NEWS, 23rd June 2010
> STONE AXE AND MIGHTY HIGH TEAM UP
Just in time for their West Coast tour in support of the godfathers of Stoner Rock, St. Vitus, Stone Axe has announced that they will be releasing an exclusive split 7" with the Brooklyn-based stoner cretins Mighty High.
This two-song disc features ground-breaking material from both acts. For Stone Axe, "Metal Damage" shows the band venturing into the lands inspired by the NWOBHM sound. For Mighty High, "Don't Panic, It's Organic" is the most focused, aggression-filled musical tantrum the group has unleashed to date.
The 7" will be available on tour starting June 25th, 2010 and from the Ripple Music Store in early July. However, pre-orders are being taken now.
Tour dates:
June 25th, 2010 - 9:00pm El Corazon (w/Saint Vitus) Seattle, Washington, US
June 26th, 2010 - 9:00pm Satyricon (w/Saint Vitus) Portland, Oregon, US
June 27th, 2010 - 9:00pm DNA Lounge (w/ Saint Vitus) San Francisco, California, US
June 28th, 2010 - 7:00pm Origami Vinyl Echo Park, California, US
June 29th, 2010 - 9:00pm The Viper Room (w/ Saint Vitus) Los Angeles, California, US
June 30th, 2010 - 9:00pm The Casbah (w/Saint Vitus) San Diego, California, US
July 1st, 2010 - 9:00pm Waysted Space @ Hard Rock Hotel (w/Saint Vitus) Las Vegas, Nevada, US
July 3rd, 2010 - 10:00pm The ALIBI Arcata, California, US
http://www.myspace.com/stoneaxe
> FIRST SIGNAL FEATURING HARRY HESS...
Ex Harem Scarem singer Harry Hess returns with First Signal paying tribute to his former band classic sound!
Frontiers Records will release on August 27th 2010 in Europe and September 14th in the USA the new album from First Signal, a new exciting melodic rock studio project presenting the alliance between two well known faces in the scene: Canadian singer Harry Hess (ex Harem Scarem) and producer/bassist Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Khymera etc.).
The concept behind this recording is to bring back the classic Harem Scarem sound which after the band decision to split is very much missed by many fans. Records such as “Mood Swings” and “Weight of the World” are regarded as true masterpiece albums and they were the inspiration behind the First Signal songs which of course are also open to some new twists and interpretations.
"The record is very reminiscent of the songs I grew up listening to and fit my vocal style", says Harry "It definitely reminds me of the songs we were writing very early on in Harem Scarem. I haven't been involved with anything even close to this style musically since Harem Scarem, so it was a lot of fun for me and if the fans really like it I'm sure there’ll be a future First Signal!"
Harem Scarem have displayed throughout their 12 official studio albums a vast array of styles, from AOR, to arena hard rock and power pop in the “Rubber” years. Still the fans have always asked the band to go back to a guitar riffs oriented sound which melted the influences from the melodic metal of the 80’s with more contemporary sounds. A great team of songwriters, including brothers Tom and James Martin (Khymera, Sunstorm, House of Lords), Erik Martensson (W.E.T., Eclipse), Ronny Milianowicz (Saint Deamon), Robert Sall (W.E.T., Work of Art) and Mark Baker (Signal, House of Lords) among others, had the task to recreate that magic sound, which is now back in all its glory thanks to a monster vocal performance from Harry and a crisp production and arrangement work from Dennis Ward.
Other musicians on the album include Chris Schmidt on drums, Michael Klein on guitars and Eric Ragno on keyboards and the necessary background vocals contribution from the other ex Harem Scarem member Darren Smith.
“First Signal” final track listing includes the following tracks: This City; When You Believe; Part of Me; Crazy; Goodbye To The Old Times; First Signal; Feels Like Love; Into the Night: When November Falls; Yesterday Rain; Naked Desire
The songs 'This City' and 'Yesterday Rain' can exclusively be listened to in full streaming on the Frontiers Web radio from June 21st. Tune in at: http://www.frontiers.it/webradio
> NEW ZEALAND'S THE RABBLE
Storming out of their hometown of Auckland, The Rabble are exploding out of New Zealand and into the hearts of punks worldwide.
Harnessing the advantages of both experience and youth, this powerful and passionate band have been around for over eight years but they're still only just out of their teenage years and are truly unstoppable.
One listen to the gravely vocals and infectious soulful punk anthems on their new 16-track album "The Battle's Almost Over...", and you'll be hooked. Battling on and winning fans and friends worldwide, the war may be just beginning but The Rabble's awesome arsenal will see their punk rock army grow and grow.
