“This song is about survival,” explains vocalist and guitarist Tom Petito. “When destined to forge your own path in life you have to fight for it. You must never give in to opposition. Believe in your own abilities whole heartedly. Embrace taking risks and trust yourself relentlessly. Apply that mentality and the only person capable of stopping you from reaching your goals will be yourself. ”
Listen to the song on Spotify now:
“My Own Path” was produced by Nik Bruzzese and features guest vocalist Tom Accamondo (@senselesshc) “This release is special to us because we got to work with Nik Bruzzese, Tom Accamondo and Sean Ageman,” explains Petito. “We love filming with Sean because he brings his own innovative concepts to the shoot. He always does a phenomenal job bringing the best out of us. Tommy absolutely killed his vocal spot on this track. I’ve known Accamondo for a long time and watched his music career blossom with Senseless. So it’s a really nice treat featuring him on a Card Reader release. We love to push the boundaries of our sound. We’re stoked to give fans a new song with more animosity than ever before.”
The song is now playing across all digital streaming platforms. Along with the single the band has released a music video, directed by Sean Ageman (@washedupmedia) Listen to the single now on Spotify or on YouTube below:
Card Reader is an established Emo/Hard Rock band from
Long Island NY. The lineup features Dan Reynolds
(Drums), Marc Lambert (Guitar), Dan Boest (Bass) &
founder Tom Petito (Guitar/Vocals). The band’s debut
single “Familiar Voices” released back in February 2020.
Ever since Card Reader have spent their days pushing
new music and traveling the country. Playing everywhere
and anywhere across the northeast, midwest and as far
south as Cape Coral FL. Their new single “My Own Path
(feat. Tom Accamondo)” is the first single launched from
their upcoming sophomore EP “No Stranger” (Release
Date: 9/15/23). Produced by Nik Bruzzese (Man
Overboard) at Gradwell House Recording Studio. This
track offers a transformed aggressive sound that CR fans
have yet to experience. Featuring a hard hitting vocal
collaboration from Senseless frontman Tom Accamondo
(@senselessHC). Director Sean Ageman
(@washedupmedia) has also returned for his 3rd video
with the band. With plenty of experience & firepower on
deck, Card Reader stands ready to make their mark on
the music world this summer.
Card Reader Is:
Tom Petito (Guitar/Vocals)
Dan Boest (Bass)
Dan Reynolds (Drums)
Marc Lambert (Guitar)
Connect With Card Reader:
Lyrically, the track is all about closure. “I wrote this song at the end of a two month’s writer’s block after a breakup in July of 2022- as someone who tries to write almost everyday, a writer’s block lasting two months is as devastating as it sounds!” exlaims guitarist and vocalist Austin Gold. “Finally, I sat down and this poured out. For me, it granted me closure on the relationship- pondering the question, “Did I love her or just the way she made me feel?”. I sent the song to my band mates, mind you I was not expecting to even do this song with the band anytime soon since we were slated to go into studio to record our new EP “Echoes” literally the following week, but my bandmates all felt that there was seriously something there, and low and behold “Your Touch” became the single for the EP. Rob and Eric actually even learned their parts in studio while tracking!”
Fast forward through a tour and a couple of months later, and a chance meeting sparked a video to accompany the single. “I happened to meet an insanely talented NYU Film grad online named Haruka Yamakawa who wrote, cast and directed our music video with an amazing crew. I’m so grateful for everyone involved in this, this song to me feels like a break through and I’m so excited for it to be out in the world to share finally.”
Listen to “Your Touch” on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Rushing Spring is an emo influenced indie rock band formed in 2018 from New England. Influenced not only by modern indie and emo bands such as The 1975, Taking Back Sunday, The Killers, and The Story So Far, Rushing Spring also draw on classic 80’s college rock such as The Replacements and 70’s Power-pop like Big Star to create their very own brand of anthemic indie rock. They are following up the release of “Your Touch” with an east coast tour in August. Rushing Spring is represented by Erick Droegmoeller of Word is Bond Management (4 Year Strong).
Rushing Spring Is:
Austin Gold- Guitars, vocals
Rob Ettinger- Guitars
Eric Cassidy- Drums
Matt Longo- Bass
Connect With Rushing Spring:
linktr.ee/rushingspringband
“The goal with writing severed was to create some of the craziest most technical metal that I’ve ever made,” says Zack Robin. “I currently play in a rock band, and as much as I love the music and those guys, I have a side of me that needs to play heavy music, and severed, was my outlet for it.”
On the intensity and heaviness of “Severed”, he continues: “The goal was to be an all-out audio assault on the listeners' ears. Never wanted the song to let up with constant fast drums constant fast guitars with the intensity of vocals to match it. It really has been a lot of fun producing this track and getting to write stuff in the style of the bands influenced me. The influence and drive behind writing such an intense track was from the anger and sense of wronging that I felt from past projects. When you pour years of your life into a project only for it to be driven into the ground, it can really ignite a fire inside you, and all of that creative energy was focused into what is now severed.”
“Lyrically, the song is about severing yourself from the fake people, things and distractions in your life," adds Greg Haberek. "Too many people have given away their power to false idols or deities and neglected the true power within. This song is a cry for remembrance. Knowing who you are and never letting others dim your shine again.”
“Severed” is written, performed, and recorded by Greg Haberek (Vocals, Drums) and Zack Robin (Guitar, Bass). The track was mixed and mastered by Jordan Beal (Veil of Maya). RedCult will be releasing singles over a span of time with intentions to culminate into an EP or LP experience eventually.
“Severed” is now playing across all digital streaming platforms. The video is ultimately an intro to a cult-themed video series in which RedCult will visually show the experience of the lyrical narratives.
With a name based on a shadow religion in video game lore, REDCult takes the deep symbolism and mysticism surrounding the blood god-worshiping sect and applies it to life in modern day. We see now that with these times it would seem like a god based on sacrifice and war to bring prosperity seems very applicable to life in 2023. “The lyrics of salvation through revolution and worship of a blood sun are metal AF and we just love the imagery and deep dive into a rabbit hole. “
The brutal musicianship of Zack Robin (New Dilemma) and malevolent vocals of Greg Haberek (The Body Rampant, Will They Follow?) breathe life into a world of ritualistic macabre and the occult. The first single from this project “Severed” speaks into existence the act of walking away from all forms of material and mental shackles to embrace the power held within.
REDCult Is:
Greg Haberek - Vocals, Drums
Zack Robin - Guitar, Bass
“Legacy is our first single off our new EP and the first song we filmed a music video for. While it was being made it was quickly deemed a stronger song we wanted to push as far as we could. The funny thing about it is it’s the most unprepared song we had going into the studio, it was just a riff from Brayan really that in the studio we all brought to life collectively to the point at the end we somewhat forgot how it even started.” Says Cheer Up Dusty about their new release. On its importance to themselves, they continue, “ The song means a lot personally because ultimately the legacy we leave as a band when all said and done is most important. I hope people can listen to this song and whatever their life goal or passion is they’ll think about it and go, “I can do this”.”
Legacy is written and performed by Cheer Up Dusty, with additional writing credits by Paul Berthold. Production credits are lead by Pete Zen, with Assistant Producer credits by Mikey Lince.
The song is now playing across all digital streaming platforms. Cheer Up Dusty had the following to say about the video for Legacy: ”Making the video for Legacy turned into one of the most organic things we’ve done together. We had the pleasure of shooting at Bob’s Diner in Philadelphia. We have family ties with the diner and got to film after closing on a cloudy Sunday in February. We went in just us, our friend/photographer Eric, a few friends/family members came as extras and we just had a fun day getting shots. No agenda, no stress, no bullshit. I remember leaving and everyone was in a good mood and you know you did well when you spend hours unloading setting up and packing up and you’re still smiling.” Listen to the single on Spotify or on YouTube below.
