Tag Archives: new rock

THE KINGS release new single. New album coming in September.

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Iconic Canadian Rockers The Kings Celebrate 43rd Anniversary With New Single “Always Off The Deep End” – Listen Here! Single Off Of Band’s Upcoming Album “The Longest Story Ever Told” out September 8th via Dizzy Records 

The Kings Announce Summer Shows with Kim Mitchell, April Wine, Tom Cochrane & more – Tickets Here!

Mixed and mastered by Harry Hess (Harem Scarem, Billy Talent, Blue Rodeo), “Always Off The Deep End” was written about a longtime friend who never does anything halfway, a trait that The Kings have inherited through the decades. The track stays true to the band’s signature classic rock roots but with an exciting breath of fresh air. It’s a slice of rock n roll summer, fitted for the beach and the dock, with its hooky guitars, soaring vocals and infectious beat. The single’s musicianship offers a glimpse of the spectacular record to come and proves that The Kings are here to stay. 

The Longest Story Ever Told is The Kings’ 7th studio album following the release of 2003’s Because of You. A musical triumph, the new 10-track album features a lineup of iconic music industry veterans handling the mixing console, including Bob Ezrin (Pink Floyd, Alice Cooper, Deep Purple), Terry Brown (RUSH, Blue Rodeo, Gowan), Garth Richardson (Rage Against The Machine), Michael Vail Blum (Madonna, Prince), Chris Snow (Barenaked Ladies, Big Wreck, Arkells), Jim Hardy (Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee) and Harry Hess. On the album, the band comments, “Once we decided to make a new album, we went all in to produce what we feel is, from beginning to end, our best one yet.”

The Kings were formed in Vancouver, British Columbia and Oakville, Ontario, Canada. Original members were David Diamond on lead vocals, and bass guitar,  Sonny Keyes on vocals, and keyboards, Max Styles behind the drums, and Mister Zero on guitar.  In 1980 after signing with Elektra Records, The Kings released the Bob Ezrin produced album The Kings Are Here, and the single ‘This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ To Glide’. Even at over five minutes in length, the segue caught on all over the USA and Canada with huge airplay in every major market and stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 for six months. It was named one of the Top 100 U.S. Radio Programmers Picks of the Decade by Album Network Magazine and The Kings were named most promising group by Cashbox Magazine. They also had an amazing appearance on Dick Clark’s ‘American Bandstand’ which helped propel the band to more success. The album, The Kings Are Here is certified platinum and the single “This Beat Goes On/Switchin’ to Glide” is certified gold.

THE KINGS ONLINE:

https://thekingsarehere.com/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063548021148

https://www.instagram.com/thekingsrhere/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNjWtQvNPE

GODS OF SOMETIMES to release debut album

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GODS OF SOMETIMES consists of Brad Davis (bassist of FU MANCHU) and Andrew Giacumakis (guitarist/vocalist of MOAB). Together the duo have created an incredible new, self-titled debut record that features guest appearances by the likes of J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr), Steven Drozd (The Flaming Lips) and Joel Robinow (Once and Future Band) among others that will be released on July 21st with Falling Dome Records. Check out the band’s first 2 singles below.

Links:

https://godsofsometimes.bandcamp.com/

https://linktr.ee/godsofsometimes

ALICE COOPER to release new album ‘Road’ in August

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A new Alice Cooper album, featuring his ‘road’ band will be released later this summer (August 25). Amazon.com has posted info on a limited box set of the album (2LP, blu-ray, merch), as well as 2LP and CD digipak versions.

The road will make you or break you. To survive it, you need to be as tough as asphalt and move fast enough to make the competition eat dust. Throughout 2022, Alice collaborated closely with the members of his touring band as well as long-time producer Bob Ezrin, putting together what would become his brand-new studio album “Road.” You can feel the energy and lightness that the band brings with every riff and hear the story behind what inspired them. Bringing everything full circle, it channels the spirit of old school Alice with instantly recognizable grit and plenty of gusto. It’s everything you’d hope for from him and more. And this time his trusted longtime bandmates— Ryan Roxie [guitar], Chuck Garric [bass], Tommy Henrikson [guitar], Glen Sobel [drums], and Nita Strauss [guitar]—are riding shotgun. Kane Roberts (a touring and recording collaborator with Alice’s in years past who briefly rejoined Cooper on the road in 2022) makes a special guest appearance, contributing the raucous and rip-roaring “Dead Don’t Dance.” Other special contributors to the album include Rage Against The Machine’s Tom Morello, who co-wrote, and plays and sings backing vocals on “White Line Frankenstein,” and Buckcherry’s Keith Nelson and MC5’s Wayne Kramer, who also co-wrote new songs with Alice.

