Posts By Asher

0 EPK – Lycanthro – Mark of The Wolf (2021) (Alone Records)

February 10, 2021
by Asher
· EPKs · Lycanthro

EPK – Lycanthro – Mark of The Wolf (2021) (Alone Records)

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

For fans of Judas Priest, Saxon, Blind Guardian, Helloween, Manowar

Album Title: Mark of the Wolf
Release Date: June 4, 2021
Label: Alone Records (Greece)

Facebook.com/Lycanthrokills | Instagram.com/lycanthro_metal | Youtube

“Their latest single (Crucible) is a treat for any fans of power metal or good old classic heavy metal. The track features a catchy rhythm, precision drumming, and classic 80’s vocals. It’s over 7 minutes of headbang worthy heavy metal. The guitar work is a particular highlight of the track, changing pace throughout the track, keeping the listener engaged throughout.” – Metal Injection

“Mark of the Wolf is filled with mostly catchy heavy metal (good luck trying to get “In Metal We Trust” out of your head after hearing it once) that gets the listener break out the air guitar and air drums and sing along almost from beginning to end. Fans of ’80s heavy metal and modern power metal that’s not over the top should definitely find something to like on Mark of the Wolf.” -The Metal Crypt

“As a debut hard rock/heavy metal album overall, it not only showcases a variety of talent throughout its 43 minutes of captured studio time, but it also features an even number of eight powerful songs crafted with fury and determination… Mark Of The Wolf marks not only many criteriae for the consummate debut album but also marks LYCANTHRO’s own territory within the new breed. 5.0 Out Of 5.0” – KNAC.com

“with Mark of the Wolf this scribe believes Lycanthro will vault up the scene in terms of a fine debut album, a promising lift to those that love all aspects of power metal.” – Dead Rhetoric

“This is an album that bears repeating. For a band named after literal monsters, it’s uplifting and stirring. So Canadian, right? LYCANTHRO is a refreshing band; “Mark of the Wolf” is an impressive album.” – Metal Temple

“Mark of the Wolf is an album that can undoubtedly captivate its listeners over a long period of time. Even after several playthroughs, there are still details to discover that you didn’t notice before. Anyone who claims that there is no exciting talent left in the metal world these days is definitely ignorant – or deaf. Regardless of this basic thought: I wouldn’t be surprised if James – a huge Blind Guardian fan, by the way – one day creates an opulent rock opera in which he honours all his different influences. Anyone who sees him on social media knows that he is full of drive – let’s see where his path leads. Hopefully, we will see him on a European concert stage with his three new colleagues in the foreseeable future!” – Epic Metal Blog

“The Thrash / Power hybrid screams out loud and clear from the get-go, with ‘Crucible’, an absolute belter which, right from the first few bars, indicates that Vocalist James Delbridge has something of a range on him… Interestingly, technically proficient and with an incredibly promising vocal delivery, this is clearly a band to watch.” – Ever Metal

““Enchantress” starts with solid sounds, before the machine slowly picks up speed and settles in medium tempo realms, before a longer solo part speeds things up. What should be emphasized here – as on the entire album – is the excellent work of the string wizards, above all Forest Dussault. With “In Metal We Trust” the North Americans have a real metal anthem in their luggage, which should be celebrated live according to all the rules of the art.” – Hellfire Magazin

“An authentic and truly excellent work in a new wave of traditional heavy metal, Lycanthro’s debut album Mark of the Wolf is the kind of passionate and diverse music that is surely the beginning of something great.” – Cavedweller Music

“any fan of straight up metal in the grand tradition will find plenty to howl about on “Mark of the Wolf”.” – Wormwood Chronicles

“Crucible,” starts things off slowly and with great measure. It advances forth into destruction and insanity with great aplomb. Delivering the world into a whirlpool of excess and power.” – The Median Man

“Eerie picked acoustic over strings begin the track (Crucible) with driving guitars burst through and start off a rampage of rock riffing and drums. With an uptight electric feel to the track, it’s a full on rock n roll epic complete with howling vocals and singing guitars.” – Backseat Mafia

“What’s better than spending your Saturday evening with a bunch of Canadian Heavy Metal Werewolves? I bet there’s not much that sounds more like an alpha move huh? LYCANTHRO have assembled their first full-length and it is a ripper! 8/10” – Reflections of Darkness

“Mark of the wolf” is an example of how a heavy metal album should sound. It is classic, and at the same time very inventive and fresh. Expectations fully met. Their debut can easily be classified as one of the most important events of 2021. Rating: 9/10″ – Power Metal Warrior

“All the songs on this disc have very well thought out compositions with excellent buildups from the intros to the outros. The songs are top caliber which can compete with any of today’s current metal bands” – John Ricci (Exciter)

“A harken back to the old school!” – Joe Comeau (Liege Lord, ex-Overkill, ex- Annihilator)

“Had put on a performance that nearly upstaged the headliner” – KNAC.com

“Taking some classic influences and intertwining them into a potent, headbanging outfit. International attention and accolades aren’t far behind as these members grow” – Dead Rhetoric

“These guys write some amazing riffs, better than many with decades more experience” – Decibel Geek

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“This album is a diverse listening experience. Even though everything in one way or another is under the umbrella of Power or Thrash metal, there is something for everyone on here in terms of melodic metal (except for screams haha). There are soaring high vocals, epic guitar solos, lots of harmonies, heavy chugging riffs, a few odd instruments, and even a breakdown or two. We firmly believe in making a diverse listening experience and this album is no different, there’s something everyone on this album!” – Lycanthro

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Mark of the Wolf
Release Date: June 4, 2021
Label: Alone Records (Greece)

Track Listing:
1. Crucible (7:17)
2. Fallen Angels Prayer (4:47)
3. Mark of The Wolf (5:02)
4. Enchantress (6:53)
5. In Metal We Trust (5:07)
6. Into Oblivion (3:24)
7. Ride the Dragon (4:03)
8. Evangelion (6:25)
Album Length: 43:02

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Lycanthro
• All songs written by: James Delbridge
• Produced by: Mike Bond/James Delbridge
• Mixed by: Jason Jaknunas
• Mastered by: Jack Kosto
• Album Artwork by: Velio Josto
• Member of SOCAN & ASCAP
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album Band Line Up:
James Delbridge – Vocals, Guitars
David Shute – Guitars
Carlo Cote – Bass
Nathan Shuman – Drums
Forrest Dussault – Guitars

Live Band Line Up:
James Delbridge – Vocals, Guitars
Forest Dussault – Guitars
Stew Everitt – Bass
Panos Andrikopoulos – Drums

Fun Facts / Story Angles:

1. This album as well as our previous EP was recorded at Wolf Lake Studios in Lac-des-Loups, Quebec. It’s a unique experience to record there as essentially, it’s a studio in a cabin in the woods. The area is very atmospheric and there’s aren’t that many outward distractions around so we can be productive and focus on the music. It’s like a camping trip mixed with the recording.

2. The album was mastered by Jack Kosto who the most well-known for being the lead guitarist in the power metal band Seven Spires.

3. We brought in a professional chamber choir for the song “Fallen Angels Prayer” on the new album

4. During November 2019, Lycanthro performed at the November Mayhem fest in St Johns Newfoundland. It was the 1st time we had played a show outside of Ontario/Quebec and it was an unforgettable experience. Getting flown in made us feel like rock stars and it was in a 350-person venue that was full! That coupled with experiencing the food, sights, and people made our show in Newfoundland an unforgettable one!

5. Lycanthro played a show during June 2019 in Toronto, ON, and on a boat! Every year our promoter friend Karina Davy of Neurotic Entertainment hosts her birthday concert called “Rock The Boat” where she’ll get three metal bands to play on the boat. It was a very unique and memorable experience but I (James) blew out my vocal chords during that show. Talk about suffering for your art!

