It's now time for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! This monthly feature series continues to look at the current release whereabouts of in-progress and not-yet-released albums from local metal, hard rock, and punk acts, in order to see what is publically known about them and when we might see them on sale. This installment has the same 9 entries as last month, but two have updates, as noted with the title in
italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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A Dire Setback's self-titled debut album
Rumoured Songs: "Everlasting
Despair", "Kicking & Screaming", "Drop Dead", "Catastrophe", "Faded", "Forget This
Memory", "Endless Dream", "Nightmares"
Background: Though discussion of a
debut album had been ongoing throughout 2017, local alt-punk trio A Dire
Setback only announced that their first CD was in the works in March of 2018. To help fund the recording sessions, A
Dire Setback launched
a Patreon page
to allow fans to help financially back them and the album, with
exclusive content and perks promised for backers on there, though public
content on
their Facebook page
has also been released. Pointless
bandmates Bill Priddle & Dustin Goodall handled production and
mastering, at least partially at Dustin's own Unsalted Audio, with full
recording sessions taking place between May 2018 & May 2019. The first single
"Kicking & Screaming" was released online in September, complete with
official music video, with full release details following in January on Facebook &
CDBaby, including
the cover artwork, track listing (notably omitting their early song "Wasting Away"), samples of each song, and the full version of their newer original
"Drop Dead".
Current Release Status: A Dire Setback confirmed last month that their album will be formally launched at
a CD release party at
LopLops Lounge on Saturday, March 28th, with albums running for $15 on disc or $9.99 digitally on CDBaby. This all sounds definitive and will be highly anticipated for fans of A.D.S., but stay tuned to the above links for continued details on the release over the next two months!
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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 has 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. The music video for
"I Fear No God" was posted on YouTube in December 2018, marking the first public release of a song from the CD, while
the final cover artwork and full track listing order were posted on
their Facebook page on February 17th.
Current Release Status: The Bear
Hunters haven't given any firm timetables for when to expect "The Dead
Testament"
in stores, and they have not posted on their Facebook page since the
track listing reveal, but recording sessions are reportedly complete,
and they have played live since then.
The band is
aiming for a more professional sound and release for
their sophomore effort, and to go along with that, artwork and physical
distribution plans are ongoing, as are "a ton of cool ideas for stepping
our media game up." Keep an eye out for updates on "The Dead Testament"
when
and if they come in!
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Dustin Jones & The Rising Tide's fourth album
Rumoured Songs: "Lost & Found", "All Broke Down"
Background: After a lengthy hiatus
dating back to the summer of 2016, local Celtic punk veterans Dustin
Jones & The Rising Tide resumed public activity in early 2018, later
beginning recording sessions by that October at Dustin's own Mission Control
Studios, as per
their Facebook page.
The band confirmed that they were indeed recording a fourth studio
album (and first in 7 years) in January 2019, which will presumably be
released through
Tidal Records, and will also be their first album with second guitarist Liam Seymour and drummer Chris Johns.
A 22 second teaser
of the first single
"Lost & Found"
was posted on Facebook,
and it's official music video was released in March, while "All Broke
Down" was initially cited as the first single in December 2018
(source here.)
Current Release Status: When The
Tide shared the above teaser clip, they mentioned that the album was
"coming soon", which doesn't tell us much. With recording sessions a few
months in, and it's intended song now out via the music video, it's
likely that Dustin and company aren't early in the process,
but we'll let you know when more comes out on their highly anticipated
fourth album as we proceed in the new year!
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The Elements'
debut EP
Rumoured Songs: "Liar", "G20", "Triple H", "The Rut", "I Need A Friend", "Riptide"
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 2015, and
have since publically confirmed earlier teases that they are working on a
debut EP. Frontman Rob Speers has confirmed in personal conversations
in early 2016 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 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 over 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 2020!
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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 in late 2016, 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 in early 2017. Scattered postings and hints have followed, but
nothing else has came out beyond performances of newer originals in
concert through mid-2018. For reference,
this photo got shared a few times on
Id Iota's Facebook page that year, but it's unclear if it's intended to be the album's cover
artwork. It is not clear whether new bassist Robert Sartini
and/or his predecessor Dan Linklater will be on the final product, or if
any collaborations with RedD Monkey alum 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 as of late. Aside from
a video cover of Pup's "Free At Last" last February with an altered lineup, we haven't heard anything from Id
Iota since the summer of 2018, and if there are no public signs of life from their camp by month's end, I will have to move them to our inactive band links. Hopefully the guys pop up again at some point!
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Mike Haggith - If Ever Comes The Day & Bridges
Rumoured Songs (A): "The Best You Never Had", "Communique", "If Only You
Could Hear Me", "MorningStar, "2145"
Rumoured Songs (B): "From The 55th Parallel", "Over Indecision", "The Nature of The Times","An
Act of Strength","The Catalyst", "Dangerous
Town", "Come on Home", "Blue Highway", "Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost", "Bridges"
Background: After moving to
Thompson, Manitoba in November 2017 for work reasons, prolific
local/Windsor hard/alternative rock musician Mike Haggith relaunched his
dormant solo project, and soon commenced songwriting for a new CD named
"Bridges", with updates taking place across 2018 and into early 2019.
