Posts By Asher

0 EPK – Lÿnx – Claws Out (2024) (Bullzhorn Records)

February 27, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Lynx (Bullzhorn Records)

EPK – Lÿnx – Claws Out (2024) (Bullzhorn Records)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“All of us have put a lot of thought into this album, as every artist does. With our new frontman and his extraordinary talent, it has opened a whole new list of possibilities, and the energy that is Lÿnx has just gone to the next level. From Japan to Spain, the USA, and Germany our previous EP’s have made it to different parts of the world, our next album is going worldwide!

We are trying to give our fans the whole experience with this album. If you want to tour downtown with your girl or your boys and crank up the tunes, we got that. If you want to sit back and chill, listen to some good time rock, we got that too. You’re having a party? Hell Yeah! We should be the first album played because that’s what Lÿnx is. We bring the energy, the noise and want everyone to enjoy it with us!” – Lÿnx

For fans of Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Skid Row, Mr. Big, Poison

“”Claws Out is a straight shot of heavy rock n’ roll straight to the heart. With its infectious energy, blistering guitar solos, and powerhouse vocals, it’s a proof to the enduring power of the genre. Crank up the volume, grab the Aqua Net, throw up the horns, and let Lÿnx take you on a journey through the wild and untamed world of hair metal glory. MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Rock Machine”, “Can’t Get Enough”, “Band of Brothers”, “Pull the Trigger”, “Lights Out”” – Amplify The Noise

“Claws Out” is pure hair metal and above all with a very authentic, nostalgic production!” – PowerMetal.de

“”Claws Out” is a powerful shot from heavy rock n’ roll straight to the heart. With its contagious energy, hot guitar solos and powerful vocals, it’s a testament to the genre’s timeless power. Turn up the volume, take the hairspray and let Lÿnx take you on a journey into the wild and indomitable world of hair metal!” – Rockway.gr

“Lynx sound and style is so old they are practically new! Throw-back, retro, old-school…call ‘em what you will but it works because virtually no one is doing this anymore. There are a select few local bands who are doing this style and sound but more often than not they are cover bands. It takes balls of steel to rock like this in the year 2024 and I’m am so glad that they do!” – Metal Rules

“The look and feel of this debut full-length album just screams late 80s sleaze metal and the sound here very much pays homage to the halcyon days of smudged eyeliner, scratchy vocals and Sunset Strip fantasies but with an occasional contemporary gloss.” – Metal Forces Magazine

“Lÿnx serve their fans Claws Out not only the typical 1980s rock that you are used to from their previous releases, but also varied punk that is enriched with a good party mood. The listener never gets bored, on the contrary: this puts you in a good mood!” – Soundmagnet Magazine

“Lÿnx is an honest to goodness rock n roll band in a time when rock needs just that. They offer up blistering guitar riffs and solos, melodic choruses, and high energy performances that resemble the spirit of a time long gone by.” Hitonindie.com

“A brilliant release that perfectly builds on the stage that their self titled EP set. ‘Long Live Rock N Roll’ is a direct unyielding ode to what rock music used to be. A release that’s not for the faint of heart, its bold, brash and wonderfully Brutal. Landing as one of Lÿnx’s defining musical moments” Thomas Bedward- Broken 8 Records

“ Opening tracks can tell you a lot about an album. Sometimes bands come out swinging, and others take a slow burn approach. There’s no slow burn in Lÿnx. And the title track ‘Long Live Rock N Roll’ roars out of your speakers. It features a great guitar solo, fantastic percussion, and drips with 80s glam.” Dave Wilks – CGCM Radio/ Podcast

“This is a really solid, fun band that were excited about, and can’t wait to hear what’s next. So, Crank it up and press play!”- MusicNotez Magazine

“a crazy cocktail of glam and hard rock, “Claws Out” isn’t necessarily original, but it’s definitely effective.” – Music Waves

Album Title: Claws Out
Release Date: May 9, 2024
Label: Bullzhorn Records
Distribution: DistrokidTrack Listing:
1. Hell In High Heels (04:18)
2. Rock Machine (04:08)
3. Claws Out (04:24)
4. Can’t Get Enough (05:00)
5. Shake it Up (Remastered) (03:47)
6. Band of Brothers (05:31)
7. Nothing But Love (04:59)
8. Hard As Life (04:38)
9. Pull the Trigger (04:54)
10. Lights Out (04:09)

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Lÿnx
• All songs written by: Lÿnx
• Produced by: Bullzhorn Records
• Mixed by: Priyam Baksi
• Mastered by: Nathan Reiner
• Album Artwork by: Syafiq AL Faruq
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Ja6ur- Lead Vocals
Blade- Guitar, Backing Vocals
Fangs- Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Flash- Drums/ Percussion

=======================================================

About the album (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

The album is straight, heavy Rock’n’roll, you could pull it right off the shelf of any record store on the Sunset Strip in the late 1980’s, of course with our modern day producing and mastering!

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1.Hell In High Heels: This song was Ja6ur’s Ex. We wanted to express in words the feeling of ‘Forbidden Fruit’ in a sense. When you know it’s gonna hurt but you still need it. Every person has that one volatile relationship, we’ve just given it lyrics.

2.Rock Machine: What’s a home? Safe space, family, comfort etc. Not for us! The tour vehicles never get the appreciation they deserve. Band’s tour bus/van/cars are our home away from home and we decided to write our anthem for these long overlooked heroes.

3.Claws Out: Title Track!!! With this one we wanted to hit hard and fast. So one thing led to another and well…Werewolf! In honesty, we wanted this one to have a different theme than other songs and it went through about 3 different versions before we decided to get Ja6ur write some bloodthirsty werewolf shit and it just worked out.

4.Can’t Get Enough: Sex! Drugs! Rock N’ Roll! Who doesn’t love a party anthem? Can’t Get Enough, we want more too! Always to excess, the chorus wanted those gritty Crüe gang vocals, the general theme stemming from Fangs and his vision of a night out with his lady.

5.Shake it Up: Every band needs that one fast paced shake your ass kind of song, something to get the ladies moving and the men groovin’. Shake it up has all the feels from the catchy riffs to the furious guitar solo. Strong bass to keep the beat, banging drums you’ll feel in your chest, and a screeching vocal tune that may just have you coming back for more!!!

6.Band of Brothers: “For a long time I’ve held the idea that family is not just what you’re born into but also those people that you choose to be in your life. One night while under the influence of a magical spore it became clear to me that the brothers I always wanted were already in my life. This is my ode to them.” – Fangs

7.Nothing But Love: Every good rock record has the one your girlfriend likes! So here ya go. We wrote this one about our special ladies and now you can cover it when you’re in the dog house.

8.Hard As Life: Been bullied? Shit on at work, for no reason? Had a bad fucking day? We wrote this for exactly these times, we’ve been there, you’re not alone!

9.Pull the Trigger: This song is about the 1950s Anti Rock n Roll movement/propaganda where it was considered as the ‘Devil’s Music’ or was believed as the cause of the nation’s social ills and youthful rebellion. As a result, it was banned from many radio stations, schools etc. Pull the Trigger is our way of telling them to Fuck off!

