At last, it's now time for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, as we're once again looking at the current release statuses of upcoming metal, hard rock, and punk albums that are at least partially recorded! This month, we've removed two albums (Haggith's 'XIV" and Rotopsy's new disc) due to their successful releases last month, and we'll have more on Haggith in the near future, but a highly anticipated split has been added to this month's installment! Remember, the album must have had a public acknowledgement of recording sessions taking place for it to make this post, and the five entries below with updates are noted with their title in
italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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The Apocalypse Afterparty's debut EP
Rumoured Songs: "The Crowd" (
The Fury cover), "Rebel Scum" (The Fury cover), "Sweet F*ck"
Background: Before ever playing a
public concert, new local rap/metal band 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 own Toronto-area
commitments and the band's expansion of their lineup with female
members, but things seemed to be progressing well despite
the band's short existence. It should be noted that The Apocalypse
Afterparty 's version of "The Crowd" is featured on
Blood Shed Productions' recent 11-way split album, but at last word, the EP is
still in the works. Hopefully more comes out soon on it!
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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 last summer) surprisingly announced that they were
officially working on their first EP on
their Facebook page in February 2013. 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 former Smoke & Oak Room Studio
with producer Dave Pihlaja. Though info on the sessions and
release was sporadic for much of 2013, the band unveiled studio
versions of their originals
"Into the Fray" &
"Jesus Concubines"
last year 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. The band was working on studio work and
songwriting over the holidays while Ben was back home, but it's unclear
how much was done. We'll let you know when we hear more!
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Crucify The Whore - "Jesus Eats Human Flesh" & an untitled three-way split
Rumoured Songs (J): "Couch Kushins", "Vomit Squirts From Your Mouth To Mine", "Rotten C**** In The Glove Box"
Rumoured Songs (3): Unknown
Background: Rather than release
their next material on single CDs, local goregrind solo project Crucify
The Whore have announced continued plans to include songs on split
albums, a common occurrence for bands of this subgenre. Following the
Blood Shed Productions 11-way split, C.T.W. have announced the former
split with North Bay grindcore band Scrotox, with it's possibly
controversial artwork also online, while the latter (whose songs haven't
been revealed) is apparently a three-way release alongside Ohio
cybernoise band
Menstrual Munchies & New York grind duo
Soaked In Semən
(don't shoot the messenger, I didn't name them!) Additional details on
both are likely forthcoming, and it's not known yet whether the C.T.W.
songs will find their way onto future solo releases.
Current Release Status: The
split with Scrotox has been teased for the spring, but the other split
awaits finite details on it's content, title, artwork, and release date.
Stay tuned to C.T.W. and Blood Shed pages for more details!
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Destroilet & Jack Spades' untitled three-way split album with The Ripcordz
Rumoured Songs (D): "iBomb", "Bamberg Witch Prison"
Rumoured Songs (J): "Frederick", "Fear Corps", "Motorwolf", "Negative Headspace", "Crossroads", "The Lot"
Rumoured Songs (R): Unknown
Background: In March, local punk/metal bands Destroilet & Jack Spades both revealed online that they'd be joining forces with Montreal hardcore punk legends The Ripcordz on a three-way split CD! Current plans are to fund the album through upcoming concerts (including a fundraiser at The Algonquin Pub on May 30th) and
a Kickstarter campaign, though recording sessions on at least Jack Spades' end have begun, with drum tracking completed last month according to
their Facebook page. When complete, this will be Jack Spades' second release and Destroilet's third (though their first with new co-lead singer Brenton Ellis), and
Tidal Records will likely have a hand in the recording and release of the project.
Current Release Status: Plans are to release this ambitious split album on October 24th at The Algonquin Pub with a planned CD release concert headlined by The Ripcordz, who have shared the stage with the two local bands and members within at various recent local concert events. There's a long time to go before then, but things sound like they're off to a great start, so keep posted as more comes in!
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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
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 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",
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!
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Haggith - "Apocalypse II" & "Time Machine: Live"
Rumoured Songs (A): "Apocalypse",
"Hands of Death", "Immunity", "Spreading The Disease", "Home, Part 5",
"Home, Part 6", "Home, Part 7", "Tribute to Mike Haggith", "We Are The
Damned", "Apocalypse II"
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 EP named "XIV" (which was quietly released on April 17th) and a
resumption of their "Apocalypse II" concept sequel CD, with all tracks
from each now posted
their YouTube channel. Recorded at
Paperclip Productions
with input from new bassist Jordan Leach, "Apocalypse II" is complete
and awaiting release it's imminent planned release. 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: "Time Machine: Live" is in limbo, and may have been cancelled following the departure of ex-guitarist Daniel Horton, but "Apocalypse II" is slated to be released on May 10th according to the band's Facebook page, so watch out for it then!
