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0 NEWS: STRIKER Nominated For Western Canadian Music Award ‘Metal/Hard Rock Artist of The Year’ + USA Tour

May 6, 2016
by Asher
· Music News · Striker

(contact info below)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – May 6, 2016

Album Promo Request here.

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STRIKER Nominated For Western Canadian Music Award ‘Metal/Hard Rock Artist of The Year’ + USA Tour

New Album ‘Stand In The Fire’ Out Now

Music Video – Too Late – Watch here.

Song Stream – Out For Blood – Listen here.

It’s been a busy 2016 for Canadian power metallers STRIKER and their latest album ‘Stand In The Fire’ released this past February. The band toured Europe with Primal Fear, are now hitting the road for their USA tour with Spellcaster, Weresquatch and Thrashole, plus will have an upcoming cross Canada dates to follow and to add to the madness, they have been nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award for ‘Metal/Hard Rock Artist of The Year’ alongside KEN mode (MB), Shooting Guns (SK), Third Ion (SK), Van Halst (AB). The awards will be held in Regina, SK on October 13th. For more info, please visit the following link here.

“We are extremely excited to be nominated for Metal/Hard Music Artist of the Year, it’s been an amazing year for us and we are so very honoured to be recognized for all of our hard work. Hope to have a beer with the rest of the nominees at the awards!” comments guitarist Tim Brown.

Nominees list: http://breakoutwest.ca/2016-wcma/wcma-nominees/

Metal/Hard Music Artist of the Year
KEN mode (MB)
Shooting Guns (SK)
Striker (AB)
Third Ion (SK)
Van Halst (AB)

Striker Dates:

*Striker Only – **Striker & Spellcaster Only

5/13 – Portland, OR – Bossanova Ballroom
5/14 – Boise, ID – The Shredder
5/15 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Metro **
5/16 – Reno, NV – PB&J’s
5/17 – Fullerton, CA – Slidebar
5/18 – Scottsdale, AZ – The Rogue Bar
5/19 – El Paso, TX – Mesa Music Hall
5/20 – San Antonio, TX – The Korova
5/21 – Houston, TX – Satellite Bar
5/23 – Orlando, FL – Bombshell Tavern
5/24 – Atlanta, GA – 529 **
5/25 – Covington, KY – Backstage Cafe
5/27 – Chicago, IL – Reggies Live
5/29 – Des Moines, IA – Vaudevill Mews
5/30 – Dubuque, IA – The Venue
5/31 – Omaha, NE – Lookout Lounge
6/1 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunshine Studios Live
6/2 – North Platte, NE – Sculley’s Shooters
6/3 – Scottsbluff, NE – Elks Lodge
6/4 – Billings, MT – The Railyard
6/6 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St. Entry *

About the album:

‘Stand In The Fire’ is STRIKER‘s most uncompromising record to date. A record packed with incredible riffs and colossal anthems, all laced together with epic harmonies. Inspired by legendary bands like Iron Maiden, Striker wears their hearts firmly on their battle jackets, soaking up the power and influence of classic rock and metal.

The band; Dan Clearly (vocals) Tim Brown (lead/rhythm guitars) William Wallace (bass) Adam Brown (drums) recorded the album themselves with the help of Randy Black (who filled in on drums while Adam was away…) and mixing genius Frederik Nordstrom (Bring Me The Horizon, In Flames, Opeth) giving them not only the time and space needed but the freedom to set up the release direct to fans worldwide.

‘Stand in The Fire’ available on limited edition orange vinyls at Striker-Metal.com plus digitally on iTunes, CD Baby.

To hear a full stream of the album, please visit the following link here.

Track Listing ‘Stand In The Fire’:

1. Phoenix Lights (3:38)

2. Out For Blood (3:51)

3. Too Late (4:52)

4. Stand In the Fire (3:39)

5. The Iron Never Lies (4:06)

6. Escape From Shred City (2:53)

7. Outlaw (4:35)

8. Locked In (3:45)

9. United (4:06)

10. Better Times (3:37)

11. One Life (4:17)

Album Length: 43:23

About Striker:

STRIKER formed in Edmonton, Canada in 2007 and they were signed to German label Iron Kodex off the strength of their first demo. They made two albums with the label and recorded 2nd album Armed To The Teeth with acclaimed producer Michael Wagener (Ozzy, Skid Row, Metallica). They played shows with Metallica in Canada and hit the road for what eventually became a full world tour with shows across Europe and Japan. They used their time in Europe to work with Frederik Nordstrom and were snapped up by Napalm Records in 2012 for the release of the acclaimed album City Of Gold.

For more info: www.Striker-Metal.com.

