Post-Metal act DROWNSHIP has announced the release of the band’s debut album, entitled “Tidal Passages”, which has been slated for release on November 8 via These Hands Melt.
Hailing from Hamburg, Germany, DROWNSHIP emerged onto the post-metal scene in 2018 as a quintet comprising talented members from esteemed bands like Ophis, Todtgelichter, and Caleya. Their musical prowess and distinctive style quickly garnered attention, culminating in the successful release of their EP “A Dirge To a Carrion Heart” in 2021 via Moment Of Collapse Records and Bloodblast Distribution, receiving acclaim from press and audiences alike.
Following electrifying live shows alongside acts like Thronehammer, Evoken, The Moth, and Ok Wait, DROWNSHIP ventured into the studio in February 2023 to craft their debut album, “Tidal Passages”. Working with producer David Deutsch from 1408 Productions and mastering expert Nikita Kamprad of Der Weg Einer Freiheit, the band ensured a sonically immersive journey for listeners. Complementing their musical prowess, the visually captivating artwork for both the EP and album was brought to life by Irrwisch Artdesign, providing a poignant visual narrative to accompany the band’s sound.
Offering a glimpse into the heart of the new album, DROWNSHIPshares: “‘Tidal Passages’ puts its finger in the bleeding wound of our society. Lyrically, the album offers plenty of thought-provoking material, musically, we have found our style and are looking forward to to bringing the songs to the stage!“
Tracklist:
Where the Flood Springs
Those Who Drank From the Waters of Lethe
Pacified
The Great Devouring
Cradled by Fire
A Tomb Between the Stars
Abysmal Flower
Iconoclast (feat. Marta J. Braun of TODTGELICHTER)
DROWNSHIP‘s musical essence intertwines heavy and progressive elements, complemented by a dynamic spectrum of screams and melodic vocals. The band’s evocative name, a fusion of “drowning” and “fellowship,” serves as a fitting prelude to their lyrical exploration of societal collapse, its reverberations, and the intricate inner struggles faced by every individual.
“Tidal Passages” will be coming out November 8 on Vinyl/CD/Digital via These Hands Melt, a first single and pre-orders will be available from the beginning of October!
DROWNSHIP are: Jonas Borchers – Vocals Floris Lange van Ravenswaay – Guitars Torsten Radtke – Guitars Edgar Berlies – Bass/Vocals Wolfram Zarnack – Drums
US black metal act TRYBLITH returns from the depths with their macabre third album, “Draconis Maleficium”, set to drop on October 31st 2024.
From the blizzard-born execution to the hypnotically linear songwriting, from the raw-yet-full production to the elegant cover artwork, “Draconis Maleficium” is a special record. Ten brand new tracks, packed with the band’s captivating and distinctive sound, carrying the listener away on a journey into bleak and mesmerizing soundscapes.
The first single “Chalice Ov Opulence” is now streaming at THIS LOCATION.
Tracklist:
1. Grip Ov The Devils Hand 2. A Waltz Ov Immaculate Summonation 3. Lysergic Gnosis 4. Atlantean Cataclysm 5. Glass Heart 6. Chalice Ov Opulence 7. Path Ov Sorcery 8. Great Rune Ov Death 9. Storms Of Desolation 10. Exhaled Incantations Between the Stars
TRYBLITH is a formidable black metal force that emerged from the depths of the Tri-State area in 2009, founded by A. on guitars, J. on drums, and L. on vocals. The trio quickly made their mark on the black metal scene, releasing a series of demos and an EP while performing extensively throughout the region. Their raw energy and dark sound resonated with audiences, establishing them as a rising power in the genre.
After a brief hiatus around 2012/2013, TRYBLITH reawakened with a renewed lineup. A. returned on guitars, joined by M. on additional guitar duties, L. on vocals, McElfresh on live bass, and D. on drums. This powerful formation led to the creation of their first full-length album, “A New Aeon”, a record that propelled the band to new heights and cemented their place in the black metal scene.
