Stepping into the brand-new Marshall Studio with legendary producer Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Gun, Feeder), BAD TOUCH have recorded a heartfelt cover of The Marshall Tucker Band’s signature song Can’t You See. Stream the single HERE.
Vocalist Stevie Westwood said, ‘It’s such a great song, both the original and the Black Stone Cherry versions are out of this world. We hope that our one stands up with them, it was a lot of fun to do.” Released ahead of their November 2021 tour, Bad Touch were one of the first bands to enter the new state-of-the-art Marshall Studio recording studio.
The Marshall Studio is a state-of-the-art recording facility located at Marshall Amplification’s global headquarters in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire built around a 70’s Neve 8048, heavily modified and customised for Marshall by Neve specialist Blake Devitt.
Bad Touch’s lead singer, Stevie Westwood, described working there as an amazing opportunity. “After such an awful 18 months for the music business, to be invited to such a space was a real gift,” says Stevie. “We thank Chris for making the songs sound interstellar.”
Bad Touch will embark on their “Better Late Than Never” UK tour in November and December 2021, previously rescheduled from April 2021 (all original tickets remain valid). Special guests on all shows except Leo’s Red Lion are Midlands rockers PISTON.
The 15-date tour includes their hometown Norwich (Nov 17), Newcastle (Nov 19), Glasgow (Nov 20), Southampton (Dec 1) and London (Dec 2), plus many more dates.
Norwich, The Waterfront Studio – Wednesday 17th November 2021 Newcastle, The Cluny – Friday 19th November 2021 Glasgow, King Tut’s – Saturday 20th November 2021 Dundee, Beat Generator Live! – Sunday 21st November 2021 Manchester, The Bread Shed – Monday 22nd November 2021 Nottingham, The Bodega – Tuesday 23rd November 2021 Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill – Wednesday 24th November 2021 Leeds, The Key Club – Friday 26th November 2021 Buckley, The Tivoli – Saturday 27th November 2021 Newport, The Patriot – Sunday 28th November 2021 Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach – Monday 29th November 2021 Exeter, The Cavern – Tuesday 30th November April 2021 Southampton, The Joiners – Wednesday 1st December 2021 London, O2 Academy Islington 2 – Thursday 2nd December 2021 Gravesend, The Red Lion – Saturday 4th December 2021 *Excludes PISTON
Bad Touch will perform songs from their critically acclaimed current studio album Kiss the Sky, as well as songs from their vast catalogue. Known for having a reputation as one of the UK’s hardest working bands, Bad Touch are looking forward to performing live for their UK fans in November and December.
Bad Touch are Stevie Westwood (vocals), Rob Glendinning (guitar), Daniel Seekings (guitar), Michael Bailey (bass) and George Drewry (drums).
Swedish Multi-Instrumentalist (Opeth, Spiritual Beggars) PER WIBERG has premiered his new epic lyric video for “All Is Well In The Land Of The Living…”, taken from his new EP ‘All is well in the land of the living, but for the rest of us… lights out‘, out now via Despotz Records.
Per Wiberg is a highly accomplished musician and sonic craftsman of the highest order. Expertly-versed in the art of song-writing with his formidable skill-set, Wiberg is a heavy-rock heavyweight. A well-known, illustrious multi-instrumentalist, having illuminated multiple classic albums and stages with esteemed bands over the years such as Opeth, Spiritual Beggars, Candlemass as well as Clutch/Bakerton Group, Switchblade and Kamchatka to name but a few, Wiberg’s solo work is the pinnacle of his odyssey through music. Over three decades of expertise culminate in a sound that is distinctly Per Wiberg’s own, with Classic Rock describing it as “sometimes reminiscent of the distant beauty of Steven Wilson, sometimes of the industrial hypothermia of Nine Inch Nails and sometimes of simply nothing that existed before him.”