Track-listing:

1. I’m Alice
2. Welcome To The Show
3. All Over The World
4. Dead Don’t Dance
5. Go Away
6. White Line Frankenstein
7. Big Boots
8. Rules Of The Road
9. The Big Goodbye
10. Road Rats Forever
11. Baby Please Don’t Go
12. 100 More Miles *13. Magic Bus

Story Behind the Album Cover: ARJEN LUCASSEN’S SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION’ Golden Age Of Music

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Arjen Lucassen’s Sonic Revolution have a fantastic new album out titled Golden Age Of Music is now out. The album pays homage to and celebrates the great ’70s rock era with plenty of references to bands and albums from the period. The album’s cover is colorful and eye catching, with references to a number of classic albums as well. Awesome packaging, designed by Arjen, himself. So here’s a new installment of The Story Behind The Album Cover where Arjen discusses the new album’s artwork, as well as picks his own favorite classic covers.

You are credited with design, logo, and layout for the Supersonic Revolution cover/package. So, I presume you had a vision and oversaw the whole design and cover being put together!?  

Oh yes, always. I’m a total control freak! There are obviously some images included/influenced from some other classic album covers (the moons, the pyramid, the rainbow, etc…)..

Without giving it ALL away – how many are there and what inspired that idea and how it connects to the album’s theme/concept?  

I explain it all in the unboxing video here:  

Hope that helps! 

Can you tell me how important to you has your album covers/artwork been to you and how you see it as part of the whole record buying package?  

Incredibly important! As a kid I bought so many albums just because of the artwork. Or the opposite… I didn’t buy them when the artwork didn’t pull me in. I bought all the Hipgnosis and Roger Dean stuff, unheard. 

Can you give me some insight to those that helped create the artwork via drawings, photos, layout?  

I basically come up with all the basic ideas. I draw them all out on a piece of paper, very basic and sketchy. And then they perfect it. But it’s a long process, I’m such a perfectionist! I’ve driven many art workers crazy. Really. 

Can you give me a list of Your favorite album covers (5-10 perhaps), growing up, that  had an influence/impact on you later on (Not the music, but just those favorite covers that really impressed)?  

Sure!  Led Zeppelin – Houses of the Holy, Yes – Tales of Topographic Oceans, Alice Cooper – Billion Dollar Babies, T Rex – Electric Warrior, Jethro Tull – Thick as a Brick, Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon, UFO – Phenomenon, Nice – Elegy, Uriah Heep – Magician’s Birthday, Pink Floyd – Animals, Led Zeppelin – Presence.  Not sure if that was 10, haha! 

Do you keep (and still collect) a big record collection?  

No. I was really stupid. I had thousands of vinyl albums and I gave them all away. I hated the scratches on vinyl so much! I kept a lot of the sleeves though, and they are hanging all through my house, (see attachment). 

Links:

https://usa-store.mascotlabelgroup.com/search?type=product&options%5Bunavailable_products%5D=last&options%5Bprefix%5D=last&q=arj

Album of The Day : ARJEN LUCASSEN’S SUPERSONIC REVOLUTION’s Golden Age Of Music

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Dutch songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen has done numerous big projects over the past few decades, under such names as AYREON, Arjen Lucassen’s STAR ONE, GUILT MACHINE, and THE GENTLE STORM. His new band is called ‘Arjen Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution’, and they have debuted with the massive Golden Age Of Music album. I say massive, as it’s 15 tracks over 2 LPs, and it is a great production of ’70s inspired heavy rock, not quite metal and not quite totally prog. Golden Age Of Music essentially pays homage to the prog and heavy bands of the ’70s. There’s tons of Hammond organ throughout this, big intros, fantastic heavy guitar, a good bit of variety, and plenty of references to classic bands and iconic songs & albums.

Immediate highlights include the title track (check out the band & song references in this one), “Rise Of The Starman” (Bowie!?), “Burn It Down” (a twist on Deep Purple’s “Smoke On The Water”, and dig the Jon Lord-like intro), “They Took Us By Storm”, and “Holy Holy Ground” (a more soulful number that reminded me of something Glenn Hughes might do) . Love this whole album! Side 4, (or the ‘bonus’ tracks) consists of 4 covers, including ZZ Top’s “Heard It On The X” (which is how this project got started), as well as versions of songs by T-Rex, Roger Glover, and Earth, Wind & Fire.

Lucassen plays bass on this, as well as writes most of the music & lyrics, and produces / engineers the project, even designing the awesome cover-art (check out the various classic album references on it!).

