Photo Credit: Paul Harries

UK progressive metal band Esoterica have unveiled their latest single, 'Firefly', an ethereal masterpiece setting the tone for the great things to come from the band this year. The single is accompanied with a stunning video using cutting-edge CGI, which sees the sextet continue to push boundaries visually as well as sonically. 

Watch the video to 'Firefly' here: https://youtu.be/BI8jlvo7lQM

Stream the single here: https://esoterica.hearnow.com

On the single, the band comment: "After over a year in the making, we're so happy to finally be releasing 'Firefly'. It's been a huge amount of effort, involving a massive team of people. The song has something completely magical about it and I know the video is going to blow people away, it's totally unique".

Esoterica's 'Firefly' music video is not just a visual spectacle but a groundbreaking display of technology. Created using the latest advancements in Unreal Engine, Metahumans, Move.ai, and LiveLink, the video immerses viewers in a virtual world resembling a computer game. A young protagonist navigates a mysterious forest, guided by a luminous firefly, on a quest to confront the end-of-level boss - a cyborg version of Esoterica's lead singer, Tobias Keast.

Recorded at Middle Farm Studios and engineered by the accomplished team of George Lever, Izzi Warburton and Peter Miles, 'Firefly' captures the essence of Esoterica's heavy ethereal sound. The band's fusion of atmospheric melodies, powerful vocals, and intricate instrumentation is destined to captivate listeners and leave them eagerly anticipating their next release.

Esoterica embark on their 'Firefliy' tour in April, catch them on the following dates:

11 Apr: Asylum 1, Birmingham
12 Apr: Rebellion, Manchester
13 Apr: Cathouse, Glasgow
16 Apr: The Fleece, Bristol
17 Apr: Engine Rooms, Southampton
18 Apr: Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
20 Apr: O2 Islington Academy 1, London

Esoterica are:
Toby Keast - Vocals
Laura Conway - Guitar
Matthew Diver - Guitar
Luke Keast - Drums
Mike Watchorn - Bass
Will Keast - Piano & synths

Esoterica online:
https://eso1.com
https://www.facebook.com/esoband
https://www.instagram.com/esotericaband

Photo Credit: John Gyllhamn

Metalcore quartet Awake The Dreamer have released a video for their brand new single 'Broken Home', out now via Arising Empire.

Check out the video for 'Broken Home' here: https://youtu.be/FfR_vGRDVI0

Stream 'Broken Home' here: https://arisingempire.com/brokenhome

The single's poignant lyrics underscore the band's commitment to meaningful music, exploring familial conflict and healing, while offering hope to those facing similar issues. 

Formed through childhood and high school friendships in 2015, Stockholm-based quartet Awake The Dreamer released their Grow EP the following year, leading to tours in Europe and Asia alongside bands including Ice Nine Kills, Northlane, Adept and Crystal Lake.
 
In 2019, Awake The Dreamer released their debut album Damaged Souls via Arising Empire. The 10-track release featured guest appearances from Adept's Robert Ljung ('Vigilant') and Crystal Lake's Ryo Kinoshita in ('Atmosphere').
 
Bassist/vocalist Benjamin Turesson adds:

"Being a small band that didn't even have an album out by the time we had toured Europe and Asia finally caught up to us, then the pandemic hit. Like that wasn't enough, unfortunately we had former members leave the band, so it became natural for us to just start from scratch in order to redevelop a new sound. A sound which we are really happy and proud of. It feels great to start releasing music again and we are really excited to be back." 

Awake The Dreamer are:

Max Andrén | Vocals
Victor Sandberg | Guitar
Johan Norsander | Guitar

For more information:
https://awakethedreamer.se
https://www.facebook.com/awakethedreamerofficial
https://twitter.com/atdbandswe
https://www.instagram.com/awakethedreamer
https://www.tiktok.com/@awakethedreamer

Rising Belgian metalcore outfit Suasion have released their new single 'Enemy'. The music video, directed by James Barbosa, will please gaming aficionados in its references to the likes of Goldeneye 007 and Assassin's Creed. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/4-E9d9BJUIo

Stream the single here: https://suasionband.com/enemy

Suasion are currently supporting Rise Of The North Star on their Crank It Up Tour, and will be kicking off their own UK headline tour later this month. Tour dates listed below.

