After confirming that the 2021 iteration of Download festival will not be taking place this year,the festival have revealed some more of the names who will be playing Donington Park in 2022.
Joining the already announced headliners KISS, Iron Maiden and Biffy Clyro will be…
Deftones Korn The Pretty Reckless Rise Against Black Label Society Theory Monster Truck Power Wolf Wayward Sons Those Damn Crows The Raven Age Megadeth Steel Panther The Distillers The Darkness Airbourne Daughtry Skillet Lacuna Coil Bush Of Mice & Men Wednesday 13 Ayron Jones Massive Wagons The Last Internationale Control The Storm The Ghost Inside Funeral For A Friend Descendents Boston Manor Sleep Token The Faim grandson Trash Boat Holding Absence Marianas Trench Wargasm Loathe Jamie Lenman The Hara Press Club Salem Cemetery Sun Blackout Problems Dead Posey Static Dress Electric Wizard Sepultura Blues Pills Dying Fetus British Lion Bleed From Within Twin Temple Bokassa Venom Prison Spiritbox Tempt Fire From The Gods A.A. Williams Higher Power Kill The Lights Dead Poet Society Joyous Wolf Modern Error Cellar Door Moon Crew Lotus Eater The Scratch Dead Label Phoxjaw JJ Wilde Anchor Lane Temples On Mars As Everything Unfolds Injester
California quartet Of Mice & Men have announced that their new EP ‘Bloom’, the second in a trilogy of EPs planned for this year, will drop on May 28th 2021 via SharpTone Records.
In addition to the news, the band have also shared a stream of its lead single and title-track.
(Vocals / Bass) had this to say of the song and its message.
“‘Bloom’ is a song about grieving the death of a family member. It’s about understanding, through that loss, that grief is not only love in its most visceral and wildest form, but that it’s also the ultimate price we pay to experience such love. To know profound grief is to have known profound love. Nothing and no one lasts forever. Love isn’t a bouquet of plastic flowers; it’s watching the petals fall.”
Check out ‘Bloom’ below.
Pre-orders for the EP, ‘Bloom’ aren’t available at the moment but is expected to be made soon.
Following their new singles ‘Obsolete’ and ‘Timeless’, described as “crushing” by Revolver and as “thought provoking” and “cinematic” by Loudwire, California’s Of Mice & Men have released their critically acclaimed new EP Timeless today, via SharpTone Records. It’s available here. The artwork for the EP was hand-drawn by iconic artist Derek Hess.
The band have also shared ‘Anchor’, which appears on the EP. Listen to the moody and vibey song and download it for airplay below:
“Anchor is the final song from the Timeless EP,” says vocalist/bassist Aaron Pauley.“It deals with themes of uncertainty about the future, as well as the complicated feelings associated with them. This EP, in totality, deals with the idea of impermanence in an ever changing world, and how we all fit into the changing of times – beginning a narrative that the future releases will build off of.”
Metalcore quartet Of Mice & Men have shared a new track titled as ‘Timeless’, which is the title track from their soon-to-be-released three track EP>
Aaron Pauley (Bass / Vocals) Says:
“‘Timeless’ is a song about becoming increasingly aware of impermanence, written through somewhat of a somber, yet romantic, lens. At the beginning of the pandemic, I was watching a lot of black and white movies. One of my favorite movies is Casablanca. I wonder if any original copies exist. You know, although that movie is universally regarded as being timeless, the actual celluloid is so fragile. But I think we find a special kind of vibrance in life when we’re aware of our own impermanence.”
‘Timeless’, the bands upcoming EP, will be released on February 26th 2021 via SharpTone Records via Amazon.
Remember the other day how I posted about Of Mice & Men teasing something? Well, we’ve got some answers now!
Firstly, the quartet have signed with SharpTone Records and secondly… they’ve announced a new record called ‘Timeless’, set to be released on February 26th 2021.
Frontman Aaron Pauley says on the EP:
“There’s an old idiom about what you’re supposed to do when life gives you lemons. Sadly, to disappoint, this wasn’t exactly that. We started writing this EP shortly before the initial lockdowns in spring of 2020, before we knew that our world was about to become a radically different place. A lot of these songs were born from a place of wondering how we’d fit into 2020 and beyond, both as adults in our 30s as well as a band that’s a decade into our existence.”
