Category: EPKs

0 EPK – The Distinguished Order of Disobedience (The D.O.O.D.) – Subterfuge (SelfMadeRecords L.L.C. and digitally distributed by Earache Records)

April 24, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · The Distinguished Order of Disobedience (The D.O.O.D.)

EPK – The Distinguished Order of Disobedience (The D.O.O.D.) – Subterfuge (SelfMadeRecords L.L.C. and digitally distributed by Earache Records)

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

“Subterfuge calls back to the days of thrash metal and has a defiant spirit in itself. This song takes a look at how we as a people in this country and others, regardless of political affiliation, are lied to on a regular basis for the gain of the greedy. It aims to speak to all of the common people and encourage everyone to speak up for what they believe in and not take everything that is fed to them by people in power at face value. We don’t believe in telling people where to hang their political hats, but rather to remind everyone to question authority, and that many speaking up as one is more powerful than the few.” – The Distinguished Order of Disobedience (The D.O.O.D.)

For fans of Lamb of God, Pantera, Avatar, Rob Zombie, Powerman 5000

Thedoodband.com/home | Facebook.com/thedoodband | YouTube.com/c/TheDoodband | Instagram.com/thedoodband | Twitter.com/thedoodband

Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon

“Great Live Show!!!!” – STEPHANIE JENSEN (Former A&R For Chuck D, Infernal TV)

“ Great show!! I like the added video aspects and the sound is very muscular.” – MATT LaPLANT Producer

“Some bands are monsters in the studio. Others are killers on the stage. Occasionally, a select few pop up that are masters of video. The truly rare ones, however, are fully capable of blowing your senses in any medium they want. Sarasota’s own The D.O.O.D. (short-hand for The Distinguished Order of Disobedience) is firmly entrenched on that shortlist of acts that can (and will) snatch you by the hair and subject you to the thunder… in every way imaginable.” – BamRising – The Sound of the Underground

Band: The Distinguished Order of Disobedience (The D.O.O.D.)
Single Title: SUBTERFUGE 04:21
Release Date: February 14, 2024
Label: SelfMadeRecords L.L.C.
Digital Distributors: Earache Records Digital Distribution

Single Credits:
Recorded and Mixed at Morrisound Studio
Mastered by J.P. Braddock at Formation Audio

The Distinguished Order of Disobedience (The D.O.O.D.) is a metal band from Sarasota Florida. Established in 2004 their music and theatrical stage set has made them one of the premiere acts in Florida and they are quickly finding a place from themselves on the national scene. Having toured The United States on several successful outings, the music is finding a place in the metal community, garnering praise worldwide from fans of music everywhere. Under their belt is 5 studio albums and direct support for tons of National acts as well as playing one of the biggest music festivals in America. The D.O.O.D. released a brand new single, “Chaos for the Fly” on January 15th, 2023- available on most streaming platforms and is the first release from a new studio album due out mid-2024, with a new single set to be out for the song Subterfuge in February 2024.

Originally put together by Raynus and Jonzey DOOD, this band is crushing shows and winning over crowds in Florida or on tour nationally exposing the world to their new and exciting brand of heavy metal, live audiences just have a hard time not liking this band. Their music is heavily influenced by the music that has excited them over the years, hard and driving with good hooks and unabashed and unafraid riffs reminiscent of the pioneers of the music genre, all the while grinding forward into the music of today and tomorrow.

Discography:
2024 – Subterfuge – Single
2023 – Chaos For the Fly – single
2022 – Firefly LP
2020 – Infected by Faith Reissue – Single
2019 – No Presents For Christmas – Single
2018 – Buttercup!! LP
2017 – Beautiful Ride EP

SHARED STAGE WITH:
Hemlock, Tantric, September Mourning, The Convalesence, Drowning Pool, Combichrist, Green Jelly, Pigweed, Filth, Casket Robbery, Marc Rizzo (Soulfly), Hed PE, D.R.I., Michale Graves, Saliva, David Ellefson, Orgy, Motograter, Anvil, Overkill, Sick Puppies, Bobaflex

Tour and Festivals:
Toledo Dethfest 2023-Toledo Ohio
2023-Hemlock Tour Florida Leg
2023 The Chaos for the Fly Tour Leg 1 Sarasota Fl/Gainesville Fl/Birmingham Al/Nashville Tm/Louisville Ky/New Haven Kentucky/ Toledo Ohio
2023 Chaos for the fly tour Leg 2/3 Ct Shows/Ardmore PA/Savannah Ga
Welcome to Rockville 2021-Daytona Florida
2021 Firefly tour- Tampa FL/Lafayette La/Albuquerque NM/Tuscon Az/Bisbee Az/Tonopah Nv/Reno NV

0 EPK – Impending Annihilation – Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (2024) (Gore House Productions)

April 19, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Impending Annihilation

EPK – Impending Annihilation – Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (2024) (Gore House Productions)

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

“These songs used a super extended range guitar/bass or a fretless bass. There are not many songs that use these unusual instruments. This example of musical instrument work will surely shock you. When someone gets an instrument with a lot of strings, it’s hard to figure out what it can play because it’s a newly designed instrument. For this reason, many people stop playing just by hitting the thick strings. When you listen to our songs, you’ll want to use all the strings.” – (Kei) – Impending Annihilation

For fans of Viraemia, Brain Drill, Monumental Torment, Archspire, Entrails Eradicated

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

Facebook.com/impending.annihilation | Twitter.com/IxAx_pirodeath | Youtube.com/c/GotohKei | Instagram.com/impending.annihilation

Impending-annihilation.bandcamp.com

Album Order – CD and Digital – https://orcd.co/idiopathic

Album / Single Title: Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head
Release Date: April 19, 2024
Label: Gore House Productions

Track Listing:
1. Rapidly Destructive Coxarthropathy (2:04)
2. Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head (1:29)

EP Credits:
• All songs performed by: Gotoh Kei, horizon
• All songs written by: Gotoh Kei, horizon
• Produced by: Gotoh Kei
• Mixed by: Gotoh Kei
• Mastered by: Gotoh Kei

EP Band Line Up:
Gotoh Kei – Guitars, Bass
Horizon – Vocals

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

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

The goal written on the score is Perpetuum mobile. In English, this is perpetual motion, a musical term that refers to music that is constantly in motion. Both songs continue to play at high speed without stopping. (Kei)

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. Rapidly Destructive Coxarthropathy – For this song, I used a 7-string fretless bass. Fretless basses are often used in technical death metal, but rarely in unison with the guitarist’s sweep. It is often played slowly and elegantly with vibrato and portamento. But I wanted a quick and dirty sweep. (Kei)

2. Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head – This song used a 10-string guitar and an 11-string bass. Many of these guitar and bass performances with many strings are uploaded to YouTube. However, it is rare to use all the strings from end to end in one phrase. After hitting a low note, play a possible phrase on a six-string instrument. I wanted to see a piece of music that would be impossible without 10 or 11 strings. So I decided to make it myself. (Kei)

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

BAND FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES

The band photo was taken during a private trip, which was originally to see reptiles. However, IxAx, who had been on hiatus, began making concrete steps toward reactivating from that day on. The location of mountains and waterfalls gives you the feel of a band photo.

L-R: Horizon (Vocals) | Gotoh Kei (Guitars, Bass) – Photo Credit – Suzuta

Technical prowess and a barrage of speed come for you in the new two-track EP “Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head” from Japan’s Impending Annihilation, out on April 19, 2024, on Gore House Productions. This onslaught of technical death metal leaves no survivors and pushes the boundaries of the genre. The band comments on this release:

“These songs represent the pinnacle of technical death metal for us. We wanted to create something that truly stood out in the genre, and so we crafted these tracks with a focus on rapid, intense instrumentation that utilizes super extended-range guitars and fretless bass. It’s an example of musical instrument work that will surely shock listeners.”

With the overarching goal of perpetual motion in mind, Impending Annihilation has crafted a sonic experience that refuses to stand still. Describing their vocal approach, vocalist Horizon points out that they don’t adhere to traditional lyricism in their music. Instead, they view vocals as instruments themselves, using growls and gutturals in the same way one would incorporate sweeps and tappings into a song structure.

Impending Annihilation strives to deliver performances that captivate and intrigue. Their compositions aim to defy common structures, embodying the essence of technical death metal while embracing the perpetual motion of their musical vision.

Blasting onward at an unyielding pace, full of strangeness and fury, “Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head” is innovative and impressive. It is recommended for fans of Monumental Torment, Archspire, and Entrails Eradicated.

“Idiopathic Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head” is available for pre-order on CD and digital at the following link – https://orcd.co/idiopathic

Discography:
2017 – Delirium Tremens – full length
2015 – Implacability of KILL ME: Inu O Shinobite Sakura Saku – EP

Shared Stage with:
BLEEDEAD
DEVILOOF
Adipocere Necrophilia
Sparganum Proliferum
Multiple Individually

0 EPK – Ancient Entities – Echoes of Annihilation (2024)

April 15, 2024
by Asher
· Ancient Entities · EPKs

EPK – Ancient Entities – Echoes of Annihilation (2024)

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

“We think fans first hearing the album will find there is a refreshing mix of styles of death metal. Modern, old school, and some sounds in between. Over the last two years of playing and testing out markets, we can definitely say the massive sound of Ancient Entities will be well received by all fans of metal old and new on record as well. The goal of Ancient Entities is to bring you back to ancient times, to portray and capture the feel of the lyrics and subjects of our songs through powerful music, ambiance, and riffs.” – Ancient Entities

For fans of Necrophagist, Decapitated, Blood Red Throne, Nile, Aeon

Instagram.com/anciententities | Youtube.com/@anciententities | Facebook.com/AEbandofficial | Twitter.com/Aentitiesband

Anciententities.bandcamp.com | Anciententities.bigcartel.com

“Ancient Entities are not just a random band name, but a state of mind on Echoes Of Annihilation. They go back in history to when Mayans and Aztecs reigned, where the idea of a person being tied to a stake and burned alive while wearing a flammable vest was not a plot point to a B-level horror film. Mummification, the burning of Roman civilization and sacrificial cannibalism are just some of the subjects explored with turbulent death metal.” – Heavy Music Headquarters

