RIVERSIDE – Release new single/video “Self-Aware (Single Edit)” off upcoming album “ID.Entity”; Announce North American Tour

Today, Poland’s pioneering and leading Progressive Rock band RIVERSIDE are pleased to present a second single for their upcoming studio album “ID.Entity”, to be released via InsideOutMusic on January 20th, 2023.

Check out the album’s closing track “Self-Aware” in its ‘Single Edit’ version and with an entertaining video clip directed by Marcin Zawadziński and Mariusz Duda here: 

RIVERSIDE’s Mariusz Duda checked in with the following comment about the new single: 
’Self-Aware’ is a song which summarises the entire album, and talks about how it’s difficult these days to live in a society and ignore all the social changes, how you can’t simply be passive, “shut yourself off”, or “hole up deep in the woods”. We need each other in order to change something in our lives. Not everything can be done single-handedly; “I have to be better than others, I have to be the best” is not a good mantra. We need cooperation to achieve goals. And it’s important that this message comes not from a solo artist, but from a band, whose success lies mostly in cooperation within the band and interaction with their listeners.”

“ID.Entity”, the group’s 8th studio album was recorded and mixed in two studios – The Boogie Town Studio in Otwock with Paweł Marciniak and in Serakos studio in Warsaw with Magda and Robert Srzedniccy -, mastered by Robert Szydło and produced by RIVERSIDE’s Mariusz Duda himself. The “ID.Entity” artwork was created by Polish artist Jarek Kubicki. 

A first single off “ID.Entity” was recently released via the track “I’m Done With You”, which can also be seen here in a video-clip animated and directed by Thomas Hicks / www.thomashicks.co.uk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3q6XJfKxKb4

RIVERSIDE also launched a “Riverside Heavy” playlist featuring “I’m Done With You” as well as many other heavier tracks from the band’s comprehensive catalogue, which you can check out here:

 Here is the standard track-listing for the album: 

RIVERSIDE – “ID.Entity” (53:11)

Tracklist:

1. Friend or Foe? (07:29)

2. Landmine Blast (04:50)

3. Big Tech Brother (07:24)

4. Post-Truth (05:37)

5. The Place Where I Belong (13:16)

6. I’m Done With You (05:52)

7. Self-Aware (8:43)

The bonus material appearing on “ID.Entity” includes the instrumental tracks “Age of Anger” (11:56) and “Together Again” (06:29) as well as “Friend or Foe? (Single Edit)” (05:59) and “Self-Aware (Single Edit)” (05:29).

The album will be available in the following formats: 

–        Ltd. Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook 
(Disc 1: Album, Disc 2: All 4 bonus tracks, Blu-ray: All main 9 album tracks in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and 24bit HighRes Audio mix versions) 
-> Pictured above!

–        Ltd. 2CD Mediabook (Disc 1: Album, Disc 2: All 4 bonus tracks)
-> Pictured above!

–        CD Jewelcase

–        Deluxe Digital Album (Including all 4 bonus tracks)

–       Digital album

The album’s vinyl version comes as Gatefold 2LP (With the bonus tracks “Age of Anger” and “Together Again” on Side D) in the following variants:
– Black vinyl: All outlets
– Orange vinyl: All outlets

– White vinyl: 500x copies via JPC & Burning Shed
– Yellow vinyl: 500x copies via EMP & Just For Kicks
– Sky Blue vinyl: 600x copies via Laser’s Edge & CM Distro/Webshop Europe

The pre-order for “ID.Entity” in its various formats is available here:
https://riverside.lnk.to/IDEntity

“ID.Entity”, an album that extends and expands RIVERSIDE’s characteristic sound, but all in a revamped and more dynamic formula, follows 2018’s widely acclaimed ‘Wasteland’ album, which entered the charts in Germany at # 13, The Netherlands at # 28, Switzerland at # 23, Austria at # 39, UK at # 83, Finland at # 30, France at # 97, Czech Republic at # 59 and Poland at # 1. 

