Demon Hunter Debuts Song
Solid State Records and Demon Hunter proudly debut a new song, “Tie This Around Your Neck” on the band’s MySpace page. The stream follows an exclusive world premiere on Liquid Metal Sirius XM, and is part of the official “50 Days Of Demon Hunter” online campaign. “The world will tell you to lead yourself. This song is the antithesis of that ideal,” says vocalist Ryan Clark about the meaning and title of the track. “We believe that we are a flawed people, and that man, given unto his own will, will fail. Therefore, using our flesh as a compass in life is a path that leads only to destruction. The burden of relying only on yourself is like a weight around your neck, and when the people and forces of the world encourage us to live this way, we tell them to ’save their breath’”. “Tie This Around Your Neck” is the first song to be released off of the band’s upcoming album THE WORLD IS A THORN, which will be available in stores and online March 9th. Multiple versions of the record will be available: A Regular Edition (with two separate covers painted by metal visionary Dan Seagrave), and a Deluxe Box Edition featuring the following contents:
* CD With 2 Exclusive Bonus Tracks
* DVD Featuring The Making of “The World Is A Thorn” and a Live Acoustic Set
* 20-Page Booklet with Exclusive Artwork, Photos and Handwritten Lyrics
* 2 Fold-Out Posters Featuring Original Artwork by Dan Seagrave
* 3 Photo Cards
* Demon Hunter Handkerchief
* Set of 4 Buttons
* Sticker
Both editions of THE WORLD IS A THORN are currently available for pre-order in the Solid State Store with bundle options that contain a hat, long-sleeved t-shirt and three patches for either version. Please check out the “50 Days Of Demon Hunter” at here. For 50 days straight fans will have access to exclusive Demon Hunter content, information, track listings, contests, images, videos, and much more! Demon Hunter is an anomaly in today’s heavy music scene, jettisoning fashionable trends and easily recognizable cliches in favor of traditional heavy metal power and melodic hooks. THE WORLD IS A THORN recalls the best of the genre’s past while pushing the envelope forward at the same time. The album follows previous studio albums STORM THE GATES OF HELL (2007), THE TRIPTYCH (2005), SUMMER OF DARKNESS (2004) and DEMON HUNTER (2002), as well as the live album and three-disc CD / DVD set 45 DAYS, which have sold close to a combined half a million copies.
Abandon Kansas Release Video
Gotee Records and the band Abandon Kansas have released a video for the song CLOSE YOUR EYES. This is the first video from the band’s “We’re All Going Somewhere” EP, and is available to view at AbsolutePunk.net as an ABSOLUTExclusive. Filmed in Atlanta by director by Nathan Corrona, the video explores creative film styles while bespectacled lead singer Jeremy Spring croons “Close Your Eyes, then we’ll start to see….” “This was our first music video, and we weren’t sure what to expect,” explains Spring. “The director took the phrase “you don’t answer to time” from the second verse and ran with it. We used a lot of organic special effects on the timing that really enhance the song. “We are so happy with the way the video turned out, and are even more excited to partner with AbsolutePunk for the premier.” CLOSE YOUR EYES has also been added to Paste Magazine’s “Songs for Haiti” Compilation. 100% of the funds contributed through “Songs for Haiti” will be spread among three charities active in the relief effort: Doctors Without Borders, Red Cross and Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund.
Tour Dates:
2/11 – Manhattan, KS
2/12 – Wichita, KS
2/13 – Kansas City, MO
2/18 – Minneapolis, MN
2/19 – Wausau, WI
2/20 – Mankato, MN
2/21 – Cedar Falls, IA
2/25 – Waco, TX
2/26 – Plano, TX
2/27 – Houston, TX
2/28 – Austin, TX
We Are The Fallen Debut
We Are The Fallen, one of rock’s most buzzed about new groups, have announced that their worldwide live debut will take place at Kings College in London on March 23rd. Tickets are on sale now at livenation.co.uk. The iconic fivesome is comprised of the original members of multiplatinum trailblazing band Evanescence, guitarists Ben Moody and John LeCompt along with drummer Rocky Gray, joined by charismatic American Idol finalist Carly Smithson on vocals. Acclaimed bassist Marty O’Brien (Disturbed and Static-X, among others) rounds out We Are The Fallen’s unique sound. The group will then return to the U.S. to give fans a live taste of the reportoire fueling their upcoming debut album, due out later in the year – hitting the road in support of Finnish rock stalwarts H.I.M. The extensive, 28 city tour launches in Philadelphia, PA, on March 26th. The band’s first single “Bury Me Alive” is available digitally today in North America. Guitarist Ben Moody has been publicly crediting the group’s unique chemistry as the driving force behind We Are The Fallen, describing Carly Smithson’s role as a ‘true partner,’ and a key component to We Are The Fallen’s overall sound. Moody left the platinum-plus breakthrough rock act Evanesence in 2003, and has since co-written major hits for Chris Daughtry and Kelly Clarkson among others. Evanescence’s groundbreaking 2003 album, Fallen was a #1 hit in the UK and spent an incredible 33 weeks in the Top 20 selling over 3 million albums and over 15 million copies worldwide. For Smithson, We Are The Fallen completes her dream – after exiting American Idol – of becoming a creative force in a ‘vital’ band environment. Carly Smithson was a sixth place finisher during Season 7 of the landmark television series American Idol, duly recognized for having one of the hit shows most loyal fan bases. The fiery singer’s ‘elimination’ sent shockwaves through the ‘Idol’ blogger nation, with her acclaimed performances on the 2008 American Idol Tour cementing her current reputation as one of rock’s most formidable female voices.
