Saturday 20 August 2016

Hotei "Move It" video feat. Richard Z. Kruspe of Rammstein/Emigrate Gains Steam



For an artist with nearly 40 years of musical accomplishments including countless collaborations and millions of album sales under his belt, one would think that HOTEI has shown every side of himself to his fans. Yet, somehow, his new album Strangers (Spinefarm/Universal) feels like a new beginning. A debut of sorts, if you will.

Perhaps that’s because for as well as listeners know his music, they don’t really know him. He has been blazing a bath in his home country of Japan for decades, not only with his band Boøwy (who became the first male artists to top the album charts three times in a year), but also as a highly in-demand guitarist who has performed with artists such as David Bowie and The Rolling Stones. His introduction to a global audience was through his works being featured in on the screen in films like Transformers, Shrek, and Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (for which he wrote three original tracks). Of course, his most immediately identifiable work has to be his song “Battle Without Honor or Humanity” in the Quentin Tarantino epic double-puncher Kill Bill.

After many years he decided to make the switch and relocate to London, which breathed a new wave of inspiration into him. When it came time to create Strangers, his connections (and his new geography) served him well, having the opportunity to bring in a star-studded list of collaborators including a man who needs no introduction, Iggy Pop. Also appearing are Bullet For My Valentine frontman Matt Tuck, Noko of Apollo 440, and American singer Shea Seger. For the new single, “Move It,” Hotei enlisted Richard Z. Kruspe of industrial titans Rammstein and Emigrate to lend vocals and guitars to the song and the ensuing results are equal parts powerful, crunching, backbeats and slick, finessed guitar licks.


For the “Move It” video, Hotei and Kruspe keep it simple and rely on simply assaulting the camera with a crushing load of intensity, energy, and ownership of the film set. The black and white clip uses stark contrasts of light and dark, with a masterful execution of lighting taking what begins as two men in an open room and transforms it into a cinematic accomplishment. Both Hotei and Kruspe perform with an individual fury with an expertise that shows the many years and miles they’re traversed, but it’s in the select few shots when they stand side by side when the kinship between them is readily apparent and undeniably powerful.



Thursday 18 August 2016

BEAR HANDS Embark On Fall Tour With Foals



After a successful co-headline tour with Atlas Genius, BEAR HANDS is excited to be heading out on tour with UK’s Foals for a fall run of dates. Kicking off September 23rd at Seattle's Paramount Theater, the tour will be making stops at Los Angeles’ Palladium, New York’s United Palace Theatre, and many more along the way.

In addition to the tour, the band will be taking the stage at festivals like Austin City Limits and New Orleans’ Voodoo Music + Arts Experience. Full dates below. Bear Hands is Dylan Rau, TJ Orscher, Val Looper and Ted Feldman.

Bear Hands Tour Dates * w/ Foals # Festival Performance: 9/23 - Paramount Theater (Seattle, WA)* 9/24 - Crystal Ballroom (Portland, OR)* 9/26 - The Fox Theater (Oakland, CA)* 9/27 - Hollywood Palladium (Los Angeles, CA)* 10/03 - Granada (Dallas, TX)* 10/04 - White Oak Music Hall (Houston, TX)* 10/07 - Austin City Limits (Austin, TX) # 10/08 - The Aztec Theatre (San Antonio, TX)* 10/25 - Revolution (Fort Lauderdale, FL)* 10/26 - The Ritz Ybor (Tampa, FL)* 10/28 - Voodoo Music + Arts Experience (New Orleans, LA) # 10/31 - Electric Factory (Philadelphia, PA)* 11/01 - House Of Blues (Boston, MA)* 11/03 - Echostage (Washington, D.C.)* 11/04 - United Palace Theatre (New York, NY)* 11/05 - College Street Music Hall (New Haven, CT)* 11/07 - Sound Academy (Toronto, ON)* 11/09 - Riviera Theatre (Chicago, IL)*

GINGER WILDHEART hosts exclusive album listening party this Friday August 19th at 5.55pm GMT



This Friday evening August 19th at 5.55 pm, Ginger Wildheart is hosting a very special listening party on Pledge Music, so please tune in here www.pledgemusic.com/projects/round-records. You can also join in the fun on https://twitter.com/GingerWildheart with the hashtag #valor

“For new listeners and old supporters, we'll be having a listening party of my first three solo albums, this Friday (remixed/remastered).”

