Queensryche Debuts ‘Bent’ Video

Courtesy: Century Media

Queensryche debuted the video for its latest single this week.

The band debuted the lyric video for its new single ‘Bent.’  The song is taken from the band’s most recent album The Verdict, which was released in March through Red Music and Century Media Records.

Front man Todd LaTorre talked about the song’s musical arrangement and lyrical content in a recent interview.

“‘Bent’ is a lyrical conglomerate of social injustices and societal struggles infused with progressive musicality,” LaTorre said.  “Snippets of thought provoking subject matter take you on a journey of up tempo hard rock/metal riffs with melancholic melodies and atmospheres.”

Queensryche is on tour in Europe promoting its new single and The Verdict.  Mirrorplain and Firewind are serving as support for the first portion of the tour, which runs through August.

After completing the first leg of that tour, Queensryche will take some time to rest and recharge before heading back out across Europe in November. Firewind will serve as sole support on the second half of the tour.  The tour’s schedule is noted below.

QUEENSRYCHE “THE VERDICT EUROPEAN TOUR”

w/ Firewind, Mirrorplain

July 25 – Berlin, DE – SO36

July 26 – Rottenburt-Seebronn, DE – Rock of Ages *+

July 27 – Szekesfeherva, HU – Fezen Festival+

July 28 – Ljubljana, SL – Kino Siska

July 30 – Munchen, DE – Free & Easy Festival

July 31 – Aschaffenburg, DE – Colos-Saal

August 2 – Wacken, DE – Wacken Open-Air*+

August 3 – Eindhoven, NL – Effenaar

August 4 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain*

August 6 – Pinarella di Cervia, IT – Rock Planet

August 7 – Pratteln, CH – Konzertfabrik z7

August 9 – Kortrijk, BE – Alcatraz Festival+

August 10 – Leeuwarden, NL – Into The Grave Festival*+

August 11 – Walton-on-Trent, UK – Bloodstock Open Air Festival*+

August 13 – Norfolk, UK – Waterfront, Norwich*

August 14 – London, UK – o2 Islington Academy*

August 15 – Saarbrücken, DE – Garage*

August 16 – Dinkelsbuhl, DE – Summer Breeze Festival*+

August 17 – Essen, DE – Turock Festival*+

* FIREWIND do not appear

+ MIRRORPLAIN do not appear

QUEENSRYCHE “THE VERDICT EUROPEAN TOUR”

w/ Firewind

November 15 – Thessaloniki, Greece – Fix Factory Of Sound

November 16 – Athens, Greece – Fuzz Club

November 19 – Krakow, Poland – Kwadrat

November 21 – Telfs, Austria – RathausSaal Telfs

November 23 – Stockholm, Sweden – Fryshuset Klubben

November 24 – Gothenburg, Sweden – Tradgarn

November 25 – Oslo, Norway – Tradgarn

November 26 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset

December 4 – Mannheim, Germany – MS Connexion

December 5 – Dornbirn, Austria – Conrad Sohm

December 6 – Geiselwind, Germany – Christmas Bash

December 7 – Oberhausen, Germany – Ruhrpott Metal Meeting

* FIREWIND do not appear

Queensryche’s video for ‘Bent‘ is just its latest video to debut from The Verdict.  The band most recently released the video for ‘Light Years‘ in March.  That video was preceded in January by the video for ‘Dark Reverie,’ and that video by the video for the album’s lead single ‘Man The Machine.’

More information on Queensryche’s new single, video, tour dates and more is available online at:

 

Website: http://www.queensrycheofficial.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/queensryche

 

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Jason Charles Miller Debuts ‘Running’ Video

Courtesy: Red Music/Century Media

Jason Charles Miller debuted the video for his latest single this week.

Miller debuted the video for the song ‘Running‘ on Friday.  The song is taken from Miller’s latest album Into The Wasteland (2018).  Directed by outlaw country musician Bob Wayne, the video stars Alexander Ward (Westworld, American Horror Story Apocalypse, Sleepy Hollow) and professional Cosplayer Vivid Vivka as a pair of vampires in what proves to be a rather funny story.

Miller talked about the song’s creation and its tie to the video in a recent interview.

“When I wrote the song with Danny Worsnop (Asking Alexandria) and Blue Foley, we came up with the concept of a fallen angel who chose the devil’s side, but then changed his mind,” Miller said.  “He realizes it’s too late to go back, but still tries anyway.  A real heavy subject matter over a riff that’s almost surf rock in nature.  There’s really no other song on the album like this, but the album would feel incomplete without it.”

In talking about the song’s video, Miller said a lot of thought went into the video’s creation.

“Bob and I were brainstorming one day about making a music video,” Miller said.  “I played him ‘Running’ and we knew this was the one he should direct.  I love Bob’s creativity and fearlessness when he makes videos.  Rather than re-tell the story of the song, we thought putting vampires in a haunted house would make the whole thing a lot more interesting to watch.  I mean, vampires!  Lore behind vampires says some of them are fallen angels anyway, so it still worked with the concept.  Getting Vivka and Alexander to play our vampires was the best part.  They did such an amazing job.”

He added, “Finding the right house was key, and luckily I found out about the Historic Harris House through my friend Robert Coshland (who happens to own it), and it turned out to be the perfect place!  We didn’t have to do a thing.  It looks like that all the time!  I consider the house one of the stars of the video as well.  I couldn’t be happier with how it came out and I can’t wait to share it.”

‘Running’ is just the latest single from ‘Into The Wasteland’ to get the video treatment.  The video for ‘Hundred Pound Hammer‘ debuted in November. The video for the album’s title track debuted in June.

More information on In The Wasteland is available online now along with all of Jason Charles Miller’s latest news at:

 

 

Website:  http://www.jasoncharlesmiller.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.comjasoncharlesmiller

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasoncmiller

 

 

 

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.

Hyro The Hero Announces Summer Tour Schedule

Courtesy: Century Media

Hyro The Hero has announced a new slate of live dates.

The rap-rock artist announced a new jam-packed summer tour schedule on Wednesday.  The three-month-long-plus tour schedule is set to launch May 3 in Jacksonville, Fla and to run through Aug. 25 in Brooklyn, NY.

The tour will feature performances at the Epicenter Festival in Rockingham, NC, Dreamhack Dallas Convention and Rocklahoma festival as well as performances in cities nationwide.  The tour’s current schedule is noted below.

TOUR DATES

DATE		CITY	VENUE
Fri	5/3	Jacksonville, FL	Welcome To Rockville
Fri	5/10	Rockingham, NC	Epicenter
Fri	5/10	Rockingham, NC	Epicenter After Show
Sun	5/12	Chicago, IL	Bottom Lounge ^
Tue	5/14	Chesterfield, MI	Diesel Concert Lounge ^
Wed	5/15	Lexington, KY	Manchester Music Hall ^
Fri	5/17	Virginia Beach, VA	Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater ^
Sat	5/18	Lynchburg, VA	Phase2 Dining and Entertainment Club ^
Sun	5/19	Poughkeepsie, NY	The Chance ^
Tue	5/21	Sayreville, NJ	Starland Ballroom ^
Thu	5/23	Nashville, TN	The Cowan ^
Fri	5/24	Springfield, MO	The Complex ^
Sun	5/26	Pryor, OK	Rocklahoma
Sat	6/1	Dallas, TX	Dreamhack Dallas Convention
Fri	6/21	Dallas, TX	Dos Equis Pavillion #
Sat	6/22	Austin, TX	Austin 360 Amphitheatre #
Sun	6/23	The Woodlands, TX	Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion #
Tue	6/25	West Palm Beach, FL	Coral Sky Amphitheatre #
Wed	6/26	Tampa, FL	MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre #
Fri	6/28	Atlanta, GA	Lakewood Amphitheater #
Sat	6/29	Charlotte, NC	PNC Music Pavillion #
Sun	6/30	Atlantic City, NJ	The Beach at Atlantic City #
Tue	7/2	Syracuse, NY	Lakeview Amphitheater – Syracuse #
Wed	7/3	Toronto, ON	Budweiser Stage #
Fri	7/5	Mansfield, MA	Xfinity Center #
Sat	7/6	Holmdel, NJ	PNC Bank Arts Center #
Sun	7/7	Hartford, CT	The Xfinity Theatre #
Tue	7/9	Bristow, VA	Jiffy Lube Live #
Wed	7/10	Clarkston, MI	DTE Energy Music Theatre #
Fri	7/12	Tinley Park, IL	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre #
Sat	7/13	Thornville, OH	Legend Valley #
Sun	7/14	Noblesville, IN	Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center #
Mon	7/15	Maryland Heights, MO	Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre #
Wed	7/17	Englewood, CO	Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre #
Sat	7/20	Irvine, CA	Starland Ballroom #
Sun	7/21	Mountain View, CA	Shoreline Amphitheater #
Tue	7/23	Auburn, WA	White River Amphitheatre #
Wed	7/24	Boise, ID	Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #
Fri	7/26	Chula Vista, CA	North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre #
Sat	7/27	Phoenix, AZ	Ak-Chin Pavillion #
Sun	7/28	Albuquerque, NM	Isleta Amphitheater #
Sat/Sun	8/24-25	Brooklyn, NY	Afropunk Festival

