Underoath Hosted Headbanger’s Ball
UNDEROATH’s striking video for their first single “In Division” is out now. The dream-like clip finds the band performing in a house that becomes engulfed with water, complimenting the powerful track. View the video here. As UNDEROATH prepared for the release of their much-anticipated fifth album Ø (DISAMBIGUATION)–on November 9 on Solid State/Tooth & Nail–the group hosted MTV2’s “Headbanger’s Ball” on Monday, November 8. One of heavy music’s biggest successes, UNDEROATH have evolved and thrived during a decade-long progression. For Ø (DISAMBIGUATION–the FL-based sextet’s new creative high watermark–the group returned to Glow In The Dark studios and re teamed with producers Matt Goldman and Jeremy SH Griffith. Ø (DISAMBIGUATION is the highly anticipated follow-up to Define The Great Line (2006) and Lost In The Sound of Separation (2008) which both debuted in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 Album Chart. Define The Great Line#2–the highest debut for a Christian album since 1997–while Lost In The Sound of Separation came in at #8 on the Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart marking the top rock debuts for their release week. Both UNDEROATH’s Define The Great Line and their breakout album They’re Only Changing Safety–all released on Seattle indie Solid State/Tooth & Nail–has now sold over 480,000 copies.

Ace Augustine Joins Strike First family
Rising from the same fertile Pennsylvania grounds as August Burns Red and Once Nothing, Ace Augustine take their musical cues from the style they naturally grew into. Ace Augustine play solid, technical metal mixed with hardcore elements influenced by not only their Lancaster, PA spearheads, but also by various indie acts. Ace Augustine are known for being some of the youngest artists to perform with such national acts as Sky Eats Airplane, Anberlin, and MyChildren MyBride. This band is full of tenacious young talent, five promising musicians in their salad days turning their dreams into reality. The band released their first EP The Glory of Trumpets in 2009, and are set to release their debut full length on Strike First Records in early 2011.

Black Label Society Record “The First Noel”
Black Label Society has partnered with VEVO for the world premiere of BLS’ hysterical new video “Overlord.” The video can be viewed here. The video, directed by Master Cylinder, finds guitar legend Zakk Wylde and his Black Label Society in a satire of 70’s Kung Fu movies. Wylde is featured as the Bruce Lee-type action hero (yellow jumpsuit and all) in hot pursuit of the Overlord…in this case an old lady who holds the key to a very special prize. “Overlord” will be the next single from Black Label Society’s latest album ORDER OF THE BLACK; it follows the breakthrough Top 20 rock radio track, “Parade Of The Dead.” In other Black Label Society news, the first-ever BLS Christmas tune, “The First Noel” is available now on iTunes. The track is a beautiful instrumental which highlights Wylde’s prowess on the acoustic guitar. Black Label Society’s proceeds from sales of the single will be donated to The Zakk and Barbaranne Wylde Foundation at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, a charity The Wyldes have long supported. Black Label Society’s first new album in four years, ORDER OF THE BLACK, was released via Entertainment One in North America in August, 2010 and debuted at #4 on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart. Black Label Society is currently headlining The Black Label Berzerkus, Zakk Wylde’s own North American package tour featuring Black Label Society, Children Of Bodom, Clutch and 2Cents.

Future of Forestry’s New EP Out Now
ADVENT CHRISTMAS, VOLUME 2 by Future of Forestry, is out now, available through iTunes and on the futureofforestry.com website. Over the coming weeks the EP will appear on additional online music sites and at live events during the band’s holiday tour. The EP features the holiday classics Joy To The World, Do You Hear What I Hear?, Angels We Have Heard On High, and Pie Jesu, as well the original song The Earth Stood Still, and an instrumental interlude. Advent Christmas 2 is designed to be a cohesive piece that merges effortlessly with the original Advent Christmas EP. After touring on the first EP, the band realized that these Advent CDs had become a large part of the makeup of the band, and the desire for a second was evident. With it’s epic sound, creative instrumentation and traditional values, the Advent EPs hope to honor and enhance this most holy of seasons.

Living Sacrifice To Release Deluxe Edition
Veteran Christian metal act, Living Sacrifice, has announced a November 30th release date for a special iTunes exclusive deluxe edition of the band’s latest full-length record, The Infinite Order (Solid State Records). The forthcoming deluxe edition will contain a 30-minute, eight-song, DVD quality video and three bonus tracks, including the unreleased song, “Glasshouses.” See the track listing below and begin to drool:
Track Listing:
1. Overkill Exposure
2. Rules of Engagement
3. Nietzsches Madness
4. Unfit To Live
5. The Training
6. Organized Lie
7. The Reckoning
8. Love Forgives
9. They Were One
10. God Is My Home
11. Apostasy
12. Glasshouses (bonus)
13. Flatline (live)
14. Symbiotic (live)
Live DVD video:
1. Bloodwork
2. Imminent War
3. Local Vengeance Killing
4. Flatline
5. Rules of Engagement
6. In Christ
7. Reborn Empowered
8. Reject
Living Sacrifice will unleash the downloadable album as they begin a headlining run on the “Solid State Records: A Very Metal Christmas Tour”, alongside label-mates, The Showdown, Becoming the Archetype, To Speak of Wolves, and As They Sleep.
Tour Dates:
11/30 – El Paso, TX
12/2 – Yucca Valley, CA
12/3 – Ventura, CA
12/4 – Petaluma, CA
12/5 – Anaheim, CA
12/6 – Canoga Park, CA
12/7 – Mesa, AZ
12/8 – Albuquerque, NM
12/10 – Fort Worth, TX
12/11 – Oklahoma City, OK
12/12 – Little Rock, AR

Messengers’ Debut Album Out Now
Strike First is proud to announce the release of Messengers’ debut recording today. Anthems is a 7 song EP that has already been praised for its “old school hardcore/thrash crossover approach.” Messengers’ hometown, Dallas is known for producing heavy music from the likes Pantera, so it’s not unusual that a hardcore band from “The City of Hate” could cross over so seamlessly. Childhood friends Noah, TK, Andy, and brothers Chad and Chance have set in motion an unstoppable sound. High energy, fast-paced, driving tracks dominate Anthems, the band’s first EP, and spot-on gang vocals punctuate the songs with uncompromising strength. Messengers are stalwart supporters of the thrash sounds of yesteryear, but to call Messengers’ sound a throwback is to not realize the full potential of the second coming of 80s and 90s hardcore and thrash.
For more information on their debut album, go here:
facedown.merchnow.com/products/120764

Close Your Eyes Unveil Music Video
CLOSE YOUR EYES have released their music video for “The Body,” from their Victory Records debut, We Will Overcome. Using their faith as a driving force, CLOSE YOUR EYES has clawed their way out of Abiliene, Texas and is aiming for the hearts and souls of everyone in their path. It was a brief encounter at Hardin-Simmons University that turned Shane Reynolds (Vocals) and Brett Callaway (Guitar) from strangers, into two-fifths of Victory Records’ latest talent. “We met in the cafeteria. Brett was wearing a Dillinger Escape Plan shirt and I was wearing an As I Lay Dying shirt. We commented on each other’s and started talking about music; we realized that we had many of the same interests.” One of the common interests that Callway and Reynolds discovered was their understanding and dedication to the Christian faith. Quickly forming a unique friendship, the duo began a short-lived, two-man collaboration; after playing only a few shows, the desire for a thicker and fuller sound took over. Months of relentless searching through a talented sea of musicians seemed disheartening until Andrew Rodriguez (guitar), Sonny Vega (Bass) and David Fidler (Drums) appeared as though they had been there all along. This completed five-some creates the powerful and up-lifting sound that is CLOSE YOUR EYES, today. “With the line-up that we have now, we are all in-sync when it comes to music. We have such a heart for it; the best stuff always comes out” explains Reynolds. With their hardcore, heavy, rock sound and inspirational lyrics it was no surprise the band received such an intense initial response. “It took me a long time to find my ‘voice’ and the things I really wanted to write about,” says Reynolds, “Right around when we wrote ‘Song for the Broken’ I discovered that I could use lyrics to really express what’s in my heart.” One of the band’s biggest lyrical focuses comes from highlighting the ‘broken’ and needy people in the world. “It doesn’t take a specific religion to see that a lot of people in America are hurting. I really started having a heart for these people and saying, especially from a Christian standpoint, that we are being selfish.” Make no mistake, although heavily influenced by their Christianity, the group don’t plan on selling out their faith in exchange for their fame. “We don’t hide who we are but a big reason we don’t emphasize the fact that we’re a Christian band is because we don’t want our faith to be our primary marketing point. I would prefer if someone approached me after hearing our lyrics and questioned if we’re a Christian band, because then I can say ‘I am a Christian… and this is why’.” In 2008, they released a self-titled, 6-song EP that was ranked the #6 Most Added Album on both the FMQB and CMJ Loud charts. Due to its success, the band was honored with playing Main Stage at Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois, after winning first place in the “New Band Showcase”. The following year, HM Magazine selected CLOSE YOUR EYES as one of their “Pick of the Litter” artists, which deemed them worthy of playing the magazine’s showcase at Cornerstone 2009. “When we got signed, everything changed,” explains Reynolds. After receiving his undergraduate degree in Ministry, Reynolds had decided to continue his education and was enrolled in graduate school. “I was sitting with my mom and we were talking about what this would entail: dropping out of school, quitting my job… a lot of things in my life would change. I expected my mom to be the one to tell me to keep my feet on the ground, be realistic, and have clearly defined goals, but she looked at me and basically said ‘You would be stupid not to do this. I would never want you to sit and wonder what it would have been like if you would have tried.’ I ended up dropping out that day and haven’t looked back since.” Excited and sure to waste no time, CLOSE YOUR EYES started compiling songs for their Victory Records debut, We Will Overcome. The writing process was pure, and humbling, making it more of an experience than a task for the band; especially for Shane. “I realized that I’m sitting here writing about how we need to take action and step forward and I’m not doing any of it. It is one thing for me to talk about all of these things lyrically and tell people that there’s hope, but if I’m not doing it myself then all these words are meaningless. The overriding theme of the album is that there is hope. No matter what it is that we find ourselves struggling with in life, we can and we will overcome these obstacles.” With their February 16th release of We Will Overcome, it’s no wonder that CLOSE YOUR EYES have been named one of Alternative Press’s “Top 100 Bands You Need to Know in 2010”. Currently the band is on tour with label mates A DAY TO REMEMBER, in support of this release and the intensity of their live shows will reassure you that music can provide hope, comfort and salvation.

