Category: New album releases

DEVIN TOWNSEND – Empath – The Ultimate Edition announced for release 5th June 2020

Devin Townsend is pleased to announce the release of ‘Empath – The Ultimate Edition’ on 5th June 2020. This comprehensive version of 2019’s acclaimed album contains the original record and bonus discs across 2 CDs, plus 2 Blu-Ray discs. The first blu-ray contains the 5.1 Surround Sound mix by Devin, with visuals for the full record, plus a stereo visualiser. The second blu-ray contains a raft of bonus material, including ‘Acoustically Inclined – Live in Leeds’, a recording from his April 2019 acoustic tour where he performed tracks including ‘Love?’, ‘Deadhead’, ‘Thing Beyond Things’ & more.

It also features the full Empath Documentary, a ‘Genesis 5.1 Mixing Lesson’, a full album commentary & more. The four discs sit inside a beautiful art-book that contains new liner notes and images from the making of the album.

Devin comments of the new 5.1 surround sound mix: 

“On a technical level, I guess I have always been dissatisfied with the basic ‘stereo’ format in which the type of music I make gets presented in. Whether its headphones, computer speakers, stereos (or basically anything currently), I have had to figure out ways to get the work to function through TWO speakers. I hear things in a particularly orchestrated way, and with the amount of information that typically gets recorded per song, the result has been the dubious ‘wall of sound’ that I keep ending up with. But my intention has never been to make an oppressive experience, but rather something that is immersive and vast.

Making it work in two speakers just simply doesn’t quite work for the vision. Although I’ve managed to get the point across, (to varying degrees), things always have to compromise to make it all fit. Making the drums speak at the same time as orchestra, cymbals, guitars, choirs, synths etc.…all with my voice on top, ends up with every conceivable frequency fighting for breathing space between those two speakers.

Therefore, I asked the powers that be in my business world, to tolerate one more ‘kick at the can’ when it came to Empath. I wanted to attempt a surround mix and follow the original vision of it being an immersive, multimedia experience for people in the ways I could best achieve at this stage. And although it’s still pretty ‘dense’, with four more sources for the sound to come from, I feel its significantly closer to the original vision here.”

Pre-orders are now available here: 

https://www.omerch.eu/shop/devintownsend/

https://Devin-Townsend.lnk.to/Empath-TheUltimateEdition

Devin will head out on a Summer festival run mixed with club shows in Europe, which includes a headline appearance at Bloodstock Festival in the UK.

04.06.2020 Sweden Rock Festival – Solvesborg (SE)

05.-07.06.2020 Rock Im Park  – Nürnberg (DE)

05.-07.06.2020 Rock Am Ring – Mendig (DE)

10.06.2020 Majestic Music Club – Bratislava (SVK)

10.06.2020 Mystic Festival – Krakow (PL)

11.06.2020 Nova Rock – Nickelsdorf, (AT)

13.06.2020 The Roman Arenas -Bucharest (ROU)

14.06.2020 Mixtape 5 -Sofia (BGR)

15.06.2020 A38 – Budapest (HU)

18.06.2020 Copenhell – Copenhagen (DK)

20.06.2020 Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel (BE)

21.06.2020 Hellfest – Clisson (FR)

23.06.2020 Rockhal – Esch-sur-alzette (LUX) Co-Headline with Meshuggah

24.06.2020 Xtra – Zurich (CHE) Co-Headline with Meshuggah

26.06.2020 Rock The Night Festival – Rivas-Vaciamadrid (ES) – CANCELLED

28.06.2020 Tuska – Helsinki (FI)

29.07.2020 MetalDays, Tolmin (SLO)

30.07.2020 Wacken Open Air – Wacken (DE)

05.08.2020 Brutal Assault Festival – Jaromer (CZE)

07.08.2020 Bloodstock Open Air – Walton-On-Trent (UK)

09.08.2020 Into The Grave – Leeuwarden (NL)

12.08.2020 Summer Breeze, Dinkelsbuhl (DE)

Find the full list of upcoming dates here: https://www.hevydevy.com/tourdates/

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME CONTINUE 20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WITH VINYL REISSUE OF FORMATIVE SELF-TITLED 2002 DEBUT ALBUM FEATURING NEWLY REMIXED AND REMASTERED AUDIO

OUT MAY 15TH FROM CRAFT RECORDINGS AND AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER TODAY (3/24)- LIMITED-EDITION CLEAR VINYL EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE ON BAND’S WEBSTORE

Craft Recordings is pleased to announce a vinyl reissue of the scorching, 2002 eponymous debut from progressive hardcore outfit Between the Buried and Me. The album, which has been remixed and remastered by its original producer, Jamie King, is set for a May 15th release date and is currently available for pre-order. A limited-edition version of Between the Buried and Me, pressed on clear-colored vinyl, can be found exclusively on the band’s website and is also available to pre-order today. These reissues are both part of the band’s 20thanniversary celebrations, which will be marked by special releases and extensive touring.

