The hype around Sleep Token is interesting. They’ve been around for some seven or so years now, and already have two EP’s and two albums to their name ahead of their third full-length ‘Take Me Back To Eden’. Their success then shouldn’t be considered to be “overnight”. That said, the hype train has certainly picked up speed over the last year, perhaps influenced by a certain social media app.
Mystery still surrounds the group both naturally and by design; and whilst many are jumping on the bandwagon, there are also those that are out to shoot the band down. A somewhat polarising start to life then for the band, and that’s rather fitting listening to this new trilogy closing album.
It smacks of an album that will split fans and critics alike by its very grandiose nature. For some it will be an epic masterpiece that should be revered for its ambition. Alas for others it will be deemed a bloated, over-produced, self-indulgent slog of an album.
The truth, is probably somewhere in between the two, but definitely skewed towards the former. The ambition in making a heavy yet accessible, atmospheric yet colossal sound come to life has to be admired.
The great moments on this album are truly phenomenal, and there is so much to dissect across the hour plus, twelve song collection of sonic reverence. Multiple listens will be essential to fully grasp this offering from Sleep Token.
That said, the fact that a large part of their audience has arrived from a social media app centred on short length clips is interesting. Will this following connect with the likes of the eight minute epic title-track?
As always with Sleep Token, you may feel that there are more questions than answers on this album. But then, after all isn’t that a large part of the appeal? One thing is certain and that’s wherever they go next, the world will be watching!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We get started this week with the latest from Reading and Leeds Festivals which as is tradition take place this August Bank Holiday weekend.
This week saw the likes of Lauran Hibberd, The Royston Club, Somebody’s Child and Bilk.
They will join names such as The Killers, Yard Act, The Amazons, You Me At Six, Frank Turner, Imagine Dragons, Don Broco, The Snuts, Hot Milk, The Murder Capital, Yonaka, Normandie and Sleep Token.
The View recently announce that their new album ‘Exorcism of Youth’ will be released on August 18th. Now the band have revealed a full Autumn UK Tour in support of the album.
Kyle Falconer commented, “Touring has always been what we’ve done best, we just needed some time to refuel. Can’t wait to get back to it!”
PJ Harvey has announced her new album, ‘I Inside the Old Year Dying’, will be out on July 7th.
Ahead of her first album since 2016, Harvey has also debuted brand new single, ‘A Child’s Question, August’, which you can check out above.
On the new single: “I think the album is about searching, looking – the intensity of first love, and seeking meaning,” says Harvey. “Not that there has to be a message, but the feeling I get from the record is one of love – it’s tinged with sadness and loss, but it’s loving. I think that’s what makes it feel so welcoming: so open.”
Grian Chatten, vocalist of Dublin’s critically acclaimed band Fontaines D.C., has shared his debut solo single, ‘The Score’, which you can check out above.
Commenting on the track, Chatten explains, “‘The Score’ is a heavyweight bated breath of lust. I wrote it in Madrid between an electric fan and a dying plant and I intend to keep it there. It was inspired by sugar and sunset.”
Very first German rock/metal Eurovision Song Contest representatives, Lord of the Lost, have released an official music video for ‘Destruction Manual’, which you can check out above.
The band on the new video: “A video where the whole band is represented by women. That is something I’ve wanted to do for half of my life. But it wasn’t the right time until now: the moment has come! Next to Louisa, we have four outstanding female musicians from all over the world at our instruments, and we love the energy that all five of them radiate here. What can I say? We’ve never looked so stunning!”
Next in our News Report is K.Flay who this week released her latest single, ‘Raw Raw’, which you can check out above.
Regarding the single K.Flay says, “‘Raw Raw’ is the start of my next chapter. After losing half my hearing last fall, I was faced with a sudden and intense episode of fear and vulnerability. Like, could I even make music again? Once I got into my recovery and started writing and recording, I knew that I could. And what I wanted to create was music that felt properly rock but also properly future oriented. Uninhibited and different.
“With ‘Raw Raw’ I wanted to capture what vulnerability really feels like. Outwardly it might seem tender, but on the inside it’s messy and bloody and somewhat terrifying. It’s a chainsaw buzzing at your throat.”
Loose Articles share video for ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin
Loose Articles – ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin’
Manchester indie punks Loose Articles this week shared new single ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin’, which you can check out above.
“The song is about our pal and local legend Sinead Ferguson, who’s a band photographer,” say the band of the story behind the track. “She had her instagram account hijacked by Bitcoin hackers who were posing as her and trying to sell everyone Bitcoin for £10,000. For a split second everyone thought Sinead was a Bitcoin dealer, so we turned it into a song where she was stealing your wifi and hacking your social media accounts to sell Bitcoin.”
The band have launched a spoof NFT scheme to accompany the track, alongside Sinead’s Bitcoin Fund, which will offer fans the ability to donate money to the band to unlock perks.
Tiers range from £0–20+ and include incentives like a specially recorded B-side short story, a cassette tape of the release, a DTG Ape Loose Articles shirt, and more special gifts TBC.
Salisbury punk rockers CARSICK have shared their latest single, ‘Anaconda Frank’, which you can check out above.
The band are also set to drop their forthcoming debut EP ‘Drunk Hymns’ on 30th June.
Anaconda Frank is our biggest rager yet,” the band said of the song. “We wanted to capture the chaotic energy of our lives right now and so we’ve drawn on a bunch of real experiences we’ve had recently – covering everything from addiction to giant exotic snakes. It’s about being in a transitional stage of your life and figuring out what exactly it is you want to do and the kind of person you want to be.”
New York-based punk band Oxymorrons continue their genre-bending revolution with their latest single, ‘Last Call’ featuring Troi Irons.
When asked what inspired them to write such an honest song and share themselves so openly, the band explained, “‘Last Call’ is an exercise in vulnerability and using our music to help us better understand ourselves and our coping mechanisms. Too many times we’ve all found ourselves drowning at the bottom of a bottle, using alcohol to help us feel something different or feel nothing at all. Whether you’ve struggled in the past or are struggling right now, we hope this song helps you feel seen and plays a role in helping you not struggle in the future.”
Featured artist Troi Irons brought a different perspective to the track, sharing, “I’ve long been a fan of the Oxymorrons and what they do so I was thrilled to hop on this song. I don’t really drink but it’s more a metaphor for how humans tend to reach for the closest thing to help us feel less alone. It’s not always healthy. Hopefully people reach for the music to feel less alone with this one.”
DETHRXNER – ‘STAY COLD’
Copenhagen’s DETHRXNER share their new single, ‘STAY COLD’ featuring Aaron Matts of ten56..
“‘Stay Cold’ is a track about resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges. The lyrics convey a determination to stick to one’s plan, despite past failures and missed opportunities – it’s ultimately a declaration of staying strong, staying true to oneself, and staying focused on success, no matter how tough the journey may be” – Vocalist Neema Rad
Tribe of Ghosts – ‘Sunburner (Deny the Rot)’
Tribe Of Ghosts share their brand new single ‘Sunburner (Deny the Rot)’.
“When my mental health began severely declining before my diagnosis, I always associated the Sun as some kind of aggressor or enemy as it would cause emotional and physical discomfort whenever I saw it… This discomfort would bring on these intense feelings of anxiety and intense physical pain that I would daily attempt to mask and ignore as I didn’t want to accept that I was mentally unwell.” – Guitarist Adam Sedgwick.
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
Up first this week is the latest news from Download Festival who this week added additional bands whilst also confirming the stage splits for each day.
The Metallica, Bring Me The Horizon and Slipknot headlined event will also now feature the likes of State Champs, Puscifer, Hundred Reasons, Static Dress, Cancer Bats and more.
Following the announcement of new album, ‘Starcatcher’, last week, this week has seen the news that Greta Van Fleet will be back out on tour later this year.
The UK will see the band tackling arena shows in London, Manchester and Glasgow with support from Mt. Joy.
Our News Report continues with Atreyu who have also announced when they will return to the UK. Alongside their EU tour the band will play a run of eight dates in the UK this November.
Continuing the theme of bands announcing their return to the UK, Danko Jones have revealed a full EU and UK tour for this Autumn that will finish at the Garage in London.
We segue our News Report now from tour announcement to new music as Dream Wife unveiled both this past week.
As the group get ready for the release of new album, ‘Social Lubrication’ on June 9th, they’ve set up a full UK tour set to take place in October.
Support for the tour will come from Ash Kenazi.
The band also had more new music on offer with new single, ‘Orbit’, which you can check out below.
Dream Wife – ‘Orbit’
On the single the band explain, “Written through the joy of jamming together and locking into the groove like a multi limbed space age organism, Orbit has a dance rock edge from the early noughties of bands like New Young Pony Club and Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Lyrically, it was inspired by post-lockdown London coming back to life and sharing a space through friendship and community. And how each day you never know what’s in store for you or how a stranger can become someone close to you – for a day, a heartbeat, a phase, or a lifetime.”
Next up we have Skindred who have this week shared their new single, ‘If I Could’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from new album, ‘Smile’, which is out on August 4th.
Frontman Benji Webbe recalls that the track was inspired by lockdown and how much he hated 2020 and the effect it had on the world. “On the other hand, 2023 is a different story,” he says. “We’ve released new music and we’re still to drop another few monsters from our album ‘Smile’. We’ve got the KISS tour coming, and we’ve also got our headline tour supporting the new album. So 2023, to me, looks like a very exciting time to be in Skindred. I’m very optimistic about the future!”
The Amity Affliction debut ‘Not Without My Ghosts’
The Amity Affliction – ‘Not Without My Ghosts’
This week also saw The Amity Affliction release their latest single, ‘Not Without My Ghosts’, which features Phem, and you guessed it – you can check it out above!
The new album of the same name will be out on May 12th.
It was a big week for James and the Cold Gun as they announced that their self-titled debut album will arrive on July 21st!
Accompanying that announcement was new single, ‘Something to Say’, which you can check out above.
Speaking on the album, frontman James Joseph says, “We can’t wait to get this album out into the world, it’s a no frills rock and roll ripper recorded ourselves in the garage where we first started jamming as a band, we think it’s a great introduction to what we’re about at our core, loud, energetic guitar rock…”
Another band approaching the release of their debut album is Militarie Gun who will release, ‘Life Under The Gun’ on June 23rd!
This week the group shared the latest single from them ahead of that album. You can check out ‘Very High’ above.
The record is inextricably linked to Shelton’s past. “I grew up in a household with family members struggling with addiction,” he explains. “It was an oppressive force. We were always wondering, ‘Is it going to be a good day or a bad day? Are the cops going to come today? What am I going to come home to after school?’”
On the album, “This is what I thought we sounded like all along,” Shelton laughs. “It’s always felt like a melody-forward band to me, but I think now we’re finally achieving what I was always setting out to do.”
Willie J Healey has shared his latest single, ‘Little Sister’, which you can listen to above.
The track features on upcoming album, ‘Bunny’, which is due for release August 25th.
Willie says “The whole era is something that I love. Long before making ‘Twin Heavy’, I had always listened to funk, soul and R&B, but for some reason it never translated into my own music. Really my inspiration was just the feel of things.’’
He goes on to say about ‘Little Sister’ specifically “We recorded it in New York, just one take, it was magical. I remember spending a couple of hours learning and messing around with it and then it was done. I really just enjoy playing music that makes you feel really good.”
Lottery Winners – ‘Letter To Myself’ feat. Frank Turner
Lottery Winners had more music to share this with as they debuted their new single, ‘Letter To Myself’, which features Frank Turner. You can listen to the track above.
The band are set for the release of their new album, ‘Anxiety Replacement Therapy’, on April 28th!
With just a month to go until their debut EP ‘You’re Welcome’, out 19th May, Lambrini Girls share new single ‘Lads Lads Lads’ about toxic masculinity.
“In order to be a lad, make sure to follow the following guidelines: excessive drinking, harassing anyone with a pulse and starting fights. Most importantly, make sure to never talk about your feelings as this simply cannot be associated with manliness. Lad culture is the shit stain on the bathroom floor and toxic masculinity is the toilet paper that refuses to unstick from the shoe of society. Nobody wins.” says the band.
headcage – ‘false gold’
Alternative Post-Hardcore band headcage have shared their brand new single ‘false gold’.