Kemper Crabb Releases New Album
Longtime HM Magazine columnist always puts out excellent music of his own. A free song is available for download. More info from the man himself: For those of you who haven’t already heard, I just released a new musical project called RELIQUARIUM. In the first place, this is far and away my favorite project I’ve ever recorded. I got to utilize most of the instruments I currently play, most of the friends I make music with played on it, and there was no real agenda, stylistically speaking, so I was able to combine and juxtapose most of the types of music I enjoy, all on some of the greatest songs ever written (all composed long before my birth…). For the immediate future, you can download a free song from RELIQUARIUM, hear extended samples, and purchase downloads and physical copies of the project at reliquarium.net or on my site at kempercrabb.net. More importantly, though, RELIQUARIUM is a benefit album designed to raise funds for, and awareness of, my father’s missionary organization, Servants of the King (www.servantsoftheking.org ), which builds orphanages, schools, leprosoriums, hospitals, seminaries, and churches in India, Africa, and South America, work for which my father has been thrice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. All profits generated from album sales will directly benefit the Servants of the King. I’d like to ask you all to tell everyone on your friends’ lists and email lists (and everybody you know any way you can…) about the new record. Since it’s a benefit album, we’re dealing with a practically non-existent promotional budget, and are being forced to rely on mostly word-of-mouth (or text-of-email, as the case may be…) to let people know RELIQUARIUM exists. Please let others know they can get a free download and hear the album at the web-addresses above. Many thanks for your help.

Stars Go Dim Update
Stars Go Dim have posted some new happenings for them in their latest newsletter: Hello everybody! We hope that you’ve been doing well. Things have been crazy busy around here and some awesome things are happening soon. Special thanks to all those who voted for us in the Goo Goo Dolls contest. We made the final round and now the judges and Goo Goo Dolls will decide the winner Nov 15th. Between playing tons of shows we’ve recently had a photo shoot, video shoot, and are working hard on new music to be released soon! Read more details of our latest happenings with pics and video in our journal on starsgodim.com. We will be releasing a new single called “Like I Mean It” along with a music video before the end of the year. Date to be announced soon. We are really excited for you all to hear it. Hope you all have a great week. We are off to Miami this weekend to board a music cruise going to the Bahamas. Yes, somebody has to do it. lol. -Michael, Chris, and Joey

Behind The Songs With Philmont
Frontman Scott Taube shares the inspiration behind “You Will Remain,” the debut single from the band’s Oct. 19 release, The Transition EP. “This song is a testament to God’s infinite and divine nature, a realization that the only thing in life that matters is that which is permanent and unfailing. Despite what we so often tell ourselves, our troubles, our possessions, and our achievements on Earth are but fleeting glances in the eternal scope. The kingdom of heaven is close at hand, and this song is an imploration to spend your time down here focused on the things above! ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away.’ – Matthew 24:35 (NIV)” –Scott Taube
For more information on Philmont, visit:
myspace.com/philmontrock

Eisley signs To Equal Vision
Tyler, Texas quintet Eisley has signed with the Albany, New York-based Equal Vision Records. The new relationship with the independent label follows Eisley’s departure from Warner Bros. Records earlier this year, after two full-length albums and several EPs. Their third album is tentatively planned for an early 2011 release through Equal Vision. Details on the upcoming album’s release date, title and tracklist will be announced in the coming weeks. Eisley singer/guitarist Sherri DuPree Bemis states, “It’s really refreshing for us to be working with a label that’s driven by passion and has made a name for itself by working really hard with bands they actually love.” She continues, “It’s especially cool for Eisley to be on a label that started out as a ‘punk’ label because despite not being a punk band in any way musically, we have always done our own thing, gone against the grain and fought for what we believe in and that is the true essence of punk. We’re happy to extend our (already extensive) family.” Equal Vision Records A&R representative Francesca Caldara elaborates, “We’ve all been familiar with Eisley for years now; some of us have been fans since high school or college. We’re especially inspired by the personal connection they have with their fans and are honored to be working with them.” Steve Reddy, owner of Equal Vision, adds, “We have always done our best to maintain a family vibe with our artists, so working with them — a literal family — has been very natural from the beginning. We are very much looking forward to working and growing with them, and we cannot wait for everyone to hear the new album.” Equal Vision Records is currently home to artists including Chiodos, Pierce The Veil, and Dear and the Headlights, and the former home to artists such as Saves The Day, Circa Survive, and Portugal. The Man.

©2010 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved

More news from last week:

still fresh (as far as you know)

Flatfoot 56 Returns With Black Thorn
Excitement continues to surround FLATFOOT 56 as the release of their forthcoming full-length album Black Thorn nears. Armed with a jam-packed tour schedule, the Chicago Celtic-punk outfit will bring their live spectacle to cities across the US alongside Project 86 next month before joining the Vans Warped Tour this summer. The band’s current dates also include their first-ever Canadian stops that include appearances in Toronto and Montreal. As 2010 marks the 10-year anniversary for FLATFOOT 56, the new album compacts the band’s celebrated history of eclectic and driving musical charge into thirteen tracks that highlight the pride of the working class and their Chicago roots. The collection of songs that make up Black Thorn delves into weighty thematic content while remaining fundamentally universal. “Everyone goes through hardships, but you aren’t alone,” explains Flatfoot front man Tobin Bawinkel. “Punk rock is about community and brotherhood. This record is our contribution to that.” As cathartic as it is ambitious, Black Thorn is an emphatic assault that remains vintage Flatfoot in its effortless combination of Celtic instrumentation and street corner punk rock. Bagpipes and mandolins remain just as vital as drums and guitars in defining Flatfoot’s sound.
Track Listing:
1. The Escape (Intro)
2. Black Thorn
3. Born For This
4. Courage
5. Smoke Blower
6. The Hourglass
7. Shiny Eyes
8. We Grow Stronger
9. Son Of Shame
10. Stampede
11. Way Of The Sun
12. You Won Me Over
13. Hot Head
Joined by his brothers Justin (Drums) and Kyle (Bass)—along with instrumentalists Eric McMahon (Bagpipes) and Brandon Good (Mandolin)—Tobin Bawinkel fuels FLATFOOT 56 with a sense of camaraderie that directly translates to their die-hard fans through passionate music and highly energetic live performances.
Tour Dates:
2/26 – Rock Falls, IL
2/27 – Davenport, IA
3/1 – Scottsbluff, NE
3/2 – Billings, MT
3/3 – Boise, ID
3/4 – Seattle, WA
3/5 – Portland, OR
3/6 – Spokane, WA
3/8 – Casper, WY
3/10 – Omaha, NE
3/11 – Dekalb, IL
3/12 – Franklin, IN
3/13 – Cincinnati, OH
3/14 – Flint, MI
3/16 – Akron, OH
3/17 – Milwaukee, WI
3/18 – St. Louis, MO
3/19 – Tulsa, OK
3/20 – Fort Worth, TX
For more information on Flatfoot 56, visit:
flatfoot56.com

