When Rivers Meet release "Infected" single and music video from "Aces Are High" album
NEW SINGLE "INFECTED"
RELEASED: FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER 2023
STREAM THE SINGLE
TAKEN FROM THE NEW ALBUM
"ACES ARE HIGH"
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“When Rivers Meet are a shining example that hard work and talent can elevate even the most independent of artists to the top.
“Aces Are High” continues their ascent, and it’s another winning hand.” – Maximum Volume Music, Rating: 9/10
“Essex blues rock duo slam back in fuzz-tone triumph!” – Vive Le Rock
“Aces Are High is likely to be the album that powers them to the next level.” - Metal Talk
“Another classy release from one of the UK’s most exciting and creative bands.” – Record Collector
“Aces and stakes are high here… this is a royal flush.” – Powerplay, Rating: 10/10
“When Rivers Meet’s joy is so infectious you cannot resist them.” – Maximum Volume Music
“When Rivers Meet’s energy is contagious.” – Rock N Load
In advance of their highly anticipated third studio album “Aces Are High,” the award-winning blues rock duo When Rivers Meet are pleased to announce the release of the album’s fourth single “Infected” released on their own independent record label, One Road Records.
“Infected” is available on all streaming platforms HERE.
The new album “Aces Are High” is available from www.whenriversmeet.co.uk.
“Infected” follows WRM’s previous three singles from the album, “Play My Game,” “Perfect Stranger,” and “Seen It All Before.”
“Infected was the first song we wrote for our new album Aces Are High, says lead singer, mandolin and violinist, Grace Bond. “We brought in fuzz guitar tones to the album and wanted Infected, the opening track to be an indicator as to where the album is going to take you.”
Adds guitarist Aaron Bond, “We strongly believe that it is commonplace to put boundaries and limitations on yourself before you’ve even allowed yourself to dream, It’s the plague of man. We wanted the choruses to be psychedelic and swamp the listener in harmony, to give the impression of the subconscious conditioning that’s happening all the time.”
Regarding the new album “Aces Are High,” the duo says, “As our music is progressing, we’re finding our sound even more. When we went in the studio this time, we’ve never been so sure on what we wanted to create—we had a really clear vision and have stuck to it.”
“Before we held back on being too rocky, but this time we allowed ourselves to create what we wanted to hear, without restricting ourselves. We also allowed ourselves to express the different colours to our music with tracks like “Golden” and “By Your Side,” so this album has more extremes. We still call upon our influences from all the years but remain true to ourselves to create music we love.”
“When Rivers Meet are one of the must-sees… their rise has been meteoric. Tpresent themselves with a new opus that is still very convincing, fresh,
different, and muscular, “Aces Are High”. – Rock ‘N Force
“The sky really is the limit for When Rivers Meet.” – Devils Gate Music
“When Rivers Meet are brave, unrepentant, and fearless.”– Raw Ramp
“It’s a strong set and adds another foundation stone to what looks like an increasingly promising future.” – Blues in Britain
"It’s a no brainer why When Rivers Meet have been voted UK Blues Band of the Year three years running. They play a winning hand on Aces Are High yet again.” – Blues Matters
Since their formation in 2019, the husband-and-wife duo Grace Bond (vocals, mandolin, violin) and Aaron Bond (vocals, guitar) have been quick to prove themselves one of the most exciting names in British blues rock. Blending Americana, folk, blues, and rock in a distinctly unique manner, they have been showered with many awards and accolades.
Their forthcoming album “Aces Are High”follows two critically acclaimed records: “We Fly Free”(2020), which reached No.1 in the iTunes Blues Album Chart, and “Saving Grace” (2021), which charted at No.2 in the UK Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart, No.5 UK Official Album Downloads Chart, and No.6 UK Official Independent Albums Chart. These were based purely on chart reporting digital sales and didn’t include physical sales.
When Rivers Meet were the first band to win four awards at the UK Blues Awards 2021 and another three awards in 2022, including Blues Band Of The Year on both occasions. In 2023, WRM won Blues Band Of The Year, making them the only band to win this category three years in a row, and the only band to be inducted into the UK Blues Awards Hall Of Fame for this category.
In 2021 When Rivers Meet were voted Best New Band at Planet Rock’s The Rocks Awards, and in 2022 won Planet Rock’s Blues Power Award and Album Of The Year Award with Saving Grace.
Photo Credit: © Laurence Harvey
“Aces Are High”finds the duo returning with a more powerful sound than ever before. Aaron’s gnarled riffs hit harder alongside his deep vocal tones, while Grace’s vocals range wider with tantalising bite as they effortlessly climb scales like her striking slide mandolin which accompanies the likes of “Trail To Avalon.”
The immediacy of the new record is showcased from the off with the hard-hitting opener “Infected,” while no punches are pulled on the kick-out-time anthem “5 Minutes Until Midnight.” Nevertheless, its contrasting sides find delicate moments such as the reflective acoustic song “Golden” and the shimmering Americana of “By Your Side.”
ACES ARE HIGH – TRACK LISTING
1. Infected
2. Seen It All Before
3. Play My Game
4. Golden
5. Aces Are High
6. Trail To Avalon
7. Perfect Stranger
8. The Secret
9. By Your Side
10. 5 Minutes Until Midnight
When Rivers Meet developed a powerful live reputation with their first headline tour last year, which they played to capacity crowds across the country.
This year they supported Reef of their UK tour and have just finished their second UK headline tour in larger venues, along with special guest, Brian May guitar prodigy, Arielle, receiving rave reviews once again.
This summer, the band played numerous festivals, Steelhouse Festival, and Joe Bonamassa’s Keeping the Blues Alive Mediterranean III Cruise featuring Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Blackberry Smoke.
LIVE APPEARANCES
SEPTEMBER
16th – Hop Harvest Festival, Farnham
27th – O2 Academy 2, Islington (Sold Out)
OCTOBER
6th – Cornwall Rocks Festival, Looe
NOVEMBER
12th – Whitby Blues, Rhythm & Rock, Whitby
