thePULSEMISS DERRIGNER
Miss Derringer would be the soundtrack to a roller coaster ride in the tiny town that Beetlejuice pops out of ~ if Beetlejuice were made in 2009 and his merry townsfolk were the members that surround frontwoman Liz McGrath. Their album, Winter Hill, was released on July 14th via Nickle and Dime Records and Triple X Records . Liz and her followers, fondly termed “The Winter Hill Gang” (based on the infamous 1960s mob war between two rival gangs in Boston) gained inspiration for their new album and stage antics from bands like the Shangri Las and Ronettes. Formed in 2004 when Liz and husband Morgan Slade (on guitar), along with Morgan’s childhood mate Sylvain de Muizon (on bass), combined their love for music and started playing various shows within the LA scene. Currently touring they are joined by Cody James (on drums) and Ben Shields (on guitar), rounding out a live show full of more energy and excitement than a pit of rattlesnakes. Part artist, part outlaw, part sing troupe, all you need to know about Miss Derringer is that this band is a force to reckon with and you’d better get off your high horse and give them a listen! Ya’hear!
www.missderringer.com, www.myspace.com/missderringer
MORNINGWOOD
Morningwood’s been busy, with a brand new album ~ Diamonds and Studs ~ a VH1 you oughta know feature starting in October, and preparing for a November tour with Jet & Papa Roach. Songs from Morningwood’s self-titled debut (2006) were featured across a slew of television spots, video games, and even feature films Sex and the City: the Movie and The Comebacks, too.
Whereas Morningwood’s 2006 self-titled debut could be described as straight-ahead rock, Diamonds and Studs lifts the sonic textures of their signature pop-rock sound and wraps them over a new, beat-driven backbone. “We love the energy of rock music,” says lead singer Chantal Claret, “but our artistic influences are so broad and we let them all meld together on this record.” Bass player and co-founder Peter Yanowitz adds: “This album is made to make you move. The title [Diamonds and Studs] is perfect ~ the vocal melodies are polished but the guitars just snarl!”
www.morningwoodrocks.com, www.myspace.com/morningwood
MR. BIG
Frontiers Records is honored to announce the release of Mr. Big’s reunion Live CD and DVD entitled Back to Budokan on October 27.
Mr. Big is a rock super-group that formed in 1988. The band is a quartet composed of Eric Martin (vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar), Billy Sheehan (bass), and Pat Torpey (drums). The band is noted especially for their “shred guitar” musicianship, intense live performances, and well-crafted songs.
Identified early on as a “musicians’ band,” Mr. Big produced numerous hit songs that ranged across a wide array of rock genres, be it ballad, heavy metal, or blues rock. Prior to the formation of the group, each of the members already had a reputation of being virtuosos as well as established song-writers/composers. Their songs were often marked with Eric Martin’s strong lead vocals, four part band vocal harmonies, and a technical proficiency in all instruments. Their hits include “To Be With You” (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991), “Wild World,” “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind,” “Just Take My Heart,” other ballads, and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances, such as “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy,” “Addicted to that Rush,” “Colorado Bulldog,” and “Take Cover,” among others.
Mr. Big’s large following and reputation remained strong for more than two decades, despite the band being challenged by internal conflict and the changing trends in mainstream music. Over the years, through the different heights of the band’s career, the fan-base of the group has remained steadfast – even following the band’s break-up in 2002. Fans had continually asked for the band’s reunion.
In February 2009, as a result of that fan-demand and also following several coincidences over the past couple of years where various members jammed on-stage together, all of which gradually brought the group back together again and Eric, Pat, Paul and Billy finally announced their decision to reunite in late 2008. This announcement was marked with celebration and excitement amongst fans all over the world, especially in Japan. The band members themselves are very happy to be together again as bandmates, and more importantly, friends, and to perform once more for fans all over the world. Their first tour happened in Japan in June 2009 to completely sold out audiences and this double Live CD and DVD, filmed and recorded during their standing room only concert at the Budokan in Tokyo, June 20, 2009, celebrates the welcomed return of one of Rock’s giants.
