Beneath My Feet Premieres Video For Its Latest Single, ‘Far From Home’

Posted on March 3, 2023 by philspicks

Metalcore band Beneath My Feet debuted the video for its latest single this week.

The band unveiled the video for its new single, ‘Far From Home’ Friday. The song is the fourth single from the band’s brand new album, In Parts, Together, behind ‘One More Time‘ and its video, ‘Dig My Grave,‘ and ‘Caught In A Hurricane.

The video for the band’s new single features a man stranded on an unidentified waterfront by himself. The man is trying to make sense of his situation and himself throughout the song as the band is shown performing its new single in the other half of the video.

The visualization is meant to artistically help explain the song’s lyrical theme, which according to a statement from the band, takes on the familiar topic of mental health in a unique fashion.

“Some have reached their destination, but their journey continues. Fighting a new war, no less real,” the statement reads. “Desperate to live. Yearning to find their place. Searching for peace, finding none. Holding nothing but their hope.”

The musical arrangement featured in the band’s new single stands apart from the rest of the record’s works in its melodic hard rock approach. Throughout much of the song, the sound and stylistic approach taken can be likened to some works from the likes of Atreyu or even The Veer Union. When the song reaches its climax, the real metalcore leanings come out with the heavy, crunching guitars and screaming vocals. It accents the mental and emotional journey that so many people go through in clear fashion, ensuring listeners’ engagement and entertainment even more.

More information on Beneath My Feet’s new single, video and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at https://www.facebook.com/Beneathmyfeet.

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Established Acts, Up-And-Comers Alike Offered Hard Rock, Metal Fans So Much To Enjoy In 2021

Posted on December 13, 2021 by philspicks

And then there were two. Phil’s Picks is officially down to two year-ender lists on the music side as the countdown to the year’s end itself continues. The first of this year’s last two music year-ender lists comes today in the form of the year’s top new hard rock and metal albums.

This year’s list is packed with content from so many established and new acts. From up-and-coming hard rock act Antisaint to veteran thrash band Exodus to guitar virtuosos Gus G. and John 5 and more, this year has seen so many great hard rock and metal records. Suffice it to say there has been so much great hard rock and metal this year that it has been extremely difficult to compile this list, but it was created.

As with every list from Phil’s Picks, this collection features the year’s top 10 new releases and five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15. Those honorable mention titles are just as deserving of applause as the other featured works. Without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks’ 2021 Top 10 New Hard Rock & Metal Albums list.

PHIL’S PICKS’ 2021 TOP 10 NEW HARD ROCK & METAL ALBUMS

1. Accept – Too Mean To Die

2. Atreyu – Baptize

3. Exodus – Persona Non Grata

4. Michael Schenker Group – Immortal

5. U.D.O. – Game Over

6. Artillery – X

7. Gus G. – Quantum Leap

8. John 5 – Sinner

The Three Tremors – Guardians of the Void

Antisaint – Vaticinate

Bullet For My Valentine – Bullet For My Valentine

A Killer’s Confession – Remember

The CEO – Redemption

Tremonti – Marching in Time

Skarlett Riot – Invicta

That’s it for this year’s hard rock and metal albums. While even the hard rock and metal community has wrapped things for this year, things are already gearing up for 2022, with new releases already coming from the likes of up-and-coming hard rock act Bloodywood, veteran acts Hammerfall and Annihilator, and even from Saxon and Stabbing Westward. That’s all just in the first quarter of 2022, too.

In other words, the first half of the new year is already gearing up to be very exciting for all the hard rock and metal fans out there. Until then though, there’s still one more music year-ender list from Phil’s Picks this year before the attention turns over to the best of this year’s new TV and movie releases. Stay tuned!

BFMV Is Sure To Shake Up Many Hard Rock/Metal Critics’ Year-End Charts With Its Latest LP

Posted on November 7, 2021 by philspicks

Courtesy: Spinefarm Records/Search & Destroy Records

Bullet For My Valentine returned this weekend with its latest album. The self-titled 10-song album was released Friday through Spinefarm Records/Search & Destroy Records. It came `more than three years after the release of the band’s then latest album, Gravity, which the band has openly said played its own part in the development of this latest offering. The band stated that BFMV is a hybrid of that record and its predecessor, 2015’s Venom. That is an interesting comparison because in listening through the record from beginning to end, its musical arrangements are more along the lines of the content featured in Venom than Gravity. This will be discussed shortly. The record’s lyrical themes meanwhile, will appeal to fans of that album, but of all of the band’s albums. This will be discussed a little later. The record’s production brings everything together and rounds out the album’s most important items. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of Bullet For My Valentine. All things considered, they make the album a powerful new offering from this veteran metal outfit.

