Here is my first installment of new release cds and dvds for February 19, 2008. There are a lot this week so be sure to check it out and let your friends know about this. I'm very excited about quite a few of these and I'm sure you will too. OK, here we go!
ARSON ANTHEM - (self-titled)
You honestly don't know how much I am looking forward to this album. Mainly because it features an all-star line-up in my eyes. Philip H. Anselmo (Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual) - Guitar, Mike D. Williams (Eyehategod, Outlaw Order) - Vocals, Hank Williams III (Assjack, Superjoint Ritual, son of Hank Williams Jr.)- Drums and Collin Yeo - Bass.
Starved on stale vodka and even staler non-filters, basking in the telepathic glow of vicious, filthy '80's style hardcore punk and hardcore, this improper organization has finally and ultimately wrecked full-on into a barebones and distorted bastard vacuum. With the current roster of supposed "Extreme" or "Underground" bands dishing out modern 'Metal' repetition regurgitation, something had to give. It has now been delivered.
The culmination of long time friends uniting out of a sheer necessity to create "The Sound" of a time in the past that echoes forever in our rattled minds. We lived it. The shape of this type of rage in the 21st century is a true threat to a genre which is in a sorry state of affairs, albeit in the subterranean hollow of a real underground scene.
Our mission is the re-introduction to the roots of painful amplification, raw production, and a TRUE "Fuck All" attitude to a movement within the new generation that's lost the meaning of less complicated ventures such as the original brutality of bands like Negative Approach, Poison Idea, Hellhammer, Discharge, Void et al… This is a beautiful thing. Never giving way to what the societal masses want us to conform to, as by example our previous musical incarnations. We got the grudge. We keep the grudge against all of you.....
www.myspace.com/arsonanthem
www.housecorerecords.com
KINGDOM OF SORROW - (self-titled)
I have been waiting for this debut album for some time now! This band features Kirk Windstein of Down/Crowbar (Vocals & Guitars), Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed/Icepick (Vocals), Steve Gibb of Crowbar/Ex-Black Label Society (Guitar), Derek Kerswill of Seemless/Unearth (Drums), Matthew Brunson (Bass Playing Local Nola Freak!). The band says that this album sounds like an airplane filled with lead crashing into a barge filled with tar. Take a listen at:
www.myspace.com/kingdomofsorrow
Label: Relapse Records
THIS IS HELL - "Misfortunes"
This is Hell are not going down in history for standing still. Formed on Long Island, New York in June of 2004, This is Hell made an immediate impact on the hardcore scene, and have since shown no signs of slowing down. Travis Reilly (vocals), Rick Jimenez (guitar), Chris Reynolds (guitar), Dan Bourke (drums) and Johnny Moore (bass) all cut their teeth in their local scene, but have now become road veterans with an unquenched desire to pummel stages around the world and live the lives they've worked and built for themselves. After selling out of over 1000 self-released four song demos on early tours with Most Precious Blood, Crime In Stereo, Modern Life Is War and Terror, Run For Cover Records caught wind of the band and re-released the demo. An intense touring schedule created a massive buzz, and resulted in all pressings of the demo selling out. This is Hell were quickly becoming known as a force to be reckoned with across the globe, aided by strong support from Australian alternative radio and a month long european tour. Punknews.org praised their demo as "A dark, raucous six minutes of introvert-based hardcore"
This is Hell released their long awaited debut EP on State of Mind recordings, and caught the eye of Trustkill Records in late 2005. Josh Grabelle, president of Trustkill, was blown away when he first saw them live. "Originally, I liked their work ethic, they were out there working really hard, doing things that a lot bands wouldn't do without a bigger record deal, for example touring Europe and putting an EP out. When I went to see them, I got the amazing feeling that I used to get watching hardcore bands a really long time ago, something I haven't felt in years. Travis' stage presence was amazing, and I knew they had something. I approached them pretty much out of the blue and signed them." This is Hell released their Trustkill debut, Sundowning, in May of 2006, and the buzz volume doubled. The album has received much critical acclaim in the U.S, including a profile in national punk tastemaker Alternative Press, and recent features in Kerrang, Wonkavison, and Metal Hammer. Rock Sound Magazine said of the album,"Caustic yet eloquent in their cathartic delivery, This Is Hell are a molten mix of hardcore influences that have erupted with force."
Extremely popular music webzine Pastepunk.com praised the band, saying "At the core of THIS IS HELL's sound is a chewy nugget of talent and insanely tight songwriting. For a band that plays as fast and hard-hitting as they do, just as impressive is how stunningly preciseevery note seems to sound without ever getting the feeling that the music is rigid and lacking in emotion"
The band has been on tour all year in support of Sundowning with such heavy hitters as Bane, Glassjaw, Strike Anywhere, Bayside, and Comeback Kid. The band was recently in the UK playing arenas with Lost Prophets as well as a string of headline dates, and shows with Hatebreed, Unearth and Alexisonfire. This is Hell has also just released their first video, for the song The Polygraph Cheaters. The video was directed by acclaimed director Doug Spangenberg known for his work on the gold selling Lamb Of God DVD/Documentary Killadelphia and Skate and Surf DVD's. This is Hell have big plans for the new year, starting with a short tour alongside Poison the Well in February, A split seven inch with Toronto's Cancer Bats, and some more touring.
www.myspace.com/thisishell
www.thisishell.org
Label: Trustkill Records
EYES SET TO KILL - "Reach"
Every few years, music needs a facelift. And like a phoenix, its savior rises from the stale ashes of the newly dead scene to revitalize fans with a fresh sound. The new phoenix rises from Tempe, Arizona under the moniker Eyes Set to Kill. Set to release Reach their debut effort on BreakSilence Records on February 19, 2008, Eyes Set to Kill is poised to make a serious dent in the music industry through their online presence and gritty do it yourself road dog mentality.