10.Lights Out: What’s more punk than getting punched out at your favorite karaoke bar? Okay there’s probably a lot but that’s not the point. Anyways that’s what happened to our buddy Cooper. Next thing you know there’s a song about it (with minor embellishments) We’ll make an honest man out of him one day!

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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Our guitarist Blade uses his background in music production to compose a lot of our songs at work without an instrument in his hands. Constantly thinking of different riffs, beats he then goes into hope and sees how they can work musically. A lot of them works and some don’t but once he has an idea in his head he records it on his phone, goes home, grabs a guitar and starts figuring out how he can make it into the Lÿnx signature sound.

2. Our first show together was a show at the Blind Beggar in Calgary. We put on a 3-band show with us being the headliner to close out the night. We prepared our setlist and hit the stage. After the set, the crowd was demanding an encore, and of course we didn’t have one. We ended up playing Long Live Rock n Roll again and invited the crowd up to join us on stage and dance out the rest of the show. It was a great moment for the band and the fans loved it, what a great way to close out our first show together.

3. We are all blue-collar worker who have spent years and years grinding away the short time we have on this earth living someone else’s dream. We all decided as a band to create our own path while putting our heart, soul, and past experiences into our music. Our passion to create music is what drives us, while knowing that once we make it we never want to go back to the mundane working life we all know.

4. We want our fans to be taken back to a time long gone that was full of hair, crazy outfits and rockstars. As well as bring in a new generation who might pass off the music as “our parent’s music” we believe that the rock n roll genre has taken a backseat for a while to other genres which isn’t a bad thing, but we want to make sure that the rock is still alive and make our forefathers proud.

L-R : Blade [Guitars] | Flash [Drums] |Ja6ur [Vocals] | Fangs [Bass]

Photographer Credit: Breana Garland

Lÿnx is a Hard Rock/Hair Metal four-piece band currently based in Calgary, Canada formed in 2020 during the pandemic. Connected by a shared love of 80s Rock, the band immediately set about writing original songs that embody the style & swagger of the past, while embracing the polished production & down to Earth grit of their more modern rock influences. Having gained a reputation for their anthemic choruses, sizzling guitar solos & powerhouse vocals, Lÿnx have garnered a dedicated & eclectic international fan base. The band aims to build on the momentum created by their released music & push their sound into even more extreme & rock n’ roll places.

Lÿnx is:
Ja6ur- Lead Vocals
Blade- Guitar, Backing Vocals
Fangs- Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Flash- Drums/ Percussion

Discography:
May 2024 – Claws Out
Sept 2020 – Long live Rock N Roll – EP
Feb 2020 – Lÿnx Self Titled Debut EP

SHARED STAGE WITH:
Iron Kingdom, Tyrants of Chaos, Arrival of Autumn, Wthcnvtcn, Sionis, Die Another Day, Crimson Caliber, Osyron, Balrogath, Chiliocosm, Faster than Bears, Orbit the Fox, Haunt the Stars, Sarafin

TOUR AND FESTIVALS:
Alternative Waves Festival, Medicine Hat Alberta 2023
Serenade Metal Fest, Edmonton 2023
WayneStock Music Fest, Drumheller 2023
Alternative Waves Festival, Medicine Hat Alberta 2022
Decimate Metal Fest, High River 2022

Artist Endorsements:
Soultone Cymbals
The New Vintage Custom Guitars – Calgary, Alberta
Just Music- Cranbrook, British Colombia

0 Exitus Stratagem Records – VORAATH Fuses Extreme Metal With Brutal Sci-Fi/Horror In Debut “Vol 1. The Hymn of the Hunters”

February 27, 2024
by Asher
· Music News · Voraath

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 27, 2024

VORAATH Fuses Extreme Metal With Brutal Sci-Fi/Horror In Debut “Vol 1. The Hymn of the Hunters”

Voraath – L-R – Tylor Kohl – Guitar, Paul McBride – Bass, Joshua Ward – Drums, Keys, Vocals, Studio Guitars, Chelsea Marrow – Vocals, Daniel Presnell – Guitar

A force has emerged from the cauldron of the Carolinas, USA — Voraath. The musicians in this otherworldly, extreme metal act weave together the twisted worlds of science fiction, horror, and death metal. Their complex riffs, entrancing solos, and captivating vocals tell dark, dread-filled stories, drawing their audiences into their terrifying vision.

This year they will introduce their world and the lore within through their debut album “Vol 1: The Hymn of the Hunters” on June 17th, 2024, on Exitus Stratagem Records. The band shares their excitement as they release the album art, track list, and a promo video available now on YouTube:

“This album is a dark whirlwind of emotions and an auditory odyssey. We pulled from real events in our lives, interspersing them throughout our complex musical universe. We want to immerse the listener in another world. Our brutal themes may shock you, but our goal is to compel you to join in our quest — a quest with an explosive metal score!”

Voraath began as an idea to merge extreme metal with storytelling, to create a world full of strong characters and raw emotion. The band has created a complex mythos for audiences to explore while they listen. They have created a metal multiverse where they are the characters in this lore of their own making, god-hunters on a dystopian planet.

Within “Vol 1: The Hymn of the Hunters” lies a complex story that begins simply but deepens and sucks in listeners, daring them to continue.

Clad in tactical dystopian armor and alien insect helmets with red glowing eyes, Voraath lives and plays in this nether world. Sci-fi, horror, and metal fans will sink their teeth into Voraath, especially those who enjoy Fleshgod Apocalypse, Cattle Decapitation, and Dimmu Borgir.

Promo Video – https://youtu.be/HaadbOuFclg

Music Video – Judas Blood and Vultures – https://youtu.be/ZG3NlGh5-vg

Track Listing:
1 – Into Perdition – 1:29
2 – The Road to Samm Hill – 4:45
3 – Waypoint Orion – 4:45
4 – Terminus Rift – 4:56
5 – Dreadborn – 5:12
6 – The Barrens – 6:16
7 – Judas Blood and Vultures – 5:45
8 – The Leviathans Keep – 4:35
9 – Dirge Colony – 5:39
10 – The God-Killer Saga – 5:56
11 – Sirenhead – 4:54
12 – Pyrrhic – 3:53
Album Length: 58:11

Album Band Line Up:
Chelsea Marrow – Vocals
Tylor Kohl – Guitar
Daniel Presnell – Guitar
Paul McBride – Bass
Joshua Ward – Drums, Keys, Vocals, Studio Guitars
Additional artist:
Taylor Presnell – Studio Vocals

More info: Exsrmusic.com | Voraath.com

Booking: Continental – Michelle Messina – michelle[@]continentaltouring[.]us

– 30 –

“Crushing Sci-Fi Death Metal” – Metal Injection

“they are a band who’ve combined their musical and visual sides into a silver screen-worthy, sci-fi based, death metal odyssey centered around alien contact, the devastation and degradation of the environment and humanity, rule by corporate overlords and henchmen, Primitivism vs. Futurism and, of course, lots of blood, guts and killing.”- Decibel Mag