RIVERSIDE have recently also announced their return to North American stages in February/March 2023 in promotion of “ID.Entity”. Check out the band’s upcoming confirmed live-dates here:

RIVERSIDE – Live 2023:

North American Tour:
17. February 2023 Tampa, FL – The Orpheum

18. February 2023 Orlando, FL – The Abbey

19. February 2023 Atlanta, GA – Hell At The Masquerade

21. February 2023 Dallas, TX – Amplified Live

22. February 2023 Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live

24. February 2023 Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater

25. February 2023 Pomona, CA – The Glass House

26. February 2023 Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone

28. February 2023 Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw Theatre

1. March 2023 Seattle, WA – Neumos

3. March 2023 Salt Lake City, UT – The State Room

4. March 2023 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre

7. March 2023 St. Paul, MN – Amsterdam Bar And Hall

8. March 2023 Chicago, IL – Bottom Lounge

10. March 2023 Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace

11. March 2023 Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre

12. March 2023 Quebec City, QC – Imperial Bell

14. March 2023 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

16. March 2023 New York, NY – Sony Hall

17. March 2023 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts

18. March 2023 Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Music Hall

19. March 2023 Washington, DC – Black Cat

21. March 2023 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
—————————-

15-16. April 2023 Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Prognosis Festival
22-23. April 2023 London (UK) – Prognosis Festival 
https://www.prognosis-festival.nl/

More RIVERSIDE live show announcements and further details about “ID.Entity” coming soon…

RIVERSIDE line-up:
Michał Łapaj – keyboards and Hammond Organ
Mariusz Duda – vocal, bass
Piotr Kozieradzki – drums
Maciej Meller – guitar

VLMV – For Empire – Live At Tortington Church

Picture by Paris Grace

On one cold, wet and windy afternoon in early November VLMV, aka Pete Lambrou, brought VLMV’s live set up to a Twelfth Century Church on England’s South Coast.

The resulting video is a beautiful one-take-completely-live recording of usual set opener ‘For Empire’, taken from the latest album Sing With Abandon. For Empire’s title and general demeanour evoke an apprehensive anti nostalgia for the old world, and the lyrics are plainly critical, but throughout weaves a feeling of yearning: ‘I was hoping someone could turn this boat around’.

Pete Lambrou on the setting:

“This had to be recorded and filmed in an old Church; being one of the absolute pillars of old empire. The older the better. Not all the songs from the album were written in the midst of lockdown. A couple were performed live on the last tour before the pandemic hit, including For Empire. But their roots are in the aftermath of Brexit, and this feeling of abandonment I’d felt throughout, and then the realisation that your neighbours aren’t who you thought they were.”

The Churches Conservation Trust:

“Tortington, the homestead of Torhta’s people, is recorded in Domesday Book (1086). The entrance to this twelfth-century flint church looks like something out of a mediaeval fantasy – three rows of Norman carvings arch over a thick wooden door set with ornamental hinge straps. Inside, creatures unlike anything found in nature peer down from the chancel arch. They are called ‘beakheads’ – boggle-eyed monsters with beaks, tongues and squid-like  tentacles that frown and glare at visitors below. Once they would have been painted in bright colours to entertain – or terrify – worshippers.”

VLMV (pronounced and formerly known as ALMA) is a self-proclaimed ambient-ish post-something singer-songwriter / producer from London. Part of the illustrious Erased Tapes family, VLMV have released 2 albums on Fierce Panda Records, alongside 2022’s Sing With Abandon out on Pete’s own label, Nice Weather for Airstrikes. Live, VLMV deploy loop stations, multiple delay pedals, piano and strings to create a slow-moving, high-flying soundscape of luscious gravitas.

“Building atmospheric and quietly epic soundscapes that creep up on you unannounced….like a beam of light through a dark, cold night.” – Lauren Laverne BBC6 Music

“As worthy of your love and admiration as anything Sigur Rós or Explosions In The Sky have released” Team Rock

Featured image by Jess Robinson

Arc of Triumph shine light on billionaire greed with new release: ‘The New Adventures of the Superhumans’

Leeds duo Arc of Triumph release their double a-side single this week, The New Adventures of the Superhumans/In My Arms, the first material from the band since their 2021 album Rampjaar.

Picking up the thread laid by their previous two albums, Arc of Triumph’s political leanings are more evident than ever in The New Adventures of the Superhumans. It gives a scathing commentary on society’s inequalities.

The song warns of a dystopian future where the rich are still untouched by the damage to our planet caused almost exclusively by them:

“The final age is looming / so save the superhumans / they haven’t flown this far to lose.”

Although imagining a distant future, the song’s themes are applicable today. Simon Elvin said:

“Inequality is greater than ever. People can’t afford to eat. And the planet is in mortal danger. Yet, billionaires continue to hoard wealth hand over fist. Piling misery and suffering on the vast majority.”

Rory Holl said:

“Sometimes it feels as though there’s nothing you can do. We wanted to document our feelings on the current situation. If it did make anyone think differently, then that would be amazing. But I think most people have made their minds up already.”

Musical influences for Arc of Triumph (made up of Simon Elvin and Rory Holl) are wide-ranging from 70s prog of Yes! and Genesis to 80s electro pop, with a nod towards latter-day Radiohead.

