SOFT PLAY release first taste of new era with ‘Punk’s Dead’
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We hope that you are enjoying your Bank Holiday weekend whatever you are doing? Be sure to read until the end for some News Report news!!
We begin though with the return of SOFT PLAY (formerly known as Slaves). The duo have now shared their first taste of new music since they reconvened for 2000trees last month.
Next up in our News Report this week are Black Stone Cherry who are on the home stretch towards new album, ‘Screamin’ at the Sky’, which arrives on September 29th.
Continuing the build up, the band have now shared latest single, ‘Smile, World’, which you can check out above.
DragonForce vocalist Marc Hudson has shared, ‘Starbound Stories’, the latest track from his solo album of the same name. You can of course listen to the track above.
Hudson says, ââStarbound Storiesâ, the title track, serves as the unrelenting epilogue to the albumâs sonically rich tapestry of adventure & destiny, resounding into skies and souls alike the ultimate power metal anthem of perseverance & belief in the self.â
The final new release in our News Report this week comes from Silent Planet, who have shared new single, ‘Collider’, which you can check out above.
The track comes ahead of upcoming album, ‘SUPERBLOOM’, which arrives on November 3rd.
Take all the darkness. All the vitriol, the greed and the vanity; lay it again as dust. Everything can be alchemized. This song is called ‘Collider,'” says singer Garrett Russell. “It’s about what comes out of our lives when the people we trust and hold closest are the ones who can hurt or betray us the worst. We don’t have to run from the pain or be afraid. The dark gives us the energy to make something beautiful. The song is about alchemizing the darkness and transforming its negative properties.”
“A SUPERBLOOM is this strange moment where brilliant fauna spring forth unexpectedly and bring forth such an array of colors, it almost feels alien in origin,” Garrett notes. “It only lasts for a couple of weeks before itâs gone. While we were recording, the SUPERBLOOM was happening. For me, the record is getting in touch with the other side and watching the strange and paranormal emerge from the mundane and profane, hence the title.”
Northern Irish metal outfit ARCHIVES have announced their new album ‘No Bliss In Ignorance’ and shared lead single âNo Sweatâ.
Talking about the new single, vocalist Adam Holland shares: âNo sweat is about the concept of corruption/hypocrisy within corporations and institutions. Regardless of how much you try to hide it the truth will always find the light eventually. The single shares the harsh reality that much of the worlds corruption is covered up by those who financially gain from it. Some people are born into wealth & privilege and are undeserving of it.â
Skies Turn Black – ‘Sweet, Sweet Solitude’
British heavy metal up-and-comers Skies Turn Black have released new anthem ‘Sweet, Sweet Solitude’.
The band comment: “‘Sweet, Sweet Solitude’ was written back in lockdown, and lyrically it discusses the loneliness that lots of us went through during that time. Musically speaking, it’s a contrast from our usual flashy guitar work, leaving more space for the voice and the other instruments to shine.”
Raisin Awareness – ‘No More’
UK punk band Raisin Awareness share new song ‘No More’.
Jo D, the band’s lead vocalist, and guitarist, says, “This song is my way of personifying my internal struggle with depression and anxiety. The lyrics, ‘As we converse with these voices inside of our heads, I just can’t believe all the things that I said to myself,’ depict the constant, often self-deprecating dialogue that occurs in my mind.
Followed then by the line, ‘it’s like Piccadilly Circus inside of my head,’ metaphorically illustrates the chaotic nature of my mental health battles. Much like London’s Piccadilly Circus’s bustling, overwhelming nature, my mind is constantly filled with noise, confusion, and turmoil brought on by anxiety and depression.
Despite the personal growth I’ve experienced, the response ‘No more, no more, do you care’ represents the relentless nature of anxiety and depression. Even as I evolve and grow stronger, these personified entities remain, constantly challenging my perception of self-improvement.
Further to that, the song’s dialogue between ‘Do you know me’ and ‘Do you care’ signifies the complex relationship between personal growth and mental health. It’s a testament to the fact that even as we make strides in understanding ourselves and growing, our mental health battles persist, sometimes making us question if any real progress has been made.”
We began our News Report in February 2021, but this week will be the last edition in its current format. We will be announcing our replacement later this week on Social Media so make sure that you are following Full Pelt!
