Our weekly music News Report has evolved into theĀ 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’ fromĀ Ash.
We have our News Report rounding up new releases fromĀ 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 fromĀ British Lion, Fozzy, KITE THIEF, VV, The Amazons, The Coral, Twin Atlantic and Lonely The Brave.
Finally, we round up the latest additions to ourĀ āDiscoverā New Music PlaylistĀ withĀ Major Moment, Tropic Gold and Future Static!
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We get started this week with the latest from Reading and Leeds Festivals which as is tradition take place this August Bank Holiday weekend.
This week saw the likes of Lauran Hibberd, The Royston Club, Somebody’s Child and Bilk.
They will join names such as The Killers, Yard Act, The Amazons, You Me At Six, Frank Turner, Imagine Dragons, Don Broco, The Snuts, Hot Milk, The Murder Capital, Yonaka, Normandie and Sleep Token.
The View recently announce that their new album ‘Exorcism of Youth’ will be released on August 18th. Now the band have revealed a full Autumn UK Tour in support of the album.
Kyle Falconer commented, āTouring has always been what weāve done best, we just needed some time to refuel. Canāt wait to get back to it!ā
PJ Harvey has announced her new album, ‘I Inside the Old Year Dying’, will be out on July 7th.
Ahead of her first album since 2016, Harvey has also debuted brand new single, ‘A Child’s Question, August’, which you can check out above.
On the new single: āI think the album is about searching, looking – the intensity of first love, and seeking meaning,ā says Harvey. āNot that there has to be a message, but the feeling I get from the record is one of love ā itās tinged with sadness and loss, but itās loving. I think that’s what makes it feel so welcoming: so open.ā
Grian Chatten, vocalist of Dublinās critically acclaimed band Fontaines D.C., has shared his debut solo single, āThe Scoreā, which you can check out above.
Commenting on the track, Chatten explains, āāThe Scoreā is a heavyweight bated breath of lust. I wrote it in Madrid between an electric fan and a dying plant and I intend to keep it there. It was inspired by sugar and sunset.ā
Very first German rock/metal Eurovision Song Contest representatives,Ā Lord of the Lost, have released an official music video forĀ ‘Destruction Manual’, which you can check out above.
The band on the new video: āA video where the whole band is represented by women. That is something I’ve wanted to do for half of my life. But it wasnāt the right time until now: the moment has come! Next to Louisa, we have four outstanding female musicians from all over the world at our instruments, and we love the energy that all five of them radiate here. What can I say? We’ve never looked so stunning!”
Next in our News Report is K.Flay who this week released her latest single, ‘Raw Raw’, which you can check out above.
Regarding the single K.Flay says,Ā āāRaw Rawā is the start of my next chapter. After losing half my hearing last fall, I was faced with a sudden and intense episode of fear and vulnerability. Like, could I even make music again? Once I got into my recovery and started writing and recording, I knew that I could. And what I wanted to create was music that felt properly rock but also properly future oriented. Uninhibited and different.
āWith āRaw Rawā I wanted to capture what vulnerability really feels like. Outwardly it might seem tender, but on the inside itās messy and bloody and somewhat terrifying. Itās a chainsaw buzzing at your throat.ā
Loose Articles share video for ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin
Loose Articles – ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin’
Manchester indie punksĀ Loose Articles this week shared new single ‘Sinead Loves Bitcoin’, which you can check out above.
āThe song is about our pal and local legend Sinead Ferguson, who’s a band photographer,āĀ say the band of the story behind the track.Ā āShe had her instagram account hijacked by Bitcoin hackers who were posing as her and trying to sell everyone Bitcoin for Ā£10,000. For a split second everyone thought Sinead was a Bitcoin dealer, so we turned it into a song where she was stealing your wifi and hacking your social media accounts to sell Bitcoin.ā
The band have launched aĀ spoof NFT schemeĀ to accompany the track, alongsideĀ Sineadās Bitcoin Fund, which will offer fans the ability to donate money to the band to unlock perks.
Tiers range from Ā£0ā20+ and include incentives like a specially recorded B-side short story, a cassette tape of the release, a DTG Ape Loose Articles shirt, and more special gifts TBC.
Salisbury punk rockersĀ CARSICK have shared their latest single, ‘Anaconda Frank’, which you can check out above.
The band are also set to drop their forthcomingĀ debut EPĀ ‘Drunk Hymns’Ā onĀ 30th June.
Anaconda Frank is our biggest rager yet,āĀ the band said of the song.Ā āWe wanted to capture the chaotic energy of our lives right now and so we’ve drawn on a bunch of real experiences we’ve had recently – covering everything from addiction to giant exotic snakes. It’s about being in a transitional stage of your life and figuring out what exactly it is you want to do and the kind of person you want to be.”
New York-based punk band Oxymorrons continue their genre-bending revolution with their latest single, ‘Last Call’ featuring Troi Irons.
When asked what inspired them to write such an honest song and share themselves so openly, the band explained, āāLast Callā is an exercise in vulnerability and using our music to help us better understand ourselves and our coping mechanisms. Too many times weāve all found ourselves drowning at the bottom of a bottle, using alcohol to help us feel something different or feel nothing at all. Whether youāve struggled in the past or are struggling right now, we hope this song helps you feel seen and plays a role in helping you not struggle in the future.ā Ā Featured artist Troi Irons brought a different perspective to the track, sharing, āIāve long been a fan of the Oxymorrons and what they do so I was thrilled to hop on this song. I donāt really drink but itās more a metaphor for how humans tend to reach for the closest thing to help us feel less alone. Itās not always healthy. Hopefully people reach for the music to feel less alone with this one.ā
DETHRXNER – ‘STAY COLD’
Copenhagen’s DETHRXNER share their new single, ‘STAY COLD’ featuring Aaron Matts of ten56..
“āStay ColdāĀ is a track about resilience and perseverance in the face of challenges. The lyrics convey a determination to stick to one’s plan, despite past failures and missed opportunities – itās ultimately a declaration of staying strong, staying true to oneself, and staying focused on success, no matter how tough the journey may beāĀ – Vocalist Neema RadĀ
Tribe of Ghosts – ‘Sunburner (Deny the Rot)’
Tribe Of Ghosts share their brand new single ‘Sunburner (Deny the Rot)’.
āWhen my mental health began severely declining before my diagnosis, I always associated the Sun as some kind of aggressor or enemy as it would cause emotional and physical discomfort whenever I saw it… This discomfort would bring on these intense feelings of anxiety and intense physical pain that I would daily attempt to mask and ignore as I didnāt want to accept that I was mentally unwell.ā – Guitarist Adam Sedgwick.
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
Where else could we start this week other than with Glastonbury Festival and their initial 2023 line-up! We now know that Elton John will be joined in headlining the Pyramid Stage by Arctic Monkeys and Guns N Roses!
Also playing over the weekend will be Alt-J, Blondie, Manic Street Preachers, Nova Twins, Royal Blood, slowthai, Texas and Legends Slot filling Yusuf (Cat Stevens).
