by Nick Katona | Apr 13, 2018 | New Releases, News
HAKEN are extremely pleased to announce the release of their first-ever live album, titled ‘L-1VE’ and scheduled for release on June 22nd, 2018. Following the release of the band’s much-acclaimed fourth studio album ‘Affinity’, they embarked upon their 10th-anniversary tour across Europe & North America. Recorded and filmed on April 13th, 2017, at the legendary Melkweg venue on the Amsterdam stop of that tour, this represents the band’s first ever live document with tracks from across the band’s discography.
“The release of official live material is a project that is long overdue and we know our existing fans have been crying out for this for some time now. Whilst we have filmed and recorded many shows in the past we have always felt there were elements of our shows that could be improved ‘visually’ before we documented and immortalized this for the world to see and that the timing for a live release never felt right for us. This is just our nature as creative people to be so extremely self-critical and constantly strive for perfection. It is largely due to the will of the people that the idea of this project became a reality. Both the band and the label were inundated with emails requesting a live release in some shape or form, and it was actually rather flattering, so giving the people what they wanted just felt like the right thing to do.”
‘L-1VE’ will be released as a 2CD/2DVD Digipak package & as a digital download. The DVD will include 4 bonus tracks filmed at ProgPower USA 2016 that also includes Mike Portnoy’s cameo appearance on gong, as well as all of the official videos from the ‘Affinity’ album. The main show and the bonus material on the DVD are also mixed in 5.1 surround sound.
You can find the full track-listing below and pre-order the album here:
https://Haken.lnk.to/L-1VE
1.affinity.exe/Initiate
2.In Memoriam
3.1985
4.Red Giant
5.Aquamedley
6.As Death Embraces
7.Atlas Stone
8.Cockroach King
9.The Architect
10.The Endless Knot
11.Visions
DVD Bonus Material
1.Falling Back to Earth
2.Earthrise
3.Pareidolia
4.Crystallised
Also includes music videos for Initiate, Earthrise & Lapse
The artwork was once again produced by long-time collaborators Blacklake, who continued the love of 80’s culture that they demonstrated on artwork for ‘Affinity’. The live audio was mixed by Neal Morse & Winery Dogs alumni Jerry Guidroz.
The band has also revealed they have started work on their fifth studio album. They comment: “We’re currently getting our teeth stuck into the writing process for Album 5 and great ideas are forming and evolving as we speak. It’s still early days but there is a sense among us that Haken may take a darker path with this one. However, the playing field is still wide open and the direction this record takes could alter at any point. One thing is certain: We will endeavor to stick to our mandate of strong melodies and Killer riffs! ”
Look out for more news in the coming weeks.
INSIDEOUTMUSIC Spotify Playlist:
by Nick Katona | Apr 12, 2018 | New Releases, News
The incredible follow-up to acclaimed debut album “American Stranger”!
Los Angeles – On the heels of their critically acclaimed debut album, Lunden Reign is releasing their second album “Confessions” on limited edition 12-inch vinyl! The record is complete with 10 powerhouse songs that focus on political emotions and empowerment as well as some fantastic love songs that will make the hairs stand on your neck. Nikki Lunden’s vocals have really come into their own realm as distinctive and unmistakable as well as the sound of Lunden Reign itself. Laura Espinoza-Lunden’s songwriting continues to blow everyone away with every line and riff and with the help of their producer “The Wizard” Luis Maldonado, these songs have grown far beyond the band’s dreams. Lunden Reign can’t wait to share them with you!
Says Nikki, “We’ve really put more of our personal lives into this album, unlike our first record which was more of a story we were telling about a protagonist named Mary. ‘Confessions’ (album) really hits on our views of whats going on politically in the world with ‘Stardust Daze’ and ‘Fate of The World’. We dig into our disillusions and complexities of love and relationships and internal battles we are challenged with. It all translates. I think every song on this new record is relatable to what the world is feeling and to people out there who have jousted with love and the things it can make us do and feel. It offers relief in a way – at least for me. Saying it all out loud. We can purge our emotions and get fired up at the same time with this collection of songs.”
