Through Fire gave audiences another preview of its new album this week with the premiere of the album’s latest single.
The band unveiled the new single, ‘The Road‘ and its companion video Thursday, only hours before releasing its long-awaited new album, Devil’s Got You Dreamin’ through Sumerian Records. The song is the album’s fifth single behind ‘Over The Influence,’ ‘Devolution,‘ ‘Lose It‘ and ‘Karma Kills.’
‘The Road’ is a stark change of sound and style for Through Fire in comparison to its predecessors. That is because where those songs are each quite energetic and hard rocking in their sound and style, ‘The Road’ is a much softer ballad. Fittingly, the song is reserved as the album’s finale.
Justin McCain, the band’s guitarist, wrote the lyrics for ‘The Road’ and said in a recent interview, the song centers on the thoughts and emotions that go through his mind while being on tour.
“The hardest thing about being on the road is missing my family,” McCain said. “I wrote this whole song on the way to the studio thinking about them, thinking about touring, thinking about home.”
In other news, Through Fire is scheduled to join Dropout Kings as support for Ill Nino’s upcoming headlining tour in support of its classic album, Confession. The tour is scheduled to launch May 4 in Jacksonville, NC. The tour is scheduled to run through June 4 in Tyler, TX.
The tour’s schedule is noted below. Tickets are available here.
The 20 Year Anniversary of ConfessionTour
5/4/2023 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans
5/5/2023 – Winchester, VA – Blue Fox Billiards
5/6/2023 – Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
5/7/2023 – Horseheads, NY - The L
5/9/2023 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s
5/10/2023 – Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse
5/11/2023 – Lakewood, OH - Winchester Music Tavern
5/12/2023 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
5/13/2023 – Angola, IN - Eclectic Room
5/14/2023 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
5/16/2023 - Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
5/17/2023 - Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theater
5/18/2023 - Omaha NE – The Waiting Room
5/19/2023 - Sioux Falls, SD - Bigs Bar
5/20/2023 - Billings, MT – The Pub Station
5/21/2023 – Great Falls, MT - The Newberry
5/23/2023 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
5/24/2023 – Colorado Springs, CO - Sunshine Studios
5/25/2023 – Grand Junction, CO - Mesa Theater
5/26/2023 - Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
5/27/2023 - El Paso, TX – Rockhouse
5/30/2023 - Lubbock, TX – Jakes
5/31/2023 - Corpus Christi, TX - House Of Rock
6/1/2023 – Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
6/2/2023 – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box
6/3/2023 – Fort Worth, TX – The Rail Club
6/4/2023 - Tyler, TX - Country River Club
More information on Through Fire’s new album, single, video, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Rock band Through Fire gave audiences another preview of its new album this week with the premiere of the album’s latest single.
The band premiered its new single, ‘Devolution‘ Tuesday. The song is the third single from the band’s forthcoming album, Devil’s Got You Dreamin’, which is scheduled for release April 21. The record has also produced the singles, ‘Lose It‘ and ‘Karma Kills.’
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Devolution’ is similar to that of ‘Lose It’ what with its melodic hard rock approach. Yet again, the sound and stylistic approach taken here is easily comparable to works from the likes of Awake At Last, Three Days Grace and others of that ilk.
The song’s lyrical theme presents a familiar social commentary about the state of the world and how mankind is handling everything that has happened and is happening. The band addressed this in a prepared statement.
“Devolve, destruct, in God we trust… so many things in the world seem to be going in reverse,” the statement reads. “One step forward and two steps back. This song is about keeping our eyes open to everything going on around us.”
In other news, Through Fire has expanded its tour plans for the spring and summer. On top of already announced dates with Saliva, the band was recently announced as support for Ill Nino’s spring headlining tour in celebration of its classic album, Confession. Tickets are available here.
The tour is scheduled to launch May 4 in Jacksonville, NC and to run through June 4 in Tyler, TX. The upcoming tour will see Through Fire share time alongside Dropout Kings as support for Ill Nino and will take the bands largely through America’s heartland, with most of the dates in states, such as Montana, Colorado, Illinois, and Texas. The tour’s few east coast dates open its run between May 4 May 10.
Through Fire’s full schedule with Saliva and Ill Nino is noted below.