Bullet For My Valentine’s brand new self-titled album, released Friday, is among the band’s best work to date, hands down. The record’s success is due in no small part to its featured musical arrangements. As already noted, the band has been cited as saying that the record’s musical arrangements are a blend of the sounds from the band’s two past records. Interestingly enough though, the heaviness that runs through the album’s musical arrangements seem (at least to this critic) more in line with the musical content featured in Venom than Gravity. That is evidenced throughout the record’s 49 minute run time. One of the most notable works featured in this record comes late in the record’s run in ‘Rainbow Veins.’ Where the majority of the arrangements featured in the record are so intense and high-energy, this brooding opus is more of a doom metal style work. At the same time, there is a certain quality in the sound from the guitars (thanks to the production) that really makes that part of the arrangement comparable to certain works from the likes of Killswitch Engage. It sounds like an odd comparison/combination, but those influences are there. The gloomy, brooding approach works especially well here when it is considered along with the song’s lyrical theme, which will be discussed a little later. As the song progresses, it turns more in a heavy, metalcore sound similar to that of the likes of Atreyu and Of Mice & Men.

‘Rainbow Veins’ is just one example of the power of the album’s musical content. ‘No Happy Ever After’ is another way in which the album’s musical side shows its importance. In the case of this song, there is a certain vintage thrash influence in the guitars alongside front man Matthew Tuck’s screams that makes for quite the interesting juxtaposition. It is an approach and sound that is completely unlike that featured in ‘Rainbow Veins’ and the rest of the album’s works, too. Drummer Jason Bowld’s solid time keeping and the richness in the drums’ sound (again thanks to the production) adds its own impact to the arrangement. The whole, along with the work of bassist Jamie Mathias, makes ‘No Happy Ever After’ yet another strong, notable addition to the record’s overall musical body. It is just another way in which the record’s musical arrangements show their importance. ‘Death By A Thousand Cuts’ is yet another example of the importance and role of the album’s musical arrangements.

The album’s closer, ‘Death By A Thousand Cuts’ stands out through its musical arrangements because of its own blend of influences. The familiar metalcore influences of Venom are there once again. There is no question about that. At the same time, there are some moments in the song that show a subtle influence from Slipknot. At the same time, the clean vocals and heavy melodic moments make for their own interesting contrast to the noted mix. All things considered here, the song is its own unique, heavy addition to the song and yet another example of what makes Bullet For My Valentine’s musical arrangements so important to the record’s whole. They are diverse throughout and even within themselves from one to the next. Keeping that in mind, the musical arrangements featured in this album are just a part of what makes the record successful. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical content add to the album’s success in their own right.

The lyrical themes that are featured in Bullet For My Valentine are important to note because of their own diversity and their accessibility. From one to the next, the album’s lyrical themes are those of determination, desperation, and defiance. The theme and the manner in which it is delivered changes from one song to the next. The most notable of the themes of desperation comes, as already noted, through ‘Rainbow Veins.’ The desperation in this case comes as the result of what would seem to be drug addition. This is inferred as Tuck sings in the song’s lead verse, “Flying high/I’m still drowning in the chemicals/And now/I just can’t come down/Diving headfirst into a black hole/Becoming unstable mentally/I’m trying hard to ride these tidal waves/Of unfiltered ecstacy.” The declaration in the song’s chorus that, “Another day/But I don’t wanna face it/And I Don’t wanna feel it now/Another day/But I don’t wanna face it” furthers that inference. The theme of the dangers of drug use and addiction is nothing new to the rock realm. It is just as powerful here as in the case of any other song past and present. The sense of desperation that is exhibited through that powerful wording and the song’s equally powerful musical arrangement does so well to move audiences. To that end, it is just one of the songs that serves to show the importance of the album’s lyrical themes. The theme of determination is well exhibited in the song’s predecessor, ‘Bastards.’

‘Bastards’ is certain to become a live favorite among the band’s fans. That is proven through its powerful, anthemic arrangement and its equally proud, fist-pumping lyrical content. Tuck delivers a defiant, protest statement against the powers that be here as he sings/half-raps, “Stand with me/We can be an army of minorities/Just believe/Taking on the world with no apologies/Will bring them to their knees/Lies, denial, corruption, criminals/Don’t repeat/See the puppets marching to the beat/No retreat/Fight until the death/In order to proceed/We won’t accept defeat/Waitin’ for our call to arms/F*** ‘em all.” The chorus’ final statement of “Don’t ever put your future in the hands of the devil/Or you’re history” is just as telling. It furthers the message of defiance and determination strong and proud. It is a message of determination and defiance against those in power who would otherwise abuse those below them, especially in the halls of power. It is certain to connect with audiences as it continues to show the noted diversity in the themes and how they are delivered in its own unique way. The themes of defiance and determination comes in ye another unique way in the album’s finale, ‘Death By A Thousand Cuts.’

The noted theme comes as Tuck sings in the song’s chorus, “When hope is all but gone/There’s nothing more to give/Look deep inside yourself/And carry on.” One could argue that this short, simple statement is in fact its own message of hope even despite the mention of hope potentially lacking in a person. The contrast in that brief but powerful statement to the sense of misery and hopelessness strengthen Tuck’s reminder to listeners to not lose hope and to keep on keeping on even when one feels so much negativity is powerful and unique in its own presentation while again, presenting one of the noted theme. When it is considered along with the themes presented in the other examined songs and how those themes are presented – as well as with those of the album’s other songs – the whole leaves no doubt as to the overall importance of the album’s lyrical content. When the musical and lyrical content is considered together, the whole gives audiences more than enough reason to hear the album. It is only a part of what makes the album successful, too. The record’s production rounds out its most important items.

The production that went into Bullet For My Valentine is important to note because of the overall impact that it has one the record’s general effect. As noted already at points here, the production gives a richness and fullness to the sound of the instruments from point to point within the songs and from song to song. At the same time, it ensures that the instruments never overpower one another or even the vocals. Considering how heavy this record is from start to end, that is extremely important. Clearly, plenty of time and effort went into balancing the instrumentation of each arrangement. As a result, each song ensures listeners’ engagement and entertainment in its own way. When the impact of that work is considered along with that of the content itself, the whole leaves the album that much more successful. All things considered, Bullet For My Valentine proves to be among the band’s best works to date.

Bullet For My Valentine’s brand new self-titled album is a powerful new offering from the band. It is a successful presentation from start to end. That is proven in part through the album’s musical arrangements. The arrangements are important to note because of their subtle diversity and their heaviness. The lyrical themes that accompanies the album’s musical arrangements are important to its whole, too. That is because of their own diversity and accessibility. The record’s production rounds out its most important elements. That is because of its impact on the album’s general effect. Each item noted is important in its own way to the whole of the album. All things considered, they make Bullet For My Valentine one of the band’s best albums to date.

Bullet For My Valentine is available now through Spinefarm Records/Search & Destroy Records. More information on the album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://bulletformyvalentine.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BulletForMyValentine

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfmvofficial

To keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Tetrarch Announces Live Dates With Atreyu

Posted on October 25, 2021 by philspicks

Tetrarch is scheduled to join Atreyu for that band’s headlining tour this fall.

The band made the announcement Friday. It is scheduled to join Saul, Crown The Empire, and Defying Decay as support for Atreyu’s headlining tour starting Nov. 9 in Dallas, TX and through Dec. Dec. 16 in Santa Ana, CA. Atreyu’s tour is in support of its latest album, Baptize while Tetrach’s new live dates are in support of its new album, Unstable, which was released April 30 through Napalm Records.

The bands’ upcoming tour schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here.

TETRARCH Tour Dates with Atreyu, Crown The Empire, Saul and Defying Decay

11/9 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar and Grill

11/10 – Houston, TX @ The Warehouse

11/11 – New Orleans, LA @ Republic NOLA

11/13 – Daytona, FL @ Welcome to Rockville Festival*

11/15 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade

11/16 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground

11/17 – Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live

11/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Roxian

11/20 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom

11/21 – New York, NY @ Webster Hall

11/22 – Albany, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall

11/23 – Hartford, CT @ The Webster

11/24 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

11/26 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic

11/27 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall

11/30 – Cleveland, OH @ The Agora

12/1 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection

12/2 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge

12/3 – Belvidere, IL @ The Apollo Theater AC

12/4 – Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway Theatre

12/6 – Kansas City, MO @ The Truman

12/7 – Denver, CO @ The Summit

12/9 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot

12/10 – Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory

12/11 – Portland, OR @ Roseland

12/12 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile

12/14 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst

12/15 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

12/16 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory

More information on Tetrarch’s upcoming live dates with Atreyu is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.tetrarchmusic.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tetrarchmusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tetrarch

Aftershock Festival 2021 Performance Times Announced

Posted on October 1, 2021 by philspicks

Organizers of the annual Aftershock Festival have announced the schedule for this year’s installment of the annual event.

Now in its ninth year, the festival is actually a rescheduled event from 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic caused the event to be re-scheduled last year. As with its 2019 edition, this year’s installment of the Aftershock Festival is officially sold out. It is scheduled to take place this weekend from Thursday to Sunday at Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA.