Another major festival dropping line-up additions this week were the August stalwart Reading & Leeds Festivals.
The likes of The Amazons, Frank Turner, Easy Life, Palaye Royale, Sleep Token, Sea Girls, Vistas, The Murder Capital, Normandie, Knocked Loose, Yonaka, Yard Act and Don Broco join the line-up.
They join the likes Sam Fender, Foals, The Killers, Billie Eilish, Imagine Dragons, Wet Leg, You Me At Six, Nothing But Thieves, The Snuts and Hot Milk.
It was a good week for festival fans this week as our News Report continues with this stunning line-up from 2000trees Festival!
The absolutely stacked line-up now features added American Football, Eagles of Death Metal, Electric Six, Employed To Serve, Joy Formidable, Tigercub and Black Honey.
The full line-up also hosts the likes of Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes, Hundred Reasons, Skindred, Deaf Havana, Rival Schools, Bob Vylan, Empire State Bastard, Holding Absence, Kid Kapichi, Cancer Bats, Dream State, LostAlone, Witch Fever, Blackgold, Guise, Mimi Barks, Pet Needs, Press To Meco and many more!
āFor us, seeing fans just as excited about the bands lower down the line up as they are about the bigger artists is what 2000trees is all about, and this announcement is no different. Heriot and Kneecap were big personal highlights from 2000trees 2022, so to be able to have Heriot return to smash the Main Stage and Kneecap bringing the carnage to the Forest Stage is going to be something special! And thereās still two headliners to come sooner than you might thinkā¦ā – Festival booker James
Also unveiling more of their line-up this week were Standon Calling. The event is due to be headlined by Years & Years, Self Esteem, Bloc Party & The Human League.
Playing across the weekend will be the likes of Rick Astley, Squid, We Are Scientists, Bob Vylan, The Murder Capital, The Big Moon, Lottery Winners, KT Tunstall and The Sherlocks.
Sharing in the excitement of todayās news, Rick Astley said: āI canāt wait to head back to Hertfordshire for Standon Calling this July, hope to see you all there!ā
Leicester’s The Long Road festival returns in 2023 with a line-up including Jon Pardi, Blackberry Smoke and many more.
Commenting on todayās announcement, TLRās Tennessee-born Creative Director Baylen Leonard said: āWe’re delighted to announce the first wave of artists for The Long Road 2023. Our festival is about offering a unique, inclusive experience for our visitors, with amazing music, great food, and a welcoming atmosphere. Our line-up reflects the very best in Country and Americana music today, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors to Stanford Hall for what is going to be a truly unforgettable bank holiday weekend.”
We move our News Report on now to the best tour announcements from the past week and we begin in Wales as Kings of Leon reveal two special dates at the Racecourse Ground in Wrexham this May.
Also this week, pop disruptor Ashnikko announced her hotly anticipated world tour and debut album ‘WEEDKILLER’, which is out June 2nd.
Speaking on the announcement Ashnikko states “My bioluminescent heart is glowing. My post-apocalyptic fae world is here for you to journey into. My wings have been ripped out, but Iāve built them anew using WEEDKILLER machine parts. I am the one sent here to eliminate you, WEEDKILLER.”
British Lion next in our News Report as this week they announced a new UK and European summer tour including dates in Manchester and Nottingham.
Steve Harris comments, āWe just had a brilliant time on the January UK tour and itās great to be heading out again in 2023. Iām really looking forward to BOTH Summer tours this year!ā
Our News Report looks now at the best new releases from the past week and we begin this week with Metallica!
The legendary band are readying their latest album, ’72 Seasons’, which is out April 14th. This week that meant the debut of new single, ‘If Darkness Had a Son’, which you can listen to above.
This week saw Underoath return with their brand new single, ‘Let Go’, which you can check out above.
In discussing the song, the band said, āThis is actually the first song we completed after recording (last yearās) Voyeurist. It took a few different forms but we got it to a place where we knew this is what it should be. Itās about letting go of whatever trauma or demons that might be holding you back. As hard as it is to make those decisions sometimes, I feel like we can never grow without stepping out of those toxic environments.ā
DMA’S have this week shared their latest single, ‘Something We Are Overcoming’, which you can listen to above.
The track comes ahead of new album, ‘How Many Dreams?’, which is out March 31st.
“‘Something We Are Overcomingā started as a moving ballad about perseverance but quickly morphed into a trancey anthem of a side quest that is slightly but steadily DMAāS. We hope you like it.ā ā DMAāS
Brighton’s snake eyes have shared new single, ‘no one is truly cool’, and you can check out the video above.
Commenting on the new single, vocalist Jim Heffy says: “I met a bloke in a band I like at a festival after separately having a really lovely chat with one of their bandmates. he was stand-offish and, to be honest, a bit of a prick, giving proper ātoo cool for schoolā vibes. the whole exchange left a bad taste in my mouth.ā
āthe fake cool guy thing can only go so far. no need for a fake personality. just be real, be yaself. even Keith Richards puts down the whiskey and cigs sometimes and watches āthe last of usā in his pants with a bowl of nik naks like everyone else.ā
The official video for the track was created by the bandās drummer and visual director Thomas Coe-Brooker, who explains of the concept: “in keeping with the song, we thought it’d be fun to make a really cool looking video in the least cool of spaces – a family garage. kinda like when you’re having band practice as a teenager and you’re all really sending it like total bad asses…but ultimately, your mum’s seconds from bursting in to tell you it’s too loud and that your dinner’s ready. that, but with satisfying, nicely framed angles and dreamy in-camera long exposure, 90s style.”
Hell’s Ditch have shared new single, ‘Ghosts’, ahead of their debut EP, ‘Take Cover’, out March 23rd.
Vocalist Nick Davis explains: “Ghosts is about the hanging weight of the past, the present and the future. Capitalism puts a premium on individual success, which leads people to feel like their failing if they don’t achieve certain goals or milestones. It’s all too easy to plant trees, grow them, and then cut them down inside the confines of your own head. I wrote most of the lyrics while watching my cats seemingly stare at nothing on the ceiling”.
paradise fell. – ‘VICES.’
Alternative artist paradise fell has shared their debut offering āVICES.ā.
āVICES. is a frantic confrontation of the irony; that something which kills us slowly, sets us free in the moment. It makes us feel alive. The bad habits we have are the only things that can save us from the drudgery of daily life. The very things that are killing us, become a cornerstone of our identity. They become familiar. They become part of who we are. A comfort in a chaotic world.ā – paradise fell.
Hunch Power – ‘Eye for an Eye’
Hunch Power hits back with their new pacifist anthem, ‘Eye for an Eye’.
“I’d been wanting to write a pacifist song about revenge for ages. I was sure about borrowing Ghandi’s famous words for the title and chorus but I couldn’t find the right music to go with it. One day I remembered an old idea I never demoed and realised the music matched perfectly so I wrote new lyrics and the band loved it” – Singer Harvey Springfield
Over to Oxfordshire next for Truck Festival where Royal Blood again top the bill alongside Two Door Cinema Club, alt-j and Thursday headliner The Wombats.
They’ll be joined by acts such as DMA’s, The Vaccines, Self Esteem, Circa Waves, Pale Waves, Squid, We Are Scientists and more.
To Yorkshire next and Sheffield’s Tramlines returns to Hillsborough Park this July with a huge line-up including headliners Richard Ashcroft, Courteeners and Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott.
Also on the bill are DMA’s, Bloc Party, Blossoms, Kaiser Chiefs, Sea Girls, Circa Waves, The Enemy, Pale Waves, The Zutons, October Drift and Black Honey!
The line-up announcements come thick and fast in our News Report this week with 2000trees also adding a further 50 bands to the line-up including the mighty Skindred!
Deaf Havana, The Bronx, Empire State Bastard, Kid Kapichi, Lynks, The Xcerts and many more also join the like up topped by Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes!
Wollaton Park in Nottingham will once again host Splendour Festival this July. The festival this year will be headlined by Madness and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. Also playing will be the likes of The Kooks.
Yes with all these festival announcements in our News Report this week, we are set for some Beautiful Days next summer! Headlining that very event will be Suede, Primal Scream and Levellers.
Also playing will be Johnny Marr, The Proclaimers, Gaz Coombes, Reef, Ferocious Dog, Beans On Toast, The Joy Formidable and many more.
The fantastic Cambridge Folk Festival has also revealed their names this week with The Proclaimers, Rufus Wainwright, Imelda May, Grace Petrie, Kiefer Sutherland, The Longest Johns and Stornoway all set for Cherry Hinton Hall.
Teddy Rocks, which takes place in Dorset and helps to raise money towards research and direct support for children with cancer, set their full line-up this week.
Newly announced acts like Ferocious Dog join a bill featuring Feeder, Jake Bugg, The Amazons, Those Damn Crows, Kid Kapichi, Mason Hill, Dream State and MOSKITO.
The traditional Teenage Cancer Trust shows at the Royal Albert Hall will once again return in 2023 with headline acts Underworld, Wet Leg, Courteeners and Kasabian.
We move our News Report over now to the best tour announcements from the past week. First of all is the above mix of dates from The Who.
The iconic group will be accompanied by an orchestra and support on most dates will come from UB40.
Performing with The Who and an orchestra had been a long-held ambition for singer Roger Daltrey āHaving not toured the UK for six years, itās great that at this time of our careers we have the chance to go to places that are not on the usual touring map Edinburgh Castle and Derby, as well as the other cities across the country that we havenāt been to for decades, will make this very special for me. This opportunity will give our UK Who fans the chance to hear our current show, which, with the addition of an orchestra, takes our music to new heights.ā
Pete Townshend āRoger initially christened this tour with an orchestra Moving On! I love it. It is what both of us want to do. Move on, with new music, classic Who music, all performed in new and exciting ways. Taking risks, nothing to lose. Iām really looking forward to bringing this show to the UK.ā
Another musical icon, Gary Numan, will be playing three very special shows at the Electric Ballroom in Camden this April.
Revealing the dates, Numan said “In my career I have played, so far, 997 Gary Numan shows. To celebrate reaching the 1,000 milestone I’ll be playing three shows, 998, 999, and 1,000, at the Electric Ballroom in London on April 13th, 14th and 15th. These will obviously be special nights for me, but made all the more so as my daughter Raven will be the support. Raven has finished writing her first album which is currently being recorded with, and produced by, Ade Fenton. For me to be able to celebrate these three momentous shows with the fans who have made it all possible, and for those same nights to be Raven’s first ever three shows playing her new music, is almost more than my tiny heart can stand. I hope to see you there.”
Jamie Lenman had a big news week with details of a Spring Tour accompanied by the news that a new EP, ‘Iknowyouknowiknow’, is set for release on May 5th.
That news has included the debut of new single, ‘Words of Love’, which you can check out below.
Jamie Lenman – ‘Words of Love’
Commenting on the new track, Lenman says: āāWords Of Loveā is a very old song that I’ve been trying to get on a record since some time between the second and third Reuben albums, but it never fit anywhere until now. Even so, I still had to shave off a few of the post-hardcore edges to make it fit with this project, so if you think you can hear a little mid-noughties vibe in there, that’s why. For a long time this was on rough track listings for the album, but in the end we decided it would be nice to give it a starring role on the EP insteadāotherwise it would have been fighting for attention.ā
āThematically it’s about somebody’s reaction to a past infidelity, their inability to get over it or even recognise their own culpability. In that way it’s very much the flip side of āLet’s Stop Hanging Outā, where the person is reacting to the same situation in a much more accepting way. In fact, I wrote the middle eight section at the same time I wrote LSHO, when I was in college. So they share some of the same DNA.”
The new single comes with a new video, once again directed and filmed by Lenman live band guitarist and visual collaborator Jen Hingley.
āThe video came out of nowhere, because we’d had the tour and then Lenmania and then Christmas to deal with,ā explains Lenman of the concept. āSuddenly it was the first week of January and we needed it the next week. I said to Jen on the Sunday night: ‘We’re gonna drive up to Manchester on Tuesday morning and drive back home the same dayāwe’ll have about six hours in between, so let’s just book a room, fill it full of lights and instruments and see what happens!'”
Pre-orders, tickets and all things Lenman are here.
The final tour announcement in our News Report this week comes from the unstoppable October Drift! As the band continue to celebrate the release of their sophomore album, ‘I Don’t Belong Anywhere’, the group have revealed a fun of dates in April/May.
The band said, “Over the moon to announce our Spring headline UK tour dates and our first ever headline shows in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This is going to be our biggest an best tour yet”.
Hundred Reasons will imminently release their first new album in 15 years as ‘Glorious Sunset’ arrives on February 24th.
This week the band shared the final pre-release single, ‘So So Soon’, which you can check out above.
Frontman Colin Doran who had the following to say about the sentiments behind their latest song:
“My 7-year-old son has Cerebral Palsy and goes to a mainstream school. The school he attended at the time of writing this (he’s at another school now) was pretty bad and hid information, lied, and generally did a terrible job of looking after my son and his needs. They always gave the impression that things were fine but effectively were just making sure they were OK by covering up issues. My son is the light of my life and beyond incredible every single day and I wanted to draw light on how people with disabilities are still treated terribly in society by people who should just be better educated, more understanding, thoughtful, and kind.”
Next up in our News Report is ‘kill[h]er’, the brand new track from Stand Atlantic, and of course you can listen above!
āSelf sabotage is a bitch,ā states Bonnie Fraser. āSelf doubt kills and denying good and genuine parts of yourself because youāve been conditioned to think theyāre not good enough is a form of murder. it’s a reminder to myself not to give in to that shit. personal growth is important but donāt deny who you are. sometimes i find myself thinking back to who i used to be and missing that person.ā
Ahead of their upcoming UK Tour, Dub War have shared the video for their track, ‘Celtic Cross’, which you can check out above. Their latest album, ‘Westgate Under Fire’, is out now!
