Recently OVER A BARREL, who feature Luca Cocconi (THE MODERN AGE SLAVERY, BROWBEAT) and Imer Bigi (ex-DARK LUNACY) in their ranks, announced the release of their debut album “Self-Inflicted Wounds” due on March 18th 2022.
Today the band unveils the second single ‘Dripping Blood’, accompanied by a guitar playthrough video recorded by the guitar player Luca Cocconi at his Audiocore Studio.
“This is a mid-tempo song featuring Swedish death metal riffs. It’s perfect to headbang hard!”, comments the band.
In the year of the Covid19-pandemic, when the world was forced into a lockdown, two old friends joined their forces into a brand new band. OVER A BARREL are driven by the passion for extreme music. The result is a fast, powerful, raw and brutal album. “Self-Inflicted Wounds”, was recorded, mixed and mastered by Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi at Audiocore Studio in Parma (Italy).
Careless of the latest trends, this album came out very naturally. “No limits during the composition phase, just focus on what we liked and sounded good. There is some kind of unspoken agreement between us: be 100% into our music and approaching creative sessions with open minds. This is our essence put into very simple words”, comments the band.
The track listing for “Self-Inflicted Wounds” reads as follows: 01. Woland (intro) 02. No Warnings No Signs 03. Over A Barrel 04. Pain Inflicted To Yourself 05. Distrusted Victims 06. Dripping Blood 07. Turning Point 08. Cyberwaste (FEAR FACTORY cover)
Los Angeles’ groundbreaking pioneers of the rap/hardcore hybrid and outspoken sociopolitical activists, DOWNSET, have officially joined forces with the heaviest label in the business Nuclear Blast Records and are currently plotting one of the genres greatest comebacks. To mark the occasion, the band has partnered with the label to reissue the controversial demos that helped ignite a street led movement around the world, “Anger/Ritual” 7″ and “About Ta Blast” 7″, which were initially released 30 years ago.
Commenting on the signing to Nuclear Blast, founding guitarist Rogelio Lozano says:
“Being signed to Nuclear Blast is a big honor for me. It’s a great organization/record label and working with the people there has been nothing but pleasant, professional experience. Nuclear Blast is the #1 heavy metal label in the world with so many great bands and amazing album releases. It gives my band and me the feeling of being a part of something special. We feel right at home, excited and look forward into the re-release of the first two original 7” records as a reissued bundle, as well as our forthcoming 6th album!
Look out for a mix of old school sound and 12 songs featuring the new era of downset in 2022. With our new lineup, Bobby Blood Ponte on drums, Phillip Gonzales on bass, myself on Guitar and OG Rey Oropeza on vocals, we plan on continuing the legacy with future albums to come. WE ARE BACK!!”
Additionally, DOWNSET has revealed a new music video today for the bonus demo track “Breed The Killer,” that features vintage live footage of them performing the song. Watch the video here:
“About Ta Blast” 7″ Tracklisting: 1. About Ta Blast (Demo) 2. Body Cry (Demo) 3. Breed The Killer (Demo)
Monumental progress doesn’t occur overnight. Some of man kind’s most powerful words don’t come from education or privilege, but erupt from the pain and roughness of the streets; they smolder through the cracks in the concrete until eventually grand truths are revealed, and the winds of change slowly emerge. It is with these notions in mind that old school Hardcore Kings DOWNSET began to surface in Los Angeles, California in the early 1980’s.
The genesis of DOWNSET itself was not one of entitlement or handouts, either. Originally formed with a straight edge mentality under the name of SOCIAL JUSTICE, the members of DOWNSET have been fighting against societal injustice for a long time. Founder and vocalist Rey Oropeza began using graffiti as its own language for change in about 1982. “I would hit the streets… and when you hit the streets there’s violence, there’s racial injustice; it’s not just violence in the sense of someone pulling out a gun on someone else, there’s a violence that can happen to anybody, you can be rich, poor, male, female… and these things affect people for the rest of their lives,” he explains. The group eventually released demos and shifted from SOCIAL JUSTICE to DOWNSET. “It has multiple meanings,” explains guitarist and producer Rogelio Lozano (CYPRESS HILL, POWERFLO). “Some people are set up in life, some are down with a set, but it also means to start off underprivileged; to have a life full of disadvantages.” All of these notions and inspirations eventually procured a self-titled studio album that was released in 1994 via Mercury Records.
A musical style that was distinctly hardcore combined with Oropeza’s MC abilities allowed DOWNSET to stand out from other metal acts, while still being able to achieve a variety of tours with some of the most prominent bands of the time. After member rearrangements, and the 1996 release of “Do We Speak A Dead Language,” the band went on to join the original “TATTOO THE EARTH” tour in 2000 with the likes of SLAYER, SEPULTURA, MUDVAYNE and more. This all coincided perfectly with the release of “Check Your People,” and once again the band was on the hustle.
With more member changes and the release of “Universal” a few years later in 2004, followed up by self-released “One Blood” in 2014, the band continued on hiatus. Now seven years later in 2022, DOWNSET have officially returned to the scene and have signed a record deal with the world’s leading metal label: Nuclear Blast Records. The new year will hold colossal announcements as far as new music, touring, and more. The future of society remains to be seen, but the future of DOWNSET has been carved in the stone of the streets for decades.
