Letting It Flow – Enslaved
Left-field metal luminaries Enslaved have revealed the next audiovisual gem taken from their forthcoming Cinematic Tour 2020 live releases.
As part of their 30th anniversary revelries, the band has premiered a live video for their single ‘Fenris’. A classic track from their early arsenal- though black metal to its core, ‘Fenris’nevertheless hinted at their kosmische obsessions that lurked behind the curtain.
This performance of ‘Fenris’ is taken from their upcoming live release Chronicles of the Northbound (Cinematic Tour 2020), which sees Enslaved fly through a career spanning entirely fan-voted set of favourites. It is one part of their four new live album/DVD Cinematic Tour 2020 collection due to be released on June 25th.
Enslaved's Grutle Kjellson commented, "Fenris was perhaps the first song we wrote that got a massive encore demand, and before we actually had a lot of songs to pick from, we even played it twice during a set… haha. So, since all the songs on the Chronicles of the Northbound set was handpicked and voted for by our fans, it wasn’t a big shock that the grand old wolf was among the chosen ones. Fenris has been present on many of our setlists for pretty close to 30 years now, and it is still a great song for both ourselves to perform and for the audience to absorb. It’s a very energetic song, and its lyrical concept deals with letting the energy flow naturally without trying to enslave (bish!) it. The consequences can be fatal if you keep the wolf in captivity for too long. Let loose your inner wolf, the inevitable tide, and enjoy!"
Live Albums/DVDs
Enslaved will be releasing four new live albums/DVDs on June 25th, with audio and visuals taken from their highly revered digital performances in 2020.
The Rise of Ymir (Verftet Online Festival 2020)
Chronicles of the Northbound (Cinematic Tour 2020)
Below The Lights (Cinematic Tour 2020)
Utgard – The Journey Within (Cinematic Tour 2020)
The releases will be available via the following formats:
Splatter Vinyl (ltd. edition 300 copies)
4 x CD/DVD boxset (ltd. edition 1000 copies)
4 x DVD (ltd. edition 1000 copies)
Digital albums
Physical pre-order available here: bynorsestore.com
Digital pre-order now available here: http://nblast.de/Enslaved-CinematicTour
Ivar Bjørnson | guitars
Grutle Kjellson | vocals
Arve ‘Ice Dale’ Isdal | guitar
Håkon Vinje | keyboards, clean vocals
Iver Sandøy | drums
The Rise of Ymir chronicles Enslaved‘s debut digital show, which took place on April 1st 2020 at USF, Bergen, as part of the Verftet Online Music Festival.
Chronicles of the Northbound, Below The Lights and Utgard – The Journey Within detail their Cinematic Summer Tour digital shows which took place last summer. The events were collaborations with respected European festivals Roadburn, Beyond The Gates and Summer Breeze.
ENSLAVED – UTGARD EUROPEAN TOUR 2022
w/ Intronaut, Obsidian Kingdom, Crown
13/02 – DE Berlin, Hole44
14/02 – NL Utrecht, De Helling
16/02 – UK Birmingham, 02 Institute
17/02 – UK Glasgow, Classic Grand
18/02 – UK Leeds, Brudenell Social Club
19/02 – UK London, 229
21/02 – FR Paris, La Machine
22/02 – FR Toulouse, Le Metronum *new city
23/02 – ES Madrid, Caracol
24/02 – ES Barcelona, Boveda
25/02 – FR Lyon, CCO Villeurbanne
26/02 – CH, Aarau, KiFF
28/02 – DE Munich, Backstage Halle
01/03 – DE Stuttgart, Wizemann
02/03 – DE Cologne, Luxor
03/03 – DE Frankfurt, Das Bett
04/03 – DE Hamburg, Uebel & Gefährlich
05/03 – DE Leipzig, Hellraiser
Tickets for Enslaved’s upcoming 2022 tour dates are on sale now from:
http://enslaved.no/
Never faltering, Norway’s iconic Enslaved continue to exist as one of the most original and dependable components in our scene’s indestructible backbone. Possessing the reputation as one of the most riveting live acts around, they never fail to offer us talent of the highest calibre, always doing justice to their signature black/progressive sound. Enslaved was formed in 1991 by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson releasing their first demo Yggdrasill in the summer of 1992, their legendary mini-album Hordanes Land coming out in 1993 with debut full length Vikingligr Veldi arriving in the spring of 1994.