Formed in 2004 by sisters Alexia and Anissa Rodriguez, Eyes Set to Kill have moved forward with huge strides quickly and not so quietly over the past three and a half years. Joining Alexia (vocals, lead guitar, piano) and Anissa (bass) and rounding out the five-piece are screamer and synth keyboardist Brandon Anderson, second guitarist Greg Kerwin and drummer Caleb Clifton. Eyes Set to Kill have sold more than 11,000 copies of their EP When Silence is Broken The Night Is Torn and DVD, A Day With Eyes Set to Kill combined, with the former reaching 2 and the latter 1 on the popular online retailer smartpunk.com and limited retail availability.
Eyes Set to Kill built their solid reputation through aggressive online marketing and constant fan interaction. Marked as MySpace's number one unsigned band for more than ten months, and landing in the top ten of all independent bands, Eyes Set to Kill successfully booked their first tour through the popular web site. Since their first trek across America, they have supported platinum selling artists Papa Roach, (hed)p.e., Kittie, hardcore pioneers Walls of Jericho and the up and coming In This Moment as well as played various stints on the Vans Warped Tour in 2006.
While the 'zona based five piece contrasts melodic vocals with screams, the intent was never to follow a formula that previously worked for other bands. Rather, they wanted to add unique elements. "We didn't want to be just another screamo band, we wanted to do something different," comments Alexia on the band's formation. "We wanted to have the same kind of passion and fire that the bands we loved had, but still have our own sound." And one listen to Reach further punctuates Alexia's remarks.
As can be expected, Reach exhibits a more mature Eyes Set to Kill – more mature in its songwriting and its lyrics. As the primary lyricist, Alexia tackles themes such as frustration and anxiety, relationships, isolation and correcting one's past. Alexia shows a woman well beyond her young years throughout Reach; she shows a songwriter that writes differently than the rest, pushing boundaries lyrically when possible.
"Only Holding On," for example, is a battle between Alexia's outer self and her conscience shown through the song's verses, while the chorus is a third voice, her band, trying to ground her once again in the real reasons she performs music.
Lights dim down we're the stars tonight our voices bring slight wind to the sky. (Their voices sing along.) Feel their souls lift with ours as they share the night. But you sing a different song.
"Young Blood Spills Tonight," deals with the pain of divorce told from the perspectives of Alexia and her mother.
Sip my blood till there's no blood left to spill from my neck. I'm embraced by a concealed grip I welcomed in my arms.
Rife with conflict and juxtaposing that conflict with promise, Reach is not a teenage angst-ridden twenty first century response to the Seattle scene of the nineties. And it's more than a teenage coming of age story. Reach is the world's welcome to a young band with a fresh voice. "The album is symbolic of what we want to achieve with our music. Most of the songs are about overcoming the obstacles that everyone faces in life. We hope that our music reaches out to the listener and can help them overcome some of the same issues that we've had to deal with in our lives," Alexia notes, pointing to the more promising themes in the music. "We want to let people know that they can rise above the problems they face in their life; if our music can be that catalyst in someone's life then that's amazing."
Listen to the record, analyze the lyrics, and go see Eyes Set to Kill live.
www.myspace.com/eyessettokill
Record label: Break Silence Recordings
ACROSS FIVE APRILS - "Life Underwater"
Across Five Aprils doesn't settle with being comfortable.
After achieving breakout success with its second full-length record, Collapse, on Indianola Records, the band was at a crossroads. Across Five Aprils had accomplished all it had set out to do on the label – they owned the title of the label's second-most selling artist, had traveled internationally and were headlining over bands from bigger labels.
So the band's members decided to chuck it all in favor of taking a step forward in their careers, giving up the triumphs and VIP status at their label for a chance at the next level.
"It was a great starter label for us, and one that we left because we had done absolutely everything we could," says vocalist Brandon Mullins. "We were looking for the next step up."
When looking to elevate its stake in the industry, the band had no trouble securing contracts from labels who'd heard the band's unique, aggressive sound. But, after showcasing for Victory Records, "we knew they could take us to the next level," Mullins says. Mullins, guitarists Adam Nordmeyer and Zak Towe, bassist Josh Dycus and drummer Steve Wootteon had just climbed the ladder to the next tier.
So the good 'ol Southern boys from Chattanooga, Tennessee, (whose name is lifted from the title of a book on the Civil War) went into the studio full-force to prove what they could achieve with an ample budget and a fresh start for their Feb. 19th Victory debut, Life Underwater. Producer Matt Goldman (Underoath, As Cities Burn, Norma Jean) was behind the boards for the first time with a Victory band, helping to hone the not-quite-definable sound that Across Five Aprils has perfected over the years.
"This was our first time with an established producer, and Matt took us where we want to be and gave us a level of sophistication that we have never had before," Mullins says of the "darker, heavier-hearted melodic hardcore record." He also says Life Underwater was a chance to really get some issues off the band's chest – issues much different than what Goldman's previous producing efforts had to talk about.
"With the previous album we hinted at things that we wanted to talk about, taking a more incognito approach that no one really got. So with this album, we just came out and said/did what we meant," Mullins says. "There's a lot of subject matter we've never expressed before, and a lot of questioning people's beliefs. We have a lot of younger fans who don't have a clue what this music is supposed to mean, so we are challenging the listener to step outside of their box."
Life Underwater indeed carries some heavy issues, including the explanation behind the title: muffling light by sending it underwater, an allusion to taking control of your own life and shunning what it expected of you. "A lot of people talk about living with the light inside you, or being the light. I wanted to make a world that light cannot flourish i.e. underwater," Mullins says. "It's about holding what's yours dear and nothing else."
But don't assume these downtrodden themes have left the band's members with chips on their shoulders. They are a focused, ambitious group who are ready to dig in to their future with Victory Records and unleash their album on fans new and old.
"Our music stands out because it really doesn't sound like anything else," Mullins says. "People can never put their finger on it. We want to be one of Victory's hardest-working and biggest bands."
