COMANIAC is proud to unveil the mesmerizing animated lyric video for their intense “Long Life Doll” track. Taken from their album “None For All”, set to release in a CD special edition featuring two electrifying bonus tracks via Wormholedeath, this animated sensation is set to captivate the audience everywhere.
“Long Life Doll” delves into the depths of human emotion, exploring themes of betrayal, self-reflection, and the tumultuous nature of relationships. What initially masquerades as love is revealed to be nothing more than a selfish mental state, exposing the raw pain of deception. Through blistering riffs and searing vocals, Comaniac delivers a profound commentary on the complexities of human interaction.
“None For All” addresses and criticizes the imbalance of empathy and indifference in society. Between structure and chaos, hope and resignation, nine songs make you think individually, socially, and politically.
Following the success of their previous five singles, Canadian roots rock band The Commoners are pleased to announce the Friday June 7th release of “Shake You Off” – the final single taken from their highly anticipated third studio album, Restless. The album will be released byGypsy Soul Records on Friday 5th July 2024, and is available to pre-order at www.thecommoners.ca/store.
From Friday June 7th, “Shake You Off” will be available on all major streaming platforms and promises to be a heartfelt celebration to The Commoners’ ever-evolving musical journey. The single is available HERE.
Today, fans can get a sneak peek of the new single by streaming it on YouTube HERE.
Gutsy guitar and driving percussion push “Shake You Off” from the speakers, initiating a gripping track that will have heads bobbing from start to finish. Punchy bass and searing organ pierce the arrangement, rousing listeners to a fever pitch as The Commoners attempt to break loose from restraints.
Having wrapped up a bustling 2023 filled with recording sessions and a UK tour alongside Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, The Commoners have solidified their position as a must-watch act.
The release of Restless will mark the quintet’s return to the road in 2024, with numerous festivals in the UK and EU, including Made of Stone, Steelhouse, and Moulin Blues Festivals, already scheduled for this summer. From the speakers to the stage, one thing is certain: The Commoners are spearheading a party rock renaissance, and the audience is cordially invited.
A natural evolution from their 2022 album Find A Better Way, the forthcoming album Restless offers a peek behind the curtain of success, revealing the gruelling 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, recorded at RHC Music in Toronto, is a portrait of a hardworking group revitalising a classic genre.
“As with our previous album, we wanted to marry old and new southern rock together in a way that was unique to the band’s Canadian roots,” says the Commoners guitarist and producer Ross Hayes Citrullo. “By adding the soul and rock elements of The Black Crowes, and the southern blues rock undertones of The Allman Brothers to a production style akin to Blackberry Smoke and Rival Sons, I think we developed an authentic sound that compares sonically to some of our favourite records across all of those music genres.”
Album Photography by Lindsay White – Album Design by Emily Goguen
RESTLESS – TRACK LISTING
1. Devil Teasin’ Me (4.24) 2. Shake You Off (3.55) 3. The Way I Am (3.34) 4. Restless (5.18) 5. Gone Without Warning (4.02) 6. Who Are You (Ain’t Knocked Down) (3.59) 7. Body And Soul (5.31) 8. See You Again (4.44) 9. Too Soon To Know You (4.59) 10. All That We Have (3.14)
Approx. Running Time: 45 minutes
TRACK BY TRACK
Devil Teasin’ Me A bonafide banger with anthemic group vocals and electric riffs, “Devil Teasin’ Me” captures self-reckoning wrapped up in rock ’n’ roll. Lush background voices lend heat to the chorus, supporting Medhurst through a feverish performance.
Shake You Off Gutsy guitar and driving percussion push “Shake You Off” from the speakers, initiating a gripping track that will have heads bobbing from start to finish. Punchy bass and searing organ pierce the arrangement, rousing listeners to a fever pitch as The Commoners attempt to break loose from restraints.
