Category: EPKs

0 FREYA – Blood Thirst (single) (2024)

August 23, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · FREYA

FREYA – Blood Thirst (single) (2024)

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

“I wrote Blood Thirst to be a straightforward banger. I was inspired by Biohazard for the first part of the song. Not that it sounds like them, but it felt like it had that hard-hitting old-school hardcore vibe with an easy-to-follow memorable riff. And then the second half I wanted to showcase the thrashy, Slayer side of our style. Just wanted it to crank and hit hard. As much as I love a mosh pit, I think I’m equally happy when an audience is engaged, head-banging, and genuinely seems to be happy to be there. Whether it’s an old song, a new song, or whatever, I’m stoked when I see those fans out there smiling and banging their head. Our new material does that, it’s easy to follow the groove.” – Ethan D. Henry – Drums – FREYA

For fans of Earth Crisis, Terror, Hatebreed, Madball, Ringworm

Facebook.com/freyahardcore | Instagram.com/freyaband | Linktr.ee/freyaband315 |

Upstaterecordsny.com/freya | Youtube.com/@UpstateRecordsNewYork | Upstaterecords.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

Single – Blood Thirst – https://bfan.link/blood-thirst

“Bloodthirst” artwork by Ethan D. Henry

Band: FREYA
Single Title: Blood Thirst
Release date: August 23, 2024
Label: Upstate Records

Single Credits:
• All songs performed by: FREYA
• All songs written by: FREYA
• Produced by: Ethan D. Henry
• Mixed & Mastered by: Len Carmichael (Landmine Studios)
• Album Artwork by: Ethan D. Henry

Single Band Lineup:
Ethan D. Henry – Drums
Bryan W. Fleming – Guitar
Karl Buechner – Vocals
Ed Ordez – Bass

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About The Single Artwork

The cover art was created by our drummer Ethan and our friend Kim. The image conveys extinction-level warfare.

About The Single:
“I’ve been friends with Karl, Erick, and Bulldog for over twenty years. We have worked with Peta2 in the past and have always supported animal rights even though it’s not our main objective. I’m not vegan or anything but I was just thinking of this concept of some trophy hunters entering the forest killing and taking what they wanted and leaving the corpses of their victims to rot. I imagined a grizzly bear being fed up finding rotten deer, Turkey, and whatever else on his daily trek. Full of rage, he is forced to fight back and chase the men out of the forest. Like Batman haha. But a pissed-off grizzly bear.

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FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES

(1) Freya was invited last minute to play a festival in Albany called Park fest that was headlined by 50 Cent. Our van was broken so we rented a Ryder box truck, set a living room couch in the back of it, and drove from Syracuse to Albany. After the concert we were on the way back we got out at a gas station and the police laid everyone out thinking that the truck was being used to smuggle people from below the border.

(2) There is a vacant lot in downtown Syracuse next to Moresound Studio. In the fall and winter, we parked the van in that area. Over the course of a month and a half or so grass grew up around it and homeless people lived inside of our vehicle.

(3) Freya used to practice in a rented rehearsal room in North Syracuse. We heard that the building was going to be undergoing renovations and that we needed to remove our equipment. As will oftentimes happen things got away from us. We drove up to the building and it was wrapped in plastic had been condemned and was undergoing asbestos removal.

(4) Dimebag Darrell from Pantera was murdered in Columbus Ohio during a Damage plan performance. A week or so later Freya played that same club. When the stage lights brightened I got a chill, I saw that silver duct tape had been placed over the bullet holes in the walls.

L-R – Ethan D. Henry – Drums, Bryan W. Fleming – Guitar, Karl Buechner – Vocals, Ed Ordez – Bass

Hailing from Syracuse, NY, Freya was formed in 2001 by three members of Earth Crisis’ bassist Ian Edwards, lead guitarist Eric Edwards and vocalist Karl Buechner. When Earth Crisis temporarily concluded, members split into three separate bands; Freya, percussionist and guitarist Dennis Merrick and Scott Crouse, respectively, formed Slave One and all five Earth Crisis members continued on with their reactivated project band, Path of Resistance.

Over the past 20 years, Freya have blazed a path through both the worldwide hardcore and metal scenes. Prominently featured on MTV’s Room Raiders, Road Rules and the iconic Headbangers Ball as well as the Showtime series, Shameless, the Freya vault runs deep with their soon to be seventh release, Fight As One, since their inception. Freya’s discography has been featured in Kerrang!, Decibel, Amp and Metal Hammer for their unique sound, a well-crafted amalgamation of darkened New York style hardcore with a generous dose of thrash metal stirred into the mix.

Discography:
Fight as One (Full-length) 2023
Grim (Full-length) 2016
Paragon of the Crucible (Full-length) 2013
Ghost Echoes (EP) 2013
All Hail the End (Full-length) 2010
Lift the Curse (Full-length) 2007
Hoods / Freya (Split) 2004
Freya / Darkest Hour / Dead to Fall (Split) 2003

Shared Stage with: Ringworm, Escuela Grind, Terror, Death Before Dishonor, Madball, Walls of Jericho, Kataklysm, Biohazard, Downset, Tree, Full Blown Chaos

Tours And Fests:
Muddy Roots – August 2024
Upstage Fest – August 2024
Kittie Fest – 2011

0 EPK – Forsaken Rite – The Forgotten West (EP) (2024) – Out Sept 27th

August 22, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Forsaken Rite

EPK – Forsaken Rite – The Forgotten West (EP) (2024) – Out Sept 27th

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

“The upcoming EP is an evolution of the Forsaken Rite sound with new creative members. We want this EP to be a continuation of our full-length album “The Northern Saga” where every song, though unique, and listenable on its own, is still very much part of the whole story, the adventure. We want our listeners/fans to join us once again on our adventures and feel like they are every part of the Warparty contributing to its success.” – Forsaken Rite

For fans of Eluveitie, Nightwish, Faun, Ensiferum, Blackbriar

Band: Forsaken Rite
EP Title: The Forgotten West (EP)
Release Date: September 27, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Facebook.com/ForsakenRite | Youtube.com/@ForsakenRite | Instagram.com/forsaken_rite

Forsakenrite.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

““The Forgotten West” really does invoke in us some very primeval and basic human instincts which then allows us to reach out across the vast swathes of history and time to reconnect with our long since departed ancestors once again. If you like me love a bit of folk metal, then you will absolutely love “The Forgotten West” and the raw sound of FORSAKEN RITE, so make sure you check it out when it drops. Highly recommended.” – Female Fronted Power

“Forsaken Rite do not offer classic Folk Rock. On the contrary, it’s metallic and hard-hitting… I didn’t know Forsaken Rite before. But the Folk Metal immediately cast a spell over me. Fortunately, it’s far removed from the ‘Horn Rock’ that you usually hear. With this EP, the Canadians have given me a taste for listening to their older releases. 8.5/10″ – Metalheads Forever Magazine

“The band have returned with a vengeance, and if they build on this release and momentum, can easily be pushed high up in the genre pretty soon. For now, this EP gets another easy 8/10″ – Overtone Magazine

“a nice balance of melody and aggression, all tinged with Folk elements, and they pull you into their fairytale world with their brand of songwriting.” – Metal Temple

“A fresh and invigorating listen, with lots of melodic and Celtic heart; ‘TFW’ brings an atmospheric connection and a strongly evocative audio-scape…. a refreshingly escapist listen.” – Rock Queen Reviews

“Each track on the EP flows into the next to lay out the story of the war party’s voyage west and the challenges that they face along this journey. The whole composition becomes an epic piece of music that has highs and lows as the adventure progresses and works best when listened through in order. My personal favourite track on this EP though has to be ‘Fire Circle’ which takes the form of a jovial celebration. The sound of the accordion and the upbeat melody it portrays invokes images of drunken revelry around the firepit bringing an element of light after the previous track, ‘The Storm’. ‘Fire Circle’ is a song of reflection on the challenges that have been faced by the warparty to this point and engaging in celebrated remembrance of those who have been lost along the way.” – Uber Rock

“‘The Forgotten West’ is a great example of epic folk metal that captures the wild and unforgiving nature of some of the deeper parts of Canada. This continuation of the adventures from 2017’s ‘The Northern Saga’ will easily appeal to fans of folk metal with the similarities to Eluveitie being hard to ignore. Not that there’s anything wrong with this, the Eluveitie formula is fantastic and if you can produce something similar whilst remaining true to your own cultural roots, then have at it! It may have been my first exposure to Forsaken Rite but it certainly won’t be my last and I’ll be keeping an eye out to see if the band ventures out of Canada to hit the shores of the ÜK, and if that doesn’t happen then I have no problems returning to Canada for another adventure of my own!” – Uber Rock

“North American Combo, European Sound.” – PowerMetal.de

“Forsaken Rite’s blend of metal and folk continues to evolve, showcasing a sophisticated integration of genres. The EP balances aggressive metal riffs with traditional folk instrumentation, creating a dynamic and rich sonic landscape. Expect powerful guitar work and driving rhythms paired with acoustic elements, and rich vocals. Favorite Track- Call To War ” – Queen Metal Radio

““Call to War” is a heavy war song led by the power of unclean vocals as clean vocals build the narrative. The song’s bridge is a grand battle speech and a march towards victory climaxing in a multi-layered instrumental and vocal breakdown to round out the EP.” – She Makes Music

“I didn’t know Forsaken Rite before, but their folk metal immediately captivated me…. With this EP, the Canadians gave me the taste to listen to the older releases.” – Keep On Rocking Germany

“Melodies that run loosely into the ear, sensitive singing, hotter death growls and powerful, irresistible pagan folk merge into a compact unit. In terms of content, the Canadians led by lead singer Ursa appeal to a wide range of fans between BATTLE BEAST, ENSIFERUM, ELUVEITIE, NIGHTWISH and FAUN.” – FFM-Rock.de

“We get to hear five pretty nicely constructed songs where power and melody are brought together in quite uplifting songs. The pure folky element lies in Ursa’s voice, which contrasts sharply with the deep growls of Emrys Faol, and the use of a flute. 84/100” – Musika

““The Northern Saga” is definitely worth checking out as it has some solid songs, strong performances and catchy tracks. Another epic album from north of the border.” – Folk-Metal.nl (2017)

“…The conquest based on riffs warriors and vindictive is launched, no prisoners and drink in the skull of our enemies tonight! But FORSAKEN RITE is not just a fight, it’s also a real passion for Scandinavian shamanic atmospheres that are inserted in small touches along the tracks…” (Translated from French) – kaosguards.com (2017)

[Downlod EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

Band: Forsaken Rite
EP Title: The Forgotten West (EP)
Release Date: September 27, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. The Forgotten West – 5:01
2. How Long is Forever? – 4:14
3. The Storm – 4:29
4. Fire Circle – 4:19
5. Call to War – 4:12

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Forsaken Rite
• All songs written by: Forsaken Rite
• Produced, Mixed and Mastered by: Diego Fernandez, Oracle Recoding Studios
• Album Artwork by: Renee Robyn Photography and Digital Art
• Member of SOCAN
• Music is Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Recording Band Lineup:
Paige Patenaude (Adaria Ravencroft) – Drums
Daniel Brown (Räv Dagdrömmare) – Keyboards
Scott Schulthies (Ulfbjorn Weirsson) – Bass
Alex McPhail (album only) – Guitar, Flute
William Hubbs (Emrys Faol) – Vocals
Ursula Acuña Kuchenbecker (Ursa) – Vocals

Live Lineup:
Paige Patenaude (Adaria Ravencroft) – Drums
Daniel Brown (Räv Dagdrömmare) – Keyboards
Scott Schulthies (Ulfbjorn Weirsson) – Bass
Connor Pylypa (Peregyr) – Guitar
William Hubbs (Emrys Faol) – Vocals
Ursula Acuña Kuchenbecker (Ursa) – Vocals, Flute

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About EP Artwork:

Depiction of a hooded figure in a broad landscape running to the distance with buildings and mountains in the background.

About the EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

The Forgotten West as an EP is a collection of songs that tell a grand adventure story spanning multiple regions, times, and events. Building upon the sounds and ideas established in The Northern Saga (2017) it serves as the relaunch of Forsaken Rite and the world they intend to build intertwining metal and folk music and fantasy-inspired storytelling.

Each song features distinct and unique folk and metal elements throughout that give each member of the Warparty an opportunity to shine and showcase their musicianship.

Soaring, versatile, and expressive clean vocal melodies, harmonies, and lyrics build the Warparty’s world and stories.

Hard-hitting distorted vocals display anguish, anger, and power and support the emotive expression of the songs and stories.

Forsaken Rite’s iconic accordion-inspired sound is accompanied by inspiring and distinctive flute and medieval flute lines. The instrumentation is further supported through epic and expansive orchestral and folk elements including various horns, harps, and strings.

Striking and virtuosic guitar solos and leads shine through while providing rhythmic and heavy support throughout.

Driving bass guitar lines are distinguished with multiple leading bass lines and otherwise supportive and establishing rhythms.

Thundering and widely varied percussive elements throughout the songs establish and fortify the direction of each song.

Although the songs are loosely interconnected, each song is intended to stand alone by capturing the listener in the unique sounds and stories of Forsaken Rite.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. The Forgotten West

Story: The Forgotten West is the start of a new adventure. Once content living a simple life in their town, everything changed on the night of reckoning when the town was attacked and everyone lost their land and home. Legends whisper of new lands to the West that are prosperous and free, so now the Warparty has begun their quest.

Despite great successes so far on this quest and new stories to be told, they can’t help but remember, and long for what they once had, but was lost. Who will remember where it all began?

Music: The Forgotten West is an epic adventure song that features multiple different folk, orchestral, and metal elements. It serves as a beacon to the listener to join the Warparty on their adventure and sets the stage for the successes, the failures, and the overall diversity that is going to be experienced throughout The Forgotten West.

The introduction is an ominous flute introduction that builds the stage for the story that is to ensue throughout The Forgotten West’s journey. The song features multiple vocal verses led first by clean vocals and later distorted vocals that build the world and narrative of the Forgotten West capturing the magnitude and scale of Warparty’s journey and the emotions behind it all. The song’s chorus soars high and captures the heart of the journey.

The bridge is abrupt and fills the soundstage with an epic orchestral composition over a chant enticing the listener to remembrance of what was once had, and the sacrifices that it took to get where they are now.

2. How Long is Forever?

Story: Descend into madness. An immortal being starts the story by questioning the meaning of its existence. The melancholic voice of Sanity is represented by clean vocals, which describe the internal struggle associated with the meaningless passing of time. Madness, represented by distorted vocals, slowly takes over until there is no trace of Sanity left.

Music: How Long is Forever was first developed as an original work for another project by Ursula (vocals). Bringing it to Forsaken Rite, it was quickly reworked to fit with the new direction of the band. It’s easily one of the most diverse songs on the EP bringing darker and dynamic elements to the band’s sound. The song is bass and clean vocal driven, starting dark and haunting and, in line with the story told, progresses heavier and heavier ending with a grand multi-layered outro incorporating unclean vocals, accordion, flute, guitar, syncopated percussion, and other orchestral elements.

3. The Storm

Story: The adventurers are traveling West and encounter a terrible storm. As if something greater has other plans for their journey, they must weather its forces in order to survive and continue on their path.

Music: The Storm is a catchy sing-a-long with clean and distorted vocals and multi-layered folk elements. The instrumental section is percussive and brings together multiple folk instruments and melodies.

4. Fire Circle

Story: Fire Circle tells the story of the night directly after the events of The Storm. All gathered around the fire, festivities ensue in remembrance of those who have been lost and the challenges that have been faced.

Music: Fire Circle features several distinct musical elements and sections including a medieval flute intro, ominous and reflective clean vocals that build the song’s narrative and entice the listener to join in the festivities and remembrance, and several folk instrumental sections giving a lead to dancing rhythms and melodies on accordion, flute, and guitar. The song sends off the listener with a soaring guitar lead as the festivities continue.

