Swedish metal visionaries EVERGREY release video for 'Ominous'

Photo Credit: Patric Ullaeus

Swedish metal veterans EVERGREY, known for their dark and profound compositions, have unveiled a haunting new video for their captivating song 'Ominous'.

The song is from their latest and highly acclaimed chart-topping opus, A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), which entered the charts worldwide at #3 in Sweden (Metal), #5 in the United States (Top New Artist Albums), #7 in Finland, and #12 in Germany. The gripping new visual for 'Ominous' marks the closure of this chapter, with EVERGREY more than ready to head into new sonic territory.

Watch 'Ominous' video here: https://youtu.be/4qrKa-D6rzM

EVERGREY’s journey shows no sign of slowing down – a new album will be released this year. Stay tuned for more exciting news coming soon!

Throughout 30 years of existence, Gothenburg’s finest export of darkness has gathered numerous worldwide chart positions with thirteen studio albums in total, enthralling fans around the globe. The band, centred around mastermind Tom S. Englund, has been a consistent presence in the metal scene, leaving an indelible mark with their powerful performances, also appearing at renowned festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Bloodstock, Summer Breeze and Graspop.

EVERGREY state: “This is the last song to be released as a stunning feature film-like video from the Heartless Portrait album, however, it is at the same time also the beginning. This will become much clearer VERY soon! Stay excited! :D”

Get your copy of A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) here: https://lnk.to/Evergrey-FDDTHP/napalmrecords

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), the follow-up to the unit’s highly successful 2021 full-length, Escape of the Phoenix (which landed at numerous chart positions worldwide), reveals a 10 track mélange of which every note, every riff and every word seeps pure poetry – creating a ceaseless intensity that mesmerises from the very first second.

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) was recorded at Top Floor Studios Gothenburg, engineered by Jakob Herrman and produced by Tom S. Englund and Jonas Ekdahl, with mixing and mastering by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios (Volbeat, Destruction, Epica and many more), whereas the hauntingly beautiful album artwork was conjured by Giannis Nakos at Remedy Art Design. Nakos is known for creating artworks for acts like Oceans Of Slumber, Amaranthe, The Agonist and The Crown, as well as merchandise for Morbid Angel, Suffocation and Cryptopsy – just to name a few.

Since their very first record, 1998’s The Dark Discovery, the Swedish entity around founder, singer and guitarist Tom S. Englund - one of the most distinctive vocals in metal - has enthralled fans and critics alike with their matchless skill in merging progressive heaviness with intense melodic metal, topped by gripping lyrics that run shivers down one’s spine. To date, the band has gathered numerous worldwide chart positions with thirteen studio albums in total, and in 2022, the five-piece proved again - even after 30 years of existence - that their creativity sees no bounds with the release of the flawless A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament).

EVERGREY are:
Tom S. Englund - Vocals, Guitar
Henrik Danhage - Guitar
Rikard Zander - Keyboard
Jonas Ekdahl - Drums
Johan Niemann - Bass

EVERGREY online:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Napalm Records

A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament) tracklisting:

1. Save Us
2. Midwinter Calls
3. Ominous
4. Call Out the Dark
5. The Orphean Testament
6. Reawakening
7. The Great Unwashed
8. Heartless
9. Blindfolded
10.Wildfires

Hold Tight!
Hunter Oliveri releases new single 'Novocain'

18-year-old talent Hunter Oliveri has released a video for his new single ‘Novocain', out now via Spinefarm. It's a raunchy, grungy, guitar-driven banger with equally evocative lyrical bite. 

The video was self-shot by Oliveri and his friends, and the fish-eye lens captures the IRL good times had by a bunch of teenage friends throughout the day. It's gloriously low budget, but big vibes.

[Please contact hannah@holdtight.co for the WAV or MP3 for radio airplay.]

Check out the video for 'Novocain' here: https://youtu.be/GtDkbMFgFak

Stream 'Novocain' here: https://hunteroliveri.lnk.to/Novocain

"'Novocain' is about how the world is going to hell and we're embracing it," Oliveri explains. “Leaning into the void. Everyone has a good nature to an extent but most people just seem soulless and numb nowadays due to the overstimulation, oversaturation, and overcommercialisation of everything."

Regarding the accompanying video, Oliveri adds: "I directed the 'Novocain' video with my homie Corbin. It's special to me because even though it wasn't a big budget video - the most expensive part was the Slurpees - it does capture me and my friends hanging around just like we do every day. It felt really normal and like 'us.' Our day-to-day. There was minimal prep and planning. We just did what we thought felt good in the moment."