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

The album as a whole:
The album is a diverse listening experience. Even though everything in one way or another is under the umbrella of Power or Thrash metal, there is something for everyone on here in terms of melodic metal (except for screams haha). There are soaring high vocals, epic guitar solos, lots of harmonies, heavy chugging riffs, a few odd instruments, and even a breakdown or two. We firmly believe in making a diverse listening experience and this album is no different, there’s something everyone on this album!

Track by Track explanation by James Delbridge:

1. Crucible was technically the 1st official Lycanthro song, I wrote this song back when I was in high school because we read the book “The Crucible” in English class. Also, I actually wrote the lyrics of this song while I was in English class instead of doing my school work. The story of “The Crucible” really fascinated me and I felt as though it would translate perfectly into a metal song. There are also references to other witchcraft stories such as William Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” as well. In terms of the music, I was aiming for kind of a Judas Priest meets Death vibe and I think that got pulled off on this track.

2 .“Fallen Angels Prayer” – This song is the epic of the album. Lyrically it tells the story of the “Hunchback of Notre Dame” and Quasimodo’s sympathy towards the gypsy’s for being oppressed in the story, as well as his love for Esmerelda. I knew this song had to have a big and epic feel to it. I would akin this song to kind of our take on a Kamelot style song with lots of diverse instruments such as Piano, Flute, Violin, and a full-on choir! The choir we recorded live off the floor and it added the gigantic feel that we wanted out of this song.

3. Enchantress tells the tale of a man who is wandering through the woods and happens across a woman. She descends from the sky and the man instantly falls in love. He thinks he has already died and that she is an angel but in reality, she’s a demon who’s there to lead him to his death. It’s sort of a similar plotline to Triumph’s “Spellbound” video but with a much darker edge. In terms of the music, this song’s 1st half has sort of a power/groove feel to it with lots of odd chords and guitar harmonies. Then in the 2nd half, it gets a more distinctive Iron Maiden/NWOBHM feel to it with the fast chugging guitar parts. Also, this track has one of my favourite moments on the album at the very end where there’s an Yngwie Malmsteen style guitar run to close the song.

4. “Mark of the Wolf” – This song is a great straight forward headbanger that is akin to the styles of Iron Maiden and Motorhead. It also has some of the weirdest and difficult guitar passages of the whole album in the verses of the song. In terms of the lyrics, this is 1 of 2 songs on this album that is based on the videogame Skyrim. This song in particular talks about the Companions, a group of mercenaries in the game who can turn into Werewolves.

5. “In Metal We Trust” – We figured that we needed a sing-along song for a live setting that will be a crowd-pleaser so then we wrote In Metal We Trust. We wanted a song that really channeled the spirit of old school Priest style metal with catchy riffs and memorable melodies, along with a chant they everyone can sing along to.

6. “Into Oblivion” – This song is the 1st of 2 songs on this album that was written before Lycanthro was a band, Into Oblivion was actually the 1st or 2nd song I’ve ever written. It also probably the old ball song on the album with having a groove metal vibe to it along with one of the few breakdowns we have in our songs along with an Annihilator-esque guitar solo. Lyrically it has to do with zombies, but the inspiration for the lyrics came from a fungus that is known as “Zombie Fungi” as it can claim control of the host mind, but this fungus has only been seen in bugs, but it fascinated me so that’s what the lyrical basis of the song is.

7. Ride the Dragon is the 2nd of the songs that I wrote before Lycanthro was even a band. It is also the song that has gone through the most amount of changes. Lyrically this is the 2nd song about Skyrim, more specifically when the Dragonborn rides the dragon Odavigg to Sovangarde. This song has a vibe that I can only describe as Iron Maiden mixed with Triumph with some great peaks and valleys within it. As well as most of the vocals on the song being layered with is something I’ve wanted to do a long time and it turned out amazing!

8. “Evangelion” – This song is the closest thing we have to a power ballad on this album. This song was a passion song for me as it took me a year to write it! Mainly because I wrote this song bit by bit while I wrote some of the other songs. Lyrically this song is based on the anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion” which is a show that is very near and dear to my heart. As for the music, there’s a few cool synth lines in the song that gives it an epic feel as well as one of the more melodic guitar solos on the album. This song I find has some epic Dio vibes to it reminiscent of tracks from him like “Last in Line” and “Stargazer from Rainbow. From the get-go, we knew this song would be perfect to close the album on an epic and triumphant note.

L-R – Panos Andrikopoulos (Drums), Forest Dussault (Guitar), James Delbridge (Vocals/Guitar), Stew Everitt (Bass)

Lycanthro are a four-piece Power/Thrash metal band that formed in 2016 in
Ottawa, Canada. They combine power, thrash, and speed metal, along with an energetic and epic stage presence with their lyrical themes from classic horror and mythology.

Lycanthro introduced themselves to the Candian metal scene with the release of their self-titled demo followed soon after by their 2018 EP “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”.

Encapsulating a heavy, yet melodic sound, that is drawn from influences of both European/American classic power and thrash metal along with high howling vocals, piercing guitars, a booming rhythm section as well as uses of instruments such as piano and classical guitar to forge a powerful sound, Lycanthro continues on in 2021 with their signing to Alone Records for the release of their first full length “Mark of The Wolf”. The album was recorded at Wolf Lake Studios in Lac-des-Loups, Quebec and was mastered Seven Spires guitarist Jack Kosto. For the track “Fallen Angels Prayer”, the band brought in a professional chamber choir to add to its epicness.

The album features various lyrical content that fans will appreciate exploring through its different dimensions. Some of the tracks are homages to different stories in pop culture and media, others are meant to bring the listener on a journey through the worlds of each song, or simply meant to be marvel as epic metal we trust.

The band adds:
“We are trying to present fans with a varied and memorable listening experience. Even though everything on this album still fits under the power / thrash metal umbrella, there is something for everyone on this record. High soaring vocals, harmonized guitars, heavy chugging riffs, odd but cool instruments and even a breakdown or two, all metalheads have something they can take from this record and walk away with a positive experience.”

“Mark of The Wolf is due out spring 2021 on Greek label Alone Records.

Album Band Line Up:
James Delbridge – Vocals, Guitars
David Shute – Guitars
Carlo Cote – Bass
Nathan Shuman – Drums
Forrest Dussault – Guitars

Live Band Line Up:
James Delbridge – Vocals, Guitars
Forest Dussault – Guitars
Stew Everitt – Bass
Panos Andrikopoulos – Drums

Discography:
2021 – Mark Of The Wolf – LP (Alone Records)
2018 – Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse – EP
2017 – Demo

Shared Stage with: Hammerfall, Udo Dirkschneider (Ex- Accept), Diamond Head, Unleash The Archers, Battle Beast, Venom Inc., Razor, Anvil, Flotsam & Jetsam, Cloven Hoof, Skull Fist, Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), Powerglove, Striker, Exmortus, Seven Spires, Aggression, DBC (Dead Brain Cells), Elm Street, E-Force (Eric Forrest ex-Voivod), Hibria

Tour and Festivals:
2022 – Hyperspace Metal Fest- Vancouver, BC (upcoming)
2019 – November Mayhem Fest – St Johns, NL
2019 – Heavy Metal Farmfest – Vankleek Hill, ON
2017- E-Force Demonikhol Tour (opening for Eric Forrest ex Voivod)

0 EPK – Ischemic – Self-Titled (2021)

February 9, 2021
by Asher
· EPKs · Ischemic

EPK – Ischemic – Self-Titled (2021)

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

“This self-titled release is the latest full-length from Toronto’s Ischemic, following 2018’s “Stagnation & Woe”. It is the most DIY endeavor yet by the band, all production, engineering, and artwork was handled by them and close friends, resulting in this stripped-down, but unrelenting collection of songs. Crafted during lockdown, the listening experience is a trek through a haunted castle, every corner infested with isolation and creeping dread. Dungeon-crawling doom and sludge riffs are threaded together with creaking, subterranean passages of guitar ambience and noise. Charging death-metal assaults relent to spell-casts of dizzying black metal.” – Ischemic

Facebook.com/Ischemic | Instagram.com/ischemiccanada | Youtube.com/IschemicCanada

Ischemic.bandcamp.com | Spotify

For fans of Autopsy, Thorr’s Hammer, Conan, Krallice, Fuck The Facts

Album Title: Ischemic
Release Date: April 2, 2021
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Self-Release

“Toronto’s Ischemic have plenty of blood, plus sweat and tears, in their similarly volatile fusion of death, doom and black metal.” – Exclaim!

