Following a run of dates in Europe and the UK, Canadian heavy music artist Devin Townsend will bring his ‘Empath’ tour to North America in Feb 2020. Joining the tour are InsideOutMusic label mates Haken, who will be reprising their run as support on the European leg, along with American progressive metal band The Contortionist. The tour kicks off Feb 27th in Toronto and concludes March 25th in San Francisco. Haken and Contortionist will alternate as main support. Devin Townsend released his critically acclaimed album ‘EMPATH’ in March of this year.
27-Feb Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON 28-Feb Corona Theatre – Montreal, QC 29-Feb Warsaw – Brooklyn, NY 01-Mar Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA 03-Mar Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA 05-Mar The Underground – Charlotte, NC 06-Mar Center Stage – Atlanta, GA 07-Mar The Plaza Live – Orlando, FL 09-Mar Warehouse Live – Houston, TX 10-Mar Granada Theater – Dallas, TX 12-Mar Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN 13-Mar The Crofoot Ballroom – Pontiac, MI 14-Mar Metro – Chicago, IL 15-Mar House of Blues – Cleveland, OH 16-Mar Rams Head Live – Baltimore, MD 19-Mar First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 20-Mar Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS 21-Mar The Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 23-Mar The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ 24-Mar The Mayan – Los Angeles, CA 25-Mar The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
‘EMPATH’ is out now on Limited 2 CD Digipak in O-Card (including an entire disc of bonus material), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 180G 2LP Vinyl + CD + LP-booklet & as digital album. Order now here: https://devin-townsend.lnk.to/Empath
Devin recently released the animated video for the track “Why?” from ‘Empath’ which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/fT-uWOVP5q0
Acclaimed for his work as a founding member of prog metal standouts Haken, as well as Nova Collective, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, and as a Strandberg Guitars associate artist, Richard Henshall has released his debut solo album, ‘The Cocoon’ today!
‘”Henshall has composed material which will not only find common ground with his established followers from his past efforts with Haken and Nova Collective, but also bring in new fans with the more varied sound palate.” – The Prog Report
“Haken fans will definitely love it, but I think other prog fans will, too.” – The Prog Mind
“This album defines the musical and creative identity of one of the most talented composers in prog today.” – World Prog Nation
Consisting of tracks that range from dense polyrhythmic passages to delicate minimalistic interludes and everything in between, ‘The Cocoon’ features Henshall’s trademark guitar and keyboard playing throughout, and marks his debut performance as a lead vocalist.
The multi-layered, richly textured and often heart wrenching album, represents four years of creative input from Henshall and draws inspiration from artists such as Bon Iver, Meshuggah, Squarepusher and Tigran Hamasyan, which has resulted in, arguably, his most ambitious and eclectic work to date.
Completing the lineup for the release are Conner Green (Haken) on bass and Matthew Lynch (Cynic and Nova Collective) on drums. “Conner and Matt never cease to astound me with what they can achieve on their instruments. They both have a fresh, unique approach to playing, which has really breathed new life into the music on ‘The Cocoon’. They really outdid themselves on this record”
The album also features a stellar cast of guests including Jordan Rudess, Marco Sfogli, David Maxim Micic, Jazz saxophonist Adam Carrillo and Bent Knee’s Ben Levin, Jessica Kion and Chris Baum
Acclaimed for his work as a founding member of prog metal standouts Haken, as well as Nova Collective, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, and as a Strandberg Guitars associate artist, Richard Henshall is now prepared to release his debut solo album, ‘The Cocoon’. The album will be released on July 26th.
The first single “Twisted Shadows” was premiered earlier today on Prog. Check it out here:
Henshall says this about the track: “Twisted Shadows was born from some late night improvisations at my piano. I started playing an infectious groove-based idea which I later developed into a full band arrangement. The music is sparked by the quirkier and more atonal side of my sound, alongside some darker and heavier influences, with the likes of Prince, Frank Zappa, Dear Hunter and Meshuggah being primary sources of inspiration. I’ve celebrated the contrasting elements within the music and consciously pushed them in opposing directions, to give the song a strong sense of juxtaposition. Recording lead vocals was a little daunting at first but ultimately became an extremely enjoyable and rewarding process. The lyrics in this track help develop an overarching concept that ties the album together.
“Conner Green and Matt Lynch have done an amazing job of locking down the rhythm section which is the key element driving this song. I’m also extremely honoured to have my good friends Jordan Rudess and Ross Jennings as guest musicians on this track; they really helped bring the music to life with their incredible performances. Last but not least, Simon Grove did a stellar job of tying everything together with his killer mix and master.”
Consisting of tracks that range from dense polyrhythmic passages to delicate minimalistic interludes and everything in between, ‘The Cocoon’ features Henshall’s trademark guitar and keyboard playing throughout, and marks his debut performance as a lead vocalist.
