Category: new releases

New album release: That Grand, Old Feeling – William Matheny

William Matheny’s new album That Grand, Old Feeling will be out August 4, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

William Matheny is a West Virginia-based singer-songwriter whose brand of Americana music is firmly steeped in the Appalachian storytelling tradition. Written and recorded before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Matheny’s latest record That Grand, Old Feeling is his most expansive work yet, taking narrative inspiration from the eclectic characters who inhabit dive motels and roadside haunts and sonic cues from the work of artists like Magnolia Electric Co. and Drive-By Truckers. Highlights include the slick, brooding “Every Way to Lose,” which Matheny wrote after discovering Alabama’s Wall of Jericho trailhead, and “Down at the Hotel Canfield,” the latter inspired by a visit to a real hotel in Dubuque, IA, that infamously boasts a ghastly history. (IV-PR, 2023)

“Grand Old Feeling” is the first single from Matheny’s new album That Grand, Old Feeling—out August 4 via Hickman Holler / Thirty Tigers. That Grand, Old Feeling follows Matheny’s 2017 album Strange Constellations, which drew critical acclaim from outlets like NPR and PopMatters. Matheny recorded the LP with producer Bud Carroll at Trackside Studio in Point Pleasant, WV. Carroll joins the proceedings on guitar, with Adam L. Meisterhans (guitar), Clint Sutton (drums), Jeremy Batten (piano, organ), John R. Miller (bass, vocals), and J. Tom Hnatow (pedal steel) rounding out the band, and recent Grammy-winner Justin Francis mixed the final product. All of these fantastic players are fellow West Virginians and Matheny’s longtime friends. 

Fans can hear “Grand Old Feeling” at this link and pre-save That Grand, Old Feeling; fans can pre-order the album straight from Matheny ahead of its August 4 release right here. 

Matheny’s style is that of a keen-eyed observer whose stories exist in a beautifully between-the-lines style narrative; equal parts curious and compassionate. Lines in “Grand Old Feeling” like “My mother once said ‘son, you’re a good man,’ like she was trying to convince herself” let the listeners in on more of the story than pages of simple narrative could, granting Matheny more real estate within a four-minute song to bring to life his “grand old feeling” of what it all means. While his personal examples come from years of touring, Matheny admits that the “grand old feeling” isn’t just about his gigging musician life. “For the non-road dogs out there, I imagine you’ve been looking too, maybe in some different places than me, but I’m sure you’ve been searching all the same,” he says. “Speaking to you pilgrim to pilgrim, I hope you find it.” 

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New documentary release: Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record

The sci-fi documentary Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record will premiere this July 4. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In the late 70s, the US government sent a message to our distant neighbors. Twenty years later, the response we received sparked the biggest UFO sighting in history. Now, the Pentagon confirms Alien mothership could be sending probes to Earth. Could this be the same mother ship that showed up during an event that was nine times stronger than the Carrington event? The answer to that question could be hidden deep in Arizona’s High Desert. Clive Christopher’s third film in the ALIENS UNCOVERED series, Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record is a compelling watch, and it is coming to digital July 4 from Breaking Glass Pictures. (October Coast, 2023)

“I am thrilled to bring ‘Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record’ to audiences worldwide. This thought-provoking and captivating film takes viewers on a journey into the mysteries of the universe, exploring the possibilities of extraterrestrial life and our profound connection to the cosmos. With its intriguing storyline and compelling revelations, the film challenges us to question our place in the universe and sparks a sense of wonder and curiosity. We are proud to be a part of this project that pushes the boundaries of exploration and discovery. Get ready to embark on an extraordinary adventure as ‘Aliens Uncovered: The Golden Record’ unveils secrets that will leave audiences awe-inspired and craving further exploration.” – CEO Rich Wolff of Breaking Glass Pictures.

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New lyric video: Billions Of Suns – Carcariass

The song Billions Of Suns is from their new album Afterworld. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

In music news today, if you are into death metal, Carcariass recently released a new lyric video from their latest studio album.

