Sunday, October 2, 2016

Where Are The New Albums? (October 2016 Update)

After a very quiet month at the SMS, let's kick off October with this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! As usual, this monthly feature looks at the current release statuses and whereabouts of upcoming albums from local metal, punk, and hard rock bands, in order for fans to get a sense of what we currently know about them and when we might see them on sale. No new additions this month, but six of this month's entries have updates, as noted by their titles being in italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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AlgomA's untitled split CD with Hooded Menace

Rumoured Songs (A): "Failed Stunt Fatality", "Canis Rabidus", "Brazen Bull", "The Longest Swim"

Rumoured Songs (H): Unknown

Background: In recent months, local doom metal trio AlgomA have announced on their Facebook page that they are planning to release a split EP with Finnish death/doom metal quartet Hooded Menace later this year, to be released by Doomentia Records with art by Paolo Girardi, though updates haven't followed on it. For reference, these plans followed the announcement and release of their split vinyl EP with Saskatchewan doom metallers Chronobot, which successfully came out in April, but it remains to be seen if this will be formatted similarly. In any event, AlgomA's tracks were/are being recorded locally at Six, Two, Oh.

Current Release Status: No idea, but seeing as the Chronobot split was successfully released, the Hooded Menace one has precedent to come out without fail also! That said, the Hooded Menace split has taken a back seat publically while the Chronobot split saw it's release, so things may be a ways off yet, but stay tuned as more comes in from either side!
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The Apocalypse Afterparty - Bufflesnort

Rumoured Songs: "4th Liner", ".500 Hockey", "Lace 'Em Up", "Better Than The Hives Did It" (retitled cover of Saul Williams' "List of Demands (Reparations)"

Background: Before ever playing a public concert, local rap/metal band The Apocalypse Afterparty announced on their Facebook page in 2014 that they had begun working on a 3 song debut EP with producer Jamie Vincent, recording at least one song with him ("The Crowd"), which you can hear in full at this link. Plans were overhauled after holding full recording sessions for "Bufflesnort" at Tidal Records' own Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, later mixing the songs with Simon Head at Insight Recorders, and notably not recording prior originals from concerts like songs passed on from The Fury. Five different album covers and studio versions of "4th Liner" and their fan favourite "List of Demands" cover can now be checked out at their Facebook and Reverbnation pages, while a posting in March hinted that a member of defunct Saskatchewan hardcore band The Holly Springs Disaster would make a cameo appearance on a track.

Current Release Status: The Apocalypse Afterparty began sending out press packs and advance copies of the album on cell phones last month (I received one in a concert used drum), and the band also plans to have full availability for general audiences via digital download and USB thumb drives. However, the band hasn't fully announced a public release date yet, though it may be planned to connect with a return to the stage, given that the band hasn't played live in a year & a half. Hopefully more comes out soon on when "Bufflesnort" comes out!
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The Bear Hunters - The Dead Testament
 
Rumoured Songs: "The Void", "The Omen", "Neckbreaker", "I Fear No God", "Servitude", "Transcend Judgement", "For Glory", "The Wrath Of Angmar", "The Dying Den", "The Dead Testament", "Deception" (bonus rerecording), "The Forest of Forests" (bonus track)

Background: In tentative planning since 2014 under this title, local death metal quintet The Bear Hunters have been playing songs intended for their second full length CD for a few years now, but only fully began recording sessions for "The Dead Testament" on October 2nd. Following a brief fundraising campaign and the gradual unveiling of song titles, the band have been working with producer Dustin Jones at Mission Control Studios, and have shared sporadic updates on their Instagram page. Like on 2014's "Eternal Hibernation", rhythm guitarist Josh Stephney has recorded parts for the album despite living in Southern Ontario, but it's not yet clear on how bonus tracks will be handled.

Current Release Status: The Bear Hunters haven't given any firm timetables for when to expect "The Dead Testament" in stores, but as of this writing, the band has finished most tracking sessions, with rhythm guitar work ongoing in May while Josh was home. The band is aiming for a more professional sound and release for their sophomore effort, but an optimistic late-summer release has came and gone, and they haven't posted any online updates since the spring. Keep an eye out for updates!
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Caroline Divine's debut album

Rumoured Songs: "Caroline Divine", "Looking For A Fight"

Background: After prior teases of recording sessions and the search for a spot to record, personal Facebook pages from members of newer local glam/power pop trio Caroline Divine have confirmed that they are indeed working on their debut album. Greater details on the track listing, release formats, and so forth have yet to be made, with the band taking time off from concerts since late last year. While studio work was thought to be a partial cause for the stage hiatus, Caroline Divine haven't posted on their Facebook page yet this year, last surfacing publically when the guys backed up Jesse Merineau at March's Speak Easy Battle of the Bands.

