As Trivium themselves proclaim tonight, it always feels like a homecoming when the Floridian metallers come to the UK. The band grew up on our island and their success has become intrinsically linked to the response of the UK to each release.
Tonight will see the band at the UEA in Norwich playing a tailored set to include a celebration of âShogunâ. Their fourth studio album, the record arrived at a crucial time for the band as they navigated a lukewarm response to âThe Crusadeâ â an album which was supposed to take the band to the pinnacle of the industry.
When that didnât happen, âShogunâ was the reset moment needed for the band to almost start again. Over the course of the subsequent fifteen years the band have matured into one of the most loved and respected metal bands on the planet with a consistent flow of high quality albums which looking back is quite astonishing.
ORBIT CULTURE
Also astonishing is the bands aptitude for selecting support acts and on this run of shows, they have both Orbit Culture and Bleed From Within along for the ride! Swedes Orbit Culture are a decade into their own career and that comes across with an experienced and assured performance to get the crowd engaged early.
BLEED FROM WITHIN
Having formed back in 2005, Bleed From Within certainly canât be classed as a new band either, but the current momentum behind them is relatively new. Emerging from the pandemic with not one, but two acclaimed albums the band have made of the most of their recent studio time.
Theyâve also made the very most of any stage time given to them and again tonight if you didnât arrive as a fan of the band, youâll most definitely be leaving as one. The group are able to create an instant connection with the audience and the synergy between them is mightily impressive.
TRIVIUM
With both bands having already turned the venue into a sweatbox, itâs soon enough time for Trivium to arrive on stage and close out the evening with ninety minutes of pure majestic brutality.
âIn The Court of the Dragonâ and âDown From The Skyâ quickly ensure that the audience is fully onside as the band flex their muscles early. It isnât long before the likes of âStrifeâ and âPull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyrâ absolutely annihilate venue security with a seemingly endless barrage of crowd surfers.
The love between band and audience is clear for all to see and as the band begin to explore âShogunâ with rarities likes âThe Calamityâ and âInsurrectionâ, an appreciation of the depths of the bands discography is overwhelming.
Newer material like âCatastrophistâ and âThe Heart From Your Hateâ receive just as euphoric responses tonight as classics like âA Gunshot to the Head of Trepidationâ and staple set closer âIn Wavesâ. This is just further evidence both of the bands connection with the UK audience but most pertinently the intense quality of all their releases.
Ten albums and nearly twenty-five years in the band tease a short break is coming after this tour. Whilst this is very much hard earned, on the form the band find themselves in both on record and onstage as evidenced tonight, you are left praying that the gap isnât that long!
Hot Milk have been building, building, building since they stormed onto the scene in 2019. Building a solid fanbase, building a reputation as a top live act and building an incomparable back catalogue. Whilst those positive foundations were being built though, pressure and expectation built with them, specifically for a full debut album.
Well, the time has arrived for the band to show off their finished house to the word. Complete with aesthetically pleasing artwork, âA Call To The Voidâ is ready for inspection and on first look it would appear that the band havenât build any ordinary house, theyâve built a temple!
âA Call To The Voidâ is a call to arms, an invitation for that dedicated and passionate following to worship in their temple. From beginning to end the album is a galvanising expression of cathartic release from the band.
Stripping all existential meanings from the songs, what this album represents is quite simply a really fun half hour of joyous pop punk. What the band do well is add a darker edge to the genre which removes much of the silliness that is often associated with it. That said whilst many might try and pigeonhole this as emo or the like, the reality is that the band defy true genre designated.
There are plenty of obvious influences spread throughout the album, but Hot Milk have an ability to go beyond them and create something which is uniquely Hot Milk. The band have captured imaginations with their output thus far and âA Call To The Voidâ is now the centrepiece on the mantle in their temple.
It will of course be interesting to see where the band go from this point, but they progress having successfully navigated the pitfalls of a debut album. Given that the group donât appear to be ones to rest on their laurels then youâd imagine the building work will continue and youâd surely put money on them creating something spectacular!
HOLDING ABSENCE – THE NOBLE ART OF SELF DESTRUCTION – ALBUM REVIEW
It has been quite a remarkable journey for Holding Absence, for example you probably wonât find many bands on their level this early in their career whilst technically featuring no original members. The band have come so far from their early beginnings though and to have the opportunity to marvel upon their evolution in recent years has been very special indeed.
