Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the third issue now for free!
Volume three includes an update from cover star Chris Shiflett, and a review of ‘Race the Night’ from Ash.
We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Don Broco, Lonely The Brave, Dream Wife, TesseracT, DragonForce, Staind, Duff McKagan, Skinny Lister, All Time Low, While She Sleeps, K.Flay, The Meffs, END and Mother Mother!
Plus new live announcements from British Lion, Fozzy, KITE THIEF, VV, The Amazons, The Coral, Twin Atlantic and Lonely The Brave.
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our âDiscoverâ New Music Playlist with Major Moment, Tropic Gold and Future Static!
Recent ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist additions BIG SPECIAL have announced their debut London headline show at the Dublin Castle in Camden on August 9th!
We move our News Report on now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Duff McKagan!
McKagan this week shared his latest single, ‘I Saw God on 10th Street’, which you can checkout above!
The song features on upcoming new album, ‘Lighthouse’, which is out on October 20th.
âI picture him as an old guy with white beard and hair, leaning up against a wall on a city street,â says Duff McKagan. âThe ultimate jurist of us all. Pissed off, squinting eyes to ward off what he sees, spitting frequently with no care for who may be around. The Creator. God. Allah, Shiva…or whomever. I think I see him sometimes over on 10th St., hands in tight fists, and toes curled up and tense.â
We are starting this section of our News Report with a run of iconic figures and next up is K.K. Downing and his group KK’s Priest.
The band have this week shared their latest single, ‘Reap the Whirlwind’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on upcoming sophomore offering, ‘The Sinner Rides Again’, which is out on September 29th.
K.K. Downing says about ‘Reap The Whirlwind’:
â’If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwindâ – this is a common phrase that has been familiar with me from a very young age. Obviously itâs very meaningful – itâs a warning that if you mistreat people, or really whatever you do in life, you need to be very careful, because whatever sufferance you inflict on anyone, it could come back to haunt you, and your suffering could be even more severe. Everyone knowingly or unknowingly has made the mistake of thinking they can get away with small misdemeanors to suit their selfish pursuits, but if justice is to be served, you will reap exactly what you sow. That is the message of this song.”
Revered Public Image Ltd bassist Jah Wobble makes his long awaited return to the post-punk sound he helped create with his new album, ‘A Brief History Of Now’ out on August 11th.
This week saw Wobble share new single, ‘Last Exit’, which you can check out above.
âItâs all about the dopamine rush. Assault on the senses. Bang! Bang! Bang! Rush after rush after rush. But never satisfied. No satisfaction. Never any conclusion. Always moving. Appearances arising. Ephemeral. Lacking substance. But often so beautiful and exciting. Glorious esoterica.â
Yonaka released their new EP, ‘Welcome To My House’, this week and shared new single, ‘By The Time You’re Reading This’, which you can check out above.
This week saw Laurence Jones share his brand new single, ‘You’re Not Alone’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from new album, ‘Bad Luck & The Blues’ which is set for release on August 25th.
Jones comments: âThis song is about the everyday struggles in life, about feeling down but always knowing youâre not the only one going through something difficult;â says Jones. âI had this image when writing the song, that we are all in this together, and no matter who you are, or where youâre from⊠Everyone feels low from time to time.â
âI grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, where the guitar riffs are iconic and a huge part of the song. Iâd like to think Iâve put a slightly modern touch on this, while staying authentic. Itâs one of my favourite tracks on the album, and it was one of the first songs I wrote, which helped shape the entire record. Thereâs nothing I love more than a big riffs and wild guitar solos!â
Empire State Bastard share new single ‘The Looming’
Empire State Bastard – ‘The Looming’
Simon Neil and Mike Vennart continue to build towards the release of the debut Empire State Bastard album, ‘Rivers of Heresy’, which is out on September 1st.
This week saw the new group share their latest single, ‘The Looming’, which you can check out above.
Next up in our News Report are Conquer Divide who are gearing up to release their new album, ‘Slow Burn’, on September 8th.
This week the band have debuted their latest single, ‘New Heaven’, which you can check out above.
