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Category: EPKs

0 EPK – Triskelyon – Metalmorphosis (2026) (Moribund Records)

  • June 24, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Triskelyon

EPK – Triskelyon – Metalmorphosis (2026) (Moribund Records)

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

Digital Only Release – Aug 21, 2026

Follow TRISKELYON:
​Facebook | B​andcamp​
​
Follow Moribund Records:
​Moribund Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp

The Ferocious 5th Assault from Canada’s Thrash Metal Titans reforging Classics in Steel!!!

Canada’s unstoppable Metal force Triskelyon returns with “Metalmorphosis,” a special digital-only release that transforms legendary Rock and Pop anthems into a blazing barrage of pure Heavy Metal power! Founded in 2021 by guitarist and mastermind Geoff Waye (Category VI), Triskelyon has rapidly risen through the ranks of the underground with the acclaimed releases “Downfall,” “Artificial Insanity,” “Shattered Elysium,” and “Maelstrom of Chaos.” Now, the band unleashes its boldest concept yet – a full album dedicated entirely to crushing cover versions, forged in the fires of Thrash, Speed, Power, and Traditional Metal.

Aptly titled “Metalmorphosis,” this release represents the complete metalization and transformation of timeless classics into high-octane metallic weapons. From the arena-sized power of Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69,” to the dark intensity of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Triskelyon reinvents each track with razor-sharp riffs, thunderous rhythms, soaring vocals, and explosive solo work.

Fan favorites from previous albums also return, including the band’s acclaimed renditions of “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Major Tom (Coming Home),” “It Doesn’t Really Matter,” and “Nobody’s Business.” Covering icons such as Tears for Fears, Duran Duran, Heart, Billy Idol, Men Without Hats, Men at Work, Platinum Blonde, Peter Schilling, and Bryan Adams, “Metalmorphosis” stands as both a tribute to the golden age of Rock and Pop and a declaration of Triskelyon’s limitless creativity. Each song is reborn heavier, faster, darker, and more powerful than ever before, while still preserving the unforgettable hooks and melodies that made them legendary.

“Metalmorphosis” is more than a covers album – it is a celebration of transformation through Metal. A relentless collision of nostalgia and aggression, this digital-only release proves once again that Triskelyon can take any musical form and forge it into molten steel.

As before, all songs were mixed and mastered by Michael Small.  Album art by Ellim.

Track Listing:
1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears cover)
2. Summer of 69 (Bryan Adams cover)
3. The Safety Dance (Men Without Hats cover)
4. Overkill (Men at Work cover)
5. Heartbreaker (Pat Benatar cover)
6. Nobody’s Business (Billy Idol cover) <Downfall album>
7. It Doesn’t Really Matter (Platinum Blonde Cover) <Artificial Insanity album>
8. Hungry Like The Wolf (Duran Duran Cover) <Shattered Elysium album>
9. Major Tom (Coming Home) (Peter Schilling Cover) <Maelstrom of Chaos album>

Note: ALL Album Released covers are the same except “Major Tom,” which is a remaster (not a remix).

Note: 5 brand new covers packaged with the 4 covers already done into one compilation album! 🙂

Album Credits:
1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Vocals: Dale Drew
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Dwayne Pike
Drums: Raul Marques

2. Summer of 69
Vocals and bass: Dwayne Pike
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Drums: Raul Marques

3. The Safety Dance
Vocals: Pete Healey
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Darrin Pope
Drums: Raul Marques

4. Overkill
Vocals: Pete Healey
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Dwayne Pike
Drums: Raul Marques

5. Heartbreaker
Vocals: Amanda Jackman
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Dwayne Pike
Drums: Raul Marques

6. Nobody’s Business
Vocals: Pete Healey
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Dwayne Pike
Drums: Raul Marques

7. It Doesn’t Really Matter
Vocals: Amanda Jackman
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Keith Jackman
Drums: Raul Marques

8. Hungry Like The Wolf
Vocals: Dale Drew
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Darrin Pope
Drums: Raul Marques

9. Major Tom (Coming Home)
Vocals: Amanda Jackman
Guitars: Geoff Waye
Bass: Darrin Pope
Drums: Nicole Trinchero

 

 

0 EPK – Dirty Shirt – Dirty Thirty (The Best Of) (2026)

  • June 24, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Dirty Shirt · EPKs

EPK – Dirty Shirt – Dirty Thirty (The Best Of) (2026)

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

For fans of Dubioza Kolektiv, Skindred, Bloodywood, Alestorm, The Hu

“As someone who was already playing alongside future Dirty Shirt members in the wedding band that gave birth to this adventure, I can honestly say it has been an incredible journey. We started in a small town in north-western Romania during the post-communist years, and somehow ended up performing on some of Europe’s biggest stages.

Dirty Shirt became much more than a band. It became a family. Over the years, we have kept most of the core members while continuously welcoming new people into the project. Today, we are nine official band members, but the Dirty Shirt family is much larger: a collective of nearly thirty active people involved in the studio and on the road, including musicians, technicians, crew members and many others working behind the scenes.

None of this would have been possible without the support of our families, our friends and, above all, our fans. This album is a celebration of all of them. Thank you for being part of these thirty years.” – Mihai Tivadar (keyboards, guitars) – Dirty Shirt.

Band: Dirty Shirt
Album Title: Dirty Thirty (The Best Of)
Release Date: June 26, 2026
Label: Dirty Shirt
Distribution: Dirty Shirt
Genre: Rock / Metal / Folk
Location of Band: Romania

All Links: https://linktr.ee/dirtyshirtband

Dirty-Shirt.com –  Facebook.com/DirtyShirtRomania – Twitter.com/dirtyshirtband –  Youtube.com/dirtyshirtoriginal

Instagram.com/dirtyshirtband – Tiktok.com/@dirtyshirtband 

Dirtyshirt.bandcamp.com – Apple Music – Spotify – Dirty-merch.com – Deezer

DIRTY SHIRT – DIRTY THIRTY (THE BEST OF)

To celebrate 30 years of activity, Romanian folkcore metal pioneers Dirty Shirt are releasing “Dirty Thirty (The Best Of)”, a career-spanning retrospective featuring 30 songs that trace the band’s journey from its earliest recordings to its latest releases.

The compilation brings together songs from every era of Dirty Shirt:

  • Very Dirty (2000) – 1 song, represented by the new version released 25 years later on Pandemic Special
    • Same Shirt Different Day (2010) – 2 songs
    • Freak Show (2013) – 4 songs, plus the orchestral version of “Away” released on Pandemic Special
    • Dirtylicious (2015) – 7 songs
    • Letchology (2019) – 7 songs
    • Get Your Dose Now & Pandemic Special (2022) – 7 songs
    • Plus two recently released singles from the upcoming studio album: “FOMO” and “Büntető”

Dirty Thirty (The Best Of) will be available in three formats:

  • Digital edition on all major streaming and download platforms
    • Limited double-CD digipak edition
    • Vinyl edition featuring 22 selected tracks (due to format limitations)

Several tracks from the band’s earlier catalogue have been newly remastered by Adrian “Bila” Urițescu, Dirty Shirt’s long-time sound engineer. The album artwork was created by internationally acclaimed artist Costin Chioreanu, extending a creative collaboration with the band that has now lasted more than 13 years.

The project was partially financed through a successful crowdfunding campaign in 2025.

Featuring more than 40 musicians.

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

CD TRACK LISTING:

CD 1 :
1.  Ciocârlia
2.  Put It On
3.  Fake
4.  Nem Loptam
5.  Hora Lentă
6.  Killing Spree
7.  Când s-o-mpărțit norocu’ (Part 1 & 2)
8.  Ride
9.  Freak Show
10. Nice Song
11. Moneyocracy
12. Dulce-i vinu’
13. Cobzar
14. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
15. Pitbull

CD 2 :
16. Büntető (feat. Besh o droM)
17. Dope-A-Min
18. Pretty Faces (feat. Benji Webbe, Caliu & Paul Ilea)
19. Hot for Summer
20. Geamparalele
21. Away (Orchestral Version)
22. Don’t Care (25 Years Later)
23. Manifest
24. Hoții
25. Săracă inima me
26. Bad Apples
27. Dirtylicious
28. Maramu’
29. Pălinca (feat. Boots)
30. Latcho Drom (feat. Caliu)

CD CREDITS:
Dirty Shirt:
Dan “Rini” Crăciun – vocals (2-29)
Robert Rusz – vocals (2-29)
Mihai Tivadar – keyboards, guitars (1-30)
Cristian Bălănean – guitars (1-30)
Dan Petean – guitars (1-7, 10-22, 24, 27-30)
Pál Novelli – bass (except 20)
Cosmin Nechita – violin (2-7, 10, 14, 16-22, 29,30)
Vlad Țoca– drums (except 16)
Sergio Ponti – drums (16)

Transylvanian FolkCore Orchestra
Miruna Puiu – backing vocals (2-7, 10, 14, 16-22, 29), Alexandra Joicaliuc – backing vocals (2-7, 10, 14, 16-22, 29), Tea Vișan – backing vocals (7, 14, 16-22), Andrei Oltean – flutes (2-7, 10, 14, 16-22, 29, 30) & accordion (7, 17-20), Mihai Muntean – cimbalom (7, 14, 17-20, 22), Darius Boșca – clarinet (7, 14, 16-20, 30), Gabriel Bărăștean – violin (2-6, 10, 21, 29), Cătălina Popa – flute (6, 21), Adela Bărăștean – viola (21, 30), Alexandra Enache – cello (21, 22), Rebeka Dula  – cello (21)

Special Guests:
Ádám Pettik – vocals (16), Attila Sidoo – acoustic guitar (16), Adrian Urițescu – bass &  additional guitar (20), Andrei Oșan – clarinet & saxophone (1-6, 10-13, 21, 24, 27- 29), Assica Jelba – additional synths (8, 12, 27), Benji Webbe – vocals (18), Caliu – violin (18, 30), Ciprian Ghiață – accordion (1, 11-13, 24, 27-29), Cosmin Petruț – violin (26), Cosmo – percussion (7, 20), Cserey Csaba – percussion (1, 11-13, 24, 27, 28), Eduard Albina – accordion (2-6, 10, 19, 29), Ferenc Balogh – viola (2-6, 10, 29), Gergely Barcza – saxophone & EWI (16), Ionuț Varolaș – trombone (3, 4, 6, 19), József Csurkulya – cimbalom (16),  Leonard Negrea – cimbalom (1-6, 10-13, 19, 24, 27-29), Marius Sabo – violin (1, 11-13, 24, 27-29),  Mathieu Di Pilla – vocals (29) & backing vocals (17-19), Mihnea Blidariu – trumpet (3, 4, 6), Paul Ilie – synths (18), Stefan Peterfi – double bass (3).

Produced by Mihai Tivadar
Remastering by Adrian Urițescu

Music by Dirty Shirt (except 1, 15, 16, 30), Mathieu Di Pilla (2, 6, 10, 14, 17, 18), Eugen Seno Ionescu (13), Aralica Vojislav & Janković Nedad (15), Ádám Pettik & Barcza Gergely (16), Paul Ilea (18), Dinu Șerbănescu (26), including traditional music (1, 7, 12, 20, 23-25, 28, 30)

Lyrics by Mathieu Di Pilla (2, 3, 6, 7, 10, 14, 17-19, 29), Leonard Ciocan (8, 9, 11-13, 21, 24, 26, 27), Mihai Tivadar (3, 5, 10, 22, 23, 28), Dan Crăciun (22, 23, 28), Andrei Oltean (3, 5), Alexandra Joicaliuc (10), Csapó Dániel (4), Eugen Seno Ionescu (13), Janković Nedad (15), Ádám Pettik & Barcza Gergely (16), Gică Petrescu & Cezarina Moldoveanu (26), including traditional lyrics (7, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29)

Mixing: Adrian Urițescu (7, 14, 16-22, 30) and Charles “Kallaghan” Massabo (1-6, 8-13, 15, 23-29)
Mastering: Adrian Urițescu (7, 14, 16-22, 30), Charles “Kallaghan” Massabo (2-6, 8-10, 25, 26, 29) and Alan Douches (1, 11-13, 15, 23, 24, 27, 28)
Arrangements & editing: Mihai Tivadar (1-30) and Charles Massabo (15, 23)

Recordings: LowBass5 Studio (1, 8, 9, 11-14, 16, 21, 22, 24-28), 7 Cats Studio (1, 7, 11-13, 17-20, 24, 27, 28), MT Sound (1-29), Dirty Shirt Studio (7, 14, 16-22), Kallaghan Studio (15, 23), Luna Recording Studio (11-13, 24, 27, 28), Goldie Star Production (11-13, 24, 27, 28), Casa Radio Cluj-Napoca (30), PSSS Studio (8, 9, 25, 26), G. M. Zamfirescu Studio (26), Obelus Studio (7, 17-22), Osimetric Studio (7, 20)

Artwork by Costin Chioreanu
Pictures by Ciprian Vladuț, Vlad Țoca, Bragovski, Sam Decout, Nelu Tilie, Schliemann Enoh, P. Schwichtenberg, Sergiu Negrean, Andreea Markocsanyi & many others.