Every challenge has been met head on, and the ability of the band to form such a strong, organic connection with their fans has been a pleasure to see. Hard work in the studio and out on the road has born beautiful fruit and 2021âs âThe Greatest Mistake of My Lifeâ was a true masterpiece.
The band now find themselves in the unenviable position of trying to follow that release and they do so with third album, âThe Noble Art of Self Destructionâ, which is perhaps more than a subtle nod at the obstacles that theyâve overcome.
As mentioned already, the evolution and growth of the band has been special to witness but their sound in particular has developed so elegantly over the course of their career. On this new record they are sonically soaring above the clouds with a majestic aura connecting each track.
The ten songs here will suck you in and youâll lose yourself to the honesty and richness of the lyrical content whilst be carried about by the gentle waves of the atmospheric soundtrack. Itâs impossible to cherry pick highlights here as the album will simply take you on a journey that youâll willingly follow.
Holding Absence are a band that appear to have found a magical formula for song writing because every time you think that theyâve peaked, they go ahead and surprise you all over again.
Next comes news of a brand new album from Within Temptation!
The band announced this week that, ‘Bleed Out’, will be released on October 20th. You can also listen to the title track above!
Vocalist Sharon den Adel states, âThe war in Ukraine has influenced us a lot. As artists we are inspired by the world, and we have this platform. We are storytellers, and I think as human beings, these are things we should be talking about.â
Whilst songs such as âWirelessâ and âWe Go To Warâ examine the authoritarian aggression on display in Ukraine and other warzones, the title track itself addresses the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran after the murder of Mahsa Amini.
Sharon explains, âI lived in Yemen when I was a kid. My parents lived in several countries in the Middle East, and Iâve visited them a lot when they were there. Itâs a different world. Due to my time there, I feel connected to that part of the world. Iâve been so incredibly impressed by the bravery of the young women there whoâve been burning their scarves knowing they were going to be thrown in prison or worse â itâs heartbreaking.â
Ash continue to prepare for the release of their new album, ‘Race the Night’, which arrives on September 15th.
This week saw the band share new single, ‘Usual Places’, which you can check out above.
Tim Wheeler comments: âOriginally written as a tribute to long forgotten bars and faces as I was leaving New York, âUsual Placesâ took on extra significance as the first thing we worked on together post-lockdown. Below the surface of the joy of writing and playing together again, there’s a subconscious grief to all that was lost in those years. Friends and family, pubs and venues. This is our eulogy to them all. No coincidence the video was shot in the Marquis of Lorne, just a walk from Brixton Academy.â
K.Flay teams with Pierce The Veil on ‘Irish Goodbye’
K.Flay – ‘Irish Goodbye’ ft. Vic Fuentes (Pierce The Veil)
K.Flay has shared new single, ‘Irish Goodbye’, which features Vic Fuentes of Pierce The Veil.
Check out the track above, which comes ahead of new album, ‘MONO’, which arrives September 15th.
âI was screaming in the demo to that song and eventually I realized, âI have a friend who screams professionally, so maybe I should get him on this,ââ K.Flay recalls.
JAWS have shared new single, ‘Sweat’, which you can check out above.
The tracks comes from upcoming EP, ‘If It Wasn’t For My Friends, Things Could Be Different’, which is out on September 15th.
Connor Schofield explains, âLyrically âSweatâ is about dealing with your anxiety in the moment, everything slowing down and trying to take it as it comes when in an overstimulating situation.â
Soon after news of a Creed reunion, Scott Stapp have shared a new single, ‘Higher Power’, which you can check out above.
Stapp says, âLifeâs mysteries can be unraveled by listening to one’s inner voice. For me, that means leaning on my faith in God and listening to His voice to guide me through the struggles and darkness. For others, whether itâs through art, nature, science, family, or a combination of all, tapping into a higher power is an individualized process that requires an open mind and a willingness to flow with a force thatâs greater than the individual.â
“UK! It has been far too long (since 2018!) and weâve missed you so much. Weâre so excited to come back this December”. Those were the words of The Used as they announced a new headline UK Tour.
Support will come from The Home Team and Honey Revenge.
The Cult have revealed details of a very special tour focusing on their early material and material from predecessors Southern Death Cult and Death Cult.
Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun reveal headline dates
Recent Podcast guests Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun have revealed a new headline tour which will take place this autumn.
The band commented, “Our first tour since 2019. Weâll be playing songs from our new album as well as all our old favourites. Donât miss out! Stoked to see you all.”
Oxymorrons share new single, ‘Look Alive (Netic)’ from upcoming debut album, ‘Melanin Punk’.
