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Pop punks YOUNG ENOUGH have been around for a while, releasing their debut single, with an EP in the works currently. They hope to head out playing shows in the fall, with more music making to take place too. The band chats of this below.

So there’s 5 of us. Julien’s the drummer and an absolute machine behind the kit. Fast, precise and dedicated. He’s the kind of guy who will hear mistakes nobody else hears. Then there’s our rhythm guitarist Nicolas. Probably the busiest because he’s in two other bands (Lucky Trolls and Chump) as well as ours. He’s also been on multiple tours with his bands so we look to him for guidance on those things. Our lead guitarist Jon is the brains behind the operation. He got everyone together and is also a social media wiz. Which is more important than we wish it was, but having someone who know how to properly use it is a huge boon to have in the band! Then there’s Francois (or Fafa for short). He’s the bassist and also an absolute machine. Definitely the hottie of the band. And then there’s Pieter, the singer and latest addition.  So the project started a good 2 years ago. Jon started it as a bit of a passion project. All of us have always been fans op pop punk, and pop punk has had a huge influence on all of us and who we are as musicians and people. So we all thought “fuck it” let’s start playing pop punk in our 30s! 

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Well exactly because we’re all in our 30s (and one of us in our 40s. We’ll let you guess who) one of the first reactions we get is “aren’t you guys too old to be playing that kind of music” to which we reply “nope. We’re Young Enough”. Hence…..

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

So we’re actually a bit all over the map of Belgium but most of us our located in the SE of the country. Where the industrial heartland of the country used be. Pieter is actually based on the opposite end of the country more towards the NW of Flanders. There’s actually a whole bunch of locals bands! Here’s a few:

Ocean Encounters

Skanda

Unbeliever

Lucky Trolls

Glassland

Chump

And maybe, just maybe, you’ll see some familiar faces in those bands…….

4. How would you describe your style?

We’ve been tossing around the term “pop punk revival” although would it be too presumptuous to call it that? Well Fuck it! It’s pop punk revival!! (we all chuckled). We take everything you love and hold dear from those tunes in the early ‘00s and put it through a modern ringer. Take that old-school pop punk feeling, add in some left-over teenage angst, add some more beefy guitars, a good breakdown, an easycore chugga chugga in there somewhere, maybe some well placed screams and voila! Something new but familiar all wrapped in a toasty lyrical blanket of existential crisis and that’s us!

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We’ve just released our first single “HumanVirus” and its music video at the beginning of August and the feedback we got was just absolute insanity! We’ve got two more songs and corresponding music videos on the way, and then shows shows shows!!

Combined I think the band has over 75 years of experience. We’ve all been in bands and projects of varying sizes so we’ve racked up a bit of know-how about what it takes to keep putting out material. So you can expect us to keep up a high level of content production from music to videos and vlogs etc.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Together with the EP we’ve put together a solid live set of songs as well and in those are the seeds for the next EP and maybe even the start of an album! But first it’s the two next singles and music videos!

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Hell yeah! We’ve been grinding hard to get our tunes onto a stage and we’re getting close! At the moment of writing this mid-November is shaping up to be slam packed with shows! 5 in a single week. We’re talking Monday-night shows! I hesitate to say the word “good” but if anything “good” came from this pandemic it’s that the next few months the demand for shows is going to be absolutely insane!

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We’d love to get the album-tour-album-tour-.... machine running. To be able to make a living off of this would be an absolute dream come true. Other than that we just want to make music and play it on stage. We’re in it for the love of the music primarily, anything else is just a bonus!

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

All the usual's! YouTube, Spotify, Deezer (does anybody use Deezer?!) iTunes... Anywhere you can find music online, and we’re in the process of printing the EP onto CDs so all y'all old-school people can buy physical copies of the tunes! We thought about Vinyl but the songs weren’t mastered for vinyl so it wouldn’t do it justice!!

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

You know that feeling you get when you hear a song from so long ago that you don't actively remember the lyrics, but they sort of just tumble out of your mouth? This pocket of bliss and joy explodes in your limbic system that zaps you back to a time where those songs were the only thing that truly understood how you felt? 

That hope for the future that the turn of the millennium brought with it? Well that feeling is our fuel. And if you're thinking "Damn you're right. That shit was 21 years ago!  When the fuck did I get so old?!". We're here to tell you you're NOT old. You're young enough. We're Young Enough.

Unique go getters RUN BROTHER RUN has a blending of styles with their music. Since forming, they have released their debut EP, with a follow-up EP expected up next. The band has a lot more in-store coming up and talks of it below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Run Brother Run at this minute is one man me, Stesh. After years of being in various bands I decided in 2019 to leave my old band and think about what I wanted to do musically. I had played a lot of different styles of bands over the years from pop punk, ska, grunge, metal, punk rock and a bit indie, but always felt that when I wrote songs, they never ended up being the way I had in my head for various reasons. In 2020 I started to write again but as the world went into lock down, I realized that a full band would be impossible I decided that I was going to do it all, Drums, bass, guitars vocals etc. It was much a way to challenge myself musically as it was to finally create songs which were 100% my feeling and thoughts. 

While writing and creating and sending off for feedback to friends in bands I realized that one day I will want to get this music out not just on the internet or cd etc but to a live audience once things start to get back before the world stood still and here we are and things are moving forward with the to make RBR a live band and it will be exciting to be on stage again as that is my second home and where I feel like I can be my true crazy self.  

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Run Brother Run was not the first name I can up with for this project but I’m an avid reader of true crime and one of the books I had just started reading was a book called “run brother run”. Its about Charles Harrelson a hit man and father of Woody Harrelson the actor, great book and worth a read. I just felt the name RBR matched the feelings I was having went writing, being stuck in a house with the same thing everyday sometimes you just want to run away, so it all kinda fitted together.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Newcastle upon type, the music scene in Newcastle in my opinion has always been good, but its had its ups and downs. Some great bands have come from around here and there is some good newer bands like Dunes but I think we have lost quite a few bands due to the pandemic that after such a long time have parted ways. 

4. How would you describe your style?

I’m a punk rocker at heart it was the first music I truly connected with when I was young but through the years I have listened to so much that you can hear the influences of post hardcore, emo, metal, hard rock and even pop and indie in there. Its something unique. 

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

I initially released to demo singles which got some good radio play and feedback but I have just released the debut EP – EP VOL 1: Attack of the Doom Cat. 5 tracks of energetic and powerful songs.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Now the EP 1 has been completed I have already got 4 tracks written for the next EP, I usually write between 7 and 9 demos and choose the best 5 from that I feel all work together and finish off the parts before mixing and sending off to master. 

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Not yet but its coming, oh its coming.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

The same plan as most bands, play live record and enjoy time with friends and people. It sounds clichéd when people say I’m in this for the music but for me I am, I love playing, writing and performing on stage, if you don’t love those things don’t be in a band. 

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Well the EP will be released to all the usual streaming places so you can hear it on there and buy it from the usual places like iTunes etc but I also have a bandcamp where you can get a physical CD if you have a CD player haha.

https://rbruk.bandcamp.com  

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

I think I would like people to feel like they want to move whether that would be a head bob or foot tap or jumping around the room like a crazy fool, if you can get people to move to your music your doing something right is my thoughts.

