Independent pop punk band Wilmette unveiled another single from its forthcoming album, Hyperfocused this week, along with the song’s companion video.
The band premiered its new single, ‘No One Knew‘ and its video Monday. The single and its video are the third from the forthcoming album, which the band announced Tuesday, is scheduled for release Aug. 4 through Mutant League Records.
The song’s musical arrangement is a clear change of pace from the album’s first two singles, ‘Playing Dead‘ and ‘Hyperfocused.’ Where those songs are both clearly upbeat pop punk compositions, ‘No One Knew’ does exhibit the band’s familiar pop punk leanings, but also take the record in more of an emo punk direction, slowing things down and taking the band in a more emotional direction.
Guitarist Griffin Guge talked about the song’s composition during a recent interview.
“We tracked this song exactly halfway through the recording process,” Guge said. “It was a point where we thought we knew where the record was going until we got to this song. There was a lot of room to grow on the track, and we definitely got excited to experiment with a lot of cool guitar sounds. One of my favorites of which is in the bridge. We used a variety of unconventional guitar techniques as well as pedals to quite literally make it sound like the song is breaking and the building you’re in is coming down. I think it was very fitting for the part.”
Front man Aaron Hailey added to Guge’s comments as he talked about the song’s lyrical theme.
“It’s [the song’s lyrical theme] about the guilt of not being able to help someone through a hard time, and the helpless feeling that comes with being there while they struggle,” Hailey said.
The song’s video does well to capture the discussion in the song’s lyrical theme and the emotional impact of said situation that is exhibited in the song’s musical arrangement. It does this by showing what appears to be a couple’s breakup, perhaps as a result of on not being able to help the other.
More information on Wilmette’s new single, video and album is available along with all of Wilmette’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/wilmetteIL.
A new metal festival is coming to Albany, NY late this summer and the festival includes some very “heavy” hitters.
The Born Dead Festival is scheduled to be presented Sept. 2-3 in Albany, NY. The inaugural festival will see veteran metal outfit Hatebreed headline the festival’s fist day. Presented by Born Dead Clothing, the first time festival will also feature performances from the likes of Madball, Bleeding Through, and Integrity.
Hatebreed’s performance is part of the 20th anniversary of the release of the band’s album, The Rise of Brutality. Bleeding Through will have its own special set, performing its own iconic album, This is Love, This Is Murderous to celebrate its 20th anniversary.
Single day passes for Saturday and Sunday will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday along with two-day passes for the weekend. The festival’s lineup is noted below:
BORN DEAD FEST Day 1: Saturday September 2nd
Hatebreed
Bleeding Through
Vein.fm
Jesus Piece
Pain Of Truth
No Bragging Rights
Brick By Brick
Desolated
Downswing
Freeze MF
GhostxShip
Kaonashi
Mouthbreather
Mouth For War
The Banner
These Streets
Your Spirit Dies
BORN DEAD FEST Day 2: Sunday September 3rd
Integrity
Madball
Fury Of Five
Soul Blind
Pyrexia
156/Silence
Actor Observer
Concrete Ties
Edict
Wisdom & War
+Plus More TBA
More information on the inaugural Born Dead Festival is available along with all of the festival’s latest news at:
Artillery will make its way to American shores this fall.
The band announced Tuesday, it has planned a North American tour set to launch Sept. 29 in Minneapolis, MN in celebration of its 40th anniversary as a band. The tour is scheduled to run through Oct. 14 in New York, NY and features stops in cities nationwide, such as Richmond, VA; Columbus, OH and Montreal, QC.
The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available now.
ARTILLERY w/ Vapor, Potential Threat: 9/29/2023 The Underground Café – Minneapolis, MN 9/30/2023 Blades Of Steel Festival @ The Crucible – Madison, WI 10/01/2023 Legend’s – Cincinnati, OH 10/02/2023 No Class – Cleveland, OH 10/03/2023 The King of Clubs – Columbus, OH 10/04/2023 The Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 10/05/2023 Hard Luck – Toronto, ON 10/06/2023 Dominion Tavern – Ottawa, ON 10/07/2023 Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC 10/08/2023 Rock Café Le Stage – Trois Rivieres, QC 10/09/2023 L’Anti Bar and Spectacles – Quebec City, QC 10/10/2023 Sherman Showcase – Stroudsburg, PA 10/11/2023 Funhouse at Mr. Smalls – Millvale, PA 10/12/2023 Another Round – Richmond, VA 10/13/2023 Alchemy – Providence, RI 10/14/2023 Saint Vitus Bar – New York, NY
More information on Artillery’s upcoming North American tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.
The current story arc for Boom! Studios’ Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers comic book will reach a new peak in its next issue.