For more information on this band, visit:
wearethefallen.com
Newsboys To Return June 8th
Combine the strengths of two supergroups that have sold millions of records, achieved an astounding number of #1 radio hits and received numerous Dove Awards. The result? A reborn newsboys. Now that longtime members Jody Davis (guitar), keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and drummer Duncan Phillips have welcomed the vocal strengths, writing talents and boundless energy of former dc Talk member Michael Tait to the band, this is clearly a good reason to feel born again and in fact, share some new songs. On June 8th, newsboys are eager than ever to release their 15th studio project, aptly titled Born Again (inpop records). When newsboys announced in 2009 that Tait would take over the lead vocals, the band and their fans began to relish the positives and possibilities of this brand new start. “Tait is great for us because he’s a real team player and brings a lot of enthusiasm to the mix of personalities,” Jody Davis explains. Even though Davis, along with Frankenstein and Phillips, have played together since newsboys first broke through with 1992’s Not Ashamed, Tait immediately, and easily, became part of the unique and tight newsboys unit. “We’re all getting a new lease on life from this,” Jeff Frankenstein states. “The core of the band—myself, Jody, and Duncan—is reunited, and Mike is an amazing singer. It’s providential.” Tait couldn’t agree more. When newsboys called he was actually working with the legendary Clive Davis on a solo project in Los Angeles. Yet after a few great concerts together he knew the invitation to join the band was just what he needed. Now, the foursome is embarking on a sure-to-be momentous year with Born Again, which was produced by The Write Brothers and Mark Heimermann (dcTalk, TobyMac, Michael W. Smith). Thanks to a pre-sale campaign on the band’s current co-headlining Winter Jam tour, fans can advance purchase Born Again for only $7 and until the June release date, each fan receives a 5-song EP along with a chance to get the full CD autographed by the band. The campaign has been a successful since the tour kicked off the beginning of January. “All of us at inpop records are thrilled for the upcoming release of the brand new newsboys music,” exclaims John Kelly, CEO, inpop records. “It’s also been exciting to hear the buzz from the fans at Winter Jam purchasing the 5-song EP. We are proud to be their record label and are truly looking forward to a great year from this stellar band.” The songs on Born Again were penned by newsboys, The Write Brothers, and Steve Taylor, including a new track by Mark Stuart (Audio Adrenaline). Living out the album’s moniker, thanks to “On Your Knees,” the worshipful “We Remember” and the group’s first two radio singles, “I’ll Be” and “Born Again,” both shipping February 12th to AC and CHR radio respectively, each song showcases what is noticeably different about newsboys today: story-led tunes with melodies coupled with more distinguishable piano and guitar performances. Already a live highlight at their concerts, “Born Again” is where newsboys truly become a band renewed, and they collectively view the song as representative of everything the band has gone through this past year. “We’ve all believed in lies at some point,” Tait says, emoting his testimony. “I had some prodigal years in the past, but I hope the song encourages others to make the same decision I did: I’m giving Him the best of everything that’s left of the life inside this man / I’ve been born again.” “Born Again” is also the project’s first music video and the perfect match to share footage of newsboys building houses in Mexico’s poverty stricken Baja Peninsula. The video, which can be viewed on the homepage of www.newsboys.com, has already seen by thousands thanks to its airing during newsboys Winter Jam set, is already impacting concertgoers on how they can do something for those less fortunate. For years the band has been serving the people in this Third World setting constructing hundreds of homes, and plans are underway to invite fans there this summer for ministry efforts. Details will be announced as soon as they are available. Penned with longtime newsboys collaborator Steve Taylor, “Boys Light Up” is a biographical anthem of reignited belief and purpose for the band: I was feeling all overcome / Had a faith gone dim and then some / Got a call from a band of brothers . . . / All the doubters I heard them say “now the band’s gonna fade away” / But the ‘boys are back for a second act / No excuses. We’re lighting fuses. “It’s a common theme running through newsboys,” Phillips says of the ultra-rhythmic cut with a chorus that declares: When the boys light up you know Who gets the praise, Who owns the show. “It’s like a new version of ‘Shine,’ another song of encouragement.” With the band’s efforts to connect with their audiences of all ages, through meet and greets to social media aspects, Phillips states, “It helps us gauge the pulse of where our fans are at and what they’re going through, and I hope they feel a sense of greater reconnection that the band is trying to make.” In all, newsboys view this new collection of songs as representative of everything the band has gone through this past year. They are truly Born Again.
