Wednesday 14 January 2015

ENTER SHIKARI ‘THE MINDSWEEP’ LONDON POP UP SHOP OPENS JANUARY 19th 2015



To reach a crescendo on a 4 month journey of highs, lows, blood, sweat and tears... January 19th - the UK/IE release date of the band's 4th Album 'The Mindsweep' - will see Enter Shikari open their very own Pop Up Shop on Camden High Street for the day.

A celebration of the album's release for the band and fans alike, and a further breaking down of the wall between artist and audience that will see the band working behind the counter for the day… an antithesis to the “four guys behind a table, avoiding eye contact as they sign promo photos for an hour” meet & greets so popular in the alternative rock world these days.

Open from 11am right through to 7pm, Enter Shikari will be salespeople in their own shop/space, which will also contain expanded 'The Mindsweep' artwork on the walls, a Photo Gallery containing some never seen before shots, a T-Shirt design debuting exclusively at the shop, plenty of Free Giveaways and the chance for fans to buy the new album directly from the band themselves on day of release.

Come down and see it for yourself.

The band have just announced the tour supports for their February UK dates, which has this week added a second Sold Out night at London’s Camden Roundhouse.

Joining Enter Shikari for the tour will be Kent’s FEED THE RHINO, Yorkshire psych-grunge quintet ALLUSONDRUGS, and Glasgow’s FATHERSON.

UK dates are as follows:

FEB 16 PORTSMOUTH, UK – PYRAMIDS *sold out* FEB 17 CARDIFF, UK - YPLAS *sold out* FEB 18 WOLVERHAMPTON, UK - CIVIC FEB 20 MANCHESTER, UK - ACADEMY *sold out* FEB 21 GLASGOW, UK – BARROWLAND *sold out* FEB 22 MIDDLESBROUGH, UK - TOWN HALL FEB 24 CAMBRIDGE, UK - CORN EXCHANGE FEB 25 NORWICH, UK - UEA FEB 26 LONDON, UK - ROUNDHOUSE *sold out* FEB 27 LONDON, UK - ROUNDHOUSE *sold out*

Just to reiterate:

MINDSWEEP POP UP SHOP January 19th 2015. 11am - 7pm. 69 Camden High Street, London

*Free Giveaways *Photo Gallery w/ Exclusive Photos *Meet the band (Yes, they will REALLY be there all day except for the occasional coffee/toilet break) *CD/CD&DVD/LP Formats available to buy *Exclusive T-shirt Design for the Shop

KAMELOT SIGNS TO NAPALM RECORDS



Symphonic Metal Masters KAMELOT entered the studio in mid 2014 to begin recording their follow-up to the highly acclaimed chart topping album Silverthorn. The new album will make KAMELOT history as it will be released worldwide (excl. Asia) on Napalm Records/Universal and Napalm Records/ADA-Warner as an exclusive licensing deal through the band's KAMELOT Music LLC this April/May 2015. In support of this highly anticipated release, KAMELOT will hit the road starting in March for select UK shows, followed by a massive North America Tour this Spring, with special guests Dragonforce (UK). Select Summer Festivals will follow and the band returns to Europe in September/October for their biggest headliner tour to date.

“We are extremely excited about having a growing and hungry independent label like Napalm with the power of major distribution that we will get with Universal and ADA Warner.” states KAMELOT founder and guitarist Thomas Youngblood

Thomas Caser, Vice President of Napalm Records: “Being a fan since the band’s Epica release it has always been a dream for me to work with KAMELOT! Finally this dream has come true and we at Napalm Records are delighted and honoured to announce this signing. I foresee a bright future and we will spare no effort to bring the band to where they deserve to be – the top! Watch out for the band’s monumental new album this spring and witness KAMELOT & Napalm Records conquering the world in 2015!”