In the tumultuous years of 2020 and 2021, TRYBLITH evolved once more. U. took over guitar duties, and McElfresh departed, marking another period of transformation for the band. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, this era birthed the hauntingly powerful “Cosmic Serpent””, released on May 28, 2022. The album showcased the band’s ability to channel chaos into their music, delivering a work that was both intense and evocative.
Undeterred by the shifting landscape, TRYBLITH continued to push the boundaries of their sound, culminating in the release of their most recent album, “Draconis Maleficium”. With Draugr joining on bass, this album delves deep into themes of ancient sorcery, mysticism, and the occult. “Draconis Maleficium” is a testament to TRYBLITH‘s mastery of blending raw black metal with atmospheric, symphonic, and melodic elements, inviting listeners on a dark and captivating journey into a realm of arcane forces and malevolent entities.
For fans of: Windir, Marduk, early Dimmu Borgir
Line-up:
L. – Vocals A. – Guitars U. – Guitars Draugr. – Bass Troll. – Drums/Synth & Piano
“Restless pushes the sonic envelope a little further to provide an energetic set of classic-sounding, rocking, soulful numbers seemingly designed to be played on big stages.” – Blues In Britain
The Commoners are pleased to announce the release of their title track single “Restless” available on all streaming platforms from Friday September 13th. The single is taken from their critically acclaimed third studio album Restless; available from www.thecommoners.ca/store.
Watch the official music video for the new single “Restless” on YouTube HERE.
In support of the new single, the Commoners will hit the road for a major tour in November through December ‘24 across Europe and the UK opening for Canadian music heavyweights The Sheepdogs, rounding out the year with a coveted slot at Planet Rockstock Festival on December 1st.
With lead singles “Devil Teasin’ Me,” “The Way I Am” and “Shake You Off” all earning spots on Planet Rock’s main playlist, the band continue to turn heads with their crisp tones, lush productions, and spirited melodies. From the speakers to the stage, one thing is certain: The Commoners are ushering in a party rock renaissance, and we’re all invited.
The Commoners are experiencing great success with their current album, Restless. The album features ten tracks that grip and groove. The band continues to provide listeners with a hearty dose of Southern-style swagger with every guitar slide, organ swell, and vocal stamp.
Says Blues Rock Review, “With Restless, The Commoners have crafted yet another impressive album that is both a tribute to their commitment to reviving a classic era and a step in the direction of solidifying the group as one of the most exciting acts in contemporary rock.”
Riding high off the strength of their second album, Find A Better Way, the last two years have been a whirlwind for the band. From a UK tour with Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton in the fall of 2023, to headline dates across Europe and Britain this year, The Commoners are a must-see act.
Possessing a sound tapped from the oaken belly of a whiskey barrel, The Commoners are a five-piece roots rock band from Toronto, Canada. Offering their own blend of a tried-and-true musical mixture, the group pepper their sound with high-energy riffs, soulful vocals, and rich harmonies that takes the listener on a journey through a Southern-style rock experience.
The band is a culmination of like-minded musicians who have bonded over their love of the classics. All seasoned performers in the Canadian music scene, Chris Medhurst (lead vocals/guitar), Ben Spiller (bass, vocals), Ross Hayes Citrullo (lead guitar), Adam Cannon (drums, vocals), and Miles Evans-Branagh (keys, vocals) have united under a shared dream: to write and perform music; an authentic nod to the greats who paved the way before them.
“Chris Medhurst is one of the great vocal discoveries of recent years” – The Midlands Rocks
“The Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin are big influences for us,” says Commoners lead singer, Chris Medhurst. “Derek Trucks, Marcus King, and the Allman Brothers, as well. These are the bands that we wear on our sleeves as we continue to evolve and create our own music.”
Channelling their deep respect and admiration for roots rock trailblazers, The Commoners also incorporate rhythmic stylings inspired by Motown and Soul’s groove masters. The keystone of their unique blend is lead singer, Chris Medhurst’s emotive vocal style, akin to Burton Cummings and Paul Rodgers, with a dash of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding.
