Wednesday, April 29, 2020

ABRAMS streaming 'Modern Ways' album early via Metal Injection

"Abrams have it all: noisy, sludgy riffs, mathy time signatures, and big, arena-rock choruses. They say one time someone described them as 'Foo Fighters meets Red Fang', which felt strangely accurate.” -- Kerrang

"An emotional bulldozer of a record that sees the band refining its songcraft and sound... They have all the potential in the world to make a bona fide sludge/rock masterpiece." -- Metal Injection

"Without a doubt the group's strongest offering to date! It would not be out of place on a playlist with more recent work by bands like Mastodon, Baroness, and Torche. Big words, we know, but it’s not just hype: Modern Ways really is THAT good." -- Metal Sucks


Denver quartet Abrams are streaming their forthcoming third album Modern Ways in full starting today via Metal Injection. Hear and share Modern Ways HERE. (Direct Soundcloud and Bandcamp.)

Metal Sucks recently premiered "Find a Way" HERE. Kerrang! shared "Joshua Tree" single HERE. Metal Injection previously launched the hook-laden title track "Modern Ways" HERE. The Obelisk hosted "That Part of Me" HERE. 

Abrams has upped the ante with their latest recording, Modern Ways. With a focus on songwriting, lyrical narrative, and addictive hooks and refrains, Abrams presents a highly focused, intensely polished sonic narrative. Written over the course of two and a half years, the album reflects the passions, pains, successes and nightmares of the members of Abrams lives. 

Modern Ways will be available on vinyl and streaming services via Sailor Records on May 1st, 2020. Pre-orders are available HERE. 

Based out of Denver, Abrams was founded in 2013 as a trio. Abrams debut EP, February was released in May 2014 on No List Records. The supporting tour for this release saw the band hit the West Coast, before heading immediately into the studio to record their first full length.

Lust. Love. Loss was released independently in June 2015, receiving praise from Metal Injection, Decibel Magazine, Invisible Oranges, and others. The remainder of the year saw Abrams tour West, East, and West again.

Their follow up, Morning, came out on Sailor Records in June of 2017, which was supported by three nationwide tours for much of the remaining year. Morning received high praise from Metal Injection, New Noise Magazine, Metal Sucks and others.

Abrams is:
Patrick Alberts: Guitar
Zachary Amster: Guitar & Vox
Ryan Dewitt: Drums
Taylor Iversen: Bass & Vox

ABRAMS LIVE 2020:
05/02/20 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive - POSTPONED




Artist: Abrams
Album: Modern Ways
Record Label: Sailor Records
Release Date: May 1st, 2020

01. Modern Ways
02. Poison Bullets
03. Joshua Tree
04. That Part of Me
05.. Find a Way
06. My War
07. Silver Lake
08. Silence
09. Pale Moonlight
10. Marionette











On The Web:








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VILE CREATURE share video from forthcoming new album on Prosthetic Records


Doom metal experimentalists VILE CREATURE share the video for the first single from their upcoming new album, Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! The five track album will be their first full length studio album under the  Prosthetic Records banner. Watch and share the video for "You Who Has Never Slept" HERE. (Direct YouTube.)

Kerrang! recently launched the single audio HERE. Hear and share "You Who Has Never Slept" via SmartURL and Bandcamp. 

VILE CREATURE is:
Vic (they/them) -  vocals, drums
KW (he/they) -  vocals, guitar, drums, percussion
About the video, the band says:

“Raissa & Dave are two wonderful people we met working our food truck, they knew we played music and offered to help us with a music video one day. Fast forward a few years and we were finally able to take them up on their generous offer. We rented out a theatre in small town Ontario for a day with a bunch of friends, and crafted this vision for the song. All of it was held together by the amazing work of Anita who starred in & choreographed the video. We were inspired by psychological & abstract horror films, most obviously Suspiria. We wanted to craft a linear narrative that still kept you wondering and interested - our songs are long enough that any music video is a really short film.”

“'You Who Has Never Slept' comes from a place of frustration," the band says in a statement. "The culmination of years of letting emotions like apathy dictate how you interact with the world and finally striking back with everything you can muster. Musically it is the most versatile song we've ever done, both in tone and pacing. It incorporates elements found throughout the album, while standing out on its own. We are excited it is the first song people get to hear.”

VILE CREATURE has been constantly evolving during their six years as a band; from each release to the next, the Hamilton, Ontario duo have been pushing the boundaries of their own creativity, and testing the limits of their own place in the world. Nowhere is this more evident than on their latest experimental doom metal album, Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! VILE CREATURE are digging their heels in, ready to fight against the all too easy slide into nihilism -- as embodied in the sardonic album title. 


Opener, "Harbinger of Nothing" (which first emerged on an Adult Swim compilation in 2019 and was re-recorded for the album) provides a jumping off point for a record that traverses myriad raw, real life experiences and marks a distinct new chapter for the band. The album features contributions from vocalist Laurel Minnes and her choir, Minuscule, and additional instrumentation from Bismuth’s Tanya Byrne. VILE CREATURE remains embedded in the oppressive sounds of doom and metal, only now they are covered with a luxurious veil of majestic embellishments.

Recording took place in February, 2020 at Boxcar Sound Recording in Hamilton, Ontario, with Adam Tucker once again in the producer’s chair. With Vic’s evocative and primal vocals often taking centre stage, their marked growth in confidence as a performer is evident. By collaborating with photographer, Danika Zandboer, the trio have fashioned a striking visual accompaniment -- manifesting the psychedelic and theatrical influences that become present in both audio and visual form. 

Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! will be available on LP, CD and digital on June 19th, 2020 via Prosthetic Records. Pre-orders are available HERE. 



Artist: Vile Creature
Album: Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!
Record Label: Prosthetic Records
Release Date: June 19th, 2020

01. Harbinger of Nothing
02. When The Path Is Unclear
03. You Who Has Never Slept
04. Glory! Glory!
05. Apathy Took Helm!

On The Web:


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Friday, April 24, 2020

Ghost Work (ex-Seaweed, Minus The Bear, Milemarker, Snapcase members) share single from upcoming debut

"Strikes a balance between ’90s post-hardcore and ’90s indie rock, with a little post-punkiness in the mix too. Given these members’ pedigrees, a song like this is right in their wheelhouse, but it’s also not really a repeat of anything any of them have done before. It’s good stuff." -- Brooklyn Vegan

"A delicious blend of punk rock/post-punk goodness." -- PopMatters


Indie-punk supergroup Ghost Work share a new single from their forthcoming debut full length today via PopMatters. Hear and share "Go Stat" HERE. (Direct Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music.) 


The album release date has been moved back one month to June 5th. Brooklyn Vegan recently featured the first single, "Fake Blood" HERE. 

Ghost Work is a new band from current and ex-members of Seaweed, Minus the Bear, Snapcase and Milemarker among others. The band brings their unique styles to the table along with various other punk and post-punk influences. Anyone familiar with vocalist/guitarist Aaron Stauffer's 90s work with Seaweed, Gardener (Sub Pop) and others will immediately recognize his voice the moment it drops in over a haze of chiming and chirping shoegaze guitars and the driving rhythm section in album opener "Fake Blood." 

You'll Be Buried With is the band's debut full length, recorded in various locations from Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle, Buffalo and Mendocino. It was mixed by Chris Rakestraw (Danzig, Megadeth, Retox, Deftones) in December 2019. 

