US / THEM Group

VILE CREATURE premiere new track from forthcoming album on Prosthetic Records

Doom metal experimentalists VILE CREATURE premiere a new single from their upcoming new album, Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! The track, titled "When The Path Is Unclear" is streaming exclusively via Decibel Magazine alongside an excerpt from an interview due to be published in full in the print edition. Hear and share "When The Path Is Unclear" HERE. It will be available on all DSPs tomorrow, pre-order/pre-save SmartURL HERE.

The five track album will be their first full length studio album under the Prosthetic Records banner. Metal Injection recently shared the video for "You Who Has Never Slept" HERE. (Direct YouTube.) Kerrang! previously launched the single audio HERE.

VILE CREATURE is:

Vic (they/them) - vocals, drums

KW (he/they) - vocals, guitar, drums, percussion

About the new single, the band says:

"'When the Path Is Unclear' was the last song completed for the record and the one that, we feel, perfectly melds the slow, meditative doom of our past records with the musical experimentation & exploration we gravitated towards when making some of the more out there musical pieces from Glory, Glory! Apathy took Helm! Lyrically the song is a direct accusation towards those that would do harm by holding up failures of the past as pillars of strength for the future."

VILE CREATURE has been constantly evolving during their six years as a band; from each release to the next, the Hamilton, Ontario duo have been pushing the boundaries of their own creativity, and testing the limits of their own place in the world. Nowhere is this more evident than on their latest experimental doom metal album, Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! VILE CREATURE are digging their heels in, ready to fight against the all too easy slide into nihilism -- as embodied in the sardonic album title.

Opener, "Harbinger of Nothing" (which first emerged on an Adult Swim compilation in 2019 and was re-recorded for the album) provides a jumping off point for a record that traverses myriad raw, real life experiences and marks a distinct new chapter for the band. The album features contributions from vocalist Laurel Minnes and her choir, Minuscule, and additional instrumentation from Bismuth’s Tanya Byrne. VILE CREATURE remains embedded in the oppressive sounds of doom and metal, only now they are covered with a luxurious veil of majestic embellishments.

Recording took place in February, 2020 at Boxcar Sound Recording in Hamilton, Ontario, with Adam Tucker once again in the producer’s chair. With Vic’s evocative and primal vocals often taking centre stage, their marked growth in confidence as a performer is evident. By collaborating with photographer, Danika Zandboer, the trio have fashioned a striking visual accompaniment -- manifesting the psychedelic and theatrical influences that become present in both audio and visual form.

Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! will be available on LP, CD and digital on June 19th, 2020 via Prosthetic Records. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: Vile Creature

Album: Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm!

Record Label: Prosthetic Records

Release Date: June 19th, 2020

01. Harbinger of Nothing

02. When The Path Is Unclear

03. You Who Has Never Slept

04. Glory! Glory!

05. Apathy Took Helm!

On The Web:

vilecreature.bandcamp.com

prostheticrecords.com

facebook.com/vilecreature

All-star experimentalists NOUS (Chris Bono w/ ex-Liturgy, Swans, Yoko Ono members) stream full album ahead of release

"A half-airy, half-aggressive interdisciplinary happening organized by the young and enterprising composer Christopher Bono, who brought together a wise, postcategory, electric and acoustic 12-person crew." -- New York Times

"You couldn't pigeonhole it into one genre if you tried -- it goes from eerie David Lynchian soundscapes to Eastern melodies to avant-garde jazz drum freakouts to a million other places, all while remaining strangely accessible." -- Brooklyn Vegan

"One of experimental rock’s most stacked modern supergroups... I’m eager to hear what’s become my most anticipated album dropping this month." -- Heavy Blog Is Heavy

New York experimental music project NOUS, led by producer and composer Christopher Bono, is streaming their forthcoming album NOUS III early starting today via Brooklyn Vegan. The album is the third installment from the lineup and concepts which comprised the band's opening trilogy of releases. Hear and share NOUS III HERE. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.

Watch the full collection of videos from the album, all of which were shot in the studio during the album recording and feature the exact moments each performer's parts were recorded via the label's YouTube page.

Flood Magazine previously shared the single "Never Can It Be" HERE. Heavy Blog Is Heavy hosted "Blush" HERE. Treble shared "We Hope The Weather Will Continue" HERE.

