NataliezWorld

Good seats for a little theater, good music from the musical play that was “Alice!”, and the characters, cast, and crew made it very entertaining. Every time the cast and crew throw together, a stage show of sorts, it is always a flawless good time. Surely the next show adaption they take on, will be just as entertaining as this one was, if not even better!

Rocker THESE DEAD MACHINES is an up and comer whose content is rock, with him releasing singles, and always having new music in the works! Being a one man act, no shows or touring as of yet, but doing music is what he wants to do, creatively is the key for him! See what he has to say about himself and his music creativeness.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

So, it’s just me, Dan. Up until the end of the pandemic times we were a band called Mark of 1000 Evils, but as lives changed through that, we went our separate ways. I bought myself an electric drum kit to try and crack learning the drums so ended up in a place where I wanted to keep going in some form

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

I tend to name songs really quickly, to capture the vibe of whatever the theme is about and These Dead Machines was from a song that ultimately didn’t get finished but I like the name. The more I thought about it…it’s not just the throwaway culture, or the fear of AI, it’s us - our role in the world…I’d like myself get pretentious about this stuff sometimes!

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

Being a recording project, I’m less in touch with the scene (damn, I miss playing live!) but you should definitely check out The Empty Page. Kel & Giz dropped an awesome album recently: https://theemptypage.bandcamp.com/

4. How would you describe your style?

Haha, I’m still working on that! I’ve always been on the rock side of genres but I found that I really like bringing in even small electronic influences with that, which changes how you write sometimes. Having an electric drum kit meant leaning into different playing styles to reflect that, which I found pretty cool. I’m hoping I don’t wear my influences on my sleeves but I think the general melancholy of bands I grew up with like The Cure and The Smiths permeate what I do too

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

From Sept ‘23 I started putting out occasional singles as I got more comfortable with what I was doing - and even dabbled with trying an alternative Christmas song (https://thesedeadmachines.bandcamp.com/track/dont-be-alone-at-christmas) but then a collection of songs that seemed to work well together first felt like they’d be an EP then grew into an album, which’ll be out on the 2nd December!

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Always! It’s trying to focus on finishing stuff that’s the hard part! After the album, there’s an EP I have almost ready to record, after that who knows what’ll be next?

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

I wish! This is the downside right now of being a one-person band but perhaps that’ll change someday

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Doing this music in this way feels like it’s enabling me to maybe be a little more creative in some ways so I’m curious where it’ll go and just follow that. Ultimately, I’m doing this for me - to express a bunch of stuff, so no grand aspirations of being arena rock or anything, just plug away, keep changing and putting stuff out and work on finding an audience

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Most of the tracks are over pretty much all streaming platforms but you can listen and buy over at my Bandcamp: https://thesedeadmachines.bandcamp.com.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

I guess that it’s honest but doesn’t take itself that seriously, that there’s light in dark places.

Rock band SILK LETDOWN have been actively doing music for a year now, releasing a few songs, with newer songs always coming out here and there. The band has been playing locally, with further plans on releasing more music, with EPs, albums, and much else. See what more the band discusses with us below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Silk Letdown was formed initially by Pierce Guderski and Paul Shamy in October 2023 who connected in a Portland Music Group. Initially, Pierce was looking to start a group under his leadership and Paul wanted to merge the work with his previous band, Fox 2. Pierce and Paul played with various drummers until Shelby Robb and Casey Lynn joined in Summer 2024.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Silk Letdown is a euphemism for an aircraft pilot needing to eject. A letdown is an aviation term for an instrument controlled descent for approach. And old parachutes were made from silk. The silk letdown is a fighter pilot's last resort. It also symbolizes giving yourself grace and fortitude in your own failures and challenges.Paul being a former USAF fighter pilot and Pierce having a passion for aviation, the two easily agreed on the name that to them sounded catchy, had tongue-in-cheek humor, and a little intrigue.