The Way I Am A rowdy riff catapults The Commoners into “The Way I Am”, joined by kick drum thuds that strike the chest, immersing the listener in a track made for stadiums. Tension builds into an infectious chorus spiked with vocal support by Sandra Bouza. A guaranteed hit, “The Way I Am” sees The Commoners united in conviction, playing with the confidence of a band that knows exactly who they are.
Restless Delicate picks and strums open “Restless”, lending a subtle Celtic feel to the track which evolves into a flourishing arrangement with piano and harmonic guitar accents. Within “Restless”, The Commoners unpack life on the road, folding the struggle and discomfort of pursuing a dream into a show-stopping number.
Gone Without Warning A gritty riff puts fire under “Gone Without Warning”, launching The Commoners into a track that boils over with tension. Featuring a heavy hitting chorus with soulful backing vocals by Chantal Williams, the track is further elevated by the combined voices of bassist Ben Spiller and drummer Adam Cannon.
Who Are You (Ain’t Knocked Down) Crunchy guitar cuts through the speakers, accented by stark percussion, and piano in this true party rock anthem. Certain to raise listeners to their feet, “Who Are You” features peppy organ alongside call and response vocals that kick this confrontational track into overdrive. Body And Soul Ambient slide guitar and viscous drones set the tone for a smoky and sultry number with a masterful arrangement that goes down smooth. Throbbing with rhythmic bass and percussion, “Body And Soul” traps The Commoners in a tangle of temptation. See You Again A true roots-rocker, “See You Again” is an ode to love and loss, good times and memories made, featuring a chorus fit for kicking up dust on the backroads with the windows down. Full-bodied acoustic guitar guides this track through contemplation to celebration. Too Soon To Know You Lively organ and crisp guitar support a soaring top line in this reflective track that wonders what might have been. Stirred by nostalgia, singer Chris Medhurst reminisces about a bond broken by time, offering a listen that will surely inspire a trip down memory lane.
All That We Have Resonant acoustic guitar pairs with an honest vocal performance by Chris Medhurst for a reflective, poignant track. Lyrically centered around acceptance and finding peace through life’s troubles and existential anxieties, “All That We Have” is a tender affirmation of support. ALBUM PRODUCTION CREDITS The Band
Chris Medhurst – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar Ross Hayes Citrullo – Lead Guitar Ben Spiller – Bass, Vocals, Piano (Who Are You, Gone Without Warning) Adam Cannon – Drums, Percussion, Vocals Miles Evans-Branagh – Organ, Rhodes, Piano (See You Again, Restless, Too Soon To Know You) Chantal Williams, Nicki Lawrence, Sandra Bouza – Backing Vocals
The Team
All songs written by The Commoners except where noted. Tracks 1, 4, 8 and 9 co-written by The Commoners and Renan Yildizdogan Tracks 2 and 3 co-written by The Commoners, Jeff Desilets, and Renan Yildizdogan Produced and mixed by Ross Hayes Citrullo and Renan Yildizdogan Recorded at RHC Music, Toronto, Ontario
Engineers – Ross Hayes Citrullo, Ben Spiller, Adam Cannon, Renan Yildizdogan Assistant Engineers – Adil Batty, Ben Byck, Jon Savard, Dylan Davis, Emily Goguen Mastered by Pete Lyman at Infrasonic Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee
“The Ancient Gods” is the latest single from Swedish melodic black/death metallers KVAEN. The spellbinding new hymn comes off the band’s impending new full-length, The Formless Fires, set for release on June 21st on Metal Blade Records.
KVAEN is led by creative mastermind Jacob Björnfot. A sumptuous but bitingly intense exploration of beauty and violence, KVAEN‘s The Formless Fires is a true masterwork radiating an inspirational sense of place. “Björnfot skillfully balances out anger and darkness with those deathly melancholic melodic loops that characterize the genre mix…,” writes Sweden Rock in an early review of the record. “KVAEN’s best record so far.”
