Sweden’s masters of melodic, doomish death metal, OCTOBER TIDE, will release their seventh studio album, “The Cancer Pledge”, on October 6th via Agonia Records. The album will arrive four years after its predecessor, “In Splendor Below”, and will coincide with a headlining tour of Europe.
Recent output has seen OCTOBER TIDE tone down on the doom particle, and throw the listener in a colder embrace of a melodic death metal rainstorm. This trend remains consistent on “The Cancer Pledge”, and overlaps with the direction spearheaded by guitarist Fredrik Norrman (ex-Katatonia, ex-Trees Of Eternity, Thenighttimeproject), keen on rejuvenating OCTOBER TIDE with a touch of the past. “It’s a direct continuation of the previous album,” states Norrman. “Less doom and more death metal, yet melodic and with more layers. I’ve searched for inspiration in records I listened to in the 80’s and 90’s when I grew up. But it still sounds like October Tide.”
The sound of OCTOBER TIDE, aside from being doom intertwined melodeath, is fronted by emotionally compelling guitarwork, known to subside into melancholic and introspective tones. Even though the band has shapeshifted over the years – starting off as a duo of Katatonia fame musicians, FredrikNorrman and Jonas Renske, back in 1994 – it has retained and evolved its trademark formula. The present-day line-up, intact since 2016, features said guitarist & founder Fredrik Norrman, second guitarist & Fredrik‘s brother Mattias Norrman (ex-Katatonia), vocalist Alexander Högbom (ex-Demonical), bassist Johan Jönsegård (Letters From The Colony) and drummer Jonas Sköld (Letters From The Colony / Thenighttimeproject).
“The Cancer Pledge” was recorded and produced in 2023 by OCTOBER TIDE and Karl Daniel Lidén (Bloodbath, Katatonia). The latter mixed and master the album, whose cover artwork was designed by Albin Högbom.
Tracklisting: 1. Peaceful, Quiet, Safe 2. Tapestry of our End 3. Unprecedented Aggression 4. Blodfattig 5. The Cancer Pledge 6. I know why I´m cold 7. Season of Arson 8. Breathe the Water
OCTOBER TIDE will hit the road on the day of album release, commencing the first part of the album-promoting tour in Germany, through Belgium, France, Czech Republic and Poland.
Tour dates: OCTOBER TIDE – “Cancer Pledge Europa tour – part I” 06.10 DE Berlin – ORWO Haus 07.10 DE Bitterfeld – Festung 08.10 BE Antwerp – Kavka 09.10 FR Paris – Le Klub 10.10 DE Essen – Don’t Panic 11.10 DE Hamburg – Logo 12.10 DE Osnabrück – Bastard Club 13.10 CZ Suchdol nad Lužnicí – House of Culture 14.10 PL Jarocin – Black Waves Festival
Line-up: Alexander Högbom – vocals Fredrik Norrman – guitars Jonas Sköld – drums Johan Jönsegård – bass Mattias Norrman – guitars
Spread the word. OTEP has returned! Alt metal renegade and force to be reckoned with, OTEP, breaks her silence with a brand new single, “Ostracized,” which arrives on the heels of her brilliant cover of Billie Eilish’s “You Should See Me In A Crown.” “Ostracized” is the first original single from the upcoming album, The God Slayer. Lead singer and creative mastermind, Otep Shamaya, harnesses the power of her raw, unapologetic emotion and passion-filled poetry, which act as the driving forces behind “Ostracized.” This dynamic musical masterpiece was forged in the fire of unadulterated rage, with an edge sharpened by an ear-shattering blend of high screams, death growls, and guttural vocals, galvanized by gritty guitar, pounding drums, and a face-melting solo, courtesy of Vigil of War guitarist, Kiki Wong.
This standout single serves as a taste of things to come, with the remainder of The God Slayer featuring a diverse mix of original songs and transformative takes on chart-topping hits from a variety of influences, including pop, rap, and grunge. The God Slayer is a testament to OTEP’s versatility and innovative expression, with the ability to take on any genre and make it uniquely her own.
