January 2018


French death/thrash/hardcore group, DeathAwaits, have announced the first of their 2018 "French Psycho Tour" with support coming from Karma Zero, Gohrgone and Slaughterers. This will be preceded with their appearance at the Amarok Metal Festival in Nantes on March 9, 2018. The band are currently on the hunt for a new drummer but the upcoming dates will have the seat filled by talented session player Tommy Bonnevialle and rest assured, the band will still seriously kick-ass. More dates are expected to be announced soon but for now, here’s what’s lined-up:

TOUR DATES:

Festival
Mar 09 | Nantes, France | at Amarok Metal Festival

French Psycho Tour Dates
Mar 30 | Clermont-Ferrand, France
Mar 31 | Lyon, France
Apr 14 | Paris, France
Apr 19 | Rennes, France
Apr 20 | Nantes, France
Apr 21 | Cholet, France

All French Psycho Tour Date with Karma Zero + Gohrgone + Slaughterers

More dates to be announced!


Estonian band Evestus have published a video for the track "Welcome To My World" which was selected from approximately 300 applicants to compete at Eesti Laul competition along with 19 other artists, which will select Estonia’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2018. Evestus call their track post-apocalypse pop, inviting the listener to take a look at the world we’ve created before we blow this planet up again. In the last 10 years, this was the first time an industrial artist is considered to represent Estonia at ESC. "Welcome to My World" is taken from the band’s upcoming album. Check out the video at this location: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAuFkKLq4Yw&feature=youtu.be.


The Silent Scream have announced their signing with MASD Records. Here is what they had to say:
"We are extremely happy and proud to join the roster of MASD records, a label young but extremely efficient and promising, which places the artist at the center of everything and which has also taken an immediate understanding on the human level as well as on the professional..."

The Silent Scream are a metal band born in Bologna in 2015 from the meeting between the guitarist and drummer Claudia Stark Pier Depau. The group undergoes various changes in the line and then stabilized with the arrival of Alessandro Gori on guitar, Gabriele Madau on vocals and finally Fabio Costa on bass. The genus proposed by the group is a classic heavy energy and melodic metal. The band has performed in various contexts including two editions of the 3 Days In Rock (2016 and 2017) and Bologna historical stages of the underground like Freakout Club and Alchemy Music Club. At the end of 2017, the band completed the recording of 'debut EP "My Dark Side" and the beginning of 2018 signed his first recording contract with the label MASD Records.


Phantom Winter has released a new song called "Frostcoven".

The band comments on the new track: "Frostcoven is some kind of ode to everyone who is different and weird, to every witch, every devil, every demon and person who does not give up, who does not stop ripping halos from angels, who endangers her- or himself even if she or he knows, that they are tilting at windmills."

Check it here: https://youtu.be/qO5QTkjy0WM.


URBANGARDE will release their 10th anniversary album Shoujo Fiction ("Girl Fiction") on April 4, 2018.

Since the 2008 release of Shoujo wa Nido Shinu ("Girls Only Live Twice"), which introduced vocalist Yoko Hamasaki as a bloody, sword-wielding schoolgirl in “Don’t Take Off Your Sailor Fuku“, URBANGARDE has built a dedicated international following for their outrageous visuals and challenging lyrical themes.

Over the past decade, URBANGARDE has produced nine albums, two mini-albums, seven singles, and four DVDs, plus multiple books and solo releases from Hamasaki and co-vocalist Temma Matsunaga. The band has also performed concerts overseas at Japan Expo in France and A-Kon in the United States.

URBANGARDE will hold a special 10th anniversary concert event titled "Kekkon Shiki" at Nakano Sun Plaza on April 8th to celebrate the new album. The deluxe edition of Shoujo Fiction will come with a 24-page booklet and DVD with 4 music videos. Special bonuses at Japanese retailers including an acoustic CD (Tower Records), instrumental tracks (HMV), photo clear file (Disk Union), and "Shoujo Fiction" original novella written by Temma Matsunaga (Village Vanguard).

URBANGARDE
Shoujo Fiction
April 4, 2018

TRACKLISTING (order subject to change):

• Atashi Fiction
• Femme Fata Fantasy
• Daihakai Koukyougaku
• Video no Youni
• Tokyo Kid
• Tetsukuzu Tetsuo
• Internet Sou
• Otonabyou
• Kiss ni Suite
• Akumade Akuma
• Shoujo ni Shiyagare


Obituary has announced a new headlining tour with support coming from Skeletonwitch, Dust Bolt, and Pallbearer. Check out the dates below!

