Category: EPKs

0 EPK – Helsott – Will And The Witch (2022) (M-Theory Audio)

April 6, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Helsott

EPK – Helsott – Will And The Witch (2022) (M-Theory Audio)

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

For fans Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, Moonsorrow, Finntroll, Arkona

Album Title: Will And The Witch
Release Date: May 20, 2022
Label: M-Theory Audio
Distribution: The Orchard/Sony, PHD

M-Theory Audio | Helsott.com | Facebook.com/helsott | YouTube | Instagram.com/Helsott

Helsott.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

Album Pre-Order – http://smarturl.com/helsott

California’s Helsott will be unleashing their forthcoming concept album “Will and the Witch” on May 20, 2022 via M-Theory Audio. The album is mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais (Kataklysm, Ex Deo) and features special guests Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest), Vladamir Reshetnikov (Arkona), Freddie Vidales (Ashes Of Ares), Lethien (Elvenking), Kevin Storm (Kalmah, Shining), Bjorn Friedrichsen, Mikey Muller, and Whistlin’ Rick Story.

Upcoming HELSOTT Live Performances:

06/16 – Viper Room – Hollywood, CA*

06/17 – The Black Rat – Concord, CA*
06/18 – Den of Sin – Sacramento, CA*
06/19 – Dante’s – Portland, OR*
06/20 – The Fun House – Seattle, WA*
06/22 – The Shredder – Boise, ID*
06/23 – Aces High Saloon – Salt Lake City, UT*
06/24 – Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA*
06/25 – Starlight Lounge – Glendale, AZ*
07/09 Ramona Mainstage – Ramona, CA*
12/03-12/04 HRH Vikings – Sheffield, England
* w/ Malphas

Since their incarnation in 2019, Helsott has amassed a respectable discography including two EPs and two full-lengths. They have toured throughout North America and Europe along with performing on several festivals including Wacken Open Air.

On their new record “Will and the Witch”, Helsott goes back to their roots along with adding orchestrations composed by the band. Overall, “Will and the Witch” will have more thrashy elements and fewer orchestrations than their previous work, which results in a bit less complexity than earlier albums, yet keeps the essence intact while catching listeners off guard with new influences befitting of the album’s theme, but maintains the group’s underlying core that definitely is still Helsott. Vocalist Eric Dow explains further:

“The album is a concept recording. It’s basically a fan fiction story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west. There are southern vibes with banjo and fiddle. There are Native American vibes with hand drums and flute. There is thrash metal, power metal, death metal, and even acoustic campfire parts. We think there are enough flavors on this album to keep any listener engaged and wanting to listen over and over again. The title track explores the relationship between the two main characters on the album. Musically it’s melodic and thrashy, but also catchy and fun so I think this is a great song to introduce the listener to the full-length.”

Heavy, and eclectically enchanting, Helsott weave tales from mythology and history and are recommended for fans of Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, and Moonsorrow.

Album Title: Will And The Witch
Release Date: May 20, 2022
Label: M-Theory Audio
Distribution: The Orchard/Sony, PHD

Track Listing:
1. I’ll Make Ya Famous (3:41)
2. Southern Shine (3:30)
3. Will And The Witch (4:19)
4. Independence Night (5:38) ft. guest vocals Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens
5. Skin Out (9:45)
6. Babylon: Scarlett’s Saloon (4:41)
7. Everything Hurts (3:35)
8. Spit Bucket Brawl (3:41)
9. Navajo Crow (6:08)
10. Welded As One (7:09)
11. Reap The Whirlwind (3:54)
12. Regulators (5:50)
Album Length: 1:01:55

Band Recording and Live Line Up:
ERIC DOW – VOCALS/ORCHESTRATIONS
MARK DOW – GUITARS/VOCALS
COOPER DUSTMAN – DRUMS/VOCALS/ORCHESTRATIONS
PETE TRUAX – GUITARS/VOCALS

Album Recording Credits:
WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY HELSOTT
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER MICHAEL BEAULIEU
RECORDED AND EDITED BY MIKEY MULLER
DRUMS, VOCALS, GUITARS, AND BANJO RECORDED AT TRENCH STUDIO
ORCHESTRATIONS RECORDED BY COOPER DUSTMAN
MIXED AND MASTER BY J-F DAGENAIS
COVER ART BY FELIPE MACHADO FRANCO

SESSION/GUEST MUSICIANS:
BJORN FRIEDRICHSON – BASS ON TRACKS 1-4,6-11
FREDDIE VIDALES – BASS ON TRACK 12
MIKEY MULLER – BASS ON TRACK 5
TIM “RIPPER” OWENS – VOCALS ON TRACK 4
VLADIMIR RESHETNIKOV – FLUTE ON TRACK 9
LETHIEN – VIOLIN ON TRACKS 2 AND 5
KEVIN STORM – SOLO GUITAR ON TRACK 11
WHISTLIN’ RICK STORY – BANJO ON TRACKS 2 AND 8

Artist endorsements:
Axis Percussion, Soultone Cymbals, Dunlop USA, ESP Guitars, Solar GuitarsDiscography:2022 – Will And The Witch

2020 – Woven (Remixed and Remastered)
2018 – Slaves And Gods
2017 – The Healer EP
2014 – Woven
2012 – Folkvangr EP

Shared Stage with: Epica, Nevermore, Nile, Ensiferum, Finntroll, Moonsorrow, Tyr, Trollfest, Heidevolk, Arkona, Korpiklaani, Eluveitie, Skyforger, Finsterforst, Fear Factory, I Am Morbid, Necrophagia, Goatwhore, Woods Of Ypres, Ex Deo, Possessed, Firewind, Warbringer, Keep of Kalessin, Exmortus, Lich King, Death Angel, Hate, Rotting Christ, Melecesh, Rotten Sound, Barren Earth, Destruction, Heathen, Kill Devil Hill, Steel Panther, Vreid, Kampfar, Mayhem, Blayze Bayley, Alestorm, Huntress, Cattle Decapitation, Decrepit Birth, Rings Of Saturn, Origin, Aborted, Vital Remains, Metsatoll, 3 Inches Of Blood, Gene Hoglan Experience, Deicide, Abysmal Dawn, SepticFlesh, Carach Angren, Helstar, Green Jello, Nekrogoblikon, 1349, Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, Evergrey, Sonata Arctica, Fleshgod Apocalypse, D.R.I., Primal Fear, Luca Turilli’s Rhapsody, Leaves Eye’s, Immolation, Dark Tranquillity, Dark Funeral, Thy Antichrist, Krisiun, Dirkschneider, Orphaned Land, Kalmah. Ashes Of Ares.

Tours and Festivals
2021 – Dragon Rojo Fest – Tijuana, Mexico
2021 – Torture Fest – Anaheim, California
2019 – Pagan Warriors Across Europe
2019 – Wacken Open Air – Germany
2019 – Cernunnos Pagan Fest – France
2019 – Wacken Winter Nights – Germany
2019 – Ashes of Ares West Coast US Tour
2018 – Folk Metal Superstars West Coast Tour with Arkona and Korpiklaani
2018 – The Healer North American Tour PT 2
2018 – Maryland Folk Metal Festival – Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
2017 – The Healer Tour with Tengger Cavalry and Felix Martin
2017 – Euro Tour with I Am Morbid and Necrophagia
2015 – PAGAN REBELLION PART 1: NORTH AMERICA w/ ARKONA / HEIDEVOLK
2015 – WOVEN ACROSS AMERICA
2013 – Paganfest IV with Ensiferum, Tyr, Heidevolk, and Trollfest

0 EPK – Our Dying World – Hymns Of Blinding Darkness (2022)

April 5, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Our Dying World

EPK – Our Dying World – Hymns Of Blinding Darkness (2022)

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

“Hymns of Blinding Darkness is an exceptional album of melody, personal experience, and the dedication to trying to push ourselves to our furthest limit. Lyrically, it speaks of many walks of life: sorrow, loss, hopelessness, but also empowerment, triumph, and solitude. There’s something for everyone to relate to in the wake of current times and cultural status. Musically, the record is attempting to stand out with its sophisticated arrangements, catchy hooks, and heavy melodies. It feels like a massive step up from where we were with Expedition and we think it’ll present itself as such.” – Our Dying World

For fans Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, Lamb Of God, Wintersun

Album Title – Hymns Of Blinding Darkness
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: N/A

Facebook.com/ourdyingworldofficial | Instagram.com/ourdyingworld | Youtube | Twitter.com/ourdyingworld11

Spotify | Apple Music | Ourdyingworld.bandcamp.com

“We’ll make you a solemn promise: Whatever condition you happen to be in now (unless you’re in a coma), the song and video we’re about to present will make you feel orders of magnitude more alive, accelerating your heart-rate, igniting your fast-twitch muscles, and spinning your head like a glorious top. And for those of you who want your music to attack like a pack of rabid dogs, it fills that need, too. The song is “Veil of the Reaper“, and it comes from Hymns Of Blinding Darkness, the forthcoming album by the Los Angeles band Our Dying World. The new album marks a significant departure from the music on their debut, Expedition, moving in directions that may spawn memories of such bands as Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, and Dimmu Borgir, and you’ll get a vivid understanding of that when you hear “Veil of the Reaper“.” – No Clean Singing

“Hymns of Blinding Darkness is an intricate album with lofty pursuits featuring a stunning band makeover.” – Decibel Mag

“As with many great evolutions, Our Dying World took all their best parts and made it huge. This album paces brilliantly and delivers in spades. An overall epic release of their own brand of hard rocking hymns.” – Heavy Mag

“Closing with the excellent Melodic Death Metal-esque piece “Veil of the Reaper”, Our Dying World manages to keep the listener’s attention with soaring guitar melodies, engaging keyboards, and overall solid songs that are well crafted but need more of a personal identity. There are definitely plenty of excellent things about this release that fans of the genre will greatly appreciate, so don’t be afraid and check out this band.” – Infernal Masquerade

“Fans who appreciate equal doses of orchestra and mosh pit will likely dig this passionate full-length debut.” – Angry Metal Guy

“One thing is clear from the young band as they prepare for the release of their second release; they’ve come to stir the standards that hold the metal scene and redefine them.” – Metal Temple

“this first effort is every heavy metal enthusiast’s lottery win and is assured to gain a growing fanbase for the band” – Powerplay Magazine – 2019 – Expedition

“The band does a great job with mixing several different metal styles. Primarily, they channel Groove Metal, Thrash Metal, and Melodic Death Metal. They take all these approaches and blend them damn near seamlessly with enough intensity to level your ears.” – The Circle Pit – 2019 – Expedition

“The last 9 months working with Our Dying World on their release EP has been a wonderful journey that has had about every twist and turn you could imagine while making a record. Some were typical to the actual recording process, and some were a part of the personal journey that one finds themself in when baring their soul to the world.” – Ultimate Studios Inc. – 2019 – Expedition

“Some metal bands in this era just tackle the genre just for the sake of it. Because the “scene kids” are into it and screaming is all the hype. But then, you run into a band like Our Dying World, proving one record at a time that true metal is a genre that isn’t going to die anytime soon, thanks to bands like them and others of their caliber.” – Artist Reach Official

“this first effort is every heavy metal enthusiast’s lottery win and is assured to gain a growing fanbase for the band” – Powerplay Magazine

Photos Credit – Jamie Kaufman

L-R – Austin Mitrofanis (Guitar), Graham Southern (Keyboards and Orchestration), Tom Tierney (Drums), David Ainsworth (Vocals), Raymond Sanchez (Guitar), Nick Laux (Bass)

Over the last few years, Los Angeles’s Our Dying World has gone through a tremendous evolution of sound from thrashy death metal of their debut EP Expedition to the symphonic and melodic keyboard-oriented stylings of bands like Children Of Bodom, Nightwish, and Dimmu Borgir.

Formed in 2018 by drummer/guitarist Tom Tierney (ex-Whiplash), the group has played shows all over the USA in their short time together, bringing their sound from the fabled Sunset Strip in Hollywood to the New Jersey Metalfest where they opened for Metal Mike of Halford.

One thing is clear from the young band as they prepare for the release of their second release; they’ve come to stir the standards that hold the metal scene and redefine them.

Discography
2022 – Hymns Of Blinding Darkness (LP)
2019 – Expedition (EP)

Shared Stage with:
Metal Mike of Halford, Swallow The Sun, Abigail Williams, Wilderun

Festivals and Tours:
2021 – Moonflowers Tour – Hollywood CA, Local Support
2019 – New Jersey Metalfest – Teaneck NJ

Our Dying World is:
David Ainsworth – Vocals
Raymond Sanchez – Guitar
Austin Mitrofanis – Guitar
Graham Southern – Keyboards and Orchestration
Nick Loxx – Bass
Tom Tierney – Drums

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

Story Angles – Fun Facts:

1. Survivor contains the only clean vocals that Tom has performed since his days at the school that the song is written about. When we began writing the song, there was talk about putting clean vocals in and we agreed that we should try to see how they turned out. What you hear in the beginning of the songs that sound like choir clips are of Tom’s high school choir and a trio he sang in his final months at the school. Up until this song, he has only been tracked with growls or screams.

2. Graham was found on a Facebook group randomly while searching for a drummer. The band had always been looking for a keyboard player but Graham showed up due to a postscript on the advertisment sarcastically asking for a keyboard player while they were “Asking about unicorns in the scene”. Graham showed up at the rehearsal room, warmed up with Mourning Palace by Dimmu Borgir and Angels Don’t Kill by Children Of Bodom, and instantly got the job.

3. Ray performed the solo for Post Mortem, our debut single, long before he was actually in the band. Years down the road, Tom and Ray ran into each other while moving a friend into his new home, and while catching up, Ray told Tom that he had some extra time on his hands due to a project breaking up. He’s been in the band ever since.

4. Diary Of A War Dog is based on true events as told by Tom’s uncle, Daniel J Tierney, an Air Force veteran of Vietnam. He’s published a book of his memories and experiences called Diary Of A Talking War Dog and after reading it, Tom and Dan decided that having those memories put into a listenable format might be a really great collaboration. Daniel resides in New York City and plans on visiting California with the family to visit his nephew and the band soon.

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

The album as a whole explained by the band (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Hymns of Blinding Darkness is an exceptional album of melody, personal experience, and the dedication to trying to push ourselves to our furthest limit. Lyrically, it speaks of many walks of life: sorrow, loss, hopelessness, but also empowerment, triumph, and solitude. There’s something for everyone to relate to in the wake of current times and cultural status. Musically, the record is attempting to stand out with its sophisticated arrangements, catchy hooks, and heavy melodies. It feels like a massive step up from where we were with Expedition and we think it’ll present itself as such.

Track by track explained by the band (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Ads Moriendi – Our intro track is the introduction of our maestro Graham Southern, who states his claim with some very dark and percussive orchestration dropping the listener into a hectic and almost frantically ominous tornado of strings and brass. There is a sense of urgency before throwing the listener into a triumphant wall of choirs announcing the return of a new and massive sound.

2. Everything We Know Is Gone – The opening keyboard and guitar melody have a strangely positive spin before vocalist David Ainsworth tears into a darkened riff with lyrics of the lies of a transcended being and lifestyle, once idolized, now known to be a fraud – deadly and unsatisfying. The chorus echoes with words of a past but current life, now lost in the knowledge of a newfound realization of truth. A ripping keyboard solo from Graham Southern follows up his ominous realization; everything we know is lost! The second verse tells of the darkened knowledge forming a reluctant but certain decision to turn the tide and strengthen the self to deal with the realities of this malignant situation to avoid any more pain. A breakdown followed but a sweeping solo from Ray Sanchez takes the grim mood and soars it to new heights. The third verse focuses on determinedly fixing the self before a strangely peaceful drop representing a breath before the final chorus; the subject has had his realization and is on the way to transformation. Ray and Graham take the song out with an incredible duet, only to foreshadow the rest of the record to come.

3. Under The Hunter’s Blade – The song starts with an almost folk-style string and bell set, giving the illusion of a mountainous and forest-like landscape before the guitars and drums come in with almost a tribal-esque beat. David tells the tale of a dethroned king of the mountain, now returning to his domain to reclaim his place. Ray and Graham interlude the song up to0 a beautiful segment to set the certainty of where the mood is going. The second verse introduces the prey of the hunter; his challenge to win his throne by the blood of the one who exiled him. The song then takes us down to a dark place where the hunter has his eyes locked on his adversary and the song devolves to blast beats and guttural vocals, representing the primitive essence of the kill; Ray’s shredding solo plays us through the moment of the death of his adversary and the realization of the king’s victory. The third verse describes the river of blood running from the neck wound to his hands and as the song reverts briefly to a calm instrumental, we can almost see the new king’s adrenaline fading, the majestic reclamation of his title, as the chorus once again hails his coming; he has returned to the mountain and has taken back his throne with a divine fire of life.

4. Survivor – The song starts with clips of a joyful choral arrangement of Tom’s high school choir before Jon Martin Crawford, who appeared before the New York Supreme Court in order to disclose child abuse from said school, echoes his final words of the testification. The song breaks into a heavy and slower riff clearly completely changing the mood. Tom tells the story of his younger self being left in the woods of upstate New York at a school filled with cultists. The song breaks down to an acoustic guitar, some clean singing, and strings and guitar. The song picks back up and David comes back in with his growls, conveying to the audience how lost and alone the young boy feels. He desperately prays to his deceased father to give him guidance. The second verse comes back to the clean singing and the lyrics portray the same boy, now released, back in the world feeling like there’s something wrong that no one will ever understand. The bridge switches to Tom’s screams, hearing that his fellow alumni are slowly dying off, and with everything he has in him, he dedicates this song to them. Ray’s solo comes in; the listener can almost feel the weeps and cries in his notes and bends. Tom says his final goodbyes to his fallen friends in the following section before David comes back in with desperation and emotion we haven’t yet heard in previous choruses before the song leads out on the notes it came in on.

5. Path Of The Nomad – The song comes in on a slightly quicker beat and is followed by choirs singing over the notes. Graham sweeps majestic strings over the guitars and drums as David describes a man traveling across the world; he is truly free from the world but at what cost? He has everything he owns in his hands, he is free from the trials of life but he has no family to warm him at night. We feel a natural and almost folk-metal style feel from the chord progressions before Graham comes in with a solo balancing his feel for melody and skill. The song takes a turn to a tremolo-picked riff that reminds us of something darker; never knowing the value of unity or knowing where you will sleep at night. The chorus picks up one last time, showcasing the beauty and sadness of life without tethering to worldly possessions and walking through life in solidarity.

6. Diary Of A War Dog – The band tells the musical story of Daniel J Tierney, an air force veteran of the Vietnam war, basing the song off of a book of his experiences, Diary Of A Talking War Dog. the song begins with a marching beat that sounds strangely ominous before dropping into a speedy thrash riff. David immediately screams of the horrors and trials of war, the consequences of the return, and the never-ending memories resulting. The chorus aggressively tells of the darkened mind space and the way the world looks after returning to life at home. The following guitar and keyboard lead carry us through the minefield of dark riffs and add some melody where previously there was little. David tells us of trying to bury the memories but with little success before the marching intro comes back in with more intensity. The song slows down, and Graham plays almost a peaceful piano segment, almost as a breath of fresh air after returning home…The final chorus brings us back to the place we always were and David reaffirms in the chorus that the memories of war and the subsequent feelings remained. The outro riffs are slower and feel reflective and thoughtful as they play us out; a heavy memory but scattered with the blight sounds of piano hovering above.

7. Valediction – Graham takes us into another world as his strings slowly build from a single violin to a whole section in what feels like a distant memory. A sudden 808 drop changes the tone to something a little more hesitant and fearful and the brass takes us to a darker and darker place until string and orchestral hits announce the final track on the record.

8. Veil Of The Reaper – The song starts immediately; pounding double bass and guitars flood the soundscape as the first verse comes in. David tells us of the process of dying. His eyes go dark, he’s pushed life too far and now he’s about to die. The breakdown signals the coming of the revelation with an almost alarm-like guitar lead. The second verse comes in with a layer of synths, telling of the silence that comes; the reaper stands before him reaching out his hand as if to say, “Come with me”. The pre-chorus comes in with a beautiful lead from Graham and we hear David tell the listener that the veil of death has been lifted. Gang vocals, almost referring to the voices are the dead, chant the lyrics with David as he realizes the anthem of all who pass from this life as the melodies of the chorus culminate in a catchy melodic chorus. Ray and Graham then show the insane skill and intensity of their musicianship with a unified and harmonized lead, that soon reverts to dueling solos; sweeps, arpeggios, and shredding showcase the uncompromising dedication of the two as they lead back into the chorus with a key change and a double chorus with the catchy melodies that make this song a staple of the album. The song leads out with a rough and heavy breakdown, forsaking orchestration and bringing back the heavy and grueling riffs that started Our Dying World in 2019.

Album Title – Hymns Of Blinding Darkness
Release Date: June 24, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: N/A

Track Listing:
1. Ads Moriendi (1:46)
2. Everything We Know Is Gone (4:42)
3. Under The Hunter’s Blade (7:33)
4. Survivor (7:32)
5. Path Of The Nomad (4:58)
6. Diary Of A War Dog (6:31)
7. Valediction (1:50)
8. Veil Of The Reaper (4:37)
Album Length: 39:32

Album Credits:
– All songs written and performed by Our Dying World
– Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Alex Crescioni at Stygian Sound
– Album Artwork by Nick Laux
– Album Band Lineup:
David Ainsworth – Vocals
Raymond Sanchez – Guitar
Austin Mitrofanis – Guitar
Graham Southern – Keyboards and Orchestration
Nick Loxx – Bass
Tom Tierney – Drums

0 EPK – Sinnery – Black Bile (2022) (EXSR)

April 5, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Sinnery (EXSR)

EPK – Sinnery – Black Bile (2022) (EXSR)

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

“Writing Black Bile we knew more than anything that we just want the listeners to feel what we felt while writing the album. The album contains many different styles of play all while sticking to what we love about metal the most, heavy and melodic fast parts. We really tried to explore further into our inspiration’s inspiration and see where the sounds that we love came from, we mixed everything that we like to give the album a sound that is 100 percent Sinnery. All of the songs mean a lot to us, they all speak about our perspective dealing with different stuff about the world that we live in or our own minds and personal life.” – Sinnery

For fans of Metallica, Gojira, Testament, The Haunted, Sylosis

Album Title: Black Bile
Release Date: September 16, 2022
Label: Exitus Stratagem Records (EXSR)
Distribution: Sony/The Orchard

Facebook.com/SinneryBand | Instagram.com/sinnerybandofficial | YouTube

Spotify | Apple Music | Deezer

“I’ve said this many times in the past, but one of the many things I love about this business is following the progress of bands as they come of age, mature and get better at their craft. What’s not to love about paying early witness to a bunch of folks gelling and heading on an upward trajectory as they make the move towards proverbial world domination? Israeli thrashers Sinnery are one such band. Gathering their Exodus, Testament, Gojira, The Haunted and post-St. Anger Metallica influences, the quartet from Herzliya, Tel Aviv will soon be releasing their second full length, Black Bile via Exitus Stratagem Records. This new tasty little rager pops the clutch and pumps the gas on modern thrash with a grizzled edge that improves upon the roots planted with their 2016 debut A Feast of Fools and their 2013 demo, Showing Teeth.” – Decibel Magazine

“Sinnery [Israel] Proves Thrash is NOT Dead in Groove-Oozing Cesspit of ‘Black Bile’” – Metal Has No Borders

““Death thrash” is the simplified genre description for what Sinnery do, but it’s the strong melodies and the variations among and within the songs that make the album such an adventure to experience from start to finish. Compared to the debut all those years ago, which was entirely written by vocalist/guitarist Alon Karnieli back when he was about 16-17 years of age, these tracks are more elaborate, more sophisticated, more reflective of different moods, while at the same time being more brutally extreme.” – No Clean Singing

“You just gotta love a band that knows exactly what the hell they wanna be. Sinnery bow to no one, instead turning heel to scissor kick you in the temple with battering ram riffs, suplexing drums, and neck-twisting vocals. You know the opening of Back to the Future where Marty McFly plays a single guitar chord on Doc Brown’s hyper amplifier and goes flying across the room from the resulting sound? “The Burning” provides the same effect regardless of the size of your chosen sound output device – you will be ragdolled and tossed around like a frisbee in a college quad by the quartet’s supreme rippage.” – Everything Is Noise

“I am old enough to have seen the likes of Metallica, Anthrax and others perform live at small venues in London. I’m also a huge fan of the new wave of thrash like Dust Bolt, Lost Society, etc. Sinnery is welcome inclusion with their aggression, energy, and obvious hunger. They might verge on Death Metal a tad with the vocals but that’s ok. With Matt Hyde (Machine Head, Trivium, Slipknot) having mixed and mastered this beast you know the sounds are gonna be right in your face. An excellent sophomore effort – please just keep thrashing!” – My Global Mind

“Sinnery straddle those lines between conventional thrash and modern/groove metal with enough solid musicianship and heaviness to align well with a multitude of touring possibilities.” – Dead Rhetoric

“So, what do Sinnery bring to the table? For starters, the album ripples with energy. You can feel the vibes pulsing through opening track ‘The Burning’ which leads straight into the title track. Alon Karnieli’s delivery is savage, a gritty, raging roar that combines the bruising aggression of Krysthla’s Ade Mayes with the power of ex-Onslaught frontman Sy Keeler.” – Ever Metal

“Black Bile is a thrash metal record that departs from many conventionally established thrash tropes and performs all the better because of it. This is a record whereby the band went into the writing process with a clear head and had a strong idea of what they wanted to accomplish; their first album in six years it’s evident they want Black Bile to the thrash album they can be proud of and I hope they are, because it really is an excellent ride. By departing from so many expected thrash tropes, relaxing the pace and aggression at which many of their songs play at, they enable their songwriting to bleed through with all the more memorability. Sinnery understand coherently that speed doesn’t necessarily equate quality, their songwriting for many of their tracks is testament to that axiom. The resulting, steadier pace of this record gives us time to absorb and appreciate all this album can offer and we only want the album to go on for longer as their songwriting is given the time to flesh itself out. On the whole I thoroughly enjoyed Black Bile, rendering Sinnery as a thrash band Israel can be deeply proud of sporting.” – The Razor’s Edge

“For those that just want to bang heads and go nuts, there are songs like “The Burning,” “Who Will Be Eaten First,” and “Anti Tribe.” “Hanged From The Sun” and “Holes” flesh out their thrash by either toning down the speed or putting an emphasis on melody.” – Heavy Music Headquarters

“Those of you who are hungry for some taut, frenzied Thrash metal with its nose pressed up against an actual battlefield should look no further than the Israeli four piece’s debut” – Edwin Mcfee – Metal Hammer July 2016

“…must be heard by anyone who is looking for any good aspiring thrash bands, you will absolutely find plenty of enjoyment out of this piece, and that I can promise you.” – Vintered – Metal Addicts

“It’s like we could fuse the dirty and raw aggressiveness from bands as NUCLEAR ASSAULT with the melodies presented on old works from METALLICA, and with some bits of raw power from bands as M.O.D., and a personal touch the makes “A Feast of Fools” tasteful.” – Metal Temple (2016)

“Sinnery is not about the usual metal but more about interesting and original combinations that infuse the clean with the rough while keeping it all high energy” – (Translated from Hebrew) Yoni Oren on a Sinnery live show for Metalist July 2021

“straightforward, old school, thrash worship… From its opening moments, A Fest Of Fools is utterly brimming with palpable enthusiasm for all things thrash—and that isn’t just a turn of phrase. Sinnery consistently manage to hit an impressive amount of recognizable benchmarks of the traditional thrash sound throughout their debut record.” – Metal Observer (2016)

“A Feast of Fools is a good album that shows a band full of youthful energy.” – Angry Metal Guy (2016)

“the band’s first full-length album shows off a band full of hunger and energy. The music, at its best, thrashes hard and shows off a commitment to making music that is hard and intense. Check out the way the band struts its stuff on “Built to Kill.” Other highlights include “Holy Grounds” and “Mad Dog.”” – Sea of Tranquility

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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Up until mid recording the album Black Bile, Sinnery thought it was going to be named Hanged From The Sun, that was the first song they wrote for the album and they loved the title so it just stuck as the name of the record for a long time, but was questioned a lot about how it relates to their concept. Upon looking at all the songs they agreed that Black Bile will suit the concept better and also is a song more fitting to be a title track.

2. When Sinnery toured Russia in 2019 they played in a town called Tver and while jumping off the stage Saar broke his bass mid-gig. They were in the middle of a town they never heard of before and they didn’t know what to do, how can they continue the tour if Saar can’t play? They found a really small guitar shop on google, it was a sketchy empty street and they were the only ones there, getting lost looking for a guitar shop in the middle of heavy snow not knowing a single word in Russian. They don’t remember the guitar store name, but the guy who managed it really saved their asses, he fixed the bass in an hour’s work and charged close to nothing for it. That guy is a hero for them.