The band comment:
āāCeltic Crossā sends out a message of defiance and hope, and features the amazing drummer Tanner Wayne, who many of you will recognise from the Swedish heavy metal band In Flames. From 1st March, we will be touring England and weāll be hitting some great intimate venues – come and see what we got to say!ā
Continuing the slew of great new releases in our News Report this week is ‘Nightmare’, the latest single from From Ashes To New, which you can check out above.
The track comes from their as-yet-titled fourth album due out this summer.
“Betrayal by someone we trust happens to the best of us,ā says Danny Case. āWe befriend someone, let them in, build a connection and then all of a sudden they turn into someone unrecognizable. Someone you once trusted and cared for so deeply is now a backstabbing enemy. In a heartbeat, the person you once thought you knew is now gone. There arenāt many things in life that cut quite as deep as betrayal. Erasing that person from your life and moving forward is the only way to wake up from the nightmare.ā
Slow Readers Club share new single ‘Lay Your Troubles On Me’
Slow Readers Club – ‘Lay Your Troubles On Me’
There was also new music on offer this week from Slow Readers Club as they shared their latest single, ‘Lay Your Troubles On Me’, which you can check out above.
The band commented, āāLay Your Troubles On Meā was born out of a jamming session in our rehearsal room. We were jamming around the verse idea at rehearsals and then went for a brew break. When we came back we started on another idea but soon realised it was the same notes but with a completely different groove and feel. We didnāt want to lose either version and we loved the idea of the tune getting progressively louder and intense so we combined them. Working on this one in pre-production Joe helped us make the crescendo work well with a cool synth sound.
Lyrically itās a song about recognising someone going through difficulties, reaching out and offering support. The vocal melody mostly came in the practice room but the high melody āhold on for dear life the ones you loveā over the crescendo came in the studio.ā
The track features on upcoming album, ‘Knowledge Freedom Power’, which is out February 24th.
Hamish Hawk will release new album, ‘Angel Numbers’ on 24th February and this week saw Hawk share new single ‘Rest & Veneers’ with Samantha Crain.
Hamish had the following to say about the themes behind the song:
“Rest & Veneers is a love song, in the softer, quieter sense of the phrase. It doesn’t deal in high romance, in grand gestures, or the movements of celestial bodies. It’s about the everyday kind of love and affection that shows itself in those small kindnesses, those spared thoughts and graces between friends. It’s new territory for me lyrically, and it takes me to a really good place when I listen to it, plus I’m in awe of Samantha Crain. The song is a relaxed moment on the record, and I’m so pleased its getting its own time to shine.”
Samantha Crain also commented on their collaboration:
“When Hamish sent me this song, I was absolutely floored. This is the kind of song I would have wanted to write. Such a simple subject matter but it really explores the complexity within that seemingly simple emotion. It’s my favorite song I’ve ever gotten to collaborate on a recording of.ā
Beans On Toast will be back out on the road very soon, so this week he aptly shared his new single, ‘Back out on the Road’. You can listen to the track above!
Closing out this section of our News Report this week is ‘Be Yourself’, the latest single from Stay Free, which you can listen to above.
The track is described as “an anthem about avoiding the all of the pressure the world and the media put on you to be a certain way and to just follow your own heart and be true to your authentic self.”.
Chappaqua Wrestling have announced their debut album, ‘Plus Ultra’, will be out April 14th and shared new single ‘Wide Asleep’.
The bands says, āWide Asleep is a complaint to ourselves for being consumed by the echo chamber of social media. Our mobile phones are the portal which lead us to misread and miscommunicate stories and topics, often leaving us more confused than we were in the first place. Wading through muddled points of view, mistargeted ads, senseless airtime of the Royal family, weddings of friends youād rather forget, addictively numbing reels, leaving us blinded by a little hand-sized screen. It makes us detached and unmoved by anything, all whilst being asleep to the world around us. Hopefully, our preaching will teach us something ourselves as we try to focus on the present.ā
Continuing about the album they say: “Plus Ultra documents the journey through our friendship, from school to where we now find ourselves commenting on what is around us. Roughly translating to ‘Nothing Lies Beyond’, a Latin naval term adopted by those exploring uncharted waters, we present a collection of our best works to date, each lyrically distinct but venturing into new territories that life presents; mass media, Tory austerity, mental health, homelessness, the deprived NHS and the release that music gives you from it all. Come with us to make sense of what lies beyond in this world through questions, power and statements that we stand by.ā
Gold Fever – ‘DB Cooper’
Gold Fever have shared their second single, ‘DB Cooper’.
Fronman Oscar JD Sault says ā āDB Cooper is written from the perspective of someone who believes theyāre destined for significance but misuses the present through hedonism. I wanted the track to feel precarious, like a train about to come away from the tracks. As if to mirror how one can wander too far from discipline towards indulgence.ā
Bitter Kisses – ‘Pr*y’
Bristol’s Bitter Kisses have shared their debut single, ‘Pr*y’.
Reflecting on the inspiration behind the single the band state, āPr*y was partially inspired by a fever dream in which Lady Gaga collaborated with Queens of the Stone Age to produce a new Earth Wind And Fire song.
When writing Pr*y we wanted to create a track which could ambiguously explore the difference in meanings of the words āpreyā and āprayā, and how they each apply to dangerous or unhealthy relationships. One person could worship another, while at the same time being preyed upon by the subject of their love. The meaning of the lyrics can change depending on which version prey/pray you want to hear whenever theyāre used in the song.ā
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week by running through the best festival announcements made over the past week and up first we have Kendal Calling.
Topping the bill this year will be Kasabian, Royal Blood, Blossoms and Nile Rodgers & Chic! They are joined by the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Frank Turner, Circa Waves, The Enemy, KT Tunstall and The Amazons.
Also across the weekend will be The Hunna, The Murder Capital, Vistas, We Are Scientists, Lottery Winners, Black Honey, Newton Faulkner, October Drift, Jack Valero and many more!
Glasgow’s TRNSMT has added some fifty new acts to the bill for this year’s festival. The events features headliners Pulp, Sam Fender, The 1975, George Ezra, Kasabian and Royal Blood.
They are joined by Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott, The View, The Kooks, Pale Waves, Hot Milk, Hamish Hawk, The Wombats, Nothing But Thieves, The Enemy, The Amazons, Bob Vylan, Dream Wife, Lauran Hibberd and many more.
Rock returns to Mote Park in Maidstone with the newly minted Maid of Stone taking place in July. The first headline act to be revealed are rockers Airbourne.
Joining the Aussies on the bill will be Skindred, The Hunna, Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons, Kris Barras Band, Elles Bailey, Florence Black, Bad Touch, Black Spiders and more.
