Tag Archives: rock and metal news

Sweet Cobra Signs To Magic Bullet, New Album Soon

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Chicago’s Sweet Cobra have signed to Magic Bullet Records and they have also completed their long-awaited new album, Earth, due out later this spring. The album was created with producers Matt Talbot of Hum and Kurt Ballou of Converge. Recorded at Talbot’s studio Earth Analog Studios near Chamapign Illinois, and mixed at Ballou’s Godcity Studios in Salem MA, Earth also features guest musical contributions from each producer/artist. This will be the first album of new music from the group since 2010’s acclaimed Mercy album.

Magic Bullet Records Owner Brent Eyestone commented on Earth:

“Holy hell… it’s completely badass! Kind of a new sound for the band; catchier, and I can see the appeal of the sound being much broader than their previous output. I get similar feelings from the best Queens of the Stone Age, Quicksand, and Young Widows records… super catchy slabs of heaviness.”

Sweet Cobra Tour Dates

March 27th Drunken Donut – Joliet, IL

March 28th Melody Inn – Indianapolis, IN w/ Kvlthammer

April 4th The Burlington – Chicago, IL w/ Auxes

April 25th Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI w/ Hum, Cloakroom (SOLD OUT)

http://www.facebook.com/sweetcobra

http://instagram.com/sweetcobraband/

http://sweetcobra.bandcamp.com/

http://www.magicbulletrecords.com

http://www.facebook.com/magicbulletrecords

http://twitter.com/magicbulletrecs


Rockers Raise Awareness of Save Your Hearing Campaign

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Cancer Bats

Cancer Bats

 

Bands such as Cancer Bats, The Blackout and While She Sleeps have lent their voices to campaign for greater Hearing Awareness for the Save Your Hearing Campaign and the dangers of not wearing ear protection at concerts. Each band has united with online retailer Allearplugs.com in conjunction with Tinnitus Awareness Week (#Tinnitus) which was last week in the UK. According to Action on Hearing Loss, As of 2011, 10 million people in the UK suffered some form of hearing loss, with that figure expected to reach 14.5 million by 2031. About 10 per cent of the population have also experienced tinnitus, a debilitating condition frequently caused by excessive noise, and common amongst rock stars. To do their part and pitch in each band shared positive messages about using hearing protection at concerts with their respective fan bases via social media and other methods to help get the word out. For more information, visit http://www.allearplugs.com/help-centre/save-your-hearing-campaign.aspx

 

The Blackout

The Blackout

 

While She Sleeps

While She Sleeps

 

Press Notes

THE BLACKOUT, CANCER BATS AND WHILE SHE SLEEPS THROW WEIGHT BEHIND HEARING SAFETY CAMPAIGN

Online retailer Allearplugs.com has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of the potential damage that can be done if you expose your hearing to persistently loud noises. To kick start the campaign three of the rock world’s most celebrated bands lending their support, urging fans to wear ear protection whenever they attend gigs.

Hardcore punkers Cancer Bats, Welsh post-hardcore act The Blackout and Sheffield metalcore mob While She Sleeps have all thrown their weight behind the campaign, sending out messages to their substantial online following.

An average rock concert has been measured by Action on Hearing Loss as being around 115dB, 35dB over what’s considered the ‘danger level’. This is enough to start causing damage after less than ten minutes – barely enough for three songs, let alone a whole evening.

According to a report from Action on Hearing Loss, awareness is still low, with on 34 per cent of the young people surveyed believing that hearing loss would affect their lives in some way, and 88 per cent disagreeing that music is played too loudly at gigs/concerts. Some participants even believed that the ‘type of ear’ was to blame for hearing loss. 90% per cent of young people have experienced ringing in their ears – an early sign of damage – at least once.

 


Tairrie B To Release First Hip-Hop Album In Over 20 Years

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Tairrie B with My Ruin, photo by Brianna Norton

Tairrie B with My Ruin, photo by Brianna Norton

In a series of posts to Facebook, Tairrie B. Murphy, aka Tairrie B has revealed that she is working on her first full-length solo-album of original hip-hop music in over 20 years, titled Vintage Curses, planned for release as a Free Mixtape. No release date or other information is available at this time. Before her long and acclaimed career as a rock and metal artist with bands she has led such as Manhole (later Tura Satana), and My Ruin, Tairrie was a ground-breaking West Coast rapper, and signed to CompTown/Ruthless Records in the late 80s. As a protege to NWA’s Eazy-E, she released her critical and commercial smash The Power of A Woman album in 1990. Tairrie helped influence a generation of female artists across several different genres, a feat few artists can claim. Since shifting gears into heavy music in the early 90s, Tairrie has remained consistent with her album releases and touring since, while staying true to her roots while occasionally releasing rap singles, covers and collaborations, as well as her poetry project with her husband Mick Murphy, The LVRS. Tairrie will also appear on a project with Mick, the all-star Teenage Time Killers (Rise Records). On the future of My Ruin, she remarked:

“My Ruin‬ is not over. As long as we are together, we will always be a band and if or when the time is right to play a show, tour or make another record again, we will. In the meantime, Mick has a few things he is busy working on behind the scenes and I am currently conjuring various elements and images to accompany my upcoming release which is coming soon.”

Tairrie B of My ruin The power of a woman cover at

My Ruin’s last release was The Sacred Mood in 2013, and the band spent time touring Western Europe in 2014 to support that album.


Legendary Label Music For Nations Returns To Life

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MFN logo

Long revered at one of the preeminent music labels that helped put all sorts of metal bands on the map, Music For Nations, is returning to life in 2015 with a series of reissues and new music in the form of 7” and digital single releases from new bands too. Their first new release will be a massive box set of Anathema’s MFN catalog with a 3 CD/DVD package and limited edition vinyl of the album releases too. Other prominent upcoming releases from the label include MFN stalwarts such as Paradise Lost’s back catalog remastered. Opeth’s three seminal albums, Blackwater Park, Damnation & Deliverance special editions. Spiritual Beggar’s back catalog released on LP for the first time, as well as Cradle of Filth and other MFN artists to be confirmed shortly.

Anathema, photo by Scarlet Page

Anathema, photo by Scarlet Page

First time Digital Releases of MFN titles include:

Paradise Lost – One Second

Spiritual Beggars – Another Way to Shine

Spiritual Beggars – Mantra III

Spiritual Beggars – Ad Astra

Hardcore Superstar – Bad Sneakers and a Pina Colada

Hardcore Superstar – No Regrets

Hardcore Superstar – Thank you (For Letting us be Ourselves)

Firebird – Deluxe

Inme – Overgrown Eden

Sugarcoma – Becoming Something Else

Lost Horizon – Awakening The World

Lost Horizon – A Flame to the Ground Beneath

Elend – Umbersun

El Caco – Viva

 

Press Notes:

Music For Nations, the celebrated and legendary Heavy Metal, Rock and Prog record label has returned.

In a series of reissues, the label will be celebrating some of the most iconic records by some of the World’s most influential bands. As well as reissues, the label will be signing new artists for the first time in over a decade.

Music For Nations importance cannot be under estimated. Either signing, exclusively distributing or collaborating with artist including Metallica, Tool, Slayer, Opeth, Cradle of Filth, Anathema, Entombed, Poison, WASP, Frank Zappa. As well as licensing deals with some of the seminal labels including Metal Blade, Peaceville and Rise Above.

Ever headbanged?

Chances are it was to a track released on Music for Nations.

Music For Nations.

Old Label.

New Danger.

Music for Nations:
Official store: http://smarturl.it/MFN_Store
FaceBook: http://smarturl.it/MFN_FB
Twitter: http://smarturl.it/MFN_T
Instagram: http://smarturl.it/MFN_Insta
YouTube: http://smarturl.it/MFN_YT
Spotify: http://smarturl.it/MFN_Sp


Metal Alliance Tour Announces Brutal Line Up with Deicide

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Metal Alliance Admat5

After months of fan speculation, the 5th annual Metal Alliance Tour has announced is line-up for 2015, which will be headlined by Deicide. Most often the Metal Alliance tours have had a genre theme to their line-ups and this years’ is decidedly death metal with Entombed AD, Hate Eternal, Black Crown Initiate and one more band TBA. Dates are said to run May through June with confirmed routing and on-sale information for tickets coming soon.

 

Press Notes:

Deicide to Headline The 5th Annual Metal Alliance Tour

The Metal Alliance Tour is proud to celebrate its 5th year anniversary of being of being one of the most anticipated metal tours of the year. Each year this touring festival assembles a package that celebrates the various genres of Metal. It is with great honor to celebrate this 5 year hallmark than to announce DEICIDE, the pioneers of the death metal as the official Metal Alliance Tour 2015 headliner.

The tour will be rounded out by Stockholm, Sweden natives ENTOMBED AD, Tampa’s own HATE ETERNAL, BLACK CROWN INITIATEand a band to be determined.

The Metal Alliance Tour will make the trek across United States and Canada starting on the east coast in May and ending late June. Confirmed dates and advance ticket sale info will be announce shortly. Poster artwork done by the truly talented Brian Mercer atwww.mercerrock.com

For more information please visit the Metal Alliance Tour website: www.MetalAllainceTour.com orwww.facebook.com/metalalliancetour


Roadburn 2015 Musical Lineup Complete

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roadburn 15 house of the holistic final poster

 

The 2015 Roadburn Festival has announced today that their lineup of musical artists is complete with the Enslaved and Wardruna-curated “Houses of the Holistic” day finalized. In addition to the highly-anticipated performance of Nordic tribute Skuggsjá, added to the bill are Fields of the Nephilim, Virus, Sólstafir; BardSpec (the ambient music side-project of Ivar of Enslaved) as well as performances from Enslaved and Wardruna separately. Ivar Bjørnson and Einar Selvik each commented:

“I’ve got to admit to feeling a streak of melancholy as our ‘Houses of the Holistic’ is completed with so many wonderful bands. It is humbling to have been given the honor of curating the Roadburn Friday, and also it has been a process that has given me a massive boost of belief in, and love for, this music scene that we’re all rambling around in: every invited band has been massively supportive and enthusiastic in accepting our invites. It is also important for me to extend a massive thank you to my two main co-conspirators in this evil planning: Einar Kvitrafn of Wardruna, my co-curator and musical sparring partner par excellence. And then of course Dr. Evil himself: Walter from the Roadburn organization itself – for guiding us through the process and for having faith in our abilities. After all, we are musicians and shouldn’t be trusted with too much grown-up stuff haha! See you all in Tilburg!” — Ivar Bjørnson

“The line-up for our curated Roadburn day is now complete and I personally think it is insanely good! ‘Houses of the Holistic’ will display a broad variety of acts that despite the spectrum of expressions and genres still manage to compliment each other as well as firmly grip to a solid red line. It will also reflect the curators and their past, present and future. A huge thanks goes out to Roadburn, and of course my partner in crime Ivar Bjørnson. It has been a pleasure and honor to work on this so far and the festival haven’t even started!” – Einar Selvik

In addition to Einar hosting a workshop on his creative process, Roadburn 15 features can’t miss events seen nowhere else such as Anathema hosting a career-spanning set, countless other incredible music acts, artists in residence The Heads (Wayne Maskell, Hugo Morgan, Simon Price, and Paul Allen), films, exhibits and much more. Tickets are said to be moving briskly so get yours while they last!

 

Buy Tickets to Roadburn Festival 2015


Barishi Tapped To Open The First Leg of the Felix Martin US Tour

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Vermont based avant-garde prog metallers Barishi have been chosen as one of the national openers for 14 string guitar-wizard Felix Martin’s US tour. The run of dates lasting over a month kicks-off tonight in Los Angeles. Mixing equal parts At The Drive In, Tool and The Dillinger Escape Plan, the band has a refined sound and an explosive stage show that is not to be missed. Stinking Lizaveta and Dyse will also be performing on select dates. Check out their recent video for ‘Smoke From The Earth’ below:

 

 

Press Notes:

BARISHI recently released the Endless Howl EP, the follow-up to 2013’s acclaimed self-titled full-length. The band’s new effort is a brilliant mix of progressive metal dynamics and inventive hardcore harshness that is at once creative, melodic, and captivating. The Endless Howl EP is streaming in its entirety and available for purchase at http://barishi.bandcamp.com/album/endless-howl-ep

barishi live

www.facebook.com/barishiband

www.youtube.com/user/atlatlband


Former KMFDM Front Man Releases New Single

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EN_ESCH_SPANK-COVER-620x400

 

En Esch, best known as the front man of industrial band KMFDM has launched his solo career. He has offered his new single ‘12345’, featuring Tim Skold on guitar (Marilyn Manson), for FREE download here. His new album SPÄNK! is due out next week from Distortion Productions.

 

 

Press Notes:

For Immediate Release

February 3rd 2015-Industrial music icon En Esch

Over the years, En Esch had been a part of many major super groups in the industrial genre including KMFDM, Pigface and his own band Slick Idiot. His larger than life persona has made his live performances a very memorable experience for fans worldwide. SPÄNK is the long awaited follow up to his previous solo record, Cheesy (1993). Esch enlisted the talents from different corners of electronic music for this album. Guest appearances by Tim Skold (KMFDM, Marilyn Manson, Skold), Guenter Schulz (Ex KMFDM, Slick Idiot), Jim Marcus (Die Warzau,Go Fight), More Machine Than Man, Trixy Reiss (Crystal Method) and many more give this album a varied and refreshing style. Spank! will be released on February 10th on Distortion Productions.

EnEsch3

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Stagewear Designer to Rock stars launches Kickstarter for Retail Line

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Los Angeles based clothing designer Lindsay Hearts has built as career as a designer to famous musicians, basing her clothes off of the music that inspired her. Now she has launched a Kickstarter Campaign to begin creating a line for the public, made and manufactured in Downtown L.A. The campaign begin early this week and runs until mid-March:

 

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From the Press Release:

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with music and personal style. My favorite pieces to make have always been leather jackets – they instantly transform your look and energy the second you slip one on. I am so excited to make this dream a reality while creating jobs in America and maintaining the integrity of my vision.”

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/midnightlady/lindsay-hearts-fashion-launch-made-in-los-angeles

www.LindsayHearts.com

Lindsay Hearts on Facebook

Lindsay Hearts on Twitter

Lindsay Hearts on Instagram

 


The Steepwater Band Prep Retrospective Album, New Music and Tour

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Chicago rockers The Steepwater Band wave goodbye to their past while celebrating their future with a new track and video ‘Hard As Stone’. with their forthcoming retrospective album Diamond Days: The Best of The Steepwater Band 2006-2014 (Sun Pedal Recordings/WMG). The take of Hard As Stone is a newly recorded version of their most memorable tracks, as it marks the debut of the band’s newest member, guitarist Eric Saylors. The band is also plotting a new album for 2015 as well.

Press Notes

The Steepwater Band, a blaring rock ‘n’ roll group from the windy city has released a new music video for their song “Hard As Stone (2015)”. It was shot and edited by Jon Richey of VUture Visions and filmed at Crushtone Studios in Cleveland, OH where the band recorded the song with platinum producer Jim Wirt (Incubus,Fionna Apple, Buffalo Killers). The unique “behind the scenes” footage gives fans an inside look into the song making process. Check it out now at Relix .

“Hard As Stone (2015)” is a new recording of an old fan favorite and will be on Diamond Days: The Best of The Steepwater Band 2006-2014, a “best of” collection that also features eight remastered tracks and a new song called “Silver Lining”. The record will be released digitally and on CD via Sun Pedal Recordings (Warner Music Group) on 2/17. A vinyl release is scheduled in April of 2015 and all three are currently available forpre-order along with limited merch that is exclusive to this release.

“‘Hard As Stone’ is an older tune of ours that we pumped some new life into with the new re-recorded version,” says vocalist/guitarist Jeff Massey. “Lyrically, its about dealing with loss, whether it be a relationship, a death, or just rolling with change, in general. It’s a song that always stood out for us as a band, mainly because our music is generally a heavier blues based sound. ‘Hard As Stone’ is stylistically a bit different than our other material. The song opened up new doors and possibilities for our music.”

“Silver Lining” and “Hard As Stone (2015)” will be the first studio recordings with the band’s newest member, guitarist Eric Saylors. The “best of” will be a sneak peek of the group’s new sound before they release a brand new full-length album next year.”

 

diamond days steepwater band cover

UPCOMING TOUR DATES

12/31/14 Chicago, IL – House of Blues w/ Led Zeppelin 2

01/03/15 Porter, IN – Leroy’s

02/05/15 Newport, KY – Southgate House Revival

02/06/15 Whitesburg, KY – Summit City Lounge

02/07/15 Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre

02.08/15 Athens, GA – New Earth Music Hall

02/12/15 Phoenix, AZ – Rhythm Room

02/13/15 Los Angeles, CA – The Mint

02/15/15 San Diego, CA – Soda Bar

02/18/15 San Francisco, CA – Biscuits and Blues

02/19/15 Sacramento, CA – Torch Club

02/20/15 Crystal Bay, NV – Crystal Bay Club Casino

02/21/15 Santa Cruz, CA – The Pocket

02/23/15 Salt Lake City, UT – Bleu Bistro

02/24/15 Salt Lake City, UT – Bleu Bistro

02/28/15 St Louis, MO – Beale On Broadway

03/20/15 Detroit, MI – Hopcat

03/21/15 Benton Harbor, MI – The Livery

03/25/15 Des Moines, IA – Val Air Ballroom

03/26/15 Sioux City, IA – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

04/24/15 Schuylkill, PA – Some Kind Of Jam 10

05/23/15 Indianapolis, IN – Rathskeller

07/02/15 Ozark, PA – Highberry Festival

The Steepwater Band Links

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