Ghost Work is:
Aaron Stauffer (ex-Seaweed) - vocals, guitar
Dustin Perry (Snapcase) - bass guitar
Sean Husick (ex-Milemarker) - guitars
Erin Tate (ex-Minus The Bear) - drums

Here is what Stauffer had to say in a recent interview with No Echo:

"Ghost Work, yes. I don't know any of the other guys in that band [laughs]. I've only spoken to Sean [Husick], the dude that was in Milemarker. I got an email from Erin [Tate], the guy who was in Minus the Bear, and he was like, "I got your email from so and so, and I hope I'm not intruding, but here's some music, see if you like it, and if you want to sing on it." I remember reading that to my wife and saying, "This is going to be terrible." [Laughs] I saw Snapcase mentioned in the email, and I thought it was going to be like a hardcore band. I don't mean that it was going to be terrible because it was hardcore, it just wasn't going to be right for me as a singer. Anyway, I heard the music and I was like, "Wow! This is really good." The guitar playing is super- interesting, and it reminded me of My Bloody Valentine or Cocteau Twins, you know? "I can totally sing on this!" It's been so much fun because in Seaweed, I only wrote about 10% of the songs, max, maybe for like 5% to be realistic. Most of the time I was just singing over someone else's riffs, and that's pretty much the only band I've played in where that was the case. So, it's been fun to be doing that again with Ghost Work. Yeah, I'm having a lot of fun with this band." 

You'll Be Buried With will be released June 5th, 2020 via the IDEAS label. 




Artist: Ghost Work
Album: You’ll Be Buried With
Record Label: IDEAS 
Release Date: June 5th, 2020

01. Fake Blood
02. Go Stat
03. Favored Routes
04. Statues in Spain
05. Bricks of Sun
06. Greeting from Gates
07.Salt From Tears
08. Contact Contract
09. B. Ledgewood
10. Confession on 6











On The Web:












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Thursday, April 23, 2020

ABRAMS share "Find a Way" anthem from forthcoming album via Metal Sucks

"Abrams have it all: noisy, sludgy riffs, mathy time signatures, and big, arena-rock choruses. They say one time someone described them as 'Foo Fighters meets Red Fang', which felt strangely accurate.” -- Kerrang

"An emotional bulldozer of a record that sees the band refining its songcraft and sound... They have all the potential in the world to make a bona fide sludge/rock masterpiece." -- Metal Injection

"Without a doubt the group's strongest offering to date! It would not be out of place on a playlist with more recent work by bands like Mastodon, Baroness, and Torche. Big words, we know, but it’s not just hype: Modern Ways really is THAT good." -- Metal Sucks


Denver quartet Abrams share another new track from their forthcoming third album Modern Ways today via Metal Sucks. Hear and share "Find a Way" HERE. (Direct Bandcamp.)

Kerrang! recently shared "Joshua Tree" single HERE. Metal Injection previously launched the hook-laden title track "Modern Ways" HERE. The Obelisk hosted "That Part of Me" HERE. 

Abrams has upped the ante with their latest recording, Modern Ways. With a focus on songwriting, lyrical narrative, and addictive hooks and refrains, Abrams presents a highly focused, intensely polished sonic narrative. Written over the course of two and a half years, the album reflects the passions, pains, successes and nightmares of the members of Abrams lives. 

Modern Ways will be available on vinyl and streaming services via Sailor Records on May 1st, 2020. Pre-orders are available HERE. 

Based out of Denver, Abrams was founded in 2013 as a trio. Abrams debut EP, February was released in May 2014 on No List Records. The supporting tour for this release saw the band hit the West Coast, before heading immediately into the studio to record their first full length.

Lust. Love. Loss was released independently in June 2015, receiving praise from Metal Injection, Decibel Magazine, Invisible Oranges, and others. The remainder of the year saw Abrams tour West, East, and West again.

Their follow up, Morning, came out on Sailor Records in June of 2017, which was supported by three nationwide tours for much of the remaining year. Morning received high praise from Metal Injection, New Noise Magazine, Metal Sucks and others.