^ with P.O.D. & Nonpoint & Islander
# with Rockstar Energy Disrupt Festival Tour

Hyro The Hero’s upcoming tour schedule is in support of his most recent full-length studio recording Flagged Channel.  The album was released Aug. 31, 2018 on Century Media Records/Red Music.  The album has spawned the singles ‘Never Back  Down,’ ‘Bullet‘ and ‘Live Your F**** Life‘ since its release.

Along with those singles, Hyro The Hero is also featured on EDM artist Crankdat’s new single ‘Monster.’

More information on that single is available along with all of Hyro The Hero’s latest tour news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.hyrothehero.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/hyrothehero

 

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

Like A Storm Debuts ‘Pure Evil’ Music Video

Courtesy: Century Media Records/Red Music

Like A Storm unveiled the video for its latest single this week.

The band debuted the music video for its new single ‘Pure Evil.’  The song is the second single from the band’s most recent full-length studio recording Catacombs, which was released June 22, 2018 via Century Media Records/Red Music.

The video was shot at the site of the former Methodist Church of Gary, Indiana, just south of Chicago, Illinois, with Vince Lundi heading the project.  Like A Storm guitarist Matt Brooks explained in an interview, that the song’s lyrical theme is a social commentary that focuses on religious and political leaders.

“The cover ups, scandals and exploitation that pervade the highest levels of church and government are just sickening,” Brooks said.  “‘Pure Evil’ seemed like the perfect way to sum up this absolute hypocrisy.  These people seem so righteous, but at their core, they are the worst of the worst.”

‘Pure Evil’ is just the latest single to be released from Catacombs.  Audiences can hear a snippet of the album’s lead single ‘Complicated (Stitches & Scars)’ — as well as the album’s other songs — here.

Along with the debut of its new video, the band also recently announced a new string of live U.S. tour dates stretching from Dec. 11 – Dec. 22 in support of Catacombs.  Palisades will serve as support for the tour.  VIP packages and tickets are available here.  The tour’s current schedule is noted below.

Like A Storm Headline Dates:

December 11 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre

December 12 – Janesville, WI – The Back Bar

December 13 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop

December 14 – Ringle, WI – Q and Z Expo Center

December 15 – Fargo, ND – The Aquarium

December 17 – Minot, ND – The ‘O’Riginal Bar And Nightclub

December 18 – Billings, MT – Pub Station

December 19 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory

December 21 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex

December 22 – Las Vegas, NV – The Backstage Bar

More information on Like A Storm’s new album, video, tour and more is available online now at:

 

Website: http://www.likeastorm.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/likeastorm

 

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

‘In The Wasteland’ Proves To Be Another Enjoyable Outlaw Country Offering From Jason Charles Miller

