #15 in US Active Rock radio charts and #5 in the Canadian equivalent, whilst 'Crush' reached #5 in Canada’s Active Rock radio charts.
Additionally, the band's cover of Bishop Briggs' 'River' has become something of a viral sensation. Recorded specifically for a special deluxe version of their debut record, it currently has over 50,000 unique TikTok videos featuring the track, boasting over 1.9 billion total views across all user and professionally-generated content platforms.

Previous single 'Deadweight', the first new track to follow the band's debut album, went straight in the Top 15 on Canadian Active Rock radio and has seen the hype carry overseas, with BBC Radio One presenters Dan P. Carter and Jack Saunders both giving the song airtime. Saunders called it “The new age of rock and roll” on his BBC Radio One Future Artists show.

Meanwhile, amongst all this early success, Justin Benlolo has been picked up by Gibson Guitars to promote the new line of Gibson Guitar Strings.

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Californian sludge metallers Armed For Apocalypse release tortured new single 'Live Through The Storm'

Californian sludge metal crew Armed For Apocalypse have released their tortured new single, 'Live Through The Storm', ahead of their third album release, Ritual Violence, which debuts on 7th October via Candlelight Records.

Check out third single, ‘Live Through The Storm’ here: https://youtu.be/a2hfB7l4WCY
Pre-order the album here: https://armedforapocalypse.lnk.to/RitualViolence

Vocalist Nate Burman comments on the caustic new single: “At the time that I wrote this I was in a pretty dark place in life and found myself being wildly self-destructive. It was right at the peak of the pandemic so I was also pretty isolated from everyone which really started getting to me. I remember finding myself just trying to drink through the boredom and depression night after night. That’s also partially where the album title comes from. It felt like every night was a ritual of self destruction. It’s a vicious cycle that’s hard to break."

Forthcoming new album Ritual Violence is an uncompromising aural onslaught and sees the band at their most aggressive. Both a product and expression of their never-die attitude, it’s the album Armed for Apocalypse always wanted to make, with the engineer they wanted to make it Kurt Ballou, God City (Converge, High On Fire, Every Time I Die ) and the label they wanted to partner with, Candlelight Records. Featuring guest appearances from Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) on track 'Foredoomed' and Trevor Phipps (Unearth) on 'Suffer For A Living', it is Armed for Apocalypse refined to its purest form: 0 percent frills,100 percent heavy riffs.

Forming in California in the aughts, Armed for Apocalypse quickly released 2009’s Defeat (Ironclad Recordings). That’s where they laid out their mission statement: we are going to tune low, play riffs, and make heavy metal that makes you bang your fucking head. Real amps turned up, real drums hit hard, no bullshit. 2013’s The Road Will End (Ironclad) complicated their thesis, the band experimenting with new structures and incorporating a broader sonic palette. But member changes and new life directions led to a challenging five years before their next release, 2018’s Palm Reader EP. Now, in 2022, they return more focused than ever with their most potent and unwavering album to date. Ritual Violence is eleven tracks of bludgeoning skullf*ckery; a record from a band who are confident in who they are, and what they want to do. And who won’t let anything get in the way of that. Not the years. Not the heartache. Not an industry that devalues its creators. Nothing.

Armed for Apocalypse has never done it the easy way. But on this latest record is a statement and a promise: they will do it their way.

Armed for Apocalypse are:
Nate Burman - Vocals / Guitar
Cayle Hunter - Guitar
Charlie Fischer - Bass
Nick Harris - Drums

Armed for Apocalypse online:
Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

Candlelight Records online:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Youtube

Tracklisting:
01: Under My Shame
02: Frail
03: Full Of Phlegm
04: Hourglass
05: Lifeless
06: Live Through The Storm
07: Foredoomed
08: Thieves Of Existence
09: Suffer For A Living

10: Flesh And Blood
11: Eternally Broken

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For The Fallen Dreams release video for new single 'RE-Animate'

Photo Credit: William "Wombat" Felch

Metal quintet For The Fallen Dreams have released a video for their new single 'RE-Animate', out now via Arising Empire. The track, which follows previous singles 'Sulfate' and 'What If', was produced by Jonathan Dolese at Konkrete Studios (Cane Hill).