The Ginger Wildheart albums being played are: VALOR DEL CORAZON (remastered) Yoni (remixed and remastered) Market Harbour (remastered)

“I can honestly say that I've never listened to these albums in over 10 years. It's just something I never do. Now, with two albums having been remastered, and one remixed and remastered (the always sonically lacking Yoni) I'm genuinely excited to be going back to hearing these new versions together with you. And now, by using the hashtag #valor, I can finally read exactly what those songs mean to you. And vice versa. I'll be keeping my book handy for reference purposes, and I expect many questions from you about those albums, those songs and those times. We all shared them. Let's share them again, this time together.“ - Ginger

The albums are all released digitally on Friday 19th on the Round Records Pledge page and will be later released as a physical box set.

YELLOWCARD Release Second Single/Video “The Hurt Is Gone”



As we near the final stretch of 2017 with the end of the Summer, YELLOWCARD and their fans are bracing for the bittersweet release of their self-titled last album on September 30, 2016 and their farewell world tour. In preparation, Ryan Key, Sean Mackin, Ryan Mendez, and Josh Portman are releasing the new single and video “The Hurt Is Gone” - the follow-up to “Rest In Peace” which has racked up nearly one million views on Youtube since its debut one month ago.

“The Hurt Is Gone” is thematically about taking chances and accepting change in order to grow, no matter how painful. The theme mirrors the position in which the band is themselves, as they get ready for the next step in their own lives (“Change comes for you even if you’re hiding out / So wake to this truth and maybe you’ll believe me now”). It’s accompanying video – a montage of images zooming in and out of focus from the expansiveness of space to the intimacy of a couple lying in bed, can be viewed here:


With the wrap up of Vans Warped Tour last week, Yellowcard are taking a short time off to recharge one last time before they embark on their final world tour which kicks off in the US on October 6th in San Antonio, TX and runs through November 23 in Orlando, Florida where the band started twenty years ago (tour dates below).

YELLOWCARD will be released on September 30, 2016 via Hopeless Records and was self-produced by Ryan Key and guitarist Ryan Mendez with long-time ally and close friend Neal Avron as Executive Producer. Yellowcard is Ryan Key (vocals, guitars), Sean Mackin (violins), Ryan Mendez (guitar), and Josh Portman (bass).

Pre-order the album now:

Sick Of It All @ Voodoo Lounge Dublin. 17 August 2016. Live Review


Review by Pascal Derrien

There are days that are better than others and Wednesday 17th of August 2016 was one of them. Having had my Live Review pass cleared @ the entrance of the Voodoo Lounge I found myself buying a tonic water @ the bar and remembered that the last time I saw Sick of It All on stage was probably in 1991 somewhere in Belgium so there were a lot of expectations on my end.

Before the main act came on stage around 9.30 we had two local bands (Ireland) as appetizers: Breed the Killers with an interesting Misfits cover in their set and if you are a fan, you may just as well know that this was the last gig of their lead vocalist. Bailer followed and was definitely in a league above, charismatic singer and the songs are a bit more entertaining while honestly I cannot say I got overexcited by their performance either.

Voodoo Lounge is not super ideal for this type of bands and their audience especially. If you don’t like stage diving into concrete pillars. But before I speak about the band: one note about the audience who was in a very good spirit and not overly alcoholised (or else :)) which led everybody to enjoy the show comfortably. There was some happy diving and other nice gestures from the multifaceted crowd including a strong representation of NY HC fans.

Wow - it started very strongly from the get go. Lou Koller and his brother are so energetic on stage. It was refreshing, awesome - a killer gig, super-duper whatever word you may want to use. There is no escape from this in your face live act. It is fun too when Pete (guitar) seems entertain a private stage game with the bassist Craig on who will reach one corner the fastest. One thing for sure is that the four of them are super happy to be on stage and are building a strong relationship with their audience anything from cracking jokes, taking requests and even making sure everybody was safe during Wall of Death.