3. Carlos’s name isn’t really Carlos, it’s Matan, they can’t remember how it started, but they never called him Matan since he joined them. It’s always weird to hear people call him Matan, it feels strange for him too.

4. Yuval Kramer who produced Black Bile with the band has been a friend of theirs ever since they started, back then he used to play in a cool local Israeli Thrash metal band called Dark Serpent. They were so good that Sinnery asked him to help them to become a better band. They never knew why Yuval helped them so much since he was older than them (they were a sorry bunch of 16-year-olds). He drove hours to some of their rehearsals, answered a lot of phone calls when they asked for advice, compose orchestras for their debut album, and came to their shows. When Sinnery did Black Bile it was mutually just known that he was going to be a part of it.

5. Sinnery once opened for a big local band in a big club, they didn’t get to play a lot of big shows back then and it was really important for them to get to more of those. Only the day before the show, Alon’s commander told him that he can’t go to the show and he has to stay late at his army base. After a lot of fighting Alon just decided to leave the army base early without his commander knowing and went to the show anyway.

Album Title: Black Bile
Release Date: September 16, 2022
Label: Exitus Stratagem Records (EXSR)
Distribution: Sony/The Orchard

Track Listing:
1. The Burning (4:39)
2. Black Bile (4:56)
3. Who Will Be Eaten First (2:38)
4. Sever (6:03)
5. Anti Tribe (3:48)
6. Mouthful Of Nails (5:46)
7. Hanged From The Sun (5:39)
8. Bleak (4:42)
9. Here Below (4:39)
10. Holes (06:08)
Album Length: 49:07

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Sinnery
• All songs written by: Sinnery
• Produced by: Sinnery and Yuval Kramer
• Mixed by: Matt Hyde
• Mastered by: Matt Hyde
• Album Artwork by: Travis Smith

Album Band Line Up + Live Band Line up:
Alon Karnieli – Vocals & Guitars
Idan Kringel – Guitars
Saar Tuvi – Bass
Matan Carlos Mandelbaum – Drums

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The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by the band:

Black Bile is a journey, our journey. Realizing the worst of us and how we use that to be better. Black Bile was a hard chapter in our lives, traveling deep into our minds and pulling out everything that makes us feel bad, depressed or anything of the sort and putting it out in the open for everyone to see. While writing the album we understood the power we have when we use that bad energy for good.

It’s not about replacing bad energy with good, that’s not possible because we are who we are, it’s more about using bad energy to let some good come in. So that is the main idea behind the feel of the album and the lyrics.

Musically we tried to let the songs reflect those themes sonically, keeping it heavy and hard-hitting like a tantrum, like someone losing his shit when he feels like nothing. There are slower moments and faster ones, it’s all a part of the rollercoaster that it is to be alive in this day and age.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by the band:

The Burning –
The Burning is probably the most popular song with the fans even before it comes out, the fans chant the “God bless the human race” on every show so it was a no-brainer picking it out to be the first single off of the album.

The Burning is an upbeat thrash song with many heavy and groovy moments it was perfect for the beginning of the album, to start with a bang, no introductions or orchestral intros just straight up metal from the get-go.

Lyrically the song’s full name was The Burning of Mt. Sinai and so it’s easy to know this song is an anti-religious song, coming from Israel, religion is a big part of the atmosphere where we grew up, and we are not very fond of those establishments that are more about power and money than the lessons in those books they sell.

Black Bile –
Black Bile was picked to be our title track since the whole concept of the album is being represented in the lyrics, it talks about killing the worst in yourself, all while keeping the finger pointed at the one who’s to blame – yourself.

While musically Black Bile also represents what we love about modern metal and the essence of what our music turned out to be. Heavy, upbeat banger that keeps attacking you right until the very end of the song.

Who Will Be Eaten First –
We don’t touch politics with our music, at least didn’t do it until now.
WWBEF might sound like it’s pointed at specific events but it’s more about the grim reality of that it doesn’t really matter who we chose to sit up there on the throne we, will still call it rain when he pisses right on all of us.

Musically the song was supposed to be a thrash metal banger, keeping it short and fast from start to finish, kind of a song that keeps the mosh pit fueled and intense.

Sever –
We used to joke around and call Sever the ballad of the album (Well, until Holes was written). Sever is a song about being at the lowest point that you can be in and musically we wanted it to reflect that by being heavy in a different way than other songs, in a more slow-paced way.

We searched for those specific harmonies for a lot of time writing the song, so it’ll feel exactly the way it should and will sound very grim and dark to emphasize how we felt. In the end, there’s a true climax, a turning point in the life of the narrator where everything goes a bit faster and the song ends in a kind of incomplete way.

AntiTribe –
The Anti Tribe is a part of the whole Sinnery concept. It’s about the people that share our strive to be better. All while Black Bile for us is the bad voices inside our heads that keep testing us trying to keep us lazy/depressed/not productive etc. The anti tribe is all the people who like us are actively fighting those emotions and are using them as fuel to be better. No one is held accountable. No one is to blame, not God, not our families, not anyone. We are responsible for our own fate. And so the song itself is an open letter from one to itself calling himself out on all the things that he does, not letting any of the shame go to waste.

Musically it reflects just that – the fast riffing and fast pace of the song feels like an unrelenting attack, again with harmonies and melodies that we’ve written to reflect the grimness that we feel.

Mouthful of Nails –
Mouthful of Nails came out as some sort of a catchy anthem, it was the 2nd song we wrote for the album and so it had a lot of versions.

Going into the studio we felt like Mouthful of Nails might be the weakest link in the album setlist but after working on it in the studio with Yuval Kramer it really all clicked together and we realized it was just a diamond in the rough. Mouthful is a more melodic take on modern metal with fast drums and riffing but also a catchy chorus to go along with it.

Lyrically the song is about being silenced by family or environments and is sort of payback for that.

Hanged From The Sun –
Hanged from the Sun was the first song we wrote for Black Bile, for a couple of years it was even the title track of the album before the concept really took shape.

Hanged from the Sun is more of a storytelling song, the story is about a ruler or god that fell from grace and decided to paint the sky with his blood to spite his former supporters, and so he hangs himself from the sun for all to see.
The concept of the song can be seen in the artwork of the album.

Musically the song is a rollercoaster, sometimes slow and more often than not very fast and heavy. The song evolves with the lyrics as it explodes in the solo when by the story the character hangs itself from the sun. It’s the only song not sung from our perspective but from a character’s one.

Bleak –
Bleak is a song about us, but unlike the others, Bleak is about the intense and complex dynamics we have as a group, pushing each other to the limits and going through highs and lows, always sticking together in a very very close relationship that sometimes makes it hard on us to be friends.

Musically it is probably the “black sheep” of the album, being weirder and more experimental for us while writing it.

It’s a heavy song and more complex in its riffing but we really tried to use the right melodies and harmonies to make the listener feel what we feel, how dark it can get when you’re doing something that intensely for so many years with your friends, it can get dark.

Here Below –
Here Below always felt like some collage of everything on the album. Very fast, very heavy, moving from one part to the next pretty quickly and using almost every tool we had for writing back in those days so it has a lot of melody in it.
Lyrically the song is about existential questions, it’s about asking yourself how much you’re worth and what lies ahead for you to discover. Does it all matter if everything of your past is burnt? The conclusion of the song is that nothing really matters and the sun will set on you and me alike. We are all nothing and so we are equal in our nothingness.

Holes –
Holes is a song about rebirth, it was a different take for Alon about the death of his father saying he had learned how to use his “Black Bile” to grow outside of his private hell. And so generally the song is about growing into something better than what we are. It was the last song that was written for the album and so symbolically it also closes it, as it’s a closure for the album’s concepts and it feels like the walk to the open grave at a funeral (As our producer Yuval Kramer used to say).

Musically the song is slower yet heavy (probably takes the title of the ballad of the album?) it keeps in line melody-wise with the entire project, keeping everything dark and grim so it can hit the listener right in the guts.

L-R – Sinnery- Saar Tuvi (Bass), Alon Karnieli (Guitars and Vocals), Idan Kringel (Lead Guitar), Matan Carlos Mandelbaum (Drums)
Photo Credit – Or Shankerman

Forged by the love for metal and hatred for anything else, Sinnery formed in late 2012 in Herzliya, Israel. The four-piece toured Israel nonstop while entering the studio with Israeli producer Eli Pikover to record their first album “A Feast of Fools”.

In 2016, the band signed with Pitch Black Records and together released Sinnery’s debut LP “A Feast of Fools”, getting the band to play in Cyprus’s biggest metal festival “Power of The Night Fest 2017”. AFOF gained the band many new listeners receiving great praise worldwide.

In 2019, the band toured with legendary German thrashers, Tankard.

Fast forward to 2022, The band has completed production on their highly anticipated new album “Black Bile”, mixed and mastered by Matt Hyde (Machine Head, Trivium, Slipknot, Bullet For My Valentine). The album is set for release on Sept 16th via label Exitus Stratagem Records (EXSR).

Sinnery is set to conquer new grounds and get on tour starting with Romanian Festival and date in the UK in September and October.

Shared stage with:
Tankard, Oliver/Dawson Saxon, Betzefer, Shredhead

Tours and Festivals
2017 – Power of the Night fest – Nicosia, Cyprus
2018 – United Under Hate Tour – St. Petersburg, Moscow, Tver, Ivanovo, Yaroslavl, Rybinsk – Russia
2021 – IMF – Tel Aviv, Israel
2022 – Rockstadt Festival – Romania

Discography:
2022 – Black Bile – LP
2016 – A Feast of Fools – LP

0 EPK – Harvested – Self-Titled (2022)

April 4, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Harvested

EPK – Harvested – Self-Titled (2022)

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

“We are beyond thrilled to present our very first self-titled EP to everyone. After years of hard work and dedication, as well as lockdowns and a few minor setbacks have only made us more prepared and we are finally ready to show you all what we’ve got. Having years of musical background and being good friends for years has added to the energy and chemistry we portray in our live performances. Our debut EP is just a taste of what we’ve accomplished so far as an unknown band in the last 3 years of forming, though we have much more in store coming very soon!

We’re inspired by so many different styles of metal from old school death metal to black metal to slam, it makes it interesting to tradeoff with each other and combines all the elements into one cohesive unit. Though we decided to take a different approach to lyrical content and have our focus on the terror behind psychological experiences and mental illness

We are trying to keep that old school death metal vibe alive to keep the old school fans excited and more hopeful that this genre will never die, while utilizing and embracing new genres, styles, and production that will capture the ears of the newer generations as well as open a whole new world to the old school fans”. – HARVESTED

For fans of Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Hate Eternal

EP Title: Self-Titled
Release Date: May 7, 2022
Label: Independent
Distribution: Distrokid

Harvested.bandcamp.com | Instagram.com/HarvestedBand | Facebook.com/harvested666/ | Youtube | Spotify

#11 – Harvested – Top 20 – August 2022 Loud Charts (Earshot)

#13 – Harvested – Top 20 – June 2022 Loud Charts (Earshot)

“From the first notes of first track ‘Apathetic’ you realize that these men are a serious bet to get a place in the death metal scene, with solid riffs and powerful rhythmic base, also melodic but not soft solo… I like this EP very much, it has all parts you need to listen to death metal: brutality, technical, good execution, guttural, screams, and growls, blast beats, double bass drums parts, virtuous parts and most important, good songs, it’s a sample of how to make everything fit correctly.” 4.5/5 – Brutalism

“There are very few things that are more exciting within the world of music than a good debut. A solid start for a band is something that should get every fan of the style of music the group plays jacked for what could hopefully be a long and fruitful career. Proficient debuts give you something to jam out to in the present but also hope for the future. Take my word for it, the self-titled debut EP from Ottawa-based Harvested (out May 7) is just that type of invigorating release.” – Metal Plague

“Thrashing guitars, blasting drums, and intense, chesty vocals start and end each track. Recording quality and production is good, allowing each of the instruments to cut through the mix… there is a tremendous amount of potential in this band, and I’d absolutely love to hear more from them. I certainly hope that in the coming years, the pace doesn’t slow or abate, as this EP ought to be on any tech-death fan’s radar for mid-2022.” – Metal Epidemic

“Each one of these cuts is something of a short, sharp shock at around the 210 second mark, while other bands could trim some fat and loose a chorus and verse, Harvested go straight for the jugular live and direct, leaving you wanting that extra chorus and verse which is testament to how good their debut really is. A clean and crisp high quality recording, if we were wine drinkers we would say it goes down like a glass of Chenin Blanc but chances are that if you had a glass in your hand, it would be smashed on the floor in your rush to get to the pit for this. ” – Metal Noise

“From the way closer ‘Bereavement’ comes to a thunderous close, you can just FEEL the energy of what is still to come. ‘Harvested’ is a good start, but I know this band have more in them and I look forward to what comes next. But if you need your head caved in for sixteen and a half minutes, Harvested can sort you right out.” – The Killchain Blog

“For a record that’s only fifteen minutes, the tracks on Harvested’s self-titled waste no time in establishing their barbarous quality. Among the style of tech, groove and dissonance, Harvested definitely went for the grooves! The members definitely know their roots and aren’t afraid to pay homage to them. The production quality has an old-school touch to it, which adds a raw vicious quality to the overall soundscape the band has painted. The abominable monstrosity that takes birth, mixed in with serious topics of Mental Illness accounts for a remorseless experience. While this might just be the starting point for Harvested, their self-titled EP establishes their grounds in the extreme realm of metal – all we can do now is wait and watch for what Harvested has to offer next! ” – Metal Genesis

“Five tracks in all with not a single entry which disappoints those who wish for their audio to incite movement. With quality like this on offer scouts should be scrambling over themselves in hopes to represent. I’m expecting future releases to propel the act to the lips of an excitable many.” – Cult Metal Flix

“Viciously Brutal, Goes well with my morning coffee” – Paul Collins

“Non-stop heaviness from start to finish. Every song has a different experience yet they all have memorable and catchy riffs that engage the listener” – Eric Morotti (Drummer of Suffocation)

“The EP is quite awesome and I’ll find myself listening over and over again! They sound like Cannibal Corpse/Dying Fetus and many more. The day Harvested has a show in Montreal you can expect to see me in the pit.” – William Biron

“Presenting Harvested: Hailing from Ottawa is one of Canada’s finest emerging death metal bands. Their debut E.P. brings that good ol’ churning feeling in your stomach like you just chugged a 40 of malt liquor and fell down a hill! Dangerous, disorienting brutal fun. The way death metal should be. If you’re into Cannibal Corpse, Immolation, and Morbid Angel or just having an all-around good time, look no further.” – Brandon Aitchison

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Collectively HARVESTED members of other bands in Misshapen, Hatred Reigns, A Scar For The Wicked, Harmoniaq, and Maeskyyrn.