On 'Enemy', the band comment: "In contrast with our previous movie concept album, which was very storytelling-oriented, we have decided here to draw inspiration from the atypical locations found in video games - the kind of locations we believe do not exist in reality. From there, we put all of our creativity into creating a contemplative video. The biggest challenge, of course, is the location! If games like Goldeneye 007 on N64 or Assassin's Creed ring a bell, you might feel nostalgic when watching the music video for 'Enemy', observing these 'upside down pyramids'."

Hailing from Belgium, cinematic electronic metalcore outfit Suasion display a certain arena flair. The band mix melodic hooks, punitive breakdowns and lyrics that peer into the human soul, a blend that earned them a record deal with Atomic Fire Records in 2022. Blending the raw fury of metalcore with the dramatic atmospherics of rock and modern metal, Suasion cultivate a cinematic, moody sound with catchy and hard hitting music videos.

Catch the band live:

Mar 21: BE Liège Reflektor*
Mar 22: FR Nancy L'Autre Canal*
Mar 23: LU Esch-Sur-Alzette Kulturfabrik*
Mar 27: UK London Cart & Horses
Mar 28: UK Brighton Daltons Showrooms
Mar 29: UK Birmingham Centrala Space
Mar 30: UK Chester The Saddle Inn
Mar 31: UK Coalville The Victoria Biker Pub
Apr 03: UK Northampton The King Billy
Apr 19: BE Huy L'atelier Rock
Jul 13: RO Timisoara Rock La Mures
Jul 28: SI Velenje Metaldays

*Supporting Rise Of The Northstar

Suasion online:
Instagram |Facebook |Website

Photo by Robert Eikelpoth / Editing by Blake Armstrong

Pirates Visions Of Atlantis are about to take listeners on their heaviest symphonic adventure yet with their new studio album, entitled Pirates II - Armada, set for release on 5th July 5 2024 via Napalm Records. The successor to their high-charting previous release, Pirates (2022), is set as high as the waves cresting the Jolly Roger - taking everything that has been achieved to date to another level. With the second chapter of the pirates’ saga, Visions Of Atlantis prove that they are more than ready to claim the crown of symphonic metal.    

Today, the crew centred around pirate queen Clèmentine Delauney and brave captain Michele Guaitoli unveil their first single and title track, 'Armada', together with an official music video that draws the listeners into the exciting universe of Visions Of Atlantis. With this track, the band pushes its metal attitude farther than ever before. The track immediately shows how driving, rich, and banging the hymn of a pirate army could be.     
    
Stream the video here: https://youtu.be/FOov0vMnkEA

Pre-order the album here: https://lnk.to/VOA-PiratesII-Armada/napalmrecords

Ship’s log:    
5th July  2024; High Seas

A new day of sailing begins, the wind on our side, and the sea speaks of recent battles. The air feels fresh - hypocrisy, greed, envy - hearts of the old world finally disclose their deluded truth. Old leaders are losing ground, their lies are getting worse, and darkness creeps in. Each sunny day hides a coming storm, nature testing our strength for the last battle.

We've become pirates as their counterparts, free-spirited and true at heart. Navigating storms that try to make us doubt, we see the light in the darkness. The old truth is fading, making room for a new story. Our destiny is in our hands, in our hearts, in every step we take. Reconnecting with ourselves, we touch the essence of life we share with all creatures. Together, unstoppable, connected to the truth, guided by the sun and storms. 

We'll rule the oceans, the mainland, every street, every house, spreading hope. Our pirate cries will last for centuries, with ancestors humming our tunes, our words sung in the new world we create. Our glory will live on forever. United as one force, one army, under a final ARMADA.

Emotions, depth, richness of sound. Not only a record, but a true hurricane of feelings is what Visions Of Atlantis delivers with the new album Pirates II - Armada,. On a journey in which listeners face their own battles and cannot resist joining the 'Armada', Visions Of Atlantis will have listeners facing the 'Monsters' inside them, with catchy melodies destined to endlessly stick in their mind. The uplifting 'Tonight I’m Alive' surprises and captivates with the rhythms of a pirate party on the eve of combat, with the electrifying rumble of a hurricane - a unique, uncharted showcase of talent from Visions Of Atlantis. The burning flames of 'Hellfire' enchant the listener before the sweetness of delicate melodies accompany them 'Underwater'. The cinematic adventure of seven-minute-plus masterpiece 'The Dead of the Sea' conjures the salty scent of the sea, making the listener feel - in every melodic twist and theatrical orchestral hit - the cannons firing and the battle raging. Listeners will shed a tear while mourning under the melody of 'Ashes to the Sea'.