The band also recorded two new songs, the original “Next Time Around” and the Argent cover “Hold Your Head Up,” which found their space on the album as a special bonus, along with an acoustic version of the timeless hit song “To Be With You.”
Back to Budokan in CD version will include:
CD1: “Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Elecrtic Drill Song),” “Take Cover,” “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind,” “Alive and Kickin’,” “Next Time Around,” “Hold Your Head Up,” “Just Take My Heart,” “Temperamental,” “It’s For You – Mars,” “Pat Torpey Drum Solo,” “Price You Gotta Pay,” “Stay Together,” “Wild World,” “Goin’ Where the Wind Blows,” “Take a Walk”
CD2: Paul Gilbert Guitar Solo, Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan Duo, Double Human Capo, “The Whole World’s Gonna Know,” “Promise Her the Moon,” “Rock & Roll Over,” Billy Sheehan Bass Solo, “Addicted To That Rush,” “To Be With You,” “Colorado Bulldog.” “Smoke On the Water,” “I Love You Japan,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Shyboy,” “Next Time Around” (*), “Hold Your Head Up” (*),”To Be With You” (**)
(*) New studio tracks
(**) Exclusive bonus track – Acoustic Version
The 2-DVD set will include:
Disc 1 (121 minuntes):
Live at Budokan, Tokyo, June 20, 2009
“Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Elecrtic Drill Song),” “Take Cover,” “Green-Tinted Sixties Mind,” “Alive and Kickin’,” “Next Time Around,” “Hold Your Head Up,” “Just Take My Heart,” “Temperamental,” “It’s For You – Mars,” Pat Torpey Drum Solo, “Price You Gotta Pay,” “Stay Together,” “Wild World,” “Goin’ Where the Wind Blows,” “Take a Walk,” Paul Gilbert Guitar Solo, Paul Gilbert and Billy Sheehan Duo, Double Human Capo, “The Whole World’s Gonna Know,” “Promise Her the Moon,” “Rock & Roll Over,” Billy Sheehan Bass Solo, “Addicted To That Rush”
Disc 2 (51 minutes):
Encores: “To Be With You,” “Colorado Bulldog,” “Smoke On the Water,” “I Love You Japan,” “Baba O’Riley,” “Shyboy”
Bonus footage: “Next Time Around” (videoclip) Bonus live footage: Acoustic Live at Hard Rock Cafe Tokyo – February 2009
NELSON
Celebrity rockers Matthew & Gunnar Nelson announced their rock band Nelson has signed with Frontiers Records to record and release a new, original sequel to their multiplatinum selling album After the Rain.
The new album will be titled Lightning Strikes Twice.
As part of the partnership with Frontiers Records, the label will also release a Nelson live album recorded during the “After the Rain” tour, plus the original “After the Rain” demos, which include some unreleased gems.
“Frontiers is truly pleased to bring back Nelson to rock!” said Frontiers Records President Serafino Perugino in Italy. “We have always admired the music that Gunnar and Matthew have released during the years and I think the spark ignited in the moment when they picked up the chance to finally give ‘After the Rain’ the right sequel release. I am honoured to work with them and I am sure we will build together a monster rock album.”
Internationally-known rock group Nelson stars Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, who have written and performed Nelson’s #1 Billboard mega hit “(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection,” and Top Ten singles “After the Rain” and “More Than Ever.” Nelson has sold over 4 million albums worldwide. Nelson, the original rock band, recently reunited to tour for the first time in 15 years. VH1 has ranked Nelson’s “Love and Affection” as one of the “100 Greatest Songs of the ’90s.”
“Matthew and I are proud to announce our new partnership with our friends at Frontier,” affirms Gunnar Nelson. “We’re thrilled at the opportunity for a renewed vitality for our rock band, Nelson. We eagerly anticipate an unstoppable connection between the songs we work so hard on and the fans of classic melodic hard rock that we make our music for. While trends have come and gone, Frontiers has stayed the course and supported a loyal rock fanbase all over the world. Matthew and I have taken great pride in doing the same. It’s this shared passion for great rock and roll…spearheaded by great songs…presented in a timeless fashion…that’s assured Matthew and I that Frontiers will be where our future hits find the perfect home.”
