Formed over a decade ago in Seattle, Washington, “Soulbender” is comprised of Queensrÿche guitarist Michael Wilton, vocalist Nick Pollock (My Sister’s Machine), guitarist Dave Groves (ex-Tin Pan/Fallen Angel) and drummer Wes Hallam (ex-Assault/Fallen Angel).
SOULBENDER II contains four all new songs (Turn Anger Up, Shoal, Slave To Reality, Seraphim) as well as the ten original tracks (remastered) from the first album (Fix Me, Clockwork and Compass, Rabbit Hole, The American Dream, Samsara, Prime Time, Shoot Poem, This Ocean, Hunger, Three Towers). Michael Wilton describes Soulbender as “a very progressive, hard rock band with very intense musicians and a couple of the members are prodigies”. Official release date for Soulbender is September 30, 2014.
Los Angeles, CA – The long-awaited third release from SIXX:A.M., the band comprised of James Michael (vocals), DJ Ashba (guitar) and Nikki Sixx (bass) is entitled MODERN VINTAGE. Produced by James Michael, the album will be available on October 7, 2014 with the first single “Gotta Get It Right” hitting iTunes and radio back on August 5, 2014.
Says bassist Nikki Sixx: “Like our favorite bands from the 1970s, Sixx:A.M. is rooted in songwriting, musicianship and lyrics – three core elements that helped to define that era. Sixx:A.M. has taken even more pages from this book on “Gotta Get It Right” and the rest of Modern Vintage, having hopefully created a record that demands to be discovered again and again.”
The video for “Gotta Get It Right” – directed by Paul Brown – premiered on Vevo, back on August 6, 2014.
Shares vocalist James Michael: “On the first two albums, Sixx:AM established a musical freedom that few bands get to enjoy. “Gotta Get It Right” is clearly a birth child of that creative freedom and an exciting next step for us as our goal was to create something which confounds both expectation and categorization”.
Adds guitarist DJ Ashba: “Gotta Get it Right” is a great example of how Sixx:AM has set out to celebrate the music that has influenced us over the years and we truly feel we’ve made a genre defying album with Modern Vintage ”
MODERN VINTAGE – Tracklisting: 1. Stars, 2. Gotta Get It Right, 3. Relief , 4. Get Ya Some, 5. Let’s Go, 6. Drive , 7. Give Me A Love, 8. Hyperventilate, 9. High On The Music , 10. Miracle, 11. Before It’s Over
SIXX:A.M.’s previous two albums, THE HEROIN DIARIES and THIS IS GONNA HURT – both of which were accompanied by books of the same name – have sold over 600,000 copies and spawned 2 number one radio singles, “Life Is Beautiful” and “This Is Gonna Hurt”.
Long Island, New York: “Ball and Chain” – a pilot track from Pink Velvet Krush, the new band comprised of guitarist Sean Quidgeon (ex Dust N’ Bones), guitarist Greg Polcari (ex Britny Fox, Steelheart), drummer Ryche Green (ex Bulletboys), bassist Steve Rivera (ex Surrender), and vocalist Doug ‘Savage’ Ramey (ex Vaudeville), is now streaming online via their Reverb Nation.
The track is also available for a FREE download from Reverb Nation just for joining the Pink Velvet Krush mailing list.
Pink Velvet Krush also signed with HighVolMusic to a multi-release deal starting with their debut E.P. due this fall.
The band returned from a weekend warrior run of successful shows. “We’ve written about 15 songs and wanted to test the product, see how the set went over in front of people. These shows were a great way to accomplish that. It was also a great way to work out any kinks for the upcoming all original Danger Danger show this Saturday August 30th at Revolution in Amityville, NY. The label still has few tickets left for anyone that may need one.”says bassist Steve Rivera.
Pink Velvet Krush will enter Tropic Digital Studios on Tuesday the 26th to begin recording their debut E.P.
PVK has launched their official website at www.pvkrush.com. More information to follow.
_______________________________________
Stone Says: If Ball and Chain is a taste of what’s to come from the debut E.P. from Pink Velvet Krush, then I am one Hard Rock lovin’, psyched-out son-of-a-bitch! Metal be thy name.