Elemental band SOULS EXTOLLED have a single and two records out there, with another single expected out real soon! Some shows are also expected come the fall and into the next year as well. The band talks of their content and their future ahead.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Zach Black, a singer-songwriter and guitarist from Honolulu birthed the idea for Souls Extolled during his sophomore year at the University of Texas in 2014. However, the project didn’t take solid form until early 2019 when Black’s path crossed with that of bassist JP Ortiz and drummer Joe Valadez, both Austin music scene veterans. After only a few jam sessions Black saw the trio’s potential and spontaneously pitched his vision to them for Souls Extolled. And the rest as they say, is history.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

One of Zach Black’s early mentors in the Austin music scene, Greg Maneikis, had discovered him playing at various open mics and was one of the first believers in the young talent. He not only helped the band in its early stages with everything from booking to appearing with them during performances as a masked hype man, but he also came up with the name of the band. A lyricist and poet himself, Maneikis came across the word ‘Extolled’ and was reminded of Black’s intense existential songwriting style. He resolved shortly thereafter that ‘Souls Extolled’ was the perfect name for Black’s eventual rock band, and Black agreed wholeheartedly.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Souls Extolled has the great privilege of calling ‘The Live Music Capital of the World’ their home city. Even despite the gut-punch the scene took this past year, its altogether still expansive and thriving! There’s an abundance of opportunities for bands in Austin from awesome places to play, to great studios and practice spaces, to local publications, shows, and organizations that do a lot to support and promote local artists. Most importantly, Austinites love their local music scene and make up the greatest fan base any artist could as for! As such, there’s an enormous quantity of bands here, and it never ceases to amaze the guys how good everybody else is! You’d be hard pressed to find an Austin band that isn’t worth a recommendation.

4. How would you describe your style?

This is a difficult question for them to answer, as within rock they’re genre smashing like crazy! You could say that they’re blending various elements of classic rock and metal with grunge and ska punk, and some indie rock in there too. The intense existential vibes laced throughout the music and lyrics is certainly a big part of it as well. Altogether their goal is to create the next evolution of rock by incorporating and fusing their favorite sub-genres in a way that is hopefully novel, but also familiar and awesome!

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

They’ve got two records out and a single! The first record ‘Follow the Ghosts’ is more raw, and so doesn’t blend the sub-genres as liberally between songs. As such the songs vary quite a bit, but the band loves the way the album flows and is proud of it as a worthy starting point. Their second record ‘Seraphic War’ is definitely a concise step forward as it blends the sub-genres more consistently throughout the songs and is a clear concept record. With ‘Seraphic War’ they definitely feel like they’re finding their sound! Finally, they have a fun ska-punk single out called ‘Rabbit Hole’, which is really a relief from their usual intensity. Overall though, it’s safe to say you can usually expect high-energy, dark rock n’ roll from Souls Extolled.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

They sure do! They’re going to release another single, ‘The Crucible’, in October with a music video, and then next year will be dropping one single per month cumulating into their third record!

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

They’ve got some great shows going on in Texas throughout the rest of the year and are in the process of planning tours to the West Coast and Northeast in 2022.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Their plan is just to keep going! They do this for one reason and one reason alone: because they love it! They just want to keep having these awesome experiences and having fun, and if they work hard and they’re lucky, they hope it’ll continue to get more and more awesome. With the year they lost to the pandemic they’ve been an active band for less than two years, so there’s a lot they haven’t done yet. Lots of boxes to check, and they’re looking forward to the ride!

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

It’s on all the major platforms, but the guys tend to push Spotify the most. As far as buying Bandcamp is great, and merch through the website. As ‘Seraphic War’ is largely about social justice, the band donates all revenue from its sales and streams to Police Oversight Project in Austin. They try to be on any and all platforms they’re aware of as they deeply appreciate folks listening and supporting, and want them to be able to extoll their souls on their preferred platform.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

There are still people out there who believe rock music can change the world. That’s Souls Extolled. 

Post rock band SAVES THE WITCH have their debut album this past summer, including a remix off it as well. All new songs are already ready to go for the next album expected soon! But beisdes those, this band just wants to get out there, continuing building a following and see where it leads next. The band discusses all of this below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Well, I started as a drummer many years ago. I was in and out of a few bands before I transitioned to mainly playing guitar and singing. When I played drums I was in heavier bands it seemed like, and over the years I had mellowed out a little and was playing some singer songwriter type stuff. Eventually I fell into the guitar pedal rabbit hole, and this project was born partially out of that. I was experimenting a lot with Post Rock stuff which I've always loved. Originally I was doing it to pass time because I was waiting to connect with some guys I used to play with. We had plans to collaborate remotely during COVID. It never ended up happening, and this project very quickly started feeling like home to me. I just remember recording the first song, “Voices”, and thinking of what a leap it was for me personally and musically. It meant so much to me that I wanted to find the right lyrics, but I couldn't find the right words. I had I guess a realization that sometimes in life words can't describe how you feel really, so I left that one as an instrumental. But it happened with song after song. I didn't set out to be instrumental, but it just happened that way. Far as members, it's just me. 

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

A lot of people comment on the name! I'm glad they like it. It was born out of this idea that we should accept each other for who we are. We shouldn't tear someone down just because they are different. 

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

I'm in Southport North Carolina. Beautiful little town. The music scene has a lot of variety because I'm in driving distance of Wilmington, NC and Myrtle Beach SC. Southport itself has a lot of great artists. There is a lot of cover band at the bar type stuff as well, Nothing wrong with that either. 

4. How would you describe your style?

Post Rock probably describes it best if I had to choose one genre. There are some shoegaze and blues elements too, and some heavier rock. Progressive Post Hard Rock Blues? (laughs)  We could probably talk genres all day. 

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Released the debut album “Elements of Alchemy” in June, and released one remix from it.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Right now a new album is pretty much finished. I have all the songs, all mixed and good to go. It's just a matter of mastering them and getting the art and everything together. 

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Until I grow some extra hands and feet I can't play many shows right now. I will eventually try to incorporate some acoustic versions maybe that I could meld together but I'm not there yet. 

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Well the new album I mentioned will be released at some point, other than that there is a lot of living in the moment. I've met a lot of great other artists doing this and I'd like to keep at that. I just want to keep playing, sharing, and celebrating music with all these wonderful people I've come in contact with. 

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

SavestheWitch.com has links to all the streaming, bandcamp, social media, and merch stuff. I'm sincerely thankful for anyone who checks it out. 

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

I truly and genuinely just hope that people like some of the stuff. It all means a great deal to me, and it means something to me; but a cool thing about instrumentals is that it's open totally to interpretation of the listener. It can mean whatever to you. I think that's cool.

Heavy metal punks PISSING RAZORS have loud aggressive ferocious styling groove type of sound, which have lead them to release an array of content, including an all new release out this fall! They want to tour in support of said release, and continue to just create more music and play as much as possible too! The band chats about all of this and more below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members?

Pissing Razors is the brainchild of Eddy Garcia and Mat Lynch formed in 1994, with Danny Garcia (Eddy’s brother) and Dave (Loco Pelon) McNutt infusing groove oriented heavy metal with punk rock. After performing and recording a few demo tapes Loco Pelon would exit the band and Joe Rodriguez would enter the fold in 1996 and recorded Psycho Punko Metal Groove which was released independently. Danny Garcia would leave the band and was replaced by Rick Valles. After touring extensively in support of Psycho Punko Metal Groove, Pissing Razors would eventually get signed to Noise Records and release two records Pissing Razors and Cast Down the Plague with the line-up to include Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch, Joe Rodriguez and Rick Valles and tour extensively in Europe and the US. In 1999 we would see the line-up change with the departure of Mat Lynch and replaced by Cesar Soto. In 2000 would bring another line-up with the departure of Joe Rodriguez replaced by Jason Bragg. We would continue to tour and yet another line-up change would occur in 2002 with the departure of Jason Bragg and Cesar Soto. Both members would be replaced by Andre Acosta and Mat Difabio. In 2004 we would see the eventual hiatus of Pissing Razors after the release of Evolution, the last record released by the band until 2014 when original members Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch and Joe Rodriguez would reunite and team up with Geo Gomez to complete the line-up, Rick Valles was asked to participate in the reunion but declined due to family commitments and remains an integral part of the history of this band. Pissing Razors has since toured in 2018 and released two singles in 2019, and for 2020 we released a cover of Nailbomb’s Wasting Away https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf44q-Gu5-Y. We are currently putting the finishing touches on our first full length album in 17 years titled Eulogy Death March. 

