Mercury Girls join the Slumberland Records family

Philadelphia, PA’s Mercury Girls features Sarah Schimineck, Kevin Attics, Andrew Hagiwara, Chris Schackerman, and Kevin O'Halloran. Schimineck, formerly of NYC Popfest alums Pet Milk is flanked by the shimmery and adventurous guitar interplay of Attics (Literature, former Pitchfork Media) and O'Halloran (of indie heroes Little Big League, Run For Cover Records). Hagiwara and Schackerman provide a sturdy rhythmic base, creating a sound that's equally lush and driving, using Sarah Records-inspired pop as a basis for savvy de-/reconstruction and sonic experimentation. Despite having only started in March of 2015, the group has achieved a lot. They've collected many endorsements, including those from Chickfactor Magazine, Pains of Being Pure at Heart's Kip Berman and NPR, they've shared the stage with bands such as Expert Alterations, Joanna Gruesome, Beverly, TEEN, Eternal Summers, and their 2016 SxSW visit was a head-turning, mind-melting blast.

Now they cap of their first year with the release of their debut single, Ariana. While their sound uses classic indiepop as a jumping-off point, there are bits of shoegaze, post-punk and DIY punk in the mix that recall like-minded bands like Veronica Falls, Makthaverskan, Fear of Men and Frankie Rose. "Ariana" is gorgeous tangle of chorused, jangling guitars and Sarah's dreamlike vocals. A marvelous two and a half minutes of perfect, forward-thinking pop. On the flip, "All That Heaven Allows" leans more on the band's post-punk inspirations, marked by a careening rhythm and a huge chorus that will stick in your head for days.

Ariana is out May 20th, just in time for the band's engagement at NYC Popfest alongside legends The Primitives and The Chesterfields. The spring is looking to be fully scheduled with shows up and down the east coast, keeping the band busy while they write and record their highly-anticipated debut album.

Pre-order Link



Upcoming shows:

04/29 – Bethlehem, PA – Ice House (w/ Brother JT) 05/12 – Philadelphia, PA – PhilaMOCA (DJ Set w/ Radiator Hospital, Spook School, Bent Shapes, + Littler) 05/15 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts (w/ King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard) 05/20 – Philadelphia, PA – Space 1026 (Steve Keene Art Gala w/ The Snow Fairies, My Favorite) 05/21 – NYC – Knitting Factory (NYC Popfest w/ The Primitives, The Chesterfields, + more) 06/11 – NYC – Cake Shop (Slumberland/Kanine Records/Culture Collide Showcase w/ Flowers, Expert Alterations, + more) 06/14 – Philadelphia, PA – Johnny Brendas (w/Flowers, Beverly)

The Browning will be touring Europe with I Killed The Prom Queen

Spinefarm Records artist The Browning will be touring Europe this Summer together with Australian Metal-core Pioneers I Killed The Prom Queen

With a new album set for June 24th, The Browning are happy to get back to Europe and the UK to play new material for their rapidly growing fanbase.

Along for the ride, coming from all corners of the globe, are Feed Her To The Sharks (AUS), Empires Fade (ENG) and To Kill Achilles (SCT).

The tour will be stopping off at the following destinations. Tickets are on-sale at all the usual outlets. Get yours now!

The Alexia Agency Proudly Presents...

I KILLED THE PROM QUEEN (AUS)
THE BROWNING (USA)
FEED HER TO THE SHARKS (AUS)
EMPIRES FADE (ENG)
TO KILL ACHILLES (SCT)

August 2016

06 Morecore Mania Festival Cologne (D) 07 Hirsch Nuremburg (D) 08 Werk 21 Zürich (CH) 09 Explosiv! Graz (A) 10 Viper Room Vienna (A) 11 Musik und Frieden Berlin (D) 12 Backstage Munich (D) 13 Ieperfest Ieper (B) * 14 Matrix Bochum (D) 15 Schlachthof Wiesbaden (D) 16 Wave Misano Adriatica (I) 17 The Garage Saarbrücken (D) 18 B58 Brunswick (D) 19 Destruction Derby Open Air Dessau (D) * 20 Destruction Derby Open Air Dessau (D) ** 20 Hevy Open Air Newhaven (UK) * 21 Throwfest Cardiff (UK) 22 Cathouse Glasgow (UK) 23 The Rainbow Birmingham (UK) 24 The Hub Plymouth (UK) 25 Dingwalls London (UK) 26 The Social Southampton (UK) 27 6k Unreal Fest Liege (B) 28 Poppodium Volt Sittard (NL) 29 Backstage By The Mill Paris (F) 30 En Arena Stockholm (SE) * 31 Skjulet Gothenburg (SE) *

* = IKTPQ Only ** = w/o IKTPQ

TYLER BRYANT & THE SHAKEDOWN ANNOUNCED FOR AC/DC TOUR

EP ‘THE WAYSIDE’ OUT NOW VIA SPINEFARM / JOHN VARVATOS RECORDS

Tyler Bryant & The Shakedown, led into action by Texas-born vocalist / guitarist Tyler Bryant, will play a dozen European stadium shows as sole support to rock legends AC/DC in May / June 2016; in addition to these dates, some already sold out, TB&TS – purveyors of electrifying rock ‘n’ roll, loud an’ proud, with blues and alternative leanings also coming into play – have slotted in 10 headline appearances of their own.