“With this track I’m trying to lay down the premise of always wanting more from life, as in wealth, status or fame but ultimately realising the people and culture that those things predominantly exist in are not the world I come from or identify with in any way, shape or form. To put it simply, it’s something I’ve always wanted for so long, and is also something I hate”. – Vocalist, Leyum Pattinson.
Grove Street – ‘Lessons of the Past’
Recently signed to UNFD, get yourselves acquainted with Grove Street via recent single, ‘Lessons of the Past’!
“Grove Street becoming a part of UNFD felt like it was meant to happen,” says guitarist Sandy. “A label that fully believes in us and wants to nurture our growth as a band is a rare thing to be seen. This band started out as fun between friends, we never had any expectations of reaching the levels we have and with UNFD behind us we can push those levels even further.”
Speaking of the track, the band share, “Lessons of the Past focuses on police brutality, abuse of power, systemic oppression and racism. People not taking a stand against these things only encourages them to manifest further, and we as people must do better to hold those in power accountable.”
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
Where else could we start this week other than with Glastonbury Festival and their initial 2023 line-up! We now know that Elton John will be joined in headlining the Pyramid Stage by Arctic Monkeys and Guns N Roses!
Also playing over the weekend will be Alt-J, Blondie, Manic Street Preachers, Nova Twins, Royal Blood, slowthai, Texas and Legends Slot filling Yusuf (Cat Stevens).
Another major festival dropping line-up additions this week were the August stalwart Reading & Leeds Festivals.
The likes of The Amazons, Frank Turner, Easy Life, Palaye Royale, Sleep Token, Sea Girls, Vistas, The Murder Capital, Normandie, Knocked Loose, Yonaka, Yard Act and Don Broco join the line-up.
They join the likes Sam Fender, Foals, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons, Wet Leg, You Me At Six, Nothing But Thieves, The Snuts and Hot Milk.
It was a good week for festival fans this week as our News Report continues with this stunning line-up from 2000trees Festival!
The absolutely stacked line-up now features added American Football, Eagles of Death Metal, Electric Six, Employed To Serve, Joy Formidable, Tigercub and Black Honey.
The full line-up also hosts the likes of Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Hundred Reasons, Skindred, Deaf Havana, Rival Schools, Bob Vylan, Empire State Bastard, Holding Absence, Kid Kapichi, Cancer Bats, Dream State, LostAlone, Witch Fever, Blackgold, Guise, Mimi Barks, Pet Needs, Press To Meco and many more!
“For us, seeing fans just as excited about the bands lower down the line up as they are about the bigger artists is what 2000trees is all about, and this announcement is no different. Heriot and Kneecap were big personal highlights from 2000trees 2022, so to be able to have Heriot return to smash the Main Stage and Kneecap bringing the carnage to the Forest Stage is going to be something special! And there’s still two headliners to come sooner than you might think…” – Festival booker James
Also unveiling more of their line-up this week were Standon Calling. The event is due to be headlined by Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party & The Human League.
Playing across the weekend will be the likes of Rick Astley, Squid, We Are Scientists, Bob Vylan, The Murder Capital, The Big Moon, Lottery Winners, KT Tunstall and The Sherlocks.
Sharing in the excitement of today’s news, Rick Astley said: “I can’t wait to head back to Hertfordshire for Standon Calling this July, hope to see you all there!”
Leicester’s The Long Road festival returns in 2023 with a line-up including Jon Pardi, Blackberry Smoke and many more.
Commenting on today’s announcement, TLR’s Tennessee-born Creative Director Baylen Leonard said: “We’re delighted to announce the first wave of artists for The Long Road 2023. Our festival is about offering a unique, inclusive experience for our visitors, with amazing music, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere. Our line-up reflects the very best in Country and Americana music today, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to Stanford Hall for what is going to be a truly unforgettable bank holiday weekend.”
We move our News Report on now to the best tour announcements from the past week and we begin in Wales as Kings of Leon reveal two special dates at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham this May.
Also this week, pop disruptor Ashnikko announced her hotly anticipated world tour and debut album ‘WEEDKILLER’, which is out June 2nd.
Speaking on the announcement Ashnikko states “My bioluminescent heart is glowing. My post-apocalyptic fae world is here for you to journey into. My wings have been ripped out, but I’ve built them anew using WEEDKILLER machine parts. I am the one sent here to eliminate you, WEEDKILLER.”
British Lion next in our News Report as this week they announced a new UK and European summer tour including dates in Manchester and Nottingham.
Steve Harris comments, “We just had a brilliant time on the January UK tour and it’s great to be heading out again in 2023. I’m really looking forward to BOTH Summer tours this year!”
Our News Report looks now at the best new releases from the past week and we begin this week with Metallica!
The legendary band are readying their latest album, ’72 Seasons’, which is out April 14th. This week that meant the debut of new single, ‘If Darkness Had a Son’, which you can listen to above.
This week saw Underoath return with their brand new single, ‘Let Go’, which you can check out above.
In discussing the song, the band said, “This is actually the first song we completed after recording (last year’s) Voyeurist. It took a few different forms but we got it to a place where we knew this is what it should be. It’s about letting go of whatever trauma or demons that might be holding you back. As hard as it is to make those decisions sometimes, I feel like we can never grow without stepping out of those toxic environments.”
DMA’S have this week shared their latest single, ‘Something We Are Overcoming’, which you can listen to above.
The track comes ahead of new album, ‘How Many Dreams?’, which is out March 31st.
“‘Something We Are Overcoming’ started as a moving ballad about perseverance but quickly morphed into a trancey anthem of a side quest that is slightly but steadily DMA’S. We hope you like it.” – DMA’S
Brighton’s snake eyes have shared new single, ‘no one is truly cool’, and you can check out the video above.
Commenting on the new single, vocalist Jim Heffy says: “I met a bloke in a band I like at a festival after separately having a really lovely chat with one of their bandmates. he was stand-offish and, to be honest, a bit of a prick, giving proper ‘too cool for school’ vibes. the whole exchange left a bad taste in my mouth.”
“the fake cool guy thing can only go so far. no need for a fake personality. just be real, be yaself. even Keith Richards puts down the whiskey and cigs sometimes and watches ‘the last of us’ in his pants with a bowl of nik naks like everyone else.”