Cheer Up Dusty is an electrifying four-piece rock ensemble established in 2019 by the talented vocalist, Justin Humenik. The band’s distinctive sound is characterized by forceful vocals, irresistible hooks, and robust instrumentation, as demonstrated in their popular release, “Everybody Hates Me.”
The band’s inception can be traced back to Justin Humenik using music as a therapeutic outlet. Early on, he collaborated with Nick Silvidio, now the band’s rhythm guitarist, to produce their debut EP. However, the pandemic temporarily halted their progress. Despite the setback, the band eventually welcomed bassist Pat Desiato and released engaging music videos in support of their work. Amidst the pandemic, Cheer Up Dusty launched their second EP, “A Collection of Singles,” and joined forces with guitarist Brayan Marin.
In March 2022, the band made waves with their unforgettable single, “Everybody Hates Me,” which garnered widespread attention across the Northeast. Soon after, Caleb Kerr joined as a full-time drummer, solidifying the band’s lineup. Cheer Up Dusty then went on to support GoalKeeper and Driveways during a spring weekender, eventually headlining the Homies Tour alongside Promise Game.
As they prepare for their highly anticipated release this summer, Cheer Up Dusty aims to showcase their most introspective and mature work to date, reflecting their artistic growth and unwavering dedication to their craft.
Cheer Up Dusty can be seen on tour on their Double Header Weekend 5/26 & 5/27, as well as their Northeast Weekend Tour 6/23 – 6/26. Specific dates can be found on the band’s social media pages.
Cheer Up Dusty Is:
Justin Humenik – Vocalist
Brayan Marin – Guitarist
Nick Silvidio – Rhythm Guitarist
Caleb Kerr – Drummer
Pat Desiato – Bassist
Connect With Cheer Up Dusty:
Linktree / Spotify / Instagra
The band recently dropped the acoustic tinged alt rock anthem “Them Without You”. The track is the only ballad on their new album. Gear wise, Libricide decided to try a different approach on the single. “Sonically we wanted this song to be different from the rest of the record. We experimented with different gear as well. For this song, I made the conscious choice & went for more of a traditional sound by recording all of my guitar parts (including the solo) on both a Fender Stratocaster& Telecaster. I’m very glad I did as the song calls for a specific tone that only a strat & tele could pull off. It compliments the song very well & adds more of a layer to what everyone else is playing.” says guitarist Dylan Stark. Vocalist and guitarist Harun Gadol adds “It’s the only song with acoustic guitar throughout the album. I got to use my coveted Guild on this one, and our engineer John is even featured on the track playing tambourine, which he peppered in so well I almost didn’t even notice it!”
Thematically, “Them Without You” is a song all about letting go, moving on, and improving your situation. “The song essentially just came out of me as a result of some experiences I was going through around the time it was written,” explains Gadol. “A very cathartic experience, for me it was about outgrowing certain people and situations that were no longer serving you (“They’ll be fine alone, they were before you came. But no one’s gonna come around to save your day”). Of course the beauty in art is everyone can have a more specific interpretation based on their own individual experience.”
Along with the single, Libricide has dropped a new music video for “Them Without You”. The high quality, cinematic video was shot over the course of a full day in October of 2022 by exclaimed director Tom Flynn (Lamb Of God, Buckcherry). “Many takes were shot, both group and individual, in multiple locations around our HQ, including the drone shots and fire scenes toward nightfall. We learned a lot, got to work on our video performance chops, and are very happy with the final product,” says Gadol. “I’ve been receiving messages from people whom I either never met before or haven’t heard from in years letting me know how much they loved our new song & music video. Just goes to show you that we are doing something right in the end,” adds Stark.
“Them Without You” is now playing across all streaming platforms. Check out the video on YouTube below.
Holding down multiple roles at the forefront of Libricide is Producer/Songwriter/Lyricist/Vocalist/Guitarist Harun Gadol, who originally formed the band as a solo project, releasing the first EP Barriers To Entry. Lead Guitarist Dylan Stark joined shortly thereafter, leading the group to Libricide’s self-titled debut album. The band was soon on the rise amidst their local tri-state area live circuit, finding talented and like-minded musicians along the way to round out the current lineup.
Various artists and musical aesthetics inform the sound of Libricide, as the band nods to classic rock inspiration, while broadening their horizons to encompass a wide sphere of influence. Libricide’s collective influences range from the core classics of the rock world to 90’s/2000’s alternative and grunge to progressive, pop, metal, acoustic, and hip-hop, electronica and more. Their diverse musical tastes are well-applied in their songwriting, representing a wide breadth of styles while still providing memorable, catchy, and radio-ready tracks.
True to their name, Libricide burns the book of rules and expectations of musical trends, creating a unity of genre that aligns with the message of their current full-length work, Consilience. Meaning “unity of knowledge”, Consilience represents the alliance formed in the making of the record, as the band’s internal team of songwriting and arrangement aligns with external collaboration alongside such artisans of production as Ted Jensen (The Eagles’ Hotel California, Green Day’s American Idiot, Billy Joel, Norah Jones and much more) and John Ferrara (Cro-Mags, Trophy Scars, Young Thieves). If the first album endeavored to captivate the local scene, Consilience represents the band’s new emergence to cross the threshold into reaching audiences across the nation, and the world.
Libricide Studios is the band’s HQ, a production house that expands their following to an extensive reach through covers, viral content, comedy, and film production, including international collaborations. This creative outlet has gained them attention outside of the scope of their music, while still drawing newcomers in to discover the sounds of Libricide.
The band’s production-focused lifestyle naturally translates to the live experience, as Libricide always aims to craft the perfect sound and stage for each performance, tailoring the ideal set for any audience. Their adaptability has led Libricide everywhere from singer/songwriter bills to the heaviest of metal lineups, and to sharing stages with the likes of Ace Frehley, Chevelle, Hoobastank, Puddle of Mudd, Stone Temple Pilots, and Yngwie Malmsteen, just to name a few!
Follow Libricide on social media via the links below:
HQ: https://www.libricide.com.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/libricide
Instagram: www.instagram.com/libricide
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/libricide
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@libricide
Patreon: www.patreon.com/libricidestudios
Bandcamp: www.libricide.bandcamp.com
Listen to their music anywhere music is sold or streamed:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7mwWvfYHOf6bIrvCH96hzE
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/libricide/1069078217
]]>LISTEN TO “WHITE RABBIT” NOW ON SPOTIFY
Raised in a Haunted House is due out later in 2023. The Album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jamie King at The Basement Studios in Winston- Salem, NC, and features 10 alt-rock tracks that take the listener on a journey as the album is a concept piece about the shortcomings of humanity which are reflected through the individual. About the themes on the album, the band says, “How do we love and forgive those who seem unworthy of love and forgiveness? How do we shake the parts inside of us that we know are destructive to us as a person, and contribute to a brighter future for all of society? How do we see past the delusions of perfect harmony, and storybook endings, and realize that love is work? Not just in the relationship sense, but our everyday interactions, and self-love.”
A true act of love, the debut album has been over three years in the making, but it sees the new band firing on all cylinders. “Pathway came together, and we had a lot of momentum going, then like every new band we had some growing pains,” says the band. “Now we are on track, and feel we are stronger than ever.” Along with the single release, the band has released a lyric video for “White Rabbit”, which you can watch below.
Pathway is an alternative to genre-based heavy music. They take decades of influence and roll into a deliberate, abrasive, in-your-face, poetic sound. With their out-of-the-box approach and individual influence, Pathway delivers a sound that is truly their own. Applying three-part harmonies with their multi-vocalist style to a traditionally singular vocal sound they raise the dynamic bar.
Formed by Billy Steele in the winter of 2020 Pathway went through some growth periods. After a few lineup changes they found their stride and began pre-production of their upcoming debut album, Raised in a Haunted House.
The members of Pathway all come from different musical backgrounds, all rooted in the heavier side of music. They refer to their sound as being hardcore-influenced rock n roll. Riding the heels of the grunge era, and growing up in the early 2000s pop punk/emo scene you will hear plenty of that embedded in their sound as well. With a darker element to their lyrical style, and sound a friend coined their sound as having a “spooky groove”.