“”Echoes of Annihilation ” it is a solid and extremely flowing platter, full of inspired moments and cared for in almost all its aspects… it’s a really good hit in the teeth!” – Metal.it

““Hidden,” is a snarling, thrashing menace. A song that brings the burrowing of time to forment the great beyond.” – The Median Man
“The band’s mission is clear: to transport listeners to ancient times, capturing the essence of historical narratives through their relentless music, its enveloping atmosphere and crushing riffs.” – Broken Tomb Magazine

“ANCIENT ENTITIES plays in a real frenzy, especially in the last third, literally overturns modern, yet old-school Death Metals at the constant demonstration and has not had a single song in your pocket until the end that you want to skip for any reason. So you can congratulate the boys on a proper first performance, who wonderfully bridges the gap between classic and contemporary death lead and sends a clear signal here and there, especially when it comes to brutality. Even if the gruesome artwork suggests bad things: “Echoes Of Annihilation” is a really cool death metal disc!” – PowerMetal.de

“Ancient Entities with Echoes of Annihilation, this is a Milwaukee band that really focuses in on how to balance technical death metal while still making it listenable for the non-tech death fans out there. They know how to do some fretboard gymnastics. They definitely know how to play across the drum kit but it’s also something that doesn’t just go absolutely insane 100% of the time. They know how to write songs, they just know when to show off at the right times and that’s the kind of album I can really be behind. It has a really rich and full production style yet just raw enough to kind of give it a mid-late 90s kind of feel behind it. This is a death metal album that really should be up a lot of people’s alley and if you like the slightest amount of tech death you shall love Ancient Entities.” – Heavy Debriefings

“a Death Metal disc you need, cavernous growl, an incessant and incandescent riffingwork and a brutal and groovy rhythmic section, then this debut by Ancient Entities is a more than pleasant discovery for you: give them a chance!” – All Around Metal

“Hailing from the dominant Midwest of Milwaukee, WI, Ancient Entities has brought forth a punishing new album. In the wake of an already brutal year, Echoes of Annihilation puts the “Death” back in Death Metal. From beginning to end this album will quench your thirst and leave you begging for more. The technical melodies from the guitars and on key drumming make this easy listening whether you like “Tech Death” or not. Vocally will leave you reminded of early Aborted and Cannibal Corpse (George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher) era. Check this album out and add it to your daily listening.” – Keeper Magazine

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: Ancient Entities
Album Title: Echoes of Annihilation
Release Date: June 21, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Cenote Sagrado (1:21)
2. Empire In Ashes (4:19)
3. Creatures From The Sand (3:42)
4. Blood Upon Stone (3:16)
5. Ritual Autopsy (4:43)
6. Hidden (3:53)
7. Pierced by Obsidian (4:08)
8. Wall of War (4:28)
9. Damnatio Ad Flammas (3:24)
Album Length: 32:18

Album Credits:
– Mixing and mastering done at Hertz Recording by Wojtek Wiesławski
– Drum editing: Christopher Lars Djuricic at Belle City Sound
– Recording and editing instruments: Fatty Acid Studios Jake Falk
– Vocal recording: Dan Klein at Iron Hand Audio
– Drums recorded by Nick Morgan
– All songs written by Alex Rausa, Bernardo Mendia, Brian Guilliford
– Special credit Luke Veranth for contributions to songs,
– Jake Falk for recording guitars on songs 1-8
– Cole Daniels for the recording of all bass tracks 1-8
– Album artwork: by Bernardo Mendia
– BMI Affiliated

Album Recording Lineup:
Alex Rausa – Guitar
Bernardo Mendia – Drums
Cole Daniels – Bass
Brian Gulliford – Vocals
Jake Falk – Guitar

Live Band Lineup:
Alex Rausa – Guitar
Bernardo Mendia – Drums
Luke Veranth – Bass
Brian Gulliford – Vocals
Jake Falk – Guitar

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

About Album Artwork

The album artwork was made by Burns. He handles most of our artwork and logo work. The album artwork from my memory was made by combining a couple of different pyramids. It’s both cinematic yet also gets the point across that we are a death metal band. The black in white is simple yet brings out the line work and architecture of the pyramid.

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

This album portrays through sound the war tactics and brutality of Ancient historical civilizations.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. Cenote Sagrado – A magnificent opus of instruments. (Instrumental track).

2. Empire In Ashes – Is about the burning of Rome by Emperor Nero.

3. Creatures Of The Sand- The creation of the human race from the perspective of the Anunnaki

4. Blood Upon the Stone- The ritual of sacrificial cannibalism upon Spaniards by the Aztec tribes

5. Ritual Autopsy – A musical description of the rituals of mummification

6. Hidden- The death and rebirth of the Egyptian god Ra.

7. Pierced by Obsidian – Ancient Mayan sacrificial ceremony where the victim would be tied to a stake and rained upon by Obsidian tipped arrows.

8. Wall of War- The first experience of an ancient Greek phalanx

9. Damnatio Ad Flammas- an ancient punishment where a victim was tied to a stake, forced to wear a flammable vest, and burned alive starting at the chest.

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

STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND

1. Our first two shows were with Jungle Rot and Soulfly. Following that we played a bunch of mid-tier festivals in the US in our first two years of being a band. Our session guitarist Luke is actually good friends with Dave from Jungle Rot and most of us have known Jimmy from going to shows throughout the years. They are almost like a big brother band to us and have supported us since day one. Hails to the boys in Jungle Rot “OLD SCHOOL”

2. Echoes of Annihilation took 6 months to produce mix and master. The legendary Wjotec Wieslawski from Hertz recording made sure we got our best work on track and didn’t compromise when it came to making a perfect album. We recorded here in the States at multiple studios and Hertz mixed and mastered the album. We wanted to work with Wjotec cause he produced some of our favorite bands growing up such as Behemoth, Decapitated, Hate, Hour of Penance, and Vader. In our opinion, he helped create a masterpiece of an album and we hope everyone else thinks so too.

3. We have lots of talented musicians in the band. Alex and Luke learned from the same jazz teacher in the mke area, Steve Peplin. He’s a very notable name in Milwaukee and the jazz community. On top of that Alex also took some lessons from Paul Ryan (origin) in his early 20s and also from Cristiano Trionfera (ex-Fleshgod Apocalypse) a couple of times. Knowledge from these musicians helped form Alex’s style of playing especially when it comes to leads. You can hear a lot of what Paul Ryan calls “laser sweeps” in Echoes of Annihilation.

4. Burns and Alex have known each other for close to 10 years. Burn’s previous band Purge and Alex’s previous band Devolving Messiah played many shows together. Until we formed the midwest super group Ancient Entities.

5. Luke Veranth was not a death metal guitarist to begin with and played lots of classic rock. Alex and Luke worked together for I.A.T.S.E Local 18, putting together a stage production. Eventually, Alex asked him to play with the band after finding out they had the same music teacher.

L-R – Live Lineup – Luke Veranth – Bass, Bernardo Mendia – Drums, Brian Gulliford – Vocals, Alex Rausa – Guitar, Jake Falk – Guitar

Ancient Entities is a band consisting of members Alex Rausa, Bernardo Mendia, Jake Falk, luke Veranth, and Brian Gulliford. Our lyrical content focuses on ancient civilizations, folklore, and mythology from all around the world. The band’s style consists of powerful technical death metal riffing mixed with catchy and titanous rhythm sections, proving for a massive sound.

Shared Stage with:
Soulfly, Jungle Rot, Pyrexia, 200 stab wounds, Putrid Pile, Lividity, Narcotic Wasteland, Gorgatron, Nest, Embryonic Autopsy.Tours and Festivals:
5/6/2022 Second annual Gorecamp cookout
Severed Cannibal Entities tour
3/24/2023 Indianapolis, IN – black circle
3/25/2023 Chicago, IL – Magoos
3/26/2023 Madison, WI – The crucible
6/9/2023 Slamdakota – Sioux Falls, SD
Road to Hell Awaits Golf Coast Metal Fest
8/18/2023 Metalrie,Louisiana – The marsh room patio bar and grill
8/19/2023 long Beach, Mississippi – Trax bar and grill
8/20/2023 Birmingham, Alabama – Firehouse

0 EPK – Shroud of Despondency – LanzerRath Split (2024) (Northern Spire Productions)

March 29, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Shroud of Despondency

EPK – Shroud of Despondency/LanzerRath Split (2024) (Northern Spire Productions)

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

“From Michigan’s desolate reaches, two decades apart, Shroud of Despondency and LanzerRath unite here in an unholy union of cosmic black metal.”

For fans of Emperor, Enslaved, Root, Thorns, Sigh

https://www.facebook.com/shroudofdespondency | https://ShroudofDespondency.bandcamp.com

“Shroud has always struck a fine balance between black metal’s esoteric and progressive bookends; in addition to the skin-searing atonality and machine gun riffing inherent to the genre, the band has made it a commonality to include tasteful strains of classical, Americana and folk, not to mention thrash, doom and death metal, in their sound. Basically, I was amazed they still hadn’t had someone’s dotted line thrust in front of their faces, especially in light of 1) the black metal genre’s historical open-armed acceptance of everyone from Emperor and Vattnet Viskar to Abruptum and Panopticon, and 2) the shitloads of crap out there that gets passed off as ‘essential listening.’”- Decibel

“From top to bottom, from the beginning of the first track until the last note of the fifth and final song of the album, Air of Abrasion is simply brilliant. It’s such a wild ride of an album, with literally the first 3/5ths of the album bringing such a visceral and stunning quality, to the last two tracks showcasing an emotive and musical talent that is flat out levelling on a whole new plane, or at least that elusive plane of musical identity and awareness that few artists actually achieve. I get the feeling that no matter if Shroud of Despondency sold 100 records or 100 million records, their writing and output would still be of the same quality and magnitude.” – Teeth of the Divine

“And that brings me to the second ingredient — the instrumental music on the album. It’s a match for the lyrics. This is one of the year’s bleakest, blackest, most bombastic albums — it’s emotionally wrenching, but it’s so well-executed that it’s transfixing. Rory Heikkila explained that for this final Shroud of Despondency album he purged various influences that had seeped into the project over the years since he started it:

“It needed to be unarguably a Black Metal album and it needed to do away with certain other elements that had crept in over the years. Death metal, progressive metal, and acoustic folk music were largely forsaken because black metal is still probably the most emotive form of music a person with my disposition can create.”

