Category: EPKs

0 EPK – Lyonen – This is Lyonen (2020)

September 24, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Lyonen

EPK – Lyonen – This is Lyonen (2020)

For fans of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Stratovarius, Helloween, Avenged Sevenfold

Album Title: This is Lyonen
Release Date: August 13, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby

Lyonen.com | Facebook.com/lyonenofficial | YouTube | Instagram.com/lyonenofficial

Lyonen delivers his newest captivating heavy metal/rock album “This is Lyonen.” The eleven-track release contains every element to get the listeners uplifted and crazy. Through this release, Tato Rivas delivers pure raw talent that will have listeners hooked and wanting more. The crunching riffs, atmospheric drumlines, and energy-filed vocals in “Lyonen” will deliver a high dose of energy. Tato Rivas’ talent is elegantly spelled out throughout the entire album. From the contrasting lyrics of “No Borders” to the empowering sound “Angels of Freedom,” Lyonen delivers power combined with lyrical depth. Moreover, the artist recalls a nostalgic metal sound while adding a modern rock touch. The album was produced during the quarantine time of 2020 in his home studio in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. Through online communication with other very talented musicians from United Kingdom, Germany and United States, Lyonen put this stellar album together. Make sure you check out this record from the rising artist as he is set to carve a unique unparalleled sound that is completely his own. It’s a must-add to any playlist as it will infuse energy into you!

Tato Rivas – Guitarist and Producer

Photo Credit: Barbara Gomez

Music is energy – Luis Rivas said so. Music composer and Creator of the band “Lyonen,” Luis Rivas – nicknamed Tato Rivas – spent a significant part of his life devoted to music production in the genres of Metal and Rock. When it comes to the genre of metal, music requires a whole new level of involvement. “I started playing in 1995, and I have not stopped since,” Tato said.

Tato Rivas was born in Caracas, capital of Venezuela, spent his childhood listening to popular metal bands, and moved to Maryland, United States in 2016 for professional reasons and now he is getting ready to fulfill his dreams in the music industry and build his name. It has been a lifelong goal of him to find opportunities in music career – therefore, his unstoppable passion is getting closer to that moment.

Luis graduated in Audio Engineering in 2003 with four years of Study of Music, including Classical Guitar. With currently working as a Multimedia Producer, Luis has additional insight into the world of music videos and photography – which landed him the Promax BDA Award doing Promotion Audio Mixing for a TV Station and other awards as Director of a Documentary short film.

In 2017, Luis started his one-person project like a metal band named Lyonen, which produces music in the forms of Heavy Metal, Power Metal, and Rock. His profound influence in metal icons like Iron Maiden, Metallica, Helloween, Joe Satriani, Stratovarius, and much more motivated him to hold his position gracefully as a Guitarist, Music Producer, Composer, and Audio Engineer for his band Lyonen.

So far, Tato has been passionate about Heavy Metal, but he aims to produce music in other genres, such as Pop, Classical, and more. Tato Rivas – under the name of Lyonen – is all set for releasing his much-anticipated Debut Album named “This is Lyonen,” which is scheduled to release on 13th August 2020 on all mainstream music platforms like Spotify, ITunes, Youtube Music, Deezer, and many more.

Discography:
2020 – This is Lyonen

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: This is Lyonen
Release Date: August 13, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CD Baby

Track Listing:
1. Revelation (4:39)
2. Lyonen (4:54)
3. No Borders (4:52)
4. Nehme die Sünde (3:23)
5. I Am Not Wild (4:43)
6. Angels of Freedom (5:59)
7. Dancing Free (5:40)
8. Hard To Destroy (4:13)
9. Breaking The Silence (4:29)
10. 2 Hours to Go (3:20)
11. Outro (1:35)
Album Length: 47:54

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by:
Tato Rivas, Guitars, Bass Guitar, Keys and Synths, Drums Programming.
Jose Vegas: Bass guitar on No Borders
Javi One: Drums on 2 Hours to Go
Vocals: Craig Cairns
• All songs written by: Tato Rivas
• Produced by: Tato Rivas
• Mixed by: Tato Rivas
• Mastered by: Tato Rivas
• Album Artwork by: Vinnie Hummel
• Member of BMI

Album Band Line Up:
Tato Rivas, Guitars, Bass, Keys, and Drums.
Special Guest: Craig Cairns – Vocals

0 EPK – Screams of Syrens – Mr. Nobody (single) (2020)

September 22, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Screams of Syrens

EPK – Screams of Syrens – Mr. Nobody (single) (2020)

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

Single Title: Mr. Nobody
Release Date: November 20, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid, SongTradr, OneRPM

For fans of Ice Nine Kills, Terrasect, Animals as Leaders, Killswitch Engage

Official Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | Instagram

iTunes | Amazon | Spotify

“What you need to know about California melodic metalcore band Screams Of Syrens is this. They take a standard melodic metalcore foundation, inject huge choruses into it, and add on a layer of progressive influence that makes the band stand out fairly well. The band also has a theatrical side and a flair for the dramatic…” – The New Fury

“For anybody who enjoys their metalcore with a pinch of theatrics, a heavy dose of electronics and an abundance of shreddage (think Ice Nine Kills meets The Browning), today’s your lucky day as The Noise is premiering the lead single from Pomona, CA outfit Screams of Syrens.” – The Noise on The Bright Beyond

“The song’s constant change in grooves keeps the progressions interesting, with cataclysmic syncopation keep the rhythm structure in a tight formation. The vocals are clean in the chorus — almost operatic — with the verses being fueled by visceral screams.” – New Noise on A New Era

L-R – Issac Waters (Bass), Christian Paz (Drums), Trevor Laake (Vocals), Donald Bolden (Guitar), Alex Llanos (Guitar)

Photo Credit – Amber Paredes

Screams of Syrens announce their new single “Mr. Nobody” coming out in video form this October. The heavy, theatrical rollercoaster of death has been evolving over the years into something the band is very proud of, they expect their fans to be shocked and surprised with what they have been working on. Aiming to bring listeners out of reality and into a story, this is not the band that writes about relationships and current events. This is an intense movie-like experience through music with a horror theme, playing to the interest of the musicians that are pervasive in all their new singles. The band comments on the track:

“With Mr. Nobody, we decided to really dive into the insanity that goes on inside a killer’s mind. This song is structured to feel chaotic and relentless, while still keeping the theatrical element of our songwriting intact. We also wanted to bring back some of our heavy roots, which we feel a lot of our fans will love!”

The cohesiveness of a band that has been playing together for ten years really shines through in Scream of Syrens’ music and “Mr. Nobody” is no exception. The video for the track is just as cinematic as the music behind it.

In the five years since their conception, Screams of Syrens has released an EP, a full length, a handful of singles, and performed at festivals across the American west coast. The band alludes to more music in the works, so keep your ears to the ground for more graphic tales and riveting storytelling.

Screams of Syrens is perfect for those who enjoy ripping metalcore with a dash of theatrics especially fans of Ice Nine Kills, Terrasect, and Animals as Leaders.

Shared Stage with:
The Word Alive, Vanna, Attila, Oceans Ate Alaska, As Blood Runs Black, Palisades, Secrets, The Color Morale, Slaves, Rest/Repose, etc.

Discography:
2020 – Mr. Nobody – Single
2020 – The Ripper – Single
2019 – Reflections – LP
2018 – House of Mirrors – Single – Music Video
2018 – The Bright Beyond – Single – Music Video
2018 – A New Era – Single – Lyric Video
2015 – Chapter 1: Caravel – EP

[Download Single Cover | Download Single Lyrics]

Single Title: Mr. Nobody
Release Date: November 20, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid, SongTradr, OneRPM

Track Listing:
1. Mr Nobody

Single Credits:
• All songs performed by: Screams of Syrens
• All songs written by: Screams of Syrens
• Produced by: Screams of Syrens
• Mixed by: Trevor Laake
• Mastered by: Matt Dalton
• Album Artwork by: Todd Koval
• Member of BMI

Single and Live Band Line Up:
Trevor Laake – Vocals
Alex Llanos – Guitar/vocals
Donald Bolden – Guitar/vocals
Isaac Waters – Bass/vocals
Christian Paz – Drums

0 EPK – Grimmreaper – The Tragedy of Being (2021)

September 22, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Grimmreaper

EPK – Grimmreaper – The Tragedy of Being (2021)

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

For fans of Trivium, In Flames, Meshuggah, Dragonforce, Devin Townsend

Facebook.com/GrimmreaperOfficial | Instagram.com/grimmreaperusa

Bandcamp | Spotify

Album Title: The Tragedy of Being
Release Date: March 30, 2021
Label: Logan Grimm Records
Distribution: Distrokid

“It’s been a long process to get this solo record ready, but I couldn’t be more excited to finally put it out there. This is Grimmreaper’s debut album, The Tragedy of Being. So far, Grimmreaper has been described as mixing technical styles like those of Dragonforce and Meshuggah with mainstream styles like Bullet For My Valentine and Five Finger Death Punch.