Festival season is in full swing and rock fans once again descend on Upcote Farm in Cheltenham for 2000trees! A true music fans festival, this year there is an absolute smorgasbord of the best new and established acts to savour across three full days of relentless entertainment.
However, before the event proper begins though those with early entry have an additional evening of music on tap in the beautiful forest area. The âForest Stageâ has always been a unique and special feature of this festival which is now on its fifteenth iteration.
Wednesday
The privilege of opening the festivities this year goes to Snayx who, despite playing whilst many are still pitching their tents, still attract an eager and excited crowd. The band are able to seize upon this excitement to whip the crowd up even further with their brand of punk rock. A benchmark is set for the weekend early here and thankfully the organisers have a bill curated to ensure that the quality never drops!
The other stage in operation today is the small âThe Wordâ stage which over the weekend will host various activities such as further bands, live podcasts, comedians and more. Over the next few hours we are able to catch delighted spots from B-Sydes, Masca, Polyanna and Gaz Brookfield.
Over on the âForest Stageâ though, the handful of selected bands combine to deliver a highly memorable evening. Delaire the Liar are up next and are able to continue to build their growing reputation with another assured performance.
A real special moment follows as one of the most talented yet underappreciated bands of the last decade Press To MECO play their final show. Such a moment really deserved a bigger stage and longer setlist but those present are able to bathe in those glorious riffs one more time with an emotional âA Test of Our Resolveâ a highlight of the whole festival.
Thank you for everything, we love you all. R.I.PTM đ@2000trees
Next are a band just getting started. Saint Agnes are tipped as the future of rock music by some, and again on the evidence of their set tonight those people are very much correct! Debut album âBloodsuckersâ canât arrive soon enough; thankfully we only need to wait on July 21st!
The latest Tigercub album is already out and next up the band bring âThe Perfume of Decayâ to life with a solid showing as the forest area begins to fill up in anticipation of the nights two headline acts.
Both Holding Absence and Bob Vylan will play two sets over the weekend but before gracing the main stage, they both thrill those packed into the woods! Holding Absence are first and they captivate the crowd with a cleverly selected mix of rarities and fan favourites. This band continues to grow and evolve and itâs scary how good they could be.
Bob Vylan also continue to elevate the game with their headline set tonight they bring carnage to the forest! A spectacular off the cuff collection of on point punk rock more than whets the appetite for their main stage appearance, even showing that they arenât too far away from being able to headline the biggest stage next time they play the festival.
THURSDAY
Each night the now infamous silent disco takes over the site as the party continues into the early hours, but come Thursday morning the arrival of the rest of the attendees ensure even the first act of the day, Blush Puppy on the âForest Stageâ get a good turnout. The duo perform a delightful run-through of adapted favourites which starts the first full day off perfectly.
With the outdoor stage, three tented stages and the âForest Stageâ all rotating throughout each day an avid music fan can fill their boots with live music and literally catch non-stop music for nigh on sixteen hours a day if they wanted to. We donât quite have that stamina but we give it a good go and are rewarded by great sets from Kite Thief, Beach Riot and Gaffa Tape Sandy.
Following that run we then head to first catch recent âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests CARSICK over on the âNEU Stageâ. The group proceed to smash through their set to the delight of those present with the likes of âAnaconda Frankâ showing real bite.
Another act to impress early in the weekend are Lake Malice in âThe Caveâ. The group have been winning over all who see them this summer and their future appears to be very bright indeed.
Thank you @2000trees_festival that was incredible đ€
You made our debut appearance a special one đ«¶
Next malicious festival is @rdrfestival on 30th July. Link in bio for đ«
Lambrini Girls, Graphic Nature and the official debut of new group Unpeople who have formed from the ashes of Press To MECO all follow and continue to hot run of great sets. Unpeople in particular are able to really tease what is to come and make a fantastic first impression.
The main stage soon literally takes centre stage as first Kid Kapichi and then Bob Vylan deliver two of the sets of the weekend. Kid Kapichi are effortless in their delivery of impassioned punk rock which sees an endless sea of crowd surfers on an inflatable burger! Bob Vylan then reinforce the message that their headline set sent last night, that the duo are as advertised â the most important band in the world!
