Following on from last year’s release Live At The El Mocambo, Canadian rockers Coney Hatch have another live album almost ready to go. Recorded Live at the H.E.A.T. Festival in Germany, in December of 2018, the recordings were put on hold for release at the time when the offer to record at the El Mocambo came up, as the El Mocambo show would give the band the opportunity to also capture live video, as well as include “Hey Operator”, one of the band’s signature songs – which they had oddly forgot to play that night in Germany.
The upcoming live album will also include 2 bonus studio cuts that were completed in 2021 – “About A Girl” and “Heaven’s On The Other Side”.
“We’re excited to bring you a new live album recorded at the HEAT Festival Germany and put together by fine engineers in Canada. Available on CD and vinyl, the album also has two new Coney originals & freaking fine tracks they are.”
Coney Hatch Live In Germany (if that is the title!?) will be released via Explorer1 Records on CD & Vinyl LP, with the band aiming for an early 2023 release date. Artwork and track-listing to follow, as well as pre-order announcement.
Canadian rock biographer Jeffrey Morgan has a new book out titled Alice Cooper Confidential: Confessions! Secrets! Fan Mail! Morgan wrote for many years for iconic 70s & 80s rock mag Creem, being invited by the legendary Lester Bangs. Creem was the next biggest music publication after Rolling Stone. Morgan became Alice’s official biographer writing Alcohol and Razor Blades, Poison and Needles: The Glorious Wretched Excess of Alice Cooper, All-American, which came in the 1999 box set The Life and Crimes of Alice Cooper. With Alice Cooper Confidential, Jeffrey Morgan puts together a pile of Alice features, most notably being pages of fan mail (emails) from AC fans who want to contact Alice. Interesting to read, as so many fans have no problem inviting Alice over for a BBQ, a birthday party, a wedding, out for a game of golf – you name it! Or they just want to share some odd story about something to do with him, most of which will leave you shaking your head. Beware if you think you wrote to him in the past! Elsewhere this138 page coffee table read book is full of fantastic photos from every era of Alice’s career, on & off stage (cool to see the late Nash the Slash’s early photos of the AC band in Toronto), various other images! Most interesting is a previously unpublished interview from 2009. An interesting addition to any Alice fan’s collection.
British Hard Rock Supergroup Snakecharmer Anthology 4-CD Box Set Feat. Former Members of Whitesnake, Wishbone Ash, and Thunder Available for Pre-order
An awesome line-up of veteran British rockers, Snakecharmer put out 2 albums in 2013 and 2017. Both albums are full of British classic rock ala early Whitesnake, Bad Company, and the other respective bands some of these guys were a part of. Really, just excellent British rock, as you’d expect Founding member and original Whitesnake guitarist Micky Moody left after the first album to be replaced by Simon McBride, a much younger player who has recently been named the new permanent guitarist for Deep Purple! This 4-disc set comes with bonus tracks, as well as 2 live shows recorded a year apart, featuring the band’s own favorites, as well as a number of Whitesnake classics. *Check out the press info below, track-listing, and links below!
British hard rock supergroup Snakecharmer was formed in 2013 by former members of Whitesnake, Wishbone Ash, and Thunder.
The resulting line-up is a veritable who’s-who of classic hard rock: Vocalist Chris Ousey (Heartland), Guitarist Laurie Wisefield (Home/ Wishbone Ash), Drummer Harry James (Thunder/ Magnum), and Keyboardist Adam Wakeman (Ozzy Osbourne) Guitarist Micky Moody (Whitesnake)
Given the band’s pedigree, it was inevitable that the music would sound like good-time, classic melodic hard rock with a blues edge, their eponymous debut was released in 2013 by Frontiers. The response from fans and critics alike was rapturous, and the band toured to wide acclaim.
In 2015, Moody left the band, replaced by young Irish-born virtuoso Simon McBride (now of Deep Purple). Snakecharmer’s follow up album, Second Skin, arrived in 2017.
This 4-CD box set collects the bands two studio albums as well as two live shows from Milton Keynes which show the band at work in a live environment, the booklet has notes by Classic Rocks Dave Ling talking to the band about their career as well as newly mastered studio albums done by Tony Dixon.