Pirates II - Armada, will be available in the following formats:
Deluxe Boxset - incl. 1-CD Digisleeve, framed Backdrop, Pendant, BONUS 7" Vinyl incl. exclusive songs: Side A: 'One Last Hope', Side B: 'Underwater' (Acoustic Version) - (Napalm Mail Order Only, Limited to 500)
2-CD Earbook ( CD1: PIRATES II – ARMADA / CD2: PIRATES II – ARMADA - Orchestral Version) (Napalm Mail Order Only, Limited to 500)
2-LP Gatefold Marbled FIRE (including exclusive Vinyl Bonus Track: 'Stormy Waters') + 7" VINYL 'Armada' incl. Side A: 'Armada', Side B: 'Armada' (Orchestral Version) OCEAN BLUE (Napalm Mail Order Only, Limited to 300)
2-LP Marbled MOONLIGHT OCEAN (including exclusive Vinyl Bonus Track: 'Stormy Waters')
2-LP Gatefold BLACK (including exclusive Vinyl Bonus Track: 'Stormy Waters')
Music Cassette (Napalm Mail Order Only)
1-CD Digisleeve
Digital Album

Visions Of Atlantis are:
Clémentine Delauney - Vocals
Michele Guaitoli - Vocals
Dushi Duscha - Guitars
Herbert Glos - Bass
Thomas Caser - Drums

Visions Of Atlantis online:
NAPALM RECORDS
HOMEPAGE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER

Pirates II - Armada track list:

1. To Those Who Choose to Fight
2. The Land of the Free
3. Monsters
4. Tonight I’m Alive
5. Armada
6. The Dead of the Sea
7. Ashes to the Sea
8. Hellfire
9. Collide
10. Magic of the Night
11. Underwater
12. Where the Sky and Ocean Blend

Photo Credit: Shimon Karmel

Canada’s most exciting metal band, power metal powerhouse Unleash The Archers, recently announced the upcoming release of their game-changing sixth studio album, Phantoma, out 10th May (Napalm Records).

Today, the band release their second single from Phantoma, the addictive, synth-infused 'Ghosts In The Mist'. Blending modern guitar stylings with 80s arena rock vibes, the track boasts one of the album’s most sing-along worthy choruses and heaviest breakdowns.

Check out the track now, alongside the video: https://youtu.be/TYSHuCUegm0

Pre-order Phantoma here: https://lnk.to/UTA-Phantoma/napalmrecords

Unleash The Archers on 'Ghosts In The Mist': "If you saw us at any of the shows we played last year then you might recognize this track! We filmed the music video at Mad With Power Fest, ProgPower USA, and at our show in Montreal, Canada, and it is full of so many friends and familiar faces! We love including these particular festivals in the video because they have both been supporters of ours for a very long time, and we hope we will get to play them again and again as the years go on. The track is one of the more synth heavy songs on the album, but it's also got some rad death vocals from Grant that you can bang your head to, so we hope there will be a little something for everyone to enjoy here!"

On the stunning conceptual album, listeners join the AI protagonist Phantoma, a Ph /
Network Tier 0 unit - model A, on an inspiring yet harrowing journey as she traverses the new age of AI on a dystopian, near-future planet Earth.

Phantoma follows the band's 2020 breakout album, Abyss, which won the JUNO Award for
Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year after debuting at #1 on the US Current Hard Music and Top New Artist charts, and was dubbed by Bandcamp as “a mandatory listen” upon release.

Intertwining reality with imagination, Unleash The Archers were inspired to utilise elements of AI during the creation of Phantoma, in keeping with its future-facing theme. Frontwoman and lyricist Brittney Slayes conjured the album's concept in 2021; before the swarm of pressing commentary surrounding AI began to reach an all-time high. With the band’s one-of-a-kind blend of power metal, traditional heavy metal, modern prog and pop sensibilities, Unleash The Archers spin a web of sharp musicality, high sci-fi concept and important social commentary about discovering the brutal truths behind the manufactured sheen of social media posturing.