TOUR DATES:

May 2 - Atlanta GA @ Masquerade
May 3 - Greensboro NC @ The Blind Tiger
May 5 - New York NY @ Gramercy Theatre
May 6 - Boston MA @ Sinclair
May 8 - Toronto ON @ Opera House
May 9 - Montreal QC @ Club Soda
May 10 - Rochester NY @ Main Street Armory
May 11 - Cleveland OH @ Agora Ballroom
May 12 - Detroit MI @ Majestic
May 13 - Chicago IL @ Metro
May 15 - Des Moines IA @ Wooly's
May 16 - Omaha NE @ Waiting Room
May 18 - Denver CO @ Gothic Theater
May 19 - Salt Lake City UT @ Metro Music Hall
May 21 - Portland OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
May 22 - Seattle WA @ El Corazon
May 23 - Vancouver BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
May 25 - San Francisco CA @ DNA Lounge
May 26 - Pomona CA @ Glasshouse
May 27 - Phoenix AZ @ Club Red
May 29 - Austin TX @ Barracuda
May 30 - Dallas TX @ Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
May 31 - Houston TX @ Scout Bar
June 1 - Pensacola FL @ Vinyl Music Hall
June 2 - Orlando FL @ The Haven Lounge
June 3 - Miami FL @ The Ground


Christian metal band Toarn has released the video for the single, "Jonah," off of their upcoming debut album, "The Dying Flame", due out February 23, 2018 via Luxor Records. Filmed and Directed by Jericho Media, "Jonah" was originally premiered on HM Magazine.

“The song 'Jonah' is about my personal struggle with growing up. From my impressions of money to how I see myself as a man who genuinely feels lost. I think there is a truth in admitting that feeling of being lost. So I decided to write about that struggle.” - Mike Roberts (vocals)

Check it over HERE!


Capital North has made their official debut, teaming up with New Noise Magazine to unveil the video for their track, "Glass Houses," directed by Jesse Lynch. Centered around human relationships with nature, as well as one another, "Glass Houses" tells the story of an individual realizing that although nothing is perfect in our world, or even our lives, we can be our own salvation if we focus on what is truly important. The band explains further:

"We initially wrote the track about the destruction of the natural world by humankind. However, the meaning of the song expanded in the studio to encompass the topic of relationships with friends, family, partners, and the Earth, as well as the mistakes that we as humans inevitably tend to make. It has become one of our favorite tracks on the album, and embodies so much of our ideals and principles - we are temporary, but this does not mean we should treat the Earth, or our personal relationships as though they are not."

Check it right over HERE.


Groundbreaking art-rock performer, author and spoken word artist Otep is thrilled to divulge new, behind-the-scenes information about her upcoming, currently untitled, full-length album. The album - her eighth overall and second with Napalm Records - is scheduled to hit stores later this year. Otep and her band are currently recording at The Lair in Los Angeles, completely utilizing the same equipment used on their first album, Sevas Tra (down to her original vocal microphone, a SHURE Beta 58), in order to create a sound reminiscent of their roots. The Lair is also where Otep recorded Smash The Control Machine, the band's fourth release.

Otep says this upcoming eighth album is undoubtedly the band's most authentic and honest. "I'm co-producing this album with my guitarist Aristotle, which has allowed us to create without limitations. The musicality is stellar and has been elevated to a whole new stratosphere of sound. With Aristotle on guitar, Justin Kier on drums and Drew Barnes on bass, each musician has a powerful voice on this album."

As for her lyrics, Otep says, "No one is safe, no one escapes. It's powerful, poetic, patriotic protest music. One could say it's an activist album hoping to incite social change and support those who are at the barricades, who are marching in the streets for justice, who are demanding our government protect our great nation from enemies foreign and domestic - this includes the bloated colostomy bag disgracing the White House, Traitor Trump, and his loafer licking cronies... but I digress."