Enslaved in 2021 is a band in stellar form, a band at its most existentialist and self-conscious, proud Bergeners bearing the torch of their hometown’s extraordinary musical history. Latest album Utgard has shown them at a stage where simply everything they touch turns to gold. Icy black metal anthems walk hand in hand with refined prog rock gems and primordial, dark folk sorcery. It’s Enslaved to the bone. And yet again a band that cast off its old skin, delivering some of their shortest songs in years while still packing them with glimmering detail. It is a journey into and through scary Utgard, showing Enslaved both unleashed and thought-through – a lethal combination unfurling a potential that’s easily rekindling the furor of their early works while dancing gracefully through their most ambitious, most haunting and most musical tunes yet. A contradiction? Life itself is a contradiction. And yet we all live to prove it wrong.
Real Life Lessons – The Novus
Ahead of the release of their eagerly anticipated debut EP – ‘Thaleia Standing’ on Friday 18th June, emerging Midlands outfit The Novus today share their new single, ‘Castaway’ and it’s coinciding video shot by Jacky P (AKA Jack Parker); former presenter of BBC Introducing WM and touring DJ for Scarlxrd.
The second single to be shared from the EP, ‘’Castaway’ embodies the notion that it’s totally normal and okay to have dark days; acknowledging that we are taught to take care of others before learning to care for ourselves – as bassist Tyla Challenger explains:
“‘Castaway’ touches heavily on how we’re never taught how to properly take care of ourselves. As much as it’s okay to not be okay, it’s ingrained into a whole generation to be ‘nice’ to everyone around us without actually learning how to accept & look after our own physical and mental wellbeing. We’re quickly taught to respect and love each other, as we should; but education fails to teach the importance of empowering and looking after yourself. It results in a society filled with toxic masculinity, unidentified mental health issues & huge suicide rates. This is something very close to home for us, growing up in a small town and being outlandish in what we wear, the way we look – male fragility & xenophobia as a whole is almost embedded in schools, jobs and the ‘everyman’. ‘Castaway’ is our take on what’s more important than the syllabus, these real life lessons that need teaching & the things we all wish we’d known earlier..”
THE NOVUS ‘THALEIA STANDING EP’ OUT 18TH JUNE
Something To Look Forward To – UV-TV
Completing an exhilarating trilogy of releases following 2017 debut ‘Glass’ and 2019’s ‘Happy’, ‘Always Something’ finds the NYC trio taking flight with some of their most complex and accomplished material to date.
Combining a classic feel with a fresh contemporary outlook, the album features recent singles “Back To Nowhere”, “Distant Lullaby” and title-track “Always Something”, which have seen UV-TV garner praise from outlets including Consequence of Sound, Line Of Best Fit, Under The Radar, Stereogum, Louder Than War, The Punk Site, Brooklyn Vegan and more.
The release of ‘Always Something’ also arrives with the confirmation of an extensive European Tour, planned for Spring 2022. Full dates and details are as follows:
– UV-TV – EUROPEAN TOUR 2022 –
18.03.22 – IT – ROMA – FANFULLA
19.03.22 – IT – FIRENZE – TBD
20.03.22 – IT – ANCONA – OSTERIA SOTTO LE MURA
21.03.22 – IT – BOLOGNA – FREAKOUT
22.03.22 – IT – SAVONA – RAINDOGS
23.03.22 – FR – CHAMBERY – BRIN DE ZINC
24.03.22 – CH – ZURICH – GOTTHARD BAR
25.03.22 – FR – TROYES – LE FERAGUS
26.03.22 – FR – Strasbourg – BRASSERIE DU FRAMONT
27.03.22 – DE – FURTH – KUNST KELLER o27
28.03.22 – DE – BERLIN – Schokoladen
29.03.22 – CZ – PRAGA – KASTAN CLUB
30.03.22 – DE – MANNHEIM – ALTER
31.03.22 – FR – PARIS – L’INTERNATIONAL
01.04.22 – FR – NANTES – LUNE FROID
02.04.22 – FR – Evreux – LE KUBB
03.04.22 – UK – RAMSGATE – Ramsgate Music Hall
04.04.22 – UK – BRISTOL – THE LANES
05.04.22 – UK – LONDON – THE VICTORIA DALSTON
06.04.22 – UK – CHELMSFORD – HOT BOX LIVE
07.04.22 – UK – LEEDS – MABGATE BLEACH
08.04.22 – UK – Middleton in Teesdale – Sports & Social Club
09.04.22 – UK – HASTINGS – THE PIPER
10.04.22 – UK – TODMORDEN – GOLDEN LION
11.04.22 – UK – Newcastle upon Tyne – Bobiks
13.04.22 – FR – ALENCON – CHAPELMELE
17.04.22 – DE – Herdecke – The Shakespeare Pub
UV-TV are founding members Rose Vastola (guitars / vox), Ian Bernacett (guitars), and Ian Rose (drums).
