Check the song out now on our “GET HYPED” playlist on Spotify.
Tag: lance waste
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Telling Secrets mastermind Vik Kovacs is a true global musician. Kovacs is the product of Eastern European blood and a British upbringing. Hailing from Manchester, England, but living in Lod Angeles, Kovacs has been releasing his brand of Emo-tinged modern rock bangers under the name Telling Secrets for the past two years.
In 2021, Kovacs teamed with Rain City Drive vocalist, Matt McAndrew, who guided him to kickstart the project. Zack Baker, of Rain City Drive, performed on and mixed the tracks “Secret Lies”, “Casting Stones” and “The Fall” which comprise a visual trilogy.
Telling Secrets is now back with its latest single, “Fragile”, an injection of high-octane, radio-ready rock, with a memorable hook and soaring vocals. Including some memorable harmony lines. “I remember reading the backing vocals and harmonies in the studio in Los Angeles with Rachel and I asked my friend Matt McAndrew to come down and give some ideas for harmonies,” Says Kovacs. “Before he showed up Rachel and I BURNED through the track. It was a super productive evening. Matt turned up and we were laughing and joking the entire time. When Matt was leaving the joke was “Hey guys if you are ever having a nice, smooth, productive session call Matt to make sure it gets slowed down!”. However, we recorded a really awesome vocal part that was inspired by NSYNC that you can hear just before the first chorus, so it was all worth finishing the session at 4am… again.”
Since arriving in Los Angeles, Kovacs has been recording deep into the early morning hours at Canton House Studios owned by 15-time Grammy Award winning producer Jaycen Joshua with engineer Rachel Blum. In the summer of 2022 Telling Secrets released singles “Bad Dreams” and “Lullaby”, with the final release being “Fragile”.
Thus far, the band has achieved over 100,000 streams across all platforms and plans for a great series of releases for 2023, along with some exciting new people added to the project. Kovacs is also planning to take the band to the United Kingdom and Europe to debut on the other side of the pond in 2023 and is currently working on a full-length album. “Fragile” was produced by Kovacs, engineered by Rachel Blum (assistant engineer to 15-time grammy winning producer Jaycen Joshua), mixed and mastered by Zack Baker (Rain City Drive), with vocal arrangement and assistance from Matt McAndrew (Rain City Drive).
You can listen to the song on Spotify or YouTube now!
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“Today I am so grateful to be alive,” says vocalist Shayne Goss, of the Atlanta alt-rock duo Fairshake. “I’m so grateful for my catalyst showing me how to be there for myself when my world turned upside down, when I felt abandoned, lied to, and suffered this immense loss of identity.” Faishake has released their newest track, the captivating single “Face”. The song is a straight-ahead alt-rock banger, featuring Goss’ world-weary vocals and an anthemic chorus perfect for modern rock radio.
Thematically, “Face” goes deeper than “ Let that sh*t go”. The song was written in victim consciousness, in the realization that often the parties involved also feel like victims. About the song, the band says “Have you ever heard the saying “Hurt People, Hurt People”? We all have an ego/identity in our mind/body/spirit complex which is a Face of a character we are so convinced that we are because we have been collecting experiences, trauma, likes, dislikes, and judgments on everything that we hear, feel, see. It all gets stored in our subconscious from the time of birth. Then we walk around with beliefs based on our experiences which is a program of this character you think you are. Why are we giving away our power to others’ projections, our own limiting beliefs, and being propelled into each moment based on stored trauma & fear? This only keeps you trapped in your hellish illusion. “
The band also touched on the dual meaning of the word “Face” as used in the song. “It’s the irony of the masks or different characters we wear, that can be changed through our own conscious or subconscious will. “Face” also represents the strength it takes to go inward and slay one’s own dragon, going from victim to hero consciousness because our fear is only our own illusion and our own responsibility. No one can save you from your own dragon.”
“Face” is a single from Fairshake’s upcoming record, High Risk, and was recorded at Space Jockey Sound by Jeremy Nichols, Charlie Pinkard (writer/guitars for @wearedim) & Ben Cato (percussion for DIM, former The Dangerous Summer). The single artwork was designed by Elijah Richards, graphic designer & bassist of DIM (@elijah_richards) “Face” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or on YouTube below.
About the band: Fairshake; In this moment you are judgment free, and stand in your purest form and Truth. A realization that we are here to heal from experiences and surrender into your highest form. You create your life from here on.
This never-ending journey with Shayne Goss since 2008 has been accompanied by many talented artists who have shared this vibration over the years. Fairshake has experienced genre changes as the project has evolved, especially after inducting Tucker Harding and Chase Sammons in the fall of 2017.
The project coming from emotionally charged singer-songwriter roots with pop melodies has grown very naturally into the alternative rock, punk, and dare we say “emo” music that we all grew up on and love.
Photo: @ktclairephotography
Fasirshake Is:
Tucker Harding (guitar, vocals)
Shayne Goss (guitar Vocals)
Connect With Fairshake:
Instagram /Facebook / Spotify -
Check out the new services from Get Hyped! For more info, email us at gethypedpr@gmail.com or check out the Services Page of our website!
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Milwaukee – Midwest punk outfit BAD YEAR has just released its latest album FADED MEMORIES on Ohio’s Punkerton Records. The album featured the singles “Charcoal Black” and “Oh, Virginia”, and represents experiences of heartbreak, hopelessness, panic, and sorrow, while still offering a glimpse of hope.
About the record, the band says “Faded Memories has been a labor of brotherly love, and the thing we’re most proud of contributing to in our musical career. These songs are all like children to us and are endless fun to perform night after night. It’s amazing to get them out into the world.”
The first single, “Charcoal Black”, kicks off the album with an emotionally heavy, straight ahead anthemic rock track that announces Bad Year as a band on a mission. “The song symbolizes those sleepless nights where you can’t breathe and you feel that all hope is lost; that you will never recover,” explains the band. “When we feel that all we have to look forward to is more of the same miserable existence. Our emotional decay, our spiritual demise, and the crushing awareness that nothing would ever change were constants in our bereavement. Our hold on life was weak at best, we had little hope and no concept of the life we were missing out on.”
FADED MEMORIES was co-produced by Nick Rad (Coheed & Cambria, Anberlin) with Bad Year, and mixed by Nick Rad and Steven Servi. The album is currently playing across all major streaming platforms. Bad Year has also released a visualizer to accompany “Charcoal Black”, which you can watch on YouTube now.
Rooted in Midwest punk rock, Bad Year formed in 2019 and calls Milwaukee home. Inspired by heartbreak, angst, and self-reformation, Bad Year injects the scene with anthemic chorus hooks and brutal optimism. In the spirit of promoting positive aspects of empathy and mental health, their cathartic melodies are known for freely inspiring listeners with a sense of mutual understanding and hope. The group put a fresh, more decorated feel on musical incarnations and lived experiences of the past.
Bad Year’s groundbreaking debut EP “Handshakes” received immediate acclaim from listeners and an unmediated Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Award nomination while the title track’s music video gained over 100k views within its first month. The trio refrained from allowing a pandemic to slow their upbeat tempo with their one-off single “Blackout”. Keeping the momentum and expanding boundaries of incendiary music composition, “Blackout” was Bad Year’s first production with highly sought-after producer, Nick Rad. Ending 2020 on a high note, “A Moment In Time” EP, was released and creates acoustic landscapes of sound that evoke feelings, energies, and memories.
Bad Year Is:
Mike Esser
Joey Jonas
Jake Wachal
Connect With Bad Year:
LinktreePress Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot PR & Media
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Hershey, Pa – Alt-Metal band Lasciaté has released the video for their newest single, “IED”, their first release since reforming earlier this year. The modern rock radio-ready single combines crunching riffs and slick production with alternating soaring melodic and guttural scream vocals.
About the song, the band says “We wrote this song during the presidential election of 2020, and found that both candidates sucked, news and media outlets suck, and we are all under the thumb of the U.S. government at the mercy of the 1% who controls all of our elections and government policies. Everything that they tell you is a lie. There is no such thing as a lesser of two evils, and through seeing through the bullshit and agreeing to disagree we can turn the tides.”
Directed by Jbaw Productions, and recorded by Jeff McKinnon and Evan Seeberger, the video shows that Lasciaté is here to stay with its original cast; back heavier and better than ever.“IED” will be available across all major streaming platforms on 12/24. Watch the video on YouTube below.