Wiberg broke head-turning waves with his debut solo album “Head Without Eyes” in 2019, consumating his career as a musician in an eruption of soulful song. Nordic prog in a gnawing stew of jolting guitar notes, jangling bones and emotive melodies, Wiberg’s debut laid bare a beautifully uncharted new terrain that outstripped the laurels of his past and solidified his strong presence as a unique solo artist in his own right. Now Wiberg’s new EP, aptly titled for these turbulent times ‘All Is Well In the Land of the Living But For The Rest Of Us… Lights Out’ is a commanding celebration of innovative rock at it’s best. Expanding and further evolving his vision, Wiberg adeptly paints the definitive and familiar paradigms of golden age progressive rock with spirited and electrifying twists of dark tone. Listening to a master weave his deep spells, from shadow to light, we’re at once entranced and delighted in equal measure as Per Wiberg brews a potent concoction. Captivating and catchy, forever new. Expansive and impassioned on tracks like ‘All is Well‘ comes across like Young Gods gone prog, to the haunting and Avant-garde ‘But for The Rest Of Us‘ with it’s dark improv in the vein of Alice Coltrane/Sun Ra, Wiberg unfolds his sound out in blankets of fresh atmosphere. ‘In The Land Of The Living‘ smashes latter era Sonic Youth alt rock into the heavy fuzzing riffs of King Crimson/Hawkwind with a bassline that has you hitting the steering-wheel across bleak highways and ‘Lights Out‘ is on the melancholic Dark Side Of The Moon with Ulver at their most post-pop, early Porcupine Tree at their most anthemic. If you want to hear Swedish progressive metal taken to the next level of dark melodic exploration, you will find your black heart in the different kind of heavy of ‘All Is Well In The Land Of The Living…‘
Metal Assault Records is thrilled to announce its first international signing. All the way from Bangalore, India stoner/doom metal band BEVAR SEA joins the Metal Assault Records roster. Stalwarts of the Indian stoner doom scene for well over a decade in addition to carrying a solid fanbase internationally within the heavy underground, BEVAR SEA has inked a multi-album deal with Metal Assault Records and will release the band’s third full-length studio album, The Timeless Zone, in early 2022. Album pre-orders will be launched in Fall 2021. The stunning cover artwork created for the album along with its track-list were unveiled earlier this week by BEVAR SEA and can be seen below. More details surrounding the pre-orders for The Timeless Zone including available formats and exclusive merchandise bundles will be made available in the coming weeks. For a preview of The Timeless Zone and a taste of the BEVAR SEA sound, stream the official lyric video for the album title track and lead single below.
The Timeless Zone track listing:
The Timeless Zone
Alpha None
Sterilise The Divide
The Circle
Kiss The Sigh
Cadaver Awake
On signing BEVAR SEA, Metal Assault Records owner Andrew Bansal states: “This one is special, and close to home (literally). When I briefly moved from Los Angeles to India in 2012-13, little did I know that I’d get to discover this amazing band. I happened to attend a gig in Mumbai wherein I got to see Bevar Sea live for the first time. It was their debut album release show and they left an indelible impression on me with their musicianship and performance that night. I made sure to attend as many of their shows as I could, particularly the ones in their hometown of Bangalore. Even after moving back to the US in 2013, I kept track of Bevar Sea’s progress and stayed in touch with the band members. Fast forward to 2021, they are now signed to my label and I could not be more excited!”
BEVAR SEA issued the following statement in celebration of their signing with Metal Assault Records. “Having managed the first two releases ourselves and having seen where most of our fans and orders come from, we looked out for a North America or Europe based label to release The Timeless Zone, essentially to fix some of the issues we’ve had with worldwide distribution and logistics, and also to allow us to focus more on the music itself. We’ve known Andrew as a friend and a fan for many years, and quick trivia, he was also our manager for a short while back in 2012, so his label and its diverse roster is an ideal match for us for this album and beyond.”