NOUS is an experimental music project with a fluctuating group of artists exploring ritual and spontaneity within music. The first trilogy of releases were culled from a 5-day musical retreat wherein 13 musicians were invited to join Christopher at the legendary Dreamland Studios, a converted church, with producer Kevin McMahon (Swans, Titus Andronicus) on an intensive 7-day immersion -- recording for 5 days, with 2 live performances at the conclusion. Each member was given a 47 page handbook that included a series of 60 musical "seed" ideas along with a list of conceptual cues. These ideas acted as a starting place for each improvisation. Bono then designed a daily schedule that began with a morning warmup routine of yoga followed by silent meditation, vocal toning, body percussion, and then a mixed percussion and toning session before moving to their respective instruments. These morning sessions were designed to move gradually from silence to sound within the body (vocal toning), rhythm on the body and finally to a blend of external instruments coinciding with internal sound (instruments and vocal toning.) Once the recording schedule began each day, Bono mixed the seed and conceptual ideas along with timed periods of free improvisation.This conceptual social experiment led to 3 albums and a transcendent sound formed from a unique fusing of collective consciousness.

A final, very special collaboration between ambient legend Laraaji with this NOUS ensemble will be announced soon for release in 2020.

The first NOUS trilogy along with the upcoming Laraaji & NOUS album will be followed by a new, entirely different incarnation of NOUS featuring Christopher Bono and Karl Berger, a jazz icon known for his stints with Ornette Coleman, Ed Blackwell and Don Cherry, and also for founding the now historic Creative Music Studio. Berger and Bono dubbed their collaboration NOUS: One Mind. They brought in 16 different musicians for various recording projects including Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin, Wood), Christopher Pravdica (Swans), Ira Coleman (Sting), master flutist Steve Gorn and many others. The two composers explored improvisation and composition in ways that blended their own unique backgrounds into a festive expression of improvised music that highlights the free power of the individual within the framework of a talented ensemble of deep listeners.

Each NOUS incarnation centers around a different focal concept, always seeking alternative ways of creating art. The name was chosen for its double meaning. 'Nous' in the French language is the plural personal pronoun in the first person, meaning 'we' or 'us'. However, within the philosophical tradition it is a word sometimes equated to intellect that is used to describe the faculty of the human mind which is necessary for understanding what is true or real, similar in meaning to intuition.

Nous band members on this recording:

~ Christopher Bono (Composer, Ghost Against Ghost) www.christopherbono.com

~ Greg Fox (Guardian Alien, Zs, Ben Frost, ex-Liturgy)

~ Shahzad Ismaily (Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, Bonnie Prince Billy)

~ Thor Harris (Swans, Angels of Light, Amanda Palmer, Shearwater)

~ Grey Mcmurray (itsnotyouitsme, So Percussion, Tyondai Braxton)

Special guests:

~ Clarice Jensen, Cello (ACME: American Contemporary Music Ensemble, yMusic, Ra Ra Riot)

~ Caleb Burhans, Composer (itsnotyouitsme, ACME)

~ Laura Lutzke, Violin (ACME)

~ Alex Sopp, Flutes (ACME, yMusic)

~ Imago, Cello / Vocals (Múm)

~ Cecilie Hafstad, Vocals
~ Laraaji & Arji (Zither, Ambient Sounds)

NOUS III will be available for streaming and download on May 29th, 2020 via Our Silent Canvas. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: NOUS

Album: NOUS III

Record Label: Our Silent Canvas

Release Date: May 29th, 2020

01. We Hope The Weather Will Continue

02. Ninths

03. A Falling Tear

04. Never Can It Be

05. Dust Suspended

06. Egac Ot Egamon

07. Blush

08. Chandra

09. Kindness

On the Web:

allnous.com

oursilentcanvas.bandcamp.com

oursilentcanvasstore.org

All-star experimentalists NOUS (Chris Bono, Greg Fox [Liturgy], Thor Harris [Swans], et al) share video for new track from upcoming album

"A half-airy, half-aggressive interdisciplinary happening organized by the young and enterprising composer Christopher Bono, who brought together a wise, postcategory, electric and acoustic 12-person crew." -- New York Times

"You couldn't pigeonhole it into one genre if you tried -- it goes from eerie David Lynchian soundscapes to Eastern melodies to avant-garde jazz drum freakouts to a million other places, all while remaining strangely accessible." -- Brooklyn Vegan

"One of experimental rock’s most stacked modern supergroups... I’m eager to hear what’s become my most anticipated album dropping this month." -- Heavy Blog Is Heavy

New York experimental music project NOUS, led by producer and composer Christopher Bono, shares a new track from the forthcoming NOUS III today via Treble. The album is the third installment from the lineup and concepts which comprised the band's opening trilogy of releases. Hear and share "We Hope The Weather Will Continue" HERE. Watch/share the video via YouTube HERE. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.