"Writing our eighth album is not only a blessing for which we are forever grateful but the number itself is said to have magical properties," says Otep. "In Norse mythology, the horse of the god Odin has eight legs. The Pythagoreans considered the number eight the "little holy number". The eighth day of the Chinese New Year is the annual gathering of all the gods in Heaven. In the Tarot, eight is the card for Justice which seems appropriate considering the current political climate we are suffering through. The mathematical symbol for infinity is an eight on its side. There are eight festivals observed in the Wicca Wheel of the Year. There were eight gates surrounding the ancient city of Babylon. The eighth gate was named the Gate of Ishtar. Ishtar is the goddess of love and war, the Queen of the Earth and Heaven. She is the morning and evening star. Qualities I certainly relate to. And finally, I'm a Scorpio and Scorpio is the eighth astrological sign in the Zodiac.

A 33rd Degree Freemason and Master Rosicrucian, Manly P. Hall once said, 'The rites of the Scorpion are the Mysteries of the Apocalypse and the ceremonies of Dionysus.' Expect the unexpected. Expect to have your brain pushed back."


Forbidden Seasons releases new video of their new single "Thank You For The Venom".

The video for "Thank You For The Venom" was produced by Lucernafilms and features actress Riae Suicide. The song, and album, was composed by Forbidden Seasons with artistic direction and recording from Heavy Tones Recordings Studio and mixed/mastered at Studio Fredman.

"The song "Thank You For The Venom" talks about an ill relationship with someone very dear to me. They played with my life; tried to take advantage of my weaknesses and of my unconditional love and all they did was turn my love into hatred, into venom, consuming my soul. When in times of need this person tried to get back in touch, however they managed to make me feel even worse. They made me numb even though in my veins flows their own rotten blood." - Mark Seasons (vocals)

Check it right over HERE.


Influenced by bands like Iron Maiden and Dream Theater to Dragonforce and Angra, Novareign are the next generation of progressive power metal telling stories in musical literature speaking to a generation influenced by epic fantasy tales, comic books and video games.  Having made a reputation for themselves through energy-abounding live shows filled with nonstop shredding guitar interplay and powerful traditional metal vocals Novareign will debut their album on Feb. 16th 2018 via M-Theory Audio. "Legends", is an hour-plus of over-the-top, shred-tastic epic, yet melodic, power and progressive metal.

""Heavy Heart" is the collaborative of [former Exmortus guitarist] Balmore Lemus and [vocalist] David Marquez. While Lemus had stored the guitar melodies in his back pocket for years, lyrics composed by Marquez spawned the appropriate time for the song to make its outing into the world," explains guitarist Danny Nobel. "It is no secret that the number of people who suffer from depression, anxiety, or anger is running rampant. It’s a heartbreaking topic that caught the eye of David, who felt that it was too important to be ignored, and deserved to be addressed. The lyrics remind anyone who suffers that they can always rise above the pain, to remember that they are not alone, and there is always a choice."

In addition, to the audio stream of "Heavy Heart", please check out the band’s personal, short and insightful videos for each song, including first two singles "Heavy Heart" https://youtu.be/FR2UCDA_Gx8 and "Beyond the Cold" https://youtu.be/qDPuIy9ZAHA. The full mini-documentary will be released the week of release.

Legends will be released on CD and digitally and is available for pre-order from the label’s webshop at www.m-theoryaudio.com/store, as well as Amazon or Bandcamp.

Take a listen to the next sample from the album, the new single “Heavy Heart” https://youtu.be/zoZCUaPAdOY.

TOUR DATES:

2/9 - PBW – Pomona, CA with Witchaven, Macrocosm & Nyctophile
2/17 - DiPiazza’s – Long Beach, CA (headlining record release show)
3/2 - The Slidebar – Fullerton, CA with Act of Defiance & Shattered Sun


The enigmatic German dark-folk act known as Prag 83, a solo-project from the mysterious multi-instrumentalist Herr K., will release its awaited 2nd studio album, "Fragments of Silence", on March 9, 2018 with Nordvis Records. Now, Prag 83 has partnered with InvisibleOranges.com to reveal a new track called “The Silent Earth,” from the forthcoming record. Stream "The Silent Earth" now at InvisibleOranges.com: http://bit.ly/2FwbN2i.


Bibeau‘s new album self-titled debut arrives on March 23, 2018 via Fade to Silence Records. To herald the release, the band has shared the new song/music video titled "Leeway".

"Leeway" is now available for download/streaming at iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, Spotify and all worldwide sites. Special 12 song special CD digipack debut record available 3/23/18 via Alliance/Amped Distribution and AWAL Digital worldwide.

Bibeau mystify listeners with atmospheric melodies over adventurously progressive, powerful dynamics that create an undeniably epic wall of sound that has become the Texans’ trademark.