Albums artworks: Costin Chioreanu (Dirtylicious, Letchology), Lia Cucuianu (Get Your Dose Now), Cristian Bălănean (Pandemic Special), Elvis Dead (Same Shirt Different Day) & Barbu Crăciun (Very Dirty).

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

VINYL TRACK LISTING:

Disc 1:

Side A:
Ciocârlia
Put It On
Pretty Faces (feat. Benji Webbe, Caliu & Paul Ilea)
FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Când s-o-mpărțit norocu’ (Part 1 & 2)

Side B:
Ride
Freak Show
Hot for Summer
Moneyocracy
Dirtylicious
Cobzar

Disc 2:

Side A:
Büntető (feat. Besh o droM)
Manifest
Geamparalele
Don’t Care (Short Version)
Away (Orchestral Version)

Side B:
Maramu’
Nice Song
Bad Apples
Săracă inima me
Pălinca (feat. Boots)
Latcho Drom (feat. Caliu)

Dirty Shirt:
Dan “Rini” Crăciun – vocals (2-21)
Robert Rusz – vocals (2-21)
Mihai Tivadar – keyboards, guitars (1-22)
Cristian Bălănean – guitars (1-11)
Dan Petean – guitars (1-5, 8-12, 14-17, 20-22)
Pál Novelli – bass (except 14)
Cosmin Nechita – violin (2-5, 8, 12, 14-17, 21-22)
Vlad Țoca– drums (except 12)
Sergio Ponti – drums (12)

Transylvanian FolkCore Orchestra
Miruna Puiu – backing vocals (2-5, 8, 12, 14-16, 18, 21), Alexandra Joicaliuc – backing vocals (2-5, 8, 12, 14-16, 18, 21), Tea Vișan – backing vocals (3-5, 8, 12, 14-16), Andrei Oltean – flutes (2-5, 8, 12, 14-16, 18, 21, 22) & accordion (3, 5, 8, 14), Mihai Muntean – cimbalom (3-5, 8, 14, 15), Darius Boșca – clarinet (3-5, 8, 12, 14, 22), Gabriel Bărăștean – violin (2, 16, 18, 21), Cătălina Popa – flute (16), Adela Bărăștean – viola (16, 22), Alexandra Enache – cello (15, 16), Rebeka Dula – cello (16)

Special Guests:
Ádám Pettik – vocals (12), Attila Sidoo – acoustic guitar (12), Adrian Urițescu – bass & additional guitar (14), Andrei Oșan – clarinet & saxophone (1–7, 9, 11, 13, 16, 18, 21), Assica Jelba – additional synths (6, 10), Benji Webbe – vocals (3), Caliu – violin (3, 22), Ciprian Ghiață – accordion (1, 9-11, 13, 17, 21), Cosmin Petruț – violin (19), Cosmo – percussion (5, 14), Cserey Csaba – percussion (1, 9-11, 13, 17), Eduard Albina – accordion (2–6, 8, 18, 21), Ferenc Balogh – viola (2–6, 18, 21), Gergely Barcza – saxophone & EWI (12), Ionuț Varolaș – trombone (3, 4, 6, 8), József Csurkulya – cimbalom (12), Leonard Negrea – cimbalom (1–6, 8-11, 13, 17, 21), Marius Sabo – violin (1, 9-11, 13, 17, 21), Mathieu Di Pilla – vocals (21) & backing vocals (3, 8), Mihnea Blidariu – trumpet (3, 4, 6), Paul Ilie – synths (3), Stefan Peterfi – double bass (3)

Produced by Mihai Tivadar
Remastering by Adrian Urițescu

Music by Dirty Shirt (except 1, 12, 20, 22), Mathieu Di Pilla (2–5, 8, 18), Eugen Seno Ionescu (11), Aralica Vojislav & Janković Nedad (20), Ádám Pettik & Barcza Gergely (12), Paul Ilea (3), Dinu Șerbănescu (19), including traditional music (1, 5, 13–14, 17, 20, 22)

Lyrics by Mathieu Di Pilla (2–6, 8, 18, 21), Leonard Ciocan (6, 7, 9–11, 16, 19), Mihai Tivadar (6, 13, 17, 18), Dan Crăciun (13, 17), Andrei Oltean (6), Alexandra Joicaliuc (18), Csapó Dániel (4), Eugen Seno Ionescu (11), Janković Nedad (20), Ádám Pettik & Barcza Gergely (12), Gică Petrescu & Cezarina Moldoveanu (19), including traditional lyrics (5, 14, 17, 20, 21)

Mixing: Adrian Urițescu (3–5, 8, 12, 14–16, 22) and Charles “Kallaghan” Massabo (1, 2, 6, 7, 9–11, 13, 17–21)

Mastering: Adrian Urițescu (3–5, 8, 12, 14–16, 22), Charles “Kallaghan” Massabo (2–7, 18–21) and Alan Douches (1, 9, 11, 13, 17)

Arrangements & editing: Mihai Tivadar (1–22) and Charles Massabo (13)

Recordings: LowBass5 Studio (1, 4, 6–9, 11–12, 16–21), 7 Cats Studio (1, 3, 5, 8–9, 11, 14, 17), MT Sound (1–21), Dirty Shirt Studio (4–5, 8, 12, 14–16), Kallaghan Studio (13), Luna Recording Studio (9–11, 17), Goldie Star Production (9–11, 17), Casa Radio Cluj-Napoca (22), PSSS Studio (6–7, 19–20), G. M. Zamfirescu Studio (19), Obelus Studio (3, 5, 8, 12, 14–16), Osimetric Studio (5, 14)

Artwork by Costin Chioreanu

Pictures by Ciprian Vladuț, Vlad Țoca, Bragovski, Sam Decout, Nelu Tilie, Schliemann Enoh, P. Schwichtenberg, Sergiu Negrean, Andreea Markocsanyi & many others.

Albums artworks: Costin Chioreanu (Dirtylicious, Letchology), Lia Cucuianu (Get Your Dose Now), Cristian Bălănean (Pandemic Special), Elvis Dead (Same Shirt Different Day) & Barbu Crăciun (Very Dirty).

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

 

What the press has said:

“Long time readers will know by now that I am partial to the weirder side of heavy music. Dirty Shirt certainly has my attention this week. They’re like a mix of 6:33, Russkaja, and Turisas. This is bombastic, fun metal with Romanian folk mixed in. ” – Metal Injection

“This album is buoyant, blistering and bolshy; you certainly want to get your dose now!” 8/10 – Powerplay Magazine

“”Whoa! ‘Get Your Dose Now!’ is definitely not your average metal album. It’s simply something that you won’t hear anywhere else. Dirty Shirt is the real deal with extraordinarily talented musicians and a uniqueness that sets them apart from the crowd. If you’re in the market for some new music, this band offers something for everyone, from hardcore metal and thrash to tribal and traditional. It’s like your grandmother’s goulash recipe, a little of this and a little of that, with the end result being magical and inimitable.” – Uber Rock

“Are you bored with your current playlist? Perhaps you are looking for something a bit different than the bands you typically listen to? Then look no further my music-loving friends. Let me introduce you to the Transylvanian folkcore of Dirty Shirt. What started out as a wedding band has morphed into a magical, musical amalgam that blends modern hardcore and nu-metal with traditional acoustic instruments and Eastern European musical influences giving us an entirely new breed of metal with known as Romanian crossover folkcore metal. ” – Uber Rock

“Dirty Shirt did a good job again and ‘Get Your Dose Now!’ is a very nice album to listen to and it deserves a listen.” – Folk-Metal.nl

“with DIRTY SHIRT you have joy in life and fun in music. They ignite a light in the currently dark world. A good mood is guaranteed. So get your dose today, now, get vaccinated against sadness and depression. before it’s too late. – Saitenkult

“This album can be discovered as you listen. It is rich, destabilizing at times, but always fair and imbued with sensitivity. With Get Your Dose , the DIRTY SHIRT surely give us their best album, and it was not easy given the quality of the previous one. No need to write sandwiches about it, you just have to let yourself be seduced. Cheer.” – Among The Living

“Dirty Shirt, Your New Favorite Transylvanian Folk-Core Band ” – Metal Sucks

“DIRTY SHIRT only sound like DIRTY SHIRT.” – Metal Temple

“Is it catchy? Yes. Is it fun? Yes. Is it utterly mental? Yes. Highly recommended” – Metal Observer

“Dirty Shirt are probably one fantastic live band with an immense energy” – Rock Freaks

” “…you’ve never heard anything quite like this before”” – Sonic Abuse

“It’s one of those rare albums where it keeps you glued to your seat just waiting to see what pops up next.” – Heavy Metal Time Machine

“As Monty Python would say, ‘And now for something completely different.’ ” – Music Underground

“this is a band like no other in the music scene now in days in the underground, indie or mainstream scene.” – Vents Magazine

0 EPK – Truent – Vilemaker (2026) (single)

  • June 21, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Truent

EPK – Truent – Vilemaker (2026) (single)

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

“The most recent song we’ve written. There was much deliberation on the structure and placement of certain parts, but I think it came together in a very satisfying way. The first song our new vocalist, Darian, has written the lyrics for.” – Nicolas Landry (Drums) – Truent

For Fans of Revocation, Alluvial, Cognizance, Fit for an Autopsy, Psycroptic

All Links – https://ffm.bio/truentmetal

Facebook.com/Truentmetal | Youtube.com/@truentmetal | Tiktok.com/@truentmetal | Instagram.com/truentmetal 

Truentmetal.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music | Tab Store: https://truentmetal.gumroad.com/

‘Maple Ridge’s Truent draw out the progressive side of thrash metal in a tightly knit package similar to greats such as Lamb Of God, Revocation or even Gojira. The band aren’t happy to sit on their hands slaying overdone thrash metal, opting to mix in melodic riffing, experimental passages of prog metal and more.’ –  Altpress

Band: Truent
Single Title: Vilemaker – 4:27
Release Date: June 26th, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Genre: Death Metal
Location of Band: Vancouver, BC

Single Recording Credits:
• Song performed by: Matthew Pancoust (Guitar) | Eli Slamang (Guitar) | Nicolas Landry (Drums) | Darian Mazloomi (Vocals) | Jason Whitewick-Bonenfant (Bass)
• Song written by: Eli Slamang, Nicolas Landry, Darian Mazloomi, Jason Whitewick-Bonenfant, Matthew Pancoust
• Produced by: Truent
• Mixed by: Mike Low
• Mastered by: Mike Low
• Album Artwork by: Feri Irawan (@artfery_illustration)
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Live and Single Band Lineup:
Matthew Pancoust – Guitar
Eli Slamang – Guitar
Nicolas Landry – Drums
Jason Whitewick-Bonenfant – Bass
Darian Mazloomi – Vocals

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

About The Single Artwork:

The single’s artwork is inspired by the manga Berserk. Which also served as inspiration for the lyrics

About the single – Vilemaker:

Lyrically, Vilemaker is about a tyrant’s climb to reach absolute power through the deaths of those around him. Every corpse born from his conquest is another step towards a destiny, a vision, a kingdom. This song explores the evils of deceiving and manipulating others to achieve one’s goals. It is directly inspired by Berserk’s ‘Golden Age’ arc.

Musically, it’s very fast-paced and heavy. Very lyrically dense, lots of technical riffing, groovy drums, and a good sense of momentum and energy that builds throughout the song.

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

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Tours Built Around Swimming
Our tours are basically elaborate excuses to find good places to swim. Lakes, rivers, hotel pools, sketchy roadside swimming holes: if there is water nearby, we are probably trying to get in it.

2. The Pickup Truck Tour
On our first cross-Canada tour, our van’s transmission blew in Edmonton before the first show even happened. Instead of calling it quits, we worked our connections, rented a Ford F-150, and kept going.

That meant five big dudes crammed into a pickup truck all the way to Montreal and back. Since our van had bunks built into the back, we also lost our mobile home overnight. When we did not have places to stay, we slept outside in parking lots and on park benches just to keep the tour going.

