Streamed on New Music Night and voted on by Rocked viewers, this is a playlist of songs allgiven the highest percentage of positive votes through May of 2022. Each song was played to a live audience and voted on with a thumbs up or thumbs down by each viewer on Twitch.
You can listen to new music live and join the discussion every Sunday at 7PM EST on Twitch. Click here to follow and for go-live notifications. http://twitch.tv/rockednet
Best New Music of May 2023 | YouTube Playlist
Best New Music of May 2023 | Spotify Playlist
Featuring (in order of time added to the list): 3TEETH ft. Mick Gordon – “Merchant Of The Void” Voyager – “Prince Of Fire” Infected Rain – “Dying Light” Currents – “Unfamiliar” Winter – “Tears Of Blood” Nita Strauss ft. Anders of In Flames – “The Golden Trail” Sevendust – “Everything” Conquer Divide – “welcome2paradise” The Warning – “More” Finger Eleven – “Together Right” The Dark Side Of The Moon – “New Horizons” Nothing But Thieves – “Overcome” Foo Fighters – “Under You” Ghost – “Phantom Of The Opera” Corey Taylor – “Beyond” Spanish Love Songs – “Haunted” Major Moment – “Toxic” Within Temptation – “Wireless” HOlding Absence – “False Dawn” Caskets ft. Telle Smith – “More Than Misery” Foo Fighters – “Show Me How” Halestorm ft. Ashley McBryde – “Terrible Things” Heart Attack Man – “Like A Kennedy” Rancid – “Devil In Disguise” Mesarthim – “Arrival, Pt. 5” I Prevail – “Deep End (Stripped)” Kreator – “Conquer And Destroy” Danko Jones – “Good Time” Yes – “Circle Of Time”
Thanks to everyone that tuned in live on Twitch every Sunday for New Music Night. Click here to follow the Twitch channel and get go-live notifications for New Music Night every Sunday at 7 PM EST: HTTP://twitch.tv/rockednet
Industrial Provocateurs 3TEETH Zero In On The Grave Tolls Of Human Excess And Corporate Consumption In Rousing New Single + Video For “Slum Planet”
The Latest Track From Upcoming New Album| Coming Soon Via Century Media And Featuring Several Tracks Produced By DOOM Composer Mick Gordon
As the hits of the world keep coming, so does ripe new material from 3TEETH. Today, the modern industrial act provides another tempting taste of their anticipated new album with the release of “Slum Planet,” featuring production from DOOM composer Mick Gordon. It’s featured alongside a gripping new video from one of Hollywood’s leading directors Matteo Santoro (who grew up with 3TEETH frontman Alexis Mincolla).
Repeating the anthemically charged chorus, “I don’t care if you live or you die, as long as you’re willing to buy,” the song takes aim at the ills of a sick planet obsessed with over-consumption at all costs, further admonished in an attention-grabbing mid-track diatribe from frontman and creative lead Alexis Mincolla.
As Mincolla explains the track, ”An ecosystem? More like an ego-system. ‘Slum Planet’ is a monument to the hubris of mankind, to the ruthless exploitation of nature in the name of progress, to the willful blindness of those who chose profits over preservation.”
3TEETH “Slum Planet” ft. Mick Gordon
“Slum Planet” continues 3TEETH’s series of monthly teases leading up to their anticipated fourth album coming soon via Century Media Records (with more details to be announced soon).
It follows the May 3 release of their explosive return to the fold with “Merchant of the Void,” hailed as a one of the “best new songs” by Metal Hammer and Revolver. While Metal Hammer says the song “traces lineage in both Al Jourgensen and Trent Reznor,” Revolver hails the song as “utterly gigantic and over-the-top in the best way possible” and applauds the return of 3TEETH in 2023 at a time “when we needed their apocalyptic, incendiary industrial-metal most.”
To lay the foundation for the new material, 3TEETH migrated to the deserted quiet of Joshua Tree, escaping from the palpable anxiety of their hometown of Los Angeles for a fresh new perspective. The material is currently being wrapped up with a solid extended team including the accomplished sound designer Mick Gordon (best known for his work on the gaming phenomenon DOOM) who produced several of the tracks along with producer Nick Rowe and mixer Sean Beavan (NIN), bringing in another dimension to the band’s unmistakable sound.
