cleopatra-records

Goth, industrial, punk and space-rock fans were the first to discover Los Angeles’ Cleopatra Records in the 1990s. The independent upstart — formed in 1992 by Brian Perera — initially rode the second wave of goth music right into the bins of indie record stores and chains. During that decade, it presciently created electronic music label Hypnotic Records (in 1996) and hair metal imprint Deadline Music (1998) ahead of the EDM explosion and the hard rock revival. Perera noticed the electronic body music movement in Europe expanding into trance and big beat and licensed earlier releases by U.K. stars like Juno Reactor and The Future Sound of London. The business strategy of signing ’80s hard-rock groups for moderate advances with low expectations and then watching the genre revive worked out well.

Perera’s ability to foresee trends, build catalogs and cater to a wide variety of tastes has kept Cleopatra viable for three decades. In its first 10 years alone, Perera says it averaged 40 to 50 releases per year. Starting out with just himself and his wife, Yvonne, the label grew by selling releases from such bands as Christian Death, Motörhead, The Damned and Kraftwerk to major retailers including Tower Records and Hot Topic, but like other purveyors of physical product, scrambled to survive during the Napster years. “It was kind of a no-man’s land,” Perera recalls. “The record chains and independent stores weren’t buying anything from us.”

Read more: billboard.com

Mustard Plug
Buck-O-Nine
Omnigone

Sept. 8th – San Diego, Ca – Soda Bar (21+)
Sept. 9th – Las Vegas, Nv – Backstage Bar & Billiards (21+)
Sept. 10th – Mesa, Az – Nile Theater (All Ages)
Sept. 11th – Garden Grove, Ca – Garden Amp (All Ages)
Sept. 12th – San Jose, Ca – The Ritz (21+)
Sept. 13th – San Francisco, Ca – Bottom of the Hill (All Ages)
Sept. 14th – Sacramento, Ca – Goldfield Trading Post (All Ages)
Sept. 15th – Eugene, Or – Old Nick’s Pub (21+)
Sept. 16th – Seattle, Wa – El Corazon (21+)
Sept. 17th – Portland, Or – Dante’s (21+)

Los Angeles, CA – Chicago’s hard hitting rock quartet SOiL are well into their third decade of their incredible music year career. Beginning with their blockbuster major label debut album, 2001’s Scars, which featured two monster hit singles, “Halo” and “Unreal,” SOiL have maintained a devout following by focusing on what they do best, writing and playing some of the most visceral and melodic rock by any modern band on the scene!

Now these veterans are giving their fans a special treat – a new studio album, entitled Play It Forward, consisting of some of the songs that inspired them throughout the years. They’ve already previewed two of the album’s songs, releasing their version of Neil Young’s anthem Rockin’ In The Free World” as well as the Foo Fighters cover “Monkey Wrench,” in honor of drummer Taylor Hawkins. And much more is in store including covers of White Zombie, The Ramones, Leadbelly and more. Today, the band is proud to share an absolutely ripping version of Halsey’s “Nightmare,” accompanied by a suitably sick and twisted music video!

SOiL bassist Tim King adds, “When we were approached by Cleopatra Records with the idea to record a covers album it seemed both exciting and challenging. Outside of the song ‘Black Betty’ we have never really covered any songs before. This gave us a chance to explore some songs we enjoyed growing up on and also taking songs that were never intended to be Hard Rock or Metal and put our own spin on them. It proved to be quite the challenge with our down tuning and figuring out all the different parts and effects in the original versions that you never quite notice during casual listens. The songs we thought were going to be super easy turned out to be the most challenging. In the end we were very happy with the way it all came out and we feel it will give the SOiL fans something to enjoy and have fun with. That was our main goal. To do something fun in the wake of all the horrible things that have been going on in the world.”

Play It Forward will be released on all formats starting August 26. Two album designs were created for the release: a “cassette” design that will be used for the CD packaging and a “skeleton” design that will be used for the first vinyl pressing. A second vinyl pressing featuring the “cassette” artwork will be released in September.

