EP 57 Single reviews for SOEN illusion, MARTIN GORE Howler, BRAND OF SACRIFICE – Animal , ANNISOKAY - Like A Parasite ,The Hara Black Soul Ceremony
Setting The Tone
English - January 29, 2021 20:19 - 25 minutes - 34.4 MBMusic Interviews Music Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
New episode out now.
The provocative, imperious and engaging Swedish-based metal group SOEN reveal the thought-provoking and emotive video for ‘Illusion’, taken from their fifth album, IMPERIAL, set for release via Silver Lining Music on January 29th 2021.
Founder members Joel Ekelöf (vocals) and Martin Lopez (drums), along with Lars Enok Åhlund (keyboards and guitar), Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass) and Cody Ford (lead guitar), are an undeniable cypher for all the issues and emotions which swirl around us. The outfit once more step up to challenge our perceptions of life and humanity with ‘Illusion’, an addictive ballad brimming with bewitching guitar riffs, powerhouse-soaring chorus and a poignant message for all of us to reflect on.
“Illusion is a song about the shared responsibility amongst us if we wish to improve the world, change has to be made by us, you and me...the people” asserts Lopez. “It’s about the frustration of feeling powerless but also the hope in realizing that things can be changed for the better” further Lopez, “if we stop criticizing each other and making enemies of ourselves by blindly following the ideas of politicians and their media.”
Ekelöf affirms: “we can’t just sit around and wait for those in power to help, they are preoccupied with battling each other in matters of greed and power.”
“The ‘Illusion’ video is about dreamers” comments video producer, Daniele Zed Berretta. “There are people who are ready to lose everything to follow their dreams, no matter the cost. Others are afraid of making dreams come true, so they stop right before fulfilling them, just to keep dreaming.”
The video follows the tale of a father and daughter in their quest for survival in a dystopian universe. Watch the video for 'Illusion' here or by clicking the image below. MPERIAL will be released on January 29th 2021, via Silver Lining Music. Available as a CD Digipak, vinyl album, digital formats and special D2C bundles. To pre-order click here.
SOEN: Joel Ekelöf – Vocals / Martin Lopez – Drums / Lars Enok Åhlund – Keyboards and Guitar / Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel– Bass / Cody Ford – Lead Guita
Band links
My thoughts
SOEN - Illusion
My thoughts
It has a lyrical softness of Shinedown meets the escapism of pink Floyd
This track has soft tones and yet it’s still able to be powerful and hit it’s a track that will have you mesmerized and yet still be able to transport you to what feels like another reality
Lyrically its awesome, the guitars are out of this world as I’ve said the tones are soft be powerful, it well produced and it’s a track that will pull you in.
Next track this week
A New Tomorrow - "A New Tomorrow
MODERN BRIT ROCK CREW DETAIL NEW CINEMATIC VIDEO!
UK hard rockers A NEW TOMORROW surge into 2021 with a brand-new video for their namesake single, A New Tomorrow. The video is a striking cinematic version of the single and its out now via Frontiers Music. Check it out here - https://youtu.be/vc0ZVWyIfWw .
A NEW TOMORROW were Formed in London by vocalist/guitarist Alessio Garavello, and bassist Andrea Lonardi. The dynamic duo were later joined by drummer Tim Hall and guitarist Michael Kew. Harnessing influence from colossal heavyweights such as Foo Fighters, Alter Bridge and Incubus, the quartet have worked tirelessly to hone in on a sound that fuses uplifting and melodic hard rock. To date, A NEW TOMORROW have toured and played a slew of successful shows right across the UK, and throughout most of Europe. Along the way, the tuneful rockers have supported the likes of Fates Warning, Freedom Call, and Thousand Foot Krutch, to name a few.
Serving up a barrage of furious riffs coupled with ultra-melodic hooks, it was only a matter of time before industry interest beckoned. In December 2019, A NEW TOMORROW released their debut album, Universe, via Frontiers Music, and widespread critical acclaim soon followed with Metal Hammer Italia, Powerplay, and a host of other publications. The foursome then released a new single and fresh take of their self-titled track, A New Tomorrow, last Autumn - https://youtu.be/xEJcixIoZBc with a stripped-down piano version as a bonus track. The band remark: “We originally intended the cinematic version to be only a B-side to the main single, but we were so impressed with how it turned out, we had to do it justice with its own video”. This new cinematic version showcases the band in a whole new light, and with the next album already in process, A NEW TOMORROW will continue to break new boundaries in 2021 and beyond.
A new tomorrow social links
https://www.anewtomorrowband.com/
https://twitter.com/anewtomorrowuk
https://www.instagram.com/anewtomorrowuk/
https://www.facebook.com/anewtomorrowmusic/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/25XAZXzZQvQLW29Cv46hUS
my thoughts
My thoughts the opening of the track has a beautiful delicate melodic opening a great vocal display for a large part of this track is stays on the same path melodic soft and this is
cool it’s a really nice track and something cool to chill out too.
Next single
MARTIN GORE, songwriter and founding member of Depeche Mode, has today released the hypnotic video for his haunting new track, ‘Howler’, directed by the acclaimed NYSU (Bastille, New Order, Wild Beasts). The track is taken from the forthcoming 5-track instrumental EP, The Third Chimpanzee, out 29 January 2021.
Like a recurring nightmare that gets more vivid as time passes, the video draws on the pulsating beat of the track, taking us further into the torment as the video draws to a climax.
“I resynthesized my voice and used warped delays and other manipulation effects on ‘Howler.' The end result was a sound that wasn’t quite human, more monkey like.” Martin said of the track. “I really liked the idea of blurring the lines between monkeys and humans. Sometimes I think we just feel that we're so evolved, and that we're so much better. I have been questioning that quite a lot recently.”
NYSU said of the video, “On first hearing ‘Howler’ there was a feeling of being inside a Monkey’s brain, its consciousness. It was brutal and primitive but, at the same time, so smart and almost human. The video is an attempt to reflect that, portraying the precise moment when apes evolved into a man or maybe a human regressed into an animal form.”
Watch the video for ‘Howler’ HERE
Today, Thursday 28th January at 3pm EST/8pm GMT/9pm CET, Martin will exclusively broadcast the full EP live through his Facebook page for the first time, providing commentary during the stream. The Third Chimpanzee will be released digitally, on CD and on Azure Blue Vinyl the following day.
It’s been five years since Martin released his acclaimed instrumental album MG. In 2017 Depeche Mode released their global monster Spirit and were recently inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Tune into some of Martin’s influences and favourite acts with his ‘Escaping 2020’ playlist HERE.
links
Pre-order the EP: https://mute.ffm.to/mg-ttc
Listen To 'Mandrill': https://youtu.be/DppPzGLjN6s
Howler’ on YouTube: https://youtu.be/osewmILqfck
BRAND OF SACRIFICE – Animal
Thursday, January 28th, 2021- Canadian deathcore wrecking crew, Brand of Sacrifice, have treated fans to the latest cut of unrelenting, face pummeling gnarliness today with the release of "Animal" - the third track to be released from the band's highly anticipated new album, 'Lifeblood' (out March 5th via Blood Blast Distribution). The new track was exclusively premiered with Loudwire yesterday, who called the new track 'Savagely Brutal' and added "What makes Brand of Sacrifice's sound so compelling is the insane control they have over the chaos that results from a truly wide range of influences.".
Accompanying the new track is a beautiful, cinematic video featuring epic battles between Samurai sword wielding warriors. Watch the video here or by clicking the image below. Find 'Animal' on your streaming platform of choice here.
Since 2018, Toronto-based deathcore quintet Brand of Sacrifice have been imprinting their mark on the heavy music scene. Dubbed ‘The Branded Ones,’ the group’s fans joined and marched with them as they tore across the globe in support of debut EP 'The Interstice' and LP statement 'God Hand' which debuted at #20 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums Chart.
Other highlights to a whirlwind cycle for 'God Hand' included a slot on The Summer Slaughter Tour with Carnifex, Cattle Decapitation, The Faceless and Lorna Shore, a world tour with tech vets Rings of Saturn, plus a tour with fellow upcoming deathcore titans Shadow of Intent.
Brand of Sacrifice have spread their wings for sophomore LP 'Lifeblood' which will be released with help from Blood Blast Distribution on the digital end. The production is even more pummeling, exemplified by laser-sharp structures and a wide-gulf of dynamics. The album takes catchy to another level, with choruses comprising string orchestrations and synths, alongside bludgeoning breakdowns.
The band draws its name from popular anime series Berserk by Kentaro Miura. 'Lifeblood' focuses on the series’ dark horse protagonist Guts, a lone wolf who faces demons both inside and out in a post-apocalyptic world.
Fans at any Brand of Sacrifice show will be familiar with set-closer “Eclipse” and its ending chant of, “Welcome to the new age.” With 'Lifeblood', it’s evident the band have ushered in yet another, even fresher era from which there is no turning back.
Find Brand Of Sacrifice Online
My thoughts
BRAND OF SACRIFICE – Animal I’m going to start off and be honest I found this to be a very very strange experience, for me it has the feel of cradle of filth meets dimmi borgi, there some great elements to this track lots of different sounds from different genres mixed, for me I can say I’ve listened to it but did not get it, perhaps you guys will.
ANNISOKAY - Like A Parasite
German metalcore quartet ANNISOKAY have released new single / video 'Under Your Tattoos', taken from new album Aurora, out today via Arising Empire.
Watch the video for 'Under Your Tattoos' here:
'Under Your Tattoos' follows previous singles 'The Cocaines Got Your Tongue', 'The Tragedy', 'Bonfire Of The Millennials', 'STFU', 'Like A Parasite' and 'Face The Facts', which have been streamed collectively over eight million times on Spotify.
Aurora is now available in digital, CD and vinyl formats, as well as a special limited edition fan box. Purchase / stream the album here: https://Annisokay.lnk.to/Aurora
Aurora sees ANNISOKAY reinventing themselves, welcoming new frontman and heavy vocalist Rudi Schwarzer - a long-time friend of the band - who stepped into the role in late 2019. Once again guitarist/clean vocalist Christoph Wieczorek oversaw production duties on the album, which is full of heavy riffs, driving percussion, melodic, goosebump-inducing cleans and aggressive shouts.
Formed in 2007, ANNISOKAY are at the forefront of German metal with their cutting edge sound, which has earned them huge success at home and has seen them breakthrough internationally. The four-piece have embarked on successful tours throughout Europe, the UK, Japan and the USA, including several headline shows in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, a US run with I Set My Friends On Fire, two sold-out shows in Russia supporting Parkway Drive, and, more recently, the Xmas Bash Tour with Emil Bulls, which marked Schwarzer's first tour with the band.
ANNISOKAY’s first three studio albums were released through Long Branch Records/SPV, all of which charted in the Top 100 Official German Album Charts. In 2018, the band signed to Arising Empire to release their fourth studio album Arms, which reached #26 and marked their highest chart entry to date.
ANNISOKAY will embark on a European headline tour in 2021, with support from Future Palace and Set Your Sails.
ANNISOKAY socials
www.annisokay.com
www.facebook.com/annisokay
www.instagram.com/annisokay
www.twitter.com/annisokay
My thoughts
ANNISOKAY - Like A Parasite
Another track from another band who are not afraid to mix genres and try different things, Like A Parasite offers some heavy guitar tones but with a real punch, a melodic chorus that has a natural hooks crossing over into its heavier elements which is awesome some great production on the track, really enjoyed the video for this one make sure to check it out
Lastly our latest single of the week
The Hara Black Soul Ceremony ‘out today, is this week’s hot track of the week
The hara who are 3 piece from Manchester are for me right now one of the uk most exciting bands right now with so much energy and drive, they are a band to keep an eye.
Check out Black Soul Ceremony video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AJVKfpZI3I&list=OLAK5uy_niUDXG9wUNrrTREFcew8UBFsdBbUN-9hM
Right now, I believe this is number two on the Itunes singles chart, further proof of how exciting these guys are
The Hara Social links
https://theharaband.com/?fbclid=IwAR17jOA0pLPXK6L50z8GidKVzvQJJoKymK08_NUsJkSaUPB7XkaFt4hxJK8
https://twitter.com/theharaband
https://www.facebook.com/TheHaraBand/
https://www.instagram.com/theharaband/
https://www.snapchat.com/add/theharaband
https://www.youtube.com/theharaband
https://www.tiktok.com/@theharaband?
My thoughts The Hara Black soul ceremony, opens with a sexy riff vocally and lyrically these boys have delivered something incredible. It’s a track packed with melody and hooks and comes at you with so much energy and this is exactly what The Hara, are about energy in their songs and even thou I am yet to see them live I would imagine that same energy transmits across live, really love the energy and the production in this track a massive favourite of mine this week.
You can find this episode and previous episodes from Setting The Tone in the below links
Spotfiy
https://open.spotify.com/show/6Jj9SsrXxve44839dptihN…
Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/setting-the-tone/id1499390718
https://podcasts.google.com/?q=setting%20the%20tone
podbean
https://Settingthetone2.podbean.com
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