Check out the video for 'RE-Animate' here: https://youtu.be/zN7CGzjllsU

Stream/purchase 'RE-Animate' here: https://arisingempire.com/reanimate

Vocalist Chad Ruhlig comments:

“'RE-Animate' was a blast writing with the team. At first listen it’s obviously one of the heavier tracks of the three we’ve released, but I tried to give the chorus a 90’s grunge feel in the vein of a heavier Soundgarden track. Experimenting with all types of writing and vocal styles gave us the freedom to try whatever fit the song best and 'RE-Animate' is undoubtedly one of our personal favorites.”

What’s that old saying? “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” When it comes to Michigan-based metal outfit For The Fallen Dreams, perhaps a more fitting - but just as timeless - adage would be “change is the only constant.”

For The Fallen Dreams' career is defined by constant progression and a dedication to refining and rejuvenating their unique brand of aggressive, passionate metal. The five-piece have consistently demonstrated an ability to adapt and evolve their sound and dynamic, despite overwhelming adversity, all without sacrificing the core components of their sound.

Built around explosive breakdowns, gut-wrenching grooves and lyricism that touches on everything from an introspective glimpse into the human condition to brotherhood and camaraderie, these Midwestern masters of metal have made themselves a staple within the international heavy music community.

For The Fallen Dreams formed in 2003, but their story starts in earnest with the release of 2008's Changes - a record that would greatly impact the footprint of heavy music. Following Changes, For The Fallen Dreams went on to release five more remarkable full-length records, from the atmospheric and moody Relentless to chart-topping comeback record Heavy Hearts, which landed at #162 on the Billboard Top 200 and #3 on Billboard Heatseekers lists. Six saw the band venture into more metallic territory, with over 20 million views on YouTube and tens of millions of streams across various streaming platforms.

While For The Fallen Dreams have been through their fair share of changes, one thing has remained constant: their dedication to growth while never failing to deliver primal-yet-emotional music, which has made them a staple in modern metal.

For The Fallen Dreams are:

Chad Ruhlig | vocals
Jim Hocking | guitar & vocals
Damon Tate | guitar
Kalan Blehm | bass
Marc Esses | drums

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/ftfdband
https://www.facebook.com/forthefallendreams
https://www.tiktok.com/@ftfdband
https://twitter.com/ftfdband
https://ftfdltd.com/

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Electro-punks CLT DRP release new video for single 'Aftermath'

Hotly-tipped electro-punks CLT DRP have streamed the new video for their astounding single 'Aftermath'.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/qBRRoTviKz4

Aftermath will be released as a 7'' single on 7th October via Small Pond Records, with a B-side cover of the same song by Mercury Prize-nominated indie rockers The Big Moon.

Pre-order the 7'' here: https://cltdrp.bandcamp.com/album/aftermath

'Aftermath' is centred on themes of sexual assault and gendered violence, and the internalised guilt and frustration that can follow in the wake of sexual assault.

CLT DRP's Annie comments:

"Generational grief’s discourse within feminism is something that I don’t believe gets paid much attention to. There’s been so much progress culturally around the education of sexual health, consent and intersectional feminism while I’ve been growing up. Unfortunately even within that progress - it feels as though a lot of disconnect surrounding the victim blaming narrative has stayed the same. The onus continues to remain on the women to solve the problem of sexual assault / gendered violence and I notice that there is still a slight trace of resentment clashing between generations. There are all these conversations around how lucky my generation is that culturally, these topics are being spoken about and normalised in our lifetime. The reality surrounding that is most of these women and victims of sexual assault have carried this generational trauma and grief and passed it down. Men are learning about power dynamics and trying to be better but the women in this world have been left to pick up the pieces. More emotional labour, more time forgiving their perpetrators than themselves. Shame, that’s never been erased from family tree to family tree. Trauma that’s never been paid for and then becomes recycled on to our children.

