Sunday 13 December 2015

MUSHROOMHEAD - UK TOUR WITH SPECIAL GUESTS AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE



MUSHROOMHEAD have announced a mammoth tour of the UK next March and April. Kicking off in Manchester on March 18th, the mighty masked mosh-machine work their way through the UK with 15 shows, with special guests AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE in tow.

Known for their theatrical live show and striking image, MUSHROOMHEAD are one of the 90s more unique and adventurous alternative metal outfits. Emerging in the 90s, originally as a side project, the Cleveland band’s forceful yet melodic blend of industrial metal, hip-hop, punk, goth and techno saw them capture the attention of alternative music fans across the globe to huge international success.

Last year’s ‘The Righteous & The Butterfly’ album put the band back on the map after 2010’s ‘Beautiful Stories For Ugly Children’, with the video for single ‘Qwerty’ picking up over 6 million views on YouTube.



Now MUSHROOMHEAD returns to the UK for their first full tour in four years. Catch them at the following shows:

MUSHROOMHEAD & special guests AMERICAN HEAD CHARGE:

March 2016

18th Manchester Club Academy 19th Sheffield Corporation 20th Nottingham Rescue Rooms 22nd Glasgow Classic Grand 23rd Newcastle Northumbria Uni 24th Birmingham O2 Academy 2 25th Chester Live Rooms 26th Bristol Marble Factory 27th Plymouth Hub 29th Cardiff The Globe 30th London Electric Ballroom 31st Brighton Concorde 2

April 2016

1st Southampton Engine Rooms 2nd Norwich Waterfront 3rd Reading Sub 89

LACUNA COIL reveal first details for new album



LACUNA COIL are in the middle of recording their upcoming album, which is entitled 'Delirium', at BRX Studio in Milan. The album is self-produced by bassist and main-songwriter Marco “Maki” Coti-Zelati and engineered by Marco Barusso with assistance coming from Dario Valentini.

It is the first album featuring new American drummer Ryan Blake Folden, who has been touring with the band since 2012.

'Delirium', the follow up to LACUNA COIL’s 'Broken Crown Halo', will be released in 2016 via Century Media Records.

Stay tuned for more news, soon!

AVATAR ENTER STUDIO WITH SYLVIA MASSY NEW LP DUE OUT MID-2016



Sweden's own AVATAR have entered the studio to begin work on a new album this week, the followup to highly successful HAIL THE APOCALYPSE released in 2014, cracking the Billboard Top 200 Chart and debuting at #97. "Every band makes a point out of saying they're pushing boundaries, but I see few who keep on challenging themselves the way we do." says frontman Johannes Eckerström. "There is no formula, no cheapness, no shortcuts. We are once again embarking on a journey completely new to us."

The new effort will be released next year by Entertainment One Music in the U.S. / Canada and Century Media overseas. Fans can get involved right off the bat too. The band has launched an Instagram campaign on their official website that diligently follows the band while they make progress in the studio.

The band will split their time between three studios throughout Europe with all of the music being made in the aptly named Castle Studios in Röhrsdorf, Germany. Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Finland and Spinroad Studios in Lindome, Sweden will also play a part in the process.

AVATAR has tapped none other than Sylvia Massy to produce the yet to be titled release. "Avatar is an amazing band!" says Massy. She is perhaps best recognized for her work on 1993's Undertow, the full-length double platinum-selling TOOL debut and her works with SYSTEM OF A DOWN. "The singer has the wild energy and charisma I love, and the players are relentless. The album we’re making is an epic. Each song powerfully stands on it’s own, but is only a piece of a larger story. This album is the project I’ve been dreaming about for years!"

The band has been on quite a run since HAIL THE APOCALYPSE was released, most notably for their music videos and visually stunning live shows. The band released three music videos off that record. One for the title track "Hail The Apocalypse," hit single "Bloody Angel" and "Vultures Fly," which just took home the LOUDWIRE Rock Video Of The Year.

AVATAR will hit the road stateside in January with a highlighted performance scheduled aboard the ever popular ShipRocked Cruise. Click here for all tour dates. The band has also been confirmed to participate in Rock on the Range, Welcome to Rockville, Fort Rock, and Carolina Rebellion festivals in 2016.

After making more trips to the U.S. than ever before over the last two years, the band is ready to sink their teeth into a new album, Eckerström continues: "Avatar is growing higher and deeper and I am proud to say we are outdoing ourselves again. If we didn't make sure to feel like this every time, we wouldn't bother at all. I'm very excited, and you should be too.”

KORPIKLAANI - Co-Headline Tour With Moonsorrow April 2016



The Finnish Folk Metal Mafia are very pleased to announce that Korpiklaani and Moonsorrow will be embarking on a co-headline tour this coming April 2016. These two powerhouses of the Finnish Folk Metal scene have once again joined forces for what promises to be an immensely entertaining evening.

Korpiklaani front man Jonne Järvelä said regarding the tour announcement:

“I am so looking forward to playing with our fellow FFMM brothers, who for us are the most respected band in this genre of ours. This is a perfect combination of Finnish music and culture.”