Century Media Records founder, Robert Kampf, has announced the formation of a new record label, Another Century. The label will focus on hard rock and has already signed 3 bands to the roster: Los Angeles rock veterans, Rev Theory, New Zealand’s rising stars, Like A Storm, and Chicago based, The Bloodline. Kampf comments:
Twenty five years after starting Century Media the excitement to do another version of the label could not be any larger. My undying love for rock has driven the formation of this label ANOTHER CENTURY. Over the years great bands like Otherwise and In This Moment have been released on Century Media but sometimes got lost or felt ill mixed among some of the heavier CM bands. Another Century now has a clear path and mission statement: To develop and break the best bands in rock to come!!!
Otherwise is gearing up to release their sophomore album, Peace At All Costs, on September 16 and currently is having massive success with their single, Darker Side of the Moon, http://youtu.be/CHh9YSwZR0U, which is currently #29 on the US Active Rock charts. The album was produced by David Bottrill (Tool, Muse) and mixed by Jay Ruston (Steel Panther). The band is set to hit the road with Like A Storm next month and will be appearing at Sacramento’s Aftershock festival as well as Louisville’s Louder Than Life fest.
Rev Theory, formed in 2002, have sold over half a million albums and are currently wrapping up the recording for their next album. The first single, Born 2 Destroy, is making its way to radio soon. A teaser for the song as well as the single’s artwork can be seen here:
New Zealand’s Like A Storm are the rock world’s 2014 Cinderella story. The band self-released the EP, Chaos Theory: Part I and made their way over to the States touring with the likes of Sick Puppies, Shinedown, Alter Bridge and Creed as well as hit several festivals. The band sent their single, Love The Way You Hate Me, http://youtu.be/4im52LBhWnM to radio and personally called stations to play the track. The song became a hit, soaring up the charts, where it currently is sitting at number 22, making them the US’s highest charting rock band ever from New Zealand. The band will have a new full length out on Another Century on October 28th and are currently on tour now, meeting up with Otherwise next month.
The Bloodline was formed by Shaun Glass (Soil) and feature vocalist Travis Neal (Divine Heresy), guitarist Chuck Wepfer and Frankie Harchut on drums. The Bloodline is currently in the studio recording their debut album and deliver a huge fresh sound in Rock/Metal with massive hooks, soaring melodies and pummeling grooves that will ignite any listeners ears.
After their critically acclaimed debut EP ‘Rising’ appeared in late 2012, Khaøs have released a brand new single entitled ‘After The Silence’. This new single from Khaøs lyrically mirrors the despair of our world today, with some of the catchiest and memorable Hard Rock that I yearn for. ‘After The Silence’ has instantly glued itself to my brain tissue. Seriously, it did. Vocalist Chandler Mogel is a star, while this entire band should take several bows and realize they have the musical skills to go very, very far with their music. Metal be thy name. – Stone
Hard Rock, 80’s Arena and Classic Rock fans should enjoy Khaøs and their sound. Metal fans that dig Joe Lynn Turner, Michael Schenker Group and Hardline are in for a treat. Take a look and listen below! Whoa!
Above music video was directed by the talented Swiss director Can Isik (Beauty of Gemina). The video was shot in a burnt down factory area in Arbon Switzerland.
KHAØS – Studio Lineup:
Chandler Mogel – vocals
Mark Rossi – guitar
Nic Angileri – bass
Trevor Franklin – drums
States the band:
“’After The Silence’ is the anthemic track that kicks off the album. It’s about finding one’s self in a war-torn world and bonding together with like-minded people in order to start a peaceful revolution. We face a lot of difficulties throughout our daily lives and in a world where that seems to be the norm, sometimes the only thing we seem to have is ourselves and what we know.”
‘After The Silence’ was released on July 14th, 2014 and is the first single from the forthcoming full-length album ‘Risen’. The single is digitally available worldwide on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and on all other digital platforms.
Red Fang have a new music video for The Meadows from their recently released EP, Scion A/V Presents Red Fang (http://www.scionav.com/2014/05/06/red-fang-meadows-shadows-download/). The glutinous clip finds the hairy and hilarious metal band putting on their fancy clothes and putting away a herculean amount of food in a super slow motion.