Lasciaté is a melodic metalcore band based out of Hershey, PA formed in the spring of 2016 by Tanis Pellegrini (Vocals), Aaron Perry (Lead Guitar), Robert Greenberg (Bass), and Mark Caruso (Drums) later joined by Sam Hart (Rhythm Guitar). Lasciaté is known for their breakdowns as much as for their catchy choruses and technical guitar work. Lasciaté is an underground metal success story built upon their insatiable work ethic and unique stylings. They have shared the stage with national and international acts August Burns Red, Ice Nine Kills, Suicide Silence, The Black Dahlia Murder, Upon A Burning Body, and I set my friends on fire. Releasing an ep in 2017 and following up with a few singles a year since that, Lasciaté has plans to hit the studio and record another EP in the near future with longtime producer/collaborators Jeff McKinnon and Evan Seeberger.
Lasciaté Is:
Tanis Pellegrini – Vocals, Guitars
Aaron Perry – Lead Guitar
Robert Greenberg – Bass
Mark Caruso – Drums
Sam Hart – Rhythm GuitarConnect With Lasciaté :
LINKTR.EEPress Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot PR & Media
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Cleveland, OH – Alternative Indie Rock duo MESSMAKER has released its newest single, the slickly produced, anthemic modern rock track “Paying Attention”. Lyrically, the song is a call to arms of sorts, all about not shutting yourself off from societal issues, but facing them head-on.
Of the track, MESSMAKER says “ ‘Are you happy with the way things are? Or are you paying attention?’ That’s the question we’re asking with this song. Today, more than any other point in history, the injustices and inequities baked into the human experience are on display. Yet so many people – and we certainly don’t exclude ourselves from this criticism – find it easier to close our doors and try to shut it all out. But things don’t get better if you ignore them.
It wasn’t the original intent when writing it, but we realized that this song is kind of directed to that cartoon dog sitting in the middle of the flames saying “this is fine”. We’d love to hear that pup’s thoughts on “Paying Attention”!
“Paying Attention” sees MESSMAKER’s Michael McFarland (lead vocals and guitar), and Freja McNeal (drums, samples, and vocals), joined by Eric Bertagnolli of Eric Bert Audio (Percussion, Co-Producer, Mixing & Mastering Engineer) and Steven Charles (Co-Writer). The duo is planning a musicvideo for the song out soon.“Paying Attention” is now available across all major streaming platforms. MESSMAKER has also released a lyric visualizer to go along with the single, which you can watch below.
Aggressively catchy melodies pair with soul-filled lyrics in MESSMAKER’s refreshing take on indie rock. Lighting up stages as a power duo, musical architect Michael McFarland and versatile percussionist Freja McNeal bring the energy of an arena show to every performance. Garnering comparisons to acts such as Panic At the Disco and Bastille, McFarland’s songwriting is frank, expressive, and clever, and joined by McNeal the Cleveland, Ohio-based act elevates the material on stage with a seemingly inexhaustible energy. Showing a maturity of style and sound that has developed through years of travel, relationships, heartbreaks, and reinventions, MESSMAKER’s music contains talent, passion, and lyrics that come from the heart. The result? A big, bright, and lovestruck slice of anthemic indie rock.
Michael’s amiable yet commanding presence on stage arose from years of experience paired with diligent study. He began performing with bands at age 14, accumulating ample experience under stage lights while still a teenager. Later, while pursuing his degree in Visual Communication at Kent State University, McFarland spent countless hours studying performance footage from any source he could find, from classic rock acts to modern pop stars. When it comes to songwriting, McFarland shows the same attention to his craft, which in 2022 earned him the Nashville Songwriters Association’s recognition as “One to Watch”. “I listen to a lot of music I don’t necessarily like,” says McFarland, “because I want to understand why the songs connect with their audience.”
A lifetime of attentiveness and continued learning has taught McFarland how to use MESSMAKER’s lyrics to tug at your emotions and leave you feeling like you’ve found a kindred spirit. When joined by Freja on drums, samples, and backing vocals, those songs expand effortlessly to fill concert halls. Whether you see MESSMAKER perform in a basement or a stadium, you can expect the lights, sounds, and raw energy of a world-class rock show.
MESSMAKER will be celebrating the release of “Paying Attention” on December 16 at the Five O’Clock Lounge in Lakewood, Ohio, alongside a stellar lineup including Darling Waste, Anthony Covatta, The Muckrakers, Lives Lost, and Black Moon Cult.
MESSMAKER IS:
Michael McFarland: Lead Vocals, Guitar, Producer
Freja McNeal: Drums, Samples, Backing VocalsCONNECT WITH MESSMAKER:
LINKTREE / WEBSITE / SPOTIFYPress Contact: Lance Waste for Heart Riot PR & Media
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Giant Fetus
Release: “Say What?”
Release Date: 11.2.22
Genre: Hip-hop
Suggested For Fans Of: Tyler, the Creator, Denzel Curry, Eminem
Conway, SC hip-hop artist Giant Fetus has just dropped his latest single “Say What?“. The witty, lyrical track will undoubtedly draw comparisons to Tyler, the Creator, Denzel Curry, and Eminem.
Of the song, Giant Fetus says “Say What? is kind of a testament to who I am as an artist and who I am as a person. It has many different parts and feelings that all rush at you in a manic frenzy. It’s easy to get caught up in what we can guess is cool next, what we know is no longer important, and what other people think of what we do. This one is more of a reminder to really just be yourself and do what makes you feel good because nothing really matters!”
The beat was created and produced by Occult JAM and was recorded, mixed and mastered by Dee Cee at Arcadia Studios. “Say What?” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Giant Fetus is somewhere between an academic philosopher and a sketchy vagrant, and sometimes both. Growing up split between privileged suburbia and ragged trailer parks due to joint custody, he has always felt kind of in the middle of everything. From playing in rock bands, living in a shed, to eventually publishing poetry with his University it is easy to find inspiration from all around. Giant Fetus is basically what happens when Sisyphus decides to keep pushing the boulder, but this time with some Beats by Dre!
Connect With Giant Fetus:
FACEBOOK / TikTok / INSTAGRAM / SOUNDCLOUD
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com
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Vital Stats:
Artist: UNIITY
Release: One-Step (Closer To The Edge)
Release Date: 11/25
Genre: Punk/ Electro Punk / Nu Punk
Suggested For Fans Of: Deli Girls, N8NOFACE, Crystal Castles
Heart Riot client, Electro punk musician UNIITY has released their newest single, the edgy, hip, and aggressive “One-Step (Closer To The Edge)”. Lyrically, UNIITY uses her experiences as an LGBTQ+, POC woman to craft an anthem of empowerment for those who have experienced abuse and racism in their daily lives.“One-Step (Closer to the Edge) is a glimpse of my unapologetic and raw anger towards the complexities of being a black woman in the music industry and hints at the abuse I and many single mothers in my community encountered,” explains Raven Clark, the brainchild behind UNIITY. “The constant belittling remarks, racism, over-sexualization at a young age, and the lack of credit is just the surface of the things I, and many other musicians of color, constantly battle. It’s the final answer to the question of ‘What happens when your cup has spilled over?’ “
“One-Step (Closer to the Edge)” is the first step of an album rollout cycle for UNIITY‘s upcoming debut album, HER TEETH, released May 12, 2023. It was produced by Phyuture Phyx (Joshua Hall), sickboy (Shay Magleby), Raven Clark (Unity) and features band member William Blake. Along with the single, there is a planned music video released in December, filmed by Trigger Happy Production.
“One-Step (Closer to the Edge)” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch on YouTube below.
UNIITY is the new, genre-warping, Avant-punk brainchild of Raven Clark, a Philadelphia-raised artist currently based in Cleveland, OH. Her mission and legacy is the unification of the emerging scene of independent, LGBTQ+, POC women in punk. Raw, gritty, and experimental- UNIITY pushes the boundaries of what is considered punk music, pulling as much influence from hip-hop and techno as from black metal or hardcore. Distorted electronic beats and massive ambient guitars support gut-punching vocals that can range from hissing to singing to unclean screams that seem impossible for her small stature.
UNIITY’s EP titled, HIIVES is a collection of 10 works chosen from a much larger unreleased discography for their themes of personal sacrifice, death, hopelessness and the ever present struggle that accompanies being a woman of color living in poverty. HIIVES was released in March of 2022 following the conclusion of her first tour at the age of eighteen. UNIITY‘s debut album titled, HER TEETH showcases the new works of UNIITY under a mature and polished spectacle. Taking influence from artist such as Zheani, Boy Harsher, and N8NOFACE, “HER TEETH” is a more evolved sound from her first EP.