Brooklyn Vegan recently premiered the lead single "Ninths" HERE. Flood Magazine followed with the second single "Never Can It Be" HERE. Heavy Blog Is Heavy hosted "Blush" HERE.

NOUS is an experimental music project with a fluctuating group of artists exploring ritual and spontaneity within music. The first trilogy of releases were culled from a 5-day musical retreat wherein 13 musicians were invited to join Christopher at the legendary Dreamland Studios, a converted church, with producer Kevin McMahon (Swans, Titus Andronicus) on an intensive 7-day immersion -- recording for 5 days, with 2 live performances at the conclusion. Each member was given a 47 page handbook that included a series of 60 musical "seed" ideas along with a list of conceptual cues. These ideas acted as a starting place for each improvisation. Bono then designed a daily schedule that began with a morning warmup routine of yoga followed by silent meditation, vocal toning, body percussion, and then a mixed percussion and toning session before moving to their respective instruments. These morning sessions were designed to move gradually from silence to sound within the body (vocal toning), rhythm on the body and finally to a blend of external instruments coinciding with internal sound (instruments and vocal toning.) Once the recording schedule began each day, Bono mixed the seed and conceptual ideas along with timed periods of free improvisation.This conceptual social experiment led to 3 albums and a transcendent sound formed from a unique fusing of collective consciousness.

A final, very special collaboration between ambient legend Laraaji with this NOUS ensemble will be announced soon for release in 2020.

The first NOUS trilogy along with the upcoming Laraaji & NOUS album will be followed by a new, entirely different incarnation of NOUS featuring Christopher Bono and Karl Berger, a jazz icon known for his stints with Ornette Coleman, Ed Blackwell and Don Cherry, and also for founding the now historic Creative Music Studio. Berger and Bono dubbed their collaboration NOUS: One Mind. They brought in 16 different musicians for various recording projects including Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin, Wood), Christopher Pravdica (Swans), Ira Coleman (Sting), master flutist Steve Gorn and many others. The two composers explored improvisation and composition in ways that blended their own unique backgrounds into a festive expression of improvised music that highlights the free power of the individual within the framework of a talented ensemble of deep listeners.

Each NOUS incarnation centers around a different focal concept, always seeking alternative ways of creating art. The name was chosen for its double meaning. 'Nous' in the French language is the plural personal pronoun in the first person, meaning 'we' or 'us'. However, within the philosophical tradition it is a word sometimes equated to intellect that is used to describe the faculty of the human mind which is necessary for understanding what is true or real, similar in meaning to intuition.

Nous band members on this recording:

~ Christopher Bono (Composer, Ghost Against Ghost) www.christopherbono.com

~ Greg Fox (Guardian Alien, Zs, Ben Frost, ex-Liturgy)

~ Shahzad Ismaily (Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, Bonnie Prince Billy)

~ Thor Harris (Swans, Angels of Light, Amanda Palmer, Shearwater)

~ Grey Mcmurray (itsnotyouitsme, So Percussion, Tyondai Braxton)

Special guests:

~ Clarice Jensen, Cello (ACME: American Contemporary Music Ensemble, yMusic, Ra Ra Riot)

~ Caleb Burhans, Composer (itsnotyouitsme, ACME)

~ Laura Lutzke, Violin (ACME)

~ Alex Sopp, Flutes (ACME, yMusic)

~ Imago, Cello / Vocals (Múm)

~ Cecilie Hafstad, Vocals

NOUS III will be available for streaming and download on May 29th, 2020 via Our Silent Canvas. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: NOUS

Album: NOUS III

Record Label: Our Silent Canvas

Release Date: May 29th, 2020

01. We Hope The Weather Will Continue

02. Ninths

03. A Falling Tear

04. Never Can It Be

05. Dust Suspended

06. Egac Ot Egamon

07. Blush

08. Chandra

09. Kindness

On the Web:

allnous.com

oursilentcanvas.bandcamp.com

oursilentcanvasstore.org

HELL FIRE reminisce about road dog life w/ new video single "Conquerors"

"Lots of thrash bands do their best to sound retro, but Hell Fire manage to sound classic." -- Kerrang!

