Boss Battle premiere first song from upcoming release, announce Southwest & West Coast dates with Sky Acre

“Combining a strong 1990s industrial rock element with a post-millenial indie rock sound, Austin band Boss Battle find a comfortable middle ground between rigid, harsh mechanical sounds and unique pop hooks.” — PopMatters

Austin trio Boss Battle premiere the first track from their forthcoming debut today via PopMatters. Hear and share “Ride” HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.)

Boss Battle hit the road in the Southwest and West Coast in September with tourmates Sky Acre. Please see complete dates below. 

The energetic trio’s sound combines elements of 90s Industrial groups like Pigface and Ministry crossed with the explosive punk hooks of early Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Vocalist/keyboardist Erin Frazier and vocalist/guitarist Chico Jones often share the mic simultaneously, creating an onslaught of dual male/female voices atop distorted synth bass and twisting lead lines, crunching guitars and drummer Benjamin Kent’s precise, powerful rhythms. The four songs on the band’s succinct debut Attack Time vacillate from driving anthems like “Ride” and “Dub Kitty” to the slithering noisepop of “Jolt” and the slow, deliberate attack of closer, “Step.” Throughout, Boss Battle demonstrate a mastery of pop hooks without ever losing their hard-edged heft. 

Jones owns and operates Austin’s acclaimed Ohm Recording studio (White Denim, Howe Gelb), where the band recorded Attack Time in various sessions over the last year. Attack Time will be available on CD and download on September 11th, 2015. 

BOSS BATTLE LIVE:

09/01 Austin, TX @ Holy Mountain (HAAM Benefit)

09/10 Marfa, TX @ Padre’s *

09/11 Tucson, AZ @ Surly Wench Pub *

09/12 Lancaster, CA @ The Britisher *

09/13 Los Angeles, CA @ Bridgetown DIY *

09/15 Oakland, CA @ Stork Club *

09/16 Sacramento, CA @ The Colony *

09/17 Eugene, OR @ Black Forest *

09/18 Portland, OR @ The Tardis Room *

09/19 Olympia, WA @ Le Voyeur *

09/20 Seattle, WA @ Substation *

09/22 Missoula, MT @ The Real Lounge *

09/23 Billings, MT @ The Railyard *

09/24 Denver, CO @ BaBar *

09/25 Colorado Springs, CO @ Triple Nickel *

09/26 Amarillo, TX @ Leftwoods *

* w/ Sky Acre

Artist: Boss Battle

Album: Attack Time

Record Label: Boss Battle Music

Release Date: September 11th, 2015

Tracks:

01. Dub Kitty

02. Jolt

03. Ride (STREAM)

04. Step

On The Web:

boss-battle.com

facebook.com/bossbattleband

Netflix cult hit film 'Wolfcop' creators team up with soundtrack band Shooting Guns for awesome video, premiere by NPR

Click image above to watch video

“The instrumental psych-rock band from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, knows how to choogle, burn and rip like Hawkwind thrown into the middle of a Mad Max set. That’s why director Lowell Dean tapped Shooting Guns to score Wolfcop, a 2014 horror-comedy that’s exactly as ridiculous/awesome as you think it is.” — NPR

Canada's award-nominated psych sextet Shooting Guns premiere a new video via NPR today for a song from their soundtrack for the acclaimed cult horror-comedy film Wolfcop. The video for "Barnburner" was specially made by the film's creators, featuring further wild exploits of the Wolfcop character, available to watch and share HERE. (Direct YouTube link HERE.)

Shooting Guns' recent Barnburner EP was released via L.A.'s RidingEasy Records. The sometimes heavy, droning and sometimes Goblin-esque set is available to hear and share HERE.

The EP's tracks are culled from Shooting Guns' soundtrack to Wolfcop, which has taken in $30 million since its release in 2014. Wolfcop was the Netflix 'Movie of the Week' in April 2015.

Hailing from Saskatoon, SK, in the heart of the Canadian prairies, JUNO and Polaris Prize award nominees Shooting Guns are hard at work fortifying the heavy end of the psychedelic spectrum,  haunting the foggy moor between Sabbath-styled doom riffery and heavy pulse-riding kraut-rock.