Established in 2008, BEVAR SEA roared into the live scene in 2011. The following year, their eponymous album was released and earned them rave reviews worldwide along with the title of “Best Emerging Act” at the Rolling Stone Metal Awards India. BEVAR SEA also snapped up a performance slot at the coveted Maryland Deathfest in 2013. Their debut album was mixed and mastered by the legendary Billy Anderson. The enthralling 45-min hook-ladened stoner/doom experience quickly garnered the band a firm reputation among fans in their country and internationally. Album track “Abishtu” which tells the story of a serial killer out for hipster blood and on the run from the law quickly became a live show favorite among fans while the 14-min track “Mono Gnome” about a short-statured man and his love for a witch turned out to be the pick in the doom circles.
BEVAR SEA followed up their debut album with Invoke the Bizarre in 2015. Drifting into new sonic territories, the band recorded at a breakneck pace over 10 days at Adarsh Recording Studio to complete the album. Mixing and mastering duties were handled by Matt Lynch (LA’s Mysterious Mammal Recording, also from the incredible band Snail). Invoke the Bizarre was well received by music media and fans alike for its intricate song arrangements, unique story-telling and mature, well-rounded execution. Now, five years after releasing Invoke the Bizarre Bangalore’s BEVAR SEA utilized the Covid-19 imposed lockdown as an opportunity to regroup and begin working on their third studio album, The Timeless Zone. Against backdrop of enigmatic lyrics portraying a tryst with the consciousness of man during a period of deep introspection; The Timeless Zone pays homage to the glory years of the 70s and 80s hard rock era while keeping things heavy handed in a gloomy haze of gnarly guitar riffs, raspy vocals and apocalyptic fuzz. Expect even more crushing from BEVAR SEA amidst the arrival of The Timeless Zone slated for release early 2022 on Metal Assault Records.
Hot on the heels of last year’s critically acclaimed debut EP, Madness Comes, Swedish death metal assembly, GRAND CADAVER, return with a brand-new single and update on their debut album.
Featuring guitarists Stefan Lagergren (The Grifted/ex. Treblinka/Expulsion) and Alex Stjernfeldt (Novarupta/Let Them Hang), drummer Daniel Liljekvist (Disrupted/ex. Katatonia), Pagandom bassist Christian Jansson, and vocals from Dark Tranquillity’s Mikael Stanne, the band draws together some of the finest musicians the Swedish metal scene has to offer.
“I heard two songs from an early demo, and I just knew I had to work with them,” explains Majestic Mountain Records’ Marco Berg. “I was blown away! Grand Cadaver honours old-school death metal but put their own spin on it and the production is some of the heaviest I have heard in years.”
New single ‘Reign Through Fire’ is a sprawling death metal dirge driven deftly around the historic circuitry of Marshall stacks and HM-2s. Where traditional thrash metal meets Stockholm Death Metal, consuming doom and progressive rock along the way, Grand Cadaver was established to celebrate the legacy of extreme music, while seizing the moment to hang out, drink beers and share riffs and great music with friends and close allies.
The band will officially release their debut album, Into the Maw of Death, on 29th October via Majestic Mountain Records but you can stream their scorching new single ‘Reign Through Fire’ now – https://bit.ly/2TTx0zX
Guitarist and singer-songwriter, TROY REDFERN, dubbed as Britain’s “King of slide guitar,” releases Sanctify his new single and music video on Friday August 6th; the same day as has his new album The Fire Cosmic.
Watch the psychedelic video, directed by Charlie Smith of Mind Art Visual HERE.
Sanctify is the third single taken from The Fire Cosmic. It follows hot on the heels of his previous single Ghosts which was playlisted on Planet Rock with spot plays on many other radio stations.
Written on a beat up 1929 National Triolian Resonator, Sanctify is described by Troy as a “heavy blues-billy boogie stomp.”
Sanctify epitomises everything that Troy Redfern does best – honest heavy-weight blues – John Lee Hooker riffs on steroids, thunderous bass by Dave Marks and the ‘foot to the floor’ drums of Darby Todd.
Sanctify is available to stream and download HERE. Order the The Fire Cosmic album HERE.
The new album, The Fire Cosmic, follows five unprecedented albums that Troy released in 2020. It was recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios in North Wales, the same studio where Queen recorded all their early albums including Sheer Heart Attack (1974) followed by A Night At The Opera (1975).
