Ray Tokyo Rosamond has been delighting audiences with her guitar-playing and Latin charm since her first guest appearance on the Mexican soap opera, Fruta De Pasíon. She became a world-wide sensation when her debut solo album went platinum virtually overnight. Besides her commitments in the music world, Ray Tokyo is the spokesperson for the Village Green Lemur Preservation Society and is currently developing a line of complicated sleep-wear. Stacey A-go-go-goldschmidt received a toy drum set from her parents, who were looking for a way to keep her from wrecking the pots and pans and their last nerve. When the neighbors complained about the noise, Stace-A-go-go took her drums to the beach and played on the boardwalk. From there the two young chaps became wildly posessed and inspired. Light bulbs flashed bright and the girls’ instinctual nature materialized the motivation to create magically clutsy sounds.
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson’s critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall. Thriller explores similar genres to those of Off the Wall, including pop, R&B, rock, post-disco, funk, and adult contemporary music.
When Canasta throws around the term “long-awaited” to describe their upcoming album, “The Fakeout, the Tease and the Breather,” they aren’t just whistling Dixie. Considering the band has been a staple—perhaps even the unspoken centerpiece—of Chicago’s orchestral pop contingent this millennium, it’s hard to believe that this is just their second full‐length. But Canasta doesn’t profess to be any sort of lightning rod for the muses. As un‐sexy as it sounds, the members are probably better described as pop craftsmen/women. Their composition process may take time, but it elicits serious pride in the end result.
Boasting a six‐person line‐up, Canasta has always augmented the standard rock set-up with piano, keyboard, violin and trombone. But despite an ever‐changing roster that has included fifteen members (!), founders Matt Priest and Elizabeth Lindau continue to keep the orchestrations meticulous, the lyrics thoughtful, the melodies unforgettable and the sound uniquely “Chicagoan.” But don’t get the impression they spend all their time cooped up in the studio and rehearsal space. Since forming, they’ve managed to live out one rock n’ roll dream after another. They’ve toured the country—hitting CMJ and SXSW—and back at home, headlined the legendary Metro and held the prestigious Schubas residency. They’ve gigged with killer bands like Wilco, Grizzly Bear, Devotchka, Alabama Shakes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Menomena, Sloan, Kaiser Chiefs, White Rabbits and The Delgados and even played a set for President Obama. Their songs have made their way into TV commercials, a movie trailer and NPR’s programming and they’ve sold out pressings of both their debut EP, “Find the Time,” and full-length, “We Were Set Up”…
…which brings us to the new album. It’s a record that earns its lengthy gestation period and demonstrates a big step forward in songwriting. This album’s louder moments are darker, denser and more dramatic than those found on past recordings, with harder‐hitting drums, boomier bass and a swarm of buzzing synths. But conversely, its prettier moments are sparser and more heartbreaking, with vocals bordering on a whisper and the audible creaking and squeaking of piano pedals, guitar frets and violin strings. And along the way, the record flirts with elements new to the band, borrowing from the likes of disco, shoegaze, spaghetti western, gospel and blue‐eyed soul. But in their hands, it never spirals out of control; it’s unquestionably still a pop record at heart. The album, the band’s first for upstart label RWIM Chicago, will be released this Spring. And despite the wait, Canasta’s confident that once folks hear exactly what they’ve been up to, all will be forgiven and 2010 will emerge as THE YEAR OF THE FAKEOUT! (Typing that last part was every bit as fun as I’d hoped it would be.)
Advance Base is new music by Casiotone for the Painfully Alone mastermind Owen Ashworth. Under his new moniker, Ashworth conjures dreamy waltzes, heavy-hearted ballads & electropop-styled torch songs from antiquated instruments such as Rhodes electric pianos, Omnichords, Wurlitzer rhythm boxes, & samplers. Advance Base songs deal with deceased racehorses, estranged siblings, hard feelings, & all things long lost. A Shut-In’s Prayer, the debut album from Advance Base, was number 19 on MOJO Magazine’s Best Albums of 2012 list. The World Is In A Bad Fix Everywhere, an EP of early 20th century gospel music composed by Washington Phillips, will be released June 25, 2013 on Orindal Records.
