This song will make you feel alive as it delves into the ironic lyricism of feeling alone while being at a party. It’s somewhat of an anthem for the introverted free spirits of the world who like to have their own idea of a good idea. It’s the heaviest song FRND CRCL has to offer to date and aligns with aspects of Nirvana and UK art-pop purveyors, Blur.
The band says, “This one is for anyone who ever felt like an outcast; For anyone who ever found themselves at a party and thought wtf am I doing here?; For anyone that felt alone in a room full of people. I hope this song speaks to you as it does for us.”
Yes, it’s ‘Song 2’ meets ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, and we dig it here at AA. Check it here:
Ghosts Of Torrez released their first single (The Return) during the second lockdown in 2021 to critical acclaim and the follow up ‘Closer’ following later in that year.
In 2022 the band will release their debut LP and have already started taking their cinematic style, psychedelic, electro-folk to the live arena (more live dates TBC).
Their new single ‘The Wailing’ is due to be released on the 11th February on all streaming services, followed by a limited free, Flex-Disc release in early March.
‘The Wailing’ is accompanied by a Manga style video, “The Legend of Billy The Whale” (The Wailing/Whaling – who doesn’t love a play on words), which depicts the desperation of a broken, Captain Ahab type figure, vengefully taking on the beast he holds responsible for the death of his loved ones.
Taking their lead from bands such as Explosions in the Sky, Joy Division, Sigur Ros and Mogwai, GOT build their songs from soft, slow beginnings into cinematic style wonders.
Los Angeles-based industrial/rock band, HEAVENLY TRIP TO HELL has just unveiled their new video and single, ‘Pumpkin Man’. The song is a shout to the ‘safety rockers’; those who are rock and roll only part time. They are just playing the part.
‘Pumpkin Man.’ brings with it a message that rock and roll music should be dangerous; that it should belong to the streets. The band says, “The song was inspired by bands like Kettle Cadaver, GG Allin, and Danzig. With ‘Pumpkin Man’, we wanted to push the limits to break boundaries and not be confined by rules in the music world. Safety rockers run and hide!”
Here at AA we’re not so sure about GG Allin or Danzig, but we’re digging this while at the same time being disturbed by the dangling earlobe…
To accompany the release of their Tragica EP, Crimson Brûlée have unveiled a video for ‘I Came Back to You’, ‘when exploring a haunted house leads to the adventure of a lifetime…’
Influential psych innovators Gong have shared a new live video for ‘If Never I’m and Ever You’ as the group prepare for an extensive UK & EU tour between Feb – Sept 2022.
Performing the song, taken from their acclaimed 2019 album ‘The Universe Also Collapses’, this new video captures the band in the intimate setting of their rehearsal space, performing together in early 2019. A mind-melting and incredible sonic experience, a Gong live show is something all fans should experience and as they prepare to embark on their massive ‘This Is The Moment And Now Is The Time’ tour, this new video offers a glimpse for fans of the magic to come.
Formed in 1969 by Daevid Allen, one of the founding members of Soft Machine, classic albums such as Camembert Electrique, Flying Teapot and You established Gong as one of the most unique, innovative and experimental rock groups of the Seventies.
Before he sadly passed away in 2015, Allen laid out his hopes for a future Gong, that it should be uplifting, exploratory and a positive force. Kavus Torabi, Fabio Golfetti, Ian East, Dave Sturt and Cheb Nettles, chosen by him, continue his vision.
The band will release a new live album Pulsing Signals on 18th Feb via Kscope. Recorded live across three shows at The Wardrobe in Leeds, The Cluny in Newcastle and Rescue Rooms in Nottingham in 2019 as the band toured ‘The Universe Also Collapses’, this live record finds the group in spirited form as they undertake, unbeknownst to them, their final tour before the global pandemic took charge.
With touring now set to recommence and bookings going long into 2022 and beyond, Daevid Allen’s vision for the future looks set to be fulfilled.
