 Evanescence’s new album, The Bitter Truth (Sony Germany/RCA), has charted at No 4 in the UK making it their fourth Top Five album. The band’s first full-length release of all-new material in a decade, The Bitter Truth has also debuted as the top-selling Rock & Alternative album in the US, according to Nielsen Music Connect. Shortly after its release on March 26th, The Bitter Truth rose to the top of the iTunes Album Charts in 22 countries. Recorded during the pandemic, it confronts the dark realities of the world head-on. Yet its resounding message is one of light, and that pushing through is better than giving up. Check out the band performing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! HERE, and pre-order a special graphic anthology series “Echoes From The Void,” a collaboration with Heavy Metal Entertainment inspired by The Bitter Truth cuts “Better Without You” and “Wasted on You,” HERE. Watch this space for a new music video and more exciting Evanescence news to be revealed in the coming weeks. Praise for The Bitter Truth and Evanescence:
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 Evanescence will release "Better Without You" this Friday 5th March. This is the next single to be taken from their forthcoming album 'The Bitter Truth,' out on 26th March via Sony. Yesterday, they released a digital puzzle for fans to solve in order to hear a snippet of the new song - check it out HERE. Everyone who solves the puzzle will receive a free “Better Without You” ringtone and will be entered for a chance to be the first fan in the world (along with a guest) to hear the full song along with a private Q&A with singer Amy Lee.  'The Bitter Truth' is Evanescence's first album of original music in ten years, and its songs have already earned accolades from The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Elle, Billboard, and many more. Watch the band perform on Jimmy Kimmel Live! HERE, and watch this space for more news about "Better Without You" on Friday March 5th! Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube  [Photo Credit: Francesca Ludikar] Canadian alternative metal crossover stars Sumo Cyco are about to transcend into an explosive new era with their upcoming full-length, Initiation, scheduled for release on May 7, 2021 via Napalm Records! Interlaced with infectious heavy metal grooves, pop-perfected hooks, electronic undertones and a dose of punk flavour, Initiation breaks all the rules while delivering a cohesive yet purely unbridled sonic adventure. Sumo Cyco has cemented their name by garnering an impressive legion of fans with their hard-working attitude and story-building prowess. With Initiation, Sumo Cyco takes it to a whole new level – demonstrated by their new single, “Bystander”! Crowned by expert, airtight vocal domination from Juno-nominated pop star-turned-rock frontwoman Skye “Sever” Sweetnam, the track features an aggressive, fast-paced attack of low, grooving metal riffage, relentless drums and slinking electronic accents. Its accompanying music video reflects the track’s energetic, chaotic vibe with sharp, vivid visuals. Don’t just be a bystander, check it out now! Frontwoman Skye “Sever” Sweetnam says about “Bystander” and its video: “‘Bystander’ was inspired by the frustration of our lives turning upside down in this pandemic. I felt like instead of living my life, I was now a slave to a screen, watching the world fall apart right before my eyes, totally helpless. The music video depicts my character trapped in a floating house watching news events taking place on TV, and at the same time, right outside my window. This entire video was produced, filmed and edited by Matt and I in our home studio!” Watch the brand new music video for “Bystander” HERE
Initiation invites a mass of new followers into their warped, dystopian-like world of “Cyco City”! As with its predecessors Lost In Cyco City (2014), Opus Mar (2017) and countless singles, Initiation is based in the imaginative conceptual location of “Cyco City”. But unlike most concept albums, the lyrical content is inspired by the band’s real-time environment – featuring timely, personal themes of love, sacrifice, anxiety, empowerment and more that all listeners can relate to. Sweetnam adds about the album: "The album’s title, Initiation, stems from wanting to invite the audience to be “initiated” into our world. There are usually two congruent themes to each of our albums – one is real-world inspiration, and the other is “Cyco City”, a comic book-esque alternate