MACHINE HEAD will release their new album, "Unto The Locust", on September 27th via Roadrunner Records.
The CD was recorded at Jingle Town Studios in Oakland, with frontman Robb Flynn producing and mixing duties were handled by Flynn and Juan Urteaga.
The album is also released as a special Metal Hammer Fan Pack, the week before, on September 19th.
"Unto The Locust" standard CD track listing:
01. I Am Hell (Sonata In C#)
I) Sangre Sani
II) I Am Hell
III) Ashes To The Sky
02. Be Still And Know
03. Locust
04. This Is The End
05. Darkness Within
06. Pearls Before The Swine
07. Who We Are
"Unto The Locust" special-edition CD track listing:
01. I Am Hell (Sonata in C#)
I) Sangre Sani
II) I Am Hell
III) Ashes To The Sky
02. Be Still And Know
03. Locust
04. This Is The End
05. Darkness Within
06. Pearls Before The Swine
07. Who We Are
08. The Sentinel (JUDAS PRIEST cover) *
09. Witch Hunt (RUSH cover) *
10. Darkness Within (Acoustic) * * Bonus tracks
Thunder will now return to the stage for a show at Christmas.
The band’s well-received performance at High Voltage last weekend was supposed to be a one-off; but now they’ve made the following official statement...
“Both Sun Valley Pavilion and Rock City Nottingham warm up shows went extremely well, and the band was very pleased with how they turned out, so thanks to all who showed up, screamed, sang, clapped etc, especially at such short notice in Nottingham (contractual obligations meant it had to be last minute). These shows provided ideal preparation for the triumph that was High Voltage last Sunday. Official word from the festival organisers is that Thunder had the biggest crowd, best audience reaction, and the best attended signing session of the entire weekend, so huge thanks again to all of you who did your bit. “As hinted at recently in interviews, the band have decided to do a Christmas show. Discussions are taking place, and we’ll be making an announcement as soon as we know the details. I must stress that there are no plans to do anything beyond that.”
THE WHO are to release the definitive version of "Quadrophenia".
Titled, "The Director’s Cut Box Set", this will be released by Universal Music Catalogue on November 14th 2011.
This Box Set will feature a remastered version of the original double album, Pete Townshend’s previously unheard demos (including songs that didn’t make the album), an exclusive eight track 5.1 sound DVD, a deluxe hardback book, previously unseen personal notes, photographs, memorabilia and other exclusive material which will be announced over the coming months.
A stunning ‘Director’s Cut’ of the landmark 1973 album produced, authorised and overseen by Pete Townshend.
After the 1971 album ‘Who’s Next’, Pete Townshend returned to the ‘rock-opera’ concept, so dramatically realised through ‘Tommy’, with another ambitious double-album masterpiece. Based around the story of Jimmy –QUADROPHENIAtells the tale of a young mod and his struggle to come of age in the mid-1960s.The story also takes its influence from the band’s early fans from the original mod era, and its themes of teenage angst and disaffection still resonate strongly today. The project was intended to reflect the four characters of The Who and features some of Townshend’s most inspired, personal song-writing - way ahead of its time in scope and purpose. This is one of the most widely recognised albums of The Who’s career because of its classic depiction of mod culture, its renowned imagery and the magnificent music and powerful performances. The album is hugely significant in popular culture, influencing many other artists, musicians and film-makers – inspiring the classic 1979 British film by Franc Roddam and the UK ‘mod revival’ of the 1970s. “This 2011 revisit to The Who’s 1973 Quadrophenia recording is inspired by current and continuing interest in the project,” explains Townshend. “The Who performed a concert version of the piece at the Royal Albert Hall in 2010 for the Teenage Cancer Trust with excellent reviews, and the success of that event led to the prospect of a Who tour in 2012 based on the album. The last such tour was between 1996-1997.” The album is scheduled for release via Universal Music Catalogue on November 14th, 2011. The box set gives a unique insight into the creation of this landmark album and will feature a re-master of the original double album, Pete Townshend’s previously unheard demos including songs that didn’t make it onto the original album, an exclusive eight track 5.1 sound DVD, a deluxe hard-back book, previously unseen personal notes, photographs, memorabilia and other exclusive material that will be announced over the coming months. ‘Quadrophenia: The Director’s Cut’will be the definitive version of the album and a must for any self-respecting fan of The Who and beyond. To accompany the box set, double vinyl, 2-disc digi-pak and digital versions will also be released. Pre order now byCLICKING HERE.
