Search:l en b band

“Praying to god whether or not I believe there is one” - PH

Petra Hermanova and Unguarded announce In Death’s Eyes (UGD-009), the debut solo LP under the artist’s own name. This LP features nine tracks utilizing folk and sacred musical technique and instrumentation which drift between song and heavy distorted drones. In a disciplined display of beauty, pain, and astute musicianship, Hermanova brings forth a notable accomplishment of an album. In Death’s Eyes confronts death from start to finish with a rare fervor that leaves one feeling it was utterly necessary for Hermanova to produce - to survive. The transcendent impulse, or the influence of religious music, bears heavily on Hermanova’s compositions in her choir arrangements, but is most apparent in her use of pipe organ, opening the record on Black Glass. Having written organ parts for a significant portion of the record, she sought out the renowned organist Denny Wilke to record with her in the Merseburg Cathedral. Captivated by Wilke's profound skill as a player and knowledge of the Ladegast organ, Hermanova invited him to collaborate on Two Deaths where he delivers an impressive improvisation. While religious music offers spiritual solace from grief, folk speaks to the human and earthly as told by the individual, be they songs of suffering or joy, sin or salvation. To Hermanova, the clean promise of liturgical music is not enough to alleviate the blunt pain of grief. Contrasting the spiritual is the voice of the individual sufferer - the folk musician. For Hermanova, the autoharp embodies this contrast. The autoharp, a familiar sound in Appalachian folk music since its mass production in the late 1800’s, is an affordable instrument designed for the unskilled player. It is the antithesis of the organ which is costly, gargantuan, reserved for skilled players, and quite literally a part of the church. Through In Death’s Eyes the sounds of transcendence blend with the worldly, the tension between them poignantly expressing Hermanova’s struggle for spiritual resolution against the reality of death and loss. Like Hermanova’s lyrics, the artwork, conceptualized by Enes Güç and Evelyn Bencicova, is riddled with symbolism and allusion. We find Hermanova on the cover, digitally rendered. Reclining like an anatomical Venus, her vital organs are exposed, suggesting she is denied a transcendent death and is instead immaculately human. Bearing a sickle, her legs are metallic like armor, both symbols of protection. We see here in this image, as we hear in the nine tracks of IDE, the metaphoric state of someone ravaged by loss, choosing to tear herself open in an attempt to heal. - Reece Cox Petra Hermanova is a musician and visual artist based in Berlin. In 2018, Hermanova began working with the autoharp, which has since become the central pillar of her musical practice. Drawing inspiration from folk, medieval drone, and contemporary textural expressions, as well as Appalachian autoharp music, she creates emotionally driven arrangements accompanied by vocals. In her lyrics, she speaks to the fragility and tenderness of the human condition, religious conceptions of death, and introspective landscapes through narrative and symbolism. Hermanova debuted live at the Berliner Festspiele event The Sun Machine is Coming Down, performed at Trauma Bar und Kino accompanied with her choir, and recently took part in Sorour Darabi’s durational performance From the Throat to the Dawn. Her debut solo album, In Death’s Eyes, is set for release in 2023 on the art platform and label Unguarded. The album, where she wrote for the autoharp, pipe organ, solo voice and choir, features the acclaimed organist Denny Wilke playing the 19th century Ladegast organ of the Merseburg Cathedral. She has toured internationally with previous projects, including extensive sound and visual collaborations with Jon Eirik Boska (Hydropsyche) as well as with her award-winning band Fiordmoss. She was recently announced as a SHAPE+ platform artist.

Polish jazz rebels sneaky jesus are back with their second studio album For Chaching Taphed.The highly imaginative quartet out of Wroclaw comprising Maciej Forreiter (Guitar), Matylda Gerber (Saxophones), Ben Łasiewick i(Bass) and Filip Baczyński (Drums) have won fans around the world for their restless, quirky brand of jazz which takes in breakbeats, twisting chord progressions and improvisation as well as a wealth of musical influences.

The band have been touring their asses off ever since they surprised the world with their debut album For Joseph Riddle in 2021. From out of nowhere their debut LP of 500 copies sold out in a month and they quickly went on to sell close to 1,000 CDs of the album. Fast-forward to 2023 and the band are sharing stages with artists such as Ill Considered and Theon Cross.

For Chaching Taphed was created in complete isolation. The group locked itself in a barn at the Museum of Agricultural Technology in Piotrowice Świdnickie. It worked on its sophomore output surrounded by machinery, trucks and carriages. These new compositions mirror the abstract conversations which the group frequently has just for fun. Contrary to For Joseph Riddle, this album is simple and does not rely on ongoing grooves. This enabled the group to be much more experimental. The band was joined by friends Flautist Mariya Mavko on Piękno Niemożliwe (Impossible Beauty) and her playing is sampled in Hipotetyczny Taras (Hypothetical Terrace). Pięciu Pszczelarzy (Five Beekeepers) closes the album featuring EABS' Jakub Kurek on trumpet. His fiery solo is one of the most intense moments of the album.

Spacer Po Nadodrzu (A walk around Nadodrze) opens the album and is inspired by one of the districts of Wrocław. It is a sonic story depicting a walk through Nadodrze late at night. A steady bass rhythm imitates a careful pace and the responding sax line is a spooky theme that might pop to oneʼs head in a moment of uncertainty.

The album's first single Krztusiec (Whooping Cough) finds the group diving head first into their most recent influences. The trackstarts with drum improvisation, rolling into a solid hip-hop backbeat provided by Ben Łasiewicki on Bass and Drummer Filip Baczyński. Sax and Guitar weave steady but dissonant lines, written by Maciej Forreiter after many hours spent listening to the Ethiopian jazz greats. The track takes off right after that. Matylda Gerber delivers a fiery Sax solo, while the group picks up the tempo and quickens the groove. The essence is the middle section, a dubby collective improvisation. Forreiter, Gerber and Baczyński take turns playing both classic dub phrases and fierce avant grade lines. Łasiewicki keeps everybody in check with a steady bassline. The energy slows down until Baczyński's drum solo, which explores phrasing detached from the rest of the tune.

Second single Chiński Sprzedawca Smażonych Kasztanów (Chinese roasted chestnut seller) is a fusion of breakbeats, energized songo rhythms and motifs inspired by South African melodies. Presenting the group with spacious and rhythmic horn lines, guitarist Maciej Forreiter wrote a chord progression while Beniamin Łasiewicki and Filip Baczyński took care of the rhythm section. This first part of the track suddenly drops out and explodes into the dramatic main motif which includes double sax and fierce guitar playing in harmony, plus the rhythm section playing more and more jungle-esque. Powerful guitar and sax solos feature before we return to the main theme with a completely different rhythmic backdrop.

W Klatce z Bykiem (In a cage with a Bull), starts like a race. The music plays with an incredible nerve and when the theme is right on edge it suddenly stops. It is followed by an animalistic growl on the saxophone and a doom metal-esque bash of downtuned, distorted guitars and heavy drums. In this heavy fashion it slowly approaches the finishing line hitting one final metallic clang.

Piękno Niemożliwe (Impossible Beauty) features wonderful flute playing of Mariya Mavko (Kadabra Dyskety Kusaje). Her work in the opening motif evokes sounds of Polish and Ukrainian folklore. This brief mellow moment serves as a contrast to the usual frantic sounds of sneaky jesus. It is an appreciation of thepolish jazz music of the past, intrinsically-linked to folklore. The band took this idea and reworked it into their own unique style.

Hipotetyczny Taras (Hypothetical Terrace) is built on top of a lengthy vamp in an unusual 7/8 time-signature. The bass anchors the quartet in a simple line, while the rest of the quartet share an emotional conversation. This track is the most open of the whole project and it ends accordingly. The final burst is a call back to the basics ofspiritual jazzand the whole band shows every emotion simultaneously and gracefully fades out.

Pięciu Pszczelarzy (Five Beekeepers) is For Chaching Taphed's conclusion and is a non stop assault of heavy horn lines, punk rhythms and noise. The band is joined by the extraordinary trumpeter Jakub Kurek from EABS, who blends in perfectly with sax and guitar. His exchange of solos with Maciej Forreiter is a combination of classic jazz phrasing and discordant clatter. In the same fierce manner the whole group works within the motif, switching up accents and breaks.

In the short space of two years, sneaky jesus has gone from ambitious upstart looking to break out from its home city playing spit and sawdust venues, to touring Europe as well as prestigious Jazz clubs such as Jassmine in Warsaw. In the process, it has delivered two full-length albums that don't stay in lane or pander to established jazz sub-genres as so many groups do. Some artists make the same record twice or even more than that, but not sneaky jesus. For Chaching Taphed shows the band as restless, experimental, fun, irreverent but purposeful as never before.

