DARK FUNERAL: 2010 European Tour Dates Announced

In a missive from DARK FUNERAL guitarist Lord Ahriman: "Ave everyone! Many of you have been writing lately asking when the hell we will start touring in support of our new masterpiece, Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus... Our booking agency is currently hard at work on booking a massive European tour for us that will be called A Declaration Of Hate - European Tour 2010. It seems like ages ago since we last toured Europe, so we are extremely excited for this tour. Europe is naturally the very first territory on the list to conquer, and then we'll see where we head next. We have still not made any final decisions on which bands we will bring out with us [as support], but we are working on putting together a strong three-four band bill. Interested parties are welcome to submit their interest to our booking agency: http://www.dragon-productions.eu.

The tour is starting to shape as follows:

3/05 Valhall - Skövde, Sweden
3/06 KB - Malmö, Sweden
3/08 Markthalle - Hamburg, Germany
3/09 Musikzentrum - Hannover, Germany
3/10 Zeche - Bochum, Germany
3/11 Bibelot - Dordrecht, Netherlands
3/12 Rios - Leeds, England (+ Akercocke)
3/13 HAMMERFEST/Pontins Holiday Park - Glasgow, England
3/14 Rescue Rooms - Nottingham, England (+ Akercocke)
3/15 Underworld - London, England (+ Akercocke)
3/16 Hedon - Zwolle, Netherlands
3/17 Essigfabrik - Köln, Germany
3/18 Biebob - Vosselaar, Belgium
3/19 La Laiterie- Strasbourg, France
3/20 Z7 - Pratteln, Switzerland
3/21 CC John Lennon - Limoges, France
3/23 Penelope - Madrid, Spain
3/24 Mint - Alicante, Spain
3/25 Salamandra 1 - Barcelona, Spain
3/26 Les Pennes Mirabeau - Marseille, France
3/27 Le Brise Glace - Annecy, France
3/28 L'Elysee Montmartre - Paris, France
3/30 Alpheus - Rome, Italy
3/31 Magazzini Generali - Milan, Italy

More dates to be announced shortly. Stay tuned. -- Lord Ahriman"

Check out the tour poster here: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=451309518&blogId=521385308

DARK FUNERAL's long-anticipated new full-length, Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus, will hit US shores on January 26, 2010 via Regain Records (the disc was released in Europe on November 18th). The nine-track masterpiece was recorded at Abyss Studios in Grangärde, Sweden with famed engineer and legendary producer Peter Tägtgren (Pain, Hypocrisy). Musically, it's the band's most technical and varied album to date. While remaining true to their roots, DARK FUNERAL have once again taken a great step forward in the evolution of their brand of fine Swedish black metal.
Testimonials:

"[Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus] is a release that is able to distinguish itself from the hundreds of other black metal efforts that have come out this year. DARK FUNERAL is still one of the best acts the genre has to offer..." -- Cosmos Gaming

"If you love black metal then you’ll lose your mind over Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus and even if you only kind of enjoy the genre you’ll still dig the record... DARK FUNERAL once again kick ass when it comes to bringing the hatred home." -- Crave Online

"Track by track, you will find yourself rediscovering why DARK FUNERAL caught your attention in the first place. If you’re new to the metal scene and don’t have experience with the band before, this is a must-have album for you and will teach you what good black metal is about. The dark themes, tight musicianship and vocals all add up to another great release for 2009." -- Metal Psalter

http://www.darkfuneral.se
http://www.myspace.com/darkfuneral

SHADOWS FALL AND THROWDOWN TEAM UP WITH FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH AND 2 CENTS FOR WINTER 2010 TOUR

FIRST 100 FEMALES IN LINE ON THE NIGHT OF THE SHOW GET IN FREE

Today, SHADOWS FALL and THROWDOWN are pleased to announce their upcoming 2010 US Winter tour. The tour will feature SHADOWS FALL, THROWDOWN, Five Finger Death Punch and 2 Cents. The tour will start January 21 and run through February 20, 2010. This tour will be everything you expect and more out of a hard hitting metal show and as an added bonus for the ladies, the first 100 women to line up at each show will get in absolutely free. Tickets will be going on sale this weekend.

SHADOWS FALL’S critically acclaimed new album RETRIBUTION debuted at #35 on the Billboard charts this fall, #3 on Billboard’s Hard Music Chart and #3 on Billboard’s Independent Music Chart. SHADOWS FALL’S tour this past fall was one of the most successful hard rock tours of the season and they have another amazing run scheduled for this winter.