Pissing Razors discography:

Psycho Punko Metal Groove-1996 (Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch, Joe Rodriguez, Danny Garcia)

Pissing Razors-1998 (Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch, Joe Rodriguez, Rick Valles)

Cast Down the Plague-1999 (Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch, Joe Rodriguez, Rick Valles)

Fields of Disbelief-2000 (Eddy Garcia, Joe Rodriguez, Rick Valles, Cesar Soto)

Where we come from-2001 (Eddy Garcia, Rick Valles, Cesar Soto, Jason Bragg)

Live in the Devil’s Triangle (live)-2003 (Eddy Garcia, Rick Valles, Cesar Soto, Andre Acosta)

Evolution-2004 (Eddy Garcia, Rick Valles, Andre Acosta, Mat Difabio)

Eulogy Death March-2021 No release date as of yet to include in the line-up (Eddy Garcia, Mat Lynch, Joe Rodriguez, Geo Gomez)

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name? 

The origin of the name of the band was a simple trip to Juarez, Mexico contracting the clap by our infamous first singer Dave Loco Pelon McNutt who in many ways tried to emulate GG Allin and stated that when he tried to urinate it felt like PISSING RAZORS.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend? 

We are located in El Paso, Texas. The music scene is very diverse with lots of local bands from Metal, Rock, Pop, Rap, Country, and Mexican music. Definitely a lot to see depending on your musical pallet and very difficult to pinpoint just one of many that are here in our fine city. Every band here in town has something special to offer and deserves to be taken a look at so I recommend them all.

4. How would you describe your style? 

Loud aggressive ferocious heavy in punk and metal groove.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works? 

Since reuniting in 2014 the band has released two singles (Crushing Grip, Left for Dead) in 2019. In 2020 we released a cover of Nailbomb’s Wasting Away with a video. What we would like for everyone to expect is the creation a groove that is over the top both visually and musically that they can connect with. 

6. Do you have any new music in the works? 

We recently finished recording our first record in 17 years titled Eulogy Death March and is currently in the mixing and mastering process with Sterling Winfield, (Pantera, Hellyeah).

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out? 

Currently the band has a CD release party on October 1st, 2021 in our hometown of El Paso, Texas and a possible festival in San Antonio, Texas.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band? 

Our goal is to tour in support of the new album Eulogy Death March.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff? 

All of our music is available on all digital media outlets, i.e. Spotify, Deezer, Apple, Google, Amazon etc, our first independent release is the only release available on physical copy available directly thru the band on our official website and bandcamp see https://ffm.bio/aejagdr    and https://linktr.ee/pissingrazors.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

Besides our name and brand being around for more than 25 years, our dedication to the music that we created and the fans old and new that continue to support us is our driving force that keeps our machine going. 

Melodic death metalcore band OPHELLIA'S EYE have a debut EP out and about, with an album expected soon enough. The band talks of this EP, a bit of backstory about themselves, and where the band has planned next.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Ophelia’s Eye started out as a Project Penny and changed the name to Red Fire Dragon before our drummer Marco joined in 2017. At this time the band consisted of him, a guitarist and a bassist. When Marco met his school friend Remo at Greenfield 2017 by chance he instantly knew that he needs Remo in his band as this worked really fine during a band they played together in school. As Remo was quite busy during this time he needed a some time but after one year decided to give it a try, came to a rehearsal and decided to stay. At this point the band started out moving from covering songs to writing own songs.

The guitarist left in the beginning of 2019 but Michel (ex. Sweet Massacre) joined, which was really a lucky case: Michel has placed an add on Bandbuddy in 2016 that he’s a singer searching for a band. Nothing happened until 2019 Marco answered to his ad. Just at this time Michel has gotten his first child but as it fitted very well, he then joined. The band name once again was changed to the current name Ophelia’s Eye.

In August 2019 Corinne saw an ad from Ophelia’s Eye that they are looking for a guitarist. But since the ad was already from the beginning of 2019 and Corinne only played guitar for just under a year, she did not really believe that this would become something. But she was wrong: The answer from Marco came quick and only a week after Corinne came to a rehearsal and instantly knew that this was the right fit for her.

At this point we had the feeling that we now have the constellation to start out, recorded demos in our room very quick, built up our social media presence and organized our very first concert in February 2020 just before Corona measures took place.

But due to different goals we split up with our bassist just two weeks before our first concert and played without a bass player until we’ve found Sandro who joined in August 2020 and was really a lucky strike.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Our current name is based on the novel “The Sandman” from E. T. A. Hoffmann.

The story is about the traumatic childhood experience of the student Nathanael which makes its way to the surface through the surprising encounter with the weather glass dealer Coppola. He believes he recognizes the devilish lawyer Coppelius, who is responsible for his father's death. When the beautiful but quite Olimpia captivates him, he loses himself more and more between delusion and reality.

Olimpia is for us a characterization for the goal we want to achieve with our music:

In the course of the book, Nathaniel's perception of Olimpia changes as he observes her through a pocket lens in her room: "But as he looked sharper and sharper through the glass, it was as if moist moonbeams were rising in Olimpia's eyes. It seemed as if only now the sight was ignited; more and more vividly and vividly the glances flamed." (page 28)

And toward the end of the story, Nathanel is enchanted by Olimpia. He calls her "heavenly-beautiful," admires her every day, and is desperate and driven by longing.

We, too, want to "enflame" the audience, bring them to life and cast a spell over them. Through our songs the listeners should also lose the connection to reality - at least for a while.

To make the name sound rounder, Olimpia is called Ophelia in the band name.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

All of us live in cantons near to our rehearsal room which is in the canton Solothurn.

Normally when thinking of rock and metal mostly countries such as Scandinavia or the USA come to mind bur for sure not Switzerland even tough bands such as Gotthard, Eluveitie, Messiah or Celtic Frost had played a part in the early metal history.

But if you dig a little deeper you will find a lot of great underground bands which work hard, a sworn-in metal community and also one of the venues considered the best by international metal bands the "Z7".

But since Switzerland is rather small and metal seldom lands in the charts here, it is indeed difficult to take off as a band from here in Switzerland itself.

 Sure - we could highly recommend "Expellow", "Royal Desolation", "Sickret" or "I, Delusionist" which all deliver hard but still melodic metal in the range of Core as well.

4. How would you describe your style?

Honestly we ourselves have some difficulties to put us into any concrete Genre but we would describe us as a band with influences both from the Melodic Death Metal sound of Gothenburg as well as the early metalcore era of 2003.

For everyone of us, the inspiration comes from another band. Michel (vocals) is mostly influenced by old-school hardcore since he grew up with this, Remo (lead guitar) has more melodic influences such as Arch Enemy, Marco (drums) is especially inspired by Eskimo Callboy and Ghostkid, Corinne (rhythm guitar) loves rhythmic bands such as Meshugga or Goijra even if this not exactly influences our songs and Sandro (bass) loves complex and experimental stuff such as Ice Nine Kills.