And the “electronic textures and moody synth sounds” described by James R Turner in his review of their second album, Rampjaar, last year are certainly back in this new release.

The song is heavily driven by 80s synth and organ sounds, with hypnotic, delayed guitar lines and glitchy drum machines, giving way to jarring drum rhythms and falsetto vocals.

After a brief hiatus following the release of Rampjaar, the pair were back in the studio in the spring to start work on new material. The double a-side marks the first release for their third album due for release next year. So, watch this space!

In a review of Rampjaar in The London Economic in 2021, Jack Peat described the album as harnessing a “superb technical ability to deliver a futuristic prog-rock album befitting of its time”.

And Superhumans is certainly befitting of its time too. The video imagines the Earth as a dead planet with the only survivors being the privileged few who are able to preserve themselves from the destruction they have caused.

We see the likes of Boris Johnson, Putin, Trump, members of the royal family, Jeff Bezos, Roman Abramovic and Jacob Rees-Mogg escaping the dying Earth. They rocket off in cryotubes to a new planet while the rest of us perish. A metaphor for their financial ability to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

The final chorus imagines how history will judge these people:

“In cryogenic futures / they’ll raise the superhumans / and make them pay for what they’ve done.”

Watch the video to see their fate:

Listen here:

Simon said:

“As well as the emergency of climate change, the way the rich can shield themselves from the problems they cause is reminiscent of the current cost-of-living crisis. We have nurses using foodbanks. We have schools with lower budgets next year than they did in 2015.”

Rory added:

“People are struggling more than ever just to exist. But it doesn’t affect the rich and privileged so it’s hard for them to care. We don’t think people who have grown up in luxury and who have never had to worry about money should be running the country.”

Melancholic metal masters KATATONIA Announce New Album, Sky Void of Stars, Scheduled for Worldwide Release on January 20, 2023 via Napalm Records

Masters of melancholic metal KATATONIA carry on their legacy of rearranging the order of the heavy music universe, proudly presenting their hauntingly beautiful next studio album, Sky Void of Stars, out January 20, 2023 via Napalm Records. 

Founded in 1991, KATATONIA have continually embraced the dark and the light alike and, living through genre evolutions beyond compare, ripened their own particular form of expression. From doom and death metal to soul-gripping post rock, they’ve explored endless spheres of the genre, accumulating only the very best aspects. After signing with Napalm Records, the entity around founding members Jonas Renkse and Anders Nyström is ready to showcase its brilliance and illuminate the void in the scene once more with Sky Void of Stars.

With the first single, “Atrium”KATATONIA hit with highly energetic atmosphere, holding a gloomy ambience with epic sounds and poetic lyrics to get lost in. The heartfelt piece of sound goes in line with a gripping music video, underlining the exceptional atmosphere the five-piece is creating with every single note. “Atrium” is now available via all digital service providers worldwide.

KATATONIA on the new album, Sky Void of Stars:

“Our 12th album, Sky Void of Stars is a dynamic journey through vibrant darkness. Born out of yearning for what was lost and not found, the very peripheries of the unreachable, but composed and condensed into human form and presented as sounds and words true to the KATATONIA signum. No stars here, just violent rain.” 

Watch the official music video for “Atrium” :

Emerging from the gloom, KATATONIA is a beacon of light – breathing their unique, never stagnant, atmospheric sound through this new 11-track offering, all written and composed by vocalist Jonas Renkse. Album opener “Austerity” provides a courting introduction to the album. Crashing through the dark, it convinces with memorable, mind-bending rhythms as it shifts with elaborate guitar riffs that perfectly showcase the musical expertise and experience of the band. Topped off by the dark, conjuring voice of Renkse and mesmerizing lyricism, the gloomy mood for the album is set. Songs like down- tempo “Opaline” and moody “Drab Moon” fully embrace their melancholic sound while fragile “Impermanence” is accented by the original doom metal roots of KATATONIA. Like a dark star, these pieces relume the dreariness, creating an ambient auditory experience with memorable hooks while still inducing the crashing sounds of hard guitar riffs and pounding drums. The experimental mastery of the quintet and their atmospheric approach is purely vivid, making this album a thrilling sensation. With “Birds”, the artists show off their explosive potential with a quick and energetic sound, proving their genre-defying style. 

KATATONIA is one of a kind in a state of perpetual evolution. Significantly shaping the genre while still staying true to their own musical values, they orbit the musical universe – leaving their imprints on the scene. Projecting their sound to the endless realms, Sky Void of Stars shines bright in metal and beyond! 