“N E W H E A V E N was born out of the idea that you’ll never be satisfied with what you have if you don’t define your expectations,” the band offers. “We got together in Atlanta with Johnny Andrews for this one, and he’s a musical mad scientist. We played with religious metaphors, although the song is not about religion. You throw your whole life into something, and then you finally reach the pinnacle and get to pull the proverbial curtain back, but it’s not what you expected at all. So now you need a new high to chase. We did crowd-sourced gang vocals on this one, and it was fun to make that come together.”
As for the accompanying video, the band shares, “This video was sort of a continuation from last music video where in the opening scene you see the Grim Reaper take his hood off to reveal he is now the priest overseeing the funeral. Kia figuratively ‘went to heaven’ and came back after realizing heaven wasn’t what it was cracked up to be.”
Finally in this section of our News Report we have ‘Cruel State of Mind’, the latest single from recent The Full Pelt Music Podcast guests Black Water County!
You can of course listen to the track above which comes from upcoming new album, ‘The Only Life Worth Living’.
On the track, the band explain, âCruel State Of Mind is our own familiar love song for the ages, full to the brim of agonised imagery â âlike the deaf leading the blindâ and âfull circle, like Sisyphusâ stoneâ â and we wanted to hammer home the feeling of thoughts going round and round your head with no respite. The song hits its climax with a passionate U-turn â âSomethingâs got to giveâ and ââIâll leave it all behind unless it leads me back to youâ â ultimately ending up where we started in the hope of loveâs return, but can we ever escape our own vicious cycles?”
âDespite the recent dystopian environment the human race has had to endure with the undoing of habits and the re-writing of thought patterns, there are some things that will never NOT be tangled up in the human experience. This exasperated love song serves us all: past, present and future.â
Tropic Gold have announced their signing to UNFD with a huge new single, âAdrenalineâ.
âAdrenaline unravels the uncontrollable feeling of not being able to get through a day without an unreasonably positive event occurring,â share the band. âIt vocalises how having a day without an extreme positive lift can result in intense lows, similar to withdrawal symptoms. The lyrics are written from a âtalking to myselfâ perspective, with vocals representing an inner monologue highlighted throughout the song.â
Naked Lungs – ‘River (Down)’
Irish four-piece noise-punk band Naked Lungs share their new single, ‘River (Down)’.
Speaking about the track, the band say: âRiver (Down) is us crafting this auditory assault of distortion and drums against a despondent scream into the proverbial nothingness as you spiral deeper and deeper down into a well of self-pity. Thereâs a definite angst the song that is offset against these abrupt moments of reprieve – building of massive tension only to grant no release, leaving the listener on edge for the whole runtime. This was one of the earliest songs we wrote on âDoomscrollâ and it highlights some of the elements and styles we discovered and adopted during the formation of what would eventually become Naked Lungs.â
Gold Fever – ‘Leather (Wish I Felt The Same)’
Gold Fever craft a dance-along summer anthem with their catchy new single, âLeather (Wish I Felt The Same)â.
Oscar JD Sault (frontman & songwriter) â ââLeatherâ is about transition and how that was applicable to many aspects of my life at the time of writing. I felt stagnant while things around me changed. My perspective on my home city of Bristol became suffocatingly melancholic. Ultimately, I realised it was me who was losing myself. That kind of nostalgia is intoxicating, itâs surreal and numbing and almost feels sentient. âLeatherâ is a song about forgetting who you are.â
Ash and The Subways will combine forces for a special co-headline tour lat this year!
Also in a big news week for Ash, the group have announced that they will release a new album, ‘Race the Night’, on September 15th.
The band accompanied the announcement with the release of the title-track as lead single, and you can listen to the song below.
Ash – ‘Race The Night’
Wheeler comments: âRace the Night is the sound of the band reveling in the sheer joy of being a band after being separated by time and distance through the insanity of the early 2020s. Lyrically it’s all about seizing the crossroads moments in life with both hands. Take every chance as if it could be your last.â
Continuing about the video he says: âRace the Night video is the product from the fevered mind of long time friend and horror director Jed Shepherd. He’s taken a song about seizing the moment and had the band seized by a super fan who proceeds to force the band into doing her bidding. Enjoy the MiseryâŠâ
Continuing the fantastic live announcements this week in our News Report is a new run of UK and EU dates from The Struts.