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

Portland, Oregon. The music scene is vibrant and BUSY. Portland has some of the most creative and esoteric artists on the planet, and many musicians play in multiple bands, giving them the freedom to explore many sub-genres and soundscapes. The punk scene is probably the most heavily represented, but goth, metal, EDM, and alt country/folk are big hitters as well. One of my favorites is River City Ruin. They have a classic, but relevant sound and will pin your ears back, for sure. We recently played with Backseat Plastic and Titans of Industry, who are some great current PDX bands. Check them out!

4. How would you describe your style?

Silk Letdown aims to rejuvenate the PNW Rock scene, bringing high energy riffs, catchy melodies, and funky chops to excite 90's and 00's aficionados and consummate musicians alike. While harkening back to the days of grunge and edgy hard rock, Silk Letdown flashes modern musicianship and polish in hopes of resuscitating a true alt-rock renaissance.

Fans of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots, and Incubus will enjoy Silk Letdown's variety of sound and writing, hitting the corners of  funk rock, grunge, and West Coast style rock while teasing moments of prog, blues, and jazz.

Formerly known as Fox 2, current live setlists include songs from Fox 2 and new music as Silk Letdown.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We have three songs on the streams, which represent a spectrum of our core sound. Big Blue was our first release and has all the feels of funk rock, hard rock riffs and catchy hooks that we thought would capture the listener's ear. 8 Ball is more aggressive hard rock with some nice bass and drum funky breaks, and Remember When is a more nostalgic track that mixes in sailing rock energy at the end. Our songs are meant to get you singing and dancing along and feel the positive vibes.

ALL of our current songs we play live and are working on are on our website www.silkletdown.com. Go check it out!

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

We always have a few songs in the hopper, and we are releasing 2-3 songs this month. Looking Down, Facedown, and Space Between will carry a thread of hard/alt rock vibes that spread the spectrum of music that we love to create and play live. Pierce does a great job of pouring over the mixing/mastering to get projects done quickly, but we also have the luxury of tweaking and improving until each track is fully ready.

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

We are gigging once a month locally in the Pacific Northwest, and would like to expand our footprint in the summer. The focus right now is on building our music library and establishing our digital brand, so that we have a solid foundation to promote our sound. Our ultimate dream is to open for the great national acts that come through Portland and be able to do a few festivals/tours each year. It is tough with the current compensation environment to really extend outside of our daily jobs and commitments.Someday!

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We are aiming to rise the ranks of the Portland scene and eventually bring clout to a region that used to be a powerhouse for all kinds of rock. In the near future, we want to continue to release EP’s and albums while ideally supporting larger artists who come to play in Portland until we are that artist taking the next step towards headlining larger shows.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

We are on all the streaming platforms (thanks Distrokid) as well as Bandcamp. Our website has our current setlist and includes our Fox 2 songs that we play live. Check out the merch tab for shirts and stickers.

Also you can catch us in Portland at one of the many great venues in town. Our next show is January 4 at McMenamin's White Eagle Saloon with Teeth for Eyes. It'll be a great show.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

That we are passionately intended to deliver music that checks as many boxes as we can; We strive for accessible songs that have enough musicality to captivate ourselves and knowledgeable musicians. Songs that make one feel something strongly, whether that is wanting to dance, headbang, run a marathon, or sit down and think. We want our listeners to feel stimulated and not sedated

Progressive heavy outfit VOICE OF GLASS have been around since 2002, releasing various singles, an EP, album, and more singles. The band goes into talks about their array of releases, origins, creating more music, and growing as musicians.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Voice Of Glass was formed in 2002 in Bulgaria, Europe. They were founded by American guitarist David Meek and his future wife, Ukrainian/Bulgarian singer, Olya Meek.

What’s the origin of the band’s name?

The name was created by word play in Bulgarian and English. The Bulgarian word “glass” means “voice” in English so the band’s name means “voice” of “voice” in two languages. Also, we find deep spiritual meaning in the symbolism of the soul being transparent like glass and music being a way to speak directly to a person's soul, as well as being a “voice” of the soul.

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

We are currently based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The music scene here is rough on original artists as the “entertainment capital of the world” prefers cover music to entertain its visitors. We know a lot of talented artists here but most of them focus on playing covers as opposed to original music since it's a more profitable thing to do.