Says Gordon, “3TEETH are one of my favorite acts. They proudly fly their own unique flag. The new album charts course through the next stage of our vanity-led evolution as a species, and by that I mean the album is a world unto itself. I’m just stoked that these guys have allowed me along for the ride.”
3TEETH is: Alexis Mincolla – vocals Chase Brawner – guitars Xavier Swafford – keyboards and synthesizer Andrew Means – bass Nick Rossi – drums
Have you ever been to a concert that left you speechless? That was the result last Friday night in Red Bank, NJ. Collective Soul blew the roof off our Red Bank’s new venue, The Vogel. The band played a jam-packed 16-song set filled with fan favorites, unreleased material, and classics.
The Vogel is an industrial-type venue offering fans an intimate experience. You can get right up next to the stage, which creates a unique experience. It gives the feeling that you are watching the band play in your living room. There’s also plenty of seating on the second level, which opens up to the floor below.
Collective Soul kicked off the night with “Cut the Cord,” the latest hit from their album “Vibrating.” Lead guitarist Jesse Triplett started playing the intro to “Cut the Cord” backstage, which has a heavy bluesy feel to it. The band then walked out on stage and jumped directly into the song. After the opening riff, the song turns into a complete rock ‘n’ roll jam, led by Ed Roland’s fantastic vocals. Ed doesn’t miss a note while singing, all while moving around non-stop on stage. While holding the mic stand, he is throwing down every dance move imaginable.
Other highlights from the ever jam-packed setlist included the band’s most well-known single from the ’90s – “Shine.” This version of “Shine” was special. It started off as a normal tune until Ed Roland selected a young man from the front row to join the band on stage. He climbed his way up onto the stage and sang the rest of the song with the band. You could see the glow on his face and the overall excitement that he was sharing the stage with his favorite rockers. This is just one of the reasons why Collective Soul has become a favorite among their fans. The audience participation is bar none.
The night was filled with other great Collective Soul songs too. I was thrilled to hear them perform “Right as Rain,” “Compliment,” and “Why, Pt. 2.” The crowd in Red Bank also had the privilege of hearing two unreleased songs: “Let It Flow” and “Not the Same.” Ed Roland told the crowd they recorded both tunes earlier this year at Elvis Presley’s house in Palm Springs, California. While they were at Elvis’s house, Lisa Marie Presley passed away. The night of her passing, the ceiling collapsed in her old room – which happened to be the same room the band was using as their recording studio. Collective Soul recorded 22 songs while they were there and plan to release the next studio album in 2024, just in time for their 30th anniversary (since their first album).
Concertgoers were treated to a unique version of “Gel,” which featured drummer Johnny Rabb on vocals. Johnny fired up the crowd and Ed Roland sang along with him. Johnny’s drum tech, Cheney Brannon, played drums and didn’t miss a note. All good things have to come to an end. The last song of the night was “Run,” which is Collective Soul’s signature closing song. This version felt extended, and I was enjoying every minute of it. The band slowly left the stage and huddled off the side of the stage with tons of smiles and hugs, showing fans how much they love to play.
Collective Soul is a band you don’t want to miss if they’re in your neck of the woods. They put on a show full of energy and lots of fun. Did I mention it’s a 100% live rock ‘n’ roll show? Just the way it should be!
BLACK VEIL BRIDES & VILLE VALO Co-Headline Fall Tour of U.S. & Canada General Onsale Begins Friday, June 2 at 10am Local Time on LiveNation.com
This fall, the classic season for dark and romantic music, BLACK VEIL BRIDES and VILLE VALLO will co-headline a massive tour in select cities across North America. Presented by Hot Topic, the BVB & VV 2023 Tour (featuring special guests DARK DIVINE) combines three unique bands who champion the heavy-hearted, hopeless, and broken with mixtures of high intensity and melody.