The band explains, â’Look Alive’ is the perfect sonic representation of our unique blend of Rock and Hip-Hop. It hits hard, exudes energy, and lives authentically in both spaces. With swaggy, unapologetic vibes, it simultaneously uplifts while delivering a powerful message: ‘Hard Times Get Better.’ Stay focused, Stay Active, and Push Forward, always Look Alive.”
Noise – ‘Victor’
Glasgow four-piece Noise share ‘Victor’ from newly announced debut EP, ‘Not Until Tomorrow Night’.
âOur debut EP explores the link between nostalgia and the present,â explain the band. âThese themes are woven into retellings of classic novels such as Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray with a modern twist. The songs perfectly represent our musical ideals and weâre immensely proud of them.â
Matthew Lowry – ‘Coming For You’
Matthew Lowry shares latest single, ‘Coming For You’.
âI knew right away when I wrote the riff for this song that I needed to follow through on it. It was so much fun from the start because, for a long time, my songwriting had been missing the hard rock that I grew up loving. The stuff that made me want to put a guitar on. A little Southern flare mixed with the rock anthems I blasted throughout my entire childhood. No better way to be honest with yourself and move forward than to let out the real stuff you have inside. And since this album is about that journey to embrace yourself and move forward in life, it was perfect.
Once this was tracked in the studio, that feeling I had from the start was confirmed. I wanted this to be the final single before the album came out. Lyrically, itâs pretty straightforward: Iâm over trying to be anything for anyone. No more fear, no more paranoia. Iâm bringing my shit front and center. This is me, this is my music, this is who I am.
Then to be really me, we knew that we wanted to make the video as ridiculous and goofy as we could. Since I started planning the album, I had this idea for the âFlamingo County Gamesâ as a Jackass style backwoods Florida olympics. A bit of a nod to the Foo Fighters in their golden era of amazing music videos with those huge rock anthems. In the end, it all came together, and I honestly could not be happier. â -Matthew Lowry
The career of The View has been really fascinating, full of ups and downs, hit singles and missed opportunities. Once tipped to be the next big thing, the band now find themselves pigeonholed into a noughties indie nostalgia scene.
There has always been a youthful volatility to the band that has both garnered positive sentiment and turned people off in equal measures. After a hiatus the band returned to a receptive fanbase who packed out shows and soaked up a look back at the glory days.
What is interesting here is that most bands would settle for their place in the pecking order and hit up that nostalgia circuit for as long as possible. Perhaps thatâs what many wouldâve expected The View to do, but instead here they are with a brand new studio album, which really is rather good!
Yes, that isnât something we perhaps thought weâd be saying in 2023 but âExorcism of Youthâ is undoubtedly the groupâs best work since their debut album. With a more mature and explorative sound, a strong argument could even be made to say that the album is actually their very best.
There is plenty of what made the band popular on offer but rather than just copy their previous homework the band have put in the work and delivered something fresh. The likes of the fantastic âShovel In His Handsâ and the superb âWoman of the Yearâ standout but the album as a whole is full of melancholic indie anthems.
Fans of the band will very much enjoy this album and the band can be proud of proving all the naysayers wrong by pulling a rabbit out of the hat with âExorcism of Youthâ!
THE XCERTS – LEARNING How TO LIVE AND LET GO – ALBUM REVIEW
Itâs somehow been five years since The Xcerts released the sublime âHold On to Your Heartâ, and in the meantime a lot has happened both in the world itself and in the world of The Xcerts.
The band now return with a new album, on a new record label, and with a newly expanded musical ambition, which is perhaps best demonstrated on statement single, âGIMMEâ! Yes, âLearning How to Live and Let Goâ, is the sound of a band testing themselves and pushing their boundaries, removing any pre-set assumptions about what is expected of them.
That said, the DNA that runs through the likes of âIn the Cold Wind We Smileâ and âThere Is Only Youâ is very still inherent on what is perhaps the groups most well rounded record yet. The juxtaposition between the likes of âAcheâ and âMy Friends Foreverâ is so finely balanced because the band have taken the two ends of their sonic palette and stretched them are far as possible.
As a result you get a wide range of new colours but the identity of the artist remains the intrinsic link. In a day and age where artists are encouraged to play it safe and stick to the rulebook, The Xcerts have been brave enough to throw that book out the window and explore themselves.
