SCOTT STAPP Announces New Album “Higher Power”, Out March 15th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo credit: Sebastian Smith]

Grammy winning, platinum-certified artist SCOTT STAPP will release his fourth solo album, Higher Power (Napalm Records) on March 15, 2024 before the iconic frontman returns to the stage with Creed for the first time in ten years. His upcoming ten-track triumph turns the rocker’s experiences on the razor’s edge into an acknowledgement of grace. The album is available for pre-order now and emotive new single “What I Deserve” debuts today on all DSPs. Pre-order HERE. 

When hard-hitting single “Higher Power” debuted in August, Loudwire stated that Stapp is “primed for a big decade, sounding just as powerful as he did at half his age with a sense of newfound heaviness resting beneath his iconic voice.” Now, mid-tempo anthem “What I Deserve” (out today) addresses the inherent duality within relationships and smolders with the blistering yet delicate guitar work of multi-award winning guitar great, Yiannis Papadopoulos.

Stapp says:
“We all want back what we give. ‘What I Deserve’ is about two people understanding who they are individually and coming to a place where they can express exactly what they each want, need, and deserve. The duality in the song is that both sides are expressing the same thing and coming to an understanding of the faults of the other. This song pleads both guilty and innocent with Yiannis’ guitar solo being the voice that articulates a chaotic search for deliverance and the epic release of passionate closure.”

Higher Power follows 2019’s The Space Between the Shadows, which debuted at #3 on the US Current Rock Albums chart, the US Current Hard Music Albums chart, and the UK Official Rock and Metal Chart, among countless other top chart positions. 

On an album that traverses themes of loss, frustration, betrayal and near defeat, Higher Power features stand-out performances by hard rock queen Dorothy on a deeply raw duet and, throughout the album, Papadopoulos’ guitar leads and solos are such invaluable contributions that he is credited as a featured artist on three tracks. There is also a co-writing appearance by multi-Grammy Award winning songwriter and musician Steve McEwan on Higher Power, which was produced by Marti Frederiksen and Scott Stevens, with co-production by Stapp.  

Stapp explains:
“Higher Power was born out of never ending consequences with triggered, yet naive defiance. It’s the realities and realizations of being human in this experiment we call life – holding onto hope in the dark waiting for the light.”

Pre-Order Higher Power HERE

Higher Power track listing:
1. Higher Power    
2. Deadman’s Trigger    
3. When Love Is Not Enough    
4. What I Deserve (feat. Yiannis Papadopoulos)
5. If These Walls Could Talk (feat. Dorothy)
6. Black Butterfly    
7. Quicksand (feat. Yiannis Papadopoulos)
8. You’re Not Alone    
9. Dancing in the Rain (feat. Yiannis Papadopoulos)
10. Weight of the World    

About SCOTT STAPP:
One of the most iconic voices in rock, SCOTT STAPP first emerged as the high-energy, post-grunge frontman of Creed. With anthems like “Higher,” “My Own Prison,” “My Sacrifice,” and “With Arms Wide Open,” the band sold over 50 million albums, including a Diamond certification. Throughout the early 2000’s, Creed broke airplay records, sold out arenas, earned countless Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards, and a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. As a solo artist, Stapp has released the Platinum-certified The Great Divide (2005), Proof of Life (2013) which featured his first solo #1, “Slow Suicide,” and 2019’s The Space Between The Shadows. In April 2024, Stapp will reunite with his Creed bandmates for the first time in a decade, as he returns in fighting form and stands as an inspiration to others who are struggling. 

SCOTT STAPP online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
NAPALM RECORDS

PISTOLS AT DAWN to Kick Off ‘Ready, Set, F’ing Rock Tour’ This Month with Moon Fever

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Atlanta-based hard rock band PISTOLS AT DAWN announced they will be hitting the road this fall with Moon Fever on the Ready, Set, F’ing Rock Tour sponsored by Show4Me.com and TKO. The tour will kick off October 26th in Nashville, TN at The Eight Room.