2. Harvested is a new role for Adam Semler (Vocals) and Eric Forget (Bass), since they are used to fulfilling other duties in their other bands.

3. HARVESTED recorded, mixed, and mastered the EP in 2020 with Dark Moon Productions, whom the founder also is the other guitarist in ‘A Scar For the Wicked’, which is one of Adam’s bands. Eric was the former vocalist for that band too. The drums were recorded in 2020 at Silverwings Studios in Montreal.

4. HARVESTED members are all multi-instrumentalists.

5. HARVESTED are trying to DIY as much as possible.

Photography Credits: Dark Moon Productions
Current Line-up: L – R: Eric Forget – Bass | Jacob Collins – Drums | Adam Semler – Vocals | Mitchi Dimitriadis – Guitar

Live Line-up: Eric Forget – Bass | Jacob Collins – Drums | Adam Semler – Vocals | Mitchi Dimitriadis – Guitar | Miguel Marcheterre – Pina – Guitar

Harvested is a death metal group with members from Ontario and Quebec. Taking influences from classic death metal legions with a modern touch. The members are ‘Mitchi Dimitriadis’ on guitars. ‘Eric Forget’ on bass, ‘Adam Semler’ on vocals, and ‘Jacob Collins’ on drums. Mitchi is a local Ottawa producer. He’s also taken on engineering the EP and finalized pre-production for the release. Drums were recorded at Silver Wing Studios in Montreal. Guitars, bass, and vocals were officially recorded, all instruments mixed and mastered at ‘Dark Moon Productions’. Adam Semler has been a household name in the Ottawa, ON metal scene taking the world by storm with his groundbreaking projects. Includes but is not limited to A Scar For The Wicked, Misshapen, Hatred Reigns, and Harmoniaq. Harvested is ready to make its debut on May 7th, 2022. Keep an eye out for their upcoming music video release “Apathetic”.

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The EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by the band:

Lyrically, we thought of exploring the topics of mental illness as a general theme. The drums have an old-school death metal feel with a modern touch, intricate yet very aggressive drum grooves. Dark Moon Productions did an awesome job providing us with the sound we were looking for, a modern production but rooted in the styles of the bands that founded this genre. Vocally, Adam’s technique and overall projection is a respectful nod to George Fisher from Cannibal Corpse.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by the band:

Apathetic: Narcissism and lacking empathy in a collective society. Starts off abruptly, leading to a very double bass-heavy riff. which then transitions into the main part of the song, building up to the main riff and keeping the energy consistent. Musically it’s one of the harder songs to perform because it gradually builds section by section instead of going to breaks and rests.

Bludgeoned: Paranoia and schizophrenia. It starts with heavy bomb blasts and leads into a galloping riff that compels the listener to bang their head. This song takes the spotlight on the EP because it introduces haunting yet melodic guitar and bass solos. It is also the first song that we composed as a group.

Incognitive: This song is about post-traumatic stress disorder as well as catatonia. It has a classic death metal vibe, an ode to the album “The Bleeding” by Cannibal Corpse. Triplet feel, blast beats, and the song is heavily driven by the vocals.

Delirium is about what someone could experience in an insane asylum. One of our more premature songs but provides a wide variety of riffs that showcases the mayhem that comes from a chaotic mind.

Bereavement: Extreme depression/suicidal tendencies. Triplet feel, blast beats, and chromatic runs. This leads up to an enigmatic solo and razor-sharp tremolo picking ending with slamming chugs.

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

EP Title: Self-Titled
Release Date: May 7, 2022
Label: Independent
Distribution: Distrokid

Track Listing:
1. Apathetic (3:11)
2. Bludgeoned (3:33)
3. Incognitive (3:17)
4. Delirium (3:19)
5. Bereavement (3:10)
EP Length: 16:33

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Harvested
• All songs written by: Harvested
• Produced by: Harvested
• Mixed by: Dark Moon Productions
• Mastered by: Dark Moon Productions
• Album Artwork by: Harvested
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Band Line Up:
Adam Semler – Vocals
Mitchi Dimitriadis – Guitars
Eric Forget – Bass
Jacob Collins – Drums

Live Band Line Up:
Adam Semler – Vocals
Mitchi Dimitriadis – Guitars
Eric Forget – Bass
Jacob Collins – Drums
Miguel Marcheterre-Piña – Guitars

0 EPK – Heterochrome – From The Ashes (2022)

March 15, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Heterochrome

EPK – Heterochrome – From The Ashes (2022)

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

For fans of Opeth, Porcupine Tree, Gojira, Draconian, Lacuna Coil

“This album has been an opportunity for us to form our unique sound and experiment with new aspects of songwriting. This is the first time we are trying to introduce Farsi lyrics in a couple of our songs, opening up more space for us to connect with our audience. Trying to add layers of atmospheric and electronic sound design, in addition to the utilization of more acoustic instruments, enabled us to execute a more dramatic performance and listening experience.” – Heterochrome

Album Title: From The Ashes
Release Date: May 13, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby

Heterochrome.com – Heterochrome.bandcamp.com – Instagram.com/heterochromeband Facebook.com/heterochromeband – YouTube

Spotify – Apple Music – Soundcloud.com/heterochrome-band

“A diamond in the rough? A buried treasure in the deserts? Call it what you want, but overall, this album (Melancholia) is a statement which puts Heterochrome on the musical map.”- Trebuchet Magazine

“I don’t know for sure how dangerous it is for a band like Heterochrome to craft their music in Iran, but it seems that they’re more than ready to take all possible risks in the name of Heavy Metal.” – The Headbanging Moose

“It’s (Melancholia) a Fantastic Album. The songs with Angelic voices and simple Progressive composition.” – Metal4092

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. The writing and production of this album took 4 years to complete, and it was recorded in multiple countries: Iran, Finland, Canada, Spain, and South Korea, while the Mastering took place in Russia. Unlike the first album, this album features a lot of recorded acoustic instruments including live acoustic Drums and Cello.

2. After Arash and Mida left Iran in 2018 there was a period of uncertainty about the future of the band and the songs they have made. But after taking a break and doing their own work they eventually figured out a remote setup to write their songs and eventually started writing and recording again.

3. In 2020, Mida wrote, directed, produced, and performed an independent short movie called “Of Doubt and Hope” which featured the song “Through Evil Within”, enacting the experience of a panic attack on camera, which was showcased at the Cultch Theatre’s “Ignite Youth Festival”.

Album Title: From The Ashes
Release Date: May 13, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby

Track Listing:
1. برای فردا (Baraye Farda, For Tomorrow) – 3:39
2. بادبادک (Badbadak, The Flight) – 3:28
3. Rage Against The People – 4:34
4. WOTB – 4:10
5. The Bearing – 4:29
6. Transition – 2:22
7. Time’s Up – 3:06
8. Through Evil Within – 5:03
9. سرگردان (Sargardan, Wanderer) – 3:20
10. The Outlaw – 7:20
Album length: 41:21

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Heterochrome
• All songs written by: Heterochrome
• Recorded by: Arash Rezaei, Amir Taghavi, Reza Sadeghi
• Produced by: Arash Rezaei
• Mixed by: Arash Rezaei
• Mastered by: Danny Klaven
• Album Artwork by: Banafshe Najafi
• Graphic Design by: Ghazal Jenab

Album Band Line Up:
– Mohammadreza (Arash) Rezaei – Guitars, Vocals, Synthesizer
– Mida Malek – Vocals
– Mohammad Mirboland – Drums
– Ville Veihola – Electric Bass
– Lisa Yihwan Lim (BigViolinPlayer) – Cello

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

The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

This album has been an opportunity for us to form our unique sound and experiment with new aspects of songwriting. This is the first time we are trying to introduce Farsi lyrics in a couple of our songs, opening up more space for us to connect with our audience. Trying to add layers of atmospheric and electronic sound design, in addition to the utilization of more acoustic instruments, enabled us to execute a more dramatic performance and listening experience.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

– Baraye Farda, For Tomorrow
One of the last songs we put on the album, this track started as Arash was pondering on Climate Change, Global Warming, and the general state of danger our world and home planet is in. After writing the first verse and chorus he sent it to Mida, who instantly fell in love with it even before hearing what it meant to Arash. Mida immediately got to writing the second verse, drawing from the sociopolitical environment of Iran and letting Arash know they need the song in their album. This is one of all their favorite tracks, coming from different backgrounds, it can be interpreted differently for any individual listener.

– Badbadak, The Flight
January of 2020 marked the tragedy of the Iranian Government shutting down the Ukrainian Passenger Airplane killing many of our loved ones including one of Mida’s old schoolmates. In the grief following that loss, Mida drew from an old school song called Badbadak (The Kite) and wrote this song. The music video represents the same suffering.

– Rage Against The People
One of the more aggressive songs on the album, dealing with heartbreak and trust issues and the inner struggle caused by these feelings.

– WOTB
The only instrumental track in the album which Arash started writing a short while after he left Iran and was faced with a plethora of new challenges coming his way.

– The Bearing
One of the few tracks remaining from the original line up of this album, The bearing was written by Mida in trying to process all that is growing up in Iran as a queer non-binary lesbian. Bearing the weight of oppression and ignorance for years, fighting for their right to love and live as who they are, all that pent up anger came out in the lyrics. Years later, as it’s released, this song still rings true for them.

– Transition
As the title suggests, this is an intro for the B-side of the album. Trying to set the mood for the next track Time’s up.

– Time’s Up
This song consists of two stories about the difficulties of love and the emotional devastation that comes from it. The first part deals with a deep sorrow from the mentioned devastation in Arash’s life, and the second part recalls a memory from Mida. Arash wrote this song shortly after a life-changing period of time and brought it forward, even though it sounded different than their previous work, sounding a lot more simple and raw.

Mida’s life story sounds like something out of a telenovela! A very progressive one, but a telenovela all the same. Over the years that this album was made, Mida had to say goodbye to their fiancé many times, sending them off to the US alone, because of the travel ban. The second verse of this song was written on one of these “goodbye nights”. And the pain of saying goodbye, feeling your soul catching fire, and burning with love is reflected in the lyrics. The inevitability of heartbreak in love is a universal language that almost everyone can speak.

– Through Evil Within
This is probably the most revised track on the album! What a wild journey it’s been! Almost everyone has those “talks” with themselves. Sitting down with your inner demons, your darker side, name it what you want. That battle of trying to gain back control over your brain and dealing with your mental health. Anxiety, depression, panic attacks, PTSD, almost everyone has to deal with at least one of these, and yet, they rarely get talked about. This is our way of trying to make sense of our version of mental health.

– Sargardan, Wanderer
One of the first and most fun songs Mida and Arash wrote for this album! They both wanted to play with more classical Persian themes and you can hear those elements in both the lyrics and the tunes. This song tries to capture the essence of Alternative metal in the band’s sound.

– Outlaw
The year is 2017. Mida has been planning on joining their fiancé in the US but the Travel Ban is ordered by Donald Trump and once again, Mida finds their life up in the air because of ignorant decisions by ignorant politicians who never have to pay the price for their choices. What is that old song? “The gods will roll the dice, their hearts as cold as ice, and someone way down here loses someone dear!”

The news hit them hard and the lyrics basically wrote themselves! Possibly one of the band’s longest songs, you can hear the anger and frustration in every line.

Heterochrome started when Arash Rezaei, and Mida Malek met and collaborated as the lead guitarist and vocalist in 2014. The band started recording their first album (Melancholia) at Chaotic Waves studio in Tehran, Iran when Mohammad Mirboland joined as drummer in 2016 followed by Armin Afzali on bass and Amir Taghavi on rhythm guitar who joined later on during the band rehearsals. Melancholia, which was a concept album based on Dante`s Divine Comedy turned dark, was officially released and distributed in 2017, followed by a one-night exclusive live performance of the album in Tehran in January of 2018. The band now consisting of guitarist Arash, vocalist Mida, and drummer Mohammad has developed a different sound for their second album “From The Ashes”, with lyrics and music pointing out social and political issues of both their home country Iran, such as incarceration and criminalization of the metal genre, sexual identity and female singing, and on a larger scale, the world, such as the climate change dilemma.

Live Band Line Up:
– Arash Rezaei – Guitars, Vocals
– Mida Malek – Vocals
– Mohammad Mirboland – Drums
– Ville Veihola – Electric Bass

Discography:
2022 – From The Ashes (Album)
2017 – Melancholia (Album)

Tours and Festivals:
2017 – Shab Shanbeha (Music festival in Tehran)

0 EPK – Kapitur

March 11, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Kapitur

EPK – Kapitur

For fans of Opeth, modern Swans, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Saltland, Tina Guo

“It’s uncommon to hear a classical instrument like the cello in heavy music that isn’t Melodic or Symphonic Metal. My intent is to explore creative ways of using my instrument in heavier contexts. Twenty-six years ago, Roots Bloody Roots pleaded for the preservation of Brazilian cultural diversity. Today, Kapitur’s distinctive revisit of the song revolves around the historical alienation of common people regarded as different, the Bloody Roots of us outsiders. It grips on the struggle of finding oneself estranged from one’s original and adoptive cultures, to the ongoing murder and colonization suffered by many people in a land that was theirs for centuries; from immigrant, racial, religious intolerance to the global, modern alien anxiety suffered by African descendants and their relationship to an inaccessible homeland. Bloody Roots is about you, or someone you know and care for.” – Bruna Wanderley

Single Title: Bloody Roots (Sepultura Cover)
Release Date: March 11, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Facebook.com/kapiturband – Instagram.com/kapiturband – Kapitur.bandcamp.com

Spotify pre-save: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kapitur/bloody-roots

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Someone I know sent a private unpublished link of the music video to Sepultura and they really loved the work! Derrick Green himself contacted me to say it’s very creative, that it sounds incredible and that he looks forward to meeting me in person! So Kapitur is personally invited to meet them at their Montreal show on March 17th. One can only guess how stoked we are.

2. Shooting the music video for Bloody Roots was one of the most demanding and fun experiences we had so far. It was a very cold Fall day, we set up a tent on the sandpits and unexpectedly spent 13 hours outdoors on the first day. As soon as we got there, one of the cars got stuck in the mud, and only after greatly shoving, did a guy on a tractor appear to tow the car in a few seconds. The photographer was buried naked in the sand at 5°C – he did say he liked it. For the entire time, I was cold from shooting in a thin dress and being barefoot on the sand. At night, we had to beware of the coyote sounds coming our way – it was so reassuring to have combustible material available, just in case. Finally, all the team left the site at 3 a.m., with our gear frosted by the dew and fake blood stains on our clothes and shoes. That whole night felt really special though. Will do it again next year, once we get rid of all the sand stuck in our stuff.

