Skies Fall Records To Release Skillet String Tribute
Fans everywhere have packed out stadiums this year for the rock and roll experience that is the Skillet tour. Now, Skies Fall Records has announced the upcoming release of the highly anticipated tribute album to Skillet; recorded entirely in orchestral string arrangements. This is no ordinary tribute record, instead it is a masterful classical work of art, a project produced by Skillet’s own Ben Kasica and Skillet’s touring cellist, Tate Olsen. Helmed by Olsen, the artists behind this album promise an experience like none other; breathing a fresh style into songs that have risen charts in a completely different genre. The upcoming release will feature hits like, “Hero”, “Monster”, and “The Last Night”. Cellofourte is a genre-defying group, pleasing both rock fans and the savvy tastes of classical music experts. The group has performed on such nationally known programs as Comcasts’s On-Demand and the WQED Holiday Jam, and has graced the front page of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. They were the featured soloists with Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops Orchestra in 2008, and won the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Battle of the Bands.
For more information, visit:
skiesfallrecords.com
Owl City Covers Praise Song
Adam Young from Owl City posted on his blog this week a cover of a praise song. The cover is for the song “In Christ Alone”. You can check out the blog & cover here.
Your Memorial Posts New Song
Your Memorial has posted a new song from their forthcoming album, Atonement. The band has posted “Surface” on their Myspace and Facebook profiles, a song which features additional vocals from Karl Schubach of Misery Signals. Your Memorial will be touring to support their Facedown debut Atonement which hits stores on November 23. You can pre-order the album here.
Tour Dates:
11/1 – Ceres, CA
11/2 – Reno, NV
11/3 – Vancouver, WA
11/4 – Spokane, WA
11/5 – Umatilla, OR
11/6 – Boise, ID
11/7 – Provo, UT
11/8 – Greeley, CO
11/9 – Wichita, KS
11/10 – San Antonio, TX
11/11 – McAllen, TX
11/12 – Dallas, TX
11/13 – Albuquerque, NM
11/14 – Phoenix, AZ
11/19 – Springdale, AR
12/1 – Lemoyne, PA
12/2 – Clinton, NJ
12/3 – Linthicum, MD
12/4 – Lynchburg, VA
12/5 – Richmond, VA
12/6 – Greenville, SC
12/7 – East Ridge, TN
12/10 – Nashville, TN
12/11 – Montgomery, AL
12/13 – Springfield, MO
12/14 – Tulsa, OK
12/15 – Oklahoma City, OK
Ivoryline Video On mtvU
Ivoryline’s music video for “Instincts” has been selected as one of mtvU’s Freshman Five and is up for voting to get into regular rotation on the network. Fans are encouraged to vote as many times as they’d like on the site as voting is unlimited until the winner is announced on Friday, October 29th. The video directed by Van Blumreich first premiered in September on the band’s Facebook page. “Instincts” is a song off the band’s new album VESSELS which is available in stores and online now and can be downloaded at iTunes and Amazon MP3. In support of VESSELS, Ivoryline is currently on the road.
Tour Dates:
10/29 – Cordova, TN
10/30 – Birmingham, AL
10/31 – Springfield, MO
11/2 – Reno, NV
11/4 – Victorville, CA
11/5 – Gilbert, AZ
11/9 – Brooklyn Park, MN
11/10 – Oshkosh, WI
11/11 – South Bend, IN
11/13 – Greensburg, PA
12/4 – Ennepetal, Germany
12/31 – Belle Fourche, SD
1/15 – Phoenix, AZ
Hyland Signs To Tooth & Nail
A new addition has been announced to the Tooth & Nail roster – Hyland, melodic rockers hailing from Minneapolis, MN. Grabbing the label’s attention with their EP “Quotients,” which was produced by Ben Kasica of Skillet and Nick Rad of Acceptance, Hyland will release their T&N label debut in Spring 2011. The forthcoming full-length release will be produced by Aaron Sprinkle in Seattle and mixed by JR McNeely. A debut radio single will be serviced in February. More information and a title for the debut will be announced soon. Singer Jon Lewis describes how the signing happened:
“Here we were, in the process of getting songs ready for our next independent recording… Aaron Sprinkle called, asking if he could personally pitch us to Tooth & Nail. We’ve always been huge supporters of T&N and their artists, it’s an honor to now be one of them. The opportunity, the songs, the vision… it’s all coming together. Our first single heads to radio in February… And for the first time ever, I’m excited for a Minnesota Winter!” With a strong local following and independent EP, Hyland blew away Tooth & Nail with their live performance and strong original songs. The band also won the Club Three Degree’s music tournament, and have performed at many major festivals across the nation: Creation West, Sonshine, Lifelight, Lifest, Hills Alive, Alive Fest, Purple Door, Big Ticket, and SXSW. Hyland is composed of Ben Early, Jon Lewis, Mitchell Hansen, Steve Weigel.