“A lot of over-hyped improv / jazz projects out there at the moment and Sneaky Jesus are genuinely excellent and out on their own. Drawing on the expansive atmospherics of a barn as the recording's setting, the album immediately pulls you in with the unsettling 'Spacer Po Nadodrzu' and lifts off on 'Krztusiec', effortlessly moving from angular, abrasive jazz to trippy dub and cinematic intrigue. Tempos shift and intensities shift naturally. The whole set warrants a deep listen from start to finish and watch out for two great guest features from flautist Mariya Mavko and Jakub Kurek bringing some mad fuzz licks to the boisterous closer. Brilliant album.”
Quinton Scott — Strut Records

WRWTFWW Records is proud to announce the first ever release of the long-lost original motion picture soundtrack from the 1988 cult horror comedy sensation Ghoulies II by the incomparable Fuzzbee Morse. Digging deep to uncover a true gem of the VHS era, this limited-edition vinyl release (500 copies worldwide) marks history in the making as a piece of film score lore is resurrected from the depths of oblivion. The LP is packed with 39 tracks and features an exclusive artwork by French illustrator Pierre Thyss, as well an obi and composer notes.

The captivating melodies that once played hauntingly in the background of Ghoulies II were long believed to be lost forever. It took over 30 years and Fuzzbee Morse's unwavering determination to dig out the legendary recordings – and restore them for full audio pleasure!
The superb soundscape of Ghoulies II perfectly captures the chilling and wacky essence of the cult movie, as well as its creepy carnival setting. Morse, citing influences such as Bernard Hermann, Frank Zappa, and Igor Stravinsky, flexes his multi-instrumentalist skills, flowing with ease between magical fairground elements (with brilliant use of calliope, tuba, flutes and sparkly sounding synthesizers), dark atmospheres and frightening attacks (tribal percussion, strings, along with dissonant, atonal gongs, bowed cymbals), and goofy moods (bassoon, bass clarinet, glockenspiel, trumpet, clarinet). It’s big cinematic horror movie music with a lighter comedic touch – the 80s live again!

To complete this collector's edition, French illustrator Pierre Thyss (the man behind the WRWTFWW Records logo) lends his (immense) talent to provide awe-inspiring visuals that flawlessly encapsulate the juxtaposition of horror and comedy.

Ghoulies II follows the release of the full uncut soundtrack of Ghoulies (1985) which was released on vinyl for the first time ever by WRWTFWW Records in 2020 alongside soundtracks for other Richard Band-composed, Empire Pictures-produced classics: TerrorVision and Troll. All these 80s horror favorites are still available – complete the collection now!

“Pumping, vibrant, and packed with energy”: Iconic duo Dam Swindle deliver once again with their ‘Minor fools’ EP.

Last year, Dam Swindle celebrated their 10 year anniversary with the ‘Keep on Swindling’ series. The hard-hitters ‘All I want’, ‘Good woman’, and ‘You’ showed various sides of that much loved Swindle sound as well as some steps into a more leftfield electronic area. Now, they’re back on Heist with a 3-track club EP full of that recognizable upbeat energy.

‘That’s Right’ has Dam Swindle in full live mode, not unlike their timeless classic “Call of the Wild feat. Jungle by Night”. Live keys, bass, percussion, and horns (the latter by the Jungle by Night’s trumpet guru Bo Floor) give you the feeling like you’re on stage with a full band, hearing them give their all to record this heartwarming piece of music. Over the course of its 7 minutes, the duo takes you on an electrifying feel-good trip through the Swindle sonic universe.

On The EP title track ‘Minor fools’, Dam Swindle go into classic US house mode. Shuffling hats, a bouncy bass and male vocal chops lay the foundation for some crunchy jazz chords (think Underground Resistance with a Swindle touch). The track builds tension with haunting organs, looped vocals and smart modulation in the keys. Add to that the bouncy synth section at the heart of the track and you’ve got a jam that slaps hard in the best way imaginable.

The EP ends with the dreamy & contemplative ‘Soul’s lament’; A slow burner that builds and builds on a relentless rhythm of bells and skipping hi-hats. Slowly, a massive string section takes control of the track, after which, an acid line takes over that gives the track its driving electronic touch. It’s a welcome deep note to an EP that shows you exactly why Dam Swindle are such well respected and versatile producers.

Grab this record while you can and dance, dance, dance!

Nicht nur in der aktuellen Hardrock/Metal-Szene beziehen sich immer mehr junge Bands, darunter auch viele deutsche Acts (als Beispiel seien Wucan genannt), auf die heute wesentlich mehr gewürdigten Jahre des Krautrock. Natürlich handelt es sich bei dem Begriff nicht direkt um einen Stil, denn von Hardrock bis Jazz/Fusion wurde einst fast alles in diesen Topf geworfen.

Neben Elektronikpionieren wie Can, Tangerine Dream oder Kraftwerk gab es eben auch die Gruppen, die man im Rock verorten kann: Jane, Birth Control oder Lucifer´s Friend sind nur drei Beispiele. Auf „German Rock“ findet man in der Tat auch eine der frühen Bands: Floh De Cologne, die schon Anfang der Siebziger Rock mit deutscher Sprache geboten haben. Die Hardrocker Mass aus Regensburg, lieferten ihr Debütalbum, welches auf „German Rock“ ebenso gewürdigt wird, im Jahr 1977 ab.

Der Rest der ungewöhnlichen Compilation, welche es nur auf Vinyl gibt, befasst sich mit späten Gruppen, die Anfang der 80er noch einen Sound geliefert haben, der durchaus ein paar Jahre früher seinen Ursprung hätte haben können. Und in der Tat wurden auch mindestens zwei Songs nach Ende der 70er geschrieben, allerdings kam der Plattenvertrag oder das Kapital für eine Eigenpressung „zu spät“. Viele dieser spannenden Bands wie Iris, Cannock oder Sphinx waren bei Erscheinen nicht mehr dem Zeitgeist entsprechend, so dass
sie nur wenige, oder nur lokale Chancen hatten. Heute suchen Fans und Neugierige eben nach solchen unbekannten Acts, die eine vergangene Zeit neu zum Leben erwecken. Handgemachte Musik, und das nicht nur live, sondern eben auch noch im Tonstudio. Das Material der Frühachtziger-Gruppen auf dieser Compilation erinnert den einen oder anderen vielleicht auch an die regionalen Helden, wie man sie in den 80ern noch in lokalen Sporthallen erleben konnte…

Nostalgie ist aber nicht das Hauptanliegen dieser LP, sondern der Erhalt wertvoller Musik, die damals nicht bei den großen Majorlabels
erschienen ist.

Not only in the current hard rock/metal scene more and more young bands, among them also many German acts (as an example Wucan may be mentioned), refer to the nowadays much more appreciated years of Krautrock. Of course, the term is not directly a style, because from hard rock to jazz / fusion was once almost assigned to this style.

Besides electronic pioneers like Can, Tangerine Dream or Kraftwerk, there were also the groups that can be categorized as rock: Jane, Birth Control or Lucifer‘s Friend are just three examples.

On „German Rock“ you can indeed also find one of the early bands: Floh De Cologne, who already offered rock with German language at the beginning of the seventies. The hard rockers Mass from Regensburg delivered their debut album, which is also honored on „German Rock“, in 1977.

The rest of the unusual compilation, which is only available on vinyl, deals with late groups that still delivered a sound in the early eighties that could well have originated a few years earlier. And indeed, at least two songs were written in the late seventies, but the record deal or the capital for a selfpressing came „too late“. Many of these exciting bands like Iris, Cannock or Sphinx were no longer in line with the zeitgeist when they appeared, so they had few or only local chances.

Today, dedicated fans and the curious are looking for just such unknown acts that bring a bygone era back to life. Handmade music, and not only live, but also in the recording studio.

The stuff of the early eighties groups on this compilation may remind some of the regional heroes, as you could still experience them in the eighties in local gyms... Nostalgia is not the main concern of this LP, but the preservation of valuable music, which was not released by the big major labels at that time.

Legendary Dublin punk band formed in November 1978 by Maurice Foley (guitar/vocals), which had a number of iterations before disbanding in 1981. The Threat built up a following in Dublin and maintained a heavy reputation through the 1979 and 1980. Playing the legendary Dandelion on a couple of occasions towards the end of 1979 and became friendly with members of the Virgin Prunes and U2. Stano, another friend of the band, bought a synthesizer, purely as a sound generator, and joined them. As a nonmusician, his synth added noise and texture to the band's sound and brought out their experimental side.

