For our second post of 2018 (a news post
will be coming tomorrow!), we'll get this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post on the site today! This monthly feature post spotlights upcoming hard rock, metal, and punk albums from Sault Ontario bands
that have publically acknowledged studio sessions, in order to look at what we know on them, and when we might see them on sale. This month features entries from 13 acts, including six with updates (as noted with their title in
italics), and if you're wondering where Vol.'s planned debut CD is, we are waiting for finite confirmation that they are recording first. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find 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 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 recording sessions are reportedly complete, with
"finishing
touches" to blame for the delays in finishing the CD. The band is
aiming for a more professional sound and release for
their sophomore effort, and while there have been private online updates
in the interim, the band only broke their silence on it in October on
their Facebook page, where they implied that it was "officially moving
onto the mixing and mastering phase." Keep an eye out for updates on "The Dead Testament" when
and if they come in!
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The Din - "Suburban Sendoff"
Rumoured Songs: "In
Search Of The Perfect Moment", "Flux", "Alleyways & Apartments",
"Out Of My League", "75", "Remember", "Potato (Should Have Known
Better)", "A Drive Through The Peninsula", "Give Me A Reason", "High
Park", "Up In The Air", "35's The Limit", "Weekend Delivery", "Missing",
"In The Moonlight", "The Price That You Pay", "Suburban Dream", "We Met
As Surrogates" (a.k.a. "We Met At The Circus")
Background: During their farewell
concert (the "Suburban Sendoff") at
LopLops Lounge on October 21st,
now-defunct alternative hard rock trio The Din revealed to fans that
they were recording soundboard audio from the show for a posthumous live
album, as part of their plans to maintain an online presence with media
releases on social media accounts. The band's setlist that night
included live versions of every song from their two studio albums
(except "The Rose"), as well as "We Met As Surrogates" from frontman
Mike Haggith's 2015 solo album "The Warinside". However, their encore
cover of The Tragically Hip's "Blow At High Dough" is unlikely to make
the final album due to copyright issues. A posting on
their Facebook page on December 23rd implied that the concert's name would be carried over to the album proper.
Current Release Status: There's no
way of knowing yet, especially given Mike's move out west for work, but a
Bandcamp release of the 'Suburban Sendoff" live album is likely when
mastering and editing is complete. The band did vaguely note that details were "coming soon" last month, but not much else is known. Keep
posted to Din pages for word on this album!
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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 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.
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", so stay tuned for updates!
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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 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 Jonas Gasperas (who may be their permanent drummer now) and
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 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!
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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 almost 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's hiatus from public activity, Gates of Winter resurfaced
in July 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 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 courtesy of e-mail conversations and private postings, but I'll wait until more public word comes
out. Keep an eye out for updates!
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Id Iota's full length second CD
Rumoured 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 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, 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 or not. It is not clear if the band will retain ex-bassist Dan Linklater's parts on the final product, or if any collaborations with ex-RedD Monkey
cellist 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 recent bassist change), but if there was ever a plan to release it in time for
their dissolved May tour run, that's obviously came and went. Keep
watch for updates as
they roll in!
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Kraken Mara's self-titled debut EP
Rumoured 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, and the band has since confirmed plans to record
music videos for all of the planned tracks, starting with one for
"Straus" in July.
Current Release Status: Your guess
is as good as mine, but last fall, Kraken Mara announced on their
website that "the last of our tracks are being mastered as we speak",
while a new playthrough video is also in the works. Brendan and Jake are
keeping things very
professional and technical so far, but while updates don't come all that
frequently, the instrumental material sounds very good and complex so
far! These
should please fans of progressive and djent metal, so keep tabs above
for updates!
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Mike McCleary - Weight of the Truth
Rumoured Songs: "The Me I Once
Knew", "Aylan", "Carousel", "Schadenfreude", "Disavowed", "The Other
Side", "Overkill", "Hour Glass", "Clarity", "Roulette", "So Surreal",
"Weight of the Truth", "Fire & Fury", "The Working Poor", "Rain", "Disease", "Date Night With Darkness", "The Best Part", "Childish Leaders", "Be The One"
Background: A relatively new sight
in our coverage, local hard rock/punk solo singer/guitarist Mike
McCleary began teasing a debut EP as soon as
his Facebook page launched in August, posting a number of original songs that may or may not be planned for it on
his Soundcloud page
concurrently. The songs there are primarily studio recordings, some of
which being previewed at his set during last month's Sault College
reunion concert with members of Machines Dream backing him up, though he
has not publically went into specifics on the EP yet, aside from revealing it's title on October 3rd, and posting videos of a few more songs since that weren't previously tied to it.
