It's now time for our delayed last "Where Are The New Albums?" post of the year, and I apologize for the wait, as we're badly behind on a lot around here after the concert review crush from the last few days. As usual, this monthly feature looks at the current release statuses of announced and partially recorded metal, punk, and hard rock albums from Sault Ontario-area bands, in order to keep tabs on how far along they are and when you might see them! This month, we've removed
The Bear Hunters' new CDs and
Sykotyk Rampage's "Bring The Heavy" (which we'll have more on in the coming days) due to their releases in the past month, but we also removed one due to a band's likely inactive status, and added three new albums in the works! As usual, updated entries have their titles in
italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Apocalypse Afterparty's debut EP
Rumoured Songs: "The Crowd" (
The Fury cover), "Glory & Gore" (Lorde cover), "Rebel Scum" (The Fury cover)
Background: Before ever playing a
public concert , new local rap/metal duo The Apocalypse Afterparty
(featuring 2/3rds of Smeltzer as "songwriters") announced on
their Facebook page
on August 21st that they had begun working on their 3 song debut EP
with producer Jamie Vincent (AlgomA), though they also alluded to
recording the remaining songs with different producers. The song that
they recorded with Jamie is "The Crowd", which you can hear in full at
this link, though other details have yet to follow.
Current Release Status: No idea,
especially given "songwriter" Steve Mozarowski's return to the Toronto
area this fall and the band's announced plans to expand their lineup
with female members, but things seemed to be progressing well despite
the band's short existence, and hopefully more comes out soon on this
EP!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beaumont Avenue - King of the World
Rumoured Songs: "Into the Fray",
"Red Rover", "King of the World", "Way Out Of Hell", "Take Me Away",
"Beaten Down", "Two More Jag", "Jesus Concubines"
Background: Already off to a quick
launch with numerous concerts since their fall 2012 debut, local hard
rock quartet The Suicide Kings (who changed their name to Beaumont Avenue this summer) surprisingly announced that they were
officially working on their first EP on
their Facebook page last February. Three weeks later, the band revealed in another
Facebook posting that they were busy working on their own material, and
they had plans to complete an EP by the end of the spring featuring 5-7
songs, which was recorded over the past month at
The Smoke & Oak Room Studio
with producer Dave Pihlaja. As of last spring, the tracks
were in the final stages of mixing, and though info on the sessions and
release was sporadic for much of last year, the band unveiled studio
versions of their originals
"Into the Fray" &
"Jesus Concubines"
in January on Facebook, presumably as a preview for the full release.,
though nothing has followed since, and the band is currently taking a
break due to drummer Ben Boudreau's out of town college commitments.
Current Release Status: As of
their Facebook page in September, Beaumont Avenue are planning to record 2
EPs of 4 original songs each (grouped by how they feel) before writing a
debut album from scratch when Ben returns home, which may or may not
mean that they're scrapping their Smoke & Oak Room session tracks
for their pending debut CD. Given that they're on break while Ben's
away, we may not get fuller details for a while, but be on guard just in
case!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
5 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 confirmed last month 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 last year & this 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",
with this year now targeted for a release. Good art takes time, and
knowing Gates of
Winter's
talent and attention to detail, they won't wanna 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 before elaborating, so keep an eye out for updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Haggith - "XIV", "Apocalypse II", and "Time Machine: Live"
Rumoured Songs (X): "Public Enemy",
"These Four Walls", "Wasted", "Red", "By The Hand", "Runnin' From
Love", "Metal Cage", "Road Rash", "Punch", "Anthem"
Rumoured Songs (A): "Apocalypse", "Spreading The Disease", "Hands of Death", "Tribute to Mike Haggith"
Rumoured Songs (T): Unknown
Background:
After being broken up throughout early 2014, local grunge/alternative
rock quartet Haggith came back at the fourth annual Sewer
Swampstravaganza at The Oddfellows Hall on May 10th, where the band
announced that they would be recording a new studio album, but their Facebook page later indicated that Haggith are now releasing
two new CDs! These include a new original album named "XIV" (featuring unreleased songs, new tracks, and previous
Punch originals) and a resumption of their "Apocalypse II" concept sequel CD, which has been sampled via song postings on
their YouTube channel. Recording sessions are ongoing at
Paperclip Productions,
though it's yet unclear who the featured bassist(s) will be on the
albums, given their recent unstability in that position. On November 24th, the band also revealed plans for a live album named "Time Machine: Live", though little else is known on it or if it will get a paid release.