5. Call to War

Story: Call to War is the finale of The Forgotten West’s journey. The Warparty has made it to their destination… for now.

They have found villages and life isn’t so bad, it’s different than before, but yet… oh so familiar.

But as if destiny had other plans, peace lasts only so long before history begins to repeat itself as new enemy forces move in to take what little the village has left.

Call to War is a battle speech and a rallying cry, because this time, we all stay to fight, unlike so long ago, before the journey of The Forgotten West.

Music: Call to War is the finale of The Forgotten West’s journey. The drums of war front the final rally cry as the war party leads warriors into battle.

Call to War is a heavy war song led by the power of unclean vocals as clean vocals build the narrative. The song is directed at listeners enticing them to join the Warparty in the final battle.

The song’s bridge is a grand battle speech and a march towards victory climaxing in a multi-layered instrumental and vocal breakdown to round out the EP.

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Fun Facts – Story Angles

1. Paige never heard folk metal before 2011, ended up going to a Cradle of Filth concert that year, and met someone who showed her folk metal starting with Eluveitie, Tyr, Ensiferum, Amon Amarth, etc. Immediately she was like “I wanna start a band like this”. Coming off a 5 year drum hiatus she began working towards starting the band.

2. The band name came from one of those band-name generators. Looked up some starting names and Forsaken came to mind, then worked to come up with what sounded good/cool with the word Forsaken. Eventually settled on Rite. “Forsaken Rite”

3. Back in 2016 there started a festival called Metalocalypstick Fest. A festival celebrating women in metal. Every band that played had to have, a least one female in the band. We had 3. The festival started with warm weather but quickly turned to rain. The stage, thankfully, was covered by a huge canopy. We were the very first band on the very first day on stage, effectively Christening, the festival. We played our 45-minute set, and shortly after we had completed and torn down, it started to rain. It continued to rain most of the weekend. The festival’s headliner was, none other than, Nervosa

Photo Credit: VOH Photography

Forged in the cold northern plains of Edmonton, AB, Forsaken Rite has been crafting tales of ancient lore and heroic feats since their formation in 2012. Drawing inspiration from their northern ancestry and the wild landscapes of Canada, the band has built a reputation for delivering electrifying live performances and transporting their audience into fantastical realms.

Weaving intricate tales of adventure, battles, and travels with each song they create. Their upcoming EP “The Forgotten West” out on September 27^th, 2024 is a continuation of 2017’s “The Northern Saga”, and sees the band/war party heading West.

They are recommended for fans of Eluveitie, Nightwish, and Faun.

Discography:
2024 – The Forgotten West – EP
2017 – The Northern Saga – Album
2015 – For the Honour of our Fathers – EP

Shared Stage with: The Agonist, Mortillery, Hibria, Lost Nebula, W.M.D.

Tours and Festivals:
2022 – Hyperspace Metal Festival (attended, but unable to play due to half the band having Covid)
2021 – Loud As Hell
2020 – Loud As Hell
2019 – Metalocalypstick Fest
2018 – Saskatoon Screamfest – Night #2
2018 – Armstrong Metal Festival
2018 – Metalocalypstick Fest
2018 – March of The Frozen North Tour
2017 – Metalocalypstick Fest
2017 – The Northern Saga Canada Tour
2016 – Metalocalypstick Fest
2016 – Albertilation Festival

0 EPK – Chain Code – Synthetic Outcomes (2024) – Out Oct 1st

August 22, 2024
by Asher
· Chain Code · EPKs

EPK – Chain Code – Synthetic Outcomes (2024) – Out Oct 1st

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

“I am pleased to finally unleash this labor of love. I started this project in 2022 and manically wrote two albums, fixated on creating paranoid yet beautiful progressive rock to express my enjoyment of dystopian science fiction that sees humanity losing its very essence to machines. The initial point musically was to have Adrian Belew join Voivod in my bizarro musical mind. I feel that this album will find an audience of weirdos who are into this type of music. I don’t think it was written for “average” music fans, as it’s a challenging listen, but there are definitely those on the outskirts of genres who could find meaning in this project. I encourage any weirdo to put on headphones and take a trip to our future with the chaotic elegance of Chain Code!” – MuRphry – Chain Code

For fans of Adrian Belew (King Crimson, Zappa, Talking Heads, solo), Voivod, Primus, with tinges of post-punk (Dead Kennedys, NoMeansNo, Jesus Lizard)

Band: Chain Code
Album Title: Synthetic Outcomes
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Facebook.com/ChainCodeBand | ChainCode.bandcamp.com

“the new track (In Line) is a bold musical statement with one foot in modern progressive technical musical prowess, but with eye on the class and lyricism of the distant past greats of the genre.” – Ghost Cult Magazine

““Synthetic Outcomes” is a deeply satisfying listen if you like your music to be dense, multi-layered and to come with an idea and a concept that the music and the lyrics expand upon. It is spectacularly complex and rewards repeated listens to an egregious degree. It isn’t overpoweringly heavy, but it’s heavy enough to bite you in the arse and it is a challenging listen indeed. Some punters may find it a bit too much to digest in a single sitting, however Dark Juan is made of sterner stuff than that. 9/10″ – Ever Metal

“Murphy is a Milwaukee based musician and his description of Andrian Belew (King Crimson) fronting Voivod is a close description of the brilliance of the debut, Synthetic Outcomes. Bringing his love of science fiction and humor, Murphy’s style is avantgarde and fascinating. “Human” is the album opener and you get that unique approach to progressive metal. “A New Face” shows how catchy this guy can be, but still avantgarde and cool as hell. The bass really stands out (Primus is also an influence) during songs like “They’re Not Mad Scientists” and “Unlearn.” “My Buddy” has that early nineties (The Outer Limits and Angel Rat era) Voivod sound. Chain Code makes “Junk Piles and Their Lonely Owners” memorable with the busy, but repetitious music and really cool technical guitar playing. This is a definitely contender for album of the year.” – Transcending The Mundane

“Progressive rock fans, get ready to be captivated by the latest offering from Chain Code, a unique and complex solo project led by the enigmatic MuRphry who channels his love for prog rock and sci-fi into a potent sonic experience… ‘A New Face’ is a short, yet windy, frantic, and complex song that is as unpredictable as it is catchy.” – The ProgSpace

“Tickling my itch for some dissonant avantgarde stuff this week is “Synthetic Outcomes”, the debut from new US based project Chain Code. This is a “non-stop barrage of syncopation and dissonant tension”, as the press release aptly stated, spearheaded by the enigmatic vocalist/multiinstrumentalist MurPhry, and these nine tracks should present themselves as some welcome grubs for the Voivod/King Crimson/Sleepytime Gorilla Museum/Gargoyl//Shamblemaths crowd. ” The Prog Space

“If System of the Down and Primus had a child, that child would sound like the debut single “A New Face” from Chain Code… With a unique blend of melody, dissonance, and intricately stringed arrangements, Chain Code is set to spin progressive rock on its head not only with their debut single but also with their debut album Synthetic Outcomes” – Amplify The Noise

“As debut albums come, Synthetic Outcomes is quite exceptional… Keep an eye open for this captivating artist, and beware of our computer overlords that are just around the corner waiting to take over for good.” – Disagreemeent.nl

“US band Chain Code are out with the album “Synthetic Outcomes”, and progressive metal is the style explored on this production. That being said, a lot of the heart and the soul of this band appears to revolve around aesthetics from the 1970s, and then from more expressive bands from the progressive rock tradition back then. With plenty of references to King Crimson, possibly also Gentle Giant, and if you know about a band from that era that played around with avantgarde tendencies and whimsical attitudes there’s a good chance that you’ll encounter references in that line too. With a bit of a theatrical display in the vocals department to boot, and some of the flamboyant aspects from the symphonic progressive rock tradition added as a bit of a subtle seasoning. But the band have chosen to explore those landscapes in a metal guise. An understated one at that, but still with metal rather than prog as the expression and orientation of choice. An album to seek out if the idea of exploring expressive 1970s progressive rock in a metal guise strikes you as an appealing proposition.” – Progressor

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: Chain Code
Album Title: Synthetic Outcomes
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Human(kind of) (8:12)
2. A New Face (4:42)
3. They’re NOT Mad Scientists (4:16)
4. Unlearn (6:18)
5. My Buddy (3:54)
6. Inadequate (4:27)
7. Junk Piles and Their Lonely Owners (5:16)
8. Reaching Out (7:02)
9. In Line (8:00)

Album Credits:
All songs written and performed by MuRphry.
All songs recorded by MuRphry.
All artwork created by MuRphry with help from Matt Altieri and Arby.
Album mixed and mastered by Dan Klein and Iron Hand Audio, 2024.
Chain Code is MuRphry-all instruments and vocals.

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Describe The Album Artwork:

Each song comes with its own specific piece of art. The art has a lot of robots/cyborgs that have human characteristics. The art/lyrics also observe human insecurity and self-doubt as a driving force for the creation of such technology.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. Human(kind of) seeks to set the album themes up lyrically with its repetition of the word synthetic. It is a song that expresses the idea that humans, while full of good intentions and philosophies, ultimately have a need for destruction. It is the longest song on the album and the only song with a sample in it, taken from a news story about using AI to translate brain scans into text and was chosen as the opener musically because of both its monotonous ending and slow build beginning. It is sort of a unique song on the album structurally, but seemed appropriate as an opener.

2. A New Face concerns the effort and ingenuity that went into designing a technology that eventually comes to encapsulate humanity’s inherent desire for self-destruction and war. This was the first song written for the album and is definitely has some of the best interplay between guitar parts on the album.

3. They’re NOT Mad Scientists not only sees a bit of humor coming into the lyrics but builds off the ideas set forth in A New Face in that good intentions are in place at the onset of creating something destructive. It sets up the idea that the creators put their own insecurities and sadness into their creation, and those are what eventually create the AI’s natural need to eliminate or subjugate humans, an idea that is also found later in the album. The song has a standard enough arrangement(in the context of prog’s fearless embracement of pop), but has a very complex midsection. In spite of that, it is one of the easier-to-grasp songs musically.

4. Unlearn is a song that juxtaposes the parts of a computer with the parts of a human being with the intention of suggesting that human beings can choose to be more than biomechanics. The vs in this song has what is perhaps the most complicated interplay of guitar and bass on the whole album.

5. My Buddy is a humorous song and shamelessly pays homage to the guitar playing of East Bay Ray(Dead Kennedys) in its verse. However, it gives way to something off-kilter at the end. The song starts with the line “The time I’ve wasted with my spy”, a direct reference to human beings being added by the technology they keep in their pockets, making it easier for governments or AI systems to gain power.

6. Inadequate, like A New Face and My Buddy, focuses on how human insecurities trick them into allowing technology to gain a foothold. It’s definitely a slower song on the album, more psychedelic than what comes before it.

7. Junk Piles and Their Lonely Owners was heavily influenced by King Crimson’s Red album. The vs. has a midi Erhu(a Chinese instrument) that is set to mimic the violin playing on the aforementioned Crimson album. This song definitely deals with human mortality more than the other songs. It also deals with intentionally expanding one’s mind in order to not be enslaved by technology.

8. Reaching out and 9. In-Line were heavily influenced by the Marvel character Ultron, an AI machine that both wants humanity and to destroy humanity. Both songs see this character ruminating on the flaws of humanity and how he is essentially in line to surpass humans. He is waiting patiently, collecting data, observing, and finally striking out. Musically both songs have some of the more complex arrangements. In Line begins and ends with a Black Hole Sun(Soundgarden) style oddball heavy and slow, yet beautiful and melodic, riff.

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Fun Facts – Story Angles

1. Despite having many issues with modern Star Wars, I loved The Bad Batch and The Clone Wars enough to take my band name from the SW universe. Chain Code is the term denoted to the identification markers that contain biographical information on an individual. The music was all written and finished before naming the project.

2. All things nerd influence Chain Code, from science fiction movies (Terminator, Robocop, etc) to comic books.

Chain Code is a progressive rock band from Milwaukee, WI. The project was started by sole member MuRphry in 2022 with the sole intention of playing catchy, yet complex, bizarro progressive rock, think Adrian Belew(King Crimson, Zappa, solo, Talking Heads) meets Voivod. The lyrics’ themes center largely around the ever-popular sci-fi idea of technology overcoming human beings. Using a mixture of melody and dissonance, and a barrage of stringed instrument interplay, MuRphry seeks to capture both the beautiful moments and harsh realities of a future ever reliant upon a technology that, as all sci-fi predicts, will overtake a complacent human existence. The debut album, “Synthetic Outcomes”, finds humanity in distress, conquered by the technology they became dependent upon, but the future is left wide open for a human uprising. All weirdos are encouraged to put on headphones and take a trip to our future with the chaotic elegance of Chain Code!

0 EPK – Massive Scar Era – Assyad (2024) – Out October 25th

August 20, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Massive Scar Era

EPK – Massive Scar Era – Assyad (2024) – Out October 25th

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

“I dedicated years to studying Egyptian Zar traditions, songs, and rhythms, and I believe this EP represents a deeply rich and progressive musical experience. It’s a journey that I think will resonate with those who appreciate concept albums and are drawn to non-mainstream metal music. In the world of Zar, what you are curious about also becomes curious about you. Each song on this EP is inspired by a specific Zar spirit, and I’m eager to see how each listener connects with the EP, as I’m sure everyone will be drawn to different songs in their own unique way.