Wales is also able to attract rocks finest with Steelhouse Festival leading the way. This week the festival announced that Black Stone Cherry will be topping the bill alongside already announced Saturday headliners Airbourne.
They are joined over the weekend by the likes of The Answer, Blues Pills, Kris Barras Band, Florence Black, When Rivers Meet, The Cruel Knives and Dead Man’s Whiskey!
Another rock event getting bigger this week was Slam Dunk Festival who have added more bands to an already packed bill. Probably a good thing then that they’ve also broken down the stage splits.
Added to the event were PVRIS, Sueco, Millie Manders and many more. They join the likes of Enter Shikari, The Offspring, Billy Talent, Bowling For Soup, Yellowcard,Creeper and far too many others to mention!
Live At Leeds: In The Park has added The Hives, DMA’s, gengahr and more to an already packed line up headlined by Two Door Cinema Club.
They join amongst others, The Big Moon, Black Honey, The Beths, Skinny Living, Deadletter, Ellur, Low Hummer and Opus Kink.
Speaking about their appearance at Live At Leeds: In The Park 2023, The Hivesā frontman Pelle Almqvist said: āSome festival names just have a ring to them donāt they? Live At Leeds. It sounds like some upper echelon rock shit and if this yearās edition wasnāt before, now it is. The Hives are very proud and happy to join this upper echelon. They are coming for your money and dignity and in exchange they will deliver however long a show you will let them of life-affirming record-breaking rock ā ‘ roll music. If you have never seen them before. imagine a rock show but to the 3rd power. Too much of everything. If you have seen them before, you know you will have to again.ā
Skinny LivingĀ said: āLive At Leeds is one of our favourite festivals in the UK! The line up is always top class, so to be able to play the main stage as a local band this year is a proper moment for us and our people.ā
Looking ahead, Festival Promoter Joe Hubbard said: āIt may be chilly outside, but weāre already incredibly excited about returning to Temple Newsam for an unforgettable summer festival celebration – with even more favourites and new faces joining the party at Live At Leeds: In The Park this year.
DMAās and The Hives may just be some of the best festival bands going right now, and having phenomena like Cavetown and Crawlers join the party is truly special. At Live At Leeds, we always look to bring unmissable live titans together with fansā next favourite bands – and this yearās In The Park is the perfect example of that. All coming together on one day at Temple Newsam, thereās nothing quite like it – and we canāt wait to see everyone this May!ā
Following a run of new solo singles, iconic guitarist Chris Shiflett this week revealed a run of UK dates this March including a tour finale at Scala in London.
Our News Report continues with news that Pierce The Veil will be in the UK next April. The band will play a number of large venues finishing up at Alexandra Palace in London.
Next in our News Report is the latest single from Willie J Healey featuring Jamie T. Listen to ‘Thank You’ above now.
The track comes from forthcoming album, ‘Bunny’, which is out August 25th.
Willie comments on the new single: “I was tired and flat and didnāt know what to make & then my friend Jamie said ay willie Iāve got this drum machine it might inspire you.. I picked it up and wrote ‘Thank You’ the next day, it was my way of thanking Jamie for being a good friend. I dedicate it to anyone trying to do their own thing.”
Mimi Barks concludes this portion of our News Report with the new video for her track, ‘SAW’, which you can watch above!
The track features on their recently released mixtape, ‘DEADGIRL’.
Barks had the following to say, “SAW, the third song on the DEADGIRL Mixtape, marks the resistance, rage, and anger I experienced while seeking my identity and self-worth on an emotional, spiritual, physical, and mental level.ā
She continues to mention – āWorking independently on set with a micro teamājust me, and my videographer, and his cameraāit takes me back to my roots. No crew, no lights, and no screenplay. Itās raw, industrial and dirty – with the walls of the derelict buildings captured in the music video reflecting the wrath and backlash of my internal war.ā
Blondshell will release her self-titled debut album arrives April 7th and is preceded by new single, ‘Joiner’.
Describing the new single, Blondshell explains, āI was listening to a lot of Britpop when I wrote this song. A lot of those bands like The Verve, Pulp, Suede, and Blur channelled dark subject matter, drugs, and all this dirty stuff, but with a fun acoustic guitar under it. I was listening to The Replacements, too. Thatās what this song was inspired by sonically. I wanted it to feel like youāre watching HBO, where even though itās heavy, itās still a good time.”
BLACKGOLD – ‘Boogeyman’
Masked Misfits BLACKGOLD are back at it again with new single āBoogeymanā!
The band comment, āāBoogeymanā is about that person that haunts your dreams. They have full control over you within your subconscious and it feels like you canāt escape.ā
Riyah – ‘Perfect’
Riyah is ready to unleash her first single ‘Perfect’, showcasing what is to come from her hands and lungs.
She comments,Ā “I’m excited to see this new chapter roll out with this new EP. I’ve spent almost two years figuring out which way to go, and these songs might feel like baby steps to some, but for me it’s gigantic leap into my passion”Ā
Welcome everyone to the final News Report for 2022! We hope that you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year! Our action packed News Report will return in January, but before then we have plenty of delicious music news to dissect!
Up for this week, we look at the best tour announcements from the past week and we start with Kiss. The band has revealed that their ‘End of the Road’ World Tour will continue into 2023 with a new UK Tour announced starting in Plymouth and ending up in Glasgow.
This *could be* your last chance to catch the band live! Tickets are here.
Former Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan has revealed a full UK & Ireland Tour for next spring. The tour will showcase upcoming debut album, ‘Put Your Foot Down’, which is out April 28th.
On Friday, Colchester’s Pet Needs played a huge homecoming show which served as the 2nd ‘Fractured Party’. As the show concluded, the band announced the 3rd instalment will take place on December 16th 2023.
We move now on to festival announcements and up first is the return of Brits Week in aid of War Child. February will see bands playing intimate shows across the country with a focus on London.
The Hunna, The Snuts, Sea Girls, Frank Turner and Bob Vylan are amongst those on offer in 2023.
Another event doing a fantastic job in raising money for charity is Teddy Rocks festival in aid of research and direct support for children with cancer.
This year the event hosts Feeder, Jake Bugg, The Amazons, Those Damn Crows, Punk Rock Factory, Kid Kapichi, Dream State, Mason Hill, The Bottom Line and many more.
Penn Fest in Buckinghamshire also unveiled their line-up for next Summer this past week, including headliners Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds and Bastille.
They’ll be joined by the likes of Johnny Marr, Gaz Coombes, The Skinner Brothers and Embrace.
The final festival news in our News Report this week comes from Firestorm Festival. The event has added Massive Wagons to the top of their Friday bill for 2023.
They join the likes of Royal Republic, The Virginmarys, Mason Hill, Hollowstar, Kris Barras Band, Black Spiders and Scruffy Bear.