I’m trying to give fans an experience that goes to different places in metal, from fast and hard, to slow and groovy, and even a Babymetal cover song. It’s a dark record with many twists and turns, but never boring. The lyrics come from ideas of old stories and archetypes, but the music isn’t as abstract. Some songs are commercial sounding in their structure, but some are longer with abrupt changes and weird patterns. The album is a journey through different tastes of metal, and while it’s meant to be enjoyed from start to finish, each song stands strong on its own.” – Grimmreaper – Logan Grimm

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

“Talk about ambition. Grimmreaper, the brainchild of Logan Grimm, is a modern metal project where Logan plays all the instruments. Merging modern metal influences like Bullet For My Valentine with more technical ones like Meshuggah, the project is as much a multimedia one as it is a musical one.” – New Fury Media

“If you like pounding rhythms and impressive lead playing this power metal track (North Star) is just for you. With emotive vocals and rampaging rhythms, this is a classic headbanger from the very first double bass drum kick. The vocals soar and take flight mirroring the lyrical content. Throw in an epic thrash metal solo and we have one of the year’s best metal tracks- and it’s only the first week of January.” – BackSeatMafia

“Grimmreaper is inspired by many different sub-genres of metal, but it is without doubt that power metal is the strongest flavour in this particular track (North Star). There’s plenty of variation of riffs involved, ranging from meaty chugs to epic melodies that soar out of the atmosphere. In fact, the riff that starts at 0:33 sounds very similar to Those Who Fight Further from the Final Fantasy 7 soundtrack, at least to start off with, And that happens to be one of my most favourite pieces of music ever, so I was smiling giddily when I heard that part.” – Abrasive Noise

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS

1. This album was recorded worldwide over 2.5 years. Two countries, several apartments, an RV, and house, but never an actual recording studio.

2. The album and single art are planetary and abstract, representing the chaotic nature of the psyche, unknowable. The album art looks like a black hole, but was originally inspired from the sky of the Soul Cairn in the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Road of Resistance’s cover art came from the idea of a blood-red sun. In Skyrim’s Dawnguard DLC, you can shoot the sun with vampiric blood-tainted arrows to make it turn blood red. That was the founding idea for that art.

3. Grimmreaper is a constant pull between Logan and me, the two personalities that rule the band and its decisions. Logan is the manager, I’m the artist. – Grimm.

Is it pretentious to think of yourself as so deep that you need to show fans two personalities because you can’t be held to one? Yes. Also, Grimm is a blowhard. – Logan

4. All of what you hear on Grimmreaper’s debut album was recorded on one guitar, one bass, a very slow computer, and a cheap recording equipment bundle from the internet.

Super Ultra Exclusive Grimmreaper Recording Equipment Package™
Guitar: $200 Jackson JS22-7 Dinky
Bass: $300 Aria IGB-STD/5
Computer: Toshiba Satellite (not meant to record music, many technical difficulties encountered along the way)
Microphone: $300 MXL recording gear bundle from Amazon
Drums: Easy Drummer 2
Guitar Effects: Bias FX plugin

5. Grimmreaper and its debut album, The Tragedy of Being, resulted from personal events in 2017. Ultimately, however, I credit this project to Jordan Peterson and his lecture series, The Psychological Significance of the Biblical Stories, a series that was released on Youtube in 2017. Peterson is a clinical psychologist who, in the series, details the stories of the Old Testament, relating them to modern psychology, evolution, mythology, and human history. It was very painful and transformative for me to watch him talk on and on for hours, tearing down my paradigms about everything I thought I knew. I guess it hurts me so much that I had to find an outlet for the disorientation I experienced. There was no other option. My mind had been blown to the cosmos, and I was drifting. In that drifting, The Tragedy of Being was created.

Logan Grimm is an ambitious young artist seeking to take on the world, and the creator of Grimmreaper. He has developed an intense backstory for a multimedia project that explores the very human realities of tragedy and suffering, and the choices they present, from nihilism and resentment to transcendence and courage. In the process of this, he has crafted music that fuses the influences of highly technical bands like Dragonforce and Meshuggah with the work of more mainstream names such as Five Finger Death Punch and Bullet For My Valentine.

The project, which will start to see release in the early half of 2021, will center around an album entitled The Tragedy Of Being. The record explores noble and contemptible ways to respond to the conditions inherent to human consciousness. Since it is wholly a solo project, Grimm will perform on the record as each ‘band member.’ He will also represent each member in the videos released for the project, each hidden behind a black hood with a different appearance. The Tragedy Of Being will be accompanied by a documentary of the creation process featuring the twin personalities of the business-minded Logan and the poetic artist, Grimm. It will embody his sense of humor, split personas, and inspirations.

Representing himself as the embodiment of his lyrical themes, Logan Grimm has built a strong visual presence for the project. Instantly recognizable and endlessly ambitious, there are a lot of interesting twists and turns presented in the work of Grimmreaper. With a bright future painted before him featuring everything from forming a DIY label to endless touring, Logan Grimm has the ambition and the vision to match. Poised to be the next great force in metal, Grimmreaper look boldly into the future.

Discography:
2021 – The Tragedy of Being

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: The Tragedy of Being
Release Date: March 30, 2021
Label: Logan Grimm Records
Distribution: Distrokid

Track Listing:
1. Mind’s Mirrors Meshing Together (6:34)
2. North Star (6:31)
3. Prison (8:09)
4. Resent (5:40)
5. The Land I Will Show You (8:37)
6. Catastrophe of the Tragic Melancholies (4:52)
7. Road of Resistance (5:12) (Babymetal Cover)
8. Happy Times (4:48)
9. The Tragedy of Being (9:56)
Album Length: 1:00:23

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Logan Grimm
• All songs written by: Logan Grimm
• Produced by: Fredrik Erlingsson – Audiosphere Recordings
• Mixed by: Fredrik Erlingsson – Audiosphere Recordings
• Mastered by: Fredrik Erlingsson – Audiosphere Recordings
• Album Artwork by: Ardasen – Fiverr, single artworks by

Album Band Line Up:
Logan Grimm – Lead Vocals
Logan Grimm – Lead Guitar
Logan Grimm – Drums
Logan Grimm – Bass

Lyrical Themes by Song:

1. Mind’s Mirrors Meshing Together: The album starts with a catastrophic anomaly to the psyche. The frame of reference through which you interpret the world is shattered. The thin ice of order you stand on crashes through and you move to the underworld of chaos where nothing is certain.

2. North Star: You need to rekindle yourself to move forward in life. Aim toward the highest thing you can conceptualize. You will not get it right the first time, but you must have an aim. You may think of aiming yourself towards a guide in the sky, the north star. But you’re not smart enough to know where the north star is, so you’ll aim for the south because of your ignorance. This is still a good path moving forward because you have decided to move. Your aim will come more into focus as you move.

3. Prison: To rekindle yourself and move forward is quite hard to do, and everything can feel like a prison when your psyche is shattered from the aforementioned anomaly. To me, it feels like moving through molasses or being locked in a room unable to move. This can be oddly comforting, however, because it might feel like home to you.

4. Resent (Single 1): I believe that at some point in deciding to continue living, resentment for existence arises in you. A struggle for reason emerges, and nihilism can take over. This song is a terrible reach into how you can think when nothing matters when the world is in gray when the suffering of existence outweighs any justification or joy. It is hell.

5. The Land I Will Show You: This is an immediate counter-argument to the nihilism presented in Resent. Walk forward in a covenant with God (so to speak) and act truthfully as if Being is good. This is taken from the stories of Abraham, where Old Testament God tells Abraham to leave his land and venture to the promised land, “the land I will show you”.

6. Catastrophe of the Tragic Melancholies (Single 2): To move to the promised land is no easy task. You can’t be naive. There will be obstacles in your way and people trying to take you out at every turn. To operate within the covenantal relationship with God, you must incorporate the evil of your soul into your being. This is the terrible realization of all you could be capable of. A descent into the underworld to confront your own self. This is a naked look into the worst parts of my soul, my shadow, the parts of my soul and fantasies that I want to pretend don’t exist. This is an attempt to make contact with my shadow, from a Jungian perspective.