Featuring: Chris Ousey – Vocals Simon McBride – Guitar Laurie Wisefield – Guitar Adam Wakeman – Keyboards Neil Murray – Bass Harry James – Drums Micky Moody – Guitar
Track list: DISC ONE: Snakecharmer My Angel Accident Prone To The Rescue Falling Leaves A Little Rock & Roll Turn Of the Screw Smoking Gun Stand Up Guilty As Charged Nothing To Lose Cover Me in You BONUS TRACKS White Boy Blues A Breath Away – Japan Only Bonus Track
DISC TWO: Second Skin Sounds Like a Plan That Kind of Love Are You Ready to Fly? Follow Me Under I’ll Take You as You Are Hell Of a Way to Live Fade Away Dress It Up Punching Above My Weight Forgive And Forget Where Do We Go from Here? BONUS TRACK On My Way – Japan Only Bonus Track
DISC THREE: Live at The Stables, Milton Keynes 26/01/2014 Guilty As Charged A Little Rock & Roll Ready An’ Willing Accident Prone Walking In the Shadow of The Blues Falling Leaves Moody’s Blues Slow An’ Easy My Angel [Band Introductions] Cover Me in You Nothing To Lose Here I Go Again Fool For Your Loving
DISC FOUR: Live at The Stables, Milton Keynes 17/01/2015 Intro. Guilty As Charged A Little Rock & Roll Ready An’ Willing Cover Me in You Accident Prone Falling Leaves Walking In the Shadow of The Blues My Angel Moody’s Blues Slow An’ Easy Nothing To Lose Here I Go Again Take Me with You Fool For Your Loving
Walter Egan’s upcoming album titled Pluck, will be out in late November via Red Steel Music. The first single is a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”. Egan’s version is a must-hear, with a different approach, giving the song a fresh new sound that didn’t want me to run and put the Mac version on afterwards! In the late 70s members of Fleetwood Mac produced and played on Egan’s first 2 solo albums. The single was produced by Walter Egan and Robert Corich, while the video was filmed & directed by Callum Fernandes – Clarke.
John Sloman has a new video out. It’s “Blind”, on Red Steel Music. The track has been produced by John & Robert Corich, and remastered by Bella Corich, who adds a livelier sound to an already excellent song from 2016. “Blind” will be featured on John’s forthcoming retrospective double album The Missing Link. Art for the single also by Callum Fernandes-Clarke.
John Sloman recently posted – “This is the new video for the soon to be released single (Blind) taken from the retrospective album ‘The Missing Link’ which will be released in a couple of months. The video is brilliantly directed by Callum Fernandes-Clarke who directed all three of my previous videos. Blind originally featured on the album ‘Don’t Try This At Home’.”
Further, the track was recently featured on Classic Rock’s Louder Sound‘Tracks Of The Week‘. You can check that out And vote for “Blind” there!
Italian prog-metal band Even Flow have released a new 5-track mini-album. Meditterraneo features a big range of heavy rock, prog and lighter moments from the opener “Ocean Lies” which comes charging out and features a few changes throughout. “Revelation Day” is probably the easiest likeable track here, a straightforward bright rock tune, while in contrast “Leaves” is a soft piano-based ballad, great vocal. The set comes to a great finale with the 7-and-a-half-minute title track, which is probably the heaviest cut here. Fine heavy guitar, acoustics, synths, and vocals throughout this. For fans of Dream Theater, Stratovarius, and Queensryche. CD and other merch can be ordered at the band’s website- https://www.bandevenflow.com/
*For more on Even Flow check out the bio and press info below, and the links below
Photo Credit – Claudia Chiodi
Italy’s EVEN FLOW is proud to unveil their latest offering Mediterraneo, a five-track EP that takes the sounds of progressive metal blended with power metal-esque vocals with a dash of AOR eighties influences. Lyrically, the recording speaks of love, hope, sadness, and joy for the future.
“We decided the sequence of the songs according to the musical power it gave us at the time of writing and recording.” adds the band.