The music is dissonant and dire, with riffs that lash and spiral off in deranged tangents. It’s intense and dramatic. It builds tension like a ratchet torquing bolts to the breaking point. The keyboard orchestrations (at least I think synthesizers are what I’m hearing) build like thunderheads and then explode, with torrents of sound that come down like a deluge, backed by the accompanying howl of wind and the boom of thunder.” – No Clean Singing

[Download Split Cover | Download Lyrics]

Title: Shroud of Despondency/LanzerRath Split
Label: Northern Spire Productions

Release Date: May 10, 2024

Track Listing:
1. Shroud of Despondency – The Source of Multiversal Degradation – 10:43
2. Shroud of Despondency – Celestial Vencom – 9:52
3. LanzerRath – Nebular Collapse, The Dissolution of Order and Meaning

Shroud of Despondency tracks credits are as follows:
Rory Heikkila-all instruments and clean vocals
Ron Blemberg-all harsh vocals
Danny Washburn-additional vocals

The Shroud of Despondency portion of the split was written and recorded by Rory Heikkila in 2023.

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

About The Split Artwork

We wanted something cosmic-themed.

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

Shroud of Despondency part of the split focuses on an outward expansion into the cosmos of negative energy that wreaks havoc on all creation wherever it ends up.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) for Shroud of Despondency

1. The Source of Multiversal Degradation is a song about the origin of a collection of negative energy(doubt, hate, repression, etc) that forms into a physical entity and then expands out into the universe/multiverse to terrorize whoever it comes into contact with.

2. Celestial Venom concerns the expansion and of this force.

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

Fun Fact from Shroud of Despondency:

Shroud of Despondency prides itself on being unpredictable and remains concerned only with the artistic process. While previous albums have focused primarily on dying, death, entropy, and the despair that comes with life, in its current state it is taking a more science fiction approach to these topics. This split and an upcoming full length continue what was started on 2016’s full length, “Of Origin, Conflict, and Recurrence”, in that it sees these negative energies as taking physical form in host bodies and wreaking havoc.

L-R – Rory Heikkila (all instruments), Ron Blemberg (vocals)

Shroud of Despondency was formed in the mid-late 90s in Upper Michigan by Rory Heikkila and has remained a highly active and unpredictable project ever since. While lineups and collaborations occur ever so often, the project’s two main contributors remain Rory Heikkila(instruments) and Ron Blemberg (vocals). This album has Shroud of Despondency collaborating on a split with Michigan’s black metal band LanzerRath. From Michigan’s desolate reaches, two decades apart, Shroud of Despondency and LanzerRath unite here in an unholy union of cosmic black metal.

Discography:
2024 – Shroud of Despondency/LanzerRath split
2022 – Air of Abrasion full length
2021 – Goodnight, My Kitten full length
2020 -Brumation full length
2020 – Runway Fatigue and Descriptions of Teeth full length
2020 – The Silent Note of the Coldest Night full length
2019 – Befouled by the Sacred double album
2018 – Cull full length
2016 – Of Origin, Conflict, and Recurrence full length
2016 – Moon from the Mountain full length
2015 – The Beast’s Desire to Sacrifice full length
2015 – Family Tomb full length
2014 – Tied to a Dying Animal double album
2012 – Pine full length
2011 – Objective:Isolation full length
2011 – Dark Meditations in Monastic Seclusion full length
2022 – For Eternity Brings No Hope full length

0 EPK – Gnarwhal – Altered States (EP) (2024)

March 23, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Gnarwhal

EPK – Gnarwhal – Altered States (EP) (2024)

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

“We hope our progression as a band and as songwriters appeals to our fans and listeners. The Altered States EP is a bit darker and maybe heavier than our first album. Conceptually and thematically, the songs on the EP fit together better as a package and we hope this is conducive to a front to back experience for listeners.” – Benji Straker – Gnarwhal

For fans of The Sword, Kyuss, Mastadon, Elder, Truckfighters

Gnarwhalband.com | Facebook.com/gnarmusic | Instagram.com/gnarwhalsounds | Youtube.com/@gnarwhalband | Soundcloud.com/gnarwhalband

Spotify | Apple Music | Gnarwhalband.bandcamp.com

“Gnarwhal moves along at its own Fuzzed Out Stoner pace with its style of Hard Rock and slightly Doom tinged grooves. Taking cues from bands such as Mastodon, The Sword, Elder and King Buffalo, these guys walk a fine line between Classic and Modern day Stoner sensibilities especially with the Proggy Spaced out vibes. There’s a HEAVY METAL beast waiting to escape from the cleaner grooves that Gnarwhal plays and when it does escape from its cage, Gnarwhal becomes a more exciting creative unit.” – Outlaws of the Sun

““Tides,” a brutal, stormy track that meshes fuzzy, downtuned vibes with unrelenting proggy rhythms. Forlorn vocals that seem to prophesy the inevitable collapse of civilization, as illustrated by the single art.” – Doomed And Stoned

“Altered States follows Canadian four-piece Gnarwhal‘s 2023 self-titled debut full-length with four songs that effectively bring together atmosphere and impact in the six-minute “The War Nothing More” — big build in the second half leading to more immediate, on-beat finish serving as a ready instance of same — with twists that feel derived of the MastoBaroness school rhythmically and up-front vocal melodies that give cohesion to the darker vibe of “From Her Hands” after displaying a grungier blowout in “Tides.” The terrain through which they ebb and flow, amass and release tension, soar and crash, etc., is familiar if somewhat intangible, and that becomes an asset as the concluding “Altered States” channels the energy coursing through its verses in the first half into the airy payoff solo that ends.” – The Obelisk

“With their innovative sound and thought-provoking lyricism, Gnarwhal continues to push the boundaries of heavy music and establish themselves as a formidable force in the Canadian rock landscape and Altered States is a testament to Gnarwhal‘s ability to seamlessly blend diverse influences into a cohesive sonic tapestry.” – Amplify The Noise

“To Canada, Yellowknife to be precise, and the fuzzed-up, whacked-out goodness of Gnarwhal. The band has not long since released a nice little EP, Altered States, that simply oozes class. At times they inject a bit of space rock quirkiness – that should probably be quarkiness, given that first track Tides carries more than a whiff of Hawkwind about it – but for the most part this is wholesome, fuzzy doom of the highest order.” – Sentinel Daily

“rich in beautiful qualities in a vein that is both granite and catchy, these four titles confirm that Gnarwhal a group to follow closely. ” – Music Waves

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

Band: Gnarwhal
EP Title: Altered States
Release Date: May 24, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Tides (3:37)
2. The War / Nothing More (6:36)
3. From Her Hands (3:46)
4. Altered States (3:19)

EP Credits:
• All songs performed by: Gnarwhal
• All songs written by: Gnarwhal
• Produced by: Dan Ponich
• Mixed by: Dan Ponich
• Mastered by: David Collins
• Album Artwork by: Jonah Cutler
• Member of SOCAN
• All music is Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP and Band Band Line Up:
Mark Kilbride – Lead Vocals
Benji Straker – Guitar / Vocals
Jeremy Straker – Bass / Vocals
Layne Rybchinski – Drums / Vocals

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

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

Musically the EP as a whole is really inspired by the music I was listening to at the time of writing each song. I have a basis for what I want a Gnarwhal song to sound like, then draw in aspects from the influences that are in my life at the time. There also needs to be a cohesive flow or feeling to the EP which in this case, musically, is a bit darker and heavier than our last release.- Benji

There seems to be a common thread to most of the lyrics on the album and I feel listeners will be able to relate their own experiences to the songs. I know what these songs mean to me and try to steer toward authentic emotions to accompany the instruments.

The songs on the album portray a sense of resilience and a fight against the complexities of our own thoughts and emotions. No matter how much the characters in the songs endure, you can still feel a sense of hope and resilience. – Mark

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

TIDES

Tides came along from the main riff that had been spinning around in my head for quite some time and a vocal melody that I could also hear over top of it. I really wanted to do something that was a bit of a departure vocally and was really into melodies that Stephen Brooks (singer of Torche) writes and performs. I also like the vocal range space he sits in.

The chorus lead takes some inspiration from Russian Circles and once that came together we had a pretty solid track. Lyrically, I just looked in my notebook full of lyrics and picked some doomy stuff that portrays a dark feeling of missing out on things past and being trapped in an apocalyptic feeling. – Benji

The War/Nothing More

This is actually two songs that I wrote at completely different times that we thought would work well stitched together. I wrote The War shortly after we finished recording our first album. At that same time I was writing music for my Hughes project EP so lyrically and thematically it fit right in line with that. Once I finished it, I actually released it as an acoustic solo version on the EP, Here I Am.

The Nothing More demo was written shortly after and musically it was inspired by my classic post-hardcore/punk influences. I think Refused would be the main driver of the rhythm on this track. – Benji

In Nothing more, I am fond of the lyric: “Shed your skin to make it”. This part relates to putting in the work day in and day out, wanting something so bad you are willing to do anything just to grasp it. Pushing your own boundaries, knowing you put the time and effort into your vision.

“Whole again you can’t fake it”: Being authentic. To be whole this character has to believe in this process and be present in his delivery of the songs. – Mark

3) From Her Hands:

Stones slipping from her hands, down to the ground like yesterday. Tides of hope for tomorrow are coming down to wash you away.

These lyrics come alive in the outro of this track. The stone slipping from her hands could symbolize so many things that we try to hold on to. What is meaningful to you and worth holding?

What are you willing to do to keep the stone from slipping away? A search for what you value comes to mind and the fight to protect what matters to you the most. – Mark

4) Altered States:

“Take what is left of me cause I’m the one you saved”

An appreciation for the difficult times, as much as it makes this character hurt, it shapes them at the same time.

Wanting to belong, finding a purpose

Many of the traits we all share as human beings

“Gone are the Memories” represents an entire lifetime of experiences and wanting to hold on to these memories. All the relationships we create, trying to remember who we are and fighting for this with everything we have.

Failed to see her memories – I love this lyric and it was written while listening to the tracks. This was one of the lines that kept coming back to me. I feel this line is relatable and it would be interesting to hear the stories out there that could stem from this lyric. You know, from the point of view of the listener. I know what it means to me and it is quite powerful, and I can’t wait to share this live. – Mark

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

Fun Facts – Story Angles:

1. On the day of our very first show, Layne started feeling ill in the afternoon. We were headlining to a sold out room so the show had to go on. Layne showed up late for load in and soundcheck and spent the majority of soundcheck in the bathroom on the toilet.

When the opening bands were playing, Layne was nowhere to be found. He showed up to the venue 5 minutes before our set looking like a ghost and like he just lost 30lbs. He downed 3 or 4 Jagermeister shots and played flawlessly while feeling miserable. At the end of our setlist, he begged us not to play an encore, but the crowd asked for it and Layne had to struggle through 2 more songs. – Benji

2. On tour, Jeremy eats his cereal with water. But he gives it 110% every time. – Layne

3. Prior to landing on the band name, Gnarwhal, we went by the name Witchfinger (for a week or two). It was a joke on a cramped finger Mark had at a practice but everyone we told thought we were saying “which finger?” – Jeremy

4. In August 2023, our city was under a wildfire evacuation alert. Our rehearsal spot is right at the edge of town where the fire was approaching. So on the day the alert was released we completely emptied our jamspace of all gear and stored it in a cube van in Benji’s driveway (he lives on the opposite side of town). The next day – the entire city went under mandatory evacuation so everyone had to leave for three weeks while fire crews (including Jeremy who stayed back to work the fire line) fought the fire. The city was saved, our gear was spared, and Jeremy is a hero! – Benji

Gnarwhal is a genre-bending four-piece rock band that weaves heavy alternative fuzz rock with progressive metal intricacies and doom-tinged grooves. Originating in the remote northern Canadian city of Yellowknife in 2021, the band swiftly coalesced and emerged as a leading catalyst in the resurgence of heavy music within their home territory.

Drawing inspiration from prominent acts such as Mastodon, The Sword, Elder, and King Buffalo, Gnarwhal navigates a musical spectrum that gracefully straddles the realms of classic and contemporary fuzz and heavy rock. They artfully intermingle these elements with nods to ’90s grunge influences, paying homage to their collective punk and heavy metal tastes.

Their inaugural self-titled album, “Gnarwhal,” was released in early 2023. The impressive debut earned them a nomination for a 2023 Western Canadian Music Award, in the Metal and Hard Music category. In 2022, they also claimed the Best New Single award at the inaugural 2022 Music NWT Awards.

Gnarwhal has had the privilege of sharing stages with notable acts and has left their mark on some domestic festivals and stages in Western Canada, helping establish their status as a burgeoning force within the Canadian rock landscape. With their innovative sound and distinctive blend of genres, Gnarwhal is poised to leave an impression on the heavy music scene.

Gnarwhal’s sophomore release, the Altered States EP, will be dropping on May 24th, 2024.

Awards and Nominations:
2023 – Nomination for Western Canadian Music Award (Metal and Heavy Music Category)
2022 – Best New Single Award (NWT Music Awards) for the single “Deep Spaced”

Discography:
2024 – Altered States – EP
2023 – Gnarwhal (self-titled)
2023 – Ember Sky Ash (single)
2022 – Deep Spaced (single)
2022 – The Outlier (single)

Tours and Festivals:
2024 – The Electric Highway, Calgary AB
2023 – Breakout West, Kelowna BC
2023 – Kelowna BC, Rossland BC, Calgary AB
2023 – Snow King Festival, Yellowknife NT
2022 – Folk on the Rocks Festival, Yellowknife, NT

0 EPK – NOTSM – Only Death Brings Silence (2024)

March 19, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · NOTSM

EPK – NOTSM – Only Death Brings Silence (2024)

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

“The aim of this album and its singles is to provide listeners with a multifaceted listening experience. Through the lyrics, I aspire for listeners to connect with the themes and find personal resonance, all while delivering plenty of opportunities for headbanging from the heavier moments of the album. During softer moments, I hope listeners will appreciate and be moved by the melodies, while during more experimental segments, I hope they’ll find intrigue and curiosity, urging them to explore the full breadth of the musical ideas presented. The meticulously crafted tracklist is designed to captivate listeners from start to finish, ensuring an engaging and immersive experience throughout the entirety of the album.” – NOTSM

For fans of Mors Principium Est, The Halo Effect, Rivers of Nihil, Sylosis, Nightrage

Linktree – https://linktr.ee/notsm | Instagram.com/notsm.music | Facebook.com/notsm.music | Youtube.com/@notsm_music

Notsm.bandcamp.com | Spotify

““Only Death Brings Silence” is not just an album; it’s an introspective journey into the soul of its creator. It’s an invitation to explore profound themes through the lens of progressive metal music, promising to resonate with fans and newcomers alike. With its intricate compositions and thoughtful lyrics, this album should make a significant impact on its release, urging listeners to both enjoy the primordial headbanging and obligatory “onion-face” of musical acceptance and reflect deeply on the existential themes it wrestles with, which is very relevant today and good to see, as well as hear, that the need to craft a message that resonates with everyone in the vehicle of art that can still be enjoyed in blissful ignorance. 5/5” – Metal Epidemic

“Only Death Brings Silence is an intoxicating and powerful exploration of not only the human condition but of sound. MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Terminal”, “You Make Your Own Luck”, “One Death Brings Silence”” – Amplify The Noise

“Technical and groovin’ prog ish metal, probably falling in the melodic death pile.” – The Mosh Pit 89.9 FM – WORT FM (Madison, WI)

“Perhaps that Matt Barkley has strengthened himself for the release of his first album with a phenomenal front man who hits the right notes in all Metalcore pitches. Alex Hamilton is a real asset to “Only Death Brings Silence” and one of the many reasons why you should definitely check on the duo’s first EP. But you can also name the fine riffing, the great melodies, the thick breakdowns and the groovy foundation of the disc, because the given ingredients ensure that, that you can have the six new pieces properly packed on the eggs. NOTSM does not even have to be particularly brutal or overly harmonious, but can rely on the thrashy attitude, the occasional post-metal excursions and the varied vocal performance, who do not necessarily take unconventional paths in the package, but fire the songwriting factor with enough positive energy that you take your thumb up as quickly as possible.” – PowerMetal.de

“I loved it, powerfull Metalcore energy with big guitar riffs, vocals are solid too (The Hedonic Treadmill). The production side is really good ! Bravo” – MANAGRAM Productions

“The song (The Hedonic Treadmill) is interesting, the vocals and guitar lines really hit hard, congrats. The production is good too.” Dreamfuss – Alt-rock

“We really dig this track (The Hedonic Treadmill), you can definitely feel the emotion and the passion in every aspects, we love how it moves from Metal, to Metal Core so effortlessly, as well as being very melodic.” – The Metal Asylum

“Brutal and precise! Love the metal!” – Buzz Slayers

“Big big track (Humans) here, the riffs are devastating with a good groove and the vocals powerful and melodic, it’s a good job well HEAVY ! Bravo \m/ !” – MANAGRAM Productions

“Great structures and riffs, the song (Humans) is heavy and well constructed, you’ve created something powerful!” – Roadie Metal

“(Humans) Fast, distorted and heavy! That’s what I enjoy in this genre! The riffs kept me at the edge of my seat and then the vocals came in with some amazing screams that really sound good! That bassy mixed voice sounds absolutely great. The chorus is really melodic and I enjoyed it! I would not change anything here, it’s really fast and gives out a unique kind of energy. I would not consider this simply metal, we have such great music that should not be overlooked because it’s produced in a metal song! The break was done pretty good as well and would create an amazing mosh pit!” – Indiefferential Magazine

“(Humans) The first thing I want to say is that the production quality is top notch! Every instrument sounds at its best! The grooves are so rhythmically fun! The kick drum sounds like a machine gun! It’s so fast! Unbelievable! The leads are epic!” – FFeel Music

“(Humans) Loved the performance! Beautiful songwriting and tasty riffing & vocal performance. Straight up brutal and relentless heaviness. It just screams aggression and power! Has a bit of a groovy death metal touch to it. very solid release.” – Dejected

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: NOTSM
Album Title: Only Death Brings Silence
Release Date: May 3, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Humans (3:34)
2. Terminal (5:00)
3. The Hedonic Treadmill (4:50)
4. The Hedonic Treadmill 2 (4:40)
5. You Make Your Own Luck (4:21)
6. Only Death Brings Silence (11:51)
Total Length: 34:16

Album Credits:
All songs performed by: NOTSM
All songs written by: Matt Barkley
All lyrics written by: Matt Barkley
All vocals performed by: Alex Hamilton
Mixed by: Marc Peiron
Mastered by: Marc Peiron
Album Artwork by: Cutting Edge Metal
Canadian Content – MAPL
Member of SOCAN
Member of ASCAP

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

About The Album Artwork

The concept behind “Only Death Brings Silence” delves into the noise of our modern world, where the constant need to voice opinions, the onslaught of distressing news, and online discord create a metaphorical “loud” environment, and the album suggests that the only respite from this overwhelming clamor is found in death.

The album artwork encapsulates this theme through a deliberately blurred image, symbolizing the sense of being unrecognizable and adrift in the sea of societal “noise”.

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

“Only Death Brings Silence” takes listeners on a musical and lyrical adventure that explores some dark aspects of the human experience. The heavy and dynamic musical compositions enhance the emotional impact of the lyrical themes, creating a cohesive and immersive experience for fans of heavy metal.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Humans:
Lyrically – This song is about the profound negative impact that humans have made on the planet.

Musically – This song has a basic song structure and was written primarily to accommodate the lyrics. The song is fast-paced and is more or less based on the same musical motif throughout its entirety. I’m not a big fan of guitar solos, but I thought a solo would fit nicely in the middle of this song. The section from 2:31-2:41 was written with a live setting in mind and is meant to pump up the crowd before the last verse comes in with a bang.

2. Terminal:
Lyrically – This song is about mortality and how, no matter what we do in our lives, we’re all going to eventually die.

Musically – This is a slower-paced song that has a kind of “doomy” vibe to it. The first part of the song follows a pretty common format, but the second half veers off in a completely different direction ending with a mind-bending drum part.