A natural evolution from their 2022 album Find A Better Way, Restless offers a peek behind the curtain of success, revealing the grueling routines and ragged emotions that hide behind the glamorous aesthetic of a rock band on the rise. With introspective, slower-tempo numbers pocketed amongst rip-roaring anthems, the new album is a portrait of a hardworking group revitalizing a classic genre.
THE COMMONERS – NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2024 EUROPEAN AND UK TOUR TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM WWW.THECOMMONERS.CA *SPECIAL GUESTS TO THE SHEEPDOGS
EUROPEAN DATES
Groove – Portugalete, Spain – Friday November 8 *Outono Codax Festival – Santiago de Compostela, Spain – Saturday November 9 *Sala Mon Live – Madrid, Spain – Sunday November 10 *LA Nau – Barcelona, Spain – Monday November 11 *Strom – Munich, Germany – Wednesday November 13 *Beatpol – Dresden, Germany – Thursday November 14 *Frannz – Berlin, Germany – Friday November 15 *Bahnhof Pauli – Hamburg, Germany – Sunday November 17 *HeadQuarters – Aarhus, Denmark – Monday November 18 *Debaser – Stockholm, Sweden – Wednesday November 20 *John Dee – Oslo, Norway – Thursday November 21 *Loppen – Copenhagen, Denmark – Friday November 22 *Binnenzaal @ De Oosterport – Groningen, Netherlands – Sunday November 24 *TivoliVredenburg – Utrecht, Netherlands – Monday November 25 *Luxor – Cologne, Germany – Tuesday November 26 *Badaboum – Paris, France – Wednesday November 27
UK DATES
The Carlisle – Hastings, UK – Friday November 29 *Strange Brew – Bristol, UK – Saturday November 30 Planet Rockstock Festival – Trecco Bay, Wales – Sunday December 1 *Oran Mor – Glasgow, Scotland – Monday December 2 *Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK – Wednesday December 4 *Islington Assembly Hall – London, UK – Thursday December 5 Moonshine Club – Portsmouth, UK – Friday December 6 Wolverhampton, Venue TBA – Saturday December 7
Following a standout summer tour that included powerful performances at Wacken, Bloodstock, and Summer Breeze festivals, Ukrainian melodic metal band Ignea is set to return to the UK and Europe this October as the main support for Eleine. The ‘We Shall Remain’ tour will kick off at the Hellraiser venue in Leipzig (DE) on October third, and continues throughout four more countries before a final curtain at the Pont Rouge venue in Monthey (CH). A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.
dates: 03.10 Leipzig, DE Hellraiser 05.10 Hamburg, DE Headcrash 06.10 München, DE Backstage 07.10 Aschaffenburg, DE Colos-Saal 08.10 Bochum, DE Matrix 10.10 Birmingham, UK The Asylum 11.10 Glasgow, UK Ivory Blacks 12.10 London, UK The Dome 13.10 Manchester, UK Rebellion 15.10 Kortrijk, BE DVG 16.10 Ede, NL Astrant 17.10 Drachten, NL Iduna 18.10 Münchenstein, CH Rockfact 19.10 Rorschach, CH Treppenhaus 20.10 Monthey, CH Pont Rouge
Ignea will be playing in support of their latest album Dreams of Lands Unseen which was released on April 28 via Napalm Records. The album can be streamed here and is still available in physical format here.
Ignea is a Ukrainian melodic metal band that mixes heavy riffs with symphonic, electronic, and folk elements, creating a powerful OST-like experience. Every release is backed by heavy story-telling, making their art more than just music.
In the beginning of their career, Ignea was the first Ukrainian metal band to release an original song with the full symphonic orchestra ‘Alga’, a hymn named after the battle cry of Crimean Tatars who are defending their land, released after the Crimea annexation. The video for the song now counts nearly 10 million views.
According to the national awards The Best Ukrainian Metal Act, the band’s second album The Realms of Fire and Death has been selected as the metal album of the year and Ignea has been named the best Ukrainian metal band of 2020. This album has been fully funded by the band’s patrons at the Patreon platform.