Sounds like the band who doesn't shy away from a challenge just presented itself with another one.
www.myspace.com/acrossfiveaprils
www.acrossfiveaprilsrock.com
Record label: Victory Records
FOUR LETTER LIE - "What A Terrible thing To Say"
When honesty and brazen creativity are the first bricks laid for a musical release, the bar is set for an outcome that truly delivers the message of the artist. In this case, the artist is FOUR LETTER LIE, and the result is their stunning sophomore release, What A Terrible Thing To Say. The band has managed to write a record that impresses the toughest critic – themselves - and it is on track to be named their greatest work to date.
The members of FOUR LETTER LIE began playing together in 2004. High school friends Brian Nagan (vocals), Connor Kelley (guitar), and John Waltmann (bass) knew they wanted to start a band, and rounded out their lineup with friends Kevin Skaff (vocals/guitar) and Derek Smith (drums), all from the Minneapolis area. The band quickly recorded an EP and sold over 1,500 copies on their own, which (alongside their unique screamo/rock/pop sound) led them to stints on the Warped Tour and the Taste of Chaos in 2005. In January 2006 the band was recognized as one of the four "Unsigned Bands of the Month" in Alternative Press, adding to the list of achievements that would ultimately catch the eye of Victory Records. They joined the family shortly after.
Shortly after their signing, FOUR LETTER LIE recorded their first full-length release, Let Your Body Take Over, with producers Michael Birnbaum and Chris Bittner (Coheed and Cambria). The album, out Oct. 2006, would go on to sell over 10,000 copies and gain the band even more national recognition. Throughout the year that followed the release date, the band toured almost nonstop with acts like Scary Kids Scaring Kids, Static Lullaby, and Bless the Fall. In their short time together, FOUR LETTER LIE had already accomplished things other bands wish for their entire career; but still, they knew they could achieve more. "We wanted to write an album that was truly 'us'" says Skaff. "We had spent almost every single day together touring and growing as a band since that last record. We were ready to take it to the next level." So, that's exactly what they set out to do: raise the bar, trump their critics and win over the ears and hearts of even more listeners.
Producer Matt Goldman (UnderOath, Copeland) welcomed FOUR LETTER LIE into his Atlanta recording studio in November 2007. The band couldn't have been happier. "It's nice working with a producer who cares about his projects," Smith comments, "He definitely understood where we wanted to go with our sound." Being hundreds of miles away from home galvanized these already hard workers to toil round the clock to accomplish their goal. Four weeks later, What A Terrible Thing To Say was complete; a darker, harder, more intimate recording that the band is finally ready to present to the masses.
February 19th is the day FOUR LETTER LIE will unveil What A Terrible Thing To Say to the world. It's an album that will truly make anyone who has ever questioned them forget why. The band has lent their hearts and souls to this gem, as heard on every one of the twelve coming-of-age songs, and will not dissatisfy. As FOUR LETTER LIE state in the albums title track, "We'll make them wonder why we're smiling."
www.myspace.com/fourletterlie
www.fourletterlie.com
Record Label: Victory Records
A DAY TO REMEMBER - "For Those Who Have Heart" (reissue)
It would be almost too easy and obvious to describe A Day To Remember as the creators of one of the unforgettable rock albums of 2007, but that wouldn't make it any less true. Hailing from Ocala, Florida, the five members of A Day To Remember have crafted a unique blend of what can best be called "pop-mosh"—a potent combination of ultra-high energy and tart-sweet melodies. You can hear the melodic chaos in its full glory on For Those Who Have Heart, their debut album on Victory Records.
A Day To Remember aren't exactly the new kids in the pit. All of the band members had played in the Ocala music scene for years until 2003, when the band in its current incarnation came together. Singer Jeremy McKinnon, guitarists Neil Westfall and Tom Denney, bassist Joshua Woodard and drummer Alex Shellnutt knew they had something special during one specific performance on a special day. "Two years ago we played a Fourth of July show in our home town," Joshua recalls. "The kids never responded like they did that night; they sang along to every word in our songs, and everything just clicked."
The band soon embarked on lengthy DIY tours well beyond their local area, doing over 200 shows, and in 2005 they put out on album on Indianola Records. Even thought it sold over 8,000 copies on word of mouth alone, the group wanted bigger and better things. "A friend of mine said he had the AIM screenname of someone at Victory Records," Woodard says. "I didn't believe him, but I still started communicating with the guy. We IM'ed back and forth for about six months, and it happened that we were playing with the band On The Last Day in a town outside of Chicago—and this guy was going to be there filming it. It was our first time we ever played in Illinois, yet the 50-60 kids there were singing along to our tunes like they'd been fans all their lives. The guy asked if we'd do a showcase for Victory, we said sure, and the rest is a new beginning for A Day To Remember.
So the band went into Zing Studios in Westfield, MA, and created their best crop of pop-mosh yet. "We've definitely grown as musicians," Woodard says. "We've always been into hardcore music as well as pop-punk. It's been our goal to mix the two as best as we can, and only recently have we felt comfortable created the transitions in our songs. The music flows better than it ever has, so while it hits harder than ever, it still sounds more mature and professional."
No sooner did A Day To Remember step out of the studio, totally satisfied with the just-completed For Those Who Have Heart, did they return to the road, eager to try their brand new songs on to their growing legion of fans. "We see our record as a long-term project," Woodard concludes. "We understand all the work we need to do; that's why we want to get out on the road as soon as possible and promote the hell out of it. This is our best effort so far, and we couldn't be more excited to show that to everyone."
www.myspace.com/adaytoremember
Record label: Victory Records
ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS - "Numinosum"
This band has special meaning to me because band member Burton C Bell (vocalist for metal band Fear Factory) is a personal friend of mine. Here is a quick bio on them, be sure to check them out.
Ascension of The Watchers, the creative journey of Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory, G//Z/R) and John Bechdel (False Icons, Fear Factory, Killing Joke, Prong, Ministry, and Murder Inc.), is a vision born of life, love and spirituality. The intimate nature of Ascension of The Watchers is envisioned to draw the minds, hearts and aspirations of a people to a higher level of thinking and feeling by bringing them together in celebration and reflection in the beauty of life and spirituality, through these melodies and words.
