Category: Squidhammer

0 TOLEDO DEATHFEST Announces 2023 Lineup w/ OCEANO, THE CONVALESCENCE, VCTMS, INCITE And More!

February 23, 2023
by Asher
· Music News · Squidhammer · The Convalescence · Toledo DeathFest · WoR (Bungalo Records)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 23, 2023

TOLEDO DEATHFEST Announces 2023 Lineup w/ OCEANO, THE CONVALESCENCE, VCTMS, INCITE And More!

TOLEDO DEATH FEST is ready to stir up the most extreme mosh pit to ever tornado Ohio and its surrounding states. This year’s event is being hosted on June 3rd in Toledo, OH at Mainstreet Bar and will feature headliners, OCEANO alongside The Convalescence, VCTMS, Incite, and many more (full lineup below).

Since its inception in 2009 by Keith Wampler, the frontman of The Convalescence and owner of The Legend Agency, the festival has showcased the talents of some of the American Midwest’s best up-and-coming metal bands. Past editions have seen past support from well-known artists such as Jungle Rot, Malevolent Creation, The Breathing Process, and Casket Robbery among many more. The festival has been an extreme metal pilgrimage for fans living in the surrounding states of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, and West Virginia.

“I am very happy to be able to bring Toledo Deathfest back in 2023 with one of the most insane lineups we’ve ever had. This festival has come from being local bands at small venues to a two-stage festival featuring bands from around the country thanks to the incredible support of everyone who attends each year. Thank you to everyone who has supported Toledo Deathfest and I look forward to seeing everyone again on June 3rd!” adds festival organizer Keith Wampler.

Tickets are available at https://theconvalescence.bigcartel.com/ (General Admission, VIP Packages)

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1456718568446520/

Highlights of the confirmed bands include headliners Oceano with their blast beats, sonic double bass, slow heavy breakdowns, low death metal growls, and shrieking metalcore vocals ready to annihilate the pit with their discography since 2009. The Convalescence is one of the USA’s unstoppable tour de force, touring Europe in 2022 with Chelsea Grin, and Carnifex plus an upcoming tour in Japan in 2023 with Exhumed and Defiled along with their latest single “No Survivors” ft. Scott Ian Lewis of Carnifex, that has fans demanding more and more. A versatile metalcore group based out of Illinois, VCTMS employs an ambitious blend of punishing breakdowns, catchy melodies, and crushing riffs that draw from post-hardcore, hip-hop, industrial and alternative metal. They have released three full-length albums to date. Their third album Vol. III Halfway Happy was released on August 31, 2018, and reached #25 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart during its first week of release. Phoenix, AZ’s INCITE, now close to 20 years into a career where everything was earned and nothing was taken for granted, the band bridges the gap between multiple crowds across various metal sub-genres. As renegade disciples of trailblazing architects like Pantera, Slayer, Sepultura, and Machine Head, INCITE raise the torch for trend-killing and hipster-smashing metal. Incite is as much a part of the fabric of the style championed by Lamb Of God as the surge of newer bands like Power Trip. The band’s fifth album, Built to Destroy released in 2019 (Minus Head Records), is a visceral, urgent, voracious distillation of modern metal, with reverence for the past, produced by Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Suicide Silence) and mastered by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed).

Toledo Death Fest 2023 Full Lineup:
Oceano (Chicago, IL)
The Convalescence (Toledo, OH)
VCTMS (Streamwood, IL)
Incite (Phoenix, AZ)
Hive (Chicago, IL)
Carrion Vael (Richmond, IN)
WoR (Raleigh, NC)
Within Chaos (Fort Worth, TX)
The D.O.O.D (Sarasota, FL)
Squidhammer (Watertown, WI)
Filth Spewer (South Bend, IN)
Ignominious (Norwalk, OH)
Cephlic (Toledo, OH)
Death Hex (Toledo, OH)
Pharohound (Fort Wayne, IN)
Extinction Agenda (Ohio)

To follow updates for Toledo Death Fest 2023, please visit the following links:

Facebook.com/ToledoDeathfest | Facebook.com/thelegendagency | Instagram.com/thelegendagency/

Festival Press Materials Dropbox HERE.

Sponsors: Fultztron Entertainment, Bloodlust Media, Dedfish Productions, Inverted Realm Designs, and Lost In The Dark Podcast

Vendors Onsite: Peril Hot Sauce, Creature Feature Spoo-Tique, and Hostile Creations

About: Toledo Deathfest was originally created in 2009 as a way to bring bands in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan together once a year and showcase their music to the local scene. It has continued as an annual festival featuring Local, Regional, and Underground Touring artists. In 2021 Festival Promoter Keith Wampler (The Legend Agency/The Convalescence) decided to expand the festival to multiple stages and to feature larger artists as well as a variety of underground acts with plans to grow the festival even more each year with Jungle Rot headlining 2021, Malevolent Creation headlining 2022, and now Oceano headlining 2023.

