Julie Christmas has shared a second single from her forthcoming long-awaited second solo album, Ridiculous and Full of Blood, set for release on June 14 via Cult of Luna’s Red Crk label. Following the sweetly anthemic previous single ‘Supernatural’, new track ‘Thin Skin’ is a tempestuous thrillride where Christmas unleashes her signature ferocious, chest-caving roars. “Broadway Showcore, anyone?” she comments. “When we write, usually the kick off comes from 1 or 2 off us. Chris Enriquez (Spotlights) and John LaMacchia (Candiria) kicked this one off, and Johannes (Cult of Luna) jumped right on it. Get this in your ears and try to do anything slow or relaxed, you won’t be able to. The only way for Andrew, Tom and I to answer on this one was to go over the top and in unexpected directions. It’s a little Nu Metal, a little punk, a little bit Broadway showtunes and alot of stupid, nasty and FUN. In Thin Skin we visit our deranged, shout-y roots, where the rage is covered with giggles and the lights are a little too bright. Get it!”
As London based, Berlin artist Mimi Barks draws ever closer to the long-awaited release of her debut album THIS IS DOOM TRAP, she now unveils a brand-new single, ‘MONTANA’, featuring Yeti Bones of the American rap-punk duo Ho99o9. The relentless track, which flips from English vocals to Mimi Barks’ native German, is the third single released from the upcoming album, following her vulnerable single ‘BANSHEE’ and the album announcement single ‘FSU’ (short for Fuck Shit Up). Alongside the new single, Mimi Barks provides the following message, “Power through betrayal. Ambition through hopelessness. Every tear my teacher and I’m fueled by the hatred. Great grief births empowerment and this song is the testament. An untold truth. A restlessness so deeply anchored in my subconscious, a calling so deeply felt that only my mother tongue could translate this reality within me.” Continuing to talk about the music video for ‘MONTANA’, Barks mentions, “We linked up for this video shoot in Berlin, while Ho99o9 were on tour with Carpenter Brut and Perturbator.”
Seven Spires shares ‘The Old Hurt of Being Left Behind,’ the third single from their upcoming studio album A Fortress Called Home to be released June 21 via Frontiers Music Srl. The track is accompanied by a new music video. Frontwoman Adrienne Cowan had this to share about the track: “This was the first song we wrote for A Fortress Called Home. It grew from a poignant piano piece from my idea vault, and was rooted in the music and story of Edward Elgar’s ‘Sospiri, op. 70.’ It’s a piece that I often felt sounded like the pain of falling in love. And — I find there is something so fragile and quietly beautiful in the wrenching agony of truly baring one’s soul to another. Inspired by that juxtaposition, Jack and I brought our best to capture hope in pain, melody in chaos, and that softness in brutality. Basically, I think the title says it all.”
Harajuku-core innovators HANABIE. are asking us to “hold tight to this moment” with their latest single, a friends-celebrating bit of genre-jamming metal-pop called ‘GIRL’S TALK.’ Following the Japanese outfit’s anime-and-video-games-hailing ‘OTAKU Lovely Densetsu’ single from earlier in the year, ‘GIRL’S TALK’ is a guitars-and-death-scream-loaded banger about an “ultra-boozy” night out with your inner circle, where you’re ordering shots and jumpin’ into hot goss. “Isn’t it a very precious time for people of any age to meet with friends after a long time and reminisce about their past?” vocalist Yukina commented. “It’s nice to have someone to share stories with and I would be happy if HANABIE. can be included in everyone’s ‘talks.'” The band further added that the new single is a “more mature” version of the band — “not only a cute song” is how drummer Chika puts it — and comes full of stylistic pivots, raps, and energy. [via Revolver]
Closely following their recently wrapped and highly successful tour of North America, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS are back at sea to release their stunning second single, ‘Monsters,’ taken from their upcoming album, Pirates II – Armada, set for release on July 5 via Napalm Records. The new track, ‘Monsters,’ is a haunting musical adventure illustrating the confrontation with inner monsters, beginning with calm passages that burst into a rhythmic refrain, showing off the full musical power of the pirate queen Clémentine Delauney and brave captain Michele Guaitoli. Vocalist Michele Guaitoli comments: “We fought the raging storms, the most dreadful foes and the darkest nights. Yet the worst enemy appears to be something we cannot face with cannons and sabers. This battle will be the hardest, as it’s time to look straight the eyes of the ‘Monsters’ inside of us.” [via Outburn]
German trio Future Palace have released a video for their brand new single ‘The Echoes of Disparity’, out now via Arising Empire. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album Distortion which will be released on September 6. ‘The Echoes of Disparity’, featuring a standout collaboration with Charlie Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds, makes a strong statement regarding societal pressure and control over women’s bodies. Maria showcases an impressive vocal range, transitioning between powerful shouts and crystal-clear vocals, adding depth and emotion to the song’s important message. [via Metal Planet]
Charismatic Dutch singer/songwriter Charlotte Wessels has announced details of her new album The Obsession, due for release on September 20 via Napalm Records. Wessels has also released a video for her new single, the haunting ‘The Exorcism’. First single ‘The Exorcism’ is an astonishing proof of Wessels‘ matchless talent and genre-bending songwriting qualities and, on top marks, the heaviest solo offering she has released so far. Quietly drawing the listener into this sonic sphere, the song bursts into a heavy attack shortly after. It’s calm and loud, reduced and bombastic, fragile and confident alike and presents Charlotte Wessels‘ thrilling, full vocal range, heating the anticipation for everything that’s about to come. Wessels comments on ‘The Exorcism’: “I’ve been thinking a lot about fears and behaviors I’ve had since I was a child, and how at certain moments in life I thought I’d overcome them for good, but they’d always rear their ugly heads again in time. I keep wondering why. Did I invite them back in? ‘The Exorcism’ is a call for these demons to stay away – but also a message to myself and others facing similar challenges, to hang on – even if they don’t.” [via Metal Planet]
German rising symphonic metal force ELVELLON is back with an electrifying announcement as they unveil their captivating new single, ‘The Aftermath Of Life‘, from their new album Ascending in Synergy, out now. ‘The Aftermath Of Life‘ is accompanied by an official music video that promises to seduce the listener’s senses. ELVELLON state: “´The Aftermath Of Life´ is a song that perfectly combines two different sides of ELVELLON, which are heavy guitar riffs with dark keyboard sounds and big choruses with catchy melodies. Thematically, it’s about the process that all of us who have made it to this day can accept decay and aging as part of life and make peace with it.” [via Rock Poser]
