California Rock/Metal Band Heat of Damage has released the Official Music Video for “The Gift,” the debut single off of their upcoming sophomore LP, due out next year. “The Gift” was shot and directed by Ethan Parilla of Atrocious Works Productions.
Heat Of Damage consists of four talented young musicians who write, produce and perform an edgy and eclectic mix of hard rock and metal music. Their self-produced EP, Orenda, debuted in 2013.
Since then, the band has performed at numerous venues in the Northern California area. The group released their second EP, Lifestyle, in September 2014. The title track was featured on 98 Rock’s Local Licks program for three weeks running. Lifestyle’s “Apocalypse” was released soon after and earned a spot on 98 Rock’s Local Licks Most Liked Song of 2014 Countdown Show. The song came in at #2 for the year!
Following the successes of Lifestyle, the band entered the studio with Sacramento engineer and producer Matt Thomas to record their first full-length album, Open Fire, which was released in October of 2015.
Open Fire was well received following its release, garnering overwhelmingly positive reviews from a wide variety of writers and music critics. The song “Heaven” was the #6 Most Liked Song of 2015 for 98 Rock’s Local Licks, despite only having two months of airplay during the year.
The group is well known for their musicality and showmanship. Shows are high-energy, engaging, and memorable. Their musical range is impressive, with an ability to provide anything from an incredible rock show to an unforgettable metal experience, for any venue’s style and the crowd. Heat Of Damage never disappoints!
LINKS:
http://www.heatofdamage.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Heat-of-Damage/135160809846382
http://twitter.com/heatofdamage
http://www.youtube.com/user/HeatofDamage
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Counterfeit Culture – Apothecary (ft. Ricky Armellino)
In this day and age, we’re constantly bombarded by an onslaught of overwhelming influences from the entertainment industry and the media. It’s inescapable. Standing out from the pack becomes a bold proposition and an even bolder move. That’s where Counterfeit Culture comes in. Not only do the New Jersey quartet—Nick Broglio [vocals], Patrick Robertson [guitar], Elijah Pagan [bass], and Chris Smith [drums]—shake up heavy music, but they also shake up pop culture at large, ripping conventions to shreds with an artful amalgam of intricate metallic musicianship and alternative-inspired melodies. Their 2017 Deathwish EP introduces an infectious ideology.
“The name Counterfeit Culture basically says that we live in a society where TV shows, movies, magazines, and web sites tell us how to dress, how to act, and how to live our lives,” says Patrick. “Society tries to force you to be a certain way. We’re saying that’s wrong, and you can be whoever you want to be and live life however you want.”
The members initially met in 2015 while still in high school. They quickly built a local buzz, performing with top-notch acts such as Suicide Silence, Whitechapel, Like Moth To Flames, The Plot In You, Erra, Thy Art Is Murder, Invent, Animate, and much more. In 2017, they worked with producer Ricky Armellino [Currents, This Or The Apocalypse] and mixer Taylor Larson [Periphery, Darkest Hour] on what would become Deathwish.
“We take inspiration from multiple genres,” the guitarist goes on. “Of course, we’re a heavy band, and we’ve got those down-tuned breakdowns. At the same time, there are melodic riffs and singing with layers of vocal harmonies. It’s this mix between alternative and metal.”
The single “Apothecary” illuminates the nuances of that style. Snapping from precise polyrhythmic pummeling into hypnotic harmonies, it consciously speaks up against domestic violence lyrically and in its cinematic music video.
“The lyrics are about pretending to be someone you’re not and trying to sell yourself as someone you’re not,” explains Nick. “The music video tells that story of domestic abuse. We gave it a visual representation. It’s a girl in this abusive relationship, making it seem normal. Obviously, she’s in pain, but she doesn’t show it.”
Elsewhere, “X” tackles the horrors of drug addiction through a tightly woven sonic assault, “Second Soul” examines “the self-destructive death of one’s former self.” The band separates itself from their contemporaries through both the integration of melody and a fashion-conscious image, eschewing the typical “black t-shirt and jeans,” as Patrick puts it.
Drawing inspiration from remaining outsiders since growing up through and through, Deathwish is as real as heavy music gets. “When people hear this EP, I hope they think about how they’re living their lives and open their eyes,” Patrick concludes. “You don’t have to just do things the way your favorite actor does. Take our songs as inspiration to live your life how you want to live.”
“The songs come from an honest place,” Nick leaves off. “They talk about my past. I felt myself change as a person. I want other people to know that change is possible.”