Sky Void of Stars track listing:

1    Austerity

2    Colossal Shade

3    Opaline

4    Birds

5    Drab Moon

6    Author

7    Impermanence (feat. Joel Ekelöf)

8    Sclera

9    Atrium

10  No Beacon To Illuminate Our Fall

11  Absconder (Bonus Track) 

Sky Void of Stars is now available for pre-order in the following configurations here:

Ltd. Deluxe Wooden Box (incl. Mediabook + Digipack Atmos Mix BluRay + Crow Pendant + Star Chart Artprint + Pin) – Napalm Records exclusive

Die Hard Edition 2LP Gatefold Ink Spot / FOREST GREEN (incl. Slipmat, Patch, 12 pages poster) – Napalm Records exclusive

2LP Gatefold DARK GREEN – Napalm Records exclusive

2LP Gatefold MARBLED TRANSPARENT/DARK GREEN – OMerch exclusive

2LP Gatefold MARBLED CRYSTAL CLEAR/BLACK –  OMerch exclusive

2LP Gatefold BLACK

1CD Ltd Mediabook (incl. Bonus Track)

1CD Jewelcase

Digital Album

[Ltd. Deluxe Wooden Box (incl. Mediabook + Digipack Atmos Mix BluRay + Crow Pendant + Star Chart Artprint + Pin)]

KATATONIA – 2022 North American Tour

 w/ The Ocean Collective and Cellar Darling

09.11.22 – Washington, DC / Black Cat

10.11.22 – Worcester, MA / Palladium

11.11.22 – New York, NY / Sony Hall

12.11.22 – Philadelphia, PA / Underground Arts

13.11.22 – Harrisburg, PA / Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center

15.11.22 – Quebec City, QC / Impérial Bell

16.11.22 – Montreal, QC / Le Studio TD

18.11.22 – Toronto, ON / Opera House

19.11.22 – Pittsburgh, PA / Thunderbird Music Hall

20.11.22 – Chicago, IL / Metro

22.11.22 – Denver, CO / Oriental Theater

23.11.22 – Salt Lake City, UT / Soundwell

25.11.22 – Portland, OR / Hawthorne Theatre

26.11.22 – Vancouver, BC / Rickshaw Theatre

27.11.22 – Seattle, WA / The Crocodile

29.11.22 – Roseville, CA / Goldfield Trading Post

30.11.22 – San Francisco, CA / Great American Music Hall

02.12.22 – Los Angeles, CA / 1720

03.12.22 – San Diego, CA / Brick by Brick

04.12.22 – Mesa, AZ / Nile Theater

06.12.22 – Austin, TX / Come and Take It Live (+Soen as direct support)

07.12.22 – Dallas, TX / Amplified Live (+Soen as direct support)

09.12.22 – Atlanta, GA / Hell at The Masquerade

10.12.22 – Tampa, FL / The Orpheum

KATATONIA – 2023 UK & Europe Tour

w/ Sólstafir and SOM

20.01.23 FI – Tampere / Tampereen Tullikamari (Pakkahuone & Klubi)

21.01.23 FI – Helsinki / Kulttuurital

22.01.23 EE – Tallinn / Helitehas

24.01.23 PL – Warsaw / Klub Stodoła

25.01.23 DE – Berlin / Huxleys Neue Welt

26.01.23 DE – Cologne / Essigfabrik

27.01.23 DE – Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn

28.01.23 CZ – Prague / ROXY Prague

29.01.23 AT – Vienna / Arena Wien

31.01.23 HU – Budapest / Akvárium Klub

01.02.23 DE – Munich / Backstage Werk

02.02.23 CH – Zurich / Komplex 457

03.02.23 IT – Milan / Live Club

04.02.23 FR – Lyon / Ninkasi GERLAND

06.02.23 ES – Madrid / Kapital

07.02.23 ES – Barcelona / La Salamandra

08.02.23 FR – Toulouse / Le Metronum

10.02.23 GB – London / O2 Forum Kentish Town

11.02.23 GB – Manchester / O2 Ritz Manchester

12.02.23 GB – Bristol / Marble Factory

13.02.23 GB – Glasgow / The Garage

14.02.23 GB – Wolverhampton / KK’s Steel Mill

16.02.23 DE – Frankfurt Am Main / Batschkapp

17.02.23 NL – Haarlem / Patronaat

19.02.23 FR – Paris / Le Trianon

20.02.23 LU – Luxemburg / Rockhal

21.02.23 BE – Antwerp / Muziekcentrum Trix

22.02.23 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan

23.02.23 DK – Copenhagen / Amager Bio

24.02.23 NO – Oslo / Rockefeller Music Hall

25.02.23 SE – Stockholm / Fryshuset Arenan

KATATONIA – 2023 Latin American Tour

17.03.23 MX – Guadalajara / C3 Stage

18.03.23 MX – Monterrey / Cafe Iguana

19.03.23 MX –  Mexico City / Cafe Auditorio

22.03.23 CH – Santiago / Club Chocolate

24.03.23 AR – Buenos Aires / El Teatrito

25.03.23 BR – Sao Paulo / Carioca Club

KATATONIA are:

Jonas Renske – Vocals

Anders Nyström – Guitars

Roger Öjersson – Guitars

Niklas Sandin – Bass

Daniel Moilanen – Drums

BAND PHOTO CREDIT: MATHIAS BLOM

EMPYRE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM DETAILS AND SHARE ALBUM TITLE TRACK ‘RELENTLESS’

UK rock band Empyrewho recently signed to Kscope, will release their new album Relentless on 31st March next year, with pre-orders available now at https://empyre.lnk.to/Relentless

They now find themselves alongside the likes of TesseracT, The Pineapple Thief and Envy of None, on a label that has previously released albums from Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree and Tangerine Dream.

‘Joining the Kscope family of artists feels like a validation of us as songwriters. We have a sense of reassurance, and we’re proud to be a part of it.’ states Empyre frontman Henrik Steenholdt.

Widely regarded as one of the hardest working bands of the past few years, Relentless was recorded between pandemic lockdowns and during their previous album’s (The Other Side) release cycle. Once again they encamped at Parlour Recording Studio, Kettering for recording with Neil Haynes, before handing mixing duties to Chris Clancy at Audioworks (Machine Head, Those Damn Crows, Massive Wagons) – who has magnified the band’s dark, emotional, rock sound with an elevated deep richness.

First single and album title track Relentless showcases Empyres work ethic and ethos, and musically, the hard rock track will resonate with listeners in their scene. “Relentless, at least in title, reflects Empyre and our level of dedication and ambition. Whilst the album as a whole is not pure hard rock, we felt the best way to introduce it would be with a striking and formidable title track, letting Relentless set the tone in terms of intensity”, the band add.

The single “Relentless” is out now and available on all major streaming platforms and is accompanied by a video directed by GLK Media:

We write arena rock and playing arena stages is something we aim for. I won’t be happy until I’m standing on that arena stage’, Henrik adds. With regular comparisons to the likes of Alter Bridge and Soundgarden mutated with Dire Straits and Muse, it’s clear that Empyre’s music was written with the big stage in mind.

Other tracks such as Waking Light and Hit And Run capture the band’s more commercial side, featuring a warm, enveloping sound, while Forget Me showcases the album’s emotive edge, as the haunting, delicate ballad builds to a euphoric ending, a song that would be at home on the arena stage.

Since their debut album Self Aware in 2019, Empyre have won Classic Rock Magazine’s “Track Of The Week” on three separate occasions alongside a ‘High Hopes’ feature, while Kerrang! described their sound as “slick, vast and like the music was written with the help of an architectural blueprint for an arena”. Planet Rock heralded the band as ‘Ones to Watch’, playlisting the tracks ‘New Republic’ (https://youtu.be/wfIH4uPMKIg ) and ‘My Bad’ and on the strength of the 2020 Winter’s End performance immediately booked them for the Planet Rockstock 2021 main stage.

Empyre have also been one of very few rock acts to be featured on ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris’ “Under The Apple Tree” Sessions.

Aside from their high aspirations and determination Empyre are also known for a darkly self-deprecating sense of humour and have proved they have what it takes to stand out from the crowd by delivering an engaging, if unsettling mix of melancholy, hope, and hopelessness, often within the same song.

Track listing:

1. Relentless [03:57]

2. Waking Light [04:36]

3. Parasites [05:18]

4. Cry Wolf [05:28]

5. Hit And Run [04:00]

6. Forget Me [05:48]

7. Silence Screaming [05:01]

8. Road To Nowhere [04:34]

9. Quiet Commotion [06:10]

10. Your Whole Life Slows [03:18]

Relentless will be released on the following formats, with additional bundles and items available exclusively through the Eyesore Merch band store – all are available to pre-order here https://empyre.lnk.to/Relentless

·       Limited edition digipack CD version with an alternative cover, featuring 4 bonus tracks

·       Limited edition red coloured vinyl LP 

·       CD 

·       LP 

·       Digitally

All pre-orders via the Eyesore Merch band store will receive a hand-signed photo and an exclusive free download of Empyre’s unreleased cover of the David Guetta & Sia track Titanium.

