Tag: hard rock

Here’s What The Used Had To Say About Their Upcoming Album

Posted on by Matthew Wotherspoon

The Used have officially announced they will be releasing their 8th full length studio album, ‘Heartwork’, on April 24th, after months of anticipation.

As an added bonus for fans, The Used have released the second single from the forthcoming album, “Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton.”

The song carries emotion and imagery unique to the band, and ties in influences from one of front man Bert McCracken’s favourite authors.

“I’ve always been a bit obsessed with Paradise Lost,” shares McCracken.

“I really dug deep into the poem and its author, John Milton. As I was reading a lot of his political essays I realized that a lot of what ’Satan’ says in Paradise Lost are quotes directly from John Milton’s own mouth. A lot of people thought he was the devil back then. He had a huge problem with the show of opulence from the Church. He thought it was disgusting. His poem is about the failed revolution against the Church of England, which is Satan’s failed revolution on earth. And what’s more incredible or exciting than a failed revolution?” 

Fans can pre-save the new album and stream the new single today at theused.ffm.to/heartwork.

‘Heartwork’ marks the return of John Feldmann to The Used family as he is producing the album and also the head of A&R at Big Noise.

“I couldn’t be more honored or grateful to have one of my favorite bands of all time at my record label! They are one of the most influential bands of the last 20 years and we are making a career-defining album at the  minute,” shares Feldmann. “They are one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen and Bert is quite possibly the best singer I’ve ever worked with. This has been a dream of mine since I met them in 2001.”

Feldmann signed The Used to Reprise Records in January 2002, one year after the band formed in Orem, Utah. He also produced some of the band’s most monumental albums including their self-titled debut, ‘Maybe Memories‘, ‘In Love and Death‘, ‘Lies for the Liars‘ , ‘Vulnerable‘ and ‘Imaginary Enemy‘.

According to McCracken,

“The new album plays on the emotions, the sincerity, and the vulnerability of the first record and In Love and Death, with a little bit of the flair from Lies for the Liars.“”Standing in the streaming circle pit with Kesha and Halsey, the album is just as modern sounding. John Feldmann’s production is that professional. It sounds really good. Those are two really random examples, but I think if you listen to both of those records, the songs are all over the place: dance, pop, actual punk rock riffs and drums. I think music is so all over the place right now that The Used fits in perfectly.”

It’s been almost twenty years since The Used blessed the alternative-rock scene with their high energy live shows, gut wrenching relatable lyrics, and melodies that blended pop sensibility and hard rock.

For more information about The Used, go to www.TheUsed.net.

Swanny announces debut single, ‘Sweat Baby Sweat’

Posted on by Matthew Wotherspoon


Before Royal Blood electrified the globe with their thunderous, hard rock tunes, they were but an ominous duo rumbling local bars and recording demos along the east coast of Australia and Great Britain.

As they blemished the walls of pubs and clubs with their sonic grit and broadcasted their brash and bluesy tunes, bassist, Mike Kerr and drummer, Matt Swan found themselves thrusted into the musical spotlight, earning comparisons to early Muse and Led Zeppelin.

It was only after the release of their debut single, “Come On Over” (previously “Leaving”), which saw Matt Swan depart the blues rock duo to embark on his own sonic endeavours. Fast forward to July 2019 and Swanny (Matt Swan) has released his debut single – an absolute hip-swinger of a single entitled, “Sweat Baby Sweat”.

Swanny has said, “Sweat Baby Sweat is simply about letting the good times roll live life to the max – life is one big party. It was written after a long hot Summer’s night of no sleep in Byron Bay in 2018. I had just got home in the early hours of the morning after playing drums at one of Byron Bay’s crazy warehouse parties – I picked up the guitar, cracked another beer and the main riff quickly came to me. I then laid down some drums and Sweat Baby Sweat was born.”

Swanny‘s “Sweat Baby Sweat” drips with his signature tribal and thunderous drumming, while his raw vocals provide a sensory experience reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Kram (Spiderbait). Now that we can grasp what Swanny is like on his lonesome, we can truly hear how he has shaped the sound we know as Royal Blood and how his drumming has effectively helped revive a new era of Rock n Roll.

If you’re a fan of Royal Blood, Kram, Led Zeppelin, Torrential Thrill and everything in between, be sure to get around this tasty jam, it’s definitely worth a listen.

The single saw the light of day on all digital outlets and streaming platforms on Friday July 5th.