Produced by Live Nation, tickets to the tour will be available starting Tuesday, May 30 at 12 pm ET via presales with additional presales running throughout the week ahead of the general onsale beginning Friday, June 2 at 10 am local time on LiveNation.com. For more information on the presales visit BlackVeilBrides.net.
“We cannot wait to join forces with VILLE VALO and give both of our audiences in North America an unforgettable experience each night,” says BLACK VEIL BRIDES frontman Andy Biersack. “This run has been in the works for quite a while. We couldn’t be happier now that we can finally share the news. VILLE is an icon. We have all been fans of his, not only for his work in the hugely influential band HIM but as a torchbearer for an entire generation of rock fans and musicians.”
“There’s something tinnitus-inducingly romantic about the idea of being sandwiched nightly between BLACK VEIL BRIDES and DARK DIVINE on this autumnal trek across North America,” muses VALO. “And imagining us explore the architecture of doom and gloom from three distinctly different musical perspectives has already made the bats in my belfry suitably ravenous.”
Andy adds, “This tour is a dream come true and will be something special. DARK DIVINE is new to the scene but garnering a lot of attention quickly and rightfully so. They are hands down one of the best young bands out there, and we are certain the BVB Army and VV fans will love them.”
Committed to uncompromising expression, with a foundation in hard rock tradition and rule-breaking iconoclasm, BLACK VEIL BRIDES is a transcendent celebration of life-affirming power and anthemic catharsis. A gothic vision first summoned in a small town by an isolated kid fascinated with death, rock, theatricality, and monsters (both real and imagined), BLACK VEIL BRIDES is now a postmodern heavy metal institution with a legion of like-minded fans and supporters worldwide.
2021’s ‘The Phantom Tomorrow’ produced BVB’s first Top 10 single, “Scarlet Cross.” Last year’s ‘The Mourning’ EP offered similar success with “Saviour II,” joining a rich catalog that includes “Knives and Pens” (over 160 million views on YouTube), the certified gold “Fallen Angels,” and the recently certified platinum “In the End.” (It’s possible BLACK VEIL BRIDES may even release another brand-new song in the not-too-distant future…)
HIM, renowned as one of the most commercially successful Finnish bands of all time, has sold over ten million records. VILLE VALO, the band’s frontman, released a series of beloved albums with HIM from 1997 through 2013, boasting influential modern goth-rock anthems like “Right Here in My Arms,” “Join Me in Death,” “Buried Alive by Love,” and “Rip Out the Wings of a Butterfly.” Declaring ‘Neon Noir’ a perfect record for fans of HIM, Ghost, and Evanescence, Kerrang! wrote, “If you’ve been seduced in Mr. VALO’s musical twilight before, then you can now prepare to pulse in the glow of the heartagram once again.” In a VV cover story, VALO told the magazine, “It is a continuation of what I’ve done in the past and what might happen next.”
Hot Topic Presents BVB & VV 2023 Tour Dates:
Sept 10 – Louisville, KY – Paristown Hall
Sept 11 – Birmingham, AL – Avondale Brewing Company
The Pretty Reckless at Pointfest 2023 | St. Louis, MO
Pointfest has been an establishment for 105.7 The Point and the greater St. Louis area for decades. Most people in Eastern Missouri and Southern Illinois are familiar with the event and many have attended at least one in their lifetime. Several elements made Pointfest 2023 unique from past Pointfests.
Whether it was the mid-west weather actually behaving for a festival day and not causing delays or cancelations, a larger than normal attendance (or at least the largest I personally have seen in the three Pointfests I have attended), or possibly the lack of Neanderthal meatheads trying to start fights in between sets, the biggest feeling that I consistently had about Pointfest was that not only was it peaceful, but it was a different vibe altogether than normal rock station festivals.
It’s possible this has to do with the lineup. Ending with Incubus who have been a part of Pointfest in previous years, the headlining band started their set with several mellow tracks in their long discography. It wasn’t meant to rile the crowd up, but rather to set a mood and enjoy the night peacefully. It was not what I was expecting, but it was also well-performed and the crowd was engaged. Singer Brandon Boyd was intent on living in the moment and experiencing the environment and the vibe from his performance and mannerisms flowed through Hollywood Casino Amphitheater.