The result is twelve thoroughly enjoyable tracks interwoven by the theme of acceptance and the road to it. This very much feels like the band also coming to terms with their place in the world, pressing reset and setting off on their next journey; and given the immense quality of the outcome, you canât help but want to go on that journey with them!
Festival season is quickly drawing towards a close, but there are still a handful of opportunities left for music fans to head outdoors for some music. Whilst the weather may not have been kind this year, today in Gunnersbury Park, London is pretty much perfect festival weather â itâs warm without being too hot, itâs cloudy but no rain in sight!
These London day events often struggle to bring in the fans, but the bill today has been enough to bring a healthy crowd to West London. The crowd are soon penned into what is now a standard minimalistic arena framed by overpriced food and drink.
There really isnât a lot to do other than eat, drink and be merry, so the exuberant fifty minute change-overs are a tad extreme! Thankfully though, the early acts Deijuvhs, Joey Valence & Brae and KennyHoopla are all more than capable of getting the crowd hyped up.
Eventually we arrive at our special guests Pendulum who take to the stage at 18:40, which really feels a little early for a Pendulum set! The daylight in particular limits the effectiveness of their usual visual show.
Luckily the band themselves are more than capable to engaging the audience and building up the atmosphere. In a set that is perhaps more reliant on the music than normal, the likes of âPropane Nightmaresâ, âGraniteâ, âWitchcraftâ, âTarantulaâ and âWatercolourâ, all have the crowd singing and moving along.
A highlight comes with Bullet For My Valentineâs Matt Tuck joining the band for new single, âHaloâ, which goes down very well. Along with âSelf vs Selfâ, the heavier tracks fare well with an audience full of metalheads, and Pendulum leave the stage having once again proved their dexterity.
Comparatively on the other hand, headliners Limp Bizkit could be called a one trick pony, thankfully for them that trick is to get the audience riled up to then smash out an energetic and riotous set.
WATCH ‘BREAK STUFF’ on YOUTUBE
Limp Bizkit – ‘Break Stuff’
From the moment Fred Durst stalks across the stage, the atmosphere ratchets up a dozen notches, and he is able to control the crowd with absolute aplomb. The band are clearly on top form and the audience reciprocates this energy which creates a very special performance.
Early material predominantly makes up the set list and that works well with a crowd which by show of hands is mainly catching the band live for the first time. âDad Vibesâ and âGold Cobraâ do make appearances though and change up the pace for a short while.
The show comes to an end almost as soon as it starts due to the early curfew, and fans are left wanting more, but then this is always a good thing. It would appear that somehow in 2023 Limp Bizkit may be enjoying a second coming!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the best new releases from the past week and up first is the latest single from Creeper.
This week saw the band share, ‘Teenage Sacrifice’, which you can check out above. The track comes ahead of the release of new album, ‘Sanguivore’, out on Friday 13th October.
Singer William ‘Von Ghould’ says: âThe song introduces Mercy, the protagonist of the Sanguivore narrative. Sheâs deceptively innocent yet savagely violent, and her ability to make people fall under her spell is just one indication that Mercy is not all that she seems.â
Next up is the return of Lonely The Brave, the band this week sharing their brand new single, ‘The Lens’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on newly announced upcoming album, ‘What We Do To Feel’, which will arrive on November 10th.
Guitarist Mark Trotter comments: “You can plan it out as much as you want, but you’re just along for the ride. That’s the most exciting part, seeing what it decided to be. With this album, we’re certainly more mature as people and as a band. That makes sense with everything that has happened since our last one.”
Singer Jack Bennett continues about the single, saying it “is a track about the way we value each other. It’s different for everyone and we each have a unique perspective towards the world.”
The Struts are next in our News Report as this week saw the band reveal details of their new album, ‘Pretty Vicious’, which will be out on November 3rd.
The band also shared a live visualiser for their recent track, ‘Too Good At Raising Hell’, which you can check out above.
âThis record showcases each individual member’s strengths,â vocalist Luke Spiller says of their impending album. “Itâs some of my favorite music, hands down, weâve ever conjured up. Itâs the record everyoneâs been waiting for.â
This week also saw Daughtry debut their new single, ‘Artificial’, which you can check out above.
“‘Artificial’ is about the potential nightmare that AI could become and the idea that everything and everyone could eventually be replaced, essentially to perfection, and rendered obsolete,” Chris Daughtry explains. “However, the heart and soul of humanity and the ability to feel love, sadness, and compassion can never be replaced. While there are plenty of applications where AI can improve our lives and assist in many areas of creativity, I feel it’s imperative that we find a way to protect our musicians, actors, writers, and all creative outlets from being destroyed.”