The EP opens up with the powerfully composed “Ocean Lies” with it’s strong vocal harmonies, that give way to a hint of Latin influences from the way the drums mesh with the guitar solo. Following into “Ray Of Light”, this is a song that speaks of love towards a woman, characterized by a clean guitar intro, working together with a keyboard to create very beautiful melodies to then end with an Arabic influence guitar harmonization. “Leaves” solo piano and voice piece, extremely intimate with the final part of the piano demonstrating strong harmonic tensions decreased to represent a love story between two young people that did not materialize. A song that gives a calm and melancholic balance to relax the listener’s ears bringing them to heavenly visions. “Revelation Day” with lyrics that have a Catholic inspiration, is to be heard very closely in its entirety, its melodic parts are intertwined with more progressive charm. EP closer and title track, “Mediterraneo,” tells a story about a loving relationship between two men, the track has Arabic interludes, many progressive metal parts, and melodic guitar solos.
Mediterraneo features Even Flow’s new lineup with vocalist Marco Pastorino (Fallen Sanctuary, Temperance) and bassist Luca Negro (Temperance) joining the Lunesu brothers Pietro Paolo (guitar) and Giorgio (drums).
The EP was mixed and mastered by Michele Guaitoli (Visions Of Atlantis, Temperance) with artwork by Mickael Briot of Mythrid Art (Nightmare).
Over the years, since making their debut in 2008 with their EP “Dream Weaver”, Even Flow has done multiple tours across Europe and has supported bands such as Serious Black, Firewind, Eluveitie, Iron Savior, Katatonia, Orphaned Land, Katatonia, Pain Of Salvation among many more.
Even Flow is: Marco Pastorino: Vocals and Choirs Pietro Paolo Lunesu: All Electric and Acoustic guitars Giorgio Lunesu: Drums and Percussion Luca Negro: Bass
The new Queensryche album Digital Noise Alliance is out. It’s the 4th studio album featuring singer Todd LaTorre, who is a more than suitable choice as replacement for Geoff Tate – at least if I’m going by this album, because this is an outstanding album. It’s very well produced, love the sound, the heaviness of it all, melodies and the songs in general make for a great listen (repeatedly!). I’ve heard plenty of Queensryche stuff since their glory days, but nothing that grabbed my attention like this one with “In Extremis” kicking things off in full force, and other ‘eavy cuts like “Lost In Sorrow”, “Sicdeth”, “Out Of The Black”, “Tormentum”, “Behind The Walls”… DNA only lets up on the ballad “Forest” and on the verses of “Hold On” (the latest single/video). A cover of Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” ends the disc, as a ‘bonus’ track, and it sounds really good (tho’ I don’t think anyone can really capture Billy Idol’s ‘attitude’ in the song, La Torre does a fine job on it).
*For more check out the press info below –
In April 2022, QUEENSRŸCHE finished a five-week North American tour supporting metal gods Judas Priest. That tour wasn’t merely a fiery return to the stage for QUEENSRŸCHE after a two-year pandemic: it was a rejuvenation. The sound of a band locked-in and firing on all cylinders. “The Priest tour was a great springboard for us to get back onstage in what’s essentially a new world,” says founding guitarist Michael Wilton. “We had so much momentum going off of our last record [2019’s The Verdict] and then, the world, our business, came to a grinding halt. We had to survive, pick ourselves up and get back to being QUEENSRŸCHE.” Now, their legacy has coalesced into another career milestone for the Bellevue, Washington borne band with the release of their 16th studio album, Digital Noise Alliance.
Overcoming obstacles and defying expectations has always been at the heart of QUEENSRŸCHE. With 20 million albums sold worldwide, innumerable accolades and a career that has charted the course of multiple genres, QUEENSRŸCHE remains bloodied but unbowed. Teamed again with producer and mixer, Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed), Digital Noise Alliance embraces and refracts QUEENSRŸCHE’s history from the classic drive of opener, “In Extremis” through the ominous strains of “Behind The Walls” to epic album closer, “Tormentum”. Digital Noise Alliance is that elusive career-embodying album that echoes the most classic elements of the QUEENSRŸCHE’s sound. It pulses with the sort of sonic ambitions that changed the hard rock and metal landscape on albums like their multi-platinum Empire or their magnum-opus concept album, Operation: Mindcrime.