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Issue #110 will find the Power Rangers teaming up with none other than Lord Zedd in order to stop Mistress Vile (formerly Rita Repulsa) in her latest quest to defeat them and take over Earth and apparently even the Earth in which none other than that previously ruled by Lord Drakkon. The upcoming issue, scheduled for release July 26, continues where Issue #109 left off, which the Omega Rangers trying to figure out what Drakkon and Rita were up to, only to receive a very unwelcome surprise.
The events of Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Issue #110 is the leadup to the franchise’s net major story line, the much talked about “Darkest Hour” story arc. As the “Darkest Hour” story arc opens — in Issue #111 — Mistress Vile has control of the morphin’ grid and Dark Specter’s infections are spreading across the universe. Now the rangers are stranded and separated, forced to work with some very unexpected allies.
Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers Issue #110 was written by Melissa Flores (Power Rangers, The Dead Lucky). Its main cover art was designed by Taurin Clarke (Miles Morales: Spiderman) and the variant covers were designed by Bon Bernardo (Mighty Morphin), InHyuk Lee (Seven Secrets), Elizabeth Torque (The Mighty Captain Marvel) and Goni Montes (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers).
Issue #110’s art was handled by artist Simona Di Gianfelice (Firefly) and colorist Raul Angulo (Go Go Power Rangers) with assistance by Jose Enrique Fernandez. Ed Dukeshire handled the issue’s lettering.
More information on this and other titles from Boom! Studios is available at:
Falling in Reverse is taking on one of Papa Roach’s most well-known singles for its latest single.
The band premiered its cover of Papa Roach’s hit single ‘Last Resort‘ Monday, along with a companion video. The band’s take on Papa Roach’s classic song is a complete reimagining of the song that was a full-on nu-metal composition in its original presentation. Front man Ronnie Radke takes on Papa Roach front man Jacoby Shaddix’s vocal role in Falling in Reverse’s take, singing so mournfully alongside an equally deeply emotional as he plays the piano. The pairing of Radke’s vocals and performance on piano alongside the string arrangement gives the song a whole new and even more powerful identity and impact.
The video for Falling in Reverse’s take of ‘Last Resort’ features Radke at the piano and walking through an empty city as it crumbles around him. A group of hooded musicians take on the song’s string arrangement meanwhile.
‘Last Resort’ was Papa Roach’s breakout single and put the band on the map among the nu-metal masses in the early 2000s when it was released in March 2000. The song was the lead single from the band’s sophomore album, Infest. It peaked at number 57 on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 Chart and topped the magazine’s Modern Rock Tracks Chart for seven weeks.
More information on Falling in Reverse’s take of ‘Last Resort’ is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Saxophonist Sonny Rollins is unquestionably one of the most influential and important figures in the modern history of jazz. For more than half a century, Rollins and his work have stood as examples of all that is right with jazz because of his talent and creativity. Now thanks to Craft Recordings, that legacy established by Rollins through the course of his decades-long career is getting renewed attention in the form of the brand-new box set, Go West! Released Friday through Craft Recordings, the three-disc collection features the two sole records that Rollins released through Contemporary Records and a third, companion record featuring alternate takes of songs recorded for the albums. Those records and their packaging form the foundation for this collection and will be discussed shortly. While the collection and its packaging form a solid foundation, the collection is not without at least one fault. That fault is actually tied to the packaging. It is in the form of the notes printed inside the box’s front inside cover. It is not enough to doom the presentation but is still of note and will be addressed a little later. The liner notes featured in the box’s companion booklet makes up for the minor shortfall of the notes printed inside the box and work with the albums and their packaging to make for even more engagement and entertainment. Each item noted here is key in its own way to the whole of the collection’s presentation. All things considered they make the box set a mostly successful presentation that fans of the legendary saxophonist and jazz aficionados alike will find enjoyable.
Go West!, the brand-new Sonny Rollins box set released by Craft Recordings, is a largely positive new offering for any casual jazz fan and seasoned fan of the famed saxophonist. The collection’s positive comes in large part through its featured albums and their packaging. Featured in the collection are Rollins’ two lone albums released through Contemporary Records, Way Out West and Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders. Also included is a collection of outtakes from the albums’ recording sessions that was actually previously released in 1987. All three records are presented in their own slipcase type containers inside the larger box, which is decked out in a royal – almost satin – red finish. On the surface this might not seem overly important. However, it is actually very important. That is because unlike box sets released by so many other labels out there, the slipcases used to house the records in this case are actually just the right size. They are near perfect fits for each disc. The result is that the discs will not just slide out. This is something that it would seem so few labels get right when they release box sets in similar fashion. The sleeves are just one general size, so it is easy for discs to slide out far too easily. In being able to just slide out, they could fall and get damaged. So again, having the sleeves just the right size in this case is just as crucial as the albums themselves. That is because in keeping the discs inside, it prolongs their lifespans. To that end, Craft Recordings officials who obviously thought this out are to be applauded for this minute but still so important detail.
