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UK-based progressive rockers Francesco Fonte Band have released a new music video for “Universe Garden“, the third song from their new album Eight. With this song the band recalls 80’s goth and dark rock in a poetic and driving track. The music video features black and white cinematography following a young woman in her journey of the “Universe Garden“. The video was shot by Torturett Photography in Hampstead Heath, London. Watch the new video HERE.
“The mercurial FRANCESCO FONTE BAND (IT/UK) – imagine Prince, the[sic] Nine Inch Nails, Suede and Pink Floyd all collapsing into an absinthe-induced cloud of beauty and melancholy and throw in a brutally powerful rock backbone. Unforgettable and unfathomable.” – Howlin’ Anton Bleak
Francesco Fonte Band formed in the UK in 2011. Previous releases were debut album Blue Omens (2011) and the EP Arousal Addiction (2013). Both records were reviewed by many webzines and magazines all over the EU. The same year as their latest release, they performed more than twenty successful shows in some of London’s best music venues. The band also achieved numerous airplays from radio stations (K2KRadio, VirginRock, ClassicRock and Bcfm-Bristol). The new album Eight was released via NMTCG records.
Francisco Fonte Band is:
Francesco Fonte: Voice/Guitar Douglas Wheeler: Bass Guitar Wayne Casserly: Drums
Los Angeles, CA – Today, The Faim have teamed up with Ones To Watch to premiere the official video for their latest single, “A Million Stars.” Watch it exclusively HERE. The video was filmed in Berlin, Germany and follows frontman Josh Raven as he reminisces over a past love interest. “A Million Stars” also appears on the band’s debut EP, Summer Is a Curse, which serves as a prelude to their hotly-anticipated first full-length album, slated for release in 2019.
“ ‘A Million Stars’ isn’t only about appreciating the person you’re with or the location you’re in, it’s about being free of the world’s distractions and valuing the little details that make a memory unique. I believe we’re defined by our reactions to these moments,” says Josh. “This video represents the double-edged sword of sharing perfect memories, but being thrust into a situation where cherishing them might not ever be possible. It’s a reality anyone faces when you’re away from loved ones, friends or even a familiar place.”
Confirmed to Support HANDS LIKE HOUSES on Fall U.S. Tour
In other news, The Faim is excited to announce their first ever U.S. tour, supporting fellow Aussie natives, Hands Like Houses, in November and December. The group will also share the stage with Emarosa, Devour The Day, and Arlington. The trek begins and ends in California, kicking off in San Francisco on Saturday, November 10th and wrapping in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 9th. The run of dates also hits major cities including Chicago, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Atlanta.
The Faim is also currently on tour in Europe supporting Against The Current, which concludes in Paris next week on Thursday, October 11th. A full list of shows in included below, with all tickets available for purchase HERE.
Since the release of their new EP, The Faim have clocked an impressive 8+ million total global streams, as well as over 5.5 million globally on their smash single, “Summer Is a Curse.” The band’s music has also landed on notable Spotify playlists including New Music Friday, Rock This, The New Alt, Top of the Morning, The Scene, and New Noise.
11/10/18 – San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s *
11/12/18 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex *
11/13/18 – Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater *
11/16/18 – Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge *
11/17/18 – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar *
11/18/18 – Indianapolis, IL @ The Emerson Theater *
11/19/18 – Louisville, KY @ Trixie’s *
11/20/18 – Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick *
11/21/18 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s *
11/23/18 – Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall *
11/24/18 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre *
11/25/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Foundry at The Fillmore *
11/27/18 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage *
11/28/18 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle *
11/29/18 – Nashville, TN @ Rocketown *
11/30/18 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade *
12/01/18 – Orlando, FL @ Soundbar *
12/03/18 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall *
12/04/18 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill *
12/05/18 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamo City Music Hall *
12/07/18 – Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *
12/09/18 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom *
PHOENIX — The Valley of the Sun was transported back in time to the halcyon 90’s Sunday night as Goo Goo Dolls kicked off their “Dizzy Up the Girl” Anniversary Tour at The Van Buren. The four-time platinum certified album contains thirteen songs, four of which made it into the top 40. As the tour name suggests, Dizzy Up The Girl was the primary focus of the show, taking up the entirety of the first of two sets from the band, being played from beginning to end. It certainly did not feel like two decades had passed since its release, as thick crowds of people covered every square inch of the venue for this sold out show.