Fireflight’s New Album Hits
Dove-nominated “Artist of the Year,” Fireflight readies for the release of its third album this week, titled For Those Who Wait, on Feb. 9, as the dynamic first single “Desperate” hits No. 1 at Christian Rock radio, and moves up to No.14 on the CHR format. With its stunning new 10-song collection, Fireflight exceeds expectations, following its 2008 breakout sophomore album Unbreakable, which delivered two No.1 singles at Rock and launched Fireflight’s music into new realms, including the NBC network, ESPN’s Winter X Games and voted Taco Bell’s “Best of the Beat,” ultimately landing its prestigious Artist of the Year nomination at the Dove Awards in 2009. While securing its fifth career No.1 song at radio, on the eve of its new album release, Fireflight also receives high marks as the editorial staff at leading music web site Jesusfreakhideout.com votes For Those Who Wait as its No.1 “most anticipated album of 2010,” topping the staff’s list of the 25 new projects “we’re plain stoked about.” With For Those Who Wait, Fireflight offers hard-rocking urgency and emotion, and unveils the band’s thickest groove yet, showcasing lead singer Dawn Michele’s powerful vocals. The album’s transparent lyrics continue a defining trait for Fireflight’s songwriting, issuing an awareness of God’s magnificence amidst personal weakness. “This album is filled with even more personal stories of our own, our families, friends, and our fans,” relates Michele. “It’s our lives, our hearts, and our pain just poured out.” She adds, “For Those Who Wait is a maturation in understanding that sometimes you don’t appreciate why you’re on the path that you are. A lot of times, we get bogged down thinking about things that we’re waiting for. And when we do that, we totally miss out on what’s happening in-between now and our goal. God has times of waiting in our lives because He has something for us to learn. Hard things that happen, that throw us off of our plan, can become the most important things in our lives because God will take them and use them to shape our character and who we are.”
Musically, drummer Phee Shorb puts it, “For Those Who Wait sounds as good as I’ve always hoped we could sound.” Fireflight is currently playing to an average of more than 9,000 fans a night in arenas across the nation as part of the WinterJam Tour.
For more information on this band, visit:
fireflightrock.com

Rosanne Cash In Live HD Performance
Global Media Group & Our World Live (OWL) celebrates new technology to unite fans worldwide with a Live HD concert featuring Rosanne Cash on BillboardLive.com. Fans can easily access the series by simply logging onto BillboardLive.com where they will be able to safely and securely download the Microsoft Silverlight and OWL HD player onto their computer free of charge with a one-time, simple download. Acclaimed singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash released her 12th studio album, The List, late last year in which the track “Sea Of Heartbreak” (feat. Bruce Springsteen) was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals category. The List features 12 classic songs that were culled from a list of essential country tunes that her legendary father Johnny gave her in 1973, and filtered through her own unique, sophisticated perspective. The result, a stunning catalog of Cash’s contemporary interpretations in her first-ever covers record. The performance will be on Thursday, February 18th at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST.

Ortolan Debuts On Sounds Familyre
Sounds Familyre Records will release Ortolan’s debut full-length Time On A String on March 9, 2010. You can download “Sticky Situation” from Time On A String here. A hot minivan barreling down the highway, filled to the brim with siblings, sleeping bags, and travel checkers sets—this is the setting for a decades-old American tradition upheld by millions: arguing over the radio dial until consensus is happily found at that hallowed institution, the oldies station. Thus begins the story of Ortolan, four young women from Southern New Jersey with music-loving, art-teacher parents, devoted to each other in laughter, bickering, love, and play. Sisters Stephanie (16), Brianna (18), Lara (20), and sister-in-law Jill (23) also happen to create music that is singularly winsome, disarming, and sincere, possessing the same kind of universal appeal of 1950s and ’60s rock and roll, with its earnest abandon and joy in simple and uncluttered gestures. Ortolan’s sound is at once familiar and new, a sort of musical déjà vu—where listeners remember that which they are hearing for the first time. The group came together in a remarkably unassuming manner, almost unintentionally, with Stephanie Cottingham (at the time just thirteen years old) signing up with a friend to play at a church coffeehouse. Having only picked up guitar a few months prior, she was surprised by the audience’s enthusiasm for her fledgling attempts at songwriting. Encouraged to give greater heed to the writing impulse, Stephanie spun more melodies and drafted more lyrics, and one year later, she signed up to play the coffeehouse again, this time joined by sisters Lara and Brianna on drums and bass respectively. Ken Fabianovicz of Sounds Familyre was in the audience that night and was so struck by the maturity of song-craft present in this humble outfit that he recommended that the band go into the studio. A few months and several penny-jars later, the group found themselves recording a four-song demo at the New Jersey Recreation Room, home to one of indie music’s most creative producers, Daniel Smith. Smith immediately recognized something special in Stephanie’s beguiling voice and songwriting, and in the remarkable support these sisters showed for each other, cheering one another on as only siblings can. Throughout the next several months, Stephanie and the others continued to write, Jill was added on keys and vocals, the band crafted and refined arrangements—and within a year Ortolan was signed to Sounds Familyre Records and back at the Recreation Room recording their first full-length album, Time On A String (to be released in March 9, 2010). The original four-song demo was mixed and mastered as well, and has become the perfect introduction to the group, simply titled Ortolan EP (released July 14, 2009). Much like the beautiful, thumb-sized songbird from which the band derives its name, the music of Ortolan possesses the kind of startling beauty that reintroduces wonder to the weary. With playful lyrical themes ranging from sandcastles to buckets of light to fanciful creatures following you home, it’s music with sass and spunk, born from fierce imaginations and young hearts just as enamored with the classic sounds of The Ronnettes, The Shirelles, The Beatles and Motown, as with modern songwriters Regina Spektor, Feist, and Joanna Newsom. Perhaps what is most striking about Ortolan’s music is its satisfying inevitability: the melodies, the chord progressions, the instrumentation, the production all boil down to the right note followed by the right note followed by the right note. All this inevitability and sense of rightness—and yet quirkiness, spontaneity, and joy scamper rambunctiously through every measure. The sound makes you feel that perhaps there are things in the world that exist as they are meant to, and that is no small feat.
Track Listing:
1. Anything
2. Be So Bold
3. Changes
4. Gaze
5. Insist For More
6. Just Like Me
7. Ludwig
8. Mirror Image
9. Opposites
10. Sleep, Sleep, Sleep
11. Sticky Situation
Tour Dates:
3/07 – Philadelphia, PA
3/08 – Brooklyn, NY
3/10 – Baltimore, MD
3/11 – Chapel Hill, NC
3/12 – Athens, GA
3/13 – Orlando, FL
3/15 – Tallahassee, FL
3/17 – Austin, TX
3/18 – Austin, TX
3/19 – Denton, TX
3/20 – Memphis, TN

Owl City Release Deluxe Edition
Owl City is THE success story of 2009 and the story just keeps getting better! They’ve kicked off 2010 with a sold-out headlining tour of the US, a certified gold album and a triple platinum single. Universal Republic has just gone to commercial radio with the second single “Vanilla Twilight” and not only have they been racking up adds super fast, but the song has already gone gold and is nearing platinum. On top of all this, they released a deluxe edition of Ocean Eyes on January 26th with seven bonus tracks including “Sunburn,” “Hot Air Balloon,” and “Butterfly Wings.” After completing his sold-out US tour, Owl City will be making his way to Europe and the UK to perform a sold-out headlining tour there where he’s also topping the charts (“Fireflies” has been the #1 song in the UK for the past 3 weeks!) and than over to Australia to join up with Cobra Starship before returning Stateside for yet another headlining tour of the US – which is nearly sold-out as well!
For more information on Owl City, go here:
owlcitymusic.com

Urgent Prayer For The Myriad
Just days after The Myriad played their last show of 2008, Randy Miller (drummer) went in for a surgery to have a lump removed from his shoulder. Shortly after that he was diagnosed with an incredibly rare form of bone cancer called chondrosarcoma. Statistically speaking things looked incredibly challenging, but Randy had youth and determination on his side. Starting almost immediately he would begin an incredibly intense season of chemo-therapy; every 3 weeks for the duration of 2009. Randy was doing so well that towards the end of 2009 he was able to tour with the band for a month long run with Tyrone Welles in support of the Humane Society of the United States. The tumors appeared to be shrinking and it looked like he was heading towards recovery and remission. Last week Randy received the devastating news that the tumors are back and growing. Because of its intensity, they can’t continue the chemo. It doesn’t appear that there are any medical alternatives left. Please join us in praying for Randy, his wife Krystin, and their two children Conner and Jillian during this trying time for their family and loved ones. To quote Randy, “I don’t always understand God, but I have to believe. No one can take that from me.” If you’d like to find out more info on Randy, you can watch the video here. There is a giving option for the family’s growing medical costs set up as well through Randy’s home church The Stirring in Redding, CA. You can access that my going to thestirring.org and navigating to the online giving tab. On behalf of the Miller family and The Myriad, thank you for your prayers and continued kindness.