3. The Hedonic Treadmill:
Lyrically – This song is about how we’re always chasing the next high, even though it rarely leads us to the happiness and fulfillment we are hoping it will.

Musically – This song starts with a headbanger of a riff that is clearly inspired by Meshuggah. The vocals come in pretty heavy during the second riff of the song, and then there’s a weird (what I like to call) “guitar trade-off”. A “guitar trade-off” is a technique I use often in my songwriting where each guitar will play a different riff and then, on the repeat, they will swap and play the other guitar’s riff. After this section, the song is pretty simple from a structural point-of-view until it gets to the fast riff around 3:18. Right before the fast riff though, there’s some neat rhythmic ideas happening: if you listen closely, the guitar chug pattern is in 7/8 time and never changes, but the drums change three different times throughout the course of the riff. The outro starts with a neat guitar melody that’s played on its own, and then the rest of the music comes in with a cool rhythmic pattern that eventually fades out.

4. The Hedonic Treadmill 2:
Lyrically – This song is about how we’re always chasing the next high, even though it rarely leads us to the happiness and fulfillment we are hoping it will.

Musically – This is the second part of a two-part song, and it starts with the same rhythmic pattern that part 1 ends on, but without the melody overtop. The vocals of the song immediately come in and feel like a punch in the face. The rest of the song has a more basic structure than the first part and has a lot of clean guitar and vocal sections, which is meant to contrast Part 1 of the song. After the punchy riff from 3:31 to 3:44, the outro of the song is really chill, ending on a big crescendo that stops dead right at the top.

5. You Make Your Own Luck:
Lyrically – This song is about the role that luck plays in the successes and failures of our lives.

Musically – This song has a basic song structure and was written primarily to accommodate the lyrics. This is another fast-paced song that has a pretty typical structure. When writing the vocals for this one, I wanted to keep them harsh the whole time because of the aggressive nature of where the lyrical content came from. I ultimately decided to let the guitars carry the melody during the choruses.

6. Only Death Brings Silence:
Lyrically – N/A
Musically – This is a long instrumental song that is a rollercoaster ride through many different musical ideas. If you listen closely though, some of the ideas do come back again, either rhythmically or melodically. The original idea I had for this song when I wrote it was to split it up into about 10 different tracks, but I ultimately decided to keep it together as one song because that’s how I always intended it to be listened to.

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Story Angles – Fun Facts:

1. NOTSM is an acronym for “none of this shit matters” and this is a mantra I’ve been using for years to remind me to focus on the things that are important in my life.

2. The lyrics for “The Hedonic Treadmill” and “The Hedonic Treadmill 2” come from my own experience of dealing with burnout.

3. The vocalist on this album, Alex Hamilton, was hired off of Fiverr.

4. All instruments on this album are programmed. All guitars and vocals are recorded.

5. The working title for the song “Only Death Brings Silence” was “Zippicamknicks”, an undergarment from Aldous Huxley’s novel “Brave New World”.

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

Excitement builds for the release of NOTSM’s debut album “Only Death Brings Silence” on May 3, 2024. A solo project from Matt Barkley, the album delivers a unique blend of heavy metal, proggy riffs, and breakdowns wrapped up with introspective lyrical themes. Barkley’s primary instrument is the guitar, thus the songwriting process typically begins with guitar-based riffs or concepts. He has a deep fascination with rhythm guitar playing, often experimenting with intricate rhythmic patterns, and using odd time signatures, polyrhythms, and polymeters to create engaging compositions. He comments on the album:

Over the years, Barkley has maintained a riff bank—a repository of ideas that he frequently revisits and refines for use in his music. In his approach, music precedes lyrics, though he’s recently delved more into lyric writing. This album sees a blend of both processes, with two songs crafted around pre-existing lyrical concepts. While his methods may evolve in the future, this amalgamation of guitar-driven creativity and evolving lyrical exploration defines my current writing ethos.

NOTSM is defined by Barkley’s willingness to adapt and refine his sound while retaining the spirit of experimentation and innovation that is evident in the music. “Only Death Brings Silence” is recommended for fans of The Halo Effect, Rivers of Nihil, and Sylosis.

0 EPK – CHUNKED – Inhaling the Infestation (Gore House Productions)

March 15, 2024
by Asher
· CHUNKED (Gore House Productions) · EPKs

EPK – CHUNKED Inhaling the Infestation (Gore House Productions)

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

“I think that people will like to hear more material that follows the same path of the EP with the obvious addition of newer structures, variations, and influences. Now that this band is playing live shows, I took the live presence more into account while writing the material. This upcoming album is going to make our fans drag their knuckles on the ground like a Neanderthal and de-revolutionize back to their primitive state. The singles will do the same thing.” – Arian Mauk – Chunked

For fans of Mortician, Sanguisugabogg, Torsofuck, Bodybox, Fluids

Facebook.com/ChunkedBand | Instagram.com/chunkedband | Chunkedband.bandcamp.com

CD / Cassette – https://store.gorehouseproductions.com/collections/chunked

All Digital Platforms (Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music) – https://orcd.co/inhaling-the-infestation

Album: Inhaling the Infestation
Release Date: March 15 (Digital), May 3 (CD) – 2024
Label: Gore Hose Productions

Track Listing:
1. Pulsing Excrement (2:59)
2. Liquid Cranial Detonation (2:12)
3. Concrete Veins (1:44)
4. Inhaling the Infestation (4:04)
5. Putridity (2:53)
6. Submerged in Rotten Sewage (4:15)
Album Length: 18:16

Album Credits: All songs performed by Arian Mauk.
All songs written by Arian Mauk.
Produced by Arian Mauk.
Mixed by Arian Mauk.
Mastered by Jeremy Wilson.
Album Artwork by Arian Mauk.

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

About The Album Artwork:

The album artwork is just the outline of a cave, which walks in line with the initial idea I had for chunky cavernous death metal.

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

This EP is a simple and effective type of death metal with no extra flair. Death Metal down to its core.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. “Pulsing Excrement” is about a big ol’ pile of shit. The main focus of this track was to kick open the door with an instant hook and end with a slowed breakdown.

2. “Liquid Cranial Detonation” follows the topic of someone’s brain and skull exploding. Simple as that. It is a short track that is meant to be a constant headbang.

3. “Concrete Veins” is a very literal song, being about veins made of concrete. It is a short but sweet track that dips heavy into the hardcore influence mentioned previously.

4. “Inhaling the Infestation” is a power ballad about a swarm of insects slowly taking over a human body, very painfully and meticulously. It is a well-structured and catchy track that will make your knuckles sink towards the ground and start grinding across the floor.

5. “Putridity” takes a different and a little more specific route than the other tracks. The lyrics describe a pile of strangled and dead elderly people who have been stacked and stored for months. Rotting and reeking. The usual.

6. “Submerged in Rotten Sewage” wraps up this EP following a similar structure as track 4. Once again, the lyrics are very literal to the song’s name. They’re about getting submerged in slimy, rotting, thick, putrid sewage.

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

Fun Facts:

1. This whole EP was written, recorded, mixed and ready to be mastered in the span of only 3 days.

2. Chunked has a father/son duo (Arian and Dustin Mauk) and has two sets of twins. (Cole and James both have twin brothers.)

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

L-R: Arian Mauk (Vocals), Cole Taylor (Drums), James Stone (Bass), Dustin Mauk (Guitar)

Kingsport, Tennessee, USA’s brutal and unrelenting death metal act Chunked are pleased to announce their signing with Gore House Productions for the digital release of their EP “Inhaling the Infestation”. The record is a knuckle-dragging testament to primitive death metal and is set to drop digitally on March 15th and physical CD / Cassette on May 3rd, 2024.

Founded in 2023 by the visionary Arian Mauk, Chunked emerged with the sole purpose of crafting a personal favorite in the realm of death metal—something heavy, simple, and undeniably powerful. Initially intended as a one-off project, Chunked gained unexpected traction, leading Mauk to assemble a full band and continue the journey into the abyss of primal, visceral sound. He shares his thoughts on the upcoming release:

“This EP is a simple and effective type of death metal with no extra flair. Death metal down to its core. I wanted to create a memorable experience with this EP. With tracks like “Liquid Cranial Detonation” and “Concrete Veins” being shorter and catchier, and tracks like “Inhaling the Infestation” being more well structured and longer. For our next release, which will be a full-length, our fans can expect a minimum of 30 minutes of material.”

The artwork for “Inhaling the Infestation” is a cave outline that perfectly encapsulates the cavernous and chunky death metal that Chunked delivers—a no-frills, down-to-the-core death metal experience. It will make fans drag their knuckles on the ground like a Neanderthal and de-evolution back to their primitive state. It is recommended for fans of Mortician, Sanguisugabogg, and Torsofuck.