This tape of the band's April 1981 gig in Limerick came to us a few years ago from one of the band members drummer Stephen O' Brien and it's been remastered for the perfect cassette experience.

The heralded Minneapolis-based band Barbaro forges an exhilarating
new musical path on 'About the Winter', their inaugural outing for
StorySound Records
Featuring guitarist Kyle Shelstad, bassist Jason Wells, and violinist Rachel
Calvert, the dynamic young group developed a strong following for their
modernist bluegrass sound on their 2020 debut, 'Dressed in Roses'. Their new
album, however, represents a "coming of age" for Barbaro, according to Shelstad,
as it more authentically reflects the band's adventurous musical evolution over
the past few years. All three band members point to the title tune, "Let's Talk
About the Winter" as the song that established the tone for the album. The song,
Wells explains, "fully captured the soundscape that now defines us as a band."
The ten tracks on 'About the Winter' provide a wonderful showcase for the unique
dynamic created from Shelstad's string band roots blending with Calvert's and
Wells' backgrounds in classical music. The album also finds Barbaro expanding
its sound by having Shelstad share vocal duties with Calvert for the first time,
along with weaving electric instrumentation into the group's acoustic- based
music. The bandmates all agree on the key contributions of producer Brian
Joseph (Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens). "His production," Calvert revealed, "elevated
these tracks to an entirely different level." Together they have fashioned a
captivating pastoral Americana sound on 'About the Winter' that is both
traditional and progressive.
The new album adds to what has been already exciting time for Barbaro, who
were selected by the U.S. government to perform concerts and conduct music
workshops in Qatar, Turkey, and Bulgaria as part of its 2023 American Music
Abroad program.

This October Melbourne/Naarm synth-punk five-piece screensaver return with ‘Decent Shapes’, their second album. ‘Decent Shapes’ is loaded with bubbling tension, a low grade but growing fever, a rising rage. The frustration is so tangible you can taste it. Detachment and dissociation become survivalist coping mechanisms.


Thematically, screensaver's latest offering finds them exploring existence on an ever-growing trash heap where we’re desperate for the new, the nice and the shiny. A world where materialism reigns supreme and corporate niceties litter the public dialogue but behind closed doors the sentiment is warlike, total domination is the only answer to the bottom line. All of which is underpinned by the band's sonic sense of urgency and a commitment to creating a sound that taps into the mood and spirit of post-punk whilst also allowing space for new wave elements and electronic experiments to shine through.
‘Decent Shapes’ was recorded and mixed by Julian Cue, who was also the recording engineer for Expressions of Interest. Defined by a kinetic energy, dynamic range and brooding atmosphere, the 10-track release comprises some tracks that were mainstays within the band's live shows - featuring in their US tour set-list - alongside others which were written later in the recording process. During the creation of ‘Decent Shapes’, the band also experimented with swapping instruments, allowing for different playing styles and song-writing approaches.


screensaver was formed in 2016 as a trans-Pacific project between Krystal Maynard (Bad Vision/ex Polo) and Christopher Stephenson (Spray Paint/Exek). Their debut album Expressions of Interest received support from the likes of Brooklyn Vegan, Beats Per Minute, DIY and Post-Trash and last September the band played a 12-date tour across the US.

Stand by your friends that are hurting. That’s what New Jersey power punks Teenage Halloween do
through soaring arrangements of melodic angst, wracked vocals that insist “I love you so much I would
die for you”, and passion-packed two-minute dispatches tackling topics from gender euphoria, to state
abuses, and an eternal quest for mental wellbeing. The results are potent punk vistas that document
young queer life at the edge of America. In February 2023, the group headed into Headroom Studios
in Philadelphia, PA, under the guiding hand of producer Joe Reinhart (Hop Along, Beach Bunny,
Joyce Manor), and tracked the 13 dispatches on isolation, uncertainty, and hope for better days, that
make up Till You Return. This second full-length outing (due for Oct 20th release via Don Giovanni)
finds the band, which operated as a ‘rotating cast’ in it’s early years, now firmly entrenched as an
essential four-piece comprised of Henderiks alongside Eli Frank (guitar, vocals), Tricia Marshall
(bass, vocals) and Peter Gargano (drums). The quartet maintains the vital energy of their previous
incarnations but brings an even more focused punch to the arrangements that leaves greater room for
Henderiks’ lyrics. Fans of the band will also have noticed the creative assent of Marshall who takes
the vocal lead on multiple songs that have become defining features of the band’s recent live shows
and which bring a fresh new viewpoint to the band’s ongoing sonic mission for a more equal and just
world.

The sophomore album from The Three O'Clock found the band further blending psychedelic pop with
contemporary sounds. Producer, Earle Mankey, encouraged the band in their experimentation. The
result yielded a college-radio hit, "Jet Fighter," which remains one of the group's most well-known
songs. Other standouts include, "A Day In Erotica," "Stupid Einstein," "Fall to the Ground," and their
version of the Bee Gees "In My Own Time". This album positioned the band at the forefront of the
Paisley Underground scene. Many fans and critics consider this to be their masterpiece. For the
album's 40th anniversary, the album was remastered by Bill Inglot and Dave Schultz. Additionally, the
band decided to update the cover art and give the album two front covers with no back cover. The LP
lacquer was cut at Bernie Grundman Mastering, and pressed at Citizen Vinyl on clear green vinyl

Some Sudden Weather” finds Products Band sharpening their focus on presence of mind in a culture of noise. For each pummeling wave of distorted guitars, a tender, melodic vocal floats over its crest.
With every winking, deadpan lyric comes a genuine admission of desire, shame, or hope. These songs faithfully represent the diversity of Products Band’s musical influences.

From high-energy, airtight punk’n’roll to intricate, groove-driven pop, “Some Sudden Weather” refreshes rock vocabularies by sculpting them within the band’s unique perspective. Whether you crave
dancefloor-ready bass hooks, spiderwebbed guitar skronk, or interwoven vocal duets, this is an essential listen for all fans of contemporary post-punk, guitar pop, and thoughtful Midwestern charm. FFO: Ought, Television, The Replacements, R.E.M.

Limitierte Auflage einer durchscheinenden, rubinroten Doppel-Vinyl-LP-Pressung. Das Besondere an Mojo ist, dass es live im legendären Proberaum der Band, "The Clubhouse" in Los Angeles, aufgenommen wurde. Es gibt keine Overdubs oder Studiotricksereien. Was Sie hören, ist das, was Tom und die Heartbreakers zu diesem Zeitpunkt live geschaffen haben. Im Jahr 2010 sagte Tom Petty: "Mit diesem Album möchte ich anderen Leuten zeigen, was ich mit der Band höre. Mojo ist der Ort, an dem die Band lebt, wenn sie für sich selbst spielt." Die Songs auf Mojo reichen von Rock 'n' Roll über Country, elektrischen und akustischen Blues bis hin zu klassischen, stimmungsvollen Balladen. Das Album enthält den Hit "I Should Have Known It" und Fan-Favoriten wie "Good Enough", "First Flash Of Freedom", "Something Good Coming" und "No Reason To Cry". Diese limitierte Auflage erscheint anlässlich der Feierlichkeiten zu Toms Geburtstag.

After collaborating together for more than a decade, Jenny Hval and Håvard Volden released their first album under the Lost Girls moniker in 2021: Menneskekollektivet. The record received rave reviews, including a Best New Music mark at Pitchfork. On October 20th, 2023, the duo will release their second album Selvutsletter.


Like its predecessor, the album title is a made up Norwegian word, a word that almost exists. The band’s own translation of Selvutsletter is «self-effacer»: Someone who tries to erase themselves. Someone who is cleaning out themselves. Performing exorcism. Or perhaps just getting older, less interested in their own present self.


In 2022, Lost Girls were booked to perform a concert at Les Subsistances in Lyon, together with a few Norwegian performing arts groups performing their pieces. The band decided to use the opportunity to create all new material, and think of it as a coherent piece. Working in tandem, with Volden creating beats and wild sets of guitar chords and Hval restructuring the parts, creating melodies, words and adding more sounds, they started spiraling into unchartered territory of shorter, more concise and melodic songs than their debut LP Menneskekollektivet.


