Nashville-based troubadour Bones Owens returns with the centerpiece of Best Western is its title track, “Best Western”, an epic narrative that juxtaposes myths of the old wild West with a contemporary tale of a returning war veteran who takes to a life of crime as told in a mid-song Yelawolf rap. The song had its roots in a Georgia hotel of the same name, where Owens was staying while filming a western, Day of Reckoning, on location with Yelawolf.
“I had worked with him on several of his albums, and I wanted him to have a feature on mine,” recalled Bones Owens, who had shared his song files with him. He continues, “He thought it sounded like a GTO driving down a desert road at night. And he just wrote that verse and recorded it in 20 minutes, tops.
“But it turned out to work as this cyclical life story of someone on the fringes of society. And we often live that way as touring musicians. So I felt a kinship. It’s a modern-day version of the western movies I used to watch with my grandpa.”
Yelawolf adds “Bones Owens has been a friend of mine for a long time. Working with him again was nostalgic but brand new at the same time. He got better. He’s always been one of my favorite guitar players , But seeing him produce a record from top to bottom , playing every instrument was incredible. I just watched him navigate around the studio and jumped in .. I’m already looking forward to more sessions”
London art-rock outfit Legss release new single ‘See No Evil’. Their eagerly anticipated debut album Unreal is out September 12th and will be supported by October tour dates.
Whilst remaining leftfield in spirit, there is a musical vulnerability to the latest iteration of Legss, and a newfound pop sensibility to their writing, which reflects a move to a more accessible sound. There is a security in inaccessibility, and shedding this cloak opens the band up to an earnestness at once exciting and nerve-wracking.
‘See No Evil’ is one of the best examples of this open-hearted approach – low slung chords underpin Ned Green’s soft vocals, before an impassioned refrain delivers the closest-thing to an earworm chorus in Legss’ canon. On the track, the band say:
“See No Evil is the sunniest song we’ve ever written, and probably the only in a major key. It’s our angsty late-summer pop anthem offering. Think souvenir painters sat on a bridge; time and all its borne away; open chords; open-door churches; Aerial M; the confluence of two rivers; sweaty palms.”
Twinned with their signature world-building aesthetic, the new direction is reflected sonically by drummer Louis Grace, who co-produced the album with Balazs Altsach (Ugly, Katy J Pearson, Broadside Hacks) – set to be distributed by The state51 Conspiracy.
Pop-punk powerhouse Action/Adventure is back with their most ambitious release yet: their brand new album, Ever After, out October 24th via Pure Noise Records. The record marks a bold new chapter for the Chicago-based band, pairing their signature high-energy riffs and soaring hooks with deeper storytelling, unapologetic emotion, and the urgency fans have come to expect.
To celebrate the announcement, the band have released the new single “URL,” accompanied by the official music video.
Formed in 2014, the group, Blake Evaristo (lead vocals), Brompton Jackson (vocals/guitar), Adrian Brown (drums), Manny Avila (bass), and Oren Trace (guitar), first broke through in 2020 when their debut TikTok video, “Barricades,” went viral, spotlighting the obstacles they faced as an all-BIPOC band within the pop-punk scene. They followed that moment with 2021’s Pulling Focus EP and their 2022 Pure Noise debut, Imposter Syndrome, a record that, despite its title, proved their place as one of the genre’s most vital and distinctive voices.
Ever After builds on that foundation. Confident yet self-aware, the album acknowledges the struggles of balancing art with everyday life, and the pressures of following up a breakthrough debut.
With producer Alan Day (Four Year Strong, Knuckle Puck) at the helm, the band pushed themselves creatively, recording at Ghost Hit Studio in Springfield, Massachusetts. The result is eleven songs that chart a journey through doubt, perseverance, and renewal.
The record also features a handful of notable collaborations: Dan Lambton (rationale., ex-Real Friends) lends his voice to “Something Isn’t Right Here,” Armor For Sleep’s Ben Jorgensen co-wrote and appears on “Background,” and UK artist Noahfinnce joins the band on “Go Directly to Jail. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200,” a track critiquing systemic inequities.