After touring Europe several times, and releasing 2 LPs and 2 EPs independently, Ignea won quite a big support from fans from all over the world and ended up signing with one of the biggest metal labels, Napalm Records.
Despite the full-scale war, the band managed to release a full-length album in 2023 dedicated to the Ukrainian travel writer and photographer Sofia Yablonska, play multiple charity shows in Ukraine, and embark on a EU/UK tour with the legendary Fear Factory, playing 43 shows within 2 months.
Ignea also proudly serves as cultural ambassadors for Ukraine, diligently raising awareness about the country’s ongoing situation among their international fanbase. Their recent performance at ESNS, Europe’s biggest showcase festival, further solidifies their status, alongside appearances at Wacken, Summer Breeze, Bloodstock, Leyendas del Rock, and selected club shows this summer as they lend their support to the esteemed Cradle of Filth and Epica.
As a second glimpse into ARKONA‘s upcoming eighth album, “Stella Pandora“, the Polish Black Metal pioneers unveil new track ‘Prometeus‘ accompanied by a video from David Tomanek. This second single delivers an unyielding and addictive onslaught, blending dense, atmospheric textures with epic melodies and crushing power.
Watch the video below and find the song also on Bandcamp:
Guitarist and composer Khorzon shares insights on ‘Prometeus‘:
“Prometheus is a symbol of rebellion, of character. It is an entity who never submits to the will of those who try to enslave him. And ultimately, he puts this rebellion into action, becoming a fire with which he ignites the whole world. That’s basically what ‘Prometeus‘ is all about. I have been waiting for the premiere of this single because I firmly believe it’s a standout ARKONA song. And the video created by David perfectly complements the message contained in this song.“
‘Prometeus‘ is the fifth and penultimate track on “Stella Pandora“, and the album’s song-sequencing is deliberately crafted. As Khorzon explains:
“The idea behind our arrangement of tracks is that with each subsequent track the tension increases. To fit into this concept, ‘Prometeus‘ had to be placed as the penultimate track, because that’s where all the growing emotions accumulate, and finally, the last track sums everything up and ends it all!“
“Stella Pandora” will be released on digital, CD and vinyl – including an exclusive DMP edition – on September 27th. A specially-designed t-shirt will accompany the launch. Pre-orders are possible via the label’s EU, US and Bandcamp shops.
Not to be confused with the Russian folk-metal act of the same name, Poland’s ARKONA has been producing crushing Black Metal hymns since their inception in 1993. Devoid of excess frills and gimmicks, ARKONA present a compelling sound: galloping tremolo harmonies, relentless snare blasts and vitriolic snarls flow into brooding orchestral synths and crescendos of melancholic and melodic splendour.
In 2015, the band joined forces with Debemur Morti Productions, releasing the acclaimed “Lunaris” the following year — a haunted epic of primal and melodic Black Metal. In 2019, ARKONA unleashed most recent album, “Age of Capricorn“, seven anthems of nihilistic fury, strident power, and masterfully integrated cinematic orchestration, punctuated by fierce, white-hot riffs and emotive melodies twisted into corruption.
Still operating with the same fervour that inspired band-leader Khorzon to found ARKONA, the Polish Horde have continued to perform onstage with frightening intensity at club shows and select festivals – such as Under the Black Sun – all the while crafting their magnificent eighth album “Stella Pandora“, set to darken the sun on September 27th, 2024.
The underground has lost their mind over Defeated Sanity. With each repugnant chapter in the band’s 30-year history, these technical lunatics have discovered dizzying ways to slam old-school death metal on its deformed head. Heck, they even recorded a split LP with themselves.
Having already cracked the Billboard chart with their jazz-infused chaos, Defeated Sanity are now bringing back more of the sheer brutality that long-time fans have come to crave with Chronicles of Lunacy. The new single off their upcoming seventh album still delights prog-minded fiends with its many twisted turns, but by the time it’s finished, “Temporal Disintegration” will have everyone clawing their way into the pit.
Chronicles of Lunacy punches you right in the face. Lead single “The Odour of Sanctity” comes pouring out of the speakers in a never-ending stream of filth. It’s just as putrid, but “Temporal Disintegration” is more of a hulking — if not, slightly more refined — breed of foul beast.