This month, French melodic death proggers Carcariass unveiled a brand new lyric video for Billions Of Suns, the third single from their sixth studio album Afterworld, out now. Afterworld is available for purchase via Bandcamp. (Ebony Jeanette, 2023)

“Billions Of Suns evokes a gigantic Intergalactic Empire and its Inquisition, which ensures that the immutable word of the Emperor-God is respected to the very ends of the universe and exterminates all opposition!” – Carcariass

Released in March, Afterworld was recorded and mixed by “Drop” (Samael guitarist) at Downtone Studio in Switzerland. Jens Bogren (Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth, Sepultura, At The Gates) mastered the album at Fascination Street Studio in Sweden and produced by GSI Records.

For another taste of Afterworld, check out the first two album singles, No Aftermath and The Hive now.

Carcariass is:
Pascal Lanquetin (musical composition and lead guitars)
Jerome Thomas (vocals)
Bertrand Simonin (drums)
Raphaël Couturier (bass)
Bob (rhythm guitar for live shows)

Afterworld track list:
01- No Aftermath
02- Billions of Suns
03- Identity
04- Angst
05- Fall of an Empire
06- Black Rain
07- Generational Rot
08- The Hive
09- Machine Kult
10- Afterworld

“Masterpiece!” -METALLIAN

“An album of impressive musical richness and extreme beauty.”
-HARDFORCE

“The guitar solos are breathtakingly musical.” -ROCK HARD Magazine

“A highly entertaining listen with the right grooves put in place to demonstrate a keen sense of harmony. – HEAVY MUSIC HQ

New horror movie release: The Devil Comes At Night

The Devil Comes At Night is available on digital and DVD. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

The Devil Comes At Night, starring American God’s Adrienne Kress and Ryan Allen (In the Shadow of the Moon), is now out from Uncork’d Entertainment. It is available on digital streaming (Vudu, Prime Video, and Apple TV) and DVD. The film also stars Jason Martorino, Elias Zarou, Shawn Ahmed, Todd Campbell, Dana Fradkin, Ty Andrassy, DL Macdonald, Jeremiah Sparks, and Julie Cohn. (October Coast, 2023)

The Devil Comes At Night – Ben, a washed-up boxer searching for his inheritance, must fight for his life when he is trapped in his deceased father’s farmhouse by a cannibal cult. With the help of Amy, the local librarian, he discovers the cult’s leader, Mason, has been hunting down his family for generations. And now his sights are set on Ben. Together, Ben and Amy come up with a plan to defeat the cult once and for all.

New album release: Blood Brothers – Dallas Burrow

Dallas Burrow paints a full circle picture of his home with the first song “River Town” from his upcoming Jonathan Tyler-produced album Blood Brothers. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Dallas Burrow, a Texas-born Americana artist rooted in the tradition of his home state’s songwriting heroes, built a career on both sides of the Atlantic with his 2019 debut Southern Wind. It reached Number 25 on the UK Americana Chart and Number 4 on the US Alt-Country chart, paving the way for a string of cross-country shows alongside fellow road warriors like Charley Crockett. For Burrow—a lifelong explorer who had spent his 20s on the move, chasing his muse across most of America and Europe while rubbing shoulders with luminaries like Bob Dylan and Dr. John—being so far away from home felt natural. Even so, he began missing the stability of his new life back in Texas, where he had built a family and gotten sober. His second album, 2021’s Dallas Burrow, marked both a symbolic and literal homecoming for the songwriter, who recorded the material with modern-day legend Bruce Robison in the rural Texas countryside. His new album Blood Brothers finds Burrow telling the story of his musical roots, his father’s influence on his craft, and his own personal journey as a songwriter; all in his signature, gravely baritone. (IV-PR, 2023)

“River Town,” the opening track from his upcoming album Blood Brothers, rides a pulsing country backbeat and is dressed up with a fiddle, organ, electric guitar, and producer Jonathan Tyler singing harmonies. It tells the true story of Burrow’s small-town Texas upbringing, the leaving, and the coming back to start a family. “After getting in a little trouble, doing a lot of traveling, fast living, and soul searching—and finally meeting my wife and starting to settle down a little—in the end, I realized just what a beautiful area it was to live after all, and the perfect place for us to raise a kid,” he says. The Bluegrass Situation premiered the single, diving more into the backstory.