Abrams is:
Patrick Alberts: Guitar
Zachary Amster: Guitar & Vox
Ryan Dewitt: Drums
Taylor Iversen: Bass & Vox

ABRAMS LIVE 2020:
05/02/20 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive - POSTPONED




Artist: Abrams
Album: Modern Ways
Record Label: Sailor Records
Release Date: May 1st, 2020

01. Modern Ways
02. Poison Bullets
03. Joshua Tree
04. That Part of Me
05.. Find a Way
06. My War
07. Silver Lake
08. Silence
09. Pale Moonlight
10. Marionette











On The Web:








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ASIWYFA's Rory Friers streaming soaring, hopeful Beach Comber solo album ahead of release via Brooklyn Vegan

"Though it’s a 'solo project,' his debut album Parting Cuts has the kind of grand, baroque pop arrangements that it put it in the lineage of ensemble albums like Pet Sounds and Sgt. Pepper’s." -- Brooklyn Vegan


Belfast, Northern Ireland guitarist/vocalist in And So I Watch You From Afar (Sargent House) and film score composer Rory Friers is streaming in full his forthcoming solo album under the name Beach Comber today via Brooklyn Vegan. A very personal project that was never intended for release, Rory found new relevance in Parting Cuts in these times of lockdown, and has decided to release it to the world. Hear & share Parting Cuts HERE. (Direct Bandcamp.)

Heavy Blog Is Heavy previously shared the title track and "Two Set Sail" single HERE. 

 "This record was never really meant to be heard by a lot of people," Friers says. "It was made in a little makeshift studio near the beach on the north coast of Antrim and it was made with only two people in mind. It was about that soreness you get in your belly when you're missing the people you love most in the world and the pride in seeing the best in human spirit come out when it's most needed. I'd been feeling those things more than ever right now so decided it was the right time to put them out"

Rory spends most of his time between scoring films and touring the world with instrumental rockers And So I Watch You From Afar. But during some time off a few years ago he moved himself into a small attic room in a remote farmhouse above the cliffs of north Antrim to make an album as a gift to his sister Ciara and her husband Dara on their wedding day. The room contained little more than a bed, a chair and a desk -- he brought little more than his guitar and a microphone, his laptop and a few of boxes of stuff to shake and bang.

He spent the next two weeks writing and recording a collection of songs inspired by a beautiful yet heart breaking year travelling the world that Ciara and Dara had just returned home from. It was to be a year of happiness and sadness, love and loss, seeing new lands, tragically losing people they loved, holding hope, battling through, keeping on.

Rory based these songs on their experiences, he wrote songs for each turn, each step of the journey. He has woven music to tell the story. He wrote, recorded, performed, mixed and mastered the these in just a couple weeks, a snap shot of a very special time. This is a love story in many ways, a collection of thoughtfully constructed songs full of themes of family, of separation, of loss and ultimately of reuniting, themes that seemed pertinent enough right now to be the catalyst to release this very personal record in this moment we're all enduring.

Parting Cuts will be available for download and streaming on April 24th. Pre-orders are available HERE & Spotify pre-save HERE. 



Artist: Beach Comber 
Album: Parting Cuts
Record Label: self-release
Release Date: April 24th, 2020

01 Parting Cuts
02 Two Set Sail
03 Kickin Back in Saquarema
04 Two Do Battle With the Mountain (So On You Go)
05 South Pacific
06 Driving on my Own
07 A Strange Christmas (Tell Us That You're Fine)
08 Kaikoura
09 Two Come Home
10 The Next Adventure Has Its Start


On The Web:
Instagram - @roryfriers
Twitter - @Rory_Friers



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Friday, April 17, 2020

Vile Creature announce new album on Prosthetic Records, share first single


Doom metal experimentalists VILE CREATURE today unveil details of their upcoming new album, Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! The five track album will be their first full length studio album under the  Prosthetic Records banner. The first track to be taken from the album, is titled "You Who Has Never Slept" and premiered yesterday via Kerrang! HERE. Hear and share "You Who Has Never Slept" via SmartURL and Bandcamp. 