The multi-layered, richly textured and often heart wrenching album, represents four years of creative input from Henshall and draws inspiration from artists such as Bon Iver, Meshuggah, Squarepusher and Tigran Hamasyan, which has resulted in, arguably, his most ambitious and eclectic work to date.
Completing the lineup for the release are Conner Green (Haken) on bass and Matthew Lynch (Cynic and Nova Collective) on drums. “Conner and Matt never cease to astound me with what they can achieve on their instruments. They both have a fresh, unique approach to playing, which has really breathed new life into the music on ‘The Cocoon’. They really outdid themselves on this record”.
The album also features a stellar cast of guests including Jordan Rudess, Marco Sfogli, David Maxim Micic, Jazz saxophonist Adam Carrillo and Bent Knee’s Ben Levin, Jessica Kion and Chris Baum
Boston-based art-rock band Bent Kneeare about to embark on a full European tour alongside label-mates HAKEN, and to celebrate they are launching a brilliant new video for the track ‘Boxes’, taken from their most recent album ‘Land Animal’. Watch the video now here:
The band comment: “When memory becomes tainted, what remains of the self? Boxes focuses on our collective fear of dementia — how we cling to our fading, distorted memories as we age. When filmmaker Brett McLoughlin approached the band about directing a video for the song, we jumped on the chance to bring a visual representation of the track to life. His team did a spectacular job. The result is a haunting, melancholic dreamscape that marries beautifully to the music.”
The European tour with Haken begins this Friday 15th February in Manchester, UK and for this run they are also joined by Danish proggers VOLA. This will mark the Bent Knee’s first visit to many countries and cities, and you can find the full list of dates below.
HAKEN with VOLA & BENT KNEE *Bent Knee replaced with Ben Levin Group 15.02.19 MANCHESTER (UK) Academy 3 16.02.19 GLASGOW (UK) St. Luke’s 17.02.19 BRISTOL (UK) The Fleece 19.02.19 COLOGNE (DE) Essigfabrik 20.02.19 FRANKFURT (DE) Batschkapp 21.02.19 HAMBURG (DE) Ubel & Gefahrlich 22.02.19 COPENHAGEN (DK) Lille Vega 23.02.19 OSLO (NO) John Dee 24.02.19 STOCKHOLM (SE) Debaser Strand 26.02.19 BERLIN (DE) Columbia Theater 27.02.19 KRAKOW (PL) Kwadrat 28.02.19 BUDAPEST (HU) A38 02.03.19 VIENNA (AT) Szene 03.03.19 PRAGUE (CZ) Futurum 04.03.19 LEIPZIG (DE) Conne Island 06.03.19 STUTTGART (DE) Im Wizemann 07.03.19 MUNICH (DE) Backstage Halle* 08.03.19 AARAU (CH) Kiff* 09.03.19 MILAN (IT) Magazzini Generali* 10.03.19 LYON (FR) Transbordeur* 12.03.19 MADRID (ES) Mon Live 13.03.19 BILBAO (ES) Kafe Antzokia 14.03.19 PARIS (FR) La Maroquinerie 15.03.19 ZOETERMEER (NL) De Boerderij 16.03.19 LONDON (UK) Islington Assembly Hall
Bent Knee formed in Boston in 2009 as a democratic collective determined to push the boundaries of pop and rock, combing myriad influences into a seamless, thrilling whole. Lead singer and keyboardist Courtney Swain’s soaring vocals are instantly arresting. Guitarist Ben Levin is one of the most dynamic and versatile guitarists around, shifting between the raging and raucous to the sublime and meditative. Bassist Jessica Kion and drummer Gavin Wallace-Ailsworth combine into an enthralling rhythm section that’s equal parts powerhouse and nuance. Chris Baum’s kinetic violin work provides drama, grace and intrigue. World-class producer and live sound designer Vince Welch weaves it all together with a captivating, expert touch. Fiercely innovative, the group bridges the gap between the experimental and the familiar, merging texture and style into music that’s moving, addictive, and unapologetically original. The band has gone from strength to strength in recent years. Their last three albums, 2017’s Land Animal, 2016’s Say So and 2014’s Shiny Eyed Babies, were hailed as significant art-rock achievements, and the band continues to be garnished with praise for their live show, performing hundreds of concerts worldwide to date.
Watch the band perform the track ‘Holy Ghost’ live here:
“Mind boggling… the grandest and subtlest ideas are on the table” –NPR “The silo-smashing Bent Knee’s unique mix is equal parts ingenuity and deliciousness” – The Wall Street Journal “Bent Knee breaks new stylistic and temperamental ground” – The Boston Globe
HAKEN, one of progressive music’s most exciting bands, released their fifth studio album titled ‘Vector’ recently. The album was produced by the band themselves, and recorded & mixed by Adam ‘Nolly’ Getgood (Periphery, Devin Townsend Project), with the artwork once again being handled by Blacklake.
The album has been met with amazing reactions, and has even charted in several countries.
