Alternative rock band DON’T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS will release their latest single “Always Right” on Friday January 20th. The new song combines state-of-the-art indie-pop production with a modem alternative rock sound, all surrounded by lyrics about the internal battles and self doubts we all face. A music video for the song will be released the same day that features the band performing while everything goes wrong. Currently, the band is featured on the soundtrack of the new Apple TV+ show WeCrashed starring Anne Hathaway and Jared Leto. Don’t Believe in Ghosts is also featured performing on the show’s third episode.
Don’t Believe in Ghosts are an alternative indie pop band formed and based in New York City. Led by singer, songwriter, and producer Steven Nathan, the group features Dan DelVecchio on guitar, Alex Goumas on bass, and Ken Yang on drums.
The band signed with Imagen Records/Warner ADA, some achievements include singles at alternative radio stations across the country, 2+ million plays on Retail Radio, charting at #2 on All Access, and song features on many other TV shows, including “Ink Master” and “The U.S. Open”. The band has been featured in American Songwriter, Kings of A&R, and Alternative Press Magazine, who included them in their “40 Artists You Need to Hear” list. They’ve also been on multiple tours, played alongside COIN in the MidWest, and were invited to perform at “The Gathering” Radio Convention in Cleveland in 2021. In 2022 the band scored the soundtrack to the TV show ‘The Heart Of Saint Francis’ which was also directed and edited by lead singer Steven Nathan.
The band will be celebrating the release of their single at the Chelsea Music Hall in NYC on Jan 20th with a special live release party and will be taking the road this spring playing.
“Don’t give energy to the ghosts of your past,” says Steven Nathan when describing the meaning behind the bands’ name. “Worrying about what other people may think can be draining and debilitating.” Don’t Believe In Ghosts amplifies this theme throughout their music, which is honest, inventive, and meaningful. The result is a catalog of songs that are ambitious, yet relatable.
Vocals, Guitar / Steve Nathan Guitar / Dan DelVecchio Bass, Keys / Alex Goumas Drums / Ken Yang
BLACK HEART SAINTS, consisting of Josh Ross (Vocals), Mark Sean (Guitar), Nathan Flores (Drums), and Ian C.G. (Bass), announces the release of their new single “Human Xstacy” in association with legendary label Cleopatra Records. Slated for release on January 20, 2023, the song was produced by Geno Lenardo (FILTER, DEVICE) and mixed/mastered by Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns ‘N Roses, Sons of Apollo, Asia).
Black Heart Saints exploded onto the scene with a distinct groove steeped in classic rock and a modern intensity, and a bravado that is clearly backed by talent. With endorsements by some of the most respected rock personalities and critics such as Eddie Trunk, Lou Brutus, and Jose Mangin from SiriusXM Octane, Black Heart Saints stands atop the “new wave of classic rock” pantheon and is destined for a bright future. In recent years, the studio singles “Reach the End”, “Lines”, and “Misery” topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Radio Charts, paving the way for appearances at SXSW Festival, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and serving as the support act for national artists such as Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Ace Frehley, Sevendust, Steel Panther, Pop Evil, Buckcherry, Dirty Honey, and more.
“We’re thrilled to announce our new partnership with Cleopatra Records and welcomethem to our all-star team. 2023 is the year that ‘Black Heart Saints’ becomes ahousehold name,” says guitarist, Mark Sean.
Setting the stage for commercial success early in the band’s career, on April 12, 2018, Austin City Council and Mayor Steve Adler officially proclaimed April 12th to be “Black Heart Saints Day.” The following year, the band was awarded #1 Best Rock/Metal Act at the prestigious Austin Music Awards, being recognized alongside other local luminaries such as Willie Nelson and Black Pumas. In 2019, their first full-length release ALIVE, drew acclaim from fans and critics alike and led to the now famous “Road to Sturgis Tour.” Putting Black Heart Saints’ charismatic live performance to the test, the band took the stage at the world-renowned motorcycle rally, attended by over 500,000 bikers from all around the globe, and the group earned the respect and devotion of a whole new audience base. This experience catapulted Black Heart Saints to the West Coast where they completed an extensive tour, including a headline performance at the famed Viper Room in West Hollywood, CA.
Although 2020 proved to be a particularly challenging year for the entire entertainment industry due to the global pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, Black Heart Saints quickly adapted to the unprecedented conditions by partnering with distinguished brands Harley-Davidson and Loop.tv for exclusive streaming performances that captured audiences from all around the world. In 2021, the band was named an ‘Artist You Need to Know’ by Rolling Stone Magazine.
Rapidly ascending to perform some of the biggest stages and festivals in the United States, Black Heart Saints have built an impressive resume, and have been recognized as one of the nation’s top emerging rock acts. Highlights to-date include:
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Full Throttle Saloon) in 2022/2021/2020
Upheaval Festival Mainstage Performer 2022
2021 Fort Hood Army Base / USO Independence Day Headliner
Myrtle Beach Bike Rally 2022 Performer
2020 Loop.tv Music Festival Performer (over 2 million viewers)
Official 2020/2019/2018 South by Southwest Artist
2019 Austin Music Awards Winner – #1 Best Rock/Metal Act
Music videos featured in over 5,000+ gyms across the US and Canada
Buffalo Trace Battle of the Bands Grand Prize Winner
ESPN X Games Performer
Named an ‘Artist You Need to Know’ by Rolling Stone Magazine
“I’ve been friends with Brian Perera (President/CEO of Cleopatra Records) for years, and with today’s uncertain musical landscape, it’s great to have a label like Cleopatra Records behind us,” says talent manager, John Gomez.“Brian and his staff are dedicated to rock and very focused in the right places to help bring Black Heart Saints’ music to market, build their audience, and reach new heights,” Gomez adds.
In 2023, we find Black Heart Saints returning to the road. The band will perform a round of shows with Steel Panther in the Carolinas (as direct support) at the end of January, and then this March in Texas with the power trio supergroup The Winery Dogs (also as direct support). Dangerous & dirty, Black Heart Saints gives fans exactly what they want – rock god vocals catapulted over explosive, memorable riffs – leaving legions of the rock ‘n’ roll faithful yearning for more.
Elevate Records is proud to announce that the second solo album by WILD STEEL, frontman of Projecto from 1989 to 1995 and Leader of Shadows of Steel from 1996 to present, will be released soon on Elevate.
Wild Steel II – Age of Steel
It is a concept album based on a science -fiction story set in the year 7707, society is fully automated and humanity seems to have disappeared, only a female warrior will fight against an army of cyber-soldiers, the story centers on the relationship between one of the soldiers and the woman.
The disc consists of 11 original tracks and was recorded at Steel Studios, mixed by Luigi Stefanini at New Sin Studio in Loria (TV) while the mastering was handled by Andrew Spane at the Dead Tree Studio in Genoa.
Attended the recordings:
Wild Steel – Vocals and backing vocals (Shadows of Steel, Oracle Sun, Gabriels) Franz Ekurn (AKA Francis Scarlet) – Keyboards (Shadows of Steel, Malombra) Andrea Rinaldi – Guitars (Daedalus, Palconudo, Thought Machine, Dowhanash) Federico Di Pane – Guitars (Arca Hadian, Rock ‘n’ Roll Children) Fabio Gremo – Bass (Il Tempio delle Clessidre, IANVA, Daedalus, Thought Machine) Francesco La Rosa – Drums (Extrema, IANVA, Thought Machine, M-Pire of Evil)
Special Guests:
Roberto Tiranti – Backing vocals Lizzy Red – Vocals and Backing vocals
ROAR! Rock of Angels Records proudly announce the signing of a multi-album deal with FRONT ROW WARRIORS and welcome the band to the label’s roster.
