As we continue to ring in the new year, here's our first monthly feature post of 2016, that being this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! Like before, this is our monthly look at the current release statuses of announced and at least partially recorded albums from local metal, hard rock, and punk bands, in order to keep fans updated as to where they are and when we might see them! This month, we've removed one album (The Pixo Control's "Probably Not") due to it's successful release last month, but we have a new addition and four updated entries, all noted with the title in
italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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AlgomA's untitled split CDs with Chronobot and Hooded Menace
Rumoured Songs (A): "The Electric Fence", "Phthisis", "Failed Stunt Fatality", "Canis Rabidus"
Rumoured Songs (C): Unknown
Rumoured Songs (H): Unknown
Background: In
an interview with Vancouver webzine
Not Your Scene
on July 17th, Chronobot guitarist Dafe Landry revealed that the
Saskatchewan space/doom quartet will be releasing a split album later
this year with local doom metal trio AlgomA. Little was said about the album, but Dafe indicated a
cassette release and a possible vinyl pressing might follow, and fans may remember seeing both bands together at past local concerts. Though updates haven't followed since from AlgomA's camp, they announced on
their Facebook page on Monday that they were planning to release a separate split with
Finnish death/doom metal quartet Hooded Menace later this year, to be released by
Doomentia Records with art by Paolo Girardi.
Current Release Status: No idea for either, especially given that AlgomA's only public acknowledgement of the Chronobot split so far was a re-post of the interview on
their Facebook page at the time, and the Hooded Menace announcement was just a few days ago. Things may be a ways off yet,but stay tuned as more comes in from either side of these planned splits!
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The Apocalypse Afterparty - Bufflesnort
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 announced on
their Facebook page in August 2014 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 recent postings have hinted at recording said EP this year for a release and recording sessions at
Tidal Records' own Mission Control Studios, albeit with a new lineup in tow. Though pubic updates have been sporadic as of late, the band announced last month that the title of the EP would be "Bufflesnort"
Current Release Status: As per the
band's Facebook page on July 19th, they're "crushing the arrangements
& compositions" for a planned 3 song EP of "entirely fresh material"
with planned releases on mp3, USB sticks, and vinyl (no CDs?) This was
all preceded by "songwriter" Steve Mozarowski's departure from the band
and related lineup changes, but how that will impact things is unclear.
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 itself is
still in the works. Hopefully more comes out soon on it!
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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 rerecording),
"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. 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 last year's "Eternal
Hibernation", rhythm guitarist Josh Stephney is likely to record 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 band
hasn't given any firm timetables for when to expect "The Dead Testament"
in stores, but given that recording sessions only began in October, and
that the band is aiming for a more professional sound and release for
their sophomore effort, we might not see the full release until next
year. Keep an eye out for updates though!
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Caroline Divine's debut album
Rumoured Songs: "Caroline Divine", "Looking For A Fight"
Background: After prior teases of
recording sessions and the search for a spot to record, personal
Facebook pages from members of newer local glam/power pop trio Caroline
Divine have confirmed that they are indeed working on their debut album.
The guys took the fall off from concerts presumably due to studio work,
but greater details on the track listing, release formats, and so forth
have yet to be made. Stay tuned to
their Facebook page for more!
Current Release Status: No idea
yet, especially as the band hasn't shown their cards yet concerning
album progress, but follow the band to see when/if they announce
anything!
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Crucify The Whore - The Beautiful Sounds of Nature
Rumoured Songs: "Don Q", "
#1 Women's Rights Activist...", "It Is What It Is", "Banana Blast Beats"
Background: On
their Facebook page last month, local goregrind solo project Crucify The Whore announced that their second full length release "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature" was in the works, with four songs from the planned disc already being posted on label
Blood Shed Productions' YouTube channel. Presumably being recorded similarly to "Welcome To Earth", this release will apparently be about 40 minutes long, and will contain
20 tracks (which isn't a typo, C.T.W. originals are often very short.)
Current Release Status: The current target date for "The Beautiful Sounds of Nature" to be released is on March 10th, with copies being on sale for $5, so we'll have to see if that holds! Given the nature of Blood Shed releases, I'd have to imagine they have a good idea of what to do, but stay tuned for updates as they come 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 7 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". 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, but I'll wait until more public word comes
out before elaborating, so keep an eye out for updates!
