L.A.’s Next Door To Heaven is a potent metalcore combo that brings vulnerability, strength, and focuses to another level of melodic and heavy music. To date, they have released two full-length albums and an EP and their latest offering is a music video for the new song ‘Disguise’. According to vocalist Daria Mazunova, this track has more extreme vocals compared to their previous material, and she kept that in mind when writing the lyrics. Very honest and straightforward, Mazunova jokes that it’s a bit simpler than their regular stuff, but not for drummers, she continues to explain the track: “Our new track ‘Disguise’, yet unreleased, inspired us to make a music video for it. It’s rare when all your thoughts at the moment can be put together into music and lyrics this well. It is about the process of finding out who’s a friend, and who’s a foe. It’s a way to look at the people you thought you knew and understand what has changed. For sure, this song and video are going to be released in due time therefore should be well received by fans.”
US rock giants Icon For Hire share more new music with single ‘Shadow’, taken from their upcoming album The Reckoning due for release on September 30 via Kartel Music Group. ‘Shadow’ follows the release of heavy cut ‘Breakdown’ and continues to build on the momentum gained by a string of singles and video releases ahead of their forthcoming new album The Reckoning. The soaring new single deals with “the ugly part of ourselves we try to suppress and hide, but what if we embraced them?”, says lead singer and songwriter Ariel Bloomer. Digging deeper into the creative process of songwriting for the track, Ariel adds; “I’m in this space right now where I’m learning not to be ashamed, apologetic or resistant. To accept those dark parts of myself as me”. Co-written with Breaking Benjamin’s Keith Wallen and mixed by Joe Rickard of In Flames and Red, ‘Shadow’ is the first track Icon For Hire felt would benefit from the help of an outsider. “We had the chorus and most of the vocals written, we got together with Keith to finish it out. He was able to help move some of the pieces around, and helped us demo out the structure. It was our first time working with him and it went really well”.
Aversed is back with their second single of 2022 and, much like the first one, it’s an incredible progressive death metal ass-kicker. The song covers a ton of heavy ground before returning to a super catchy chorus sung by new vocalist Sarah Hartman. “Humans have a universal language: violence. It’s the only solution we consistently turn to in order to solve even our most basic problems,” said drummer Jeff Saltzman. “‘Death Lullaby’ serves as an ode to this natural state of affairs. On the contrary, while all of us aspire to it, universal peace is a concept that is hard to comprehend. We need violence to comfort us and lull us to sleep each night because that is what we know. The beauty of being a metal musician and a fan is that we have an outlet to release this explosion of violent feelings within each of us.” [via Metal Injection]
Marlene Mendoza is here to throw down big time with her new single ‘Insanity.’ If you’re looking for mosh riffs, breakdowns, and a massive chorus that’s sure to incite tons of fists in the air, then you’re going to love this. “I am excited to release my first EP that showcases my artistic expression and authentic self thus far,” said Mendoza. “And also to show that women can be awesomely insane too.” [via Metal Injection]
Delain officially became the solo project of the keyboardist Martijn Westerholt in February 2021, meaning the other four members of the band quit. Westerholt has now announced the new Delain lineup consisting of guitarist Ronald Landa, who played with the group between 2006 and 2009; and original drummer Sander Zoer, who played with the band between 2006 and 2014; alongside newcomers vocalist Diana Leah and bassist Ludovico Cioffi. The new Delain lineup is now streaming their debut single ‘The Quest And The Curse’ which you can check out above. As for a comment on the new lineup, Westerholt simply offered “The future of Delain looks bright!” [via Metal Injecton]
Forever May Fall are a band from Charlotte, North Carolina, who’ve been around since 2017, but have used 2022 as an opportunity to reintroduce themselves to the world with a fresh sound and a re-energized approach. After dropping two singles throughout the first half of the year, ‘Aftermath’ and ‘You,’ the group led by frontwoman Jillyan Brennan are back with another new banger called ‘Undertow.’ Bands like Evanescence, Halestorm and Linkin Park definitely come to mind as similar reference points, but Forever May Fall are definitely putting their own spin on that type of heavy, anthemic rock with a song like ‘Undertow.’ [via Revolver]
