BLACK MIRRORS Release New Single + Music Video ‘Snake Oil’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 2, 2022
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[photo: Tim Tronckoe]

As Belgian rock sensations BLACK MIRRORS are gearing up for the release of their critically acclaimed studio album and new masterpiece, Tomorrow Will Be Without Us, out this Friday November 4, 2022 via Napalm Records, today, the band fronted by extraordinary vocalist Marcella Di Troia have shared a music video for the catchy new single “Snake Oil”!

BLACK MIRRORS’ second album is a deep, soulful and vividly textured 90’s inspired rock record with umpteen layers begging to be picked apart with each spin, and lyrically, traverses humankind’s increasing apathy towards the world around them. Are we killing our own planet? No, BLACK MIRRORS doesn’t believe that we as humans have the power to destroy mother earth. However, as the album cover below portrays, it’s clear who will end up burning – all living creatures, us. Tomorrow Will Be Without Us is a clear statement impacting every single one of us living on our planet.

The album’s grunge-infused guitar lines meld in harmony, giving way to memorable riffs, rhythmic gems, big grooves and the addictive, beautifully unchained vocals of Di Troia. It fluxes from fierce and blustery to often gentle and calming – channeling the flavor of MTV’s glory era of acts like Nirvana, Radiohead, Hole, Alain Johannes, Alice In Chains and beyond – showcasing BLACK MIRRORS’ unforced, versatile and organic talent. Give ear and get ready for one of THE rock release highlights of the year!

BLACK MIRRORS says about the new single:
“Snake Oil is one of the last songs we wrote for “Tomorrow Will Be Without Us”. As soon as we started working on it, we could feel its great potential — it absolutely had to be on our second album! We can already tell you that it’s the first track of our new record. It perfectly gives you an idea of the tone of our new album: raw and wild!

The song is about being manipulated by someone… then realizing how stupid you’ve been not to notice the game they played to fool you.“ 

“The idea behind the video was to combine the main theme of “Tomorrow Will Be Without Us” with the manipulation story of the song,“ the band continues. “So Marcella started to think of this girl being in a psychiatric hospital room, stuck, unable to see anything. Increasingly, she becomes the carrier of some important information that you get to see at the very end of the video.“

Contrary to the album’s title and its evocative themes about today’s society and a world falling apart, tomorrow does belong to BLACK MIRRORS – there is no doubt they will own the next decade, providing us with the finest in heavy rock and melodic grunge grandeur the world of tomorrow unconditionally needs.

“Like all of us, we had to go through a lot during these past years. Tomorrow Will Be Without Us is our answer to all the questions we had during that time, our reflection on the ecological catastrophe we’re all witnessing, our thoughts on our consumerist society, …“ the band recently explained. “Writing these songs gave us the strength to go forward and to heal us, it was our catharsis. We deeply hope it will bring you some light in these dark times.”

Together with the touch of worldwide-acclaimed producer Alain Johannes (Eagles Of Death Metal, Queens Of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, No Doubt,…), BLACK MIRRORS have reset the bar to unexpected heights, and their new album promises to leave its mark on today’s rock scene worldwide! One can be sure, the music world of tomorrow would be a lonely place without BLACK MIRRORS, and Tomorrow Will Be Without Us locks them at the top!

Pre-Order Tomorrow Will Be Without Us HERE!

Album Tracklist:

  1. Snake Oil
  2. Lost in Desert
  3. Tomorrow Will be Without Us
  4. Hateful Hate, I’ll Kill You
  5. Ode to my Unborn Child
  6. Through the Eyes of a Giant
  7. Collapsology (Raise Your Voice), feat. Alain Johannes
  8. Anthropocene
  9. Tears to Share
  10. Say it Again

In support of their upcoming album, BLACK MIRRORS will be playing a series of exclusive release shows. Make sure to catch them live at the following dates:


03.11.2022 (DE) Hamburg – Headcrash
04.11.2022 (DE) Berlin – Cassiopeia
18.11.2022 (BE) Brussels – Botanique

ESOTERIC Kick Off European Tour with SATURNUS

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 2, 2022
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment
Photo by Paul Ward

Dark experimental doom band ESOTERIC are kicking off their European Tour today, supporting their fellow titans of Doom; SATURNUS. ESOTERIC will be touring for the first time since the 2019 release of “A Pyrrhic Existence”.