In early 2002, Burton retreated to the quiet simplicity of rural Pennsylvania for seven months with his friend and musical confidant John Bechdel, to escape the onslaught of Los Angeles . A mentor in music, philosophy and demeanor, Bechdel unwittingly guided Burton along the path to this project.
Recording in the hauntingly beautiful seclusion of rural Pennsylvania at The Machine Shop, John's private studio; the band created "Iconoclast" featuring five original recordings that showcase Burton's ethereal vocal and writing style through thought provoking lyrics and music with a melodic acoustical and synth blend, that shows Burton's constantly evolving musical growth.
In 2005 "Iconoclast" was released on Limited Edition Vinyl and CD and is available along with other items designed and created by AOTW exclusively through their own webstore at www.ascensionofthewatchers.com.
The next chapter of the Watchers saga began to unfold in 2007 as Burton signed with Al Jurgensen's 13th Planet Records. New material was recorded and previously conceived songs were reworked into their final realizations by Burton and John with the addition of Edu Mussi (Echoes And Shadows, Still Life Decay) and contributions from Al Jourgensen, the late Paul Raven and Ben Bell. Experience Numinosum, the debut Ascension of the Watchers album, on Februray 19th. Numinosum is available for preorder now at www.ascensionofthewatchers.com.
AotW returns to the stage for a short tour to celebrate the release of Numinosum. Watchers Burton and John will also be part of the upcoming Ministry CULaTour.
www.myspace.com/aotw
www.thewatchers.org
Record label: 13th Planet records
GENGHIS TRON - "Board Up The House"
Genghis Tron want to eat your brains.
Well, maybe they don't, but they do want to at least poke at it a little. Their new album 'Board Up The House', evokes vivid emotional responses from panic to relief, hope to despair, and just about everything in between. And the best way to manipulate moods in such a way is to manipulate sounds, which is what Genghis Tron does best.
Forming four short years ago in Poughkeepsie, New York, Genghis Tron – Mookie Singerman (vocals), Michael Sochynsky (keyboards), and Hamilton Jordan (guitars) – set out to create something left-of-center, and like their musical tastes, that couldn't be easily pinned down. With Singerman's varied vocals, Sochynsky's keyboard wizardry turning blips and beeps into pulsating rhythms, beats, and ambient backdrops, and Jordan's fret-board shredding and stream of memorable riffs, Genghis Tron created something that can only be described as new and totally unique.
Genghis Tron began their first substantial touring on the heels of their first demo and subsequent EP 'Cloak of Love' (Crucial Blast, 2005), gigging with a range of diverse bands from Dan Deacon to Daughters, Yip, Yip to Death From Above 1979, Usaisamonster to Magrudergrind, and everything in between.
The writing evolved slowly but morphed into what would become 2006's Kurt Ballou-produced 'Dead Mountain Mouth', their first full-length album. 'Dead Mountain Mouth''s darker, more dense approach was lauded by the international press (AP, Rock Sound, Decibel, and more) and stoked by the bands ever-expanding touring across the North America and the UK
In early '07, the band signed a deal with Relapse Records (after over a year of conversation between the band and label) and relocated to Philadelphia to begin working on 'Board Up The House'. The band broke from writing only for choice tour opportunities; a US Tour with Kylesa, dates with Pig Destroyer, Rob Crow, The Red Chord, and appearances at several festivals including SXSW.
Genghis Tron's painstaking year of write-and-tour, write-and-tour concluded when they returned to Ballou's God City Studio in the fall to record 'Board Up The House'. The album's title track has been posted on the band's MySpace page (MySpace.com/GenghisTron) to serve as a preview until the album sees its international release in February 2008.
Genghis Tron have currently wrapped up a tour with The Dillinger Escape Plan, and have unveiled extensive world tour plans. So if you should see three rabid-looking figures off in the distance one of these dark winter nights, you may want to prepare to 'Board Up The House'.
www.MySpace.com/GenghisTron
Record Label: Relapse Records
HATE ETERNAL - Fury and Flamest
Started in 1997 by Erik Rutan of Morbid Angel and Ripping Corpse fame, Hate Eternal quickly became one of the most talked about extreme metal bands on the scene due to the band's ability to create exceptional albums, tons of touring, and live shows that left fans hungering for more. Almost three years after the brutal extreme metal masterpiece, I, Monarch, Hate Eternal are back with a new record and a new home on Metal Blade Records. Fury and Flames, the bands' fourth studio album, marks the start of a new chapter in Hate Eternal's already illustrious career. Upon the first spin, listeners will immediately be able to tell that Fury and Flames is the band's most diverse and heavy chaotic and emotionally fueled record to date.
Though the band has experienced great success since its inception in 1997, Hate Eternal are no strangers to turmoil and strife. In 2002, Erik Rutan chipped vertebrae in his neck in a van accident while on tour and spent the next couple months out of commission. Erik has also been left to deal with band members backing out of tours last minute including one tour, in which a show in London was being filmed for the band's first ever live DVD. None of this ever held Erik or Hate Eternal back though, replacements were found and the tours continued on as planned. Another extremely unfortunate event was the untimely passing of bassist and dear friend, Jared Anderson, in October 2006 while in talks to rejoin the band.
For the writing and recording of Fury and Flames, Rutan sought out a new lineup. He re-recruited long time friend Alex Webster (of Cannibal Corpse fame) to play bass on the album, found a new drummer in Jade Simonetto, and second guitarist Shaune Kelley, who Rutan has much history with due to the fact they grew up together and recorded their first album in their band Ripping Corpse. Rutan describes Jade: "[he has a] voracious hunger for perfection; Jade came in and changed the face of the band with his relentless speed, accuracy, endurance, as well as his serious groove which was lacking from previous albums". "Alex literally created bass lines I have never heard before that were more like compositions rather than bass lines, and jamming with Shaune after all these years was incredible as we played together for over 5 years and always have been an incredible guitar duo." This will mark the first time the band will play live as a four piece with second guitarist Shaune Kelley on stage. Although Alex Webster was able to lend his talents to the recording of Fury and Flames, he will not be able to tour with the band due to his busy schedule with Cannibal.