So there is a lot of different inspiration around in our band and as we develop, probably you will be able to hear a bit more of those different inspirations out of our songs.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

At this point we released our first EP which contains 3 songs (https://opheliaseye.bandcamp.com/album/ep-fight-for-us). For us it is a key point for the recording to have a high quality, voluminous production inspired by the good productions of Parkway Drive, In Flames and Periphery. Of course this will remain a goal of all further productions as well to keep the standard. And of course, all of our songs will be loaded with a lot of energy as well but will bring a bit more variety to the album compared to the EP.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes: The next release will be in the beginning of October – the exact release date will be communicated through our socials next Monday, August 30th. This will be another song of ours combined with a story video.

In the end of October and beginning of November we will be back at SOS basement studio again to record a full-length album.

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Our next and first live concert after 11 months will take place on September 4th at Met-Bar in Switzerland and shortly after that on September 18th at Sedel in Switzerland.

We are also working on a small festival in Switzerland as well and a tour is in planning, but we can’t give away more regarding that at this point.

If possible it would be great to get booked at concerts outside Switzerland but due to Covid we think this will have to wait a bit.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

At this time we concentrate on releasing a great album and hopefully start playing concerts again after this long time of no live concerts. And of course our goal is to be able to play in other countries and at festivals in the long run.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

You can listen to our stuff nearly on every platform whereas Spotify, Deezer, Apple Music, YouTube Music and Amazon probably are to most well-known. Buying our stuff is possible on our Bandcamp account (https://opheliaseye.bandcamp.com) and our Homepage as well.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

The most important thing for us is to share our passion, transport emotions and release some energy and this is what a listener should remember – be it a melody which sticks or just a thing the listener felt during listening to our music.

Pop punk artist HALEY GRAVES has her debut EP out titled "She Thinks My Pop Punk Is Cringey", with a lot more newer music in the works! Some shows are also in the works, festivals, and other shows including radio shows! A full-length album is expected come the future, with more features as well. Find out what Haley herself says about all of this and more below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members

I'm a solo artist named Haley Graves. I'm originally from Maine but moved to Seattle two years ago for college at Cornish College of The Arts. I've been playing guitar for 10 years, performing for 5 years, and been writing my own music for 2 years and took it seriously a year ago.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

It's just my name

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

I'm based out of Seattle, WA. There's a huge push for underground music. It's very cool to not be into mainstream music out here. I highly recommend College Radio, King Youngblood and The Black Tones.

4. How would you describe your style?

Pop Punk.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

I have released one EP called "She Thinks My Pop Punk Is Cringey." Expect a lot of guitar, a lot of power chords and Jazz Harmony.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes I do have a bunch of new music in the works but a lot of it won't be released until next year!

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Currently I'm planning to play Bazooka Festival next week, I'm playing two Pride Events a few days later, The High Dive in Fremont and I'm working on booking a house show. I'm aiming to do some radio shows as well. 

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

I definitely want to release a full length album with a few features. 

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

On every streaming service. Still working on merch.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

I want people to feel empowered! I want people to feel good about themselves and feel like they can let out any emotion they want without shame! 

Variety go getters ELLIMIST have just released their self-titled album, with further plans on wanting to write more music, play shows, as long as they are happy telling tales is all that matters the most. The band discusses these matters below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Ellimist was created by Matt Danger Goorahoo (stage name Anthony); after being inspired by a chance re-reading of KA Applegate’s The Ellimist Chronicles, Matt wrote, recorded, and produced the album in its entirety.  Following this, Matt found current guitarist Mike Fitts through a mutual friend in the metal community; we are currently seeking a talented and reliable bassist and drummer to complete our live band! Matt is a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, and has performed in numerous metal acts (Forever Forbidden, Virus of Ideals, of note) and is currently the show-runner of the solo metal act ‘Matt Danger’. in his spare time, he enjoys drawing, writing, exercise, and is an amateur mixed martial artist, as well as maintaining a professional career. Mike Fitts is a relative newcomer to the metal scene; he enjoys craft brews, combat sports (though on the spectator side) and venturing out to metal shows, as well as stand-up comedy!! 

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Matt: Inspiration for the album was drawn from a chance reading of an old favorite book, the Ellimist Chronicles, an offshoot of the Animorphs series; the book is a relatively short read, but definitely captures the imagination. With the blessing of the Authors of the series (Katherine and Michael Applegate), I began writing! Initially planned as an album for Matt Danger, Ellimist quickly morphed into something entirely new; it was at the conclusion of recording the album that I knew Ellimist  HAD to become more than what I initially planned; it was then I began to  search for members to create the band; it has been challenging so far to find musicians who are both reliable and skilled enough to play the challenging passages in Ellimist; Mike has really pulled his weight and I’m excited to see how he contributes to the follow up album! That said, we are still hoping to find our permanent drummer and bassist soon, and begin to bring Ellimist to life the way only live music can! Interested parties can contact Ellimistband@gmail.com for more information! 

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Matt is based out of Storrs, Connecticut USA and Mike is based out of Boston, Massachusetts. The local scene in our areas can be a bit demoralizing at times, in honesty. Not sure if it’s a regional thing, or just the state of the local music industry as a whole, especially post-COVID. THAT SAID, there are some incredibly talented musicians here, and there IS a great community to be made; especially in the Boston area; CT is a bit more sparse at times in terms of great venues, however there are quite a few hidden gems, such as Cherry Street Station in Wallingford, and Strange Brew Pub in Norwich! As for local bands, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet many of the talented musicians in the region, and watch their growth from local acts to nationally recognized artists! There are too many to mention them all, however a few of our favorites include Orbiter, Acius, Pathogenic, Lame Genie VGM, Wilderun, Destination Dimension, and Framework! CT and MA have, in my honest opinion, some of the best bands in the world! One of my favorite past-times is to venture to new niche venues and check out the local musicians (often without ever hearing anyone on a set bill); I’ve discovered a lot of incredible music that way! 

4. How would you describe your style?

That is a difficult question to answer; we play a variety of styles; the beauty of Ellimist is that it floats from genre to genre, which gives us artistic license to explore different sounds and feels; I’ve never liked being stuck in a box, musically; This project allows us to explore a story in different genres, and presents a unique challenge in finding ways to connect everything thematically. Personally, I like to write relatively simple, straightforward riffs which suddenly explode in moments of complexity; this might be due to my habit of being a lazy guitarist, but also because I like the accessibility it brings to learning musicians; that said, there are some challenging passages on Ellimist that I STILL can’t play perfectly live, so I’m not scared of writing difficult music! Mike’s music taste is a little heavier than mine, and his guitar style shows it! That said, he’s proven to be a versatile player and can handle the wide stylistic range that Ellimist demands! We generally characterize our style as progressive metal, because we incorporate different time signatures, vocal styles, and themes into our music! Its challenging, but we love it! 

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We just released Ellimist on 31/7/2021, and the overall response has been positive! Prospective listeners can expect an episodic, imagery evoking album that keeps listeners guessing; our goal was to tell a story through the album in a way that hasn’t been done before, and I think we’ve achieved that! There is a bit of something for everyone on this album; from brutal, heavy riffs to levity, emotive passages and thought-pieces! I think casual and die-hard metal fans alike can enjoy this album for what it is! Especially those that like weird music! 

6. Do you have any new music in the works? 

We have a plan for the story of the next album, and a handful of riffs! We are hoping to fill out the band first and foremost, so that all members will be able to contribute to new music; that said, I very much have a vision for our follow up and the title is “Devastation of the Large Magellanic Cloud”! Where Ellimist explored Toomin’s journey, DOTLMC will explore Crayak’s ascension to power! We expect it to be at least 3x as heavy as Ellimist, and we are very excited to bring the riffs!

