Friday, May 2, 2014

Where Are The New Albums? (May 2014 Update)

For our first monthly feature post at the SMS, we have this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post once again! Like before, this series looks at announced and at least partially recorded studio albums, EPs, and non-paper sleeved demos from Sault Ontario metal/hard rock artists, in order to profile what's public about their recording process and upcoming release plans! This month's installment is a fair amount smaller than in April due to the removal of three now-released discs (from Shit Liver, Jack Spades, and Rotopsy), but of the 11 remaining bands, four have updated information, as denoted with their album's name in italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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AlgomA - Reclaimed By The Forest

Rumoured Songs: "Fell Down A Well", "Reclaimed By The Forest", "Tertiary Syphillis", "Go On, Git!!", "Extinct Volcanoes", "Bedsores", "The Electric Fence"

Background: After just two live concerts, new local stoner metal trio AlgomA (featuring BeeFMouTH and Fuller alumni) began work on studio recordings last summer as per their Facebook page, with singer/guitarist Darby Wigwaus's film production company 62nd Chamber Productions' website confirmning that they are in fact working on a debut demo EP.  Vocal recordings were completed in August, and they sentoff the tracks to be post-produced in Peterborough, with mixing being taken care of by veteran local musician Mark Rand (source here.) Facebook postings in February revealed the EP's name ("Reclaimed By The Forest") and that it would be released via Malaysian metal label Deadbeat Media later this year. You can see pictures from the sessions in this Facebook album (and the full cover art by Adam Geyer here), while the first song "Fell Down A Well" can be streamed at their Bandcamp page. Stay tuned for more info!

Current Release Status: Given the label deal and recent announcements, a mid-late 2014 release wouldn't shock me for "Reclaimed By The Forest", but a proper timeframe for the release is not public yet. The guys have a lot of experience in music and production, and hopefully we see the final product of these recording sessions sooner or later, so keep an eye out!
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As It Stands' third EP

Rumoured Songs: "Conception", "Big Problem, Little Lock City", "Rise Above", "One Last Chance", "One Less Than Wayne Gretzky", "Big Bucks, No Whammy", "Eeny, Meeny, Miney, Ho", "Embay the Terrible", "Oh Herm, Herm Delish", "David & Goliath", "Stay Together For The Kids" (Blink-182 cover)

Background: Continuing their high success levels since their local re-emergence in 2010, hardcore quintet As It Stands started recording sessions for their third EP with Metalworks Studios in Mississauga in July 2011 with producer Kevin Dietz. The sessions lasted just a few days, but a lot got accomplished, and you can see some of the happenings from the sessions on their official studio vlog, which features some audio samples and video of some members recording their parts. The vlog also confirmed that their cover of Blink-182's "Stay Together For The Kids" was recorded in Mississauga, and that the songs will be part of an EP, not a full length album as was previously believed. It was currently unclear whether the songs they recorded at Stereo Soul Studios in 2010 and/or in Stoney Creek in 2011 will be featured on the EP in some form. A new track named "Oh Herm, Herm Delish" was posted onto SoundCloud in early 2012, with studio copies of "Conception" & "Big Problem, Little Lock City" also being uploaded to their Facebook page that year, both of which you can stream at this location. Mixing was underway locally with Brendan Clace at the former Dimension Studios, so stay tuned for more news on this EP hopefully soon!

Current Release Status: Though the band has finally returned to activity last fall, I have no idea if a full EP release is still in the cards. Dimension Studios closed in the interim, and recent posts have indicated that As It Stands are mostly starting fresh with new material for their next live dates, with only a few 2010-2012 originals returning, so a release of the older EP sessions may not be a current priority. They did seem to have everything under control and well planned for the sessions and their studio work, but at this point, I think fans would be excited to just see As It Stands live again. Just in case, keep an eye out for any possible updates!
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The Bear Hunters - Eternal Hibernation
 
Rumoured Songs: "Dominate", "Collapse The Sun", "Karma", "Deception", "Bloodthirst", "Casualties Of War", "Overthrown", "Condemned", "Succumb To Eternity", "Render This Void"

Background: Local death metal quintet The Bear Hunters formally announced that they'd begun recording for their debut EP "Bloodthirst" in May 2011, just days after adding then-guitarist Josh Stephney to the band, but details were extremely scant following that news, and the recording plans fell dormant until January 2012, when the band announced plans to record material towards a full length demo release. Setbacks (including a dead computer) have pushed back a planned release, including their non-album cover of Woods of Ypres' "Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye)", but 2013 sessions with producer James White at White Wreckords have been far more fruitful. To be entitled "Eternal Hibernation", only guitar solos & vocals were remaining to record as of November. Guitarist Mitch Sirie confirmed in a Facebook e-mail that all of the band's pre-"Servitude" originals will be on the album, with anything newer planned to be on their second release. The album will feature tracks from Josh Stephney, who recorded his parts before moving to Brampton.

