Take Red Fang, The Sword and Witchcraft, strip them of nearly all distortion and add a canny knack for catchy as fuck riffs, with a psychedelic edge, and you arrive at the dusty doorstep of Calgarian stoner rockers Woodhawk!
http://www.worshipmetal.com/reviews/woodhawk-beyond-the-sun-album-review/
Cydemind – Erosion (2017)
For fans of Symphony X, Dream Theater, Haken, Plini, Ayreon, Neal Morse Band, Genesis, Rush
Release Date: May 26, 2017
Publicist – Jon Asher – ashermedia(@)gmail.com
Cydemind.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon | CD Baby | Google Play
Download Press Photo | Download Album Cover
“presented what will easily be among the top prog metal albums of the year…” – Metal Underground
“An epic album in every sense of the word” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life
“Cydemind have an excellent album on their hands with “Erosion.”” – Progressive Music Planet
“Everything a person could want in his or her progressive metal is contained within the album’s six tracks. Heavy, complex riffs? Check. Knotty, constantly-shifting time signatures? Check. Shreddy solos? Double check. Winding, non-linear song structures? Epic track lengths? Uplifting melodies? Check, check, and check. And then there’s that violin. It’s pretty clear from the first few notes that Olivier Allard has classical training, because he attacks his instrument like Yngwie Malmsteen with a bow.” – Indy Metal Vault
“Cydemind have captured a sound that I have spent a long time searching for. Combining the modern progressive style of bands such as Dream Theater and Haken, with some exceptional violin at the forefront to really stand out from the crowd.” – Belwood Music
“Out of Montreal, Quebec, Canada could be the next big musical act in the world of instrumental progressive metal, and that band is known as CYDEMIND…The beauty of this record is that the entire record stands out, yet the flow of the musicianship and arrangements flow together like that expensive wine that is aged over time and that cheese that is cured to where it has its perfect, exquisite taste to it. ” – Muen Magazine
“A lush and atmospheric journey that brings brisk mountain air into my lungs” – Metal Trenches
“Bottom line, “Erosion” is a glorious album that is worthy of any Metal… nay, any music collection. It’s simply wonderful music to listen to.” – 925 Rebellion
“Cydemind have shown me two things on this debut album: they’re damn good musicians, and they have the ability to write compelling music that sticks with you. ” – Angry Metal Guy
“Cydemind are the find of the month, hell maybe even the year.” – Wyrd Ways Rock Show
Release Date: May 26, 2017
Album Title: Erosion
Track Listing :
1. What Remains (4:58)
2. Tree of Tales (6:41)
3. Derecho (13:36)
4. Red Tides (5:25)
5. Stream Capture (6:29)
6. Erosion (27:19)
Album Length: 1:04:30
Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Cydemind
• All songs written by: Cydemind
• Produced by: Chris Donaldson and Cydemind
• Mixed by: Chris Donaldson
• Mastered by: Chris Donaldson
• Album Artwork by: Alexandre Dagenais (drummer)
• SOCAN
• Canadian Content CanCon (MAPL)
• Album and Live Band Line Up: Olivier Allard, Alexandre Dagenais, Nicolas Damoulianos, Camille Delage, Kevin Paquet
Cydemind is:
Olivier Allard (Violins)
Alexandre Dagenais (Drums)
Camille Delage (Keyboards/Piano)
Nico Damoulianos (Bass)
Kevin Paquet (Guitars)
In a world where so much music is bland and generic, CYDEMIND are a breath of fresh air! Mixing progressive rock, jazz, classical, and progressive metal, CYDEMIND are a special and unique band, one we’ll be hearing a lot more from in the future. Influenced by such bands as Dream Theater, Symphony X, Haken, Neal Morse Band, and jazzmen like Avishai Cohen and Tigran Hamasyan, violinist Olivier Allard describes their sound as “violin meets instrumental prog metal!”.
Prolific artists, CYDEMIND released ‘Through Mists and Ages’ in 2014 and their single ‘What Remains’ in 2015, and now the quintet (violin, bass, piano, guitar, drums) are releasing their first full-length album. Entitled ‘Erosion’, its six tracks are centered around the theme of nature and its persistence through time. Epic is the word here, with one track clocking in at an impressive 27 minutes. There is no limit to their musical ambitions!
To further the creative emersion of ‘Erosion’, the album’s booklet contains lyrical poems written by pianist Camille Delage, which describe each music piece; a unique and pleasing concept. The presence of the grand piano throughout the album also adds a classical music sound along with violin instead of voice. This is progressive music for the 21st Century!
Allard believes their new album will be well received.
“It’s a pretty unique kind of progressive metal, but it’s rather easy to get hooked to it! Because our music is full of different soundscapes and ambiances, and because every instrument is interesting! We have a classically trained violin, that’s pretty unique to our band. We hope every fan actually has a different listening experience depending on how and what they’re listening.”
‘Erosion’ is due out on May 26th and will be available on Bandcamp, iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and all major online retailers.
