Wars Of Ages’ New Album Out Now
War of Ages has released their latest album Eternal. This is the band’s fourth full length album and has already received much praise in the hardcore/metal community. Eternal is available for purchase here. War of Ages, well known for their relentless tour schedule, will be heading out on tour with As I Lay Dying and Demon Hunter to promote Eternal.
MyChildren MyBride Ready Their Sophomore Album
Madison, Alabama’s own MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE are poised to release their sophomore effort for Solid State Records on 6/ 8th, 2010. The new full length, entitled Lost Boy, is the eagerly-awaited follow up to 2008’s critically acclaimed Unbreakable. Unbreakable has sold an impressive 30,000+ copies in the United States alone, and has generated two music videos. MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE’s most recently released video for ‘On Wings of Integrity’, shot at The Waterfront Tavern in Holyoke, MA, received over 60,000 views in less than 24 hours. The recently completed Lost Boy was recorded at Glow In The Dark Studio in Atlanta, Georgia by producer Matt Goldman (UNDEROATH, COPELAND, and THE CHARIOT). The new record recalls both the vehemence and sincerity of 2008’s Unbreakable while progressing in musical maturity. “Musically it’s about writing what was in our heads at the moment”, Guitarist Robert Bloomfield states. “We went in with the thought of ‘if we are going to be playing these songs for the next 2 years on tour then we want them to be really fun for the live show.’” “From day one,” Bloomfield adds, “it was like Matt Goldman was already in our heads. He saw what we wanted and tried to help us create it. The man has the best sense of humor. The most fun I’ve ever had in a studio.” This album is sure to enchant current fans as well as broaden MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE’s fan base significantly! The band has been touring nonstop since the release of Unbreakable in 2008, and shows no signs of stopping yet. With a hectic touring schedule both leading up to and following the release of Lost Boy, MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE are sure to be busy in 2010. This Summer, MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE are performing at a festival near you!
Flatfoot 56 Debuts At #2 On Heatseekers Chart
FLATFOOT 56 has entered the Billboard Heatseekers New Artist Chart at #2 for first week sales of their highly anticipated new album BLACK THORN. The album arrives as the third studio release from Chicago’s most celebrated Celtic-Punk outfit and marks their debut effort for new label home Old Shoe Records. First week sales numbers for Black Thorn have also pushed the album into the Billboard Top 200 at #160, the Billboard Top Independent Current Albums Chart at #17, Top Alternative Rock Chart at #29, Top Rock Chart at #43, Top Current Albums Chart at #143 and Top Internet Sales Charts. As 2010 marks the 10-year anniversary for FLATFOOT 56, the new album compacts the band’s celebrated history of eclectic and driving musical charge into thirteen tracks that highlight the pride of the working class and their Chicago roots. The release of BLACK THORN has sent a tidal wave of energy from FLATFOOT 56’s international mob following while being matched with positive critical acclaim. Last week, FLATFOOT 56 celebrated the arrival of their new album with a sold-out west coast album release party in Fullerton, California. To continue their onslaught throughout 2010, FLATFOOT 56 has also announced a year full of tour dates, including the Vans Warped Tour this summer and special festival appearances across the globe, including Cornerstone, Spirit West Coast, SoulFest, Irish 2000 Festival and a slew of others.
Tour Dates:
5/6 – Macomb, IL
5/7 – Lincoln, NE
5/8 – South Moorehead, MN
5/20 – Springfield, IL
5/21 – Leo, IN
5/22 – Terre Haute, IN
6/2 – Seattle, WA
6/29 – Marietta, IL
7/1 – Bushnell, IL
7/3 – Salinas, CA
7/11 – Hartford, CT
7/13 – Mansfield, MA
7/14 – Darien Center, NY
7/15 – Scranton, PA
7/16 – Camden, NJ
7/17 – Uniondale, NY
7/18 – Oceanport, NJ
7/20 – Columbia, MD
7/21 – Virginia Beach, VA
7/22 – Charlotte, NC
7/23 – St. Petersburg, FL
7/24 – West Palm Beach, FL
7/25 – Orlando, FL
7/26 – Atlanta, GA
7/28 – Cincinnati, OH
7/29 – Milwaukee, WI
7/30 – Detroit, MI
7/31 – Tinley Park, IL
8/1 – Shakopee, MN
8/2 – Bonner Springs, KS
Write This Down News
WRITE THIS DOWN stands poised to turn the modern rock world on its head with scene-bred and radio rock steeped in faith and hopefulness. Produced by Rob Hawkins in Nashville, the self-titled Tooth & Nail debut from these native Minnesotans is instantly engaging. From raw power to beautiful balladry, it’s all here. The collection of songs composes a whole that defies the band’s youth. Write This Down just finished a tour with label-mates The Classic Crime. Their debut Rock single charted this week at No. 30 with “Center of Attention.” In addition, fans can hear “I Never Said I Was Through With You,” “Kings and Councilors” and “Redemption” now on their MySpace. The band is: Johnny Collier (Vocals), Nate Rockwell (Guitar), Chad Nichols (Drums). Write This Down released the single “Renegade” on iTunes yesterday, get it here.
