The independent American label SharpTone Records revealed an exciting list of artists expected to share new music in 2021, with four UK bands on their roster named for upcoming releases – Don Broco, Loathe, Holding Absence, and Captives. Established in California in 2013 by Markus Steiger from Nuclear Blast and Shawn Keith from Sumerian Records, the label was built on their extensive experience and shared passion for rock and metal, and has seen significant rise in popularity in recent years.
The announcement came out yesterday with the ambiguous caption “Coming in 2021” and no further details whether it concerns full studio albums or standalone singles. The list included the four UK acts with highly anticipated new releases, alongside American heavyweights Miss May I, Bleeding Through and We Came As Romans, Japanese metalcore flagmen Crystal Lake, and Aussie punk outfit Stepson. Four extra slots seem to be reserved as “To Be Announced” so we can expect more news coming soon.
Coming in 2021:@DONBROCO @wecameasromans @missmayiband @HoldingAbsence @stepsonpunk @dyingwishhc @heartofgold_88 @loatheasone @CAPTIVES_UK @bleedingthrough @kingdomofgiants @Broadside_ @156Silence @CrystalLake777
TBA
TBA
TBA
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TBA #sharptonerecords #st2021— SharpTone Records (@sharptonerecs) January 6, 2021
From all British bands on the list, rising Welsh post-hardcore outfit Holding Absence are the only one with confirmed date for their upcoming album. Back in October 2020, the quartet released ‘Beyond Belief‘, announcing their second record The Greatest Mistake Of My Life for 16 April 2021, a quick follow-up to their 2019 critically acclaimed self-titled debut. Earlier last year the band dropped their first new single ‘Gravity‘ which was recently named on Loudwire’s ‘Best Rock Songs of 2020‘ list, calling them “one of the U.K.’s most exciting new bands“. Holding Absence were also one of the symbolic virtual headliners of the 2020 Heavy Music Awards.
As one of the most popular and commercially successful acts on SharpTone’s roster, Don Broco are also expected to drop a new album this year. Known for releasing new records every 3 year following their debut Priorities in 2012 and its follow-ups Automatic in 2015 and Technology in 2018, 2021 is set to be the Bedford outfit’s year once again. So far there have been two standalone singles from 2019 – ‘Half Man Half God‘ and ‘Action‘ but no new music from 2020. However, the last few months have seen the rock quartet frequently posting studio pics and videos alongside Grammy-awarded producer Jason Perry.
Leeds alternative metal outfit Captives are the latest act to join SharpTone Records just a month ago, saying they were “humbled to be in the company of such talented and progressive artists” and “very excited to be working together moving forward and creating something special“. In December 2020, Captives shared their new single ‘Glass Heart‘ following the footsteps of their energetic early 2020 release ‘Falling Apart‘. The band is currently in studio getting ready to share their debut album, a highly awaited successor to their promising self-released EP Ghost Like You from 2019.
SharpTone’s announcement also included the Liverpool metal favourites Loathe, but at this stage it is uncertain if there are new singles and videos to be released or a whole album in preparation for 2021, the latter being somewhat unlikely. Less than a year ago, the band premiered their second record I Let It In And It Took Everything as one of the definite highlights of 2020 and an ambitious step forward. Widely praised and admired the album received very positive reviews, with Kerrang! naming Loathe a “genuinely impressive creative force who can do heavy in as many ways as it can present itself to them” and Louder predicting “the ambitious quintet’s rise to the pinnacle of the British heavy underground music scene“.
10 million strong and growing.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/qht7yEdzh1
— Loathe (@loatheasone) January 2, 2021
Further updates are expected on all of the bands mentioned but 2021 is already shaping to be an exciting year for rock and metal music, with SharpTone Records planning to take central place on the scene.