Arjeb Lucassen’s Supersonic Revolution includes:

Arjen – bass

Jaycee (John Cuijpers) – vocals (Praying Mantis)

Koen Herfst – drums (The Cards, Vandenberg)

Joost van den Broek – keyboards (Ayreon, After Forever, Epica)

Timo Somers – guitars (Vengeance, Delain)

Supersonic Revolution – Arjen’s new band!

Canadian Prog-Metal Exports ONI Debut New Single, Feat. Jared Dines

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Canadian progressive-metal luminaries ONI have unleashed a ferocious new single, “Silence In A Room Of Lies” (feat. guitarist Jared Dines), a volatile, metallic anthem with a torrential onslaught of groove-laden riffs threaded with infectious melody.

Commenting on the new single, Jake Oni states:  “I’m super stoked to share my new song Silence in a Room of Lies! This track is the first step in a new direction for ONI musically. This is just a taste of what’s to come and I hope my fans enjoy it as much as I enjoyed making it. Writing with Jared Dines was an absolute pleasure and his contributions brought this song to a whole new level.”

Dines adds:  “I am very proud of the song we were able to write together, and I’m excited that the world can finally hear it! Jake is the coolest dude and working with him was an absolute pleasure!“

Produced by Josh Gilbert (former As I Lay Dying, current Spiritbox bassist) and Joseph McQueen (Bad Wolves, As I Lay Dying).

Stream the single – https://bfan.link/silence-in-a-room-of-lies

LINKS:

http://www.theoniband.com

https://www.facebook.com/TheOniBand

THE DAMN TRUTH release new single / video, Announce UK tour dates

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Psychedelic Montreal four-piece rock and roll band, The Damn Truth, have released their new single and accompanying music video, “Lonely.”

“The song Lonely started taking shape in our touring van as we began a cross Canada tour,” says TDT’s lead singer, Lee-La Baum. “Three days into that journey, our van went up in flames with our acoustic instruments, personal belongings and our hopes to continue our long-awaited tour.”

Continues Lee-la, “We put together a GoFundMe campaign so that we could rent wheels that would take us and our trailer of stage gear home. 24 hours later there was an incredible amount of money in our account. It was enough to buy a new van, clothes, and rent the gear to continue our tour. It was the beginning of our love affair with the incredible hearts and souls that make up our rock n roll community.”

“After the tour, we started recording demos for the songs that would later become Now or Nowhere. ‘Lonely’ was one of the first songs we sent to Bob Rock, but it was originally called ‘Needs Help.’ It was just an acapella vocal line because, after the van fire, which was the way we were playing it on tour. It was an ode to our fans that saved us from being lonely and stranded on the highway.”

“Bob fell in love with the song right away and told us not worry; that Tom should just try to play a guitar lick along with the vocal melody and the rest would all fall into place in the studio. That’s exactly what happened. Bob walked into the live room and said, ‘The whole song is there, just play it.’ With his masterful, skillful ear and delicate direction, within two hours the song was recorded. Done.”

“Lonely” dovetails The Damn Truth’s summer concerts in the UK throughout July. The band will play a series of headline concerts and will also play Steelhouse Festival on Saturday July 29th. Tickets for the band’s July headline concerts are available from TheGigcartel.com

The Cold Stares will support The Damn Truth at London O2 Islington Academy 2 on July 21st. Empyre will support the band on all other dates, except Sheffield Greystones on June 30th, where support will come from Zac and the New Men and Tessio.

The Damn Truth are Lee-La Baum (vocals, guitar), Tom Shemer (guitar), PY Letellier (bass) and Dave Traina (drums).

They play London, O2 Islington Academy (July 21), Shoreham Ropetackle (July 22), Blackpool, Waterloo (July 23), Leicester Musician (July 25), Buckley Tivoli (July 27), Leek Foxlowe Arts (July 28), Steelhouse Festival (July 29), Sheffield Greystones (July 30), and Milton Keynes, The  Stables (August 1).

SUMMER 2023 UK TOUR
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS:
*THE COLD STARES AND **EMPYRE
***ZAC AND THE NEW MEN & TESSIO

TICKETS AVAILABLE FROM THEGIGCARTEL.COM 

photo – Mikael Theimer 

In 2021, The Damn Truth released their critically acclaimed album Now or Nowhere. Produced by the legendary Grammy Award-winning Bob Rock, the album is available from www.thedamntruth.com.

No stranger to UK radio, The Damn Truth have had three singles from the Now Or Nowhere album playlisted on Planet Rock. These include – “This Is Who We Are Now,” “Tomorrow,” and “Only Love.” “This Is Who We Are Now” was played on BBC Radio 2’s Rock Show with Johnnie Walker. On several occasions, the band won Tracks of the Week on Classic Rock’s Louder Sound.