For more information on Hyland, visit:
myspace.com/hylandrock
The Chariot Post Free Download
Georgia’s THE CHARIOT and ShockHound.com combine forces to give fans a premier FREE download opportunity. The Site will be posting for download The Featured track “The Audience” off of the upcoming brand new studio album by THE CHARIOT titled “Long Live” set for Monday Nov 22nd street date by Good Fight Music. Visit ShockHound.com to get your free download of THE CHARIOT’s NEW track “The Audience” here.
As They Sleep Post New Track
Detroit’s rising technical death metal group, As They Sleep, has posted a brand new track on their official MySpace and Facebook pages, “To the Republic”, taken from the band’s forthcoming Solid State Records debut, Dynasty. “To the Republic” focuses on the issues surrounding the United States today, and builds upon the album’s conceptual focus on the rise and fall of empires throughout history. Dynasty is slated to hit stores on November 22nd, and delivers a package of brutally heavy and savagely technical death metal, tied together with the help of powerhouse audio wizard, Jason Suecof (All That Remains, Chimaira, Demon Hunter). “This is one of the best pure metal albums released this year. It is hard to believe that a band with this much talent could slip through the cracks for so long, but they are here now and ready to kick your teeth in,” raves IndieVisionMusic.com. As They Sleep will support their sophomore effort on the road this December on the “Solid State Records: A Very Metal Christmas Tour”, alongside label-mates Living Sacrifice, The Showdown, Becoming the Archetype, and To Speak of Wolves.
Track Listing:
1. Oracle of the Dead
2. To the Republic
3. The Third Reich
4. Bedlam at the Nile
5. The Darkest Ages
6. Ritual
7. The Offering
8. Attila
9. Poseidon
10. God of War
11. The Unseen
For more information on As They Sleep, visit:
facebook.com/pages/As-They-Sleep/36666539944
Darkwater Promo New Album
The Swedish progressive metal band Darkwater have posted a promo clip of their up-coming album “Where Stories End”. The album will be released in Europe on November 12th by Ulterium Records, and in North America on November 23rd by Nightmare Records. The music video of the opening-track “Breathe” will be released next week. Check out the clip here.
Ryan John Releases Beautiful Scars
Alabama native Ryan John reprises his signature modern rock sound on Beautiful Scars, the latest offering from this pastor/speaker turned artist. The album, available now, has already received enthusiastic reviews from critics, including CCM Magazine and ChristianityToday.com. Produced by Marcus Acker of Houston-based band Inhabited, Beautiful Scars is Ryan’s second independent release. Written entirely by Ryan, the album is reminiscent sound-wise to projects from popular artists like Jeremy Camp or Third Day. Lyrically, the record talks about facing life’s challenges and learning to grow emotionally and spiritually from those trials. Ryan explains, “It is our scars that often times define us. While physical scars change our appearance it is the emotional scars that define our character and growth. The past year of my life has been filled with scars from both my jobs and my relationships. There have been times when the cause of these scars was too difficult to bear on my own. It is Christ that carried me and saw me through the pain. I hope this record will encourage others who are dealing with their own scars.” Early reviews of Beautiful Scars are singing its praises, with ChristianityToday.com calling the album “fresh and inspired,” while CCM Magazine hails, “…a promising beginning for this Alabama native.” Music blog Christian Music Zine applauds the CD for its “maturity not seen in most independent releases,” adding “this is a great independent release to pick up.” Fans can purchase the CD online where digital music is sold as well as at ryanjohn.com. The disc is also available at physical retail outlets nationwide. Hailing from a suburb of Montgomery, Ala., Ryan John began speaking at church conferences and youth rallies when he was 13 years old. By age 18 he had become a licensed ordained minister and pastor of Grace Point Community Church in Wetumpka, Ala. He began his music ministry with fellow bandmates Mark Kirkland (bass, background vocals) and Andrew Mohney (drums) nearly eight years ago. Since then the trio has released two independent projects, the first titled Deeper Waters (2002), and tours regularly ministering to youth and adults alike. An updated tour itinerary is available at ryanjohn.com.