It was stressful, uncomfortable, and ridiculous, but somehow it became our most successful tour up to that point.

3. From Garage Covers to Original Metal
We started as a group of teenagers playing Rush and Led Zeppelin covers in our parents’ garages when we were in Grade 8. From there, we slowly found our way into metal together. We would discover a new band, get obsessed, then try to write songs in that style as a group.

By the time we were 15 or 16, we were writing and recording original songs. At 18 or 19, we released our second EP, To End an Ancient Way of Life, while still figuring out what kinds of metal and songwriting styles really felt like us. Around that same time, we started playing our first shows in Vancouver.

There have been a few lineup changes since then, but Matthew Pancoust and drummer Nicolas Landry have been there since the very beginning, jamming in garages around Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

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

L-R – Matthew Pancoust (Guitar) | Jason Whitewick-Bonenfant (Bass) | Darian Mazloomi (Vocals) | Nicolas Landry (Drums) | Eli Slamang (Guitar)

Photo Credit – Paradox Visuals – Instagram: @_prdxvisuals

 

Vancouver death metal act Truent, has spent the last several years becoming a force in the Canadian metal scene – extensively touring in Canada, and sharing stages with Archspire, Decapitated, Voivod, Revoaction, Signs of the Swarm, and more. With a fresh lineup, new music on the way, and a cross-Canada headlining tour under their belts, the band continues to bring their technical, groove-laden style of death metal to a rapidly growing audience.

Live and Single Band Lineup:
Matthew Pancoust – Guitar
Eli Slamang – Guitar
Nicolas Landry – Drums
Jason Whitewick-Bonenfant – Bass
Darian Mazloomi – Vocals

Discography:
2026 – Vilemaker – Single
2024 – Creating Mortality – Single
2022 – Through the Vale of Earthly Torment – LP
2018 – To End an Ancient Way of Life – EP
2017 – Faith in the Forgotten – EP

Shared Stage with:
Archspire, Decapitated, SepticFlesh, Kataklysm, Voivod, Signs of the Swarm, Revocation, Fallujah, The Zenith Passage, Opal in Sky, Filth

Touts and Festivals:
2026 – Vancouver Island Tour – Vancouver Island
2025 – Loud as Hell Festival – Drumheller, AB
2024 – Creating Mortality Across Canada Tour – Cross Canada
2023 – Melting Through the Abyss Tour – Western Canada
2023 – Armstrong Metal Festival – Armstrong, BC
2019 – Armstrong Metal Festival – Armstrong, BC

Artist Endorsements:
Engl Amplification
Barekuckle Pickups
Zuta Group (Amplifiers)

0 EPK – Tonic Breed – Name Dealer (EP)

  • June 16, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Tonic Breed

EPK – Tonic Breed – Name Dealer (EP)

ft. guests from Whitesnake, Flotsam and Jetsam, Five Finger Death Punch, ex-Lamb of God, ex-Megadeth

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

Tonicbreed.com | Facebook.com/tonicbreed | YouTube | Instagram.com/tonicbreed 

Spotify | Apple Music

“The new EP, “Name Dealer” from Tonic Breed (Patrik Svendsen) just landed and it’s a monster. Leading the way is the title track single which features guest appearances from rock legends Tommy Aldridge (Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne) on drums and Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) on lead guitar. We gave it a spin and it’s like sticking your face in a furnace with mean riffs, a driving snare, rolls a-plenty, deep hooks, a blistering guitar solo and nice slicing vocals. ‘Name Dealer’ unfolds as an unforgettable heavyweight of modern metal from three dudes that have been at this game quite a while and know what it takes to bring it, and then some. Catch Tonic Breed on your Home for the Best New Rock…W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll

What the press has said about Tonic Breed:

“This is a collection of songs you need to hear, so what are you waiting for? [8/10]” – Metal Noise (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“The guest musicians really came together on this EP, it’s real luxury material. In short, it is a great return of Patrick as he has been throughout his career with Tonic Breed. If you are fans of Metallica, Testament, Pantera or Slayer, listening to «Fuel the Fire» it is essential this year. Without a doubt I will follow the career of this One Man Band with great interest.” – Broken Tomb (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“Tonic Breed show that the embers have not gone out and this EP gives them a good old poking, tossing them around and letting the heat build-up. ” – Metal Digest (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“Tonic Breed reinforces my growing belief that music, and particularly metal, can one day survive and even thrive without need of the corporate machine.” – Metal Disciple (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“For an unsigned act Outsold has one of the best productions I have heard in a long time. Simply put it’s a fantastic album.” – Teeth of the Divine (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“TONIC BREED could easily advance up the ranks thanks to this impressive release.” – Metal Temple (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“10/10. Album of the year 2014.” – The Metal Review (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“For an unsigned act Outsold has one of the best productions I have heard in a long time. Simply put it’s a fantastic album.” – Teeth of the Divine (2014 – Outsold – LP)

Band: Tonic Breed
EP Title: Name Dealer
Label: Self-Release
Release Date: June 10th, 2026
Genre: Heavy Metal
Location of Band: Norway

 

Track Listing:
1. Name Dealer ft. Tommy Aldridge (drums), Joel Hoekstra (lead guitars) – 3:48
2. Close In ft. Charlie Engen (drums), Adrian Bjerketvedt (guitars and lead guitars) –  5:45
3. Anew –  Chris Adler (drums) – 3:31
4. The Die is Cast ft. Michael Gilbert (guitar solo) – 3:31EP Credits:
Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen – All string instruments and vocals except when other specifiedTrack 1 – Name Dealer
Featuring: Tommy Aldridge (drums), Joel Hoekstra (lead guitars)
Produced by Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen
Co-produced by Adrian Bjerketvedt (including organ)
Mixed by Patrik Svendsen and Adrian Bjerketvedt
Drum recording at Joel Jacks Studio in Santa Ynez, CA
Vocals recorded in Sarpsborg, Norway
Engineered by Adrian Bjerketvedt
Mastered by Steve KitchTrack 2 – Close In
Featuring: Charlie Engen (drums), Adrian Bjerketvedt (guitars and lead guitars)
Produced by Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen
Co-produced by Adrian Bjerketvedt
Mixed by Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen and Adrian Bjerketvedt
Vocals recorded in Sarpsborg, Norway
Engineered by Adrian Bjerketvedt
Mastered by Steve KitchTrack 3 – Anew
Featuring: Chris Adler (drums)
Produced by Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen
Mix and master: Gene “Machine” Freeman
Studio engineer (vocals): Adrian Bjerketvedt
Recorded Match-May 2025, Oslo and Sarpsborg, Norway | Richmond, Virginia, United States

Track 4 – The Die Is Cast
Featuring: Michael Gilbert (guitar solo)
Producer: Patrik K. Svendsen
Engineer: Adrian Bjerketvedt
Mastered: Steve Kitch
Recorded January-February 2025, Oslo and Sarpsborg, Norway

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

About The EP:

Name Dealer is the second EP in the new Tonic Breed format, where guests are invited to perform on the tracks. The first two songs were released last year, and the EP was completed with an additional two songs on June 10th.
I’m extremely happy with the quality of the songs and the musicians involved in the process. This EP experiments with everything from the old recipe while adding new layers such as orchestration and different songwriting approaches.
The quality of the deliveries from everyone involved is beyond my expectations. Everything from the musical contributions from the guests to the mixing and engineering process in the final stages of the song creation has exceeded what I hoped for.

Track by Track (Musically and Lyrically)

1. Name Dealer
This is a song that wastes no time getting to the point. It opens with intensity and maintains momentum throughout. The chorus has a hook, which isn’t typically associated with Tonic Breed.

It’s an absolute honor to have Tommy Aldridge and Joel Hoekstra on this song. Their performances exceeded all expectations, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Having the opportunity to collaborate with musicians of their caliber means a great deal to me, and it’s something I’m truly grateful for.

2. Close In
Musically, it’s a semi-ballad with a lot of layers. There are clean parts, heavier sections, harmonies, choirs, and orchestration. It’s by far the most dynamic thing I’ve done in music.

Lyrically, it deals with loss and what that does to you over time. Not just the moment, but the long-term weight of it.

3. Anew
This high-octane track features Chris Adler, the iconic drummer of Lamb of God, lending his blistering rhythms to the song. I originally sent over a rough demo of the song, a storm of riffs strung together with placeholder drums and a suggested structure. We worked together on a new structure for the song, and Chris took the lead on shaping it into something far more unique and effective than my original draft. To me, this is the most Lamb of God-style drumming I’ve heard from Chris since he was in Lamb of God. I’m sure some metal guitarists would kill to hear Chris Adler’s drumming behind their riffs; I’ve been lucky enough to experience that firsthand.

4. The Die Is Cast
Straight to the point. No fluff, no filler, “The Die Is Cast” is pure, hard-hitting thrash from start to finish, with a touch of melody woven in. The song is about a powerful war machine that lies broken and abandoned, surrounded by the wreckage of others like it. Its silence feels heavy, as if it’s aware of the destruction it once brought and the emptiness that followed.

I think the fans are gonna dig this one. Tonic Breed never releases a song that sounds too much like the previous one. Also, with guest appearances, the unique touch on each song is there all the time. I’m super excited about the response from the fans! I went for an ’80s thrash composition on this one! Having Michael on board is an absolute honor, as he was a part of that era and genre of music.

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

Tonic Breed is a Norwegian thrash and heavy metal one-man music project by Patrik K. Svendsen. Until 2019, Tonic Breed was originally a four-piece band, established in Sarpsborg, Norway, in 2006. As of 2022, Tonic Breed has released three albums and one EP. Today, Tonic Breed is constantly reinventing itself in songwriting and guest collaborations, which already include Chris Adler (Lamb of God), Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam) and Charlie Engen (Five Finger Death Punch, Scale The Summit, Idealogy).

Discography:
-2026 – Name Dealer (EP)
– 2026 – Name Dealer (single) (ft. guest drums Tommy Albridge (Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne) and guest guitar Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra))
– 2026 – Close In (single) (ft. guest drums Charlie Engen (Five Finger Death Punch, Scale The Summit, Idealogy)
– 2025 – Anew (single) (ft. guest drums Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
– 2025 – The Die Is Cast (single) (ft. guest guitar solo Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam)
– 2025 – The Charge (single w/ Darkroot)
– 2024 – Outsold – LP – 10th Anniversary Edition
– 2022 – Fuel the Fire – EP (ft. guests Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Bernt Jansen (Artch/Wig Wam), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Martin Skriubakken (Endezzma), Oliver Palotai (Kamelot)
– 2018 – Install Memory – LP
– 2014 – Outsold – LP
– 2010 – On the Brink of Destruction

0 EPK – Tonic Breed – Name Dealer (single) (2026)

  • June 14, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Tonic Breed

EPK – Tonic Breed – Name Dealer (single) (2026)

Tonicbreed.com | Facebook.com/tonicbreed | YouTube | Instagram.com/tonicbreed

Spotify | Apple Music

“It’s an absolute honor to have Tommy Aldridge and Joel Hoekstra on this song. Their performances exceeded all expectations, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Having the opportunity to collaborate with musicians of their caliber means a great deal to me, and it’s something I’m truly grateful for.” – Patrik K. Svendsen – Tonic Breed

Tonic Breed is a Norwegian thrash and heavy metal one-man music project by Patrik K. Svendsen. Until 2019, Tonic Breed was originally a four-piece band, established in Sarpsborg, Norway, in 2006. As of 2022, Tonic Breed has released three albums and one EP. Today, Tonic Breed is constantly reinventing itself in songwriting and guest collaborations, which already include Chris Adler (Lamb of God), Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam) and Charlie Engen (Five Finger Death Punch, Scale The Summit, Idealogy).

