, , , , , , , , , , , ,

News Collection Week of 2-27

News 21 Feb 11 By

hardnewsupdateheading.gif

Josh Dies Releases New Book
Discover the newest novel written by Showbread’s own vocalist Joshua Dies out now at joshdies.com. The Joke That We Play on the World chronicles the humble beginnings of the band and takes the reader through the tough times, the heartfelt, the hilarious and the just plain bizarre. The journey spans 12 years and more than hundreds of thousands of traveled miles bringing you to the brink of disgust but ultimately takes you by the hand to lead you into further knowledge of this prolific and eclectic act made up of some of the most interesting people you’ll discover in modern literature. You can’t make this stuff up. Dies’ writing has always been able to pull readers in and make them feel like they were a part of the story, a part of the shenanigans, no matter how badly we might not want to be. Dies has a genuine heart for his gift and an equally passionate knowledge for why he’s spent the last 12 plus years of his life in such an unusual way.

Switchfoot Grabs Grammy
San Diego rock band Switchfoot has seen multi-platinum success over its vast career, which spans eight acclaimed albums, globally sold-out arena concerts and numerous music industry awards and honors that now include their first GRAMMY Award. Switchfoot’s seventh studio album, Hello Hurricane, received a GRAMMY Award yesterday for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album. Released November 10, 2009 on Atlantic and Credential Records, Hello Hurricane bowed at No. 13 on The Billboard 200, gathered two Top 10 Modern Rock radio singles with “Mess of Me” and “The Sound (John M. Perkins’ Blues),” and launched the band onto all the major late night network shows as it continues to gather widespread critical acclaim. Paste Magazine declared “Hello Hurricane will rock you like a…well, you know…” Alternative Press calls the record “a hope-giving affirmation of resurgence from a band who might have been down but were never out.” Rolling Stone says, “The group added some heft to its super catchy alternative rock,” while Relevant Magazine calls the recording “one of the best albums of Switchfoot’s career.” The band is currently in the studio working on its highly anticipated new album slated to release later this year. Widely known as one of the most exciting concert experiences around, Switchfoot will reveal new music on its upcoming April/May international tour to Australia, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as on its 10-city major market Canadian tour. Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman will also open up the San Diego State Aztecs vs. BYU Cougars basketball game with the national anthem on Feb. 26.

The Great Commission Announce Tour
New England Metal & Hardcore Festival and AllInMerch are proud to announce the ROAD TO METALFEST TOUR. Hardcore Heavyweights LIONHEART (Mediaskare) and Rise Records’ LEGEND will be co-headlining this tour, with direct support from MONSTERS, THE GREAT COMMISSION, and THE GREENERY. THE GREAT COMMISSION released their album, AND EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, via Strike First Records in 2009. The band had this to say: “2011 will be our first opportunity to play NEMHF and we certainly hope it won’t be the last. We are proud to take part in such a widely known festival that has only become better and better over the years. The ROAD TO METALFEST Tour has an amazing end of tour party planned by ending at NEMF.”
Tour Dates:
3/24 – Canoga Park, CA
3/25 – Lompoc, CA
3/26 – Los Gatos, CA
3/27 – Sacramento, CA
3/29 – Salem, OR
3/30 – Seattle, WA
3/31 – Spokane, WA
4/1 – Boise, ID
4/3 – Denver, CO
4/4 – Wichita, KS
4/5 – Kansas City, MO
4/6 – Springfield, MO
4/7 – Steger, IL
4/8 – Dayton, OH
4/9 – Toledo, OH
4/10 – Toledo, OH
4 – – Buffalo, NY
4/12 – Brooklyn, NY
4/13 – Jermyn, PA