Coheed & Cambria, off the heels of Vaxis II, returned to St. Louis and shredded their way through a set reliving 2000s classics and newer songs. This was my third time seeing Coheed live and this was in my view the best performance I’ve seen from the New York group. There was such a strong focus on the performance and keeping things tight that it made for a clockwork set of music revolving around Claudio Sanchez’s created futuristic world. Like Incubus, it wasn’t about riling a crowd up but rather setting a mood to enjoy the music.
And representing the home crowd was Greek Fire. A band where singer Moon Valjean has brought the St. Louis flag around the world to wave at concerts. This was part hometown welcome and part proof of tenacity for Moon who was battling voice issues. As a morning show host and vocalist, he’s a trooper for toughing it out. Along with Greek Fire came Mama Moon to support her son on stage, and a quick acknowledgment of Jeff Burton who is still a part of St. Louis in many ways.
Among many other sets including Bad Omens, Badflower, Band Maid, and Des Rocs, it adds further proof that 105.7 The Point and Pointfest try to give the most value for a radiostation festival. I have attended many of these radio shows through different states and while many can be fun and well run, it’s always impressive to see just how much The Point tries to make their show an event for the city. As many bands as possible in a venue that people can enjoy the entire day. This is not the norm in most cities.
I’m not going to shamelessly plug every lineup that Pointfest has ever had. As with every lineup for an event, some people prefer one group of bands or style of music to others. Sometimes lineups really speak to a person or don’t connect at all. Pointfest 2023 felt like a complete show. It had established acts as well as upcoming names that are gaining the right attention. There were no toxic or obnoxious acts that cause people to head for concessions or the bathroom. Pointfest 2023 was an event that was worth being at and remembering because it was peaceful, lively, and it felt good to be a part of. I hope this Pointfest is remembered for the many positives that were held this year.
The Podcast That Rocked for 5/2/23. Talking about how Tina Turner is rock and roll, the return of Creeper, blessthefall, Nikki Sixx not playing bass, and more.
Discussion List: 0:00 – Intro and The Rizzuto Show 0:47 – Tina Turner, Queen Of Rock And Roll 2:35 – Nikki Sixx Didn’t Play Bass 4:58 – Cliffdiver Accident 6:31 – New Creeper 7:34 – New blessthefall 8:23 – Billboard Mainstream Rock Top 3 9:37 – Thank you YouTube Members & Patrons!
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner. With her music and boundless passion for life, she enchanted fans worldwide and inspired future stars. We say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us her greatest work; her music. Tina, we will miss you dearly. pic.twitter.com/8SihpxMe14
From Google Bard: “Tina Turner was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. She rose to fame in the 1960s as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, and later went on to a successful solo career. Turner is known for her powerful vocals, energetic stage presence, and flamboyant style. She has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Turner was born Anna Mae Bullock in Brownsville, Tennessee, in 1939. She began her singing career in the early 1950s, performing with various bands in the St. Louis area. In 1957, she met Ike Turner, and the two began performing together. They married in 1962, and the Ike & Tina Turner Revue became one of the most popular live acts in the world. The couple’s marriage was turbulent, and they divorced in 1978. Turner went on to a successful solo career, releasing a string of hit albums, including “Private Dancer” (1984) and “Break Every Rule” (1986). She also starred in the film “Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome” (1985). Turner retired from live performance in 2009, but she continued to release new music. Her most recent album, “Tina Turner: Simply the Best” (2013), was a greatest hits collection. Turner died on May 24, 2023, at the age of 83. Turner was a groundbreaking artist who broke down barriers for women in rock music. She was also a survivor of domestic violence, and her story inspired millions of people around the world. Turner was a true icon, and her legacy will live on for generations to come.”
CREEPER TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM SANGUIVORE ON OCTOBER 13 VIA SPINEFARM BAND SHARES NEW VIDEO FOR TRACK “CRY TO HEAVEN” — WATCH
A new chapter in the thrillingly theatrical story of CREEPER gets underway today as the acclaimed UKband shares the brand new single and video “Cry To Heaven” and announce theFriday, October 13 release of their third album Sanguivore.
