Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the fourth issue now for free!
Volume four includes an update from cover stars Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, reviews of new albums from Black Stone Cherry and King Nun, a live review of Theory of a Deadman plus a special feature on the upcoming Ash vs The Subways tour!
We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Neck Deep, Within Temptation, Europe, Lake Malice, Filth Is Eternal, Nervosa and Sum 41!
Plus new live announcements from Yard Act, James, Nothing More, VUKOVI, Lynks and The Longest Johns.
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist with Spiritual Cramp, Butterfly Hurricane and Grove Street!
Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the fourth issue now for free!
Volume four includes an update from cover stars Creeper, a review of ‘Confessions of the Fallen’ from Staind plus a special feature on Metal for Good!
We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Bruce Dickinson, Blink 182, The Dollyrots, Chelsea Wolfe, Alien Weaponry, Helmet, VEXED, The Cadillac Three, P.O.D., The Vaccines, Against The Current, The K’s, Casey, Jack Valero, Little Man Tate, The Sleeping Souls, Interlaker, The Pale White, Florence Black and North Atlas!
Plus new live announcements from Bury Tomorrow, Poppy, Hot Water Music, Jake Bugg and Grade 2.
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist with BIG SPECIAL, Humour and headcage!
Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the third issue now for free!
Volume three includes an update from cover star Chris Shiflett, and a review of ‘Race the Night’ from Ash.
We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Don Broco, Lonely The Brave, Dream Wife, TesseracT, DragonForce, Staind, Duff McKagan, Skinny Lister, All Time Low, While She Sleeps, K.Flay, The Meffs, END and Mother Mother!
Plus new live announcements from British Lion, Fozzy, KITE THIEF, VV, The Amazons, The Coral, Twin Atlantic and Lonely The Brave.
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist with Major Moment, Tropic Gold and Future Static!
Our weekly music News Report has evolved into the Full Pelt Magazine, and you can download the second issue now for free!
Volume two includes reviews of October Drift and Philip Seth Campbell.
We have our News Report rounding up new releases from Demob Happy, The Struts, The Rolling Stones, Dream Nails, Militarie Gun, REWS, Haunt The Woods, Scaler, The Cadillac Three, Pendulum, Wargasm, Daytime TV, HourHouse, Black Water County, The Pearl Harts, Gama Bomb, The Hyena Kill, Amongst Liars, Dead Poet Society and Death Of Me!
Plus new live announcements from Enter Shikari, Keane, The Big Moon, Wayward Sons, Of Mice & Men, Meryl Streek and BIG SPECIAL.
Finally, we round up the latest additions to our ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist with PLAIINS, Unschooling and paradise fell.!
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, “‘Starbound Stories’, the title track, serves as the unrelenting epilogue to the album’s sonically rich tapestry of adventure & destiny, resounding into skies and souls alike the ultimate power metal anthem of perseverance & belief in the self.”
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 it’s 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 ‘No Sweat’.
Talking about the new single, vocalist Adam Holland shares: “No 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.”
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!
As Trivium themselves proclaim tonight, it always feels like a homecoming when the Floridian metallers come to the UK. The band grew up on our island and their success has become intrinsically linked to the response of the UK to each release.
Tonight will see the band at the UEA in Norwich playing a tailored set to include a celebration of ‘Shogun’. Their fourth studio album, the record arrived at a crucial time for the band as they navigated a lukewarm response to ‘The Crusade’ – an album which was supposed to take the band to the pinnacle of the industry.
When that didn’t happen, ‘Shogun’ was the reset moment needed for the band to almost start again. Over the course of the subsequent fifteen years the band have matured into one of the most loved and respected metal bands on the planet with a consistent flow of high quality albums which looking back is quite astonishing.
ORBIT CULTURE
Also astonishing is the bands aptitude for selecting support acts and on this run of shows, they have both Orbit Culture and Bleed From Within along for the ride! Swedes Orbit Culture are a decade into their own career and that comes across with an experienced and assured performance to get the crowd engaged early.
BLEED FROM WITHIN
Having formed back in 2005, Bleed From Within certainly can’t be classed as a new band either, but the current momentum behind them is relatively new. Emerging from the pandemic with not one, but two acclaimed albums the band have made of the most of their recent studio time.
They’ve also made the very most of any stage time given to them and again tonight if you didn’t arrive as a fan of the band, you’ll most definitely be leaving as one. The group are able to create an instant connection with the audience and the synergy between them is mightily impressive.
TRIVIUM
With both bands having already turned the venue into a sweatbox, it’s soon enough time for Trivium to arrive on stage and close out the evening with ninety minutes of pure majestic brutality.