“The artwork is stunning on Confessions and the record inside is a rock album that balances beauty and power from one of Los Angeles’ finest independent bands.” – Warren Kurtz, Goldmine Magazine
Although the final album is none less than incredible, the recording did not come without its challenges. Says Nikki, “For me, this was a particularly challenging recording process. Right about the time we were ready to cut vocals for 5 of the first 6 songs I fell ill with a horrible cold that just kept getting worse. I lost my voice for almost 2 months and had to go mute as a process of healing. Probably the scariest thing I’ve ever endured physically. Once I was over the illness, I began taking lessons from a fantastic vocal coach to get my voice back into shape. There was a lot of apple cider vinegar involved as well as some challenging exercises but I got through it. Laura was so supportive through the whole thing, it was scary for all of us for a minute there. Obviously, it’s all good now! We had some really great collaborating on this album! That was really exciting for me because with our first record I was still very new to the project and finding my place in it. By the time we started working on ‘Confessions’, I really felt as if the music was my own now, that I’m part of it completely. I was still getting to know Laura and Luis’s writing before. I was much more involved in the writing process on this one, I’m proudest of ‘Stardust Daze’ – I think that was our best collaboration, I hold that one really close to my heart because of that. ‘Dead Man Walking’ came out like a lightning bolt after something I experienced outside of school in Hollywood. I walked into our writing session that night and just handed it to Laura and Luis. We worked on the music for maybe 10 minutes and that was that. I love it when it happens like that. So spontaneous and raw.”
“What these songs all have in common is an ear for melody and a sense of care and craft in constructing this record. You can hear how important these words and these songs are to the band” – Chris C. – Editor in Chief, Bloody Good Music
Lunden Reign is composed of two core members: Nikki Lunden (Lead Vocals/Guitar/Composer) and Laura Espinoza-Lunden (Guitar/Composer). Lunden Reign’s music is described as ‘Big Beat Alternative Rock’ or ‘Modern Classic Rock’. Some say it’s the signature album for “ROCK’s REBIRTH”. The band’s debut concept album “American Stranger” was released on Cleopatra Records March 17, 2015, and began receiving worldwide critical acclaim almost immediately. The 10 original songs are scored with layers of haunting melodies, uplifting guitar riffs blended with a sharp edge and a massive beat. Laura Espinoza-Lunden’s innovative synth guitar riffs along with Nikki Lunden’s voice have been at the foreground for the two frontwomen to define the Lunden Reign sound, enhanced by longtime producer & co-writer Luis Maldonado (Train, Lisa Marie Presley).
Their first album “AMERICAN STRANGER” received critical acclaim and made multiple music magazines “TOP 10-BEST OF” Lists for 2015. You can hear songs and watch their videos at LundenReign.com.
Along with Laura and Nikki Lunden, Lunden Reign features longest standing musician in the band, bassist Matt Denis. He joined with us in late 2013, just in time to record on the final song for “American Stranger” – “Love In Free Fall”. The new album features both Matt Lucich and Noel “Fredo” Jasso on drums. The band has brought Morgan Young back to the kit for their live shows. Morgan played drums on “American Stranger” and Laura and Nikki are thrilled to have him back on stage with them. Lunden Reign’s newest addition, Julian Tomarin has been playing guitar with the band for nearly 2 years. Although not considered “band members”, Laura and Nikki would like to give credit to their producer Luis Maldonado and sound engineer Devin Hoffman for their instrumental contributions to the new record. These two guys worked tirelessly to make this album what it is, whether it was adding synths, more guitars, keys, arrangements, whatever the song called for.
Laura and Nikki are focusing on writing and recording more songs with a focus on TV and film. They are planning to do their next video fairly soon! “Stardust Daze” is in pre-production with Jonathan Lawrence, director of “Love In Free Fall” and “Red Wagon”. The band would like to see that come out by early summer.
In closing, Nikki has this to impart, “Never. Give. Up. There are so many things happening in the world that need change and there are some young people out there right now who are acting as Warriors for their generation. Don’t stop. We’re behind you. Know you always have the power to change things – and that goes for everybody. Every day in my life I have a choice to make things better for myself or do nothing – just keeping pushing forward.”
To purchase Lunden Reign’s “Confessions” 12-inch vinyl: https://lundenreign.com/store
More Information/Social Sites About Lunden Reign:
http://lundenreign.com
twitter.com/LundenReign
youtube.com/LundenReign
facebook.com/LundenReign
instagram.com/lundenReign
Contact:
Laura Espinoza- Legends International Agency, LLC Beverly Hills 310-746-9106
LegendsKennelly@gmail.com
by Nick Katona | Apr 11, 2018 | New Releases, News
“An enticing and ear-bending form of new classic rock is most definitely what Thunderbird have delivered…” – Martin Popoff
Canadian hard rockers Thunderbird are releasing their anticipated self-titled third album on Delinquent Records on April 25, 2018! “Thunderbird” was recorded in Vancouver BC, produced by Marc LaFrance and Kelly Stodola and mixed by famed engineer Mike Fraser.
Says lead singer & producer Marc LaFrance, “The album is like a collection of short stories. I am singing the songs as different characters, or telling their tales. A gallery of rogues from the dark side!”