Well established as a cornerstone in the continuation of the DIY and post-punk crossover scene in the US, ‘Always Something’ sees the band confirm their status with one of 2021’s most essential guitar records.
Available digitally on all platforms now, a run of 500 limited edition LPs will also soon be available in the US and for import in the UK & EU.
UV-TV – NEW ALBUM: ‘ALWAYS SOMETHING’
– OUT TODAY, 28 MAY 2021, VIA PAPERCUP MUSIC
STREAM IN FULL HERE
FOR MORE INFORMATION
https://uvtv.bandcamp.com
Hitting The Road – Lucy Spraggan
Singer songwriter Lucy Spraggan has announced a brand new 32-date UK tour, kicking off in York at The Crescent on 25 October 2021. Celebrating the arrival of her recently released album ‘Choices’, Lucy will perform her latest hits including Sober and Animal, alongside classics including Last Night (Beer Fear), and Tea & Toast, amongst many others. Tickets go on general sale Wednesday, 2nd June at Ticketek here.
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Lucy Spraggan says: “I am very excited to be announcing my 2021 UK tour! That's right, an actual tour! This year! With 32 dates! Playing some of the oldies and of course some new tracks of my new album ‘Choices’. I can't wait to see you all there!”
A Soundtrack For Modernity – IAMREBELWILL
Born and raised in bilingual Montreal, Toronto-based pop entertainer, IAMREBELWILL is influenced by the showmanship of Janet Jackson, the eclectic artistry of Andre 3000 and the vibes and feels of Kaytranada.
Now unveiling his new project RebelFuturism, the artist is using his voice to challenge the stereotypical perspective in mainstream pop music and help empower the underrepresented LGTBQ+ and POC community to be fearlessly themselves. RebelFuturism, is seductive, contemporary pop, soaked in the neon bleached nightclub vibes of house bass-lines, infused with irresistible pop hooks and melodies.
“It’s a soundtrack for modernity, addressing sexuality, sexual fluidity, identity and equality,” says Rebel. “As a proud queer black man I wanted to create something that gave a voice to my experience and a voice to folks whose stories the majority of time are not told.”
“Addicted” is the first single to be released off of the upcoming project. An anthem of being hopelessly in love Rebel declares, “I spent a huge portion of my life afraid to be myself and this project allows me to finally be authentically Rebel!” The single is a sleek, exploration of love. Narrating the navigation of feelings, “Addicted” talks of looking back from an objective standpoint at a first time relationship, falling in love and trying to understand the experience. Co-written with Tafari Anthony, the single is dripping in groove and energy, encouraging you to live unapologetically yourself.
Produced by Nick Katz, “Addicted” has an undeniable addictive electricity to the track, with a slapping bass line and cool, fresh synths that ooze powerful, sassy vibes. The funk and rhythm on this single carries a constant glow of confidence.
A Sonic Vibe – THE WOLFE BROTHERS
Australian duo The Wolfe Brothers today announce the release of their latest barnstormer, “Startin’ Something,” with American country duo, LOCASH.
Hailed by the brothers as “a party starter from Tasmania to Tennessee,” the track delivers with a sonic vibe reminiscent of the international clinking of a Cascade Blue tinnie to a Budweiser can and brings together two much-loved duos with a generous helping of bravado and cheer.
“We wanted to make a record we could play live anywhere - from the back of a truck to a stadium and ‘Startin’ Something’ seemed to be one of those songs that kept giving us that feeling,” said bassist Tom Wolfe. “We first shared a stage with LOCASH back in 2016 when their single ‘I Love This Life’ was dominating the charts— fast forward five years—we were digging through our catalogue and rediscovered this track and it transported us back to that time – we knew we had to reach out to the guys!”
“We’ve pushed ourselves into new areas, feels and sounds for this record - It's got heart, soul and a lot of fun in this one—I can’t wait for people to hear it,” says vocalist/ lead guitarist Nick Wolfe. “We’re really proud of the end result and just can’t wait to play the songs live!”
Live Your Best Life – The Other LA
The Other LA have signed to FREAK MACHINE RECORDS, the home of Fit For Rivals and Renee Phoenix. The band’s debut single, “Waiting On The Rain”, produced by Mitch Marlow (New Years Day, In This Moment) released to all major platforms on May 21st. The band have now premiered the official music video for the single.
“I wrote this song when I was living in a confusing time in my life. It’s about waiting for the perfect time to escape and find your purpose in life. If you’re not happy in a job, relationship, or location, it’s best to go out and live your best life instead of living in misery.-”
Aria
The Other LA is the freshest band to break onto the scene. From packing out venues in their hometown of Nashville, TN, and supporting acts like Halestorm, Lacey Sturm, and Lacuna Coil, TOLA delivers a heavy-hitting, headline-worthy show.