Check out Hunter Oliveri's recent singles:

'Dumb': https://youtu.be/x7obPYX9_Y0
'Spiraling Out': https://youtu.be/AqplJRVGyO0
'Stranger': https://youtu.be/l4G2QbuWruA

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/hunteroliveri/
https://www.tiktok.com/@hunteroliveri/
https://www.youtube.com/@HunterOliveri/

Hold Tight!
TURIN announce new album, stream single ft. Enterprise Earth

Photo Credit: JWA Creations
L-R: Davey (Guitar), Ben (Drums), Daz (Vocals), James (Bass), Hayden (Guitar)

UK Heavyweights of Misery, the intense & visceral TURIN (formerly This Is Turin), announce their new album The Unforgiving Reality In Nothing, an unflinching glimpse into the harsh realities of what it means to be human, mental health, the loss of faith and struggling to let go of trauma in a desperate attempt to find yourself.

TURIN says, "As well as it being an acronym for TURIN it's been at the heart of this album's concept for all the lyrics. All five of us have been in situations where we act like nothing's wrong or bothering us, the reality of doing that is unforgiving. It harms us. It can impact those around us and often the reality of the situation doesn't change until we speak up and look for support. In some cases, forgiveness. We wrote this song at the tail end of the COVID lockdown in the UK as a way for us to reinvent our sound and push forward with whatever the next stage of this band would be, what came from it was a new album and a new drive to evolve what we have."

New single 'Loss' is a self-reflective view of losing a fundamental part of yourself that made you human. Clawing at the hope of being saved through any means but being ultimately abandoned with the video being shot when fellow MNRK Heavy labelmate Travis Worland (Enterprise Earth) was touring the UK on their recent UK & EU tour with Suffocation.

Watch here: https://youtu.be/lSyXmENz828
Stream and pre-order the record here: https://turin.ffm.to/theunforgivingrealityinnothingalbum

The band worked with one of the UK’s finest heavy metal producers & multiple Heavy Music Awards nominee Lewis Johns (Loathe, Rolo Tomassi, Ithaca, Employed To Serve, Svalbard, Conjurer, Pupil Slicer) creating a milestone in the bands long history in the metal scene, a pure evolution of their sound and writing ability to define a new chapter for UK Deathcore.

Influenced by a diverse range of extreme music subgenres, TURIN are known for their bludgeoning live shows, earning them Kerrang’s MCN Live Award with appearances at the UK’s top festivals such as Bloodstock Open Air and Techfest plus supports with Martyr Defiled, Decapitated, Within Destruction, Hacktivist, Ingested, SikTh, Origin, Dragged Into Sunlight and a collab with Thy Art Is Murder’s CJ McMahon on 2020's ‘Misery’.

TURIN are:

Daz: vocals
Davey: guitar
Hayden: guitar
James: bass
Ben: drums

TURIN online:
www.facebook.com/thisisturin
www.instagram.com/thisisturin
www.tiktok.com/@turinofficial

The Unforgiving Reality In Nothing tracklisting:

1. Envy
2. Abyssal
3. I Am The Truth
4. Apostate
5. Ghost
6. Reflections
7. The Unforgiving Reality In Nothing
8. Loss
9. Hopeless Solutions
10. Our Reality In Nothing

Hold Tight!
German heavy metal legends ACCEPT reveal second single / video 'The Reckoning'

Photo Credit: Christoph Vohler

Iconic heavy metal institution ACCEPT have released their second new single, 'The Reckoning', taken from their highly-anticipated album, Humanoid, out 26th April via Napalm Records. The dark accompanying music video channels ACCEPT’s captivating live energy and matches the sinister instrumentation and apocalyptic lyrics of the track. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/yV8USmxRzw0

Pre-order the album here: https://lnk.to/ACCEPT-Humanoid/napalmrecords

Guitarist Wolf Hoffmann comments on 'The Reckoning': "We’re thrilled to release ‘The Reckoning’ as our second single. It’s is one of our favorites from the new album: hard-hitting, solid metal with lyrics about a poignant life theme. We hope the fans enjoy it as much as we do! “

The first international breakout heavy metal band from Germany, ACCEPT have influenced an entire generation of bands. Founded in 1976, ACCEPT has remained at the top of the scene with countless sold-out shows, headline slots at all major international festivals, Gold certifications, #1 chart positions and a colossal number of albums sold throughout the years.

Once again finalised by leading metal producer Andy Sneap (Judas Priest, Amon Amarth, Testament, Saxon, etc.) at his Backstage Recording Studios Ltd. in Derbyshire, UK, Humanoid is a towering musical achievement and another world class entry in the ACCEPT catalogue, certain to rally fans from around the world. Humanoid will be available in various formats worldwide, some strictly limited.

Humanoid joins absolute genre classics like Balls To The Wall, certified Gold in USA and Canada, Metal Heart, and newer masterpieces like Blood of the Nations and the #1 charting album Blind Rage. Their albums regularly place in national Top 10 sales charts, with global sales in excess of 17 million to date.

