Courtesy: Spinefarm Records/Search and Destroy Records
Bullet For My Valentine announced a new slate of live dates Thursday.
The new tour schedule is set to launch May 18 in Daytona Beach, FL and to run through May 28 in Detroit, MI. It also features a pair of performances in North Carolina May 19 and 21 in Charlotte and Raleigh respectively.
Dates in Maryland, Wisconsin, and Ohio are also included in the brief run, which is in the recent re-issue of its self-titled album. That record was originally released ins 2021 and re-issued last year. The re-issue produced two new singles, ‘Stitches‘ and ‘Omen’.
The full track listing for the album’s re-issue is noted below.
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE [DELUXE EDITION] TRACK-LISTING: “Parasite” “Knives” “My Reverie” “No Happy Ever After” “Can’t Escape The Waves” “Bastards” “Rainbow Veins” “Shatter” “Paralysed” “Death By a Thousand Cuts ” “Omen” “Stitches” “No More Tears” “Step Out From the Inside” “This Means War”
The upcoming dates will be the first American shows for the band since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release announcing the new dates.
The band said in a prepared statement, it is looking forward to the new tour.
“We’re excited to announce that we will finally be making our way back over the the USA this May for some festival and headline show performances,” the statement reads. “It has been far too long but we’re stoked to be coming back. See you in the pit!”
From Ashes To New Will serve as support for the upcoming tour, whose dates are noted below:
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE ON TOUR: WITH FROM ASHES TO NEW: 5/18 — Daytona Beach, FL — Welcome to Rockville* 5/19 — Charlotte, NC — The Fillmore Charlotte** 5/21 — Raleigh, NC — The Ritz 5/22 — Baltimore, MD — Rams Head Live 5/24 — Milwaukee, WI — Eagles Ballroom** 5/25 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple Festival* 5/28 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore Detroit *Festival Date **No From Ashes to New
More information on the album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Hard rock super group Saint Asonia premiered the video for its latest single this week.
The band debuted the video for its new single, ‘Devastate‘ Thursday. The single is the third from the band’s EP, Extrovert, which was released last year through Spinefarm Records. The record also produced the singles, ‘Above It All‘ and ‘Blinding Lights.’
The video for the band’s new single is a relatively straight forward presentation. It features the band performing its new single on a sound stage. The soundstage is dressed up to look like a live stage setting, so as to reflect what the band looks like on stage.
The musical arrangement featured in the band’s new single is a heavy, thick melodic hard rock composition. The overall instrumentation creates a sound and style that is easily comparable to works from the likes of The Veer Union, Otherwise, and A Killer’s Confession. The addition of front man Adam Gontier’s vocals adds in the comparison to work from his past band, Three Days Grace. The whole is a sound and style that will fully engage and entertain audiences.
The lyrical theme that accompanies the song is a commentary about the self destructive people that make life miserable for themselves and others around them.
Gontier talked about the theme in a prepared statement.
“It’s a song I wrote about those people in our lives that always seem to leave a trail of destruction behind them,” Gontier said. “I feel like we’ve all got, or had, someone in our lives that was just evil. Not caring about anything but themselves, and turning everything they touch into darkness. ‘Devastate’ is about that.”
In other news, Saint Asonia is in the midst of a tour alongside Skillet as support for Theory of a Deadman. The tour’s next scheduled stop will take place Friday in Kansas City, MO. The U.S. leg of the bands’ tour is scheduled to run through March 26 in Los Angeles, CA.
Once it wraps, the bands will take the next month off before launching the Canadian leg of the tour April 26 in Waterloo, ON. The Canadian leg of the tour is scheduled to run through May 14 in Quebec City, QC.
The tour’s current schedule is noted below:
SAINT ASONIA ON TOUR: WITH SKILLET + THEORY OF A DEADMAN: 3/17 — Kansas City, MO — Midland Theatre 3/18 — Omaha, NE — Baxter Arena 3/19 — Denver, CO — Mission Ballroom 3/22 — Phoenix, AZ — First Arizona Federal 3/24 — Reno, NV — Grand Sierra Resort 3/25 — Wheatland, CA — Hard Rock Live 3/26 — Los Angeles, CA — Wiltern
CANADA HEADLINE DATES: 4/26 — Waterloo, ON — Maxwell’s Concerts & Events 4/27 — London, ON — Rum Runners Music Hall 4/28 — Peterborough, ON — Peterborough Memorial Centre* 4/29 — Ottawa, ON — Club SAW (SOLD OUT) 5/11 — Toronto, ON — Lee’s Palace 5/12 — Ottawa, ON — Brass Monkey 5/13 — Montreal, QC — Le Studio TD 5/14 — Quebec City, QC — Imperial Bell * Supporting Theory of a Deadman
Saint Asonia released Extrovert and its companion EP, Introvert, together in December through Spinefarm Records. More information on the EPs is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Anti-Flag premiered the video for its latest single, ‘Sold Everything’ Friday as the band released its latest album, Lies They Tell Our Children.