“Who would have thought Gunnar and I would be working on a follow up to ‘After the Rain’ twenty years later?” said Matthew Nelson. “Not only are we thrilled with this new partnership with Frontiers, we are also excited to work on this new Nelson album for the creative opportunity artistically. We had unfinished business when grunge took over, so it allows us to continue the musical journey we started early in our careers. As singer songwriters we cherish this experience. We’re having a blast in the studio recording some incredible rock music. Our pop’s (Ricky Nelson) career taught us musically that lightning really can strike twice…so we’re ready to continue the Nelson rock journey with Frontiers on ‘Lightning Strikes Twice!'”
Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are the identical twin sons of rock ‘n’ roll Hall of Famer Ricky Nelson, and grandsons of ’50s TV icons Ozzie & Harriet Nelson of the Nelson family – the only family in entertainment history with three generations of #1 hitmakers, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Nelson rock band has five Top 40 Billboard hits, four #1 MTV videos and sold over 4 million albums worldwide!
www.NelsonRockBand.com, www.myspace.com/frontiersrecordsusa, www.frontiers.it, www.myspace.com/frontiersrecords
NILE
The new Nile album, Those Whom the Gods Detest, hits the streets on November 3.
“The concept is that all of us who play and listen to metal are the people that the gods hate. So [the new album] is a unified rejection of the gods – any god, every god. Not any one in particular, but all of ’em,” says Nile’s Karl Sanders.
After two years since their last studio album Ithyphallic, mighty US-American technical death metal masters Nile are finally back with new and exciting material ~ Those Whom the Gods Detest is a landmark release in the field of all things brutal yet technically refined. And this album will show all youngsters and newcomers just who is the leader of the pack!
Formed in 1993 by Karl Sanders (guitar/vocals), Chief Spires (bass/vocals), and Pete Hammoura (drums), Nile wasted little time combining their interest in Egyptian history, culture and lore with the ferocity of modern death metal. Using a symphonic approach to songwriting and arrangement, Nile unleashed an uncompromising attack that fused technical death metal with organic Middle Eastern tones. Their unique lyrical approach was inspired by Sanders’ interpretation of ancient Egyptian inscriptions, temple carvings, papyri, hieroglyphics and tomb paintings depicting ancient battles, rituals and religious ceremonies.
In 1996, Dallas Toler-Wade joined the band as second guitarist and Nile began recording their debut full-length album Amongst The Catacombs Of Nephren-Ka ~ an adventurous and awesome effort, released in 1998, which earned them a world tour with no one else but Morbid Angle. Upon their return home in August 1999, Sanders and co. began work assembling and arranging the pieces and ideas that had been brewing since 1997. Sanders spent every night composing, arranging, re-arranging and piecing together all the movements like a symphony orchestra.
In late Spring 2000, Nile entered the Soundlab Studios in Columbia with long-time producer Bob Moore to give shape to Black Seeds Of Vengeance, a relentless, scathing death metal assault. Once again Nile hit the road and over the next year, in support slots and as the headliner, the band proved they had no equal in the live arena. Nile’s unrelenting style left little in its wake. The album’s impact on the death metal scene was huge and their hard work culminated with Black Seeds Of Vengeance being voted Album of the Year by Terrorizer Magazine UK.
In 2002, In Their Darkened Shrines took Nile’s astute songwriting and invention to dizzying new heights. Annihilation Of The Wicked marked the biggest success of Nile so far, even hitting the Swedish album charts on position 27! The addition of drumming sensation George Kollias to the existing NILE base of Karl Sanders and Dallas Toler-Wade strengthened an already stellar line-up of musicians.
2007 marked the release of the band`s fifth studio album, Ithyphallic, produced by Neil Kernon (Slayer, Cannibal Corpse) and their first for Nuclear Blast. It was a massive chart success worldwide, including German album charts # 76 and the U.S. billboard charts at # 162, to mention just a few!