Regarding the tour frontman Luke Spiller says, “Finally we are returning to the UK and Europe! We can’t wait to play you some new material and a new show we’ve been putting together for the last year. Get your tickets as fast as you can! Love you all! X”
As December Falls revealed a spectacular new tour this week which will see then head out later this year with support from both Dream State and Lizzy Farrall.
The tour is in support of new album, ‘Join the Club’, which is out July 21st.
We move our News Report on now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Kasabian.
The band have shared new single, ‘Algorithms’, which you can check out above.
On the track, frontman Serge Pizzorno says:
“Some tunes take months to write and some take 10 minutes. Itâs as if theyâve already been written and all youâre doing is dictating your subconscious. Thatâs how Algorithms came together. Iâve been thinking how important gigs are and how they make us all so happy through the good times and the bad and especially festivals, those moments when people get on shoulders and itâs glorious chaos. Thatâs what Algorithms is to me, weâre not here for a long time just here for a good time. Thatâs what separates us from the robots. We live in the moment and if weâre lucky enough to feel that, then we are in ecstasy. What makes us special is that we canât live forever, we have our time and then we are gone. Itâs why real flowers are beautiful and plastic ones, are just plastic. Hope you enjoy the tune see you in the mosh pit”
The legendary Alice Cooper returned this week with news of a brand new album coming later this year.
Cooper confirmed that ‘Road’ will be released on August 25th, and accompanied that announcement with new single, ‘I’m Alice’, which you can check out above!
âFor ‘Road’, I wanted the band to be involved in the foundation of all the songs,â says Alice. âI only see these guys when weâre on the road. So, I wanted them to be as tight as they are for the show but on all new material. When you have a band this good, I believe in showing it off, and this is my way of doing so.â
Coinciding with their massive Arctic Monkeys Stadium tour slot, The Hives have debuted new single, ‘Countdown to Shutdown’, which you can check out above.
The track features on upcoming new album, ‘The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons’, which will arrive on August 11th.
Duff McKagan this week announced the release of new album, ‘Lighthouse’, on October 20th.
McKagan also shared the title-track from the album, which you can check out above.
“The crashingâŠ.the cresting waves, the falling through of all that surrounds you. Life sometimes tosses us around, and we feel the want of comfort and the pull of home.  A ship tossed like a toy through the Cape, sails ripped and the wood groaning with the scraping of its ballastâŠ.a soul trying with all its might to find peace and a center.  Find a lighthouse. I have my lighthouseâŠ.its beacon swirling in the darkness with her warmth and promise of nurture, love, laughter, and all that is true.  Wonât you be my lighthouse, give me light,âŠand bring me home.” – Duff
Black Water County debut ‘The Only Life Worth Living’
Black Water County – ‘The Only Life Worth Living’
Next up in our News Report are Black Water County who this week debuted new single, ‘The Only life Worth Living’, which you can check out above.
The track begins a string of singles leading to the release of a new album of the same name later this year.
âThe Only Life Worth Living is about keeping an open mind, opening doors and moving forward,â explain the band, âThe song summarises our feelings coming out of a hard couple of years for both the band and the industry as a whole. To us, it means full âballs-to-the-wallâ energy because life is too short.
âAs times have become tougher our writing has reflected some of these struggles and weâve found ourselves focusing on what really matters to us. This track was initially conceptualized pre-covid but was refined over many video calls during lockdown, forcing us to think outside our normal writing process. Because of this, we think that it has grown into a track that longs to be shouted from the rooftops and, now that weâre back out on the road, weâre so thrilled to be performing again to our audience, knowing that theyâre stoked to be back out in the wild too.â
Dream Nails have announced details of their new album, ‘Doom Loop’, which will be released on October 13th via Marshall Records.