The God Slayer will be available worldwide on September 15th and features OTEP’s signature nu metal-hip hop stylizing of an eclectic array of fan favorites across a multitude of genres, in addition to several original songs, and a poignant requiem in the form of a hidden track, paying homage to her one of her biggest supporters.
Midwest melodeath band ASTRALBORNE has today shared a new lyric video for their track The Pillars of Creation. The Pillars of Creation is taken from ASTRALBORNE‘s sophomore album, Across the Aeons, recently released via Prosthetic Records.
Speaking on the video release, ASTRALBORNE comments: “The Pillars of Creation are, literally, massive tendrils of cosmic dust and gas that sit within the heart of the Milky Way’s Eagle Nebula. From its breathtaking colors to its towering shape that spans light-years across the galaxy, this track captures humanity’s fear of our insignificance in the face of an incomprehensibly vast universe.”
After their 2020 debut album, Eternity’s End, introduced ASTRALBORNE as accomplished purveyors of both compellingly intricate melodicism and dexterous brutality in equal measure, Across the Aeons’ creative process began immediately following their lauded first full-length release. Commencing writing in spring of 2020, the group soon found themselves expanding upon the more grandiose passages of their sonic foundations, with conscious efforts made to accommodate cellist and composer Kakophonix’s contributions.
Recorded by bassist and vocalist Paul Fuzinki in 2021 between Call of the Yeti Studio in Swanton, OH and North Shore Studios in Fife Lake, MI, Across the Aeons was then mixed by Unnus Latif at Black Moon Recordings, Columbus, OH and mastered by Orden Ogan’s Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann at Greenman Studios in Germany. The end result of production sees ASTRALBORNE’s knack for lofty fretwork and rhythmic pummel shine among sanguine acoustic arrangements and beguiling orchestration.
The 12 tracks on offer chart a journey of acceptance in the face of humankind’s impermanence within a cosmic void, be it Fuzinski’s bellowing promise of hell itself, “chaos, death and fire” on lead single War Vessel or interdimensional overlap on Gemini’s celestial death metal pomp. Elsewhere ASTRALBORNE team up with labelmates Steve Redmond (Foretoken, The Day of the Beast) and Yegor Savovin (Fires in the Distance) on December Flower and the resplendent mid-album instrumental Promethean Fire respectively.
ASTRALBORNE’s interstellar voyage is visually brought to life in evocative fashion by Spanish artist Juanjo Castellano (The Black Dahlia Murder, Voidceremony, Coffins). For as alone as we may be in the cosmos of Across the Aeons, the band’s second album shirks the nihilistic connotations of such a realisation, opting instead to revel in the totality of all beings and things.
Across the Aeons tracklist: 1. Exordium 2. War Vessel 3. Nocturneous 4. Skybreaker 5. Gemini 6. December Flower 7. Promethean Fire 8. Star of Extinction 9. Paradigm Shift 10. The Pillars of Creation 11. Across the Aeons 12. Cadence of Sorrow
ASTRALBORNE is: Paul Fuzinski – Bass and vocals Derik Smith – Guitar Jayson Cessna – Drums
Dutch contemporary metal outfit AUTARKH (with ex-members of DODECAHEDRON and members of INFERUM and DEAR MOTHER)are now unveiling the details from the upcoming album “Emergent”! This new industrial offering will be released via Season of Mist underground activists on November 10, 2023.
A first track an pre-order for the album will be coming to you soon.
AUTARKH frontman Michel Nienhuis comments: “We are thrilled to announce the upcoming release of our sophomore full-length album Emergent. The songs and storyline took shape in 2022 and were eventually funneled into an album with nine tracks that we recorded this year. We feel this is a next step in our artistic development – Emergent has a more open, diverse and radiant imprint that sheds light on different musical influences that inspire us. We are satisfied with the increased versatility and contrast this album has to offer, and we can’t wait to share it with the world!”
Artwork by Arno Frericks
With nine tracks, Emergent is a sonic exploration of the inner universe where all things light and dark can be encountered. With exciting vocal harmonies, bold contrasts and a vivid imagination, AUTARKH sheds a bright light on the inner self and exposes it to the world with intensity and conviction.