It was the isolation of Covid-19 that fueled the first creative stirrings for QUEENSRŸCHE. “Being left to your inner abandons brought up a lot of feelings,” Wilton admits. “It was a weird, strange time and not knowing if you were going to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It sucked, but it did ignite some of the creative elements for the new record.” Those ideas started to come together in early 2021 when Wilton met up with vocalist Todd LaTorre and began assembling the bare-boned riffs for Digital Noise Alliance at the singer’s home studio in Tampa, Florida. “It was a chaotic, uncertain time,” says bassist Eddie Jackson. “But the bottom line for us was to do what we always have done, which is to continue to create music, even in the face of adversity.”
“We started from scratch, face-to-face, in a room with our producer Zeuss,” says LaTorre, who joined QUEENSRŸCHE in 2012 and has been a driving force in the band ever since. “We were creating together in the same room, not file sharing. “It was all immediate, in real-time and nothing came from earlier sessions or discarded ideas.” Writing sessions continued for a year with tracking on the album commencing in the first week of January 2022. Drums ended up being tracked in a Florida mansion that once belonged to wrestling legend, Hulk Hogan with Zeuss recording on a mobile rig. “There’s a trust factor with Zeuss,” says Wilton of the band’s now three-album-running relationship with their producer. “He came in as a fan and really understood what QUEENSRŸCHE is about. With Zeuss, there’s a level of trust and understanding that we’ve rarely had with a producer. Everyone’s ideas and energies are on 10 and he knows how to harness that.”
During the album sessions, Michael Wilton employed an arsenal of amps from QUEENSRŸCHE’s early days. “We ended up using Michael’s collection of old Marshalls,” says Zeuss. “The amp from The Warning and the amp from Rage for Order or Mindcrime or Empire. Each song has different amps and different guitars that reach back to that era. Some of these amps that hadn’t been turned on in years and had markings on them that dated back to those records. We’d turn them on and it would be like, ‘Whoah!’ Like we were awakening this beast. It brought a lot of great vibes to the album.”
That cloying together of QUEENSRŸCHE’s past, and present has become the mark of the band who regrouped in 2012. Over the course of its last triptych of albums Queensryche (2013), Condition Human (2015) and The Verdict (2019), the five-piece took hold of the proverbial flame to give fans QUEENSRŸCHE in its purest essence. Moments like the lush, contemplative “Forest” echo career-defining highlights like the band’s Grammy-nominated hit single, “Silent Lucidity”. Digital Noise Alliance is every bit as emotionally passionate and forward thinking as anything in their expansive discography.
“QUEENSRŸCHE has always been a forward-thinking band,” says Todd, adding with a laugh, “The ‘Thinking Man’s Metal Band’ as they were called years ago! As early as The Warning QUEENSRŸCHE was experimenting, bringing in strings and orchestral elements. People like Michael Kamen. Back then, you’d only hear those elements on a Meatloaf album! Back then their staging was always very forward-thinking. They were using big ass projectors and screens. They were progressive in their own right and changed the landscape. They pushed things and expanded the genre in a thought-provoking, way. For us, the mission is really to get to preserve and elevate the essence of the QUEENSRŸCHE sound.”
With it’s current lineup of LaTorre, Wilton, Jackson, guitarist Mike Stone and drummer Casey Grillo, QUEENSRŸCHE is looking towards the future while looking back on the influence and impact of its past. “When you have two of the original members, you can’t help but get those QUEENSRŸCHE elements,” says Jackson, who founded the band with Wilton in 1982. “It’s in our DNA. But it’s also nice to hear fresh ideas or interpretations from Todd, Casey or Mike Stone.” For LaTorre, that balance between the band’s past and present is crucial. “We’re all advocates for certain characteristics that are very indicative to the band’s sound,” says the frontman. “The challenge for us is blending that history and the nuances that are important and true to the band but still feel modern.”