You can listen to the lead single, ‘Good Guy’, above.
âDoom Loop is an exploration of the repeated cycles we find ourselves in,â comments vocalist Ishmael Kirby, âfrom political injustice and patriarchal systems to the negative spirals of our minds. A doom loop is a crisis that starts to feed on itself. It feels like there is no escape. But there is. This album is a reflection of ourselves, the world we live in, and the one we want to create.â Â âSpecifically, Doom Loop delves into masculinity in its many formsâ expands drummer Lucy Katz. âThe good guy, the lads at school, the narcissistic politician, the incel, the sexual predator, the police officer. It looks into gender-based oppression from childhood; how isolation can breed violence against women and the rhetoric that spawns incels.â Â Elaborating on the themes, guitarist Anya Pearson adds: âOn the album we also celebrate masculinity by telling stories about butch and trans masculine identities. We show the shared responsibility we have in fighting misogyny. Empathy is hard to find in a divided world, but we seek it out, advocate for it, and ask how far it goes.â Â The title of the riotous new single highlights the phrase as a fake ID used to lull people into a false sense of security. âItâs as if we couldnât possibly believe there could be danger if someone describes themselves as the good guy.â says Ishmael. âIt reinforces that gender-based violence and attacks are one-off occurrences, denying our lived experiences as women and non-binary people.â Â Bassist Mimi Jasson recounts: âIncel terrorist Elliot Rodger killed six people in a stabbing and shooting spree in California in 2014. The final section of his manifesto, where the 22-year-old complained about not being able to get a girlfriend, Rodger declared âI am the true victim in all of this. I am the good guyââ
Heavy Lungs this week shared new single, ‘All Gas No Brakes’, which you can check out above.
The song is the title-track for their newly announced upcoming album which arrives 29th September.
Of the news, the band say: âWell, well, well⊠they said it couldnât be done, but look what just kicked you in the ass. Our debut album is coming out. Itâs a dancer and itâs a prancer, and hopefully itâs a life enhancer. We recorded it way back in 2021 with head wizard, Wiz, and his jester Stan for some extra magic and spice, and itâs been a long old wait, but only another 3 months and itâs yours!â
Commenting on the song, front man and vocalist Danny Nedelko says: âThis high-octane, dance floor firecracker is all about giving it absolute beans. Itâs about knowing you are the big cheese. Youâre the main course.â  The official video was directed by good friends Holding Hands With Horses. âItâs a â70s B-movie, Paul Thomas Anderson-inspired depiction of a roller disco gone full Twin Peaks,â say the band of the visuals. âYou are seriously in for a wild ride. 69% on Rotten Potatoes. The rewatchability of this one is off the scale. Letâs goooooo.â
Finally for this section of our News Report we have the latest single from Conquer Divide. You can check out ‘the INVISIBLE‘ above.
The song is taken from upcoming new album, ‘Slow Burn’, which is out September 8th.
“the INVISIBLE.” has many lived-in, emotional layers that paint a picture that takes you right back to your youth, especially if you are part of an alt scene and made to feel like an outcast,” the band explains, offering insight into the song.
“It confronts the dynamic between your true self and your desire to be accepted by the ‘cool kids.’Â One day, you realize that you don’t need to seek validation from those in a sad state of affairs. They project their insecurities onto others because they lack emotional maturity and self-esteem.”
BIG SPECIAL share their latest single ‘THIS HERE AIN’T WATER’.
The band says “Itâs basically an inward sermon, when youâre stuck in your head egging yourself on about how rough times feel. Itâs about media and politics. Itâs about self-medication. Itâs about a lack of options. Itâs about the thinning of the common understanding between the social classes of England, and feeling stuck, watching it all happen.”
Keep This Up – ‘Lost’
Keep This Up share ‘Lost’ prior to new EP ‘Paper Houses’.
The band says “Lost is a song about the pain you face in a toxic relationship â be it a friend, family or relationship. Itâs hard to understand why we care when we shouldnât sometimes and lyrically this explores those feelings whilst ripping through some post-hardcore riffs, nice harmonic melodies and a very fast breakdown.”