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations | Instagram @AsherMedia | Tweet @AsherMedia
(Rockshots Records, Extreme Metal Music, Armstrong MF, Loud As Hell, Metalocalypstick, Decimate MF, Electric Highway Fest, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Hyperspace MF, Le FestEvil)

0 EPK – Squidhammer – (Single) Drown In Flames – ft. Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains (2023)

February 8, 2023
by Asher
· EPKs · Squidhammer

EPK – Squidhammer – (Single) Drown In Flames – ft. Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains (2023)

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

Booking Agent – Keith Wampler – keithatthelegendagency[@]gmail[.]com

For fans of Pantera, Lamb Of God, Arch Enemy, Black Label Society, DevilDriver

Band: Squidhammer
Single Title: ‘Drowning In Flames’ ft. Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains
Release Date: 1/27/23
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CDBaby

“‘Drowning in Flames’ is a mental roller coaster. A twisted riddle full of metaphors. It’s the outside voice we all wish we could hear over our own noise. It’s everything you hope you’re not. It’s the shackles you watched your own possessed hands put around your very ankles. It’s the only way out.

It’s a long trip, musically speaking. A labyrinth. Hooks left and grooves right. A push/pull of thrash, chugs, and sway. It’s a bit of an arpeggio of a song structure, with an exit hidden in the middle. Will you burn your way out, or will you wind up right back where you started?” – Jake Schultz – Squidhammer

Squidhedz.com | Facebook.com/squidhammermetal | Twitter.com/getchasquidon | Youtube.com/@squidhammermetal9966 | Instagram.com/squidhammermetal

Squidhammer.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music | All Digital Platforms – Withkoji.com/@Squidhammer

“The introductory growl that Marq brings in is like an atomic bomb going off – unleashing chaos and dismay as this track kicks off with unrivaled energy. Ericka’s performance rips through like shrapnel, with a chaotic presence that carries an aura of fury and insanity in its wake. Both vocalists mesh seamlessly in their pieces, allowing this track to blast through with mind-blowing drum beats, demonic bass, and furious riff work to share in the spotlight, rather than be shadowed by it.” – Valkyrjia @ VALKYRJIAN Metal Blog (2022 ‘Hamrammr’ Single)

“The mixture of chaotic, guttural growls, and shrill screams that unite these two vocal powerhouses is baffling, leaving for a track that’s not only complex and intense in its delivery but, strangely catchy as well” – Valkyrjia @ VALKYRJIAN Metal Blog (2022 ‘Hamrammr’ Single)

“The song mixes elements of Groove and Thrash Metal, with aggressive vocals, in a great vocal dynamic between vocalist Ericka and Marq Pointer, heavy riffs and a destructive rhythmic part” – Leandro Vianna @ ROADIEMETAL of Brazil
(2022 ‘Hamrammr’ Single)

[Download Single Cover | Download Single Lyrics]

Band: Squidhammer
Single Title: ‘Drowning In Flames’ ft. Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains
Release Date: 1/27/23
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: CDBaby

1. ‘Drowning In Flames’ ft. Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains (5:54)

Single Credits:
• Performed by: Squidhammer
• Written by: Jake Schultz & Ericka Schultz Niemann
• Produced by: Squidhammer & Evan Yoakum
• Mixed by: Russell Hollar
• Mastered by: Russell Hollar
• Album Artwork by: Jake Schultz
• P.R.O. Affiliation: ASCAP

Single Recording Lineup – Drowning In Flames’:
Kyle Fawley – Featured Main Vocals
Ericka Schultz Niemann – Layering Vocals
Jake Schultz – Guitar
Joe Dunn – Bass Guitar
Skeebo – Drums

Live Band Line Up:
Ericka Schultz Niemann – Vocals
Jake Schultz – Guitar
Joe Dunn – Bass Guitar
Skeebo – Drums

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

Story Angles / Fun Facts:

1. All the new Squidhammer material since our lineup change in late 2021 has been tracked “free-time” in the studio, meaning we do not use a metronome / click track to record. The drums are tracked to a live rhythm guitar and everything is built on top of that. This is a studio approach that was once standard but has nearly died off in the heavy metal world and we feel like too much soul has been removed from modern heavy metal because of it. – Jake Schultz

