Metal legends FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have debuted a video for “Brace For Impact,” the third single from the band’s blistering fourteenth studio album, Blood In The Water.
Scheduled for release on June 4 via AFM Records, Blood In The Water is unarguably the Arizona-based quintet’s finest, hardest-hitting release to date. After spending most of the past year in a pandemic-induced holding pattern, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM made the best of a struggling situation and let their angst-ridden creative juices flow, resulting in the twelve crushing tracks that comprise Blood In The Water.
“We knew we had to come out strong after ‘The End of Chaos,’” says drummer Ken K Mary. “I’m not sure we really believed we could deliver. Those fears, it turns out, were unfounded. The events around us just poured fuel on the creative fires. I’m very proud of this album and the band.”
Adds guitarist Michael Gilbert,“We weren’t really sure what we had left in the tank, as we put so much work, sweat and blood into the ‘Chaos’ album. As it turns out, we had plenty to say. With everything that’s happened in the world, the friends we lost this last year, and not being able to perform or tour… you hear all of that in our music. It’s angry, it’s aggressive, and our emotions pour out all over this album.”
The band has already backed up these statements with Blood In The Water’s first two singles, “Burn The Sky” and the album’s title track, the latter of which sees the return of Flotzilla, the creature that graced the group’s 1986 debut Doomsday for the Deceiver, in an updated and even more menacing form throughout its lyric video.
“FLOTSAM AND JETSAMhave been working very hard for many years, and the strength and energy of this band just keeps getting more forceful,” says guitarist Steve Conley.“This is our new theme song… we’re hoping this is the album that gets us to where we want to go…and we smell ‘Blood In The Water’ this time.”
Blood In The Water was mixed and mastered by Jacob Habsen (U.D.O., Volbeat, Amaranthe, Powerwolf), who also worked on the band’s 2019 album, The End of Chaos, and will be available in several configurations.
Three and a half decades since their landmark debut – still the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazineKerrang!– Blood In The WatersetsFLOTSAM AND JETSAMup to finally shed the “most under-rated metal band on the planet” tag and lay claim to the thrash metal throne.
Thrash and Speed Metal icons FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have seen many of their peers that started at the same time, including Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, and Venom have their day in the sun. Considered in metal circles as “legendary”, the mighty FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, over their long career, has seemed somewhat plagued by label snafu’s, changes in trends, or other unfortunate events. On album number fourteen, and without a doubt making the best music of their career, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM finally smells blood in the water this time around. Slated for a release on June 4, 2021 through AFM Records, Blood In The Water literally shreds the listener’s ears and pummels FLOTSAM AND JETSAM’s message into the hearts of the most diehard metal fans, the album must be heard to be believed. Featuring twelve brutal and powerful tracks that will rip your head off, the outstanding guitar work of Michael Gilbert and these killer vocals by Eric AK – one of the most gifted metal singers in music history – FLOTSAM AND JETSAM‘s Blood In The Water will see the band deliver one of their heaviest records to date!
With the unveiling of the previously-released single “Burn The Sky”, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM gave a first and impressive sneak peak of their forthcoming album. Now, the thrash heavy weights have unleashed the thunderous album opener and title track with a brand new video! “Blood In The Water” let’s you know right off that these guys aren’t messing around as the song comes screaming out of the speakers with a frenzied rhythm section, these passionated vocals by AK and guitars blazing on ten! Watch the new FLOTSAM AND JETSAM video for “Blood In The Water” right here:
“This last year was a very different year for many of us, and we will say that the tragedy and difficulty had an impact on this song and this new album.” Says drummer Ken Mary. “”Blood In The Water” is one of the most aggressive Flotsam songs ever, but that wasn’t planned. We just tried to pour everything we were feeling into each song. We didn’t want to analyze it or qualify it, and we just let the song be what it was going to be. What you’re hearing is the result of what I’d say is the closest you can get to looking at the inside of Flotzilla’s brain!”
It’s been 35 years since FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, formed in Phoenix, Arizona released their landmark debut, “Doomsday For The Deceiver”, the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang! Bassist Jason Newsted would jump ship to Metallica while the band released the unstoppable “No Place for Disgrace” in 1988. “Cuatro” (1992), “Drift” (1995), “High” (1997), and “My God” (2001) all still rank extremely high in heavy metal circles. But it was the first part of this unofficial trilogy in 2016’s self-titled FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, followed by the the crushing 2019- successor, “The End Of Chaos”, that a certain rejuvenation and reset was clearly felt. Fast-forward five years to a planet that was forced to its knees: While spending most of the past year in a holding pattern like the rest of the world, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM made the best of a struggling situation and just let those creative juices and angst flow. What emerged was twelve brand new blistering tracks under the moniker Blood In The Water.
“We really had a hell of a time figuring out which songs to actually include in this album, because we don’t feel we had any fillers,” describes Steve Conley about the new songs clocking in at nearly 55 minutes of thrashing glory.