There was a tangible current of excitement in the air, and people were becoming antsy and murmuring to one another about their impatience for this much anticipated show to start. Each time a new melody would boom from the speakers, or a guitar was tweaked backstage, the excitement could be felt as it was mistaken for the beginning of the show.
The lights dim and the stage goes dark. A melody begins to play as lights begin to dance in unison to the music across the platform, engulfing the instruments in various colors as vocalist Johnny Rzeznik, bassist Robby Takac, and current touring members: guitarist Brad Fernquist, keyboardist Jim McGorman, and drummer Craig Macintyre moved slowly towards them. A sea of light from cell phones rose up from the crowd to capture the initial moments of the show. As each found their way to their place on stage they wasted no time heading straight into the opening chords of the albums first song “Dizzy.”
Following an intense performance of the first song, they effortlessly flowed into the following song on the album which also happens to be the second most popular song, coming in at #9 on Billboard’s Top 100 Pop list from 1992-2012. The beginning notes of “Slide” glided out of the speakers and it was like a fire had been lit inside the venue. Screams and cheers rang out as Rzeznik sang the words that any true Goo Goo Dolls fan would know. Goo Goo Dolls exuded a palpable “rockstar” energy. At points during the song, the audience was so jazzed up and into the music that they began to drown out the band with their singing. Not wanting to be outdone, this caused a chain reaction of events as the five progressed powerfully through the next seven songs on the album without any breaks in between.
While talking about the anniversary of the album, Rzeznik tells the audience about the iconic girl on the album cover, saying that everyone wants to know who she is. Thinking there would be an intricate story involved, he surprises everyone by saying they have no idea who she is, other than the assistant of the photographer despite casting models for the shoot. Even without a great story, the crowd loved it and snapped right back into their trance as they sang their hearts out from song to song, dancing with the strangers next to them and thrusting their drinks and hands in the air. This was the general reaction throughout their set, with a vibrant light show and dozens of black latex balloons floating around during another hit single, “Black Balloon.” Set one was brought to a close at the conclusion of the last song on the album, “Hate This Place.”
“Thank you! Hang on a sec, we’ll be right back,” Rzeznik said as the band left the stage for a short intermission. Before long, the musicians were back on stage ready to keep the party going for the second part of their set. Already having played thirteen songs, the band proceeded to double the experience and play thirteen more for set two, entitled “Deep Cuts”. Fans went down several paths of memory lane while the band played some of their biggest hits outside of their most popular album. “Better Days”, “Can’t Let It Go”, and “Two Days in February” were all played with acoustic guitar, evoking a range of emotions from their followers.
The remainder of the show was more amped up, wanting to bring the audience back to full volume before they ended with a two-song encore including “Big Machine” and a mindblowing performance of “Flat Top”. Right before that, though, Takac addressed the audience a final time with a simple “Thank you guys for coming out to celebrate with us tonight. Truly truly truly means a lot,” no doubt with mutual feelings in the hearts of fans. As the show ended after 26 songs, people could be overheard talking all around about how wonderful the show was and how much it meant to them to be there for it. For over twenty years the Goo Goo Dolls have brought several beautiful songs to life, and if this tour has anything to say about them, no amount of time can weaken the love their fans have for them, or their music.
PHOENIX — For the fourth stop of their Fall 2018 tour, Death Cab for Cutie returned to Phoenix to promote their ninth album, Thank You for Today. In the first album since 2015, the band comes back strong in their signature indie pop songwriting and foggy vocals. The band has already released three singles since the August 2018 album release date, building anticipation for their tour. Death Cab for Cutie added two new members to the band after the departure of guitarist and producer Chris Walla. The two new members, guitarist Dave Depper and keyboardist Zac Rae, seem to bring a new cohesive energy to the band, which made for a polished and low-key performance at the sold out music venue in Phoenix.
