Released on September 22, Deadweight is the second album from the Finnish metal band Skein. Assembled with the invaluable help of producer Tuomas Kokko (Ghost Brigade, Swallow the Sun), Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus, the album moves dynamically across different soundscapes, reaching from crushingly heavy guitar riffs to more ethereal, atmospheric parts.

Unlike their debut album, Of Wings Unfolding, which was a concept album with a strong narrative and a storyline (strenghtened by a novel published alongside the physical copy) the songs on Deadweight stand on their own. Delivered with both screaming and clean vocals, the songs explore issues from misuse of power and societal responsibility to basic human characteristics, with very personal experiences. Due the rawness and personal approach, the album is the strongest emotional outburst of Skein's career.

Skein formed in 2004 in Tampere, Finland, and have focused on its own blend of atmospheric metal with fierce determination and perseverance. Before Deadweight, the band released their debut album in 2014. The concept album was accompanied by a novel depicting the story behind the music and received positive feedback from media and fans alike. The band's discography also consists of three EPs (Children of Light in 2012, The Key I-III in 2011 and self-titled debut EP in 2005), as well as a digitally released single ‘Rapier’ (2016).

With their new studio album Hippopotamus due in September, Sparks release ‘Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)’, the new single from this highly anticipated record. The title track was tipped by The Guardian Guide, NME and Music Week and described by Mojo as “combining Dr Seuss whimsy, classical miniaturism and the archest humours – with an invitation to dance – Ron and Russell Mael return as only they can”. Playlisted on BBC Radio 6 Music and coinciding with the band’s stand out performance at the 6 Music Festival in Glasgow, the song was an intriguing introduction to the band’s first ‘regular’ studio album since 2008’s Exotic Creatures of The Deep.

The “febrile” ‘What The Hell Is It This Time?’ with its “jagged electronic bedrock” and divine intolerance followed.  Also playlisted by 6 Music, the single was praised by classical music critic and BBC Radio 3 presenter Tom Service who said during Steve Lamacq’s Roundtable “I flat out love that. It is really clever, it’s really arch, its lyrics are wonderful” awarding it 10/10.

 “Like all great Sparks songs, the brothers deliver their sermon standing atop a mountain of grandiose orchestration, investing its undepleted energy with a joyousness that has come to define its work across 45 years.” LA Times

Now Ron and Russell Mael release ‘Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)’ – classic Sparks (without sounding like any previous song in their 40+ year career), the uplifting, hook-laden music belies the lyrics’ melancholic tone.

Described as “the smartest, most consistently evolving band in the history of rock”, and internationally acclaimed as pop pioneers, Sparks’ music has always been innovative and instantly identifiable.  Recorded in Los Angeles, Hippopotamus sees Sparks take the pop form, shake it up, and create an album that is adventurous, fresh and idiosyncratically ‘Sparks’.

Sparks will return to Europe for The Hippopotamus Tour

Monday 18 Sep                Waterfront, Norwich

Tuesday 19 Sep                The Boilershop, Newcastle

Wednesday 20 Sep         Queens Hall, Edinburgh (sold out)

Friday 22 Sep                    O2 Ritz, Manchester (sold out)

Saturday 23 Sep               Rock City, Nottingham

Sunday 24 Sep                  O2 Institute 1, Birmingham

Tuesday 26 Sep                02 Academy, Bristol

Wednesday 27 Sep         O2 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Thursday 28 Sep             02 Shepherds Bush Empire, London

Hippopotamus Album Tracklisting:

1. Probably Nothing

2. Missionary Position

3. Edith Piaf (Said It Better Than Me)

4. Scandinavian Design

5. Giddy Giddy

6. What The Hell Is It This Time?

7. Unaware

8. Hippopotamus

9. Bummer

10. I Wish You Were Fun

11. So Tell Me Mrs. Lincoln Aside From That How Was The Play?

12. When You're A French Director (featuring Leos Carax)

13. The Amazing Mr. Repeat

14. A Little Bit Like Fun

15. Life With The Macbeths