Frontiers Music Srl are pleased to announce the signing of Joel Hoekstra‘s 13!
Label comments: We’ve had the pleasure of working with Joel for many years while he was in Night Ranger and of course, now in Whitesnake and greatly look forward to releasing this latest project of his. Joel Hoekstra’s 13 debut album will be out this October.
More details will be unveiled in the coming weeks, but for now, feast your eyes on this stellar lineup of musicians appearing on the album!
13 are:
Joel Hoekstra – guitars, backing vocals
Jeff Scott Soto – lead vocals, backing vocals
Russell Allen – lead vocals, backing vocals
Vinny Appice – drums
Tony Franklin – bass
Special Guest Musicians:
Derek Sherinian – keyboards
Chloe Lowery – vocals
Charlie Zeleny – percussion
Dave Eggar – cello
Jeff Scott Soto preforming “Here I Go Again” from Whitesnake/David Coverdale live with Joel Hoekstra, Howie Simon, David Z Rock, Steve Ferlazzo & Matt Starr last night at Lucky Strike. The fan filmed video can be viewed below.
Started with Purple Rain with Jonathan Phillip Moffett, Spacey T & Steve Ferlazzo:
…then Howie Simon & David Z Rock joined for theTalisman official’s version of Crazy by Seal:
SOTO recently released the new music video “Break” from the album “Inside The Vertigo“:
Jeff Scott Soto – one of today’s premier Rock frontmen and vocalists – and a union of hotshot young musicians bring you a slamming blend of melody and muscle in some of the freshest power metal to surface in years present. Together they are SOTO, and their debut album “Inside The Vertigo” will blow your mind away. A neurotic blend of power metal, prog, groove-laden huge guitars, hooks and production, SOTO is a contender in today’s modern Rock arena while capturing the essence of strong songwriting simultaneously.
Recently INSIDE METAL TV, hosted by Bob Nalbandian, conducted an interview with vocalists JEFF SCOTT SOTO and TERRY ILOUS. On this episode, Jeff and Terry discuss their new acoustic collaboration and their upcoming European tour. The two also talk about their several other projects they’re involved with including Trans Siberian Orchestra, Great White, XYZ, SOTO, and others.
The INSIDE METAL TV show airs every Tuesday afternoon at 3pm PST (Los Angeles) and all interviews can be streamed on demand on the Inside Metal page at TradioV.
JEFF SCOTT SOTO – one of today’s premier Rock frontmen and vocalists – and a union of hotshot young musicians bring you a slamming blend of melody and muscle in some of the freshest power metal to surface in years present. Together they are SOTO, and their debut album “Inside The Vertigo” will blow your mind away. The album is going to be released January 30th, 2015 on earMUSIC.
A neurotic blend of power metal, prog, groove-laden huge guitars, hooks and production, SOTO is a contender in today’s modern Rock arena while capturing the essence of strong songwriting simultaneously.
Jeff explains, ”I’ve been in the game for a long time but my roots started more on the heavier side of the tracks, I thought it was about time I came home to visit the family and stick around for a while!”.
The band is comprised of Jeff’s most current solo band, who he insisted on making this musical merge with him. Jorge Salan (lead guitar), BJ (keys, guitars), David Z (bass) and Edu Cominato (drums). Soto adds, ”These guys come from different parts of the world and bring their own influence to make this band very special. From the US to Europe to South America, we have an exciting mix of style and prestige that keeps us all on our toes”.
Jeff adds, ”The past 5 or more years have propelled me a plethora of anger and frustration, I’m actually quite pissed off about a lot of things, SOTO is my outlet to release some of this pent up emotion. We realize there are a lot of folks young and old who may be sharing these thoughts so this is especially for them too. We’re not reinventing the wheel here, we’re just creating an outlet for where our hearts are both musically and mentally…I’m just not in a ‘touch your golden hair’ mood right now!”.
Songs like “Break”, “The Fall”, “Wrath”, “Narcissistically Yours” and “Final Say” are perfect vehicles of raw emotion. Songs like “When I’m Older”, “Karma’s Kiss”, to the title track “Inside The Vertigo” and the 9+ minute epic “End Of Days” advocate a modern day reality/wake-up call.