2023 looks to be a bright year for Pathway. With the release of their first single, “White Rabbit” Pathway hopes to make a strong sonic wave. Followed by a full-length album Pathway doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
A true act of love, the debut album has been over three years in the making, but it sees the new band firing on all cylinders. “Pathway came together, and we had a lot of momentum going, then like every new band we had some growing pains,” says the band. “Now we are on track, and feel we are stronger than ever.” Along with the single release, the band has released a lyric video for “White Rabbit”, which you can watch below.
Pathway Is:
Billy Steele – Vocals/Guitar
Bradley Steele – Vocals
Garett King – Guitar/Vocals
Ryan Orren – Bass
Steve Brooks – Drums
The song “In Pieces” is the 3rd single of the album release cycle, and is about abandonment while watching the ones you love betray you as they march off to the proverbial slaughter. A common theme amongst the album. Of the song, Seethe says: “The song “In Pieces” was fun to record as it varies drastically through many different vocal styles, ranging from very frantic and almost psychotic frailty, gothic-tinged crooning (ala Marilyn Manson or Jay Gordon) with dissonant harmonies, guttural styled screams and Fry vocals that have pitched screaming with notation. The song closes the album nicely being the longest track and encapsulates the sound that can be found on the album.”
https://open.spotify.com/track/7ptK8yDY8wjFRnygLkvvW9?si=026546ce1d2740e5
Psalms of the Dead Better Left Unsung and Unread was written, recorded, and produced by Patrick McElravy (Seethe). Mixing and mastering were done by Gus Walker, with additional production on the album by Slaughter, Nvmeless, Vixlence, insanetantrum, and Zerkey. “Psalms of the Dead Better Left Unsung and Unread” is set for release on DI Records.
“The album is about watching a series of unfortunate events occur while watching from the outside with no ability to help these occurrences from happening.” shares Seethe. “The album is very much a concept that guides the listener through the tales of one’s corroding mental health whilst loosely paralleling events from the television show Grimm, a horror, fantasy cop thriller. The lyrical content is/was designed to provoke the actions of seeing what others can’t see and not being believed and the decline of mental health as it wears on one’s mind of knowing the truth and no one will accept it.”
The single is now playing across all digital streaming platforms. Along with the single, Seethe has released a visualizer for “In Pieces”, which you can watch on YouTube below.
Born in 2020 amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, Seethe emerged from the mind of 9 Stitch Method vocalist Patrick McElravy. With emotional and manic vocals akin to that of the early 00’s Nu Metal movement and the distorted, electronic barrage of Trap Metal artists such as Slen and Ghostmane, Seethe sets out to pave his own path melding sounds of the past and current musical soundscape. Having opened up for acts such as King 810 and being featured in “Nu Metal: The Definitive Guide”, Seethe’s career has shown much promise despite its short existence.
“The lyrics are not common to what we usually write about, which is more fantasy based,” says Bogwrought singer and guitarist Carrie and Matthew (respectively). “But we developed an overall lore/story for our upcoming album in that while on this voyage each song represented a nightmare or delusion that a crewmate on the ship would experience. The song is about an unhealthy obsession from a toxic person. An example of how not to be. Always on the edge of being nice but overcome with frustration and anger when their “love” goes unrequited.”
The band also speaks to the intricacies of “Monarch” bringing them together tighter as an outfit. “Monarch was originally composed by our drummer Tim Cunningham before the conception of Bogwrought. When we started the band everyone was coming back to playing music after a long break. While writing songs together we were able to improve our skills and songwriting. Monarch is the 5th song we worked on together as a band and was the most difficult to play together. We struggled to keep in time with harmonies and transitions but because we were dedicated it really pulled us together as bandmates. I believe this song helped solidify our bonds as partners in songwriting and playing”
https://open.spotify.com/track/0CoDKpVnWaMJTj8nhWSMoo?si=b9be3d07d3334bcf
“Monarch” was mixed and mastered by Chris Idzal, is being released by DI Records, and is part of their upcoming album Voyage set to release at the end of 2023, in which it is the third single. The song is now playing across all digital streaming platforms. Listen to it on YouTube below:
Bogwrought is a 5-piece band with their studio between the swamps and cranberry bogs of Middleborough, Massachusetts. All of the members have different musical backgrounds and influences. The band is comprised of Tim Cunningham on drums, Cyrenus Paquin on bass, Zak Welch on lead guitar, Matthew Benoit on rhythm guitar, and Carrie Brum (formerly Rocco LaVita) as the lead vocalist.
“We love playing live music and as we grow in experience on that front, we will be adding more theatrics to our performances. We want to provide the audience with a unique experience and love interacting with our fans. Crafting the right blend of songs for each show is part of the art of live performance and we aim to keep things fresh each time we play live.” says the band. Bogwrought will be performing at Hail Mary Jane Fest – on April 22, 2023. Cherry Street Station, in Wallingford CT.
Bogwrought Is:
Carrie Brum – Lead Vocals
Zak Welch – Lead Guitar
Tim Cunningham – Drums
Matthew Benoit – Rhythm Guitar
Cyrenus Paquin – Bass
The song is the latest in a string of singles released by MESSMAKER, including the singles “Paying Attention” and “We Are The Architects”. “Dancing In The Moonlight” is available now and is streaming across all DSPs.
Along with the track, MESSMAKER has released a lyric video for “Dancing In The Moonlight”. Check out the video on YouTube below:
Aggressively catchy melodies pair with soul-filled lyrics in MESSMAKER’s refreshing take on indie rock. Lighting up stages as a power duo, musical architect Michael McFarland and versatile percussionist Freja McNeal bring the energy of an arena show to every performance. Garnering comparisons to acts such as Panic At the Disco and Bastille, McFarland’s songwriting is frank, expressive, and clever, and joined by McNeal the Cleveland, Ohio-based act elevates the material on stage with a seemingly inexhaustible energy.
Showing a maturity of style and sound that has developed through years of travel, relationships, heartbreaks, and reinventions, MESSMAKER’s music contains talent, passion, and lyrics that come from the heart. The result? A big, bright, and lovestruck slice of anthemic indie rock.
Catch up with MESSMAKER on their LinkTree.
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Vocalist Tanis Pellegrini hopes everyone can find something to relate to on the EP. “This record is reflective of our passion for living our lives as our truest selves and growing, PAINFULLY. Being lost. Being hurt.,” he explains. “We all have our different journeys, and throughout this record, I think we can all relate to the tracks in some way. Every one of these tracks is about a personal experience we’ve had and the growth and hurt and grief experienced.”
The EPs lead single, “Jonny Romeo”, is a pure slice of melodic post-hardcore that feels ready for alternative radio and playlists. Lyrically, the single is all about the grieving stage of anger. About the song, vocalist Tanis Pellegrini says “Jonny Romeo is a track about grieving the people in our life that have belittled us and made us feel down even though we chose to love them anyway. When we lose people that never gave us the reciprocated approval and love that we needed, it’s something that sits with us forever, and this song is expressing the frustration in never getting to clear that up and tell them you know that your light was too bright for them and that you should never dim your light for ANYBODY.”
Lives Lost has been touring in support of the album. “It’s like I’m sharing a part of my soul every night,”
explains vocalist Tanis. “All of the songs are super personal and it’s like I’m sharing a part of my soul is being shared with the audience every night. I think, between it taking almost three years to write and another five months to record it, it is a pure artistic release for us all.”
The Ep was mixed and mastered by Jeff McKinnon, engineered and edited by Hayden Calhoun for Darkside audio, and drums were tracked by Logan Summey. It is available on all digital streaming platforms. The band has planned an EP release party on April 7th.