Now Nile have gathered all their strength to serve us Those Whom the Gods Detest: once again produced by Neil Kernon, it sums up to a massive death metal onslaught featuring all the trademarks of the band ~ relentless brutality, Egyptian mythology, Middle Eastern interludes and incredible guitar duels. An absolute highlight in the Nile discography, and second to none in today’s death metal scene!
Omar Rodriguez Lopez
Renown guitarist and musical mastermind Omar Rodriguez Lopez is set to release perhaps his most melodic and revealing album to date worldwide on November 10th, 2009 via his own Rodriguez Lopez Productions. The disc, titled Xenophanes, is the first to feature lead vocals from the Grammy-winning guitar legend ~ and we don’t use the word “legend” lightly, Rolling Stone hails him among their “Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” placing him on that issue’s cover.
The inaugural recording from Rodriguez Lopez’s low-profile compound in Zapopan, Mexico, Xenophanes is the first album which finds him at the helm vocally and lyrically, as well as musically. Sung entirely in Spanish, Xenophanes showcases a side of Omar rarely seen before, allowing for a much more gestural experience of the man rather than simply the musician, and truly distinguishing this album from its myriad predecessors. Equal parts Volta bombast, El Grupo Nuevo… technicality, and a textural richness unequaled on prior solo releases, Xenophanes is a triumph of imagination and an inspired, concise statement. A conceptual journey through life, death, and re-birth, the album tells the story of a selfish and judgmental female caseworker who falls in love with a male client, only for him to die soon thereafter. Over the course of eleven subsequent lifetimes, the woman experiences life from every conceivable vantage point as her soul evolves, thereby allowing the maturity and eventual letting-go of her ego which in turn enables the realization that the man was, and always has been, her father spirit. Suggesting the fractal and holographic nature of both consciousness and physical reality, the concepts embraced on Xenophanes will appear at least vaguely familiar to anyone with experience in the psychedelic and/or shamanic realms; concepts which Xenophanes himself was likely the first to express within the confines of Western philosophy.
In order to execute the unpredictable, emotionally-charged compositions on Xenophanes, Rodriguez Lopez once again enlists his veteran co-conspirators: bassist Juan Alderete de la Peña, drummer Thomas Pridgen and keyboardist/percussionist Marcel Rodriguez Lopez. Additionally, the album includes contributions from Mark Aanderud (additional keyboards), as well as the notable voice of Ximena Sariñana, doubling and backing Rodriguez Lopez’s vocals. As Sariñana’s presence on Omar’s recordings and during live performances has already been a cause for much speculation, it should be made clear that Xenophanes does not feature the accomplished and versatile singer’s own vocal compostions. Subsequent releases (the forthcoming Los Suenos De Un Hidago and Ciencia De Los Inutiles albums, for instance) will fully showcase Sariñana’s penchant for infectious melody and engaging lyrics.
rodriguezlopezproductions.com, www.myspace.com/rodriguezlopezproductions
RAY DAVIES
Ray Davies is the lead singer, chief songwriter, and rhythm guitarist in the Kinks, one of the most long-lived of the British Invasion rock groups of the 1960s (“Come Dancing,” “Lola,” “Louie Louie,” “Father Christmas,” and so many more). During the ’90s, the Kinks gradually became inactive and Davies pursued other projects, such as his semi-fictional 1995 memoir, X-Ray, which he then followed with a series of concerts subtitled Storyteller, during which he performed classic Kinks tunes, read from the book, told stories, and showcased new songs. Most recently, in late 2005, he released the benefit EP Thanksgiving Day, for which all the proceeds went to New Orleans music education programs. A year later the full-length Other People’s Lives appeared, followed by Working Man’s Café in 2008.
Ray, who has quietly achieved living legend status, will be performing at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston on Tuesday, November 17. Tickets for this MassConcerts event are available at TicketMaster.com
This show promises to be one you won’t want to miss.
For more on Davies, visit www.myspace.com/raydaviesofficial.
For a complete list of Kinks’ songs, visit www.kindakinks.net/discography.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS
The amazing Robbie Williams, who has sold a staggering 55 million albums worldwide, has announced that he will release his brand new album Reality Killed The Video Star globally on Nov. 9th followed by a digital release in the U.S. on Nov.10th on EMI’s Virgin Records. Robbie teamed up with producer Trevor Horn (Paul McCartney, Seal, Pet Shop Boys, Cher) for Reality Killed The Video Star, recorded and mixed London.
