With a new month upon us, let's get this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post on the site! This monthly feature looks at the current release statuses and whereabouts of upcoming and at least partially recorded albums from local metal, hard rock, and punk acts, in order to keep fans abreast of what's publically known about them! This month features two removed albums due to their successful release (The Din's "Suburban Sendoff" & Telephone & Address' "Monster"), while two new albums have been added, one within an existing entry. As usual, albums with new information have their name in
italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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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 recording sessions are reportedly complete, with
"finishing
touches" to blame for the delays in finishing the CD. The band is
aiming for a more professional sound and release for
their sophomore effort, and while there have been private online updates
in the interim, the band only broke their silence on it in October on
their Facebook page, where they implied that it was "officially moving
onto the mixing and mastering phase." Keep an eye out for updates on "The Dead Testament" when
and if they come in!
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Electric Church's debut album
Rumoured Songs: "Muddy Waters", "Ain't Got None", "Carey Baby", "Take Me Away", "Cross the Line"
Background: Fast rising young
blues/hard rock trio Electric Church evolved from Jimi Hendrix covers in
2016 to primarily original material in 2017, and punctuated that on May
12th when they announced on
their Facebook page
that they were "working up some new songs... for the album!!!" It was
confirmed around that time that they were recording material at Mission
Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, who shared a picture on
their Facebook page
confirming Electric Church's presence. However, few direct updates have
followed publically, aside from scattered reminders that they are still
working in studio, and that they "are really excited about all the new
projects we have planned."
Current Release Status: No clue,
but Electric Church are a very talented band who play beyond their
years, and no matter how long this takes, the album should be of solid
quality when it finally comes out! At last word, the band noted on New
Year's Day that they were "looking forward to finishing up in the studio
this year", so stay tuned for updates!
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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 last spring
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 Jonas Gasperas (who may be their permanent drummer now) and
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 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 2017!
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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", "Eta Carinae"
Background: Despite
a hiatus from live concerts lasting over 9 years, Gates of
Winter never broke up, and are slowly working on their follow-up
to 2008's "Lux Aeterna". Updates have sporadically been made
since early 2010, via numerous uploads, teaser postings, and general
hype for the recording sessions, though prior release forecasts haven't
been realized, it was retracted from CD to EP length, and most preview
media has since been taken down as the band perfected the CD's final
content. While Sault
native Jon Morrison
was announced as the album's drummer in late 2010, it has since been
confirmed that "Perihelion" will feature programmed drums. After taking a
over a year's hiatus from public activity, Gates of Winter resurfaced
in July with new band artwork and hints that they have "been making
incredible strides, and are very excited to pull back the curtain."
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 courtesy of e-mail conversations and private postings, but I'll wait until more public word comes
out. Keep an eye out for updates!
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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 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, but
nothing else has came out beyond performances of newer originals in
concert through this spring. 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. It is not clear if the band will retain ex-bassist Dan
Linklater's parts on the final product, or if any collaborations with
ex-RedD Monkey
cellist 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 (not to mention their recent bassist change), but if there was ever a plan to release it in time for
their dissolved May tour run, that's obviously came and went. Keep
watch for updates as
they roll in!
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Kraken Mara's self-titled debut EP
Rumoured Songs: "Chimera", "Ishka", "Grand Machinations", "Straus"
Background:
The current progressive metal project from Late & Loud guitarist
Brendan Christie & Wawa band veteran Jake Valois, Kraken Mara
immediately commenced work on studio material upon their April 2016
launch, though they have yet to assemble a full lineup, let alone play
live. In sporadic updates since on
their Facebook page &
their website,
the band has indicated ongoing recording sessions towards a self-titled
EP, posting and reworking original demos to their website and
Reverbnation page
over recent months, with Reese Wolf working as sound engineer for the
tracks. As well, the cover artwork for the EP was revealed on Facebook
at the end of March 2017, and the band has since confirmed plans to record
music videos for all of the planned tracks, starting with one for
"Straus" in July.