Mike Farris’ New Album Is Stirring
Americana/Gospel artist Mike Farris releases The Night The Cumberland Came Alive today on Entertainment One Music. The 6-song EP commemorates and celebrates the rebirth of Nashville, a city and its surrounding communities devastated by a “1,000 year” flood on May 1, 2010. The project was recorded just weeks after the flood, as the people of middle Tennessee regained their civic pride and rallied to help their neighbors and rebuild. The Night The Cumberland Came Alive features an all-star cast of musicians including: Sam Bush, Kenny Vaughan (Marty Stuart), Ketch Secor and Gill Landry from Old Crow Medicine Show, Byron House (Robert Plant), as well as Ann, Regina and Alfreda McCrary (The McCrary Sisters), Derrek Phillips and Eric Holt from Farris’ own Roseland Rhythm Revue. The Night The Cumberland Came Alive – the first of Farris’ Rose Memorial Fund projects, an ongoing charitable outreach in memory of his long time manager and friend Rose McGathy – rolls out a decidedly pre-war Americana sound while delivering a hopeful message of restoration. “Stylistically, pre-war American music has long been a passion of mine,” Farris says of the project. “Before the flood, we’d been searching for songs that would evoke the struggle and the victory of the working class, a sound rising up out of flesh and bone, of spit and spirit. But then, as a city, we were hit square in the gut by this unbelievable flood. And that sound meshed with the spirit of resurrection we saw rise up all over this area. When we gathered in that historic church to lay it all down, what happened was beyond our imaginations.” The title track’s lyrics deal directly with the flood, and Farris penned “Dear Lazarus” along with Ketch Secor just days before the recording. According to Mike, “Playing these songs—sight unseen, without so much as a lead sheet—and with such a dream team of musicians was the thrill of a lifetime. You can hear the passion. You can feel the love in the room. And I’m thrilled to release it to help this community get back on its feet.” This release comes hot off the heels of Farris’ recent GMA Dove Award for Best Traditional Gospel album of the year for 2009’s SHOUT! Live, a sweat-drenched document of his Sunday Night Shout residency dates at the legendary Station Inn in Nashville. The EP is also a continuation of the musical and spiritual journey that Farris began with his 2007 release, Salvation In Lights, which contributed to him receiving the 2008 Americana Music Association’s New & Emerging Artist of the Year award. The music is steeped in traditions explored on that record and widens the lens of the American treasure that it represents – roots, gospel and blues. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the EP will be used to benefit the Downtown Presbyterian Church’s ministry to the homeless in Nashville, which seems fitting as the record was recorded in less than a day at that historic building. Mike Farris plans on doing select dates to showcase the material on the EP in addition to performing monthly with The Roseland Rhythm Revue as part of his Sunday Night Shout residency at the Station Inn this fall.
Circleslide Endorsed By Orange Amps
Critically acclaimed Christian pop/rock band Circleslide adds yet another accolade to their rapidly expanding portfolio with their recent endorsement by Orange Music Electronic Company Ltd., maker of the legendary Orange Amps. To celebrate their new alliance, the band has turned the Circleslide website orange, and is giving fans the opportunity to score Orange Amp T-shirts, the brand new Circleslide CD, Echoes of The Light, and their very own Orange amp. Air guitar aficionados can win an Orange Micro Crush amp by entering the band’s YouTube video contest. To win, fans simply listen to the album to determine which seven songs from Echoes of The Light were recorded with an Orange amp, then upload a video to YouTube of themselves jamming on an air guitar to one of those songs. The contest closes on November 19, when Circleslide will pick their favorite video as the winner. Complete details and rules of the Orange Micro Crush amp giveaway can be found here. Additionally, fans in Dallas, Texas and San Diego, Calif. still have time to participate in Circleslide’s Echoes of The Light scavenger hunt. By successfully following the clues, fans in these cities can locate a cleverly hidden copy of the brand new Echoes of The Light CD wrapped in an Orange Amp T-shirt. Check out details of the contest at http://circleslide.net/scavenger-hunt. “We’re proud to have Circleslide as a part of the Orange Amps family,” says Alex Auxier, Orange Amp Artist Relations & Marketing. “They have that rare combination of spiritualism and rockin’ tunes. Get some Circleslide in your life!” Since the band’s debut project, which landed them on Christianity Today’s list of “Best New Artists of 2006,” among other accolades, Circleslide — whose lineup includes frontman Gabe Martinez, lead guitarist Jonathan DeAnda, bassist Eric Vickers and drummer Lee Yoder — has toured unceasingly, refining their modern rock ruminations, while keeping their ministry agenda firmly in focus. In addition to shows with newsboys, tobyMac, MercyMe, Casting Crowns, Salvador, Jaci Velasquez and downhere, the guitar-driven band has headlined everything from clubs to churches and colleges, with plenty of youth camps and outreach events in between — all of which build off the group’s Youth With A Mission beginnings.The band was developing the new project last spring when Nashville was hit with a devastating flood that destroyed Martinez’s house, as well as all of the band’s gear, instruments, PA and trailer.