In just under two years, nineteen-year-old UNIITY has gone from attending basement shows on the streets of West Philadelphia to building bridges and a strong community for young punks of color in multiple cities such as Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Baltimore. Garnering most of her attention from having shared the stage with the likes of White Ring, Sect Unit, Kris Baha, Mvtant, Trace Amount, and many more.
Connect With UNIITY:
LINKTREE / SPOTIFY / INSTAGRAM
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: The Region
Release: “Under The Rug” (Single)
Release Date:11-4-22
Genre: Post-hardcore/Metalcore/Emo
Suggested For Fans Of: A Day to Remember, Knocked Loose, Wage War(For Release On Or After 11.04.22)
Hard-hitting pop punk/emo trio The Region has released their newest single, “Under The Rug”. The track is the first song to feature bassist Phil Cyprian on vocals and kicks off with an oversaturated guitar riff before kicking into a full frontal onslaught of Metalcore riffage and Cyprian’s guttural vocals, all before giving way to a soaring melodic hook.
“Under The Rug” follows the release of previous singles “I Was Wrong” and “Peace Of Mind”. Musically, the track is the heaviest song The Region has released to date. “We all have a soft spot for heavy music, so this one was a blast to make,” says the band. “We can’t wait to see the reaction to it in a live setting!”
“Under The Rug” was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Jake Cyprian with artwork by Delta Options. The band has also released an eye-catching visualizer to accompany the single. “Under The Rug” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the visualizer on YouTube below.
The Region is a hard-hitting pop punk/emo trio from the outskirts of Chicago. Their music is dynamic and heartfelt, blending heavy and melodic elements with nostalgic overtones. Some of their most notable accomplishments include being recognized by Alternative Press as Indiana’s rising pop punk band, performing in front of sold-out crowds in the Chicagoland area, their music being featured on ‘The Scene’ & ‘All New Punk’ Spotify editorial playlists, and their songs being aired on Chicago’s 101 WKQX radio station. They have also collaborated with artists such as Free Throw and Violeteyez.
Having shared the stage with acts such as Knuckle Puck, Seaway, Homesafe, Handguns, Hundredth & more, The Region leaves a memorable impact with their passionate and energetic live performance.
The Region Is:
Phil Cyprian – Vocals/Bass
Jake Cyprian – Vocals/Guitar
Jon De St. Jean – DrumsConnect With The Region:
WEBSITE / SPOTIFY / YOUTUBE / TIKTOK
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: College Radio
Release: “I’m Sorry” (Single)
Release Date: 10-22-22
Genre: Pop Punk
Suggested For Fans Of: Blink 182, Green Day, NOFXSeattle’s College Radio is back again with their latest single, “I’m Sorry”. The track is an ultra-catchy mid-tempo pop punk banger perfect for fans of modern alternative music. About the single, the band says “ I’m Sorry is about me trying to explain, justify, and apologize for simply existing. It’s about being incredibly uncomfortable in your own skin, and wanting to disappear. Fun, right?”
The single is the final single from their album Nothing Ever Changes It Only Gets Worse, which is out now. It follows the singles “11:59” and “Better Days” Along with the single, College Radio has released a video for “I’m Sorry”. The video, directed by Brian Roosen, sees the band taking a lesson in cleaning up and fitting in. “I’m Sorry” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Seattle’s premier pop-punk act College Radio blends classic 90’s punk with modern pop and indie sensibilities to create something simultaneously familiar, but also fresh and original. They’ve graced stages up and down the west coast with their wild stage shows and soaring harmonies, and with the release of their Album Nothing Ever Changes It Only Gets Worse, 2022 is looking to be their biggest year yet.
College Radio Is:
Gordon – Vocals/Guitar
Evan – Vocals/Bass
Mike – Drums
Melvin – Guitar/VocalsConnect With College Radio:
LinkTree / Bandcamp / Hypefollow
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Fargo, ND active rock band Dearly Departed has released their new album, Heartless on DI Records. The band has previously released the singles “Hindsight” and “Quiet Echoes” as part of the album rollout.
Of the lead single “Hindsight”, Dearly Departed says the track is a song of regrets. “It’s really about how you wish you could have done things differently, how you wished you hadn’t taken some things for granted, and also how you wished that everything had just worked out. But all you can do is work with what turned out to be and move on.”
The band returned in July of 2022 with the second single “Quiet Echoes”. “The message of Quiet Echoes is from the standpoint of listening to the doubts about yourself. To put it simply it’s about the negative internal monologue that we think to ourselves. The chorus is a call and answer, where I am asking the listener if they feel/hear the same thing I do at times. It’s definitely not a very happy song albeit the solace comes in the form of not being alone in these thoughts, that many others experience the same thing and that brings about a sense of unity.”
he album was produced and mixed by Jeremy Schaffer (Earth Groans, Through Fire) and Joshua Barber (Norma Jean, The Devil Wears Prada) and will be out on DI Records on Oct 14th. The band is managed and mentored by Paul Olsen, formerly of North Dakota favorites The Suite. “Quiet Echoes” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen now on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Dearly Departed is a midwest active rock/metalcore band who aims to release songs all the way from melodic hard rock with catchy vocal melodies that’ll get stuck in your head to crushing metalcore with intense story and internal conflict that’s still appealing to the average listener. Doing nothing half-ass, the Minnesota quintet that makes up Dearly Departed, brings an intense live show, crowd pleasing riffs, and relatable vocals; who’ve supported industry heavy-hitters such as Beartooth, Wage War, Stitched Up Heart, Saving Abel, and more.
In their region, they have established themselves as one of the best up and coming hard rock acts, drawing hundreds of people in their local market along with interest and radio play on clear channel radio Q105.1 in Fargo, ND and 93X in Minneapolis, MN almost immediately after their debut in 2018.
Dearly Departed is celebrating the release of its album with Cold Kingdom, Ashfall, and Stovepipes on October 15th at TAK Music Venue in Dilworth, MN.
Dearly Departed Is:
Jesse Pabody – Vocals
Deven Jason – Guitar/Production
Alex Nikolas – Guitar
Hunter Bring – Bass
Jordan Rasmussen – DrumsConnect With Dearly Departed:
LINKTREE / WEBSITE / SPOTIFY
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Grasping at the Shadow
Release: “Shards Of Glass”
Release Date: 10.20
Genre: Deathcore
Suggested For Fans Of: Filth, Humanity’s Last Breath, Distant
Bradenton, Florida deathcore band Grasping At The Shadow has released its newest single, “Shards of Glass”. The track is brutal from the outset, with a deliberate half-time riff performed over Violinist Kimberly Hovencamp’s simple yet effective melody giving way to double-time blast beats and crunching riffs from guitarist Daniel Avalle and bassist Margaret Applegate, serving as the perfect bed for vocalist Jordan Hanley’s throat-shredding delivery.Speaking on the song, the band said “This single represents a fundamental shift in your music writing. This song is meant to be given meaning by the listener, to invoke an image or scene in their mind unique to them.“
This single will be on the band’s upcoming EP, which is currently in the writing and production phase. The band plans to follow up this release with further singles to continue the EP rollout before announcing a release date. The track was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Chris Whited at 1776 Recordings. Along with the single, the band has released a music video, directed, shot, and edited by Toddi Babu.
“Shards Of Glass” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Anger, sorrow, and pain personified was the goal when creating Grasping At The Shadow. Consisting of vocalist Jordan Hanley, violinist Kimberly Hovencamp, bassist Margaret Applegate, and guitarist Daniel Avalle, the band strives to create a unique brand of Deathcore by incorporating violin layered in with death metal riffs and brutal breakdowns. With this unique mixture, Grasping At The Shadow is a heavy, eerie, sight to be seen.
Formed in 2011 by Daniel Avalle and Kimberly Hovencamp, Grasping At The Shadow has played with Lorna Shore, Rings of Saturn, Hate Eternal, Decapitated, The Browning, and many other national touring acts. After releasing their debut EP Nothing After Death, the band took a brief hiatus before reforming in 2022. Of their hiatus and reformation, the band says “Taking a break was not an easy decision to make but the request from fans the world over for more music could not be ignored. So in this era, we set out to create the angriest, most pissed off music we could.“
Going forward, the band plans to release more material as singles, filled by a brand new EP, and eventually a full-length album. They are also aiming to transition to becoming a touring act and engage with fans outside of their home state.