NIRVANA will release a special 20th anniversary edition of their, "Nevermind", album in late September.
Released on the 24th of September 1991,"Nevermind", has sold over 30 million copies so far; and will be released as a two-CD deluxe edition, a four-LP 180g edition and as a super deluxe edition (four CDs and one DVD disc).
The super deluxe edition will have the original album (now remastered) with all the singles B-sides, plus the demos recorded at producer Butch Vig’s Smart Studios and boombox recordings of rehearsals.
In addition there are Vig’s own mixes of the tracks; the final version was mixed by Andy Wallace.
The DVD features the whole of a 1991 Halloween show at the Paramount Theater in Seattle. It also has the four videos shot for songs from Nevermind.
The box set will come with a 90-page book, which has rare and previously unseen photos, plus documents and other visuals from this era.
Only 40,000 copies of this super deluxe set will be issued worldwide.
Super Deluxe Edition Track Listing...
Disc 1 - Original Album
Smells Like Teen Spirit
In Bloom
Come As You Are
Breed
Lithium
Polly
Territorial Pissings
Drain You
Lounge Act
Stay Away
On A Plain
Something In The Way
The B-Sides: Even In His Youth
Aneurysm
Curmudgeon
D-7 live at the BBC
Been A Son live
School live
Drain You live
Sliver live
Polly live
Disc 2
The Smart Studio Sessions: In Bloom previously unreleased
Immodium (Breed) previously unreleased
Lithium previously unreleased
Polly previously unreleased mix
Pay To Play
Here She Comes Now
Dive previously unreleased
Sappy previously unreleased
The Boombox Rehearsals: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Verse Chorus Verse previously unreleased
Territorial Pissings previously unreleased
Lounge Act previously unreleased
Come As You Are
Old Age previously unreleased
Something In The Way previously unreleased
On A Plain previously unreleased
BBC Sessions: Drain You previously unreleased
Something In The Way previously unreleased
Disc 3: The Devonshire Mixes (Previously Unreleased)
HOUSE OF LORDS will release their new album, Big Money", at the end of September via Frontiers Records.
Frontiers Records is pleased to announce the release of the brand new HOUSE OF LORDS studio album « Big Money » on September 23rd in Europe and September 27th in North America. Following on the heels of the successful release of « Cartesian Dreams » House of Lords are coming back with another amazingly strong release which presents again all the trademark elements of their Melodic Hard Rock sound. « I am very proud to have done four HOL CD's with the same line-up » says singer James Christian, « I enjoy working with every one of them and plan to do many more records in the future. Mark Baker has now been on board as a co-writer for the last two CD's I love working with him. We are totally on the same page when writing new music ». And indeed, the new album, is truly newest addition to an already stellar catalogue of songs. “Big Money”, is well, ‘BIG’. The album starts with the trademark vocals of James Christian and crashes into a Power Rock Classic that you will not forget after the first listen, followed by in a song that Christian describes “as the band’s best work to date”: “One Man Down”. Each song has its own distinct quality as you would expect from The Lords and once again the album is full of soaring choruses, awesome guitar work and songs that grab you from the first listen and don’t let go. “The elements we use on “Big Money” are always the same for us and that is to write and record the best songs that we can” explains Christian. “We always write enough songs for more than one CD and then we pick the best songs to make up the new record. We will always be a Melodic Rock Group. It is the music that made us want to be musicians in the first place. So we will always stay true to that art!”