Shooting Guns scored the soundtrack to Canadian horror-comedy WolfCop and released the official soundtrack in 2014 in partnership with One Way Static, RidingEasy Records, and Cinecoup. Their sophomore LP, Brotherhood of the Ram, released in 2013 through RidingEasy Records was nominated for the 2015 JUNO Metal/Hard Album of the Year as well as the Polaris Music Prize. Their debut LP, Born To Deal in Magic: 1952-1976, was also nominated for the Polaris Music Prize in 2012.

The Barnburner EP is available on 7" vinyl and download via RidingEasy Records as of July 14th, 2015.

Artist: Shooting Guns Title: Barnburner EP Label: RidingEasy Records Release Date: July 14th, 2015 01. Barnburner (VIDEO) 02. Burchard Von Worms 03. Doomlight Desires On The Web: shootingguns.ca shootingguns.bandcamp.com facebook.com/shootinggunsband ridingeasyrecords.com

BIRCH stream debut in full, play NYC release show 8/28

Click image above to watch video

"Contagious, well-rounded indie rock. Birsky and her band shows admirable range, but at the same time there’s a keen focus on songwriting quality that maintains a sense of consistency amidst all the variety." -- PopMatters

Brooklyn, NY indie trio Birch are streaming their forthcoming debut today in its entirety via PopMatters. The irresistible pop hooks of every song on the band's Halfway EP are available to hear and share HERE. Direct Soundcloud HERE. All tracks cleared for posting.)

Birch play a special celebration of the band's debut release this Friday, August 28th at The Bowery Electric in New York City. More information and tickets HERE.

Watch the video (with impressive production value and choreography) for the contagious first single "Halfway" on YouTube HERE.

Birch is the project of singer/songwriter Michelle Birsky. The band, which includes Mat Towles on bass and Emma Munger on guitar blends elements of rock, pop, singer/songwriter, and electronica, never quite settling on one genre. With ambient electronic instrumentation, lush vocal looping, and unconventional song form, Birch seeks to create a unique, contemporary sound while maintaining the strength and significance of traditional songwriting.

After graduating college with a degree in music composition, Birsky moved to Brooklyn in pursuit of a music community. After working at a commercial music house, music supervising an indie film, and landing an internship with film composer Elliot Goldenthal, Birsky decided to pursue her own music - and thus Birch was born. In August of 2014, she went on a two-week solo, silent retreat to her parent's house in Vermont where she began working on songs for Birch's debut. 

Since the writing process began in Vermont, a place Michelle spent most of her childhood, much of the music is centered around the theme of past and present. In fact, the name "Birch" comes from Vermont and is based on three storm-weathered birch trees that sat at the bottom of her family's yard for years, their tops bent nearly to the ground, but never falling over. 

The songs themselves are a combination of narrative and emotional storytelling. Each song is based on a specific story, but the lyrics can be elusive at times, triggering emotion rather than a specific narrative. "Halfway", for example, is based on Michelle's time in Vermont and is about the places your mind goes when it is left alone for extended periods of time. "Fighting Words" is an angst-y tribute to her hometown in Connecticut and draws from stories of her peers who grew up with ultra-conservative parents. Throughout the four songs of the EP, there are underlying dichotomies: past vs. present, nature vs. metropolis, acoustic vs. electronic, as well as the underlying theme of growing up in a digital age and what it's like to be young now. 

After returning to Brooklyn, Birsky teamed up with producer Ariel Loh from the band Stone Cold Fox to begin recording the EP. Loh helped bring electronic elements into Birch's sound, further highlighting the themes of time and place. Birsky had multiple musicians play on the recordings and live set before current guitarist Emma Munger and bassist Mat Towles joined the band. Having gone to college with Emma and met Mat when she first moved to Brooklyn, Birsky continues its basis as a personal endeavor, expanding slowly in the world at large. 

Birch's 4-song debut, Halfway will be available for download on August 28th, 2015.