Teenage Fanclub continue to gear up for the release of new album, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ on September 22nd.
This week saw the band unveil their latest pre-release single, ‘Back To The Light’, which you can check out above.
The track was written by Norman Blake who says:
âI liked the idea of using being in a band as a metaphor for a personal relationship. They are not entirely dissimilar experiences. Like a few others on the album, this song has saxophone on it. The first time weâve had that since Songs From Northern Britain. Stephen Black (Sweet Baboo) played those parts; we really like the richness it brings to the song. Steve will be with us when we head out on tour in October in Europe.â
Saint Agnes recently released their new album, ‘Bloodsuckers’ and this week the band shared a video for the track, ‘Follow You’, which you can check out above.
The band will be joining us this week on The Full Pelt Music Podcast!
The Pale White have debuted new single, ‘Validate Me’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on new EP, ‘A New Breed’, which is will released on October 20th.
“Ever felt like the world is against you? It probably is… Look around! Weâre surrounded by social pressures of what is perceived as ânormalââ say The Pale White.
“âValidate Meâ explores the mental tug of war between following your true purpose, and conforming to what society thinks you should be. It was born during the pandemic when we all lost our social identity and this heightened self-sabotaging paranoia was just as contagious.â
Finally for this section of our News Report we have a big hit single from Gen and the Degenerates who have revealed their latest single, ‘BIG HIT SINGLE’, which you can check out above!
Speaking on their new single, vocalist Genevieve Glynn-Reeves comments:
âIf you want the highbrow answer, then BIG HIT SINGLE is about the experience of creating art under late capitalism. If you want the lowbrow âand slightly more honestâ answer, then BIG HIT SINGLE is me trying to wind up our label.â
âTheyâd made quite a reasonable requestâŠâPlease can you write more songs like the song that did well and stop experimenting with every genre under the sun in a completely chaotic and hedonistic manner?â Unfortunately, I have issues with authority…My parents often regale me with the tale of my Year 4 parentâs evening, in which my teacher described me as âtoo wild, in the bohemian sense.â
âIf Mrs Baker couldnât get me to behave, then what chance did Marshall Records have? Luckily, they have a good sense of humour over at Marshall.â
Some festival news now in our News Report and whilst this year’s event was still in progress, Bloodstock organisers have confirmed the first wave of artists for the 2024 event.
Both Architects and Amon Amarth have been confirmed as headliners, whilst they’ll be joined by the likes of Malevolence, Clutch, Flogging Molly, Green Lung and more.
The city based version of Live At Leeds returns on October 14th and this week saw the event share a massive line-up of great acts.
You can catch the likes of Another Sky, Benefits, Big Special, Feet, Hamish Hawk, Hotwax, Jack Valero, Lynks, Pigs x7, Pip Blom, Shame, Snayx, The Mysterines and Wunderhorse.
Next in our News Report we focus on the best live announcements from the past week and we begin with Neck Deep.
The welsh band will be taking over Alexandra Palace in London on March 28th for a huge headline show.
Sharing the news the band said, “Itâs been a long time coming but weâre stoked to be finally headlining Ally Pally. Weâve always loved the venue, now itâs our turn for our biggest headline show. Weâre expecting it to be the best Neck Deep show ever, & you wouldnât wanna miss that would ya?”
Kerrang have team up with the Music Venue Trust for Conjurer to join the ‘United By Music Tour’ next month!
Support will come from Unpeople.
Conjurerâs Brady Deeprose says: âConjurer simply would not exist without the UKâs extensive network of Grassroots Music Venues. We cut our teeth playing everywhere from Merthyr Tydfil to Barrow-In-Furness for years, and we were lucky to be able to do so. The threat that GMVs are under is an utter travesty, and something that we are so thankful to MVT for getting involved in – without this network, everyone from fans to bands suffers. Throughout my childhood, I would go to The Roadmender in Northampton, The Vault in Rugby (RIP), The Flapper in Birmingham, and Corporation in Sheffield to both play shows and see my favourite bands – that thriving scene inspired me to pick up a guitar and start a band. If we donât protect it, we lose the next generation of musicians. Itâs that simple.
