Memphis May Fire Release New Single + Album Details

Post-hardcore outfit Memphis May Fire has kept things under wraps lately, but details of their next album are finally here! This Light I Hold is due out later this year.

The band keeps the music heavy and their messages personal, bordering Christian Metal. But that's by no means anything bad; Memphis May Fire writes some of the most heartfelt songs in the genre. Their last album was 2014's Conditional, which had some amazing music. This Light I Hold is the follow up, and even the title promises something great.

The album's first single also shows that. 'Carry On' is a big an eclectic track, beginning with a big instrumental and a brutal first verse complete with unrelenting screams from frontman Matty Mullins, trading off with cleanly sung chorus. The bridge is a quiet moment before the song concludes in one more hopeful burst of noise. The message is uplifting: nothing can hold you back, and that you can fight for what you believe in.

The album will be out on October 28, 2016 via Rise Records. The album features guest spots from Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix and the former vocalist for the rock band My American Heart, Larry Soliman. You can purchase bundles which include vinyl, cassette, and exclusive merch from the album's website. The album's art and tracklist are as follows:

View fullsize

1. Out Of It
2. Carry On
3. Wanting More
4. Severing The Ties
5. The Enemy
6. This Light I Hold (ft. Jacoby Shaddix)
7. That's Just Life
8. Letting Go
9. The Antidote
10. Better Things
11. Not Over Yet (ft. Larry Soliman)
12. Unashamed
13. Live It Well

Excited for the new record? Be sure to look out for our review of it, and the new single 'Carry On'.

You Me At Six Reveal 2017 Album Details + UK Tour

Alternative rockers You Me At Six are finally back with new music. Their follow up to their big 2014 effort Cavalier Youth is sounding big and confident, and it'll be bringing 2017 into a big stride.

The band has Night People penned in for a release on January 13, 2017. The band worked on the record this year in Nashville alongside producer Jacquire King, known for working with Kings Of Leon. 

Along with the album announcement came the release of the new single 'Night People', the album's title track. It has an almost punk rock appeal to it and sounds huge - definitely a crowd pleaser we'll hopefully be seeing on their upcoming UK Tour - more details on that below.

Night People is out on January 13, via Virgin Records. Pre-orders are available on their website, with bundles and formats including vinyl, digital, CD, and even cassette. The album's art and tracklist is as follows:

1. Night People
2. Plus One
3. Heavy Soul
4. Take On The World
5. Brand New
6. Swear
7. Make Your Move
8. Can’t Hold Back
9. Spell It Out
10. Give

Alongside the album announcement came the announcement of a massive UK Headlining Tour, spanning all of October. Indie rock band Vant will be supporting the band on the tour. The tour dates are as follows, and you can purchase tickets here.

• October 4, 2016: Bristol, England (Bristol O2 Academy)
• October 5, 2016: Folkestone, England (Leas Cliff Hall)
• October 6, 2016: Swansea, Wales (Brangwyn Hall)
• October 9, 2016: Belfast, Northern Ireland (The Limelight)
• October 10, 2016: Dublin, Ireland (The Academy)
• October 13, 2016: Nottingham, England (Rock City)
• October 14, 2016: Oxford, England (O2 Academy)
• October 15, 2016: Cambridge, England (Corn Exchange)
• October 17, 2016: Inverness, Scotland (Ironworks)
• October 18, 2016: Leeds, England (O2 Academy)
• October 19, 2016: Liverpool, England (Guild Of Students)
• October 20, 2016: Sheffield, England (O2 Academy)
• October 21, 2016: Middlesbrough, England (Empire)
• October 23, 2016: Southampton, England (O2 Guildhall)
• October 24, 2016: London, England (O2 Shepherds Bush Empire)

Excited for new YMAS music? Don't miss our review on the new single 'Night People', coming soon!

American Football Announce First Album in Nearly Two Decades

The emo rock legends from Chicago American Football are finally following up their debut LP! The band will release their second eponymous debut American Football on October 21 of this year.

American Football is something of a myth in punk rock. They defined the structure of what their brand of music would become, morphing varied tie signatures, confessions in the form of spoken word, and math rock into some revolutionary hybrid. After the release of their debut 1999 LP (also titled American Football), they decided to stop recording together and eventually became inactive.