—–

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia

0 EPK – Drungi – Hamfarir Hugans (2024)

February 25, 2024
by Asher
· Drungi · EPKs

EPK – Drungi – Hamfarir Hugans (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

Management: Magnus Addi Olafsson – magnusaddi[@]gmail[.]com

“Worth the wait, for those that have been following us it has been a journey of postponement which will provide our fans with much satisfaction. To those who discover us they are in for a ride filled with Icelandic lyrics, heaviness and nature-inspired lyrical content. We aim for an experience filled with primal emotions, that most people will be able to relate to regardless of their understanding of our language.” – Drungi

For fans of Sólstafir, Skálmöld, Black Sabbath, Gojira, Manowar

Drungi.is | Facebook.com/drungiiceland | Instagram.com/drungiiceland | Youtube.com/@drungiiceland912

Drungi.bandcamp.com | Spotify

“Their music is so perfect that the only thing we can comment on is their clothes” – A&P Reacts

“Bringing an interesting mix of rock, black n roll and doom metal that takes elements from all three genres and conjures up an infectious hard rock/metal album for those of you that just want to cut loose with your basic intrinsic musical urges. Fiercely primal, raw, full of hooks, and chunky grooves, Drungi looks to shake your foundations to the core.” – Metal Epidemic

“a band who have managed to dig out a niche of their own with a unique yet cohesive sound and solid performances for their first and unsigned album. It speaks of a combination of lethal talent, inspiration, and a hell of a working ethic. I hope Drungi is willing to dig deep and mine the most out of its style, because this outfit has the potential to go very far indeed. Hamfarir Hugans is just the first step.” – Angry Metal Guy

“Based on a merger between the mind and Icelandic nature, “Hamfarir Hugans” is a surefire way to get a dosage of Icelandic music, heavy riffs and piercing vocals.”” – Metal Temple

Hamfarir Hugans is both exhilarating and emotionally resonant. Each track unfolds like a chapter in an ancient saga, drawing one deeper into Drungi‘s world. Hamfarir Hugans is satisfyingly heavy and melodic and an invitation to embark on a journey through the realms of myth and emotion. MUST LISTEN TRACKS: all eight tracks” – Amplify The Noise

“This album is a for sure the best debut of a band this year so far and I seriously doubt there will be something new so enticing as this new Drungi album. Try to put your dirty hands in this disc if you are seeking something different and very metal at the same time.” – Darksouls United

Album Title: Hamfarir Hugans
Release Date: April 5, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Alda – 5:42
2. Þoka – 7:00
3. Ófærð – 5:15
4. Skriða – 3:34
5. Frost – 4:42
6. Skjálfti – 4:20
7. Kvika – 7:31
8. Myrkur – 6:17

Album Credits:
– All songs Performed by: Magnús Addi Ólafsson, Rúnar Gauti Gunnarsson, Sjafnar Björgvinsson, Markús Loki Gunnarsson, Sandra María Bergþórsdóttir.
– All songs written by: Magnús Addi Ólafsson, Rúnar Gauti Gunnarsson, Sjafnar Björgvinsson, Markús Loki Gunnarsson, Guðmundur Kristinn Haraldsson.
– Produced by: Stephen Lockhart
– Mixed by: Stephen Lockhart
– Mastered by: Stephen Lockhart
– Album Artwork by: Magnús Addi Ólafsson and Rúnar Gauti Gunnarsson, Fixed by Dall-E AI for clarity

Album band lineup:
Magnús Addi Ólafsson – Bass
Rúnar Gauti Gunnarsson – Lead guitar,
Sjafnar Björgvinsson – Vocals,
Markús Loki Gunnarsson – Rhythm guitar,
Kristján B. Heiðarsson – Drums

Live band Lineup:
Magnús Addi Ólafsson – Bass
Rúnar Gauti Gunnarsson – Lead guitar,
Sjafnar Björgvinsson – Vocals,
Markús Loki Gunnarsson – Rhythm guitar,
Sandra María Bergþórsdóttir – Drums

==================================================

About The Album Artwork

It’s a merger between the mind and Icelandic nature. With our songs being very mind–nature inspired we thought this was a fitting idea for an album cover. – Magnus & Runar

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

As previously mentioned, the album is a theme following mental issues that people suffer from and the imagery of the Icelandic things in nature that can kill you. So, we have a death that’s both physical and mental. – Magnus

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Alda (Wave) – Musically it follows the rhythm of a wave crashing a boat into the cliffs of northwestern Iceland. Lyrically it’s about self-harm where sometimes you feel like you are drowning in the abundance of emotion and you wish you were just washing away.

2. Þoka (Fog) – Musically it’s following the feeling of being lost in a dense fog with no sense of direction and the panic that ensues. Lyrically it’s about having a brain fog and you don’t know if you are thinking logically and being on the brink of being insane or on the brink of total chaos much like schizophrenia.

3. Ófærð (Impass) – Musically: The name translates to impassible or Impass and the music follows the idea of violent storms, snow or rain and the music is inspired by those storms that make much of Iceland impassible both in winter and summer. Lyrically: Being trapped or isolated and having no escape from it much like Locked in syndrome.

4. Skriða (Landslide) – The highs and lows of the song translate into mountain tops and how easy it is to be caught in a landslide. Crumbling down from the turmoil one gets inflicted by, from a high point and until hitting rock bottom.

5. Frost (frost) – The damage that the Harsh cold of Iceland can inflict upon the world. Being trapped in an icy cold winter that never thaws. Fimbulwinter. Much like being a psychopath, with a complete lack of emotion.

6. Skjálfti (Quake) – Unstable, unpredictable, like the earthquakes we have every day in Iceland. Insecurity and shivering when you feel the shaking of the ground without any shaking happening in the ground. Inner turmoils and fears, Anxiety.

7. Kvika (Magma) – An epic scope of a volcano captured in an eerily musical way. The inner anger and violence that boils under the surface. The magma boils slowly but you do not know when it will erupt and cause cataclysmic events a mind disaster. Explosive manic disorder.

8. Myrkur (Dark) – We don’t know what happens in the darkness and how it will affect our life, and that’s the scary idea that happens in the musical part of Myrkur. Depression, You can let the darkness control you but you must remember to turn on the light that only oneself can turn on. The darkness can be obsessive but it is dangerous if it’s used wrongly on others and yourself.

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Story Angles – Fun Facts:

1. Our most told story is the one about the guitarist the lied on his application. Saying that he was 16 when he asked to join when in fact he was still only 15, We had a lot of gigs with an underage guitarist and his parents were often seen in the crowd.

2. During our second gig we were about to go on stage and the bassist completely missed the fact that the guitarist had to go to the bathroom. And so walked on stage and played for nearly 5 minutes a single riff until the rest of the band finally joined him. Being an eventful gig our singer shows up dressed as a zombie priest with heavy makeup and Rúnar then reviewing the band before joining got scared out of his mind when meeting the vocalist outside the venue.

3. When arriving at Lemmy Rock fest in 2022 we were a bit early and noticed that nothing was properly set up at the time, so we carried all the shared gear, set up the stage and hung all the lighting + lighting programming prior to the show. An hour before heading on stage our bassist walked into the tattoo shop located in the venue and got the band Motif tattooed on his calf and was essentially in pain the whole show.

