I spent it promoting the first single of 2024, which was "Burn All Night" feat. Electra Black and which did quite well (by my modest standards) on Spotify, where it outperformed all my usual hits:

I also started two new video series on my socials:

1) "Faderhead Track You Might Not Know" – where I briefly talk about a lesser known song and give some background info

2) "Comment Replies" – where I answer comments directly on video.

If you haven’t seen either of these, they are on IG, FB, Tiktok and YT Shorts.

I am thinking of doing a series, where I go through every song on every album, one-by-one. That series would go on forever!

This newsletter is going to be quite long, so let’s get to the new stuff below!

CONCERTS

We are playing this year’s only UK show on May 4, 2024 at Electrowerkz in London!

Come see us live:

Feb 10, 2024 – Matrix, Bochum / DE – Tickets
May 4, 2024 – Electrowerkz, London / UK – Tickets
Jul 27/28, 2024 – Amphi Festival, Köln/DE – Tickets

NEW SINGLE

Today, on February 1, I am releasing a new single!

In case you didn’t hear: I am planning to release one every month, so the monthly newsletter is probably going to be a "New Single Out Now!"-newsletter for all of this year.

The new single is called "The Hell We Need" and it’s a very poppy ballad in the style of "Better".

I assume a lot of people will hate it, because it’s not a 4-to-the-floor club thingy. But:

a) that’s their problem and
b) they’ll probably like next month’s single!

"The Hell We Need" is a song about accepting the fact that life won’t always be good and that happiness is not a permanently attainable state. In a nutshell: hell is needed for happiness.

This became somewhat evident when making the song.

THE EVOLUTION

The original demo had been lying around on my harddrive since early 2022 with the "we all need …"-line as the verse and a fake chorus lyric.

In case you don’t know what a fake chorus lyric is: those are either made up words or just la la da da na na vocalisations as placeholders.

I go through my folder with demo MP3s every few months and this track has consistenly come out in the top 10, so I decided to release it as a single.

Of course I had to write proper lyrics, which was quite a struggle, because I tend to not want to deviate from the fake lyrics too much. Both in terms of syllable count and vowel shaping.

That means: if the fake lyrics have 9 syllables in a line and the strong vowels are eeeee and oooo, then the real lyrics have to have that too. Otherwise it doesn’t work for me.

In the end there were 9 completely different versions of choruses, all of which didn’t work for whatever reason.

Once I had settled on a lyric and a topic, I recorded the vocals properly. At that point the song was called "Where Them Sorrows At" and existed in 44 different versions.

So at some point I deleted all the vocals and re-recorded them in a way that sounded more like a hungover guy singing. This made everything better, because making music is not about getting it as clean as possible, but about getting the feeling right. And it wasn’t right.

At that point it was Saturday, January 20 – which you can see from the dates in the file list above. And Monday, Jan 22 was my original deadline for sending everything to Spotify.

At that point I had also been bitching to Gillian for a week, about how I didn’t like the single! And he (correctly) kept telling me that the song is fine and that I am just having my typical episode of hating everything I make once it gets close to deadline.

I am very aware that this always happens, but this time it felt different. So I talked to Danny about it and he said:

"You know, your verse should be the chorus/hook!".

Since I had nothing to lose, I sat down on Saturday Jan 20, opened an empty Cubase project and re-did the whole song.

1. What was originally the verse ("We all need some hell …") became the chorus.
2. The 4/4 kickdrum I originally had became a slower kick pattern.
3. The main bassline was turned into an 808.

And of course I now had to write brand new lyrics for the verses.

Uploaded everything to streaming services and planned a half-day video shoot for the next day.

VIDEO HELL

1. a phone set to vertical and
2. a DSLR camera set horizontally.

That way you can get material for Tiktok/IG/FB and also material for a traditional music video on YouTube.

Lyric videos that just have the lyrics play over the cover artwork are watched considerably less on YouTube, therefore my thinking was to do a quick video of me singing the song in the studio.

So on Jan 25th, my lovely girlfriend and I spent 6h shooting 3 different scenes of me singing the song. She was directing and running the cameras (plus the playback) and I was trying to remember the lyrics.

As some of you know, I have a short-term memory defect after almost dying from meningitis 20 years ago. So remembering lyrics is very difficult for me. Especially lyrics that are brand new.

Of course you can just tape the lyrics somewhere off camera, which is what we did, but it really reduced my ability to perform in front of the camera. Good-looking performance happens when you don’t think. It doesn’t happen when you are struggling to get the lyrics right.

Luckily this was a ballad, so it wasn’t too bad.

I have no idea why that happened and this taught me once again that having a checklist of things is absolutely necessary. I used to have a lot of checklists, until everything became so much stuff that I abandoned them. I guess I shouldn’t have done that.

Why is FullHD bad? Because we shot on tripods without movement. And I wanted to add some slight camera movement in the edit, which is not really possible if you don’t have enough pixels to work with.

If you don’t know the difference, look at this comparison:

I had already uploaded the video to YouTube and decided to take a bath, which I shoudn’t do, if I don’t want to re-start my work. Because sitting in the bathtub always gives me new ideas. It’s the lack of diversion and the focus on nothing that helps creativity.

In my case I remembered that I have a pen on my Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra phone and I thought:

"What if I scribble the text and then superimpose it over the video footage?"

I had previously tried all kinds of different computer fonts, but that none of them looked right.

