Trifecta announce details on ‘The New Normal’, New Album Released 12th April 2024 on Kscope

The collaboration of singer songwriter Nick Beggs, keyboardist extraordinaire Adam Holzman and internationally renowned drummer Craig Blundell combine Jazz Fusion and Progressive Rock with a dash of English wit.

Pre-orders are available here:

The New Normal (lnk.to)

Trifecta have announced their new album – their second musical observation in the form of The New Normal on 12 April on Kscope.

It is often said that the greatest musical groups are the ones with the right mixture of ideas, talent and chemistry. These are things Trifecta have in abundance. It is, of course, no secret that the three members – keyboardist Adam Holzman, bassist/Chapman Stick mastermind Nick Beggs and drummer Craig Blundell – have spent their most recent years touring some of the world’s biggest stages as part of many bands including with Steven Wilson. So when they decide to form a largely instrumental offshoot as a trio, eventually writing and releasing 2021’s Fragments debut, they were already off to a head start, with a tangible sense of creative familiarity that had been stunning audiences in every corner of the globe. 

For listeners seeking to escape the confines of the normal world, ‘The New Normal’ will enable a window into vistas in a multitude of sonics and in concept. By combining elements of Progressive Rock, Jazz Fusion all with a dash of typical English wit the band bring the listener into a world where sound is malleable, time is a mere concept and vegetables have otherworldly properties like the ‘Stroboscopic Fennel’. 

This new 19 track, epic sees the band building upon the innovative ambition and genre-hopping skulduggery they so fearlessly introduced themselves to the world with on ‘Fragments’. The New Normal could easily have carried on in that same direction and comfortably delighted fans of all three musicians, as well as their associated projects. But if there’s anything we know about Holzman, Beggs and Blundell, it’s that they are bursting with ideas of every kind. Which explains why this album is guided by an uncontainable brilliance and bravado that packs in so many twists and turns, practically laughing at any notion of genre or boundary. The mid-70s fusion of Beck And Call cascades into the jazz noir brilliance of Dot Are You Wooing without a flicker of hesitation, venturing far beyond the introductory nuances into something truly dazzling and unexpected, telling another chapter of a rapidly evolving story. It’s almost as if this band take delight in ignoring the stylistic stop signs that provoke fear in the less adventurous… 

“I think we all felt it was important to not fit too heavily into one idiom,” admits Beggs. “There was a lot we wanted to say and we couldn’t really compact it all into one predetermined sound. I’m especially proud of Dot Are You Wooing and Chinese Fire Drill. We wanted to take listeners on a journey they won’t forget. The roots of every song is representative of one person in this band. Adam would come up with something like Wacky Tobaccy, mapping out the sonics, and then we would expand on it together, changing things up wherever it suited the music. Craig came up with the song Ornamental Lettuce and then Adam and I added our parts on top. There’s plenty more to come!”

Joining the trio of masterful musos is Alex Lifeson (Envy of None / Rush) for additional guitar on ‘Once Around The Sun With You’ and Theo Travis (Steven Wilson) on saxophone for insectoid grooves of ‘Daddy Long Legs’. Alongside John Paul Jones’ very chapman stick from 1979 that was sent to Nick and used to record ‘The New Normal’. 

 The album was recorded in the Bermuda Triangle of normality that is Leighton Buzzard, Bedford and New York between 2019 and 2023, engineered by the band and mastered by Andy VanDette (Beastie Boys / Rush / Whitney Houston), adorned with artwork that was inspired by an original idea from Hajo Muller.

Available on Limited edition white 2 LP / CD / 2 LP and digitally – with pre-orders available here:

The New Normal (lnk.to)

1. Beck And Call [02:35] 

2. Dot Are You Wooing? [00:53] 

3. Stroboscopic Fennel [02:25] 

4. Just Feel It Karen [03:53] 

5. Sibling Rivalry [04:01] 

6. Ornamental Lettuce [02:15] 

7. Daddy Long Legs [04:07] 

8. What Are You Doing? [00:53] 

9. Stupid Pop Song [03:32] 

10. Crime Spree [03:07]

    11. Bach Stabber [02:07] 

12. Kleptocrat [02:35] 

13. Once Around The Sun With You [03:50]

 14. Chinese Fire Drill [03:29] 

15. Ouch! My OCD [01:17] 

16. Wake Up Call [03:46] 

17. Wacky Tobaccy [03:28] 

18. Canary In A Five And Dime [03:55] 

19. On The Spectrum [03:23

Band picture by Hajo Mueller.