VILE CREATURE is:
Vic (they/them) -  vocals, drums
KW (he/they) -  vocals, guitar, drums, percussion

“'You Who Has Never Slept' comes from a place of frustration," the band says in a statement. "The culmination of years of letting emotions like apathy dictate how you interact with the world and finally striking back with everything you can muster. Musically it is the most versatile song we've ever done, both in tone and pacing. It incorporates elements found throughout the album, while standing out on its own. We are excited it is the first song people get to hear.”

VILE CREATURE has been constantly evolving during their six years as a band; from each release to the next, the Hamilton, Ontario duo have been pushing the boundaries of their own creativity, and testing the limits of their own place in the world. Nowhere is this more evident than on their latest experimental doom metal album, Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! VILE CREATURE are digging their heels in, ready to fight against the all too easy slide into nihilism -- as embodied in the sardonic album title. 

Opener, "Harbinger of Nothing" (which first emerged on an Adult Swim compilation in 2019 and was re-recorded for the album) provides a jumping off point for a record that traverses myriad raw, real life experiences and marks a distinct new chapter for the band. The album features contributions from vocalist Laurel Minnes and her choir, Minuscule, and additional instrumentation from Bismuth’s Tanya Byrne. VILE CREATURE remains embedded in the oppressive sounds of doom and metal, only now they are covered with a luxurious veil of majestic embellishments.

Recording took place in February, 2020 at Boxcar Sound Recording in Hamilton, Ontario, with Adam Tucker once again in the producer’s chair. With Vic’s evocative and primal vocals often taking centre stage, their marked growth in confidence as a performer is evident. By collaborating with photographer, Danika Zandboer, the trio have fashioned a striking visual accompaniment -- manifesting the psychedelic and theatrical influences that become present in both audio and visual form. 

Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! will be available on LP, CD and digital on June 19th, 2020 via Prosthetic Records. Pre-orders are available HERE. 



Artist: Vile Creature
Album: Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!
Record Label: Prosthetic Records
Release Date: June 19th, 2020

01. Harbinger of Nothing
02. When The Path Is Unclear
03. You Who Has Never Slept
04. Glory! Glory!
05. Apathy Took Helm!

On The Web:


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Thursday, April 16, 2020

Blue Canopy (ex-Modern Rivals) streaming debut EP on Fat Possum family imprint Grind Select

"Filled with childlike wonder and bright-eyed instrumentation that could just as easily be a symphony as a rock band, '656' sets the stage, suggesting that Schiff's future as Blue Canopy is as bright as he could hope for." -- PopMatters

"A psychedelic pop sound that blends contemporary indie psychedelia in the vein of Tame Impala with ’60s-era aesthetics similar to those of Zombies or early Pink Floyd. It takes you somewhere distant yet familiar, lush yet accessible." -- Treble


Portland band Blue Canopy are streaming their forthcoming debut today via New Noise. The band is led by former Modern Rivals keyboardist/singer and co-songwriter Alex Schiff (Pitchfork's accolades HERE.) Hear & share Mild Anxiety EP HERE. (Direct Bandcamp.)

PopMatters previously launched the animated video for lead single "656" HERE. (Direct YouTube.) Treble recently shared "Keys To The Garden" single HERE. 

Blue Canopy's Mild Anxiety is the debut EP from Portland-based multi-instrumentalist, Alex Schiff. Under the Blue Canopy moniker, Alex combines versatile songwriting chops and timeless, exuberant melodies to comprise four distinct pieces that utilize nostalgia as a force to move forward.

Formerly the keyboardist and co-writer for indie band, Modern Rivals, Alex has shared the stage with bands such as Ra Ra Riot, Stars, and The Black Keys. The EP's lead single, "656" enlists the four other members of Modern Rivals (performing drums, guitar, bass, synth and backup vocals) as an official send-off to a relationship that was a formative part of Alex's youth and time living in New York City.