So, after I had dried of, I scribbled the lyrics like this:

So instead of chilling out on the couch or writing this newsletter, I spent 2h placing and animating the titles.

For some reason, I can’t just say "Ah, fuck it! The video is already uploaded! I’ll just leave it like that!". Anyway, I am glad I did.

The added lyrics give me a bit of a Pet Shop Boys – Being Boring vibe:

Fun Fact: ever since I saw the "Being Boring"-video when it came out, the quote

"She was never bored, because she was never boring"

was one of my main mottos in life!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ORIGINAL VERSION?

The original version of the new single is up on my Patreon, in case you are curious.

It seems the members really enjoy it:

Hope you enjoy the new song and if you do, please remember:

Word of mouth is the most important promotional support you can give, while at the same time it costs absolutely nothing.

So please be a friend and tell a friend about "The Hell We Need!"

Thank you!

Sami

General admission tickets for the tour will go on sale on Monday, January, 29th at 7 AM PST | 10 AM EST.

Confirmed dates for DECAPITATED and SEPTICFLESH co-billing ‘Cancer Culture Over North America 2024‘ tour with direct support KATAKLYSM as well as ALLEGAEON are:
04/16 U.S. Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
04/17 U.S. Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater
04/18 U.S. Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
04/19 U.S. Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
04/20 U.S. Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall
04/21 U.S. Austin, TX – Come and Take it Live
04/23 U.S. Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
04/24 U.S. Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade (Hell)
04/25 U.S. Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
04/26 U.S. Wilmington, DE – The Queen
04/27 U.S. Hartford, CT – The Webster
04/28 U.S. Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw
04/29 U.S. Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
05/01 CAN Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell
05/02 CAN Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theater
05/03 CAN Toronto, ON – The Phoenix
05/04 U.S. Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground
05/05 U.S. Fort Wayne, IN – Piere’s Entertainment Center
05/06 U.S. Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall
05/07 U.S. Louisville, KY – Headliners Music Hall
05/08 U.S. Joliet, IL – The Forge
05/10 U.S. Minneapolis, MN – Green Room
05/11 CAN Winnipeg, MB – Park Theater
05/12 CAN Saskatoon, SK – Louis (USSU)
05/13 CAN Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
05/14 CAN Calgary, AB – The Back Alley
05/16 CAN Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theater
05/17 U.S. Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater
05/18 CAN San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
05/19 U.S. Los Angeles, CA – 1720

Their latest studio album Cancer Culture was released in 2022, with instantly recognisable devastation and deceptively sinister hooks abound. Newly minted DECAPITATED anthems like ‘Last Supper’, ‘Hello Death’, ‘Just A Cigarette’, ‘No Cure’, ‘Iconoclast’, and ‘Cancer Culture’ shimmer with sonically sharp production and unrelenting bombast. There’s also a newly increased emphasis on melody, even venturing into darkly romantic territory. Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (guitar), Rafał "Rasta" Piotrowski (vocals), Paweł Pasek (bass), and James Stewart (drums) are at the top of their game, delivering the goods at peak performance. Jinjer vocalist Tatiana Shmayluk and Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn make impressive guest appearances. Flynn contributes a hauntingly beautiful vocal to the Cancer Culture track ‘Iconoclast’, with Shmayluk, a formidable screamer, going the clean vocal route on track ‘Hello Death.

Decapitated are:
Waclaw ‘Vogg’ Kieltyka – guitars
Rafał "Rasta" Piotrowski – vocals
James Stewart – drums
Paweł Pasek – bass (live)

More information:
www.decapitatedband.net
www.facebook.com/decapitated
www.instagram.com/decapitatedband
www.twitter.com/decapitated

The band’s fifteenth full-length studio album, Goliath, was released last August. The record was recorded at JFD Studios in Dallas, TX and Studio City, CA as well as The Cabin in Orlando, FL by J-F Dagenais, who also produced and engineered the album. For the mixing and mastering, the band returned to Chris Clancy with assistance from Colin Richardson. The cover artwork required an image that captured the iconic battle of David versus Goliath theme that is echoed throughout the album while matching the power of the music. The band enlisted renowned Berlin metal illustrator Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE) to create the artwork which took the KATAKLYSM look and gave it a macabre filter that compliments the brooding sense of uneasiness that was felt during the writing and recording of the album.

KATAKLYSM is:
Maurizio Iacono | Vocals
Jean-François Dagenais | Guitar
Stephane Barbe | Bass
James Payne | Drums

More information:
www.facebook.com/kataklysm
twitter.com/kataklysmband
www.instagram.com/kataklysmband
www.youtube.com/kataklysm

www.kataklysm.ca

“SEQUENCE 2: STAR CHAMBER”
Ice Planet 9000/Angelspit’s new album
11 tracks, 80 minutes of cinematic, cosmic music inspired by 70’s sci-fi
KICKSTARTING NOW
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/angelspit/sequence-2-star-chamber

This is the second album from Ice Planet 9000, containing 11 tracks, with nearly 80 minutes of music and celestial hand painted sci-fi artwork. The Kickstarter has mind-bendingly cool merch which includes a deluxe boxed option, custom made to look like a piece of exploded spaceship!

