Tag Archives: spring tour

Progressive Metal Quartet Valence Reveals Jam-Influenced, Eclectic New Track, “Walrus”

New York-based progressive metal fusion quartet Valence recently announced the release of their upcoming album, Cognitive Dissidents, out April 12, 2019. Expertly fusing genres like metal, rock, jam, classical, jazz, and more, Valence‘s varied, yet cohesive, influences offer every listener a passport to a new state of mind that is cerebral and emotive, while not sacrificing accessibility.

Today, Valence have revealed a third new track from Cognitive Dissidents, entitled “Walrus“, which is available to stream via New Noise Magazine HERE.

Guitarist Geoffrey Schaefer says about the track: “‘Walrus‘ is one of the more eclectic songs on Cognitive Dissidents that really highlights the way we incorporate jam band influences in with the progressive metal. You can really hear this about two and a half minutes into the song, as well as with the section that comes about five minutes in. It’s also one of the longer songs on the album, but one that we don’t think feels long.”

Check out other videos featuring tracks from Cognitive Dissidents :

“Damnit, Lana!” Music Video
“Preferred Nomenclature” Full Band Playthrough

Cognitive Dissidents, the ambitious follow up to their Independent Music Award-winning 2014 EP, Laser Baron, was recorded and produced at Westfall Studios in Long Island, NY.

Valence wastes no time in launching Cognitive Dissidents intro the stratosphere with lead single “Damnit, Lana!” (linked above), setting the course for what is about to be one hell of a ride. Rock technicality blends into a seductive Latin fusion-inspiredsection driven by multi-talented percussionist Chris Romano, only to finish as an unrelenting metal opus. “II. Calmer Than You Are” shows the softer side of Valence, illustrating a synth-laden soundscape led by bassist Wilhelmus Sapanaro. The band continue to flex their tech-muscles on tracks like “III. Preferred Nomenclature“, in which guitarists Michael Buonanno and Geoffrey Schaefer burn through over five minutes of deft ebb and flow – fluxing between absolute mano-a-mano, battle-like shreddery, deep grooves and classically-influenced passages. “Walrus“, amid its journey, provides an unexpected mid-track jam trip before the album closes with “Red Sky at Morning” – a 14+ minute sonic escapade that can only be described as positively monumental.

Rather than utilizing samples, bassist Wilhelmus Sapanaro performed upright bass and cello and guitarist Michael Buonanno performed violin and viola on Cognitive Dissidents to maintain an organic sound.

Pre order Cognitive Dissidents via Bandcamp, iTunes, and Spotify Pre-Save

Valence Cognitive Dissidents Album Art

Cognitive Dissidents track listing:

1. Damnit, Lana!
2. Prelude: Parlance of Our Time
3. I. If You’re Not into the Whole Brevity Thing
4. II. Calmer Than You Are
5. III. Preferred Nomenclature
6. Walrus
7. Red Sky at Morning

Valence has performed across the eastern United States and Canada with artists like Scale The Summit, Sarah Longfield, Consider The Source, Felix Martin and more, and will soon expand their national footprint later in 2019. In the meantime, Valence has several U.S. performances booked this winter and spring. See below for all confirmed tour dates:

Valence Tour Dates:

4/13 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ Darkside Records – Record Store Day
4/26 – Holbrook, NY @ Rams American Pub
4/28 – Philadelphia, PA @ Milkboy
4/29 – Orange, VA @ 3 B’s Bar & Grille
5/1 – Raleigh, NC @ Slims
5/2 – Atlanta, GA @ Smith’s Olde Bar
5/3 – Asheville, NC @ Odditorium
5/24 – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus w/ Black Crown Initiate // Album Release Show

Visit this Facebook event for a listing of these shows.

“…Valence is a style unto themselves, and listening to them is more about a direct connection to the moment than a study of any genre.”
William Berger, Author, Wagner Without Fear et al.;
Producer and Commentator, the Metropolitan Opera

“Ever watch a band enjoy themselves so much while playing live, that their mood becomes Infectious? It’s literally impossible not to smile while these dudes are having the best time on stage. It also helps that they can all super shred on their instruments too.”
Metal Injection

“If you love some of the acrobatic, complex, and heavy material of current acts like Scale the Summit, Between the Buried and Me and Animals as Leaders, this is a band you need to check out.”
Sea of Tranquility

“When we hear prog, we actually expect the music to suck hard like a mouthful of coarse-grade sandpaper, because we know it’s a clever ruse. It’s a way for many failed musicians to pretend they have relevance. Valence, however, have given us more to expect out of this “prog” thing…”
Deaf Sparrow

Valence Is:

Michael Buonanno – Guitar, Violin, Viola
Geoffrey Schaefer – Guitar
Wilhelmus Sapanaro – Bass, Upright Bass, Cello
Chris Romano – Drums