Humanoid track list:

1    Diving Into Sin
2    Humanoid
3    Frankenstein
4    Man Up
5    The Reckoning
6    Nobody Gets Out Alive
7    Ravages Of Time
8    Unbreakable
9    Mind Games
10    Straight Up Jack
11    Southside Of Hell

ACCEPT have never shied away from hot button issues, and this album is no exception. Yet the band’s 17th studio album is certainly not a concept album. It deals with topics like AI and how our reliance on technology is gradually stripping away our individuality. ACCEPT offers a warning in this new album and title track single Humanoid. Since singer Mark Tornillo will never be an advocate for the digital age, he counterbalances the title track with raw emotions, frailties, significant Rites of Passage we encounter on the path of life and characteristics that make us uniquely human: feeling uncomfortable, getting older, dealing with hurt, disappointment, and the final stop for everyone: death.

Humanoid is a ferociously electrifying, dynamic and subtly nuanced platter with tongue in cheek humour, as heard in biblical references on 'The Reckoning' – an ode to concert audiences – a thrilling new spin on the “Frankenstein” story and 'Straight Up Jack' – a track that surely would have been a Bon Scott approved drinking song.

The opening track 'Diving into Sin' gives listeners a hair-raising energetic jolt with its Middle Eastern influenced intro, and an almost aggressive, screaming vocal from Tornillo setting the rest of the album up for a most bountiful feast. 'Unbreakable' is as much about the band as it is the bond between ACCEPT and their fans, in the concert arena – an easy going “Hey, let’s do this” kind of rock song. 'Mind Games' on the other hand, has a vintage feel, circa 'Metal Heart'. 'No One Gets Out Alive' seems tailor-made for live shows. It says that regardless of life's circumstances, rich, famous, or not, death is the great equaliser. Upbeat and aggressive with guitar interplay, 'Southside Of Hell' ends the disc with a wonderful bit of wordplay, courtesy of Tornillo.

South American Headline Tour:
29.04.24 UY – Montevideo / Complejo Sala Show
01.05.24 BR – Sao Paulo / Carioca Club
03.05.24 AR – Buenos Aires / Teatro Flores
05.05.24 CL – Santiago / Coliseo
07.05.24 PE – Lima / CC Festiva
09.05.24 CO – Bogota / Royal Center
11.05.24 SV – San Salvador / Gimnasio Adolfo Pineda Santa Tecla
13.05.24 MX – Mexico City / Circo Volador
 
European Headline Tour:
17.10.24 TR – Istanbul / KCP
28.10.24 FR – Toulouse / Le Bikini
29.10.24 FR – Lyon / Transbordeur
31.10.24 BE – Antwerp / Trix
01.11.24 FR – Paris / Elysee Montmartre
02.11.24 CH – Lausanne / Les Docks
03.11.24 CH – Zurich / Komplex
05.11.24 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage
06.11.24 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle
07.11.24 DE – Langen / Stadthalle
09.11.24 AT – Vienna / Simm City
12.11.24 DE – Munich / Backstage
13.11.24 DE – Berlin / Huxleys
15.11.24 DE – Neu-Ulm / Ratiopharm Arena
16.11.24 DE – Geiselwind / Eventcenter
21.11.24 DE – Bremen / Aladin
25.11.24 NO – Oslo / Rockefeller
26.11.24 SE – Gothenburg / Trädgår’n
29.11.24 SE – Karlstad / Nöjesfabriken
30.11.24 SE – Stockholm / Fryshuset
 
Festivals 2024:
05.-08.06.24 PL – Gdansk / Mystic Festival
19.-22.06.24 DK – Copenhagen / Copenhell
20.-22.06.24 ES – Cartagena / Rock Imperium Festival
26.-29.06.24 ES – Viveiro / Resurrection Festival
27.-30.06.24 FR – Clisson / Hellfest 
11.-15.07.24 HU – Dunaújváros / Rockmaraton
12.-14.07.24 BG – Mogilovo / Midalidare Rock in the Wine Valley
14.07.24 CZ – Visovice / Masters Of Rock
20.07.24 DE – Pyras / Pyras Open Air
21.07.24 GR – Athens / Release Athens
31.07.-03.08.24 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air
01.-03.08.24 SE – Rejmyre / Skogsröjet
20.10.24 ES – Mallorca / Full Metal Holidays
 
Tickets available HERE

ACCEPT are:
Wolf Hoffmann – guitar
Mark Tornillo – vocals
Uwe Lulis – guitar
Martin Motnik – bass
Christopher Williams – drums

ACCEPT online:
THE INTERACTIVE HUMANOID EXPERIENCE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
VK
TIKTOK
NAPALM RECORDS

Hold Tight!
Dark folk / prog artist Marjana Semkina (Iamthemorning) announces new album and streams first single

Photo Credit: Kate Demina

Progressive dark folk artist Marjana Semkina has announced the release her second solo LP - Sirin - on 31st May 2024 along with a Kickstarter campaign. She has also unveiled the first single 'We Are The Ocean' along with a stunning lyric video.