Tickets are now available at https://www.pistolsatdawnband.com/tour

10/26/2023  Nashville, TN The Eight Room            
10/28/2023  Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Purgatory)
10/29/2023  Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans       
10/31/2023  Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s
11/2/2023   Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
11/4/2023   Providence, RI – Fete Lounge
11/6/2023 Rochester, NY – Photo City
11/7/2023   Columbus, OH – Rumba Cafe             
11/9/2023   Lincoln, NE - Cosmic Eye Live
11/10/2023  Des Moines, IA – Lefty’s
11/11/2023  Sioux Falls, SD Bigs Bar
11/12/2023  Minneapolis MN – Turf Club
11/16/2023  Billings, MT – Pub Station (Taproom)
11/17/2023  Great Falls MT – The Newberry

The band released their latest single “FLY” (Radio Edit) to radio. The single is at #39 on MEDIABASE and #37 on BILLBOARD this week! In addition the band announced a UK Tour with FOZZY in February 2024!

The single debuted on the SMR Active Rock Radio Charts at NUMBER 1 in TOP ADDS and NUMBER TWO in GREATEST GAINERS in it’s FIRST WEEK! The single was the #3 Most Added (behind Metallica & Daughtry) on the Mediabase Active Rock Charts and the 2nd most added on the Billboard Rock Chart. “Fly” (Radio Edit) is from the band’s debut album Ascension that came out on Megaforce Records/MRI Entertainment in 2022.

The single was added at MUSIC CHOICE, WIIL-Chicago, KEZO-Omaha, WJJO & WZRK/AM-Madison, WHXR-Portland ME, WRTT-Huntsville, KICT-Wichita, WZZU-Roanoke, WFXH-Savannah, WCPR-Biloxi, WWMP-Burlington, WCLG-Morgantown WV, WQWK-State College PA, WNNH-Concord NH, KBRE-Merced CA, WKIT-Bangor ME, WYYX-Panama City FL, WKHY-Lafayette IN, KGRR-Dubuque, WCCN-Neillsville WI, KSSI-RIdgecrest CA, KMMY-Sherman TX, KFML-Little Falls MN, KEDJ-Twin Falls ID, and WFRD-Hanover NH and was already in rotation at KQRA-Springfield MO.

STREAM “FLY” (Radio Edit), here.

When rules break, rock ‘n’ roll moves forward. Standing at a crossroads between 21st century attitude and old school arena-size ambition, Pistols At Dawn lock and load hard-hitting hooks, magnetic melodies, and intricate instrumentation in a searing signature style. The Atlanta quartet—Adam Jaffe [drums], Will James [lead guitar], Gabriel Cuevas [bass], and Jon Sookdew Sing [lead vocals+rhythm guitar]—re-energize the genre, while maintaining its edge. After independently amassing over 6 million streams and collaborating with icons such as GRAMMY® Award-winning producer and engineer Sylvia Massy [Tool, System of a Down, Johnny Cash], the group deliver eight anthems on their 2022 full-length album, Ascension, via distributor Megaforce Records/MRI Entertainment. “All of our influences come out in the music, but with our own stamp,” says Adam. “There’s definitely a hard rock vibe combined with progressive lyrics. When you add these elements together, it beautifully combusts in Pistols At Dawn.”

Speaking to this alchemy, in 2015 the band immediately entered the studio with producer Jeff Tomei [Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20] to record their first singles before entertaining various other projects. During 2019, the original lineup joined forces again. Ultimately, original founder Jaffe completed the lineup with incendiary world class guitarist James, and elite progressive rock duo Sookdew Sing and Cuevas.

They unleashed music at a prolific pace in addition to personally engaging fans worldwide with an immersive online presence. “Cold” exploded to the tune of 1 million streams across platforms followed by “Gauntlet” and “All You Offer” with another million streams. Working with producer Jeff Tomei, they unleashed the Nocturnal Youth EP in 2021. The opener and lead single “Voices” impressively generated 1 million plays in under a month. In the midst of the Global Pandemic, they caught the attention of Massy and recorded what would become Ascension with the legendary producer behind the board alongside co-producer Chris Pierson.