Discography:
– 2026 – Name Dealer (single) (ft. guest drums Tommy Albridge (Whitesnake, Ozzy Osbourne) and guest guitar Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra))
– 2026 – Close In (single) (ft. guest drums Charlie Engen (Five Finger Death Punch, Scale The Summit, Idealogy)
– 2025 – Anew (single) (ft. guest drums Chris Adler (Lamb of God)
– 2025 – The Die Is Cast (single) (ft. guest guitar solo Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam)
– 2025 – The Charge (single w/ Darkroot)
– 2024 – Outsold – LP – 10th Anniversary Edition
– 2022 – Fuel the Fire – EP (ft. guests Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Bernt Jansen (Artch/Wig Wam), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Martin Skriubakken (Endezzma), Oliver Palotai (Kamelot)
– 2018 – Install Memory – LP
– 2014 – Outsold – LP
– 2010 – On the Brink of Destruction

About The Single:
This is a song that wastes no time getting to the point. It opens with intensity and keeps the momentum going throughout. The chorus has some kind of hook, which isn’t typically associated with Tonic Breed.
Band: Tonic Breed
Single Title: Name Dealer
Length: 3:48
Release Date: June 10th, 2026
Genre: Heavy metal
Location of Band: Norway

Single Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Tonic Breed (guest Tommy Aldridge and Joel Hoekstra)
• All songs written by: Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen
• Produced by: Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen, co-produced Adrian Bjerketvedt
• Mixed by: Adrian Bjerketvedt and Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen
• Mastered by: Steve KitchSingle Band Line Up:
Patrik Kvalvik Svendsen – Guitars, vocals
Tommy Aldridge – Drums
Joel Hoekstra – Lead guitar

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

What the press has said:

“This is a collection of songs you need to hear, so what are you waiting for? [8/10]” – Metal Noise (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“The guest musicians really came together on this EP, it’s real luxury material. In short, it is a great return of Patrick as he has been throughout his career with Tonic Breed. If you are fans of Metallica, Testament, Pantera or Slayer, listening to «Fuel the Fire» it is essential this year. Without a doubt I will follow the career of this One Man Band with great interest.” – Broken Tomb (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“Tonic Breed show that the embers have not gone out and this EP gives them a good old poking, tossing them around and letting the heat build-up. ” – Metal Digest (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“Tonic Breed reinforces my growing belief that music, and particularly metal, can one day survive and even thrive without need of the corporate machine.” – Metal Disciple (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“For an unsigned act Outsold has one of the best productions I have heard in a long time. Simply put it’s a fantastic album.” – Teeth of the Divine (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“TONIC BREED could easily advance up the ranks thanks to this impressive release.” – Metal Temple (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“10/10. Album of the year 2014.” – The Metal Review (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“For an unsigned act Outsold has one of the best productions I have heard in a long time. Simply put it’s a fantastic album.” – Teeth of the Divine (2014 – Outsold – LP)

0 EPK – Metaladian – Deaditation (2026)

  • June 10, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Metaladian

EPK – Metaladian – Deaditation (2026)

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

For fans of Strapping Young Lad, Metallica (early), Suffocation, Bela Bartok, Ludwig Van Beethoven

“This is the debut album of Metaladian. It is the culmination of 20+ years of work. There is a great deal of variation within the album in terms of lyrical content, tempo, and texture. Still, there is consistency with my use of chromaticism, lush harmonies, virtuosic drums, soaring and heavy vocals, and thrash-like backing vocals. The album clearly belongs in the metal genre, but is greatly influenced by classical composers, which lends itself to the progressiveness and complexity. The album is a story arc featuring a journey of pain, retribution, and redemption.  The vocals are a mix of melodic screams and quick call-and-response between all the members. The overall feel of the album is drenched in violence and darkness, but with a hint of light that can be achieved that begins to show itself as the album progresses. The album is crafted to allow the listener to become fully sucked in and able to follow as a kind of sound-journey.” – Andrew Brophy – Metaladian

Facebook.com/metaladian | Instagram.com/metaladian | Tiktok.com/@metaladian | Youtube.com/@metaladian9997

Metaladian.bandcamp.com | Spotify

Album Title: Deaditation
Release Date: July 1st, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Metal
Location of Band: Hamilton, ON, Canada

Track Listing:
1. Left Hand Path – 9:44
2. Deaditation – 6:21
3. No Worse Death Than The Loss Of All Hope – (Wondering Why I Wonder Why) – 7:35
4. Confrontation With God – 11:59
5. Cure For Judgement – 6:51
6. Welcome To Your Holy Hell – 8:49
Album Length: 51:19

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Metaladian
• All songs written by: Andrew Brophy
• Produced by: Andrew Brophy
• Mixed by: Dan Brophy
• Mastered by: Andreas “Seidr Jonsson” Westholm of Dark Prod Mixing and Mastering
• Album Artwork by: Roberto Toderico of Roberto Toderico Art

Band Line-up:
Andrew Brophy – Lead Vocals – Drums
Dan Brophy – Vocals – Rhythm, Lead and Classical Guitars
Ruth Guetchal – Vocals – Rhythm Guitars
Dustin Smith – Vocals – Bass Guitars

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

About The Album Artwork:

The artwork depicts the members of the band as a group of skeleton witches brewing their toil in a cauldron in the moonlight. – surrounded by snarling wolves and victims’ limbs scattered on the ground. This grisly image is an analogy for the calling to arms to our fellow brothers and sisters to arm themselves for the spiritual battle ahead against us.  Dan on the left is holding what’s left of the latest victim’s genitals. I’m holding the victim’s heart and head; Dustin is holding the scythe, and Ruth is stirring the cauldron.

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

 

The album is a story arc featuring a journey of pain, retribution, and redemption. The lyrics are introspective and personal, but still have the ability to connect with their audience through more abstract imagery based on violent fantasy.  The vocals are rhythmically punctuated with quick call and response between all the members, with the lead vocals being more melodic and the backing vocals more akin to a kind of thrashy punctuation. The lyrics were set up in a way that Dustin, Dan and Ruth are extensions of me. Musically, they cover the range and dynamics that I cannot do.  Dustin is on the lower end of the scale. With a lot of range in his style. Low bellowing or a Guttural feral Ogre. Dan is more like a vicious rabid dog, or riot vocals. Ruth gets the ripping, high, screeching screams that slice through your soul. I sing all the long-held-out harmonies as well.  The music is both chromatic and harmonically lush, with a dense layer of multiple parts that weave around one another, connected with catchy hooks and bone-crushing riffs. The overall feel of the album is drenched in violence and darkness, but with a hint of light that can be achieved that begins to show itself as the album progresses. The album is crafted to allow the listener to become fully sucked in and able to follow the journey as a kind of sound journey.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

 

1. Left Hand Path – Left Hand Path is part one of two songs. The lyrics introduce the dark and serious landscape of what the listener can expect through the rest of the album. These lyrics show how we are living in a difficult, dark and violent era that seems inescapable. Shattered innocence of youth we all once were, and growing up with the haunting memories of the sadistic brutality of human nature taking pleasure in the pain of the vulnerable. Leaving the victim with immense psychological pain and emotional torture, and an unrelenting anger directed towards the abuser. Musically, the bass and rhythm guitar play twisted, chromatic lines while the other guitar outlines lush harmonies. It’s one of the longer tracks with multiple sections. Opening with sound effects of cold wintery winds with wolves howling in the distance, representing the brutality of nature.  We move into the introduction with a high lead guitar, falling into a devastating riff in unison. The verses are made up of slowly climbing chromatic guitar riffs with vocals passed between members with blistering leads at their apex. The middle section is a hypnotic drone section with erratic screams and wild guitar noise. Closer to the end of the song, we move in with a slower, more introspective, hypnotic section Chanting we will curse you 100 000 fold. We end with more melodic vocals and triumphant chord changes that prepare us for Deaditation

2. Deaditation – Deaditation is part two of Left Hand Path and is the featured single off the album. Lyrically, it paints a picture of a blackened world with the band calling its fans to arm themselves against the forces of evil that attempt to push us down. Giving the emotional devastation back to the abusers through a Deaditation. A meditated psychic attack that forces the predator to feel the pain they left on the victim 100,000-fold.  The track opens up with a massive crowd of rioters hunting down their victim.  Dustin starts us off on the bass with a constant chromatic line as Ruth fades in with the contagious droning harmonies while Dan’s guitar is ripping feedback. I enter with a tribal drum solo that takes us into the first verse.  The interplay between vocalists is quick and dizzying. The drum parts were written to match the rhythm of the vocals. The vocals dictated the cymbal hits for the most part, which just happened naturally from singing and playing drums. The music itself comprises three different sections – a plateau, an ascension and a descent – each of which is permeated by chromatic runs, with the lead guitar playing lightning-fast licks to punctuate the sections. Each time the three sections restart, the tempo is increased. In this way, the music is incrementally and constantly gaining momentum, driving the music to a spiralling frenzy by the final descent. We end with the crowd of rioters celebrating.

3. No Worse Death Than The Loss Of All Hope – No Worse Death Than the Loss of All Hope (NWDTTLOAH) is the third track and is part one of two songs. NWDTTLOAH performs a 180-degree change from what the listener has heard so far. It is a slow and sludgy song – dark and depressing that feels as though one is wallowing in a pit of despair from which they can never leave.  The lyrics bring this feeling across with giant harmonies and long-held notes punctuated by the backing vocals. The music is through-composed with nearly no repetition, but as a stream of consciousness with small fragments of repeated figures that tie it together. The song ends with long-held chords and the vocalists screaming “no” in unison. On the final instrumental hit is a church bell that feels like death has taken hold, with a sample of a grief-stricken soul crying, wallowing in self-pity.  Beneath the tolling of the bell, a dark, chromatic-sounding classical guitar piece I composed is performed by my brother Dan, which meanders until it comes to its conclusion.

 

4. Confrontation with God – Is part two of No Worse Death.  Confrontation is the transition between pain and retribution. The lyrics are a questioning of why? Why does life have to work this way? Why would God allow this to happen?  It is the final straw, and I have it out with God. Falling deeper into mental and emotional anguish, then into panic and maniacal hysterics, pushed past the point of no return. The end is the attempted suicide, begging for forgiveness, then death. The music is one of the more complex arrangements of the entire album. There is an elongated introduction with a prayer recited with a march-like snare and bass drone, sirens, arpeggiated guitar chords and a melodic guitar floating on top. The band enters together triumphantly with unison chords and dives straight into the heaviness. The song ends with a crushing two-note riff that slows to nearly a halt, following suit with the lyrics and the slowing down of the music to recreate the slowing down of the heart into the last breath, then flatlines.  Leaving the listener exhausted by the end.

 

5. Cure for Judgement – Cure for Judgement is the other single from the album. It is part one of two songs (Holy Hell being part two). The lyrics for this song deal with the evils that come with judgement and how those who push their views on others are ignorant of personal truth and sovereignty.  It is also ironic as it would naturally humble me on the views and judgements of others and seeing everything and everyone as a reflection of myself.  The music is a medium tempo, beginning with some noise that sounds as though the guitar is on fire. The musical structure is complex, beginning with Ruth arpeggiating chords at an alarming speed. Directly after the bass, drums, and other guitars are layered over top in unison with the words “burn” and “fire” being passed around by the members. Following the introduction are several verses and bridges that expand and diminish in length, interspersed by blazing quick and snake-like melodic solos. These are broken up with several choruses in which my voice rings overtop, and the music is heightened to be almost ecstatic. The song ends with chaos – drums, bass, and guitar are playing an almost marching beat with the lead guitar performing an array of arpeggio sweeps.

6. Welcome to Your Holy Hell – Holy Hell is one of the heavier songs on the album with an upbeat tempo that makes the listener want to thrash everything in sight! The lyrics dwell on revenge and payback – a chance to finally let the person in mind know what you think of them. Furiously mocking and berating them, which is backed up by the musical intensity. The song opens with an ascent that accelerates until it feels inescapable, then suddenly falls away. This breaks away into a groovy, angry riff with ranting and raving from me and some thrash-like backing vocals. Soon after, the anger melts away into a doom-like groove that slows into a sludge. The music again ascends until we are back into an even quicker tempo with more insane and angry-sounding rants, insults and a punchy, groovy riff that carries the music into an almost fight-like sound. The end completely breaks away with soaring melodic vocals, triumphant chord changes and a virtuosic solo. Then the music comes to an end with a sample of my pet dog Adian before he passed away, barking and playing for the last time before I had to put him down. There are sounds of a beautiful sunny day at the waterfront with a soft breeze in the trees. Adian represents the final part of the arc – redemption.

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

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. The lyrics have an arc, beginning with depression and self-hatred, but lead to revenge and end with redemption. Even though the lyrics can be abrasive and violent, they also lead us into self-realization, actualization, and forgiveness.

2. Ruth’s rhythm guitar part is the main harmony and is almost completely composed of arpeggiated chords throughout, being almost a kind of keyboard part played on guitar. The other guitar and bass play almost always in rhythmic unison, and the drums tend to punctuate both parts. In this sense, a bigger sound is achieved.

3. All four members are also part of the Hamilton band 30 Immolated; 16 returned who have released one full-length, an EP, and a video. Also, Daniel and I are brothers who have been playing metal together since we were teenagers; Ruth is Dan’s wife, so it’s a family band of sorts. Dustin is, of course, our metal brother from another mother.