universe where all our music videos take place. With Initiation, we introduce four gangs or clubs. Our music videos for Initiation all include a theme of these clubs – whether it’s gang vs. gang, a forbidden love between opposing sides, or the idea of having to choose where you belong. Outside of the story, the lyrics relate to the polarization of the world we live in now. We all have a longing to belong, but what makes one feel accepted or ostracized from a group? To be INITIATED, would you be willing to try to understand another point of view? I have always written lyrics about internal struggle, the war within oneself. Throughout the album, we bounce back and forth between struggle and overcoming. It reflects the times, and there are moments that seem a bit dark.” Pre-order Initiation HERE *Various new tracks, such as “New Jive” and “We Are The Nation” are available in different groupings on various formats of Initiation (i.e. Die Hard Limited Edition). Initiation will be available in the following formats:
SUMO CYCO is: Skye “Sever” Sweetnam – vocals Matt “MD13” Drake – lead guitar Matt "Trozzi" – drums Oscar Anesetti – bass SUMO CYCO online: WEBSITE NAPALM RECORDS  Portugal's purveyors of groovy alternative metal band Vëlla have just shared the video for their 5th single “Despair”. The single is taken from their long-awaited debut album “Coma”, which was released via Raising Legends Records on the 9th March 2020. "Despair", the 5th official single from “Coma”, can be heard here: https://youtu.be/ss9C4HhuJeQ The album was recorded at Raising Legends Studios in Lisbon and was produced, mixed and mastered by Caesar Craveiro. The album features renowned musicians from within the Portuguese metal scene, guesting on these tracks:
Guitarist Oz Vilesov states that: "This record is a special record for everyone involved. Despite the pandemic, we did not throw in the towel and despite being our debut album we have received fantastic reactions from all over the world." Vocalist Pedro Lopes admits that the band: “Expects, after the end of this pandemic, extremely great things for us, since the reactions about our debut album, are being spectacular, and we are sure that with all the hard work we are doing this will allow us to step on some big stages in a near future". From "Coma" you can expect a dynamic, powerful metal monument, built with powerful riffs, melancholic facades, and melodic grandeur. Vëlla are:
 Linkin Park continue the Hybrid Theory 20th Anniversary Celebration with the release of One Step Closer (100 gecs Reanimation). One Step Closer was the lead single from the band’s debut album, Hybrid Theory. One Step Closer (100 gecs Reanimation) available HERE via Warner Records. The band recruited the critically adored, groundbreaking pioneers to re-envision, reimagine, and reanimate this generational anthem as they see fit. The results bridge the gap between eras of musical revolution as 100 gecs—Dylan Brady and Laura Les—cook up an otherworldly interpretation of One Step Closer, which preserves the signature intensity of the original as it pushes into new territory altogether with gecs adding their own vocals in addition to production. As kindred spirits, Linkin Park set a precedent for genre-bending in 2000, and 100 gecs pick up this mantle and run with it in 2021. “Part of the spirit of Reanimation was to take the Hybrid Theory songs that people knew so well, and let innovative artists flip them in ways nobody expected. I think 100 gecs did exactly that.” said Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. 100 gecs also created the official visualiser, which debuts with the reanimation’s arrival. Check it out HERE. Additional remakes from other disruptors are in the works and could very well materialise soon. Stay tuned for more, as the next era of Linkin Park dawns now. Linkin Park capped off 2020 with the triumphant unveiling of the Hybrid Theory: 20th Anniversary Edition. The album roared back onto the charts, surging to #3 on the Billboard Top Album Sales Chart 20 years since its initial release. It marked the record’s highest position on the respective chart since 2002. 