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0 NEWS: VAN HALST Nominated For Western Canadian Music Award ‘Metal/Hard Rock Artists of The Year’

May 6, 2016
by Asher
· Music News · Van Halst

(contact info below)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – May 6, 2016

Album Promo Request here.

For Fans of In This Moment, Evanescence, Halestorm

VanHalstMusic.com | Facebook | Twittter | Soundcloud | Youtube

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VAN HALST Nominated For Western Canadian Music Award ‘Metal/Hard Rock Artists of The Year’

Supporting ‘Because I Am A Girl’ Benefit Concert – Toronto – May 28th

Out Now! New Album ‘World of Make Believe’

Upcoming Shows:

May 28 – Toronto, ON @ Hard Rock Cafe (Because I Am A Girl Benefit Concert) – Event info

Aug 18-21 – Nevis, AB (OurFest) – Event info

Photo Credit: Renee Robyn

Music Video – Save Me – Watch here.

Album Stream – Bandcamp | Soundcloud

Edmonton, AB’s VAN HALST has been nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award for Metal/Hard Rock Artist of The Year for their March 2016 release ‘World of Make Believe’. The awards will be held in Regina, SK on October 13th. For more info, please visit the following link here.

Vocalist Kami Van Halst comments:

“We are so grateful to be nominated for Metal/Hard Rock Artist of the Year. It is an amazing experience to be recognized for your art. We are very excited to attend the ceremony with all the other nominees in October.”

VAN HALST were nominated alongside the following:

Metal/Hard Music Artist of the Year
KEN mode (MB)
Shooting Guns (SK)
Striker (AB)
Third Ion (SK)
Van Halst (AB)

Nominees list: http://breakoutwest.ca/2016-wcma/wcma-nominees/

In additional news, VAN HALST will be performing at this year’s 2nd annual‘Because I Am A Girl’ benefit concert on May 28th in Toronto, ON at the Hard Rock Cafe presented by ARYA Concerts & Events. The benefit concert features all acts with female musicians in honour of of supporting and raising proceeds for Plan Canada’s ‘Because I am a Girl’ initiative, which helps to create a brighter future for girls in the developing world. For more info on Plan Canada, please visit the following link: http://plancanada.ca/because-i-am-a-girl

Vocalist Kami Van Halst comments:

“We are very excited to be apart of the fundraiser for the Because I Am A Girl foundation. Because I Am A Girl is a global initiative working to end gender inequality. This is something very important to us, we speak a lot about feminism in our music and believe that no one should be held back from achieving their potential due to gender or sex.”

About:
A fierce, empowering force of hard rock fused with metal with strong socially conscious lyrics and advocacy for female rights, VAN HALST recently released their debut album ‘World of Make Believe’ on March 4th, 2016, which is now available on iTunes and Bandcamp.

VAN HALST, a project that first began as a solo endeavour for whom the band is named after — Kami Van Halst, has since become a full group producing socially conscious, lyrical tracks that focus on disenfranchised and marginalized populations. The band’s influences stay true to goth rock with Kami Van Halst demonstrating an agile vocal delivery in combination with pummeling growls. Lyrically, the band draws from black metal due to its focus on people suffering from isolation and rising to overcome the preconceptions of a judgmental society. In This Moment’s industrial fusion remains a primary influence for Van Halst, employing a sampler, synthesizer, and distorted vocals.

Kami Van Halst dominates as the vocalist performing both growls and soaring vocals (Surviving Suzanne), Scott Greene (Derina Harvey Band/Dirty Pool) and Strathon J. Bajowsky (Havok Way) craft the guitar work while Brendan McMillan (bass) (My Darkest Days) and Brett Seaton (drums) (Cultured by Fire) drive the rhythm section of the band. Kami’s range and virtuosic vocal ability always captivates an audience and her attitude on stage truly delivers the meaning behind the songs. The main writing forces for the band are Kami and Scott working together to give listeners a vivid image of social injustices. The band’s live performance is a theatric experience as the utilize full-costumes, make-up and stage props.

1. The End (4:31)
2. Save Me (4:12)
3. Ryan’s Song (4:11)
4. World of Make Believe (3:46)
5. Questions (3:23)
6. Denying Eyes (4:08)
7. Monster (3:29)
8. Plastic Smile (5:11)
9. Put Him Down (4:33)
10. Perfect Storm (4:44)

Album Length: 42:14

For more info, please visit www.vanhalstmusic.com

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
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0 NEWS: BLACK ABSINTHE Full Album Stream ‘Early Signs of Denial’ via Exclaim!

May 6, 2016
by Asher
· Black Absinthe · Music News

(contact info below)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – May 6, 2016

EP Promo Request here.