TRACK LIST
1. Runnin’ Down A Dream
2. Thunder Kiss ’65
3. Nightmare
4. No Voices In The Sky
5. Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck
6. Monkey Wrench
7. What It’s Like
8. I Wanna Be Sedated
9. Rockin’ In The Free World
10. Unsung
11. Black Betty

Los Angeles, CA – It’s been over a decade since the southern California alt-punk pillars Unwritten Law have released a studio album of new, original material. A lot has changed since then, both globally and within the band itself, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the fiery spirit of founding members, vocalist/guitarist Scott Russo and drummer Wade Youman. Together these two bring the UL flame into a new decade with the help of now almost decade-long band members Jonny Grill (bass), Chris Lewis (guitar/vocals) and Scott McLaughlin (guitar/vocals).

With massive guitars and monster, hook-filled choruses, The Hum epitomizes everything that made Unwritten Law a household name among the ‘90s punk rock explosion and a mainstay on the venerated Warped Tour. Time has not only matured the band’s distinctive sound but it has also sharpened the group’s songwriting. Just witness the album’s first single, released today on all digital platforms along with a mesmerizing new video, “Ghosted,” a track whose twist and turns are as numerous and unexpected as they are thrilling.

The Hum is set for release July 29 on all formats including CD and vinyl. Both physical formats include stunning artwork from Mike McKenney (@the_real-theory) and a hand-illustrated lyric sheet created by Youman himself. In addition, the CD version includes three bonus tracks, newly recorded studio versions of Unwritten Law’s biggest songs done during the making of the record, performed by the current incarnation of the band!

TRACK LIST:
1. Luna Pt. 1 Waxing Moon
2. Discordia
3. Beggars
4. Ghosted
5. Magnetic
6. Lighthead
7. Luna Pt. 2 Full Moon
8. Dark Seas
9. Murder Days
10. Little Lies feat. Cailin Russo
11. Take Me
12. Luna Pt. 3 Waning Moon
13. The Hum
14. Chrome And Glass
15. Luna Pt. 4 New Moon
BONUS TRACKS [CD/DIGITAL ONLY]
16. Celebration Song
17. Seein’ Red
18. Save Me

Skateboard legend Tony Hawk makes his musical debut on this snarling 7″!

Hawk is joined by the notorious punk rock supergroup, Punk Rock Karaoke, featuring Darrin Pfeiffer/Goldfinger, Circle Jerks/Bad Religion guitarist Greg Hetson, Pennywise’s Randy Bradbury and The Dickies’ Stan Lee, who help Hawk belt out two classics – The Jam’s “In The City” and The Damned’s “Neat Neat Neat!”

Will be heavily promoted by both Tony Hawk and the members of Punk Rock Karaoke!

Available on PINK and BLUE 7″ vinyl!

Track Listing:
SIDE A
In The City

SIDE B
Neat Neat Neat

Los Angeles, CA – No professional touring band has had it easy the last couple of years, but San Diego ska punk icons Buck-O-Nine have had one seriously bumpy ride since the release of their 2019 album FunDayMental. For starters, the worldwide COVID pandemic struck the following year, cancelling the band’s plans to tour in support of the new album. Most recently, much-beloved singer Jon Pebsworth suffered a major cardiac arrest, which led to him being hospitalized and again delaying a planned tour.

But prior to Pebsworth’s brush with disaster, and as the COVID pandemic began to subside, the band struck upon an idea for how to scratch their proverbial performance itch – reunite at their home studio in San Diego, Earthling, and record a live set. After not performing together for 572 days, the band leapt at the chance and the result is 572 Days Later – Live At Earthling, an energetic and joyous live album. The band sounds better than ever and are clearly relishing being able to play together for the first time in nearly two years, kicking out fantastic versions of such fan favorites as “Round Kid,” “Jennifer’s Cold” and “Nineteen” PLUS cuts from FunDayMental!

Check out the brand new, kick ass version of “Round Kid,” a standout track from the group’s massively successful 1997 album Twenty-Eight Teeth, which is being released as a standalone single to all of digital outlets.

The band had this to say about the recording of the new album, “It’s been a weird and unpredictable couple of years. We’re lucky to have each other to lean on and help each other through all the chaos. It hasn’t been easy but we managed to get into the studio and record together. It was super fun! We basically played our live set and got to hang out all in one place for two days!”

Watch for the entirety of 572 Days Later – Live At Earthling to be available on all formats including CD, vinyl and digital starting June 24!

And be sure to catch the band live in-person for their In Defense Of Ska Tour with Mustard Plug later this year!