If you’re looking for a unique approach to Deathcore or a band similar to Filth, Humanity’s Last Breath, or Distant, look no further than Grasping At The Shadow!Grasping The Shadow Is:
Jordan Hanley – Vocals
Kimberly Hovencamp – Violin
Margaret Applegate – Bass
Daniel Avalle – GuitarConnect With Grasping The Shadow:
Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Spotify
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Verse, Chorus, Inferno
Release: Dreams (Single)
Release Date: 10.7.22
Genre: Punk Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Alkaline Trio, Bouncing Souls, MxPxComo, Italy’s Verse, Chorus, Inferno has released their newest single, a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s seminal track “Dreams”. The straight-ahead punk rock track blends the band’s signature style seamlessly with the classic song and features guest vocals from Sandro Forty Winks. “It’s a great classic song, with a very simple structure but killer melodies,” says the band. “We wanted to record a song with our friend Sandro for a while, and we felt this one was a great opportunity. We think the song sounds great, simple, and powerful.”
“Dreams” is the second single from their upcoming album, due out October 28th. It follows the lead single “Fast Times in Den Haag” and will be followed by the final single “The Ballad Of Bill Gates”.
“Dreams” was mixed and mastered by Chris Fogal at Black in Bluhm Studios – Swiss Branch and is being released by Engineer Records (UK), Eternalis Records (FR), Pasidaryk Pats Records (LT), and High End Denim Records (CAN). Along with the track, Verse, Chorus, Inferno has released a music video for “Dreams”. Directed by Alvise Guadagnino, with Video Post Production by Max Finotti , the band focused on making a fun video. “The Doggface meme brought the spotlight back on this track last year, and we played a little with it in the video. We had great fun shooting it, we hope it’s gonna be equally fun to watch.”
“Dreams” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Verse, Chorus, Inferno is a punk rock band from Como, Italy. The band started in 2007 as an “all star band” (with members from Staly Fish, Pankina and INhead) to fill in a tour that had been booked for another band. They played 10 gigs between Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and had so much fun, they decided to be a permanent band.
The band continued for a few years before drifting apart in 2010, when the members moved to different cities, got jobs, kids, and life took them on different paths…until 2020.
During lockdown, the band began working on new music and recorded their first full-length album. The band self-recorded the album at their home and rehearsal space. The new record will be released next fall by Engineer Records on digital platforms + a limited edition LP (300 copies).
Verse, Chorus, Inferno is following the release of the album with select shows through the end of the year.
OCT 28 – Bodenmais (DE) at Rote Res with T-Rex Squad
NOV 12 – Release party in Como (IT) at Joshua Blues with Labradors
NOV 18 – Release party in Mezzago (IT) at Bloom with SNUFF
DEC 16 – Lyon (FR)
DEC 17 – Tours (FR) at Le Grand Cagibi with Breaking TagVerse, Chorus, Inferno Is:
“Cuc” – Gabriele Cucinella (Guitar, vocals)
“Cima” – Mattia Cimadoro (Guitar, vocals)
“Willy” – William Tessaro (Drums)
“Bolo” – Luca Bologna (Bass)Connect With Verse, Chorus, Inferno:
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Vital Stats:
Artist: Project Vela
Release: Waiting for Death to Begin (Single)
Release Date: Sept 29th
Genre: Alternative Metal/Modern Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Dayseeker, Starset
Photos: Dave Gaslin
Project Vela has released their latest single, “Waiting For Death”. The track is the final single from the duo’s EP Elsewhere, following the singles “You Can’t Fix Me”, “Pretend”, “What I Deserve”, “I’m Sorry”, and “Left With Pieces”.
Along with being the last single to be released for the EP, “Waiting For Death” was also the last song written for the EP, and according to the band, it was never really meant to be included. “We had a 6th that was meant to be there in its place, but once we finished this song, we realized how comparatively weak the other was,” explains the band. “So kind of at the last minute, we replaced it with Waiting for Death to Begin.”
Lyrically, the track feels more emotionally honest and raw than the previous singles. The duo went back and forth, trying to tame down the lyrics and the message, before ultimately deciding that genuine honesty was paramount to the mainstream digestibility. Of the song, the band says “This song is a trip through a downward spiral. Dealing with depression on a regular basis, but a new wave comes that’s more powerful than the last. But you’ve dealt with it for so long that you ignore the warning signs, and you’re lulled into a false sense of security thinking “I’ve pulled through this before, I can pull through it again”. This time is different, but you’re naively unaware. Slowly but surely, you’re led down a path of withdrawing from the life around you, and by the time you realize how far down you’ve gone, it’s too late.““Waiting For Death To Begin” was self-produced, mixed by Scott Spriggs, and mastered by Kris Crummett. Along with the single, the band has released an animated video, which they story-boarded themselves. “We felt the best way to tell the story of this song was in an animated video. It shows the personification of the pieces in the song synopsis mentioned above, and the progression of those characters through the song. This angel of death-looking character representing this “new brand” of serious mental illness, and how it follows you around, sneaks up on you, and eventually pulls you down with it when left unchecked.”
“Waiting For Death To Begin” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
PROJECT VELA is making big waves in the modern rock arena, without ever playing a live show. The melodic hard rock duo bridges electronic, pop and alternative elements to create a fresh, explosive sound that British metal magazine Fireworks hailed as “exciting and creative,” describing their EP Disconnected as “an album that will please fans of hard experimental energy driven cinematic rock.”
The entirely DIY project, from the musical minds of lead vocalist Scott Spriggs and multi-instrumentalist co-producer Travis Owen, is drawing comparisons to their own idols, including Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Starset, and I Prevail. Since their 2017 debut, Project Vela has been steadily growing a devoted fan base of over 150,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, while racking up millions of streams on YouTube.
“It just started as kind of like an internet project,” Scott says of the remote collaboration, which only brings them together a few times a year for studio sessions. “It was just for fun, and it just kind of latched on to people and started taking off.”
Project Vela Is:
Scott Spriggs (drums/vocals/bass)
Travis Owen (guitar/keys)Connect With Project Vela:
https://found.ee/projectvela
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@heartriotmedia
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: minimum champion
Release: Strangers (Single)
Release Date: 9/23/2022
Genre: Alternative Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Third Eye Blind, Goo Goo Dolls, Gin Blossomsminimum champion has released their newest single, the radio-ready indie alt-rock track “Strangers”. The track is a strong debut for minimum champion, which is the solo project of STFLR frontman Nick Lopardo. Along with the single, minimum champion has also announced a debut EP, titled The Follower, out October 7th.
The EP was a long time coming for Lopardo, who has been writing the songs over the course of the past 15 years. “The songs on the ep are songs that I haven’t done anything with because I lacked confidence. One of the songs is the very first song I had ever written.”
The first single “Strangers”, Lopardo says “This single represents a return to the music I grew up with. It is who I really am. For the longest time, I felt that I wasn’t good enough of a musician to write a solo record. That fear helped me write this song oddly enough. I had to prove to myself that I can actually do this without the security of a full band behind me.”
Joining Lopardo on the single was Dan DelVecchio (Don’t Believe in Ghosts), who is Nick’s cousin and recording collaborator, on guitar, and Ray Marte (Moon Tooth) on drums. The single and EP were produced by Anthony Lopardo at Westfall Recording Company in Farmingdale, New York.
“Strangers” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now.
Minimum champion is the solo act of STFLR frontman Nick Lopardo. The project is a study of one person’s drive to write the best songs that he possibly can. An undying love for the craft and passion for creativity are the driving factors behind the music.
Connect With minimum champion:
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
San Diego, CA rock band Paper Forest has released their newest album, trick photographer. The album is released by It’s Okay, I’m Crying and contains 12 tracks.
The album started out as an EP of 4 to 5 songs before inspiration struck. “As we were recording the EP, I started trying to learn about the harmonium. I love how it sounds–super reedy, like a droning accordion. I felt enchanted by the harmonium. I recorded myself holding one or two chords, making these longer drone recordings. Then I would take guitar parts and make new arrangements, adding banjo and vocals. Just taking little fragments and turning them into songs. So this little EP that should have been done by the end of summer 2020 turned into this record.”
