Bevar Sea signs with Metal Assault Records

India’s premier stoner doom rockers Bevar Sea signs with Metal Assault Records. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Metal Assault Records is thrilled to announce its first international signing. India stoner/doom metal band Bevar Sea joins the Metal Assault Records roster. Stalwarts of the Indian stoner doom scene for well over a decade in addition to carrying a solid fanbase internationally within the heavy underground, Bevar Sea has inked a multi-album deal with Metal Assault Records and will release the band’s third full-length studio album, The Timeless Zone, in early 2022. Album pre-orders will be launched in Fall 2021. (Metal Assault Records, 2021)

On signing Bevar Sea, Metal Assault Records owner Andrew Bansal states: “This one is special, and close to home (literally). When I briefly moved from Los Angeles to India in 2012-13, little did I know that I’d get to discover this amazing band. I happened to attend a gig in Mumbai wherein I got to see Bevar Sea live for the first time. It was their debut album release show and they left an indelible impression on me with their musicianship and performance that night. I made sure to attend as many of their shows as I could, particularly the ones in their hometown of Bangalore. Even after moving back to the US in 2013, I kept track of Bevar Sea’s progress and stayed in touch with the band members. Fast forward to 2021, they are now signed to my label and I could not be more excited!”

Bevar Sea issued the following statement in celebration of their signing with Metal Assault Records. “Having managed the first two releases ourselves and having seen where most of our fans and orders come from, we looked out for a North America or Europe based label to release The Timeless Zone, essentially to fix some of the issues we’ve had with worldwide distribution and logistics, and also to allow us to focus more on the music itself. We’ve known Andrew as a friend and a fan for many years, and quick trivia, he was also our manager for a short while back in 2012, so his label and its diverse roster is an ideal match for us for this album and beyond.”

Established in 2008, Bevar Sea roared into the live scene in 2011. The following year, their eponymous album was released and earned them rave reviews worldwide along with the title of “Best Emerging Act” at the Rolling Stone Metal Awards India. Bevar Sea also snapped up a performance slot at the coveted Maryland Deathfest in 2013. Their debut album was mixed and mastered by the legendary Billy Anderson. The enthralling 45-min hook-ladened stoner/doom experience quickly garnered the band a firm reputation among fans in their country and internationally. Album track “Abishtu” which tells the story of a serial killer out for hipster blood and on the run from the law quickly became a live show favorite among fans while the 14-min track “Mono Gnome” about a short-statured man and his love for a witch turned out to be the pick in the doom circles.

Bevar Sea followed up their debut album with Invoke the Bizarre in 2015. Drifting into new sonic territories, the band recorded at a breakneck pace over 10 days at Adarsh Recording Studio to complete the album. Mixing and mastering duties were managed by Matt Lynch (LA’s Mysterious Mammal Recording, also from the incredible band Snail). Invoke the Bizarre was well received by music media and fans alike for its intricate song arrangements, unique story-telling and mature, well-rounded execution. Now, five years after releasing Invoke the Bizarre Bangalore’s Bevar Sea utilized the Covid-19 imposed lockdown as an opportunity to regroup and begin working on their third studio album, The Timeless Zone. Against backdrop of enigmatic lyrics portraying a tryst with the consciousness of man during a period of deep introspection; The Timeless Zone pays homage to the glory years of the 70s and 80s hard rock era while keeping things heavy handed in a gloomy haze of gnarly guitar riffs, raspy vocals, and apocalyptic fuzz. Expect even more crushing from Bevar Sea amidst the arrival of The Timeless Zone slated for release early 2022 on Metal Assault Records.

Bevar Sea The Timeless Zone lineup (2021):
Ganesh Krishnaswamy – Vocals
Srikanth Panaman – Guitars
Michael Talreja – Guitars
Avinash Ramchander – Bass

The Timeless Zone track listing:
1. The Timeless Zone
2. Alpha None
3. Sterilise The Divide
4. The Circle
5. Kiss The Sigh
6. Cadaver Awake

The Timeless Zone. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Upcoming new book release: ‘The Ice Coven’ by Max Seeck

‘The Ice Coven’ is Max Seeck’s new novel. Photo: amazon

Max Seeck devotes his time to writing professionally. An avid reader of Nordic noir for personal pleasure, he listens to film scores as he writes. His accolades include the Finnish Whodunit Society’s Debut Thriller of the Year Award 2016. He is The New York Times’ bestselling author of “The Witch Hunter” and has a background in sales and marketing and loves to promote his works. Investigator Jessica Niemi is in a race against time to find the link between a body with strange markings that has washed up on a frigid shore in Finland and two baffling disappearances in his terrifying new novel “The Ice Coven.” It will be released on Tuesday, September 28, 2021. (amazon, 2021)