. James teamed up again on the songwriting with long-time friend and partner Mark Baker along with the other band members Jimi Bell and BJ Zampa and Swedish producer/guitarist Tommy Denander. House of Lords debuted in 1989 with the release of the self-titled album, a record which is still regarded as one of the best Arena Rock releases of the 80's. The colossal sound, the soaring vocals of James Christian and instrumental capabilities of the band (which featured ex Angel and Giuffria Gregg Giuffria, along with such luminaries as Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright and Ken Mary), reminiscent of such frontrunners as Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Van Halen, immediately brought the band to the attention of the media and fans. With their sophomore release entitled "Sahara", House of Lords gained considerable chart success with their cover version of Blind Faith's "Can't Find My Way Home". After a tour with Nelson in 1991, the group disbanded, eventually coming back with a new lineup (only featuring original members Giuffria and Christian) in 1992 with "Demon's Down". With the change of the musical climate, House of Lords went into hibernation, until the original lineup came back together in 2000, releasing of the controversial "Power and the Myth" an album which featured a sound leaning more towards Progressive Hard Rock with 70's rock influences. After a short European tour, singer James Christian decided to go back to the trademark Arena Rock sound of House Of Lords, putting together a new line-up with the blessing of founding member Gregg Giuffria, who opted out right before the release of "Power and the Myth". New members Jimi Bell on guitars, B.J. Zampa on drums and Chris McCarvill on bass supplied a true powerhouse sound to the fifth studio album "World Upside Down", a record which caused a real stir in the Hard Rock and Melodic Rock scene and was followed up by the equally impressive "Come to My Kingdom" and “Cartesian Dreams” The new album “Big Money” includes the following tracks: Big Money, One Man Down, First To Cry, Someday When, Searchin’, Livin’ In A Dream World, The Next Time I Hold You, Run For Your Life, Hologram, Seven, Once Twice, Blood. Also included: multimedia bonus videoclip “Someday When”.
HOUSE OF LORDS have already confirmed the following tour dates in Europe...
15 October – UK – Sheffield – Corporation
18 October - Germany – Osnabrueck – Ballroom
20 October – Germany – Munich – Garage Deluxe
21 October – Netherlands – Weert – De Bosuil
22 October – France – Le Savigny - L'empreinte
24 October - Germany - Frankfurt Am Main - Sinkasten
28 October – Italy – Bologna – Sottotetto
29 October – Italy – Trofarello (TO) – Il Peocio
30 October – Switzerland – Pratteln - Z7 Rockfabrik
02 November - Austria - Kufstein – Q-West
04 November – Sweden – Vaxjo – Dirty Harry
05 November – Sweden – Trolhattan - Backstage
10 November – Spain - Madrid
11 November - Spain - Valladolid
13 November - Portugal -Lisbon - Clap Box / Music Box More dates to be announced shortly.
House of Lords is...
James Christian – vocals
Jimi Bell – guitars
BJ Zampa – drums
Chris McCarvill – bass
Evanescence will tour the UK in November with six dates being announced.
They will be supported by Pretty Reckless and Fair To Midland.
This is the band's first tour in four years.
The November dates are as follows...
Friday 04th - London, Hammersmith Apollo
Monday 07th - Manchester, Apollo
Tuesday 08th - Glasgow, Academy
Thursday 10th - Plymouth, Pavilions
Saturday 12th - Leeds, O2 Academy
Sunday 13th - Birmingham, O2 Academy
Tickets go on sale from 9am on Friday, July 29th and will cost £28.50 regionally / £29.50 in London. You can buy tickets at www.livenation.co.uk.
Evanescence have a new album released on November 10th.
Leslie West, Michael Schenker and Uli Jon Roth have announced a 17 date, "3 Guitar Heroes Of Rock", tour of North America for October/November of this year.
All three guitarists will play individual sets before teaming up for a collective jam each night.
3 Guitar Heroes tour dates...
10/06 - Norfolk, CT - Infinity Music Hall & Bistro
10/08 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
10.09 - Plymouth, NH - The Flying Monkey
10/12 - Foxborough, MA - Showcase Live
10/13 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony
10/14 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
10/15 - Philadelphia, PA - Theatre of Living Arts
10/16 - Westbury, NY - NYCB Theatre at Westbury
10/19 - Baltimore, MD - Sound Stage
10/20 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
10/21 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
10/22 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room
10/26 - Milwaukee, WI - The Pabst Theater
10/27 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
11/04 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
11/05 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
11/11 - Las Vegas, NV - Boulder Station Hotel & Casino
West had his lower right leg amputated last month in a life-saving operation related to diabetes.