Sept 8 – San Diego, CA – Soda Bar
Sept 9 – Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar
Sept 10 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theatre
Sept 11 – Garden Grove, CA – Garden Amp
Sept 12 – San Jose, CA – The Ritz
Sept 13 – San Francisco, CA – Bottom of the Hill
Sept 14 – Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
Sept 15 – Eugene, OR – Old Nick’s
Sept 16 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Sept 17 – Portland, OR – Dante’s

Track List:
1. I’m Not Dead
2. Who Are They?
3. Skeletons
4. Albuquerque
5. Jennifer’s Cold
6. Voice In My Head
7. Record Store
8. Few Too Many
9. Round Kid
10. Cook Me Into The Bowl
11. Water In My Head
12. Nineteen
13. In My Room
14. Steve Was Dead
15. Top Of The World
16. Let’s Drink

The Dollyrots have announced summer East USA tour dates, as well as Fall dates on the West Coast. Full list of dates is below. Tickets available now at TheDollyrots.com. Cleopatra Records will be releasing The Dollyrots high energy, punk rock version of Gilbert O’Sullivan’s 1972 hit “Alone Again (Naturally)” as a Limited Edition 7″ on pink vinyl on June 17. Get it below.

Tour dates:
w/ Don’t Panic

7/14 • The Saint • Asbury Park, NJ

7/15 • Bowery Electric • New York, NY

7/16 • Pie Shop • District of Columbia

7/17 • Sonia • Cambridge, MA

7/18 • Cafe Nine • New Haven, CT

7/19 • Debonair • Teaneck, NJ

7/20 • Milk Boy • Philadelphia, PA

7/21 • Zen West • Baltimore, MD

7/22 • Norfolk Taphouse • Norfolk, VA

7/23 • Local 506 • Chapel Hill, NC

w/ Special Guests

8/4 • The Ballroom • Austin, TX

8/5 • Three Links • Dallas, TX

8/6 • Paper Tiger • San Antonio, TX

8/7 • White Oak Music Hall • Houston, TX
w/ Year of The Fist

10/4 • Moe’s Alley • Costa Mesa, CA

10/5 • Goldfield Trading Post • Sacramento, CA

10/6 • Ivy Room • Albany, CA

10/7 • The Paramount • Los Angeles, CA

10/8 • The Wayfarer • Costa Mesa, CA

10/9 • Kensington Club • San Diego, CA

Stylish power punk duo The Dollyrots showcase their talent for arrangement transforming the Gilbert O’Sullivan 1972 soft rock hit “Alone Again (Naturally)” into a high energy, fist-pumping punk rock anthem!

Backed with a killer original track that has more hooks than most punk bands’ whole albums!• Limited Edition PINK vinyl!

Track Listing:
SIDE A
Alone Again (Naturally)

SIDE B
That’s Not Even All

A star-studded and diverse roster of artists has contributed to a new album paying homage to the music of Eric Clapton.

The aptly titled A Tribute to Eric Clapton will be released on June 17 and can be preordered now on CD, as a limited-edition gold-vinyl LP and via digital formats. The album features renditions of a dozen of the guitar legend’s best-known songs, including tunes from his solo career and from his old bands The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos.

Among the artists featured on the various tracks are Cheap Trick‘s Rick Nielsen, former Paul Revere and the Raiders frontman Mark Lindsay, ex-Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer Artimus Pyle, original E Street Band keyboardist David Sancious, Arthur Brown, longtime Jethro Tull guitarist Martin Barre, one-time Thin Lizzy guitarist Snowy White, Great White‘s Jack Russell, former Rainbow singer Graham Bonnet, and Molly Hatchet.

In advance of the album, a cover of Clapton’s 1977 hit “Lay Down Sally” featuring veteran country star Sammy Kershaw and acclaimed session guitarist Albert Lee has been released via digital platforms.

Here’s the full track list for A Tribute to Eric Clapton:

“Cocaine” — Kirk Fletcher & Brian Auger
“Lay Down Sally” — Sammy Kershaw & Albert Lee
“I Feel Free” — Arthur Brown, James Williamson & Rat Scabies
“Sunshine of Your Love” — dUg Pinnick & Eric Gales
“Let It Rain” — Jack Russell & Sonny Landreth
“Wonderful Tonight” — Oli Brown
“Layla” — Molly Hatchet
“I Shot the Sheriff” — Pat Travers, David Sancious & Artimus Pyle
“For Your Love” — Mark Lindsay & Rick Nielsen
“Tears in Heaven” — Ana Popovic
“White Room” — Graham Bonnet & Snowy White
“Can’t Find My Way Home” — Shirley King & Martin Barre

Four disc The Myths And Legends Of Rick Wakeman box set released in May

A four-disc set of historic live Rick Wakeman concerts, The Myths And Legends Of Rick Wakeman, is to be released through Cleopatra Records on May 13.