Lives Lost was formed in secret in the summer of 2019 by Frontman/Principle songwriter Tanis Pellegrini (formerly of regional metalcore standouts Lasciaté), with the sole purpose of writing music that combined his favorite things about his favorite bands into something he wanted to listen to. Tanis scoured for local musicians that he felt strongly embodied his vision. Friend and drummer Alan Thompson and guitarist Aaron Perry joined Lives Lost.
With a fully formed lineup and an EP out, Lives Lost continues on to change the world through art. Billed as a high-energy, unique rock band. Lives Lost brings a genre-bending sound to the stage making each performance unique. Throughout their tenure as a band, they have shared the stage with artists such as Alesana, Defiant, Eternal Frequency, Hinder, If Not For Me, Ignite, Jimmies Chicken Shack, Lyndhurst, Palisades, Small Town Titans, Softspoken, Vampires Everywhere, and VRSTY, and more!
Of their sound, Pellegrini opines, “I’d say we have the catchiness of Silverstein, the aggressiveness of Beartooth, the radio feel of some of the heavy-hitting octane bands such as Nothing More, and the prog/technical ambition of Coheed & Cambria!”
Lives Lost Is:
Tanis Pellegrini – Lead Vox /Guitars / Bass
Aaron Perry – Lead Guitar
Alan Thompson – Drums / Backing vox
Connect With Lives Lost:
LINKS
The STRAYLIGHT soundtrack consists of 10 progressive synthwave tracks, featuring long-developing melodies that require multiple listens, ideal for songs that may be looping multiple times. Harmonically, Kovacs makes heavy use of mode mixture and progressions that never quite feel settled – a feeling that is mirrored by gameplay where there is no ground. After initially writing the title track, a slow-developing and ungrounded synthwave track that is reflective of the unique experience of the game, Kovacs was tapped to score the entire game and all sound effects.
The album was released digitally on Emperia Records on January 27, and followed up by a successfully funded Bandcamp vinyl pre-sale. The release will feature the soundtrack on “deep purple” vinyl, in a side-loading jacket depicting artwork from the game, with a poster design that will be exclusive to the campaign! While the pre-sale campaign has ended, more vinyl is expected to be released later this year.
Composing the soundtrack was a natural progression for Kovacs, who also releases music under the moniker 88bit, reimagining classic video game themes for piano, and performing at events like PAX West, GDC Online, The Game Audio Network Guild Awards and MAGFest. He credits his study and knowledge of early video game music for inspiring his approach to composing new soundtracks for video games today.
“Studying these early video game soundtracks really influenced my writing for STRAYLIGHT,” he explains. “I got the sense that these early composers were breaking new ground, working with new technology, and creating music for a brand-new medium. They took a lot of risks. I’ve taken that same approach with this soundtrack. VR is like the Wild West of video games right now. It’s brand new territory.”
The soundtrack has been drawing rave reviews as well, with FLOOD Magazine writing; “Rob Kovacs draws on classic video game soundtracks and Stravinsky…Chords swell in anticipation, and then, as you start to find your bearings, a stellar bass and drum groove snaps into orbit.“
In addition to his work as 88bit and as a composer, Kovacs released his first solo album, Let Go, in 2021. An introspective indie-rock concept album, it chronicles an intense and poignant romance, and earned praise from critics at notable outlets such as American Songwriter and Glide Magazine. He has also been interviewed on Level with Emily Reese, gameinformer.com, clevelandclassical.com, NPR’s “Sound of Applause” (WCPN Cleveland), NPR’s “Shuffle” (WKSU Kent), NPR’s ReSpawn Podcast and others. In addition, he is internationally recognized as the first person to perform a solo version of Steve Reich’s Piano Phase by playing both piano parts on two pianos simultaneously. Kovacs is a member of the Recording Academy and a professor of composition and songwriting at Baldwin Wallace University.
STRAYLIGHT track listing
1. Platform
2. STRAYLIGHT
3. Star Forge
4. The Last Campfire
5. Void Compass
6. Devil Star
7. The Railgun Run
8. Ascent Of The Juggernaut
9. Ouroboros
10. The End
Connect With Rob Kovacs:
Link Tree
“The single is something I had been working on for a while, but I didn’t finish until I literally started recording the drum tracks,” says Scott Marks, the brain and talent behind Yard Sign. “Outside of half of a song and a little piano jingle, the entire EP was basically written and recorded in one manic blast of inspiration. I’ve been playing live a lot lately and, as everyone who has come to a show knows, the kazoo is a huge part of the Yard Sign experience. This was the first record where I really made sure to incorporate the kazoo as a lead instrument, which I don’t know I’ve heard too much on record before. This EP is pure Yard Sign, for better or worse!”
The Midwest Midlife Meltdowns EP is a self-produced group of tunes, almost entirely conceived, written, and recorded over the course of a long weekend in late 2022. It is now playing across all digital streaming platforms.
Yard Sign is an online punk rock band, a one-man folk punk act, and Tik Tok Emo from Ohio. They specialize in songs about life, love, loss, and Star Wars. No matter the incarnation, Yard Sign is a variety of musical outputs led by Scott Marks, an elder millennial “Swemo” originally from New York, but calling central Ohio home for the past decade. Coming of musical age in both the New York Hard Core and Pop-punk scenes, Marks played all different instruments for all different bands before settling into middle-aged-dom in the Midwest. After 10+ years of musical semi-retirement, Yard Sign emerged from the pandemic, churning out full-band punk rock (and adjacent) anthems on the internet and leading sing-along kazoo parties across Ohio and beyond in their one-of-a-kind-one-man folk punk shows.
Yard Sign can be found performing at their Thursday Residency at Half baked Brew, and has performances scheduled at Cocktails, Cookies, & Guitars at Studio 614 on March 12th, as well as at Hell is Ohio fest on June 2nd.
Connect With Yard Sign:
Bandcamp / Spotify / Instagram / TikTok
Lyrically, the song is inspired by real-life situations of overwhelming emotions. Of the track, vocalist Damian Snapp says, “I wrote the lyrics for Cataclysm about the severe abandonment issues and overwhelming emotions that often come from the fallout of toxic and abusive relationships by comparing them to a cataclysmic ending of the world. The lyrics are inspired by real-life situations that other members in the band have gone through in their life and I felt like I could also relate those to my own experiences.”
“Cataclysm” sees Damian Snapp (vocals), joined by Brandon Beaulieu (Guitar Vocals) and Shota Nishimura of Design The Skyline (Guitar), as well as Connor Mitchener of I Set My Friends On Fire (Bass), and Mario Sanchez (Drums) come together as the heavy genre-bending force of I, OF THE STORM . Along with the single, the 5-piece is excited to unveil its new music video for “Cataclysm” captured by Zack Perez from Astral Media. “We wanted to create an introductory video for our project that really captured the energy of our music and live performance,” said guitarist and vocalist Brandon Beaulieu. “Zack Perez did an amazing job at capturing that! It was a really fun shoot filled with sick hangs and a lot of Whiteclaws and Mike’s Harder Lemonades! Shout out to our friend Andrew Kappas at Monarch Studios for letting us make a mess, and shoutout to our friends in ScytheGang666 for stopping by and hanging out on set!”
“Cataclysm” is now available across all major streaming platforms. You can listen to it on Spotify, or watch the video on YouTube below.
Formed in the winter of 2022, I, OF THE STORM is a 5-piece Metalcore/Cybercore band from Los Angeles, California. Comprised of vocalist Damian Snapp, guitarist Brandon Beaulieu, guitarist Shota Nishimura, bassist Connor Mitchener, and drummer Mario Sanchez, I, OF THE STORM sets out to tastefully blend elements from various genres such as rock, hip-hop, metal, and EDM.
I, OF THE STORM will be announcing upcoming shows following the release of “Cataclysm” throughout 2023.
I, OF THE STORM IS:
Damian Snapp: Vocals
Brandon Beaulieu: Guitar / Vocals
Shota Nishimura: Guitar
Connor Mitchener: Bass
Mario Sanchez: Drums
In 2021, Kovacs teamed with Rain City Drive vocalist, Matt McAndrew, who guided him to kick start the project. Zack Baker, of Rain City Drive, performed on and mixed the tracks “Secret Lies”, “Casting Stones” and “The Fall” which comprise a visual trilogy.