Current Release Status: Your guess
is as good as mine, but last fall, Kraken Mara announced on their
website that "the last of our tracks are being mastered as we speak",
while a new playthrough video is also in the works. Brendan and Jake are
keeping things very
professional and technical so far, but while updates don't come all that
frequently, the instrumental material sounds very good and complex so
far! These
should please fans of progressive and djent metal, so keep tabs above
for updates!
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Mike Vincent - "Ultimate Chaos" & his second album
Rumoured Songs (U): "Shoah"
(retitled Skull After Betrayl cover), "Sacred Sins", "Six, Six, Six",
"Systematical Satan", "Soulless Sanctuary", "Screaming Serenity", "Times
Of The Unforgotten", "Chapters of No Light", "We're of Nothing",
"Phases of Pain", "Filters of Fire", "Chapter 2: Glow of the Dark",
"Ultimate Chaos"
Rumoured Songs (2): "Apocalypse", "Prevarication", "Vitality", "Opprobrious", "Sentinels"
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 in mid-2016 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, with "Times of the
Unforgotten" notably
featuring his uncle Jason Ladouceur (ex-Winkstinger) in a guest spot.
After a year's hiatus for personal reasons, Mike re-emerged with new songs and revised plans to combine his
planned EPs "Six, Six, Six" & "We're of Nothing" into one full
length album named "Ultimate Chaos", with a second album already underway with songs posted there.
Current Release Status: No idea,
but given that he's posted all of it's planned songs on Bandcamp (and already begun album #2), a
digital release through
there seems likely, unless he only planned them to be individual free
uploads. 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 while he put in some solid work in the process,
hopefully these get a formal paid release. Keep tabs for further
updates!
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Northwest's second EP
Rumoured Songs: "Hangover Habits", "Drinking Games"
Background: Following the release
of their debut self-titled digital EP in September 2014, and a lengthy
stage hiatus from late 2016 through last winter, local indie/punk
quintet Northwest resumed major activity in April 2017 with teaser
photos of recording sessions at Mission Control Studios with producer
Dustin Jones (as they had done for their debut) being sporadically posted over the following year to
their Facebook page.
Confirmation that this was for a new EP, their first with current
drummer Marc Santos, only came in July via their write-up in
this year's Rotaryfest program, prior to their Second Stage debut.
Current Release Status: It's hard
to say, especially given their quiet postings aside from the teaser
photos, and the fact that their debut EP was only released online, but
things sounded like they wee progressing well at a reliable local
studio. In their New Year's Day post on Facebook, Northwest said that
"we will have new music to share with everyone in 2018", so hopefully
Northwest's second album sees it's way onto online or
physical storefronts in the coming months!
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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 band 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. However, whatever became of those sessions (and planned "new
studio shit" in 2016) appear to have been discarded, as Redundant
announced last in January that they will begin recording their debut album at
Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones, with later public updates and photo uploads indicating that bass and drum tracking has completed. Details are otherwise minimal, including whether recent second
guitarist Yannick Casavant will be present.
Current Release Status: Though we
don't know much on the new/revived album plans, Redundant did sound
serious about completing their CD back in 2014. That said, Redundant have only played
a handful of times in the last couple of years, and were only sporadically seen on stage in 2016 & 2017. If
we hear any updates, we'll let you know!
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Shit Liver - Hitting The Fan
Rumoured Songs: "Hitting the Fan", "Matt Got Beat Up By Cops", "Sir-Osis", "Unabomber", "Liverated", "It Won't Change", "Just Take It"
Background: Planned under this name since at least September 2015, "Hitting The Fan" is the planned follow-up to the local/St. Catharines' grindcore trio 2014 debut album, with last year's all-covers split with AlgomA coming in the interim. Despite occasional teasers, Shit Liver didn't firmly and publically confirm that recording sessions had begun for this album until they announced it's impending release date on
their Facebook page on February 13th. There, they revealed the cover artwork & plans to
only release it on vinyl records with no intended CD pressings, announced a Canadian release tour this spring, and indicated that the album was recorded and being released by themselves with no label support. As well, a music video for their first single is scheduled to be released on Sunday, as per recent Facebook postings.