Before tickets go on sale to the general public SHADOWS FALL is offering a limited number of VIP ticket packages in every market. These VIP packages will be available starting at 3 pm LOCAL time (local to the venue) on Thursday December 10th exclusively at SHADOWS FALL Ticketing:

http://tixx1.artistarena.com/shadowsfall/

Here is a list of what you will get in the VIP pack:

1 - General Admission Ticket
1 - Pre-show meet and greet with SHADOWS FALL 30 minutes before doors
1 - SF Laminate
1 - Choice of "Retribution" on CD or limited edition VINYL to be picked up at show.
1 - An autographed Shadows Fall Poster
- Access to a fan photo pass, first 4 requests per market ONLY.

These VIP ticket packages are extremely limited so pick yours up this THURSDAY at 3 pm LOCAL TIME.

THROWDOWN’S new album DEATHLESS was released on November 10 on E1 Entertainment to extraordinary critical praise. DEATHLESS has been hailed as the bands most powerful and diverse offering to date. THROWDOWN is currently on the road on the DEATHLESS 1 tour with Bury Your Dead and they are looking forward to joining forces with SHADOWS FALL, Five Finger Death Punch, and 2 Cents

Shadows Fall Tour w/ Five Finger Death Punch, Throwdown and 2 Cents
1/21 Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
1/22 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
1/23 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
1/24 Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
1/26 Houston, TX @ House of Blues
1/27 McAllen, TX @ McAllen Convention Center
1/29 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
1/30 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
1/31 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

FEBUARY 2010

2/2 Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
2/3 Greenville, SC @ Handle Bar **First 50 Ladies get in free ONLY
2/5 Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance
2/6 Worcester, MA @ Palladium
2/8 Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club
2/9 TBA
2/10 TBA
2/12 Flint, MI @ Machine Shop *
2/13 Dayton, OH McGuffy’s House of Rock *
2/14 St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
2/16 Rapid City, SD @ Rushmore Plaza Civic Center
2/17 Billings, MT @ Shrine Auditorium
2/19 Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory
2/20 Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre
2/21 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater

* “First 100 Ladies in Free” promotion NOT valid in these select markets
**First 50 Ladies get in free, rather than first 100

http://www.shadowsfall.com
http://www.myspace.com/shadowsfall
http://www.throwdown.com
http://www.myspace.com/throwdown

Native Announce US Tourdates w/ La Dispute

Announce US Tourdates w/ La Dispute in Support of Debut Album, "Wrestling Moves," out January 26th on Sargent House

There's something about the age-to-talent ratio that makes the post-punk of the barely legal Indiana quartet Native both impressive and genuine. Perhaps it's the group's intelligent guitar work, which recalls the geometric riffs of Jawbox and Faraquet - two bands that are decidedly unhip to the eighteen-to-twenty-year-old demographic to which the members of Native belong. Or maybe it's the fact that vocalist Bobby Markos' yelps sound more like a pissed Ian MacKaye than a Warped Tour screamo outfit. But Native's debut EP, We Delete; Erase, is more than just a release full of potential: It's the sound of a newly hatched rock band taking its first flight and landing firmly on its feet. - Ryan Wasoba / The Riverfront Times

The brand-new four piece, Native, is making noise even before their first full-length. Their self-released debut EP, We Delete; Erase, has been recently unleashed online, and their fresh, confident sound is filling their listeners with hope for some great things to come. - CMJ

For a band just a little more than a year old, Native play with the confidence and prowess of a group of lifers. - Alternative Press

It lands somewhere between a pissed off Minus the Bear and a caged up Botch. - Surfing Magazine

The youngest addition to the Sargent House roster, Native was born in the Summer of 2007 in Northest Indiana. Since then, they've managed to self-release their much acclaimed EP, 2008's We Delete; Erase garnering them the attention of UK label Big Scary Monsters who released it in the UK and Sargent House who have since then re-relased it in the States. Native have toured non-stop building an admiral following in a short amount of time through their unforgettable live shows and well executed musicianship, and have also already landed themselves spotlights in high profile publications such as NME, Alternative Press, CMJ, Surfing Magazine to name a few.