Says singer Eric “AK” Knutson, “We’ve seen our fan base increasing, and we’ve seen the response to the last two albums getting louder and louder. We have some of the most committed and crazy fans in the world. We charted higher on our last album than at any point in our career. Maybe our career path will run similar to Motorhead’s, who although was always considered iconic, didn’t really break through in a big way until later in their career. We feel our time is now…” says AK. “We’re like that dog that’s been kicked…we’re ready to break the door down and take what’s ours.”
And the FLOTSAM lineup has never been stronger. AK keeps bringing the magic every album and tour, and oddly seems to be getting better and better as time goes on. He’s backed by the incredibly talented, exceptionally brilliant guitar duo of co-founder Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, the powerful, precise and lightning fast engine of drummer Ken Mary, (whose Hall of Fame resume includes over five million albums sold with artists such as Alice Cooper, House Of Lords, and Accept), and the “fresh blood” and extraordinary technical skills and prowess of bassist Bill Bodily.
No filler, all killer, Blood In The Water was once again mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (U.D.O., Volbeat, Amaranthe, Powerwolf) and sees FLOTSAM AND JETSAM exploding with creativity, moving forward but nodding to their past.
The band has come a long way from the kids that stepped onto the world stage with their first album in 1986, but the one thing that has never been in question since that day is their dedication to their fans, their incredible talent, and relentless pursuit to produce their best music ever.
“Following up ‘The End of Chaos’ was no easy task.” Guitarist Michael Gilbert adds. “We weren’t really sure what we had left in the tank, as we put so much work, sweat, and blood into that album. As it turns out, we had plenty left to say. With everything that’s happened in the world, the friends we lost this last year, and not being able to perform or tour… you hear all of that in our music. It’s angry, it’s aggressive, and our emotions pour out all over this album.”
Album Tracklist: 01. Blood In The Water 02. Burn The Sky 03. Brace For Impact 04. A Place To Die 05. The Walls 06. Cry For The Dead 07. The Wicked Hour 08. Too Many Lives 09. Grey Dragon 10. Reaggression 11. Undone 12. Seven Seconds ‘Til The End Of The World
Blood In The Water will be out on June 4 through AFM Records and available as highly collectable Vinyl and CD editions as well as Digital formats. Pre- order your album copy at THIS LOCATION!
Arizona’s iconic thrashers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have released a brand new song and video clip, taken from their forthcoming album, Blood In The Water, which will be out on June 4, 2021 via AFM Records!
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM belong to one of THE most distinctive and leading bands of their genre, influencing the heavy speed and thrash metal scene since decades. Following their crushing 2019- successor, The End Of Chaos, their new single “Burn The Sky” proves this album will, too. Featuring twelve brutal and powerful tracks that will rip your head off, the outstanding guitar work of Michael Gilbert and these killer vocals by Eric A.K. – without any doubt one of the best singers in metal – FLOTSAM AND JETSAM‘s Blood In The Water will see the band deliver one of their heaviest records to date!
But give ear, as FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have just released a first single and video for “Burn The Sky”. Says frontmanEric A.K.: “While we were in the process of selecting which songs we would use for the album’s videos, ‘Burn The Sky’ was the only one that was on everyone’s lists consistently. This track has some guitar work by Mike and Steve that are second to none.”
Watch the brand new clip for “Burn The Sky” here:
We really had a hell of a time figuring out which songs actually include in this album, because we don’t feel we have any fillers.”Guitarist Michael Gilbert comments.
Evolving over the last albums to a much heavier sound of the band, he continues:“I don’t want anyone feeling we are getting fucking old. As long as we continue doing this, we are gonna bring it. Our sound changed through the years influenced by many factors, but what you are listening to now is who we are and will continue to be.”
Once again Blood In The Water was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (U.D.O., VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, POWERWOLF). The tracklist will read as follows:
01. Blood In The Water 02. Burn The Sky 03. Brace For Impact 04. A Place To Die 05. The Walls 06. Cry For The Dead 07. The Wicked Hour 08. Too Many Lives 09. Grey Dragon 10. Reaggression 11. Undone 12. Seven Seconds ‘Til The End Of The World
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM‘s new album will be out on June 4 through AFM Records and available as highly collectable Vinyl and CD editions as well as Digital formats. The album pre-sale has just started at THIS LOCATION!
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice recently spoke to Flotsam and Jetsam‘s guitarist Michael Gilbert and lead vocalist Eric ‘A.K.’ Knutson at club Foufounes Electrique in Montreal, Quebec Canada on May 26 2019.
Watch the interview here:
When asked about status of a new studio album, timeline and musical direction
“The guys wrote like 40 something songs for the last record, so we’ve got a lot of bits and pieces we can steal from for a new record. We’ve already got two or three songs that are good and solid that we’re working on, there’s no lack of music for a new record, so it should together come pretty quickly. In terms of timeline I don’t think it will be longer than a year or close to that but it all depends on how stupid I am when it comes to writing lyrics or how many times I have to rewrite a song you know? Like I said we’ve got so much music to choose from already that it should go pretty quick,” A.K.