When the show started at 8:00PM, opening power-pop band Charly Bliss welcomed the crowd. Lead vocalist Eva Hendricks bounced around the stage, swinging the white fringe from her short shorts. Her spunky attitude infused the crowd with energy, starting off the night with a positive jolt of indie pop rock, reminiscent of the early 2000s.
Joining her on stage was guitarist/vocalist Spencer Fox, drummer Sam Hendricks, and bassist/vocalist Dan Shure. At the end of their set, they generously thanked the audience and anticipation crescendoed for the main act, Death Cab for Cutie. Charly Bliss’ debut full-length album, Guppy, was released in April of 2017.
As the stage washed with ambient purple light, the four members of Death Cab for Cutie took the stage clad in black.
Lead vocalist Ben Gibbard jumped right into their new song “I Dreamt We Spoke Again”, washing the audience in his unique melancholy vocals. Guitarist/vocalist Depper complemented Ben’s voice in creating a beautiful harmony, while drummer Jason McGerr, bassist Nick Harmer, and keyboardist Rae rounded out the sound; making for a solid performance that reflected the band’s years of refinement.
Without pause, they began “Summer Years”, and then picked up the pace with the following song, “The Ghosts of Beverly Drive.” After the third song, Gibbard addressed the audience, introducing the band and briefly thanking those in attendance.
After a few more new songs, they went into “Gold Rush,” the fresh-sounding first single released from their new album. Recognizing the song from heavy rotation, the crowd erupted in cheers and voices rising up in unison. Reactions were similarly enthusiastic when the well-known notes of “Title and Registration” from Transatlanticism reached their ears.
The next few songs were a mix from earlier albums, including “Company Calls,” “No Sunlight,” and “What Sarah Said.” The chill vibes of their show would make for a great date night, or an escape from the work week. Gibbard occasionally dances about the stage facing the drummer and side stepping to the beat. While their performance was strong and their live sound comparable to their albums in every sense, the band’s minimal audience interaction and dependance on old songs might cause a loss of interest in newer listeners. There seemed to be a lack of connection that was sorely needed between the band and the audience. All members could benefit from some storytelling. Their lyrics are so beautiful and meaningful, the audience would surely love to hear some stories behind writing them.
A piano was rolled onto the stage for, “I Will Possess your Heart,” and Gibbard temporarily switched his guitar for the keys. The following song, “Autumn Love”, includes some beautiful lyrics such as, “If there’s no beacon tonight to guide me, I’ll finally break the shackles of direction and let the headlights lead me anywhere that they wanna go.” The depth of their latest album was described in a Facebook post on the date of release, which refers to it as “a record that reflects upon and asks questions of the past”, and “also a record about the future. Looking forwards and backwards simultaneously, from summer to autumn.”
As they finished out the set they finally addressed the audience once again, giving a big thank you to Charly Bliss for being a great opening band. Of course they had to play one of their biggest hits, “Soul Meets Body”, and the crowd went wild, nearly everyone singing along. At the end of the song, Gibbard triumphantly held his guitar up in the air like a trophy. The last song, “Marching Bands of Manhattan”, left the audience still wanting more, cheering into the emptiness as the stage went black.
It only took a few minutes before Gibbard returned, playing an acoustic version of their hit “I’ll Follow You Into the Dark.” It was at this moment that Gibbard opened up to the crowd with some cheerful banter, and he asked the audience to sing the second verse of the song. Afterwards, the rest of the band joined Gibbard on stage and played not one more, but three more songs: “Your Hurricane”, “Crooked Teeth”, and they finished the night with “Transatlanticism”.
With a generous 24-song setlist, Death Cab for Cutie brought a unique and beautiful energy to The Van Buren, and a recording-quality sound. The title of Thank You for Today no doubt resonated with die-hard Death Cab for Cutie fans.
Phoenix-based rock band Never Us has released their newest single, “Retrograde,” featuring Matthew Good of From First to Last.
