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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 5, 2006 7:16:59 GMT -5
Each day I'll be putting up info for a band that I like and that I think you all should check out. August 5th, 2006 Escape The FateThis band out of Las Vegas, NV is going to take over the music scene with their piercing guitars, sharp drums, and sincere vocals. These guys are ruthless on stage. I saw a video of them playing live on the Warped Tour and they kicked some major ass. Their frontman stage-dove off of the speakers. Link: www.myspace.com/escapethefate
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 6, 2006 11:42:11 GMT -5
August 6th, 2006 FaktionFaktion is a new band whose name, which guitarist Josh Franklin conceived, is one with which the members identify strongly. It means 'family' to us, acceptance, Franklin says. It also speaks for the band's fans, which he describes as a wide-ranging group with many factions within. We have people my age, but their parents like our music too. We'll have a group of guys that'll be moshing to 'Take It All Away,' but when we get to 'Letting You Go,' they'll be singing along with the girls. Nobody gets excluded, Dutton adds. "We're a small faction and we do everything together, we are all about teamwork. It definitely fits us. This young new band's all-inclusiveness means an amazing synergy with listeners, who very often become fans. Their site, faktionband.com is a popular destination, as is their page on the hugely influential community portal, myspace.com. Their over 26,000 'friends' (those who have actively registered to get more info on the band) and 247,000 plays exceeds the current numbers for Breaking Benjamin, Crossfade and Shinedown - sonically similar acts that have already achieved Platinum sales. Moore, the band's main 'tech-meister' explains the phenomenon We always strive to be one with our fans, so we all answer every email we get, personally. We make the connection with them and then they connect with their friends to spread the word. We wouldn't have it any other way. Musically speaking, it almost seems a contradiction that a band capable of generating the sweeping modern rock of the song Letting You Go could also summon the visceral groove of Take It All Away. But that channelling of both the tough and the tender might not be as difficult to comprehend if you spend time out on the West Texas plains, where most of the band grew up. Those wide-open spaces tend to create an awareness of life's extremes a journey that can either make a person close up tightly or, as Faktion has, become as grand and glorious as the space itself. Singer Ryan Gibbs grew up in Newcastle, TX, population 505 - his high school graduating class totaled 14 students. It's the kind of town that loves its country music and tolerates little else. Ryan's mom, however, was a rock fan, and turned him on to Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, AC/DC. He can still remember his grandmother scolding him for listening to devil music when he sang along to You Shook Me All Night Long. Of course, now she's his biggest fan. AC/DC proved to be a linchpin of sorts for guitarist-vocalist Marshal Dutton, too. One day in a music store, he spotted a guitar just like the one favored by Angus Young. His father had him work in the fields on their farm in Tulia, TX to help pay for the treasured axe. But it was in Denton, Texas, 35 miles north of Dallas, that Faktion came together. Dutton had moved there to attend the University of North Texas, known for its prestigious jazz music program. He teamed up with drummer Jeremy Moore, who moved to Denton from Lubbock (where he was in school) to join him in 2002 and began to write songs - guitarist Josh Franklin and bassist Jeremy Brink Coan made it a quartet. The band played a few shows around town, but the foursome knew they were missing something, or more accurately, someone: Gibbs. He had it all: powerful vocals - deep, evocative lyrics, and a dynamic energy on stage. When he sang passages such as, You wonder why I'm broken, you wonder why I have to lie, he made it impossible to turn away. With his addition, the band became whole - it became Faktion. To record its Roadrunner debut, the quintet returned to Gridlock Studios in Orlando, Florida, where they'd recorded an EP called Make a Dent. The team at Gridlock included Justin Thomas and Brett Hestla (of the band Dark New Day). The studio experience, for Coan, was like a dream we dug deep and really put a lot of ourselves into this album. The disc was then mixed by Grammy-nominated legend Chris Lord-Alge, who's worked with acts such as No Doubt, Foo Fighters, and Green Day. The impassioned first single, Letting You Go is an emotionally evocative musical exploration of the conflict between desire for a lasting connection and the need for freedom. With its melodic vocal harmonies (not to mention vivid lyrics), Distance has the same