The tour will start in the Danish capital Copenhagen with another 15 shows ahead in 10 different countries. After kicking up dust throughout Europe, the band will have their last show in Milan – Club Legend (IT) on November 16, 2022. 

The band announced they will add a large amount of songs of ‘A Pyrrhic Existence’ album to their setlist during the ‘Before The Storm’ tour. 

A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.

The album is available in the Season of Mist shop HERE.

Tourdates Esoteric
02 Nov 22 Copenhagen (DK) Hotel Cecil
03 Nov 22 Hamburg (DE) Headcrash
04 Nov 22 Berlin (DE) Slaughterhouse Moabit
05 Nov 22 Rotterdam (NL) Dutch Doom Days
06 Nov 22 Diest (BE) Hell Club
07 Nov 22 Kassel (DE) Goldgrube
08 Nov 22 Prague (CZ) Futurum
09 Nov 22 Ostrawa (CZ) Barrack
10 Nov 22 Budapest (HU) Durer Kurt
11 Nov 22 Cluj Napoca (RO) Flying Circus
12 Nov 22 Bucharest (RO) Quantic
13 Nov 22 Novi Sad (SRB) Fabrika
14 Nov 22 Ljubljana (SL) Channel Zero
15 Nov 22 Bologna (IT) Freakout
16 Nov 22 Milan (IT) Legend Club

MICHAEL MONROE Release ‘Derelict Palace’ Video, New Album Out Now, New Live Dates Announced

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 2, 2022
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On All Hallows’ Eve MICHAEL MONROE released the video for the majestically dark single, “Derelict Palace”, taken from the album, I Live Too Fast To Die Young, out now via Silver Lining Music.

“Derelict Palace” is about watching someone that you care about disappear into drug addiction’ guitarist Rich Jones explains. Musically, the track takes on a melodic sombre tone. “I had been listening to a lot of post-punk when I wrote it – Echo & The Bunnymen, Psychedelic Furs, The Church – and I wanted to see if we could push the band in that kind of musical direction” adds Jones.

The single is aptly accompanied with an eerie yet mesmerising video showing the band performing in a desolate, gothic, manor house, including scenes of Monroe flicking a switchblade knife gifted to him recently in Milan by none other than Alice Cooper himself.

Michael Monroe adds, “the song was written about people who get a little too into drugs and before you know it, they kind of disappear from all of the people and things that they used to love. Of course that’s sad but that said, there’s something cool about being an outcast and not fitting in… This is one of my favorite songs off the I Live Too Fast To Die Young album and it adds a nice new dimension to my band’s sound and style. Plus, we found the perfect place to film the video for it!”

At a time when it seems increasingly hard to remain positive, I Live Too Fast To Die Young encompasses eleven lean, mean, raw slices of rock ‘n’ roll joy. Even when the key goes minor, Monroe’s music always seems to retain at the very least a hopeful edge, something he ascribes to a specific Finnish quality.

“Finnish people are experts in melancholia,” Monroe affirms, “and a lot of that melancholia – certain chords and sounds, even though they’re minor keys – is not necessarily sad. It’s just kind of a melancholic feeling that feels good in the end.”

Michael Monroe and gang will be joining Black Star Riders on their 2023 UK tour along with Motörhead’s Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons. The tour will kick-off on February 13th at Nottingham’s Rock City and conclude at London’s 02 Shepherds Bush Empire on February 26th. For tickets and more information please visit: www.michaelmonroe.com/web/

2023 UK Tour Dates (with Black Star Riders and Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons):

13 Feb – Nottingham, Rock City
15 Feb – Norwich, UEA
16 Feb – Ipswich, Corn Exchange
17 Feb – Manchester, O2 Ritz
18 Feb – Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill
19 Feb – Leeds, O2 Academy
21 Feb – Cardiff, Tramshed
22 Feb – Bristol, O2 Academy
23 Feb – Glasgow, SWG3
24 Feb – Newcastle, O2 City Hall
26 Feb – London, O2 Shepherds Bush Empire

I Live Too Fast To Die Young is available now on CD Digipak, 12” Red Vinyl, Digital Download, Streaming and special D2C bundles at this location.

