Atreyu, Real Friends, Cancer Bats added to Slam Dunk 2019 lineup

Atreyu, Real Friends, and the Cancer Bats are just some of the latest additions to the 2019 edition of the Slam Dunk Festival. On Wednesday (Jan. 16), festival organizers took to social media to announce the addition of ten more acts that will make their way to the United Kingdom for the annual, springtime music festival. Milk Teeth, WSTR, Seaway, Pagan, The Word Alive, The Bronx, and Angel Du$t round out the third wave of band announcements.

“Let me tell you this planet Earth – I’m not gonna even pretend to hide how freakin’ pumped we are to be playing a stage packed with all our best homies all day,” say the Cancer Bats in a press statement.

“This lineup is the sickest Space Jam of a Slam Dunk lineup since Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny teamed up to save the universe.”

The Bronx add: “We are super-stoked to be back on the court for Slam Dunk ’19! Make no mistake we are going to f**k shit up.”

The newest additions will join previously announced acts All Time Low, NOFX, New Found Glory, Waterparks, Story of the Year, Gallows, Mad Caddies, Silverstein, Bullet for My Valentine, Simple Plan, Saves the Day, Glassjaw, Knocked Loose, the Get Up Kids, Turnstiles, Tiny Moving Parts, the Menzingers, I Don’t Know How But They Found Me, and Trophy Eyes on the upcoming event’s roster.

Tickets for Slam Dunk Festival 2019 are currently available on the event’s website here.

The weekend-long music festival will take place on Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26. The first day of the festival will take place at its new Leeds home of Temple Newsam Park while the second day will place at Hatfield Park in Hertfordshire.

SLAM DUNK 2019 THIRD WAVE:

Atreyu
Real Friends
Cancer Bats
Milk Teeth
WSTR
Seaway
Pagan
The Word Alive
The Bronx
Angel Du$t

Listen: The Word Alive unleash ‘Misery’

It’s going to be a year since The Word Alive released their last album, but now the band is giving fans something to hold them over until their next studio album. On Thursday (March 9), the Arizona-founded released a surprise new track for their dedicated fan base. The new song is titled “Misery” and can currently be streamed above.

For fans hoping that the new song would mean a brand new album announcement may be on the horizon, they may need to wait a little longer. According to frontman Telle Smith, “Misery” is supposed to be a bridge connecting Dark Matter and the new tunes they are currently in the process of writing. “We wanted to bridge the gap between our newest album, Dark Matter, and the writing process of what will become our fifth studio album,” Smith explained.

“It’s incredible to know the exact direction we will be exploring with our next record before writing even one song. After Warped Tour, it was clear that we had something special with our newer material, especially songs like ‘Trapped,’ ‘Made This Way,’ and ‘Dreamer.’ We wanted to morph those songs into something that would be an extension of those three songs in particular. Heavy, ambient, ominous at times, and much more personal than our previous material.”

While Smith didn’t give any further information on what the status is of those new songs they are writing, it could mean that fans are one step closer to hearing new material. The release of “Misery” comes several months after drummer Luke Holland announced his departure. Holland unveiled the new back in November of 2016, but did tell fans that he would stick with the band until the end of their “Overdose” tour.

Currently, The Word Alive is on tour supporting Asking Alexandria on their European tour.

The Word Alive announces departure of drummer

A week before their final tour of 2016 is set to kick off, The Word Alive has unveiled some heartbreaking news to fans. On Thursday (Nov. 3), the Arizona-founded band announced that drummer Luke Holland would be departing the lineup. Instead of his departure being effective immediately, it was announced that Holland would stay with the band until the end of their “Overdose” tour. Taking to their Facebook page, the band unveiled the news that after five years behind the TWA drum kit, Holland has decided to “explore other musical endeavors and pursue passions outside of The Word Alive”

While the musician’s departure isn’t set to officially happen for another month, the group also state that they wanted the fans to know before the tour kicked off in order for them to “celebrate this chapter coming to an end” and not be blindsided at the beginning of 2017. Holland spoke with Alternative Press shortly after the post was uploaded onto the band’s social media account. “I don’t have anything in particular lined up, but I do want to focus even more on my craft and get back to what gave me a fan base in the first place, which was YouTube,” the musician told the publication. “I have a lot of respect for my fans and know that they are the reason I’m not just a man who loves drumming, but rather a man who gets to make a career out of it. I am open to any gig offers currently, but am not in a rush by any means.”

