Tag Archives: Death

Monte Pittman releases Inverted Grasp Of Balance

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    I recently received the new Monte Pittman record Inverted Grasp Of Balance for review. Little did I know that it would cause me to have a profound revelation to a question I have been seeking an answer to.  Over the years of recorded music people have been trying to answer the question: What makes a record good? There has been a myriad of answers that run the gamut of the music industry. The problem is most of the answers that have been provided are subjective to the answerer and biased to their own opinions. For me, at least, I feel that I have finally answered said question. A good record is one that when you put it on you find yourself turning it up, tapping your foot or nodding your head to the beat, and when it’s over you find yourself feeling as if you just got back from…somewhere.

     I was excited to review this record as I have spoken with Monte before and have enjoyed his previous work. I didn’t realize that I would spend the rest of the day and the next listening to it on repeat and still humming the songs long after. There is a level of craftsmanship to this record that is hard to find these days (one other is the work of Jeff Sandoval and Mike Araiza). There is no doubt that music flows through the soul of Monte Pittman and I hear nods to so many musicians in his playing and writing.  When a record is made for the purpose of sharing what one feels in their minds ear, it is profound and beautiful.

      Inverted Grasp Of Balance  features Monte on guitars and vocals, Richard Christy (Charred Walls Of The Damned, Iced Earth, Death) on drums, and…..wait for it….Billy Sheehan, yes I said Billy Sheehan (David Lee Roth, Mr. Big, Winery Dogs, just to name a few) on bass. Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Steel Panther) handled the production duties and the record sounds clean and crisp. I read somewhere that Monte recorded his guitar parts while on the road, but this record feels so organic to me and it feels like someone turned on a mic in a jam room and captured some live magic.

     Inverted Grasp Of Balance gives us twelve tracks which flow together beautifully and I guarantee you will NOT find yourself reaching for the skip button, in fact you WILL find yourself reaching for the repeat button.

     If you have to pin me down for stand out tracks I would have to say “Skeleton Key” just reaches out to me the most. This track, in my opinion should be on every radio station across the planet, period. It’s just good rock n’ roll that gets in your head.I find myself just humming throughout the day.  “California” opens with bass that just drips with cool and is pure Billy Sheehan and then paints a picture in your mind of being on a cool road trip with the radio blasting, the wind in your hair, and your best friends at your side.  “New Blood Keeps Us Alive” is an epic track that, again, I feel should be blasting out of every speaker across the world. It begins with some wonderfully beautiful acoustic work that grows to some powerful rock n’ roll worthy of note. This song opens up the mind and makes you reflect on life.

      Monte’s guitar work is across the map on Inverted Grasp Of Balance, taking from gentle acoustic to balls out shredding, and it all works in connection with each other. Not only is there stellar guitar work here Monte’s vocal work is strong and epic as well. The songwriting on  Inverted Grasp Of Balance is something else. Monte has reached deep within and written some deep compositions that I believe were truly from the point of artistry.  Combine all of that with great drumming and legendary bass playing this is a music lovers wet-dream.

          Inverted Grasp Of Balance drops on Sept 23 on Metal Blade Records make sure you do NOT miss out on this record.

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 Inverted Grasp Of Balance track-listing
1. Panic Attack
2. Arisen in Broad Daylight
3. Guilty Pleasure
4. The Times Are Changing
5. Double Edged Sword
6. Cadabra
7. Pride Comes Before the Fall
8. California
9. Be Very Afraid
10. Obliterated
11. Skeleton Key
12. New Blood Keeps Us Alive

Pre-order “Inverted Grasp of Balance” at metalblade.com/montepittman/

Monte Pittman online:
http://www.montepittman.com
https://www.facebook.com/MontePittman
http://www.youtube.com/MontePittmanMusic
https://soundcloud.com/montepittman
http://twitter.com/montepittman
http://www.instagram.com/montepittman
https://montepittman.bandpage.com
https://myspace.com/montepittman

     it’s loud, it’s dirty, it’s Monte Pittman

     -the Hellion

Napalm Records Signs PRODUCT OF HATE

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Napalm Records Signs PRODUCT OF HATE

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New Album Set For Release in Early 2015

“Hailing from the Kenosha, Wisconsin area, PRODUCT OF HATE have been crafting their vicious blend of groove, thrash, and new-wave metal for the past few years. Sharing the stage with some of the biggest bands in metal including TESTAMENT, LAMB OF GOD, GWAR, CHIMAIRA, UNEARTH, MESHUGGAH, JOB FOR A COWBOY & LAZARUS A.D. PRODUCT OF HATE is now set to take on the world.