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Mike Haggith - "The Warinside"
Rumoured Songs: "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:This past fall, prolific local solo musician (and Haggith drummer) Mike Haggith revealed on
his Facebook page that he was working on his
49th studio album entitled "The
Warinside" (lack of a space intentional), which also has an announced tracklist and will reflect his
recent personal life. Seven songs from the album (plus an alternate version of
"The Snake") can now be streamed on
his YouTube channel,
while the album being primarily recorded at Galactic Records again,
with Haggith's Curtis McKenzie providing some guest guitar parts. Two promotional digital EPs ave also been released on Mike's Bandcamp page featuring songs from the album, entitled
"Of Cars & Criminals" &
"Candy Is A Hooker's Name", though neither recieved advance notice or are likely for a physical release.
Current Release Status: 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!
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The Pixo Control's debut CD
Rumoured Songs: "Land of the
Moles", "Reasons", "Sixty Extra Chances Called Minutes", "The Great
Salute To Radio Edits", "Tall Ships", "No", "Quick Little Quarter",
"Call Me A Liar", "Scratch", "Alphabetical Order", "This Is Momentary, Forever"
Background: After earlier teases of
recording sessions, young local grunge/alternative trio The Pixo
Control revealed on their online pages (including
on Instagram
in November) that they were indeed working on their first album, with
veteran local musician Keith Conway having a hand in the album's
production.
An Instagram video
was also posted that featured bassist Steve Edwards working on a studio
track, and updates have steadily followed to tease fans on the album's
progress. The band also confirmed in February that they have signed with Tidal Records, who will presumably also release this album.
Current Release Status: No idea,
but the guys sound like they've gotten a fair amount done already, and
they've been turning a lot of heads so far, so don't bypass them, and
stay tuned for more on their first album this year!
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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
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!
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The Revolution - Roll Call
Rumoured Songs:
"Prisoner of Hate", "Monsters", "Cold Temptress", "Into The Fog", "Get High With Me"
Background: Then-new local doom/punk trio The Revolution (originally the second version of Brutaly Fatal) surprisingly announced on
their Facebook page
that they were heading into the studio to begin recording
their debut EP last July. The sessions are being done at their new
label PaperClip Productions, who signed the band in May. To be titled
"Roll Call", a 5 song track
listing was announced at the same time, which omitted prior live originals
like
"Murder For Sport", "We Are The Gladiators", and "Mercury". One of the songs (title unclear) was previewed in
this Facebook video
on Christmas, and while they surprisingly disbanded in late February,
they reunited last month and have resumed work on "Roll Call". Drum tracking finished last month, with guitar & bass tracking beginning on April 12th, while the band also shared
this image on Facebook, which might be the planned cover art.
Current Release Status: It's hard to say when we'll see the
final product, but they are hard at work. It's surprising enough that the guys are back after their
month-long breakup, so follow the above links for more on this
resurrected album!
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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/Beaumont Avenue 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" last 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 last year.
Current Release Status: Mitch's
most recent release timeframe for The Sorrow Fields' album was this
winter, though we're past that now. 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 in the 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!
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Telephone & Address - "Monster" and "The Early Tapes"
Rumoured Songs (M): "Unknown"
Rumoured Songs (E): "The Plumbers"
Background: Telephone &
Address mainman Chris Shoust announced on
their Facebook page
in January that he's 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"), all of which being released before their recent full integration
into the local scene. Since then however, he quietly revealed on
Facebook 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. No other details have been revealed yet, but
some songs may be on
their Soundcloud page, and when both are
released, they're likely to turn up on
Telephone & Address' Bandcamp page and on
Interpunk,
which Chris is also using to distribute physical copies.
Current Release Status: Chris is aiming for "Monster" to come out in July once he has the funding to press physical copies of it, so look for it this summer!. As for "The Early Tapes", Chris revealed in March
that it "will be delayed for some time", though he didn't elaborate on
why specifically. Still, keep an eye out for updates on both!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, and keep an eye out for Haggith's new CD this month! We'll be back with this month's Defunct Local Band Profile next week, but in the meantime, look for a new news post later today! Thanks everyone!
Note that they're not playing later despite being prior Swampfest headliners, as Mitch & Johnny are playing at The Rockstar Bar with Beaumont Avenue later tomorrow night. Local hard rock/grunge quartet Haggith will play their third straight Swampfest tomorrow in their first concert set since the VM Radio Battle and the release of "XIV" tomorrow at 7:30 PM. It will also see the return of former bassist Caleb Cachagee on guitar to replace Daniel Horton, but how will the new lineup sound? Local death metal duo Brutally Fatal (featuring members of Rotopsy and The Revolution from last year) will hit the stage at 6:40 PM in their Canadian Nightclub debut, while new local hard rock/alternative duo Infinity Grinder will play just their second ever concert as tomorrow's first band at 6:00 PM, in what will be drummer Terrence Gomes' third straight Swampfest appearance (with The Northern Tragedy in 2013 and open mic last year.)
