Sonic Perspectives

ENVY OF NONE, the new band from Alex Lifeson (RUSH), Andy Curran (CONEY HATCH), Alfio Annibalini and singer Maiah Wynne, will release its self-titled debut album on April 8 via Kscope. Through its 11 tracks, the group explores a wide array of styles, with enticing vocal melodies, pop hooks and atmospheric passages.

The genesis of the band came from a session where Andy was going to give advice to Maiah about how to kickstart her musical career, and the collaboration evolved organically into a cinematic adventure, with the help of producer Alfio Annibalini, a long time friend of Andy’s. Alex Lifeson’s involvement was purely by accident: when Andy showed him one of the tracks, Alex decided to lay down a few guitar textures on it, and soon they realized that they had something special in the works. From there, the collaboration began to blossom. “He played on one track and one became two, and two became three,” Curran shares.

Exploring pure 80’s pop on “Never Said I Love You,” atmospheric sounds on “Shadow” and world music on “Kabul,” the band does take the listener on a unique musical journey, with surprises at every turn. Maiah’s vocal lines really are the driving force on this release, with the layers of ethereal instrumentation elevating the songs to new heights and traveling through uncharted waters.

Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf, a long time Rush fan, caught up with Andy as he was sitting on Rush’s headquarters in Canada, and they discussed the origins of Envy of None, his work as an A&R for Rush, touring plans and much more. Find out their chat on the links below and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post ENVY OF NONE’s ANDY CURRAN Reflects on The Band’s Debut Record: “There’s A Broad Spectrum of Styles on The Album and We’re Really Proud of It” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

There is something to be said for sticking to one’s proverbial guns when times get tough, and few know that better than Cage and Death Dealer screamer Sean Peck. Sharing a birth year with the godfather of grunge Kurt Cobain, his would be a far different path of swimming against the tide of detractors of old school heavy metal in the West Coast of the U.S. to forge a sound in the 90s that many would say belonged to the prior decade. Decked out with leather jackets, pummeling speed metal riffs and a glass-shattering high range to rival Rob Halford, one might go so far as to say that Sean and his musical cohorts in Cage spearheaded the North American wing of the revival of power metal that ran parallel to its much larger cousin in Europe during the latter half of the 1990s.

Fast forward about 30 years to the day of Cage’s inception, Peck has certainly kept himself busy with a number of metal projects, perhaps the most auspicious of them being his collaboration with fellow metallic banshee wailers Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest, KK’s Priest) and Harry Conklin (Jag Panzer). Then again, one would be remiss to assert that the auditory freight train on steroids that is Death Dealer has not been a major factor in the past decade. Though having the usual stylistic commonality of old school metallic sensibilities that has informed all of Sean’s projects, the different lay in the impressive array of elite metal instrumentalists rounding out the arrangement, culminating in a de facto super-group of colossal proportions. Consisting of the dueling guitar assault of ex-Manowar titan Ross The Boss and former Dungeon axe-man Stu Marshall, to speak nothing for the towering rhythm section of Symphony X’s own Mike Lepond and former Into Eternity and Witherfall kit man Steve Bolognese, this outfit is a veritable metallic pantheon onto itself.

Perhaps the only thing that rivals Peck’s prowess as a metal helmsman is his firm commitment to the scene itself. Often outspoken about his advocacy for keeping the physical media end of the metal market alive and well, he has not been averse to criticizing the slavish reliance that many have developed to online streaming services of late, though he naturally sees it as a useful promotional tool that has supplanted MTV and terrestrial radio in recent years. Likewise, his drive for excellence in the metallic arts spills over into the visual aspects of his various projects, as anyone who has seen the album art of Death Dealer’s previous LPs can attest. Whether one fancies beautiful and badass women, superheroes, or depictions of epic struggles in a future dystopian setting, the packages put out by Peck’s battalion of leather clad warriors delivers them all in the most explosive of fashions.

All in all, the mythical persona put forth by Sean both on stage and in the recording studio is tempered by a good humored and down to earth alter ego that excels in the conversational setting. Sonic Perspectives associate Jonathan Smith had the privilege to catch up with this veteran of the way of sonic steel recently to discuss Death Dealer’s recently released EP, the past accomplishments of the band, the massive treasure trove of music written for the project that is yet to come, among other various subjects that is sure to leave any follower of the old school metallic ways holding all but the kitchen sink. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post SEAN PECK Discusses the New DEATH DEALER EP, Keeping Busy by Writing Two LPs Worth of Material during the Covid Lockdowns and Staying Relevant During the Decline and Resurgence of Metal in the 90s: “When I Make Records, I’m Always Worried About It Being As Good As The Last One.” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Michael Romeo is back! Four years after his first proper solo album, “War of the Worlds, Pt. 1” was released, the sequel is finally among us. Romeo kept the same rhythm session as the first album – bassist John ‘JD’ DeServio and drummer John Macaluso – but added singer Dino Jelusick to the fold. The new release, “War of the Worlds, Pt. 2” maintains the same mix of styles of the first one, with heavy riffing and light speed solos being put side by side with orchestrations, Middle Eastern motifs and cinematic passages.