4. Dan, Ruth, and I have studied classical guitar and music. I was fortunate to go back to school in my late twenties and studied classical guitar and music at Mohawk College in Hamilton for four years.  My brother and Ruth both have doctorates in composition. All three of us teach music for a living.  I personally have taught at a few different music studios in the greater Toronto area for twenty-five years, but I have been teaching guitar, bass, and ukulele at Long and McQuade’s for around ten years now. I have also been teaching drums, piano, guitar, and ukulele at Dan and Ruth’s music studio as well as privately on my own.

5. I created and designed the band name and logo, Metaladian. Which means, quite simply, a Canadian metalhead. Each letter of Metaladian was designed as a weapon. I was born on July 1st, 1974, in Ottawa. I love Canada and consider myself very fortunate to have lived from one side of Canada to the other.

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

L-R: Dan Brophy – Rhythm and Lead Guitars and Vocals, Andrew Brophy – Drums and Lead Vocals, Dustin Smith – Bass Guitar and Vocals, Ruth Guechtal – Rhythm Guitar and Vocals

Photo Credit – Andrew Brophy

 

Metaladian is a new band formed in Hamilton, Ontario, led by composer, drummer, and vocalist Andrew Brophy. Musically, we belong in the metal genre, but are greatly influenced by classical composers, lending itself to the progressiveness and complexity. The overall feel of the music is drenched in violence and darkness, but with a hint of light that can be achieved through our musical journey. The lead vocals, performed by drummer Andrew Brophy, are both harsh and melodic, with soaring melodies and lush harmonies, which alternate with the more thrash-style vocals from the rest of the band. The drums themselves are virtuosic, complementing the crushing riffs and flowing chords. The debut album “Deaditation” from Metaladian is the culmination of 20+ years of work. There is a great deal of variation within the album in terms of musical content, tempo, and texture.

Discography:
2026 – Deaditation (LP)
2020- Metaladian – Cure for Judgement – Demo

 

0 EPK – Powerload – In The Pocket (2026)

  • June 6, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Powerload

EPK – Powerload – In The Pocket (2026)

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

For fans of G.B.H., Motorhead, AC/DC, Motley Crue

Band: Powerload
Album: In The Pocket
Release Date: June 26th, 2026
Label: Luv Machine Records (Vinyl), Night Strike Records (Cassette), Nice Load Records & Marital Aid (CD)
Genre: Hard Rock, Metal-Punk, Rock n’ Roll
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada

“We wanted this album to be almost conceptual of the POWERLÖAD lifestyle. You start the party drinking (Tons Of Tail), maybe you hook up with a chick (Bad Girls), some guy bugs you for blow (The Ballad Of Shit Faced Tony), you go play the gig & rock the night (Chains of Rock n’ Roll), you spend your hard earned gig money gambling after (Stakes Are High), you smoke some weed to even out (Defenders Of The Eighth), you meet another chick (Lapdog Deluxe), time to go home (Drunk In A Taxi Cab). While this isn’t a concept album in actuality, people who’ve heard it typically compare it to The Who’s Tommy or Pink Floyd’s The Wall, mostly because of the musicianship & lyrical themes, which are superior on “In The Pocket”” – Powerload

Facebook.com/POWERLOADYEG | Instagram.com/POWERLOAD.YEG | Youtube.com/@POWERLOADYEG

Powerload.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

Band: Powerload
Album: In The Pocket
Release Date: June 26th, 2026
Label: Luv Machine Records (Vinyl), Night Strike Records (Cassette), Nice Load Records & Marital Aid (CD)
Genre: Hard Rock, Metal-Punk, Rock n’ Roll
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada

Track Listing:
1. Tons Of Tail (2:36)
2. Bad Girls (3:02)
3. The Ballad Of Shit Faced Tony (2:58)
4. Chains Of Rock n’ Roll (2:51)
5. Stakes Are High (So Am I) (3:21)
6. Defenders Of The Eighth (2:42)
7. Lapdog Deluxe (2:20)
8. Drunk In A Taxi Cab (3:25)

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Powerload
• All songs written by: Powerload
• Produced by: Powerload & Rob Lawless
• Mixed by: Rob Lawless
• Mastered by: Rob Lawless
• Album Artwork by: Adan Vazquez
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Band Line Up Album + Live
Shel Shock – Bass, Vocals (Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6)
Brett Michaels – Guitar
Hell Hammered – Drums, Vocals (Tracks 2, 5, 7, 8)

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About The Album Artwork:

Some company refused to print the artwork on hoodies for us, & they described it this way: “a nude robot in an explicit position. The robot is receiving a ball in her buttocks while she is bent down.”

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

SEX, DRUGS, ROCK N’ ROLL.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Tons of Tail – sounds like it’s about lots of chicks, but it’s actually about lots of cocktails. Sounds like ACDC if they sucked.

2. Bad Girls – Song dedicated to all the badass, strong, independent women we know. Chicks are way cooler than dudes. Sounds kinda like Celtic Frost… if they sucked.

3. The Ballad Of Shit Faced Tony – We wrote this song about this guy that wouldn’t stop asking people for blow in Toronto, & they called him “Shit Face Tony,” but he was just this little dude in a button-up that looked like he just finished the late class at the college. He got in a motorcycle accident a few months ago & is regrowing his organs. Guy rules. Sounds like Powerload to me, baby!

4. Chains Of Rock n’ Roll – This song is about rockin’ & livin’ the life of rock n’ roll like how the best in the biz – the Sunset Strip bands of the 80s did it. Sounds like those bands if they had a singer who couldn’t sing & a guitar player who just started playing a few months ago.

5. Stakes Are High (& So Am I) – This song was a tribute to Motorhead lyrically, with the title lifted from the lyrics of an Uncle Ted song. Kinda just once again sounds like Powerload, we throw all the shit we love into a big ‘ol blender & this is what you get.

6. Defenders Of The Eighth – This song is about smoking weed. I think. Sounds like Inepsy/Motorhead if they sucked.

7. Lapdog Deluxe – This song was inspired by the line in ZZ Top’s “Under Pressure,” “Flippin’ Out With Great Danes,” because, like, what the fuck does that even mean? & why is this chick flipping out with them? Song sounds like we took a dump in the glam rock junk shop & we mean that in the very best way possible.

8. Drunk In A Taxi Cab – this song was inspired by that really shitty time you had too much to drink & had to get in a car to go home. When you do this nightly, you have a lot of time to reflect on it. Sounds like Powerload if Powerload sucked!

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Fun Facts – Story Angles:

1. We opened up for Sebastian Bach & he got really mad at us for writing “Sebastian Cock” on our set lists. He later apologized & hung out with us for a bit. Baz rules. The full story is on our Instagram.

2. Shel Shock sings Defenders Of The Eighth but is the only band member who doesn’t smoke weed.

3. All 3 members have a third leg.

4. People think the album cover for In The Pocket is AI, but it’s actually an acrylic painting, & we get some really interesting virgins calling us out online.

5. We built a bar in our jam space & it’s called the “Powerlöad Bar & Grill” where we serve booze & hot dogs.

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

L-R: Hell Hammered (Drums/Vocals), Shel Shock (Bass/Vocals), Brett Michaels (Guitar)

Photo Credit – STUDIO VON PHOTOGRAPHY

Straight out of their daddy’s dick, Powerlöad are real-deal rock’n’ rollers. No rules, no wimps, just pure, unadulterated slut rock. Combining elements of all their favourite punk, heavy metal & porno movies, they bring a fresh load to a tired & cookie-cutter scene. EST. 2024.

DISCOGRAPHY:
2026 – IN THE POCKET – LP/TAPE/CD
2025 – SPREAD YOUR LEGS – DIGITAL SINGLE
2025 – 1-900-HOT-LÖAD – 7 INCH SINGLE
2024 – DEMO ‘24 – TAPE

Shared Stage with:
Sebastian Bach, Anvil, The Accused AD, Villain, Toy Tiger, MDOP, Mrsa, Cemetery Girl, Midnite Hellion, Divine Apprehension, Lover, Bottom Line, Revelator, Chinese Medicine, Miesha & the Spanks, Fishlips, Lewd Antics, Kurt Dimer, Qualia, Vargouille, Ol’ Baldy Garret Dale, 2 Shadows, Repugnant Scum, Accidents Happen, Wolfenstein, Nervous Aggression, Sick Ritual, Disaster Relief, Plagued By Fire, Sycatrys, Frenesi, Abuse, Dead Shit Earth, Phrozen, Slug Rust, Bigg Egg, Spike Pit, Butcher’s Dog, World Eaters, Vicious Intent, Blind Tyrant.

Tour and Festivals:
2026 – Weekend Warranty Tour – Western Canada
2026 – Winterruption Festival – Edmonton, AB
2025 – The Hunt For Ogopogo – Western Canada
2025 – Loads Allover Yousa – USA Rust Belt + Toronto, ON
2024 – Rock n’ Roll Safari – Canadian Prairies

0 EPK – The Mourning – If I Die I Die (2026) (single)

  • June 2, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · The Mourning · Uncategorized

EPK – The Mourning – If I Die I Die (2026) (single)

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

“We think If I Die I Die will connect with people who have wrestled with fear, anxiety, mortality, and the feeling that their own mind is working against them. It has the progressive metal elements our fans expect, but it also has a very direct emotional center. The phrase itself is blunt and memorable, but its meaning is deeper. It is not about giving up. It is about finally refusing to let fear control your life. We want the listener to feel like they are being pulled through a psychological and spiritual battle. The song starts from a place of fear and pressure, then moves toward surrender and release. By the end, the point is not that death has been defeated in some shallow, easy way. The point is that fear no longer gets to sit on the throne. Musically, we want the track to feel cinematic, intense, melodic, and cathartic. By facing it directly, she conquers the thing that had been ruling her.” – The Mourning

For fans of Lacuna Coil, Amaranthe, Flyleaf, Disturbed, Evanescence

Band: The Mourning
Album Title: If I Die I Die
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Label: Self-Release

 Themourningmusic.com | Facebook.com/themourningmusic | Instagram.com/themourningmusic | Youtube.com/@themourningmusic | TikTok.com/@themourningmusic

Spotify | Themourning.bandcamp.com

“The band blends mid to uptempo grooves while also introducing space and atmosphere in just the right places. Combining melody, technical/progressive musical elements, and harmony lead vocals, I feel this band caters to both musicians and non-musicians alike.” – Todd La Torre (Queensrÿche)“The Mourning masterfully marries classic synth sounds, modern Haken-esque rhythms, and massive vocal hooks into a modern progressive package worthy of every fan’s undivided attention.” – Metal Injection

 

“In a world of clones, The Mourning is a true original and a breath of fresh air.” – Gear Gods

 

“‘Hush’ is a very pleasant surprise. It displays a lot of compositional variety, and offers a strong throwback to prog metal classics while also keeping a unique sound and mixing in unexpected elements. All band members deliver spectacular performances both from a technical and creative standpoint… it is certainly worth your time, and especially given that it’s a debut, I find it very impressive. 8/10” – The Prog Space

 

“With the release of “Hush”, the band continue to showcase their mastery to balance technical prowess with broader thematic appeal. The Mourning will most definitely make a big impact on the prog metal scene today and in the future.” – Metal Epidemic

 

“An impressive first album from a young band with room to grow. Fans of bands like Haken and Distrct 97 will enjoy this album. One to watch.” – Prog Radio
“Hush” a sensory treat that transcends the limits of perception.” – Roadie Metal

 

“US band The Mourning are out with the album “Hush”, and progressive metal is the style explored on this production. It is a distinctly accessible variety of the form we get with this band, with their take on this tradition more often than not revolving around a little bit of an ebb and flow movement. Usually with more delicate parts alternating with more powerful ones, from distinctly contrasting passages to parts that alternate with more of a subtle difference as to the dominant aspects of each of them. With a range in expression from delicate acoustic or semi-acoustic parts to booming and powerful guitar riff driven excursions. The songs will typically revolve around solid melodies rather than technical instrument details, and for my sake I did find some similarities in sound and execution with the more typical heavy metal bands of the 1980s. In this case with the powerful and melodic lead vocals probably having a lot to say for this association to be formed. An album to seek out if you tend to enjoy the more accessible parts of the progressive metal universe.” – The Progressor

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Band: The Mourning
Single Title: If I Die I Die – 3:51
Release Date: June 2, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: TuneCore
Genre: Progressive Metal

Single Recording Credits
All songs performed by: The Mourning
All songs written by: Francesco Pinter and Johnny Ray
Produced by: Alex Nasla
Mixed by: Alex Nasla
Mastered by: Alex Nasla
Single Artwork by: Tullius Heuer
PRO Membership: ASCAP and BMI

 

Single and Live Band Lineup
Nanda Hayek – Female Co-Vocalist
Johnny Ray – Male Co-Vocalist
Alex Nasla – Keyboards
Jason Berlin – Drums
Jason Ashcraft – Guitar
Alon Mei-Tal – Bass
Francesco Pinter – Lead Guitar

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

About the Single Artwork.