"Hell Fire rocks harder than Stonehenge with the fury of Motorhead!" -- CvltNation

"Hell Fire is straight up incapable of writing a song that doesn't kick ass. They just can't do it... Pure heavy metal." -- Metal Injection

San Francisco thrash revivalists Hell Fire share a new single & video today via Metal Injection. The clip, comprised mostly of live footage and candid scenes from the band's seemingly endless touring from way back 'in the before-times' is touchingly celebratory of the live show experience. Watch & share "Conquerors" HERE. (Direct YouTube and Bandcamp.)

Brooklyn Vegan previously shared Hell Fire's 2019 album Mania in its entirety HERE. (Direct YouTube.)

"Conquerors" is a standalone single available on all streaming platforms today. Mania is the band's first proper album on RidingEasy Records, following the label's worldwide reissue of the band's self-released 2017 sophomore breakout Free Again, released on January 18th.

Formed in recent years in San Francisco, though it may seem more likely that they hatched fresh out of a time travel portal from the mid-80s Bay Area thrash scene, Hell Fire have the classic look and sound of modern metal's halcyon days. Hell Fire's sonic assault warmly condenses elements of influences like Angel Witch, Iron Maiden, Rainbow, Exodus, Metallica, Riot, Virtue and Diamond Head into 10 tracks of headbanging MUYA anthems.

The free-wheelin' creativity and infectious vitality of the 80s Bay Area thrash scene is a moment forever locked in time, but its spirit lives on in the band's galloping guitar picks, soaring harmonies and blistering rhythms. Hell Fire's perfect hybrid of NWOBHM theatrics and American thrash attitude.

Mania is available on LP, CD and download, released on March 29th, 2019 via RidingEasy Records. The album is available to purchase HERE.

Artist: Hell Fire

Album: "Conquerors" digital single

Label: RidingEasy Records

Release Date: May 14th, 2020

01. Conquerors

Artist: Hell Fire

Album: Mania

Label: RidingEasy Records

Release Date: March 29, 2019

01. Warpath

02. Mania

03. On The Loose

04. Born To Burn

05. Transcending Evil

06. Lashing Out

07. Isolator

08. The Dreamer

09. Knights of The Holy

10. Masochist

On The Web:

hellfiremetal.com

hellfiremetal.bandcamp.com

instagram.com/hellfiremetal

ridingeasyrecs.com

Maggot Heart (Linnéa Olsson ex-The Oath) announce sophomore album, share first single

Best of 2018: Dusk To Dusk -- Revolver Magazine

"Similar to The Oath (or Ghost or Blue Oyster Cult) it has the spirit of darkness of metal, but really it’s a catchy, swaggering rock song." -- Brooklyn Vegan

Berlin based hard rock band Maggot Heart shares the title track to their forthcoming sophomore album Mercy Machine today on all DSPs. Yesterday, the track premiered via Brooklyn Vegan HERE. Hear & share "Mercy Machine" via Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.

Linnéa Olsson's Maggot Heart is back with their sophomore album, which will be released on Linnéa's brand new record label Rapid Eye Records. The Swedish guitarist and songwriter, based in Berlin since 2012, has made her band a much talked about force in the underground with their extensive touring (alongside Earthless and Voivod among others), cross-over hard rock sound, and punk ethos.

The city as a throbbing organism is one of the fundamental themes of Maggot Heart, explored in several songs on City Girls (2017) and Dusk to Dusk (2018). On Mercy Machine (2020), the machinery of night runs on the steam of many bodies. Locked inside a prison of flesh the spirit will not soar, only in unity with the body can divine alchemy be achieved. Mercy Machine is a rock album about sex, death and the pursuit of freedom.

This album was put together by Linnéa, long-time drumming partner Uno Bruniusson and bassist Olivia Airey (as well as on-and-off collaborator Gottfrid Åhman) at the end of 2019, and once again

recorded in Stockholm, Sweden with award-winning producer Martin "Konie" Ehrencrona (Viagra Boys, In Solitude) in February 2020. It highlights Olsson's catchy, but strangely jarring songwriting in ten cutting tracks, swerving back and forth on the rock genre-spectrum. These songs contain a highly entertaining blend of urgency, bleakness and undeniable attitude which may or may not appeal to fans of Voivod, The Stooges and The Jesus Lizard.