Lyrically, Romeo explores similar themes from Part I: the clash between robots and humans, alien invasions, conflicting views and divided societies. His shredding is properly complimented by Dino’s wails and supported by JD’s reliable four-string plucking and Macaluso’s frantic drumming. Sprinkled throughout the album are homages to Romeo’s influences: Rush, Kansas, Slayer, Beethoven, John Williams, Danny Elfman and many more. Heavy numbers such as “Divide & Conquer” and “Parasite” are placed alongside vignettes like “Hunted” and “Brave New World”, with some call backs to the themes of the first album thrown in for good measure. The beautiful ballad “Just Before the Dawn” is added halfway through, providing a break from all the heaviness.

As explained by Romeo, he had stems and ideas about how the songs should be, but he gave plenty of freedom for the other players to add their own spin to the material. The end result is very cohesive, and both albums listened to back to back provide an intense and dramatic journey. Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf spoke to Romeo one more time, and discussed several aspects of “War of the World Pt. 2” with the guitarist, and also the upcoming Symphony X tour, the plans for a new album and much more. As usual remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post SYMPHONY X Guitarist MICHAEL ROMEO On The Writing Process Of New Album “War Of The Worlds Part II”: “I Gave Each Musician My Basic Ideas, And Asked Them To Make Them Their Own” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

With 43 years of music under their belts and a demanding yet extremely dedicated fan base, MARILLION‘s approach to making music remains fresh to this day. Granted, the pandemic made their writing process a little bit more complicated than usual, but they came out of it with yet another incredible offering. Entitled “Ah Hour Before It’s Dark”, their 20th studio album was released on this past March 4th, and sees the band addressing issues as diverse as possible. Check out our full dissection of the album here.

Containing seven tracks, the new album takes the listener through many different sonic avenues, where uplifting passages are matched with sometimes gloomy lyrics.  Steve Hogarth‘s lyrical palette seamlessly travels from global warming to Leonard Cohen, from diamond mining in Africa to Covid-19.  Musically, this is one of their greatest albums of late, with the idea of stitching together the best moments of their jams yielding great results.

Like its predecessor, 2016’s critically acclaimed and chart-topping album “F*** Everyone and Run (F E A R)”, “An Hour Before It’s Dark” was recorded at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios, which also provided the perfect backdrop for the carefully chosen selection of behind-the-scenes footage in form of a documentary on the making of the album and a performance of “Murder Machines” from Real World that was released together with the album. Sonic Perspectives collaborator Rodrigo Altaf spent some time with guitarist Steve Rothery, and the pair discussed the making of the album, the early stages of the band’s career, touring plans and much more. As usual remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post STEVE ROTHERY on MARILLION’s New Album “An Hour Before It’s Dark”: ‘The Lyrics at Times Can Be Dark, But There’s an Incredible Joy in the Music’ appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Andy Timmons is gearing up to add another highlight to his storied career by releasing his newest solo album “Electric Truth” on April 1st as an independent release.

The upcoming album features all-new material from Andy since “Resolution” in 2006 and “Theme From A Perfect World” with the Andy Timmons’ Band in 2016.  “Electric Truth” is a diverse blues, rock, and jazz album that vibrates the heart and soul with melody, a rare combination found in music these days. The impassioned nine song release offered charging rhythms from the album opener “Earth Wind and Fire” all the way through the barnstorming closing track “Take Me with You.” Andy provides an album packed with the groove, swagger, and soul that he has honed and perfected over his extensive career.

Joining Timmons in the studio were drummer Lemar Carter, bassist Travis Carlton, and keyboardist Deron Johnson. Corry Pertile laid down vocals on a couple of tracks. Electric Truth is available for pre-order on at this location.

Correspondent Robert Cavuoto spoke to Andy for an in-depth discussion about the writing of “Electric Truth”, why he always puts such an extreme effort into seeking the ultimate expression in a song, and looking back on his days in Danger Danger. Check out their conversation below, and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post ANDY TIMMONS Reflects About Upcoming Studio “Electric Truth” Album: ‘All My Collective Experiences Have Been Leading Up to This Record’ appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

When the collaboration between Neal Morse, Nick D’Virgilio, and Ross Jennings was announced, prog fans worldwide received the unexpected association with great excitement. Even though we already know the outstanding results that the partnership between Morse and D’Virgilio usually provides, the presence of Ross Jennings, vocalist for prog-metal powerhouse Haken and Novena, gave the project an unpredictable and exciting appeal.