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out? 

We did have some touring plans, but they were made complicated by lineup shifts; once we have completed our lineup, we plan on supporting the album release live, and taking things as far as we can!

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Mostly, we want to write music; we’d love to be career musicians, though in the genres which we write, that can be a challenging endeavor. That said, as long as we can play shows, make music, and write stories, we are happy! We’d like to create a community for those who feel like they don’t belong; a place where they know they aren’t alone. That is one of the underlying themes of Ellimist, one in which we both can understand. I can’t say that I understand everyone, nor their struggles, but I can say that I know how it feels to feel like you don’t belong anywhere, to always be on the outside; we hope that with this album people will at the very least know that they aren’t the only ones who feel that way. 

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff? 

https://ellimist.bandcamp.com 

(Please consider buying the album on bandcamp, or a physical copy, which greatly helps support our vision!) 

https://www.Ellimist.bigcartel.com

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMHoMGM8OLA63BS_xX9ZguA

 Follow us: 

https://www.Facebook.com/Ellimistband 

https://www.twitter.com/ellimistband 

https://open.spotify.com/album/4ZUUzqiLferysR28S2TQU6

https://www.Tiktok.com/@ellimistband

https://www.Instagram.com/ellimistband

https://www.Reverbnation.com/Ellimist 

We are on all the streaming sites; 

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

You are not alone!

Swedish Death/Groove Metal band Odysseus released their new single "Hell Beneath Us". The release was recorded at "Black Madame Studios" and mixed/mastered by Kristoffer Svärd.

Check out the track here:

https://open.spotify.com/album/4Xq47SjPE6dqbaYdrFtpyv

Odysseus was formed at Köping, Sweden in 2018 by Christopher Humalajoki (Vocals, Guitars), Hampus Jansson (Guitars), Pontus Larsson (Bass) and Kristoffer Svärd (Drums). Since then the Odysseus have released 3 singles from their upcoming album that will be released next year.

Having been a fan of the series for a couple of years, getting into it in mid-2019, Nickelodeon and Spin Master’s Canadian hit pre-school children’s television program known as Paw Patrol has finally hit the BIG screen! After it’s 8 year run with two more seasons expected within the next few years, Paw Patrol has indeed made it’s debut upon movie theater screen’s and smaller streaming screens in the summer of 2021. 

The movie is set within the same world of the hit TV series, set in Adventure Bay with the gang of pups with Ryder, traveling away from there after a mission, to take on yet you guessed it another mission out in Adventure City! The movie’s introduction to it’s audience showcases the scenic views of the Paw Patrol world, with it’s rather stunning graphics with CGI technology. The backgrounds, landscapes, are flawless. Whilst the human characters and animals from the Paw Patrol pups themselves down to other random animals just look so sleek and clean cut. The graphic texture upon the animal’s fur, for one is just so realistic it’s awesome. Story line wise it is another adventure story just like an episode except longer of course. There is also some growth for the characters and some backstory for some as well. A lot of characters do make some cameo’s with some in-TV series references to the series too. Newer characters make themselves known being quite funny and highly entertaining. 

With this flick showcasing some laughable moments throughout, with very exciting entertainment from the Paw Patrol team as a whole. Lots of adventure and action through and through, with the effects of the CGI again being very jaw dropping at times upon that giant BIG screen. Whilst there may not be all the characters present, is does leave room for them to appear come a sequel if all goes well for this pack of pups. Otherwise the film overall is thrilling and adventurous for all ages really. Yes it’s main demographic is toddlers to children but adults like myself, and others in the crowd who was there with their family's and own array of kids of various age ranges, had an amazing experience seeing everyone’s favorite pups on that screen than just their normal sized devices at home if not on the go. 

If the film makes any connections to continuing within the actual show it is a bit unknown to some circumstances, but that does not mean it does not disappoint nonetheless. It is by far a fun, entertaining film that makes all smile with utter joy no matter how many times it is seen. Note the credits portion of the film did use 2D animation which was done nicely as well. Paw Patrol The Movie is just downright lots of fun and if you need to yelp for help to see it again and again so be it!

Indie rock pop mixer-uppers THE HALO TREES have an upcoming album coming this fall, but have released a previous album and an EP as well. As of now, no shows are in the works due to the current pandemic, but new music is being focused upon with that album and more expected soon enough! One of the band members Sascha Blach (vocals/guitar) discusses the band and their music coming soon.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

I've been a musician since the mid-90s and have played in countless bands, from pop to metal. I had the idea of making a deep melancholic rock sound sound like The Halo Trees for a long time. Since about 2015 I have written many songs for it in the home studio and developed our unique sound via trial and error. Various other musicians have come and gone since then. Currently, Stefan Helwig (drums) and I (vocals, guitar, synths) form the core of the band and work together with session musicians. 

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

I wanted a name that sounds beautiful, poetic and yet has a deeper meaning. This Halo Tree is deeply rooted in the earth, but its branches soar high into the sky. When viewed in the right light, one sees a halo that represents the unearthly, as it were. We regard the trees rather symbolically, because as you can see in the artwork of our last album, it can also be lanterns, masts or cranes.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are from Berlin. There is a very diverse scene here because it is one of the music capitals of Europe. But I can't say that there are many similar bands in our kind of music. We know a lot of musicians in different genres, of course, but then we are a bit of a loner. I can recommend Cosma Nova, a pop/rock band that I used to play in and that I still work with as a producer.

4. How would you describe your style?

Imagine deep, melancholic music with plenty of room for the voice and handmade instrumentation. A comforting sound universe, inspired by David Bowie, Editors, Mark Lanegan, The National or Nick Cave. A mixture of indie-rock, pop, wave and post-rock with many tom-toms, melodic basslines, atmospheric guitars, catchy violin and sonorous, warm vocals. 

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

So far, the EP "Time And Tide Wait For No Man" (2018) and the album "Antennas To The Sky" (2019) have been released. We care a lot for physical release, although that seems a bit outdated nowadays. A pure digital release doesn't satisfy me after having spent hundreds of hours in the studio for each album.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes. We are currently promoting our upcoming album "Summergloom", which will be released on October 8, 2021. We worked on the songs for a long time and think we could develop in every way - production, performance and songwriting. I think it's one of my best albums to date, and I'm very proud of it and I hope a lot of people will listen to it in October. Expect a release on cd and vinyl and also fan packages with shirts and lanyards. 

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

No, unfortunately not. The Covid situation makes any planning difficult or even impossible for us. We keep our eyes open and wait for the right moment. Meanwhile, our main focus is on the production of new songs.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Be the first band to play a concert in outer space? Or at the center of the earth? If that doesn't work, we'll just keep producing great albums. ;-) The third is already in the works and, with a bit of luck, will be released in 2022.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Our music is available in digital form on all major platforms such as Spotify, iTunes or Amazon, and we have done lots of videos that are all on YouTube. If you would like to buy physical products, you can visit our own shop at www.wintersolitude.de or find us at Bandcamp: https://thehalotrees.bandcamp.com.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

We make music that is melancholy and warm-hearted at the same time. Music that gives you a lot to discover, especially through headphones. Music that you can listen to again and again without being annoyed. I am sure that if you have some time, you will experience it that way too.

