Thursday, December 22, 2016

THE JOURNEYS ALTERNATIVE PRESS MUSIC AWARDS, FUELED BY MONSTER ENERGY Return to "The Land", CLEVELAND, OHIO, for 4th Annual Celebration of Alternative Music

THE JOURNEYS ALTERNATIVE PRESS MUSIC AWARDS,
FUELED BY MONSTER ENERGY
Return to "The Land", CLEVELAND, OHIO, for 4th Annual Celebration of Alternative Music

Mark Your Calendars - July 17, 2017 - Tickets on Sale Soon

 

"The GRAMMYs of Alternative Music" - TIME Magazine

Watch a 2017 Teaser Video Here

CLEVELAND, OH - Last summer, after another successful year of extraordinary performances, exciting surprises, interactive onsite activities and an action-packed, star-studded red carpet, the Journeys Alternative Press Music Awards, Fueled by Monster Energy Drink further solidified itself as the biggest, most popular celebration of alternative music on the planet.

After hosting 2016's event in the great city of Columbus, Ohio at Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center, Cleveland-based music magazine Alternative Press is pleased to announce they are bringing the APMAs back to their home city on the evening of July 17, 2017.

The APMAs promise even more of what fans have come to expect from the show in 2017 - huge stars and incredible performances - presented on a scale worthy of the most exciting genres in music!

Alternative Press founder and CEO Mike Shea states, "We've got some big things planned for the APMAs in 2017 and we're so happy that we get to return to our hometown to make it all happen. The city of Cleveland is one of the hottest revitalized cities in the nation and we are proud of our ongoing contribution to the city's growth."

Details regarding the 2017 APMAs venue, tickets and VIP packages, hosts, nominees, honorees, attending/performing artists, red carpet appearances, surrounding events and more will be announced in the new year via www.altpress.com/apmas.

Last year's APMAs trended worldwide on Twitter and Facebook for over 72 hours - before, during and after live streaming on Amazon Music's official Twitch channel - which reached a staggering 500,000-plus viewers. The Alternative Press Music Awards were the most viewed stream on Twitch day of show, in addition to being the No. 3 most viewed music stream in the platform's history. Social media reaction and fan response spread fast and furious across the internet following the opening red carpet and awards ceremony, garnering millions of impressions.

In addition, over 6,000 die-hard alternative music fans attended the live show in person. Fans enjoyed hours of snapping pics and rubbing elbows with celebrities and artists outside the red carpet (streamed live via tumblr.), had merch and other items personally signed by their favorite bands at the Monster Energy Artist Signing Truck, enjoyed a front row view of the electrifying live show action in the Fearless Records Fan Pit, and capped off the night celebrating at the official fan afterparty at Skully's Music Diner. If you missed out on the fun last year, check out a 2016 ultimate highlight reel here.

Each Alternative Press Music Awards show has featured some of the greatest artists in modern music, ranging from today's biggest rock stars such as Fall Out Boy, Hayley Williams of Paramore, Panic! At The Disco, Twenty One Pilots, Machine Gun Kelly, Papa Roach, Pierce The Veil, PVRIS, Black Veil Brides, Tyler Posey of MTV's Teen Wolf and Weezer, to musical legends such as Aerosmith's Joe Perry, Slash, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Billy Corgan of The Smashing Pumpkins and Ice-T. Countless renowned artists such as Rob Zombie, Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low, Motionless In White, Marilyn Manson, Run of RUN DMC, Coolio, Ollie Sykes of Bring Me The Horizon, and beyond have appeared at the APMAs, with spectacular performances from artists including (but not limited to) New Found Glory, Yellowcard, A Day To Remember, Laura Jane Grace of Against Me!, Third Eye Blind and more. Additionally, the APMAs are recognized for presenting collaborative cover performances unlike music fans have ever seen before, including Joan Jett and Slash teaming up to perform "Star Star" by the Rolling Stones, Asking Alexandria performing Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf" with Jonathan Davis of Korn, Halestorm and Slipknot/Stone Sour vocalist Corey Taylor covering Temple Of The Dog's "Hunger Strike", Rob Halford and BABYMETAL performing Judas Priest classics "Breaking The Law" and "Painkiller" and many more.

Keep your eyes on www.altpress.com/apmas over the coming weeks for new announcements and information on the 2017 Alternative Press Music Awards!