(Bio written by Steve Earles)
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 6, 2017
For Fans of Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Alexis On Fire, Cancer Bats, Five Finger Death Punch
ALL ELSE FAILS Nominated For Edmonton Music Award ‘Metal Recording of The Year’
Vocalist / guitarist Barrett Klesko comments on the nomination:
“We are honoured to be nominated for Metal Recording of the Year at the 2017 Edmonton Music Awards. We are in excellent company; the choices this year are all great bands and even better people.”ALL ELSE FAILS was nominated alongside fellow friends and musicians listed below.
Metal Recording of the Year
All Else Fails – The Forever Lie
Black Friday – Suffering In Stereo
Juliet Ruin – Rogue Down
Silence The Machine – Lost
Striker – Phoenix Lights
Full 2017 Edmonton Music Awards nominee list: http://www.edmontonmusicawards.com/2017-nominees/
In additional news, ALL ELSE FAILS confirm they will be joining the 2017 LOUD AS HELL festival line up in Drumheller, AB that includes Battlecross, Bison, Black Wizard, Aggression and more. AEF’s set will be on the second day of the festival on Saturday, August 5th with their set time at 9pm local time. Full Line up and set times can be found here. Tickets are available at http://www.loudashell.com/tickets.
EP Length: 28:12
Album Stream – http://puregrainaudio.com/audio/stream-the-new-all-else-fails-ep-the-forever-lie-now-exclusive-premiere
Music Video – The Sons of Plenty – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgMv8Gbtob8
The release is available for download on iTunes, Bandcamp and all major online retailers.
For More Info:
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“They are by turns pissed and melodic, speedy and anthemic – but always organic sounding….their song “The Sons Of Plenty”, a tune that encompasses all those things and demonstrates what the band is capable of.” – Gear Gods
“I can promise you that The Forever Lie will give you your fix of heavy music.” – PureGrainAudio.com
“Guttural heaviness + impacting music = You’ll like it!” – CFMU 93.3 FM – Master Radio (Hamilton, ON
“The guys do a wicked job with the layering throughout the album especially with the guitars and vocals.” – Kingston Music Reviews
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Power104 Introducing Woodhawk – playing Doc’s Sunday May 7th http://www.power104.fm/2017/04/06/introducing-woodhawk/
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 6, 2017
For Fans of Black Sabbath, The Sword, Clutch, Truckfighters, Priestess, Mastodon, Red Fang, Thin Lizzy
TheSludgelord Album Premiere WOODHAWK ‘Beyond The Sun’ + “Vagabonds of The Western Gig Tour” (BC/AB/SK/MB)
Riff-tastic Debut LP “Beyond The Sun” Out April 7th
New Video “The High Priest”
From the foot of the majestic Rocky Mountains comes Calgary, Alberta’s WOODHAWK. Masters of straight ahead riff-rock wizardry, the power trio released an EP in 2014 and have continued forging ahead. Made of equal parts 1970’s Birmingham and a myriad of 21st century heavy who’s who, WOODHAWK are purveyors of riff-centric rock and roll. Capable and original, the band is able to craft anthemic fist-pumping songs while forgoing tired stoner rock clichés. With time travel tested themes of science fiction, swords and sorcery, the band’s lyrics are born from snowy winters, hot practice spaces and pages of dog-eared paperbacks. While the musicianship reinforces recollections of Black Sabbath, modern influences that have helped you smash air drums or highway speed limits are undeniably present.
Set to unleash their debut full-length ‘Beyond The Sun’ produced by the band with Jesse Gander (Bison, Japandroids) on April 7th, WOODHAWK has teamed up with TheSludgelord for the full stream premiere at the following link: http://thesludgelord.blogspot.ca/2017/04/album-premiere-calgary-albertas.html
The band’s music video ‘The High Priest’ can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5g5jTKtEfM
Pre-order of Vinyl, CD or Digital with an instant download of the first single ‘The High Priest’ available via their Bandcamp at https://woodhawk.bandcamp.com.
Track Listing:
1. Beyond The Sun (3:57)
2. The High Priest (4:46)
3. Living In The Sand (6:03)
4. Magnetic North (4:13)
5. Lawless (3:06)
6. Quest For Clarity (4:14)
7. A New Hope (4:49)
8. Forsee The Future (2:12)
9. Chrononaut (5:19)
Woodhawk is:
Turner Midzain – Vocals/Guitar
Mike Badmington – Bass/Vocals
Kevin Nelson – Drums
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“Beyond the Sun is incredibly infectious and memorable and right from the get go, you know that you are in for a ride. Even if for whatever reason you are in a bad mood, this record will straighten that out in a hurry as it has you nodding your head and belting the lyrics out with the vocalist in no time….a release that is easy to listen to and get into but isn’t easy to put down by any means. Once you begin listening you have a hard time tearing yourself away from your speakers.” – Cadaver Garden
“Woodhawk have a new album – Beyond The Sun – and it’s one that ticks all right boxes if you’re a serious fan of Stoner Rock. Taking influence from bands such as Kyuss, The Sword and Truckfighters. Woodhawk offer a refreshing style of Psych Stoner Metal with moments of Fuzz and Desert Rock that add extra grit to their music.” – Outlaws of The Sun
“The whole album put me in a good mood. Although I am a fan of a more distorted and fuzz-y sounding stoner rock, this was a great cleaned up take…The killer trio band have really created their own rules. One of which is trying to throw out stoner rock stereotypes. And it’s working brilliantly for them. Beyond the Sun is exactly what one would expect from Woodhawk. Riffs and riffs and riffs and high energy drums and more riffs…Moral of the story: this is the perfect CD to pop on when you feel like dancing in your underwear while cleaning your room. I would recommend “Beyond the Sun” to anyone who would like a less distorted version of Red Fang. Which is definitely a compliment, for the record.” – Bangs!