100 gecs is the groundbreaking pop duo of Dylan Brady and Laura Les, who planted their flag on the proverbial pop culture moon with their 2019 debut album 1000 gecs. The innovative project captured the hearts of fans and critics alike with The New York Times calling it, “Some of the savviest pop music of the year,” and Interview Magazine suggesting that it is, “A blueprint for what pop music might sound like in the year 2050.” In just a few months the band went from playing their first concert from inside the video game Minecraft to selling out shows across the country, proving that their rabid fanbase doesn't only exist in the far corners of the internet. After their world tour was postponed in the summer of 2020, Brady and Les returned with 1000 gecs and The Tree of Clues, a rework of the original album featuring collaborations from the likes of A. G. Cook, Fall Out Boy, Charlie XCX, Rico Nasty, as well as crowd sourced contributions by fans. The transformative release was described by NME as a “brain-melting, genre-crushing vision of pop’s future.” Welsh ragga metallers Skindred announce the re-release of their breakthrough album 'Roots Rock Riot'2/11/2020  Thirteen years after its release, Skindred are excited to announce the re-release of their second album Roots Rock Riot. The album will be available on February 26th 2020, and can be pre-ordered now here. Written in the basement of a Newport boxing club, recorded in America and laying the groundwork for everything that followed it, Roots Rock Riot is an important piece of Skindred’s history – a piece that this re-release celebrates. The first record of their discography to feature what would become the permanent line-up of vocalist Benji Webbe, bassist Daniel Pugsley, guitarist Mikey Demus and drummer Arya Goggin, it started its life as that difficult second album. What it became completely transcends that, bookending a difficult period of the band’s existence and boldly kicking down the door to the future of their illustrious career. Benji remembers delivering the vocals with the same passion he employs in front of a festival crowd, and recalls:- “I’m not one of those people who cheers when they’ve finished a record. But I’m always thankful to get to make my art, blending contemporary British music and Jamaican music, with my friends. On Roots Rock Riot I think we did that excellently.” Mikey meanwhile sees this re-release as an opportunity to examine how he and his band have come on in the years since:- “I’m really proud of the record. I had a hell of a lot of fun making it and it features some really important Skindred tracks.” Producer Matt Squire (Panic At The Disco / Neck Deep) brought the whole album to life and realises its importance in cementing Skindred as one of the most important bands in the British heavy rock scene. “Longevity is all about being real. Times were changing when the album was made, and if the band hadn’t been real in what they did they might have been passed off as a metal band with an innovative singer. Roots Rock Riot presented Skindred as a band with amazing songs. Those songs are made up of a crazy amalgamation of sounds, while remaining absolutely undeniable.”  Available on vinyl for the first time as well as CD, the re-release of Roots Rock Riot features rare cuts and previously unheard music. As well as the complete tracklist of the original, the vinyl version of the record comes with an additional 7” containing two exclusive tracks: ‘It’s A Crime’ (previously only featured on the Japanese release) and ‘Struggle’ (never released). The CD release also contains both those tracks and an acoustic version of ‘Destroy The Dance Floor’. If that’s not enough, the re-release is also accompanied by some exclusive merchandise pre-order bundles. Available in the bundles are three 12” vinyl colour variants (Transparent Orange, Transparent Green and a special 3-colour Red, Yellow & Green), a t-shirt and a turntable slipmat, both of which feature a classic design from the original Roots Rock Riot release. Pre-orders are available here. The re-release of Roots Rock Riot follows the recent announcement of their full UK Showtime Tour for September 2021, joined by very special guests Royal Republic. SEPTEMBER 2021 SHOWTIME TOUR DATES Thu 23rd – Cambridge, Junction Fri 24th – Oxford, Academy Sat 25th – Northampton, Roadmenders Thu 30th – Leeds, Academy Fri 1st – Birmingham, Institute Sat 2nd – London, Roundhouse Thu 7th – Cardiff, Tramshed Fri 8th – Bristol, Academy Sat 9th – Nottingham, Rock City Sun 10th – Glasgow, SWG3 Fri 15th – Southampton, Guildhall Fri 22nd – Sheffield, Corporation Sat 23rd – Newcastle, Uni Students’ Union Fri 29th – Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion Sat 30th – Manchester, Academy Sun 31st – Norwich, UEA FOLLOW SKINDRED Italian Alternative Metallers Sick N' Beautiful release 'God Of Thunder' music video & single2/11/2020  After a long time since their second album "Element Of Sex", alien metallers Sick N' Beautiful are coming back with a new 4-piece line-up, a new single and a new no-holds-barred attitude. The song is a cover of "God Of Thunder", recorded originally by Kiss for the album "Destroyer" (1976). Vocalist Herma states that:- "When 'Element Of Sex' came out, we were full of enthusiasm and optimism. Unfortunately, in the last two years we have experienced the uglier side of the music industry. Some of us got tired of all the bullshit and decided to call it quits. We don't blame them." Bassist Big Daddy Ray points out that:- "The band has been put through an emotional and financial wringer, but things are getting resolved, and some lessons have been learned, hopefully. Still, this industry is not for the faint-hearted. "For this 'comeback' of sorts, we chose a Kiss cover because we wanted to go back to our artistic roots. Kiss was such an influential band, and we wanted to pay tribute to their music, of course, but we also wanted to find ourselves again in the process." In the words of drummer Evey:- "The new line-up, with guitarist Nemes, is leaner and meaner. Combine this with the current worldwide upheaval along with an unprecedented pandemic, and you'll understand how the songwriting on the new material is reflecting all of this". Herma reprises:- "We would have never made it through these times without the help, support and sheer love from our fans. In fact, we recorded all the vocals for the song during a few live Twitch sessions. Fans got the chance to hear it all in real time and give us immediate feedback, even guiding us through the production! It was a lot of fun, and it's something unique and intimate that we want to repeat again soon!" God Of Thunder (a Kiss cover) is available digitally on all platforms starting October 31 here: https://smarturl.it/snb-godofthunder Link video: https://youtu.be/aXiQz5Pucb4 https://www.sicknbeautiful.com https://www.facebook.com/sicknbeautifulband https://www.instagram.com/sicknbeautifulband/ https://youtube.com/c/SickNBeautiful Hell Music Agency Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hellmusicagency Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hellmusicagency  World dominating, multi-award nominated Bring Me The Horizon are poised to release a highly anticipated EP entitled ‘Post Human: Survival Horror’ on October 30th via RCA. Today, they also announced a long awaited Arena tour, kicking off on September 21st 2021 at Glasgow SSE Hydro. This will be their only live shows in the UK for 2021. Continuing to push their creative boundaries, even during lockdown, the band have created a body of work that is arguably one of their most exciting, diverse, intricate pieces of music to date. The first two tracks from the EP ‘Parasite Eve’ and the recent colossus ‘Obey’ featuring fellow Brit Yungblud, have received critical acclaim and amassed over 115 Million audio and video streams combined to date. Other guests on the EP include Babymetal, Nova Twins and Amy Lee from Evanescence. EP –POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR’
UK TOUR DATES – SEPTEMBER 2021 21st – Glasgow, The SSE Hydro 22nd – Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena 24th – Sheffield, FlyDSA Arena 25th – Birmingham, Utilita Arena 26th – London The O2 Arena  U.N.S.I.N. are an alternative metal band from Greece which first came on the scene in 2009. Having been influenced from different music genres, they have formed a unique musical hybrid. Just released their new single titled “Blink”, which will be included in their upcoming album. The new record is ready and bound to be released soon. With this very album U.N.S.I.N. are expected to surprise their fans. The band's experimentation in this record has evolved their sound into something completely new without sacrificing their true metal soul. Further details are to be announced along the way to its release. Stay tuned! Watch official video here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70yVV12Q9a4 http://unsinofficial.com/ https://twitter.com/unsin_band https://open.spotify.com/artist/0qReQAxyH1ALEExaPiiDoZ https://www.youtube.com/c/UNSINBAND https://www.facebook.com/unsinofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/unsinofficial/  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 |
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Global Metal Apocalypse Archives
February 2021
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