Catalyst Music Project Unites Artists
INO Records and Catalyst, a leadership development organization, recently joined forces to create the Catalyst Music Project – an album inspired by churches and songwriters nationwide. Acknowledging that it was time to let the Church show the world what songs are impacting this generation, INO Records asked worship leaders and songwriters to submit music that was already connecting in their communities and churches – ultimately permitting the voice of the people to be heard. More than 350 worship leaders and songwriters submitted 750 songs – from which the Catalyst Music Project emerged. Produced by Nathan Nockels (Phillips, Craig & Dean, Passion and Matt Redman), the resulting Catalyst Music Project features 12 organic anthems performed by the creators and worship leaders, along with artists like Phil Wickham, Laura Story, Fee and Heather Williams. Jeremiah Jones, writer of “What A Savior” – the first radio single released from the Catalyst Music Project – says, “While there have been countless inspired worship songs produced for the Church by the music industry, it’s refreshing to hear well-worn, time tested songs written by local leaders.” Released to radio on January 15, 2010, “What A Savior” – featuring Laura Story – is already being played on more than 30 radio stations nationwide. INO Records and Catalyst are streaming a preview of the album, as well as offering the single and the accompanying chord chart as free downloads here.

Relient K Head Out For Spring Tour With Paramore
Taking their irreverent live show to the masses, Grammy®-nominated Relient K will head out on the road with Paramore this spring, including a stop in New Jersey for the The Bamboozle on May 1, announced today. Tour starts April 26 in their home state at the Knoxville Civic Auditorium. Relient K’s current release, Forget and Not Slow Down (#15 debut), is co-produced and written by Thiessen—one of the busiest songwriters in the business. Thiessen has been doing studio time this winter co-writing with Andrew McMahon and Katy Perry for each of their forthcoming releases. Currently, the song “Longshot” featuring Matt Thiessen who co-wrote along with Katy Perry for Kelly Clarkson’s current release, All I Ever Wanted, can be heard on American Idol network promo spots. Thiessen’s work continues to hold on Billboard’s Top 200 with Owl City’s Ocean Eyes featuring the Thiessen produced, #1 Billboard Hot 100 smash hit single “Fireflies” (platinum single). Relient K is Matthew Thiessen (vocals, piano), Matt Hoopes (guitar), John Warne (bass), Jon Schneck (guitar) and Ethan Luck (drums). Named after Hoopes’ first car, co-founders Thiessen and Hoopes formed the band in 1997 while in high school in Canton, Ohio. In the decade since their first release they’ve put out five full-length albums three of which have been certified Gold, toured the globe, and racked up several hit singles and a Grammy nomination. Their new indie-influenced modern rock record Forget and Not Slow Down (Mono Vs. Stereo/JIVE Records) was released on October 6th and blends thought provoking lyrics with a distinguished new sound. Forget… is their second Top 15 debut on the Billboard 200, and is co-produced by Thiessen with longtime producer Mark Townsend.
For more information on Relient K, visit:
relientk.com
Tour Dates:
4/26 – Knoxville, TN
4/28 – Charlottesville, VA
4/30 – Atlantic City, NJ
5/1 – East Rutherford, NJ
5/3 – Columbus, OH
5/4 – Grand Rapids, M
5/6 – Rockford, IL
5/7 – Moline, IL
5/8 – Council Bluffs, IA
5/10 – Salt Lake City, UT
5/12 – Seattle, WA
5/15 – Bakersfield, CA
5/16 – Las Vegas, NV

John Schlitt Joins The Gang
Legendary recording artist John Schlitt—solo artist, lead singer for Grammy Award-winning Christian band Petra and former lead singer for mainstream rock band Head East—recently joined multi-platinum, Grammy and Dove Award winning artist Michael W. Smith, who gathered a who’s-who list from the music community to record “Come Together Now” at Belmont University’s Ocean Way Studios. The song, penned by Smith, David Mullen and Cindy Morgan—and produced by Bryan Lenox—was written to remind people of the need to help those in Haiti. “The crisis in Haiti has left us all trying to figure out how we can help,” shares Smith. “We wanted to create something that the community could support, for the greater good of those in Haiti. Everyone gave of their time: the studio was donated, the musicians donated their time and all proceeds from this song will go to designated charity/relief work through The American Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse. It’s incredible to be part of something that is going to help so many people.” Schlitt adds, “It was a real joy to be able to share the talent that God has given me with so many others who have been given the same ability—all wrapped in a spirit that was truly straight from the Lord. It was a great evening.” In addition to lending their voices in song, Schlitt and several other artists also recorded PSAs for The American Red Cross and Samaritan’s Purse for use in upcoming months. Contributing artists include: Aaron Shust, Alathea, Amber Hezlep, Anthony Moreino, Anthony Skinner, Ashley Cleveland, Austins Bridge, B. Reith, Brady Toops, Brandon Heath, Britt Nicole, Byron Chambers, Calvin Nowell, Charmaine, Chris McClarney, Chris Sligh, Chuck Girard, Dana Jorgensen, Darwin Hobbs, David Mullen, Don Poythress, Donovan Tea, Dorothy Savage, Duane Allen, Echoing Angels, Everlife, Francesca Battistelli, Greg Jennings, Hillary McBride, Jaime Jamgochian, Jared Anderson, Jasmine Sagginario, Jason Baird, Jason Dunn, Jimmie Allen, Jody Davis, John Ford Coley, John Schlitt, Joseph Martino, Julia Ross, Justin Rivers, Kate Lazar, Kate Schettler, The Katinas, Kevin Max, Kirk Sullivan, Lara Landon, Lanae Hale, Lannie Anderson, Lee Greenwood, Mandisa, Manic Drive, Margaret Becker, Mark Hall and Megan Garrett of Casting Crowns, Matt Dowley, Matthew West, Matt Maher, Melinda Doolittle, Meredith Andrews, Michael Cavallo, Michael Olson, Michael Tait, Michael Tash, MIKESCHAIR, Mike Weaver, Natalie Grant, Nicole C. Mullen, The Oak Ridge Boys, Paige Armstrong, Phil Stacey, Point of Grace, PureNRG, Rachael Lampa, Rachel B. James, Reco Hight, Restless Heart, Ruben Mundo, Russ Mohr, Sarah Ross, Sarah Sadler, Selah, Shannon Cochran, Shawn Cavallo, Stephanie Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Terrence James, TobyMac, Tommy Coomes, Travis Cottrell, Trey Heffinger, Wynonna, Yellow Cavalier and a childrens choir of more than 250 elementary school students including 14 from Haiti. The song will be made available for sale soon, with all proceeds going to benefit relief efforts to Haiti. More details on the song’s release date are forthcoming. With more than three decades worth of water under the musical bridge, John Schlitt has earned multiple Gold Records, Grammys and Dove Awards. He has toured all over the world and has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame as a member of Petra, one of the most successful rock bands in Christian music history. Schlitt was recently named the best rock singer in Christian music history by GospelMusicChannel.com. According to the website, Schlitt “remains one of the most distinctive and impactful men to ever stand behind a microphone.” For Schlitt’s latest solo album, The Grafting, he called on the multiple talents of son-in-law and rising star producer/songwriter/drummer Dan Needham (Amy Grant, Petra, Michael McDonald) to help craft his vision. The Grafting finds Schlitt exploring uncharted musical territory, while remaining anchored by his unmistakable voice. At once intimate and accessible, The Grafting is without a doubt Schlitt’s most potent solo album to date. The Grafting is available on 4K Records and is distributed by New Day Christian Distributors in the U.S. and internationally by Go Global Entertainment.
For more information on John Schlitt, visit:
johnwschlitt.com

Megadeth Reunites With Dave Ellefson
Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine has announced the return of original bassist David Ellefson (1983-2002) to the iconic multi-platinum group. This reunion is appropriately timed to Megadeth’s upcoming historic month-long Rust In Peace 20th anniversary tour which launches March 1 in Spokane, WA. At these incredibly special shows, Megadeth will play their landmark, genre-defining 1990 album Rust In Peace in its entirety, in addition to other Megadeth favorites. “This shows the power of brotherly love and forgiveness,” Mustaine says. “David Ellefson belongs in Megadeth.” David Ellefson concurs: “This is a huge moment for all of us, band and fans alike. It is a great celebration of the music from one of the biggest landmark albums of our career.” Ellefson will join Mustaine and Megadeth band members Shawn Drover (drums) and Chris Broderick (guitar) on tour in support of the group’s current CD Endgame, which has received some of the highest critical accolades of the band’s career. “We’d like to thank James LoMenzo for several years of loyal service on the bass, and wish him the very best,” Mustaine adds.