The band returned to the spotlight in 2014 when they reformed to perform at the Pygmalion Music Festival in Chicago and a series of headline dates, and have been active ever since. They recorded their new album earlier this year.

The band have shared the first new song from the record, 'I've Been Lost For So Long', which starts with reverberating guitars and a driven beat under vocalist Mike Kinsella's warm vocals. The time signature changes in the chourses, showing that the band's creativity and style hasn't faltered in all of these years.

American Football will be released on October 21 via Polyvinyl in the United States and Wichita in Europe and the UK. The album artwork and tracklist is as follows:

1. Where Are We Now? 
2. My Instincts Are The Enemy
3. Home Is Where The Haunt Is
4. Born To Lose
5. I've Been So Lost For So Long
6. Give Me The Gun
7. I Need A Drink (Or Two Or Three) 
8. Desire Gets In The Way
9. Everyone Is Dressed Up

American Football has a few tour dates spanning over the next few months in both the United States an United Kingdom - see them here. Check out our review of the band's new single 'I've Been Lost For So Long' too!

'Boys Don't Cry' from Frank Ocean Dropping This Weekend?

While Frank Ocean may have just dropped his new visual album/experience Endless, a lot more music may be right on the horizon.

Endless went up by surprise last night at the cusp of midnight. The visual album, featuring plenty of artists including Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and Sampha is being streamed on Apple Music now (see more details, including the tracklist, here). This came as a huge surprise, considering Ocean announced previously that his next album would be titled Boys Don't Cry, but, according to Rolling Stone, that project is coming, and it'll be here very soon.

Rolling Stone claims "Endless is a different project from Boys Don't Cry, the singer's highly-anticipated follow-up to 2012's Channel Orange. Apple will release that album this weekend." So, we will get both his second and third records within the span of a few days. The exact date of the album's release is unknown, and the tracklist and more is yet to be revealed, but we'll have the details as they come in.

Frank Ocean Releases Visual Album 'Endless'

The long wait is over for new Frank Ocean music. After fans kept creating theories on when the follow up to 2012's channel ORANGE, Ocean set up boysdontcry.co, where a stream with some background music could be found, showing a scene of a warehouse. After the stream was left up for two weeks, he finally appeared on it and built a staircase of wood, with music from his new visual album Endless playing in the background for the first time.

Fans have finally gotten new music, but not in the way they'd expect it. Endless is available for streaming via Apple Music, but without individual tracks - you have to watch the visual experience that comes with it.

The video can be streamed entirely from iTunes (Apple Music link here), and features a woodwork project being worked through - Frank's staircase. The tracklist is jam packed with a lot of guests, too - Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood and the accompanying London Contemporary Orchestra lend their expertise on the cover of Isley Brothers' 'At Your Best (You Are Love)', with James Blake also offering his voice on the track. Other guests include Sampha, Jazmine Sullivan, and Alex G. The tracklist is as follows:

1. Device Control
2. At Your Best (You Are Love) (Isley Brothers cover; ft. James Blake, Jonny Greenwood, & London Contemporary Orchestra)
3. Mine (ft. Arca)
4. Alabama (ft. Sampha & Jazmine Sullivan)
5. U-N-I-T-Y
6. Ambience 001: In A Certain Way
7. Commes Des Garcons
8. Ambience 002: Honeybaby
9. Whitter 10 Hubolts (ft. Alex G & Jazmine Sullivan)
10. In Here Somewhere
11. Slide On Me (ft. Alex G)
12. Sideways
13. Florida
14. Deathwish (ASR) 16 Rushes
15. Rushed To (ft. Alex G and Jazmine Sullivan)
16. Higgs (ft. Alex G)

Be on the look out for our review of the record soon, and a possible non-visual release on the record. More music is expected to follow this weekend, as well...

Metallica Announce New Double LP

The long-awaited new effort by Metallica is finally in sight! The band will release Hardwired... To Self Destruct, the follow up to 2011's collaboration with Lou Reed, Lulu, and their first original material since 2008's Death Magnetic on November 18. The record is a double LP (with an additional disk for the deluxe edition) featuring 12 tracks and over 80 minutes of new music. Pre-orders are available in the format of CDs, vinyl, and digital downloads.