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS

1. The self-titled album was written and recorded entirely in the basement of Isabelle’s house in Scarborough. Work was often interrupted by one of her 4 cats sneaking into the recording space to wreak havoc.

2. The album cover and art direction was done by Anthony and photographer Danika Zandboer, who shot the iconic cover image for Vile Creature’s recent release “Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!”. The mask featured on the cover is one of a series that were created by psychedelic artist Marcela Calderon Donefer.

3. The band name comes from Transient Ischemic Attacks, a kind of stroke. Isabelle is a nurse and heard the term often, prompting her to suggest it. The band quickly agreed, as our second choice of “Necrosis” was found to be in use by approximately 32 other metal bands at the time.

4. Ischemic’s first gig, the Headbanging for a Cure event, raised exactly $2112.00, wildly exciting all Rush fans in attendance.

5. Ischemic’s drummer also happens to be the best guitarist in the band.

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Track by Track explanation:

At 6 minutes long, “Scabs” is our version of a single! Pure 80s death-metal filth contrasted with crushing, doomy choruses and crusty black-metal leads, with a classically face-melting solo from Adam at its center.

“Crawl out of Hell” is an ode to the Sisyphean attempts of man to escape the hell we’ve made for ourselves. The track first appeared in primitive form on our “Frigid Descent” demo but we decided that it deserved a second life with our new lineup, so it was rearranged and cleaned up with crushing new production.

“Illusion of Humanity” is a barrage of blackened sludge riffs, with an almost stoner-rock level of elastic heaviness. The song concerns the tension between the mask of modern humanity and our still-active lizard brains, the riffs maintain a rumbling buildup that eventually lashes out at itself in violent grief.

“Scattering Garden” is the epic centerpiece of the album that swings from atmospheric clarity to skull-crushing doom, with brief pearls of optimistic melody. Clocking in at 22 minutes and 22 seconds, “Scattering” brings together all the elements that make Ischemic unique, ending on an intensely triumphant crescendo.

Album Title: Ischemic
Release Date: April 2, 2021
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Scabs (6:38)
2. Crawl out of Hell (11:38)
3. Illusion of Humanity (11:03)
4. Scattering Garden (22:21)
Album Length: 51:42

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Ischemic
• All songs written & produced by: Ischemic
• Recorded by: Anthony Abbatangelo, Mrudul Kamble
• Mixed by: Mrudul Kamble
• Mastered by: Topon Das
• Album Artwork by: Anthony Abbatangelo, Danika Zandboer
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album Band Line Up:
Anthony Abbatangelo – Bass
Mrudul Kamble – Drums
Adam Korchok – Guitars
Isabelle Tazbir – Vocals & Lyrics

(Left to Right) – Isabelle Tazbir – Vocals & Lyrics, Anthony Abbatangelo – Bass, Adam Korchok – Guitars, Mrudul Kamble – Drums
Photo Credit – Danika Zandboer

Ischemic formed in 2012 through the unholy power of Kijiji, where both Isabelle Tazbir (vocals/lyrics) and Adam Korchok (guitar) were searching for fellow ghouls to play some sort of doomy, monolithic death metal. They linked up and began to pull together people from their respective friend groups to play in the band. It wasn’t long before the lineup was solidified and Ischemic could begin churning out filthy, crushing metal from the void.

Ischemic works collaboratively, riff skeletons are brought to the rest of the members, then cursed with flesh. This cohesiveness has resulted in 4 recordings: “Frigid Descent” (2013); “All Paths Lead Nowhere” (2016); “Stagnation & Woe” (2018); and “Ischemic” (2021). The earlier records resonate with filthy, hellish, death/doom sounds that give way to experimentations in melodic black metal with “Stagnation & Woe”, and a revisit to the past in the most recent album.

The experienced musicians also lend their talents to other local acts; Tazbir has done time as a vocalist in the death metal bands Saprophyte, Serene Molestation, and Blastomycosis, and is currently in Experiment Specimen. Anthony Abbatangelo (bass) plays in the drone/psych band Qarafa and occasionally records and mixes projects for local bands. Mrudul Kamble (drums) fronts the progressive/death metal act Mors Verum and is working on launching a recording studio from his new home in Waterloo, ON.

The live show (post covid times) from Ischemic is both unsettling and energetic. What little light is permitted showcases disjointed, violent movements as Tazbir lures you into their tales of woe. They have shared the stage with the likes of Volur, Greber, Woe, Beyond Creation, and Iskra.

Ischemic’s new self-titled album is due out April 2, 2021.

Discography:
2021 – Ischemic (Full-length LP)
2018 – Stagnation & Woe (Full-length LP)
2016 – All Paths Lead Nowhere (EP)
2013 – Frigid Descent (Demo)

Shared Stage with:
Volur, Greber, Woe, Beyond Creation, Usnea, Iskra, Oozing Wound, Vile Creature, Sarin

Tours and Festivals:
2019 – Briefcase Fest/Cold Summer – Toronto, ON
2018 – Suoni per il Popolo – Montreal, QC
2017 – London DeathFest – London, ON
2014 – Briefcase Fest – Toronto, ON

0 Destroy Demons To Motion Device Drummer’s Cover Of “Cultist Base” From Doom Eternal, Out Now! New Album “Motion Device IV”

February 9, 2021
by Asher
· Motion Device · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 9, 2021

For fans of Evanescence, Ozzy Osbourne, Dream Theater, Alter Bridge, Muse

Destroy Demons To Motion Device Drummer’s Cover Of “Cultist Base” From Doom Eternal

Out Now! New Album “Motion Device IV”

L-R: David Menoudakis (Drums) | Andrea Menoudakis (Bass/Keys) | Sara Menoudakis (Vocals) | Josh Marrocco (Guitars)

The Doom video game franchise has been going strong for almost 30 years, and the adrenaline-packed stomp through hell has one of the most aggressive, recognizable soundtracks to gamers across the globe. Motion Device’s drummer David Menoudakis has taken the world-renowned carnage and warped it into a new form as a drum cover presented on his YouTube channel DrumsByDavid.

On his channel, Menoudakis covers “Cultist Base” from Doom Eternal (2020) combining his drum playing with unique visuals that sets it apart from other drum covers. The video also includes gameplay and extra visual effects adding to the underworld chaos. Menoudakis comments on the video:

“I chose the track because Doom has been one of my favourite games for a long time and the soundtrack (composed by Mick Gordon) is just legendary with gamers who love heavy soundtracks like myself. I put out drum covers on a weekly basis and really enjoy all the tunes and fan requests, but this kind of video allows me to showcase what I can do technically as a drummer and also as a video editor which is something I’m getting into a lot more lately. I’m also learning a lot about sound so pushing the audio boundaries as much as possible is really important to me – I want viewers to hear a great, quality audio mix when they watch one of my drum videos. I really enjoyed putting this together and I plan on doing a lot more of it in the near future.”