KAMELOT have held their own, very special position in the world of rock and heavy music: their elaborate melodic metal has always opened itself in a remarkably clever way to like-minded styles, integrating progressive elements as well as cross-references to doom/gothic metal and classical music, which have allowed their songs to define their own genre. Two of their most successful releases in particular, namely the albums Karma (2001) and The Black Halo (2005), are prime examples of KAMELOT’s multi-layered approach, intensity and outstanding musicality. Their last effort Silverthorn, saw the band raise this demanding standard even higher, because the album stands the test of time as a true masterpiece of grand gestures, gritty melodies and haunting atmospheres, showcasing KAMELOT at their finest.

Catch KAMELOT live on their upcoming live shows:

12.03.2015 IRL – Dublin / Button Factory 13.03.2015 UK – Pwllheli / HammerFest VII Festival 14.03.2015 UK – London / O2 Academy Islington 25.04.2015 MX – Mexico D.F. / José Cuervo Salón 09.07.2015 CZ – Vizovice / Masters Of Rock Festival

KAMELOT North American Tour With Special Guest Dragonforce:

4/27: Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage 4/28: Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theater 4/29: New York, NY @ Webster Hall 5/1: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium 5/2: Montreal, QC @ Metropolis 5/3: Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theater 5/5: Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall 5/6: Joliet, IL @ Mojoes 5/7: Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights 5/9: Winnipeg, MB @ Garrick Centre 5/10: Saskatoon, SK @ Louis Pub 5/11: Calgary, AL @ MacEwan Hall 5/12: Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall 5/14: San Francisco, CA @ Regency Center 5/15: Anaheim, CA @ City National Grove 5/16: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee 5/18: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater 5/20: Austin, TX @ Emo’s 5/21: New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Civic Theater 5/22: Birmingham, IL @ Iron City Live 5/23: Orlando, FL @ House of Blues

INGESTED 'The Architect Of Extinction' Out Now / European Tour in April



INGESTED, the Mancunian slam crew who have built a reputation as one of the most savage death metal acts to come out of the UK for a long time, are releasing their new album “The Architect Of Extinction” via Century Media Records as of today.

The band return with their heaviest offering yet in the form of ”The Architect Of Extinction”, mixed by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy) and featuring mind blowing artwork from Toshihiro Egawa (who also did the artwork for the band’s debut record).

”The Architect Of Extinction” track-listing:

1. The Divine Right Of Kings 2. Narcissistic Apathy 3. Endless Despondency 4. The Heirs To Mankind's Atrocities 5. I, Despoiler 6. Penance 7. A Nightmare Incarnate 8. Extinction Event 9. Amongst Vermin 10. Rotted Eden



To coincide with the release of "The Architect of Extinction", INGESTED have teamed up with Old Empire in bringing to London their brand of Mancunian Death for the first time in over a year! On Saturday 24th January INGESTED will be playing The Black Heart in Camden Town with support from London’s finest technical brutal death outfit Unfathomable Ruination and the second cities most ferocious beatdown crew Sentenced.

After the fantastic feedback from their European fans in the build up to "The Architect of Extinction" INGESTED are proud to announce that they will be hitting the road on their first ever headline tour in Europe with their German slam brothers Acranius and Russian hate machine Slaughter To Prevail. Along the tour they will be hitting Neurotic Deathfest and Doom Rotten Deathfest.

Lyn Jeffs (drums) comments: “We can't wait to start hammering our new material live for you all - see you in April!"

INGESTED live:

24.01. UK London, The Black Heart 27.02. UK Sheffield, Corporation 28.03. UK Croydon, The Scream Lounge 05.04. UK Chesterfield, Skintfest 11.04. UK Leeds, UK DC Fest, The Packhorse 12.04. FR Paris, Le Batofar 13.04. BE Deinze, Café Elpee 14.04. DE Frankfurt, Elfer Club 15.04. CZ Prague, Exit Us 16.04. DE Leipzig, Four Rooms 17.04. DE Berlin, Doom Rotten Deathfest, K17 18.04. NL Tilburg, Neurotic Deathfest, 013 19.04. NL Drachten, Iduna

INVENTIONS announce new album, "Maze Of Woods", released 16th March on Bella Union

INVENTIONS are the collaborative sum of longtime friends Matthew Cooper of Eluvium, and Mark T. Smith of Explosions In The Sky. Their 2013 eponymous debut album introduced an ambition to create music that was both challenging and comforting. Lead track "Springworlds" can be heard below...