“Bands with expansive names evoking strong imagery rarely live up to their monikers. Fortunately in the case of Mountains for Clouds, we have a band that lives up to their title. Composing huge, soaring pieces that build and layer into a delicate beauty so fragile it threatens to break at a the drop of a pin. While most bands would take this step too far, Mountains for Clouds are masters of their craft, reigning in or pulling the intensity of their music like it was clay in their hands.” – Keith of Count Your Lucky Stars
INCOMMINICADO: Refers to a situation or behavior to which communication with outsiders is not possible for voluntary or involuntary reasons due to confinement or reclusiveness.
Brandon Asraf and bandmate John Tacon (drums, electronic samples, vocals) formed Brick + Mortar in 2010 to immediate critical buzz that’s now rapidly approaching fever pitch, no doubt buoyed along by the excellent video for their song “Bangs” which premiered on Noisey last summer. The song’s bass hits like a massive punch to the face and the narrative of the ultra-violent accompanying video, based on the life of Asraf’s father, is likely one of the more brutal stories you’ve ever bore witness to. “This video opened the door for us to be more than a band. People seem to wait for that song to sing their hearts out at shows,” explains Asraf of the impact the single has had on the band. “Bangs” was released on Mad Dragon Records as part of Motion City Soundtrack’s Making Moves series, where the band featured their personal favorite rising artists in special 7″ releases.
Aside from touring Brick + Mortar will also be busy with several other projects this fall, including putting out a fully animated music video created by artist Richie Brown and focusing on writing for their debut full length. “The goal is to make our album an audiovisual experience. I feel like the songs we are working on are our best yet. We are ready to make a full length record.”
Stereo Genius is a collective of musicians based out of Chicago led by drummer / composer /producer Justin Boyd. While on a plane ride over the Atlantic Ocean he got the idea to start his own group. The name of the band can be broken down into two segments that compliment each other. The first being that before laptops, iPods or any other mobile device music had to be listened to thru a stereo. So in a sense having a stereo whether in your home or car was essential to consuming music. The second segment is Genius, which describes the bands commitment to music education. We hope to inspire future generations of musicians, artist and creative thinkers. The band has recently released their first EP entitled “Miracle Year” that can be downloaded at all of the standard mediums. Our mission is to combine jazz, soul, hip-hop, funk and world music seamlessly. So by the end of our show we hope that you’ve had an amazing experience.
Silver Abuse started before you were born. They were showered with beer and spit at their first show. Now the world has caught up with their odd and angular musings and are starting to pay respect. Fans say they sound like nobody else. In a good way.
Sacramento, California was the home of my post highschool rock band Ian Faith. Through multiple member changes and a number of disasterous entanglements with the record industry we ended up and eventually disolved in Boston MA. Nashville became the birthplace of a new band founded by ex-Ian Faith member Jeff Lemons and Lex Price, called Tremolo. Tremolo made a few friends in the local music scene and eventually became Septemberland. Septemberland made a few more friends in the Nashville community, and earned a small amount of recognition amongst those who live with the delusion that they “count”. I now reside here in Chicago, having weeded out all the charlatans and weenies, I am surrounded by an amazing family of accomplished and dynamic music makers and otherwise, beautiful people. I love music!! I most of all love the humanity of music! When I’m not making music I’m a Tour Manager/Stage manager for a short list of artists and organizations whose music and creations I enjoy supporting. I book and promote a Nashville-style singer/songwriter showcase once a month, called Get Off The Couch, from which this “Get Off The Couch Presents…” show was spawned. So, find me in the dark bars, the hot crowded theaters, or the bustling out door festivals, oiling the tired muscles of the giant organism that is live music and let’s have a cold beverage and listen together. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC EVERYWHERE!!
DUMPSTER HUNTER
Dumpster Hunter — led by the gangly, spasmodic Jeff Taylor — shatters the psychic wall between audience and performer, exposing a weird, compelling and emotionally naked universe.
The New Jersey born, Brooklyn based songwriter and his band gang up on unsuspecting audiences, using his large mouth and their acrobatic musical arrangements both as tools and semi-lethal weapons. Exciting, sometimes unplanned sit-ins with artists like Matisyahu and Trixie Whitley have punctuated the last few years of Taylor’s journey. The singer will perform the role of ‘Larry The Dwarf,’ with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in the upcoming World Premiere of Frank Zappa’s ‘200 Motels.’
Dumpster Hunter’s incendiary live set is largely comprised of the rollercoaster material from their debut album, ‘Frustration In Time Travel.’ A new EP is scheduled for release in early 2014.