Photo Credit: Eden Lauren
What makes The Other LA stand out is their seemingly effortless ability to connect emotionally with any audience. Aria (lead singer/songwriter) shares her journey of balancing Aspergers and overcoming adversity through her intimate lyrics and raw vocal performances that soar over the crowd. TOLA delivers a full-on musical assault, showcasing their comradery through their showmanship and sense of community within their audience. It’s easy to feel immediately part of
the journey.
The Other LA is on its way to becoming the hottest young rock group to capture listeners worldwide. Their highly anticipated self-titled EP, coming out on Freak Machine Records has a TBD release date in 2021.
The Other LA Tour Dates:
Saturday, 6/5 Clarksville, TN The Warehouse
Friday, 6/11 Hattiesburg, MS w/Roses Unread Karen’s Landing
Saturday, 6/12 Ocean Springs, MS w/Roses Unread The Juke Joint
Thursday, 6/24 Indianapolis, IN w/Roses Unread Black Circle
Friday, 6/25 Kent, OH w/Roses Unread The Outpost Concert Club
Saturday, 6/26 Parkersburg, WV w/Roses Unread The Dils Center
Friday, 7/2 Huntsville, AL w/Renee Phoenix Shagnasty’s
Saturday, 7/3 Biloxi, MS w/Renee Phoenix b’LUX
An Ace Up Their Sleeve – Joker’s Hand
Hailing from Torrance, CA. Joker’s Hand founding members Kevin Kawano and Matthew Lau met while attending film school at UC Santa Cruz.
After writing dozens of demos and carving a name for themselves on the Los Angeles club circuit, the band met with producers Steve Ornest and Wyn Davis at Total Access Recording Studios (Sublime, No Doubt, Guns N’ Roses). They began working on what would become their debut self-titled EP, which was released in March 2020.
The band’s first single “Anthem,” landed in rotation on several FM radio stations throughout Southern California. Their second single “Gold Rush” charted on KROQ’s Locals Only, reaching #1 and staying in the Top 5 for nine weeks straight. KROQ’s Locals Only also featured their song “Hijacked” which also took the #1 spot, their second song to top the chart.
Best described as retro rock with a punk edge, Joker’s Hand songs are timeless, and their commercial accessibility reaches across the generations. The band’s explosive live shows coupled with their excellent vocal ability and musicianship has catapulted them above the noise floor of the Los Angeles rock music scene.
The Asian American duo has been active in the #StopAsianHate movement, recently performing at rallies across the Southland.
Stream the single “War Profiteer” HERE: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jokershand/war-profiteer
Stream the song on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/jokershand/war-profiteer/s-DAWz1k5fIA7
Joker's Hand
Joker’s Hand’s Kevin Kawano and Matt Lau are admittedly awkward in social situations. Raised with a rigid upbringing, the two rose above their anxieties and created one of alt-punk’s brightest bands.
“Every deck of cards comes with two jokers in it,” Kawano says about the moniker. “The joker cards are cast aside. You don’t expect to use them in a game. I’m half-Japanese and half-white, but my upbringing was more akin to a strict Japanese household. Matt, who is full Chinese, grew up in a similar fashion so we were pushed toward a ‘normal,’ career-driven life. We weren’t raised to take chances or speak our minds.”
As Joker’s Hand, the duo took a chance with a mélange of genres that are, in turns, buoyant or devastating.
With their roots in punk rock, rock and hip-hop, the South Bay band explores those genres in their three forthcoming songs, the reggae-tinged “War Profiteer,” the guitar-heavy “Hibakusha” and “Devil’s Nest.”
“These songs are very different sonically,” Kawano says. “‘Hibakusha” is a harder, faster punk song. ‘War Profiteer’ is a new sound for us. It shows our reggae pop side.”
“War Profiteer” is a sarcastic take on people who profit from others’ suffering.
Joker’s Hand don’t hesitate to show their serious side. “Hibakusha” is a Japanese word that translates to “survivors of the bomb,” a nod to the atom bombs that fell on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.
“That became a blanket statement for survivors plagued with everlasting effects of radiation,” Kawano says. “In the decades following, after the conflict ended, they were shunned by the Japanese who didn’t understand what radiation did.”
The survivors were unemployable and cast aside in a horrible, cruel fashion. Joker’s Hand covers the Americans’ subsequent visits to Japan when they forced survivors to strip naked in front of a roomful of people and succumb to experimentation, Kawano says.