About Alternative Press:
For over 30 years, Alternative Press continues to be on the forefront of discovering new artists, breaking news and reporting on the latest trends in music and youth culture. Since its early days as a pasted-up fanzine in the mid-'80s, Alternative Press is one of the largest music magazines in the world. AP provides in-depth interviews and exclusive photos, making it an essential collectors piece for a passionate fan base, as well as digitally through various mobile and tablet formats. AP has expanded its digital reach via an enhanced mobile app andAltpress.com, one of the world's fastest-growing websites. The site has become a necessary destination for up-to-the-minute breaking news, coverage from our national APtv correspondents, exclusive multimedia premieres and much more. Additionally, the brand has been successfully extended through live events, beginning with the launch of the AP Tour and the company's inaugural AP Music Award Show, which trended No. 1 worldwide on Twitter and Facebook. Independently owned and operated, AP continues to reach millions of fans, offering them insight to the hottest artists and cultural trends first.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

SINNER SINNERS: French-American Rock Band Returns with Raucous, Commanding New Album "Optimism Disorder"

SINNER SINNERS: French-American Rock Band Returns with Raucous, Commanding New Album "Optimism Disorder"

Out March 7, 2017 via Cadavra Records | Pre-Orders Begin Christmas Day

Listen to New Track "California" Here

Performing on January 22 in Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo

Cover artwork by So.Z. Photo by Lydia Berkennou

After spending the last several years living, performing and thriving in the greater Los Angeles, CA area, punk-influenced French-American rock band SINNER SINNERS - founded by husband and wife duo Sam and Steve Thill - have incontrovertibly found their groove. After marching their way onto the national scene in 2014 with the release of their raucous, aggressive Nic Jodoin-produced (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) second full-length, XI, SINNER SINNERS return in 2017 with Optimism Disorder - an auditory Molotov cocktail exploding with the intensity of early '80s hardcore fused with an incendiary '70s goth punk ethos.

Optimism Disorder will hit stores on March 7, 2017 via Cadavra Records in North America, and pre-orders will be available on Christmas Day. In addition to being available in digital and CD formats, Optimism Disorder will also be available on limited edition, colored 12-inch vinyl via Last Hurrah Records in North America. Visit www.lasthurrahrecords.com to order your vinyl copy. European fans can order their vinyl via Left Front Door Records here.

"This record took 18 months to complete - we went through some very tough shit in our lives during this time, which is the main reason it took so long. As a result, it's definitely the darkest stuff we've ever written," states guitarist/frontman Steve Thill. "We went for something darker, moodier and heavier and at the same time took a more classic rock approach to it."

Further exploring the remote reaches of their experimental skillset, Optimism Disorder is set lyrically in front of a sunny backdrop of societal hypocrisy. The 11-track album grabs you by the neck with the swinging new track, "California", which you can take an early listen to here.

Thill continues, "The general idea behind the title and the songs is that it really seems to us that our generation is choking on its own motivational garbage and big dreams. Somehow, we always try to convince ourselves that we deserve better, if not the best, always wanting what others have and all this shit. Things could always be better but it sure as hell could be a lot worst, it's always a matter of perspective. So, we flipped the problem around and had fun with it. Optimism Disorder is about the damages of optimism, religions, group mentality and all kinds of other mental disorders as well as alcoholism, depression, addiction, loss... this is a pretty sinister album made with a whole lot of love and we can guarantee it will ruin your day in just 35 minutes!"

The LP was recorded at Rancho de La Luna in Joshua Tree, California (mostly known for giving birth to the Desert Sessions and recording artists such as Queens of the Stone Age, Iggy Pop, Kyuss, Arctic Monkeys), assorted Los Angeles hide-outs, and engineered in Clermont-Ferrand France. Optimism Disorder was produced by Adam Greenspan (Refused, INVSN, Maximo Park) and Thomas Bellier (Spindrift, Blaak Heat), mixed by Pascal Mondaz in France, and mastered by Simon Capony at Basalte Studio. The album also features additional engineering by Nic Jodoin (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) and Jon Russo. Last but very not least, vocalist/guitarist Jesse Hughes of rock n' roll groundbreakers Eagles Of Death Metal makes his mark on Optimism Disorder via flute contributions.

"Recording at Rancho de la Luna was a pretty surreal experience and working with Adam was a big step for us because we didn't know each other before working on this record," adds Thill. "There was a lot less fucking around than usual, he's very serious and pro, but he brought things out of us we had no idea we could do."

Optimism Disorder track listing:
  1. Last Drop
  2. California
  3. Desperation Saved Me...
  4. Choke
  5. Hate Yourself
  6. Shadow
  7. Outsider
  8. ogether We Stand
  9.  I Had Too Much To Dream (written by Annette Tucker and Nancie Mantz, as performed by the Electric Prunes)
  10. Preachers
  11. Celexa Blues (feat. Jesse Hughes [Eagles Of Death Metal])

SINNER SINNERS have shared the stage with bands such as Refused, The Sonics, Black Flag and have opened for Eagles of Death Metal in the US and on their European tour. After a very successful year, the band is ready to hit the road yet again and perform their new album. Before solidifying spring touring plans, the band will perform at The Echo in Los Angeles on January 22 with The Hangmen. The show begins at 8:00pm, is 18+ and is $8-9.50. Visit this link for ticket info.