The set, which concentrates on the 1970s, features four concerts; North America, 1974, Winterland Ballroom 1975, Hammersmith Odeon 1976 and The Maltings 1976, with Wakeman performing tracks from the legendary albums The Myths And Legends Of King Arthur And The Knights Of The Round Table, The Six Wives Of Henry VIII, Journey To The Centre Of The Earth and others.

“It’s really lovely to see some of the music I’m most proud of, released in a new way and presented so well,” says Wakeman. “I’m still wondering though if I am more of a myth than a legend!!!”

The clamshell set features individual wallets for each show plus a 16-page booklet brimming with liner notes and vintage photos.

DISC 1: Live In North America 1974
1. Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Pt. 1
2. Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Pt. 2
3. Anne Boleyn
4. Concerto for American Commercial TV

DISC 2: Live at Winterland Ballroom 1975
1. The Journey to the Center of the Earth, Pt. 1
2. Catherine Howard
3. Sir Lancelot & the Black Knight
4. Anne Boleyn
5. The Forest
6. Arthur & Guinevere
7. Merlin the Magician
8. Catherine Parr

DISC 3: Live at Hammersmith Odeon 1976
1. Music Reincarnate, Pt. 3: The Spaceman
2. Catherine Howard
3. Sir Lancelot & the Black Knight
4. Arthur
5. Music Reincarnate, Pt. 4: The Realisation
6. The Forest
7. Catherine Parr
8. The Prisoner
9. Merlin the Magician

DISC 4: The Maltings 1976
1. Recollection
2. Music Reincarnate, Pt. 4: The Realisation
3. Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight
4. Music Reincarnate, Pt. 3: The Spaceman
5. Catherine Parr
6. The Prisoner
7. Merlin the Magician

One of the largest and longest lasting independent record labels in existence, Cleopatra Records, are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. What began in 1992 as a small operation out of the garage of founder Brian Perera has since grown into a family of labels representing one of the most diverse catalogs that encompasses a variety of genres with an emphasis on unique and experimental artists. In a time when most small record labels either die out or get bought by a major, Cleopatra Records has managed to survive and thrive as a privately owned entity deftly navigating the seismic shifts in the industry that have caused so many labels to founder.

Primarily known for ushering in the second wave of Gothic and Industrial music with an eclectic roster of artists including Christian Death, Front Line Assembly, Leæther Strip, Rosetta Stone and Corpus Delicti, Cleopatra Records has also been a vital force in promoting underground and British punk rock bands such as The Vibrators, UK Subs, and The Damned as well as ‘80s metal and pop acts like by Quiet Riot, Berlin, Warrant, Missing Persons, Poison’s Bret Michaels and L.A. Guns. In recent years, the Cleopatra label group has expanded in a variety of directions, working with hip hop artists DMX, Vanilla Ice & Onyx as well as iconic artists such as Sly Stone, William Shatner and most recently, the multi-talented Ann-Margret. The label has also become the home label for folk music institution Judy Collins as well as recent Rock Hall Of Fame inductee Todd Rundgren, cult hero Misfits/Danzig singer Glenn Danzig and the new electronic project, Priest, featuring former members of Ghost.

The label will be officially commemorating their anniversary with a special concert event taking place at City Winery in Nashville, TN on May 10. The celebration is to be co-hosted by Cleopatra’s longtime digital distributor, and one of the fastest growing companies in the music industry, The Orchard, who are themselves celebrating an epic 25 years in the biz. The event will feature live performances from Judy Collins herself as well as 3-time Grammy nominee country artist Lorrie Morgan (who has released 2 albums with Cleopatra) and local singer-songwriter Leah Marie Mason.