Pop punk artist KING FABBS has an EP out, with a new single expected within the next few months, with him at a work in progress at his debut album! His first live show just took place, with the next set of plans to be to play more shows and traveling! Find out what else he had to say about his music and more below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

The history behind King Fabbs is very straight forward. I am a solo Pop Punk artist from Calgary, Alberta, Canada! I write all my  music myself. I’m a solo act, but I’m not alone on this journey. My producer and my good friend Brennan Kennedy is very important to the process as he records, edits, mixes, and masters all my music. He also played drums on the record, as well as some synth/piano parts. I started writing the EP in January of 2020, we recorded it in September 2020, and I made my debut on July 2nd, 2021!

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

King Fabbs is a nickname I picked up for a short period when I was in high school. I decided to bring it back to life when I created my Instagram account several years ago, but it also felt like the perfect name to carry into this. 

“King” for me is like a mentality. It’s being the best person I can be every single day, it’s always giving 100% in everything that I do. It’s being selfless, and constantly reflecting on my humbling experiences. “King” is like a reminder to always be a good human. 

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

I’m from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and the music scene in Calgary is pretty diverse from my perspective. A lot of people here are big into country music, and we also have a big scene that’s into Blues, folk, and Indie music. An area in Calgary that’s called “Inglewood” is also known as the music mile. The music mile has live music almost every week in some of the pubs that go along the road. Some local bands I would recommend are Bellevue, Kate Stevens, and Silvering. 

4. How would you describe your style?

I would describe my style as a bit of a cross over between Pop Punk from the 2000’s, and some modern day Pop Punk. I do get into a lot different types of music as well. But I love music that is based out of the elements of rock. 

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

I have released a five song EP. I released an EP first because I want to give people a really solid impression of me. I plan to press on in this genre, while also collaborating with other artists inside or outside the genre of Pop Punk. Expect more music that has pop melodies and hooks, and a bright feeling to it.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

I have a single I’m going to be releasing in a few months. I’ll be announcing in a few weeks on what the exact day will be. I’m also in the planning stage of my first music video! I will have more details for that in the coming weeks. I’m looking into the future and trying to see when I can begin the process at a full length album! 

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

I just had my first live show on August 8th, 2021 at a venue in Calgary, Alberta called ContainR. Live shows are really coming back now so I’m looking out for opportunities to perform. I’m also looking into going on tour!

 8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

I want to be able to travel and play lots of shows, I want to be able to get to a point where I can create lots of full length albums and share it with the world. I also want to be able to collaborate with other artists!

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

My music is available on all streaming platforms, (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc) It can also be found on Soundcloud, my website, and Bandcamp. My music can be bought on those websites, and I’m going to be selling merch soon which will also be available on my website! 

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

I want them to remember how it made them feel and I hope I can create a positive and long lasting impression on them when they hear it for the first time. I hope the listeners can connect with the words and find their own meaning within each song.

Following the release of the previous videos for “Scarlet Cross” (the band’s first-ever Top 10 radio single at Active Rock), “Fields Of Bone” (the Andy Biersack directorial debut) and “Crimson Skies” (the animated continuation of the story established in the other 2 videos), Black Veil Brides are back with the 4th video in the saga. The video for “Torch” is the final installment in the initial Blackbird/9 story arc. “Torch” also marks the second time frontman Andy Biersack got behind the camera to direct a video for the band alongside longtime visual collaborator Patrick Fogarty. The video for “Torch” can be seen here: https://youtu.be/qyhJ7MRBOyo.

Following the recent announcement of their 15th studio album "A View From The Top Of The World", two-time GRAMMY-nominated and millions-selling progressive music titans Dream Theater have released the first piece of music from the album slated for release on October 22nd via InsideOutMusic / Sony Music. “The Alien” is the opener of the band’s upcoming album and showcases the energy the band had after reuniting to begin work on the new record. The song is now available via all streaming partners. An animated video for the track that clocks in at 9:32 is also available and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/V462IsOV3js.

Canadian Alternative/Hard Rock band Dead Defined released their new single "Rise and Stall". The song was recorded in Toronto, Ont at Voodoo Records Studio and the Official Music video was filmed by Luke Camozzi of Camozzi Films. 

The band founder Craig Ewan described the new single “I wanted to go back to my roots on this song, the early 2000’s hard rock type of vibes I grew up listening to. Bands like Three Days Grace, Nickelback, Papa Roach to name a few, and with those influences in mind I set to write a real banger when it came to this new release. I feel it’s one of the most creative and edgy songs I’ve written when it comes to capturing a big hooky chorus and that true American hard rock song structure that was so popular then and now. I’m excited to get this song out there and to hear the feedback, positive and negative”.

Check out the track from the links below;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OsUbCeTzdts

https://open.spotify.com/track/7FOWwpZpJEHMu6zXeLrSng

Single taken from SACRED OATH's album “Return Of The Dragon” due for release on November 19, 2021 via Wormholedeath worldwide! “Return Of The Dragon” is all the very best aspects of Sacred Oath metal in 10 new songs, each filled with powerful emotion and musicianship in a thunderous aural assault. Check out the track HERE.

Cinematic symphonic metal go getters AQVILEA formed not too long ago and are from Italy. The band has released their debut album, in which they are pretty confident about. The band plans to take part in a summer fest, alongside a variety of other performers. The band discusses of this fest and a bit about themselves which can be found below.

1. So how did you get involved with being a part of the "Bloody News Online Fest: Insane Summer Gathering 2021"?

It was a great pleasure for us to be contacted by the festival manager Kostya Aronberg through our Facebook official page and we take this opportunity to thanks him again for giving us this chance. We are honored to participate in this international event with such amazing bands.

2. To those who may not be familiar with your band, can you give us a brief summary?

Aqvilea is a symphonic metal band from Italy created around 2015 by composer, arranger and multi-instrumentalist Pier Lando Baldinelli: the first full length Beyond the Elysian Fields, recorded between Italy and Sweden and produced by Fredrik Nordström, has been released on November, 20th, 2020 for the new-born label Saturnia Records. The band’s name recalls the ancient Roman city of Aquileia, founded in 181 BC as a military colony, and later became a prominent city of the Empire. The whole project is dedicated not only to the origins of the city but more generally to the celebration of the lost beauty of Latin culture and mythology: a choral fantasy-historical romance set at the dawn of a new civilization, dedicated to the brotherhood of peoples and to the eternity of human passions.

3. How would you describe your style?

In a word: “cinematic”. We intend to be a sort of manifesto of cinematic symphonic metal: a tribute to the soundtracks of cinema masterpieces, from Ennio Morricone to Hans Zimmer, from James Horner to Two Steps from Hell. Our compositions are built around an imposing and evocative orchestral line, with seven strings rhythmic guitar a lower tone, preferring upbeat, and the lyric lines converge on the soprano voice. Aqvilea’s visual imagery is also influenced by Hollywood “peplum” movies, as well as by symphonic and gothic metal landmarks as Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir, and by Japanese Visual Kei style.

4. What have you release so far and how can someone find your material online?

Beyond the Elysian Fields is our first album – a 14 tracks full length. The album is released and distributed by Saturnia Records and is available worldwide in streaming and HQ digital download, while physical copies of CD (jewel case plus 16 pages booklet) can be ordered at our official shop: www.aqvilea.bigcartel.com. More generally, you can easily find all our production online just by typing “Aqvilea” on the search bar, just remember to use the “V”…

5. Why should someone buy your works?

We strongly believe in our album, in the work of composition, in the execution and in the production. We are confident that it is a work of great quality. However, personal tastes come into play: we don't expect everyone to like it. We certainly recommend it to those who love cinematic atmospheres, epic soundtracks, and to those who are sensitive to emotions, to the charm of history and symphonic music. 

