ILLEGAL MIND, the virtual band spearheaded by Maxx Dee, release a powerful version of the iconic Russian punk rock song “Лесник” by Король и Шут (King and the Clown). The track is available on all major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube.
Maxx Dee, known for creating post-apocalyptic themed music that captures listeners with a unique blend of alternative metal and punk, injects a hardcore edge into this beloved track, adding a new punchy vibe that reimagines the classic with a fresh intensity. “I’ve always loved Король и Шут and their blend of punk rock and folk. Covering ‘Лесник’ is both a tribute and a personal milestone,” says Dee.
Recorded in his home studio and self-produced with feedback from close friends, this cover promises to resonate with fans of both the original and Illegal Mind’s evolving sound. The release will be preceded by an exciting music video, showcasing the band’s creative energy and vision.
Formed in 2018, Illegal Mind has consistently pushed the boundaries of their sound, with notable releases like the EP “Forbidden Content” and the album “From The Ashes.” With features in international magazines such as Hard Rock Italy and UK’s Power Play Magazine, Illegal Mind continues to captivate audiences with their unique blend of dystopian themes and powerful music.
Southern California’s DAYSEEKER — Rory Rodriguez [vocals], Gino Sgambelluri [guitar], Ramone Valerio [bass], and Zac Mayfield [drums] — just wrapped an incredibly successful, sold-out headline tour of the U.S. last week, which included appearances at several festivals.
Dayseeker will return to the road for a new headline trek this fall and it’s big deal for both the band and fans. They will play the biggest venues of their career so far, while also hitting cities they’ve not performed in recently!
The “DAYSEEKER: DARK SUN PROTOCOL” tour will kick off September 27 in Dallas and run through November 2 in Los Angeles.
Alpha Wolf, Catch Your Breath, and Kingdom of Giants will also appear.
“We’re really excited for ‘Dark Sun Protocol,’ considering it’s been years since we’ve headlined some of these cities,” says Rodriguez. “This will be our biggest and best live show to see so far — guaranteed.”
DAYSEEKER ON TOUR: w/ ALPHA WOLF, CATCH YOUR BREATH, + KINGDOM OF GIANTS:
9/27 — Dallas, TX — Studio @ The Factory 9/28 — San Antonio, TX — Vibes Event Center 9/29 — Houston, TX — House of Blues 10/1 — St. Petersburg, FL — Jannus Live 10/2 — Atlanta, GA — The Eastern 10/4 — Nashville, TN — Marathon Music Works 10/5 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz 10/6 — Baltimore, MD — Rams Head Live 10/8 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE 10/9 — Cleveland, OH — Agora Theater 10/11 — Boston, MA — Roadrunner 10/12 — Philadelphia, PA — Franklin Music Hall 10/13 — Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Steel 10/15 — Chicago, IL — Salt Shed 10/16 — Royal Oak, MI — Royal Oak Music Theatre 10/17 — Toronto, ON — Rebel 10/18 — Newport, KY — MegaCorp Pavillion 10/20 — Minneapolis, MN — Skyway Theater 10/22 — Denver, CO — Mission Ballroom 10/23 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex 10/25 — Seattle, WA — Showbox Sodo 10/26 — Boise, ID — Knitting Factory 10/27 — Portland, OR — Crystal Ballroom 10/29 — Sacramento, CA — Ace of Spades 10/30 — San Francisco, CA — Warfield 11/1 — Tempe, AZ — The Marquee 11/2 — Los Angeles, CA — Novo
In other Dayseeker news, the band’s acoustic album Replica arrives physically on June 14. Pre-order it here.
The stripped down, intimate renditions of familiar fan favorites highlight the band’s songcraft and allow the listener to experience Dayseeker in an entirely new way. The collection also includes appearances from Holding Absence’s Lucas Woodland and indie artist Amber DeLaRosa.
Replica is the somewhat unexpected (yet welcomed) result of a specific gig in 2022, when the band’s gear overheated at Blue Ridge Rock Festival. Thinking on his feet, Rodriguez grabbed an acoustic guitar from the van, plugged in, and performed “Without Me.” Soon, he had pulled together a five-song set on the fly as thousands of fans flocked to the stage.
“I felt like we let people down, but I had so many friends say, ‘Everyone will remember the day your equipment stopped working and you still played the set as a really special moment’,'” he recalls. “It felt natural for our songs. We usually will do extra tracks for a Deluxe version or re-release, but we decided to commit to an entire acoustic album this time.”