Official Metallica.com footage of METALLICA's pre-show meet-and-greet, tuning-room jam and performance at the "Big Four" concert at Snowhall Parc in Amneville, France (09/07/11) can be viewed at the bottom of this posting...
Metallica's setlist was as follows...
01. Hit The Lights
02. Master Of Puppets
03. The Shortest Straw
04. Seek & Destroy
05. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
06. Ride The Lightning
07. The Memory Remains
08. All Nightmare Long
09. Sad But True
10. The Call Of Ktulu
11. One
12. For Whom The Bell Tolls
13. Blackened
14. Fade To Black
15. Enter Sandman
Encore:
16. Helpless (with Diamond Head & Anthrax)
17. Damage, Inc.
18. Creeping Death
METALLICA are currently writing songs for their 10th studio album.
Manowar have confirmed six dates in the UK & Ireland for November.
The dates are as follows...
01st - Glasgow, O2 Academy
04th - Leeds, O2 Academy
05th - London, Brixton, O2 Academy
06th - Cardiff, The Great Hall
09th - Dublin, The Academy
10th - Belfast, Mandela Hall
Derek Sherinian's new solo album "Oceana" is released on Monday September 5th by the Music Theories Recordings label via the Mascot Label Group.
The BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION member has played keyboards with artists including Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Yngwie Malmsteen and KISS. In addition to being a former member of Dream Theater, Sherinian was also a member of the prog rock band Platypus, and the founder of the progressive fusion metal band Planet X.
"Oceana" was mixed by drummer Simon Phillips (also plays drums on all tracks) whose drumming credits include Toto, The Who, Jeff Beck, 10CC and Roxy Music.
Photo: Marty Temme
Steve Lukather collaborates with Sherinian on 'Mulholland', 'Euphoria' and 'Seven Sins', while former Planet X guitarist Tony MacAlpine performs on 'Five Elements' and 'Mercury 7'. Steve Stevens is featured on 'Ghost Runner' and the title track, while Black Country Communion band-mate Joe Bonamassa performs on 'I Heard That'. Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake) performs on 'El Camino Diablo', and Jimmy Johnson plays bass on all tracks with the exception of 'Ghost Runner' and 'Oceana', which both feature Tony Franklin.
Favouring a guitar heavy rock based approach to fusion ala Jeff Beck, Sherinian's music creates a certain energy that comes through the recordings, setting him apart from other jazz fusion artists. His music also appeals to fans of technical heavy metal. Thanks to his relentless touring schedule with a wide range of well-known artists, Sherinian easily adapts to ever changing musical genres, while always maintaining his signature style.
Patti Smith is to release a greatest hits album at the end of August.
The album,"Outside Society", spans her career from 1975’s "Horses" to 2007’s "Twelve".
The track listing is as follows...
01. Gloria
02. Free Money
03. Ain’t It Strange
04. Pissing In A River
05. Because The Night
06. Rock ’N’ Roll Nigger
07. Dancing Barefoot
08. Frederick
09. So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star
10. People Have the Power
11. Up There Down There
12. Beneath The Southern Cross
13. Summer Cannibals
14. 1959
15. Glitter In Their Eyes
16. Lo And Beholden
17. Smells Like Teen Spirit
18. Trampin
Following The Straits’ recent debut show at the Royal Albert Hall in May 2011, Alan Clark, Phil Palmer and Chris White from Dire Straits have announced an 11-date October UK tour.
The band also includes Phil Palmer (guitar), Chris White (sax), Terence Reis (lead vocals, guitar), Alan Clark (keyboards), Steve Ferrone (drums), Mick Feat (bass) and Jamie Squire (keyboards).
Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler will join together for a European tour this Winter and have scheduled six UK shows and one in Ireland.
It is the first time that the pair have toured together in the UK. Knopfler and Dylan first worked together in 1979 on Dylan's "Slow Train Coming" album and the Knopfler produced "Infidels".
Knopfler said...