Menoudakis plays in the Toronto-based progressive band Motion Device with two of his siblings and their cousin. To date, they have put out four albums so far and received recognition from many big name musicians like Steve Vai, the Scorpions and Alice Cooper to name a few.

“Cultist Base” is recommended for heavy music aficionados and gamers alike, especially those who enjoy Carpenter Brut, Black Crown Initiate, and Ministry.

Watch DrumsByDavid’s “Cultist Base” drum cover right now – https://youtu.be/yRABDQHm5Qo

About Menoudakis’ band Motion Device:

Motion Device released their latest album, “Motion Device IV” (or ‘MDIV’ for short) in September 2020. This is the fourth album from the DIY band who recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered the full length by themselves in a studio that was completely crowdfunded by fans around the world. Motion Device says they owe their success so far to their fans and are extremely appreciative of their support through their careers.

From soft to heavy, slow to fast, dreamy to raw, Motion Device is a ‘new school’ progressive rock sound while still keeping some classic metal vibes injected. Diverse, and unique, the band is the perfect addition to the collections of rock and metal fans worldwide. They are especially recommended for fans of Evanescence, Ozzy Osbourne, Dream Theater, Alter Bridge, Muse.

“Motion Device IV” is available digitally on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, physical CDs at Motiondevice.net/buy-motion-device-iv-cd/.

Music Videos:
“Blindfold It Away” – YouTube
“VOID” – YouTube

For more info:
Motiondevice.net
Facebook.com/OfficialMotionDevice
Twitter.com/MotionDevice
Instagram.com/officialmotiondevice
EPK

About:
Motion Device is an independent hard rock band from Canada led by vocalist Sara Menoudakis, along with Josh Marrocco on guitar, Andrea Menoudakis on bass/keys, and David Menoudakis on drums.

The formation of the band just seemed to fall into place between the Menoudakis siblings, and their cousin Marrocco. Each member played a key instrument and shared similar musical tastes and inspirations. After starting out as a cover band, they slowly but surely found themselves writing, recording and producing their own music and once that began there was no looking back.

Motion Device has enjoyed recognition since their cover band days including receiving a huge standing ovation at Canada’s Got Talent auditions in 2011 only to be cut just before the live shows because the producers did not want to pay for music royalty rights of the songs they were covering (Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and Ozzy’s ‘Crazy Train’). They also received a huge boost in their early days when Ronnie James Dio’s social media team shared the band’s Youtube cover of Black Sabbath’s ‘Heaven and Hell’.

Motion Device has 4 albums out, “Welcome to the Rock Revolution” (2014); “Eternalize” (2015); “Wide Awake” (2017), and “MDIV” (2020). The most recent one was recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by the band in their own fan-funded recording studio. Thanks to crowdfunding, all of their albums have been completely funded by fans from all over the globe. With over 100,000 social media fans and more than 20 million views on their Youtube channel, they’re quickly becoming one of the brightest up and coming bands in North America.

– 30 –

“Canadian rockers Motion Device turned a series of viral video hits into dedicated fans who are helping them make the music they love.” – Metal Hammer

“Their young age and gender diversity gives them a fresh and unique perspective on the industry, one that doesn’t romanticize the rock and roll of the past. They’re taking DIY, punk rock ethics and applying it to the current music industry, allowing them to find success on their own terms.” – Huffington Post

“Motion Device has been dubbed “the future of rock”.” – CHCH Hamilton

—

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 Watch A Master At Work With Jeff Pennachio’s Playthrough Of “Interposition”, Debut EP “Setting The Stage” Out Now!

February 9, 2021
by Asher
· Jeff Pennachio · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 9, 2021

For fans of Plini, Dream Theater, Trans Siberian Orchestra

Watch A Master At Work With Jeff Pennachio’s Playthrough Of “Interposition”

Debut EP “Setting The Stage” Out Now!

“Setting The Stage” is the debut solo EP from New York’s Jeff Pennachio (guitarist for Design The Void), containing three instrumental tracks that are composed in the style of fantastical soundtracks, creating an intricate picture that listeners can experience now.

To indulge fans further, Pennachio has recorded a playthrough video of the single “Interposition”. In it, viewers can learn how to play the parts of the song, or simply enjoy watching a talented musician in his element.

Pennachio pays great attention to his individual compositions, weaving cinematic riffs together with layers of orchestral pieces, which finalize in an elaborate symphony suited for a feature film. Thematic presentations along with a good amount of individual moving parts are an aspect of music that Pennachio holds in high regard and wants to continue pursuing. He delves into that thought in more detail:

“This EP is an important release to me as it has really allowed me to show all fans the cinematic approach I have been looking to take towards music. While being in a metal group full time, I have a specific composition structure that I use to approach all new songs. Should this EP be a successful release, it will certainly bring clarity to wanting to compose more of this type of music for all listeners.”

A complex and vivid listening experience, Jeff Pennachio is recommended for fans of Plini, Dream Theatre and Trans Siberian Orchestra.

The playthrough for “Interposition” can be watched on YouTube – https://youtu.be/PTpKfV_Dpnk

“Setting The Stage” was released on January 22, 2021 and is available on digital platforms HERE.

YouTube EP Stream – https://youtu.be/xU998PkaRYM

Track Listing:
1.Wilson Theater (5:29)
2.Interposition (3:34)
3.The Voyager (4:27)
EP Length: 13:32

More Info:
Official Website: Jeff Pennachio
Facebook.com/Jeff-Pennachio-Guitarist-Composer-105261564849151/
Instagram.com/voidboi2032
EPK

About:
Jeff Pennachio comes from New York State in the USA and besides being known for his guitar playing in Design The Void, he is also releasing his own solo work.

Between 2016 and 2018 he wrote the solo material while in a cover group titled The Stay. The group did not steer in the direction so much of original music, but the inspiration was there to start composing music of this sort. He began working on the tracks as a small compilation for potential future work. After a couple of years had passed, Pennachio has finally taken the time to release this music to the public.

Pennachio writes and records all guitars, drums, bass, and orchestrations and will be continuing on composing music that takes inspiration from soundtracks. He also finds inspiration in bands such as Dream Theater, Plini, and Trans Siberian Orchestra. His debut solo EP “Setting The Stage” is due out January 22, 2021.

– 30-

“You really have to admire what instrumental wizard Jeff Pennachio is doing on his new song, “Interposition”. A multi-instrumentalist that does indeed record every instrument himself (guitars, bass, drums, programming), his new solo EP Setting The Stage drops later this month… While relatively short at under 4 minutes long, the new song does a good job of offering what Jeff is all about – instrumental and progressive goodness that straddles the line between progressive rock and progressive metal with ease.” – New Fury Media

“For the music fans who love to deep dive into riveting instrumental tracks with emotion stirring guitar riffs, Jeff Pennachio has something incredible to offer you!” Yesterdaze News

“there are soaring solos and crunching riffs but lots of piano and keyboards too making this more of a progressive rock EP. Of course, it is not so easy when you only have three tracks and 13 minutes available but it promises much for the full album release which I will await with relish.” – Velvet Thunder

“a great taste of what this guy is all about. He clearly is ‘Setting The Stage’ for more to come. With this being an EP, it is just a short example of the talents of Jeff Pennachio. But it leaves you with no doubts about his ability to create quality music, this is perfectly showcased here… Jeff Pennachio is a very talented one man band. 8/10” – Rock Out Stand Out

—

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 Montreal’s Valfreya Sound The Warcall In New Video “Warlords” Off “Promised Land”

February 9, 2021
by Asher
· Music News · Valfreya

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 9, 2021

For fans of Wintersun, Equilibrium, Ensiferum, Finntroll, Dimmu Borgir

Montreal’s Valfreya Sound The Warcall In New Video “Warlords” Off “Promised Land”

Back in 2017, Montreal, Quebec’s Valfreya released the critically acclaimed “Promised Land”, sending a rush of vicious folk metal around the world. Taking all the jolly melodies from the genre, but then making it faster and more aggressive, Valfreya has been weaving Norse mythology into a familiar, yet original tapestry since 2009.