Musically and thematically, it allowed a sliver of light to pass through the world’s darkness. “On Nocturnal Youth, we were going through a dark time in the Global Pandemic,” Jaffe states. “On Ascension, we’re coming into the light and embracing life. There’s still dark subject matter on the record, but it was positive to write. It melded together the way we’d always hoped.”

Anchored by a balance of extremes, the lead single “The Truth” nods to nineties alternative with a distinct and dynamic twist. Adam goes on, “It revolves around the constant noise we have in our head pushing and pulling our emotions so much that we sometimes lose total control and explode. We have to be careful to maintain our thoughts and emotions, or ‘The Truth’ is that they could tear us apart.”

Elsewhere, the opener and follow-up single “Under The Surface” immediately sets the tone with a hypnotic riff and hard-hitting vocal, barely containing its cathartic momentum in the searing lyrics, “Take what you want and leave me for dead. All that I need is under the surface.”

“This song deals with the hell some have to go through above ground with people constantly taking, lying, and poisoning,” he reveals. “So, you want to be buried deep to get away from society where no one will find you.”

“Fly” leans into a dark chorus and instantly memorable hook, equally soaring and shuddering all at once. It strikes a chord with its timeless theme presented through a nocturnal prism. “It’s a powerful and dark love song about wanting to disappear with your true love,” he elaborates. “Musically, diversity was important to us. So, each song really tells a different story with a distinct sound.”

Indicative of this diversity, “For You” steamrolls forward on a hulking groove fortified by a punchy riff and towering refrain. It sets the tone for the rollercoaster to follow. “It’s about finding someone really special who is worth changing for,” notes Adam. “If you find someone you love enough, you’ll change. It’s the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Ultimately, Pistols At Dawn ignite a fresh and fiery vision for rock all their own.
“We want to take you on a ride,” Jaffe leaves off. “We just love playing music. One moment, we hope you’re inspired to take on the world. In the next, we hope you scream along. In another, you just chill. It’s meant to be fun and exciting overall. At the end, we hope you want to take the ride again and again.”

For More Information Please Visit: Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – TikTok – YouTube

Martin Popoff to Release Biography on Ex-Montrose Bassist Bill “The Electric” Church

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Church Recordings is very proud to present THE ELECTRIC CHURCH: THE BIOGRAPHY, the definitive tale of legendary bassist Bill “The Electric” Church’s wild ride, written by esteemed author and music critic Martin Popoff. 

PRE-ORDER CHURCH’s “ELECTRIC” JOURNEY HERE

You’ve heard his killer bass lines on Van Morrison’s “Wild Night”, Montrose’s “Bad Motor Scooter” and Sammy Hagar’s “I Can’t Drive 55,” now dive deep into the memoirs of the heavy metal pioneer as he recalls his high-voltage career!

As Montrose’s original bassist, Church is considered an originator of a blossoming new music genre called heavy metal as the band’s 1971 self-titled debut is debated as the world’s first metal album.

After Hagar left the band, Church joined the Red Rocker’s solo band, recording eight albums over a 10 year span — several of those platinum — and performed as a session musician on Van Morrison’s 1971 album Tupelo Honey.

Sammy Hagar — the Red Rocker, himself — wrote the foreword and Gary Pihl (Boston, ex-Sammy Hagar) contributed an afterward on the final page. 

The idea for the book originated in several years ago by Church’s son Trevor William Church (Haunt, Beastmaker), who is publishing the book via his own music label Church Recordings. Things became official in 2021 when Martin Popoff was enlisted to tackle the project. 