The incredible cover artwork is by Kristian Valbo, known to metal fans as the drummer for Obliteration.

Mercy Machine will be available on LP and download on July 10th, 2020 via Rapid Eye Records. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: Maggot Heart

Album: Mercy Machine

Record Label: Rapid Eye Records

Release Date: July 10th, 2020

01. Second Class

02. Sex Breath

03. Justine

04. Roses

05. Gutter Feeling

06. Mercy Machine

07. High Rise

08. Lost Boys

09. Senseless

10. Modern Cruelty

On the Web:

maggotheart.bandcamp.com

maggotheart.com

rapideyerecords.com

Ghost Work (ex-Seaweed, Minus The Bear, Milemarker, Snapcase members) share new single from upcoming debut

"Strikes a balance between ’90s post-hardcore and ’90s indie rock, with a little post-punkiness in the mix too. Given these members’ pedigrees, a song like this is right in their wheelhouse, but it’s also not really a repeat of anything any of them have done before. It’s good stuff." -- Brooklyn Vegan

"A delicious blend of punk rock/post-punk goodness." -- PopMatters

Indie-punk supergroup Ghost Work share a new single from their forthcoming debut full length today via The Big Takeover. Hear and share "Statues in Spain" HERE. (Direct Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music.)

The album's original release date has been moved back one month to June 5th. Brooklyn Vegan recently featured the first single, "Fake Blood" HERE. PopMatters previously hosted "Go Stat" HERE.

Ghost Work is a new band from current and ex-members of Seaweed, Minus the Bear, Snapcase and Milemarker among others. The band brings their unique styles to the table along with various other punk and post-punk influences. Anyone familiar with vocalist/guitarist Aaron Stauffer's 90s work with Seaweed, Gardener (Sub Pop) and others will immediately recognize his voice the moment it drops in over a haze of chiming and chirping shoegaze guitars and the driving rhythm section in album opener "Fake Blood."

You'll Be Buried With is the band's debut full length, recorded in various locations from Washington DC, Chicago, Seattle, Buffalo and Mendocino. It was mixed by Chris Rakestraw (Danzig, Megadeth, Retox, Deftones) in December 2019.

Ghost Work is:

Aaron Stauffer (ex-Seaweed) - vocals, guitar

Dustin Perry (Snapcase) - bass guitar

Sean Husick (ex-Milemarker) - guitars

Erin Tate (ex-Minus The Bear) - drums

Here is what Stauffer had to say in a recent interview with No Echo:

"Ghost Work, yes. I don't know any of the other guys in that band [laughs]. I've only spoken to Sean [Husick], the dude that was in Milemarker. I got an email from Erin [Tate], the guy who was in Minus the Bear, and he was like, "I got your email from so and so, and I hope I'm not intruding, but here's some music, see if you like it, and if you want to sing on it." I remember reading that to my wife and saying, "This is going to be terrible." [Laughs] I saw Snapcase mentioned in the email, and I thought it was going to be like a hardcore band. I don't mean that it was going to be terrible because it was hardcore, it just wasn't going to be right for me as a singer. Anyway, I heard the music and I was like, "Wow! This is really good." The guitar playing is super- interesting, and it reminded me of My Bloody Valentine or Cocteau Twins, you know? "I can totally sing on this!" It's been so much fun because in Seaweed, I only wrote about 10% of the songs, max, maybe for like 5% to be realistic. Most of the time I was just singing over someone else's riffs, and that's pretty much the only band I've played in where that was the case. So, it's been fun to be doing that again with Ghost Work. Yeah, I'm having a lot of fun with this band."

You'll Be Buried With will be released June 5th, 2020 via the IDEAS label.

Artist: Ghost Work

Album: You’ll Be Buried With

Record Label: IDEAS

Release Date: June 5th, 2020

01. Fake Blood

02. Go Stat

03. Favored Routes

04. Statues in Spain

05. Bricks of Sun

06. Greeting from Gates

07.Salt From Tears

08. Contact Contract

09. B. Ledgewood

10. Confession on 6

On The Web:

realghostwork.bandcamp.com

instagram.com/realghostwork

facebook.com/ghostwork

twitter.com/realghostwork

Watch NOUS (Chris Bono [Ghost Against Ghost], Thor Harris [Swans], Greg Fox [ex-Liturgy], Shahzad Ismaily) video for new track from upcoming album 'III'