irresistible combination of masculinity and sensitivity. The sensitivity of Distance is a true revelation. Meanwhile, Take It All Away is an intense, compact track that offers a snapshot of Faktion's sound. The drums have a tribal urgency that plays off the song's driven, expressive vocals and guitar. On Always Wanting More, Faktion reasserts its harder-core, opening with a lacerating vocal scream the song transitions between spells of contemplation to fiery tantrums, in a struggle to inflict order upon the chaos. The band strives to make their songwriting a collaborative process, Dutton says. One person will bring in a piece, and we'll all build on that. I think that's the most amazing way to write, to connect with someone. It's difficult to connect one-on-one, much less with four other people. If you can get that connection going, there's an amazing power in it. They have done just that, 'Take It All Away' was a total accident I brought in the intro for it, and Jeremy just started playing along with me. Says Coan everyone just jumped right in and we had the song written in 5 minutes. The song hasn't been tweaked at all since that day. It was an amazingly intuitive exercise in songwriting. www.myspace.com/faktiondallasRUNDOWN:Day 1: Escape the Fate Day 2: Faktion
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 7, 2006 8:34:39 GMT -5
August 7th, 2006 Kids in the Way( I strongly recommend this band!) Frequently undermined by superficial glitz and marketing gimmicks, today’s rock acts have lost sight of the real, visceral feeling that first inspired rock 'n roll. Kids in the Way represents a new generation of artists whose desire is to re-establish the integrity of rock. The band makes great strides toward this goal on its sophomore Flicker Records release, Apparitions of Melody. Initially formed by lead vocalist David Pelsue, guitarist Nathan Ehman and drummer Eric Carter in 1997, the band originated under a different name and focus. With the addition of Austin Cobb and original bassist Nathan Hughes, who has since left the group, Kids in the Way was born. During these early days, Kids in the Way released a successful, self-titled EP that helped land the band artist management and bigger shows, including a guest performance slot with Audio Adrenaline, who eventually signed the act to Flicker Records. The Hoosier State rockers soon dropped its debut album, Safe From the Losing Fight, which earned Kids in the Way three Top 5 rock songs: “Phoenix With a Heartache,” “Hallelujah” and “We Are.” The record also won Kids in the Way tour opportunities with groups like Audio Adrenaline, Relient K, Skillet and Pillar. While its rookie project helped build a solid foundation, Apparitions of Melody will blow the doors off. In keeping with the group’s brilliant rock sound, Apparitions of Melody pushes harder, deeper and darker into what rock ‘n’ roll and real life are all about. There’s no posturing, over-thinking or predictable clichés on this record. Co-produced by Sam Shifley and Nathan Dantzler, Apparitions simply mixes edgy guitars, frantic energy, and engaging lyrics to create a soundtrack for modern living. “The album is a lot deeper,” says Pelsue with confidence. “In many ways, it’s similar to what we’ve written before, but the lyrical content and musicianship are much stronger. We tapped into something more intense this time around. It just has a certain vibe.” Several songs on Apparitions of Melody deal with relationship issues, and the band writes in a universal way that appeals to our common humanity. “This Could Be the Song That Changes Your Heart” bleeds sorrow, while “Blind Behind the Wheel” reflects on the 20/20 hindsight that can be so frustrating after making a mistake. There’s also the pain-strewn “Breaking the Legs of Sheep,” the rocket-inspired “Burt Rutan,” and a quirky cover of Tears For Fears’ “Head Over Heels.” Even still, it’s the title track that will rip your stereo speakers wide open. Featuring quick-paced guitars and a tense, urgent delivery, the title track’s sound reflects a philosophical struggle conveyed in its lyrics. “This song simply implies that someday the music will die,” muses Pelsue. “Music is an ever-changing, ever-growing thing that people use up and go through like clothing. As a band we are very aware of and accept that reality. It is our hope and desire, however, that long after the music fades from your head, its spirit will live on in you forever.” In contrast, the album’s darker imagery might be tough to fade from memory, which makes it all the more striking. For example, “Last Day of 1888” references the infamous Jack the Ripper slayings. “I wrote that song immediately after the first record came out,” says Pelsue. “We were on a very mainstream tour, and people were looking at us somewhat critically. I wanted to write a song about being misjudged, and I remembered the story of this man who was incorrectly identified as Jack the Ripper . Eventually, he was driven to suicide because of false accusations. I thought that was a pretty bold example of misjudgment.” Apparitions of Melody captures a real life vibe that's both tangible and sincere. Unhindered by any pretentiousness or predictability, Kids in the Way demonstrates considerable growth and presents new songs that bond with everyone wiling to let the energy take them higher. Rock music will still have its glitz and gimmickry, but these Kids have its heart, and they wear it on their sleeves with Apparitions of Melody. www.myspace.com/kidsintheway
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 8, 2006 15:20:11 GMT -5
August 8th, 2006 Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubIt seems strange to rely on a second century spiritual proverb to give meaning to the story of a rock ‘n roll band in 2005. But the tale of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and the arduous circumstances surrounding the making of its third and finest full length, Howl, requires just such a reference. Translated from the ancient Coptic language, the phrase in question reads: “If you bring forth what is within you, what you will bring forth will save you. If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you. For Peter Hayes, Robert Levon Been, and Nick Jago – the three individuals collectively known as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – those words could easily have served as a bitter epitaph. But instead, they became a kind of rallying cry for the new record. For Howl is the sound of a band reaching deep within its soul in order to save itself; the sound of a band giving up its rock ‘n’ roll meal ticket and finding salvation and sustenance in a rich banquet of folk, country, blues, gospel and pop; the sound of a band finally owning up to itself and its vast limitless potential. In content and form the 13 songs are as far removed from BRMC’s previous albums--partly by design, partly because of the process--as they could be. Strain and grope for adjectives all you want, but the best and most accurate way to describe Howl – its title inspired by group’s own vulturine spirit as much as the work of the beat poets --- is simply to say that it’s a line of demarcation in the band’s catalog. It’s the same line that the Stones drew with Beggars Banquet; that the Clash drew with London Calling. It’s both a summation and a turning point, a nod to the past and a look into the future as well. www.myspace.com/blackrebelmotorcycleclub
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 9, 2006 10:11:56 GMT -5
August 9th, 2006 Comeback KidAll great things have humble beginnings and Comeback Kid is no exception. Originating in 2002 as a way to get out some fast, energetic music, CBK has since turned into one of the most infectious forces in independent music today. “I wanted to start a band, so I approached Andrew (Neufeld, CBK’s guitarist). We started messing around and basically it went from there” mused Comeback Kid’s vocalist Scott Wade about the meeting that led to CBK’s formation in their hometown of Winnipeg, Canada. Andrew, who was playing with prominent hardcore band Figure Four at the time, was especially excited about starting up this new project. He not only saw it as an opportunity to create music different in style from Figure Four, but also as a chance to move from his role as singer with Figure Four into one of guitarist with Comeback Kid. With a completed lineup that also featured drummer Kyle Profeta, bassist Cliff Heide and fellow Figure Four guitarist Jeremy Hiebert, Comeback Kid immediately began to write and play local shows - all squeezed in-between Figure Four’s extensive touring schedule. “The first year we were around we barely played shows because of Figure Four’s constant touring, but I would have to say sharing members has been a plus. We even got to break in Figure Four‘s new van before they did!” explains Scott about the pitfalls of starting out of the shadows of an already established band. “At first I thought having two bands would pose a problem,” Scott continues, “but I guess that question might be more directed at Figure Four than us, these days.” Simply put, Comeback Kid has grown beyond all expectations. After playing locally and writing for six months, the band released a six song demo that quickly gained fans from around the world. Their message was simple but clear. Explains Scott, “The whole idea of a comeback kid is someone who gets up after the fall, and that‘s the direction we shoot for with our lyrics. Everyone can relate to day to day struggles, but in the end you‘ve got to keep your eyes focused, because every chance you have you can turn it around into something positive. So that‘s how we try to look at things.” The overwhelming response to their music allowed Comeback Kid to begin touring around North America. Their intense live show subsequently increased their notoriety. Each show instantaneously