While the packaging of the albums featured in this collection is largely successful, there is one minor detail within the packaging that is problematic. The detail in question is the liner notes printed inside the box’s front cover. The inside of the case is lined with a black paper, which makes for a great aesthetic considering its contrast to the red that lines the upper most region of the box’s inside. The problem here is that the liner notes printed inside the case are done so in a relatively dark bronze/gold color. This makes it somewhat difficult to read the liner notes in question. Common knowledge with graphics is that dark on dark does not work, whether in the case of font against color or just in general. It leads audiences to have to strain to a point to be able to read the printed information and does detract at least somewhat from the overall presentation. It is not enough to doom the box set’s presentation, though. To that end, the liner notes printed inside the collection’s companion booklet counter the problem posed by their in-box counterparts and add so much engagement to the set.
The liner notes included in the collection’s booklet were compiled by music journalist/historian Ashley Kahn and are quite in-depth. Kahn notes in her writing, the two albums featured in this collection are important because they were released at perhaps the most crucial point in Rollins’ career, when his star was really on the rise. He went from just being a sideman, at that point – according to Kahn – to really having so much control of his career. At the same time, the period in which the albums were released (1957 and 1958), apparently led Rollins to actually withdraw from the public eye even as his star rose, according to Kahn’s notes. The story there is brief but quite interesting in itself and well worth reading. It makes for even more interest in this aspect. In addition to everything else, Kahn also reveals – from Rollins’ own words – that Contemporary Recordings founder Lester Koenig actually got his own start in the movie business but turned to music after being blackballed as a result of then Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s “Red Scare.” If not for the change in career paths, there is no telling what impact that might or might not have had on Rollins’ own career. It is yet another quite interesting anecdote that adds even more to the depth to the listening experience and the box set’s presentation altogether. When the positive of Kahn’s writings is considered along with the very presentation of what are two of Sonny Rollins’ most pivotal albums and their equally positive packaging (and in fact their positive audio restoration as well), that whole more than makes this collection worth experiencing. That applies whether one is a casual jazz fan or a more seasoned fan of Sonny Rollins and his work.
Go West!, the brand-new Sonny Rollins box set from Craft Recordings, is a largely positive offering from the label, which is known and respected for so many vinyl and CD re-issues that it has handled over the years. Its positives begin with its albums and their packaging. Packaged in this collection are what are considered two of Sonny Rollins’ most important studio recordings. They are joined with a separate standalone compilation of alternate takes recorded during the albums’ sessions to complete the presentation. They are an important documentation of what is one of the most crucial moments in Rollins’ career. The sleeves used to house the records are, unlike sleeves used in box sets from so many other labels (who will remain nameless here) are just the right size to keep the records from just slipping out and potentially getting damaged. This is very important in its own way to the box set. The liner notes printed inside the box do detract from the presentation, but not enough to doom the collection. The issue they raise is countered by the more proper presentation of the liner notes in the set’s companion booklet. The information provided in the liner notes enhances the box set’s presentation all the more and, in turn, increase the engagement and entertainment all the more. When the information provided in the liner notes pairs with the positive of the albums and their packaging (and the equally positive production of each record), the whole makes the collection overall well worth adding to any jazz fan’s home music library. This applies for casual jazz fans and those who are more familiar with Sonny Rollins and his catalog.
Go West! is available now through Craft Recordings. More information on this and other titles from Craft Recordings is available at:
U.D.O. gave audiences their first preview of its new album, Touchdown this weekend.
The band debuted the album’s lead single, ‘Forever Free‘ and the song’s lyric video Friday. The song’s musical arrangement is a catchy composition that throws back to the power metal songs of the 80s from the likes of Judas Priest and Saxon. That is meant in the best way possible.
No information was provided about the song’s lyrical theme in the news release announcing the premiere of the pairing. The lyrics presented in the lyric video present the theme as being a sociopolitical commentary about the state of the world and encourages audiences to think for themselves rather than just go along with the masses. That is especially the case with the world’s political state.
The song’s video features the lyrics over images of the album’s cover art and photos of the band as the song plays over the visualization.
In other news, U.D.O. is in the midst of a tour in support of Touchdown. The tour’s current schedule is noted below.
U.D.O. / DIRKSCHNEIDER Live:
7/21/2023 Open Air Pförring – Pförring, DE
7/29/2023 Rock Of Ages – Rottenburg-Seebronn, DE
8/12/2023 Leyendas del Rock – Villena, ES *
8/16/2023 Summer Breeze Open Air – Dinkelsbühl, DE
8/17/2023 Rock Castle Open Air – Moravský Krumlov, CZ
8/20/2023 Rock The Lakes – Vallamand (VD), CH
8/25/2023 Baltic Open Air – Haddeby, DE
9/16/2023 Beast Of Rocks @ Stadthalle – Tuttlingen, DE
10/07/2023 Keep It True Rising III @ Posthalle – Würzburg, DE *
10/22/2023 Wildstyle & Tattoo @ Tabakfabrik – Linz, AT
10/29/2023 Wildstyle & Tattoo @ Messezentrum – Salzburg, AT
5/10-11/2024 Rock in Rautheim – Braunschweig, DE
*as DIRKSCHNEIDER
More information on Touchdown and U.D.O.’s new tour dates is available along with all of U.D.O.’s latest news at:
Derek Sherinian will release a new live recording this summer.