All of Erik's prior experiences have led up to what he describes as his most diverse and heaviest records to date. In an MTVnews.com interview Rutan says Fury and Flames is "a very dark and heavy record — not just heavy as in 'heavy metal,' but heavy-hearted as well." With guitars as technically proficient as ever, the addition of a second guitarist, a new force behind the drums, and Alex Webster on bass, Fury and Flames promises to set a new bench mark in the world of modern extreme metal. Fans will be able to experience the band during their first tour in support of Fury and Flames when they head out with label-mates The Black Dahlia Murder in January and February 2008!
"Brutal, technical and heart-searingly relentless, just when you thought death metal had nothing new to offer, Hate Eternal return to prove you wrong. Fury and Flames owns you in 2008." - Metal Maniacs
Fury and Flames features cover art by Paul Romano (Mastodon, Animosity, The Red Chord). In Stores February 19th, 2008!
www.myspace.com/hateeternal
Record label: Metal Blade Records
OPEN EYES ELYSIA - "Optophobia"
These guys have been described as the chaos of Dillinger Escape Plan, groove bending of Candiria and the sexual tension of Opeth.
They formed in 2005 and have done their best to make sincere music ever since. Their first full length record "Optophobia: Lamenting The Sphere" will be released in February 2008 worldwide by Torque Recording Company. They will be touring wherever you want them! Legit influences: Fear Before The March of Flames, Botch, Isis, Dissection, Psyopus, Fuck The Facts, Shai Hulud, Megadeth, Paris on a Good Day. You gotta check these guys out!
www.myspace.com/openeyeselysia
Record Label: Torque Records Company (distro: Victory Records)
SECRET LIVES OF THE FREEMASONS - "Weekend Warriors"
Though their name implies a group wanting to be kept under wraps, SECRET LIVES OF THE FREEMASONS are doing anything but. With a dance-inducing sound and a "let's get this party started" attitude, this group from Asheville, North Carolina, is ready to bestow what is sure to become the soundtrack to Friday nights everywhere when their Victory debut Weekend Warriors, hits the streets February 19th. SECRET LIVES OF THE FREEMASONS, made up of Jim DeBardi (guitar), Brien Worsham (vocals), Travis Moss (drums), Tucker Ensley (guitar), Josh Carden (bass), and Justin Elrod (guitar), serve up their listeners a cocktail of infectious dance rock songs, with a shot of high energy live performance.
SECRET LIVES! had instant chemistry together during an interesting evening at a local show in 2003. Moss and Worsham were in one act that night while DeBardi, Carden, Ensley, and Elrod were members in another. Coincidentally (and luckily) that was the final show for each. "None of us knew our bands were breaking up until the show was over that night. Our two bands broke up when the show ended, so we all just started a new band right there," says Worsham. The new arrangement was a hit, and SECRET LIVES! was created.
The next few years proved very profitable in achievements for SECRET LIVES! The band racked up tours with bands like UnderOath, Evergreen Terrace, and Stretch Arm Strong and garnered a huge following in the South, fueling their first release This Was Built to Make You Dance to sell over 7,000 copies. The addictive nature of their songs, their "party for the sake of partying" manner and their ever-growing fan base all caught the attention of Victory Records in the summer of 2007; SECRET LIVES! joined the Victory family soon after.
SECRET LIVES! temporarily relocated to Winston-Salem for the entire month of October 2007 to record at The Basement studios with producer Jamie King (BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME, HE IS LEGEND). "Working with Jamie was amazing," says Worsham, "We wanted to have fun with our record and still be able to get our message across; he understood how to do that. We just want kids to know we understand it can be hard to try and fit in, but that's not the only thing that matters." The band emerged with 12 songs that incorporate overcoming life's ups and downs and having a good time with clever lyrics and a fresh dance-pop-rock sound.
With a record like Weekend Warriors behind them, SECRET LIVES OF THE FREEMASONS are ready to bring the party to audiences across the country. As an ode to less worries and more fun, Warriors will be the fuel to invigorate the lives of everyone who hears it, and the anthem of the memories they'll make while doing so. On February 19th, you have a choice. Will you stay home and miss out, or you will you become one of the Weekend Warriors?
www.myspace.com/secretlivesofthefreemasons
Record Label: Victory Records
ALONG WAY HOME - "Solace"
From the gorgeous songs, to the soaring vocals, to the thundering live show. Along Way Home carries on a tradition of great Canadian pop/punk/hardcore bands like Silverstein, Comeback Kid and Hedley. Produced by Dean Maher, (Slayer, Hedley, Atreyu) and Kris Crummett, (Drop Dead Gorgeous, At the Throne of Judgement, Dance Gavin Dance), "Solace" sounds like a massive collision of the very best of Taking Back Sunday, Thrice and The Starting Line. From the smallest and most western part of canada come Along Way Home, straight to your home.
www.myspace.com/alongwayhome
Record Label: Torque Records
AMERICAN ME - "Heat"
American Me plays an arsenal of loud,pissed,violent hardcore. Coming together as a 5 piece from former members of It Prevails and Hatchet Diaries, AM's sonically induced form of devastating music comes from inspiration of all aspects of our lives... Everything from social values to personal issues that the regular 9-5 person experiences. We come from a blue collared up bringing where one would expect nothing but hard work and being as real as it gets to achieve success. Give us a listen. Hear our aggression.This is our angle of passionate expression through our words and music. For Fans Of Acacia Strain,Bury Your Dead and Hatebreed
www.myspace.com/americanme503
Record Label: Rise Records
DEAD TO FALL - "Are You Serious?"
A lot of eyebrows and questions are raised at an album titled Are You Serious? Thankfully, Dead To Fall is prepared to answer every one of them.