Current Release Status: The most recent indications implied that "Eternal Hibernation" would come out this past winter, but we're past that timeframe. Nothing final has been confirmed beyond optimistic online postings, though this is by far the closest they've been to completing recording sessions towards an album release, so fingers crossed things stay on track!
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Crucify The Whore - Welcome To Earth

Rumoured Songs: "People These Days", "Rectified Rectal Tragedy", "Footf***** In Your A******", "Batch Cones", "Orthostatic Hypertension", "Seshing In June Bugs"

Background: The newest demo from Sault Ontario independent death/grind label & studio Blood Shed Productions, the Ringsnaps Gibson-led solo project is planning "Welcome To Earth" to be a full length release, with scattered song samples posted to the label's YouTube channel from late last year onward. The tentative album cover was also up on C.T.W.'s Facebook page, but it was replaced on May 1st, though both are controversial in imagery. Stay tuned for updates on this and other Blood Shed CD projects as we get them!

Current Release Status: Early indications had "Welcome To Earth" coming out in "Winter 2014", but a post on their Facebook page in January indicated that the release would likely be delayed, and that was true, as it's now targeted to come out on July 1st (the same day as C.T.W.'s last solo demo's release.) Given the home recording, this should be a good indicator, so keep an eye out for some new grind soon in 2014!
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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 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." A release this year is likely now targeted, but it's pushing 6 months since the band's last public update. 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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Mike Haggith - "A Place Of Our Own" & a yet untitled compilation album

Rumoured Songs (A): "Let Me In", "Cowardly Hearts Beneath The Stars", "Long Talk", "To Kansas: The Ballad of K4/K5", "This Potato May Be Used As A Flotation Device", "A Place Of Our Own"

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"

Background: The planned 48th solo album from prolific local solo musician and hard rock drummer Mike Haggith, "A Place Of Our Own" is a planned concept album similar to other recent solo albums of his, though themes and overall genres aren't known yet. Announced on his Facebook page on November 25th (complete with an early track listing and album cover), this album features no songs dropped from recent albums at present, and it is replacing the indefinitely delayed "The Tower" in it's release order. Tracking and mixing is currently underway for the album at Galactic Records, with vocals recorded locally at Paperclip Productions, and you can hear the first three songs at this link. Also recently announced is his third best-of compilation album (possibly "The Best of Mike Haggith: Volume 3"?), which was announced on Facebook last month, and it compiles 14 top songs from his last 4 studio releases, though some may have re-recorded vocals. You can view the artwork at this link, though further updates aren't out yet.

Current Release Status: Mike ws currently projecting a release last month for "A Place Of Our Own", following earlier tentative dates dating to February. He's generally forthcoming and honest about the release dates of his solo albums and any delays on them, so keep an eye out over the coming weeks for finite word on a release date! As for the new compilation album, Mike's hoping for it's digital release in the next few weeks, while physical pressings are possible, pending customer demand. Stay tuned as more on both albums come in!
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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 on June 1st, 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. That said, the sessions appear to be complete, and a preview of it was held in June, 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!
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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 have hit the studio to record what I believe is their first full length album, which will feature their current 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 will likely be featured in some form. Though info on the album is as sporadic as their live dates, a preview demo CD named "Pierced" was sold at their Rotaryfest set in July featuring 7 tracks, though Dean later told me on Facebook that the album was just a sampler for attendees and was not the final product. Keep an eye out for updates!

Current Release Status: No finite idea as of right now, but given their long breaks between live concerts & page postings, there hasn't been many outlets to give updates either. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised to see the final CD released at this year's Rotaryfest, but maybe they'll play more live dates in the interim to shake up that guess. In any event, stay tuned!
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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/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 recent personal Facebook posting.

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. In case new "Let Go" or Sorrow Fields news rolls in, we'll have it here!
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The Suicide Kings - 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 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. Stay tuned for more!

Current Release Status: With the EP likely done it's recording phase, it's now likely a waiting game for the release of "King of the World". I know that a brief band member posting on Facebook suggested a free distribution of the EP, but that was either premature or incorrect. I just hope this doesn't encounter the same delays that have hampered bassist Mitch Sirie's other band The Bear Hunters' demo recording plans. Things seem in good hands so far, so watch out for updates as they come in!
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Sykotyk Rampage -"Wyrd Radio", "Padre Pwj with Ready for Revival", "Environ-Mental Suits 2: Anvil of Antioch", "Kitty Farts & Other Playful Noises", "Who's Driving Spaceship Earth?", "Santa's Night Out", and "Double LIVE"

Rumoured Songs: Unknown

Background: Continuing their extremely prolific recording nature, local "blue Chinese metal crash punk" quartet Sykotyk Rampage began recording sessions at River Front Recreation Studios for their next seven "albums" on February 6th, which will bring their total album amount to 50 if all goes according to plan. Their second batch of albums with current bassist Tony "Chastity Boy" Briglio, the band's Facebook page elaborated on themes for some of them, with the first two hinting towards covers, "Anvil of Antioch" continuing a series started the previous year, "Santa's Night Out" possibly being the long hinted at Christmas album, and "Double LIVE" being their first live album from one of their concerts, with the first and last being double CD length. Nothing else is out besides the "Anvil of Antioch" cover art, but keep an eye out for updates!

Current Release Status: The band hasn't indicated a rough timeframe for the releases, but mid-late 2014 would make sense, especially if "Santa's Night Out" is seasonal. Keep in mind however that Sykotyk Rampage's albums have all been posted online strictly as free postings since 2012, but in the event that these get a paid release, I have them here. Watch out for updates and hints throughout the year!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! This series of course returns on June 2nd, while our next feature post will be our Defunct Local Band Profiles on Riot! By Night and Face First, which goes up one week from tomorrow, so stay tuned for those and more news soon! Thanks everyone!

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