“Our newest release, Retrograde featuring Matt Good of From First to Last was written to reflect the feeling of being an introvert in an extroverted environment. We tried to explore multiple facets of this theme, one of them being emotionally drained from putting on a facade for the world. Another being self-doubt that comes from being in an environment you don’t feel that you belong in, but need to be in.” – Never Us
We are Never Us from Phoenix Arizona, a rock band that infuses many different popular music genres into our songs. Formed several years ago, we have spent time playing multiple shows in the Phoenix area while refining and building our unique sound. Recently, we recorded an album with Matt Good of From First to Last at Good Sound Studios in May of 2018. The album reflects our different musical backgrounds and influences which have been combined to create something truly unique. We are immensely proud of our newest songs and can’t wait to share them with the world.
Los Angeles — Tilian (Pearson)’s highly-anticipated third full-length studio album, The Skeptic, is out today! The Dance Gavin Dance frontman’s 10-track effort is his first solo release with Rise Records and serves as a follow up to his previous work, Material Me(LP, 2013),Future Friends(EP, 2014),Perfect Enemy(LP, 2015), and most recently, thePatientEP (2017). Prior to creating DGD’s latest offering, Artificial Selection, Tilian retreated to Portland for three weeks to record The Skeptic with producer and frequent collaborator, Kris Crummett. The result is a solid blend of pop-punk and indie-pop anthems that highlight Tilian’s powerhouse vocals and heartfelt, raw songwriting.
The Skeptic Track Listing:
1. Made of Plastic
2. Cocky
3. Gone
4. Handsome Garbage
5. Hold On
6. Blame It On Rock n Roll
7. Let Her Go
8. Drunken Conversations
9. Right Side
10. Ghost Town
The Skeptic signifies a formative chapter in Tilian’s career where the more questions he asked, the more inspiration he found. The Florida-born, Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer continues his existential search on this record. “Musically and in my personal life, I kept thinking, ‘I’ve got to find and explore some new ground,’ ” says Tilian. “I’ve always been so much more questioning than most people around me are. I never really bought into things the way 90% of the crowd does. That sentiment communicated the idea of The Skeptic to me,” he adds.
Tilian Pearson
As Tilian continues to pose questions on his journey, he has a better grasp on himself as an artist than ever before, and that ultimately shines through on The Skeptic. “I’m optimistic and excited,” he notes. “I’ve been through the ringer, but I’ve had a pretty awesome and fortunate life. The whole journey is ongoing, and I get to be responsible for it.”
Additional news from Tilian will be coming soon – stay tuned!
This summer, heavy revolutionaries OTEP unleashed their most uncompromising, candid, all-inclusive and controversial assessment of the current residing political regime that they have ever released – the new album Kult 45. In support of the album, OTEP recently announced her upcoming “The Art of Dissent” U.S. headline tour, kicking off in Bakersfield, CA on Friday, November 23. Tickets are available now via all venues – see below for a full listing of tour dates.
Otep Shamaya says, “In a time when apathy has been weaponized to suffocate the voice of the people, in a time when Americans are told not to believe what we see with our own eyes but to believe what one bloviating sack of sewage and a gutless Republican Party who care only about preying on the working class and the working poor just to feed his KULT from the same gruesome trough of racist, homophobic and sexist slop. We are proud to bring THE ART OF DISSENT tour to the people to hopefully remind them just how powerful we are and how important we are, as a nation, as a democracy, and that it’s damn well worth fighting for.”
OTEP “The Art of Dissent” U.S. Headline Tour:
11/23 – Bakersfield, CA @ Club 1933
11/24 – Tucson, AZ @ House of Bards
11/27 – Milwaukee, WI @ Shank Hall
11/28 – Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
11/29 – Arlington Heights, IL @ HOME Bar
11/30 – Geneva on the Lake, OH @ The Cove
12/1 – Chesterfield, MI @ Diesel
12/2 – Dayton, OH @ Oddbody’s
12/4 – Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz
12/5 – Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
12/6 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts
12/7 – Auburn, ME @ Sapphire Club
12/8 – Easton, PA @ One Centre Square
12/9 – Amityville, NY @ Revolution
12/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell)
12/13 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zeroo
12/14 – Huntsville, AL @ Sidetracks
12/15 – Clarksville, TN @ Warehouse
12/16 – Memphis, TN @ Rockhouse Live
12/18 – Waterloo, IA @ Spicoli’s
12/19 – Lincoln, NE @ Royal Grove
12/20 – Greeley, CO @ Moxie
12/21 – Denver, CO @ Herman’s Hideaway
12/22 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios
12/23 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Liquid Joe’s
You can also stream Kult 45in full via Spotifyhere. While online, watch a new 20+ minute documentary about the making of Kult 45, performing together as a band, and more, here.