Red Fang released Whales and Leeches in October 2014, with the eleven-song album quickly becoming the band’s best-selling and most critically acclaimed release to date. Alternative Press described the album as “bigger, bolder, heavier, catchier and even more savagely fun,” Stereogum said the release “takes flight and soars,” while Magnet Magazine said Whales and Leeches “is a monumental success – a clear line from Red Fang’s earliest recordings to it latest.”
Baltimore, MD: Saints of Rebellion names Anthony Hitaffer new Drummer.
Saints of Rebellion is excited to introduce the newest member to the band, Anthony Hitaffer. Hitaffer will replace original Saints of Rebellion drummer Ryche Green, who announced his departure from the band in July.
Anthony Hitaffer has performed across the Mid-Atlantic region as the drummer of Baltimore based power-trio Wasabi. Hitaffer cut his teeth as direct support for touring national acts such as The Misfits, Faster Pussycat, Adler’s Appetite, Sponge and Charm City Devils. Wasabi has also performed in several Maryland area festivals, including the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Rock Review Festival, the American Legion Armed Forces Day, Rock Harvest, the Baltimore Art Festival and Phoenix Festival. In December 2012, Wasabi played to a completely sold-out house opening for KIX at their annual Kix-Mas concert at Rams Head Live.
Anthony Hitaffer will be joining his brother, Saints of Rebellion bassist/keyboardist Jay Hitaffer. Together they form a synergetic rhythm section that will serve as the powerful driving force behind the band. “I am thrilled by this decision,” says Jay. “I’ve been playing on stage with Anthony for almost his entire life. Having Anthony on board as SOR’s drummer is a dream come true for me! He’s one of the best drummers I’ve ever worked with. His style and ability will make a huge impact on the colossal bottom end we need to complete our rhythm section. I mean, he’s my brother! You can’t get much tighter than that!”
“I am honored to be playing with SOR,” says Anthony. “I love these songs. I was in the rehearsal space when these songs were coming together, so I’ve been a huge SOR fan since the very beginning. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the band and HighVolMusic for this opportunity. Music is my passion, and I am eager to be on tour playing music for audiences all over the country!”
Saints of Rebellion will be on tour promoting their recent album release, “New American Dream” this summer and fall.
Motörhead Fans!! We’re sailing the high seas alongside ANTHRAX, MEGADETH and MORE! JOIN US for #TheLoudestBoatInTheWorld. It’ll be the experience of a lifetime.
Sailing September 22-26, 2014, on the spectacular Carnival Cruise Lines Ecstasy from Miami to Key West and Cozumel, Mexico, we’ll have dozens of amazing concerts, artist meet and greets, Q&A sessions, wet and wild parties, crazy theme nights and a ship-ton of other fun stuff!
What has inspired me to choose this 1987 music video from the iconic KISS for Stone’s Metal Pick Of The Day, are the lyrics. If you can get past the cheese and sugar-free cola imagery of the video itself, the message is simple: Everybody’s got a reason to live. Too many innocent people are dying in our world today due to wars, gang violence, unrest and hostility. Crippled, sickly children and adults are struggling everyday to live; while their waking up the next day is a personal victory. Homeless people have tales to tell; if only anyone would listen. Ebola is on the loose in Western Africa, with no validated medical cure at hand.
Too much (irrational) emphasis is put on a person’s value to society or their family; based on how high their salary is. Skin color or one’s religious loyalty (or lack thereof) can ignite unspeakable hate crimes and racism. Immigrant has become a four-letter word? Heroine is taking the lives of people around-the-clock. Community food pantries struggle to stay stocked.
Plus, if you factor in the Oregon wife and mother of two toddlers, Jennifer Huston, who went missing on July 24th (later to be found yesterday) twenty-five miles from her home, deceased and outside of her vehicle on a remote dirt road, the meaning and value of life becomes more profound. No one has all the answers to the suffering, still, as a global community, humanity needs to obliterate insanity.
I am not preaching, just stating the facts and venting about what is reality in our world today. Please don’t get depressed from all of this; instead LIVE each day and tell those you love… that you love them. Help a stranger; that same stranger may help you someday. Don’t think about donating to or volunteering for a reputable cause… DO IT!!