BIRCH LIVE:

08/28 New York, NY @ The Bowery Electric
09/03 New York, NY @ Sofar Sounds (Acoustic show)
09/15 New York, NY @ Pianos
11/19 New York, NY @ Amazon "Loft Rocks"

Artist: Birch

Album: Halfway EP

Record Label: Birch Music

Release Date: August 28th, 2015

Tracks:

01. Fighting Words (STREAM)

02. Carolyn

03. Halfway (VIDEO)

04. Windowless

On The Web:

www.facebook.com/birchmusicnyc

soundcloud.com/birchmusicnyc

Birch premiere new song from forthcoming debut, fast-rising NYC indie trio led by songwriter/singer Michelle Birsky

Click image above to watch video

"Contagious, well-rounded indie rock. What better way for a new band to introduce themselves than with a well-made video for a knockout song?" -- PopMatters

Brooklyn, NY indie trio Birch premiere a new track from their forthcoming debut today via New Noise Magazine. The bubbling electropop leaning tune "Fighting Words" is available to hear and share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE. Cleared for posting.)

Birch play a special celebration of the band's debut release this Friday, August 28th at The Bowery Electric in New York City. More information and tickets HERE.

PopMatters recently premiered the video for the contagious first single "Halfway", available to watch and share HERE. (Direct YouTube HERE.)

Birch is the project of singer/songwriter Michelle Birsky. The band, which includes Mat Towles on bass and Emma Munger on guitar blends elements of rock, pop, singer/songwriter, and electronica, never quite settling on one genre. With ambient electronic instrumentation, lush vocal looping, and unconventional song form, Birch seeks to create a unique, contemporary sound while maintaining the strength and significance of traditional songwriting.

After graduating college with a degree in music composition, Birsky moved to Brooklyn in pursuit of a music community. After working at a commercial music house, music supervising an indie film, and landing an internship with film composer Elliot Goldenthal, Birsky decided to pursue her own music - and thus Birch was born. In August of 2014, she went on a two-week solo, silent retreat to her parent's house in Vermont where she began working on songs for Birch's debut. 

Since the writing process began in Vermont, a place Michelle spent most of her childhood, much of the music is centered around the theme of past and present. In fact, the name "Birch" comes from Vermont and is based on three storm-weathered birch trees that sat at the bottom of her family's yard for years, their tops bent nearly to the ground, but never falling over. 

The songs themselves are a combination of narrative and emotional storytelling. Each song is based on a specific story, but the lyrics can be elusive at times, triggering emotion rather than a specific narrative. "Halfway", for example, is based on Michelle's time in Vermont and is about the places your mind goes when it is left alone for extended periods of time. "Fighting Words" is an angst-y tribute to her hometown in Connecticut and draws from stories of her peers who grew up with ultra-conservative parents. Throughout the four songs of the EP, there are underlying dichotomies: past vs. present, nature vs. metropolis, acoustic vs. electronic, as well as the underlying theme of growing up in a digital age and what it's like to be young now. 

After returning to Brooklyn, Birsky teamed up with producer Ariel Loh from the band Stone Cold Fox to begin recording the EP. Loh helped bring electronic elements into Birch's sound, further highlighting the themes of time and place. Birsky had multiple musicians play on the recordings and live set before current guitarist Emma Munger and bassist Mat Towles joined the band. Having gone to college with Emma and met Mat when she first moved to Brooklyn, Birsky continues its basis as a personal endeavor, expanding slowly in the world at large. 

Birch's 4-song debut, Halfway will be available for download on August 28th, 2015. 

Artist: Birch

Album: Halfway EP

Record Label: Birch Music

Release Date: August 28th, 2015

Tracks:

01. Fighting Words (STREAM)

02. Carolyn

03. Halfway (VIDEO)

04. Windowless

On The Web:

www.facebook.com/birchmusicnyc

soundcloud.com/birchmusicnyc

'Brown Acid' compilation of long lost 60s-70s proto-stoner rock singles streaming in full a week ahead of release