Current Release Status: As of November 24th, Haggith were aiming for releases of "Apocalypse II", "Time Machine: Live", and "XIV" in January, February, and March respectively, though those can change. "XIV" in particular has been delayed due to the band's split with bassist James White and his
White Wreckords studio, which once had a hand in the recording sessions. Stay tuned for updates on all three as we hear them!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Haggith's third compilation album & "The Warinside"
Rumoured Songs (C): "1980", "Wicked
Midnight Ride", "To Whom This May Concern", "Fourth Floor Centre/She
Wanted To Be A Veterinarian", "Sun Perfume", "Grace", "Limb Coast","Miss
76", "Room 822", "Trinity", "Solitude", "Resurfaced", "The Day The
Lights Went Out", "Lost Time"
Rumoured Songs (W): "We Met As
Surrogates", "The Snake", "Candy Is A Hooker's Name", "Someday", "Lay My
Body To Rest", "Of Cars & Criminals", "September", "Out Of My
League", "A Drive Through The Peninsula", "30"
Background:
In April, Haggith drummer Mike Haggith announced his third best-of compilation
album (possibly "The Best of Mike Haggith: Volume 3"?), which would compile 14 top songs from his previous 4
studio releases ("Suspended Animation", "The Present Din", and both
"Neighbourhood Watch" CDs), Mike didn't close the door on re-recorded
some vocal tracks, possibly in conjunction with a planned re-release of the first "Neighbourhood Watch" album. You can
view the compilation's artwork at this link, though further updates aren't out yet. However, Mike has updated
his Facebook page this fall to detail his upcoming 49th studio album "The
Warinside", which also has a tentative tracklist and will reflect his
recent personal life, with the instrumental
"September" now available to stream from it as well.
Current Release Status: For
the compilation,
Mike was hoping for it's digital release in the weeks following the
reveal of the disc, but that's came and went, so
it's unclear where this will fall. In any event, physical pressings are
possible, pending customer
demand. As for "The Warinside", we're a ways off from a release yet, but
instrumental tracking is complete, and given how fast and honest he tends to be, any updates should be good as
to it's progress. Stay tuned as more comes in!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RedD Monkey - Opus 2
Rumoured Songs: "Broken Parts", "Losing Friends", "The Jock Song"
Background: The planned third CD
from this popular local hardcore punk/classical trio, RedD Monkey have
hyped "Opus 2" (a follow-up to 2012's "All Baroque") in online
posts through last spring, along with previewing the disc at a Toronto
concert last June, though further updates on it's release status have
yet to be made, nor has a release schedule been announced. I'd assume
that "Opus 2" was recorded in a similar method to "All Baroque", but
that's just speculation given that both CDs were labelled as opuses in a
series. Keep an eye in case something's announced!
Current Release Status: I'm not
really sure, especially following the band's confirmation that they're
currently on a hiatus, and given that they've issued no public updates
since their last show on Boxing Day last year, that can't be a good sign
for fans. That said, the sessions appear to be complete,
and a
preview of it was held last year, so a release can't be terribly far off
for when/if they return to activity. In case they do come back, keep an
eye out!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 on November 16th that they're 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 new studio White Wreckords. We'll keep you posted when we hear more!
Current Release Status: Though we don't know much on the new/revived album plans, Redundant do sound serious about completing their CD, and an early 2015 timeframe is likely being targeted. We'll be sure to let you know when updates roll in though!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Revolution's debut EP
Rumoured Songs:
"Murder For Sport", "We Are The Gladiators", "Monsters", "Prisoner of Hate", "Mercury", "Get High With Me"
Background: New local doom/punk trio The Revolution (originally the second version of Brutaly Fatal) surprisingly announced on
their Facebook page this summer that they were heading into the studio to begin recording
their debut EP on July 26th. The sessions were being done at their new
label PaperClip Productions, who signed the band in May. Details on the
title, artwork, song list, and cover art are to be revealed, but the band revealed on November 24th that songwriting was still ongoing, and they wouldn't be back in the studio until they found a new bassist to replace the departed Rainey Vincent.