Review – Bruce Soord – Luminescence

Multi-instrumentalist, producer and The Pineapple Thief mastermind Bruce Soord’s new album ‘Luminescence’ was released September 22nd. This new album is his third solo offering. Inspired by the idea of finding inner peace, Soord’s latest solo release explores the difficulty of living in the metropolis of the modern world. Born from days exploring various cities whilst on tour, tracks from the album feature recordings from Soord’s various wanderings captured on his field recorder.

Recorded between January 2021 and June of 2023, the album was cut at Soord Studios with additional strings recorded at RAK Studio 3 in London, featuring arrangements from Andrew Skeet, long time member of The Divine Comedy and musical producer of the orchestration on many films/tv shows from Netflix’s smash hit Black Mirror to David Attenborough’s Green Planet and Dynasties II. 

You could draw parallels between Bruce Soord and Steven Wilson who, after many years building success with Porcupine Tree, segued into an equally successful solo career and has just released his latest solo offering, ‘The Harmony Codex’, to much acclaim. While being a fan of The Pineapple Thief, I do think that Soord’s solo output is every bit as good, if not as extensive, as Mr Wilson’s. However, with ‘Luminescence’, I do feel that Bruce Soord has created something more intimate and warm and one that, with its soul-searchingly sparse soundscapes, really resonates with me.

There’s Soord’s signature melancholy in the dark beauty of opener Dear Life, a poignant track sung from the perspective of an elderly parent, on their death bed, to their child. The elegant swathes of Andrew Skeet’s strings and the wistful guitar blend with Bruce’s heartfelt vocal to deliver something starkly elegant. The brevity of tracks like Lie Flat may appear uncomplicated but there are hidden meanings and nostalgic snapshots throughout. A more simplistic approach of stylish acoustic guitar and gentle electronica imbues a laid back, unhurried feel throughout while that inner peace is sought. One of my personal favourites is the glorious Olomouc where the ethereal strings work against the backdrop of that wonderful acoustic guitar to give a moment of pure clarity and the vocals’ nostalgic timbre just add to the stillness and calm.

There are moments of lucidity and purity brought by the stylish transience of songs like the lush So Simple and the delicate soundscape of Read to Me and a mental pause brought about by the iridescent shimmer of Never Ending Light where Bruce’s vocal is most definitely the focus, aided and abetted by the exquisite strings and classically played guitar. The pared back note of Day of All Days flowers into something altogether more seriousness with the unadorned guitar and more direct vocals and Nestle In explores the concept of the incessant speed of life causing humanity to not appreciate what is wrong in the world. Once again Andrew Skeet’s beautifully emotive strings accompany the minimalist yet emotive electronica bubbling in the foreground.

Instant Flash of Light adds a more urgent feel from the guitar and vocals to its Americana feeling sound, countered by the dazzling strings and sumptuous chorus to create yet another moment of sheer class. Rushing, with its faster pace and nimble electronica leaves you left in the middle of a crowded scene, a bar perhaps or even the concourse of a busy station. A wonderfully wistful and touching piece of music, Stranded Here is a study in thoughtful melancholy and one that left a lump in my throat and the album closes with the touching elegance of Find Peace.

There won’t be many albums created with as much love and affection as ‘Luminescence’. Bruce Soord has laid his soul bare and given us an intimate insight into the world he inhabits and, in exploring the difficulty of living in the metropolis of the modern world, Bruce has delivered an album of extraordinary songs and one that will stand the test of time.

Released 22nd September, 2023.

Order from ‘Luminescence’ here:

LUMINESCENCE – OUT NOW (lnk.to)

ANATHEMA’S DANIEL CARDOSO AND ULVER’S KRISTOFFER RYGG’S HEAD CONTROL SYSTEM ANNOUNCE REISSUE OF 2006 ALBUM ‘MURDER NATURE’

OUT NOVEMBER 17th VIA KSCOPE

Pre-order here: Murder Nature (lnk.to)

DOUBLE-DISC EDITION OF THE 2006 STUDIO DEBUT FROM ANATHEMA’S DANIEL CARDOSO, AND ULVER’S KRISTOFFER RYGG. NOW REMASTERED, INCLUDING EXTRA DISC OF DEMOS AND INSTRUMENTALS, PLUS COMPREHENSIVE INTERVIEW

Recorded between Portugal and Norway in 2005–2006, and produced and mixed by Cardoso himself. Murder Nature was released to great critical acclaim, and has gained the reputation of being a lost classic of sorts over the years, whilst the compositions themselves remained timeless and ageless, and often requested for a proper and extensive reissue.

