 photo by Sarah Churchill Riley Gale, the dynamic vocalist and frontman of Texas thrash metal luminaries Power Trip, has passed away leaving a void in the worldwide metal community. Riley was an extraordinarily charismatic, outspoken, and kind-hearted person who has touched lives around the globe both onstage and off. Our condolences go out to Riley's family, bandmates, friends, and fans. Rest in peace... Please read the official statement issued yesterday evening: "Dear Power Trip fans worldwide, It is with the greatest of sadness we must announce that our lead singer and brother Riley Gale passed away last night. Riley was a friend, a brother, a son. Riley was both a larger than life rock star and a humble and giving friend. He touched so many lives through his lyrics and through his huge heart. He treated everyone he met as a friend and he always took care of his friends. We will celebrate Riley's life and never forget the great works of music, charity, and love that he left behind. You, the fans, meant so much to him, please know how special you are. If you have a memory of Riley please share it, no matter how small, as we remember him. Please respect our wishes for privacy during this time. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Dallas Hope Charities, the link to donate directly is here: https://www.dallashopecharities.org Signed, Riley's Loving Family P.S. Funeral and visitation arrangements are pending. http://powertrip.bandcamp.com https://twitter.com/PowerTripTX http://www.facebook.com/powertripTX https://www.instagram.com/powertriptx
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 [Photo Credit: Stephanie Cabral // Illustration: Anne Catherine Swallow] Top-charting dark groove metal originators Devildriver recently announced the highly-anticipated release of their upcoming double album, Dealing With Demons. The first volume – entitled Dealing With Demons I – drops on October 9, 2020 via Napalm Records and marks the band’s first release of new, original material since 2016’s acclaimed Trust No One. Representing the onset of a final purging of the themes that have long possessed frontman Dez Fafara and Devildriver’s music, each track on Dealing With Demons I illustrates a different demon to be dealt with, or released. Today, the band is following up on the release of their burgeoning latest single “Keep Away From Me” and its thought-provoking video with yet another unforgettable anthem – the menacing, mosh-ready second single "Iona". From the ominous siren at its start to its grooving verses, the track pulls no punches. The hair-raising, anthemic chorus line, “She carries a black rose…” beckons the listener again and again into a chilling ghost story! Travel the dark road into Iona's clutches via the heart-gripping music video, directed by Vicente Cordero, below. Watch the chilling official music video for “Iona” HERE Frontman Dez Fafara says about “Iona” and the demons that inspired the track: "Iona is unlike any other Devildriver song we’ve put out. From the frantic verses to the haunting chorus, this song is another move forward to push our sound and the listener's ears into the fray! The chorus, “she carries a black rose, effigy from a story closed", tells the story of the long dead ghost of Iona and her obsession with death represented by the black roses in her hands – each one the soul of someone she’s taken from this life on a lonely dark road, assimilating their souls into black roses, which she carries for eternity. This theme relates to myself and “Dealing With Demons” in that, often times, we as people have a hard time “letting go” of things. This can be applied to relationships, death, and so on. Iona carrying the black roses symbolizes her inability to move on – always seeking revenge. The past is exactly that – the past – it’s important to let go and not be stuck in a perpetual loop of living in it." WEBSITE NAPALM RECORDS  Evanescence release “The Game is Over” the second song to be taken from The Bitter Truth (RCA), their first album of new original music in nine years. The Bitter Truth will be released incrementally throughout 2020. The iPhone-shot, neon-nightmare of a video for “The Game is Over” will go live Friday 3rd July at 12 pm ET / 5 pm UK during a live YouTube premiere featuring a fan Q&A with Amy Lee – link HERE. A guitar-driven anthem, “The Game is Over” is a protest against the facades we are pressurized to put on by society. In the face of depression and anxiety - and especially in a world that seems to crumble further each day - it’s a cry to end the charade that everything’s fine. The accompanying video is a nightmarish, effects-laden look at the emotional havoc that the current situation has wrought. Despite being restricted to shooting themselves on iPhones, the band, in collaboration with director P.R. Brown, managed to achieve a highly stylized production literalizing the metaphorical monsters within us. The video is astonishing proof of the creative spark of working with limited resources and a testament to the band’s commitment to its craft. Spotlighting the mental darkness behind the false smiles, it’s a disturbing, technicolour tribute to the light at the end of the tunnel - if you’re willing to face the terrors that line its walls. Singer Amy Lee says of “The Game is Over” - “This song is about being sick of the facade. The disguises we wear for others to make them feel comfortable, the inside feelings being so different than what we show on the outside to fit within the boundaries of what’s socially acceptable, or what’s not going to make you unpleasant or too ‘weird’ to be around. ‘The Game is Over’ is a promise to myself and out loud that I’m going to be more of my real, inner self on the outside--not lock her up because she can’t be contained any more. It’s also a prayer to become better, to not feel so messed up, locked up, and hurt inside.” Follow Evanescence Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube American Alternative Metal vocalist Jen Janet to release new single "Possession" on July 8th3/7/2020  PHOTO: Jeremy Saffer Alternative metal vocalist Jen Janet has announced the upcoming release of her new single "Possession," out on all digital platforms July 8th. Self-described as a ‘multimedia musical project,’ Jen Janet has long-term industry experience as both a solo artist and front woman, as well as in fashion, makeup, photography, and videography. Built upon darker imagery, her new music highlights a noticeable shift in genres - her last solo EP, released in 2017, was a focused pop record. "Possession" finds Jen back in her rock roots and ready to embrace the darkness. Jen Janet is a classically trained vocalist and songwriter. Her songs have been licensed for media placements in mobile apps in both Korea and Turkey. Jen is the vocalist for Mimesis, a progressive art rock project featuring members of Scale the Summit, the Beast of Nod, and Abiotic. The band’s debut music video, Ctrl Alt Del, was released November 11, 2019 and is influenced by bands such as Polyphia, Periphery, Animals as Leaders, and Plini. With her former band Blind Revision, Jen Janet shared the stage with internationally touring acts: Saving Abel, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Motionless in White, Puddle of Mudd, Buckcherry, The Amity Affliction, Devildriver, Amorphis, and many more. In 2018, the band was nominated for best hard rock/metal act of the year in the New England music awards. Blind Revision was also nominated for best rock/metal and hardcore act in 2017 for the Worcester music awards, and in 2018 for Rhode Island’s Motif Magazine music awards. Motif Magazine also nominated Jen Janet for best female vocalist the same year. https://jenjanet.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jenjanetmusic/ https://twitter.com/jenjanetmusic https://www.facebook.com/jenjanetmusic https://www.youtube.com/c/jenjanet  Canadian Death Metal / Grindcore outfit Ashed have signed a 2 year deal with Vargheist Records The band released their fourth album "Chronic Rot" on the 1st June 2020. They had this to say about the new album:- "Chronic Rot has hints of Gorguts and Demilich all while keeping the brutality found in previous album and releases. If there is interest in physical copies for this album, then they will be pressed. Please let us know via social media if it is something that is worth pursuing." The album was recorded, mixed, and mastered by R. @DNKBWLS Studio between April and May of 2020. https://www.facebook.com/ashedtheslamband/ https://ashedslam.bandcamp.com/  American Black / Doom Metal crew Overwhelmed have signed a 3 year deal with Vargheist Records. Their latest release "By Virtue of Persistence, In Certainty of Death" was released on the 6th of April 2019 and is their second demo. The band spoke of the release:- "'By Virtue of Persistence, In Certainty of Death', is the first, fully mixed and mastered recording in nearly four years of our arduous journey. Three all new tracks triumphing the unconquerable nature of sorrow and the beauty of loss." Mixed & Mastered courtesy of Joshua Freemon & James Barlie. https://www.facebook.com/OVERWHELMED666 https://overwhelmed150.bandcamp.com/  The symphonic/gothic metal band Graveshadow have released a new single, “Gwynnbleidd,” the Sacramento, California-based act’s first new music in two years. The track – which is now available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and other digital platforms – marks the recording debut of the group’s new vocalist, Rachl Quinn, as well as new bassist Luci Rae. You can view a streaming audio player on YouTube - https://youtu.be/XrorDG70g3Q or find direct links at www.smarturl.com/Graveshadow According to guitarist Aaron Robitsch, “’Gwynnbleidd” was inspired by the popular Netflix fantasy drama ‘The Witcher.’ I initially wrote the music for the project that Will (Walker, guitars) and I were going to form when Graveshadow seemed like it was over,” he explains. “When Rachl was recruited, we felt that the song had the potential to showcase her vocals perfectly and show a strong comeback for the band. Lyrically, Rachl took inspiration from ‘The Witcher,’ continuing our trend of songs being influenced from a variety of fandoms, including ‘Game of Thrones,’ ‘World of Warcraft,’ ‘The Legend of Zelda’ and ‘Doctor Who.’” Adds Walker:- “I’m really excited about this track. I feel it showcases the next natural evolution of Graveshadow’s sound, and Aaron did a fantastic job composing it. It was also the first chance we got to work with Rachl in a writing capacity, and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. I was on a huge ‘Witcher’ kick, so when Rachl wanted the lyrics to centre on Geralt and Ciri’s relationship, I was on board immediately. We’ve always enjoyed weaving lyrics about our favourite stories into our music, and I think this is one that our fans are really going to enjoy. It showcases a leap forward in the guitar work, and the orchestrations are bombastic and uplifting at the same time. This is just a taste of what we’ll be releasing later this year, and I feel it’s a damn fine first sip!” “Gwynnbleidd” is expected to appear on Graveshadow's forthcoming EP, which will further showcase the potential displayed on their 2015 debut “Nocturnal Resurrection” and “Ambition's Price,” both of which saw the group deftly mix symphonic and gothic metal with elements of doom, thrash and epic progressive power metal. Additional details on the new release will follow in the coming months. Since forming in 2013, Graveshadow have earned extensive praise for mixing fantasy-based lyrics with crushing guitars, beautiful keyboard melodies, thundering bass, earth-shattering drums and powerful vocals that range from operatic highs to unearthly growls, creating a rich and dynamic musical atmosphere that is ripe for storytelling. The group has built a steady following in the Western United States in recent years through regional tours and performances alongside the likes of Sirenia, Tarja, Angra, Arkona, Children of Bodom, Apocalyptica, Marty Friedman, Death Angel, Flotsam and Jetsam and Anvil. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/graveshadow https://www.m-theoryaudio.com/  Lamb Of God has released “Routes,” the fourth single from their June 19 self-titled Epic Records release, featuring a guest appearance from Testament vocalist Chuck Billy. A visualizer for the track is available now at http://lamb-of-god.com. Fans can pre-order Lamb of God, including a new alternate CD cover version signed by all five band members, now at the band’s official web store: http://shop.lamb-of-god.com. “Routes” was lyrically inspired by vocalist D. Randall Blythe’s time alongside native peoples at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota during the No DAPL movement. This protest, which began with just a few Native women and children camping at the site in protest of the pipeline being built so near to their water supply on unseeded treaty land, quickly grew to an encampment of thousands and received global attention. Blythe says:- “I went to Standing Rock because I had heard reports of violence committed on the peaceful protestors there by both state law enforcement and private security contractors, and this violence was not reported in mainstream media for the most part. I went to bring supplies and support these people, who were trying to protect their water, and thereby protect everyone, as everything in the natural world is protected. I was there a week, made some great friends, and learned a lot. It was a very profound experience in my life, and I knew one day I would write a song about it.” Although Blythe conveys his story through the song’s vivid lyrics, he called in his friend Chuck Billy, who is of Pomo Native American heritage, to lend a deeper authenticity to his narrative. He adds:- “My experience, although my own, was tempered and shaped by the hundreds of years of brutal oppression of Native peoples in our