I’m incredibly proud of this collaboration that united Canadian and Egyptian musicians from completely different backgrounds who only spoke the language of music. A memorable moment was a five-minute improvisation between Simon on drums and Muhammed on the tabla. Despite the language barrier, the intensity of the metal drumming and the polyrhythmic Zar beats created a profound harmony. I instantly knew this collaboration would be a success. I cherished every moment with these musicians and am proud of Assyad. It was a unique experience, and I hope it resonates with audiences just as it did with us.” – Cherine Amr – Massive Scar Era

For fans of metal with folkloric cultural influences, Merfolk, Nawather, Zaeer, Ambrotype, Khalas

Band: Massive Scar Era
EP Title: Assyad
Release Date: August 23, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Facebook.com/massivescarera | Instagram.com/massivescarera |

Massivescarera.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

“Steeped in Metal, but bridging the gap to Egyptian music, Massive Scar Era is a Metal band you need to know about in 2023. The brainchild of visionary artist Cherine Amr, their new EP Metal Goes Egyptian, the seventh release in her career, is coming out in November. Not only does the band creative a ground-breaking mix of Metal and world music, Cherine had to flee her country where “the devil’s music” is forbidden to create, let alone defying gender norms that could lead to punishment, or worse. With its unique fusion of Prog Rock, post-Grunge, Egyptian music, and Heavy Metal, the group just released a new single “Between Waves!”” – Ghost Cult Magazine (2023 – Metal Goes Egyptian)

” When you’re a metal act, you either go big or you go home, and going big is what Massive Scar Era does extremely well. Today, the metal ensemble unveiled the video for their new single, “Oblivious,” off of their Metal Goes Egyptian EP. As an in-studio performance video, it’s simple but effective. It’s particularly effective due to the level of precision with which the band plays. Then you add in the orchestral elements, and you have essentially what amounts to a symphony. Beyond band founder and leader Cherine Amr, there are many minds and parties at play to bring this vision to life. Amr collaborates closely with musicians, producers, and video creators. Her goal is to combine heavy metal’s power with traditional Arabic music’s beauty and charisma. You’ll hear it all come together in perfect harmony upon Metal Goes Egyptian’s official release on November 3rd.” – V13 (2023 – Metal Goes Egyptian)

“As the title indicates, it’s metal with a middle eastern tone and style… mostly melodic death with clean and harsh vox.” – The Moshpit – WORT 89.9 FM (Madison, WI) (2023 – Metal Goes Egyptian)

“the Egyptian-Western music cocktail has an almost hypnotic effect” – PowerMetal.de (2023 – Metal Goes Egyptian)

“Through “Metal Goes Egypt”, their new EP, Canadian band Massive Scar Era invites open-minded heavy music fans to embark on a musical journey that transcends borders and creates a unique fusion of metal energy and the melodic beauty and cultural nuances of traditional Egyptian Arabic music.” – YoZone.fr (2023 – Metal Goes Egyptian)

Band: Massive Scar Era
EP Title: Assyad
Release Date: August 23, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Muluk al-Ardiyya | The Kings of the Earth – 4:54
2. Abdel Salam Lasmar – 3:17
3. Genie, Lambo – 3:17
4. Inner Dialogue – 3:33
5. El-Leil | The Night – 4:24
6. Pretend – 3:43
7. School Girls ft. Chaney Crabb (Entheos) – 3:26
EP Length: 26:38

EP Recording Credits:
Creative producer: Cherine Amr
Zār Leader, teacher, and consultant: Muhammed Abouzeid
Community Connector, Cultural Consultant, and overseas executive producer: Dr. Kawakb Tawfik
All songs and lyrics are written by Cherine Amr.
Any Arabic vocals heard on Assyad are folkloric Zār songs.
Percussion and Kawala arrangement and performance: Muhammed Abouzeid
Traditional Zār singer: Salem Atallah
Drum arrangement and performance: Simon McKay
Bass arrangement and performance: Frédérick Filiatrault
Vocal, Guitar, and back vocals arrangement and performance: Cherine Amr.
Death Growl: Chaney Crabb on Track 7. School Girls
Music Producer: Etienne Tremblay (La Machine à Mixer)
Recorded at Studio Mix Art in Montréal, Québec, by Nicholas Pétrowski and Etienne Tremblay.
Mixed and Master by Etienne Tremblay (La Machine à Mixer)

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

About The EP Artwork:

I discovered Zeinab on Behance and was captivated by her unique, obscure art. Given her cultural background of being also from the Arabic-speaking region, I knew she would easily get the cultural nuances and mostly understand the Arabic lyrics on Assyad. I shared the EP and some jewelry related to Zar rituals with her. Although these elements aren’t directly reflected in the artwork, her inspiration is subtly evident. Zeinab truly grasped the essence of the project and created a vision for *Assyad* that fits perfectly.

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

Zār is a possession cult that incorporates music and dance into its rituals, aiming to establish reconciliation between individuals and the spirits (Assyad) believed to inhabit their bodies, causing illness. The Assyad represents the projection of fears and anxieties, and the Zār ritual seeks to alleviate suffering, challenges, and conflicts faced by the individual. At the heart of the Zār ceremony, an ensemble guides the devotees through a trance dance, breaking down barriers to personal identity through rhythmic and melodic patterns deeply rooted in emotional and cultural contexts. This allows individuals in a trance to identify with the possessing spirits, providing a unique sensory experience.

The EP Assyad blends traditional Zār songs and rhythms with metal. Each track is inspired by a specific Zār spirit.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Muluk al-Ardiyya | The Kings of the Earth | ملوك الأرضية (first song we worked on)

Muluk al-Ardiyya is a song for the spirits living on the mainland. They are among the oldest kind of invisible creatures whose agency is related to the forces and life on Earth.

2. Abdel Salam Lasmar | عبدالسلام الاسمر

Abdel Salam al-Asmar, a revered religious figure in Libyan Muslim history, lived from 1455 to 1575 CE. Began an ascetic (zahid) in Libya’s expansive desert, known for performing miraculous acts for the needy. Later in life, he became a mujahid (holy warrior), defending his city with fervour. Revered across North Africa, he features in traditions like Zār, Gnawa, and Stanbeli. His militant stance inspired many Sufi orders in anti-colonial and military resistance efforts.

3. Genie, Lambo | جني يالمبو

Spirit of the fire, Jinn Lambo is a spiteful creature and a servant of Sultan al-Nar, the fire sultan. The music retains strong African elements, maintaining a profound connection to Zār’s Eastern African roots. The ritual necessitates the presence of fire and lit candles during the trance dance.

4. Inner Dialogue

Inner Dialogue is inspired by the Zār song “Salila, the Master of the Water,” depicted as a mermaid symbolizing rebirth and abundance. Salila is a captivating yet proud female spirit, drawn to wealth and gold, but also capable of transformative generosity and support for humanity.

5. El-Leil | The Night | الليل

“The Night serves as an ode to the day and sun. The benevolent Asyad sing to the night, longing for its swift departure, as darkness is associated with malevolent spirits.

6. Pretend

Pretend draws its inspiration from the esteemed spirits of Mamma el-Sultan and Sa’det El-Bar. Mamma el-Sultan presides as the revered master over all Zār spirits, while Sa’det El-Bar command the domain of Al-Midan, the battlefield.

7. School Girls | بنات المدرسة ft. Chaney Crabb (Entheos)

“School Girls” represents a dialogue between the Mu’allima (teacher) spirit, brought to life by Chaney’s voice, and the outside world. The chorus is adapted from the traditional Zar song “Banat el Madrassa,” which reflects a significant era in Egyptian society and feminism. It highlights the pursuit of higher education by middle and upper-class women in the 1950s, symbolizing their aspirations and empowerment. The Mu’allima serves as both a guide within the female Zar realm and a social archetype.

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

Story Angles – Band Fun Facts:

1. When I formed this band In 2004, in Alexandria, Egypt, it was established with an all-female lineup. The reason behind this choice was the restriction imposed by my family, which prohibited me from playing music with male musicians. While some perceived it as a feminist statement, I personally experienced it as one of the most oppressive situations I had ever encountered

2. In the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region, each country has its unique microtonal system. In the orchestra that recorded the Arabic Music, the members hailed from various backgrounds within the Arab-speaking region. However, despite their diverse origins, they all tuned in together and delivered an authentic Egyptian sound.

3. Traveling with my Egyptian passport has proven to be an extremely arduous task primarily due to the stringent visa procedures involved. In 2017, during the implementation of the Trump travel ban, MSE received an invitation to perform at SXSW. I personally had a physical appointment at the embassy, clearly stating the purpose of my travel, and providing the official SXSW invitation, I was granted the visa. However, upon reaching the borders, I faced an unexpected setback: I was denied entry, even though Egypt was not included in the travel ban list.

Massive Scar Era – Cherine Amr – Photo Credit by Big Rock Films

Massive Scar Era, the visionary Egyptian/Canadian metal project led by Cherine Amr, is thrilled to announce the release of their new single “School Girls | بنات المدرسة”. This track, featuring the dynamic vocals of Chaney Crabb from Entheos, is the lead single from their upcoming EP, “Assyad”, set to drop in October 2024. With “School Girls”, Massive Scar Era breaks genre boundaries again, blending progressive rock, post-grunge, Egyptian music, and metal into a captivating sound that resonates deeply with fans worldwide. Amr comments on the unique track:

“‘School Girls’ represents a dialogue between the Mu’allima (teacher) spirit, brought to life by Chaney’s voice, and the outside world. The chorus is adapted from the traditional Zar song “Banat el Madrassa,” reflecting a significant era in Egyptian society and feminism. It highlights the pursuit of higher education by middle and upper-class women in the 1950s, symbolizing their aspirations and empowerment. The Mu’allima serves as both a guide within the female Zar realm and a social archetype.”

Amr, the creative force behind Massive Scar Era, has dedicated years to studying Egyptian Zār traditions, weaving this deep cultural understanding into her music. Zār is a cult of possession in which ritual incorporates music and dance. Zar aims to establish a state of reconciliation between the individuals and the possessing spirits (Asyad) that inhabit their bodies and are believed to be the cause of illness.

For this EP, Amr received invaluable support from the community and cultural consultant, Dr. Kawkab Tawfik, who introduced her to Zar Abou El-Gheit, led by the master Zar musician, Muhammed AbouZeid. Muhammed invited Amr to attend one of their ceremonies held for a patient at his home in the village of Abou El-Gheit, a couple of hours outside Cairo, Egypt. They formed an immediate connection there, and Muhammed was instrumental in deepening Amr’s understanding of Zar songs.

Amr later invited Muhammed and his bandmate Salem to Montreal, where we engaged in daily songwriting workshops. Joining them were metal musicians Simon Mckay (the drummer of The Agonist) and Frédérick Filiatrault (bassist of Vvon Dogma I) for a month-long residency. Amr worked closely with Simon, recording the Zar songs played by Muhammed and Salem on a DR-70 Tascam. Amr would then take these recordings home to develop the songs further, sometimes sending Simon rough versions with unquantized drumlines or even without any drumlines. Simon would then rewrite the drumlines and occasionally assist with the guitar arrangements. The next day, they would reunite in the studio to share and refine their ideas. This process, which they repeated five days a week, was truly collaborative.

As Massive Scar Era continues to evolve, the release of the single “School Girls” marks a new chapter in the band’s journey, offering fans a glimpse into the rich, progressive musical experience that awaits in “Assyad”, which will be a concept record that blends Egyptian Zār songs with prog rock and metal.

“I believe this EP will be a journey that and I think it will resonate with those who appreciate concept albums and are drawn to non-mainstream metal music. In the world of Zar, what you are curious about also becomes curious about you. Each song on this EP is inspired by a specific Zar spirit, and I’m eager to see how each listener connects with the EP, as I’m sure everyone will be drawn to different songs in their own unique way.” adds Amr.

This single “School Girls” is a testament to Amr’s commitment to exploring and honoring these traditions while pushing the boundaries of modern metal music along with it being a bold statement, blending traditional Zār songs and rhythms with the raw power of metal into a unique and distinctive sound.

Recommended for fans of Merfolk, Nawather, and Zaeer.

More Info:

Massive Scar Era is the brainchild of the visionary artist Cherine Amr, who leads a collaborative journey with diverse musicians in every EP, bringing her unique vision to life. Originating from Alexandria, Egypt, and currently based in Montreal, QC, Massive Scar Era defies genre boundaries, weaving together a captivating tapestry of progressive rock, post-grunge, Egyptian music, and metal, resonating deeply with audiences across the globe.

Since its inception in 2004, Massive Scar Era has been at the forefront of musical innovation, pioneering a remarkable fusion of fierce vocals, intricate violin melodies, distorted guitars, and the pulsating rhythms of Egyptian percussion. Her music reflects the cosmopolitan allure of Alexandria intertwined with the raw essence of Cairo’s urban landscape. The project’s distinctive sound and cultural influences have garnered widespread recognition, leading to its inclusion in two highly influential documentaries that shed light on the vibrant music scenes across the SWANA region: “Microphone” (2012) and “Before the Spring After the Fall” (2013).

She has embarked on extensive tours throughout Europe and North America, gracing renowned stages and captivating audiences with her magnetic presence.

Discography:
Assayd (2024)
Metal Goes Egyptian (2023)
Color Blind (2018)
30 Years (2016)
Comes Around You (2012)
Precautionary Measures (2011) (physical only)
Unfamiliar Territory (2010) (physical only)
Reincarnation (2006) (physical only)

Music Placements – Microphone Movie 2012

Shared Stage with: Kreator, Dream Theatre, Dimmu Borgir, Septic Flesh, The Algorithm, Moonspell, Tyr

Tours and Festivals:
2019 – USA East Coast Tour
– USA West Coast Tour
– D-CAF Music Festival Cairo, Egypt
2018 – No Visa Required Cross Canadian Tour
2017 – Metalocalypstick (Lone Butte, BC)
2016 – Metalocalypstick (Valemount, BC)
2015 – SXSW (Austin, TX)
2014 – Total Metal Festival (Italy)
2014 – Inferno Metal Festival (Norway)
2013 – FreakStock Festival (Borgenstreich, Germany)
2013 – SXSW (Austin, TX)
2012 – Saxstock Festival (Germany)
2012 – Slot Art Festival (Poland)
2011 – Whiskey A Go Go (Los Angeles)
2011 – Metal Asylum, Dubai (UAE)
2011 – Cornerstone Festival, USA
2010 – Dubai Film Festival (UAE)
2010 – Cornerstone Festival (Marietta, IL)
2007 – SOS Music Festival (Egypt)
2008 – Sweden Rock Festival (Sweden)

0 The Wring – Nemesis (2024) (WormHoleDeath Records) – Out Sept 27th

August 13, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · The Wring

The Wring – Nemesis (2024) (WormHoleDeath Records) – Out Sept 27th

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

“I like to think that every album finds new ways to expand on my vision. Nemesis feels like the most cohesive record to date and there are a couple of tracks that are more accessible than anything previous so it may attract a new range of listeners. I also called this record ‘Nemesis’ because every song deals with some sort of conflict; mostly with an adversary that is either unseen or difficult to overcome. The music is similarly juxtaposed, with hard rock and metal mixed with jazz and prog elements. It makes for interesting listening but all within 5 minute songs. There is also plenty of wankery for metalheads and proggies.” – Don Dewulf – The Wring

Band Name: The Wring
Album Title: Nemesis
Release Date: September 27, 2024
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Distribution: Aural/Orchard

Thewring.ca | Facebook.com/thewringband | Instagram.com/wringband | Youtube.com/@thewringband | https://linktr.ee/thewringband

Apple Music | Spotify | Thewring2.bandcamp.com | Amazon

“Prog’s Tracks Of The Week (Aug 16)” – The Sword – The Wring – Prog Magazine

“There is a distinct, and quite energetic, 90s prog feel to Nemesis, reminiscent of bands such as Watchtower and Galactic Cowboys. The songs are loaded with intricate drumming, rock-solid bass playing, and great riffs and solos. Hache’s vocals may not work for everyone but they do for me, making this a super addition to any prog fan’s catalog. 4/5″ – Heavy Music HQ

“A lesson in classic and modern prog metal! Had Doug Pinnick and Jim Matheos come together for a joint project in the late 80’s, throwing together the progressive list of one with the groovy cornerstones of the other background band, wouldn’t it be so unlikely that the fantastic output wouldn’t stray too far from the Canadians at THE WRING in terms of sound. The band has already released three notable records in the past and has also attracted international attention with “Spectra” (2022)… THE WRING has already created some exciting moments on “Spectra”; However, “Nemesis” is finally the Champions League format that a trio with such advantages would actually have belonged in from the start. 9/10″ – PowerMetal.de

“Heads up prog-metal fans! Canada’s The Wring have a hot new number with “The Sword” and it’s not messin’ around. An early peak from their forthcoming album “Nemesis” due to drop on Sept. 27th, “The Sword” is complex with high power riffs, solos, a double kick throughout and soaring vocals that makesfor a beast of a track. Catch “The Sword” from The Wring on your Home for the Best New Rock…W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll

“This album marks a significant step in the band’s journey, showcasing a more cohesive and refined sound that blends their heavy rock roots with progressive and jazz influences. With eight tracks spanning just over 40 minutes, “Nemesis” adds a new, technical twist to progressive metal. – The Prog Space

““Nemesis” is a must for prog metal aficionados and their future is bright.” – Wormwood Chronicles

“recommended to every fan of technically perfect, slightly metallic prog rock, great bass lines” – Betreutes Proggen

“The hard prog songs are powerful and impress in their arrangements.8/10″ – Soundmagnet

“9 years and 4 albums into this band’s career have helped create some astonishing prog metal. It can get as catchy as hard rock radio, it can get as adventurous as jazz metal, and everything in between. I hear as much from bands like Watchtower as I hear as proggier sides of Between The Buried and Me and Cynic. There’s a dark sense of curiosity going on throughout the album that keeps it intriguing. If this sounds like it could be for you (keeping in mind it is all clean vocals), this is more than worth your time. It’s mesmerizing music written without being too wanky and written for the sake of fretboard Olympics, this is authentic. Seriously, give it a spin if you need some throwback but modern prog metal in your life.” – Heavy Debriefings