This leg of the AC/DC tour will see 25-year-old Tyler, now based in Nashville, plus band-mates Caleb Crosby (drums), Graham Whitford (guitar) and Noah Denney (drums) visiting a number of European markets for the first time, including the UK where headline gigs in London and Nottingham have just gone on sale. In the space of five glorious weeks, TB&TS – no strangers to the dynamics of the larger, more spectacular rock show having already shared Stateside stages with Jeff Beck, ZZ Top, Aerosmith and more – will unleash their high-proof blend of melody, muscle and psychedelic mystique to well in excess of 600,000 riff-hungry fans across 12 different countries… the highway to hell, indeed!

TB&TS’s latest release, and first for Spinefarm/Varvatos, is a six-track EP called ‘The Wayside’; produced, recorded & mixed by Vance Powell (Jack White, Seasick Steve), these half-dozen tracks see the musicians showing the full scope and sway of their collective vision – from giant groove rockers such as ‘Stitch It Up’, ‘Mojo Workin’’ and lead single / video ‘Loaded Dice & Buried Money’ through the hypnotic swagger of ‘Devil’s Keep’ and onto the atmospheric plea that is ‘The Wayside’, with Tyler’s background in the blues (he’s a recipient of the Robert Johnson Foundation’s ‘New Generation’ award, and studied under the late, respected Roosevelt Twitty Sr.) ensuring that raw emotion is never far from the surface. It’s a quality that stood the young musician, indeed the whole band, in good stead when they took to the road with ZZ Top main-man Billy Gibbons for his US acoustic tour in late 2015 / early 2016…

In addition to joining AC/DC for shows in Portugal, Spain, France, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland & Denmark, and visiting the Netherlands & Poland for one-off headliners, TB&TS have the following dates lined up for the UK:-

JUNE

4 – Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London (supporting AC/DC) 6 – Boston Music Room, London (headline show) 7 – The Bodega, Nottingham (headline show) 9 – Etihad Stadium, Manchester (supporting AC/DC)

DIMMU BORGIR Extend their partnership with Nuclear Blast Records

Norwegian symphonic black metal giants, DIMMU BORGIR, can proudly announce that they have signed a new contract with Nuclear Blast Records.

The band commented: "We wish to inform you that DIMMU BORGIR and Nuclear Blast have once again put pen to paper, acknowledging the past, present and future by opening another chapter in the history of extreme music! Stay tuned and watch this space for more updates on the upcoming new album and the ‘Forces of The Northern Night’ live DVD/Blu-ray release as it becomes available!"

Nuclear Blast owner Markus Staiger added: "We at Nuclear Blast are super happy to extend the cooperation with our good friends in DIMMU BORGIR! The future holds amazing opportunities and projects to be worked on together, the first being the eventual release of the long awaited ‘Forces Of The Northern Night’ live DVD! Keep your eyes peeled - darkness is upon us!"

GORILLA & GRIFTER split album released this week on HeviSike Records

A new split album from two of the UK's hottest power trios.
Released 15th April 2016 on HeviSike Records
Artwork by Maarten Donders

GORILLA are no strangers to fans of heavy-as-hell rock n’ roll. The no-nonsense power trio, led by The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell frontman Johnny Gorilla, have released three albums since forming in the late 1990s.

One of the last bands standing from the first wave of UK underground rock, the three-piece have played festivals including Roadburn and Duna Jam and shared the stage with the likes of Fu Manchu, Josiah, Witchcraft and Gentleman’s Pistols. Joining founding members Johnny (guitar & vocals) and Sarah Jane (bass) is new sticksman Ryan Matthews.

English three-piece GRIFTER have made a name for themselves as one of the premier touring acts through frequent live appearances. As well as releasing two albums and two EPs on labels including Catacomb Records and Ripple Music, the trio have performed at Desertfest, Bloodstock, Freak Valley and more plus toured with Orange Goblin.

Formed in 2003, Grifter’s line-up has gone unchanged; Foz on drums, Phil on bass and Ollie on guitar and vocals. The trio consider themselves simply a rock band; drawing influences from across the board, Grifter present a sound that can only be described as loud and heavy hard rock.

Gorilla vs Grifter will be the second in a planned series of split albums released through HeviSike, following 2015's Mos Generator // Stubb split release.

The album has been mastered by Tony Reed (Mos Generator) and features a unique cover designed by Dutch artist Maarten Donders, known for his poster designs for Blues Pills and Roadburn Festival amongst others.

The two English power trios join the Birmingham-based imprint as special guests at an exciting time following the label's launch in late 2014. Previous output from the label includes the debut EP from Chicago psychedelic rockers Dead Feathers and albums from Elevators to The Grateful Sky, Prophets of Saturn, Desert Suns and Palm Desert amongst others.

Available as a limited edition vinyl record in two colour-ways, Gorilla vs Grifter will be available to pre-order from Friday 1st April ahead of it's 15th April release date.

Colour vinyl options:

Gold - (limited to 100 copies, hevisike.com exclusive) Yellow / Blue Marbled

The album will be distributed by Plastic Head Distribution in the UK & Europe and by MVD Entertainment in North America.

Gorilla vs Grifter will be available digitally through bandcamp, iTunes, Spotify and other digital outlets.

Photos: Wolfmother at Olympia Theatre Dublin. 8 April 2016

Photos by Dani Kammler

Photos: Electric Citizen at Olympia Theatre Dublin. 8 April 2016

Pictures by Dani Kammler