NEWSDESK, 12th May 2010
> JOHN NORUM BRINGS YOU THE BLUES
Mascot Records is pleased to announce the July 5th UK release date of Play Yard Blues – the long-awaited new studio album from Europe guitarist John Norum.
Following Europe’s critically acclaimed '09 album Last Look At Eden, Play Yard Blues is Norum’s seventh solo release, featuring seven original tracks and three inspired covers, including Thin Lizzy’s 'It’s Only Money', Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush’s 'Ditch Queen' and Mountain’s 'Travellin’ in the Dark'.
The new album sees Norum take his guitar playing in a new direction. While his trademark sound and distinctive style remains, Play Yard Blues embodies a bluesy rock vibe and a more soulful approach. Recorded in Stockholm, Play Yard Blues was mixed and produced by John Norum; the album features his long-standing Europe band mate Mic Michaeli (keyboards).
Track listing: Let It Shine, Red Light Green High, It’s Only Money, Got My Eyes On You, When Darkness Falls, Over and Done, Ditch Queen, Travel In The Dark, Born Again, Play Yard Blues
> NEW HALCYON WAY TRACK
Atlanta progressive metal band Halcyon Way have released a new track that is available for streaming from their MySpace page (http://www.myspace.com/halcyonway).
The track, 'The Age of Betrayal', is the second to be released from the band's highly anticipated upcoming album, Building The Towers. It features the debut of new vocalist Steve Braun (Ashent, Siloam), as well as a guest appearance by Pamela Moore of Queensryche fame.
The album was produced by Lasse Lammert (Alestorm, Svartsot) and guitarist Jon Bodan. Drums were engineered by Mike Froedge (doubleDrive, Bloodsimple, Speed X) at Open Sky Studios in Atlanta. Lammert is mixing the album at his studio, LSD-Tonstudio in Germany.
The album is currently scheduled for a summer 2010 release.
> GODSTICKS BRING YOU GODSTICKS
Godsticks is a unique 3-piece progressive-rock band from South Wales, UK, combining the vocal/guitar/piano talents of Darran Charles, the bass talents of Jason Marsh, and the expertise of long-time session-drummer Steve Roberts.
Their love of various musical styles including prog-rock, fusion, rock, and pop have been melded together to create their own style – one that has been described as progressive rock fused with a heavy funk.
Initially a cover band performing complex progressive music, Godsticks began to immerse themselves in writing new material and developing their own unique song formats – borne out of a desire to create song arrangements they wanted to hear, but that were never present in the music of their influences.
"Creative, ambitious, well played; it's what we should all aspire to artistically" Mick Taylor, Editor (Guitarist Magazine)
”Lots of inventive turns of phrase, clever arpeggios, and other little touches combine with the jazzish grooves and hooky melodies to keep things interesting.” Barry Cleveland, (Guitar Player Magazine)
> CIRKUS VIDEO
http://www.myspace.com/cirkusmusic
> JOE SATRIANI UK TOUR
Joe Satriani, one of rock music’s most renowned electric guitarists, undertakes a six date UK tour from Sunday 17th October.
Tickets go on sale from Friday May 14th and can be purchased from the National Credit Card Hotline - 0844 888 9991 or http://www.ticketline.co.uk/. Very special guest is the critically acclaimed Belfast-based blues guitarist Simon McBride. The tour coincides with the release of Satriani’s 11th studio album.
Dates:
Manchester Apollo - Sunday 17th October
Bristol Colston Hall - Monday 18th October
London HMV Hammersmith Apollo - Tuesday 19th October
Newcastle City Hall - Thursday 21st October
Glasgow Clyde Auditorium - Friday 22nd October
Birmingham Symphony Hall - Saturday 23rd October
Photo credit Christie Goodwin
Joe Satriani has been a worldwide guitar hero since his 1987 breakthrough album, Surfing With The Alien. Over 10-million albums and CD’s later, in addition to 14 Grammy nominations and numerous accolades Joe continues to push the envelope of modern rock guitar playing.
Although he originally started his career by teaching some of the top rock guitar players of the '80s and '90s like Metallica’s Kirk Hammet and virtuoso Steve Vai, Joe Satriani is universally hailed as one of the most technically accomplished and respected guitar players in the history of rock music. Satriani, who cites Jimi Hendrix as a major influence, quickly established his reputation as one of rock’s most important guitarists.
In 2009 Satriani teamed up with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony of Van Halen plus Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) to form Chickenfoot. Their debut album became a global hit and received gold awards in the US, Canada and Europe, while Classic Rock Magazine voted them Best New Band of 2009.
> THE NAUGHTY BOYS WIN...
From the Naughty Boys:
We gladly announce that we WON! Fucking unbelievable, WE WON! Naughty Boys is officially confirmed to play at Nordic Rock 2010!
We in the band wanna send a BIG THANK YOU to all of you who voted for us! So again – THANK YOU!
We had over 2000 votes *smile* so to all of you who forwarded the “vote e-mail” to friends or contacts, please also forward this; we wanna show our gratitude to all that helped us get this opportunity!
So on May the 29th at 9pm, Naughty Boys enter the Nordic Rock stage! 45min before Skid Row and 2 hours before Europe! (Hallelujah)
http://www.nordicrock.se/naughtyboys.cfm
> EISREGEN DO THE CHARTS
German masters of the macabre Eisregen have topped their career! With their new masterpiece Schlangensonne the East German heroes have reached # 27 in the official German album charts. This is not only the first top 30 ranking in their career but also the highest entry in Massacre history! Congratulations!!!
> MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCHARGES THE RANGE
Monster Energy is proud to hit the "Heart of it All" at the 4th Annual Rock on the Range, taking place once again in the confines of Crew Stadium, on May 22nd & 23rd.
This year's ROTR bill is the who's who of the hard rock kingdom as headliner's Rob Zombie, Godsmack, a re-formed Limp Bizkit and the debut of rock icon Slash and his band are joined by heavy hitters Mastodon, Deftones, Puddle of Mudd, and Helmet to name but a few.
The Monster Energy main stage will host the aforementioned festival headliners plus Rise Against, Seether, Papa Roach, the eclectic Apocalyptica as well as Bullet for My Valentine and many more.
In addition to presenting the headlining bands, Monster Energy will have their famed hospitality area in full effect to give crowds a chance to sample cold cans of Monster Energy and if the stars align, meet some of the bands rocking the weekend.
For those that like to claim their turf early, Monster Energy will be handing out a whole lot of the crowd pleasing Monster Energy Java. This will be distributed to the hard core fans that beat the morning clock.
Over 38 bands, 6 stages, 48 hours, 50,000 attending and Monster Energy will be in the middle of all of it supporting the music that continues to bring out the beast in all of us.
http://www.rockontherange.com/