Fans can hear “River Town” at this link and watch the video for Burrow’s previously-released single, “Out My Window” here. 

With Blood Brothers, Burrow wanted to chase something a little more refined and a little more polished than his previous two efforts: Southern Wind and Dallas Burrow. With the creative vision and technical talent of producer Jonathan Tyler, Burrow took everything he had learned from the last two album cycles, plus a lot more experience on tour, and brought a new outlook—not to mention what he calls “some of the best songs I’ve ever written”—into the recording studio, crafting his best work to date. Existing fans of Burrow’s will find his instantly recognizable songs sung in his signature gravelly tone, but there are hints of something deeper afoot. Musically, the pair of Burrow and Tyler chased down new tones influenced by everything from Stax to Muscle Shoals to New Orleans, but lyrically, Burrow’s journey through his own history and influences steals the show. “The songs on Blood Brothers tell about where I’m from, where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and what I’ve seen,” he says.

Blood Brothers track list:
River Town
Starry Eyes
Devil’s Tongue
Out My Window
Motel 6
A Lot of it Was
Only Game in Town
Blood Brothers
Mr. Mudd and Mr. Gold
X Old Flames
Wild Bill
You Go On Ahead
True Believer

Catch Dallas Burrow on tour:
June 23 – San Antonio, TX – The Lonesome Rose
June 24 – San Marcos, TX – Cheatham Street Warehouse
June 30 – Houston, TX – The Mucky Duck
July 7 & 8 – Red River, NM – Motherlode Saloon
July 21 – New Braunfels, TX – Freiheit Country Store
Jul 22 – Luckenbach, TX – Luckenbach Dancehall
July 29 – Hunter, TX – Riley’s Tavern
August 2 – La Grande, OR – Union County
August 3 – Portland, OR – Topaz Farm
August 4 – Sisters, OR – The Belfry
August 5 – Carson City, NV – Nashville Social Club
August 6 – Arbuckle, CA – Burgie’s
August 7 – Bakersfield, CA – Pyrenees Cafe
August 9 – Santa Cruz, CA – Moe’s Alley
August 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Zebulon
August 11 & 12 – Lake Havasu, AZ – Jermey’s Juke Joint
August 13 – Mesa, AZ – Roosters Country
August 25 – Kingsbury, TX – 1281 Sherrill Rd
August 26 – New Braunfels, TX – Riley’s Tavern
September 8 – Driftwood, TX – Wings Over
September 22 – La Grange, TX – Bugle Boy
September 23 – Boerne, TX – Salvador DOBBS
September 30 – Red River, NM – Motherlode Saloon
November 25 – New Braunfels, TX – Riley’s Tavern

 

New book release: ‘Promise?’ by Allison Thompson

‘Promise?’ is the thrilling new YA debut novel by Allison Thompson. Photo: Allison Thompson, used with permission.

For readers who enjoy teen and young adult paranormal and fantasy novels, here is a brand new release by Allison Thompson. “Promise?” is available through Amazon and right now, the e-book is available as a free download until Friday June 16 11:59p.m. and afterwards for .99.

Allison Thompson is a special education teacher and mother to two young children. In her debut novel “Promise?,” the ultimate battle between good and evil will unfold. (Allison Thompson, 2023)

“Promise?” – In a small shore town there lives Madison, a determined young woman working at a local pizza shop. Little does she know that her ordinary life is about to be shattered when Marcus, a menacing red demon, sets his sights on her, threatening her very existence. Enter Kyle, a seasoned demon hunter with a sworn duty to protect humanity. Drawn to Madison’s side, he takes on the daunting task of safeguarding her and battling the forces of darkness. Promises will be made and broken.