The group’s full letter addressing Holland’s soon departure can currently be seen here. As for the upcoming tour, the “Overdose” tour is set to kick off on Nov. 11 at the Hawthorne Theater in Portland, OR and wrap up on Dec. 18 at the Nile Theater in the band’s home state of Arizona. The Overdose tour is in support of the band’s recently released record, Dark Matter. The complete tour itinerary can be seen below while tickets are currently available on the band’s website.

OVERDOSE TOUR DATES:

Nov. 11 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater

Nov. 12 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

Nov. 13 – Spokane, WA @ The Big Dipper

Nov. 15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

Nov. 16 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

Nov. 18 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium

Nov. 19 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze

Nov. 20 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s

Nov. 21 – Palatine, IL @ Durty Nellie’s

Nov. 22 – Columbus, OH @ Park Street Station

Nov. 23 – London, Ontario @ Rum Runners

Nov. 24 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Brass Monkey

Nov. 25 – Montreal, Quebec @ La Tulipe

Nov. 26 – Quebec City, Quebec @ Salle Multi

Nov. 27 – Pawtucket, RI @ The Met

Nov. 29 – Amityville, NY @ Revolution Bar and Music Hall

Nov. 30 – Howell, NJ @ GameChangerWorld

Dec. 1 – Morgantown, WV @ Mainstage

Dec. 2 – Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club

Dec. 3 – Reading, PA @ Reverb

Dec. 4 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend

Dec. 6 – Lake Park, FL @ Kelsey Theater

Dec. 7 – Orlando, FL @ The Social

Dec. 8 – Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall

Dec. 9 – Knoxville, TN @ The International

Dec. 10 – Nashville, TN @ Rocketown

Dec. 11 – Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco

Dec. 13 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar

Dec. 14 – Dallas, TX @ The Door

Dec. 18 – Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater

Islander announces winter “Overdose” tour

Islander’s 2016 has been a massive one for the South Carolina-founded band. The new year saw the four-piece release a brand new album with a brand new lineup which was met with a lot of praises from music publications such as Metal Hammer, Substream, and Alternative Press. Now that 2016 is coming to an end, the band has unveiled exactly how they plan to wrap up their busy year. On Tuesday (Sept. 27), Islander announced plans to hit the road for a winter tour. The excursion will be called the “Overdose” tour and is set to hit North American venues throughout November and December.

The tour which will feature support from The Word Alive, Volumes, and Invent Animate, will kick off on Nov. 11 at the Hawthorne Theater in Portland OR. After being on the road for over a month and a half, the trek will conclude on Dec. 18 at the Nile Theater in Mesa, AZ. “This is going to be one fun tour. Rad bands, rocking cities and hoodie weather, need I say more?” Islander vocalist Mikey Carvajal said in a press release.

The “Overdose” tour will be in support of Islander’s recently released record, Power Under Control. The album, the group’s sophomore effort, was released back in August through Victory Records. Before embarking on their winter adventures, Islander is in the process of finishing up their current tour. The “Make Pizza Great Again” tour which is set to wrap up on Oct. 19 at the New Brookland Tavern in West Columbia, SC. The tour features Islander sharing the stage with Palaye Royale and Bad Seed Rising. The complete list of upcoming Islander tour dates can be seen below.