Dutch contemporary metal adventurers AUTARKH are back with their sophomore full-length album Emergent. Michel Nienhuis, founder of AUTARKH and DODECAHEDRON, teamed up again with guitarist/producer David Luiten (INFERUM), bassist Desmond Kuijk (DEAR MOTHER) and electronics wizard Tijnn Verbruggen to create the follow-up to their highly acclaimed debut album Form In Motion, released by Season Of Mist on 12 March 2021. Monica Kendrick (Chicago Reader, US) on the relevance of the group’s debut:
“And I’ll call it now: given the time to flourish and sink into the ears of an audience, Autarkh will become highly influential on the next generation of extreme metal.”
Emergent is another testament to AUTARKH’s imagination and creativity. It delivers increased versatility and contrast, and sees the band expand towards more uplifting and consonant territories. Form In Motion explored the boundaries of sonic extremes; on Emergent, AUTARKH broadens its horizon and shows diversity and nuance while preserving its intense and razor-sharp edge.
With nine tracks, Emergent is a sonic exploration of the inner universe where all things light and dark can be encountered. The listener is lured into an Open Focus (a meditative state of mind) in preparation for an inward journey along the physical energy centres. From the thumping synth basses of Strife and the menacing sludgy melancholy of Duhkha, we move into the bewildering blasts of Trek, where stellar harmonies will eventually burst through the oppressive atmosphere. The trip continues with the crushing downtempo groove that enforces Refocus, as well as the mind-bending a capella interlude Aperture and the frivolous Eye Of Horus and Countless Kaleidoscopes, to finally deliver all-encompassing enlightenment with Ka.
Composers Nienhuis’s and Luiten’s statements and states of mind capture the same capriciousness and unease of Form In Motion, this time leaving a more open, diverse and radiant imprint. With exciting vocal harmonies, bold contrasts and a vivid imagination, AUTARKH sheds a bright light on the inner self and exposes it to the world with intensity and conviction. That makes Emergent an evocative release with a multilayered yet crystal-clear production that promises a bright future for AUTARKH.
Recording Studio: David Luiten Studio, Monodisc Studio, Moonbear Music & Engineering Mix/Master: David Luiten
Line-up: Michel Nienhuis: vocals & guitars David Luiten: vocals & guitars Desmond Kuijk: bass Tijnn Verbruggen: synths & beats
Cinematic rockers EARTHSIDE have announced the release of their highly anticipated second album, ‘Let the Truth Speak.’ It will be released on 17 November via Music Theories Recordings / Mascot Label Group, worldwide. Alongside the announcement they have revealed the official video for the epic title track, which features TesseracT’s Daniel Tompkins & Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh, you can watch HERE.
Earthside will be playing Euroblast (Germany) and ProgPower (Netherlands) in September and October.
If truth is so important—so hallowed that we hold it as perhaps our most sacred tenet—then why do we go to such great lengths to deny it the moment it makes us uncomfortable, or goes against our narrative?
The explosive title track of the album carries a feeling of culmination—the fully unexpected but fittingly show-stopping point of arrival in the album’s tumultuous pursuit of truth. A full string section—an overarching element of the record’s sound—jostles with violent rhythms, eldritch scales, and the unprecedented pairing of Earthside alum and TesseracT frontman Daniel Tompkins’ indomitable vocal dexterity and world-music ace Gennady Tkachenko Papizh’s jaw-dropping vocalizations and cinematic wails. These elements all crescendo to an ending climax that is a unanimous favourite moment of the album for the band.
Having worked together once before on a track that would become one of the group’s most popular songs, both Earthside and Daniel Tompkins had a desire to collaborate on a more adventurous piece of material that would push the limits of their creativity.
Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh is renowned across Europe as a one-of-a-kind artist having appeared on the ‘Got Talent’ circuit, coming to recognition through his unforgettable performance on Georgia’s Got Talent. Gennady transforms his voice into everything from celestial soundscapes, to haunting Mediterranean cries and shamanic whispers. When Earthside discovered Gennady through a particularly enlightened fan’s recommendation, they wanted to be the first band in rock or metal to share his monumental gift with the world.