“Canadian band The Wring are out with the album “Nemesis”, and progressive rock is the style explored on this production. It is a variety of hard progressive rock we get in this case, by a band that does flirt ever so slightly with some metal attitudes along the way too. But in terms of expression and execution, I’d rather place this band in a similar kind of context as Canadian giants Rush. The songs are at least superficially straight forward sounding affairs, but with minute, subtle and quirky instrument details and structural changes taking place in a seamless manner. Occasionally with more overt alterations taking place too, on a few occasions reminding me ever so slightly about Voivod in the manner of how such alterations are executed. There is a bit of a classic rock element present here too, again with similarities to aforementioned Rush in that department, and the landscapes explored on this album should also have a reach and an appeal beyond the progressive rock universe due to that factor. The Wring strikes me as a band that explore a variety of progressive rock with a similar attitude as Rush in many ways, but making use of more contemporary impulses as they traverse the landscapes they explore. And I’d hazard a bet that many of the people that find that description interesting will find this album to be an enjoyable one.” – Progressor

“There is something about this band which reminds me of a combination of Mastermind and Rush, but given they are Canadian it is perhaps not surprising that they have picked up some of those influences along the way. There is no room to hide in a trio, and each of these guys are on fire, happily blasting away doing whatever needs to be done to ensure the metallic beast which is The Wring keeps on blasting. It starts at the base, with a rhythm section who are content to both provide the platform and take lead roles when the need arises, a singer who is very good indeed (not sure why he did not sing on the last album, which I have not heard), and a guitarist who likes to provide thick licks and plenty of multi-tracking so the sound is always good and heavy. They are much more heavy rock/hard rock than anything else, but the prog and jazz tendencies have just enough to push them out of the normal metal mainstream, so I can see why they were accepted by Heavy Prog on PA, but I can imagine it was an interesting discussion. I thoroughly enjoyed this and look forward to seeing what they come up with next.” – Prog Archives

“Here’s one for prog dorks. This outfit’s third outing (Spectra) features drums by Marco Minnemann so you know the rhythms are mad. The regulars in the band ain’t slouches either though. This is intricate and melodic prog done well.” – Metal Injection (The Wring – Spectra – 2022)

“A band composed of top artists from the world prog scene, each of whom brings their own style to the band’s sound. Technique and energy, melodic passages, dynamic and expressive vocals and elaborate instrumental sections characterise the album. A recommended listen for all lovers of Progressive Metal sounds, an album to listen to again and again, always managing to give us positive emotions.” – Progressive Rock Journal (The Wring – Spectra – 2022)

“Tired of prog metal bands who fire away odd rhythms, fast solos and complex arrangements? Half of them trying to sound like Dream Theater but all failing completely? Look no further. The Wring from Canada offers great musicians who find their own way through the prog metal jungle. I said great musicians and I really stand for that. Or how about Marco Minneman (drums), Chandler Mogel (vocals), Don Dewulf (guitars), Reggie Hache (bass, keyboards) and Isamu McGregor (keyboards)”… Sometimes they are a bit more commercial, like in the first song ”Stiletto”, reminding me a lot of Threshold. Other songs bring a bombastic wall of sound, with riffs do die for – ”The Wolf” is a great example. The early parts of ”Fallen” has some Rush vibes (of the later and more rock base Rush era) and also softer parts Mogel is a very good vocalist, and he can alter his voice a lot. Something of a voice chameleon!” – Melodic.net (The Wring – Spectra – 2022)

“The opening notes of ‘Sins’ remind me of the opening salvo in Judas Priest’s ‘The Ripper’. Some of the riff structures are also reminiscent of Priest and it’s another great track.” – TheProgSpace (The Wring – Spectra – 2022)

“The third album Spectra by the Canadian progressive rock project The Wring is downright infectious with its joy of playing and catchy Hard Prog Rock songs. There really is a lot of light and very little shadow here.” – Soundmagnet (The Wring – Spectra – 2022)

““Wring² Project Cipher comes with a heavy, classic rock feel, but there’s an epic, questing nature to tunes like Sorceress, Steelier and Dose that pushes The Wring beyond metal norms and into prog territory.” – Prog Magazine (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“Here we have some progressive metal/classic metal, getting a little more into some more typical prog metal with good technical/complex stuff and yeah, keyboards!” – The Moshpit 89.9 FM – Madison, WI (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“The extreme professionalism on display throughout this entire album, although a labour of love, is a true master class of musicianship performed by musicians who are truly at the top of their game, making the industry what it is today. The sheer attention to detail is a credit to each and every performer as they tailor their craft neatly and precisely throughout every track, with nothing less than perfect being the order of the day.” – Stargazer Music Magazine (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“Overall, the entire album is laden with a rich tapestry of sound and lyrics, well thought out and carefully developed by founder member and visionary Don Dewulf, taking the listener on that perfect journey of thought, and is a credit to its makers gathering no dust in any collection. 10/10” – Stargazer Music Magazine (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“Thanks to his renowned session musicians and original compositions, The Wring is a refreshing discovery that offers a personal reading of modern metal. 4/5” – Music Waves (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“What sounds at first to be a straight-forward rock album, turns out to be so much more. It’s a tad short, but sometimes less is more. You can hear many influences in these tracks, some of them familiar, but The Wring have stamped their own identity all over it. This should keep you going for the time being but expect more from Don Dewulf with The Wring³ already in the recording stage!” – The Prog Space (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“Dewulf’s guitar work shines throughout, at times reminiscent of Alex Lifeson in his prime, such as his powerful solo on ‘Steelier’ which soars above the raging musical maelstrom below. There’s even a funk-infused breakout on ‘Dose’, which is infectious with its driving hook. It’s an absorbing record, one that takes time to soak in, but several plays ensure that it’s burnt deep into the memory. When those end-of-year lists come round, ‘Wring² Project Cipher’ is likely to be pushing for a slot.” – The Razor’s Edge (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“The Wring generally succeed at what they’re going for—Dewulf has produced a fun, catchy record. Particularly on the album’s middle section (“Cipher,” “Steelier” and “Dissension”), there’s some great songs with great riffs. If you’re after some new prog, you could do a lot worse than this album, and I found it quite hard to score.” – Angry Metal Guy (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

“The overall sound is something like the heavier side of Rush, with hooks and melodic elements smoothing out the guitar crunch, making this very accessible.” – The Progressive Aspect (The Wring – Project Cipher 2021)

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band Name: The Wring
Album Title: Nemesis
Release Date: September 27, 2024
Label: WormHoleDeath Records
Distribution: Aural/Orchard

Track Listing:
1. Badlands – 5:13
2. The Nail – 5:29
3. Blur – 4:17
4. The Sword – 5:37
5. Before I Disappear – 4:39
6. Welshrats – 5:18
7. Dark Passenger – 5:20
8. Nemesis – 4:47
Total 40:40

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Dewulf/Hache/Abbott
• All songs written by: Don Dewulf/Reggie Hache
• Produced by: Don Dewulf
• Mixed by: Francis Perron/Radicart Studios
• Mastered by: Alex Sergerie/SLAMM Audio
• Album Artwork by: Gord Woolley
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album Band Line Up:
Don Dewulf – Guitars
Reggie Hache – Bass, Vocals & Keyboards
Kyle Brian Abbott – Drums

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

Describe the album artwork:

A friend of mine is a graphic designer and is responsible for all cover art and packaging for Nemesis and for the previous album, Spectra. Our process is now predictable and somewhat amusing. I sit down and carefully mock up ideas and concepts complete with artwork and other images. He then takes my ideas and converts them into proper visualizations but then he will stick a couple of his own ideas on at the end. We always go with his ideas. The cover depicts a cool image of a jellyfish. Oceans are a critical element in our survival and the jellyfish is an interesting allegory; deadly to humans, food for turtles and sensitive to human-caused climate change. A kind of circle of Nemesis…

Describe the album as a whole (Lyrically and Musically)

A nemesis is defined as a long-standing enemy and/or an inescapable agent of one’s downfall. Society’s individuals are buffeted constantly on all sides and internally by such forces, sometimes real, sometimes imagined. It seems that every human interaction now is adversarial. “Monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground…They fight till they die” (Tool – ‘Right in Two” – 10,000 Days). The lyrics reflect my feelings on these things. Musically, I have no constraint so I write what I like, and I combine seemingly unrelated styles. Ever since I heard Hocus Pocus by Focus, I have been fascinated and obsessed with playing jazz chords in a hard rock/metal format. I think it adds so much depth and interest. I also build parts around jazz progressions which do the same and then intersperse super heavy metal parts to really let the songs bloom!

Track by track (Lyrically and Musically)

Badlands

Bad behaviour of major media outlets has given rise to powerful lower tier/social media that operate without any requirement for truth or decency; conflicting accounts, conspiracy theory, assertions without proof but presented as fact. It’s everywhere, but most obvious in the USA where almost every issue is dramatically polarized. Even the average semi-intelligent person doesn’t really know what to believe anymore. Musically, Badlands starts with a crushing bass riff leading into an angular verse and a very metal pre-chorus. The chorus is open and singable. I love the solo. It’s got some Lydian forms which has a ‘crooked major’ jazzy kind of vibe. Fun to play.

The Nail

The rise of populism in politics combined with the power of social media has given platform to a wide base of groups with extreme views. These groups previously operated on the fringes of society but figureheads like Trump have validated their ideas and subsequent actions, giving rise to insurrection and a general disrespect previously unseen. What they don’t understand is that they are just tools of megalomaniacs – they are the nail, not the hammer. And we are truly watching the end of all decency. The music here is all over the place. Some tried and true metal parts with another somewhat jazzy solo break – more in the chords than the notes. Another singable chorus but it goes to odd time in second half with Reggie starting on different beats each iteration. Fun stuff.

The Sword

The most ‘metal’ song and theme. If you live by the sword, you will die the same… I played this on a Dave Mustaine old-school Jackson King V for some historical vibe as well as tightness in attack. I also changed picks for the main riff… I almost exclusively use the Dunlop Malmsteen now (though I modify each one to have a sharper tip) but for this song, I used the Dunlop Jeff Loomis, which is thick, very stiff and has a sharp point. It was important to get the proper string tone and attack. Weird how these things make such a difference.

Before I Disappear

At a certain point in everyone’s life, each of us will start to think about mortality and legacy. I certainly don’t dwell on these things, but I have a son that is now a young adult, and we are very close, so I often think about the overlap of the contexts of our lives. A proper moral compass is the best I can do, and the song is about that. The music has a very major feel and is the most ‘pop’ of any Wring song, which I balance out with a very evil sounding pre-chorus. The solo starts out somewhat Skynyrd-esque but, of course, ends on the dark side of the street.

Welshrats

Weltschmerz (or the Americanized version – Welshrats) is a term from John Steinbeck’s ‘East of Eden’ and is loosely interpreted as a vague sense of sadness that can’t really be traced to a specific event. The song is about dealing with that – trying to understand it and come out the other side. I listen to a wide variety of music for inspiration, and I think this one came out of a Steely Dan phase with a Slayer/Lamb of God pre-chorus thrown in, just to scare off the yacht rockers…

Dark Passenger

A simple critique of humanity’s almost complete disregard for our planet and each other. ‘Dark Passenger’ came from the TV show ‘Dexter’; the title character’s ‘dark passenger’ was the personification of what drives him to kill. We are the earth’s dark passenger. We have poisoned our planet and each other and we are all facing existential crisis, though are still, for the most part, oblivious. Musically, this song drifts among genres with some straight-ahead rock riffs, dreamy arpeggios and odd-time breakdowns. The solo is short but one of my favourites. Tricky and fun to play.

Nemesis

Believe it or not, this is a break-up song. The song tries to examine the physiology and psychology of a tough separation. We’ve all had at least one nemesis moment. Like most of the songs on ‘Side 2’, it features a wide palette of musical styles with jazzy progressions mixed with distinctly metal riffing and a dissonant solo section. I particularly like the chorus, musically as well as lyrically. A very minor progression that I find heart wrenching with words that complement that, delivered emotionally by Reggie.

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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. As I was scouring SoundBetter for players for Spectra, I kept coming back to Reggie Hache’s profile, and rightfully so. He ended up playing bass and keys on Spectra and those performances were unreal. At the time, I also auditioned him for vocals… What he sent back didn’t work, so I got someone else. For some reason, I asked him to try again for Nemesis with a different approach and it was exactly what I was after! It was a simple lack of communication/clarity on my part otherwise he would have done Spectra too. Oh well.

2. I connected with Carlo Belotti at Wormholedeath Records for the release of the second album, Project Cipher. He and his colleague were so kind and enthusiastic about my music that it was a no-brainer to return to them for Spectra. In a world where music is essentially free, an obscure studio project has sketchy prospects for financial success. I fully planned on releasing Nemesis independently to save WHD the cost and effort. Carlo was relentless in his objection. He convinced me to continue with them and offered an amazing marketing package to support the record. It’s hard to put a value to that kind of kindness, enthusiasm and support.

3. Project Cipher and Spectra both featured performances from some very prominent musicians including two of the best (known) drummers in the rock world today. At the time, it was incredibly gratifying to have these guys interested in what I was doing, and in many ways, it still is. What I’ve learned though is that having more emotionally invested players yields a different kind of energy. Only the listener will really determine if this is true, but I feel that Nemesis has a more cohesive and vibrant feel because my relationship with the players was more interactive.

4. I discovered Francis Perron when I was looking for a mixing engineer for Spectra. He turned out to be an amazing addition to the team! He has 2 Junos for his work with Voivod (one of my favourite bands!) but is incredibly humble and kind. Until recently, all of our interactions were by messaging. Finally, we connected via Zoom and it turns out that he typically avoids that because his first language is French and he is self-conscious about his English. It was an endearing moment for me, highlighting the humanity of such a great talent. And… his English is very good!! Way better than my French!!

5. Two things I’ll always remember about my musical journey: having an album get a good review in Prog Magazine and having a video posted on the Bravewords website. Those are two places I’ve been going for many years for music news. To see my music there is surreal. These things would not have happened without Jon Asher at Ashermedia. So… even if you have a record deal, find a great publicist!!

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The Wring – Album Lineup – L-R – Kyle Brian Abbott – Drums, Don Dewulf – Guitars, Reggie Hache – Bass, Vocals & Keyboards

Sudbury, Canada’s intrepid prog act The Wring is thrilled to announce the release of their fourth album “Nemesis” this coming September 2024 from WormHoleDeath Records. The album follows 2022’s highly praised “Spectra”. For this new record and new songs, band founder, Don Dewulf recruited a new drummer, Kyle Brian Abbott along with seeing the incredible talent of bassist Reggie Hache return and taking over vocal duties.

“Our previous album Spectra introduced me to the incredible talent of bassist Reggie Hache. Nemesis will also feature his vocal genius, delivering what I believe to be the most cohesive and memorable set of songs to date. Kyle Brian Abbott performed all drums on this record. Kyle is a precise and articulate player who was the metronomic backdrop for often slippery and shifting time. An absolute powerhouse.” adds Dewulf.

Dewulf also recruited the Juno award-winning talent of Francis Perron once again for mixing duties.

“The music would not be the same without him,” adds Dewulf.

Dewulf thinks that every album finds new ways to expand on his vision. “Nemesis” feels like the most cohesive record to date he has created and there are a couple of tracks that are more accessible than anything previously done, so it may attract a new range of new listeners.

The album is titled ‘Nemesis’ because every song deals with some sort of conflict; mostly with an adversary that is either unseen or difficult to overcome. The music is similarly juxtaposed, with hard rock and metal mixed with jazz and prog elements. It makes for interesting listening but all within 5 minute songs.