Lauren, a kind-hearted bookstore employee, crosses paths with the malevolent Marcus. A fateful encounter brings David, a brave demon hunter, into her life. As their bond deepens, they find themselves caught in a dangerous dance with destiny, navigating the perilous line between love and the eternal battle against evil.

Melissa and Michael defy the odds by maintaining a blissful existence despite Marcus’s relentless pursuit. Together, they create a haven of happiness, even as darkness looms on their doorstep.

Each couple must confront their own unique challenges, fighting against the evil that seeks to tear them apart. As their individual narratives intertwine, so does the fates of everyone. Their lives converge in a climactic showdown against Marcus, where the ultimate battle between good and evil unfolds. Love and promises made will be tested.

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New album release: From Here To Home – The South Austin Moonlighters

From Here To Home will be released June 30, 2023. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Legendary, Saxon Pub-bred quartet The South Austin Moonlighters were riding high on the success of their 2019 opus Travel Light with top billing on the alt-country charts and festival appearances throughout the U.S. and Europe when the world came crashing to a screeching halt in 2020. Fortunately for the band and their fans alike, the Moonlighters are veterans of Austin’s scrappy, DIY music scene and were never going to let a little loss of momentum stop them. With the help of a wildly successful crowdfunding campaign, The South Austin Moonlighters—Lonnie Trevino Jr., Chris Beall, Daniel James, and Hunter St. Marie—took to the studio with producer Steve Berlin and got right back in the saddle, cutting ten tunes that would eventually become their brand new album, From Here To Home. (IV-PR, 2023)

At its core, From Here To Home is an album of rebirth and acknowledgement. It is a recognition of where The South Austin Moonlighters have been, and a peek at all of the exciting places they are going and want to head towards in the future. “From Here To Home is a journey back to rediscovering why we started doing this in the first place,” Trevino Jr. says, before his co-conspirator helps him complete the thought in a way only the closest of collaborators can: “Because that’s the only thing we want to do–make joyous music.”

The South Austin Moonlighters recently released their first single from From Here To Home, the bouncing, half-time groove of “Make A Livin’”; a deceptively deep, upbeat song about what it really means to make ends meet for a family. “What should we be providing?’’ asks Beall, who wrote the song with his good friend Rodney Black. He expands, “Surely ‘ourselves’ would be the most important thing, and yet there are multiple generations of parents working so much they rarely see their kids. Lots of folks have to work like that, unfortunately. But could there be a ‘line’ that gets crossed when too much is just ‘too much?’ The TV bill, the new car, the nicer house….maybe we should let go of a few of those things and not have to be shackled to the workplace to pay for them.” Packaged within textures of gritty guitars and vintage bass thump, “Make A Livin’” is one of those rare songs that makes listeners dance and think, and that quality is the Moonlighters’ party piece that runs from beginning to end of From Here To Home.

Fans can listen to “Make A Livin’” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save From Here To Home ahead of its June 30 release. The South Austin Moonlighters are back on the road; tour dates can be found below or online. 

From Here To Home track list:
Nashville
Make A Livin’
Long Time Coming
Box Of Memories
Faded Into Gray
Hearts In Parallel
From Here to Home
Then Away Farewell
It’s Only Money (That Makes The World Go ‘Round)
Delta Man

Catch The South Austin Moonlighters On Tour:
June 16 – Austin, TX – Waterloo Records In-Store Record Release
June 23 – Conroe, TX – Red Brick Tavern
June 24 – Austin TX – 3Ten – Album Release Show
July 1 – Houston, TX – McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
August 3 – Estes Park, CO – Listening at the Legion
August 4 – Telluride, CO – Mountain Village Summer Concert Series
August 5 – Silverton, CO – Columbine Roadhouse Gatorfest
August 11th – Dallas, TX – Morton Meyerson Symphony Center (Los Lobos support)