Watch the video here:
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GONG LIVE IN 2022
FEBRUARY
Sun 27 – FLETCHING – Trading Boundaries
MARCH
Tue 01 – BRIGHTON – Chalk
Wed 02 – SOUTHAMPTON – 1865
Thu 03 – READING – Sub 89
Fri 04 – GUILDFORD – Boileroom
Sat 05 – COLCHESTER – Arts Centre
Mon 07 – LEICESTER – Musician
Tue 08 – MANCHESTER – Gorilla
Wed 09 – GLASGOW – Oran Mor
Thu 10 – CARLISLE - Brickyard
Fri 11 – WIGAN – The Old Courts
Sat 12 – STOCKTON-ON-TEES – Georgian Theatre
Sun 13 – NORWICH – Arts Centre
Mon 14 - BURY St. EDMUNDS – The Apex
Tue 15 – BIRMINGHAM – Hare & Hounds
Wed 16 – NOTTINGHAM – Rescue Rooms
Thu 17 – NEWCASTLE - Cluny
Fri 18 – YORK - Crescent
Sat 19 – HEBDEN BRIDGE – Trades Club
Sun 20 – BETHESDA – Neuadd Ogwen
Tue 22 - EXETER - Phoenix
Wed 23 – BRISTOL – Thekla
Thu 24 - STROUD – Sub Rooms
Fri 25 - HITCHIN – Club 85
Sat 26 – RAMSGATE – Music Hall
Sun 27 – TUNBRIDGE WELLS - Forum
Mon 28 - LONDON – The Garage
AUGUST
Sun 7 – Love Summer Festival 2022 – Plympton, Devon
Brood of Hatred, the Tunisian progressive death-metal project led by multi-instrumentalist Muhammed Mêlki, have just shared a new track from forthcoming third album The Golden Age, which is set for release on February 25th via Gruesome Records.
Listen to ‘The Mask of Death’ here:
The follow-up to 2018’s second album Identity Disorder features 8 songs of heavy, technical, blistering and emotional landscapes, merging death-metal with progressive textures. Regarding the album concept as far as music and lyrics go, as well as the cover art, “The Golden Age is an album of musical and thematic growth. It develops a dark and cold atmosphere with elements of rhythmic play. The artwork reflects a parallel universe of post-apocalyptic revival” says Muhammed Mêlki.
With their new albumSymbiosisset for release on 4th February, the mysterious Nordic Giants have shared the first single from their upcoming record, with the stunning short film for ‘Faceless’ featuring Alex Hedley. Rôka and Löki comment: “We are thrilled to premiere our latest short film ‘Faceless’ featuring Alex Hedley from our brand new album Symbiosis. This film touches upon the symbology surrounding the mythical ouroboros symbol – or snake swallowing its own tail. It’s an allegory for the trappings of life, where every soul is accountable for their own path, but often chooses to remain in the comforts of ignorance or self sabotage. It’s a little dark, but it’s also quite funny! A huge thank you to our good friend and actor Simon Brice, who literally got dragged through hell and back whilst filming and also to Nathan M Hetherington for his production assistance. Make sure you find a big screen, set the quality to high and turn your speakers up or headphones loud!”
Watch the video here:
New album Symbiosis represents the interdependent relationship of all life. The union and blending of polar opposites, the harmony created when two different elements combine, not just in nature or in a philosophical sense, but at the root creative level.
This collection of songs blends light with dark, moments of ambience with power and the subtle with the mysterious – themes that Nordic Giants continue to experiment with extensively over the years.
As a whole, the album encompasses a broad tapestry of weird and wonderful sounds, from vintage analogue synths, Tibetan bowls and even a Carnyx horn, to some familiar guest vocalists in the form of Alex Hedley and Freyja – adding their haunting and ethereal sounds on top of what what is predominantly a multi layered instrumental album.
These symbiotic themes of union and interdependence don’t stop just with the music, but are continued throughout the album artwork. Working closely with photographer Neal Grundy, they had many discussions of which material combinations and elements would help symbolise the message. By combining different paints into water they were able to photograph and capture some amazing results, which can only be described as an interlacing synergy of the natural with the supernatural.
MILDREDA’s sinister video clip ‘Liaisons Dangereuses’ has been selected by the Brussels Independent Film Festival in the short film category "The Rabbit Holes". This category is dedicated to a cinematic rabbit hole of offbeat, weird, wonderful, poetic, surreal, and abstract films. The clip had been created by the Belgian production house Pigeon Eggs and features Belgian actress and model Miss C.
Watch the video here:
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Mildreda comment: “The girl in the video played by Miss C symbolises a ‘poisonous muse’, which is what I like to call this type of character”, explains mastermind Jan Dewulf. “In the short film, you will see that the girl evolves from white to black, which illustrates her allegorical shift from ‘good to evil’. Though in fact, she was toxic from the start.”
‘Liaisons Dangereuses’ has been taken from Mildreda’s critically acclaimed physical debut full-length I Was Never Really There.
In 2022, a year after the release of Kvitravn and as a prelude to the forthcoming and much anticipated live dates, Wardruna are presenting Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven.
An immersive audio arrangement that underscores the experiential paradigm shift and masterful musicianship of their superlative and boundary-pushing virtual live experience First Flight of the White Raven of March 26th 2021. This new release captures their special set list consisting of songs from Kvitravn and a selection of favourites from the discography, and will be released on a 2LP, as well as 2CD that also features the original studio album track listing. To mark the event’s exceptional impact, it will also be available as a limited Boxset Edition including 2LP (black), 2CD, DVD with livestream performance and bonus documentary material and three videos (only available in the boxed set), flag of the CD album cover, certificate of authenticity for the box and an exclusive autographed card signed by Einar Selvik.
As a taster, they’ve shared the performance of ‘Solringen’ from the release.
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Wardruna’s UK tour commences in March. About the tour Einar comments “It has been more than two years since we last gave a performance in front of an audience. Needless to say, this long and unwanted hibernation has made us very excited to finally be able to realistically plan our return to the stage.”
Almost 30 years since their inception, the members of Engine Kid got together in 2021 to hang out and record new music. The result of which arrived by way of the Special Olympics EP flexi-disc/digital EP, released last December on Southern Lord.
The band has shared a music video for the EP’s second single, ‘Patty : Tania’ alongside a Q&A with Engine Kid’s Greg Anderson.
Watch the video here:
The tracks on the Special Olympics EP are re-workings of old material which were never recorded. The music represents the sonic direction that Engine Kid were heading before they disbanded. With this EP, the band commemorates the joy of playing music together for the first time in 26 years, and pick up where they left off. As Jade Devitt comments, "The musical commitment and connection that we forged in the 90’s has held like a magnet, finally pulling us together after 26 years! The newly recorded songs were dusted off blueprints from our very last practice tapes from the summer of ’95. Now enhanced with experience & age and new arrangements. The Kid flies again."
Earlier this year, the 90’s post-hardcore collective featuring Greg Anderson (Southern Lord label owner, also in Sunn O))), Goatsnake & Thorr’s Hammer) released a 6-LP box set of their career-spanning recordings on colour vinyl LP’s for the first time titled Everything Left Inside (find out more about that here) Engine Kid’s Brian Kraft adds, "Greg, Jade and I spent the summer and fall of 2020 gathering old photos, flyers, artwork and audio rehearsals /remixes/remasters for the Everything Left Inside box set. This remote reunion of the Kid made me realize how important Greg, Jade and Engine Kid was and is in my life. The reconnection led to recording some new material. It felt as if we were continuing right where we left off.”
Engine Kid’s first new material since 1995, the Special Olympics EP’s cover art is a symbolic metaphor about living one’s best life, and with extravagant swagger. The songs themselves continue the band’s “take on the world” attitude with restless, wild energy.
Aural Aggravation 