Paper Forest is an indie rock band from San Diego fronted by singer/songwriter Sean Burdeaux. Originally started in 2005, the band has developed through a myriad of iterations, both in the live setting and on recording. The current studio band features Trevor Mast (Birth, Joy), Brian Scafidi (D/Wolves, 10-19 & The Number Men), and Joel Kynan (Sweet Valley).
Paper Forest is primarily a songwriting project but with an ear for avant-garde experimentation. Inspired by Neutral Milk Hotel, Modest Mouse, Violent Femmes, boygenius, Wilco, Califone, Slothrust, Phoebe Bridgers, Big Thief, Haley Heyndrickx, Palehound, Broken Social Scene, Bright Eyes, Death Cab For Cutie.
You can listen to the album on all streaming platforms now! Hear it on Spotify now.
Paper Forest Is:
Sean Burdeaux – guitars, bass, banjo, harmonium, synthesizer, Rhodes, drum machine, vocals, shaker, mixing, production
Brian Scafidi – drums, bass, engineering, production
Joel Kynan – harmonium, trumpet, mastering
Trevor Mast – synthesizer, lap steel, whistling
Ava Mast & Olive Mast – background vocalsConnect With Paper Forest:
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / BANDCAMP / Paper Forest Website / It’s Okay I’m Crying Website
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Punk band Half Dizzy have released a new single! Check it out on our The Weekly Riot playlist this week!
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Vital Stats:
Artist: The Conduit
Release: Tripcode
Release Date: Sept 2022
Genre: Djent, Metalcore, Progmetal
Suggested For Fans Of: Periphery, Northlane, TesseractOrlando’s The Conduit has released its newest single “Tripcode”. The Conduit is a math metal project from composer Jeffrey Bobbin.
Lyrically, the song is about being true to yourself despite cultural influence. “It’s for people who feel alone because all their interactions feel the same and new ideas start to seem cliché if that makes sense,” explains Bobbin. “While writing it I had this strange feeling that I didn’t want people to infect me with their murky energy and negative thoughts, which I know is silly and I’m at risk of maybe sounding pretentious or elitist. I love people mostly, but lately, it seems like my hometown is isolated and closed off, everyone just speaks the same idea to not risk being a pariah and it feels like there’s no real connection, which ironically this song might inspire just that. No connection. It was more intended to elicit a sense of individualism. “
The track came at a time that The Conduit was gaining attention as the creator of Shuffle-Core. “As I was writing this song I had an album from 2016 go viral on Tik Tok, Icosahedral. I had a 17 second video explaining its concept, which is a 20-minute long song divided into 20 tracks, intended to be played on shuffle, so that it was listened to as one seamlessly randomized song. So I now call myself the pioneer of shuffle-core, a genre that’s optimal for Spotify engagement, because the stream-to-listener ratios are higher due to the fact that people have to listen to the full album on shuffle several times to verify that the concept works, and it doesn’t get old too fast because you’re never hearing the same song twice, unless you listen a billion times.“
“Tripcode” is the first single in a series of planned singles. The single has already been featured on Octane radio and The Metal Siren Podcast. It is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Pioneering the shuffle-core genre with the 20-track EP; Icosahedral, an album that was intended to be played as one randomized song experience that seamlessly merges musical phrases even when played on shuffle, The Conduit is a math metal composer creating music from Orlando, Florida. The sound is designed for listeners who desire complexity and a distinguished melodic profile. Most songs are comprised of Fibonacci rhythmic motives and meticulously head bang-able time signatures. Many songs are written with subliminal hypnotic scripts and include tempos that correspond with various planetary orbit speeds, most notably “Hiraeth” from the Abraxas Shrine album that corresponds with Jupiter’s orbit time. This was all written, performed, and engineered by Jeffrey Bobbin.
The Conduit is Bobbin’s personal music project where he composes all the instrumentation and vocals. He also mixes and masters everything at home. Bobbin is also the vocalist of a prog metal band in Orlando called TRAVERSING INFINITY.
Connect With The Conduit:
Spotify / Tiktok
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Jody and the Jerms
Release: Waves (Single)
Release Date: 9-23-22
Genre: Indie Rock, Pop Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: The GoGos, Best Coast, Beach BunnyOxford, England indie rock band Jody and the Jerms has just dropped their newest single, “Waves”. The song is a jangly guitar and synth pop-rock track that features single Jody’s crystal clear vocals and the band’s knack for radio-ready, saccharine sweet indie rock production.
“Waves was written by Jody and myself over the course of a lazy Sunday afternoon in August,” explains guitarist Niall. “It started with some guitar chords and the melody and the lyrics flowed from there. It’s a song about obsession. We got together a week later in the studio and recorded it with the other four Jerms.”
“Waves” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Jody and the Jerms formed in the Summer of 2019 in Oxford, England, and have been writing, recording, and playing their infectious blend of melodic and uplifting indie/alt/jangle rock ever since – with national airtime on Radio X (UK), Rodney Bingenheimer on Sirius XM (USA), RTVE (Spain) and BBC 6 Music. The six-piece band – or sextet – released their second album Flicker in March 2022, followed by extensive UK touring.
With a prolific writing and recording ethic, the band is already planning the next album release in March of 2023 and plenty more live dates home and abroad. They are celebrating the release of their latest single with three UK shows.
September 18. Great Barn Festival
September 24. Lyric Theatre, Bridport
September 30. Spice of Life, Soho, LondonJody and the Jerms Is:
Jody – vocals
Niall Jeger – guitar and vocals
Peter James Millson – guitar and vocals
Alex Bridge – drums
David Meaden – bass
Robert Anwood – keyboardsConnect With Jody and the Jerms:
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Chenél No.1
Release: Save Me (Single)
Release Date: 9.16.22
Genre: Alternative Rock/Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Amy MacDonald, KT Tunstall, Sheryl CrowJohannesburg, South African alternative rock artist Chenél No.1 has released her latest single, “Save Me”. The track is an alternative rock song with driving guitars and emotive riffs that give it an edge of pain merged with a fierce vulnerability.
Thematically, “Save Me” is a song about breaking through the darkness, having a hand reaching out, and being saved. “Save Me is about a woman thankful that someone loves her enough to accept her with all her flaws, understands the darkness she dwells in, and is willing to pull her out,” explains Chenél. “I feel many people will relate to the emotions of the song as we all deal with frustration, pressure, and disappointment daily. It is a small comfort to know that when you are surrounded by those who love you, you can deal with all the obstacles that stand in your way.”
Although the theme of the song is dark, there is a hopefulness that lurks just beyond the shadows, wanting to draw you into the light. “Save Me was originally written just for myself as a creative outlet,” says Chenél No.1. “As a songwriter, I sometimes pour my heart into my lyrics and a reflection of what I’m feeling at that specific time. With Save Me I wanted to embrace the darkness I was feeling but also include the grateful aspect of having someone supporting me in what I’m experiencing.”
Along with the single, Chenél No.1 has also dropped a video for “Save Me”. The music video was approached in a completely DIY manner with one of Chenél’s friends recording the footage on her phone. “As independent artists, we’re always told not to let your lack of budget stand in the way of creativity and putting content out into the world. So I have embraced the fact that I cannot complete with high budget productions and make do with what I have available. I’m proud of what we created with the very limited resources available.“
“Save Me” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Chenél No.1 grew up on the sounds of Credence Clearwater Revival and The Shadows and has a great love for music. During the day she works as an operations manager, she’s married with three kids and pursues her music after hours. Starting her journey in late 2019, she released her first song and has since continued to share her signature sound through a number of well-received single releases such as She’s a Flamingo (2020), Master of Disguise (2021), Turquoise Tears and Shoot for the Stars (2022).
Chenél is pushing more towards the alternative rock genre lately while fusing a mix of folk and modern country sounds that are big on emotion with catchy melodies underpinned by great guitar riffs. 2022 saw her long-awaited acoustic EP, Turquoise Tears, released to widespread coverage on social media and internet radio play in the UK, Germany, Netherlands, and the US, as well as receiving placement on a leading South African Spotify curated playlist, SAlt.
The Turquoise Tears EP was followed up by two rock singles and a song in her mother tongue, Afrikaans, showcasing her flexibility as an artist. She was recently nominated in three categories of the Afri-Indie Independent Artists Music Awards 2022, winning the Best Newcomer Songwriter category. A new EP is taking shape in the studio, scheduled for a 2023 release.