The festival grounds are located at 1600 Garden Highway. Sacramento, CA.

Attendees at this year’s festival will be required to follow strict COVID-19 guidelines. Those guidelines are noted here.

The 2021 edition of the Aftershock Festival is scheduled to open at 4:25 p.m. ET Thursday with a performance by Oxymorrons, on the Coors Light Stage. Fit For A King follows at 4:50 p.m. on the Jack Daniel’s Stage. Death Angel and Exodus will follow Oxymorrons at 5:25 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively on the Coors Light Stage. Meanwhile back on the Jack Daniel’s Stage, Knocked Loose is scheduled to follow Fit For A King at 5:55 p.m.

From there, Anthrax, Testamentand Cypress Hill will keep the music going between the two stages. Cypress Hill’s performance on the Jack Daniel’s Stage at 8:50 p.m. will close out the evening’s activities.

Friday will see the festival expand to three stages, with music starting at 12:45 p.m. from Contracult Collective on the Coors Light Stage. Ayron Jones will take the stage first at 1:20 p.m. Friday on the Kolas Stage. Performances from acts, such as Crobot, Pop Evil, and Rancid and many others will keep things moving through the day. Metallica will headline Friday’s events beginning at 8:55 p.m.

Moving on to Saturday, American Teeth and The Black Moods will open the day’s schedule at 12:30 p.m. and 12:35 p.m. on the Coors Light Stage and Kolas Stage respectively. Also notable acts featured on the day are those, such as South of Eden, Another Day Dawns, and Atreyu, as well as Anti-Flag, Mudvayne, and Alien Weaponry. The original lineup of The Misfits rounds out the day at 9:10 p.m. on the Jack Daniel’s Stage.

Even as the weekend winds down Sunday, the music will not let up. Sunday’s schedule opens at 12:20 p.m. on the Jack Daniel’s Stage with a performance by Law. As the day continues, performances from the likes of From Ashes To New, Pennywise, Mastodon, and Rise Against are also scheduled. Metallica closes out the weekend’s festivities at 7:55 p.m. ET on the Kolas Stage.

Along with lots of music, this weekend’s festival will also feature just as much food, drink and entertainment. The full details on all of that are noted below.

Additional food & beverage, and other experiences onsite include:

· Caduceus Wine Garden, highlighting Caduceus Cellars and Merkin Vineyards, owned by Arizona resident Maynard James Keenan, co-founder of international recording acts TOOL, A Perfect Circle, and PUSCIFER.

· Coors Light Coldstream serving with frosty draft technology, complete with actual ice crystals

· Deep Eddy Vodka -Deep Eddy’s Dive In Trailer is a place where people come together to enjoy good times that never seem to end. Where strangers are just friends you haven’t met yet. While at Aftershock stopby and see us at the Deep Eddy Dive In Tour and raise a glass to being back together!

· Dr. Greenthumb’s – Founded by the Godfather of insane brains, B-Real of Cypress Hill

· Fxck Cancer / Dyin 2 Live Dreams Program

· It’s Ronz World – custom guitars, rock shop and art

· Jack Daniel’s Mobile Distillery Tour Experience – Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Cheers your friends make your own history at Aftershock when you rock out at the Jack Daniel’s Main Stage with Metallica!

· KOLAS – Stop by the Loud Lounge to level up Aftershock vibes with t-shirt ripping, body art and more. KOLAS will also provide dynamic delivery outside the festival grounds. Stop by the KOLAS footprint all weekend long to learn more!

· Mortus Viventi – Live Tarot Card Readings

· The Blackened Bar – Aftershock is proud to continue the collaboration with Metallica’s Blackened Whiskey. The pop-up will feature Blackened, a super-premium American whiskey blend, crafted by the late Master Distiller Dave Pickerell and finished in the earth-shattering music of Metallica. This exciting collaboration marks the latest in a long line of amplified guest experiences only available through Danny Wimmer Presents music festivals.

· The Loud Lounge – Get heady and hang in the Loud Lounge with Kolas, Clown Cannabis, California’s Finest CBD, Heavy Grass, Dr. Greenthumb’s, Helpful Hemp and more.

· Take Me Home – not for profit, volunteer based foundation that has been saving the lives of homeless animals since 2001.

· weedmaps – Located inside the Loud Lounge. Fans can learn about cannabis delivery by downloading the weedmaps app all weekend long. Stop by the booth for fun giveaways and prizes and if you forgot your clear bag, weedmaps has your back.