Blow Wind Blow is the music of Ryan Suzuka (vocals/ukulele/harmonica), amplified into appropriate proportion with the help of bandleader Rami Atassi (lead guitar), Aaron Ervin (guitar/keyboard), Conner Hollingsworth (bass), and Paul Newmann (drums). This band is here to display the beauty, power, and depth of someone who paced through his youth without knowing he had a musical voice. In one moment you experience his accumulated ache and the next, a thunderous declaration of purpose. This band is creating indie pop that owes as much of its creation to the ethereal falsetto of Skip James and command of Son House, as it does to the lush vulnerability of Camera Obscura and rootsy melodic drive of Neko Case. Welcome to the wonderful world of Blow Wind Blow!
ECHODROIDES
EchoDroides is a collaboration between Chicago natives Frank De La Mora & Trancid (Miguel Martin). Their sound is Spaced out Synthpop with flavors of Italo and Nu Disco. Their music’s influences come largely from geniuses like Giorgio Moroder, Vince Clarke, Alexander Robotnik, Depeche Mode and Telex just to name a few.
After releasing 3 EPs and 1 single between March of 2012 and now, they have completed a full length album titled Orbita, which was released in September of 2013. They have also put their remixing skills to work on tracks by Trent Reznor’s project: How To Destroy Angels, Giorgio Moroder’s From Here To Eternity and the Netherland’s RSTRCTD. Mr. Moroder himself gave compliments to their work on the remix and also their original music. Having recently been added to the Red Bull Sound Select artist roster has also given them added exposure.
This young eclectic group of musicians is bringing a young and unique blend to the music scene. Webster’s Dictionary defines ConQuest as a person whose favor or hand has been won. The goal of this group to is to grasp each crowd’s attention and win people over by their smooth rhythms and distinct harmonies; letting them massage your soul through their musical innovations. The group is led by keyboardists, Clarence Williams Jr. Mr. and Mrs. McKinney controls the 3-4 piece horn section while Mr. Anthony Allamandola makes a statement on the guitar. Michael Ray keeps the groove on the drums while Mr. Isaiah Webb holds down the baseline. These guys mix jazz, funk, classical, gospel and fusion together, which creates an unforgettable sound.
On August 17, 2013 the group held another one of their highly anticipated showcases. The title of this event was “A Lil’ Bit of Everything.” This showcase featured some of ConQuest’s newest original material. There were also performances from Chicago’s very own Jamie Sherman and 2003 Chicago Idol Winner as well as supporting artist for the Grammy Award Winning R. Kelly, Maurice Mahon. This event was great! The way the band will grasp your attention is phenomenal and extremely unique!
“Dedicated to bridging the gap between hip-hop and jazz…”
– Jim DeRogatis (Chicago Sun-Times)
In summer ’06, the inception of VertiKal gave birth to music that is original and exciting. Drawing from Chicago’s diverse fan-base, VertiKal uses it’s range of musical influence to connect with funk enthusiasts, hip-hop fanatics, and folks with a jazz sensibility.
VertiKal has held a residency at the Underground Wonder Bar and the Morseland Café. They have performed for capacity crowds at some of the most esteemed venues in Chicago, such as the Double Door, Metro, Schubas, Lincoln Hall, and drew 200+ people to their debut CD-release party at Martyrs’. In 2007, VertiKal was voted “audience favorite” at the Emergenza national, with Lorin Cohen earning a “best bass player” nod. In 2011, their dynamic MC, Illegit was nominated for “Best New Entertainer” by the Chicago Music Awards.
Nearly a year has passed since the collective formerly known as The Dean’s List were a part of your audio experience. The group endured plenty during that hiatus – receiving harsh criticisms from some on account of their pronounced musical growth, spurring a controversial name change while MC/songwriter Sonny Shotz was attacked overseas and his jaw severely broken. Producer Alex Mendoza and Sonny Shotz felt that a rebirth was needed in order to return to doing what they love…and in that time they’ve found the inspiration they needed for their re-introduction as Kings Dead.