Digital Noise Alliance is quintessentially QUEENSRŸCHE. Track to track it embodies the lush melodies, passion and intelligence that’s been the mark of the band since they first took hold of the flame with their hugely received self-titled 4-song EP in 1984. “For me, musically and lyrically, QUEENSRŸCHE has always represented something cerebral,” says Todd “At a time when bands were writing about sex, drugs and rock n roll, QUEENSRŸCHE were writing about politics, religion, social injustice – topics that are more relevant now than ever. Even now, we’re walking that fine line between not telling people what to think, but simply to think.”
Hold On is the latest single/video from Digital Noise Alliance.The band comments: “‘Hold On’ primarily focuses on the misfortune of social media and how this new societal landscape has become a false barometer of ones’ value, essentially, influencing and affecting peoples’ self-worth. Reminding people to not believe everything they see, and to not buy into the glorification of fame, money, and popularity. It strives to empower those that have been blinded by the distorted reality of the glorified social media lifestyles. It is a song reminiscent of older, simpler times.”
QUEENSRYCHE is currently on tour as openers for JUDAS PRIEST:
Oct. 15 Albany, NY – MVP Arena Oct. 16 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall Fenway Oct. 18 Uniondale, NY at Nassau Veterans Oct. 19 Wilkes-Barre, PA – Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza Oct. 21 Kalamazoo, MI – Wings Event Center Oct. 22 Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre Oct. 24 Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center Oct. 25 Waukegan, IL – Genesee Theatre Oct. 27 Green Bay, WI – Resch Center Theater Oct. 29 Moline, IL – TaxSlayer Center Moline Oct. 30 Mankato, MN – Mayo Clinic Event Center Nov. 01 Sioux City, IA – Tyson Events Center Nov. 02 Rapid City, SD – The Monument Nov. 07 Ontario, CA – Toyota Center Nov. 08 Tucson, AZ – TCC Arena Nov. 10 Loveland, CO – Budweiser Events Center Nov. 12 Park City (Wichita),KS -Hartman Arena Nov. 13 St. Charles, MO – The Family Arena Nov. 15 Corbin, KY – The Corbin Arena Nov. 17 Southaven, MS – Landers Center Nov. 18 Baton Rouge, LA – Raising Canes River Center Nov. 20 Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center Nov. 22 San Antonio, TX – Tech Port Center & Arena Nov. 23 San Antonio, TX – Tech Port Center & Arena Nov. 25 Dallas, TX – The Factory – Deep Ellum Nov. 26 Corpus Christi, TX – Concrete Street Nov. 28 Edinburg, TX – Burt Ogden Arena Nov. 29 Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
With a career that not only spans, but has charted the course of multiple genres, QUEENSRŸCHE remains a force in their own right. “Digital Noise Alliance”, QUEENSRŸCHE’s 16thstudio album continues their ever-evolving legacy.
Once again teaming up with producer Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed), “Digital Noise Alliance” not only refracts QUEENSRŸCHE’s past accomplishments but also pushes into the band’s future. It is the band effortlessly moving from strength to strength: immediate and thought-provoking.
QUEENSRŸCHE line-up: Eddie Jackson – bass Michael Wilton – guitar Todd La Torre – vocals Casey Grillo – drums Mike Stone – guitar
Another fine sounding heavy rockin’ band from Finland, Leaflet has a brand new single out from their forthcoming 2nd album. Check out the video to the excellent track “Gonna Do It”. For more info on the band and their upcoming album, check out the press release below.
Finnish rockers LEAFLET will be releasing their sophomore album Something Beyond this coming January 2023 via Rockshots Records. The album follows their debut album Outta Door released through VR Label Finland in 2017.
Today, the band is “Gonna Do It” and pull the trigger by giving fans the first single off their second full-length. The track is a hard riffing fist-pumping track to get you off your feet and rocking out!