Aftershock Festival is presented and produced by Danny Wimmer Presents. More information on the festival is available along with all of the festival’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.AftershockFestival.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AftershockFestival

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AftershockSac

Atreyu Debuts ‘Warrior’ Remix

Posted on August 27, 2021 by philspicks

Atreyu premiered an updated take of its song ‘Warrior‘ this week.

The updated take features guest appearances by Travis Barker (Blink-182) and Zero 9:36. The original song is featured in Atreyu’s latest album, Baptize, which was released in June through Spinefarm Records.

The updated take of ‘Warrior’ does show some differences from its source material. For starters, the remix is shorter than the original take by less than only 20 seconds. The original runs approximately three minutes, five seconds while the remix runs two minutes, 48 seconds. The remix is shorter as it omits part of the breakdown and replaces it with some brief rapping from Zero 9:36 (a.k.a. Matthew Cullen). Other than that, the two arrangements are largely the same.

‘Warrior’ is just one of the songs that serves as a single for Baptize. The album has also produced the singles, ‘Save Us,’ ‘Underrated,’ and ‘Catastrophe.’

In other news, Atreyu has expanded its upcoming tour schedule. The band’s initial tour schedule was set to launch Nov. 9 in Dallas, TX with support from Tetrarch, Crown the Empire, Saul, and Defying Decay. Its new, updated schedule is set to launch Sept. 3 in Green Bay, WI with Nonpoint, Tetrarch, and Another Day Dawns.

Following its brief run with Nonpoint, Tetrarch, and Another Day Dawns, Atreyu now also has dates scheduled with Eighteen Visions, Dragged Under, and Dying Wish on Oct. 5 & 6 in Phoenix, AZ and Los Angeles, CA.

The band’s updated tour schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here.

ATREYU ON TOUR:
WITH NONPOINT, TETRARCH, + ANOTHER DAY DAWNS:

9/3 — Green Bay, WI — Epic Event Center

9/4 — Newport, KY — Ovation

9/5 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee

9/7 — Wichita, KS — Temple Live

9/8 — Fort Smith, AR — Temple Live

9/10 — Danville, VA — Blue Ridge Rock Fest

WITH EIGHTEEN VISIONS, DRAGGED UNDER, + DYING WISH:

10/5 — Phoenix, AZ — The Marquee

10/6 — Los Angeles, CA — 1720

WITH CROWN THE EMPIRE, TETRARCH, SAUL, + DEFYING DECAY:
11/9 — Dallas, TX  — Gas Monkey Bar And Grill
11/10 — Houston, TX  — The Warehouse
11/11 — New Orleans, LA  — Republic NOLA
11/13 — Daytona, FL  — Welcome to Rockville
11/15 — Atlanta, GA  — The Masquerade
11/16 — Charlotte, NC  — The Underground
11/17 — Baltimore, MD  — Rams Head Live
11/19 — Pittsburgh, PA  — The Roxian
11/20 — Sayreville, NJ  — Starland Ballroom
11/21 — New York, NY  — Webster Hall
11/22 — Albany, NY  — Empire Live
11/23 — Hartford, CT  — The Webster
11/24 — Worcester, MA  — The Palladium
11/26 — Detroit, MI  — The Majestic
11/27 — Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
11/30 — Cleveland, OH  — The Agora
12/1 — Grand Rapids, MI  — The Intersection
12/2 — Joliet, IL  — The Forge
12/3 — Belvidere, IL  — The Apollo Theater AC
12/4 — Minneapolis, MN  — Skyway Theatre
12/6 — Kansas City, MO  — The Truman
12/7 — Denver, CO  — The Summit
12/9 — Salt Lake City, UT  — The Depot
12/10 — Boise, ID  — Knitting Factory
12/11 — Portland, OR  — Roseland
12/12 — Seattle, WA  — The Crocodile
12/14 — Santa Cruz, CA  — The Catalyst
12/15 — San Diego, CA  — House of Blues
12/16 — Santa Ana, CA  — The Observatory

More information on Atreyu’s new ‘Warrior’ remix, new tour dates, and album is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: https://www.atreyofficial.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atreyu

Twitter: https://twitter.com/atreyuofficial

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to https://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Another Day Dawns Premieres New Single, ‘Look At You’

Posted on August 20, 2021 by philspicks

Hard rock band Another Day Dawns premiered is giving audiences their first preview of its next album this week.

The band debuted its new single, ‘Look At You‘ Friday. The song is the band’s first new music in almost a year, following the release of its single, ‘Never Okay.’ The song was featured on the band’s then latest record, its EP, Stranger.

