APF Records is thrilled to announce the signing of Oxford-based heavy hitters The Grand Mal, and with it the release of their self-titled debut album this October.

Featuring twin brothers Ryan and Elliot Cole from rising stoner metal behemoths Desert Storm, the decision to back this promising new project was a “no-brainer” according to Andrew Field; peddler of some of the UK’s finest rock/metal underground albums in recent memory on his Manchester-based label.

“I’ve been Desert Storm’s biggest fan since I discovered their music six years ago, which is why I signed them in 2017,” he explains. “Elliot and Ryan approached me about releasing The Grand Mal’s debut and I jumped on it. It’s a joy to continue my relationship with them and I’m excited that APF Records is putting out this stunning release.”

Complimenting the Cole brothers in The Grand Mal are Mother Corona vocalist Dave-O and bassist Rob Glenn. Their first single – ‘Burning Truth’ – is both indebted and in line with the colossal riffs and big grooves of the quartet’s collective influences. Inspired by bands such as Black Sabbath, Kyuss, Soundgarden and Royal Blood, as Butthole Surfers’ JD Pinkus put it best. “The Grand Mal is like Queens of the Stone Age mixed with 80’s Ozzy.”

The Grand Mal’s self-titled debut album is released on Friday, 18th October on CD, tape and digital through APF Records and can be pre-ordered here at Big Cartel | Bandcamp

Stream and share new song for ‘Burning Truth’ – http://theobelisk.net/obelisk/2019/08/05/the-grand-mal-self-titled-burning-truth/

LIVE:

6/9/19 – The Facebar – Reading, UK
28/9/19 – O2 Academy2 (w. Evil Scarecrow) – Oxford, UK
26/10/19 – The Underground (w. Desert Storm) – Bradford, UK
22/11/19 – The Port Mahon (w. Gnome) – Oxford, UK
23/11/19 – Rebellion (Sophie Lancaster Festival) – Manchester, UK
2/02/20 – The Bread Shed (APF All-Dayer) – Manchester, UK

The Grand Mal on Facebook

APF Records on Facebook | Bandcamp | Big Cartel | Instagram | Twitter

To celebrate the release of a brand-new studio EP later this year, the band’s debut album, Symphony for Auto-Horns, will be officially rereleased on 23rd August via Mottow Sounds

Stream and share video for ‘Tash & A Guitar’, featuring original Zappa cohort and session legend, Robert Martin – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTmWalsCkGY

ORDER THE ALBUM HERE

Happily emerging many moons ago as a Frank Zappa tribute project, the Brussels-based decet (that’s TEN musicians, and yes, we checked) have since developed into a unique fusion ensemble. After years of respectfully interpreting Zappa and his music, bandleader, Johan De Coninck decided that the time had come for the band to explore their own virtuosity and begin writing original compositions.

Informed by the stylistic direction inherent in their previous project, the cosmik fruits of Captain Cheesebeard’s collective labour arrived in 2015 with the self-release of their debut album, Symphony for Auto-Horns. Taking it upon themselves to contribute to the global music family their impressive cache of songs portrayed the kind offree-form jazz improvisation, progressive rock, sound experimentation and lampooning of Western culture that one hopes would have made Frank smile. Songs about alcohol overindulgence (‘Coma Aroma’), gratuitous Veganism (‘March of the Fat Vegan Legion’… AHEM) and the heavy rock machismo of yesteryear, recorded with former-and-honest-to-God-actual Zappa cohort/session legend, Robert Martin. Stream and share the video for ‘Tash and A Guitar’here – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTmWalsCkGY

“Captain Cheesebeard embodies everything our label stands for,” explains Mottow Soundz owner, Mathias Widtskiold. “Real music, for real people. Music that lives and breathes. A rarity these days… You simply can’t pigeonhole their style. That goes especially for their brand-new The Deadwood. It was recorded live in the studio and the addition of new singer definitely takes their cosmic journey to the next level.”

On 23rd August, Mottow Soundz – Belgian rock institution and home to heavyweights such My Diligence, The Progerians and cult rockers, La Muerte – will give Symphony for Auto-Horns an official worldwide rerelease ahead of the arrival of a brand-new studio EP which’ll be out later this year.

Listen and purchase Symphony for Auto-Horns here – https://mottowsoundz.bandcamp.com/album/symphony-for-auto-horns

Captain Cheesebeard on Web | Facebook

Rising from the underground of Sydney’s stoner rock scene, the Arrowhead brotherhood fire an explosive, all killer/no filler triptych of volume, attitude and down-tuned grooves.

Hitting you harder than a Frank Frazetta-airbrushed panel van travelling at 100mph, Arrowhead is very much a band defined by the riffs that raised them. Fronted by guitar player, vocalist and chief songwriter Brett Pearl, Brett was brought up on a staple diet of classic rock with Hendrix, Zeppelin, Floyd and Sabbath rarely leaving the turntable. Joined by fellow purveyor of low-end grind is bass player/Viking Arron Fletcher, guitarist Raff Iacurto and living backbone of the band, Matt Cramp on drums.

With each member feeding into the Arrowhead-approved vision of hard rock reverie via Hollywood monsters and science fiction cinema, having paid their dues as a band since late 2009, following on from 2010’s Atomsmasher EP, their self-titled debut and 2016’s Desert Cult Ritual, the latest addition to the quartet’s quiver is new album, Coven of the Snake. An album that is equal parts venom and mysticism, and 100% blood-bound to steal your soul in the name of rock and roll.

Arrowhead’s Coven of the Snake is released on 12th July 2019 through Ripple Music. Stream and share ‘Coven of the Snake’ video below:

Arrowhead on Facebook | Bandcamp

Listen and find out more about ‘Astypalea’ now at Everything is Noise – http://everythingisnoise.net/premieres/deaf-radio-kick-up-some-dirt-with-astypalea/

Deaf Radio on Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram | Soundcloud

Chief proponents of hard rock and grievous genre assault, Deaf Radio, the Athens’ based quartet make a much-welcomed return this month with the release of the brand-new single, ‘Astypalea’.

The first song composed, recorded and lifted from their as-yet-untitled second album, which is due for release later this year, ‘Astypalea’ is a captivating glimpse of things to come

Written on the rooftops of old churches in Astypalea, a secluded Greek island in the Dodecanese, lyrically it focuses on the connections and experiences between each band member, with marauding and majestic guitars reminiscent of Queens of the Stone Age and Rise Against. A song that begs to be played loud, this is the first recording made by the desert rockers since the release of their successful debut album, Alarm in 2017. Hailed as one of the best alt-rock albums from Greece in recent memory,  it has since gone on to garner hundreds of thousands of streams online, and praise from ecstatic sell-out crowds when performed live across Europe.

Having shared stages with the likes of The Killers, All Them Witches, 1000mods and The Kills, Deaf Radio toured Europe throughout 2017 and 2018 and played in over thirty cities, serving as the perfect test ground material soon to be released on their second full-length album, due for release in the autumn.

Deaf Radio’s brand-new single ‘Astypalea’ is released on 5th June 2019 via ihaveadrum. Listen and find out more about ‘Astypalea’ now at Everything is Noise – http://everythingisnoise.net/premieres/deaf-radio-kick-up-some-dirt-with-astypalea/

Stream it now at YouTube | Spotify | Bandcamp | Apple Music | Google Play