The dark, ambient, paralyzing, synth new-wave sounds of alt rock of Se Delan and the duo’s new album, Drifter, is available for streaming in its entirety over at AllMusic.com.

If you missed our last post, Se Delan is made up of multi-instrumentalist Justin Greaves and Swedish singer Belinda Kordic. The album is the follow-up to their debut album, The Fall.

Drifter will see release this Friday, April 29th, and can be pre-ordered on CD and 180 g black vinyl via the Kscope . Digital pre-orders include instant downloads of “Going Home” and “Shadowbox(ers)” and are available here.

Check this album out!

Rock Hard \m/

“Shadowbox(ers)” will be available on the band’s forthcoming sophomore effort, Drifter, on April 29th (May 20th in France). Album pre-orders are available here.

The animated video for “Shadowbox(ers)” is equally as impressive as the track itself. Directed by Philippe Blain, here’s what Kordic had to say:

Regarding the choice of director… We just loved Philippe’s old school animation and his wacky ideas. We were secretly hoping for a pitch from an animator and the crazier the better. Didn’t look too promising if we may say so ourselves, but then, there he was. He was right up our alley. ‘Shadowbox(ers),’ one could say covers the old cliché ‘good vs. evil’… within your own ball court.

Rock Hard \m/

Last week I talked about how LA rockers, Silver Snakes, sound like a blend of NIN and Stabbing Westward, and now they are streaming their new album, Sabateur, in full over at AltPress.com. Head on over, check it out, and let us know what you think.

Saboteur is the the band’s third full-length record and it’s due out on Friday, February 5th, via Evil Ink Records and can be pre-ordered here.

Singer Alex Estrada stated:

Saboteur is an exciting release for us. Not only with the new labels and touring opportunities, but stylistically it’s a record that we had to push ourselves to write. The ideas were there but the execution was very different for us. We’ve introduced new elements while maintaining our identity. This band started out much different from what it is today and we can only hope that Saboteur showcases that growth and our constant desire to forge our own path.

Silver Snakes will kick off their tour with Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, and I The Mighty in the coming weeks. Tickets are on sale here.

Silver Snakes Tour Dates:

Feb 14 – Flagstaff, AZ – The Hive (w/I The Mighty)
Feb 15 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad (w/I The Mighty)
Feb 18 – St. Louis, MO – Firebird (w/I The Mighty)
Feb 19 – Indianapolis, IN – Emerson Theatre (w/I The Mighty)
Feb 20 – Rochester, NY – The Club @ Water Street (w/I The Mighty)
Feb 22 – Boston, MA – House of Blues (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Feb 23 – Boston, MA – House of Blues (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Feb 24 – Toronto, ON – Opera House (w/glassjaw)
Feb 25 – Royal Oak, MI – Royal Oak Music Theater (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Feb 26 – Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Feb 27 – St. Paul, MN – Myth Live Event Center (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Feb 28 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave (w/glassjaw)
Feb 29 – Columbus, OH – The LC Indoor Pavilion (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 1 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 2 – Washington, DC – Echostage (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 4 – New York, NY – Theater at Madison Square Garden (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 5 – Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 6 – Virginia Beach, VA – Shaka’s (w/glassjaw)
Mar 7 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 8 – Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 10 – Miami, FL – The Fillmore (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 11 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 12 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 13 – Jacksonville, FL – Jack Rabbits (w/glassjaw)
Mar 14 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 15 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 16 – Baton Rouge, LA – Varsity Theatre (w/glassjaw)
Mar 17 – Houston, TX – Revention Music Center (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 18 – San Antonio, TX – Alamo City Music Hall (w/glassjaw)
Mar 19 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 21 – Tempe, AZ – The Marquee (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 22 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Palladium (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 23 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 24 – San Diego, CA – The Observatory (w/glassjaw)
Mar 25 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 26 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)
Mar 27 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium (w/Coheed and Cambria, glassjaw, I The Mighty)

Rock Hard \m/

Icarus the Owl is probably one of the most talented bands you probably never heard of. They play a style of music that is considered by many to be progressive pop punk, bringing insanely catchy melodies with their vocals while blending the intricate musicianship of math rock groups. They pull off their act without any hesitation live, instead reaching for more and more space to shine and dazzle a crowd. I had the chance to interview Joey Rubenstein, the man behind the majority of the writing.

Hello Icarus the Owl, how are we doing today?
Doing well! Thank you!