The band have also announced a headline tour this October, in support of the forthcoming album Ever After. The run will see the band hitting cities across the U.S. with support from rising acts Diva Bleach and Not My Weekend. The tour launches on October 23rd in Denver and wraps on November 21st in Urbana. Full dates below. Tickets on sale August 22nd.
Ever After Track Listing:
1. Dayterror 2. Disaster / Peace 3. Floortime 4. Something Isn’t Right Here ft. Dan Lambton 5. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime [AMV] 6. Big Al Dente 7. Spiral 8. Seconds / Centuries 9. Real Juicer Hours 10. Background ft. Ben Jorgensen 11. Go Directly To Jail. Do Not Pass Go. Do Not Collect $200 ft. Noahfinnce 12. URL 13. Daydream
Tour Dates:
10/23 – Denver, CO @ Skylark 10/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ DLC Quarters 10/27 – Seattle, WA @ Vera Project 10/28 – Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios 10/30 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill 10/31 – TBA 11/01 – Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction 11/02 – San Diego, CA @ Voodoo Room 11/04 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rebel Lounge 11/06 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk 11/07 – Houston, TX @ Bronze Peacock 11/08 – Dallas, TX @ TX Tea Room 11/10 – Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub 11/11 – Jacksonville, FL @ Hard Love 11/13 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell) 11/14 – Raleigh, NC @ Kings 11/15 – Richmond, VA @ Richmond Music Hall 11/16 – Amityville, NY @ AMH 11/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Warehouse on Watts 11/19 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups 11/20 – Detroit, MI @ Lager House 11/21 – Urbana, IL @ Gallery Art Bar
Bi-Coastal indie rock duo Best Boys return with their latest single, “Pull Up,” a gritty, groove-heavy single that blends raw vulnerability with defiant swagger. Paired with a stylized music video to bring you back to the ’90s nostalgia of home movies, this track drops fans into a hazy late-night world of mischief and electric tension, a space where boldness and vulnerability collide.
Building on their signature fusion of alt-rock grit and electronic-laced indie rock, “Pull Up” signals a fearless step forward for Best Boys. The song’s sharp production and magnetic hooks unfold like the soundtrack to a midnight fever dream, equal parts danger and desire.
The music video pulls from both underground culture and surrealist cinema, reminding you what it’s like to travel across the country in the late ’90s. With visuals that will remind you of your youth and an after-hours trip to a house party, the band leans into a world that’s intoxicatingly stylish yet unpredictably real, a view of the underbelly of our country.
The official music video for “Dusk Skies Over The Dreaming Forests” by NONE, a black metal entity that blends atmospheric and depressive black metal with elements of neofolk and dark ambient music, is now streaming. The song comes off the long-awaited and fabled album Supreme Dedication To The Craft Is Forever.”
NONE is a personal, spiritual art form, a dedication to discovering the divine and eternal truth that is ourselves, brought to life and channeled by song writer Nicholas Mendiola. NONE is the eternal version of himself, his mission and purpose being to discover himself as the true voice and host that NONE speaks through.
Famous When Dead Records continues its rise to prominence with a new collaboration between label head CASH ONLY and Tech House favourite GAWP. Their latest release, ‘Remedy’, is a peak-time track that brings together GAWP’s signature club-ready production with CASH ONLY’s crossover sensibility. The result is a rolling Tech House production primed for both underground warehouse sets and mainstage moments.
With past releases on respected labels such as Toolroom, Dirtybird, Nervous, Heldeep, Farris Wheel, and Deeaupe, GAWP is no stranger to crafting dancefloor-ready records. On ‘Remedy’, he fuses his unmistakable style with CASH ONLY’s bold, modern edge to create a track that is powerful while staying radio accessible.
Elevating the track even further is a standout vocal performance from Holly Ellison, whose topline floats effortlessly above the groove. Her delivery injects a late-night emotion that contrasts beautifully with the driving bass and punchy drums, giving ‘Remedy’ both underground credibility and crossover appeal.
