the album is pretty close to flawless, managing to seamlessly blend perspicacious lyrics on top of a formidable metal sound, compiled together with expert production. This is an album that has the originally to break down genre walls and create a truly diverse and dedicated fan base.
Archive For
0 Crown of Viserys – Shark Infested Daughters – These Tides, Our Tombs
0 Factory Worker Media – Black Mourning Light Fest – PHOTO GALLERY/GIG REVIEW: BLACK MOURNING LIGHT FESTIVAL 2016 (W/ UADA, HELLEBORUS, WORMWITCH, NORILSK, CELL, HOLOCAUST LORD, NACHTTERROR, DETHGOD, YE GOAT-HERD GODS, HUNTED BY RAVENS)
Wicked pics and review of Black Mourning Light Fest from Shane Lange at Factory Worker Media!
Thanks for coming down to Edmonton to check out the fest and supporting!
UADA. HELLEBORUS, Norilsk, Cell, Holocaust Lord, Nachtterror, DETHGOD, Ye Goat-Herd Gods, Hunted By Ravens
#blackmetal #doommetal #death #fest #yeg #edmonton #photos #pics #livereview
0 EPK – Excuses, Excuses – Frame of Mind (EP) (2016)
Excuses, Excuses – Frame of Mind (EP) (2016)
Contact: PR Rep: Jon Asher – ashermedia(@)gmail.com
Release Date: Nov 25, 2016
For fans of Billy Talent, Green Day, Against Me!, Foo Fighters, Cage The Elephant
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp
Download = Press Photo | EP Cover | EP Lyrics
1. The Outsider (3:41)
2. Alibis (3:59) [Stream]
3. Rewind! (3:33) [Stream]
4. Frame of Mind (3:43)
5. (Is That) What You Meant (4:36)
EP Length: 19:34
EP Credits:
• All songs performed by: Excuses Excuses
• All songs written by: Excuses Excuses
• Produced by: Excuses Excuses & Sam Guaiana
• Mixed by: Sam Guaiana (Room 21 Sound, Toronto)
• Mastered by: Andy Krehm (Silverbirch Mastering)
EP Band Line Up:
Kyle Wilton – Lead Vocals/Guitar, Trevor Bowman – Bass/Backing vocals, Carter Leis – Drums/ Backing Vocals
Live Band Line Up:
Kyle Wilton – Lead Vocals/Guitar, Trevor Bowman – Bass/Backing vocals, Jason Nicoll – Drums/Backing Vocals
L-R – Trevor Bowman (Bass/Backing Vocals) | Kyle Wilton (Guitar/Lead Vocals) | Jason Nicoll (Drums/Backing Vocals)
Photo Credit – Cristina Nikolic (KIT Photography)
Excuses Excuses is a punk rock n’ roll three piece that refuse to listen to any more lies by promising to live an honest life through their music in Oshawa, ON just on the the outskirts of Canada’s Music Capitol Toronto, ON. The band is calling for people to take responsibility for their actions and Kyle (vocals, guitar, ex-Stained Glass Army), Trevor (bass, ex-Stained Glass Army), and Jay (drums) write thoughtful anthems. Since February 2016 the band has been developing their own version of punk rock inspired by bands like Green Day, Billy Talent, and Foo Fighters.
Kyle lights a spark for the band by crafting the initial melodies and structure for each song and brings it back to the team to craft the final details. Their goal is to write timeless material that speaks to disenfranchised outliers that are seeking solace through lyrical poetry and catchy riffs. Excuses Excuses write songs that are destined to be performed live with an emotive and captivating show that focuses on the crowd and ensuring their enjoyment until the last song.
The band has been polishing their writing chops to release EP ‘Frame Of Mind’ that focuses largely on events and experiences from our teenage years touching on topics of drug use, family/personal matters, loss, and the uncertain future. The words “frame of mind” discusses the perception of one’s own life experiences and retrospectively looking at it. The EP will be available on November 25, 2016 and holds a mirror up to the worst aspects of one’s life and encourages people to seek different perspectives to attain a better understanding.
Have shared stage with: Kasador, HAWKING, River Groves, The Durants, The Ragged Suits, Long Live the Goat, Amberwood, Revmatic. Outta Space, Relic City,
Tours and Festivals
Summer Tour – 2016 (Ontario)
0 NEWS: Test Your Metal Records Signs Japanese Heavy Metallers SOLITUDE; Streaming Track ‘You Got My Mind’; North American Release ‘Reach For The Sky’ November 25th
(contact info)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – Nov 2, 2016
Album Promo Request here.