A lot of super titles, obviously Step Down, Sanctuary but also some good oldies from their first album made sure every fan had a great evening. What a show guys!!! I must say this was sleek and enthusiastic and it brought a smile to my face to witness the great communion between the band and the mosh pit but this is HC for you man you may say!! It really hit home and helped me to contextualize and realize why I have heard so many times: that some bands have instructed their booking agents not to pitch a slot with SOIA so much... Their energy level is high, easy to guess that poseurs would make a pale figure in comparison.

The level of integrity of this band, after all those years, is second to none and if I judge by the sweating aspect of the exercise you could load tons of buckets of integrity in the time they have spent on Dublin’s stage.

Fair to say that a lot of people had seen SOIA before Wednesday but for those who did not: there is no doubt they will do it again in the future and I think I would not be surprised if we were on our way towards a 35th anniversary tour :).

Listen - they keep getting better and better and Lou repeatedly thanked the crowd numerous times. But I cannot help thinking that Dublin is being by-passed so many times by bands... it should probably be us who should be grateful. I have enjoyed the show immensely and once the big lights were on they spent quite some time chatting, getting pictures or signing SOIA artefacts and various merchandising items with the folks who came to see them.

For that and for a super show: on behalf of us I want to say - THANK YOU LOU!

PS: if you have missed them I hate to say but....too bad :)







Wednesday 17 August 2016

NEW DIPLOMAT ANNOUNCE THE AUGUST 19 RELEASE OF BRAND NEW EP 'REPLACED'



San Francisco, CA: Indie electronic rock trio NEW DIPLOMAT announces the imminent release of brand new six-song EP Replaced on August 19.

The six-song EP was produced by uber-producer Jeff Saltzman, who is best known for his work with The Killers, Fischerspooner, Blondie and more. NEW DIPLOMAT’s individual musical influences, (The Killers, Muse, New Order, The Strokes) each lend a bit of unique flavor to the trio’s sound. NEW DIPLOMAT is: guitarist Paolo Von Giordano, vocalist/bassist Horacio O’Brien-Ferres and drummer/percussionist/synth player Jacob Hartog.

The band is also set to debut its brand new video for the EP’s first single, “Stay Up,” very soon. The video stars Dores André, soloist and principal dancer for the famous San Francisco Ballet, as a young woman plagued by her ability to see the “scorecard subtext” of her everyday encounters. The video was directed by Elliott Bastien Morin of 3Motion Creative.

The six songs on the EP will appeal to a wide audience: yes, NEW DIPLOMAT’s music rocks …but you can also dance to it. Saltzman’s “Killers-esque” influence can be heard throughout the EP, as well as the band’s various musical influences, such as New Order, Muse and The Strokes. It’s quintessential 21st century new wave at its finest.

“Working with Jeff Saltzman on this EP was amazing,” Von Giordano says. “He has this way of identifying a specific musical element that’s special, then seamlessly bringing it back throughout the song. For ‘Stay Up,’ we were messing around with synths at our studio. We were talking about finding a sound that had a certain unique quality, almost confrontational. As soon as we felt the song was ready, we made a demo and sent it to Jeff. He replied immediately with ‘Oh yeah, let's do this!’”

The band is also plotting out live show dates in select regional markets, starting with the trio’s native San Francisco. Stay tuned for news of those dates, as well as follow up singles and videos!

UK MC Devilman drops new live video via Brapp TV



To celebrate the launch of their new HD YouTube platform Brapp have teamed up with artists from the UK and US to create a series of live performance videos. The latest comes from Brummie MC and some time Skepta sparring partner, Devilman, who delivers a dark turn with his Body Transporter Freestyle, shot live in the basement of Sika Records Bristol HQ.

See him set fire to the Skinnzman beat here:


The video features as part of the launch series of Brapp TV - an innovative YouTube Platform launched last week by young entrepreneurial brothers Niki and Pavan Mukhi and Levent Ali, Raad Haider, the creators of global music social network Brapp, which is connecting thousands of rappers and producers across 90 different countries.