Swedish synth wizards PRIEST (ex-Ghost) are finally back with their brand new album “Dark Pulse” out today via Blue Nine. Order it now: https://linktr.ee/priestband
To celebrate the event the band unveils the official video for the song ‘Demon’s Call’ – a dark synthpop anthem which explores the more obscure corners of the human soul. With haunting melodies and provocative lyrics, it delves into intoxicating forbidden desires. Prepare to be ensnared by the call of your inner demons!
The video was directed by Claudio Marino (Artax Film), well known for his works with Behemoth, Katatonia, Watain, Marduk, Shining and many more.
PRIEST’s fourth album “Dark Pulse” was produced by Simon Söderberg (ex-Ghost) who helped the band to craft a dark synth pop opus with rave elements and heavy industrial notes.
Heavily inspired by cyberpunk and goth culture, it dives into the dark and seductive night life that can be found specifically in Berlin. “Dark Pulse” explores themes like alcohol addiction, surviving narcissism, forbidden love etc. connected to a past flamboyant lifestyle that just won’t let go. With a signature blend of eerie synthesizers and pulsating hardware, PRIEST delves deeper into the shadows of dystopia and human-machine symbiosis. Get ready for an electronic dance record with poisoned roots, catapulting you into feverish insanity and back!
PRIEST is a synth band that creates music rooted in the vastness of electronic dreams. The goal of their multifaceted prophecy is to safely guide humanity unto the next evolutionary step – the merging with machines.
The occult techno-pop act from Sweden, containing ex-members from Ghost, will throw you into the neon lights of 80 ́s sci-fi mixed with gothic soundscapes. With several praised global tours and critically acclaimed releases like “New Flesh” and “Body Machine” they have successfully generated an ever-growing fanbase worldwide.
Priest has toured with bands like Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps, Combichrist, Deathstarsand Front Line Assembly among others. Priest is also featured on Cleopatra Records tribute albums for Rammstein, Depeche Mode and The Cure and has remixed tracks for Pure Obsessions & Red Nights, Aux Animaux and Sjöblom.
Almost a year after its release, the fourth studio album by Swedish symphonic dark metal sensation ELEINE, “We Shall Remain,” is still on everyone’s lips, being filled with songs to die for!
Today, the indefatigable five-piece unveil the official video for the track ‘Suffering’ which incorporates huge melodies, crushing riffs, an insane vocal range and orchestral grandeur. The digital version of the single comes with a previously unheard instrumental version as second track.
Vocalist Madeleine Liljestam and guitarist/vocalist Rikard Ekberg explain the profound meaning of the song, “Life is never easy and sometimes it forces you to push forward even when you see no reason to. Your own mind is beating you down and tearing you apart, repeating the past that leaves you in an endless loop of hopelessness and pain. But… you don’t give up. You start facing your fears which leaves you torn between staying in a place you know but is destroying you or go towards something unexplored that may or may not give you strength. Eventually you reach a point where you see your old self from the other side. That’s when you know you survived.“
Order “We Shall Remain” in the physical format of your choice (CD-digipak, coloured vinyl), stream it or get it digitally now, here: https://eleine.afr.link/weshallremainPR
Don’t forget to subscribe to Reigning Phoenix Music on YouTube to stay updated & to listen to ‘Suffering [Instrumental Version]’ as well as other new tracks in the “RPM New Releases” playlist on Spotify: https://rpm.link/spotifynewreleasesPR
As they’re getting ready for a handful of summer festivals, ELEINE have already announced their 2024 “We Shall Remain” tour through Europe and the UK for October!
27.06.2024 SK Snina – Rock Pod Kameňom 14.07.2024 CZ Vizovice – Masters of Rock 03.08.2024 SE Umeå – Northern Rockfest *NEW* 09.08.2024 SE Stockholm – Gröna Lund *NEW* 07.09.2024 US Atlanta, GA – ProgPower USA
“We Shall Remain”Tour 2024 03.10.2024 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 05.10.2024 DE Hamburg – headCRASH 06.10.2024 DE Munich – Backstage (Halle) 07.10.2024 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 08.10.2024 DE Bochum – Matrix 10.10.2024 UK Birmingham – The Asylum 11.10.2024 UK Glasgow – Ivory Blacks 12.10.2024 UK London – The Dome 13.10.2024 UK Manchester – Rebellion 15.10.2024 BE Kortrijk – DVG Club 16.10.2024 NL Enschede – Metropool 17.10.2024 NL Drachten – Iduna 18.10.2024 CH Münchenstein – Rockfact 19.10.2024 CH Rorschach – Treppenhaus 20.10.2024 CH Monthey – Pont Rouge
The band has also released a music video to album track “My Testament”, watch it on YouTube.