We then head back to the two larger tented stages, firstly for Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun who preview their upcoming new album âColourâ. The record will arrive on July 28th and the band really do a good job of convincing those in attendance that despite the decade plus wait for a new album, the wait will be worth it. All the new material this evening sounds absolutely massive. Then in âThe Axiomâ, The Joy Formidable deliver a delightful little set that evidences the eclectic mix of rock music presented at 2000trees.
Soon enough itâs time for the final run of bands that will close out day one. Skindred are well established as a great live act and tonight they have the crowd at their whim. The Newport Helicopter needs no introduction either as the crowd make the most of the groups big finale.
Back in the big tent next for Eagles of Death Metal who give a festival friendly, crowd pleasing set including the likes of âI Only Want Youâ, âComplexityâ, âCherry Colaâ and âI Want You So Hard (Boyâs Bad News)’.
Finally itâs over to the returning Soft Play (the artists formerly known as Slaves) to close out the day. The duo pick up where they left off and play as if theyâve never been away. Itâs great to have the band back and fans revel in the likes of âCheer Up Londonâ, âFeed the Mantarayâ and âThe Hunterâ.
Friday begins with an early run of Beauty School, RXPTRS, The St. Pierre Snake Invasion, BLACKGOLD and New Pagans all of whom play their rules well and make the most of their short sets.
After an overcast first couple of days, today is a scorcher and the heat is intense as LostAlone arrive on the stage. The band donât let that phase them though as they pull out all the stops to get the crowd engaged. Itâs mission accomplished by the time they deliver the double header of âThe Final Call For Foreverâ and âThe Last Drop Of Foreverâ.
2000trees do very well to bring together the best new music from home and abroad and the next run of Militarie Gun, Zulu, Microwave and Kublai Khan TX shows the keen eye for upcoming talent that the organisers have.
Itâs this mix of new with the established acts that perfectly balances out the line-up and Hell Is For Heroes are a great nostalgic party next on the main stage. The quality overall is again on show when you can then head immediately to the âNEU Stageâ for an excellently run set from As Everything Unfolds, before returning to the main stage for a very enjoyable Dinosaur Pile-Up show and then jumping straight to the always intense Cancer Bats in âThe Caveâ!
Bullet For My Valentine are the act who close out the night with a huge headline performance. Attracting one of, if not the biggest crowd of the weekend, the band are in confident mood as they showcase their headlining credentials. Older tracks such as âScream Aim Fireâ and âHearts Burst Into Flamesâ naturally receive big reactions, but itâs telling newer tracks also are well received.
A surprise AxeWound reunion with Liam Cormier is another festival highlight before âTears Donât Fallâ and âWaking the Demonâ ensure that come the next morning everyone is talking about how great Bullet were tonight!
The festival has been a whirlwind as per usual for 2000trees and itâs a testament to the quality of line-up that to this point there hasnât been a bad performance. Of course some ultimately standout more than others such as that headline set last night or Bob Vylan destroying the forest but the chilled out atmosphere amongst attendees is reflected by the respect the bands pay the crowd. The reciprocal ambience creates a synergy that elevates every aspect of this event.
SATURDAY
Come Saturday the crowd may be sapped from the previous days heat but over on the âForest Stageâ Xtra Mile Recordings acts (and previous âDiscoverâ New Music Podcast guests) Hannah Rose Platt and Guise are serenading the early crowd with their beautiful music. They are both well received despite the heat being supplemented today by a lot of the wet stuff!
Xtra Mile Recordings has a great relationship and past with 2000trees and new Xtra Mile favourites (and double Full Pelt Podcast guests!) PET NEEDS attract a big crowd to âThe Axiomâ next. This is no doubt due to some guerrilla advertising from their fans, but everyone that ventures into the tent leave hailing the band as one of the bands of the weekend.
Thank you @2000trees_festival for the most insane midday slot.
Thank you FRACTURED PARTY PEOPLE (official PET NEEDS fan group) for being the best street team in the world.
That concludes three months of touring across 11 countries.