Produced by Jeff Scott Soto, the album features tracks co-written with his bandmates as well as a of his famous friends/colleagues. Collaborators include guitarists Gus G (Firewind, Ozzy), Jason Bieler (Saigon Kick), Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob) and Joel Hoekstra (Night Ranger/TSO), all of whom perform on their penned tracks for the album. Others appearing as guests/co-writers are Casey Grillo (Kamelot), Connor Engstrom, Tony Dickinson, Leo Mancini, Hugo Mariutti and Gary Schutt.
The album was recorded during the latter months of 2013 and mixed/mastered in Boston by Soto’s long time engineer and friend John Ellis. ”Everyone from John to my amazing co-writers to some of my bandmates, especially Edu who was extremely instrumental on helping me stay on course musically, get overall credit for creating this album. I oversaw it as a whole knowing the vision I wanted to capture but I truly had a lot of help from my bros that appear on this masterpiece!” exclaims Soto.
The release of the album intentionally coincides with the birth date of JSS’s fallen colleague and dear friend Marcel Jacob of Talisman. RIP.
Watch out for SOTO to follow up the release of “Inside The Vertigo” with extensive touring and appearances throughout 2015.
Track listing
1. Final Say
2. The Fall
3. Wrath
4. Break
5. Narcissistically Yours
6. End of Days
7. Inside The Vertigo
8. When I’m Older
9. Trance
10. Jealousy
11. Karma’s Kiss
12. Fall To Pieces
Big Swede’s Rock Project REFURBISHED has released “Only Want The Best – Behind The Scenes” Video, check it out below. The video gives a glimpse into the process of making the album ‘Refurbished – Only Want The Best’, which was released September 23rd, 2014.
Members/guests on the album are as follows: Big Swede, Reeves Gabrels (The Cure, David Bowie), Howie Simon (Alcatrazz, Talisman), Rod Jackson (Slash’s Snakepit), Johnny Griparic (Slash’s Snakepit, Richie Kotzen), Mark Boals (Dio Disciples, Yngwie Malmsteen), Michael Devin (Whitesnake, Kenny Wayne Shepherd), Paul Ill (Pink, Christina Aguilera), Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum), Mats Leven (Yngwie Malmsteen, Therion), Laura V Bustillos (LA Velvet), Chris Hollywood (The Paramedic, Black Veil Brides), Bjorn Englen (Dio Disciples, Yngwie Malmsteen), Greg Hampton (Alice Cooper, Lita Ford), David Keckhut (Made N America), Gus Monsanto (Adagio, Revolution Renaissance), Jeff Scott Soto (Journey, Yngwie Malmsteen), Natalia Borowsky.
Producer/artist Big Swede’s rock project ‘Refurbished’ released an album, ‘Only Want The Best,’ on September 23rd, 2014. There is a short behind the scenes video being released today, aptly titled ‘Refurbished – Only Want The Best – Behind The Scenes’.
“ I wanted to give people a glimpse into the process of making the album and at the same time give them an introduction to the project,” says Big Swede.
The album features 17 hi-profile guests. Most of it was recorded at Big Swede Studios, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. There were a few vocal tracks recorded in Stockholm, Sweden and one in Rio, Brazil.
“ It was great that we were able to put together this video, showing the wide spectrum of personalities performing on the record. It was a blast having each and every one of them coming by and recording their parts. There was a lot of great energy in the studio,” continues Big Swede.
The album consists of 13 tracks in a straight ahead, full throttle rock vein.
Members/guests on the album are as follows: Big Swede, Reeves Gabrels (The Cure, David Bowie), Howie Simon (Alcatrazz, Talisman), Rod Jackson (Slash’s Snakepit), Johnny Griparic (Slash’s Snakepit, Richie Kotzen), Mark Boals (Dio Disciples, Yngwie Malmsteen), Michael Devin (Whitesnake, Kenny Wayne Shepherd), Paul Ill (Pink, Christina Aguilera), Göran Edman (Yngwie Malmsteen, John Norum), Mats Leven (Yngwie Malmsteen, Therion), Laura V Bustillos (LA Velvet), Chris Hollywood (The Paramedic, Black Veil Brides), Bjorn Englen (Dio Disciples, Yngwie Malmsteen), Greg Hampton (Alice Cooper, Lita Ford), David Keckhut (Made N America), Gus Monsanto (Adagio, Revolution Renaissance), Jeff Scott Soto (Journey, Yngwie Malmsteen), Natalia Borowsky.