Current Release Status: Shit Liver intends to release "Hitting The Fan" on Tuesday, March 13th, presumably including a digital
Bandcamp release at that time, but the local on sale date for vinyl copies will likely be on April 6th for
their Soo concert during their upcoming tour. Prices have not yet been confirmed, their Bandcamp albums have previously been on a "name your price" model, while split-mates AlgomA put out their prior vinyl releases for $20. Things sound official and exciting for Shit Liver's sophomore original album though, so stay tuned for updates this month!
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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 in January 2016. Sessions took place at
Deluca Sound Productions,
who have shared videos of band members tracking material for the EP,
the title of which being unveiled later that year. In January 2017, 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. 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, especially with their return to the stage in September. Follow along
to see where things go!
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Telephone & Address - "The Early Tapes"
Rumoured Songs: "The Plumbers"
Background: Telephone &
Address frontman 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"). However, he has
since released
two separate new studio albums (2016's "Are You Now
or Have You Ever" and last month's "Monster"), with no updates on the "Early Tapes" album publically stated in almost three years. The sole publically confirmed track "The Plumbers" 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, assuming this gets released. Unless the tracks are reworked, new drummer Jackson Reed will not feature on this album.
Current Release Status: Chris revealed in March
2015 that this album "will be delayed for some time", and though he didn't elaborate
on
why specifically, work on both of his last two albums (particularly the very delayed "Monster") could be partially to blame. That said, with an expanded lineup now, "The Early Tapes" may have fallen further in priority, but you never know what could come next from Telephone & Address!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! Barring a quick review of the aforementioned "Monster", our next monthly feature post will be this month's Defunct Local Band Profiles one week from tomorrow! That's all for today, but stay tuned for more news and notes on the site soon! Thanks everyone!
Opening this show were the debuting Re:Born, the new power rock quintet from Project 421, Eclipse, and Din alumni, so how'd they sound for their first public outing? So far, so good, in my opinion! Playing a set familiar to 421 diehards with originals like "No One Rides For Free" & "Into The Darkness" joining Iron Maiden and Diamond Head renditions, this new band also broke out a few new covers not done by the old band, including some AC/DC and Scorpions classics. Of course, Blair Burch and Frank McGillivray's pre-existing chemistry was on full display, Fred Dunn's bass work fit in well, and Brandan Glew's acclimiating nicely to this heavier sound (though the bass drum could be a little loud.) The great unknown here was with singer Robert Nevitt, who was making his debut in any band on Saturday, and while he needs to engage wit the crowd a little more and loosen up a bit, his voice is solid! I can see him handling hair metal covers with ease, and while I don't expect they're going that route, Re:Born are off to a solid start!
Co-headlining on Saturday were local punk/metal quintet Jack Spades in their first public concert of 2018, and just their second show with their current lineup, and fans were treated to another entertaining, high impact set from this favourite group! Their set was mostly business as usual, with originals like "Fear Corps" and "Breakneck Speed" dotted with covers of acts like Turbonegro and The Ripcordz, but there was one new song unveiled on this night, a more upbeat punk number called "Sewer City Radio" which seemed to go over well! That song aside, there were no true "surprises", but Jack Spades delivered a quality set, with J.D. Pearce's voice on point no matter where in the venue he was (even on a chair for a stretch!) Tiffany Stocco and Johnny Belanger are fully back in the groove after coming back late last year, Daniel Horton shone on lead guitar, and Rob Speers' bass skills fit in just fine also! Here's to more planet-jacking from Jack Spades in this new year!
.JPG)
