As Cities Burn Releases New CD 4/21
Following the success of two previous efforts, Louisiana-based As Cities Burn is set to introduce their new studio recording “Hell or High Water” releasing April 21st on Tooth & Nail Records. An exclusive track (“Gates”) will also be available on iTunes with the release of “Hell or High Water.” Recorded in Cleveland, TN at First Street Studio over three months, “Hell or High Water,” takes the band in a new direction with more focus on creating an ambient and rooted rock sound. Produced primarily by songwriter/lead Cody Bonnette along with the aid of Tyler Orr, Jae Ham, Robert Chisolm and Tyler Schwindt, the album was recorded to sound more similar to the band’s live sound. The album takes the sound of Come Now Sleep (2007) and strips it even barer instrumentally, while breathing a more reflective take on the music scene (“Errand Rum”) love (“Lady Blue”) and an artistically blunt finale that passes the torch to other great acts (“Capover”). With “Hell or High Water,” the band has created a brutally honest and musically progressive record that wise listeners will surely be discussing about amongst themselves.
For more information, visit:
myspace.com/ascitiesburn
A Plea For Purging Releases New Cover
A Plea for Purging have released their cover of Live Your Life on myspace. The T.I. and Rihanna original has been tuned to drop D below D for this undertaking and the nu metal version of the hip hop song boasts ‘female’ vocals by Plea’s own vocalist Andy Atkins. Check out the cover here.
Tour Dates:
3/25 Herrin, IL
3/26 Omaha, NE
3/27 Casper, WY
3/28 Greeley, CO
3/29 Twin Falls, ID
3/30 Seattle, WA
3/31 Portland, OR
4/1 Klamath Falls, OR
4/2 Bakersfield, CA
4/4 Pomona, CA
4/6 Tempe, AZ
4/7 Albuquerque, NM
4/8 Amarillo, TX
4/9 Blue Springs, MO
4/10 Buffalo, MN
4/11 Sioux City, IA
Mike Herrera Releases Side Project Album
The front-man for MxPx has a hot new side project, Mike Herrera’s Tumbledown, and will be releasing the self-titled debut album on May 19 through End Sounds. The hard-core country band just announced their signing with the Austin-based record label, which the band celebrated with a showcase at SXSW and to top things off, famed tattoo artist Oliver Peck created Tumbledown’s album cover art. The pop-punk-a-billy, country group out of Bremerton, WA consists of Herrera as songwriter/lead vocals/guitar, lead guitarist Jack Parker, standup bassist Marshall Trotland, and drummer Harley Trotland. They kick off their debut album with the twangy single, “Homeward Bound”, following up with a grungier number, “Butcher of San Antone.” The country music sounds, which Herrera has been writing since 1998, are influenced by such American music/songwriting legends as Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and Bill Monroe. Mike Herrera’s Tumbledown captures the punk rock energy of MxPx, while also displaying the soulful experiences of Herrera’s travels along the lonely, open road. The result is an old-school, country-western swagger, with Herrera strumming a big dreadnaught acoustic over a chugging snare drum and stand-up bass. Guitarist Jack Parker adds to the Americana, with swiftly meandering, mean lead work. Mike Herrera’s Tumbledown just wrapped up a video for first single, “Butcher of San Antone” and is currently finishing up a 19-date tour through the end of this month, making their way through Texas, Idaho, Utah, Washington, California, Oregon, Colorado, and Arizona with fellow Bremerton, WA natives, SGFY on select dates. Washington fans will get closing honors with a double header: a matinee show at Sunset Tavern in Ballard and the finale at El Corazon in Seattle.
For exact tour dates and more info, check out:
myspace.com/tumbledowncountry
Bread Of Stone Receives Rock Band Award
Excited fans and sold out concerts are comments Bread of Stone is hearing pertaining to the 40-city “Join The Tribe” tour. This week a whole new buzz was heard when the group received the “Rising Star Christian Rock Band” Award. Gigmasters announced Bread of Stone as one of the top winners from its 5500 entertainment acts nationwide. This award adds to the visibility the group is receiving this week in California, with this morning’s interview and performance on Channel 17’s Sunrise show, an NBC affiliate. Later in the day, the band was featured on ABC’s Channel 23 as they discuss their music ministry and upcoming half time performance tonight at the Bakersfield Jam, an NBA Development League game. The live performance by Bread of Stone will be televised on the Bright House Networks.