‘In The Court of the Dragon’ and ‘Down From The Sky’ quickly ensure that the audience is fully onside as the band flex their muscles early. It isn’t long before the likes of ‘Strife’ and ‘Pull Harder on the Strings of Your Martyr’ absolutely annihilate venue security with a seemingly endless barrage of crowd surfers.
The love between band and audience is clear for all to see and as the band begin to explore ‘Shogun’ with rarities likes ‘The Calamity’ and ‘Insurrection’, an appreciation of the depths of the bands discography is overwhelming.
Newer material like ‘Catastrophist’ and ‘The Heart From Your Hate’ receive just as euphoric responses tonight as classics like ‘A Gunshot to the Head of Trepidation’ and staple set closer ‘In Waves’. This is just further evidence both of the bands connection with the UK audience but most pertinently the intense quality of all their releases.
Ten albums and nearly twenty-five years in the band tease a short break is coming after this tour. Whilst this is very much hard earned, on the form the band find themselves in both on record and onstage as evidenced tonight, you are left praying that the gap isn’t that long!
Next comes news of a brand new album from Within Temptation!
The band announced this week that, ‘Bleed Out’, will be released on October 20th. You can also listen to the title track above!
Vocalist Sharon den Adel states, “The war in Ukraine has influenced us a lot. As artists we are inspired by the world, and we have this platform. We are storytellers, and I think as human beings, these are things we should be talking about.”
Whilst songs such as ‘Wireless’ and ‘We Go To War’ examine the authoritarian aggression on display in Ukraine and other warzones, the title track itself addresses the plight of women fighting for their rights in Iran after the murder of Mahsa Amini.
Sharon explains, “I lived in Yemen when I was a kid. My parents lived in several countries in the Middle East, and I’ve visited them a lot when they were there. It’s a different world. Due to my time there, I feel connected to that part of the world. I’ve been so incredibly impressed by the bravery of the young women there who’ve been burning their scarves knowing they were going to be thrown in prison or worse – it’s heartbreaking.”
Ash continue to prepare for the release of their new album, ‘Race the Night’, which arrives on September 15th.
This week saw the band share new single, ‘Usual Places’, which you can check out above.
Tim Wheeler comments: “Originally written as a tribute to long forgotten bars and faces as I was leaving New York, ‘Usual Places’ took on extra significance as the first thing we worked on together post-lockdown. Below the surface of the joy of writing and playing together again, there’s a subconscious grief to all that was lost in those years. Friends and family, pubs and venues. This is our eulogy to them all. No coincidence the video was shot in the Marquis of Lorne, just a walk from Brixton Academy.”
K.Flay teams with Pierce The Veil on ‘Irish Goodbye’
K.Flay – ‘Irish Goodbye’ ft. Vic Fuentes (Pierce The Veil)
K.Flay has shared new single, ‘Irish Goodbye’, which features Vic Fuentes of Pierce The Veil.
Check out the track above, which comes ahead of new album, ‘MONO’, which arrives September 15th.
“I was screaming in the demo to that song and eventually I realized, ‘I have a friend who screams professionally, so maybe I should get him on this,’” K.Flay recalls.
JAWS have shared new single, ‘Sweat’, which you can check out above.
The tracks comes from upcoming EP, ‘If It Wasn’t For My Friends, Things Could Be Different’, which is out on September 15th.
Connor Schofield explains, “Lyrically “Sweat” is about dealing with your anxiety in the moment, everything slowing down and trying to take it as it comes when in an overstimulating situation.”
Soon after news of a Creed reunion, Scott Stapp have shared a new single, ‘Higher Power’, which you can check out above.
Stapp says, “Life’s mysteries can be unraveled by listening to one’s inner voice. For me, that means leaning on my faith in God and listening to His voice to guide me through the struggles and darkness. For others, whether it’s through art, nature, science, family, or a combination of all, tapping into a higher power is an individualized process that requires an open mind and a willingness to flow with a force that’s greater than the individual.”
“UK! It has been far too long (since 2018!) and we’ve missed you so much. We’re so excited to come back this December”. Those were the words of The Used as they announced a new headline UK Tour.
Support will come from The Home Team and Honey Revenge.
The Cult have revealed details of a very special tour focusing on their early material and material from predecessors Southern Death Cult and Death Cult.
Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun reveal headline dates
Recent Podcast guests Jim Lockey and the Solemn Sun have revealed a new headline tour which will take place this autumn.
The band commented, “Our first tour since 2019. We’ll be playing songs from our new album as well as all our old favourites. Don’t miss out! Stoked to see you all.”
Oxymorrons share new single, ‘Look Alive (Netic)’ from upcoming debut album, ‘Melanin Punk’.
The band explains, “’Look Alive’ is the perfect sonic representation of our unique blend of Rock and Hip-Hop. It hits hard, exudes energy, and lives authentically in both spaces. With swaggy, unapologetic vibes, it simultaneously uplifts while delivering a powerful message: ‘Hard Times Get Better.’ Stay focused, Stay Active, and Push Forward, always Look Alive.”
