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A Dire Setback's debut albumRumoured Songs: "Wasting Away", "Kicking & Screaming", "Faded", "Catastrophe", "Forget This Memory", "Everlasting Despair", "A Dire Setback"
Background: Though discussion of a debut album had been ongoing throughout 2017, local alt-punk trio A Dire Setback only announced that their first CD was in the works in March of this year. To help fund the recording sessions, A Dire Setback launched a Patreon page to allow fans to help financially back them and the album, with exclusive content and perks promised for backers on there, though public content on their Facebook page has also been released. Around that same time, the guys began setting tempos and recording click tracks for the album, with Pointless bandmates Bill Priddle & Dustin Goodall handling production and mastering, at least partially at Dustin's own Unsalted Audio. Full recording sessions began with drum tracking in May, as noted on Facebook, with bass sessions ongoing as of September 17th. The band posted this photo on Facebook in that could be the possible cover art, while this Rotaryfest teaser features a drum-heavy track that may be included.
Current Release Status: I couldn't begin to guess, but A Dire Setback are doing all the right things to get buzz online for the recording sessions, and it'll be interesting to see how influential the Patreon campaign is towards it's completion, especially considering the limited success of past crowdfunding campaigns from local musicians. Keep posted for updates!
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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 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 has 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 recording sessions are reportedly complete, as are the mixing and mastering processes, as of August 5th (source here.) The band is aiming for a more professional sound and release for their sophomore effort, and to go along with that, artwork and physical distribution plans are ongoing, as are "a ton of cool ideas for stepping our media game up." Keep an eye out for updates on "The Dead Testament" when and if they come in!
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Electric Church's debut album Rumoured Songs: "Muddy Waters", "Ain't Got None", "Carey Baby", "Take Me Away", "Cross the Line"
Background: Fast rising young blues/hard rock trio Electric Church evolved from Jimi Hendrix covers in 2016 to primarily original material in 2017, and punctuated that on May 12th of that year when they announced on their Facebook page that they were "working up some new songs... for the album!!!" It was confirmed around that time that they were recording material at Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, who shared a picture on their Facebook page confirming Electric Church's presence. However, few direct updates have followed publically, aside from scattered reminders that they are still working in studio, and that they "are really excited about all the new projects we have planned."
Current Release Status: No clue, but Electric Church are a very talented band who play beyond their years, and no matter how long this takes, the album should be of solid quality when it finally comes out! At last word, the band noted on New Year's Day that they were "looking forward to finishing up in the studio this year", though note that frontman Spencer Pine's commitments with Jesse Merineau's solo band and their own CD release may be a partial factor in Electric Church delays. Stay tuned!
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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 2015, and have since publically confirmed earlier teases that they are working on a debut EP. Frontman Rob Speers has confirmed in personal conversations in early 2016 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 saxophonist Josh Norling, a frequent presence in recent months.
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 over 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 2018!
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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", "Eta Carinae"
Background: Despite a hiatus from live concerts lasting over 9 years, Gates of Winter never broke up, and are slowly working on their follow-up to 2008's "Lux Aeterna". Updates have sporadically been made since early 2010, via numerous uploads, teaser postings, and general hype for the recording sessions, though prior release forecasts haven't been realized, it was retracted from CD to EP length, and most preview media has since been taken down as the band perfected the CD's final content. While Sault native Jon Morrison was announced as the album's drummer in late 2010, it has since been confirmed that "Perihelion" will feature programmed drums. After taking a over a year off from public activity, Gates of Winter resurfaced in July 2017 with new band artwork and hints that they have "been making incredible strides, and are very excited to pull back the curtain."
Current Release Status: Personal commitments and the like have slowed things down incredibly, but the band has repeatedly acknowledged continued work towards the release in scattered postings throughout the 2010s. The band's Facebook page was admittedly taken down in mid-2018, despite a personal Facebook video of members jamming from April, but given their already measured public updates and prior year-long public hiatus from 2016-2017 without dissolving, I am hesitant to make a judgement on their status. If still alive, remember that good art takes time, and Gates of Winter won't want to release this until everything's perfect and to their high standards. Keep an eye out for potential updates!