As I Lay Dying Reveal New Details
San Diego CA Grammy® nominated metal outfit As I Lay Dying are pleased to announce the title of their upcoming, 5th full-length album (4th for Metal Blade) as The Powerless Rise. The band is currently finishing up recording of The Powerless Rise in San Diego with producer Adam D. (Killswitch Engage). Fans can expect The Powerless Rise. to be released this spring with plans for a headline tour also slated around the same time. More information on the tour and the street date for The Powerless Rise will be made available in the coming months. THQ Inc. has announced it will partner with Metal Blade Records recording artist As I Lay Dying to offer consumers an exclusive opportunity to connect with the band using MX vs. ATV Reflex, the latest addition to the popular off-road racing franchise. “MX vs. ATV Reflex offers players a high energy, explosive gameplay experience that lends itself well to the inclusion of heavier music,” said Victor Rodriguez, Music Director, THQ. “The music quality and prominence of As I Lay Dying in this genre made the band a great match for the game.” The Sound of Truth, featured on As I Lay Dying’s critically and commercially acclaimed release, An Ocean Between Us, appears on the in-game soundtrack to MX vs. ATV Reflex and is featured in the game’s promotional TV campaign. The band’s new album, The Powerless Rise, is currently being recorded in San Diego, Calif. with producer Adam D. (Killswitch Engage) and is scheduled for release in Spring 2010. Plans for a headline tour are also slated for Spring 2010.
For more information on As I Lay Dying & their upcoming album, visit:
asilaydyingband.com
Canopy Red Release New Single
Creative Soul Records band Canopy Red has partnered with OneVerse, a ministry organization whose mission is to accelerate Bible translation for the millions of people throughout the world waiting for God’s Word to be translated into their own language. Canopy Red will work with OneVerse to raise awareness and funds to help translate the Bible into the Arew language in Tanzania. With a population exceeding 500,000, the Arew people will receive God’s Word in their own language for the very first time. We are excited about partnering with OneVerse ministries because of their commitment to reaching others with the Word as well as sharing our passion for inspiring the church to be confident and stand firm in God’s word in their everyday lives,” said Canopy Red frontman Forrest Krazit of the new partnership. Though it’s only been a few months since the November release of Canopy Red’s self-titled debut EP, the Creative Soul Records band has been drawing attention from Christian music fans nationwide thanks to a flurry of activity and comparisons to such artists as Sanctus Real and The Afters. Canopy Red has been profiled on Focus on the Family’s PLUGGED IN Podcast and Campus Crusade for Christ Radio, and they were featured at HearItFirst.com as part of their month-long ROCKTOBER promotion, alongside established rock acts like Stryper, Pillar and Manic Drive. Their debut music video “Falling Apart” has received significant airplay on major outlets like JCTV, Control Track and Steelroots, as well as online destinations like VideoRocket.com. With the new year comes the launch of Canopy Red’s new radio single “All Around Me,” which is shipping to Christian radio stations nationwide this week. “I am really excited to introduce these guys to radio,” says Nashville-based radio promoter Chris Chicago. “They have a perfect blend of rock, pop and worship that is perfect for Christian radio. During these times of uncertainty, it’s great to be reminded that God is ‘All Around Me.’ This song will fit right in on playlists all over the country!” Produced by Eric Copeland, Canopy Red is available exclusively at iTunes from Creative Soul Records.