The musical arrangement featured in ‘Look At You’ is a fiery composition. It is grounded in its vocals from front man Dakota Sean. Sean’s band mates strengthen that foundation even more through the precision in their hard rock style approach to their respective parts. The song’s musical energy seems to hint at a lyrical theme that centers on the all too familiar topic of relationships.

No information was provided about the song’s lyrical theme in the press release announcing the song’s premiere. However, in listening to the song, it would seem to be that the song’s subject is looking at someone following a breakup and telling that person that he/she does not want to return to that relationship because he/she sees how that other person really is and was all along. This is of course just this critic’s own interpretation and should not be taken as the only interpretation.

The band offered a brief discussion on the new song in a prepared statement.

“Our new single, ‘Look At You,’ is a very different approach from our last few singles,
the statement reads. “We had tons of fun writing and working in this one, it’s kind of a newer sound that we all feel still fits what we as the band stand for.”

In other news, Another Day Dawns has a series of live dates planned for next month alongside Atreyu, Tetrarch, and Nonpoint. Those dates are noted below.

2021 Tour Dates

September 3 – Green Bay, WI – EPIC Event Center

September 4 – Newport, KY – PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation

September 5 – Madison, WI – The Sylvee

September 7 – Wichita, KS – TempleLive

September 8 – Fort Smith, AR – TempleLive

September 11 – Danville, VA – Blue Ridge Rock Festival

September 12 – Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater (*with Breaking Benjamin and Miss May I)

September 23 – Louisville, KY – Louder Than Life Festival

September 25 – Orlando, FL – Rebel Rock Festival

October 9 – Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival

More information on Another Day Dawns’ new single and tour dates is available online along with all of ADD’s latest news at:

Website: https://anotherdaydawns.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnotherDayDawns

Twitter: https://twitter.com/an0therdaydawns

Danny Wimmer Presents Launches New Rock Festival/Cruise

Posted on August 4, 2021 by philspicks

Danny Wimmer Presents is bringing audiences a new live rock festival and cruise.

The company made the announcement Wednesday through a news release distributed to the media. Voragos: Destination Lunasea Beach is scheduled to take place Feb. 16-21, 2022 aboard the Norwegian Pearl ship. The cruise departs Miami, FL and heads to Harvest Caye, Belize, where audiences will disembark for one day for a one-of-a-kind beach festival.

Rob Zombie is scheduled to headline the beach festival. It will also feature performances by Mudvyane (which is replacing Chevelle due to scheduling conflicts that it had), Black Stone Cherry, New Year’s Day, Tetrarch, and Amigo The Devil.

Amigo The Devil, Kevin Martin (Candlebox), Brett Scallions Aupervant Fuel, and Austin Meade are scheduled to perform on board on the Voragos Storytellers Stage. Comedians Jim Breuer, Big Jay Oakerson, Rachel Feinstein, and Shayne Smith are scheduled to perform on the cruise’s Voragos Comedy Stage.

An after party featuring performances by Brass Against and The Voragos Shut Up & Dance, and others will additionally take place each night.

Adding to interest for the inaugural event is are special appearances SiriusXM’s Shannon Gunz and the cast of “The Space Zebra Show.” SiriusXM’s Jose “Metal Ambassador” Mangin is scheduled to emcee the whole thing on board and on land.

Other acts scheduled for the upcoming event are the likes of Atreyu, Crown The Empire, and Afterlife.

Tickets for the event are available here.

More information on Voragos: Destination Lunasea Beach is available along with the event’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.voragos.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vorag0s

Twitter: https://twitter.com/voragos1

Nonpoint Announces New Live Dates

Posted on July 25, 2021 by philspicks

Nonpoint will head back out on the road later this summer for a full-length tour

The band made the announcement Friday. It will launch what it has dubbed the “I’m About to Explode Part I” Tour Sept. 11 in Easton, PA. The tour is scheduled to run through Oct. 10 in Tempe, AZ and features performances in cities nationwide, such as Jacksonville, NC; Green Bay WI and Destin, FL.

Front man Elias Soriano was upbeat as he talked during a recent interview, about getting back on the road.

“We’re coming out of the pandemic swinging!,” he said. “The bands and the shows will leave fans talking for weeks.. Production is new, show is BRAND NEW, deep cuts from our catalog and our most Ruthless Setlist ever. ITS ABOUT TO EXPLODE, Part 1 is the swing of the bat and first contact”

The band had previously announced a handful of live dates for this month and September, as well as the schedule for its 2022 appearance on the ShipRocked Cruise. It makes this announcement the band’s first big tour announcement of the year.

Dropout Kings, Saul, and Any Given Sunday will serve as support throughout much of the tour. Joining the band for other dates are the likes of Tetrach, Seether, Atreyu, and Plush.