Watch the lyric video for 'We Are The Ocean' here: https://youtu.be/hR90R1oKC2c

Pre-order Sirin here: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/marjanasemkina/sirin

Known for her work as the vocalist of prog duo Iamthemorning, self-exiled Russian Marjana has forged a successful solo career with two critically acclaimed solo releases: her 2020 debut solo album Sleepwalking, and 2021 follow-up EP Disillusioned. Like its predecessors, Sirin is a journey of dark stories and fairy tales, told with Marjana’s uniquely captivating voice, on a foundation of detailed musical arrangements. However there is a prevailing darkness and grief, inspired by of Russian invasion of Ukraine, with the first single about by the protests.

On new single 'We Are The Ocean' Marjana comments: "This song was inspired by all of my Russian friends coming out to protest against the war when it started, despite the fact that there was a very good chance they’d get arrested for doing so – a lot did in the end. I wrote lyrics to this song on a train to one of those protests in London, Trafalgar Square in early March 2022."

On the album Sirin, she continues: "Sirin is a mythical creature from ancient Slavic mythology, half-bird half-woman, she's a harbinger of bad luck and death, and it's believed that if you meet Sirin a big catastrophe will happen - except in case with the events surrounding this album it's already happened. Sirin cries and mourns for humankind, and nothing can be more appropriate in this day and age. Sirin is one of very few creatures that can travel between worlds - a world of gods of light, a world of dark deities (in some versions an alternative to the underworld) and a world of mortals. This felt appropriate because the album is quite diverse in sound and some might think parts of it sound happy, but the subject matter is almost always quite morbid, which creates a contrast that I enjoy.

"I was never very political and I always tried to keep my art within the realms of lore, literature and imagination. But when events like the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine happen, it is impossible - and I'd even say, unforgivable - to stay silent and do nothing. Thankfully being based in the UK I feel rather safe speaking out against the current regime and I do have a platform that I can use to try and show the world that Russians disagree with the actions of the Russian government, and there are so many of us that only wish for this to be over. I'm just trying to show it in the most artistic way I can muster."


Now permanently based in the UK, Marjana has been an active campaigner against the Russian occupation in Ukraine and has raised thousands of pounds via her activities to support the victims of war. She will continue her work, including selling a number of a limited run of handwritten lyrics from Sirin, with the money going to Ukrainian charities. Acts punishable by 15 years imprisonment should she return home.
 
Marjana is joined by an array of world class musicians (detailed below), which includes two very special guest vocal performances from Jim Grey (Caligula’s Horse) and Mick Moss (Antimatter).
 
Marjana has previously collaborated with many incredible artists, including The Flower KingsJordan RudessBlackbriar, as well as Anna Murphy with their Maer project. Combined with her work in Iamthemorning, her experiences have enabled her to become one of the most unique and exciting solo artists in the progressive world today. 
 
Recording musicians:
Grigoriy Losenkov - piano, bass guitar, synths, drum programming
Vlad Avy - electric guitar, synths, drum programming
Keli Guðjónsson (Agent Fresco) - drums 
Charlie Cawood (Medieval baebes, Knifeworld) - acoustic guitar, bouzouki, glockenspiel, hammered dulcimer, luiqin, guzheng
Liam McLaughlin (Sithu aye, IATM) - electric guitar
Margarita Chernyshevskaya - 1st Violin 
Petr Chepelev  - 2nd Violin 
Julia Uliashcenkova - Viola 
Julia Romashko - Cello 
 

Marjana Semkina online:
https://www.patreon.com/marjanasemkina
https://marjanasemkina.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/marjanasemkina
https://twitter.com/marjanasemkina

Sirin track list:

01 We Are The Ocean 
02 Lost But At Peace   
03 Anything But Sleep (feat. Jim Grey)           
04 Pygmalion  
05 Angel Street           
06 Gone           
07 Death And The Maiden (feat. Mick Moss)  
08 The Storm  
09 Swan Song  
10 This Silence This Dreaming

Hold Tight!
UK doomgaze Sugar Horse announce new album, new single 'New Dead Elvis'

The monolithically heavy, uniquely mercurial UK quartet Sugar Horse are proud to announce their new album Grand Scheme Of Things, to be released 4th October via Pelagic Records.

In celebration, Sugar Horse have unveiled their new single 'New Dead Elvis' (Pelagic Records).

Stream the single and pre-order the record here: https://orcd.co/sugarhorse
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/F4O-G5dEps8

In the words of Sugar Horse: "This song is about reflecting on celebrity culture around death and its glorification, immediately following the death of my father. There is a romanticisation of “the tortured artist” or “the biblical hedonist” that follows celebrity and music culture around that I find pretty appalling. It’s something that I believe is responsible for the deaths of a large number of some of the most profoundly talented people that have ever graced this miserable planet and it should be prevented as soon as possible…

"Alas, the mob want their blood and I fear it shall persist until the sun swallows us."


On Grand Scheme Of Things, Sugar Horse comment: "This album was intended to be a sideways step. A move away from the kind of thing that is expected of us… if anything is at all. What I mean by that, is the songs are more direct. They take a much shorter amount of time to “get to the point”. We also wanted to make this one noticeably “less Metal”. While we love being a bit boneheaded and confrontational, we definitely wanted to explore the more melodic, song-based side of the band’s sound. Normally you’d see shortened song structures and more singing and think “Oh these guys are going for gold….they wanna get on the radio and make millions of bloodstained pounds.” Well…you’re very much entitled to think that if you wish, but it felt like more of a songwriting challenge than anything else to be honest. We’ve done the whole drawn out, endless Space Rock thing a good few times now and it would’ve been easy to rest on those laurels. Do something we’re comfortable with. Alas, that is not really the point of this band. We’d much prefer to make it difficult and take the long route."

The new single and album news follow Sugar Horse's titanic split 7'' with new labelmates LLNN, and previous EP Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico.

Stream and purchase the 7'' here: https://orcd.co/llnn-sugarhorse
Order and stream Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico here: https://li.sten.to/Consequences

An epic and ambitious achievement, Truth... is, in signature Sugar Horse style, one single long song: a meditation and exploration of everything the note A has to offer.

Sugar Horse have recently toured with LLNN, and previously with post-rock luminaries 65daysofstatic across Europe, as well as dates with Pianos Become The Teeth, Liturgy, Chat Pile and an appearance at ArcTanGent festival.

A lot of people take the name Sugar Horse to be a drug reference - perhaps fitting for a band that sound like the last moments of a three-day binge. Darting wildly between dark/light, pain/bliss, sacred/profane, Sugar Horse are unpredictable and unrestrained.

Formed in what is now considered to be the utopian dreamscape of 2015, the band grew slowly at first. Far from fully formed, but steadily gaining limbs, heads and vital organs. Finally, 2019’s DRUJ followed swiftly by 2020’s DRUGS saw them hit on a relentless stride of eclectic releases that simultaneously confused and entranced audiences.

2021 saw the band encamp in a former Lutheran church to record their debut album, The Live Long After, releasing it via Brighton’s own Small Pond Records. Publications such as The Quietus describing the record as “shift[ing] dispositions fluidly, taking elements of extreme aggression alongside floaty Post-Metal” and Echoes & Dust calling it “a monumental achievement”. The album took every disparate element that Sugar Horse previously employed and amplified them, while juxtaposing each next to each other, with genuinely unpredictable and exciting consequences.

2022 saw no relent from the band’s fast paced release schedule, as they put out an anthemic shoegaze single in 'Pictures Of Dogs Having Sex', followed swiftly by their collaborative Waterloo Teeth EP. A release that paired Sugar Horse’s terrifying eclecticism with guest appearances from twelve other artists in just four short(ish) songs. Each artist coming from a different area of the modern British music scene, whether that be world conquering post-punk bass lines from IDLESAdam Devonshire, heavy titans Conjurer and Pupil Slicer’s throat crippling wails, or a shredding guitar solo from Biffy Clyro/Oceansize axe wielder Mike Vennart. The EP packs in an album’s worth of genre mutilating twists and turns into just 25 minutes of music.

Sugar Horse are:

Ashley Tubb (Vocals/Guitar)
Jake Healy (Baritone Guitar, Keyboards)
Chris Howarth (Bass)
Martin Savage (Drums)

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/sugarhorseruinedmybirthday
https://www.instagram.com/sugarhorse.are.awful
https://twitter.com/sugarhorse666

Hold Tight!
Bears in Trees bright new single 'I Wanna Feel Calm'

Croydon’s self-professed DIY “dirtbag boyband”, Bears in Trees, have released their upbeat new single 'I Wanna Feel Calm'. The track is the third glimpse into their upcoming album How to Build an Ocean: Instructions, due for release on 26th April via I Sure Hope It Does

Check out the video for 'I Wanna Feel Calm' here: https://youtu.be/79YFVp2sogA

Stream 'I Wanna Feel Calm' here: https://orcd.co/iwannafeelcalm

Pre-order/pre-save How to Build and Ocean: Instructions here: https://orcd.co/howtobuildanocean-instructions

The feel-good tune follows on from gritty and urgent indie-punk ‘Hot Chocolate’, animated earworm ‘Things That Look Like Mistakes’, and the declaration of a co-headline tour with New Jersey indie rockers, The Happy Fits in spring.