Praised as “One of the fiercest albums in the hardcore community” by AllMusic, Between the Buried and Me set the North Carolina five-piece up to become a key player in the scene – catching the ears of fans and music critics alike with their impressive musicianship, sharp lyricism, and unique blend of progressive metal and math rock. Produced by Jamie King, who would go on to collaborate with Between the Buried and Me on numerous projects to come, the 10-track album was cerebral yet aggressive, and included some of the band’s earliest material, re-worked from their 2001 three-song demo – “What We Have Become,” “More of Myself to Kill,” and “The Use of a Weapon.” The group also wrote and recorded seven new songs, including “Arsonist,” a scathing statement against the Westboro Baptist Church, “Aspirations,” a melody-forward tune which highlights the guitar chops of Nick Fletcher and Paul Waggoner, and the epic, nine-minute long “Shevanel Cut a Flip,” which closes the album.

Reflecting on Between the Buried and Me 18 years later, guitarist Paul Waggoner said, “It’s always a strange feeling when you bring faded memories back into focus and find yourself reflecting on an adventure that started two decades ago and somehow still continues to this day. All the daily ups-and-downs and side-to-sides of being in a band can sometimes blur the past and make you forget where you came from, and why you started doing this thing in the first place. So it’s nice to dig up the bones of our humble beginnings, make them sound a little better, and present them to the people that have made this all possible.”

Frontman Tommy Rogers added, “If you told me in 2001 that this album, we recorded in five days would eventually turn into a career that’s lasted 20 years, I would think you were absolutely mad. Here we are in 2020 getting to remix and remaster what started it all. It’s been a great experience listening back and giving this original Between the Buried and Me album a new life. We hope the fans enjoy this new mix by Jamie King as much as we have.”

Often referred to as a “Thinking man’s metal band,” Between the Buried and Me continue to push the boundaries of their musical and technical abilities, even as they celebrate their 20th anniversary together. Formed in 2000, the band has released nine studio albums, including 2007’s watershed Colors, The Parallax II: Future Sequence (2012), as well as 2015’s Coma Ecliptic—which not only peaked at #12 on the Billboard Top 200 (a career-high for the band), but also garnered widespread acclaim from Noisey, Revolver, Alternative Press, and The Guardian, who welcomed the album with a rare perfect score. The group has launched countless sold-out headline tours and support runs with the likes of Mastodon, Opeth, and Coheed and Cambria. Most recently, Between the Buried and Me released a two-part studio album, Automata I and Automata II in 2018. Currently, the band is gearing up for an extensive, North American retrospective tour, where they will perform the entirety of their epic, 2009 LP, The Great Misdirect, as well as a set of career-spanning material.

Click here to pre-order/pre-save Between the Buried and Me (remixed and remastered).

TRACKLIST: Between the Buried and Me

Side A

1. More Of Myself To Kill

2. Arsonist

3. Aspirations

4. What We Have Become

Side B

1. Fire For A Dry Mouth

2. Naked By The Computer

3. Use Of A Weapon

4. Shevanel Cut A Flip

About Craft Recordings:

Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most prestigious collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its rich and storied repertoire includes legendary artists such as Joan Baez, Ray Charles, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Vince Guaraldi, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, Nine Inch Nails, Thelonious Monk, Otis Redding, R.E.M. and Traveling Wilburys, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Concord, Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Milestone, Musart, Nitro, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Sugar Hill, Vanguard, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft Recordings is the catalog label team for Concord Recorded Music. For more info, visit CraftRecordings.com and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify.

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS release first track ‘Here In My Autumn’ off forthcoming studio album “Prehensile Tales”!

n 2019, PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS, the California-based band featuring Ted Leonard (lead vocals & guitars), Jimmy Keegan (drums & vocals), Dave Meros (bass) and John Boegehold (keyboards), presented its much-lauded eponymous debut. Just a year later, the group releases its second opus, “Prehensile Tales”, to be released through InsideOutMusic on May 15th, 2020.
 