TestYourMetalOfficial.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Test Your Metal Records Signs Japanese Heavy Metallers SOLITUDE
Streaming Track ‘You Got My Mind’
North American Release ‘Reach For The Sky’ November 25th
L to R: Toru Nishida (bass) / Akira Sugiuchi (vocals) / Takamasa “MAD” Ohuchi (drums) / Shingo Ida (guitars) – Credit: Yuki Kuroyanagi
Test Your Metal Records is proud to announce their latest signing of Japanese heavy metallers SOLITUDE for the North American release of ‘Reach For The Sky’ on November 25th. The release is the band’s third album that was issued in Japan in 2015 by Spiritual Beast and follows 2009’s Brave The Storm (Spiritual Beast) plus 2001’s Virtual Image(Spiritual Beast). The release features 8 fist pounding tracks mixed by Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg, who has previously worked with Bullet and Crucified Barbara along with artwork by Velio Josto (Warlord, Medieval Steel, Ostrogoth etc). Fans of Motorhead, Saxon, Tank and Venom are sure to appreciate.
“We are very honored to be working with Japan’s very own ‘SOLITUDE’! Bringing back the old school riffs of the 80’s with some of the most bad ass vocals in metal! We are hoping to bring the band over to North America in the new year with a nice heavy metal welcome from the metal family here.” comments TYM founder Grant Elliot.
Song Stream – You Got My Mind – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXfAk3cTLVI
Album Preview – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDLqwueYR6I
Physical Pre-Order: http://testyourmetalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/solitude-reach-for-the-sky-pre-order
Digital Pre-Order: https://solitudetymr.bandcamp.com/album/reach-for-the-sky
1. Venom’s Angel (7:32)
2. Blow (4:51)
3. Reach For The Sky (5:30)
4. Don’t Need Mercy (3:59)
5. Escape For The Crime (3:47)
6. You Got My Mind (5:32)
7. On The Edge Of Sorrow (4:03)
8. December (8:41)
Album Length: 43:59
For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/solitudejapan
EPK – http://wp.me/pciNW-8TC
About:
Japan’s SOLITUDE was formed in 1996, when two ex-members of SACRIFICE (Japan)*, the founding member and main composer Akira Sugiuchi <vo> and the bass player on two of their albums Toru Nishida, met ex-RIP RIDE guys of Yasuo Koyano <ds> and Hiroki Nakamori <g>. The guys kept on rehearsing for as long as 3 years, composing songs and forging the foundation of the band. With Heavy Metal as its core, their sound has tastes of various music as if to show that they have been influenced by various different styles of music, such as 70’s Hard Rock, Progressive Rock, and most notably NWOBHM, among others.
In 1998, they picked up “SOLITUDE” as the name of the band, and they played live for the first time in March 1999. This debut live was reported through fanzines and the internet, with such praises as “the birth of the new Defenders of Heavy Metal” or “the answer to what Heavy Metal is”. In September, Shingo Ida (ex-BARTOLOMMEO) replaced Nakamori, and his distinctive style of melodic guitars has brought a new blood into the band. In November, they recorded two songs, “Virtual Image” and “Eagle Fly”, latter of which was dedicated to their favorite British Heavy Metal band, SAXON. This recording was used for promotion as “SOLITUDE Demo ’99”.
In July 2000, the band started recording an album, and the recording carried on until December as the band aimed at the highest quality they could achieve. Their debut album “Virtual Image” was finally released on 5th of September, 2001 as the first-ever release of SPIRITUAL BEAST, who would later grow to one of the leading independent Heavy Metal labels in Japan. The album got rave reviews from the underground fanzines and webzines, not just in Japan but in the US and throughout Europe, and requests for interviews flooded in. The reaction was especially overwhelming in Germany, owing to the sampler CD called “Metal Crusade” from “Heavy oder was!?” magazine, which featured the title track “Virtual Image”.
Koyano left the band prior to the release of the album, but the band continued touring with the help from Suguru Kobayashi (ex-CASBAH), sharing the stage with various bands from OUTRAGE, RAGING FURY or METALUCIFER to DEFILED and SIGH. In July 2003, having added Tai Syouda (ex-GUARDIAN’S NAIL, now leading his own band, SEVENTH SON) as a permanent drummer, they flew to Germany to play at “Headbangers Open Air”, where they shared the stage with veterans like BLITZKRIEG, TRESPASS, and KILLER (Belgium) as well as youngsters like STORMWARRIOR, CRYONIC TEMPLE and DOOMSWORD. Their performance was praised by various media, with German “Rock Hard” magazine describing them as “the highlight of the festival”. The fact that many metalheads kept on chanting for SOLITUDE for a while after they left the stage proves the impact they had.
In 2004, they started preparing for a new album, and first recorded “Rainbow Theme” – “Frozen Rainbow” for a SAXON tribute album “Eagleution – A Tribute to Saxon”, put together by Remedy Records in Germany. The recording continued while the band played selected gigs like “Duryu Rock Festival” in Korea (with JURASSIC JADE from Japan, MINDFLOW from Brazil etc), or first-ever opportunity to play in Sapporo, Hokkaido, but their uncompromising attitude and various personal issues of each member delayed the whole process more than they had expected.
The recording, carried out at various points, was finally over and while they were waiting the mixing to be done, at the end of 2008, Syouda decided to leave the band. In February 2009, the remaining 3 guys participated in a NWOBHM cover event “Denim And Leather” as “SOLITUDE with Mad Ohuchi”, featuring none other than Takamasa “Mad” Ohuchi of ex-ANTHEM fame on drums. This resulted in Ohuchi joining SOLITUDE as a permanent member later that year.
In December 2009, after 8 years from the debut album, the long-awaited (literally!) new album “Brave the Storm” finally hit the stores. Like its predecessor, the album was produced by Fuyuhiko Inui, ex-band mate of Ida, who has been involved in various recordings as engineer/producer from BUCK-TICK or CHARA to MAVERICK. The mastering duty was handled by Alan Douches at West West Side Music (THE AGONIST, MASTODON etc).
In January 2011, the band toured Korea and Japan with Swedish sensation Enforcer, with Mean Streak also added for the Japanese dates. In September, “Brave the Storm” was released in Europe on Fastball Music in Germany, proving their growing popularity in the mainland Europe. In July 2012, the band helped set up a Japan tour for Canada’s Skull Fist, and toured with them and Widow from US. In 2013, they co-hosted the “Japanese Assault Fest”, sharing the stage with GIRLSCHOOL, VEKTOR, FASTKILL, AIR RAID etc.
In April 2014, the band finally started recording a new album. Looking for the kind of sound production they grew up listening, they went into a closed movie theater in Gotenba, Shizuoka, where they brought in the recording equipments, just like Deep Purple did in a hotel; Rainbow did in an old castle etc in the 70’s. With the great ambience and the environment to allow you to play as loud as you want, the place was later modified into a proper recording studio called “Tapestry Recording Studio”. The band appeared at the “Japanese Assault Fest” two years in a row (SATAN, HEAVY TIGER, MIDNIGHT MALICE, ETERNAL ELYSIUM etc) later that year.
The album was mixed and mastered at Pama Studios in Sweden, by Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg and Magnus “Maxe” Axelsson respectively, who had worked with such bands as BULLET and CRUCIFIED BARBARA. The stunning artwork was painted by the Italian artist Velio Josto, who had done covers for WARLORD, MEDIEVAL STEEL, OSTROGOTH among others. The album “Reach for the Sky” will be released on SPIRITUAL BEAST in June 2015, and the band will be extensively touring throughout Japan for the rest of the year, starting in Nagoya in August.
*SACRIFICE (Japan) was one of the leading bands in the Japanese thrash/underground scene from their formation in 1985 until disbanding in 1992, and they left a lot of impacts on young and upcoming bands then and even now. During their career, they released three studio albums, “Crest of Black” (1987), “Total Steel” (1990) and “Tears” (1992) and shared the stage with SODOM (Germany), NUCLEAR ASSAULT (USA), CASBAH, OUTRAGE, UNITED (all from Japan) among many others. They once featured Shinji “Samm” Tachi of ex-SABBAT on drums, who later formed MAGNESIUM and also joined his brother in METALUCIFER. SACRIFICE has recently reunited under the lineup of Sugiuchi <vo>, Nishida <b>, Tachi <ds> and Temis Osmond <g> of ex-SABBAT fame.
– 30 –
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
0 NEWS: Prog-Sphere Music Video Premiere: Toronto Prog JUPITER HOLLOW ‘Deep In Space’; Debut EP ‘Odyssey’ January 13th
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – November 2, 2016
Album Promo Request here.