The official video for the track was created by the band’s drummer and visual director Thomas Coe-Brooker, who explains of the concept: “in keeping with the song, we thought it’d be fun to make a really cool looking video in the least cool of spaces – a family garage. kinda like when you’re having band practice as a teenager and you’re all really sending it like total bad asses…but ultimately, your mum’s seconds from bursting in to tell you it’s too loud and that your dinner’s ready. that, but with satisfying, nicely framed angles and dreamy in-camera long exposure, 90s style.”
Hell’s Ditch have shared new single, ‘Ghosts’, ahead of their debut EP, ‘Take Cover’, out March 23rd.
Vocalist Nick Davis explains: “Ghosts is about the hanging weight of the past, the present and the future. Capitalism puts a premium on individual success, which leads people to feel like their failing if they don’t achieve certain goals or milestones. It’s all too easy to plant trees, grow them, and then cut them down inside the confines of your own head. I wrote most of the lyrics while watching my cats seemingly stare at nothing on the ceiling”.
paradise fell. – ‘VICES.’
Alternative artist paradise fell has shared their debut offering ‘VICES.’.
“VICES. is a frantic confrontation of the irony; that something which kills us slowly, sets us free in the moment. It makes us feel alive. The bad habits we have are the only things that can save us from the drudgery of daily life. The very things that are killing us, become a cornerstone of our identity. They become familiar. They become part of who we are. A comfort in a chaotic world.” – paradise fell.
Hunch Power – ‘Eye for an Eye’
Hunch Power hits back with their new pacifist anthem, ‘Eye for an Eye’.
“I’d been wanting to write a pacifist song about revenge for ages. I was sure about borrowing Ghandi’s famous words for the title and chorus but I couldn’t find the right music to go with it. One day I remembered an old idea I never demoed and realised the music matched perfectly so I wrote new lyrics and the band loved it” – Singer Harvey Springfield
Happy New Year everyone and welcome to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the news this week that the Royal Mail have commissioned 12 new Special Stamps celebrating the legendary Iron Maiden.
Maiden become only the fifth music group to feature in a dedicated stamp issue following in the footsteps of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Queen and The Rolling Stone – illustrious company indeed.
Iron Maiden founder member and bassist, Steve Harris comments:“We were all absolutely astounded – in a good way! – when we heard first about the commemorative project, and equally pretty much speechless when we saw the stamps for the very first time. They look superb and I think they really capture the essence and energy of Maiden. We’re all very proud that Royal Mail has chosen to honour the band’s legacy like this and we know our fans will feel the same way.”
Iron Maiden manager, Rod Smallwood adds:“As a band who have never played by anyone else’s rules for over 40 years, it’s very gratifying to see them honoured in their home country in this way. We’re proud to show how these six band members are still appealing to more and more fans every year with their music and their legendary shows – which I think these stamps really capture well. It’s also fantastic that Eddie has been honoured too – it’s incredible to think that Her Majesty, may she rest in peace, saw these and lent her iconic silhouette to them too.”
David Gold, Director of External Public Affairs & Policy, Royal Mail, said:“Few bands in the history of rock music can be called bona fide rock legends – but Iron Maiden are just that – and more. With legions of devoted fans of all ages and from every corner of the globe, not only have they changed the way rock music sounds, but they have also changed the way it looks. We fully expect their fans will love these stamps as much as we do.”
Our News Report takes a look now at the best new releases from the past week and up first is ‘Panopticom’, the brand new single from Peter Gabriel.
You can listen to the track above, which comes from upcoming new album, ‘i/o’.
“The first song is based on an idea I have been working on to initiate the creation of an infinitely expandable accessible data globe: The Panopticom,’ says Gabriel. ‘We are beginning to connect a like-minded group of people who might be able to bring this to life, to allow the world to see itself better and understand more of what’s really going on.“
The release of the track on the full moon is no coincidence and in true Gabriel fashion the approach for ‘i/o’ will be a little different from the norm. The lunar phases will guide the release plan in 2023, with a new song revealed each full moon.
“Some of what I’m writing about this time is the idea that we seem incredibly capable of destroying the planet that gave us birth and that unless we find ways to reconnect ourselves to nature and to the natural world we are going to lose a lot. A simple way of thinking about where we fit in to all of this is looking up at the sky… and the moon has always drawn me to it.”
Each new release of music will come with a specific piece of art, “we’ve been looking at the work of many hundreds of artists,” says Gabriel, and ‘Panopticom’ features the work ‘Red Gravity’ byDavid Spriggs.
“It was the theme of surveillance that connected me with the work of David Spriggs because he’d done a piece relating to that. David does this amazing stuff using many layers of transparencies so you get these strange creations with a real intensity to them. Part of what he does is imagine what art might look like a few years in the future and then try and create accordingly and I think he’s done that very successfully in this particular piece.”
Next up, you can check out ‘Sideways Skull’ above, which is the brand new single from The Hold Steady.
The group have returned with news of their ninth studio album, ‘The Price of Progress’, arriving March 31st.
“Sideways Skull is a rocking song about rock and rollers,” says frontman Craig Finn. “In this case, they’ve been taken out of the game for a bit of rest, but still keep their dreams alive as they discuss past glories. We loved the big sound of this when Tad Kubler brought it into the band, and the studio performance of it felt especially joyful. We’re happy to put this forth as a first look at The Price of Progress, and the album’s title even comes from this song.”
There isn’t long now to wait for ‘Gigi’s Recovery’, the new album from The Murder Capital, which arrives January 20th.
There is even less time to wait to hear their track, ‘Return My Head’, which you can listen to above now!
Front man James McGovern explains further on the themes: “Return My Head was written in a place of pure frustration, feeling like our sanity had been unwillingly removed through periods of isolation. All I wanted at this point was to get my head back, and to throw it away again. But on my own terms. ‘Return my head, and throw it to the crowd’”
Bassist Blake had the following to say about the making of the video:
“I wanted to show the rag dolling that can occur to us going from one state of being to another, while always remaining being the same person. The extensions of ourselves that we create to protect ourselves even when we’re alone, and the evident and necessary advice that we receive to continue following and perusing our passions from our friends and family, demonstrated by my own family friends Megan, Nic, Ruairí and Pump.