'Aftermath' was a way to process how I felt about the conversation around sexual assault. I’ve been a bystander before because I was too scared to speak up, I’ve second guessed accusations because it was too painful to believe the truth or blocked out my own experiences because I didn’t want to admit that I was a victim. When you pride yourself on independence it’s really hard to paint yourself in that light, as not in control. When someone starts sharing their story it almost holds a mirror to you and your experiences that you’ve managed to bury, it’s triggering and so many women I know were never taught how to deal with that conversation or that trauma. I used to be so jarred by women my mother’s age in how little they spoke about their trauma and how little empathy they had sometimes for women/LGBTQ+ individuals younger than them. I soon realised that that’s how they processed their experiences and who was I to judge or ask of them to be anything more than okay with how they chose to deal with it at the time. If anything, I admire them now in a way I never used to. It fills me with more love and empathy than I could have imagined having when I carried so much anger and judgement."


On their collaboration, The Big Moon comment:

“We’re lucky to be both friends and fans of Annie and CLT DRP, so we were really glad to be asked to be part of this release. 'Aftermath' is such a powerful song - so personal yet universal - the weight of that really hit us and we feel grateful to have been part of the song’s life in some small way.”

CLT DRP will be releasing a zine to accompany Aftermath - a visual lyric book with perspectives from the band on the wake and reality of dealing with sexual assault. It touches on victim-blaming, gendered violence, and notions of responsibility. Confronting the sense of self-reflection that trauma instils in victims, the song and zine are a vital moment from a truly special trio.

Pronounced 'CLIT DRIP' for those confused or too shy to ask, CLT DRP have been turning heads since 2017. The genre-bending trio's non-apologetic and yet playful approach has seen them garner praise from TheLineOfBestFit, Gigwise, and plenty more. Their music gets you moving, invites you in with power, and makes you question your environment and yourself.

In their time, CLT DRP have already supported Nova Twins, Warmduscher, among others, and performed at 2000trees and ArcTanGent festivals.

CLT DRP will be touring with De Staat shortly. Dates as follows:

14/10 Manchester, UK, Academy 3
15/10 Dublin, IE, Grand social
16/10 Glasgow, UK, King Tut's
18/10 Birmingham, UK, Mama Roux
19/10 Leeds, UK, Brudenell
20/10 Bristol, UK, Thekla
04/11 Cluji, RO, Form Space
05/11 Bucharest, RO, Club Control
06/11 Sofia, BG, Terminal 1
08/11 Budapest, HU, Turbuina
09/11 Vienna, AT, Arena
10/11 München, DE, Strom
11/11 Oberhausen, DE, Resonanzwerk
13/11 Zürich, CH, Plaza

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/CLTDRP
https://www.instagram.com/cltdrp/

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EVERGREY release new animated video ahead of headline tour

Photo Credit: Patric Ullaeus

Dark melodic metal masters EVERGREY have revealed their new animated music video for 'Save Us', taken from their thirteenth album A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), released earlier this year via Napalm Records.

Demonstrating once again that their musical force and sophistication knows no limits, and unifying heavy prog, melancholic beauty and astounding visual storytelling, you can view 'Save Us' here: https://youtu.be/9t0xZh46_SY

EVERGREY frontman Tom S. Englund on 'Save Us': "'Save Us' is about us. It’s about you and I. It’s about how I see our minds becoming hostages in a world where painting optimal portraits of ourselves is more important than being who we really are. It’s about my observation of watching people around me who are feeling that they’re not good enough for the world, or for themselves. I’m afraid we’re lost, and I think we need to help each other to find our way back to what is important, to rediscover a true sense of self. As we, as artists, also contribute to content and social media as a livelihood, it’s about the paradox of being caught in a world which is hard to free yourself from. I can only wish that our music brings some balance to that equation."