As the material developed, words already embedded in the chords, guitar sounds and rhythms began to dance around. Lyrics about cities after dark, music rituals and band practices of the 90s, and the early days of the internet began to take shape. These were Hval's own memories of her hometown and her obsession with creating music as a way of leaving it behind or even setting it on fire. Selvutsletter is, in that sense, about retracing Hval and Volden's steps back to how it felt to discover music, the intensely physical and communal experience of creating something. Certain tracks even go back further, to discover possible happenings in Norwegian towns and cities before any of us were born, using elements of faux folk singing.


Where Menneskekollektivet was about exploring club beats, and expanding and trying out structures, Selvutsletter is about disappearing in experiences. It combines the intuitive, late night feel of Lost Girls’ previous work with experimental rock music as its object. The result is more adventurous than nostalgic: A fiery, bilingual whirl of colors, words, vegetation and electricity.

Nach Veröffentlichung von drei Alben innerhalb von drei Jahren und einer anschließenden vierjährigen Pause sind Tomb Mold auf ihrem vierten Album "The Enduring Spirit" wiedergeboren worden, ein durch und durch unverfrorener Schritt in neue Gefilde. Doch bei all dem frenetischen Wagemut und kühner Erkundung ist "The Enduring Spirit" nie etwas anderes als unverkennbar TOMB MOLD!

Während neue Strukturen die TOMB MOLD Architektur um neue Einflüsse bereits auf dem im letzten Jahr selbst veröffentlichten Tape "Aperture of Body" erweiterten, insbesondere beim letzten Stück "Prestige of Rebirth", treten sie bei "The Enduring Spirit" deutlich in den Vordergrund. Die Zeit, in der Derrick Vella mit Dream Unending im Doom-Genre erschuf und ausbaute, ist zweifellos in Tomb Mold eingeflossen- ganz zu schweigen von Payson Power und Max Klebanoffs Erkundungen in ihrem eigenen Projekt, Daydream Plus.

Mit dem Album-Opener "The Perfect Memory (Phantasm of Aura)" kommt das kantige, Dimensionen verschiebende Riffing der Band sofort zum Vorschein, während der Track durch verschiedene Stufen des progressiven Death Metal und einige der bisher extremsten Stücke der Band wandert. "Will Of Whispers" beginnt mit einer jazzartigen Fantasiesequenz, bevor es in ein blendendes weißes Lichtfeuer, geschmackvolle Gitarrenleads und zurück in ein verträumtes Serpentinenmuster kippt, das in seiner fast 7-minütigen Laufzeit ganze Universen umspannt.

Die hintere Hälfte des Albums setzt die Reise in das fort, was innerhalb der Death Metal-Normen möglich ist, und erreicht den Höhepunkt mit dem über 11-minütigen Albumschlussstück "The Enduring Spirit Of Calamity", einer jenseitigen Reise in einen Strudel, in dem alle Dinge in Raum und Zeit zusammenlaufen und den Baum des Lebens durch eine leuchtende himmlische Komposition bildlich greifbar machen.

Nach vier Jahren Pause war es für eine Band mit grenzenloser kreativer Energie, wie Tomb Mold es sind, eine Selbstverständlichkeit, den Umfang ihrer Vision zu erweitern - auf "The Enduring Spirit" haben sie ein Album mit einer cineastischen Umgebung geschaffen, die unbegrenzte Möglichkeiten der Erforschung bietet, sowohl für sie selbst als auch für den Hörer.

- Tomb Mold werden auf dem November 2023 Cover des Decibel Magazins zu sehen sein (erscheint Ende September)
- Beide früheren Tomb Mold-Alben gehören zu den 20 Buck Spin-Bestsellern aller Zeiten
- Artwork von Jesse Jacobi, der auch das Artwork von Planetary Clairvoyance gestaltet hat
- Aufgenommen von Sean Pearson (Tomb Mold, Dream Unending) und gemischt und gemastert von Arthur Rizk (Tomb Mold, Dream Unending, Kommand, Gravesend, Power Trip)
- Die Vinyl-Version enthält ein 4-Panel-Insert und ein riesiges 36x24-Zoll-Poster.

Eine neue Band aus der aufblühenden norwegischen Metal Szene. Sänger David Rosario war auf der Suche nach jemandem, mit dem er seine Songs aufnehmen konnte. Die Chemie mit Gitarrist Stein Hjertholm und Schlagzeuger Per-Helge Bruvoll war perfekt , also nahmen sie ein 3-Song-Demo auf und die Idee von Rozario war geboren. Das war kurz vor der Pandemie und natürlich waren alle Aktivitäten sehr eingeschränkt. Sie nutzten ihre Zeit und konzentrierten sich auf das Songwriting und die Suche nach der Richtung der Band, wobei alle drei Songwriting-Beiträge beisteuerten. Rozario tat sich dann mit dem Produzenten Trond Holter (Wig Wam, Holter, Jorn etc.) zusammen. Während der Aufnahmen wurde die Besetzung der Band durch den jungen Gitarrenvirtuosen Johan Jamtfall und den Bassisten Anders Halsan Engum komplett

The lush psych-pop sound of Copenhagen's Halasan Bazar returns with their ambitious third album, "Burns". After numerous shows, recording sessions, a powerful collaboration LP and tours, "Burns" finds the band even more seasoned and impressive, giving the record a breezy naturalism from these gurus of their psychedelic craft.

Recorded in the French mountains, armed with a magical unending bag of weed, Halasan Bazar laid down these tunes mostly live - all vocals, acoustic guitars, drums and piano. This immediacy emphasizes their blissed out sonics, buoyant melodies and kaleidoscopic composition, each moment purposefully placed creating their rich sonic tapestry. Inspired by the greats of Greenwich Village's '60s folk, the lavish production of Lee Hazlewood, vocal harmonies of yesteryear and hallucinogenic day tripping. Some surf-y guitar vibes and plenty of driving piano jams too.

Tunes like "Freak" wave that Halasan flag proudly atop infectious guitar melodies and layered vocal harmonies creating a sing-a-long anthem for the misfits and the weirdos out there. "Get Sick and Die" incorporates swelling strings for an unexpectedly dreamy passage alongside sophisticated rock 'n' roll. One of many highlights, "Burns My Mind" has a driving, catchy groove and the entire band firing on all cylinders crafting a bombastic party atmosphere.

A beautiful and vivid album from an unapologetic band of freaks and dreamers, Halasan Bazar effortlessly leave their mark with "Burns".

Steve Rosborough, Moon Glyph Records

Within Temptation, the renowned Dutch symphonic metal band, are set to captivate fans with their eighth studio album "Bleed Out". Bleed Out signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, Within Temptation have created a sonic journey that fuses diverse musical styles and thought-provoking themes. Embracing a new era of musical exploration and lyrical depth, Within Temptation have pushed boundaries and showcased their artistic evolution, delivering a fist-in-the-air proclamation of both their moral convictions and their fearless approach to music. This is an album that is as epic as it is unflinchingly outspoken, and now more than ever, this is a band who aren’t afraid to make a stand on issues they care about.

King Tree & the Earthmothers is Henry James, Adam Ditt & Derek Eglit
Guitarist/singer Henry James (Robert Jon & The Wreck) and bassist
Adam Ditt (Balto, Gethen Jenkins) met in high school and were always
performing around and touring with different bands
There was a lot of chaos and inconsistency, but the constant would be after
school improvised jam sessions which would inspire the name and core concept
of the project. There was a certain freedom involved in performing as a trio that
always seemed to spark inspiration. Over the years James would find himself
working on psychedelic and progressive rock-influenced bedroom demos. Some
of these can be heard on 2020's "King Tree & The Earthmothers", an effort
performed, produced and recorded entirely by Henry James.
There were various incarnations of King Tree as a live band (as far back as 2016),
but the full potential of the group would not be realized until the addition of
drummer Derek Eglit (Painted Wives, Pinkly Smooth) in 2021. With an undeniable
and explosive chemistry, the trio became locally known in Southern California for
eclectic and virtuosic live performances. They brought a collection of songs to
the studio as a band in 2022 and are now preparing to release their true debut
album in 2023 and hit stages across Europe for the first time in October and
November.
King Tree & the Earthmothers is the "other" band for Henry James, guitarist for
Robert Jon & The Wreck - They will be touring Europe in October/November 2023