Their new album, Maze of Woods, opens with a vocal sample declaring, "I wanted to do something that I don't know how to do." Using this as a mission statement, Inventions have crafted a complex and exuberant album from an array of instruments, samples, found sounds, beats, chants, and raw bursts of noise, with a much greater emphasis on strong vocal accompaniment in every song.

Two albums released in the span of 10 months speaks to the drive that these two have felt since they started playing together. Much like on the first record, they again mixed the album in a house on the Oregon coastline, with final mixing and production all done by Smith and Cooper.

Inventions have stated that much of the inspiration for Maze of Woods comes from the closing paragraph of Denis Johnson's novella Train Dreams. In that paragraph, Johnson describes the non-verbal howl of a feral wolf boy, a pre-language that is yearning and instinctual; a statement of wordless distress and love. Maze of Woods is the product of two masters of their craft getting lost in the wilderness, "doing something that they don't know how to do," and emerging with something wholly unexpected and beguilingly beautiful.

Maze of Woods will be released 16th March on Bella Union.

Maze Of Woods tracklisting:

1. Escapers 2. Springworlds 3. Peregrine 4. Slow Breathing Circuit 5. A Wind From All Directions 6. Wolfkids 7. Moanmusic 8. Feeling The Sun Thru The Earth At Night

Finnish rockers LORDI arrive for their second UK tour in as many years



Whilst in March, we welcome 'Scare Force One' to the UK, as Finnish rockers LORDI arrive for their second tour in as many years.

Appearing newly suited and booted and with new songs a-plenty from the aforementioned new record, which was released just after Halloween last year, Mr Lordi and co. will be appearing at the following venues, and we're again opening guest list, interview and review lists on this very shortly.

Tuesday 24th March; Lemon Grove, Exeter
Wednesday 25th March; Warehouse 23, Wakefield
Thursday 26th March; 02 Academy Club, Manchester
Friday 27th March; Classic Grand, Glasgow
Sunday 29th March; Mo Club, Southampton
Wednesday 1st April; Sub 89, Reading
Friday 3rd April; Live Room, Chester
Saturday 4th April; Marble Factory, Bristol
Sunday 5th April; 02 Academy Islington, London
Monday 6th April; Concorde 2, Brighton

UDO Classic Rock's Most Famous German Son Prepares For New Album "Decadent" On January 26th



Germany's favourite rock god Udo Dirkschneider has announced three exclusive shows for the UK, in support of new album "Decadent", which is released here on January 26th.

With recordings having taken place in Udo's home country of Ibiza and also at Redhead Audio Productions in Wilhelmshaven, this new album looks set to be yet another great statement of intent from a rock idol who's place in rock history is already well cemented, but the shows will be the first time Udo has graced these shores in many a long year.

The track listing for "Decadent" is as follows:

01: Speeder 02: Decadent 03: House Of Fake 04: Mystery 05: Pain 06: Secrets In Paradise 07: Meaning Of Life 08: Breathless 09: Under Your Skin 10: Untouchable 11: Rebels Of The Night 12: Words In Flame

"Decadent" is released as: Digipak, Standard CD, Black Vinyl, Gold Vinyl, And As A Limited Edition Fanbox.

And the confirmed dates are:

Thursday 2nd April 02 Academy, Sheffield Friday 3rd April Queens Hall, Nuneaton Saturday 4th April 02 Academy Islington, London

Cold Snap release third studio album entitled ‘World War 3’ via Eclipse Records



The third studio album by Croatian groove-metal band COLD SNAP is out today! ‘World War 3’ contains 12 intense tracks which were produced by the iconic Danish metal producer, Tue Madsen (Suicide Silence, The Haunted, Sick of it All, Mnemic, Dir En Grey) at Antfarm Studios, Denmark.