“OTEP speaks out, savages President Trump and stands tall on Kult 45.“ – Salt Lake City Weekly
Today, multi-platinum, acclaimed alternative rock band Chevelle have announced a new album, 12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides and Rarities, compiling sought-after B-Sides and rarities from 2002-2016, now remastered on one brand new collection for the very first time. Set for release on October 26, 2018, the album is now available for pre-order via Epic Records. Get it HERE!
The album pre-order unlocks the single “Sleep Walking Elite.” Originally recorded during the sessions for 2007’s Vena Sera, thick riffing drives the track, providing the perfect counterpoint to a hauntingly hypnotic hook. With its delicate push-and-pull between robust distortion and dynamic melody, it stands out as classic Chevelle.
The project’s full collection spans everything from an acoustic version of “Sleep Apnea” off 2009’s Sci-Fi Crimes to an unearthed bonus track off the now-classicWonder What’s Next entitled “Until You’re Reformed” and “A Miracle” recorded as a bonus track for The North Corridor in 2016. It’s essential listening for fans to say the least.
Check out the full tracklisting for 12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides and Rarities below.
Since the release of their full-length debut Point #1 in 1999, Chevelle have stood at the forefront of hard rock, consistently evolving and progressing while delivering a series of ubiquitous and inescapable anthems. 2002’s breakout Wonder What’s Next would go platinum, yielding smashes such as “The Red” and “Send the Pain Below,” while its follow-up This Type of Thinking Could Do Us Inreached gold status. In 2011, Hats Off to the Bull landed at #9 on the Billboard Top 200 and delivered “Face to the Floor.” La Gárgola crashed into the Top 5 at #3 and boasted “Take Out the Gunman.” 2016’s The North Corridor represented new heights for the group, marking its fourth Top 10 bow on the Billboard Top 200.
TRACKLISTING:
1. A Miracle
2. Sleep Walking Elite
3. In Debt To The Earth
4. Sleep Apnea (Acoustic Version)
5. The Clincher (Version 103)
6. Fizgig
7. Glimpse of the Con
8. Indifference
9. Until You’re Reformed
10. The Gist
11. Delivery
12. Leto’s Headache
Symphonic/Celtic vocalist LEAH – described affectionately by her fans as “the metal Enya” – recently announced the release of her upcoming full-length album, The Quest, out Friday, October 5. The album features a stronger Celtic and Fantasy connection in comparison to her previous release, Kings & Queens, as well as prog rock elements and ethereal ambiance, combined with traditional symphonic metal elements. The album is available for pre-order HERE
Today, LEAH is pleased to reveal a new track from The Quest, entitled “Edge of Your Sword“.
LEAH says about the track: “This track was interesting to write… it was inspired by a mood, more than anything else – medieval rock vibes with a bit of spice. I hope those vibes get passed onto the listener! Some of that spice is attributed to Chen Balbus (Orphaned Land) who added the middle eastern saz on the track, which gave it a really cool and unexpected flavour! Also on the track is Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian) playing bass, Timo Somers (Delain) playing rhythm guitars (with an epic solo!), and Sander Zoer (ex-Delain) on Drums and percussion. Oliver Philipps (Everon, Phantasma) added a ton of orchestration which really beefed the whole sound up.
My part in it was composing the song, playing a lot of the keys, harps, synths, arrangements, lyrics, and of course vocals. I was actually scared out of my mind about that high note in the last chorus! I knew I could technically execute it, but was mentally blocked for some time about it. I had to do weird things in the vocal booth to overcome my vocal mental block, such as drawing an arrow pointing down on a piece of paper that I could look at, also using physical gestures when I went to sing it, such as pointing to the ground with my hands. The reason is because when you go to sing a high note, most singers tend to tense up and squeeze their vocal chords up, which make a horrible tone and tense up the voice. So, to overcome that default tendency, I had to convince my brain that I was actually singing lower and it would get easier, not harder. And when that note came out, it actually was a piece of cake! Amazing how the mind works!”