What is grand about this video is we can all witness the late and great Eric Carr playing the drums. Now that’s NOT cheese or sugar-free cola at all. I hope you can take in the lyrics and enjoy this music video. Metal be thy name. – Stone
_______________________________________
* Reason To Live was written by Paul Stanley and Desmond Child.
It is Sunday, July 27th, 2014 and after 11:00 pm EST as I write this post. Other than wishing the team members on the Animal Planet reality series Finding Bigfoot would at last find this damn creature, wishing for world peace is probably just as moot. What isn’t uncertain are two forthcoming Hard Rock albums that I’m gonna scrape up some spare change to purchase: KIX – Rock Your Face Off and SKID ROW – Rise Of The Damnation Army/United World Rebellion Chapter Two.
Rock ‘N Roll was, is and will forever be a perfect antidote for dispelling the crappy feelings I get when reading the world AND local news! Metal be thy name, isn’t it true for you!? I truly feel it is GRAND that SKID ROW and KIX are both releasing new studio material on the same day in the USA: August 5th! This will be the second in a series of EP studio releases from SKID ROW, with KIX releasing their first studio album since 1995’s Show Business. However, KIX has been a staple and favorite on the live Hard Rock scene for many a year; their 2012 Live In Baltimore release via Frontiers Records is proof positive of this!
Both bands are legendary for sure. I am just psyched-out that SKID ROW and KIX exist in 2014, while giving their fans and the Hard Rock scene something to really look forward to once again. SKID ROW. KIX. RealDeal Hard Rock. Metal be thy name. – Stone.
As posted on the timeline of the Ted Nugent Facebook, this July 27th:
THE ENERGY is truly miraculous but it is not a mystery where it all comes from. Clean & sober for 66 years fueling the sacred temple with pure American venison forever helps immensely, but it is the spiritual rocketfuel of God, family, country and work that fans the fiery flames of my American Dream. Those that hate me hate all those perfect things. Truly phenomenal. SHUTUP&JAM! 2014 tour is another dream come true because of the unbridled positive spirit, goodwill & overall decency of the good people who support my self-evident truth crusade to take back America from the evil obamagang hellbent on our destruction. ROCKON America! ROCKON!! I SMELL FALL!!!
Pink Velvet Krush is pleased to announce that they will be supporting Danger Danger on Saturday August 30th at Revolution in Amityville, NY. Danger Danger will be performing a 25th Anniversary Reunion Show featuring Ted Poley, Andy Timmons, Steve West, Bruno Ravel, and Kasey Smith. This show is the only U.S. show to feature the original band. Tickets are $20 and available at this location.
August 30th will mark the debut performance for Pink Velvet Krush who recently announced their formation featuring former Bulletboys, Britny Fox, Steelheart and Vaudeville members.
THE KOUNCIL are a Metal/Hard Rock band originating from Allentown (Eastern) Pennsylvania. Fronted by Alex Kristof on vocals (Sinister Realm), these talented musicians make up a supergroup that are currently writing original songs and have captured some potent Heavy Rockin’ chemistry! The Kouncil are currently offering a free download now, on their Facebook page:
Go grab yourself The Gold RoomFreeDownload by clicking the link below! Take Stone’s advice, it ROCKS! Whoa!
PHIL RUDD – The very legendary Phil Rudd, drummer for the iconic AC/DC, will be seeing his first solo album, Head Job, releasing on August 29th, 2014, via Universal Music Australia. I cannot help myself digging-to-the-max, the first single from Head Job: Repo Man. With a healthy dose of AC/DC styled Rock ‘N Roll, Repo Man is a straight-up Rockin’ song that makes me feel damn good! That is why the Repo Man (Official Lyric Video) is Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day! – Stone
CRANK UP SOME REPO MAN, YOU MUTHAS!!
From the About column of Phil Rudd’s Facebook:
Citing influences ranging from Ringo Starr and Free/Bad Company’s Simon Kirk, to Mountain’s Leslie West and bandmates Malcolm & Angus Young, these songs and lyrics are all very special to Rudd and when talking about the release of this album which has had such a long gestation, he said: “I’m very happy for it to finally make its way out there and for people to hear it!”.