4. How would you describe your style?

From the beginning, we have set out to create music that was original and not easily conformed to a box. However, our style is signified by heavy guitar grooves mixed with melody and progressive arrangements.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We have a broad catalog of works over 20 years they include:

“Valley” and “Song Of Songs” Singles (2006)
“Making Me Real” EP (2007)
“The End Of You” Full Album (2011)
“Hours” EP (2022)
“Prodigal Son”, “Circles”, and “Shadow Of A Dream” Singles (2024)
 
With all our releases, you should find quality production, with intricate and original arrangements, along with emotional and spiritually themed messages and performances.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

We definitely have quite a bit of new music in the works; from multiple projects already being recorded in the studio to new songs being arranged and demoed for future recording.

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

That is always something on our mind that we would love doing, but at this stage in our lives and careers we would need the right circumstances and opportunities to consider putting together something that would be practical and beneficial for everyone involved.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Our plans are to continue to grow as musicians and make as much music as we can with the resources and opportunities we have. We believe making music is one of the reasons we were put on this earth and we intend to continue to honor that calling as long as we are able. It would also be nice, in the right conditions, to be able to get our music out in live productions that justify the creativity, passion, and message of our music.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Our music is available on all major platforms. We also have a website where our music is available to purchase. Here are some of the links:

Official website:
https://www.voiceofglass.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/voiceofglassofficial

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voiceofglass

Official YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@VoiceOfGlass

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

We would hope the experience would be an emotional and sonic experience that would touch areas of the listeners soul in a personal and relatable way. We would also hope they would hear something they haven't heard before and would love to hear again!

NuCore go getters BACKTOEARTH have been actively creating music for sometime now, releasing an album, single's, including a most recent one called "Welcome to the Real World" found HERE. The band goes into discussion about formation, namesake, single, and the plans for the future!

1. How do you define "nucore" is that a genre, it isn't a genre is it?

NuCore's become sort of the whole identity of BACKTOEARTH and it was mainly out of accident. We spent alot of time in the earlier days of our "Death to the Earth Boys" era kind of figuring out where exactly we fit in the metal sphere. We didn't see ourselves particularly as a hardcore band but it would have been inaccurate to also just put us in the general alt metal category because of how much we did pull from things like hardcore. During that era though, NuMetal became a big unifying factor for our music but once again it still felt wrong to call it that. As time went on though it became this whole like "Oh yea! BACKTOEARTH! I know those guys. They mix Numetal with like Hardcore, and metalcore, etc." so it just started feeling Natural to call it NuCore as time went on. We kind of see NuCore as like an evolution of metal subgenres that inspired it. Like if you took all the highlights of metal from the years 1999-2005 and fused it with a more modern touch.

2. Why the name BACKTOEARTH where is the band coming back from, what's the story behind it?

BACKTOEARTH's name was very much accidental. Our vocalist, Brandon, was coming up with names with a couple of our former members and as the conversation got off topic, Brandon said, "okay guys back to earth" It kind of made everyone do a double take for some reason. It just like STUCK at that moment. shortly after, some logos were designed as a hypothetical "what if we were called this" and one of the logos was drawn all written as one word in all caps text. Once again, it just stuck. From that point forward we knew it wasn't "back to earth" but BACKTOEARTH. I think the name also thematically just spoke to us at the time. Like it represented this feeling of coming back down to reality when you're at your worst. In many aspects it would kind of become the inspo for most of our writing down the line.

3. Your band is a 5 piece, but did you all know one another before the band's formation, give us a brief history.

We ALL went to the same high school! Ironically though, most of us never spoke to each other while we were in high school. We all met through friends of friends and in some cases, knew each other outside of high school by pure coincidence. It's really a funny web of connections that we could write a whole book about. But it's always something like "oh shit! you're looking for a drummer? I know a guy" and then you're like "Wait! that guy looks familiar!" Our three founding members are Brandon (vocalist) , Kam (guitarist), and Jason (drummer). We have two buddies in a band called Big Yellow who left the project around 2023 and that opened the door for Richie (bassist) to join. We rocked the 4 piece look for a while until this past August when we asked Kieran (2nd guitarist) to join. He first found out about the band at a show we played last year and became a fan almost instantly. As he spent more time with us it became like this funny thing where we'd be like "Yo what if Kieran joined the band?" and so we asked him. Now we're back to being a 5 piece and it's made the overall show experience 10 times better.