MAKE PIZZA GREAT AGAIN TOUR:

Sept. 28 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Varsity Theatre

Sept. 29 – Fayetteville, AR @ Nomad’s

Sept. 30 – Nashville, TN @ 12th and Porter

Oct. 1 – Mobile, AL @ Downtown Mobile (Ten Sixty Five Festival)

Oct. 4 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theatre

Oct. 5 – Madison, WI @ Red Zone

Oct. 6 – Arlington Heights, IL @ Home Bar

Oct. 7 – Crest Hill, IL @ Bada Brew

Oct. 8 – Chippewa Falls, WI @ Every Buddy’s Bar

Oct. 9 – Louisville, KY @ New Vintage (No Palaye Royale)

Oct. 11 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Diesel Club (No Palaye Royale)

Oct. 12 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club (No Palaye Royale)

Oct. 13 – Johnson City, TN @ Capone’s (No Palaye Royale)

Oct. 14 – Jacksonville, SC @ Hooligan’s (No Palaye Royale)

Oct. 16 – Stanhope, NJ @ Stanhope House (No Palaye Royale)

Oct. 18 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundtsage (No Palaye Royale)

Oct. 19 – West Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern (No Palaye Royale)

OVERDOSE TOUR DATES:

Nov. 11 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater

Nov. 12 – Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

Nov. 13 – Spokane, WA @ The Big Dipper

Nov. 15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex

Nov. 16 – Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

Nov. 18 – Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium

Nov. 19 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Cabooze

Nov. 20 – Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s

Nov. 21 – Palatine, IL @ Durty Nellie’s

Nov. 22 – Columbus, OH @ Park Street Station

Nov. 23 – London, Ontario @ Rum Runners

Nov. 24 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Brass Monkey

Nov. 25 – Montreal, Quebec @ La Tulipe

Nov. 26 – Quebec City, Quebec @ Salle Multi

Nov. 27 – Pawtucket, RI @ The Met

Nov. 29 – Amityville, NY @ Revolution Bar and Music Hall

Nov. 30 – Howell, NJ @ GameChangerWorld

Dec. 1 – Morgantown, WV @ Mainstage

Dec. 2 – Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club

Dec. 3 – Reading, PA @ Reverb

Dec. 4 – Charlotte, NC @ Amos Southend

Dec. 6 – Lake Park, FL @ Kelsey Theater

Dec. 7 – Orlando, FL @ The Social

Dec. 8 – Jacksonville, FL @ 1904 Music Hall

Dec. 9 – Knoxville, TN @ The International

Dec. 10 – Nashville, TN @ Rocketown

Dec. 11 – Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco

Dec. 13 – Houston, TX @ Scout Bar

Dec. 14 – Dallas, TX @ The Door

Dec. 18 – Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater

Houston Open Air Festival to launch in September

A couple of months after announcing the launch of the Chicago Open Air music festival, festival organizers have unveiled that the fest will be getting a sister location. On Monday (May 16), the people behind the World’ s Loudest Month concert series announced that they will be launching the Houston Open Air music festival in September. During the announcement, it was confirmed that acts like Avenged Sevenfold, Pierce the Veil, Of Mice & Men, Alice in Chains, The Word Alive, and more would make their way to the Lone Star State at the end of September.

Heading to the NRG Park in Houston during the weekend of Sept. 24-25 will also be Deftones, Slayer, Chevelle, The Cult, Ministry, Alter Bridge, Ghost, Anthrax, HELLYEAH, Avatar, letlive., and many more. For those who are interested in attending, early bird tickets for the two-day event will begin this Tuesday, May 17, at noon CDT. A limited amount of tickets will be available for $89.50 or $99.50, while supplies last. Those wanting to spend the complete weekend at the show will be able to purchase weekend passes for $234.50. If you are not able to obtain early bird tickets, then general admission tickets will go on sale beginning this Friday, May 20, at noon CDT. The full lineup can be seen below.

In addition to the list of rocking artists heading to Houston, festival organizers have also unveiled that  a portion of the proceeds will be donated Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund to assist with recent flooding in the Houston area.  The Greater Houston Storm Relief Fund was established by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner to accept flood relief donations that will stay in the Houston community and aid the victims of the recent storms. If you cannot attend or want to donate directly, you can visit the website here.

Watch The Word Alive’s video for ‘Trapped’

It’s been a week since The Word Alive released their fourth studio album, Dark Matter. On Thursday (March 24), the group released the music video for their lead single, “Trapped.” Like the song, which frontman Telle Smith revealed back in January was about what’s it’s like to be confined to your vices, the protagonist of the clip is going through his own issues.

The music video premiered exclusively through Billboard and in conjunction with its released, Smith spoke to the publication about why this video might be his favorite to date. “While filming the music video for ‘Trapped’ with director Marcus Eden we knew instantly that it would be our favorite video to date. It’s able to capture a depth to our band and the meaning behind the song in a way we’ve never accomplished before,” explains Smith.

“‘Trapped’ is about the inescapability of our overthinking and progress-restricting behavior. We all have something we struggle with internally, and sometimes we have to realize our mind can be a strange dark place, and our own worst enemy.”

Watch the music video for “Trapped” below.

“Trapped” is the lead single off of the band’s recently released album, Dark Matter. In the same interview, smith shed some light about the record and how it came to be and how it expresses who they are at the moment.

“Dark Matter is the result of our most in-depth writing and recording session we’ve done, and is something we consider to be our most dynamic and expansive album to date. This record completely defines and expresses who we are, and where we are going, taking the listener to the darkest and most honest places our band has dared to venture.”

The Word Alive just finished wrapping up their “Dark Matter North American Tour” earlier this month. Earlier this week, it was announced that they will be hitting the road this summer as one of the many bands on the 2016 Vans Warped Tour.

Stream The Word Alive’s New Song, “Trapped”

Less than a month after announcing plans to release a brand new album in the spring of 2016, The Word Alive have dropped the first song off the album. On Friday (Jan. 8), the Arizona-based band premiered the first single off of their fourth studio album. The song is titled “Trapped,” the same track that was played in the trailer for the new album. According to a statement from frontman Telle Smith, the song will hit a chord with listeners who knows what it’s like to be confined to their vices or know someone who’s got that issue and what it’s like to detach yourself from it.

“If you know what it’s like to feel confined to your vices or someone who is, you’ll feel the intensity of’ ‘Trapped.’ Whether your fix is drugs, alcohol, sex, or physiological insecurities, we all have something that can hold us back. ‘Trapped’ is about that feeling, and trying to crawl out of the hole that can be our heads.”

Listen to “Trapped” below.

The Word Alive’s impending record, Dark Matter, is scheduled to be released on March 18 through Fearless Records. In support of the upcoming album, the band will be hitting the road for the “Dark Matter North American Tour” with Fit For a King, Out Came the Wolves, and a special unannounced guest. The trek will begin on Feb. 19, 2016 at the Soma in San Diego, CA and wrap up a month later on March 20, 2016 at the ninth annual So What?! Music Festival in Grand Prairie, TX . The complete list of tour dates can be seen here.

Dark Matter is the follow-up to The Word Alive’s 2014 release, Real.

The Word Alive to Release New Album, Tour in Early 2016

If you’re a fan of The Word Alive, then boy do we have good news for you. On Friday (Dec. 18), the Arizona-based band revealed that they will be releasing their fourth studio album in the new year. The record will be titled Dark Matter and is set to be released on March 18, 2016 through Fearless Records.

Pre-orders for the new album are currently available on the band’s website. The news of the new album comes a month after frontman Telle Smith broke a rib, fractured another one, and broke a bone in his spine while stage diving at a show during their tour with Motionless in White and The Devil Wears Prada.

Pre-orders for Dark Matter are currently available on the band’s website. The trailer for the new record can be seen below which also features a snippet of a new song titled “Trapped.”

In addition to the new album news and the snippet of the new song, the band also revealed that they will be hitting the road in the new year in support of the new material. The “Dark Matter North American Tour” will kick off on Feb. 19, 2016 at the Soma in San Diego, CA and wrap up a month later on March 20, 2016 at the ninth annual So What?! Music Festival in Grand Prairie, TX .

Fit for a King and Out Came the Wolves will support The Word Alive during the upcoming trek. According to the official tour poster, which can be seen below, a special guest will also be unveiled in early 2016. Anyone wants to guess who will be joining The Word Alive as a special guest on their upcoming tour? (We don’t know either, so don’t worry.)