Check them out:
breadofstone.com
Rush Of Fools News
The response has been enthusiastic for Rush Of Fools’ first headlining tour, Wonder Of The World, in support of their latest CD. The show has a strong lineup of incredible talent that also includes; Jimmy Needham, Sarah Reeves, and Joy Lippard. When the tour ends on April 5th, it will have covered seventeen cities with the show performing before an estimated ten-thousand people. The tour recently played the Nashville area at Metro Baptist Church in Goodlettsville with a sold out crowd, the third sell out on the tour to date. The Nashville appearance garnered media support with a feature in the Nashville City Paper and interviews on The Fish and WAY-FM’s Total Axxess. The tour is being sponsored by Freedom Begins Here, a non-profit organization that is working to stop pornography and sexual addiction through research tools available for churches and individuals. “It seems almost hilarious to think of where God has brought us fools from Alabama in such a short time,” says Kevin Huguley, Rush Of Fools. “We see the providential plan of God in our lives more now than ever. What is also remarkable is to have such phenomenal artists out on the road with US for our very first tour. Thanks to Jimmy and his gang, Sarah, Joy and our incredible crew for such a memorable moment in our career. A huge thanks goes to Freedom Begins Here, our headlining sponsor and long time ministry partner, who care so much to see the Church freed from sexual addiction and pornography. Over all things, we just thank Jesus for the cross, for without the shedding of His blood, there would be no remission for our sin. Soli Deo Gloria, to God alone be the glory for the WOTW tour! Grace and peace.” Rush Of Fools remains one of the hardest working tour bands in Christian music and also is a current favorite on the mainstream charts. “Never Far Away,” the new duet with Jim Brickman is #12 on the Billboard AC chart and #13 on Radio & Record’s AC Monitored chart. Their current Christian single, “Lose It All,” is going for adds at AC radio after reaching #4 on the CHR chart. Currently, the song has 44 adds with new additions including; WAWZ/New York City, New Life Network, and Reach FM Network.
Japanese Rock Band To Play In USA
Japanese Rock band, IMARi ToNES, will be hitting the US stage for the first time in Austin TX on Monday, April 6th. The all-Japanese rock trio recently signed with Atlanta-based Empty Vessel Music.
The first stop on their upcoming tour, “Rock, Faith, Anime 2009” will be the Headhunters Club near historic 6th street. Among other cities on their tour will be Houston TX, Little Rock AR, Nashville TN, Atlanta GA, New York NY, and Seattle WA. As a part of Empty Vessel Music’s “Music Matters” program, revenue generated from the live performance will go toward building a music studio in Myanmar, and to help provide music education for youth in underprivileged US cities. IMARi ToNES’s latest album “Japanese Pop”, produced by German heavy metal producer Sascha Paeth, is now available at the iTunes Music Store and CD Baby.com
To find out more about the IMARi ToNES and their upcoming schedule, go to:
imaritones.net
Yellow Cavalier News
Introducing Yellow Cavalier: Alan Powell, Chad Graham, Caleb Grimm and Kyle Kupecky – a quartet comprised of talented and energetic young men who are ready to release their infectious modern rock and pop groove melodies with spiritual truth to audiences everywhere. Their self-titled independent EP debut releases this May. Penned by Powell and Yellow Cavalier’s producer, Dove-nominated Keith Everette Smith (Jadon Lavik, Meredith Andrews, Matt Papa, The Bolts), the five-song EP is a group effort in both the lyrical content and instrumental arrangements. They also cohesively feel their music will connect with all ages and musical tastes. “We’re not aiming at one particular audience,” Caleb Grimm shares about the group’s thought-provoking themes and unique musical stylings. “We’re writing from the perspective of our world view, which happens to be Jesus Christ. But, we’re also addressing issues anyone can relate to.” The songs found on the new project deal with a variety of topics such as God’s unconditional love for His children to personal romantic relationships, to sharing the story of a believer who gives all he has to God. Emotion, intellect and faith collide in “Freedom Into Slavery,” where honest confessions of wrongdoings are forgiven. The song listing is located below. Yellow Cavalier is inspired by many talented acts, especially DC Talk as well as secular artists Maroon 5, Daniel Bedingfield and OneRepublic due to the depth to their songs and their catchy melodies. The arrangement of the Yellow Cavalier stage show is also modeled by DC Talk, as the group is set to be backed by a live band while they take the stage front and center to connect with audiences their music and message. “We’ve set out with this EP to encourage people, but also come at a place musically where you’d pick it up because it’s simply great music,” explains Powell. “We’ve been encouraged by a lot of Christian music growing up, but we’re going back to the DC Talk dynamic of really trying to raise the bar and have musical quality feed the lyrics God has given us.” Powell summarizes, “On this record from beginning to end, it’s based around human emotions but with a theme of God working in every aspect of life. All we have to do is give back anything we’re going through to God, and in our case, it’s cool to see how He’s orchestrated bringing us together. We feel blessed and privileged and want to use all He’s given to us to turn back and minister to others no matter where they’re at in life.”
