Ambur Masen, Author at MendoWerks

New England Metal and Hardcore Fest Returns in September

13Jun

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Events, Features, Music

New England Metal and Hardcore Fest Returns in September

After a five-year pause, the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest is returning to the famous Palladium outdoors venue in Worcester, MA, this year. This is great news for heavy music fans in Massachusetts and surrounding states--prior to its hiatus, this festival was known as the not-to-miss event for metalheads in the area. The festival's founder, Scott Lee, has returned to the planning board to ensure that this experience retains this glorious reputation, and plans to make this year's Fest the best one yet. Lucky for you-- we've got all the details you need to make the most of this festival experience, right here at MendoWerks. Read on to find info about tickets, the line-up, things to do in the area, and more. Welcome to the New England Metal and Hardcore Fest The N...

L.S. Dunes Released an Epic Video for “Grey Veins” + US Summer Tour Dates

11Jun

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Events, Features, Music

L.S. Dunes Released an Epic Video for “Grey Veins” + US Summer Tour Dates

L.S. Dunes, a 2000's emo kid's dream "anti-supergroup," just released a new music video for "Grey Veins," a song from their 2022 debut album, Past Lives. The post-hardcore band's debut was met with critical acclaim--and this music video is another testament to their boundless creativity. Saturated with color, and a fun, satirical cinematic call-outs, this Lego-filled "Grey Veins" video is a must-watch for post-hardcore newcomers and L.S. Dunes fans alike. It's honestly compelling--and the music is pretty great, too. Watch the video for "Grey Veins" by L.S. Dunes on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEoJ2tgQgbk This video appears to have been a family effort-- check the credits; it looks like Frank Iero's kids were involved! Precious. Meet L.S. Dune...

There’s No Need to “RUN&HIDE,” Saint Slumber! [Exclusive Interview]

8Jun

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Interviews, Music

There’s No Need to “RUN&HIDE,” Saint Slumber! [Exclusive Interview]

The 'best band you've never heard of' has finally entered the future; Saint Slumber released their first single of 2023, "RUN&HIDE." After six long months of silence, we were so excited to see this song pop up on our Release Radar--and we were even more excited to have a chance to connect with Joshua Perna, Saint Slumber's vocalist, and chat a little bit about what the band has been up to. Read on and get reacquainted with our favorite New Jersey kings. Check Out "RUN&HIDE" by Saint Slumber on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/18FEyxoHraL8xr1DyYfacA?si=8MWHH8CSRoafia6ECekMJA Real talk: does Saint Slumber "RUN&HIDE" from the winter? Like many northern species, it seems that Saint Slumber tends to hibernate during the winter. This isn't surpr...

Fair Pay at SXSW: Please Pay These Brilliant Brits!!

31May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Fair Pay at SXSW: Please Pay These Brilliant Brits!!

Despite the fact that it’s held in March, SXSW is still on a lot of minds–especially right now. Before I dive into a recap of the incredible artists I saw live in Texas, I want to bring your attention to something important that is happening today: a protest outside of the Penske Media Corporation NYC Offices that is demanding fair pay for artists at SXSW. This protest is led by the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers, and is made up of a coalition of music workers organizations, music industry unions, local organizing groups, and more. Protesters are gathering in front of Penske HQ because the media conglomerate is the festival’s largest stakeholder, as of 2021; after similar protests were held in Austin during SXSW this year, the festival made a pledge to reassess the situatio...

Nick Neutronz Experiments With Two-Sided Single, ‘IDRIVE // AASMR’

30May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Nick Neutronz Experiments With Two-Sided Single, ‘IDRIVE // AASMR’

Legendary underground music producer, Nick Neutronz, is back at it again with his newest release, a two-sided experiment, IDRIVE // AASMR. Drawing influence from both phonk and wave this time, Neutronz created something that's dark, sexy, and even a bit magical. Don't miss out. Stream IDRIVE // AASMR by Nick Neutronz on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/1F89Q2prvnAzlM66c979Zx?si=_9aRJ3ypQcOk4FnEU-INHg This new single sees Nick Neutronz putting a fresh spin on two different genres within one release. The A-side, "IDRIVE," channels more of a groovy, nostalgic phonk sound, whereas the B-side, "AASMR," leans more wavy and melodic. While you can notice the shift from one song into the next, the two songs do end up blending together into one well-curated piece, if yo...