As a first track from the forthcoming new album, PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS now reveal ‘Here In My Autumn’, John Boegehold comments:
“The tale of a man clinging to a chapter in his life that’s become impossible to return to yet impossible to forget. Of course that describes much of life itself, doesn’t it?”

For the six songs on the album (the longest clocking in at over 17 minutes), the band introduced violin, flute, trumpet, cello, sax and pedal steel to the sound palette that was once again recorded & mixed by Rich Mouser at The Mouse House.
 
The track-listing reads as follows:
1. Raining Hard In Heaven
2. Here In My Autumn
3. Elegant Vampires
4. Why Don’t We Run
5. Lifeboat
6. Soon But Not Today
 
The album, featuring cover art by Polish artist Mirek (https://www.facebook.com/mirekis7/), will be released as Gatefold 2LP plus CD, Limited Edition CD, and on all digital platforms. Presales are now available!

To pre-order, stream, download “Prehensile Tales”, just click https://patternseekinganimals.lnk.to/PrehensileTalesID

KANSAS – launch sneak preview of new album ‘The Absence of Presence’ out 26th June 2020

30th March 2020: Kansas, America’s legendary progressive rock band, will release their highly anticipated new studio album “The Absence of Presence” on June 26, 2020. The band gave fans a sneak preview of what they can expect to hear on the album with this sampler video: 

“We are really excited for our fans to be able to get a taste of what is to come from ‘The Absence of Presence,’” says KANSAS lead vocalist Ronnie Platt. “I think people will really be surprised by the album. ‘The Absence of Presence’ shows the band firing on all cylinders.”

“The Absence of Presence” follows-up 2016’s “The Prelude Implicit,” which debuted at #14 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart. KANSAS has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and is famous for classic hits such as ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ and ‘Dust in the Wind’ to the progressive epic ‘Song for America.’

“The Absence of Presence,” released by Inside Out Music, features nine all new tracks written by the band, produced by Zak Rizvi, and co-produced by Phil Ehart and Richard Williams. KANSAS’s signature sound is unmistakable throughout. The album showcases Ronnie Platt’s towering vocals, David Ragsdale’s searing violin, Tom Brislin’s dazzling keyboards, Williams and Rizvi’s electrifying guitar riffs, Ehart’s powerful drums, and Billy Greer’srocking bass.

“We are really proud of the album ‘The Absence of Presence,’” comments KANSAS guitarist, producer, and songwriter Zak Rizvi. “Making a new KANSAS album sets a very high musical standard that is expected from our fans. From rockers, to progressive epics, to ballads, there is something on this recording for everybody.” 

“The Absence of Presence” will be released June 26, 2020, on Inside Out Music. The album will be available on CD, Double LP 180 Gram Vinyl, Limited Edition Deluxe CD + 5.1 Blu-Ray Artbook, and as a digital album. Pre-order opportunities begin on the 17th April via KansasBand.com & other outlets.

“The Absence of Presence” Track Listing:
1. The Absence of Presence

2. Throwing Mountains

3. Jets Overhead

4. Propulsion 1

5. Memories Down the Line

6. Circus of Illusion

7. Animals on the Roof

8. Never

9. The Song the River Sang

Scottish prog Maestros Abel Ganz Open Pre-Orders For New Album – The Life of the Honey Bee and Other Moments of Clarity

“The Life of The Honey Bee, And Other Moments of Clarity” is the eagerly and long-awaited new album from Scottish prog maestros Abel Ganz. A concept album comprising of six thematically linked pieces exploring our relationship with memory and loss. The liminal space between a fading ‘what was’ and an anticipated ‘what is to come’.

The album recalls the hazy technicolour of long remembered summers and the sepia of a love forgotten. A place where we blur the boundaries of returning and renewal. The lyrics chart the course through recollection to premonition. These words are both deeply personal and universal, hope for what is next and a lament for what we have lost.

The new album has taken six years to realise and follows on from the self-titled 2014 opus Abel Ganz which was both critically acclaimed [topping several ‘best of’ lists for that year], and universally acknowledged as the band’s best, most mature album to date.