The Brapp TV YouTube platform will be the new home for Brapp’s long form music videos series: Brapp HD - featuring live one take performances by high calibre and emerging artists from around the world. Shot in 4k, the music video impressive aesthetic is achieved with exceptional cinematography, unique locations and high quality audio post production. The Brapp HD series launched last week with a live one take performance from high profile rapper and broadcaster Mikill Pane, who performed a version of his political underground hit ‘Trafalgar Square’, whilst circling Trafalgar Square in a Black Cab.

Brapp also became the first YouTube Platform to monetize audio from video content by creating a record label, launching ground-breaking record label Brapp Recordings. The record label launched in partnership with digital music distributor Believe Digital and will be dedicated to releasing audio tracks, recorded via Brapp’s growing video network. Acting as a one stop shop, Brapp will take care of post-production, promo and distribution, offering major label infrastructure, to many unsigned and emerging artists, but for a fairer share.

Pavan Mukhi stated: “We have already recorded 50 live music videos to start releasing in August 2016. We are going to release the audio from these performances via all the key music services including YouTube Red and well as Spotify, iTunes etc. We also are equally splitting the revenue with artists – something we firmly believe is the right way to do business. We are going to start releasing 3 music videos and singles a week with a global remit, one from the US, one UK and one International. It’s a very exciting time and a landmark moment in Brapp’s progression”

Brapp is also launching Brapp Recordings, a new record label, which will release audio recordings from the videos created by established and emerging artist using the Brapp TV and Brapp app platforms.

Brapp is a social platform that puts a powerful studio in your pocket, where producers can upload beats and anyone can record a 1 minute video on top, mix down the audio with powerful studio effects, add video filters and instantly share with your followers. Created by Niki and Pavan Mukhi (also a rapper in Foreign beggars) the app launched earlier this year and has already created thousands of collaboration between producers and musicians across 90 countries and praised in publications including The London Evening Standard and Daily Telegraph.

Tuesday 16 August 2016

The mighty SABATON on Roundhouse Radio tonight- Tune in!


The mighty SABATON are on Roundhouse Radio with Alex Irons tonight at 9pm GMT, discussing the brand new album ‘The Last Stand’.

Make sure to tune in here: www.roundhouse.org.uk/radio/player
The brand new SABATON album ‘The Last Stand’ is out this Friday 19th of August.

Step onto a jungle cruise with Coast Modern and explore the wonders of now



"Coast Modern debuted with "Hollow Life" and followed it up with "Animals" both jaunty, summery songs with lyrics that go deeper than you might think on first listen.

The Los Angeles duo's new single is "The Way It Was," and this time they introduce a surprising electronic element towards the end alongside their usual pop/rock blend.

"With so many songs about 'better times,' we thought there'd be no better time to write a song about the wetter times—the lush rainforest of the present. In such a turbulent era, it's easy to get stuck in the quicksand of nostalgia or tangled in vines of worry. Come on this jungle cruise with us as we explore the wonders of now...because we all know it's never gonna go back to the way it was."

Make sure you stick around past the three minute mark as you listen to the new track." - PIGEONS AND PLANES



Catch Coast Modern on tour this Fall:​​ September 2 - Bumbershoot - Seattle, WA September 19 - Wonder Ballroom - Portland, OR*** September 21 - Commodore - Vancouver, BC*** September 23 - Life is Beautiful - Las Vegas, NV ​September 25 - Gothic - Denver, Colorado*** September 27 - Varsity - Minneapolis, MN*** September 28 - Metro - Chicago, IL*** September 29 - Majestic Theatre - Detroit, MI September 30 - Phoenix - Toronto, ON*** October 1 - The Meadows - Flushing, NY October 4 - Royale - Boston, MA*** October 5 - TLA - Philadelphia, PA*** October 6 - 930 Club - Washington, DC*** October 8 - Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA*** October 9 - 3rd and Lindsley - Nashville, TN*** October 11 - Granada - Dallas, TX*** October 12 - White Oak - Houston, TX*** October 13 - Emo's - Austin TX*** October 16 - Observatory North Park - San Diego, CA*** October 17 - Observatory - Orange County, CA*** October 18 - Belasco Theatre - Los Angeles, CA*** ctober 19 - Warfield - San Francisco, CA*** *** supporting The Temper Trap​