The band has also shared the first single from the record, 'Hardwired', a riff heavy track with a thick tone and an early Metallica flair. It's world debut was at 93X in Minneapolis, ahead of their return to the stage on Saturday at the U.S. Bank Stadium there.

Speaking of the album, Metallica posted on their website:

“Hardwired… represents the next phase of our journey as Metallica and we are so excited to share it with you. If anyone was tuned into radio station 93X in Minneapolis earlier today, you heard the world debut of the first track, “Hardwired” and we’re hoping you’ll hear a lot more of it in the coming days. Produced by Greg Fidelman, along with James and Lars, this is our 11th studio album and is available for pre-order in a variety of configurations including 12 songs on a double CD, vinyl, digital download, as well as a deluxe version with the riffs that were the origins of the album.”

— Metallica.com

The album features two disks, as well as a deluxe edition that features riffs that were created at the start of the album process that inspired the rest, as well as the previously unveiled 'Lords Of Summer'. The artwork is pictured above, and the tracklist is as follows:

Disk 1:

1. Hardwired

2. Atlas, Rise!

3. Now That We're Dead

4. Moth Into Flame

5. Am I Savage?

6. Halo On Fire

Disk 2:

1. Confusion

2. Dream No More

3. ManUNkind

4. Here Comes Revenge

5. Murder One

6. Spit Out The Bone 

Deluxe Edition:

1. Lords Of Summer

2. Riff Charge (Riff Origins)

3. N.W.O.B.H.M. A.T.M. (Riff Origins)

4. Tin Shot (Riff Origins)

5. Plow (Riff Origins)

6. Sawblade (Riff Origins)

7. RIP (Riff Origins)

8. Lima (Riff Origins)

9. 91 (Riff Origins)

10. MTO (Riff Origins)

11. RL72 (Riff Origins)

12. Frankenstein (Riff Origins)

13. CHI (Riff Origins)

14. X Dust (Riff Origins) 

Are you ready for new 'Tallica? Check out our track review for 'Hardwired', which will be coming out soon.

Bon Iver Shares Two Tracks From Newly Announced Album

Indie folk outfit Bon Iver has just dropped two tracks from their newly announced record, 22, A Million. The release follows the promises of teases the band posted yesterday of new material.

The two tracks, '22 (OVER S∞∞N)' and '10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⚄ ⚄' seem the be extended versions of those found on the record, being dubbed the "Bob Moose Extended Cab Version" and the "Extended Version," respectively. Both tracks only seem to be around 30 seconds longer than the studio versions, so nothing too significant is expected to change. Both tracks feature electric elements, though "22" has a more pure folk rooting then the distorted beats and harmonies of "10". 

This record marks Justin Vernon and co's third record release together, and the first since 2011's eclectic Bon Iver, Bon Iver. The album is scheduled for release for September 30 via Jagjaguwar, but lucky fans who attended the Eaux Claire Music & Arts Festival in the band's hometown heard the album in its entirety as the band performed it. The tracklist for 22, A Million is as follows:

1. 22(OVER S∞∞N)
2. 10 d E A T h b R E a s T ⊠ ⊠
3. 715 - CRΣΣKS
4. 33 “GOD”
5. 29 #Strafford APTS
6. 666 ʇ
7. 21 M♢♢N WATER
8. 8(circle)
9. _45_
10. 00000 Million

Ready for more music from these folk legends? Be sure to check our the review of the two new songs, as well.

Green Day Announce New Album, Share New Single 'Bang Bang'

Punk rock icons Green Day are back with brand new music following a three-year studio silence. Their new album Revolution Radio has been given a release date and the band has shared the first single from the record.

Speaking with Rolling Stone, Billie Joe Armstrong spoke of the experience that granted the album its title:

“Two years ago, Billie Joe Armstrong was driving into Manhattan when he came across a throng of protesters. Outraged by a Missouri grand jury’s decision not to indict a police officer for the killing of Michael Brown, they filled the streets and backed up traffic for miles. Armstrong was inspired. ‘I got out of my car and marched with the people,’ he says. ‘It was a trip to see people rebel against the old order.’”