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Id Iota's full length second CDRumoured Songs: "Happy Sailor", "Intro To American Literature", "Seas Envy Skies", "Long D", "Cop Drama", "Deep Empty", "Blind Spots"
Background: Not long after their successful Ontario tour with Mike Mikus in late 2016, 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 early last year. Scattered postings and hints have followed, but nothing else has came out beyond performances of newer originals in concert through this spring. 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. It is not clear whether new bassist Robert Sartini and/or his predecessor Dan Linklater will be on the final product, or if any collaborations with RedD Monkey alum Pete Mozarowski will make the cut.
Current Release Status: No idea, especially with the alternative/hard rock quartet keeping fairly mum on it's progress (not to mention their bassist change), but with the guys back on the local stage after a lengthy hiatus, hopefully things are winding closer, so stay tuned for updates!
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Mike Haggith - BridgesRumoured Songs: "From The 55th Parallel", "Over Indecision", "The Nature of The Times","An Act of Strength","The Catalyst", "Dangerous Town", "Come on Home", "Blue Highway", "Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost", "Bridges"
Background: After moving to Thompson, Manitoba in November 2017 for work reasons, prolific local/Windsor hard/alternative rock musician Mike Haggith relaunched his dormant solo project, and soon commenced songwriting for a new CD, which would be his 50th canon studio album and his first since 2015's "The Warinside" Updates slowly took place across 2018, with his Facebook page documenting songwriting sessions and acoustic "home demo" videos of new original songs, plus occasional solo concerts in Thompson largely featuring these new tracks. Mike has unveiled the official title as "Bridges", along with it's cover artwork and track listing last month, which includes all of his Thompson-era originals except "If Only You Could Hear Me".
Current Release Status: Though Mike didn't highly publicize the recording sessions on social media, he confirmed on Friday that the album was "100% recorded", and is soon going to be edited and mixed, with the cover artwork and (changed?) album artwork also on their way. As such, I don't expect an imminent release for Mike's new solo album, but hopefully we'll see it by year's end, and with Mike's candor and honesty, you know he won't hide anything regarding it's release!
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Mike Vincent - For Dear LifeRumoured Songs: "Nocturnal"
Background: Shortly after releasing his first two solo albums ("Ultimate Chaos" & "Apocalypse") in March, former Skull After Betrayl frontman & Bear Hunters guitarist Mike Vincent indicated that he had begun preparations for a third solo release. With no public Facebook page for his music at press time, Mike revealed on his personal Facebook page last month that his third album would be titled "For Dear Life", with an instrumental demo of it's first song "Nocturnal" being posted to his Bandcamp page. Unlike on his prior releases, "For Dear Life" is expected to feature vocals on all but one track, in a possible throwback to Mike's singing work with both Skull After Betrayl and D.O.T.H..
Current Release Status: I don't know for certain, but given that this version of "Nocturnal" has no vocals, I imagine Mike is early in the independent recording process. If this is anything like his prior albums, expect songs to be incrementally released over time in advance of the final sale posting, but nothing's finite. Keep tabs for updates in the coming months!
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Northwest - Songs From 2015-2017Rumoured Songs: "Hangover Habits", "Drinking Games", "True North", "Sorry Sunday"
Background: Following the release of their debut self-titled digital EP in September 2014, and a lengthy stage hiatus from late 2016 through early 2017, local indie/punk quintet Northwest resumed major activity that April with teaser photos of recording sessions at Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones (as they had done for their debut) being sporadically posted over ever since then to their Facebook page. Confirmation that this was for a new EP, their first with current drummer Marc Santos, only came in July 2017 via their write-up in last year's Rotaryfest program. The cover artwork and title "Songs From 2015-2017" was unveiled in July, and while the band never formally signalled the end of sessions, studio copies of their new originals "True North" & "Sorry Sunday" were posted to YouTube in recent months.