Musically, the songs are inspired by classic hard rock. Heavy guitars, blistering solos, driving rhythms.
The songs were written during 2016, after the band finished their last album “Heavyweight”. Recording began for a third album late 2016 at Vancouver’s Armoury Studios with famed engineer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Aerosmith, Van Halen). Sessions continued through the first half of 2017 at several Vancouver studios with other veteran engineers including Ken Burke, Kris Siegers and Mick Dalla-Vee. The finished album was mixed by Mike Fraser at The Armoury and mastered by Adam Ayan (Def Leppard, Foo Fighters, Queen) at Gateway Mastering.
The band’s former guitarist Rod ‘Doc’ Coogan was unable to take part this time due to other commitments, and rising young talent Brice Tabish joins Thunderbird on guitar. Rod still makes a welcome appearance with the guitar solo on opening track “Liar (Fool’s Gold)”. Guest musicians on the new album include jazz pianist Chris Gestrin, and a string section on closing track “Vampire” arranged and conducted by film composer Peter Allen.
Thunderbird features:
Marc LaFrance (Vocals/Producer)
Very experienced, well-known and highly regarded in the music industry, Marc is not only a singer but also a drummer, songwriter and producer. He records and tours internationally with Randy Bachman and Bachman Turner as well as his own band Cease & Desist. He has contributed to over 100 albums, and countless sessions on recordings by Motley Crue, David Lee Roth, Bon Jovi, The Cult, Loverboy, Glass Tiger, Alice Cooper, Blue Murder, Scorpions, Cher and many others.
Rob Becker (Bass)
Award-winning bassist Rob Becker has been an active part of the Vancouver music scene for decades and maintains a busy schedule of touring and session work. He has recorded and performed with many artists including Colin James, Patricia Conroy, Barney Bentall, Jim Byrnes, Ridley Bent and Lee Aaron to name a few. He can be seen performing regularly in the US and Europe and has recently been on stages in Scotland, England and Australia. His extensive background in playing live and in the studio, combined with formal musical training, makes Rob musically versatile.
Kelly Stodola (Drums/Producer)
Kelly is immersed in session work and live performance in many diverse styles and has been heard across North America on alternative college radio and mainstream hard rock stations as well as country television. Credits include Lauren Starchuk, Version 3, The Blue Voodoo, Featherz Edge, The Steve Sainas Band and Magnus Rising. He continues to keep a busy schedule on the Vancouver music scene and looks forward to many more years of making music.
Brice Tabish (Guitars)
Brice Tabish may be only in his mid-twenties, but knows more about classic hard rock and metal than people who were there at the time! He is a real student of the genre and lives and breathes it. Already a seasoned player on the Canadian scene, Brice tours with ‘metal queen’ Lee Aaron and has recorded with the likes of Andrew Oldham (Rolling Stones). He performs live regularly in the Vancouver area with Las Divas and the John Pippus Band.
Tracks
1. Liar (Fool’s Gold)
2. Little Jenny
3. Star
4. Rain
5. Into the Sun
6. Painted Lady
7. Revolution
8. Man of Clay
9. I’m with You
10. On the Brink
11. King Rat
12. Vampire
The songs and lyrics will be available after release on the band’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaNOMFBYJuT5gAqSdmKOOyw/playlists?sort=dd&shelf_id=0&view=1
Here’s what the press have already said about Thunderbird:
“Aggressive energy and raw edge…Hard rocking and based on some smoking riffing” – Music Street Journal (USA)
“Hard rock veterans, Thunderbird are keeping the genre alive and well, and are doing so with original, hand-crafted material.” – The Ark of Music (USA)
“Hit all the right buttons” – Hallowed (Sweden)
“Thunderbird electrifies…Hits hard…There’s no lack of breakneck drumming, smashing cymbals, or face melting solos…The band shows versatility on every track, while always remaining true to their clear brand of sound.” – Indie Band Guru (USA)
“Buckle your seat belt…A refreshing sound that harkens back to the glory days of hard rock music…helping to keep the torch burning for fans that still crave that classic rock sound that will never die.” – Metal Nexus (USA)
“In-your-face attitude…Hard rocking riffs abound…Back-to-the-roots shot of adrenaline fueled heavy rock to leave you wanting more. We can’t wait to see what Thunderbird do next.” – Rock Hard (UK)
“Thunderbird know how to rock and they do it with style.” – Middle Tennessee Music (USA)
“Blasting through your speakers with riffage of AC/DC-level intensity…The guitar is chunky and virtuosic, the drums thunderous with machine-gun-like fills.” – Coyote Music (USA)
In closing the band has this to say to their fans worldwide, “Keep on Rockin’!”