In April 2009, Native began recording their debut full-length, "Wrestling Moves," with producer Chris Common (Pelican, Mammifer, These Arms Are Snakes) at Red Room Studios in Seattle, WA. The album will see it's release in January 2010 and has already drawn comparisons to 90's post-hardcore acts The Van Pelt, Braid, Jawbox, At The Drive In, and more.

Native Live
Dec 9, 2009 Kalamazoo, MI @ The Strutt w/ Russian Circles, Young Widows

w/ La Dispute
Dec 12, 2009 South Bend, IN @ Ugly Mugs
Dec 28, 2009 Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre
Dec 29, 2009 TBA, Dubuque, IA
Dec 30, 2009 Kansas City, MO @ Salt Walter Taffy House
Dec 31, 2009 St Louis, MO @ The Lemp Neighborhood Art Center
Jan 1, 2010 Mountain Home, AR @ The Brickyard also w/ Feeding the Foxes
Jan 2, 2010 Ft. Worth, TX @ 1919 Hemphill also w/Jubilee & Sohns
Jan 3, 2010 Austin, TX @ Emo's also w/ Brother Ghost & Candidate
Jan 4, 2010 TBA New Orleans, LA
Jan 5, 2010 Tallahassee, FL @ Coolifornia
Jan 6, 2010 Melbourne, FL @ 1008 1/2 House
Jan 7, 2010 Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge
Jan 8, 2010- TBA GA
Jan 9, 2010- TBA Louisville, KY
Jan 10, 2010 Normal, IL (US) @ Jake's House also w/Jake Cary

www.myspace.com/nativein

THE GO FIND ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF THIRD ALBUM ON MORR MUSIC

Berlin-based electronic artist, The Go Find, has announced the release of their third album, Everybody Knows It's Gonna Happen Only Not Tonight, in February 2010 (Morr Music). On this third effort, The Go Find, led by Dieter Sermeus, continues to refine and build upon the band's now-familiar sound: charmingly dreamy indie pop songs shaped around swirling synths, acoustic guitars and Dieter's distinct vocals. The band is offering the title track of the album for free mp3 download as a first listen.

In 2004, The Go Find's Dieter Sermeus floated into our musical realm on a cute paper sailboat. With the help of his good friend Styrofoam, he recorded his acclaimed debut, Miami, a perfectly constructed collection of crackled bedroom pop held together by Dieter's high and dreamy voice. Though mostly a solo effort, Dieter put together a solid band for his following tour and approached his second record, Stars On the Wall (2007), with a more confident and practiced indie pop effort. Everybody Knows is now a culmination of all of these dreamy picturesque adventures, but with a more up-tempo beat to match their fluid songwriting and electronic sensibility.

The album was recorded over a period of six months in Brussels and Antwerp, each song built on a base of acoustic guitars and drums. The production is loaded with warm and melodic instrumentation, and features the backing vocals of Mintzkov's Lies Lorquet ("Just A Common Love") and a duet with new talent, Karo ('100%').

"Belgium's Dieter Sermeus -- a.k.a. one-man-band the Go Find -- brings some fresh ideas and captivating delivery to the scene." -Rollingstone.com

"...a pastiche of gentle pop songs and subtle electronics... a more organic singer-songwriter sensibility." -XLR8R

"It's a classic representation of the kind of quality indielectronics Morr should be world famous for and everything you need to pleasantly kill an hour of a trip." -Tiny Mix Tapes

"Sermeus has a genuine talent for songwriting. The Go Find have surely created another electro-pop guilty pleasure... and with a talent like Sermeus behind the wheel, there is no doubt The Go Find will continue in good hands." -Daytrotter

http://www.thegofind.com
http://www.myspace.com/thegofindmorrmusic

Leaether Strip offers FREE EP for download: 'It's who i am'

In order to thank the thousands of fans who have seen Leaether Strip live in the past year, mister Larsen prepared a special FREE EP with no less than... 10 remixes of the track "It's who I am"! Remixers include such acts as Psychopomps, Axel Kleintjes, Spark!, As Able As Kane, and many more! The EP will only be available for one week from Christmas on. Register right now at http://www.alfa-matrix.com/leaether-strip-free-ep/ in order to get your private access to the release!