Los Angeles, CA – “The past is never dead. It’s not even past” proclaimed William Faulkner. If anybody knows the truth of this statement, it’s longtime producer/songwriter/musician Tim Skold. After cutting his teeth with metal bands in his home country of Sweden, Skold came into his own with his eponymous industrial metal project, releasing his self-titled debut album Skold in 1996. The album was extremely well-received appearing in major studio films (Disturbing Behavior, Universal Soldier: The Return) and establishing Skold as a one-of-a-kind talent both in front of and behind the mixing board. On the cusp of completing the highly anticipated follow-up album, Skold was recruited by industrial empresario Marilyn Manson to join his band in 2001, touring and producing several albums and singles up to 2008.

From there Skold picked up where his solo career left off releasing more albums under the Skold moniker, but one album continued to linger: the abandoned follow-up album. Sure, several tracks had been leaked and downloaded innumerable times on the internet (at a time when digital music distribution was a wild wild west of piracy a la Napster) but the album seemed to be a piece of Skold’s past that refused to die, or even stay past. So, the artist got to work on finishing the mythic Dead God album (also known as Disrupting The Orderly Routine Of The Institution), mastering the album from the original full resolution mixes, and is now set to release it on all formats on April 15. This set crackles with turn of the century digital fury and paranoia, sounding as fresh today as it was groundbreaking then!

By way of previewing the album, the lead off track, “Don’t Pray For Me,” is being released to all digital platforms.

Expect to hear more from Skold this year as rumors that he is once again collaborating with Marilyn Manson have been confirmed. The two are also contributing to the new Ye album Donda 2. So pre-order your copy of Dead God before they disappear again!

Track List:
1. Don’t Pray For Me
2. The Point
3. Dead God
4. If
5. Believe
6. Burn
7. I Hate
8. Consequence
9. Don’t Ask Me
10. Too Weird

April 14th – The Fire – Philadelphia, PA
May 14th – Tompkins Square Park – Manhattan, NY
June 18h – Coney Island Brewery – Coney Island, NY

The Industrial Strength Tour

Celebrating 30 Years Of The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste And The Release Of Moral Hygiene
With Special Guests Melvins, and Corrosion of Conformity
MinistryBand.com