The Word Alive Frontman Breaks Ribs Following Stage Dive

We all know that musicians, especially those in bands, get a little too into their shows. We’ve seen our fair share of musicians taking to social media to reveal that they managed to hurt themselves several time in some shape, way, or form during a tour. During their stop in Pomona, CA on Motionless In White and Devil Wears Prada’s co-headlining “Apollo X Tour,” The Word Alive’s Telle Smith definitely took the cake when it came to injuries during a show.

According to social media posts by both the band and Smith himself, he stage dove which resulted in a broken rib, another rib was fractured, and a bone in his spine was broken. But while most bands will think about cancelling the rest of their tour due to the major injuries, The Word Alive kept on going. Let’s put this in perspective: The injury happened on Nov. 14 and today (Nov. 19), the incident reached the web.

Talk about dedication.

Check out some tweets from Smith, and the band, below about what happened that night in Pomona as well as a fan shot video of that night. No word on whether the video shows what exactly led to Smith’s injuries.

I think I tied the record for worst show injury… 1 broken rib, 1 fractured rib and a broken back. Went a little TOO big in Pomona! #fml

— Telle Smith (@TelleTWA) November 19, 2015

I have a brace to help me finish out the last shows we have. But I won't be going crazy so you'll have to do that for me. RIP stage dives…

— Telle Smith (@TelleTWA) November 19, 2015

For those asking, recovery time is estimated at 3-4 months so I'll be back at it hard in 2016!! Backflips included once I'm 100%🤘🏼

— Telle Smith (@TelleTWA) November 19, 2015

WE WILL NOT BE MISSING ANY SHOWS DUE TO @TelleTWA BREAKING HIS BACK! But we WILL need you to bring enough energy to make up for it! m/

— THE WORD ALIVE (@TheWordAlive) November 19, 2015

Currently, there is only one day left on the Apollo X Tour, tomorrow (Nov. 20) night’s stop at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis, MN.

Motionless in White and The Devil Wears Prada to Co-Headline Winter Tour

Motionless in White is going to close out 2015 the same way they opened up the new year; by heading out on tour.

Earlier today, the Pennsylvania band announced they will be hitting the road this winter for another headlining tour. This time around, they will be co-headliners alongside The Devil Wears Prada. The Word Alive, Upon A Burning Body, and the Color Morale will act as special guests/supporting bands for the month-long tour. The Word Alive will not perform during the first two shows of the tour while The Devil Wears Prada will not perform at one of the tour stops; Allentown, PA at Crocodile Rock.

“The Apollo X Tour” will kick-off on Oct. 17 at The Paramount in Huntington, NY and wrap up on Nov. 20 at Mill City Nights in Minneapolis, MN. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Sept. 11, at 10:00 a.m. local time. The complete list of tour dates, as well as the official poster for the tour, can be seen below.

APOLLO X TOUR feat. MOTIONLESS IN WHITE and THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA:

Oct. 17 – Huntington, NY  @ The Paramount (no TWA)
Oct. 18 – Clifton Park, NY @ Upstate Concert Hall (no TWA)
Oct. 19 – Boston, MA @ House of Blues
Oct. 20 – Montreal, QC @ Paradox Theatre
Oct. 21 – London, ON @ London Music Hall
Oct. 23 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
Oct. 24 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Ballroom
Oct. 25 – Detroit, MI @ The Fillmore
Oct. 26 – Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
Oct. 28 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Oct. 29 – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s
Oct. 31 – Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock (no TDWP)
Nov. 1 – Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Nov. 3 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
Nov. 4 – Charlotte, NC @ Amo’s Southend
Nov. 5 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
Nov. 6 – Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues
Nov. 7 – Orlando, FL @ The Beacham
Nov. 8 – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz
Nov. 10 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues
Nov. 11 – San Antonio, TX @ Alamo City Music Hall
Nov. 13 – Phoenix, AZ @ Club Red
Nov. 14 – Pomona, CA @ Fox Theater
Nov. 15 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
Nov. 16 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex
Nov. 18 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Nov. 20 – Minneapolis, MN @ Mill City Nights

Motionless in White just wrapped up their gig playing supporting act on Slipknot’s “Summer’s Last Stand Tour” a couple of weeks ago while the Devil Wears Prada just released their new EP, Space, back in August.