4. Sandra remarks – Magnus likes his show underwear like he likes his bacon, Extra crunchy.

5. Sjafnar our vocalist Participated in the Icelandic idol completely wooing the judges with Cowboys from hell acapella.

L-R: Magnus Addi Olafsson (Bass) | Sandra Maria Berþorsdottir (Drums & Vocals) | Sjafnar Bjorgvinsson (Vocals) | Runar Gauti Gunnarsson (Guitar) | Markus Loki Gunnarsson (Guitar)

Photo Credit: Hvergiland Photography

We are Drungi, hailing from the cool shores of Reykjavík Iceland. A refreshing addition to the hard rock/metal scene with an interesting mix of Rock, black‘n‘roll, and doom.

Formed in 2019, the lineup consists of Sjafnar on vocals, Rúnar on lead guitar, Loki on rhythm guitar, Magnús on bass and Sandra on drums. The first show they played was in mid-2019 when they opened a small local festival, Toolraiser 2019, and since then they have played numerous shows including Lemmy Rock Festival 2022 and Culture Night 2022.

Drungi celebrates their 5th year together with the release of their debut album “Hamfarir Hugans” this coming April 2024. Having all suffered from some form of mental illness, the debut album consists of songs inspired by Icelandic nature as well as the deep-rooted mental troubles, that many other people may struggle with every day. Their lyrics are all in Icelandic and connect with the harsh environments they as locals have had to deal with since the island was first populated. Their different musical backgrounds have come together to form a unique mixture of metal and rock that many people connect with on a deeper level.

Shared Stage with: Sóstafir, Krownest (2023 WMB winners), Vögel, Canis, Aesculus, Morii, Ormar, Hodris, Merkúr, Ultra Magnus, Skepna Overturn, Kookaveen, Nornagal, Skoffín, M-sea

0 Out Now! Canadian Horror Lovers BLOOD OPERA New Album “Songs in the Key of Death”; Album Guests Morgan Lander (Kittie), Maurizio Guarini (Goblin) and More!

February 24, 2024
by Asher
· Blood Opera · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 24, 2024

Out Now! Canadian Horror Lovers BLOOD OPERA New Album “Songs in the Key of Death”

Album Guests Morgan Lander (Kittie), Maurizio Guarini (Goblin)

Track Voice Over Guests – Tony Todd (Candyman), Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog),
Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead), Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, X-Files, Star Trek)

Top L-R – RIP Junk (Guitar, Vocals), Damien Deathgasm (Bass, Vocals)
Bottom L-R – Max Murder Lead Vocals), Muerto McBrains (Drums, Programming)
Photo Credit – Craig Leonard (Billy Bones)

Born in blood, conceived in Hell, and accidentally reanimated, Toronto, Canada’s horror metal ensemble, Blood Opera, announces the release of their first full-length album “Songs in the Key of Death”, a gripping, grimy descent into the world of gore and madness. Known for their powerful operatic vocals, sleazy guitar riffs, and blasphemous lyrics inspired by some of the scariest movies ever made, has garnered acclaim from none other than the zombie Godfather himself, George A. Romero. The band comments on the devilish feast they are ready to serve:

“Hell is full. The dead are alive. Unlock humanity’s survival from the zombie apocalypse with “Songs in the Key of Death”! We are very proud to present our brand of “dead metal” with special musical and horror guests. We poured our love of all things horror into these songs. This album was made possible by the delicious humans who made it possible with their donations and pre-orders to our crowdfunding campaign. We hope you feast on it in full as we feast on your flesh.”

As the gates of Hell threaten to swing open “Songs in the Key of Death” promises a diabolical journey through the macabre realms of Dead Metal. This album, not for the faint-hearted, weaves together a sinister storyline and transitions, inviting listeners to immerse themselves in the horrifying cinematic landscapes that inspired each track.

“Songs in the Key of Death” is a compilation of the band’s best songs, featuring two new tracks, plus a cover of “Killer Klowns From Outer Space”, and the standalone 2022 single “Be My Victim” ft. Tony Todd (Candyman) as a bonus track. Other album guests included Morgan Lander (Kittie), Maurizio Guarini (Goblin) along with track voice-over guests Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog), Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead), and Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, X-Files, Star Trek).

Now available as of February 24, 2024, “Songs in the Key of Death” is a fiendish feeding frenzy that awaits and is highly recommended for fans of Dokken, WASP, and Ghost.

Album order – https://bloodopera.bandcamp.com.

Spotify – https://sptfy.com/Q4VP

Lyric Video – The Gates of Hell ft. guest keyboards Maurizio Guarini (Goblin) – https://youtu.be/XtL3rOlqB6Q

Music Video – By My Victim ft. voice-over by Tony Todd (Candyman) – https://youtu.be/-WFjtFmdFW4

Killer Klowns from Outer Space – https://youtu.be/Xoh7PdcEKfc

Track Listing:
1. Just Keep Digging (1:04)
2. Feeding Frenzy (3:49) ft. guest vocals Morgan Lander (Kittie) and voice-over by Linnea Quigley (The Return of the Living Dead)
3. Don’t Go Out Tonight (3:06)
4. Fight to Survive (3:53) ft. voice-over by Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, X-Files, Star-Trek)
5. A Waste of Good Suffering (3:55)
6. The Gates of Hell ft. guest keyboards Maurizio Guarini (Goblin) (4:51)
7. Breaking News (0:58)
8. Killer Klowns From Outer Space (Cover) (4:19)
9. The Ballad of Father Malone (4:11) ft. voice-over by Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog, Escape From New York)
10. Brundlefly (4:34)
11. Damien (5:11)
12. Be My Victim ft. voice-over by Tony Todd (Candyman) (Bonus Track) (3:59)
13. The Band of the Living Dead (0:30)
14. The Key of Death (0:43)
Album Length: 45:09

More Info: https://bloodopera.ca

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“Toronto’s very own, Blood Opera primed the audience for the forthcoming onslaught…Blood Opera, local purveyors of the horror business, celebrating debauchery by toasting the crowd with a ceremonious Blood Chug!” – John Gallant (Live in Limbo)

“Blood Opera’s new single, “Be My Victim,” is a serious rock n’ roll homage to many aspects of the original Candyman film, including the nostalgia of playing scary childhood games, and the fear of losing complete control.” – Rue Morgue
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
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0 ROCKSHOTS RECORDS – Out Now! DECROWNED’s New Album “Persona Non Grata” + Music Video “Rainworld”

February 23, 2024
by Asher
· Decrowned (Rockshots Records) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 23, 2024

Out Now! DECROWNED’s New Album “Persona Non Grata” + Music Video “Rainworld”

Rockshots Records is proud to present melancholic Finnish metallers Decrowned’s first full-length “Persona Non Grata”, now available as of February 23rd. For this record, every member brought something to the table, but guitarists Jaakko Kauppinen (guitars) and Simo Puustinen composed most of the songs. Musically, the band takes a turn into heavier waters from its predecessors (EPs “Hansel’s Nightmare” (2019) and debut “Weight of The Dark Sky” (2018)), still keeping in mind the essence of Decrowned. Lyrically “Persona Non Grata” is a very dark album, reflecting things that pass through the generations, consuming us from the inside. It is a description of a haunted future and the past that took wrong turns on personal and universal levels. This undefined black matter that flows ignoring time and reason is the unwanted entity… Persona non grata.

