thePULSEJOHN GARRISON
When John Garrison releases his second stateside solo work on November 10th, aptly titled Departures, it will represent a significant moment in a long-travelled journey. The Coventry-born and bred musician turned U.S.-based writer, artist, collaborator and singer-songwriter will reveal a heart-wrenching tale of loving, losing and moving on.
Many may recognize Garrison’s signature vocal quality from his work with his band Budapest’s 2002 debut release titled Too Blind to Hear (out through Universal Records in the USA and Sinnamon Records in Spain), and later on their album Head Towards the Dawn (out through Sinnamon Records in Spain).
Despite critical acclaim for his work with Budapest, a new music scene was calling out to Garrison. Heeding that call required great sacrifice ~ it was during this period Garrison made the decision to uproot himself in favor of New York. “When I first moved to New York, I really left it all behind…my friends, my home country,” he explains. “It was like being a little boy all over again in this big city.”
One solo record later (Above the Cosmos), countless gigs and residencies at intimate clubs around New York City, appearances backing artists as notable as Leona Lewis and a few world tours with artists like James Blunt, Garrison felt ready to unleash Departures. Inspired by his wanderings, musings, travels and experiences, Departures will capture anyone’s imagination with its easily relatable dream-like lyrics. “Once Around The Block,” for example, is Garrison’s portrayal of “that feeling of being all on your own in a big, scary place,” he explains. And yet that rush of excitement and uncertainty makes him ~ and us ~ feel suddenly quite alive.
On October 7th, Spinner.com premiered the music video for the first single off the album, “Let’s Run,” which Garrison directed and filmed himself.
Departures will be available on November 10, 2009.
HYPOCRISY
Hypocrisy, the Swedish extreme metal band led by guitarist/vocalist Peter Tägtgren (also of Pain), has set A Taste Of Extreme Divinity as the title of its new album, due out Nov. 3 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. Peter states, “I’m at the end of the recording and mixing; a few songs left to sing on. The rest are done mixing-wise. It’s just been too busy with touring and recording bands, and I didn’t wanna burn myself out totally.” He adds, “We’re happy [with] the result so far; it got everything a Hypocrisy album should have in our own point of view.”
Check out the CD cover artwork by cult artist Necrolord (Dissection, Emperor, At The Gates).
Hypocrisy ‘s latest album, Virus, came out in September 2005 via Nuclear Blast Records.
www.hypocrisy.tv, www.myspace.com/hypocrisy
illSCARLETT
Canada’s reggae-enthused illScarlett feels like a mix of Sublime meets No Doubt with a dash of Goldfinger thrown in for good measure. A cast of chill characters raised on their parents’ Beatles and Queen records, and influenced by the likes of Nirvana, Incubus, Beck, The Police, and Foo Fighters, the Mississauga, Ontario, Canada natives built the initial framework for illScarlett’s infectious sound, perfect for fist-pumping punk/pop/reggae jams, by cultivating, shaping and finessing their songs into their own signature creations.
They could be described as a rhythm and reggae influenced, filthy dub band that takes no prisoners, but just go to an illScarlett show and you’ll find a slew of sweaty, screaming kids who are fans of hip-hop, punk and emo, charged full of frenetic energy, jumping off the stage and rolling in the pit.
Currently on tour with like-minded party bros Pepper, and soon to hit the road with Big D & The Kids Table, illScarlett is winning over new fans every night. While on this most current trek the band is selling its first U.S. release, EPdemic.
When singer Alex Norman and drummer Swav Pior met in high school and started their band they had two choices – wait around on the off chance that some A&R guy was actually going to recognize talent, or take the bull by the horns and do it themselves. They chose the latter, adding compadres John Doherty (bass) and Will Marr (guitar) to complete their vision. Together they played hundreds of shows around the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), starting with a handful of faithful fans that amassed into crowds numbering over 1,000 in what seems like the blink of an eye.
The band recently finished its latest recording effort entitled 1UP! in Hollywood with three-time Grammy-winning producer Robert Carranza (Jack Johnson, Mars Volta, Beck, Ozomatli, Mindless Self Indulgence). The new album is now available in Canada.
With well over 2 million MySpace plays (30,000+ Friends, 1.7 Million views) and over 60,000 illScarlett records sold to date in Canada, the band has set the stage for an exciting Fall tour with an upcoming U.S. album release in the New Year.
View illScarlett’s new video for the song “OneA” here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6UaI3ipyuo.
For more information on illScarlett, see www.illScarlett.com and/or www.myspace.com/illscarlett.
illScarlett w/ Big D and the Kids Table comes to Pearl Street in Northampton on Nov. 20.
IMMOLATION
New York death metal veterans Immolation have signed a worldwide, multi-album contract with Nuclear Blast Records, who will release the band’s upcoming eighth studio album in early 2010.
Commented the band: “We are looking forward to working with Nuclear Blast, a classic label that has become one of the largest driving forces in metal today. We intend to have a new album out for early next year. Expect the new one to have some of the most dark and intense music we’ve ever put together!”