The songs were penned primarily by Rudd with the assistance of Allan Badger and Geoffrey Martin – musicians Phil met on the local scene, which he says “turned out to be a great musical partnership”. ‘Badge’ & Martin also perform vocals, guitars & bass on the album, with Rudd sitting in the producer’s seat. The tracks came together over a period of time recorded at several locations including the studio that Rudd built himself not far from his restaurant “Phil’s Place” in Tauranga, New Zealand.
Baltimore, MD: Pink Velvet Krush, the new group formed by musicians with a notable past. The band is made up of drummer Ryche Green (x-Bulletboys, x-Saints of Rebellion), guitarist Greg Polcari (x-Britny Fox, x-Steelheart), vocalist Doug Savage (x-Vaudeville), guitarist Sean Quidgeon (x-Dust N’ Bones) and bassist Steve Rivera (x-Surrender).
Pink Velvet Krush is currently writing new material and will begin recording the yet to be titled debut in August at Tropic Digital in Long Island, NY. Pink Velvet Krush is set to begin rehearsals for a string of dates also scheduled in August which will mark their inaugural performance. The band will perform their new originals as well as pepper in a few songs from their respective past.
Pink Velvet Krush recently launched their Facebook page at this location.
Cinderella guitarist Jeff LaBar’s “One For The Road” was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with long-time friend and noted engineer Ronnie Honeycutt, and mixed & mastered by Chris “The Wizard” Collier (KXM/Lynch Mob/Lita Ford). Jeff’s first solo release entitled “One For The Road” highlights both his songwriting and guitar playing abilities. It is also the first of two, seven song offerings of classic, Hard Rock style material that will be released via Rat Pak Records.
About the album Jeff states: “This record is written about parts of my life since the hay-days of Cinderella… and there is a lot more where that came from!” The song “No Strings” features Tesla’s Troy Luccketta on drums and was mixed by Cinderella drummer Fred Coury. The song “Ode To Page” is Jeff’s acoustic tribute to Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page. Featured tracks include: “No Strings”, “Asking For A Beating”, “Muse”, “Hello Or Goodbye”, “Ode To Page”, “Nightmare on My Street” and “One For The Road”.
Tracks on the CD range from classic, early Cinderella-style Hard Rock, to groove-laden blues rock and really captures the magic and spirit of the genre that Jeff helped create! Official release date is set for August 26,2014.
(Los Angeles, CA) As announced, this August will see long time music legends, and mutual admirers, Jeff Beck and ZZ Top tour together for the first time ever. The tour launches in Missoula, MT on August 8 and will run for five weeks with stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Denver, Detroit, Dallas, Boston and NYC (full itinerary below).
Accompanying Jeff on the road will be Jimmy Hall on Vocals, Rhonda Smith on bass, Jonathan Joseph on drums and Nicolas Meier on guitar. Hall, lead singer for the Southern rock group, Wet Willie, previously joined Beck in 1985 singing lead vocals on Beck’s album, Flash and was nominated for a Grammy award for the performance.
Also, just announced, is the special opening act on this fantastic double bill, 21-year-old Texas guitar prodigy, Tyler Bryant, who has previously opened for Jeff Beck, Aerosmith, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Joe Bonamassa, BB King, Heart and Vince Gill among many others. Bryant will appear on all dates except as noted below.
Formatted with musical synergy in mind, stops along the touring routewill offer fans full Jeff Beck and ZZ Top sets, with a finale that joins the English fret master with the Texas rockers each night of the tour. ZZ Top is touring in support of two new releases this summer including The Very Baddest of ZZ Top, a new compilation from Warner Bros. and Live At Montreux 2013 on DVD and Blu-ray from Eagle Rock Entertainment.
Although groundbreaking with the headliners, this tour is not the first live collaboration between the two camps. Gibbons joined Jeff Beck and his band on stage at the 25th anniversary celebration of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 at New York’s Madison Square Garden, where they performed The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Foxey Lady” and ZZ Top’s hit “Rough Boy” together. The following year Jeff Beck joined ZZ Top in Lucca, Italy for an extended rendition of the band’s signature piece “La Grange.” Remarkably, however, this marks the first time Jeff Beck and ZZ Top are doing any sort of extensive touring together.