CREEPER’s previous albums — Eternity, In Your Arms and Sex, Death & the Infinite Void — have seen the band enamour an army of devotees, a highly committed following that propelled their second album to aTop 5 chart position.
Vocalist William Von Ghould says, “Keeping in line with the band’s ethos of aggressive musical progression, the song is once again an ambitious departure from previous works. ‘Cry To Heaven’ turns the key and unlocks a door to a new world of decadent excess. The introduction to a new tragic story of love, loss, and vampires. This is Creeper at their most outrageous, harking back to a time where Jim Steinman ruled the airwaves in leather gloves and Aviators.”
Opening with the rousing harmonies of the devil’s own choir, “Cry To Heaven” immediately establishes another fresh evolution of CREEPER’s style. It’s a luscious, maximalist wall of sound in which swaggering hard rock at its most anthemic is amplified by punchy, high-drama synths, topped by the band’s signature vocal interplay between William Von Ghould’s sinister croon and Hannah Greenwood‘smajestic range.
It’s a track which sees CREEPER extending and updating the lineage of the darkwave hedonism of The Sisters of Mercy with the crunching guitars and wounded roar of Danzig. Those two bands are also reference points for the accompanying video, which sees Von Ghould channeling classic Andrew Eldritch vibes within a visual that feels like an S&M twist on TheLost Boys.
The song’s lyrics also tease the narrative that will unfold within the Sanguivore narrative. Its references to blood lust, sex, cannibalism, and a human disguise hint at a new story of ill-fated love and corrosive lust — themes which burn throughout CREEPER’s previous album concepts.
For the uninitiated, a sanguivore is an entity that needs to feast upon blood to survive.
“Cry To Heaven” is the latest result of CREEPER’s collaboration with the twisted mind of producer Tom Dalgety (Ghost, Royal Blood, The Cult, Killing Joke).
Sanguivore is now available to pre-order or pre-save HERE.
In addition to its digital release, the album will be available on physical formats which include limited edition vinyl formats and CD.
The news comes as CREEPER are set to play the Heavy Music Awards at the OVO Wembley Arena tonight, where they’re nominated for Best UK Artist, Best UK Live Artist and Best Single for “Ghost Brigade.” Their previous accolades include landmark awards from Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and Rock Sound.
Completing the CREEPER line-up are founder members Ian Miles (guitar) and Sean Scott (bass) along with drummer Jake Fogarty.
SANGUIVORE TRACKLIST: “Further Than Forever” “Cry To Heaven” “Sacred Blasphemy” “The Ballad Of Spook & Mercy” “Lovers Led Astray” “Teenage Sacrifice” “Chapel Gates” “The Abyss” “Black Heaven” “More Than Death”
BLESSTHEFALL ARE BACK BAND SHARES VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE “WAKE THE DEAD” — WATCH HOLLOW BODIES 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY TOUR SET FOR SUMMER
blessthefall are back and in two very big ways!
The Arizona quartet — Beau Bokan [vocals], Eric Lambert [guitar], Jared Warth [bass], and Elliott Gruenberg [guitar] — return with the video for the brand new single “Wake the Dead,” their first new track in five years.
The band will also embark on the Hollow Bodies 10-year anniversary tour later this summer, marking their first live appearances in four years. So, yes, the band is back and it is a welcome return for the fanbase!
“To all the fans…we’ve seen you and heard you over the last five years,” says Bokan. “We’re back and this one’s for you. ‘Wake the Dead’ has all the elements that define our band. We took our time writing it but didn’t overthink. We wanted the first song to melt your faces from the beginning and drag you to the end without slowing down. We hope you love it as much as we do.”
As for the much-anticipated anniversary tour, Bokan said, “Hollow Bodies was the album that took our band to the next level and for that we are forever grateful. Being able to do a 10-year anniversary tour and play the record in its entirety is going to be incredibly special. It’s been four years since we played a live show and want to pick up right where we left off. We can’t wait to see your sweaty faces in the crowd!”