BAND: ICE PLANET 9000/ANGELSPIT
ALBUM TITLE: Sequence 2: Star Chamber
KICKSTARTING NOW (April 2024 release)
LABEL: BPRP (US), CAT: BPRP81
GENRE: #darkwave #electronicmusic #darkambientmusic #soundscapes #krautrock
CALLWORDS: Dark Ambient, Deep Space, Science Fiction, Soundtrack, Cinematic, Cosmic
INSPIRATION: 70’s Sci-Fi, Chris Foss, Alejandro Jodorowsky, David Lynch, Bob Moog, Deep Space, Vangelis, Jean-Michel Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Michael Stearns, Steve Roach.

THE ALBUM
The 11 instrumental tracks explore grand cinematic space-based soundscapes. The songs were meticulously produced over a 2-year period using vintage samplers and modular synthesizers. Inspiration came from the 70’s sound of Jean-Michel Jarre, Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, Steve Roach and Michael Stearns. Three tracks include solos by Colfax Mingo. He plays an electronic wind instrument called the Aerophone which adds gorgeous, dark off-world melodies. Several tracks also feature Blaster Beam, a 6-foot piece of aluminum with 11 piano wires resonating from subsonic to celestial frequencies, creating massive drones and sonic textures.
Sequence 2: Star Chamber is available on CD, USB and digitally. The CD comes with tri-fold panorama artwork and a booklet featuring the story of the album. The USB comes with all 11 tracks as high quality MP3s and 96k 24bit WAV files, plus a whole bunch of extra digital content.
Several music videos have already been released from the album, watch them here:
https://www.youtube.com/@IcePlanet9000/videos

The album’s story picks up directly after the event’s described in our first release. The super tanker ‘Glass Jar‘ has unknowingly taken an unknown lifeform aboard, causing the massive AI driven ship to become fully sentient and spiritually aware. As its last act before being completely taken over by this new consciousness the ship chooses to self-destruct and the resulting explosion transforms its watery cargo into a living nebula of geometric celestial bodies, the Star Chamber.
Sequence 2: Star Chamber is the cinematic soundtrack to a transformational cosmic voyage, and it’s Kickstarting now.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/angelspit/sequence-2-star-chamber

KICKSTARTER
MAIN LINKS:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/angelspit/sequence-2-star-chamber
https://twitter.com/iceplanet9000
https://www.instagram.com/iceplanet9000/
http://iceplanet9000.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@IcePlanet9000/
https://www.facebook.com/iceplanet9000

PURCHASING LINKS:
https://iceplanet9000.bandcamp.com/

STREAMING LINKS:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lST4A3CCOv5gDUIZRJyC7
https://tidal.com/browse/artist/21377796
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ice-planet-9000/1532302034

NUCLEAR BLAST

launches collaboration with The Sandbox for unique virtual world experience

Both die-hards and newcomers are invited to embark on a journey into a virtual world dedicated to metal culture and gaming: Blast Valley. This land hosted within The Sandbox is the ultimate realm for metalheads, including a giant scene at the heart of a volcano, a vinyl factory, secret crypts, and (of course) a bar.
​
Players from all around the world are invited to unite and participate in the most important quest of their lives: to revive the power of metal within Blast Valley.
Guided by the keeper of the land and guardian of the metal spirit, "The Reaper", the main quest, once accepted, is to explore every corner of the land to complete a series of tasks to bring the metal energy back.

Following its launch today, Blast Valley will evolve through time and welcome in new events such as virtual gigs, avatar collection launch, and release parties.
You can access the experience here:
https://www.sandbox.game/en/experiences/blast-valley/f1f92871-28df-4f5c-86ad-cff277a95c0d/page/

About Nuclear Blast
For 35 years and counting, Nuclear Blast Records has been synonymous with the worldwide advancement of heavy music. Founded in Donzdorf, Germany in 1987, Nuclear Blast is part of Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music companies. Nuclear Blast boasts a roster of over 150 bands. Their offices in Los Angeles, London, Hamburg, and Paris have helped build the label’s trusted global reputation with numerous album chart entries, high-profile tours, and continual signings of new and heritage acts. The label has additional representatives in Australia, Brazil, and Sweden, amongst others.

About The Sandbox:
The Sandbox, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, is one of the decentralized virtual worlds that has been fueling the recent growth of virtual real estate demand, having partnered with major brands including Warner Music Group, Ubisoft, The Rabbids, Cut the Rope, Tony Hawk, Gucci Vault, The Walking Dead, Invincible, Snoop Dogg, Adidas, Deadmau5, Steve Aoki, SM Entertainment, The Smurfs, Care Bears, and Atari. Building on the existing The Sandbox IP that has more than 40 million global installs on mobile, The Sandbox metaverse offers players and creators a decentralized and intuitive platform to create immersive 3D worlds and game experiences and to safely store, trade, and monetize their creations. For more information, please visit www.sandbox.game and follow the regular updates on Twitter, Medium, and Discord

BAT‘s Ryan Waste states, "After working the last 14 years with Nuclear Blast we’ve become family at this point. There was no question in my mind to bring BAT under their wing when the time was right. We’re thrilled to join forces and plan to push it even harder with the support of the label. You can expect more touring worldwide, along with new music and visuals as early as this March. Until then, stay heavy and beware of the BAT!"

Nuclear Blast American Label Manager & A&R Tommy Jones comments, "Heavy Metal and horror have been synonymous in our counter-culture since well before ALICE COOPER sang about the ‘Man Behind the Mask’ and DOKKEN stated they ‘Don’t wanna dream no more…’ Through decades of this marriage, and with the influence of a snaggletoothed warpig, BAT was spawned. We have such a great relationship with MUNICIPAL WASTE it made sense to check out Ryan and Nick’s other ripper of a band, BAT. I am excited to open the window at NB and let the BAT fly in! Beware the BAT y’all!"