Woe Of Tyrants To Release Third Album
Woe Of Tyrants spent the entirety of 2009 criss-crossing the US on a multitude of tours. After the grueling schedule came to a close, did they head home to rest and take some time off? NOPE! They dove right into songwriting for the follow up to their sophomore album and Metal Blade debut, Kingdom Of Might. This time around, the guys have seriously turned up the shred-knob and churned out some of the most exciting songs we’ve heard swirling around the Metal Blade offices in quite some time. On this record, you’ll find equal parts speed, groove and over the top guitar soloing. Headbanging will be mandatory. The new album, Threnody, will be released worldwide on April 13th while the band will be on the road with Overkill and Vader. The artwork and first track will be up on the band’s myspace, in the coming weeks. Before then, SiriusXM Liquid Metal listeners will be treated to an exclusive premiere of the first single, Creatures Of The Mire on Friday, February 12th. Vocalist Chris Catanzaro discusses the themes of Threnody: “Well 2009 proved to be a monstrous one for Woe of Tyrants. It was a year of accomplishing goals such as releasing our debut Metal Blade album, touring with bands we’ve grown up listening to, and meeting thousands of awesome people all over the country. As we embark into 2010, our goals have shifted up a few gears. We have a brand baby spankin’ new record that we finished recording at the end of 2009 with Jamie King producing, and to embrace the cliché “this is the most epic brutal stuff we’ve ever done and we’re stoked on it!” The album is entitled Threnody. Now for those of us who do not know what that word means right off hand (I had to look it up as I was reading a passage from Ralph Waldo Emerson long ago), a threnody is a song or hymn inspired by the grief of losing someone you love. The album tells a story of a non-specific individual traveling between planets searching for answers, while paralleling Satan’s fall from grace to damnation at the same time. We all experience a change at some point as we travel through life, albeit not of the same magnitude as Lucifer, that will render us either content, or disgusted. When disgust is the feeling, then we begin to miss our former self as if they were an entirely different person. I’d like to be clear that I’m not referring specifically to Christians, or Muslims, or Amish or whatever else the kids are doing these days. Threnody, as we are using it, is a story of grief over losing oneself. This album will surprise those familiar with our band, and hopefully surpass any preconceived notions of those who are listening to us for the first time. If you have expectations for this record to sound like our last two albums, it doesn’t. Well, a little like the others, as we still prefer playing leads over doing breakdowns, and we still wish we were Wintersun or Decapitated. But for the most part, this record is new territory for us and we are excited to unleash it. We have a huge touring schedule kicking off in the spring, preceded by some regional shows in February as a part of the “Metal as Art” tour with Hypno5e, Starring Janet Leigh and Fallen Martyr. At the end of March, we leave on the KILLFEST tour which features Overkill, Vader, God Dethroned, Warbringer and Evile. We couldn’t be happier about being involved with such an epic tour, and to join Overkill on their 25th anniversary tour is truly an honor. Much love!”
Track Listing:
1. Tetelestai
2. Creatures Of The Mire
3. Venom Eye
4. Tempting The Wretch
5. Threnody
6. Bloodsmear
7. The Venus Orbit
8. Lightning Over Atlantis
9. Singing The Surrender
10. Descendit Ad Inferos (The Harrowing Of Hell)
For more information on Woe Of Tyrants, visit:
myspace.com/wot

©2010 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved

More news from last week:

still fresh (as far as you know)

The Myriad News
Seattle-based band The Myriad is back after nearly a year long hiatus to tour with Tyrone Wells (Universal Republic) and indie darling Matt Hires for The Humane Society of the United States “All Creatures Great and Small” campaign. Since November 2008, drummer Randy Miller has been fearlessly fighting stage 4 cancer, and since the group operates more as a family than a band, they chose to stay home and help support Randy however they could. With the blessing of Randy’s doctors, the band is able to get back on the road and get reacquainted with their fans all across the country. Randy, however, will have to return to chemo the same day the band returns home. “This has, without a doubt, been the most uncertain year of The Myriad,” explains singer Jeremy Edwardson. “Last fall we made a decision to put down our instruments and wait with our drummer Randy as he began his fight with cancer. It would be 8 months before we all played in a room together again. That was a few weeks ago. We didn’t have an agenda. There was no “let’s write an album to change the world!” conversations that we had shared in the past. “The gathering was more about our friendship than the music we had shared. Randy was between chemo visits. He had just finished another week in the hospital and was starting to regain his strength. We were prepared to take breaks, leave early, etc. as his body would allow. We had no idea that Randy would actually prove to be a better drummer than we had ever seen in the past. He was secretly immersing himself in drummer videos and practicing at least an hour a day. He later told us his fight, his battle, was more than beating cancer. He wanted to come out a better husband, father, drummer, and ultimately a better man of God. This rocked our world. After a week of hanging out, jamming, laughing, crying, we walked away from rehearsals songless, but with a fire brewing for something more. Something we could feel deep in our bones. The feeling of something new – something big. This fall tour with Tyrone Wells has allowed us the opportunity to sort it all out as we travel across the country.” When the opportunity arose to get back on the road for the “All Creatures Great and Small” campaign, the band jumped at the opportunity. Steven Tracy, guitarist for the band, was quick to want to sign on to the tour. ”I’m really looking forward to being apart of this HSUS campaign. It’s something that I’ve felt strongly about for a while now. Factory farming feels like one of those topics that future generations will hopefully look back on as the way things ‘used to be’.” The Animals & Religion program of The Humane Society of the United States seeks to engage people and institutions of faith with animal protection issues, on the premise that religious values call upon us all to act in a kind and merciful way towards all creatures. It aims to increase awareness about our moral responsibilities to all animals and the environment, and encourages active support of animal welfare policies. More info at humanesociety.org/allcreatures. Steven continues, “Plus, we’re excited about the tour with Tyrone. This has been a year of change for The Myriad, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to try out some different things and explore some new territory. There is always something fun about touring with an artist that you’re relatively unfamiliar with. There are loads of opportunities to meet new folks and make some new friends. Some of my favorite memories have been late night conversations in the back of a bus or van with an artist I just met. Touring is always ripe with those moments.” Always striving to be as much of a musical vision as a band, The Myriad consistently draws rave reviews from both fans and critics worldwide. Handpicked out of a survey of 4000 bands by music critics at MTV, the band won the prestigious MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout competition, after several million fan votes were cast. The band’s video for the single “A Clean Shot” was the most played video on MTV in the spring of 2008. “A Clean Shot” was also released on the video game ROCKBAND for Xbox and Playstation. The Myriad also filmed MTV promos like “Discover and Download” and “Artist of the Week” throughout the year to promote their latest release “With Arrows, With Poise.” Mixed at Hansa Sudios in Berlin, Germany by Michael Ilbert (the Cardigans, Kent, the Hives), and mastered at historic Abbey Road Studios in London, England by Adam Nunn (AIR, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, George Martin), as well as acclaimed Sterling Sound in New York City by Greg Calbi (Beastie Boys, John Mayer, Interpol, Norah Jones), “With Arrows, With Poise” helped increase a base of loyal fans worldwide. The band has toured extensively, playing with bands such as David Crowder Band, Eisley, Switchfoot, Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Phil Wickham, etc, and has quickly earned a sing-along relationship with fans everywhere: a connection founded more on captivating performances than on-stage antics. Creative melodies evocative of at times Kent, at others Bjork, are delivered with the grand musical scope of The Verve and Radiohead.
For further information about the tour, visit:
themyriad.net
Tour Dates:
9/30 – Washington DC
10/1 – Philadelphia, PA
10/2 – Boston, MA
10/3 – Wenham, MA
10/4 – Fairfield, CT
10/6 – Burlington VT
10/7 – New York, NY
10/8 – Rochester, NY
10/9 – Pittsburgh, PA
10/10 – Chicago, IL
10/11 – Grand Rapids, MI
10/12 – Ann Arbor, MI
10/15 – Indianapolis, IN
10/16 – Nashville, TN
10/17 – Atlanta, GA
10/18 – Orlando, FL
10/20 – Houston, TX
10/21 – Austin, TX
10/23 – Dallas, TX
10/25 – Scottsdale, AZ
10/26 – San Diego, CA
11/15 – Phoenix, AZ