4. Talk to us about your newest single and accompanying music video for "Welcome to the Real World"?

This single release is the beginning of a new era for the band. We pride ourselves on being a band that prioritizes story-telling. Welcome to the Real World embodies like the turning of a new page in life. It's about the feeling of getting up after a bad fall and saying "I'm not done." The lyrics have this kind of angst that compliment the overtly-positive messaging almost as if you're going through this "manic positivity" episode. It's a rush and a very aggressive high that I think peaks at the chorus and comes crashing down at the end. It's a song that is all over the place and for that reason we thought it was perfect to put this out as a single. Instrumentally the band is just LOCKED-IN. Kam (our guitarist) was a huge driving force behind the song and we can go on and on about how cracked this guy is at writing songs. Visually the music video will speak for itself. We hope everyone that watches is keeping an eye out of what's going on story wise. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb0ONDtyZHk.

5. How does this release compare, differ, and come in equal to your previous releases, and "Death to the Earth Boys" album?

This is our first professionally produced song. More importantly, this is definitely the song that marks what the band truly is. Death to the Earth Boys was an album made during a very difficult and transitional point in the band. For that reason, the album at times feels like two different bands in the first and second half. Before that album we were still trying to find a sound, but slowly we found our path and Welcome to the Real World marks a very confident leap into what BACKTOEARTH is now. It's as confident as it is chaotic and ultimately, it is who we are at heart.

6. Who or what inspires you to create the music that you make?

If we made a list of artists that inspire us, the list would never end. We all listen to a lot of different genres and come from a variety of musical backgrounds. Richie and Kam didn't even start out liking heavy music. Jason was really the one that got them into it. A lot of the bands that we have looked at for what we do really are just scratching the surface. We like Linkin Park, Slipknot, Loathe, Bad Omens, Underoath, Bring Me The Horizon, and SEVERAL other bands. These are all bands we looked at one way or another and said "Let's generally head in that direction" before pulling from a bunch of other things and steering off course. Plenty of the newer stuff we have coming uses a lot of electronic break beat sampling. We're always experimenting and always finding new ways to kind of challenge what a modern metal song can be.

7. What topics or themes does your music tend to cover?

Personal, political and everything in between. A lot of the themes in our music tend to not just look at the self/individual but also how one fits into the world around them. Naturally I think this leads to some overtly political messaging. 32c is a song about global warming but it's also equally a song about reaching a personal melting point from the stress that puts on all of us. Death to the Earth Boys as a whole was an album that sort of reflects on life and how we, societally, take it for granted. Before you realize you even had it, it's gone. I think through that though is the acceptance that change is inevitable, and instead of dwelling on the pressures of the world, we should strive to make it better or else we'll regret it. But you can also look at all of that on a personal level. Make sure the people around you feel appreciated, enjoy your time with the ones you love because you'll never get a chance in life.

8. How about any shows and or tours, got anything in the works?

We have a new album coming out very soon! Welcome to the Real World is the first single off our 2nd LP along with a couple more surprises up our sleeve. LP2 is definitely our most ambitious piece of work yet and honestly we wish we could say more, but for now all we can say on LP2 is that it's the Earth Boys at our best yet. We do have an album release show planned to coincide with the release of the album too. So everyone should be on the lookout for all of that REAL soon. Also a potential tour to be announced soon.

 9. Have any further plans set for this next year come 2025?

LP2 is really going to be the main focus of next year. It's a big one. This is definitely us swinging for the fences with this release. We're hoping to reach more people than before and just put our best foot forward with what is arguably our best work yet. More music videos are coming really soon too and we urge people to watch them closely because there is a story we're telling here.