To me, ‘Return My Head’ is the desire to return your mind to a place of peace and stability, and the belief that to do so, is possible. We shot it in my old secondary school recreational hall. We produced it ourselves. At its best to me, the narrative of the ‘Return My Head’ about coming back to a safety.”
The Lemon Twigs returned this week with their new offering, ‘Corner of My Eye’, which you can listen to above.
On the release, the band say, “We recorded this track winter of 2021 in our old rehearsal studio in Midtown, NYC. Apart from the vibraphone, the instrumental track was recorded live with Andres Valbuena on drums and Daryl Johns on upright bass. We laid down the vocals late that night once the traffic outside had died down. We’ve had the song for a while now, so we’re excited to share it with fans who may have heard it live over the years!”
Finally in our News Report this week we bring the latest from Ryan Hamilton who this week shared his new track, ‘Haunted by the Holy Ghost’.
You can listen to the track above, which will feature on the upcoming album of the same name which is due for release on March 10th.
Of the song, Hamilton says, “I grew up in a VERY conservative Church of Christ. We used to go to church 3 times a week. There are parts of that upbringing that I will never shake. The “fear of God” is ingrained in me, & will seemingly be a part of me forever. Like a ghost, haunting me. This song is about that.”
Somebody’s Child aka Cian Godfrey has shared new single ‘I Need Ya’ – another taster of his debut self-titled album out 3rd February.
Godfrey says, “This was one of the first songs that defined the sound and pace of the album. We’ve been playing it live for a while now and have been dying to get it out. Some of this album can be boiled down back to my chronic fear of growing older. To me this track in particular is a gentle reminder to stay young for as long as you can.”
On the video he adds “Drift culture is a big thing in Ireland and when the director came to me with the idea I immediately thought it was cool as some of my friends are big into it. We didn’t want an emotional video but something fun and energetic, while also shining light on an Irish subculture that goes a little unnoticed. It was a lot of fun.”
Blake Cateris – ‘Days, Weeks, Months & Years’
Australian Sydney-sider, Blake Cateris has shared reflective folk singer-songwriter single, ‘Days, Weeks, Months & Years’.
“This song is about living out of balance with yourself. Watching the world go by feeling like you might be losing touch with far more important things in life than what you’re focusing on right now.
It’s a daily struggle to break old and unhealthy habits that no longer serve you or have been damaging you for some time. But the struggle is what we live for.
I’ve played in many different types of bands – hard rock, rock n’ roll, modern rock, hardcore, straight up punk, pop punk, art rock, the list goes on. But nothing quite feels as honest to myself than the music I’m making right now and this is a big step in the right direction for me to start living a more balanced life“ – Blake Cateris
Ed Barnes – ‘Criticise The Poor’
Fellow Aussie, mid-wave singer-songwriter Ed Barnes also joins the playlist this week with his single, ‘Criticise The Poor’.
The track comes from his Frank Turner mastered new album.
“It was a blast working on Ed’s new record, it’s fantastic, and this is a standout song – hitting the mark while raising a smile, and catchy as hell to boot.” – Frank Turner
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with a handful of festival announcements and they didn’t come bigger than the initial line-up reveal for the 2023 edition of the legendary Isle of Wight Festival!
Always eclectic, this year’s bill is full of diverse options for attendees to check out including headliners Pulp, George Ezra, The Chemical Brothers and Robbie Williams.
Also on the bill are Courteeners, Blondie, James Bay, The Human League, Manic Street Preachers, The Enemy and more.
Following a multi-year hiatus, Takedown Festival will return in 2023, and this week organisers revealed the stunning first batch of bands that will be taking over Portsmouth Guildhall in April.
Headlining the event will be Sleep Token and Skindred. They will be joined by the likes of Loathe, Jamie Lenman, InMe, Palm Reader, Our Hollow Our Home, As December Falls, Fearless Vampire Killers, The Bottom Line and more!
Supergrass frontman Gaz Coombes will be releasing his latest solo album, ‘Turn The Car Around’ on January 13th. Ahead of that release, Coombes has this week revealed a full UK/Ireland Tour set for April.
We move our News Report on now finally to the best new releases from the past week and we start with Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes!
This week saw the band share new single, ‘Parasite’, which you can listen to above.
Of the song they share: “This song was written between 12am and 3am during a particularly brutal trip to the seaside, it rained for a week straight and I had spent all my time listening to friends and their relationship problems but I had no words, no solutions to find. After all that a new parasite had been discovered.”
The band also detailed a 3 date residency at the Underworld in Camden this December.
At the end of their special Roundhouse show on Friday, Creeper announced the debut of their new single, ‘Ghost Brigade’, which you can listen to above now!
Black Star Riders this week released unique new single, ‘Crazy Horses’, which is a reinterpretation of The Osmonds classic. Listen to the track above!
The Track comes from upcoming new album, ‘Wrong Side Of Paradise’, which is out January 20th.
Front-man Ricky Warwick comments: “I remember watching The Osmonds performing this song on television in the early seventies as a young kid. I fell in love with it then and was patiently waiting for the opportunity to cover it. Thankfully my brothers in BSR shared the same adoration for the tune. So… The time is now and here it is!”
AWOLNATION returned this week with brand new single, ‘We Are All Insane’, which you can listen to above.
Frontman Aaron Bruno on the inspiration behind ‘We Are All Insane’, “I wrote the song during a time when the days of the week felt especially monotonous and I was searching for ways to stay creative and productive. I think that’s a feeling most people have experienced at some point in their lives, especially over the past few years.”
This week saw IDLES announce the upcoming release of ‘Five Years of Brutalism’, a newly released vinyl celebrating five years since the release of their seminal debut album.
Speaking about the album, singer Joe Talbot writes; “What started as a headstone slab of indulgence and unrest became a long journey of beauty, forgiveness, and gratitude. Little did we know that it was not just a headstone but the foundations we were building, for a house full to the brim with loving human beings. Thank you so so much”
You can check out a taster of the release with ‘1049 GOTHO’ live from Glastonbury which you can listen to above.