Optimism Disorder burns with a neurotic post-punk brightness guaranteed to spontaneously combust your senses on impact. Stay tuned for more tracks, videos and other media being released in advance of the album's release.

SINNER SINNERS is:
Steve Thill: Lead Vocals, guitars, bass and keys
Sam Thill: Keys and vocals
With:
Jason Blaustein: Drums
Macy Mullen: Lead guitar
Jesse Hughes: Flute
Michael Amster: Drums on tracks 3 and 9
Ben Palmer: Guitar on tracks 3 and 9
Celine Royer: vocals
Mike McCrary and Balloonski: Backing vocals

SINNER SINNERS online:
Twitter and Instagram: @sinnersinners
YouTube: CADAVRAPROD



ENEMY REMAINS Releases Scorching New Single "Trust In No One"

ENEMY REMAINS Releases Scorching New Single "Trust In No One"

Listen Now via BraveWords

New Album, No Faith In Humanity, out January 20, 2017 | Pre-Order viaiTunes

Featuring Original FATES WARNING Drummer Steve Zimmerman


Album Art by Kevin James Frear

Global Music Award-winning heavy metal group ENEMY REMAINS recently announced the upcoming release of their new album, No Faith In Humanity, hitting digital and physical retailers on January 20, 2017 (pre-order via iTunes). After charging out of the gate with the release of their thunderous title track "No Faith In Humanity" (watch video here), ENEMY REMAINS are wasting no time by immediately unleashing their second single, "Trust In No One". Take a listen to this unrelenting melodic metal offering via BraveWords now: http://bravewords.com/news/exclusive-enemy-remains-featuring-original-fates-warning-drummer-steve-zimmerman-warn-you-to-trust-in-no-one-new-track-streaming

Guitarist Tommy Blardo states, ""Trust in No One" was written as a fast, driving aggressive style with the roots of our progressive side on the verses and very hooky choruses. Lyrically, the track conveys the idea that only YOU can control the path you're on and to never rely on false promises. Only you can make a difference in your own life!"

No Faith In Humanity features pre-production by Jeffrey Weed (Trivium, Korn) and Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Sepultura, Halford). The album was recorded, engineered and mixed by Nick Bellmore (Toxic Holocaust, Jasta, Kingdom of Sorrow) at Dexters Lab Recording, and mastered by Chris Zeuss Harris (Rob Zombie, Queensrÿche, Hatebreed).

No Faith In Humanity track listing:
1. Colony
2. Trust in No One
3. Divided by Hate (feat. Nick Bellmore [Toxic Holocaust, Jasta, Kingdom of Sorrow])
4. Civilization
5. No Faith in Humanity (feat. Joey Concepcion [Armageddon, Dead By Wednesday] & Jeff Curtis [Obsession & StikPin])
6. Breathe Again
7. Empty Inside

Previously, Blardo stated, "I think our fans are going to be very surprised with the new direction of the band. On this release, we're very focused on vocal melodies and driving songwriting, while still finding room for those anthem-like choruses. Don't worry though, being driven by Steve, we're definitely keeping the progressive sound we've always been known for. We worked really hard on the new album and we're excited to share it with our fans."

In anticipation of the upcoming release, ENEMY REMAINS will perform their first local event of 2017 on January 13 at Toad's Place in New Haven, CT. The band will perform as part of a two-day fest, also featuring Alcoholica (classic Metallica tribute from CT with all original line up feat. Kai Blackwood, Ross Ragusa, Ron Celentano, & Opus Lawrence), Sworn Enemy, Dead By Wednesday, Revenge Against God, The Shape and Devil Inside.

Also just announced, ENEMY REMAINS will perform with Nonpoint on February 8 at The Webster in Hartford, CT. The second stage opens at 5:00pm and the main stage opens at 7:00pm. Visit www.webstertheater.com for more information.



About ENEMY REMAINS:
ENEMY REMAINS was formed in 2005 by original Fates Warning drummer, Steve Zimmerman, and guitarist Tommy Blardo. After releasing their first full-length album, Two Faces Two Minds, sharing the stage with rock luminaries such as Alice Cooper, Queensrÿche and Heaven & Hell, being the first local artist invited to perform at Hartford, CT's new 20,000 capacity stadium, XL Center, and having their song "Live For Today" featured in the Rock Band for Xbox, by 2014, the band had solidified themselves as a talent to be reckoned with in the northeastern US.

After a brief hiatus last year - allowing Zimmerman to re-join the original Fates Warning line-up reunion celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Awaken The Guardian, and for Blardo to develop his nationally-recognized digital radio station "Metal Fortress Radio" - ENEMY REMAINS is back with the addition of new vocalist Frank Morin and guitarist Scott Kadish, formerly of End Time Illusion.