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New album release: Little Songs by Colter Wall

Colter Wall’s new album Little Songs will be out July 14, 2023. Photo: Google

Colter Wall and his music are from the prairies of southern Saskatchewan, where he lives and works. He is a La Honda Records/RCA Records recording artist and has appeared abroad, including Austin City Limits and most recently at the Ponoka Stampede. “Evangelina” is the first release from Wall’s upcoming album, Little Songs which is due out on July 14 via Wall’s longtime label La Honda Records and new partner RCA Records. On Little Songs, Wall’s fans will find the same hardscrabble voice they have loved over the years connecting the contemporary world to the values, hardships, and celebrations of rural life. The ten-song LP features eight originals inspired by—and written in—Wall’s home of Battle Creek, Saskatchewan, along with a Hoyt Axton cut and a cover of Ian Tyson’s “The Coyote & The Cowboy.” (IV-PR, 2023)

“Evangelina,” originally written and recorded by Hoyt Axton, paints a thirsty picture of longing and half-laid plans to chase down a lost love; all backed up by a band steeped in the traditional sounds of Wall’s prairie homelands. Fans can hear “Evangelina” at this link and pre-order or pre-save Little Songs ahead of its July 14 release right here. Wall is also gearing up for two rare live appearances at Denver’s Dusty Boots festival on July 1 and Montana’s Under The Big Sky on July 14. More information and tickets are available online. 

With his longtime touring band, Wall returned to Yellowdog Studios in Wimberly, Texas, where he cut his 2020, Billboard-charting album, Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs, to track the ten tunes that make up Little Songs. With co-producer Patrick Lyons, Wall tracked eight original songs and two fan-favorite covers from Ian Tyson and Hoyt Axton. Little Songs is an upbeat, sometimes somber glimpse into the rural work and social life of the Canadian West, and, more so than with previous albums, opens emotional turns as mature and heartening as the resonant baritone voice writing them.

This release of new music follows the recent partnership between Wall’s longtime label La Honda Records and RCA Records, with Little Songs as the first album on the joint venture. Prior to the new album, Wall released two standalone singles—“Cypress Hills and the Big Country” and a cover of Cowboy Jack Clement’s “Let’s All Help the Cowboys (Sing the Blues)”—as well as the 2020 LP Western Swings & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs and Colter Wall and the Scary Prairie Boys’ Live In Front Of Nobody, a 2021 livestream, full-band show turned indie record store, vinyl-only release–a coveted and limited release. 

Little Songs track list:
Prairie Evening/Sagebrush Waltz
Standing Here
Corralling The Blues
The Coyote & The Cowboy
Honky Tonk Nighthawk
For a Long While
Cow/Calf Blue Yodel
Little Songs
Evangelina
The Last Loving Words

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Book review: ‘Meru’ by S.B. Divya

‘Meru’ is the new science fiction novel by S.B. Divya. Photo: Amazon

S.B. Divya is the Hugo and Nebula nominated author of “Meru,” “Machinehood,” “Runtime,” and “Contingency Plans For the Apocalypse and Other Possible Situations.” Her short stories have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, and she was the co-editor of Escape Pod, the weekly science fiction podcast, from 2017-2022. Divya holds degrees in Computational Neuroscience and Signal Processing, and she worked for twenty years as an electrical engineer before becoming an author. In her new book “Meru,” one woman and her pilot are about to change the future of the species in an epic space opera about aspiration, compassion, and redemption. A reading sample is available on Amazon. (Amazon, 2023)

“Meru” – For five centuries, human life has been restricted to Earth, while posthuman descendants called alloys freely explore the galaxy. When the Earthlike planet of Meru is discovered, two unlikely companions venture forth to test the habitability of this unoccupied new world and the future of human-alloy relations. For Jayanthi, the adopted human child of alloy parents, it is an opportunity to rectify the ancient reputation of her species as avaricious and destructive, and to give humanity a new place in the universe. For Vaha, Jayanthi’s alloy pilot, it is a daunting yet irresistible adventure to find success as an individual. As the journey challenges their resolve in unexpected ways, the two form a bond that only deepens with their time alone on Meru. How can Jayanthi succeed at freeing humanity from its past when she and Vaha have been set up to fail? Against all odds, hope is human, too.