Just Mustard this week shared the new video for their track, ‘Blue Chalk’, which you can watch above.
The video was made with the group’s friend Seán McMahon and was directed by vocalist, Katie Ball. “The song Blue Chalk defines the heaviness that the whole of ‘Heart Under’ exists beneath. The kind that comes with grief and you feel like you are trying to navigate life with the weight of the sea on your chest keeping you down. I wanted to make this video since we started writing ‘Heart Under’ and to me it visually represents a lot of the emotion in the album. It was filmed in 4hrs in freezing cold water with the help of our friend Seán McMahon.” says Ball.
DEADLETTER share new single, ‘Madge’s Declaration’, taken from debut EP, ‘Heat!’, which is out November 18th.
Frontman Zac Lawrence said the following on the track: “We wanted to make something that had elements of humour and danceability, trying to explore a genuinely terrifying idea in a manner which mirrors our cultural fascination with it. Our tendency to work around the drumbeat and bassline is highly evident here, with the song climaxing in a cacophony of primal ecstasy.”
Hell’s Ditch – ‘Take The Night Off’
British punk rock group Hell’s Ditch are back with their brand-new single ‘Take The Night Off’.
“We’re made to feel lucky that we have a job and that we should be grateful for the opportunity to fight over scraps from the tables of the political class.People deserve more than just the bare minimum – we deserve dignity and good quality of life. Take The Night Off is about the need to live a life beyond the daily grind. Bread and roses, if you will”. – Vocalist Nick Davis
Xondra – ‘Tedious’
New York-based singer and songwriter Xondra unveils ‘Tedious’, the final single from her much anticipated EP, ‘Tedious & Brief’.
“It is a song for the people that love so much and so hard that they sometimes forget to save some for themselves; it is for those learning to step out of survival mode and really live in the present,” says Xondra. “’Tedious’ is me putting myself first. It is me allowing myself to to walk through the hard feelings I was having and still be hopeful that good times were coming down the road for me.”
Iron Maiden announce new Triple Vinyl to commemorate 40th Anniversary of ‘The Number of the Beast’
The legendary Iron Maiden have announced the release of a commemorative triple black vinyl album in honour of the 40th Anniversary of seminal third album, ‘The Number Of The Beast’, which was also the first to feature Bruce Dickinson on vocals and was to become the record which catapulted the band to international stardom.
Included in the new vinyl package is ‘Beast Over Hammersmith’ – available now officially for the very first time on vinyl – featuring the live concert from March 1982’s now legendary Hammersmith Odeon London show from the ‘Beast On The Road’ World Tour.
Recorded only days before the release of ‘The Number Of The Beast’ album, it’s remarkable to think these now classic songs at that time were still brand new, unfamiliar and being heard live by fans for the very first time. A real piece of history in the making.
Steve Harris comments, “On this vinyl release we get the chance to put ‘Total Eclipse’ in its rightful spot on the album for the first time. The reason it didn’t make it in the first place was that it was all a mad rush when we were finishing the record and we had to get the ‘Run To The Hills’ single out before the tour and we basically had to pick a B-side and it was between ‘Gangland’ and ‘Total Eclipse’ and we just picked the wrong one, really! I think ‘Total Eclipse’ is a stronger song and the album would have been stronger if it had been on there.”
With new album, ‘The Calton Songs’, out soon on October 14th, Gun have shared the new reinvigorated version of firm fan favourite ‘Inside Out’, which you can listen to above.
As Jools Gizzi says: “When the pandemic hit we realised that it was the perfect time to try and counteract the bleakness that was all around. It felt like we couldn’t write anything, or of course tour. Out of that darkness came a desire to completely rework these songs that we know the fans love, and bring a different, stripped down vibe”.
Dante Gizzi added: “It’s ironic that those feelings of negativity led to something so positive, a celebration of our career up to now”.
VUKOVI will be releasing their new album, ‘NULA’, on October 7th. This week saw the band share the latest single, ‘QUENCH’, which you can listen to above.
Willie J Healey has announced that his new album, ‘Bunny’, will be out March 24th. Healey, who support Florance + The Machine on tour this November, also debuted new track, ‘Dreams’ which you can listen to above.
Willie says, “‘Dreams’ is a song I wrote when thinking about the cost of an ambition. The idea behind the video is, what would life be like if you had to carry all of the money you made on your back, and that if you did have to carry it you probably wouldn’t want as much.’”
Asylums have this week debuted their new single, ‘Instant Coffee’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from upcoming album, ‘Signs of Life’, which is out on October 28th.
Producer Dave Eringa says of “Instant Coffee”:“It’s like all of Luke’s songwriting to date has been leading up to Instant Coffee, a beautifully melancholic perfect pop song with real depth! Late 90’s Albarn meets the great bits of American indie at a classical concert & they all get together for a party!”
Incredibly talented youngster Nandi Bushell took the next step in her musical evolution this week but debuted her first single, ‘The Shadows’, which you can listen to above.
“Early in 2022 my Dad fell into a depression as his autoimmune disease worsened. It was a difficult time for our family. I wanted to help cheer my Dad up by writing a song for him. He would describe his feelings to me and I would put them into lyrics letting him know, I would be there for him.
My Dad is now doing much better, he is on medication that is helping with his autoimmune disease and has recovered from his depression.
If you are suffering from mental health issues, please reach out for help. If you know of any good charities, groups or organisation in your area please share them in the comments for others.
Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell this week debuted his new musical project, Jealous Nostril. The trio also includes Mystery Jets Jack Flanagan and drummer ELLiS D.
You can watch the video for their debut single, ‘Phase 6’, above.
The group also announced their first live dates in St. Albans and London, with tickets available here.
After a successful debut event this year, Firestorm Festival will return to Manchester in August 2023 for a second edition.
The first waves of acts include Kris Barras Band, When Rivers Meet, Hollowstar, Jack J Hutchinson and former ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast guests Scruffy Bear.
Desertfest returns to London in May and this week revealed the first acts for the festival including Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Graveyard, Kadavar and more.
We bring our News Report towards a close now with the best tour announcements from the past week and start with Tom Grennan.
Grennan revealed an Arena Tour set for March next year which concludes at the O2 Arena in London.