This newly remastered double-disc edition of Murder Nature, now includes a special bonus disc of unreleased instrumental and demo material from the time period, along with a cover of Seal’s ‘80s hit “Kiss From a Rose”. The release also includes updated art and layout, and contains a booklet featuring a comprehensive interview delving into the beginnings, endings, and inner workings of the whole project, courtesy of writer Jonathan Rosenthal, (Invisible Oranges, Decibel, Brooklyn Vegan) plus additional words from members of other luminaries of the progressive metal scene, such as Periphery and Between the Buried and Me.Murder Nature stands as a pinnacle of forward-thinking metal from the 2000s, for fans of Tool, A Perfect Circle, Queens of the Stone Age, and Faith No More.

Murder Nature was a pretty bold album, especially if you put it into the context of when it was made, and how. Looking back, I’m still surprised that we pulled it off, but I’m glad we did ’cause it pretty much paved the way to my long-lasting career as a musician and producer.” – says Daniel Cardoso. 

Murder Nature will be available as a double CD and single LP. 

MURDER NATURE Track list: 

1.     Baby Blue [06:34]

2.     Skin Flick [04:23] 

3.     Masterpiece [Of Art] [03:34] 

4.     Blunt Instrumental [03:49]

5.     It Hurts [04:00]

6.     Watergate [03:40]

7.     Seven [04:00]

8.     Kill Me [02:07]

9.     Wonderworld [03;38]

10.   Rapid Eye Movement [04:48] 

11.   Falling On Sleep [04:46]

12.   Kiss From a Rose [04:18] 

DISC 2 (CD ONLY) 

1.     Baby Blue (Instrumental) [05:18]

2.     Skin Flick (instrumental) [04:26]

3.     Masterpiece [Of Art] (instrumental) [03:38]

4.     Watergate (instrumental) [03:43] 

5.     Seven (instrumental) [04:03]

6.     Wonderworld (instrumental) [04:40]

7.     Rapid Eye Movement (instrumental) [04:47] 

8.     eM lliK (Kill Me reverse) [02:07]

9.     Baby Blue (Unreleased Demo) [05:18]

10.   Skin Flick (Unreleased Demo) [04:24]

Masterpiece [Of Art] (Unreleased Demo) [03:38

Head Control System was a venture set out by multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire Daniel Cardoso (Anathema / Sirius), originally under the moniker of SinDRomE, which developed into a dynamic and what could also be considered a somewhat trailblazing style of alternative metallic rock with prog textures. The missing piece of the puzzle was completed when Daniel was joined by Kristoffer Rygg of long-standing Norwegian experimental – and erstwhile black metal – legends Ulver. Together with Kristoffer’s unmistakable vocal delivery and Daniel’s finely-honed instrumentation, an intricately woven opus of seduction and darkness with abstract existential musings was created in Murder Nature, the band’s only studio album to date. It was originally released back in 2006 through Voices Music & Entertainment (EU) and The End Records (US).

Mariusz Duda Unveils New Album ‘AFR AI D’, Out November 17th Via Kscope

Riverside mastermind Mariusz Duda returns with fourth solo album ‘AFR AI D’ out November 17th via Kscope. 

Mariusz Duda has always been fascinated by the telling of a story, idea or concept.

Whereas on previous album ‘Lockdown Trilogy’, Mariusz Duda wanted to capture a snapshot of life during the pandemic the renown progressive mastermind, this time explores the concept of AI as disruptor. His new solo record looks at the growing commodification of AI and specifically with artificial intelligence entering the mainstream.

Using the notion of ChatGPT and Midjourney and the increasing use of deep fakes as a springboard, ‘AFR AI D’ explores these interesting and forward thinking theories musically just as much as it does conceptually.

Unveiling ‘AFR AI D’ first single ‘Embracing The Unknown’ the track is the longest composition on the album and a fitting representative. The changing musical moods and rhythm are characteristic not only of the new album but of all Mariusz Duda music released under his own name.

“I’m happy I can continue this instrumental electronic music journey,” says Duda.

“I love these evocative sounds. Contrary to what the title of the album suggests, I am not afraid of new technologies. I think AI is just another tool which, over time, we will learn to use in a better way, and which will speed up work in many areas. In spite of a slight subconscious fear of the unknown, I am ready to embrace the future :)”

He’s also shared a video for first single  ‘Embracing The Unknown’ which you can view now: 

The album opens with the ominous sounds of the aptly titled ‘Taming Nightmares’ acting as a musical signpost to this new dawn of machine learning. It’s followed by Interstellar nod of ‘Fake Me Deep, Murf’ and later by the TRON like ‘Mid Journey To Freedom’.