The song and its video are just the latest from the brand new album, the band’s 13th. The rest of the singles and videos released from this record are noted below.
LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN TRACK LISTING: “SOLD EVERYTHING” “MODERN META MEDICINE” (Feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) “LAUGH. CRY. SMILE. DIE.” (Feat. Shane Told of Silverstein) “THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES” (Feat. Tim McIlrath of Rise Against + Brian Baker of Bad Religion) “IMPERIALISM” (Feat. Ashrita Kumar of Pinkshift) “VICTORY OR DEATH (WE GAVE ‘EM HELL)” (Feat. Campino of Die Toten Hosen) “THE HAZARDOUS” “SHALLOW GRAVES” (Feat. Tré Burt) “WORK & STRUGGLE” “NVREVR” (Feat. Stacey Dee of Bad Cop/Bad Cop) “ONLY IN MY HEAD”
The video for the band’s latest single is an animated presentation that features imagery, such as a familiar cartoony big businessman — complete with top hat and tails — soldiers, homes with bank foreclosure signs and other images. The images are meant to illustrate the song’s overall lyrical theme of the economic divide in America and the control that the economic elite have on the country.
In other news, Anti-Flag has announced new live dates in support of its new album. The world tour starts with a North American run that is scheduled to launch Feb. 2 in Austin, TX and to run through March 19 in Reno, NV. The tour also features stops in Gran Rapids, MI; Asheville, NC and Omaha, NE. A handful of European festivals are included in the schedule for June and July.
The band’s full live schedule is noted below.
ANTI-FLAG ON TOUR 2023: WITH FLOGGING MOLLY & SKINNY LISTER: 2/2 — Austin, TX — ACL Live at The Moody Theater 2/3 — New Orleans, LA — The Fillmore 2/4 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall 2/5 — Columbia, SC — The Senate 2/7 — Knoxville, TN — The Mill Mine 2/8 — Nashville, TN — Ryman Auditorium 2/10 — Chattanooga, TN — The Signal 2/11 — Louisville, KY — Old Forester’s Paristown Hall 2/14 — Norfolk, VA — The NorVa 2/15 — Richmond, VA — The National 2/17 — Rochester, NY — Main Street Armory 2/18 — Montclair, NJ — The Wellmont Theater 2/19 — Hanover, MD — The Hall at Live! Casino & Hotel 2/21 — Charleston, SC — Charleston Music Hall 2/22 — Asheville, NC — The Orange Peel 2/24 — Atlantic City, NJ — Sound Waves at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino 2/25 — Bethlehem, PA — Wind Creek Event Center 2/26 — Huntington, NY — The Paramount 2/28 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium 3/1 — Syracuse, NY — Landmark Theatre 3/3 — Madison, WI — The Sylvee 3/4 — Grand Rapids, MI — 20 Monroe Live 3/5 — Ft. Wayne, IN — The Clyde Theatre 3/7 — Fayetteville, AR — JJ’s Live 3/8 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom 3/10 — Kansas City, MO — Harrah’s Voodoo Lounge 3/11 — Omaha, NE — The Admiral 3/12 — Boulder, CO — Boulder Theater 3/14 — Tucson, AZ — Rialto Theatre 3/16 — Las Vegas, NV — The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas – Chelsea Theatre 3/17 — Los Angeles, CA — Hollywood Palladium 3/18 — Riverside, CA — Riverside Municipal Auditorium 3/19 — Reno, NV — Grand Sierra Resort
2023 EUROPEAN FESTIVALS: 6/3-4 — Linz, AT — SBÄM Fest 6/15-18 — Dessel, BE — Graspop 6/24 — Münster, DE — Vainstream Rockfest 7/2 — Rimini, IT — Slam Dunk Italy
Lies They Tell Our Children is available now through Spinefarm Records. More information on the album is available along with all of Anti-Flag’s latest news at:
Veteran punk rock band Anti-Flag is making lots of headlines this week. That is because Friday, the band debuted the video for its new single, ‘Sold Everything’ and a new North American tour set to launch Feb. 2 in Austin, TX. The tour, which is scheduled to run through March 19 in Reno, NV, and the new single and video, are in support of the band’s brand new album, Lies They Tell Our Children. The band’s 13th album, it is certain to appeal to the band’s established audiences. That is due in part to its general presentation, which will be discussed shortly. The musical arrangements featured in that general presentation are of their own interest in the bigger picture of the album’s presentation and will be discussed a little later. The lyrical themes that accompany that musical content is also important to the album’s appeal and in turn will be discussed later, too. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered they make Lies They Tell Our Children a welcome new offering from Anti-Flag.
Lies They Tell Our Children, Anti-Flag’s 13th new album, is an interesting new offering from the veteran punk rock band. The record’s appeal comes in pat through its general presentation. The general presentation here is a reference to the fact that according to the band, this record is not just another collection of songs, but rather a concept album. The information provided to the press about the album does not specifically outline the story behind the concept, but bassist Chris Barker (a.k.a. Chris #2) is quoted in the news release as saying the overall message in the album is anti-capitalist and that the songs take on issues, such as universal healthcare and environmental preservation. Front man Justin Geever (a.k.a. Justin Sane) added to the discussion, noting the economic and social divide among the haves and have nots has only gotten worse in America over time and continues to get worse, and that is the overarching theme of the album’s concept. Keeping that in mind, even if there is in fact one central story here, that overarching theme is nothing new from Anti-flag, as the band is known quite well for tackling such topics throughout each of its existing albums. In listening to the album from start to end, those themes are definitely there, though the album does not seem to come across as a concept album in the purest sense of the term. Despite that, the overarching concept behind the songs is still reason enough to take in this record.
Keeping in mind the positive impact of the overall concept behind Anti-Flag’s new album, it is just one of the aspects that makes the record worth hearing. The overall musical content that makes up the record’s body is also of note. From the album’s outset to its end, what audiences get in this album is a variety of punk sounds just as in so much of the band’s catalog. Right from the record’s outset, that opener, ‘Sold Everything’ presents a sort of folk-influenced punk sound that the band has presented in songs past. At the same time, the arrangement here still boasts its own identity separate from those other works, leading to plenty of engagement and entertainment here. ‘Modern Meta Medicine,’ which immediately follows that song, presents a sound and style that almost immediately lends itself to comparison to works from the likes of AFI. That should come as no surprise, either, considering that the two bands have worked together in the past in the studio and on stage. On another note, ‘Victory OR Death (We Gave ‘Em Hell)’ conjures thoughts of songs composed by the likes of Dropkick Murphys and The Rumjacks, just sans the Celtic influence. In other words, it is a stylistic approach and sound that is starkly different from that of the most of the album’s other work and in a positive way, too, further showing the diversity in the album’s musical presentation. As if that is not enough example of the importance of the album’s musical presentation, a song, such as ‘NVREVER,’ which serves as the album’s penultimate entry, is more of a pure punk rock sound. The driving guitar line here and equally solid time keeping from the drums and the infectious chorus sections make it a work that has some pop punk influence but still has a certain pure punk element at the same time. That balance of influences here will make the arrangement appealing to a wide range of punk fans, including those established audiences of Anti-flag. When this song and the others examined here are considered alongside the rest of the album’s entries, the whole comes together to show clearly what makes the album’s overall musical presentation so important to that presentation.
As much as the album’s musical content does to make it appealing, it is just one more part of what makes the album appealing for the noted audiences. The lyrical content that makes up the album’s overall concept does its own share to make the record appealing. As noted already, the lyrical themes that make up the record’s overall concept encompass some very familiar social themes, such as universal healthcare, such as in ‘Modern Meta Medicine,’ civil disobedience and social justice in ‘Victory or Death (We Gave ‘Em Hell)’ and even the impact of war on its innocent victims — those refugees who lose their homes as a result of conflict between others – in ‘The Fight Of Our Lives.’ Between these themes and so many others that make up the album’s lyrical body they collectively make for just as much engagement and entertainment in this album as the record’s musical arrangements. All in all, the lyrical “concept” at the heart of Lies They Tell Our Children and the musical body that accompanies that content makes for plenty of reason for audiences to hear Anti-Flag’s latest album. Even with the record not necessarily being a concept record in the purest sense, it is still interesting that the band would take that chance. All things considered, these elements make Lies They Tell Our Children a strong start for the rock community in 2023.