ENEMY REMAINS is:
Steve Zimmerman - Drums
Bob Bryk - Keyboards
Tommy Blardo "The Beast" - Guitars/Vocals
Frank Morin - Vocals
Jeff Curtis - Bass
Scott Kadish - Guitars

ENEMY REMAINS online:

***ENEMY REMAINS is currently in search of management and booking representation. Please contact enemyremainsmusic@gmail.com with interest!

Monday, December 19, 2016

Uzbekistani Doom/Death Metal Project MONTFAUCON to Release New Album "Renaissance"

Uzbekistani Doom/Death Metal Project MONTFAUCON to Release New Album "Renaissance"

Renaissance out February 17, 2017 | Listen to New Track "Prisoner" Here
Pre-Orders Available via Bandcamp

Mixed & Mastered by Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Bloodbath, Katatonia)



Like the main gallows and gibbet in Paris, France for which it's named, two-man Uzbekistani doom/death metal project MONTFAUCON resonates with historic tales of violence and upheaval, exploring the implications and consequences of emotional turmoil, aggression and fear. Drawing from elements of death metal, black metal, progressive doom and symphonic metal, the band's debut full-length, Renaissance is a majestic, eclectic and musically diverse portrait of darkness, desperation and barbarism that presents a new perspective on the ever-shifting landscape of extreme metal.

Renaissance will be released on February 17, 2017 and features mixing and mastering from death metal veteran Dan Swanö (Edge of Sanity, Bloodbath, Katatonia). A new track from the album, entitled "Prisoner", can be heard now via the band's Bandcamp page here. Pre-orders are also available at the same location.

Renaissance track listing:

1. Prisoner
2. I Was A Warrior
3. Alone
4. Mastermind
5. Insanity
6. The Last Night

"I'm the kind of person who loves math puzzles and mind-bending challenges," says MONTFAUCON multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Valentin Mayamsin, an Uzbekistan-born musician currently residing in the San Francisco Bay area. "That's why I started listening to increasingly complex music and that's how MONTFAUCON evolved, both technically and compositionally."

Inspired as much by the literature of Victor Hugo and the history of the Middle Ages as by the numerous bands that motivated Valentin to first pick up a guitar, MONTFAUCON achieves a sound that's at once brutal and beautiful, alternately direct and dizzying.

From one song to the next, there are hints of well-known acts such as Satyricon, Darkthone, Cradle of Filth, Death, Opeth and Pink Floyd, as well as traces of more obscure artists, including Lux Occulta, Dominion and My Dying Bride. Regardless of how many rocky paths, dense forests or barren wastelands MONTFAUCON explore sonically, the six epic songs on Renaissance are unified by the haunting piano and keyboard lines of Valentin's songwriting partner Michel Cadenzar, who still lives in the duo's native land.

"All the music came out of lots of experiments," Valentin says. "I liked [our new track] 'Insanity' very much but I wanted to experiment more with guitar and make the other songs less obvious. So, we tried everything: black metal, death metal, even progressive stuff. And then we found ways to tie everything together and make it work so it doesn't sound like 10 different bands going at once."

It's incredible that Valentin and Michel have crafted such diverse, high-impact and intensely melodic songs from opposite parts of the world. What's even more impressive is that as forward-thinking as the songs on Renaissance are, the skeletons were written years ago, and early versions of some of the tracks were played on metal radio in Uzbekistan, and were well received by the region's loyal underground scene. The band even played shows in the country with a different lineup.

But then Valentin relocated to the U.S. to work as a software developer, while Michel continued to work on computers in his hometown. For a while, MONTFAUCON was on ice. But after a few years in limbo the players discovered that raw determination, and a little technology, can break the bonds of distance.When Valentin went back home to Tashkent to visit friends and family, he and Michel decided to resurrect MONTFAUCON by trading files back and forth over the internet.

When it was time for Valentin to start putting Renaissance together back in his home studio in San Francisco, he struggled at first to find the right gear and learn how to use it. Since he didn't have much experience with home recording, he experienced several setbacks. To make sure the songs sounded as good on the digital files as they did when he played them in his living room, Valentin hired The Faceless guitarist Michael Keene to help him assemble a rig that would yield a high quality recording.

"I thought he would be good to teach me because he actually recorded great sounding Faceless albums in his living room," Valentin says. "He gave me very good advice and we were able to make the guitars sound really strong."

For metal fans who are excited to hear more, MONTFAUCON are already working on five or six new death/prog songs that will leave listeners speechless. Until then, Renaissance should be inspiring and enthralling enough to keep listeners completely satisfied. Stay tuned for more updates leading up to the release of Renaissance in February. 

MONTFAUCON online:

MONTFAUCON is:
Michel Cadenzar - piano, keyboards, sampling
Valentin Mayamsin - guitars, bass, vocals, sampling