The story takes place in the far, far future when humans, whose numbers have dwindled, live in colonies on Earth and their robot/AI descendants called ‘alloys’ are the next form of intelligent life. This concept in itself is what stands out because of the rapid rise in AI in recent years. Combined with science fiction, space exploration, and genetic engineering, it makes for a complex saga filled with technology, friendships, and the ever increasing question of what it means to be human. There are so many types of technologies introduced, like the bodym, the body’s information network, and an incarn, the temporary body that alloys use while on Earth, that at times it is hard to focus on the story itself. While the use of the pronouns zie/zir is commendable, it can be distracting until/unless the reader gets used to them. The language, while occasionally tech-heavy, is relatively easy to understand and the story is mainly dialogue driven and switches narration between Jayanthi and Vaha. ‘Meru’ is an impressive work of science fiction complete with space travel, world building, exploration of the human condition in the face of insurmountable challenges, and even an interspecies romance. Labeled as The Alloy Era Book 1, the story will likely continue, and is recommended for readers who appreciate books on genetic engineering, space exploration, and science fiction. It is certainly an interesting work of science fiction.

“No amount of grief and rage could overcome a lifetime of conditioning. Do the least amount of harm to every form of consciousness, alive or not. A planet might not think and feel, but it had a place in the universe. It deserved respect and kindness, especially from a puny thing like her, whose survival depended upon it.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

New book release: ‘Good Night, Irene’ by Luis Alberto Urrea

‘Good Night, Irene’ is the new novel by Luis Alberto Urrea. Photo: Amazon

Luis Alberto Urrea, a 2005 Pulitzer Prize finalist for nonfiction and member of the Latino Literature Hall of Fame, is a prolific and acclaimed writer who uses his dual-culture life experiences to explore greater themes of love, loss, and triumph. Winner of a Lannan Literary Award and Christopher Award, he is also the recipient of an American Book Award, the Kiriyama Prize, the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Literary Award, a Western States Book Award, a Colorado Book Award, an Edgar Award, and a citation of excellence from the American Library Association. A professor of creative writing at the University of Illinois – Chicago, he is a member of the Latino Literary Hall of Fame and has won numerous awards for his poetry, fiction, and essays. His new book “Good Night, Irene” asks the question: what if a friendship forged on the front lines of war defines a life forever?” It is an epic based on the magnificent and true story of courageous Red Cross women. (Amazon, 2023)

“Good Night, Irene” – In 1943, Irene Woodward abandons an abusive fiancé in New York to enlist with the Red Cross and head to Europe. She makes fast friends in training with Dorothy Dunford, a towering Midwesterner with a ferocious wit. Together they are part of an elite group of women, nicknamed Donut Dollies, who command military vehicles called Clubmobiles at the front line, providing camaraderie and a taste of home that may be the only solace before troops head into battle.

After D-Day, these two intrepid friends join the Allied soldiers streaming into France. Their time in Europe will see them embroiled in danger, from the Battle of the Bulge to the liberation of Buchenwald. Through her friendship with Dorothy and a love affair with a courageous American fighter pilot named Hans, Irene learns to trust again. Her most fervent hope, which becomes more precarious by the day, is for all three of them to survive the war intact. Taking as inspiration his mother’s own Red Cross service, Luis Alberto Urrea has delivered an overlooked story of women’s heroism in World War II.