“I want to cherish every insignificance” vocalist Iain Gillespie declares in the deceptively chirpy tune. Dedicated to the loved ones that pulled Iain out of the deep pits of being burned out, ‘I Wanna Feel Calm’ is a warm reminder to lean on your support networks, and that suffering in silence will be to your own detriment.

“I wrote this when I felt burnt out from self-improvement,” they say, “In the process of being ‘better’, I started to only see the parts of me that weren’t ‘good enough’. It became too much, and the guilt made me want to return to an earlier, more chaotic version of myself. As I reconnected with people I let go, I started to let myself be. Getting out of my head and being around people I loved brought me out of that headspace.” 

Bears in Trees will embark on a UK/European co-headline tour with New Jersey indie rockers The Happy Fits in April/May. Support for the UK dates comes from indie darling Lexie Carroll.

UK dates are as follows:

Apr 23: Birmingham XOYO 
Apr 24: Newcastle Riverside 
Apr 26: Glasgow Garage 
Apr 27: Manchester Club Academy 
Apr 28: Leeds Stylus 
Apr 29: Bristol The Fleece
May 01: London KOKO

Tickets are on sale here: https://bearsintrees.com/pages/live

The upcoming album, How to Build an Ocean: Instructions, is a project doused in personal conflict, but simultaneously a love letter to the normal and how beauty can be found in just being. Charged with references to literature, philosophy and film, as well as first hand experiences, the band explore thoughts of what it means to find purpose when everything feels purposeless, all whilst ultimately instructing themselves to find “small joys in the face of cosmic indifference.” Produced by George Perks (Enter Shikari, The Doves, You Me At Six), How to Build an Ocean: Instructions marks an exciting new development for Bears in Trees, being the first album they’ve recorded with the help of consultants outside of the band themselves, having previously relied on drummer George’s expertise, who outside of the band, works as an engineer at Subfrantic Studios

Tenderness, triumph, and a totally unashamed feeling of enjoying the ride whilst they're on it, How to Build an Ocean: Instructions is their definitive statement. Though no matter how far this record takes them, the most important thing is that they are together and doing what they love. Because when all is said and done, that's the connection that will last a lifetime. "We started the band because we loved hanging out with our friends and wanted to make stupid music together," Iain concludes. "That's always been the reason, and it hasn't changed. All we want to do is make what we do as honest and authentic as possible. That's what it means to be in the Bears in Trees business."

Connoisseurs of the digital age, the band built their reputation themselves from scratch, foregoing the traditional media routes and climbing the social media ropes. They obtained millions of likes on TikTok and engaged with their fanbase proactively on Discord and Patreon, before ever dipping their toes in the music industry support pool. This impressive knowledge of navigating internet culture, paired with their vivacious, comedic charm, and easy listening and bright bops have earned them a passionate and loyal following of  ‘sandboxes’ (the allocated fanbase name), saw them sell out London’s Electric Ballroom and play alongside artists such as Pale Waves, NOAHFINNCE, Waterparks, The Maine and Lovejoy, as well as scoring festival slots at Slam Dunk, 2000trees, Community and many more.

Bears in Trees are:

Callum Litchfield – vocals, ukulele, piano (he/him)
Iain Gillespie – vocals, bass guitar (they/them)
Nick Peters – guitar (he/him)
George Berry – drums (he/him)

For more information:
https://bearsintrees.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@bearsintrees
https://www.facebook.com/bearsintrees
https://twitter.com/bearsintrees
https://www.instagram.com/bearsintrees
https://www.youtube.com/c/BearsinTrees
https://discord.com/invite/thesandbox
https://bearsintreesofficial.bandcamp.com

How to Build an Ocean: Instructions tracklist: 

1. Your Favourite Coat
2. Things That Look Like Mistakes
3. Injured Crow
4. I Don’t See Anything I Don’t Like About You
5. All You Get Is Confetti
6. Tai Chi With My Dad
7. I Wanna Feel Calm
8. Henry Says
9. Hot Chocolate
10. Nothing Cures Melancholy Like Looking at Maps
11. We Don’t Speak Anymore
12 I Don’t Wanna Be Angry

Hold Tight!
Australian dual bass prog trio The Omnific announce new album and stream new single

The world’s most prominent bass driven instrumental rock act, Australia’s The Omnific, return with their second album, The Law Of Augmenting Returns, an audacious and magnificent triumph - to be released on 7th June 2024 via Wild Thing Records

Pre-Order/Pre-Save: ffm.to/lawofaugmentingreturns

The Omnific are also celebrating the release of their latest single and album lead - the nostalgic and heroic adventure of ‘Base Camp’, and newly minted EU/UK Tour for July & August 2024.