The band weaved electronic and synthwave elements throughout the album’s 10 colossal anthems, which - in line with its theme - prove much darker and heavier in comparison to the bright positivity of Abyss. Album opener 'Human Era' sets the tone with imagery of a bleak, windswept futurescape that crescendoes headlong into the breakneck pace of power metal bastion 'Ph4/NT0mA' - a masterwork of duelling guitar solos and vocal acrobatics. Trad-metal influenced 'Buried In Code' lights the way with pummelling rhythms before the album’s path turns dark on heavy metal hardened 'The Collective', with Brittney Slayes’ warm tones inviting the listener to ‘join or stand aside’! Hair-raising first single 'Green & Glass' unveils the truth before the upbeat 80s-flavoured 'Gods In Decay' and the extraordinary balladic anthem 'Give It Up Or Give It All' showcase the varied songwriting prowess of Unleash The Archers’ modern era. A trifecta of concept closers begins with the moody 'Ghosts In The Mist', leading into the soaring yet menacing 'Seeking Vengeance' before closing with the bittersweet tale of 'Blood Empress'.

Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, and with lead guitarist Andrew Kingsley at the helm as both principal songwriter and producer, Phantoma is an exciting advancement in Unleash The Archers’ songwriting and storytelling mastery, and a giant leap forward in their towering musical trajectory.

Unleash The Archers are:
Brittney Slayes - Vocals
Scott Buchanan - Drums
Grant Truesdell - Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Kingsley - Guitar, Vocals
Nick Miller - Bass

Unleash The Archers online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
TWITTER
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

Phantoma track listing:
1. Human Era
2. Ph4/NT0mA
3. Buried In Code
4. The Collective
5. Green & Glass
6. Gods In Decay
7. Give It Up Or Give It All
8. Ghosts In The Mist
9. Seeking Vengeance
10. Blood Empress

Photo Credit: Jeremiah Bird

New York City's resident misfits Couch Slut will release their highly-anticipated new album You Could Do It Tonight  on 19th April via Brutal Panda Records. Today, the noise-makers share the second single from the album, 'The Donkey (Abridged)'.

Watch the lyric video for 'The Donkey (Abridged)' here: https://youtu.be/tpkvLB3QFwY
Pre-order You Could Do It Tonight and stream the single here: https://orcd.co/couchslut

'The Donkey (Abridged)'s lyric video was created by Frank Huang (Maximum Volume Silence) and features additional footage captured by occasional Couch Slut collaborator Davindar Singh from a haunted house in Thailand, along with special guest appearances from guitarist Amy Mills’ personal doll collection.

Read the song's lyrics here: https://couchslut.bandcamp.com

Vocalist Megan Osztrosits explains: "Here's the story of what happened when my friends and I got fired from the haunted waterpark."

Bassist Kevin Hall continues: "'The Donkey' is simultaneously simple and complex, like a bucket of sewage which at first appears homogeneous, but upon close inspection dazzles the mind and the senses with the diversity and pungency of its constituent detritus."

Couch Slut have played a veritable strain of drug-fuelled, incendiary, hardcore noise rock since 2013. Led by Megan Osztrosits' infernal roar and subversive, vitriolic lyrics, the quintet return with their fourth full-length opus You Could Do It Tonight (19th April, Brutal Panda Records).

Recorded amidst the filth of NYC with Uniform's Ben Greenberg (Drab Majesty, Portrayal of Guilt, Metz), and mastered by Matt Colton at Metropolis Studios in London (Blur, Nick Cave, Thom Yorke), Couch Slut subvert the paradigm and up the ante in every imaginable way across nine vignettes of perverse, true-to-life storytelling layered over the band's singular, dragged-through-the-mud songcraft. This is a depraved style of noise rock that will scare the living sh*t out of you. Guest appearances from members of fellow NYC compatriots Imperial Triumphant and Pyrrhon scatter across the album, adding layers of cacophony. 