country. So, it was imperative for me to have a Native voice represented on the song, and Chuck Billy was happy to be that voice. At the end, there is a call and response section - Chuck calls and I respond. This is intentional. Musically, it is symbolic of my experience there. A native voice leads, bringing forth positive energy and calling to the people to unite, and I reply, providing support. That was my physical experience, and it is reflected in the song.” Chuck Billy adds:- “It was a great honour as a proud Pomo Native American to be asked by Lamb Of God to do some guest vocals on this song. The No DAPL movement by the indigenous people of this country was a historic event. Being able to lend my voice to represent the Native American people, complementing Randy's storytelling and lyrics, is something really special to me. I’m glad this movement was put in a musical message, and I am extremely happy to have been a part of it.” Audiences got a taste of the first new Lamb Of God music in nearly five years with “Checkmate” back in February, followed by “Memento Mori” and the most recent single, “New Colossal Hate.” All four songs will appear on Lamb Of God, the follow-up to VII: Sturm und Drang (2015). The album was once again produced by collaborator Josh Wilbur (Gojira, Korn, Megadeth, Trivium), fuelled by a mountain of riffs and looming rhythmic shadows. It is also the band’s first record with Cruz, who sat behind the kit with Lamb Of God in 2018 and became an official member the following year. In addition to Chuck Billy, the new album features a guest appearance from Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed). Blythe sounds more driven and insightful than ever on Lamb Of God, offering up the angriest and most comprehensive diatribes, addressing modern life in the current landscape, of his storied career thus far. Lamb Of God propelled heavy metal into the new millennium two decades ago with the prophetically titled New American Gospel. They followed with 2003’s As the Palaces Burn, which made the Rolling Stone list of the Top 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. Ashes of the Wake (2004) was the first Lamb Of God album to be certified gold by the RIAA, followed by Sacrament (2006), which debuted in Billboard’s Top 10. Wrath (2009) earned the No. 1 spot on Billboard’s Hard Rock, Rock, and Tastemaker charts and was No. 2 on the Billboard 200. Those No. 1 positions were repeated with Resolution (2012). VII: Sturm und Drang (2015) debuted at No. 3 in North America and in the Top 5 in several countries. The single “512” from VII: Sturm und Drang received a Grammy nod for the “Best Metal Performance,” making it Lamb Of God’s fifth Grammy nomination. www.lamb-of-god.com www.facebook.com/lambofgod https://twitter.com/lambofgod http://instagram.com/lambofgod  Photo: Jeremy Saffer Metal trailblazers Tetrarch have wrapped up work on their second album, Unstable, produced by Dave Otero (Cattle Decaptitation, Allegeon, Khemmis) and Tetrarch, scheduled for release this fall. The first single from the album, “I’m Not Right,” is set to premiere on Sirius/XM’s Liquid Metal on Thursday, May 14. The song, which will be released the following day, is available to pre-save at https://tetrarch.ffm.to/imnotright. Guitarist Diamond Rowe says:- “We are very unapologetic about who we are as a band now, and you can really hear that with this new record. It embodies everything that we want the world to hear in heavy music and I believe many people are going to love and relate to it. We are all very excited to put this out and continue riding this wave.” Adds guitarist/vocalist Josh Fore:- “With this record, we pushed ourselves to do whatever was best for the songs. I am so proud of what we have created. This record is heavy, it’s catchy, but most of all it is unequivocally Tetrarch and we are ready to bring it to the world.” Tetrarch burst onto the scene in 2017 with the release of their full-length album, Freak, produced by Dave Otero. The album immediately reached strong positions on several iTunes charts – debuting within the Top 200 chart, at #3 on the metal charts and #17 on the rock charts. Their lead single, “Freak,” also garnered huge response from Sirius XM Octane, and hit Top 50 on the Active Rock charts. The band toured incessantly following the release of the album, including headlining gigs, slots on major tours and appearances at some of North America’s largest music festivals. After a year of writing, the band reflected on their previous recording experience and made the decision to return to Denver to once again work with Otero as co-producer of Unstable. Rowe says:- “It’s been