3. There’s a faint possibility of having one of the upcoming songs performed by a classical choir in a few months. Fingers crossed!

Artist and multi-instrumentalist Bruna Wanderley Gonçalves draws from a young life in Brazil, living in an environment of violence, fear, and contrasting beauty. Growing up in a conservative Evangelical milieu has led her to tease her family’s most beloved boundaries and, since her solo arrival to infamously libertine Montreal in 2015, she has actively performed and recorded as a cellist in a wide array of contexts. Under her most recent metal-influenced group Kapitur – the name derived from the intriguing female character Capitu in a realist novel by Machado de Assis – she composes, sings, performs guttural vocals while also playing the cello. Making music and collaborating with artists within the local scene has consequently sparked her curiosity to explore new combinations of musical influences and sounds. Her music can be heavy, ethereal, warm, sorrowful, and atmospheric like a slow apocalypse. It’s filled with soundscapes, hammering repetitions, layering, and she creates contrasting moods with bleak cacophony followed by heavenly melodies. For her, music is a way to explore the underlying chaotic state of our past experiences as well as a fight against norms and finitude, in the search for what is eternal.

Single Band Line Up:
Bruna Wanderley – Vocals, cello, additional textures
Sam Neuman – Drums
Bruno Coe – Bass
Zach Dean – Guitars

Live Band Line Up:
Bruna Wanderley – Vocals, cello
Sam Neumann – Drums
Andres Arango – Guitars
Bass TBA
Extras TBA

Discography:
2022 – Bloody Roots (single cover Sepultura)
2020 – Decay (demo)

Single Title: Bloody Roots (Sepultura Cover)
Release Date: March 11, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Single:
Bloody Roots (3:17)

Single Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Bruna Wanderley, Samn Neuman, Zach Dean, Bruno Coe
• All songs written by: Sepultura
• Produced by: Bruna Wanderley
• Mixed by: Jonathan Leduc
• Mastered by: Jonathan Leduc
• Album Artwork by: Ivan Arturo Photography / Bruna Wanderley
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Single Band Line Up:
Bruna Wanderley – Vocals, cello, additional textures
Sam Neuman – Drums
Bruno Coe – Bass
Zach Dean – Guitars

0 EPK – Thirteen Goats – Servants of the Outer Dark (2022)

March 10, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Thirteen Goats

EPK – Thirteen Goats – Servants of the Outer Dark (2022)

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

For fans of Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Death, Megadeth

“‘Servants of the Outer Dark’ is the debut record by Vancouver death metal monsters THIRTEEN GOATS—a sonic trip that winds down the most twisted sections of extreme metal’s memory lane on a journey to wicked new horizons. The band weaves together conventions from numerous extreme metal subgenres on songs that range from topical to tongue-in-cheek—some songs have a serious social message, and others are about cooking and eating your enemies. The album title is also a reference to the band’s name—the band’s mascot, Shepherd, is an antichrist figure who wears a goat skull mask, appearing throughout time and space to commit various evil acts with the help of twelve demon goats who function as his disciples. Together, they are THIRTEEN GOATS—and Servants of the Outer Dark.” – Thirteen Goats

Album Title: Servants of the Outer Dark
Release Date: July 1, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby

Thirteengoats.com (under construction) – Facebook.com/THIRTEEN.GOATS – Twitter.com/THIRTEENGOATS

YouTube – Instagram.com/thirteen.goats – Thirteengoats.bandcamp.com

“With “Return to Ruin”, an unrelenting Thirteen Goats suggests it’s time to blow up everything” – Georgia Straight

“Get Weird, Wild and Wacky with Thirteen Goats’ Servants of the Outer Dark” – Decibel Magazine

“Metal Sucks – Beer Metal: More of Your Drunkest Song Suggestions – July 9, 2022 – Thirteen Goats, “Return to Ruin” – Rips, we’re here for it. Suggested by Dave M. Dave, worship the porcelain god.”

“Vancouver’s Thirteen Goats is now streaming their new single “Servant Of The Outer Dark.” The single perfectly marries old school death metal, blackened tendencies, and heavy metal choruses all into one killer song. Plus the video directed by Nessa Aref and Alysson Hall is pretty damn cool.” – Metal Injection

“Vancouver’s Thirteen Goats Don’t Care What You Think on ‘Servants of the Outer Dark'” – Exclaim!

“This new song, “Return To Ruin“, is the first single from Thirteen Goats‘ forthcoming debut album Servants of the Outer Dark, a gut-punching and head-hooking offering of death metal that borrows liberally from many of the genre’s subsets, as well as bringing in elements of thrash, black metal, and grindcore… it blazes like a wildfire running ferociously out of control, powered by a panoply of turbocharged riffing, riotous drumwork, and vitriolic vocals that span a range from guttural bellows to screeching shrieks, wild howls, and savage near-sung yells. The guitars twitch in demented thrashing fevers, jolt like jackhammers, swarm in feeding frenzies, and eject brazen fanfares, augmented by solos that spit fire and beautifully swirl. The rhythm section will also beat you senseless, but engage in some interesting off-kilter interplays as well.” – No Clean Singing

CBC Radio Interview – https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-91-the-early-edition/clip/15922884-on-july-1-vancouver-metal-band-thirteen-goats

“With a name like 13 Goats, it’s gonna be evil. It’s a cool thrashy, blackended groove metal, a little Lamb of God sound with a bit more heavy/brutality going on with a dash of black metal evilness. Great stuff!!”- Moshpit Radio – 89.9 FM (Madison, WI)

“Thirteen Goats make seriously good music and sound like they have a lot of fun doing it. They write great upbeat thrash songs with strong melodies that appropriately sway from sinister to camp and pull it off temendously. For some classic charcuterie of extreme metal mixed with a bit of tongue in cheek, you’re well looked after here.” – Heavy Mag

“It’s a blast of slightly technical death metal that slaps the listener in the face after the opening acoustic guitar intro on Thirteen Goats’ debut album. This Vancouver outfit set about the album with precision, aggression, controlled chaos, and menace. The menace is provided by Graham K. Miles’s death metal growl; the aggression comes from the bass and guitar; the controlled chaos can be attributed to the razor sharp drums. The menacing vocals then become clean and surprisingly rather commercial, adding another dimension to this band. The clean vocal style is still metal, its just unexpected, which is always a good thing on a debut album. This particular track ‘Servant Of The Outer Dark’ is an homage to the horror author Steven King and contains spoken word and breakdown sections that keep the listener interested and keen.” – The Razor’s Edge

“In the end of all, one can say that “Servants of the Outer Dark” is really a surprising release, and as an eclectic Death/Black/Thrash Metal release, it will show that THIRTEEN GOATS is a new strength into the extreme scene.” – Metal Temple

“The starting point of Thirteen Goats and their debut album Servants Of The Outer Dark is death metal, but it doesn’t remain tied to it. They explore all types, including tech death and melodic death metal, and even genres outside of that like thrash, groove, and doom metal. Each song brings out a unique side to the band, whether it’s the politically charged “Prisoner’s Anthem” or the body horror of “Sub-Being.”” Heavy Music Headquarters

“Canada’s Thirteen Goats are incredibly fun to listen to and at multiple points subtly humorous and as such make themselves easily a breath of fresh air within the technical scene. That sense of fun is backed up with very proficient playing and dizzying creativity, far beyond what you would expect from a debuting act’s first full length… Servants of the Outer Dark is an excellent debut full length from these guys and I can’t wait to hear more!”9/10 – Metal Observer

“All you need is love? No. All you need is Thirteen Goats. Their debut album has everything your heart could desire in a Metal record, it’s a metaphorical pizza with all the toppings and better thrill ride of a first crack we defy you to find! [8.5/10]” – Metal Noise

“‘Challenge The Executioner’ is a thunderous and aggressive beast of a death metal track, with an impressive array of technical-sounding riffs, vibrant bass work, and some truly bruising drumming. It’s a song that proves that these guys have the ability and the chops to succeed, whilst channelling bands like Lamb Of God into their output.” – Man of Much Metal

L-R – Rob Fitzgerald (Guitars, Vocals), Graham K. Miles (Vocals, Guitars), Mike Redston (Bass, Vocals)

Photo Credit – Caitlin Delaplace

Eclectic, over-the-top, and just a little weird, THIRTEEN GOATS takes cues from some of extreme metal’s most infamous acts (Death, Carcass, Cannibal Corpse) to create a tongue-in-cheek blend of different genre hallmarks that’s as hooky as it is heavy. This ain’t your dad’s death metal, but we kept the best parts. Horns up.

Album Band Line Up:
Graham K. Miles – Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Rob Fitzgerald – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Mike Redston – Bass, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Live Lineup:
Graham K. Miles – Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Rob Fitzgerald – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Cody Lewichew – Bass
Leonid Verman – Drums

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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Frontman Graham K. Miles got into a motorcycle accident midway through the recording process. He performed all his guitar solos on the record with a broken finger and both wrists sprained.

2. Bass player Mike Redston is also the sole member and songwriter of one-man black metal project Snakeblade.

3. Rob Fitzgerald’s first jam partner was his dad, who was the drummer in a 70s-style rock band called The Wee Band. To this day, Rob thinks his Dad might have had something to do with his love for death metal—which he describes as music where “you’re basically playing drums on all the instruments—even the guitars”.

4. The name “THIRTEEN GOATS” refers to the band’s loose concept and mascot: a demonic entity and antichrist figure named Shepherd who wears a goat skull mask. He travels through space and time, appearing in our world and others whenever evil deeds are afoot—which gives us license to write about pretty much anything. The other 12 goats represent his infernal disciples—as well as symbolizing the “baa-nality” of evil. (Sidebar: the band used to be named “COMMANDRA”, which is a type of flower growing in British Columbia that causes tree fungus. We liked the irony of being a death metal band named after a delicate flower—but nobody knew that, and we got sick of people asking us what the fuck a “COMMANDRA” was. We think “THIRTEEN GOATS” paints a much clearer picture.)

5. Graham K. Miles is a classically-trained Shakespearean actor with a master’s degree in theatre from the New School for Drama (formerly the Actor’s Studio Drama School) in New York City.

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The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

‘Servants of the Outer Dark’ is the debut record by Vancouver death metal monsters THIRTEEN GOATS—a sonic trip that winds down the most twisted sections of extreme metal’s memory lane on a journey to wicked new horizons. The band weaves together conventions from numerous extreme metal subgenres on songs that range from topical to tongue-in-cheek—some songs have a serious social message, and others are about cooking and eating your enemies. The album title is also a reference to the band’s name—the band’s mascot, Shepherd, is an antichrist figure who wears a goat skull mask, appearing throughout time and space to commit various evil acts with the help of twelve demon goats who function as his disciples. Together, they are THIRTEEN GOATS—and Servants of the Outer Dark.

Track by Track explained (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

– Servant of the Outer Dark
This song is an homage to my favourite Stephen King villain. I hope Stephen King doesn’t sue us, but if he does, I plan to take that as a sign that we made it. He didn’t sue Anthrax, so I’m hoping that means we’ll be all right.

The song opens with a thunderclap and a bell ringing while an acoustic guitar plays softly. Then, out of nowhere, the main riff kicks in and the toms start pounding—and the band goes full-tilt from that point forward. Harsh guttural vocals rip through the verses, while a big clean sing-along hook dominates the chorus. There’s even a spoken-word bit in the middle where Rob and I have a bit of dialogue as different characters from the story the song is based on.

This is easily the most melodic song on the record, but it’s also got some truly heavy parts. Mike (who wrote most of the music for this one) has a breakdown in the middle that crushes, Rob added a truly nasty riff that kicks in at a few key points, and I think this is probably my most dynamic and versatile vocal work on the whole album. Everyone’s unique talents really shine on this one, and I hope it finds an audience who appreciates it the way we do.

– Challenge the Executioner
Rob wrote this song about overthrowing a tyrant. I think it’s supposed to be more in the realm of fantasy than social commentary—but looking around at our world for the last few years, maybe it kind of works both ways. I think there are certainly a lot of people out there these days who would like to topple a social order or two—and honestly, I can’t say I blame some of them.

Musically, this song is built around one of our most technical riffs—something Rob wrote years ago that I still have to practice regularly to keep it nice and tight. It also features some really kinetic interplay between the drums and the stringed instruments about halfway through, followed by a big section where both guitars and the bass go into a big tapping frenzy.

When we finished this one, I think we all kind of looked at ourselves and asked if it was too much. But looking back, I think this was one of the moments where we really realized that metal lets you be as crazy as you want, as long as you commit to it.

– Sub-Being
Musically, this is one of our most straightforward songs—it’s very much in the vein of classic death metal, with a few flourishes from 80s thrash thrown in. Rob wrote the music and lyrics, which tell the story of a monster created from different human body parts who craves death but is being kept alive against its will. It’s fun!

– Prisoner’s Anthem
This is our most political song on the record, but it’s also a bit personal for me. It’s about different prison-industrial complexes throughout human history—the first verse is about the Soviet gulags, the second verse is about the Nazi death camps, and the third verse is about the detention centers at the Southern U.S. border. It’s a song about how the flawed justice systems in all of those nations failed their people, and how ultimately, political ideology means nothing if you support a state that treats human lives as disposable.

My whole family is Ukrainian, and Rob has Armenian heritage, so we have older relatives who remember what it was like when the Soviets and the Nazis were disappearing people. And a lot of that stuff is coming up for us right now, with what’s been happening between Russia and Ukraine, but also with atrocities being committed by our own empire. I had a distant relative who was sent to a labour camp in Siberia. So when I hear about kids being separated from their families in this day and age, it makes me really angry. It makes me feel like we haven’t learned anything from the horrors of our past, and that’s what this song is trying to articulate.

– Unholy Mass
This was the first song that Rob and I wrote together. He came up with all the riffs—except the one that plays right at the end, which is mine—and I did the lyrics, which are about a priest who decides to cleanse the world of sinners by gruesomely murdering them. I guess you could read into that and say we’re making a comment about the hypocrisy inherent in organized religions that preach peace and love but enforce their values with violence and oppression. But honestly, we just thought it made for some cool images. I also managed to get a Cryptopsy reference into the chorus—see if you can pick it out!