Off the back of ‘Bots’ Party’ we move into the emotive arpeggios of ‘I Love To Chat With You’ that whisks you straight into the mind of Theodore Twombly falling for an operating system. The album later ends on the cold and unfeeling introspection of ‘Embracing The Unknown’.

In a world where truth is often camouflaged by deception the electronic heartbeat of ‘AFR AI D’ can never lie. Or can it?

AFR AI D’ Track listing:  

1. Taming Nightmares [07:20] 

 2. Good Morning Fearmongering [05:14]  

3. Fake Me Deep, Murf [04:48] 

4. Bots’ Party [05:00]  

5. I Love To Chat With You [03:43] 

6. Why So Serious, Cassandra? [04:56] 

7. Mid Journey To Freedom [03:08]  

8. Embracing The Unknown [08:00] 

German artist and illustrator Hajo Müller (Steven Wilson) appears once again carrying on the legacy of Mariusz Duda’s artwork as the two have collaborated throughout Mariusz’s solo album career. Mariusz also performs all instruments throughout the album except for guitar solos performed by Mateusz Owczarek 

‘AFR AI D’ was recorded throughout May and June 2023 at Serakos Studio in Warszawa, with engineering by Magda and Robert Srzedniccy and mastered by Robert Szydło.

The album is available in a variety of formats that include LP, Magenta LP, CD and Digital. 

Pre-order HERE (https://MariuszDudaKscope.lnk.to/AFR_AI_D)

About Mariusz Duda:

Mariusz Duda is a Polish musician, songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. The leader of the progressive rock band Riverside, and the founder of the solo project Lunatic Soul. His musical interests span from rock and metal, through pop and folk, to electronic and ambient music.

GLEB KOLYADIN ANNOUNCES NEW SOLO ALBUM ‘THE OUTLAND’

OUT JULY 21st / AUGUST 11th (US) VIA KSCOPE 

LISTEN / PREORDER – HERE 

Piano virtuoso GLEB KOLYADIN unveils new solo album ‘The Outland’ out July 21st via Kscope.

Written throughout the past years, the record speaks to the introspective nature of the Iamthemorning pianist, whilst exploring facets of his sound that have yet still to be uncovered. 

Utilising the silence afforded from the pandemic, it offered a new perspective of introspection and the perfect outlet to mould his melancholic creativity. Entirely instrumental, the album emphasises melodic themes through different tracks to create a six part symphonic suite in a way that only Gleb Kolyadin could. 

The piano mastermind himself had the following to say regarding the album: 

“The Outland was recorded over 2020 and 2021 which was a very troublesome time for us all and I wanted to capture this feeling. During the period of covid when we were unable to travel I found I would create new worlds in my head, as a way of being able to escape.” 

Over time however, this idea transformed into something much deeper for me. I’ve since moved to the UK, and now it represents a new beginning. A rebirth if you will and ironically has more of an escapist air around it and has been given a new lease of life.  

Gleb continues:  

It’s a combination of being both an uplifting and introspective work that has been a long time coming. I am happy to finally share the music that is The Outland. A world within a world, assembled from disparate fragments, in many ways, like all of us.   

Acting as the protagonist in ‘The Outland’, piano is certainly the focal point of the album yet there are some truly stunning performances alongside Kolyadin. They come from an all star cast in the form of Gavin Harrison (Porcupine Tree / King Crimson) on drums, Tony Levin (King Crimson / Peter Gabriel) on upright bass and Vlad Avy on guitar.

Not confined to genre, the pianist traverses the landscape of classical piano to jazz-rock and fusion effortlessly as he glides across ‘The Outland’. The album is bookended by both the longest tracks of the record, ‘Voyager’ and ‘Hermitage’ each just as vital yet different as the other. The first opens with a ten minute symbiosis of Jazz-Rock and Fusion whereas the latter ‘Hermitage’ offers more of a look into the world of Jazz. 

Moments of self analysis are littered throughout ‘The Outland’. They vary in the form of the introverted ‘Ascension’ that ruminates on darker moments which are then counterpointed by the contemplative shimmering of ‘Cascades’. Matched only in scope by the experimental ‘Apparatus’.

The Outland’s musical inspirations reflect Kolyadin’s increasingly varied musical palette that include, Pat Metheny and Hiromi, Steve Reich, 1970’s Progressive Rock in the vein of legends Gong and Mike Oldfield alongside British Folk adorned with a cinematic edge. Welcome to The Outland.