From the beginning, it was announced that “Troika”, the trio’s debut album, started with Neal writing some acoustic songs that he thought would benefit from the use of strong vocal harmonies. Even so, several aspects remained to be known, so contributor Brian Masso had the opportunity to talk with Ross Jennings about this new project that led him to work side by side with some of the musicians that have inspired him to be the outstanding artist he is today. 

In their conversation, they talked about how busy he has been for the last couple of years participating in different projects and the reception of his solo debut album, “A Shadow Of My Future Self”. They also spoke about how “Troika” came to life, how he felt when he was invited to participate with such legendary prog musicians as Morse and D’Virgilio and the overall sound direction of the album. In addition, they chatted about how Jennings wanted to create an album with a country and singer/songwriter vibe before he was invited to participate and if he already had some songs prepared. Also, they discussed the songwriting and recording process and how he felt for not recording with everyone in the same room. Besides, they talked about what it means for him to portray themes related to interpersonal relationships through his solo album and with “Troika”. Finally, Ross mentioned briefly what the future holds for Haken and Novena, among other topics.   

Listen to their very informative conversation below, and make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new content we publish on a daily basis.

The post HAKEN’S Vocalist ROSS JENNINGS Discusses “Troika” Debut Album: “A Lot Of The Music And Lyrics I’ve Written In The Past Have Come From An Intellectual Place, And I Just Had The Urge To Write From An Emotional Place.” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The thrash metal wave that took the West Coast of the United States by storm may have crashed down and receded with the onset of the 1990s, but you wouldn’t know it by how the original Bay Area sound has been continually cropping back up of late. While there is no shortage of new blood out there bring the old ways back to a new generation, one would be remiss to discount the veritable renaissance being enjoyed by the elder pioneers who originally forged this unique blend of heavy metal and hardcore punk into the ferocious beast that it became. Though arguably a tad late to the party both during the sub-genre’s original heyday and its subsequent rebirth, Vio-Lence has always been a highly auspicious wildcard in the thrash’s expansive deck, and few know that better than said band’s iconic front man Sean Killian.

Though their career might not have been as prolific as staple acts such as Testament, Exodus and Death Angel, Vio-Lence carved out a highly unique niche, fueled by a combination of technically charged guitar work played at break-neck speed and rustic punk influences courtesy of Killian’s intense and rambling snarls. As such, their seminal debut “Eternal Nightmare” and its more polished follow up “Oppressing The Masses” became staples of the style during the apex of thrash’s popularity, and even with the shifting of the commercial tides of the 1990s, they would manage to sneak in a more measured yet impressive swansong in 1993’s “Nothing To Gain” before all was said and done. Sadly the tale that would be told following the aforementioned studio LP trifecta was an all too common one, with the Vio-Lence name being retired and its various members drifting off to different projects.

While it has been the better part of 30 years since these unsung heroes of the Bay Area have fielded a studio album, they were anything but silent as the 2000s rolled in and thrash metal began to stir once more. Yet 2022 would be the year that this brilliant fold would unleash their namesake once more in the form of a five song EP dubbed “Let The World Burn”, coming soon to a streaming site and music outlet near you, and featuring a newly formed lineup of the band’s original crop and a few heavy hitters from outside California. In many ways, this upcoming onslaught of high octane, take no prisoners thrash metal after the heart of “Eternal Nightmare” marks the return to the old ways of none other than original Overkill axe-slinger Bobby Gustafon, whom along with former Fear Factory and Asphyxia bassist Christian Wolbers now rounds out the fold.

All of these were among the many memories and sentiments covered by Killian himself as Sonic Perspectives associate Jonathan Smith caught up with him earlier this month, recounted with a balanced flavor of solemnity and humor of course. The years may progress, but old thrash metal dogs work best when sticking to their established bag of tricks, and what Killian and company have cooked up for the starving, mosh-pit enthusiast masses is sure to conjure up some pleasant memories of when the style of music in question was the chief foil to the Sunset Strip craze. For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post SEAN KILLIAN Talks VIO-LENCE Reunion, the Long Road Travelled since the Bay Area Thrash Sound First Rose to Prominence and The Blunt Honesty of their Upcoming EP: “I’m Not Gonna Compromise, I’m Not Gonna Hold Anything Back, And If Anyone’s Offended I Don’t Care.” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Aldo Nova is back and better than ever, releasing two albums this April. The first album features ten brand new studio tracks from this 25 song Rock Opera, “The Life and Times of Eddie Gage,” due out on April 1st. His second release, “Aldo Nova 2.0 Reloaded,” features nine of his classic songs re-imagined and will be released on April 19th.

“The Life and Times of Eddie Gage” tells the story of Eddie Gage, a musician who breaks into the music industry only to be preyed upon and manipulated by corporate overlords. Eddie eventually succumbs to drugs, alcohol, and excess, which plunges him into a world of despair until he finds redemption on his own terms. The ten tracks are a group of diverse, high-energy rockers packed with Aldo‘s thunderous guitar work, soaring vocals, and heartfelt lyrics.

“Aldo Nova 2.0 Reloaded” has Aldo‘s biggest hits reworked to sound sonically more powerful and supercharged. They deliver the punch they truly deserved yet keep the integrity of the original versions. From the slash-and-burn riffing of “Blood on the Bricks” to the sleazy rocker of “Monkey on Your Back” to the melancholia soul searching ballad of “Paradise.”  “Aldo Nova 2.0 Reloaded” is packed with songs that deliver attitude in spades and pummels the listener with hook after hook with vocals that jump off the album. This offering includes two additional CDs with alternate versions of the nine songs with no lead vocals and the other CD with no lead guitar so fans can play or sing along.

Correspondent Robert Cavuoto had an in-depth conversation with Aldo about each of his new releases, his return to the music scene after three decades, a potential play for the Rock Opera, a theatrical tour, an instrumental album in the works, and what became of his leopard suit which he wore in his “Fantasy” video.  Check out their conversation below, and remember that for more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post ALDO NOVA Shares Insights About His Return with Two New Albums on April: “I’m a Storyteller at Heart” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Less than two years after the release of Ayreon‘s “Transitus”, tireless Dutch musician Arjen Lucassen is back with new music. This time, the prog-metal/rock icon opted to revisit the Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s Star One project, which until now was held in hiatus. With “Revel in Time”, almost twelve years of drought under the Star One moniker are broken, and it does so with some variations in relation to its predecessors. For instance, the concept portrayed in the album is inspired by movies in which time is manipulated or the most relevant change, which instead of having the same four vocalists from the previous records (Floor Jansen, Russell Allen, Damian Wilson, and Dan Swano), Arjen chose to have different vocalists for each track. 

The album is available for pre-order as Ltd. 2CD Digipak, Ltd. Deluxe 3CD+Blu-Ray Artbook (incl. a poster of the cover artwork), and as 180g Gatefold 2LP (incl. the album on CD & an LP-Booklet). CD 2 features alternate versions of the same songs as CD 1, but with different vocalists. Also available will be a 5.1 mix, a high-res audio version, and an exclusive, hour-long Behind the Scenes video, on the Blu-ray included in the Artbook.

Listen to their very informative conversation below, and make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new content we publish on a daily basis.

The post ARJEN LUCASSEN Discusses “Revel in Time” Album by STAR ONE: “I Am Totally Spoiled. I Work with The Best Singers in The World, So I Am Not Easily Impressed” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Nick D’Virgilio is one of the most versatile musicians in rock.  Drummer par excellence, who has handled sticks for Big Big Train, Spock’s Beard and more sessions than one can count.  A top singer-songwriter, whose 2020 solo album “Invisible” was one of the best of the year.  And vocalist?  The man’s sweet leads and background harmonies grace more albums than we can remember.

With all that in mind, Nick and others had plenty of free time during the pandemic.  That was when longtime friend/colleague Neal Morse talked to him about doing a vocal album a’ la Crosby Stills and Nash.  Nick loved the idea, but they still needed a third voice.  Both identified Ross Jennings of HAKEN as being a likely subject—and Ross had been working on some songs in that genre. 

And so the three got to work, in their own separate studios, crafting a remarkable album of hooky, relatively easy-going songs that would reach a broad audience.  And they called it “Troika.”

Sonic Perspectives village idiot Mark Boardman sat down with NDV to discuss the writing and recording of “Troika.”  They also talked about Nick’s solo efforts, the future of Big Big Train after the death of vocalist David Longdon, and the possibility of taking “Troika” on the road.  For more interviews and other daily content, make sure to follow Sonic Perspectives on Facebook, Flipboard and Twitter and  subscribe to our YouTube channel to be notified about new interviews and contents we publish on a daily basis.

The post NICK D’VIRGILIO Tells How He, NEAL MORSE and ROSS JENNINGS Arranged Beautiful Music on “Troika” Album: We Trusted Our Voices Will Blend Well Together, and Months Went By Before We Listened to the Three Of Us Together in a Track” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.