– Vacuum-Induced Head Explosion
The title really says it all. This is a song about putting your enemies in vacuum-sealed chambers and making their heads explode. I think I got the idea from an old James Bond movie or something.

This might be the most technically challenging song we have on the record. The riffs make you go all over the fretboard, the pace never lets up, and there’s a bridge about two-thirds of the way through where both guitars and the bass are playing some really weird and techy stuff, all while the lead vocals are going. But it has one of my favourite choruses in the entire set—we actually all loved it so much that we couldn’t agree on who should sing it, so we each took a line or two!

– Return to Ruin
I was really inspired by late ‘90s Deicide—specifically, the stuff off ‘Serpents of the Light’ when I wrote this song. It’s a real right-hand workout, with tons of trem-picking in the verses and a chorus that kind of bounces up and down the necks of the guitars in a weird rhythm that feels like it’s almost too early for the beat (but actually isn’t).

The lyrics for this one are kind of on the serious side. They came out of my frustrations with a lot of different institutions that I feel have really failed the current generation—political, financial, educational, judicial, and so on. When I think about how poorly we’re dealing with issues like the climate crisis, or the lasting impact of colonialism, patriarchy, and white supremacy in western nations, or how global capitalism is taking us back to the days of feudalism by facilitating the largest wealth transfer in history so that billionaires can race their private rocket ships to space while the rest of us are getting squeezed tighter every year, it just makes this part of me wish we could burn everything down and start over. I know that’s not realistic, and I don’t really believe that’s the way—but in my darkest moments, it’s kind of a comforting fantasy. So if anyone out there who also feels that way hears this song, at least maybe it will help them to know we’re as angry about all those things as they are. And sometimes, that kind of solidarity inspires people to act.

– Constant Torment
This is another one that I wrote on my own. Musically, it’s inspired largely by melodic death metal like late-career Death and Children of Bodom, with a dash or two of Justice-era Metallica thrown in for good measure. There’s a lot of melody, but it’s kind of frantic and juxtaposed with the main riff, which just sort of bludgeons the listener with these big heavy power chords. I think it’s also the only song on this record with any sweep-picking going on (although that’s really just used as an accent during the chorus and a small part of the first solo).

The lyrics are about living with mental illness and what it’s like when that makes you want to kill yourself.

– Through the Meat Grinder… The Recipe
This song’s just fun. It’s a classic tale of the macabre about a man who murders his rival and cooks him—then, when the rest of the village shows up on his doorstep with torches and pitchforks, demanding to know what happened to the missing person, our “hero” invites them all in for dinner, gets them drunk, serves them the severed head of his victim, and murders the lot of them so he can keep making meat pies. Kind of an Edgar-Allen-Poe-meets-Sweeney-Todd kind of thing—except I don’t think this one will ever become a Broadway musical. But you never know!

Musically, I’m really proud of how this one came together. It’s got this kind of atmospheric, almost doomy intro, followed by a real old school death metal riff, and then it kicks into groove metal for a bit before the chorus rolls around. There’s a trem-picked lead section that feels very black-metal-inspired, and then the song transforms into this whole other beast where the guitars start doing a Gojira type of thing and Mike starts reciting the steps for preparing to cook and eat human flesh. That’s the ‘Recipe’ part. And then it all comes full circle for the grim (or should I say, ‘Grimm’?) conclusion of the story. Gotta give ‘em a satisfying ending, right?

There’s also a tiny little nod to one of our biggest musical influences—someone who unfortunately isn’t around anymore—right at the very end of the track. I think some people will hear it right away, and some people won’t. That’s just our way of saying “thank you for inspiring us”.

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Servants of the Outer Dark
Release Date: July 1, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby

Track Listing:
1. Servant of the Outer Dark (5:48)
2. Challenge the Executioner (3:18)
3. Return to Ruin (4:11)
4. Prisoner’s Anthem (3:26)
5. Sub-Being (4:16)
6. Unholy Mass (4:41)
7. Constant Torment (3:30)
8. Vacuum-Induced Head Explosion (4:33)
9. Through the Meat Grinder… The Recipe (4:47)
Album Length: 38:34

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Graham K. Miles, Rob Fitzgerald, & Mike Redston
• All songs written by:
– Servant of the Outer Dark
Music by Mike Redston & Rob Fitzgerald & Graham K. Miles
Lyrics by Graham K. Miles
– Challenge the Executioner
Music & Lyrics by Rob Fitzgerald
– Return to Ruin
Music & Lyrics by Graham K. Miles
– Prisoner’s Anthem
Music & Lyrics by Graham K. Miles
– Sub-Being
Music by Rob Fitzgerald & Mike Redston
Lyrics by Rob Fitzgerald
– Unholy Mass
Music by Rob Fitzgerald
Lyrics by Graham K. Miles
– Constant Torment
Music & Lyrics by Graham K. Miles
– Vacuum-Induced Head Explosion
Music by Rob Fitzgerald
Lyrics by Graham K. Miles
– Through the Meat Grinder… The Recipe
Music by Graham K. Miles & Mike Redston
Lyrics by Graham K. Miles & Mike Redston
• Produced by: Graham K. Miles, Rob Fitzgerald, & Mike Redston
• Mixed by: Diego Fernandez-Trujillo
• Mastered by: Diego Fernandez-Trujillo
• Album Artwork by: Jeremy Famir
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album Band Line Up:
Graham K. Miles – Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Rob Fitzgerald – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Mike Redston – Bass, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Live Lineup:
Graham K. Miles – Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Rob Fitzgerald – Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Vocals
Cody Lewichew – Bass
Leonid Verman – Drums

0 EPK – Dirty Shirt – Get Your Dose Now! (2022)

March 6, 2022
by Asher
· Dirty Shirt · EPKs

EPK – Dirty Shirt – Get Your Dose Now! (2022)

For fans of Diablo Swing Orchestra, Skindred, Twelve Foot Ninja, Dubioza Kolektiv, Eluveitie, Gogol Bordello

Album Title: Get Your Dose Now!
Release Date: April 1, 2022
Label: Self Release
Distribution: Self Release

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“uniquely hypercharged” – Into The Void

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. The band started as a wedding band
2. 5 members are the same for more than 20 years
3. After a break of 4 years (caused by Mihai Tivadar (Keyboards, Guitars) left Romania for France) when the band reunited and they changed completely the musical direction and took the decision to keep the band’s name (as the members were the same at that time)
4. As Mihai Tivadar (Keyboards, Guitars lived in France, the band worked a lot online, including rehearsals & recordings supervising
5. There is a lot of DIY in their band. Practically they make most of audio & video production. sound engineering, general management & strategy, projects, van repairing, merch, etc…

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

Album Title: Get Your Dose Now!
Release Date: April 1, 2022
Label: Self Release
Distribution: Self Release

Track Listing:
1. New Boy in Town (2:46)
2. Pretty Faces (4:06)
3. Dope-A-Min (3:05)
4. What’s Going On (2:35)
5. Hot for Summer (3:04)
6. New Conspiracy (2:41)
7. Cand s-o-mpartit norocu’ (Part 1) (4:07)
8. Cand s-o-mpartit norocu’ (Part 2) (3:39)
9. Geamparalele (4:31)
Total Length: 30:34

Bonus Tracks – Pandemic Special – EP:
1. Resonate (Metal Version) (3:37)
2. Away (Orchestral Version) (3:46)
3. Don’t Care (25 Years Later) (9:06)
4. Latcho Drom (Live Studio Session feat. Caliu) (1:47)

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: DIRTY SHIRT & Guests
• All songs written by: Mihai Tivadar (main composer) & Mathieu di Pilla (main lyrics writer)
• Produced by: Mihai Tivadar
• Mixed by: Adrian Bila Uritescu
• Mastered by: Adrian Bila Uritescu
• Album Artwork by: Lia Cucuianu
• Member of Romanian Music Association (UCMR)

Album Band Line Up:
DIRTY SHIRT
Dan Rini Crăciun – Vocals
Robert Rusz – Vocals
Mihai Tivadar – Keyboards, Guitars
Dan Petean – Guitars
Cristian Bălănean – Guitars
Pal Novelli – Bass
Vlad Țoca – Drums
Cosmin Nechita – Violin

GUESTS MUSICIANS FROM TRANSYLVANIAN FOLKLORE ORCHESTRA
Alexandra Joicaliuc – Backing Vocals
Miruna Puiu – Backing Vocals
Tea Vişan – Backing Vocals
Andrei Oltean – Whistles, Woodwinds, Accordion
Darius Boşca – Clarinet
Mihai Muntean – Cimbalom

OTHER GUEST MUSICIANS
Benji Webbe (Skindred) – Vocals on Pretty Faces
Paul Ilea – Synths on Pretty Faces
Caliu – Violins on Pretty Faces
Gabriel Radu Arnautu – Guitars & Synths on What’s Going On
Adrian “Bila” Uritescu – Bass & Guitar on Geamparalele
Boots (Mathieu di Pilla) – Vocals on What’s Going On & some gangs vocals on other tracks
Cosmo – Percussion on What’s Going On, New Conspiracy, Cand s-o-mpartit norocu’ (Part 2), Geamparalele
Sandor Medve – Trombone & Trumpet on New Conspiracy
Eduard Albina – Accordion on Hot for Summer
Ionut Vartolas – Trombone on Hot for Summer
Leonard Negrea – Cimabolm (Hot for Summer)

GUESTS MUSICIANS ONLY ON BONUS TRACKS:
Adela Barastean – Viola on Resonate, Away and Latcho Drom
Alexandra Enache – Cello on Resonate, Away and Don’t Care
Rebeka Dula – Cello on Resonate, Away and Don’t Care
Caliu – Violin on Latcho Drom
Andrei Oşan – Clarinet on Away
Gabriel Barastean – Violin on Away
Catalina Popa-Mörk – Flute on Away

Live Band Line Up:
DIRTY SHIRT
Dan Rini Crăciun – Vocals
Robert Rusz – Vocals
Mihai Tivadar – Keyboards, Guitars
Dan Petean – Guitars
Cristian Bălănean – Guitars
Pal Novelli – Bass
Vlad Țoca – Drums
Cosmin Nechita – Violin

GUESTS MUSICIANS FROM TRANSYLVANIAN FOLCKORE ORCHESTRA (WHEN PLAYING BIGGER EVENTS)
Alexandra Joicaliuc – Backing Vocals
Miruna Puiu – Backing Vocals
Tea Vişan – Backing Vocals
Razvan Nechita – Violin
Gabriel Barastean – Violin
Adela Barastean – Viola
Alexandra Enache – Cello
Andrei Oltean – Whistles, Woodwinds, Accordion
Darius Boşca – Clarinet
Catalina Popa – Mörk – Flute
Mihai Muntean – Cimbalom

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

The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by Mihai Tivadar – Keyboards, Guitars

Like their previous album, GET YOUR DOSE NOW, is a very diversified album, that will surprise the listeners but also they will recognize their sound.

TRACK BY TRACK:

By Mihai Tivadar (music) & Mathieu di Pilla (lyrics)

NEW BOY IN TOWN
We got used to open our albums (and live shows) with a traditional energetic instrumental song (as the traditional Romanian weddings), but on the new album, we chose to open the album with a more dramatic/cinematic/dark instrumental song.

PRETTY FACES (feat. Benji Webbe, Caliu & Paul Ilea)
Mihai: It is one of the longest songs of the album, based on an electro track by Sensor (an electro project of Paul Ilea, music producer of The Voice Romania & Romania Got Taleng, also good friend of us). It starts with an “Indian” touch and Jamaican vocals (made by Benji from Skindred), but played on cimbalom (Romanian traditional instrument). Then it passes in kind of nu – metal /electro verses & chorus with traditional style parts on violin & whistl. It follows a “reggae” metal sound (with vocals from Benji), an instrumental groovy metal intermezzo, a gipsy violin solo by Caliu (famous Gipsy violin player, Taraf des Haïdouks) with some heavy electro-metal arrangements in background. Then the song returns to verses & chorus, and finishes with a traditional Romanian wedding style of the main theme on violin & whistle.

Mat: This song deals with the positive outcomes from the covid era. How extraordinary events push people to adapt and how life always finds its way. The title is sarcastic and it refers to how “pretty” we used to look like with these masks on.

DOPE-A-MIN
Mihai: It is probably one of the most energetic songs from the album. It starts quit “standard” with a nu-metal/hardcore intro, then the verses & choruses combines metal with traditional style melodies, giving almost a “pirate metal” ambiance. The intermezzo changes completely, with some complex rhythm break, then a melodic part, with vocals & violin theme composed in gipsy Romanian style. The song ends in symmetry, with the same hardcore/nu metal part as the intro.

Mat: Dopamine plays a role in how we feel pleasure. This song is about all the illusions created on social medias and in our relationships in general. We must be happy at all cost, and become dependent of these shots of dopamine like we’d pop vitamins tablets every morning. Also this song is dope and key is A minor.

WHAT’S GOING ON (feat. Gabriel Radu Arnautu & Boots)
Mihai: It is a short song, with a standard structure. The song idea came from the instrumental theme, made by a friend of us (Gabriel Radu Arnautu) for his personal project. We adapted this theme giving it a Balkan touch with traditional instruments and adding the modern vocal lines. The verses are combining modern melodic metal & rap nu-metal (part recorded by Mathieu).

Mat: It deals with vanity, and how superficial most of successes are presented. « The king of the village » is a French expression meaning self-importance and self-esteem are two different things. One’s related with a misplaced ego, the other with real ambition and accomplishment. Events we’re experiencing in this decade are too me the perfect illustration of this idea.

HOT FOR SUMMER
Mihai: It is probably the craziest song from the album, a very short that changes the ambiance constantly. After a very soft and cliché intro, we enter the first chorus in English, kind of Eurovision style of music with some 80s influences, than changes completely, with a Balkan style part, then it follows a very heavy part (metalcore). After, we go back on the chorus, but this time in Italian. It follows a March style part, to arrive to a Tango style melody in Italian that combines the “March” rhythm with the Balkan melodic line. The ending is in symmetry.

Mat: This song criticises the mainstream music industry or the industry. How boring these pop summer hits can sound. Yet, some of these songs are great and it’s not a matter of how simple or repetitive it can be, but whether it is tasteful or not.

NEW CONSPIRACY
Mihai: New Conspiracy is another crazy short song, probably the most aggressive track of the album that starts with a Balkan ambiance (with brass section, acoustic guitars, percussion & cimbalom), then the verses are constructed on the same rhythmic structure, but adding an “oriental” style melodic line on traditional instruments (violin, clarinet, whistles, accordion) and very aggressive vocals. The choruses are in big contrast, being “pure” cold aggressive metal. The ending part starts with very dissonant guitar leads (kind of Meshuggah style), and then we add on top of it a traditional style melody and heavy nu-metal riffs.