“Refurbished – Only Want The Best” on Itunes HERE.
“Refurbished – Only Want The Best” on Spotify:
“Refurbished – Only Want The Best” on YouTube:
“Refurbished – Show Up For The Showdown” on YouTube:
Big Swede’s credits include Mercedes Benz “Super Service” Commercial feat. Roger Federer, NCIS, The Mentalist, CSI: Miami, Alphas, 90210, Lie To Me, Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Punk’d, Real World, tour introduction music for Van Halen, and drum samples for KISS and Slash. Collaborations include Reeves Gabrels (The Cure, David Bowie), Paul Ill (James Blunt, Christina Aguilera), Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) and Greg Hampton (Alice Cooper, Lita Ford).
In support of his recently released solo debut I Am The Fire, on Century Media Records, OZZY OSBOURNE / FIREWIND guitarist GUS G. will tour the North American west coast this week with LYNAM as support. Jeff Scott Soto (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, ex-JOURNEY) will also join GUS G. for these dates, lending his vocals for the set; Marty O’Brien (LITA FORD; bass) and Jo Nunez (FIREWIND; drums) will be the backing band on the run. See below for all upcoming shows.
“I Am The Fire” North America Tour with special guests LYNAM:
Oct. 15 – Hollywood, CA – The Whisky A Go Go
Oct. 17 – Las Vegas, NV – Vamped
Oct. 18 – Ramona, CA – Ramona Mainstage
Oct. 19 – Tempe, AZ – Club Red
To coincide with this tour, a special expanded edition of I Am The Fire will be released in Europe on November 3rd (digitally on November 4th in North America). This limited CD + DVD digipak will feature 4 bonus tracks and a 62-minute bonus DVD (including the album’s 4 official video clips so far, plus 3 live tracks, 6 guitar tutorials, as well as an EPK and track-by-track commentary). See below for the complete track-listing.
I Am The Fire (Expanded Edition) track-listing:
1. My Will Be Done (feat. Mats Levén)
2. Blame It On Me (feat. Mats Levén)
3. I Am The Fire (feat. DEVOUR THE DAY)
4. Vengeance (feat. David Ellefson)
5. Long Way Down (feat. Alexia Rodriguez)
6. Just Can’t Let Go (feat. Jacob Bunton)
7. Terrified (feat. Billy Sheehan)
8. Eyes Wide Open (feat. Mats Levén)
9. Redemption (feat. Michael Starr)
10. Summer Days (feat. Jeff Scott Soto)
11. Dreamkeeper (feat. Tom S. Englund)
12. End Of The Line (feat. Mats Levén)
Bonus tracks:
13. Hesitate (feat. Tara Teresa)
14. Without You
15. Last Embrace
16. Redemption (Feat. Mats Levén)
A video trailer for the release can be viewed here:
GUS G. handles all guitar, bass and keyboards on I Am The Fire and is joined by a roster of friends and guests that helped bring his vision to fruition: drummers Jeff Friedl (A PERFECT CIRCLE, PUSCIFER, DEVO) and Daniel Erlandsson (ARCH ENEMY), bassists David Ellefson (MEGADETH), Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, DAVID LEE ROTH) and Marty O’Brien (TOMMY LEE, WE ARE THE FALLEN), and vocalists Mats Leven (CANDLEMASS, ex-YNGWIE MALMSTEEN/THERION), Blake Allison (DEVOUR THE DAY), Michael Starr (STEEL PANTHER), Alexia Rodriguez (EYES SET TO KILL), Tom S. Englund (EVERGREY), Jacob Bunton (ADLER) and Jeff Scott Soto (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, ex-JOURNEY). The album showcases a well-balanced mix of active rock, classic hard rock, traditional metal and guitar-driven instrumentals, taking listeners on a diverse journey through GUS G.’s soulful playing.
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
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Ads
Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 