A Tonic For The Troops have, after extensive touring, established themselves as a tight collective with high octane performances providing enjoyable and accessible jazz. After several ‘top of the year’ lists for their debut album Ambush, ATFTT are joining forces again for their second album! The ingredients still consist of straight ahead post-bop with a modern and contemporary sound, but ‘Realm of Opportunities’ also opens up a more lyrical and emotional approach. Ellen Brekken has established herself as one of the most versatile bass players in Norway today. In A Tonic For The Troops we can see her evolution as a composer as well, with a firm grasp of melody and development, demonstrated in cinematic and suite-like tunes.The band utilises the strengths of some of the most energetic performers on the Norwegian jazz scene today, leading successful bands in their own right. Espen Berg (piano), Magnus Bakken (sax) and Magnus Sefaniassen Eide (drums) all bring great solo contributions too, but the band´s real secret weapons are both their playful interaction and also their openness to using a melting-pot of musical ideas. A Tonic For The Troops demonstrate once again with 'Realm of Opportunities' that their energy and motivation are at their peak, showcasing a life-affirming band in top shape!
Ellen Brekken (double bass) Magnus Bakken (tenor saxophone) Espen Berg (piano) Magnus Sefaniassen Eide (drums)

Motiviert von dem Wunsch, ihren eigenen künstlerischen Stil zu erforschen und neue Wege zu beschreiten, haben SYLVATICA ihr drittes Album mit dem Titel "Cadaver Synod" aufgenommen. Dieses Album taucht in die düsteren Geschichten des Mittelalters ein und enthält Elemente wie die eindringlichen Klänge von Kirchenorgeln, Theremin und gregorianischen Gesängen. Das Ergebnis ist eine Reihe düsterer und atmosphärischer Kompositionen, die durch den Einsatz von Hammond-Orgeln und Synthesizern bereichert werden und eine nostalgische 70er-Jahre-Stimmung mit gelegentlichen Doom-Einflüssen hervorrufen.

Die Produktion dieses Albums ist im Vergleich zu ihren früheren Werken absichtlich rauer, um die organischen und atmosphärischen Aspekte zu betonen und gleichzeitig einen spielerischen Ansatz zu verfolgen. Trotz dieser Veränderungen bleibt der unverwechselbare klassische Sound der Band erhalten, der mit einer frischen und aufregenden Wendung neu belebt wurde. Sylvatica kreiert seit 2009 fesselnde Melodien und liefert atemberaubende Soli, als die Band von einer Gruppe von Jugendfreunden gegründet wurde, die von der Folk-Metal-Bewegung der späten 2000er Jahre begeistert waren.

Die Band debütierte mit den Folk-infizierten EPs "Sagn & Sagaer" und "Mosemanden", dicht gefolgt von dem vom melodischen Death Metal inspirierten Album "Evil Seeds". Während dieser Zeit gingen sie mit bekannten dänischen Folk-Metal-Bands auf Tournee.

Spaniens führende Thrash-Metal-Band ANGELUS APATRIDA kehrt mit ihrem achten Studioalbum "Aftermath" zurück. Es ist zweifelsohne das gefühlvollste und kraftvollste Album in der illustren Geschichte von ANGELUS APATRIDA, aber auch eines der schwersten und direktesten. Es ist der Nachfolger des selbstbetitelten Albums von 2021, das in Spanien auf Platz 1 der offiziellen Albumcharts einstieg und in Deutschland auf Platz 49 sowie in der Schweiz auf Platz 41 die ersten Chartplatzierungen der Band überhaupt markierte. "Aftermath"
enthält 10 intensive und vielseitige neue Songs, die von Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Overkill, Hatebreed) gemischt und gemastert wurden, und kommt mit einem Artwork von Gyula Havancsák (Annihilator, Destruction, Stratovarius). Es enthält Gastauftritte von Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed, Gesang), Pablo García (Warcry, Gitarre), Todd La Torre (Queensrÿche, Gesang) sowie dem spanischen Rap-Star Sho-Hai und ist als Ltd. CD Jewelcase im O-Card und Digital Album mit zwei frischen Live-Bonustracks oder als 180g Vinyl LP erhältlich. Haltet
Ausschau nach ANGELUS APATRIDA, die mit "Aftermath" rund um den Globus touren.

When the two brothers Alex and Mikael Lachan grew up in the small town of
Finspang, music was the highway and the world was the destination.
Playing together in the basement every day since they were kids, they formed a
bond that would translate into an explosive live show years later. The rejuvenated
band hammers out a sound that is energetic enough to sustain a live show
revolution, talented enough to keep your attention and welcoming enough to let
your voice sing the anthemic choruses like there was no tomorrow.
Over the span of their career they have released three full length albums (soon to
be four), two EPs and multiple digital singles. They have toured Europe many
times and played with bands such as Millencolin, Street Dogs, Asta Kask and
received praise from bands such as Dropkick Murphys for their heart-and-soulpacked melodic punk rock.
Now in 2023 they are back with a brand new full length album called Wanderlust
& Hardships. Recorded with the acclaimed producer Niels Nielsen, known for his
work with In Flames, Dead Soul, Ghost, and MCC, the album showcases the
band's signature sound that blends hard- hitting instrumentals with anthemic
lyrics. Fans can expect a celebratory and energetic tone that is sure to get them
involved.

'I heard about Seif Abu Bakr and The Scorpions maybe 3-4 years ago. Their album 'Jazz, Jazz Jazz' ended up on my radar because of an eBay auction with the bids eventually rising daily up to a staggering 1000$. The music is a unique combination of incredible horn arrangements powerfully performed, a vigorous drummer contributing a funky backbone and Seif's vocals uniting those elements. The results range from instrumental tracks awaking memories of 1970s crime thriller soundtracks to more Sudanese-rooted tracks, a lot of them modernized versions traditional rhythms of the diverse regions of Sudan and even an excursion into Colgolese Soukouss.
I went for my second trip to Sudan in December 2018 and after doing some research on the first trip my local colleagues Larissa and Yassir had managed to reach Amir, The Scorpions band leader and he was happy to meet. We got together with him in a Cafe right at the Nile in Omdurman. It was a happy occasion for everyone. He told us stories about him meeting Jimmy Cliff and Lewis Armstrong when they visited Sudan and how he and his band mates from The Scorpions played extensively in Kuwait, both in club residencies as well as for television. Amir brought tons of incredible photos illustrating not only the bands history but the vivid cultural live in the many music clubs in Khartoum of the 1970s. During this decade up until 1983 the capital was home to a huge number of clubs, bards and concert halls. This scene started to perish after president Nimeiry's turn away from his socialist policies, that he was widely associated with in the first decade of his rule, towards the implementation of Sharia law in 1983. During the first decade of his rule he had actively supported various artists of the Jazz scene, taking some of them on trips throughout Africa. The 1989 coup of Bashir and his generals then caused the final blow to a once thriving scene. Both of these political events within 6 years lead to significant drawbacks for the Sudanese jazz scene resulting into hardly no gig opportunities left and parties and concerts being critically observed. A number of musicians faced prosecution, most of the time for their political views; some left Sudan for good. Music never completely vanished from public life and even the regime kept selected artists close, but for a majority of those bands affiliated to the jazz scene life and making ends became a lot harder. The Scorpions dissolved as a group around the same time.
The re-release was produced with a clean copy of the vinyl version as a source. The original reel tape of the album stayed with Saif Abu Bakr along with another reel with other recordings that were never released. Unfortunately it was lost when Saif Abu Bakr had to flee to Kuwait temporarily during the second gulf war when Iraq raided Kuwait. Vinyl version comes with extensive booklets with photos, interviews, liner notes. The vinyl version also has a DLL code.

Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band return with another set of covers bound to get you out of your seat and on your feet. The mysterious German steel pan outfit is working on their fourth studio album now and treat us to another must have two-sider to hold us over while they finish it. This one is sure to become another favorite among DJs worldwide. The A side finds BRSB taking on a huge hit with an eerie cover of Drake's "Hotline Bling". The intro melodica hints at the melody and when the beat drops and the top line plays on the pans all bets are off. The B side is something of a Big Crown family affair as Bacao covers "Murkit Gem" from El Michels Affair's Yeti Season album. The tune lends itself to the pans with its infectious melodies and the way BRSB plays it, it takes on a James Bond spy chase energy that works perfectly. Tracks: A Side. Hotline Bling B Side. Murkit Gem

Eins ist schon lange klar: U.D.O. machen keine halben Sachen und haben auch nach über 35 Jahren Bandgeschichte kein Stück Kraft verloren! Durch hunderte von Shows weltweit - bis hin in die entlegendsten Gebiete Russlands oder Südamerikas - und einer Diskografie von über 20 Alben, hat die Band jedes Mal bewiesen, dass sie nicht nur in den nationalen, sondern internationalen Metalolymp gehören. Alben wie „Steelfactory“, „Man And Machine“ oder „Animal House“ sind zeitlose Alben - präzise, druckvoll, eingängig und kraftgeladen. Fast jedes Album schaffte es in die deutschen Albumcharts mit der ein oder anderen Platzierung in den Top 10! Nicht umsonst sind nationale und internationale, prominente Kollegen wie Doro oder Lordi Anhänger und Unterstützer von U.D.O.'s Musik.
Keine Frage, dass man dem Propheten des deutschen Metal einen weiteren Tribut zollen muss und die Highlights dieser erfolgreichen Karriere auf einem Tonträger zusammenfasst. Insgesamt 33 Tracks von Alben wie Mastercutor, Holy, Solid oder Game Over gepaart nostalgischen Fotos machen nicht nur für alte Fans der Band diese Compilation zu einem Muss im Platteschrank.