Telling Secrets is now back with its latest single, “Fragile”, an injection of high-octane, radio-ready rock, with a memorable hook and soaring vocals. Including some memorable harmony lines. “I remember reading the backing vocals and harmonies in the studio in Los Angeles with Rachel and I asked my friend Matt McAndrew to come down and give some ideas for harmonies,” Says Kovacs. “Before he showed up Rachel and I BURNED through the track. It was a super productive evening. Matt turned up and we were laughing and joking the entire time. When Matt was leaving the joke was “Hey guys if you are ever having a nice, smooth, productive session call Matt to make sure it gets slowed down!”. However, we recorded a really awesome vocal part that was inspired by NSYNC that you can hear just before the first chorus, so it was all worth finishing the session at 4am… again.”
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Kovacs has been recording deep into the early morning hours at Canton House Studios owned by 15-time Grammy Award winning producer Jaycen Joshua with engineer Rachel Blum. In the summer of 2022 Telling Secrets released singles “Bad Dreams” and “Lullaby”, with the final release being “Fragile”.
Thus far, the band has achieved over 100,000 streams across all platforms and plans for a great series of releases for 2023, along with some exciting new people added to the project. Kovacs is also planning to take the band to the United Kingdom and Europe to debut on the other side of the pond in 2023 and is currently working on a full-length album. “Fragile” was produced by Kovacs, engineered by Rachel Blum (assistant engineer to 15-time grammy winning producer Jaycen Joshua), mixed and mastered by Zack Baker (Rain City Drive), with vocal arrangement and assistance from Matt McAndrew (Rain City Drive).
You can listen to the song on Spotify or YouTube now!
https://youtu.be/vtANWm4X_Ks
Connect With Telling Secrets:Thematically, “Face” goes deeper than “ Let that sh*t go”. The song was written in victim consciousness, in the realization that often the parties involved also feel like victims. About the song, the band says “Have you ever heard the saying “Hurt People, Hurt People”? We all have an ego/identity in our mind/body/spirit complex which is a Face of a character we are so convinced that we are because we have been collecting experiences, trauma, likes, dislikes, and judgments on everything that we hear, feel, see. It all gets stored in our subconscious from the time of birth. Then we walk around with beliefs based on our experiences which is a program of this character you think you are. Why are we giving away our power to others' projections, our own limiting beliefs, and being propelled into each moment based on stored trauma & fear? This only keeps you trapped in your hellish illusion. “
The band also touched on the dual meaning of the word “Face” as used in the song. “It’s the irony of the masks or different characters we wear, that can be changed through our own conscious or subconscious will. “Face” also represents the strength it takes to go inward and slay one’s own dragon, going from victim to hero consciousness because our fear is only our own illusion and our own responsibility. No one can save you from your own dragon.”
https://open.spotify.com/track/2fYceALqqgYzlB1VmBahQz?si=89531a26793743ed
“Face” is a single from Fairshake’s upcoming record, High Risk, and was recorded at Space Jockey Sound by Jeremy Nichols, Charlie Pinkard (writer/guitars for @wearedim) & Ben Cato (percussion for DIM, former The Dangerous Summer). The single artwork was designed by Elijah Richards, graphic designer & bassist of DIM (@elijah_richards) “Face” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or on YouTube below.
https://youtu.be/1WDg460wZPs
About the band: Fairshake; In this moment you are judgment free, and stand in your purest form and Truth. A realization that we are here to heal from experiences and surrender into your highest form. You create your life from here on.
This never-ending journey with Shayne Goss since 2008 has been accompanied by many talented artists who have shared this vibration over the years. Fairshake has experienced genre changes as the project has evolved, especially after inducting Tucker Harding and Chase Sammons in the fall of 2017.
The project coming from emotionally charged singer-songwriter roots with pop melodies has grown very naturally into the alternative rock, punk, and dare we say “emo” music that we all grew up on and love.
Fasirshake Is:
Tucker Harding (guitar, vocals)
Shayne Goss (guitar Vocals)
Connect With Fairshake:
About the song, the band says “The song embodies the struggle of healing from body dysmorphia and the pain after dealing with breast cancer and the scars inside and out from a double mastectomy and chemotherapy. It's about trying to learn to accept, embrace, and to be empowered by the scars and continuing to thrive.”
https://open.spotify.com/track/6CLywgYWGWJoj5RWN4M2in?si=294d2f44a1534db8
DCxPC Live Vol. 9 Some Kind of Nightmare Live at Lou's was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Joshua Dobbs at Danger Room Recording Studio.
Some Kind of Nightmare has brought amazing energy, raw sound, and a strong stage presence with them everywhere they perform. In 2013 they quit their jobs, threw out everything they owned, hit the road, and never looked back. The three-piece group continues to take on the nation with its message of overcoming struggle and modern social issues, while gaining support and momentum along the way.
The band is playing an album release show on 12/16 at Lou's in Orlando. It's a benefit show for Lou's because he's being sued by a new neighbor for noise despite being a venue for over 20 years. Also on the bill are Sticky Steve, Effit, Caustic Bats, Control This!, Call in Dead, and The Petty Thefts!
Connect With Some Kind Of Nightmare:
SPOTIFY / INSTAGRAM / FACBEOOK
Of the track, MESSMAKER says “ ‘Are you happy with the way things are? Or are you paying attention?’ That's the question we're asking with this song. Today, more than any other point in history, the injustices and inequities baked into the human experience are on display. Yet so many people - and we certainly don't exclude ourselves from this criticism - find it easier to close our doors and try to shut it all out. But things don't get better if you ignore them. It wasn't the original intent when writing it, but we realized that this song is kind of directed to that cartoon dog sitting in the middle of the flames saying "this is fine". We'd love to hear that pup's thoughts on "Paying Attention"!
https://open.spotify.com/track/1u8YSu6Qyq1RhrjN1jKPoY?si=fae24a1620944c9c
“Paying Attention” sees MESSMAKER’s Michael McFarland (lead vocals and guitar), and Freja McNeal (drums, samples, and vocals), joined by Eric Bertagnolli of Eric Bert Audio (Percussion, Co-Producer, Mixing & Mastering Engineer) and Steven Charles (Co-Writer). The duo just shot a music video for the song and will have it out soon.
“Paying Attention” is now available across all major streaming platforms. MESSMAKER has also released a lyric visualizer to go along with the single, which you can watch below.
https://youtu.be/2tmwLXNY7Eg
Aggressively catchy melodies pair with soul-filled lyrics in MESSMAKER’s refreshing take on indie rock. Lighting up stages as a power duo, musical architect Michael McFarland and versatile percussionist Freja McNeal bring the energy of an arena show to every performance. Garnering comparisons to acts such as Panic At the Disco and Bastille, McFarland’s songwriting is frank, expressive, and clever, and joined by McNeal the Cleveland, Ohio-based act elevates the material on stage with a seemingly inexhaustible energy. Showing a maturity of style and sound that has developed through years of travel, relationships, heartbreaks, and reinventions, MESSMAKER’s music contains talent, passion, and lyrics that come from the heart. The result? A big, bright, and lovestruck slice of anthemic indie rock.
Michael’s amiable yet commanding presence on stage arose from years of experience paired with diligent study. He began performing with bands at age 14, accumulating ample experience under stage lights while still a teenager. Later, while pursuing his degree in Visual Communication at Kent State University, McFarland spent countless hours studying performance footage from any source he could find, from classic rock acts to modern pop stars. When it comes to songwriting, McFarland shows the same attention to his craft, which in 2022 earned him the Nashville Songwriters Association's recognition as "One to Watch". “I listen to a lot of music I don’t necessarily like,” says McFarland, “because I want to understand why the songs connect with their audience.”