“The Ice Coven” – Six months have passed since Jessica’s encounter with the mysterious serial-killing coven of witches and the death of her mentor. Her nightmares about her mother and the witchcraft that undid her have only gotten worse, but she is doing what she can to stay focused. Her homicide squad, now under new leadership, has been given a murder case and a new series of disappearances to investigate. A young woman’s corpse has washed up on an icy beach, and two famous Instagram influencers have gone missing at the same time. The missing influencers and the murdered woman all have ties to a sinister cult. Jessica finds an eerie painting—of a lighthouse on a remote island—as she investigates, and under the picture is a gruesome poem detailing a murder. The nightmares about her mother suddenly seem all too real, making Jessica wonder if the dead woman might be trying to tell her something about the killings. And as Jessica works frantically to solve her latest case, her horrific past comes roaring back and threatens to destroy her.

2021-09-28T11:19:00

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

‘The Ice Coven’ release date

Pearl announces new food hall concept opening in September: Kineapple

Kineapple, a new smoothie concept, will open at Pearl’s Bottling Department in September. Photo: Kineapple, used with permission.

Pearl is excited to announce the latest restaurant at the Bottling Department – Kineapple – a concept by Robby and Neesha Grubbs, the duo behind Local Coffee Founders, also originating at Pearl. The new concept will open to the public in late September, with an exact opening date to be announced soon. Kineapple will offer a variety of fresh smoothies, healthy snacks, salads, coffee, and more. (Kineapple, 2021)

The team behind Kineapple wanted to create an ingredient-driven menu that is easy for customers to navigate. The menu is designed to make healthy eating accessible and delicious. Kineapple is committed to sourcing the best ingredients for its patrons, who can expect to see smoothies that can be made with different modifiers like plant based protein, whey isolate, creatine, turmeric, collagen, blue majik, cold brew shot, and more. Guests can also pick up a Crunchy Kale Salad, Free Range Chicken Salad Sandwich, Kineapple Farm Bowl, Golden Overnight Oats, In-house Protein Bar, and more. In addition to smoothies and snacks, Kineapple will also offer coffee from a rotating list of curated specialty coffee roasters.

Kineapple, whose tagline is “Leave Feeling Better,” is a concept that is near and dear to its founders’ hearts in more ways than one. The name pays homage to Robby and Neesha’s youngest son, who struggled to say “pineapple” as a child and instead pronounced the name of the fruit with a K instead of a P. The founders wanted the concept to incorporate a pineapple, but wanted it to feel personal and organic, so Kineapple felt like the perfect name for this venture.

“Kineapple is something that we’re looking forward to bringing to Pearl. We wanted to be able to bring high quality, healthy ingredients to the table without sacrificing taste and that’s what we’ve done here.” – Co-Founder Robby Grubbs

“Neesha and Robby are wonderful operators – innovative, engaged, and talented. We are thrilled their newest concept is coming to the Food Hall.” – Pearl’s Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Fauerso.

Kineapple’s hours will be 11a.m. to 8p.m. Monday through Friday and 9a.m. to 8p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The new concept will be in the space formerly occupied by Bud’s Southern Rotisserie, located at 312 Pearl Pkwy Building 6, San Antonio, TX 78215.

Pearl is a dynamic neighborhood built around the historic Pearl Brewery, which operated from 1883 to 1999. Located just north of downtown San Antonio on the banks of the San Antonio River, it is home to architecturally significant buildings like the brewhouse and stable—both built in 1894. Today, Pearl is home to dozens of unique culinary concepts, one-of-a-kind retail, weekend markets, residential communities, innovative office tenants, the San Antonio campus of the Culinary Institute of America, and the award-winning Hotel Emma. Pearl is a vibrant district where community gathers to play, work, and live. We invite all to gather and experience the best of what San Antonio has to offer.