Noise – ‘Victor’
Glasgow four-piece Noise share ‘Victor’ from newly announced debut EP, ‘Not Until Tomorrow Night’.
“Our debut EP explores the link between nostalgia and the present,” explain the band. “These themes are woven into retellings of classic novels such as Frankenstein and The Picture of Dorian Gray with a modern twist. The songs perfectly represent our musical ideals and we’re immensely proud of them.”
Matthew Lowry – ‘Coming For You’
Matthew Lowry shares latest single, ‘Coming For You’.
“I knew right away when I wrote the riff for this song that I needed to follow through on it. It was so much fun from the start because, for a long time, my songwriting had been missing the hard rock that I grew up loving. The stuff that made me want to put a guitar on. A little Southern flare mixed with the rock anthems I blasted throughout my entire childhood. No better way to be honest with yourself and move forward than to let out the real stuff you have inside. And since this album is about that journey to embrace yourself and move forward in life, it was perfect.
Once this was tracked in the studio, that feeling I had from the start was confirmed. I wanted this to be the final single before the album came out. Lyrically, it’s pretty straightforward: I’m over trying to be anything for anyone. No more fear, no more paranoia. I’m bringing my shit front and center. This is me, this is my music, this is who I am.
Then to be really me, we knew that we wanted to make the video as ridiculous and goofy as we could. Since I started planning the album, I had this idea for the “Flamingo County Games” as a Jackass style backwoods Florida olympics. A bit of a nod to the Foo Fighters in their golden era of amazing music videos with those huge rock anthems. In the end, it all came together, and I honestly could not be happier. ” -Matthew Lowry
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
We start this week with the best new releases from the past week and up first is the latest single from Creeper.
This week saw the band share, ‘Teenage Sacrifice’, which you can check out above. The track comes ahead of the release of new album, ‘Sanguivore’, out on Friday 13th October.
Singer William ‘Von Ghould’ says: “The song introduces Mercy, the protagonist of the Sanguivore narrative. She’s deceptively innocent yet savagely violent, and her ability to make people fall under her spell is just one indication that Mercy is not all that she seems.”
Next up is the return of Lonely The Brave, the band this week sharing their brand new single, ‘The Lens’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on newly announced upcoming album, ‘What We Do To Feel’, which will arrive on November 10th.
Guitarist Mark Trotter comments: “You can plan it out as much as you want, but you’re just along for the ride. That’s the most exciting part, seeing what it decided to be. With this album, we’re certainly more mature as people and as a band. That makes sense with everything that has happened since our last one.”
Singer Jack Bennett continues about the single, saying it “is a track about the way we value each other. It’s different for everyone and we each have a unique perspective towards the world.”
The Struts are next in our News Report as this week saw the band reveal details of their new album, ‘Pretty Vicious’, which will be out on November 3rd.
The band also shared a live visualiser for their recent track, ‘Too Good At Raising Hell’, which you can check out above.
“This record showcases each individual member’s strengths,” vocalist Luke Spiller says of their impending album. “It’s some of my favorite music, hands down, we’ve ever conjured up. It’s the record everyone’s been waiting for.”
This week also saw Daughtry debut their new single, ‘Artificial’, which you can check out above.
“‘Artificial’ is about the potential nightmare that AI could become and the idea that everything and everyone could eventually be replaced, essentially to perfection, and rendered obsolete,” Chris Daughtry explains. “However, the heart and soul of humanity and the ability to feel love, sadness, and compassion can never be replaced. While there are plenty of applications where AI can improve our lives and assist in many areas of creativity, I feel it’s imperative that we find a way to protect our musicians, actors, writers, and all creative outlets from being destroyed.”
Teenage Fanclub continue to gear up for the release of new album, ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’ on September 22nd.
This week saw the band unveil their latest pre-release single, ‘Back To The Light’, which you can check out above.
The track was written by Norman Blake who says:
“I liked the idea of using being in a band as a metaphor for a personal relationship. They are not entirely dissimilar experiences. Like a few others on the album, this song has saxophone on it. The first time we’ve had that since Songs From Northern Britain. Stephen Black (Sweet Baboo) played those parts; we really like the richness it brings to the song. Steve will be with us when we head out on tour in October in Europe.”
Saint Agnes recently released their new album, ‘Bloodsuckers’ and this week the band shared a video for the track, ‘Follow You’, which you can check out above.
The band will be joining us this week on The Full Pelt Music Podcast!
The Pale White have debuted new single, ‘Validate Me’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on new EP, ‘A New Breed’, which is will released on October 20th.