The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here. The announcement of the new tour comes more than two months after it premiered its latest single, ‘Ruthless.’ The band premiered the song’s video last month.

I’m About To Explode Tour Pt. 1 with special guests: Saul, Dropout Kings, & Any Given Sin

09.11.21 – One Centre Square – Easton, PA

09.12.21 – House of Independents – Asbury Park, NJ

09.14.21 – Wallys – Hampton Beach, NH

09.15.21 – Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY

09.16.21 – Beachland Ballroom- Cleveland, OH

09.17.21 – Music Factory – Battle Creek, MI

09.19.21 – Emerson Theater – Indianapolis, IN

09.21.21 – Piere’s – Ft. Wayne, IN

09.22.21 – Rock City Bake Company – Charleston, WV

09.23.21 – Shagnastys Grubbery And Pour House – Huntsville, AL

09.24.21 – Amos – Charlotte, NC

09.28.21 – Capones – Johnson City, TN

09.29.21 – Hooligans – Jacksonville, NC

10.02.21 – Club LA – Destin, FL

Dates with Atreyu, Tetrarch & Another Day Dawns:

09.03.21 – Epic Event Center – Green Bay, WI

09.04.21 – Ovation – Newport, KY

09.05.21 – The Sylvee – Madison, WI

09.07.21 – Temple Live – Wichita, KS

09.08.21 – Temple Live – Fort Smith, AR

Dates with Seether & Plush:

09.30.21 – House of Blues – Mrytle Beach, SC

10.01.21 – Tabernacle – Atlanta, GA

10.10.21 – Marquee – Tempe, AZ

Nonpoint will be appearing at the following festivals:

09.10.21 – Blue Ridge Rock Fest – Danville, VA

09.18.21 – Fall Fling – Peoria, IL

09.25.21 – Rebel Rock – Orlando, FL

January 22-27, 2022 ShipRocked

More information on the band’s tour, the band’s new EP and more is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.nonpoint.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nonpointworld

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nonpoint

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.

Atreyu Is As Strong As Ever On Its Latest LP

Posted on June 2, 2021 by philspicks

Atreyu is officially joining the growing ranks of acts planning a return to the road now that the world is turning the corner in the battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. The band made it official Wednesday through a press release. The band’s forthcoming tour, which is scheduled to start in November, is in support of its forthcoming album Baptize. Scheduled for release Friday through Spinefarm Records, the 15-song record is a strong new offering from the veteran metalcore act. That is proven in part through the album’s musical arrangements. They will be discussed shortly. The lyrical content that accompanies the record’s musical arrangements adds its own appeal to the album’s presentation. It will be discussed a little later. The record’s production rounds out its most important elements and will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make the record in whole one of the best of this year’s new hard rock and metal albums.

Atreyu’s latest album, Baptize, is a positive new offering from the band. Coming approximately three years after the release of its then latest album, In Our Wake (and two years after that album’s re-issue), the record proves a positive follow-to that record. What’s more, it is another positive addition to the band’s overall catalog. That is proven in part through its featured musical arrangements. The arrangements in question take the sound and stylistic approach that the band used in In Our Wake and build on them in this case. There is even more balance here between the more melodic elements and hard rock/metal elements. What’s more, the band even goes nu-metal to a point again in ‘Untouchable,’ which fittingly features a guest appearance by nu-metal band Papa Roach’s front man Jacoby Shaddix. The growth exhibited through the musical arrangements in this record has resulted in an album that has already produced four infectious singles and even more singles possible. Case in point is the moving, melodic ‘No Matter What,’ the intense ‘Broken Again,’ and the aforementioned anthemic ‘Untouchable.’ Between the catchy, infectious arrangement here, the moving arrangements in the other noted songs, those in the already produced singles and the content in the album’s other songs, the overall musical approach to this record forms a solid foundation for the album. It gives audiences reason enough to hear the album.

Building on the foundation formed by the musical arrangements is the lyrical content that accompanies that musical content. The songs are, for the most part, messages of hope and determination. Not to bring it up again, but that message is clear in ‘Untouchable.’ Shaddix and Atreyu front man sing here, “We’re untouchable.” This is a defiant message that when paired with the rest of the song’s lyrical content, delivers a powerful statement in itself. The song’s lead verse is proof of that, as it states, “Watch out/Or you won’t even see me coming/Hands up…Sit down/Or you might end up starting something/They don’t know what they can’t see/And they don’t know ‘bout you and me/They don’t live in misery/Oh, no/But we don’t/We’re untouchable.” The statement continues, “Watch out…Hands up.I’m stealing moments of protection/Sit down/So come and witness my deception.” This message overall is one of defiance. It is saying that “we” are stronger than “haters” and naysayers want to believe. Thus the phrasing, “We’re untouchable.” Shaddix even screams at one point, “Don’t step to me!” So again, here is that defiant message of self-confidence and assurance. This is a message that will resonate with a wide range of audiences. It is just one example of how the album’s lyrical content proves so important to its presentation. ‘Dead Weight’ is another example of the importance of the album’s lyrical content.

