Mr. Gnome, the artistic-minded local heavy metal duo that features singer-guitarist Nicole Barille and drummer-pianist Sam Meister, recently returned with the new studio album, The Heart of a Dark Star, a terrific album mixed by engineer Kevin McMahon (Walkmen, Titus Andronicus, Swans, Real Estate). The band is set to deliver Monster’s Heart 7″ on May 12 (digital) and June 16th (vinyl) on El Marko Records and has just premiered the A-side “Sleepwalker,” a song that features layers of vocals and synths (and sounds something like a heavier Cocteau Twins) on the Consequence of Sound website. The track was taken from a “pile of b-sides” from The Heart of a Dark Star sessions. Limited signed and numbered vinyl is available for pre-order. The band performs on May 16 at the Beachland Ballroom.

This article appears in Apr 15-21, 2015.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.