Hell Is For Heroes share ‘I Should Never Have Been Here In The First Place’
Hell Is For Heroes – I Should Never Have Been Here In The First Place’
New releases are up next in our News Report as we bring you the first new music from Hell Is For Heroes in 15 years. You can listen to their new single, ‘I Should Never Have Been Here In The First Place’, above.
On the week of her highly anticipated āDEADGIRLā mixtape release fearless Doom Trap artist Mimi Barks has unveiled her new track āASHESā.
Talking about the meaning behind ‘ASHES’, Mimi Barks shares, āWomen who posed a threat during the dark ages were accused of being witches, intimidated, burned alive, and sentenced to execution. Today, ever since the Age of Enlightenment, a creative, strong-willed, and self-assured woman still gets burnt to the stake verbally by those led by their own anxieties.ā
XL LIFE – ‘Baby Steps’
XL LIFE shared new single ‘Baby Steps’ featuring Bob Vylan!
On working with Vylan for the new single, vocalist Traxx says:Ā āWe always felt a kinship with Bob because of his message, his boldness, and his morals, so with this song we took the opportunity to have him on the album and co-sign each otherās work. We will support him to the end.ā
Commenting on the relevance of the new single, vocalist Traxx says:Ā āWe knew this song had to be made, because we had all been going through some heavy stuff outside of the band. The band has been stop-start/stop-start the whole time, trying to prioritise our health and coming up against some really traumatic circumstances, so this song had to address that. The healing journey. Baby steps. Holding onto the promises.ā
Fountain Island – ‘Pretty Little Nightmare’
Pop-punk newcomers Fountain Island reveal their contagious new single, ‘Pretty Little Nightmares’.
The band remark about its creation: āāPretty Little Nightmaresā explores the bittersweetness of the first time with a loved one, and the realisation that one day it will just be a memory and can never be experienced again. The track takes cues from Blink182ās āI Miss Youā, with its melancholy gothic tone whilst retaining the youthful pop feel.ā
THE AMAZONS – HOW WILL I KNOW IF HEAVEN WILL FIND ME? – ALBUM REVIEW
Reading rockers The Amazons are back with their third album, āHow Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me?ā.
The band burst onto the scene with their 2017 self-titled debut and quickly established themselves as one of the hottest young rock bands in the country. Follow up āFuture Dustā was far from a flop, but probably didnāt build on their momentum as well as theyād have hoped. It will be interesting then to see how āHow Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me?ā fares and what impact it will have, if any, on the groupās career trajectory.
WATCH ‘HOW WILL I KNOW?’ FROM THE AMAZONS ON YOUTUBE
Making their name for out all arena rock anthems, this new record follows a path hinted at on its predecessor with a more melodic sound. Sombre and delicate, the harder side of the band only makes rare appearances as they explore their softer capabilities.
Whilst there will certainly be some fans slightly alienated by this, there will be many more that will welcome this change of pace; after all the band have successfully shown this side in past.
When we look beyond the aesthetics of the album, blinker ourselves from their past output and focus solely on the eleven tracks that make up āHow Will I Know If Heaven Will Find Me?ā, then we are looking are a superb record. A delicately crafted collection of melancholic glory!
Yes, The Amazons may be evolving before our eyes, but they are also proving themselves to be the future superstars that their debut album promised.
When we caught The Amazons supporting Royal Blood in arenas recently, we speculated that they would soon be headlining such venues themselves. With this album the band have ensured that trajectory remains.
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the best tour announcements from the last seven days and that begins with more huge stadium shows from Coldplay.
After the success of their ‘Music of the Spheres’ stadium tour this summer, the band have revealed that they will return with multiple shows in both Manchester and Cardiff in 2023!
Another artist with new tour dates to reveal this past week was KT Tunstall. Tunstall will be hitting the road hard early next year along with special guest Andy Burrows.
Tunstall’s new album, ‘NUT’, is out September 9th.
Rounding out the tour announcements in our News Report this week are Himalayas who have revealed that they will head out around the UK later this year.
We move our News Report onwards now to the best new releases from the past week. Arctic Monkeys have announced their long-awaited new album, ‘The Car’, will be out October 21st!
Muse debut video for ‘YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE IT’S HALLOWEEN’
Muse – ‘YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE IT’S HALLOWEEN’
The week saw Muse release new album, ‘WILL OF THE PEOPLE’, on which Matt Bellamy says:
āWill Of The People was created in Los Angeles and London and is influenced by the increasing uncertainty and instability in the world. A pandemic, new wars in Europe, massive protests & riots, an attempted insurrection, Western democracy wavering, rising authoritarianism, wildfires and natural disasters and the destabilization of the global order all informed Will Of The People.
It has been a worrying and scary time for all of us as the Western empire and the natural world, which have cradled us for so long are genuinely threatened. This album is a personal navigation through those fears and preparation for what comes next.ā
Muse also debuted the new video for single, ‘YOU MAKE ME FEEL LIKE IT’S HALLOWEEN’, which you can check out above.
Alien Weaponry debut video for ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’
Alien Weaponry – ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’
We continue our News Report with Alien Weaponry who have shared a video for ‘Down the Rabbit Hole’ taken from their ‘Tangaroa’ album.
“This was an absolute blast to film! ‘Down The Rabbit Hole’ represents the growth I’ve experienced throughout my life and putting to bed demons from the past. The video captures the meaning well – the broken objects representing said demons. Itās the rough times in life that make you who you are, as long as you rise above it.” – Lewis de Jong
Ayron Jones debuted new single, ‘Filthy’, this week which you can listen to above.
āWhere Iām from the word āFilthyā is used as the highest compliment in the land. It means that you are so good at what you do and who you are that it should be a sin,ā shared Jones. āThatās what was on my mind when I began working on this song. I wanted to celebrate counterculture and promote pride in what means to be considered ādifferent.āā
This week saw Eva Under Fire reveal the release dates for their highly anticipated debut album, ‘Love, Drugs & Misery’, which will arrive September 23rd.
Thrilled to be sharing the news, lead singer Eva Marie said, āWeāre super excited to finally be releasing our album Love, Drugs & Misery. We canāt wait to show you guys the full scope of what weāve been working on for so long. It was kind of a wild ride because when weād completed the record, we were super proud of it, it was some of our best writing to date, and then the world shut down. Itās been long-awaited, much-anticipated, and thereās so much heart and soul in this record. I canāt wait for you guys to experience it with us.ā
Recent guests on our ‘Discover’ New Music Podcast guests IOTA returned this week with a new single, ‘Sometimes’.
Speaking about the single, vocalist Jodie Robinson states, āThis song was written about a loved one after a freak accident that I witnessed. It really put everything into perspective and threw me into a realm of gratitude with a whole new found respect for having that person in my life. It’s a love letter to this person and a reminder to appreciate what you have before it’s too late.ā
‘Never Felt Before’ is the new single from Final Stair who release debut album, ‘Hope’ on September 30th.
The band comments:Ā āĀ Never Felt Before is about the passionate attraction between two people. It’s about a special moment. You can feel the excitement at first glance. Your hands are starting to sweat and your stomach is tingling. They both have the same overwhelming feelings towards each other that just can’t be described. You’ve just never experienced anything like it.