Valence Online:

Website | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube

Featured photo (top) by Marissa Rodriguez of Scryer Photo


The Faim To Join Andy Black On Spring North American Tour

Los Angeles, CA – Rising pop-rock group, The Faim, will be joining Black Veil Brides’ frontman, Andy Black, on a massive North American tour this spring in support of their debut EP, Summer Is a Curse (2018 via BMG). The band will provide direct support on the 28-date trek runs that throughout April and May, kicking off in Sacramento, CA on Sunday, April 7 and wrapping in Virginia Beach, VA on Friday, May 17. The run also hits major cities including Los Angeles, Atlanta, New York, Chicago, and Toronto. The full list of shows is included below. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 15 and can be purchased HERE.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be supporting Andy Black on his tour across the USA and Canada! These will be our first ever Canadian shows and our second tour of the U.S., so we’re looking forward to performing for both familiar and brand new faces on the road,” says the band.

The Faim have also released the official music video for “Fire,” the lead single from their forthcoming debut album. The ‘fire’ in the song refers to the quartet’s burning passion to create, express themselves, and grow as musicians. The video was filmed just south of London and captures frontman Josh Raven at different stages in his life. The footage also features an energetic and engaging live performance from the band, highlighting that inner drive and desire to succeed. Fans can watch the new offering HERE, and the song is available to stream and download on digital retailers HERE.

Fire” has already secured notable playlisting, including Spotify’s New Music Friday (France, Netherlands), New Noise, and Pop Rock Shot, as well as Apple Music’s Breaking Alternative (40 countries), A-List Alternative (Germany), and Best of the Week (Austria). “Make Believe,” a standout track from the group’s Summer Is a Curse EP, was also played on a recent episode of Legacies on The CW and subsequently landed on Spotify’s Film & TV Favorites sync playlist.

Summer Is a Curse EP – Stream and Download:

Spotify | Apple Music | Amazon | Pandora
Google Play | Deezer | TIDAL

The Faim is currently on their first ever headline tour, resulting in numerous sold out shows in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and their hometown of Perth in January. Their European headline run has also produced sold-out dates in London, Southampton, Birmingham, Amsterdam, Cologne, and Hamburg, not to mention eight venue upgrades due to popular demand.

The four-piece will be releasing more new music soon, with their first full-length LP slated for release in the fall. Stay tuned for more news to come, and keep up with the band on social media below.

Andy Black Admat 2019 (feat The Faim)

The Faim Tour Dates:

2/12/19 – Hamburg, Germany @ Headcrash * [SOLD OUT]
2/13/19 – Munich, Germany @ Feierwerk * [UPGRADED]
2/14/19 – Frankfurt, Germany @ Zoom * [UPGRADED]
2/15/19 – Vienna, Austria @ Chelsea *
2/17/19 – Leipzig, Germany @ Naumanns *
2/18/19 – Zürich, Switzerland @ Dynamo * [UPGRADED]
2/19/19 – Milan, Italy @ HT Factory *
2/20/19 – Paris, France @ Les Étoiles *
2/22/19 – Barcelona, Spain @ Sidecar *
2/23/19 – Madrid, Spain @ Moby Dick Club *

4/7/19 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades ^
4/9/19 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon ^
4/10/19 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre ^
4/12/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Vinyl ^
4/13/19 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre ^
4/14/19 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Nile Theatre ^
4/16/19 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot ^
4/17/19 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre ^
4/19/19 – Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill ^
4/20/19 – San Antonio, TX @ The Rock Box ^
4/22/19 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade ^
4/23/19 – Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live ^
4/25/19 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts ^
4/26/19 – Greensboro, NC @ The Blind Tiger ^
4/29/19 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theatre ^
4/30/19 – Baltimore, MD @ Soundstage ^

5/1/19 – New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre ^
5/3/19 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium ^
5/4/19 – Asbury Park, NJ @ Asbury Lanes ^
5/6/19 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Elevation ^
5/7/19 – Chicago, IL @ Metro ^
5/8/19 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater ^
5/10/19 – Cleveland, OH @ Phantasy Nightclub ^
5/11/19 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic ^
5/13/19 – Toronto, ON @ The Opera House ^
5/15/19 – Montreal, QC @ L’Astral ^
5/16/19 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts ^
5/17/19 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27 ^

* Headline
^ Supporting Andy Black

The Faim Is:

Josh Raven / Lead vocals
Sam Tye / Guitar
Stephen Beerkens / Bass, keyboard
Linden Marissen / Drums, percussion

The Faim Online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter
Instagram | YouTube



Feature photo (top) by Jonathan Weiner