While much of the album’s lyrical content delivers messages of confidence and self-assurance, it is not the album’s only theme. ‘Dead Weight’ is one of so many songs out there that focuses on the matter of a broken relationship. That is made clear as the song presents the subject as someone who is feeling “like dead weight.” The inner battle is made even more obvious as the subject sings about being “lost in the smoke” and life being “so cold.” The mention of the subject saying he would apologize to someone else “for the last time…trying to find the reason” shows that even more. That inner turmoil brought on by the broken relationship is, again, a common lyrical theme in the rock community. In the case of this song, it is a song that is just as welcome as in songs from other bands. That accessibility of the message and its delivery shows why it is just one more example of the importance of the album’s lyrical themes. It is just one more way in which the lyrical themes prove so important to the album’s presentation. The content featured in ‘Catastrophe,’ the album’s latest single, is another example of that importance.

The lyrical theme featured in ‘Catastrophe’ is a commentary about the statement of the world while also being a love song of sorts. The band made that clear in a prepared statement when it released the single last month.

“‘Catastrophe’ is, in essence, an apocolyptic love song,” the statement reads. “We took a more imaginative approach to the feelings about that we as individuals and the rest of the planet were going through. The world felt like it was falling apart around us. Nothing was certain, and stress and darkness were coming in from every angle. But living through it all with someone who you truly love somehow made it all okay.”

The message is made clear right from the song’s outset, which states, “Is this life, or just a dream?/Lost it all in this uncertainty/Take my hand, walk with me/As we dance in this catastrophe/Is this life, or just a dream?/Lost it all in this uncertainty/Take my hand, walk with me/As we dance in this catastrophe.” The song’s second verse furthers that dual commentary/love story as it states, “Our thoughts will rise as cities fall/The ashes raining f****** drown us all/The flames consume all that I know/I will be fine in this uncertainty.” By now, that duality is clear. That also means that the understanding of how different this song’s lyrical theme is from that of the other examined themes and those in the rest of the album’s songs. Keeping in mind that range of lyrical themes presented in this album, and even the varied ways in which the most common theme is presented, the whole of the album’s lyrical content is by now, unquestionably important to the album’s presentation. When the importance of the lyrical content and its impact is considered along with the importance of the album’s musical content and its impact, the album proves even more why it is a success. The collective is still only a part of what makes the album a positive presentation. The record’s production rounds out its most important elements.

The production of Baptize is important to examine because of how much is going on in each of the album’s songs. The arrangements featured throughout the album are fiery for the most part. That means that much attention had to be paid to balancing the vocals, the dynamics, and the general instrumentation in each song. It was clearly a time consuming task, and the efforts that went into balancing everything paid off. Even in some of the most subdued moments, those points expertly bring out the deep emotion and thoughts going through the subject’s mind. All things considered, the production ensured that the best in each song was brought out, ensuring even more, listeners’ engagement and entertainment. When this baseline element is considered with the positive impact of the album’s musical and lyrical content, the whole makes Baptize a record that will appeal to all of Atreyu’s audiences.

Atreyu’s new forthcoming album, Baptize is a positive new offering from the veteran metalcore band. It is a presentation that any of the band’s audiences will appreciate and enjoy. That is proven in part through its featured musical arrangements. The arrangements in question bear some similarity to the works from the band’s existing catalog. At the same time, they also show a certain amount of growth from the band. That growth makes for its own share of enjoyment and engagement. The lyrical themes featured alongside the album’s musical content add their own touch to the album, too. That is because said content is accessible both in itself and its delivery. The record’s production rounds out the album’s most important elements. That is because it brings everything together, completing the album’s presentation. The instrumentation and vocals are expertly balanced in each song. That makes for its own appeal. The balance also makes it easier to decipher (and in turn appreciate) the lyrical themes. To that end, the time and effort that went into completing the album’s presentation is just as positive as the album’s content. When it is considered along with the album’s content, the whole makes Baptize a successful new offering that is among the best of this year’s new hard rock and metal albums. Baptize is scheduled for release Friday through Spinefarm Records.

More information on Atreyu’s new album and forthcoming tour is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at: