Goth sensations SONSOMBRE have amassed a cult following with four critically acclaimed full-length releases. Now comes Eulogy, their second for the legendary Cleopatra Records, and maybe their most compelling yet.
Themed around the memorialization of the dead, Eulogy is a spellbinding blend of traditional gothic rock theatrics and powerful modern rock touches. Primary creative force Brandon Pybus describes it as “Dark, sharp, cutting, brooding,… paying homage to our musical roots,” at the same time as it “sets the foundation for continued evolution and growth as a band.”
Eulogy, he continues, “is about endings. The lost are found and then lost again. The dead are reborn and die again. The seasons march ever onward, and yet here we are, amongst it all. Nothing stays the same.”
And that includes the band. Pybus is not wrong when he describes Eulogy as“an evolution in Sonsombre’s catalog,” and to get everybody in the mood (Halloween is coming up faster than you think!)- a new single, and the latest in a stream of intriguing videos, is already here.
“‘Eulogy II’ is an interesting single for us,” Pybus continues. “It’s not an up tempo dance track to say the least… more of a driving dirge. Something in the execution made it a stand out track for us, though. It feels anguished, but speaks to that existential terror we all eventually face. The dark night of the soul.”
The dungeons are calling! Dungeon synth master MORTIIS kicked off his North American headlining tour on September 4, in Baltimore, MD! The tour will be in celebration of MORTIIS’ seminal 1993 album, ‘Født Til Å Herske,’ which played a significant role in popularizing the dungeon synth genre and was re-recorded in 2023. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.
MORTIIS has previously announced BRIGHTER DEATH NOW as direct support, who will be performing parts of his “Necrose Evangelicum” album from 1995 for this tour for the first time! The band will join from the tour kickoff through the Los Angeles stop on September 21. Local openers will also be added, which are handpicked by Mortiis himself!
MORTIIS’ live soundscape will be accompanied with visuals created by renowned artist and illustrator David Thierree, known for his work with Mortiis, Behemoth, and others.
Previously announced support for the tour includes Sombre Arcane (September 4-17), Malfet (September 14 – 28), and appearances by Fogweaver in Denver, CO and Albuquerque, NM.
MORTIIS w/ BRIGHTER DEATH NOW (“The Dungeons are Calling” North American Tour Dates):
09/04: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery~ 09/05: Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz~ 09/06: Boston, MA @ Sonia~ 09/07: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie~ 09/08: New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge~ 09/09: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground~ 09/10: Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary~ 09/11: Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s~ 09/12: St. Paul, MN @ White Rock Lounge~ 09/13: Lincoln, NE @ 1867 Bar~ 09/14: Denver, CO @ The Oriental*^#~ 09/15: Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon *^#~ 09/17: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon*^~ 09/18: Eugene, OR @ John Henry’s^~ 09/19: San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge^~ 09/20: San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick^~ 09/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom^ ~ 09/22: Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live ^~ 09/23: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad^# 09/24: Haltom City, TX @ Haltom Theater^ 09/25: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live^ 09/26: Houston, TX @ Secret Group^ 09/27: New Orleans, LA @ The Goat^ 09/28: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Altar)^
~ w/ Brighter Death Now * w/ Sombre Arcane ^ w/ Malfet # w/ Fogweaver
Finnish hair-metalcore eccentrics One Morning Left are back with a bang as they announce their highly anticipated new album, Neon Inferno, set for release on 25th October via Arising Empire. The album promises to be a high-octane blend of the band’s signature sound with fresh, electrifying elements, including a guest feature from Olli Herman of Reckless Love.
To give fans a taste of what’s to come, One Morning Left have dropped their latest single, ‘Michael, The Knight’. The track pays homage to the iconic Knight Rider television show, weaving in nostalgic synths with the band’s fierce energy.
It’s a dynamic fusion of 80s vibes and modern metalcore that fans are sure to love. In addition to the single, pre-orders for Neon Inferno are now live, offering fans exclusive bundles and limited-edition merchandise. With the album’s release just around the corner, this is shaping up to be one of the band’s most ambitious and buzzworthy projects yet.
Founded in 2008 in Vaasa, Finland, One Morning Left are well known for their unique blend of electro, hardcore and metalcore influences, as well as their entertaining and energetic live shows where absolutely anything can happen.