The influences on the new album continue in a similar vein – further developing their eclectic mix of folk, rock, metal and Celtic styles. The album’s trajectory shifts between crunching guitars, subtle acoustic instruments, strings, soaring Hammond and emotive grand piano all connected by lyrical storytelling and timeless vocals and harmonies.

Produced by Denis Smith, mixed by the legendary Simon Vinestock [Texas, Blur, Robert Plant, Simple Minds] and mastered By Jacob Holm-Lupo [White Willow / Opium Cartel] the album also includes a beautiful performance from multi award winning former ‘Scots Singer of the Year’ and acclaimed solo artist Emily Smith. Other notable contributions include the dynamic saxophone skills of Snake Davis, string arrangements and performances by Frank Van Essen, Chromatic Harmonica by Alex Partlin, as well as regular virtuoso contributors Fiona Cuthill and Stephen Lawrence from the Scottish folk-music scene.

Speaking of the new album drummer and band producer Denis Smith says:

“We have all pushed ourselves so incredibly hard on this record in an attempt to make this the best possible ‘complete work’ we could make. Everything on the record is interconnected and is there for a reason – right down to the guests we chose to play specific parts, the spaces we chose to record in, to the artwork – everything!

We deliberately set out to avoid simply repeating what we did last time – we hope we have taken ourselves in to new areas (amazingly – the band’s first concept album), while still retaining that ‘Ganz’ touch. On the production side of things – it’s a source of great personal pride that we have been able to collaborate and work with such skilled professionals such as Simon Vinestock and Jacob Holm-Lupo. These guys are at the very top of their game and they have helped us to raise the production values to a much higher, professional level.

Although Abel Ganz has had a very long history as a band [with many high spots] we feel very strongly that this album is the pinnacle of achievement and we hope you do too!”

The pre-sale will begin at midday on Sat 28th March and run until May 31st. The official release date is June 15th 2020!

https://abelganz.com/?fbclid=IwAR0ozcQ8fTwrC2eFZqCRTX6oiqs3oen_Kj5z-Vcecyc4Oi2ePw5FW–msKE

Glass Hammer Announce Dreaming City Pre-Order


Glass Hammer’s latest concept album will be released April 17th, but the band’s website is accepting pre-orders now for autographed copies and Limited Edition T-shirts.

Bandleader Steve Babb describes the album as a story about “finding hope in the midst of despair”.

“Dreaming City rocks a lot harder than many of our previous albums,” he adds. “But we are experimenting now with blending many genres, from 70’s classic prog to space rock and synth-wave. 2018’s
Chronomonaut was a big hit for us, so we want to keep that momentum going. We never want to make the same album twice though, so expect some surprises on Dreaming City.”

“What if the Devil never went to Georgia? What if he never made it and stopped off in Tennessee instead? Hold that thought and listen to Glass Hammer’s monster creation, Dreaming City, an unstoppable force that will blow your conceptions of this band wide apart…” Martin Hutchinson – Progradar 

Pre-orders available now at the band’s website:

https://glasshammer.com/?fbclid=IwAR3l5F8py6CQ6XCOSt2TOBvI7kdTHgJCBDk83x9Qd_LsxlskJ1DjYNzwSZ8

Glass Hammer founders Fred Schendel and Steve Babb

Caligula’s Horse announce new album ‘Rise Radiant’ / Launch first single ‘The Tempest’

Caligula’s Horse, hailing from Brisbane, Australia, a leading light in contemporary progressive metal worldwide, are pleased to announce their fifth studio album ‘Rise Radiant’ for release on the 22nd May 2020. Produced by the group’s Sam Vallen, and mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Devin Townsend Project, Leprous), the record is their most focussed and potent artistic statement to date. 

The band are also excited to launch the first single from the album, and you can listen to the albums’ opening track ‘The Tempest’ now:

Lead guitarist Sam Vallen comments: “‘Rise Radiant’ is the album we’ve been working towards for almost a decade. It represents everything we love about Caligula’s Horse – the colour, the ferocity, the introspection, the extremes – all tied up together in a way we could never have managed until now. As a band, we’ve never felt tighter, more inspired, or more driven than in the creation of this record. We’re tremendously proud of ‘Rise Radiant’, and we can’t wait for you to hear it!”

‘Rise Radiant’ is an uncompromising exploration of the human experience dressed in vivid musical colour and virtuosic performances. It is an anthem for the regeneration of self-belief, an exploration of the themes of legacy, and a rallying cry for survival. Comprised of 8 tracks, ‘Rise Radiant’ will be available as a limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 2LP + CD & as digital download. The formats also include 2 bonus tracks, covers of the Split Enz track ‘Message To My Girl’ & Peter Gabriel’s ‘Don’t Give Up’, which also features a guest appearance by Lynsey Ward of Exploring Birdsong. You can find the full track-listing below and pre-orders are available here: https://caligulashorse.lnk.to/RiseRadiant

1.    The Tempest

2.     Slow Violence

3.     Salt

4.     Resonate

5.     Oceanrise

6.    Valkyrie

7.     Autumn

8.     The Ascent

Caligula’s Horse will embark on first ever North American headline tour starting in May, following their one-off appearance at ProgPower USA last year. The band will bring their eclectic and energetic live show to American audiences, hitting the road with Long Island heavy rock juggernaut Moon Tooth, as well as fellow countrymen prog prodigies Ebonivory.

You can find the full list of dates below:

Tickets From caligulashorse.com/tour

May 2020:

22 Chicago, IL  – Reggie’s Rock Club

23 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

24 Toronto, ON – Mod Club

25 Montreal, QC – Petit Campus

26 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall

27 New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre

28 Philadelphia, PA – The Foundry

29 Washington, DC – Union Stage

30 Charlotte, NC – Neighborhood Theatre

June 2020:

1 Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar & Grill

2 Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live

4 Phoenix, AZ – The Rebel Lounge

5 Los Angeles, CA – The Roxy Theatre

6 San Francisco, CA – Slim’s

7 Portland, OR – Hawthorn Theatre

8 Seattle, WA -El Corazon

9 Vancouver, BC – The Biltmore

11 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge

12 Denver, CO – Marquis Theater

13 Kansas City, MO – Riot Room

14 Minneapolis, MN – Amsterdam Hall

16 St Louis, MO – Red Flag

17 Nashville, TN – Exit/In

18 Atlanta, GA – Purgatory @ The Masquerade

19 West Palm Beach, FL – Respectable Street

20 Orlando, FL – Soundbar

Look out for further world tour dates in the near future.

CALIGULA’S HORSE online:

Homepage

sleepmakeswaves announce ‘these are not your dreams’ EP trilogy release for 2020

Australian instrumental post-rockers sleepmakeswaves have announced new music for 2020, three years since their 2017 release ‘Made of Breath Only.’

The new project, titled ‘these are not your dreams’ will be released on 15 May 2020.

Rather than following a conventional release pattern, new songs will be released as a series of 3 EPs over the next few months, with ‘No Safe Place’ out on Feb 21, ‘Out of Hours’ released on April 17 and ‘Not an Exit’ released May 15. 

Listen to the new single:

The band announced the news to fans with a typically quirky video:

these are not your dreams’ full record released 15 May 2020  

May/June 2020 trilogy tour dates 

Sat 16 May – The Basement, Canberra ACT

Fri 22 May – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide SA

Sat 23 May – Rosemount Hotel, Perth WA

Thu 4 June – The Triffid, Brisbane QLD

Fri 5 June – Max Watts, Melbourne VIC

Sat 6 June – Manning Bar, Sydney NSW

Presented by Bird’s Robe & Niche Talent Agency

 Tickets on sale now from sleepmakeswaves.com & venue websites 

Kansas Announce New Album ‘The Absence of Presence’, Out 26th June 2020- European ‘Point of Know Return’ Anniversary Tour Dates Revealed

KANSAS, America’s legendary progressive rock band, will release their highly anticipated new studio album “The Absence of Presence” on 26th June 2020.

The album follows-up 2016’s “The Prelude Implicit,” which debuted at #14 on Billboard’s Top 200 Albums chart. KANSAS has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide, and is famous for classic hits such as ‘Carry On Wayward Son’ and ‘Dust in the Wind’ to progressive epics like ‘Song for America.’

“The Absence of Presence,” released by Inside Out Music, features nine all new tracks written by the band, produced by Zak Rizvi, and co-produced by Phil Ehart and Richard Williams. KANSAS’s signature sound is unmistakable throughout. The album showcases Ronnie Platt’s towering vocals, David Ragsdale’s searing violin, Tom Brislin’s dazzling keyboards, Williams and Rizvi’s electrifying guitar riffs, Ehart’s powerful drums, and Billy Greer’s rocking bass.