To check out their first single, visit:
yellowcavalier.com
Bulldozer’s Live Album To Be Re-Released
Metal Mind Productions presents re-release of Bulldozer’s live album “Alive… In Poland” recorded in Zabrze, Poland in 1989 in front of 6,000 devoted fans. The enthusiastic reaction of the fans, well heard on the album, proved the undying cult of Bulldozer and their major status among thrash metal bands worldwide. The Italian heroes earned a proper farewell by their audience. As Alberto Contini states, the group was terminated at the right time, with all the band members stepping down from the scene as heroes in glory. This did not, however, dissolve the cult that formed around Bulldozer – to this day the group is considered one of the most influential thrash metal icons ever to emerge on the scene. The album will be available in a new digipak edition limited to 2000 copies. Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process. The release date is set for 6th April in Europe and 5th May in USA (via MVD).
Check out their video here:
youtube.com/watch?v=rXruyT3ziUU
Kevin Max Announces Birth of Daughter
Kevin Max’s wife Amanda has given birth to their third child, Knightly Christobal Max, who came into the world at 9:23 p.m. on March 24, 2009, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee. Knightly, who joins big sister London and big brother Wilder, measured 20 inches long and weighed 8 lbs. 3 oz.”We decided to name our third child, Knightly Christobal, after both of our affection for medieval art and history,” said Kevin Max. “But all in all, he is looking to be the most modern of all our children, being of raven black hair and sharp blue eyes. I believe being a father is my greatest artistic accomplishment, and Amanda and I look forward to watching him grow and connect to his older brother and sister.” With dcTalk, Max accrued album sales exceeding 8 million, as well as numerous Grammy and Dove Awards. In recent years, Max has explored his art and his faith with several critically acclaimed solo projects, and live performances worldwide. His recently released EP, Crashing Gates, is available now at iTunes.
Impending Doom Receives Rave Reviews
Impending Doom will release their new album The Serpent Servant on March 31st. However early reviews have started rolling in already with resounding approval. The new issue of Revolver featured a three star review with the statement that even though the band is message oriented that “Both saints and sinners should enjoy.” Decibel Magazine proclaim that the band is so “multi-dimensionally tuned. Guitar, drums, amps, effects, every little slice of measured inter-riff silence, each pillow of impeccably distorted sound-all seem perfectly weighted and aligned, as if the Riverside, CA-based quintet’s members were but components of a single instrument.” Outburn Magazine run a two page feature in the new issue, praising that Impending Doom on “The Serpent Servant manages to sound relatively fresh, not to mention convincing.” The band is currently finishing up a national tour with Bleeding Through, The Acacia Strain and As Blood Runs Black.
For more information on Impending Doom, go here:
myspace.com/impending
Strike First Records Presents Earth From Above
The new Earth From Above album, Numbered With The Transgressors, is available for pre order now. The band has posted a new song on their myspace page. Earth from Above’s zeal for adrenalized metal comes from influences like All Shall Perish, Living Sacrifice, Acacia Strain, Meshuggah and Falling Cycle.
To pre-order their new album, visit:
facedown.merchnow.com/products/101674
Help Fireflight Win Artist Of The Year
Fireflight has been nominated for GMA’s Artist of the Year. They are going up against artists such as Third Day, Casting Crown, Chris Tomlin, & many more. You can vote online & by text once each. For more information, go here.
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