The Chicago-based duo [melter], comprised of Jax Allos and Robert Hyman, has unveiled its latest video, “Catwalk”, a visual representation of personal torment. The release follows their July single, “blacklist”, and marks the continuation of a busy year that includes a recent tour with Hemlock for Socrates and the launch of their “Imperfect Waves Remix” EP.

[melter] is now preparing for the upcoming Imperfect Waves Tour across the US East Coast.

Initially, vocalist and lyricist Jax Allos hadn’t intended to address the heavy subject of suicide in “Catwalk” publicly. However, with the release coinciding with National Suicide Prevention Month, Jax decided to share more about the song’s origins: “What really helped me in that moment was writing down my thoughts and feelings, and eventually I crafted those into lyrics. [melter] entered my life at a pivotal time. ‘Catwalk’ was the first [melter] song I wrote lyrics for, and what started as a very difficult, challenging subject ultimately became a positive experience.[melter] made me feel welcome and really helped me find my voice. It has allowed me to reconnect with those aspects of my life that I needed so badly and, in its way, it saved my life.”

Known for blending industrial, dark alternative rock, punk, and noise, [melter] shifts their sound in “Catwalk” towards a moodier, post-punk style, reminiscent of The Cure’s albums “Pornography” and “Disintegration”. Drummer and multi-instrumentalist Rob Hyman from his side says this: “highlights the unique musical approach, describing the track as ambient, driven by piano sounds and a heavy, rumbling rhythm.“Within our repertoire, ‘Catwalk’ has an ambient feel – it’s dreamier and more abstract. The music for ‘Catwalk’ excited me. The rhythmic track is built off of piano sounds, believe it or not, and it has this overwhelming rumble to it that I really wanted to hear blasted over a PA at high volume.”

The video for “Catwalk” was entirely self-produced by the duo during a break between tours. Hyman envisions the visuals as a slow, introspective experience with blurred faces and deliberate movement. Jax Allos echoed these sentiments, adding that the intense color scheme was designed to reflect the internal struggle portrayed in the lyrics: “It’s an uncomfortable subject, and I hope the video conveys those feelings of desolation and resilience.”

[melter] Imperfect Waves Tour 2024 Dates

• 20 Sept: Lake Worth Beach, FL – Nights in Necropolis @ Propaganda
• 21 Sept: Tampa, FL – New World Brewery
• 23 Sept: Ypsilanti, MI – Ziggy’s
• 24 Sept: Pittsburgh, PA – Poetry Lounge
• 26 Sept: Philadelphia, PA – Sanctorium @ The Fire
• 27 Sept: Providence, RI – Fete Music Hall
• 28 Sept: Harrisburg, PA – JB Lovedraft’s Micropub
• 29 Sept: Richmond, VA – Fallout RVA

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Chicago’s dark alt-rock act Plasmata, have unveiled a new video and free download of their cover of Blue Öyster Cult’s classic “Tattoo Vampire”. “Tattoo Vampire” by Plasmata is available now as a free download on Bandcamp, with Spotify and other major digital platforms to follow.

Plasmata, led by Jeffries since 2005, blends classic Chicago industrial-rock and dark alt-rock with gothic “Glampire” aesthetics. The 2021 EP, “Portraits of Pain”, produced by William Faith, explored themes from Jeffries’ recovery from a brain aneurysm to the “Jack the Ripper Manifesto”. The EP also featured remixes by William Faith and Ben Christo of The Sisters of Mercy.

The band, now a four-piece, is set to bring their show to the US East Coast in September 2024 with [melter] and 2Forks for the Imperfect Waves Tour.

For more details on the tour, visit this page: Imperfect Waves Tour.

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Chicago post-industrial duo [melter], Jax Allos & Robert Hyman, have a new single and a grainy black and white video out, “Blacklist”. The single comes ahead of upcoming tour dates of the US Midwest and East Coast, spanning July, August, and September 2024.

“Blacklist” has been mixed and produced with post-punk / deathrock / darkwave producer William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith and the Muse, et al) at Chicago’s 13 Studio; while the video was created by MoK Films and [melter].

Rob Hyman says of the track: “Musically the song took off once Jax supplied me with her vocal melody and lyrics. She had built off of a musical idea I started which is the electronic foundation of the song, but which finally became a [melter] track after the drums, bass and vocals were added to it. ‘blacklist’ is very representative of where [melter] is as a band right now. The song evolved into a powerful and driving backbone to Jax’s dynamic and textured vocal performance. Working with William Faith on the mix helped to present it as strongly as we had envisioned it while wiring it.”

“Blacklist” from [melter] is out now via Bandcamp as a 3-track single, featuring live versions of the title track, and the earlier track “Raw”, originally from the band’s self-titled debut EP (May 2023).

Upcoming [melter] tourdates

[melter] are soon to embark on a string of tour dates with Pittsburgh’s Hemlock for Socrates. The two bands’ Summer Tour kicks off in Louisville, Kentucky on July 26th, before taking in dates mainly across the US Midwest (Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois), and winding up with homecoming shows in Chicago, IL, and Pittsburgh, PA, on 10 and 11 August 2024.

Of the upcoming tour with Hemlock for Socrates, Rob says: “This is our first tour, so we are excited to play cities we’ve not played before and to perform to new audiences. Getting to spend more time with Hemlock for Socrates and enjoying life on the road for a few weeks. Jax and I end up living [melter] 24/7 when we are on the road and it really helps to spur new ideas and provide a lot of focus for what is next for us.”