“We were out of town when the flood happened,” remembers Martinez. “A friend who was staying at our house waded through five feet of water to save some vintage guitars, but other than that, we had to completely rebuild from scratch. The Nashville community really came together, though. So many people showed up to help us sort through the mess and rebuild — four different church groups, friends and neighbors and people we didn’t even know. Thanks to amazing organizations like MusiCares, Graceworks Ministries and Porter’s Call, we’ve been able to replace our music gear and home appliances, and we have a renewed realization that God has called us to this ministry. Nothing’s going to hold us back from spreading His word.” Circleslide’s ordeal, and the season of spiritual reassurance which followed, directly inspired the band’s recent songwriting process, and the band has evolved sonically since the last project — not only do they sound more explosive, dynamic and melodic than ever, but the choruses are instantaneously contagious from an initial spin of the album. There’s also an increased continuity that comes from producer and fellow Save the City labelmate Brandon Bee (Stacie Orrico, Lanae Hale, Benjiman). Expect shades of anthemic alternative acts like Arcade Fire and The Flaming Lips, crossed with the edge of Kings of Leon and the envelope pushing likes of The Choir (from whom the band gleaned its moniker). The new album also reveals a worship side of Circleslide that fans have experienced at their live shows.
The Wrecking Release New Music Video
Chosen Records’ recording artist The Wrecking has released their latest music video featuring the first winner from the America’s Got Talent TV show, Bianca Ryan. Ryan took home the prize in 2006 when she was eleven years old. Now sixteen, Ryan stars in The Wrecking’s “About to Fall” music video, directed by Jeffrey Kubach whose resume includes the hit TV show Survivor. “We met Bianca when we played at her church,” says Darren Elder, drummer for The Wrecking. “She’s obviously a talented girl and we were thrilled to be able to work with her on this video.” In addition to releasing their new video, The Wrecking has announced the dates for their second Air 1 Radio national tour. The “Air 1 Freedom Tour” sponsored by the Not For Sale Campaign will kick off on October 29, 2010 in Shawnee, Kansas. Following on the heels of their successful spring leg of the Air 1 tour that raised over 300 sponsors for Compassion International, The Wrecking will be joined by musical acts Vota, Satellites and Sirens, and Big Kettle Drum. In addition to their tour dates, The Wrecking will be part of the Global Forum for the Not for Sale Campaign along with Paul Colman and Rachel Lampa. They will play at Rocktoberfest with Bobby Bishop and Prince John, and will share the stage this Saturday with Downhere at a benefit concert for homeless families which will be streaming live on the Steelroots TV show, part of the Inspiration Network. The Wrecking, made up of members Elder along with his brother Doug (lead vocals/guitar), Joe McCann (keyboard/turntables/vocals) and Karl Andersen (bass/backing vocals), recently wrapped up recording for their new CD, So Much For Love, coming out in stores and on iTunes in Spring 2011. The “About to Fall” radio single is currently being played on over 300 stations nationwide and another single, “Fire,” is in the top 200 of the College Music Journal radio chart. Both songs are featured on the Limited Edition pre-release EP, The Catalyst, which previews several tunes to be included on their 2011 project. In addition, a separate website for the “About to Fall” single (www.AbouttoFall.com) has been set up where listeners from each radio station’s market can share their stories of how music has helped “pick them up after they have fallen.” The Wrecking’s first national CD, A New Abolition, spawned two successful music videos including the song “In Your Eyes” which was nominated as Gospel Music Channel’s Best Pop Music Video. The band’s single “You Remain” was a top 5 radio hit on Air 1 as well as a popular music video. While the band is serious about music, they are equally serious about making an impact on worldwide atrocities such as child sex slavery and children of war. The Wrecking has been heavily involved with Love 146, International Justice Mission, ChildVoice and other organizations dedicated to helping improve the lives of children across the globe. They are included on the new compilation Freedom CD that benefits International Justice Mission, featuring artists such as tobyMac, Jars of Clay, and MercyMe, among others.
©2010 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved
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