Raise your voice and rise up!
http://www.myspace.com/therabble
> PHIL LYNOTT - YELLOW PEARL: A COLLECTION
"Yellow Pearl: A Collection" brings you a delightful and intriguing trip into the solo work of Phil Lynott. It's guaranteed to hold the listener spellbound as they realise just how iconic Lynott was - and still is. The release brings together the hits singles from both solo albums "Solo in Soho"' and "The Phillip Lynott Album" including 'King's Call' (a tribute to Elvis Presley), 'Dear Miss Lonely Hearts' and major hit 'Yellow Pearl' which reached number 14 in the UK charts and also became the theme for BBC TV's 'Top Of The Pops' show. Also included is 'Parisienne Walkways', released as a single by Gary Moore in 1978, reaching number eight in the UK charts. Written by Lynott – as well as featuring him on vocals – it remains a stand alone classic.
There's also B sides to the singles 'Together' and 'Old Town' (also included), these being 'Somebody Else's Dream' and 'Beat Of The Drum' respectively and his last solo single, 1985's 'Nineteen', released just a few weeks before his tragic death on January 4, 1986.
"My aim isn't to surprise people, but maybe to surprise myself"; Phil Lynott reflects whilst recording "Solo In Soho" which comfortably reached the UK Top 30. The result was impressive, impassioned and imposing, an album that was a personal statement from one of the most original talents in the rock world. A musical hero, a master songwriter, a majestic singer, a monarch on bass - the proof is here that the whole was so much greater than the sum of these parts.
Track listing: 1. Yellow Pearl Second 7" Remix 2. Dear Miss Lonely Hearts 3. King's Call 4. A Child's Lullaby 5. Tattoo (Giving It All Up For Love) 6. Solo In Soho 7. Girls 8. Ode To A Black Man 9. Together Album Version 10. Fatalistic Attitude 11. The Man's A Fool 12. Old Town 13. Cathleen 14. Little Bit Of Water 15. Ode To Liberty (The Protest Song) 16. Somebody Else's Dream 17. Beat Of The Drum 18. Nineteen Extended Version 19. Parisienne Walkways 20. Yellow Pearl First Version
"Yellow Pearl: A Collection" will be released on August 16th 2010 on Spectrum Audio/Universal Music Catalogue.
> SLAYER iTUNES TAKEOVER
Slayer is about to enter the app age with the launch of Slayer: Pinball Rocks, a new pinball game app.
"As a life-size pinball player, this looks so awesome," said Slayer's Kerry King. "It looks really fun and entertaining, with a shot of evil, and it could definitely keep me up all night with a few shots for myself."
Slayer: Pinball Rocks continues the rich legacy of iconic metal and rock bands making pinball tables. in Slayer: Pinball Rocks Slayer meets the king of arcade games in one loud, fast, flipper-thrashing frenzy. With hyper-realistic pinball game play set to a backdrop inspired by the band's latest head-banging masterpiece, World Painted Blood, the game includes multi-ball play, and a full tap-along mini-game in a pinball environment straight out of your worst nightmare featuring spinning razor blades, guitars, amps, concert lights, and a skull that eats your ball and spits it out though its eyeball.
All this is set to music from the new album, original voice recordings from Tom Araya.
To celebrate the release of Slayer: Pinball Rocks, the entire Slayer catalog (including World Painted Blood) will be on-sale at iTunes for $7.99.
> STEVE VAI PRESENTS WESTERN VACATION
In the early 1980s, Steve Vai had just moved to California and bought a house in rural Sylmar California. At the time, it was a place with more animals than people. Steve's little house out in the wilderness, was a place where wayward musicians can come and call home. One of those musicians living at the house, was Marty Schwartz, Steve's friend from his Berklee School Of Music Days. When Steve broke his whammy bar during a gig in the Berklee recital hall, he asked if anyone had a spare rubber band, that's when a faint voice came from audience "I've got one for you Steve!", that was the first time Steve met Marty.
In Steve's backyard, filled with chickens, ducks, and other various farm animals, Steve's first hand built studio, called Stucco Blue, was the birth place of, "Western Vacation". This album was created by Marty, and features a handful of Frank Zappa alumni, including keyboardist Tommy Mars, Vocalist Bob Harris, and Steve Vai, who was listed as the "Reckless Fable" on the 'Western Vacation' track. Other musicians that played on this album were, Chris Frazier on drums, and Jac Mihanovic on bass.
"Western Vacation" takes you on a progressive musical journey with uplifting melodic textures and dynamic musicianship! Bob Harris's voice is as sweet as a red velvet cupcake and the melodies on this record are so delicious. This album has been beautifully re-mastered in the "Audio Laundry Mastering Lab" in Steve's Encino studio, from the original 8 track tapes! This deluxe reissue features a wonderful booklet featuring a essay from Steve Vai and legendary writer and publicist Laurel Fishman.
Listen to "Western Vacation" and see if you can be transported to the idyllic 1980's in Sylmar. "This captures that time and place with those wonderful friends," - Steve Vai.
Performance Track List: 1. Western Vacation, 2. Nocturnal Emissions, 3. Fast Notes People, 4. Send Us More Light, 5. Patty, 6. The Velvet Line, 7. Delicious, 8. Borrowed Time, 9. Burning Flame
> TONY HARNELL VIDEO