breaks down into a tangle of sweat drenched limbs, seething to the sing-a-long choruses and punch-tight musicianship. In March 2003, Southern California’s Facedown Records released Comeback Kid’s aptly titled debut record “Turn It Around”. Recorded in their hometown with John Paul Peters, “Turn It Around” showcased Comeback Kid’s solidified sound and intensity. In support of this record, CBK toured continuously throughout Canada, the US, and Europe. They have since played hundreds of shows with influential bands such as Terror, Throwdown, Every Time I Die, and Stretch Armstrong and have shared festival main stages at prestigious events such as Hellfest and Posi Numbers. For their much anticipated second album, Comeback Kid went into The Blasting Room to work with Bill Stevenson (of Descendents, ALL, and Black Flag fame) and Jason Livemore. Comeback Kid’s relentless drive allowed them to further develop upon their already amazing energy level, and has led them to progress musically and creatively on this new record. The new album, entitled Wake The Dead, is scheduled for release on February 22, 2005; the band will celebrate by launching a North American tour with Bane. www.myspace.com/comebackkid
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 10, 2006 16:18:19 GMT -5
August 10, 2006 TakotaThis is the story of Takota. Following the explosive demise of his former band Spindle, vocalist Grant Arnow returned to his long-estranged home of Orange County to build Americas next great rocknroll band. There, he met Andy Lara (guitar), Brett Anderson (guitar) and Danny Roddy (bass), frustrated members of Varota, along with Justin Ferreira (drums), a recent refugee of Reel Big Fish and Longfellow. Immediately, the five realized that they shared a common goal: above all else, each wanted to be part of the biggest band in the world. Takota hearkens to the greater days of Rock and Roll: the days of Journey, Queen and Zeppelin, when students were compelled to carve band names into school desks. Reinventing the staples of the Ziggy Stardust era -- swaggering frontmen, guitar heroes, and thundering rhythm sections -- Takota is guided by a time when rock was an eternal notion and an endless vision, free of the cumbersome lameness spawned by the whack bands of the 90s. Takota will mark a return to this greatness to create a true musical rapture: golden tones, melodious guitars, and crushing drums. This world is Takota's arena. www.myspace.com/takotamusic
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 11, 2006 8:44:08 GMT -5
August 11th, 2006 EvanescenceFollowing the multi-platinum, worldwide success of their major-label debut, Fallen, Evanescence is poised to build upon their respected position in the rock community with their sophomore effort, The Open Door, from Wind-up Records in stores October 3, 2006. With what some call a meteoric rise to the top, Fallen brought the Little Rock, Arkansas band to global success with 14 million records in the hands of fans worldwide, two Top 10 singles, "My Immortal" and "Bring Me To Life," two Grammy® Awards in 2003 (Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance for "Bring Me To Life"). Fallen spent over one hundred weeks on Billboard Magazine's Top 200 chart, was certified gold or platinum in over 35 countries Worldwide, and supported sold-out arenas globally. www.myspace.com/evanescence
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 12, 2006 10:51:33 GMT -5
August 12, 2006 WaterdownIn 2000, Waterdown formed in Osnabruck, Germany, dedicated to finding the perfect mixture of explosive, TNT-fueled hardcore, dark metal and melodic punk. It didn’t take them long. Within their first few shows word reached Victory Records head Tony Brummel, who began a correspondence with the band and shortly thereafter signed them to a contract. It isn’t often that an American label jumps to sign a European band without so much as a U.S. tour under their belts - what made Waterdown so special? Their original sound has elements familiar to any fan of punk genres, but the individuality is unmistakable. Blasting walls of metallic guitars and screamo ferocity slam up against hooky melodicism and ambitious time signatures, melding together into an emotive sub-genre that is Waterdown’s alone. The six-piece band has two singers delivering wildly divergent vocals, one screaming in rage while the second’s soaring melodies tie them both to the bands crushing breakdowns and unique dynamics. The release of their Victory debut, Never Kill The Boy On The First Date, brought critical notice, with praise coming in from press on both sides of the Atlantic. Waterdown headed for America, playing dates with Thursday and Skycamefalling, turning in jaw dropping, intense live shows that further sealed their reputation. After extensive European touring with bands like Jimmy Eat World and Sick of It All, they released The Files You Have On Me. It was greeted by praise from