7. Road of Resistance (cover song): After the trauma of contacting your shadow, you still take trembling steps forward. This is a noble and honorable action, because contact with the shadow can often make people freeze. This song sticks with the meaning of the literal translation from Japanese, the original language of the song. But, I took the opportunity to rewrite the lyrics in my own words. It was originally written by Dragonforce, and they often write about the hero’s journey, mountains, dragons, and archetypes. I paid homage to their writing style by making the song about the nobility of moving forward in life up the mountain. It also fits into the theme of the album quite nicely.

8. Happy Times: To continue moving forward, you need more defenses against nihilism and hatred of existence. You always need more. You’re never fully equipped to stand against the suffering of life.

Journey back to your childhood and regain the wonder that has since been lost. This is not naive, because having made an attempt to incorporate your shadow, you know the world isn’t like it was as a child. You know it can be terrible, and so can you. Regain the sense of grandeur, potential, and joy you had as a child to bolster yourself against the tragic conditions of life.

9. The Tragedy of Being: Finally, no matter how far you’ve come, no matter how integrated you are as a person, the tragedy of existence is still there. However transformed you are, this still weighs heavily on your soul, as it’s the only thing that’s true about life… This song is a melancholic wrap. It is an instrumental, 10 minutes close to The Tragedy of Being to symbolize that the tragic conditions of human existence never seem to end.

0 EPK – Fuck The Facts – Pleine Noirceur (2020) (Noise Salvation)

September 20, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Fuck The Facts

EPK – Fuck The Facts – Pleine Noirceur (2020)

Publicist – asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

Album Title: Pleine Noirceur
Release Date: November 20, 2020
Label: Noise Salvation

For fans of Brutal Truth, Napalm Death, Converge, Cephalic Carnage, The Dillinger Escape Plan

Fuckthefacts.com | Facebook.com/FuckTheFacts | Twitter.com/fuckthefacts | Youtube | Instagram.com/fckthefacts

Fuckthefacts.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

Radio Charts
#6 – National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, January 19, 2021 (Earshot)
#4 – National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 (Earshot)
#4 – National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, December 15, 2020 (Earshot)
#8 – National Loud Chart- For the Week Ending: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 (Earshot)

#4 on Top 20 Loud – November 2020 (Earshot)

#162 on Top 200 for National – November 2020 Charts (Earshot)

#3 – National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, November 24, 2020 (Earshot)

#4 – National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, November 17, 2020 (Earshot)
#7 – National Loud Chart – For the Week Ending: Tuesday, November 3, 2020 (Earshot)
#18 on Top 20 Loud – October 2020 (Earshot)

“The album opens with arguably the best Fuck the Facts song of all time in “Doubt, Fear, Neglect” — a song with some of the heaviest riffs ever made by the band… Fuck the Facts’s Pleine Noirceur is the most perfectly heavy record one could ask for. For a band that has been together for over 20 years, Fuck the Facts continue to make some of the most important heavy music around, and Pleine Noirceur is their finest achievement to date.” – Exclaim!

“It’s no secret I love the Canadian death/grinders in Fuck The Facts, and I couldn’t be happier to hear after 5 years of radio silence, they’re back and better than ever! Their new album, Pleine Noirceur, is set for release on November 20th via the band’s very own Noise Salvation label and today we’re premiering the title track off the release. It’s as vicious as it is warm and heartfelt, twisting and turning with new surprises while retaining the FTF brand we love over the years.” – Metal Injection

“Now for some oddly melodic aggression. At this point Fuck The Facts are known for exploring sounds and moods outside of a typical grindcore realm, and their new record is another chapter in that evolution. Pleine Noirceur is very heavy, yet it has almost a blackgaze atmosphere. It’s nonstop juxtaposition of seemingly apposing vibes that blend well together.” – Metal Injection

“Instrumentally, Pleine Noirceur is crushingly heavy but full of melody and atmosphere and unexpected twists and turns, and vocally, Melanie Mongeon is at her most emotive. These are soaring, impassioned songs that really make you feel something.” – Brooklyn Vegan

“The first thing that will strike you about Pleine Norceur is just how fucking big it sounds; the production on this record is absolutely thunderous, boasting a crisp, punchy sound and one of the most rich, full-bodied guitar tones they’ve ever had.” – The Quietus

“Pleine Noirceur is a constitution of pissed-off and fast-as-fuck grind married to ominous and ponderous sludge, met with doom and atmospheric tendencies, and where vile and abrasive tones unite with the carefully crafted and gripping melodies. While the tinctures are diverse and plenty, there are no gaps or grey areas between them. Fuck the Facts have obtained a state of existence very rarely reached on their umpteenth full-length, being more incisive and versatile than ever before. Pleine Noirceur is an exuberant and compelling effort from a band whose name seems to ring true on every single facet of humanity in the current climate. Fuck the facts, and fuck them good, for this album is exactly what we deserve amidst the darkness that’s enveloping us all globally.” – Everything Is Noise

“Pleine Noirceur continues their streak of excellence, from the brilliant “Doubt, Fear, Neglect” and the blistering “Ailleurs” through the sludgy and emotive “Everything I Love Is Ending” to the drifty dreamy “An Ending.”. Total darkness never seemed so vibrant, and this band never fails. Each listen unfurls a new twist, a new turn, a previously unheard riff, or more likely, a new context, a new color, a new angle and a riff previously unheard in exactly that proper context or color or angle.” – Your Last Rites (#9 on Top 10 2020 Albums)

“More than two decades into their career, Fuck The Facts remain one of grindcore’s most consistently strong acts. Pleine Noirceur is a fine addition to the band’s already strong discography, but also a welcome reminder of how much more can be done with grindcore than the standard 30-second blitzkrieg.” – Treble Zine

“Pleine Noirceur will undoubtedly go down in history as a masterful sonic experience that beautifully bends genre, emotion & talent to its will. This is perhaps the most complete journey into FUCK THE FACTS bastardized existence that we have heard to date.” – TRVE North Reviews

“‘Pleine Norceur‘ (meaning Total Darkness) is not a pure grindcore album, it’s so much more than that. This is the soundtrack to 2020, losing faith in humanity and in yourself. Dealing with themes like depression (‘Doubt’, ‘Fear’, ‘Neglect’), loss (‘Everything I love is Ending‘) and racism (‘_cide‘) this is an honest reflection on humanity’s worst aspects. It’s not just the lyrics that reflect on the emotions present here. While this record is grind at its core, we also find elements of melodic hardcore, death metal and mathcore all fused together in a natural blend that speeds up and slows down in such a natural way, you can’t help but be amazed at the songwriting and flow of the album.” – Grimm Gent

“Fuck the Facts’ return after five years proves some things are worth the wait as “Pleine Noirceur” is so incredibly satisfying and absolutely beats you down. The record isn’t full throttle the entire time and demonstrates more of FTF’s tool set they’ve built over the years, but when they light the powder keg, it’s as explosive as anything in their catalog. It’s great to have this band back in our periphery, and while they can’t deface us live right now, this record is enough to ensure our muscles are nice bruised in the meantime.” – Meat Mead Metal

“Pleine Noirceur is a genuine artistic achievement that is made with loving care and meticulously considered impacts, a roar to the universe in this year where we all feel like roaring sometimes. Allow Fuck The Facts to be your punishing soundtrack to 2020, because it is the most honest and cathartic music you will hear this year. And we need this.5/5” – Grater Mag

“a great album from one of the most interesting bands in grindcore (or whatever you want to call these sounds). And that, my friends, is a fact.” – Your Last Rites

“F*ck the Facts Return to Save 2020 With New Song “Pleine Noirceur”…FtF are one of the best grindcore bands in recent history ” – Metal Sucks

“The first single (Pleine Noirceur) is the raw, harsh, impassioned title track, which makes this record seem very promising.” – Brooklyn Vegan
“Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit, I have been grind hammered. For a band that I didn’t think was still active, Fuck The Facts sound so vital and loose on this one. That’s why they’re here.” – Stereogum – THE BLACK MARKET – The Month In Metal – September 2020

“Le groupe de grindcore peu orthodoxe Fuck the Facts est de retour avec un album et nous présente la chanson-titre de celui-ci. Fidèle à leur habitude, le groupe nous livre une solide chanson qui pousse plus loin que ce qu’on entend généralement dans le genre. Une chose est sûre par contre, Mel Mongeon semble fâchée noire! Mais en fait, tout cela est de la douleur qu’elle livre avec aplomb. La pièce se termine dans un beau moment de percussions qui est mélodieux après la brutalité appréciable de la première partie.” – Le Canal Auditif

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Pleine Noirceur
Release Date: November 20, 2020
Label: Noise Salvation