This Spring, BAT is joining forces with their friends in the legendary EXCITER to play for all the Heavy Metal Maniacs in Latin America for the first time!

Confirmed dates for the Latin American 2024 tour are:
MAR 29 MX MEXICO CITY @ Circo Volador
MAR 30 CR SAN JOSE @ Peppers Club
MAR 31 CO BOGOTA @ Boro Room
APR 01 AR BUENOS AIRES @ Arena Sur
APR 04 BR BELO HORIZONTE @ Caverna Rock Pub
APR 05 BR BRASILIA DF @ Toinha
APR 06 BR SAO PAOLO @ Jau Club
APR 08 CL SANTIAGO @ Teatro Coliseo

Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming music!

More information:
https://bewareofthebat.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/bewareofthebat/
https://www.instagram.com/bewareofbat/
https://www.youtube.com/@BATBAND

In a mesmerizing blend of haunting melodies, showcasing a fusion of 80’s post-punk, 90’s grunge, and modern dark wave elements, Corlyx, released their latest single and music video, "Ghost Of The West Coast"! "Ghost Of The West Coast" is a story of transformation and new beginnings. As Caitlin Stokes reveals, the track symbolizes their escape from Los Angeles – a turning point that led to new identities and the inception of Corlyx. The city’s duality, brimming with excitement yet heartbreak, continues to echo in their music as a spectral presence of their past selves. Watch it now here: https://youtu.be/btz59mt1P4g

Caitlin Stokes and Brandon Ashley, the creative force behind Corlyx, about the new song and vibes of their next album:

“Ghost Of The West Coast is the story of our escape from Los Angeles, it really was a last minute decision to leave that city, but it represented so much more than a move, I was a new life we started, new identities and the beginning for us as Corlyx. That city gave us so much, good and bad, thrilling and heartbreaking, the city of Angels will always be the ghost of our former selves.” – Caitlin Stokes

Brandon Ashley adds: “Sonically I wanted to blend our classic Corlyx sound with a touch more of 70’s style guitars, we really do touch on each decade of underground music with this simple yet striking track, it’s fun and haunting all together, another vibe we are setting on this next record.”

Brandon’s intent to blend the classic Corlyx sound with a dash of 70’s-style guitars has resulted in a track that is both fun and eerie. This approach perfectly encapsulates the duo’s aim to explore various decades of underground music while maintaining a cohesive and striking sound. You can listen to "Ghost Of The West Coast" nowhere:https://corlyx.lnk.to/GhostOfTheWestCoast. With this new release, Corlyx revisit their roots and also set a new tone for their upcoming record. The band’s dedication to their craft extends beyond music production to Caitlin’s involvement in photography and music video direction, ensuring a deeply personal and visually captivating approach to their art as Corlyx gears up for the release of their next single and the upcoming record in 2024!

Experience Corlyx + Suzi Sabotage live in Paris on Saturday, May 4th, at Supersonic Records (9 Rue Biscornet, 75012 Paris, France).

Corlyx online:
Tiktok: @Corlyx.official
Instagram: @corlyx_official
Facebook: CorlyxOfficial
Twitter: @CORLYX_OFFICIAL

Corlyx Live is:
Vox + Keytar: Caitlin Stokes
Vox + Guitars: Brandon Ashley
Bass: Davide Rocco

DE:
Corlyx – Neue Single / Video "Ghost Of The West Coast"

Mit einer faszinierenden Mischung aus eindringlichen Melodien, die eine Verschmelzung von 80er Post-Punk, 90er Grunge und modernen Dark-Wave-Elementen darstellen, präsentieren Corlyx ihre neueste Single und das Musikvideo „Ghost Of The West Coast“!

„Ghost Of The West Coast“ ist eine Story über Transformation und Neuanfänge. Wie Caitlin Stokes verrät, symbolisiert der Track ihre Flucht aus Los Angeles – ein Wendepunkt, der zu neuen Identitäten und der Gründung von Corlyx führte. Die Dualität der Stadt, die vor Aufregung und Herzschmerz nur so strotzt, hallt in ihrer Musik als gespenstische Präsenz ihres vergangenen Selbst writer. Schaut es euch jetzt hier an: https://youtu.be/btz59mt1P4g

Caitlin Stokes und Brandon Ashley, die kreative Kraft hinter Corlyx, über den neuen Song und die Stimmung auf ihrem nächsten Album: „Ghost Of The West Coast ist die Geschichte unserer Flucht aus Los Angeles, es war wirklich eine Entscheidung in letzter Minute, diese Stadt zu verlassen, aber es war so viel mehr als nur ein Umzug, es war ein neues Leben, das wir begonnen haben, neue Identitäten und der Beginn für uns als Corlyx. Diese Stadt hat uns so viel gegeben, Gutes und Schlechtes, Aufregendes und Herzzerreißendes, die Stadt der Engel wird immer der Geist unseres früheren Ichs sein." – Caitlin Stokes

Brandon Ashley ergänzt: „Klanglich wollte ich unseren klassischen Corlyx-Sound mit einem Hauch von 70er-Jahre-Gitarren mischen, wir berühren wirklich jede Dekade der Underground-Musik mit diesem einfachen, aber markanten Track, er ist unterhaltsam und eindringlich zugleich, ein weiterer Vibe, den wir auf dieser nächsten Platte setzen."