Crime & the City Solution kehren mit ihrem siebten Studioalbum und dem ersten seit 10 Jahren zurück, dem Killer. Das auf 7 Tracks angelegte und in Berlin aufgenommene Album ist das wohl beste Werk von Crime & City Solution und gilt als ihr Meisterwerk.

Auf dem Album ist das Markenzeichen der Band, Simon Bonneys Erzählungen, umgeben von der tiefgründigen, vielschichtigen und hypnotisierenden Instrumentierung dieser neuen Inkarnation der Band, zu der neben dem langjährigen Mitglied Bronwyn Adams auch die neuen Mitglieder Frederic Lyenn, Donald Baldie, Georgio Valentino, Chris Hughes und Joshua Murphy gehören. Zusammen mit der Produktion von Martin J. Fiedler (Josh T. Pearson, Alex White) entsteht so eine magische Atmosphäre der Vorahnung und der Möglichkeiten.

Emerging from the heart of Brussels, the captivating five-piece Azmari is set to release "Maëlström" on October 20. For Maelström, the follow up to their acclaimed debut album Sam?'? (with raving reviews in Uncut, Songlines, Uk Vibe and Electronic Sound), the group has delved into uncharted musical territories creating a mesmerizing "azmarian" identity and melding intricate jazz textures with intoxicating oriental influences, otherworldly ethio grooves, enigmatic dark funk, and the pulsating beats of dub music,

For the creation of "Maëlström," Azmari embarked on an intensive one-week recording journey. During this time, they meticulously honed the sound of their instruments, blending the nostalgic notes of old-school clavinet keyboards with cutting-edge synth sounds, resulting in a distinct and alluring atmosphere. Enriching their traditional instruments with balanced pedal effects and special amplification, the band added new flavours to their sound.

Founded in the vibrant musical haven of Brussels in 2015, Azmari have been crafting a truly unique tapestry of musical exploration. Azmari defies conventional labels to weave a narrative of sonic innovation and artistic liberation. Influences range from an eclectic array of artists, including Okay Temiz, Heliocentrics, Whitefield Brothers, Surprise Chef, Antibalas and Sons of Kemet.

From the band: "For the third part of our musical journey, we dug into a deeper creative process. We literally immersed ourselves in deep waters during a unique two-week aquatic residency. The tracks on this album are thus directly imbued with distinctive underwater frequencies, the sounds of abyssal creatures, and the beauty of the seabed. Convinced by this creative experience, and guided by captain (and producer) Frederik Segers, we brought this album back to the surface and reveal a resolutely scaly, sandy, and deep soundscape."

Nachfolger des von der Kritik gefeierten, selbstbetitelten Debütalbum, Vambo mit ihrem 2. Studioalbum. Zwölf Tracks dienen als Schaufenster für das beeindruckende musikalische Talent und die energiegeladenen Auftritte der Band. Die Songs bieten eine Mischung aus melodischen Refrains, knallharten Riffs und dynamischen Gitarrensoli und versprechen ein aufregendes Hörerlebnis. Das Album lässt sich sowohl von "klassischen" Rock-Sensibilitäten als auch von zeitgenössischen Einflüssen inspirieren und präsentiert eine frische und innovative Herangehensweise an das Genre. Produziert von Ray Stiles, ehemaliges Mitglied der 70er-Jahre-Glam-Rocker Mud und langjähriges Mitglied von The Hollies. Jack Stiles Gesang, mit seiner fesselnden Präsenz und kraftvollen Stimme, ist eine magnetische Kraft, an der Gitarre entfesselt Pete Lance eine donnernde Energie, die die Aufmerksamkeit des Publikums vom ersten Powerchord an auf sich zieht, David Flitt, ein dynamischer Schlagzeuger, der die treibende Kraft hinter Vambo ist, der Kraft und Subtilität verbindet. Schließlich noch James Scotts provokante Basslinien verleihen Vambos Musik Tiefe und Kraft. Wie in der "High Hopes"-Strecke des Classic Rock Magazine zu sehen ist, haben sich Vambo als aufstrebende Kraft in der Rockszene etabliert, die nicht zu übersehen ist. Als Live Band ausgiebig auf großen Festivals unterwegs, z.B. das Download Festival, das Isle of Wight Festival und das Stone Free Festival und als Support für Acts wie Jared James Nichols, Y&T, Praying Mantis, Stray und Cats in Space.

Beyond the Red Mirror ist das zehnte Studioalbum der deutschen Metal-Band Blind Guardian. Das Album wurde im Twilight
Hall Studio in Grefrath aufgenommen. Inhaltlich knüpft es an die 1995 veröffentlichte Platte Imaginations from the
Other Side an und erzählt die Geschichte der beiden Welten vor und hinter dem Spiegel weiter.

Nach dem enormen Erfolg von "The God Machine" aus dem Jahr 2022 veröffentlicht das deutsche Metal-Powerhouse BLIND GUARDIAN nun neue farbige Vinyl-Editionen einiger heiß begehrter neuerer Einträge in ihrer beeindruckenden Diskografie. A Twist in the Myth" von 2006 und "At the Edge of Time" von 2010 sind seit einem Jahrzehnt nicht mehr neu aufgelegt worden, und auch "Beyond the Red Mirror" von 2015 ist heutzutage ziemlich rar geworden. Sichern Sie sich also diese edlen Ausgaben von feinstem, melodischem, schnellem und kompliziertem Heavy Metal und erleben Sie die Band im September/Oktober 2023 live auf Tour.

Neue, limitierte, dreifarbige (weiß-pink-gelb) Vinyl-Tour-Ausgabe des jüngsten As December Falls-Albums, das auf Platz 1 der UK-Rock-Charts, der Indie-Album-Charts und der Download-Charts landete und auf Rang #11 in die UK Album-Charts einstieg.

Das UK-Pop-Punk-Quartett As December Falls blieb stets seiner unabhängigen Selbstvermarktung treu. Angefangen bei dem selbstbetitelten Debütalbum (2019) über den von John Mitchell (Enter Shikari, You Me At Six, Architects) produzierten Nachfolger 'Happier' (2020) bis zu 'Mayday', der ersten Single aus dem neuen Album 'Join The Club'. Es ist ihr bislang ehrgeizigster Track mit einer härteren Soundrichtung, die man von der Band bisher nicht kannte. Produziert von Alex Copp (Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes), abgemischt von Stevie Knight (Stand Atlantic, Yours Truly) und gemastert von Grant Berry (All Time Low, Hot Milk, Deaf Havana) leitet 'Mayday' das dritte As December Falls-Album ein, mit dem die Band einen weiteren Riesenschritt nach vorne macht.