Track Listing:
1. Doubt, Fear Neglect (6:47)
2. Ailleurs (1:17)
3. Pleine Noirceur (5:42)
4. Aube (1:24)
5. Sans Lumiere (4:23)
6. Sans Racines (0:38)
7. Everything I Love Is Ending (4:14)
8. A Dying Light (3:41)
9. Dropping Like Flies (4:04)
10. L’abandon (2:07)
11. An Ending (3:27)
12. _cide (3:59)
Album Length: 41:46

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Topon Das, Mathieu Vilandre, Melanie Mongeon
• All songs written by: Topon Das, Mathieu Vilandre, Melanie Mongeon
• Produced by: Fuck The Facts
• Mixed by: Topon Das
• Mastered by: Topon Das
• Album Artwork by: Melanie Mongeon
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album & Live Band Line Up:
Topon Das – Guitar / Bass
Melanie Mongeon – Vocals
Mathieu Vilandre – Drums / Guitar / Bass

L – R: Melanie Mongeon, Mathieu Vilandre, Topon Das

Photo by Anndy Negative

Started as a recording project in the late 90’s, it wasn’t until 2001 that the work ethic that produced a slew of underground releases drove Fuck The Facts towards full band status and into the live arena. Since then, the Ottawa-based unit has barely stopped for a breath of reconsideration, associating themselves with some of the biggest labels in underground extreme music, as well as continuing a steady output of DIY releases. Having toured hundreds of thousands of kilometers throughout North America and Europe, guitarist/founder Topon Das, vocalist Mel Mongeon and drummer Mathieu Vilandré have performed as some of the biggest festivals and sweated it out in some of the smallest basements. From 2006-2011 Fuck the Facts released three albums via underground powerhouse label, Relapse Records. Upon the completion of their contract, the quintet decided it was time to put the finishing touches on the proverbial full-circle, returning to the world of fierce independence and creative control. Their most recent releases were produced entirely at their own studio, self-released, and shows Fuck The Facts efforts as an entity continuing to grow musically and personally while developing a deeper understanding of what significance their art holds to them. As one of the longest-running and most recognizable names in Canadian Grindcore, FUCK THE FACTS continue to deliver their brand of “Bastardized Grindcore” with no end in sight.

Discography:
2015 – Desire Will Rot LP
2014 – Abandoned EP
2013 – Amer EP
2011 – Die Miserable LP
2011 – Misery EP
2010 – Unnamed EP
2008 – Disgorge Mexico LP
2006 – Stigmata High-Five LP
2005 – Legacy Of Hopelessness EP
2003 – Backstabber Etiquette LP
2001 – FourOninE EP
2001 – Discoing The Dead LP
1999 – s/t LP

Shared Stage and Toured with:
Black Dahlia Murder, Exhumed, Misery Index, Origin, Regurgitate, Today Is The Day, Unearthly Trance, Psyopus, Impaled, KEN Mode, Landmine Marathon, Antigama, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Neuraxis, Napalm Death, Converge, Brutal Truth, Cryptopsy, Despised Icon and countless others.

Tours and Festivals:
2019 – Smash Your Privilege Festival – Peer, Belgium
2019 – Earslaughter Festival – Montreal, Canada
2016 – Desire Will Rot European Tour
2016 – Fuck NSBM Fest – Rho, Italy
2015 – Desire Will Rot USA & Canada Tour
2015 – Berserker II Festival – Detroit, USA
2015 – Obscene Extreme America Festival – Montreal, Canada
2014 – Grind Your Mind Festival – Drummondville, Canada
2014 – Oneonta Punk Festival – Oneonta, USA
2014 – Grinding The US & Canada Tour
2014 – Mexico Tour with Landmine Marathon
2013 – New Jersey Deathfest – New Jersey, USA
2013 – Maritimes Amer Tour
2013 – European Amer Tour
2013 – Obscene Extreme Festival – Trutnov, Czech Republic
2013 – Big Day In Festival – Ithaca, USA
2013 – Badass Weekend Festival – Houston, USA
2013 – Knuck Fest – Little Rock, USA
2012 – Tour with Black Dahlia Murder & Exhumed – USA & Canada
2012 – Die Miserable In Europe Tour
2012 – Die Miserable Canada Tour
2011 – Quebec Metalfest X – Quebec City, Canada
2011 – Thrashfest V – Halifax, Canada
2011 – East Coast US Tour with Misery Index
2011 – North America Tour with KEN Mode
2011 – Scion Rock Fest – Pomona, USA
2011 – 10 Year Anniversary Tour (US & Canada)
2010 – European Tour
2010 – USA Tour
2010 – Montebello Rockfest
2010 – Maryland Deathfest
2009 – European Tour with Antigama & Dr. Doom
2009 – US Tour with Rumpelstiltskin Grinder
2009 – Trois-Rivieres Metalfest
2008 – Canadian Tour with Psyopus
2008 – Canadian Tour with Today Is The Day
2008 – Canadian Tour with Neuraxis
2008 – US Tour with Psyopus & War From A Harlots Mouth
2008 – US Tour with Origin
2008 – Canadian Tour with Impaled & Head Hits Concrete
2007 – Canadian Tour with Emeth
2007 – Maryland Deathfest
2007 – US Tour with Regurgitate
2007 – US & Canadian Headlining Tours
2006 – Relapse Contamination Tour
2006 – US Tour with Misery Index
2006 – US & Canadian Headlining Tours

0 EPK – Without Mercy – Seismic (2020)

September 16, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Without Mercy

EPK – Without Mercy – Seismic (2020)

Publicist – Jon Asher – asher[@]ashermdiarelations[.]com

Extreme Management Group – Mark Kloeppel – emg.markkloeppel[@]gmail.com

For fans of Cattle Decapitation, Meshuggah, Whitechapel, Pantera, Decapitated

Album Title: Seismic
Release Date: November 20, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Bloodblast Distribution

Withoutmercyband.com | Facebook.com/withoutmercyband | Instagram.com/withoutmercyband | Youtube.com/c/withoutmercyband

Sales Links: The Disaster: https://backl.ink/142875744 | Album Pre-Save: https://backl.ink/142835912 | PHYSICAL PRE-ORDER: Withoutmercyband.com/

“Overall, two elements really struck me here…one was the level of intensity, and the other the level of musicianship from the band. How they can remain unsigned is a mystery to me. They play with such a tight synergy that it’s almost like they can finish each other’s sentences before they even open their mouth.” – Metal Temple

“The thrash-stomp modes on “Worthless” ring like a head-on collision between DECAPITATED and BIOHAZARD with a dash of power metal thrown into the solo section. Alex Friis wrings his throat to huge extremes, hopefully leaving tissue intact as he hits agonizing squeals while throwing indictments against former band members — guess on your own who that might entail. DJ Temple’s guitar work on “Worthless” is terrific..” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Blabbermouth

“Vancouver’s Without Mercy is a prime example of how putting in a little bit of elbow grease can result in advantageous outcomes. The quartet play their brand of melodic, groove-laden death metal independently, but refuse to remain held back by a lack in the promotional and money machine backing departments. Over the course of a decade or so, the band has experienced the same highs and lows as most others, but their successes – which include a small handful of recordings, a bigger handful of tours, and appearances in video games – have been felt at a deeper clip because they’ve essentially managed everything themselves.” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Decibel Magazine

“In a word, the music rips. And it also thunders, and punches so fast and hard that it’s like a jackhammer-sized nail gun ramming bolts into concrete at high speed while the operator howls and shrieks for all he’s worth, segmented by a start-stop breakdown that will give your skull a good rattling and lit up by swarming guitar flurries that are as fiery as the torches in the video (Burn).” (Mouchido EP 2016) – No Clean Singing

” the band live up to their name with each song on this 4 track EP going for straight for the throat; merciless aural violence and tight, technical proficiency melded with some serious might!” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Worship Metal

“Mouichido might only be a brief four songs and nineteen minutes long but, by the end of it, the Canadian death metal wrecking machine have left you in no doubt as to what they’re about.” (Mouchido EP 2016) – PureGrainAudio

“Right from the beginning you feel the weight and the immensity of Mouichido and one listen just doesn’t do it justice. This is a re-release of previously recorded material with a new vocalist and even so, Without Mercy comes out swinging again and knocks it clear out of the park.” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Cadaver Garden

“possibly the most savage song to ascend from the depths of the west in a good long while.” – Canadian Beats

STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND

1. The vast majority of “Seismic”’s material was written and rewritten multiple times. Honed and tightened over tours and live performances, we were unwilling to place “filler” to enhance anything. We came at this album with the best of everything we had after our inspirations were doing the same.
2. We tracked each piece of this record in different studios around Vancouver, BC. Drums were recorded at Monarch Studios, Rhythms, and Bass we’re tracked at a hidden location, while vocals and solos were done at a 4th. This started out as a financial reason to separate the costs of recording but ended up playing a massive role in the sound and lyrical development of the record.
3. DJ runs a music academy in Abbotsford, BC where he and the drummer Matt Helie both instruct.
4. While on tour across Canada, Without Mercy played a show in Thunder Bay. The venue and promoter had technical issues that resulted in the set times running later than anticipated. The end result was being done after 3am. With a show the next night in Sudbury, Without Mercy decided to make the trek overnight at arrived at the venue, set up, and played the entire set before passing out on couches afterward.