Heavy metal lives on in the Church blood, so we hope you enjoy the ride. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Martin Popoff is a Canadian author of more than 100 books on heavy metal and one of the world’s most recognized metal journalists. Born in Toronto, his first record purchase was Steppenwolf’s Gold and the three bands that changed his life are Black Sabbath, Kiss and Nazareth. He co-founded Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles in 1994, which continues today as BraveWords.com, written for Goldmine Magazine for close to 20 years and appears on camera reviewing the classics as a host of BangerTV’s Overkill Reviews.

PRE-ORDER:https://hauntthenation.bandcamp.com/merch

END Share New Single + Video ‘Thaw’ Feat. Debbie Gough

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2023
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END – guitarist Will Putney, vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarist Gregory Thomas, bassist Jay Pepito, and drummer Matt Guglielmo – will release their second album The Sin of Human Frailty on 27th October via Closed Casket Activities.

Today they release new single ‘Thaw’, featuring guest vocals from Debbie Gough of Heriot. Watch the video here:

Pre-order The Sin of Human Frailty here: https://closedcasketactivities.com/collections/end

The band comment: “Thaw’ is a thematically more bizarre exploration into electronics for END. It’s a very boundary-less song and one of the more self-fulfilling moments found in the writing process.  As a musician it’s important to express the purest intent of your thoughts, and sometimes that requires reaching beyond the normal instrumentation one is accustomed to. The result is something new for us, but also a part of us. Thank you to Debbie Gough of Heriot for lending her voice to the track. And thank you for giving this new creative passage a listen.“

Check out the videos to previous singles:

Track-list:
01 A Predator Yourself
02 Gaping Wounds of Earth
03 The Sin of Human Frailty
04 Thaw
05 Embodiment of Grief
06 Twice Devoured Kill
07 Worthless Is The Lamb
08 Hollow Urn
09 Infest
10 Leper

Formed in 2017, END‘s From the Unforgiving Arms of God EP spawned the fan-favourite ‘Necessary Death,’ and led to them signing with label Closed Casket Activities. Highlighted by ‘Covet Not’ and ‘Absence’, the band bulldosed the senses with their 2020 full-length debut, Splinters From an Ever-Changing Face. Brooklyn Vegan hailed ‘Pariah’ as “an absolutely filthy dose of modern metalcore,” and Kerrang! went as far as to describe their debut LP as “catharsis fed through a distortion pedal and shaped into a dense, destructive wrecking ball.” Perhaps, Invisible Oranges put it best: “These gentlemen have come together to summon a fury seldom heard on any album from the realms of hardcore, grind, and black metal…”

In 2023, the members congregated once again to write and record what would become this sophomore release.

“Part of the goal was to do things our way,” states Putney. “We didn’t want to lean on our influences too heavily, whether it’s in terms of production, guitar tone, arrangement, or other elements. We were like, ‘Let’s just make a record that sounds like END.’ I feel like there’s more of an identity to the band than there has ever been on this record.“

The final result is a unique blend of HM2-driven grind and metallic hardcore crossover with moments of industrial chaos over ten tracks. Featuring guest vocal appearances by J.R. Hayes (Pig Destroyer), Debbie Gough (Heriot), and Dylan Walker (Full of Hell), this Graphic Nature Audio recording clocks in over 30 minutes of unhinged aggression and grind. Produced and engineered by Will Putney and featuring the art of Alex Eckman-Lawn, this release pushes the complexity of END both sonically and visually. Vinyl comes packaged in a ten panel die-cut jacket, pressed on deluxe coloured vinyl and with a digital download code.

END will embark on a U.S. tour with Full of Hell in the autumn.

END are:
Will Putney – guitar
Brendan Murphy – vocals
Gregory Thomas – gutiar
Jay Pepito – bass
Matt Guglielmo – drums

END online:
https://www.yourfuckingend.com
https://www.facebook.com/listentoend
https://www.instagram.com/yourfuckingend

Israeli NAIL WITHIN Unleash ‘Eyes Of Evil’ Lyric Video from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2023
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo: Eyal Peer]

November 17, 2023 will see Israel-based thrash / death metal band NAIL WITHIN return with their long-awaited comeback album, Sound Of Demise, via Massacre Records! The album pre-sale is available at THIS LOCATION!