For more information on Write This Down, visit:
myspace.com/writethisdown
Athlete Announce Tour
Athlete will head out on the road this spring / summer in support of their latest album, Black Swan, which was released on March 2nd through Original Signal Recordings in the U.S. The tour will kick off 5/31st at Maxwell’s in Hoboken, NJ. Black Swan is a musical summary of everything Athlete has been through, the good, the bad and the ugly. But although its songs burn with literate emotion, this certainly isn’t a downbeat record. In fact, the album begins with the hurtling FM rush of the glorious track, “Superhuman Touch,” which catapults the album to life with the opening line, “I’m on fire and nothing’s gonna hold me back.” Produced by the esteemed Tom Rothrock (Foo Fighters, Elliott Smith, Elbow, Beck), Black Swan positively glows with snagging melodies, rich musicality and the band’s heartfelt tales. These songs together make Black Swan the strongest album Athlete has ever recorded. The reaction to Black Swan has been nothing short of overwhelming both here and in the UK with Alternative Press stating, ““If proper venues for a band called Athlete are Stadiums, then this southeast London quartet have finally made an album worthy of their name… super-earnest reflections with melodies and arrangements direct and sturdy enough to bear the emotional weight.” NME proclaiming, “Awash with gorgeous melodies, the best thing they’ve ever done.” And Q Magazine raving: “Strong results… from the rueful to the thunderous. A band reborn.” “It’s been a couple of years since we’ve been able to tour throughout America,” says lead singer Joel Pott. “We’ve always loved touring the States because the crowds, the beer and the food are great and everybody loves my English accent.” Athlete first rose to prominence seven years ago with the spirited, electro-tinged, indie-pop of their Mercury-nominated debut, Vehicles And Animals, Athlete have established themselves among the UK’s finest songsmiths. The southeast Londoners have sold more than a million copies of their three hit albums (the other two being 2005’s Tourist and 2007’s Beyond The Neighbourhood); packed out venues across the world; picked up an Ivor Novello award; and topped both the UK’s album and airplay charts.
Tour Dates:
5/31 – Hoboken, NJ
6/1 – New York, NY
6/2 – Cambridge, MA
6/3 – Philadelphia, PA
6/5 – Brooklyn, NY
6/6 – Vienna, VA
6/7 – Toronto, ONT
6/9 – Chicago, IL
6/10 – Minneapolis, MN
6/12 – Denver, CO
6/14 – Seattle, WA
6/15 – Vancouver, BC
6/16 – Portland, OR
6/17 – San Francisco, CA
6/19 – San Diego, CA
6/21 – Los Angeles, CA
6/22 – Phoenix, AZ
6/24 – Dallas, TX
6/25 – Austin, TX
6/26 – Houston, TX
6/28 – Birmingham, AL
6/29 – Atlanta, GA
6/30 – Chapel Hill, NC
7/1 – Pittsburgh, PA
House Of Heroes Announce Release Date
Gotee Records band House Of Heroes are getting ready to release their latest piece of work, SUBURBA set for an August 3 street date produced by Mark Lee Townsend (Relient K, Deas Vail) and mixed by J.R. McNeely (The Almost, Paramore). After a year of nonstop action in 2009 with the CD release of The End Is Not The End and three EP release’s The Acoustic End, House Of Heroes Meets The Beatles and House Of Heroes Present The Christmas Classics, non-stop touring and recently being listed as One of Jason Tate AbsolutePunk.net founder’s 100 Bands To Check Out, House of Heroes looks forward to keeping it all in high gear with the release of Suburba, full track listing to be announced soon.
