An Ever Expanding Metal Grip – BEHEMOTH
BEHEMOTH – arguably the biggest extreme metal band in the world – have extended and expanded their contract with Nuclear Blast, who will now distribute the group’s music worldwide outside of their home country.
The group originally signed with Nuclear Blast Europe prior to the release of 2009’s Evangelion, but their forthcoming album – which is tentatively set for an autumn 2021 release – will be their first to be released by the label outside of the Old Continent.
Formed in 1991 by then-teenage guitarist/vocalist Adam “Nergal” Darski, BEHEMOTH shattered the glass ceiling of the European metal underground thanks to a combination of aggressive worldwide touring, fiery and theatrical live performances, visually captivating music videos and unwaveringly intense music. Albums such as Decibel Magazine Hall of Fame inductee Demigod (2005) and 2014’s The Satanist – hailed by Metal Hammer as the greatest extreme metal album of the 21st Century, and one of two BEHEMOTH records to achieve gold-certified status in Poland – pushed blasphemous blackened death metal to heights previously thought unattainable. Those releases provided the group with no shortage of fierce ammunition to conquer all audiences in its path, whether in support of childhood heroes such as Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer and Danzig; on some of metal’s biggest festival stages around the globe; or more recently, in European arenas alongside fellow subversives Slipknot.
BEHEMOTH
Despite numerous attempts to be silenced by Poland’s religious right, BEHEMOTH has steadfastly refused to compromise, and Nergal believes that the best is yet to come.“Nuclear Blast has been a household name in metal for decades, and BEHEMOTH has been part of that long and illustrious history,” he says. “But now is about the future, and we look forward to beginning BEHEMOTH’s next chapter with a refocused and revitalized team at Nuclear Blast!”
“It’s a great pleasure to extend our partnership for the worldwide release of BEHEMOTH’s upcoming studio albums. Their 30-year journey has not yet reached its pinnacle, and we are more than proud to assist them on their way to being not only the biggest extreme metal band, but also one of the most exciting rock acts of the next decade. There are just a few bands who have the vision and will to dominate the music scene. Special thanks also to their management powerhouse 5B – namely, Adam Foster and Justin Arcangel – for making this happen on all levels.”
Jens Prueter, Nuclear Blast Europe’s head of A&R
BEHEMOTH is currently working on the follow-up to 2018’s I Loved You At Your Darkest, whose “Wagnerian satanic metal” was praised as “glorious” in a four-star review by The Guardian. The group is also preparing for its biggest live production yet – a co-headlining tour with Arch Enemy that will see the bands play arenas across Europe.
Founded in Germany in 1987, Nuclear Blast is the world’s largest hard rock and heavy metal record company, with multiple offices around the globe and a roster that features dozens of the genres’ top artists. Numerous releases by the label have topped charts worldwide, including the latest albums by Nightwish (#1 in Finland, Germany and Spain), Slayer (#1 in Germany) and Sabaton (#1 in Sweden, Germany and Switzerland).
Sweet Sweet Harmony – Track45
Hot on the heels of wrapping their first US country radio tour, sibling trio Track45 today announced the second of their introduction EPs, Big Dreams, which follows their fall debut EP, Small Town via Stoney Creek Records/BBR Music Group/BMG.
Big Dreams combines tracks from their Small Town EP with one new original and one incredible cover. Totalling five songs, this collection of songs prove Track45 has the sound and texture the country format has been hungry for. Among these five tracks is the trio’s debut single “Met Me Now,” set to impact US country radio on March 1st. To follow, on March 2 the band will be featured as Facebook’s Artist of the Day.
The band kicked off their first official CRS week performing as part of Amazon Music Presents: ‘Country Heat’ at CRS. CRS week also marks the wrap of their six-week radio tour. Country stations across the US have gotten the chance to bring Track45 into their living rooms, offices, kitchens, etc. Performing LIVE from the legendary Ron Fair’s state-of-the-art studio, Faircraft Studios, Track45 has put their skills on full display performing originals from their debut EP as well as favourite covers.
TRACK45
On March 2nd, Track45 will be Facebook’s Artist of the Day featured on the Music on Facebook Page to talk about their new music. Aside from the incredible cover song of the one and only Dolly Parton, the trio have songwriting credits on every track of the EP and produced several cuts, but they also enlisted an elite list of creative collaborators including Grammy-winning producer Byron Gallimore. Each is a gifted songwriter and musician with individual publishing deals and impressive writing credits – including Justin Timberlake, Charlie Puth, Lee Brice, Dierks Bentley, Weezer, HARDY, and Lauren Alaina. Their combined hopes and passion for music can be heard in every note of their dream big sound.
Hailing from Meridian, Mississippi, siblings Jenna, Ben, and KK have taken family-based small-town values and stories and made them relevant in a modern world. They have taken their experience as a family and love for one another and combined their own individual successes to create their musical style. The music successfully captures a multi-layered, crisp, soulful sound that draws effortlessly from their assorted country, rock, R&B, and pop playlists.
Track45 announced their signing with BBR Music Group/Stoney Creek Records in August by collaborating with the new AR (augmented reality) app Jadu (watch HERE). This allowed Track45 to memorialise their milestone virtually with anyone, anywhere. The cutting-edge technology allowed the band to appear in the same space via holograph to celebrate with their new label family and the industry as well as fans and family. Shortly after the announcement, the trio started their first media tour performing LIVE at Ron Fair’s (Christina Aguilera, Black Eyed Peas, Gwen Stefani, Pussycat Dolls, and more) Faircraft Studio. With back-to-back live performances for media and then later for radio in the studio, Track45 displays their versatility adapting to modern times while holding country roots and values.
A Divine Production – Neonfly
Neonfly have announced their worldwide signing with German powerhouse label Noble Demon, who will release the band’s highly anticipated upcoming full length record, The Future, Tonight, on June 18th.
With two critically acclaimed albums under their belt, Neonfly have been storming festival main stages, and touring as the main support band for some of Rock’s biggest names, including Alice Cooper, Dragonforce, Anvil, Gamma Ray & Magnum, since 2011. Their wildly dynamic live performances combining ferocious musicianship, a frenetically energetic front man, and a fire-breathing guitarist have earned them a growing reputation as a compelling musical & visual live draw.
"When I first heard about the idea, I was psyched about the song choice! I have a thing for sexy metal covers of cheesy songs. This was my first time professionally recording vocals, and I enjoyed it so much! Shooting the video with the guys was a full day of non-stop hilarious shenanigans - all the while channeling my inner 'Venus' dressed head to toe in latex." Dani Divine explains.
Furthermore Frederick Thunder adds: "Last year during lockdown, we were releasing some fan-picked acoustic covers on YouTube, and this was one of the songs that was suggested. I started working on the arrangement, messing around with some ideas on the acoustic guitar… I like to mess around with covers. I like to come up with my own version, and to offer something different and unique, rather than just a carbon copy of the original. So I came up with some really metal riffs, and then I came up with this dark, moody interlude in the middle, and I thought: ‘Wouldn’t it be fun if I wrote a little paragraph and managed to convince Dani Divine to play the part of Venus in the song? But then we’d have to do a full band cover of this, not just an acoustic…’ so I texted Dani, told her about the idea… and on the music video you can see exactly what happened next!"
Keep your ears peeled for more news and tunes to follow in the weeks ahead and make sure to follow the band on social media @NeonflyUK
For More Information on Neonfly, please visit: https://ucm.one/en/neonfly//
Neonfly are:
Willy Norton – Vocals
Frederick Thunder – Guitars
Paul Miller – Bass
Declan Brown – Drums
Dedicated Pursuit – Prey for Sunday
Prey for Sunday is a Hard Rock/ Metal band that was formed in Los Angeles, California in 2018. Founded by Guitarist/Songwriter Neal Grusky, Lead Singer/Songwriter Tony Persico, and Bassist Shad.
Neal and Tony worked with Producer/Songwriter Peter Strzelecki to write and record the first Prey For Sunday album. Realizing the immediate chemistry they shared a vision; a need to create a unique, memorable sound that would go on to become Prey for Sunday – Music that’s made to stand the test of time. They pride themselves in creating musically dynamic songs, with meaningful, melodic, and “like it is” lyrical content.
The collective members of “Prey For Sunday” have been involved in bands that have released over 7 albums worldwide, participated in world tours, received extensive radio play, magazine exposure, and featured in three books. As well as having sold CD’s, and music streams that have exceeded over 100,000 plays/streams thus far.
Prey For Sunday works as a band that dedicates themselves to their fans and the pursuit of meaningful successful songs, With music and songwriting as one of its strongest assets, the band continues to improve, evolve, and commit themselves to the music that moves weary hearts.
Tracklist
Dont Let It End
Broken Hearted Man
Mary Go Round
Zombie Restored
Right Or Wrong
Whatever Happened To The Teenage Dream – JODY AND THE JERMS
Jody And The Jerms are a sextet from Oxford, formed in 2019.
Founded by former members of The Anydays (who notably supported Radiohead and Supergrassin the 90s), the band are fronted by the singular Jody, who remarkably until last year had never sung in front of anyone. Finding her calling and an instant chemistry with the vintage-flecked indie of the Jerms, within a matter of weeks of their formation, grand plans of original material and tours soon began to form with a natural ease. “Jody had never sung before but I roped her into trying a song in the studio on the premise that I would do it if she didn’t” jokes Niall, “fortunately for everyone’s ears it worked out.”
“Get Me Out” is a track about small town suburban boredom and that yearning to escape that spring from it. Though as Jody Jeger sings “Get me out of here, I’m screaming, I need something new…”, it’s impossible to tell whether it’s smalltown suburbia, or the spiders in her garage, she’s hoping to escape more..
Everything’s Fucked – STEVIERAY LATHAM
Taken from the upcoming ‘Letters From Suburbia’ (out 12 March 2021), Latham is once again joined for the release by his backing band: The Nomads of Industrial Suburbia. The first track to emerge from the EP, “Gashouse” is streaming everywhere now:
Loaded with a ricocheting guitar lick cut from the schools of Jack White or Edwyn Collins, “Gashouse” pairs a ghoulish delta-swamp cool to a sixties dance-hall strut.
Written with close friend and fellow art-student: Kyle Rodriguez Tester at his studio outside London, the creative process of “Gashouse” proved to be a more intoxicating experience than either could have possibly imagined…. As Latham reflects:
“Kyle’s studio space was in a wooden shed heated with an old gas heater and one night we were out there writing this song when we both started feeling pretty drowsy and out of it. Neither of us thought anything of it at the time and we finished writing the song before spending the rest of the night in hospital with Carbon Monoxide poisoning.”
“Head down, back to the wall, blue face cause heaven is cold…” sings Latham, his lurking vocal hollow with the beckoning call of the great beyond. Hallmarked with the hammond-organ howls and warped fretboard trippery of a bygone era, “Gashouse” casts a brooding silhouette that will haunt and hook long after the needle has departed the groove.
Drawing on comparisons to Kurt Vile, Blake Mills, Nick Drake & Neil Young, StevieRay Latham is quickly making himself a name to be known with his distinctively dark, melodic, art-folk compositions. With influences ranging from movie scores and sound-art to pre-war Jazz and existentialist literature, the young singer-songwriter signed to the independent At The Helm Records whilst he was still at Art School and since graduating has released two albums, worked on a series of collaborations with visual artists, played festivals and headlined shows across Europe. Receiving airplay from BBC Radio 6 Music and Radio 2, over the years Latham has also been championed by media including Line of Best Fit, Q & Folk Radio UK.
New single “Gashouse” will feature on his upcoming, ‘Letters from Suburbia’; a record which will complete a trilogy of EPs released over the past 18 months. This collection of deeply poetic songs follows last year’s gritty, driving ‘Nomads Of Industrial Suburbia’ and 2019’s experimental-indie release, ‘Suburbia’.
Greek mythology and Gothic Blues collide on the profound 8 and half minute epic ‘Dionysus Blues’, ‘Gashouse’ marries 60’s Garage Rock with tales of La Résistance, whilst ‘Letter from Suburbia’ is a delicately picked folk-song that grows with the horns and percussion of a marching band. ‘Don’t Make Me Love You In Vain’ is a melancholy ballad that emerges from an ambient soundscape before melting into the EP’s atmospheric spoken- word coda, ‘Transient Circles’.
Recorded between Saunton Road Studios, ‘The Wedge’ and his parents’ home in the UK, plus time spent in a winter rental in Chateauneuf la Fôret, France; all songs for the EP were written and produced by StevieRay Latham, apart from “Gashouse” written with Kyle Rodriguez Tester. Mastered by Hippocratic Mastering, additional mixing was completed by Joe Duddell (New Order/Elbow/James) and additional engineering from Nomads’ accomplice Simon Murfet.
All songs are performed by The Nomads of Industrial Suburbia AKA StevieRay Latham (Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Percussion, Piano, Microkorg, Organ) Matt Street (Trumpet), Simon Murfet (Drums) and Laura Porter (Percussion, Backing Vocals).
The Letters from Suburbia EP is released on 12 March 2021.
Released with thanks to the Arts Council National Lottery Fund.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
https://www.stevieraylatham.com
Check It Out – Pina Chiarandà
Pina Chiarandà was born in Sicily.
She studied Arts and Philosophy in Milan.
As she started her photographic career, she focused on architecture, reportage, as well as portraits.
When it comes to architecture, she is always searching for the most important part of a building. Through her photos, she looks to convey “What was the architect thinking when he created this?” and “How did he perceive the light?”
Check her out……………
Girls On Fire – Burning Witches
Swiss heavy metal coven Burning Witches and Nuclear Blast Records are delighted to reveal the magnificent cover artwork and the tracklist for the band’s fourth full-length, The Witch Of The North, which will be released on May 28th 2021.
The cover artwork was created by Chilean artist Claudio Bergamín (Judas Priest‘s Firepower) and it sets the mood for the enthralling journey through enchanted forests and across snow-capped mountain tops that is: The Witch Of The North.
The pre-order for
The Witch Of The North
will start on March 19th 2021.
Here’s the album’s tracklist:
01. Winter’s Wrath
02. The Witch Of the North
03. Tainted Ritual
04. We Stand As One
05. Flight Of The Valkyries
06. The Circle Of Five
07. Lady Of The Woods
08. Thrall
09. Omen
10. Nine Worlds
11. For Eternity
12. Dragon’s Dream
13. Eternal Frost
Burning Witches comment: "We are happy and proud to already announce the new album and show you the terrific cover art! We have grown together as a team and have evolved our sound to the next level, the WITCHES 2021 are heavier and more epic than ever! So is the cover: Claudio Bergamín's amazing art is the perfect reflection of the record: icy, mystical, timeless and powerful! Please meet the THE WITCH OF THE NORTH and fall in love with our evolution!“
Cover artist Claudio Bergamín states: "The one and only Schmier from Destruction, reached out to me to ask if I'd be interested in doing the new Burning Witches album cover. Needless to say I was delighted to jump on board. The band had a very unique concept so it took me a couple of weeks to come up with an idea I was happy with. They wanted a classic looking illustration; pretty much in the vibe of Ken Kelly and Frank Frazetta. The Forest Witch was inspired by The Ents from 'Lord of The Rings' and Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus'. The girls' depictions were done in pure comic book style, and working on their faces to make them look as close as possible to the real people was a lot of fun. I wish more bands would ask me for that!"
BURNING WITCHES are:
Romana – Guitars
Jeanine – Bass
Laura – Vocals
Lala – Drums
Larissa – Guitars
Picking It Up – ADE
Marked for release on the 23rd April 2021 (via Trickwork), the record is preceded by the cinematic illusion of lead single: “The City”, plus an exclusive album teaser trailer.
Like the disparate strains of a dream as the waking world pours into consciousness, “The City” is an enigmatic listening experience that hints at a wider universe. Commanding a washed-out palette to create a piece of faded splendour, the track recalls the surrealist soundscapes of M83 to Angelo Badalamenti and offers a tantalising entry point to his ‘Midnight Pizza’ project. Clocking in at just 1’47, it challenges the listener to search for a deeper meaning perennially just out of focus, that all-too-soon disappears in an ether of hazy electronics.
The opening track of his upcoming album, “The City” took form as Ade relocated to a new part of town in search of a fresh start and a clear path to adulthood. Although finding himself invigorated with the fresh sense of optimism, confidence and inspiration that change can bring; the feeling would prove to be short-lived. Sitting down to perform “The City” in his new apartment, the song would elicit a personal realisation that real change doesn’t happen overnight. As Ade recollects:
“As soon I sang out that first line, I could hear the same voice, from the same guy, alone in an apartment picking up where I left off, in the middle of a song I had been singing for some time now, lamenting the same paradoxes I think a lot of us occasionally experience - loneliness and actively engaging, if not reveling in, antisocial behaviors and habits. That’s the melodrama of your early 20s though I guess, but, gotta say, everything got a lot less heavy after I quit smoking weed.”
“I didn’t see any real reason why I should inhibit my instincts to shapeshift and experiment at the expense of expressing myself and all my musical influences. The goal of this album was to create a kind of tie dye venn-diagram wherein everything I liked and felt and was inspired by could embrace and dance around.” says Ade.
A record where fantasy and reality entwine often paradoxically, ‘Midnight Pizza’ takes an equally schizophrenic approach to its lyrical matter. Oddball phrases clash with profound epiphany. Humour obliquely shadows sincerity. Written over the past 5 years, Ade re-evaluates that familiar road that leads to so-called adulthood. A coming of age record for the millennial generation, “Midnight Pizza’ restlessly reflects on themes of social media voyeurism and surveillance, over-indulgence and insecurity.
Shedding light on ‘Midnight Pizza’, its curious title and underlying concepts, Ade says: “A midnight pizza is something we’re told you can only indulge in for so long before it takes its toll on your health, but how do we know when that is?... The surreal truth of this Zuckerverse is so many of the people I know never lost touch with the people they went to high school with (myself included), which I think has made it pretty difficult to track how much we’ve grown up, or if we even have. On top of that, all this social media voyeurism is mostly done (this past year, especially) from home, simultaneously judging one another and feeling left out from our rooms. The songs on the album are sung by the many voices in my head trying to process all this overstimulation at once, in real time. Insecurity, joy, critic, conscience, you name it. I think people are sort of rubber band balls of these voices, experiences, and contradictions - but those things are what make us bounce.”
MIDNIGHT PIZZA – TRACKLIST