CHEERLEADER Hits the Road This Fall with Caveman



Indie haze-pop quintet CHEERLEADER is excited to announce a brand new tour in support of their critically acclaimed debut album The Sunshine of Your Youth on Bright Antenna Records, kicking off on September 8 in Columbus, OH’s and circling around the States and wrapping up in Washington, DC on October 22. On this upcoming run supporting Caveman, Cheerleader also promises new material. “The past couple months have been spent writing new tunes,” says Joe Haller. “And some we’ll be playing live for the very first time!”

Hailed by LA’s KCRW as “straight-up power pop… [filled with] giddy joy, triumphant world-conquering optimism”, Cheerleader have been building up massive attention since they broke into the mainstream with their debut album. NYLON called it “your go-to record for blasting while you get ready to go out on a Friday night” while Modern Vinyl calls their music “infectious mix of hazy indie-pop and summer jam-worthy rock.” On the live circuit, these Philadelphians have built up a strong following playing alongside The Hold Steady, The Wombats, Knox Hamilton, Colony House, and Life In Film, with appearances at The Great Escape Festival, XPoNential Music Festival, SXSW and Firefly Music Festival.


Starting off in middle school when Haller jammed with Chris Duran in his parents’ basement, they eventually moved to Philadelphia and made a splash with a self-produced three-song demo in their apartment under the name Cheerleader. With an open road ahead, they augmented the band and added multi-instrumentalist Josh Pannepacker, Carl Bahner (drums) and Paul Impellizeri (bass), recording The Sunshine of Your Youth in Los Angeles with ten-time Grammy-nominated producer Mark Needham (The Killers, Walk The Moon, Fleetwood Mac). Following the Caveman tour, the band will finish writing and head into the studio to record the eagerly anticipated follow-up. "This is an exciting time for sure,” says Haller. “We’ve already grown so much over the past year and we can’t wait to bring these new songs to life on record!”

Sep 08 The Basement Columbus, OH Sep 09 Zanzabar Louisville, KY Sep 11 Schuba's Chicago, IL Sep 12 The Frequency Madison, WI Sep 13 Cactus Club Union Grove, WI Sep 14 7th Street Entry Minneapolis, MN Sep 16 Slowdown Omaha, NE Sep 17 Larimer Lounge Denver, CO Sep 18 Urban Lounge Salt Lake City, UT Sep 20 The Crocodile Seattle, WA Sep 21 Mississippi Studios Portland, OR Sep 23 The Chapel San Francisco, CA Sep 24 The Crepe Place Santa Cruz, CA Sep 25 Bootleg Theatre Los Angeles, CA Sep 26 The Casbah San Diego, CA Sep 28 Valley Bar Phoenix, AZ Sep 30 House Of Blues Dallas, TX Oct 04 The Masquerade Atlanta, GA Oct 05 Syndicate Lounge Birmingham, AL Oct 06 Hi-Ho Lounge New Orleans, LA Oct 10 Proud Larry's Oxford, MS Oct 11 12th & Porter Nashville, TN Oct 12 Woodward Theater Cincinnati, OH Oct 13 The Hi-Fi Indianapolis, IN Oct 14 Mahall's Lakewood, OH Oct 15 Marble Bar Detroit, MI Oct 16 Horseshoe Tavern Toronto, Canada Oct 18 Great Scott Allston, MA Oct 19 Ballroom at Outer Space Hamden, CT Oct 20 Music Hall of Williamsburg Brooklyn, NY Oct 21 Johnny Brenda's Philadelphia, PA Oct 22 DC 9 Washington, DC

The Commuters - Their new EP 'Before I Was Born' is here!



'Before I Was Born' is out last Friday. It’s getting great reviews... and it debuted at #3 on the iTunes Alternative Top EP’s and Singles chart!

The Commuters are also trying to make it onto this week's Billboard Chart for Alternative New Artists.