Listen to the recently released ‘Murder The Summer Of Love’, ‘Can’t Stop Falling Apart’ and ‘Everybody’s Nobody’ here.

I LIVE TOO FAST TO DIE YOUNG TRACK LISTING:

01 – Murder the Summer of Love
02 – Young Drunks & Old Alcoholics
03 – Derelict Palace
04 – All Fighter
05 – Everybody’s Nobody
06 – Antisocialite
07 – Can’t Stop Falling Apart
08 – Pagan Prayer
09 – No Guilt
10 – I Live Too Fast to Die Young
11 – Dearly Departed

BAND LINE-UP:

  • Michael Monroe – lead vocals, harmonica
  • Steve Conte – guitars, vocals
  • Rich Jones – guitars, vocals
  • Karl Rockfist – drums
  • Sami Yaffa – bass, vocals
  • Recorded and mixed by Erno “Error” Laitinen at Inkfish Studios, Helsinki, Finland
  • Produced by Erno “Error” Laitinen, Michael Monroe, Rich Jones, Sami Yafa, Steve Conte & Karl Rockfist
  • Mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers

ADDITIONAL MUSICIANS:

  • Slash – guitar solo & additional guitars on “I Live Too Fast To Die Young”
  • Lenni-Kalle Taipale – Piano on “Antisocialite” & “Can’t Stop Falling Apart”
  • Suvi Aalto & Astrid Nicole – Additional backing vocals on “Can’t Stop Falling Apart” & “Murder The Summer Of Love”
  • Neil Leyton – Additional backing vocals on “Everybody’s Nobody”, “Murder The Summer Of Love” & “All Fighter”

KLUBBER LANG Release New Single ‘The Sad Professor’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 2, 2022
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KLUBBER LANG make a welcome return with their new single ‘The Sad Professor’, the perfect follow up to last May’s ‘Make Amends’, with the Dublin outfit continuing their release of unrelentingly visceral rock songs.  
 
Klubber Lang have garnered many admirers both at home and further afield and have created a real level of expectation with the series of singles they have released over the last 2 years under the FIFA Records banner and with their explosive live shows, which have included much-coveted tour support slots with fellow Irish heavy hitters ‘Kerbdog’.

Like previous singles ‘Sleep Well’, ‘I Will Not Wait’, ‘This Place’ and the aforementioned ‘Make Amends’, the Dublin noise merchants latest offering has the trade mark, pounding rhythm section, inventive guitar riffs and the brilliantly unique vocal delivery of frontman McGoldrick. Once again, the combination has delivered another original and compelling strain of noise rock;
‘The Sad Professor’ will be available on bandcamp and minm  from Nov 4th and on all other digital platforms from Nov 11th.

The band will play as special guests to Kerbdog for their sold-out ‘Roisin Dubh’ show in Galway on Nov 4th.

Klubber Lang are Ciaran McGoldrick, Ciaran Tallon, Fin O’Leary and Ronan McHugh.

Polynesian SHEPHERDS REIGN Sign with Golden Robot Records, New Music Coming

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 2, 2022
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Golden Robot Records are proud to announce the signing of the fiery, full-blooded Polynesian metal band, SHEPHERDS REIGN. 

Members Filiva’a James, Oliver Leupolu, Shaymen Rameka, Gideon Voon and Joseph Oti-George have cemented a unique space for themselves in the industry with thunderously fearsome hits, including 2020 hauntingly feral track ‘Le Manu‘ that has amassed over 1 million streams since its release. 

“We have had our eye on Shepherds Reign for years.  There is no one doing what they are doing, it is completely unique and we are thrilled to be a part of it. This is just the beginning for Shepherds Reign, the catapult is coming,” says Golden Robot Records CEO and President Mark Alexander-Erber.