For the new album, Troy enlisted one of the best rhythm sections in the UK, including the legendary Darby Todd on drums (The Darkness, Paul Gilbert), and bass guitarist Dave Marks (Hans Zimmer). Guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (Guns ‘N Roses, Asia, Sons of Apollo), plays guitar on the song On Fire.
Troy describes the contributors on the album as “the ultimate dream team” on what is arguably the British guitarist’s most distinctive and powerful release to date.
“I chose Rockfield Studios because so much of the music I grew up listening to was recorded at this legendary studio (Queen, Black Sabbath),” says Troy. “The studio has a timeless reputation for all the iconic, classic albums that have been produced there.”
“It was important for me to capture the raw energy of three guys playing live in the same place, at the same time. That’s something that you just can’t get if you’re sending files from different locations, it doesn’t have the same vibe or feel if you do it that way.”
As soon as we arrived at Rockfield, everyone, including Darby and Dave who’ve recorded all over the world, were excited to be there,” continues Troy. “It’s that kind of place. It has that effect on every musician who records there. Even before we started recording, the energy and vibe was there, which definitely set the tone for the entire album.”
Troy cut his teeth and refined his style over the last few years, playing festival main stages and blazing a trail across Europe, Scandinavia, and Russia. He’s also become a well-known draw on the UK Blues Rock festival circuit, playing alongside rock luminaries including Robert Plant.
The forthcoming studio album is a culmination everything Troy has learnt so far on his musical journey, and, more importantly, brings into sharp focus a much tighter song-writing and more visceral, muscular production style.
For production duties, Troy enlisted the Brighton- based producer Paul ‘Win’ Winstanley, best known for his epic rock production style, and whom Troy met and had worked with previously on the 2019 RHR album, Hotel Toledo. Troy and Win bonded immediately, and shared the same musical aesthetic, no nonsense work ethic and dry sense of humour.
Rockfield’s vintage mics, mixing desk, and analogue outboard gear gave Win options to capture the dynamic performances on the album. “It was like being a kid in a candy store,” says Win.
“It was important for the album to sound massive,” says Troy. “It was a much bigger sound than anything that I’ve released before. As soon as we heard the first takes in the control, we were blown away. We knew that we captured something special. It sounded fantastic.”
MUSICIANS
TROY REDFERN – VOCALS, GUITARS RON ‘BUMBLEFOOT’ THAL – GUITARS (TRACK 5) DARBY TODD – DRUMS DAVE MARKS – BASS, PIANO, KEYS, PERCUSSION RECORDED & MIXED AT ROCKFIELD STUDIOS BY PAUL ‘WIN’ WINSTANLEY ASSISTANT ENGINEER – JOE JONES MASTERED BY FRANK ARKWRIGHT AT ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS
Cardiff, The Globe – Thursday 16 September 2021 Sittingbourne, The Bourne Music Club – Friday 17 September 2021 Chester, Live Rooms – Saturday 18 September 2021 Leeds, Brudenell Social Club – Sunday 19 September 2021 Newcastle, The Cluny – Monday 20 September 2021 Manchester, Night & Day – Tuesday 21 September 2021 Nottingham, The Bodega – Wednesday 22 September 2021 London, The 100 Club – Thursday 23 September 2021 Edinburgh, Voodoo Rooms – Friday 24 September 2021 Aberdeen, Cafe Drummond – Saturday 25 September 2021 Hartlepool, South Durham Steel Works Club – Sunday 26 September 2021
Palladium, Bideford – Friday 4 March 2022 Old Bakery, Truro – Saturday 5 March 2022 Phoenix, Exeter – Sunday 6 March 2022 The Musician, Leicester – Wednesday 9 March 2022 The Flowerpot, Derby – Thursday 10 March 2022 The Bullingdon, Oxford – Friday 11 March 2022 Philharmonic, Liverpool – Saturday 12 March 2022 Continental, Preston – Wednesday 16 March 2022 Bodega, Nottingham – Thursday 17 March 2022 Hug & Pint, Glasgow – Friday 18 March 2022 The Cluny, Newcastle – Saturday 19 March 2022 Elsewhere, Margate – Wednesday 23 March 2022 Junction, Cambridge – Thursday 24 March 2022 The 100 Club, London – Friday 25 March 2022 Thekla, Bristol – Saturday 26 March 2022 Guildhall, Gloucester – Wednesday 30 March 2022 The Greystones, Sheffield – Thursday 31 March 2022 Town Hall, Selby – Friday 1 April 2022 The Tivoli, Buckley – Saturday 2 April 2022 The Star, Guildford – Wednesday 6 April 2022 The Robin, Bilston – Thursday 7 April 2022 Arts Centre, Bridgwater – Friday 8 April 2022 Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon – Saturday 9 April 2022 Nightrain, Bradford – Thursday 21 April 2022 The Tivoli, Wimborne – Friday 22 April 2022 Ropetackle, Brighton – Saturday 23 April 2022