Tour Dates:
4/17 – Clarkston, MI
5/6 – Bluefield, VA
6/11 – Jacksonville, FL
6/19 – Atlanta, GA
6/23 – Mineral City, OH
Letter To The Exiles Releases
One of the newest members of the Strike First family, Letter to the Exiles, has just released their debut SF album The Shadow Line. “Letter to the Exiles, armed with an uncompromising faith and message of hope, has been patiently crafting their sound since their formation in 2006. Their follow up to 2008’s debut album A Call To Arms is The Shadow Line which combines passionate lyrics with metallic guitar riffs for a full on audio assault.” The Shadow Line is now available here.
Static Age Records Sign The Gun Show
With our gears moving at break-neck speeds, Static Age Records is proud to officially announce the addition of The Gun Show to their roster! Christian metallers The Gun Show, both technically proficient and brutally heavy, are a touring workhorse. Indie Vision Music said “they [The Gun Show] open up on you with guns a blazing.” Playing energetic and fun songs, packed with breakdowns, sing alongs, bang your head riffs, and melodies, this Ohio outfit seems to know what people want to hear. They will be working on an upcoming release in the next few months and will be playing Cornerstone 2010.
For more information on The Gun Show, visit:
myspace.com/xthegunshowx
The Rocket Summer News
Only a day after wrapping up a successful headlining tour, The Rocket Summer will be opening for major music powerhouse The Goo Goo Dolls. Bryce Avary, better known as The Rocket Summer, began touring with the multiple GRAMMY ® nominees this past weekend in New York and will tour through 5/19, a complete list of tour dates is below. Up next for Avary will be a headlining tour as well as a string of shows in Europe along with a coveted spot on the 16th Annual Vans Warped Tour to finish out the summer. The Rocket Summer’s latest Of Men And Angels nabbed the No. 1 spot on iTunes ® Overall Album chart the week of it’s February 23 release. Texas native Bryce Avary, the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist mastermind behind The Rocket Summer, has released four albums to date including his latest Of Men and Angels. Musically, Avary is a one-man show though he tours with several longtime friends. Bryce has toured around the world, selling out venues not just in the U.S., but Canada, the U.K. and Japan, while playing such noted events as U.K.’s Glastonbury Festival, Scotland’s T in the Park, Japan’s Summer Sonic Festival, Austin City Limits, SXSW, Bamboozle, Cornerstone and the 2007 Vans Warped Tour. In addition, Avary is very involved with both the Invisible Children and his own charitable organization “CALL IT CAPTIVATE.” In fact, he performed the White House last summer in connection with his support of Invisible Children, an organization dedicated to rescuing children who have been kidnapped and enlisted against their will into the Ugandan army. His own organization “CALL IT CAPTIVATE” is a clothing line that donates 25% of sales to several different charities. From disease research and poverty aid to orphanages, it is up to the buyer to decide which one to the “CIC” Charities they would like to donate to.
Tour Dates:
4/14 Williamsville, NY
4/15 – Hampton Beach, NH
4/16 – Potsdam, NY
4/17 – Erie, PA
4/18 – Chester, PA
4/20 – Richmond, VA
4/21 – Norfolk, VA
4/23 – Greensboro, NC
4/24 – North Charleston, SC
4/25 – Jacksonville, FL
4/26 – LAUDERDALE, FL
4/27 – Orlando, FL
5/2 – Nashville, TN
5/5 – Evansville, IN
5/7 – Louisville, KY
5/8 – Columbus, OH
5/9 – Grand Rapids, MI
5/11 – South Bend, IN
5/12 – Ann Arbor, MI
5/14 – Kettering, OH
Sent By Ravens Debuts On 4/20
SENT BY RAVENS debut album, Our Graceful Words, abounds with deliciously memorable songs bringing to mind the brightest moments of bands like Emery, whose own Matt Carter helped craft this South Carolina group’s debut album with producer Aaron Sprinkle. There is punk rock passion, melodic pop skill and joyful, soulful intelligence throughout the band’s music. The young band has created a record beyond their years, with decidedly mature and honest examinations of a renewing faith in the face of fears. Sent By Ravens also is currently charting in the Top 20 at the Christian Rock format with “Beautiful List,” a love letter from lead vocalist to his wife. At CHR their debut “Salt and Light” is now a new and active single. The band is: Zach Riner (Vocals) Andy O’Neal, JJ Leonard (Guitars), Jon Arena (Bass), Dane Anderson (Drums). Yesterday, the band released the single “New Fire” on iTunes, available here.