For more information on Canopy Red, go here:
canopyred.com
Sanctus Real Ready New Album
GRAMMY-nominated, Dove Award winning Sanctus Real releases its fifth studio album, Pieces Of A Real Heart, on Sparrow Records March 9, 2010. Working with acclaimed producers Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Matthew West), Jason Ingram (Bebo Norman, Tenth Avenue North) and Rusty Varenkamp (Leeland, David Crowder Band, Mute Math), Pieces of a Real Heart is the result of a band maturing and growing as songwriters, musicians and individuals. The album retains the band’s aggressive edge, while incorporating a more diverse musical palette of instrumentation and themes. Embracing the band’s updated sound, radio programmers across the country have already made the lead single from Pieces Of A Real Heart, “Forgiven,” a R&R No. 1 CHR, Top 10 AC Monitored and Top 5 AC Indicator radio hit as the song continues to climb the AC charts. Listeners are also responding to the message and hope of the song. When the band began streaming “Forgiven” from its website and asking listeners to share their own stories of forgiveness, literally hundreds of profound stories from all around the world began flowing through the site. “I underestimated the power of forgiveness,” explains Sanctus Real lead vocalist Matt Hammitt. “I was expecting people to write ‘God is good, I am forgiven,’ which is a true statement of faith, but people began confessing their deepest, darkest secrets on the site, sending letters to people they need forgiveness from or need to forgive. It’s amazing to see how God can use my own insignificant insecurities, failures and fears to spark a song that ministers to so many others needing forgiveness. Praise God that we are forgiven, from the seemingly insignificant things to the biggest of failures.” Sharing his own need for forgiveness, Hammitt explains that the song “Lead Me,” another standout track on Pieces of a Real Heart, was a musical response following his wife Sarah’s imploring him to be a better spiritual leader in their marriage and for their two young children. “There’s an epidemic of broken homes today. This is the first generation statistically that really believes that divorce and separation are just a normal part of family life,” says Hammitt. “I want to do whatever I can to strengthen families and help them raise kids that have positive role models in moms and dads. And it starts with me. While I am committed to ‘death do us part,’ Sarah made me realize that I was coasting in our marriage. As God is doing great things in my own marriage, I hope that ‘Lead Me’ can be a tool to open a dialog for struggling families, to help strengthen them in their relationships and enabling them to grow together spiritually.” Popularly known for its captivating recordings and live performances, Toledo, Ohio-based Sanctus Real is playing “Lead Me,” “Forgiven” and other new songs from Pieces of a Real Heart, as well as fan favorites spanning 13 No. 1 and Top 5 radio hits, on its headline spring tour with special guests Addison Road, Above the Golden State, Me In Motion and Speaker Sammy Adebiyi. The tour launches March 3 in Phoenix and travels coast to coast through April 18. This leg of its 2010 tour is sponsored by the charity, Mocha Club, an online community of people giving up the cost of two mochas a month ($7) to fund relief and development projects in Africa. Sanctus Real has also already been booked to play the major Christian festivals this summer, including Crossover Festival, Atlanta Fest, Ichthus, Sonshine, Revelation Generation, and more. Sanctus Real is all about living out their lives as “real” Christians, not only on the stage and as they interact with fans, but in the quieter moments of their lives as husbands, fathers and fellow believers. The band creates compelling, authentic music that lives up to the meaning of their name: to be Holy (Latin meaning of “Sanctus”). Sanctus Real’s 2006 breakthrough album, The Face of Love, landed at No 2 on the Billboard Top Heetseekers chart and amassed a string of radio hits, including the No. 1 songs “I’m Not Alright” and “Don’t Give Up.” The band’s most recent release, We Need Each Other, garnered the band a GRAMMY nomination, and the album’s title track became the band’s sixth No. 1 radio single.
Tour Dates:
2/12 – Orion, MI
2/14 – Indianapolis, IN
3/04 – Phoenix, AZ
3/05 – Las Vegas, NV
3/07 – Paso Robles, CA
3/09 – Bakersfield, CA
3/12 – Kennewick, WA
3/13 – Lake Stevens, WA
3/19 – Minneapolis, MN
3/20 – Waukesha, WI
3/26 – Springfield, MO
3/27 – Shawnee, KS
3/28 – Naperville, IL
4/2 – Australia
4/8 – Waverly, OH
4/9 – Lancaster, PA
4/10 – Zanesville, OH
4/13 – Mansfield, OH
4/15 – Rome, GA
4/16 – Springfield, GA
4/17 – Boca Raton, FL
4/18 – Melbourne, FL
Spoken News
Jef Cunningham has announced that he is leaving Spoken. This announcement was made via Facebook: “Well I guess there is no time like the present to announce this. I have left the band Spoken. I wish nothing but the best for the band that I gave the last 14 years of my life to. I thank you all for all of the love, support, and friendship over that time in my life. It’s a scary thing leaving such a huge part of m…y life, but I’m excited and hopeful about the future.”