L-R – Ryan Loewen (Bass) DJ Temple (Guitars) Alex Friis (Vocals) Matt Helie (Drums)
Photo Credit: Shimon Karmel

WITHOUT MERCY are a Vancouver based death metal act that offers hard-hitting grooves paired with strong dynamics, each song catapulting the listener through pummelling riffing and virtuosic lead work. From 2018 into 2019 the band has been hard at work recording on their new album “Seismic” that raises their already impressive discography and songwriting to a new level. To elevate the band to new heights, WITHOUT MERCY worked with highly renowned producer Dave Otero (ARCHSPIRE, CATTLE DECAPITATION, ALLEGAEON) and brings further leverage and qualification to the new album “Seismic” with guest features from iconic guitarists Chris Broderick (MEGADETH) and Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy / NEVERMORE).

In 2016 the band released ‘Mouichido’ (meaning ‘repeat’ in Japanese, a culture embraced in the band’s ethos) The EP was critically acclaimed and also featured a guest appearance by CHIMAIRA vocalist Mark Hunter. The EP faced some significant setbacks that only served to strengthen the band, as such, guitarist DJ Temple offers “The setbacks faced by the EP is the ultimate reason to never give up. Take the aggressive nature of the songs and allow the culture of the Japanese writing to envelop you in a way that will carry you through each track. Let this EP be the story that inspires you to push through something difficult and come out the other side a stronger and more experienced person.”

Since the band’s inception, WITHOUT MERCY have developed a growing following that has been built upon relentless local performances and touring across Canada, with the band performing over 200 shows in a short period, backed by performances alongside acts such as ABORTED, DEATH ANGEL, CROWBAR, SATYRICON and many more. The band’s tenacity, growing profile, and intense musical prowess led to the attention of US agency Extreme Management Group, who established an international partnership with the band, placing WITHOUT MERCY alongside acts such as SUFFOCATION, CATTLE DECAPITATION, MISERY INDEX, and KRISIUN on the agency roster.

With a new album “Seismic” in preparation and growing interest in the band worldwide, WITHOUT MERCY are not only a band to look out for, but a band that will be contributing to the quality of modern death metal and the dynamism that the genre can offer.

“Seismic” is due out November 20th, 2020.

Discography:
2020 – Seismic – LP
2016 – Mouichido – EP
2014 – Reborn – EP
2009 – Without Mercy – LP
2007 – All Else Fails – EP

Shared Stage with:
Cattle Decapitation, Satyricon, Crowbar, Unleash the Archers, The Convalescence, Neck of the Woods, Divinity

Tours and Festivals:
2016 – Loud As Hell Fest – Drumheller, AB
2016 – Armstrong Metal Fest
2014 – Loud As Hell Fest – Drumheller, AB

Music Placements:
ROCKBAND 3

Artist Endorsements:
EMG pick-ups
Ernie Ball
Dunlop

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Seismic
Release Date: November 20, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Bloodblast Distribution

Track Listing:
1. Thunderbird (ft. Jeff Loomis) (4:53)
2. Abysmal (5:42)
3. Left Alone (4:00)
4. Wiindigo (4:55)
5. Disinfect The Soul (ft. Chris Broderick) (7:18)
6. The Disaster (3:52)
7. Possessed (4:04)
8. I Break The Chain (4:44)
9. Uprooted (4:58)
Album Length: 44:29

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: WITHOUT MERCY
• All songs written by: WITHOUT MERCY
• Produced by: DJ Temple
• Mixed by: Dave Otero
• Mastered by: Dave Otero
• Album Artwork by: Brayden Eshuis
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album & Live Band Line Up:
Alex Friis – Vocals
DJ Temple – Guitars
Ryan Loewen – Bass
Matt Helie – Drums

0 EPK – King Ov Wyrms – Lord Ov Thornes (2020)

September 15, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · King Ov Wyrms

EPK – King Ov Wyrms – Lord Ov Thornes (2020)

Album Title: Lord Ov Thornes
Release Date: November 20th, 2020
Label: Independent
Distribution: Independent

For fans of Morbid Angel, Bloodbath, Enthroned, Vader, Dark Funeral

Facebook.com/KingOvWyrms | Kingovwyrms.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Amazon

“Fury does indeed radiate from the music in violent waves. The song (Thorne Bearer) takes flight through rapid-fire drum battery and deep, dismal, heaving tremolo’d riffing that climbs and flares in manifestations of madness and misery, and squalls in blasts of vicious, mauling cruelty. Sanchez contributes his own vocals to the melee, venting horrid growls and scorching screams, which add to the music’s enraged and ferocious striking power. The song’s urgent pace never relents, but the drum patterns morph, as do the riffs, which feverishly squirm and flail as well as jolt and jar in savage, pulsing fashion. The jet-fueled energy and barbarous intensity of the music are both intense and captivating, and they’re joined in the red zone by sensations of rage and maniacal menace.” – No Clean Singing

“some beautiful, new extremity from King Ov Wyrms! Be on the lookout for their forthcoming album “Lord Ov Thornes”” – The Circle Pit

“Some pretty savage blackened death metal here. Lord ov Thornes is one of those albums that starts at full speed and doesn’t slow down much, if at all. Take 51 minutes of that and call me in the morning… If you’re at all a fan of very fast and heavy black and death metal and have been looking for a new band that does it well, King of Wyrms just delivered the goods for you.” – The Metal Crypt

“Lord Ov Thornes is a sickening effort that blazes with satanic and ritualistic power. Marvel in horror at what is crafted here, beginning with the unforgiving Threnody and the sheer brutality of The Great Sleeper. Within the first two tracks, it’s abundantly clear what we have here is something dredged from a well situated in hell.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

“Lord Ov Thornes”, the debut album by KING OV WYRMS, a worthy contender in the late year heralding the cold and darkness that is coming for us. The man has left nothing to chance, electing to fill every position himself on both sides of the studio glass, and the end result is a consistent and thought-out fifty-one minutes of solid metal.” – Metal Temple

“it deserves a place on your playlist if you like your music heavy, malevolent and underpinned by Lovecraftian themes.” – Scream Blast Repeat

“Nothing short of an aural assault of pure mayhem……” – Permafrost Today

“ing Ov Wyrms is blasting brutal death loaded with lots of black metal riffs and dual growl/shriek vocals, with a death/brutal production. Press “play” and watch this thing launch into linear relentless attacks of brutality over and over for the duration. It is almost totally nonstop blasting, energetic, superfast extremity only for the true love-it-all fanatics.” – Metal Bulletin

“King Ov Wyrms sees Sanchez present a straightforward, ruthless, rampaging festival of hard hitting, heavy riffs encased in a thick, apocalyptic atmosphere. Embodying the spirit of the classic late eighties and early nineties acts with a new, modern aggression… From the album’s cataclysmic opening with ‘Thredony’ to its closing dissonant chord found in ‘Ascendance Of A Continual One’ which echoes into the back void, this is a straightforward blackened death metal album that is out to take the scene by the throat.” – Noizze UK

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS
1. This is the first album entirely worked on exclusively by Michael Sanchez, he’s been the main songwriter for Pain Patterns and has had his contributions towards Judicator, but everything done by King Ov Wyrms so far is all done by him with no outside additions.

2. This is the 2nd full-length album Michael has produced from his home studio Odyssey Sound Studios, aside from doing some preproduction for several Tucson bands and helping record for the Judicator albums, and taking the production control for Pain Patterns.

3. King Ov Thornes has gone through at least 8 different band members before ultimately becoming a solo effort, the original idea was to feature some of Michael’s personal favorite band members from his favorite Arizona based death metal groups.

4. This is the first time Michael’s vocals have been recorded, Michael has done backing vocals for Pain Patterns for several years under the instruction of Jesse Lujan (Pain Patterns main vocalist). After recording some demo vocals for early King Ov Wyrms tracks Michael was pushed to attempt doing vocals for the whole album by Paul Black of Turned To Stone and Patrick Parris of Project Roenwolfe.

King Ov Wyrms is homage to classic death and black metal acts of the late ’80s/early ’90s with a touch of modern aggression.