All dates are below.
BLESSTHEFALL ON TOUR: WITH CASKETS, KINGDOM OF GIANTS, + DRAGGED UNDER: 8/3 Santa Ana, CA 8/4 Roseville, CA 8/5 Portland, OR 8/6 Seattle, WA 8/0 Salt Lake City, UT 8/9 Denver, CO 8/11 Minneapolis, MN 8/12 Chicago, IL 8/14 Toronto, ON 8/15 Montreal, QC 8/17 Boston, MA 8/18 New York, NY 8/19 Philadelphia, PA 8/20 Baltimore, MD 8/22 Atlanta GA 8/23 Tampa, FL 8/24 Pensacola, FL 8/25 New Orleans, LA 8/26 Houston, TX 8/27 Dallas, TX 8/28 Albuquerque, NM 8/31 Las Vegas, NV 9/1 Phoenix, AZ 9/7 Alton, VA* *Blue Ridge Rock Fest
blessthefall’s notched back-to-back Top 25 debuts on the Billboard 200 with Hollow Bodies [2013] and To Those Left Behind [2015], while 2018’s Hard Feelings marked their third straight Top 5 bow on the Top Alternative Albums Chart. With the latter, Unclear claimed the band “may have struck serious gold,”while Alternative Press applauded how “blessthefall blend old-school vibes and a fresh new sound.“ Speaking to their enduring legacy, they’ve racked up hundreds of millions of streams with “Hey Baby, Here’s That Song You Wanted” at 33.8 million Spotify streams followed by “Hollow Bodies” at 26.2 million Spotify streams in addition to landing syncs in franchises such as Splinter Cell. In the wake of a successful 10-year anniversary tour to celebrate Witness in 2019, blessthefall went quiet for the next two years. Between the global pandemic and various other gigs, the members still kept the lines of communication open. The band now emerges from a half-decade of dormancy, and not a moment too soon. ___
HALESTORM ENLISTS GRAMMY, CMA AND ACM WINNER ASHLEY MCBRYDE FOR DUET ON “TERRIBLE THINGS” OUT NOW; LZZY HALE REVEALS HER “UNMASKED” VIDEO PORTRAIT ON BILLBOARD TO DISCUSS MENTAL HEALTH
GRAMMY-winning hard rock band Halestorm today released a duet of “Terrible Things” from their album Back From The Dead with GRAMMY, ACM, and CMA Award winner Ashley McBryde.
“’Terrible Things’ is a song about hope and forgiveness of one’s self, and this world we live in,” said Lzzy Hale. “To elevate the heart of this track we asked the baddest woman in Nashville, Ashley McBryde, to lend her incredible voice. I’m so in awe of her power and am so grateful to have her join us! I know the message will resonate and inspire you. We are imperfect beings, capable of so much evil. But I will not lose faith, because in my dreams I believe we are not these ‘Terrible Things.’”
“I’ve loved Halestorm for longer than I can remember,” shared McBryde. “I thought my team was messing with me when they said Lzzy asked if I wanted to sing on ‘Terrible Things’ with them. But it turns out they were being serious, so of course I said yes. I am so happy to be on this track with Lzzy. She’s a phenomenal human being and someone I continue to look up to.”
Yesterday Billboard shared Lzzy Hale’s “Unmasked” video, a short form video portrait series in partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and Sound Mind Live promoting an open dialogue on mental health. Hale speaks candidly about her struggles with anxiety and imposter syndrome and offers hope for others combating similar issues.
Back From The Dead earned critical acclaim upon its release last year; Rolling Stone included a Q&A with Lzzy Hale in their Grammy Preview and Associated Press claimed Back From The Deadwill “definitely be in the running for best hard rock/metal album of the year.”
Uprising UK Alt-Metal Unit VEXED Unleash Sinister Second Single, “X My Heart (Hope To Die)” + Official Music Video Watch HERE!
New Album, Negative Energy, out June 23, 2023 | Pre-Order NOW!
