It’s been a quiet day today — until now. Feast your ears on the latest and greatest loudest and proudest:
Ivy Gardens | Stoic
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ivy Gardens, the grunge powerhouse from Niagara, stands as a testament to complete collaboration and total honesty. Named for the suburban crescent where they formed, the band’s journey began with a shared passion for crafting music that resonates with sonic belligerence and intensity. They recently released their album Goon, and are dropping a new music video for the single Stoic. “Stoic is our most lyrically packed song on the album as well as rhythmically unique,” they say. “Bouncing between hard-hitting dirges, biting riffs, and quick, jumping rhythms, the song explores the perspective of someone with a lot of self-destructive behaviour, who still manages to find peace through it. The titular Stoic, while seemingly devoted to his philosophy, uses it more as a tool, and even an excuse.”
Ananda Mida | The Future (Live At Duna Jam)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Heavy ’70s blues collective Ananda Mida (with vocalist Conny Ochs) will release Live At Duna Jam on July 12, but first they’re sharing the video for The Future. Ananda Mida are a stoner and psychedelic rock music collective led by Max Ear and Matteo Pablo Scolaro. From the very beginning of the project, graphic imagery has been given a crucial role thanks to the precious collaboration with the visual artist Eeviac. Since 2015, they have been performing with different lineups, from three to six members, either as an instrumental outfit or featuring singers such as Conny Ochs. “On Tuesday, June 20, 2023, we had the privilege of performing live for the Duna Jam audience as the sun set over the beach and heat waves, along with sandstorms, rose from the Sahara to the west,” they recall. “It was an unforgettable concert that left a profound emotional impact on us as the entire scene and atmosphere seemed to “crystallize” in its own unique space-time, so to speak.”
Shumaun | Some Memories
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Shumaun, the internationally acclaimed progressive rock sensation known for their dynamic sound and introspective lyrics, are expanding their discography this year with their fourth album, Opposing Mirrors, set to release in June 2024. Prior to this release, they will release a couple of singles to whet the palettes of fan, starting with Some Memories.” This track is a departure from their regular sound, they admit. “It has a modern edge with its choppy guitar rhythms under the verses, but I believe the chorus brings it back to the classic Shumaun sound with its big hook and open chords,” says bassist Jose Mora. Singer/guitarist Farhad Hossain provided more insight into the lyrical theme: “Lyrically, it addresses the phenomenon of cancel culture, exploring how individuals can face consequences for past actions or statements, even if they have since grown and evolved as people.”
Ape Vermin | Solaruss
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “From Valdese, N.C., come the hellish avalanche of sludge metal known as Ape Vermin. They have a new concept album in the pipe: Andromedas Colossus, out May 17. They recently released the first single Awakened, and are now following it up with Solaruss. They comment on the new single and the album: “Solaruss smacks you like an asteroid you knew nothing about, it’s extremely dark and prophetic. ‘Time to break the blackened curse, Twisted visions of hell, Solaruss on the front line, On and on we kill’. It speaks for itself. We think that this record is going to be well received by most of the metal community. We are a sludge metal band pushing the boundaries with progressive and thrash metal as well.”
Vicolo Inferno | The Gift
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Gift is Vicolo Inferno’s new single from their third studio album Circles, coming May 31. The Gift is a fantasy song concerning the moon which observes the evolution of the human race wondering if they are ready to receive The Gift, which is the allegory of death. Circles, like its predecessor, dances among various colors of the soul, from the most intimate and convoluted to the angry, to the amused and ironic. The track listing was chosen to guide the listener through a journey. The writing process for this record has been consolidated for years, although somewhat against the current. Add the band: “We are romantic supporters of songwriting in the rehearsal room. We always start from a vocal line or a guitar riff, and if there is inspiration, the first version is laid down, which is then refined and shaped over time like a piece of wood by a sculptor.”
Lyonen | Wild Nights
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Venezuela’s Lyonen are a full-throttle journey that update the spirit of old-school anthems with a modern edge. With their latest single Wild Nights, they reinvigorate the classic metal sound. The single delivers face-melting riffs, soaring vocals, and catchy choruses that will stick in your head long after the last note fades. With an album in the future planned, the band shares what listeners can expect: “This album is a sonic middle finger to the mundane, an anthem for the misfits and the dreamers, a soundtrack to the unforgettable nights that become the stories we tell for years to come. This is more than just music — it’s a feeling. It’s the feeling of belonging, of letting loose, and of screaming your heart out with your closest companions under a sky full of stars. This is Wild Nights.”