“The Damn Truth are a fresh revivalism of the psyche music scene from the mid-60s,” says Jeff Laufer, editor Rock Bands of LA. “Critics and fans praise their regeneration of the hard rock sound and values.”  Continues Jeff, “Bob Rock found a spirit within the band that he hadn’t experienced for many years. “He saw something special… an artist with burning talent that needed the right direction to break wide open… like lightning in a bottle.”

Six tracks on the new album Now or Nowhere were produced by legendary Grammy Award winning Bob Rock (Metallica, Kingdom Come, Bryan Adams, The Cult, …) at Bryan Adams’ recording studio “The Warehouse” in Vancouver.

They sold out the legendary Whisky a Go-Go in Los Angeles and the Corona Theatre in their hometown of Montreal. One of their music videos was featured on the official Janis Joplin Facebook page. It’s a culmination of a lot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears.

photo – Robert Sutton
photo – Marty Moffat

LINKS:

http://www.thedamntruth.com

https://thedamntruth.bigcartel.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thedamntruth

https://www.youtube.com/@thedamntruthtube/featured

DEAD QUIET release new single from upcoming album

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Vancouver-based progressive proto-metal merchants DEAD QUIET share the final single taken from their forthcoming full-length “IV”, due out June 9th on Artoffact Records. Stream “Dying To Live Again” now!

The wait is ALMOST over. Last but definitely not least, Dead Quiet has delivered the final single from their quickly approaching album. While every single from this album has had its own reason to get you pumped up for the release, “Dying To Live Again” is indisputably the perfect last single to preface the full-length. Every element of this song screams “give me more” and leaves you not simply wanting, but needing more.

On the single, frontman Kevin Keegan comments: “We love writing long songs and we spared no expense with this one. The various movements in this song oftentimes remind me of musical theatre. I know that’s not a very heavy metal thing to say, but shit, we are a bunch of geeks.”

*Check out “Dying To Live Again” on all streaming platforms

DEAD QUIET:
Kevin Keegan – guitar & vocals
Brock MacInnes – guitar
Michael Grossnickle – bass
Michael Rosen – keyboards, vocals
Jason Dana – drums

DEAD QUIET links
Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify

Canada’s DEAD QUIET release new single from next album ‘IV’

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Dead Quiet’s new single “Leave The Light On” is a ballad, with a southern feel. Great guitars in this. Check out some of the band’s other new tracks from the upcoming ‘IV’ album , cool heavy guitars, and organ. (*For more info, check out the press release after this, and links below!)

Vancouver-based metal mercenaries DEAD QUIET have shared the latest single and video for their track, “Leave The Light On,” from the forthcoming full-length “IV” – out June 9th via Artoffact Records!

Joined by Marin Patenaude and Becky Black (Pack AD) on vocals, and Matt Kelly (City and Colour) on slide guitar, Dead Quiet’s infectious new track follows the album’s previously released, “No Gods, No Gold,” “High Roads,” and “The Hanging Man.” Each single takes listeners on their respective journeys with a soundtrack full of bluesy keyboard riffs and raspy, catching vocals, leaving them itching for the next track to drop – a wait that ends today!

Listen to the single on Spotify, Bandcamp and Apple Music

On the single, vocalist Kevin Keegan comments: “Leave the light on is by far the saddest song we ever wrote. We had some very good friends pass away and we pay tribute to them with this one. It is definitely a ballad, but who doesn’t love a good ballad?“

Their new album “IV” will follow September 2020’s “Truth and Ruin”, which was a favorite of Exclaim! Magazine, Beatroute, V13, and more – reaching #1 on the National Canadian Campus Radio (Loud) and also being featured on CBC Rock Canada. On the new album, Keegan says “This, our 4th album, feels like the most fully explored of any of them. We really arranged everything as a group and it has the most character because of that. It’s definitely an adventure.” Listen to previous singles “The Hanging Man“, “High Roads“, “The Hanging Man” and “No Gods, No Gold“.

Forming in 2014, Dead Quiet established themselves quickly with the release of their debut self-titled record in 2015. By the time writing commenced for their follow-up record, Grand Rites in 2017, Dead Quiet had found their perfect lineup in Kevin Keegan (Barn Burner), Brock MacInnes (Anciients), Mike Grossnickle (Hashteroid) and Jason Dana. The release of Grand Rites on Toronto’s Artoffact Records was followed by two European tours, one of which being direct support for John Garcia (Kyuss), as well as numerous festival appearances including Desertfest Belgium and Into the Void (NL), further cementing the band as one to watch out for.

