Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Where Are The New Albums? (May 2023 Update)

For our second post of the day, we have this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, featuring our look at the newest updates and release statuses of upcoming albums that are publically known to have had recording sessions begin, and while no entries are new this month, four of the seven have updates! If planned release dates hold up, this series will dramatically shrink come June, but for now, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!

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Chase James Wigmore - The Chaotic Rite

Rumoured Songs: Multiple

Background: Ever the prolific artist & songwriter, local folk punk/extreme metal musician Chase Wigmore has been working on an extensive rock opera for years (once claimed to be a 33 part work), originally named "A Story About A Kid Named Todd". Worked on in between his other unrelated solo albums, released for sale or otherwise, Chase posted a lengthy elaboration of the rock opera last year, now titled "The Chaotic Rite", outlining its concept, recording plans, and long-term release timeline. Clips of songs have surfaced on his Facebook page, as well as the final artwork, while in promotion for his last release, Chase has hinted that "The Chaotic Rite" might be his final eponymous solo album.

Current Release Status: Your guess is as good as mine for when this will finally come out, but remember that Chase is very prolific and varied in his musical interests, and not every album of his has seen a formal paid release, either by finishing it's lifespan as a demo, or by being released online for free. Regardless, he has been working on the rock opera for years to ensure a quality product, so stay tuned for updates from his camp!

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Fort Creek's debut EP

Rumoured Songs: "Hammer Down"

Background: Local southern/hard rock quintet Fort Creek have sporadically teased plans to record an EP since February 2020, and while the pandemic lockdowns may have gave them more time to record, they wouldn't release any samples until almost two years later when they shared this snippet of their single "Hammer Down" their Facebook page, later posting this 72 second clip. The guys debuted it at their headlining concert at Soo Blaster in June, and have played it live regularly since, but they have yet to release any full tracks online. The band has been working in studio in early 2023, revealing that "it's coming along" in a Facebook post on March 22nd.

Current Release Status: Fort Creek revealed in a comment reply on their Facebook page on April 17th that their originals are "set to be released this fall", which follows their unrealized plans to release an EP in "late summer", then "late 2022". There are a lot of unknowns either way, especially given the 2+ years of production time and that this is a band primarily known for their work on the weekend cover circuit (though some members do have experience in name original bands, especially Tony). It will be interesting to see how things develop, so stay tuned!
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Handsome Sandwich - "Deconstructed"

Rumoured Songs: "All Or Nothing", "Bitter", "No Entry", "No Idea", "Better Off"

Background: After taking a year+ long hiatus during the pandemic, local "no genre" band Handsome Sandwich reunited in mid-2021 with a new lineup, with Jesse Cook & Johnny Belanger now joined by singer Taylor Emlaw, guitarist Mitch Sirie, and (as of last summer) bassist Rafael Medina. Via their new Facebook page & YouTube channel, the band almost instantly began teasing a debut album (after previously being covers-only from 2017-2020), posting videos of them playing original songs. In June 2021, the album had began pre-production, with recording at Unsalted Audio with producer Bill Priddle & mixer Dustin Goodall. In November, the band confirmed that the album's name was changed from "Lettuce" to "Deconstructed", and recording sessions wrapped in January, with Jordan Zadorozny mixing the tracks at Skylark Park in Pembroke. Their songs "Bitter", "Better Off" , and "No Entry" have came out as pre-release singles, complete with their own music videos. The album will have a CD print run, and the cover artwork was revealed last month.

Current Release Status: The band has had a release date of this Saturday planned for this album since last fall, and that will culminate in a release concert at The Loft, which is The Algoma Conservatory of Music's third floor intimate concert venue and attached recording studio. Handsome Sandwich did tease that this set will be "live recorded", but they have not specified if they meant in video or audio format, and if the latter, if they plan to release their set as a live album or not. Saturday night should be a huge occasion, especially given the fancier setting for the release party, so stay tuned!
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Jonesy Land - "Zoom - Out"

Rumoured Songs: "Sunshine Parades", "Moral Blackout", "Ain't Dead Yet"

Background: The current solo project from former Rising Tide/Inner City Surfers frontman Dustin Jones, he has been working under the Jonesy Land name since 2021 when he played a handful of summer festival dates, while also sporadically releasing new studio original recordings with attached music videos. While public teasers towards Jonesy Land's future plans have been made before 2023 (primarily via this SooToday article), Dustin finally announced in February that he is working on a studio album named "Zoom - Out" at his own Mission Control Studios, to be released through his label Tidal Records, and to be produced by Kyle Whittaker at Strange Pumpkin Studios in St. Catharines. Jonesy Land is a fluid project for genres and performers, and it was confirmed through a "reel" on the Tidal Facebook page that local folk musician Shannon Moan will be among the guests, though more musicians are to be announced.