quite a journey, but we are an extremely hands-on band when it comes to every aspect of what we do. Dave made it very comfortable for us to create together.” As with their debut, Tetrarch’s Unstable amplifies the band’s tried-and-true blend of intense heavy riffage and driving drums with the dark vibes and haunting choruses of hooky modern hard rock. Tetrarch’s influences are evident but never replicated, as they stay true to their own unique sound that will appeal to any heavy music fan. Says Rowe:- “Everything that we have done as a band has led to where we are today. We are very humbled by all the support we are constantly given by our fans and we cannot wait for everyone around the world to hear this record. We are going to be touring relentlessly all over the world and playing in front of as many faces as we can. We could not be more excited.” TETRARCH is: Josh Fore – vocals/guitar Diamond Rowe – lead guitar Ryan Lerner – bass Ruben Limas – drums www.tetrarchmusic.com www.facebook.com/tetrarchmusic www.twitter.com/tetrarch www.instagram.com/tetrarchmusic Evanescence announces first new album in nine years; shares first song & video “Wasted On You”26/4/2020  Watch the life-in-quarantine video for “Wasted on You” self-shot by the band HERE (link live at 12pm EST/5pm UK) Evanescence has announced their first album of new original music in nine years - The Bitter Truth (RCA UK) - which will be released incrementally over the course of this year. Launching the first song and video, “Wasted on You” HERE (link will go live at 12pm EST / 9am PST/5pm UK) today, Friday 24th April, it will premiere live via YouTube during which singer Amy Lee will participate in a fan Q&A. The video for “Wasted on You” was shot by each band member - lead singer-songwriter and pianist Amy Lee, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, lead guitarist Troy McLawhorn, and guitarist Jen Majura - on their iPhones while currently in isolation. The intimately shot video (directed by P.R. Brown in collaboration with the band) breaks through the emotional stillness and numbness of the current time to reflect the internal highs and lows that each of us are experiencing on a daily basis. Perfectly encapsulating the current moods of disconnection from the world, lack of control, and purposelessness felt by so many, the video finds the band members alone at their homes and with their families, biding time and trying to create in a world and for an audience that seems smaller than ever. Paired with Amy Lee’s stunning vocals and the band’s signature pure-rock sound, the song’s central refrain is shockingly timely & universal.  As Amy explains:- “We were recording this music right up until we couldn’t go into the studio anymore, and finished it remotely through file sharing and phone calls. We are still writing and have a lot more work to do on this album, but this time we wanted to release the songs individually, as we create, to live more in the moment with our fans and our music. ‘Wasted On You’ wasn’t the song we were planning to release first, but when the whole world went into indefinite lockdown and everything changed, so did the feeling and meaning of what we wanted to say right now. I didn’t write these lyrics about what we’re all now going through, but somehow that’s exactly what they are. As far as business is concerned, this is considered a terrible time to release. But we believe that people need music now more than ever. We do, and we’re not going to wait to share it because who knows what tomorrow brings. Who knows if it even comes?" Director P.R. Brown adds:- “After we started looking at the footage it was clear that the band members were each going through similar things. I started building an edit seeing those scenarios play out over and over again and linked them together to tell their stories.” The Bitter Truth takes its foundation in the epic, signature sound that has earned Evanescence two GRAMMY awards and more than 23 million album sales worldwide. Producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Rush, Deftones) has been tracking with the band in Nashville since late January. In a break from the past, the band will be rolling out a series of songs from the album incrementally, culminating in the release of the full album. Later this year, the band plans to tour through Europe on the rescheduled co-headline tour with Within Temptation originally scheduled for this month. Conditions permitting, the band will also continue to perform shows in other parts of the world as well. Follow Evanescence Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube |
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