'Base Camp' - Music Video: youtu.be/ltupPV5cX2s

The Law Of Augmenting Returns explores the notion that the more effort you invest in your artistry, the greater the rewards you reap. This powerful trinity of bass and drums pushed their creative boundaries to unprecedented heights; a tremendous body of work transpired, traversing the intense, the emotionally charged, and the humorous, appealing to a wide range of musical palates. 

Bassist Matt Fack explains, The Law Of Augmenting Returns is the culmination of the experience and knowledge learnt and embodied in the 8 years of our existence as a band. With our creative mindset to incorporate new ideas adhered to the core principle of bass, this album paints the story of the band’s past, present, and beyond.”

The production team of critically acclaimed debut record Escapades (2021) reassembled for the release, including Adam Bentley (mixing, Arch Echo), Ermin Hamidovic (mastering, Periphery), and Josh Saunders (artwork); with the majority of programming handled by the band’s own Matt Fack

The origin of ‘Base Camp’ began with an emotional piano motif (the track’s first line heard), later to be adapted for two bass guitars. Bassist Matt Fack was inspired by the heroism of heroes, the adventures they partake, and their inevitable return to ‘Base Camp’. Fack proclaims, “In what could be described, as the defining song of a new era of musical possibilities to come from us, ‘Base Camp’ takes you on a journey to the top of the mountain, and back.” The music video was captured by acclaimed directors Jamie McVicker & Declan Blackall (Plini, The Omnific - ‘Phat Mackerel’), and filmed in Jervis Bay, south of Sydney. Co-director McVicker recollects, “We felt a particular feeling of homecoming as an emotional through-line to the song. The hero returns from their travels, to see a world renewed by the change in consciousness brought on by the adventure”, akin to the story of The Omnific

The Omnific will be trailblazing their way through Europe & the UK, heading on their first ever summer festival run, alongside their most extensive array of headline shows in Europe to date. They’ll be making highly anticipated debut appearances at festivals; RADAR (UK), Vagos (PT), Brutal Assault (CZ), Arctangent (UK), and Fekete Zaj (HU). Led by their two other-worldly intertwining bassists, Matt Fack & Toby Peterson-Stewart, and backed by flamboyant drummer Jerome Lematua, The Bass Boys will be bringing a full tank of charisma, showmanship, and unbelievable technical performances from down under. 

Tour Dates:
28-Jul - United Kingdom - Manchester - Radar Festival
30-Jul - Germany - Oberhausen - Druckluft 
01-Aug - Spain - Barcelona - Razzmatazz 3
02-Aug - Spain - Madrid - Wurlitzer 
03-Aug - Portugal - Vagos - Vagos Metal Fest
04-Aug - Spain - Portugalete - Groove
06-Aug - Italy - Milan - Slaughter Club
08-Aug - Slovakia - Bratislava - Pink Whale
09-Aug - Czech Republic - Josefov - Brutal Assault Festival
10-Aug - Poland - Warsaw - Chmury
12-Aug - Germany - Hamburg - Hafenklang
14-Aug - Netherlands - Nijmegen - Merleyn 
16-Aug - United Kingdom - Bristol - Arctangent Festival
18-Aug - Hungary - Gyöngyös - Fekete Zaj Festival

Tickets On Sale Now - theomnific.com

About - The Omnific:

The Omnific are a breathtaking progressive instrumental trio, hailing from Melbourne, Australia. 

Following the release of three groundbreaking EPs - Sonorous (2016), Kismet (2017), The Minds Eye (2019) - the band attracted interest, and fans from all corners of the globe. Their 2021 debut album Escapades achieved international critical acclaim - landing #3 on the Australian AIR Independent Album Charts, and cementing their status as torchbearers of the next generation of progressive rock and metal. Clay Gober of Polyphia featured on the single ‘Antecedent’, exceeding a combined 1 million plays on YouTube & Spotify. In 2023, the group went from strength to strength; supporting Polyphia in Australia, and Ne Obliviscaris in Europe and North America, capping off with a landmark 46-date world tour in support of single ‘Phat Mackerel’ - including festivals Euroblast (DE), Reeperbahn (DE), and Bigsound (AU). The group kickstarted 2024 with Mongolia’s The HU in Australia, profiling their outrageous musical versatility - which dives through prog, metal, djent, funk, synth-driven soundscapes, and more. The Omnific have also toured with renowned artists such as Between The Buried And Me, Intervals, Galactic Empire, Twelve Foot Ninja, and Cog