"I'm much looking forward to going out on the road with Bob in such a special year. Also, it was an honor to be asked to record one of Bob's songs on the forthcoming Amnesty International 50th anniversary album to mark his 70th birthday."
UK & Ireland Tour dates...
Oct 06th, 2011 - Dublin, IRELAND, The O2 Oct 08th, 2011 - Glasgow, UK, Braehead Arena Oct 09th, 2011 - Glasgow, UK, Braehead Arena Oct 10th, 2011 - Manchester, UK, MEN Arena Oct 11th, 2011 - Nottingham, UK, Capital FM Arena Oct 13th, 2011 - Cardiff, UK, Motorpoint Arena Oct 14th, 2011 - Bournemouth, UK, BIC
Progressive metallers THRESHOLD will soon return to the studio to resume work on the follow-up to 2007's, "Dead Reckoning", for a 2012 release via Nuclear Blast Records.
The Album is being recorded at Thin Ice Studios in the UK with producers Karl Groom (Guitar) and Richard West (Keyboards).
This is the band's first album with vocalist, DAMIAN WILSON.
THRESHOLD's current line-up is...
Damian Wilson - Vocals
Karl Groom - Guitar
Richard West - Keyboards
Johanne James - Drums
Steve Anderson - Bass
Pete Morten - Guitar
The SUMMERS END FESTIVAL have announced that Manchester band AMPLIFIER have been confirmed for their Friday night line-up.
Day tickets to the festival are now also on sale (details below).
The official announcement reads as follows...
The Summers End Festival , which takes place on 7th, 8th and 9th October at Lydney Town Hall is excited to announce the second part of its Friday double header, Manchester New Prog pioneers Amplifier.
Formed in 1999, the band has recently released their third album, the magnificent tour de force "The Octopus". Recorded over three years and financed entirely by the band, this remarkable double album has received huge acclaim including rave reviews in the NME, Q, Kerrang and Metal Hammer. The band has shared a stage with the likes of Opeth and Porcupine Tree, so it is a huge honour to welcome them to Summers End.
www.amplifiertheband.com
Confirmed Line up...
Friday 7th October
Double headliner:
Lazuli (France), Amplifier (UK), Opening band to be announced.
Evening:
Caravan (UK) – Sunday Headliner, Magenta (UK) – Sunday Special Guest, Afternoon:
Headspace (UK), Sunchild (Ukraine), Unto Us (UK).
Day tickets:
Day and part-festival tickets will go on sale on the evening of Friday 15th July, with the following prices:
Friday: £18
Saturday or Sunday Day tickets: £29
Saturday and Sunday tickets: £50
Sponsor's tickets remain available at £85, which get the purchaser a special T-shirt and one other Summers End goodie to be confirmed, standard 3 day tickets are also available priced £65 from www.summersend.co.uk. Don't also forget the Festival Ferry at £14 for the weekend.
Thin Lizzy have announced an eleven date UK tour for 2012 and Planet Rock Radio has a week's presale so that you can get your tickets ahead of the general public.
PLANET ROCK have managed to secure a limited number of presale tickets for the dates on the tour so that you can get the best seats in the house before anyone else.
Support on all of the dates comes from Clutch.
The dates are as follows...
Thurs 19 Jan - Glasgow, Barrowlands
Sat 21 Jan - Newcastle, City Hall
Mon 23 Jan - Leicester, De Montfort Hall
Tues 24 Jan - York, Barbican
Wed 25 Jan - Cambridge, Corn Exchange
Fri 27 Jan - Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
Sun 29 Jan - Sheffield, City Hall
Tues 31 Jan - Plymouth Pavilions
Wed 1 Feb - Cardiff, St. David's Hall
Fri 03 Feb - Brighton, Dome
Sat 04 - London, HMV Hammersmith Apollo
THE PLANET ROCK presale starts on Monday at 9am and runs until Monday 25 July at 9am (or until all Presale tickets are sold out).
JUDAS PRIEST's bassist Ian Hill has told Rockpages that the band have a whole album's worth of new material.
He revealed that the band had been writing and recording while they were not on the road.
"We have already written an album's worth of material. Three songs are properly recorded and roughly mixed. I think that the record company might put out something, just a bit of something so as to let the fans know of what's coming along.