“We like to think of this song as the andante on the album”, Defeated Sanity says.
“Temporal Disintegration” still finds time to shred, but the song’s chunkier riffs chew through the mix with all the crushing weight of a slow and painful death. “Chronicles isn’t as tough on the brain as the last two albums”, says new guitarist Vaughn Stoffey. “It’s rawer and more straightforward, which gets back to what fans love about Psalms of the Moribund“.
Of course, Defeated Sanity are still steered by the mad genius who sits on their drum throne. Even when he’s blasting away at his snare, it always seems like Lille Gruber is juggling several different furious tempos. He never stops throwing “Temporal Disintegration” for a loop, shifting between guttural groove to hard bopping drum fills without missing a beat.
“Lille’s drumming is just ridiculous”, says Jacob Schmidt. Having held down Defeated Sanity’s low end for the past two decades, Schmidt shares the same mind’s eye for rhythmic oddities as the band’s creator. After coming to its harrowing conclusion, “Temporal Disintegration” spawns into a creeping, crawling bass solo. “He’s the face of the franchise, so we’re never going to abandon those head-scratching moments that set Defeated Sanity apart”.
But Defeated Sanity always have a method to their madness. “Each song on Chronicles deals with a different form of mental corruption”, vocalist Josh Welshman says. As depicted by its cryptic lyric video, “Temporal Disintegration” reads as if ripped from the inner monologue of a senseless killer. “Apathy transforms – into lunacy”, Welshman growls as the band descend into the album’s most sickly and slam-heavy breakdown.
“We love experimenting”, says Gruber. “But we realized that some of our oldest fans might have gotten lost after our last couple of albums. With Chronicles of Lunacy, we wanted to get back to more neck-snapping brutality”.
Tracklist 1. Amputationsdrang (2:30) 2. The Odour Of Sanctity (3:36) [WATCH] 3. Accelerating The Rot (3:22) 4. Temporal Disintegration (5:52) [WATCH] 5. Extrinsically Enraged (4:09) 6. A Patriarchy Perverse (4:16) 7. Condemned to Vascular Famine (6:00) 8. Heredity Violated (3:48) Total runtime: 33:35
DEFEATED SANITY is unequivocally one of the most unique, boundary-pushing and crucial bands in the history of extreme death metal. Their music is as technically coherent as it is mind-bending and memorable. Endlessly replay-able and full of discovery, their maze of riffs and musical passages is inspired by infamous classic bands in the extreme metal genre, while also heavily steeped in jazz and progressive classical elements.
The band consists of four members. They’re led by drummer Lille Gruber, who’s the son of deceased co-founding member Wolfgang Teske. Gruber is joined by bandmates Jacob Schmidt (bass), Josh Welshman (vocals) and Vaughn Stoffey (guitar).
As well as being the drummer of Defeated Sanity, Gruber is the multi- instrumental, songwriting mastermind behind the band’s deep and compelling catalogue of songs and compositions. He possesses a bag of tricks seen nowhere else in the genre, and a musical prowess which is on full display throughout their new album Chronicles of Lunacy.
“We love experimenting”, explains drummer and founding member Lille Gruber. “But we realized that some of our oldest fans might have gotten lost after our last couple of albums. With the new one, we wanted to focus more on neck-snapping brutality”.
Chronicles of Lunacy punches you right in the face. Press play and “Amputationsdrang” already has you pinned to the mat beneath its non-stop blasts. Get comfortable, too, because Defeated Sanity don’t let the album up for air until the very end of Track 4. But turns out, acting like knuckle-dragging cavemen isn’t so easy for a band that has a Mensa-level maestro like Gruber at the controls.
At the tender age of six, Lille Gruber picked up heavy guitar and drums. Inspired by killer American BDM bands like Disgorge, Monstrosity and Brodequin, the German wunderkind recorded the band’s first demo alongside his father, Wolfgang Teske. Since Wolfgang’s passing in 2008, Gruber has composed every foul note of Defeated Sanity. Whether he’s hammering his snare, pinging between cymbals or riding a colossal groove, The Chronicles of Lunacy flows like a never-ending stream of filth.
“Lille’s drumming is just ridiculous”, Jacob Schmidt says. Schmidt – who toured with Obscura behind Cosmogenesis – joined as the other half of Defeated Sanity’s chaotic rhythm section for the band’s beloved second album. His nimble, belching bass give the new album’s lead single “The Odour of Sanctity” a dizzying bounce. “He’s the face of the franchise, so we’re never going to abandon those head-scratching moments that set Defeated Sanity apart”.
Indeed, Chronicles of Lunacy isn’t Defeated Sanity for dummies. Heck, the lyrics are wrapped up in the twisted ways that delusions can rot the human psyche. This heady concept was made flesh by none other than Jon Zig. Drawn in painstaking detail by his wicked right hand, the album’s cover shows that the birth of some ideas look an awful lot like a gory and sex-crazed nativity scene.
“Each song on Chronicles deals with a different form of mental corruption”, Josh Welshman says”. “Odor” stinks of religious fanaticism. “A Patriarchy Perverse” cracks open the mind of co-ed killer Ed Kemper, while “Extrinsically Enraged” practically foams at the mouth with squealing hammer-ons. “That one’s more literal”, says Welshman with a hearty laugh. “It’s about contracting rabies”. If it weren’t for Disposal of the Dead / Dharmata, then Defeated Sanity would’ve chewed through as many vocalists as they have albums, but after a brutal showing on their last one, Welshman is back with more guttural vengeance. His growls ooze from the pit of his gut on “Temporal Disintegration”, stomped out like the innards of a cockroach by the gravity-defying slams.
While it still hits from every odd angle, Chronicles of Lunacy does draw a jagged red line back to Defeated Sanity’s brutal origins. After all, the band now share a label with their namesake. In true, DS fashion, the first song written for this album was “Heredity Violated”, a headbanging grand finale that never stops chugging. “This album isn’t as tough on the brain as the last two”, says new guitarist Vaughn Stoffey, whose chunky riffs whip “Accelerating the Rot” into the fastest song in the band’s canon. “It’s rawer and more straightforward, which gets back to what fans love about Psalms of the Moribund“.
To dig up the sheer brutality that long-time fans have come to crave, Defeated Sanity returned to Thousand Cave Studios. New York City’s most vile underground hotspot also served as the excavation site for the Billboard-charting The Sanguinary Impetus, which shoveled a fresh layer of dirt over the “polished” production of Passages into Deformity. But the band encouraged producer Colin Marston to get down and dirty with Chronicles of Lunacy. “We still wanted some of the high fidelity that you hear on modern death metal records”, Schmidt says, “but this album has the same crushing low-end as Psalms or Chapters of Repugnance“.
The band execute this two-headed approach to monstrous effect on “Condemned to Vascular Famine”. At just under six minutes, the song delivers the longest ass beating on Chronicles of Lunacy. At times, all four members sound like they’re climbing up the walls in separate asylums, but after slipping in a brief nod to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the band come slamming down into the album’s ugliest breakdown.
“That’s one of our favorites”, the band says. “It lands at a crossroad of the DS sound that we ended up with on Chronicles of Lunacy. Even though it gets pretty fucking weird at times, there’s still an emphasis on heavy, straight-up slamming”
None of their albums are ever going to follow a straight line, but on Chronicles of Lunacy, Defeated Sanity return to sheer brutality.
Lineup Josh Welshman – Vocals Vaughn Stoffey – Guitars Jacob Schmidt – Bass Lille Gruber – Drums
Guest musicians Danny Nelson and Paolo Paguntalan provide backup vocals on “Amputationsdrang” and “Accelerating the Rot”
Recording Studio Thousand Caves Studio in January 2024.
Production Recorded, mixed and mastered by Colin Marston. Produced by Colin Marston and Defeated Sanity.
Cover Art Artwork by Jon Zig Title lettering by Liz Schmidt Layout by Alex Eckman-Lawn
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 ) 