When we wrote the song, we didn’t have to think twice. We realized very quickly that this song describes the topic of passion very well, as it rushes forward uncompromisingly from start to finish, is incredibly intense and hardly leaves any time to breathe.ā
Northern Captives – ‘Every High’
‘Every High’ is the latest track from Northern Captives.
āMusically we wanted this song to push the dynamics to far extremes. We boiled down our verses to just kick, snare, bass, and vocals to match the intimacy of Cook’s lyrics. We kept drum parts very percussive, staying away from unnecessary ringing crashes allowed us to sonically explore low fi and broken textural sounds which would normally have been lost under cymbals.
We allowed the choruses to explode into a rich and dark sounding textural wall featuring distorted guitars and keys that amplified the desperation in the hook line āwhy must every high come down? Wonāt you stay around?āā ā Northern Captives
Dohny Jep – ‘Wine And Dine’
Kent-based alternative-rock trio Dohny Jep share new single, ‘Wine And Dine’.
. “Wine and Dine in its purest form is about love. Itās about those first moments of meeting someone new and the adventures that you are about to go on together, but also those first moments of conflict and how you pull together to get through those harder moments,” says vocalist Pete Herbert.
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report! This week is dominated by incredible new releases, so that’s exactly where we begin; and where better to start than with superstars Muse!
This week the band shared their latest single, ‘Kill or Be Killed’, which you can check out above. The single will feature on their upcoming new album, ‘Will of the People’, which is out August 26th!
āāKill Or Be Killedā is MUSE at their heaviest! We wanted to update our hard rock sound on this album and with KOBK we found a modern metal sound featuring double bass drum action and even a death growl. Lyrically the song takes influence from my favourite Paul McCartney song āLive And Let Dieā, a dark take on how lifeās adversity can sometimes bring out the worst human instincts to survival at any costs.ā ā Matt Bellamy
Red Hot Chili Peppers announce ‘Return of the Dream Canteen’
Red Hot Chili Peppers surprised fans this week with the revelation that they will be releasing a new studio album this year!
‘Return of the Dream Canteen’, will be available October 14th, and the band had the following to say:
“We went in search of ourselves as the band that we have somehow always been. Just for the fun of it we jammed and learned some old songs. Before long we started the mysterious process of building new songs. A beautiful bit of chemistry meddling that had befriended us hundreds of times along the way. Once we found that slip stream of sound and vision, we just kept mining.
With time turned into an elastic waistband of oversized underwear, we had no reason to stop writing and rocking. It felt like a dream. When all was said and done, our moody love for each other and the magic of music had gifted us with more songs than we knew what to do with. Well we figured it out. 2 double albums released back to back.
The second of which is easily as meaningful as the first or should that be reversed. ‘Return of the Dream Canteen’ is everything we are and ever dreamed of being. Itās packed. Made with the blood of our hearts.”
The iconic Ozzy Osbourne continues to prepare for the release of his latest studio album, ‘Patient Number 9’, which is due for release on September 9th.
This week saw the debut of new single, ‘Degradation Rules’ featuring Tony Iommi, which you can listen to above.
New music was also forthcoming this week from The Murder Capital, who debuted new track, ‘Only Good Things’, which you can listen to above.
Speaking on the new single, frontman James McGovern says,
āThis track for us has been an exciting evolution for the band. Itās so bright. Itās so colorful. This is a part of the narrative of the overall record that we feel reaches a real place of inner calm, inner peace but at its core, itās a love song.
You get a song like this where, the protagonist in this song is quite simply asking – not pleading – just willing to ask their counterpart to rid them of their intrusive thoughts, the devils on their shoulders and to be truly vulnerable. Weāre so excited to go to a place like this because perhaps itās not what is expected of us.
It stood out to me during the creation of this record that it is more about the friends that are still here and celebrating those connections, those relationships and being unafraid of life and itās many seasons. Where āOnly Good Thingsā stands within the record is at a moment where the sonic and the lyrical narrative especially, are of newfound joy.ā
Another band with an album on the way is Dub War who will release ‘Westgate Under Fire’ on August 5th. This week they shared the latest single, ‘Art Of War’, which you can listen to above.
Speaking on the new single, Benji Webbe says, “Mikee āKRUPAā Gregory was reading the book āThe Art of Warā at the time that I was working on songs for the album, I thought it was a great title and just wrote a lot of words about Newport & Nazis.
Frankie Lodge (mentioned in the lyrics) was a guy with mental difficulties who once sang opera in the subway in Newport. Frankieās mural features on the back cover of the album as he’s another piece of Newport history.
Spike T Smith really stepped up and brought the magic on the drums on this track.ā
More great new music as our News Report continues and we turn now to The Virginmarys. The duo this week debuted new track, ‘You’re A Killer’, which you can listen to above.
VUKOVI also have a new album on the way. ‘NULA’ arrives on October 7th, but this week the duo debuted new single, ‘I EXIST’, which you can check out above.
Finally in our new releases section of our News Report, we have Deux Furieuses.
In a big news week the duo debuted new single, ‘Know The Score’, which you can listen to above, and announced new album, ‘Songs From Planet Earth’, which is out November 11th.
We do have a handful of tour announcements in our News Report this week, so let’s get started!
Japanese genre-blenders Crossfaith have announced the UK & EU leg of their upcoming ‘Atlas Of Faith World Tour‘, celebrating 15 years of the band!
Speaking of the tour, frontman Kenta ‘Ken’ Koie, says, “We just got back from festival run in Europe and had such a great time out there. As promised, weāll be returning back to UK & Europe and this will be our first headline tour since COVID.
I know that you guys have been waiting for it just like us so we are very excited to celebrate our 15th anniversary with all of you! We will play new songs and older songs as well, make sure to follow our discography and get sweaty with us! See you in the pit!”
Our final live announcement in our News Report this week, with no noteworthy festival updates, comes from Beans On Toast. The singer will return to the Clapham Grand next June.
Northern indie-pop artist Ellur returns with her new single ‘Close To You’.
Speaking on the single Ellur says, ā’Close To You’ is a song about rejection and coping with it. I decided, last year, I wanted to write more songs that were about me and my relationship with myself. I think this process birthed some of my favourite lyrics Iāve ever written.ā
3REE – ‘Demons’
Australian pop punk duo 3REE have teamed up with fellow Aussie and emo rapper Yung Gwopp for their brand new single āDemonsā.
Speaking about the inspiration for the track 3REE drummer Sean Tighe says, āThis song came to me in a dream, after a nightmare I had. I woke up in the middle of the night with the lyrics and melodies still distinctly in my mind. I immediately put it all down in a voice note and sent it to Mitch. It was that powerful.ā
Continuing vocalist and guitarist Mitch Volcan says, āSean sent me the voice memo and I quickly went to the studio with the verse he sent me and the chorus just came to me all in one go. Itās definitely from a dark place but itās also the realest thing weāve ever written.ā
About the collaboration Yung Gwopp says, āWhen the boys sent me āDemonsā I was instantly a fan. I just knew I had to throw a verse down.ā
Elessar – ‘GOLD’
Pop-Rock trio Elessar present their foot stomping new single āGOLDā.