Courtesy: Red Music/Century Media

Seventeen years ago, southern rock artist Jason Charles Miller rose to fame as the front man of the goth outfit Godhead.  Signed to Marilyn Manson’s Posthuman Records. While Miller is most well-known for his time as the voice of Godhead, he has also released three solo albums between 2009 and 2012.  Early this month, Miller released his fourth full-length solo album In The Wasteland.  The 11-song album, released June 15 via Red Music/Century Media, is a work that is certain to appeal to any fans of the genre.  More specifically, it will appeal easily to fans of Shooter Jennings, Zac Brown Band, Blues Saraceno and other similar acts.  Keeping that in mind, it is an album that fans of said genre will agree is worth at least one listen.  This is proven early on in the album’s run in the form of ‘No Bridge Left Unburned.’  It will be discussed shortly.  ‘The Line,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another example of what makes this record appealing to southern rock (and even country) music fans.  It will be discussed later.  ‘Running,’ is yet another example of what makes ITW work as well as it does.  It will be addressed later, too.  All three songs noted here are key in their own way in showing why this record will appeal to southern rock and country fans.  They are hardly the only songs that could be cited in supporting that statement, too.  The bluesy gospel style ‘Get Thee Behind Me,’ ‘Trunk Full of Bibles’ and ‘Riverbank’ all serve to support the noted statement, too.  The same could be said of the album’s opener/title track, ‘No More Reasons’ ‘Old Scarecrow’ and ‘Finding My Way in the Dark.’  That pretty much covers the whole of ITW.  Keeping that in mind, this album offers plenty for country and southern rock fans to appreciate from start to end, meaning it’s anything but a musical wasteland.

Jason Charles Miller’s new solo album In The Wasteland is a work that is anything but a wasteland.  Rather, it is a 41-minute musical experience that will appeal to any southern rock fan just as much as any country music fan.  From Shooter Jennings to Zac Brown Band and others, the album’s 11-song body will certainly appeal to a wide range of listeners.  This is proven early on in the form of ‘No Bridge Left Unburned.’  This driving southern rock/outlaw country-style work shows clearly the impact of Jennings on his work through its guitar-driven arrangement.  The certain twang in the guitar and the tone of the instruments sounds so much like something that Jennings would craft.  The song’s lyrical side is shows that outlaw country element just as much.  That is proven as Miller sings in the song’s lead verse, “You and me/We got our share of problems/We’ve been known/To go a round or two/I was down and out before you took the first swing/Then you left me there with nothing left to lose/When the time is right, I’ll throw you under the bus/Then you’ll know those tables have turned/You crossed over the line/Violated my trust/Now I’ll leave no bridge left unburned.”  That defiant stance continues in the song’s second verse as Miller sings about how the song’s subjects got to where they are, singing, “I remember when/We were on the same side/now I’m staring down the barrel of your gun/You’re just another victim of your own pride//And when you stabbed me in the back/I knew I had to run/When the time is right/I’ll throw you under the bus/Then you’ll know the tables have turned/You crossed over the line, violated my trust/Now I’ll leave no bridge left unburned.”  This is someone who means business.  The song’s third and final verse proves that just as much as it talks about the antagonist looking into the protagonist’s soul to see the impact that the antagonist has had.  It’s a strong statement, and one that solidifies even more, the song’s lyrical message of someone standing up for himself proudly.  Needless to say, when this collectively proud statement is coupled with the song’s equally driving musical arrangement, the whole becomes a work that stands as one of the album’s highest points.  It isn’t the only song that so sharply shows what makes In The Wasteland worth hearing.  ‘The Line,’ which comes later in the album’s run, is another strong addition to the album.