Check out the EP Cover Art, Tracklisting, Stream of the lead single, ‘Obsolete’ and Pre-Order options below.
01.) Timeless 02.) Obsolete 03.) Anchor
Pre-Order options are available via Amazon and Itunes.
Last week allegations have been brought to light that Austin Carlile (Ex – Vocalist for Of Mice & Men and Attack Attack!) had sexually assaulted a woman in the past.
The allegations surfaced via the music publication Alternative Press in a now deleted article regarding Carlile’s faith, following which an alleged victim came forward and brought up that an article intended to be published but was ultimately dropped due to “legal purposes”.
The former vocalist has now shared his statement in response to the claims which have been made against him via his personal Instagram account, which you can read below.
“In my younger years, I absolutely was not the best person, but I have never physically abused, preyed upon, forced myself upon, or drugged any woman. These accusations are false and defamatory.
I am not a perfect person: I smoked marijuana daily, drank often, got into fights and acted like a jerk more times than I can count. I did things and acted in ways that I am not proud of, but never have I violated anyone. These ‘accusations’ being thrown around on social media, in our current ‘cancel culture’ climate, are extremely heinous and completely without merit.
My wife is a molestation and rape survivor, and I have personally seen the deep, long-standing pain that she battles with every day. I have spent years surrendering my flesh over to God, allowing Him to constantly improve who I am as a man, husband, and father. During this past week, I have even had the joy of seeing the heartbeat of my new child for the very first time. Today, I am focused on supporting my pregnant wife, our daughter, this new blessing in our lives, my health, my wife’s health, and striving to be a better person every day.
These accusations have been investigated by the appropriate authorities as well as independent journalists and were determined to be unfounded. I apologize to the Marfan Foundation, I Am Second, my former bandmates and any of our dedicated fans who have been unjustly brought into this controversy and wish them all nothing but the best.
All women deserve to feel safe, supported, and heard, but these unjust attacks upon my family and accusations against me, are decades-old claims that are unfounded.”
In 2016, Carlile let Of Mice & Men due to his ongoing struggles with Marfan Syndrome.
For those who are facing or are survivors of sexual abuse, harassment or misconduct, help and support can be found via the following links.
Allegations have recently surfaced online direct at Austin Carlile (Ex – Of Mice & Men / Ex – Attack Attack!) whom has been accused of sexual assault.
The allegations were raised following a post published on the website Alternative Press in relation to Carlile’s faith in Jesus.
The full statement can be read below.
“Dear Alternative Press,
Remember when over 15 girls shared their stories with you about this serial rapist? Because I do. I was one of them. Now you want to not only share HIS nonsense, but you want to put his name next to Jesus? No, just, no. It’s not okay.
The alternative community has followed you for YEARS. I followed your stories so closely all through high school and watched my artist friends be featured by your magazine. To be contacted by you to share my story, in hopes that it wouldn’t keep happening to other girls, felt like a dream. Finally there was something I could do, considering I was told by law enforcement that there was nothing else I could hope for with no physical evidence. I never thought anyone would believe me or take this seriously, then there was your magazine asking us to share.
He not only raped girls, probably more than anyone even knows about, he was a predator seeking out underage girls by using his position in the music industry to do so. He threatened you with a lawsuit and you backed down. I get it, who would want to be involved in that when you could just… not. That was your choice, a choice none of us had. We can’t just let it go and forget. I for one had hoped that you would at the very least stop featuring him. Guess I was wrong to hope that.
He needs CANCELLED. Get him out of these kids’ faces who believe he’s a good person deserving of recognition.”
After the post was made initially, tehre was some additions made which can be read below.
“For anyone doubting the validity of this post, for those of you who met him at a meet & greet and presume to know anything about him in real life, I’m asking you to please reconsider your stance that you truly know him. Go to my Facebook photo albums and check our wedding party. Do the groomsmen look familiar? I am NOT and NEVER WAS some random groupie who was obsessed with Austin and is now trying to take him down due to rejection. We have no interest in his money. Our interest now is to make sure he can’t keep doing this.
I should have specified before that the claims in this post date back to 2007 for myself, and earlier for some of the other girls. Worried we’re not going to share the details with you? Don’t be, we absolutely intend to. Someone should be innocent until proven guilty, and I’m here to let you know that it will be proven. Why? Because he is guilty. He is a predator.”