27May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Heavy Music Awards 2023: Winners

Last night, the 17 winners of the UK's Heavy Music Awards 2023 were announced. This year's edition of the event was a record-breaking ordeal (it is the biggest rock awards event in history, after all.) and took place in front of an audience of nearly 5,000 people--fans, artists, and industry personnel alike. The different categories highlight a variety of both emerging and established talent from all across the rock and metal scene. Now, you might be wondering--did your favorites win this year? Let's find out. Heavy Music Awards 2023: Artists Best UK Artist: Sleep Token Listen to the new Sleep Token album: https://open.spotify.com/album/1gjugH97doz3HktiEjx2vY Best UK Breakthrough Artist: As December Falls Get to know As December Falls: ...

Alienblaze & OmenXIII Make Angst Cool Again With “Lovesick”

25May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Alienblaze & OmenXIII Make Angst Cool Again With “Lovesick”

There is something addictive about the (fictional) tortured love affair--otherwise, primetime dramas and bodice rippers wouldn't have much of a market, would they? I mean, c'mon--the angst! The intensity! The rawness of it all! But, sometimes you just don't have the time for a full-length story, like with a TV series or in a novel, yet still crave the *drama*. Boy, do we have some good news for you: the full emotional impact of such an affair is perfectly channeled in "Lovesick," the spellbinding new rap-rock duet by Alienblaze and OmenXIII. This song also represents a point of nostalgia for us--back when emo music was at its delightfully melodramatic prime. If you're looking to escape for a while--or want something to scream along to while you drive with all your windows down--why ...

Within Temptation Release Powerful New Single, “Wireless”

24May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music

Within Temptation Release Powerful New Single, “Wireless”

Within Temptation is marking the start of a new era with the release of a new single, "Wireless." This song is everything one can anticipate from Within Temptation--epic, powerful, and gorgeous--but with a new, fiery edge. This new single also marks the start of the countdown to the release of their upcoming eighth studio album, which is due later this year. Check out "Wireless" by Within Temptation on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lrDoeSxlm0 AI video generated by Adriano Theel In terms of content, "Wireless" deals with the idea of manipulation as power. Specifically, this song depicts some of the sociopolitical issues surrounding war-hungry officials that distort and control the media to their own gain. Speaking on the new single, Within Temptation'...

OMF20xx: Odyssey Music Festival 2023 Lineup Unveiled

21May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Events, Features, Music

OMF20xx: Odyssey Music Festival 2023 Lineup Unveiled

Odyssey Music Festival, based in St. Petersburg, Florida, has unveiled its 2023 lineup at last. Home to The Wave Stage's very own festival stage, OMF20xx has been on our radar for quite some time, as it is one of the only festivals with a space reserved for wave music. Last year, The Wave Stage hosted brilliant artists like barnacle boi and deadcrow at OMF20XX-- Let's see what they have in store for us this time around. Odyssey Music Festival 2023: the full lineup OMF20xx: the details The need-to-know about Odyssey Music Festival 2023 is: This festival takes place on Saturday, July 29th, starting at 2PM. The location for OMF20xx is Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg, Florida. This festival has three different stages--the Rawsome stage, The Odyssey Stage,...

THE HARA Challenge Mental Health Stigma with their Debut Album, ‘SURVIVAL MODE’

16May

By Ambur MasenNo Comments

Features, Music, Reviews

THE HARA Challenge Mental Health Stigma with their Debut Album, ‘SURVIVAL MODE’

"Nobody talks about what it feels like to slowly get out of survival mode.There’s emotional withdrawals, moments of intense confusion, and so much grief that comes with seeing life as it truly is."- Dr. Nicole LePera, PHD Chronic stress takes a toll on us—that’s no secret. Since it’s currently Mental Health Awareness Month here in the United States, and we’ve entered year three of what could be considered mass exposure to a collective, global traumatic stressor, this might be a good time to talk a bit about mental health. As you know, MendoWerks Magazine isn’t run by mental health professionals, so we’re going to do what we do best—we’re going to talk about music. Specifically, we’re going to be digging into SURVIVAL MODE, the highly-anticipated debut album by THE HARA, which was releas...