For fans of Tool, Rush, A Perfect Circle, Pink Floyd, Tesseract, The Contortionists, Karnivool & Rishloo
EPK | JupiterHollow.ca | Facebook | Twittter | Instagram | Soundcloud | Youtube
Download = Press Photo | EP Cover
Prog-Sphere Music Video Premiere: Toronto Prog JUPITER HOLLOW ‘Deep In Space’
Debut EP ‘Odyssey’ January 13th
Show Dates:
January 14 – Toronto, ON – Smiling Buddha (CD Release Show) – info
L-R- Grant MacKenzie (guitar, bass, synth), Kenny Parry (vocals, drums, synth/keys). Photo by Sandra Beatty
Barrie, ON JUPITER HOLLOW started in the summer of 2015 and have already mastered the art of bringing their fans on an audio and visual experience. The prog duo will be unleashing their debut EP ‘Odyssey’ on January 13th with distribution by Milagro Records. The concept record will feature 5 tracks to introduce their ambient experimental progressive songwriting plus will act as a prelude to their planned full length ‘AHDOMN’. Their sound is referred to as spacey, experimental and refreshing, reminding listeners of bands like Tool, Pink Floyd, A Perfect Circle, Tesseract, The Contortionists and Rush. That’s why us at Prog-Sphere.com are excited to exclusively premiere their new music video ‘Deep In Space’.
Watch it now at the following link: http://www.prog-sphere.com/specials/jupiter-hollow-deep-in-space-video-premiere/
Plus don’t forget to get free download of their track ‘Ascending’: http://www.grantmackenzie.ca/jupiterhollow
1. Deep In Space
2. Ascending
3. Hades Heart
4. Over 50 Years
5. Odyssey
About the duo:
Grant, who plays guitar, bass and synth for the band started his music career 8 ½ years ago at the age of 12, sitting in his basement watching the movie Rock Prophecies. This movie was about legendary rock photographer Robert M. Knight, finding and transforming a young, unknown guitarist from a small town into a worldwide success. Inspired and motivated, Grant spent the next few years honing his guitar skills, writing music, and later learning the business side by attending college for business marketing. At age 20, Grant was invited into the Brotherhood of the Guitar, by founder Robert M. Knight, leading to endorsements with Ernie Ball Music Man and JH Audio.
While Grant was performing with another group at a local battle of the bands, he came across a mesmerizing singer by the name of Kenny Parry (vocalist, drummer and synth for Jupiter Hollow), who was almost performing as if he was possessed on stage, hitting notes that seemed impossible by any guy. Kenny Parry started music at the young age of 2 years old, setting up pots and pans like a drum set and banging away. This led to an obsession with music, and a discovery of his unique talent. In his teenage years, Kenny won himself the title “Best Drummer in Ontario” 3 years in a row. Around this time, Kenny started learning how to sing after being inspired by singers such as Maynard James Keenan, Mike Lessard, Dan Tompkins and Ian Kenny to name a few. Through years of strengthening his vocal abilities in choirs, bands and hours of dedication, Kenny has acquired an articulate vocal range, relentless endurance, and almost shocking performance through his uncontrollable stage presence.
Shortly after meeting, Grant and Kenny knew that their talents combined would create something truly unique, and Jupiter Hollow was born. Since then, the duo effortlessly created music in Kenny’s basement for months on end. The concept grew to be a two-man band, since Grant and Kenny wrote all of the music and wanted to keep it that way. The two musicians use technology to their advantage, allowing them to perform with a dominating stage presence, while captivating their audiences with their unique sonic journey.
For more info, please visit: www.JupiterHollow.ca.