“There is also plenty of wankery for metal heads and proggies.” says Dewulf

Recommended for fans of Rush, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, and Dream Theater, “Nemesis” is due out on September 27th, 2024 on WormHoleDeath Records and is available for pre-save at https://orcd.co/nemesispre-save

DISCOGRAPHY
2024 – Nemesis
2022 – Spectra
2021 – Project Cipher
2019 – 48 oz. – Single
2017 – The Wring – Self-titled Album

Shared Stage with:
Anvil, Diamond Head, Sven Gali, Dead Daisies, Hookers & Blow

Tours and Festivals:
2018 – Budweiser New Music Festival – Sudbury – Finger Eleven, Glorious Sons, Crown Lands

0 EPK – BornBroken – Am I Invisible (2024) – Out Sept 20th

August 9, 2024
by Asher
· BornBroken · EPKs

EPK – BornBroken – Am I Invisible (2024) – Out Sept 20th

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

For fans Chimaira, Decapitated, Testament, Machine Head, Slipknot

Band: BornBroken
Album Title: Am I Invisible
Release Date: September 20, 2024
Label: Self-Release

BrokenMusic.ca | Facebook.com/BornBroken | X.com/bornbroken | Instagram.com/bornbrokenofficial | Youtube.com/bornbrokenmusic

Bornbroken.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

#4 BornBroken – !earshot – The National Loud Chart
For the Week Ending: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
https://www.earshot-online.com/charts/index.cfm?intChartTypeID=106&dWeekOfID=2024-10-22

!earshot – October 2024 – top 200 – #186 BornBroken
https://www.earshot-online.com/charts/2024/October/top200.cfm#1

“Am I Invisible and is a sonic soiree in waiting for those who like their metal I the neighbourhood of early Machine Head, post-Roots Sepultura, Lamb of God and Fear Factory resplendent with big guitars, bigger grooves and the biggest choruses.” – Decibel Magazine

“… the song (“How Strong You Are”) includes an anthemic and inspirational chorus, where the vocals rise into impassioned singing. But don’t expect music that feels like it’s seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. The music itself puts up with no excuses, but instead punches fast and damned hard. Backed by battering percussion and thundering basslines, the song includes fiery, writhing riffage and hard-slugging, high-howling hardcore fury. It does soar in the catchy chorus, but even there the vocals also rabidly snarl, and the band always return to pile-driving the listener’s neck, punctuated by some start-stop bursts of high-speed jackhammering and gruesomely growled words. On top of all that, the song includes a fluidly slithering and swirling guitar that itself spirals high, and a finale in which the vocals become truly harsh and scarring while the band inflict one last brute-force beating.” – NoCleanSinging

““Am I Invisible” is a masterclass in modern death metal, balancing technical prowess with emotional depth. BORNBROKEN has crafted an album that not only delivers in terms of heaviness but also resonates on a personal level. The mix of aggressive instrumentation and introspective themes makes this a standout release in 2024, marking the band as a force to be reckoned with in the genre. 8/10″ – Metal Temple

“Man, oh man…..I don’t know if it’s in the water or the politics. But keep it’s got the Canadians angry and making some dope ass death metal. I never knew of this band before this review….but I will never forget them and they are certainly locked in on my playlist material. Released in September, the Album “Am I Invisible” is a knife to the knee stabbing of an album. Every single track, I mean everyone, is a slammer. No complaints from this metal head at all. Powerfully riffs, evil melodies, godly break downs, heavenly solos and vocals that are rage re-incarnate. The title track music video reflects the exact same energy as the album. Deep, symbolic, energetic and metal as hell itself. Don’t sleep on BornBroken and give them a taste test, eh!?!?” – Keeper Magazine

“an aggression fuelled, raging firestorm of fierce savagery, ‘Am I Invisible’ is a brutal onslaught of devastating thrash metal. 10.10 – Metal Gods TV

“Am I Invisible is an exceptional addition to BornBroken’s discography. It’s a brutal, soul-baring album that blends aggression with melody in a way that feels fresh and relevant. For fans of metal that isn’t afraid to confront its own vulnerability while maintaining a fierce edge, Am I Invisible is a must-listen. BornBroken is a band on the rise, and this album proves they are not to be ignored.” – Jace Media Music

““Am I Invisible” by BornBroken is a masterful exploration of the human experience. Its blend of aggressive metal with deeply personal themes creates an album that is both thought-provoking and sonically impressive.” – Din Intunerec

“BORNBROKEN, a name to remember which risks making a lot of noise with this monstrous and devastating new album from Neo Death Thrash groove with a little touch of subtlety.” – OdyMetal

“a solid slab of metal with no time for melodic interludes and once it gets on course, they do not deviate one iota. It’s this blinker on approach makes the album as strong as it is… a powerful statement of intent.- Metal Epidemic

“Am I Invisible is a narrative that invites one to reflect on their own experiences. Each track, from the overwhelming stress of “7 Mondays” to the introspective nature of “Will You Remember,” is a chapter in a broader story about the highs and lows of life. BornBroken’s dedication to their craft is evident. They’ve poured their hearts into this album and it shows in the intensity of their performances and the authenticity of their lyrics. It’s an exceptional and bold exploration of the struggles we all face and is music that speaks to the heart of the human experience while delivering relentless metal energy.” – Amplify The Noise

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

“Although they hail from the famously pleasant country of Canada, BornBroken, might be the heaviest and angriest thing we’ve heard from their parts in a long time. With no shortage of punishing riffs, brutal drumming, and vicious vocals that spit lyrics to change the world, BornBroken’s sophomore album ,The Years of Hard Truths And Little Lies, is worth pre-ordering before it’s due out May 18th.” – Metal Injection (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

“Canadian unit BornBroken are releasing The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…, a raging collection of songs inspired by what the band feel is a reality that’s getting worse. We’ll let the band speak on that aspect, but it’s not controversial to confirm that the songs on The Years of Harsh Truths are brutal and varied enough to appeal to fans of Lamb of God, Sepultura and even groove legends Pantera and Exhorder. ” – Decibel Magazine (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

“Apocalyptic thrashcore bunch BornBroken wear their political bent on their sleeves. From ‘The Years of Hard Truths And Little Lies’ Bansky-esque artwork to on-the-nose, ‘Take that politics!’ sentiment of its title, their anti-establishment sentiment is layered on thick. It’s hard to argue with their anger, in fairness. Tackling everything from inequality to government conspiracies, the Canadian band’s fury is aimed in all the right directions….BornBroken’s unrelenting pace is proof that, even in the supposedly docile nation of Canada, there’s still plenty to rally against in 2018.” – Metal Hammer (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

“Good sweet Mary Poppins, what the hell is in the water in Montreal?! No amount of poutine will silence the outright bonkers heavy that BornBroken have cooking for you. No amount of smoked meats will halt their vicious onslaught of pounding rhythm and vocal cord shredding, headbang demanding, heartwarming metal.” – Metal Rules (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

“Un retour percutant qui plaira aux fans de Lamb of God, DevilDriver.” – Voir (Montreal Weekly) (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

“Un groupe énergique qui livre la marchandise! Alors quand on m’a proposé de faire la critique de leur nouvel album, je vous laisse deviner quel fut mon engouement à découvrir ce nouvel opus! Une douce brutalité bien musicale comme je les aime. Un album avec une âme, et qui en profite pour prendre possession de la nôtre au passage durant ces trop courtes 40 minutes!…Ma note, un SOLIDE 9 sur 10 largement mérité!” – Metal Universe (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

“I can tell you right from the start, these guys are heavy as hell. Big guitar riffs, heavy drums, chugging bass lines, and those deep, guttural screams of the lead singer show this band know exactly what they want and how they will take it. The title track features some excellent guitar work along with the quick metal riffs. It gives you a feel for the band and what to expect for the rest of the album.” – Canadian Beats (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

“The Years of Harsh Truths and Little Lies est un autre chef-œuvre musical que BornBroken nous as pondu. Cinq années d’attente, mais croyez-moi, l’attente en vallait la peine. La voix de Pepe Poliquin est à son meilleur et ultra efficace. Un duo du guitariste hors pair qui nous offre toutes sortes d’émotions qui passent par la brutalité de la mélodie et de plusieurs autres nuances. Une batterie qui nous offre un rythme essoufflant et sans concessions. Une basse très présente et qui se ressent à plusieurs endroits sur l’album. Dix chansons fortement bien exécutées et bien composées. Une production en béton armé, et un son d’enfer. Une production signée Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy) et Marco Frechette. Le tout enregistré au studio The Grid à Montréal. The Years of Harsh Truths and Little Lies est définitivement l’album qui va projeter BornBroken à un autre niveau sur l’échiquier du métal mondial. ” – Quebec Metal (2018 – The Years of Harsh Truths And Little Lies…)

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: BornBroken
Album Title: Am I Invisible
Release Date: September 20, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Time Pays No Respect – 5:04
2. Am I Invisible – 3:54
3. Will You Remember – 4:03
4. How Strong You Are – 4:41
5. Conflicting Lies – 5:09
6. Scabs & Scars – 3:36
7. 7 Mondays – 4:00
8. Fold – 6:30
9. Age of Anger – 5:23
10. The Day I Die Inside – 5:07
Album Length: 47:31

Album Credits:
– ALL MUSIC, LYRICS WRITTEN & PERFORMED BY: BORNBROKEN
– PRODUCED, MIXED & MASTERED BY: CHRISTIAN DONALDSON
– ASSISTANT ENGINEERED BY: DOMINIC GRIMARD
– RECORDED @ CHRISTIAN DONALDSON STUDIOS (MONTREAL /SAINT-GABRIEL-DE-BRANDON, QUÉBEC CANADA )
– PHOTOS BY: ERIC SANCHEZ
– ARTWORK DESIGN & LOGO BY: MICHAEL DECKER & BORNBROKEN © & ℗ BORNBROKEN 2024 – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Socan Member
Canadian Content MAPL

BornBroken Album Lineup
Mike Marino (Bass)
Michael Decker (Vocals/ All Guitars)
Carlos Ojeda (Drums)

BornBroken live and Official New Lineup
Mike Marino (Bass)
Michael Decker (Vocals/Guitar)
Carlos Ojeda (Drums)
Rob Henx (Lead Guitar) Newest member after recording

About the Album Artwork:

The artwork for “Am I Invisible” by Born Broken features a striking design with a strong, bold visual impact. Here are some key elements of the artwork:

1. **Title and Band Name**:
– The new band name logo “Born Broken” is prominently displayed at the top in a jagged, aggressive font, colored in dark red. The lettering style conveys a sense of raw energy and intensity.

– The album title “Am I Invisible” is subtly placed at the bottom, in a smaller, clean font. It’s less prominent but adds a haunting, introspective touch to
the overall design.

2. **Central Imagery**:
– The focal point is a large, red eye at the center of the artwork. The eye has a glossy, almost mechanical appearance, giving it an unsettling, intense look. The red color of the eye stands out sharply against the otherwise monochromatic
background.

– The eye is surrounded by a splash of red paint or blood, adding a chaotic and dynamic feel to the design.

3. **Background**:
– The background is a textured mix of black, white, and grey tones, with splatters and drips that add a grungy, distressed effect. This creates a sense of
depth and movement.

– The interplay of light and dark areas in the background enhances the stark contrast with the central red eye, drawing attention to it.

4. **Overall Mood**:
– The combination of the aggressive typography, the intense red eye, and the chaotic background conveys a mood of aggression, introspection, and
intensity.

This artwork effectively captures a dark, intense aesthetic that aligns with our band’s themes and style.

===================================================
About The Album:

For us it’s a straight up metal approach, we write what we want to write, what feels right to us. Lyrically it’s a personal approach for the everyday listener and
fans can relate to. Everyday fears and everyday joys…we’ll there is not that must joy left, with he way the world is going…

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

Track By Track

1. **Time Pays No Respect**

– **Theme:** The relentless and impartial nature of time, its impact on humanity, and the inevitability of death.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song speaks about the futility of resisting time, the sorrow it brings, and the way it devours everything. The chorus emphasizes the pain that time inflicts, which cannot be defended against or forgotten.

2. **Am I Invisible**

– **Theme:** Feelings of invisibility, isolation, and existential despair.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song questions the significance of the individual’s existence and the impact of societal neglect. It explores the desolate emotions of being unnoticed and unmissed, with a recurring chorus asking “Am I Invisible.”

3. **Will You Remember**

– **Theme:** The importance of memories and the moments that truly matter in life.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song reflects on corruption, silence, and the significance of living in the present. It challenges listeners to remember and surrender when it truly counts, emphasizing forgiveness and healing.

4. **How Strong You Are**

– **Theme:** Personal strength, resilience, and self-belief.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song encourages taking charge of one’s destiny and overcoming challenges. It speaks about the importance of truth, inner voices, and conviction in the face of adversity.

5. **Conflicting Lies**

– **Theme:** The damage caused by deceit and the struggle for truth.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song addresses the turmoil and hatred stemming from lies, and the necessity to make things right. It highlights the conflict between accepting lies and the desire for freedom from them.

6. **Scabs & Scars**

– **Theme:** The pain of relationships and the lessons learned from love and hurt.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song discusses the irony of hurting loved ones and giving to those who don’t matter. It calls for awakening and learning that love is not misery, and speaks about the universal nature of pain and mistakes.

7. **7 Mondays**

– **Theme:** Overwhelm and stress from the monotony and challenges of life.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song conveys a sense of being stuck in a repetitive, stressful cycle that feels like having “7 Mondays.” It explores themes of soul searching, stress, and the struggle to find answers.

8. **Fold**

– **Theme:** Decision-making and the consequences of actions.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song reflects on missed opportunities and the struggle to hold on. It talks about life’s changes, the risk of choices, and the dilemma of whether to fold or keep pushing forward.

9. **Age of Anger**

– **Theme:** Societal division, intolerance, and the need for unity.

– **Lyrics Highlights:** The song critiques the spread of anger and intolerance in the world, calling for unity and empathy. It emphasizes the tragic consequences of division and the need to come together to heal societal wounds.

10. ***The Day I Die Inside**

“The Day I Die Inside” is a hauntingly evocative instrumental and introspective track that delves into the emotional and psychological turmoil of losing one’s sense of self. The song explores the profound sadness and emptiness that comes with feeling detached from one’s own identity and passions. it captures the essence of an internal struggle where the protagonist* grapples with feelings of disillusionment and despair. The crescendo resonates with a sense of finality and resignation, reflecting the emotional death experienced when one’s inner light fades away. Overall, the song serves as a powerful anthem for those who have faced or are facing profound personal loss and existential crisis.

*In the context of the instrumental track “The Day I Die Inside,” the term “protagonist” refers to the emotional journey or the internal state being depicted rather than a specific character. The “protagonist” here is the emotional core of the piece—representing the profound sense of loss, disconnection, and existential struggle. This central emotional theme drives the narrative of the instrumental, guiding the listener through the highs and lows of the experience without the need for literal characters.

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L-R: Mike Marino (Bass) | Michael Decker (Vocals/Guitar) | Rob Henx (Lead Guitar) | Carlos Ojeda (Drums)

As Born Broken prepares to unleash their latest album, “Am I Invisible,” the band members reflect on the creative journey and the deep themes explored in their new work. Here’s what they had to say about the album:

“We wanted to create something raw and real.”

“Creating ‘Am I Invisible’ was an intense and rewarding process. This album represents who we are and what we stand for. “This album is incredibly personal for all of us. We poured our hearts into every beat, every note. It’s a journey through our highs and lows. ’Am I Invisible’ speaks to the struggles and emotions we’ve faced as individuals and as a band.

“Musically, this album allowed us to experiment with our roots in metal and it’s structures. We aimed to blend heavy, aggressive riffs with melodic elements to create a dynamic listening experience. ”From the relentless march of time in ‘Time Pays No Respect’ to the existential questions in the title track, every song is a piece of our collective soul.

