Archive for June 4, 2014

BLACK STAR RIDERS – WELCOME NEW BASS PLAYER ROBBIE CRANE

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, hard rock news, Music, music news, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , on June 4, 2014 by Metal Odyssey

Robbie Crane - Black Star Riders - publicity pic - 2014 - #229

Robbie Crane – photo credit: Nuclear Blast

Marco Mendoza, a founding member of BLACK STAR RIDERS, has decided to pursue other projects after potential conflicts in schedules.

His replacement will be Robbie Crane (formerly of RATT, VICNE NEIL and LYNCH MOB).

Scott Gorham: “I am very sad to see Marco go. We have been together in a band now for almost 20 years and Marco is my brother and we wish him well for the future. It’s an amicable parting of ways and we all respect that Marco wants to do other projects outside of BLACK STAR RIDERS and there just isn’t time to do both.”

Ricky Warwick: “Marco will always be part of the BSR family and a true friend of ours. We are very happy to introduce Robbie Crane to everyone as the new BSR bass player. The guy killed the audition and we can’t wait to get on stage with him on our Euro run starting mid July and then of course, in the studio in the autumn for the recording of the second BLACK STAR RIDERS record.”

Marco Mendoza: “I loved my time in Black Star Riders and want to thank all the fans for making the last year on road so successful. I am sorry to be leaving the band but I feel it’s time for me to pursue other avenues, some of which I have already been working with, all of which I am very excited about. I wish the guys all success in the future and I am very happy that my friend Robbie Crane will continue to blaze with BSR.”

But exciting things are ahead with the addition of veteran bassist Robbie Crane: “I am very excited to be a part of the BLACK STAR RIDERS family. As a long time fan of their music, I am thrilled to be a part of the band”.

BLACK STAR RIDERS – featuring Ricky Warwick – Vocals, Scott Gorham & Damon Johnson, Guitars, Jimmy DeGrasso – Drums and Robbie Crane – Bass) – play the following dates in July and August:

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18.07. UK Holmfirth – Picturedome
19.07. UK Steelhouse Festival – Ebbw Vale
20.07. UK Brighton – Concorde 2
22.07. UK Northampton – Roadmenders
23.07. UK Leicester – Academy
24.07. UK Guildford – G Live
25.07. D Bochum – Zeche
26.07. S Falkenberg – Falkenberg RockFest
27.07. D Berlin – C-Club
29.07. D Munich – Free & Easy / Backstage Werk
30.07. D Saarbrücken – Garage
31.07. D Geiselwind – Bike & Music Weekend
01.08 D Wacken – WOA Festival
02.08. S Rejmyre – Skogsrojet Festival
03.08. S Helsingborg – Tivoli
05.08. UK Preston – 53 Degrees
06.08. UK Buckley – Tivoli
07.08. UK Birmingham – The Asylum
08.08. S Gavle – Getaway Rock Festival
09.08. NO Alesund – Back in the Fields Festival

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The Band then head into the studio to record the follow-up to the 2013 release All Hell Breaks Loose for Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

The album, as yet untitled, will be scheduled for release in February 2015, with European and US tours to follow with other territories the band has not played as yet the first time around.

BLACK STAR RIDERS purchase links for All Hell Breaks Loose can be found here: http://bit.ly/BSR-AHBL

Black Star Riders - band logo - b&w - large

(Source: Nuclear Blast)

* For more info on BLACK STAR RIDERS:

Facebook: Black Star Riders

Website: http://www.blackstarriders.com

Nuclear Blast USA - Logo - promo

USA: http://www.nuclearblastusa.com

Europe: http://www.nuclearblast.de

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LONG LIVE MARCO MENDOZA.

LONG LIVE ROBBIE CRANE.

LONG LIVE BLACK STAR RIDERS.

Stone.

GOD’S ARMY A.D. – Self-Titled Debut Album Is: Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day!

Posted in Heavy Metal, metal music, music news, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on June 4, 2014 by Metal Odyssey

God's Army - promo cover pic - 2014

5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

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GOD’S ARMY A.D. – On May 23rd, the self-titled debut album from God’s Army A.D. was released via Germany’s (great) Massacre Records. With no  religious ties to their music, God’s Army A.D. are a seasoned group of musicians that have let the world know they can play an incredible blend of Melodic, Power and Traditional Metal. That’s what my ears and Metal senses have told me, anyways. Whoa.

If you’re hankering for screaming duo guitars, articulate and soaring vocals, goose-bump inducing drumming with adrenaline fueled bass thumping, this debut from God’s Army A.D. is for you! God’s Army A.D. plays a sound that is bullseye perfect for the BIG venues, with their wide-open feel and vibes on this album. As an unexpected touch, which I really dig, God’s Army A.D. adds a whoa-o chorus, on Waiting For The Miracle. Very cool.

John A.B.C. Smith (Scanner, Gallow’s Pole, Hallowed, At Vance) on vocals is in the same class with Mark Boals, Doogie White, Göran Edman and Blaze Bayley; just a terrific singer he is. Drummer Mark Cross (Kingdom Come, Helloween, Firewind) has an envious resume as well and trust my Metal word: Mark Cross brings it on this album!

Watch and listen to the God’s Must Be Crazy music video, below! Whoa!

There is a (delicious) old school quality of Metal swirling about this album, with Coming Back To Life and Running Around In Circles igniting my Metal memories to easier Metal days. Yes, the Metal relevance is saturated within this album too, with more hooks, riffs and fired-up fret work to make any Heavy Metal loyalist dizzy with Metal glee!

Is this an album that should be  written on your Metal must list for 2014? Hell yes it is! With NO artificial sweeteners, NO ballads or fillers, God’s Army A.D. has made this middle-aged Metal knucklehead into an instant fan. This album simply makes me feel damn good. Metal be thy name. – Stone

Track Listing: The World That Never Was, City Lights, Gods Must Be Crazy, Waiting For The Miracle, Hear You Scream, Coming Back To Life, Running Around In Circles, God’s Army

Gods Army A.D. - promo band pic - 2014 - #44009

John A.B.C. Smith – Vocals, Lead/Rhythm Guitars, Bass, Keys

Don Amiro – Lead/Rhythm Guitars, Vocals

Ian O’Sullivan -Lead/Rhythm Guitars, Vocals

Mark Cross – Drums

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Album cover artwork by ERR KARR.

* For more info on GOD’S ARMY A.D.:

Facebook: God’s Army

Massacre Records - large logo! Red:black:white

Website: http://www.massacre-records.com

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LONG LIVE GOD’S ARMY A.D.

LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL.

Stone.