Delirious? Finish On A High Note
Delirious? played its final, farewell concert at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo Nov. 29. With fans around the world poised to see this historic concert as the 2-CD, DVD and Blu-ray Farewell Show – Live in London releases in North America 5/18 and the rest of the world April 19, 68,007 fans also joined a Facebook campaign in the UK, deciding it was time for a Christian song, Delirious?’s “History Maker,” to take the top of the charts for Easter. The fans placed the single at No. 3 on iTunes, with the studio version and live version taking both the No. 1 and No. 2 positions respectively on the Amazon.com UK chart. Billboard magazine further reported yesterday that after seven UK hit-singles, “History Maker” became the band’s highest-charting single in a UK singles chart in the band’s career, coming in at No. 4 this week. The campaign also raised thousands of dollars for CompassionArt as the band donated all royalties from this campaign to the charity. When I was a little boy I remember sitting in church listening to the old lady playing amazing hymns on the organ. Even then I remember it affecting me. Even then it seemed that for some reason this music got inside my soul. Then, when I was 12 my dad bought me a guitar. I didn’t care how it sounded; it was bright blue and it looked amazing. Mum and dad were mad enough to let me play it in church one Sunday and, I guess, that was where things began. Even back then I knew somehow that my mates at school would find our church music boring. All those hymns and all that solemnity and ancient words were bound to feel so alien to them and their worlds of TV pop shows, waffle jumpers and wet-look hair gel. The old lady with her amazing hymns would be lost on them. And so, back then, I had this hunch that something needed to change. I had a feeling that I should do what I could to be a part of that shift into whatever would come next. Years later I found myself with a microphone, four incredibly talented friends and a bunch of songs that resonated with a movement of people across the earth that wanted their faith to count. For my friends – the ones behind me and those in front – it was never enough for this to be about making a weekly display of religion at the altar. It was about something altogether bigger: the act of bringing our lives as a sacrifice to our Creator. This was not about filling pews but about meeting God, a God who is not dead but alive, our God for whom we choose to stand on the rooftops and shout about. With the microphone and the friends behind and in front of me, we would sing unending songs of how great it felt that God had ‘saved my soul.’ The happiness was such that I’m pretty sure we all danced at least a thousand miles over the years. These were the days when Delirious? was born and became the property of the people. We were never a traditional chart band; we were writing songs for a little movement of spiritual rebels, not for mass-market or industry execs. Even today, I still believe that God’s songs get measured by a different scale than chart placements and sales sheets. But I’d be lying if I said that I didn’t wish that Radio 1 had played us a bit more back then. But who can blame them? We had the word ‘God’ in our lyrics, and let’s face it, that’s enough to spoil even the best of parties. We were hardly the sort of band that Q magazine were going to champion either: the most dangerous thing we ever did was drive back through the night to be at church on a Sunday morning with our wives and kids. We never had a number one single, we never played top of the pops, we never had a platinum record. But we stayed together for 17 years and gave it everything we could. We loved it; saw people’s faces light up. We played in more than 40 countries, saw heaven touch earth and saw ordinary people believe they could be history makers. I can remember so many of them: people from all walks of life realising they were part of a bigger story, a treasured and vital part of His story. On November 29th we played our last show together at the Hammersmith Apollo. It was both sad and happy. It was the end of something great, the lowering of a flag, but deep inside was the knowledge that the flag needed to come down to allow a new set of colours to be painted on it. That’s the thing about people movements: they don’t just die when the microphone gets switched off. They live on, not dependent on the new song or the latest video. They live on because of the beautiful truth that movements are made of people who are on fire for something. It is because of this that I am certain without a shadow of a doubt that the spirit of what we all sang about will live on forever. After all, it’s been echoing down the generations already. Delirious? didn’t really do anything new; we just got to hold the flag for a bit, just like that old lady with her amazing hymns. All of us reach the point where it is time to pass it on. And so this all brings us to this week. This extra-ordinary week. This week when I finally figure out what people mean by the power of Facebook. What I take away from it is this: It was not that the campaign was determined to get a song in the