MAR 4 FRI
Stage AE
Pittsburgh, PA, United States

MAR 5 SAT
Madison Theater
Covington, KY, United States

MAR 6 SUN
Baltimore Soundstage
Baltimore, MD, United States

MAR 8 TUE
The Paramount
Huntington, NY, United States

MAR 9 WED
Franklin Music Hall
Philadelphia, PA, United States

MAR 11 FRI
College Street Music Hall
New Haven, CT, United States

MAR 12 SAT
The Wellmont Theater
Montclair, NJ, United States

MAR 13 SUN
State Theatre, Portland, Maine
Portland, ME, United States

MAR 15 TUE
House Of Blues Boston
Boston, MA, United States

MAR 16 WED
Buffalo RiverWorks @ 8:00pm
Buffalo, NY, United States

MAR 18 FRI
The Ritz
Raleigh, NC, United States

MAR 19 SAT
Ryman Auditorium
Nashville, TN, United States

MAR 20 SUN
The Orange Peel
Asheville, NC, United States

MAR 22 TUE
Tabernacle
Atlanta, GA, United States

MAR 23 WED
Hard Rock Live Orlando
Orlando, FL, United States

MAR 24 THU
Fillmore New Orleans
New Orleans, LA, United States

MAR 26 SAT
Amplified Live
Dallas, TX, United States

MAR 27 SUN
Emos Austin
Austin, TX, United States

MAR 28 MON
Aztec Theatre
San Antonio, TX, United States

MAR 29 TUE
House of Blues Houston
Houston, TX, United States

MAR 31 THU
Riviera Theatre
Chicago, IL, United States

APR 1 FRI
Agora Theater & Ballroom
Cleveland, OH, United States

APR 2 SAT
The Rave / Eagles Club
Milwaukee, WI, United States

APR 3 SUN
Royal Oak Music Theatre
Royal Oak, MI, United States

APR 5 TUE
Palace Theatre
Saint Paul, MN, United States

APR 6 WED
Arvest Bank Theatre At the Midland
Kansas City, MO, United States

APR 7 THU
Diamond Ballroom
Oklahoma City, OK, United States

APR 9 SAT
Sunshine Theater
Albuquerque, NM, United States

APR 10 SUN
Mission Ballroom
Denver, CO, United States

APR 12 TUE
The Van Buren
Phoenix, AZ, United States

APR 13 WED
House of Blues Anaheim
Anaheim, CA, United States

APR 14 THU
House of Blues San Diego
San Diego, CA, United States

APR 16 SAT
The Warfield
San Francisco, CA, United States

APR 18 MON
The Showbox
Seattle, WA, United States

MAY 20 FRI
Welcome to Rockville 2022
Daytona Beach, FL, United States

JUN 24 FRI
Hellfest 2022
Clisson, France

SEP 24 SAT
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH, United States

OCT 29 SAT
Sinners Day 2022
Heusden-zolder, Belgium

NOV 5 SAT
Damnation Festival 2022
Manchester, United Kingdom

From the forthcoming album JUKEBOX FURY which also features performances by Steve Cropper, Danny B. Harvey, The Hillbilly Moon Explosion, Linda Gail Lewis, & Earl Poole Ball!

Los Angeles, CA – There are outlaw country singers – and then there’s Dale Watson. Watson has built a 40+ year career out of ignoring trends and championing authentic country music, writing songs that come from real lived experience and demand to be performed with nothing but heart and soul. Getting his start in honky-tonks and bars all over the country, from Texas to Los Angeles to Nashville, Watson knows the power of a well-written song and he knows how each performer brings a little something unique to the songs they sing, which is what makes Watson’s new album Jukebox Fury such a natural next step and one of the most profound statements in Watson’s prolific catalog.

Jukebox Fury finds Watson covering some of his favorite artists and peers, performing songs that have stood the test of time and are probably right now blaring out of the corner jukebox at the local dive bar. The album’s first single sets the stage with a 1978 classic from the original outlaw cowboy, Waylon Jennings, “I’ve Always Been Crazy,” performed by Watson as a duet with Nashville royalty, the great Lorrie Morgan. In Watson and Morgan’s hands, the song becomes an emotionally poignant tale of two veterans who have seen their fair share of heartache and hard times, but who somehow keep themselves sane through it all, and keep coming back for more. Producer Danny B. Harvey, best known for his work with rockabilly acts like The Swing Cats and The Head Cat, shapes a gorgeous and austere musical backing punctuated with bright twangy guitar and tinkling piano.

Harvey had this to say of the track, “As if producing and playing guitar on Dale Watson’s new album wasn’t enough of an honor and a privilege, the added bonus of getting to produce the legendary Lorrie Morgan on the same track, is historic. Add Johnny Cash & Gram Parson’s pianist Earl Poole Ball to the mix and I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m awake. This track will blow your mind, and I’m sure Waylon is looking on and very proud of what we’ve done with his song.”

Jukebox Fury includes several more memorable performances of classic songs like Bob Seger’s “Turn The Page,” Willie Nelson’s “Always On My Mind,” and Kenny Rogers “The Gambler.” Featured guests include Stax legend Steve Cropper, Swiss rockabilly shakers The Hillbilly Moon Explosion, Linda Gail Lewis and others! The album will be available for sale everywhere April 22 on all formats including limited edition GOLD vinyl.

TRACK LIST:
1. Turn The Page
2. Sundown
3. Always On My Mind feat. Linda Gail Lewis
4. Polk Salad Annie
5. For What It’s Worth
6. Treat Her Right feat. Steve Cropper
7. I’ve Always Been Crazy feat. Lorrie Morgan
8. Have You Ever Seen The Rain?
9. Bluer Than Blue
10. The Gambler
11. A Horse With No Name
12. Act Naturally feat. The Hillbilly Moon Explosion

Los Angeles, CA – Modern metal heroes FLAW have been cranking out some of the most intense, passionate and melodic metal music since their founding in the late ‘90s. The band continues to be led to this day by founding member and vocalist Chris Volz, whose demon-growl-from-the-depths-of-hell vocal signature is counterbalanced by a confident and powerful baritone croon. Both of those dynamics, as well as Volz immense skill at musical arrangements, are on display in the band’s newest single, a cover of a 2017 hit by indie pop act lovelytheband. In the hands of Volz and Co., “Broken” becomes a true metal masterpiece, alternating atmospheric verses with ear shattering choruses and tons of distorted guitar. It’s enough to get even the hipsters to throw the horns up!

Volz had this to say about the track, “I am so excited to have the privilege of rewriting and covering this track. The lyrics and rhythm flow of the original song grabbed me right away. This was so much fun to record in the studio and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it!”

And don’t miss the killer video that brings the song to life, directed by veteran filmmaker Michael Sarna (Megadeth, Candlebox) and starring character actress/musician Jon Mack (whose credits include Saw VI and Kill Chain starring Nicholas Cage).