“‘Gonna Do It’ is about the feeling of getting stuck in your life. You realize it is time for a change, and that it is your own duty to change the course of your life. Of course, there is a risk involved and it feels scary as hell, but you need to hear yourself saying: “Gonna do it”. ‘Gonna’ is the heaviest track we have written so far. We had several versions of it and ended up pretty much re-writing the whole song during the pre-production process. We are glad we did because the end result sounds absolutely stunning with its monster opening riff, crushing chorus, and epic guitar solo!” says the band about the track.
The band comments on Something Beyond:“With this album, we are definitely showing that rock music is alive and pumping! The album is full of catchy metal-influenced rock tunes that would fit perfectly in the heavy rotation of every rock radio station. The album has a lot of variety within the songs, and we got a diverse selection of singles as well. Three very different singles trying to represent the entire album as well as possible. As singles, we got one heavy and hard-hitting tune, one straightforward and super catchy tune, and one fast-paced in-your-face type of tune. You should check out them all to see what you think! “
Formed in 2013, LEAFLET is a four-piece hard rock band from Turku, Finland. Their music can be described as metal-infused American-style hard rock and while you might hear echoes of bands like Alter Bridge or Shinedown they have their own unique Nordic flavor. “Our musical cocktail is a blend of many things. Although we love the 80s, we are trying to keep our hard rock fresh and not follow the retro route”, the band says.
The band has performed on Finnish festivals such as Kuopiorock and Saaristo Open Air along with touring across their home country to support their debut album. They also spent time on the road in the Baltics with Willie & the Goodsouls in 2018 again playing clubs and festivals.
In 2019, LEAFLET released “Johnny Two-Face” as a single through VR Label Finland followed by an ambitious music video shot in both Turku, Finland, and Tokyo, Japan. After a couple of years of silence due to the pandemic, the band is now back with their second album Something Beyond to be released by Rockshots Records on January 20, 2023, sounding stronger than ever.
Track Listing: 1. Gonna Do It 2. Resonate 3. Alone Alive 4. Earth 5. Johnny Two-Face 6. Tattoos of Life 7. Shades of Black 8. Someone Somewhere 9. Something Beyond
Erja Lyytinen’s new album Waiting For The Daylight is now out and it’s a great set of 9 songs from Finland’s ‘Queen of the slide guitar’. Known as a blues player, her new material includes more hard-rock with the single “Last Girl”, southern (a bit country) rock of the excellent lead off track “Bad Seed”, and a bit of heavy prog-ish rock with the album’s center piece and title track, with it’s riff & organ giving the intro a Deep Purple feel, before the song takes on a few changes. “Waiting For The Daylight” is a personal song dealing with losing someone, and an epic piece, check out the solo here.
Other favorites on this album have to be the re-working of “You Talk Dirty”, a much heavier rockin’ version of the blues song originally recorded for 2002’s Attention! album (w/ Dave’s Special); as well “Run Away” that features a big guitar driven chorus, softer verses, a sweet vocal, and the slow blues closing cut “The End Of Music”. A very eye-catching, colorful album cover as well. Available on CD & LP at Erja Lyytinen’s website.
Photo Credit: Antti Karppinen
*For more info check out the links below, as well as the press info on Erja Lyytinen’s new single (and 3rd from this album)
Erja Lyytinen is pleased to release the third single and title track from her ninth studio album Waiting For The Daylight. The single was released the same day as her highly anticipated new album Waiting For The Daylight, which is available – https://erjalyytinen.com/waiting-for-the-daylight
To support the release of the new album, Erja will embark on a co-headline UK tour with the award-winning Belfast-based blues guitarist Dom Martin from November 7-10. Dates include Southampton, The 1865 (Nov 7), Bilston, The Robin (Nov 8), London, The Grace (Nov 9) and Grimsby, Yardbirds Club (Nov 10). Erja will be also playing with her band at Dudley, The Lamb (Nov 11) and Sittingbourne, The Bourne Music Club (Nov 13).
“Waiting For The Daylight” starts with a big guitar riff,” says Erja. “The intro leads to an airy verse and the choruses are quite heavy and dramatic. The heavy guitar riff that repeats throughout the song. I played two guitar solos on the end of the song in the style of Tony Iommi to create tension towards the end.