The artwork, designed by Andhika Ramadhian, is an abstract portrayal of a hermit, trapped within a geometrically paradoxical space symbolising the turbulent times that ‘The Outland’ was penned in. However as time has gone on since it’s original writing, 

 The Outland tracklisting: 

1.     Voyager

2.     Ascension

3.     Cascades

4.     Mercurial

5.     Apparatus

6.     Hermitage

The Outland will be available on CD / black LP and digitally on July 21st via Kscope.

KLONE PRESENT ‘MEANWHILE’, NEW ALBUM FROM THE FRENCH ALT-METAL/ART-ROCK COLLECTIVE, RELEASED ON FEBRUARY 10TH 2023 ON KSCOPE

Emotive and conceptual, Klone have once again broken new sonic ground and built further on their signature expansive sound. 

Since 2019’s opus Le Grand Voyage, French art-rockers Klone have risen to new heights across

the globe, touring alongside the likes of Leprous and Pain of Salvation, and blowing away festival crowds at HellfestMotocultorProg Power USAMidsummer Prog, and Cruise to the Edge. Back with new album Meanwhile, the band return with sprawling textures, huge guitars and beautiful melodies to satisfy progressive metal fans and rock listeners alike. 

Recorded in February 2022 with producer Chris Edrich (TesseracT, Leprous, The Ocean Collective), Meanwhile chronicles the best and worst aspects of humanity. Vocalist Yann Ligner’s high-concept and oftentimes meta lyrics paint a picture of events taking place at the same time but in different places, while he muses about choices that are made against our will that can change the course of our common history – resulting in some poignant reflections about today’s world. 

First single, ‘Within Reach’, showcases Klone’s signature blend of beautiful soundscapes, monstrous riffs and off-kilter time signatures, blended with relatable lyrics. The band say:  “Within Reach is about those missed opportunities, those moments that elude us, close to the tipping point and so often within reach. The song introduces the album and sets the tone with a powerful and direct opening. With a sharp sound, Chris Edrich’s massive production enhances a composition full of relief and straight to the point Both heavy and refined, “Within Reach” condenses the ingredients that make the colour of this new album.” 

The striking artwork for Meanwhile was created by Umut Recber, who experimented with photo manipulation techniques to create a striking image of stormy skies which perfectly represents the music within. 

Klone’s most concise, direct and sonically accomplished album yet, Meanwhile is an essential listen. The album will be released on February 10th 2023 on CD / LP / limited edition silver coloured vinyl LP / limited edition clear vinyl LP / digitally and is available to pre-order HERE (https://Klone.lnk.to/Meanwhile

MEANWHILE TRACKLISTING

1. Within Reach [05:00] https://youtu.be/k_i3cq0ad8A

2. Blink Of An Eye [05:22]

3. Bystander [05:05]

4. Scarcity [04:25]

5. Elusive [05:02]

6. Apnea [05:22]

7. The Unknown [04:55]

8. Night And Day [05:36]

9. Disobedience [05:44]

10. Meanwhile [06:48]

 Klone have confirmed they will be supporting the release of Meanwhile with live shows, beginning in their native France, but more dates will be announced soon. 

02/12/2022 – Lille – Le Black Lab 

03/12/2022 – Nantes – Le Ferrailleur – Nantes Metal Fest

28/01/2023 – Clermont-Ferrand – La Cooperative De Mai

09/02/2023 – Le Mans – L’alambik / Superforma

10/02/2023 – Bordeaux – Le Rocher De Palmer

11/02/2023 – Paris – Le Trabendo

24/02/2023 – Poitiers – Le Confort Moderne 

15/04/2023 – Savigny-Le-Temple – L’empreinte

Klone are:

Yann Ligner : Vocals 

Guillaume Bernard : Guitar

Aldrick Guadagnino : Guitar

Morgan Berthet: Drums 

Enzo Alfano: Bass 

EMPYRE ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM DETAILS AND SHARE ALBUM TITLE TRACK ‘RELENTLESS’

UK rock band Empyrewho recently signed to Kscope, will release their new album Relentless on 31st March next year, with pre-orders available now at https://empyre.lnk.to/Relentless

They now find themselves alongside the likes of TesseracT, The Pineapple Thief and Envy of None, on a label that has previously released albums from Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree and Tangerine Dream.

‘Joining the Kscope family of artists feels like a validation of us as songwriters. We have a sense of reassurance, and we’re proud to be a part of it.’ states Empyre frontman Henrik Steenholdt.

Widely regarded as one of the hardest working bands of the past few years, Relentless was recorded between pandemic lockdowns and during their previous album’s (The Other Side) release cycle. Once again they encamped at Parlour Recording Studio, Kettering for recording with Neil Haynes, before handing mixing duties to Chris Clancy at Audioworks (Machine Head, Those Damn Crows, Massive Wagons) – who has magnified the band’s dark, emotional, rock sound with an elevated deep richness.