A lifetime of attentiveness and continued learning has taught McFarland how to use MESSMAKER’s lyrics to tug at your emotions and leave you feeling like you’ve found a kindred spirit. When joined by Freja on drums, samples, and backing vocals, those songs expand effortlessly to fill concert halls. Whether you see MESSMAKER perform in a basement or a stadium, you can expect the lights, sounds, and raw energy of a world-class rock show.
MESSMAKER will be celebrating the release of "Paying Attention" on December 16 at the Five O'Clock Lounge in Lakewood, Ohio, alongside a stellar lineup including Darling Waste, Anthony Covatta, The Muckrakers, Lives Lost, and Black Moon Cult.
MESSMAKER IS:
Michael McFarland: Lead Vocals, Guitar, Producer
Freja McNeal: Drums, Samples, Backing Vocals
About the song, the band says “We wrote this song during the presidential election of 2020, and found that both candidates sucked, news and media outlets suck, and we are all under the thumb of the U.S. government at the mercy of the 1% who controls all of our elections and government policies. Everything that they tell you is a lie. There is no such thing as a lesser of two evils, and through seeing through the bullshit and agreeing to disagree we can turn the tides.”
Directed by Jbaw Productions, and recorded by Jeff McKinnon and Evan Seeberger, the video shows that Lasciaté is here to stay with its original cast; back heavier and better than ever.
“IED” will be available across all major streaming platforms on 12/24. Watch the video on YouTube below.
https://youtu.be/fgMbQ_Kr77Q
Lasciaté is a melodic metalcore band based out of Hershey, PA formed in the spring of 2016 by Tanis Pellegrini (Vocals), Aaron Perry (Lead Guitar), Robert Greenberg (Bass), and Mark Caruso (Drums) later joined by Sam Hart (Rhythm Guitar). Lasciaté is known for their breakdowns as much as for their catchy choruses and technical guitar work. Lasciaté is an underground metal success story built upon their insatiable work ethic and unique stylings. They have shared the stage with national and international acts August Burns Red, Ice Nine Kills, Suicide Silence, The Black Dahlia Murder, Upon A Burning Body, and I set my friends on fire. Releasing an ep in 2017 and following up with a few singles a year since that, Lasciaté has plans to hit the studio and record another EP in the near future with longtime producer/collaborators Jeff McKinnon and Evan Seeberger.
Lasciaté Is:
Tanis Pellegrini - Vocals, Guitars
Aaron Perry - Lead Guitar
Robert Greenberg - Bass
Mark Caruso - Drums
Sam Hart - Rhythm Guitar
About the record, the band says “Faded Memories has been a labor of brotherly love, and the thing we’re most proud of contributing to in our musical career. These songs are all like children to us and are endless fun to perform night after night. It’s amazing to get them out into the world.”
The first single, “Charcoal Black”, kicks off the album with an emotionally heavy, straight ahead anthemic rock track that announces Bad Year as a band on a mission. “The song symbolizes those sleepless nights where you can’t breathe and you feel that all hope is lost; that you will never recover,” explains the band. “When we feel that all we have to look forward to is more of the same miserable existence. Our emotional decay, our spiritual demise, and the crushing awareness that nothing would ever change were constants in our bereavement. Our hold on life was weak at best, we had little hope and no concept of the life we were missing out on.”
FADED MEMORIES was co-produced by Nick Rad (Coheed & Cambria, Anberlin) with Bad Year, and mixed by Nick Rad and Steven Servi. The album is currently playing across all major streaming platforms. Bad Year has also released a visualizer to accompany “Charcoal Black”, which you can watch on YouTube now.
Rooted in Midwest punk rock, Bad Year formed in 2019 and calls Milwaukee home. Inspired by heartbreak, angst, and self-reformation, Bad Year injects the scene with anthemic chorus hooks and brutal optimism. In the spirit of promoting positive aspects of empathy and mental health, their cathartic melodies are known for freely inspiring listeners with a sense of mutual understanding and hope. The group put a fresh, more decorated feel on musical incarnations and lived experiences of the past.
Bad Year’s groundbreaking debut EP “Handshakes” received immediate acclaim from listeners and an unmediated Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Award nomination while the title track’s music video gained over 100k views within its first month. The trio refrained from allowing a pandemic to slow their upbeat tempo with their one-off single “Blackout”. Keeping the momentum and expanding boundaries of incendiary music composition, “Blackout” was Bad Year’s first production with highly sought-after producer, Nick Rad. Ending 2020 on a high note, “A Moment In Time” EP, was released and creates acoustic landscapes of sound that evoke feelings, energies, and memories.
Bad Year Is:
Mike Esser
Joey Jonas
Jake Wachal
Connect With Bad Year:
Linktree
“One-Step (Closer to the Edge) is a glimpse of my unapologetic and raw anger towards the complexities of being a black woman in the music industry and hints at the abuse I and many single mothers in my community encountered,” explains Raven Clark, the brainchild behind UNIITY. “The constant belittling remarks, racism, over-sexualization at a young age, and the lack of credit is just the surface of the things I, and many other musicians of color, constantly battle. It’s the final answer to the question of ‘What happens when your cup has spilled over?’ “
“One-Step (Closer to the Edge)” is the first step of an album rollout cycle for UNIITY‘s upcoming debut album, HER TEETH, released May 12, 2023. It was produced by Phyuture Phyx (Joshua Hall), sickboy (Shay Magleby), Raven Clark (Unity) and features band member William Blake. Along with the single, there is a planned music video released in December, filmed by Trigger Happy Production.
“One-Step (Closer to the Edge)” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch on YouTube below.
UNIITY is the new, genre-warping, Avant-punk brainchild of Raven Clark, a Philadelphia-raised artist currently based in Cleveland, OH. Her mission and legacy is the unification of the emerging scene of independent, LGBTQ+, POC women in punk. Raw, gritty, and experimental- UNIITY pushes the boundaries of what is considered punk music, pulling as much influence from hip-hop and techno as from black metal or hardcore. Distorted electronic beats and massive ambient guitars support gut-punching vocals that can range from hissing to singing to unclean screams that seem impossible for her small stature.
UNIITY’s EP titled, HIIVES is a collection of 10 works chosen from a much larger unreleased discography for their themes of personal sacrifice, death, hopelessness and the ever present struggle that accompanies being a woman of color living in poverty. HIIVES was released in March of 2022 following the conclusion of her first tour at the age of eighteen. UNIITY‘s debut album titled, HER TEETH showcases the new works of UNIITY under a mature and polished spectacle. Taking influence from artist such as Zheani, Boy Harsher, and N8NOFACE, “HER TEETH” is a more evolved sound from her first EP.
In just under two years, nineteen-year-old UNIITY has gone from attending basement shows on the streets of West Philadelphia to building bridges and a strong community for young punks of color in multiple cities such as Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Baltimore. Garnering most of her attention from having shared the stage with the likes of White Ring, Sect Unit, Kris Baha, Mvtant, Trace Amount, and many more.
Connect With UNIITY:
]]>“Under The Rug” follows the release of previous singles “I Was Wrong” and “Peace Of Mind”. Musically, the track is the heaviest song The Region has released to date. “We all have a soft spot for heavy music, so this one was a blast to make,” says the band. “We can’t wait to see the reaction to it in a live setting!”
“Under The Rug” was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Jake Cyprian with artwork by Delta Options. The band has also released an eye-catching visualizer to accompany the single. “Under The Rug” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the visualizer on YouTube below.
The Region is a hard-hitting pop punk/emo trio from the outskirts of Chicago. Their music is dynamic and heartfelt, blending heavy and melodic elements with nostalgic overtones. Some of their most notable accomplishments include being recognized by Alternative Press as Indiana’s rising pop punk band, performing in front of sold-out crowds in the Chicagoland area, their music being featured on ‘The Scene’ & ‘All New Punk’ Spotify editorial playlists, and their songs being aired on Chicago’s 101 WKQX radio station. They have also collaborated with artists such as Free Throw and Violeteyez.