In der letzten Dekade hat sich das britische Independent-Synthpop-Duo EMPATHY TEST als einer der stärksten Geheimtipps der Synthpop-Welt erwiesen. Ihre Hymne "Losing Touch" hat mittlerweile über 6 Millionen Streams auf Spotify und viele weitere Follow-Up-Tracks haben ebenfalls die Millionen Streaming-Marke überschritten. Die sich selbst vermarktende Band ist in den letzten zehn Jahren bei Liveshows und Festivals immer weiter nach oben geklettert. Zum ersten Mal in der Bandgeschichte werden EMPATHY TEST nun ihre vier Backkatalog-Alben über SPKR Special Services und den AMPED-Vertrieb in Europa und Nordamerika regulär im traditionellen Handel wiederveröffentlichen.
Die vier Alben "Losing Touch" (2014), "Safe From Harm" (2017), "Monsters" (2020) und das 2022 erschienene Live-Album "Time To Be Alive" erscheinen auf CD und Vinyl.
In den letzten neun Jahren haben sich Empathy Test zu einer der bekanntesten und beliebtesten Bands in der alternativen elektronischen Musikszene entwickelt, mit begeisterten Hörern auf der ganzen Welt. Empathy Test veröffentlichen nicht nur kontinuierlich erstklassige Musik, sondern tourten auch als Support für Bands wie VNV Nation, Covenant, Mesh und Aesthetic Perfection und arbeiteten sich durch die Line-Ups der deutschen alternativen Musikfestivals wie Wave Gotik Treffen, Mera Luna, Amphi, Plage Noire und NCN, bevor sie nun ihre eigenen Headliner-Touren durch Deutschland, Großbritannien und die USA anführen. Die Band plant eine ausgedehnte Nordamerika-Tour mit über 30 Terminen im Oktober 2023, sowie eine 10 Jahre Jubiläums-Tour in Europa für das Frühjahr 2024.
Das Londoner Duo, bestehend aus den Kindheitsfreunden Isaac Howlett (Sänger, Songwriter) und Adam Relf (Komponist, Produzent), hat Musik geschrieben, die von der Presse als "wunderschön" und "opulent" (Clash Magazine) beschrieben wurde und "zeitlose Melancholie (Hymn) enthält. Ganz auf sich allein gestellt, haben EMPATHY TEST mittlerweile über 4000 Vinyls und 6000 CDs im Eigenvertrieb verkauft und damit das Maximum erreicht, was man im Selbstvertrieb erreichen kann. Nun schließen sie sich mit dem Independent-Vertrieb SPKR Media zusammen.

In der letzten Dekade hat sich das britische Independent-Synthpop-Duo EMPATHY TEST als einer der stärksten Geheimtipps der Synthpop-Welt erwiesen. Ihre Hymne "Losing Touch" hat mittlerweile über 6 Millionen Streams auf Spotify und viele weitere Follow-Up-Tracks haben ebenfalls die Millionen Streaming-Marke überschritten. Die sich selbst vermarktende Band ist in den letzten zehn Jahren bei Liveshows und Festivals immer weiter nach oben geklettert. Zum ersten Mal in der Bandgeschichte werden EMPATHY TEST nun ihre vier Backkatalog-Alben über SPKR Special Services und den AMPED-Vertrieb in Europa und Nordamerika regulär im traditionellen Handel wiederveröffentlichen.
Die vier Alben "Losing Touch" (2014), "Safe From Harm" (2017), "Monsters" (2020) und das 2022 erschienene Live-Album "Time To Be Alive" erscheinen auf CD und Vinyl.
In den letzten neun Jahren haben sich Empathy Test zu einer der bekanntesten und beliebtesten Bands in der alternativen elektronischen Musikszene entwickelt, mit begeisterten Hörern auf der ganzen Welt. Empathy Test veröffentlichen nicht nur kontinuierlich erstklassige Musik, sondern tourten auch als Support für Bands wie VNV Nation, Covenant, Mesh und Aesthetic Perfection und arbeiteten sich durch die Line-Ups der deutschen alternativen Musikfestivals wie Wave Gotik Treffen, Mera Luna, Amphi, Plage Noire und NCN, bevor sie nun ihre eigenen Headliner-Touren durch Deutschland, Großbritannien und die USA anführen. Die Band plant eine ausgedehnte Nordamerika-Tour mit über 30 Terminen im Oktober 2023, sowie eine 10 Jahre Jubiläums-Tour in Europa für das Frühjahr 2024.
Das Londoner Duo, bestehend aus den Kindheitsfreunden Isaac Howlett (Sänger, Songwriter) und Adam Relf (Komponist, Produzent), hat Musik geschrieben, die von der Presse als "wunderschön" und "opulent" (Clash Magazine) beschrieben wurde und "zeitlose Melancholie (Hymn) enthält. Ganz auf sich allein gestellt, haben EMPATHY TEST mittlerweile über 4000 Vinyls und 6000 CDs im Eigenvertrieb verkauft und damit das Maximum erreicht, was man im Selbstvertrieb erreichen kann. Nun schließen sie sich mit dem Independent-Vertrieb SPKR Media zusammen.

In der letzten Dekade hat sich das britische Independent-Synthpop-Duo EMPATHY TEST als einer der stärksten Geheimtipps der Synthpop-Welt erwiesen. Ihre Hymne "Losing Touch" hat mittlerweile über 6 Millionen Streams auf Spotify und viele weitere Follow-Up-Tracks haben ebenfalls die Millionen Streaming-Marke überschritten. Die sich selbst vermarktende Band ist in den letzten zehn Jahren bei Liveshows und Festivals immer weiter nach oben geklettert. Zum ersten Mal in der Bandgeschichte werden EMPATHY TEST nun ihre vier Backkatalog-Alben über SPKR Special Services und den AMPED-Vertrieb in Europa und Nordamerika regulär im traditionellen Handel wiederveröffentlichen.
Die vier Alben "Losing Touch" (2014), "Safe From Harm" (2017), "Monsters" (2020) und das 2022 erschienene Live-Album "Time To Be Alive" erscheinen auf CD und Vinyl.
In den letzten neun Jahren haben sich Empathy Test zu einer der bekanntesten und beliebtesten Bands in der alternativen elektronischen Musikszene entwickelt, mit begeisterten Hörern auf der ganzen Welt. Empathy Test veröffentlichen nicht nur kontinuierlich erstklassige Musik, sondern tourten auch als Support für Bands wie VNV Nation, Covenant, Mesh und Aesthetic Perfection und arbeiteten sich durch die Line-Ups der deutschen alternativen Musikfestivals wie Wave Gotik Treffen, Mera Luna, Amphi, Plage Noire und NCN, bevor sie nun ihre eigenen Headliner-Touren durch Deutschland, Großbritannien und die USA anführen. Die Band plant eine ausgedehnte Nordamerika-Tour mit über 30 Terminen im Oktober 2023, sowie eine 10 Jahre Jubiläums-Tour in Europa für das Frühjahr 2024.
Das Londoner Duo, bestehend aus den Kindheitsfreunden Isaac Howlett (Sänger, Songwriter) und Adam Relf (Komponist, Produzent), hat Musik geschrieben, die von der Presse als "wunderschön" und "opulent" (Clash Magazine) beschrieben wurde und "zeitlose Melancholie (Hymn) enthält. Ganz auf sich allein gestellt, haben EMPATHY TEST mittlerweile über 4000 Vinyls und 6000 CDs im Eigenvertrieb verkauft und damit das Maximum erreicht, was man im Selbstvertrieb erreichen kann. Nun schließen sie sich mit dem Independent-Vertrieb SPKR Media zusammen.

In der letzten Dekade hat sich das britische Independent-Synthpop-Duo EMPATHY TEST als einer der stärksten Geheimtipps der Synthpop-Welt erwiesen. Ihre Hymne "Losing Touch" hat mittlerweile über 6 Millionen Streams auf Spotify und viele weitere Follow-Up-Tracks haben ebenfalls die Millionen Streaming-Marke überschritten. Die sich selbst vermarktende Band ist in den letzten zehn Jahren bei Liveshows und Festivals immer weiter nach oben geklettert. Zum ersten Mal in der Bandgeschichte werden EMPATHY TEST nun ihre vier Backkatalog-Alben über SPKR Special Services und den AMPED-Vertrieb in Europa und Nordamerika regulär im traditionellen Handel wiederveröffentlichen.
Die vier Alben "Losing Touch" (2014), "Safe From Harm" (2017), "Monsters" (2020) und das 2022 erschienene Live-Album "Time To Be Alive" erscheinen auf CD und Vinyl.
In den letzten neun Jahren haben sich Empathy Test zu einer der bekanntesten und beliebtesten Bands in der alternativen elektronischen Musikszene entwickelt, mit begeisterten Hörern auf der ganzen Welt. Empathy Test veröffentlichen nicht nur kontinuierlich erstklassige Musik, sondern tourten auch als Support für Bands wie VNV Nation, Covenant, Mesh und Aesthetic Perfection und arbeiteten sich durch die Line-Ups der deutschen alternativen Musikfestivals wie Wave Gotik Treffen, Mera Luna, Amphi, Plage Noire und NCN, bevor sie nun ihre eigenen Headliner-Touren durch Deutschland, Großbritannien und die USA anführen. Die Band plant eine ausgedehnte Nordamerika-Tour mit über 30 Terminen im Oktober 2023, sowie eine 10 Jahre Jubiläums-Tour in Europa für das Frühjahr 2024.
Das Londoner Duo, bestehend aus den Kindheitsfreunden Isaac Howlett (Sänger, Songwriter) und Adam Relf (Komponist, Produzent), hat Musik geschrieben, die von der Presse als "wunderschön" und "opulent" (Clash Magazine) beschrieben wurde und "zeitlose Melancholie (Hymn) enthält. Ganz auf sich allein gestellt, haben EMPATHY TEST mittlerweile über 4000 Vinyls und 6000 CDs im Eigenvertrieb verkauft und damit das Maximum erreicht, was man im Selbstvertrieb erreichen kann. Nun schließen sie sich mit dem Independent-Vertrieb SPKR Media zusammen.