And Jax adds: “I’m excited to continue growing our friendship with Heather and Kegan from Hemlock for Socrates, and I can’t wait for us to share all our stories from many years of music creation. I’m ecstatic about travelling, in part because I can tackle some of the things on [melter]’s to-do list while Rob is driving. Like Rob said, living the [melter] life 24/7. I’ll maintain productivity and brings me so much joy, you have no idea! Because, it’s the little things, right?”

In September, [melter] once again hit the road, this time for the Imperfect Waves Tour across the East Coast, alongside “Chicago glampires” Plasmata, and Cleveland industrial-rock / dark synth outfit 2 Forks.

Hemlock for Socrates and [melter] – Summer Tour 2024

• 26 July – Louisville, KY – Art Sanctuary
• 27 July – Columbus, OH – The Spacebar
• 31 July – Ypsilanti, MI – Ziggy’s
• 1 August – Madison, WI – Crucible
• 2 August – Grand Rapids, MI – Mulligan’s
• 3 August – Fort Wayne, IN – The Ruin
• 8 August – Cincinnati, OH – The Comet
• 9 August – Alton, IL – The Conservatory
• 10 August – Chicago, IL – Bourbon on Division
• 11 August – Pittsburgh, PA – The Government Center

Plasmata, [melter], and 2 Forks – Imperfect Waves Tour: September 2024

• 20 September – Lake Worth Beach, FL – Propaganda: ‘Nights in Necropolis’
• 21 September – Tampa, FL – New World Brewery
• 22 September – Atlanta, GA – 10 High
• 23 September – TBD – contact Hecataea Music for bookings
• 24 September – Pittsburgh, PA – Poetry Lounge
• 25 September – TBD – contact Hecataea Music for bookings
• 26 September – Philadelphia, PA – The Fire
• 27 September – Providence, Rhode Island – Fete Music Hall
• 28 September – Harrisburg, PA – JB Lovedrafts Micropub
• 29 September – Richmond, VA – Fallout RVA

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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Chicago’s post-punk pair Bellhead is set to return with their new EP, “Good Intentions”, on 5th May. This release aligns with their U.S. East Coast tour alongside New York’s Clay People, kicking off on 6th May.

Following a busy 2022 supporting their second release “Dead Lights”, Karen and Ivan are back with their third offering. For “Good Intentions”, they’ve reunited with their trusted production team, including audio engineer Neil Strauch (Iron and Wine / Counting Crows / Owls / Joan of Arc / Walking Bicycles / Slow Mass), mastering engineer Carl Saff (Acid Mothers Temple / Smoking Popes / Red Fang / Guided by Voices), and management led by David Schock (WTII Records).

The six-track EP delves into a fresh “pop” direction, nodding to New Order and giving a subtle salute to Jesus and Mary Chain. Alongside the lead single “Valentine”, the EP features “Bad Taste” and “Into the Deep”, which address unsavoury stalkers, unreliable narrators, and bloodthirsty sirens at sea. The duo also present their rendition of Love and Rockets’ hit “No Big Deal”.

“Good Intentions” comes after a standalone single, a cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U”.

Pre-orders are available now on Bandcamp.

Bellhead 2023 Spring dates

• 3/19 Eastside Bowl – Nashville, TN w/ Clan of Xymox / The Bellwether Syndicate
• 3/23 Cactus Club – Milwaukee, WI w/ Clan of Xymox / The Bellwether Syndicate
• 4/15 The Ruin – Fort Wayne, IN w/ Vazum / Observer
• 4/21 Blockhouse Bar – Bloomington, IN w/ Pilgrims of Yearning / Freeze Etch
• 4/22 Mag Bar – Louisville, KY w/ Gentleman Pig / Star Guided Vessel / Village Elder
• 5/6 Livewire Lounge – Chicago, IL w/ The Clay People / Melter
• 5/7 Mac’s Bar – Lansing, MI w/ The Clay People / Zombie Apocalypse / No Skull
• 5/8 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN w/ The Clay People / Broken Nails
• 5/9 The Foundry – Lakewood, OH w/ The Clay People / Bonded by Darkness / Temple Witch
• 5/10 The Runaway – Washington, DC w/ The Clay People / High Horse Cavalry / Raw Dawgs
• 5/11 Bar Freda – Queens, NY w/ The Clay People / The Amatory Murder / Chroma
• 5/12 Darq @ Koto – Salem, MA w/ The Clay People / Acheron
• 5/13 Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center – Harrisburg, PA w/ The Amatory Murder, Faux Fear, Goth Goth, Sugar Hysteria
• 5/14 Buzzbin – Akron, OH w/ Night Goat / Bonded By Darkness / Temple Witch
• 5/26 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL w/ Night Club / Iron Years / Plasmata

Bernard - Side-Line Staff

Chief editor of Side-Line – which basically means I spend my days wading through a relentless flood of press releases from labels, artists, DJs, and zealous correspondents. My job? Strip out the promo nonsense, verify what’s actually real, and decide which stories make the cut and which get tossed into the digital void. Outside the news filter bubble, I’m all in for quality sushi and helping raise funds for Ukraine’s ongoing fight against the modern-day axis of evil. Besides music I’m also an SEO and AI content flow specialist and have an interest in everything finance from stocks to crypto. There is music in everything!

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