One of the elements that makes the âForest Stageâ so special are the sets from acts playing on the biggest stages which are often acoustic and unique. Next, Electric Six frontman Dick Valentine does a great job of distracting the audience from the deteriorating weather with a highly fun acoustic set.
After catching Dead Poet Society and Enola Gay strutting their stuff we are then able to catch Electric Six themselves who attract another big crowd to the main stage. The crowd lap up the likes of âGay Barâ and âDanger! High Voltageâ as youâd expect, and the band do their job with aplomb.
One Step Closer then cement their hype in âThe Caveâ before Black Honey demonstrate why they are one of the best newer live acts in the country. Tracks from new album, âA Fistful of Peachesâ sound massive as the band achieve another of those more memorable sets of the weekend.
The reshuffled Dream State then show that they still have a big future ahead of them in âThe Caveâ before Deaf Havana battle through a torrential downpour which decimates their crowd at the main stage. We brave the rain until the end before heading into the forest for a short but very fun set from Lynks.
Talking to people across the site, the opinion is unanimous that this has been a spectacular weekend. You feel as the weekend comes to a close that it canât get any better, but then Hundred Reasons deliver perhaps the best set of the weekend. The band get the audience onboard from opening number âIâll Find Youâ and never lose them despite more heavy rain. One of the moments of the weekend comes when Enter Shikari man Rou Reynolds joins the band for a superb âSilverâ.
Jamie Lenman then plays his latest masterpiece âThe Atheistâ in full over in the forest before Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes come out of hibernation to finish the festival with a welcome career-spanning set.
Whilst the band may lack a certain volatility of their early days they donât lack in swagger or controlled ferocity when required. The final run of âMy Townâ, âDevil Inside Meâ, âJuggernautâ, âLullabyâ and âI Hate Youâ is the perfect way to bring an incredible weekend of music to a close.
2000trees has established itself at the heart of the summer as a trusted and respected event. From their humble beginnings to now fifteen events later, the festival lays on the infrastructure but the audience makes the event the special weekend that it is!
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!
We start this week with the return of Greta Van Fleet, who have shared new single ‘Meeting the Master’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on their newly announced upcoming album, ‘Starcatcher’, which will be released July 21st.
On the single, the band notes, ââMeeting The Masterâ peers into an esoteric world heeded by the word of a wise teacher. Sung in the voice of a devout believer, and eventual group exclamation, the song details the love these fervent followers have for their teacher and their firm belief in his vision. Itâs an exotic spiritual journey. A dark comedy that inevitably ends in chaos.â
With regards to the album, âWe didnât really have to force or be intense about writing, because everything that happened was very instinctual,â Jake says. âIf anything, the record is our perspective, and sums up where we are as a group and individually as musicians.â
Throughout the ten-song collection the band explores the duality of fantasy versus reality and the contrast between light and darkness. âWe had this idea that we wanted to tell these stories to build a universe,â says Wagner. âWe wanted to introduce characters and motifs and these ideas that would come about here and there throughout our careers through this world.â
The band took multiple concepts from critically acclaimed second album The Battle at Gardenâs Gate and brought them into Starcatcher, although Samâs take on the new recordâs big ideas hint instead at new beginnings. âWhen I imagine the world of Starcatcher, I think of the cosmos,â he says. âIt makes me ask a lot of questions, like âWhere did we come from?â or âWhat are we doing here?â But itâs also questions like, âWhat is this consciousness that we have, and where did it come from?ââ
This week also saw Peter Gabriel share the latest taste of new album, ‘i/o’, with the release of the title-track.
Speaking about the new track, Gabriel says:
âThis month the song is “i/o” and “i/o” means input / output. You see it on the back of a lot of electrical equipment and it just triggered some ideas about the stuff we put in and pull out of ourselves, in physical and non-physical ways. That was the starting point of this idea and then trying to talk about the interconnectedness of everything. The older I get, I probably don’t get any smarter, but I have learned a few things and it makes a lot of sense to me that we are not these independent islands that we like to think we are, that we are part of a whole. If we can see ourselves as better connected, still messed up individuals, but as part of a whole, then maybe there’s something to learn?”
‘i/o’ as a potential album title has long-been known within fan circles, and is now the name of the current project, the album and the forthcoming tour, but as Gabriel says, âIt’s been around for a long time as a title for this project. I always knew I was going to write a song called “i/o”, but the title came first.â
Therapy? continue to build to the release of new album, ‘Hard Cold Fire’ on May 5th. This week saw the band share new single, ‘Poundland of Hope and Glory’, which you can check out above.
The band say, âThis track started out as a hard take on how people lose themselves in narratives to the point that the myth takes on greater importance than the fact. Just like the old adage about the liar repeating the lie so much that they eventually believe it themselves, the culture around us is bursting with fairy stories we tell ourselves.â
There was also new music to savour this week from Holding Absence as they debuted their latest single, ‘A Crooked Melody’, which you can check out above.
Like Moths To Flames debut ‘Predestination Paradox’
Like Moths To Flames – ‘Predestination Paradox’
Like Moths To Flames have released their first new music in two years with return single ‘Predestination Paradox’, which you can check out above.
“I think there are a lot of things that we all commit to, where we know how it will end,” says LMTF’s Chris Roetter. “This song is meant to portray the experience of learning that almost everything has an inevitable expiration date. We never know how much time we are offered or how much time is left, yet we still immerse ourselves in these deep relationships.”
2000trees announce Soft Play as their final headliner!
We move our News Report on now to the best festival announcements from the past week and up first is 2000trees.
This week saw a wave of additions to the line-up including headliners Soft Play making their live return. Also added to the line-up were Dinosaur Pile-Up, Hell Is For Heroes, Gaffa Tape Sandy, Haggard Cat and more.
They join the likes of Bullet For My Valentine, Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Bob Vylan, Holding Absence, Deaf Havana, Hundred Reasons, Skindred and many more.
The second wave of acts for Y Not Festival were revealed this week including Sea Girls, The Pigeon Detectives, Yonaka, Cassyette, Gengahr, Feet, Peaness, The Hara, DEADLETTER, Daisy Brain and more.
They join a bill featuring the likes of Royal Blood, Kasabian, Paul Weller, The Wombats, James, DMA’s, The Charlatans, KT Tunstall, The Murder Capital, Kid Kapichi, Beans On Toast and many more.
Our News Report looks now at the best live announcements of the past week and we kick off with Royal Blood who have revealed two intimate warm-up shows in amongst their packed summer.
Bristol-based rock multi-instrumentalist Lucky Thief shares his new single, ‘Silencer’.
Speaking about the inspiration behind the single, Lucky Thief explains, âSilencer is about being unable to control how we speak. So many people have opinions that are narrow minded, selfish and ill-considered; This song airs my frustration with them. It also looks at how hard it is for me to stay quiet, if I feel something deserves to be said, I will not be silenced.â
Harker – ‘Wasting Time’
Brighton, UK punk rock powerhouse Harker have released a new single titled ‘Wasting Time’.
The band comment, “‘Wasting Time’ is about the breakdown of communication in modern life – it’s easy to misunderstand and mislead when you only talk through a digital screen. Talk to your loved ones in person, debate face to face, and know when to set your boundaries if it’s not working. ‘Wasting Time’ is a back to basics, 4 chord postpunk pop ruckus track – heavy hooks and fuzzed out guitar walls, just how we like it.”
Cape Crush – ‘Sandwich Wars’
Cape Crush, hailing from Massachusetts, have unveiled their new single, ‘Sandwich Wars’.
Vocalist Ali Lipman, says “‘Sandwich Wars” is an emo pop anthem I wrote about not apologizing for yourself. I wrote it from the point of view of giving advice to a younger version of yourself. It was inspired by the advice of my former roommate Chelsea who left earth too soon about not being so quick to blame yourself. Our house was called Club Sammich, which is where the Sandwich Wars title comes from. It’s got some personal imagery in, but hopefully it conveys that your mistakes don’t define the person you become. I think Sandwich Wars is the band’s favorite song on the EP. This came together as a full band song with James really driving home the riffs and all those little musical moments that keep you listening (like the car crash), Jake’s bass and backing vocals in the last chorus, and Cody’s energetic beats. We love playing this one and we hope people enjoy listening!”
Watch Episode 42 of our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast with guests ANGER PARTY!
‘Discover’ New Music Podcast – Episode 42 – ANGER PARTY
