TOWN OF LAKE - "Where At?"

TOWN OF LAKE: The Devil Wears Prada vocalist Mike Hranica reveals new single "Where At?" from experimental new solo album

The Devil Wears Prada vocalist Mike Hranica has revealed "Where At?," the third single from his new solo project, Town of Lake. Debut album Lilac will be released October 4th via Hranica’s own Peach Bandana Records.

Stream the official music video for "Where At?," here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s21xNbRqCro

Pre-order Town of Lake's debut LP, Lilac, here: https://mikehranica.com/

In a radical departure from The Devil Wears Prada's metalcore sound, Hranica explores new artistic terrain with Town of Lake. Created in collaboration with Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording (Full of Hell, 200 Stab Wounds, Pain of Truth), the project melds ominous instrumentation and Hranica’s spoken word baritone in songs that bear traces of Nick Cave, Sunn O))), William S. Burroughs, and more. Moody and mercurial, the songs would fit nicely in any David Lynch film.

"You could have had it but you took it anyway," repeats Hranica in "Where At?." It is the closest thing to a "chorus" to be found on Lilac, an album that follows no rules at all. A pure expression of Hranica's creative ambitions, Town of Lake is an inspiring slab of giddy artistic freedom.

Hranica has offered this quote, giving a glimpse at the influences fueling the project: "Hearing [Big Black's] Songs About Fucking for the first time. Hearing [Swans'] Filth for the first time. Hearing [The Jesus Lizard's] Goat for the first time. First time reading [Jean-Paul Sartre's] Nausea. First time reading [Vladimir Nabokov's] Lolita. These experiences are monumental in guiding what I create."

Meanwhile, The Devil Wears Prada continues to thrive. In a career spanning two decades and counting, the band has toured the world with the biggest names in metal (Anthrax, Slayer, A Day to Remember, Killswitch Engage, and Beartooth, to name a few) and they've seen their albums debut at #1 on Billboard charts. Following appearances at Furnace Fest and When We Were Young, a US tour kicks off in late October.

Check out V13's new interview with Hranica, here: https://v13.net/2024/09/interview-with-town-of-lakes-mike-hranica-creation-of-new-music-removed-from-his-metalcore-roots/

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2024/08/town-of-lake-lilac.html

Photo by Ariel Kassulke

YELLFIRE - Dear Gods

YELLFIRE: Seattle scorchers announce new album "Dear Gods" featuring members of Undertow, Kiss It Goodbye, Minus The Bear, more; new track "Into Fire" streaming now

From Seattle, Washington, Yellfire announces the release of its first full-length album, Dear Gods, coming November 15th on The Ghost Is Clear Records.

Stream new track "Into Fire," here: 

https://yellfire.bandcamp.com/album/dear-gods

Pre-order the album, here:

https://theghostisclearrecords.limitedrun.com/products/835336

Mixed by Matt Bayles (Minus the Bear, Mastodon) and mastered by Magnus Lindberg (Cult of Luna, Birds in Row), Dear Gods is a towering, thunderous piece of work that carries forth the spirit of the Pacific Northwest's greatest earth-shakers. Operating at the nexus of noise rock and hardcore, Yellfire's sound is the fusion of rain-soaked despair and snapped-wire urgency.

With guest vocals by John Pettibone (Undertow, Himsa, Heiress), the opening track, "Into Fire," is a downward-spiraling call-to-arms that sets things off in no uncertain terms. A storm of growling bass, wild-eyed vocals, cannon-fire drums, and dual guitars, the song descends like a black blanket of clouds devouring a city skyline, bolts of lightning blazing. With no subtlety at all, the lyrics illustrate the song's title: "Ready and waiting / Covered in accelerant from head to toe / Throw me into the fire / Show me to my pyre."

Vocalist/guitarist Jerome Sauer explains that the theme of flammability runs deep: "I am intrigued by fire's destructive and creative characteristics. My father is a ceramic artist and fires in an anagama kiln, an ancient Japanese technique of firing pottery, that involves stoking wood every two hours in a kiln for a week. During the process, they’ll open the doors to the 2300-degree heat and you can peer in to see the flames whirling around the molten red pottery, seeing the creation of art but also, the sheer violence and fury."

Founded in Seattle toward the end of the last decade, armed with a moniker chosen because it evokes "someone spitting hellfire out of their mouth," Yellfire released its debut EP, Lara Flynn Boyle, in 2019. Crucial to the band's story is the fact that the members were born and raised outside the cultural hub to which they migrated. Sauer, along with guitarist Eric Christianson, bassist Nouela Johnston (replaced by Casey Nolan), and drummer Trent McIntyre, all came of age in outlying towns in the vicinities of Bellingham, Bremerton, and Tacoma – near, but outside, Seattle. One by one, feeling the magnetic pull of the Emerald City and eventually relocating there, the band members each brought with them the sense of awe and gratitude that can only come from living on the fringe. Nothing is taken for granted; every note is played like it is a matter of life or death.

"While we've lived in Seattle for quite a while, all of us came up in small towns," states guitarist Eric Christianson. "We devoured zines and alt-weeklies growing up – Maximumrocknroll, HeartattaCk, Punk Planet, The Stranger. The bigger local bands – Botch, Akimbo, Murder City Devils – as well as the touring bands that came through, were giants to us. So, while we've moved to the city, and have been playing here for years and are peers with a lot of these people now, it still doesn't feel real."

Bassist Casey Nolan concurs, as she describes growing up in the shadow of so many storied musicians in the region: "You might think you’re going to a regular yard sale, only to have it be the guy from Earth selling some of his books and old band shirts. Or you think you might be moving into another college town slumlord house, only to find it is the original Death Cab studio before they were Death Cab."

If Yellfire's place amidst their heroes "doesn't feel real," the release of Dear Gods is going to change that. The album is a massive achievement that puts the band right there in the ranks of the greats. As a means of honoring the scene within which they have found their home, the band enlisted a slew of local friends to lend their voices to Dear Gods: first single "Into Fire" features the roar of John Pettibone; "Escape" features Demian Johnston (Great Falls, Kiss It Goodbye, Playing Enemy); "Cynics Revision" features former Yellfire member Nouela Johnston and Minus the Bear's Matt Bayles whose world-class mixing skills also helped bring the album to life; "Red Sky" features Ben Verellen (Harkonen, Helms Alee).

To make such a special album, the band ventured to a special studio: Dear Gods was recorded by Jason Sissoyev at The Unknown, a converted church in Anacortes, Washington, co-owned by Mt. Eerie's Phil Elverum. Drummer Trent McIntyre describes this singular place: "It is a Catholic Church from the 1920s. The upstairs was turned into a studio space in 2010, but it definitely still has a lot of its original features. The main room has huge vaulted ceilings, and is incredible for drums, if you like that giant massive room sound. It’s definitely a special space, and even has some haunted vibes. Ask about the 'crying room' in the tower."

Additional tracking was done with the help of Derek Moree (Pelican, The Sword) at The Boiler Room in Seattle.

With the album out November 15th on The Ghost Is Clear, Yellfire's fall schedule includes slots on Massif Fest in British Columbia, alongside the likes of Fucked Up and KEN mode, and Rat City Recon in Seattle, with High on Fire, Sandrider, and more.

Tracklist:
1) Into Fire (feat. John Pettibone)
2) Anti Inverted
3) Escape (feat. Demian Johnston)
4) Cynics Revision (feat. Nouela Johnston, Matt Bayles)
5) Fuji
6) Unrelated Incident
7) Symmetry
8) Wabi Sabi
9) One Into the Other
10) Carbon
11) Red Sky (feat. Ben Verellen)

Upcoming shows:
Sep 25 - Bellingham, WA @ Church of the Divine Man
Sep 27 - Vernon, BC @ BBDB’s
Sep 28 - Nelson, BC @ Massif Fest
Oct 26 - Seattle, WA @ Rat City Recon

Lineup:
Jerome Sauer - vocals, guitar
Eric Christianson - guitar
Casey Nolan - bass
Trent McIntyre - drums

Photos by Taylor Jones

Artwork by Frank Moth

DARK DAYS BRIGHT NIGHTS

DARK DAYS BRIGHT NIGHTS: final schedule posted

With Dark Days Bright Nights just one week away, festival co-founders Paul Hansbarger (Persistent Vision Records) and Mike Taylor (Pageninetyine) have revealed the final lineup and schedule for the three-day event.

Spanning screamo, crust, sludge, and more, Dark Days Bright Nights will take place at The Broadberry in Richmond, Virginia and boasts a stellar lineup of bands from within Richmond's scene and far beyond. Tickets (individual nights and weekend passes) are available at TheBroadberry.com.

The schedule is as follows:

Friday, September 13 (door at 7pm):

Young Widows 

Pygmy Lush (reunion) 

Kilara (reunion) 

Nø Man 

Porcelain 

Northeast Regional 

Saturday, September 14 (door at 4pm):

Soul Glo 

Thou 

Kowloon Walled City 

The Red Scare (reunion) 

Glassing 

Habak 

.GIF From God 

Goetia 

Private Hell 

Sunday, September 15 (doors at 4pm):

Pageninetynine 

Portrayal of Guilt 

Inter Arma 

Rid of Me 

Massa Nera 

Fórn 

HIDE 

Infant Island 

Prisoner 

Listless

Paul Hansbarger gave this statement about how Richmond's already-thriving DIY music scene inspired him to start the festival: "Richmond has an incredibly vibrant and prolific scene for punk, hardcore, metal and other independent/alternative music. There's no question about that. It’s more active than it’s ever been, not to mention having a more diverse, inclusive and younger scene. I've been going to shows here since 2000 and I don't think I've ever witnessed such a wildly active and supportive scene. If anything, we are trying to add something to an already flourishing scene. I feel like there has been an absence of a fest here in Richmond for a while, and we wanted a way to showcase many of the amazing bands from here, alongside a curated lineup of out-of-town bands. We wanted some of the DIY spirit of the house and basement shows that have been such a big part of our lives, but presented on a slightly bigger stage that could accommodate out-of-town visitors, and have an opportunity to share with them a bit of a Richmond experience." 

Mike Taylor stated: "A big inspiration for me, putting on a fest located in Richmond, is that it has that old Richmond feel. An understated magic. The feeling of finding out about a show in the middle of the day that you had no idea about, showing up to it and being absolutely annihilated by some touring band you’ve never heard of, playing a basement somewhere like it was the last night on earth. The city has a rich, storied past with so many bands who’ve influenced me so much in my life and I guess I want to give that back a little. My hope is that we can make a memory of a lifetime for some young kid at our fest."

Photos by Michael Thorn: Pageninetynine, Soul Glo, Nø Man

FÓRN - "Soul Shadow"

FÓRN: funeral sludge heroes drop new single "Soul Shadow" featuring new member Lane Shi Otayonii (Elizabeth Colour Wheel)

Fórn has debuted new track "Soul Shadow," from the upcoming new album Repercussions of the Self.

Stream "Soul Shadow," here: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2024/09/05/track-premiere-forn-soul-shadow/

Pre-order the album, out October 18th on Persistent Vision Records, here: https://persistentvisionrecords.com/collections/forn

Over 11 minutes in length, "Soul Shadow" crushes by way of a mid-tempo riff, laced with euphoric overtones, then transforms into a spacious middle section featuring the wailing, siren vocals of the band's newest member, Lane Shi Otayonii (Elizabeth Colour Wheel).

Decibel Magazine's Emily Bellino states: "One big change that you’ll hear on new song 'Soul Shadow' is the inclusion of Elizabeth Colour Wheel’s Lane Shi Otayonii as a full member of Fórn; her shimmering electronics and distinct, captivating vocals can be heard throughout 'Repercussions.' That change adds some welcome brightness and dynamic to Fórn’s music, but the dark, heavy core remains intact."

Fórn guitarist Joey Gonzalez has stated: “We always intended for the band to progress beyond the ‘sludge’ nametag. We feel that this album accomplishes that mission while still keeping with our classic sound to please the headbangers."

Fórn have wowed the metal underground since their formation over ten years ago. Kim Kelly, writing for SPIN in 2015, stated: "Rarely does a debut album spring forth from the womb so fully-formed and vital as Fórn’s The Departure of Consciousness... The album’s six, tense, foreboding compositions take their cues from Thou’s poisonous sludge and funeral doom’s lightless melancholia in equal measure."

Releasing music via labels such as Gilead Media, including a split with Yautja, the band went dark shortly after touring in support of its 2018 album, Rites of Despair. With a series of major events occurring in the personal lives of the band members – births, deaths, and relocations across four states and two countries – and with the COVID pandemic disrupting society as a whole, the years after Rites of Despair would serve as a crucial pause and reset, leading to the radical rebirth that is Repercussions of the Self.

Fórn's first new musical creation since 2018, Repercussions of the Self bursts through the speakers with god-tier grandeur. Guitarist Joey Gonzalez credits the film scores of Cristobal Tapia De Veer and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, as well as the works of Massive Attack and Portishead, as inspirations fueling the new directions explored on the album.

Engineered and mixed by Kevin Bernsten at Developing Nations in Baltimore, Maryland and mastered by James Plotkin at Plotkinworks, Repercussions of the Self is Persistent Vision Records' second Fórn release; the Richmond, Virginia-based label reissued the band's 2014 debut, The Departure of Consciousness, earlier this year. Fórn is also scheduled to play Dark Days Bright Nights, the festival curated by Persistent Vision owner Paul Hansbarger and Pageninetynine guitarist Mike Taylor, in September.

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2024/08/forn-repercussions-of-self.html

Photo by Matt Miller

COMMON WOUNDS - "Mile Marker"

COMMON WOUNDS: Phoenix post-hardcore crew releases "Mile Marker" music video

Phoenix, Arizona band Common Wounds has released the music video for new single "Mile Marker," one day ahead of the song's release on all digital platforms. Stream the "Mile Marker" video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IiiCAHIMgA

"Mile Marker" appears on Common Wounds' debut full-length album, All Night Blood, coming October 18th on Protagonist Music. Pre-order the album, here: https://allnightblood.com/

Common Wounds vocalist Ian Lanspeary states: "'Mile Marker' is a song of hope and a reminder to ourselves that we are capable of weathering the storm even when it feels like we are at our lowest."

Common Wounds bassist Matt Martinez says this about the song's video: "The video is a collage of a journey through our city, highlighting the buildings and environments that were used for the album artwork. This imagery portrays neglected and decrepit structures. These structures and locations possess a beauty and character that only age can provide. Sadly, these locations are usually leveled and replaced by modern monstrosities."

Martinez' involvement in the Phoenix underground goes back to the 1990s when his band Suicide Nation was playing DIY venues with the likes of The Locust and releasing splits with Yaphet Kotto and Creation Is Crucifixion. From there, he founded Landmine Marathon, a death metal unit that broke out of the Arizona scene, toured the world, and landed on the cover of Revolver Magazine. Lanspeary notably played guitar in Phoenix hardcore favorites Run with the Hunted.

In Common Wounds, Martinez and Lanspeary, along with guitarist Corey Rial and drummer Steven Campbell, deliver soul-stirring, bone-rumbling post-hardcore. World-weary vocals and wistful melodies ride atop freight train-heavy rhythms, calling to mind the likes of Jawbox, Unwound, and Young Widows. Decibel Magazine has described the sound as "pointed and burly, pulsing with the honesty of emotional hardcore and the swagger of noise rock."

All Night Blood was recorded by Zachary Rippy (Power Trip, Wristmeetrazor), mixed by Scott Evans (Thrice, Samiam), and mastered by Carl Saff (Modern Life Is War, KEN mode).

More info: https://thechainworld.blogspot.com/2024/08/common-wounds-all-night-blood.html

Photo by Kindness Photo Co