Starting today, The Onion AV Club is streaming in full the compilation of long-lost vintage 60s-70s proto-stoner-psych singles, Brown Acid: The First Trip. Curated in partnership by Permanent Records and RidingEasy Records, the album will be released on August. 28th. Hear and share Brown Acid HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.) Please see cover art and track listing below.  Some of the best thrills of the Internet music revolution is the ability to find extremely rare music with great ease. But even with such vast archives to draw from, quite a lot of great songs have gone undiscovered for nearly half a decade, particularly in genres that lacked hifalutin arty pretense. Previously, only the most extremely dedicated and passionate record collectors had the stamina and prowess to hunt down long forgotten wonders in dusty record bins - often hoarding them in private collections, or selling at ridiculous collector's prices. Legendary compilations like Nuggets, Pebbles, ad nauseum, have exhausted the mines of early garage rock and proto-punk, keeping alive a large cross-section of underground ephemera. However, few have delved into and expertly archived the wealth of proto-metal, pre-stoner rock tracks collected on Brown Acid: The First Trip.  Lance Barresi, co-owner of L.A.-cum-Chicago retailer Permanent Records has shown incredible persistence in tracking down a stellar collection of rare singles from the 60s and 70s for the 11-track compilation. Partnered with Daniel Hall of RidingEasy Records, the two have assembled a selection of songs that's hard to believe have remained unheard for so long.  "I essentially go through Hell and high water just to find these records," Barresi says. "Once I find a record worthy of tracking, I begin the (sometimes) extremely arduous process of contacting the band members and encouraging them to take part. Daniel and I agree that licensing all the tracks we're using for Brown Acid is best for everyone involved." Rather than simply bootlegging the tracks, when all of the bands and labels haven't existed for 30-40 years or more, tracking down the creators gives all of these tunes a real second chance at success.  "All of (these songs) could've been huge given the right circumstances," says Barresi. "But for one reason or another most of these songs fell flat and were forgotten. However, time has been kind in my opinion and I think these songs are as good now or better than they ever were." Raw Meat, for example, one of the stomping standouts from the compilation, is a band about which precious little is known even by the owner of the label and producer of the band's original 1969 single, Richard Paul Thomas -- two of its tracks reissued as a 7" teaser single for the compilation on July 14th, 2015 via RidingEasy Records. The trio was from north of Milwaukee, WI, but not much more information remains available. "They were one of the tightest trios around at the time and had a fairly large repertoire of their own material," Thomas says. "The only thing that sticks in my mind was the band's bumper sticker 'Raw Meat Is Good For You'. Our offices were on Lincoln Avenue just next door to the Federal Meat inspectors offices." Brown Acid: The First Trip opens with the slithering buzzsaw guitars and hard-rock howl of Zeke's' "Box", a monster that gives Blue Cheer a run for their leaden blues. Snow sways into "Sunflower" with a touch of Steppenwolf's swagger and wind-in-their-hair wildness. Elsewhere, Zebra proves they were "Wasted" with a soul-inflected groove, while Bob Goodsite leans in on his wah-wah and phaser pedals, determined to out-Hendrix Jimi himself on "Faze." Raw Meat's "Stand By Girl" serves up a fierce, stomping riff intercut with Iron Butterfly style operatics. Bacchus kicks out a hostile sounding boogie, demanding to "Carry My Load." Josefus caps it all off nicely with a hooky power-pop meets Bob Seger System meets Lollipop Shoppe anthem with the undeniably catchy chorus, "hard luck - keep truckin'!"  It's a solid set of unknown hits you can't believe failed to connect back in their heyday due to various unfortunate circumstances. But now in 2015, Brown Acid: The First Trip gives these long-lost gems their well deserved moment to shine.  Brown Acid: The First Trip will be available everywhere on LP, CD and download on August 11th, 2015 via RidingEasy Records.  Artist: Raw Meat Album: "Stand-By Girl" b/w "Out In The Country" Label: RidingEasy Records Release Date: July 14th, 2015 Artist: Various Artists Album: Brown Acid: The First Trip Label: RidingEasy Records Release Date: August 11th, 2015 01. Zekes "Box" 02. Snow "Sunflower" 03. Tour "One of the Bad Guys" 04. Zebra "Wasted" 05. Bob Goodsite "Faze 1" 06. Raw Meat "Stand-By Girl" (STREAM) 07. Punch "Deathhead" 08. Bacchus "Carry My Load" 09. Lenny Drake "Love Eyes (Cast Your Spell On Me)" 10. The Todd "Mystifying Me" 11. Josefus "Hard Luck" On The Web: www.ridingeasyrecords.com

Austin jazz-rock/indie/soul band Wonderbitch premiere "awesomely bizarre" video

Click image to watch video

"Wonderbitch has created a fascinating little hybrid for themselves, blending the sleek jazz rock of Steely Dan, the effervescent indie pop of Phoenix, along with a big, wonderfully garish helping of ‘80s R&B." -- PopMatters

"50 Best Things We Saw at SXSW 2015." -- RollingStone

Austin, TX power-pop/jazz rock/80s R&B genre-splicing quartet Wonderbitch premiere the first video from their new self-titled release today via CraveOnline. The "awesomely bizarre" clip is available to watch and share HERE. (Direct YouTube HERE.)