The complete tracklist for the EP is the following:

1: "It's Who I Am (Spark! remix)"
Remixed by Spark! www.myspace.com/sparkamig
2: "Its who i am (the sick fuck mix)"
Remixed by Jesper Schmidt www.myspace.com/psychopomps
3: "It's who I am (AAAK remix)"
Remixed by AAAK www.myspace.com/asableaskane
4: "It's Who I Am (ADkeY remix)"
Remixed by ADkey www.myspace.com/adkeyprojekt
5: "It's who I am (Bilian remix)"
Remixed by Bilian aka William Ian Jaws www.myspace.com/bilian
6: "It's Who I Am (Fucked Sick remix)"
Remixed by The .H.A.V.O.K. Conspiracy / Kitana_One www.synsynth.net
7: "It's who I am (Astma remix)”
Remixed by Astma www.myspace.com/enecastma
8: "It's Who I Am (aKLEINTJES remix)"
Remixed by aKLEINTJES www.myspace.com/axel.kleintjes
9: "Its who I am" (NordarRR remix)"
Remixed by Nordar www.myspace.com/nordarr
10: "It's Who I Am (A.D.A.C. 8286 remix)"
Remixed by A.D.A.C. 8286 www.myspace.com/adac8286

Leaether Strip recently released the 5th volume in the "Yes I'm Limited" series. This 2CD holds a diversified collection of some 27 exclusive rarities. Included in this double-CD fan box are also 9 early 80's demo songs which were Claus Larsen's first works ever!

Semi Precious Weapons on US Tour with Lady Gaga!

(I am not posting that same damned picture again... Look up previous posts feature SPW if you really need a visual aid. Love, movementNORTH)

“Tranter is like Adam Ant, T.Rex's Marc Bolan and Ziggy Stardust wrapped into one, singing lead on AC/DC's ‘Back In Black’”
– Rolling Stone 2009

“Vocalist Justin Tranter is like the rock star male version of Gaga with better hair and legs…”
– PAPER Magazine 2009

“The glitter-wearing members of this New York City glam rock quartet are all about the semi precious things in life -- hotel parties, champagne, art, and Lady Gaga!”
– SPIN.com 2009

“Semi Precious Weapons split the difference between AC/DC and Queen with fierce frontman Justin Tranter.”
– Boston Globe 2009

Brooklyn rockers, Semi Precious Weapons, are hitting the road with Lady Gaga this December! Stopping in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco for several nights a piece, fans will have many chances to catch the action. Oozing sincerity, frontman Justin Tranter utters lyrics that are both tongue-in-cheek and a sincere expression of his core philosophy. The band received rave reviews on their recent tours with Ladyhawke and rock icons The Sounds, so audiences be prepared for a seductive spectacle that will keep the celebration going long after the stage show ends.

The compelling quartet were voted “Best Band in New York” by readers of The Village Voice. Semi Precious Weapons took a break from their touring agenda to get back into the studio last month. Semi Precious Weapons took a break from their touring agenda to get back into the studio with producer Jack Joseph Puig (The Rolling Stones, Green Day) last month. Stay tuned for more information about their upcoming new record!

Lady Gaga US Tour Dates
12/13: San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12/14: San Francisco, CA @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
12/17: Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl
12/18: Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl
12/19: San Diego, CA @ San Diego Sports Arena
12/21: Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
12/22: Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre L.A. Live
12/23: Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre L.A. Live

Theory of a Deadman Winter Tour

New York, NY – Vancouver’s latest breakthrough rock band Theory of a Deadman will be launching a full headline tour of the U.S. this winter. The tour kicks off on January 18 and wraps up at the end of February. More dates on the tour are being confirmed daily.

“After spending 2009 supporting some amazing bands throughout the U.S. we wanted to start 2010 off with a great headline tour for all our American fans. We’re bringing our friends Halestorm, Adelitas Way and Taking Dawn with us. So, it's gonna be great show that you cannot miss,” says Tyler Connolly, Theory’s frontman.

Tickets for select dates go on sale starting December 5th with the remaining dates on sale December 8th. More dates will be announced and will go on sale at different times.) Special pre-sale tickets will be available via the newly launched fanclub by clicking here: http://tixx1.artistarena.com/theoryofadeadman.

