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Atlas : Empire EP Somnus Out Now!
“... Somnus just blows everything out of the water!”
- Flicker Magazine
Progressive rock band Atlas : Empire are delighted to announce the release of their second EP, Somnus, via Cold War Legacy Records.
Having released the free download tracks 'Binary Lung' and Mitchy Valentino Sleeps with the Fishes, the band picked up some notable support from the likes of AU Review and Vinyl District, with a Rock Sound 'Expo' feature due to hit the shelves this month. Rock Sound will also be hosting an exclusive stream of Somnus at 5pm today.
Watch the video for 'Binary Lung' below or from Atlas : Empire's YouTube page.
Somnus is the perfect display of Atlas : Empire's versatility as they straddle various genres with ease. Post-hardcore sits neatly alongside the Maybeshewill inspired post-rock of 'Keep This In The Shallows', while Somnus is sprinkled with the eclectic spirit and instrumental ambience of Oceansize.
The band cite the influence of Aereogramme, The Dear Hunter and Oceansize in the evolution of their sound, and this is charactrised by their unerring ability to create music that is both spacious and abrasive - a sound that many of their influences would be proud of.
Atlas : Empire were formed in the summer of 2011 by ex The Ocean Fracture's Steven Gillies (Guitar, Vocals), multi- instrumentalist, and This Silent Forest's, Jamie Sturt (Guitar, Vocals, Keys, Electronics) and Dave Stephen (Bass, Vocals). In October of that year Atlas : Empire were born when they found permanent drummer Jonny Gormley, before adding a third guitarist in March 2012 when ex Pareto and Sucioperro member, Dave Aird, joined the band.
Somnus was recorded live in one night at Lo Fi Studios in Glasgow with engineer Neil Martin, before being mixed and mastered by producer Oz Craggs (Feed the Rhino, Jairus, Secondsmile). The release of Somnus will kickstart a busy second half of the year for Atlas : Empire as they begin a Scottish tour with the EP launch taking place at ABC2 in Glasgow tonight, before embarking on a UK- wide tour in October.
You can catch Atlas : Empire in August at the following venues:
- 12 August - GLASGOW - ABC2
- 13 August - DUNFERMLINE - PJ Molloys
- 14 August - INVERNESS - Madhatters
- 15 August - ABERDEEN - Downstairs
- 16 August - EDINBURGH - Opium
Somnus by Atlas: Empire is available to buy on Amazon and is released via Cold War Legacy Records.
Unkle Bob release download of ‘Home’
- The Times
Unkle Bob are pleased to announce the release of the free download track 'Home'. The song is taken from the forthcoming EP, Songs For Others, which is released on 19th August 2013 via JustMe.
'Home' is the EP's glorious closer and sums up Unkle Bob's talented songwriting skills. The track builds slowly as the instrumentation accompanies Rick Webster's strong vocals. As the momentum builds, 'Home' is elevated further by magnificent hooks, potent harmonies and heartfelt lyrics delivered to perfection.
You can download 'Home' below or from the Unkle Bob's Soundcloud page.
Songs for Others sees Unkle Bob explore a more up-tempo path than on previous releases. Largely recorded in a Scottish bedroom, singer-songwriter Rick took inspiration from artists like R Stevie Moore, Nick Cave, Grizzly Bear and The Smiths, moving away from a purely acoustic sound to experiment with electric guitars, distortion pedals and looping effects.
The EP embodies Unkle Bob's ability to create catchy hooks, enhanced by echoing, overlapping vocals and cathartic lyrics that explore love and loss. Opening track, and previous single Brother, is a downpour of reverberant, harmonised melodies, and the chorus evokes the spirit of Neil Young, as Rick sings "Forever I'll be your Brother...". While Unkle Bob's accomplished songwriting ability is confirmed by second track 'Change', which immediately picks up the pace, building swiftly into a blissful, crisp pop ballad befitting acclaimed bands like Doves.
Songs for Others follows the critically lauded albums Sugar and Spite (2006), and Shockwaves (2010) - records that made the band something of a cult phenomenon in the US. Their songs were the sound-track to countless US dramas
(spawning well over 100,000 downloads in the process) whilst the song 'Swans' was featured in the climax to a Grey's Anatomy storyline.
This record was funded through PledgeMusic. Using the idea of a 'Song for You' option, Unkle Bob gave fans the opportunity to buy a song written about their lives. Rick entered into dialogue with the fans about lyrics and the general style of the track, giving birth to the single Brother and EP track 'Home'.
The up-coming release of Songs for Others is the culmination of a hectic 2013 schedule for Unkle Bob. Having returned with the Letters EP on Christmas Day last year, following the death and resurrection of the band itself, Unkle Bob have gone onto play 3 festivals in Changsha (China) in front of 20,000 people, will be shooting a video for the single Brother, before releasing Songs For Others in August.
Songs for Others is released on 19th August 2013 via JustMe.
Death Rattle: Live Sessions!
"...Lynchian-grade dystopian opera."
- The Line of Best Fit
London based electronic gloom-pop duo Death Rattle will release a trio of stunning live performance videos, filmed within the stark and atmospheric confinements of an underground crypt. The videos will be unleashed every Monday, starting from the 12th, during the month of August, with the final video going out online on 26th August.
A trailer for the sessions went live today, you can watch it now on Death Rattle's YouTube page.