PopMatters recently premiered the effervescent single "Josanna", available to hear & share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud link HERE.) The track "Little Tiger" followed as a free download, available HERE. All tracks cleared for posting.

The band's self-titled sophomore release is out on CD and digital as of July 24th. Their 7-song debut Wonderbitch Loves You was released in summer 2013.

In the winter of 2013, Wonderbitch sprouted from a fertile galaxy of childhood friends and stagnant basement projects in the small, musical town of Bloomington, Indiana. After creating a remarkably lush and groovy bedroom debut album the band transplanted to Austin to hone their chops and to always have a stage to play on. Upon arrival, Wonderbitch picked up two Texan boys with a propensity towards rocking out, doubling the drive to grow and play on an increasing scale.

On top of a moody English foundation of Pink Floyd, Genesis and Muse, Wonderbitch wraps up cool Steely Dan musicality, Texas psychedelia, video games, and the nostalgic sparkle of smooth early 80s pop. Wonderbitch currently writes, records and performs regionally and nationally as they continue to cultivate their show into a lovingly explosive and enveloping experience to bring to stages large and medium.

WONDERBITCH LIVE:

08/28 Austin, TX @ Cheer Up Charlie's
09/16 Austin, TX @ Spider House Ballroom
09/26 Austin, TX @ Swan Dive

Artist: Wonderbitch

Album: Wonderbitch

Label: self-released

Release date: July 24, 2015

01. Beingness (VIDEO)

02. Little Tiger (STREAM)

03. Amigo

04. San Diego

05. Josanna (STREAM)

06. I Am One

On The Web:

www.wonderbitch.com

facebook.com/wb.lovesyou

wonderbitch.bandcamp.com

youtube.com/user/WBlovesyou

soundcloud.com/wblovesyou

Portland art-pop-rockers Mothertapes share first song from forthcoming album on Self Group

“You can hear just how well the pair palaces the experimental and the accessible on the terrific new single ‘Do Make Say.’ For all the risks the song takes, from its washes of chillwave synths and huge, almost dubstep bassline, everything serves the melody which is sumptuous and gently catchy.” — PopMatters

Portland, OR band Mothertapes premiere the first song from their forthcoming debut album today via PopMatters. The art-pop-prog hook-laden tune "Do Make Say" is available to hear and share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE / Free MP3 D/L HERE.)

Mothertapes' self-titled album will be released October 2nd, 2015 via the Self Group creative collective.

At the heart of Mothertapes' music lies vivid melodic themes, heavy beats, and lush layers of programmed and live-looped instrumentation wrapped around intense guitar hooks and vocals. A live Mothertapes performance is an impressive show of workmanship in which Pete Bosack and Tommy Franzen build each song from the ground up, creating the sonic footprint of a much larger band. Rather than ceding control to the bloodless clockwork of sequenced loops, the band breathes life into the technology, eliciting an elastic, dynamic quality that has drawn the admiration of critics and earned the band a loyal following.

The creative collaboration of Pete Bosack and Tommy Franzen is entering its second decade. From the beginning, they recognized in each other an experimental spirit and strong sense of purpose rooted in a commitment to precision and musicianship. Their early garage jams led to the formation of their first band, Wax Fingers, and a debut album soon followed.

When Wax Fingers lost their bassist and, eventually, their second guitarist, Bosack and Franzen were back at a square one. Instead of recruiting new members, they chose to wipe the slate clean and double down on their original partnership, determined to fully realize its promise. They launched a new two-man band, Mothertapes, and began working on all-new material that would push their unique, progressive pop sound to new heights. 

Astute listeners will notice the influence of artists as varied as Animal Collective, Radiohead, Matmos, St. Vincent, Battles, and Maps and Atlases. But such comparisons serve only as reference points for this thoroughly original duo. After ten years of collaboration, Bosack and Franzen regard Mothertapes as the culmination of their work together, a breakthrough project resulting in forward-looking music that is both artistically ambitious and highly accessible.