With ten full years of pain and suffering under their proverbial belt, along with three prior full-length albums My Life As A Woman (2014), Contempt (2017), and Take A Chance On Rock ‘n’ Roll (2020), Couch Slut sound more urgent, threatening, nasty and despondent than ever, and You Could Do It Tonight is the perfect soundtrack for 2024.

Couch Slut will make their European debut at Roadburn Fest on 19th April performing You Could Do It Tonight in full. Additionally, the band have announced a special headlining set at Caterwaul Fest’s Afterparty in Minneapolis in May.

Couch Slut are:
Dylan DiLella – guitar
Kevin Hall – bass, shehnai, granular synthesizer
Amy Mills – guitar, flute, trumpet 
Theo Nobel – drums and percussion, synthesizer, bells
Megan Osztrosits – vocals

For more on Couch Slut:

FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP | INSTAGRAM

Tracklisting:

1. Couch Slut Lewis
2. Ode To Jimbo
3. Wilkinson’s Sword
4.The Donkey
5. Presidential Welcome
6. Energy Crystals For Healing
7. Downhill Racer
8. Laughing and Crying
9. The Weaversville Home For Boys

Photo Credit: Tom Couture

Modern heavy symphonic metal leaders KAMELOT will kick off their North American "Kamelot: Awaken The World Tour 2024" - featuring support from Swedish heavy metal frontrunners HammerFall and modern symphonic metal unit Ad Infinitum (featuring KAMELOT touring guest vocalist Melissa Bonny) - on 25th April. In celebration of the tour's upcoming launch, KAMELOT have unveiled a brand new lyric video for The Awakening album track and fan-favourite 'NightSky' - one of the record's most hard-hitting offerings.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/vQQ2NklPfQw

Purchase The Awakening here: https://lnk.to/Kamelot_TheAwakening/napalmrecords

Bandleader and guitarist Thomas Youngblood says: "This one is a favorite of mine to play live - we can't 'til April for the upcoming tour."

Singer Tommy Karevik adds: "'NightSky' is about the invisible ties that extend well beyond this life and echo into the next." 

KAMELOT's latest album, The Awakening, debuted at #2 on the US Current Hard Music Albums chart and #27 on the Current Album Sales chart, and connected with fans and critics alike - touted by many as the best late-era KAMELOT release to date. The album enters the band's legacy as their most massive and diverse offering yet - mixing symphonic, gothic, melodic, progressive and power metal styles while yielding some of the heaviest tracks in the band's history. Having reigned supreme with the release of internationally top-charting melodic metal pinnacles such as The Fourth Legacy (1999), The Black Halo (2005), Silverthorn (2012), Haven (2015, #1 US Hard Rock Albums), and most recently 2018’s acclaimed The Shadow Theory (#2 US Hard Music Albums), KAMELOT’s intense brand of ultramodern gothic and symphonic theatricality is amplified further and with more emotionality than ever on The Awakening.

Showcasing the incomparable, stage-seasoned vocal acrobatics of Tommy Karevik and increasingly airtight, renowned technical teamwork of guitarist Thomas Youngblood, drummer Alex Landenburg, keyboardist Oliver Palotai and bassist Sean Tibbetts, KAMELOT’s score-like 13th studio album is accented by guest contributions from the likes of Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum) and renowned instrumentalists like violinist Florian Janoske and cellist Tina Guo. 

The Awakening features crystal clear modern production helmed by the band and longtime producer Sascha Paeth, plus mixing and mastering by Jacob Hansen of Hansen Studios.

10/10 "Masterpiece!"
- Metal-Temple
 
“The Awakening is KAMELOT's best album in almost 20 years...”
- The Prog Mind (US), 9/10
 
"The Awakening is KAMELOT performing at the top of their game."
- New Noise Magazine (US)
 
"The Awakening is probably the hottest candidate for the (melodic) metal album of the year."
- Rock It! (DE) – 10/10

The Awakening will be available in the following formats:

-Digital Album
-CD Digipak
-CD Digipak + Shirt Bundle - Napalm Records exclusive
-2-LP Gatefold Vinyl Black
-2-LP Gatefold Vinyl in Splatter Red + Black - Napalm Records exclusive (European webstore), limited to 500
-2-LP Gatefold in Marbled White + Black - Napalm Records exclusive (North American webstore), limited to 300
-48p Earbook with 7'' Vinyl Single - Napalm Records exclusive, limited to 500
-Wooden Boxset with Envelope Opener, Flag, Patch and Band Postcard - Napalm Records exclusive, limited to 1000
-Music Cassette - Napalm Records exclusive, limited to 100