When The Dean’s List first arrived on the scene, the intent wasn’t to lean on the connotation of “college rap.” Their moniker arguably suggested some degree of fraternity, though anyone who pressed play on their debut EP Undeclared or the smash follow-up, The Drive In would know that their music surpassed the mere halls of colleges across the country. In the period of less than two years, the group charted on Billboard, sold out shows nationwide, and toured the world. It was a fulfilling two years, to say the least. However, the group was quickly evolving beyond their brand. “We were in a box almost,” producer Alex Mendoza recalls. “So we changed our name.” In addition, the group parted ways with long time friend and co-producer Mik Beats, leaving Mendoza and Sonny to regroup and rebrand on their own. With the plan being to begin working overseas on their first project as the newly formed “Kings Dead,” their next hurdle arrived quite unexpectedly.
Just as Sonny arrived in Spain to link with Mendoza in the studio and begin working on their next project, he was violently attacked, leaving his jaw broken in two places. Sonny returned to Tampa, FL to have emergency surgery and recover with his family while Mendoza stayed in Spain and worked on musical production. The two would exchange lyrics and music over email without ever actually recording the completed songs. It was difficult, for sure…but the process allowed Kings Dead to develop the two vital components in their music separately, re-defining a musical synergy more than they ever had before. “I think it made me a lot more comfortable with my writing and saying things how I want to say them,” explains Sonny. It enabled me to really focus more on the storytelling aspect of things, just looking at music from a whole different perspective.” Alex continues, “Before, we would always have control over our music, but now we have experience to go with it. It mean’s a lot for what we create.”
Upon the duo reuniting in January 2013 the energy in the studio seemed magical. Sonny initially recorded with his mouth wired shut, but once he was unwired, the real preparation for their return began. “When we finally came together in the studio, it was just like a weight off of our shoulders,” Sonny says, “There was no more emailing back and forth, and we were finally able to just be in the same room, be creative and focus.”
Producer Alex Mendoza explains the meaning behind Kings Dead:
“It’s the death of a movement that’s been rejuvenated into a different movement,” he explains. “We were playing with Kid Cudi in front of 10,000 people, performing alongside acts like Calvin Harris, Wiz Khalifa, Lupe Fiasco & Wale in front of 5-7000 people. We were doing these big shows, and it was great. But that had to die for us to be able to really flourish into a whole new situation and create the music we wanted to create.”
That new focus has culminated into what will be their next project, Revenge Of the Beast.
The forthcoming album from Kings Dead represents a new day for Alex Mendoza and Sonny Shotz. The music is sharper and more focused, while still fluidly crossing over genres and maintaining the purity of what the Boston based duo is all about. “It’s just like all of the musical influences and experiences that we’ve had to this point have culminated into an album…it has no boundaries” explains Sonny, while Alex adds that it’s “Genre bending urban crossover music to the fullest extent.”
While previous projects took them several months, this outpouring of emotions on record only took a few weeks to create. Perhaps months of frustration from not being able to record together for the first time in years allowed the two to deliver in a way they never thought they could as The Dean’s List.
Alex Mendoza and Sonny Shotz had to destroy in order to rebuild, with the result leading them to becoming Kings Dead. With Revenge Of the Beast on the horizon, their fans and contemporaries will understand that Kings Dead have reincarnated and their music is like never before. Get ready.
Rising Chicago Band, “Party At The Moontower” features a unique mixture of Funk, Rock, R&B, and Hip Hop. The PATM crew consist of two vocalist, Drums, Guitar & Bass.
Since the birth of the band in 2012, “PATM” has taken off in a blaze, touring some of Chicago’s great venues like the; Cubby Bear, Congress Theatre Box Social, Reggies Rock Club, House Cafe (Dekalb, IL), Elbo Room, Underground Wonder Bar, Goose Island Pub, Red Line Tap, The Abbey Pub Music Fest, Abbey Pub (Green Room), The Mutiny Rock Club, The Tin Lizzie, Dark Room, Game Pazzo, and Edison Park Inn.
Sporting a sound more in line with the depths of a murky, corpse-filled swamp than their Chicago brethren, area trio Marmora are turning heads as well as banging them. Their dirty, howling guitars, crushing bass, and commanding drums recall the stoner rock of yesteryear, while layering on chaotic solos and an energy that’s sorely lacking with many instrumental projects, that all who witness cannot deny. Having honed their chops over the last ten years and more, Marmora is a tight-knit family affair, and while the sound may be gnarly, the musicianship and talent is clear throughout.
Honky Suckle / honk-`e suck-ul’/ noun; a band from Southwest Missouri ready to melt faces with original roots rock grass influences, also, rowdy live show with harmony and intensity unmatched.