The single artwork for If I Die I Die, created by Tullius Heuer, serves as an analogy for a being that was alive but confined inside a cage-like chrysalis, limited by the boundaries that once held it. The moment captured is not death, but rebirth. The creature emerges into a wider perspective, spreading its wings toward new hope. It reflects the heart of the song: shedding fear, letting the old self fall away, and realizing that freedom begins when we stop living inside the prison of dread.

About the single:

Lyrically, If I Die I Die is about overcoming the fear of death and the existential dread that can take over when fear becomes the loudest voice in the room. The song is written almost like a conversation between fear and faith, with one voice trying to keep control and the other trying to break free. Musically, it represents a heavier new direction for The Mourning: progressive metal with a darker, more metal-forward punch, dual vocals, cinematic tension, and a cathartic emotional release.=================================================

Story Angles / Fun Facts About the Band

1. The Mourning made their live debut at 70000 Tons of Metal 2025, sailing from Miami to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. The performance was especially surreal because it was the first time that lineup had played for a paying audience and the first time they had met one another in person. Kerrang! Later, called the band an “outrageously talented new prog collective” and described their 3 a.m. debut as “one of the sets of the weekend.”

2. The band followed 70000 Tons of Metal with Prog on the Ranch 2025 in Brooksville, Florida, continuing to build its presence in the progressive music scene.

3. The Mourning quietly brought Nanda Hayek into the band in October 2025. Rather than announcing it immediately, the band spent months developing the new music, video, and visual identity for If I Die I Die, so the announcement could arrive with a complete creative statement in June 2026.

4. If I Die I Die represents a deliberate shift into a heavier, more metal-forward chapter for The Mourning. The song keeps the band’s progressive and cinematic identity, but brings a darker edge, a stronger dual-vocal dynamic, and a more direct emotional impact.

5. The single’s artwork and music video both center on transformation and confrontation. The artwork shows a creature emerging from a cage-like chrysalis into a wider perspective, spreading its wings toward new hope. The video follows a woman being hunted by death until she finally faces it and realizes fear was the true enemy.

L-R – Alex Nasla, Nanda Hayek, Jason Berlin, Jason Ashcraft, Alon Mei-Tal, Johnny Ray, Francesco Pinter.

Photo credit: Alex Nasla

The Mourning is a progressive metal band now based out of Los Angeles, California, built around cinematic songwriting, soaring dual vocals, intricate musicianship, and deeply human lyrical themes. Founded by vocalist and songwriter Johnny Ray, the band was created to turn personal struggle, spiritual searching, and modern existential weight into music that feels both technically ambitious and emotionally immediate.

After first emerging with the debut EP Theosis, the band’s identity came fully into focus with their full-length album Hush. Created for listeners facing anxiety, depression, loss, trauma, and existential struggle, Hush became the defining release of The Mourning’s first major era. Across songs like “Chaos Machine,” “The Mountain,” “He Cries,” “I Feel The Rain,” “Hush,” “My Own Hell,” and “Smooth Seas,” the album explores the inner storms people carry, the search for meaning, and the possibility of spiritual and emotional release.

Musically, Hush bridged progressive metal, melodic rock, atmospheric passages, intricate guitar work, expressive keyboards, soaring vocal hooks, and a dual-vocal dynamic that gave the record its emotional depth. The album moved through many landscapes, from the uplifting irony of “Chaos Machine” to the spiritual grandeur of “The Mountain,” the sorrow and compassion of “He Cries,” the gratitude of “I Feel The Rain,” and the heavy psychological weight of “My Own Hell.” It was a record built to feel expansive and adventurous while still remaining focused on melody, emotion, and story.

The Hush era also brought together many of the musicians and collaborators who shaped The Mourning’s sound. Alex Nasla produced, mixed, and mastered the album and later became the band’s keyboardist. Francesco Pinter’s guitar work elevated Johnny Ray’s melodies and ideas into a more intricate and emotional progressive-metal space, while Jason Berlin’s drumming gave the album its rhythmic foundation. The album also featured contributions from Eliana Blanchard, Loren Whitaker, Brandon Delpino, and guest musicians including Trey Xavier, Thomas Griggs, Eric Mullins, Graeme Currie, Jeff Pogan, and Charlie Robbins.

Hush helped establish The Mourning beyond their local scene, receiving praise from progressive and metal media. Musipedia of Metal called it “a complex, engaging prog metal album from a band who are extremely talented,” while The Prog Space described it as “a very pleasant surprise” and noted its compositional variety. Other outlets highlighted the band’s philosophical lyricism, dual vocals, emotional weight, and blend of progressive precision with raw feeling.

That momentum carried into 2025, when The Mourning made their live debut aboard 70000 Tons of Metal, sailing from Miami, Florida to Ocho Rios, Jamaica. For the band, the moment was surreal: not only was it their first performance in front of a paying audience, it was also the first time the lineup had met one another in person. Kerrang! called The Mourning an “outrageously talented new prog collective” and described their 3 a.m. debut as “one of the sets of the weekend.” Metal Insider later wrote that the band “left a strong first impression” and offered something “distinctly their own.” The Mourning followed that appearance with a performance at Prog on the Ranch 2025 in Brooksville, Florida.

After Hush and the band’s 2025 live appearances, The Mourning made a deliberate creative shift. While melody, atmosphere, spirituality, and progressive structure remain central to the band’s identity, the next chapter moves in a heavier, more metal-forward direction. In October 2025, the band quietly brought in new female co-vocalist Nanda Hayek, a Brazilian native living in the United States and based in Los Angeles, California. Nanda is also known as the vocalist for Brazilian progressive band OverAlive, and had taken a long sabbatical to complete her Master’s degree and develop her career as a psychotherapist, along with her curiosity about the human psyche and the ultimate question of the meaning of life.

Rather than announcing the change immediately, The Mourning spent the following months developing new material, shaping the visual identity, and preparing the music video for “If I Die I Die.” Releasing June 2, 2026, the single introduces a darker, heavier, and more direct era for the band. Written by Francesco Pinter and Johnny Ray, and produced, mixed, and mastered by Alex Nasla, “If I Die I Die” confronts the fear of death, existential dread, and the exhaustion of living under fear’s control. Its central line, “I’m tired of all this fear, I’m done living in fear,” captures the heart of the song: surrendering fear, shedding the old self, and stepping into something freer.

With Nanda Hayek joining Johnny Ray in the band’s dual-vocal dynamic, The Mourning enters this new chapter with a wider emotional range, a heavier musical direction, and a renewed sense of purpose. “If I Die I Die” is more than a new single. It is the sound of the band carrying the emotional weight of Hush forward while stepping into something heavier, freer, and more fearless.

Discography
2026 – If I Die I Die – Single
2026 – Moment Redux – Single
2024 – Hush – Album
2018 – Theosis – EP

Shared Stage With
The Mourning has shared the stage with many bands, including the following notable artists from the 70000 Tons of Metal 2025 lineup:
Sepultura, Emperor, Symphony X, Stratovarius, HammerFall, Sonata Arctica, Candlemass, Delain, Decapitated, Suffocation

Tours and Festivals Performed
2025 – 70000 Tons of Metal – Miami, FL to Ocho Rios, Jamaica
2025 – Prog on the Ranch – Brooksville, Florida

0 EPK – DieveNoire – The Story of a Gunslinger (2025)

  • May 31, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Dieve Noire · EPKs

EPK – DieveNoire – The Story of a Gunslinger (2025)

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

“As a newly formed idea which started in Lariyah’s head without an exact direction, but a large collection of content to create this album into a concept of a gunslinger’s journey, in a very basic old school blues rock way, with a touch of southern gothic feel to it. After encountering Jakob Herrmann, a very well-known and accomplished producer from Gothenburg, Sweden, the demos have been reworked and encouraged to incorporate heavier sounds. Quite proper of a move for the involved musicians’ preferences”. – Dieve Noire

For fans of Clutch, Dorothy, Everybody Loves an Outlaw, Pretty Reckless, Halestorm

 DieveNoire.com | Facebook.com/dievenoire | Youtube.com/@DieveNoire/videos | Instagram.com/dievenoire

Dievenoire.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

“The nostalgic whistles, the storytelling approach of singer Lariyah Perrin, and the overall atmosphere of the song take the listener on a hypnotic journey. The song is the band’s third track before they drop their new album, which already seems like it will be a feast for the ears. Pushing the repeat button is the only way when the highly engaging, beautiful song ends.” – New Noise Magazine

“It may be true that Lariyah’s personal and dramatic story pushed her to see life from a somewhat different perspective. Her dark words, at times, attest to this. Through the darkness of West American history, is this some kind of introspection on her part? I will conclude by writing that this album is the result of a fusion of dark blues rock and Southern-gothic rock, carried by an expressive voice, powerful guitars, and a universe where the Wild West meets shadow and rebellion. For this album, 9/10 is essential.” – Rock Meeting

If DieveNoire should be recognised as anything, it should be as an unreckonable cultural force, wielding music as a conduit for their ethos, one that scratches beneath the superficial and strikes at the cerebral. Their latest seminal single, IDGAF, delivers an intimately candid rum-soaked vignette of a soul clawing for freedom through the rebellion of living authentically, sacrilegiously in the eyes of many, yet chasing redemption through defiant selfhood.” – A&R Factory (anrfactory.com)

“Hailing from Elgin, IL DieveNoire is a Dark Blues Rock Band that started from the vision and creation of Lariyah Perrin. Originally, this new endeavor was intended as a solo project. However, after the overwhelmingly positive reception of her debut single, “Gunslinger in Black,” Lariyah decided to form a full five-member, stage-ready band. Since a young age, Lariyah was exposed to none other than Johnny Cash, a key influence. Combining her Slavic roots, which are evident in her vocal style and songwriting with a newfound passion for blues and southern gothic rock, Lariyah began work on the band’s debut album, “The Story of a Gunslinger.”” WGN Channel 9 (Chicago)

Album Title: ‘The Story of a Gunslinger”
Release Date: Sept 5, 2025
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Bluesy Heavy Rock
Location of Band: Illinois/North Carolina

Track Listing:
1. Preacher – 3:36
2. To The Gallows – 3:43
3. Gunslinger in Black – 2:44
4. Streets of New Orleans – 5:04
5. The Graveyard Song – 4:04
6. Morning Star – 4:00
7. These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ – 3:48
8. Spell of White Oleander – 4:55
9. Throughout the Night – 3:28
10. IDGAF – 4:24
Album Length: 39:50

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Lariyah Perrin, Lothar Keller, Jakob Herrmann, Jonas Ekdahl
• All songs written by: Lariyah Perrin, Lothar Keller, Jakob Herrmann
• Produced by: Jakob Herrmann (Top Floor Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden)
• Mixed by: Jakob Herrmann (Top Floor Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden)
• Mastered by: Jakob Herrmann (Top Floor Studios, Gothenburg, Sweden)
• Album Artwork by: Lariyah Perrin

SONG CREDITS:
1. Preacher – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Lothar Keller
2. To The Gallows – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Lothar Keller
3. Gunslinger In Black – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin
4. Streets of New Orleans – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Lothar Keller
5. The Graveyard Song – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Lothar Keller
6. Morning Star – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Lothar Keller
7. These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Erik Michael
8. Spell of White Oleander – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Lothar Keller
9. Throughout The Night – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Lothar Keller
10. IDGAF – songwriting: Lariyah Perrin, Jakob Herrmann, Lothar Keller

Album Band Line Up:
Lariyah Perrin – Vocals
Lothar Keller – Lead guitars
Josh Perrin – Rhythm guitars
Aaron Esquitin – Drums

Live Band Line Up:
Lariyah Perrin – Vocals
Lothar Keller – Lead Guitars
Josh Perrin – Rhythm Guitars
Aaron Esquitin – Drums
Paul McBride – Bass (joined the band fully after the album release)

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About the Album Artwork:

The album artwork was hand drawn ink ink pencil by the vocalist, Lariyah. The idea was to bring out the tree representing the roots of the beginnings and dead branches, which signify growth with the dead soul, rotten by the world. The wings and snake in the middle are actually a drawing depiction of Lariyah’s motorcycle’s sissy bar, which is made out of steel by a Finnish forge master, as shown in the music video of “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’ “, a cover of Nancy Sinatra.