Current Release Status: No idea yet, especially as the band hasn't shown their cards yet concerning album progress, but it should be noted that singer/guitarist Anthony Marcello moved out of town for college this summer, with Mitchell Nielsen replacing him when the other guys backed up Jesse Merineau in concert last month. If Caroline Divine are still active for reasons other than playing with Jesse, I don't know what Anthony's move would mean for the album, or if Mitchell is his full-time replacement, but we'll let you know if they announce anything!
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The Elements' debut EP 

Rumoured Songs: "Liar", "G20", "Triple H"

Background: Arguably better known for their funk, ska, and hard rock covers, local quartet The Elements have been adding original material to their sets since last year, and have since publically confirmed earlier teases that they are working on a debut EP. Frontman Rob Speers has confirmed in personal conversations that they have been working in studio on the release, which will have at least 5 tracks, and I believe it's being self-recorded, but further public updates are minimal at best. It's also not known if they'll employ any guest performers, such as Josh Norling or DJ Seith, who added well-received saxophone and turntable elements to some recent concerts.

Current Release Status: At this stage, I have no idea, but Rob sounded like things were going well in studio, so we'll have to see what comes out next on The Elements' first EP!
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Gates of Winter - Perihelion

Rumoured Songs: "The Stars Call My True Name", "Edin Na Zu", "Dimensions", "Time Warp", "Wormhole Mechanics", "Prometheus"

Background: Despite a hiatus from live concerts lasting over 7 years, Gates of Winter never broke up, and are slowly working on their follow-up to 2008's "Lux Aeterna". The first glimpse of the new album was unveiled in February 2010, when frontman/producer Lee Maines uploaded a snippet of their new song "The Stars Call My True Name" onto his YouTube channel, and he followed that up with more demo & rehearsal clips sporadically over the last couple of years, though all were later taken down. The band launched a new Facebook page in August 2010 to keep fans updated on the sessions, including the unveiling of a new song title, "Time Warp", and while Sault native Jon Morrison was announced as the album's drummer that fall, the album will feature programmed drums. In November 2011, bassist Steve Furgiuele confirmed in a YouTube video that the album, now titled "Perihelion", was planned for release in December 2012, with some older re-recordings likely for the summer, but Lee has since confirmed that the album would be delayed further, be retracted to EP length, and possibly be renamed. Other new songs, tentatively called "Wormhole Mechanics" & "Prometheus", was previewed in this video & this video that were uploaded in 2013 & last April respectively. Whether ex-keyboardist Brian Holmes will be included on the EP is currently unknown.

Current Release Status: Personal commitments and the like have slowed things down incredibly, but in the band's most recent preview video (featuring audio samples), Gates of Winter hinted that work was winding down on "Perihelion", including noting that "the silence ends soon". Good art takes time, and knowing Gates of Winter's talent and attention to detail, they won't want to release this until everything's perfect. I'll admit that I know a bit more on "Perihelion" than what I've posted here, but I'll wait until more public word comes out. Keep an eye out for updates!
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Mike Haggith - Neighbourhood Watch Revisited

Rumoured Songs: "To Whom This May Concern", "Room 822", "The Ballad of K2/K3", "The Day The Lights Went Out", "Limb Coast", "Leon the Janitor", "Far Too Long"

Background: After previously hinting at a re-recorded version of his 45th solo album "Neighbourhood Watch" in late 2015, local solo musician Mike Haggith officially began releasing new versions of songs from the original 2012 CD onto his YouTube channel in February, those being of "Limb Coast" & "Room 822". His first full release of new recordings since last summer's "The Warinside", "Neighbourhood Watch Revisited" is being recorded at PaperClip Productions, with Mike being joined on at least some songs by Din bandmate Brandan Glew on drums and ex-Din/Haggith bandmate Curtis McKenzie on guitar.

Current Release Status: I have no idea, but Mike is usually an efficient artist when it comes to recording and releasing solo material, and if there's a delay, he'll be honest about it, so it could be soon! However, if there are any plans for it to come out on the 4th anniversary of the original's release, "Neighbourhood Watch", keep watch for it this month. Curtis has revealed in this video that it's "steadily nearing the completion stage", so stay tuned for updates as they come in!
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Mike Vincent's debut EP & "We're of Nothing"

Rumoured Songs (1): "Shoah" (retitled Skull After Betrayl cover), "Sacred Sins", "Six, Six, Six", "Systematical Satan", "Soulless Sanctuary", "Screaming Serenity"

Rumoured Songs (W): "Times Of The Unforgotten", "Chapters of No Light", "We're of Nothing", "Phases of Pain"

Background: After briefly manning his own solo project in 2011 (which featured original songs named after food), Troubled Mind frontman Mike Vincent resurrected his dormant solo project this summer via his new Bandcamp page. Mike soon posted a series of six instrumentals there, all with titles starting with the letter S, which are planned to constitute his debut EP when finished with vocals. Mike followed up later with four unrelated songs that are planned for his second solo release, which would be a double CD album in length, with "Times of the Unforgotten" notably featuring his uncle Jason Ladouceur (ex-Winkstinger) in a guest spot. Some of the above information comes from personal Facebook page postings, as Mike hasn't made a new music page for his solo project yet.