‘Remedy’ is designed for Funktion-One systems and late-night moments, but with its melodic hook and energetic drive, it’s just as comfortable blasting through car stereos and festival speakers. Built with the dancefloor in mind, ‘Remedy’ is set to soundtrack the tail end of the summer across clubs, warehouses, and airwaves alike.
Both GAWP and CASH ONLY have had a landmark year, with international shows, standout releases, and growing reputations as forward-thinking artists in the Tech House and club circuit. ‘Remedy’ is yet another testament to their collaborative energy and refusal to follow trends instead, carving out their own path with style and substance.
The release of ‘Remedy’ sees CASH ONLY, GAWP, and Holly Ellison add another standout cut to the growing legacy of Famous When Dead Records.
Peter McPoland returns today with his latest single “Last Looks,” a sweet, acoustic song that feels intimate in its simplicity. McPoland’s first offering since the December 2024 release of Friend, “Last Looks” was written in a lonely greenroom in Omaha, Nebraska, and first performed an hour later to a room of mesmerized fans that have since been impatiently awaiting its arrival. Listen HERE.
In the true spirit of DIY, “Last Looks,” and its accompanying music video were forged solely by McPoland himself. The song itself was written, produced, performed, engineered, and mixed by Peter on reel-to-reel tape – a process that McPoland learned concurrent to recording. The video was similarly created over a two-day period in Peter’s own home studio – displaying equal measures of intention and playfulness. The handcrafted claymation video showcases McPoland’s true passion for nurturing art from the initial spark of an idea to the final product – even if it means learning multiple new skills in the process. “Last Looks” is laced with the introspective lyrics, entrancing vocals, and enthralling melodies that have defined previous McPoland gems including “Digital Silence,” “Romeo & Juliet” and “Shit Show” – all of which have accumulated streams in the tens of millions. Perhaps McPoland’s most mature composition to date, “Last Looks” hints at a new era for the artist. With lyrics offering insight into the workings of a young and quickly rising artist, listeners can not help but yearn for more from the mind of McPoland. And for fans with attention to detail, there may be clues within the video for what lies ahead….
Narcotic Wasteland, the technical death metal merchants led by former longtime Nile guitarist/vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade, will embark on the “Annihilation of the Wasteland Tour” in September. The tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of Nile’s Annihilation of the Wicked, one of the classic slabs released during the innovative guitarist’s nearly twenty-year stint with the band.
The September tour’s setlist will include “Lashed to the Slave Stick” and “The Burning Pits of Duat,” both songs for which he composed the music while in Nile. The pair of classics will stand mightily beside familiar and new Narcotic Wasteland rippers, including “Barbarian,” “Sex Lies and DNA,” “The Best Times Have Passed,” “Coastal Killings,” and “Introspective Nightmares.”
Toler-Wade’s exceptional technical skill and fierce energy helped Narcotic Wasteland establish a reputation as a relentless force in the metal scene. He’s joined by powerhouse drummer Joseph Howard and dynamic bassist Kenji Tsunami, creating a formidable, uncompromising trio.
Narcotic Wasteland Tour Dates:
September 03 – Madison, WI @ The Annex September 04 – West Chicago, IL @ WC Social Club September 05 – Flint, MI @ Flint Local 432 September 06 – New Haven, IN @ Carl’s Tavern September 07 – Cleveland, OH @ The Foundry September 08 – Rochester, NY @ Photo City Music Hall September 09 – New Bedford, MA @ The Vault September 10 – Raleigh, NC @ Chapel of Bones September 11 – Spartanburg, SC @ GroundZero (Special Guest to Crypta) September 12 – Chattanooga, TN @ JJ’s Bohemia September 13 – Wallingford, CT @ Cherry St. Station September 14 – Dunbar, WV @ Live at the Shop September 15 – Charleston, SC @ Tin Roof September 17 – Orlando, FL @ Conduit September 18 – Fort Pierce, FL @ Tipsy Tiki September 19 – Tampa, FL @ Brass Mug September 20 – Long Beach, MS @ Trax Bar & Grill
Tour Dates (Special Guest to Filth):
September 21 – Atlanta, GA @ Boggs Social & Supply September 22 – Pensacola, FL @ Handlebar September 23 – Shreveport, LA @ Strange Brew September 24 – Amarillo, TX @ The Atomic Yellow September 25 – Denver, CO @ Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues September 26 – Greeley, CO @ Moxi Theater September 27 – Casper, WY @ Wyoming Hardcore Festival September 28 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Vultures September 29 – Lincoln, NE @ Witches’ Brew September 30 – Nashville, TN @ The End
Rising Appalachia returns with “Lady Liberty,” a timely new single out today (August 19, 2025), that reimagines America’s most iconic symbol of welcome through the voice of the Statue of Liberty herself. With lyrics inspired by Emma Lazarus’ 1883 sonnet The New Colossus, the poem inscribed at the base of the statue, sisters Leah Song and Chloe Smith give “Lady Liberty” a voice that calls not only to immigrants and refugees but also to a nation wrestling with its fractured promises.