For more information on Spoken, visit:
myspace.com/spoken
Stellar Kart Releases New One
Award-winning pop-rock band Stellar Kart releases its INO debut , the band’s fourth studio recording, Everything Is Different Now March 9. Unique to this project, Stellar Kart incorporates a more worshipful sound and vertical lyrics. Produced by Dove Award-winning producer Ian Eskelin (Francesca Battistelli, Krystal Meyers), Everything Is Different Now is a unique collection of vertically minded songs that continue in the pop/rock tradition of Stellar Kart’s past work. However, instead of focusing on more relational matters, Everything Is Different Now takes a decidedly worshipful turn, a nod to the band’s roots. “We had performed at a camp earlier in the summer before recording, and we really discovered that we loved leading worship for youth again,” says Stellar Kart frontman Adam Agee. “So we tried to find some of the songs that were our favorites and wrote a few new songs, too, and that eventually became Everything Is Different Now.” Songs like the catchy opening track “All My Heart,” and the congregational-friendly “Rescue,” which Agee wrote with some friends from Hillsong United, keep the praise-focused theme front and center. The album’s lead single “We Shine,” currently Top 10 on the Billboard CHR chart, also reflects Stellar Kart’s foremost desire to glorify God. “As a band, that’s exactly what we want to do in front of the adults, kids, anyone listening—shine,” says Agee. “We hope that everyone will shine his/her light and not be afraid or ashamed of what they believe.” Stellar Kart will support its latest project on the winter/spring 2010 “Love & War Tour” alongside Fervent Records artist BarlowGirl as well as headlining the “Best Tour Ever Tour” late spring.
The Glass Hammer Release New Album
2009’s release “Three Cheers For The Broken-Hearted” reveals a leaner, tighter Glass Hammer; with Steve Babb and Fred Schendel once more handling nearly all of the instrumentation and one hundred percent of the writing and production. Still, Glass Hammer alum Susie Bogdanowicz finds herself squarely in the spot light as the solo-vocalist on seven of the album’s eleven tracks. From song to song, the dynamics are clear and present. “Three Cheers For The Broken-Hearted” features melancholy ballads, psychedelic influenced rockers and even head-banging metal tracks; all firmly based on the band’s previous progressive rock style. While not a concept album in the traditional sense, the new album’s lyrics still carry a theme throughout. The new release shows the more cynical, darker side of Glass Hammer – a band usually noted for its optimism. “It’s still there,” says GH co-founder Steve Babb. “But only revealed in places; certainly harder to find than in lyrics from earlier albums. But while this album has given us a needed break from the out-right storytelling we usually attempt, when taken as a whole, ‘Three Cheers’ starts in a pretty dark place, then gradually leads you back home again. Even without the time-honored concept, our fans will definitely still find themselves on a journey.”
For more information on The Glass Hammer, visit:
glasshammer.com
Free Me In Motion Video Download
Me In Motion releases their first self-titled album on March 23, 2010 on Centricity Music. “Losers,” the first single off the album, is a banner for anyone who has felt rejected by their peers. You can download the video for “Losers” here courtesy of Video Rocket. The group has toured with Newsboys, Red, Pillar, Fireflight, and Sanctus Real. Me In Motion played an incredible 165-dates in 2009.
Impending Doom News
Impending Doom’s David Sitting responds to the rumors that the band has recently lost members: “Yes, it’s true we have parted ways with both Manny and Isaac.” “Both of them felt like this was not for them anymore; it happened a while back before we entered the studio. Not everyone can maintain the amount of passion that Impending Doom requires. That being said, we are still great friends with both Manny and Isaac and wish them both nothing but the best. Our good friend Brandon Trahan (ex Mirror of Dead Faces) has stepped in on drums and just recently finished tracking on our upcoming record, which will be released this summer. As for rhythm guitar, we have someone stepping in for our upcoming tours and summer festivals. Be on the look out for new tour dates and a new record.”
For more information on Impending Doom, visit:
myspace.com/impendingdoom
©2010 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved
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