New book release: ‘The World Played Chess: A Novel’ by Robert Dugoni

‘The World Played Chess’ is Vincent Bianco’s new novel. Photo: amazon

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and #1 Amazon Charts bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series, which is set in Seattle and has sold more than seven million books worldwide. He is also the author of the Charles Jenkins espionage series and the David Sloane series of legal thrillers. He has also written several stand-alone books, including the novels “The 7th Canon” and “Damage Control;” The literary novel “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell” was Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, for which Dugoni won an AudioFile Earphones Award for narration. His nonfiction exposé “The Cyanide Canary,” was Washington Post’s best book of the year. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Book Award for fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages. His new book “The World Played Chess: A Novel” is an emotionally arresting follow-up to “The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell.” (amazon, 2021)

“The World Played Chess: A Novel” – In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated high school. His only desire: collect a little beer money and enjoy his final summer before college. When he lands a job as a laborer on a construction crew working alongside two Vietnam vets, one suffering from PTSD, Vincent gets the education of a lifetime. Now forty years later, with his own son leaving for college, the lessons of that summer―Vincent’s last taste of innocence and first taste of real life―dramatically unfold in a novel about breaking away, shaping a life, and seeking one’s own destiny.

New book release: ‘Constance’ by Matthew FitzSimmons

‘Constance’ is the new mind-bending thriller by Matthew FitzSimmons. Photo: amazon

Matthew FitzSimmons is the author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling Gibson Vaughn series, which includes “Origami Man,” “Debris Line,” “Cold Harbor,” ‘Poisonfeather,” and “The Short Drop.” Born in Illinois and raised in London, he now lives in Washington, DC, where he taught English literature and theater at a private high school for more than a decade. In his new mind-bending thriller “Constance,” a breakthrough in human cloning becomes one woman’s waking nightmare. (amazon, 2021)

“Constance” – In the near future, advances in medicine and quantum computing make human cloning a reality. For the wealthy, cheating death is the ultimate luxury. To anticloning militants, it is an abomination against nature. For young Constance “Con” D’Arcy, who was gifted her own clone by her late aunt, it is terrifying. After a routine monthly upload of her consciousness―stored for that inevitable transition―something goes wrong. When Con wakes up in the clinic, it is eighteen months later. Her recent memories are missing. Her original, she is told, is dead. If that is true, what does that make her? The secrets of Con’s disorienting new life are buried deep. So are those of how and why she died. To uncover the truth, Con is retracing the last days she can recall, crossing paths with a detective who is just as curious. On the run, she needs someone she can trust. Because only one thing has become clear: Con is being marked for murder―all over again.

Theater review: ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ at the Camille Playhouse

‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ is now playing at the Camille Playhouse until Sunday September 19, 2021. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Now playing at the Camille Playhouse is ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ and after a successful opening weekend, there are only three chances left to experience this lighthearted musical. It is based on a story by Texas local legend Larry L. King that was inspired by the real-life Chicken Ranch in La Grange, Texas. This happy go lucky view of small town vice and statewide political side-stepping recounts the good times and the demise of one of the better pleasure palaces in all of Texas. Governors, senators, mayors, and even victorious college football teams frequent Miss Mona’s cozy bordello until that puritan nemesis Watchdog focuses his television cameras and his righteous indignation on the institution. It will run until Sunday September 19 with showtimes Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Tickets are available online for $25. All seats are general admission.

Set in Texas, the bulk of the story takes place in the 1970s. ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ begins as Shy (Isabella Barrios) and Angel (Jocelyn Michelle) arrive at the Chicken Ranch asking for a job from Miss Mona (Velma De Los Santos), the proprietor of the place. Miss Mona likes their honesty, hires them, and gives them the rundown of the place “A Lil’ Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place.” They are getting ready for the big night of the Texas Aggies/Longhorn football-game party and on any given day, everyone from political to business leaders frequent the chicken ranch as well. This has caught the attention of Melvin P. Thorpe (Francisco Partida), a Houston TV reporter and do-gooder who is on a mission to shut them down for good “Texas Has a Whorehouse in It.” He has yet to convince Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd (Ronnie Rodriguez) to do so, partly because he has a relationship with Miss Mona. As a last resort, Thorpe raids the Ranch with his camera crew and proves to be highly embarrassing for everyone involved.  The Chicken Ranch is now in the public eye and is getting too much attention, so Miss Mona has no choice but to shut down the Ranch and send the girl packing.

Despite the obvious focus of the story, the general ambiance is cheerful as the audience is witness to the retelling of the demise of the Chicken Ranch. The combination of adult entertainment, catchy tunes, and political side-stepping makes for an entertaining musical. Velma De Los Santos does an excellent job of bringing Miss Mona to life onstage and has the onstage chemistry with Ronnie Rodriguez (Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd) that makes this complicated relationship work. Some of the highlights include the romping good-time of ‘The Aggie Song’ and ‘Doatsey Mae’ the poignant solo by Sylvia Lester that slows the action and shines the spotlight on a lesser known character. The cast is big, but they all work together wonderfully under the guidance of choreographers Andrew Smith and Tanya Swayze Miller (on ‘Twenty Four Hours of Lovin.’) Some of the dancing is risqué and there is some adult language involved but overall, it all makes for a “toe-tappin’” good time and the cast and crew do a fantastic job of bringing ‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ to the Brownsville stage. 