Brandons Herangehensweise, den klassischen Corlyx Sound mit einer Prise 70er-Jahre-Gitarren zu vermischen, unterstreicht perfekt das Ziel des Duos, verschiedene Jahrzehnte der Underground-Musik zu erforschen und dabei einen in sich geschlossenen und markanten Sound zu bewahren. „Ghost Of The West Coast“ kann ab sofort hier angehört werden: https://corlyx.lnk.to/GhostOfTheWestCoast. Mit dieser neuen Veröffentlichung besinnen sich Corlyx auf ihre Wurzeln und setzen gleichzeitig einen neuen Akzent für ihr kommendes Album. Die Hingabe der Band an ihr Können geht über die Musikproduktion hinaus und umfasst auch Caitlins Beteiligung an der Fotografie und der Musikvideo-Regie, was einen zutiefst persönlichen und visuell fesselnden Ansatz für ihre Kunst gewährleistet, während Corlyx sich auf die Veröffentlichung ihrer nächsten Single und des kommenden Albums im Jahr 2024 vorbereiten!

Erlebt Corlyx + Suzi Sabotage live in Paris am Samstag, 4. Mai, bei Supersonic Records (9 Rue Biscornet, 75012 Paris, Frankreich).

Corlyx online:
Tiktok: @Corlyx.official
Instagram: @corlyx_official
Facebook: CorlyxOfficial
Twitter: @CORLYX_OFFICIAL

Corlyx Live ist:
Vox + Keytar: Caitlin Stokes
Vox + Gitarren: Brandon Ashley
Bass: Davide Rocco

With The Fall, the band is coming into their own with their sound. Having similar backgrounds in music, the combination of Krz and Brendin produces haunting Melodie’s and driving beats. To quote Brendin; “Frontal Boundary has been around since about 2006, and working with Krz on this project really feels like Frontal Boundary is complete. Everything just flows so well, and ideas are always abundant.”

In lieu of founding member Dwayne Goettel’s untimely passing in 1994, cEvin Key (Skinny Puppy) and Bill Leeb / Wilhelm Schroeder (Front Line Assembly) have maintained the group’s supergroup status, completing the lineup with Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly / Delerium producer) for this album, which was produced by Greg Reely (Delerium, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Front Line Assembly, Skinny Puppy).

Once described by Key as "the experience of discovering the whole electronic genre," Cyberaktif’s last and only other release (under their original lineup) was 1991’s ‘Tenebrae Vision’, which also saw a guest appearance from Blixa Bargeld of the well known German industrial band Einstürzende Neubauten.

Villain of the Story share their single and music video, ‘Decade,’ blending soft vocals with massive rock sounds. ‘Decade’ is a journey through the band’s evocative history, inviting fans to partake in a celebration of ten years of their first song release.

The lyrics are a poignant reflection of the band’s journey, resonating with the struggles and triumphs of a decade-long. It’s a raw, honest, and deeply personal song that speaks to the heart of what it means to persevere in the music industry. Stream ‘Decade’ here: https://vots.lnk.to/Decade and view the visual representation of their remarkable journey now on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/Fm3oNqkLPwQ

After the video premiere on YouTube at 5pm CET, Christian, the vocalist of the band, will be going live to celebrate the release, share old footage and memories, and discuss what’s to come. In their own words, the band reflects on their journey, "10 years is a long time to do anything, let alone being in a band. It’s been a wild ride from our high school days to now. We’ve grown, evolved, faced countless challenges, but our passion and friendship have only strengthened. It’s surreal to think we’ve grown up alongside our fans. Villain of the Story is more than just a band for us; it’s a part of who we are. Cheers to the next 10!"

Formed in 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Villain of the Story has always been about a fusion of influences. Their music beautifully blends the intensity of 2010’s metalcore with the accessibility of 2000’s radio rock. With four studio albums and an EP under their belt, amassing over 75 million plays across various platforms, Villain of the Story shows no signs of slowing down. Their upcoming record promises to showcase the full spectrum of their talent, from raw, emotional storytelling to intense, high-energy anthems. ‘Decade’ is a celebration of the past but also a bold step into the future of a band that has continually reinvented and reinvigorated the metalcore scene.

Villain of the Story online:
https://www.instagram.com/votsbandmn
https://www.facebook.com/votsbandofficial
https://twitter.com/votsbandmn

DE:
Villain of the Story setzen einen Meilenstein mit dem Song/Video "Decade"!

Villain of the Story stellen heute ihre Single und ihr Musikvideo "Decade" vor, in dem sich die Vocals mit kraftvollen Rocksounds verbinden. "Decade" ist eine Reise durch die bewegte Geschichte der Band und lädt die Fans ein, zehn Jahre nach der Veröffentlichung ihres ersten Songs gemeinsam zu feiern.