KAMELOT are:
Tommy Karevik - Vocals
Thomas Youngblood - Guitars
Oliver Palotai - Keyboards
Sean Tibbetts - Bass
Alex Landenburg - Drums

KAMELOT online:
WEBSITE || FACEBOOK || INSTAGRAM || NAPALM RECORDS

Track list: 

1. Overture (Intro)
2. The Great Divide
3. Eventide
4. One More Flag in the Ground
5. Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem)
6. Midsummer's Eve
7. Bloodmoon
8. NightSky
9. The Looking Glass
10. New Babylon
11. Willow
12. My Pantheon (Forevermore)
13. Ephemera (Outro)

Finland’s My Favourite Nemesis returns with a captivating, new track, 'A Paradox You Seek,' which sets the crushing tone for their upcoming, new EP that drops 26th April via Seek and Strike. This song showcases the band’s prolific blend of male and female dual lead vocals, backed by a foundation of modern metal excellence. This dynamic, new track is a great taste as to what you can expect from their upcoming EP and expect a barrage of captivating hooks, melodies and fast-paced, hard-hitting songs.

Check out the video for 'A Paradox You Seek' here: https://youtu.be/ux7ZIWqlp3g

My Favourite Nemesis state: "Following the release of our second album, Eidolon, we had some demo tracks already on the works. Writing this time around was more straightforward and everyone in the band was more involved in the whole process. 

“Our newest song, 'A Paradox You Seek,' was selected as one of the singles because we felt it really stood out from the rest of the tracks. It has a very ominous and dark sound, but still maintains a groovy and melodic feel, which really has become almost a signature for us. Lyrically, the song revolves around past mistakes and coming to terms with the fact that those mistakes shaped us into who we are today.

"We didn't deliberately go for any major changes in our sound, but this EP could be described as a natural evolution of the band. Every track delivers aggression and emotion more in your face than previously. Overall, the EP sounds more rough and less polished than our older releases. This was the first time Sanna (female vocals) was involved in the writing of the vocals and lyrics from the beginning. With that in mind, we wanted to focus more on writing clean vocal lines and melodies. 

"When it comes to writing lyrics, we wanted to write about subjects we all find important to talk about, such as war, greed, and mental issues. Both Janne’s and Sanna’s writing styles complement each other and come together nicely. What stands out the most on this release, is that the songs really feel like a punch in the gut, yet still have very melodic parts that you can sing along with. Also, the mix sounds massive, but maintains a clarity that allows the listener to hear all the details and dynamics. If you haven’t heard of us before, this EP is the perfect starting point, as we feel this is the strongest material yet. Every track delivers creative rhythmic and melodic groove and is sure to keep anyone hooked and come back for more."

My Favourite Nemesis have also been announced to play Uprising Festival UK on 25th May, alongside Katatonia, Brugeria, Discharge and more.

Since 2017, My Favourite Nemesis have gained a lot of attention across the Finnish modern metal scene with their catchy guitar riffs and wide variation of instrumental and vocal arrangements. The band’s explosive live performances have successfully convinced audiences in Finland and abroad - notably through two sold out shows with Swedish metal band Dead By April in Finland, and a German tour with Suffocation. My Favourite Nemesis are now ready to bring their unique brand of heavy metal excellence to a world-wide audience.

My Favourite Nemesis are:

Janne Piela- Vocals
Sanna Solanterä- Vocals
Joel Aav- Lead guitar
Janne Suominen- Rhythm guitar
Valtteri Estola- Drums

For more:
https://www.instagram.com/myfavouritenemesis
https://www.facebook.com/MFNofficial

We Annihilate I track list:

01 - We Annihilate
02 - Paradox You Seek            
03 - Corporeal Husk  
04 - Chimera
05 - Blind

Photo Credit: Sebastian Smith

On the heels of achieving his highest-charting solo single to date, 'Higher Power,' which is currently blazing up the Mediabase Active Rock chart at #10, Grammy winning, platinum-certified artist and the voice of Creed, Scott Stapp has released his highly anticipated fourth studio album of the same name, Higher Power, via Napalm Records. 