DOWNSET Lineup: Rey Oropeza | Vocals Rogelio Lozano | Guitar Phillip Gonzales | Bass Bobby Blood | Drums
WICKED lives for rock n’ roll. The kind that lights a fire in your blood and puts that crazy in your eyes! And the proof is certainly within their new album, ‘The Last American Rock Band,’ which will be available in various formats (CD, vinyl and all digital & streaming services) on March 11, 2022. And the same day, the band will be performing an album release party at Photo City Music Hall in Rochester, New York. New merch and music will be available at the show.
Also, a teaser for the upcoming video “Hot Stage Lights” can be viewed:
Band members Danny, Chad Michael, Scotty V and Gunnar make up the rock n’ roll brotherhood that has become known as WICKED, hailing from Rochester, NY. ‘The Last American Rock Band’ is a celebration of the songs, stages, and fans that have made the band who they are over the years and brings a melodic hard rock mix of fan favorites, as well as a couple never heard before tracks, all produced by 6x Grammy-winning producer Ignacio Molino.
The album is the perfect representation of what the band has become known for over the years; a high energy, theatrical hard rock act, built on delivering an over-the-top live show with bombastic songs, and is high energy rock n’ roll built on the classics and inspired by the now.
“Making this album became a drinking game between who’s guitar had to be tuned the most times.” -Scotty V
“It was such a rush to finally get these tracks recorded and released with just the right production, bringing a whole new life to them for our fans.” -Gunnar
“I’m so excited to finally get this music to our fans. We’re living with our hearts on our sleeves and not looking back. This is only the beginning of honest to god, WICKED rock n’ roll!” -Chad Michael
“‘The Last American Rock Band’ is the perfect celebration of the band’s past and an exciting turning point for a new era of WICKED rock n roll to follow!” -Danny
Let’s raise a glass to the past with ‘The Last American Rock Band’. This one’s for the OG fans! Get ready, WICKED has only just begun!
Few would dispute that the title of Trower’s latest album – No More Worlds To Conquer – is a fair summary of the thumbprint he has left on the musical universe. But as he reminds us, it should not be misinterpreted as his mission being accomplished. “I definitely feel like I’m still reaching,” he considers, “with the guitar, and the songs, and everything else.”
For more than six decades, Robin Trower’s career has known no bounds. At the age of 76, the British guitarist can reflect on a journey in which he has planted flags across the musical sphere and played every role imaginable. He’s been the driving force behind Sixties icons Procol Harum. The transatlantic solo star who filled US stadiums with 1974’s Bridge Of Sighs. The collaborator and occasional supergroup member. The elder-statesman songwriter whose late period still crackles with invention.
Featuring vocals and bass from the late Jim Dewar – along with jaw-dropping guitar work from Trower that has influenced everyone from Steve Lukather to Opeth – the US-gold-selling Bridge Of Sighs is perhaps his flagship album.
“With every album, it’s the best I can do at that particular time. I think that’s what it’s about. I set myself goals and each song has to live up to them,” he reflects .
“What usually happens is that I’m playing the guitar for fun and an idea will suddenly appear,” he continues. “Then you’re looking for a lyric that grows out of the music and enhances the mood. it’s lovely when you’ve gone right the way through from the beginning of the first little guitar idea that grows into a song and eventually you get a track down and finished – and it’s something like how you heard it in your head.”
Turning once again to his trusty toolkit of Fender Stratocaster and Marshall amp, Trower’s guitar work is ageless, whether that’s the tough chop of Ball Of Fire, Losing You and Cloud Across The Sun, or the slower-burn wah squalls of the title track and Deadly Kiss. “Each track has to work as a sound,” he says, “as well as music and everything else. I’m very particular over guitar tones. I drive people mad, but in the end, it’s worth all the aggravation.”
On Waiting For The Rain To Fall, Trower’s playing is crystalline as a dew drop, while the aching finale, I Will Always Be Your Shelter, offers a solo whose masterful touch is compelling as anything in his catalogue. “That’s a real high point for the playing,” he nods. “And Waiting For The Rain To Fall, I think is influenced by Tamla Motown. It’s a bit left-of-centre for me to do a song like that. But I think it’s potent stuff. I’m hoping this album will surprise people.”
Once again, Trower also handles bass duties, but as a lifelong servant of the song over his own ego, he didn’t hesitate to enlist other musicians. “Chris Taggart is on drums,” he explains. “He’s a wonderful drummer, and he’s done the last three or four albums. And I started to realise, after I’d tried to sing these songs myself, that I wasn’t vocally up to it. Richard Watts has done a great job on vocals. He’s got a fantastic instrument – such a soulful singer – and he’s willing to get it exactly how I’m hearing it in my head. The other great thing about having Richard is that there’s quite a few songs on this album that I wouldn’t be able to play and sing live at the same time.”