Die Texte sind eine ergreifende Reflexion der Reise der Band, die von den Kämpfen und Triumphen eines Jahrzehnts erzählt. Es ist ein roher, ehrlicher und zutiefst persönlicher Song, der auf den Punkt bringt, was es bedeutet als Band in der Musikindustrie durchzuhalten. Hört euch "Decade" hier an: https://vots.lnk.to/Decade und schaut euch die visuelle Darstellung ihrer beachtlichen Erfolgsgeschichte auf YouTube an: https://youtu.be/Fm3oNqkLPwQ

Nach der Videopremiere auf YouTube um 17:00 Uhr MEZ wird Christian, der Sänger der Band, live gehen, um die Veröffentlichung mit alten Aufnahmen und Erinnerungen zu feiern und über das zu sprechen, was noch kommen wird. In ihren eigenen Worten reflektiert die Band über ihre Reise: "10 Jahre sind eine lange Zeit, um irgendetwas zu tun, geschweige denn in einer Band zu sein. Es war ein wilder Ritt von unserer Highschool-Zeit bis heute. Wir sind gewachsen, haben uns weiterentwickelt, standen vor unzähligen Herausforderungen, aber unsere Leidenschaft und Freundschaft sind nur noch stärker geworden. Es ist surreal sich vorzustellen, dass wir zusammen mit unseren Fans erwachsen geworden sind. Villain of the Story ist für uns mehr als nur eine Band; es ist ein Teil von uns. Cheers to the next 10!"

Gegründet 2014 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ging es bei Villain of the Story schon immer um eine Verschmelzung von verschiedenen Einflüssen. Ihre Musik verbindet auf wunderbare Weise die Intensität des Metalcore der 2010er Jahre mit der Zugänglichkeit des Radio-Rock der 2000er Jahre. Nach vier Studioalben und einer EP, die auf verschiedenen Plattformen über 75 Millionen Mal angehört wurden, gibt es bei Villain of the Story keine Anzeichen für eine Verlangsamung. Ihr neues Album verspricht, das ganze Spektrum ihres Talents zu zeigen, von rauen, emotionalen Geschichten bis hin zu intensiven, energiegeladenen Hymnen. "Decade" ist eine Hommage an die Vergangenheit, aber auch ein mutiger Schritt in die Zukunft einer Band, die die Metalcore-Szene immer wieder neu erfunden und belebt hat.

Villain of the Story online:
https://www.instagram.com/votsbandmn
https://www.facebook.com/votsbandofficial
https://twitter.com/votsbandmn

Villain of the Story:
Christian Grey (vocals)
Logan Bartholomew (vocals)
Cody Pauly (Guitar)
Page Brownie (Bass)

BIO:
PINCHpoint was originally formed in 1990 by Jack Boughner and David Smith. After releasing their six-song demo, Welcome to the Grind, PINCHpoint gained notoriety by doing shows throughout Southern California in addition to being a part of multiple compilations with their
track, “Stronghold”.

After writing “Scratch” as a PINCHpoint song, Boughner and Smith combined with Biohazard PCB (which later became contagion). “Scratch” came with them, became contagion’s most popular track and is still a staple at many clubs and playlists to this day.

Biohazard PCB/contagion performed throughout the early nineties with bands including Nitzer Ebb, Nine Inch Nails, A Split Second, Die Warzau and many others. Contagion was also direct support for the entire North American Tactical Neural Implant Tour for Frontline Assembly. After the disbanding of contagion, Boughner and Smith took a short break before reforming PINCHpoint . In the mid-nineties along with guitarist, Marque Rebmann, they became a strong presence in the Los Angeles Coldwave scene.

Soon after releasing their 1997 album, Ruth In Alien Corn, PINCHpoint disbanded and went their separate ways. Fast forward to early 2023 when PINCHpoint was approached to reform to contribute a track to Sacred Geometry; A Tribute to A Perfect Circle, released by Coitus Interruptus Productions. Boughner and Smith enjoyed working together again so much that it was decided to make PINCHpoint a full-time project.

Work began on new PINCHpoint material, beginning with the single “misery”, a remade/reimagined version of a song they released in the
late nineties. This is the first of many songs in the works that PINCHpoint look forward to sharing with the world.

David Buyense – Vocals , Synths , Programming.
Nevea Siren-Vocals
Michael Areklett- Bass , Guitar .
Anthony DeTroia – Drums
Fernando Yimenez – Guitar

Tragic Visions‘ plans for 2024 – An "unearthing" of a 2005 album that was never released, a re-release of their first album from 2003 that is no longer available and an album’s worth of newer material.

Crafted with the utmost care, these high-quality plushies boast detailed embroidery and custom designed clothing, showcasing the artistry behind each creation. But it’s not just about looks – these plushies are irresistibly soft and equal parts cool and cuddly. Have a miniature Klayton to cheer you on

These vinyl reissues will be available in store March 8th, or preorder now at our webstore www.m-theoryaudio.com/store or Bandcamp https://warbringerofficial.bandcamp.com

“We’ll give you what you’ve been waiting for!” Another badass collaboration with M-Theory Audio – prepare for the 2024 vinyl reissue of ‘Waking Into Nightmares,’ ‘Worlds Torn Asunder’ and ‘IV: Empires Collapse’! All pressed on colored vinyl and including bonus tracks! Limited pressings, so don’t sleep on these or the cassettes!” cites drummer Carlos Cruz.

"We are pleased to see these three Warbringer records reissued on LP! These have been unavailable for a while now, so we are glad that they will be available again for you all to add to your collections,” states vocalist John Kevill. “Thanks to all of you metalheads out there for continuing to jam our records – as always, play it loud!"