— Rolling Stone

Despite it's political background, Armstrong continued to say the album isn't strictly driven as such: there are more personal tracks on it, such as the teased 'Still Breathing' and the relatable 'Too Dumb To Die', but, Armstrong claims there are many tracks that press on current social issues as well. The album's first single, 'Bang Bang' was inspired by "the culture of mass shooting that happens in America mixed with narcissistic social media," and features blistering guitar riffs and a driving beat. The album concludes on the previously revealed 'Ordinary World', a short and sweet track Armstrong has performed live in the past.

The album is also said to contain some experimentation, such as the use of bow guitar on 'Outlaws' and 'Forever Now'. The whole recording process, according to Armstrong, took around six months. The songs on the record evolved from metaphor to having literal meaning, as if the lyrics were predicting the future, as he put it.

Revolution Radio is the band's first record since the infamous trilogy of ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré!, and the band's first self-produced record since 2000's Warning. The album is due out on October 7th. The album's artwork can be seen above and the tracklist is as follows:

1. Somewhere Now
2. Bang Bang
3. Revolution Radio
4. Say Goodbye
5. Outlaws
6. Bouncing Off The Wall
7. Still Breathing
8. Youngblood
9. Too Dumb To Die
10. Troubled Times
11. Forever Now
12. Ordinary World

Are you ready for the new Green Day record? Check out the track review for the lead single 'Bang Bang', too!

Is a New Tool Album Closer Than We Think?

Fans waiting for Tool's long sought for follow up to 2006's 10,000 Days may see their long wait come to an end. A Reddit user who goes by 77ohio recently posted a a tracklist, complete with track names and lengths.

He claims Tool will be releasing a double album in October of 2016, titled Decem ("ten" in Latin). Decem will feature twelve tracks, all clocking in above twelve minutes - the shortest track on the alleged tracklist is 12:01 (see the full tracklist below). The album is said to now be in its mixing phases - a good a time as any to get the press ready. The Reddit user claims he has a reliable source (apparently working a position for some press), but cannot reveal what exactly the source is.

The full tracklist for Decem is as follows:

Side 1:

1. Abscissa (13:47)
2. The Awakening (12:03)
3. Gematria (Act I) (14:33)
4. Regresolution (13:56)
5. Divinotus (12:45)
6. Astral (Act II) (12:21)

Side 2:

1. Descending (13:53)
2. Decem (12:22)
3. Lesous (Act III) (12:43)
4. Principles Of March (12:01)
5. Pascal's Wager (13:46)
6. Zeta (Act IV) (14:27)

If this tracklist is real, seems like this album alone is long enough to keep us listening for the next one to come (who knows how long that one will take...). The tracklist has some interesting things going on - a four part piece, perhaps some sort of sonic odyssey? 'Descending' was performed as a short instrumental jam on Tool's recent tour, debuting at the Monster Mash festival in Tempe, Arizona on Halloween day last year.

Something to consider, though, is that this isn't the first time a tracklist has leaked before the album. Back before Lateralus, a fake tracklist with fake files were leaked online to throw off file sharers. A fake tracklist was also released leading up to 10,000 Days, as well. Maybe this is no different. We don't yet have a real source for this yet. Only time will tell.

There's no telling if this rumor is true or not, but as we get closer and closer to a new Tool album, we'll take anything we can get. What do you think about the rumors? Are you excited for new Tool music?

Queens Of The Stone Age Heading Back To The Studio

Queens Of The Stone Age are gearing up to record their follow up to 2013's ...Like Clockwork. Josh Homme revealed last month in the Let There Be Talk podcast that the band's lineup isn't changing and it's all locked in, with plans for recording soon. Most recently, guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen revealed that there are "tons of ideas bouncing around," in his appearance on the 2 Hours With Matt Pinfield.

He continued, "We're going to do something before the end of the year, as far as recording goes." Looks like new QOTSA music will be hitting us sometime next year - maybe a song before the year wraps up. Besides a few isolated appearances, this will be the first time the band has come together since their hiatus began in March 2015. Since then, Josh Homme has been working on projects including Eagles Of Death Metal and with Iggy Pop, while Troy has been busy with his new supergroup Gone Is Gone, who just released their debut self-titled EP. Who's ready for some new music from Queens Of The Stone Age?

Crystal Castles Announces New Album 'Amnesty (I)' + Release New Single

Electronic group Crystal Castles have announced the release of their fourth album, Amnesty (I), and have also released the third single from the album. This is the groups first record following the departure of ex-vocalist Alice Glass and the first to feature Edith Frances.