The dates are as follows:
Mon/Jan-18
Minneapolis, MN
First Avenue*
Tue/Jan-19
Chicago, IL
House of Blues
Thu/Jan-21
Big Rapids, MI
Ferris State University
Fri/Jan-22
Toledo, OH
Headliners*
Sun/Jan-24
Milwaukee, WI
Rave*
Mon/Jan-25
Youngstown, OH
Wedgewood
Wed/Jan-27
Allentown, PA
Crocodile Rock *
Fri/Jan-29
Sayreville, NJ
Starland Ballroom
Sat/Jan-30
Baltimore, MD
Bourbon Street Ballroom
Sun/Jan-31
Boston, MA
House of Blues*
Mon/Feb-01
Norfolk, VA
Norva
Wed/Feb-03
Huntsville, AL
Sammy T's
Fri/Feb-05
San Antonio, TX
Scoutbar
Sat/Feb-06
Houston, TX
House of Blues
Mon/Feb-08
Dallas, TX
House of Blues
Tue/Feb-09
Wichita, KS
The Cotillion
Wed/Feb-10
Denver, CO
Ogden Theatre
*= on sale Dec 5

Theory of a Deadman have been enjoying great success in 2009. The band’s latest album, Scars & Souvenirs, was recently RIAA Gold-certified, and is quickly heading towards platinum. Fan favorite “Not Meant To Be” peaked at #3 at Hot AC and was a top 20 hit at Pop. The video, which features American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi, was championed by Fuse and CMT Pure. The first two singles “So Happy” and “Bad Girlfriend” both reached #1 on the Active Rock charts and Top 10 at Modern Rock, with “Hate My Life” peaking at #5 at Active Rock. Scars & Souvenirs is Theory’s best-selling album to date.

Theory of a Deadman are currently on tour in the U.S. as direct support to Daughtry.

Norway's Shining to release ear-crushing new full-length; Their most powerful LP yet "Blackjazz" out January 2010.

their latest dose of extreme experimental jazz-art metal due 01.25.2010 on Indie Recordings

"Shining now pushes deeper into music's dark recesses with Blackjazz, forging a progressive industrial sound for the young century. "
ALARM Magazine

"Shining keep things brief, subtle, tight, and aesthetically on-the-mark"
Pitchfork Media

"Oddly time-signatured jazz rock of the Henry Cow school mixes with electronics, neoclassicism and free jazz in one unholy blizzard of noise."
The WIRE

check out video of them performing "Fisheye" on Norwegian TV HERE

"A Study in Coordinated Whiplash" wrote The New York Times October 2008, after one of SHINING's pounding concerts in Manhattan. It was obvious they were not talking about the neat old-school hair spinning, helicopter era of heavy metal bands in the 90's; rather referring to the ice cold reality of parallel spinal injuries experienced in a sudden and unsuspected impact of a giant trailer car crash from behind. SHINING is the synchronized launch of attacks of a sci-fi drone military army; the devastating effect of all the world's raindrops saving up their potential energy and in one co-ordinated instant hitting Earth's surface all at once: An unstoppable force made out of small bits and pieces - just in the right place at the right time - to make an impact so strong you'd think it could jolt the very Earth out of it's orbit, and spin it on a new doomed path straight on collision course for the Sun .These typical encounters between unsuspecting (and in recent times, more suspecting) audience and the band's no-mercy attitude, are what has put SHINING in the very forefront of experimental extreme music.

After four previous critically acclaimed cult albums, it's become obvious to all, that SHINING have created their own unique musical universe, which fans and journalists alike have competed in trying to name, as yet to no avail. Their 5th album is now complete and their unique universe finally has been given the name it deserves. Aptly titled, "Blackjazz".

Since their debut on a small Norwegian acoustic jazz label in 2001, SHINING has moved on to become one of the most hard-hitting, genre-pushing bands of our generation. Their determination to create new sounds and cross boundaries has only been further stepped up with their latest ear-crushing achievement, to be set free in early 2010. In Autumn 2008, after the intense workload of the now legendary Armageddon Concerto in Molde, Norway (with Norway's Black Metal pioneers Enslaved), SHINING went to work on their what was to become "Blackjazz".

Munkeby himself comments "the compositions were more compact, the arrangements more hard-hitting, and the mood more desperate, sinister, aggressive and violent". To match his vision of combined musical aggressiveness and catchiness, Munkeby teamed up with the perfect accomplice for the ominous Blackjazz mission: With his technical prowess and extensive musical knowledge and experience, renowned producer/engineer Sean Beavan (NIN, Marilyn Manson, Slayer) joined forces to further elevate and intensify the new direction of music. During the two weeks of mixing in Hollywood in September 2009, Munkeby gave this statement on the band's blog: "In Frank Zappa's old house, with Marilyn Manson's old bodyguard dog lying on the floor in the kitchen, the mastermind mixer and producer Sean Beavan is working his dark magic on about an hour of new SHINING music.