Shared Stage with: Angel Massacre, Deceit, Retribution, Raptured, Chained, Pressure Point, Every Promise Kept, lawofinertia, Autumn Lies Buried, Quiscent Mantis, Warclown, Dielation, Clockwise

0 EPK – Supermodel Taxidermy – At What Cost (2024) (Punishment 18 Records)

March 14, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Supermodel Taxidermy

EPK Supermodel Taxidermy – At What Cost (2024) (Punishment 18 Records)

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

“The sophomore At What Cost, has exceeded expectations of early listeners by adding new dynamics such as Cheney’s crushing vocals. Supermodel Taxidermy has done a lot of back-and-forth “call and receive” vocals on this record. It is designed to catch you with its intense guitar hooks, heavy drums, and catchy bass lines, all while keeping your attention to the lyrical topics at hand. If we have sold this to your ears correctly, the album will be nothing shy of D.R.I.’s Full Speed Ahead vs Iron Reagan’s Crossover Ministry with a touch of Slayer. – Shawn Maynard – Supermodel Taxidermy

For fans of D.R.I, Suicidal Tendencies, Biohazard, Dayglo Abortions, Slayer

Punishment18records.com | Facebook.com/supermodelmodeltaxidermy | Twitter.com/SUPERMODELTAXI | Youtube.com/@supermodeltaxidermy | Instagram.com/supermodeltaxidermy

Supermodeltaxidermy.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

Digital – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/supermodeltaxidermy/at-what-cost

“it’s fun and catchy, it’s crazy fast and just makes you want to throw yourself into walls.” – The Metal Crypt

“At What Cost is one richly impressive and increasingly addictive release. It looks like SUPERMODEL TAXIDERMY is coming for the world and the cost? Sheer pleasure!” – The Ringmaster Review

“blends skate punk with elements of thrash into a lethal concoction that slaps you in the face as it runs by. The atmosphere they create is explosive; a mix of punk rock energy with thrash level instrumentals. Their sound is reminiscent of Bad Brains or Minor Threat, but with a harsher bite. The amount of authentic punk energy Supermodel Taxidermy crammed into this record is almost unbelievable, and when combined with the instrumental elements of thrash, its tone is almost deadly. Energetic and emphatic, the band’s raw mix of chaotic energies serves them well on this record. There is no real lull in energy at any point within this record, proving that if Supermodel Taxidermy can do anything, it’s bring in the heat.” – Heavy Music Headquarters

“Punk rock and thrash when combined can elevate the energy to that youthful exuberance that is hard to resist. Supermodel Taxidermy lean into their love of those styles on At What Cost, creating an enthusiastic platter that channels its messages in short, solid songs that will get the hordes moving. Could be the best skater soundtrack to bust out those rad, death defying moves for 2024.” – DeadRhetoric

“Songs like “Exorcist for Beer”, “Blood Painted Dash”, and “Lipstick” run the hardcore punk/thrash metal gamut, from party anthems to horror tales, to the band’s metal-fueled love for scene chicks. SUPERMODEL TAXIDERMY’s “At What Cost?” drips Gen-X punk and metal sensibilities. If that’s your bag, go get it. You won’t be disappointed.” – Wormwood Chronicles

“An album that leaves its mark and will make you follow them into the future.” True Metal

#41 on Loudwire weekly wire: TOP 50 Best New Rock & Metal Songs for the single Blood Painted Dash (2022)

“‘A Whorer Story’ sounds like a crossover album, fans of the genre are bound to get on board with it and whilst there isn’t anything really new, it does set the stage for the remainder of their career.” – Metal Digest (2022)

“Supermodel Taxidermy takes skate punk, hardcore, and thrash to the next level with loud riffs, catchy lyrics, and infectious energy. They released the EP A Whorer Story in January, but they’ve returned with a new, standalone single. The latest track, “Blood Painted Dash,” is ready to make your ears pop!” – Canadian Beats (2022)

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album: At What Cost
Release Date: May 31st 2024
Label: Punishment 18 Records
Distribution: Plastichead

Track Listing
1) Wake Up 1:56
2) Exorcist For Beer 3:21
3) Clinics 3:20
4) Lipstick 2:54
5) Blood Painted Dash 3:16
6) Gage 1:48
7)Kevlar 3:10
8)The Hanging Tree 3:17
9) Subliminal 3:12 (Suicidal Tendencies Cover)
10) Death Dealer 3:37
Total Length 29:55

Album Credits:
All songs performed by: Supermodel Taxidermy
All songs written by: Supermodel Taxidermy *Except Subliminal (Suicidal Tendencies cover)
Produced by: Rob Lawless
Mixed by: Terry Paholek
Mastered by: Terry Paholek
Album Artwork by: Andrei Bouzikov
MAPL Canadain Content and Socan Member

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Shawn Maynard – Guitar & lead vocals
Michael Cheney – Bass & vocals
Reilly Williams – Drums

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

About The Album Artwork

The artwork’s concept is about demons entering and exiting the passageway to hell; as they get closer to the entrance their horns grow predominantly. The demons leaving seem to make their horns disappear as they get closer to society. The very front of the painting has a war between two demonic entities who are pulling a human in opposite directions. This signifies what it takes to keep your composure intact and stay true to who you are in a ruthless society. This is why we titled it “At What Cost” -Shawn Maynard

About The Album (Musically – Lyrically)

The majority of this album looks at death lyrically. A lot of the writings question the cause and effect to vices and the wrong choices that can be made throughout our lives

Musically this album is fast and heavy as hell. We wanted to have it throwing left hooks repeated, there are not many moments on this record when it gives you that break. Have a listen and prove me wrong – Shawn

Track By Track (Musically – Lyrically)

1. Wake Up – is the intro to our album, It comes in chunky and then sets the tempo for the record a quarterway through the first song. Lyrically it’s about partying after a funeral when the cause was actually an overdose.2. Exorcist For Beer – This one is a party anthem! it’s also a story about finding an exorcist on the dark web who makes all our problems much worse than just booze alone. musically this one’s like getting into the ring with Mike Tyson, the intensity keeps coming.

3. Clinics – is a heavy track in a few ways, this song touches on Canada’s issues with opioids and the needle clinics involved around it. This is one of the harder tracks of the album.

4. Lipstick – here’s a fun song paying homage to the women of our scene. If rock and thrash was a genre, this song would be part of it!

5. Blood Painted Dash – was our first single released for this album. It’s a darker song about waking up dead in the morgue. This one has some slayer-ish style solos and fast action pieces flying everywhere.

6. GAGE – this one was basically taken right out of the pages of Steven King’s book Pet Sematary. The song is metal as f@&K

7. Kevlar – I wrote this one about a tribute tattoo I have for a fallen brother; we were left with some unsaid words and I think this song clears the air. Think Slayer vs D.R.I’s “Full Speed Ahead”

8. The Hanging Tree – was a song found in one of Reilly’s lyric books. Shawn revised it to suit his singing style but lyrically it’s content was crossed over from Reilly’s story of an actual hanging tree into Shawn’s vision of paganism and the cycle of death and regrowth. It’s 196 bpm of pure metal.

9. Subliminal – Is a song we covered by Suicidal Tendencies, ever hear of them?

10. Death Dealer -is a fast one about not letting life pass you by. Make it count without any regrets! the quick lyric trading between Shawn and Mike has taken Supermodel Taxidermy’s sound in an upward direction. not only does the track have dual vocals but the gangs are not to be disregarded either – FAST and HEAVY

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

Fun Facts – Story Angles

1) Supermodel Taxidermy started as a concept album with Shawn the guitarist and two hired guns recording “A Whorer Story” in the studio. Initially, it wasn’t supposed to go any further until the overwhelming response the album was received. After that it’s current members were sought out and the band was formed.

2) Our first show was at a festival in our hometown. Until that point, none of us boys had played anywhere together. Our friends and family all came out for it and we definitely turned a few heads with our unique blend of punk and metal

3)The piano played on the record at the beginning of death dealer was an excerpt from Lucas King done by our bassist Mike. We tossed around the idea of who to bring in and do it, but nothing was panning out. That’s when Mike surprised the band by showing us he knew how to play – Shawn.

4) The three of us own puppies from the same litter. My female Frenchton had a litter In December and I couldn’t think of a better guy to raise the pups than the two boys backing me in the band. Now our dogs get to remain as tight as we are! Shawn.

5) The second song on the album, called Exorcist for Beer was written on a fishing trip by Reilly (drummer), with his father and little brother. It’s actually tongue and cheek about his little brother and we even got Reilly’s old man to record a skit on the record before the song starts. he’s basically screaming at us to shut up and quit with the music. Naturally, he did great because of the 27 years of practice he had at it with Reilly. Thanks again Kenny!

L-R – Reilly Williams – Drums, Shawn Maynard – Guitar, Lead Vox, Mike Cheney – Bass, Vox)

Photo Credit – Cole Williams

Supermodel Taxidermy, the dynamic force in thrash metal and hardcore punk, from Fort McMurray, Canada, is set to blow minds with their latest album “At What Cost”, which promises an exhilarating fusion of intense guitar hooks, heavy drums, catchy bass lines, and thought-provoking lyrics that will entice metal enthusiasts around the globe. They share their thoughts on the upcoming album:

“The record is intense. Our singing stops right about the time we want to have a look into the mosh pit on the floor, but even those parts have heavy riffs. We don’t leave much room for separating the two, they drive each other. The first record has elements of a hardcore punk album with metal scattered all over it. Our new record is a thrash metal album that kept a lot of its punk rock elements.”

Supermodel Taxidermy emerged from the aftermath of the critically acclaimed EP “A Whorer Story”, which started as a solo project but evolved into a full-fledged band due to overwhelming support. The upcoming album, “At What Cost”, delves into personal topics such as addiction, death, suicide, and prostitution, intertwining them with empowering messages.

Supermodel Taxidermy prides itself on collaborative songwriting, with each member contributing their strengths to create a powerful and cohesive sound. The band’s ethos revolves around pushing boundaries and tackling societal horrors through their music, all while injecting elements of fun and pop culture. They are recommended for fans of D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, and Iron Reagan.

“At What Cost” is due out on May 31, 2024, and available for pre-order / pre-save at the following links:

https://www.punishment18records.com/

https://hyperfollow.com/SupermodelTaxidermy

https://supermodeltaxidermy.bandcamp.com/album/at-what-cost

Supermodel Taxidermy is:
Shawn Maynard – Guitar & Vocals
Michael Cheney – Bass & Back Up Vocals
Reilly Williams – Drums

Shared Stage with: The Dwarves, Authority Zero, Into Eternity, Chaser, Ripcordz, Untimely Demise, The Flatliners, The Corps, Golers, Tymo, Thirteen Goats, Choke, Citizen Rage, Forsaken Rite, Age Of Ashes, The Unending, The Devils Sons, Bogue Brigade, L.A.M.S, Vargouille, Despite The Reverence, La Chinga, Heir To Ash…

Festivals:
Party In The Park September 13th 2025, Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Decimate Metalfest June 27th 2025, Millet, Alberta, Canada
Rock the Rails June 7th, 2024, Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Alternative Waves June 15th 2024, Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada
Dr Frogs Cavalcade of Audio Elixirs August 1st 2024, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada
Party in the Park September 14th, 2024, Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada
Rock The Rails June 2nd 2022, Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada

0 EPK – The Order of The Precious Blood – Cheaper But Will Do (2024)

March 8, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · The Order of The Precious Blood

EPK – The Order of The Precious Blood – Cheaper But Will Do (2024)

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

“We think our fans will enjoy this new single. It combines a lot of elements that we are already known for, just pushed a little bit further. This song has been a part of our live set for a couple of months now and we’re excited to give our fans a recorded version that they can learn the words to and sing along with at shows, which is always awesome for us.