Current Release Status: Shortly after the above photo was shared, Northwest posted a new cover photo on Facebook that blatantly says that the EP is coming in "Fall 2018", which appears to have been delayed. On September 3rd, the band teased that they would be hosting an EP release party at LopLops Lounge on Saturday, December 22nd, but held back on any extra details for the time being. Nothing else is public regarding it's content or release formats, but hopefully the December release date holds up so fans can get their new album for the holidays! Stay tuned for updates on the release show when they are announced!
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Pillory's second CDRumoured Songs: "Angst of Existence", "Sculptor of Cadavers", "Wasting", "Abhorred Apprehension", "The Passing", "Exhaustive Incarnation"
Background: After previously breaking up in mid-2014, local metal band Pillory returned as a trio in the fall of 2015, trading their thrash metal roots for a heavier death metal sound, complete with a completely overhauled setlist with no carried-over originals from their 2013 EP "Cringe At The Cross". In March 2017, Id Iota guitarist Dustin Goodall's recording studio Unsalted Audio revealed that they were in pre-production for Pillory's second album, with the band indicating that recording sessions were underway a couple of months later. As of last July, drum tracks were complete, with editing to follow before recording other instruments, though no updates have followed. It's not clear who will provide bass tracks on the final product, between ex-bassist Jordan Leach, his replacement Blair St. John, frontman Robert Sartini (who played bass on "Cringe At The Cross"), or a combination therein.
Current Release Status: I have no idea, and it doesn't help that Pillory have not posted a public update since July 2017, though their new lineup returned from that hiatus at July's Rivers of Nihil concert That said, Pillory are no strangers to releasing an album amidst lineup uncertainty, and with their increasingly brutal and technical sound, hopefully they can get this album complete down the line!
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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 in January 2016. Sessions took place at Deluca Sound Productions, who have shared videos of band members tracking material for the EP, the title of which being unveiled later that year. In January 2017, 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. 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!
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Telephone & Address - "The Early Tapes" Rumoured Songs: "The Plumbers"
Background: Telephone & Address frontman 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"). However, he has since released two separate new studio albums (2016's "Are You Now or Have You Ever" and February's "Monster"), with no updates on the "Early Tapes" album publically stated in over three years. The sole publically confirmed track "The Plumbers" can be streamed on their Soundcloud page, and albums are likely to turn up on Telephone & Address' Bandcamp page and on Interpunk down the road, assuming this gets released. Unless the tracks are reworked, new drummer Jackson Reed will not feature on this album.
Current Release Status: Chris revealed in March 2015 that this album "will be delayed for some time", and though he didn't elaborate on why specifically, work on both of his last two albums (particularly the very delayed "Monster") could be partially to blame. That said, with an expanded lineup now, "The Early Tapes" may have fallen further in priority, but you never know what could come next from Telephone & Address!
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As well as the above entries, we have opted to remove one due to it's now-unlikely release status, so here's what you should know on it:
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Kraken Mara's self-titled debut EPRumoured Songs: "Chimera", "Ishka", "Grand Machinations", "Straus"
Background: The recent 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 never assembled a full lineup, let alone played live. In sporadic updates since on their Facebook page & their website, the band indicated ongoing recording sessions towards a self-titled EP by posting and reworking original demos to their website and (now-deleted) Reverbnation page, 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 2017, and the band later confirmed plans to record music videos for all of the planned tracks, but only one for "Straus" followed that July. Updates ceased after October 2nd, 2017, and Brendan would move out of country again in mid-2018.
Reason For Removal: As long-time readers know, one year without public updates is traditionally our cut-off for designating a band as "inactive", ans that's what Kraken Mara hit today. Brendan's big move doesn't help matters at all, and while Kraken Mara are a studio-only project that's not dependent on location for new material, Brendan didn't front an active musical project during his mid-2000s stint abroad, only launching Kraken Mara after returning home. Kraken Mara were a promising technical outfit, and after such promise and big plans, hopefully this isn't the last we've heard from Brendan and Jake musically!
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