The album comes as the group's first record since the critically acclaimed Crystal Castles (III) from 2012. The new single 'CHAR' is led by frantic synths and ghastly vocals, dropping the band's previously abrasive sound and adds a more creepy and lighter sound. Previously, the band shared 'Concrete' and 'Frail', and also performed 'Fleece' live. 

Amnesty (I) is due on August 19 via Casablanca Records. The cover is pictures above, and the tracklist is as follows:

1. Femen
2. Fleece
3. Char
4. Enth
5. Sadist
6. Teach Her How to Hunt
7. Chloroform
8. Frail
9. Concrete
10. Ornament
11. Kept
12. Their Kindness Is Charade

The band has an extensive tour booked in promotion for the record - the run starts on July 15 in Austria for the Out Of The Woods festival before making way to the United States for the summer and then back to Europe later in the year.

Of Mice & Men Release 'Pain' and New Album Details

Post-hardcore rockers Of Mice & Men have returned with a brand new single and details of a new album! The band unveiled the unsettling video for 'Pain' earlier today, featuring the band performing alongside unsettling images of dancers.

With the release of a single, the band also announced the release of the fourth record, Cold World, due for release on September 9. The band has spent a good portion of the last year recording the record, which came with some struggle. Austin Carlile, the band's heavy vocalist, faced complications with the rare tissue disorder Marfan's syndrome, as well as electrocution injuries in the studio.

Cold World was produced by David Bendeth, who also worked with the band on their chart-topping 2014 effort Restoring Force, and will be released via Rise Records. The tracklist is as follows:

1. Game Of War
2. The Lie
3. Real
4. Like A Ghost
5. Contagious
6. -
7. Pain
8. The Hunger
9. Relentless
10. Down The Road
11. +
12. Away
13. Transfigured

Fans can get a download of the single by preordering the album here, with multiple options of packages and formats available. The song will likely be a part of the band's set on their upcoming tour with Slipknot and Marilyn Manson, as well. 

Yellowcard Calling It Quits

Alternative rock legends Yellowcard are calling it quits after nearly two decades as a band. A message posted on their website reads:

“Putting this into words hasn’t been easy. When saying farewell, it is hard to know where to start, especially when there are so many reasons not to say it, but the time has come to share this news. After countless discussions and months of thought, we have decided that it is time for Yellowcard to come to an end. This will be our last album and our final world tour.

The decision was an incredibly difficult one for us to make. We considered so many things - our families, our health, our future endeavors. In the end we realized that this was the right time to step away and preserve the legacy and integrity of the band. It is with you, the fans in mind, that this decision was made, We wanted to have the chance to share our farewell with as many fans around the world as we could, and now is the right time to do just that

We went into this record knowing it would be the last, which is why we chose to have Ryan Key and Ryan Mendez produce it. The motivation behind this was to make sure these songs came from a place that was deeply rooted in us. We wanted to push ourselves to create a lasting finale for this incredible story on our own. It is also why we chose to self-title the album. We were lucky to still have our friend and mentor, Neal Avron, on board as Executive Producer and mixer and we’ve made one of the strongest records of our career and a fitting final creative piece.

Once this final chapter for Yellowcard comes to a close, we will all be heading in new directions in our lives, but these memories will never leave us. We can only hope that the memories we have made together with you will stay in your hearts as well You have stood by us through all of the highs and lows on this unbelievable journey.

We will be forever grateful to Yellowcard fans all over the world for the opportunities you have given us. We have played shows for nearly two decades on six continents, and had the chance to keep recording the music we love year after year. While it is with sadness that we say goodbye, it is with gratitude and amazement that we look back on a career we can be proud of, and were so very lucky to have had.

Please come and join us on our last trip around the globe. We hope to share this final record and tour with each and every one of you.

”I won’t be with you, but I won’t be far away and this is goodbye.”

-Ryan, Sean, Ryan, and Josh”

— http://yellowcardrock.com/

The band's tenth and final record, the eponymous Yellowcard will be out on September 30. The band will embark on one final world tour in support of the record, spanning for the rest of 2016 and 2017. Listen to the first single from the record, 'Rest In Peace', below.