THE MAN MOTELS Release Highly Anticipated Album “Old Wounds”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 1, 2024
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📸 Daniel Sapsford

Mongrel Records is thrilled to announce the release of OLD WOUNDS, the highly anticipated second album from the grungy, punk powerhouse trio, The Man Motels. Known for their explosive sound and raw energy, the band continues to push boundaries with their latest offering—a release that promises to resonate deeply with their fans and cement their place in the underground music scene.
 
Since their reformation in 2018, The Man Motels—composed of Garrith, Lyle, and Pierre—have never been shy about testing their limits. With influences ranging from Violent Soho, Brand New and Drug Church, the band’s sound is a ferocious blend of grit and attitude. After years of success with their debut album, three EPs, and multiple singles, The Man Motels returned to the studio in April 2024 to craft OLD WOUNDS, a project they describe as their most authentic and powerful work yet.

“We’ve always aimed to keep pushing ourselves,” says frontman Garrith. “The drive to test our own limits and put out music that’s more real and powerful than anything we’ve done before is what inspired this album.” The band’s relentless commitment to staying ahead of the curve has been key to their ongoing success. This has included writing constantly, surrounding themselves with like-minded artists, and staying true to their signature grunge/punk sound.

Buy and stream the album at https://orcd.co/old-wounds

OLD WOUNDS dives deep into the complexities and pain of life, capturing the intense emotions that shape who we become. “It’s all about how the cruelty and complexities of life define you,” says Garrith. “There’s a painful loneliness that comes before you can understand and accept who you are. This album has hard, powerful energy, but it’s also filled with melody and emotion.”
 
The band’s approach to writing this album was both introspective and raw. “We dug deep, exploring darker times and painful experiences,” Garrith explains. “Writing can feel like closure—it’s mentally taxing but also enlightening.” OLD WOUNDS isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a reflection of the band’s musical growth and emotional depth.
 
The recording process was equally intense, a collaboration marked by ideas, suggestions, and even disagreements. “We fought it out until we found common ground that represents a piece of all of us,” He says. The album was tracked with Dean Bailey, mixed by Christophe Hogommat from France, and mastered by Tim Lengfeld, bringing together a team of top-tier professionals to deliver the final product.
 
The Man Motels are no strangers to the stage either, having supported major international acts like DUNERATS (AUS), SUNFLOWERS (PT), and BONGLOARD (NL). In addition, the band were shortlisted to perform at TRAMLINES (UK) in July 2024, with a European tour in the works for mid-2025.
 
With OLD WOUNDS, The Man Motels have firmly staked their claim as champions of South Africa’s underground music scene. This five-word description from the band says it all: “This is who we are.”

More information at https://www.facebook.com/TheManMotels

STRIPPING THE PISTOL Release New Single + Lyric Video ‘Left Behind’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 1, 2024
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STRIPPING THE PISTOL have released their third single, “Left Behind.” The track is now available through TLG|ZOID, distributed by Virgin Music Group.

When talking about the single, vocalist Kevin Cherello said, “If it doesn’t make you happy, let it go. Don’t get wrapped up in a battle. Just look for an open door and leave.”

STREAM “Left Behind” at https://ffm.to/strippingthepistol-leftbehind

The single showcases the band’s unique blend of powerful lyrics and captivating melodies, promising to resonate deeply with listeners and leave a lasting impact.

Stripping the Pistol continues to push the boundaries and “Left Behind” is a testament to their evolution and growth as artists.

This band is about straight-in-your-face rock n’ roll. Stripping the Pistol formed with the intention of breaking the rules. The Chicago band blends aggression with melody. The seamless interplay of the dueling vocalists is balanced by the precision, power, and energy of the music.

For More Information Please Visit: Instagram – X – Facebook – YouTube

Despotz Records + BESEECH Remember KRIS KRISTOFFERSON (1936 – 2024)

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 1, 2024
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Photo Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

With heavy hearts, we at Despotz Records remember and honor the legendary Kris Kristofferson, whose passing marks the end of an era. A towering figure in country music and an inspiration to countless artists across genres, Kris was more than just a songwriter and performer. He was a storyteller whose songs spoke to the human condition in profound ways. From his poignant lyrics to his unmistakable voice, Kris touched lives and shaped the musical landscape like few others.

Eight years ago, the Swedish band Beseech paid tribute to Kris by releasing a powerful cover of his classic song Highwayman. Their rendition, which transformed the outlaw ballad into a dark, gothic journey, continues to resonate with fans old and new. Beseech’s version was a testament to Kris’s influence, showing that his words could transcend time and genre, reaching deep into the hearts of listeners around the world.

