thePULSEMONGREL “GO THROUGH HELL” ON NEW ALBUM, RECLAMATION
S. Adams
On their fifth release, Reclamation, seminal MA metal/punk crossover act Mongrel literally “…went through hell,” according to guitarist and Mongrel mainman Adam Savage. “It was a 4 year, 5 band member change, 2 studio, 2 label and countless hour process and now it’s finally coming out!”
As they were recording, tensions within the band were tearing it apart and ~ just as the album was being completed (the first time around) ~ Mongrel parted ways with their singer and drummer. They found new drummer, Dave Kazukiewicz, and quickly added him to their lineup. Finding a singer wouldn’t prove as easy, however. “We found a male singer and then life circumstances put an end to that pretty fast. We then asked my friend Jessica Sierra to cover some shows with us,” says Savage. Filling in for a few shows led to Jessica joining the band on a permanent basis and the band returned to the studio to re-record what would become Reclamation from scratch.
From the sludgy back alley infused opener “Bored To Death” through the punk anthem “C And a Half” to the final track, “No Gods, No Masters,” the work of veteran producer Jim Foster (POD, Nullset, Damone) is captured perfectly on this unrelenting, raunchy, thunderous twelve track affair, released on September 25 in conjunction with THC : X, the digital/alternative imprint of THC : MUSIC, home of American Head Charge, Oedipus, Slaves on Dope, Black Light Burns, Attika 7 and more.
The icing on this metal cake is that Mongrel have been invited to play the prestigious 9th annual Rock & Shock Convention on October 12 at The Palladium.The band will be appearing on the main stage alongside The Misfits, Shadows Fall, God Forbid and Vision Of Disorder.
Savage said, “We last played at Rock & Shock in 2006 and that was an amazing experience opening for GWAR, I can only imagine how much better this one is going to be with not only the Misfits, but hometown boys Shadows Fall, plus God Forbid and V.O.D.! This is going to be incredible! It’s made even cooler by the fact that our newly appointed full-time drummer Mike Hogan [who, after Dave amicably left the band to focus on his other band, Polluted Remains, made his debut appearance at the band’s recent show with OTEP, Butcher Babies, and One-Eyed Doll] will get to share the stage with one of his idols (Jason Bitner of Shadows Fall) so soon after joining the band. We’re also going to be hanging out the rest of the weekend at our booth at the convention center, so we’ll get to hang out with fans and friends, plus see and meet people like Danny Trejo, Dee Snider, Peter Criss, Bill Moseley, Sig Haig, and Brain O’Hallaran (aka. Dante from Clerks)!! Following up the release party shows (see below) for our new album Reclamation with being a part of this year’s Rock & Shock couldn’t have worked out better. We’re psyched!!”
CD release party dates:
9/28 – Brooklyn, NY- Trash Bar (NYC area CD release party)
9/29 – Athol, MA – Silver Lake Park (“Rise Above Fest” to benefit kids in foster homes)
9/30 – Worcester, MA – Tammany Hall (MA CD release party)
10/5 – Manchester, NH – Mad Bob’s (NH CD release party)
10/12 – Worcester, MA – Rock & Shock Convention at the Worcester Palladium
www.facebook.com/MongrelOfficial
www.reverbnation.com/MongrelBand
Photo: L – R: Mike Hogan (drums), Adam Savage (guitars), Jessica Sierra (vocals), Micah Maltais (bass). Photo by Red13 Media