Items available bundled with the various formats include:

·       Handwritten lyrics

·       The album T-shirt

·       A special limited edition Boxed version, designed and hand-treated by the band. Including two tickets for the unique opportunity to join the band at the album listening party event in advance of the album release, plus a USB stick with exclusive album content and more. 

EMPYRE LIVE IN THE UK

Empyre are already a firm favourite on the UK live scene, and having had a busy summer playing festivals, the band have acoustic & headline shows and high-profile support tours lined up until the end of the year, including Vintage Caravan (25 – 31st October) & Gun which features a show at the legendary Glasgow Barrowlands. The band add, “This tour has been a long time coming thanks to COVID meddling with its scheduling numerous times, but ultimately it couldn’t have finally landed at a better time for us. We’ve got a new record deal in place with Kscope, a new album just announced, and we’ve got the platform to play our tour audiences plenty of new music. We’re relishing the opportunity to get back on the road and play, especially with a great live band like The Vintage Caravan.”

Empyre are:

Henrik Steenholdt: Vocals and guitar

Did Coles: Lead guitar

Grant Hockley: Bass

Elliot Bale: Drums 

RIVERSIDE – Announce details for new album “ID.Entity”; Launch first single/video for “I’m Done With You”; Album pre-order started

Poland’s pioneering and leading Progressive Rock band RIVERSIDE finally return with a new studio album entitled “ID.Entity”, to be released via longtime international partners InsideOutMusic on January 20th, 2023.

“ID.Entity”, the group’s 8th studio album was recorded and mixed in two studios – The Boogie Town Studio in Otwock with Paweł Marciniak and in Serakos studio in Warsaw with Magda and Robert Srzedniccy -, mastered by Robert Szydło and produced by RIVERSIDE’s Mariusz Duda himself. The “ID.Entity” artwork (Front cover to be seen above!) was created by Polish artist Jarek Kubicki. 

Today, a first single off “ID.Entity” is being released via the track “I’m Done With You”, which can also be seen here in a  video-clip animated and directed by Thomas Hicks / www.thomashicks.co.uk here: 

RIVERSIDE’s Mariusz Duda checked in with the following comment about “I’m Done With You”: 
We live in times of anger and helplessness. In times dominated by Big Techs, populists, conspiracy theories, hatred, greedy corporations causing the planet and the human nature to die at an accelerated speed. We live in times when one country can attack another out of the blue just because they think they are more deserving of something. These days it’s simply hard to sing only about love, friendship and escapes into imaginary worlds. “I’m Done With You” is about an anger and frustration!”

Here is the standard track-listing for the album:

RIVERSIDE – “ID.Entity” (53:11)

Tracklist:

1. Friend or Foe? (07:29)

2. Landmine Blast (04:50)

3. Big Tech Brother (07:24)

4. Post-Truth (05:37)

5. The Place Where I Belong (13:16)

6. I’m Done With You (05:52)

7. Self-Aware (8:43) 

The bonus material appearing on “ID.Entity” includes the instrumental tracks “Age of Anger” (11:56) and “Together Again” (06:29) as well as “Friend or Foe? (Single Edit)” (05:59) and “Self-Aware (Single Edit)” (05:29). 

The album will be available in the following formats:

–        Ltd. Deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook 
(Disc 1: Album, Disc 2: All 4 bonus tracks, Blu-ray: All main 9 album tracks in Dolby Atmos, 5.1 and 24bit HighRes Audio mix versions)

–        Ltd. 2CD Mediabook (Disc 1: Album, Disc 2: All 4 bonus tracks)

–        CD Jewelcase

–        Deluxe Digital Album (Including all 4 bonus tracks)

–       Digital album 

The album’s vinyl version comes as Gatefold 2LP (With the bonus tracks “Age of Anger” and “Together Again” on Side D) in the following variants:

–        Black vinyl: All outlets

–        Orange vinyl: All outlets

–       White vinyl: 500x copies via JPC & Burning Shed

–        Yellow vinyl: 500x copies via EMP & Just For Kicks

–        Sky Blue vinyl: 600x copies via Laser’s Edge & CM Distro/Webshop Europe

The pre-order for “ID.Entity” in its various formats also starts today here:
https://riverside.lnk.to/IDEntity

“ID.Entity”, an album that extends and expands RIVERSIDE’s characteristic sound, but all in a revamped and more dynamic formula, follows 2018’s widely acclaimed ‘Wasteland’ album, which entered the charts in Germany at # 13, The Netherlands at # 28, Switzerland at # 23, Austria at # 39, UK at # 83, Finland at # 30, France at # 97, Czech Republic at # 59 and Poland at # 1. 