THE CULT – I was first introduced to the music of The Cult from Best Metal Buddy Scott Coverdale, back in our college days. The first album (actually cassette) that Coverdale had me listen to from The Cult was 1987’s Electric. That album’s title pretty much sums up how The Cult always came across to me with their Heavy Rock: Electric.
1989 seemed to be the transition year for every Heavy Metal band out there. Grunge was coming in like a stampede and the rest was history. However, The Cult made a HUGE statement with their fourth album Sonic Temple. Two hit songs, Fire Woman and Sweet Soul Sistermade it to Headbangers Ball on MTV, with a damn good rotation at that. It definitely was solidified, through Sonic Temple, that Electric was no fluke and The Cult were no longer a Gothic Rock band; even though Gothic Rock was still swirling about the underground with pride and bushels of fans, in 1989.
I believe Sonic Temple was the breakthrough album for The Cult. The one-two punch of Electric and Sonic Temple took The Cult to an Arena level; there’s just no disputing that. For my ears, the vocals of Ian Astbury have always been powerful and on Sonic Temple there’s no exception. When great guitarists names are mentioned or written about, I seldom hear or see Billy Duffy’s name. I’ll be honest with you, Billy Duffy has always been a top contender and he’s a thrill to listen to on Sonic Temple! Plus… that’s Billy Duffy pictured on the Sonic Temple album cover (above). Ian Astbury is also pictured on the album cover’s foreground.
As a songwriting team, Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy are nothing short of remarkable, in my Metal opinion. Sonic Temple was (and still is) heavy enough to magnetically lure fans of (as examples) Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Scorpions; trust me, I witnessed it with my own eyes. If you’ve never listened to The Cult, I suggest you do. Anyone new to Sonic Temple should be left in awe of the album opener Sun King; while pondering how The Cult can possibly top this song on the remainder of the album. Sonic Temple is nothing short of a true Heavy Rock classic. – Stone
_____________________________
Metal Side Notes:
* Jamie Stewart (bass) and Mickey Curry (drums) were the rhythm section on Sonic Temple. Yes, they nailed it on this album.
* Sonic Temple peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200.
* My idea to revisit Sonic Temple came about from my Metal Buddy Dave; he guessed the song very easily that I played on the jukebox, recently, at our favorite watering hole. Dave being a true fan of The Cult was super pumped to hear Fire Woman blaring loud; it made me very proud.
Above: Front cover for debut album RAMONES, released in 1976 via Sire Records. L to R: Johnny Ramone, Tommy Ramone, Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone.
______________________________
It’s an overcast and humid Sunday morning, here in Southwestern Ohio. There are thunderstorms forecasted for later today, due to the cold front coming in from the Northwest. Reports are that some of these storms may be severe. Whoa. Temperatures are to drop to the lower 70’s for this (early) coming week too. That’s early October in July!
On a somber note, everyone at Metal Odyssey expresses condolences to the family, friends and fans of the legendary Tommy Ramone. At only 65 years of age, Tommy Ramone passed away on July 11th. He was the original drummer for the Ramones and also contributed as a producer and songwriter for the band. Tommy Ramone was the drummer on the first three Ramones studio albums. If there’s a Rock And Roll Heaven, I’m certain the Ramones are now touring up there and making some noise. God bless them all.
On this day in Rock History, the debut and self-titled album from Queen was released back in 1973. What more can be said? The rest truly is iconic Rock History. By the way, I was only seven years old then. Whoa!
Jon Schaffer, (legendary guitarist & founder of ICED EARTH), has recently undergone neck surgery. Below is Jon Schaffer’s latest update and good news on his situation, as posted on the ICED EARTH Facebook page:
Hello friends,
I’m writing to let you know that I made it through the surgery and am steadily on the road to recovery. The surgeon informed us that everything went smooth during the operation and that I should be back in action within a few months.
Thank you all very much for your support, you truly are the best fans any band could ask for.
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.