Honky Suckle is a band comprised of four stellar musicians Dave Smith-Upright bass,Vocals; Kyle Young-Harmonica,Vocals; Adam Howell-Drums,Vocals; Eric Howell-Resonator,Banjo,Guitar, Vocals.
Blending rock and punk influences with roots music’s raw power they bring a real intensity seldom heard. Self restraint allows these musicians to pump out consistent on -point arrangements while still able to unleash rhythmic and individual prowess when warranted. A unique blending of four part harmony round out the sound that crowds have come to love. Rowdy live shows and genuine emotion leave people wanting more. Don’t miss a live show, you won’t forget it.
The Rebel Sect began as an idea in May of 2013. Since then, TRS has blossomed into one of the most unique rock bands of it’s generation. With influences ranging from hip hop, r&b & rap to psychedelic & indie to punk & post-hardcore & even crossing into electronica & classical at times, TRS completely blurs the lines of modern music genres & brings a new take on rock to this intensely digital world. With “The Sea is Silent” LP in the process of being recorded (projected release date : 10/26), a music video for “War Musik” on it’s way & a slue of shows on the horizon, TRS is making a name for themselves that won’t soon be forgotten.
The Melismatics formed at the turn of the century in the fertile ground of the Minneapolis indie-rock scene. Their debut album “Postmodern Rock” quickly caught the attention of college radio stations around the country and garnered favorable reviews from critics around the world. Shortly thereafter, Minneapolis indie-rock king pin Ed Ackerson (Motion City Sountrack, The Replacements, The Jayhawks) signed the band to Susstones Records and produced their next two albums “New Infection” and “Turn It On”. The Melismatics toured the country numerous times over and continued to win loyal fans with their high-energy and unpredictable live shows. Their music has been featured on MTV’s “The Hills,” “The City”and “Laguna Beach,” NBC’s “Windfall”; Animal Planet’s “Jockeys” and they’ve played such notable events as Lollapalooza, Summerfest, and CMJ. The Melismatics released “The Acid Test” on CC Entertainment/E1 Music (2008). Renowned producer John Fields caught the band performing at 2007 SXSW in Austin, Texas and signed on to produce the album. The music video for “Digging Deep” charted at #2 on MTVU and received widespread airplay.
The Melismatics’ new album “MANIA!” was produced by Jon Auer of The Posies and Big Star, along with Ed Ackerson (Motion City Soundtrack, Golden Smog, The Replacements) and was mixed by John Fields (Jimmy Eat World, Rooney, Har Mar Superstar, etc). The LP was mastered at Sterling Sound in NYC by Chris Athens (Coldplay, Beastie Boys, NERD, etc) and features collaborations with Dan Wilson (Adele, Semisonic) and Jon Auer who also lends vocals to several tracks.
Progressive Hardcore from Chicago Illinois. Started in 2011, we have an indisputable passion for what we do. We have no reason to stop. A heavy dose of fast and pissed.
It’s three guys from Chicago making noises on musical instruments, usually at the same time. These noises vary in volume and intensity and are interspurced with moments of silence. While this happens a voice can occasionally be heard making additional noises. That’s pretty much it.
BrazenBull is preparing to run through the streets and gore all in it’s path. All noises are mostly deliberate and being slightly scrutinized. Gaps in memory are being overlooked or expanded upon. Overall volume is exceedingly too high and being increased. Dance moves, sometimes you’ve just got to do it. Everything is ready. Now what? Wait for it!
“Kingery is a band that believes in the powerful force of music which manifests itself in everyone’s lives. The uplifting lyrics of John Kush (Vocals) are easy to identify with. Ed Jenke (Guitars) and Gene Jenke (Bass/Synthesizers) are brothers who grew up solidifying their talents and challenging each other daily. Kyle Spoden (Drums) keeps a commanding yet melodic beat. Kingery shares influences which have shaped a unique, classic sound that entices you to listen intently.
Kingery released their first album “What Lies Beneath” in October 2013 and now followup with their sophomore effort, “On The Fly”. Kingery believes the music will grow with you after each listen. Both albums are available for purchase on Itunes, CD Baby, and Amazon.”