Munkeby adds, "...we wanted to further focus the SHINING sound, while making it much more open to a larger audience. We wanted commercial catchiness mixed with the ultimate in aggressiveness. We wanted a living oxymoron: An extreme experimental jazz-metal album that would not sound out of place on an arena stage or a stadium."

Sean Beavan comments on his experience working with Munkeby: "A true Alchemist in a world bereft of magic. SHINING spins Industrial/Punk/Prog/Jazz into a savory golden elixir which leaves you shaken not stirred. 1 Part Foetus, 1 part Crimson, 1 part Ornette Coleman, served chilled by Jørgen's Viking genius. "Skål"!"

As one last Sin Soldier added to the already impressive list of Blackjazz accomplices, Sean Beavan's long time co-schemer Tom Baker (NIN, Marilyn Manson, David Lynch, among others) mastered the album at Precision Mastering in Hollywood, and added obliterating and stinging power to the already punishing mixes, thereby putting the final nail in the coffin. To top it all, Grutle Kjellson (Enslaved) joins in at the end of the album and gives a mind- blowing vocal performance on the devastatingly heavy cover studio version of King Crimson's classic "21st Century Schizoid Man". SHINING's new album Blackjazz goes right in there, along with other classic genre defining albums such as Venom's "Black Metal" and Ornette Coleman's "The Shape of Jazz To Come".

With "Blackjazz" now completed, SHINING moves onto the next phase of their already accomplished mission. A new label and another shift in direction means a whole lot more shock and awe.



www.shining.no
www.myspace.com/SHININGofficial

Frightened Rabbit Announces Release Date For Anticipated Third LP

FRIGHTENED RABBIT RETURNS WITH ACCOMPLISHED NEW ALBUM THE WINTER OF MIXED DRINKS; HIGHLY ANTICIPATED THIRD LP DUE MARCH 9 ON FATCAT RECORDS
LOS ANGELES, December 4, 2009 - From the insistent synth buzz that rings throughout album opener, "Things," to the mechanical onslaught that introduces the six-minute centerpiece, "Skip The Youth," Frightened Rabbit's The Winter Of Mixed Drinks, due March 9, 2010 on FatCat Records, is the band's exploration into new sonic and thematic terrain. Recorded by Scott Hutchison (vocals/guitar), brother Grant Hutchison (drums), Billy Kennedy (guitar) and Andy Monaghan (guitar/bass/keys), the Scottish lads are now bolstered by fifth member Gordon Skene (formerly of Make Model), who has joined the band to facilitate this new material and flesh out the older tunes live.

The fivesome, who are currently breaking in their new member as they crisscross Scotland on tour, will conclude the year with a hometown headlining show in Glasgow following a handful of dates opening for Modest Mouse in the UK and Ireland. They will return to the U.S. for SXSW in March followed by a headline tour and festival appearances.

The anticipated follow-up to their lauded sophomore album, The Midnight Organ Fight, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks comes after nearly two years of incessant touring of both Europe and the States. In April of 2009, frontman Scott Hutchison sought isolation and decamped to the beautiful seaside town of Crail on Scotland's Fife coastline to decompress and write the new record. There, he conjured up lead single, "Swim Until You Can't See Land" which set the course for the theme of the album and inspires the nautical imagery that permeates the album. "'Swim Until You Can't See Land' takes up where we left off and is central to the new record," reveals Scott.

Produced and mixed once again by Peter Katis at Tarquin Studios in Connecticut, and recorded by Stuart Hamilton at Castlesound Studios in Scotland, The Winter Of Mixed Drinks sees the band transistioning from jangly indie-folk to a more expansive sound. The 11-song collection, filled with stunning string arrangements (courtesy of labelmate Hauschka), majestic keys and glitchy electronics, is a more ambitious and confident album than its predecessor. "Most importantly, I'm happier with this record," proclaims Scott. "Sonically, it's closer than ever to the way I've always wanted Frightened Rabbit to sound."

Whereas the heartbreaking dissolution of Scott's longstanding relationship was detailed on the previous album, he took a different approach to the song writing for the follow-up. "I guess there's still a main protagonist in there but I feel like I'm telling a story this time, as opposed to exposing my innards to the listener," says Scott. Thoughout the album he ruminates on mortality, celebrates recpatured freedom and explores the idea conveyed in "Swim Until You Can't See Land: "It's all about losing your mind in order to reset the mind and the body - forget what's gone before and wash it out."