Raisin Awareness – ‘Never Ending Story’
UK pop punk trio Raisin Awareness unveil their debut single, ‘Never Ending Story’.
In the words of Jo D, the band’s lead vocalist, and guitarist, “When you actually sit down and think about how fucked the world is and that youâre part of that mess, it can feel overwhelming. Some of us have gotten very good at justifying our actions due to their convenience, or some of us simply stick our heads in the sand.â
âLyrically, Never Ending Story comes from my own battle with feeling helpless about the state of the world and not wanting to give up hope that if we come together in solidarity, we will prevail
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
This week we begin with a handful of new tour announcements and up first are Therapy?, who are currently celebrating the release of their highest charting album since 1998.
The group will tour ‘Hard Cold Fire’ later this year as they head out on the road once again.
This week was greeted by the fantastic news that the Music Venue Trust and National Lottery will be continuing their partnership with the ‘United by Music’ Tour!
One of the acts heading out on the road where Lottery players can take a friend for free are October Drift.
Ricky Warwick & The Fighting Hearts unveil new live dates
The last tour announcement in our News Report this week comes from Ricky Warwick & The Fighting Hearts, who have unveiled a handful of July live dates.
Warwick says: âAfter the fantastic shows we played last year, Iâm thrilled to get back out with my band The Fighting Hearts once again. Iâm looking forward to playing songs from all aspects of my musical journey!!”.
Our News Report now looks at the best new releases from the past week and we begin with the latest single from Avenged Sevenfold. Check out ‘We Love You’ above now.
The track will feature on upcoming new album, ‘Life Is But A Dream…’, which will arrive on June 2nd!
There was also new music on offer this week from fellow rock royalty Queens of the Stone Age. The band unveiled their brand new single, ‘Emotion Sickness’, which you can check out above!
In a big week for the band they also revealed that their new album, ‘In Times New Roman’, will be released on June 16th!
This week also saw Asking Alexandria reveal the video for their new single, ‘Dark Void’, which you can check out above.
The track is the first taste of their as-yet-titled new album set for release this autumn.
âWith the world seemingly getting darker and darker, itâs easy to see why so many of us struggle with anxiety, depression, lonelinessâ relays guitarist Ben Bruce. âThis song is about fighting those demons that live in your head and trying your hardest to be your own savior. Finding that inner strength to pull yourself out of the darkness.â
âThis theme is explored throughout the entirety of our upcoming album. We all have our own struggles and hurdles. We are all on our own journeys that present unique challenges and difficulties, but we all have our own inner strength to fall back on. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. I feel that there can be comfort in knowing that we arenât alone. We all feel a little down from time to time. We all feel a little lost from time to time, but somehow, in some way, we are all in this together and hopefully our new album can help people through some of their toughest times.â
DevilDriver this week shared their latest single from new album, ‘Dealing With Demons, Vol. II’.
You can check out the video for, ‘This Relationship, Broken’, above!
DevilDriver frontman Dez Fafara says about ‘This Relationship, Broken’: ââThis Relationship, Brokenâ explores the severance that happens between two long time partners when they leave each other after years of turmoil.â
Duff McKagan this week shared new single ‘This Is The Song’, which you can check out above. The track features on a new EP honouring Mental Health Awareness Week.
â’This is the Song’ was written in the middle of a panic attackâ Duff McKagan says in a personal statement about the EP. âI couldnât breathe and couldnât see straight, and lately, I have thankfully found my acoustic guitar as a refuge. If I just hold on to that guitar, play chords, and hum melodies, I can start to climb my way out of that hole. For those of you who have never experienced something like this, count yourselves blessed. To those of you who recognize what I am talking about: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!â
Next up in our News Report are Caskets, who this week debuted their new single ‘More Than Misery’, featuring Telle Smith (The Word Alive).
You can check out the track above which features on newly announced album, ‘Reflections’, which is out August 11th.