8 long years removed from their critically show-stopping entrance – A Dream in Static [2015] – the idealistic thinkers and feelers in Earthside found themselves in a different world entirely … or, perhaps, a world more honest and unhinged than they and many others had bargained for.
“This album almost destroyed our lives and friendships,” keyboardist and co-orchestrator Frank Sacramone confides. “It’s insanity, but it is beautiful.”
“A Dream In Static was more of an *I* album,” reflects guitarist and orchestrator Jamie van Dyck. “Each of us in our own way was engaging topics of self-actualization and the fear of never quite becoming. Let The Truth Speak, however, turns its focus to the *We*. Within months of releasing ADIS, the global landscape had changed to where issues of far more consequence than our own individual dreams coming true were tugging at us. We became far more consumed with the trajectory of humanity as a whole than our own legacies therein.”
They have previously revealed songs from the album including “All We Ever Knew And Ever Loved” featuring Baard Kolstad [Leprous]. The video won the award for Best Music Video at the United Artist International Film Festival and was selected to be screened at a number of film festivals – Horrorcon UK, UAIFF, Dam Short Film Festival, Animiest, Rhode Island International film festival and more. “We Who Lament” was released late 2022 and features Keturah on vocals. It’s undoubtedly one of the most infectious and immediate songs on the album, but, even as such, it still offers the engrossing sound and eventful songwriting expected of the ever-ambitious act.
Let The Truth Speak is truly an international affair, featuring vocalists and storytellers from all walks of life and corners of the globe.
Earthside are Jamie van Dyck [Guitars, backing vocals, programming, keyboards], Ben Shanbrom [drums, backing vocals], Frank Sacramone [Keyboards, synthesizers, programming, percussion, guitar] and Ryan Griffin [Bass, backing vocals].
Track list 01 But What If We’re Wrong (feat. Sandbox Percussion) 02 We Who Lament (feat. Keturah) 03 Tyranny (feat. Pritam Adhikary of Aarlon) 04 Pattern Of Rebirth (feat. AJ Channer of Fire From The Gods) 05 Watching The Earth Sink 06 The Lesser Evil (feat. Larry Braggs & Sam Gendel) 07 Denial’s Aria (feat. Keturah, VikKe & Duo Scorpio) 08 Vespers (feat. Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh & VikKe) 09 Let The Truth Speak (feat. Daniel Tompkins of TesseracT & Gennady Tkachenko-Papizh) 10 All We Knew And Ever Loved (feat. Baard Kolstad of Leprous)
Award-winning blues rock duo When Rivers Meet are pleased to announce “Seen It All Before” – the third single taken from their highly anticipated third studio album “Aces Are High” released by their own independent record label, One Road Records, on Friday 8th September 2023. The new album is available to pre-order HERE.
“Seen It All Before” is available on all streaming platforms HERE. Watch the official music video HERE.
“Seen It All Before” follows hot on the heels of the band’s previous two singles from the album, “Play My Game,” and “Perfect Stranger.”
“We’ve always stuck to a certain structure to create our songs, says WRMs vocalist, mandolin and violin player, Grace Bond, “but with this song we removed any limitations, and we consider it to be a really unique song for our repertoire and from the new album, Aces Are High.”
Add’s WRMs guitarist Aaron Bond, “Fundamentally we consider ourselves a duo, and even though this song has percussion, it features a strong guitar line and vocal hook, which alongside fully produced songs keep us rooted as a duo.”
The previous single, “Perfect Stranger,” is about how husband and wife duo Aaron and Grace Bond first met. Says Grace, “Our relationship is intense and creative. We wanted to write a song that reflects that tension throughout.” The music video reflects the passion and drive of When Rivers Meet.
The first single taken from the album, “Play My Game,” is a groove-laden, driving blues track with rich riffs and searing vocals. It’s a bold statement of intent with a badass video to boot, capturing a poker game gone south leading to a high-speed car chase and daring aeroplane escape.