“As I was walking into the venue, I began hurrying up the stairs as their sound captured my attention right away and was quickly swept up into their thick pulse thumping guitars and huge powerhouse drum sound.” – Vancity Buzz
“Calgarian riff-riders Woodhawk kicked off the proceedings, hitting all the gritty notes with their raucous roadhouse metal. Propane and Jack flowed freely as the golden western trio woke all them witches with their thematic rock fury.” – Beatroute Magazine
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 6, 2017
For Fans of Conquering Dystopia, Alluvial, Revocation, Nevermore, Voivod
Guitar virtuoso Matt Chanway has made a name for himself with well-regarded Canadian death/thrash metal band Assimilation.
Last December, Chanway unleashed his self-titled solo debut album: a sonic masterpiece that merges the old and new school. Razor sharp riffs meld with soaring solos; progression with power! Inspired by the likes of George Lynch and Jeff Loomis, Chanway (who has a diploma in guitar performance from the University of West London) is the ideal guitar hero for the 21st century!
Describing his sound as “melodic, relentless, energetic progressive metal” and influenced by the likes of Nevermore, Circus Maximus, Tony Macalpine, Aghora and Revocation, Chanway explains that “initially this music was written for a progressive metal project called Chancellor in 2011. After leaving that band, I gradually morphed the tracks into instrumental tunes.”
Chanway reveals his writing process is always honest and organic. “I write all of the guitar parts, generally starting from one theme or motif and just continually building upon it, to create a flowing cohesive piece. Never forcing or rushing anything for the sake of releasing new music. The guitar themes are authentic; the riffs are catchy and addictive.”
Teaming up with Prog-Sphere.com, Chanway demonstrates his shredding skills with his new playthrough for his track ‘271114′ at the following link: http://www.prog-sphere.com/specials/matt-chanway-271114-playthrough-premiere/
Chanway also states that this is also no studio project and is looking forward to playing his album live, promising “a very authentic recreation of some very challenging music, of course instrumental music is always a different ballgame in a live context. People tend to hone in on the guitar a lot more, and the unique voice it can bring as the band leader!
As well as his own solo album, his band Assimilation will unleash their eagerly-awaited debut album ‘The Laws of Power’ on March 17, 2017, Chanway’s new album is the perfect instrument precursor to that! Not content to rest on his laurels, Chanway is also planning a further instrumental album for 2018.
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“Burstfire solos, frantic time signatures, complicated riffing and the like are all signposts of an artist who wants to see how far he can go. Unsurprisingly, this ambition pays off. The release could stand on its own as proof that Matt could play alongside the world’s greatest in shred guitar.” – Prog Sphere Magazine
“The progressive metal genre never ceases to provide scores of insanely skilled guitar-slingers, and Vancouver’s Matt Chanway can now be recognized as another mind-blowing practitioner of the style.” – Guitar.com
“Ferocious, fast, and fucking awesome, Matt Chanway indeed has a scintillating skill that surely many would aspire to. His compositions are interesting, invigorating, intense, and inspiring: everything instrumental prog metal should be.” – Swept Media
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They play a kickass, mosh-inducing aggressive style of thrash that appeals to fans of old school thrash as well as fans of the new wave of bands…This early in the year, it is hard to say definitively that any album is the best of its genre but as of now, Terrifier’s Weapons of Thrash Destruction definitely earns the title of Best in Class. It has been another very solid year for thrash so far and no matter who comes out on top in December, Terrifier have earned a place at the thrash banquet with this absolutely terrific ripper of an album. If anyone’s not convinced, listening to the bookends of this album will do the trick as “Reanimator” and “Sect of the Serpent” will both rip your face to shreds.
http://www.metal-observer.com/3.o/review/terrifier-weapons-of-thrash-destruction/
Encased in a raw, gritty sound that instantly takes our minds back to the Slowly We Rots and Altars Of Madnesses of yore – Texan death metal outfit Sigil are here to pummel us. “Kingdom Of The Grave” is their first full-length release on the hilariously-named Horror Pain Gore Death Productions – and it succeeds on so many levels: primarily by taking the old school sound of classic DM acts like Massacre and Morbid angel – and making it relevant here in the 21st century…For me, this upcoming USA quartet have actually released the death metal album of the year so far – easily beating out Obituary and Immolation. Kingdom Of The Grave isn’t breaking boundaries – but everything about it sums up why we love old school death metal so much.
http://www.metal-observer.com/3.o/review/sigil-kingdom-of-the-grave/
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