Formed in Tucson, AZ. King came from the want of a more aggressive act when the main band of Michael Sanchez, Pain Patterns, started taking its roots in early 2015. He loved the music he was creating but felt that the band couldn’t fulfill his desire for a purely aggressive musical venture.

The project went through many different lineup changes only to be consistently held together by Sanchez. Having studied classical music and jazz to a degree while growing up, it gave him the tools to write comfortably on his own even in the concept of metal music. He starts out with a basic riff or a small melody line off of a piano and just adds on and on until it manifests into some sort of abomination of sound.

In early 2020 upon Sanchez’s departure from the power metal act Judicator, he decided to pull King out of hiatus but only as a solo effort to produce a full-length album. Over the span of several months, Sanchez was able to completely record all of the songs previously written for King as a full lineup, this time all the music was performed and written solely by him.

King Ov Wyrms will release its debut album “Lord Ov Thornes” on November 20th, 2020, and it will feature lyrical themes encompassing the occult, and a deep love for Lovecraftian horror.

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: Lord Ov Thornes
Release Date: November 20th, 2020
Label: Independent
Distribution: Independent

Track Listing:
1. Threnody (5:48)
2. The Great Sleeper (7:31)
3. Hell’s Breathe (5:40)
4. From Below (5:51)
5. The Maggots That Crawled From The Wounds (8:57)
6. Lechery (4:24)
7. Thorne Bearer (4:18)
8. Ascendance Of A Continual One (8:53)
Album Length: 51:26

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Michael Sanchez
• All songs written by: Michael Sanchez
• Produced by: Michael Sanchez
• Mixed by: Michael Sanchez (Odyssey Sound Studios)
• Mastered by: Michael Sanchez (Odyssey Sound Studios)
• Album Artwork by: Thomas Carlson
• Member of ASCAP

Album Band Line Up:
Michael Sanchez – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Drum Programming

Discography:
2020 – Lord Ov Thornes

0 EPK – Synastry – Civilization’s Coma (EP) 2020

September 15, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Synastry

EPK – Synastry – Civilization’s Coma (EP) 2020

EP Title: Civilization’s Coma
Release Date: November 27, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

For fans Veil of Maya, Born of Osiris, Within The Ruins, Fear Factory, Slipknot

Instagram.com/synastry_mtl | Twitter.com/SYNASTRYMTL

Synastry.bandcamp.com

“Synastry deliver their brand of classic death metal with an industrial twist. The result is a Thrashy head-long experiment into the brutal and somewhat futuristic. Musically tight and heavy with mean riffs, Synastry try to head into a new direction for Metal.” – Sea of Tranquility

“Montreal-based metal maulers Synastry play a brutal yet groovy style of death metal with fringes of industrial that recall bands such as Fear Factory and Killing Joke with the savagery of acts like Kataklysm.” – Gears of Rock

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS
1. Guitars, drums, and bass were tracked with JF Dagenais. Vocals were tracked by Christian Donaldson. Samples were done with Kevin Jardine. The mixing was all done by JF Dagenais and the mastering was done by Jef Fortin. We chose the cream of the crop when we recorded and got this amazing result

2. The lyrical concept for this EP and the rest of the EPs we are planning on releasing are written from the viewpoint of the individual’s view on themselves in relation to society. The hope that the individual can take the responsibility to be ‘better’ for the whole while not compromising their own wants, needs, and beliefs. Inspiration is drawn from James’ life and things he has seen his friends and family live through.

3. The lyrics for these songs and all other SYNASTRY songs to be released all find themselves in a kind of disjointed tapestry that follows an ever-growing story.

4. Creating and releasing music as a band in 2020 is an interesting task, and we are looking at ways of reaching a wide audience. We want to explore all media sources, not just the streaming platforms. We are kind of goofy and I think that’s what makes people attracted to us. We kind of want to have this image that we are very serious music makers, but that we are relatable and likable and have appeal to a wide variety of people. personally I think we can reach a big audience if we integrate the social media route into our music releases (youtube channel w vlogs, short weekly or bi-weekly episodes, active on Instagram, etc) Basically metal influencers.

EP Title: Civilization’s Coma
Release Date: November 27, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid

Track Listing:
1. Civilization’s Coma (3:49)
2. Dead To Me (2:17)
3. Narcomancy (4:41)
EP Length: 10:48

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: SYNASTRY
• All songs written by: SYNASTRY
• Produced by: JF Dagenais, Christian Donaldson, Kevin Jardine
• Mixed by: JF Dagenais
• Mastered by: Jef Fortin
• Album Artwork by: Mikio Murakami
• Members of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album /Live Band Line Up:
Paul Iverson – Guitar
Gary Vee – Bass
Kay Kessler – Drums
James Aniston – Vocals

L-R – Kay Kessler (Drums), Gary Vee (Bass), Paul Iverson (Guitar), James Aniston (Vocals)

Photo Credit – Chris Alexis

It takes courage for a band to integrate such distinct thrash, death, and industrial influences into a catchy yet multilayered approach as do Montreal’s Synastry.

Each metal listener desires something different and thus a band exists for every taste. Inspired to a certain point by melodic, futuristic death thrash, Synastry binds to these influences a threatening mid-paced groove, atmospheric textures, and the unmistakable gruff and mature vocals of James Aniston. Flanked by guitarist Paul Iverson and bassist Gary Vee, and backed up by the thunderous Kay Kessler, Synastry is a crushing wall of well thought out and meticulously written metal. Lyrics come from Aniston’s impression of the world and his experiences in it which are layered with the collaborative music that all band members contribute to.

Started originally in the early 00s, the Montreal band took the underground scene by storm, they climbed the Myspace ranks, toured the regions, and released “Pallets Of My New World” (2006) (EP) and Blind Eyes Bleed (2008) (LP). In 2012, the band went dormant, where they remained until 2020.

The socially conscious band awoke amidst the widespread uncertainty that swept the globe, with a mission to explore humanity, the singularity, and morality. Forged in the hotbed of metal that is Montreal, they are here to raise the temperature once again with the release of their new EP “Civilization’s Coma” on November 27th.

Discography:
2020 – Civilization’s Coma (EP)
2008 – Blind Eyes Bleed (Year of the Sun Records)
2006 – Pallets of My New World (EP)

Shared Stage with:
Incantation Blessed By a Broken Heart, Rotting Christ, Panzerfaust & Protokult, The Agonist, Forever In Terror

Tours and Festivals:
2009 – Synastry Maritime Tour
2008 – Synastry maritime Tour
2008 – Blind Eyes Bleed Cross Canada Tour
2008 – Hamilton Death Fest 08 w/ Incantation – Kitchener, ON
2007 – Plagueous Black Metal Fest w/ Panzerfaust & Protokult, Toronto, ON
2007 – Moshcore – Montreal, QC
2007 – Shennan Grind Fest
2007 – Skratch Laval Rock Festival

0 EPK – Ancient Thrones – The Veil (2020)

September 15, 2020
by Asher
· Ancient Thrones · EPKs

EPK – Ancient Thrones – The Veil (2020)

For fans of Revocation, Skeletonwitch, The Red Chord, The Black Dahlia Murder, Wolves in the Throne Room

Album Title: The Veil
Release Date: November 6, 2020
Label: Self-Release

Facebook.com/Ancientthrones | Instagram.com/ancientthrones | YouTube

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

“A full-throttle attack, the song (The Sight of Oblivion) delivers bludgeoning rhythms, vicious darting and slashing guitar-work, scorching blackened shrieks, and cold-hearted roars. There’s a brazen, borderline-unhinged quality to the barrage, generated by screaming, rapidly whirling leads, magma-like bass notes, and fast-changing, bone-cracking drums. But within the assault there are also fluid, sinuous melodic leads whose mellifluous, reverberating tones give the music a mysterious, mesmerizing, and mournful quality. And near the end one of those leads morphs into a fret-burning dual-guitar extravaganza that really gets the blood rushing.” – No Clean Singing

“Nearly an hour in length, The Veil earns that run-time with crisply-written compositions and an arsenal of sky-ripping riffs. The acoustic reprieve of “Sentient” and melodic grief of “Permanent” reveal the album’s heavy heart. But the album conjures strength from those pensive moments. Rife with nimble axe-work from Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, The Veil never succumbs to the solemnity of its subject. The Veil remains an impactful listen down to its final dying note.” – Decibel Magazine

“From the icy lands of Halifax, Nova Scotia lies one of Canada’s best-kept secrets: Ancient Thrones! …Fusing the intensity of traditional black metal with the modern stylings and production of death metal and tech death, “Divided/Dissolve” has a little bit of something for everyone. From the massive tremolo sections and bludgeoning riffs to the surprisingly melodic harmonies between guitarists Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, Ancient Thrones have definitely honed in on something special with this track.” – GearGods

