South West post hardcore quartet Hypophora are pleased to reveal their brand new single 'Headlines' that is released this week via Easy Action/Zen Ten Records. Creating hard hitting, catchy and anthemic material, Hypophora bring intricate guitar music back to the mainstream. 'Headlines' is a much darker sound, both musically and lyrically, than the bands previous material, featuring one of the jazziest, yet chilled out middle eights that they’ve ever written.

In the past twelve months the band have supported the likes of He Is Legend, Kurt Travis (ex Dance Gavin Dance) and Allusondrugs at various locations in the UK. In the summer they played slots at UK Tech Metal Fest and Boardmasters Festival and this winter they hit the road again on a headline run to promote their new material.

"'Headlines' is about the realisation that a friend might only be your friend for convenience and circumstance rather than true connection or respect. Upon learning that fact, the song touches on how you’d be forced to then question your entire friendship history, whether or not it was entirely real at all and whether to continue putting effort into keeping it going." explains the band, when talking about the story behind the new single.

Live dates:

October

19th - The Underground, Plymouth (Supporting Sløtface)

21st - Cavern Club, Exeter (Supporting VANT)

28th - Bar Socio, Newquay (Halloween local show)

November

11th - Embers, Carlisle

12th - The Crowndale, Camden

16th - MONO, Falmouth (TBC)

17th - The Underground, Plymouth

19th - Crofter’s Rights, Bristol

26th - New Cross Inn, London (UK Tech Fest: Techabilitation All Dayer)

Music Theories Recordings / Mascot Label Group are thrilled to announce the release of the brand new studio album War Is Over from the award winning cinematic Finnish rockers Von Hertzen Brothers, which will be out on November 3. The chart topping band have had three #1 albums (Stars Aligned, New Day Rising, Love Remains the Same) and another two Top 5 albums (Nine Lives, Approach) in their homeland. This has led to them scooping an Emma Award (The Finnish Grammy) and a Progressive Music ‘Anthem of the Year’ Award as well as nominations and plaudits along the way due to their ability to blend complex arrangements, expansive musical landscapes and surging tension all entwined with gloriously uplifting melodies. It is this sonic exploration that has seen them blaze a trail across Europe since 2006, leading them to play with artists from Foo Fighters, 30 Seconds to Mars, Neil Young, Biffy Clyro, The Wildhearts and ZZ Top to Anathema and Opeth.

War Is Over follows on from 2015’s acclaimed New Day Rising and saw the band take a new approach to their song-writing technique. Brothers Mikko, Kie and Jonne von Hertzen took time to write separately. “Our family has a summer cottage outside Helsinki”, explains Kie. “All three of us would take turns to withdraw and head up there to write music. It’s a beautiful place in the inner Archipelago of the Eastern Sea. It’s where we used to spend our childhood summer’s, so all of us have a deep and personal connection to the place. The main part of composing happens there in total peace and quiet.”

While seeking to build on the bands long standing domestic success, the band has looked to assemble a new team around them globally to help them replicate this internationally. The recent appointments include of both new management & booking agents while also most recently signing a new worldwide deal with Mascot Label Group, home to Joe Bonamassa, Black Stone Cherry, Black Country Communion, Monster Truck, Ayreon & Beth Hart to name but a few.

War Is Over isn’t a concept album, but the War theme does run through key songs. “There is this underlying texture throughout the album, which I see as a huge question mark: ‘what are we as humans doing to preserve a loving and kind world? Why are we fighting every day and blaming others for our problems?’” Mikko remarks before adding there is “anxiety and the constant struggle, so, come and join this movement, let’s not succumb to fear.”

Reflecting the nature and tone of the record, the art work soon followed. A cover was needed to be as plain and simple as possible. “We wanted a Dove of Peace” Kie adds. “Our own Dove of Peace, a VHB Dove of Peace.” So they enlisted the help of Tero Ahonen, an enthusiastic graphic designer and photographer from Helsinki to take over the concept. Listening to the album and its atmosphere, he came up with the mosaic idea and spent a week painstakingly putting together the mosaic design piece by piece to create the wonderful cover.

Upcoming Tour

Nov 5    Rescue Rooms                  Nottingham, UK

Nov 6    Rebellion Rock Bar           Manchester, UK

Nov 7    LEADMILL                            Sheffield, UK

Nov 9    Think Tank?                        Newcastle Upon Tyne

Nov 10  G2                                          Glasgow, UK

Nov 11  Camp HRH                           North Wales, UK

Nov 12  The Fleece                          Bristol, UK

Nov 14  Waterfront Studio           Norwich, UK

Nov 15  Talking Heads                    Southampton, UK

Nov 16  The Garage                         London, UK

Nov 17  Camp HRH                           North Wales, UK

Nov 18  Slade Rooms                      Wolverhampton, UK