Additional Season of Mist Bands Added to Roadburn Redux Lineup

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 3, 2021
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Season of Mist is proud to announce the additions of a few more of our distinct and visionary artists whom have been chosen and announced to perform at the 2021 ‘Redux’ edition of the prestigious and unique Roadburn Festival. We congratulate NERO DI MARTE who have been selected for the already mind blowing digital event that will occur on April 16-18.

Besides these live performances, REGARDE LES HOMMES TOMBER, OBSIDIAN KINGDOM and THE DEVIL’s TRADE will premiere their exclusive pre-recorded live shows and there will also be an exclusive track premiere from the upcoming THY CATAFALQUE album! EMPTINESS and AUTARKH have also previously been revealed as part of the phenomenal lineup. Stay tuned for more updates and time-tables. 

Roadburn 2021 will be taking place in an unfamiliar format – but it will still retain the hallmarks of what makes the usual editions a must-attend event for fans of heavy music around the globe. Roadburn Redux will feature exclusive performances live at the 013 venue which will be broadcast around the world via the Roadburn purpose-built platform which includes a real-time live blog. In between those shows will be a whole programme of premieres and special performances as we continue to highlight the most innovative and engaging artists in the Roadburn universe.

NAPALM DEATH Sign New Deal With Century Media Records; Announce Catalogue-Album Re-Issues

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 3, 2021
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UK Grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH have recently signed a new deal with Century Media Records, extending the long-running co-operation between the parties once more.

NAPALM DEATH vocalist Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway commented: “Very happy to let people know that we have put pen to paper and taken the plunge with Century Media again. Crucial to NAPALM DEATH was that we continued to retain artistic and creative control and also continue to have a determining voice in how our music is used – and, equally as importantly, isn’t used. The people we have consistently worked with down the years at Century Media have always been extremely attuned to this, and we have never experienced anything like the heavy hand of suffocating commercial pressure that can be inherent in this kind of relationship and lead to crappy creative outcomes. Looking forward to sonically bending more minds with their help.”

Philipp Schulte, Director Century Media Records Europe, also checked in with the following comment: “NAPALM DEATH and Century Media Records have gone a long way together already, so it makes us very happy continuing as the band’s partner for the years ahead. The value of artistic freedom and creativity has always been of profound significance for NAPALM DEATH. It was the key to becoming and staying one of the most important bands – then and now. We take this very seriously. Thanks to the band for their trust. We are looking forward to this extended strong partnership.”

In other news, Century Media Records are now making two of the group’s outstanding albums from their ample catalogue available physically again in their standard versions: “Time Waits For No Slave” (2009) and “Utilitarian” (2012) will be released as LP on 180g vinyl and as Jewelcase CD on June 4th, 2021. These are the vinyl variants and available for both albums:

“Time Waits For No Slave”:
Black LP – unlimited
Brown LP – 200x copies via CM Webshop Europe & Coretex
Neon green LP – 200x copies via EMP
Bright gold LP – 200x copies via Nuclear Blast
Neon orange LP – 300x copies via CM Distro and Webshop Europe

“Utilitarian”:
Black LP – unlimited
Bottle Green LP – 200x copies via CM Webshop Europe & Coretex
Bright gold LP – 200x copies via EMP
Transparent magenta LP – 200x copies via Nuclear Blast
Grey LP – 300x copies via CM Distro and Webshop Europe

The pre-order for the albums starts today here: 
https://napalmdeath.lnk.to/TimeWaitsForNoSlave-ReIssuePR
https://napalmdeath.lnk.to/Utilitarian-ReIssuePR

Here are the tracklistings for both re-issues:

NAPALM DEATH – “Time Waits For No Slave” (50:22)
1. Strong-arm (03:04)
2. Diktat (03:41)
3. Work To Rule (03:16)
4. On The Brink Of Extinction (03:29)
5. Time Waits For No Slave (04:26)
6. Life And Limb (04:00)
7. Downbeat Clique (04:26)
—————————————-
8. Fallacy Dominion (04:07)
9. Passive Tense (03:48)
10. Larceny Of The Heart (03:36)
11. Procrastination On The Empty Vessel (02:56)
12. Feeling Redundant (03:23)
13. A No-sided Argument (02:13)
14. De-evolution Ad Nauseum (03:48)