Grave Robber To Release Collector’s Edition of “Be Afraid”
We are announcing the release and immediate availability of GRAVE ROBBER – “BE AFRAID” (Collector’s Edition) on Retroactive Records! This horror punk/metal/shock rock classic comes packaged in a full color four panel digipak (with a tray), and an additional bonus track, the Nazareth cover tune “Love Hurts” for this Collector’s Edition release! If you like your gothic/shock rock spiked with a little arsenic and a healthy dose of dark humor, check out Be Afraid! Band members, Dr. Cadaver, Nameless and Maggot offer you chainsaw guitars, super-tight arrangements and blatant morbidity wrapped around insanely catchy choruses, while Wretched provides elite vocal skills in mesmerizing Danzig/Rob Halford fashion! Their theatrical stage show and GWAR-like costumes lets fans know that this is not your everyday band. Formed in 2005, these devil’s rejects arm themselves with sonic vibratory executions and images of horrific realities, bringing an onslaught of sound and warning that will ring into eternity. Rest assured, you will be afraid…you will be very afraid! Fans of Rackets and Drapes, The Misfits, Alice Cooper, Type O Negative, Gwar, Kiss, Danzig and Rob Zombie will find themselves feeling as though they’re strolling into familiar musical history, yet simultaneously wading through a dense mire of uncharted territory. There’s nothing more terrifying than the unknown. Grave Robber is the one band that can hold your hand on a decidedly horrifying romp, leading you safely to the other side. Heed the call of Grave Robber: die and escape the grave or die eternally. The band’s name references Jesus’ return as the true grave robber, when Christ’s followers will be “raised as incorruptible and shall be changed” and “death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Cor 15:52, 54). While in church one evening, the message of Romans 6:11 (consider yourselves to be dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus) was preached just prior to communion. This concept of being “dead” to sin and symbolically eating the flesh and drinking the blood, coupled with a passion to reach a people who are largely ignored by the church, sparked a flame in the hearts of the members of Grave Robber to begin this unique ministry. This four panel digipak is the re-release of the 2007 jewel case version. It features different cover art and the unreleased bonus track, “Love Hurts” made famous by both the Everly Brothers and Nazareth (exclusive to this release).
Track Listing:
1) The Exorcist
2) Skeletons
3) Burn Witch Burn
4) Bloodbath
5) Rigor Mortis
6) Buried Alive
7) Screams Of The Voiceless
Golgatha
9) Reanimator
10) Schizofiend
11) Dark Angel
12) I Wanna Kill You Over And Over Again
13) I, Zombie
14) Army Of The Dead
15) Rigor Mortis (Team Cybergeist Remix)
16) Love Hurts (Everly Brothers/Nazareth cover)

Guardian Releases 20th Anniversary Edition Of “First Watch”
We are thrilled to announce Retroactive Records will be reissuing the legendary debut release by Christian metal powerhouse, Guardian. Guardian First Watch: 20th Anniversary Edition will offer 14 amazing tracks of classic metal that comes in a full color, four panel digipak (with a tray), properly remastered by J. Steinhaus for a maximum metal auditory experience. It will feature exclusive liner notes by David Bach (bass), stunning enhanced (WAY better!) original artwork by the amazing, Rex Zachary, and includes the original two bonus track exclusive to the original CD release, plus the two Elephante released bonus tracks from the amazing and out-of-print 1987 California Metal CD compilation that preceded the release of First Watch in 1989!!!!

Owl City Video Getting Rotation
My friends over at Endeavor Media (you know, the people that did the HM/Gwar commercials?) did the latest Owl City video, “Fireflies,” which is getting plays on most of the video outlets. You can vote here and view the video here.

We Came As Romans Release Debut on 11/3
Michigan’s We Came As Romans have set a November 3rd release date for their highly anticipated debut full-length, To Plant A Seed. Recorded with up-and-coming producer Joey Sturgis (The Devil Wears Prada, Emarosa, Attack Attack) at his Foundation Recording Studio, the 10-song follow-up to their breakout EP, Dreams, finds the band expanding their blend of pop-infused metal. Although recorded with the same producer, there is still an intentional difference between the two albums. We Came As Romans didn’t let the fact that they are only a six-piece hold them back from achieving a more symphonic sound on To Plant A Seed. “I played the trombone from Elementary school until I graduated high school and I always took the sound of a symphonic band or an orchestra with me,” explains Moore of their decision to add orchestral elements to the album such as the violins, brass, and piano interlaced throughout the album’s dynamic layers. Not unlike the EP, the lyrics on To Plant A Seed reflect We Came As Romans’ goal of spreading a positive message through their music. The band hopes, “when people hear the album, they might not change the way they think or the way they act right now, but hopefully we’ve planted that ‘seed’, that thought of love, and it can grow.” The theme of the album is carried through to the artwork. Painted by acclaimed artist Paul Romano (Mastodon, Chiodos), the album cover depicts a “very innocent looking boy in which the ‘seed’ has been planted in his mind and it grows to his heart, out of his palms and becomes branches,” describes Moore. The band – Dave Stephens (vocals), Kyle Pavone (vocals/synth), Joshua Moore and Lou Cotton (guitar), Andy Glass (bass), and Eric Choi (drums) – will keep a busy tour schedule for the rest of 2009 that finds them on the road for several months beginning September 26th, including a week in Canada, a three week run with The Chariot, three weeks of headlining, and three weeks with friends, I See Stars.
Tour Dates:
9/30 – Hamilton, ON
10/01 – Saint Catherines, ON
10/03 – Windsor, ON
10/09 – Rochester, PA
10/10 – Philadelphia, PA
10/12 – Crofton, MD
10/13 – Altoona, PA
10/15 – Raleigh, NC
10/16 – Montgomery, AL
10/17 – East Ridge, TN
10/20 – Louisville, KY
10/21 – Evansville, IN
10/22 – Toledo, OH
10/23 – Mt. Clemens, MI
10/24 – Indianapolis, IN
10/25 – Orland Park, IL
10/26 – Herrin, IL
10/29 – St. Louis, MO
10/30 – Little Rock, AR
10/31 – Claremore, OK
11/01 – Oklahoma City, OK
11/02 – Wichita, KS
11/03 – Cape Girardeau, MO
11/05 – Metairie, LA
11/06 – Macon, GA
11/07 – Douglasville, GA
11/08 – Dayton, OH
11/09 – Cleveland, OH
11/10 – Pittsburgh, PA
11/11 – Erie, PA
11/12 – Vineland, NJ
11/13 – Lemoyne, PA
11/14 – S. Hackensack, NJ
11/15 – Manchester, NH
11/17 – Toronto, ON
11/18 – London, ON
11/25 – Mt. Clemens, MI
11/27 – Orland Park, IL
11/28 – Minneapolis, MN
11/29 – Omaha, NE
11/30 – Denver, CO
12/01 – Salt Lake City, UT
12/02 – Pocatello, ID
12/03 – Seattle, WA
12/04 – Portland, OR
12/05 – Orangevale, CA
12/07 – Stockton, CA
12/08 – W. Hollywood, CA
12/09 – Anaheim, CA
12/10 – San Diego, CA
12/11 – Phoenix, AZ
12/12 – Albuquerque, NM
12/13 – Lubbock, TX
12/14 – San Antonio, TX
12/15 – Dallas, TX
12/17 – St. Louis, MO
12/18 – Indianapolis, IN
12/19 – Grand Rapids, MI

TFK Opens Creation Fest Tour
Thousand Foot Krutch’s “Welcome to the Masquerade” has already been touted as a “hit,” the “best album of its genre to be released,” and one of the “very best albums of the year.” During its first week out, TFK’s latest venture made an impact debuting on the Billboard Top 200 at No. 35 and No. 2 on the Christian albums chart. Digitally, the album spent street week in the Top 10 on the overall album and rock chart on iTunes (peaking at No. 4 and No.2). In addition to the previously announced reviews, TFK received a 4.5 star review along with the stamp of approval from All Music Guide. “On behalf of the band, I’d like to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for all of the tremendous support around the new album,” shares TFK frontman Trevor McNevan. “It’s really been an exciting week, and it feels great to be introducing the new songs live on the Creation tour. We’re mixing up the old with the new in this tour set and it’s off to a great start!!” Recently, TFK hit the road for the opening weekend of the Creation Festival: The Tour with Jars of Clay, Audio Unplugged, This Beautiful Republic, B.Reith and FMStatic. Playing to almost sold-out crowds (1700+ in Wichita, 1500+ in Longview),TFK introduced new tunes along with classic fan favorites. It was an incredible weekend of ministry and music as more than 50 kids were sponsored through Compassion International and more than 100 came to accept Christ. “We are excited to see how well the crowd is responding to this tour and artist line-up,” shares Nick Kulb, producer of Creation Festival: The Tour. “Additionally so, the artists are thrilled to be touring together, and we are looking forward to a tremendous fall tour!” As TFK fans get their hands on the new album and see the live show, they are raving about this album online. On Twitter, fans posted their reviews this weekend talking about their take on the album, which was overwhelmingly positive. All reviews can be found by searching the hashtag #tfkreview on Twitter.com.
For a city near you, please visit the Creation Festival: The Tour website:
creationfesttour.com/dates.php

