At last, here's this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! Our monthly spotlight of the current release statuses and whereabouts of albums from local metal, hard rock, and/or punk bands takes us to familiar territory, with mostly the same content from last month, but there is one newly added album, and two with updates, so they are noted with their title in
italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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The Apocalypse Afterparty - Bufflesnort
Rumoured Songs: "4th Liner", ".500 Hockey", "Lace 'Em Up", "Better Than The
Hives Did It" (retitled cover of Saul Williams' "List of Demands
(Reparations)"
Background: Before ever playing a
public concert, local rap/metal band The Apocalypse Afterparty announced on
their Facebook page in 2014 that they had begun working on a 3 song debut EP
with producer Jamie Vincent, recording at least one song with him ("The Crowd"), which you can hear in full at
this link. Plans were overhauled after holding full recording sessions for "Bufflesnort" at
Tidal Records'
own Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, later mixing the songs with Simon Head at
Insight Recorders, and notably not recording prior originals from concerts like songs passed on from The Fury.
The full EP can now be streamed via "songwriter"
Paul Stanghetta's YouTube channel, while all
five
album covers can be seen on the band's online pages. Also, a posting
last spring hinted that a member of defunct Saskatchewan hardcore band
The Holly Springs Disaster would make a cameo appearance on a track.
Current Release Status: The Apocalypse Afterparty began sending out press packs & advance copies of the album on
cell phones in September (I received one in a concert used
drum),
and the band also plans to have full availability for general audiences
via digital download and USB thumb drives, but a planned February
release never occurred. A contest was being held on their
Facebook page earlier this year to win the first release copy of "Bufflesnort",
but if a winner was declared, the band hasn't publically noted them.
Also, they were undergoing yet another
drummer search, and "songwriters" have been focusing on their new side project
The Noochy Lanterns lately as well. In any event, stay tuned for updates on "Bufflesnort"!
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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 as of November 5th, the band had finished all recording
sessions except vocals & lead guitar for 4 tracks, and "finishing
touches" were to blame for the delays in finishing the CD. The band is
aiming for a more professional sound and release for
their sophomore effort, but an optimistic late-summer release has came
and gone, and the band has not issued a public update in five months.
Keep an eye out for updates when and if they come in!
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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
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 drummer Jonas Gasperas and
saxophonist Josh Norling, who have been frequent presences in recent
months, and may be official band members at this point.
Current Release Status: At this
stage, I have no idea, but Rob sounded like things were going well in
studio, so we'll have to see what comes out next on The Elements' first
EP!
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Id Iota's full length second CD
Rumoured Songs: "Happy Sailor", "Intro To American Literature", "Seas Envy Skies"
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, including teases of their own Ontario tour
next month (
source here), but nothing else has came out beyond performances of newer originals in concert. 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.
Current Release Status: No idea, especially with the alternative/hard rock quartet keeping fairly mum on it's progress, but if the plan is still to go on tour next month, this album could be coming sooner than you think! Keep watch for updates as they roll in!
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Mike Haggith - Neighbourhood Watch Revisited
Rumoured Songs:
"To Whom This May Concern", "Room 822", "The Ballad of K2/K3", "The Day
The Lights Went Out", "Limb Coast", "Leon the Janitor", "Far Too Long"
Background: After previously
hinting at a re-recorded version of his 45th solo album "Neighbourhood
Watch" in late 2015, local solo musician Mike Haggith officially began
releasing new versions of songs from the original 2012 CD onto
his YouTube channel in February, those being of "Limb Coast" & "Room 822". His planned first
full solo release of new recordings since mid-2015's "The Warinside",
"Neighbourhood Watch Revisited" was being recorded at
PaperClip Productions, with Mike being joined on at least some songs by
Din bandmate Brandan Glew on drums and ex-Din/Haggith bandmate Curtis McKenzie on guitar.
Current Release Status: With The
Din becoming more and more popular locally, that band has understandably
taken up Mike's focus in the past year, and he even confirmed on
his Facebook page
last spring that this album "isn't even a priority" right now. That
leaves things in limbo at best, but at last word, Curtis revealed in
this video that it's
"steadily nearing the completion stage", so might things be mostly ready for when/if production is resumed? Follow above for updates!
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Mike Vincent's debut EP & "We're of Nothing"
Rumoured Songs (1): "Shoah"
(retitled Skull After Betrayl cover), "Sacred Sins", "Six, Six, Six",
"Systematical Satan", "Soulless Sanctuary", "Screaming Serenity"
Rumoured Songs (W): "Times Of The Unforgotten", "Chapters of No Light", "We're of Nothing", "Phases of Pain"
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, which would be a
double CD album in length, with "Times of the Unforgotten" notably
featuring his uncle Jason Ladouceur (ex-Winkstinger) in a guest spot.