10. Would you like to add on or say anything else?

 We're really excited for people to see what we have coming up! BACKTOEARTH is a project that has personally meant a lot to all of us in our very short time as a metal ensemble. We may or may not be writing some more stuff now as we speak? Who knows? We're also so incredibly thankful for all the support we've received on the single! So we wanna give a big thanks to everyone who's been listening to Welcome to the Real World!

HEAVEN SHALL BURN have just released a special new single and video, “Keinen Schritt Zurück,” featuring their longtime friends from the renowned German alternative/punk rock band DONOTS. This marks their first new music since they released a cover of Trivium’s “Pillars Of Serpents” at the end of 2022, and the highly successful album Of Truth And Sacrifice, which topped the Official German Album Charts at #1, reached #4 in Austria, and #6 in Switzerland.

This new track is not just a musical collaboration, but also a powerful statement reflecting both bands' commentary on the current political climate. The video, directed by longtime collaborator Philipp Hirsch alongside guitarist and audio producer Alexander Dietz, can be watched HERE.

German Blackened Death Metal band The Hell Beyond released their new video "Dark Witch" from the band's debut album "Cold Forest". The release was recorded, mixed and mastered in "Dark Times Records" by Thorben Brysch. Video clip was directed by Katja Andres.

Check out the new video linked below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgeORZ5RL84

The Hell Beyond was formed in 2021 at Norderstedt, Schleswig-Holstein as a one-man project by Thorben Brysch (ex-Lost A.D) who wanted to create a solo project where he would play Death and Black Metal music. The band released their debut EP "First" in 2023.

https://open.spotify.com/album/60BoqlYMkgBbvw00N86xA1

American Modern Heavy Metal band A Stāte øf Mīnd released his new single "Shine". The release was recorded at "Global Destruction Studios" by Danny Hardt, and mixed/mastered by J.P. Braddock. This track is a part of the upcoming 6 track EP Titled "Sanity Of Madness" to be released in March of 2025.

Check out the new single linked below:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4nZT5iYs8WT9KVdV5WcPfu

A Stāte øf Mīnd was formed in 1994 in Texas, USA when four friends united with a shared passion for music. On the very first day of their practice, they composed their inaugural original track, "Wardance," setting the stage for their creative journey. Drawing inspiration from legendary figures in hard rock and metal, such as Dio, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Queensryche, the band chose the name State of Mind to encapsulate the essence of music as a reflection of emotional states and experiences.

Boni has released a new single called "Mainframe" that uses AI tech. Check it HERE.

American Extreme Metal band Misanthropik Torment released their new single "This Is Why God Hates You". The release was recorded, mixed and mastered in "A.MOORTAL Music Studios" by Aaron Moore.

Check out the new single linked below:

https://misanthropiktorment.bandcamp.com/track/this-is-why-god-hates-you

Misanthropik Torment was formed in 2018 at Lexington, Kentucky by Erik Scarlet (Vocals, Lyrics) and Jonathan Nesbitt (Guitar/Bass). During the years the band have been pushing the boundaries of extreme metal creating music full of passion, anger and vitriol, making them a must for all extreme metalheads.

Canadian Heavy Metal band Breaker released their debut self-titled EP. The release was recorded and mixed by John Dinsmore at "Lincoln County Social Club" and mastered by Phil Demetro.

Check out the EP linked below:

https://breakerbandofficial.bandcamp.com/album/breaker

Breaker was formed in 2023 by vocalist Terje Fiskvatn (vocals), Caleb Beal (guitars) and Rider Johnson (drums). After almost a year of playing together the band released their debut self-titled EP, signed a promo deal with "GlobMetal Promotions" and already started to work on their full length album scheduled to release in 2025.

Russian Shock Rock/Glam Rock band Alex Sigmer released their new album "August In Your Eyes". The album was recorded at "Sfera Records", but the band has chosen not to reveal the sound engineer’s name.

Check out the single linked below:

https://open.spotify.com/album/7FdtOijpOU3dBQfY2pJeL7

https://music.apple.com/us/album/august-in-your-eyes/1774385913

Formed in 1999, Alex Sigmer blends glam, gothic, industrial, and extreme rock in a bold mix. Their lyrics, written in Russian, English, and Belarusian, are steeped in “planetary mysticism.” Over the years, the band has released several full-length albums and EPs, performed hundreds of shows across Russia and the CIS, and created several music videos.