Having shared the stage with acts such as Knuckle Puck, Seaway, Homesafe, Handguns, Hundredth & more, The Region leaves a memorable impact with their passionate and energetic live performance.
The Region Is:
Phil Cyprian – Vocals/Bass
Jake Cyprian – Vocals/Guitar
Jon De St. Jean – Drums
Connect With The Region:
]]>Of the song, Giant Fetus says “Say What? is kind of a testament to who I am as an artist and who I am as a person. It has many different parts and feelings that all rush at you in a manic frenzy. It’s easy to get caught up in what we can guess is cool next, what we know is no longer important, and what other people think of what we do. This one is more of a reminder to really just be yourself and do what makes you feel good because nothing really matters!”
The beat was created and produced by Occult JAM and was recorded, mixed and mastered by Dee Cee at Arcadia Studios. “Say What?” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Giant Fetus is somewhere between an academic philosopher and a sketchy vagrant, and sometimes both. Growing up split between privileged suburbia and ragged trailer parks due to joint custody, he has always felt kind of in the middle of everything. From playing in rock bands, living in a shed, to eventually publishing poetry with his University it is easy to find inspiration from all around. Giant Fetus is basically what happens when Sisyphus decides to keep pushing the boulder, but this time with some Beats by Dre!
Connect With Giant Fetus:
FACEBOOK / TikTok / INSTAGRAM / SOUNDCLOUD
]]>The EP was proceeded by lead single “Last Call”, a song about using vices to cope with grief. “After going through a rough breakup, sometimes numbing the pain is the best way to re-cleanse yourself. This was the first song I tracked as Embers and it came to me quickly. I recorded it in my home studio over COVID dwelling on loneliness and using this EP as an outlet. It all started here.”
Along with the EP drop, Embers is releasing the single “Wake Up”. Of the track he says, “This song is a look into my nightmares. It touches on all the pain and cycles of trauma that can revolve in your mind that make it hard to sleep some nights. It’s for anyone who has struggled with physical abuse, emotional abuse, anxiety, and mental health which is a reflection of some things I’ve personally encountered in my life.”
EMO SZN was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Eric Mitchell, produced, engineered and written by Jason Wildes, with additional production from Chris Freeman (Bay Harbor) and Sean Tolley (Clarity Recordings). It is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now.
Embers. The remnants of the fire that continue to burn. That refuse to die. That prevail, and glow, long after the flames subside. It’s also an apt moniker for the groundbreaking artist behind the forthcoming album: EMO SZN. Plenty of trends arrive hotter than hell and quickly turn to ash. But on Embers’ debut EMO SZN, the artist mines, illuminates, and transfigures only those elements of the last quarter century of pop music that have endured and maintained heat, rekindling them into a wide-ranging, genre-melding inferno that is at-once powerful, beautiful, vulnerable, courageous, and raw.
Embers is a new vessel. Yet, in a very real sense, EMO SZN is the consequence of a long, winding path of artistic evisceration and self-discovery: a death-defying career spent immersed in the trenches of the visual and performing arts. Perhaps this is why Embers is able to so deftly intertwine contrasts—beauty and darkness, aggression and melody, grit and real pathos, the organic and the synthesized—across his unique, affecting, sprawling soundscapes.
At a given moment Embers might conjure Nothing Nowhere, Machine Gun Kelly, JXDN, and Linkin Park and more—but it is always in atmospheric shades and doses, never imitation. Embers is not for the glitter underground. Lyrically, Embers surrenders cathartic anthems for the broken-yet-not-beaten; songs for the lost survivors; pulse-pounding tales from a minefield of emotion, zeroing in on your heart and hitting their target over and over and over again.
EMO SZN is a depth-charge for the wise, the wicked, and the weary. And Embers is here to burn.
Embers is represented by Cassidy Frank of Big Night Talent. He is celebrating the release of EMO SZN on Halloween Night with Lil Lotus at The Middle East in Boston.
Connect With Embers:
]]>The single is the final single from their album Nothing Ever Changes It Only Gets Worse, which is out now. It follows the singles “11:59” and “Better Days” Along with the single, College Radio has released a video for “I’m Sorry”. The video, directed by Brian Roosen, sees the band taking a lesson in cleaning up and fitting in. “I’m Sorry” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Seattle’s premier pop-punk act College Radio blends classic 90’s punk with modern pop and indie sensibilities to create something simultaneously familiar, but also fresh and original. They’ve graced stages up and down the west coast with their wild stage shows and soaring harmonies, and with the release of their Album Nothing Ever Changes It Only Gets Worse, 2022 is looking to be their biggest year yet.
College Radio Is:
Gordon – Vocals/Guitar
Evan – Vocals/Bass
Mike – Drums
Melvin – Guitar/Vocals
Connect With College Radio:
LinkTree / Bandcamp / Hypefollow
About the song, Xeila had this to say: “This song talks about how I’ve been struggling to let go of the past, as of the last couple years, life just got tough and it was, and still is, easy to fall into the trap of just living in the past and constantly feeling sad about it. I use a lot of imagery of ghosts and hauntings on the song, to symbolize how the more you reminisce the more it starts to haunt you at times. Once you start living in different memories it’s almost like you get stuck in another world in your own mind, and you’re not sure at some point if you’re going to return to the present or continue to stay where you’re at.”
The song was a true labor of love for Xeila. “Even though I’ve had this song written for two years, I decided at the last minute to scratch half of it and just completely re-write some of the vocals, and re-produce the instrumental. I wasn’t terribly sure I was going to get this done in a way that I thought it would be good or I would happy with, but I surprised myself as I’ve never set a hard deadline to complete something in a short amount of time before like this.”
Xeila wrote, sang, produced, and mixed this single. Guitars and bass were performed by Ben McSherry and re-amped by Blake Mullens. The track was Mastered by Isaiah Prather.
“Colors” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Xeila combines the aesthetics of the dark and paranormal with the style of modern alt pop genres to create a haunting yet energetic world within their music. Xeila, formed by Ross Rocco, was a project in creation since early or mid 2020. It was heavily inspired by the artist PVRIS, wanting to follow in the footsteps of other bands and artists similar that would creatively blend electronic and rock elements into one song or album.
With Xeila’s first release of the song “Lifeless”, the song starts off this story of a character who died and woke up in the afterlife, only to fight their way back to the real world again. With newly discovering his place in the LGBTQ community, Ross often writes about feeling different from society and trying to re-discover himself in this new era of his life. A lot of these topics are found in the songwriting and storytelling of Xeila, usually symbolized heavily through paranormal and science fiction imagery.
Xeila Is:
Ross Rocco – Vocals and Production
Connect With Xeila:
https://withkoji.com/@Xeila
The song is the band’s follow up to the single “Menagerie”, which released in Spring of 2022. The band is releasing an acoustic version of the song and video to go along with the release.
“Ghost” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Fire By Night is a modern rock band based out of Phoenix, Arizona. The project was initially created by long-time friends Chris Cleland (guitar and vocals) and Kailee Vander Maten (lead vocals) in the summer of 2018. The duo’s powerful storytelling is accentuated by mournful, tearing vocals and heavy-hitting guitar riffs. They were recently joined by the young powerhouse drummer, Faith Powell, and together, they seek to help others feel heard, recognized and understood. Their style is influenced by the likes of Crazy Eighty Eight, Lower than Atlantis, and Biffy Clyro.
Fire By Night Is:
Chris Cleland – Guitar, Vocals
Kai Vander Matan – Vocals
Faith Powell – Drums
Connect With Fire By Night:
Linktree
On “New National Anthem”, State Run Radio took it upon itself to give America a new, better reason to stand at sporting events. “We had a conversation one day about the national anthem at rehearsal. And how we all hate it. It’s outdated, it uses words that aren’t even used anymore, it’s racist and it musically sucks,” explains the band. “We wrote the music to the song that same day recorded it and sent it home with Joe. A few weeks later he came in to rehearsal and was like I fixed the national anthem.”