Negative Approach is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1981. The band is considered among of the pioneers of hardcore punk, particularly in the Midwest region. Like most hardcore bands, Negative Approach was little known in its day outside of its hometown. It is now idolized in the Detroit rock underground and the punk subculture, considered to be one of the elite bands of the “old school” era, and continues to be influential
Code Orange (formerly Code Orange Kids) is an American hardcore punk band that formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2008. The band signed to Deathwish Inc. and have since released two studio albums through the label: Love Is Love/Return to Dust (2012) and I Am King (2014).
It’s been awhile since music has had a rebellious voice. Not since Rage Against the Machine put their fist in the air, in the land of hypocrisy has there been such an unmitigated combustion of sonic ferocity fueled by relentless passion and intrepid ideology. At least not until letlive. came along…
LA’s volatile four-piece rock band fanned the flames of discontent with their critically praised record, Fake History, for a new generation of fans three years ago, and today have announced their long-awaited return with one of the year’s most anticipated albums, The Blackest Beautiful out now via Epitaph Records. letlive. premiered their first new song, “Banshee (Ghost Fame),” in the form of a powerful video.
Every Time I Die have never been an easy act to categorize and that’s one of the key reasons why the band’s fans have never turned their back on this innovative act’s unique brand of music. While the band started out in the late ’90s hardcore scene, over the past decade they’ve continued to evolve and push the boundaries of heavy music, a process that’s culminating with their sixth full-length Ex Lives. Recorded by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens Of The Stone Age) Ex Lives sees the band—vocalist Keith Buckley, guitarists Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams, drummer Ryan Leger—coming together to create the most forward-thinking album of their career.
“Everything about this record was new,” Keith explains. “Normally I’m in a comfort zone when I write lyrics because I’m just holed up in my apartment but this time I was finding little corners of clubs in Europe with [side-project] the Damned Things trying to squeeze in a couple of hours of writing and I think that process really affected the way this album came together.”
Keith adds that although Every Time I Die’s party vibe has been well-documented in the past, Ex Lives saw the band approaching the album from a more serious perspective. “There’s no song like ‘We’rewolf’ on this album,” Keith explains. “I was pretty angry when we were writing these songs which isn’t a good spot for a human being but is good if you’re a guy singing in a band,” he continues with a laugh. “I was just really angry and disappointed with a lot of things in my life at the time and I think that definitely comes through on a lot of these songs; I was wondering if it was all karma because I was a horrible person in a past life and that’s where the album title came from.”
From the syncopated chaos of the opening salvo “Underwater Bimbos From Outer Space” to the progressive mosh anthem “A Wild, Shameless Plain” and relentless metal riffage of “The Low Road Has No Exits,” Ex Lives sees Every Time I Die further tempering their aggression while also implementing new instrumentation such as banjo (see the sinister intro of “Partying Is Such Sweet Sorrow”) and, yes, flute (see the end of “Indian Giver”) in order to recontextualize exactly what it means to be a heavy band, which is something that has endeared them to fans for thirteen years.
“I don’t think us doing anything different is a surprise to Every Time I Die fans because one of the main reasons why a lot of people have stuck by us for so long is because they know they can expect the unexpected with each release,” Keith explains, adding that if you listen close enough you’ll take note of plenty of sonic subtleties on Ex Lives. “There are a lot of little weird things that I think people will start noticing more as they listen to the album,” he elaborates. “I’d never added any keyboard or synthesizer elements to an Every Time I Die song before so it was a really cool opportunity to expand the sound on this disc.”
Similarly Ex Lives also sees Keith pushing his limits on songs like “I Suck (Blood),” which proves how versatile the band’s vocalist has become whether he’s cathartically screaming or crooning an upper register melody. “On albums like [2007’s] The Big Dirty no one heard my vocals until the album was totally done but on this one everyone had their input on what I was doing vocally and they could give me suggestions to improve them,” Keith says, adding that this disc was more collaborative for the band. “I think I was also more energetic because I was nervous to sing in front of everyone.”
It’s impossible to deny that in an increasingly stagnant musical climate Every Time I Die are still pushing the limits of their own sound—and Ex Lives is aural evidence that after over a decade together they’re anything but complacent. “I had to prove myself 100 percent from the beginning like I did when we put out our first record to show the other guys in Every Time I Die as well as myself that I could do this and I couldn’t be happier with the end result,” Keith summarizes when asked to describe Ex Lives. “This feels like a new band in a way… it’s just its own thing and that feels really, really good.”