6. How would you say you differ from other bands and artists on the scene?

There are several aspects to consider. There is the production, which certainly gives a distinctive mark to our whole work. We absolutely wanted to give Beyond the Elysian Fields a “Nordic” aspect, in order to resemble as much as possible the classic bands of Northern European metal in terms of sounds, mixes and atmospheres in general. Working with Fredrik Nordström has allowed us to make a very original album in this sense because it combines the symphonic metal genre with a death-melodic style production.

Then there is the composition, which in our case is totally devoted to the vocal lines, precisely to the vocality of the music, and to the orchestral bases which allows us to obtain that "cinematic" dimension of a soundtrack. These elements create a harmony that should be able to stay in the listeners' mind as much as possible, with the intention of leaving a long-lasting emotion.

Finally, if we look at the concept, the image and the "packaging" of the product, there is our history, there is Aquileia, there is ancient Rome, there is Virgil, there is Alexandria in Egypt ... a rather Mediterranean dimension.

7. What do you want to achieve as a band?

First of all we would like our music to convey our vision of a free and tolerant world, where everyone’s identity is valued and not erased. More concretely as regards our “career”, we would like to be recognized among the top European symphonic metal bands. We still have a long way to go because we are just starting out, but we work hard and aim high.

8. What does this next year have in-store for you guys?

We have several surprises… but our main goal is to release the second album, and we are already working on it.

9. Where can the fans and new comers find out more about you?

We have an official website, www.aqvilea.com, a Bandcamp account, and we are active on all the main socials as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter. We have a huge support from our label Saturnia Records and our videos are shared on Saturnia Records channel on YouTube. The best way to find out more about us, in any case, is listen to our music, available on all streaming platforms worldwide. 

10. Can you describe your band in just three words?

Cinematic – Metal - Opera

Our Links:

WEBSITE: www.aqvilea.com

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/aqvilea/

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/aqvilea_official/ 

TWITTER: https://twitter.com/AqvileA

VK: https://vk.com/aqvilea

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jaFoUya58LFugPJTiQeqe

iTUNES: https://music.apple.com/it/artist/aqvilea/1466657768?l=en

BANDCAMP: https://aqvilea.bandcamp.com/

REVERBNATION: https://www.reverbnation.com/artist/aqvilea

YOUTUBE:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2c4ssTmpfTUM5gE6y6-M4w

Punk rockers THE COOL TRICK have several album's and an EP out there, with more content in the works already. The band is hard at work rehearsing, writing, and just wanting to get back out there to play shows and keep continuing with their careers as musicians. The band chats about music and playing too.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

We are founded in 2013 in the east of The Netherlands in a little town called Neede. Tommy( Vocals/Guitar) and I (Teun, Bass/Backings) were classmates on the music school  Herman Brood Academie. We were instant friends and wanted to start a band together after trying out a couple of drummers we found the perfect match: Jasper, and everything clicked. Tommy writes most of the ideas and we give the finishing touch in the rehearsal studio. 

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

It sounded cool at the time.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend? 

We are all still living in the same small town Neede. We love it here although the scene is not big here. We mostly gig in bars and small festivals and that’s the way we like it. The scene in Holland is not  that big but we do have few great band like: The Reapers, Daydrinker, Tusky Etc. 

4. How would you describe your style?

We are an energetic punk rock band with a big love for bands like Descendants and Teenage Bottlerocket so that’s what you can expect ;).

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We released the albums: 2015 Loaded Gun, 2016 Ready For Take Off, 2018 This is now, and a EP With two songs, one of those songs was used for the after movie of Punk rock Holiday in Slovenia and the festival liked it so much they offered us a spot on the mainstage of 2020 but some pandemic screwed everyone. But we are still on the bill for 2022 so we are very happy about that.  

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes! We just finished our new album ‘’From The East’’ it is now in the final stages of mixing and mastering. We brought out our single ‘’Paradise’’ and made a beautiful video for it.  We are very proud of the whole album we really think its our best one yet. When it is finished it will be on Spotify just like our other albums are except for Loaded Gun. 

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

I hope we are at the end of the pandemic so we can get on stage fast. The last 2 years have been very hard because we missed it so bad. Playing shows and touring is the best thing in the world for us, we love it! So fare we have been to Germany, Czech Republic, Poland and England. We don’t have much planned ate the moment for obvious reasons. 

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We are still rehearsing every week to get better and to keep writing.  We want to play more with different bands all over Europe. Usually we plan one tour a year outside of Holland but the past two years that didn’t happen of course. Fame and money is not what we do it for (although money helps a lot). Playing live is the best thing there is because of the party you can make with the crowd so more more more ;). 

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

We got a lot of new merchandise in the works we worked together with a cool artist (serpent artwork) who designed very cool shirts for us and they will be available at our gigs soon. You can listen to us on Spotify and YouTube and you can find us on Facebook and Instagram. Just send us a message there if you need anything from us and we will reply ASAP. 

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

That they just heard a very tight and good sounding punk rock band with songs they will remember.  We want everyone to have a good time, that’s the most important thing. We are not a very political band, most of the songs are about love, party’s and breaking away from the ‘’norm’’.

Combining the likes of melodic, acoustic, indie, pop, rock and folk influence comes the band RIVER KNIGHT. They have their debut album "Grow", and a video of the song called "She Came Round". But not only are those releases out but the band is always writing all new music including currently with a follow-up album expected real soon. The band talks of their music and current covid-19 scenario. 

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

Formed in 2017 through mates hanging out and having jams. Darren Knight (guitars and vocals) started writing songs as a form of therapy after the passing of his wife Steph. Song writing became his way of not holding everything within. He asked long time friend and past bandmate Stone River (lead vocals) to join him on the songs. These jam sessions soon turned into performing for friends in Darren’s front room which in turn lead to gigging in pubs and venues in Southampton, Portsmouth and London, topped off with a slot at Victorious Festival 2019. Then Covid happened. So throughout lockdown, instead of gigging they sank their teeth into recording their songs. Darren had moved into the house of a good friend of the band, Jez Ross-Clyne, and in that house was a recording studio. So using that along with the recording facilities at Stone’s they were able to record their debut album – GROW. River Knight released GROW to the digital world on 25th June 2021 and have played a couple of festivals with more to come.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Nothing inspired. Quite simply the surnames of the band members.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Southampton, UK. Plenty of bands of multiple genres and venues, pretty thriving. Big Daddy Rap Beast, 60th Parallel, Georgie, South Coast Ghosts, Jimmy B and the Death Rattles

4. How would you describe your style?

Melodic acoustic indie pop with a rock and folk influence.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

The album "GROW" is the only music release from River Knight thus far. The band would hope that anyone listening can connect with the music and feel the flow so they can expect to be taken on a journey. There is also an indie video for their song She Came Round.

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

River Knight are continually writing new music. The 2nd album is already written and they will be recording it in the near future.

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

In 2021 River Knight have been mainly doing festival shows in the UK, with Wickham, Wildfest and Victorious coming up in August 2021.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

They will keep writing songs, keep playing gigs and gain friends along the way. Loving every second of it, and if people like it then who knows? River Knight don’t really plan but just take it as it comes.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Social media:

River Knight | Facebook

River Knight (@riverknight2018) • Instagram photos and videos

River Knight (@RiverKnight2018) / Twitter

River Knight - YouTube

Music:

Spotify

Apple Music

YouTube Music

Amazon Music

Deezer

Tidal

Bandcamp

Website/EPK:

River Knight - Spinnup

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

River Knight would like people that hear their songs for the first time to find something that resonates with them. They’d like people to engage with the lyrics, embrace the hooks and have them stuck in their heads for days. In a good way.

