Ruth are back after three years of new music (their covers EP), and will be releasing their new album, Payola, on January 31st. The band has also recently released a new music video for their new song "Life is Just a Dream," which can be viewed below. In addition to new music from Ruth, the band's vocalist, Dustin Ruth, also released an EP a year and a half ago, named Learn How To Love Someone, which is available on iTunes, Amazon MP3, and Noisetrade.

Artist: Ryan Blake Martin
Album: Fragile EP
Release Date: January 10, 2012
Label: None

The best artists should not keep their creativity locked away, but should instead freely share it. About a year and a half ago, we were introduced to the voice of Ryan Blake Martin, guitarist of hardcore heavy hitters A Plea For Purging. With a few songs of clean vocals, listeners finally discovered Martin's pent up talent, but it wasn't fully until just about a year ago that we got a glimpse of what was yet to come; a man and his guitar. The Fragile EP is a five song collection, and finally gives the Plea listener a full glimpse of Ryan Blake Martin.

Fragile holds a somber mood over its songs, especially in the lyrical content. "Its In The Pain We Grow" flows with gently picked strings, and touches on getting through times of pain and longing in life, knowing that in the end, we will only grow with the experiences. Both "Turn It Around" and "Wandering Souls" seem to resonate on Martin's touring life, and desiring for home. A near folky guitar line is heard on "The Controller," which reminisces on a past relationship, and the EP's title track, "Fragile," discusses the weakness of people, and how fragile life and love can really be, hitting especially hard with the lines "Fragile we are, broken from the start, forgetting who we are." For those who may have heard an early version of "Fragile" last year, this version is re-recorded and has a bit more of a haunting depth, due to some new found vocal melodies which layer the leading vocals.

Overall: The Fragile EP has been long in the making, and after just about a full year of some covers here and there, we finally get a full glimpse of the solo music of Ryan Blake Martin. The EP's five somber songs show an honest introspection on the sorrowful times in life that Martin has experienced, which have come along with his numerous years of touring in A Plea For Purging. If you've been a fan of A Plea For Purging's more recent albums, which include slower songs which Blake has sang, or if you have a thing for discovering talented singer-songwriters, then the Fragile EP is certainly worth checking out.

Reviewed by Brooks Ginnan

Tracklisting:

1. Its In The Pain We Grow
2. Turn It Around
3. The Controller
4. Wandering Souls
5. Fragile

(Buy Here)

This February Your Memorial will be heading into Covenant Studios to record their follow up album to 2010's Atonement. The band will work with engineer Josh Barber to put the album together, and then Josh Schroeder from Random Awesome will step in to do the mixing and mastering. The band expects to finish up the album in late spring for a summer 2012 release with Facedown Records. You'll be able to follow the band's process via video updates.

From the band:
It's time for a new Your Memorial record. We've been in the writing process on and off since early 2011 and right now we're working on wrapping up our third album, and sorting out all of the ideas for pre production. We're working with our friend Josh Barber, who also was the main engineer on our last record 'Atonement', at Covenant Studios in our home away from home Kansas City, MO. We are also really excited to be working with Josh Schroeder at Random Awesome Studio who will be mixing, mastering, and helping build soundscapes for the record. We're excited about how the songs are shaping up and can't wait to share them with everyone. We'll also be posting video updates of the whole recording process so be on the look out for those in the coming weeks!

Vocal Few is the new acoustic project from Matt MacDonald (vocalist of The Classic Crime) and his wife Kristie. The duo will be releasing their debut EP, She'll Be Right, on January 10th, and it can currently be pre-ordered from the band in digital or vinyl format here, with all funds going to help the couple raise their newborn baby. Also, Vocal Few have two songs from She'll Be Right streaming at their website, which can be heard right here.

Ryan Blake Martin, guitarist of Facedown Records' metal band A Plea For Purging, has just released a new song, titled "It's In The Pain We Grow," which can be streamed below. The song is off of Martin's upcoming EP, Fragile, which will be released to iTunes, AmazonMP3, and Spotify on Tuesday, January 10th. For more info on the Fragile EP and Ryan Blake Martin, check out his Facebook page.

 *NEW SONG* Its In The Pain We Grow by ryanblakemartin

SONS SIGNS TO SLOSPEAK RECORDS, RELEASES SINGLE, EMBARKS ON JANUARY TOUR 
                                                                                 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 2, 2012  -  Slospeak Records just announced the newest addition to their roster.  SONS (formerly Sons of God) signed to the indie label and immediately crafted a marketing plan for their upcoming full length release. In addition, the band will re-release “Doubt,” as its first radio single and tour the south to mid west states with sosaveme in January. "Doubt" is now on online to stream and download. The Nashville, TN based indie rock band is pleased to be share this news with both SONS and Slospeak fans.

" Slospeak is a perfect fit because it's like a small family,” says lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.“We're really happy to partner with them and go a slightly unconventional route. "Most of all, we can't wait to share our new music with the world, and the people who have patiently supported our band." shares lead vocalist Aaron Newberry.

SONS began the signing process after developing a friendship with Slospeak A&R Davy Baysinger, after meeting Newberry through mutual friends. The relationship grew, music shared and conversation increased. Soon enough, there was a deal on the table and a pen in the guys’ hands.

The band previously called the nonprofit music organization Come&Live! their home, and founder Chad Johnson is giving them a proud send off. "We are floored for where God is taking SONS and what He has in store for them. They have formed a strategic partnership with an exciting new music endeavor and we wish them the absolute best. We look forward to how God will continue to use us to pour in to SONS."

The band is looking forward to releasing their long-awaited full length album this year, along with multiple tours. With a new lineup, new music and a solid direction, SONS is slated to spend a large part of 2012 on the road.

Tour dates are as follows:
January 7 - Fort Wayne, IN @ Hebrews
January 8 - Sidney, OH @ Sidney First United Methodist Church
January 11 - Cary, NC @ Grace Church
January 12 - Cary, NC @ Colonial Baptist Church
January 13 - Greenville, SC @ The Channel
January 14 - Jacksonville, FL @ Murray Hill Theater
January 15 - Columbus, GA @ Collision Church
January 17 - Chattanooga, TN @ TBA
January 19 - Nashville, TN @TBA
January 20 - Evansville, IN @ The Hatch
January 21 - St. Louis, MO @ Melvin Theater

ABOUT SONS:
SONS is Aaron Newberry, Jacob Bundren and Ethan Kattau. Newberry began the project under the name Sons of God.  He released The Genesis Prologue EP in 2010. The three tracks met excellent acclaim –getting recognition on Relevant’s “The Drop,” HM Magazine, IndieVisionMusic and more. From there, the band worked on a full length record, to release in 2012, altered the name to SONS and signed with Slospeak Records. For more information, log on to www.sonsofficial.com .