For fans of Black Sabbath, Killswitch Engage, Motorhead, Mastodon, High On Fire, Coheed and Cambria

Facebook | Twitter @ blackabsintheto | Instagram | YouTube | Bandcamp

BLACK ABSINTHE Full Album Stream ‘Early Signs of Denial’ via Exclaim!

Debut Album ‘Early Signs of Denial’ Due Out May 13th

Upcoming Show Dates:

May 13 – Oshawa, ON @ The Atria – Event info
May 14 – Toronto, ON @ Coalition T.O. (CD Release Show) – Event info

Toronto, ON heavy metal trio BLACK ABSINTHE are surfacing from the basement to team up with Exclaim! and unleash the full stream of their debut album ‘Early Signs of Denial’ produced by Dave Baksh (Cross Dog, The Mahones) plus mixed and mastered by Frank Gryner (Rob Zombie- Hillbilly Deluxe). Set for release on May 13th, 2016, the album is the band’s first professional recording to follow their three self recorded EPs Live At Coalition (2014), Noise Complaint (2014) and Augusta (2012).

BLACK ABSINTHE’s powerful heavy riffs and bass lines are reminiscent of classic thrash and new wave British heavy metal with a range of progressive to classic rock influence ready to be shared with fans new and old alike.

To hear the full album stream for ‘Early Signs of Denial’, please visit the following link at Exclaim!: http://exclaim.ca/music/article/black_absinthe-early_signs_of_denial_album_stream

The title “Early Signs of Denial” is a conceptual connection to the themes of fear, corruption, and overcoming disparity, which is explored in the album’s songs. The record has emphasis of crushing modern tone, polished instrumental sections, soaring vocals and a blending of contemporary and classic metal. With each track, this unique record represents different aspects of BLACK ABSINTHE’s diversity in song writing. The band does not tread lightly over their new wave of British heavy metal song style or their technical and progressive metal influences.

Album Pre-order – https://blackabsinthe.bandcamp.com/

1. The Wild (3:50) [MetalNationRadio]

2. Is This Life (4:42)

3. Berj Khalifa (3:19)

4. Pigs (4:03)

5. NOW (3:58) [MMK]

6. Winter (6:23) [Hellbound]

Album Length: 26:18

For more info, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/blackabsintheband.

About:

Formed in 2011 by vocalist and guitarist Jack Cerre, bassist Kyle Scarlett and drummer Austin Henderson, the trio continue to rip through the underground Toronto metal scene without pause.

Compounding heavy riffs and bass lines reminiscent of classic thrash and new wave British heavy metal with a range of progressive to classic rock influence, Black Absinthe presents a solid example of a Canadian metal band. They’re road hungry, influenced plus supported by other driven Canadian musicians and most of all, ready to innovate and grow the traditions of a genre they venerate and respect. As leaders in the scene, Black Absinthe were headlining Toronto semi-finalists in the Wacken Metal Battle Canada 2015.

With a new year ahead, Black Absinthe pushes on with their desire to provide their fans in Canada and online with a cleaner and heavier presentation of their sound. The years incubating in Toronto’s metal underground have served the band well. From their 2012 debut EP Augusta to their 2014 EP Noise Complaint, both releases have established the band’s sound as well as their stage presence, leading to their driven heavy metal machine. Now in 2016, Black Absinthe are ready to release their debut studio album Early Signs Of Denial (May 13, 2016). The album was produced by Dave Baksh (Cross Dog, The Mahones) out of the Gentleman’s Den studio in Pickering, ON who’s experience proved to be the final touch; aiding in refining drum dynamics, smoothing the transitions and layering harmonic guitar lines. Black Absinthe’s Early Signs Of Denial sound is a leading example of the contemporary Canadian metal scene serving to showcase how the band sounds in a crisp, powerful, and ultimately more professional recording environment.

The title “Early Signs of Denial” is a conceptual connection to the themes of fear, corruption, and overcoming disparity, which is explored in the songs. The record has emphasis of crushing modern tone, polished instrumental sections, soaring vocals and a blending of contemporary and classic metal. With each track, this unique record represents different aspects of Black Absinthe’s diversity in song writing. The band does not tread lightly over their new wave of British heavy metal song style or their technical and progressive metal influences.

Through the bands expanding network cultivated through Coalition Music’s “Artist Entrepreneur Program”, they chose Frank Gryner (Rob Zombie- Hillbilly Deluxe) to mix and master the album in the Winter of 2015. His strong ability to work with a diversity of sounds was the appeal to the band. His mixing took the album into the sonic spheres of a classic 80’s sound providing, grandeur, psychedelia, and an arena rock feel that could properly represent the textures put down in tracking. There was an immediate trust formed with the stylistic choices Gryner made throughout mixing.

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