As we say goodbye to this extraordinary artist, we take comfort in the enduring legacy he leaves behind. His music will continue to inspire, and his spirit will live on through the countless interpretations of his work, including Beseech’s haunting take on Highwayman.

From all of us at Despotz Records, and on behalf of the global music community—thank you, Kris. You will be missed, but never forgotten.

In memory,
Despotz Records

HERIOT Release Debut Album “Devoured by the Mouth of Hell” + Unveil Focus Track ‘Opaline’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 30, 2024
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Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/heriotmetal

UK’s most exciting new heavy band HERIOT have revealed to the world their staggering debut album DEVOURED BY THE MOUTH OF HELL.

In celebration, HERIOT have also unveiled their focus track, “OPALINE“. The band comment: “‘OPALINE addresses the need to accept that sometimes you must sit with the truth alone, however isolating it may be, until others are ready to understand it. It emphasises trusting your instincts but forgiving yourself for the times you couldn’t. This is the first song we’ve released with predominantly clean vocals and is in a direction we’ve not experimented with before.”

Stream and purchase DEVOURED BY THE MOTH OF HELL here:
https://heriot.lnk.to/DevouredByTheMouthOfHellNe

HERIOT will perform their only headline show of 2024 tonight at Bristol’s Exchange. An intimate album release show, the event sold out in a matter of days.

BLOOD INCANTATION Release Side A ‘The Stargate’ of Forthcoming Album “Absolute Elsewhere”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 30, 2024
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Photo courtesy of https://www.facebook.com/BloodIncantationOfficial

BLOOD INCANTATION have finally released a preview into their forthcoming album, ABSOLUTE ELSEWHERE. Its first movement, THE STARGATE  is available today in its entirety across digital retailers and comes with an exquisite short film, THE STARGATE which was directed by award winning cinematographer Michael Ragen (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities: The Viewing) and features mesmerizing analog fluid effects by Chris Parks (The Fountain). 

Listen to THE STARGATE here

 THE STARGATE short film is unlike anything you have experienced before. It presents the saga of a mysterious artifact and its victims in a hallucinatory synthesis of science fiction and folk horror, where mind bending imagery and unsettling atmospheres converge in a surreal tale of primeval blood magic, interdimensional travel and grotesque otherworldly technology beginning in the Dark Ages and journeying into voids of deep space.

ABSOLUTE ELSEWHERE hovers at nearly 45 minutes, their longest full length recording yet, the album’s two movements – THE STARGATE and THE MESSAGE – are as confounding as they are engaging, exponentially expanding upon the formulas laid down by their scene-shattering debut Starspawn (2016) and landmark follow up Hidden History of the Human Race (2019).

Pre-order ABSOLUTE ELSEWHERE here.

HEAVEN SHALL BURN Release New Single + Video ‘Keinen Schritt Zurück’, Feat. DONOTS

Posted by tarjavirmakari on September 30, 2024
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Photo by Vincent Grundke @vollvincent

Apart from releasing their cover of Trivium’s “Pillars Of Serpents” at the end of 2022 HEAVEN SHALL BURN haven’t made any new music available since the release of their highly successful album “Of Truth And Sacrifice” that entered the Official German Album Charts at #1, Austria at #4 and Switzerland at #6.

This is about to change, because it is finally time to unveil a special project that is unique to the sound of the band and also their commentary to the current political climate: KEINEN SCHRITT ZURÜCK, a track and video that is featuring their longtime friends in the renown German alternative / punk rock band DONOTS.

Stream the new single here: https://HeavenShallBurn.lnk.to/KeinenSchrittZuruekSingleNe

The video was directed by their longtime videographer Philipp Hirsch together with guitarist and audio producer Alexander Dietz for Philipp Hirsch Films & The Dude Ranch – Music Film Graphics. Maik Weichert (guitar) comments: “At a first glance HEAVEN SHALL BURN and DONOTS do not sound very compatible. However, we are on the same page when it comes to our underlying taste in music, attitude and political stance, so it is not surprising that the bands have been friends for a long time. We have been discussing doing a song together forever and it was finally time to get serious about it. It was very important to us that this wouldn’t be some kind of sterile guest musician appearance, but that both bands would really operate at eye level and shape the song. We think the result is really something special, as it differs considerably from the bands’ respective sounds without being completely wacky. It was an exciting and rewarding experiment for all of us, and we’re extremely excited to see how it goes down with the people out there. Aside from the music the lyrics are very important to us. We hope that many people can identify with them as much as we do!”