Regarding the new album “Aces Are High,” the duo says, “As our music is progressing, we’re finding our sound even more. When we went in the studio this time, we’ve never been so sure on what we wanted to create—we had a really clear vision and have stuck to it.”
“Before we held back on being too rocky, but this time we allowed ourselves to create what we wanted to hear, without restricting ourselves. We also allowed ourselves to express the different colours to our music with tracks like “Golden” and “By Your Side,” so this album has more extremes. We still call upon our influences from all the years but remain true to ourselves to create music we love.”
“Aces and stakes are high here… this is a royal flush.” – Powerplay 10/10
“When Rivers Meet’s joy is so infectious you cannot resist them.” – Maximum Volume Music
“When Rivers Meet’s energy is contagious.” – Rock N Load
“The sky really is the limit for When Rivers Meet.” – Devils Gate Music
“When Rivers Meet are brave, unrepentant, and fearless.” – Raw Ramp
Album Cover by Rob Blackham
Since their formation in 2019, the husband-and-wife duo Grace Bond (vocals, mandolin, violin) and Aaron Bond (vocals, guitar) have been quick to prove themselves one of the most exciting names in British blues rock. Blending Americana, folk, blues, and rock in a distinctly unique manner, they have been showered with many awards and accolades.
Their forthcoming album “Aces Are High” follows two critically acclaimed records: “We Fly Free” (2020), which reached No.1 in the iTunes Blues Album Chart, and “Saving Grace” (2021), which charted at No.2 in the UK Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, No.5 UK Official Album Downloads Chart, and No.6 UK Official Independent Albums Chart. These were based purely on chart reporting digital sales and didn’t include physical sales.
When Rivers Meet were the first band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards 2021 and another three awards in 2022, including Blues Band of The Year on both occasions. In 2023, WRM won Blues Band Of The Year, making them the only band to win this category three years in a row, and the only band to be inducted into the UK Blues Awards Hall Of Fame for this category.
In 2021 When Rivers Meet were voted Best New Band at Planet Rock’s The Rocks Awards, and in 2022 won Planet Rock’s Blues Power Award and Album Of The Year Award with Saving Grace.
“Aces Are High” finds the duo returning with a more powerful sound than ever before. Aaron’s gnarled riffs hit harder alongside his deep vocal tones, while Grace’s vocals range wider with tantalising bite as they effortlessly climb scales like her striking slide mandolin which accompanies the likes of “Trail To Avalon.”
The immediacy of the new record is showcased from the off with the hard-hitting opener “Infected,” while no punches are pulled on the kick-out-time anthem “5 Minutes Until Midnight.” Nevertheless, its contrasting sides find delicate moments such as the reflective acoustic song “Golden” and the shimmering Americana of “By Your Side.”
ACES ARE HIGH – TRACK LISITING
1. Infected 2. Seen It All Before 3. Play My Game 4. Golden 5. Aces Are High 6. Trail To Avalon 7. Perfect Stranger 8. The Secret 9. By Your Side 10. 5 Minutes Until Midnight
When Rivers Meet developed a powerful live reputation with their first headline tour last year, which they played to capacity crowds across the country.
This year they supported Reef of their UK tour and have just finished their second UK headline tour in larger venues, along with special guest, Brian May guitar prodigy, Arielle, receiving rave reviews once again.
This summer, the band have been announced to play numerous festivals, including Joe Bonamassa’sKeeping the Blues Alive Mediterranean III Cruise which departs Athens on 17 August. The cruise also features Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Blackberry Smoke, and many more artists from the contemporary blues music scene. Visit www.bluesaliveatseaeurope.com for more information.
LIVE APPEARANCES
AUGUST 11th – Firevolt Rock Festival, Stockport 17th/22nd – Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping Blues Alive at Sea III, Athens, Greece
SEPTEMBER 16th – Hop Harvest Festival, Farnham 27th – O2 Academy 2, Islington
OCTOBER 6th – Cornwall Rocks Festival, Looe
NOVEMBER 12th – Whitby Blues, Rhythm & Rock, Whitby
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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