“Ever felt like the world is against you? It probably is… Look around! We’re surrounded by social pressures of what is perceived as ‘normal’” say The Pale White.
“”Validate Me” explores the mental tug of war between following your true purpose, and conforming to what society thinks you should be. It was born during the pandemic when we all lost our social identity and this heightened self-sabotaging paranoia was just as contagious.”
Finally for this section of our News Report we have a big hit single from Gen and the Degenerates who have revealed their latest single, ‘BIG HIT SINGLE’, which you can check out above!
Speaking on their new single, vocalist Genevieve Glynn-Reeves comments:
“If you want the highbrow answer, then BIG HIT SINGLE is about the experience of creating art under late capitalism. If you want the lowbrow –and slightly more honest– answer, then BIG HIT SINGLE is me trying to wind up our label.”
“They’d made quite a reasonable request…‘Please can you write more songs like the song that did well and stop experimenting with every genre under the sun in a completely chaotic and hedonistic manner?’ Unfortunately, I have issues with authority…My parents often regale me with the tale of my Year 4 parent’s evening, in which my teacher described me as ‘too wild, in the bohemian sense.’
“If Mrs Baker couldn’t get me to behave, then what chance did Marshall Records have? Luckily, they have a good sense of humour over at Marshall.”
Some festival news now in our News Report and whilst this year’s event was still in progress, Bloodstock organisers have confirmed the first wave of artists for the 2024 event.
Both Architects and Amon Amarth have been confirmed as headliners, whilst they’ll be joined by the likes of Malevolence, Clutch, Flogging Molly, Green Lung and more.
The city based version of Live At Leeds returns on October 14th and this week saw the event share a massive line-up of great acts.
You can catch the likes of Another Sky, Benefits, Big Special, Feet, Hamish Hawk, Hotwax, Jack Valero, Lynks, Pigs x7, Pip Blom, Shame, Snayx, The Mysterines and Wunderhorse.
Next in our News Report we focus on the best live announcements from the past week and we begin with Neck Deep.
The welsh band will be taking over Alexandra Palace in London on March 28th for a huge headline show.
Sharing the news the band said, “It’s been a long time coming but we’re stoked to be finally headlining Ally Pally. We’ve always loved the venue, now it’s our turn for our biggest headline show. We’re expecting it to be the best Neck Deep show ever, & you wouldn’t wanna miss that would ya?”
Kerrang have team up with the Music Venue Trust for Conjurer to join the ‘United By Music Tour’ next month!
Support will come from Unpeople.
Conjurer’s Brady Deeprose says: “Conjurer simply would not exist without the UK’s extensive network of Grassroots Music Venues. We cut our teeth playing everywhere from Merthyr Tydfil to Barrow-In-Furness for years, and we were lucky to be able to do so. The threat that GMVs are under is an utter travesty, and something that we are so thankful to MVT for getting involved in – without this network, everyone from fans to bands suffers. Throughout my childhood, I would go to The Roadmender in Northampton, The Vault in Rugby (RIP), The Flapper in Birmingham, and Corporation in Sheffield to both play shows and see my favourite bands – that thriving scene inspired me to pick up a guitar and start a band. If we don’t protect it, we lose the next generation of musicians. It’s that simple.
“To come full circle, Kerrang! putting us forward for this tour is a real privilege, their support for not just us but the UK heavy scene in general, has been untouchable over the last few years. We hope that MVT continues to have success, and that the UK can continue to foster exceptional talent with a strong roster of grassroots venues to support it.”
Luke Morton, editor of Kerrang!, says “The UK heavy music scene is thriving right now, thanks in large part to the community and support of grassroots venues up and down the country. I’m so excited and proud for Kerrang! to partner with the Music Venue Trust for this very metal incarnation of the United By Music Tour, featuring the mighty Conjurer – a band I’ve seen cause absolute chaos in some of our best independent venues over the years. As fans of rock, metal and alternative music, it’s vital we all champion the homegrown, grassroots venues that are the lifeblood of our scene. Support your local venue and make sure you catch Conjurer tearing it to shreds!”
Mark Davyd, CEO and founder Music Venue Trust, says: “It’s great to be teaming up with Kerrang on The National Lottery’s United by Music Tour. The team at Kerrang! were so supportive to Grassroots Music Venues during the pandemic, and the heavy music scene is such an integral part of what makes live music in the UK so essential and vibrant.”
Vocalist Elin Allan comments – “When we were writing ‘The Tide’, I don’t think I realised how much this song was a cry for help. It’s such an energetic, in your face song and I was so angry at this point in my life that I honed in on a very cutthroat approach to life. I had just gone through a huge, very tough break up and was having one of the lowest points in my life and with time, now it’s finally released, I think I have accepted that anger and turned it into power.“
Bristol rock outfit Little Thief share their latest single ‘Geronimo’.