NAPALM DEATH – “Utilitarian” (45:32):
1. Circumspect (02:09)
2. Errors In The Signals (03:00)
3. Everyday Pox (02:10)
4. Protection Racket (03:52)
5. The Wolf I Feed (02:50)
6. Quarantined (02:46)
7. Fall On Their Swords (03:55)
8. Collision Course (03:12)
—————————————-
9. Orders of Magnitude (03:19)
10. Think Tank Trials (02:25)
11. Blank Look About Face (03:09)
12. Leper Colony (03:20)
13. Nom De Guerre (01:05)
14. Analysis Paralysis (03:20)
15. Opposites Repellent (01:22)
16. A Gag Reflex (03:27)

And feel free to re-visit these promotional videos for those albums:

On The Brink Of Extinction (from “Time Waits For No Slave”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npa8qUNEIFY
Time Waits For No Slave (from “Time Waits For No Slave”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGahj5rkqdY
The Wolf I Feed (from “Utilitarian”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el5ewJxBASo
Analysis Paralysis (from “Utilitarian”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWTz7730D7Y

NAPALM DEATH’s latest and much lauded 16th studio album “Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism” (2020), which was again recorded with longtime producer Russ Russell and features artwork by Frode Sylthe, entered international sales charts upon release as follows: Germany: # 18, Austria: # 37, Switzerland: # 26, Finland: # 35, Belgium: # 88, Spain: # 78, France: # 120, UK (Rock Chart): # 3 and USA: # 58 Billboard Top Albums.

Check out the singles/videos that NAPALM DEATH have released for the new album so far:

“Backlash Just Because”: https://youtu.be/FFDHuCeaM_Y
“Amoral”: https://youtu.be/T5ChaOiPZGo
“A Bellyful of Salt and Spleen”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLKjpobj4vg

You can still order “Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism” in various formats here: https://napalmdeath.lnk.to/ThroesofJoyintheJawsofDefeatismPR

NAPALM DEATH line-up:
(From left to right on photo above!)
Danny Herrera – Turbulent beat throes
Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway – Bawling, shrieking, intermittent baritone
Shane Embury – Bass reverberations, barks and moans, noise-testing everyday objects

BYZANTINE Announce 21st Anniversary USA Tour

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 3, 2021
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Formed in the summer of 2000, progressive groove metal band BYZANTINE will headline 15 performances this July and August, with local support acts TBA. Frontman and founding member Chris “OJ” Ojeda comments: “Maintaining a band with 4 members for this long has been one of the most difficult, yet rewarding tasks I’ve taken on. We formed the same year as Mastodon, The Ocean and Between the Buried and Me, and to be able to write and record music on a label such as Metal Blade Records at this point in our career is very rewarding. We look forward to performing our longest headlining set to date for our fans.”

See below for all dates!

Byzantine tour dates
Jul. 16 – Charleston, WV @ Sam’s Uptown
Jul. 29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Crafthouse
Jul. 30 – Harrison, OH @ Blue Note
Jul. 31 – Huntington, WV @ V Club
Aug. 5 – Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligan’s
Aug. 6 – Greenville, SC @ The Radio Room
Aug. 7 – Johnson City, TN @ Capone’s
Aug. 12 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies Music Joint
Aug. 13 – Hamtramck, MI @ The Sanctuary
Aug. 14 – Akron, OH @ Empire Concert Club
Aug 19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
Aug. 20 – Providence, RI @ Alchemy
Aug. 21 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Arrogant Swine
Aug. 22 – Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz
Aug. 26 – Pipestem, WV @ Metal in the Mountains

Byzantine released their latest album, The Cicada Tree, to critical acclaim in 2017. To state that The Cicada Tree is “classic Byzantine” in no way implies that this is an album solely rooted in the band’s past. Certainly, all of the hallmarks that have made their sound so compelling for close to two decades are present and correct: muscular yet lithe riffs and fluid leads play against gripping, dynamic and at times unpredictable rhythms, while rich melodies and lyrics that are both involved and intelligent wind their way through every track. But, once more, the groove metal unit has continued their steady evolution – the interplay between their members organic and natural, imbuing the record’s sixty-two-minute running time with a freshness and urgency.

To stream and purchase The Cicada Tree, please visit: metalblade.com/byzantine

DAKAR Release New Two-Track EP ‘Over the Line’, Now Available On Spotify And All Major Streaming Platforms

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 2, 2021
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Alt-rock outfit DAKAR‘s newest two-track EP, ‘Over the Line‘, is now out on http://www.dakar.band as well as on all major streaming services. Over the Line’s B-side features the band’s cover of Tom Petty‘s “You Wreck Me“. The single release is one of several new songs to drop through the spring in advance of live dates this summer.

David Benfield (Vocals / Rhythm Guitar) stated:
“With ‘Over the Line’ we wanted to record an unabashed warning about what happens when corporate stooges are given the keys to the castle. If you follow the trends we’re seeing around the world to their logical conclusion, it ends in police states; plutocracies, oligarchies.”

Renown Filmmaker/Musician Kimmo Kuusniemi adds:
“Dakar has good energy that does make your foot start tapping. In this evermore digital over processed world it is great to hear honest old school rock that makes you feel good and smile. It would be cool to see Dakar live on stage!”

‘Over the Line’ is now available on all major streaming platforms:

Stream ‘Over the Line’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fo7x7VS9yKs

‘Over the Line’ follows Dakar’s 2019 EP ‘Come and Get it’ with a similar array of guitar-driven hooks and politically-charged themes; in this case, the excesses of modern law enforcement manifest as a plutocratic, totalitarian corporate police state.

Stream and buy the previous singles here:
You Wreck Me repost – https://www.gate.fm/bbW9Qvdsu
Come and Get it – https://www.gate.fm/ILGQX4CdU
Empire Dreams – https://www.gate.fm/OAdQcsP0
Escape From New York – https://www.gate.fm/v1IpB7

“You either bleed out or you learn to grow from the scars!”

Also watch
‘Empire Dreams’ lyric video: https://youtu.be/NhBCBvROZKw
‘Escape From New York’ – demo video: https://youtu.be/CHO8kSNNSLs

DAKAR is a rock band from Duval County, Florida, named after the street in the Murray Hill neighborhood where it was founded by David Benfield and Darrell Edmunds in 2015. The songwriting pair based their work in the style of 90s alternative and evolved from there, incorporating elements of indie, punk, modern, and southern rock with an unabashed penchant for pro-democracy, anti-facist, pro-diversity, anti-racist themes. Their EP, Come and Get It is now available for purchase and streaming on various platforms.

More information at https://www.dakar.band – https://www.facebook.com/dakartheband

For booking information, contact:
Tarja Virmakari
Split Screen Management
tarja@splitscreenproduction.com

ANTHRAX’s Charlie Benante Talks Covering Iron Maiden’s Transylvania For Upcoming Covers Album Silver Lining

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 2, 2021
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment
Photo by Jimmy Kay

Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke with Anthrax’s Drummer Charlie Benante about his upcoming covers album Silver Lining (via Megaforce Records)  featuring an all-star cast of artist as well as upcoming new music from Anthrax.

Why the title Silver Linings?
“I tried to see out of the darkness (Pandemic), the depression that there was a Silver Lining. We are all going through this and some of us are have it a lot harder than a lot of other people are and they are silver linings. I would see people complaining about their kids, man enjoy it, you are getting to have all this time off to spend with your kids that you would never have. Just enjoy it, embrace it”

Tell us about your covers album and the songs ?
“I wasn’t even going to put them out and I kept getting asked to do it more and more then I said alright I will do it. It was just hard to choose which ones to put on there. If I put the Rush songs on it, it would take up a lot of space. I had the idea of putting a Rush E.P. out for Record Store Day next November that is going to be fun that is going to be all the Rush Songs by themselves (done in quarantine). A lot of these songs on the record have always been in the back of my mind, songs that I loved. I just had to find the right people to make them happen and once I did it just snowballed.” 

Tell us about covering Iron Maiden’s Transylvania?
“First Time I saw Iron Maiden was with Paul Di’Anno  it was at the Palladium in New York. They opened up for Judas Priest and I went both nights. When Iron Maiden came on, the excitement and that feeling  that I was witnessing something for the first time that I don’t know if I will ever see again, it was so amazing. That band for me since day one was the reason that I think we started a band to model our band like Iron Maiden. I think they single handedly created the form of music that became Thrash Metal. “

What about the two Kiss songs on the album?
“Those two Kiss songs have always been my favorite Kiss songs and I treat those songs like they were Rock and Roll all night or Detroit Rock City. I always wish that ‘All The Way’ (off Hotter than Hell Album) was on the Kiss ‘Alive’ Album just to have that sound and treatment. And Mr. Speed is just a classic Paul Stanley song.”