All purchases until Thursday night will count. You can listen to and buy the EP HERE. Or get it on any digital service that you use (iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc.)

DAYSHELL REVEAL NEW SONG "IMPROVISE"



DAYSHELL, featuring Shayley "Dayshell" Bourget, formerly of Of Mice & Men, can now reveal the new song "Improvise”. Listen HERE.

"Have you ever been in a relationship with someone and there comes a time and a place, where you have to give up on it... for them? It's about giving up to give in," said Shayley about the song.

DAYSHELL will release their second album Nexus on October 7 via Spinefarm. The band also dropped the brand new song "Car Sick." Fans who pre-order the album will get both "Car Sick" and "Improvise" as instant grat tracks.



The band is also touring the US this September and October with I The Mighty, Artifex Pereo, and Picturesque.

Monday 15 August 2016

DOPE Releases Official Music Video For "Hold On"



August 15, 2016 - DOPE has released their Music Video for the first Official Single, "Hold On," off of their long anticipated Blood Money Part 1 LP. Originally premiering on Revolver, Edsel Dope co-directed "Hold On" alongside his old friend and acclaimed video director Dale Rage Resteghini.

"I think that it's fair to say that Dope is one of the more evolved bands from our genre & time period," says Edsel. “Our new single, 'Hold On,' is a great example of this. It sounds like Dope, but it is clearly, very modern, and in no way reflects a band who is stuck in its past. The hooks are melodic and memorable, while the musicianship is on full display. I'm very proud of Dope's ability to walk that evolutionary line."

Scheduled to release 10/28 Via Entertainment One (eOne Music), Blood Money Part 1, along with a plethora of bundle packages, meet and greets, and exclusive new merch designs is available to pre-order at www.DopeTheBand.com, is available to pre-order NOW.

"This is by far, the most personal & vulnerable piece of art that I've ever released," says Edsel. "Unlike some of Dope's more theatrically driven works, "Hold On" is totally uninhibited, it is a reflection of my own personal story, told through a singular piece of art. Truthfully, this was a very difficult piece for me to complete at times; but, in the end, it has also been a very healing experience. I hope that the vulnerability and sincerity will resonate with people "

MISS LAVA: Portuguese Psychedelic Outfit Issues Cryptic New Video For "Another Beast Is Born"



Following the Small Stone Records release of their Sonic Debris LP in May, Portugal's MISS LAVA has just issued a new video from the record, created for the song "Another Beast Is Born." The clip is an adaptation of 1971 French film Don't Deliver Us From Evil (Mais Ne Nous Délivrez Pas Du Mal) by Joël Séria.

Offers vocalist Johnny Lee of the song, "In times like these is unbelievable how often we see people losing their lives by the hands of cold-hearted creatures who have no regard for human life. 'Another Beast Is Born' is our trip to hell to meet those creatures. It's a song with a touch of doom and black metal, a dark place we haven't explored before in MISS LAVA, a song with a big riff that still blows my mind, and is one of my favorites in the album." See MISS LAVA's "Another Beast Is Born" video RIGHT HERE.


MISS LAVA also begins a steady burst of Portuguese tour dates this week in support of the album, with shows booked throughout their home country from now through November, with many additional live shows to be continually announced in the weeks ahead.

MISS LAVA Tour Dates: 8/12/2016 Sonic Blast Moledo - Viana do Castelo, PT 9/03/2016 Festa do Avante - Seixal, PT 9/09/2016 Festival Reverence Valada - Valada, PT 9/15/2016 Stairway Club - Cascais, PT w/ Mondo Generator 9/17/2016 Texas Bar - Leiria, PT 10/01/2016 Festival Bardoada e AJCOI - Pinhal Novo, PT 10/08/2016 Festival Faro Alternativo - Faro, PT 10/28/2016 DRAC - Figueira da Foz, PT 10/29/2016 Club de Vila Real - Vila Real, PT 11/19/2016 Bafo de Baco - Loulé, PT

KAI HANSEN announces debut solo album and launches ‘Born Free’ video



Hot off the back of last week’s one-time performance at this year’s Wacken Open Air Festival, Kai Hansen premieres the official music video 'Born Free' - the track is taken from his debut solo album 'XXX – Three Decades In Metal'.