Vocalist and lyricist Charlie Fitzgerald states: “People do incredible things when up against it and true colours often show when everything falls apart. For me, it signifies sticking together through good times and bad.
We spent a few days in the basement of our place on Albany road in Bristol working together on a bunch of new tracks and Geronimo came from that batch. It was one of the first tunes where the music came first and the lyrics followed. I really enjoyed writing the words for this as they are a bit cheesy, fun and simple with a very repetitive nature. We had the demo banging around for ages and really enjoyed playing it live.”
Swear Blind – ‘Still’
Alt-Rock Nottingham natives Swear Blind share new single ‘Still’.
Drew Lawson says: “a certain global event gave us the time to finish a project we’ve been working on for many years and to continue our writing. It gave us a new focus in doing the things that we love doing, plus it gave us a good reason to hang out! We’ve been mates for years so that wasn’t an opportunity we wanted to miss.”
Nevrlands – ‘Chemicals’
NYC-based trio Nevrlands share a second track “Chemicals‘ from their forthcoming debut album, ‘Timeless’.
“‘Chemicals’ is about catching yourself in the heat of the moment,” shares Neverlands collectively. “About painting a portrait of passion and finding that distinction between love and lust in real-time. There’s a very fine line that can sometimes be blurry, or sometimes it’s crystal clear. Is this real? Or is it just another fugazi? ‘Chemicals’ is all about questioning whether or not that perfect chemical connection will last once the moment ends.”
Welcome everyone to another edition of our weekly music News Report!
This week we begin with the best live announcements from the past week and up first are Skindred!
Coinciding with the release of their new album, ‘Smile’, the group revealed details of three new live dates set for next March. These dates are punctuated by a headline show at the historic Wembley Arena.
Regarding headlining Wembley Arena for the first time, singer Benji Webbe says: “Standing on that stage is a mark of sheer hard work.We have stood upon that stage supporting many truly great acts. Now it’s Skindred’s time to take the headline slot.You may think you’ve seen us, however this is our opportunity to rise, and to step up like never before!My Sound we come to take over and truly come to rock Wembley with a heart full of gratitude and a set full of the most rockin’ tunes that we have ever played live. Unity, love and togetherness. Let’s ‘ave it. Quadruple XL.”
This week also saw Simple Plan announce details of a new EU/UK Tour which will begin in January next year!
Support on all dates comes from Mayday Parade and State Champs.
Drummer Chuck Comeau shares, “We’re super excited to be coming back to Europe and the UK early next year! After an amazing arena tour with our good friends Sum 41 last fall and some incredible festival shows this spring, we’re thrilled to come back on our own headlining tour, playing full shows for our UK and Euro fans all over the continent.”
“It’s gonna be great to play a bunch of new songs from our latest album ‘Harder Than it Looks’ as well as all the fans’ favourites from our early records. We might even throw in a few jams we rarely play live to celebrate, as 2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the band and the 20th anniversary of our second album,‘Still Not Getting Any’!.
We’re stoked to bring our friends State Champs and Mayday Parade with us, two fantastic bands that we and our fans love! This is probably one of the strongest UK / European tour line-up we’ve ever put together and we can’t wait for it to kick off next year!”
This week saw Muncie Girls share news of their split. Thankfully the group will treat fans to one final Farewell Tour later this year!
The band shared, “After nearly 13 years, a demo CD, a demo tape, three 12” EPs, three 7” singles, a 12” split record and two albums, we’re saying goodbye to our band Muncie Girls. We started this band when we were 17 and the biggest goal we could muster up was to release a 7” single. We ended up doing more things and going to more places than we could ever have imagined. We were lucky to be from a town with such a brilliant music scene and venue, the Cavern, and I remember how it felt to travel to so many cities and discover other scenes just like ours.
The community we found ourselves a part of was so special and really became our lives. If it weren’t for the kindness of total strangers putting on shows for us, feeding us and letting us stay at their houses, we would never have been able to do any of the things that we’ve done. We were even once temporarily adopted by a family in Texas when we went to play SXSW and they baked us cherry pie and drove us to our gigs. We were taken on a tour around Australia by complete strangers who became some of our best friends. We went to Japan after some strangers offered to book us a tour and we travelled around on trains and borrowed local bands’ gear, guitars, everything. We spent most of our time touring in mainland Europe where we made friends for life, playing in squats, venues, gardens, bunkers, wherever.
I often heard stories of bands having to sleep in their vans or in parks or service stations. We always had somewhere to stay, no one ever let us sleep rough. I know we were incredibly lucky and we have our scene and our friends and fans to thank for that. We’ve relied so much on people’s kindness; I hope that we were always grateful enough.