To purchase Thunderbird’s new CD: https://www.amazon.com/Thunderbird-Explicit/dp/B07BNCNQKW
For more information: http://facebook.com/thunderbirdtheband
by Nick Katona | Apr 10, 2018 | New Releases, News
Los Angeles – Celebrating the 40th anniversary of UK’s critically acclaimed self-titled debut record released on Polydor in 1978, Eddie Jobson is making this seminal album available on vinyl for the first time since its original release. It will be released on April 21st, and available exclusively to Record Store Day participating retailers worldwide. The record is pressed on 180 gram vinyl, and includes an 8 page full color booklet designed exclusively for this release. The album is remastered from the original tapes located at Abbey Road Studios in London, which is the same master that was used in the now out of print “Ultimate Collector’s Edition” box set that compiled all the works of UK’s 3 albums, along with rarities, live material and 5.1 versions across 18 discs.
“I’m pleased to recognize the 40th Anniversary of this seminal album with this carefully remastered vinyl release. This is now a legacy recording, made even more significant with the recent passing of both Wetton and Holdsworth, that I hope will represent a benchmark for future musicians.” – Eddie Jobson
The Music
In October 1977 the new supergroup featuring Eddie Jobson, Bill Bruford, John Wetton and Allan Holdsworth entered the rehearsal room, each armed with a panoply of musical ideas. Each song, theme, part or riff was logged in, like a jigsaw piece, and so the organizing and arranging of the individual pieces began. External expectations were high, not just for what these four individual innovators might create together, but because Trident Studios in Soho was already booked to record the results of their highly anticipated collaboration.
The music of UK would be developed over several weeks. Wetton would reintroduce “Thirty Years,” a song first tried out with the Wakeman trio; Bruford brought in some harmonic, but mostly rhythmic ideas. Holdsworth’s contributions revolved around his distinctive chord voicings, forming the foundation of such tracks as “Nevermore” and “Mental Medication.” Meanwhile, Jobson – the more formal composer of the group – brought in pages of musical notation that included the entire “In The Dead of Night” suite, minus vocal melody lines, but including “By The Light of Day” and the Zappa-influenced “Presto Vivace,” along with a complete version of “Alaska,” the verse of “Time To Kill” and half of “Nevermore.” The myriad musical ideas were painstakingly stitched together, mainly by Bruford and Jobson, but it would be Wetton’s melodic and lyrical sense that would ultimately glue the disparate stylings into something resembling cohesive songs. Notwithstanding the considerable stylistic contributions of Holdsworth and Bruford, with a full sixty percent of the new album material emanating from Jobson’s compositions, and with the addition of Wetton’s vocal melodies and lyrics, the first UK album truly marked an auspicious beginning to the highly symbiotic Jobson-Wetton writing partnership.
Trident Studios, December 1977
The “U.K.” album was recorded over a six-week period. Holdsworth’s classic guitar solo on “In The Dead of Night” was created on the fly. Wetton’s dense harmonies were carefully overdubbed over the course of many hours. Jobson created the entire electronic section of “Nevermore” on the studio’s massive ARP 2500 modular synthesizer. An amalgam of classical, jazz, rock and electronic, the first UK album was considered truly groundbreaking; Rolling Stone magazine called it “The great white hope of progressive music.”
In 2016 Rolling Stone selected the “U.K.” album as one of the Top 30 “best progressive-rock albums of all time.” Though, in a burst of collaborative brilliance, this towering lineup recorded only one album together, the pioneering musicians known as UK have still carved their place in rock history as one of the greatest progressive-rock bands of all time, and have left this classic recording as an exemplary standard for future musicians.
For more information
www.recordstoreday.com
#RSD18
@recordstoreday Twitter
@recordstoreday Facebook
@recordstoredayus Instagram
Eddie Jobson
http://www.zealotslounge.com ;
https://www.facebook.com/EJ.UK.fanpage/
by Nick Katona | Apr 4, 2018 | New Releases, News
Please help Melodic Revolution Records welcome Wheeling, WV (Enter Genre Here) band Colouratura to our family of musicians.