“We are so excited that our debut album “Persona non grata” will finally be released. Recordings started already in 2022 and the first intention was that album, but there were some roadstops here and there. We had to record bass tracks twice and also our mixing wizard Tero “TeeCee” Kinnunen had timetable changes because of his big contribution to Nightwish. This is also time to say huge thanks to Tero, for arranging time for us on his busy schedule and doing remarkable work for us.”

For the full-length’s release day, the band is sharing their next music video for the track “Rainworld”, a track that almost ended up on the cutting room floor, the band explains:

“Rainworld was almost going to be dropped from the album. It is one of the oldest songs and Jaakko didn’t like it so much in the beginning and it is a song that he composed. Luckily we talked Jaakko over and now the song has risen as one of our favorites and strongest songs from the album. Lyricically it paints up a rainy and gray landscape of a depressed mind. Seasons go too slowly for this individual. He wants them to pass faster so that eternal sleep and rest would finally take place.”

Watch the video for “Rainworld” – https://youtu.be/CO_SpG5c9tg

Recommended for fans of Amorphis, Insomnium, In Flames, and Katatonia, “Persona Non Grata” is available for at https://bit.ly/DecrownedCD

Spotify – https://sptfy.com/Q4mB

Track Listing:
1. Folklore pt.1 (intro) – 0:48
2. Mouth Leaks Black – 4:20
3. Rainworld – 4:16
4. Stonewing – 3:56
5. Mindparasite – 4:44
6. Scarred – 5:02
7. Awaken – 3:30
8. Faceless – 3:50
9. The Bird and The Tree – 4:51
10. The Vigorian Man – 4:09
11. Persona Non Grata – 4:52
12. Folklore pt.2 (outro) – 0;42
Album Length: 45:05

PERSONA NON GRATA was:
Produced by Decrowned with help of Tero Kinnunen
Recorded at Crown Crusher studio/Joensuu
Kantele recordings at Guru studio/Joensuu
Engineered by Antti Venäläinen
Mixed by Tero “TeeCee” Kinnunen
Mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox
Artwork and layout by Jukka Turunen (www.jukkaturunen.com)
Band photography by Harri Säynevirta (www.saynevirta.fi)
Keyboards and synths by Jukka Turunen
Kantele by Sari Puustinen and Saila Kinnunen
Guitar solo on “Mindparasite” by Euge Valovirta
Finnish vocals on “Mindparasite” by Tuomo Huurre

Decrowned is:
Miikka Hulmi, Vocals and bass
Antti Venäläinen, Drums
Jaakko Kauppinen, Guitar
Simo Puustinen, Guitar

More info: Rockshots.eu | Facebook.com/rockshotsrecords | Instagram.com/rockshotsrecords

Facebook.com/decrownedtheband | Instagram.com/decrownedtheband | Tiktok.com/@decrownedofficial

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 Norway’s TONIC BREED Celebrates the 10 Year Anniversary Of “Outsold” With The Re-Imagined Cut Of “Strife”

February 23, 2024
by Asher
· Music News · Tonic Breed

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 23, 2024

Norway’s TONIC BREED Celebrates the 10 Year Anniversary Of “Outsold” With The Re-Imagined Cut Of “Strife”

Sarpsborg, Norway’s Tonic Breed announces the 10th-anniversary re-release of their 2014 thrash album “Outsold”. The first revisited single from this milestone release is titled “Strife” providing fans with a fresh perspective on the album that left a lasting impact on the metal scene. While some of the tracks have subtle changes and remixing, “Strife” has been changed the most, including a nearly two-minute intro cut, as Patrik K. Svendsen explains:

“Strife is the shortest track on the album. Originally, with a more extended synth intro, this song is now shortened to a more effective and explosive song. It’s one of the songs on the album with some kind of an actual hook chorus. This song could easily have been made with a traditional song structure, but I chose to spice it up a little with a couple of twists in the songwriting process.”

While Tonic Breed‘s original line-up is no more, sole remaining member Svendsen has poured his passion into this anniversary re-release. The band is not reuniting, but Svendsen, the composer of all songs, expresses his love for the album and the desire to introduce it to a new audience, one single at a time.

“Outsold” was a significant achievement for Tonic Breed, earning the title of “Album of the Year” by The Metal Reviews in 2014. The album’s unique blend of Old Bay era thrash, groove, melodic, and heavy elements captivated metal enthusiasts worldwide. Expressing the darker themes of life, politics, and our inner demons, the album is recommended for fans of Slayer, Pantera, and Metallica.

Listen to the revisited version of “Strife” at the following links:

YouTube – https://youtu.be/TOkSfvN1P7A

Spotify – https://sptfy.com/Q4jH

For more info:
https://tonicbreed.com
https://facebook.com/tonicbreed
https://instagram.com/tonicbreed

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“Tonic Breed reinforces my growing belief that music, and particularly metal, can one day survive and even thrive without need of the corporate machine.” – Metal Disciple (Outsold – LP)

“For an unsigned act Outsold has one of the best productions I have heard in a long time. Simply put it’s a fantastic album.” – Teeth of the Divine (Outsold – LP)

“TONIC BREED could easily advance up the ranks thanks to this impressive release.” – Metal Temple (Outsold – LP)

“10/10. Album of the year 2014.” – The Metal Review (Outsold – LP)

—

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 Reminder – Canada’s DEADWOLFF Kick Off First American Tour of 2024 – “NO REST IN THE WEST TOUR”

February 22, 2024
by Asher
· Deadwolff · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 22, 2024

Reminder – Canada’s DEADWOLFF Kick Off First American Tour of 2024 – “NO REST IN THE WEST TOUR”

Deadwolff’s Debut Album Out Now! On Golden Robot Records

L-R: Angus Pike (Drums), Tommy Wolffe (Bass. Vocals), Bobby Deuce (Guitar)

Kicking off their first tour of 2024, Toronto, Canada’s DEADWOLFF announces they will be hitting the road this coming February and March for American show dates. Entitled the “NO REST IN THE WEST TOUR”, the heavy rock n’ roll band will be tearing their way across the lower west coast of the USA for two weeks with their headbanging, beer-drinking, no-holds-barred tunes.