"A half-airy, half-aggressive interdisciplinary happening organized by the young and enterprising composer Christopher Bono, who brought together a wise, postcategory, electric and acoustic 12-person crew." -- New York Times

"You couldn't pigeonhole it into one genre if you tried -- it goes from eerie David Lynchian soundscapes to Eastern melodies to avant-garde jazz drum freakouts to a million other places, all while remaining strangely accessible." -- Brooklyn Vegan

"One of experimental rock’s most stacked modern supergroups... I’m eager to hear what’s become my most anticipated album dropping this month." -- Heavy Blog Is Heavy

New York experimental music project NOUS, led by producer and composer Christopher Bono, shares a new track from the forthcoming NOUS III today via Heavy Blog is Heavy. The album is the third installment from the lineup and concepts which comprised the band's opening trilogy of releases. Hear and share "Blush" HERE. Watch/share the video via YouTube HERE. Pre-order/pre-save HERE.

Brooklyn Vegan recently premiered the lead single "Ninths" HERE. Flood Magazine followed with the second single "Never Can It Be" HERE.

NOUS is an experimental music project with a fluctuating group of artists exploring ritual and spontaneity within music. The first trilogy of releases were culled from a 5-day musical retreat wherein 13 musicians were invited to join Christopher at the legendary Dreamland Studios, a converted church, with producer Kevin McMahon (Swans, Titus Andronicus) on an intensive 7-day immersion -- recording for 5 days, with 2 live performances at the conclusion. Each member was given a 47 page handbook that included a series of 60 musical "seed" ideas along with a list of conceptual cues. These ideas acted as a starting place for each improvisation. Bono then designed a daily schedule that began with a morning warmup routine of yoga followed by silent meditation, vocal toning, body percussion, and then a mixed percussion and toning session before moving to their respective instruments. These morning sessions were designed to move gradually from silence to sound within the body (vocal toning), rhythm on the body and finally to a blend of external instruments coinciding with internal sound (instruments and vocal toning.) Once the recording schedule began each day, Bono mixed the seed and conceptual ideas along with timed periods of free improvisation.This conceptual social experiment led to 3 albums and a transcendent sound formed from a unique fusing of collective consciousness.

A final, very special collaboration between ambient legend Laraaji with this NOUS ensemble will be announced soon for release in 2020.

The first NOUS trilogy along with the upcoming Laraaji & NOUS album will be followed by a new, entirely different incarnation of NOUS featuring Christopher Bono and Karl Berger, a jazz icon known for his stints with Ornette Coleman, Ed Blackwell and Don Cherry, and also for founding the now historic Creative Music Studio. Berger and Bono dubbed their collaboration NOUS: One Mind. They brought in 16 different musicians for various recording projects including Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin, Wood), Christopher Pravdica (Swans), Ira Coleman (Sting), master flutist Steve Gorn and many others. The two composers explored improvisation and composition in ways that blended their own unique backgrounds into a festive expression of improvised music that highlights the free power of the individual within the framework of a talented ensemble of deep listeners.

Each NOUS incarnation centers around a different focal concept, always seeking alternative ways of creating art. The name was chosen for its double meaning. 'Nous' in the French language is the plural personal pronoun in the first person, meaning 'we' or 'us'. However, within the philosophical tradition it is a word sometimes equated to intellect that is used to describe the faculty of the human mind which is necessary for understanding what is true or real, similar in meaning to intuition.

Nous band members on this recording:

~ Christopher Bono (Composer, Ghost Against Ghost) www.christopherbono.com

~ Greg Fox (Guardian Alien, Zs, Ben Frost, ex-Liturgy)

~ Shahzad Ismaily (Yoko Ono, Laurie Anderson, Bonnie Prince Billy)

~ Thor Harris (Swans, Angels of Light, Amanda Palmer, Shearwater)

~ Grey Mcmurray (itsnotyouitsme, So Percussion, Tyondai Braxton)

Special guests:

~ Clarice Jensen, Cello (ACME: American Contemporary Music Ensemble, yMusic, Ra Ra Riot)

~ Anthony Molina (Mercury Rev)

~ Caleb Burhans, Composer (itsnotyouitsme, ACME)

~ Laura Lutzke, Violin (ACME)

~ Alex Sopp, Flutes (ACME, yMusic)

~ Imago, Cello / Vocals (Múm)