The news follows new single, ‘All These Nights’ and comes ahead of new album ‘What Ifs and Maybes’.
Speaking about the new album, Tom said: “I’ve called my new album What Ifs & Maybes. It’s about going with your gut, not your head, because you never know what’s going to happen. I’m not afraid to jump into the unknown – because it’s exciting! It’s about rolling the dice and living your best life with nothing to lose. I’m in a new creative space, and I know I’m finally the artist I want to be. I’m so buzzing for these shows, my biggest gigs to date. I can’t wait to get out and play these new songs to everyone. Let’s go!”
The tour announcements keep coming in our News Report this week, and next up is Elles Bailey. Bailey will be playing a lengthy run of dates early next year including a date at Lafayette in London.
Von Hertzen Brothers are in the UK for Planet Rock Winter’s End Festival in February. Fans will now have additional chances to catch the band with headline shows now added in Manchester and London.
Our final tour announcement in our News Report this week comes from Sleep Token and it’s a massive tour for the band as they step into venues such as Brixton Academy.
TikTok star and queen of angsty pop/rock, Charlotte Sands, has released her hard-hitting, fan favourite single ‘Tantrum’.
On the track, she said, “‘Tantrum’ is so special to me because since the first time I played it live, people immediately latched onto it and have been fighting for its release ever since. This song not only represents experiences of anxiety, panic, and rebellion throughout my life and career but also the journey and relationship between me and the people who have made my career possible. I’ve been playing it live for over a year now and I’m thankful for the people who have pushed me out of my comfort zone to release a song that without them would still be sitting in a folder somewhere on my phone. I am overwhelmed with excitement for this song to finally be out in the world, it’s been a year in the making (almost to the exact day) and I can’t wait to finally be able to throw a tantrum together.”
As Sirens Fall – ‘heaven (spat us back out)’
As Sirens Fall share their new single, ‘heaven (spat us back out)’.
‘i started writing heaven (spat us back out) just as our last ep ‘l’appel du vide (part 1)’ was releasing. that ep was a project about grief, and ‘heaven’ very much comes from that same place. it’s about giving up on the hopeful delusions that often come packaged with grief. it’s about realising you’re coming of age in a dark world and choosing to face it all and grow up anyway – choosing to live.’ Mikey Lord, Vocals
Arliston – ‘Hold My Wine’
Arliston return with the stirring and spirited new single, ‘Hold My Wine’, taken from forthcoming EP ‘Even In The Shade’.
Vocalist Jack Ratcliffe says, “We’ve been wanting to make something a bit more playful for a while, so when we first hit on that chorus idea and made a silly middle-class pun on ‘hold my beer’, everything just fell into place around it. This one was a lot of fun to make.”
Jack adds,“The song is about that occasional moment of recognition when you look up from the narrow corridor of your own thoughts and are seized by the idea that everyone else has progressed and developed, while you are stuck in an unchanged rut. The protagonist attempts to do something about it in the chorus — but inevitably, he gets it wrong.”
Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes to headline Marshall Hootie
Welcome everyone to a special Easter edition of our weekly music News Report. We hope that you’re having a cracking weekend, and we have a cracking line-up for you as we begin with the latest festival announcements.
Marshall will be hosting a special celebration of their 60th anniversary this May. Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes will be headlining the Marshall Hootie in Viaduct Meadow, Hanwell.
They will be joined by Hot Milk, Crashface and Lyoness! Tickets are available here.
This week saw Bloodstock Festival revealed their updated line-up following a number of inevitable changes as live music continues to get back on its feet.
The line-up features the likes of Behemoth, Mercyful Fate, Lamb of God, Killing Joke, Bury Tomorrow, Jinjer, Butcher Babies, Sleep Token and Ferocious Dog.
We move quickly on to the best new tour announcements from the past week as our News Report continues. We start with some very special intimate shows from Bloc Party.
The album release shows take place this June in Brighton, Bristol and Norwich, and you can find more info here.
Fusion metal pioneers Dub War this week debuted their new single, ‘War Inna Babylon’ and you can listen above. The track features guest vocals from Roger Ranking of The Beat.
This song comes ahead of their new album, ‘Westgate Under Fire’ which arrives August 5th.
Speaking on the track and collaborating with Ranking Roger, Webbe says, “The original song by Max Romeo was in my family record collection as far back as I can remember. When meeting Ranking Roger, we discussed how punk rock and dub reggae had a massive influence on our lives. This song for us both was a massive hit, and we spoke about doing a collaboration and reviving the original with that Clash/The Ruts British punk rock energy to it.
Sadly, not long after we got to record the song with Roger, he passed away. But this song is one that we are very proud of, and we didn’t just do a cover – we really made this unique cover of “War Inna Babylon” our own.”
As always we close out our News Report with the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist on Spotify. This week we have doubled up on the additions to celebrate Easter with the best new music!
‘MIRRORS’ – JUST MUSTARD
Dundalk five-piece Just Mustard share new single, ‘Mirrors’ taken from upcoming album, ‘Heart Under’.
Guitarist and “Mirrors” co-vocalist David Noonan says of the single: “”Mirrors”” was one of the final songs to be written for Heart Under, the lyrics and music arrived together in what felt like one moment and we wanted to keep the feeling of one thought or moment constant throughout the song”.
‘INSTRUCTION MANUAL’ – ALL BETTER
Brighton’s alt-punk trio All Better join the playlist with their single ‘Instruction Manual’. The song features on upcoming debut album, ‘How To Be Alone’ which arrives May 6th.
‘RESTITUTION’ – MODES
Kent metallers MODES feature with their new single, ‘Restitution’.
MODES frontman Ted Berry reveals that the new single“is a song that stems from difficult times that we have seen our closest friends and loved ones go through. Needing to give them support and a shoulder to lean on, while feeling that we can’t explain how or why we know what it’s like to be there because in that moment it’s not about us ,it’s about helping them”
‘BLESSED BE THY’ – WITCH FEVER
Witch Fever return with new single, ‘Blessed Be Thy’.
Bassist Alex Thompson says of the track, “it just goes heavy”, as it boasts a crunchy wall of noise akin to bands like Show Me The Body and Gilla Band
Alex adds, “it was literally the last song we wrote before we went into the studio but came together really quickly. I think it still has an essence of some of our older material, so it’s a good way to bridge the gap.”