World War 3 is available for download from iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and Eclipse.

BROKEN HOPE Unveils First Photos of New Lineup + Announces 2015 Festival Appearances



Photo credit: TOM HANE


BROKEN HOPE recently overhauled their lineup by adding new bassist, DIEGO SORIA of DISGORGE, and new lead-guitarist, MATT SZLACHTA (ex-CHIMAIRA).

BROKEN HOPE founding-father, JEREMY WAGNER, says: "I'm far beyond delighted with our new members--Diego and Matt. Both of these guys are old friends of mine, and both are amazing musicians of the highest order. Diego's history with extreme death-metaller’s DISGORGE and Matt's contributions to CHIMAIRA bring a new level of professionalism and brutality to BROKEN HOPE. Moreover, Diego and Matt possess a true love for death metal and grind. Their passion for extreme metal was something their predecessors lacked--and it’s a most-welcome adrenaline-shot that BROKEN HOPE needed badly. SEE YOU ALL IN 2015--STRONGER & SICKER THAN EVER!”

BROKEN HOPE have also announced the following 2015 spring and summer European festival appearances (via Flaming Arts Management & Booking):

04/11/2015: ROYAL METAL FEST (Aarhus, DENMARK) w/DESTRUCTION & more. 04/17/2015: DOOM ROTTEN DEATH FESTIVAL (BERLIN, GERMANY). 04/19/2015: NEUROTIC DEATH FEST (Tilburg, HOLLAND) w/BLOODBATH, HATE ETERNAL, IMMOLATION, INTERNAL BLEEDING, OBITUARY, & more. 04/25/2015: INSANE INSANITY FEST (Erlenbach Am Main, GERMANY) w/INTERNAL BLEEDING, INTERNAL SUFFERING, PROFANITY, & more. 07/09/2015: OBSCENE EXTREME (Trutnov, CZECH REPUBLIC) w/PIG DESTROYER, TERRORIZER, INTERNAL BLEEDING, NAUSEA, HIRAX, & more. 07/11/2015: ROCK MARATON FEST (Budapest, HUNGARY) w/THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, HATEBREED, THE EXPLOITED, DESTRUCTION, & more. 07/25/2015: STONEHENGE FESTIVAL (Steenwijk, HOLLAND) w/DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT, MARDUK, HIRAX, & more. 07/30/2015: GOTHOOM FESTIVAL (Nova Bana, SLOVAKIA) w/INSOMNIUM, AGOLLOCH, CRYPTOPSY, CATTLE DECAPITATION, & more. 09/12/2015: FULL TERROR ASSUALT--OPEN AIR FESTIVAL (Cave-In-Rock, ILLINOIS). *The FIRST "OPEN AIR" Death Fest in the USA!

Megaherz - Zombieland - out now!



Gloomy riffs, catchy grooves and choruses that call to mind the flair of "The Walking Dead" - welcome to ZOMBIELAND! Megaherz is one of the finest examples of Neue Deutsche Harte, a genre of industrial metal, which takes elements of groove metal, techno and German rock. Megaherz makes use of clean and deep male vocals, heavy riffs, samples, keyboard and synthesizer effects. The band's 8th studio album, Zombieland, promises to be a to be a milestone in the band's history, and captivates with rich grooves, bombastic riffs and catchy choruses.

Megaherz is back - stronger than ever - and prove with Zombieland that they are still among the most exciting German rock bands in recent years.

01. Zombieland 02. Roter Mond 03. Himmelsstürmer 04. Unter Strom 05. Fanatisch 06. Wir könnten Götter sein 07. Schwarzer Engel 08. Für Immer 09. Lieblingsfeind 10. Gegen den Wind 11. Frei 12. Hurra wir leben noch

SANTA CRUZ TO RELEASE BRAND NEW SELF-TITLED ALBUM ON MARCH 9th VIA SPINEFARM RECORDS



Santa Cruz have today revealed that they will release their second studio album, ‘Santa Cruz’, on March 9th via Spinefarm Records; this will be the follow-up to 2013’s ‘Screaming For Adrenaline’, also on Spinefarm.