Founded in 2019 in Stuttgart by Jay-G, drums (Shining, Sharon), Elkie Gee, vocals, (Ampyre, Antares), and Sorin Badin, a well-known Romanian guitarist (Cardinal, Samsara, Crystal Maze) under the name Front Row Warriors and reached its current formation 2020 with the addition of Richie Seibel, keyboards, (Lanfear, Ivanhoe, Them) and Timo Michels, bass, (5th Season, Pump). In summer 2022 guitarist Stef Binnig-Gollub (Septagon) joined the band. The band’s goal is to take the audience on a musical journey through the era of Hardrock and Metal of the past 30 years and to create catchy hooklines with outstanding guitar and keyboard work. Each band member represents one of the various styles and influences that make up the sound of the Front Row Warriors. The result is impressive, so in 2021 the band was chosen as “Germany’s Best Hardrock Act” by the German Rock and Pop Musicians Association.
The successful mixture of AOR, driven 80s and 90s-inspired hard rock and snappy up-tempo numbers as well as epic ballads, can now be found on the hotly anticipated debut under the name “Wheel Of Fortune”, which was produced, mixed and mastered by Achim Köhler and Michael Bormann. As a special guest the US-American singer Todd Michael Hall (J. Starr’s Burning Starr, Riot V) shines in a duet. Singer Elkie was voted the best hard rock singer of 2022 with the song “Dystopian time” by the German Rock and Pop Musicians Association.
Calgary’s own prog-power band RED CAIN have released a new single and music video for Blight. Inspired by the Wheel of Time universe, the track is reminiscent of Tesseract, Ihsahn, and Insomnium. Watch below and listen HERE!
The band comments: “The concept for Blight came out of a question – what is the ideal state in the evolution of organic life? Influenced by authors like Stanislaw Lem and Adrian Tchaikovsky, this has long been a theme in science fiction and is becoming relevant in the modern era. The Blight also plays a key role within the Wheel of Time universe, and the concept sets the stage for a musical exploration from our end where another evolution to our sound likewise takes root.”
Blight is defined as an organic contagion that damages, destroys, or corrupts. In the Wheel of Time universe, where the Dark One touches the world, uncontrolled and aberrant growth sprouts and covers the land, home to malign flora and monstrous fauna. With this track, we moved the needle firmly into the progressive part of our prog-power style, delivering an atmospheric, chilling, and dynamic performance meant to mimic the unstoppable advancement of the Blight over the land. Is the Blight a disease or a majestic triumph of organic life without limits?
At the end of last year, the band released Fisher King, which gets its name from the Arthurian Legend, telling the story of a wounded king unable to act as the protector of his lands, spending time fishing in a pond, leading to them falling into ruin. Paying homage to The Wheel of Time, the single received support from premier media outlets such as Bravewords, The Tinnitist, Power Metal, Grande Rock, Metal Heads Forever and the music video premiered via Metal Rules.
Born out of the vast prairies and snowy peaks of Alberta, Canada, RED CAIN is a modern progressive metal project with Eastern European roots. With intricate songwriting, powerful vocals, eerie soundscapes and strong electronic-backed groove, Red Cain champion a fluid, dynamic, and unique style centered around telling dark, conceptual Faustian sagas and constructing those into an unforgettable live experience. They self-released their debut self-titled EP (2016) to excellent reviews, and followed this up with two award-winning full-length albums, Kindred: Act I (2019), and AFA-funded Kindred: Act II (2021) working with Sliptrick Records globally to have over 3500+ physical copies sold, as well as over 200,000 digital streams to date.
The band has hit #1 on the Canadian National Loud Charts on multiple occasions and is a 1x winner, 3x nominee for the Metal Recording of the Year at the YYC Music Awards. Music videos for ZERO and Juliet have won 17 awards at international music festivals (Berlin Short Film Festival, Venice Shorts, Hollywood Art & Movie Awards + more). The band has a strong history of collaboration, with a highlight being their work with Juno Award-winning vocalist Kobra Paige of heavy metal band Kobra and the Lotus, on the track Wing of the Crow. With a significant upward trend of fan interest for this release, and 100,000 + digital streams, Red Cain has sights set firmly on another ambitious and conceptually exciting project.