"It's gonna be a great album and it's gonna carry on from where Angel of Retribution left off. We got Nostradamus out of our system and now we are heading towards classic Priest metal....the screams, the fast, the slow and the heavy! A little bit of everything. A big "thank you" for all that we are doing goes out to the fans."
The band start their UK tour tonight and the dates are as follows...
15/07 - Newport - Newport Centre
16/07 - Manchester - Manchester Apollo
17/07 - Doncaster - Doncaster Dome
19/07 - Glasgow - Glasgow SECC
20/07 - Newcastle-Upon-Tyne - Metro Radio Arena
21/07 - Wolverhampton - Civic Hall
23/07 - London - High Voltage Festival, Victoria Park
24/07 - Bournemouth - Bournemouth International Centre (BIC)
The August issue of Classic Rock Presents Prog was out on Wednesday July 13th.
Issue 18 is guest edited by Ian Anderson and features every High Voltage Prog band interviewed.
It also contains the usual free CD "Prognosis 18".
The magazine has the usual Letters, Prognosis, My Record Collection, Q & A, Mavericks, Masterworks, Art For Art's Sake, Discworld, Stages & Cheerio features.
Featured artists include Yes, Jon Anderson, Greenslade, Opeth, Jan Akkerman, Twelfth Night, Muse, Hawkwind, Focus, Fairport Convention, Pentangle, Supertramp, Colosseum, Neal Peart, John Lees, Mostly Autumn, Anathema, Amplifier, Roger Waters, Rush, Marillion, Tangerine Dream, The Flower Kings, Roger Hodgson, Pendragon, It Bites, Von Hertzen Brothers, Here & Now, Solstice, John Wetton, Carl Palmer, Strawbs, Devin Townsend, Pallas, Moonwagon, Cryptex, Wobbler, Caravan, Curved Air, Dream Theater, Queensryche and more.
"Prognosis 18" Track Listing... 01 BIG BIG TRAIN - Kingmaker 02 NEKTAR - Desolation Valley 03 CCLR - Morning Comes 04 COMEDY OF ERRORS - The Student Prince (Part One) 05 MOTORPSYCHO - Wishing Well 06 PHI YAAN-ZEK - Adventures In Myth/Ecstasies Of The Starlight Self 07 SCALE THE SUMMIT - Gallows 08 SPIRITS BURNING - Internal Detective
09 ATRIUM - Like You
The Next Issue Is On Sale On 31/08/2011 (Error on page 10 - states 13/07/11 which is the date the current issue is out - whoops!)
MAGNUM are at present putting together a compilation album featuring tracks from the past ten years or so.
However it will also include two new tracks.
The compilation will cover Magnum's time with SPV Records and is to be titled "Evolution".
Guitarist Tony Clarkin, said that he and the band's singer Bob Catley,
“Sat in the studio and chose what we thought would make a good rock album so maybe it’s not all the obvious tracks you would expect.
“That done we are now in the process of re-recording various things, from drums to guitars and even some vocals, bits of keyboards and bass. We are also including two brand new tracks on this album.”
"Jerusalem", the new album from Swedish melodic metallers ASTRAL DOORS, will be released in October. The CD was mixed by Daniel Bergstrand.
Guitarist Martin Haglund left Astral Doors in April 2010 in order to focus on his family life.
The band has opted to remain a five-piece, with Joachim Nordlund handling all guitars himself.
The band released its previous album, "Requiem Of Time" in January 2010 via Metalville.
The first DVD from the band is also in the making with some additional material still to be filmed this Summer. The band are looking at a Winter release.
Sebastian Bach has announced the full track listing for his new album.
"Kicking & Screaming" will be released in late September via Frontiers Records.
It was produced by Bob Marlette and has the following track listing...
01. Kicking & Screaming
02. My Own Worst Enemy
03. Tunnel Vision (featuring John 5 on guitar)
04. Dance On Your Grave
05. Caught In A Dream
06. As Long As I Got The Music
07. I’m Alive
08. Dirty Power
09. Live The Life
10. Dream Forever
11. One Good Reason
12. Lost In The Light
13. Wishin’
URIAH HEEP have just announced ten UK dates for a tour in December.