One of the hottest newcomers in alternative metal, UK trio VEXED, unleash their second single off of their anticipated sophomore full-length, Negative Energy, out on June 23 via Napalm Records! The disturbingly heavy new track from Vexed is entitled “X My Heart (Hope to die)”, and comes with a haunting official music video.
Fierce “X my <3 (Hope to die)” deals with the eternal question of what happens after death, and the idea that it should be okay to never get this answer. Vocalist Megan Targett’s vicious growls kick right in after the lurking intro, and together with heavy drum patterns and electronic-sounding guitars, her multifaceted vocals create a captivating, restless soundscape.
VEXED’s crushing first single “Anti-Fetish” has already received great attention! The track was recently aired on BBC’s Radio 1 Rock Show, and is currently in rotation on SiriusXM Liquid Metal while commanding at #6 on their weekly countdown show, The Devil’s Dozen. Upon release, it was lauded by the likes of Revolver (Best New Songs), Loudwire (Weekly Wire), Knotfest and many more, and was also added to various official Apple Music, Spotify, Tidal and Deezer playlists.
VEXED on “X my <3 (Hope to die)”: “’X my <3 (hope to die)’ was the catalyst for Negative Energy. After months of writers block and feeling like giving up, this song opened the floodgates for inspiration and creativity. Inspired by the victims of religious extremists, cults or abuse of power, this song is about how one person shouldn’t be able to dictate other people’s lives based on their own personal opinions.”
Vexed “X My Heart”
Negative Energy achieves pinnacle musicianship and gripping, profound and brave lyricism. Instead of opting for forced positivity like many of their contemporaries, the Hertfordshire three-piece channel every ounce of their Negative Energy into these 13 tracks – recharging themselves for an uphill battle.
The band states: “We are so proud to present to you our second album. Since our first release, we have each endured traumatic experiences, surrounded by death, betrayal, pain and grief. In order to find any strength, we first had to accept that we weren’t okay, then take our trauma and face it head on, sharing our vulnerability, fears and weaknesses. Instead of forcing ourselves to try and be positive we put all our negative energy into the album in order to begin our own repair and to overcome.”
Pre-order the devastatingly heavy Negative EnergyNOW:
Haunting intro track “PTSD” sets a stage of dread for the carnage to come. “We don’t talk about it” – featuring pitch-shifted verses emulating a disguised voice – explores childhood trauma and survivor’s guilt. “Panic attack” centers on mental health issues, representing terror and frustration through heavy riffs and grooving vocals. Furious “Lay down your flowers” (feat. Alpha Wolf vocalist Lochie Keogh) showcases extreme vocals and bombarding drums, while disturbingly groovy following track “There’s no place like home” draws inspiration from ‘The Wizard of Oz’. The unbelievably heavy “Extremist” gets straight to the point, kicking off with fast and demanding vocal rhythms, while “Default”, on the other hand, displays multifaceted lead singer-to-watch Megan Targett’s high-soaring clean vocals juxtaposed against her menacing deep growls. This is equally evident on standout, dynamic “Trauma Euphoria”, also featuring some of the most impressive guitar work on the album. The album’s most emotional offering, “It’s Not The End”, serves as a magnificent dedication to a loved one passing away while manifesting their legacy, before sliding into instrumental interlude “DMT” – cradled by lo-fi beats with hints of 808, delivered in fresh VEXED style. Intense album finale “Nepotism” wraps up Negative Energy with a knot of rage before slowly fading out into darkness. Negative Energy proves itself as a stunning, devastating musical conduit – ventilating the band’s pain-stricken burdens and breathing life into their fresh approach, delivered with a vengeance.
Negative Energy Tracklisting: 1. PTSD 2. Anti-Fetish 3. We don’t talk about it 4. X my <3 (Hope to die) 5. Panic attack 6. Lay down your flowers 7. There’s no place like home 8. Extremist 9. Default 10. Trauma Euphoria 11. It’s not the end 12. DMT 13. Nepotism
VEXED is: Megan Targett – Vocals Jay Bacon – Guitar Willem Mason-Geraghty – Drums