Lies They Tell Our Children, Anti-Flag’s latest (13th) album, is an interesting new offering from the veteran punk outfit. It is a presentation that is sure to appeal just as much to the band’s established audiences as to punk fans in general. That is due in part to the fact that according to the band, the record is meant to be a concept record. Given, in listening to the album it does not seem to be a concept record in the purest sense of the term, but it is still interesting that the band tried its hand. That makes the album worth hearing at least once. The musical content featured throughout the album adds to the appeal because it continues to offer audiences a variety of punk sounds and styles from one song to the next, in turn keeping things interesting in its own right. The lyrical content that makes up the album’s “concept” is as familiar as ever, as it takes on so many social and political topics. This is nothing new for the band, either. What’s more, most of the themes here are just as timeless as those in the band’s existing catalog, so it is sure to create its own appeal for audiences. When this is considered along with the appeal ensured through the album’s musical content and the very fact that the band tried to make the album a concept record, the collective of all of this makes the album a positive new offering from Anti-Flag that makes for a positive start for the rock community in 2023.
Lies They Tell Our Children is available now through Spinefarm Records. More information on the album is available along with all of Anti-Flag’s latest news at:
Hard rock super group Saint Asonia is keeping itself busy this year, and if the band’s scheduled winter 2023 tour schedule is any indication, it is going to be keeping itself busy into the new year, too. The band’s busy schedule started in July with the release of its debut EP, Introvert through Spinefarm Records. Its release was followed up last week, less than five months later, with the release of its second EP, Extrovert. The band is tentatively scheduled to release both EPs together next month in one complete package, less than two months after the band is scheduled to launch its next tour. Extrovert is another interesting offering from Saint Asonia that will appeal to audiences just as much as its companion record. As with Introvert, Extrovert‘s appeal comes in part through its musical arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical content are accessible in their own right, making for just as much appeal. They will be discussed a little later. The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements and will also be examined later. Each item noted is key in its own way to the whole of Extrovert. All things considered they make Extrovert one more of this year’s top new EPs.
Extrovert, Saint Asonia’s second EP (and fourth overall studio recording behind the band’s two albums, Saint Asonia (2015) and Flawed Design (2019) ) is another largely successful offering from the band. The record’s success comes in part through its featured musical arrangements, which once are once again just as radio ready as any heavy melodic hard rock song that is run on America’s mainstream active rock stations. Just as in the case of the heavier works featured in Introvert, the arrangements in this EP boast a sound and style that is very similar to that of works from the likes of The Veer Union, Otherwise, and A Killer’s Confession. Even with those comparisons in mind, the songs here still boast their own identity separate from those bands’ works and from other worse that Saint Asonia has already crafted. Even in more contemplative moments, such as in ‘Better Now’ and ‘Over It’ the band still does not pull back but so much, but still manages to translate the emotion in the song’s lyrical theme so well through their musical arrangements without being too schmaltzy at any point. Keeping all of this in mind, the musical content that is featured throughout this EP does plenty in its own right to keep audiences engaged.
While the musical arrangements featured in Extrovert are positive additions to the EP in their own way, they are just part of what makes the record worth hearing. The lyrical themes that accompany the arrangements make for their own appeal. Case in point is the fully accessible theme featured in ‘Over It.’ This song finds front man Adam Gontier (ex-Three Days Grace) singing from the standpoint of a person battling an all too familiar inner battle with himself/herself. The person in this case is battling that sense of depression and doubt of self worth. That is clearly inferred as Goutier sings in the song’s lead verse and chorus, “I’m addicted to the pain that I’ve created for myself/Alone and on the outside/Always trying to be someone else/This weight on my shoulders/Where did I go wrong/My soul is so cold/And I hate what I’ve become/If I don’t find a way is it over/If I don’t blame myself is it gone/All of this time I’ve wasted/Or will I make it out from under this world before it falls/I’m over it all/I’m over it.” This is that clear sense of self doubt that so many people battle daily. Goutier continues the message in the song’s second verse as he sings, “I’ll admit that I’m ashamed/’Cause I’ve been lying to myself/My throne is rusted from the years/Of Living in this hell/I take so much ****/Is this where I belong/My heart is so charred/And I hate what I’ve become.” Yet again here is that inner battle that is so familiar to audiences. It seems quite melancholy on the surface, but on a deeper level, it is a theme that is certain to resonate with plenty of audiences. That is especially the case considering the manner of its delivery.
Another theme that is certain to resonate with audiences comes in Extrovert‘s opener, ‘Devastate.’ In the case of this song, there is a certain level of depth in its own right as The song’s subject seems to be addressing someone who is really his or her own worst enemy. In the process of being his or her own enemy, that person is apparently making others strongly dislike that person. There is even an inference that maybe that overall dislike was caused by addiction. The inference starts in the song’s lead verse and chorus, which state, “Down in the dark/You live on the bottom/You fooled them all/Looks like you got ’em/When all is lost/Who will you follow/When all the same **** will be here tomorrow/You fall for anything/All for nothing/You never cared for anyone at all/Well, I hate every word you say/Even when you breathe/I can’t stand to see you medicate/Fake/It’s all one and the same/Nothing to believe/All you ever do is devastate.” The seeming message is furthered in the song’s second verse, which states, “Nothing to use/End of the bottle/We fooled ’em all/Like a role model/No matter the cost/Beg, steal or borrow/’Cause all the same **** will be here tomorrow.” The message is finalized in the song’s breakdown, during which Goutier sings, “All your lies/Under your disguise/When the weight comes down/You’ll be underground.” Once more, what audiences seem to be getting here overall is that apparent theme of someone addressing another subject who is being fake not only to others but also to himself/herself and the impact thereof. It is not a unique theme, but still welcome and accessible to a wide range of audiences in its own right.
‘Better Now’ is another song that shows the accessibility of Extrovert‘s lyrical themes. In the case of this song, it is clearly that of a broken relationship and the aftermath on at least one side. This is made clear as Goutier sings in the song’s lead verse and chorus, “Look at my face/I hope it haunts you ’till the end/You left me here for dead/when you walked away/How does it taste/To know that you were wrong/And now I get to watch you crawl/All the way back to me/Guess I let you get away with everything/Never called you out on anything/Had your back because you needed me/Now I’m standing here alone/Every time I think about it/You were a perfect mistake/Lesson learned/It was never forever/I can do better/Every time I think about it/Know that you were just in my way/Now I know/It was never forever/I can do better now.” This is unquestionably someone who is angry and deeply hurt by the result of that toxic relationship, yet who is also realizing he or she is better and is in the process of moving forward. It is a theme that will resonate with its own share of listeners. The realizations continue in the song’s second verse, which states, “Look at this place/Scattered with an empty silence/Every scream and every crisis/It stays with me/How can you face yourself/Knowing how you were so evil/Like poison in a needle/And the vein was me.” The overall revelation and reaction here will have such a powerful impact on plenty of listeners. It is just one more example of the importance of this record’s lyrical content. When this theme and the others examined here are considered along with the EP’s other themes, the whole leaves no doubt as to the importance of the record’s lyrical content. When it and the record’s musical content are considered jointly, the whole makes for all the more engagement and entertainment for audiences.
The sequencing of that collective musical and lyrical content makes that engagement and entertainment even stronger. From beginning to end of the 20-minute record, the heaviness and energy barely lets up, even when it does pull back. Those subtle pull backs are expertly placed in the bigger picture of the arrangements. The lyrical themes change up just enough to keep audiences engaged and entertained, too. Clearly plenty of thought and time went into the sequencing, and the result was success there, too. The end result is a positive general effect that is enhanced through the overall content. All things considered, the sequencing and content together make Extrovert another strong addition to Saint Asonia’s catalog.
Extrovert, the latest addition to Saint Asonia’s catalog, is another strong offering from the band. The band’s fourth overall studio recording and second EP, it offers much for audiences to appreciate, beginning with the record’s musical arrangements. The heaviness and energy in each arrangement is once again ready for any active rock radio station. That is especially the case considering how similar the arrangements are in sound and style to so many of the band’s hard rock counterparts. The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical arrangements are accessible in their own right, making for even more engagement and entertainment. The sequencing of that overall content rounds out the EP’s most important elements, completing its presentation. Each item examined is important in its own way to the whole of the EP. All things considered they make Extrovert one of the best of this year’s new EPs.