Tracks like ‘How Strong You Are’ and ‘Fold’ showcase the balance. We’re proud of how the music complements the powerful lyrics. Each track brought out different emotions, from the stress and monotony captured in ‘7 Mondays’ to the introspective nature of ‘Will You Remember.’ Songs like ‘Age of Anger’ address the division and intolerance we see every day. We wanted to use our music to call for unity and empathy. This album is not just a collection of songs; it’s a message, a call to action for anyone who feels unheard or unseen.”

“We’ve always aimed to create music that tells a story, and ‘Am I Invisible’ is our most ambitious story yet. The themes of invisibility, isolation, and resilience are universal, and we wanted to convey them through powerful lyrics and compelling music. The album’s complexity and depth are a testament to our growth as a band.”

We’re grateful to our fans for their unwavering support and hope this album resonates with them as deeply as it does with us. Thank you for joining us on this journey.”

Born Broken is excited to share “Am I Invisible” with the world and invites everyone to experience the raw emotion and powerful messages encapsulated in their latest work. Stay tuned for upcoming events and join the conversation using #AmIInvisible.

0 EPK – Atomis – The Void Box Set (2024)

August 5, 2024
by Asher
· ATOMIS · EPKs

EPK – Atomis – The Void Box Set (2024)

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

“Long-awaited, and well-deserved. Due to a variety of circumstances, and after many false starts, and the passing of our drummer and bandleader Nathan Navetto in 2020, the album never came out. We still have fans of our first single Maelstrom asking about “The Album”, so we’re pleased to now share the entirety of our catalog in the form of a box set. Some were finished, some half-baked, and some completely raw and recorded with a single microphone inside a concrete jamspace.

“With this ‘The Void Box Set’ we’re trying to give an enveloping musical connection to the band that spans across a decade – ranging from a high production debut album of previously unheard music, to an experimental version of the album – “Nathan’s version” – called “Welcome to the Void”, which includes a remix of the debut album, plus 8 bonus ambient/experimental tracks fully written by Nathan. Closing up the box set is a Live off the Floor demos album of songs we performed live regularly from 2010-2014. These are the songs that our local scene would recognize, and songs that sadly never made it to the studio.” – Bryan Buss – Bass – Atomis

For fans of Isis, Neurosis, The Ocean, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Radiohead

Facebook.com/atomisofficial | Instagram.com/atomis.official | Youtube.com/@ATOMISOFFICIAL

Atomismusic.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

“The unique and heavy Atomis were a great band. After the passing of drummer Nathan Navetto in 2020 the band decided to dissolve. But we were excited to learn a new collection, “The Void Box Set” comprising all of their work is set for release on Aug. 30th! And you can always catch plenty of Atomis on your Home for Rock…W-J-O-EEEE!” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll

“The songs are epic and can almost be described as soundscapes, as they incorporate everything from crushing metal riffs to peaceful ambient noise.” – Matt Petti, Beatroute Magazine

“Before the first viewing of the video, Canadian director and film-maker Doug Cook gave an introductory speech about the making of the video and working with Atomis. They created a video that perfectly complimented the band’s music and fans asked to watch it a second time (and then even a third time before the venue closed). Cook has been working with many Calgary metal bands lately, such as Divinity, Orphan Hammer and the Unravelling. He has also worked on some videos that may be a little more well known around the globe including “Breaking the Broken” by Control Denied, “Prolong the Agony” by Morta Skuld and the upcoming video for Death’s “Pull the Plug”.” – Evilg – Metal Sucks

Atomis 3 album “The Void Box Set”
#1 Atomis Self-titled album (never performed live, recorded in 2014)
#2 Welcome to the Void ( Nathan Navetto (Drums) experimental version of the album – never performed live recorded 2014-2018)
#3 Atomis Live (Live off the floor demos album, songs performed live 2010-2014)

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

Album 1: Recorded in 2014 – ATOMIS (Self-titled)
Track Listing:
1. 12 Chains – (7:27)
2. Awakening – (14:03)
3. In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts (7:35)
4. Maelström – (9:23)

Credits:
• All songs performed by: ATOMIS
• All songs written by: ATOMIS
• Produced by: ATOMIS
• Recorded by: Terry Paholek
• Mixed by: Matthew McLaughlin
• Mastered by: Matthew McLaughlin
• Album Artwork by: Doug Cook and Michael Valenzuela http://www.amvdesign.com
• Members of Socan
• Canadian Content
Album lineup:
Nathan Navetto (Drums)
Matthew McLaughlin (Guitar/Vox/Keys)
Taylor Johnson (Guitar)
Bryan Buss (Bass)

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

Album 2: Welcome the Void (Nathan Navetto (Drums) version of the debut album, which includes 8 extra synth-laden experimental tracks that he wrote solo from 2014-2018)
Track Listing:
1. Genesis – (4:54)
2. oooo wormhole – (1:38)
3. Creation’s Bridge – (7:43)
4. Accretion – (5:13)
5. Entropy – (7:02)
6. Into the Void – (3:11)
7. 12 Strands – (7:22)
8. The Descendant – (3:04)
9. Terrestrial – (9:08)
10. In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts – (7:54)
11. Reflection – (2:49)
12. Events Horizons – (14:17)

Credits:
• All songs performed by: ATOMIS
• Tracks 7, 10 and 12: Written by ATOMIS
• Tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11 written by: Nathan Navetto
• Produced by: Nathan Navetto
• Mixed by: Nathan Navetto
• Mastered by: Deyson Thiara
• Album Artwork by: Nathan Navetto and Michael Valenzuela http://www.amvdesign.com
• Members of Socan
• Canadian Content MAPL
Album lineup:
Nathan Navetto (Drums)
Matthew McLaughlin (Guitar/Vox/Keys)
Taylor Johnson (Guitar)
Bryan Buss (Bass)

===================================================Album 3: ATOMIS – Live Demos (Live off the floor demos album, songs performed live 2010-2014)
Track Listing:
1. Intro – (3:13)
2. Maelström – (9:12)
3. The Charmer and His King – (5:57)
4. Interlude A – (2:24)
5. They Thought It To Be Impossible, So They Did It – (5:55)
6. Lot Lizard – (6:22)
7. Interlude B – (2:05)
8. Titus Andronicus – (7:44)
9. Bellewether – (10:03)
10. The River – (6:45)
11. Unconsciousness – (6:47)
12. NEW SOG! – (7:35)

Credits:
• All songs performed by: ATOMIS
• All songs written by ATOMIS
• Produced by: ATOMIS
• Mixed by: Nathan Navetto
• Mastered by: Deyson Thiara
• Album Artwork by: Doug Cook and Michael Valenzuela http://www.amvdesign.com
• Members of Socan
• Canadian Content MAPL
Album lineup:
Nathan Navetto (Drums)
Matthew McLaughlin (Guitar/Vox/Keys)
Taylor Johnson (Guitar)
Bryan Buss (Bass)

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

About The Album Artwork:

Welcome to the Void artwork was created by Nathan Navetto, who was a very well-known graphic designer in Calgary, collaborating with bands such as The Weir, Wake, Mares of Thrace, and more. -Bryan Buss

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

Musically, the Box Set really showcases the entirety of ATOMIS all the way from the drawing board, to a polished album, but in reverse. Each of the three CDs showcases three eras of the band in constant creation mode. We are excited to finally share IT ALL, “polished” or not. -Bryan Buss

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Self-titled album only —

12 Chains is a driving, repetitive, droning track constantly moving forward until it breaks. Doug Cook’s music video perfectly shows what one can go through in life, always searching for answers.

Awakening is an epic over 14 minutes in length. Although its placement as the 2nd track works the entire track carries you through the album like a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th track would, roaming up through hills, storms, and into the black of night. Downtuned to B, and even low as G# in the studio for certain parts, it gets as heavy as it gets beautiful.

In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts —— A very percussive path laid here, monotonous, and introspective. The fretless bass slides are hypnotizing as the guitar slowly builds til it breaks into an ambiance, letting the synth take over.

Maelström. Recorded 10 years earlier, it makes sense to finish off the album with something familiar, taking the listener back to the beginning creating a nice loop, and ending the album with a bang. This 9+ minute track has been called an album on its own and was previously the band’s only musical release for the last 14 years.

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

FUN FATCS – STORY ANGLES

1. Nathan Navetto was well known as an artist, creating album art, t-shirt designs, and posters for many Canadian Metal Bands. He operated as Oversoul.

2. ATOMIS’ self-titled album was to be mixed by David Bottrill, however, delays due to several circumstances made this not possible.

3. After Nathan’s unfortunate passing in 2020, the band and Nathan’s family spent time going through his archives, finding stems, and several unreleased, as well as previously lost tracks, to compile the VOID Box Set.

4. ATOMIS’ Director, Doug Cook, also directed videos for Death and Control Denied.

5. All of the music on ATOMIS – LIVE DEMOS was the music heard at live shows from 2010-2014. This music was intended to be the 2nd, much heavier album, after an atmospheric debut concept album.

Top Left: Taylor Johnson, Top Right: Nathan Navetto, Bottom Left: Matthew McLaughlin, Bottom Right: Bryan Buss

ATOMIS (2010 – 2020) was a music and visual artist group, created by Nathan Navetto, Matthew McLaughlin, Taylor Johnson, and Bryan Buss

Combining elements of post-rock/metal, electronic, and cinema, ATOMIS had created a unique voice in their music/visual hybrid live performances.

“The songs are epic and can almost be described as soundscapes, as they incorporate everything from crushing metal riffs to peaceful ambient noise.” – Matt Petti, Beatroute Magazine

In 2012, ATOMIS partnered with Director Doug Cook and released a mind-bending music video for their track Maelström. Featuring ever-evolving psychedelic Rorschach-like visuals that were filmed using special cameras, and mirroring ink in water.

The video received great praise from fans and was even featured in an episode of the popular YouTube channel, Vsauce.

Until now, Maelström has been the sole piece of music ATOMIS has released.

After recording their debut album in 2014, several circumstances caused ATOMIS to dissolve into a solo project of drummer Nathan Navetto until his unfortunate passing in 2020. The remaining members have spent the last few years compiling a special release from the archives, to release in remembrance of Nathan Navetto.

2024 will see the release of “The VOID Box Set”, which includes ATOMIS’ debut Self-Titled album, Welcome To The Void (Nathan’s version of the album featuring 8 additional experimental tracks), as well as ATOMIS – LIVE DEMOS, a Live off the floor album recorded with a single mic – featuring nearly 80 minutes of music that ATOMIS regularly performed live from 2010-2014.

Director Doug Cook has created two new music videos for the band. The first being an epic video for the lead single, 12 Chains, which was originally sketched out by Navetto and Cook nearly a decade ago, using miniatures, actors, stop motion, CGI among other techniques.

Doug Cook has also edited a completely alternate version of their Maelström, using previously unseen live performance footage from 2012 of members Navetto, McLaughlin, and Johnson.

To celebrate these releases, ATOMIS will be inviting family, friends, and fans to The Globe Theatre on August 31st, 2024 for a Double Music Video premiere, and album listening party.

Shared Stage with: Devin Towsend, Brutal Truth, Martyr, Midnight, Acid King

Festivals – Noctis 4.20 – 2011, Calgary, Alberta

Music Placements – Vsauce2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwMg8kwL38A

0 EPK – INSURRECTION – Obsolescence (2024) – Out Sept 13

July 29, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Insurrection

EPK – INSURRECTION – Obsolescence (2024) – Out Sept 13

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

“We think people are going to really enjoy the mix of the sound they’ve come to know and love alongside some new ingredients. This album brings together both people who have been in the band for 20+ years, and people who have only recently joined. It gives the music both a familiar and a fresh sound that we’re really excited to share.

The band is sort of like an onion, in that there’s something immediate there that’s fun, catchy and of course, heavy. But for people who want to keep peeling the layers back, they’ll find some unexpected harmonies, some lyrics with a deeper meaning to them. Admittedly a lot of people may also need to learn a second language (French or English) to actually understand all the lyrics. Ultimately, there’s something there for everyone. If you want to just rock out and have fun, you’ll enjoy our music. And if you want something that goes a bit deeper, you’ll also find that.” – Insurrection

For fans of Misery Index, Testament, Nevermore, Bloodbath, Decapitated

Album Title: Obsolescence
Release Date: September 13, 2024
Label: Bam & Co. Heavy
Distribution: Bam & Co. Heavy

Insurrectioncanada.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

“This new single (Bless the Machine) goes flat-out right from the start, launched by an extended, serrated-edge scream, rapidly thrusting grooves, and a blizzard of mechanistic yet maniacal riffing. Intestinally deep gutturals proclaim their murderous prayer as the music occasionally seems to dismally moan and wail. The drums methodically chop, but while razor-sharp in their execution they also prove to be just as berserk as the fleet-fingered contortions of the fretwork. And yes, the song includes a head-spinning guitar solo that does sound like a refugee from Castlevania. It’s a hell of a wild, adrenaline-fueled gallop, further fueled by doubled voices screaming, but the song also frequently does sound like malicious machines ecstatically stitching steel through blasted flesh and broken bones — and like the piteous agonies of their victims.” – NoCleanSinging

“Insurrection play a groovy type of death metal that’s equal parts Dying Fetus, Decapitated and Lamb of God.” – Metal Sucks

“Head-banging, crushing riffs are the name of the game” – Exclaim!

“It’s immensely obliterating, but the grooves are especially titanic” -No Clean Singing

“Insurrection are masters of dishing out an aural onslaught” – Games, Brains and a Headbanging life

“faultless technically brutal yet catchy and melodic, death metal, infused with some wonderful thrash moments” – Moshville Times UK

“Insurrection hammer you with a full on assault of thumping drums, gnarly riffs and even gnarlier, sometimes bestial, growling vocals.” – Rock n Load Mag

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album / Single Title: Obsolescence
Release Date: September 13, 2024
Label: Bam & Co. Heavy
Distribution: Bam & Co. Heavy

Track Listing:
1. Preprogrammed – (1:04)
2. The Gathering – (4:47)
3. Failures of the Flesh – (3:47)
4. Le secret des dieux – (3:33)
5. Némésis – (3:48)
6. Hostile Takeover – (4:14)
7. Obsession – (1:57)
8. Charogne – (4:24)
9. Initiate the End – (4:12)
10. Obsolete – (5:30)
11. Bless the Machine – (4:46)
Album Length: 42:07

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Insurrection
• All songs written by: Insurrection
• Produced by: Insurrection & Joe Lyko
• Mixed by: Joe Lyko
• Mastered by: Joe Lyko
• Album Artwork by: Jeremy Dumouchel
• Member of SOCAN
• Music is Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Stef Jomphe – Vocals
Antonin Foisy – Guitar
Mike Birch – Guitar
Martin Samson – Bass
Jay Cross – Drums

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

About The Album Artwork:

The artwork is a giant, badass demon cyborg destroying a city block. We love it.

If you’ve been following the band for any amount of time, you’ll know that is the kind of visual we are all about.

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

Musically, the album is cohesive while also being a little bit all over the place. Every song is patently Insurrection, but each song also pulls a bit of inspiration from somewhere new. We’ve got some that have a grind feel and others that have a touch of prog or thrash. Groove brings it all together.

Lyrically, the album touches on both social and political issues while also not pushing any particular agenda. For those who just want to enjoy some fun music, the album is a great time. For people who want to dig a little deeper, there’s something there too.

We also tried something new on this album, by writing the last 3 songs as a trilogy called “The New Uprising”. It was a lot of fun to do and added a new challenge for us in terms of writing 3 distinct songs that also had a linear connection.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Preprogrammed: this is a plain and simple intro. For those who’ve been with us for a long time, it may be worth checking how the previous album ended to enjoy this one further. No Lyrics here.