The New Famine Album Out Now
The last year has been a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs for the North Texas technical death metal group, The Famine. The band endured a devastating studio fire, which destroyed everything in sight, including (but not limited to) musical equipment, computers, and recorded material, followed by the departure of the band’s former vocalist, Kris McCaddon. However, as the old saying goes, what could not kill The Famine has undoubtedly made the band and its members stronger. Now armed with a fresh lineup, which includes new bassist, Jon Richardson, and the band’s former bassist, Nick Nowell, on vocals, The Famine is ready wrap up this extended chapter of its career, and forge on behind with the release of the long-awaited, The Architects of Guilt, out today on Solid State Records. “We sacrificed so much more than time and energy to make this album,” explained Nowell. “This record cost us relationships and ended up being an accidental test of our convictions. I hope that we were able to create something indicative of those circumstances, something larger than the sum of our parts. “Now that this album is out, we are all eying a lucrative career as the house band on a Carnival cruise ship. You only work four nights a week and you get all the shrimp cocktail you can eat. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll keep writing death metal and we’ll see you on the road.” The Architects of Guilt can be purchased online via the Solid State webstore.
Track Listing:
1. The New Hell
2. Ad Mortem
3. We Are The Wolves
4. Turner Classic Diaries
5. Bigger Cages, Longer Chains!
6. The Crown and The Holy See
7. VII The Fraudulent
8. A Pavement Of Good Intentions
9. A Fragile Peace
10. Pyrithion House
11. To The Teeth

Soundmass Signs Terraphobia
Originally formed in 1985 by current Mortification guitarist Michael Jelinic, 10 years has passed since the last Terraphobia album. Since joining Mortification in 2002 and recording 3 albums with these metal legends, this project has lain dormant. But 2011 will see the release of “Evilution”, written, performed and produced by Jelinic. You can expect a feast of melodic thrash/death metal from this early 2011 release – a unique blend of the modern and old school that is heavy, fast and has plenty of leads thrown in. With a sound that will appeal to fans of Arch Enemy, Bolt Thrower and Scrolls era Mortification, Jelinic’s Terraphobia is swathed in the signature melodic guitar playing that we all know and love from this brilliant musician, coupled with his intense and versatile vocal force. For an idea of what to expect, head over to the Terraphobia MySpace to hear the new song “Soldiers of the New Millennium”.

For Today Tour News
For Today has just announced a headlining tour with Motionless in White, Chelsea Grin, For the Fallen Dreams, and In the Midst of Lions. The tour kicks off at the second night of Facedown Fest.
Tour Dates:
4/9 – Pomona, CA
4 – – Tucson, AZ
4/12 – Albuquerque, NM
4/13 – Lubbock, TX
4/14 – Oklahoma City, OK
4/15 – Little Rock, AR
4/16 – Tulsa, OK
4/17 – Kansas City, MO
4/18 – Iowa City, IA
4/19 – Bloomington, IL
4/20 – Indianapolis, IN
4/21 – Nashville, TN
4/22 – Chattanooga, TN
4/23 – Douglasville, GA
4/26 – Columbia, SC
4/27 – Raleigh, NC
4/28 – Richmond, VA
4/29 – Wilmington, DE
4/30 – Manchester, NH
5/1 – East Rutherford, NJ
For more information on For Today, visit:
facebook.com/ForToday

The Crucified Added To Godzfest
Tooth and Nail artist The Crucified has confirmed two shows in Florida. One being at Godzfest with 20 other bands August 20th Manatee Civic Center. he new show will be a kick off to the fest, as well as The Refuge reunion show. The Refuge was a club started in the early 90s that brought in such names as One Bad Pig, Micheal Knott, Circle Of Dust, Kutless, Mortal, and many more. The second show announced will take place at The State Theater in St Petersburg Fl
on Friday August 19th The show will also feature other acts to perform at Godzfest (Grave Robber, Blissed, The Shiney Darks, Covered In Scars) Tickets for the show will be just $8.00 advance.