Current Release Status: Though The Revolution is hoping to have the EP out "in the new year", we don't have past albums from Austin & Brandan to compare
in terms of making a specific guess (aside from Austin's early Brutaly Fatal
demos.) PaperClip Productions tend to be fairly quick and honest
with release dates, so we'll have to see how things flesh out in the
coming months!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sorrow Fields - Let Go
Rumoured Songs: "Godlessness"
Background: Previously known as
Animas, April Eyes, and By The Gods, The Sorrow Fields is the long
gestating black/death metal solo metal project from Bear Hunters/Suicide
Kings guitarist Mitch Sirie. He resurrected the project under it's new
name in 2012, complete with an atmospheric & dark sound, and he
has sporadically updated fans as to his newest planned debut album via
their YouTube channel
and deleted Facebook page. As of June 2013, he'd titled the album
"Godlessness" (though it was changed to "Let Go" this spring), and a
preview of the title track and another unnamed song were uploaded there
to check out before being privatized for unannounced reasons. Mitch is
still working on the album though, and has aims to finish it after 6
years of off & on work, as per a personal Facebook posting earlier this year.
Current Release Status: Mitch's
most recent release timeframe for The Sorrow Fields' album was this
coming winter, though he added on Facebook that he didn't plan to speak
about it further until completion, so our next word or previews on it
might not be for a while. Knowing how delayed his past solo album
"Hollow Hope" was
prior to it's cancellation, this could be a long road, especially as
he's a
workhorse with his two bands. It should also be noted that Mitch hinted
on personal Facebook posts this fall that a studio version of his
fan favourite "Squirrel Buddy" is in the works, but whether it's a
single or a renamed full album isn't clear. In case new
"Let Go" or Sorrow Fields news rolls in, we'll have it here!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone & Address - Rust Orchid
Rumoured Songs: Unknown
Background: Less than a month after the release of their newest solo CD "Need Not Apply", Telephone & Address mainman Chris Shoust revealed on
their Facebook page on October 25th that the solo grunge/punk project has already laid down studio tracks for another CD named "Rust Orchid", but he's waiting for funds to press physical copies before release. He says that the album will be "much different than the last", referencing "Need Not Apply" and it's electric bass/vocals sound, but whether he's returning to an unplugged guitar motif or going completely different isn't clear. When released, it's likely to also turn up on
Telephone & Address' Bandcamp page and on
Interpunk, which Chris is also using to distribute physical copies.
Current Release Status: It's all up to when Chris can fund the physical copies, but I'd be surprised if we see it before New Year's Day, given the time involved with that and SOCAN registration, which he tends to do for his CDs. Given the lo-fi nature though, things could roll along very quickly, so stay tuned for updates!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
With all of that said, one album was removed due to it's unlikely release status, so here's what you should know on it:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sailor's Tongue's debut album
Rumoured Songs:
"Float, "Out of the Woodwork", "Wired For No Sound", "Shadow", "Doctor
John", "BootScattered", "Beauty's Limousine", "Don't Shoot The
Messenger", "Horses & Trains", "Navy"
Background: Despite only playing two gigs (both at the
Rotaryfest Second Stage)
since returning from their three year breakup in 2012, local hard rock
notables Sailor's Tongue hit the studio to record tracks for
their debut full length album, which would have featured their recent quintet
lineup. Drummer Dean McKey uploaded four tracks (some labelled as
demos) to
his Soundcloud page last year that are likely towards the album, while there are existing songs on
their Reverbnation page from earlier sessions that would likely have be featured in some form. A preview demo CD
named "Pierced" was sold at their Rotaryfest Second Stage set in July 2013 that featured 7
tracks, though Dean later told me on Facebook that the album was just a
sampler for attendees and was not the intended final product.
Reason For Removal: This album's been removed because of Sailor's Tongue's inactive public status, as the band hasn't played live or issued a public update since said Rotaryfest set last July, which could partly be due to members Kyle & Dean McKey's out of town residence, or perhaps due to the Second Stage's 2014 hiatus. In any event, their planned CD is presumably in limbo until they come back, though if Sailor's Tongue return (perhaps along with the Second Stage in 2015), I can't see the full album being that far behind! Hopefully we hear more from the guys!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, and of course, stay tuned one week from tomorrow for our Defunct Local Band Profile on Half Past! That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews TOMORROW! Thanks everyone!
