----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 re-recording), "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, 2015. 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 November 5th, the band had finished all recording sessions except vocals & lead guitar for 4 tracks, and "finishing touches" were to blame for the delays in finishing the CD. 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 the band has not issued a public update on the album in six months. Keep an eye out for updates when and if they come in!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Elements' debut EP Rumoured Songs: "Liar", "G20", "Triple H", "The Rut", "I Need A Friend"
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 last spring 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 drummer Jonas Gasperas and saxophonist Josh Norling, who have been frequent presences in recent months, and may be official band members at this point.
Current Release Status: At this stage, I have no idea, but Rob sounded like things were going well in studio. That said, these were largely personal conversations a year ago, and the band hasn't acknowledged album recording sessions publically in recent months, so we'll have to see if updates come out on it in 2017!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Id Iota's full length second CDRumoured Songs: "Happy Sailor", "Intro To American Literature", "Seas Envy Skies"
Background: Not long after their successful Ontario tour with Mike Mikus last fall, Id Iota began recording sessions for their second album, though public confirmation that a full length CD was currently in progress didn't occur until guitarist Dustin Goodall announced it on his studio Unsalted Audio's website earlier this year. Scattered postings and hints have followed, including teases of their own Ontario tour this month (source here), but nothing else has came out beyond performances of newer originals in concert. For reference, this photo got shared a few times on Id Iota's Facebook page last year, but it's unclear if it's intended to be the album's cover artwork or not.
Current Release Status: No idea, especially with the alternative/hard rock quartet keeping fairly mum on it's progress, but if there was ever a plan to release it in time for their teased May tour run, they'd better announce those dates soon. Keep watch for updates as they roll in!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kraken Mara's self-titled debut EPRumoured Songs: "Chimera", "Ishka", "Grand Machinations", "Straus"
Background: The current progressive metal project from Late & Loud guitarist Brendan Christie & Wawa band veteran Jake Valois, Kraken Mara immediately commenced work on studio material upon their April 2016 launch, though they have yet to assemble a full lineup, let alone play live. In sporadic updates since on their Facebook page & their website, the band has indicated ongoing recording sessions towards a self-titled EP, posting and reworking original demos to their website and Reverbnation page over recent months, with Reese Wolf working as sound engineer for the tracks. As well, the cover artwork for the EP was revealed on Facebook at the end of March, though updates haven't been posted since.
Current Release Status: Your guess is as good as mine. Brendan and Jake are keeping things very professional and technical so far, but updates don't come all that frequently regarding Kraken Mara, be they for the EP or not. That said, the instrumental material sounds very good and complex so far, and should please fans of progressive and djent metal, so things could be further along than you may guess. Keep tabs above for updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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), ex-Skull After Betrayl frontman Mike Vincent resurrected his dormant solo project this past 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!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redundant's debut CDRumoured 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!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Skeyes of Seven - Stare at the SkyRumoured Songs: "Enough", "See The Truth", "Fallen Faith", "Pretend", "Cognitive Dissonance", "Crawling Back From Reality"
Background: Already no strangers to the studio after recording two songs as singles in the mid-2010s, local modern hard rock quartet Skeyes of Seven hit the studio to record their debut EP in 2015, though they only publically confirmed that an EP was in the works last January. Sessions took place at Deluca Sound Productions, who have shared videos of band members tracking material for the EP, and ex-drummer John Mignacca did record tracks for the release before moving to Sudbury. The EP title was unveiled last fall, and then last month, all six songs were posted to their YouTube channel, including the new instrumental "Crawling Back From Reality", while also excluding their older originals "Destination Unknown" & "No One Cares". New guitarist Kyle Sweet is not visibly on the EP, having joined Skeyes of Seven after sessions concluded.
Current Release Status: Given that the whole EP is online for free streaming, then conventional wisdom would say that "Stare at the Sky" would be released imminently, but the band has yet to confirm a paid release date, or even a live concert return. Hopefully it doesn't stall at being a free posting, as Skeyes of Seven are a talented and experienced band, and having been active in studio more than on stage since launching in 2012, it'd be great to see them culminate this process with a release concert. Follow along to see where things go for their debut EP!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone & Address - "Monster" & "The Early Tapes" Rumoured Songs (M): "I Can Bleed"
Rumoured Songs (E): "The Plumbers"
Background: Telephone & Address mainman Chris Shoust announced on their Facebook page in 2015 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. However, a later-recorded album, "Are You Now or Have You Ever", was officially released in October, despite "Monster" being announced a year previously. Songs from both of these unreleased albums 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.
Current Release Status: Chris has indicated online that "Monster" was planned to be pressed in the fall of 2015, blaming money issues for the delays in it being released, and while a November 2016 release date was teased last fall, that has came & went too. We're likely nearing it's release at some point in 2017 though! 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!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As well, we're removing one album from this series due to it's unlikely release prospects in the foreseeable future, so here's what you should know on it:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Haggith - Neighbourhood Watch RevisitedRumoured 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 2016, those being of "Limb Coast" & "Room 822". Planned to be his first full solo release of new recordings since mid-2015's "The Warinside", "Neighbourhood Watch Revisited" was being recorded at PaperClip Productions, with Mike being joined on at least some songs by bandmate Brandan Glew on drums and ex-Haggith bandmate Curtis McKenzie on guitar. However, updates ceased by the summer, coinciding with the continued rise of & increased focus on his band The Din.
Reason For Removal: With a relegation to our inactive band links likely later this month for Mike's solo project, I've opted to drop "Neighbourhood Watch Revisited" from the series for that reason. Mike indicated last May that his solo project "isn't even a priority" due to his work with The Din, which likely explains the re-recorded album not seeing further public updates despite "nearing completion" last April. That said, Mike has carried over some solo songs to The Din (including "Leon the Janitor" on occasion), and be sure to follow that band for his ongoing local music work, which is often similar to his solo releases, just with a full band in tow!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! This series will return on June 2nd, and our next feature post (barring a sudden album review) will be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile, currently scheduled for a week from tomorrow. That's all for today, but stay tuned for this weekend's concert previews starting on Thursday! Thanks everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment