Extreme metal force MASS PUNISHMENT proudly unveils their official music video for the powerful track “Godless America,” extracted from their highly anticipated album “Proving Grounds, Vol.1,” set to be unleashed via Wormholedeath.
This song is a visceral reaction to the nightmare of chaos and division that has gripped the United States to its very core. From the harrowing events of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent wars, to the tumultuous lockdowns, protests, and riots, compounded by economic turmoil and faltering leadership, all exacerbated by a corrupt government teetering on the edge of civil unrest. Directed by the band’s vocalist, Erick Laurino, this marks their second music video endeavor. Expertly blending visually striking scenes of real-life events with a compelling performance by band members Erick Laurino and Christopher Milos, this production is guaranteed to mesmerize viewers and ignite a call for change.
Mass Punishment is a 4 piece Metalcore/Extreme Metal band based out of New Jersey music designed to inform as well as hit as hard as the facts and events the songs are written about. Current events on a social, political, environmental, and economic scale. Of government corruption and depopulation with a population facing death by design.
A unique fusion of influences from iconic bands like Pantera, Slayer, Fear Factory, Megadeth, Anthrax, Iron Maiden, Korn, Misery Signals, Emmure, Slipknot, Rush, and Soulfly, Mass Punishment delivers a sound that is both powerful and evocative.
Mass Punishment is:
Erick Laurino (Vocals) Christopher Milos (Guitars) Scott Ferguson (Bass) Brian Donat (Drums)
Louisville thrash metalheads BELUSHI SPEED BALL recently served up a piping hot slice of their new album, Stellkira, with the single “My Favorite Color Is Pizza.” Now, the band is back to pay homage to a certain bald critic with their latest track “This Is The Peak.” It’s all downhill from here folks!
Commenting on the track, lead vocalist Vinny Crastellano says:
“Anthony Fantano reviewed our last album, calling it “the funniest F—ing thing he has heard all year”. We quickly sat down and wrote a song dedicated to that man’s meaty thick thighs. This is it, THE PEAK! We have accomplished the highest level of achievement in music. Our love for melon is forever immortalized through sound. Hold on sugar, daddy has a sweet tooth tonight!”
“We are proud to present the world with, ‘Stellkira.’ An album that truly encompasses the DNA that embodies the entity Belushi Speed Ball. Our fans can expect an unrelenting punch to the gut dripping with pepperoni grease. This is what happens when you go beyond sixteen chapels and make the mythical seventeenth! Hold on to your lug nuts, It’s time for an overhaul!”
Stellkira Tracklisting: 1. My Favorite Color Is Pizza 2. This is the Peak 3. Eels and Escalators 4. Get to the Point 5. Glass Bones and Paper Skin IV 6. The Adventures of Rick and Mortarion 7. Garth, Let My Family Go 8. Griffith Did Literally Everything Wrong 9. The Hash Slinging Slasher 10. The Accountant’s Due (Stab the Katana) 11. Tater Tot Eyes
BELUSHI SPEED BALL Tour Dates:
April 4 – Asheville, NC @ The Odd April 5 – Charleston, SC @ Trolley Pub April 6 – Savannah, GA @ El-Rocko Lounge May 11 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall May 18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest (The Rave / Eagles Club) June 28 – 30 – Litchfield, NH @ The New England Death Metal Funtime Bonanza July 3 – 7 – Trutnov, Czechia @ Obscene Extreme Festival August 31 – September 1 – Cookeville, TN @ Muddy Roots
Belushi Speed Ball is a Kentucky-based band founded in 2013 as a studio project amongst friends with a penchant for cliché crossover thrash. Their first live performances came soon after, enthralling a rapidly growing fanbase with a uniquely interactive brand of theatrics and unorthodox approach to releases and merch.
Dubbed “one of the funniest fucking things I have heard this year” by The Needle Drop’s Anthony Fantano, Belushi Speed Ball are inspired by bands from Toxic Holocaust and Anthrax to Gwar and Municipal Waste, to whom they simultaneously play homage and satirize a mean comment from a fan in their song “Ripping off Municipal Waste”, which was voted one of Leo Magazine’s top 20 songs of 2022. With a reputation for both trashing venues and meticulously cleaning them up after each individually themed performance, Belushi Speed Ball are masters of executing the unthinkable. From playing out of a Mad Max-esque moving van and starting Terminator-inspired 300-person Nerf gun fights to releasing entire albums in N64… or Furby… formats, nothing is sacred as they continue evolving as, in the words of Metalsucks, “a freakshow of blistering thrash dedicated to laughing its ass off at blistering thrash.”
This year, Belushi Speedball are readier than ever to keep that momentum going, with yet another album mastered to perfection by Joel Grind of Toxic Holocaust, as well as a host of festival appearances, tours, and merch set to drop over the months to come.
Roll up a fat one, because Weedeater are ready to ride another rip-roaring high. The sludge-stoned tar heels are chasing the dragon up and down the East Coast this spring. Along the way, they’ll be throwing wizard fights aboard the Rocks Off Concert Cruise and chunking $20 peanuts at Grim Reefer Fest.
Joining as main support on all 15 days of this excellent adventure are the Iowa stoners in Telekinetic Yeti. Purveyors of fifth dimensional riffs Heavy Temple will open the first leg. Next up are bonafide blues rockers Left Lane Cruiser, followed by badass doomsayers Restless Spirit.
04/16 Charlotte, NC @ Snug Harbor* 04/17 Richmond, VA @ Cobra Cabana* 04/18 York, PA @ Skid Row Garage* 04/19 Youngstown, OH @ West Side Bowl 04/20 Asheville, NC @ Eulogy 04/23 New York, NY @ Rocks Off Concert Cruise 04/24 Portland, ME @ Geno’s Rock Club# 04/25 Manchester, NH @ Jewel# 04/26 Newark, NJ @ QXT’s# 04/27 Baltimore, MD @ Otto Bar – Grim Reefer Fest# 04/29 Chesapeake, VA @ Riffhouse^ 05/01 Panama City Beach, FL @ Mosey’s^ 05/02 Cape Coral, FL @ Nice Guys’^ 05/03 Tampa, FL @ Crowbar^ 05/04 Augusta, GA @ Grantski Records^
*Heavy Temple #Left Lane Cruiser ^Restless Spirit
Weedeater’s bong will stay locked and loaded long after this tour goes up in smoke. Later in May, the band will bring plenty of god luck and good speed to this year’s Mutants Fest 2024, as well as the seventh coming of Modified Ghosts Festival. More dates coming soon!
Additional Dates
May 17 Little Rock, AR @ Argenta Theater as part of Mutants Fest 2024 [TICKETS] May 19 Vancouver, BC as part of Modified Ghost Festival VII – tickets [TICKETS]
Weedeater rose like a doobie out of the harbor town of Wilmington about the year 1998. Their crushing and massive first full-length …and Justice for Y’all (2001) created an immediate buzz, while critics were struggling to put a tag on their sound. Nearly everybody agreed that stoner rock, doom, sludge and some crusty elements were part of the mix, which the band simply calls “weed metal”.
Their debut was produced by renowned engineer Billy Anderson (Eyehategod, Neurosis) as well as sophomore album Sixteen Tons (2002). After some detours of Dixie Dave, third album God Luck and Good Speed hit the world in 2007 and shifted the band’s focus slightly towards the stoner side. Jason… the Dragon got delayed when Dave lost a toe due to an incident with his favorite shotgun. When the sludge driven album finally came out in 2011, shows in the US and Europe cemented the band’s reputation as a fierce live entity.
After signing to Season of Mist, Weedeater reissued their full back-catalogue. Their most recent album ‘Goliathan’ makes the South smoke again. Lean back and let this monster record blow your mind!
Line-up:
Dixie Dave: Bass, vocals Shep: Guitar, vocals Ramzi Ateyeh: Drums
Billy Morrison’s latest release, “Crack Cocaine,” unveils a riveting collaboration with legendary icons Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens. This electrifying track serves as the second single from Morrison’s highly anticipated solo album, The Morrison Project, slated for release on April 19, 2024, via TLG|ZOID / Virgin Music Group.
“Crack Cocaine” features the masterful guitar work of Steve Stevens and was co-written by Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne, and Steve Stevens.
“Watching ‘Crack Cocaine’ get released to the world seems a little like giving birth! This song has held a special place in my heart since the day I wrote it with OZZY and STEVE. We have all nurtured and protected this track for a long while and I cannot thank TLG/ZOID enough for being the midwife! And now it’s out there in the world, running around, invading people’s sound systems and creating rock ‘n’ roll mischief. Perfect!!” says Billy Morrison.