The theme for “Rent the Garden” came up as a joke at practice. “This song is an uplifting one about going after your dreams. We randomly rented a gigantic rehearsal room for fun one night and used it to write new material. There were some jokes cracked about how dumb it was and how no one has probably ever used the space like this before. At some point, Matt busts out this total rock riff. There were a couple jokes about writing arena rock and someone said What are you going to rent next? The Garden? That was it, chorus was written.”
A lot happened between late 2001, the last time Brian Schatzel was in a band, and late 2020. Donald Trump, following 8 years of our first Black President, made racism acceptable and divided our country more than it has been since the civil war era. Then the pandemic hit and locked us all away. Needing an outlet more than ever, Brian began playing bass guitar and eventually assembling what would become State Run Radio. The band’s lineup was solidified when drummer Matt Pursino moved to second guitar and Dan Pursino joined Brian, Matt, founding guitarist Thomas Berghorn and vocalist Joe Mazzeo, to take over behind the drums.
The band is fueled by Political disgust and Media distrust which comes across in everything from the band’s name and Mazzeo’s lyrics to their cover of Marginal Man’s Missing Rungs and their Evil Mic artwork by Billy Sidebyside. State Run Radio released 2 EP’s back to back in August and September of 2022 while playing with Murphy’s Law at Amityville Music Hall in-between.
The first EP released, which is self-titled, contains 6 tracks showing the band’s progression from the early days of the pandemic. The first tracks Panic, A Thousand Crises and Rise Up are aggressive, fast-paced, and ripe with sing-alongs. On the fourth track, Rent The Garden, Mazzeo shows he can do more than sing aggressively and the guitars bring a rock feel to the riffs. Rat Bastard is a throwback with a lightning-fast thrashy feel, taking you to the most aggressive edge of the record. The last track, Our New National Anthem, busts out with melodic riffs and vocals, guitar solos, anthemic sing-alongs, and guest vocals by General George of Long Island Hardcore band Clockwise fame.
Both EP’s were Produced, Recorded and Mixed by George Fullan at General Studios and The Workshop East. All Mastering was done by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. The Evil Mic artwork is by Brian Clark, aka Billy Sidebyside, bassist of Side By Side and artist of Gorilla Biscuits fame. A 12″ vinyl double EP containing both releases is available for pre-order on Lemmis Records and is expected to ship in early November.
The State Run Radio EP is streaming on all digital streaming platforms. Hear it on Spotify now or listen to “Our New National Anthem” on YouTube below:
State Run Radio is:
Vocals – Joe Mazzeo
Guitars – Thomas Berghorn & Matt Pursino
Bass – Brian Schatzel
Drums – Dan Pursino
Speaking on the song, the band said “This single represents a fundamental shift in your music writing. This song is meant to be given meaning by the listener, to invoke an image or scene in their mind unique to them.“
This single will be on the band’s upcoming EP, which is currently in the writing and production phase. The band plans to follow up this release with further singles to continue the EP rollout before announcing a release date. The track was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Chris Whited at 1776 Recordings. Along with the single, the band has released a music video, directed, shot, and edited by Toddi Babu.
“Shards Of Glass” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Anger, sorrow, and pain personified was the goal when creating Grasping At The Shadow. Consisting of vocalist Jordan Hanley, violinist Kimberly Hovencamp, bassist Margaret Applegate, and guitarist Daniel Avalle, the band strives to create a unique brand of Deathcore by incorporating violin layered in with death metal riffs and brutal breakdowns. With this unique mixture, Grasping At The Shadow is a heavy, eerie, sight to be seen.
Formed in 2011 by Daniel Avalle and Kimberly Hovencamp, Grasping At The Shadow has played with Lorna Shore, Rings of Saturn, Hate Eternal, Decapitated, The Browning, and many other national touring acts. After releasing their debut EP Nothing After Death, the band took a brief hiatus before reforming in 2022. Of their hiatus and reformation, the band says “Taking a break was not an easy decision to make but the request from fans the world over for more music could not be ignored. So in this era, we set out to create the angriest, most pissed off music we could.“
Going forward, the band plans to release more material as singles, filled by a brand new EP, and eventually a full-length album. They are also aiming to transition to becoming a touring act and engage with fans outside of their home state.
If you’re looking for a unique approach to Deathcore or a band similar to Filth, Humanity’s Last Breath, or Distant, look no further than Grasping At The Shadow!
Grasping The Shadow Is:
Jordan Hanley – Vocals
Kimberly Hovencamp – Violin
Margaret Applegate – Bass
Daniel Avalle – Guitar
Connect With Grasping The Shadow:
]]>The track was written by guitarist/bassist Dale Hudson. Along with the single, Ocna has released a video for “Less Luminous”. The video was directed by Katy Clarkson and, according to the band, represents “different entities vibrantly blending together to make something seamless, bright, and new, then slowly going into reverse, breaking apart, and eventually fading.” “Less Luminous” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
British/Swedish four-piece Ocna combine electronica with chiming guitars and spiraling synths to create powerful indie rock that’s uplifting, epic, and at times, ambient. Formed in 2019 in the English coastal city of Brighton, the band consists of Fiona Robertson (vocals), Karl Nilsson (electronics, programming, guitar, lap steel), Matt Burns (drums), and Dale Hudson (guitar, bass, synths).
The members of Ocna like music that creates its own world, immersing the listener in sound that reflects joy, sadness, and a sense of ease, or uneasiness. The band has influences ranging from contemporary musicians such as School of Seven Bells, Beach House, and Big Thief to classic acts including Joy Division, Cocteau Twins, and Scott Walker.
Ocna Is:
Fiona Robertson – Vocals
Karl Nilsson – Keyboards, Production and Programming
Dale Hudson – Guitars and Bass
Matt Burns – Drums
Connect With Ocna:
]]>Of the lead single “Hindsight”, Dearly Departed says the track is a song of regrets. “It’s really about how you wish you could have done things differently, how you wished you hadn’t taken some things for granted, and also how you wished that everything had just worked out. But all you can do is work with what turned out to be and move on.”
The band returned in July of 2022 with the second single “Quiet Echoes”. “The message of Quiet Echoes is from the standpoint of listening to the doubts about yourself. To put it simply it’s about the negative internal monologue that we think to ourselves. The chorus is a call and answer, where I am asking the listener if they feel/hear the same thing I do at times. It’s definitely not a very happy song albeit the solace comes in the form of not being alone in these thoughts, that many others experience the same thing and that brings about a sense of unity.”
he album was produced and mixed by Jeremy Schaffer (Earth Groans, Through Fire) and Joshua Barber (Norma Jean, The Devil Wears Prada) and will be out on DI Records on Oct 14th. The band is managed and mentored by Paul Olsen, formerly of North Dakota favorites The Suite. “Quiet Echoes” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen now on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Dearly Departed is a midwest active rock/metalcore band who aims to release songs all the way from melodic hard rock with catchy vocal melodies that’ll get stuck in your head to crushing metalcore with intense story and internal conflict that’s still appealing to the average listener. Doing nothing half-ass, the Minnesota quintet that makes up Dearly Departed, brings an intense live show, crowd pleasing riffs, and relatable vocals; who’ve supported industry heavy-hitters such as Beartooth, Wage War, Stitched Up Heart, Saving Abel, and more.
In their region, they have established themselves as one of the best up and coming hard rock acts, drawing hundreds of people in their local market along with interest and radio play on clear channel radio Q105.1 in Fargo, ND and 93X in Minneapolis, MN almost immediately after their debut in 2018.
Dearly Departed is celebrating the release of its album with Cold Kingdom, Ashfall, and Stovepipes on October 15th at TAK Music Venue in Dilworth, MN.
Dearly Departed Is:
Jesse Pabody – Vocals
Deven Jason – Guitar/Production
Alex Nikolas – Guitar
Hunter Bring – Bass
Jordan Rasmussen – Drums