We are a two man music militia, armed with various genres of original music. We just started playing out again in 2012 after taking several years off to marry and to help raise some kids. We use a computer and prerecorded tracks for the back ground. We play keyboards, guitars,bass and some percussion live. We do invite guests every so often to play with us when applicable.
Here Comes The Kraken (also known as HCTK) is a Death Core / Metal band from Aguascalientes, Mexico. The band started in the year 2008.
HCTK has released 3 albums: “Here comes the kraken”, “The Omen” and their most recent production “Hate Greed & Death.”
The band has produced 5 official music videos: “ Don’t fail me Darko”, “Into the Slaughter basement”, “Never regret”,“ NU BEGINNING.” and their latest “AGUASCALIENTES (DEAD HOME CITY)”
They have toured throughout Mexico 5 times, from Tijuana down to Cancun. On December 2008 HCTK played many shows in Germany which triggered a new European tour on October-November 2009 visiting countries like: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland. With such a great crowd response on summer of 2010 the band came back for their second European tour, this time with more shows to play and more countries to visit.
On 2011 new material was released: “Hate, greed & Death” which has shown an evolution in their sound and that has wowed the media with its technical and musical quality. The CD was mixed by Ulrich Wild (Deftones, Pantera) and mastered by Ted Jensen (Slipknot, Marilyn Manson).
After their appearance and performance in the Festival Vive Latino 2011 the band initiated their Hate Greed & Death tour and after a great number of shows they had to cancel the tour due to a car accident in which some of the band members were injured therefore could not continue playing and are still in recovery.
HCTK is currently promoting their new single “AGUASCALIENTES (DEAD HOME CITY)” and preparing a new album for 2013, HCTK is going to hit Europe for 5th time on February 2013 with Avocado Booking
Vildhjarta was formed by Daniel Bergström, Jimmie Åkerström and Johan Nyberg in 2005 in Hudiksvall, Sweden. Hyped since their early days thanks to short demos that circulated the web, they have taken more than half a decade to musically craft their unique style of music. With the three spread throughout Sweden, Bergström, the main songwriter of the bunch, would email ideas to the other guys to get their feedback and suggestions. A groovy, down-tuned riff would soon become a verse. After a few more rounds of emailing, that verse would become a song. As more and more songs started to develop, the natural progression was to add more members and become a band. More members brought more input and ideas and soon their own take on metal was created.
As the songs developed and appeared online, so did a rabid fan base. They spread links to the band’s songs, promoted them on message boards and rallied behind the war cry of THALL, a word that has almost become synonymous with the band’s name. They demanded to see the band perform, so the band got together and appeared on a few festivals and shows throughout Europe, most notably, the 2010 edition of Euroblast.
Shortly after that performance, the band felt confident enough in their music to begin work on a full length record. The question of whether to work with a label versus self releasing the album came up. Being fully capable of recording an album on their own, one would wonder why they chose to go with the former. The answer, as the band simply states:
“Our main reason to work with a label was to get a deadline to actually get a full album together, since it’s something we had wanted to do but broke every internal deadline we set for ourselves. A label, we thought, would stay on us to make it happen.”
The band spoke to many record companies but had a long standing email relationship with metal giant Century Media Records and in the spring of 2011, signed a worldwide contract with the label. The band then went into the studio, recorded and mixed 16 tracks entirely on their own and after a quick mastering job by Jens Bogren (Opeth, Devin Townsend) måsstaden, their eagerly awaited debut album was born.
Set for a November 29th release date, måsstaden will see the creation of two things: One, perhaps the best debut records of this or any year. It’s an album of epic proportion from one extreme (brutal, insane riffs) to another (mellow, trippy passages). Two, måsstaden is not just an album, it’s a city. The record is a concept record, told of a hidden and isolated town narrated in a classic fable manner.
Take a trip to måsstaden. See what you think, stay as long as you like…
On the eve of the Soundwave festival performances, UNFD are proud to announce the release of Northlane’s highly anticipated second album, “Singularity”. To celebrate the announcement Northlane have released a new music video for the track, “Quantum Flux” unveiled today via the viral site singularity2013.com.
Singularity will be released on Friday 22 March via UNFD.
“Quantum Flux,” the first official track from “Singularity” will undoubtedly surprise fans. The new single gives incredible insight into the diversity and musical talent of the band, it is a testament to their ability to push boundaries wherever they can. “Quantum Flux” is a ballsy move, especially as a lead single, but will surely impress each fan and further build upon their already sizable audience.