LEPER MESSIAH writes and records music that everyone can enjoy. With the recent release of their debut album, the band wants to push this release the most, especially with a few shows set for the fall already, wanting themselves to grow and each out there for all to come and see. The band discloses all of this below.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

LEPER MESSIAH started out as a David Bowie tribute band back in 2012, celebrating the then 40th anniversary of Bowie’s seminal Glam Rock project, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, with a grandiose Ziggy tour. Back then, we counted four band members: Per Henrikon drums, Øyvind on guitar, Peri on bass, and myself, Vidar on vocals. After two years of doing the Ziggy Stardust thing, we transitioned into an original rock band and started working on our own music. Peri is a kick-ass guitar player and we began searching for a new, dedicated bass player so that Peri could take on main guitarist responsibilities in the band. In 2015, we found our guy and added a fifth member to the band, Ignacy from Poland, rounding Leper Messiah off into a nice 5-piece rock act. Since then, we’ve been writing and touring our own original music, and after a Covid-19 delay, we’ve now just released our debut album, "FELL CREATURES", and are gearing up for an exciting tour to support our work.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

The name is taken from Bowie’s song, Ziggy Stardust, from the line that goes: “Makin’ love to his ego, Ziggy was sucked up into his mind, like a Leper Messiah.” That said, most audience members seem to think we got the name from Metallica. *laughs* 

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

LEPER MESSIAH is based in the city of Bergen, on the west coast of Norway. Bergen has a vibrant music scene with a lot of bands competing for attention. There are several music venues there, too, and a young population with a lot of college and university students, making it a quite good city for bands. The music scene is strongly tailored towards various genres of metal, though. There are many, many bands to showcase from Bergen, but to choose a few great and interesting ones:

--Vulture Industries is a weird and wonderful, theatrical, dark cabaret, progressive metal band with a unique voice and style, who never fails to deliver a must-see show that you’ll talk about for weeks and weeks thereafter. 

--SandmarX is an up-and-coming hard rock act with a huge sound and great, raw-power, female vocals. 

--Silver End is more of a melodic metal band, with a powerful stage presence and songs ranging from hard-hitting rockers to smooth power ballads. 

4. How would you describe your style?

We find that there’s nothing more boring than a rock band whose songs all sound exactly the same, so in LEPER MESSIAH we dip our toes in a lot of genres; with Leper Messiah, there is something for everyone. For the most part, however, our songs fit somewhere on the glam rock to hard rock spectrum, with the subject matter exploring the dark and the dangerous. 

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Our debut album, "FELL CREATURES", is out now, a classical 10-tunes rock record with great songs about difficult things and bad people. To paraphrase Tom Waits, we like pretty songs about ugly things, and that’s what you’ll get from Fell Creatures. 

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

Oh yes! Releasing the debut record makes us hungry for more, and we have several new tunes in the works. We expect to demo several of them at gigs over the next few months; exciting! 

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Yeah, it’s been a real drought with the plague and all, but things are starting to lighten up right about now. We’ve got a handful of gigs booked this fall, with more in the works. One of our favorite things to do is hosting the annual local RockFest here in Bergen, where we invite three underground bands to come share a stage with us for an all-night rock ‘n roll extravaganza! This year, we’re ferrying over a great psychedelic rock act from England – The Roz Bruce Infusion – and next year we’ll head over to the UK to do a tour with them there; that’s gonna be a lot of fun for sure! Also, we’ll take on Poland probably next year, and Florida sometime thereafter. Of course, we’ve got loads more plans, too, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. *wink wink, nudge nudge*

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Oh, we intend to keep growing as artists and reach out to ever new fans and markets, slowly spreading our art across Europe and beyond. After some touring, we’ll return to the studio and record that difficult follow-up album, before we hit the road again for new tours. But for now, we’re excited to be touring our debut record, to play it at great new locations and meet new fans and collaborators. Giging is, after all, the heart and soul of our business.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Right now, our merchandise is only available at our gigs, but we’ll set up an online store when we get around to it. Anyone out there just dying to get their hands on a LEPER MESSIAH t-shirt should reach out to us on https://www.facebook.com/TheLeperMessiahBand; do that, and we’ll figure something out. To listen to our music, you should check out our album Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7znRKVKPwbSzcACvatUJWV.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

We hope you’ll come away having experienced a strong, emotional story with some great rock ‘n roll sounds. We’d like to take you on a ride, and if you end up pondering the themes and tales our songs conveys, just as you start the record over again, well then that much better. Enjoy!

New wave and 80's synth pop mixers A PERMANENT SHADOW have a debut album out, with a new single coming soon, with even newer working's expected next year! The band discusses their music, start and where they see themselves next.

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

A Permanent Shadow is actually a one-man-project. My name is CP Fletcher and I am the vocalist and main songwriter. It’s fair to say it’s my brainchild, although I could not have pulled it off without my collaborators Albert Catala and Valen Nieto. They both play a pivotal role in terms of production and arrangements and play most of the instruments on my records. As for how the project came about, I used to be a drummer but one day got sick of playing other people’s tunes, so I decided to step up to the mike and try being a frontman myself. A Permanent Shadow is the first musical outing of my own songs (as a singer), although before that I used to perform with The Magic and Loss Orchestra, a Lou Reed tribute project.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

A Permanent Shadow refers to dark spots on the moon, but also to the fact that after the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima the shadows of people were burned onto the asphalt. As the music is rather dark and gloomy, I thought it would be a fitting name for the project.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

I am of Austrian origin but have lived most of my life in Barcelona, Spain. We share a rehearsal space with some of the big names in Indie Rock from Barcelona, of which I would mention the ubiquitous Love of Lesbian (who actually fill arenas in Spain and Latin America) and Hola Chica, whose drummer David has occasionally worked with A Permanent Shadow. The Barcelona scene is quite tiny but very active, not only in what concerns Indie but also in terms of Electronica and local styles such as Rumba Catalana and Catalan Rock.

4. How would you describe your style?

I would hope that our music doesn’t sound much like anything else, but when push comes to shove I’d say there’s a lot of references to 80’s Synth Pop and New Wave. I have been a fan of the Sacred Triangle of Bowie, Iggy, Lou Reed for many years, so I’m sure some of their influence bleeds into our music as well. Maybe we could sum it up as melancholic electro-tinged pop.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

We released the album “Songs of Loss” in September 2019 from which we also released a few singles in remixed or edited form. “Songs of Loss” as the title implies, is a musical cycle that deals with different types of loss. I am a trained grief counsellor, so the theme of loss and despair is something very prominent in my life and songwriting. Don’t expect any happy-go-lucky lyrics from me anytime soon! 

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

We are about to release a new single, “Shining Star”, in September, which will be followed by a further three singles and finally the second album “Humdrum” in March 2022. 

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

I know it doesn’t sound too glamorous, but as a solo artist touring can be a bit of a challenge financially speaking. I am still trying to work out how I can put on a full-band show without losing my shirt and pants. But yes, the aim is to bring our songs to the stage and play in front of as many people as possible. 

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

Lockdown allowed me to be quite productive, so I wrote two further albums which will be recorded and released over the next few years. The most imminent project though is the recording of a covers EP which will be out next year after the release of the second album. 

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Our songs are available on all digital platforms. A good entry point (literally) is our webpage www.apermanentshadow.com which contains all the relevant links. 

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

I hope the listener can appreciate that our songs are honest and heartfelt and that we love what we do. There is no calculated element to our music, it’s very intuitive and we don’t shy away from weirdness and oddness. That said, I’d like to believe that our music has enough memorable hooks and surprise elements for people to come back for more.