“Canadian band Ancient Thrones perform a combination of black, death and thrash metal with some progressive tendencies on The Veil. They have similarities to Skeletonwitch, but have an even more dynamic sound. The songs are both aggressive and intelligent in equal measure and run through a variety of different emotional tangents. There is a vile and harsh aspect to the band, but there is also a forward thinking one. It all results in a creative and dynamic listen.” – Heavy Music Headquarters

“The prize for most ambitious album of 2020 already has the name of Ancient Thrones carved in marble. Who among you fancies a 56-minute blackened death metal saga with an epic meditation on one man’s descent into the afterlife? No band thought it conceivable to write the metal version of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, but this Nova Scotia quartet are not just any band. This is a remarkable journey for the contemplative mind.” – Scream Blast Repeat

“a 57-minute descent into purgatory….” – Permafrost Today

“The Sight of Oblivion and The Millionth Grave are steeped in ferociousness and savagery as only a band well versed in blackened death metal are capable of producing.8.5/10” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

“With this new incarnation, Ancient Thrones has moved into strict Black/Death territory, producing an album filled with pummeling riffs, intricate song structures, and technical musicianship that’s leavened by atmospheric segments and epic, sometimes audacious melodies that border on Cascadian. The production matches this style perfectly, being heavy and abrasive while allowing the songs enough room to stretch out… fans of more epic and melodic Black/Death will want to give The Veil a listen. 4/5” – The Metal Crypt

“It is fast, thrashing extreme metal with shrieked/growled vocals, and a headbanging attitude. They have elements of thrash, black and death but their method of delivery won’t confuse anyone. It is metal to make the fans move. It is pretty thrashy, pretty brutal but also melodic, and the guitar work has plenty to offer both in the riffs and the melodies.” – Metal Bulletin

“one of the most promising young bands in the region (Atlantic Canada) right now […] I already can’t wait for the next one. 4/5 stars” – Mettalworx Music Group

“Equally impressive is that no track feels as if it’s been bled of its passion and drive during the writing process; a genuine love of metal in all its forms shines through on each track, making the EP a wonderfully enjoyable 26 minutes.” – The Sound Not The Word (Review 2016 – Storming the Black Gate EP)

“This is some world-class metal, folks, get it, listen to it, and enjoy. And, as a side-note, ‘Storming the Black Gate’ easily stands out as one of the strongest New Brunswick metal releases of all time. Snatch up one of the physical copies before they sell out and the band is signed to Metal Blade or somebody who will do a mass-produced re-release Or find them on Bandcamp.” (Review 2016 – Storming the Black Gate EP)

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS

1. Started as Abysseral Throne in 2011, released 1 LP, and 1 EP on physical CD. Changed name to Ancient Thrones in January of 2018. This is the first release as Ancient Thrones.

2. The band name Ancient Thrones is an evolution of Abysseral Throne but it also comes from a lyric in the Wolves in the Throne Room song, “Astral Blood”, which is one of the band’s biggest inspirations and favourite black metal bands.

“The moon leads celestial legions, to cast the stars from their ancient thrones”.

3. Ancient Thrones lost their initial singer and guitar player right before they were supposed to open up for Beyond Creation. Having just moved to Halifax and not knowing too many guitar players they asked Dylan Wallace, a Halifax Local, who he might know that could fill in for us on guitar. He gave them a list of people but after none of those guys worked out Ancient Thrones went back to Dylan for more suggestions not even occurring to ask him due to how stupid good he is. He actually suggested he do it though and nearly flawlessly sight-read the band’s entire set the first time he saw the sheet music for their songs not even really having had heard them before. After that display, they knew they had their man and he’s been in the band ever since.

4. There have been 2 Matts on bass, 2 Nicks on guitar, and almost even 2 Seans in the span of Ancient Thrones’ time as a band. The only member in the band not professionally educated in music is Sean, who ironically taught himself to play drums.

5. Matt does all of the merchandise designs, album designs, band photography, pre-production, mixing, mastering, booking, and anything else under the sun. The band’s logo was designed by Mark Richards of Heavy Hand illustration who designed above all else the Revocation logo, another of the band’s big inspirations.

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Album Title: The Veil
Release Date: November 6, 2020
Label: Self-Release

Track Listing:
1. Transient (1:58)
2. The Sight of Oblivion (6:00)
3. The Millionth Grave (5:53)
4. The Soul to Flesh (6:14)
5. Viduus (The Veil) (9:29)
6. Sentient (2:11)
7. The River of Rain (4:32)
8. Divided/Dissolve (9:12)
9. The Infinite Eyes (9:10)
10. Permanent (2:54)
Album Length: 57:38

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Ancient Thrones except guest piano performance in “The Soul to Flesh” by Ashley Cates
• All songs written by: Ancient Thrones
• Produced & Engineered by: Don Walls
• Mixed by: Matt LeBlanc & Don Walls
• Mastered by: Matt LeBlanc
• Album Artwork by: Kyle Archer
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album & Live Band Line Up:
Sean Hickey – Drums, Vocals
Matt LeBlanc – Bass, Cello
Dylan Wallace – Guitar
Nick Leslie – Guitar

L-R: Ancient Thrones Current Line Up| Dylan Wallace (Guitar)| Nick Leslie (Guitar)| Sean Hickey (Drums,Vocals)| Matt LeBlanc (Bass)
Photo Credit – Matt LeBlanc

Ancient Thrones, formerly “Abysseral Throne”, is an Atlantic Canada acclaimed blackened metal outfit that rebranded to suit major changes in line-up and songwriting.

Formed in 2011 in New Brunswick and now residing in Halifax, NS, they quickly went to work to establish themselves among their scene and gained local notoriety eventually allowing them the opportunities to open for renowned metal acts from across the globe.

Sean Hickey (drums/vocals) is the sole original founder of Abysseral remaining, Matt LeBlanc joined in 2015 on bass and improved and refined the sound and operation drastically. Once they lost their original singer and guitar player Jonny Rains, Dylan Wallace joined and took over main songwriting duties. Hickey took over completely on vocals with a black/death metal vocal style, and Nick Leslie joined shortly after on the second guitar. Work began on writing a new album which took about 3 months to write the music for. The new material sparked the name change to Ancient Thrones as an homage to one of Hickey’s favorite bands and inspirations, Wolves in the Throne Room.

In 2013, the band released its debut record and its subsequent follow-up in 2016, “Storming The Black Gate”, which was nominated for an East Coast Music Award. Ancient Thrones have toured throughout Canada, and played at several festivals, sharing the stages with bands such as Silverstein, The Agonist, Black Crown Initiate, and Skull Fist.

2020 sees the release of the concept album “The Veil” showcasing the band’s desire for storytelling and pushing them to new heights musically. The new album explores the journey of a man faced with tragedy, his mortality and ultimately the permanence of our actions told through technical soundscapes and haunting atmosphere.

“The Veil” is due out November 6, 2020.

Discography:
2020 – The Veil – LP
2016 – Storming the Black Gate – EP
2013 – Reflections Enthroned – LP
2012 – Chasm in Permafrost – Demo

Shared Stage with:
Screamer (Sweden), Alcoholator- 2012
Vital Remains – 2013
The Faceless, Rings of Saturn, Within the Ruins – 2013
Skull Fist – 2014
Black Crown Initiate – 2015
Vesperia – 2015
Wilt – 2016
Silverstein, The Agonist, Cauldron, Nervosa – 2016
Anonymus – 2016
Beyond Creation, Unbeing – 2016
Cruciamentum, Thantifaxath – 2017

Tours and Festivals:
2019 – The Final Mettalfest – Halifax, NS
2017 – Mettalworx Mettalfest – Halifax, NS
2017 – Pandamonium Minifest – Ottawa, ON
2017 – Metal Bukkake 3 – Cocagne, NB
2017 – ECMA Loud Showcase – Saint John, NB
2016 – East Coast Awakening – Keswick, NB
2015 – Mud City Meltdown – Moncton, NB
2015 – Maritime Metal & Hard Rock Festival 3 – Windsor, NS
2014 – Maritime Metal & Hard Rock Festival 2 – Aylesford, NS

Past Features:
#54 in GridCity Magazines 100 Essential NB Releases 2016
PureGrain Audio (Now V13) And Justice For Art Best Underground Metal Album Covers Vol 1

0 EPK – Uncle Woe – Phantomescence (2020)

September 14, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Uncle Woe

EPK – Uncle Woe – Phantomescence (2020)

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

For fans of Yob, Chrome Ghost, Deftones, Slomatics, Tool

“Psychedelic, sludgy, doom-prog duo from Bancroft, ON. They do heavy things that go on for a bit.”