Upside Down Room Is Back
Former Tooth and Nail punk band Upside Down Room is back in action! The band has been in existence for around two decades, but they’ve been laying low for the last few years. Now, they’re releasing two new CD’s with Southern California indie label pop.vox.music. These releases will be Upside Down Room’s first new material in almost ten years. The first is a re-release of their hard to find, out of print TV Baby EP. The special edition re-release includes two new bonus tracks, and updated classic artwork. The second CD, titled Let’s go For a Ride, is a six song EP of all new Upside Down Room songs. In addition, the band is gearing up for some live appearances, playing both old and new material. They’ll be playing several shows in Southern California over the next few months. Those interested in booking Upside Down Room should contact them through Facebook. TV Baby is out now, and look for Let’s Go For a Ride in early March. Both will be available on iTunes, as well as from popvoxmusic.com.

Emery Set To Release Its Fifth Album
Post-hardcore veterans EMERY are poised to release We Do What We Want, the band’s fifth studio album on March 29th, via longtime label Tooth & Nail Records. Their first new material since 2009’s …In Shallow Seas We Sail, Emery is back in fine form with what many are calling the band’s heaviest album to date. Produced by guitarist Matt Carter and mixed by Jason Suecof (Whitechapel, August Burns Red, All That Remains) We Do What We Want further cements Emery as a mainstay in the heavy music genre, proof that quality and longevity go hand-in-hand. Tooth & Nail has launched a pre-order for We Do What We Want at zambooie.com/toothandnail. The album can also be ordered in special bundles that include a t-shirt or t-shirt + “black book” + sticker pack.
Tour Dates:
3/1 – Towson, MD
3/2 – Rochester, NY
3/3 – Millvale, PA
3/4 – Goshen, IN
3/5 – Cincinnati, OH
3/6 – Joliet, IL
3/7 – Saint Paul, MN
3/8 – Rochester, MN
3/10 – Kansas City, MO
3/11 – Joplin, MO
3/12 – Little Rock, AR
3/13 – Dallas, TX
3/14 – Amarillo, TX
3/15 – Russellville, AR
3/16 – Oklahoma City, OK
3/17 – Wichita Falls, TX
3/18 – San Antonio, TX
3/19 – Austin, TX
3/21 – Birmingham, AL
3/22 – Memphis, TN
3/23 – Chattanooga, TN
3/25 – Kissimmee, FL
3/26 – Jacksonville, FL
3/27 – Atlanta, GA
3/29 – Mount Pleasant, SC
3/30 – Greensboro, NC
3/31 – Lynchburg, VA
4/1 – Greenville, SC

Hillsong United Album Now
Best-selling modern worship band Hillsong UNITED offers its highly anticipated, 11th full-length album and second ever studio recording, AFTERMATH, today on Sparrow Records. Having its pulse consistently in tune with the heart cry of congregations across the globe and a fresh, forward-thinking soundtrack to match, Hillsong UNITED has been the veritable gold standard of modern worship music for the past decade and counting. The new album continues this journey, releasing amidst wide acclaim, immediate sales success, a radio single being heard by millions and a major market North American tour that has already sold out five venues even before the tour is set to begin. The band is also poised to gather a strong debut in its first week at retail as AFTERMATH has already climbed to the iTunes Top 5 on its overall U.S., No. 1 on Overall Australia, and No. 1 Christian/Gospel album sales charts. The band is futher gathering momentum from radio for its first single from AFTERMATH, “Search My Heart,” a pulsing, urgent cry to be used by God for His – not simply our own – purposes. The song is on track to become the band’s most successful radio single ever, having already been heard by millions of people nationwide though K-LOVE and Air 1 networks, as well as other stations throughout the US that have added it to rotation.
The first new album from Hillsong UNITED in over two years, AFTERMATH is also reaping high marks from critics as the album offers an unabashedly creative collection of new songs that celebrates the One who saves, redeems and is the true representation of Hope in a world where hopelessness abound.