2009’s ‘Waking Into Nightmares’ showcased a band who’d spent the past year on the road and sandwiched the writing and recording of this stellar beast, that introduced some death metal elements, between tours and witness the tightness and precision come to the fore, especially backed by then-new drummer Nic Ritter (RIP). This one includes the infamous demo song “Road Warrior” re-recorded along with album producer Gary Holt (Exodus/Slayer) ripping a guest guitar solo plus a cover of Swedish Death Metal stalwarts Unleashed’s “Execute Them All,” originally part of the Century Media anniversary compilation ‘Covering 20 Years of Extreme.’ The album was recorded at Oakland’s Sharkbite Studios, and mixed/mastered by Zach Ohren (Machine Head, Immolation) at Castle Ultimate Studios. ‘Waking Into Nightmares’ features cover art by Dan Segrave (Morbid Angel, Suffocation).

Two years later, came ‘Worlds Torn Asunder’ that featured Carlos Cruz entering the ranks and further progressing their sound with producer Steve Evetts (Symphony X, Sepultura) behind the board, and the reissue tacks on their covers of Motorhead’s “(We Are the) Road Crew,” which has become a Warbringer live favorite, and Bathory’s “Sacrifice.” Once adorned with cover art by the aforementioned Dan Seagrave (Entombed, Malevolent Creation).

And finally, the experimental ‘IV: Empires Collapse,’ produced by Steve Evetts again but this time mixed by Brett Eliason (Pearl Jam, Avenged Sevenfold), which is the only album to include Mantic Ritual members Jeff Potts (guitar) and Ben Mottsman (bass) and to include writing contributions from all members that highlighted a more diverse effort, including punk and black metal elements, which while at first was misunderstood has become a standout for many fans. This one includes their rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “Communication Breakdown.”

These three albums follow a recent cassette reissue campaign, including a box set of seven cassettes – the band’s entire discography including demos. Box sets and some individual cassette titles of the band’s first 4 albums out Feb 9th) available as well through our webstore and Bandcamp.

Formed in late 2004, WARBRINGER has gone on to be one of the most consistent and well-regarded thrash metal bands of the new generation. After releasing two demos, the band broke out with their 2008 debut, ‘War Without End’ – a record illustrating a frantic energy and aggression which had been absent from metal for some time. The band continued to redefine their sound on each of their next four career-defining albums – 2009’s ‘Waking Into Nightmares,’ 2011’s ‘Worlds Torn Asunder,’ 2013’s ‘Warbringer IV: Empires Collapse’ and 2017’s ‘Woe To The Vanquished,’ their first via Napalm Records (Billboard – #8 New Artist Albums, #17 Hard Music Albums, #26 Current Rock and #29 Independent Current Albums). WARBRINGER has bolstered their performance roster by relentlessly touring internationally throughout five continents with iconic artists such as Megadeth, Exodus, Arch Enemy, Testament, Napalm Death, Iced Earth, Nile, Suffocation, Kreator, Soilwork, Overkill, Sepultura, Hatebreed, Nevermore, Dark Tranquillity, Cavelera, Sacred Reich and many more, and found themselves working with industry greats on each new album – creating with producers such as Bill Metoyer (Slayer, D.R.I., Dark Angel), thrash legend Gary Holt (guitarist, Slayer/Exodus), Steve Evetts (Symphony X, DevilDriver, The Dillinger Escape Plan), and Mike Plotnikoff (In Flames, All That Remains, Fear Factory) and cover artwork from legends Dan Seagrave (Morbid Angel, Malevolent Creation, Suffocation) and Andreas Marschall (Blind Guardian, Obituary, Hammerfall). The ever-evolving quintet continues to renovate their potent concept with each passing year, without ever losing focus on the future. Metal Injection said it best, “…the almighty WARBRINGER have proven that they reign eternal… no matter what the circumstances.”

Upcoming live show –
May 4, 2024 – The UC Theatre – Berkeley, CA w/ Biohazard, Forbidden, Exciter and more.

More Info:
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
www.m-theoryaudio.com

RELEASE VIDEO FOR MATRIX INSPIRED NEW SINGLE
‘OPERATOR’

Vocalist and guitarist Mike Evans comments: "Operator is about the love between Neo and Trinity in the film The Matrix. This is my all time favorite movie so I had to write about the ideas behind it. The track talks about the simulated reality created by the machines and the concepts inspired by the franchise."

Watch the video for ‘Operator’ now at: https://youtu.be/yDtcbuoYlJE

Stream ‘Operator’ on all platforms now at: https://bfan.link/operator-4

Pre-order and pre-save A Digital Nowhere now at: https://bfan.link/a-digital-nowhere

Profiler is a Nu-Metal reawakening from the mind of vocalist and guitarist Mike Evans.

This band is inspired by those who have incited change in genres, arts, and theories. It’s a weight of legacy that Profiler is comfortable shouldering, backed by SharpTone Records, its home since 2020.

After starting as a solo project in Bristol, UK, Mike stepped out from the studio and onto the stage, enlisting bassist/vocalist Joe Johnson and drummer Oscar Hocking. In early 2023, Oscar departed to be replaced by Brad Ratcliffe, cementing the line-up that would forge 2024’s debut album, A Digital Nowhere.

Profiler’s nu-metal-grunge-alt-rock, call it what you want, is an abrasive distorted soundscape that reverently glances back to those genres’ heydays. Profiler is for anyone who misses or missed the contagious nineties Seattle grunge movement or the explosion of nu-metal that dominated the 00s and the genre-bending bands they made a path for.