Hear a sample of more new music from The QuestHERE
LEAH is recognized in the music world for her work with established heavy metal musicians such as Eric Peterson of Testament and Dragonlord, Timo Somers of Delain, Troy Donockly of Nightwish and many others. To date, LEAH has released three albums, Of Earth & Angels[2012], Otherworld [2013], and Kings & Queens [2015], as well as several viral videos. Her latest video features an ethereal cover of “The Dragonborn Comes“, the main theme from the massive video game Skyrim. The video has racked up 5.3 million views on Facebook and nearly 600,000 views on YouTube to date.
As mentioned in her comment above, in addition to LEAH‘s own vocals, keys, and orchestrations on The Quest, the album features an impressive international cast of guest musicians – including Troy Donockley of Nightwish on pipes and flutes, Barend Courbois of Blind Guardian on bass guitar, Timo Somers of Delain on rhythm and lead guitars, Sander Zoer formerly of Delain on drums and percussion and Chen Balbus of Orphaned Land on Middle Eastern Saz and Oud. The album features mixing and mastering from Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe), as well as orchestration, arrangement and production from Oliver Philipps (Everon, Phantasma, Delain).
“I am totally delighted to work with the guest musicians on this album. Each and every individual is an expert at what they do, and I only wanted the best for these songs, as we were developing toward a very specific sound, which was a rock/metal album with a Celtic and fantasy twist,” says LEAH. “This album was truly an international effort!“
The Quest art by Jan Yrlund (Tina Guo, Apocalyptica, Manowar)
The Quest track listing:
1. The Quest
2. Edge of Your Sword
3. Lion Arises
4. Heir
5. Ruins of Illusion
6. Labyrinth
7. Abyss
8. Oblivion (Between Two Worlds)
9. Ghost Upon a Throne
10. The Water Is Wide
About LEAH:
LEAH is a fan-described “Celtic vocal goddess” hailing from the coast of British Columbia, Canada, and is inspired by Celtic and world music influences such as Clannad and Enya to European symphonic and progressive metal influences. Her debut self-released album Of Earth & Angels received international critical acclaim, including landing the “The Best Symphonic Metal Album” Metalstorm Award for 2012. Her 2013 release, Otherworld, is a five-song Celtic-metal masterpiece, mixed by Christian “Moschus” Moos at SPACELAB in Germany (Delain, Everon, Imperia) and features the vocals of guitar legend Eric Peterson (Testament/Dragonlord) on the ethereal metal track “Dreamland“. 2014 was very successful year for LEAH as she raised over $27,000 through Indiegogo via her fans to record and produce her heaviest album, Kings & Queens, which was eventually released in early 2015 through Inner Wound Recordings. The album received dozens of four and five-star reviews, and helped her gain thousands of new fans around the world.
Most recently, LEAH raised over $87,000 in 30 days via Indiegogo and her shop to launch The Quest, again released via her own independent record label, Ex Cathedra Records, along with Inner Wound Recordings. Already, The Quest is receiving 5-star reviews and critical acclaim. Her fans have never been more loyal and excited for fantasy-inspired symphonic metal!
“I have dealt with depression and bipolar for a good part of my life,” says Mark Hunter, vocalist for iconic Cleveland, Ohio-based heavy metal band Chimaira. “It’s probably safe to say that most Chimaira fans understand that the band’s music, lyrics, and live performances were my cathartic outlet.”