According to vocalist Drew Theiring, "the lyrical content of "Leeway" comes from an emotional dark spot in someone's life. There's a light in the black emerging throughout the tune and, a festering of issues to the surface. Being lied to or taken advantage of is never pleasant nor is it always intended. There's hope in the fact that life may award you leeway, even if it's just enough to breathe.

The "Leeway" guitar melody line was written by guitarist/songwriter Robin Bibeau, who subsequently framed the song around what started out as a fingerpicking experiment. "I was playing around with some hybrid picking exercises on guitar, and it eventually developed into what would become the intro to "Leeway". It was very organic and the intro was kind of like a seed that sprouted into the rest of the song." added Robin Bibeau

On the day after the album’s release, Bibeau is partnering with Rock Rage Radio and Fade to Silence Records to host a special hometown record release party at Click's Live in Tyler, Texas. The event includes a special listening party, meet and greet/autograph signing and a live concert, which will be hosted by Rock Rage Radio's James Gentry from "Soundcheck with Gentry" and Jess Rock Rage Rage from "The Sideshow". Bibeau are set to return to the road in America again in late Spring.

Last year, Bibeau debuted the video for the track "Mark This". The official music video for which has amassed nearly 200,000 views in a short period of time. “The quintet successfully blends the old and new school metal with a modern, progressive twist." - Brave Words Bloody Knuckles declared. Horror Metal Sounds, adding, “Upon watching the video, I was blown away by how solid and memorable the song was. I was equally impressed that such a well written song obviously inspired by classic prog rock and vintage metal roots could come out of such a young band. Thus Bibeau and their music became engrained into my consciousness – and I've had their single "Mark This", and the striking imagery from the accompanying video, looping endlessly in my head ever since. Music Junkie Press offered this assessment of the track, "the time is now for Bibeau as they breath a fresh new life into the somewhat stale progressive metal scene. It is with their youth and enthusiasm that we can once again enjoy the infectious progressive metal that their musicianship brings to life."

Additional early global feedback on the song from Metal Forces England and deemed them "Bibeau can best be described as a bridge between power metal classic 70s and 80s, combined with the attitude of today's modern progressive metal." This is Bibeau!

Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/7QegctroLtA.


German classic metal hybrid Pulver will release their self-titled debut 7-inch on April 20th 2018 via Gates Of Hell Records, a sub-label of Cruz Del Sur Music.

Recorded by Heiner Kunkel at Dreiklang Audio in the band's hometown of Aschaffenburg, the 7-inch was mixed at Big Snuff Studio in Berlin by Richard Behrens. The recording took place roughly a year after Pulver 's 2016 formation, showcasing a band adept at harnessing the rawness of NWOBHM with the melody and power of traditional and progressive metal.

"Our origin is pretty basic," notes vocalist David Fröhlich. "There isn't really a huge hard rock/heavy metal scene in a small city like ours, so everyone pretty much knew each other anyway. One day in late 2016, we decided to start jamming and pretty soon noticed that everything fits together quite well, so we continued until the point where we found the songs presentable enough to release a demo and here we are now!"

Pulver plans on following up the release of the 7-inch with the recording of their first proper full-length, along with other activities, according to Fröhlich. "We're gonna play a lot of shows, meet new people on the road and have some fun!"

For fans of MOTORHEAD, FIST, IRON MAIDEN and early NWOBHM.

Awesome cover artwork by Karmazid!

TRACKLISTING:

Side A:
1. Howl

Side B:
2. Salvation
3. Twilight Magic


Psychedelic/stoner band The Bad Larry's have teamed up with Glacially Musical to stream "Rama, Mammon, Abraxas, & Ahriman", a new track from their forthcoming album "Hodads" which will be released February 2nd 2018. Listen to the song here: http://glaciallymusical.blogspot.ca/2018/01/stream-rama-mammon-abraxas-ahriman-by.html.


One of rock's hottest new bands, Greta Van Fleet will perform at this year's Elton John AIDS Foundation's 26th annual Academy Awards Viewing Party to be held on Sunday, March 4 in Los Angeles.  "We were speechless when Elton called us," said the band's guitarist Jake Kiszka.  "We are all big fans of his, so are very, very honored by this invitation."


Rising voice on the NYC arts scene Kat Cunning has shared her new video for recently released single "Wild Poppies", over at Refinery 29. The video was directed by D.K. Dennison and Matilda Gaona, the video is highlighted by a series of stunning visuals and was choreographed by Kat herself. Check it out over HERE.


