Udo Dirkschneider gets the gang back together, Noctiferia show Laibach some love, Zwiespalt keep it frosty, Under The Influence remember a fallen friend, Stonetrip plot their escape — but I think you’ll be happy to hang around and enjoy the rest of your Monday Roundup. After all, what have you got to lose?
19 | Dirkschneider & The Old Gang | Face Of A Stranger
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “It’s not too very often that the names of the people involved alone are enough to document the great importance of a new project. Dirkschneider & The Old Gang consists of Accept / U.D.O. / Dirkschneider frontman Udo Dirkschneider and his longtime companions Peter Baltes (bass), Stefan Kaufmann (guitar) and Mathias Dieth (guitar) as well as Udo’s son Sven Dirkschneider (drums) plus singer Manuela Bibert. If these names don’t make your mouth water, figuratively speaking, then you have missed out on the past 40 years of German metal history.”
20 | Noctiferia | Tanz Mit Laibach (ft. Attila Csihar)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ljubljana’s underground legends Noctiferia have released their third single Tanz Mit Laibach, featuring black metal icon Attila Csihar of The True Mayhem. The song comes from the band’s upcoming album Reforma, a tribute to Laibach set to be released on May 28. The band say: “One of the biggest Laibach songs, Tanz Mit Laibach, with its military beat and eerie atmosphere, is a masterpiece in itself — but when we added downtuned guitars and the legendary voice of black metal icon Attila Csihar of The True Mayhem, it became a whole new beast! It was probably one of the hardest songs to remake on the album but the great guest performance and excellent final result made it pay off.”
21 | Zwiespalt | Frost
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “German black metallers Zwiespalt have released a new lyric video for the track Frost, taken from their forthcoming album Distanz, which will be released on Friday.”
22 | Under The Influence | Gone
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Australian punk act Under The Influence released their single Gone. It holds a very special place in the guys’ hearts, dealing with the epidemic of mental health and the loss of someone close. You can here the angst and the anguish in the song and despite the dark topic, it is still a razor-sharp frenzied punk song that is riddled with emotion. ‘’When you lose someone close to you it’s not easy. Mental health is so important. Self-medication through alcohol and drugs can lead you down a slippery slope of mental and physical decay, maybe until it’s too late. This track is about mental health issues, substance abuse and the death of friends and loved ones. Please take care of yourself and look out for those around you. This song is dedicated to the life of Pete Domio. Rest in peace.’’
23 | Stonetrip | Runaway
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Melbourne hard rockers Stonetrip just released their single Runaway. Stonetrip produce a groove-laden modern-rock sound mixed with classic-rock sensibilities. The band have an arena-ready sound and are set to reinvigorate the rock scene. The single describes the most compelling feeling of entrapment when you are not able to escape. Nowhere to go with your head constantly spinning within a relationship of emotional torment. The heart-wrenching fight of the never-ending argument with your partner.”
24 | Shotgun Mistress | Bleed Me Out
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Melbourne rock band Shotgun Mistress have just released their first track for 2021, Bleed Me Out. It’s an explosive dose of pure hard rock that reaffirms the band’s trademark style. Blistering and intense, Bleed Me Out displays the band’s masterly command, a veritable rock juggernaut with a seemingly limitless reserve of dynamism, songwriting expertise and sheer power. The stark visual imagery of the lyric accords with the pummelling rhythm section and the hyperkinetic, mind-bending fire of the guitars — feats of spellbinding dexterity performed by the band’s world-renowned guitarist Matt Wilcock. Bleed Me Out confirms Shotgun Mistress’s flightpath — a soaring trajectory straight up to the next level to launch an unstoppable presence onto the global rock stage.”
25 | Good Grim | Roomates
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Roomates is the new track from Good Grim, the art-rock solo project led by Utah musician Trevor Free. Strutting a haunting, atmospheric sound with post-rock and dream-pop elements, Roomates evolves from ghostly emotion into orchestral-laden textural expansion. Roomates is Good Grim’s second oreview of their first upcoming LP Enchantment. Free first emerged in the dream-pop duo Sister Adolescent, crafting a style rooted in hazy synths combined with post-rock crescendos. Good Grim, while still rooted in reverberated and lush instrumentals, finds a darker atmosphere drawing influences from art-rock acts like Portishead, Bjork, Radiohead and Low.”
26 | John Paul White & Rose Cousins | I Can’t With You
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Folk Alliance International announced its Artists in (Their) Residence project, in which 10 U.S. artists were paired with musicians from Australia, Canada, Egypt, Ireland, Israel, Scotland, and Spain to co-write songs about the pandemic experience. Hosting the series is Grammy-winning artist Chris Thile, who stated “The past year has taken a tremendous toll on the folk community. These new compositions from this project are being released … to raise awareness of The Village Fund, which provides direct grants to artists and music industry professionals in need.” The first is out today, featuring John Paul White and Rose Cousins.”
27 | Mark Rubin: Jew Of Oklahoma | The Murder of Leo Frank
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Mark Rubin: Jew of Oklahoma has released The Murder of Leo Frank from his album The Triumph of Assimilation, out June 1. Says Rubin: “It’s not a story too many folks know about. Leo Frank was accused of the murder of the 13-year-old Mary Phagan at the pencil factory he worked at in Atlanta in 1915, a version of the sordid details of which were outlined in a ballad by the popular singer Fiddlin’ John Carson. But Carson’s story did not reflect the truth of the matter: That Frank was innocent and that he was framed by Jim Conley, widely understood to be the actual murderer. And though many these days idolize Fiddlin’ John Carson, few are aware of his virulent anti-Semitism and active participation in promotion of the lynching of Frank. Hopefully my tale will set a few records straight. Frank was posthumously pardoned in 1986, though never formally absolved. Justice remains elusive to this day.”