Korpiklaani fiddle played Tuomas Rounakari added:

“Exactly, Moonsorrow bring the serious side of our culture and we bring in the balance by adding the festivity of midsummer nights.”

The tour which will take the bands though 7 different European countries, hits the UK on 20th April at the O2 Islington Academy, London – culminating on 28th April at 1865 in Southampton. This is a tour not to be missed!

You can catch Korpiklaani & Moonsorrow at the following UK & Ireland shows: 20th April – O2 Islington Academy, London 21st April – Club Academy, Manchester 22nd April – The Button Factory, Dublin 23rd April – Limelight 2, Belfast 24th April – Classic Grand, Glasgow 25th April – Stylus, Leeds 26th April – Academy 2, Birmingham 27th April – The Fleece, Bristol 28th April – 1865, Southampton

The foundation of Korpiklaani occurred in 2003 in Lahti, Finland – and no-one could have foreseen that such a large audience would be interested in Finnish and English mythological texts. Their debut album ‘Spirit Of The Forest’ was released 2003, and since then Korpiklaani have forged their own path and established their own incredibly distinctive style.

Whether you take their early works such as ‘Voice Of Wilderness’ (2005), ‘Tales Along This Road’ (2006) and ‘Tervaskanto’ (2007) or the Nuclear Blast era – namely ‘Korven Kuningas’ (2008), ‘Karkelo’ (2009), ‘Ukon Wacka’ (2011) and ‘Manala’ (2012) – you can conclude that not many metal bands have the same impressive longevity, such a hugely passionate fan base and the unstoppable ability to get people dancing at a show or festival!

Korpiklaani’s latest and ninth studio album ‘Noita’ was released in 2015 via Nuclear Blast to widespread critical acclaim. It was the first album to feature new accordion player Sami Perttula, who has had a remarkable influence on the traditional folk arrangements along with Fiddler Tuomas Rounakari. This helped create the perfect balance between Folk and Metal apparent on the album, as frontman Jonne Järvelä had always envisioned.

Photos: Fear Factory @ The Academy Dublin. 10 December 2015



Monday 7 December 2015

SOUL ASYLUM PARTNERS WITH ENTERTAINMENT ONE TO RELEASE THEIR NEW ALBUM CHANGE OF FORTUNE ON MARCH 18TH, 2016



BAND IN MIDST OF PLEDGEMUSIC CAMPAIGN

December 7, 2015 -- Soul Asylum partners with Entertainment One Music (eOne Music) to release an album of all new material titled Change of Fortune on March 18th, 2016. When asked about the band’s upcoming and 11th studio album, frontman David Pirner replied “Everything on the menu is excellent.”

”We are thrilled to be working with such a great trailblazing band as Soul Asylum,” adds Chuck Oliner, Director of Marketing and Promotions, eOne Music. “We wait to lead off 2016 with the first single from their new album Change of Fortune. Loyal Soul Asylum fans will be blown away with the new album, and new fans will understand why we are all so excited they are back. Welcome back Soul Asylum, and get ready to see Dave, Michael, Winston and Justin on tour in 2016.”

The band’s PledgeMusic campaign offers pledger exclusives that include signed copies of the new album, your name in the liner notes, live and rare Grave Dancers Union download, custom t-shirt designed for Pledgers only, Skype drum workshop with Michael Bland, guest list for life, private acoustic show, private full band concert, original Dave Pirner artwork, vintage band promotional posters and much more. Pledging also allows access to a Pledger-only section of the site where the band is continuously posting video updates, audio clips and more. New pledger exclusives are being added weekly so check it out at www.pledgemusic.com/projects/soulasylum.

After several indie releases on Minneapolis’ Twin/Tone Records and A&M, Soul Asylum released its groundbreaking album Grave Dancers Union, which included the Grammy Award winning "Runaway Train.” Soul Asylum followed up this success with Let Your Dim Light Shine in 1995, which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200 and featured the #1 Modern Rock track “Misery.” After releasing Candy From a Stranger in 1998, the band members wanted to concentrate on writing and took a break from recording. The band reconvened in 2004 to begin work on their ninth full-length album, joined by a new drummer, Michael Bland. Sadly, shortly thereafter, bassist Karl Mueller was diagnosed with throat cancer and passed away after finishing his work on the new album. The Silver Lining was released in 2006 and was dedicated to Karl’s life and memory. The band took a long and unscheduled hiatus as they grieved and dealt with the loss of their friend and band-mate. In 2012 Soul Asylum released the aptly titled Delayed Reaction that was deemed “quick to embrace” by influential music blog Consequence of Sound.

Change of Fortune is three years in the making, recorded while the band toured non-stop, had a few line-up changes and some soul searching, but upon listening to Change of Fortune, the wait is most certainly worth it. Soul Asylum loyalists will be happy to discover the group's trademark ragged-but-right sound is still very much intact.

The heart and soul of Soul Asylum remains and they continue to produce heartfelt and passionate rock n’ roll. The band consists of David Pirner on guitar and vocals, Michael Bland on drums, Winston Roye on bass and Justin Sharbono on guitar.