āI wrote GOLD at a time when the entire world had been locked up, itās about the good vibes only with friends who have inevitably moved on to their next stages in life, kids, marriage, houses. And how the pandemic lockdown made us realise how much we took our friends for granted. Iād have given it all up to go back to that one weekend when money and inhibitions werenāt an issue.ā – Front man Ricky Powell.
Welcome one and all to another edition of our weekly music News Report! This week we are starting with the latest tour announcements, so where else to begin, but with Volbeat!
This week saw the group announce a huge UK and European Tour that is set to take place later this year with the UK portion happening in December.
Volbeatcomment, āFinally, after so much time away, weāre thrilled to be able to bring a proper Volbeat headline tour to our friends across mainland Europe and the UK. We are so excited and cannot wait to see everyone out there! Weāre extremely lucky to be able to bring Skindred, Napalm Death, and Bad Wolves along for the ride and share this experience with three incredible bands that we are fortunate enough to call friends.ā
Support for the UK dates comes from Skindred and Napalm Death.
Killing Joke announced this week that they will be taking over the Royal Albert Hall next March to play their first two albums live!
āWe are living in the most dangerous period in human history in which extinction from nuclear war could happen in the next twelve months. If we make it, then Killing Joke at the Albert hall in 2023 will give great meaning and comfort to all of us. Come share a moment in history with the prophetic and legendary Killing Joke.ā – Dr. Jaz Coleman
This week Yungblud revealed a special run of intimate dates to road test his new material. Those dates inevitably sold out instantaneously with a tease of more dates yet to materialise.
A singular festival announcement in our News Report this week, and it comes from Leicestershire event 110 Above.
The festival this week added The Pigeon Detectives, Lauran Hibberd, The Lottery Winners and more to their 2022 event.
Also playing are The Amazons, Everything Everything, Sea Girls, Vistas, Spector, The Mysterines, Deco, Cassyette, Noisy, The Royston Club, The Native and plenty more.
Next, we move onto the new releases section of our News Report, and this week we start with Bad Wolves.
The band have debuted their latest track, ‘The Body’, which you can listen to above.
āWhen we were writing this song we had a goal of trying new things,ā said drummer John Boecklin. āThe slap bass and clavichord instantly was new territory for Bad Wolves. It feels good to know this track sounds like nothing we have ever done before. Itās a fun track that feels like a mix of Faith no more with a dash of Daft Punk. Enjoy!ā
Fusion metal pioneers Dub War have released a new single titled, ‘Get Back Up’, the fourth track to be taken from their first album of all-new material in over 25 years, ‘Westgate Under Fire’.
Speaking on the new single, Webbe says, “Iāve always wanted to empower and lift those who are going through a tough time, and in days like this, who isnāt.. This is what ‘Get Back Up’ was created for.
I called Mike Bordin about him playing on this particular Dub War track. Mike has been a Dub War fan from way back. He eventually called me back and, with passion, said “Iām in”ā¦
Together with us, Mike really set the pace for all the other drummers on the album. The style and sound of Bordin strikes hard and shines though on ‘Get Back Up’.”
Also speaking on the track Mike Bordin says, “In this time of isolation/alienation, it was such a pleasure to be able to groove and flow with my old friend, the mighty Mr. Benji Webbe. Welcome back Dub War, and thanks for bringing me along on your ride.
Webbeās lyrics are on time and strongly on point, encouraging and inspirational in a time when we can all use a lift. Being asked to play on this Dub War song ‘Get Back Up’ couldnāt have come at a better time. This album ‘Westgate Under Fire’ is truly bringing the fireā¦ā
You can listen to the track above, and pre-order your album here.
The final new release in this week’s News Report comes from form Delain vocalist Charlotte Wessels. Wessels has debuted new single, ‘Against All Odds’, which you can listen to above.
The track will feature on new album, ‘Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II’, which is out October 7th.
Wessels states: āSince May 2020, Iāve been writing and recording a new song every month down in my basement āSix Feet Under Studioā, fueled by – and released to – my tight-knit Patreon community. This album wouldnāt be there without them. Iām excited to team up with Napalm Records again to release a new collection of these tracks with a wider audience.
With ‘Tales From Six Feet Under’, I released my favorite tracks of the first year of this endeavor onto the world in 2021, and ‘Tales From Six Feet Under Vol II’ is its counterpart, with my favorite tracks from the second year. There are definitely differences between the two, with the second leaning more towards the heavier side, but they do belong together.
Together they represent a time of introspection and solitary songwriting in the basement. A time that has taught me a lot and has been very meaningful to me, but also a time that, as I started this project in the middle of Covid quarantine, has already – thankfully – started changing. Not because I wonāt be writing and recording Six Feet Under anymore, but because as the world is opening up again, I too will come out of the basement and out of my shell again with live concerts, and collaborations are on the horizon.ā
France based pop/rock trio, Oakman have shared their brand new single, ‘Murder’.
āThe meaning of this song is deep and quite tricky to explain. Itās about sexual abuse and everything that is related to it,ā says lead singer, Marine.
āI know that āMurderā is a strong word, but I wanted to represent through it the hatred, anger and sadness that the trauma of rape or sexual abuse can leave on a life. The character in the song finds herself constantly imprisoned by her traumas, which end up killing her from the inside.
So in her dreams, she hopes to kill her abuser the same way that he ‘killed’ her. Very often, the extent of such acts is underestimated or even ignored for the abuser, while the victim will have to live with it all their life. I think this song can speak to anyone who has experienced a traumatic situation where they were the victim. The topic doesn’t matter. It’s your life, your experience. We all have dark times in our lives.ā
CAT SFX – ‘Binman’
CAT SFX tread toward more infectious territory with their latest single ‘Binman’.
Of the new single, the bandās lead vocalist Cat Speranza explains:
ā”Binman’ is about a toxic relationship: the one between me and alcohol. It’s about the fights that you have with your loved one because youāre so drunk again and have caused carnage, and youāre trying to pick up the pieces the next day. And you make up all these excuses, to yourself, to others. So Iām the Binman. Iām the trash that needs taking out.ā
Grave Goods – ‘Come’
Grave Goods share new single āComeā which is a song about revolution.
Singer Lois Macdonald says on the track, āThis is one of the first tracks we wrote, and for me the one that helped to cement the feel of the music we make. I wanted to use the guitar in a percussive way, and I wanted the track to feel stressful and furious.
I felt frustrated at the time and had so much to express. I wanted the lyrics to reflect all this, and to come from the gut. The best noise I could imagine for this is āUghā which I use towards the end – it represents frustration, disgust and sex.ā