Dead Times is Lee Buford (The Body, Sightless Pit, Manslaughter 777) and Steven Vallot (Muslin). The duo originally began working together in 2008 while living together in Providence DIY space The Sickle, and releasing the early records from The Body and The Assembly of Light Choir on their short-lived Aum War label. They quickly achieved cult status with just two limited releases. Those releases have become highly coveted rarities for The Body fans and those familiar with the world of Providence, Rhode Island"s legendary DIY scene, which gave rise to artists like Lightning Bolt and Black Dice. Emerging over a decade later, Dead Times connects the threads of the untethered extremes of their origins to the mastery of production, composition, and structure each member has cultivated in their time apart. On their debut self-titled full-length, Dead Times present a kind of mesmeric dread, a world of desperate beauty wrapped in sonic venom. Buford and Vallot each bring wells of experience and new skill to Dead Times since their days living together in dilapidated warehouses. The duo"s shared history remains an essential element to their chemistry, but each has sharpened their craft to harness that raw creativity into music that is fearless, poignant and undeniably unique. A band"s band, but not for long. Dead Times, the duo"s first album, is staggering in its ambitions and exquisite in its execution. Lee Buford is known for his prolific work in acts including The Body, Sightless Pit, Everyone Asked About You, and more, alongside numerous collaborations with the likes of Full Of Hell, BIG|BRAVE, Thou, OAA, and Siege Engine. Steven Vallot is known for his collaborative work both musically, and artistically, with artists such as Krieg, The Body, Whitehorse, and Drew McDowall.

Knifeplay's sophomore full-length, and first ever studio album Animal
Drowning is a sprawling landscape of shoegaze and lofty slowcore
The album finds the band in a blend of folk instruments, walls of distortion,
orchestral strings and delicate vocals, all carefully organized by Philadelphia
engineer/ producer Jeff Zeigler, known for his work with Nothing, Kurt Vile, and
more.
Though their sonic palette is vast, Knifeplay craft a cohesive aesthetic to carry
frontman TJ Strohmer's thematically heavy songwriting, which touches on loss of
all kinds against the backdrop of a nihilistic world. These songs cry out with
urgency no matter their ever-varied tempo and dynamic, each painting a unique
vignette of tragedy. Yet the band's dense, meticulously composed
instrumentation exudes beauty, creating a lightness to balance the subject
matter.
With Animal Drowning, Knifeplay goes deeper into the sonic experimentation and
brutally honest lyricism so beloved on their early bedroom recordings, creating an
enrapturing experience that deftly builds on previous work.

Originally released in 1986, Life Is Hard Then You Die was the debut
album from Liverpudlian indie-pop band It's Immaterial - Now reissued
and repackaged by Last Night From Glasgow, available October 2023
Simon Braithwaite of Smash Hits wrote that Life's Hard and Then You Die shows
that It's Immaterial "write jolly good pop songs - In fact everything else here is just
as inspired and original as their recent hit."
In a retrospective review, Michael Sutton of All Music wrote, "Musically, the LP is
all over the place - new wave country, blues, folk, and synth pop - Somehow the
smorgasbord of styles works, because the band members aren't being eclectic
just for the sake of it; they simply have a wide canvas, keeping the album fresh
from beginning to end."

Bloodred Hourglass, das Finland’s Powerhouse des Melodic Modern Metal’s, wollen mit ihrem neuen Album “How’s The Heart?” die Musikwelt wieder einmal in ihren Bann ziehen.
Sie sind bekannt für ihre Melodic und Death Metal Einflüsse und haben sich längst einen Namen in der Metal-Szene gemacht. “How’s The Heart?” wird zweifelsfrei eine der einflussreichsten Veröffentlichungen der bisherigen Band Historie und zeigt eine beeindruckende Entwicklung dieses Musikgespanns. Einmal mehr stellen die Jungs aus Finnland ihr musikalisches Können unter Beweis und nehmen ihre Fans mit auf eine Reise voller Energie und der klassischen Bloodred Hourglass-Brutalität.
“How’s The Heart?” leitet seine Hörer außerdem durch die verschiedenen Phasen von Trauer und Wut, und bricht mit einem perfekten Mix aus Aggression und Charme jegliche Genre-Grenzen. Ein dynamischer, moderner Sound, der aber weiterhin an die traditionellen Nordischen Wurzeln der Band anknüpft.
Die BRHG-typischen Riffs, aggressiven Drums, vielseitigen Vocals, Synths und Refrains mit Ohrwurm-Garantie dieses Albums wurden gemixt und gemastert von Dan Braunstein (Spiritbox, Veil Of Maya, Dayseeker).

We're proud to announce renewal of our near-ten year relationship with raw black power ambient ritualists Sutekh Hexen in announcing the band's colossal new 2LP "P:R:I:S:M", a full collaboration with Canadian nightmare-weaving enigma Funerary Call (AKA field recording and experimental soundscaping artist Harlow MacFarlane), to be released this summer in collaboration with our good dearest frequent co-conspirators from the US Sentien Ruin.
With "P:R:I:S:M", magisterial sonic-alchemists Sutekh Hexen and Funerary Call join forces to deliver a fully collaborative album of eight highly experimental tracks. Throughout this octonary journey, concepts and unseen source energies are refined into spectrums of deeper consciousness. The resulting narrative guides the listener through a vastness of (dis)charging energies, rebirth through dissolution, and harrowing harmonic passages in tremendous spaces. Inner-workings suspend transformations in time. Pushing their respective boundaries, Sutekh Hexen and Funerary Call initiate the listener with the crystalline, static miasma of the album’s opener 'Meridian غ', only to enshroud them in the manifesting psychosis of 'Infernal Folly'. The churning mysticism of 'Perilous Shade' offers temporal sanctuary, and 'Toward the Eastern Gate' calls forth tectonic-prophecies as the album's centerpiece, tipping the scale into 'Fractal: Void'—a blistering disarmament in a storm of guitars, scathing electronics, and the disembodied calls we all anticipate and fear. 'Æscend Obsidia' tests the preceding tension and overwhelms in shimmering radiance before declaring release in 'Pangæa Ultima² (Dread)'. Closing with 'Shores of Purgatory', thresholds are breached anew with hectic guitar feedback, spectral synthesis and meditative melodic embellishments. Where the mirror blinds, the "P:R:I:S:M" offers vision—refractions of new perspectives, dissolving the shadow-self.

Repress!

Last year's release of "The Midlands Roots Explosion Volume One", saw the culmination of many years work spent tracking down artists and tapes to shine a light on one of England's greatest, yet most overlooked musical scenes, the home grown take on reggae that briefly flourished from the mid-seventies and had almost disappeared little more than a decade later.

Volume Two starts off in exactly the same way as its predecessor with Handsworth's biggest musical exports, the legendary Steel Pulse and "Bun Dem produced by the legendary Dennis Bovell. Our first act new to the series are Natural Mystique with their 1982 single "Generals" whilst tracks 3, 4 and 5 round off the missing A and B sides from some of the most popular artists we included last time with Iganda's "Mark Of Slavery", Carnastoan's "Sweet Melody" and yet another Generals, this one from Musical Youth featuring the same line up that caused so much surprise and positive feedback with their inclusion on Volume One.

"Africans" from Bass Dance featuring a second appearance from former Steel Pulse guitarist/vocalist Basil Gabbidon, is the first of four previously unreleased tracks. The other three that we've managed to track down on long forgotten tapes, are Leicester's Groundation with "Rebel" recorded a few years before "Fa Ward" which we included last time, "Cannot Take It Away", another lost gem from Handsworth's Mystic Foundation and "Equalisation" another lost slice of early eighties roots from Wolverhampton's Capital Letters.
The late Linton Haughton is another new name with his scarce Shield label 12" cut "Hustling Man". Also making their first appearances, are Afrikan Star with "Run And Hide" originally issued in 1980 on Black Vinyl Records and from the Crucial Music stable, Sledge Hammer with "Ruled By The Stone" released as a 7" single on the Crucial Music Inc. label. The remaining three tracks are provided by label favourites and key players in the Birmingham scene, Black Symbol, Sceptre and Eclipse and showcase songs from the individual albums we've previously released by each band.
British roots reggae at its finest.