Extrovert is available now through Spinefarm Records. More information on the record is available along with all of Saint Asonia’s latest news at:
Hard rock super group Saint Asonia announced this week, it is set to release its new EP, Extrovert Nov. 18 through Spinefarm Records. In anticipation of the six-song record’s release, the band debuted the video for the EP’s lead single, ‘Wolf’ Thursday. When it is released just after Thanksgiving, Saint Asonia’s new EP will have come more than four months after the band’s debut EP, Introvert, which was released July 1 (also through Spinefarm Records). The two EPs are currently expected for joint release Dec. 9 as a complete collection, much like of Mice & Men combined its 2021 EPs, Timeless, Bloom, and Ad Infinitum last year into the album, Echo. Considering that these two EPs are allegedly going to be released as one joint recording in December, those who might not own either record would be well advised to wait for that planned release. While audiences await its release, they can take in Introvert now through all digital platforms and on CD. The record will appeal to the band’s established audiences in part through its musical arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The lyrical themes that accompany the EP’s musical arrangements play their own part into that appeal and will be examined a little later. The sequencing of that collective content rounds out its most important element and will also be discussed later. Each item noted here is important in its own way to the whole of the record. All things considered they make Introvert a presentation that gives audiences at least some reason to anticipate its coming companion record.
Introvert, the debut EP from hard rock super group Saint Asonia, is an interesting addition to this year’s field of new hard rock records and EPs in general. It is a presentation whose six total songs will appeal easily to the band’s established audiences. They are each also an easy fit for any mainstream, active rock radio station’s daily play list. Their collective musical arrangements prove these statements by themselves. Each arrangement is easily comparable to works from front man Adam Gontier’s primary project, Three Days Grace. That is not just because of his vocals, either. The specific melodic hard rock approach the he and his band mates – Mike Mushok (Staind), Cale Gontier (Art of Dying), and Cody Watkins (Art of Dying) – take in each song is so similar to the works that Three Days Grace have created. At the same time, audiences could just as easily to more recent works from Atreyu, which makes them even stronger. Stylistically, the songs are very close to one another. The thing is that there are some subtleties in the overall sound from one song to the next. When audiences actively listen to each song, they will immerse themselves in the songs and catch those subtleties, thus appreciating, again, each arrangement. To that end, it shows the strength of the arrangements in the bigger picture of Introvert.
The lyrical themes that accompany the record’s musical arrangements add to the EP’s interest in their own way both by themselves and paired with that musical content. The apparent theme of perseverance presented in the EP’s opener, ‘Above It All’ will resonate easily with any listener. The message is delivered with relative clarity as Gontier sings in the song’s chorus, “It’s time to take a stand and save our lives/Rise before we fall/There’s no more second chance/It’s do or die/Rise above it all.” This is a clear message of overcoming adversity and pushing through it. ‘Better Late Than Never,’ which immediately follows, somewhat continues that theme. In the case of this song, it finds its subject essentially talking about having pushed through that adversity and having come out on the other side stronger. This is noted as Gontier sings in the song’s chorus, “I know I was meant for something more/More than beaten, bloody, blacked out on the floor/But I’m here and it’s forever/It’s better late than never.”
From here, the record takes a more existential turn in ‘Chew Me Up’ as the song’s subject seems to address becoming his own self despite being told so many lies about certain things as he grew up. The song doesn’t note specifically the lies that the subject was told, but one can imagine they likely centered on so many aspects. The overarching theme here is one that is so common with rock and hard rock songs. It is that semi-angry introspection about the negative role that someone played in the past and how in hindsight, the subject has overcome that impact to be better than that other person.
From here, Gontier turns more introspective alongside his band mates, presenting songs of someone battling those all too familiar inner demons in the next pair of songs. There is some self-hatred, etc. in the songs, which will serve to help people going through such situations to know they are not alone. The record’s closer, ‘Blinding Lights’ is another all too familiar topic, thematically speaking. It focuses on the topic of a broken romantic relationship. So simply put, what audiences get here and in the rest of the EP’s lyrical content is material that is familiar and accessible in its own right. When it is all collectively considered alongside the record’s musical arrangements, that collective shows what makes the EP worth hearing even more.
The EP’s production puts the finishing touch to its presentation. That is because of the fullness that it brings out of each composition. That fullness is brought out through the balance of the songs’ instrumentations and vocals. The result of all of this is a general effect that ensures listeners’ maintained engagement and entertainment from beginning to end of the record. Taking this into account alongside the EP’s overall content, the whole makes Introvert an interesting new presentation from Saint Asonia that gives reason for audiences to anticipate its coming counterpart.