LINKS:
https://www.facebook.com/CounterfeitCultureNJ
https://www.instagram.com/counterfeitculturenj
https://twitter.com/CCNJOfficial -
Poppymoon – No I Won’t
Poppymoon has today premiered their new single and video titled ‘No I Won’t’. This song is one of those that creeps up behind you and just quietly begins that dance move that entices you to join in. Sabina’s voice is the perfect fit and strength to lead this track into that part of your memory where it becomes a part of you.
While the video is simple it is to the point and past the limit in a signature way. In that way alone I feel that it is the perfect introduction to Poppymoon. Strong yet subtle. Beautiful and boundless. Welcome to the next experience of your life.
ABOUT POPPYMOON
Poppymoon is a German pop duo founded in 2020 by producer djaaaen and singer Sabina. Infusing their sound with elements of their past life in a rock band together, the duo creates a darker pop sound that nonetheless remains groovy as hell. Inspired by their own experiences coming of age in today’s world, their lyrics explore topics around mental health, self-discovery, freedom, and hope.
Sabina and djaaaen started their musical careers early, with Sabina singing ever since she can remember and djaaaen playing various instruments from the time he was six years old. They met in 2011 in a bar when Sabina asked djaaaen, then just a stranger next to her, if he could order her a cocktail. Since she was not of legal age yet, it was a slightly irresponsible decision the duo advise not to copy, but luckily, he obliged. What started as a light criminal act sparked a friendship and a musical partnership for life.
For almost a decade, Sabina and djaaaen wrote and performed music with their band ASHBY, touring Mexico and Germany along with playing gigs all over Europe. In the fall of 2020, amidst a pandemic locking down live music worldwide, the duo decided to indulge their long time love for pop music and form POPPYMOON.
Their first single, “Wanna Play that Game?” was released in September 2020, addressing topics like societal pressure and recognizing your own value against a minimalist pop backdrop that recalled the deft production of Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa. Their second single “Weirdos” followed shortly after and, to start off the new year, the duo announced “Joanie’s Secret” in January and their upcoming single “No, I won’t” in February. Opening on one of the duo’s most driving bass lines and building to a tropical house-indebted climax with Sabina’s commanding vocals guiding the way, “No, I won’t” is an empowering pop anthem tailor-made for a hopeful new year.
“No, I won’t’ embraces the concept of enforcing boundaries and living a life true to yourself without complying with others wishes, projections, and expectations, especially as a female-identifying person,” Sabina says. “Although this song deals with this topic from a female viewpoint, this message stands for everybody.”
LINKS:
http://www.itspoppymoon.com
https://open.spotify.com/artist/31yWm5xJWd4ld6WjI21nI3?si=GSjWsUCWRAWxmMpNcKWH6A
https://instagram.com/itspoppymoon
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDyXHjSbM2RL9_ne4aN-UEw
https://www.tiktok.com/@itspoppymoon -
Marc Durkee – A Way to Escape
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia’s solo atmospheric prog artist Marc Durkee is a big fan of Swedish metal hitmakers GHOST. Covering their songs over the years, he’s has posted his latest acoustic rendition of ‘He Is’, which can be viewed on his youtube channel where other past covers from personal favorites can be watched.
“I really enjoyed Ghost’s “Prequelle” album they released this year. I’d already done a few acoustic covers of songs from it, which were well received, so I decided to throw it back to one of my favorites from their previous album.”
Inspired by Katatonia, Tesseract, Anathema, Devin Townsend, Coheed & Cambria, Marc Durkee’s music can be described as “a blend of progressive, metal/rock, doom metal, post-hardcore, and post-rock.”
Durkee’s new album ‘Remain In Stasis’ will be out on out January 18th, 2019 and is loaded with deep meaning to this courageous and talented solo artist, as he explains.
“The first meaning of this release is personal. I’ve been stuck in a state of depersonalization for almost five years now. For me, it’s been a chronic symptom of dealing with years of depression and stress, and it’s unrelenting. When it’s at its worst, it removes mostly all motivation and enjoyment from my life. While that is unfortunate, it does serve as a major source of inspiration for song-writing…The second meaning is more political and universal. I feel that humanity is at a unique point in our history, with technology and social media allowing us to communicate and express ourselves in ways that were previously unimaginable. And yet, nobody really DOES communicate. It seems as though it’s mostly used as a platform to bicker over political ideals and agendas and create discourse, or for anyone to use as their own personal performance venue. Everyone wants to be seen and heard, even those who really don’t deserve to be.”
Marc Durkee is one artist who really does deserve to be heard, and when ‘Remain In Stasis’ is released, all the world will hear him.
LINKS:
https://durk.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/marcdurkeeofficial
https://www.instagram.com/darcmurkee