About the album (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

DieveNoire’s debut album, The Story of a Gunslinger, takes the listener back to an old-style New West, with most of the songs portraying the journey of an outlaw. Each song is styled appropriately to fit its narrative.

The introduction begins with the tribal and simplistically written “Gunslinger in Black,” which continues into “The Spell of White Oleander,” carrying on the story introduced in the previous track. The album fluctuates between energetic, driving songs, emotional ballads, and engaging chant-driven tunes, all while telling the story of the Gunslinger’s travels and his eventual death-row tale, from which he ultimately escapes.

Within the lyrics, there is also his admirer, who follows in his footsteps while being secretly watched over by him in disguise. The character of the Gunslinger eventually becomes a metaphorical and imaginary journey experienced by the woman herself.

The album’s tracks are intentionally not arranged in chronological order, prompting the listener to create their own interpretation of the story, visually set in an old-world landscape filled with bullets, alcohol, and the pursuit of a wanted outlaw who constantly challenges the law.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Preacher – Gunslinger’s Story Part 5

The most dynamic and fastest track on the album, “Preacher,” opens the record by immediately throwing the listener into the middle of the Gunslinger’s story, leaving no doubt about the blasphemous direction of the album. A woman chasing the outlaw encounters a priest who invites her into a church, a decision that later proves to be his own mistake.

Musically, the song is a driving rock ’n’ roll creation with rhythms reminiscent of 1970s rock, but delivered with a modern heavy-rock approach. Chugging guitar riffs and powerful, rhythmic drums make it a simple yet effective anthem. This song depicts another location in the woman’s search for the Gunslinger and follows the New Orleans chapter of the story, which appears later on the album.

2. To the Gallows – Gunslinger’s Story Part 6

A slower-tempo yet still heavy, rock-driven song, “To the Gallows” features powerful vocal performances in the choruses and softer, storytelling verses. It describes the Gunslinger’s time on death row and his eventual escape despite the crowd chanting for his execution.

The woman following his journey finally speaks up, pleading for his life and offering herself in his place, having realized her emotional connection to him. While the song continues the Gunslinger’s narrative, its chorus also serves as a message of empowerment for the listener.

“Oh yeah, don’t let them own ya, follow your own way, f*** what they say” reflects a personal mantra of Lariyah’s, encouraging perseverance regardless of obstacles. This mindset became the foundation of the song’s theme.

3. Gunslinger in Black – Gunslinger’s Story Part 1

The first release by DieveNoire and the beginning of the concept album, “Gunslinger in Black,” was originally intended as part of a solo project by Lariyah. It served as a showcase of the vision for what was to come.

However, after years spent in the rock and metal scene, she realized it was impossible not to expand the project and involve a full band. As a result, this song remains the most stripped-down and humble piece on the album.

Lariyah incorporated her Slavic roots through chanting in the chorus and combined them with dark, emotional vocals describing the Gunslinger’s first appearance in a tavern. This is the moment when the woman narrating the story sees him for the first time.

4. Streets of New Orleans – Gunslinger’s Story Part 4

Inspired by Lariyah’s love for the city of New Orleans and its unique atmosphere, this song follows the woman’s search for the outlaw through the city. It describes the sights she encounters, including voodoo practitioners and ravens circling overhead, creating a mystical and enchanting world that captivates her.

The ballad’s songwriting is intentionally composed to emphasize the vocal storytelling while highlighting beautiful guitar riffs and tasteful lead guitar work. Its style is easily comparable to 1980s power ballads, making it a perfect fit for the song’s atmosphere.

5. The Graveyard Song – Gunslinger’s Story Part 7

This is one of the eeriest songs on the album, filled with whispers, whistled melodies, and ghostly vocals. The band’s performance is intentionally restrained to place focus on the voice and its plea to be accepted into the underworld after death.

By this point, the woman’s search for the Gunslinger has come to an end due to exhaustion, giving the song a haunting sense of finality.

6. Morning Star – Gunslinger’s Story Part 8

To many listeners, this song appears to be a gentle acoustic ballad featuring dual guitars and soft bass lines, expressing love and devotion to a loved one. However, those who delve deeper into the lyrics will discover that it is actually a plea for death to embrace the soul of the narrator.

“Come to me, come closer to my arms” is not directed toward a lover but toward eternal rest itself. “Enter my realm, let me wipe this fear away” serves as the response from the underworld.

Every lyric in this ballad was inspired by a dream Lariyah experienced while in a coma following her 2015 accident. Having briefly experienced clinical death before being revived, she drew heavily from that experience when writing the song.

“Sync with my soul as the ravens circle low” describes her vision of herself fading away and being placed into a coffin, contrary to what many listeners may initially interpret as a romantic embrace.

This is the most personal and meaningful song in her repertoire. Lariyah considers it the true ending of The Story of a Gunslinger, raising questions about the Gunslinger’s identity. Was he a real person, a spirit, or simply a metaphor? Was the journey truly about him, or about her search for answers regarding life and death?

7. These Boots Are Made for Walkin’

A tribute to Nancy Sinatra’s iconic song, this cover was something Lariyah considered essential. In her view, it perfectly complements the album’s themes of rebellion, individuality, and refusing to conform to society’s expectations.

The strength and attitude represented in Sinatra’s original performance fit naturally within the album’s spirit. Musically, however, this version bears little resemblance to the original. It is significantly slower, infused with a modern blues-rock feel, and built around a foot-stomping groove that invites participation from anyone listening, whether they know the original song or not.

8. Spell of White Oleander – Gunslinger’s Story Part 2

Continuing the story from “Gunslinger in Black,” the woman watching the outlaw in the tavern becomes enchanted by him despite never having directly interacted with him.

White Oleander, one of the world’s most poisonous flowers, is left behind by the Gunslinger for a woman he meets in the tavern. The song is a beautiful ballad that explores the emotional impact of witnessing this powerful moment and the feelings it awakens within the narrator.

Heavy guitars emphasize the song’s sentimental qualities, while increasingly dynamic vocal performances draw the listener deeper into the magic of the experience.

9. Throughout the Night – Gunslinger’s Story Part 3

Another emotional ballad, “Throughout the Night” features memorable guitar melodies and soft vocals interwoven with powerful lyrical moments. It explores the Gunslinger’s inner numbness and resentment toward the world around him.

In this song, unlike others where he rides a horse, he rides a motorcycle, providing a more modern interpretation of the Gunslinger archetype. It serves as a symbolic gesture of defiance against the world and a commitment to living life on his own terms.

The song gradually builds in intensity, creating a beautiful musical progression that encourages listeners to close their eyes, forget their troubles, and leave their burdens behind.

10. IDGAF – Gunslinger’s Story Part 9

This song serves as the conclusion of the outlaw’s journey. The woman who has spent so much time chasing the Gunslinger has finally abandoned her pursuit and come to recognize the flaws of the world and the people around her.

After struggling with alcohol and repeatedly promising herself she would stop, she feels her fate drawing near and ultimately gives up trying to please others or hide who she truly is.

Lariyah wrote this song during one of the lowest periods of her life, when she had lost faith in good fortune and stopped caring about the opinions or expectations of others. It is a true bar song, built on the belief that all one really needs is a guitar and good company to celebrate whatever time remains.

With its simple rhythm, driving energy, and crowd-participation chants centered around the infamous phrase in its title, it stands as one of the album’s most engaging and memorable tracks.

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

STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND

1. Lariyah at the beginning wanted the band to be just a one-person project with a synth, drums, clap, and stomp with vocals, and keep it more “tribal Slavic” kind of route. Still, after releasing the “Gunslinger in Black,” she felt the void of the rock and metal world she had been in since her teenage years. She made a decision that this must turn into a full band project. She had an initial idea to play rhythm guitar after finding a bass player, knowing that with her basic knowledge of guitars, she could make it work. Shortly after, she found a perfectly fitting musician to play the instruments with a whole different spectrum of skill, she stepped out from the double duty to give room for the seasoned musicians and focused on vocals only.

2. Josh Perrin, rhythm guitarist of DieveNoire, is known for playing bass in Akhlys and is soon to be releasing his personal project of 10 years + in works. Lariyah, who is also his wife, did not want Josh to be a part of the band first, wanting him to fully focus on his first love – black metal. Josh, also having a background in old school, outlaw country, really liked the idea of DieveNoire and wanted to be a part of playing it live with her, without involvement in writing music – purely from, as he claims, being a dirtbag rock’n’roll soul inside. In the future, there is a potential that he might step down and focus on his prioritized music.


3. Lothar Keller, on lead guitar, has been playing music since a child, as his father taught him to play multiple instruments. He is known from bands like Legions of Doom/The Skull, and Sacred Dawn. Lariyah and Lothar became the core members of the band.

4. Lariyah and Josh met Jakob Herrmann during their Halloween trip to New Orleans. Little did they know that he was also on his vacation time, flying from Sweden. Little did they know that Jakob is one of the most respected producers in the metal scene whose work includes albums of In Flames, Machine Head, Devin Townsend, Evergrey, and many more. He also offered to bring DieveNoire’s sound to where it should be and took on the production of “The Story of a Gunslinger”.

5. DieveNoire has no direct influence. Lariyah coming up with the idea of it was mostly listening to black metal and English heavy metal, but in the background, Johnny Cash was always a good escape. The KEY MOMENT when she decided to make her ‘years worth of ideas’ into DieveNoire was when she went to Finland for an extreme metal festival and experienced the same musicians (and friends) who just played on stage to put their shorts, flip-flops, and straw hats on, bring acoustic guitars and shakers, and start playing old-school rock and some country songs in the middle of the night, engaging whoever was listening to them, in this case – metal fans who stayed at the same hotel. The moment was so simple and casual to them, yet so impactful to Lariyah.

6. Ever since Paul McBride, also known from many projects, including the Reticent, has changed the entire feel of the band, which will show in the new releases coming after “The Story of a Gunslinger” album songs.

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

L-R – Aaron Esquitin – Drums, Lothar Keller – Lead Guitar, Lariyah Perrin – Vocals,  Paul McBride – Bass, Josh Perrin – Rhythm Guitar,

Photo by Darrelle Esquitin

DieveNoire is a melodic, blues‑driven heavy rock band led by vocalist and visionary Lariyah Perrin, whose storytelling approach and emotional intensity shape the core of the project. What began as a solitary creative idea,  simple beats, haunting vocal lines, and tribal‑tinged blues, quickly evolved into a full‑fledged band with a powerful, dynamic sound.

With the addition of seasoned musicians Josh (Akhlys, Havron), Lothar (The Skull / Legions of Doom), and Paul (The Reticent), DieveNoire transformed from a personal concept into a collaborative force. Their combined backgrounds in black metal, doom, progressive metal, and heavy rock brought unexpected depth and weight to the music, accelerating the band’s evolution.

Their debut album, The Story of a Gunslinger, is a concept‑driven journey born from a vivid dream Lariyah experienced, a cinematic tale set in the old wild west, following a wanted gunslinger whose skill keeps him one step ahead of death. Each track continues the narrative, blending emotion, grit, and a touch of southern‑gothic atmosphere. Other songs on the album step outside the concept, capturing raw moments of personal emotion.

While the album leans into a softer, blues‑rock foundation to highlight Lariyah’s dynamic vocal range, the band’s upcoming singles mark a dramatic shift, heavier, bolder, and more aggressive, reflecting the band’s rapid growth and sharpened identity.

DieveNoire’s writing process is deeply collaborative: Lariyah shapes the vision, lyrics, and melodic direction, while the band builds the musical architecture around it. Songs often undergo multiple transformations before reaching their final form, resulting in a sound that is engaging, emotional, and richly layered.

Onstage, DieveNoire delivers a theatrical, high‑energy performance that amplifies the grit and emotion of their recordings. Vocals take on a harsher, more powerful edge, and the band’s dynamic presence turns each show into a full‑body experience rather than just a listening session.

The album artwork, hand‑drawn by Lariyah, symbolizes the band’s roots and evolution: a tree with living roots and dead branches, wings and a serpent inspired by the custom steelwork on her motorcycle, and imagery that ties directly into the band’s visual world.