‘I KNOW WHEN YOU LEAVE’ – GUISE
Ahead of the release of their debut album ‘Youngest Daughter’, ‘I Know When You leave’ is the latest offering from London-based GUISE is a dazzling, vocal harmony led track that sees the foursome joined by singer-songwriter Emily Barker.
Discussing the story behind the heartfelt new track Jessicaexplains “I wrote the words to ‘I Know When You Leave’ on a bus in Italy, and the tune came to me later back in London, Separation from the person I love is a pretty normal part of my life, but that doesn’t make it easy all the time; things are generally just a bit worse when we’re apart, and that’s what this is about.”
‘BLACKMOSS’ – SCRUFFY BEAR
Playlist and Podcast alumni Scruffy Bear return with new single, ‘Blackmoss’.
“The world is a proper heavy place. I hate that everything is spun so negatively and we are trained to look for the worst in people and situations. Blackmoss is trying to work through the mud of confusion that everything is in and not getting too bogged down with it, but also learning to be open to other people’s experiences” – Lead singer Georgy Eaton
Welcome to another edition of our weekly music News Report. We are starting off this week with the latest festival news including a brand new event set for May!
Neck of the Woods will take place in Norwich this Spring and will feature a headline performance from The Kooks. The headline act announced details this week of their latest studio album. ’10 Tracks To Echo In The Dark’ will arrive July 22nd, and you can pre-order your copy here.
The Kooks will be joined in Norwich by the likes of DMA’s, Sea Girls, Lottery Winners, Yonaka, NOISY and The Goa Express.
One piece of tour news this week in our News Report and it comes from American rockers Godsmack. The band will make their way across to the UK and Europe next October for a rare run of dates over here.
Glasgow, Manchester, London and Birmingham will welcome the band as part of the tour. Find your tickets here.
Our News Report moves on now to the latest music releases from the past week. We stay America for our first artist, as Shinedown reveal the release details for their latest album, ‘Planet Zero’.
The album will arrive April 22nd, and you can listen to the title track above.
There isn’t long now until Stereophonics release their latest album, ‘Oochya!’. Whilst the album arrives on March 4th, this week the band previewed another track entitled ‘Forever’.
You can listen to that track above, and you can pre-order the album here.
Feeder also had new music to debut this week with the single ‘The Healing’ arriving ahead of new album ‘Torpedo’. Listen to the track above before the album arrives on March 18th.
We roundup the best music news from the past week!
Every week we roundup the best music news from the past week in our News Report. To stay up to date with the biggest news be sure to follow us on our social channels:
Welcome to another edition of the Full Pelt Music weekly News Report. We start this week with a clutch of festival news including the latest line-up announcement from the monster Download Festival for 2022.
New additions to the line-up include A Day To Remember, Volbeat, Shinedown, Black Veil Brides, Myles Kennedy, Creeper and Normandie.
They join the already announced line-up including headliners Kiss, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro! Plus Korn, The Pretty Reckless, Rise Against, Theory, Wayward Sons, Monster Truck, Those Damn Crows and Wargasm all playing the main stage.
The second stage will feature The Distillers, Airbourne, Lacuna Coil, Bush, The Darkness, Skillet, Tremonti, Massive Wagons and The Last Internationale amongst others.
The third stage is set to host the likes of Sleep Token, Funeral For A Friend, Holding Absence, Salem, Boston Manor, Trash Boat, Jamie Lenman and Static Dress. Whilst the fourth stage includes Blues Pills, British Lion, Higher Power and many more.
Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering 2022 line-up revealed
Another festival revealing their 2022 line-up this week was Bearded Theory’s Spring Gathering which takes place 26-29 May at Catton Hall, Derbyshire.
The event will be headlined by Placebo, The Flaming Lips and Patti Smith. Also playing will be The Mission, Shame, Wilko Johnson, Ferocious Dog, Lauran Hibberd, Nova Twins, The Ninth Wave, October Drift and many more.
Our final piece of festival news comes from Bury St. Edmunds charity festival Just Push Play. The event has just announced that 2022 headliners will be Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons!
Joining them on July 30th next year will be Empyre, These Wicked Rivers and Samarkind will more to come.
Alkaline Trio & Taking Back Sunday set for UK Tour in 2022
Tour news now as our News Report progresses. First up we have news from across the pond as Alkaline Trio and Taking Back Sunday reveal a short run of UK shows for next March.
The two bands will play Newcastle, Glasgow, Manchester and Birmingham before finishing the run at Brixton Academy.
Also touring in 2022 is The Feeling who are hitting the road later in the year in October. The tour will support their upcoming new album ‘Loss Hope Love’ that will arrive May 6th.
For tickets and pre-order information head over here.
Twin Atlantic this week revealed the next phase for the band with a line-up change, new album, new single and special tour announcement. The band will hit the road in May 2022 to celebrate the Anniversary of ‘Free’.
The band also debuted new single, ‘One Man Party’, which you can check out below. The track will feature on new album ‘Transparency’ which arrives January 4th.
Our final tour announcement comes from Sleep Token, who will be hitting the road in November for the ‘This Place Will Become Your Tomb’ tour. Support comes from A.A. Williams.
The latest new releases now for our News Report. Up first, the news that Biffy Clyro will be releasing a brand new album on October 22nd. In announcing ‘The Myth of the Happily Ever After’, the band also debuted new track ‘Unknown Male 01’, which you can check out above.
There isn’t long now until Don Broco release their latest album, ‘Amazing Things’ on September 17th. This week saw the band debut the latest track, ‘Uber’, which you can hear above.
Fresh from the main stage at Reading & Leeds Festivals, Hot Milk this week debuted their latest track, ‘Split Personality’, which you can listen to above. This comes ahead of their September 10th EP ‘I JUST WANNA KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I’M DEAD’.
Rockers Wayward Sons this week debuted their latest single, ‘Bloody Typical’, which you can hear above. This track is the latest to be taken from their upcoming album, ‘Even Up The Score’ which is out October 22nd.
Finally from our News Report this week, news from the reformed Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun. The group debuted their brand new track, ‘Medicine’ this week which you can check out above.