Groove Metal pioneers Skinlab are thrilled to announce their official signing to WURMgroup, joining forces with legendary producer Ulrich Wild to bring their hard-hitting sound back to fans around the world. Known for their relentless energy and gritty sound, Skinlab’s new single “Flesh Wounds” drops today, marking the band’s first new track in nearly four years.
 

LISTEN TO "FLESH WOUNDS"

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/750XNk9iXGoPGLokVyvEqw?si=jhwvjYVxSu6UsDxMz1yUQA

 YouTube:

https://youtu.be/G87p86rAfAs?si=2smQOmC85d4IrOOf

 
“Our first song in nearly four years. With the intent on coming hard straight out the gates, we stuck to our guns. ‘Flesh Wounds’ … when you hear it, you know it’s Skinlab,” says Steev Esquivel, vocalist and bassist of Skinlab, capturing the raw power of the band’s new material.

The track, produced and mixed by Ulrich Wild (Static-x, Dethklok, Pantera), was co-written by Esquivel himself and brings together the talents of Marcos Medina and Scott Sargeant on guitars, alongside Fabian Vestod on drums. “Flesh Wounds” is a return to Skinlab’s roots, showcasing the driving rhythms, aggressive melodies, and powerful vocals that fans have come to expect.

Ulrich Wild expressed his excitement about this latest collaboration, stating, “I’m thrilled to add Skinlab to our WURMgroup roster. We had a great time creating their previous album, Venomous, so it was an easy decision to work with them again. ‘Flesh Wounds’ is unmistakably Skinlab and a great song to continue where they left off. It’s powerful groove metal you’d expect from a band with eyes trained on the future.”

Upcoming Tour

To celebrate this new chapter, Skinlab is hitting the road with a string of European and North American tour dates. As part of the European leg, Skinlab will share the stage with Pro-Pain, kicking off the tour on November 13 in České Budějovice, CZ. North American fans can catch Skinlab starting in Sacramento, CA on December 12, with additional dates in major cities through early 2025.

Steev Esquivel expressed excitement for the tour and lineup changes, saying, “It’s been a while since our last update, but we’re back with some exciting news! Sadly, Marcos won’t be able to join us this November, but we’re stoked to have Steve Lujan from Sacramento’s Cemetery Legacy and Oscar ‘Wakaras’ Lugo of San Jose’s Way II Stoned on board. Both guitarists have been killing it in rehearsals, and we can’t wait to bring our music to the fans. Bags are packed!”

New guitarist Oscar “Wakaras” Lugo shared his enthusiasm, adding, “I’m really excited to announce that I will be part of this European Tour, playing guitar for Skinlab, one of the bands I looked up to when I was in high school.”

Tour Dates

European Tour 2024

Nov 13 - České Budějovice, CZ
Nov 14 - Pardubice, CZ
Nov 15 - Kojetín, CZ
Nov 16 - Jablunkov, CZ
Nov 17 - Berlin, DE
U.S. Tour 2024-2025

Dec 12 - Sacramento, CA
Dec 13 - Los Angeles, CA
Jan 7 - Brooklyn, NY
Jan 8 - Clifton, NJ
Jan 9 - Mechanicsburg, PA
Jan 10 - Chicopee, MA
Jan 11 - New Haven, CT
Jan 12 - Albany, NY
 

Swedish rock band Greybeards is set to release its latest single, “Holy Ghosts”, on October 25th, 2024.

Blending the influence of bands like Foo Fighters and Biffy Clyro with an emo vibe reminiscent of bands like Saosin, “Holy Ghosts” is a powerful social and political critique inspired by the band’s reaction to the recently approved abortion ban in Poland by an ultra-conservative party. The song captures the oppressive force of old men who resist change from their positions of power, and the hopeful defiance of the oppressed.

The video for “Holy Ghosts” can be found HERE.