Album Title: Phantomescence
Release Date: October 23, 2020
Label: Packard Black Productions

Facebook.com/unclewoe | Instagram.com/unclewoedoom

Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon | Spotify

“The lone member (although it does seem as if drummer Nicholas Wowk has been added to the band) Rain Fice has created a truly wondrous journey through pure doom lands into that astral, transcendental other place doom of the aforementioned Yob that gives you goosebumps with its completely distressing doom metal. Fice’s clean echo-drenched vocals are also of very high quality, while not actually sounding like Mike Scheidt, Fice does exude a similar aura of supreme enlightenment and complete mastery of his art.” – Verbal Aggression

“Never be afraid to take a chance on a new name. This one comes to us from Ontario and was released earlier in the month, though I’m just now getting around to hearing it. I was pretty damned impressed and count UNCLE WOE in the same company as Domkraft, Spaceslug, Chrome Ghost, and Slomatics. Some damned good doom with crunchy low end and transcendent vocals. Count it among the #HeavyBest19” – Doomed & Stoned

“Chugging, sprawling, and most of all reaching, the late-2019 debut LP, Our Unworn Limbs, from Ontario as-yet-solo-outfit Uncle Woe — composed, performed, and recorded by Rain Fice — is one of marked promise, taking elements of modern progressive and cosmic doom from the likes of YOB’s subtly angular riffing style and unfolding them across an emotionally resonant but still manageable 43-minute span.” – The Obelisk

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS
1. This album, Phantomescence, was conceived and recorded entirely during COVID lockdown and was recorded remotely, with Nicholas Wowk recording the drums in his garage, and Rain Fice wielding all other audio implements in his own humble abode. Once quarantine seemed like it wasn’t going to be a short-lived episode, the duo was faced with the reality of not being able to get together to rehearse in the foreseeable future, so they knew they had to do SOMETHING as a band in the interim. The obvious choice was to record an album. Aside from the initial fundamental structure of Become The Ghost, the rest of the album was written and arranged on the fly. Nick and Rain met up in a vacant parking lot in early April so Rain could pass Nick a box of sterilized microphones and an 8 channel mixer. Other than that, this album was created 100% remotely, sending audio files back and forth via the internet. The band has only been able to rehearse the album tracks only once together.

2. Rain Fice and Nicholas Wowk is something of a uniquely rural outfit, to their own detriment in a lot of ways. In an area where folk-rock, country, and classic rock cover bands abound, they are, to the best of their knowledge, if not the only heavy metal band for at least an hour in any direction, DEFINITELY the only Doom-centric, post-metal act for sure. On one hand, this has made fleshing out the band with local talent a distinct challenge, and when they DO have a gig-worthy band at the ready, they don’t have any contemporaries with which to share a local stage. On the other hand, this illustrates that they are serious about their craft, and aren’t in it for the glory of chasing the local scene… because there isn’t one. They ARE the local scene. They are currently hiring. Progged out doom bass players and/or guitarists apply within.

3. Rain Fice wouldn’t say that he’s a gear COLLECTOR, per se, but he’s definitely something of a gear aficionado, and he gravitates toward vintage and off-brand amps and pedals. All of Rain’s main amps are Canadian made, and one of them is a 30+ year old one of a kind thing. His pedal situation is similar. Most of them are pretty new, but he doesn’t have many common things on his board. No Muffs, or Tube Screamers. It was actually a leap of faith pedal purchase that ultimately spawned the Uncle Woe sound and led to writing the first official Uncle Woe song, Push the Blood Back in. After years and years of buying and selling pedals on the endless tone-quest, Fice plugged into a Kuro T120 and knew instantaneously that he had found his sound. That pedal, combined with his trusty Rozon amp is absolutely the backbone of Uncle Woe’s sonic signature.

About:

Hailing from the oft frozen hills of rural Canada, Uncle Woe is a phantom limb, wielding a bludgeoning tool against mostly true tales of bittersweet sorrow, revenge, and regret.

The bleak desolation of Bancroft, Ontario spawned Uncle Woe in 2019 when Rain Fice grew weary of floundering in non-committed projects and instead dove into songwriting mode with a rough idea of his ideal sound and started carving out what would become the first Uncle Woe LP “Our Unworn Limbs”.

After the album was released in 2019 and started to pick up some buzz, a full band began to form. However, the pandemic was not far off and the band whittled down to a 2 piece. Before lockdown began, Uncle Woe managed to lock down the rough elements of what would become the second album “Phantomescence”, Fice expanded on them, and after being fed to drummer Nicholas Wowk, and recording remotely, the album was complete: a meandering exploration of death and dreams. Many chugging, bludgeoning passages are offset by expansive and contemplative, subdued, almost post-rock soundscapes.

As Uncle Woe begins to hit their stride, fans can look forward to the band putting out music pretty much indefinitely, plans are in motion for a third album already.

The band’s second album “Phantomescence” will be available digitally, CD and on vinyl on October 23rd via Packard Black Productions.

Discography:
2019 – Our Unworn Limbs
2020 – Phantomescence

Album Title: Phantomescence
Release Date: October 23, 2020
Label: Packard Black Productions

Track Listing:
1. Become The Ghost (6:29)
2. On Laden Shores (13:30)
3. Lucid Degrees of Autoscopic Ruin (6:45)
4. A Map of Dead Stars (13:14)
EP Length: 40:00

Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Rain Fice/Nicholas Wowk
• All songs written by: Rain Fice *Become the Ghost by Fice/Wowk
• Produced by: Rain Fice/Nicholas Wowk
• Mixed by: Rain Fice
• Mastered by: Rain Fice
• Album Artwork by: Rain Fice
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Recording Band Line Up:
Rain Fice – Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards
Nicholas Wowk – Drums/Percussion

Live Band Line Up:
Rain Fice – Guitar, Vocals
Nicholas Wowk – Drums/Percussion

0 EPK – Handsome Pants – Rut (single) (2020)

September 13, 2020
by Asher
· EPKs · Handsome Pants

EPK – Handsome Pants – Rut (single) (2020)

Facebook.com/Handsomepants4 |Instagram.com/handsomepants4 | Twitter.com/PantsHandsome | YouTube

Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Handsome Pants is the kind of band that shows up to a gig dressed haphazardly in mismatched Value Village clothes they picked out for each other. The kind of band that doesn’t take themselves seriously just wants to rock out and have a good time with their fans. Handsome Pants proves fun does not be sacrificed to make lively, highly creative music.

Loud and obnoxious is the name of the game for Handsome Pants and the rambunctious uniqueness really shines through with their new single, “Rut” which follows a concept that a lot of people are familiar with. The feeling of being stuck in a rut and turning to alcohol. The band explains the single in more depth:

“Rut is the second release in our early existence as a band. This song is something Andrew has been sitting on for a long time and rewriting lyrics. Finally finding the right content and lyrics putting it together at this time seems perfect. It seems to relate to a lot of people right now and what they are going through with the pandemic and everything else happening right now.”

The most mainstream track the band has to date still holds on to its originality with the layered vocals and prominent harmonica.

“Rut” is suitable for all kinds of rock radio, it’s punchy and tight, for fans of Royal Blood, Highly Suspect, and Clutch, Handsome Pants is just getting started and anticipates more music coming down the pipe.

Single Credits:
Single Performed by Handsome Pants
Single Written by Andrew Bateman
Produced by Brett Humber at The Sound Foundry
Mastered by Brett Humber
Music is Canadian Content (MAPL)

L-R: Jordan Nodwell – Bass, Chuck Smith – Harmonica, Kyle Nodwell – Drums, Andrew Bateman – Guitar, Vocals
Photo Credit – Zac Sanford

Emerging from the remnant of another band, Jordan Nodwell (bass), Kyle Nodwell (drums), and Andrew Bateman (guitar/vocals), created Handsome Pants to get the fulfillment they missed. Looking to add something a little extra, they found Chuck Smith who rocks the harmonica, bringing with him a unique and different element that is layered with effect and not the conventional lyric or style.

Bateman has historically written the majority of ideas for songs and of late Smith and Nodwell have come up with song good song ideas. Once the idea is brought to the table the rest of the band throws in ideas and parts that make the song better and sometimes an unseen turn around on the song for the better.

Loud, and obnoxious, Handsome Pants is the kind of band that plays a gig clad in loud thrift store clothes they picked out for each other. Fun, lively and no pretentious attitudes is half of the Handsome Pants formula, the other being unique, punchy, and tight music for listeners of all kinds.

Handsome Pants is currently not focused on completing an album, just making good music on their time, song by song.

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