Continues Erja, “Recording this song was emotional experience for me. I was playing the solo for my friend who died because of a long-term illness. I also poured a lot of the pandemic frustration on this one, so the track became very passionate. In the lyrics, this beautiful creature comes to you on your last day to release you from your earthy pains. The story has a bit of that chivalry romance in some way. We filmed the music video also on the beautiful castle of Raasepori in Finland.”
“My band does an amazing job on the track, with Tatu Back on bass, Iiro Laitinen on drums and Harri Taittonen on Hammond,” concludes Erja. “I also dusted off my violin and played violin tracks to the end of the song. There´s a lot of layers in this blues-rock piece!”
David V. D’Andrea is an American artist, who has been creating album covers, posters, swag, and flyers for bands now for a number of years. His latest creation is the stunning cover art for San Diego band Birth’s debut album Born. Here, David shares his story on making the Birth album art, as well as a bit about his background. *Check out more on David’s art, as well as bands and album covers he’s been involved on, and order some of his prints and posters by checking out the links below.
Can you tell me a bit about your art background, as well as when you got in to creating album covers?
I am an illustrator and most of my work has been within the music world and related industries. Screen printed posters make up the majority of the work as well as album covers, apparel, etc.
Album covers were a facet of the work right from the beginning. I was a part of the ’90s underground scene in the California Bay Area where I did some underground album covers and photocopied show flyers.
What sort of music did you grow up on? And did you have any favorite album cover artists and/or covers?
My father’s record collection created the initial spark. I made the connection between art and music as a child pouring over his fairly average (though highly creative) record collection. Artwork like Martin Sharps work for Cream, Robert Crumb’s Cheap Thrills layout, and Gut Terk’s Blue Cheer cover all peaked my imagination.
Later I got into punk and hardcore which planted the very important concept of diy.. the realization that I can do it myself. I obsessed over skateboard graphics and artists like Pushead and VCJ.
How did the Birth album project come about – were you familiar with the band, label, etc…?
Yes, I am a huge fan of Astra and I created a few posters and shirts for them in the early 2000s. Birth is a sort of continuation of Astra.
The owner of Bad Omens Records is a also a comrade. He formerly worked for Rise Above Records for whom I did a string of three album covers, Witchcraft, Gentlemens Pistols, and Winters.
Was your art created specifically for the ‘Born’ album? And (if so) where did the ideas for the cover and inner gatefold come from? (Had you been able to check out the music beforehand or discuss ideas with the band? )
I did create the artwork specifically for the album and the band granted me a lot of freedom.
Comus “First Utterance” was a touchstone which is an example of a striking cover image which becomes unforgettable over time. It’s dark, earthy, and psychedelic and drawn in a raw style. When I first came across it years ago I likened it to the artwork for “In the Court of the Crimson King” by Barry Godber.
So, was the first Utterance LP cover part of the inspiration for the Birth cover?
The First Utterance cover (by Roger Wootton) was mentioned by the band as an inspiration, not as a literal reference but more for its vibe and peculiarity.
When drawing the Birth cover I kept that in mind.
I hoped to also craft a sort of pathway to ponder as you listen to the album. Birth to death and all the strange trips in between.
The figure is melding with a tree in the courtyard of a crumbling castle with pathways inward and outward.
Can you tell me a bit about the actual piece and how it was created? And are you happy with how the cover suits the music?
My work is hand drawn with India ink on wood panel. I wanted to accentuate the hand drawn / analog feeling and evoke the school of acid damaged art. It’s maybe reminiscent of an old Hawkwind bootleg or early Ernst Fuchs drawing.
There’s a sort of pathway to be followed while listening to the album with lots of mystical symbols along the way. I am very fond of the album and hope that my artwork contributes to the listener’s experience!
You’ve done a number of other album covers — can you tell me a bit about a few that you are most impressed with (or proud of) ?
Wino ” Punctuated Equilibrium” was a milestone for me. It was a momentous collection of Wino’s music and I was honored to do extensive artwork for all of the different facets of the packaging.
Mournful Congregation “Incubus of Karma” was a favorite because the album is a masterpiece and I greatly appreciate the band.
Outsider Rock 