Speaking about the song, the band said: “This is our darkest song to date. It’s about oppression, about power over people. But where there is hope there is a way, and we hope this one finds a place in your hearts as it has done in ours.”

Written and produced by the band, the track’s intense vocal delivery and arena rock chorus are bound to captivate fans with their rebellious energy, blending elements of rock and metal to shape an electrifying call to arms. The song was also mixed by Henrik Persson and mastered by Grant Berry.

Formed as a one-gig band in 2012 by four high school friends (Olle, Ingemar, Niklas and Simon) in Gävle, Sweden, the group’s synergy and sound led them to continue playing many different stages that summer, releasing their first demo the next year.

The band has extensively toured across Europe and Asia, but they’ve by far made the most noise in the UK. In context, their previous albums were both spun around the country; the first one in an RV and the second one in a Nightliner.

When talking about their writing process, singer Olle Westlund has previously said “The process of us creating music has always been a living thing for us”, they relay. With a method that is described as “a sort of magic” and “like slow cooking a fine meal”.

Greybeards released their debut album “Longing To Fly” in 2015, followed by “For The Wilder Minds” in 2018. In 2022 they signed with Rexius Records, looking to continue their growth, with the release of upcoming EP “Out Of The Red” on February 14th, 2025.

Following on from the success of their latest single, ‘DAMAGE’, Swedish goth rock mob The Dead And Living have returned with a video for their new single. ‘DEMONS TILL I’M DEAD’, which was released on November 1st, comes from their new EP, “DAMAGE”, which is set for release on February 28th, 2025, through Rexius Records.

Speaking about the single, the band have said: "’DEMONS TILL I'M DEAD’ is the most intimate track on the EP, bringing us even closer to home. The worldly and somewhat easy song deals with the usual devastations of being a citizen of Earth. Nothing more, nothing less, with an ounce of nothingness."

The video for ‘DEMONS TILL I’M DEAD’ can be found HERE.

The “DAMAGE” EP brings The Dead And Living up to date and into an unknown future. After ten years of wallowing in 19th-century decadence, the band takes one giant leap into the future and beyond. Vocalist and songwriter Coroner explains: "With this release, we wanted to bring the band and its essence into the contemporary. The sort of space-themed EP makes a lot more sense now than we initially thought it would. The infinite dimensions of space and its vast darkness that has always been there and always will be. It’s not so much a science fiction theme as a modern take on this insane cosmic thing we’re all part of.

One late night, I saw a film called 'A Journey to the End of Time' by Melodysheep on YouTube. The ending quote, leaves you in a lingering state of mind: 'At the end of the universe, nothing happens, and it keeps not happening, forever.' Out of that mental state, the new material started taking shape.”

The tracklisting for the upcoming EP, which is set for release through Rexius Records on February 28th, 2025, is:

1. DAMAGE

2. MAGMA HEART

3. DEMONS TILL I’M DEAD

4. ARMY OF MANKIND

The Dead And Living was founded on a Sunday in Karlstad, Sweden in 2007. Their debut album “DECADANCE” and its follow up “THE LAST MEN STANDING” were both recognised among the best albums of 2010 and 2013 in Close Up Magazine and Sweden Rock Magazine.

During their first decennium, The Dead And Living have toured throughout Scandinavia and Europe, with stops at Sweden Rock Festival, Arvikafestivalen, Peace And Love, and Putte I Parken. The band have also toured in support of Deathstars, Chrome Division and Marky Ramones Blitzkrieg.
 
In 2019 the band’s third full-length-album, “THE AUTHOR’S CURSE”, was financed in less than 24 hours via Kickstarter. Among great reviews and coverage in magazines such as Sweden Rock Magazine, the album held first position by Swedish critics at KRITIKER.SE during the time following the release.

Napalm Death and the Melvins trek across the U.S. this Spring, joining forces for the next chapter of their legendary “Savage Imperial Death March” tour.

The iconic bands first teamed up in 2016 for a six-week tour. The Melvins brought their unparalleled mix of punk and metal, while Napalm Death delivered their signature ferocious grindcore, delivering an unforgettable experience for fans of intense, boundary-pushing music.