On October 10, 2018 – World Mental Health Day – Mark Hunter will share his personal story about utilizing his art to battle personal struggles and bipolar disorder in a heartfelt upcoming documentary, Down Again. The film is directed by Nick Cavalier – also recognized for directing Derek Hess‘ award-winning Forced Perspectivedocumentary – and will be free and available to stream on October 10 at Down Again Film
Read an in-depth interview about Down Again and view clips of the film via Loudwire
Mark Hunter and director Nick Cavalier met on a panel speaking about Mental Health and Creativity monitored by Dr. Patrick Runnels (featured in the documentary) during the Acting Out! festival in Cleveland – a festival put on in 2017 to raise mental health awareness. After hearing his story at the panel, Nick approached Mark to create a short film around his ability to cope with mental illness in the public spotlight through the art. Down Again juxtaposes Chimaira‘s history with Mark‘s life events and lyrics, presenting an intimate timeline through the rise and fall of the band and Mark‘s ability to channel it into art. The film also explores the catharsis created by the act of making music and art and how the end result affects the fans.
“I was a bit apprehensive [to do this documentary] at first,” continues Mark Hunter. “Not because I am unwilling to share my story, but more so because there are thousands of people infinitely more interesting than me. And worse off than me. But in the end, I am thankful to have been a part of this short documentary. It captured an extremely critical moment in time. The rekindling of friendships with my former bandmates was one of the most significant healing moments of my entire life.”
Mark adds, “It’s unfortunate to note the past couple of years have been tough on the music community. We lost a lot of talented people to their struggles with depression. I hope the viewers of our film will take away a story of healing and feel the impact of dealing with mental health issues head-on.”
In addition to interviews with Mark Hunter and those in his life about his mental health, upbringing, and the formation/rise of Chimaira, the documentary also includes high-quality video footage of the band’s 15th Christmas show at the Agora in Cleveland (2017), featuring the band’s original line-up – marking their first performance together after nearly seven years of separation.
Mark Hunter explains, “This is not a story about Chimaira, although fans of the band will be excited to see familiar faces and hear some of their favorite songs. The audience will get a glimpse into my personality and how I use art to better deal with the harder moments of life.”
In addition to direction of photography by Tyler Clark, the film also features a devastating live audio mix by Chimaira guitarist Rob Arnold.
Not only does Down Again explore Mark‘s art via Chimaira, but also his photography – visiting Mark‘s world not only through his figurative lens, but his literal one. He adds, “Since the band ended in 2014, photography has been my passion and a great way to fill my time with positivity.”
Down Again was made possible by a generous donation from The Centers for Family and Children, and marketing support via Hope For The Day.
Nick Cavalier is a director of films, commercials, branded content and music videos. A visual and character-focused storyteller, Nick is known for his high production value docu-driven films with poetic hero-centered themes. Nick has been honored with awards and selections at festivals such as SXSW, Palm Springs, and Cleveland International. His work is featured in multiple national publications including New York Times, VICE, Shorts TV, Devour, HYPEBEAST, Alternative Press, Funny Or Die, G4, MTV, Fast Company, Juxtapoz Magazine and many more. In addition to the praise received for Forced Perspective, Nick is lauded for his short film about vinyl record resurgence, Gotta Groove Records.
News & Reviews from the Fiery Mosh Pits of Arizona
, which serves as a prelude to their hotly-anticipated first full-length album, slated for release in 2019.
, was released in April of 2017.
, is out today! The Dance Gavin Dance frontman’s 10-track effort is his first solo release with Rise Records and serves as a follow up to his previous work, 
(LP, 2013), 
(EP, 2014), 
(LP, 2015), and most recently, the 
EP (2017). Prior to creating DGD’s latest offering, Artificial Selection, Tilian retreated to Portland for three weeks to record The Skeptic with producer and frequent collaborator, Kris Crummett. The result is a solid blend of pop-punk and indie-pop anthems that highlight Tilian’s powerhouse vocals and heartfelt, raw songwriting.
, compiling sought-after B-Sides and rarities from 2002-2016, now remastered on one brand new collection for the very first time. Set for release on October 26, 2018, the album is now available for pre-order via Epic Records. Get it 
, thick riffing drives the track, providing the perfect counterpoint to a hauntingly hypnotic hook. With its delicate push-and-pull between robust distortion and dynamic melody, it stands out as classic Chevelle.
to an unearthed bonus track off the now-classic 
entitled “Until You’re Reformed” and “A Miracle” recorded as a bonus track for 
in 2016. It’s essential listening for fans to say the least.
