News

• FEN Returns With New Album “Dear Mouse”

  Sep 12, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  After a twelve-year hiatus, progressive rock band FEN is set to release their sixth studio album, “Dear Mouse”, on September 12, 2024. Emerging from the mountain shadows of Nelson, Canada in 1998, FEN has consistently impressed critics and fans alike with their unique blend of technical proficiency and purposeful songwriting. The band comments:

  “‘Dear Mouse’ is less a comeback album than a tying up of loose ends. The ten songs were all started in 2014 or earlier. They sat as fragments for a long time, but as life pulled the band apart, we couldn’t ignore these unfinished gems—or so we thought of them. We chipped away at them on and off. They dragged us along almost painfully at times. For the final three years, we pushed as hard as our lives would allow. Ultimately, Dear Mouse was a test of our perseverance and of getting out what needed to be said. We can rest now. And we will. We hope you find something in the music to appreciate.”

  “Dear Mouse” marks a significant milestone for the band, breaking their decade-long silence. The album stands at a crossroads of genres, incorporating elements from throughout FEN's discography. Fans can expect a diverse listening experience, with tracks ranging from the multi-movement composition “Seam of the Heart”, which echoes the eerie concept of their earlier work “Heron Leg”, to the infectiously melodic “Ritual Lite”, competing for the title of poppiest tune in their repertoire.

  The album's guitar work is a particular highlight, seamlessly transitioning from jagged riffs to ethereal textures, offering a comprehensive summary of the band's decades-long refinement of their craft. Lyrically, many of the songs on "Dear Mouse" explore themes of endings, touching on subjects such as the conclusion of long-term relationships, employment, and even one's physical home. Despite these potentially heavy themes, the band aims to provide an overall uplifting and energetic listening experience, with a couple of slower tracks for balance. It is recommended for fans of Tool, Porcupine Tree, and Opeth.

  Album Order - https://fencanada.bandcamp.com/album/dear-mouse​

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Ritual Lite - 4:28
  2. Recall - 4:29
  3. Season to Live - 4:57
  4. The Password is I Believe - 2:48
  5. Dying on a Hill (of Cubicle, Window, Steel, and Concrete) - 4:19
  6. The Seam of the Heart - 6:52
  7. Our Latest Quarry - 3:56
  8. E.D.B.D. - 2:37
  9. Dear Mouse - 4:56
  10. Into the Blaze - 5:18
  Album Length: 44:40

  Album Credits:​
  Produced by Fen
  Sheldon Zaharko of Zed Productions: tracked drums and bass, and mixed all songs
  Album mastered by Andy Vandette at Evolve Mastering
  All songs written by Fen
  Oil paintings by Jason Froese
  Band:
  Randall Stoll: drums
  Jeff Caron: bass on tracks 1-9
  Sam Levin: guitar, piano, programming, bass on track 10
  Doug Harrison: vocals, lyrics

  More Info: https://www.facebook.com/fenmusic

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• NARCOTIC WASTELAND's (ex-Nile) New Music Video "Barbarian" Encourages You To Break The Chains! Live! Be Free! And Find Your Own Path! + Tour Dates w/ Pyrexia

  Sep 11, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  NARCOTIC WASTELAND's New Music Video "Barbarian" Encourages You To Break The Chains! Live! Be Free! And Find Your Own Path!

  + Tour Dates w/ Pyrexia + SwarmFest (Tampa, FL)

  Gearing up to unleash their new album "Digital Cordyceps" out on Megaforce Records in 2024 (release date TBD) to follow their 2017 breakout sophomore album "Delirium Tremens". Narcotic Wasteland, fronted by ex-Nile guitarist/vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade along with drummer Joseph Howard (Fields of Elysium), Neuromorphic) and bassist Kenji Tsunami (Tegmentum), the trio unveil their new music video for the single "Barbarian" that they shared this past summer before their 2024 Summer tour dates that were in honor of Wade's 50th birthday and the 10th anniversary of Narcotic Wasteland's self-titled debut album.