First single and album title track Relentless showcases Empyres work ethic and ethos, and musically, the hard rock track will resonate with listeners in their scene. “Relentless, at least in title, reflects Empyre and our level of dedication and ambition. Whilst the album as a whole is not pure hard rock, we felt the best way to introduce it would be with a striking and formidable title track, letting Relentless set the tone in terms of intensity”, the band add.

The single “Relentless” is out now and available on all major streaming platforms and is accompanied by a video directed by GLK Media:

We write arena rock and playing arena stages is something we aim for. I won’t be happy until I’m standing on that arena stage’, Henrik adds. With regular comparisons to the likes of Alter Bridge and Soundgarden mutated with Dire Straits and Muse, it’s clear that Empyre’s music was written with the big stage in mind.

Other tracks such as Waking Light and Hit And Run capture the band’s more commercial side, featuring a warm, enveloping sound, while Forget Me showcases the album’s emotive edge, as the haunting, delicate ballad builds to a euphoric ending, a song that would be at home on the arena stage.

Since their debut album Self Aware in 2019, Empyre have won Classic Rock Magazine’s “Track Of The Week” on three separate occasions alongside a ‘High Hopes’ feature, while Kerrang! described their sound as “slick, vast and like the music was written with the help of an architectural blueprint for an arena”. Planet Rock heralded the band as ‘Ones to Watch’, playlisting the tracks ‘New Republic’ (https://youtu.be/wfIH4uPMKIg ) and ‘My Bad’ and on the strength of the 2020 Winter’s End performance immediately booked them for the Planet Rockstock 2021 main stage.

Empyre have also been one of very few rock acts to be featured on ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris’ “Under The Apple Tree” Sessions.

Aside from their high aspirations and determination Empyre are also known for a darkly self-deprecating sense of humour and have proved they have what it takes to stand out from the crowd by delivering an engaging, if unsettling mix of melancholy, hope, and hopelessness, often within the same song.

Track listing:

1. Relentless [03:57]

2. Waking Light [04:36]

3. Parasites [05:18]

4. Cry Wolf [05:28]

5. Hit And Run [04:00]

6. Forget Me [05:48]

7. Silence Screaming [05:01]

8. Road To Nowhere [04:34]

9. Quiet Commotion [06:10]

10. Your Whole Life Slows [03:18]

Relentless will be released on the following formats, with additional bundles and items available exclusively through the Eyesore Merch band store – all are available to pre-order here https://empyre.lnk.to/Relentless

·       Limited edition digipack CD version with an alternative cover, featuring 4 bonus tracks

·       Limited edition red coloured vinyl LP 

·       CD 

·       LP 

·       Digitally

All pre-orders via the Eyesore Merch band store will receive a hand-signed photo and an exclusive free download of Empyre’s unreleased cover of the David Guetta & Sia track Titanium.

Items available bundled with the various formats include:

·       Handwritten lyrics

·       The album T-shirt

·       A special limited edition Boxed version, designed and hand-treated by the band. Including two tickets for the unique opportunity to join the band at the album listening party event in advance of the album release, plus a USB stick with exclusive album content and more. 

EMPYRE LIVE IN THE UK

Empyre are already a firm favourite on the UK live scene, and having had a busy summer playing festivals, the band have acoustic & headline shows and high-profile support tours lined up until the end of the year, including Vintage Caravan (25 – 31st October) & Gun which features a show at the legendary Glasgow Barrowlands. The band add, “This tour has been a long time coming thanks to COVID meddling with its scheduling numerous times, but ultimately it couldn’t have finally landed at a better time for us. We’ve got a new record deal in place with Kscope, a new album just announced, and we’ve got the platform to play our tour audiences plenty of new music. We’re relishing the opportunity to get back on the road and play, especially with a great live band like The Vintage Caravan.”

Empyre are:

Henrik Steenholdt: Vocals and guitar

Did Coles: Lead guitar

Grant Hockley: Bass

Elliot Bale: Drums 

GAZPACHO’S INTIMATE LOCKDOWN FILM ‘FIREWORKING AT ST.CROIX’ NEWLY REMIXED FOR THE PHYSICAL RELEASE ON KSCOPE ON 11TH MARCH

“Plenty to marvel at in the ensemble and individual playing of these musicians” – Louder Sound

Due to reasons which most fans will be well aware of by now, Gazpacho’s “Fireworker” 2020 album tour was cancelled. Stuck with the predicament of having a well-honed show rehearsed and the prospect of a long period off the road, the band had a decision to make. The idea of a live stream which would reach fans far and wide quickly presented itself and the band had a perfect setting in their very own rehearsal space in beautiful Fredrikstad.