“Broken” is the first single from Flaw’s newest studio album, Revival. The album features superb versions of well-known tracks by the likes of Peter Gabriel, The Police, .38 Special, Billy Idol and more. You’ve heard the originals but you’ve never heard them like this! Also be sure to check out the new versions the band recorded of their own hit songs – “Get Up Again” and “Only The Strong.” The Revival begins everywhere March 4 on all formats including limited edition SILVER or BLUE vinyl!

TRACK LIST:
1. Broken
2. Alive And Kicking
3. In Your Eyes
4. 7 Years
5. Eyes Without A Face
6. Every Breath You Take
7. I Don’t Care Anymore
8. Broken Wings
9. Hold On Loosely
10. Only The Strong
11. Get Up Again
12. Still Of The Night

Los Angeles, CA – When word got back to Neil Young and his band that their 1989 concert performance scheduled to take place in the Soviet Union had been cancelled by antagonistic government authorities, Young’s guitar player Frank Sampedro replied to the news with “well, I guess we’ll have to keep on rockin’ in the free world.” And thus, one of the most legendary and fiercely defiant rock anthems of the 20th century was born. The song became the bookends of Young’s brilliant studio album, Freedom, with an acoustic version kicking it off and an electric version closing it and would eventually be celebrated as one of Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time (#216).

Now that Young’s music has fallen silent on the world’s most prominent musical platform, Spotify, another band has stepped forward to make sure that Young’s rebellious spirit continues to live on with a powerful new version of “Rockin’ In The Free World.” Chicago alternative metal kings SOiL have released their own version of the song to all digital platforms, keeping the fire lit for future generations of rebels and iconoclasts.

As the band explains “Over the years, SOiL has considered covering Neil Young’s ‘Rockin’ In The Free World’ many times. It was a song that really struck a nerve with us individually in our younger days before SOiL was even a band. The song still stands the test of time and is as powerful today as it was back then. This version we recorded was scheduled to be released as part of a special upcoming album due out later this year, but we decided that now would be a good time to let everyone hear our take on the Neil Young classic with the SOiL twist. We hope you all enjoy it!”

In 1995, Bjork released her second solo album, Post. It featured a song called Army of Me. It was a personal song for Bjork that featured heavy synthesizer and a John Bonham sampled drum beat. In 2005, Army of Me was covered by various artists for a charity record. Flash forward to 2021, another artist and project is giving Army of Me a new look.

I’m not sure I understand why people are so eager to cover Bjork. Anytime an artist covers a song, being compared negatively to the original is a real fear, especially when being compared to Bjork. She is pure inspiration, original, and beloved by most every music fan…..oh, and did I mention she has an amazing, sometimes quirky voice with a huge vocal range?

So, if you want to create a new version, what do you do?

Chuck Wright from Quiet Riot had a pretty good idea- do what he does best, rock! The original version features heavy synth throughout and drum samples. He wisely changes that here. The synthe is still present, but nestled into the background. The foreground has been replaced with guitar- not heavy chords, but more sparse, drawn out, individual notes. Towards the end of the song, Lanny Cordola from House of Lords breaks into a traditional guitar solo to close the song. The drums, which were originally samples of John Bonham on When the Levee Breaks, are now actual drums. The changes here from industrial synthe to rock create a very different version, but both equally support the power of the lyrics and message. Of course, having a song built around a rhythm section created by John Bonham lends itself to a rock treatment, so it was an easy choice. (When the Levee Breaks is actually a song written by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie, but made famous by Led Zeppelin)

Now to the real problem of covering Bjork- finding a singer who can deliver a powerful performance without being a knock-off Bjork mimic. Wright could have chosen someone a little more quirky like Billie Eilish, but wisely chose Whitney Tai who recently won Best Vocalist at the Intercontinental Music Awards. Tai has her own style, her own voice, and it’s powerful. For those who aren’t familiar, check out songs like Surrender off of her most recent album Apogee or Enigma off of Metamorphosis in 2015. On both, Tai shows a deep dynamic range. On Army of Me, it is no different. Tai approaches the verses and the chorus differently. She sings slowly, impassioned on the verse as she implores the listener to be better, to get up and do what’s right. On the chorus, her voice soars, hitting bigger notes as she gives the ultimatum- do what I say or meet an Army of Me.

