It’s the end of the week. The end of the month. The end of summer. And the start of a long weekend. Let’s get the hell outta here — and let’s go out with a bang, with the help of these stone-cold killers. Ready, aim, party:
Yesterday’s Hero | Ways To Hate
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Ohio alt-metal quintet Yesterday’s Hero have a new video for the title track from their latest album. The song is groovy and gives you no choice but to headbang. The theme of the video was all the Ways to Hate that have been thrown upon people through politics, religion, and social media. In a digital age of singles, Yesterday’s Hero went analog for this album, as they would like those listening to experience each track finishing and ready for the next. The tracklisting was arranged in an order specifically to create a feel of an album experience, not just one single. “We pride ourselves on using raw gritty tube amps, no backing tracks or plug-ins,” they say. “There is no need for a laptop as we intentionally step back from today’s norm. What you hear on the record is what you’ll hear live, note for note. We have simple intentions along with catchy riffs with relatable lyrics. We want to give music fans a nostalgic taste for our music experience with a bit of new raw live sound.”
Whisky Of Blood | Crazy Zone
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Whisky Of Blood are a band born from the desire to return to the roots of ’80s rock, describing their sound as rock ’n’ roll, full of melodies, power and fun. Today, they release Crazy Zone, the first single from their next album Diablesse of Revolution, featuring guests Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P., Mean Man) and Steff Rabilloud (Rising Steel, Urgent) due Sept. 27. Diablesse of Revolution marks a turning point in the band’s career, showing a more mature and varied sound.”
Nightwraith | Perpetual Night
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “NightWraith are a progressive melodic death metal band from Denver. TTheir music encompasses poignant themes: Seeking the sublime in nature, being genuine in a deceptive world, and living with the idea of death — concepts that unite us all. Their new album Divergence arrives Sept. 13. They continue to preview it with the single Perpetual Night. “This is actually the first song we completed for Divergence, and we added it to our live set last summer,” they say. “It’s just a solid song and the lyrical theme fits perfectly with the ‘technology wasteland’ concept of the album. That theme ties into the video as well, which features clips from the 1927 film Metropolis. The video was put together by the talented Jake Mulhern, who does live visual art for some cool bands like Uncle Acid, Pallbearer and Elder. And I can’t forget to mention the pedal steel guitar section that is on this track. It was recorded by our friend Cole Rudy (Dragondeer) and adds a really pretty layer of sound to an already dynamic section of the song.”
Red Cain | Firestarter
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “A year after their breakout third album Näe’bliss, Calgary power-prog storytellers Red Cain return with their first taste of new music. Firestarter is loosely based on the lore of the action role-playing game Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree. The band spent a lot of their time this year playing this fantastic release. Elden Ring is not only a brilliant game and a visual masterpiece, but also a storytelling phenomenon that deliberately has lore gaps to let fans and players create their own stories and interpretations of the lore. This strongly resonates with Red Cain’s approach as musicians; they always write music for their fans to read in unique ways. Firestarter is also a new statement for Red Cain, as they continue to embrace a modern sound and reinvent their songwriting.”
Lÿnx | Rock Machine
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Calgary’s Lÿnx have a new lyric video to share for their track Rock Machine, off their latest album Claws Out. It’s pure ’80s glam-metal shred fun about hitting the road! “What’s a home? Safe space, family, comfort, etc.? Not for us!” they say. “The tour vehicles never get the appreciation they deserve. Band tour bus/van/cars are our home away from home and we decided to write our anthem for these long-overlooked heroes.” Claws Out is an experience suitable for all occasions: Whether you want to go downtown with your girl or crank up the tunes with your boys, it’s got you covered. If you want to sit back and chill, listen to some good time rock, it’s got that too. You’re having a party? Hell yeah! That’s what Lÿnx is. Fans of Mr. Big, Poison and Skid Row shouldn’t hesitate to pick this up.”
Stöner | A Million Beers (Live)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Desert-rock supergroup Stöner (with Brant Bjork, Nick Oliveri and Ryan Güt) share a second excerpt off their new live album Hittin’ The Bitchin’ Switch, due out Oct. 11. Says Bjork: “Gabe from Heavy Psych Sounds Records hit me up and said his friend got a good live recording of Stöner in Italy and that he wanted to put it out. I checked out the recording and Gabe was right. Killer recording of a really hot and sweaty night in Italy. Super-stoked Gabe’s friend captured Stöner with our bitchin’ switch on. This is as real as it gets. No overdubs, no editing. What you hear is exactly what it was. Dig it.”
BornBroken | How Strong You Are
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal’s BornBroken will return with their potent third album Am I Invisible on Sept. 20. They have already released the title track as a single and are now following up with How Strong You Are — an empowering anthem that highlights personal strength, resilience and self-belief. The band add: “The song encourages listeners to take charge of their destinies and overcome life’s challenges with unwavering conviction. Featuring powerful guitar riffs and a driving rhythm, the track underscores the importance of inner voices and truth in the face of adversity. It is a call to action, reminding fans of their inherent strength and the importance of staying true to oneself amidst life’s battles.”
Sandveiss | No Love Here
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Sandveiss are a heavy but melodic rock band from Quebec City that came to life in 2011. On a songwriting level, they like to go to different places, pushing things a little further each time while staying true to what they really are. This is exemplified on No Love Here, the latest single from their upcoming album Standing In The Fire, which comes out on Oct. 11. “I guess that the song No Love Here isn’t a typical single due to its longer and unconventional structure, but we wanted to release singles that represent different moods of the album,” says singer-guitarist Luc Bourgeois. “This track clearly demonstrates the band’s prog-rock influences, both in its musical arrangements and in its sounds and textures. Regarding the lyrics, I rarely write about light subjects, and this one is no exception: I wrote it as a reaction to the alarming and horrific rise in domestic violence and femicide, especially during the pandemic. Not one more.”
Manuel Barbará | A Different Horizon (ft. Jake Howsam Lowe)
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Metal guitarist and composer Manuel Barbará’s new single A Different Horizon features Jake Howsam Lowe of Plini and The Helix Nebula. The song is part of Barbará’s upcoming cyberpunk-infused EP Whisper In A Storm, which is due Sept. 13. He shares his thoughts on the single: “A Different Horizon kicks off with an off-kilter riff in 3s that sets the tone for the rest of the song. There’s always something making you anticipate the next section. Jake’s brilliant solo is bookended by a massive melodic riff and the whole piece ends with a section that the bass player in Necronomicon ex Mortis described as ‘What in the Dark Souls haunted cathedral is this?’ ”