We will be releasing Colouratura’s sophomore album Unfamiliar Skies in early May 2018 with eight brand new songs that also feature many guests, some well-known others not so well known or new ones on the scene. The CD will be presented in a beautiful 6-panel digipak designed by Eric Kearns (Diratz, Stop Motion Orchestra)
Colouratura Is:
Nathan James – voice, keyboards, bass, horn
Ian Beabout – flute, editing, sound design and production
Guest Musicians On Unfamiliar Skies
Derek Pavlic (Van Gilder)
Eric Holskey (Sabo Cat, plus many others)
Dave Newhouse (The Muffins, Diratz, Moonmen, Proletarians)
Brandon Collins
Damon Waitkus (Jack o’ the Clock)
Michael P. Dawson
Nathan Lestini
Bret Harold Hart (Diratz, Moonmen)
Chris Kuskey
In a Statement from the band
“On the strength of Unfamiliar Skies, Colouratura has signed to Nick Katona’s long-running Melodic Revolution Records label, which will release the album this May (?) (TBD).”
“We’re obviously quite excited to have joined this great progressive label,” said Beabout. “One of the goals with Unfamiliar Skies was we wanted to expand Colouratura’s audience and reach, and having the support that a label provides will in no doubt help us reach our goals.”
“MRR is an eclectic label with a 10-year history of great artists, such as Marco Ragni and Colin Tench. The family atmosphere and team effort will surely help Colouratura grow and thrive.’
In a Statement from the label
“I first discovered Colouratura through a friend at House of Prog, a popular internet radio station that I DJ for a few days a week. However, I was aware of one of the talented guys (Ian Beabout) in this project who has been a guest musician on a few of our releases. Once I after hearing the pre-masters for Unfamiliar Skies I knew this band had something to offer the world that was just a bit different than what was already flooding Spotify and the like. This album will appeal to all age groups and breaks all the rules when it comes to defining a genre, yet the album Unfamiliar Skies feels fresh and cohesive and I believe it will appeal to the masses rather than the far few and between”
– Nick Katona President @ Melodic Revolution Records
Links:
| Official Website Coming Soon | Facebook | MRR Profile Page |
Media Contact:
Ian Beabout
Beaboutproductions@gmail.com
Label:
Melodic Revolution Records
Nick Katona
nick@melodicrevolution.com
by Nick Katona | Mar 31, 2018 | New Releases, News
Origins is a sixteen track double album which include one hidden bonus track and celebrate’s 25 years and 11 release by LaRue.
The songs on “Origins” were written and recorded over 25 years. Some in a small recording studio in Tahlequah, OK over a year’s time with John “Yakfe” Timothy, and some in Los Angeles working extensively with John Payne as a co-producer, mixing engineer, bassist, and vocalist. Also, certain songs were known as some of the first prog projects done via internet transfer and finalizes with “Sussuration” and “Lemniscate,” completely produced and mixed by LaRue.
According to Lisa, “This album is extremely important – it’s important to me, as it represents 25 years of my life and some of the best work I’ve done with some of the best friends in the world. It’s important because it represents the unity and bringing together of many musicians, big and small, through the universal language, music. Lastly, it’s important to fans, as it represents some of the obscure work of many top-notch artists that they may not have in their collection. Melodic Revolution and Nick Katona have always been known for bringing artists together, so there is no better label to showcase this 25-year effort.”
“Lisa has a unique perspective to her music. Her Prog rock style is highly influenced by her Native American roots. The listener is drawn in by the mystical and avant-garde approach. From my point of view, it has always been a pleasure and great experience working with her music.” – John Payne
“A very atmospheric composition, with a lovely tranquil finale. I hear a lot of my father’s influence in it, a beautiful arrangement.” – Aaron Emerson (son of Keith Emerson) regarding the song “Aspiration”
Origins also features John Payne (Asia, GPS), Michael Sadler (Saga), Mitch Perry (Talas, Aerosmith), Gilli Smyth (Gong), Don Schiff (Rocket Scientist, Kracked Earth), Federico Fantacone (Orchestre Celesti) John Baker (Forever Twelve, Mars Hollow) as well as Steve Adams, Brenda K, Michael Wheeler, Merrill Hale, Svetlan Raket (Par Lindh Project), John “Yafke” Timothy, Michael Alvarez.
Origins is housed in a new style of Digipak called a Digipack Lite™ this is one of the most unique and eco-friendly packages on the market, in fact, the CD tray actually flexes and is more durable than the standard ridged plastic tray as it is made from recycled water bottles.
1) All pre-orders get shipped before the release date.
2) All Pre-orders supporters will receive a personalized thank you postcard.
3) All Pre-orders of Origins also come with 2 tracks now (streaming via the free Bandcamp app and also available as a high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more), plus the complete album the moment it’s released
All orders include a digital booklet with purchase
Important Links:
Official Website: https://www.lisalaruemusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisalarue2kx
ReverbNation https://www.reverbnation.com/lisalarue
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/LisaLaRue2KX/videos
Melodic Revolution http://mrrmusic.com/lisa-larue/