Robbie Williams has consistently set new records for album and ticket sales, not least when he entered the Guinness Book of Records in 2006 having sold 1.6 million tickets on one day for his 2006 tour. That tour played to 3.7 million people in total. Three years previously he played the biggest live music event in UK history when his 3 nights at Knebworth saw him play to over 365,000 people.
Robbie has also won more Brit Awards than any other artist to date, has won 3 Ivor Novello awards for songwriting and holds the UK record for the fastest selling Greatest Hits album ever – that same album reaching number 1 in 18 countries.
For more info on Robbie Williams, please visit www.robbiewilliams.com
ROB ZOMBIE
In a sudden and unexpected move, multi-platinum hard rock artist Rob Zombie has inked a new worldwide deal with leading rock label Roadrunner Records through its Loud & Proud imprint.
This shocking announcement comes as Zombie exits his former label of eighteen years, where he sold fifteen million records as a solo artist and with his former band White Zombie. Zombie’s new album, Hellbilly Deluxe 2, previously set for release on 11/17 will now be released by Roadrunner / Loud & Proud Records in early 2010.
“It certainly wasn’t an easy decision to make after all this time, but it had to be done,” states Zombie. “I love this new record and wanted to surround myself with an excited new group of people who can reignite my enthusiasm for working within a hard rock record label. Roadrunner seems to be the perfect place.”
“Roadrunner is thrilled to be involved with Rob Zombie on a worldwide basis as he is a multiple-threat artist whom we’ve admired for many years,” said Roadrunner president Jonas Nachsin.
Tom Lipsky, founder and president of Loud & Proud echoed Nachsin’s sentiment, “Rob Zombie hits hard on Hellbilly Deluxe 2 and the fans expect nothing less. We are excited about the monster mayhem that he is certain to create!”
The first single from the new album, “What?” recently launched at all rock radio formats and is quickly climbing the charts. This latest album marks the follow-up to 1998’s triple platinum Hellbilly Deluxe.
The track listing is as follows:
1. Jesus Frankenstein
2. Sick Bubblegum
3. What?
4. Mars Needs Women
5. Werewolf, Baby!
6. Virgin Witch
7. Death and Destiny Inside The Dream Factory
8. Burn
9. Cease to Exist
10. Werewolf Women of the SS
11. The Man Who Laughs
In support of this release Zombie, will kick off his first headline tour since 2007 in Phoenix, AZ on October 29th. Shows in Las Vegas, NV on the 30th, and a very special Halloween event on October 31st in Hollywood, CA are set to follow. Zombie will be accompanied by his longtime band mates – guitarist John 5, bassist Piggy D and drummer Tommy Clufetos.
Visit www.RobZombie.com for Hellbilly Deluxe 2 World Tour updates, including the official blog, Twitter feed, photos, and videos directly from the road. Hellbilly Deluxe 2 World Tour tickets are on sale now; local tour dates are as follows:
Dec 2 – House Of Blues, Boston, Massachusetts
Dec 3 – Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Connecticut
In addition to his illustrious recording career, Zombie has also written and directed five feature length films. Most recently was the animated cult favorite The Haunted World Of El Superbeasto based on his successful comic series. This season’s Halloween 2 (August 2009) followed up Zombie’s record breaking blockbuster re-imagining of Halloween in 2007. In 2005, Zombie assaulted the film world with the critically-acclaimed The Devil’s Rejects (Lionsgate), the follow-up to his already cult classic House of 1000 Corpses (Lionsgate 2004).
SWITCHFOOT
On November 10, Atlantic Records will release Hello Hurricane, the seventh full-length album from the multi-Platinum, San Diego-based rock band Switchfoot. Hello Hurricane is the group’s first album on Atlantic Records and its first studio album since 2006’s Oh! Gravity, which debuted at No. 18 on The Billboard 200.