2. Squidhammer got its name in 2010 from a guy on a bar stool who was allowed to name us for the night at a living room jam party. It went on as a joke for the night, but stuck like glue. – Jake Schultz

3. Squidhammer once showed up at a “Kentucky Derby Days” festival in central Wisconsin because we were in the area killing time before a show that night and we saw they were frying brats and burgers. We had just grabbed some food quickly when a member of the staff approached us assuming we were “the band”. They had booked a country cover band which was apparently running late. We had all of our gear with us, so we had no choice but to play into it and record the whole experience. We went as far as to set everything up and blast out one of our songs, ‘Rock the Fuck On’ to all of these drunk rednecks in the bar. I mean, there were tons of people at this festival. They all looked like they were seeing a ghost and many of them were starting to leave, so after one song, we decided to tell everyone what we had done. I’ll never forget the old man at the bar who was pounding his fist in the air and wanting more. – Jake Schultz

4. All of Squidhammer’s releases to date have been mixed and mastered by Russell Hollar of Russell Hollar Music/Nomad Recording Studio in Argyle, TX. He’s always been super easygoing and personable, while also having inhuman workflow capabilities. The dude knows how to make metal slam. – Jake Schultz

5. We got the ‘Hail The Squid’ title from guitarist Marc Rizzo of Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, etc… He has been a friend of the band since he jammed on stage with us back in 2016 at Axemetal Fest II. Since then, we have been a support act on nearly every solo show he has booked in Wisconsin. He can always be heard shouting, “HAIL THE SQUID!!!!!” from the back of the venue when we’re on stage. Marc has always joined us on stage to jam one of his tunes or a random Pantera cover whenever we’re on a bill together. – Jake Schultz

L-R: Jake Schultz (Guitar) | Eric “Skeebo” Kjelland (Drums) | Ericka Schultz-Niemann (Vocals) | Joe Dunn (Bass)
Photo Credit: Ericka Schultz-Niemann

Squidhammer proudly calls Watertown, Wisconsin home. The band carved out its place in the midwest metal scene in 2018 with their debut album, ‘Power Removal Service’. In early 2018, the band took a road trip to Fort Worth, Texas and recorded the album with producer Russell Hollar in five days and headed straight back home. The album was released independently and has been lovingly accepted into the “favorites” category of many midwest headbangers who have shown so much support. Its tracks have been featured on local radio stations as well as several worldwide internet radio stations. One track has even been played on Sirius XM’s Liquid Metal channel several times.

To ensure the band’s availability, Squidhammer’s founding member, Jake Schultz, has since adopted an open-door approach to the band lineup, meaning that members are free to come and go as they please, and contribute to studio recordings and live performances/tours at whichever level they feel comfortable. This has proven to ensure that only the most passionate, humble, and dedicated people are involved.

‘Hail The Squid’, the band’s second studio project is currently being rolled out to the world via a series of single releases. Squidhammer is extremely excited to announce that the open-ended and ongoing collection is a Wisconsin collaborative effort. So far, under this series title, 12 planned tracks will feature 20+ vocalists from Wisconsin’s top metal bands. This project is meant to help show everyone just what Wisconsin has to offer to the U.S. metal scene, as Squidhammer continues to tour the country. Squidhammer aims to attract more national and international acts to the great Wisconsin metal scene, benefiting everyone involved!

Squidhammer is:
Ericka Schultz – Vocals
Jake Schultz – Guitars
Eric “Skeebo” Kjelland – Drums
Joe Dunn – Bass

Discography:
2023 – Drowning In Flames ft. Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains – Single
2022 – Hamrammr (ft. Marq Pointer of H1Z1) – Single
2022 – Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit (Pantera Cover) – Single
2020 – Firing Order:18436572 – Single
2018 – Power Removal Service – LP
2017 – Rock The Fuck On – Single

Shared Stage with:
Goatwhore, Crowbar, Exhorder, Battlecross, Abigail Williams, Ghostbath, Wolf King, Raven, Mobile Deathcamp, Act Of Defiance, Psychostick, Crobot, Jungle Rot, Marc Rizzo, Necronomicon, Sarah Longfield, Scars of Atrophy, Malevolent, The Convalescence, Casket Robbery and many more…