"The title works in a million different ways; in fact, you can pretty much find a way to relate it to anything and everything happening in each and every one of our lives," says frontman Jonathan Hunt. "The concept was to capture and make everyone understand exactly the level of seriousness behind our band and our music at this point."
A serious yet lighthearted approach to music is part of the allure that has kept Dead to Fall a fixture in the metal scene since its 2002 Victory Records debut. Serious are the destructive riffs, the structured guitar layers, and the brutal screams – yet the band takes pleasure in finding the humor music has to offer within its conceptual lyrics and the stories that can be conveyed through them.
"We are dudes that love heavy, fast, abrasive music, and Are You Serious? is asking why can't we have a good time playing technically advanced and brutal music, and be ourselves doing it," Hunt says. "We've always had a subtle sense of humor behind our music." (Unless you're counting "Chum Fiesta" from their third album – a not-so-hidden ode to a shark attack, especially as evidenced from the video.)
Through a whirlwind of lineup changes, the Minneapolis-based (formerly Chicago) quintet has found one that sticks, and sticks faultlessly. Likening guitar wunderkind Phil Merriman to "a white Jimi Hendrix with a Mohawk," Hunt calls him their "new secret weapon" who was from an altogether different music scene than the rest of the members. With Logan Kelly's additional guitar riffage, Tim Java behind the kit and Chad Fjerstad keeping the bass impulsive, it's a roster that was bound to achieve the masterpiece songs Kelly penned for Are You Serious? With Are You Serious? Dead To Fall has made an album that will take them to the top tier of metal outfits. The band aimed for a more natural, raw sound, but maintained the shredding and breakdowns they're known for. Upon witnessing the new wave of metal thrashers whose objectives are to simply peel your skin back for 12 tracks, Dead To Fall provide depth against the norm. "That's not to say at all these bands are not doing exactly what they need to be doing by any means, but it's just that we as musicians have come to understand what it is to lose interest in something simply because you've overexposed yourself to it," drummer Java says. "Sometimes less means more as far as brutality goes."
With producers Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour and Brian McTernan (Circa Survive, Senses Fail, Cave In) at the helm, Dead To Fall wanted their true selves as musicians to permeate through. The members are sincerely passionate about their progression as people and musicians, and feel that blasting the album in your own stereo is the only way to know how far they've truly come.
"We are able to bring the listener closer than ever before to our train of thought as characters and as musicians," Java says. "We can write songs that surpass our old songs and satisfy us as critics and musicians, but at the same time we are a bunch of goofy dudes that like to live life. There is no reason to be pursuing something that takes such a brutal toll on us physically and mentally unless it allows us to live happily and continue to be inspired to loosen up and enjoy the ride."
Dead To Fall is serious about what they've offered with this gem, out Feb. 19th – now they ask that you be, too.
www.myspace.com/deadtofall
www.deadtofall.com
Record label: Victory Records
EVERY AVENUE - "Shh...Just Go With It"
The last year has been a huge year for Marysville, Michigan natives Every Avenue and with their upcoming release "Shh. Just Go With It" hitting store shelves this winter, they show no signs of slowing down.
"Hopes and dreams and memories, you can't take away from me!" sings David Ryan, lead vocalist for the pop-infused rock sensation Every Avenue. The band has just finished another inspired, energetic performance and tonight, like every other night they have graced the stage, the crowd simply wants more. This reaction is becoming increasingly more common everywhere that Every Avenue goes, and that is not limited to shows. The band is being recognized in malls, restaurants, even on the highway; and rightfully so.
Forming in 2003 and self-releasing their first self-titled record later that same year, the mid-western quintet have had a positive outlook on the music scene since day one. "We try to stay fun and energetic and do it differently than other bands," says drummer Michael Govaere. In an industry that some say has gone bleak and dark in the last year, Every Avenue keeps fun and enthusiasm in their music, their live show, and most importantly, their attitude. After every set the band plays you will always find the boys talking and interacting with their fans. "We have always pushed ourselves hard to make a one on one connection with all of our fans, and that is never going to change," says bassist/vocalist Cam Grenstiner.
In the summer of 2007 Every Avenue was finally rewarded for their hard work and dedication. Fearless Records saw into the hearts of the young musicians, recognized their strong fan base, and decided to sign the band and release their debut EP entitled "AH!" on August 14, 2007. "It felt amazing signing to Fearless because it felt like we were becoming part of a family rather than just signing a record deal," says David, "we knew they were going to work just as hard for us as we would for them. We could not be more proud." The six song, pop-rock compilation takes listeners on a fun and emotional journey through love and life. Anyone can relate to the heartfelt lyrics that rain all over the record. The single that was released entitled "Where Were You" has not only received play on Yahoo! Radio and AOL Radio, but was also featured on MTV's Real World/Road Rules Gauntlet and received more than 150,000 downloads on Mark Hoppus' (Blink-182) "Hi My Name Is Mark" blog on I-Tunes.
"AH!" not only captured the hearts of fans everywhere but also the attention of producers Zach Odom and Kenneth Mount (Cartel, Mayday Parade). The band went into the studio with Odom and Mount in what the boys dubbed "Hot"lanta, Georgia in early fall 2007 where they wrote and recorded their debut full-length "Shh. Just Go With It", which is scheduled to hit store shelves everywhere on February 19, 2008. "We are really happy with the way the album came out," says guitarist Joshua Randall, "we were able to try a lot of things we always wanted to. We can't wait to see what the fans think."
With an EP that is selling copies nationwide and a full length on the horizon, Every Avenue has hit the road and hit it hard. They are currently on tour in support of The Mile After, and in the new year the band will jump back in the van January 11th - February 2nd to play shows with Just Surrender, label mates Mayday Parade, and All-Time Low. Music aside, at these shows there is one thing everyone is guaranteed to become addicted to: the pump jump. This signature move created by the boys themselves is rocking faces and taking names! Even their producers Zach and Kenneth, and the other bands on tour, could not help but be swept away by the energy created by the pump jump. Having fun at rock shows and a demanding schedule are something the boys are accustomed to and their vigorous upcoming tour schedule shall prove to be no different. When asked about the future and what it means for the band, guitarist Jimmie Deeghan simply says, "We'd rather be touring and playing music than anything else." Fans can expect to see that attitude reflected in every single second of any Every Avenue performance.