Mild Anxiety was co-produced by Patrick J Smith (A Beacon School/Modern Rivals). The EP will be released on Fat Possum label offshoot Grind Select. Pre-orders are available HERE. 




Artist: Blue Canopy
Album: Mild Anxiety
Record Label: Grind Select
Release Date: April 17th, 2020

01. Keys To The Garden
02. 656
03. St. Albans
04. Always


















On The Web:



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EMBR share video via Revolver Mag from upcoming New Heavy Sounds debut album

"A Sabbathian dirge swirling with Southern Gothic vibes and lifted above the fog by Crystal's soaring vocals. For fans of Black Sabbath, Windhand and Royal Thunder." -- Revolver Magazine


Birmingham, AL quartet EMBR share the first track from their forthcoming debut album 1823 today via Revolver Magazine. The album is their first release signed to UK label New Heavy Sounds (Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, Vodun, Blacklab.) Watch and share "Your Burden" HERE. (Direct YouTube and Bandcamp.)

Four musical kindred spirits have delivered a crushing, yet beautiful debut album in 1823. At this point, it is worth stating that the title 1823 has special significance. It’s not just a numerical title, it has substance. Eric Bigelow (drummer) has been on the list for a kidney for around 4 years. 

Eric received a kidney transplant in May of 2019. This happened right in the middle of writing the album. The kidney was from a deceased donor and all Eric and Crystal Bigelow (singer and Eric’s wife) know about the donor is that it was a young woman between the ages of 18-23. The album is dedicated to the donor and the surgeons at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville TN. And what a fine tribute it is.

Musically, 1823 could be categorized as ‘Doom’. However, on this debut it’s obvious that EMBR have range, drive and a desire to add to the genre, to broaden it whilst staying true to its core fundamentals. 

Rest assured, the band have all the nuts and bolts in place. Mark Buchanan (guitar), Alan Light (bass) and Eric Bigelow (drums) keep everything tight and weighty. Massive drop-tuned guitars, chest rattling low end, pounding drums, fuzzy distortion, it’s all there. But they also add in synths, a bit of grunge and alt rock flavors. 

The vocal talents of Crystal absolutely soar and strengthen the music. Her range, patterns and harmonies transport the band’s music skyward. Crystal adds soul and an air of melancholia to the musical creations. If a pointer were needed, think Mastodon meets Witch Mountain with epic sweeps and a shade of gothic drama.

Tracks like ‘Prurient’ and ‘Where I’ve Been’ combine thick heavy riffs with Crystal weaving through, powerful and epic, yet soulful and intimate. Musically, the bands core vibe is keep it slow and low’ but EMBR aren’t afraid to mix it up a bit. ‘Stranger’ takes it down, allowing Crystal’s voice to float over the softer elements and riffs in an almost folk-like manner. ‘Powder’ channels throat ripping growls and soaring clean vocals in one loping relentless journey. ‘Eyes Like Knives’ , ‘Your Burden’ and ‘Vines’ are epic doom fests, drenched in gothic veils and dripping with thick distortion.

The lyrics are deep and are usually written collectively by Crystal and Eric with one of them sometimes taking the reins on certain songs that they identify with. For instance, "Powder" is a song Eric wrote about past struggles and trying to power through them with relentless determination and positivity. "Prurient" was written by Crystal and initially was based on the 2016 movie The Boy but also was inspired by her past experiences with a haunting figure in her life.  

The songs on 1823 are loud, brutally beautiful, aggressive, abrasive and at times atmospheric, uplifting and emotional. Welcome to the next chapter of EMBR.

1823 will be available on LP, CD and digital on July 17th, 2020 via New Heavy Sounds. Pre-orders are available HERE. 




Artist: EMBR
Album: 1823
Record Label: New Heavy Sounds
Release Date: July 17th, 2020

01. Prurient
02. Where I’ve Been
03. Stranger
04. Powder
05. Eyes Like Knives
06. Your Burden
07. Vines


On The Web:

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