Introvert, Saint Asonioa’s recently released debut EP, is a presentation that the band’s established audiences will find interesting. It is a record whose six total songs are easy additions to any modern, active rock radio station’s play lists, too. That is proven in part through its musical arrangements, each of which is its own interesting melodic hard rock composition. The lyrical themes that accompany that musical content find themselves quite accessible and familiar. That makes them just as important to the record as their musical counterparts. The record’s production gives the EP an overall positive general effect, bringing everything full circle and completing the record’s presentation. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the whole of the EP. All things considered they make Introvert a presentation that gives the band’s reason to anticipate its coming companion EP, Extrovert.
Introvert is available now through Spinefarm Records. More information on the EP is available along with all of Saint Asonia’s latest news at:
Courtesy: Spinefarm Records/Search And Destroy Records
Bullet For My Valentine unveiled another single and video from the upcoming re-issue of its self-titled 2021 album last week.
The band debuted its new single, ‘Stitches‘ and its companion video May 27. The song and its video are the second from the forthcoming re-issue, which was previously scheduled for release July 8 but is now set for release Aug. 5. The band released the re-issue’s lead single, ‘Omen’ and its companion lyric video in April.
Pre-orders for the album’s re-issue are open. A vinyl pressing is scheduled for release Nov. 11 and will feature five additional bonus tracks.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Stitches’ is a heavy, cutting composition. It starts out quietly before quickly hitting audiences right in the face. The sharp vocals and equally cutting overall instrumentation makes the song another powerful addition to the upcoming re-issue.
No information was provided about the song’s lyrical theme in the press release announcing the debut of the song and its video. The lyrics provided with the song’s video hint at an all too familiar story of someone who is dealing with the wrongdoing of another toward the song’s subject. That is just this critic’s interpretation.
The song’s video is a simple presentation. It features the band performing its new single, mixed in with a digitized almost security camera style presentation, complete with a static style effect.
The full track listing for the album’s re-issue is noted below.
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE [DELUXE EDITION] TRACK-LISTING: “Parasite” “Knives” “My Reverie” “No Happy Ever After” “Can’t Escape The Waves” “Bastards” “Rainbow Veins” “Shatter” “Paralysed” “Death By a Thousand Cuts ” “Omen” “Stitches” “No More Tears” “Step Out From the Inside” “This Means War”
More information on the album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
Rock outfit Stone Broken unveiled its latest album, Revelation, Tuesday through Spinefarm Records. The band’s third album, it is a strong new offering from the band. That is proven in part through its featured musical arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The lyrical content that accompanies the album’s musical arrangements make for their own appeal. 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 is important in its own way to the whole of the album’s presentation. All things considered, the album proves itself a positive new offering from Stone Broken that most rock fans will find enjoyable.
Revelation, Stone Broken’s brand new album, is a positive new offering that most rock fans will find enjoyable. That is due in large part to its featured musical arrangements. From one song to the next, the arrangements in this 11-song record present a similar sound and stylistic approach. That approach is largely one that lends each arrangement to comparison to works from the likes of Theory of a Deadman and other similar acts. At the same time, there is at least a little variance early in the album’s run in the form of ‘Make It Out Alive.’ The song opens sounding so much more like Theory of a Deadman. The choruses however, are more of an aggro-rock sense a la Breaking Benjamin. What’s interesting here is how that contrast of energies and styles plays directly into the song’s lyrical content. That will be addressed a little later. There is also a little more change of style and sound in ‘This Revival,’ which comes later in the album’s run. The down-tuned guitar here and the contemplative vocal style gives the song a touch of modern rock vibe. It is just another subtle change in things that people will notice when they pay close attention to the album’s arrangements from start to end. When people take in the album from start to end, they will catch these subtle nuances and others within each song. In hearing those nuances, audiences will find plenty to appreciate if only from the album’s musical content. Every arrangement would be a good fit for any active rock radio station programmer’s daily play list. It is all that engaging and entertaining. It is also just one part of what makes the album worth hearing. The lyrical content that accompanies the album’s musical arrangements also plays into the appeal of the album’s presentation.