We’ve decided to do a farewell tour and we hope that you’ll join us at a show. Muncie Girls will always be a massive part of our lives and we will each always play music, just in different projects now. Thank you everyone!”
Stockholm trio, Normandie, have today returned with, ‘Blood In The Water’, their first new music since 2021’s ‘Dark & Beautiful Secrets’ album.
Speaking of the track, frontman Philip Strand says, “Blood In The Water is about how “hurt people, hurt people”, how negativity is contagious and how it can lead people into negative spirals, where they unknowingly hurt the ones around them.”
‘Dark & Beautiful Secrets’ subject matter drew heavily from Philip’s religious childhood, as the band moves into a new era, ‘Blood In The Water’ touches on that a little and acts as the perfect bridge.
“Even though i left the church at a very young age, I was raised with the belief that every person is born with a clean slate, and then our experiences and traumas form us as people. I’ve always seen hurtful people as damaged, sad and maybe even wrongfully judged by their behaviour, rather their past. Nobody was born evil, it’s something we pick up along the way and usually comes from pain and suffering in some way.
With this song, i wanted to get into the mind of the hurtful/hurt person and try to understand their behaviours and patterns. “Love me til my heart stops, hit me like a freight truck” is one of my favourite lines. I’m positioning love as a drug, with the person’s tolerance building, leading them to seek being really blown away by their feelings, to cover the pain inside.”
Haunt The Woods have shared their new single, ‘Now Is Our Time’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from upcoming new album, ‘Ubiquity’, which is released on September 29th.
The band comment: “Written during the global lockdown, ‘Now Is Our Time’ is an angered proclamation of the struggle to sustain oneself in this modern world. Forced to sell our lives by the hour in order to survive, without security or peace of mind and without a feasible alternative.
“Now is the time for change, and the only way for change is to come together against the oppressive, archaic system we find ourselves living in.”
This week saw Delaire The Liar share new single, ‘angel number.’, which you can check out above!
The track will feature on upcoming new EP, ‘Self Defence’, which is set for release on September 1st.
Speaking on ‘Self Defence’, the band said: “In the throes of desperation, there’s no telling the lengths a person will go to preserve themselves or their loved ones. This EP presents a series of fictional scenarios to challenge the typical understanding of self defence. The usual themes surrounding the topic are present; antagonism, violence, action and reaction, but with a focus on the more drastic instances that require a less reflexive and more considered approach. Instances that require a deeper understanding of the self, emotional capacity for pain, physical capacity for punishment, moral detachment and sacrifice for the benefit of yourself or someone else. This EP explores whether there is any defence too drastic or too difficult to justify when love, pride and responsibility is involved.”
Grove Street are next up in our News Report with their latest single, ‘Ulterior Motives’, which you can of course check out above!
The single is the latest taste of their upcoming debut album, ‘The Path To Righteousness’, which is out on September 29th.
“Ulterior Motives is a song that goes through the motions of someone who is stuck in a toxic and abusive relationship with someone or something – be it a partner, friend or substance, or even a vice like gambling – and cannot find a way out. They keep getting pulled back into the situation at hand; they’re in love, addicted, and can’t see the impact of damage that’s being done to them, because they’ve got rose tinted glasses on.
The second verse changes focus from the relationship/addiction itself to how people around that person turn a blind eye to what’s going on, because it’s easier for many to just play ignorant to issues than to call it out or address it, which in turn just enables the problem to manifest further.
The outro finds the person coming to the realisation that they’re better off out of the relationship/addiction, and in order to live a better life they gotta move on.
Musically this is one of our favourite tracks on the record, I feel like it captures our sound as a whole perfectly; from the bouncy hip-hop inspired grooves in the intro that lead into the thrash feel. The outro is personally my proudest part of the record, I remember writing that and being so surprised with myself – like, where the fuck did that come from!!” – Sandy (guitars)
“The Ulterior Motives video started life as a ‘Tour Survival Guide’ skit imagined by Sully (vocals). We were spitballing ideas in the van about all the trials and tribulations we’ve faced being in a touring band, reminiscing about all the previous funny ventures we’ve experienced together. Most of these skits are based on true stories, like the time our van got clamped in Slovenia and Joe (bass), using nothing but brute force, managed to rip it off. We hope that other bands can relate to our experiences, and it’ll also give people an insight into the touring lifestyle.” – Josh (drums)
Sydney Sprague has shared new single, ‘Nobody Knows Anything’, which you can check out above.
The tracks features on new album, ‘Somebody In Hell Loves You’, which is out September 15th.
“When I started writing songs for this record during covid lockdown it felt like the movie had ended and the credits had rolled on life but we were all still here for some reason,” explains Sydney going into the process of recording the new album.