It is really early in the morning, like 4:23 a.m. currently, any advice on what to do when you guys have trouble sleeping on the road?
I will usually listen to pretty music on my iPod. Bon Iver usually does the trick. Sometimes the other dudes are snoring, so headphones are pretty necessary when sleeping around stinky snoring dudes.

Speaking of the road, how has your tour been going?
The tour has been fantastic. We did four separate legs for it. One with A Lot Like Birds, one by ourselves, one with The Venetia Fair, and one with The Ongoing Concept. All of them have been really fun.

What has been your favorite song to play, old or new?
My favorite song to play is a new one we have been playing called “Skysweeper.” I like playing it because we haven’t toured on it for two years and aren’t sick of playing it yet.

Thinking back to last year and releasing your self-titled album, how did the writing process come about for such a technical and spastic 13 songs?
It usually starts with me writing the song on either Guitar Pro or via my voice memos on my iPhone that I will then transpose to Guitar Pro. From there, I send the Guitar Pro files to the other guys in the band and they take the songs I have written and make them better. Then we discuss and make any changes that need to happen to the song and we either scrap it or use it. After that process, which can take up to a year, I will write melodies and lyrics to them. Sometimes it starts with a melody or a lyric that allows me to create the song in the first place.

How has the new guitarist adapted to your songs and being with you guys 24/7?
We got really lucky with getting Tim on board. He can sing harmonies and play all the parts really well. He is really easy to get along with, which is super important when we are touring. I can’t say enough nice things about him.

What do you guys tend to eat when on tour, does anyone try to keep a healthy diet or is it binges and cravings most of the time?
It depends on the person I suppose. It is rare when we eat fast food. Most of the time it is Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches that get us by from place to place. I personally am vegan so that is the diet I stick to on the road and not on the road. It makes it so I have to shop at grocery stores most of the time. We all end up buying grocery store food. I see the guys always eating Cheez-Its. Sometimes there are a healthy amount of sour gummy worms present.

What are your favorite toppings to put on pizza?
Olives, pineapple, green peppers, children’s tears, and spinach.

Any last words?
Thank you for reading this!

Find Icarus the Owl on Facebook and at icarustheowl.com

Sierra isn’t exactly wet behind the ears, but they are still in their infancy as a band. Formed in 2011, they have just one EP to their name and Pslip, their first full-length, on the way (January 28th). However, from the progression of the album to the fuzzed out guitars to the raspy vocals and last, but not least, to the bluesy grunge feel that’s present throughout, this band sounds like they’ve been at it for years.

As soon as you put Pslip on, you will be transported to another space and time, an era when Nirvana was at the top of the food chain and Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains ruled the industry. When Sub Pop records reigned as a label within the “know.” When kids with a hunger for more sought out bands like Mudhoney, Sonic Youth, Melvins, Screaming Trees, The Replacements, Pavement, Hüsker Dü, and more.

All this to say that Sierra’s Pslip definitely has its roots firmly planted in Seattle. So much so that from the vibe to the title, “Little Smoke” sounds like something Jimi Hendrix would have played.

The beauty of this album is that it weaves a melodic magic carpet that opens and closes (“Pslip In” and “Pslip Out,” respectively) soft chords and peaceful melodies while hitting you with heavy, dirty riffs that are reminiscent of Black Sabbath (again, in “Little Smoke” and in “Psquilgalogz”). It’s an incredibly balanced album filled with great melodies and obvious homages to Nirvana (“Into Nothing” – Bleach era) maybe to Collective Soul on the more playful “Control Folly” and, yes, even to Alice in Chains and definitely Mudhoney in other other tracks. Pslip also has instrumental variety (such as the xylophone usage on “Smoke Filled Room”), but it’s mostly straight-forward grunge riffing.

Sierra Is:

Jason Taylor – Guitar/Vox
Robbie Carvalho – Bass
Ky Anto – Drums

The second reason Finch fans should be pissed is the fact that the band is releasing What It Is To Burn X. It can’t be said that Finch isn’t a hard-working band because they have and toured extensively, however, they are a less-than-productive band. With only two full-length releases (What It Is To Burn – 2002 and Say Hello To Sunshine – 2005) and three EPs () since forming in 1999, it seems they’ve hardly earned the right to release a 10-year anniversary live version of their first album. Being that the 2002 album is their best and most successful, it’s probably the only thing from their miniature catalog that fans listen to.

The point is that this is the type of release you’d expect from a much more productive band, such as DevilDriver, who’s released 6 albums in 10 years, and fans may have “forgotten” the first album.

Aside from not really earning the right to release such an album, Finch is insulting their fans by doing so. Seriously, 14 years together and just 2 albums to show for it!