Through Fire Upcoming Tour Dates 3/17 – Amelia Island, FL @ Saddler Ranch 3/18 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham Theatre 3/20 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl3/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Jergel’s 3/23 – Ft. Wayne, IN @ Piere’s 3/24 – Wyandotte, MI @ District 142 3/25 – Joliet, IL @ The Forge 3/26 – McHenry, IL @ The Vixen 3/27 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s 3/29 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios 3/30 – Ft. Collins, CO @ The Coast 4/2 – Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theatre 4/5 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall
The 20 Year Anniversary of ConfessionTour
5/4/2023 – Jacksonville, NC – Hooligans
5/5/2023 – Winchester, VA – Blue Fox Billiards
5/6/2023 – Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
5/7/2023 – Horseheads, NY - The L
5/9/2023 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s
5/10/2023 – Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse
5/11/2023 – Lakewood, OH - Winchester Music Tavern
5/12/2023 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
5/13/2023 – Angola, IN - Eclectic Room
5/14/2023 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
5/16/2023 - Bloomington, IL – The Castle Theatre
5/17/2023 - Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theater
5/18/2023 - Omaha NE – The Waiting Room
5/19/2023 - Sioux Falls, SD - Bigs Bar
5/20/2023 - Billings, MT – The Pub Station
5/21/2023 – Great Falls, MT - The Newberry
5/23/2023 – Denver, CO – Marquis Theater
5/24/2023 – Colorado Springs, CO - Sunshine Studios
5/25/2023 – Grand Junction, CO - Mesa Theater
5/26/2023 - Phoenix, AZ – Rebel Lounge
5/27/2023 - El Paso, TX – Rockhouse
5/30/2023 - Lubbock, TX – Jakes
5/31/2023 - Corpus Christi, TX - House Of Rock
6/1/2023 – Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
6/2/2023 – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box
6/3/2023 – Fort Worth, TX – The Rail Club
6/4/2023 - Tyler, TX - Country River Club
More information on Through Fire’s new album, single, video, and tour is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
The lineup for the 2023 ShipRocked cruise was announced this week.
Falling in Reverse will headline next year’s hard rock cruise, which is scheduled to leave port Jan. 22 from Port Canaveral, FL and return Jan. 28. The cruise, which will take place aboard the Carnival Magic, will make stops along its route at Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, Grand Turk in Turks & Caicos Islands, and Dominican Republic’s Amber Cove. A limited number of staterooms is still available here.
Along with Falling in Reverse, the lineup for the 2023 Ship Rocked cruise also features the likes of Nonpoint, Nothing More, Ayron Jones, and Motionless in Air. Also included in the lineup are the likes of Wage War, Skillet, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.
Nonpoint also took part in the 2022 ShipRocked cruise alongside the likes of Ayron Jones, P.O.D., Lamb of God, Corey Taylor, Drowning Pool, and Avatar among others.
More information on next year’s ShipRocked cruise is available along with all of the cruise’s latest news at:
Nonpoint will launch its new nearly month-long tour Sept. 11 in Easton, PA, but it seems like an off-cycle tour so to speak. Typically, acts tour on the backs of new albums and/or EPs, but it’s been three years since the band released its then latest album, X Given, you guys have your new hit single, ‘Ruthless’ and its video. So talk to me about the decision to launch the tour.
Elias: Traditionally speaking that is definitely the case. But we are in untraditional times and if this EP’s cycle hasn’t taught everyone about our latest string of decisions it’s that we are rewriting the way we are doing things here on Team Nonpoint. As well as how we tour and even perform. We have an extensive catalog and over 160 published songs. So we got ways to change up our sets and plan to do just that. In this upcoming set list we’re playing songs that we haven’t played in 20 years in some cases. Our fans will get a taste of some of our catalogs that will make true fans of the band happy they came. As well as getting a taste of Ruthless and who knows what else from the EP. For now Ruthless is our focus and seems to be enough to keep fans excited about our next steps.
One thing that I’ve noticed about your past tours is that Hooligans in Jacksonville, NC is a favorite place for you to play live. What is it about that venue and/or the city that draws you so much there?