Sherinian/Phillips Live is scheduled for release Aug. 25 through InsideOut Music. It will release on vinyl, CD digipack and standard CD platform. The performance featured in the recording was captured Aug. 22, 2022 at The Grape in Ventura, CA. In anticipation of the recording’s release, Sherinian and Phillips have released a live clip of their performance of ‘Aurora Australis‘ for audiences to enjoy.
Sherinian and drummer Simon Phillips were joined by guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal and bassist Ric Fierabracci for the performance. According to information provided in a news release announcing the forthcoming recording’s release, the concert’s set list spans 11 songs and features a number of songs from Sherinian’s most recent album, Vortex.
Up-and-coming rock band Classless Act premiered an updated take of its song, ‘Storm Before The Calm‘ over the weekend, along with a companion video.
The band premiered the new take on the song, which features a guest appearance by RUN DMC member Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Friday along with a companion video for the song. The new take on the song is part of the band’s one-year celebration of the release of the band’s debut album, Welcome To The Show.
McDaniels’ appearance, which comes late in the song, is stylistically reminiscent of his performance alongside Pop Evil for the updated take of its song, ‘Trenches.’ McDaniels’ flow is a fitting addition to the update, as is the mood that he sets in his tone as he delivers his verse.
McDaniels said during a recent interview, he was actually somewhat unsure if he would himself live up to the band’s expectations ahead of taking part in the new take.
“I was a little intimated about being invited to collaborate with a new young rock band – my first initial response, I was very curious to see what was going on,” McDaniels said. “But then when I heard them, the presentation, the presence, the production, the performance … it was very mature … I wondered can I fit into this type of energy? … And then I was inspired to deliver something a little more unique.”
He continued, ““It was a beautiful collaboration that shows the powerful potential of music – like when Steven Tyler took the mic stand in ‘Walk This Way’ and knocked down the wall that separated us. Even to this day, people talk about it. … I think this song too is going to be very motivating and inspiring to all generations.”
Classless Act front man Derek Day said the song’s lyrical theme is meant to be an illustration of everything that it has experienced leading up to its current place in the industry.
“That was really the intent behind the songwriting of ‘Storm Before The Calm,'” Day said. “We’re this new band, but we’ve been playing music our whole lives. We want to be this thunder when we make our presence. But we’ve been trying our whole lives to break through. We’ve gone, we suffered, ‘we’ve crawled into the void, laid down and tasted the noise.’ No matter what, we’re going to come in and punch through and be the thunder.”
The song’s musical arrangement is an infectious pure, guitar rock composition right down to its immersive guitar solo. It is a song that will definitely appeal to any guitar rock purist.
More information on Classless Act’s updated take of ‘Storm Before The Calm’ is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Slipknot will tentatively release its next live recording this summer.
Live at MSG is scheduled for release Aug. 18 exclusively on a double-disc vinyl pressing. The concert featured in the recording was captured during the band’s performance at the famed arena Feb. 5, 2009. The performance was part of a tour that was in support of the band’s then latest album, All Hope Is Gone. The exclusive release is itself in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the album’s release.
The concert’s set list spanned 16 songs, and includes the likes of ‘Before I Forget,’ ‘Get This,’ and ‘Everything Ends.’ The concert’s set list is noted below:
TRACK LISTING: SIDE A: A1. (sic)[3:55] A2. Eyeless [4:15] A3. Wait And Bleed [2:44] A4. Get This [4:28]
SIDE B: B1. Before I Forget [4:22] B2. The Blister Exists [6:37] B3. Dead Memories [4:03] B4. Left Behind [3:28]
SIDE D: D1. Duality [5:26] D2. People = Shit [4:10] D3. Surfacing [4:49] D4. Spit It Out [7:35]
The forthcoming recording will feature new art crafted by founding member M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) and will come in six separate color pressings, all of which are noted below:
The variants are as follows: All Retail: Black Knotfest Exclusive 1: Coke Bottle Clear With Silver Splatter Knotfest Exclusive 2: Light Blue With Silver Splatter D2C Exclusive 1: Clear With Silver Splatter D2C Exclusive 2: Lemonade With Silver Splatter D2C 3: Black Ice With Silver Splatter
More information on Slipknot’s forthcoming live recording is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
philspicks 