‘The Line’ is the polar opposite of ‘No Bridge Left Unburned’ both musically and lyrically.  In regards to its musical arrangement, this song is quite reserved in comparison to so much more of ITW.  It is a gentle, flowing and emotional piece that will appeal to fans of Zac Brown Band and other similar acts.  That emotional impact is strengthened even more as Miller seems to be addressing through the song’s lyrical side, about people not wanting to take responsibility for things in life and not wanting to get involved so that they won’t have to take any responsibility.  The is inferred as Miller sings in the song’s lead verse, “Mind your own/He said, mind your own/There’s some things you don’t want to know/Just move along/Keep your head down/We keep our eyes closed in this town/Lock the door/And turn away/So you can’t hear a word they say/Shut yourself in/Turn your head off/It’s not your job to count the cost/Hold the line/Cause I can’t see/Wear the cross/Or who you think I should be/Wave your signs/Shout your hate/I’ll just push you all away.”  He goes on to sing in the song’s second verse, “Darker days/Have turned to black…don’t hold back/Just help yourself…take everything and be my guest/Just hold the line/Cause I can’t see/Wear the cross/Who you think I should be/Wave your signs/Shout your hate/I’ll just push you all away/And you float just like the wind/’Cause that’s all you do/When the moment pleases you/You just choose your time/Change your mind…”  It seems like he’s saying here that someone does things on a whim when one wants, again seeming to point at that theme of someone not wanting to get involved and take responsibility regardless of the situation.  Keeping that in mind, it makes that emotional musical arrangement that accompanies these words even more impacting.  It almost becomes mournful to a point, like the song’s subject is sad that the person/people in question refuses/refuse to take a stand.  If indeed that is the case, then this is definitely a different angle to take for any artist.  That’s because usually when one thinks of a statement urging people to take a stand on something, such songs are more fiery.  This one is more like a disappointed parent.  To that end, such an apparent approach makes this song stand out even more in examining the album in whole.  Even as important as it proves to be in the bigger picture of the album, it is still not the last of the album’s most notable entries.  ‘Running’ is one more song included in the album that shows the record’s strengths

‘Running’ is another good, driving composition that stands out in part because of its musical arrangement.  This work clearly will appeal to fans of Blues Saraceno.  The driving guitar line at the song’s center couples with the subtle fiddle to make the song sort of a throw back to the old country western pieces of days gone by while also offering its own modern sound at the same time.  It makes for a great sound overall that is instantly infectious.  That driving, throwback vibe works well with a song that seems, lyrically, to focus on someone who is torn on whether to change his ways and go back in life or to keep making the choices that he’s been making. That seeming message comes as Miller sings, “I’ve been running from the sun/Chasing diamonds for way too long/Hiding in the shadows/Holding on to night/I’ve been running/All my life/You can say what you will about my decisions/But I stuck to my guns/And stayed true to my words/Lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of my actions/Wondering if all this right’s/Been wrong.”  Even with those doubts, the song’s subject sings about “moving on through the dark” and asks “is it too late to be forgiven/Is it too late to turn back time/Not a day goes by/That I don’t question/If the road I’m on will take me home.”  These thoughts, coupled with the urgency in the song’s musical arrangement, makes the song in whole stand out as another of the album’s high points, showing even more why In The Wasteland is a strong new solo effort from Jason Charles Miller.  Of course, it is hardly the last of the songs included in this record that exemplifies the album’s strength.  There are eight other songs featured throughout the album that, in their own way, show just as much what makes ITW such a strong effort.  Keeping that in mind, this latest effort from Jason Charles Miller, while it may be titled In The Wasteland proves to be anything but a wasteland.  Rather, it proves to be a record that southern rock and outlaw country fans alike will appreciate.

Veteran singer-songwriter Jason Charles Miller’s latest full-length solo album In The Wasteland is a record that will appeal easily to country and southern rock fans alike.  This is proven true from the start to finish of the 11-song, 41-minute record.  From showing comparisons to the likes of Shooter Jennings, Blues Saraceno, Zac Brown Band and others in its arrangements to presenting lyrical themes that will both entertain and engage listeners, it offers plenty for listeners to appreciate.  That has been pointed out here through just a few of the album’s entries.  Those songs not discussed at length here do just as much to show the album’s strengths.  When those songs are considered along with the songs discussed here, they make the album in whole a work that is anything but a wasteland.  It is available now.  More information on In The Wasteland is available online now along with all of Jason Charles Miller’s latest news at:

 

 

Website:  http://www.jasoncharlesmiller.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.comjasoncharlesmiller

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jasoncmiller

 

 

 

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.