Following a previously-released, first single, “Bleeding Society” (feat. Tom Angelripper), today, NAIL WITHIN have unleashed a lyric video for the song “Eyes Of Evil”! The clip is now streaming at:

“This song is about a relationship with a narcissist, not to say a person who lived a double life, cheating and ripping off their most dearest”, frontman Yishai Sweartz reveals. “Going through a deep relationship with a narcissist is not an easy thing to go through, and it’s very different from regular breakups. It tells a true story and it’s a subject hardly discussed in extreme music simply as a lot of musicians are on the thin line between ego trip and some level of narcissism themselves.

The idea behind this song is to say that it’s okay to admit and talk about it. It can happen to everyone, even if you are super smart and mistrust people in general. Most of the people who fell in this kind of relationships are far from stupid, they are mostly super intelligent with a busy day life, and this song is our statement against the people who never have enough and are always trying to suck more and more from the other side until there is no “excitement” anymore, and then they leave and disappear.”

NAIL WITHIN was formed in 2001 by singer Yishai Swearts, guitarist Alex Shuster, bassist “Evil” Haim, and drummer Barak Miko Zait, rising from the ashes of two longtime collectives in Israel’s underground music scene (Betrayer and Azazel), and featuring guitarist Matan Cohen and drummer Nir Nakav.

Following their critically-acclaimed, self-titled debut album in early 2003 through Listenable Records, the band went on hiatus just a year later. Matan Cohen signed his other band Betzefer to Roadrunner Records and started a successful career touring with acts as Sepultura, Lamb Of God, Fear Factory and others, Alex Shuster moved to California and joined the legendary sludge band “-(16)-” (Relapse Records), Evil Haim toured the world with Israeli punk icons Useless ID, played in multiple local bands and opened a DIY punk record label (Taklitin Holim) while Yishai Sweartz became predominant metal promoter in Israel and formed Tomorrows Rain (A.O.P Records) where he joined forces with Nir Nakav (who continued to play in Salem).

Through the years, all the band members kept in touch and in 2022 Shuster and Sweartz started to talk about “hey this year it’s 20 years to the debut..” kind of talk, a week later a couple of new songs were written and the band decided to continue their creative momentum. As a result a full album was written and recorded in Israel/U.S.A with 11 new songs. Picking up from where the band left with their debut 20 years ago but introducing new dimensions that make it more relevant for this day and age, Sound Of Demise sees NAIL WITHIN return angry, dynamic and full of intensity!

Produced by Alex Shuster and mastered by Maor Appelbaum, the album also features guest appearances from Tom Angleripper (Sodom), Eric Peterson (Testament) and Bobby Ferry -(16)-. Slated for a release on November 17, 2023 via Massacre Records, pre-order your album copy now at THIS LOCATION!

Sound Of Demise track listing:

  1. Bleeding Society
  2. Eyes Of Evile
  3. Sound Of Demise
  4. Regression… And The Price We Pay
  5. Duplicate Our Lives
  6. Years Of Madness
  7. Everything We Know
  8. Words As Weapons
  9. Manipulated And Doomed
  10. Severe Suffering
  11. Isolate

For More Info Visit:
https://www.facebook.com/nailwithinband
https://www.instagram.com/nailwithinband
https://massacre-records.com

TANITH Announce European Tour for October + November

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2023
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New York City’s TANITH – Russ Tippins (guitars, vocals), Cindy Maynard (bass, vocals), and Keith Robinson (drums) – have just announced the full routing for their European Voyage tour kicking off in less than three weeks!