Hamburg- based sludge metal act, HIGH FIGHTER, has announced the release of their first live album. Soon after their second album, the critically acclaimed Champain in 2019, the band was forced to stop promoting the record live due to obvious reasons, when they got invited by German TV and iconic live format WDR Rockpalast to be part of a special Offstage– series. High Fighter Live at WDR Rockpalast will be released on November 26, 2021, available as a strictly limited Vinyl edition and as Digital formats, through Italy’s powerhouse label Argonauta Records.
Filmed in August 2020 at an industrial, breathtaking setting of the Landschaftspark Duisburg- Nord, Germany, HIGH FIGHTER’s only show since the beginning of the pandemic; under strict Covid- rules and without a crowd, was aired on TV and is available to stream online here. The live album was recorded by Dominik Schenke with a pre- mix by Christoph Scheidel at 79 Sound Studio, while Jan Oberg (Earth Ship / Grin) added the final mix and mastering at Hidden Planet Studio in Berlin.
With their vibrant blend of sludge metal, doom and stoner blues- core, HIGH FIGHTER‘s Live at WDR Rockpalast will feature a heavy set and collection of songs taken from the band’s first 3 records: The rough and raw, 2014- debut EP The Goat Ritual, their first full- length album Scars & Crosses (2016, Svart Records), and the latest, fast- paced and brutal sludge juggernaut Champain, released in 2019 on Argonauta Records. HIGH FIGHTER have just shared a teaser, check it out here:
“It was obvious both for High Fighter and me to give a prosecution to the stellar album Champain, which received so much great feedback across the board,“ says Gero Lucisano, owner of Argonauta Records. “We spoke of various options we had on the table, if it was appropriate to be again on the market with any special release before any new album. It was totally crazy, that a worldwide pandemic completely disoriented the whole market at all levels. Thankfully, a very fine chance has been proposed us when checking the killer set the band played at WDR Rockpalast. An impressive show full of energy, impressive executions followed by top recordings. And we are now proud to officially announce this beast!”
“This show was special yet kind of surreal for us,” HIGH FIGHTERvocalist Mona Miluski adds. “We never played such a location before — and especially no show like in such dark times and under circumstances like these. The production and whole WDR team was a top- notch professional, and we just felt lucky to finally play live at least for the moment and that session. We’re still stoked for the opportunity WDR TV gave an underground band like us to be a part of this concert series. But most important and special for us, it’s been the last show we have played with our former guitarist and dear friend, Shi, who decided to leave the band a few months later. This album is kind of dedicated to him and us as a five- piece band, from now on you won’t get to see High Fighter in this line- up again. We will continue as the four of us, and we are heavily working on many new songs and sound for our third album, but meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this little live affair!“
High Fighter Live at WDR Rockpalast Tracklist:
Side A:
Darkest Days
When We Suffer
Dead Gift
Black Waters
Side B:
A Silver Heart
Down To The Sky
Before I Disappear
Shine Equal Dark
Slated for a release on November 26, 2021 with Argonauta Records, the pre- sale of this limited live LP will follow soon.
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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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