This Autumn, KANSAS will be taking its very popular Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour to Europe for 13 dates in October and November. The Point of Know Return Anniversary European Tour will include songs from “The Absence of Presence,” classic hits and deep cuts, and will culminate with the iconic album “Point of Know Return” performed in its entirety.

“We are really proud of the album ‘The Absence of Presence,’” comments KANSAS guitarist, producer, and songwriter Zak Rizvi. “Making a new KANSAS album sets a very high musical standard that is expected from our fans. From rockers, to progressive epics, to ballads, there is something on this recording for everybody.”

“It’s been a while since the band has been able to perform in Europe, where we have some very passionate fans,” adds KANSAS guitarist Richard Williams. “We are excited to take the Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour across Europe. Not only will they hear us perform that album in its entirety, along with other hits and deep cuts, but they will be the first fans to hear some of the songs from ‘The Absence of Presence’ performed live.”

Point of Know Return Anniversary European Tour Dates

October 18 – London, England – Palladium

October 20 – Frankfurt, Germany – Jahrhunderthalle

October 21 – Hamburg, Germany – Docks

October 23 – Tampere, Finland – Tamperetalo

October 24 – Helsinki, Finland – Culture House

October 26 – Stockholm, Sweden – Cirkus

October 27 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene

October 29 – Berlin, Germany        – Tempodrom

October 31 – Brussels, Belgium – Cirque Royal

November 3 – Munich, Germany – Circus Krone

November 5 – Heilbronn, Germany – Harmonie

November 9 – Bochum, Germany – RuhrCongress

November 10 – Amsterdam, Holland – Carre Theatre

After wrapping-up current U.S. dates for the Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour this spring, KANSAS will debut a track from “The Absence of Presence” live, this summer, during the Juke Box Heroes 2020 Tour when the band will be touring with Foreigner and Europe.

Tickets for the KANSAS Point of Know Return Anniversary European Tour will go on sale this week. Ticket and VIP Package information is available at KansasBand.com. Tickets for the U.S. Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour, Juke Box Heroes 2020 Tour, and KANSAS Classics dates are on sale now with ticket and VIP package information are also available at KansasBand.com.

For more information on KANSAS, The Absence of Presence, The Point of Know Return Anniversary European Tour, The Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour, or the Juke Box Heroes 2020 tour, please visit: www.kansasband.com

The Holy Road to Release 2 Track Download on ‘Piano Day’ – 28th March

These two tracks mark the fervent debut solo offering from erstwhile frontman/songwriter/misery troubadour Jonathan Stolber of the much loved To Bury A Ghost (“one of our favourite records of
 the year” – EchoesandDust.com)  

The Northampton based, former Abbey Road Masterclass graduate & twice-nominated BBC Weekender Artist returns this Piano Day with two deep cuts culled from forthcoming debut LP, “For The Blood Of England.”

The Minotaur (Mesto in A-Minor) is a majestic, blistering neo-classical piano-led instrumental that builds upon Stolber’s plaintive Michael Nyman-esque performance and will feature on this year’s Piano Day playlist. Backed by a searing string quintet, the song slowly evolves into a grandiose cinematic crescendo as a colossal thundering funeral march evokes an apocalyptic cacophony. The track is reminiscent in parts of Hope Of The States & Hans Zimmer and features live performances from some of the UK’s most talented string players, including David Dhonau (Her Name Is Calla) and Beni Weedon (Maybeshewill).

Slow It Down paints a different sonic picture. A dense symphony of discordant, glacial synths swell into an explosive wash of plucked harp and angelic, tumbling choir, whilst Stolber delivers his trademark vocal: a fragile, intimate croon that recalls early Elbow & ‘Kid A’ era Radiohead.

Mixed by Leeds producer James Kenosha (Grammatics / Dry The River) and mastered by John Davis
(Manic Street Preachers / Bloc Party / Joy Division).

Stolber has to date, had the pleasure of sharing the stage with many celebrated acts, including 65 Days of Static, James Yuill & Her Name Is Calla. The BBC, Drowned in Sound, Echoes & Dust, Gold Flake Paint, The 405, Sound Of Violence,John Kennedy and Gil Mills have all expressed support of his previous releases.

These two tracks serve as a gorgeous appetite-whetter ahead of the full debut scheduled for release later in 2020.

All proceeds from the Bandcamp download ‘The Minotaur’ will be donated in aid of mental health awareness : www.tinychanges.com