NO REST IN THE WEST DATES
Feb 23 – Houston, TX – Trip Six
Feb 24 – Austin, TX – Lost Well
Feb 25 – San Antonio, TX – Hi-Tones
Feb 27 – Albuquerque, NM – El Rey Mezzanine
Feb 28 – Glendale, AZ – Starlite Lounge
Feb 29 – Las Vegas, NV – Dive Bar
March 1 – San Diego, CA – Tower Bar
March 2 – Los Angeles, CA – Universal Bar and Grill
March 4 – Tucson, AZ – The Rock
March 5 – El Paso, TX – The Living Room
March 7 – Dallas, TX – Three Links
March 8 – Oklahoma City, OK – Grand Royale
March 9 – Tulsa, OK – The Whittier

About:

A blend of hard rock, punk, and metal, Deadwolff set itself apart from other bands with its take on the New Wave of Heavy Rock and Roll. Recommended for fans of Judas Priest, Motorhead, and W.A.S.P, Deadwolff‘s is a revival of foot-tapping, beer-drinking, headbanging tunes, and more. The band is touring in support of their debut full-length “Heavy Rock N’ Roll” released on March 31st, 2023 via Golden Robot Records.

Music Video – Heavy Rock n’ Roll – https://youtu.be/kAiNlEmDkZk

Music Video – Homeward Bound – https://youtu.be/iPC0z5J3Xnc

Album – https://linktr.ee/deadwolff

For more info:

Deadwolff – http://www.linktr.ee/deadwolff

– 30 –

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 ADON Presents A Visceral And Relentless Take On Black Metal With “Axiom” Off Debut Self-Titled Album Out April 2024

February 22, 2024
by Asher
· ADON · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 22, 2024

ADON Presents A Visceral And Relentless Take On Black Metal With “Axiom”

Debut Self-Titled Album Out April 2024

Album Guests Chris Beattie (The Zenith Passage, Dreamer), Kyle Schaefer (Fallujah, Archaeologist),
Justin Sakogawa (Warscythe, Splattered, ex-Defeated Sanity, Vile), James Stewart (Decapitated, ex-Vader)

L-R – Æthelwulf II: bottom (seated) – Vocals, additional instrumentation, Nath: Top (standing) – Guitars, Bass, additional vocals

From nowhere and beyond comes the dark and brutal sounds of Adon, a black/death/thrash project band that delivers relentless fury, chaotic harmony, and tarnished riffs. Since the release of the 2020 EP “Arkane” they have been hard at work to bring forth their self-titled full-length album, which will be released in April 2024. This impending doom is ushered in with the single “Axiom”, a song that tells the story of a person being stretched into nothingness upon entering a black hole, which the band expands on:

“Axiom is both our shortest song on the album and also the one that we believe encompasses all of the various styles of extreme metal we find that we imbue into our music, into one, blisteringly fast and relentless track. Heavily leaning toward agro black metal while still finding a way to add progressive elements to that core sound by throwing in a few twists and turns.”

Almost all the tracks on the album feature guests and “Axiom” has guest shredding by Justin Sakogawa (Warscythe, Splattered, ex-Defeated Sanity, Vile) and surreal flute by Ember Belladonna to enhance the atmosphere. As a whole, this album represents lifelong dreams. The pursuit of which escaped the duo as younger folk, but found proper creative footing as they matured. The album explores themes of war, power, death, apocalypse, cosmos, emergence, transformation, and repeating history, oftentimes through the lens of ancient Viking/Saxon-era imagery. Musically it finds its core in black metal though it couldn’t possibly only be described as that.

An exploration into dark fantasy; a true story of repeating history, Adon examines the fragility of existence through story and violent legend and supposes what happens next. This upcoming self-titled album due out on April 12, 2024, will be an auditory slaughter and is recommended for fans of Seth, Vitriol, and Havukruunu.

Watch and listen to the music video “Axiom” via its premiere TheCirclePit at https://youtu.be/gwmUvXyMqfM

Spotify – https://sptfy.com/Q3oN

Album pre-order – https://adonmetal.bandcamp.com

Track Listing:
1. Ascension – (6:08)
2. Æther – (5:27)
3. Adon – (16:43)
4. Azimuth – (5:19)
5. Axiom – (3:48)
6. Æon – (11:03)
Total Length – 48:28

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Adon
• All songs written by: Æthelwulf II, Nath
• Produced by: Adon
• Mixed by: Dave Otero (Flatline)
• Mastered by: Dave Otero (Flatline)
• Album Artwork by: Adon

Album Guests:
Chris Beattie (The Zenith Passage, Dreamer) – Track 1, 2, 4, 6
Justin Sakogawa (Warscythe, Splattered, ex-Defeated Sanity, Vile) – Track 3, 5
Ember Belladonna – Track 4, 5
Kyle Schaefer (Fallujah, Archaeologist) – Track 3

Album Band Line Up:
Nath – Guitars, Bass, additional vocals
Æthelwulf II – Vocals, additional instrumentation
James Stewart (Decapitated, ex-Vader) – Drums

More info: Instagram.com/adon_metal | Facebook.com/ADONMetal

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0 EPK – ADON – Self-Titled (2024)

February 22, 2024
by Asher
· ADON · EPKs

EPK – ADON – Self-Titled (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“While we hope that new fans will find many things to love about the album, the intention behind the music has always been artistic expression. We hope that in this way, people can connect with the album. We want people to be totally immersed in the cacophony of sound that is this album. We hope that it feels akin to be taking a journey through time and space and that they might consider what lies beyond this realm.” – ADON

For fans of Enslaved, Marduk, Hate, Havukruunu, Oranssi Pazuzu

Instagram.com/adon_metal | Facebook.com/ADONMetal | Youtube.com/@adon_metal6409

Adonmetal.bandcamp.com | Spotify

[Downlaod Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Adon
Release Date: April 12, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Ascension – (6:08)
2. Æther – (5:27)
3. Adon – (16:43)
4. Azimuth – (5:19)
5. Axiom – (3:48)
6. Æon – (11:03)
Total Length – 48:28

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Adon
• All songs written by: Æthelwulf II, Nath
• Produced by: Adon
• Mixed by: Dave Otero (Flatline)
• Mastered by: Dave Otero (Flatline)
• Album Artwork by: Adon

Album Band Line Up:
Nath – Guitars, Bass, additional vocals
Æthelwulf II – Vocals, additional instrumentation
James Stewart – Drums

===============================================

The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

As a whole, this album represents lifelong dreams. The pursuit of which escaped us as younger folk but found proper creative footing as we matured. It represents all of our influences in a way that, hopefully, can only be described as ‘ADON’. The album explores themes of war, power, death, apocalypse, cosmos, emergence, transformation, and repeating history, oftentimes through the lens of ancient Viking/ Saxon era imagery. Musically it finds its core in black metal though it couldn’t possibly only be described as that.

We believe it is uniquely us, and we made it for ourselves. We love to share our creative expressions with others though, and we hope that others can find meaning as we do.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. Ascension – This song sets the tone for the album with its brutality. The lyrics as we wrote them visually focus on the beginning of an apocalypse, and the hopeless futility of survival. The title ‘ascension’ conjures imagery of a kind of torturous rapture.

2. Æther – A non-stop onslaught of violent themes and images of battle. A war cry in the spirit of Vikings, taking flight on wings of vengeance.