2. The Gathering: This song starts with a slow chugging intro, kind of like “Scourge of Iron” by Cannibal Corpse. As the song goes on, it evolves in speed and intensity and then comes crashing down again at the end with that same chugging into. The lyrics have a dark, ritualistic style to them, but the song is actually about acceptance – most specifically, the acceptance people find at metal shows and within the metal community itself.

3. Failures of the Flesh: This is our slamming, thrashy, everyone goes nuts in the mosh pit song. The lyrics are about feelings of frustration, as well as ableism.

4. Secret des Dieux: This song is where we write a brief love note to the melodeath genre. To be honest, the song sounds like a mix between Morbid Angel and Hypocrisy. The lyrics are about abuse by members of the clergy.

5. Nemesis – Another hybrid influence for us, where we celebrate both thrash and melodeath influencers, mixed with the Insurrection sound we’ve developed over the last 20 years. The lyrics are about life during the pandemic, and talk about social media relations and relationships during a time of crisis

6. Hostile Takeover: This is a straight-forward, pound-your-chest rhythmic song with an early 2000s feel to it. The lyrics are about capitalism

7. Obsession: This one may be our favourite to jam. It’s 2-ish minutes of grind, or at least the type of grind we can still play 20 years into doing this. The lyrics are about being obsessed with perfection.

8. Charogne – This is a weird one with an almost “dancy” feel while also being heavy and a touch progressive. It’s probably the slowest song on the album as well, with a crushing chorus, and some gang vocals. The lyrics are about the financial system and bottom feeders.

9. Initiate the End: This song is the intro to our trilogy “The New Uprising”. The music is upbeat and groovy, with a bit of proggy influence. The lyrics for this song (and the whole trilogy) use a Robotic Uprising as a metaphor for the rise of political extremism. This particular song talks about demagogy, its subversive nature, and the destruction it can bring.

10. Obsolete: Part 2 of “The New Uprising”! The music is heavy and chuggy, and pays homage to the legendary Québec band Obliveon. Lyrially, this song is about elitism, and how society discards those it deems useless.

11. Bless the Machine – The final part of “The New Uprising” trilogy. Musically, this song sounds like At the Gates playing Castlevania songs. Which you, the reader, will either completely understand, or be completely confused by. We’re fine with that. It’s fast, it’s melodic, and it’s just complicated enough so that every time you listen to it, you may find a tiny new thing. The lyrics are the conclusion of the ideas of the first two parts, and are a “prayer to the machine” to eliminate the “filthy human breed”, which was actually inspired by reflections on the death penalty. The song ends with the words “the New Uprising is Complete”.

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

FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES

1. Insurrection has been around for over 20 years (2003), and we’ve always been active with the exception of a pause due to the pandemic. This album is our first in 7 years, and represents a culmination of everything we’ve worked on over 2 decades, with both familiar (original) faces, as well as fresh blood.

2. Over our 20 year career, we’ve played some incredibly memorable shows. When it was happening, we were a staple at the famous Rockfest in Montebello, where we had the pleasure of playing for thousands of people, and sharing the stage with bands like Cannibal Corpse and the Black Dahlia Murder. On the other hand, we’ve also played “that place” where Celine Dion started out, plenty of asbestos-dust-filled basements, and at least one undisclosed Biker Gang private property fest. Whether we’re doing it for 2 people or 2,000, we’re having a blast.

3. Stef (vocals) was once included in a CBC documentary on unassuming people with strange hobbies’. Yes, the band was his strange hobby. Also, beyond that documentary, we’ve enjoyed a few appearances on CBC Radio/Radio-Canada, La Presse, and on various campus stations and local papers across the country.

4. The band writes in both French and English, and our band name (and the names of all our albums) actually works in both English and French.

5. We’ve been all over Canada from the east to west coast, with our most recent “road trip” being to Eastern Canada in the summer 2024.

Insurrection Current Line Up – Jay Cross – Drums, Martin Samson – Bass, Stef Jomphe – Vocals, Mike Birch – Guitar, Antonin Perras-Foisy – Guitar

Photo credit: Lisa Thompson and Darkmoon Studios

English

Insurrection is a metal band from Gatineau, Quebec. Formed over 20 years ago (2003), the band is known for its intense and energetic performances. Their sound is a unique twist of groovy death metal mixed with a healthy dose of thrash energy. The band has released several albums, including “Prologue” (2008), “Fracture” (2010), “Prototype” (2013), and “Extraction” (2017). Their music often addresses social and political themes through bilingual lyrics in both English and French. The band has gained a notable reputation on stage throughout Canada with tours covering coast to coast, including performances at festivals such as Montebello Rockfest, Trois-Rivières Metalfest, and Decimate Metalfest.

Français
Insurrection est un groupe de metal originaire de Gatineau, Québec. Formé il y a plus de 20 ans (2003), le groupe est connu pour ses performances intenses et énergiques. Leur son est une combinaison unique de death metal groovy mélangé à une bonne dose d’énergie thrash. Le groupe a sorti plusieurs albums, notamment “Prologue” (2009), “Fracture” (2010), “Prototype” (2013) et “Extraction” (2017). Leur musique aborde souvent des thèmes sociaux et politiques à travers des paroles bilingues en anglais et en français. Le groupe a acquis une réputation notable sur scène à travers le Canada avec des tournées couvrant d’un océan à l’autre, incluant des performances dans des festivals tels que Montebello Rockfest, Trois-Rivières Metalfest et Decimate Metalfest.

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Stef Jomphe – Vocals
Antonin Foisy – Guitar
Mike Birch – Guitar
Martin Samson – Bass
Jay Cross – Drums

Discography:
2008 – Prologue
2010 – Fracture
2013 – Prototype
2017 – Extraction
2024 – Obsolescence

Shared Stage with: Annihilator, Anonymus, Augury, Battlecross, Beyond Creation, Cannibal Corpse, Carcass, Cradle of Filth, Cryptopsy, Deadly Apples, Decrepit Birth, Despised Icon, Dismember, Dying Fetus, Fuck the Facts, Ghoulunatics, Hatebreed, Ion Dissonance, Kalmah, Kataklysm, Lamb of God, Malignancy, Martyr, Meshuggah, Mononc Serge, Napalm Death, Neuraxis, Nile, Psycroptic, Quo Vadis, Rotting Christ, Sarkasm, Sepultura, Shadows Fall, Skinless, Spelldown, The Black Dahlia Murder, Unexpect, Venom Inc, Voivod, White Chapel, Wolven Ancestry

Tours and Festivals:
2009 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2010 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2011 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2011 – Trois Rivières Metalfest, QC
2013 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2013 – Trois Rivières Metalfest, QC
2014 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2015 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2016 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2017 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2018 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2018 – Decimate Metalfest – Calgary, AB
2018 – Western Canada Tour
2019 – Rockfest – Montebello, QC
2024 – Final Extraction: East Coast Tour (NB, NS, QC)

Sponsors / Endorsements:
Sennheiser
Los Cabos DrumSticks
Solar Guitars
inTune Guitar Picks

0 EPK – Infrared – Manifestation (2024) – Out Sept 6th

July 29, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Infrared

EPK – Infrared – Manifestation (2024) – Out Sept 6th

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

“Infrared has patiently waited to release this barn burner of an album, Manifestation. With life as busy as it is and some life challenges plaguing the band, the release has been delayed a few times. The band jokes, “This is the longest we have sat on a finished album.” With determination, they ramped up and filmed four videos and did all it took to put together what the fans wanted, new classic thrash metal with a modern feel. The band has taken inventory and assessed their back catalog and looked to see what they could improve on. That exercise gives you straight to the point songs that are high in energy and aggression all while staying true to the classic thrash sound.” – Infrared

For fans of Slayer, Metallica, Testament, Megadeth, Exodus, Death Angel

Band: Infrared
Album Title: Manifestation
Release Date: September 6, 2024
Label/Distribution: Self-Release

http://infraredmetal.ca | https://www.facebook.com/infraredmetal | https://www.instagram.com/infrared_metal | https://x.com/infraredmetal | https://www.youtube.com/@InfraredMetal

https://infraredmetal.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

“Manifestation, an album that exists as an old-school thrash album in the vein of Testament and Death Angel without sounding entirely and blatantly old-school.” – Decibel Magazine

“Canada’s Infrared are back and with them comes intense thrash metal and it’s an intense album not only because of the music obviously but also because of the difficulties the band had to face to release it the band has already accustomed us to Dynamic thrash metal but here they take it to a whole new and exciting level it’s not immediate the price you have to pay to make a difference but what you get is an album that will win over fans of strong guitars and sharp solos for those who don’t know them yet this will be an excellent entry point into their sound, for those who already know them they might even consider this one of their best moments ever.” – World of Metal – Albums of the Month – September 2024

“Manifestation is like listening to the collected works of Metal Church, Sacred Reich and Flotsam and Jetsam forced through a blender and straight into your ear canals. On the Superb Demon’s Blood – which is quite simply one of the best ‘proper’ thrash tracks I’ve heard in ages – this formula is, in a word, unbeatable… Armin Kamal‘s vocals are superb throughout, and the upfront bass of Mike Forbes – a glorious mix of Dan Lilker and Frank Bello – is a joy to behold. I’ve been a committed thrasher since the early days of the movement and I’m ashamed to say I wasn’t familiar with Infrared – who actually formed in 1985, fer chrissakes – until recently. I’m happy to put that appalling oversight right, now, however, and strongly urge you to do the same if you too have been living in blissful ignorance about this excellent outfit!” – Sentinel Daily

“There’s a hell of a lot of thrash coming out these days and a lot of it is just rehashing the old stuff (this is not a complaint, mind you), but Infrared are one of those few with a very distinctive style that stands out from the crowd. Highly recommended. 4.75/5″ – The Metal Crypt

“What a blistering brace to begin your new album – an album that storms on with the fierce ‘Demon’s Blood’, the band hammering the ground with an immense amount of force. ‘Manifestation’ is setting off earthquakes and volcanoes all over the world such is its incredible impact, the impact lasting a long fucking time in the memories of every listener, fan and follower. 10/10″ – Metal Gods TV

“‘Manifestation’ is a powerhouse album that solidifies INFRARED‘s place in the thrash metal genre. The band’s commitment to delivering high-energy, classic thrash metal with a modern twist is evident in every track. Fans of Slayer, Metallica, and Testament will find this album a worthy addition to their collection. 9/10″ – Infrared Magazine

“Heavy, fast, aggressive, but with catchy melodies and some excellent guitar work. Forty-two minutes of superb thrash.” – My Global Mind

“The album sound is driven by good Thrash Metal riffing, cool lead guitar solos, and crushing basslines… Thrash Metal fans will like what “Manifestation” has to offer and will look forward to some exciting live shows of INFRARED. 8/10″ – Metal Temple

“It’s tight and well-played, and the energy is high. Mainly a pretty classic sound, which makes it easy to like. Yes, this is something that should make most fans of good old thrash metal bang their heads… But now that I have told you how fantastic they are, you should check them out as soon as possible.” – Hard Rock Info

“this is an album I suspect quite a few fans of ye olde school of thrash metal will find to be rather charmingly enjoyable.” – Viking in the Wilderness

“If you’re longing for Slayer shows that start later this month, then allow us to suggest that you listen to Canada’s Infrared to tide you over. “Cataclysm” revs itself up with a touch of the epic, but “Temple Of Sin” gets itself into the moshpit good and proper. Thunderous stuff abounds. “Nikko” is heavier, the guitars Slash and burn on “Demon’s Blood” though in a very classic thrash way… “Manifestation” underlines again though, just how many thrash bands there are, but it proves also that Infrared are a cut above most. 8/10″ – Maximum Volume Music

“thrashy stuff… catchy and to the point with a little punky hardcore thing happening” – Moshpit Radio – WORT 89.9 FM (madison, WI)

“With Manifestation, Infrared has delivered an album that encapsulates the essence of thrash metal while showcasing their evolution as a band. 8.8/10″ – Rockum

“Heavy, powerful sound throughout and so much catchiness, it’s crazy. By now I must have listened to maybe 250 new albums this year, and this one is definitely in the top 5. Highly recommended for fans of technically minded thrash that fucking slays.” 4.75/5 – The Metal Crypt (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“Everything in “From the Black Swamp” is so amazing that is almost impossible to stop listening to it, even after finishing my review. If you are fan of the best of what Thrash Metal can offer, listen to it. It is Heavy and brutal, but at the same time it carries something light on its spirit. I could mention many “It is something plus a good adjective”, but let me be restricted to “It is just Infrared! Period”. Listen to it as loud as you can! Cheers! 9/10” – Ever-Metal (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“Infrared’s “From the Black Swamp” is EXACTLY what the METAL world needs right now… full of heaviness, riffy-ness, depth, progressive leanings and thrashing madness! After consecutive strong releases over the last 5+ years, Infrared’s musical growth cannot be ignored! Raging from their classic 80’s roots, they’ve yet again raised the bar in terms of what powerful thrash metal should represent and embody in today’s heavy music landscape. I cannot get enough spins of this new release! A modern thrash metal masterpiece, this new slag of heaviness incites that tingly feeling on the back of your neck that you just can’t shake off… the thrash metal flag is triumphantly waving for these Ottawa legends!”- Steve Kraus Host of 6o on CKLU 96.7FM (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“a thunderous album of all out thrash, delivering a savage amount of varied songs from all corners of the thrash metal genre.” – Metal Gods TV (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“Truly recommended as an essential to all thrash fans! 5/5” – Metal Epidemic (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“If you are a fan of very well crafted thrash metal, plan to add From The Black Swamp to your collection. Buy Canadian!” – Sleaze Roxx (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“INFRARED delivers vintage thrash metal with styles comparable to Slayer, Testament and early Anthrax. As all good things typically come back around and this old-school sound is a refreshing change in today’s metal landscape… As a Canadian band that started in the mid-eighties, it is impressive that INFRARED is still making a serious mark with their latest release. The impeccable studio work and enviable songwriting surely position this band for GREAT things to come. 9/10” – Spill Magazine (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“You can expect a bouncy style featuring sneering vocals, a hefty bass tone that goes hand in hand with the crunchy riffs and solid drum mechanics – crossing lines between thrash and traditional metal, along with the occasional punk/hardcore angst that fueled the early days.” – Dead Rhetoric (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“From The Black Swamp” is a masterpiece the world needs right here right now. Don’t call yourself a Bay Area thrash fan if you ignore it as I predict it will be someday mentioned in one breath with “South Of Heaven”, “The New Order”, “Peace Sells But Who’s Buying”, “Rust In Peace” (BIG TIME!), “Ride The Lightning” or “Master Of Puppets”, mark my words. 6/6″ – Eternal Terror (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“Black Swamp’ is far from average, it is Infrared doing what Infrared do best and thrash fans will bang their head in appreciation.” – Metal Digest (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

“Once again, Infrared offers us a thrash metal that is both complex and easy to access: we will never get lost in watchtower-style twists and turns. 9/10″ – Soil Chronicles (2021 – From the Black Swamp)

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: Infrared
Album Title: Manifestation
Release Date: September 6, 2024
Label/Distribution: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Cataclysm (2:07)
2. Temple of Sin (3:20)
3. Nikko (3:40)
4. Demon’s Blood (3:08)
5. Pressure Syndrome (4:29)
6. The Manifest (0:48)
7. Manifest Nation (3:40)
8. Concuss (4:00)
9. Reforma (4:04)
10. My Dreams Are Real (3:48)
11. Parasite Patrol (3:47)
12. Then the Earth Goes Black (4:16)
Album Length: 41:15

Album Credits:
All songs performed by: Infrared
All songs written by: Infrared
Produced by: Armin Kamal
Mixed by: Armin Kamal
Mastered by: Armin Kamal
Album artwork by: Joe Lyko and AI
Infrared is a Member of SOCAN
Canadian content

Infrared studio and live is:
Kirk Gidley (Guitar and Backing Vox)
Alain Groulx (Drums and Backing Vox)
Mike Forbes (Bass and Backing Vox)
Armin Kamal (Guitar and Lead Vox)

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About The Album Artwork explained by Armin Kamal (Guitar/Vocals)

The album cover is AI artwork from a local scene producer/artist, Joe Lyko. It represents the torment found in the human form.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by Armin Kamal (Guitar/Vocals)

Many of the album’s themes are anxiety or fear-based, or based on toxic behaviours, whether interpersonal or at a global level. One of the songs even touches on the danger of AI, so there is some irony there between using AI for the album cover and then writing a fictitious future warning of its dangers. Musically, the album is high energy. While there are some mid-tempo songs and or sections, the album rips more often than not.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by Armin Kamal (Guitar/Vocals)

1. Cataclysm – Instrumental. Epic feel and climax.

2. Temple of Sin – Inner torment and rage create a flesh temple of sin

3. Nikko – Named after the lead flying monkey in The Wizard of Oz, it’s about those blinded by the charm and manipulation of dark triad types and then do their bidding. This is a heavy brooding song with many vocal deliveries in it to represent the chaos these personality types try to inflict on others.