Would you ever put another form of Rap on an upcoming Anthrax album  like you did in the past, maybe have Chuck D from Public Enemy on?
“Absolutely as a matter of fact I’m working with D (Chuck D) right now on a song that is coming out pretty awesome but I won’t discuss it now (laughs). We have always been open to something else but we always said if we couldn’t top the Bring the Noise thing then we didn’t want to do it. “

Where are you at in regards to a new Anthrax studio Album?
“We are going to start working on it again. Before Covid hit we had about 7-8 songs that were killer and we are going to continue to work on those and more. We didn’t want to put a record out at this time cause we thought it would get stuck in that Covid vacuum. So we wanted to wait and so at least we could go out and play these songs.”

ISLANDER Drop New Music Video For “What Do You Gotta Lose?”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 2, 2021
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Better Noise Music rock band ISLANDER just dropped the official music video for their recently released single “What Do You Gotta Lose?,” a hopeful anthem about finding light and moving forward. The visual was directed by Nathan Mowery of Kid Punk. 

Of the visual, Islander lead singer Mikey Carvajal says, “Filming the music video for ‘What Do You Gotta Lose?’ was an exhausting experience – physically and emotionally. We filmed it in a small church building in Georgia. The air conditioners weren’t working, so every few shots we all had to walk outside to get some air. In the video, I play a version of myself where I come back to life at my own funeral. I’m there to remind everyone to “seize the day” (yes, that’s a ‘Dead Poets Society’ reference.) It was really important for us to approach the concept of death in a way that was relatable, while also finding a bit of joy in the celebration of life. I believe this world isn’t our ‘forever home.’ However, while we are here we need to do the next thing that is in front of us. This song is a plea for anyone thinking about suicide to hold on. It’s not always easy being alive, but it’s worth it. Joy comes in the morning.”

WATCH HERE.

Earlier this year, Islander further set the tone for their vulnerable music path, calling for empathy and connecting with their ever-growing global fanbase with the release of their deeply personal song “The Outsider”. It’s a tribute to why the band gravitated towards rock music in the first place and a reminder to let anyone feeling like an outcast know that they have a place in the community of listeners that the group has formed. They’re currently creating more music to release, solidifying their unique ability to offer meditative art in the craziness of the world. 

ABOUT ISLANDER
Islander understands that complacency is the deadly enemy of progress. The South Carolina band — Mikey Carvajal, Chris Carvajal, and Erik Shea — refuses to grow stagnant with time by challenging themselves to evolve continually. No two singles are alike, yet the group finds a way to make the combination of their vast influences work together in a manner unlike anyone else. You cannot call what Islander does rock or rap or even nu-metal. They make music that moves people, plain and simple, and that’s all they want to do.

“We’re a very intimate band in that I want to be there and hear people’s stories,” says Mikey Carvajal. I’m not in this to be a rockstar. If that were ever the case, and it were about money or fame, I just wouldn’t do it. I’m only here because I genuinely love people, and I want to see them do good in their lives. I want us to continue to spread love, hopefully on a higher level than before.”

Now a decade into a career built with that mission in mind, Islander continues to grow a global fanbase. The band writes from a place of love and empathy channeled into raucous music that can incite mosh pits and comfort those who feel alone. It’s a delicate balance between chaos and focused effort that only Islander can perfect, and it’s because of that combination that the group remains one of the most versatile names in entertainment today.

“If you speak about real things, they will remain relevant,” says Carvajal. “We all have skin and bones and blood. We’re all human beings trying to make it in this world. The most important thing is being there for people, and our music allows us to do that.”

Islander heads into the new year with high hopes and a bevy of material. Four years of writing and recording has given the band their most diverse and collaborative music to date. From the rallying cries of “Freedom” to the meditative flow of “Crazy Crazy World” and beyond, Islander is creating a space for listeners to process the madness of today and find hope for a better tomorrow.