Connect With Chenél No.1 :
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Press Contact:
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Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Steady Decline
Release: Erase Me
Release Date: 8.21.22
Genre: Pop Punk, Emo, Punk
Suggested For Fans Of: Knuckle Puck, In Her Own Words, Like PacificDublin, Ireland pop-punk duo Steady Decline has released their newest single, “Erase Me”. The song is an emotionally charged track about being haunted by and trying to move on from a toxic relationship and was released on indie label Never Meant.
The track is an acoustic-tinged pop-punk ballad that showcases the duo’s vocals and melancholy songwriting, before kicking into a full band production with electric guitars, drums, and soaring vocals.
The song was a true labor of love for co-vocalist and guitarists Oscar Hackett and Jack Wright, who have been chiseling away at it for some time now. “Erase Me is a song that’s been lying around on the cutting room floor for a few years,” says the band. “It’s gone through various versions and during the last two years we finally got around to finishing it and recording it the way we always envisioned with our good friend and producer Ciaran Nevin.”
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Ciaran Nevin and mastered by Ste Kerry, “Erase Me” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the visualizer on YouTube below.
Steady Decline started when Oscar & Jack were both gigging as separate acoustic acts for years. Oscar’s old band All It’s Worth had just broken up, but songs were still pouring out of him so he booked some studio time and asked Jack if he wanted to come in and work on some new music. Shortly after, they joined forces, recorded their first EP Coping Mechanism, and began gigging in 2017. Over the next two years, they would regularly play Dublin, Galway & Belfast and share the stage with acts like Forever Came Calling, In Her Own Words & Kurt Travis.
In 2018 they released a split EP with Galway punk band Old Bean and toured Ireland & UK. After some time off during the pandemic they started demoing in our home studios and are now back with plans to gig and release music regularly. Their first release back in 2022 was the aggressively catchy pop-punk banger “Start Over”, which is a prime example of what Steady Decline is all about: fast music, dual vocals, catchy riffs, and songs that will get stuck in your head for weeks.
Steady Decline Is:
Oscar Hackett: Songwriter, Vocals & Guitar
Jack Wright: Vocals & GuitarConnect With Steady Decline:
Instagram / Facebook / Steady Decline Website / Never Meant Website
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: State Run Radio
Release: State Run Radio EP
Genre: Hardcore Punk
For Fans Of: Dag Nasty, One Step Closer, KoyoFarmingdale, NY hardcore punk band State Run Radio has released their debut EP, the self-titled State Run Radio EP. The 6 song EP is out now on Lemmis Records and features the singles “Our New National Anthem” and “Rent the Garden”.
On “New National Anthem”, State Run Radio took it upon itself to give America a new, better reason to stand at sporting events. “We had a conversation one day about the national anthem at rehearsal. And how we all hate it. It’s outdated, it uses words that aren’t even used anymore, it’s racist and it musically sucks,” explains the band. “We wrote the music to the song that same day recorded it and sent it home with Joe. A few weeks later he came in to rehearsal and was like I fixed the national anthem.”
The theme for “Rent the Garden” came up as a joke at practice. “This song is an uplifting one about going after your dreams. We randomly rented a gigantic rehearsal room for fun one night and used it to write new material. There were some jokes cracked about how dumb it was and how no one has probably ever used the space like this before. At some point, Matt busts out this total rock riff. There were a couple jokes about writing arena rock and someone said What are you going to rent next? The Garden? That was it, chorus was written.”
A lot happened between late 2001, the last time Brian Schatzel was in a band, and late 2020. Donald Trump, following 8 years of our first Black President, made racism acceptable and divided our country more than it has been since the civil war era. Then the pandemic hit and locked us all away. Needing an outlet more than ever, Brian began playing bass guitar and eventually assembling what would become State Run Radio. The band’s lineup was solidified when drummer Matt Pursino moved to second guitar and Dan Pursino joined Brian, Matt, founding guitarist Thomas Berghorn and vocalist Joe Mazzeo, to take over behind the drums.
The band is fueled by Political disgust and Media distrust which comes across in everything from the band’s name and Mazzeo’s lyrics to their cover of Marginal Man’s Missing Rungs and their Evil Mic artwork by Billy Sidebyside. State Run Radio released 2 EP’s back to back in August and September of 2022 while playing with Murphy’s Law at Amityville Music Hall in-between.
The first EP released, which is self-titled, contains 6 tracks showing the band’s progression from the early days of the pandemic. The first tracks Panic, A Thousand Crises and Rise Up are aggressive, fast-paced, and ripe with sing-alongs. On the fourth track, Rent The Garden, Mazzeo shows he can do more than sing aggressively and the guitars bring a rock feel to the riffs. Rat Bastard is a throwback with a lightning-fast thrashy feel, taking you to the most aggressive edge of the record. The last track, Our New National Anthem, busts out with melodic riffs and vocals, guitar solos, anthemic sing-alongs, and guest vocals by General George of Long Island Hardcore band Clockwise fame.
Both EP’s were Produced, Recorded and Mixed by George Fullan at General Studios and The Workshop East. All Mastering was done by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. The Evil Mic artwork is by Brian Clark, aka Billy Sidebyside, bassist of Side By Side and artist of Gorilla Biscuits fame. A 12″ vinyl double EP containing both releases is available for pre-order on Lemmis Records and is expected to ship in early November.
The State Run Radio EP is streaming on all digital streaming platforms. Hear it on Spotify now or listen to “Our New National Anthem” on YouTube below:
State Run Radio is:
Vocals – Joe Mazzeo
Guitars – Thomas Berghorn & Matt Pursino
Bass – Brian Schatzel
Drums – Dan PursinoConnect With State Run Radio:
Website / Instagram
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Press Contact:
Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Kanashii
Release: Nevermind (single)
Release Date: 09/09/22
Genre: Grunge, Shoegaze, Alternative
Suggested For Fans Of: Nirvana, NothingLexington, KY alternative shoegaze band Kanashii has released their newest single, the description “Nevermind”. The track is out on Cardigan Records and is a fuzzy, spaced-out midtempo rocker that feels equally at home next to 90s era grunge acts like Nirvana as it does with newer shoegaze acts such as Nothing.
Lyrically, the song is all about dealing with negative energy in our lives. “We all knew this person who would just come around and suck all the fun out of day-to-day life. To me, the song is about cutting out that negative energy and growing from it. “
“Nevermind” is the second single from a planned album rollout for the album Imposter Syndrome, due out October 28th, 2022. It follows the lead single “Afterglow”, which was released on March 15th, 2022. The single was recorded and produced by Luke Nagel of Lyra Productions in Nashville, which helped bring the band closer together. “We recorded “Nevermind” in Nashville with Luke, and we did tons of pranks on each other,” explains vocalist/guitarist Sammy Clifford. “During the recording, we pranked our bassist by spiking reaper pepper sauce on a sandwich and it was hilarious. Plus we got to explore the city in between recording sessions. It was so much fun and I feel like we really connected more as a band!“
“Nevermind” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now or watch the video on YouTube below.
Kanashii is a Modern Grunge/Shoegaze band from Southeastern Kentucky. The word, Kanashi, translates to sad, miserable, unhappy, or sorrowful person in Japanese. The band decided to use this name since the original creation of the band was to be an outlet to help cope with negative emotions. The band was formed during the 2020 pandemic by lead singer/guitarist, Sammy Clifford, as a way to convey empathy, grief, and many other emotions via musical expression. Joined by Gwynn Smitty on bass, Tyrah Millay on Drums, and Alec Edwards on Guitar the band has built a unique sound inspired by bands such as Nirvana, Deftones, My Bloody Valentine, and The Cure.
Kanashii is celebrating the release of their new single on September 10th with Escape The Fate at Headliners Music Hall in Louisville, KY.
Kanashii Is:
Sammy Clifford – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Gwynn Smitty – Bass
Tyrah Millay -Drums
Alec Edward – GuitarConnect With Kanashii:
Instagram / Facebook / Spotify / Cardigan Records
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Press Contact:
Publicist: Lance Waste for Heart Riot
Email: heartriotmedia@gmail.com -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Dearly Departed
Release: HEARTLESS (Album)
Release Date: October 14th, 2022
Genre: Active Rock/Metalcore/Hard Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: I Prevail, Of Mice & Men, All that RemainsFargo, ND active rock band Dearly Departed has announced their new album, Heartless, to be released in October of this year. The band has previously released the singles “Hindsight” and “Quiet Echoes” as part of the album rollout, and what an album rollout it’s been! The band dropped “Hindsight” in December of 2020, right before Covid put everything on pause for the next two years. With the world turning again, Dearly Departed has restarted the album ramp up, releasing their latest single, “Quiet Echoes” in July and signed to Pittsburgh indie label standouts DI Records, who are releasing Heartless on October 14th.