3. Adon – This song tells a classic story of a man playing at being God. However, in this story, the subject an ancient king, is given a glimpse into the unfathomable and loses himself in the abyss before glimpsing an unknown eternity. The character of king I (Æthelwulf II) is based on my own line of ancestry of Saxon kings and their mix of pagan & Christian ideologies. This idea of asking God for the power to subjugate is delightfully paradoxical and all too common in our own history. To further tie into these ideas, a large portion of the lyrics for this song are written and performed in Olde English. I enlisted the help of an Olde English expert to help me translate my ideas and spent a good amount of time working on my pronunciation. Olde English is also present in other songs as well, but most prominently here.

We titled the song ‘Adon’ to further draw a line to concepts we frequently touch upon in our lyrics. The ancient word, ‘Adon’, can be translated as meaning “The Lord”. Adon as a god character in mythology, to me, personifies hubris. Calling yourself the Lord of anything is an expression of hubris in a human context. I thought exploring this idea of unhinged hubris to be quite interesting. This imagery is also the main theme on the album’s cover.

4. Azimuth – Originally inspired, like many of the songs on this album, by the Arthurian legend, but changed over time into a vision of destiny and decay, exploring the themes of emergence and transformation.

5. Axiom – Put simply, this song tells the story of a person being stretched into nothingness upon entering a black hole.

6. Æon – Another musing on apocalypse, telling a more complete story from our world ending completely to the unknown reaches of the cosmos. We use the imagery of a trumpet signaling the end of the age of the earth, as described in Judeo-Christian texts a motif musically and lyrically. I found it quite interesting to imagine a single blare of a horn signaling the end of humanity; the end of an age.

=========================================

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Every song on the album features a guest musician or two.
-Chris Beattie (The Zenith Passage, Dreamer) adds lead and solo guitar to Ascension, Æther, Azimuth, and Æon. While our music isn’t anywhere near as complex as Chris’ own bands, we felt that his beautifully moving soloing style and unbelievable technical proficiency fit perfectly throughout the album.

-Justin Sakogawa (Warscythe, Splattered, ex-Defeated Sanity, Vile) contributes solos on both Axiom and Adon. Justin’s style takes an equally precise technical performance and injects it with a more traditional “Death” influenced soloing style that was perfect for the songs he contributed to. He also makes an appearance in the music video for Axiom to shred his parts on that song.

-Ember Belladonna provides some haunting and ethereal flute to Axiom and Adon. Her contributions to Adon truly take that song to another level and give it a cinematic and psychedelic edge.

– Kyle Schaefer (Fallujah, Archaeologist) adds his vocals to the track ‘Adon’ at key moments throughout the track.

2. We were lucky enough to connect with James Stewart (Decapitated, ex-Vader) during the pandemic and he graciously agreed to track drums on our EP. He offered us the option to have him on or debut when we got around to it, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity. His home recording setup got a significant upgrade between our EP and album, and his performances are unforgettable. Having him involved to offer his insights and advice and his impeccable professionalism made the production of the album that much better.

3. I hit up Dave Otero on Instagram after hearing his mixes of Ahklys. I thought a similar production might work well for us, but didn’t fully realize who Dave was and the breadth of his work. It sounds idiotic to say now, with the number of MASSIVE hits he has under his belt, and for some reason, he agreed to mix the album. He offered indelible advice particularly as it pertains to future recordings. Still can’t believe he mixed and mastered this behemoth!

====================================

L-R – Æthelwulf II: bottom (seated) – Vocals, additional instrumentation, Nath: Top (standing) – Guitars, Bass, additional vocals

ADON was ideated long ago, but finally emerged in the winter of 2020 with their EP release ‘Arkane’.

Mixed and mastered at Endarker Studio in Sweden, it was clear from the start that ADON sought to craft extreme metal that was rooted in the foundations of the genres that inspired them, but stood on their own in the music they crafted.

The sound of the EP reflected their grimmer influences while teasing a future that was much darker and intense, with more room for experimentation within a Blackened/Death sound.

With their full-length, self-titled debut album, ADON reached their sights further still…

Recorded throughout 2022, the core of ADON remains whilst also featuring several collaborations from the likes of Kyle Schaefer (FALLUJAH), Chris Beattie (THE ZENITH PASSAGE, DREAMER), and Justin Sakogowa (SPLATTERED, WARSCYTHE), and several other talented guests, and was mixed and mastered by a staple of extreme metal, Dave Otero.

With an enormous, crushing, and relentless sound that still finds room for experimentation, ADON is ready to unleash on the planet their apocalyptic debut this coming April 2024.

Discography:
– 2024 – Self-Titled – LP
– 2020 – Arkane – EP

0 EPK – Ivy Gardens – Goon (2024)

February 22, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Ivy Gardens

EPK – Ivy Gardens – Goon (2024)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“Goon contains many tracks that our fans have been hearing live for a while. We knew how to craft a listening experience that mirrored our live performances, but we wanted to do something a little different. Sustaining a mosh pit through the course of a performance isn’t a concern on an album. We wanted an experience that took you places, with some unexpected twists, flowing from one song to the next and feeling like a natural progression to an ultimate finale.” – Ivy Gardens

For fans of Kyuss, Truckfighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana, Soundgarden

Band: Ivy Gardens
Album Title: Goon
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Label: Paper Cut Recordings

Facebook.com/ivygardensband | Instagram.com/ivygardensofficial | Youtube.com/@ivygardens420/

Ivygardens.bandcamp.com | Spotify

The Canadian National College Radio – May 2024 – Top 20 Loud – #9 Ivy Gardens (Earshot)

The Canadian National College Radio Loud Chart – #8 Ivy Gardens (Earshot) – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, May 21, 2024

“…the sonic equivalent of a panic attack.” – Canadian Beats

“Stoner metal, a little chilled sounding, but fast paced, cool stuff.” – Mosh Pit – WORT 89.9 FM (Madison, WI)

““Boner” has got a really cool groove, too, showing you what can happen when you’ve got a band that is truly possessed by the power of The Riff. It’s one of those grinding, motoriffic jobs in the spirit of Kyuss’ “Green Machine.” And it doesn’t take long before we, too, are caught under its sway. The retro organ sound from the keys provides a spooky touch to the chorus, which comes like a sigh of relief after the tense build-up of those guitar-driven verses. The drumming is swarmy and frenetic, and strikes with power at pivotal moments. The breakdown at 4 minutes is a headbanging oasis, made even cooler with the synthesizer’s late-’60s garage twist.” – Doomed and Stoned

“This Canadian trio are promising us a debut album that is “a relentless onslaught of vulgar, belligerent punk, sludge and sweat” when it is released in April. If this lead single is anything to go by, things are going to get very belligerent and sweaty when the full-lengther finally hits our death decks.” – Uber Rock

“GOON is an action packed and turbocharged release powered by Pissed Off grooves and a snarling Punk Rock Attitude which allows IVY GARDENS to deliver a devastating FREAKY slice of Psychedelic Sludge/Stoner Metal.” – Outlaws of The Sun

“Nothing about Ontario’s Ivy Gardens is predictable. Describing it is just going to sound trite. I love it when I know I’m going to miss the mark no matter what I write. But here’s my take: take some awesome keyboard parts from 1967, link them to 80’s New Romantic Synth parts played on guitar, add equal parts Stoner, Punk and Post-Metal. I mean, these guys drank the wrong whiskey and mixed it with the wrong drug while listening to the Clash, and then came down listening to Elvis Costello and early Queens of the Stone Age. Someone somewhere was blasting the B-52’s and the Stooges. It’s a heady mix that when mashed together is cohesive, fresh and original.” – Clean And Sober Stoner

