Prepare to be blown away by the latest release from Despite the Wane, the enigmatic rock duo composed of Mir Kollins and Max Dury. “Beyond that Wall” is a powerful new music video showcasing the duo’s unique blend of rock, electronic, and British New Wave influences, from their newest album “Beyond That Wall” out via Epictronic.
You can stream the album on all digital platforms HERE and purchase the CD via Goodfellas and Amazon.
Melancholic Finnish metallers Decrowned will unveil their first full-length “Persona Non Grata” this coming February 2024 from Rockshots Records. Just before the new year, they revealed their first single “Mouth Leaks Black” and today they’re ready to share their second audio preview to the album with “Stonewing“. Vocalist and bassist Miikka Hulmi explains:
“I was always very keen on the first riff and the whole song came up very fast around it. The song starts heavily and the chorus is very melodic. The track tells a story about a fallen angel who walks on this Earth. The world’s sorrow turns her to stone. Even though the story is dark, it has positive and uplifting features.”
“Persona Non Grata” follows Decrowned‘s two EPs “Hansel’s Nightmare” (2019) and debut “Weight of The Dark Sky” (2018), which garnered the “Newcomer of the Month” award from Finnish metal magazine Inferno.
Since their inception in 2017, Decrowned has been constantly evolving, progressing musically and its production both live and studio, especially with the aid of Tero “TeeCee” Kinnunen who has done a remarkable job of mixing the record. On “Persona Non Grata” fans will find a great number of variations, each song has its own identity but the themes of each are very relevant to one another.
“We hope the listeners will find their own personal ways to relate to the songs and also find the album interesting enough to keep finding new things and themes in it.” adds the band.
Every member brought something to the table for the album, but guitarists Jaakko Kauppinen (guitars) and Simo Puustinen composed most of the songs. Musically, the band takes a turn into heavier waters from its predecessors, still keeping in mind the essence of Decrowned. Lyrically “Persona Non Grata” is a very dark album, reflecting things that pass through the generations, consuming us from inside. It is a description of a haunted future and the past that took wrong turns on personal and universal levels. This undefined black matter that flows ignoring time and reason is the unwanted entity… Persona non grata.
Recommended for fans of Amorphis, Insomnium, In Flames, and Katatonia, “Persona Non Grata” is due out on February 23, 2024, from Rockshots Records and is available for pre-order at https://bit.ly/DecrownedCD
Track Listing: 1. Folklore pt.1 (intro) – 0:48 2. Mouth Leaks Black – 4:20 3. Rainworld – 4:16 4. Stonewing – 3:56 5. Mindparasite – 4:44 6. Scarred – 5:02 7. Awaken – 3:30 8. Faceless – 3:50 9. The Bird and The Tree – 4:51 10. The Vigorian Man – 4:09 11. Persona Non Grata – 4:52 12. Folklore pt.2 (outro) – 0;42 Album Length: 45:05
PERSONA NON GRATA was: Produced by Decrowned with help of Tero Kinnunen Recorded at Crown Crusher studio/Joensuu Kantele recordings at Guru studio/Joensuu Engineered by Antti Venäläinen Mixed by Tero “TeeCee” Kinnunen Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Artwork and layout by Jukka Turunen (www.jukkaturunen.com) Band photography by Harri Säynevirta (www.saynevirta.fi) Keyboards and synths by Jukka Turunen Kantele by Sari Puustinen and Saila Kinnunen Guitar solo on “Mindparasite” by Euge Valovirta Finnish vocals on “Mindparasite” by Tuomo Huurre
Decrowned is: Miikka Hulmi, Vocals and bass Antti Venäläinen, Drums Jaakko Kauppinen, Guitar Simo Puustinen, Guitar
Following the release of Resilience – Full Circle, the latest CD edition featuring nine exclusive acoustic versions and eleven powerful tracks by rock trio LOST ZONE, today, the band has announced new details about their forthcoming studio album entitled “Ordinary Misery”! The band’s sophomore offering is scheduled for a release on April 5, 2024 via Drakkar Entertainment, the album pre-sale has just started at: https://lostzone.bfan.link/ordinary-misery
With “Fighting Demons”, LOST ZONE presented a first track taken off their upcoming album by the end of last year, a new single, “Can’t keep running” featuring South Tyrolean producer Dystropia, is now premiering below! Heavy guitar riffage meets hardstyle kicks, catchy vocals and memorable synth melodies, their new single emphazises the band’s modern and electronic vibes. About the track, LOST ZONE singer and guitarist Florian reveals““Can’t keep running” is for all of those who want to go their own way. It serves as a motivation to pursue our goals and not to lose sight of them. We should face our fears and problems and thus, get them out of the way.”