 

PRODUCT OF HATE have signed with Austrian Metal Powerhouse Label Napalm Records, and will release their debut album in early 2015.Their new album is being currently being mixed and mastered at SafeHouse Production by James Murphy (Death, Testament, Obituary)

 

Vocalist Adam Gilley on signing with Napalm Records:

 

“On behalf of PRODUCT OF HATE we are proud and thankful to be apart of the Napalm team. We look forward for all to hear our new album & touring til we drop!!!”

~Adam Gilley~

 

Band Lineup:

Adam Gilley

Cody Rathbone

Gene Rathbone

Mark Campbell

Mike McGuire

 

For More Info Visit:

http://www.productofhate.com/

https://www.facebook.com/productofhateofficial/

https://twitter.com/productofhate

DETHKLOK, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and DANGEROUS TOYS Members Comment on the Late MELDRUM Guitarist Michelle Meldrum‏

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DETHKLOK, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and DANGEROUS TOYS Members Comment on the Late MELDRUM Guitarist Michelle Meldrum
 
MELDRUM are pleased to announce that their long awaited third album ''LIFER'' is officially out now via REVERSED RECORDS. ''LIFER'' was released as a proud tribute to the late MELDRUM founding guitarist MICHELLE MELDRUM. MICHELLE tirelessly spent her career touring the world and sharing the stage with the likes of MOTORHEAD, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, SEPULTURA, DANZIG and NASHVILLE PUSSY to name a few. During that time MICHELLE left a everlasting impact on the guitar world. To mark the release some of MICHELE's closest friends GENE HOGLAN (Testament, Death, Dark Angel, Dethklok) JOHN DESERVIO (BLS, Cycle of Pain), JAMES LOMENZO (BLS, Megadeth, White Lion) and JASON MCMASTER (Dangerous Toys, Watch Tower, Broken Teeth) have commented on their fallen friend. ''LIFER'' is available now on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lifer/id579206627),CD Baby (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/meldrum14) and at http://www.reversedrecords.com/estore.

DETHKLOK’s Gene Hoglan states, “It was and still is an honor to know Michelle and it is indeed with great pride that we release "LIFER". I know she's watching over us and smiling along with us at this wonderful day. I know I'm a better person for knowing Michelle, and I know she feels all of our love for her, as we feel hers for us. Through tragedy may we find joy, and through "LIFER" and all her other works, may Michelle find immortality. She'll always be immortal to us. Remember, this is meant to be cranked up.”

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY’s James LoMenzo adds, “Michelle had the amazing ability to conjure almost any guitar style, from her earlier "Steve Vai" styled dexterity to the out and out muscular style that she later carried through with her own band Meldrum. A fine guitarist in the 80's/90's virtuoso tradition and one of the finest people you could ever come to know.”

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY’s John Deservio states, “First off I want to say how much I miss Michelle. She was a beautiful person inside and out and I am blessed to have known her. I miss you and love you Mich, R.I.P. baby.”

DANGEROUS TOYS/WATCHTOWER/BROKEN TEETH’s Jason McMaster adds, “Proud to call her a friend. Michelle Meldrum was and will always be one of my favorite and most inspiring guitarists and real people I've ever known. The world misses her.”

Listen to ''Blackened Blue'' now at: http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic/02-blackened-blue

Listen to ''A Toast To Romance'' now at: http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic/a-toast-to-romance

Listen to ''Paid'' now at: http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic/03-paid

Multinational hard rock/metal band MELDRUM recently announce November 20, 2012 as the release date for their long awaited third album ”LIFER”. Founder and late ex-PHANTOM BLUE guitarist MICHELLE MELDRUM passed away at the age of 39 in May 2008. “LIFER” stands as a proud tribute to MICHELLE and her lifetime commitment to creating and performing music. In honor of their fallen bandmate remaining members drummer GENE HOGLAN (Testament, Death, Dark Angel, Dethklok), guitarist/bassist LAURA CHRISTINE (Warface) and vocalist MICHELE MADDEN (Tourette’s, Saint Cecilia) entered the studio in with Producer/Engineer/Manager ROB SHALLCROSS (Strapping Young Lad, GWAR, Zimmers Hole, West of Hell) to lay tracks for what would become ”LIFER”.

”LIFER” will be released via REVERSED RECORDS and was produced by Producer/Engineer/Manager ROB SHALLCROSS (Strapping Young Lad, GWAR, Zimmers Hole, West of Hell) and Gene Hoglan (Testament, Death, Dark Angel, Dethklok). MELDRUM have released three singles from ”LIFER”, ”A TOAST TO ROMANCE”, BLACKENED BLUE and ”PAID” are all available now via iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/meldrum/id255422158).