MOTHERTAPES LIVE:

08/25  Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios

10/01  Portland, OR @ Holocene

Artist: Mothertapes

Album: Mothertapes

Label: Self Group

Release Date: October 2nd, 2015

01. Do Make Say (STREAM)

02. Aftermath

03. Debts/Bets

04. Carrot Stick

05. Not At All So Much Like

06. Gravity Wins

07. Beta Bank

08. War Song

09. 12 Step

On The Web:

mothertapesmusic.com

www.selfgroup.org

facebook.com/Mothertapes

UK doom band LIMB premiere new track for forthcoming album on New Heavy Sounds, ex-Uncle Acid produced by Russ Russell

London, England quartet Limb premiere a new single from their forthcoming sophomore album
Terminal today via Metal Injection. The track "Dawn Raiders" is available to hear and share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.)

Terrorizer Magazine previously launched the album track "Ghost Dance", available to hear and share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.)

Terminal follows hot on the heels of Limb's self-titled 2014 debut, but takes an enormous leap forward. Perhaps it's the result of playing across the UK on tour with New Heavy Sounds labelmates Black Moth, and the introduction of new drummer Tom Mowforth (ex-Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats) but Limb are now more explosive than ever before. Where the debut showcased their thick, loping, and stripped-down sound, Terminal cranks up the sonics, mashes the grooves, and ups the filth quotient to truly corrosive levels.

In their quest to take things to the next planet, Limb hooked up with legendary extreme metal producer Russ Russell (Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, Evile, etc.). A bold move, but together they've created a monolithic statement of intent. Terminal is a down-tuned and dirty barrage of monumental riffs.

Recognizing Limb's love of both stoner dirge and glam stomp, Russell has described the band's sound as "GoatSlade" -- and we can see why. Buried in the dirt is a cosmic boogie, which pays more than a nod to the decade of stacked platform boots without ever feeling retro.

Right from the opening double whammy of "Three Snake Leaves" and "Ghost Dance", you're propelled into a maelstrom that never lets up. The riffs come layered, thick, and fast, from the fuzzy throb of "Dawn Raiders" to the off-kilter groove of "Spoils of a Portrait King", marking the halfway point with its monstrous, doomy outro. The second half of the album contains Limb's take on a traditional murder ballad, "Down by the Banks", as well as the chaotic hardcore of "Mortuary Teeth". The whole thing ends with "Cocytus", the soundtrack to a voyage across the eponymous river of dead souls that encircles Hell, complete with a hypnotic riff ending.

Thematically the album addresses the prospect of absolute destruction and the possibility of life thereafter, which is echoed in the album's artwork, a startling retro-futuristic collage by Cur3es (responsible for the art of Fu Manchu's Gigantoid). It conveys the album's mood perfectly: the familiar juxtaposed with the unknown, a world where nothing is quite as it should be.

As usual it'll be a deluxe LP package: 180g transparent white and cosmic purple haze vinyl, gatefold sleeve, printed lyric inner and free download. Also available on CD and download on September 11th, 2015 via New Heavy Sounds.

Artist: Limb

Album: Terminal

Label: New Heavy Sounds

Release Date: September 11th, 2015

01. Three Snake Leaves

02. Ghost Dance (STREAM)

03. Micromegas

04. Dawn Raiders (STREAM)

05. Spoils of a Portrait King

06. Down By The Banks

07. Sleepwalkers

08. Mortuary Teeth

09. Cocylas

On The Web:

limbtheband.com

facebook.com/LimbTheBand

newheavysounds.com

Electric Citizen announce Fall tour supporting Pentagram

"No band, except maybe Pentagram, deserved the big stage more -- or used it as well -- as Dolan and her band. I can only compare the ecstasy of her stage presence to Bobby Liebling himself, the way she flung herself around, shimmied, danced, and showed genuine enthusiasm from start to finish." -- Consequence of Sound Electric Citizen announce Fall tour dates supporting metal legends Pentagram. Electric Citizen's dynamic frontwoman Laura Dolan is often compared to Pentagram singer Bobby Liebling, which makes this pairing all the more fitting. Please see complete dates below. Watch & share Electric Citizen's "Light Years Beyond" video HERE. Electric Citizen just wrapped up U.S. headlining dates with RidingEasy Records labelmates Mondo Drag and Slow Season in July while taking a break from working on their sophomore album. The band's highly praised performance at L.A.'s Psycho California festival earlier this summer was named by Consequence of Sound among the 10 best sets of the 3-day event. Electric Citizen is a rock n roll band from Cincinnati, Ohio whose heavy sound is timeless and music to the ears of any rock n roll fan. Formed in 2013 by guitarist Ross Dolan, vocalist Laura Dolan, bassist Nick Vogelpohl and drummer Nate Wagner, the band has busied itself with turning heads and ears onto their music. Since signing with RidingEasy Records in early 2014, they've done several direct support tours with Wolfmother, Fu Manchu, and Budos Band. The band's recent debut album Sateen ended up on several 'Best of 2014' lists. Sateen is available on LP, CD and download via RidingEasy Records as of July 1st, 2014. ELECTRIC CITIZEN / PENTAGRAM TOUR: 08/26 Seattle, WA @ Neumos 08/27 Portland, OR @ Dante's 08/28 San Francisco, CA @ The Chapel 08/29 Santa Cruz, CA @ Atrium 09/30 Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts 10/01 Providence, RI @ The Met 10/02 Amityville, NY @ Revolution 10/03 Washington, DC @ Rock N Roll Hotel 10/06 Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus 10/07 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls 10/09 Chicago, IL @ The Abbey 10/10 Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme 10/11 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop Artist: Electric Citizen Album: Sateen Label: RidingEasy Records Release Date: July 1st, 2014 01. Beggar's Need 02. Magnetic Man 03. Future Persuasion 04. Savage 05. Hawk Nightingale 06. Shallow Water 07. The Trap 08. Light Years Beyond 09. Burning in Hell 10. Ghost of Me On The Web: www.electriccitizenband.com www.facebook.com/ElectricCitizen electriccitizenband.bandcamp.com twitter.com/electriccitizN

Indian Handcrafts premiere first song from forthcoming album, announce tours with Mutoid Man, Kylesa

Canadian power-duo Indian Handcrafts premiere the first track from their forthcoming sophomore Sargent House album today via Noisey. Hear and share the song "It's Late Queeny" HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.) Indian Handcrafts hit the road this fall, first with labelmates Mutoid Man (members of Cave In and Converge), followed by performances at Riot Fest Chicago and Toronto. Then, the duo picks up with Kylesa and Inter Arma in October. See complete dates below.  "The last one was our 70s album, this is our 80s album," jokes Indian Handcrafts drummer/vocalist Brandyn James Aikins. Although it's an offhand generalization, there's a good deal of accuracy to the jest. Whereas the Canadian duo's 2012 Sargent House debut Civil Disobedience for Losers was full of 70s style heavy groove within its drop-tuned riff-rollicking, Creeps has more sheen and steel. Or, while the previous album was more of a shag carpet lined party van, Creeps is a souped-up time-traveling Delorean.  The songs for Creeps came about quickly after the band had spent considerable time on tour, the two of them riding in a van -- er, time-traveling Delorean -- for hours on end. "On tour you're listening to everything all the time, going from Celtic Frost to Faster Pussycat," says guitarist/vocalist Daniel Brandon Allen. "It tends to work its way into the writing." The effects of that mindset opened them up to the musical twists and turns of the new album.  "It's anthemic at times," Allen says. "Hopefully listener friendly. It's kind of a mixed bag."  For Creeps the band once again teamed up with previous album engineer Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Tool), surreptitiously sneaking away from their Barrie, Ontario home for 10 days' recording at Kasai's new Sun Valley, CA studio Sound of Sirens. There the pair focused intently on distilling their ideas down to a 9-song, 44-minute can of whip ass labelled simply, Creeps.  Creeps will be available everywhere on LP, CD and download on October 2nd, 2015 via Sargent House. INDIAN HANDCRAFTS TOUR - FALL 2015: Aug 31 - Austin, TX @ Red 7 ** Sep 01 - Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar N Grill ** Sep 02 - Houston TX @ Rudyard's British Pub ** Sep 03 - Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Collective ** Sep 04 - St Louis, MO @ Fubar ** Sep 06 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Smiling Moose ** Sep 12 - Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest Chicago Sep 20 - Toronto, ON (CA) @ Riot Fest Toronto Oct 06 -  St Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre ## Oct 07 -  Miami, FL @ Grand Central ## Oct 08 -  Orlando, FL @ The Social ## Oct 09 -  Savannah, GA @ The Jinx ## Oct 10 -  Asheville, NC @ New Mountain ## Oct 13 -  Columbus, OH @ The Basement ## Oct 14 -  Grand Rapids, MI @ Pyramid Scheme ## Oct 16 -  Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop ## Oct 17 -  Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar ## Oct 19 -  Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall ## Oct 20 -  Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts ## Oct 23 -  Richmond, VA @ Broadberry ## Oct 24 -  Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel ## Oct 25 -  Atlanta, GA @ The EARL ## ** w/ Mutoid Man ## w/ Kylesa, Inter Arma, Irata Artist: Indian Handcrafts Album: Creeps Record Label: Sargent House Release Date: October, 2nd, 2015 01. Down At The Docks 02. It’s Late Queeny (STREAM) 03. Murderers For Hire 04. Brothers Underground 05. Maelstrom 06. Snake Mountain 07. The Divider 08. Degenerate Case 09. Rat Faced Snorter On the Web: sargenthouse.com/indian-handcrafts indianhandcrafts.net indianhandcrafts.bandcamp.com