heavyweights like Revolver, who said “One minute, the German group sounds like a gasoline truck colliding with a national monument; the next, they go fuzzy and textural, forsaking volume for tuneful dynamics.” The legendary radio trade mag Radio & Records were thrilled, raving, “For fans of American bands like Deftones and the late, great Quicksand, achtung! Germany has now produced its own entry…Waterdown.” Serious touring ensued in support of this acclaimed new release, with Waterdown sharing stages with a diverse set of bands including Blink 182, Motion City Soundtrack and Anthrax in Europe. Only a band with the flexibility to willfully bend genres could pull off their touring schedule, but a listen to Waterdown will quickly dispel any doubts that they are up to the task. In 2004, Waterdown lost one of their vocalists, but continued to write and perform, cementing their reputation for optimism and determination. 2005 dawned with the search for a singer continuing, until they discovered Michael “Zacken” Janczak in their backyard. Bassist Christian Kruse remembers, “For about ten years we saw him at shows and said hi, but we never knew he was THAT good. We called and asked him to rehearse with us, and later he told us he almost passed out from nerves because he is such a fan of the band!” Waterdown started work on All Riot immediately and the results speak for themselves. Kruse cites metal, hardcore and punk rock as being their influences, rejecting the “emo” tag, saying, “This album is much more in-your-face than the old stuff. It’s aggressive, melodic, powerful and heavy music!” All Riot was produced by Ingo Knollmann, who is known for his work with European heavyweights, The Donots. With All Riot completed and ready to hit stores January 24th, the band will turn to touring plans for 2006, when a full North American tour with Aiden and 18 Visions in February and March. Waterdown are known for delivering strong, articulate songs with distinctively biting political commentary. Their progressive approach to heavy music shows imagination but never loses its muscle. Stand-out tracks include Sleep Well and My Hopelessness and Me, which will be the first single/video from the album. www.myspace.com/waterdown
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 13, 2006 10:02:58 GMT -5
August 13th, 2006 Breaking BenjaminSome would argue BEN BURNLEY is a perfectionist. But for BREAKING BENJAMIN's singer, guitarist, and visionary, there is no other modus operandi for his craft. With that dedication, BURNLEY and his bandmates--guitarist AARON FINK, bassist MARK JAMES, and drummer CHAD SZELIGA--have built 2006's meticulous, infectious hard rock milestone PHOBIA (Hollywood Records). Building on their trademark hard-charging rhythms, sharp hooks, and soaring vocals, PHOBIA marks BREAKING BENJAMIN's third album. For BURNLEY, who typically writes at least 10 songs to yield one, the arduous approach has helped BREAKING BENJAMIN elevate the bar in following up 2004's explosive platinum-selling We Are Not Alone, which produced a pair of compelling #1 rock hits, "So Cold" and "Sooner Or Later." "It's a very time-consuming thing," BEN admits of his efforts to top the band's airwave favorites. "I'll basically write a number of similar songs and cherry-pick the best pieces from all of them and make one." With PHOBIA, which confronts anxiety and fear through catharsis and breathtaking melodies, the fruits of BURNLEY's conviction can first be heard on "The Diary of Jane" --the first single and video--just one in a number of ferocious and hook-injected offerings on the band's third album. As muscular as it is accessible, "Jane" has the power to invade one's headspace, and occupy it for days. Yet BREAKING BENJAMIN's namesake didn't always think so highly of PHOBIA's first single. "Ben is his biggest critic," bassist MARK JAMES acknowledges. "He'll write stuff that is undeniable. And everyone else knows it's undeniable. But he'll think it's not good enough and he'll go back to the drawing board. With 'The Diary of Jane,' he had three or four different options lyrically and melodically before we even entered the studio. He had all of these variations that he presented to [producer] David [Bendeth]. And as is the case nine out of ten times, it's almost always his initial gut feeling that wins out." BURNLEY's instincts have guided BREAKING BENJAMIN from the bars and clubs of Wilkes-Barre, PA to a platinum album certification, all in the course of five years. On the strength of the quartet's first hit, "Polyamorous," from its 2002 major label debut Saturate, the group's alt-metal leanings--inspired by the likes of Tool, KoRN, and Nirvana--earned the band prompt recognition. With the aforementioned radio darling We Are Not Alone (which also contained the memorable ballad "Rain") the group aligned with producer David Bendeth to forge a partnership that only grew stronger by the time work on PHOBIA commenced in early 2006. "We knew what to expect," BURNLEY says. "We knew what he'd want out of us and knew what we'd want out of him." "Mark, Chad, Aaron, and Ben gave this record everything they had, worked their asses off and never settled for second best," David Bendeth says proudly of BREAKING BENJAMIN's new material. "The melodies are strong and memorable and we all feel it is a lot stronger than anything they've ever done. I worked BEN hard and he pushed himself. He has such a great instinct for lyrics and melody. He really knows what he wants and he never ceases to amaze me. He has a natural talent, a gift." That gift is evident in "Evil Angel." which has a vibe akin to Alice in Chains, replete with AARON's expressive, thunderous riffs giving way to a newfound rootsy, organic approach. Elsewhere, "You" finds the band operating in a rarely-used standard tuning, and relying on the highly capable rhythmic wares of MARK and drummer CHAD--who only recently joined the group but is an obvious ideal fit. "It was back to basics for us," MARK says of the latter. "It's so direct, more simple than usual. It's definitely more of a feel than anything else propelling that song." The sonic epic "Dance With The Devil" also stands out as AARON's fluid, forceful guitar lines and monumental drumming ideally interface with the power and range of BURNLEY's voice. And despite his heartfelt delivery of lines like "I believe in you/I can show you that," Ben pauses when it comes to talk about his deeply personal verse. "I want the listener to analyze my songs," he says. "I don't want to do it myself. If someone thinks the song is about something and I come along and say, 'No. The song is about this.' I could ruin it for them." One thing that won't be damaged at this point is the infrastructure of this band, helped by a newfound openness. "One thing in the past that affected us in a negative way was that we didn't always speak our minds," MARK says. "We'd keep stuff bottled up. And then maybe we'd feel regret or resentment. This time around, we made a point to say what we're feeling." Finding a balance between enjoyment and ambition, BURNLEY thrives by challenging himself on PHOBIA. "I'm doing things vocally that I haven't done before and we're using different time signatures and tunings that are new for us," he says. "I look at evolution this way: Every time you write a song, it's one less thing that you can do. Of course there is always pressure to at least match what you've done before, but there is nothing I can do about it other than write the best possible songs I can." "I'm really proud of these songs," MARK says. "BEN has done a fantastic job providing great hooks and phrases. I feel very strongly about every track on this record, which isn't something I was always able to say. I think we really tried to approach every song by never trying to overstate an idea. If there was a catchy riff that AARON was doing, I never wanted to step on it. I'd try to seek a different way around it." Thinking outside the box, the men of BREAKING BENJAMIN have faced down their fears, put their hearts and their heads together to woodshed PHOBIA. Regardless of whether you're afraid of heights, snakes, bees, air travel or whatever, this stellar song-cycle pays big dividends. Summing up BREAKING BENJAMIN's new album, the band's bassist concludes, "The goal was to make a solid, mature and cohesive record." Mission accomplished. PHOBIA is a SMURF-near faultless rock album. www.shallowbay.com
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 14, 2006 9:33:56 GMT -5
August 14th, 2006 AidenThis Metal/Punk/Screamo band from Seattle has all the works of a future classic. Screaming guitars, great vocals, and curdling screams. These guys' songs have melodies to them that can only be described as awesome. They are truly a band that has to be heard to be believed. www.myspace.com/aiden
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 15, 2006 9:16:26 GMT -5
August 15th, 2006 JuneArguably the most competitive indie and punk scene in the Midwest, Chicago has brought you new bands like Fall Out Boy, Spitalfield, Rise Against and classics like Alkaline Trio, Smoking Popes, Cheap Trick and Smashing Pumpkins. Victory Records is proud to announce the release of “If You Speak Any Faster” by the Windy City’s newest and finest export, June. Like its Chicagoan predecessors, June’s sound is an enchanting mix of pop, punk, and rock, straightforward and infectious. And although a band is meant to be a collective effort, it is rare that you find a group of guys writing music based on their individual influences as opposed to what’s selling this week. The phrase “different strokes for different folks” most definitely comes in to play with June, whose members like to credit music ranging from Styx, Rush and Billy Idol to Foo Fighters and Saves The Day, to the bands they grew up with like Alkaline Trio as inspiration for their writing style. Growing