Current Release Status: I have no
clue, but Mike has showcased a nice range of talents and influences on
his song postings so far, especially for seemingly coming from out of
nowhere, so definitely follow Mike's online pages for more on his solo
music and EP plans!
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Mike Vincent - Ultimate Chaos
Rumoured Songs: "Shoah"
(retitled Skull After Betrayl cover), "Sacred Sins", "Six, Six, Six",
"Systematical Satan", "Soulless Sanctuary", "Screaming Serenity", "Times
Of The Unforgotten", "Chapters of No Light", "We're of Nothing",
"Phases of Pain", "Filters of Fire", "Chapter 2: Glow of the Dark",
"Ultimate Chaos"
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, with "Times of the
Unforgotten" notably
featuring his uncle Jason Ladouceur (ex-Winkstinger) in a guest spot.
After a year's hiatus for personal reasons, Mike re-emerged with a new
song "Filters of Fire" this summer, and revised plans to combine his
planned EPs "Six, Six, Six" & "We're of Nothing" into one full
length album named "Ultimate Chaos".
Current Release Status: No idea,
but given that he's posted all of it's planed songs on Bandcamp, a
digital release through
there seems likely, unless he only planned them to be individual free
uploads. 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 while he put in some solid work in the process,
hopefully these get a formal paid release. Keep tabs for further
updates!
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Northwest's second EP
Rumoured Songs: "Hangover Habits", "Drinking Games"
Background: Following the release
of their debut self-titled digital EP in September 2014, and a lengthy
stage hiatus from late last year through this winter, local indie/punk
quintet Northwest resumed major activity in April 2017 with teaser
photos of recording sessions at Mission Control Studios with producer
Dustin Jones (as they had done for their debut) being posted over the
spring to
their Facebook page.
Confirmation that this was for a new EP, their first with current
drummer Marc Santos, only came in July via their write-up in
this year's Rotaryfest program, prior to their first appearance on the Second Stage..
Current Release Status: It's hard
to say, especially given their quiet postings aside from the teaser
photos, and the fact that their debut EP was only released online, but
things sounded like they wee progressing well at a reliable local studio. In their New Year's Day post on Facebook, Northwest said that "we will have new music to share with everyone in 2018", so hopefully Northwest's second album sees it's way onto online or
physical storefronts in the coming months!
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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 band 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, or with new guitarist Yannick Casavant.
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, haven't made any
public statements regarding
the album
since 2014, and were only sporadically seen on stage in 2016 & 2017. The band did
announce that they were writing new songs and working on "new studio
shit" in early 2016 but there's been no public follow-through, but if
we hear any updates, we'll let you know!
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Skeyes of Seven - Stare at the Sky
Rumoured 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 last fall. In January of last year, 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, especially with their return to the stage in September. Follow along
to see where things go!
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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 2016, 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. 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. Also, no word on how his newest Soundcloud tracks from
August play in, if at all. 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! This series will return on or around February 2nd, while our next monthly feature post (barring a possible CD review in the coming week) will be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile one week from tomorrow, so look for those then, and for a new news post tomorrow! Thanks everyone!
Crimson Crusade
Info/Analysis: One of a cluster of young extreme metal bands to come out of Central Algoma Secondary School and their CASS Cafe events in the early 2010s, Crimson Crusade launched in the spring of 2010 and spent their first couple of years as a sporadically seen act in varying Algoma District settings, debuting at a Hilton Beach event that summer, and eventually playing their first Soo show at The Bellevue Park Bandshell in August 2011. After months of practice and some big lineup shifts, Crimson Crusade fully relaunched in November 2012 at that month's Locals Attack event at The Canadian, shifting from mostly covers to an original-heavy setlist, inspired greatly by the band Death. Notable local appearances in 2013 included that summer's Skeletonwitch, Warsenal, and Ahna concerts, though a brief breakup that summer stunted their post-EP momentum. The band played their final show at The Oddfellows Hall on Devil's Night, and announced in 2014 that they were "on a hiatus."