The lyrical content that accompanies the album’s musical arrangements is important to examine because by and large, it focuses on the matter of overcoming adversity. That adversity comes for the most part here in the form of mental health. Or at least that is what seems to be the case in most of the songs. Given, there is one song that seemingly focuses on the matter of a broken relationship in the form of ‘Me Without You.’ Other than that one song, the majority of the record’s content delivers that familiar theme in various ways. To that end, pretty much every song will offer audiences some form of motivation, which is always welcome. Add in the different moods set in each song’s arrangement, and each song’s overall impact increases that much more. Keeping all of this in mind, the content featured in Stone Broken’s new album forms a solid foundation for the record. It is still not all that the album has to offer. The production rounds out its most important elements.
The production presented in Revelation is important because as noted, each song focuses on a seemingly central topic while doing so in different ways lyrically and musically. Thanks to the production that went into the album, each song’s utmost emotional impact is ensured. From the most subdued moments to the most powerful, every instrument is balanced with the others. Every vocal track is just as well-balanced with the instrumentations, ensuring that audiences can easily understand what is being sung for the most part. From beginning to end, the album’s production is expert, putting the final touch to the album. When it is considered along with the album’s overall content, the whole of it all makes Revelation a strong new record from Stone Broken that could help finally break this band into the mainstream if it has not already done so.
Revelation, the latest album from Stone Broken, is a presentation that from beginning to end, could help make the band a household name among rock fans. That is due in part to its featured musical arrangements. The arrangements each present a firm mainstream appeal. They also each present a subtle nuanced difference from one another that audiences will catch when they fully immerse themselves in the record. The lyrical content that accompanies the album’s musical content is also of note. That is because it largely delivers one overarching theme, that of overcoming adversity. For the most part, that adversity seems to come in the form of mental health issues, which plenty of audiences will find appealing. There is one song that comes across as being about a broken relationship, but for the most part, the lyrical content seems to approach that one specific item just in varying ways. The record’s production puts the final touch to its presentation. That is because it ensures the best possible emotional impact in each song, taking into account the musical and lyrical content. Each item examined here is important in its own way to the album’s presentation. All things considered, they make the record a presentation that could help Stone Broken finally break into the mainstream.
Revelation is available now. More information on the album is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
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Stone Broken debuted the video for its latest single this week.
The band premiered the video for its latest single, ‘The Devil You Know’ Friday. The song is the third single from the band’s forthcoming album, Revelation, which is scheduled for release April 15 via Spinefarm Records. The album has also produced the singles, ‘Black Sunrise‘ and its title track.
The video for the band’s new single is a relatively simple presentation. It features the band performing its new single on a darkened sound stage as the song plays over the visualization. Various video effects are used to help heighten the emotion in the song’s arrangement.
Speaking of the arrangement, it boasts its own identity separate from the other singles. That is the case even with the melodic hard rock style approach being similar to that taken in the other singles. It still has a sound all its own.
No information was provided about the song’s lyrical theme in the press release announcing the video’s premiere. The lyrics provided with the video lend themselves to interpretation that the song focuses on the topic of mental health. That is just this critic’s interpretation.
More information on Stone Broken’s new single, video and album is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
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Bullet For My Valentine announced Friday, it will re-issue its self-titled 2021 album July 8 through Spinefarm Records/Search and Destroy. Pre-orders are open.
The re-issue will feature five bonus tracks, including the song ‘Stitches,’ which was previously only available on the Japanese release of the album. It will also feature the previously unreleased song ‘Omen.’ The band debuted the song and its lyric video Friday in anticipation of the record’s re-issue.
The musical arrangement featured in ‘Omen’ is in line with the songs featured in the original release of Bullet For My Valentine. It is an up-tempo metalcore composition whose instrumentation and energy will keep any listener engaged and entertained.
The lyrical theme featured in the song delivers a message of hope and determination. It reminds listeners not to let their negative thoughts control them, that it is “time to heal.”
The lyric video features the song’s lyrics over a backdrop of images, such as sawblades, shurikens, chains, and other imagery as the song plays over the visualization.
The full track listing for the album’s re-issue is noted below.
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE [DELUXE EDITION] TRACK-LISTING: “Parasite” “Knives” “My Reverie” “No Happy Ever After” “Can’t Escape The Waves” “Bastards” “Rainbow Veins” “Shatter” “Paralysed” “Death By a Thousand Cuts ” “Omen” “Stitches” “No More Tears” “Step Out From the Inside” “This Means War”
More information on the album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:
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