Rating: 3 out of 5.
Photo: Sandra Cruz

Upcoming new book release: ‘Inhuman Trafficking: A Legal Thriller’ by Mike Papantonio and Alan Russell

‘Inhuman Trafficking: A Legal Thriller’ is the new novel by Mike Papantonio and Alan Russell, releasing October 5, 2021. Photo: amazon

Mike Papantonio is a senior partner of Levin Papantonio, one of the country’s largest plaintiffs’ law firms, and was one of the youngest inductees into the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. He has aggressively taken on Big Pharma, tobacco, weapon manufacturers, and the automobile industry, among other bastions of corporate greed, and uses his own cases as springboards for his novels. Papantonio is also a well-known media presence as host of America’s Lawyer and co-host of the syndicated radio show Ring of Fire. He is based in Pensacola, Florida. Alan Russell is the #1 bestselling author of seventeen mystery and suspense novels, including “Burning Man,” “Shame,” “St. Nick,” and “A Cold War.” Russell’s novels have been nominated for most of the major awards in crime fiction, and he has won a Lefty award for best comedic mystery, a USA Today Critics’ Choice Award, multiple San Diego Book Awards, and the Odin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the San Diego Writers/Editor Guild. They are co-authors in the upcoming new novel “Inhuman Trafficking: A Legal Thriller.” It will be released October 5 and is available for pre-order on amazon. (amazon, 2021)

“Inhuman Trafficking” – For Nick “Deke” Deketomis, going where angels fear to tread in waging legal battles has long been a way of life. As managing partner for one of the nation’s largest plaintiffs’ law firms, Deke has gone toe to toe with some of the largest corporations in the world. His firm specializes in the tough, even quixotic, cases that few lawyers would dare to take on. Like human trafficking. Deke’s target this time is Welcome Mat Hospitality, a firm known for its truck stops and lodging throughout the United States. What Welcome Mat does not advertise is the human trafficking—for sex work and slave labor—going on at many of its properties. For the sake of better profits, Welcome Mat’s ownership has turned a blind eye to this lucrative enterprise. As invested as Deke is in the case, though, it takes on even greater urgency when the past comes calling with word that his fifteen-year-old goddaughter, Lily Reyes, is missing. When Deke learns that Lily has fallen prey to a notorious trafficker, his personal and professional worlds converge. For his goddaughter to survive, Deke must prevail not only in the legal arena but outside of it. This is a fast-paced thriller in the tradition of John Grisham, Joseph Finder, and John Lescroart.

2021-10-05T11:48:00

  days

  hours  minutes  seconds

until

‘Inhuman Trafficking: A Legal Thriller’ release date

Close the Hatch, Insidiant, and more at Ruby Tuesday Live

Live show at Ruby Tuesday this Friday September 17, 2021. Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Close the Hatch, Insidiant, NovaGrave and Waste of White will perform at Ruby Tuesday Live in Columbus, Ohio on Friday September 17, 2021. Presented by Epitome of Stupidity Podcast and Ebony Jeanette PR. (Epitome of Stupidity Podcast, 2021)

After nearly eighteen months of pandemic imposed shutdowns, the return of local concerts has come roaring back to life. On Friday September 17, 2021 Dayton, Ohio’s sludge metal doom-bringers Close the Hatch will descend upon Columbus, Ohio for an unforgettable performance at Ruby Tuesday Live.

Presented by Epitome of Stupidity Podcast and Ebony Jeanette PR, the evening will feature Close the Hatch alongside special guests Insidiant (rock/metal) NovaGrave (doom), and Waste of White (alt-metal). Tickets are $8. Doors open at 6p.m.

“This show has been in the works for well over a year and through a pandemic. Happy to finally get it on the books and play some loudness with everyone! There’ll be something for basically everyone, doom, sludge, rock metal the whole nine yards! The virus still blows but come enjoy some good tunes with us!” – Clint Stockham of Epitome of Stupidity Podcast.