Get wrapped up in the chaotic emotion of the song. It moves from section to section fairly quickly and it’s also under 2 minutes, so ultimately we want to grab the attention of the audience in a very intense way for a short time and give them an experience they want to revisit again and again. Cheaper But Will Do takes you through a strange, abstract journey, even if it is a short one.” – The Order of The Precious Blood

For fans Converge, Alexisonfire, Every Time I Die, Code Orange, The Dillinger Escape Plan

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/preciousblood | Instagram.com/preciousblood709 | Facebook.com/preciousblood709 | Youtube.com/@preciousblood709

Preciousblood709.bandcamp.com | Spotify

“From the rocky shores of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada comes a blood ceremony, an unholy sacrament of the wicked riff. The Order of the Precious Blood congregates to bask in the red glow and immense power of heavy fucking metal” – Decibel Magazine

“I’m downright flabbergasted by the quality of this EP. I’ve come back to it time and time again. It’s got a distinct sound, it’s got variety, it’s got great songwriting, and top of the line production. If this is what The Order of the Precious Blood is starting out with then consider me a devout follower of the cult. I can’t wait to hear what these guys produce next. If you haven’t listened to this EP yet, do yourself a favour and get on that.” – HeavyNFLD

Show Dates:
April 19 – St John’s, NL – Peter Eastons – 19+ w/ Of The Black, Kaspam Cult, Killer 9000
April 20 – St John’s, NL – Gower Street United Church – All Ages
April 25 – Halifax, NS – Radstorm w/ Pavel Stroke, Thousand Knives, and Pale Ache
April 26 – Miramichi, NB – The Shred Shed w/ Ten Dollar Meat Bags and Ibex
April 27 – Moncton, NB – Xeroz w/ Yhorm, and Ibex
April 28 – Glace Bay, NB – The Bitten Moon Pub w/ Breakneck, Fear and Filth, and Great Value
May 2 – Charlottetown, P.E.I. – Charlottetown Beer Garden – ECMA Showcase
May 4 – Charlottetown, P.E.I. – Charlottetown Beer Garden – ECMA Showcase

[Download Single Cover | Download Single Lyrics]

Single Title: Cheaper But Will Do
Release Date: March 8, 2024
Label: Self-Release

Single Credits:
All songs performed by: The Order of The Precious Blood
All songs written by: The Order of the Precious Blood
Produced by: Krisjan Leslie & The Order of the Precious Blood
Mixed by: Krisjan Leslie
Mastered by: Krisjan Leslie
Single Artwork by: Datura AD

Single and Live Lineup:
Paul Brake – Lead Vocals
Ben Chapman-Smith – Bass
Cameron Legge – Guitar
Barry O’Keefe – Guitar
Adam Hearn – Drums

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About The Single Artwork

The artwork is an abstract art piece that depicts the hallucinatory world of chaos and darkness that is discussed in the lyrics of the song Cheaper But Will Do. A hooded skeletal figure offering you an unknown object or substance, as you walk closer to accept the offer, the figure’s face becomes a terrifying kaleidoscope spinning around you.

About The Single (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Musically the song is equal parts lightning fast hardcore punk and searing noisy dissonance, with aggressive emotive vocals that spew venom straight to the listeners face. The lyrics describe a bleak landscape where we must all purchase our own versions of the “drugs” that are cheaper than we would like, but nonetheless, they will have to do. After dragging the listener through the darkness, the lyrics challenge you to “maintain existence now”.

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

STORY ANGLES

1. The Order of the Precious Blood attempts to build a world that incorporates music, but with other esoteric elements that border on cult-like. The Order of the Precious Blood have been known to pass out pamphlets at their shows with subject matter regarding the evolution of human consciousness and the mysteries of the universe.

2. The Order of the Precious Blood has been known to reach their fans by way of analog viral marketing. They have left clues and prizes in the form of secret “drops” that may happen at other shows or local businesses or even left in public places. Prizes or clues can range from free cover or merchandise for dedicated fans, or creepy mystery items.

3. When The Order of the Precious Blood filmed their “Bastard! Rejoice! Live in the Basement” video which is available on the bands instagram, they filmed it in their old rehearsal space where singer Paul Brake used to live. Paul went to his local Wal-Mart and purchased every set of black curtains they had in stock for the set of the video, and returned them after they were finished. Some unsuspecting people have curtains that were used in our video hanging in their home. Also a great way to save money!

4. The Order of the Precious Blood have worked with local horror movie production company Grind Mind and have participated in their yearly film festival two years in a row. They have left secret drops at this festival, have performed at the opening ceremony, and have had spooky viral marketing appear in the programs handed out over the weekend festival.

5. The Order of the Precious Blood have made a habit of taking promotional pictures in various abandoned places in Newfoundland. From abandoned pig farms to abandoned hospitals, they make an effort to bring the element of horror by taking you inside these often spooky places.

FUN FACTS

1. Nominated for a MusicNL local award for Loud Artist of the Year, and are scheduled to showcase at the ECMA week in PEI in May 2024.

2. The Order of the Precious Blood have handed out pamphlets and what they called “hymn books” that were DIY printed with the bands lyrics for their set as a way to engage with their audience.

3. Paul’s old band RocketRocketShip had played with Barry and Adam’s old band Release the Hounds many times in the past, and Release the Hounds even beat RocketRocketShip in a battle of the bands.

L-R – Cameron Legge (Guitar) Ben Chapman-Smith (Bass), Paul Brake (Vocals), Adam Hearn (Drums) Barry O’Keefe (Guitar)

Photo Cred – Matthew Myler Photography

Precious Blood’s frenetic style can best be described as a horror movie come to life: relentless, punishing and claustrophobic, wielding a jagged dissonance while incorporating an unexpected brew of experimental and pop songwriting techniques. The Order of The Precious Blood is a blackened hardcore punk band comprised of frontman Paul Brake (RocketRocketShip, Wastecase), guitarists Cameron Legge (Slowpoke, Anoxia) and Barry O’Keefe (Release the Hounds), bassist Ben Chapman-Smith (Slowpoke, Head Loss) and drummer Adam Hearn (Release the Hounds, Faster Than Felix).

More Info:

THE ORDER OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD or ‘PRECIOUS BLOOD’ are a blackened punk band from St. John’s, NL that has been quickly amassing followers across Newfoundland and across the Maritimes.

The group launched in OCT ‘22 with a SOLD-OUT debut ‘BLOOD CEREMONY’ in their hometown and has quickly risen to the top of the local heavy music scene through careful marketing and strategic growth. Their first EP ‘I No Longer WIsh For Salvation’ (Release date: June 16, 2023) earned the group a NOMINATION for 2023 MUSICNL LOUD ARTIST OF THE YEAR (to be awarded Oct 21).

PRECIOUS BLOOD is unique in their ability to engage fans by creating lore around the group which plays on themes of cults, religions, and mysticism. Their ‘Augmented Reality’ marketing campaigns use touchpoints like cryptic posters, burner phone lines, item drops, and tracts/pamphlets which blur the lines between truth and fiction for their followers and act as worldbuilding tools.

Fans of PRECIOUS BLOOD are HIGHLY ENGAGED and enjoy attending frequent LIVE SHOWS, purchasing high quality and limited edition MERCHANDISE, and CONNECTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA. The band frequently partners with local businesses and brands to offer PROMOTIONS and GIVEAWAYS at their shows and on social media.

The group has already undertaken an ATLANTIC CANADIAN TOUR in AUG ‘23 with funding support from MusicNL. They have supported touring bands coming to NL like Diner Drugs (NB) and will be performing in the west coast of NL in fall 2023 with Pale Ache thanks to a separate grant from MusicNL.

Over the next year, THE ORDER OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD will continue to deepen the audience experience through SOUND RECORDING, MUSIC VIDEOS, PR CAMPAIGNS, LIVE SHOWS/TOURING, AUGMENTED REALITY MARKETING, and SHOWCASING at MusicNL Week 2023 and ECMA 2024.

Discography:
2024 – Cheaper But Will Do – Single
2023 – I No Longer Wish For Salvation – EP

Shared Stage with: Diner Drugs, Pale Ache, Anthesis, Baited, Smoke Signals

Tours and Festivals:
2023 – I No Longer Wish For Salvation Atlantic Tour
August 13th – St John’s NL all ages
August 18th – Charlottetown PEI
August 19th – Saint John NB
August 20th – Bathurst NB
August 23rd, Fredericton NB
August 24th – Halifax NS All Ages
August 25th – Halifax NS
August 26th – Halifax NS all ages skatepark show
August 27th – St John’s NL Skate or Don’t comp
September 9th PB Homecoming show

0 EPK – Nate Silva – The Chase (2024)

February 28, 2024
by Asher
· EPKs · Nate Silva

EPK – Nate Silva – The Chase (2024)

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

Booking Agent – Michel Benac, Voila Concerts – info[@]voilaconcerts[.]ca

“I’ve been showing some of my close musician friends the new album, and it’s all been fairly positive. It’s a fairly big departure for me – moving away from prog rock and more metal leanings, and harder metal projects before that – doing something more radio-friendly, for a lack of a better term. I’m hoping to reach a wider audience.