“Everything was just floating in this void and because of that I felt like I had all the time in the world to just do whatever I wanted. It was weirdly the freest I’ve ever felt. Writing became a way to entertain myself and make myself laugh instead of a way to wallow. I spent a lot of time reflecting on the past and the people around me and processing things I’d never been able to. I was able to be more honest than I’d ever been in my songs. The fact that I’m able to share them now feels a little scary because when I was writing them they were really just for me, but I hope they can bring people the same sense of escape that they brought me.”
Attic Theory premiere ‘Papier-Mâché’ featuring Kevin Martin of Candlebox ahead of highly anticipated debut album ‘What We Fear The Most’.
Vocalist Lewis Wright says, “The ‘Papier-Mâché’ lyrics are about hiding your true self underneath a thin layered metaphorical mask because you have been convinced, by someone you used to be close to, that you are not behaving how they believe you should and the only remedy is for you to be strongly medicated and to suppress the feelings they don’t agree with. The message I wanted to convey is about being able to gain the strength to remove the mask and not let the past or anyone else define you.”
Lewis continues, “The animated music video (by Studface Productions) was influenced by ‘one flew over the cuckoo’s nest’ and is set in an old rundown insane asylum. This is the archaic perception of mental health and we wanted the video to symbolise that society has thankfully escaped those outdated ways of thinking and the band are rescued by an unlikely hero; Atticus T. Mouse.”
“It’s been such a creative period for the band and we are so proud of what we’ve achieved so far, but this has been a phenomenal opportunity which we are especially grateful for. What a huge honour to have our friend Kevin Martin of Candlebox singing on ‘Papier-Mâché’. I’ve admired his musicianship for years and I am a massive fan of Candlebox so this is definitely a fanboy moment for me that has been ticked off my bucket list”, concludes Wright.
Cold Culture – ‘Downfall’
Danish newcomers Cold Culture present you with their infectious new single ‘Downfall’
“Downfall is about when the person you need the most is being distant, in a difficult time in your life. A lot of feelings and thoughts go through people, when they’re unsure of what they want, which can lead to mistakes, and misunderstanding.” – Mads Zelasny (Vocalist)
Tribe of Ghosts – ‘HIVE’
Brighton’s Industrial / Post Metal band Tribe Of Ghosts have today shared a brand new single titled ‘HIVE’.
“When we were writing Hive, we felt that we were at a point where we understood our sound and what we wanted to create. With this in mind, we wanted to craft a song that sets the scene of the world that we build with our music, that explores the electronic and the organic, and declares our intent of giving into the chaos that oozes out of us on stage and in the writing process.” – Guitarist Adam Sedgwick.
Recent ‘Discover’ New Music Playlist additions BIG SPECIAL have announced their debut London headline show at the Dublin Castle in Camden on August 9th!
We move our News Report on now to the best new releases from the past week and we begin with Duff McKagan!
McKagan this week shared his latest single, ‘I Saw God on 10th Street’, which you can checkout above!
The song features on upcoming new album, ‘Lighthouse’, which is out on October 20th.
“I picture him as an old guy with white beard and hair, leaning up against a wall on a city street,” says Duff McKagan. “The ultimate jurist of us all. Pissed off, squinting eyes to ward off what he sees, spitting frequently with no care for who may be around. The Creator. God. Allah, Shiva…or whomever. I think I see him sometimes over on 10th St., hands in tight fists, and toes curled up and tense.”
We are starting this section of our News Report with a run of iconic figures and next up is K.K. Downing and his group KK’s Priest.
The band have this week shared their latest single, ‘Reap the Whirlwind’, which you can check out above.
The track will feature on upcoming sophomore offering, ‘The Sinner Rides Again’, which is out on September 29th.
K.K. Downing says about ‘Reap The Whirlwind’:
“’If you sow the wind, you will reap the whirlwind’ – this is a common phrase that has been familiar with me from a very young age. Obviously it’s very meaningful – it’s a warning that if you mistreat people, or really whatever you do in life, you need to be very careful, because whatever sufferance you inflict on anyone, it could come back to haunt you, and your suffering could be even more severe. Everyone knowingly or unknowingly has made the mistake of thinking they can get away with small misdemeanors to suit their selfish pursuits, but if justice is to be served, you will reap exactly what you sow. That is the message of this song.”
Revered Public Image Ltd bassist Jah Wobble makes his long awaited return to the post-punk sound he helped create with his new album, ‘A Brief History Of Now’ out on August 11th.
This week saw Wobble share new single, ‘Last Exit’, which you can check out above.
“It’s all about the dopamine rush. Assault on the senses. Bang! Bang! Bang! Rush after rush after rush. But never satisfied. No satisfaction. Never any conclusion. Always moving. Appearances arising. Ephemeral. Lacking substance. But often so beautiful and exciting. Glorious esoterica.”