““Goon” by IVY GARDENS. Pretty cool stuff. I like the inventiveness of it. Not something you’ll find carbon copies of. I also like the Stoner edge. Definitely worth checking out.” – Metal-Temple

“Alright, folks, if you haven’t already been swept up by Ivy Gardens, now’s the time. The Niagara, Ontario crew—masters of raw, unfiltered punk and sludge—delivered their first full-length album, Goon, back in April 2024. And let me tell you, it’s an auditory onslaught like no other… Goon is more than just a debut album; it’s a setlist Ivy Gardens fans have been craving. Since their thunderous arrival on the scene in 2021, they’ve been wreaking havoc across Canada’s east coast. And with a summer tour already in the works, this runaway train isn’t slowing down. Ready to dive in? The volume’s punishing, the intensity’s relentless, and there’s zero room to catch your breath—it’s like a panic attack in musical form. Ivy Gardens is daring you to join their world, where the mosh pit never ends, and the ringing in your ears is the only encore you’ll get. If you’re into Kyuss, Truckfighters, or Queens of the Stone Age, then Goon is about to become your new favorite album.” – Papy Jeff Metal

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: Ivy Gardens
Album Title: Goon
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Label: Paper Cut Recordings

Track Listing:
1. 12 Million Bar Blues (4:43)
2. Boner (5:27)
3. Chlorine (1:52)
4. Black Sand & Gold (0:57)
5. Lamb (2:01)
6. Stoic (3:14)
7. Goon (3:22)
8. Shattered Glass (1:45)
9. Provider (5:37)
Album length: 29:01

Album Credits:
All songs written, produced and performed by Ivy Gardens.
Joe Zandwyk, Andrew Blackborow, Sebastian Hogg
Mixed by Joe Zandwyk
Mastered by Audrey Leyenhorst
Album Artwork by Sebastian Hogg
Canadian Content – MAPL

Live and Recording Band Lineup:
Joe Zandwyk – Vocals, Drums
Andrew Blackborow – Vocals, Guitar
Sebastian Hogg – Keyboards

=======================================================

About The Album Artwork

The cover features a former mascot who died a very quick death. He’s immortalized forever on this record.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

We consider Goon to be a historical document. At a particular point in space and time, somewhere in a sweaty basement in Southern Ontario, we achieved a sound. Sonic belligerence, and euphoria through volume. The words flowed out naturally from personal struggles and experiences. Here it is documented: Goon.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1 – 12 Million Bar Blues, the opener, our instrumental odyssey. No words. Just riffs. Energy. Power. The introduction to our sound, the introduction to the experience. It sends you hurtling forward at a million miles per hour until it drags you straight back down.

2 – Boner is our very own feel-good hit of the summer. Opening with a relaxed groove that builds and builds to the heaviest possible climax, Boner has been a major highlight of our live set since it was introduced. Following the more relaxed pacing of the song, the softer vocal performance less seen in our music tells of a (seemingly) simple disagreement between two bitter individuals.

3 – Chlorine is our oldest song to date. Written when we were just 14, it’s a pure punk song that is full of energy the whole way through. Speed and intensity. Lyrically, the track details the human experience of chemical warfare.

4 – Black Sand & Gold is an ambient soundscape, named after an old novel chronicling the Yukon gold rush. Vast, uncaring wilderness, biting frost, black sand, and gold are the visual references for this quiet, palate-cleansing track.

5 – Lamb is our fastest and most aggressive track. Andrew screams commands: be a lamb, guide my hand. Rhythmically intricate at a breakneck pace, this track was one of the first written for the album, and the first to reach this level of sonic violence and belligerence.

6 – Stoic is our most lyrically packed song on the album as well as rhythmically unique. Bouncing between hard-hitting dirges and quick, jumping rhythms, the song explores the perspective of someone with a lot of self-destructive behavior, who still manages to find peace through it.

7 – Goon is a song that was written with the intention of being both rhythmically intricate, but ultimately danceable. Where the verses are filled with screaming lyrics from the point of view of a struggling addict, the chorus takes a more melodic approach, as the person in question experiences the ecstasy that comes with getting their fix.

8 – Shattered Glass is a quick punk blaster that turns on a dime. The lyrics depict a specific scene of violence and gore, and someone’s attempt to escape a dangerous situation.

9 – Provider, the record’s finale, is our stoner-doom sludge fest. A delicate introduction builds quietly, introducing its themes, until it all comes crashing down at an immense volume. We ride the groove out, and variations on its themes are introduced until the pressure is released gradually for the final gentle climax. Lyrically, Provider is a song about struggling to abandon a substance you’ve formed a reliance on, trying to ditch the last thing that keeps you going.

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Fun Facts – Story Angles:

1 – Ivy Gardens operates under a golden rule: the “dollar to decibel ratio”. We almost exclusively use old junk amplifiers and speaker cabs. Old Peavey garbage, fished from some old fart’s garage jam space, is not only the secret sauce in our sound, but also the only possible way for us to accomplish the task of CRUSHING volume under a budget of $0.

2 – Among our various accolades is the title of “loudest band in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia”. A small little restaurant was not prepared for the volume and intensity we brought there on our recent East Coast tour, but the audiences were. A great show.

3 – One of our first musical achievements was a successful cover of YYZ. We’re huge Rush fans. We were maybe 15 when we first played it live, and under the unfamiliar lights of a strange venue, we blasted through it at nearly double speed. We’ve yet to be able to recreate it.

4 – Ivy Gardens is entirely DIY. We’ve built our own jam space, and recording studio, and studied audio engineering to record and mix our material. We are entirely self-sufficient.

L-R – Sebastian Hogg (Keyboards), Andrew Blackborow (Guitar & Vocals), Joe Zandwyk (Drums & Vocals)

Photo Credit – Rachel Imre

DOG ASS MUSIC. The only way to describe the vulgar, belligerent, punk, sludge & sweat of Ivy Gardens, from Niagara, Ontario. Birthed from a primal desire for physical volume and violent catharsis, Ivy has been hitting the road hard since their inception in 2021. Vibrating in the bones of audiences across Ontario, Quebec and the east coast of Canada.

The Ivy Gardens experience is a nearly endless stream of beaten-to-hell drums, searing organ, throbbing bass synths, and a liquid wall of guitar sludge. The volume is crushing. There is no room to breathe. The sonic equivalent of a panic attack. Never breaking the groove, never killing the energy, never stopping the mosh pit. The audience earns a brief moment of quiet melodic respite before a thundering finale, and the endless phantom ring in your ears serves as the band’s only encore.

Discography:
2024 – Goon (LP)
2023 – Shattered Glass (single)
2022 – Walk Like An Egyptian (single)
2022 – Ivy Gardens (EP)
2021 – Stonaire (single)
2021 – Another Blood (single)
2020 – About You (single)

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