There’s definitely an explicit channeling of a lot of the 90s alternative and rock bands that I used to be into when I was younger in this album. Those bands and styles were certainly integral – moreso than I probably realize – so I think it has a nostalgic quality for that era of rock music. The album is also a look into some of the darker parts of grief and heartbreak that I was experiencing leading up to the beginning of the pandemic; experiencing the actual pandemic itself, and just trying to persevere one’s creative integrity through such a strange moment in society for everyone. So it’s also a very personal reflection of what I was dealing with during the creative process.” – Nate Silva

For fans of Foo Fighters, Danko Jones, Billy Talent, Green Day, Rush

Natesilvamusic.com | Youtube.com/@natesilvamusic | Instagram.com/natesilvamusic | Facebook.com/natesilvamusic

Natesilvamusic.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify | Twitch.tv/naters_pataters | Amazon

“What strikes me first is how smooth and calming his vocals are. Combined with the music, it makes for a very pleasing sound.” – Metal-Temple

“Silva has delivered an album that is a deeply personal reflection of not only where he has come from but where he stands now. In the process, he has provided us with a suitably entertaining soundtrack to that transitional journey.” – Uber Rock

“let yourself be carried away to small goosebumps… “The Chase” has definitely become an album that opens up new perspectives for the musician.” – PowerMetal.de

“”Nate Silva offers us a calling card to his sensitive, tormented rock universe, supported by a pleasant voice.”” – MusicWaves.fr

“The Chase by Nate Silva – with his deeply personal debut album, the singer songwriter explained how a tough breakup and healing from the breakup inspired the lyrics of The Chase. The album is a combination of rock and folk with drummer/vocalist Matt Babineau and bassist/vocalist Dan Joseph joining Nate on the journey.” – Amplify The Noise

Nate Silva – Artist of The Day – Maximum Volume Music (April 9th, 2024)

“Silva streak has Cornwall musician promoting The Chase across Ontario” – Cornwall Standard Freeholder

[Download Album Cover| Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: The Chase (28:52)
Release Date: Friday, May 3, 2023
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid (digital) / independent (physical)

Track Listing:
1-Best Damn Thing (3:12)
2-The Chase (feat. Dino Soares) (3.52)
3-Come Down (3:23)
4-Said And Done (5:09)
5-Burn! (3:06)
6-Cauterize (feat. Kevin Daoust) (4:24)
7-Perpetuate (5:46)

Album Credits:
– Written by Nathan Da Silva
– Produced by Nathan Da Silva
– Mixed by Shawn Sasyniuk, Crosspatch Studios, North Bay, Ontario, Canada.
– Mastered by Pierre Duchesne, Studio Ouie-Dire, Shefford, Quebec, Canada.
– SOCAN member / MAPL Canadian Content
Album Band Line Up:
Nathan Da Silva – Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Synthesizer
Shawn Sasyniuk – Drums, Percussion, Lap Steel Guitar on Track 5
Brendan Soares – Vocals on Tracks 2 & 3

Live Band Line Up:
Nathan Da Silva – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Scott Reeves – Bass, Vocals
Matt Babineau – Drums, Vocals

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

About The Album Artwork

Just a shot from a photoshoot I did with well-known Ottawa photographer Sean Sisk.

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

Musically, this record is revisiting some of my earliest musical inspirations and experiences as a preteen kid. Growing up in the 90s, that grunge, post-grunge, and alternative rock sound was big. So I feel that era of rock music can be heard in this record. On the other hand, it’s also hard for me to completely break away from the metal influences, and I think the importance of guitar work – and the lead guitar stuff throughout the record – is where that comes from.

Lyrically, it’s a very personal album. I went through a tough breakup before writing this – probably the hardest breakup in my life – so I was healing from that when writing the lyrics, and it shows. The act of writing these lyrics and putting them into songs was also part of the healing process for me – to get those feelings out and express them through song was therapeutic in itself.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Best Damn Thing: This is an acoustic guitar-driven track, with fingerstyle playing and folk leanings. Likely inspired from my time with Reuben And The Dark. It’s a song about loss, healing, and change. Losing everything you once had, that you thought you would never lose. Learning about how someone really is when you thought you knew them after so many years of knowing them – that kind of thing.

2. The Chase: Musically, this song screams Danko Jones – I’m a big fan of his. The guitar work is also inspired by bands like The Fall of Troy (with the intro riff) and Green Day. I also admire players like Alex Lifeson of Rush, who – in a trio – tries to play lush and dense chord voicings on the guitar to fill the aural space, and so that approach comes through in the choruses and bridge. Lyrically, I wanted this song to be a “pump up” song for myself; feeling down and out through the pandemic, losing all your work and having the uncertainty of not knowing when you’ll be able to play music again really takes a toll on the psyche as a performing artist. It’s a song about staying true to yourself, persevering, and never losing sight of your artistic and creative goals.

3. Come Down: There’s dance rock and 90s post-grunge vibes throughout this tune, with a catchy chorus and a Tom Morello-inspired guitar solo halfway through. This song is about navigating a relationship that’s about to break and trying your best to make it work despite everything working against you.

4. Said And Done: This is the folk and almost country-inspired song of the album. I started dating someone during the pandemic, and after being in such a long relationship with someone else before that, it was a big learning experience for me – being with someone new after such a long time. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long, but it flip-flopped quite a bit and lasted longer than it should have, so I was pretty chewed up about it. This was the lyrical inspiration for this tune. Musically, I wrote it just sitting with my acoustic guitar, trying to write something that just sounded absolutely depressing (*laughs*). But I also really wanted to channel that David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) approach to guitar playing for the solo section. I’m also a huge fan of John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and their song “The Spirit Carries On” was a big inspiration for the solo section as well. So that part of the tune is certainly a mashup of those two approaches. From a songwriting standpoint, I think this is one of the strongest tunes on the record.

5. Burn!: The hardest track on the record, this song is an unapologetic ode to the enjoyment of driving your favourite motorized vehicle at exhilarating speeds down a two-lane highway (in my case, a 1991 Mazda Miata – *laughs*). There are a lot of double meanings in the lyrics, using driving a car as a metaphor for pursuing your dreams and living a lifestyle of rock and roll. This was a demo I wrote back in 2014 and got shelved until now – at the time it was “too simple” for the creative projects I was doing at the time, but it felt right to revisit it now. Definitely channeling bands like Danko Jones and Foo Fighters on this one.

6. Cauterize: More 1990s alternative rock inspiration on this one, and likely the angriest song on the record (*laughs*). This is the uglier side of grieving the end of a relationship and trying to deal with infidelity. The words are pretty on the nose with this one, so I’ll let the lyrics speak for themselves. Musically, I wanted a groovier song on the album, and I also wanted a song that could have the potential for jamming or opening up in the middle section in a live performance setting. So for the studio version, I asked my good friend Kevin Daoust to take a guest guitar solo spot on it, and it actually ended up being a bit of a call-and-response, back-and-forth – kinda thing. I also reached out to my former guitar teacher, Wayne Eagles, to take a more experimental, fusion-esque approach to the solo section, so there are actually *two* studio versions of this track.

7. Perpetuate: This was another song that I wasn’t quite sure how it would turn out. It started with me just mucking around with natural harmonics on the guitar, and then I had this groovier version of the chord progression, so I tried to make something work with the two, and this is what came out…! Shoutout to Shawn Sasyniuk – who not only co-engineered and mixed the album, but also played drums and percussion on all tracks – who really shines on this track with his tasteful, super-groovy, and almost hip-hop like drumming. Oddly enough, there’s one particular track from a video game soundtrack that I drew a lot of explicit and implicit inspiration from (video game music, in general, is another significant musical influence for me). And I think the way this song is structured – in particular, the long instrumental outro – nods to video game music. Lyrically, it’s about living through the pandemic, the isolation, the almost-exclusive interaction with others online, the incredibly divisive political views throughout, and ultimately, just really wanting things to go back to “normal.”

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

Story angles:

1. Nate Silva was a brainchild and mastermind of Toronto-based prog rock/metal band – and Wacken Metal Battle Canada champions – THE SLYDE, who were active for 10+ years, with 7 albums released, and over 200 shows throughout Canada and abroad.

2. After writing and performing music with more prog rock and heavy metal leanings, Nate returns to his musical roots with his upcoming album, “THE CHASE,” channeling his first musical love of 1990s grunge, alternative hard rock, and pop punk rock that he discovered before even picking up the guitar.

3. With almost 1500 career performances to date with creative projects like THE SLYDE, as well as a freelance musician with acts like REUBEN AND THE DARK and CINDY DOIRE of SCARLETT JANE, Nate is no stranger to the grind of the music business and to the killing road.

4. Nate’s upcoming album was a healing journey for him, writing about some extremely personal experiences that he went through leading up to the pandemic and during the COVID-19 lockdowns. For some of the tracks, he collaborated with longtime childhood friend and fellow musician, Brendan “Dino” Soares. Both played in THE SLYDE for years.

5. Nate was born and raised in Cornwall, Canada. He went to Carleton University in Ottawa immediately after highschool for a Bachelor of Mathematics degree, but after 3 semesters, he switched to the Bachelor of Music Performance program and never looked back. Shortly after graduating, he relocated to Toronto to pursue a music career. Life circumstances led him to move to Muskoka in 2020, weeks before the pandemic began. With everything on lockdown and his gigging and touring schedules erased, Nate decided to spend his lockdown time wisely by returning to Ottawa and enrolling in the Master of Arts in Music program at Carleton. There, he completed a thesis paper on ludomusicology and rock music, and also studied fingerstyle acoustic guitar with world renowned guitarist Don Ross. Now with the Master’s degree completed, Nate is shifting focus back to his music career.

From L to R: Dan Joseph (Bass, Vocals), Nate Silva (Lead Vocals, Guitar), Matt Babineau (Drums, Vocals)

Photo Credit Sean Sisk

Nate Silva is a Canadian guitarist and singer/songwriter who has traveled through several sonic worlds throughout his career. Whether he is touring North America with indie folk act REUBEN AND THE DARK, commanding an audience in his band (and Wacken Metal Battle Canada champions) THE SLYDE at the world’s biggest heavy metal festival in Germany, or interpreting your favourite Top 40 tune at a local pub, Nate’s versatile guitar work and captivating tenor vocals shine across multiple musical genres.

After years of leading his own rock/metal bands under pseudonyms and freelancing with numerous talented artists, Nate is now embarking on a solo career. His debut single, “COME DOWN,” evokes 1990s alternative post-grunge and dance rock vibes. His second single, “BURN!,” is an unapologetic rock anthem to the enjoyment of driving your favourite car at exhilarating speeds down a two-lane highway. The third single “BEST DAMN THING” is a somber, introspective folk-inspired number about loss, change, and healing. These tunes are previews of Nate’s debut album, “THE CHASE,” to be released in May 2024.

Accompanied by drummer/vocalist Matt Babineau and bass guitarist/vocalist Scott Reeves, NATE SILVA’s power trio continues the high-energy rock music experience once established in THE SLYDE, with more dynamic musical versatility, personal reflection, and radio-friendly accessibility.

Nate is an endorsed artist with FENDER, FRYETTE AMPLIFICATION, ERNIE BALL, and CORRIGAN PICKUPS.

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