Current Release Status: This "reel" (cross-posted from Dustin's TikTok page) confirms a planned album release date of Wednesday, May 31st (my birthday!), barely confirming earlier teasers of a spring release. If this holds, it will be great to see a new studio album from Dustin for the first time in over a decade, but be advised that Jonesy Land do not have a formal social media page (not counting TikTok, which is personal use as well) to promote themselves with. As such, updates on the album may be slower than with other bands, let alone focused on his own personal accounts, where he has gleaned more about the album's planned makeup, which may not even feature their initial three singles. In any event, we'll keep you guys posted on the release!
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Mike Haggith - "All The Best In All You Do"

Rumoured Songs: "I've Seen It Before", "Twist of Fate", "If Only You Could Hear Me", "All You Do", "Love Will Light The Way", "All For You"

Background: During his live-streamed Facebook concert in February 2022, local/Thompson, Manitoba alt-hard rock musician Mike Haggith revealed that he was working on his newest studio album, entitled "All The Best In All You Do". Like his other post-Sault Ste. Marie albums, this will have an overarching concept, this time about the transition out of depression and being manipulated by others, into a happier personal life. At the time, Mike was 35% done with the album, which will reportedly have ten songs, some of which he has previewed in 2022 concerts and in his Facebook live-streams. A single version of "Twist of Fate" was unveiled in July, and live videos of some songs can be found on Mike's Facebook page and/or YouTube channel in individual uploads. Mike moved to Barrie, Ontario for work reasons at the end of 2022, and has resumed working on his studio material there. This may also be put out on Mike's own indie label MorningStar Records, which he has used as a name-only imprint previously.

Current Release Status: Given Mike's day job, personal commitments, and admitted issues with Facebook, he hasn't been as active on social media in recent months, but he was playing live dates last year and presumably working on recording the new album where time allows, though all of the personal and professional changes involving his move to Ontario are definitely acknowledged. Hopefully things are progressing naturally, and we'll keep you posted!

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Spades GT''s first full-length album

Rumoured Songs: "Cenobites", "Hands"

Background: After a successful local run from 2013-2020 that included their 2014 debut EP "The First" and six more studio tracks on 2015's "Fed Up!" split, local crossover thrash quintet Jack Spades were relaunched in late 2021 as Spades GT, once frontman J.D. Pearce moved to Barrie for work reasons. After playing live throughout 2022, the band announced plans to record a full-length album in January, hitting the studio in Toronto with producer Kyle Marchant in March. Only J.D. remains from the Jack Spades-era CDs, now joined by late-era Jack Spades guitarist Daniel Horton (who also moved to the GTA) plus new additions Jay Sarrazin, James Roy Daley, and Tyler Reiner on guitar, bass, and drums. The album will feature guest appearances from Anvil frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow on guitar and Daniel's Fast Life bandmate Andrew Moorehouse on vocals.

Current Release Status: The band announced via this Facebook post in March that the album is "coming out in May", and if that projection holds, it's convenient timing given that Spades alumni Jesse Cook & Johnny Belanger's debut album with Handsome Sandwich is also slated for release this month! Given the extra opportunities and availability that Spades GT have in Southern Ontario, things can easily come together quicker and on a higher profile compared to their mid-2010s efforts. Keep posted to Spades GT's online pages for further updates, and songs from the new album have been filmed in live concert videos!

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The Uncanny Valley's debut album

Rumoured Songs: "The Uncanny Valley", "Glowin'", "Middle Man", “This Love is Psychedelic”, "Stuck In Rotation", “Sweet Like Sugar”, "Fumbling Through"

Background: The new classic hard rock band from 2019 Soo's Got Talent winner Adrian Sullivan, fans will have seen original material of theirs right from the start, as The Uncanny Valley debuted their own songs in their first live concert at The Canadian on New Year's Eve 2019. Live concert & jam session videos have followed on their Facebook page featuring their own material as well. After posting a teaser audio clip of "Sweet Like Sugar" in September 2020, they posted the full studio version of "Middle Man" that October, finally confirming there that they are working on their first album. The guys did record a studio version of "Stuck In Rotation" at Unsalted Audio for the Clusterfolk Music Festival and a related compilation album in April 2022, but whether that exact recording will be included on the band's own album is unclear.

Current Release Status: No clue, which isn't helped by The Uncanny Valley's age and relatively unfamiliar profile for many readers, not to mention the complications of the pandemic, but they have played a number of local concerts last year. That said, they are a talented group who seemed to be taking the right steps for the future, and hopefully more updates on The Uncanny Valley's debut album follow in some form or another when ready!

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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 June 2nd, while our next monthly feature post will likely be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile one week from tomorrow. That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!

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