Most recently, RIVERSIDE released the special 20th anniversary Digital Single “Story of My Dream”, which can be checked out in a video clip directed by Tomasz Pulsakowski / Sightsphere here: https://youtu.be/-s7fedFOP88


Additionally, RIVERSIDE also released two digital “best of” compilations to showcase the comprehensive and rich back-catalogue from across the last two decades of band activity. Featuring material all especially remastered by Magda and Robert Srzedniccy (Serakos Studio) for this occasion, “Riverside 20 – Vol.1, The Shorts” includes 19 tracks and “Riverside 20 – Vol.2, The Longs” includes 14 songs. Both individual “Riverside 20” compilations as well as a bundle are available here: 
https://riverside.lnk.to/Riverside20

Riverside – Live 2023:
15-16. April 2023 Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Prognosis Festival
22-23. April 2023 London (UK) – Prognosis Festival 
https://www.prognosis-festival.nl/

More RIVERSIDE live show announcements and further details about “ID.Entity” coming soon…

RIVERSIDE line-up:
(From left to right on photo by Radek Zawadzki)
Michał Łapaj – keyboards and Hammond Organ
Mariusz Duda – vocal, bass
Maciej Meller – guitar
Piotr Kozieradzki – drums

‘Photogenic Love’ – New Single From The Fierce And The Dead Released Today!

Released today and described as heavy psychedelic pop, Photogenic Love is the 3rd single from the upcoming 4th Fierce And The Dead album (out early 2023). This track brings to mind Faith No More, Tame Impala, Smashing Pumpkins, LCD Soundsystem, Flaming Lips, Gorillaz and MGMT and once again features vocals from TFATD bassist Kevin Feazey.

TFATD guitarist Steve Cleaton says of the release “I think this track is a good example of the creative process we used on many of the newer songs. The circumstances of the last couple of years, of course, meant that we couldn’t practice together that much. Rather than let this get in the way of writing new material, we decided to employ wholly different methods, and often different instruments, than we have done in the past. I really enjoy playing this one, the melodies stand out, and I think kev did an excellent job on the singing!! I hope listeners like it too!!”.

Stuart Marshall, drummer added “The song covers a fair amount of ground in terms of sonic dynamics. Evolved during a new online writing process, that collaboratively evoked different influences from genres including, 70’s rock, 80’s pop and post rock. It’s a vocal ear-worm and a song we hope to hear people singing along to at shows”.

Listen to the track here:

You can buy the new single here:

▶︎ Photogenic Love | The Fierce And The Dead (bandcamp.com)

A big departure from the band’s previous sound, I think this is a fantastic new direction and sounds like 90’s pop mixed with fuzzy psychedelica, almost like A-ha met with the Gorillaz and asked Billy Corgan to join in the fun. It sees The Fierce And The Dead taking the next step in their journey and is, to my ears anyway, bloody fantastic and their best song yet!

“You ain’t progressive if you ain’t progressing, innit…?”

GLASS HAMMER PREMIERS NEW VIDEO WITH FANS ON BOARD – All Alone Video Includes Cameos and Fan Reactions

Glass Hammer’s Steve Babb put out the call two weeks ago for fans that would like to video their first reactions to All Alone, track number four from the band’s new album, At The Gate. 

“Our fans are very loyal,” says Babb. “It seemed like a fun idea to include them this time! There are a few cool cameos as well; Jon Davison (Yes), Jon Beagley (Life In Digital), Dave Kerzner (Sound Of Contact), Prog-rock reviewer Pete Pardo (Sea Of Tranquility), and more.

All Alone is one of our heavier tunes, but there’s plenty of progginess in the track. The rhythm is really infectious—which I thought made it a good song for reaction videos. Heads are bobbing non-stop throughout!”

Vocalist Hannah Pryor fronts the band on All Alone, with some help from Steve Babb, whose vocals bookend the song.

You can order the album from the band’s website here:

Glass Hammer official website

Phot credit: Julie Babb.

The Fierce & The Dead – Photogenic Love released on 21st October via Spencer Park Music

Described as heavy psychedelic pop, Photogenic Love is the 3rd single from the upcoming 4th Fierce And The Dead album (out early 2023). This track brings to mind Faith No More, Tame Impala, Smashing Pumpkins, LCD Soundsystem, Flaming Lips, Gorillaz and MGMT and once again features vocals from TFATD bassist Kevin Feazey.

TFATD guitarist Steve Cleaton says of the release “I think this track is a good example of the creative process we used on many of the newer songs. The circumstances of the last couple of years, of course, meant that we couldn’t practice together that much. Rather than let this get in the way of writing new material, we decided to employ wholly different methods, and often different instruments, than we have done in the past. I really enjoy playing this one, the melodies stand out, and I think kev did an excellent job on the singing!! I hope listeners like it too!!”.