The victim’s partner also took to the social media website Twitter to back these allegations, where the understand is that Alternative Press didn’t run the story “because they were open to being sued by Carlile and his lawyers”.
Alternative Press have alos stated in a since deleted tweet that for “legal purposes”, the story that is being referred to “couldn’t run as it was told”, but that it “WILL be heard”.
For legal purposes regarding the Austin Carlile accusations, the story couldn’t run as it was told. As a female-led, lgbtq+ editorial staff, we’re going to reopen this & find the answers you’re looking for. We do not condone any of the accusations & this story WILL be heard.
Lastly, they published a statement on their site, apologising for the outcome of the unpublished story.
Since the allegations have surfaced, Of Mice & Men have also released a short statement.
“Yesterday we heard for the first time of an alleged article that was written, and apparently subsequently shelved, regarding a former member of our band.
This individual has not been a member of Of Mice & Men for almost four years and neither the band, nor the team around us, has had any part in suppressing any such article.
We absolutely condemn sexual violence and harassment in any form.
– Aaron, Alan, Tino & Phil”
At the time of writing, there’s been no response from Austin Carlile in relation to the allegations.
It’s 4PM on a Friday! This means it’s time for the music video roundup. If you’re new to either the blog or these music video roundup posts, this is how it works. Every week, I watch some of the best recently released music videos and compile them into a list for everyone’s viewing pleasure. They’re span across all the different genres, so expect something different for most of the tracks.
The first band in this weeks list are the Californian Punks Culture Abuse. They’ve recently released a track titled as ‘Goo’, which is the first piece of new material since their last year’s ‘Bay Dream’.
Keeping things stateside for the next video, the Minnesota Indie Rockers Remo Drive have dropped a video for ‘Around The Sun’. This is a new single to come from their upcoming full-length record, ‘Natural, Everyday Degradation’.
Erik Paulson (Vocals / Guitar) had this to say on the track.
“There’s sadness in routine. Even in the happiest of situations, we’re losing valuable moments or time. All these songs [on the album] are about some sort of warped existence, but through that, I think we ultimately find we can be whatever we want to be.”
Going across to Philadelphia, the Pop-Punkers known as Grayscale are ready to start a new cycle with the release of their single, ‘Painkiller Weather’. This is the first material of new music since the release of their 2017 debut record, ‘Adornment’.
How about we move things across to Canada for this next video? Ahead of their UK tour and set at Download Festival, Sumo Cyco has released a love-driven video, fitting for their new single, ‘Love You Wrong’.
On the track, the band have said:
“‘Love You Wrong’ is a song about the push and pull of a deep epic love. Sometimes love so intense can be unhealthy, other times it can feel like the meaning of life. There’s a tangled web of chemicals dancing between your heart and your brain that can feel like whiplash.”
Shall we move to the British Isles for a few videos? That sounds as if it’s a good idea, keep things fresh. Bring Me The Horizon have a busy summer of festivals ahead of them, playing a set at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and then curating their own day at All Points East in London, it hasn’t stopped the band from releasing a new video. Directed by Chris Muir, the video was shot whilst the band was on tour in Sao Paulo, Brazil earlier this year.
Check out Mother Tongue below.
Moving to some metalcore for the next pick, TheCityIsOurs have a new offering in ‘Bare Bones’. The track features vocals from the Our Hollow, Our Home frontman Connor Hallisey and will act as the lead single from their upcoming debut record, ‘Low’.
Check out ‘Bare Bones’ below.
And for a more lighter feel, the Pop-Rockers on the rise Hot Milk have dropped a brand new video off their debut EP, ‘Are You Feeling Alive’ and this track, it’s ‘Wide Awake’.
Moving across to Ireland for this next band, one that’s been away for a while on the making of their new record, but first the trio Fangclub have a ferocious new track in the form of ‘Hesitations’.
Stephen King (Vocals) has said: “It’s a heavy hitter with a lot of massive riffs. Lyrically, songs are always open to interpretation but we will say this, the verses are an inner voice or a devil on the shoulder and the choruses are the volcanic eruptions from deep within. Heavy shit. We know. Can’t help it.”
Check out ‘Hesitations’ below.
And for the penultimate track, ahead of the Slam Dunk festivities at this weekends festival, Trophy Eyes frontman John Floreani has dropped another track from his upcoming record, ‘Sin’ and this is where things get emotional!