In celebration of their latest album, EVERGREY will embark on an extensive tour throughout Europe this month, sharing their technical riffs, dramatic synths and vocal intensity live on the stages of the biggest European metropolises.

EVERGREY add: "We are FINALLY going on tour again! Finally coming to see all of our listeners and friends across Europe and the UK! Thanks so much for sticking by us through these last couple of years! You have proven that you are as eager to see us as we are to see you as the ticket sales are great! So for those of you who didn’t get your tickets yet, it’s time! Don’t be left standing on the outside!

See you very soon!

Tom, Jonas, Rik, Henrik & Johan!"


Dates:

EVERGREY - European Tour 2022
+ special guest: Fractal Universe
+ Virtual Symmetry

17.09.22 GB – London / 229 venue
18.09.22 GB – Nottingham / Rescue Rooms
19.09.22 GB – Bristol / Thekla
20.09.22 GB – Manchester / Academy 3
21.09.22 IE – Dublin / Voodoo Lounge
22.09.22 GB – Glasgow / Cathouse
23.09.22 GB – Newcastle / St Dom’s Social Club
24.09.22 GB – Birmingham / The Asylum

Purchase A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) here: https://lnk.to/AHP-TOT/napalmrecords

EVERGREY, led by founder, singer and guitarist Tom S. Englund, are known for wandering the realms of progressive and heavy melodic metal and painting sonic renderings with their 12 studio records released as of today. A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), the follow-up to the unit’s highly successful 2021 full-length, Escape of the Phoenix (which landed at numerous chart positions worldwide), reveals a 10 track mélange of which every note, every riff and every word seeps pure poetry – creating a ceaseless intensity that mesmerizes from the very first second.

The new album was recorded at Top Floor Studios Gothenburg, engineered by Jakob Herrman and produced by Tom S. Englund and Jonas Ekdahl, with mixing and mastering by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios (Volbeat, Destruction, Epica and many more), whereas the hauntingly beautiful album artwork was conjured by Giannis Nakos at Remedy Art Design. Nakos is known for creating artworks for acts like Oceans Of Slumber, Amaranthe, The Agonist and The Crown as well as merchandise for Morbid Angel, Suffocation or Cryptopsy – just to name a few.

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) tracklisting:

1. Save Us
2. Midwinter Calls
3. Ominous
4. Call Out the Dark
5. The Orphean Testament
6. Reawakening
7. The Great Unwashed
8. Heartless
9. Blindfolded
10. Wildfires

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) impresses with flawless, meticulous production that deftly depicts both heartfelt honesty and scorching metallic intensity, while its instrumental force of furious, technically driven riffs, skyrocketing solos and dramatic synths merges with the expert, brooding vocal performance of Englund – one of the most distinctive vocalists in metal. He skilfully balances harsh and heavy tones with an inarguably soulful approach, all topped by melancholic, thought-provoking lyricism that digs deeper with every spin, leaving a long-lasting impact. Songs like 'Midwinter Calls', which also contains fan participation with atmospheric audience recordings from the band’s latest tour through Sweden, and 'The Great Unwashed', draw the listener in with grooving, glistering instrumentation, flowing between boisterous dynamics and a next level vocal performance, while emotive 'Wildfires' turns the volume down as a goosebump-worthy ballad that hurts and heals all at once. 'Call Out The Dark' begins atmospherically with accented keys, suddenly evolving into an intense opus of symphonic and power metal attributes in the blink of an eye, whereas the record’s longest track, 'The Orphean Testament', impresses by revealing its heaviest facet. A sensitive introduction lures the listener into 'Heartless', and offers one of the album’s most engaging verses, followed by a hauntingly beautiful chorus and variety in pace to create a magnificent listening experience.