Even more than 2020’s folky, speed metal-infused debut The Funeral Pyre or 2022’s compelling, expansive follow-up, The Great Below, the vast pine woods and icy lakes of Björnfot hometown of Kalixare powerfully evoked in the elemental gloom riffs, chilly melodies, and windswept solos running through these eight mighty songs. “Our surroundings — bizarre weather conditions, northern lights etc. — help shape the way we see and hear things. It affects us more than we think,” Björnfot ponders, contemplating the effect of his environment on KVAEN‘s exquisitely tuneful but richly atmospheric black metal. “I think it’s way better to be raised here than in Stockholm for example. I never liked big cities, except for weekend visits. I don’t like the big city attitude; here we are all calm and down to earth. I am in my thirties and most people have either left or returned. I am not planning on going anywhere soon. I still go to my cabin in the woods of Torne Valley and write a lot of music, especially during the Winter, which can feel very long and sometimes harsh.“
Assisting in this record’s immersive sweep are Björnfot’s fascinating lyrics. Like many Swedish songwriters, his use of English reveals a love and care for the language that few native speakers even bother to rival. If this album seems less intimate and more universal than the raw candor of its predecessor, it’s only because Björnfot’s knack for allegory has improved. Illuminating some of the lyrical themes, Björnfot asserts “I love mythology. ‘Basilisk’ is, for example, the king of serpents but is rarely mentioned by the mainstream. ‘The Perpetual Darkness’ is about being born different from those who are ‘normal.’ It is also about being a lone wolf and banished from society. That song has become a personal favorite of mine.” Additionally, ‘De Dödas Sång (Song Of The Dead)’ tackles the disturbing theme of Ättestupa, the ancient Norse suicide ritual whereby elderly villagers jump to their deaths from sheer precipices.
Comments Björnfot on latest single, “The Ancient Gods,” “This song was written right after The Great Below was released. I have always wanted to write a song with super-heavy/tight guitar riffing that’s just easy to listen to while letting the vocals do most of the work. I also unleashed a bit of my inner David Gilmour on the outro.”
Watch KVAEN‘s previously released video for “The Formless Fires” HERE.
All instrumentation on The Formless Fires was composed and performed by Björnfot with the exception of drums which were resoundingly hammered by ex-Amon Amarth basher Fredrik Andersson. The record features the guest solos of Sebastian Ramstedt (Necrophobic) on “Traverse The Nether” and Chaq Mol (Dark Funeral) on “The Wings Of Death.”
KVAEN Live: 6/21/2024 Helvete – Oberhausen, DE 6/22/2024 Boarstream Open Air 2024 – Buchenbach, DE 6/23/2024 Nachtleben – Frankfurt, DE 8/30-31/2024 Bulasal Metal Fest – Västeräs, SE 5/03/2025 Karmøygeddon Fest – Kopervik, NO
KVAEN: Jacob Björnfot – everything
KVAEN Live Lineup: Jacob Björnfot – vocals/guitars Kristian Gustavsson – guitars Rasmus Rova – guitars Per Lindström – bass Fredrik Andersson – drums
InsideOutMusic is proud to announce the signing of Italian instrumental, prog-metal fusionists AsymmetricUniverse to a new worldwide deal. The band, formed by brothers Federico Vese & Nicolò Vese, are also pleased to launch a brand new track titled ‘Don’t Go Too Early’.
The band are currently confirmed to support Plini & Haken in Milan, Italy on the 5th July, as well as playing Arctangent Festival in the UK on the 16th August alongside Meshuggah, Animals As Leaders & many more.
Germany’s fury funk force, SLOPE, is back with good news only: An energetic new music video “Natural Born Quitter“, an interview with German pro skater and olympic sk8boarding coach Jürgen Horrwarth and an exciting support tour with BODY COUNT feat. Ice-Tahead.
The new music video for “Natural Born Quitter” – or short “NBQ” – is a mélange of on-stage recordings and showcases Slope’s raw energy and live presence.
