Search Results: new-music

  • FEN Returns With New Album “Dear Mouse”

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

     

    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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  • MASSIVE SCAR ERA Collaborates w/ ENTHEOS' Chaney Crabb To Give A Voice To Recent Egyptian History w/ Single “School Girls”; New EP “Assyad” Out Oct 2024

    ft. guest musicians Simon McKay (The Agonist), Frédérick Filiatrault (Unexpect, Vvon Dogma I), Salem Atallah, Muhammed Abouzeid, Chaney Crabb (Entheos)

    L-R - Cherine Amr | Chaney Crabb

    Massive Scar Era, the visionary Egyptian/Canadian metal project led by Cherine Amr, is thrilled to announce the release of their new single “School Girls | بنات المدرسة”. This track, featuring the dynamic vocals of Chaney Crabb from Entheos, is the lead single from their upcoming EP, “Assyad”, set to drop in October 2024. With “School Girls”, Massive Scar Era breaks genre boundaries again, blending progressive rock, post-grunge, Egyptian music, and metal into a captivating sound that resonates deeply with fans worldwide. Amr comments on the unique track:

    “‘School Girls’ represents a dialogue between the Mu’allima (teacher) spirit, brought to life by Chaney’s voice, and the outside world. The chorus is adapted from the traditional Zar song “Banat el Madrassa," reflecting a significant era in Egyptian society and feminism. It highlights the pursuit of higher education by middle and upper-class women in the 1950s, symbolizing their aspirations and empowerment. The Mu’allima serves as both a guide within the female Zar realm and a social archetype.”

    Amr, the creative force behind Massive Scar Era, has dedicated years to studying Egyptian Zār traditions, weaving this deep cultural understanding into her music. Zār is a cult of possession in which ritual incorporates music and dance. Zar aims to establish a state of reconciliation between the individuals and the possessing spirits (Asyad) that inhabit their bodies and are believed to be the cause of illness.

    For this EP, Amr received invaluable support from the community and cultural consultant, Dr. Kawkab Tawfik, who introduced her to Zar Abou El-Gheit, led by the master Zar musician, Muhammed AbouZeid. Muhammed invited Amr to attend one of their ceremonies held for a patient at his home in the village of Abou El-Gheit, a couple of hours outside Cairo, Egypt. They formed an immediate connection there, and Muhammed was instrumental in deepening Amr's understanding of Zar songs.

    Amr later invited Muhammed and his bandmate Salem to Montreal, where we engaged in daily songwriting workshops. Joining them were metal musicians Simon Mckay (the drummer of The Agonist) and Frédérick Filiatrault (bassist of Vvon Dogma I, Unexpect) for a month-long residency. Amr worked closely with Simon, recording the Zar songs played by Muhammed and Salem on a DR-70 Tascam. Amr would then take these recordings home to develop the songs further, sometimes sending Simon rough versions with unquantized drumlines or even without any drumlines. Simon would then rewrite the drumlines and occasionally assist with the guitar arrangements. The next day, they would reunite in the studio to share and refine their ideas. This process, which they repeated five days a week, was truly collaborative.

    As Massive Scar Era continues to evolve, the release of the single “School Girls” marks a new chapter in the band’s journey, offering fans a glimpse into the rich, progressive musical experience that awaits in “Assyad”, which will be a concept record that blends Egyptian Zār songs with prog rock and metal.

    "I believe this EP will be a journey that and I think it will resonate with those who appreciate concept albums and are drawn to non-mainstream metal music. In the world of Zar, what you are curious about also becomes curious about you. Each song on this EP is inspired by a specific Zar spirit, and I’m eager to see how each listener connects with the EP, as I’m sure everyone will be drawn to different songs in their own unique way." adds Amr.

    This single “School Girls” is a testament to Amr's commitment to exploring and honoring these traditions while pushing the boundaries of modern metal music along with it being a bold statement, blending traditional Zār songs and rhythms with the raw power of metal into a unique and distinctive sound.

    Recommended for fans of Merfolk, Nawather, and Zaeer, listen to “School Girls” ft. Chaney Crabb (Entheos) at the following links:

    Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4716lSP

    Due on October 25th, 2024, "Assyad" is available for pre-order at https://massivescarera.bandcamp.com/

    Track Listing:
    1. Muluk al-Ardiyya | The Kings of the Earth - 4:54
    2. Abdel Salam Lasmar - 3:17
    3. Genie, Lambo - 3:17
    4. Inner Dialogue - 3:33
    5. El-Leil | The Night - 4:24
    6. Pretend - 3:43
    7. School Girls ft. Chaney Crabb (Entheos) - 3:26
    EP Length: 26:38

    More info: Facebook.com/massivescarera | Instagram.com/massivescarera

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