“Napalm Death! Melvins! What a dream! Not only are we looking forward to being on the road with our friends in Napalm Death, but we’re excited to have both Dale and Coady both on drums once again,” Buzz Osborne shares, noting that this is the return of Dale Crover behind the kit following a medical emergency in 2023, and the first time Coady Willis will perform in tandem with Crover since 2016.

The nine-week “Savage Imperial Death March Part II” outing also features an all-star line-up of openers: Weedeater (April 4-May 5), Titan To Tachyons featuring Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn (May 7- 20), The Hard-Ons with Jerry A (May 22-June 7) and Shane Embury’s Dark Sky Burial, who will perform on all dates.

 
TOUR DATES:

April 4 San Diego, CA Music Box

April 5 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory

April 7 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall

April 8 San Jose, CA The Ritz

April 10 Los Angeles, CA The Belasco

April 12 Las Vegas, NV

April 13 Phoenix, AZ The Van Buren

April 14 Tucson, AZ Rialto Theatre

April 15 El Paso, TX Lowbrow Palace

April 17 Dallas, TX The Echo Lounge & Music Hall

April 18 Austin, TX Emo's

April 19 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall – Downstairs

April 20 Baton Rouge, LA Chelsea’s Live

April 21 New Orleans, LA House of Blues New Orleans

April 23 Tampa, FL The Orpheum

April 24 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room

April 25 Orlando, FL The Beacham

April 26 Savannah, GA District Live

April 27 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade – Heaven Stage

April 28 Birmingham, AL Saturn

April 29 Athens, GA 40 Watt Club

May 1 Charlotte, NC The Underground – Charlotte

May 2 Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle

May 3 Virginia Beach, VA Elevation 27

May 4 Baltimore, MD Baltimore Soundstage

May 5 Philadelphia, PA Union Transfer

May 7 Brooklyn, NY Warsaw

May 8 Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club

May 9 Harrisburg, PA Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center

May 10 Pittsburgh, PA Mr. Small’s

May 11 Cleveland, OH TBA

May 12 Detroit, MI Saint Andrew’s Hall

May 13 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection

May 15 Cincinnati, OH Bogart’s

May 16 Louisville, KY Mercury Ballroom

May 17 Nashville, TN Brooklyn Bowl Nashville

May 18 St. Louis, MO Red Flag

May 19 Chicago, IL Metro

May 20 Milwaukee, WI The Rave II

May 22 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue – Main room

May 23 Des Moines, IA Wooly’s

May 24 Kansas City, MO Madrid Theatre

May 25 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room

May 27 Denver, CO Summit

May 29 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall

May 31 Bozeman, MT The ELM

June 1 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory Spokane

June 2 Seattle, WA The Showbox

June 3 Portland, OR Revolution Hall

June 4 Eugene, OR McDonald Theatre

June 6 Reno, NV Virginia Street Brewhouse

June 7 Berkeley, CA Cornerstone Berkeley

Following his train ride would be to ride Thomas, and his train car seating arrangement was about the same set-up, except his seats were more comfortable and more old fashioned, Percy’s seats were similar but Thomas’s was just more relaxing. The Thomas ride had the same set up as Percy’s, going one direction forwards and the other direction backwards. Music was played, with a greeting also made by Thomas the loud sound of his horn tooting proudly! The ride was also just as enjoyable and so much fun to ride along the tracks!
 

Afterwards came the photographs, with the photos being taken with Thomas shortly after riding him, and then heading over to Percy to grab some photos with him as well. The merchandise booth had various items available, appeal, toys of the trains, hats, keychains, cups, ornaments etc. With the two museums having an array of displayed trains big and small, it was interesting to see how trains were and are today. Seeing everybody’s reaction and expressions upon riding and browsing around was fun, lots of smiles and happiness ever flowing throughout the event.

All in all really, this “Day Out with Thomas” event was one that is quite the distance in travel time, but well worth it at least once. Riding and meeting the famous trains was fun, and experiencing it all first hand even as an adult, made my childhood fulfilled as a fan of the little engine that could.