Category: Records

Slovenian metal trailblazers WITHIN DESTRUCTION have announced that they have inked a brand new deal with globally renowned independent label, Sumerian Records, marking a significant milestone in the band’s career. To celebrate this monumental signing, the band has unleashed a blistering new single, ‘Demon Child’, accompanied by a high-octane music video shot on location in Tokyo, Japan, a visual feast, particularly for fans of sports cars and Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift.

Watch the music video to ‘Demon Child’ here.
Stream ‘Demon Child’ here.

Vocalist Rob Rupnik delves into the inspiration behind the track, sharing:
“Before I even started writing lyrics, I listened to the song a couple of times and immediately knew the final words of the chorus would be ‘Demon Child’, which also ended up being the title of our second single. The lyrics dive into the nature of a love-hate relationship, where one would rather embrace a passionate turmoil over a mundane life.”

Guitarist Howard Fang and drummer Luka Vezzosi add:
“We’ve had a lot of fun during the pre-production of the song which is getting released pretty much in the initially envisioned idea. This time, we went with a fast-paced song built around a catchy singalong chorus with a blegh breakdown as a cherry on top. The only funny thing about this song, is the fact that it was supposed to be without a breakdown, but while we were in the studio tracking the song, we found a place for it at the last minute and we think it works really well.”

Pop star Chappell Roan recently made headlines for a few reasons that frankly, shouldn’t be controversial. Roan gave a speech at the GRAMMYs where she called out the music industry (and specifically major labels) for not providing artists with basic needs like a livable wage and healthcare.

“I told myself that if I ever won a Grammy and got to stand up here before the most powerful people in music, I would demand that labels in the industry profiting millions of dollars off of artists would offer a livable wage and health care, especially developing artists,” said Roan.

Roan continued: “I got signed so young, I got signed as a minor. When I got dropped, I had zero job experience under my belt, and like most people, I had… quite a difficult time finding a job in the pandemic and [could not] afford insurance.”

“It was devastating to feel so committed to my art and feel so betrayed by the system and dehumanized. If my label had prioritized it, I could have been provided care for a company I was giving everything to. Record labels need to treat their artists as valuable employees with a livable wage and health insurance and protection.”

She finished her speech by asking: “Labels, we got you, but do you got us?”

This pissed off former music industry executive and possible ghoul Jeffrey S. Rabhan, who wrote a scathing (and not well-received) op-ed in The Hollywood Reporter smugly titled Chappell Groan: The Misguided Rhetoric of an Instant Industry Insider.

So in response to Rabhan, Roan donated $25,000 to an unnamed fund to help struggling artists. Roan then challenged Rabhan to do the same, writing on Instagram: “Wanna match me $25k to donate to struggling dropped artists?”

She continued: “Will keep everyone updated on the much awaited response!! And I will show receipts of the donations <3. Mr. Rabhan I love how in the article you said ‘put your money where your mouth it.’ Genius!!! Let’s link and build together and see if you can do the same.” While it’s not clear if Rabhan has responded, Sumerian Records CEO Ash Avildsen has stepped up and matched Roan’s donation.

In a video, Avildsen explained his decision as such: “Sumerian Records is matching Chappell Roan for 25 grand and now we got a message for this major label suit who thinks he’s really profound in how he’s denounced her Grammys speech and what she stands for. Instead of telling her to shut up and sing, why don’t we talk about the real reason we’re in this mess. How about showing us the receipts for the equity deals and massive bonuses the big three got from Spotify for selling all the artists down the river. Go ahead and show us the same thing for the Youtube deal when Chen and Hurley sold it to Google.

“Instead of hiring execs who think young artists on exclusive contracts don’t deserve healthcare, maybe the industry should’ve hired actual forward-thinking people who understand technology. How many major labels ever computer programmers? Instead of Steve Jobs having to bail us out the first time with itunes, or Daniel Ek playing captain sailor bro the second time with Spotify, maybe the big three could’ve developed their own digital stores and streamers so that the digital money would just be split between the labels and the artists? But no, instead we’ve got Spotify worth more than every label put together and then across the street we’ve got Live Nation and Ticketmaster all as one company owning every meaningful aspect of the entire concert industry.

“See, the problem isn’t artists like Chappell Roan speaking up for the smaller ones, the problem is that executives like you make artists scared to speak their truth, whether it’s about the music or the state of the world. Whether it’s justice for a fair share, or justice for little innocent kids getting blown up, the machine wants everyone to shut up and sing. Imagine if every touring artist said they wouldn’t book another show until Ticketmaster lowered their service fees and stopped doing dynamic pricing. Maybe this is our cue to start a true musician’s guild with every working artist who understands that the big companies are way too greedy and way too powerful, but without people just shutting up and singing, how powerful are they?”

Sumerian Records has officially signed the “transcontinental Deathcore phenomenon” Face Yourself as their newest band, and as a long-time fan, I couldn’t be happier for them. And apparently, neither could Ohrion Reacts. See for yourself below.

Since their debut in 2023, Face Yourself has made quite a name for themselves. With the release of three EPs, 10 DIY music videos, 6 million streams, 1.5 million YouTube views, and a nomination for Breakthrough Band of the Year at Nik Nocturnal’s Heavy Music Awards, the band earned their spot on the label—especially after their Chaos & Carnage 2024 spring tour. 

Not to mention, Sumerian Records represents some of my favorite bands/artists. Think: Bad Omens, Poppy, Sleeping With Sirens…and now, Face Yourself, who just released their first single in over a year: “Sideration.”

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“‘Sideration’ is both a gateway and a foreshadowing of what’s to come,” the band explained in a statement. “This track encapsulates everything FACE YOURSELF stands for—Yasmine screaming her heart out, blast beats, aggressive guitars, and a breakdown that’s as crushing as it is cathartic.”

Just one listen to Face Yourself, and you’ll immediately pinpoint several unique quirks that set them apart from other bands in the genre. From vocalist Yasmine Liverneaux’s French influence to their drop-tuned breakdowns to the anomalous lyricism, each song takes you through a journey of internal strife and the processing of insurmountable rage.

I mean, take a look at some of the lyrics from Sideration: 

“To a place where my spirit slowly dies
Where your voice can’t follow me
Guiding myself to the shrine of serenity
In a boundless universe
Where I can hide fragility
The erosion of your dignity”

Pure poetry.

“Thematically, the song explores the dreamlike state your mind creates to shield you from violent events, and the fight to wake up and reclaim control,” the band explained. “It’s about being half awake through this dream, trying to find your way out reflected in the lyrics at the beginning ‘trying to catch the light,’ and at the end of the song ‘I now see the light.’”

You can watch the music video, which was directed by the band’s very own drummer Eric DiCarlo, below: 

“To bring this vision to life, we curated a dream team: Joey Sturgis scientifically crafting the heaviest sounds, Max Moore editing our visuals, and now, we have Sumerian Records amplifying everything and ensuring its successful release,” the band said.

“We are so excited to share this next chapter with you all,” they continued. “‘Sideration’ is just the beginning.”