“Lady Liberty is a folk song from the perspective of the statue herself, speaking to the protection of immigrants and refugees,” Chloe Smith shares. “We imagined what the physical and poetic symbol of liberty may want to sing if she herself were given the chance. While we witness ongoing destruction of colonialism, genocide, climate migration, and extreme nationalism, we question what we’ve become in relation to the original promise of the United States as a refuge for liberty. This song is a reflection [by lifted lamp] on the promise and virtue of one seeking home.”
Known for blending Appalachian folk traditions with global roots music, Rising Appalachia has built a body of work that addresses not only the heart but the conscience. With “Lady Liberty,” the ensemble continues to position itself squarely within today’s socio-political conversation, weaving music and activism into one. Their new single arrives at a moment when questions of migration, belonging, and the humanitarian cost of nationalism are pressing themselves into the public square.
The release of “Lady Liberty” comes off the heels of the band’s 10th Anniversary re-release of their sought after album Winder Circles on Earth Day 2025. It followed up the 2024 release of Folk & Anchor, Rising Appalachia’s first cover album, which reinterprets classics by Bob Dylan, Hozier, Erykah Badu, Beyoncé, and more through their uniquely Southern, sibling-harmony lens. Recorded at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studios, the album affirms the band’s role as both interpreters of tradition and innovators in the folk continuum.
Alongside founders Song and Smith, Rising Appalachia features David Brown (upright bass, baritone guitar), Duncan Wickel (fiddle, cello), and Biko Casini (percussion) forging an independent, global career defined by social conscience and cultural exchange. From busking in New Orleans to headlining Red Rocks and performing on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts, their work is a bridge across generations and geographies, rooted in music as a communal and political act.
With “Lady Liberty,” Rising Appalachia offers a poignant reminder: the promise of America was always meant to be sung for those seeking refuge.
South-West London’s Blakes has surprise-released a music video for his recent urban banger FAITH. The track itself is an inspiring, introspective collaboration ft. rising talents, grime rapper Ashley Tragic and dynamic vocalist Serena Dench.
Filmed in and around London, the video precedes Danny Blake stepping into the boxing ring for his title fight against Dylan Loughney at Cardiff’s Vale Arena on 23rd August, hosted by Speed Star Promotions.
The new video follows Blakes’ latest single Provide, which shared an unshakeable promise to his daughter, to show up and level up no matter the obstacles.
Having been caught up in local gang culture from an early age, Blakes’ passion for music helped him leave the streets behind and grow as an artist, model, actor, and sports professional.
“Blake’s evolution from a Fulham kid with a troubled past to a model featuring in magazines such as i-D Magazine, Attitude, and British Vogue to working with big-name brands like Versace, Off-White x Moncler, and Diesel is inspiring. Yet, his pivot to music is a bold move, one that he’s taking more seriously than ever.
With “Faith,” Danny Blake proves he’s not just a good-looking chap or a name from a rough neighbourhood—he’s a storyteller with a message, and that message is clear: have faith, dig deeper, and believe in the power of transformation.” writes Origins of CJM.
Blakes’ return to the stage has also teased a brand-new release to follow. Collaboration track ‘UP’ is a fierce hype song, featuring Blakes, Ashley Tragic and SH4YZ and set to release August 29th via Criminal Records.