Donovan Woods announces new label and first signee Cassidy Mann

Cassidy Mann released ‘Election Night,’ her first single with the label. Photo: google

Award-winning songwriter and recording artist Donovan Woods and his long-time manager Michelle Szeto have just announced the launch of their brand new label, End X Music (End Times Music), distributed via The Orchard, and the border-straddling Toronto and Nashville-based imprint is wasting no time loading their roster with inspiring new talent. End X Music’s first signed artist is Cassidy Mann, who just released “Election Night”—her first single with the label.  Written by tweaking melodies with co-producer Roman Clarke (Taylor Janzen, Olivia Lunny), “Election Night” captures the intense awakening and transformation that many people experienced over the four years of the prior U.S. presidency. Please visit this link to watch Mann’s “Election Night” visualizer or click here to stream or purchase “Election Night” today. (End X Music, 2021)

Szeto recalls the moment End X Music’s first signing fell into place: “Since Donovan and I started working together over 5 years ago, the idea of sharing what we’ve learned and the relationships we’ve built with another artist has always thrilled us,” she says. “We never questioned the hard work that would come with it, but rather, we didn’t think we would ever agree on an artist. When we independently came across Cassidy and sent her music to one another, it was a coincidence we couldn’t ignore. Cassidy’s songwriting and production skills are beyond her years, and we’ve been endlessly impressed with her creative instincts.”

Entwining her acoustic roots with gentle electronic textures, Cassidy Mann often reshapes a small moment into a powerful and poetic song that feels both personal and relatable. “My favorite thing is to write about tiny things that make the bigger picture more important somehow.” Mann says. The lyrics of “Election Night” focus on a couple that moved beyond just friends that night but ultimately ended as strangers. “Trump’s Presidency was hell for a lot of people and you hear about that a lot, especially from a political standpoint,” says Mann. “I think it’s a really important conversation, but throughout all of it, I was also craving the more intimate stories. I wanted to explore the idea of how the whole overarching narrative of that time affected people’s personal relationships.

Growing up in the Prairies of Winnipeg, Mann has been singing since she could talk. Her parents bought her a guitar as a birthday present when she was 9. By 14, she started taking songwriting more seriously and her emerging talent led to a nomination for Aboriginal Recording of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

More about End X Music: The core of End Times’ mission is transparency and adaptability. In the world of streaming, the data is available. Artists should understand their expenses and their earnings as well as anyone they work with. It allows us to interpret and react to how, why, and where songs are being discovered. There are many pathways to success, and success looks different to everyone. Every artist and every project is unique and artists should be confident that the team built around them is being created thoughtfully and purposefully in service of their individuality. We will focus on songwriters, regardless of genre, and work together to make their music valuable by getting it to people who will use it and love it.

Courtesy photo, used with permission.

Twin Liquors’ September virtual events

Twin Liquors will host September virtual events for tequila and bourbon lovers. Photo: Twin Liquors, used with permission.

Join Twin Liquors for two virtual tasting events this month. On September 16, in honor of Bourbon Heritage Month, Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris, in partnership with Twin Liquors, will host a fun and informative evening, complete with a brief history on the brand and a virtual tasting and Q&A. Must be 21+. Twin Liquors will also have a Heritage Bourbon Sale throughout the month of September to include discounted prices on delicious Bourbon, like Four Roses, Maker’s Mark, Angel’s Envy, Woodford Reserve, Brother’s Bond, and dozens more. (Twin Liquors, 2021)

Additionally, on September 23, Twin Liquors invites guests to join Tequila Herradura’s Global Brand Ambassador, Ruben Aceves & NFL Hall of Famer, #22 Emmitt Smith for a virtual Tequila experience. Guests 21+ will experience conversations around Tequila Herradura, The Casa Herradura story and the founding of Tequila. Smith and Aceves will also walk viewers through a virtual tasting of the Tequila Herradura Silver, Reposado, Añejo, and Ultra Cristalino Añejo.

• September 16: Woodford Reserve with Master Distiller, Chris Morris at 6p.m.
• September 23: Herradura Tequila Virtual Experience with Ruben & Emmitt Smith at 6p.m.

• To register for the Woodford Reserve with Master Distiller, Chris Morris follow the link here.
• To register for the Virtual Experience with Ruben & Emmitt Smith follow the link here.

Born and raised in downtown Austin, Texas, Twin Liquors began as one small store and has developed into a successful “home-grown” Texas family-owned company. Twin Liquors now has a unique and well reputation throughout the United States for having impeccable team members, outstanding customer service, conveniently located stores, extensive selections of fine wines and premium spirits from around the world, and substantial community involvement. Twin Liquors currently operates 100+ neighborhood stores from Austin to San Antonio, the Hill Country to Houston, and the DFW area with their Sigel’s branded stores.