If Wes Craven was a genre of music, it would be New Years Day. For the most part, Ash Costello and gang have depended on a recipe of heartbreak mixed in with edgy guitars and a punk rock attitude. On their fourth release Unbreakable (Another Century) they break free from their comfort zone with a more confident, electro-fused, uplifting follow-up.Continue reading
Hot on the heels of announcing an extensive European tour, The Picturebooks have announced they will act as the direct support to Clutch in November and December as well. The band is currently in the studio recording the follow-up to last year’s Home Is a Heartache (Another Century).Continue reading
Cast your misconceptions aside; it’s fine, you don’t have to pretend you don’t have them, I know you do. Yes, it’s Scott Stapp (wasn’t he the guy from Creed who ended up out ‘there’, homeless and bankrupt and blah blah blah?) and, yes, it’s Bumblefoot (wasn’t he the guitarist in Guns n’ Roses when they were shit and blah blah blah?) and aren’t they uncool, and all that other bollocks that clouds the judgement and blah blah blah becomes far too important for far too many people…?
Yes.
And, to quote the immortal… So fucking what?Continue reading
Cursed (Another Century) hits a lot harder than Wyoming Metalcore quintet Righteous Vendetta’s past works, such as the Lawless (Red Cord) album and the Defiance EP (Street Smart). Sadly, though, it is an album that falls short of their promising reputation, and, yes, it is a heavy album, but upping the ante seems to have cost them their originality.Continue reading
Gütersloh may be a long way from the Louisiana swamps, but German two-piece The Picturebooks sound like they were born and raised on nothing but the Blues along the Mississippi. The band’s sophomore release and début for Another Century, Home Is A Heartache, is raw Blues Rock stripped to the bare essentials; a fuzzy guitar, stomping drums, and soulful vocals.Continue reading
Describing themselves as ‘Hauntedmansioncore’, it is hard to call New Years Day anything other than unique. Their gothic style has won them masses of fans from across the world and their third album Malevolence (Another Century) will be released in early October.
Opening track ‘Kill Or Be Killed’ is quite simply a catchy rock song, full of distorted guitars and angry lyrics. Ash Costello’s clean vocals are extremely powerful, demanding the full attention of the listener. Although from a first glance their music and image may just seem to appeal to teenagers there is much more to New Years Day than meets the eye, and their music is sophisticated enough for even the older generation to enjoy.
‘Relentless’ features lyrics which prove that Ash and co. will not be brought down by rumours and drama with other bands: “They are fixated on bringing down my name, the grudges that you hold have no effect on me.” This song is almost empowering and proves that New Years Day are definitely here to stay.
One song which is sure to appeal to the younger generation is ‘Anthem Of The Unwanted’. The group vocals are catchy and almost impossible not to sing along to. There is also an unmissable vibe of teenage rebellion and anarchy incorporated into this song, and it would probably be extremely easy for Ash to influence a new wave of youngsters into the gothic/horror scene.
Title-track ‘Malevolence’ sounds as though it was taken from an upcoming horror movie due to the haunting riffs and Ash’s dominant clean vocals. Their macabre yet upbeat music is unlike anything you will have ever heard.
Malevolence is New Years Day’s most sophisticated and impressive album yet. It is clear to see that the California-based group are still able to write powerful and almost addictive rock anthems which will appeal to fans both young and old.
7.5/10
JULIA CONOPO
Long running specialty metal label Century Media Records has been acquired by Sony Music Entertainment for 17 Million dollars. Although not yet confirmed by the label themselves, this news has been long rumored and now reported by Music Business Worldwide, a reputable industry source of news.
Launching the careers of countless commercial and critically successful rock and metal groups, the label was founded in 1988 by Robert Kampf with co-owner Oliver Withöft coming on a year and a half later. Withöft died in 2014.
Century Media’s parent company, The Century Family has several sub-labels under its umbrella such as Another Century, InsideOut Music, People Like You, and Superball.
Los Angeles rock band ÆGES have signed a worldwide recording deal with Another Century (Century Media imprint) and are current recording their new full length album with producer Bob Marlette (Black Sabbath, Rob Zombie).
Band vocalist/guitarist Kemble Walters stated:
“We’re all excited to announce our signing to Another Century. We’ve seen what they’ve done with their other artists and can’t wait to see what they’ve got planned for us. We are currently in the studio with Bob Marlette making a slamming record. We definitely didn’t skimp out on the nasty riffs and fat hooks! 2015 has been amazing and 2016 is going to be an even bigger year for us. Believe me when I say ‘we’re all buckled up and ready to roll!’”
In the meantime, the band has a brief tour supporting Local H:
Jun 12: The Loving Touch – Ferndale, MI
Jun 13: Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH
Jun 14: Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA
Jun 16: Mojo 13 – Wilmington, DE
Jun 17: Great Scott – Allston, MA
Jun 18: The Met – Pawtucket, RI
Jun 19: Saint Vitus – Brooklyn, NY
Jun 20: Rock and Roll Hotel – Washington, DC
Jun 22: Cat’s Cradle – Carrboro, NC
Jun 23: The Mothlight – Asheville, NC
Jun 24: The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Jun 25: Saturn – Birmingham, AL
Jun 26: EXIT/IN – Nashville, TN
Jun 27: Cosmic Charlie’s – Lexington, KY
Jun 29: Lyric Room – Green Bay, WI
Jul 01: Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI
ALBUM III in the works. #Repost @drummermikeland with @repostapp.・・・Need more guitars #aegesalbum3
Posted by ÆGES on Wednesday, May 6, 2015
The Bloodline is streaming their music video for “Poisonous,” off of their newly released debut album We Are One, out now via Another Century/Century Media.
Art Of Anarchy, the new ‘supergroup’ featuring Guns N Roses guitarist Bumblefoot, Disturbed bassist John Moyer, guitarist Jon Votta, drummer Vince Votta, and vocalist Scott Weiland, is streaming a music video for “Till The Dust Is Gone,” off of their self titled debut, out via Another Century on June 2, 2015.