PROFILER is:
Mike Evans – Vocals, Guitar
Joe Johnson – Bass
Brad Ratcliffe – Drums

Watch now: https://youtu.be/n12WLXhoo4U

UK’s rising stars SWARM6IX’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable, and the release of "LIP$TICK" marks a significant milestone for SWARM6IX as they join the Out Of Line Music family!

SWARM6IX delve with the new song "LIP$TICK" into themes of toxic relationships and self-identity. The lyrics portray a tumultuous narrative of pain, pleasure, control, and surrender, set against a backdrop of relentless riffs and raw vocals. It’s a track that resonates with anyone who’s ever found themselves in the grip of an overpowering connection. The music video perfectly encapsulates the song’s raw energy and the band’s captivating presence. Stream "LIP$TICK" now here: https://swarm6ix.lnk.to/LIPSTICK and immerse yourself in the world of SWARM6IX.

"It’s ultimately the realisation that someone isn’t who they made themselves out to be. LIP$TICK stands for the cover up of those imperfections and lies that people hide to make themselves seem like a better person until their true selves come to fruition. The backstabbers, the manipulators, the narcissists, and the deceivers." – SWARM6IX

SWARM6IX provide a safe space for those that have always appeared anti-social, dormant, and introverted on the surface. The band acquired their unique identity by combining a love for heavy trap and metal music and stand strongly for the freedom of expression within art. SWARM6IX execute a sound somewhere between Ghostemane and Emmure, yet simultaneously evoke nostalgia and familiarity. Adding a sprinkle of modern nu-metal, SWARM6IX have their red beam set to storm the scene with everything they have in their artillery and will not be stopped. With regular support from BBC Radio 1, appearances at Collision Fest and Tech Fest, and tours alongside Seething Akira, InRetrospect, and Shade UK, SWARM6IX has rapidly gained momentum while their recent coverage in Metal Hammer and Loudwire shows their growing influence in the UK metal scene.

SWARM6IX
Daniel Sloane – guitarist
Ben Fordham – vocalist
Owen Morris – bassist
James Lane – drummer

SWARM6IX online:
https://www.instagram.com/swarm6ix
https://twitter.com/SWARM6IX
http://www.facebook.com/SWARM6IXX
https://www.tiktok.com/@swxrm6ix

SWARM6IX – neue Single und Musikvideo "LIP$TICK"
– Willkommen bei Out Of Line Music!

Zum Video: https://youtu.be/n12WLXhoo4U

Großbritanniens aufstrebende Newcomer SWARM6IX haben bisher eine eindrucksvolle Entwicklung hinter sich, und die Veröffentlichung von "LIP$TICK" markiert einen weiteren Meilenstein für SWARM6IX, da sie nun Teil der Out Of Line Music-Familie sind!

SWARM6IX beschäftigen sich in ihrem neuen Song "LIP$TICK" mit Themen wie toxischen Beziehungen und Selbstidentität. Der Text beschreibt eine turbulente Geschichte von Schmerz, Lust, Kontrolle und Hingabe vor dem Hintergrund unerbittlicher Riffs und rauer Vocals. Dieser Track spricht alle an, die sich schon einmal in den Fängen einer übermächtigen Beziehung befunden haben. Das Musikvideo fasst die rohe Energie des Songs und die fesselnde Präsenz der Band perfekt zusammen. Streamt "LIP$TICK" hier: https://swarm6ix.lnk.to/LIPSTICK und tretet ein in die Welt von SWARM6IX.

"Es ist letztendlich die Erkenntnis, dass jemand nicht die Person ist, für die sie sich ausgegeben hat. LIP$TICK steht für die Vertuschung der Unvollkommenheiten und Lügen, die Menschen verbergen, um sich als bessere Person darzustellen, bis ihr wahres Ich zum Vorschein kommt. Die Verräter, die Manipulatoren, die Narzissten und die Betrüger." – SWARM6IX

SWARM6IX bietet einen sicheren Raum für diejenigen, die oberflächlich betrachtet schon immer anti-social, in sich ruhend und introvertiert erschienen sind. Die Band hat ihre einzigartige Identität durch die Kombination ihrer Liebe zu Heavy Trap und Metal-Musik erlangt und setzt sich stark für die Freiheit des künstlerischen Ausdrucks ein. SWARM6IX kreieren dadurch einen Sound, der irgendwo zwischen Ghostemane und Emmure liegt und gleichzeitig Nostalgie und Vertrautheit hervorruft. Mit einer Prise modernem Nu-Metal stürmen SWARM6IX so die Szene mit allem was sie haben und lassen sich nicht aufhalten. Regelmäßiger Support von BBC Radio 1, Auftritte beim Collision Fest und Tech Fest sowie Touren mit Seething Akira, InRetrospect und Shade UK haben SWARM6IX einen rasanten Aufschwung verschafft, und die jüngste Berichterstattung im Metal Hammer und Loudwire zeigt ihren wachsenden Einfluss in der britischen Metal-Szene.

SWARM6IX
Daniel Sloane – Gitarrist
Ben Fordham – Vocalist
Owen Morris – Bass
James Lane – Drummer

SWARM6IX online:
https://www.instagram.com/swarm6ix
https://twitter.com/SWARM6IX
http://www.facebook.com/SWARM6IXX
https://www.tiktok.com/@swxrm6ix