At any rate, fans are fans and they’ll buy it.

What It Is To Burn X is a live CD/DVD celebrating the 10-year anniversary of Finch’s landmark album. It was filmed and recorded at The Glasshouse in Pomona, California, where the band performed their full-length in its entirety. Pre-orders for the disc and exclusive merch can be placed now at the Tragic Hero MerchNow Store.

Puscifer

Puscifer have set an August 27th street date for All Re-Mixed Up, a track-for-track remix album of the band’s sophomore release, Conditions of My Parole.

As Maynard James Keenan explains:

“All Re-Mixed Up is the continuation of the Puscifer tradition to release alternate versions, reworks, and remixes of what we consider initial thoughts. For instance, Carina Round was nervous about how to approach her version of ‘Telling Ghosts.’ Mat Mitchell put her at ease by asking her to think of it as a song half written, advising her to ‘now write the other half.’ It’s extremely liberating in the digital age to approach composing and creating in this manner. Infinite paths to explore, reinterpret, and re-present.”

I get what Maynard’s goal is, and I can even see the appeal to it, but is it just lazy? Especially since Pucifer just released the Donkey Punch The Night EP, which is a bunch of covers – great covers, but covers nonetheless. Pucifer also recently performed at Coachella, Australia’s Soundwave Festival, and Lollapalooz Brazil and Chile. To me, releasing a remix album at this point sounds like, “OK, we’re on a roll, let’s keep it going; what can we do that we can put out real quick?”

All Re-Mixed Up track listing and remixers:

1. Monsters (Deconstruct) remixed by Mat Mitchell
2. The Green Valley (Verde River Maestro 507 mix) remixed by Rani Sharone (Stolen Babies)
3. Monsoons (JLE Motorik mix) remixed by Josh Eustis
4. Telling Ghosts (Giorgia O’Queef mix) remixed by Carina Round
5. Horizons (Dream of a Lie remix) by John Fryer (This Mortal Coil)
6. Man Overboard (11AD remix) by Alain Johannes
7. Toma (Burn Out remix) by Five Knives
8. The Rapture (JLE Needs Service mix) by Josh Eustis
9. Conditions of My Parole (F.U.B.A.R. remix) by Sir Mix-A-Lot
10. The Weaver (Virtual Vacuum remix) by Aaron Harris (PALMS)
11. Oceans (Green Mussel Mix) by Zac Rae
12. Tumbleweed (Delusions of Grandeur mix) by The Beta Machine

Rock Hard \m/

The Maynard James Keenan side project, Puscifer, will be releasing an EP on February 19th. Donkey Punch the Night features covers of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Accept’s “Balls to the Wall,” plus two original tracks, “Breathe” and “Dear Brother.” The rest of the seven-track EP offers various remixes of the songs already mentioned.

As a vehicle for Keenan’s subconscious to play around, don’t expect anything as hard-hitting as Tool or A Perfect Circle. Donkey Punch the Night offers a pretty chill ride into your own subconscious. The tone is soft, the beats are like honey, and the mood is calming. It’s an ethereal collection of smooth tunes.

Even the cover of “Balls to the Wall” is stripped down and reworked into something much more relaxed than the original. As it should be with a “Pillow Fight Mix” identifier.

The “Bohemian Rhapsody” cover is as authentic and faithful as it can be. As a result, it’s the most aggressive track on the EP. Strange indeed. It’s an awesome cover, but those who aren’t Keenan fans (or at least familiar with him) will find faults in it. I do wish that Keenan would have reinterpreted the Queen track as he did with Accept’s. I think cover songs, especially iconic and band-defining songs like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” should stray from the original. What’s the point in doing it exactly the same unless you’re in a cover band or a wedding singer?

Donkey Punch the Night is streaming over at Spin.com if you’d like to take a listen before buying.

While Puscifer is mainly a Keenan solo side project, he does need help. Here’s a list of additional artists who played their part on Donkey Punch the Night: Carina Round – additional vocals, guitar; Mat Mitchell – bass, guitar, programming; Josh Eustis – guitar, piano; Matt McJunkins – bass; Juliette Commagere – additional vocals; Jeff Friedl – drums, percussion; Zac Rae – piano; Josh Morreau – bass; Claire Acey – vocals

The Verdict: [rating:3.5]

If you’re in the mood for some futuristic take on the futuristic techno beats from the ‘80s by an artist that you don’t have to be ashamed of, then Donkey Punch the Night is for you. The music is great for intense, focussed listening, but it can also serve as unobtrusive background music for working. In a way, the music seems perfectly suited for a soundtrack, perhaps Blade Runner, Terminator, or a Mad Max remake. Something gritty, dirty, and bleak that needs juxtaposition from something smooth and clean. It would take a sociopath to make this a daily listen, but it definitely has replay value – especially when a certain mood strikes you.