Kindercore's King of Prussia to release "The Time of Great Forgetting" on February 2, 2010!

“King of Prussia is a sextet that dispenses regal, twee-pop with sweet harmonies, ringing guitars and infectious melodies.”— NPR

While it may be easy (before a spin) to dismiss King of Prussia’s new country western mini-EP The Time of Great Forgetting as an attempt at genre-switching “Weenery,” that isn’t what Deaner is talking about. This is a return to the band’s Southern Rock roots—minus, of course, the Marshall half-stacks, sweaty headbands, fingerless-gloved drummer and any aural evidence of “raw guitar prowess.” Ok, fair enough, it may not be a stylistic return to any such roots, but rather a slight figurative/literal return—a reference to the fact that most of the kids who contributed to the EP have played in (more or less) rock bands in the South for a good long while now.

The majority of the players are from Georgia or South Carolina, which are both, inarguably, The South. Now it could be argued that singer and song man, Brandon Hanick, isn’t really from The South. The stucco homes and strip mall sprawl of Dunedin, the singer’s West Central Florida hometown, hardly recall the portraits painted by a Twain or a Williams. But as a child and teenager, Hanick would summer at his mother’s holiday sanctuary—a single-wide mobile home in Istachatta, Fla.—smack dab on the Withlacoochee River. And while Florida is without a doubt the ¨North of the South,¨ Istachatta has a culture that could more easily be linked to that of Old Dixie. Gators—some mythical, others real—skulk the riverbanks in search of prey. The townsfolk have nicknames like J.B. Swamp, Treeman Jim, Roadhog, Lightnin’ Rod Billy, and the late great Alligator Judd. The Natty and/or Busch Light flows like wine, so if one´s going to attend the weekend bonfire, one better bring a gi-tar and his/her best can coozie. The details from this era may be fuzzy, but there’s a decent chance that Hanick probably played his first country tune at one such bonfire.

It’s also likely that Hanick’s departure from the States last year in favor of life in Barcelona gave rise to the nostalgia necessary to release such an “American-sounding” collection of songs. But for all the lonesome desert hawk guitar twang, pickin´ and grinnin´ banjo lines, and saloon-style piano parts, King of Prussia can´t (nor would they want to) completely escape their psychedelic and Brit pop roots. The Time of Great Forgetting, mixed and mastered by Jesse Mangum, producer of Black Kids´ Wizard of Ahhs EP, finds King of Prussia utilizing more organic instrumentation than was featured on its 2008 critically-acclaimed Kindercore Records debut, Save the Scene. However, the band still manages to weave plenty of tasty hooks into its epic tales of hazy nights spent in Reno, trips to abandoned mansions, and what happens when psychic powers fall into the wrong hands.

Home has (never) been forgotten

These days, the cast and crew that make up King of Prussia are scattered like the leaves from an old maple (N. Young, 1992). Hanick has been living in Barcelona for over a year now, with no immediate plans of returning to the States. Nathan Troutman (piano, drums, banjo, harmonica, vocals) has moved back to his hometown of Myrtle Beach, S.C. while Brian Smith (bass, guitars, keys, piano) is holding it down in the band’s former home base of Athens, Ga. Strings are realized through a transatlantic collaboration between Elizabeth Jones in Athens and Mireia Linkmeyer Gabino y Miren Garbiñe De Diego in Barcelona. Live, the band has been playing as a trio on and around the Iberian Peninsula, but the grand plan from The Grand Strand is for more of the American members (and the member who is now living in Pohang, South Korea) to cross whatever ocean they need to cross in order to (re)unite the various lands in which King of Prussia now lives.

"Those with seasonal affective disorder (or really anyone who finds these colder months depressing), will find that a listen to Save The Scene will work as well as sticking your head in a lightbox to up your serotonin production on a grey, snowy day."— Pitchfork

"The Athens, Ga. group's debut release heaps of promise."— Paste Magazine

“Their brief but wholly satisfying seven-song debut, Save the Scene, melds jaunty psychedelic whimsy and literate, orchestrated pop to tremendous effect. A wonderful discovery, and it’s nice to see Kindercore Records reintroducing itself with such accomplished projects.”— Stomp and Stammer