Pushing progressive death metal in ever more imaginative directions, ENTHEOS continue to stand apart from the pack. Incorporating elements drawn from myriad genres – including death metal, groove, grunge, electronica, slam, gothic rock, jazz, prog and more – they have evolved with every release, and now they return with the follow up to 2017’s landmark Dark Future, the diverse and exhilarating Time Will Take Us All. It arrives March 3 via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order it here: metalblade.com/entheos
Today, the band has shared the video for “I Am the Void.” Watch it here:
“We’re incredibly proud to announce our new album Time Will Take Us All,” the band states. “The album’s concept is one of growth and self-reflection that focuses on the true human commonality – that our time on Earth is fleeting and what we choose to do with that knowledge is up to each of us as individuals. This is beautifully reflected in Eliran Kantor’s surreal cover art.“
The band furthers, “We’re excited to share a new single ‘I Am the Void.’ This song begins the second half of the album and represents the weight of feeling as though you cannot escape your own fears and anxieties. The video was shot by the incredible David Brodsky, Allison Woest and their team at My Good Eye Visuals.“
TIME WILL TAKE US ALL TRACK LISTING: 01. Absolute Zero 02. In Purgatory 03. The Interior Wilderness 04. Oblivion 05. I Am the Void 06. Darkest Day 07. Clarity in Waves 08. The Sinking Sun 09. Time Will Take Us All
“We knew when we started writing that we really wanted to make something darker and heavier that was still uniquely Entheos, and we knew that we wanted to make a record that really came from our hearts and captured where we want to take this band,” explains vocalist Chaney Crabb.
“The new album also has a strong ‘trippy’ vibe, not in a generic sense but meaning when you are done listening to it you feel like you’ve gone on a journey,” adds multi-instrumentalist Navene Koperweis. “I’ve always loved albums that gave me that feeling. I can’t say we set out to have the experience, it just sort of happened and that’s something I’m proud of.“
Having stripped down to a two-piece in 2020, this has helped to streamline the band and allow the core members to make the music they want to with no compromise, which is clearly to their betterment. Koperweis – who takes the role of drummer in the band’s live lineup – has long written most of the guitar parts, so it was not a radically different writing process, but allowed him the freedom of complete control. “I tell people this album is more of everything that we do, except this time it’s deeper in all directions,” says Koperweis. “We’re no longer dipping our toe in the pool on certain aspects, when we decide to go somewhere, we fucking go there.“
Relying less on synths and electronic production than on previous releases, a lot of the more atmospheric elements are contributed by guitar, and there is even an acoustic guitar for the first time on an Entheos record. Crabb has also pushed herself harder than ever before, interested in consistently practicing to find new pitches and timbres in her voice, and she has most certainly extended the range of her screaming. Using pitched screaming to add melodic lines in many places, this is also the first Entheos record on which she has sung.
When it came to penning the lyrics, Crabb knew that she was going to write about her own “experience as a human” and approach the album based on the lingering awareness many people have, that there is so much world out there and there are so many different experiences to have – but there is so little time. However, this idea really hit home in August 2021 when she got into an accident on her electric scooter on the day she started tracking vocals.
“I do not remember how I fell, but when I woke up I was really badly hurt. Gravel was embedded in my lower lip and had severed the inside of my chin from my face, my upper lip was completely split open to the point that my teeth were visible, my nasal septum bone was split in two and my nose was completely bent to one side – I ended up with 100 stitches in my face and was unable to do vocals for three months. I lost all abilities to move my nose and lips for those months, and to this day I still haven’t regained complete control.“
Because of this accident she found herself in a strange place mentally, juggling between feeling truly happy and grateful for every second that she was alive and got to spend with the people who she loved, but also feeling completely depressed, because of all of the uncertainty surrounding her injuries. She shares, “The album took form as a journey from the depths of depression into gratitude, but ultimately as an examination of our time and how precious it is.“
With Koperweis handling production duties and Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder) mixing the record, all of the drums were tracked by Zack Ohren at Castle Ultimate, and Koperweis tracked guitars and vocals. They also recruited former member Evan Brewer to supply the bass. Though committed to their status as a two-piece, the band does have a live lineup with Brian James (ex-Fallujah) and Robert Brown (ex-Slaughter to Prevail) providing guitar, maintaining their reputation for being a killer live band. Having delivered the best record of their career they are also in a very good place mentally, but they do not get ahead of themselves.
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 ) 