About ‘Return to the Halls’
‘Return to the Halls’ represents a bold leap for modern death metal, blending its signature intensity with diverse musical influences in all the right ways.
‘Return to the Halls’ is a testament to Post Pulse’s evolutionary journey. It marries aggression and beauty in a way that challenges and captivates listeners.
“Antti [Karhu] ‘s vision for this record was so inspiring that we decided to break away from seven years of releasing singles and EPs to ensure it would come to life. The music on Return to the Halls is different from anything you may have heard from Post Pulse over the years. Hell, one listen through the new single Taste of Freedom will show you that we’ve got much more to offer the world.” -Sam Roon, Bass & Synths
Inside ‘Return to the Halls’
At the heart of this album lies “Taste of Freedom,” a song that epitomizes the band’s push towards a more expansive sound.
“Even the writing process for this album was unorthodox. The main ideas were written on guitar, and later arranged for various instruments, parts and sounds. The focus isn’t on individual parts, allowing the songs to present the energy and emphasis. We had a clear vision of what we wanted the songs on this album to be. For example, we wanted a two and a half minute song, so we wrote it.” -Antti Karhu, Guitar & Programming
The album’s creation was a shared journey of exploration, drawing from the band’s eclectic tastes to forge something unprecedented.
From the sheer power of death metal to the nuanced touches of EDM and ambient jazz, ‘Return to the Halls’ celebrates musical curiosity and innovation.
This collaborative effort highlights the limitless possibilities of music when approached with openness and creativity.
Cultural Impact of ‘Return to the Halls’
With ‘Return to the Halls,’ Post Pulse ignites a dialogue on the role of music within our culture. It asserts that music transcends mere sound to become a collective experience that brings people together in a time when we are so easily divided.
“This world is a relentless, overflowing cesspool of political and religious vomit that successfully divides and pits us against one another. Post Pulse aims to counter that by standing side-by-side with those who understand that there’s more to life than what divisive influencers sell us. We have music. Post Pulse doesn’t care if you love country music, rap, black metal or iskelmä. Your love of music is why we welcome you with open arms.” -Sam Roon
The album embodies the band’s ethos of defiance and unity, championing music as a force for communal values and personal liberation.
‘Return to the Halls’ serves as a call to action for listeners to embrace curiosity and tell their own stories without fear of judgment.
Track list:
Intro
Disfigured Beyond Recognition
My Testament
Flood Gate
My Hate Runs Blood Red
Taste of Freedom
The Ultimate Question
N.Y.C.
Return to the Halls
About Post Pulse
Post Pulse is a Helsinki-based metal band motivated by a deep-rooted connection to the culture and unifying force of music.
After more than seven years of releasing singles and EPs, May 31, 2024, marks the release of Post Pulse’s second full-length album, ‘Return to the Halls’; a Death Metal album inspired by atypical genres like Pop, EDM, and Ambient Jazz.
Post Pulse (Est. 2015) consists of its four founding members: Antti Karhu – Guitars, backing vocals, programming, and primary songwriter (Shining [Nor], Diablerie, ex-The Man-Eating Tree) Sam Roon – Bass, synths (ex-HUNG [USA], ex-Indestructible Noise Command [USA]) Tapani Rantanen – Lead vocals (Sigyn, ex-Code Unknown) Anttoni Välimaa – Drums (Abstrakt, ex-Stygian Creations)
BLACKMORE’S NIGHT return to the stage this summer for five shows in the United States, spanning four different states in June and July 2024. These evenings will be filled with magical Renaissance Folk-Rock, featuring the great guitar sounds of Ritchie Blackmore and the captivating voice of Candice Night. Their sold-out concerts worldwide attract thousands of fans dressed in Renaissance garb, dancing and singing as if time stood still. No clock, no pressure—just the gaiety and camaraderie of a medieval pub.
Details about the organizations for each concert, as well as ticket pre-sales HERE
2024 also marks the 25th anniversary of their wonderful album ‘Fires at Midnight’ which will be released as a remixed 25th-anniversary edition. Additionally, Candice Night has been working on very personal and intense solo music, which will be pure joy for anybody who loves Blackmore’s Night.
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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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 