~ Cecilie Hafstad, Vocals

~ Hariprakaash, Gong

~ Akil Davis and Loud Sol Productions

NOUS III will be available for streaming and download on May 29th, 2020 via Our Silent Canvas. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: NOUS

Album: NOUS III

Record Label: Our Silent Canvas

Release Date: May 29th, 2020

01. We Hope The Weather Will Continue

02. Ninths

03. A Falling Tear

04. Never Can It Be

05. Dust Suspended

06. Egac Ot Egamon

07. Blush

08. Chandra

09. Kindness

On the Web:

allnous.com

oursilentcanvas.bandcamp.com

oursilentcanvasstore.org

Hear EMBR's new song from upcoming New Heavy Sounds debut, produced by Matt Washburn (Mastodon)

"A Sabbathian dirge swirling with Southern Gothic vibes and lifted above the fog by Crystal's soaring vocals. For fans of Black Sabbath, Windhand and Royal Thunder." -- Revolver Magazine

"Melodic, epic, cosmic doom." -- CvltNation

Birmingham, AL quartet EMBR share a new track from their forthcoming debut album 1823 today via CvltNation. The album is the band's first release signed to UK label New Heavy Sounds (Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard, Vodun, Blacklab.) Hear and share "Eyes Like Knives" HERE. (Direct Bandcamp.)

Revolver Magazine previously launched the video for "Your Burden" HERE. (Direct YouTube.)

Four musical kindred spirits have delivered a crushing, yet beautiful debut album in 1823. At this point, it is worth stating that the title 1823 has special significance. It’s not just a numerical title, it has substance. Eric Bigelow (drummer) has been on the list for a kidney for around 4 years.

Eric received a kidney transplant in May of 2019. This happened right in the middle of writing the album. The kidney was from a deceased donor and all Eric and Crystal Bigelow (singer and Eric’s wife) know about the donor is that it was a young woman between the ages of 18-23. The album is dedicated to the donor and the surgeons at Vanderbilt hospital in Nashville TN. And what a fine tribute it is.

Musically, 1823 could be categorized as ‘Doom’. However, on this debut it’s obvious that EMBR have range, drive and a desire to add to the genre, to broaden it whilst staying true to its core fundamentals.

Rest assured, the band have all the nuts and bolts in place. Mark Buchanan (guitar), Alan Light (bass) and Eric Bigelow (drums) keep everything tight and weighty. Massive drop-tuned guitars, chest rattling low end, pounding drums, fuzzy distortion, it’s all there. But they also add in synths, a bit of grunge and alt rock flavors.

The vocal talents of Crystal absolutely soar and strengthen the music. Her range, patterns and harmonies transport the band’s music skyward. Crystal adds soul and an air of melancholia to the musical creations. If a pointer were needed, think Mastodon meets Witch Mountain with epic sweeps and a shade of gothic drama.

Tracks like ‘Prurient’ and ‘Where I’ve Been’ combine thick heavy riffs with Crystal weaving through, powerful and epic, yet soulful and intimate. Musically, the bands core vibe is keep it slow and low’ but EMBR aren’t afraid to mix it up a bit. ‘Stranger’ takes it down, allowing Crystal’s voice to float over the softer elements and riffs in an almost folk-like manner. ‘Powder’ channels throat ripping growls and soaring clean vocals in one loping relentless journey. ‘Eyes Like Knives’ , ‘Your Burden’ and ‘Vines’ are epic doom fests, drenched in gothic veils and dripping with thick distortion.

The lyrics are deep and are usually written collectively by Crystal and Eric with one of them sometimes taking the reins on certain songs that they identify with. For instance, "Powder" is a song Eric wrote about past struggles and trying to power through them with relentless determination and positivity. "Prurient" was written by Crystal and initially was based on the 2016 movie The Boy but also was inspired by her past experiences with a haunting figure in her life.

The songs on 1823 are loud, brutally beautiful, aggressive, abrasive and at times atmospheric, uplifting and emotional. Welcome to the next chapter of EMBR.