“To come full circle, Kerrang! putting us forward for this tour is a real privilege, their support for not just us but the UK heavy scene in general, has been untouchable over the last few years. We hope that MVT continues to have success, and that the UK can continue to foster exceptional talent with a strong roster of grassroots venues to support it.â
Luke Morton, editor of Kerrang!, says âThe UK heavy music scene is thriving right now, thanks in large part to the community and support of grassroots venues up and down the country. Iâm so excited and proud for Kerrang! to partner with the Music Venue Trust for this very metal incarnation of the United By Music Tour, featuring the mighty Conjurer â a band Iâve seen cause absolute chaos in some of our best independent venues over the years. As fans of rock, metal and alternative music, it’s vital we all champion the homegrown, grassroots venues that are the lifeblood of our scene. Support your local venue and make sure you catch Conjurer tearing it to shreds!â
Mark Davyd, CEO and founder Music Venue Trust, says: âIt’s great to be teaming up with Kerrang on The National Lottery’s United by Music Tour. The team at Kerrang! were so supportive to Grassroots Music Venues during the pandemic, and the heavy music scene is such an integral part of what makes live music in the UK so essential and vibrant.â
Vocalist Elin Allan comments –Â “When we were writing âThe Tideâ, I donât think I realised how much this song was a cry for help. Itâs such an energetic, in your face song and I was so angry at this point in my life that I honed in on a very cutthroat approach to life. I had just gone through a huge, very tough break up and was having one of the lowest points in my life and with time, now itâs finally released, I think I have accepted that anger and turned it into power.“
Bristol rock outfit Little Thief share their latest single ‘Geronimo’.
Vocalist and lyricist Charlie Fitzgerald states: âPeople do incredible things when up against it and true colours often show when everything falls apart. For me, it signifies sticking together through good times and bad.
We spent a few days in the basement of our place on Albany road in Bristol working together on a bunch of new tracks and Geronimo came from that batch. It was one of the first tunes where the music came first and the lyrics followed. I really enjoyed writing the words for this as they are a bit cheesy, fun and simple with a very repetitive nature. We had the demo banging around for ages and really enjoyed playing it live.â
Swear Blind – ‘Still’
Alt-Rock Nottingham natives Swear Blind share new single ‘Still’.
Drew Lawson says: âa certain global event gave us the time to finish a project weâve been working on for many years and to continue our writing. It gave us a new focus in doing the things that we love doing, plus it gave us a good reason to hang out! Weâve been mates for years so that wasnât an opportunity we wanted to miss.â
Nevrlands – ‘Chemicals’
NYC-based trio Nevrlands share a second track âChemicals‘ from their forthcoming debut album, ‘Timeless’.
“‘Chemicalsâ is about catching yourself in the heat of the moment,â shares Neverlands collectively. âAbout painting a portrait of passion and finding that distinction between love and lust in real-time. Thereâs a very fine line that can sometimes be blurry, or sometimes itâs crystal clear. Is this real? Or is it just another fugazi? âChemicalsâ is all about questioning whether or not that perfect chemical connection will last once the moment ends.â
The hives – the death of randy fitzsimmons – album review
The Hives have always been a phenomenal live band and earlier this summer the UK seemed to realise this on a larger scale when the band played as special guests on the mammoth Arctic Monkeys stadium tour.
The Hives, as expected, blew the headliners out the water and now itâs time for the band to remind everyone just how good they are on record. After all, âThe Death of Randy Fitzsimmonsâ is the groupâs first new studio album in over 11 years!
Thatâs far too long to wait for another frantic release of energy in the manner that only The Hives can deliver. The album bursts straight into life with âBogus Operandiâ, âTrapdoor Solutionâ and âCountdown to Shutdownâ and it never really stops for breath any at point.
Yes, on record the band are equally as exuberantly riotous as they are on the stage. The runtime of circa thirty minutes is ideal and ensures that the listenerâs attention is never even tested in the slightest. Indeed youâll just want to hit play again straight away.
There may not be any earth-shattering developments to their sound since their last effort, but letâs all be honest, nobody wouldâve wanted that. This is The Hives doing what only they do and doing so elegantly well!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
This week we begin with the best live announcements from the past week and up first are Skindred!
Coinciding with the release of their new album, ‘Smile’, the group revealed details of three new live dates set for next March. These dates are punctuated by a headline show at the historic Wembley Arena.
Regarding headlining Wembley Arena for the first time, singer Benji Webbe says: âStanding on that stage is a mark of sheer hard work.We have stood upon that stage supporting many truly great acts. Now itâs Skindredâs time to take the headline slot.You may think youâve seen us, however this is our opportunity to rise, and to step up like never before!My Sound we come to take over and truly come to rock Wembley with a heart full of gratitude and a set full of the most rockinâ tunes that we have ever played live. Unity, love and togetherness. Letâs âave it. Quadruple XL.â
This week also saw Simple Plan announce details of a new EU/UK Tour which will begin in January next year!
Support on all dates comes from Mayday Parade and State Champs.
Drummer Chuck Comeau shares, âWeâre super excited to be coming back to Europe and the UK early next year! After an amazing arena tour with our good friends Sum 41 last fall and some incredible festival shows this spring, weâre thrilled to come back on our own headlining tour, playing full shows for our UK and Euro fans all over the continent.â
âItâs gonna be great to play a bunch of new songs from our latest album âHarder Than it Looksâ as well as all the fansâ favourites from our early records. We might even throw in a few jams we rarely play live to celebrate, as 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the band and the 20th anniversary of our second album,âStill Not Getting Anyâ!.
Weâre stoked to bring our friends State Champs and Mayday Parade with us, two fantastic bands that we and our fans love! This is probably one of the strongest UK / European tour line-up weâve ever put together and we canât wait for it to kick off next year!â
This week saw Muncie Girls share news of their split. Thankfully the group will treat fans to one final Farewell Tour later this year!
The band shared, “After nearly 13 years, a demo CD, a demo tape, three 12â EPs, three 7â singles, a 12â split record and two albums, weâre saying goodbye to our band Muncie Girls. We started this band when we were 17 and the biggest goal we could muster up was to release a 7â single. We ended up doing more things and going to more places than we could ever have imagined. We were lucky to be from a town with such a brilliant music scene and venue, the Cavern, and I remember how it felt to travel to so many cities and discover other scenes just like ours.
The community we found ourselves a part of was so special and really became our lives. If it werenât for the kindness of total strangers putting on shows for us, feeding us and letting us stay at their houses, we would never have been able to do any of the things that weâve done. We were even once temporarily adopted by a family in Texas when we went to play SXSW and they baked us cherry pie and drove us to our gigs. We were taken on a tour around Australia by complete strangers who became some of our best friends. We went to Japan after some strangers offered to book us a tour and we travelled around on trains and borrowed local bandsâ gear, guitars, everything. We spent most of our time touring in mainland Europe where we made friends for life, playing in squats, venues, gardens, bunkers, wherever.
I often heard stories of bands having to sleep in their vans or in parks or service stations. We always had somewhere to stay, no one ever let us sleep rough. I know we were incredibly lucky and we have our scene and our friends and fans to thank for that. Weâve relied so much on peopleâs kindness; I hope that we were always grateful enough.
Weâve decided to do a farewell tour and we hope that youâll join us at a show. Muncie Girls will always be a massive part of our lives and we will each always play music, just in different projects now. Thank you everyone!”
Stockholm trio, Normandie, have today returned with, âBlood In The Waterâ, their first new music since 2021âs âDark & Beautiful Secretsâ album.
Speaking of the track, frontman Philip Strand says, âBlood In The Water is about how “hurt people, hurt peopleâ, how negativity is contagious and how it can lead people into negative spirals, where they unknowingly hurt the ones around them.â
‘Dark & Beautiful Secretsâ subject matter drew heavily from Philipâs religious childhood, as the band moves into a new era, ‘Blood In The Water’ touches on that a little and acts as the perfect bridge.
âEven though i left the church at a very young age, I was raised with the belief that every person is born with a clean slate, and then our experiences and traumas form us as people. I’ve always seen hurtful people as damaged, sad and maybe even wrongfully judged by their behaviour, rather their past. Nobody was born evil, it’s something we pick up along the way and usually comes from pain and suffering in some way.
With this song, i wanted to get into the mind of the hurtful/hurt person and try to understand their behaviours and patterns. “Love me til my heart stops, hit me like a freight truck” is one of my favourite lines. Iâm positioning love as a drug, with the personâs tolerance building, leading them to seek being really blown away by their feelings, to cover the pain inside.â
Haunt The Woods have shared their new single, ‘Now Is Our Time’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from upcoming new album, ‘Ubiquity’, which is released on September 29th.
The band comment: “Written during the global lockdown, ‘Now Is Our Time’ is an angered proclamation of the struggle to sustain oneself in this modern world. Forced to sell our lives by the hour in order to survive, without security or peace of mind and without a feasible alternative.
“Now is the time for change, and the only way for change is to come together against the oppressive, archaic system we find ourselves living in.”