The live sessions feature three tracks from their 2013 Fortress EP - 'White Ropes', 'In Time' and 'Fortress' and offer the very first insight into how the band perform their alluringly dark and mesmerising tracks as a live band.
Fortress EP received outstanding press from the likes of The Line of Best Fit, The 405, Noisey (VICE) and Artrocker, with their sound drawing comparisons to Lykke Li, Zola Jesus and Portishead.
With recent appearances at Tramlines Festival Sheffield and Islington Assembly Halls in London, the band have announced a Pussy Riot Fundraiser show supporting Princess Century (ex Austra) at Kraak, Manchester on Monday 20th August as well as some shows in Belgium and Holland in September.
The band are currently working towards their debut album, due for release in 2014.
Atlas : Empire release free download & video of ‘Binary Lung’
Progressive rock band Atlas : Empire today release the free download and video of 'Binary Lung'.
The track is taken the band's second EP, Somnus, which will be released on August 12th via Cold War Legacy Records.
'Binary Lung' picks up perfectly from where recent release, Mitchy Valentino Sleeps with the Fishes, left off. On 'Binary Lung' Steven Gillies's intense vocals are given space to breathe and are admirably supported by a band on top of their game. The softly picked guitar at the beginning of the song is punctuated by screaming vocals, as the visceral stop start guitar passages surge alongside technically on-point drumming, all skilfully knitted together by Gillies aforementioned vocals.
You can download 'Binary Lung' below or from the ABoF Soundcloud page.
Watch the exclusive video for 'Binary Lung' below or from Atlas : Empire's YouTube page.
Atlas : Empire cite the influence of Aereogramme, The Dear Hunter and Oceansize in the evolution of their sound, and this is charactrised by their unerring ability to create music that is both spacious and abrasive - a sound that many of their influences would be proud of.
The band display an impressive versatility throughout the record as they straddle various genres with ease. Post-hardcore sits neatly alongside the Maybeshewill inspired post-rock of 'Keep This In The Shallows', while Somnus is sprinkled with the eclectic spirit and instrumental ambience of Oceansize.
Atlas : Empire were formed in the summer of 2011 by ex The Ocean Fracture's Steven Gillies (Guitar, Vocals), multi- instrumentalist, and This Silent Forest's, Jamie Sturt (Guitar, Vocals, Keys, Electronics) and Dave Stephen (Bass, Vocals). In October of that year Atlas : Empire were born when they found permanent drummer Jonny Gormley, before adding a third guitarist in March 2012 when ex Pareto and Sucioperro member, Dave Aird, joined the band.
Somnus was recorded live in one night at Lo Fi Studios in Glasgow with engineer Neil Martin, before being mixed and mastered by producer Oz Craggs (Feed the Rhino, Jairus, Secondsmile). The EP will kickstart a busy second half of the year for Atlas:Empire as they are planning a Scottish tour in August to support the release and embarking on a UK- wide tour in October.
You can catch Atlas : Empire in August at the following venues:
- 12 August - GLASGOW - ABC2
- 13 August - DUNFERMLINE - PJ Molloys
- 14 August - INVERNESS - Madhatters
- 15 August - ABERDEEN - Downstairs
- 16 August - EDINBURGH - Opium
Atlas: Empire will release the EP, Somnus, on August 12th via Cold War Legacy Records.
Fat Goth to support Torche in August!
"You'll be none the wiser by the end of it all, but much richer for stumbling in to Fat Goth's odd little universe."
- 4Ks, Kerrang! Magazine
"'Stud' is profoundly uneasy listening at its best, and weirdo freaks everywhere should love it."
- 8/10, Rock Sound Magazine
"The audio equivalent of a bloody massive T-Bone steak covered in BBQ Sauce..." Ally McCrae (BBC Radio 1)
Following the huge support Fat Goth received after the release of their second album Stud this year, the boys have been busy doing the festival circuit including with appearances at the BBC Introducing Stage at T in the Park, Wickerman and many more. Having gained a reputation for a blistering live set, the boys have been asked to go on tour with stoner metal band Torche as main support for their UK dates in August.
After the Torche tour, FG will play Arctangent Festival in Bristol and a series of Marie Curie gigs in support of Kevin Fat Goth's ex Laeto band mate Robbie Cooper, who was diagnosed with skin cancer but is thankfully in remission now.
Saturday 3rd August - Belladrum Festival (Inverness)
Sunday 18th August - Leeds Brudenell Social Club (w/ TORCHE)
Monday 19th August - London Garage (w/ TORCHE)
Tuesday 20th August - Glasgow Broadcast (w/ TORCHE)
Friday 30th August - Manchester The Fallow Cafe
Saturday 31st August - Arctangent Festival (Bristol)
Thursday 19th September - Glasgow Stereo (Marie Curie)
Friday 20th September - Edinburgh Electric Circus (Marie Curie)
Saturday 21st September - Dundee Non Zeros (Marie Curie)
Fat Goth's recent T in the Park appearance is available to watch now on YouTube, check out this video of the band performing single Surf's Down.
Fat Goth released a number of free downloads earlier this year, all of which can be found on their Soundcloud page.
Stud is available to buy via the band's Bandcamp page. Alternatively, you can purchase it via Amazon, iTunes, Play.com or Deezer. You can also listen to Stud via Spotify.