Now, there is a new music video from the band, for the song “Warlords” off the 2017 release. The video channels all the energy that Valfreya brings to the stage, impactful growling, soaring clean vocals, imaginative solos, and of course, plenty of catchy verses to sing along to. The track “Warlords” is an excerpt from the tale that spans the entire concept album, the journey of Eric The Red. Valfreya goes into detail about the album:

“The album is a journey through a lot of emotions and situations, giving life to a host of varied songs, each with a different sound and personality. The story behind the album is about Eric The Red discovering America and how he defies the Gods, but pays a hefty price for that defiance. It’s a step-up in sound quality and has more intricate guitar parts and better-written music that with every listen you can discover parts you hadn’t noticed before. On top of that, we have an original sound and songs! We want to give more to people that enjoy good riffs!”

The world needs astonishing stories as an outlet for strong emotions now more than ever. In the shape of Montreal’s larger-than-life metal warriors Valfreya, it has them! And in their striking vocalist, it has its Valkyrie!

Valfreya is an orchestral folk metal that will entice listeners of Wintersun, Equilibrium, and Ensiferum.

Watch “Warlords” on YouTube: https://youtu.be/k-KFBRVD80A

“Promised Land” along with the rest of Valfreya’s discography is available on Spotify, Bandcamp, and all online major retailers.

The band is presently working on a new full-length, date of release to be determined.

For more info:
Valfreyaofficial.com
Facebook.com/Valfreya.Metal
Instagram.com/valfreya_band
Twitter.com/ValfreyaMetal

About:

The world needs heroes now more than ever. In the shape of Montreal’s larger-than-life metal warriors Valfreya, it has them! And in their striking vocalist Crook, they have their own Valkyrie!.

In 2009, vocalist Crook wanted to play something akin to folk metal, but even more aggressive and fast-paced. Combining Valhalla and the Norse goddess Freya, the band has been creating music and lyrics to revolve around stories inspired by Norse mythology.

Orchestral and death metal with a hint of folk music, the prolific Valfreya has unleashed three well-received EPs (‘First Chronicles’, ‘Acoustic Chronicles’, ‘Acoustic Chronicles Part II’), an impressive 2012 debut album entitled ‘Path To Eternity’ via Maple Metal Records and their self-released second ‘Promised Land’ independently on January 13, 2017.

What you hear on the albums is what you get on stage. They dress in a fantasy-like Viking fashion to go with their story-telling, which gives an interesting visual aspect while delivering the instrument-playing with precision. Since their inception, Valfreya has satisfied fans with their epic live experiences (200+ shows throughout Canada and the USA) where they have opened for bands like Arkona, Dark Tranquility, Nekrogoblikon, Necronomicon, Korpiklaani, Moonsorrow, Tyr, Insomnium and more!

Valfreya is presently working on their next full-length planned for either late 2021 or early 2022 release.

– 30 –

—

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 EPK – Monarch – Future Shock (2021)

February 8, 2021
by Asher
· EPKs · Monarch

EPK – Monarch – Future Shock (2021)

Album Title: Future Shock
Release Date: April 16, 2021
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

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

For fans of Slayer, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Pantera

“Future Shock hits hard on a lot of levels, there are the riffs, the solos, the speed, the heaviness, the melodies, great memorable lyrics, the dynamic range of our creativity I think was truly expressed, and yet we still managed to sound like ourselves. We all just really look forward to sharing it with everyone.” – Monarch

Monarch.band | Facebook.com/monarchthrash | Instagram.com/monarch666 | Twitter.com/riseofmonarch | YouTube

Monarchmetal.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

Winners of Wacken Metal Battle USA 2019

“I tell you, they could give Megadeth a run for their money in the technically-superior-melodic-thrash stakes!” – Sentinel Daily

“Possibly more guitar-centric than their last album, Future Shock has that racing intensity and metal to the bone determination to win over even the most skeptical people in the underground. March up to the table and give Monarch your full support – as this is high quality thrash with diversity, musicianship, and killer songwriting at the forefront.” – Dead Rhetoric

“No matter if thrash is the creed which you live by or you’re venturing into the frenzied scene for the first time. Monarch will appeal to all who like their heavy metal to sound…well, like heavy metal. Get the muscles warmed up, you’re going to find your neck and arms are about to get a serious workout. Cue fists in the air and heads being banged.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

“Future Shock is a Thrash entity bearing little flaw in delivery, it succinctly manages to pack in a band’s identity into 47 minutes of relentlessly driven Metal invoking headbanging with every single track. For anyone a fan of the genre or of anything loud and fast this album is a necessity for their library.” – Metal Temple

“I like Monarch, and ‘Future Shock’ is an excellent album, the band are obviously very serious at what they are doing, and yet also have a unique sense of fun, I mean what other band can name the likes of the cartoons Futurama, the Legend of Zelda and Dragon Ball Z, as lyrical influences, and also come up with a character ‘The Whore of the North’ as the protagonist of another song? This hard hitting, yet very melodic, with some great hooks and choruses, the riffs and solos simply fly around your ears. If you’re a fan of the likes of Havok, Warbringer at el, you could do far worse than checking out this exciting foursome. Great stuff.” – The Razor’s Edge

“If there’s a reason to stick with Monarch’s thrashy second album Future Shock, it’s the fantastic chemistry between guitarist/vocalist Matt Smith and guitarist Casey Trask. They split soloing duties down the middle, trading them off with the finesse of a Mustaine/Friedman pairing, while locking in with harmonies on songs like “Khaos Warrior.” The first song alone, “Blast The Seed,” has seven guitar solos in its five minutes, and that’s not an exception, as all ten tracks have a truckload of impressive guitar performances.” – Heavy Music Headquarters

“What a journey, from games worship to outer space to political controversy to whorey warriors, from mesmerizing classical guitar to thrash metal. There are even some synthesized sounding beats thrown in for good measure. ‘Future Shock’ is a true showcase of the range of Monarch’s technical ability. This band is definitely under-appreciated at the moment. There’s too much technique and flair here for them to be flying under the radar. Monarch is perhaps too often written off as pretenders to bigger bands but they aren’t pretending. They are owning their genre.” – Uber Rock

“with Future Shock, Monarch delivers a quality album – ten strong metal tracks – that will be welcomed by fans of thrash, speed, and power.” – The Great Metal Debate

“those who are a bit tired of the usual thrash formula may find “Future Shock” a breath of fresh metal to their ears as the group tries to add some unconventional elements- whether intentional or not- to make themselves heard loud and clear. 4 / 5” – Brutalism

“You’ll find riffs a plenty on this album, so if you ever worried about not having enough memorable or headbangable guitar work you can put your mind at ease.” Cave Dweller Music

“blistering riff action, sick solos, incessant drumming, excellent production, need I go on? 4.1/5” – Deaf Sparrow

“The album deserves to find a place between “Judas Priest” “Iron Maiden” and other
Metal greats.” – Hellfire Magazin

“This album brings us the workings of an old-fashioned Thrash metal album where Matt Smith’s ragged and powerful voice fits like a glove.” – Algoderock