up in the diverse, expansive scene in Chicago gave June the tools they needed to develop; when it was time to find a record label, their first choice was Victory Records, the largest label in Chicago. “Having people we work with that share the same vision as us is an awesome situation, having those same people be in Chicago is even more amazing,” says drummer Mark Sutor. June is comprised of members Mark Sutor, Tim Brennan, Mark Palacz, and AJ Brown, who “basically started the band as a joke”, says Sutor, “and realized we had a pretty good thing going.” After recording an early four-song demo, June started playing around the local Chicago scene and effectively built a loyal following. This so-called “joke band” really caught on and word of mouth spread. The band independently released The June EP in mid-summer of 2004 and began to attract very serious label attention without having much of a tour history outside of local Chicago shows, opening for likeminded locals Fall Out Boy and The Academy Is…. When their deal with Victory Records came through, they immediately began planning their first album, If You Speak Any Faster. Working with Brian McTernan (Thrice, Cave In, Hot Water Music) as producer, June began recording during the spring of 2005. "A lot of producers might use too many of the features in Pro Tools now, and it sounds good, but maybe too good. Brian brought out the absolute best in us, leading us in the right direction and making the music sound really natural, not over-produced," Mark remembered. The results of their labors are obvious on If You Speak Any Faster; the dual vocals of Tim Brennan and AJ Brown surge over powerful guitars, the overall sound is immediate, warm and real. Songs about failed relationships dominate the album, illustrating the shifting personal dynamics that resulted after June made the decision to play music and tour as a career. Touring is the essential element for all young bands and June are no exception – they have shared stages with the likes of Hawthorne Heights, Fall Out Boy and The Format in the last year. Expect to see them on the road non-stop in the months to come. They will celebrate the release of If You Speak Any Faster at the legendary Chicago rock venue, Metro on September 3rd, joined by label mates The Junior Varsity and theAudition. The album is eagerly anticipated by fans of rock, pop and emo: all signs point to huge success for this young band. June follows in the footsteps of great Chicago rock legends, but they will leave their own footprints on the scene with their debut album. www.myspace.com/june
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 16, 2006 8:45:52 GMT -5
August 16, 2006 Mercy DriveDuring the adolescent ages, when video games & cartoons are king, dreams of playing in a rock band seem far from reality...Not so for Corey Lane, who picked up his first set of drumsticks at age 2 & Jimmy McGlothlin, who received his first electric guitar at age 9. Years later, the two Orlando natives would bump into each other in the mosh pit at a Hard Rock Live show in the summer of 2000. With mutual friend Jake Beard at their side, the band took form & would gain momentum pounding the Florida circuit in multiple SUV’s & a trailer, while supporting such acts as Disturbed, Drowning Pool,Adema, Soil, American Hi-Fi, Skrape, Seven Mary Three, Systematic, Stereomud, Staind & Jane’s Addiction. In 2001, Mercy Drive’s music caught the attention of the World Wrestling Federation, DreamWorks Records & MTV resulting in four tunes being aired on MTV’s Tough Enough television show & one song being featured on the DreamWorks Records release of the Tough Enough soundtrack, which has sold over 130,000 copies nationwide. Pro-wrestler & Mercy Drive fan Maven currently uses the bands song “Memory” as his introduction to the mat. In 2004, Mercy Drive again teamed up with the WWE to write the theme music entitled “Burn In My Light” for the newest Heavyweight Champion, Randy Orton. The band recently teamed up with Producer Rick Beato (Shinedown, Vince Neil, Flickerstick, Working Title) to put together an “in-your-face” blend of Modern rock that compliments the bands dynamic live performances. The bands self titled, debut record is currently available exclusively through the bands website. www.mercydrive1.com or www.myspace.com/mercydrive
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 17, 2006 8:16:14 GMT -5
August 17th, 20006 New Years DayCan't really describe this band with words. You just need to check them out for yourselves. www.myspace.com/newyearsday
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 18, 2006 10:38:06 GMT -5
August 18, 2006
Bullet for My Valentine
Everyone predicted it. The metal press, the music industry and especially the gig going kids, they all knew that there was something special about Bridgend based Welsh metallers, Bullet For My Valentine, and now it looks like everyone else is going to know it as well.