Rock Hard \m/

Similar Artists:

Tool, A Perfect Circle, Marilyn Manson, Smashing Pumpkins, Peeping Tom

Yell! Rating (x/5 Skulls):

[rating:3.5]

Artist

Puscifer

Album:

Donkey Punch the Night

Year Released:

19 February 2013

Label:

Puscifer Entertainment

Genre

Electro-Industrial, Industrial, Alternative/Indie Rock

Official URL:

Puscifer

During the song “Goin’ Down”, which is the third track on the self-titled debut EP, a pair of busty female fans got called up on stage to join the show that night with Momsen, and all the fun between the hot trio was captured on video right below. One lucky photographer managed to capture the money shot when Momsen pushed herself a little further by lifting her shirt to bare a nice set of grip-taped nipples to the crowd. Although the memorable moment only happens for a few seconds, these pictures will definitely last a lifetime.

Check ’em all out and share them!

The Setlist That Night:

1. Hit Me Like a Man
2. Since You’re Gone
3. Zombie
4. Miss Nothing
5. Just Tonight
6. Goin’ Down
7. Seven Nation Army (as performed by The White Stripes)
8. Aerials (as performed by System Of a Down)
9. Factory Girl
10. My Medicine
11. Make Me Wanna Die
12. Cold Blooded
13. Nothing Left To Lose

[See image gallery at www.yellmagazine.com]

Back in March, The Veer Union released their third album, Divide the Blackened Sky, which has reached the 33rd position on the U.S. charts. Apparently the band has been through some tough times in its eight-year career, such as being dropped by its label and a revolving cast of members. However, none of that has deterred the band’s two most faithful members, guitarist, Eric Schraeder and vocalist, Crispin Earl. They march on with iron-clad determination to dominate active rock stations.

Post-grunge, alternative rock, whatever you want to call it, it’s typical rock radio music. It’s over produced, cliche, and thick like molasses on a Canadian car’s windshield in January. And what’s with the way Crispin pronounces “bite” on the opening track, “Borderline”? So it’s not the worst thing you could listen to, but aside from Black Veil Bride, The Veer Union is a close runner-up or something. When Nickelback is better than you, it’s time to put that guitar back in its case. And seriously, The Veer Underground does sound like a second-rate Nickelback. (Are we there already? The first wave of Nickelback prodigy. We’re doomed if this goes anywhere.)

This is a tricky genre of rock, because either you love it or you hate it. However, if you like Nickelback, you’ll probably like the songs by these fellow Canadians on Divide the Blackened Sky. And judging from record sales and concert attendance, someone likes Nickelback, which is good news for The Veer Union. Personally, I find a hooker with scabs more enticing than listening to either Nickelback or The Veer Union.

I tried to give Divide the Blackened Sky a fair shot. I listened to it on my computer, on my iPod, in my car, while out for a run, as background music at work, and more often than not I forgot that I was supposed to be listening to it. It just doesn’t work for me. It’s forgettable. It’s so bad you can’t even hate it. For a band playing this brand of hard rock, it lacks catchy hooks, memorable melodies, anthemic sing-alongs, musicianship, charisma, etc. It’s a flat album that was assembled in the studio according to formulas set by the successes of previous bands. Of course they try to add some electronic elements to the formula, which has been done before, unsuccessfully, and it’s still unsuccessful here.

Then you read such things as what Crispin Earl has said about the new album, and after listening to the album, you’re like, “seriously, this is what you come up with?”:

“Our new record, Divide The Blackened Sky, is a much darker and heavier effort than our previous works. It depicts all the hard times we have been through over the last couple of years.”

The Verdict: [rating:1.5]

Like I said, if you like Nickelback, you might want to check out The Veer Union’s Divide the Blackened Sky. For us at Yell! Magazine, we’re gonna pass on this.

Rock Hard \m/

Similar Artists:

Nickelback, Jonas & The Massive Attraction, Creed, Alter Bridge

Yell! Rating (x/5 Skulls):

[rating:1.5]

Artist

The Veer Union

Album:

Divide the Blackened Sky

Year Released:

26 March 2012

Label:

Rocket Science/RED

Genre

Post-Grunge, Alternative Rock

Official URL:

The Veer Union Official Site