BRMC On New Twilight Soundtrack
Summit Entertainment, Chop Shop Records and Atlantic Records have announced the release of “THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON – ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK,” the musical companion to the highly anticipated second installment in Summit’s film franchise. Due in stores and online October 20th, the entire soundtrack features songs that will appear in the movie, highlighted by Death Cab for Cutie’s brand new single “Meet Me On the Equinox.” THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON is slated to open in theatres nationwide on November 20th. In just one week, “Meet Me On the Equinox” has already exploded onto the modern rock charts, landing at #26. The song, which is the soundtrack’s first announced track, debuted in full on September 13th at MTV.com in conjunction with MTV’s Video Music Awards. The video companion to the song, which was shot in Toronto by director Walter Robot, will premiere soon. “We wrote ‘Meet Me On the Equinox’ to reflect the celestial themes and motifs that run throughout the TWILIGHT series, and we wanted to capture that desperate feeling of endings and beginnings that so strongly affect the main characters,” said Death Cab for Cutie bassist Nick Harmer. “This song marks the first attempt that Death Cab for Cutie has ever made at contributing new, unreleased material for a film. It just seems a perfect synergy that a band from the Northwest would create a song for a series of novels set in the Northwest. We are not only proud to be a part of the TWILIGHT legacy but also honored to join so many other fantastic artists that have leant their amazing creativity to this soundtrack.” In addition to Death Cab for Cutie, the soundtrack features songs from Radiohead’s Thom Yorke, The Killers, Band of Skulls, Grizzly Bear, Bon Iver & St. Vincent, Lykke Li, and Anya Marina. Also included is a remix from Muse, who not only appeared on the original “TWILIGHT” soundtrack but is one of author Stephenie Meyer’s favorite bands. Every recording featured on the soundtrack is exclusive to the soundtrack, either having never been released previously or as a remixed version. See below for the entire tracklisting. Chop Shop Music Supervision owner Alexandra Patsavas (Gossip Girl, Grey’s Anatomy) returns as the “THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON” Soundtrack Album Producer/Music Supervisor, working closely with the film’s director Chris Weitz in compiling the tracklisting. Paul Katz of Eye2Ear Music serves as both the producer of the album as well as Summit’s point person on film-related music and soundtracks. “Chris Weitz had such a beautiful yet specific musical point of view for this picture,” said Patsavas. “It was so rewarding working with the director and the immensely talented artists on this project.” “We’ve all wanted to live in the world that Stephenie Meyer created and the soundtrack for ‘NEW MOON’ makes it almost possible,” noted Summit Entertainment’s President of Worldwide Production, Erik Feig. “Each song was written specifically for the movie by the most perfect bands around, in what we think is going to be a classic collection. It is a truly custom fit for a truly immersive experience.” “THE TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON – ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK” is now available to pre-order here. Several different options are available to pre-order, including digital, standard, deluxe, and a very special limited edition that includes exclusive e-mail alerts, stickers, a poster, a Death Cab for Cutie t-shirt, access to download the album 72 hours before its release date, as well as a commemorative plaque celebrating the “TWILIGHT” soundtrack’s double platinum status. Additionally, for the first time ever the soundtrack will also be available on a USB drive. Atlantic Records and Summit Entertainment have teamed up with Tyme Machines to include the full soundtrack on its commemorative “TWILIGHT” 3-D sculpted “Cullen Crest” 2GB USB drive. The USB drive will be available for purchase online and at select retailers on the soundtrack’s release date.
Track Listing:
1) Death Cab for Cutie—“Meet Me On the Equinox”
2) Band of Skulls—“Friends”
3) Thom Yorke—“Hearing Damage”
4) Lykke Li—“Possibility”
5) The Killers—“A White Demon Love Song”
6) Anya Marina—“Satellite Heart”
7) Muse—“I Belong To You (New Moon Remix)”
Bon Iver & St. Vincent—“Roslyn”
9) Black Rebel Motorcycle Club—“Done All Wrong”
10) Hurricane Bells—“Monsters”
11) Sea Wolf—“The Violet Hour”
12) OK Go—“Shooting the Moon”
13) Grizzly Bear—“Slow Life”
14) Editors—“No Sound But the Wind”
15) Alexandre Desplat—“New Moon (The Meadow)”

Church Music Gets Praise
David Crowder*Band’s fifth album Church Music is being welcomed by acclaim from fans and media alike as it released on September 22. As of its release, David Crowder*Band’s Church Music is resting the No. 3 spot on the overall iTunes album chart. Fans convened for a sold out show in the band’s hometown of Waco, TX on September 21, to mark the release of Church Music. Radio winners from all across the country were treated with a BBQ with David Crowder*Band at Crowder’s barn in Waco. Winners gathered from Spirit 105.3 KCMS in Seattle, K-LOVE, Star 99.1 WAWZ Middlesex-Somerset-Union, NJ and The JOY FM/Tampa, FL. KLOVE and THE JOY FM also broadcasted live from Crowder’s barn in Waco, TX. David Crowder*Band also played a sold out show at Los Angeles’ famed Roxy Theater on Thursday, September 24. Aptly titled, the band hopes their self-produced recording will prompt listeners to recognize the continual evolvement of music within the Church as well as transport them into an awareness that we exist within the very presence of God, therefore allowing Church Music to happen anywhere. To add to the uniqueness of the album, the 17 songs on the album play continuously from beginning to end with one song blending into the next. David Crowder*Band will join forces opening acts Danyew and Seabird to take the Church Music Tour to 32 cities and churches nationwide starting in October.

Gwen Stacy Debuts New Song
Gwen Stacy have released another new song titled Profit Motive on their myspace. The song is from their forthcoming album A Dialogue to be released on October 20th via Solid State Records.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Is Back With New Album
Atlantic recording group Trans-Siberian Orchestra has announced the upcoming release of its hugely anticipated new album. “NIGHT CASTLE” will arrive in stores and all digital retailers on October 27th. Years in the making, “NIGHT CASTLE” is without question TSO’s most ambitious and adventurous work to date. Founder Paul O’Neill and crew have created 26 songs that run the gamut from hard rock to classical, taking the listener on a journey through different points of history. “NIGHT CASTLE” details the triumphs and follies of man but is ultimately an epic story of transformation and love. The two-CD set will be released at a special low price, and will include a unique 68-page booklet, featuring story, lyrics, and full-color illustrations by legendary artist Greg Hildebrandt. “Obviously our fans have been unbelievably patient,” O’Neill says. “This was supposed to come out a few years ago. But we were dedicated to making something really special, and the longer it took, the more pressure we felt to give people the best possible piece of art we could. “These are hard times,” he adds, explaining the lower price, “and we’re trying to do what we can to make them better. We believe in value with Trans-Siberian Orchestra; everything we do – the shows, the albums, the souvenirs – are over-the-top productions with a lot of stuff for people to see and hear and feel, and we do that for as inexpensive a price as we can.” “NIGHT CASTLE” will be preceded by the first single, “Nutrocker,” which ships to multi-format radio outlets nationwide later this month. The track sees TSO paying homage to one of their greatest influences, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and features rock icon Greg Lake on bass. One of the most successful live acts in music history, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has slated a major North American tour to bring “NIGHT CASTLE” to its legions of loyal fans. The massive trek – which includes both matinees and evening performances in many markets – begins on November 1st and rolls on through early January (see attached itinerary).
For up-to-the-minute news and on-sale information, please visit:
tsotickets.com

Third Day Inducted To GA Hall Of Fame
Multi-Platinum, GRAMMY-winning rock band Third Day took its place alongside other Peach State music legends on Saturday, Sept. 19 as the group was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. The event, sponsored by the Friends of the Georgia Music Festival organization, was telecast on Atlanta-based public television station WGTV-Channel 8, and featured performances by Third Day and fellow 2009 inductees Collective Soul, along with Randall Franks and The Georgia Mafia Bluegrass Band, Reginald Smith and others. Together with Third Day and Collective Soul, the 2009 inductee class included music promoter Peter Conlon, GRAMMY-winning songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox, music industry pioneer Johnny L. Carson, and posthumous honors for singer/songwriter Roy Hamilton, record executive Shakir Stewart and bass guitarist Berry Oakley. Previous inductees into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame include rock legends such as the Allman Brothers Band, R.E.M. and Lynyrd Skynyrd, country star Alan Jackson, soul/R&B fixtures Otis Redding, James Brown and Usher, and songwriter/producer L.A. Reid. “This was such an incredible honor for all of us,” offers bassist, Tai Anderson. “Our families, management team, booking agency, label and fans were all represented that evening which made it even more special. Terry Hemmings, President and CEO of Provident Music Group, who originally signed us to Reunion Records back in 1995, was on hand to induct us. This was such a great way to celebrate 15 years together. Here’s to 15 more!” The Georgia Music Hall of Fame honor was the latest in the line of special moments for the band this summer, including the recent acquisition of its 27th career No. 1 radio single, “Born Again” from the 2008 release Revelation. The single sits at No. 1 on the AC Indicator charts this week for the fifth consecutive week with nearly 18 million impressions this week and 227 million impressions since the single was released to radio May 8th, 2009. The band hits the road again starting Oct. 8 for the fall leg of the “Revelation Tour,” which will also feature artists from the roots gospel project Glory Revealed, a lineup that includes Third Day’s Mac Powell, author/speaker David Nasser, Laura Story, Trevor Morgan, Shawn Lewis and other special guests. The fall “Revelation Tour” continues Third Day’s tradition of “paying it forward” by donating $1 per ticket sold to charitable organizations through its Come Together Fund. Through this fund, Third Day–who actively supports the ONE Campaign–has been able to serve charities such as Habitat For Humanity, Blood:Water Mission, World Vision’s Hope Child Initiative and is responsible for more than a million dollars in donations over the last four years to disaster relief in and outside of the U.S.