What Chuck Wright and company have done so well here is adapt a personal song from 1995, widening its message to a 2021 society that needs the message. He uses Ruth Bader Ginsberg in the video to bolster the point of doing what’s right in the face of adversity. The song and the video are beautiful re-imaginings of the original.

Music Produced By: Chuck Wright
Video Produced & Directed By: Chuck Wright
3D Animation By: Drew Lanius
Music and Lyrics Written By: Björk and Graham Massey
Engineered By: Chuck Wright, Tim Janssens, and Sven Martin
Mixed By: Tim Janssens

Whitney Tai • Vocals
Chuck Wright • Bass (Quiet Riot/ Alice Cooper/ House Of Lords)
Pat Torpey • Drums (Mr. Big)
Lanny Cordola • Guitars (House Of Lords)
Sven Martin • Keyboards (Jonathan Davis Band)
Tim Janssens • Additional Keyboards
Tosha Jones • Video Synch • Drums (Saliva)
Sam Bam Kolton • Video Synch • Guitar (Budderside)

Army of Me is the first song off of Chuck Wright’s Sheltering Sky record which is coming in 2022. The record features over 30 guest performers including members of Mr. Big, Skid Row, Tesla, Dream Theater, Asia among many others. And for those of us who are fans of Whitney Tai, this is not the only song on which she sings. If this song is any indication, The Sheltering Sky sounds like an album worthy of our attention.

(Source: wanderingsandwoolgathering.com)

Hailing from the same icy darkness of the Scandinavian inland that birthed the Grammy Award-winning theatrical metal band GHOST, PRIEST has come to thaw the icy circuits of your frostbitten, winter-chilled heart with a brilliant new single. “A Signal In The Noise” is the first single from the new album by the enigmatic trio, which consists of vocalist Mercury (known as Water when he played bass for GHOST), keyboardist Salt (formerly GHOST keyboardist Air), and programmer/ keyboardist Sulfur. The new album is slated for 2022 and is produced by another GHOST alumni Simon Söderberg (guitarist and producer/engineer of GHOST’s debut album Opus Eponymous).

Although the group has been putting out albums since 2017, this new album marks a significant departure, with a drastically darker mood yet still maintains the band’s penchant for strong hooks and melodies. Speaking about the new single, a spokesperson for PRIEST declares “‘A Signal in the Noise’ is the first glimpse of a darker era in PRIEST’s timeline. The industrial rhythms and melodies paint a vast canvas of an apocalyptic future. To accompany the track, we needed a gritty video with an urban feeling. We are very excited to show it to you!”

For more info:
twitter.com/dominumpupa
instagram.com/priestofficial
facebook.com/priestofficial
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6niO7WSbw5n0nD58jPi2Mx?si=IgmYyWGGQNms8tPV-Cix7Q
priestnexus.com

Los Angeles, CA – Before 2021 comes to an end, New Jersey surf punks Dentist are set to release their third single of the year, “Spilled Coffee.” While their prior two releases showcased sugary punk pop, the new single takes their beach fuzz and delves into the world of post-punk, with a darker sound inspired by groups like Interpol – a band favorite for long trips on tour. The new single has a persistent beat that would be perfect for your fall beach goth party.

“For this single, we wanted to release something that coincides with the feeling you get moving from fall into winter. ‘Spilled Coffee’ has an ominous vibe, but it’s also something you’d want to dance to, to help move away from your upcoming seasonal depression.”

The single was premiered yesterday on the website for Under The Radar magazine but is released to the general public today!

Check out the previous singles:

“Let Me Let Go”
Stream: https://orcd.co/dentist_let_me_let_go
Video: https://youtu.be/g0Prm5KbhHs

“Don’t Let Me Catch You”
Stream: https://orcd.co/dentist_dont_let_me_catch_you
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca7cjhWvb8o

Critical acclaim for Dentist’s previous album, Night Swimming:

“Thanks to tight chemistry, killer hooks, and a distinctive sound that’s both lo-fi and retro-pop smooth, New Jersey’s Dentist have managed to stand out amid a sea of like-minded musical acts.” – The AV Club

“Dentist make beachy guitar music sound so good you’ll think it’s just as easy to play.” – Noisey

“Dentist have precision and technicality that borders on math rock, but they also know how to temper their musicality for deft various of energy and aesthetic.” – Stereogum