Steve Stevens recalls getting a call from Morrison, “’Hey Steve, fancy having Ozzy and me come round your home studio for a bit of fun?’ says Billy Morrison at the other end of the phone line… Four cups of coffee and a whole lot of laughs later, you now hear ‘Crack Cocaine.’ It’s a song from us Ozzy fans, for Ozzy fans around the world.”
Accompanying the release of “Crack Cocaine” is a visually stunning music video, featuring not only Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne, and Steve Stevens but also a performance by Paris Jackson in the role of the romantic interest. The video was directed by Ivo Raza, and filmed at various Los Angeles locations.
In addition to the star-studded cast, the music video includes cameos from renowned visual artist RISK and acclaimed actor Jeff Hilliard.
THE MORRISON PROJECT was produced by Billy Morrison, mixed by Barry Pointer, and mastered by Dave Donnelly. The songs on the album were recorded in Los Angeles at various studios and were written by Billy Morrison in collaboration with his guests.
The Label Group (TLG) has embarked on a significant partnership with TLG | ZOID, which is distributed by Virgin Music Group, to promote Billy Morrison’s upcoming solo album, “The Morrison Project.” This collaboration marks the establishment of TLG | ZOID as the new Rock arm within The Label Group’s family of labels. “The Morrison Project”is set to be released on April 19, 2024, and features a diverse range of guest artists, including Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, DMC, Al Jourgensen, Steve Vai, Steve Stevens, Linda Perry, Tommy Clufetos, JOHN5, and more. The album aims to showcase Morrison’s songwriting prowess and creative vision, offering a multi-genre musical experience.
In addition to this musical endeavor, TLG has formed a strategic alliance with dCommunity to pioneer a fan-centric and artist-focused community within the metaverse, leveraging blockchain technology. This innovative approach aims to enhance fan engagement and interaction in the Web 3 community, positioning “The Morrison Project” as a showcase for these new technologies.
The British guitarist, singer, and songwriter is primarily known as Billy Idol’s rhythm guitar player for the past 15 years alongside lead guitarist Steve Stevens, has expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership with TLG, highlighting the importance of a record deal that respects the artist’s creative freedom and ensures widespread distribution across all platforms. This collaboration not only signifies a forward-thinking move in the music industry but also aligns with the evolving landscape of entertainment, where the integration of digital and virtual spaces is becoming increasingly prevalent.
DROWNING (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
CRACK COCAINE (Featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Steve Stevens) (Billy Morrison, Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Stevens) Produced by Billy Morrison and Steve Stevens – Mixed by Barry Pointer
IT’S COME TO THIS (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius) Produced by Billy Morrison and Erik Eldenius – Mixed by Barry Pointer
THE AYES HAVE IT (Featuring Al Jourgensen and John 5) (Billy Morrison) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
DYSTOPIA (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
INCITE THE WATCH (Featuring Corey Taylor and Steve Vai) (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Corey Taylor) Produced by Billy Morrison and Erik Eldenius – Mixed by Barry Pointer
PUPPETS ON A STRING (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
JUST LIKE A MOVIE (Featuring D.M.C. and Persia Numan) (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Darryl McDaniels, Persia Numan) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
THE SOUND OF FREEDOM (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
MR. DREAM (Featuring Billy Idol and Steve Stevens) (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White, Steve Stevens, Billy Idol) Produced by Billy Morrison and Steve Stevens – Mixed by Barry Pointer
WE ARE THE DEAD (Billy Morrison, Erik Eldenius, Jeordie White) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
CHASING SHADOWS (Featuring Linda Perry) (Billy Morrison) Produced by Billy Morrison – Mixed by Barry Pointer
The dynamic post-hardcore band Tzarina has unleashed their self-titled album through TLG/Virgin Music Group. Helmed by the visionary songwriter Craig William, this musical saga is a riveting journey that pushes the boundaries of post-hardcore, leaving an indelible mark on the genre.
The sonic landscape of Tzarina’s self-titled album is meticulously crafted, thanks to the combined efforts of Nick Bellmore at Dexters Lab Recording and Craig William at ABQ Studios. The production, engineering, mixing, and mastering was done by Nick Bellmore and reflects a commitment to sonic excellence.
Immerse yourself in the powerful soundscape as Tzarina pushes musical boundaries with their compelling release. The band held their album release show at the iconic Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY on March 20, 2024.
Tracklisting:
SIDE A
SAMSARA PART I
DEADSONG
EMBELLISHED
HORACE
COLLAPSER
BORROWED TIME
SIDE B
SAMSARA PART II
OVERTHROW
CURRENTS
SPLATTER
PRETTY NOOSE
VULTURE & VIOLIN
For songwriter Craig William, the crux of the musical endeavor powered by the band Tzarina has always been to explore the more ethereal themes evident in the mixture of metal, post-rock and post-hardcore genres expressed in their music. This is evident in Tzarina’s trail of singles, which have been seeing their release since October of 2020.
It has been almost two years since the full LP was recorded, so they are slated to release their first complete work later this year. This has been a long-awaited moment for the band, who have been hard at work perfecting their sound and experimenting with various elements of their live performance.
Tzarina is composed of Craig William on vocals and guitar, Mark Ayesh on guitar and backup vocals, Robert Scott Abrams on drums, and Michael Forsyth on bass. With the constraints resulting from the COVID pandemic, the band was forced to have a bit more of a DIY ethic, with William handling the brunt of the songwriting, and recording, while in isolation. This did not stop the rest of the members from contributing where they could and the result is nothing short of a sound that is distinctly their own.
This is a group that takes great pride in its artistry, and it shows in the level of care put into every aspect of its music. It is this dedication that has allowed them to continue to evolve and grow as artists.
They are known for their aggressive live shows juxtaposed with beautifully textured music and thought-provoking lyrics that explore the human experience. With heavy, driving riffs and powerful vocals, Tzarina is poised to become one of the most exciting acts coming up in the Brooklyn area.
Tzarina is a band that is constantly striving to push themselves creatively, and they show no signs of slowing down any time soon. With a new album on the horizon and an ever-growing live show, there is much to be seen and heard from this talented group of musicians. Whether you’re a post-hardcore fan or just appreciate great music in general, Tzarina is definitely a band to keep your eye on.
Perpetua are a burgeoning metallic force from Scotland that have cultivated a dynamic and unique sound that will quickly catch the attention of the metal community. Their much-anticipated new, full-length album, Resurgence, was released on March 22nd via Seek And Strike, and the band are celebrating with the crushing new video for ‘Resolve’.
Perpetua state: “This track speaks about the pressures and challenges we face in our darkest times, whilst delivering an ounce of hope as the song breaks through into the chorus/bridge sections. The song itself is a favourite of ours, as musically and technically it ticks all the boxes. It also has some light to shine through on a very dark album, and we believed this would be a great single for that very reason.
“The video for ‘Resolve’ is meant to show the intricacies of self reflection by using the effect of double exposure, seeing yourself within yourself. In a sense it is a visual exploration of knowing how the pieces fit while we are at odds with ourselves trying to move forward from the times before. The broken pieces of us are on display.
“This album is the culmination of all our efforts to create something special. It’s a fresh take on classic metal formulas with a modern twist. We felt that the aggressiveness and depth of the songs really stood out how we imagined. The layered choruses, the fast technical guitars, and the ferocious groove all blended together perfectly. We strived for a more technical and melodic approach in contrast to our previous work. The song structures are now more in-depth and progressively changing. Like the lyrical content, we feel the instrumental aspect of the song itself is very dark and moving.
“We were heavily focused on creating a combination of blistering fast riffs, death metal vocals and soaring chorus hooks. We wanted to write an album as technical and aggressively heavy as we could, and we feel that we reached that. We spent a lot of time digging into song structures, rearranging and making sure we were content with the final outcome of every song. We knew how important our first full-length album was and for that reason it had to be perfect. We hope you enjoy it and thanks for your support.”
1 Resurgence (Intro) 2 Resolve 3 The Hell It Brings 4 Tethered 5 Overcome 6 Human 7 Trapped Mind 8 This Is Retribution 9 Forsaken 10 Alone In The Static
Forming in 2013, Perpetua released their debut EP Resistance in 2016, and second EP To Suffer in 2018, supported by two successful headline UK tours. Supporting as wide a variety of artists as Skindred, Crossfaith, Hacktivist, Perpetua also won Best Metal Act at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards.
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 