The band are currently on tour in Russia.
Into The Wild Tour – UK dates 2011...
01/12 - WOLVERHAMPTON, Wulfrun Hall
02/12 - HOLMFIRTH, The Picturedrome
03/12 - BRIGHTON, The Brighton Centre
05/12 - BRISTOL, O2 Academy
06/12 - BOURNEMOUTH, 02 Academy
08/12 - LONDON, Shepherd’s Bush Empire
10/12 - OXFORD, O2 Academy
11/12 - GLASGOW, O2 ABC
12/12 - NEWCASTLE, O2Academy
13/12 - WAVENDON, The Stables
Vol. 1 (Studio)
01 Let The Love In
02 Set Us Free
03 Daydream Tonight (Live at Lion's Share)
04 King Of New Mexico
05 Were You There
06 Ruby Electric Recorded at Sunset Sound and Lion’s Share, Hollywood, was produced by Dave Cobb and mixed by Mark Rains. The songs were recorded live using a collection of vintage equipment and instruments, complemented by Cobb’s signature recording and production techniques.
PHOTO: Alan R. Smith
Vol. 2 (Live)
01 Helios
02 One Foot In The Grave
03 Powerful Thing
04 Slipaway
05 Alchemy
06 Take You Away
07 Angels Live Inside
08 Cinnamon Girl / I Want You (She's So Heavy) Recorded on tour in France, Germany, and Holland in 2010, was mixed by the legendary recording engineer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin) in April 2011.
Features...
Kenny Aronoff (drums),
Joel Gottschalk (bass)
Fritz Lewak (drums)
Fred Mandel (piano, organ)
Philip Sayce is a Welsh guitarist who grew up in Canada and played in Melissa Etheridge's band and also was part of the Jeff Healey Band.
He went solo in 2009 and quickly released two solid solo blues rock albums.
I have got to admit that I had never heard of Sayce until a review copy of "Ruby Electric" came through my letterbox, so I am completely new to his work.
This album is split into two volumes with one being a collection of previously unreleased studio tracks and the other live material.
However, Volume one also has a live feel to it as it was recorded in the studio with vintage equipment.
Sayce said...
“I'd been looking for the right circumstances to release all of thesesongs, The studio tracks on Volume 1 remained unavailable internationally. We remixed and re-mastered the tracks, picked some alternate takes, and included a live version of “Daydream Tonight” (the latter originally appeared on Sayce’s 2010 album “Innerevolution”). As soon as we paired the songs up with the recent live recordings from last year’s European tour, the album became Ruby Electric.”
"Ruby Electric" opens up with "Let The Love In", which features a guest appearance from Melissa Etheridge and is an excellent rocker with great vocals and guitar.
"Set Us Free" is also another great rocker with vicious drums and a great guitar solo.
Track three,"Daydream Tonight", should be familiar to fans, unlike me, as it appeared on Sayce's last album "Innerevolution". This is the Live version of the ballad with great flowing guitar work.
With "Kings Of New Mexico" the album picks up pace again followed by the track "Were You There".
Volume One ends with the excellent Hendrix style, "Ruby Electric", the best track in my opinion.
The tracks on Volume two were recorded on the road during Philip's 2010 European Tour.
Stand out track for me is the eight minute, "Slipaway", which showcases Sayce's great guitar skills.
I have got to say that all in all this is a very good album, which has quite a raw feel to it; and therefore does not sound over-produced.
I was certainly impressed; and although I had not heard any of Philip's previous work before, it sounded good after the very first play.
Philip's guitar work and vocals cannot be faulted and he also writes a good song or two.
You can definitely hear the Hendrix and Healey influences.
My only criticism would be that I would have left off the final track (Cinnamon Girl / I Want You) as this did nothing for me.
However, that is my only gripe and Philip Sayce certainly looks to have a very bright future in front of him.
VERDICT: An album for Blues and Rock fans alike 08/10
"Ruby Electric" is released on Monday July 11th via Provogue Records (an imprint of the Mascot Label Group).