Today, Stapp also revealed his first-ever duet - the gripping acoustic ballad 'If These Walls Could Talk,' featuring rock queen Dorothy (Roc Nation). Stunning in its authenticity about falling from grace and the long journey back to the top, the acoustic ballad showcases two Grammy-worthy vocal performances. The track has already earned early praise with Billboard calling it “a powerful meditation,” Blabbermouth dubbing it “a showstopper,” RIFF Magazine applauding the “two powerhouse vocalists,” while Midlands Rocks (UK) refers to the track as “an ethereal ballad.” 

Accompanying the track’s release is an equally impassioned official music video, directed by Nick Peterson (Five Finger Death Punch, Papa Roach, Evanescence, Dorothy). Watch here:  https://youtu.be/xTAUdWoASNQ

Dorothy states: “It was the highest honor for me to collaborate with Scott Stapp on such a beautiful, raw, emotional song. I’ve been a fan of his all my life and I hope this song positively impacts the world.” 

Scott states: “Recording this album was cathartic for me while going through the kinds of life challenges we all experience. Dorothy arrives at the album’s turning point – that moment when you acknowledge how far you’ve come while recommitting to moving forward. Her performance is such a soulful contribution to the song that I’m grateful I didn’t do this one alone.”

Purchase Higher Power here: https://lnk.to/SCOTTSTAPP-HigherPower/napalmrecords

Higher Power travels through a personal metamorphosis forged by loss, frustration, betrayal and near defeat, easily shifting from hard rock, to the kind of anthems that have made Stapp an icon, to provocatively thoughtful ballads. Kerrang (UK) notes that Stapp’s Top Ten title track boasts “a sheen of electronics pulsing through its dark, driving riffs, and there’s the kind of hook most artists of this ilk would gladly pay for.”

Throughout Higher Power’s ten tracks, Stapp is “primed for a big decade, sounding just as powerful as he did at half his age with a sense of newfound heaviness resting beneath his iconic voice” (Loudwire). With bold sonic swagger and his trademark lyricism, Stapp also shares the spotlight with other stand-out performances, including blistering yet delicate performances by guitar god Yiannis Papadopoulos and a co-writing appearance by multi-Grammy winning songwriter and musician Steve McEwan. 

Higher Power was produced by Marti Frederiksen and Scott Stevens and follows Stapp’s 2019 The Space Between the Shadows, which debuted at #3 on the US Current Rock Albums chart, the US Current Hard Music Albums chart, and the UK Official Rock & Metal Chart.

Scott Stapp online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
NAPALM RECORDS

Higher Power will be available in the following formats:

- Digital Album 
- CD Digisleeve
- Solid Viola Gatefold Vinyl LP             
- Black/Red Splatter Gatefold LP - Die Hard Edition w/ Slipmat & Record Butler (Napalm Mail Order Only, Limited to 300)

[Black/Red Splatter Gatefold LP - Die Hard Edition w/ Slipmat & Record Butler
(Napalm Mail Order Only, Limited to 300)]

About Scott Stapp:

One of the most iconic voices in rock, Scott Stapp first emerged as the high-energy, post-grunge frontman of Creed. With anthems like 'Higher,' 'My Own Prison,' 'My Sacrifice,' and 'With Arms Wide Open,' the band sold over 50 million albums, including a Diamond certification. Throughout the early 2000s, Creed broke airplay records, sold out arenas, earned countless Billboard Music Awards and American Music Awards, and a Grammy for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group. As a solo artist, Stapp has released the Platinum-certified The Great Divide (2005), Proof of Life (2013) which featured his first solo #1, “Slow Suicide,” and 2019’s The Space Between The Shadows. In April 2024, Stapp will reunite with his Creed bandmates for the first time in a decade.

Higher Power tracklist:

1. Higher Power           
2. Deadman's Trigger
3. When Love Is Not Enough    
4. What I Deserve (feat. Yiannis Papadopoulos)
5. If These Walls Could Talk (feat. Dorothy)
6. Black Butterfly         
7. Quicksand (feat. Yiannis Papadopoulos)
8. You’re Not Alone     
9. Dancing in the Rain (feat. Yiannis Papadopoulos)
10. Weight of the World