Mat: It’s a pamphlet about how mass medias, including social media, control and modify the truth.

CAND S-O-MPARTIT NOROCU’ (PART 1 & 2)
Mihai: We decided to “cut” the song in two parts, as it is very long (more than 7 minutes) and it was really composed as a 2 parts song. The song is inspired from a very sad traditional Romanian song.

Part 1: it starts with a monotonous and almost funeral ambiance, with a long development in crescendo to the first chorus. Then we return back to the dark verses, but with shorter development and finish the part 1 with a double chorus, even more dramatic.

Part 2: musically is all-original, but we keep traditional lyrics on verses. The ambiance becomes more psychedelic, with Tool influence on verses. There is an instrumental bridge to the chorus, with gipsy influences, and the chorus in English, with an “elevating” ambiances and an alternative/grunge sound.

Mat: Except for the English chorus, the lyrics are from the traditional music, and it is about the fact that we are confronted with tragedies in our lives. The lyrics are constructed in metaphors, about the bad luck that strikes us sometimes. The English chorus is a satyrical resume of how important it is to focus on what’s working when everything seems to go down. Heavy rains will get the grass greener.

GEAMPARALELE
Mihai: The song is inspired by a traditional dance from Dobrogea (South East of Romania), it is a very melodic song. The verses are sung by the backing vocals (as the traditional song is singed by women). The intermezzo is more progressive metal style, containing the only guitar solo in the whole album.

BONUS TRACKS (PANDEMIC SPECIAL EP):
Mihai: the EP contains remakes & covers released during the pandemic in our webshows “#Stayathome with Dirty Shirt” (2020) and “Dirty Shirt’s Pandemic Special”):

– Resonate: a The Prodigy cover, initially released as a remix, and now as cover, with no original samples

– Don’t Care: an orchestral remake of a 9 minutes prog song, composed in 1996 and appeared in our first album

– Away: initially included in Freak Show album (2013), we made an acoustic orchestral arrangement in the webshow, and on the EP, we added drums and electric guitars to make an orchestral metal version

– Latcho Drom feat. Caliu (live studio session): an instrumental traditional song, that opened our latest album (Letchology 2019), but now with Maestro Caliu as guest, and the complete version.

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

From L to R: Dan Petean (guitars), Pal Novelli (bass), Cosmin Nechita (violin), Dan Rini Craciun (vocals), Robert Rusz (vocals), Cristian Balanean (guitars), Mihai Tivadar (keyboards, guitars), Vlad Toca (drums)

Photo Credit : Vladut Ciprian

THE MUSIC

Dirty Shirt are widely regarded as one of the most original and successful rock bands in Eastern Europe, having a consistent presence at an international level (tours and media) as well. Even though their music is based on the modern hardcore-metal sound, Dirty Shirt are incredibly astute in blending various genres, being known mainly for their musical influences stemming from East European traditional music. The use of traditional acoustic instruments in the studio and on stage makes this mixture even more authentic. Their songs are catchy and dancing, thus having a broader appeal to a wider audience, not just the metal fans.

THE BAND

Dirty Shirt is a top Romanian crossover folkcore metal band, winner of second place at the international final of Wacken Metal Battle 2014 and of several awards at Metalhead Awards and Maximum Rock Awards. The band’s unique style derives from mixing the heavy sound of modern rock/metal with the festive ambiance of East-European traditional music, the eclecticism of world music (country, reggae and tribal rhythms), the electro sound of industrial music, the energy of hardcore, and the groove of funk. It’s not surprising to find great appreciation for Dirty Shirt albums in hundreds of reviews all over the world, including in well-respected magazines such as Metal Hammer (DE, HU), Rock Hard – (DE, FR, SLK), Metalsucks – USA, Hard Rock Mag – FR, Terrorizer – UK, etc.

LIVE PERFORMANCE

The band has already gone on several successful European tours (both as support and headlining) that included countries such as France, Belgium, Germany, UK, Austria, Netherlands, Hungary, Switzerland, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia etc., sharing the stage with major acts such as Megadeth, Godsmack, Skindred, Orphaned Land, etc. The band also performed in major events such as Wacken Open Air 2019 (D), Rock Heart 2019 (Cz), HRH Metal Fest 2019 (UK), Rockstadt Extreme Fest (2018 and 2015, Ro), Metalhead Meeting (2018 and 2016, Ro), Kilkim Zaibu 2017 (Lt), Sofia Metal Fest 2016 (Bg), to name a few.

In 2017, Dirty Shirt started a very ambitious project, FolkCore DeTour, which is an unprecedented project for the Romanian and international metal scenes alike because it juxtaposed a metal band and a prestigious Romanian traditional folk orchestra (Ansamblul Folcloric National Transilvania) for the first time on stage. For this tour, the band performed in this extended version which benefited from an impressive production (25 musicians on stage). Due of its success, the project continued in 2017-2018 with several festivals in Romania. As a result of the project, an exceptional live album recorded at Arenele Romane in Bucharest was released via the French label Apathia Records and broadcasted on Romanian National TV. Also, last year the band started a parallel live project, with Transylvanian FolkCore Orchestra, and played at several important festivals as headliner and toured in Romania and France. A song from the concert at Petit Bain – Paris was broadcasted on the TV show “Tracks” from Arte France – Germany:

This year Dirty Shirt recorded a live session of the instrumental traditional song Latcho Drom with violin master Caliu, founding member of Taraf de Haïdouks. As the Covid-19 pandemic started, like every other performing artist, their live activity came to a sudden hold, the band had to cancel/postpone a European Tour in seven countries, including major festivals such as Pol’and Rock (the biggest music festival in Europe), Reload Festival and Dong Open Air (Germany), and Plane’r Fest and Les Bichoiseries (France). During the international lockdown, they released a web show called #STAYATHOME with Dirty Shirt, a 6 episode miniseries containing new songs, past live footage, cover, etc… In July the band participated to European Metal Festival Alliance, an online event regrouping 13 major European festivals. In September Dirty Shirt was able to perform live at the Roman Arenas in Bucharest, a show with social distance conditions to celebrate 25 years of activity.

Studio albums:
Get Your Dose Now! (2022)
Pandemic Special (2022, EP):
Letchology (2019)
Dirtylicious (2015)
Freak Show (2013)
Same Shirt Different Day (2010)
Very Dirty (2000)

Live Albums:
Live at Wacken (2019)
FolkCore DeTour (2018)
Live in the Truck (2011)

TOUR AND FESTIVALS:
2022 (upcoming) – HellFest – France
2022 (upcoming) – Reload – Germany
2022 (upcoming) – Dong Open Air – Germany
2022 (upcoming) – Plane’r Fest – France
2022 (upcoming) – Les Bichoiseries –– France
2021 – Pol’and’Rock – Poland
2021 – Maximum Rock Festival – Romania
2019 – Wacken Open Air – Germany
2019 – HRH Metal Fest – UK
2019 – Rock Heart – Czech Republic
2019 – Horehronské MeCheChe – Slovakia
2019 – SnowFest – France
2018 – Rockstadt Extreme Fest – Romania
2018 – Metalhead Meeting – Romania
2016 – Kilkim Zaibu – Lithuania
2016 – Sofia Metal Fest – Bulgaria
2016 – Metalhead Meeting – Romania
2015 – Rockstadt Extreme Fest – Romania
2015 – SnowFest – France
2013 – Maximum Rock Festival – Romania

TOURS:
2019 – European Letcho Drom Tour (partially with Transylvania FolkCore Orchestra): Romania, France, UK, Germany, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia
2018 – European Tour: Romania, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary
2017 – FolkCore DeTour Romania (with Ansamblul Transilvania)
2016 – Dirtylicious Tour Romania
2013-2014 – Freak Show Tour: Romania, France, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland

0 EPK – Lÿnx – Self-Tilted (EP) (2021) – Bullzhorn Records

March 6, 2022
by Asher
· EPKs · Lynx (Bullzhorn Records)

EPK – Lÿnx – Self-Tilted (EP) (2021) – Bullzhorn Records

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

For Fans of Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, Skid Row, Mr. Big, Poison

“We are incredibly proud of how our music has been received at home and around the world. With records being sold from Spain to Australia, United K and Japan it’s clear that the world is ready for rock to come roaring back into the mainstream. Our next albums plan on being heavier, full-length LP and we can’t wait to get back into the studio to bring it to all our fans. There is no skipping songs on a Lÿnx record, we want every track to be quality work that gets you either up and dancing, or a ballad that brings a tear to your eye, or a hard pounding heavy hit to get your anger out. For us this isn’t just a hobby, this is a lifestyle, and we want every one of our fans to be as ecstatic as we are about the music we create.” – Lÿnx

EP Title: Long Live Rock N Roll
Release Date: Sept 15, 2021
Label: Bullzhorn Records
Distribution: Distrokid

Lynxrocks.com – Facebook.com/getlynxed – Instagram.com/lynxonig – Tiktok.com/@lynx.tok – Twitter.com/get_lynxed – YouTube

Getlynxed.bandcamp.com – Spotify – Apple Music – Amazon Music – Deezer – Tidal

“Lÿnx is an honest to goodness rock n roll band in a time when rock needs just that. They offer up blistering guitar riffs and solos, melodic choruses, and high energy performances that resemble the spirit of a time long gone by.” Hitonindie.com

“A brilliant release that perfectly builds on the stage that their self titled EP set. ‘Long Live Rock N Roll’ is a direct unyielding ode to what rock music used to be. A release that’s not for the faint of heart, its bold, brash and wonderfully Brutal. Landing as one of Lÿnx’s defining musical moments” Thomas Bedward – Broken 8 Records

“ Opening tracks can tell you a lot about an album. Sometimes bands come out swinging, and others take a slow burn approach. Theres no slow burn in Lÿnx. And the title track ‘Long Live Rock N Roll’ roars out of your speakers. It features a great guitar solo, fantastic percussion, and drips with 80s glam.” Dave Wilks – CGCM Radio/ Podcast

“This is a really solid, fun band that were excited about, and can’t wait to hear what’s next. So, Crank it up and press play!”- MusicNotez Magazine

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. Our guitarist blade uses his background in music production to compose a lot of our songs at work without an instrument in his hands. Constantly thinking of different riffs, beats he then goes hope and sees how they can work musically. A lot of work and some don’t but once he has an idea in his head he records it on his phone, goes home grabs a guitar, and starts figuring out how he can make it into the Lÿnx signature sound.

2. Our first show together was a show at the Blind Beggar in Calgary. We put on a 3-band show with us being the headliner to close out the night. We prepared our setlist and hit the stage. After the set, the crowd was demanding an encore, and of course, we didn’t have one. We ended up playing Long Live Rock n Roll again and invited the crowd up to join us on stage and dance out the rest of the show. It was a great moment for the band and the fans loved it, what a great way to close out our first show together.

3. We are all blue-collar workers who have spent years and years grinding away the short time we have on this earth living someone else’s dream. We all decided as a band to create our own path while putting our heart, soul, and past experiences into our music. Our passion to create music is what drives us, while knowing that once we make it we never want to go back to the mundane working life we all know.

4. We want our fans to be taken back to a time long gone that was full of hair, crazy outfits, and rockstars. As well as bring in a new generation who might pass off the music as “our parent’s music” we believe that the rock n roll genre has taken a backseat for a while to other genres which isn’t a bad thing but we want to make sure that the rock is still alive and make our forefathers proud.

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

The EP as a whole:
The EP is straight, heavy Rock’n’roll, you could pull it right off the shelf of any record store on the Sunset Strip in the late 1980’s, of course with our modern day producing and mastering!Track by Track:1) Long Live Rock’N Roll – We wrote Long Live Rock’N’Roll as a homage to all the legends that came before us. Fangs put most of the lyrics to it and Blade composed the song. From start to finish it’s the life experiences that Fangs acquired on top of his way of saying thank you and shouting out that Lÿnx will carry on the Rock’N’Roll dream that so many accomplished before us.2) Irresistible – Every good Rock’N’Roll band has to have a song about the ladies, don’t they!? Irresistible is our shout-out to ladies, that one groove that appeals to them and also gives way to what every guy thinks when something smokin’ walks by. Don’t lie to yourself, you know it’s true!3) Crazy Crazy World – This song was meant and accomplished being our take on how the world had changed during the first of many COVID lockdowns. How can we still make music? What’s happening? Can we start a band and accomplish our goals with all the craziness happening? Fangs took the idea from what Blade and Flash put forth as an idea for a song and ran with what we were all feeling at that time. But wasn’t the world always a bit crazy to begin with?4) Red Rocket – With no instruments around and out for a tour the boys of Lÿnx had a sudden spurt of inspiration, how many times have you seen that beautiful Candy Apple Red Mustang, cruising down the road driving faster than you even though you’re already going 20 over the limit with that Miss. Right sitting in the passenger seat. Well, we took that shit and ran with it too. 5) Forged In Fire – We all wanted to give our own take to an inspirational song, something that came from the heart and could be listened to if you had a bad day, or even if you’re busting ass at the gym. Forged In Fire was our way of giving life to that idea. We all choose to either give up, get pissed off, blame our shit on someone else, or rise to the occasion. This is Lÿnx’s promise. WE WILL ALWAYS RISE

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

EP Title: Long Live Rock N Roll
Release Date: Sept 15, 2021
Label: Bullzhorn Records
Distribution: Distrokid

Track Listing:
1. Long Live Rock N Roll (4:36)
2. Irresistible (3:17)
3. Crazy Crazy World (2:50)
4. Red Rocket (3:33)
5. Forged in Fire ( 5:24)
6. Paranoid (2:55)
EP Length (22:37)

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Lÿnx
• All songs written by: Lÿnx
• Produced by: Bullzhorn Records
• Mixed by: Priyam Baksi
• Mastered by: Matrix Audio
• Album Artwork by: Bullzhorn Records
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Recording Band Line Up:
Lazer Wild – Lead Vocals
Blade – Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Fangs – Bass Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Flash – Drums/ Percussion

Live Band Line Up:
Ja6ur – Lead Vocals
Blade – Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Fangs – Bass Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Flash – Drums/ PercussionDiscography:
Feb 2021 – Lÿnx Self Titled Debut – EP
Sept 2020 – Long live Rock N Roll – EP

Lÿnx is the 80s inspired Hard Rock/ Metal four-piece currently based in Calgary, Alberta Canada. During the 2020 pandemic, the band was formed by former vocalist Lazer Wild and Lead Guitarist Blade. Soon after bassist Fangs, and Drummer Flash joined and Lÿnx was formed. The band is currently fronted by Ja6ur on Vocals, Blade on guitar, Fangs on bass, and Flash on Drums/ Percussion. Connected by a shared love of 80s glam metal and hard rock, the band immediately set about writing original songs that embody the style and swagger of the past, while embracing the polished production and down-to-earth grit of their more modern rock influences. Lÿnx released their debut self-titled EP in February 2021 followed up by their second EP titled “Long Live Rock N Roll” in September 2021 with Bullzhorn Records. Since their releases, the band has gained popularity through various reviews on different media platforms in Europe, Australia, and North America. Having gained a reputation for their anthemic choruses, sizzling guitar solos, and powerhouse vocals Lÿnx has garnered a dedicated and eclectic international fan base. The band has hit the stages with high energy and connected with their audiences through the love of Rock N Roll. The band aims to build on the momentum created by their released music and push their sound into even more extreme levels of Rock N Roll.