charts, or that it wanted to help raise the Delirious? flag one more time. They just happened to be the symptoms of something far more exciting and powerful: the power of people who want their faith to count, people who want to make some noise because of what God has done for them. People who know that out of the deathly silence of Good Friday comes the greatest sound of all as the Father’s only Son re-wrote the laws of the universe so that you and I could be restored with God. All the seventeen years that the band was together we never existed just to get in the charts or sell sell sell. Our best motives and highest calling was to try to be a voice that made others think, that called out praise and tried to chase down the smile of God. It was always about responding to what we saw in you – people all around the world, on fire for God, wanting to see the world changed by His Glory. In the end you did us out of a job. Our cheers and shouts for you from the sidelines reached their proper end, and we stepped back, the chapter closed. Then, four months later you take a song and put it in the top ten. I want to say thank you to all of you who bought or downloaded the song. And thank you to the remarkable individuals who came up with the idea in the first place and helped bring it to birth with such integrity, wisdom and skill. All of you – the planners and the facebookers and the downloaders – you’re all mad! Mad because you probably already own three copies of it, mad because you spent hard earned cash on a song that’s 15 years old and mad because you joined with others that you’ve never met to create a whole lot of noise about Jesus. But I love mad people, and I’m very proud to be a part of all your lives. All over the last tour we were using a Latin phrase cos it sounded better and more mysterious than the English. ‘Fabula Est Vestri’ – The Story Is Yours. I had no idea it would be taken to heart so quickly. I had no idea you would show how clearly that the story certainly is yours now, just like it always was and always will be. Historymakers… I look forward to seeing you all in the next chapter.
Martin Smith
04.04.10
Mortification Releases 20th Anniversary Gold Edition
Now and for a limited time through CD Baby only Mortification is very happy to release an exclusive download version of the recently released ‘Break the Curse – ‘20th Anniversary’s GOLD Edition’. That’s right the recently released 2 Disc set featuring the remastered version of Break the Curse along with an EXCLUSIVE audio version of the Live DVD that was released as a part of this Limited Edition Set! You can get them both now at CD Baby. 1990 was a year that would forever change and have an impact on the Christian Metal scene. The world would see releases from some of the most seminal artists in the scene: Vengeance Rising – Once Dead; Deliverance – Weapons of our Warfare; Believer – Sanity Obscure and Tourniquet – Stop the Bleeding just to name a few! These albums would forever have an impact and leave their mark on the Christian Metal Scene. But one album and one album alone would turn the Christian Metal Scene upside down! Mortification’s ‘Break the Curse’ would hit the metal world like a raging storm! This would be the world’s first introduction of the band that would go on to pave the way for Christian Death Metal bands to come! Touring the world over, releasing multiple albums and DVD’s, playing in front of thousands of raging metal fans across the globe! Bold and unashamed they would play anywhere and everywhere that would host them! Never afraid to speak their mind and let the world know their convictions! Break the Curse was the initial release that would start it all, this release has long been out of print and a much sought after collectible for the Mortification fan! In celebration of the 20 year anniversary of this release Roxx Records is set to release a strictly Limited Edition 2 Disc Gold Letter Edition of ‘Break the Curse’. Disc one is set to include the full remastered release of Break the Curse as well as 8 Bonus tracks!! The bonus tracks will consist of another much sought after Mortification release… “Noah Sat Down and Listened to the Mortification Live E.P. While Having A Coffee”. That’s right! For the first time since its release, the much sought after EP will be made available for the first time and with this limited quantity of only 1000. If that’s not enough for you 2 more specially added bonus tracks will be included here that have not been made available since their original release… For the first time ever on a Mortification disc the studio version of Time Crusaders! Also the long out of print ‘Eyes of Destruction’ originally recorded by Lightforce and that is only Disc 1! Disc 2 will be a very special DVD release of a show that has never been released in its entirety! Not just any show, this is the VERY FIRST Mortification live show ever captured live in Melbourne Australia at the Harvest Centre! Recorded 6/ 15th of 1990 and completely remastered and restored this concert DVD is sure to become a true collectible for the Mortification fan!
©2010 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved
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