Damien Done is the nom de plume of celebrated singer/songwriter Damien Moyal, known internationally as the frontman of iconic 90's hardcore punk bands As Friends Rust, Culture, Morning Again and Shai Hulud. 

With Damien Done, however, Moyal takes a sharp and decided turn from the scolding angst of his past. Instead, Done croons uncomfortable, seedy tales over bleak numbers that draw disparate comparisons, at times conjuring the doom and drawl of Type O Negative, Danzig or Nick Cave and at others the blue sneer of darker 80's pop and new wave. 

Touching on various genres, but never landing squarely in one, Damien Done is an uncategorizable brand of unnerving indie, post-punk rock ’n’ roll for folks who aren’t afraid of the dark.

Damien Done will release the forthcoming album "Charm Offensive", on February 18th 2018 through Los Angeles’ Mind Over Matter Records. "Charm Offensive", follows the "Stay Black" EP and the "He Really Tried" 7', both through Germany’s Demons Run Amok Entertainment.

"Charm Offensive", is an album laden with tales of blackmail, voyeurism, secrecy and guilt. Still nodding to the doom-tinged rock’n’roll of his previous releases, "Charm Offensive", now sees Damien Done exploring a lush, gloomy pop frontier, at times calling to mind the shimmering black art of Tears for Fears, Billy Idol or Echo & The Bunnymen. "Charm Offensive" is dense and unsettling, but strangely sweet and impossibly distinct.

FFO: Iggy Pop, Danzig, King Dude, Billy Idol, Joy Division


Bristol based five-some, RXPTRS, are poised to be one of the bands to break this year. Serving up a sound that combines both ferocious grit and melody, and takes from both hardcore punk and theatrical rock, RXPTRS cite everyone from Every Time I Die, Beartooth and My Chemical Romance as influences, and with a fiercely creative heart at their core, the group pushes boundaries
and treks beyond the limits of genre.

Although the five-piece only formed at the end of last year, they have a glowing assurance and obvious maturity that is evident to all. Known to each other from previous musical endeavors, the band soon gelled and wasted no time in hitting the studio. The alternative crew headed to Hidden Track Studios to work with Oz Craggs (Feed the Rhino) on their debut release and came out with a stunning debut offering in the shape of their new single, "Bound". The release ideally exemplifies the band’s infectious and layered sound.

Vocalist Simon Roach comments about the subject matter of their track: “Bound is an account of a passionate relationship that turned incredibly violent and abusive. It’s a semi-autobiographical story of the breakdown of the relationship, a love story with a twist."

With a UK tour lined up for February and further releases in the pipeline, be sure to catch RXPTRS now before they break out to the masses. Their debut single "Bound", is to be released February 23rd 2018!

Web/socials:

www.facebook.com/RXPTRS
www.twitter.com/rxptrs
rxptrs.bandcamp.com
www.instagram.com/rxptrs


Italian heavy metallers IBRIDOMA have released a new video for the song called "La Piaga Del Decennio", feat. Los Talker. The video is a great fusion of rap and metal. Furthermore, IBRIDOMA will release their fifth album still in 2018. More details will be revealed soon.

Comments the band: "We made this collaboration with Los Talker (Mattia Foresi). It was born as a fun, during the rehearsals of a recital where our guitarist is teaching. We liked it and before Christmas we did everything ... At the moment the thing ends here. In the future, who knows! Our 5th cd will be released still this year. We are currently listening to the first mix of songs !!"

Check it here: https://youtu.be/GZo1odZJfjQ.


The Czech Progressive Masters Between The Planets signed with the Egyptian PR agency Naqada Music Management.

Between The Planets  is an instrumental groove / metal / ambient trio originally created as a one man project by Martin "Spacosh" Perina. However, they are not a traditional djent, their music have many ambient backgrounds, a frequent post-metal elements and a pure, progressive rock-sounding guitar parts.

"Immersion Into The Unknown" was their debut back in 2013, and recently released their new masterpiece full-length "Of Inner Sight" in October, 2017. BTP and Naqada Music agreed for an exclusive deal to become their official media representative for 2018. Stay tuned for more info will be revealed very soon.


Finnish winter metal band Wolfheart has quite a "strong" frontman. Tuomas Saukkonen (Before the Dawn, Black Sun Aeon etc.) who is known from his several metal projects since the early 2000's; is truly a familiar face in the gym! He just posted a video to his Youtube channel where he benches 190kg´s which is almost 420lbs! Is he the strongest metal musician in the world? Watch the "METAL VS. IRON" video on Youtube here: https://youtu.be/Yn_5DlDxvT4.


The thrasher Savona Last Rites active since 1997, celebrating their twenty years as a band, have published a new live video of in the studio footage, of a playthrough of their song titled "Realm Of Illusions", taken from their latest album "Nemesis" released last summer on August 8th 2017 in digital form with physical form coming in the fall on December 23rd 2017. The album was produced by MASD Records. The video was was recorded at Studio MusicLab of Savona and produced by Samuel of Red Diamond Production. The "Realm Of Illusions" video is available at this link:
https://youtu.be/o_5L39HP8UQ.


Mexican thrash metal band Third Reich have announced their first European tour to take place this fall in October of 2018. The band will visit Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria and play their new album "Degeneration" that was released in April 2017.

Third Reich was formed at Leon, Mexico in 2014 and since then has achieved to grow among the greatest bands of Mexican Thrash Metal and become one of the biggest promises of the scene, playing in the most important cities around the country, sharing stage with very important bands known in the Thrash Metal Scene national and international.

The album is streaming in full right HERE.


Formed in 1986 from the remnants of the eccentric Liverpool-based Post-Punk ensemble A BETTER MOUSETRAP and the Art Rockers from Warrington, AFTER THE STRANGER, PLENTY would be the immediate predecessor to Tim Bowness’ NO-MAN band. With a sound that alternated between electro-pop anthems, poignant ballads and ambient experiments, and with a distinct nod towards contemporary artists such as THE BLUE NILE and PREFAB SPROUT, PLENTY found themselves positioned alongside icons such as DAVID BOWIE and PETER GABRIEL.

Three cassette releases appeared between 1987 and ’88, along with two live appearances the following year, as well as the obligatory lineup changes, until PLENTY called a temporary halt to proceedings in 1990, when band members found themselves involved with other projects, either musically or in their personal lives. It was a hiatus that was to last until 2016, when, between the spring of that year, and the summer of 2017, PLENTY’s most enduring lineup of Tim Bowness on vocals, Brian Hulse on guitars and keyboards, and David K Jones on bass, got together once more to re-record the band’s 1980 catalogue of 16 songs, along with one completely new one, in order to complete "It Could Be Home" – the album they had hoped to release three decades earlier.

Remaining faithful to both the spirit of the original recordings, and the era in which they were written, the band re-wrote some of the lyrics and streamlined some of the song arrangements in order to finally produce "It Could Be Home". It is an album that showcases the origins of the styles that were subsequently to become the trademarks of Bowness and NO-MAN. Significantly, it also reveals a variety of shades to Bowness’ singing, as Jones’s powerful bass playing and Hulse’s inventive guitar parts and pulsating electronics, push his vocals into territories he has rarely explored since the 1980's.
Mixed and instrumentally augmented by Norwegian producer Jacob Holm-Lupo (WHITE WILLOW, THE OPIUM CARTEL), and mastered by THE PINEAPPLE THIEF’S Steve Kitch, the album also features contributions from former PLENTY guitarist Michael Bearpark, pianist Peter Chilvers (BRIAN ENO, KARL HYDE) and NO-MAN violinist Steve Bingham. With artwork by Carl Glover, the tracklist is as follows:

TRACKLISTING:

1. As Tears Go By (Rolling Stones Cover)
2. Hide
3. Never Needing
4. Broken Nights
5. Foolish Waking
6. Strange Gods
7. Every Stranger’s Voice
8. Climb
9. The Good Man
10. It could be Home

In an album that could be described as a re-discovered gem of the Art Pop genre, the cover of THE ROLLING STONES' "As Tears Go By" is given a radical synth-heavy overhaul, "Hide" and "Climb" possess a driving Post-Punk energy, while pieces like "Foolish Waking" and "Strange Gods" anticipate the timeless atmospheric melancholy of Bowness' music and the direction which it is taking. "The Good Man", the band’s first new song in 27 years, provides a seamless link between PLENTY’s past and its present.

Listen to the new track "Every Stranger’s Voice" here: https://soundcloud.com/karisma-records/07-plenty-it-could-be-home-every-strangers-voice-1644.

"It Could Be Home" is now available to pre-order in CD and Vinyl versions from the following (digital pre-order will be available soon)

Blue vinyl: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/it-could-be-home/
Black vinyl: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/it-could-be-home-2/
Digipak CD: https://www.karismarecords.no/shop/it-could-be-home-3/

More information about PLENTY can be found on the band’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Plenty-music-534648273575174


BLAK last spoke with us 5 years ago, where at the time, they had some content out and about, with other things going on in the mix as well. Now that some time has passed so has the band, having gone on to disband, then reform, creating all new content altogether with changes made through and through. Several members of the band took some time to discuss how much the time has flown since our last chat discussion sometime ago.


1. It's been 5 years since we last and first spoke, what has the band been up too?

Juan: Oh wow,  it has been a while!  A lot has happened since then.  We did one more EP after the last interview,  then the group disbanded in 2016 & I moved back to Indianapolis cause things got real rough living in Los Angeles, & I just couldn't afford it. So after I moved and got settled in, I reformed the band,  and this may be the best line up yet!  Been really busy making a presence on YouTube as well.

Jennifer: I joined the band last April, when Juan posted that his band was looking for a keyboard player on Facebook and we had recently become Facebook Fiends. I also auditioned as a guitarist for another band, which didn't work out logistically. This is my first time playing keyboards full time for a band, and I am so ecstatic to be playing with some great musicians.

Jacob: I would say we've spent the past few years working to develop the band's musical style. We've written new songs (Double Suicide, Inside You) or developed songs Juan had worked on in the past (Ghost), and started playing some new covers (Down In The Park, Goodbye Horses, Transmission) that have a more dynamic sound than some of the older songs in our set. Jen joining the band was a key part of that too.

2. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Juan: Well we are based out of Indianapolis now.  There is actually a really decent music scene out here. Unlike Los Angeles, live music is still a big deal out here and people will come out and see new bands instead of just their friend's bands, so that's a huge plus.

I'm still getting to know the bands out here, the ones I'm familiar with so far are Black Cat Rebellion,  Gay Black Republican,  Metric Units,  there's a really good Iggy Pop tribute band out here called Jesus Loves The Stooges, there's a lot more, my bandmates can give you better examples lol!

Jennifer: We are based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. We have a small but really creative, diverse, supportive, and vibrant music scene.  Indianapolis is a growing city and is very affordable for artists. Historically, Indianapolis used to be home to RCA records, and David Bowie's official fan club was based here during the early 1970's. There are so many awesome bands here! My favorites are the  Dockers, S.E.R.V.I.C.E, the Lickers, Never Come Downs, Black Cat Rebellion, 9th Circle Symphony, and There Are Ghosts.

Jacob: Indianapolis is growing very fast at the moment. Back in the 90's I remember a lot of the bands I liked would tour through Columbus, Detroit,  Chicago, completely circling Indy and never coming here, but that happens less these days. There's a growing awareness of Indy's scene now, as well as its history. For instance many would argue that Vicious Circle by Zero Boys is the best ever punk album. We have a lot of great bands and great people here.

Jennifer: "Vicious Circle" by the Zero Boys is a great album! One if the best nationally recognized hardcore records ever recorded. What makes me happy about being in this band is that we have similar tastes in music.

3. What about the band's line-up, have there been any changes since last time? Can you introduce yourselfs and tell me the roles each one plays part in?

Juan: Obviously there has been line up changes since last time lol, I do vocals still,  I pretty much reverted back to my real name,  last time we did this interview,  I was going by "gypsy" but to be honest,  that's not a word I should be using as a nickname so out of respect I stopped going by that.  Jacob joined first,  who I met the last time I lived out here when he was in another band. Then we got Ron Anderson on bass,  who wasn't able to join us for this interview,  we had a guy named Brandon for a while who was doing synth and drum machine, who then switched to drums, but he actually quit the band back in August cause he was doing a ton of other projects,  Jen joined us before then. At the moment, we don't have a drummer, we are using a  drum machine programmed by my friend Joel Adams, which I kinda prefer over a real drummer now a days. Lol!

Jennifer: My name is Jen, and I play and operate the synthesizers.

Jacob: I'm Jacob and I play guitar. We all bring our own ideas to the band and develop them as a unit. Juan has a large body of work and will occasionally suggest old BLAK songs that he wants to play with this lineup. We go through the same process and, in some cases,  make it our own. We create an updated version of an older tune.

4. When we last spoke you mentioned releasing several pieces of material, "Gypsy Blak: The Blak Devil Anthology", 2 EP's "Blak" and "Set the Dead Free", as well as another EP "Blak: Staring at the Sky". So tell me what else has Blak released since?

Juan: "Staring at the Sky" was actually  a single at the time. After that we made the "Graveyard Love Songs EP,  which was on former horrorpunk label, Dr. Cyclops Records but we had problems with them, so that EP is only available on our bandcamp page now. We are currently working on new stuff

5. What about singles and videos, what is out and about for us to hear and see?

Band: Just recently we released our first new single, "Midnight", then we released a couple of our demos,  "On the Boulevard & Chaos Lover",  on bandcamp.  We released two music videos,  one for "On the Boulevard" and the most recent one for "Midnight".

6. Do you have any other new music that is currently a work in progress?

Juan: Oh yes,  lots of new stuff,  there's a few BLAK songs that never got recorded or even played live that we are re-doing and making better now,  like "Midnight", we are going to be recording a new single and hopefully have a full length release soon.

Jacob: We have a new song, "Inside You", that is based on a drum beat and bass part that Ron came up with. We've got a handful of parts and we're working on structuring the song. This one in particular has been a lot of fun.

7. What are the plans that you have for this year?

Juan: Getting a single done and then an album,  playing more shows and having a bigger presence via YouTube and Facebook. Since we really can't afford to do big tours at the moment, we will be doing a lot of live stream shows. We also have a Patreon now,  where will be doing exclusive content,  like shows, q&a videos, etc.

8. Thanks a lot for your time! It’s really nice to know more about you. Would you like to say anything to your fans and our readers?

Juan: For all the people that been there with us since the beginning,  thank you, stick around there's bigger and better things coming! To the new people just now hearing about us please check us out at the following links:

Blak.bandcamp.com

Facebook.com/officialblak

YouTube.com/ianblak

Become a Patron and get exclusive content, join our Patreon!

Patreon.com/juanblak

And get merch at our store

Teespring.com/stores/blakwear

And to our haters, stay mad & enjoy the ride!

Jacob: I would personally like to thank anybody who has taken the time to check out our band, and especially anyone who has come to one of our shows! We appreciate you!


Ministry has released a new video for the track "Wargasm", it features his accomplice Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory) n which he guests as a nightmarish clown! Burton provided the track's spoken word parts on the upcoming Ministry album "AmeriKKKant", due out March 9, 2018 on Nuclear Blast Records.

"The "Wargasm" video incorporates non-stop military combat visuals that illustrate the song's perspective, described best with the lyric, "Death, power and sex...These are the things that we do best...Which country wants it next...Not many left to molest..."

Check it right HERE.


In the early hours of January 28, 2018, rock n' roll band Pröwess' RV was stolen in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania during load out at The Farm Bar. On board were two band members, one crew member, two family members and three friends. The band's trailer was open and dragged for three miles, splaying equipment across the highway. The crew was able to collectively take back control of the vehicle until the suspect was subdued and police and ambulance arrived on scene. No one on board was seriously injured. The majority of equipment was recovered by crew members not on board during the incident and diligent bar staff.

During an impromptu acoustic session, the suspect silently boarded and stole the vehicle, reaching high speeds and throwing all on board to the ground while the on board lights went out. Band members Dalton Bowes (vocals) and Kenny Keeler (bass) were able to remove the keys from the ignition while grappling for control of the wheel and pedals, successfully stopping the vehicle. All witnesses provided statements to the state police department and will be moving forward with the case. The suspect is currently not in police custody as of January 28, 2018.

The band and crew released an official statement via Facebook Live today, detailing the incident. The band is currently on their 2018 Winter tour and will continue the rest of the tour as planned. Check out a video of the statement right HERE.



My Little Pony's Friendship Is Magic upcoming eighth season set to debut this Spring, has released an official trailer and song from the season! The song is titled "Friendship Always Wins" sung by the mane 6 and new characters as well! Plus besides their being the previous mane 6 i.e. Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity, there is another mane 6 set to take their place!


Yes the all new mane 6 set of characters are not just ponies but a variety of characters seen from the My Little Pony The Movie (2017) and previous seasons. This mane 6 includes, Yona the yak, Ocellus the changeling, Silver Stream the hippogriff, Gallus the griffin, Sandbar the pony and Smolder the dragon! Check it all out right HERE.