Current Release Status: No idea, but given that he's posting songs on Bandcamp, a digital release through there seems likely when the songs are 100% completed and packaged as an album, at least in that form. Mike's past local bands haven't quite gotten off the ground in terms of putting out albums, but for fans of Skull After Betrayl, D.O.T.H., and so on, Mike's solo project should be very intriguing, and he's putting in some solid work in the process! Keep tabs on his Bandcamp page for further material!
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Redundant's debut CD

Rumoured Songs: "Miles Apart", "That December", "What You'll Do"

Background: Over two and a half years after their last documented studio sessions in the spring of 2012, local punk trio Redundant revealed on their Facebook page in November 2014 that they were finally working on finishing their debut CD, and will look to hold a CD release party for it upon it's completion. Details are otherwise minimal, including on if the guys will just package their older studio work for the release, or include new recordings, perhaps at bassist James White's studio White Wreckords. We'll keep you posted if we hear more!

Current Release Status: Though we don't know much on the new/revived album plans, Redundant did sound serious about completing their CD. That said, Redundant have only played a handful of times in the last couple of years, and haven't made any public statements regarding the album since 2014. The band did resume public activity in March 2016, announcing that they were writing new songs and working on "new studio shit", but it's not clear how earlier album sessions would play in. If we hear any updates, we'll be sure to let you know!
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Skeyes of Seven's debut EP

Rumoured Songs: "Enough", "See The Truth", "Fallen Faith", "Destination Unknown", "No One Cares", "Pretend", "Cognitive Dissonance"

Background: Already no strangers to the studio after recording their songs "Fallen Faith" and "Enough" as single in each of the last two years, local modern hard rock quartet Skeyes of Seven hit the studio to record their debut EP last year, though only publically confirmed that an EP was in the works in January on their Facebook page. Sessions are ongoing locally at Deluca Sound Productions, who have shared videos of band members tracking material for the EP, but four confirmed songs were strongly teased in March via some cryptic Facebook photo postings. At this stage, it's not entirely clear on whether the band will include any other singles, but ex-drummer John Mignacca did record tracks for the release before moving to Sudbury last year.

Current Release Status: No idea yet, especially as the band hasn't made a public statement since March's song title teasers, but as of January 17th, Skeyes of Seven had only one more song to record before sending the tracks to be mixed & mastered. Hopefully this can see a release at some point, as Skeyes of Seven have arguably been more active in studio than in concert since their 2012 formation, but to be fair, they may be waiting until they announce their new drummer so it can be tied with their latest concert return. Follow along to see where things go for their debut EP!
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Telephone & Address - "Monster", "The Early Tapes", and
"Are You or Have You Ever Been..."

Rumoured Songs (M): "I Can Bleed"

Rumoured Songs (E): "The Plumbers"

Rumoured Songs (A): "He", "You Say"

Background: Telephone & Address mainman Chris Shoust announced on their Facebook page last year that he was working on releasing "The Early Tapes", a compilation of songs from the first 4 Telephone & Address albums (2011's self titled album, and 2012's "Live", "No. 3", and "Broken Head"). Since then however, he revealed that a separate new album named "Monster" is done, with an advanced copy leaked to him by AlgomA drummer Jamie Vincent, which likely hints that Jamie helped produce it. Most recently, collaborator/Gore Street Cafe owner Sam Decter revealed on his blog The Tinderbox that Telephone & Address would put out an album named "Are You or Have You Ever Been?" through his new cassette tapes-only indie label BGP Tapes, and wile there was no follow-up on those plans, Chris has since confirmed that the album is coming out next, with "Monster" postponed to follow it. Songs from both can be streamed on their Soundcloud page, and they're likely to turn up on Telephone & Address' Bandcamp page and on Interpunk down the road as well.

Current Release Status: Original cassette tape plans for "A.Y.O.H.Y.E.B." may be on the back-burner following Sam's relocation this summer, but Chris indicated last month that it was being pressed "as we speak", with "Monster" planned to be pressed next month, and he blamed money issues for the delays in both being released (especially " Monster", which was originally planned to be pressed last year.) Regarding the "The Early Tapes", Chris revealed in March 2015 that it "will be delayed for some time", though he didn't elaborate on why specifically. Assuming things go according to plan, Telephone & Address should have some big albums in the works, so we'll keep you posted when more on any of these comes out!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! Our next monthly feature will likely be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile one week from tomorrow, but stay tuned for more news and updates this week as well! Thanks everyone!

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