As we continue to live in one of the most challenging times in history, one this for certain: music lovers are relieved to have somewhat of a return to normalcy. The return of live music, especially heavy music, provides the cathartic relief we have all been looking for. After over a year of postponements, cancellations, and livestreams, it’s a relief to get to experience live music, and return to experiencing art in the best way possible – together!
It’s a sight to behold the lengthy queue of hairy Viking looking metalheads snaking around Manchester Albert Hall, assuming of course the snake in question was quite hairy and dressed like a Viking, which I feel is probably stretching the metaphor a bit too far. You’d assume that said hairy, mead quaffing snake (alright, I’ll stop now) was going to be finding its way inside to some sort of very loud and very metal sort of gig. You’d be wrong, as indeed despite the roots of the headliners in Black Metal group Gorgoroth the queue is in fact for the mesmerizing solo cellist Jo Quail, and Nordic Folk legends Wardruna.
Lustmord will release a new album of collaborative reinterpretations from some of the greatest musical artists in the world. Lustmord & various artists – The Others [Lustmord Deconstructed] will release on, April 1st 2022 via The Ocean’s Pelagic Records. This is a reimiaging of Lustmord’s seminal release Other, and The Ocean and Lustmord have dropped “Primal [State Of Being]” which you can check out now!
In some heartbreaking news for this summers’ UK festival circuit, Arctangent Festival, the best fest for Progressive Metal, Tech-Death, Djent and related sub-genres is canceled for 2021 and postponed until 2022. The festival made the announcement on social media today. Bands returning in 2022 include Opeth, Cult of Luna, TesseracT, MONO, Amenra, Maybeshewill, Alces, Perturbator, Leprous, Enslaved, Caspian, The Locust, Agent Fresco, Oathbreaker, Intronaut, AA Williams, Bell Witch, Jo Quail, Svalbard, Mass of the Fermenting Dregs, and Bloodlet.
Roadburn Festival was unfortunately canceled in 2021 and is coming back as a virtual event in 2021. This online version of the festival, titled Roadburn Redux, will feature performances broadcast live from the 013 venues in Tilburg, as well as pre-recorded and exclusive content, and will take place between April 16-18. The event will still have the same pillars of greatness Roadburn is best known for: the best underground bands in the world, one of a kind supergroups and commissioned pieces of music, art featuring official festival artist for 2021 Lucile Lejoly Land a lot more. Check out the initial program and some of the bands participating such as Hexvessel, Jo Quail, Wolvenest, Gold, and others.
Long-running post-Rock band God Is An Astronaut has dropped a new single and music video for “Burial!” The track is the first new music from the band from their upcoming new album Ghost Tapes #10 out February 12 via Napalm Records. Pre-orders are live at the link below, with special bundles available. Watch the stunning black and white music video by Chariot Of Black Moth now!
Amalie Brunn is a chameleon of the most striking, variant shades, which makes the English transalation of her of her alter-ego Myrkur (‘Darkness’) something of a paradox. That darkness, of course, comes from the Dane’s lyrical content, and frequent Black Metal incursions into the Folk-based music she peddles with wondrous feeling. New album Folkesange (Relapse Records), however, eschews the usual harsh accompaniment: focusing purely on her Scandinavian Folk roots and delivering a set of softened, heartfelt songs.Continue reading
Arctangent Festival has made a major announcement, their third of many for the 2020 event! Chelsea Wolfe has been named as the mainstage headliner for the Thursday night kickoff. Also added to the bill are Caspian, Emma Ruth Rundle, Bell Witch & Aerial Ruin, Intronaut, Talons, Arabrot, Wheel, The Guru Guru, Latitudes and many more. Opeth, Tesseract (UK festival exclusive), Swans, Metz, Oathbreaker (exclusive), The Locust (exclusive), This Will Destroy You, Amenra (UK 2020 exclusive), Ihsahn, Perturbator, maybeshewill (exclusive), Rolo Tomassi (performing two full albums sets – ‘Grievances’ and ‘Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It’), Earthtone9, Giraffes? Giraffes!, Fronterier and many more to be announced still. The fest takes place on August 20th/21st/22nd 2020 at Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin near Bristol, and tickets are on sale now at the link below. Continue reading
The amazing proggy and heavy Arctangent Festival 2020 have added a few more amazing bands, including some long-awaited returns! Swans, Metz, The Locust, Maybeshewill, Wear Your Wounds, Car Bomb, Jo Quail, Oathbreaker, Leprous, Agent Fresco, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, A.A.Williams, Tides From Nebula, and many more. They join the bill with the already announced headliners Opeth, Tesseract (UK festival exclusive), This Will Destroy You, Amenra (UK 2020 exclusive), Ihsahn, Perturbator, Rolo Tomassi (performing two full albums sets – ‘Grievances’ and ‘Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It’), Earthtone9, Giraffes? Giraffes!, Fronterier and many more. The festival will take place on August 20th/21st/22nd 2020 at Fernhill Farm, Compton Martin near Bristol, and tickets are on sale now at the links below. Continue reading
Roadburn 2020 is nearly sold out, with just a few Sunday tickets left for the legendary music festival held annually in Tilburg April 16th to 19th, NL. New bands added to the bill Alexis Marshall, Darkher, Forndom, The Devil’s Trade, LSD and The Search For God, Doodswens, Kodian Trio, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, The Sweet Release Of Death, Motor!K, Of Blood And Mercury, and Vonnis. In addition, Ignition, The Roadburn Pre-show party will take place Wednesday night at 013 Club and features Early Graves, Splinter, and The Dead Cvlt. Already announced for Roadburn 2020 are legendary acts such as Emma Ruth Rundle and James Kent as curators, commissioned projects from James Kent & Johannes Persson, Jo Quail, and Vile Creature & Bismuth, the return of Julie Christmas, Red Sparowes, Russian Circles, Torche, Brutus, Dungen, 40 Watt Sun, Alcest, Inter Arma, David Eugene Edwards, Health, Hide, Lankum, She Past Away, and two Artists In Residence: Full of Hell and Lingua Ignota.Continue reading