“In terms of musical direction the Chaos album kind of bled over into the power metal thing, I don’t know how we did that being a speed metal band a thrash band? I think the next album it’s gonna get much heavier. The new stuff that Steve and I are writing and what he’s putting on is gonna be fucking heavy as shit.” Michael Gilbert
When asked about memories pros and cons of recording their classic debut album Doomsday for the Deceiver
I was 17 years old so it was the summer time so I left high school to join the band. Most of the music kind of was pre-written and ready, that’s the thing back in those days when you would go into a two-inch tape studio session you had all your shit together, you did it all and you were out. You had a certain allotted time, we don’t have to do that these days you know we have home studios we have four Studios between all of us so it’s really on our time instead of the record labels time. Super tough timeline and very stressful when you’re doing the guitar parts between 1:30 and 3:30am ” Michael Gilbert
I was Superman back then, I could do everything in one take vocal wise. I remember having a lot of fun. I remember that Jason Newsted ended up in jail at the time but I don’t even remember why? Jason was in West Hollywood jail and we had to get him out. First time in a big recording studio so we were all kind of kind of star dazed and like oh we’re gonna make it you know we’re gonna be a big thing. ” A.K.
When asked about their touring memories in the early days with Mercyful fate and King Diamond
First time I met King he was in his hotel room cross-legged on the floor with candles burning around and doing some kind of you know meditation thing, and he says come on in. He was really wasn’t doing what I thought he was doing like praying to Satan or something I don’t know what I thought he was doing but he’s just super sweet guy super cool to work with. Later on we did the whole Them tour with King Diamond, it was that was a crazy tour. I remember a lot of that one, we did 90 shows with them I think something like that, it was ridiculous.” A.K.
When asked what it was like touring with Megadeth on the Peace Sells tour
It’s weird walking out onto a stage in front of 9,000 people like it was early on in our career , that’s a lot of people you know it’s pretty surreal and then to see Dave Mustaine walking around stage you know it’s like it was just fucking cool man. ” Michael Gilbert
“Dave Mustaine is a good guy but a hit and miss. I remember we opened up for them in our hometown and I was messing with Dave backstage before the show and to get me back he got up on stage and gave everyone my address and told them that’s where the party is after the show. So there was 3,000 people at my house and Dave and are locked in my bedroom and there’s people pounding on the doors. 3,000 people tearing my house apart because of Dave. Thanks Dave.” A.K.
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to FLOTSAM AND JETSAM singer Eric “A.K.” Knutson, guitarists Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley at this years NAMM show 2019. The band spoke about the lyrical themes behind some of their songs on their new album The End of Chaos as well as the possibility on releasing a live album in the future.
Watch the interview here:
When asked singer Eric “A.K.” Knutson about the lyrical theme on some of the songs
Slowly Insane- My career, basically we have been slowly going insane for a long time, so that one fits
Demolition man- We all used to do construction one time of another to keep ourselves alive and I was trying to think of something for that song/ tearing things apart seemed to kind of fit making dust and rumble out of what once was something.
The End- That is basically the more you look around the more you watch the news you can see the end of the world kind of going on and if we don’t do something about it we are going to be screwed.
Snake Eye- We have this friend that is in the military drops bombs for a living and once in a while he writes on the bomb, Hello ISIS from Flotsam and Jetsam on the cone of the bomb and drops it.
Unwelcome Surprise- That was basically stolen from alanis morissette song Ironic, ot’s all about you win the lottery and die the next day type of stuff.
Architects of hate- the song was so brutal when they handed it to me I just tired to write the harshest stuff I possibly could.
When asked Michael Gilbert if there will be a live album in the near future or re-releases of the older albums
“There is actually talks right now about releasing our Waken performance, whether it’s going to be a DVD or live album not sure yet. Also I would also like to remix the third record that is in desperate need to be remixed.”
AFM Records are excited to present the new video single “Recover” from the mighty Thrash Metal veterans FLOTSAM AND JETSAM from Phoenix. The song is taken from the band’s upcoming album “The End of Chaos”, coming out on January 18th, 2019.
“This album kills! It’s all five guys with the gas pedal pushed to the floor for the entire album!” states Ken Mary
“It was cool to have a new element of influence on this album with having Ken’s drum parts to partner with and play in and around his playing that also do with the guitars and vocals. Glad to have had Jacob Hansen bringing this album to the overall sound and energy it has, Jacob really highlights AK’s vocal melodies, as well as Steve and Michael’s songwriting, while the power of the rhythm section drives the songs.” – Michael Spencer
“The End of Chaos “, released by AFM Records on January 18th, 2019, is the fourteenth album in their more than 30-year of band history.
The album will be available as Digipak, clear orange, gatefold vinyl (ltd. to 450 units), black gatefold vinyl (ltd. To 450 units), ltd. picture vinyl (ltd. to 500 units), gold black splatter gatefold vinyl and limited boxset’s with T-shirts which is available here.
Tracklist
01 Prisoner Of Time
02 Control
03 Recover
04 Prepare For Chaos
05 Slowly Insane
06 Architects Of Hate
07 Demolition Man
08 Unwelcome Surprise
09 Snake Eye
10 Survive
11 Good Or Bad
12 The End