Watch the official music video for 'Born Free' here:


Shot at Chameleon Studios in Hamburg where the album also was recorded, the video for 'Born Free' perfectly captures the essence of the song. Starting with the line “Born in the city of Hamburg, in 1963…,” Kai sets the direction for his solo debut – a reference, a bow to his home town which is also represented in the images.

'XXX – Three Decades In Metal' features Hanson on vocals on all 10 songs and will be released as 1CD, 2CD Special Edition, 2LP and in digital format on September 16th via earMUSIC.

Hansen roars into the mic like his life depends on it – like a wild, unleashed beast – and breaks free with liberating screams. Add explosive guitar solos, heavy riffs and the stellar line up that is Alex Dietz (guitar player of Heaven Shall Burn) on bass, Eike Freese on guitar and phenomenal drummer Daniel Wilding (Carcass) to the mix, and you get everything you ever searched for in metal/hard rock.

Or as Hansen puts it in 'Born Free': “It made me feel so groovy – it gave me instant heat.” And thus a new metal hymn is born. A hymn that will get fans all over the globe to stand up proud and shout “I am BORN FREE – NO LIMITS IN THE SKY”.

PIG To Release "The Gospel" on Sept. 9th



“The sound of this record might have changed but all the ingredients used in previous albums are the same: Healthy doses of discipline, desire, delectation and delight,” explains post-rock frontman Raymond Watts about his new album THE GOSPEL (Metropolis Records; release date September 9, 2016). “Or if one refers to the ingredients as the bricks and mortar of making music - the instruments of daily torture such as drums and synths that deliver it, or the ideas and the oxygen for the flame to fan it - then nothing much has changed… and yet everything has changed.”

While seemingly contradictory and in opposition to its own existence, this dichotomy of thought is the fuel that feeds the gritty yet orchestral environment within exists. Over a decade since the release of 2004’s Pigmatyr, THE GOSPEL is a rebirth of sorts, transforming the band’s original post-industrial incarnation to an almost entirely different, dark-rock animal. Opening with the tolling of church bells, the first single “The Diamond Sinners” is a swanky midnight dancefloor track whose video PopMatters premieres this week and can be viewed here:


The “Diamond Sinners” single EP (released last week, Sept. 5) contains the album track as well as three remixes from industrial stalwarts SKOLD, tweaker, and Marc Heal. “Each of them have done a fabulous job and brought their own special flavour and a brand new way to love thy neighbor,” Watts explains about each of the remixers. “I am so thrilled and grateful to these guys that have dipped their trotters in the trough.” Each version adds a new take on the track and reimagines it in different lights. “The tweaker Remix” benefits from “a tempo change and several pulsating synths”, while the “SKOLD Remix” finds “semi-tame Viking” Tim Skold isolating the hook which “slides engagingly into your ear before burrowing deeper and setting up home there for evermore.” Marc Heal’s “MC Lord of The Flies Remix” turns it into a dancefloor banger, by “digging up the carcass of , giving it the kiss of life and a little CPR… bless his cotton socks.”

THE GOSPEL treks through different textures and rhythms, crafting a diverse album that finds itself diving deeper into the alt-rock territory of Iggy Pop and the Stooges than it does of ’s earlier post-industrial material. From the whiskey-drenched swank and howl of “Found in Filth” to the insidious and slinky grind of “Toleration Or Truth” to the swirling sweaty driving anthem of “I’m So Wrong”, it’s an album that defies simple categorization, punctuated by Watts’ distinctively dark growl. Co-written with Marc Thwaite (Peter Murphy) and Z.Marr (Combichrist) who also co-produces.and does double-duty with programming, guitars and additional vocals, is rounded out with Watt’s former KMFDM bandmates En Esch on programming, guitars, vocals and Guenter Schulz on guitar.