There was a lot of speculation about what SINGULARITY actually was after UNFD launched singularity2013.com in late January. The site hosted a countdown and a series of information leaks, that captured the attention of fans and media alike around the world, with more than 300,000 hits on the website in a month. After many rumours and guesswork, some fans correctly assumed that it was a Northlane related project after the recent trailer was launched and hidden leaks on the site started to appear. One avid fan even managed to crack the binary code used on the website to workout all the details of the forthcoming LP.
Releasing an album only four weeks after it is announced will still come as a pleasant surprise to fans, who have witnessed the Sydney five piece explode since the release of their debut album Discoveries on November 11, 2011 [11/11/11]. Relatively unknown at the time of the release, Northlane have gone on to become one of the biggest metal / hardcore bands in the country.
Produced by Will Putney of Machine Shop [New Jersey] in between a Canadian tour and their support of Parkway Drive late last year, the Northlane and UNFD camps have managed to keep the recording top secret. The band caught everyone off guard when they released “Worldeater” last December, leading fans to believe that it was a stand-alone singe, even though it was always intended for Singularity. Considering their incredibly busy touring schedule in 2012, no one expected an album to be released, let alone recorded, between the 200-odd shows that Northlane played or had scheduled since the release of Discoveries.
The Chicago based VEIL OF MAYA have definitely taken the hard road to success grinding it out on the road through countless tours over the years, but now that backbreaking schedule is paying off tenfold. This quartet are one of the few very bands that can authentically mix elements of progressive metal, melodic death metal, thrash and hardcore brutality together effectively, all while keeping the listener constantly interested with baited breath wondering just what is coming next. This is exactly why they will have a career for years to come.
Punchline front man Steve Soboslai is branching out from the pop punk world and into a world of his own. For fans of Death Cab For Cute, Rilo Kiley, and well, Punchline. The record is being produced by Harrison Wargo and includes appearances by John O’Hallaron, Kory Gable, John Browne, Bradley Cuccio, Will Smith, and The Magik*Magik Orchestra.
“There’s something delightful about Badboxes. Though they may literally be named after a box in which all bad things and ideas are stored, it’s probably because they’re all in there that the Pittsburgh trio’s music makes you feel all warm inside. Case in point: their single “JSMN” — also the eponymous track off their debut EP — which seems to fit into the band’s self-described “northern pop” genre quite well.” -All Things Go
Downers Groove is a jam band that originated in Downers Grove, Illinois. The band was founded by guitarist Danny Mazzarella and drummer John Hayes in 2011 after becoming acquainted on a different musical project. The two quickly realized their musical connection, and have since been rehearsing and performing in Chicago and the West Suburbs with bassist Josh Izzo. As of late, Mazzarella’s childhood friend and high school bandmate, Joe Skonie, solidified the band’s line-up on keyboards. The band blends rock, jazz, funk, fusion, folk, blues, and leaves space for these avenues to be explored through extensive improvisation.
Aspiring to reach new heights, Myron K. Ford Jr. also known as Magic King, gives his everything and some when creating music. Born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, all it took for this lyrical MC to get started was hearing a few guys on the block cipher. After hearing them and realizing that it was something that he wanted to do, he quickly began to work hard to create his own style. He didn’t want to fit in to the box of rapper but instead he wanted to stand out in the crowd full of MCs. Once the style was down he began to work hard and perfect his craft. “I can remember countless days when I would just stress my brains out on critiquing a song because that’s how perfect I wanted it. I knew that if I was to do this (mc-ing) then I had to stand out and I knew I had something to prove.”
For years now Magic has been writing and producing music. Working with a team that went by the name Black P.I.T (Powerful Intellectual Thinkers) Magic was introduced to a few men that would change his motivation. “I thought I was good scribbling little clever lines in my notebook. I remember writing my first track with the team and it amazed me how much talent was in the room that day. I knew from then on I would have to work harder and really perfect my craft, so that’s what I did. Sleepless days working on the same verse over and over until it was just right for the song. I will never forget working with those guys. I have never been in a room filled with that much energy and talent.”
After doing the first tape with the team, they all began to realize that trying to complete projects together while in different states and with everyone’s busy schedule, they would find more success in going their own way. Using his drive and passion for perfecting his craft, Magic is now in process of releasing his first solo tape named “Dream Catchers” and is to be release March 9, 2012