Gene Hoglan comments on ”LIFER”, “Let me say this: Never have I obsessed over the recording of any album I’ve been involved in as I have with MELDRUM‘s latest. The tragic circumstances that took Michelle from us also provided us with a raser-sharp focus to record the most amazing album we could. Michele Madden, Laura Christine, and hell, even Rob Shallcross, our engineer, put forth performances of a lifetime, with each member’s full love and respect going into every nuance of every song. Not only to honor Michelle, but to also lay down some bad-ass music, which was ultimately what she stood for what MELDRUM stands for. I think the songs speak for themselves, and I, for one, have never been prouder to be a part of a family, let alone a project such as this. Metal with balls. Crank it up, indeed.”

Follow MELDRUM online:

http://www.facebook.com/MeldrumOfficial
https://twitter.com/Meldrumofficial
http://www.myspace.com/meldrumofficial
http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic
http://www.reverbnation.com/meldrum
http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialMeldrum

MELDRUM Announces Release Date for Long Awaited Album ‘Lifer’

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Multinational hard rock/metal band MELDRUM is pleased to announce Tuesday November 20th 2012 as the release date for their long awaited third album ”LIFER”. Founder and late ex-PHANTOM BLUE guitarist MICHELLE MELDRUM passed away at the age of 39 in May 2008. “LIFER” stands as a proud tribute to MICHELLE and her lifetime commitment to creating and performing music. In honor of their fallen bandmate remaining members drummer GENE HOGLAN (Testament, Death, Dark Angel, Dethklok), guitarist/bassist LAURA CHRISTINE (Warface) and vocalist MICHELE MADDEN (Tourette’s) entered the studio in with Producer/Engineer/Manager ROB SHALLCROSS (Strapping Young Lad, GWAR, Zimmers Hole, West of Hell) to lay tracks for what would become ”LIFER”.

 

Place your pre sale orders for MELDRUM‘s new release ”LIFER” now at http://www.reversedrecords.com/estore. The album will come as a digipak that includes a 8 page insert and cd. Fan’s who place their order between now and the November 20th release date will receive a free download of MELDRUM‘s latest single ”PAID”. Partial proceeds from the album will go to MICHELLE’S son Jake Thomas who she left behind when she passed.

 

”LIFER” will be released via REVERSED RECORDS and was produced by Producer/Engineer/Manager ROB SHALLCROSS (Strapping Young Lad, GWAR, Zimmers Hole, West of Hell) and Gene Hoglan (Testament, Death, Dark Angel, Dethklok).MELDRUM have released three singles from ”LIFER”, ”A TOAST TO ROMANCE”, BLACKENED BLUE and ”PAID” are all available now via iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/meldrum/id255422158).

 

Gene Hoglan comments on ”LIFER”:

 

“Let me say this: Never have I obsessed over the recording of any album I’ve been involved in as I have with MELDRUM‘s latest. The tragic circumstances that took Michelle from us also provided us with a razor-sharp focus to record the most amazing album we could. Michele Madden, Laura Christine, and hell, even Rob Shallcross, our engineer, put forth performances of a lifetime, with each member’s full love and respect going into every nuance of every song. Not only to honor Michelle, but to also lay down some bad-ass music, which was ultimately what she stood for… what MELDRUM stands for. I think the songs speak for themselves, and I, for one, have never been prouder to be a part of a family, let alone a project such as this. Metal with balls. Crank it up, indeed”. -Gene Hoglan

 

 

Listen to ”Blackened Blue” now at:

http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic/02-blackened-blue

 

Listen to ”A Toast To Romance” now at:

http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic/a-toast-to-romance

 

Listen to ”Paid” now at:

http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic/03-paid

 

 

MELDRUM has toured worldwide with Lemmy Kilmister’s Motorhead, Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society, Sepultura, Danzig, Nashville Pussy, as well as sharing the stage with many more. Touting a combination of mammoth vocal styles along with aggressively melodic vocals, mind bending guitar riffs and a rhythm section that creates fiercely bombastic grooves, this is what gives MELDRUM their unique, cutting edge sound.

 

Follow MELDRUM online:

 

http://www.facebook.com/MeldrumOfficial

https://twitter.com/Meldrumofficial

http://www.myspace.com/meldrumofficial

http://soundcloud.com/meldrummusic

http://www.reverbnation.com/meldrum

http://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialMeldrum

 

 

For press inquiries and additional information, please contact Adrenaline PR and Maria Ferrero at 732-462-4262 ormaria@adrenalinepr.com.