Some of the above information comes from personal Facebook page
postings, as Mike hasn't made a new music page for his solo project yet.
Current Release Status: No idea,
but given that he's posting songs on Bandcamp, a digital release through
there seems likely when the songs are 100% completed and packaged as an
album, at least in that form. 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 he's putting in some solid work in the process!
Keep tabs on his Bandcamp page for further material!
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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 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.
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
a handful of times in the last couple of years, and haven't made any
public statements regarding
the album
since 2014. The band did resume public activity in March 2016,
announcing that they were writing new songs and working on "new studio
shit", but it's not clear how earlier album sessions would play in. If
we hear any updates, we'll be sure to 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 last January. Sessions took place at
Deluca Sound Productions,
who have shared videos of band members tracking material for the EP,
and ex-drummer John Mignacca did record
tracks for the release before moving to Sudbury. The EP title
was unveiled last fall, and then last month, 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, or even a live concert
return. 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. Follow along
to see where things go for their debut EP!
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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, 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. We're likely nearing it's release at
some point in 2017 though! 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. 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! We'll return with this month's Defunct Local Band Profile next week, but stay tuned for more news in the interim! Thanks everyone!
Local classic/hard rock cover quartet Soundcheck will return to The Rednecks Saloon for one night only TOMORROW NIGHT, and they finally have a Facebook page to boot! Apologies for the short notice, this show was only just announced early this morning via it's Facebook event page. Five months after making their public concert debut at the former Nicolet Tavern, the former Nameus finally have an online page to promote themselves and concerts with, which is great to see, but what do we know now? On Soundcheck's page, they describe themselves as "a new local '80s retro & hairspray cover band" and a "party like hell band", so if there were any fears about not fitting the SMS, hopefully this assuaged them! In terms of lineup, they feature former Carbon Black bandmates Travis Sharpe (Havadder) and Terry Eaton each on vocals & guitar, alongside Terry's Mourning Wood bandmates Steven Flint on drums and (in a new lineup announcement) Paul Belair on bass, replacing Robin "Bones" Lee.
According to Soundcheck's Facebook page's biography, Robin left the band "to take care of his health and well being", after having spent less than a month with the group. Best of luck to Bones, hopefully it's nothing too serious that he's dealing with, and hopefully we see him back on stage soon! Now, given that Soundcheck's lineup currently features 3/4ths of Mourning Wood's most recent lineup, you would be right to assume that there is something afoot with that band's active status, as Mourning Wood's Facebook page newly confirms that they are "going to be amalgamating very soon" with Soundcheck, though they oddly note that they're playing the "same music", and that "a new member is joining the band", presumably meaning Travis, who wasn't in Mourning Wood. My first instinct is that Soundcheck are simply adding Paul on bass and taking on Mourning Wood's bookings going forward, which include two upcoming weekends at The Esquire Club in a few weeks, more on them in the near future.
Next up, and with April now well and fully in progress, let's add prolific hard rock singer/guitarist Tym Morrison's slate of solo concerts at Gliss Steak & Seafood this month to our concert listings, including shows TOMORROW & SATURDAY, plus a bonus return to The Roadhouse Bar & Grill TOMORROW NIGHT! Apologies again for the short notice on this weekend's three shows, all were only announced by Tym earlier this week via their respective Facebook event pages (linked here & here.) Tym's usual Gliss matinees are continuing their march forward into the spring, with TOMORROW & SATURDAY'S shows joined by expected solo gigs on April 14th & 15th, 21st & 22nd, and 28th & 29th, so look for more unplugged hard rock classics at this downtown restaurant over the coming four weekends! As for TOMORROW NIGHT'S Roadhouse show, this marks Tym's first appearance at the Trunk Road venue of the year, and if you've missed him at this venue, don't bypass this show either!
Finally for today's concert preview post, here's a special Thursday night concert going down TONIGHT at The New American Pub, as Toronto hard rock quartet Return For Refund will make their local concert debut! Touring in support of their newly released studio album "Lift You Up", this talented band will definitely intrigue many fans with their 1990s-inspired blend of alternative rock styles, throwing in some grunge and blues influences for good measure, and they should attract a solid base of fans when they rock The New A tonight! Fast-rising local alt-punk quartet A Dire Setback will open as expected, but there has been a lineup change, as it was confirmed two weeks ago that blues/hard rock trio Electric Church have replaced pop rock artist Mike Mikus as the show's first act (apologies for the delay in noting this on the site, it slipped us by last month.) A reason for Mike's withdrawal wasn't announced, but hopefully nothing bad happened, and it will be neat to see Electric Church take on The New A for the first time tonight!