In addition to their ever increasing tour schedule, Every Avenue has solidified their status in the music world by employing the services of Keith Lazorchek with Absolute Management, adding themselves to an impressive roster that already includes All-Time Low and Set Your Goals. They will travel the country with the help of booking agents David Galea (Paramore, The Higher) and Jeremy Holgerson (Aiden, Alesana).
Hard times and set backs have done nothing to stop these young pop-rockers from making their dreams come true. Their fun approach to music is fresh and unique, and paired together with a dedicated fan base the band has accomplished so much in such a short period of time. Now with the help of a strong and supportive record label, a consistent touring schedule, and a debut full length packed with songs that will make even the biggest of critics nod their heads, the sky could truly be the limit for Every Avenue.
www.myspace.com/everyavenue
Record label: Fearless Records
PAINT IT BLACK - "New Lexicon"
Hardcore/punk band PAINT IT BLACK's New Lexicon was not easy to produce, but it's gritty, thunderous and ugly — just the way hardcore punk should be.
New Lexicon marks PAINT IT BLACK's first recording with new guitarist Josh Agran (Knives Out, Affirmative Action Jackson) and drummer Jared Shavelson (The Hope Conspiracy, None More Black) and boasts guest vocals from Jeff Pezzati (Naked Raygun). Still, many of the best surprises occur behind the scenes.
Rather than straining to re-create "lo-fi" in a studio, New Lexicon rings in an aggressive clarity from engineer J. Robbins' (Modern Life is War, Against Me!). With a thick low-end up front (think Bad Brains' ROIR sessions), New Lexicon says that aggression doesn't have to be found only in thick guitars.
From here, the album was passed on to co-producer Oktopus of the indie hip hop group Dälek. Here, the existing sounds of feedback, bass booms and cymbal crashes were twisted into haunting ambient interludes and serpentine waves trailing behind the buzz saw riffs.
With little debate, this is PAINT IT BLACK's finest hour …or, half-hour, anyway, with 15 songs clocking in at a dizzying 30 minutes, 26 seconds.
www.myspace.com/paintitblack
www.paintitblack.org
Record Label: Reflections Records
TIME AGAIN - "Darker Days"
A familiar sound in unfamiliar territory. Common beliefs expressed with extraordinary passion. Time Again isn't holding onto shreds of hope. They're tearing down barriers and tackling the issues. They portray the world as they see it. Using the angst driven, attention grabbing sound of punk as their canvas. They paint their songs with lyrical urgency and stunningly graphic storytelling.
Time Again was formed in the summer of 2004, by Los Angeles locals Daniel Dart (vocals), and Elijah Reyes (guitar). Despite the fact that they didn't have a full band, or a single song written, the two spent long hours promoting the band. They plastered up thousands of stickers, and handed out countless flyers. With a growing list of shows being booked, Time Again wasn't fully realized until just days before their first show. Now armed with Oren Soffer (bass) and Ryan Purucker (drums), the band began playing numerous shows in and around LA, performing and perfecting the songs that would make up their self titled EP, released on Rancid Records in June of '05. That album would receive heavy rotation on several radio stations, including a spot on Fungus 53 XM's Top 25 ALBUMS of '05 and the EP's closing song "I Go Back", earning a spot on the station's Top Ten SONGS of '05.
Nearly all of 2006 and 2007 were spent touring in support of their debut full length "The Stories Are True" released in April of '06 on the Epitaph subsidiary Hellcat Records. The album received outstanding critical acclaim, as well as beating out NOFX and The Casualties to win (XM Radio's) "Punk Song of The Year" award for the song "Cold Concrete."
Since their humble beginnings of hustling their self-titled EP's on the streets to raise money for tour, Time Again has taken their distinctive brand of adrenaline-fueled street punk from the club scene of their hometown to sold-out venues all over the US, Canada, and Europe. They have shared the stage and supported such acts as Social Distortion, Rancid, Tiger Army and The Casualties, just to name a few.
Because of Time Again's non-stop touring schedule, the majority of Darker Days was written in back-stages, hotel rooms, and often times right in their tour van. Coming straight off the road, and into the studio, they enlisted long time friend Mike Green to produce the record. "He's just so talented, and easy to work with"- Dart says, "all of the songs felt so right and came so naturally." This was further confirmed by the recording sessions. They completed "Darker Days" (the recording/mixing and mastering process) in only 6 days. While the sound is more sonically impressive all around, the raw energy and grit of Time Again's live performances is cleverly captured on the recordings.
Time Again doesn't just build upon their already established sound with "Darker Days." They push the boundaries and deliver an album filled with emotional suspense and angst driven intensity; triumphantly emerging as a tighter, more focused band.
While most bands fear and fall victim to the "2nd album slump", Time Again steps up to the plate, swings for the fences, and hits it out of the park with their sophomore album. Their beliefs may be commonly shared by many but Time Again expresses it with a heart, and passion that's rarely seen in a band their age. If that's truly what punk is, then Time Again will be around for a long time.
www.myspace.com/timeagain
www.timeagainband.com
Record Label: Hellcat Records
PANTERA - "Screaming Black Messiahs" DVD
Do I really have to let you know about this DVD? By far the best metal band in the world. RIP Dimebag
REIGN SUPREME - "American Violence"
Reign Supreme are one of the heaviest/hardest metallic hardcore bands to surface from the Philadelphia metro region in over a decade. Led by former Blacklisted guitar player Jay Pepito on vocals, they wield the same devastating musical hammer as bands like Crowbar, Terror, and Integrity, yet come out swinging with a power and conviction unlike anyone before them.