Jaap Wagemaker of the A & R Department at Nuclear Blast’s headquarters in Germany, states:
“Nuclear Blast is very proud to announce the signing of Immolation! Few other bands have the ability to embody torment and suffering into their music in the way that Immolation does. By fabricating the essence of agony within their sound, Immolation immerses you into the depths of eternal damnation where you can actually hear them burning within the unquenchable flames. They are the type of band that really put the death back into death metal. We are so stoked to welcome Immolation to the Nuclear family and look forward raising the fires of hell for you once again.”
Gerardo Martinez, Label Manager and A & R representative for Nuclear Blast’s USA office, shares the following:
“Without sounding nostalgic, 1991’s Dawn Of Possession was definitely the soundtrack of my high school years. Very few bands from that era still make great records and are relevant, and that’s why Immolation fit right in with our roster. We are very proud to have them on board!”
The upcoming album will be the third consecutive release featuring the following line-up: Ross Dolan ~ Bass & Vocals, Robert Vigna ~ Guitars, Bill Taylor ~ Guitars, Steve Shalaty ~Drums.
www.myspace.com/Immolationny & www.everlastingfire.com
KACI BATTAGLIA
Get ready for Kaci Battaglia! This fierce, take-no-prisoners bad girl of pop is poised to be the next BIG thing. Her single “Crazy Possessive” reached #1 on the Billboard Club Chart, #59 on iTunes Pop Chart and has exploded on radio with permanent adds at major pop stations, including WIHT Washington, KIIS FM Chicago, Buffalo and Hartford, Q102 in Philadelphia, NOU in Indianapolis and WXSS in Milwaukee. It will also be used in the new movie You And I starring Mischa Barton and Anton Yelchin.
The single “Crazy Possessive” is now available for download on itunes. Check it out! You can also get a taste of this brunette bombshell at www.myspace.com/kacibattaglia and her fan club at www.kacifans.com.
KATATONIA
Swedish Progressive Metal act, Katatonia, is set to release their latest album, Night is the New Day, on November 10th via Peaceville Records. The highly anticipated album, from one of Europe’s premier Progressive bands, Night is the New Day is the follow up to Katatonia’s groundbreaking 2006 release, The Great Cold Distance. It is their eighth studio album to date.
The band is currently finishing up mixing the new record in their hometown of Stockholm. Although Night is the New Day is Katatonia’s eighth album, they still continue to challenge themselves musically, always looking for ways to take their distinct, melancholy sound a step further.
“I realize that I’ve never sung this MUCH on an album before,” explains vocalist Jonas Renkse. “Not that I’m singing ALL THE TIME (don’t worry), but the vocals are much more demanding.” He admits, “My voice was already tired from the studio session, and even more tired from the gigs and I was really worried, but behind the microphone everything fell into place for that one last session.”
The artwork for Night is the New Day was done by Travis Smith, whom also produced the art for The Great Cold Distance, as well as numerous other Katatonia albums. Following the completion of the album, Katatonia will head out on a European tour with the likes of Porcupine Tree and Paradise Lost.
For more information on Katatonia, Night is the New Day, and Peaceville Records, head to www.katatonia.com, www.myspace.com/katatonia, www.peaceville.com, www.branchmc.com
Kathleen Blackwell
Daring. Delicious. Dashing. Demure. DIVA. She rocks like a cougar and purrs like a kitten.
Texan born recording artist, songwriter, and fashion designer (Yes, she has her own clothes line!) Kathleen Blackwell announces the release of her debut album, entitled To Be Human, now available on iTunes, CDBaby.com and all good online e-tailers, plus at her official website www.kathleenblackwell.com.
To Be Human is produced by L.A’s celebrated music producer, Ronan Chris Murphy (King Crimson, Tool, Ministry, Weezer, Dishwalla, Yes). The tightly produced CD is filled with hit material and radio friendly sounds, traversing the landscape of human emotion, from soft and love-struck, to joy, play, struggle, sorrow, anger and … hope. It’s high energy delicious Rock, and leaves you gasping for more. Featuring Kathleen Blackwell on Vocals and Piano (she’s classically trained!) the CD is a wall of sound, showcasing her highly energetic band–Victor Bisetti (Los Lobos) on Drums, Jay Terrien (All The Dolls In The Same Place) on Bass, Rodrigo Dennis (Film Composition; Jazz) on Guitar and Nick Lane (Chicago, Tom Petty, Rod Stewart) on trombone.
The album is dynamic, catchy and pure rock ‘n roll, just like Kathleen herself, who is unequivocally L.A’s next piano playing Rock Diva.
Kathleen’s influences range from Kate Bush to Tori Amos (because she equally likes to tinkle the ivories), as well as U2, Radiohead, Lenny Kravitz and Coldplay; plus Duffy to Urge Overkill, Bob Mould to Sugar ~ from punk rock to hard rock, Beethoven to Debussy ~ and many others in between…and on the edge ~ Kathleen is as eclectic in her pop/rock/punk/classical overtones, mixed with a voice like a siren. Stamp all that with her individual dress–style and you’ve got one power-packed femme fatale.
www.myspace.com/kathleenblackwell
