A quick round-up of things we’ve heard about over the last day or so…
Machine Head
A little vague, this one, but Machine Head will be releasing The Catharsis in January 2018 – no actual date as yet, though the band will be kicking off six weeks of US dates on the 25th of the month. Plans are for them to play an “evening with” performance again (up to three hours, no support) and the band have reiterated their “no festivals” policy they enacted in 2014, so I guess that means they’re not the remaining Bloodstock 2018 headliner which will be announced on Saturday!
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Avantgarde black metal outfit <code> are set to reveal new material this Autumn – entitled Under the Subgleam, the new EP is a bleak and introspective release with a sound and feel which sitting somewhere between the first two <code> albums.
Under the Subgleam is penned for a 03 November 2017 release date via Apocalyptic Witchcraft Recordings. The EP was recorded at Mayfair Studios in Surrey, produced by the band themselves and mastering was taken care of by Greg Chandler (Esoteric, Fleurety, Grave Miasma, Mourning Beloveth etc) at Priory Studios.
Under The Subgleam track listing:
- Toll
- Plot of Skinned Heavens
- Pollution Vigil
- Cave Soul
In support of the release of the new EP, the band will be playing a string of UK shows in early November:
- 04 Nov The Green Door Store – Brighton (Winter Doom festival)
- 09 Nov Boston Music Room – London (with Vulture Industries)
- 10 Nov Tiger Lounge – Manchester (with Vulture Industries)
- 11 Nov The Garage – Glasgow (with Vulture Industries)
Core of iO
Much revered quartet Core of iO reveal plans for their stunning new EP Part II: Europa, which arrives in stores on Friday 1st December. The progressive combo have also released a lyric video for “Hit The River Hard” which you can see below.
Ever since their inception in 2014, Core of iO have continually strived to create interesting and well-thought out compositions influenced by multi-genres; the foursome have certainly fulfilled this brief, and then some. Described as “Dynamic, intelligent and dripping with hooks”, favourable comparisons have fluctuated from anywhere between Sikth, Fall of Troy, The Mars Volta and Deftones.
You can pre-order the EP via their website, and catch them on the following dates:
- Oct 20th – Camden, The Unicorn
- Oct 25th – Brighton, The Prince Albert
- Oct 26th – Ashford, The Attic
- Oct 27th – Southampton, The Firehouse
- Oct 28th – Banbury, The Wheatsheaf
- Nov 1st – Bristol, The Gryphon
- Nov 2nd – Hull, O’ Reillys
- Nov 3rd – Leeds, The Fenton
- Nov 4th – Kettering, The Prince Of Wales
Divides
Glasgow’s Divides kickstart an exciting new chapter today, announcing the release of forthcoming EP Embers for 24th November.
Produced by Romesh Dodengoda (Don Broco, Twin Atlantic, Lower Than Atlantis), forthcoming EP Embers captures Divides’ trials and tribulations as a band, but most importantly showcases triumph in new life. The band will release a new single and announce UK tour dates very soon. Guitarist David Lennon had this to say:
We feel like Embers is us telling the world that this is our band, and we are ready. We loved Recording in Wales with Romesh, he’s been on the scene for a long time and produced some of our favourite bands. It was a great learning experience, he had an awesome studio and we valued his input into the record.
Annihilator
Thrash/heavy metal legends to release 16th studio album on November 3rd, 2017.
Since 1989, Canada’s Annihilator have not stopped putting out records and touring the world. The ‘under-the-radar’ influence of this band, and writer/guitarist/vocalist Jeff Waters, has been felt throughout the entire realm of the metal world by a ton of well-known musicians and bands; that influence even stretching into the hard rock and instrumentalist genre.
Annihilator’s main man Jeff Waters, in his usual humble manner, offers this in response:
Annihilator’s music has been influenced by a good hundred of my favorite bands and musicians; you can hear their contributions to what I have been doing all throughout Annihilator’s catalogue. It’s a bonus and an honour when bands and musicians I love mention that I had something to do with their playing or songs!
Which all leads to the fact that Annihilator’s 16th studio release, For The Demented, is certainly their most complete and definitive statement yet. For The Demented captures some feel from Annihilator’s 1985-87 demos mixed with the first 4 Annihilator records. Back to the thrash meets melody but with some pure Waters guitar riffing, up-graded lead guitar shredding and vocals back to the demo-days meets the King of The Kill record.
For The Demented will be released via Neverland Music/Silver Lining Music on November 3rd, 2017 and will be available in a Limited Edition Digipack with lenticular cover, a jewel-case CD, a 12” 180gms coloured vinyl in gatefold and digital download.