EVERGREY are:
Tom S. Englund - Vocals, Guitar
Henrik Danhage - Guitar
Rikard Zander - Keyboard
Jonas Ekdahl - Drums
Johan Niemann - Bass

EVERGREY online:
Website
Facebook
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Napalm Records

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) will be available in the following formats:
• Deluxe Box (incl. Canvas, Pendant, Liner Notes on Pergament Paper) – limited to 500 copies
worldwide
• 2LP Gatefold “Die Hard” Marbled Red/Black (incl. Slipmat + 7inch (black) w/ 2 exclusive
Bonus Tracks) – limited to 500 copies worldwide
• 2LP Gatefold Glow in the Dark – limited to 500 copies worldwide
• 2LP Gatefold Black
• 2LP Gatefold Gold – Band exclusive, limited to 300 copies worldwide
• CD Digisleeve
• Digital Album

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Prog-metallers Exist Immortal stream play-through with Jackson Guitars; unveil album cover art and track-listing

UK progressive metal juggernauts, Exist Immortal, have streamed a guitar play-through of current single 'Flare', performed live at Jackson Guitars. The track is taken from the quintet's upcoming full-length, self-titled album due 14th October via Seek and Strike.
 

Watch Mikey Gee and Kurt Valencia's impressive guitar wizardry in the 'Flare' play-through here: https://youtu.be/FCeHXWUujg8

Stream here: https://tinyurl.com/EXIMspotify 

Exist Immortal is a huge leap forward for the ever-evolving prog metallers, showcasing their inventive approach to song writing and world-class technical skill. The album also features some very special guests; vocalists: Joe Rosser (Sikth), Dilan Alves (Harbinger), Luke Griffin (Acrania, Human Error and more), as well as guitar virtuoso Moray Pringle.

On the upcoming full-length album, the band comment: 

"We are very excited to present our latest, self-titled, full length album. For us this is a culmination of a lot of work, building and evolving. We bring back a lot of the heavier elements from our older releases while keeping a lot of the aesthetics and layers from Triptych. As musicians we have always struggled with where to place ourselves amongst our peers and always written music we wanted to make over intentionally fitting into existing trends. We feel that this album is by far our most accomplished and self-assured record to date, reincorporating harsh vocals while exploring new territory on the guitar side of things."

The band have have also unveiled the album track-listing and cover art:

Track-listing:

1. Behind the Eyes (Ft. Joe Rosser)
2. Signal Fire (Ft. Moray Pringle)
3. Flare
4. Shelter
5. White Noise
6. Yours to Define
7. All the Same
8. On the Wire ft. (Dilan Alves)
9. Trapped Inside
10. Emerge
11. Casting Eyes (Ft. Luke Griffin)

Watch the previously released music video 'Flare' here: https://youtu.be/NkYaM85u8fg

Exist Immortal will be embarking on a string of UK-based tour dates, including a headline set in Camden's intimate Black Heart on release day.

Full tour dates below:
14.10 - London, Black Heart
26.10 - Bristol, Crofters Rights
27.10 - Sheffield, Corporation
28.10 - Newcastle, Head Of Steam
29.10 - Birmingham, Scruffy Murphy’s
30.10 - Southampton, Suburbia

Hailing from the Southeast of England, Exist Immortal combine metalcore and technical metal with pop influences. Having spent the last few years touring across the UK and Europe developing their sound and growing their fanbase, they’ve left a lasting impact on their audiences with their powerful live shows. Fresh off their recent headline performance at UK Tech Fest (UK) and other appearances at the likes of Metaldays (SLOV), Euroblast (GER), Maximum Rock (ROM) and tours with high profile acts such as Sikth, Textures and Landmvrks, Exist Immortal are ready to release their follow up to 2021’s three-part release Triptych. Released on Seek and Strike Records, Triptych received much critical acclaim including parts two and three being nominated for Progspace EP of the Year 2021, cementing the band as one of the hottest acts in the progressive metal/metalcore scene.

Exist Immortal are:
Meyrick de la Fuente - vocals
Mikey Gee - guitars
Kurt Valencia - guitars
David Billote - bass
Charlie Bines - drums

Exist Immortal online:
https://ex-im.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/existimmortal
https://twitter.com/ExistImmortal
https://www.instagram.com/existimmortal

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