  Directed by Narcotic Wasteland bassist Kenji Tsunami (Tsunami Films), the video showcases the sheer death thrash force of the band in the studio and live!

  Dallas Toler-Wade comments on the track:

  "For me, Barbarian is a prime example of me doing the thing I love and that defines me the most. Continuously striving to improve my craft as a musician and a songwriter. But also the overall message of this song. Live!!! Be free!!! Find your own path!!! Question everything!!! And also we don't need politicians or religion to shape our moral centers. In fact, It seems they distort the truth every chance they get. This whole album cycle has seemed to have this recurring theme about the narcissistic oligarchy that we have all fallen victim to. I Dallas Toler- Wade the barbarian will fight this mockery until I leave the land of the living, and even after that, my powerful voice will echo through the halls of time!!! Because I am a barbarian!!!"

  In additional news to the new music video, Narcotic Wasteland will be performing tour dates with Pyrexia along with SwarmFest in Tampa Bay, FL.

  Pyrexia (Headliner) + Narcotic Wasteland Tour Dates​
  11/15/2024 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street
  11/16/2024 - Fort Worth, TX - The Rail Club
  11/17/2024 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
  11/19/2024 - Houston, TX - BFE
  11/20/2024 - Tulsa, OK - The Vanguard
  11/21/2024 - Corpus Christi, TX - Boozerz Friday
  11/22/2024 - Shreveport, LA - Strange Brew
  11/23/2024 - Long Beach, MS - TRAX
  ​Narcotic Wasteland only​
  11/24/2024 - Tampa, FL - Swarmfest - Brass Mug

  Narcotic Wasteland is a relentless force in the metal realm, known for its infernal performances and unyielding sound. Led by former Nile guitarist Dallas Toler Wade, the band has forged an unholy covenant with legions of devoted followers, spreading chaos and devastation wherever they tread.

  A face-melting experience, Narcotic Wasteland unleashes blistering guitar wails to heart-pounding drum onslaughts, with every track promising to be an infernal ritual that will leave metalheads possessed by the spirit of pure chaos. Prepare for sonic hellfire!

  More info: ​Narcoticwasteland.com | ​Facebook.com/narcoticwasteland | ​Instagram.com/narcoticwastelandofficial | Twitter.com/Narco_Wasteland | Tiktok.com/@narcoticwasteland

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• Los Angeles' GIGANTUM Introduce Themselves With S/T Groovy Stoner Rock N’ Roll EP

  Sep 6, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  Rock n’ roll fans don’t have to wait any longer for the heavy and infectious debut tunes from Los Angeles’ Gigantum. After releasing 3 well-received singles that show off doomy riffs, creative solos, and relatable lyrics, they are excited to see the reception for their first work together as a group. Mia X, the band’s bassist and primary lyricist, shares her vision:

  “I wanted to create a heavier band than the rock/punk groups I’m used to playing in. I wanted a chance to play my instrument more and expand myself creatively. Finding Mark at a Fu Manchu show was a stroke of luck. Chase, Blare, and I have been in each other’s lives and playing together for over a decade. It just made sense for it to be the four of us.”

  Innovative and eclectic, this six-track collection showcases the band’s unique ability to blend heavy riffs with intricate storytelling and diverse musical influences. Not held back by the structure of a certain genre, Gigantum has a lot of room to evolve and they set into that role with gusto.

  This EP is a true collaboration, and each track offers a distinct experience, taking listeners on a sonic journey as they explore each individual personal of the tracks. The EP is now available on all major streaming platforms and is recommended for fans of Clutch, Baroness, Royal Thunder, and Fu Manchu.

  Due out on September 6th, 2024, Gigantum's self-titled album is available for order at https://gigantumband.bandcamp.com.

  More info: https://linktr.ee/gigantumband

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• HEINOUS EXSANGUINATION's Vile New EP “The Stench of Decaying Flesh”

  Sep 6, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Gore House Productions proudly presents the release of Heinous Exsanguination's debut EP, “The Stench of Decaying Flesh”. This seven-track monstrosity is an unrelenting barrage of brutal slam death metal that promises to leave listeners drenched in gore and craving more. The band shares their excitement for the slaughter:

  “We are beyond excited to share with the world our first body of work ‘The Stench of Decaying Flesh’. We absolutely love making brutal music, and this is just the beginning of what is going to be a great run for the project. Heinous Exsanguination is a passion project, and we will continue to pour our everything into this. We hope when you listen to this album you can shut off your brain and just enjoy the brutality of the music.”

  Heinous Exsanguination, consisting of Mitchell Christian (all music and production) and JP (vocals), has crafted a collection of tracks that are as grotesque as they are addictive. With features from some of the genre’s heaviest hitters like Richard Smihula (Desoectomy) and Angel Ochoa (Cephalotripsy), “The Stench of Decaying Flesh” is a testament to the band’s commitment to delivering pure, unfiltered slam metal.

  From the blistering opener “Engorged With Hatred” to the title track featuring Azerate Nakamura of Ungraceful, this EP is a masterclass in unadulterated brutality that will drag you through an intense journey of classic slam riffs, blast beats, and insane gutturals. It is recommended for fans of Embryectomy, Kraanium, and Parasitic Ejaculation.

  “The Stench of Decaying Flesh” is due out on September 6th, 2024, from Gore House Productions and is available for pre-order at https://orcd.co/the-stench-of-decaying-flesh​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Engorged With Hatred (2:14)
  2. Vile Rotting Mass (ft. Angel Ochoa of Cephalotripsy) (2:57)
  3. Savage Evisceration (2:12)
  4. The Stench of Decaying Flesh (ft. Azerate Nakamura of Ungraceful) (2:04)
  5. Severed Limbs, Mangled Remains (ft. Richard Smihula of Desoectomy) (2:32)
  6. Bodies Open Easier Than You’d Think (2:18)
  7. Meat Cleaver Meltdown (2:15)

  More info: ​Gorehouseproductions.com​ | Facebook.com/heinousslam | Instagram.com/heinousexsanguination | X.com/heinousslam

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• INFRARED Take You Back To The Glory Days Of Thrash With New Album “Manifestation”

  Sep 6, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  ​Ottawa, Canada’s Infrared proudly presents their new music video "Manifest Nation" for their latest album “Manifestation” set to release on September 6, 2024. As purveyors of classic thrash metal, Infrared’s roots run deep, having first gained acclaim in the 80s with their hit “Thoughts Caught (in Between)”. Since then, they have released 3 albums and two EPs with Manifestation as the fourth full-length album. They share their excitement:

  “With life as busy as it is and some life challenges plaguing the band, the release has been delayed a few times. This is the longest we have sat on a finished album. With determination, we ramped up and filmed four videos and did all it takes to put together what the fans want, new classic thrash metal with a modern feel.”

  The single “Manifest Nation” rips and grooves all the way through while singing about a society losing itself and its way. They try to manifest a better life, but with all the technological distractions, they never achieve their goal.

  With the album “Manifestation”, Infrared has taken inventory and assessed its back catalog, and looked to see what it could improve on. The result is straight-to-the-point songs that are high in energy and aggression all while staying true to the classic thrash sound. This barn burner of an album is recommended for fans of Exciter, Sacrifice, and Razor.

  Due out September 6, 2024, “Manifestation” is available for order at https://infraredmetal.bandcamp.com​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Cataclysm (2:07)
  2. Temple of Sin (3:20)
  3. Nikko (3:40)
  4. Demon’s Blood (3:08)
  5. Pressure Syndrome (4:29)
  6. The Manifest (0:48)
  7. Manifest Nation (3:40)
  8. Concuss (4:00)
  9. Reforma (4:04)
  10. My Dreams Are Real (3:48)
  11. Parasite Patrol (3:47)
  12. Then the Earth Goes Black (4:16)

  More info: http://infraredmetal.ca/

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