One Morning Left‘s fourth album, Hyperactive, marked their first new material in five years and began a whole new chapter in their story. Drawing inspiration from retro electronic and video game music, as well as 80s hard rock, the band stayed true to their heavier roots while exploring fresh musical territories.
Now, the band are set to continue this evolution with their upcoming album, Neon Inferno. This new album promises to build on the foundation laid by Hyperactive, further blending their eclectic influences into a high-energy, genre-defying sound.
Changes have occurred not only in their musical style but also in their lineup. Returning from the cast of 2016’s Metalcore Superstars are frontman Mika Lahti, singer-guitarist Leevi Luoto, and drummer Niko Hyttinen. Additional firepower is provided by new members Tuukka Ojansivu on guitar and Miska Sipiläinen on bass guitar, along with the return of keyboard player Touko Keippilä from the band’s original Panda ❤ Penguin lineup.
With Neon Inferno, the band invite fans to join them on their quest to make the world a bit more epic.
Neon Inferno track list: 01. Emerald Dragon 02. Tonight 03. Ride Till I Die 04. Neon Inferno (Paradise) 05. Maverick 06. Reunion 07. 3,2 1 GO! 08. Summerlovin (featuring Reckless Love) 09. Michael, The Knight 10. Toyko Love 11. Beat It 12. Ruby Dragon (Van Derand Remix) 13. Summerlovin_ (Van Derand Remix)
One Morning Left are: Mika Lahti | Lead Vocals Leevi Luoto | Guitar & Lead Vocals Tuukka Ojansivu | Guitar & Backing Vocals Miska Sipiläinen | Bass & Backing Vocals Touko Keippilä | Keyboards & Backing Vocals Niko Hyttinen | Drums
Cinematic rockers Earthside have presented a new music video for “We Who Lament.” You can watch the video HERE.
Later this week, they hit the road for a tour that will take them across the U.S. appearing at ProgPower USA in Atlanta on 5 September and then with Soen from 7-17 September followed by a runwith Leprous from 18 September to 5 October. A complete itinerary follows below.
The new music video was created in Unreal Engine by director Tom Flynn, It features Canadian guest vocalist Keturah. The band shares, “From the beginning, we always wanted to be able to show the force of nature that is Keturah in all of her fiery glory on ‘We Who Lament,’ but circumstances at the time of release made it difficult to coordinate including her in a video. With the way the song has taken off for us, and become a staple of our live show, we felt the time was right to make good on this collaboration and finally create a special performance video with Keturah bringing it in full force alongside us. Tom Flynn, who has been a video collaborator with Earthside for a few years now, did an incredible job creating immersive and spellbinding worlds for the video that perfectly suit the power and majesty of the song. We hope you enjoy it.”
The tour supports their latest studio album ‘Let the Truth Speak.’ Baard Kolstad from Leprous appears on the release, alongside cameos from Tesseract’s Daniel Tompkins and Fire From The Gods’ AJ Channer. At the time of release,
Timed to the tour announcement, the band shared a visualizer for Watching the Earth Sink. At the time, Ben Shanbrom offered, “Immerse yourself in the visual world of ‘Watching The Earth Sink’— the instrumental centerpiece of Earthside’s latest album “Let The Truth Speak” and a staple of their powerful live multimedia experience. Through the captivating visuals of Riivata and the eerie calm and thunderous climaxes of the track, the collective experience in wordless clarity tells an immediately gripping story of escapism, despair, and fevered excitement in the face of world-leveling disaster—a tale that is all too human in its reality. We are excited to share this special window into the Earthside live show with you in anticipation of our 2024 North American tour this fall with Soen and Leprous.”
Eight long years removed from their critically show-stopping entrance – A Dream in Static [2015] – the idealistic thinkers and feelers in Earthside found themselves in a different world entirely … or, perhaps, a world more honest and unhinged than they and many others had bargained for. “This album almost destroyed our lives and friendships,” keyboardist and co-orchestrator Frank Sacramone confides. “It’s insanity, but it is beautiful.”
Tracklisting
01 But What If We’re Wrong (feat. Sandbox Percussion) 02 We Who Lament (feat. Keturah) 03 Tyranny (feat. Pritam Adhikary of Aarlon) 04 Pattern Of Rebirth (feat. AJ Channer of Fire From The Gods) 05 Watching The Earth Sink 06 The Lesser Evil (feat. Larry Braggs & Sam Gendel) 07 Denial’s Aria (feat. Keturah, VikKe & Duo Scorpio) 08 Vespers (feat. Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh & VikKe) 09 Let The Truth Speak (feat. Daniel Tompkins of TesseracT & Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh) 10 All We Ever Knew And Ever Loved (feat. Baard Kolstad of Leprous)
“A Dream In Static was more of an *I* album,” reflects guitarist and orchestrator Jamie van Dyck. “Each of us in our own way was engaging topics of self-actualization and the fear of never quite becoming. Let The Truth Speak, however, turns its focus to the *We*. Within months of releasing ADIS, the global landscape had changed to where issues of far more consequence than our own individual dreams coming true were tugging at us. We became far more consumed with the trajectory of humanity as a whole than our own legacies therein.”
The video for “All We Ever Knew And Ever Loved”, featuring Baard Kolstad [Leprous], won the award for Best Music Video at the United Artist International Film Festival and was selected to be screened at a number of other events which included Horrorcon UK, UAIFF, Dam Short Film Festival, Animiest, Rhode Island International film festival and more.
Earthside are Jamie van Dyck [Guitars, backing vocals, programming, keyboards], Ben Shanbrom [drums, backing vocals], Frank Sacramone [Keyboards, synthesizers, programming, percussion, guitar] and Ryan Griffin [Bass, backing vocals]. The band is working on plans to tour Europe in 2025.
Confirmed appearances are: 9/07 Nashville, TN – Eastside Bowl 9/08 Cincinnati, OH – Bogarts 9/10 Joliet, IL – The Forge 9/11 Detroit, MI – Magic Stick 9/14 Quebec, QC – Campus Charlesbourg 9/16 Worcester, MA – The Palladium Upstairs 9/17 Asbury Park, NJ – House of Independents 9/18 Cleveland, OH – House of Blues 9/19 Chicago, IL – Park West 9/20 Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre 9/21 Minneapolis, MN – The Lyric at Skyway Theatre 9/23 Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre 9/24 Salt Lake City, UT – Soundwell 9/26 San Francisco, CA – August Hall 9/27 Anaheim, CA – House of Blues 9/28 Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theatre Underground 9/30 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater 10/01 Austin, TX – Mohawk 10/02 Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall 10/04 Orlando, FL – The Plaza Live 10/05 Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution 9/07-17 with Soen 9/18-10/05 with Leprous
Legendary guitarist and songwriter Steve Cropper marks a monumental moment in his career with the release of his highly anticipated new album, ‘Friendlytown,’ now available via Mascot Label Group/Provogue. Cropper has revealed the lyric video for the album’s latest single, “You Can’t Refuse,” a slithery, Bo Diddley-styled romp featuring the dynamic guitar work of country-rock sensation Tim Montana and powerhouse rhythm courtesy of Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company). The track showcases Cropper’s hallmark grooves while Montana’s bluesy licks add a fresh energy. The song captivates listeners with its dynamic rhythm and lyrics that speak of unwavering devotion, delivering a powerful promise: “I’m making you an offer you can’t refuse.”
“Tim came to a party I had some time back, and it turns out he was a big fan of my work. When he played on the album, he said ‘just make sure you spell my name right!’” Cropper laughs, recalling the recording session that led to this collaboration.
The release of ‘Friendlytown’ has been met with great excitement, bolstered by the star-studded lineup featured on the album. Cropper teamed up with music legends Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), Brian May (Queen), Simon Kirke (Free, Bad Company), and Tim Montana to craft a collection of tracks that blend rock, blues, and soul into a masterful expression of Cropper’s iconic sound. Produced by Cropper alongside bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and longtime friend Jon Tiven (Wilson Pickett, Don Covay, and Frank Black), ‘Friendleytown’ is rounded out by lead vocalist Roger C. Reale and Nashville first-call drummer and percussionist Nioshi Jackson. Producer, artist developer, and studio co-owner Eddie Gore (Aaron Goodvin, Keb Mo, Jonathan Singleton) engineered the album and contributed organ.
Cropper has won two GRAMMY Awards from his seven nominations. He’s been ranked the number two greatest guitarist of all-time—behind Jimi Hendrix—by England’s Mojo Magazine, and number 36 in Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.” Cropper’s name is synonymous with the world-famous soul label Stax Records, and he is featured in HBO’s new documentary, ‘Stax: Soulsville U.S.A.’
While at Stax, Cropper co-wrote hits, played guitar behind, and produced such legends as Otis Redding, Eddie Floyd, Wilson Pickett, Bill Withers, Sam & Dave, Albert King, Carla Thomas, Rufus Thomas, and Johnnie Taylor. Post-Stax, Cropper produced and/or played on sessions for Jeff Beck, Jose Feliciano, Yvonne Elliman, John Prine, Tower Of Power, John Cougar, Paul Simon, Ringo Starr, Buddy Guy, Johnny Lang, Elton John, and Steppenwolf, among many, many others.
Reflecting back on his journey, the iconic musician says: “When I think about my legacy, I want it to be said that I was a nice guy,” Cropper says.
Tracklisting:
1. Friendlytown 2. Too Much Stress (ft. Brian May) 3. Hurry Up Sundown 4. Let’s Get Started 5. Talkin’ Bout Politics 6. I’ll Take Tomorrow 7. Lay It On Down 8. You Can’t Refuse (ft. Tim Montana) 9. Rain On My Parade 10. There’s Always A Catch 11. In God We Trust 12. Reality Check 13. I’ll Leave You In Peace
Thirty years ago, the Athenian underground gave rise to a new Greek legend. On Thorns I Lay came up in the wake of Nightfall, Rotting Christ and Septicflesh. Eventually, all four bands would come to share the same record label, but while their countrymen were swayed by symphonic and black metal, On Thorns I Lay developed their own gothic style of atmospheric death-doom.
Last fall, On Thorns I Lay celebrated another significant milestone with their first album for Season of Mist. Today, they are honoring their 30-year legacy by re-releasing their first four albums on digital and streaming platforms.
On their latest album, On Thorns I Lay pushed their gothic branch of death-doom to dark new heights. “It’s rare for a band to produce one of their strongest albums so far into their career”, wrote oneastounded reviewer for Distorted Sound. Indeed, On Thorns I Lay proved that this band still set the bar for crushing melodies at a heroic height.
Their first four albums served as the foundational pillars on which the band have built their growing legacy. Formed back in 1992 by current guitarist Chris Dragamestianos, On Thorns I Lay didn’t officially debut until 1995. Already, they had undergone two name changes and a dramatic shift in style. Their first album for Holy Records, Sounds of Beautiful Experience, re-arranged their early stabs at brutal death metal with a flourish for the avant-garde. Just two years later, they helped establish the gothic scene’s trademark for beauty and the beast vocals with the critical breakthroughOrama.
“Atmospheric death metal at its finest”, Nicolas Radegout wrote for Hardrock Magazine. “Everything comes together to evoke, in a misty reverie, the myth of Atlantic”.
After relocating to Romania and reshuffling their lineup during 1998, their third album marked an even bigger turning point for On Thorns I Lay. Inspired by the likes of Lacuna Coil and My Dying Bridge, Crystal Tears introduced weeping violas and melancholic female vocals. Quick follow-up Future Narcotic still sounded like atmospheric, gothic death-doom, all while experimenting with futuristic ambient soundscapes.
Cover artwork by Dimitris Tzortzis
ON THORNS I LAY started as a death metal band together with other cult bands in Greece in the early 90’s such as Rotting Christ, Septic Flesh, Necromantia, Nightfall and started to spread their name in the local and global underground scene.
ON THORNS I LAY have released 9 albums so far such as “Orama”, “Crystal Tears” and “Aegean Sorrow” gaining great praise. The band have shared the stage with artists such as Dream Theater, In Flames, Anathema, Amorphis, Katatonia, Rotting Christ, Tiamat, The Gathering, Satyricon, Septic Flesh and many more. The band’s last album “Threnos” (2020) followed the path of atmospheric, yet emotional Doom Death Metal – paying tribute to the roots and representing the trademark sound of the band once again. ON THORNS I LAY continue to tell dense stories of loss and despair.
After their mini tour at the Baltic states with Rotting Christ in 2022, ON THORNS I LAY finished the recordings of their 10th album and first for Season of Mist. The self-titled LP pushes death-doom to epic heights, casting a newborn Gothic glow over muscular riffs and cavernous vocals hearkening back to the halcyon days of early ‘90s Peaceville death-doom.
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 