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Gnaeus - Loomings
Rumoured Songs: "An
Exercise In Self-Awareness", "Lovers", "Fire", "When You're Gone",
"Circles", "The Edge", "The Sound", "Mountains", "Crave", "Calling Out"
Background:
Amidst various teases of recording sessions, local post-punk/garage rock
quartet Gnaeus have confirmed in recent concerts that they are in fact
recording their debut CD "Loomings" at Tidal Records' own Mission
Control Studios, possibly stemming from their "Best Song" win at March's
VM Radio Battle of the Bands. Though online materials remain quiet
otherwise for progress on the album, the planned album cover and online
sales location of "Loomings" can be found at this link, and details are sure to follow.
Current Release Status: Recent indications on
Gnaeus' Facebook page
mention that they hope "Loomings" will be out for Christmas, which has obviously came and went, but the band did note that and
tracking was winding down as of October 20th. Gnaeus have
been reasonably quiet online
regarding album progress, but with cover art and various hints in recent
months, hopefully we hear more soon!
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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 in November 2014 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 studio White Wreckords.
We'll keep you posted if we hear more!
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
once or twice in 2015 and haven't made any public statements regarding the album
since 2014. If we hear any updates from their
camp, we'll be sure to let you know!
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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 last 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
indicated on the project's Facebook page that "Monster"
would be pressed last fall, but if a release is coming soon or
not isn't clear yet. 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. It's also worth noting that Chris briefly announced
collaborating with Boxes of Boom's Sam Decter as a drummer with
Telephone & Address and under a new project name (Are You Now? or
Have You Ever?),
but references to Chris & Sam's work have quietly been removed from
Facebook, and it's not known if this means anything for the "Monster"
release. We'll keep you
posted!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! This series will return on February 2nd, and our next feature post (barring a flash album review) will be this month's Defunct Local Band Profile one week from tomorrow, so keep an eye out for them and more news as the year rolls on! Thanks everyone!
New local nu-metal quartet Eclipse finally have a Facebook page, so we can finally add them to our band links! Debuting on stage on December 5th at The Rockstar Bar (unless they did indeed play at the Jason Michaud benefit the previous month), Eclipse are a side project from 3/5ths of classic metal quintet Project 421, albeit tackling a more modern setlist, and they have been seen as an opening act at scattered downtown concerts since then, usually opening for Project 421 in the process. Their lineup includes singer Curtis McKenzie joined by guitarist Daniel Horton and drummer Chris Thompson, with bassist Fred (last name still uncredited) rounding out their lineup as Eclipse's only non-421 alum, and for the record, I don't recognize Fred from any past local bands. Eclipse have yet to post any videos from their concerts so far, but they're listed as playing covers of everyone from Billy Talent to Linkin Park to System of a Down, so if you've ever wanted to hear Project 421 play newer songs, pay attention to Eclipse!
It remains to be seen when we'll next see Eclipse on stage (though they were linked to the second Speak Easy Battle of the Bands before it was postponed), but we will be able to see Project 421 live in a couple of weeks, as they'll be playing a solo concert on Friday, January 22nd at The Rednecks Saloon! After over two years of playing strictly at multi-band events, the classic metal favourites will play their first ever show by themselves with no outside headliners or opening acts, similarly to the weekend cover band regulars in the Soo, so if you're up for three or four 45 minute sets from Project 421, be at Rednecks one week from Friday! And yes, this is a one-nighter, the next show that we're talking about will be on that Saturday. There is NO COVER for the Project 421 concert on the 22nd, you must be 19 or older to attend, and there is a 10:00 PM start time in effect. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! This sounds like a solid way for Project 421 to help kick off 2016, and it'll be curious to see if they play more solo gigs like this!
As for the Saturday night show on January 23rd, we'll see a familiar lineup hit the stage at The Rednecks Saloon, including 2/3rds of last night's Rockstar Bar lineup! The show in two weeks will be headlined by pop punk quartet Stereo North once again for their second show of 2016, and the listed openers include the aforementioned Mike Haggith & The Din (this time with advance notice), but in place of Eclipse, local funk/hard rock quartet The Elements will hit the stage for their first show of the year, and they should fit well come Saturday the 23rd! Promoted by Project 421 bassist Daniel Horton (in a rare show of his that he's not playing), this show goes down one week from Saturday at 9:00 PM with a 19+ age limit and again, no cover charge. For more information, visit the official Facebook event page! Of late, we've seen these bands (plus Project 421 & Eclipse) sharing the stage frequently, which is good to see, and hopefully there's a great turnout at the former Nicolet Tavern on the 23rd!