His Facebook page
documented songwriting sessions and acoustic "home demo" videos of new
original songs, plus solo concerts in Thompson largely
featuring new tracks. Despite the unveiling of the cover artwork, three
singles, and even a music video for "The Nature of The Times", Mike
indefinitely postponed the release of "Bridges" last month due to mixing
delays, personal life concerns, and the quick development of a new
album named "If Ever Comes The Day", which he now plans to release
first. With that, he unveiled it's first single
"Communique" on September 24th, with
"The Best You Never Had" following afterward, and other hints towards songs also showing up on social media.
Current Release Status: Regarding
"If Ever Comes The Day", it's not clear yet when we might see it on
sale, but Mike sounded very optimistic about the material and recording
process, so this could be quick. Mike has confirmed that "Bridges" will
still be released, and for an album with completed recording sessions,
artwork, and single releases, you'd hope so, but it's clear that he is
prioritizing the new CD at this time. With Mike's candor & honesty, you know he
won't hide anything
regarding these albums, so keep tabs for updates as they roll in!
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Pillory's second CD
Rumoured Songs: "Angst of Existence", "Sculptor of Cadavers", "Wasting", "Abhorred Apprehension", "The Passing",
"Exhaustive Incarnation"
Background: After previously
breaking up in mid-2014, local metal band Pillory returned as a trio in
the fall of 2015, trading their thrash metal roots for a heavier death
metal sound, complete with a completely overhauled setlist with no
carried-over originals from their 2013 debut EP. In
March 2017, Id Iota guitarist Dustin Goodall's recording studio
Unsalted Audio
revealed that they were in pre-production for Pillory's second album,
with the band confirming that sessions were underway that summer. As of
July 2017, drum tracks were complete, though it took until November 2018
for the band to confirm that guitar tracking was underway, with vocals
& mixing to follow. It's not clear who will provide bass tracks on
the final
product, between ex-bassist Jordan Leach, his replacement Blair St.
John, frontman Robert Sartini (who played bass on their first EP), or a
combination therein.
Current Release Status: I have no
idea, and it doesn't help that Pillory have only posted once on Facebook
in the past 2½, though their new lineup returned from year-long
hiatuses twice in that span for opening sets at Live705 death metal
shows at The Rockstar Bar. That said, with their increasingly
brutal and
technical sound, hopefully they can get this album complete down the
line!
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The Sorrow Fields' debut album
Rumoured Songs: Unknown
Background: After a two year hiatus
for his solo project (previously known as Animas, April Eyes, and By
The Gods), local guitarist Mitch Sirie's solo project The Sorrow Fields
resumed public activity in February 2018 via recording sessions at Mission
Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, where his band The Bear
Hunters also recorded their new CD. An actively maintained social media
page for The Sorrow Fields has not followed suit, but Dustin did say
that he was "stoked" by the guide tracks, and tracking was reportedly
underway last January. Posts on Mitch's personal Facebook page have
implied that the project's current form will be much softer than his
death metal band work.
Current Release Status: With
tracking reportedly underway, last year had to have been targeted once, but
given that Mitch has kept all of his own promotion for this album on
personal accounts, it's anyone's guess how fast this will come out
(also, remember how Mitch's prior attempts at solo albums never saw
their intended completion.) It'd be great to see both The Sorrow Fields'
debut and "The Dead Testament" on sale this year, and hopefully things
progress the right way for both in the coming months!
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Treble Charger's sixth album
Rumoured Songs: Unknown
Background: While recording a brand
new album was a common teaser in Treble Charger's post-reunion concerts
in the mid-late 2010s, the local/Toronto indie punk icons only gave a
firm public confirmation that they were indeed working on their sixth CD
in
this Sault Star
article in September. The recording sessions reportedly began last
spring, and as of the interview, four or five demos were recorded,
though things were on hold at the time while they waited for studio at
the Algoma Conservatory of Music
(that frontman Greig Nori is managing) to finish construction before
final recordings take place there. Guitarist Bill Priddle's Pointless
bandmate Dustin Goodall will record bass tracks for the album, though
it's not clear who will handle drums.
Current Release Status: I am not
sure, but when the announcement is made regarding completion of the
Algoma Conservatory studio, that may give a hint as to a timeline. Also,
remember that Treble Charger do not have a regularly maintained social
media account, so things may progress faster than public statements come
out. In any event, Treble Charger will want to ensure that everything
goes perfect for the album, so stay tuned!
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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 March 2nd, while our next monthly feature post will likely be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile next week. That's all for today, but stay tuned for a new news post on the site tomorrow! Thanks everyone!
id iota (http://youtube.com/@idiota9153)