The 10+ years between Pigmartyr and THE GOSPEL has been a metamorphosis of sorts for Watts. Among the highlights once he put into hibernation included writing music for fashion and film for Chloe, Marios Schwab, Halston, The Row and the sound design for the exhibit Punk: Chaos to Couture at NYC’s Metropolitan Music of Art. But the most ground-breaking and perhaps most rewarding was his collaboration with the late and immensely celebrated fashion icon Alexander McQueen who commissioned Watts and his old Psychic TV partner-in-crime John Gosling to embellish the serene instrumental track “Inside” (from 's Genuine American Monster album). The fluid soundtrack to McQueen's masterpiece, Plato's Atlantis, the show was reprised after McQueen’s untimely death as the finale of Savage Beauty, the posthumous retrospective that broke all records at The Metropolitan Music of Art in New York and Victoria & Albert Museum in London. “Working on Savage Beauty was (and I don't mean this lightly) absolutely fantastic,” he explains. “To work with so many talented people from so many different fields all in the pursuit of showing Alexander McQueen's genius (a word often overused but not in this case) was an honour and a joy.”

With THE GOSPEL ready for release in September, will be hitting the road for the “American Excess Tour” throughout North America this Fall (tour dates below). “This tour will be a coming together of the old(er) and the new,” Watts explains about the tour’s planned setlist. “I never really feel as safe on stage as when I have a great big bald German to my left (En Esch) and to my right, Guenter Schulz, probably one of Germany's more amiable and memorable exports… my idea of heaven, and I'm just glad they're on my side. Also in the trenches with me are Galen Waling [drummer for Julien-K, Left Spine Down and formerly 16 Volt] and Z.Marr.” Supporting the tour will be En Esch's industrial/mutant/disco/zombie/art rock solo project Peter Turns Pirate with Combichrist drummer Joe Letz adding his DJ skills between sets. Available for purchase exclusively on this tour is the vinyl-only release RISE AND REPENT, containing additional remixes of tracks from THE GOSPEL and previously unreleased material.

Watts concludes, “I am now just looking forward to getting our rag tag bag of miscreants into shape so they can give birth to a on show that is fat, healthy and singing for its supper when he's off the noose and live and loose this September and October…. digging up a backyard near you.”

is Raymond Watts (vocals, programming, guitars), Z. Marr (programming, guitars, additional vocals), and En Esch (programming, guitars, additional vocals). THE GOSPEL will be released on September 9, 2016 via Metropolis Records.

HEY VIOLET TO RELEASE BRAND NEW MOVES EP ON AUGUST 16TH VIA VIRGIN RECORDS



Alt pop band Hey Violet will release a new EP, titled Brand New Moves, on August 16th via Virgin Records. The five-track set is available for pre-order through all digital partners today. Those who pre-order now will receive an instant download of their new single “Brand New Moves.” To accompany the track the animated, stop motion video featuring the band has just premiered on their VEVO channel. Check it out:


With a loyal and passionate fanbase built through non-stop touring, as well as their well-received debut EP, 2015’s I Can Feel It, Hey Violet are excited to reveal their bold, new, synth-driven sound with Brand New Moves. The L.A.-based band have been in the studio for the past six months co-writing the songs with producer Julian Bunetta. “We’re ready and excited to share this new material with our fans’ says lead singer Rena Lovelis, who has stepped up to assume frontwoman duties. “we love this sound with more synths and drums that sound really fat and big, it’s got a groove”.

The band played two sold out shows in London last year as well as supporting 5 Seconds To Summer at Wembley Arena. A new UK tour will be announced shortly.

Hey Violet — which is Rena, her sister Nia Lovelis (drums), Miranda Miller(keys, vocals) and Casey Moreta (lead guitar) — have been playing together for several years, and making music individually since they were old enough to ask for lessons. Hey Violet got their first taste of rock stardom last year when thousands of kids poured into the streets of Europe and the UK at their spontaneous acoustic sets documented here. On iTunes I Can Feel It went to No. 1 in five countries, including the U.K., and Top 5 in 10 other countries.

The track-listing for the Brand New Moves EP is as follows:

Brand New Move
Fuqboi
Pure
Brand New Moves (Stripped Version)
Brand New Moves (Nomekop Remix)