Tanith – European Voyage Tour 2023
2023-10-29 Glasgow, UK – Ivory Blacks
2023-10-30 Edinburgh, UK – Bannerman
2023-10-31 Newcastle, UK – The Cluny
2023-11-01 Southampton, UK – Heartbreakers
2023-11-02 Bristol, UK – The Gryphon
2023-11-03 London, UK – Blackheart
2023-11-05 Athens, GR – Kyttaro Club
2023-11-07 Bree, BE – Ragnarok
2023-11-08 Hamburg, DE – Bambi Galore
2023-11-09 Berlin, DE – Reset Club
2023-11-11 Oldenburg, DE – MTS Records
2023-11-12 Osnabrück, DE – Bastard Club
2023-11-13 Kassel, DE – Goldgrube
2023-11-14 Essen, DE – Don’t Panic
2023-11-16 Winterthur, CH – Gaswerk
2023-11-17 Göppingen, DE – Zille
2023-11-18 Würzburg, DE – Hammer of Doom Festival

Tanith released their latest album Voyage last April via Metal Blade. You can stream the album, watch videos and purchase copies from here.

The album was recorded and mastered on 24-track analog tape and has never been digitized from recording to pressing. Also, fans will recognize Tippins from NWOBHM legend Satan.

ABOUT TANITH:
There is perhaps no band keeping the spirit and sound of ’70s hard rock and heavy metal alive more so than Tanith.

Formed in 2017, the band embraced that era wholeheartedly, resulting in 2019’s aptly titled In Another Time, which instantly earned cult status and put them on the map. Now, they return with Voyage, picking up where they left off and once again demonstrating their mastery when it comes to this niche. “I wanted more of the same but different in some marginal way,” explains vocalist/guitarist Russ Tippins (also of Satan). “Voyage is the sound of the universe speaking to mankind through the medium of Tanith. Or, if you like, twin-guitar heavy rock with dual singers which, if you grew up in the 1970s, will make you want to bounce over to the nearest record store. On a space hopper.“

While their debut came together easily, this time around there were hurdles to overcome, first and foremost the COVID-19 lockdown, which geographically split up the band, Tippins living in the UK while vocalist/bassist Cindy Maynard and drummer Keith Robinson dwelt in Brooklyn. Once life finally returned to “normal” and they were ready to record, they were hit by another bombshell with guitarist Charlie Newton abruptly bowing out of the band the day before tracking began.

“Speaking as one part of a two-guitar band, it felt like trying to fly with one wing,” says Tippins. “It happened so suddenly we were dumbstruck. I guess we sat around for a few days thinking he was sure to walk through the door at any moment. But soon enough we realized we’d have to try to find a way to make this record without Charlie and I’m not just talking about laying down his lines. It’s about the shared dream we had with him. The conviction he brought to that dream. The four-way belief now reduced to three.“

Returning to Brooklyn’s Excello Recording and engineer Hugh Pool – the same combination used for tracking In Another Time – the band produced the album themselves, with Pool mixing. The sessions were a fun time for Tanith, again recording to tape rather than digital and utilizing vintage amps and speakers to find the best possible sounds for the instruments. “Just having the time every day all day to be in the music was a big deal and all of our energy went into this project even after leaving the studio,” says Maynard. “We were thinking and breathing the music, constantly working on parts and ideas. We came in well prepared overall, and that gave us time to try out different sounds for different parts to get just the thing we were looking for.” Given that they established themselves as a twin-guitar band on their debut they also brought in an extra player, Andee Blacksugar, best known for touring with Peter Murphy and as a member of KMFDM, now also a member of Blondie, who Robinson had played with before.

With the record fully realized, the band are eager for people to hear it, and they are confident that it is worth taking the time to listen to it – and experience it – in all its old school glory. Tippins says, “I can think of only two other rock bands in the entire world right now that records onto 24-track analog tape. If all you’ve ever known is digitally produced music you really need to listen to Voyage on vinyl and experience the difference. And I’m not talking about vinyl pressed from masters recorded on Pro Tools. At no point from tracking to pressing has any of the music on Voyage been digitized. It will open your eyes.”

https://www.facebook.com/TanithNYC
https://www.instagram.com/tanithnyc