EP Recording Band Line Up:
Lazer Wild – Lead Vocals
Blade – Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Fangs – Bass Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Flash – Drums/ Percussion

Live Band Line Up:
Ja6ur – Lead Vocals
Blade – Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Fangs – Bass Guitar, Back Up Vocals
Flash – Drums/ Percussion

Shared Stage with:
Bloody Monroe, Mixed Blame, Chiliocosm, Faster than Bears, Die Another Day, Orbit the Fox, Haunt the Stars, Plastic Kodiak, Sarafin, What’s the Plan

0 EPK – Celestial Wizard – Winds of The Cosmos (2022)

March 2, 2022
by Asher
· Celestial Wizard · EPKs

EPK – Celestial Wizard – Winds of The Cosmos (2022)

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

For fans of Dark Tranquility, Firewind, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, Galaktikon

“Winds Of The Cosmos is a veritable blend of power metal and death metal. The songs combine crushing and aggressive vocals with a thrashy and melodic style of guitar playing. The drums are clear and punchy and give a solid foundation and framework for the music to thrive. All these elements together create something new and unique in its own right, blazing a new trail of melodic heavy metal.

The album’s lyrics guide the listener through a choice mix of fantasy and sci-fi themes, ranging from frosty Dungeons and Dragons excitement to space travelers and black holes. The lyrics also delve into personal struggle and growth, allowing fans to connect with the music on a deeper level.” – Celestial Wizard

Album Title: Winds Of The Cosmos
Release Date: July 15, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid

Facebook.com/CelestialWizardOfficial – Instagram.com/celestialwizard_co – YouTube

Spotify – Celestialwizard.bandcamp.com – Apple Music

“Celestial Wizard “Denver’s CELESTIAL WIZARD is a rather unique band combining several elements to make a truly unique sound. Formed in 2018 and with one album already under their belts, their sophomore release, Winds of the Cosmos, is my first exposure to this band and from what I have heard, I like their approach. They take elements of traditional, power, and melodic death metal that can remind someone of say CHILDREN OF BODOM in one minute then sound like a band like BRAINSTORM the next. All I know it that this is one of the most interesting albums to come out in a while.” – Metal Rules

“The band have continued to deploy death metal vocals (and other ingredients of melodic death metal), as well as the kind of singing familiar to power metal addicts, and that juxtaposition is certainly a big reason why this band’s hybrid sound has become appealing in dark corners such as ours. But those tasty riffs have a lot to do with the appeal as well, and the song “Revenant” is a fierce example of that. No wonder, then, that we happily agreed to premiere a guitar-playthrough video for that song today.” – No Clean Singing

“Celestial Wizard Makes ‘Skull-Crushing Friendship Metal’” – Westword

“Winds of the Cosmos is a fun album, and Celestial Wizard’s use of death growls within the confines of power metal is surprisingly enjoyable.” – Metal Epidemic

“the Americans have an ace up their sleeve, which gives them a real unique selling point, especially with their sometimes extremely heavy interpretation of melodic metal styles, which is based on Gothenburg bands.” – Powermetal.de

“This is pretty cool, it’s a bit power metal, it’s thrashy, it’s got a bit of a fun catchy thing going on but with some cool harsh stuff too… lots of great stuff converging… Great stuff!” – Moshpit Radio – 89.9 FM (Madison, WI)

“…this was an absolute blast to listen to. The number of different genre influences sprinkled over the meaty slab of Metal at the core of the album add variety and genuine surprises and despite the sillier aspects being delivered with a knowing wink, the quality of the music is anything but a joke. So next time you’re in the mood for some jaunty fantasy adventure why not choose an album that ditches the broadsword for a pair of swinging fists. You don’t need to cast spells when you can knock a dragon the fuck out with riffs!” – Ever-Metal

“This is a really easy album to love and an even easier band to root for. Serious chops, with a not-so-serious attitude, playing a brand of metal made for a good time.” – Teeth of The Divine

“Overall – Spectacular, beyond belief. ‘WOTC’ is an album of such metallic magnitude, that everyone needs to hear it, at least once in their lives, by which time, most’ll be hooked. Slotting so firmly into the fantasy metal genre, it genuinely captures the central crux of what it’s all about and how fantasy metal should sound. A production which lifts the atmosphere, skywards, through every note, ‘WOTC’ is a sheer delight to hear and experience and it is a true experience. Dazzlingly colourful, performed with real panache, it’s a true metallic light show of sounds. 10.10” – Rock Queen Reviews

“This journey, both in its fictional narrative and personal growth, as well as instrumentally, has been a job very well accomplished. The energy and quality in each of their compositions is emphasized, familiarizing their influences in each genre that they gave to the album and thus demonstrating that they have chosen a good path to continue experimenting.” – The Dark Melody

“any fan of power metal with a blackened vocal delivery will find this an interesting and enjoyable listen. ” – Metal Digest

“heavy/power metal out of Denver that caught my eye. The music video for their first single was a ton of fun. ” – Metal Utopia

“From start to finish, along the abundant 43 minutes of this album, you can listen to a series of convincing songs, full of energy and all the classic canons of the particular musical genre… If you are a fan of Swedish Melodic Death Metal, you will certainly like this record.” – All Around Metal

“Strong vocals, strong melody, first-class instrumentation and absolute catchy tune (Steel Chrysalis) guarantee. I wish that ARCH ENEMY could also serve with such a hit this year.” – Twilight Magazin

Celestial Wizard is a fantasy-inspired heavy metal band based out of Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2018, this heavy metal quartet delivers crushing riffs and grand stories of dragons and wizards. Seeking to stand out among the others, Celestial Wizard combines the best elements of death metal with symphonic and synthwave elements creating a unique and engaging sound.

In the beginning, they carried a symphonic, fantasy sound dousing every song with a healthy dose of strings, choirs, synthesizers, and the like. This vibe can be heard on their debut album “A Sinister Awakening” (2018). Intended to be a concept album, they marketed some of the limited edition tapes and mini VHS tapes as though the album was a movie, thus The tapes ended up getting put in the soundtrack section of record stores.

The next year, drummer Tim Gillman joined Nick Daggers (guitar/vocals), Guillermo Jurado (guitar/bass), and Amethyst Noir (vocals) and they slashed most of the unnecessary backing tracks and refocused the music on the riffs and the core elements of the band. The evolution is reflected in the second album “Winds Of The Cosmos” (2022) (Release Date July 15th).

They deliver an energetic and engaging performance while keeping the sound tight. They make an effort each night to make their songs come alive and immerse the audience in their love for playing. They have played with bands including Alestorm, Gloryhammer, Insomnium, Nekrogoblikon, and Unleash The Archers. Combining their passions of Dungeons and Dragons, space adventure, and fantasy, Celestial Wizard takes influences like Arch Enemy, Metallica, Firewind, and Turisas and forge a path all their own!

Shared Stage with:
Alestorm, Gloryhammer, Holy Grail, Night Demon, Insomnium, Nekrogoblikon, Aether Realm, Unleash The Archers, Angra

Album Band Line Up:
Nick Daggers – Guitar, Vocals
Guillermo Jurado – Guitar, Bass
Tim Gillman – Drums
Amethyst Noir – Vocals

Live Band Line Up:
Nick Daggers – Guitar, Vocals
Dahlia McAluney – Bass
Tim Gillman – Drums
Amethyst Noir – Vocals

Discography:
2022 – Winds Of The Cosmos
2018 – A Sinister Awakening

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

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. The band name Celestial Wizard was two words they just pulled out of a hat. In 2018, they sat down as a band and just wrote down as many cool words as they could, and put them all in a hat. After a couple of tries, they pulled out those two words and they stuck!

2. Before their current drummer Tim was in the band, he unknowingly saw them at a show performing with Aether Realm and Gloryhammer. If you look back at a photo they posted back in 2019 you can pick him out in the crowd, looking comedically surly.

3. The legendary Dan Goldsworthy did the art for both Winds Of The Cosmos and Ice Realm. He’s known for doing the art for all of the Alestorm and Gloryhammer albums, as well as many others.

4. Their debut album was intended to be a concept album, and they thought it would be clever to market some of the limited edition tapes and mini VHS tapes as though the album was a movie. The tapes ended up getting put in the soundtrack section of record stores before people knew who they were, it was pretty funny.

5. Their first album was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Eric W. Brown of Nekrogoblikon. He went on to become an award-winning composer for the soundtrack on the video game ‘The Messenger’

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

The album as a whole explained by the band:

Winds Of The Cosmos is a veritable blend of power metal and death metal. The songs combine crushing and aggressive vocals with a thrashy and melodic style of guitar playing. The drums are clear and punchy, and give a solid foundation and framework for the music to thrive. All these elements together create something new and unique in its own right, blazing a new trail of melodic heavy metal.

Track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY) explained by the band:

ANDROMEDA
This song is the album’s opener. The song sets the tone for what lies ahead and is the first instance of the melody that returns again at the end of the album. It’s a short, up-tempo instrumental track that helps build momentum for the first full song on the album.

REVENANT
Revenant is the first full song on the album, and its driving riffs continue the momentum from the previous track. The triplet beat of the guitars and drums gives the song a galloping, energetic feel. The song’s lyrics revolve around immortality and the loneliness and anger that come with living forever. The track is a step in a new direction from the previous album, featuring primarily singing, instead of the signature death metal vocal stylings.

ICE REALM
Ice Realm is punchy and vibrant right out of the gate, drawing listeners in with its thrashy opening riff. The track is upbeat, fun, and engaging, keeping the energy sky-high through the entire song. The song takes the listener on a Dungeons and Dragons-inspired quest through frost-covered land in search of a magic weapon to dispel the realm’s icy curse.

POWERTHRONE
This song shifts gears into a slower, more melodic zone. The song’s dramatic synth swells and guitar leads create an atmosphere of introspection and hope, giving the album a nice change of pace after the previous high-energy tracks. Powerthrone’s lyrics dig into losing a loved one or a mentor, and having to press forward and carve your own path. The melody and lyrics work in conjunction to deliver an emotionally charged experience for the listener.

ETERNAL SCOURGE
Scourge brings the energy back up again with hard-driving riffs that come crashing in after an ambiance of spooky, almost vampiric organs and guitars that set the mood. Fast and heavy, this song is sure to be a favorite of any of the fans that prefer heavier music and getting caught in a mosh. The song’s lyrics dig into plagues and war, violence and loss, and the rise and fall of heroes.

STEEL CHRYSALIS
Steel Chrysalis is a more epic, symphonic track in relation to the others on the album. The song’s main riff delivers a healthy dose of groove that the listener can lock on to and enjoy the heaviness of the chugging guitars that follow. This track is the most reminiscent of the previous album in terms of sound, so for those that have been fans from the beginning, this track will feel very familiar. The lyrics go over themes of being true to who you are and growing stronger amidst hardship, eventually becoming the best version of yourself.

UNDEAD RENEGADE
Of all the tracks on the album, Undead Renegade is more akin to old school death metal than anything else written previously. Heavy, unyielding riffs carry on throughout the song to complement the fast and furious drums that set the pace of the song, and the solos and leads that reside in the song are gnarly and shreddy, true to form. The lyrics are, as the title suggests, about zombies and the undead as a whole. Visceral, heavy lyrics that fit the song like a glove and give the listener the excitement and terror of catching a slasher flick with their friends.

CYBERHAWK
Undoubtedly the cheesiest track on the album, this song acts as an easy, fun palate cleanser just before the epic finale of the album. A notable outlier in terms of sound, the song delivers an 80’s inspired pop song energy that gets your fist-pumping in the air. Complete with catchy choruses and arena rock-style guitar solos, Cyberhawk is drenched in nostalgia. The lyrics are reminiscent of cartoons we watched as kids about heroes in space, going planet to planet fighting the bad guys and saving the day. It’s an easy song for the fans to enjoy and connect with.

WINDS OF THE COSMOS
Winds Of The Cosmos is the title track of the album, as well as the grand finale. It begins with the melody that listeners heard at the beginning of the album in Andromeda, giving the album a sense of closure and consistency. This track is incredibly dynamic, moving from driving riffs to somber acoustic guitars in the bridge, and then dramatic breakdowns and guitar solos to reward the listener. The track sitting at just under 8 minutes takes the listener through the journey of a man lost in space, and his coming to terms with the end as he drifts toward a black hole. The song is emotionally evocative, carrying the listener through what are almost the five stages of grief. The song resolves with a sense of hope and accomplishment, wrapping up the whole album nicely.

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Winds Of The Cosmos
Release Date: July 15, 2022
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DistroKid

Track Listing:
1. Andromeda (2:25)
2. Revenant (5:30)
3. Ice Realm (4:08)
4. Powerthrone (4:30)
5. Eternal Scourge (5:32)
6. Steel Chrysalis (4:26)
7. Undead Renegade (5:04)
8. Cyberhawk (4:26)
9. Winds Of The Cosmos (7:44)
Album Length: 42:45

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: A. Noir, N. Daggers, T. Gillman, G. Jurado
• All songs written by: A. Noir, N. Daggers, T. Gillman, G. Jurado
• Produced by: Nick Nodurft
• Mixed by: Nick Nodurft
• Mastered by: Stephan Hawkes
• Album Artwork by: Dan Goldsworthy

Album Band Line Up:
Nick Daggers – Guitar, Vocals
Guillermo Jurado – Guitar, Bass
Tim Gillman – Drums
Amethyst Noir – Vocals

Live Band Line Up:
Nick Daggers – Guitar, Vocals
Dahlia McAluney – Bass
Tim Gillman – Drums
Amethyst Noir – Vocals

Page 42 of 73

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