1823 will be available on LP, CD and digital on July 17th, 2020 via New Heavy Sounds. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Artist: EMBR

Album: 1823

Record Label: New Heavy Sounds

Release Date: July 17th, 2020

01. Prurient

02. Where I’ve Been

03. Stranger

04. Powder

05. Eyes Like Knives

06. Your Burden

07. Vines

On The Web:

embrrockband.com

newheavysounds.com

instagram.com/embr_band

facebook.com/embrband

twitter.com/embr_rock_band

Monolord release instrumental version of beloved 'Empress Rising' album for Bandcamp's pandemic relief day

"Without vocals, Empress Rising suddenly becomes a post-metal, stoner epic in the vein of Sleep’s Dopesmoker and Monster Magnet’s 30-minute opus 'Tab.' Arguably Monolord’s most atmospheric work, the instrumental treatment gives the album a new life and listening experience." -- Consequence of Sound

Swedish trio Monolord release a special all-instrumental version of their beloved 2014 debut album Empress Rising today via Bandcamp in support of the online merchant's pandemic relief effort. The instrumental mix is streaming in full via Consequence of Sound HERE. (Direct Bandcamp HERE.)

Bandcamp is giving 100% of their revenue for all sales today, May 1st, to artists as part of their efforts to help bands impacted by the pandemic with canceled tours, postponed album releases, loss of work, etc. RidingEasy Records will also give the band 100% of the profits from sales of this special release today.

Monolord formed in 2013, quickly recording their 2xLP debut Empress Rising, which RidingEasy Records released on April 1st, 2014. The second album, Vænir, followed April 28th, 2015. The band's third album, Rust, released September 29th, 2017, was a critical and commercial breakthrough. It would be the band's last for RidingEasy, though the band remain managed by label head Daniel Hall, elevating them to the Relapse Records roster for their 2019 full length No Comfort.

Empress Rising (instrumental) is available for download and streaming on all platforms on May 1st, 2020 via RidingEasy Records.

Artist: Monolord

Album: Empress Rising (Instrumental)

Label: RidingEasy Records

Release Date: May 1st, 2020

01. Empress Rising

02. Audhumbla

03. Harbinger of Death

04. Icon

05. Watchers of the Waste

On The Web:

monolord.com

monolord.bandcamp.com

ridingeasyrecs.com

ABRAMS streaming 'Modern Ways' album early via Metal Injection

"Abrams have it all: noisy, sludgy riffs, mathy time signatures, and big, arena-rock choruses. They say one time someone described them as 'Foo Fighters meets Red Fang', which felt strangely accurate.” -- Kerrang

"An emotional bulldozer of a record that sees the band refining its songcraft and sound... They have all the potential in the world to make a bona fide sludge/rock masterpiece." -- Metal Injection

"Without a doubt the group's strongest offering to date! It would not be out of place on a playlist with more recent work by bands like Mastodon, Baroness, and Torche. Big words, we know, but it’s not just hype: Modern Ways really is THAT good." -- Metal Sucks

Denver quartet Abrams are streaming their forthcoming third album Modern Ways in full starting today via Metal Injection. Hear and share Modern Ways HERE. (Direct Soundcloud and Bandcamp.)

Metal Sucks recently premiered "Find a Way" HERE. Kerrang! shared "Joshua Tree" single HERE. Metal Injection previously launched the hook-laden title track "Modern Ways" HERE. The Obelisk hosted "That Part of Me" HERE.

Abrams has upped the ante with their latest recording, Modern Ways. With a focus on songwriting, lyrical narrative, and addictive hooks and refrains, Abrams presents a highly focused, intensely polished sonic narrative. Written over the course of two and a half years, the album reflects the passions, pains, successes and nightmares of the members of Abrams lives.

Modern Ways will be available on vinyl and streaming services via Sailor Records on May 1st, 2020. Pre-orders are available HERE.

Based out of Denver, Abrams was founded in 2013 as a trio. Abrams debut EP, February was released in May 2014 on No List Records. The supporting tour for this release saw the band hit the West Coast, before heading immediately into the studio to record their first full length.

Lust. Love. Loss was released independently in June 2015, receiving praise from Metal Injection, Decibel Magazine, Invisible Oranges, and others. The remainder of the year saw Abrams tour West, East, and West again.

Their follow up, Morning, came out on Sailor Records in June of 2017, which was supported by three nationwide tours for much of the remaining year. Morning received high praise from Metal Injection, New Noise Magazine, Metal Sucks and others.

Abrams is:

Patrick Alberts: Guitar

Zachary Amster: Guitar & Vox

Ryan Dewitt: Drums

Taylor Iversen: Bass & Vox

ABRAMS LIVE 2020:

05/02/20 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive - POSTPONED