Yet Trower also addresses the contemporary problems in front of him. “There’s three or four songs there that cover what I’m thinking about. The Razor’s Edge and Cloud Across The Sun, those are definitely about my dissatisfaction with the politicians of the day, pointing the finger at the ones that don’t keep their promises. But then, with Deadly Kiss, the lyric is someone talking to a friend who has become a junkie. There’s broken-hearted songs. There’s love songs. “
“It was difficult, but I’m glad I did it,” he considers. “This album is an evolution. I’m hoping that’s what is always happening with my music. There’s a huge step between Bridge Of Sighs and now. It’s like anything. The more you work on it, in theory, the better you should be at it. And I definitely feel like this album is one of the best things I’ve ever done.”
BOMBER ALLEY are following up from their well received sleezy hard rock tune “We Get By” with an amazingly slick cover version of Def Leppard’s classic song “Lady Strange”. The song was produced by Dee Snider’s solo band drummer & producer, Nicky Bellmore at Dexters Lab Recording in Milford, CT, (recording home for Hatebreed, Jasta, Dee Snider, Dead By Wednesday & many more!). It will once again be released on the newly formed label Mindsnap Music / Von Artists, Ltd. via The Orchard. Available to stream and download digitally world wide everywhere today!
Bomber Alley’s version of “Lady Strange” will also be licensed and put out on an official Def Leppard tribute album coming out soon on FnA Records.
Here’s what Russell Pzütto, bassist of Dee Snider’s solo band had to say about playing on this track…. “Bomber Alley definitely delivered for their rendition of “Lady Strange “an old favorite of mine ! It was my pleasure to throw down bass tracks and add the bottom end to the song!”
“Bomber Alley’s all about that old-school vibe, and this Lady Strange cover is a testament to that! Shredding through a modern take on such a nostalgic sound and style with these dudes is a total blast!” adds Nick Petrino – Guitarist (Dee Snider band).
BOMBER ALLEY, reminiscing the early Gn’R era sound & attitude, is lead by long time LA sleeze rocker and well known drum tech, Talon Blaque, who stated, “I’m super stoked on the music we are writing & creating & also excited of what the future holds for Bomber Alley. Working with Opus of Dead By Wednesday‘s new label venture Mindsnap Music / Von Artists, Ltd. finally feels like we have a solid home for our awesome music that will actually get out there. They will take the time to nurture us & understand music unlike many other hit & run labels out there only looking for a quick buck. Tons of cool things to come including some tour dates TBA as well so please stay tuned!!”
Stay tuned for a follow up Bomber Alley tune and EP in early 2022 coming out on Mindsnap Music / Von Artists, Ltd. via The Orchard!
RIOT ACT have released the second video “Stand Or Fall” from debut album “Closer To The Flame” which is released April 1st in UK/Europe and April 15th in the USA via Global Rock Records.
View “Stand Or Fall” below.
The highly anticipated debut album from Riot Act, the band initially formed by former ‘classic era’ Riot members Rick Ventura and Lou Kouvaris is titled “Closer To The Flame” which is sure to please fans of the late 70s, early 80’s era of Riot as well as fans of Montrose, Rival Sons, The Black Crowes, Tesla and fans of classic hard rock everywhere.
The album will also come with a 12 track bonus CD of classic Riot tracks recut, these recordings feature the final ever recordings of Lou Kouvaris, who tragically passed away of Covid19 in early 2020.
Riot Act features former Riot guitarist Rick Ventura, Don Chaffin vocals, Paul Ranieri bass and Claudio Galinski drums.
The band offer the following statement:
Guitarist Rick Ventura:Hoping to make some noise with our new video “Stand or Fall”, a good ol’ rocker that basically tells you to stand up for what you believe in or be cast off into the ether
Vocalist Don Chaffin: Very excited to release the new “Stand or Fall” video, this one has some elements that remind me of AC/DC and the The Cult….straight ahead rock that makes you want to move and still has that Riot Act signature sound to it …. and yes, of course more cowbell!
Full details of the debut album “Closer To The Flame” below:
1 Closer To The Flame 2 Wanted 3 Straight For Your Heart 4 Smoking Gun 5 Almost There 6 Stand Or Fall 7 Love Come Round 8 Angelina 9 Right Between The Eyes 10 Rock Love And Roll
“Riot Act’s new album is a culmination of emotions over the past two years. From the excitement of our early rehearsals, to the loss of our band mate, struggling through a pandemic and not knowing if we were going to continue, the four of us knew that the band had much to offer. The result of that renewed energy is “Closer To The Flame” and with joining forces with Global Rock Records we are ready for the world to hear this new music we have been working on for so long. Our very good friends and brothers in in Riot V of course continue their evolution of Riot onward, While as Riot Act we aim to recapture the early Riot sound of the 1977-1983 band and bringing that into a new era with our new music. Further illustrating that “Riot members of all eras are family” Riot V guitarist Mike Flyntz is a special guest on the record, laying down a killer solo on the track “49er” a re-recording of the Riot – Narita era classic.
Riot Act will be touring the UK as support to Lillian Axe in the UK throughout August 2022.
Riot Act performed at the Heavy Metal Hall Of Fame in 2020. Rick and Lou were inducted as Riot members in 2018.
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Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
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