28 | Andrew Waite | Dopamine
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Combining raw sound with electric showmanship, Andrew Waite’s innovation and perseverance in the music industry are clear. He wants to create meaningful original music for fans to enjoy, while inspiring young songwriters to find the confidence needed to embark on their own artistic journey. Currently, the singer-songwriter is working with producer Chris Kirby on his upcoming album. Andrew’s latest single Dopamine is about a person who can’t believe how lucky they are that they’re totally over-the-moon in love with someone who makes them want to be their best self, to be better, even though that person loves them for who they are.”
29 | Mewn | I See It Now, Pt. 1
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With a reliance on piano and synthesizer, Mewn’s sound is a rich, layered blend of acoustic and electronic instruments that combines the emotional integrity of Father John Misty and the dynamic, cathartic energy of Arcade Fire and contemporaries Black Country, New Road. Their debut single I See it Now Pt. 1 is an eerie, atmospheric and country-leaning approach to post-punk. Frontman Daneil Bluer says: “I think it’s the most straightforward, guitar-driven song on the record and also the heaviest. Lyrically it feels like a collage of thoughts brought about in times of unease, frustration and anxiety. Catharsis and release are never far from these feelings though and that’s definitely in there too. I think to bring seemingly opposing sounds and feelings together is something we are interested in; the interplay of darkness and light, joy and sadness and so on.”
30 | Pet Fox | Imagine Why
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Pet Fox will release their new EP More Than Anything this Friday. Hear the first track Imagine Why today. The band features our longtime friends Morgan and Theo from Ovlov, and Jesse, previously of Grass Is Green. The word is they’ve got a new full-length coming as well.”
31 | Yung Bae | Woman On The Moon (ft. Upsahl)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Yung Bae has released Woman On The Moon ft Upsahl. Inspired by 1980s Japanese city pop, Yung Bae continues to add to his extensive catalog of indie pop gems. As a future funk musician and producer, Yung Bae is carving a space for himself within the industry unlike any other musician at the moment. “This song started out originally when Upsahl sent over a bassline idea and vocals. From there I knew I wanted to make it as upbeat and funky as I could to match the energy that Upsahl was bringing. My goal was to make summer come early!”
32 | Tough On Fridays | Cabin Fever
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Well-seasoned performers throughout the Texas music circuit, grunge-pop-rockers Tough On Fridays have kept the momentum flowing over the last five years, turning heads and gaining throngs of fans for their ability to artfully smash together pop, indie and grunge into their own brand of infectious, in-your-face rock ’n’ roll. Tough On Fridays have just released their new single Cabin Fever. Melding pounding drums with dynamic guitars, Cabin Fever is a melodic tapestry filled with a kaleidoscopic swirl of colours. Hard-hitting in itself, the melody suspends you in mid-air, however, it is Caleigh Oceguera’s elegant execution of painful lyricism that pushes you over the point of no return. Soothing with an underlying desolation, Cabin Fever is a harmonic cascade of spine-chilling, soul-stirring music.”
33 | Dexter Francis Mason | Lover
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dexter Francis Mason is back with his song Lover. It deals with the fantasy of being with someone without being clear about whether you even want that. The song is set in New York City and begins where the relationship ends, at the beginning. All the songs on the forthcoming album I Am Sorry You Feel This Way, out May28, revolve around personal stories and reflect feelings of isolation, disillusionment and a lingering state of nostalgia. Since most of the writing, recording and production happened at night, for me the music is defined as much by the process of its creation as by the songwriting itself. The sound is similar to Chet Baker, The Beatles, Radiohead or Frank Ocean.”
34 | Arionce | Hunted By Illusions
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Berlin’s Arionce dare to experiment with instruments, tell exciting stories with a depth & lyrical skill and take in unusual and challenging narrative perspectives. Basically, they break every rule that makes young newcomers sucessfull and that’s what makes them so exicting. The new single Hunted By Illusions deals with oblivion and memory. It is the conflict between certainty and doubt, truth and falsehood, reality and illusion, which leads to a suffocating void that can only be overcome with courage and self-belief. Once again, Arionce prove their diverse perspectives, showing not only how much power remembering carries, but also what dangers lie in forgetting (clubs and cultural sites).”
35 | Victor Pope Band | Smoke and Mirrors
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Steven Vickers’ creative waters first broke at 13 when he penned his first notable song Dreams of Helsinki, a rousing Hitchcockian love song to a city he had only ever visited in dreams. He continued to hone his skills throughout his school and college years in various bands. His staple style was a kind of new wave sound akin to Jonathan Richman or Wreckless Eric. Since moving to Edinburgh, he has finally settled on a band line up that matches his vision. Multi-instrumentalist Roy Jackson is his wing man, with his unique flaming mandolin routine and flangolin which is a phased out head trip that always runs the battery dry. Jess Aslan is a doctor of music and recently worked in Tony Visconti’s studio, learning direct from the master. Graeme Mackay is a Bob Ross -inspired artist but also a magician on the bass. Jon Harley is a bus driver by day and a gentle giant whose drum style confounds even the most seasoned pros by night. Together they form the Victor Pope Band — one of the most hotly tipped acts to rise from the wind blasted streets of Leith.”