“a bright future for the instrumental outfit” - Metal Hammer (UK)
“a veritable masterclass in the art of the bass player” - Prog Magazine (UK)
“The Omnific never cease to entice, excite and amaze” - The Music (AU)

FollowThe Omnific:
Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp |YouTube|Twitter|Spotify
 
FollowWild Thing Records:
Web | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Spotify | YouTube

01.    The Omnific ≈ Bass (Feat. Tim Waurick and Luke Taylor of Heartline)
02.    The Law Of Augmenting Returns (Feat. Charles Berthoud and Kai Den Hertog)
03.    Matrices
04.    Base Camp
05.    Will-O’-The-Wisp
06.    Phat Mackerel
07.    Butterfingers
08.    Double Malt Ditty (Feat. Rohan Sharma)

Hold Tight!
Rising hard rock stars Nestor announce new album and stream single

Photo Credit: Henrik Mill

Get ready to embark on a journey through time as rising 80s rock purveyors NESTOR announce their electrifying, long-awaited new album, Teenage Rebel, via Napalm Records, out 31st May 2024. Hailing from the vibrant music scene in Sweden, NESTOR take you straight back to the golden age of rock music, wearing influences ranging from Bon Jovi and Aerosmith to Journey and Foreigner on their denim sleeves. 

NESTOR return in full force with their newest single 'Victorious' - an anthemic masterpiece combining powerful vocals with dynamic instrumentals, promising to creep into the listener’s head and lead as a fan favourite at their energetic live shows. The track is accompanied by one of the band’s trademark high-quality official videos, which occurs as a cinematic short film of incredible production value – so crank up the volume to pure nostalgia levels.

Watch 'Victorious' here: https://youtu.be/8rmvICJFFFE

Pre-order Teenage Rebel here: https://lnk.to/NESTOR-TeenageRebel/napalmrecords

NESTOR comment: “’Victorious’ is about following your heart and refusing to give up! This device has been a guideline since we started back in the late 80’s and it feels great to sum it up in a song like ‘Victorious’.”

NESTOR turn back time and reigns supreme as one of the hottest newcomers of modern rock music, with millions of streams on Spotify and hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube to boot. They’ve shared stages with the almighty Alice Cooper, greats like Def Leppard or Europe and were even supporting the legendary KISS in Stockholm on their 2022 stadium tour.

Having formed in 1989 only to fall into hibernation over three long decades, NESTOR emerged stronger than ever in 2021 with their debut album, Kids in a Ghost Town, marking the band's triumphant return to the spotlight and captivating fans with their timeless sound and unmatched energy.

The new album, Teenage Rebel, sets off with a captivating intro-monologue spoken by Danish voice actress Freya Miller, creating a retro, rebellious atmosphere that sets the mood for the album and prepares the stage for the opening track 'We Come Alive' - a true blast of an opener. Rhythmic guitars create an exciting backdrop for the gripping vocals of frontman Tobias Gustavsson, leading towards an incredible guitar solo by guitar hero Jonny Wemmenstedt. The album's title track, 'Teenage Rebel', convinces with tight riffing and an anthem-like chorus honoring the tradition of 80s hard rock. '21' is a wild ride celebrating the ease of youth. NESTOR also prove their ability to shift from big stadium anthems to their emotional side on tracks like 'Caroline', convincing with catchy melody and passionate vocals, while Wemmenstedt demonstrates his insane skills once again as he tops the song with another stunning solo. Touching ballads like 'Last To Know', “Daughter” and 'The One That Got Away' present an even more vulnerable facet, reaching straight for the listener’s heart with yearning lyrics, while tracks like 'Addicted To Your Love' and 'Unchain My Heart' celebrate love, youth and the joy of being naïve. 

NESTOR on their new masterpiece: “The album Teenage Rebel takes place in the glory days when we were young, confident and the future was filled with endless possibilities but also how we reflect on these days today. In many ways it’s the sequel to Kids in a Ghost Town and we can’t wait for you to hear it.”

“NESTOR have surpassed themselves with Teenage Rebel!” - Rock It, DE

Teenage Rebel is your hard rock elixir of youth!” - Metalized, DK

NESTOR are:
Tobias Gustavsson - vocals
Jonny Wemmenstedt - guitar
Mattias Carlsson - drums
Marcus Åblad - bass
Martin Frejinger - keyboards

NESTOR online: 
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Napalm Records

Teenage Rebel tracklist:

01. The Law Of Jante (featuring Freya Miller)
02. We Come Alive
03 Teenage Rebel
04. Last To Know
05. Victorious
06. Caroline
07. The One That Got Away
08. Addicted To Your Love
09. 21
10. Unchain My Heart
11. Daughter

Hold Tight!