– 30 –
“Jupiter Hollow warps the landscape of progressive rock for 2016. With youth on their side, Grant and Kenny venture into unknown musical realms and take the listener on the journey of a lifetime! Executed with precision, they prove rock is alive and has a place in our future, present and past. Perhaps it was always with us. Simply put Jupiter Hollow makes the world a better place.” – Pat Gillett, Down With Webster/Honors (Guitar/Vocals)
“Jupiter Hollow are starting curves in the rock space that I haven’t seen anywhere else. Dynamic, progressive compositions; with vocals that pull and soar; giving me satisfaction that is hard to come by in this space.” – Arthur Kalimidis, Landmark Showcase Festival (Founder)
“Grant MacKenzie and his band Jupiter Hollow are a hard playing impressive band that has emerged out of the Ontario music scene in the last year. I was very pleased when I could include Grant in my Ernie Ball Brotherhood of the Guitar program, and know they are now on the path to much wider discovery of their music. Grant is extremely driven and that is what it takes to make it these days!” – Robert M. Knight, Legendary Rock Photographer)
“Jupiter Hollow consists of only two guys; there’s a Grant, and there’s a Kenny. They put all of the music together themselves, and it’s pretty spectacular if you ask me!” – Noah Campbell, Rock 95.7FM (Radio Host)
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
0 Illyrian – Round 2: Fight! (2016 ) – Canadian College Radio Loud Charts
Illyrian – Round 2: Fight! – Release Date: Oct 7, 2016
Highlight: #74 – December 2016 – !earshot National Top 200 Chart – (Earshot)
Highlight: #48 – !earshot The National Top 50 Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 (Earshot)
Highlight: #6 – !earshot The National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, December 6, 2016 (Earshot)
Highlight: #6 – !earshot The National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, November 8, 2016 (Earshot)
| Chart Appearances – February 7 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CJAM Windsor, ON | Loud | 7 |
| Total This Week: 1 | ||
| Chart Appearances – January 31 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CJAM Windsor, ON | Loud | 4 |
| CJSR Edmonton, AB | Loud | 7 |
| Total This Week: 2 | ||
| Chart Appearances – January 24 2017 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CJSR Edmonton, AB | Loud | 4 |
| Total This Week: 1 | ||
| Chart Appearances – December 27 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CHSR Fredericton, NB | Top 30 | 22 |
| Total This Week: 1 | ||
| Chart Appearances – December 20 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 9 |
| CHRW London, ON | Top 30 | 24 |
| CHSR Fredericton, NB | Top 30 | 29 |
| Total This Week: 3 | ||
| Chart Appearances – December 13 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| !earshot | Top 50 | 48 |
| CFMH Saint John, NB | Top 30 | 5 |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 10 |
| CHRW London, ON | Top 30 | 18 |
| CKXU Lethbridge, AB | Top 30 | 14 |
| Total This Week: 5 | ||
| Chart Appearances – December 6 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| !earshot | Loud | 6 |
| CFBX Kamloops, BC | Loud | 5 |
| CFMH Saint John, NB | Top 30 | 10 |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 5 |
| CHRW London, ON | Top 30 | 24 |
| CKXU Lethbridge, AB | Top 30 | 27 |
| Total This Week: 6 | ||
| Chart Appearances – November 29 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 10 |
| Total This Week: 1 | ||
| Chart Appearances – November 22 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 7 |
| Total This Week: 1 | ||
| Chart Appearances – November 15 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 8 |
| CJSR Edmonton, AB | Loud | 6 |
| Total This Week: 2 | ||
| Chart Appearances – November 8 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| !earshot | Loud | 6 |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 10 |
| CJSR Edmonton, AB | Top 30 | 11 |
| CJSR Edmonton, AB | Loud | 2 |
| Total This Week: 4 | ||
| Chart Appearances – November 1 2016 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Station | Chart | Rank |
| CFOU Trois-Rivieres, QC | Loud | 8 |
| Total This Week: 1 | ||
0 NEWS: Band Submissions Now Open For ShrEdmonton 2017 Fest & Conference
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – November 2, 2016
Band Submissions Now Open For ShrEdmonton 2017 Fest & Conference
Prairie Fire Events Ltd is proud to announce that band submissions are now open for the official Farmageddon Open Air indoor sister festival SHREDMONTON Metal Festival and Conference taking place from Friday, May 12th to Sunday, May 14th 2017 in Edmonton, AB. Applications can be submitted at www.Shredmonton.com from November 1st, 2016 until January 15th, 2017 11:59pm MT.
Last year’s Shredmonton featured over 20 bands over the course of 3 days at The Starlite Room and The Brixx Bar and Grill (same building), as well as a multi-room industry based conference located at the Shaw Conference Center. The full line up consisted of an ultra heavy hitting bill that included headliners Dying Fetus, Acacia Strain, Jungle Rot, Black Crown Initiate, Goatwhore, Finnish power metallers Thunderstone along with some of Western Canada’s best such as Disciples of Power, Planet Eater, Scythia, Tylor Dory Trio, Every Hour Kills among many more! Conference panels were held the Shaw Conference Center on recording, photography, video production, publicity, media relations, journalism, and concert promotion / talent buying for festivals / venues with music industry professionals from across Canada.
For more info, please visit: www.Shredmonton.com.
Media Partners:
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
ashermediarelations.com 