Find the full list below:
#22 – German Album Charts
#24 – Swiss Album Charts
#37 – Austrian Album Charts
#3 – UK Rock Album Charts
#4 – US Billboard New Artist Album Charts
#72 – US Billboard Current Album Charts
#91 – US Billboard Overall Album Charts
Find some of the media reactions below:
“heart-stopping hails of metallic riff bullets, dizzying instrumental and rhythmic complexity, alongside an intriguing lyrical tale.” – Prog Magazine
“Bewildering, impressive and satisfying, all at the same time.” – The Prog Report
“one of the more exciting and engaging prog albums put out so far this year.” – Metal Wani
The band have also announced a vinyl live release titled ‘L+1VE’ for 7thDecember 2018, which sees the four tracks that were originally only available as a bonus on the DVD, now available on a single LP + CD. Pre-order now here: https://haken.lnk.to/L1VE
The track-listing is as follows:
1. Falling Back to Earth
2. Pareidolia
3. Earthrise
4. Crystallised
HAKEN are in the midst of a North American co-headline tour alongside Leprous, with label-mates Bent Knee along for the ride too.
The band comments: “We are 1 week in to the tour now and thrilled how the US and Canada have welcomed us and our new material with open arms yet again. It is incredible to see how many people already know all the lyrics to songs that are only about 10 days old! With a handful of sold-out shows already under our belt, this Bent Knee/Leprous/Haken tour package is proving to be a hot ticket.”
Find the full list of upcoming dates below:
Haken & Leprous with Bent Knee:
November – 9th Revolution, Fort Lauderdale, FL
November 10th – The Plaza Live, Orlando, FL
November 11th – Variety Playhouse, Atlanta, GA
November 13th – Gas Monkey, Dallas, TX
November 14th – Barracuda, Austin, TX
November 16th – Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix, AZ
November 17th – Glasshouse, Pomona, CA
November 18th – August Hall, San Francisco, CA
November 19th – Hawthorne Theatre, Portland, OR
November 20th – The Crocodile, Seattle, WA
November 21st – Rickshaw Theater, Vancouver, BC
November 23rd – Metro Music Hall, Salt Lake City, UT
November 24th – Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO
November 25th – Granada Theater, Lawrence, KS
November 26th – Delmar Hall, St Louis, MO
November 27th – Exit/In, Nashville, TN
November 29th – Rex Theater, Pittsburgh, PA
November 30th – Beachland Ballroom, Cleveland, OH
December 1st – Bottom Lounge, Chicago, IL
Latin America 2019
26th January – Teatro Teleton, Santiago, Chile
27th January – Groove, Buenos Aires, Argentina
29th January – Caricoa Club, Sao Paolo, Brazil
30th January – Auditorio Centro De La Amistad Peruano China, Lima, Peru
1st February – Lunar, Mexico City, Mexico
Europe 2019
15th February – Academy 3, Manchester, UK
16th February – St Luke’s, Glasgow, UK
17th February – The Fleece, Bristol, UK
19th February – Essigfabrik, Cologne, Germany
20th February – Batschkapp, Frankfurt, Germany
21st February – Übel & Gefährlich, Hamburg, Germany
22nd February – Lille Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
23rd February – John Dee, Oslo, Norway
24th February – Debaser Strand, Stockholm, Sweden
26th February – Columbia Theater, Berlin, Germany
27th February – Kwadrat, Krakow, Poland
28th February – A38, Budapest, Hungary
2nd March – Szene, Vienna, Austria
3rd March – Futurum, Prague, Czech Republic
4th March – Conne Island, Leipzig, Germany
6th March – Im Wizemann, Stuttgart, Germany
7th March – Backstage Halle, Munich, Germany
8th March – Kiff, Aarau, Switzerland
9th March – Magazzini Generali, Milan, Italy
10th March – Transbordeur, Lyon, France
12th March – Mon Live, Madrid, Spain
13th March – Kafe Antzokia, Bilbao, Spain
14th March – La Maroquinerie, Paris, France
15th March – De Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands
16th March – Islington Assembly Hall, London, UK
23rd March – Tavastia, Helsinki, Finland
‘Vector’ is available as Limited edition 2CD Mediabook (including instrumental versions of the album tracks), as Gatefold vinyl 2LP + CD, as Standard CD Jewelcase & as digital download.
Order now here: www.insideoutmusicshop.com
Watch promo videos for 3 singles taken from the album below:
Since their inception in 2007, Haken have shown over four previous studio albums, one EP and a live release that they never stand still, merely satisfied to rely on past triumphs. Rather, Haken always look for ways to challenge themselves as musicians and artists, and also to keep the listeners on their collective toes. “We don’t like to make simple music,” laughs vocalist Ross Jennings. “We always aim to defy expectations, and I believe we’ve surpassed what we aimed to achieve with our new album.”
HAKEN are:
Ross Jenning
Richard Henshall
Charlie Griffiths
Diego Tejeida
Conner Green
Ray Hearne
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