Shirock News
Nashville rock band SHIROCK has been singled out as the first independent band that Hollister Co., a division of Abercrombie & Fitch, has chosen to distribute in their stores across the U.S. SHIROCK’s debut album, Everything Burns was made available on September 22nd in over 500 Hollister stores, giving the band the distinction of being the only indie band to ever grace the shelves at the upscale retail chain. Produced by Jay Ruston (The Donnas, Cold War Kids), Everything Burns is an album featuring anthem-driven rock songs with passionate lyrics that convey positive messages of hope. How a young band like SHIROCK found its way to the hallowed shelves of Hollister makes for an impressive story. Abercrombie & Fitch / Hollister music supervisor Ted Keyes found SHIROCK’s music on iTunes, and liked it enough to add the band’s song “Calm Inside the Storm” to Hollister’s in-store playlist rotation soon after. SHIROCK started getting messages from fans saying they heard the song while shopping, and the response was so good on Hollister’s end that they stepped up their relationship to distributing the Everything Burns CD through their stores. Keyes explains, “SHIROCK embodies the aspirational qualities we look for when we select an artist to form a partnership with our company. Their music not only resonates with our target audience but presents itself as a testament to the true spirit of independent music.” Chuck Shirock, the band’s founder and front man, added, “We are really excited about the opportunity to be an independent band on the shelves of Hollister in company with groups like Green Day and The Killers. We’ve always felt the need to get our music to as many people as possible and being independent gives us the freedom to be creative and take advantage of unique opportunities. I want to thank Hollister for helping us accomplish that. This is an exciting time in music and we’re glad we are a part of it.” SHIROCK is a five-piece band that is not content with simply creating music and singing about making a difference – they take their message further with their non-profit organization “Everything Burns.” Built on the idea of “Living for Things That Matter,” the organization strives to encourage and equip people to get involved and make a difference in their communities. Earlier this year the band hit the road with their 14-city “Everything Burns Tour,” which partnered with local charities dedicated to solving issues of homelessness and poverty. In keeping with the band’s mission, all income from the tour went directly to charity. With a sound that has been compared to U2 and Coldplay “the band’s positive messages on songs like “Still Young,” “New Solution” and “Calm Inside the Storm” are uplifting without being preachy, encouraging without being strident” (Birmingham News). HM Magazine says Everything Burns is “literally the complete package. Quality songs, vocals, and instrumentation: imagine a filled-out rock band going after shiny Jack’s Mannequin hooks.” To support the release of Everything Burns, SHIROCK is planning another tour for later this Fall.
For more information on The Great Transparency, go here:
myspace.com/thegreattransparency

Strike First Records Signs Saving Grace
Strike First Records is proud to welcome to the family New Zealand’s Saving Grace. The 4 piece Gisborne City hardcore metal hybrid have been making waves worldwide for a half decade during which the band’s list of accomplishments includes the release of a self titled Demo EP in 2005, a split with friends Upheld in 2006 and their highly anticipated studio album ‘Behind Enemy Lines’ in 2008 which received rave reviews across their homeland and beyond in USA and Europe, and took the band on a 35-date whirlwind tour across New Zealand, Australia, Mexico and USA. Saving Grace’s hard work, dedication to touring and ever-growing fan base has gained the band the reputation of the most successful spirit-filled hardcore act downunder. Playing a brutal style of music influenced by mid 90s hardcore bands such as Arkangel, Reprisal and Earth Crisis as well as legendary extreme metal classics Slayer, Sepultura, Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse, Saving Grace create a blend of brutal metallic hardcore unlike many of their modern day contemporaries. Saving Grace will release their sophomore album entitled Unbreakable on Strike First Records in January 2010.

©2009 HM Magazine All Rights Reserved

More news from last week:

still fresh (as far as you know)

Seattle-based band The Myriad is back after nearly a year long hiatus to tour with Tyrone Wells (Universal Republic) and indie darling Matt Hires for The Humane Society of the United States “All Creatures Great and Small” campaign.

Since November 2008, drummer Randy Miller has been fearlessly fighting stage 4 cancer, and since the group operates more as a family than a band, they chose to stay home and help support Randy however they could. With the blessing of Randy’s doctors, the band is able to get back on the road and get reacquainted with their fans all across the country.  Randy, however, will have to return to chemo the same day the band returns home.

“This has, without a doubt, been the most uncertain year of The Myriad,” explains singer Jeremy Edwardson. “Last fall we made a decision to put down our instruments and wait with our drummer Randy as he began his fight with cancer. It would be 8 months before we all played in a room together again.  That was a few weeks ago.  We didn’t have an agenda.  There was no “let’s write an album to change the world!” conversations that we had shared in the past.

“The gathering was more about our friendship than the music we had shared. Randy was between chemo visits.  He had just finished another week in the hospital and was starting to regain his strength.  We were prepared to take breaks, leave early, etc. as his body would allow.  We had no idea that Randy would actually prove to be a better drummer than we had ever seen in the past. He was secretly immersing himself in drummer videos and practicing at least an hour a day. He later told us his fight, his battle, was more than beating cancer.  He wanted to come out a better husband, father, drummer, and ultimately a better man of God.  This rocked our world. After a week of hanging out, jamming, laughing, crying, we walked away from rehearsals songless, but with a fire brewing for something more.  Something we could feel deep in our bones.  The feeling of something new – something big.  This fall tour with Tyrone Wells has allowed us the opportunity to sort it all out as we travel across the country.”

When the opportunity arose to get back on the road for the “All Creatures Great and Small” campaign, the band jumped at the opportunity.  Steven Tracy, guitarist for the band, was quick to want to sign on to the tour. ”I’m really looking forward to being apart of this HSUS campaign. It’s something that I’ve felt strongly about for a while now. Factory farming feels like one of those topics that future generations will hopefully look back on as the way things ‘used to be’.”

The Animals & Religion program of The Humane Society of the United States seeks to engage people and institutions of faith with animal protection issues, on the premise that religious values call upon us all to act in a kind and merciful way towards all creatures. It aims to increase awareness about our moral responsibilities to all animals and the environment, and encourages active support of animal welfare policies. More info at humanesociety.org/allcreatures

Steven continues, “Plus, we’re excited about the tour with Tyrone. This has been a year of change for The Myriad, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to try out some different things and explore some new territory. There is always something fun about touring with an artist that you’re relatively unfamiliar with. There are loads of opportunities to meet new folks and make some new friends. Some of my favorite memories have been late night conversations in the back of a bus or van with an artist I just met. Touring is always ripe with those moments.”

Always striving to be as much of a musical vision as a band, The Myriad consistently draws rave reviews from both fans and critics worldwide.  Handpicked out of a survey of 4000 bands by music critics at MTV, the band won the prestigious MTV2 Dew Circuit Breakout competition, after several million fan votes were cast. The band’s video for the single “A Clean Shot” was the most played video on MTV in the spring of 2008.  “A Clean Shot” was also released on the video game ROCKBAND for Xbox and Playstation.  The Myriad also filmed MTV promos like “Discover and Download” and “Artist of the Week” throughout the year to promote their latest release “With Arrows, With Poise.”

Mixed at Hansa Sudios in Berlin, Germany by Michael Ilbert (the Cardigans, Kent, the Hives), and mastered at historic Abbey Road Studios in London, England by Adam Nunn (AIR, Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, George Martin), as well as acclaimed Sterling Sound in New York City by Greg Calbi (Beastie Boys, John Mayer, Interpol, Norah Jones), “With Arrows, With Poise” helped increase a base of loyal fans worldwide

The band has toured extensively, playing with bands such as David Crowder Band, Eisley, Switchfoot, Third Day, Jeremy Camp, Phil Wickham, etc, and has quickly earned a sing-along relationship with fans everywhere: a connection founded more on captivating performances than on-stage antics. Creative melodies evocative of at times Kent, at others Bjork, are delivered with the grand musical scope of The Verve and Radiohead.

“All Creatures Great and Small” Tour

with Tyrone Wells, The Myriad and Matt Hires

9/30 – Washington DC

10/1 – Philadelphia, PA

www10/2 – Boston, MA

10/3 –Wenham, MA (The Myriad only)

10/4 – Fairfield, CT

10/6 – Burlington VT

10/7 – NYC

10/8 – Rochester, NY

10/9 – Pittsburgh, PA

10/10 – Chicago, IL

10/11 – Grand Rapids, MI

10/12 – Ann Arbor, MI

10/15 – Indianapolis, IN

10/16 – Nashville, TN

10/17 – Atlanta, GA

10/18 – Orlando, FL
10/20 – Houston, TX

10/21 – Austin, TX

10/23 – Dallas, TX

10/25 – Scottsdale, AZ

10/26 – San Diego, CA

11/15 – Phoenix, AZ

(University dates being added soon)

www.themyriad.net