Let’s go loud and energetic for this last track this week. ‘Mushroom Cloud’ is the latest offering from Of Mice & Men, which follows on from the post-apocalyptic narrative they once started with ‘How To Survive’ a few months ago.
On the track frontman Aaron Pauley has shared:
“I was pretty young when I became aware of the danger of spending too much time in my own head… My mind has never been a safe place for me to retreat to, and it’s something I have to consciously deal with on a daily basis. ‘Mushroom Cloud’ is our visceral representation of how it feels to be trapped, how it feels to be cut down by your own inner voice, how it feels to have nowhere to hide, and how it feels to be someone with a mind that’s as dangerous to themselves as the aftermath of an atomic weapon.”
And that’s it for another week of music video roundup. Don’t forget to check back next week at 4PM sharp for another countdown of ten of the best recent music videos to feast your eyes upon. There’s also new posts every day on the Almost anything Media so be sure to check out anything that might catch your eye.
Earlier this week, Of Mice & Men were forced to cancel all of their upcoming touring dates for this week after a member suffered a medical emergency requiring urgent surgery.
Now they’ve announced that they will not be appearing on the upcoming Beartooth tour and will rejoin the tour from April 27th following So What Festival.
Also, Of Mice & Men have shared more information on the medical emergency.
In a short statement posted on Twitter they shared “On Monday, April 8th, Aaron became aware of a medical issue requiring immediate surgery. The surgery was performed yesterday without incident, and the issue is currently being evaluated.”
They continued “He has been advised that the absolute minimum recovery time is two weeks from today. Therefore we’re sorry to report that we have no choice but to cancel the start of our dates with Beartooth. As it currently stands, we will now be starting the tour at So What Festival in Houston on April 27th.”
Aaron has also shared a statement on Twitter, addressing fan concerns which saw Aaron admitted to the ER.
“For those worried, and to squash any fear or speculation, this surgery is unrelated to my ER visit last month,” he shared. “The ER visit was simply a precaution given the symptoms I displayed at the time, and though it was scary, I was given a clean bill of health when I was discharged. While I can’t go into detail about specifics in this issue yet, it’s nothing that’s arisen from any previous show cancelations or hospitalizations, and nothing related to my voice, nor is it an injury, or anything related to performing. I’ll update with specifics as soon as I’m able to. Just know this was the best thing for my health, and while I’m sad to have to cancel shows, health has to come first. That being said, know that I’m healthy and healing, and the issue was addressed before it became far more serious. I’ll see you all soon!”
For those worried, and to squash any fear or speculation, this surgery is unrelated to my ER visit last month. The ER visit was simply a precaution given the symptoms I displayed at the time, and though it was scary, I was given a clean bill of health when I was discharged.
While I can't go into detail about specifics in this issue yet, it's nothing that's arisen from any previous show cancelations or hospitalizations, and nothing related to my voice, nor is it an injury, or anything related to performing. I'll update with specifics as soon as I'm
able to. Just know this was the best thing for my health, and while I'm sad to have to cancel shows, health has to come first. That being said, know that I'm healthy and healing, and the issue was addressed before it became far more serious. I'll see you all soon! 🖤🤘🏻
Of Mice & Men dropped a huge new track last week, one which doesn’t feature on their 2018 record ‘Defy’.
Speaking on the track, vocalist Aaron Pauley has said:
“‘How to Survive’ is an anthem for those who have been the receiving end of unmerited and targeted hatred and abuse. It’s for the kid who was bullied, beat up, and ignored in school. It’s for the teenager who was told that they’ll never amount to anything and that their thoughts, feelings, and opinions don’t matter to the world. It’s for the person who has been told that they’re worthless, useless, or not good enough, time and time again. It’s for the person who’s repeatedly been targeted by those who only seek to tear others around them down.”
They’ve only just released their fifth full-length record, ‘Defy’ in January but heavy giants Of Mice & Men are already putting together their follow up album.
Vocalist and Bassist Aaron Pauley gave us an idea for what’s to be expected.
“We’re super pumped to be in the studio with Josh, as we’re all big fans of his production and mix discography. When we decided to go heavier with this album, Josh’s was one of the first names to pop up — and I can tell you, we’re a little over halfway done and it’s sounding huge and heavy, heavenly and absolutely demonic — all rolled into one.”
Almost Anything Music 