Speaking of the track, frontman Matt Flood says, âMore Than Misery is written around the conflict of being hypnotically entranced by someone or something that in the end, you know will only lead to toxic habits or bad intentions. Everyone has felt this and been in this situation in one way or another throughout their life. Itâs about not wanting to be in this situation and feeling the struggle of bearing the weight of pressure it puts on your shoulders. How it can affect every other thing around you, from your mental health to the relationships you build around you.â
âThere is light at the end of the tunnel though,â he states. âTo even acknowledge the situation and build a foundation of support around you to come face to face with what it is thatâs holding you back. If you just take a step into the unknown, youâll see your life is more than just miseryâ
Ayron Jones is next up in our News Report with his latest single, ‘The Title’, which you can check out above!
The track comes ahead of new album, ‘Chronicles of the Kid’, which comes out on June 23rd.
âFor a lot of people, the world is a dark place. It feels like a dark room with no windows, no doors, and no way out,” Jones explains. “When weâre faced with uncertainty, our instincts tell us to either take flight or stay and fight. ‘The Title’ is dedicated to those of us who choose to fight. It’s about this seemingly foolish idea of holding on to a sliver of hope that drives our obsession to be great, even when faced with fear of defeat. Itâs about winning because you don’t know how to fail.â
Closing out this section of our News Report this week is Conquer Divide who have shared their new single, ‘welcome2paradise’, which you can check out above!
The band have also revealed that their new album, ‘Slow Burn’, will arrive on September 8th.
“This song is special to all of us for a lot of reasons” says guitarist Kristen Sturgis. “We really wanted to stretch our musical muscles and play around with time signatures. We recorded some of the production ourselves, including drilling sounds you’ll hear sprinkled throughout the song. Artistically, we really stepped out of our comfort zone, and we ended up with something really special.”
The song also takes a close look at a very important topical issue.
“It’s sad that humans don’t care about our environment” Sturgis continues. “I was especially inspired by a situation close to my heart. I live on the Great Lakes, which contain 20% of the earth’s freshwater. There is a 70-year-old pipeline called Line 5 that is in very rough shape and runs through the water where Lake Huron and Lake Michigan meet. The current is especially turbulent there. The pipeline keeps getting hit by boat anchors.
I am not here to preach anti-fossil fuels, as electric vehicles come with their own environmental tolls, and touring bands have to drive gas-guzzling vehicles to play for our fans. But if a spill happened in that spot, it’s in the worst possible place, due to the strong currents.
A Great Lakes spill could affect major cities like Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Windsor, Toronto, and Rochester, NY. Tourism, fishing industries, and boating would all be affected. And with all of the droughts happening around the U.S., it’s going to be everyone’s problem soon.
Right now, there’s just one small local organization trying to draw attention to it, but If I can do anything with this song release, it would be to shine a spotlight on something I care so much about.”Â
From the Black Country, Midlands, BIG SPECIAL share new single âSHITHOUSEâ.
â’SHITHOUSE’ is about a rough time. The societal depression we are going through and its personal effects on people. Itâs about looking at it from the outside and living it from the inside. Seemingly, no matter the moves we make, it all ends up a shithouse and sometimes all we can do is shout about it.â says singer Joe Hicklin.
Ă lesund – ‘Rode Off Into the Sun’
Alt-pop outfit Ă lesund reveal their new single ‘Rode Off Into The Sun’.
âI was so impressed by a friend who had been dealt a rough hand and instead of wallowing and seeing the glass as half empty, she just dusted herself off and charged on with making the best out of her life. It was inspiring to witness and became the main theme of the songâ, says vocalist and lyricist Alba Torriset.
Butterfly Hurricane – ‘BARRICADE’
Alternative Rock artist Butterfly Hurricane has shared his debut single âBARRICADEâ.
âA lot of my lyrics come from my battles with crohnâs disease and how it has affected my personal life and the lives of others. This song in is essentially me venting my frustrations on how I wish I could be someone else and just have a day not having to plan my life around this disease. Itâs not all doom and gloom though, the struggle is part of the beauty. Itâs helped me grow and realise whatâs important in lifeâ. –Butterfly Hurricane