This latest full-length instalment is packed full of the good stuff, including the hit singles ‘We Are The Ones To Fall’ and ‘Wasted & Wounded’ – expect next level skilfully-crafted, party-minded, rocket-powered rock ‘n’ roll that’ll get a whole new generation on their feet!



Track-listing as follows: 1. Bonafide Heroes 2. Velvet Rope 3. My Remedy 4. 6(66) Feet Under 5. Bye Bye Babylon 6. We Are The Ones To Fall 7. Wasted & Wounded 8. Let Them Burn 9. Vagabonds (Sing With Me) 10. Can You Feel The Rain

Check out the current video for ‘Wasted & Wounded’ here:



Since their much talked about headline show at The Barfly, London, last November and recent US performances including New York’s Webster Hall in December, Santa Cruz – armed with a kick-ass new album and an attitude to match – are ready to lead the way for a new legion of rock ‘n’ rollers!

And so, for those in the UK, the band will be performing across 5 dates as main support to label buddies and modern metal maestros, Amaranthe!

Says Archie, Santa Cruz front man: "We can't wait to return to the UK, the birthplace of Hard Rock & Heavy Metal, with a bang! The stages will be bigger, the show will be more hostile & the drinks will be colder! Get ready to bang your head to some new Cruz tunes! Also, Amaranthe are a bunch of really cool people –we're thrilled to be sharing UK stages with them. Get ready to Roll!"

UK dates as follows:

March 17th O2 Academy Islington, London
March 18th Warehouse 23, Wakefield
March 19th ABC2, Glasgow
March 20th Academy 3/Club Academy, Manchester
March 21st Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
March 22nd The Marble Factory, Bristol

NAPALM DEATH Launch new song online



In the light of the upcoming release date for their newest, 15th studio album “Apex Predator - Easy Meat” on January 26th, 2015 in Europe and January 27th, 2015 in North America via Century Media Records, UK Grindcore pioneers NAPALM DEATH are now launching a second promotional track online.



NAPALM DEATH’s bassist Shane Embury checked in with the following comment about the song he wrote: “Musically I wanted this track to encompass lots of different rhythms and nuances in the short space of time which the song occupies, which I hope we achieve, and that it bursts with an intensity and emotion to match the theme of the lyrics!

Lyrically it's a departure from the rest of the new album as its self-reflective - a couple of years ago I was hospitalized prior to a very important tour and was forced to miss out on going and had to stay at home. More importantly I realized in the time I was in hospital that I really had to make a choice which was either to carry on down the same path of selfish destruction as I had seen some of my friends embark on or stay around for the people I loved and who loved me!

Yes, it's a familiar story, no doubt. but it was an awakening for me which I very much needed and shortly after I was blessed with the birth of my daughter so I am glad I made the right decision…

We are not invincible - Nor are we indestructible. There are choices – points of return…”

The tracklisting for the standard edition of “Apex Predator - Easy Meat” reads as follows:

NAPALM DEATH - “Apex Predator - Easy Meat”:

1. Apex Predator - Easy Meat 2. Smash A Single Digit 3. Metaphorically Screw You 4. How The Years Condemn 5. Stubborn Stains 6. Timeless Flogging 7. Dear Slum Landlord… 8. Cesspits 9. Bloodless Coup 10. Beyond The Pale 11. Stunt Your Growth 12. Hierarchies 13. One-Eyed 14. Adversarial / Copulating Snakes

These are the album formats that will be available for “Apex Predator – Easy Meat”:

- Jewel Case CD with 20-page booklet (14 songs) - Digital Download (14 songs) - 180gr. LP with a double-sided A2 poster, lyric sheet and one bonus track (15 songs, bonus track: “Critical Gluttonous Mass”) - Limited Mediabook CD with expanded 40-page booklet, a sticker and 3 bonus tracks (17 songs, bonus tracks: “What Is Past Is Prologue”, “Oh So Pseudo” and the G-ANX cover-version "Clouds Of Cancer / Victims Of Ignorance") - Digipak CD with 24-page booklet and one bonus track / North America only! (15 songs, bonus track: “Oh So Pseudo”) - Limited red-coloured Cassette with one bonus track (15 songs, bonus track: “Critical Gluttonous Mass”) - Limited Mailorder Boxset, 1000x copies worldwide (Content: Mediabook CD with expanded 40-page booklet, a sticker and 3 bonus tracks, a clear cassette version of the album with one bonustrack, an exclusive NAPALM DEATH beanie, a double-sided A3 poster and a button bag with 3 pins).

The LP will be available in the following versions:

- Unlimited Black LP - 200x Clear LP (Via CM Webshop Europe) - 300x White LP (Via CM Distro Europe) - 200x Transparent Green LP (Via Nuclear Blast Europe) - 800x Solid Red LP (Via CM North America) - 200x Solid Blue LP (Via CM Distro USA) - 200x Dark Green LP (Via CM Distro USA)

NAPALM DEATH are starting a North American tour together with labelmates VOIIOD (and several other great bands) at the end of this month and have just confirmed their first European festival appearances for 2015 as well as a trip to India. Here is a list of upcoming NAPALM DEATH tourdates:

NAPALM DEATH – Live 2015: 22.-26.01.2015 Florida/Jamaica - 70,000 Tons Of Metal Cruise

“Through Space And Grind” North American Tour 2015:
Featuring NAPALM DEATH & VOIVOD
w/ Exhumed, Iron Reagan and Black Crown Initiate
and special guests (on select dates) Ringworm, Dayglo Abortions, Theories and Phobia

27.01.2015 Miami, FL - Grand Central * 28.01.2015 St Petersburg, FL - State Theater * 29.01.2015 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade * 30.01.2015 Winston-Salem, NC - Ziggy's * 31.01.2015 Baltimore, MD - Soundstage * 02.02.2015 New York, NY - Gramercy Theater * 03.02.2015 Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer * 04.02.2015 Toronto, ON - Opera House 05.02.2015 Ottawa, ON - Maverick's 06.02.2015 Montreal, QC - Club Soda 07.02.2015 Worcester, MA - Palladium * 08.02.2015 Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance Theater * 09.02.2015 Cleveland, OH - Agora Ballroom * 10.02.2015 Chicago, IL - Reggie's * 11.02.2015 Minneapolis, MN - Amsterdam * 12.02.2015 Winnipeg, MB - The Zoo 13.02.2015 Regina, SK - The Exchange 14.02.2015 Calgary, AB - Republik 15.02.2015 Edmonton, AB - Starlite Room 17.02.2015 Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theater ** 18.02.2015 Seattle, WA - Studio 7 # 19.02.2015 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater 20.02.2015 Oakland, CA - Metro ## 21.02.2015 Fresno, CA - Strummers ## 22.02.2015 Los Angeles, CA - House Of Blues 23.02.2015 Tempe, AZ - Club Red ## 24.02.2015 Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater ## 25.02.2015 Denver, CO - Summit Music Hall ## 26.02.2015 Lawrence, KS - Granada Theater ## 27.02.2015 Dallas, TX - Gas Monkey ## 28.02.2015 Houston, TX - Fitzgerald's ##

* = Ringworm, ** = Dayglo Abortions, # = Theories, ## = Phobia

Live @ Festivals 2015:

06.06.2015 Bangalore (India) - Bangalore Open Air (India) 07.08.2015 Jaromer (Czech Republic) - Brutal Assault Festival 28.-29.08.2015 Girors (Germany) - Chaulness Festival