Above Snakes Debuts The Broken Ones’ Video

Courtesy: TAG Publicity

Independent goth/nu-metal band Above Snakes premiered the video for its latest single this month.

The band unveiled the video for its new single, ‘The Broken Ones’ Feb. 11. The video, which was recorded at the famed Haunted Overload in Lee, NH, was directed by front man Johnny Skulls and guitarist Dax Dabs. The video tells the story of a young man who is beaten down by a group of bullies and in his unconscious state, ends up in the haunted house in which the band is performing its new single.

The song’s musical arrangement is stylistically similar to the band’s current singles, ‘‘Never Alone‘ and ‘Adrenaline,’ but still maintains its own unique identity separate from those songs. The main difference between those songs and this composition is the notable rapping done by Johnny Skulls. It gives the overall arrangement a sound and stylistic approach that is comparable to works from the likes of Limp Bizkit, Korn, and others of that ilk.

The song’s lyrical theme is straight forward message encouraging people who feel like outsiders to never give up and to take pride and confidence in themselves.

‘The Broken Ones’ is available to stream through Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon.

Courtesy: TAG Publicity

In other news, Above Snakes is scheduled to join Kingdom Collapse, Fire From The Gods, and Blind Channel as support for From Ashes To New’s upcoming “Still Panicking Tour.” The tour is scheduled to launch March 3 in Pittsburgh, PA. It is scheduled to run through April 16 in Reading, PA and features performances in cities, such as Salt Lake City, UT; Urbana, IL and Greensboro, NC.

The tour’s schedule is noted below. More information on tickets and the tour is available here.

TOUR DATES:
03/03 @ Jergel’s Rhythm Grille – Pittsburgh, PA
03/04 @ The Machine Shop – Flint, MI
03/05 @ The Forge – Joliet, IL
03/06 @ Rockstar Lounge – Ft. Wayne, IN
03/08 @ Elevation @ the Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI
03/09 @ Canopy Club – Urbana, IL
03/11 @ 1175 Sports Eatery – Kansasville, WI
03/12 @ Stormy’s – Beaver Dam, WI
03/13 @ Sanctuary – Fargo, ND
03/15 @ The Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE
03/17 @ Sunshine Studios Live – Colorado Springs, CO
03/18 @ Loading Dock – Salt Lake City, UT
03/20 @ El Corazon – Seattle, WA
03/22 @ Knitting Factory Concert House – Boise, ID
03/23 @ Virginia St Brewhouse – Reno, NV
03/24 @ Whisky A Go Go – West Hollywood, CA
03/25 @ Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
03/26 @ Encore Tucson Country Club – Estates, AZ
03/27 @ RockHouse Bar & Grill – El Paso, TX
03/29 @ The Rock Box – San Antonio, TX
03/30 @ Amplified Live – Dallas, TX
03/31 @ Scout Bar – Houston, TX
04/02 @ Club LA – Destin, FL
04/03 @ TBA
04/05 @ Shagnasty’s – Huntsville, AL
04/06 @ Capone’s – Johnson City, TN
04/07 @ Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC
04/08 @ Hooligans Music Hall – Jacksonville, NC
04/09 @ Blue Fox Billiards – Winchester, VA
04/11 @ TBA
04/12 @ TBA
04/13 @ TBA
04/14 @ Recher Theater – Townson, MD
04/15 @ Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
04/16 @ Reverb – Reading, PA

More information on the EP’s release and the band’s singles is available along with the band’s latest news at:

Website: http://www.abovesnakesmusic.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/abovesnakesmusic

Twitter: http://twitter.com/abovesnakesband

To keep up with the latest entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://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.

Common Ground A Good First Impression For Kingdom Collapse’s New Audiences

Courtesy: Adrenaline PR

San Antonio, Texas based metalcore band Kingdom Collapse recently released its new EP Common Ground. The three-track EP is a good collection of songs for anyone that is a fan of the metalcore genre. Even while there are only three songs on the band’s new EP, the impact of the music’s combined music and lyrics is enough to leave listeners breathless by the EP’s end. A prime example of the power of the band’s music on this disc is the EP’s second song, ‘Dear Dad.’ The title alone invokes thoughts of it being just another song about someone’s broken relationship with one’s father. That’s typical fare for so much mainstream rock. But the reality of the song is anything but that. Rather, it’s a letter of sorts written to a young man’s father after the father dies. Vocalist Josh Wolford screams on this song, “Dear dad/I hope that you’re proud of me/I hope I’m the man you expected of me/Dear dad/I pray you’re looking after me/I pray I’m the son/You always wanted me to be.” The wording used here would easily lead listeners to believe that the song is about a broken father-son relationship. But that view is easily wiped clean as Wolford’s father figure replies to his son, “Dear son/Please know I’m so proud of you/I’m so proud of the man/That you’re growing into/Dear son/I’m always looking after you/Just reach out your hand/And I’ll always pull through for you.” What listeners get here is a hypothetical situation in which a son is talking to his deceased father. At the same time, the father is there in spirit, talking to his son, even though his son can’t hear or see him. Considering such lyrical content, one would expect the song to be less intense. But it actually works as the music’s intensity mirrors the intense feelings being felt inside the son. Many listeners will be able to relate to those intense emotions, too, thus making this a good addition to Kingdom Collapse’s new EP.

Another of the EP’s songs worth checking out is its closer, ‘Serenity.’ Wolford writes in the song’s chorus, “God grant me serenity/To accept the things/I can’t change/Please God/grant me the divinity/To change the things that will/they say stay invisible/And believe/The unbelievable…” Again the intensity in Wolford’s delivery and that of his band mates—Cameron Huser (bass/vocals), Michael Childress (Rhythm guitar), Jonathan Norris (lead guitar), and Hayden Allen (drums)—gives this song a certain impact that can only be experienced in listening to the song for one’s own self. Anyone that is a fan of We Came as Humans, As I Lay Dying, Underoath and others of that ilk will definitely appreciate that impact both musically and lyrically. The same can be said of Common Ground’s remaining song, ‘Bottom Feeder,’ which opens the EP. Whether for this song or for the two mentioned here, Common Ground proves to be a good first impression especially for audiences that are new to the band’s sound.

Audiences, whether new to Kingdom Collapse or relatively new to the band’s sound, will get to hear both of these songs and more for themselves tomorrow, March 28th, when the band performs at Headhunters in Austin, Texas. Also scheduled are live dates in Dallas, New Braunfels, and the band’s hometown of San Antonio next month. Audiences can keep up with the latest tour updates and more from the band online through its official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/kingdomcollapse.

Common Ground can be downloaded now via iTunes at https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/common-ground-single/id789801380. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://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.