Fabio from Slope adds: “The official video for NBQ is out now via Century Media. Stick tight to your passions and don’t let anyone tell you what you can achieve in life or not.“
“Natural Born Quitter” is a track from Slope’s latest album, “Freak Dreams,” which dropped in February 2024 to critical acclaim. The album has quickly become a favorite among fans and critics alike. “Freak Dreams” represents a bold step forward for Slope, blending elements of hardcore, punk, and metal to create their unique and powerful funk-rock sound.
Earlier this year, Slope met up with Jürgen Horrwarth, German pro skater and olympic sk8boarding coach at Skatehalle Berlin. They talked about the synergies and development of skateboarding and music, their influence on today’s youth and lifestyle, the comeback of the 90’s. Watch the interview here.
In addition, SLOPE is thrilled to join legendary BODY COUNT feat. Ice-T as support on the “Merciless” tour: “Yo homies we are supporting the almighty Body Count on their MERCILESS TOUR through Europe & UK! Couldn’t be more hyped!“
This tour promises to bring Slope’s intense live performances to a broader audience, offering fans the chance to experience their electrifying stage presence firsthand. The tour starts June 5th. Get your tickets here.
From left to right: Lambros Kokkinos (Productmanager), Jochen Richert (Managing director), Akis Kosmidis (Consultant), Markus Wosgien (Labelmanager). Fotocredit: Vanessa Christodoulou
June 5th, 2024, Hamberg, Los Angeles, Thessaloniki – RPM (Reigning Phoenix Music) proudly announces the integration of ROAR! (Rock of Angels Records) into the fold. The strategic move sees the unification of ROAR! Rock of Angels Records with the RPM family. The association will result in a very impressive global expansion of the RPM band roster, consisting of many genre-defining acts.
ROAR! was founded in 2013 by Akis Kosmidis, based in Thessaloniki, Greece, and celebrated its greatest successes with scene greats such as GRAVE DIGGER and MYSTIC PROPHECY, both of whom were helped to achieve their highest chart success in Germany to date. Other high-caliber names such as SCANNER, MAD MAX, ASHES OF ARES and STEEL PROPHET were added to the extensive label roster and newcomers such as ENEMY INSIDE from Aschaffenburg (Germany) or Greek acts such as STRAY GODS,DIVINER and FORTRESS UNDER SIEGE proved to have a good feel for new talent.
RPM Managing Director Jochen Richert is delighted with the new addition and states: “Akis and I have been working closely together for many years and have great trust in each other. That’s why it made sense to continue on this path together in the future. It fills me with pride that ROAR! Records is becoming part of the RPM family and that I can drive the integration forward. Together we will achieve great things.”
The basis for the union of the two companies is the mutual vision and love of heavy metal in all its facets and different genres. With combined strength and talent, they aim to redefine the landscape of the metal music industry, fueled by a shared ethos of creativity and a relentless pursuit of musical greatness and success.
Akis Kosmidis confidently looks to the future and comments: “Under the motto “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, we are very happy to become part of RPM’s dynamic growth and impressive success story. The integration opens up many opportunities to offer even more quality services to our bands.”
Under the future banner of RPM ROAR, the high-caliber ROAR! roster will unite with the already integrated artist roster of Fireflash Records (including TAILGUNNER, HOLY MOSES and more). The first additions to the RPM ROAR roster are Californian heavy metal high-flyers SABER, Florida-based true metal newcomers MIDNIGHT VICE and Greek prog power metallers INNERWISH. Further additions will be announced in the coming weeks.
Combining their joint commitment to strengthening their artist presences with in-depth industry knowledge, this partnership promises to be a powerhouse in the music industry. Managing Director of RPM ROAR will be Jochen Richert, with Lambros Kokkinos and Markus Wosgien sharing day-to-day operations and Akis Kosmidis in an advisory capacity. The combined talent, resources and passion of both labels guarantee a lucrative home for metal artists of all stripes.
Reigning Phoenix Music, as the parent label, will continue to focus on providing a unique service to international acts such as HELLOWEEN, OPETH, KERRY KING,AMORPHIS, MESHUGGAH, U.D.O. and numerous other top acts.
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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