2005 was a momentous year for the four piece; selling out their first ever headline tour of the UK, performing bone-shaking sets at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards and the Kerrang! Day Of Rock and thats before we even mention rocking Reading festival, video shoots in Slovenian caves, making a splash in Japan and preparing for their first US tour. 2006 has allowed that progress to continue with the band headlining the sold-out UK Kerrang! XXV tour, seen a second Kerrang cover, a second Metal Hammer cover, a Rock Sound cover AND a Big Cheese cover, all in the space of 4 months. This is before we even start with the MTV2 A-listed track and top 30 hit All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me), sold out tours in Germany and Japan and a two month US stint with Rob Zombie and Lacuna Coil.
Of course if there is one group of people who are not surprised by their upward velocity this year it is the band themselves. Matt Tuck, vocalist and guitarist, is more matter of fact than arrogant when he says: I know what it is that separates us from most other bands. Its keeping our metal roots; keeping all of the aggressiveness and brutality that weve grown up on, but at the same time writing good songs. You need good melody, good tunes. Then his tongue slips firmly into his cheek as he adds: And when you put it all together in one good looking, young, 21st Century rock band, you cant fail!
The debut album The Poison, released October 3rd 2005, obviously met the demands of the fans, going straight to number one in the rock charts, with four Bullets. It has not left the rock top ten since.
As well as turning in a blistering set at the Kerrang! Day of Rock, where there was almost a riot, they played another foundation rattling gig at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods, which was all the more surprising because less than 24 hours earlier Matt had been in hospital suffering from exhaustion.
Wed just been doing too much, says Matt. My body just said No more and packed in. But the same protestant work ethic has taken its toll on the rest of the band as well. During a hectic and insanely well-received tour of Japan, affable drummer, Michael Moose Thomas contracted a potentially fatal strain of bird flu! It was horrible, says Moose I was on a drip for a fortnight. They said it was avian flu but I reckon I picked it up in those caves.
Those caves were the Postojna Caves in Slovenia where they filmed the epic video to their last top 40 single Suffocating Under The Words Of Sorrow (What Can I Do). It was the most heavy metal place you can imagine, underground with all these stalactites. But I thought they were going to snap off and spear me while I was playing, adds the drummer. It had Enter Traveller In To This Immensity carved in big letters in Latin over the entrance, it was mad, adds laidback guitar man Michael Padge Paget. If we dont watch Matt, adds Manga haired bass monster Jason Jay James, thats what the new album will end up being called.
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Post by Senses Fail on Aug 19, 2006 8:52:56 GMT -5
August 19th, 2006 MardoLock up your daughters! Mardo are live-wire energy incarnate. Their unique brand of loud, unapologetic, swaggering rock has wowed audiences the world over and this is just the beginning. The Los Angeles-based caffeinated rock combo, led by brothers Aron and Robbie follows in the vein of other great sibling collaborations - Ray and Dave Davies (The Kinks), Tim and Neil Finn (Crowded House, Split Enz), Liam and Noel Gallagher (Oasis) and Chris and Nic Cester (Jet). Mardo is building on the momentum from their self-titled debut of a couple years, as well as high profile gigs with REM, King's X, Green Day, The Raveonette's and the Violent Femmes. After two decades of playing together, they're poised for a hard-earned breakthrough. The New Gun was produced by Grammy winner Les Pierce. Among the highlights are the new single Lolita Live and Learn which was mixed by the legendary Tom Lord-Alge (Fall Out Boy, Yellowcard, U2). "Muscular, stadium-sized melodic rock with a touch of classic soul and glam." Ventura County Reporter "They ooze with self-confidence. I mean, it's dripping from their toes." LA Splash "Caffeinated hard rock." Cosmik Debris "So SMURF catchy the urge to sing along cannot be suppressed." Betweenplanets.co.uk "Electrifying...Mardo's album satisfies the need for real rock 'n' roll." Muzikreviewz.com www.myspace.com/mardo
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