Switchfoot has been hard at work on Hello Hurricane, tracking more than 80 songs at the band’s self-built home studio and selecting the very best of them for the record. The band recorded the album with noted producer/bassist Mike Elizondo (Dr. Dre, Rilo Kiley, Eminem, and Pink). The edgy, driving lead single “Mess of Me” goes for adds at Modern and Active Rock radio this week.
The back-to-basics approach employed has yielded a career-defining album that lead singer Jon Foreman views as “a new beginning.” Elizondo’s unique background facilitated a departure for the band, allowing it to build on
Switchfoot ‘s foundation, punctuated by hard-hitting instrumentation and soaring choruses, and elevating the music to a new level.
“Hello Hurricane acknowledges the storms that tear through our lives,” states Foreman. “This album is an attempt to respond to those storms with an element of hope, trying to understand what it means to be hopeful in a world that keeps on spinning.”
The band recently kicked off the co-headlining Crazy Making Summer Tour with Universal Motown Records group Blue October and featuring special guests Ours and Longwave. Following that outing, Switchfoot will open for Dave Matthews Band on two Southern California dates (September 12th & 13th). See below for itinerary.
Switchfoot ~ comprised of Jon Foreman (vocals/guitar), Tim Foreman (bass), Chad Butler (drums), Jerome Fontamillas (keys/guitar) and Drew Shirley (guitar) ~ has hosted the annual Bro-Am, a surf contest, charity auction and concert, for the past five years. The June 2009 Bro-Am benefited local San Diego area chapters of StandUp for Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to making a difference in the lives of at-risk and homeless youth. Final numbers are still being tallied, but it is estimated that this year’s event grossed approximately $93,000, making it the most successful to date. (www.standupforkids.org)
Moved by the moral and universal consciousness of events like Bro-Am, Foreman created www.theworldyouwant.com, an online destination people can visit for daily doses of inspiration and to share their own stories. “Every day you’re alive you change the world – with every breath, every action, and every thought,” he writes. “What is the world you want? Let your life live out your decision. The World You Want website is a place where goodness, beauty, and truth in everyday life are given the spotlight. Who are the people in your life who are creating the world you want? We want to know…we want to hear their song…we want to sing along.”
THE RED CHORD
Boston Massachusetts metalers The Red Chord released their fourth full length album (third for Metal Blade), titled Fed Through the Teeth Machine, on October 27th in the US.
Here’s what guitarist Mike “Gunface” McKenzie has to say about the band’s new album Fed Through the Teeth Machine: “We spent the last year working hard on this one and we’re excited for everyone to finally hear it. It’s a lot faster and, in my opinion, more straight forward in a structural sense. We’re really happy with the great work Jonny Fay and Zeuss did too. It’s not a concept record, but there are some loose conceptual elements to it: hygienic obsession, delusional compound-dwellers and Maniac Mansion. Get ready to make fun of us on the internet!”
“’Demoralizer’ kind of sums up what the record is about. It’s aggressive and fast with some darker melodic parts. Probably one of the angriest-sounding songs we’ve recorded, which fits the records vibe,” comments Mike “Gunface” McKenzie.
While the heavy music scene is flooded and littered with trendy, “‘current” fusion bands that string together electronics and mosh and pretend to be as brutal as f*ck, The Red Chord aren’t having any of it. The music on Fed Through the Teeth Machine is like a hulking hammer that rips and tears at the fabric of all that is trend-driven. But The Red Chord aren’t making music for that purpose; they’re just good enough to flip off trends and top the bands that perpetrate them. The Massachusetts band – which has downsized to a lean ‘n mean four-piece to counteract the bad economy function as a quartet without sacrificing any of their Rottweiler-like ferocity and tenacity – continues to focus on making extreme metal, for extreme people who want something lyrically and musically outside the box and forward thinking and don’t want some assembly-line, manufactured, “of the moment” band in their lives. Put simply: If you want to have your bones reduced to dust and your brain taken out scrambled and put back in by music, then The Red Chord are up for that task with Fed Through the Teeth Machine.