In 2006, Reign Supreme unleashed their classic demo on an unsuspecting hardcore world (now released as a 7"EP titled "Fuck the Weak" on the Rock Vegas label, mastered by New Alliance in Boston, MA). In early 2007, the band released a 12" Single on Robby Redcheeks' Dead By 23 label. This marked the first time that a 12" Single was recorded and released for a single show, the United Blood Festival in Richmond, VA, which amazingly enough was Reign Supreme's second live performance.
An ambitious tour schedule planned for 2007 and 2008 includes full North American and European tours with such modern luminaries as Steel Nation, Bitter End, and Internal Affairs, evidence that Reign Supreme is setting it's sights on sweating and raging in every single heavy music venue in the world. A band that is as passionate about touring and promoting as they are about writing and recording is a rare gem, and Reign Supreme is shaping up to become one of the most potent touring and live acts in the underground heavy music scene.
Reign Supreme have recently completed recording their "American Violence" EP with Will Putney at the Machine Shop (Lamb Of God, VOD, Clutch, 18 Visions) to be released February 19th on Malfunction Records, now a division of Deathwish Inc, which is undoubtedly one of the premier hardcore and metal independent labels in the industry. With mastering done by New Alliance, and artwork by legendary designer Jacob Bannon, this EP foreshadows what is to come. You'll be anticipating their full length which will unquestionably change the landscape of heavy music, simultaneously testing the limits of what hardcore is, and isn't. You've been warned.
www.myspace.com/reignsupremehardcore
Record Label: Deathwish Inc
A CURSIVE MEMORY - "Changes"
Changes (2/19/08 on Vagrant), their debut full length, is streamlined, catchy, and just anthemically huge. Inspired by the growth they and their sound have gone through since their start, Changes is, they say half-jokingly, "kind of like music puberty."
ACM is the twin guitar and vocal attack of Profeta and Colin Baylen, with Mark Borst Smith and newcomer Dillan Wheeler locking down the rhythm. The So-Cal 4-piece has already mailed in their dues with DIY-style touring, at one point locking their merch guy, Gooch, in the trailer for half an hour. oops!
That baptism by fire paid off. They went from being a high school band to Vagrant's latest signing, going coast-to-coast on national tours.
They've already held their own onstage with Jimmy Eat World, HelloGoodbye, Boys Like Girls, and more. If they get their way, it'll be months of hitting the road with more bands like tourmates New Found Glory and Senses Fail, more hotel rooms and a van that smells like dudes.
After one listen to "Everything," can you really not hear thousands of kids singing along? Well they already are. "Perfect Company," already featured in the season finale of the Simple Life, is only one of the album's rockers with more hooks than a prosthetics ward. Think All-American Rejects, think Mae, think the Killers, but when you hear Changes, you'll think again.
Because they've been well beyond the point of imitation-as-tribute for years. So age, experience – whatever. Here's the bottom line: the only way anyone is getting A Cursive Memory's songs out of their head is with a lobotomy. And that's expensive.
A bunch of friends wrote some songs once. Now they're going to do it all. It's time for some Changes.
www.myspace.com/acursicememory
Record Label: Vagrant Records
KMFDM - "Brimborium"
KMFDM - Kein Mehrheit Fur Die Mitleid
Roughly Translated: No Pity for the Majority
Spawned in Germany during 1984, KMFDM pioneered the crossover between techno/dance and heavy metal with their signature industrial sound. Moving to Chicago in the mid-80' s KMFDM was the pride of Wax Trax Records during the label's peak. Rapidly evolving year by year through intense experimentation and touring; the band has redefined themselves with each new release.
Venturing on to dabble in side projects and then re-establish KMFDM in Seattle during 1999 Sascha's revolving band of misfits stood the test of time. Currently helmed by the dual vocal attack of the band's founder Sascha and siren Lucia KMFDM celebrated 20 years of musical excellence by performing 62 shows in the US, Canada, Europe and Australia in 2004.
To quote themselves, "The future belongs to those of us still willing to get our hands dirty". Living by their D.I.Y. philosophy, KMFDM has launched their own online store, KMFDM Store and record label, (KMFDM Records). In 2005 they embarked on a World Tour of 18 countries in support of their full length CD Hau Ruck. 2006 saw the release of a new remix EP titled Ruck Zuck and the Hau Ruck Zuck USSA Tour with opening act Combichrist.
Now in their 23rd year, KMFDM remain a musical entity to be reckoned with. Through relentless musical exploration and reinvention they have continued to top themselves. KMFDM's most recent album, 2007's Tohuvabohu, is no exception.
The band are prepaparing their first full blown remix album ever, Brimborium. The album features 13 tracks and clocks in at over 73 minutes running time, offering dancefloor freaks and ultra heavy beat fans a disc that is packed with remixes and never before released material. Brimborium will be available on KMFDM Records/Metropolis Records on February 19
In addition to their new material KMFDM has re-released their entire back catalog from the band's Wax Trax! Records era as KMFDM Classics via Metropolis Records/KMFDM Records. All KMFDM Classics are remastered with deluxe booklets and some contain extra tracks. Their ten classic albums, What Do You Know, Deutschland?, Don't Blow Your Top, UAIOE, Naive, Money, Angst, Nihil, Xtort, Symbols and Adios are available now.
The classic KMFDM side project Excessive Force has had their entire catalog re-released with the same treatment given to the KMFDM Classics by Metropolis Records/KMFDM Records. Both Conquer Your World and Gentle Death are out now.
The self-proclaimed fathers of industrial-rock show no signs of stopping.
HELLOGOODBYE - "EP/DVD" reissue w/bonus DVD
HELLOGOODBYE - "Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!" (reissue) w/bonus DVD
KURT COBAIN - "About A Son" DVD
Well, I hope you enjoyed this first installment. There are a ton of great releases this coming Tuesday so be sure to check them out and let your friends know whats up.
STAY METAL!!!
Jason
Tell jason he sucks on his myspace page - www.myspace.com/jasonlnelson
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