The subject has such a grasp of the duo that they’ve played concerts to oppose Asian American violence. It’s a movement that Kawano and Lau are passionate about.
“It’s messed up what’s going on,” Kawano says. “I get that people have been locked away for a year and this has not been easy for anybody. They’re looking for someone to blame because of where the virus came from and, frankly, it didn’t help with that president we had calling it the ‘Kung Flu’ and the ‘China Virus.’ We’re trying to help give a voice to people who may feel threatened by the current political climate and xenophobia.”
“Devil’s Nest” is the oldest song of the three and visualizes hell, which, to Kawano and Lau, is social situations.
“Growing up feeling socially isolated and unpopular from the herd led us to music, but also triggered a fear of letting people in,” Lau says.
That fear is something the two have worked hard to overcome. At the age of 16, Kawano had life-altering brain surgery.
“That surgery was my first real brush with death,” Kawano says. “It taught me to live for me and not for other people. I started taking chances. My own personal hell is never taking a chance on anything and letting my life pass by.”
The two met at UC-Santa Cruz film school and released their first EP on March 5, 2020 — just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. It even had some of the top names in music behind it. Producers Steve Ornest and Wyn Davis met Joker’s Hand at Total Access Recording Studios (Sublime, No Doubt, Guns N’ Roses) in Redondo Beach. Despite the pandemic, the single “Gold Rush” hit No. 1 on KROQ’s Locals Only for nine weeks. They had a tour planned, which included several showcases at SXSW, as well as a festival with Sublime with Rome. They were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With the pandemic waning, Joker’s Hand are proving their music is timeless and their commercial accessibility can reach across the generations.
Website: www.jokershand.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/JokersHandBand
Instagram: www.instagram.com/jokershandofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jokershandband
‘RARE BEASTS’ – JOHNNY LLOYD & NATHAN COEN
JOHNNY LLOYD & NATHAN COEN are pleased to present the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack for: ‘RARE BEASTS’.
Coinciding with the release of ‘Rare Beasts’ in cinemas this week, the film’s OST is now available to hear in full on all streaming services.
Released through Xtra Mile Recordings, it features 12 brand new compositions that exclusively feature on the score of ‘Rare Beasts’. The soundtrack also includes the former Johnny Lloyd solo single: “Next Episode Starts In 15 Seconds”, which was written around the time of filming and features prominently at the climax of the film. With all songs composed by Lloyd and Coen, additional vocal contributions come from Hazel Baillie (who also edited the film).
STREAM HERE: https://orcd.co/rarebeastsost
“‘Rare Beasts’ we started about three years ago now, Billie sent us the script and we came up with several different concepts at first. It was very much driven by romance and there’s a splash of French Riviera in there.... I wanted it to be diverse, it’s a very unusual record as a whole. As a collection of songs I definitely think it's the best thing that me and Nathan have done.”
Johnny Lloyd
Writing the music in direct response to the film edits as they came through, the ‘Rare Beasts’ OST infuses grandiose baroque-pop arrangements, with grittier contemporary sounds to provide an eclectic palette of sounds Lloyd praises as “bonkers”. The cinematic works of Harry Nilsson (whose work featured prominently in ‘Midnight Cowboy’) and the oeuvre of celebrated film composer John Brion (‘Punch Drunk Love’, ‘Eternal Sunshine of a Spotless Mind’) are also cited to be key points of reference.
The ‘Rare Beasts’ soundtrack is not the first time Johnny Lloyd and Nathan Coen have collaborated. Alongside Johnny Lloyd’s solo studio output (‘Next Episode Starts in 15 Seconds’, ‘Cheap Medication’) in which Coen produced, the pairing have also contributed music for numerous TV & Film productions including ‘Frank of Ireland’, ‘Sex Education’, ‘Legacy of Lies’, ‘After Life’, plus the recent hit Sky Atlantic show ‘I Hate Suzie’.
The film, ‘Rare Beasts’, is a romantic drama that tells the story of Mandy (Billie Piper), a career-driven single mother who finds herself in a crisis until she falls in love with a charming, but traditional character named Pete (Leo Bill). Receiving its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the highly anticipated motion picture has a supporting cast including David Thewlis and Lily James.
The ‘Rare Beasts’ motion picture is out now, screening in a limited number of cinemas.
RARE BEASTS’ OST, BY JOHNNY LLOYD AND NATHAN COEN OUT NOW – VIA XTRA MILE RECORDINGS
STREAM HERE: https://orcd.co/rarebeastsost
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FOR MORE INFORMATION
w/ http://www.johnnylloyd.co.uk