The resulting film is a very moody trip into the world of ‘The Fireworker’, captured on the 25th of October 2020. No fixes, no polishes, no light show and no nothing. Not even catering. Just the pure rendition of the music along with a surprise or two for those of you who have been with the band for a while.

In Thomas Andersen’s own words “Gazpacho has always been an ‘anti band’, in the sense that we strive to do things differently. For this reason, we wanted an ‘honest’ live stream where we decided not to play the gig on an empty stage with a light show. Instead, we decided to perform it exactly how we play when we record or rehearse in the actual room we use.”

The original stream has now been completely re-edited and expanded with 30 minutes of additional material not included in the original broadcast, all remixed in glorious 5.1 surround sound. The Blu-Ray edition also contains 2.5 hours of bonus material including promo videos, interviews and a bonus concert filmed at the last night of the Soyuz Tour in 2019.

The band are now back on the road, but these recordings offer a fine historical nugget from the bands already sterling catalogue. 

Watch the band perform ‘Fireworker’ here:

Fireworking At St.Croix will be released on Kscope on 11th March 2022, on multiple formats all of which are available to PRE-ORDER HERE (https://gazpacho.lnk.to/FireworkingStCroix )

 Deluxe 4-disc hardback book edition – with the whole show on double CD, Blu-Ray and DVD as well as 48 page coffee table book including extensive liner notes about the Fireworker concept and the history of Gazpacho, including never before seen photos and alternative album artwork.

·       Blu Ray – which features the re-edited and expanded original stream with 30 minutes of additional material not included in the original broadcast, all remixed in glorious 5.1 surround sound. Plus 2.5 hours of bonus material including promo videos, interviews and a bonus concert filmed at the last night of the Soyuz Tour in 2019.

The show soundtrack will be available on CD, double LP on black vinyl and as a digital album 

GAZPACHO LIVE

Gazpacho will be heading back out on the road in April 2022 with Pure Reason Revolution:

Friday 8th – Germany – Stuttgart – Club Cann

Saturday 9th – Germany – Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal

Sunday 10th – Germany – Berlin – Columbia Theater

Monday 11th – Germany – Cologne – Die Kantine

Wednesday 13th – The Netherlands  – Breda – Mezz

Thursday 14th  – The Netherlands  – Zwolle – Hedon

Saturday 16th – France – Paris – Petit Bain

Sunday 17th  – UK – London Hackney – EartH theatre 

Gazpacho are:

Thomas Andersen – keyboards, programming, Jan-Henrik Ohme – vocals, Jon-Arne Vibo – guitars, Mikael Krømer – violin, additional guitars, Kristian “Fido” Torp – bass, Robert R Johansen – drums

Photography by Nina Krømer

JON GOMM ANNOUNCES REISSUE OF ‘SECRETS NOBODY KEEPS – PASSIONFLOWER 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY EDITION’ – RELEASED 24th September on Kscope

Jon Gomm, the UK based acoustic guitar virtuoso, follows the recent release of his latest album ‘The Faintest Idea’ with news on the reissue of his 2013 record ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps’. The ‘Passionflower 10 year anniversary edition’ marks a decade since the release of his single ‘Passionflower’ that went on to change everything for Jon. A live video of the single racked up millions of views on YouTube and other media platforms in 2012 – with British legend Stephen Fry describing him on mainstream television as someone “playing the guitar in a way I’d never seen it played before” and “an all-round genius”. 

Follow up album ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps’ arrived in 2013, further cementing his status as one of the driving forces behind an acoustic revolution. Jon comments,

“I remember recording Secrets Nobody Keeps, in my spare bedroom studio space in one of the most notorious inner city suburbs of Leeds – My home, familiar, every dog bark, every shout. The passionflower in the yard which had inspired the song, having long since won the battle with the concrete, was still tangling itself around my house. The tempest of the previous couple of years of my life, since my little zero-budget friend-made videos had gone viral (the secrets nobody kept), and sent me on tour all over the planet: It had somehow wrenched me from my home, my sense of safety, even after I went back. Everything the same, but unsteady now. Maybe it was me that had been altered.

I was clinging on to my sense of self through these songs.”

Released on 24th September via Kscope ‘Secrets Nobody Keeps  – Passionflower 10 year anniversary edition’ features the original 10 songs alongside a bonus track of the 2020 version of ‘Passionflower’.