Ever since LOST ZONE debuted with their first EP, followed by Resilience in March 2022, the band quickly took the rock scene by storm band with a musical blend that has never been an easy task as they include influences from rock, core but also pop elements into their sound. Balancing between brutal, mean riffs and heavy beats, heartfelt ballads, a cover of Linkin Park’s In The End (with more than a half milion views to date), between alternative rock, metal core to almost covering the musical spectrum in its entirety, subtle similarities to Bring Me The Horizon, 30 Seconds To Mars and Linkin Park could be noticed. As Florian once said: „It’s impossible to fully hide our influences, but we do our very own thing.“ This is underlined by the fact that the Italian three-piece entirely writes, records and produces their music themselves and in their own studio, the Lost Zone Productions, that they built in 2017. Their upcoming, sophomore studio offering “Ordinary Misery” will make no exception, while even doubling-down all expectations!
The Commoners are on track for another banner year with the release of their highly anticipated third album, Restless. Released by Gypsy Soul Records on Friday 21 June 2024, the highly anticipated new album features ten tracks that grip your senses and make you groove. The album’s available to pre-order in various formats at www.thecommoners.ca/store.
Following their critically acclaimed 2022 sophomore album Find A Better Way, the Canadian Roots-Rock quintet continue their dedicated musical journey to provide listeners with a hearty dose of Southern-style swagger accentuated with slide guitar, organ swell, and heartfelt vocals.
“The Way I Am,” the second single taken from the new album, will be released digitally on Friday 26th January 2024. The song is available on all streaming platforms HERE, with the music video now streaming on YouTube HERE.
Kicking through the speaker with high energy and grit, “The Way I Am” bears an unapologetically wild spirit, effectively setting a tone that matches the album’s edgy theme. Chris Medhurst’s lead vocals plead and pry over Ben Spiller’s pulsing bass and AdamCannon’s rhythmic percussion, steering the verses into a true rock n’ roll chorus supported by rich harmonies and wailing riffs.
Combined with Ross Hayes Citrullo’s infectious guitar riffs, the new single delivers a second helping of anthemic, guitar-driven rock. It’s the perfect follow-up to the previous single, “Devil Teasin’ Me” which proved immensely popular on British classic rock radio including a 10-week run and over 90 spins on Planet Rock.
At just over three and a half minutes long, “The Way I Am” rocks from top to bottom, fuelled by a band whose performances. As Devils Gate Music says, “it’s a riotous celebration of life.”
A natural evolution from their 2022 album Find A Better Way, 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 revitalizing 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.”
With 2023 rounding out a busy year of recording and touring the UK, in support of none other than Grammy-nominated duo Samantha Fish and Jesse Dayton, The Commoners are an act to keep tabs on. The release of Restless will see the quintet greeting the road once more in 2024, with two UK festivals (Steelhouse and Maid of Stone) already slated for July, and more dates to be announced in the coming weeks. From the speakers to the stage, one thing is certain: The Commoners are ushering in a party rock renaissance, and we’re all invited.
RESTLESS – TRACK LISTING
1. Devil Teasin’ Me (4.25) 2. Shake You Off (4.00) 3. The Way I Am (3.42) 4. Restless (5.17) 5. Gone Without Warning (7.07) 6. Who Are You (Ain’t Knocked Down) (4.15) 7. Body And Soul (5.34) 8. See You Again (4.42) 9. Too Soon To Know You (5.11) 10. All That We Have (3.20)
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 Produced by Ross Hayes Citrullo and The Commoners Executive Producer – Renan Yildizdogan Recorded at RHC Music, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Album mixed by Ross Hayes Citrullo and Renan Yildizdogan (RYCH) 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
Album Photography by Lindsay White Album Design by Emily Goguen www.thecommoners.ca | @thecommonersto
SHOTGUN MISTRESS have released their video for new single ‘Jude Judas‘, out now, hits #1 in the iTunes rock charts Australia!
Jude Judas: This track erupts into being with a vocal performance that soars to stratospheric heights. What ensues is a pulsating rhythm, pounding with relentless energy, setting the stage for a chorus replete with an eclectic spread of melodic treasures. The combined effect promises to make this song an irresistible addition to any live performance. As the track progresses, a succinct yet powerful solo bursts forth, a thrilling prelude to the concluding choruses. These are masterfully underscored by the band’s escalating hyperdrive, adding a deeper layer of complexity and dynamism to the track.
Since 2020, Shotgun Mistress been trailblazing through the Australian rock landscape, carving out a niche with an electrifying mix of spirited hard rock, musical prowess, and explosive live shows. The first track off the band’s highly anticipated sophomore album Kings Of The Revolution, ‘Jude Judas’, features an eruptive blend of kick arse energy and melodic heat and heart, all doused in the band’s sizzling guitar driven focus.
The new titans of Australian rock, exploded into the music universe in 2020, fuelled by the sonic brilliance of guitar maestro Matt Wilcock, the crack rhythm section Dave Lee and Ben Curnow and the enigmatic allure of frontman Glenn Patrick. Shotgun’s debut roared onto the charts, with No Friend Of Mine soaring to #13 on the Independent Air Singles Charts, setting a high bar for the hits to follow. Save Me From Myself dominated at #1 on the iTunes Rock Charts and #12 on Spotify’s esteemed Hard Rock Playlist, demonstrating the group’s wide[1]ranging appeal. Glorious Machine, Collide, and Bleed Me Out continued to set the charts ablaze, validating Shotgun Mistress’s reputation as a rock powerhouse.
Riding high from sold-out shows with Electric Mary and Palace Of The King, Shotgun Mistress is gearing up for an epic 2024. Their much-anticipated album, Kings Of Revolution, is set to drop in June. The band has a packed year ahead with national and international tours. February will see them touring nationwide, sharing the stage with rock icons like Slaughter, Lynch Mob, H.E.A.T, and others at Glamfest.
‘Rain‘ was the third and last single from CORRODED‘s new album Plague that was released Nov 17th, 2023. The single now get a remix signed dark drum n’ bass producer Zardonic and his friend Andy Malex. CORRODED are no strangers to working with Zardonic, who worked with the band remixing material from their album Defcon Zero back in 2020. The singer/guitarist Jens Westin comment the new single like this: – “Rain is like beauty and the beast. On one hand you have these simple yet beautiful vocal parts that almost rock you to sleep like a lullaby, and on the other hand you have a hellhound that will chase you to death. In short it is a song by CORRODED.”
Who is Zardonic? The clash of disparate elements activates innovation, and every generation brings us timeless figures who accidentally spark a new revolutionary sound within the music world. Chuck Berry mixed jazz, blues, gospel and country music to create Rock N Roll. A few decades later, Ozzy Osbourne turned up the gain to create Heavy Metal. And since the early 2000s, Federico Ágreda Álvarez, the masked performer known to the world as DJ and producer Zardonic, has harnessed the power of the nexus between Drum & Bass and Heavy Metal to create the sound that is now known as Metal & Bass.
Born and raised in Venezuela, inspired by America, and based in Germany with a passport book stamped into oblivion, he also represents a union of cultures. Following a prolific string of releases, remixes for Pop Evil, Fear Factory, Bullet For My Valentine and Sonic Syndicate, video game soundtracks for Superhot: Mind Control Delete and Redout 2, plus features on All Elite Wrestling, TNT and NBC Sports, packed shows on multiple continents, and 100 million-plus streams, he realized the power and potential of his vision like never before on his 2023 full-length offering Superstars [MNRK HEAVY].
“I’m blessed enough to be able to do what I love the most, and that is Music. Music is my own form of self-healing. It allows me to float above the darkness. Maybe, it will do the same for you.”
CORRODED is a heavy metal band from Ånge, Sweden. The break came in 2009 with the song Time And Again and debut album ‘Eleven Shades of Black’. Since then they’ve released four more albums, toured relentlessly (including several European tours, both on their own and as support for bands like Airbourne), had the théme song for the Swedish TV show Survivor (Expedition Robinson in Sweden) and music in the globally popular video game Battlefield. Their latest (5th) album ‘Bitter‘ was released in 2019, was followed by a European tour and ended the year with a slight change in line-up (long time member Tomas Andersson left the band). As for most bands, the pandemic hit hard, but the band dug themselves into a black hole and recorded their sixth album – ‘Plague’. They comment:
”-We’ve got 5 ”children”…each and everyone as much important as the other ones…but this one is our lovechild, our very special ”late bloomer” or ”trailing child”, born out of the anxiety and boredom of the plague…and, except from mastering, all done by ourselves…welcome to the dark soul of CORRODED..enjoy the ride..”
CORRODED‘s new remixed single Rain (Zardonic & Andy Malex Remix) is released January 26th on Despotz Records, their new album Plague is out now!
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 ) 