Stuart Marshall, drummer added “The song covers a fair amount of ground in terms of sonic dynamics. Evolved during a new online writing process, that collaboratively evoked different influences from genres including, 70’s rock, 80’s pop and post rock. It’s a vocal ear-worm and a song we hope to hear people singing along to at shows”.

Biography:

The Fierce And The Dead formed in London in 2010, with all 4 members originally from Rushden, Northants. They mix in elements from psychedelic rock, old metal records, post-rock, prog, broken analogue synths and shoegaze. Their music has been championed by Kevin Cole of KEXP, Stuart Maconie on BBC 6 Music and Steve Davis on his Interesting Alternative Show.

They released their breakthrough 3rd album The Euphoric in 2018 via BEM records which was Classic Rock Magazine’s Prog Album Of The Year and 8th in Prog Magazine’s critics choice. Prog magazine included them in their 100 Prog Icons and they have appeared ranked highly in the magazine’s Readers Poll for multiple years and categories, although the band never considered themselves to be deliberately prog. Pre-COVID headline shows in Manchester and London sold out months in advance.

They have toured with Hawkwind, Big Business, Dave Lombardo, Crippled Black Phoenix, Evil Blizzard and Monkey 3 and at festivals in the USA, Europe, and the UK including Freak Valley, Prognosis, Arctangent, HRH, Kozfest, Ramblin Man and Rosfest. 2022 dates have included festivals in the UK, Holland and Italy. They have released 3 studio albums alongside 4 EPs and 3 live albums.

FROST* launch video for ‘Skywards’ ahead of November 2022 UK tour dates

Frost* are set to hit the road in the UK later this year, for their much anticipated live-return. The band will be celebrating the release of their 2021 album ‘Day And Age’, and in advance of these tour they have launched a brand new video for the track ‘Skywards’. Watch it now here: 

Jem Godfrey comments: “It will have been 5 years and 3 days since we last played in the UK when we go onstage in Wolverhampton on November 27th so we figured we’d do something special. To that end Craig Blundell has re-joined the band and we’ll be playing Milliontown, Black Light Machine, Hyperventilate and a few other classics from the repertoire to celebrate alongside a good chunk of the new album. It’s going to be a lot of fun.” 

The full list of dates is as follows: 

Nov 2022

 Sun 27th Wolverhampton Steel Mill

Mon 28th Edinburgh Queens Hall                 

Tue 29th Leeds Brudenell Social Club

Wed 30th Bath Komedia                                   

Dec 2022

 Thu 1st London Islington Assembly Hall 

Tickets available from MyTicket.co.uk

Watch the previously released videos from ‘Day And Age’ below:

‘Day And Age’: https://youtu.be/RmiAmW3sgHs

‘Terrestrial’: https://youtu.be/wda09d-QdUk

Island Life: https://youtu.be/gT_RH_pKQFk

Frost* returned in 2021 with ‘Day And Age’, the band’s fourth record and first new studio album in five years. It features Jem Godfrey joined by John Mitchell & Nathan King, as well as 3 guest drummers: Kaz Rodriguez (Chaka Khan, Josh Groban), Darby Todd (The Darkness, Martin Barre) & Pat Mastelotto (King Crimson, Mister Mister). The album also features actor Jason Isaacs. 

 ‘Day And Age’ was recorded over the course of 2019 and 2020, featuring 8 tracks and striking cover artwork by Carl Glover of Aleph Studios (Steven Wilson, Marillion, Steve Jansen). The album is available on Limited 2CD (including a bonus disc of instrumentals), Gatefold 180g 2LP + CD (with etching on Side D), and as Digital Album. Order now here: https://frost-band.lnk.to/DayAndAge

Frost* was formed in 2004 by keyboard player and singer Jem Godfrey, Released in 2006 the band’s debut album “Milliontown” was an instant success and is regarded by many as a classic in the modern prog rock genre featuring John Mitchell on guitar, John Jowitt on bass and Andy Edwards on drums. The band quickly followed it up with “Experiments In Mass Appeal” in 2008, in many ways the antithesis of “Milliontown” featuring a much more stripped back sound, more concise songs and a new band member and singer in the form of Dec Burke. 

The live album “The Philadelphia Experiment” followed in 2009 and the a long gap followed before 3rd album “Falling Satellites” was released in 2016 with a new line-up of Nathan King on bass and Craig Blundell on drums, plus returning guitarist and singer John Mitchell on guitar who also co-wrote much of the album with Jem Godfrey.