Rend Collective Experiment Post Video
Friends, Check out the brand new video from Rend Collective Experiment, “Come On (My Soul)” from Organic Family Hymnal. Hailing from Bangor, Northern Ireland, Rend Collective Experiment released its international debut Organic Family Hymnal to widespread critical acclaim. Charting a unique course, the band is a group of friends collectively wondering how to make sense of the conundrum of life, God and community. What Rend Collective Experiment’s members add to the conversation are melodies, harmonic progression and lyrics that are scriptural and contemporary, fresh and ancient. Rhapsody named the band among the Top 5 Christian/Gospel artists to watch in 2011 as Gospel Music Channel named Organic Family Hymnal among the “Best Albums of 2010.” Catch Rend Collective Experiment on Chris Tomlin’s 30-city major market tour that begins today. (Due to visa delays, Rend Collective Experiment joins the tour starting in Wichita Falls, TX Feb. 24.)

Reece Lincoln Release Debut Album
Reece Lincoln Band, a trio hailing from the Dayton, Ohio area, is proud to announce the release of their full-length debut album, Soul of a Man. The project contains 10 tracks, which can be best described as blues-driven Christian rock. With this highly-anticipated effort, frontman Reece Lincoln, 21, said the band continues to live up to their motto, “High Octane Gospel…Fuel For the Soul.” Musically, Soul of a Man demonstrates strong songwriting as well as an array of diverse musical talents. The project is heavily guitar-driven and it is rooted in some of the same timeless, creative elements that have defined many of today’s greatest musical legends. That is no surprise, coming from an act that cites Elvis Presley, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Ray Charles as some of their primary musical influences. Lincoln believes that listeners will embrace the relevant sound as well as the meaningful messages that Soul of a Man delivers, “These songs will cause the listener to rock out by their stereo, but I also think they will challenge every listener. For instance one song states, ‘Tell me now what’s the value of your soul and would you trade it for your weight in gold?’” “I would encourage someone to listen to our CD because it has a strong message. This is a collection of songs that people can listen to over and over again without growing tired of them,” Lincoln said. Reece Lincoln Band is comprised of Reece Lincoln (vocals and guitar), Brad Willison, 21 (bass) and Joe Lang, 17 (drums). Produced by Matt Haupt and Dustin Burke, Soul of a Man was recorded in Dayton, Ohio at Phoenix Creative Group. “We have recorded before, but we put more energy into this CD than anything we have ever done. I am really excited about this project, because we have worked so hard on it and it came together better than we ever thought possible,” Lincoln said. Several of the standout songs on Soul of a Man include “Hard Times,” “Dial Tone,” “Unfinished Business” and “Veteran’s Song,” among others. “Personally, each song means so much to me. The period when most of these songs were written, and even during the recording process, was a critical time for me. I found myself at a crossroads, making a decision that would change my life forever. At one point, I was having an intense writer’s block. When I finally chose the road that I knew God was calling me to take, it was supernatural. I began writing like never before. In fact, most of the songs on this CD were written in that short time frame,” Lincoln shared. Prior to the release of Soul of a Man, the band had already gained national attention. They have been praised by a number of notable critics and have received a number of accolades and awards. Reece Lincoln Band was one of 27 bands who were chosen to compete nationwide in the CBS Early Show’s “Living Room Live Battle of the Bands.” They have also been seen nationally on the popular television show, “America’s Got Talent.” Also in 2007, Lincoln was the Gibson Guitar Center King of the Blues Southwestern Ohio winner.
Additionally, the band was nominated by the Dayton Blues Society to represent them at the International Blues Challenge Youth Showcase in Memphis, TN., the world’s largest gathering of Blues acts. On December 3, the band publicized the CD’s release, locally. Fans gathered for a concert performance and an album release party at the Canal Street Tavern in Dayton, Ohio. A few weeks ago, on December 31, The Dayton Daily News Go section recognized Soul of a Man as one of the “Best Local CD’s of 2010.”
Reece Lincoln Band consistently plays live shows at a variety of different venues as well as at a number of local and regional events. They have performed at schools, churches, parks and nightclubs, to name a few. Some of their past performances have included concerts at The Ohio Statehouse, BB King’s Blues Club on Beale Street, Dayton’s Grande Illumination and Miami County Fair, among many others.

©2011 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved

More news from last week:


still fresh (as far as you know)

About the Author

More News from HM Magazine