Elias: 90% of the time its the fans. The other 10% is usually how nice the venue employees are that is just the icing on the cake. We can’t always anticipate a perfect stage or the people who work locally. But when both the venue is respected and the people working there are friendly it makes for those comeback spots like Hooligans for sure.
Nonpoint isn’t going out alone for its upcoming tour. You are bringing along for the ride, Dropout Kings, which is well-known in its own right, Any Given Sin and Saul, both of which are up-and-coming acts. What is it about those bands that made you decide to bring them along?
Elias: As we always have a list of bands we wish we could have that always varies due to availability of bands and of course timing. But outside of availability, for the most part we try to bring out bands we feel like our fans will enjoy seeing and carry a similar energy onstage. Dropout Kings have that swag we like in a support act. Our styles are similar so that’s always nice. Saul has a powerful sound and coincidently were an up and comer who’s schedule lined up with our plans as well as a suggestion from our agent. When we heard their music we immediately gave the thumbs up. Any Given Sin have a great buzz in spaces we also see lots of success not to mention they are under the FM Management umbrella as is Nonpoint, so it was a good fit and invited them to join us as well. It’s gonna be a great lineup for our fans all night which is the most exciting thing for the band members.
Speaking of other bands, now that Nonpoint has launched its new independent label, 361 Degrees Records, have you started looking for bands to sign or will the label be more for the band’s own releases? If you are looking at other bands to sign, can you give any hints as to which ones are getting consideration?
Elias: No one just yet. Though we are seeing success through our strategies, model and process, all of these things happen the way they do because of the team we have, their commitment to the plan and process, ability to pivot and move quickly, to have patience and understanding of their audience base and most importantly have the work ethic to follow through. It’s a lot to ask of people just looking to just perform and sleep all day. Not to mention people looking to change the way they think about the music industry in a traditional sense. It’s a big ask so we’re going to be extremely selective on our additions to the label. But anything is possible right?
Staying a moment longer on the matter of your new label, you made the announcement some time ago. In that time, has the reality and enormity of that move had time to settle in? What is your reaction to your fans’ support for your new venture?
Elias: It’s definitely settled in and it’s as expected. Some triumphs and some goals we fell short on. What we have found is what’s sustainable and what we needed to adjust. But nothing that has us turning tail and running from the independent route. Quite the contrary, every triumph and every lesson learned is driving our next ideas into lower risk realities and ultimately wins for our camp. So we say, “Bring on the mistakes.”
Switching gears back to touring, fans have always come out in a big way to see Nonpoint when it comes to town. Looking at the 361 Degrees – All things Nonpoint group page on Facebook, fans’ reaction to this upcoming tour make it sound like this run will be no exception to the rule. What does that continued support mean to you as a band?
Elias: It’s everything to our band. At the end of the day our livelihood is a career where success and failures rest on the opinions of others vs just effort and ability. We are under a microscope and at the same time broadcast around the world. So when you have that kind of support that you can count on its irreplaceable.
On a related topic, live music finally returned this year following almost a year (if not a year) shut down due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m not trying to jinx anything, but with all the reports coming out about the virus’ Delta variant spreading, are there any concerns about the possibility of live music getting shut down again?
Elias: Who wouldn’t be concerned? I have fellow musicians reaching out that I haven’t spoken too in quite some time reaching out, gauging our thoughts seeing that we’re about to head out. So I can’t say I’m feeling any better about it. But as always we have a plan to keep our fans going if for any reason we get grounded again. Eventually we hope NONPOINT AIRLINES will fly again.
Speaking specifically to Elias and Robb, you two are the only original members of the band to date. You’ve seen other musicians come and go from the band, the most recent change being that of Jason Zellstra replacing B.C. Kochmit, who himself replaced Dave Lizzo in 2014. Jason is now the band’s fifth lead guitarist. You’ve also had now two bassists. What I’m getting at is that lineup changes always have an impact on a band especially when performing live and living together on the road. Has it ever impacted you two, mentally or emotionally, having to break in so many new members? It can’ be easy going out on the road and recording with new members so seemingly constantly.
Elias: It’s never fun losing a member or feeling like you have to part ways from someone because of creative chemistry, personal issues, lifestyle or even in some cases substance abuse. Again, we roll with the punches, hope for the best, try to give people the benefit of the doubt and get ourselves back on our feet. But what’s the point holding grudges or bitching about it? We’re all human and shit happens. Get up and get back on the horse.
