THUNDER, celebrated as one of Britain’s most popular and enduring hard rock sensations, are set to release two exclusive live albums on 26th January 2024 through earMUSIC.
The first of the pair, ‘Live At Islington Academy’, captures Thunder during the touring cycle of their eighth studio album, ‘Robert Johnson’s Tombstone’. The quintet had already completed a lengthy circuit of the UK in promotion of the record when they were contacted by Planet Rock Radio to perform at the station’s inaugural Christmas Bash on 19th December 2006. A mere 800 fans were fortunate enough to witness Thunder’s storming surprise performance that night, which was dominated by golden classics like ‘Backstreet Symphony’ and ‘I Love You More Than Rock’N’Roll’.
The second live album, ‘Live At Leeds’ was a more official affair, recorded nine years later on 3rd March 2015, at Live Direct Arena in Leeds. The show was part of Thunder’s arena tour in support of ‘Wonder Days’ – a very meaningful tour that marked the first steps of public rehabilitation for Ben Matthews, the rhythm guitarist and keyboardist, who was recovering from throat cancer. Unsurprisingly, these shows were emotionally charged for both the band and the audience.
Both concerts, ‘Live At Islington Academy’ and ‘Live At Leeds’, stand as evidence of Thunder’s prowess as live entertainers. And now at last you can re-live the experience.
The official pre-order phase commences today and on 26th January 2024 both concerts will be available on CD, Vinyl as well as digital download and streaming.
Pre-Listing of products can vary by country to country. Please keep checking back the shop of your choice. Products will be available for pre-order shortly.
A new chapter in the WHILE SHE SLEEPS story is firmly underway. After introducing a subversive new twist on their sound with the single ‘SELF HELL’ (also the title track to their new album which follows on March 29th and supported with Radio 1 plays from Daniel P Carter, Jack Saunders and Nels Hylton, plus a playlist at Kerrang! Radio), the band powered into their biggest ever headline show at the 10,000 capacity Alexandra Palace to deliver a high intensity show in which their performance was equalled by their ambitious visuals.
Now WHILE SHE SLEEPS bring the curtain down on 2023 and line up an even bigger 2024 as they share the new single ‘DOWN’, which features Alex Taylor of fellow Sheffield band Malevolence. The track is accompanied by an exceptional video, which the band made DIY-style as a labour of love project.
While ‘DOWN’ is informed by the band’s desire to bring a whirlwind of fresh sonic influences to the fore, it nonetheless maintains the fierce aggression that typified the band’s roots. The track opens with an ominous blare of an MS-20 synth, before grinding heavyweight riffs, industrial-tinged beats and a soaring melodic hook heighten its intensity. Completed by a ferocious verse from Alex Taylor, ‘DOWN’ is indicative of where WHILE SHE SLEEPS are going in 2024: a maximalist, anything-goes attitude powered by swagger and self-belief.
Guitarist Sean Long says,
“‘DOWN’ has been a central pillar in the new album throughout the writing process of ‘SELF HELL’. Loz was completely on fire and it gave a reminiscent early Sleeps style to the track. The working title for this song was ‘Film-Riffs’ simply because it sounded like it could be in an action movie. And it will. That’s exactly what it is. A high-intensity new sound that you can’t not bang your head to. It was one of the first demos that we knew would be an integral part of the album, it houses all elements of the last 10+ years, yet we have also taken steps to excite ourselves in new areas and introduced new sounds to our advantage. The unmistakable MS20 has made its footprint on the new sound of SLEEPS and gives the song an instant identity as soon as it starts.
“The song is about our deepest desire to feel free from the grips of our own compulsions; trauma, past, society, and everything in between. While we all face this journey in life there are always obstacles that hinder our progress on the path. More often than not these manifests in the form of people who simply get in the way of your freedom and bring you down.”
The accompanying video was directed and edited by the band, which was structured by editing together 1175 still photos – approximately five photographs of each second of the video. Factor in a characteristically explosive performance from the band, a larger-than-life guest appearance from Alex Taylor, 15 litres of paint, 7 cans of spray paint, 2 fire extinguishers and a box of fireworks, and you have an idea of the barely controlled chaos that ensues. The video will be available soon in flick-book form, a soft back version that you can sync with the audio to create a unique physical viewing experience.
Mat Welsh adds,
“The video is created from the core of our ethos, we wanted to make something that embodied the attitude of SLEEPS, in our most natural environment. In a time where AI is taking over and technology is everywhere you turn, the idea behind the video was to take things in the opposite direction by physically delivering the lyrics and emotion of the song. Using only ourselves, a small space, some paint and the creativity and expression we harness, it took us seven days to shoot and we definitely underestimated the level of detail it required. The shortest road doesn’t equal the best journey and we believe that good things come through focus and hard work. This video is a testament to that.”
‘Self Hell’ is available to pre-order HERE. Formats include black/white swirl and neo-orange vinyl, both of which are packaged with a signed photo, as well as a CD. The album was produced by their long-term collaborator Carl Bown and the band’s guitarist, Sean Long. While She Sleeps – completed by Lawrence ‘Loz’ Taylor (vocals), Mat Welsh (guitar), Aaran Mckenzie (bass) and Adam Savage (drums) – recorded the album during sessions at Metropolis Studios in London, Treehouse Studio in Chesterfield, and their own Six Audio in Sheffield.
While She Sleeps are currently completing a tour which has taken them from Australia to New Zealand and now continues with dates in Hong Kong, Tokyo, Taipei and Bangkok. They will then end 2023 with a special homecoming show at Sheffield Octagon.
Live plans are already taking shape for 2024 including a North American tour with Architects in May and a set at Download Festival in June.
DECEMBER 2023, remaining shows 13th – Bangkok, Mr Fox Live House 22nd – Sheffield, Octagon
FEBRUARY 2024 3rd – Lodz, Atlas Arena (guests to Architects) 4th – Prague, Forum Karlin (guests to Architects)
ATREYU have released the final phase of their EP trilogy with the release of their new album, The Beautiful Dark of Life that includes three new songs via Spinefarm. [Stream Now].
The concept is an emotional journey through three distinct phases accompanying the three EPs—capturing the essence of despair on The Hope Of A Spark, the pursuit of hope on The Moment You Find Your Flame and the triumphant self-discovery and purpose on A Torch In The Dark.
The Beautiful Dark of Life features sonic numbers that touch every corner of the heavy music sphere – from metal to punk and alternative, via ’80s classic rock and with shades of industrial, hip-hop, and unashamed pop – speaking more than ever to a generation of music fans who care little for the traditional constraints of genre.
Through the expression of deeply personal feelings and emotions, the album is soul-baring and empathetic and offers escapism, and empowerment through songs that speak openly about anxiety, depression, self-belief, love, and identity that includes three new songs, “Dancing With My Demons,” “Insomnia” and the title track.
“‘The Beautiful Dark Of Life’ is the journey we are all on,” said frontman Brandon Saller. “It is the journey we have taken the audience on through the three EPs: the highs, lows, and lessons of life. And much like living through them, you don’t gain a full understanding of what it all means without the whole picture. This album is that picture.”
“We wanted each EP to have its own space to exist, for every song to find its audience and connect with people in its own right. But then when those songs are later collected together in the shape of the album, it will be an ‘A-ha!’ moment where we hope people will rediscover them in a new light, and find something in them all over again,” said the bassist/vocalist, Porter McKnight.
“I was walking with my young daughter one day when we went under a bridge,” said Saller. “She pointed at something and said, ‘Daddy, what’s that?’ I told her, ‘That’s a shadow, honey.’ And she turned to me and said, ‘Shadows are the beautiful dark of life,’” in discussing the album title.
The Beautiful Dark of Life Tracklisting: Drowning Insomnia Capital F God/Devil Watch Me Burn Good Enough Dancing with My Demons Gone I Don’t Wanna Die Immortal (i) Death or Glory Forevermore Come Down The Beautiful Dark of Life
UK & EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR DATES – remaining shows: 12/11 – København, DEN @ Pumpehuset 12/12 – Oslo, NORW @ John Dee (SOLD OUT) 12/13 – Stockholm, SE @ Klubben
2024 AUSTRALIA TOUR: 2/17 – Perth, AUS @ Amplifier Bar 2/18 – Adelaide, AUS @ Lion Arts Factory 2/21 – Melbourne, AUS @ Max Watts Melbourne 2/22 – Camperdown, AUS @ Manning Bar 2/23 – Fortitude Valley, AUS @ The Brightside Brisbane
2024 US DATES: 05/12 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome To Rockville 2024 05/17 – Columbus, OH @ Sonice Temple 2024 10/19 & 10/20 – Las Vegas, NV @ When We Were Young 2024
2024 UK & EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR DATES: 06/08 – Nürnberg, GER @ Rock IM Park 2024 06/09 – Nürnberg, GER @ Rock AM Ring 2024 06/16 – Derby, UK @ Download Festival 2024 06/28 – Münster, GER @ Vainstream Rockfest 2024
UK melodic hard rockers TEN are proud to announce a number of UK Live Dates, in support of their recent studio albums “Here Be Monsters” and “Something Wicked This Way Comes”. The tour will see them play 8 different locations spread out during the summer and early autumn, with the warm up gig taking place in Blackpool’s Waterloo music venue on the 9th of March.
Saturday, March 9, Waterloo, Blackpool Saturday, June 8, Bannermans, Edinburgh Saturday, June 30, Eleven, Stoke Saturday, July 13, Academy, Manchester Saturday, July 20, Portland Arms, Cambridge Saturday, July 27, Birdwell Venue, Barnsley Saturday, August 17, Yardbirds, Grimsby Saturday, September 7, Queens Hall, Nuneaton
In addition to the live dates, the band are also proud to announce that they will be entering into another period of intensive recording which will see the birth of not one but two more studio albums, the first of which is expected to be released in late 2024 or early 2025.
All in all, you can expect TEN to be very proactive for the foreseeable future, so watch this space!
TEN Lineup: Gary Hughes – Vocals Steve Grocott – Guitars Steve McKenna – Bass Dann Rosingana – Guitars Darrel Treece-Birch – Keyboards Craig Walker- Drums
TURBION have released their new video ‘Ritual De Fuego’, taken from the band’s homonymous album. Watch the video below.
Turbión is a metal band from the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra – Bolivia, born in 2018, with the meeting of musicians from diferent bands in the city, with the fixed idea of playing heavy metal, with the influence of different styles such as groove metal, stoner metal and classic Argentine heavy metal bands. After 2 years of rehearsals and some live performances, they managed to release their first album through the independent label Oxido Metal Records in 2021. In 2023, the band released “Ritual de Fuego”, their second full length album with their characteristic sound and power.
Currently it is considered an important band in the metal scene in Bolivia for its excellent musical production and its honest and forceful live performance. The band has been invited to open the shows for important artists worldwide and in Latin America (Ripper Owens, Fabio Lione, Crypta, Cabral, etc.), as well as participating in numerous festivals and shows.
The current line up is composed by Herland Sierra-Guitar, Alvaro Martinez-Voice, Manuel José Justiniano-Bass and Javier Landívar-Drums, all of them musicians already well known and with a long trajectory in the music industry locally.
“…our idea in proposing music, is to make heavy metal that we like to listen to; basically make and play the kind of music we would like to listen to in a meeting with friends, a barbecue with lots of beers, having a good time. We are driven to think and write about those moments when we get serious, remember anecdotes or just listen and sing along to the music that brings us together with a glass in our hand and a good friend in front of us. We want playing our music to be fun, to have a good time and to be enjoyed among friends….”
Atlanta-based hard rock sensation PISTOLS AT DAWN is ushering in the festive season with a twist on the beloved holiday anthem, “Last Christmas.” Available now on all major streaming platforms, this latest single from the band promises to ignite holiday spirits with its rock-infused rendition of WHAM!/George Michael’s timeless classic.
With a fervent dedication to crafting an enduring holiday track, PISTOLS AT DAWN embarked on a mission to create a rendition that resonates across generations. Adding their unique rock stamp to the iconic melody, the band infused raw emotion and intensity, channeling George Michael’s original sentiment while introducing a new dimension to the song’s sonic landscape.
In a departure from their signature sound, the band embraced the inclusion of violin and cello, marking the first time they’ve incorporated these orchestral elements into their music. This addition elevates the emotive qualities of “Last Christmas,” ensuring that listeners experience a stirring and immersive rendition of this cherished song.
Commenting on their rendition, PISTOLS AT DAWN expressed, “We wanted to create a truly special holiday track that would stand the test of time. George Michael wrote one of the best holiday songs of all time, and we wanted to add our stamp to it. We knew if we felt the emotion of the song, like he did, that everyone else would too. At the end of the day, we just hope this makes everyone’s holiday a little more special.”
Moreover, PISTOLS AT DAWN has exciting plans for the upcoming year, including a series of dates alongside Fozzy across international stages, as well as headlining performances. The band’s relentless energy and captivating stage presence are poised to captivate audiences worldwide.
Pistols at Dawn Crossing the Pond 2024 Dates:
Opening for FOZZY on UK Tour FEBRUARY 16, 2024 @ NEON – NEWPORT FEBRUARY 17, 2024 @ NIGHTRAIN – BRADFORD FEBRUARY 18, 2024 @ ACADEMY 2 – MANCHESTER FEBRUARY 20, 2024 @ QUEEN MARGRET UNION -GLASGOW FEBRUARY 21, 2024 @ RIVERSIDE – NEW CASTLE FEBRUARY 22, 2024 @ ELECTRIC BALLROOM – LONDON FEBRUARY 23, 2024 @ KK’S STEELMILL – WOLVERHAMPTON FEBRUARY 24, 2024 @ ROCK CITY- NOTTINGHAM FEBRUARY 25, 2024 @ TIVOLI – BUCKLEY FEBRUARY 26, 2024 @ ROADMENDER – NORTHHAMPTON
Headlining “Across The Pond Tour” tour FEBRUARY 28, 2024 @ THE ANVIL – BOURNEMOUTH FEBRUARY 29, 2024 @ EXCHANGE 2 – BRISTOL MARCH 1, 2024 @ THE HOBBIT – SOUTHAMPTON MARCH 2, 2024 @ THE COBBLESTONES – BRIDGEWATER MARCH 3, 2024 @ THE FACEBAR – READING
When rules break, rock ‘n’ roll moves forward. Standing at a crossroads between 21st century attitude and old school arena-size ambition, Pistols At Dawn lock and load hard-hitting hooks, magnetic melodies, and intricate instrumentation in a searing signature style. The Atlanta quartet—Adam Jaffe [drums], Will James [lead guitar], Gabriel Cuevas [bass], and Jon Sookdew Sing [lead vocals+rhythm guitar]—re-energize the genre, while maintaining its edge. After independently amassing over 6 million streams and collaborating with icons such as GRAMMY® Award-winning producer and engineer Sylvia Massy [Tool, System of a Down, Johnny Cash], the group deliver eight anthems on their 2022 full-length album, Ascension, via distributor Megaforce Records/MRI Entertainment. “All of our influences come out in the music, but with our own stamp,” says Adam. “There’s definitely a hard rock vibe combined with progressive lyrics. When you add these elements together, it beautifully combusts in Pistols At Dawn.”
Speaking to this alchemy, in 2015 the band immediately entered the studio with producer Jeff Tomei [Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20] to record their first singles before entertaining various other projects. During 2019, the original lineup joined forces again. Ultimately, original founder Jaffe completed the lineup with incendiary world class guitarist James, and elite progressive rock duo Sookdew Sing and Cuevas.
They unleashed music at a prolific pace in addition to personally engaging fans worldwide with an immersive online presence. “Cold” exploded to the tune of 1 million streams across platforms followed by “Gauntlet” and “All You Offer” with another million streams. Working with producer Jeff Tomei, they unleashed the Nocturnal Youth EP in 2021. The opener and lead single “Voices” impressively generated 1 million plays in under a month. In the midst of the Global Pandemic, they caught the attention of Massy and recorded what would become Ascension with the legendary producer behind the board alongside co-producer Chris Pierson.
Musically and thematically, it allowed a sliver of light to pass through the world’s darkness. “On Nocturnal Youth, we were going through a dark time in the Global Pandemic,” Jaffe states. “On Ascension, we’re coming into the light and embracing life. There’s still dark subject matter on the record, but it was positive to write. It melded together the way we’d always hoped.”
Anchored by a balance of extremes, the lead single “The Truth” nods to nineties alternative with a distinct and dynamic twist. Adam goes on, “It revolves around the constant noise we have in our head pushing and pulling our emotions so much that we sometimes lose total control and explode. We have to be careful to maintain our thoughts and emotions, or ‘The Truth’ is that they could tear us apart.”
Elsewhere, the opener and follow-up single “Under The Surface” immediately sets the tone with a hypnotic riff and hard-hitting vocal, barely containing its cathartic momentum in the searing lyrics, “Take what you want and leave me for dead. All that I need is under the surface.”
“This song deals with the hell some have to go through above ground with people constantly taking, lying, and poisoning,” he reveals. “So, you want to be buried deep to get away from society where no one will find you.”
“Fly” leans into a dark chorus and instantly memorable hook, equally soaring and shuddering all at once. It strikes a chord with its timeless theme presented through a nocturnal prism. “It’s a powerful and dark love song about wanting to disappear with your true love,” he elaborates. “Musically, diversity was important to us. So, each song really tells a different story with a distinct sound.”
Indicative of this diversity, “For You” steamrolls forward on a hulking groove fortified by a punchy riff and towering refrain. It sets the tone for the rollercoaster to follow. “It’s about finding someone really special who is worth changing for,” notes Adam. “If you find someone you love enough, you’ll change. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Ultimately, Pistols At Dawn ignite a fresh and fiery vision for rock all their own. “We want to take you on a ride,” Jaffe leaves off. “We just love playing music. One moment, we hope you’re inspired to take on the world. In the next, we hope you scream along. In another, you just chill. It’s meant to be fun and exciting overall. At the end, we hope you want to take the ride again and again.”
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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