After working with renowned Gothenburg producer Jakob Herrmann (Draconian, Thyrfing, Art Nation), the band refined their sound further, embracing heavier textures while preserving the blues‑rock soul at the heart of the project.

DieveNoire stands at the crossroads of storytelling, emotion, and heavy rock, a band unafraid to evolve, experiment, and carve its own path.

Album Band Line Up:
Lariyah Perrin – Vocals
Lothar Keller – Lead guitars
Josh Perrin – Rhythm guitars
Aaron Esquitin – Drums

Live Band Line Up:
Lariyah Perrin – Vocals
Lothar Keller – Lead Guitars
Josh Perrin – Rhythm Guitars
Aaron Esquitin – Drums
Paul McBride – Bass (joined the band fully after the album release)

Discography:
2025 – “The Story of a Gunslinger”

Tours and Fests:
7/16 CHICAGO, IL – LIVE WIRE LOUNGE
7/17 MILWAUKEE, WI – SHANK HALL
7/18 CADOTT, WI – ROCK FEST

Artist Endorsements:
Josh Perrin – Mesa Boogie, Solar Guitars
Lothar Keller – Ernie Ball strings, Pighog cables
Paul McBride – GHS Strings, Arachnid Cabinets, Tsunami Cables

 

0 EPK – Famous Strangers – Self-Titled (2026)

  • May 29, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · EPKs · Famous Strangers

EPK – Famous Strangers – Self-Titled (2026)

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

For fans of Halestorm, Nothing More, Sevendust, Godsmack, Evanescence, Butcher Babies, Bad Omens

“We feel like this debut album will take fans on a journey, feeling many different emotions. Some may not understand what we are trying to do, but by the end hoping that they are surprised, refreshed, and feeling inspired. We hope the lyrics dig deep into parts of them they didn’t know existed or hid away. Opening up their heart and soul, feeling unstoppable and worthy. Whatever they may be doing while listening, we hope this album captivates them, moving deeper into themselves through our music. Feeling the emotional pull through each track. Moments of inspiration and grit to complete surrender of self. With a touch of silliness and definitely some seduction.” – Amanda Kiernan – Vocals – Famous Strangers

Famousstrangersband.com | Facebook.com/FamousStrangersBand | Instagram.com/famousstrangersband

Tiktok.com/@famousstrangersband | Youtube.com/@Famousstrangersband

Spotify | Apple Music | Famousstrangers.bigcartel.com

Add to your Spotify playlist – ​https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/famousstrangers/ghosts-of-men

“Amanda has a Lee Aaron vibe about her.” – Richard Amery – LA Beat

“Canada’s Famous Strangers return with an incredible new single, a fierce one titled ‘Ghosts of Men’. Right out of the gate, the riffs are lethal and the vocals are up to the task with a mean disposition that fit perfectly. Famous Strangers is a seriously talented band and ‘Ghosts of Men’ is a shining example of their creativity at work with an extended jaw dropping 6-string solo, a wonderful slow down to catch our breath only to come out on the other side finding ourselves in a choke hold of epic proportions. This is modern metal done right, catch it on your Home for the Best New Rock…W-J-O-EEEE – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll

“Haunting, Stirring and Impactful…those words just keep going through our mind as we take in the new single “I’ll See You In The Stars” from Famous Strangers. This one is quite unique with a powerful intensity that is full of rhythm and achieves the rare feat of fury as a pure form of beauty. We really dig this one and you can catch it on your Home for the Best New Rock…” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll (Single – I See You In The Stars – 2025)

““George” by Famous Strangers is not just a song—it’s a full-throttle, unapologetic metal anthem that grips you from the very first crushing drumbeat and refuses to let go. Heavy. Relentless. Unstoppable. This track is a ferocious sonic onslaught, packed with blistering guitar riffs, bone-rattling drums, and a vocal performance that will leave you breathless.” – Switching Styles (Single – George – 2025)

Band: Famous Strangers
Album Title: Self-Titled
Release Date: August 21, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Genre: Hard Rock
Location of Band: Edmonton, AB, Canada

Track Listing:
1. Fire Inside – 4:06
2. Ghosts of Men – 4:54
3. Please Her – 4:34
4. As Your Leader – 3:49
5. Desires – 3:50
6. Far Away from Home – 4:18
7. Rain – 9:23
Album Length: 34:57

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Famous Strangers
• All songs written by: Famous Strangers
• Produced by: Jeff Kittlitz, Phil Anderson, and Famous Strangers
• Mixed by: Joel Wanasek
• Mastered by: Maor Applebaum
• Album Artwork by: Art Szabo Creative
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content – MAPL

Album Band Line Up:
Jeff Kittlitz – Guitar, BackUp Vocals
Amanda Keirnan – Vocals, Lyrics
Braden Sustrik – Bass, Back Up Vocals
Brian “Beej” Jolly – Drums, Back Up Vocals

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

About the Album Artwork:

We are blessed to have our graphic designer, Art Szabo, working with us. He does a lot more than just our artwork, so we are lucky to have him. For the single “Ghosts of Men,” he put his take on a woman bending down into her reflection, or even a mirrored effect. It looks ominous and ghostly. Even though our video is a very different, separate take on the song, the artwork goes deeper into the lyrical side of things. The isolation. The struggles you feel alone… being “ghosted” when really you yourself almost feel like the ghost! Alone in wonderment and torture of the mind. 

The album artwork for the vinyl is a recreation of our very first promo video, which we put out. Made in an incredibly artistic way. It’s the shot in the video where Braden has his hood on, and he has smoke coming out of his mouth. It’s all black and white, which has been our color scheme. It honestly doesn’t mean anything… I just had the idea and thought it would look cool. Now that everything is said and done, you could definitely put your thoughts on it on what it could represent, and every idea is the correct one. That’s the beauty of art.

About the album:

The album centers around the theme of “knowing your worth.” Much of the songwriting draws from personal experiences, delivering messages about self-love, growth, and moving forward. At its core, it’s a reminder that no matter what you face, you’ll be okay and come out stronger on the other side.

While a couple of tracks explore completely different ideas, like aliens, the overall journey is about where you’ve been and who you can become once you break free from what holds you back, and to get out of your own way.

Musically, it is a diverse journey into heavy grungy riffs, explosive moments, fast pace, and energetic. Leading you into epic breakdowns that bring you into softer atmospheric moments. It’s a taste of everything and takes you all over the place. Pushing boundaries and rules of genres. Definitely thinking outside the box.

Track-by-Track Descriptions

1. Fire Inside

Fire Inside began as a simple progressive metal riff but evolved right up to the studio, where the chorus and ending were finalized. After extensive preproduction, the song truly came together. Lyrically, it’s about grounding the listener in the moment and embracing mistakes to honor the journey that shaped you, while holding onto the peace within.

2. Ghosts of Men

Ghosts of Men began as one of the earliest songs written with the band and was later completely rewritten. Originally shelved, it resurfaced when we wanted a raw rock ripper and quickly morphed into its final form, coming together almost instantly and earning its place on the record. Lyrically, it’s a new and deeply personal track, drawn from real experiences and recurring patterns in my life. It’s raw, vulnerable, and unfiltered, but that’s the point.

3. Please Her

Please Her started as a single rock riff and evolved through preproduction as arrangements shifted, especially once Amanda’s vocals came into the mix. The song eventually came full circle, landing as a straightforward hard rock ‘n’ roll track. The title seems to give it all away… It’s playful and confident, about staying true to yourself, knowing your worth, and making sure your cup is overflowing, because every person deserves to feel that way.

4. As Your Leader

As Your Leader is one of the earliest songs written for the band and has been with us since the beginning, taking on new life as the lineup came together. While it carries a lot of anger and frustration, at its core, it’s about community, connection, and the belief that we’re stronger when we come together, all wanting the same things in the end: peace, health, and the freedom to live fully.

5. Desires

Desires was born from Jeff’s first Bloodstock Festival in the UK, a very rock ‘n’ roll, Motley Crue-style night that sparked both the riff and the story behind it. Written by Jeff Kittlitz, the song captures that instant connection you feel when you lock eyes with someone special.

What started as a wild night turned into something deeper, a love song with a bigger meaning. Bringing it to life has been a blessing, and after taking the time to find the right vocal approach, it finally feels like Amanda is delivering the song the way Jeff intended.

6. Far Away from Home

Far Away from Home was written early on while we were still finding our sound. It started with a punk riff that everyone ran with, keeping the song fun and energetic, a tribute to punk. The chorus evolved significantly from preproduction to recording. Lyrically, it’s about being abducted by aliens! It came from a playful place, and having full creative freedom helped the song come together in a way that felt natural and true.

7. Rain

Rain was written in a small town in England on a rainy day, born from a quiet moment on the couch with an acoustic guitar. What started as a simple blues idea came together back in Canada, becoming the first song that truly pulled Amanda in; her lyrics completed it in a way that felt almost magical. Lyrically, the song digs deep into fear, pain, and feeling trapped, and finding the strength to finally let go and choose yourself. It’s one of our softer tracks, showing another side of the band, and we’re excited to share it on the new record.

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

Fun Facts:

1. The name Famous Strangers came from Jeff driving through the city, listening to Deep Purple’s “Perfect Strangers” on the radio, and passing a restaurant called “Famous Donair.” The two words slammed together and never left.

2. Some of the guitar riffs on the album have been living on Jeff’s hard drive for over a decade. They finally found the right band and the right voice to bring them to life.

3. We record every single jam session. Some of the best moments on this record started as loose ideas over beers that nobody expected to become real songs.

4. Ghosts Of Men was written 3 days before entering the studio and was completed in the studio 

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

L-R – Drums – Brian Jolly, Vocals – Amanda Kiernan, Bass – Braden Sustrik, Guitar – Jeff Kittlitz

Photo by Taryn Leanne

Famous Strangers is a heavy rock band from Sherwood Park, Alberta, rooted in the classics and built for today. Drawing from the fire of Dio, Maiden, Judas Priest, and W.A.S.P. and channeling the intensity of Halestorm, Jinjer, Spiritbox, and Unleash the Archers, the band blends raw power with emotional depth and a sound that refuses to sit still.

The lineup: Amanda Kiernan on lead vocals, Jeff Kittlitz on guitar and backing vocals, Braden Sustrik on bass and backing vocals, and Brian “Beej” Beejerson on drums and backing vocals, brings together over 20 years of collective experience across the Alberta music scene, with roots in bands like Pugnacious, Compromise, This Is War, and The Order of Chaos. What started as a casual jam session turned into something nobody expected… a full creative force with a hunger to share it with the world.

With four singles out, Deep Star, George, I’ll See You in the Stars, and LSC, all recorded in-house and mixed and mastered alongside Phil Anderson, Maor Appelbaum, and Joel Wanasek, the band has been steadily building momentum. Every single release has been accompanied by a music video, filmed and edited by Brad Thompson at Brad Thompson Photography, with George edited and post-produced by Art Szabo Creative. Their Deep Star music video is generating serious buzz, and their debut self-titled album with a vinyl release, lead single, and new music video will be released August 21, 2026

Famous Strangers doesn’t follow a formula. They follow the feeling. Every song lives in its own world… moody, haunting, heavy, honest. Whether they’re on stage or in the studio, it’s about connection, energy, and making music that means something.

Discography:
Self-Titled (LP – Release August 21, 2026)
L.S.C. (Single Release June 3, 2025)
I’ll See You In The Stars (Single Release March 7, 2025)
George (Single Release November 15, 2024)
Deepstar (Single Release (Sept 13, 2024)

Shared Stage with: Three Inches Of Blood, Riot City, Danko Jones, Into Eternity, Revocation, Havok, Born Of Osiris, The Browning, Gravemass, Glyph, Valley Of Despair, Shackled To The Throne, Unending, Per Velum, Squid Hammer, Insurrection, The Devils Sons, Western Death Ballads, Barb Wire Choker, Black Friday, Quietess, Cambie Krostch, Bogue Brigade, Creature Conspire, The Cutoffs, Ditch Pisser, The Myopia Condition, 2L Superpunk, Catapult, Godfall, Oceans Under Stars, Repulse Reprise, Darkend Skies, Amonalyptic, Femme Voyous, and more…..

Tours and Festivals:
2026 – Decimate Metal Fest (Direct Support)
2026 – Western Canadian Album Release Tour Aug of this year
2025 – Decimate Metal Fest
2025 – Armstrong Metal Fest
2025 – Loud As Hell Open Air,
2025 – Grassmass Western Canadian Tour,
2025 – Kittos (Shackled To The Throne) Alberta release tour

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