The Red Chord is Guy Kozowyk – Vocals, Mike “Gunface” McKenzie – Guitars, Greg Weeks – Bass, Brad Fickeisen – Drums
www.myspace.com/theredchord
TRAP THEM
Prosthetic Records has signed Seattle’s Trap Them, a band whose sound combines elements of old school Swedish death metal, punk, and d-beat and takes influence from bands such as Entombed, Black Flag, Nasum and Tragedy. Trap Them has spent time on the road with Napalm Death, Disfear, Skeletonwitch, Victims, Rotten Sound, Toxic Holocaust, and Coliseum, amongst others and has appeared at Maryland Death Fest & New England Metal and Hardcore Fest. (In fact, Mark “Barney” Greenway of Napalm Death was quoted as saying, “Trap Them restored my faith in extreme music.”) Before entering the studio to record their Prosthetic debut, due in the first half of 2010, the band will be releasing an EP through Southern Lord Records.
The band commented, “After a few months of very positive talks, we are proud to announce we have signed with Prosthetic Records. This is a step forward for the band and a move that opens up a lot of doors that we have not yet explored in the last three years of distortion. Prosthetic has been supportive of Trap Them’s modus operandi for quite some time, just as we have a great respect for the high standards in which their label is run.
We would like to thank Tre, Jake and all the rest of the Deathwish Inc. family for working so hard the last few years, releasing our records and helping us stay on the road as much as we possibly could. We felt honored to have them invest as much time in this band as they did and we greatly appreciate the efforts they made to treat us as a band they believed in.
This is the first step in the next progression of Trap Them and we extremely excited that it involves Prosthetic. We’ve built this beast on depression, desperation and blasphemy and there is literally no ending point in our sights. We function by the expression, “Go heavy or go home,” be it how we write our music, how we approach our tours, or how we live our lives. The days won’t stop and we’re ready to rage. See you all soon.”
Trap Them has released several seven inches and EPs and two full lengths, the latest being Seizures in Barren Praise, on Deathwish Inc. which made Decibel and Terrorizer’s year end top 40 lists, in 2008.
Los Angeles based Prosthetic Records was founded in 1998 and has released albums by acts such as Lamb of God, All That Remains, Kylesa, The Acacia Strain, Landmine Marathon, Gojira, Book of Black Earth, Skeletonwitch and Testament and many more.
myspace.com/trapthem
UNLEASHED
Jaap Wagemaker of the A&R Department at Nuclear Blast’s headquarters in Germany proudly announces:
“The long ships have set sail to Germany! Sweden’s legendary Viking death metal band, Unleashed, have forged a new home at Nuclear Blast – and prepare to bring their battle-hardened music to the rallying masses. With several classic albums already to their credit, Unleashed personify the perfect mix of melody and aggression: riffs of pure shrapnel, epic choruses, uncompromising sonic brutality, plus anthemic odes to the Old Gods. Unleashed are extreme with an undeniable listenability; each song is perfectly crafted to headbang! They have remained one of the most important flag bearers for metalheads around the globe and have been the ultimate embodiment of Viking Death Metal. Unleashed will return more merciless than ever!”
The members of Unleashed have offered the following statement:
“Unleashed marks their 20th anniversary by proudly announcing their signing to Nuclear Blast Records. We eagerly anticipate our partnership in this new era of Viking Death Metal.
Recording for the band’s upcoming tenth studio album is scheduled to begin this month.
The current line-up for Unleashed is as follows: Johnny Hedlund ~ Bass & Vocals, Tomas Måsgard ~ Guitar, Fredrik Folkare ~ Guitar, Anders Schultz ~ Drums
Visit Unleashed online at www.myspace.com/666unleashed and www.unleashed.se.
WE SHOT THE MOON
We Shot the Moon ~ the piano-heavy indie rock four-piece ~ will release their sophomore LP A Silver Lining on November 17 on Minneapolis-based label Afternoon Records. The group, who logged more than 300 live dates in 2008, will launch “The Silver Lining” headlining U.S. tour September 3 with support from Mansions and The Record Life on the West Coast and Lights Resolve and Destry on the East Coast.