Getting off that topic, your fans are constantly polling each other on their dream set lists (and band lineups) for your tours. Going back again to the All Things Nonpoint group on FB, do those interactions play any role in your own decisions on your set lists or even the bands that you bring with you on tour?
Elias: Of course we do! Honestly, who wouldn’t want to know what their fans want to hear? It’s like a cheat sheet for a test you gotta take. Our goal is to get an A and impress the teacher. So let me get your answer to #12 homie.
I wanted to go back to the launch of your new label again for a bit. Nonpoint nation as a family is clearly excited about the band launching 361 Degrees Records. When you first hinted at the announcement, there was rampant speculation that the band was going to announce it was calling it a career. I’m sure you read the comments. So what was your reaction to your fans’ reactions to the then cryptic statement ahead of the big announcement? What does that reaction mean to you as a band?
Elias: Honestly you’re the first person to mention it to me so I truthfully don’t have an answer to that particular moment. If you want me to address it on our current timeline I guess I’d simply say, SIKE!
Staying on that topic, I and thousands of others watched the video that made the announcement of the label’s launch. Nonpoint obviously is not the only band to launch its own label. Dropkick Murphys has Born & Bred Records. Dry Kill Logic has Psychodrama Records. The list goes on from there. Just as with anyone reaching that point at which they decide to make a career change, I imagine there was a specific point at which you as a band made the decision to go independent. Maybe I missed it in the video, but what was it that led to the decision? What was that proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back? When did that moment, that realization happen?
Elias: We did address it in the documentary, so I’d say you definitely want to watch it for the details to that answer. But simply put, we saw an opportunity to do so during a very lucrative time in our careers. So we took it.
Expanding from there, ‘Ruthless,’ your new single and its video have gotten only positive reaction from audiences and radio stations alike. Audiences are already chomping at the bit for the band’s next single. Can you offer an update on a time frame for its release?
Elias: Our timeline is based on what our team and our audience can absorb in a given time. When we take our next step it will be as thought out as Ruthless. That took time and attention. Seeing there is still much to be accomplished with our Ruthless Pre-Order going out, the tour and our next release already on deck, there will be plenty to chew on in the very near future.
One last question and I will close this out. Since we’re talking music, we know the band is working on a new EP that is sue out sometime late this summer or during fall. Can you offer an update on its progress or release date? Is a new album coming, too?
Elias: Plans as we mentioned in the documentary series are to give fans a full presentation of the EP song by song and video by video, repeating for 2 more EP’s till we deliver a final body of work (full LP) containing all the EP’s and an entire new grouping of songs. It will be our most ambitious project ever and our fans will be along for the ride every step of the way.
Thank you again for all your time. Best of luck on your tour, guys. I for one as a loyal member of the Nonpoint Nation family am looking forward to what’s to come from you all.
The full schedule for Nonpoint’s upcoming tour 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:
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.
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:
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.
Metalcore band Designer Disguise debuted the video for its latest single this week.
The band debuted the video for its single ‘Outta My Face‘ Tuesday. The song features fellow rock act Dropout Kings guesting. The video is a highly produced presentation that utilizes a lot of graphic art to look like something from Disney’s Tron franchise.
Front man Jackson Bengtsson talked about the song during a recent interview.
“This song is about getting all the toxicity out of your life. We haven’t expressed our anger in our music in some time and with everything going on today we thought it was time to let these feelings off our chests.”
The song features a musical arrangement that will appeal to the band’s fans and to those of melodic metalcore alike. That is due to the pairing of the heavier metalcore side and the nu-metal element brought in by the members of Dropout Kings.
In other news, Designer Disguise recently signed a new record deal with Substream Records. The deal makes the band label mates to the likes of Birdsall, Lauren Rocket, and Luke Gawne.
Substream Records Co-Owner Nick Moore had the following to say of Designer Disguise joining the label’s roster.
“We’ve been looking to expand the sound of Substream and Designer Disguise fit exactly what we were looking for. As being primarily pop/hip hop we wanted something that could bring these worlds together for our current following and DD nailed it.”
More information on Designer Disguise’s new record deal, single, and video is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
philspicks 