Of the lead single “Hindsight”, Dearly Departed says the track is a song of regrets. “It’s really about how you wish you could have done things differently, how you wished you hadn’t taken some things for granted, and also how you wished that everything had just worked out. But all you can do is work with what turned out to be and move on.”
The band returned in July of 2022 with the second single “Quiet Echoes”. “The message of Quiet Echoes is from the standpoint of listening to the doubts about yourself. To put it simply it’s about the negative internal monologue that we think to ourselves. The chorus is a call and answer, where I am asking the listener if they feel/hear the same thing I do at times. It’s definitely not a very happy song albeit the solace comes in the form of not being alone in these thoughts, that many others experience the same thing and that brings about a sense of unity.”
The album was produced and mixed by Jeremy Schaffer (Earth Groans, Through Fire) and Joshua Barber (Norma Jean, The Devil Wears Prada) and will be out on DI Records on Oct 14th. The band is managed and mentored by Paul Olsen, formerly of North Dakota favorites The Suite. “Quiet Echoes” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen now on Spotify or watch the video on YouTube below.
Dearly Departed is a midwest active rock/metalcore band who aims to release songs all the way from melodic hard rock with catchy vocal melodies that’ll get stuck in your head to crushing metalcore with intense story and internal conflict that’s still appealing to the average listener. Doing nothing half-ass, the Minnesota quintet that makes up Dearly Departed, brings an intense live show, crowd pleasing riffs, and relatable vocals; who’ve supported industry heavy-hitters such as Beartooth, Wage War, Stitched Up Heart, Saving Abel, and more.
In their region, they have established themselves as one of the best up and coming hard rock acts, drawing hundreds of people in their local market along with interest and radio play on clear channel radio Q105.1 in Fargo, ND and 93X in Minneapolis, MN almost immediately after their debut in 2018.
Dearly Departed is celebrating the release of its album with Cold Kingdom, Ashfall, and Stovepipes on October 15th at TAK Music Venue in Dilworth, MN.
Dearly Departed Is:
Jesse Pabody – Vocals
Deven Jason – Guitar/Production
Alex Nikolas – Guitar
Hunter Bring – Bass
Jordan Rasmussen – DrumsConnect With Dearly Departed:
LINKTREE / WEBSITE / SPOTIFY
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: Standard Broadcast
Release: I Meant What I Said
Release Date: 9.2.22
Genre: Indie Rock
Suggested For Fans Of: Cursive, Elbow, The FrayPittsburgh, PA indie rock band Standard Broadcast has released their newest single, “I Meant What I Said”. The indie rock track blurs the lines between classic rock, indie alternative like Cursive mainstream pop rock like The Fray. The single is part of a planned album, due out in Spring/Summer of 2023.
As far as the writing process, “I Meant What I Said” fell together easily and was a true group effort. “This was a super fun song that we wrote in one night. There was lyric input from almost every band member, which was a blast!”
The track was recorded by six-time Grammy Award-winning producer Jimmy Hoyson at The Vault Recording Studio. “Jimmy is amazing, super down to earth, and very easy to get along with.” said the and. “He obviously has a fantastic ear but along with that, he’s just got a great knack for musical composition.” In fact, Hoyson is responsible for the bridge on “I Meant What I Said”. “He liked our first take but told us we had to go back and figure out a bridge for the song. That was super cool and really lets you know he cares about the project.”
Standard Broadcast’s previous release, “Nothing Left”, premiered on Pittsburgh’s classic rock station 102.5 WDVE. The band also had the honor of recording the track “Cruisin’” by Smokey Robinson. Lead singer Nathan Jay has known Mr. Robinson and his wife Frances for over 15 years. “They asked us if we would record that track…which of course we did! They were even kind enough to let us record the music video in their home and use Smokey’s piano!”
“I Meant What I Said” is now available across all major streaming platforms. Listen to “I Meant What I Said” on SPOTIFY or watch the video on YouTube below.
Standard Broadcast is fronted by Nathan Jay on piano and vocals, along with Leland Shaw (cello), Adam Seymour (guitar), Thomas Persson (bass), and Patrick Riley (drums). Formed in 2014, Nathan and Leland set out to create a more dynamic, catchy feel, without the traditional guitar/bass ensemble. After six months of songwriting, the duo went on to add hip-hop-driven beats. Add to that Nathan’s rhythmic piano skills and rock-inspired vocals, along with Leland’s classically trained cello experience, and their music developed into an indie flare. The band rounded out their lineup and is now a full five-piece outfit completely locked into their own unique sound.
The band is celebrating with a performance at Indie-Rockfest at Thunderbird Music Hall on Saturday, November 12th. This is the 6th annual Indie-Rockfest, a festival the band founded to raise money for independent musicians in Pittsburgh.
Standard Broadcast Is:
Nathan Jay: lead vocals/ keys
Leland Shaw: cello
Adam Seymour: guitar/vocals
Patrick Riley: drums
Thomas Persson: bassConnect With Standard Broadcast:
LINKTREE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY
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Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Cleveland alternative emo rock band Darling Waste has just released their first single on DI Records, “Sheets Over Windows”. The track is a fan favorite, which the band has played live for years, but never recorded. “We wrote the song with about fifteen other tracks for our third album, but the label that we were on was adamant about only releasing an 8-track ep,” explains Darling Waste singer-songwriter Lance Waste. “We were left with a handful of songs that we really liked that didn’t get released. Sheets is a favorite of mine and we tend to play it a lot during tours when we get bored of our current setlist.”
Over the years, fans began sharing live versions of “Sheets Over Windows” on YouTube and file-sharing services, making the song a popular single, even though it was never released. “It was really wild to play the song live in a town we’ve never even been in before, and people are singing along. Like, how do you know this?” says Waste.
Musically the single is a power-pop meets emo throwback reminiscent of bands like The Weakerthans and Dashboard Confessional. Lyrically the song is about trying to move on from tragedy. “Like a lot of our songs, especially at the time, Sheets is autobiographical.” Waste explains. “I had just ended a long relationship and was basically just hanging out with friends, sleeping through the day, going to parties, and rebounding the best I could. It was kind of, have fun or die trying, I suppose.”
Sheets Over Windows is now playing across all Digits Streaming Platforms. Hear the song on Spotify now, or watch the lyric video on YouTube below:
Darling Waste has spent two decades carving out a DIY niche for themselves as an emotional alt-rock band with a punk rock ethos and an indie folk soul. From Cleveland to Brooklyn to Brighton, England, and back again, Darling Waste has played over 900 full band shows and 300 solo shows in 11 countries while performing with acts like Blink-182, Fallout Boy, Panic ! At The Disco, Dashboard Confessional, Hawthorne Heights, The Ataris, Yellowcard, and Bayside.
Singer-songwriter Lance Waste started the band as a solo project in 2003, performing DIY shows around his native Cleveland, Ohio. His single “Changing Of The Seasons” was picked up by local radio and soon caught fire, being added to rotation on over 100 stations. Waste soon moved to Brooklyn, New York, and recruited friends to fill out the band and hit the road, performing on a self-booked national tour in support of their first album, selling 11,000 copies along the way. The band quickly became one of the prominent underground acts of the mid-2000s indie emo scene, racking up over 1 million plays on Myspace.comDarling Waste’s music has been featured on MTV, VH1, HBO, Showtime, and in feature films as well as played over 10k times on the radio. The band relocated to Brighton, England in 2009, and their UK album, I Am Born saw Darling Waste nominated at the Brighton Music Awards, where they presented alongside Jimmy Page (Led Zepplin) and Roger Daltry (The Who). The band released a Hot Topic exclusive EP in 2010, following it up with an East Coast in-store performance tour before heading back across the pond for their first UK and EU headlining tours.
Darling Waste released five full-length albums and four EPs before going on hiatus in 2017. Now Darling Waste has reformed, released the new single “Sheets Over Windows” on DI Records, and has an EP due out this Fall. They are performing select festivals and headlining sets for the rest of 2022.