4. Demon’s Blood – This ripper of a song delves into the addict’s life and mind and how every day is a rinse and repeat of self-abuse.

5. Pressure Syndrome – Loosely based on the 90’s movie “Falling Down” it describes a person coming apart at the seams under the weight of a society that discards him, marginalizes him, and ultimately angers him into a violent rage.

6. The Manifest – Instrumental lead into the song Manifestation with a brooding and atmospheric vibe.

7. Manifest Nation – This song also rips and grooves all the way through while singing about a society losing itself and its way. They try to manifest a better life, but with all the technological distractions, they never achieve their goal.

8. Concuss – This is a straight-up anthem song about retaliating against those that stand in your way, but also a tip of the hat to all those crazy metalheads that hop in the pit and destroy.

9. Reforma – This is a heavy and melodic song about a sick earth longing for change and hoping its stewards do better.

10. My Dreams Are Real – Dracula fans anyone? This song is based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the hell those with eternal life must go through.

11. Parasite Patrol – What happens when machines want to take over? This song warns of a barren wasteland created by killing machines with no mercy.

12. Then the Earth Goes Black – This is an epic thrash song that teeters back and forth between full onslaught and brooding and haunting vocals. The song talks of the fear of what happens when the nuclear keys are turned after humans are incapable of diplomatic dialog.

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Fun Facts – Story Angles

1. Infrared suffers for its art! Almost every video shoot has Infrared battling the elements. Their first video, No Peace, was shot in sub-zero temperatures. They bottomed out at minus 30 Celsius on one of the shoot days at an abandoned house. If you look closely at the video or even a photo shoot they did at the same location, you will see red noses and ears. To put it succinctly, “It sucked!” The All in Favour video had them battling rain in a leaky abandoned factory and risking shock hazards all day long. And on their latest photo shoot in a swampy area of the Ottawa River, Mike and Armin both ended up getting stung by wasps after unknowingly disturbing their nest. First time being stung for Armin….ever. Was it worth it? It always is. At least now with the latest album, Manifestation, they have figured out how to suffer less and opted for safer indoor spots.

2. Back in December 1987, Infrared opened for the well-known band Sacrifice. The bands clicked and had a great night. They talked metal and gear and Sacrifice had commented that Infrared was the best opener they had on tour yet. Watching Sacrifice play in ‘87 really inspired the band as they were about the same age as Infrared’s members and they were signed to a label and had two albums.

Infrared was blown away by the Sacrifice performance and the week after the show, they wrote the song Meet My Standards inspired by watching Sacrifice in action. Rob Urbanati gave Kirk a Sacrifice sticker which is still on his guitar to this day. Almost 31 years later, Infrared played with Sacrifice again in September of 2018. It was like nothing changed except they were all older.

They talked metal and gear and had an awesome night.

3. Infrared meet all kinds of people along the way and make some pretty cool friends like the metal grandpa, Stephen Palmer, from Australia who travelled all the way to Canada to follow Sacrifice on tour. On a mini tour with Black Mass from Boston, one night Infrared is playing in Quebec City and notice from the stage some big dude in the mosh pit cradling an Aloe Vera plant in a big pot. The band was like “WTF”? All night he is body slamming in the pit and feeding the plant beer. After the set, the band asked him what’s up with the plant and he said that he promised his buddy’s wife he would take care of it while they were out of town and that he would not let it out of his sight. The plant was dead by the end of the night.

L-R – Alain Groulx (Drums, Backing Vocals), Kirk Gidley (Guitar, Backing Vocals), Armin Kamal (Guitar, Vocals), Mike Forbes (Bass, Backing Vocals)
Photo Credit : Carissa Broeren

If Infrared sound like classic thrash metal, that’s because they are! And rightfully so since they were making music as teenagers in the mid to late 80s back when the Big 4 (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax) were just becoming famous. They literally lived and breathed that scene as it was happening and garnered national attention in Canada through their song and video for Thoughts Caught (in Between).

Then….life happened and members took different paths and the music, that was hot in the underground metal scene and loved by demo tape traders near and far, went dormant for 27 years! In 2014 Infrared reunited with 3 of the original 4 members (Kirk, Armin, and Alain), and since original bassist Shawn Thompson had moved to Miami, they recruited Mike Forbes. They worked hard to release their first full length album, No Peace, featuring songs written all those years ago. 2018 saw Infrared release their sophomore album, Saviours, featuring 8 new songs coming in at just over 50 minutes of music! That was followed up by their 2019 EP, Back to the Warehouse featuring the last of their 80’s written songs and released as a bridge to their next full length album. In 2021, Infrared released From the Black Swamp. The album featured 12 songs for one hour of hard hitting and emotionally charged songs steeped in the themes of betrayal and malicious sabotage in all walks of life, from societal to interpersonal. Now, in 2024, they release Manifestation, an album that has all the fat trimmed and gets straight to the point, classic thrash in full force.

With several high profile concerts under their belts including opening for Anvil, Exciter, Sacrifice, Razor, Venom Inc., Dirkschneider, Flotsam and Jetsam, DBC, Artillery, Hammerfall, and Atrophy, Infrared raises their horns and looks forward to getting out there to meet and befriend metalheads everywhere!

Infrared studio and live is:
Kirk Gidley (Guitar and Backing Vox)
Alain Groulx (Drums and Backing Vox)
Mike Forbes (Bass and Backing Vox)
Armin Kamal (Guitar and Lead Vox)

Discography:
2024 – Manifestation – Full-length
2022 – The Metal Inquisition EP – EP
2021 – From the Black Swamp – Full-length
2019 – Back to the Warehouse – EP
2018 – Saviours – Full-length
2016 – No Peace – Full-length
1988 – R.I.P. (Recognition in Power) – Demo

Shared Stage with: Anvil, Exciter, Sacrifice, Razor, Venom Inc., Dirkschneider, Flotsam and Jetsam, DBC, Artillery, Hammerfall, Atrophy

Mini tours with
2022 – Exciter
2019 – Black Mass
2018 – Razor

0 EPK – Heinous Exsanguination – The Stench of Decaying Flesh (Gore House Productions) (2024) – Out Sept 6th

July 22, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Heinous Exsanguination (Gore House Productions)

EPK – Heinous Exsanguination – The Stench of Decaying Flesh (Gore House Productions) (2024) – Out Sept 6th

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

“We are beyond excited to share with the world our first body of work The Stench of Decaying Flesh. We absolutely love making brutal music, and this is just the beginning of what is going to be a great run for the project. Heinous Exsanguination is a passion project, and we will continue to pour our everything into this. Simple heavy music you can listen to without putting too much thought into it. Life is stressful with many things out of your control, and we don’t want any of that on your mind when listening to this. Sit back and enjoy the heaviness.” – Heinous Exsanguination

For fans of Embryectomy, Kraanium, Parasitic Ejaculation, PeelingFlesh

Band: Heinous Exsanguination – EP Title: The Stench of Decaying Flesh
Release Date: September 6, 2024
Label: Gore House Productions

Gorehouseproductions.com | Facebook.com/GoreHouseProductionsOfficial | Instagram.com/gorehouseproductions | Twitter.com/GoreHouse

Tiktok.com/@gorehouseproductions | Youtube.com/c/Gorehouseproductions-Official | Spotify | Gorehouseproductions.bandcamp.com

Facebook.com/heinousslam | Instagram.com/heinousexsanguination | X.com/heinousslam

Spotify | Apple Music

Band: Heinous Exsanguination – EP Title: The Stench of Decaying Flesh
Release Date: September 6, 2024
Label: Gore House Productions

Track Listing:
1. Engorged With Hatred (2:14)
2. Vile Rotting Mass (ft. Angel Ochoa of Cephalotripsy) (2:57)
3. Savage Evisceration (2:12)
4. The Stench of Decaying Flesh (ft. Azerate Nakamura of Ungraceful) (2:04)
5. Severed Limbs, Mangled Remains (ft. Richard Smihula of Desoectomy) (2:32)
6. Bodies Open Easier Than You’d Think (2:18)
7. Meat Cleaver Meltdown (2:15)

EP Credits:
All songs performed by Heinous Exsanguination
All song written by Heinous Exsanguination
Produced by Mitchell Christian
Mixed and Mastered by Mitchell Christian
Artwork by Armaada Art

Lineup:
Mitchell Christian – All music and production
JP – Vocals

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About The EP Artwork:

The album artwork by Armaada Art depicts a scene that does a great job portraying the EP title. With pieces of flesh and body parts scattered throughout a grim setting, and the skull being ripped in half center stage, listeners will get the tone being set by this release.

The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

This album is what happens when two people come together who have a passion for making heavy music simply because it brings us great joy to make. We love listening to and creating brutal music. We love the sound of raw, straightforward production and slamming riffs. This really shows musically on this album, as it is comprised of a combination of slamming riffs, blast beats, and groovy sections. Lyrical and theming influence for the music comes from a combination of horror movies, actual events, or stories based on torture, murder, etc.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. “Engorged with Hatred” explores the depths of rage and loathing within the human experience. Sonically, you’ll hear a build-up similar to growing up in the human experience. Explosions and collisions along the way. This song explores multiple different styles of grooves and riffs. Ranging from slams, thrashy sections, polka beats, driving beats reminiscent of Motorhead, and of course triplet breakdowns and pinch harmonics. At the end of the track, you’re hit with brutal double kicks and chainsaw-like high-gain guitars, setting the tone for the EP.

2. “Vile Rotting Mass” depicts the grotesque decay of a once-vibrant entity, exploring hopelessness, death, and decomposition. This song starts off with a brutal lo-fi Slam riff into a head-spinning intro that will surely make the ancient primate within you want to dance. The song then explores different riffs including hardcore-like riffs fused with the classic Slam we all know and love. The “classic Slam riff” will be mentioned a lot! Don’t forget blast beats either. Nothing wrong with too many blast beats. This song then leads you into a swing section reminiscent of mid-century America. If you aren’t exsanguinated by two minutes into the song, you’ll hear slam/brutal death metal legend, Angel Ochoa (Cephalotripsy, Abominable Putridity, Disgorge) spit the filthiest vocals known to man over once again, that classic Slam riff.

3. The song “Savage Evisceration” finds its inspiration in themes of brutality and carnage, violent acts, and the raw, primal instincts that drive them, exploring human nature and aggression. This track hits you hard right away. A riff that will make any caveman shit his pants. Over the top, you’ll hear JP unleash hell on the world with his piercing and grueling vocals.

4. “The Stench of Decaying Flesh” serves as the title track of the project. It paints a grim picture of the suffering and pain that can be inflicted upon people, and the stench that exudes from their rotting corpses. Chainsaws and slow heavy guitars. That’s what will infect your ears upon first starting this song. Into another head-spinning slammy section you’ll be transported to the perspective of the victim at the beginning of the song. Blasting, groove, brutality. The Stench of Decaying Flesh brings just that. At the end of the journey, you will be pounded by huge sub drops and the demonic vocals from beneath performed by Azerate Namakura (Ungraceful).

5. “Severed Limbs, Mangled Remains” is inspired by the graphic aftermath of conflict and disaster, horror, human suffering, and the enduring impact of violence. And also severed body parts. This song was heavily inspired by Slam royalty, Vasculitis. At the time of writing this album, Mitchell was heavy into Vasculitis. Expect everything you would want from a band in our genre. Blasts, breakdowns, slams, slow-downs. This track really shows the ability of Mitchell and JP to create parts that really blend together. JP’s vocals fuse into the track to become another instrument. A groovy break in the song signals the start of California legend, Richard Smihula (Desectomy) to end with a hard-hitting slam that will definitely have you exsanguinated by now if you aren’t already.

5. “Bodies Open Easier Than You’d Think” is a fun song with a very straightforward subject, it’s very easy to open a body. Whether it be surgical tools, a knife, or even bullets, human skin and muscle isn’t that strong. This song is also a reminder to us and anyone else that we are all living our own journey. We all have our own perspectives. We are all somehow living together on a huge rock floating through an infinite universe. To sum that all up, “we ain’t shit”. This song has been released for quite a while now so hopefully if you’re reading this you have heard it. The track takes you through different moments of beatdown, slam, and thrash. Ending with a car crashing breakdown filled with double kicks faster than a hummingbird’s wings.

6. “Meat Cleaver Meltdown” is the culmination of what happens when you just can’t take it anymore. This is another track with a very straightforward subject matter: if someone reaches a breaking point then you don’t want to be around them especially when they’re holding a freshly sharpened meat cleaver. Ah yes, we all love the evil butcher. This last track is another one that will have any caveman getting down. Inspired by the almighty Suffocation, but with a modern slam twist. This song is powerful, making the listener feel like they’re the king or queen of the world. Or underworld. And of course, finishing you off with one last brutal Slam.

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FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES

1. Tyrantula (JP) – I was in a deathcore band back in the myspace era, and had the pleasure of opening for some really cool bands like Waking the Cadaver, Impending Doom, and more.

2. JP – I love rollercoasters and theme parks (random fun fact)

3. Mitchell – I started playing guitar at the age of 11. Growing up, I was in multiple bands playing different instruments. Anything from early 2010’s metalcore and deathcore to country cover bands.

4. Mitchell – My profession is a touring FOH engineer. At the time of writing this, I am currently out on tour with Keith Wallen from Breaking Benjamin. Check out his new album, Infinity Now. It’s a pleasure to mix live!

5. Mitchell – I am a huge fan of country music. It is my second favorite genre to anything metal.

Left – Mitchell Christian (Instruments and production), Right – JP – Vocals

Photo credit – Heinous Exsanguination

Brace yourselves for an auditory bloodbath as Heinous Exsanguination releases their upcoming EP “The Stench of Decaying Flesh”. Featuring ferocious guest appearances by Richard Smihula of Desoectomy, Angel Ochoa of Cephalotripsy, and Azerate Nakamura of Ungraceful, fans can expect everything you would want from a slam band -blasts, breakdowns, slams, slow-downs.

Driven by relentless brutality and spine-chilling intensity, “The Stench of Decaying Flesh” is a testament to Heinous Exsanguination’s dedication to creating the most punishing death metal possible. They are recommended for fans of Embryectomy, Kraanium, and Parasitic Ejaculation.

“The Stench of Decaying Flesh” is due out on September 6th, 2024, from Gore House Productions and is available for pre-order at https://orcd.co/the-stench-of-decaying-flesh

Discography :
2024 – The Stench of Decaying Flesh – EP
2023 – Bodies Open Easier Than You’d Think – Single

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