We Shot the Moon is led by former Waking Ashland frontman Jonathan Jones and rounded out by Trevor Faris (drums), Adam Lovell (bass) and Jason De La Torre (guitar). According to Jones, the band specializes in “quirky rock” that’s layered, thick, and replete with ambient noise, and it’s for that reason “we fall through the cracks, which I think, ultimately, is a good thing. We don’t fit in to the super-indie hipster crowd. We’re not gimmicky–we’re real.”
A Silver Lining ~ the follow-up to 2008’s Fear and Love ~ was produced by Mike Green (Paramore, Waking Ashland, The Matches). The album’s first single, “Red Night,” is something of a departure for the band, as it’s admittedly the edgiest song on the record. “The guitars get right down to business,” Jones enthuses. “It’s very overdriven, and that’s new for us. It’s a complete rock song, with more guitar riffs. In the past, the riff stuff was done more on piano, so, it’s us branching out, and going in a slightly different direction. I think it may hint at the future sound of this band…depending on what the response is.” A Silver Lining contains 11 tracks, and the standouts include the aforementioned “Red Night,” “Should Have Been” and “Woke Her Up,” which Jones says most people will relate to since it tackles those moments in life when Jones explains. “I’ve never been so honest in my writing, and I hope, through the honesty, our audience is really able to connect.”
WINGER
Winger reunited after more than a decade in 2006 for the release of the successful come back album entitled IV, a record that pushed the boundaries of Winger’s classic sound to new heights, dealing with the concept of the military life and what it was like to be a soldier, from a soldier’s perspective, leaving politics at the door. “After Winger ‘IV’ we toured the United States, Europe, Australia, and Japan, during which we made a live record,” said Kip Winger. “When the chance came up to do a new Winger record, I envisioned an upbeat totally rocking record that was a cross between the first Winger album and Pull. So Reb and I sat down and wrote all the music in a month or so. I worked for six months to finish it in the classic Winger style.”
The result is an amazing new record where the four band members, Kip Winger (bass and vocals), Reb Beach (guitars now also in Whitesnake), Rod Morgenstein, and John Roth, shine with an incredible instrumental and vocal prowess at the service of superb hard rock songs, but with an uncanny sense of melody. The title itself, Karma, represents Winger completing its full musical circle, as Kip Winger explained, “We were discussing the very interesting path the band has had and we have all been through so much together. So we went for ‘Karma,’ as this is a word that truly sums up the experience of being in the band.”
Winger’s debut album in 1988 on Atlantic achieved platinum status in the United States, and gold in Japan and Canada, sporting such hits as “Madalaine,” “Seventeen,” and “Headed For A Heartbreak.” In 1990, the band was nominated for an American Music Award for “Best New Heavy Metal Band.” Shortly after, Winger released its second album, In the Heart of the Young, which went platinum in the U.S. and gold in Japan. The album included Winger’s biggest hit, “Miles Away,” who topped at #12 on Billboard charts in the USA. Their third and last studio album, Pull, was recorded in 1992-93 as a three-piece band, following the original keyboard/guitar player Paul Taylor’s departure. Produced by Mike Shipley, on the following tour John Roth was called in to replace Paul Taylor.
“Usually Winger fans don’t ‘expect’ anything because they know we do what we feel like doing artistically,” explained Kip. “It is not a commercially driven band. I can say that the songs are very upbeat.” Reb Beach added: “It’s a very up-tempo, riff-driven, rocking record. It has the elements of vintage Winger from ’89 but has the blood, sweat, and tears of years 20 years of writing, recording, and touring!”
Karma will be released with the first pressing in limited digipak edition and includes the following songs: “Deal With the Devil,” “Stone Cold Killer,” “Big World Away,” “Come A Little Closer,” “Pull Me Under,” “Supernova,” “Always Within Me,” “Feeding Frenzy,” “After All This Time,” “Witness,” and “First Ending” (Bonus Track). Also included will be an Electronic Press Kit, with footage filmed in the studio during the recording sessions, which is playable on all computers, as an interactive bonus.
Winger has also announced their forthcoming European tour in support to the new album’s release ~ but stay tuned, more dates will follow in the USA!