Yonaka released their new EP, ‘Welcome To My House’, this week and shared new single, ‘By The Time You’re Reading This’, which you can check out above.
This week saw Laurence Jones share his brand new single, ‘You’re Not Alone’, which you can check out above.
The track comes from new album, ‘Bad Luck & The Blues’ which is set for release on August 25th.
Jones comments: “This song is about the everyday struggles in life, about feeling down but always knowing you’re not the only one going through something difficult;” says Jones. “I had this image when writing the song, that we are all in this together, and no matter who you are, or where you’re from… Everyone feels low from time to time.”
“I grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, where the guitar riffs are iconic and a huge part of the song. I’d like to think I’ve put a slightly modern touch on this, while staying authentic. It’s one of my favourite tracks on the album, and it was one of the first songs I wrote, which helped shape the entire record. There’s nothing I love more than a big riffs and wild guitar solos!”
Empire State Bastard share new single ‘The Looming’
Empire State Bastard – ‘The Looming’
Simon Neil and Mike Vennart continue to build towards the release of the debut Empire State Bastard album, ‘Rivers of Heresy’, which is out on September 1st.
This week saw the new group share their latest single, ‘The Looming’, which you can check out above.
Next up in our News Report are Conquer Divide who are gearing up to release their new album, ‘Slow Burn’, on September 8th.
This week the band have debuted their latest single, ‘New Heaven’, which you can check out above.
“N E W H E A V E N was born out of the idea that you’ll never be satisfied with what you have if you don’t define your expectations,” the band offers. “We got together in Atlanta with Johnny Andrews for this one, and he’s a musical mad scientist. We played with religious metaphors, although the song is not about religion. You throw your whole life into something, and then you finally reach the pinnacle and get to pull the proverbial curtain back, but it’s not what you expected at all. So now you need a new high to chase. We did crowd-sourced gang vocals on this one, and it was fun to make that come together.”
As for the accompanying video, the band shares, “This video was sort of a continuation from last music video where in the opening scene you see the Grim Reaper take his hood off to reveal he is now the priest overseeing the funeral. Kia figuratively ‘went to heaven’ and came back after realizing heaven wasn’t what it was cracked up to be.”
Finally in this section of our News Report we have ‘Cruel State of Mind’, the latest single from recent The Full Pelt Music Podcast guests Black Water County!
You can of course listen to the track above which comes from upcoming new album, ‘The Only Life Worth Living’.
On the track, the band explain, “Cruel State Of Mind is our own familiar love song for the ages, full to the brim of agonised imagery – ‘like the deaf leading the blind’ and ‘full circle, like Sisyphus’ stone’ – and we wanted to hammer home the feeling of thoughts going round and round your head with no respite. The song hits its climax with a passionate U-turn – ‘Something’s got to give’ and ‘’I’ll leave it all behind unless it leads me back to you’ – ultimately ending up where we started in the hope of love’s return, but can we ever escape our own vicious cycles?”
“Despite the recent dystopian environment the human race has had to endure with the undoing of habits and the re-writing of thought patterns, there are some things that will never NOT be tangled up in the human experience. This exasperated love song serves us all: past, present and future.”
Tropic Gold have announced their signing to UNFD with a huge new single, ‘Adrenaline’.
“Adrenaline unravels the uncontrollable feeling of not being able to get through a day without an unreasonably positive event occurring,” share the band. “It vocalises how having a day without an extreme positive lift can result in intense lows, similar to withdrawal symptoms. The lyrics are written from a “talking to myself” perspective, with vocals representing an inner monologue highlighted throughout the song.”
Naked Lungs – ‘River (Down)’
Irish four-piece noise-punk band Naked Lungs share their new single, ‘River (Down)’.
Speaking about the track, the band say: “River (Down) is us crafting this auditory assault of distortion and drums against a despondent scream into the proverbial nothingness as you spiral deeper and deeper down into a well of self-pity. There’s a definite angst the song that is offset against these abrupt moments of reprieve – building of massive tension only to grant no release, leaving the listener on edge for the whole runtime. This was one of the earliest songs we wrote on “Doomscroll” and it highlights some of the elements and styles we discovered and adopted during the formation of what would eventually become Naked Lungs.”
Gold Fever – ‘Leather (Wish I Felt The Same)’
Gold Fever craft a dance-along summer anthem with their catchy new single, ‘Leather (Wish I Felt The Same)’.
Oscar JD Sault (frontman & songwriter) – “‘Leather’ is about transition and how that was applicable to many aspects of my life at the time of writing. I felt stagnant while things around me changed. My perspective on my home city of Bristol became suffocatingly melancholic. Ultimately, I realised it was me who was losing myself. That kind of nostalgia is intoxicating, it’s surreal and numbing and almost feels sentient. ‘Leather’ is a song about forgetting who you are.”