“there’s no shortage of melodies or classic-tinged shredding. In that same vein of musicality, the rhythm section is insanely tight. That ties everything together solidly, allowing for the vocal rasp to play around a bit more, adding a more extreme edge. Make sure to pay special attention to the bass, though. There are some incredible runs thundering through this release, occasionally taking it to the front as a strong feature instrument. While Future Shock drops neatly into the thrash bracket, it is most assuredly at the most metal end of that spectrum. Not in heaviness, but traditional idioms. If that appeals to you, get this one cranked!” – Slow Dragon Music

“Fans of old-school thrash and more recent bands will enjoy this fresh, surprising and successful opus. The compositions are brutal as you wish, heavy and ultra-fast and we never tire of the impressive technique of the four talented musicians. This group deserves to be known and have its place among the greats. The guitar solos are intense, sound like a ton of bricks, and are performed with bewildering efficiency. They must be really interesting in concert… I haven’t taken a thrashy slap like this since the release of Death Angel’s last album, Humanicide, released in 2019.” – Metal Alliance Mag

““Go Forth… Slaughter” is a loud record that is full of twists and turns. Hopefully this release encourages Monarch to do some touring beyond Southern California, because songs like these need more ears.” – SD Metal

“A very colorful cover can also win over many fence-sitting people – and the rawer attention to detail on the production front gives us a clearer picture of what to expect live (a sinister snare snap plus in your face guitar tones duly noted). Go Forth…Slaughter executes in that late 80’s/early 90’s thrash/death platform, where people lost interest in major label veterans straying into commercial waters. Monarch makes it safe for you to trust their music: brutal, aggressive, and all for the love of the genre.” – Dead Rhetoric

“‘a super solid speed metal record.” – Metal Assault (2017 – Review – Go Forth… Slaughter)

L-R – Gabe Mendez (Bass), Adam West (Drums), Matt Smith (Vocals/Guitar), Casey Trask (Guitar)
Photo Credit: Astrid Anaya

Monarch is a heavy metal band from San Diego, consisting of Matt Smith on vocals and guitar (NIHILIST, DAMCYAN), Casey Trask on guitar (THE THREE TREMORS, CAGE), Gabe Mendez on bass (SUPRA SUMMUS), and Adam West on drums. Formed in 2007 by Casey Trask and some buddies in high school, Monarch weaved its web across San Diego, finding the best musicians to keep up with the lightning-fast rhythms, smashing drums, and screaming guitar solos, the standard was hard to keep until the right members were found. Adam West was next to join the band bringing a fearsome ferocity that few have ever seen in a drummer. His all-out style drumming and love of heavy metal was a perfect fit for Monarch’s earlier thrash metal material and has since been refined into a speed metal killing machine. Next to join would be Matt Smith, always revered by the members of Monarch as being one of the most creative and eccentric musicians in San Diego playing with local bands Damcyan and Nihilist, Adam and Casey would go to his shows and stare in awe as he would warm up and soundcheck with Yngwie Malmsteen licks. Matt joined the band around 2016, a year later the band would release their debut album “Go Forth… Slaughter” featuring raw thrash metal with a hint of what was to come, with Matt’s affinity and background in classical music, the sound was bound to evolve in the most epic way imaginable. Last to join, but certainly not least, was Gabe Mendez. The members of Monarch would always enjoy watching Gabe’s band Supra Summus perform in San Diego in which Gabe was the bass player/ lead vocalist and was certainly more than capable of the demanding rhythms of Monarch. In 2020, Monarch recruited this demon beast of a bass player and hasn’t looked back since. Monarch has shared the stage with bands such as Death Angel, Nervosa, Powerglove, Act of Defiance, and in 2019, they won the Wacken Metal Battle in the USA to guarantee a slot at the greatest heavy metal festival in the world, Wacken Open Air. Monarch will release their new album “Future Shock” in the year 2021.

Discography
2021 – “Future Shock” – LP
2017 – “Go Forth… Slaughter” – LP

Shared Stage with: Powerglove, Act Of Defiance, Nervosa, Michael Angelo Batio, Death Angel, Hatchet, Exmortus, Nihilist

Festival and Tours:
Wacken Open Air Festival 2019 (Wacken, Germany)
Winners of Wacken Metal Battle USA 2019

Artist endorsements:
XYZ Clothing, ISP Technologies, Liquid Death Mountain Spring Water

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

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS

1. In 2019, Monarch won a USA nationwide Wacken Metal Battle and earned a slot at one of the biggest heavy metal festivals in the world, Wacken Open Air Festival 2019 in Germany, that year featuring bands such as Slayer, Sabaton, Hammerfall, Prophets of Rage, and many many more.

2. When we went out to Germany to play Wacken, we were in our hotel room testing out our gear. It was one of Matt’s first times performing out in Europe and we all had to use converters and such for our amps and pedals. So Matt plugs something in wrong and it blows the power on the whole floor of the hotel, I don’t think we’ve ever laughed so hard.

3. Before Monarch existed, the other members (not knowing each other yet) would go watch Matt Smith perform with his bands Nihilist and Damcyan and stare in awe at his soundcheck and guitar solo wizardry, knowing not that they would one day be up there alongside him.

4. The drum tracks on “Go Forth… Slaughter” our first album were all recorded live with only Casey and Matt in the room playing guitars that they couldn’t hear, only Adam, to give the real vibe of our live intensity. No click track on the first record. The final track on that album, “Sonic Reaper” was the first and only take Adam did.

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Future Shock
Release Date: April 16, 2021
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Track Listing:
1. Blast The Seed (5:16)
2. Khaos Warrior (2:51)
3. Future Shock (5:00)
4. Nuclear Warfare (4:00)
5. Shred or Die! (4:15)
6. Multiverse (3:02)
7. Fatal Vector (6:47)
8. Collision Of Bones (3:45)
9. Swarm Of The Whorenet (6:41)
10. Metal Soul (5:21)
Album Length: 47:04

Album Credits:
– All Songs Performed by: Matt Smith, Adam West, Casey Trask, Gabe Mendez, Alex Pickard
– All Songs Written by: Matt Smith, Adam West, Casey Trask, Alex Pickard
Produced, Mixed and Mastered by: Sean Tolley (Clarity Recordings)
– Album Artwork by: Marc Sasso
– ASCAP artists: Matt Smith and Casey Trask
Album Band Lineup:
Matt Smith (Vocals, Guitar)
Casey Trask (Guitar)
Gabe Mendez (Bass)
Alex Pickard (Bass – “Collision of Bones”)
Adam West (Drums)

Live Band Lineup:
Matt Smith (Vocals, Guitar)
Casey Trask (Guitar)
Gabe Mendez (Bass)
Adam West (Drums)

MONARCH – FUTURE SHOCK – Track By Track Explained:

The album as a whole:
It hits hard on a lot of levels, there are the riffs, the solos, the speed, the heaviness, the melodies, great memorable lyrics, the dynamic range of our creativity I think was truly expressed, and yet we still managed to sound like ourselves. We all just really look forward to sharing it with everyone.

Track by track:
1. “Blast the Seed” was written all together in about an hour at a practice one day, structure and everything. It was when the most recent Black Dahlia Murder album came out at the time, I think it was “Nightbringers”, and Adam (Drums) wanted to come up with something with that vibe and I think Matt started it up with the main chorus riff and it grew from there, this one has a unique vibe because it was literally a creation from all of us at the moment and is a really fun one to play live. The lyrics are about blasting seeds of life into space to save a doomed race.

2. “Khaos Warrior” is one of our favorites to play, a bunch of guitar harmonies, melodic riffs switching into brutal thrash rhythms, it’s a quick one but super exciting, the lyrics are about the Dragonball Z “Tournament of Power”. Awesome visuals in the lyrics, this one was written entirely by Matt Smith (Guitar/Vocals)

3. “Future Shock”, the title track, written by Matt Smith is based on the show Futurama, waking up, after being cryogenically frozen, into a future world, This one has one of the catchiest choruses of the album and leans more towards the brutal and thrasher side of the spectrum.

4. “Nuclear Warfare” is about just that, and really slams you with loud thrashing brutal riffs till the end, also written by Matt Smith (as an assignment for a composition course while earning his Associates of Arts in Classical Music degree).

5. “Shred Or Die!” Is our first single and music video from the album, this one has probably been in the Monarch setlist for the longest, this one really hits home nowadays lyrically about civil unrest and power-hungry people ruling over others. The music video has gotten some heat as it features some heavy footage of the riots going on in America during COVID-19 and “Black Lives Matter” protests. But on the lighter side also features skateboarding around local San Diego skate spots.

6. “Multiverse” allows us a glimpse into Matt Smith’s classical guitar playing potential, as the rhythm section backs him up with a heavy chord progression and an insane bass line. It gives the feeling of spinning through the blackness of space with no hope of return. It is also the intro track to our next song…

7. “Fatal Vector”, Another of Matt’s creations, using very disgruntled, brutal, chromatic riffs. This is a very unapologetic, unforgiving track about being on a collision course with fate, death. This one is a nonstop smasher live.

8. “Collision of Bones” was written and recorded by our former bass player (Alex Pickard), (All other tracks either feature Gabe Mendez or Matt Smith on bass guitar), about a near fatal car crash he was involved in. Probably will not be heard live anytime soon out of respect of Alex’s departure from the band. It’s a thrash metal song with a brutal half-time feel 2nd half.

9. “Swarm Of The Whorenet” Another of our more collaborative tracks, this song started off as a fictional universe we created in a saga called “The Whore Of The North”, this is the point in the story that the protagonist (The Whore Of The North) is being pursued by servants of the antagonist, in the form of Warrior Whore Hornets, featured in our cover artwork by Marc Sasso who did work for Dio, Slayer, Judas Priest, and many others. This song is an adventure, varying in rhythm and intensity but a very quirky feel that leads into one of the most exhilarating solo sections of the entire album. And war chant that will make you want to yell along with “WORLD WAR WHORE WAR-WHORING!”

10. “Metal Soul” This one, Matt came to us with this awesome bending guitar harmony (heard in the Intro and throughout the song) that reminded me (Casey) of an old school Japanese cop show or something like that and we really wanted to make something of it. It developed into one of the tracks we are most proud of. The lyrics ended up being about the Legend of Zelda “Master Sword” or the “Sword That Seals The Darkness” and turned into a thrashy/power metal trip. Featuring some of the fastest double bass on the album from Adam West and an epic buildup to a crescendo that will make you yearn for the next record.

0 Rockshots Records: BLUE HOUR GHOSTS Posts Lyric Video “Shine”, New Album “Due” Out February 12, 2021

February 8, 2021
by Asher
· Blue Hour Ghosts · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 8, 2021

For fans of Katatonia, Porcupine Tree, Amorphis

Rockshots Records: BLUE HOUR GHOSTS Posts Lyric Video “Shine”

New Album “Due” Out February 12, 2021

Alternative prog metal act BLUE HOUR GHOSTS are sharing with fans the latest lyric video for their single “Shine” in support of the upcoming release of their new album “Due” out on February 12th, 2021 via Rockshots Records.

Lyric Video: https://youtu.be/YnXAgF43ZIk
Spotify: https://backl.ink/144204268
CD pre-order: http://bit.ly/Due_CD
Digital Album pre-save: https://backl.ink/143813663

The band comments on the track:

“Shine is a melancholic andante/mid-tempo rocker with a “grungy” feel, introduced by piano and vocals, before a riveting guitar riff sets on; then, a subtle, atmospheric verse makes way for a truly powerful and dramatic chorus; the song ends with a final climax that brings the listener back to the initial melodies in a circular fashion. The track is literally packed with hooks and melodies that greatly enrich the musical fabric, sustaining Ricky’s wholehearted singing. In spite of its somber tone, the song is about finding the courage to accept our flaws and unlock all the beautiful things we keep inside ourselves, to overcome our fears, our sense of inadequateness or incompleteness, and the cages sometimes relationships bind us to, which can smother our will and diminish our self-esteem. It’s an exhortation to take the initiative, bear the suffering and then find out how an ugly duckling can become a swan, even through pain and waiver.”

BLUE HOUR GHOSTS’ forthcoming “Due” is the follow up to their 2016 self-titled debut album. Teaming up once again with Giuseppe “Dualized” Bassi (session musician for Fear Factory, Grenouer, Levania, Noveria), BHG‘s “Due” is their sophomore effort continuing their blend of progressive, classic, gothic metal, and alternative rock.

Taking a fresh, powerful, and intense melodic assault, “Due” depicts a wide range of soundscapes ranging from full metal aggression to soft, acoustic atmospheres, passing through infectious and catchy hooks and refrains that will enthrall any music addict, along with sophisticated layered arrangements to satisfy the most demanding palates. Throughout the 9 songs, all the ghosts hiding in the blue hour are made alive in the deep and heartfelt narration provided by both music and lyrics, offering a unique and compelling listening experience.

Keyboardist Simome Pedrazzi comments about the new album:

“With “Due” we are trying to engage new and established fans with an enjoyable, fresh, and yet sophisticated multi-level listening experience. All the nine songs offer an abundance of hooks that can stick into the ear from the first listen and remain impressed into the listener’s mind, stimulating his/her curiosity. There is no room for boredom, as within each song and throughout all the album, powerful and atmospheric sections alternate with each other in a seamless flow, thus keeping the attention high. The variety of musical colours displayed throughout the album and the extreme care we put into obtaining a lush and polished sound will allow for an extremely pleasant sonic experience.”

Previous Singles:
“Walking Backwards” – YouTube (Visualizer)
“On Black Clouds”- YouTube (Music Video)

Track Listing:
1. Walking Backwards (4:01)
2. On Black Clouds (3:45)
3. Dead in August (5:12)
4. Damn Wrong (4:23)
5. Shine (5:19)
6. Fearless (4:00)
7. Lower the Wires (3:57)
8. Disheartened (4:27)
9. Involved/Bored (3:52)
Album Length: 39:00

Album Credits:
Ricky DC – Vocals
Diego Angeli – Guitars
Francesco Poggi – Guitars
Simome Pedrazzi – Keyboards
Matteo Malmusi – Bass
Andrew Gunner – Drums

Produced by Giuseppe “Dualized” Bassi for dysFUNCTION Productions
Recorded and Engineered by Giuseppe Bassi
Mixed and Mastered by Giuseppe Bassi
All music and lyrics written by Blue Hour Ghosts
Additional arrangements, keyboards, sound design and programming by Giuseppe Bassi
Artwork concept and paintings by Blue Hour Ghosts
Band photos by Patrizia Cogliati – Musicphoto
Graphic layout by Francesca Dalla Costa – Secondalinea Officine Creative

Discography:
Blue Hour Ghosts (Buil2Kill Records, 2016)
Do You Believe in Ghosts? (Live) (Buil2Kill Records, 2018)
Due (Rockshots Records, 2021)

More Info:
Rockshots.eu
Facebook.com/bluehourghosts
Twitter.com/bluehourghosts
Instagram.com/bluehourghosts
Bluehourghosts.com

– 30 –

“One of the best debut albums since a while in the melodic metal world. An album complete in itself, but with every track standing strong on its own as well.” – Lords of Metal (NL), 80/100

“A damn strong output, super catchy, with cool melodies and also varied, proggy, exciting and with great vocals, and all this as the debut. All attention!” – Crossfire Metal (DE), 85/100

“This band knows how to rock in a very catchy way!” – White Room (NL)

“Blue Hour Ghosts burst upon the scene with a flaming debut album, bringing out a breath of adrenaline and a compelling mix of modern prog, classic metal, aggressive rock and spine-chilling melodic traits” – Rock Hard Italy (IT), 8/10

“This is really a cool record, nothing is missing! Blue Hour Ghosts succeed right away from their first chapter.” – Metal Hammer (IT), 82/100

—

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
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0 Rockshots Records: Metal De Facto Release New EP “Legionnaires’ Oaths” + Music Video To Celebrate 1-Year Anniversary of “Imperium Romanum”, EP ft. guests Nitte Valo (Dreamtale, ex-Battle Beast), Juha Kupiainen (De Lirium’s Order) Cover songs: Shakira’s “Whenever Wherever”, Type O Negative’s “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend, Dohatsuten’s “Ginga Densetsu Weed”

February 8, 2021
by Asher
· Metal De Facto · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 8, 2021

Rockshots Records:
Metal De Facto Release New EP “Legionnaires’ Oaths” + Music Video To Celebrate 1-Year Anniversary of “Imperium Romanum”

ft. guests Nitte Valo (Dreamtale, ex-Battle Beast), Juha Kupiainen (De Lirium’s Order)

Cover songs: Shakira’s “Whenever Wherever”,

Type O Negative’s “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend, Dohatsuten’s “Ginga Densetsu Weed”

Finnish power metal band METAL DE FACTO celebrates the 1 year anniversary of their debut album “Imperium Romanum” with the release of a new five-track digital EP “Legionnaires’ Oaths” out now as of February 8th. The EP features a studio and acoustic version of “Legionnaires’ Oaths”, which is off of 2019’s “Imperium Romanum” along with three cover songs, Shakira’s “Whenever Wherever” featuring Nitte Valo (Dreamtale, ex-Battle Beast), Type O Negative’s “My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend” featuring Juha Kupiainen (De Lirium’s Order) and Dohatsuten’s “Ginga Densetsu Weed”, the opening song to an anime series of the same name where the band’s lead singer Mikael sang the song completely in Japanese!

“I used to study as an exchange student in Japan and picked up some of the language back then. My good friend from those times Nikolas Kiili helped out with the pronunciations, and I think the end result turned out real epic with the choirs and everything!” adds Mikael.

In addition to the EP’s release, the band is sharing a new acoustic music video for its title track, which was filmed at the legendary Beaver Bar in Helsinki.

“The bar is very well known to most metalheads in the Helsinki area, and it served as a perfect setting for the tavern-like feel we were looking for this acoustic music video!” comments the band’s lead singer Mikael Salo.

The music video for “Legionnaires’ Oath (Acoustic Version)” can be viewed on Rockshots Records YouTube channel here.

“Legionnaires’ Oaths” is available on Spotify, Apple Music.

“Imperium Romanum” is available on the following platforms:
Vinyl here.
CD here.
Spotify here.
Apple Music here.

Track Listing:
1. Legionnaires’ Oath (4:09)
2. My Girlfriend’s Girlfriend (Type O Negative cover) ft. Juha Kupiainen (3:02)
3. Whenever, Wherever (Shakira Cover) ft. Nitte Valo (3:11)
4. Ginga Densetsu Weed (Dohatsuten Cover) (4:15)
5. Legionnaires’ Oath (Acoustic Version) (3:47)
EP Length: 18:25

For more info:
Rockshots.eu
Facebook.com/metaldefacto
Instagram.com/metaldefacto
Twitter.com/MetalDeFacto

– 30 –

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 Canada’s Cavedweller Come At You With The Blistering Brutality Of “Slow Death”, Music Video Premiere via TheCirclePit

February 6, 2021
by Asher
· Cavedweller · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 5, 2021

For fans of Every Time I Die, Norma Jean, The Chariot, Chelsea Grin, Whitechapel, Traitors

Canada’s Cavedweller Come At You With The Blistering Brutality Of “Slow Death”

Music Video Premiere via TheCirclePit

“Slow Death” is anything but slow; it’s a manic whirlwind of deathcore, complete with a fresh breath of breakdowns, enticing both old and new fans who will feel like they are discovering a new sound. If you took a racing scene from a Nicholas Cage movie and combined it with that scene from The Shining where Jack Nicholson is breaking down that door with an axe, that would be this new track from Fredericton’s Cavedweller.

The band’s EP “Primal” came out in 2020 and this new stand-alone single is devised to whet fans palate before an expected 2021 full-length release.

Cavedweller comments on the song:

““Slow Death” is a song our drummer originally pitched to us. Most of the structure was there, so we just played around with it a little bit, worked out some kinks, played around with time signatures for a little bit, and eventually ended up with the finished product. Lyrically, the song is about being trapped in a cycle of life, living the same day by day routine and schedule until death.”

Looking to leave an impression with this single, Cavedweller chose this fast, heavy hitter to be their first video. It’s abrasive, in your face and the chaos doesn’t relent for a second.

For this track, drummer Sam Brown came up with the core groove initially, and each of the members threw their own spices into it. Pulling inspiration from the heavy side of the spectrum, proggy rhythmically driven influences, and the core subgenre, the result is quick and dirty, high energy good times, and a raw approach to metal.

Groovy and sporadic with a healthy dose of breakdowns, Cavedweller is recommended for fans of Every Time I Die, Norma Jean, and The Chariot.

The video for “Slow Death” can be watched via its premiere on TheCirclePit HERE.

Stream and download available on the following digital platforms:
Cavedweller506.bandcamp.com, Spotify.

For more info:
Facebook.com/CavedwellerNB
Instagram.com/Cavedwellernb
Twitter.com/CavedwellerNB
EPK

About:

Cavedweller is four homies from the small town of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada that play groovy riffs, and crushing breakdowns.

Cavedweller is Cujo Bonvie (vocals), Alex Sturgeon (bass), Sam Brown (drums), and Brad Kenny (guitar), four guys who have known each other from the local scene for years. Brown and Sturgeon used to play together in local act Blueprints, and Bonvie was a regular attendee to local shows, and played in a number of local bands, including Dumpster Mummy, Panda Bee Catastrophe, and The Mind Unleashed. Once the four of them started jamming, the chemistry was evident and the rest is history.

In 2019, the band recorded their demo “Free-Sushi” which was followed up in 2020 with the EP “Primal”. The EP was mixed and mastered themselves; guitars were recorded in Sturges room, drums at a friend’s place, and mastered at Kenny’s place. During the recording process at Sturges, a lightsaber battle broke out between Sturge and Kenny to determine whose masters would be the ones released. It was a long and intense battle, but Kenny was ultimately the victor.

There is a wide range of influences coursing through the blood of the band including hardcore, punk, deathcore, and a little bit of prog-metal, and the final result is best suited for fans of Chelsea Grin, Whitechapel, and Traitors.

Cavedweller has played with several bands in their short history and expects to have a full length out by the end of 2021.

Don’t be shy, come show us what you’ve got in the pit!

– 30 –

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

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

0 Huge Hails Horns! \m/\m/ Thank You for all the radio love MDs and DJs THE NATIONAL LOUD TOP 20 OF 2020 #7 Woodhawk, #12 Black Pestilence, #16 Fuck The Facts

February 5, 2021
by Asher
· black pestilence · Fuck The Facts · Music News · Woodhawk

Huge Hails Horns! \m/\m/ Thank You for all the radio love MDs and DJs

THE NATIONAL LOUD TOP 20 OF 2020

#7 Woodhawk, #12 Black Pestilence, #16 Fuck The Facts

https://earshot-online.com/charts/2020/loud.cfm

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