“From our first meeting with Golden Robot I could really feel the passion that Mark and the team have for music and rock n roll so I’m really excited to see what we can achieve together,” enthuses Oliver Leupolu. “We have great feelings about our new joint venture, there’s a great sense of ‘justice’ for rock n roll in the house of GR and in saying that, I believe Shepherds Reign will fit the bill very well. A new path has opened but the journey remains the same!” adds Shaymen Rameka. 

With new music on the horizon, the rarity of Shepherds Reign will become more evident, as will their demand for the world stage. The bands guitarist Gideon Voon sums it up saying, “We are excited for the next chapter in our story, as we have full confidence in Golden Robot to give us the tools to carve our place in the history of music.” 

Fiercely dedicated to their to their cultural heritage and Polynesian pride, every Shepherds Reign live performance bleeds inner grit and passion, and as said-stages multiply Shepherds Reign remain as ferociously focused as ever on taking over the world with their next chapter looking paramount. “A new path has opened but the journey remains the same!” roars Rameka.

Pay attention. Shepherds Reign are here and they’re determined. 

SAU IAAA!!!

OAK Release New Single ‘Paperwings’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on November 2, 2022
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With the release date of “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” getting ever closer,  Karisma Records have today released one more single from the album, giving one more insight into what fans, old and new, can expect from the latest offering from Progressive Pop/Rockers OAK.

Titled “Paperwings”, OAK had this to say about the track:

We set out to write some shorter songs for this album, but “Paperwings” ended up being our longest one yet. It`s a journey through most aspects of our musical universe, and a dark and forceful ride into the nature of desperation, sorrow and hope.

“Paperwings” can be streamed or downloaded from a number of services at https://link.karismarecords.no/Oak_Paperwings

Set for release on the 11th November, the album itself is the perfect example of what results when a group of musicians from diverse backgrounds get together to make music.   With a skill set that ranges from classical piano, to electronica, to prog and hard rock, OAK’s lineup of Simen Valldal Johannessen on vocals, piano and keys, Øystein Sootholtet on bass, acoustic and electric guitars, Sigbjørn Reiakvam on drums, percussion, programming, keys and guitars, and Stephan Hvinden on lead, rhythm and slide guitars has been able to produce a sound that weaves its way through both the alternative and the progressive rock scenes.

Easily OAK’s  most dynamic album to date “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” presents  a sharper edge than its two predecessors. With some surprises along the way, the sound is still unmistakably OAK, and offers a subtle insight into what went before, and what is yet to come, from the band.

What makes this album extra special though, is its subject matter – the  frequently misunderstood issue of mental health with a focus on suicide.  But to be very clear OAK have eschewed the temptation to fall into the “sensationalist” way of looking at these matters.  Instead they have treated these controversial subjects with the respect and sympathy they deserve, seeking advice from experienced scholars in order that the message comes  across clearly.

OAK’s painstaking efforts with “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” are even reflected in the cover design, which is by Remi Juliebø / Deformat.  Based on the death mask of an unknown drowning victim from 1880s Paris, known as “L’Inconnue de la Seine”,  Anne-Marie Forker’s photography is a poignant reference to the album’s subject matter, whilst the font itself is partially based on the handwriting from two real suicide notes. 
Recorded  in Ljugekroken and mixed at the Ghostward Studio by David Castillo (KATATONIA, LEPROUS OPETH, etc.) “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” was mastered by Tony Lindgren at the Fascination Street Studio.  

Track listing for “The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” is as follows.

1. Highest Tower, Deepest Well
2. Quiet Rebellion
3. Dreamless Sleep
4. Sunday 8 AM
5. Demagogue Communion
6. Paperwings
7. Guest of Honour

“The Quiet Rebellion of Compromise” will be available in CD, Digital and Limited Edition white vinyl formats, and can now be pre-order from the following:
 
Various Services (regularly updated) https://link.karismarecords.no/Oak_The-Quiet-Rebellion-of-Compromise
Webshop:  https://www.karismarecords.no/kar225-oak-the-quiet-rebellion-of-compromise/
Bandcamp: https://oakinoslo.bandcamp.com/album/the-quiet-rebellion-of-compromise
US Webshop: https://karismarecords.indiemerch.com/band/oak