This week saw Delaire The Liar share new single, ‘angel number.’, which you can check out above!
The track will feature on upcoming new EP, ‘Self Defence’, which is set for release on September 1st.
Speaking on ‘Self Defence’, the band said: âIn the throes of desperation, there’s no telling the lengths a person will go to preserve themselves or their loved ones. This EP presents a series of fictional scenarios to challenge the typical understanding of self defence. The usual themes surrounding the topic are present; antagonism, violence, action and reaction, but with a focus on the more drastic instances that require a less reflexive and more considered approach. Instances that require a deeper understanding of the self, emotional capacity for pain, physical capacity for punishment, moral detachment and sacrifice for the benefit of yourself or someone else. This EP explores whether there is any defence too drastic or too difficult to justify when love, pride and responsibility is involved.â
Grove Street are next up in our News Report with their latest single, ‘Ulterior Motives’, which you can of course check out above!
The single is the latest taste of their upcoming debut album, ‘The Path To Righteousness’, which is out on September 29th.
“Ulterior Motives is a song that goes through the motions of someone who is stuck in a toxic and abusive relationship with someone or something – be it a partner, friend or substance, or even a vice like gambling – and cannot find a way out. They keep getting pulled back into the situation at hand; theyâre in love, addicted, and canât see the impact of damage thatâs being done to them, because theyâve got rose tinted glasses on.
The second verse changes focus from the relationship/addiction itself to how people around that person turn a blind eye to whatâs going on, because itâs easier for many to just play ignorant to issues than to call it out or address it, which in turn just enables the problem to manifest further.
The outro finds the person coming to the realisation that theyâre better off out of the relationship/addiction, and in order to live a better life they gotta move on.
Musically this is one of our favourite tracks on the record, I feel like it captures our sound as a whole perfectly; from the bouncy hip-hop inspired grooves in the intro that lead into the thrash feel. The outro is personally my proudest part of the record, I remember writing that and being so surprised with myself – like, where the fuck did that come from!!” – Sandy (guitars)
“The Ulterior Motives video started life as a ‘Tour Survival Guide’ skit imagined by Sully (vocals). We were spitballing ideas in the van about all the trials and tribulations we’ve faced being in a touring band, reminiscing about all the previous funny ventures weâve experienced together. Most of these skits are based on true stories, like the time our van got clamped in Slovenia and Joe (bass), using nothing but brute force, managed to rip it off. We hope that other bands can relate to our experiences, and itâll also give people an insight into the touring lifestyle.” – Josh (drums)
Sydney Sprague has shared new single, ‘Nobody Knows Anything’, which you can check out above.
The tracks features on new album, ‘Somebody In Hell Loves You’, which is out September 15th.
âWhen I started writing songs for this record during covid lockdown it felt like the movie had ended and the credits had rolled on life but we were all still here for some reason,â explains Sydney going into the process of recording the new album.
âEverything was just floating in this void and because of that I felt like I had all the time in the world to just do whatever I wanted. It was weirdly the freest I’ve ever felt. Writing became a way to entertain myself and make myself laugh instead of a way to wallow. I spent a lot of time reflecting on the past and the people around me and processing things Iâd never been able to. I was able to be more honest than Iâd ever been in my songs. The fact that I’m able to share them now feels a little scary because when I was writing them they were really just for me, but I hope they can bring people the same sense of escape that they brought me.â
Lewis continues, âThe animated music video (by Studface Productions) was influenced by âone flew over the cuckooâs nestâ and is set in an old rundown insane asylum. This is the archaic perception of mental health and we wanted the video to symbolise that society has thankfully escaped those outdated ways of thinking and the band are rescued by an unlikely hero; Atticus T. Mouse.â
Danish newcomers Cold Culture present you with their infectious new single âDownfallâ
“Downfall is about when the person you need the most is being distant, in a difficult time in your life. A lot of feelings and thoughts go through people, when theyâre unsure of what they want, which can lead to mistakes, and misunderstanding.” – Mads Zelasny (Vocalist)
Tribe of Ghosts – ‘HIVE’
Brightonâs Industrial / Post Metal band Tribe Of Ghosts have today shared a brand new single titled âHIVEâ.
âWhen we were writing Hive, we felt that we were at a point where we understood our sound and what we wanted to create. With this in mind, we wanted to craft a song that sets the scene of the world that we build with our music, that explores the electronic and the organic, and declares our intent of giving into the chaos that oozes out of us on stage and in the writing process.” – Guitarist Adam Sedgwick.