Despite the success of the track Jon never recorded a version of Passionflower that he’d been 100% happy with. So he called up an old friend, Australia based producer Andy Sorenson, who took Jon’s raw, intimate solo acoustic performance, and placed it in an expanded landscape which went on to form the sound of last year’s album ‘The Faintest Idea’

Jon adds, “I’m proud of this album. It was difficult to make, but I don’t like music to feel easy, to be purely soft, to offer only comfort and nothing more.  I hope you enjoy it the second time around.”

‘Secrets Nobody Keeps  – Passionflower 10 year anniversary edition’ – tracklisting:

1 – Telepathy 

2 – Ain`t Nobody 

3 – There`s No Need To Be Afraid 

4 – Wukan Motorcycle Kid  

5 – Deep Cut  

6 – Orville (The Secret Of Learning To Fly Is Forgetting To Hit The Ground) 

7  – Passionflower (SNK Version) – https://youtu.be/nY7GnAq6Znw

8 – Message In A Bottle  

9  – Dance Of The Last Rhino 

10 – Everything/You To Me Are Everything/Running Up That Hill 

Bonus Track

11  – Passionflower (2020 Version) – https://youtu.be/-325M16UAFU

Pre-order now – https://jongomm.lnk.to/SecretsNobodyKeeps

Jon Gomm will be touring the UK throughout October and November. For full dates and tickets visit:

https://jongomm.com/shows

TESSERACT RELEASE FULL PERFORMANCE VIDEO OF “NOCTURNE (P O R T A L S)” FROM P O R T A L S

THE MULTI FORMAT RELEASE OF THE AURAL & VISUAL CINEMATIC LIVE EXPERIENCE COMING 27 AUGUST 2021 ON KSCOPE.

In December 2020, TesseracT invited fans to join them in P O R T A L S – an ambitious concept created to offer an escape in a time of isolation. The live cinematic experience fused live performance with beautiful lighting and striking effects, brought together by chaptered screenplay. By taking their most daring steps as a creative force, the band offered the viewer a completely new and unique experience.

The show was a phenomenal success and garnered praise from fans and media worldwide after the band performed 14 songs spanning their entire catalogue in a performance that lasted over 2 hours, with one of the highlights being the track “Nocturne”. 

Bass player Amos Williams “Nocturne has been a firm fan and band favourite since it was released ahead of the ‘Altered State’ album cycle. As such, we threw a lot into the performance, which was matched by our production team, who really pushed the envelope with what they achieved during this track. The laser effects and lighting is powerful and emotive, and Rich’s cinematography really hits the mark. 

Every tour produces a slightly different version of this track, as our mindset waxes and wanes, but this version of Nocturne is a real high mark for us we feel; it was just so much fun to perform after not performing it for a year. So, why didn’t we close the show with this song if it was so fun? The thought did cross our minds, we figured everybody would want that. But,  we wanted to sit outside our comfort zone with an ‘encore’ of real deep cuts and fan favourites. Thus, Nocturne (P O R T A L S) was the perfect handover between the desired and expected, as well as an excellent guide for everyone as we turned to face the weird and wonderful direction of the final act. “

Kscope will present this unique event to a wider audience for the first time. The film and soundtrack will be issued on an array of formats including Blu-Ray, Triple LP soundtrack and as a limited edition deluxe 4 disc book edition on 27 August 2021.

P O R T A L S will be released on the following formats with pre-orders available HERE (https://tesseractkscope.lnk.to/PORTALS)

LIMITED EDITION DELUXE 4 DISC BOOK EDITION includes:

  • Blu-ray & DVD includes: P O R T A L S main feature • Behind the scenes documentary • Live In The Lockdown • P O R T A L S hi res audio only version (all BD/DVD audio 48/24 PCM Stereo)
  • 2CD P O R T A L S soundtrack
  • All presented in a lavish set with 40 page book containing exclusive pictures, extensive liner notes from Amos Williams and individually numbered art print

The band webstore will exclusively sell a limited number of this set with the art prints signed by TesseracT

BLU-RAY EDITION includes: P O R T A L S main feature • Behind the scenes documentary • Live In The Lockdown • P O R T A L S hi res audio only version (48/24 PCM Stereo)

3LP Gatefold / 2CD Edition / digital  – the soundtrack to the stunning cinematic live experience P O R T A L S featuring tracks spanning the band’s career to date including Nocturne, Seven Names & King

Along with the release of the livestream event, the band will be playing their first live shows in almost two years this November and December special guests to Trivium in the UK and Europe, as well as returning to North American shores in 2022 (see the band’s website for details).