Tours and Festivals:
2022 – Squidhammer Headline Tour (WI, IL, IA, OK, TX, KS)
2022 – WoR U.S. Tour (Direct Support) (WI, IA, IL, IN, OH, PA, VA)
2022 – Northern WI Metalfest XVIII – Lake Nebagamon, WI
2022 – Dimestock Metalfest XI – Watertown, WI
2022 – Toledo Deathfest – Toledo, OH
2022 – Squidhammer/INFLUENCE co-headline tour (MI, OH, PA, KY, IN, WI)
2020 – Dimestock Metalfest IX – Watertown, WI
2019 – Dimestock Metalfest VIII – Watertown, WI
2018 – Dimestock Metalfest VII – Watertown, WI
2018 – Project Mayhem VIII – Rhinelander, WI
2017 – Dimestock Metalfest VI – Watertown, WI
2017 – Project Mayhem VII – Rhinelander, WI
2016 – Dimestock Metalfest V – Madison, WI
2016 – Project Mayhem VI – Rhinelander, WI
2016 – Axemetal Fest II – Theresa, WI
2015 – Dimestock Metalfest IV – Madison, WI
2015 – Project Mayhem V – Rhinelander, WI
2014 – Dimestock Metalfest III – Madison, WI

0 SQUIDHAMMER Unleashes Thrashy New Single “Drowning In Flames” Off Upcoming Album “Hail The Squid”

January 27, 2023
by Asher
· Music News · Squidhammer

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 25, 2023

SQUIDHAMMER Unleashes Thrashy New Single “Drowning In Flames” Off Upcoming Album “Hail The Squid”

L-R: Jake Schultz (Guitar), Eric “Skeebo” Kjelland (Drums), Ericka Schultz-Niemann (Vocals), Joe Dunn (Bass)
Photo Credit: Ericka Schultz-Niemann

Squidhammer proudly calls Watertown, Wisconsin home. The band carved out its place in the Midwest metal scene in 2018 with their debut album, “Power Removal Service’”. Since then, they have released a handful of singles and more to come for their “Hail The Squid” project. A little bit unorthodox, they plan to release it single by single to the digital world, with a music video to accompany each release. The end product will be a physical LP containing all of the releases. The upcoming single “Drowning In Flames” featuring Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains is a mental roller coaster. A twisted riddle full of metaphors. Guitarist Jake Schultz explains further:

““Drowning In Flames” is the outside voice we all wish we could hear over our own noise. It’s everything you hope you’re not. It’s the shackles you watched your own possessed hands put around your very ankles. It’s the only way out. It’s a long trip, musically speaking. A labyrinth. Hooks left and grooves right. A push/pull of thrash, chugs, and sway. It’s a bit of an arpeggio of a song structure, with an exit hidden in the middle. Will you burn your way out, or will you wind up right back where you started?”

“Hail The Squid”, the band’s second studio project is currently being rolled out to the world via a series of single releases. Squidhammer is extremely excited to announce that the open-ended and ongoing collection is a Wisconsin collaborative effort. So far, under this series title, 12 planned tracks will feature 20+ vocalists from Wisconsin’s top metal bands. This project is meant to help show everyone just what Wisconsin has to offer to the U.S. metal scene, as Squidhammer continues to tour the country. Squidhammer aims to attract more national and international acts to the great Wisconsin metal scene, benefiting everyone involved!”

Squidhammer is recommended for fans of Pantera, Lamb Of God, and Arch Enemy.

Listen to “Drowning In Flames” ft. Kyle Fawley of Digital Remains via its music video below.

Digital pre-save – https://show.co/CGOLQNa

Squidhammer is:
Ericka Schultz – Vocals
Jake Schultz – Guitars
Eric “Skeebo” Kjelland – Drums
Joe Dunn – Bass

About: Squidhammer proudly calls Watertown, Wisconsin home. The band carved out its place in the midwest metal scene in 2018 with their debut album, ‘Power Removal Service’. In early 2018, the band took a road trip to Fort Worth, Texas and recorded the album with producer Russell Hollar in five days and headed straight back home. The album was released independently and has been lovingly accepted into the “favorites” category of many midwest headbangers who have shown so much support. Its tracks have been featured on local radio stations as well as several worldwide internet radio stations. One track has even been played on Sirius XM’s Liquid Metal channel several times.

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“This is no nonsense metal, which is out to ensure that there are no prisoners whatsoever as they have all been blasted through a wall by the sheer volume and attack of what is taking place” – Kev Rowland @ House of Prog Radio (2018 ‘Power Removal Service’ LP)
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations | Instagram @AsherMedia | Tweet @AsherMedia
(Rockshots Records, Extreme Metal Music, Armstrong MF, Loud As Hell, Metalocalypstick, Decimate MF, Electric Highway Fest, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Hyperspace MF, Le FestEvil)

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