Palm Reader, Black Peaks and Toska members sound as magnificent as you’d expect in new band Vower

(Image credit: Silvija Vil)

Members of beloved UK metal bands Palm Reader, Black Peaks and Toska have united in a brand-new outfit called Vower.

The collective – composed of vocalist Josh McKeown (Palm Reader), guitarists Rabea Massaad (ex-Dorje, ex-Toska) and Joe Gosney (ex-Black Peaks), drummer Liam Kearley (ex-Black Peaks) and bassist Rory McLean – have released their debut single Shroud.

Vower say of the new track: “Shroud was one of the first bits of music we wrote and has acted as a catalyst for all the music that has come after.

“It’s an important piece of music for us and marks the first chapter of this band.

“The song is about seeing things for what they really are, the lifting of a Shroud.”

The five-piece have also announced their first live shows, details of which can be found below.

Singer McKeown’s band Palm Reader announced their impending breakup in March.

The UK metalcore darlings will embark on one final tour of the UK in July.

Palm Reader explained the split in a statement: “With a heavy heart, we have decided to end our time together as Palm Reader.

“We all have very different priorities now, compared to the lives we led when we formed the band in 2011.

“We collectively feel that ending Palm Reader now rather than simply ‘going on hiatus’ is the right thing for us to do as we grow as people and our lives move forward in different directions.

“These last 13 years have been extraordinary, and we can’t thank you enough for being on this journey with us. It has meant more to us than you’ll ever know.

“We will be embarking on one last run of UK dates and we hope you can make it out and give us the honour of playing for you one last time.”

The list of dates the band will play this summer is available below.

Vower 2024 tour dates:

Jul 11: Cheltenham 2000 Trees Festival, UK
Jul 26: Manchester Radar Festival, UK
Aug 17: Bristol Arctangent Festival, UK

Oct 05: Cologne Euroblast Festival, Germany

Palm Reader Final Tour UK dates:

Jul 04: Southampton Joiners
Jul 05: London Underworld
Jul 06: Manchester Academy 3
Jul 07: Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Jul 12: Cheltenham 2000 Trees Festival

Get tickets.

Louder’s resident Gojira obsessive was still at uni when he joined the team in 2017. Since then, Matt’s become a regular in Prog and Metal Hammer, at his happiest when interviewing the most forward-thinking artists heavy music can muster. He’s got bylines in The Guardian, The Telegraph, NME, Guitar and many others, too. When he’s not writing, you’ll probably find him skydiving, scuba diving or coasteering.