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Vital Stats:
Artist: MESSMAKER
Release: We Are The Architects (single)
Release Date: 8-19-22
Genre: Rock, Alternative, Indie
Suggested For Fans Of: Panic at the Disco, Switchfoot, U2
Cleveland indie alt-rock duo MESSMAKER has just released their latest single, “We Are The Architects“. The track marks their first release since their debut album, 2020’s Through The Fire. Musically, the track sees the band take a slightly more mature turn in production while continuing to perfect the sound they started on the first album.
Lyrically “We Are The Architects” is the band’s rejection of the acquiescence to the mundane. “Everyone is born with an innate creativity; we see the world as full of possibilities and are not bound by the limitations of what others believe is possible,” explains the band. “As we grow up and grapple with the pressures of adulthood, it’s far too easy to lose connection with that vision and belief that we can make the world a place we want to live. We get to choose what the future will be, for our generation and those that come after.”
This song was originally released as a stripped-down acoustic song for lead singer Michael McFarland’s solo project, but has become such a beloved anthem that MESSMAKER decided to release it as a full band track. “We decided to give it the full MESSMAKER treatment, and suddenly it felt like it had become the song it was always supposed to be,” says the band. “This is also the first MESSMAKER release for which Freja played drums, and when we got in the studio she nailed it on the first take!”
MESSMAKER has also released a new video for “We Are the Architects”, which includes a nod to the original solo video. “When Michael originally released the song under his own name, he stood in front of a black sheet, set up a couple lamps around him, and filmed himself singing the song with his phone. He layered the lyrics over that and called it a day,” says the band. “When it came to making a video for this new version of the song, we decided to pay homage to the past, but give it some more MESSMAKER flavor. One of the hallmarks of our live performances is our light show, so we pointed ALL of our lights at Michael, and used that same phone to film him singing the song.”
“We Are The Architects” is now playing across all digital streaming platforms. Listen to it on Spotify now, or watch the video on YouTube below.
Aggressively catchy melodies pair with soul-filled lyrics in MESSMAKER’s refreshing take on indie rock. Lighting up stages as a power duo, musical architect Michael McFarland and versatile percussionist Freja McNeal bring the energy of an arena show to every performance. Garnering comparisons ranging from modern rock acts such as Panic At the Disco and Bastille, McFarland’s songwriting is frank, expressive, and clever, and joined by McNeal the Cleveland, Ohio-based act elevates the material on stage with a seemingly inexhaustible energy. Showing a maturity of style and sound that has developed through years of travel, relationships, heartbreaks, and reinventions, MESSMAKER’s music contains talent, passion, and lyrics that come from the heart. The result? A big, bright, and lovestruck slice of anthemic indie rock.
MESSMAKER is celebrating the release of We Are The Architects at the Five O’Clock Lounge in Lakewood Ohio with friends MOSSOM and The Parlor Crows on Friday, August 19th
Messmaker Is:Michael McFarland – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Freja McNeal – Percussion, Samples, Backing VocalsConnect With Messmaker:
INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / LINKTR.EE / YOUTUBE###
Press Contact:
Heart Riot Agency – Publicist: Lance Waste
Email: theheartriotagency@gmail.com
WEBSITE / INSTAGRAM / SPOTIFY / FACEBOOK / TIKTOK / TWITCH -
Vital Stats:
Artist: #lameassdads
Release: Greetings from Nowhere, Ohio (Album)
Release Date: TBA
Genre: Pop Punk
Suggested For Fans Of: MxPx, Blink-182, Millencolin#lameassdads is a pop-punk band from Toledo, Ohio, who has just announced the vinyl release of their album Greetings from Nowhere, Ohio. The vinyl is being released by Punkerton Records. It’s being released as random mix color vinyl so each record will be an unique, one of one. The vinyl release also features two bonus tracks, one of which has never been released!
Musically, the goal of the album was to make the type of fun, nostalgic pop-punk music that the members of the band grew up on. “We set out to make an album that we would want to listen to,” explains the band. “We recorded the whole album in Ryan’s house. The entire process was extremely therapeutic and we joked that it was way cheaper than talk therapy. If you’re a fan of that 90’s pop-punk/alternative sound we think you’ll really enjoy our songs. We grew up on that style of music, love it, and hope we did it justice.”
The album was preceded by the singles “Nowhere, Ohio”, “Days Pass By”, and “My Favorite Boys”. “Nowhere, Ohio” caught the attention of Punkerton Records founder Brandon Lewis, who used it as the official theme song for his successful summer festival, Hell Is Ohio. “The first time I heard “Nowhere, Ohio” I was blown away,” explains Brandon, “I’m so stoked about this. This is my label’s very first vinyl release. The pre-order is going a lot faster than I could have ever anticipated!”
#lameassdads is a pop-punk band from Toledo, Ohio whose members are, well… #lameassdads! The band was formed in early 2021 when two friends, Ryan and Andy, decided they still had some gas in the tank for songwriting and creating. Now in their late 30s with real jobs, families, and responsibilities, they realized they still needed an outlet to get their adult angst out. Inspired by artists such as Blink-182, Bad Religion, MxPx, and Descendants, they began collaborating together on their first collection of original songs. Together they tackle topics of long sleepless nights, the hard but rewarding job of parenting, loss of loved ones, falling in love, personal growth, and remembering the glory days that led them to where they are now. They tapped friends Tim (Drums) and Dan (Guitar/Background Vocals) to join the band and help bring their songs to a live audience.
You can pre-order the album here.
#lameassdads Is:
Ryan – Guitar/Vocals
Andy – Bass/Vocals
Tim – Drums
Dan – Guitar/Background VocalsConnect With #lameassdads:
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Vital Stats:
Artist: Marko Bojkovic
Release: Venom
Release Date: 7.28
Genre: Metal
Suggested For Fans Of: Trivium, Meshuggah, Dream TheaterFlorida metal guitarist Marko Bojkovic has released his latest album, Venom. Musically, the album is a mixture of progressive metal, death metal, power metal, and thrash metal, with a hint of influence from anime and video game OSTs. Venom was over two years in the making, beginning in 2020 when Covid hit. “Recording was on hiatus during the final months of that year so I could finish up grad school,” explained Marko. In 2021, he continued to compose and record, with the project eventually becoming a collaboration between many of Marko’s talented friends. “I’d like to give a huge thank you to my friends Brandon Delpino of Kiss of Betrayal and the Mourning for writing lyrics, Chris Savipoulos of DeathtrucK for his killer vocal work, and my bandmate/brother in shred from Spiritual Chaos, Anthony DiFiglio, for his sick solo at the end of his song and telling me about Chris.”
The album was preceded by two lead singles, “My Strength Returning“, and the title track “Venom”. The three-and-a-half-minute instrumental track is a wild ride of riffs, blast beats, and of course, what any great metal instrumental should have, sick-ass guitar solos.“Venom is one of my favorite villains from Spider-Man, so I actually wanted to make a Venom-themed album when I bought my 8-string back in 2016,” explains Bojkovic. “Over time, I ended up making it the first song I ever wrote in an open tuning, and I think it suited Venom a lot better and made this song even more special to me!”
“Venom” was produced and mixed by James Lewis, who also provided the drum programming. The single is currently playing across all digital streaming platforms. Listen to it now on Spotify, or on YouTube below.
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On “My Strength Returning”, Bojkovic reflects on his physical journey. “When Covid hit back in 2020, I stopped going to the gym,” explains Marko. “This lead to me losing a significant amount of strength. I returned to working out in January 2021, but I couldn’t lift as heavy as I did before Covid. I don’t like to give up, so I kept training and training for several months, and eventually, I was able to lift heavier than I ever did before Covid! I almost ran out of ideas to write one more song for this album, but this story immediately came to mind, and to emphasize my strength/power coming back, I added power metal elements to it! This song also has my absolute favorite guitar solo that I ever wrote in it!” You can hear “My Strength Returning” on YouTube below:
Marko’s musical style has progressed over the years from traditional thrash metal to a style that blends all sorts of metal such as progressive, death, extreme, power, and thrash metal. This growth reflects in the album’s dark-and-then-light nature, with the goal of making an album that fans of all types of metal can enjoy, while making sure to put little treats for the anime fans and gamers! Outside of his personal music, Marko plays guitar in Spiritual Chaos. “It’s a brand new band, so we’re working on material to be released soon.” says Bojkovic
Marko’s music is perfect for fans of Trivium, Meshuggah, Allegeaon, Obscura, Dream Theater, Firewind, Sabaton, Powerwolf, Iron Maiden, Kiko Loureiro/Angra, and Leprous. Venom is currently playing across all digital streaming platforms.
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