Swedish doom trio Spelljammer premiere first track from forthcoming album on RidingEasy Records

Swedish trio Spelljammer premiere the first track from their forthcoming album  Ancient of Days today via Brooklyn Vegan. The track "The Pathfinder" is available to hear and share HERE. (Direct Soundcloud HERE.)

“We like things on a grand scale,” says Spelljammer bassist/vocalist Niklas Olsson. That’s a bit of an understatement considering the Stockholm, Sweden trio’s penchant for massive, slow-burning sludge riffs intercut with dramatic melodic interludes. There’s the pummeling heft of detuned guitars rumbling across the rugged expanse of unwieldy drums counterbalanced with moments of Master of Reality-era Sabbath’s introspective acoustic breaks and Pink Floyd’s Meddle-era psychedelia. These extreme shifts in dynamic give the band’s third album a sense of epic depth unlike most of Spelljammer’s peers. 

“The vastness of everything is something that I seem to think about a lot,” Olsson says, “and I guess that shows in the lyrics.” Some of Ancient of Days’ words were inspired by the epic poem Aniara by Swedish author and Nobel laureate Harry Martinson in which a spaceship leaving an uninhabitable Earth is hurtled off course, sending its thousands of passengers on a steady course in the wrong direction and there is nothing they can do about it. They will all slowly die as the ship continues from the solar system, forever into nothingness. This type of apocalyptic woe permeates throughout the 5-song, 40-minute album in perfect bond with the vastness of the music. 

Ancient of Days is not just the band’s third release, but in many ways, a rebirth. It’s Spelljammer’s first recording as a trio -- with Olsson taking over bass duties and new drummer Jonatan Rimsbo battering the skins -- and the culmination of a progressive move toward a heavier, doom-laden sound, away from the desert rock leanings of their 2010 debut Inches From the Sun. Vol II saw the band spreading out into darker territories. After writing sessions fell apart in 2013 for a followup to Vol II (reissued in early 2015 by RidingEasy Records) Olsson and guitarist Robert Sorling scrapped nearly everything following the departure of half of the band. The two began to build from the ground up as a duo with new ideas that resulted in the invigorated Ancient of Days. It’s the band’s most focused and deliberate in both its complexities and simplicities.  

“Having recorded the previous two albums in a more patchwork kind of way,” Olsson says, “we were very set on going into one studio and doing the entire thing.” In so doing, they banged it all out over a weekend in January 2015 at Ingrid Studio in Stockholm, engineered and mixed by Christoffer Zakrisson. Here, syrupy guitars ooze from the speakers, the drums sound like they’re perched atop a giant barge and howling vocals float throughout the proceedings. Ancient of Days very effectively embodies the boundless, otherworldly essence of its inspiration. 

Ancient of Days will be available everywhere on LP, CD and download on October 2nd, 2015 via RidingEasy Records. 

Artist: Spelljammer Album: Ancient of Days Label: RidingEasy Records Release Date: October 2nd, 2015 01. Meadow 02. Laelia 03. From Slumber 04. The Pathfinder (STREAM) 05. Borlung On The Web: spelljammer.bandcamp.com facebook.com/Spelljammer www.ridingeasyrecords.com