After a rigorous year of touring, the band had no intention of slowing down and swiftly entered the studio to record their third record: “Truth and Ruin”. Again teaming up with Artoffact, “Truth and Ruin” saw the addition of Mike Rosen to the band and further broadened the already keyboard-laden sound they’d established on previous efforts. Released in 2020 on Artoffact Records, “Truth and Ruin” proved that work ethic and chemistry can truly refine a band’s sound to what they had always been striving for: heavy instrumentation combined with rich melody and uniquely personal lyricism, making Dead Quiet one of the hottest, must-see bands on the Canadian landscape.

DEAD QUIET is:
Kevin Keegan – guitar & vocals
Brock MacInnes – guitar
Michael Grossnickle – bass
Michael Rosen – keyboards, vocals
Jason Dana – drums

DEAD QUIET links
Facebook ⎮ Bandcamp ⎮ Instagram ⎮ Spotify

ROBERT JON & THE WRECK release first ever concert film  

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Southern roots rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck have released Live At The Ancienne Belgique, their first-ever live concert film, via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records. Recorded during their sold-out show at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium on June 29th, 2022, the live CD/DVD set captures the Wreck amid their longest-ever tour – 67 performances in 75 days across 9 countries. The night was nothing less than spectacular, featuring a setlist that spanned the last decade of their prolific career, from their 2013 debut to their 2022 release. Watch the official live music video for “Oh Miss Carolina”, and purchase/stream Live At The Ancienne Belgique HERE.


“A lot of time and effort went into our show at the Ancienne Belgique … We had been meaning to make a live album for years, so we saw this as an opportunity to document and release unique, more evolved versions of our songs.” – frontman Robert Jon Burrison.

The Wreck has shared a series of live singles over the past few weeks, leading into the release of Live At The Ancienne Belgique. This included “Blame It On The Whiskey,” their first single over ten years ago; an extended, psychedelic take on fan favorite “Hey Hey Mama;” and the album’s lead single “Shine a Light on Me Brother,” originally the title track of their 2021 studio full-length. “’Shine’ is always an exhilarating song to play live,” Robert Jon commented upon its release. “There are a lot of moving pieces and even a time change between the verse and chorus. Without the horns from the studio recording, it definitely has more of a ‘rock’ feel to it in a live setting. This song also features the talents of two backup singers, which added a lot to our sound!”

The band’s very recent dynamic new EP release of One Of A Kind, out now on all digital platforms, received rave reviews from all over the world and helped catapult the band’s awareness into new heights.
The One Of A Kind EP was the first taste of a slate of new material that Robert Jon & The Wreck will roll out over the next year and beyond. Prolific songwriters with a wealth of new material who refuse to be constrained by traditional release strategies, the band’s new partnership with Journeyman Records affords them the opportunity to work with the world’s top producers and release a steady stream of high-quality singles on an ongoing basis, cutting through the industry chaos and ensuring new music is accessible to fans as intended.


Reigning from Southern California, Robert Jon & The Wreck take the Southern rock sound from the east coast and make it their own. Since their inception in 2011, these native Californians; Robert Jon Burrison (lead vocals, guitar), Andrew Espantman (drums, background vocals), Henry James Schneekluth (lead guitar, background vocals), and Warren Murrel (bass) have been electrifying audiences all over the world with their soaring guitar leads, rich vocal harmonies, and memorable tunes. Recently, keyboardist Jake Abernathie joined the band as an official member as they continue to tour and record in the studio. Simply put, it is difficult to ignore when these talented musicians take the stage.

Robert Jon & The Wreck is currently touring as support for Blackberry Smoke as well as their own headlining gigs. For more information and to purchase tickets visit https://robertjonandthewreck.com/

Live At The Ancienne Belgique CD/DVD – by Robert Jon & The Wreck

1. The Devil Is Your Only Friend
2. Rollin’*
3. She’s A Fighter*
4. Do You Remember
5. Henry Guitar Solo
6. Hey Hey Mama
7. Blame It On The Whiskey
8. Oh Miss Carolina
9. Tired Of Drinking Alone
10. Steve Keys Solo
11. The Death Of Me
12. Waiting For Your Man*
13. Andrew Drum Solo*
14. Don’t Let Me Go
15. Old Friend
16. Shine A Light On Me Brother
17. Cold Night
18. Glory Bound*
19. On The Run

(* DVD Only)

LINKS:

Home Page

https://www.facebook.com/robertjonandthewreck

https://www.youtube.com/robertjonandthewreck

https://ktbarecords.com/streaming/robertjon/liveattheab/album/