Meka Nism: The War Inside

[caption id="attachment_38712" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Meka Nism: The War Inside[/caption]

Meka Nism: The War Inside

Review - by Robin Ervolina
Orlando, Florida's metal pioneers Meka Nism self-release their newest LP The War Inside on May 10, 2018. I say "pioneers" because Orlando Weekly's Best Metal Band of 2017 is much more than a genre; they're trail blazers. They experiment with melodies, dipping their toes in and out of a pool of sounds and influences. Then, they combine these creative expressions with the most important element of their music: the message. Meka Nism doesn't just deliver thrashing tunes; it seeks to deliver listeners from their own wars inside.
Perhaps my point of view is skewed, but if so, it's skewed toward truth. When I interviewed front woman Meka last year, I was overcome with admiration. She is well-traveled, cultured, compassionate, and intuitive. She exudes a strong desire to guide people. I attended her performance at WJRR's Earthday Birthday a few weeks later and watched as the audience pressed against the rail, and appeared to connect with the band on a personal level. The colorful shaman Meka released her words and spirit from the stage, with a smile not even a growling vocal could contain. The experience may have produced a small bias in this writer, but more than that, it helped me understand that healing is the heart and soul of Meka Nism's The War Inside.
Rather than blinding me to any imperfections on The War Inside, my personal experience made it easy to truly appreciate this collection of five messages. Yes I said "messages" and not "songs" because I believe Meka Nism's guiding musical mission is in the message. Each word, whether sung or growled, is clear and heartfelt. The delivery is intense. You can hear the determination and passion behind each phrase as Meka earnestly seeks to reach out to the listener with the testament entrusted to her. Each composition, whether it's the soothing ballad "Arrows of Alchemy" or the in-your-face metal anthem "Trailblazer," bears witness to Meka's burden: encouraging people to see the power inside themselves. Listen for the music, stay for the healing.

Pre-Order and Join The Tribe

You can pre-order "The War Inside" in the Meka Nism Merch Store, or via Google Play and iTunes. Make sure to follow their socials and subscribe to their mailing list for the latest Meka news. Join the tribe and experience Meka Nism for yourself.


Facebook | Twitter | Reverbnation | Youtube | Instagram 
Bandcamp | iTunes | Amazon 

Hungover: Wilt

[caption id="attachment_38659" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Hungover: Wilt[/caption]

Hungover: Wilt Review

Written by Robin Ervolina
Orlando quintet Hungover release their new CD Wilt on March 30, 2018 via Smartpunk Records. It's a breath of fresh air in a genre suffering from same-sound-different-name. If I can beg you to listen to anything today, I'm on my knees for Hungover.
The initial tune on Wilt, "Three's Company" introduces you to outrageously unique Marc Cortes. Once in a great while a singer comes around who will undoubtedly inspire future vocalists to emulate in earnest. In my perfect world it's going to be Cortes. His range, tone, and vibrato produce love at first listen. He's part crooner, part rocker, and deeply authentic. And though it's going to be difficult to pry you away from this revelation, look beyond this siren and focus on "Three's Company." You'll find a peppy tune (about a not-so-cheerful subject) sharing some stylistic choices with pop punk/emo pop. For fans of this genre looking for their next obsession, Hungover is a clear front runner. It's pop punk(ish) refurbished and repurposed for a new generation.
If you want your old school pop/alt rock, don't despair. "Girlfriend" has all the twisted lyrics you crave, a chaotic rhythm, and a choir of "oooohs" singing through the bridge and into the outro. "Fever," possibly my favorite song on Wilt, brings the angsts and holds all the feels. "I love you so much that it makes me sick," sung in that yearning Cortes way, makes me throw my arms out and spin wildly into the part of the universe where joy lives. After your dizzy spell subsides, make sure you stick around for "Around," the goosebump-inducing unplugged ballad that keeps Cortes in the forefront.

Second half, same as the first aka brilliant

The second half of the Wilt is just as good as the first. "Exit Stage Left" is classic Fall Out Boy. "Irish Goodbye" is an honest middle finger at an absent parent. The quirky "Falling Out," is followed by the soaring "Sleep Alone." Pro tip: if you're doing this right, that tune is followed by "Three's Company" because you are playing Wilt again. Please play Wilt again. It's hard not to get lost in Cortes' vocals, but you must keep spinning this disc until you lock into the gorgeous melodies and tight musicianship that defines Hungover.
As proof that the universe loves good music, Wilt started streaming today for free here. Give it a listen now. Buy it when it drops on Friday. Maybe pick up a copy at the release party in Orlando on Saturday. The band will be celebrating the release of Wilt with a hometown album release show at Soundbar in Orlando on Saturday, March 31st. Each person who purchases a ticket will receive a free copy of the EP - for more information, please visit: https://goo.gl/YwkN6g.

Hungover is Marc Cortes (vocals), Evan Colson (guitars, vocals), Sean Connors (guitar), Austin Barney (bass, vocals), and Gabriel Santiago (drums).

 

Here are some socials. Click, add, obsess, adore. rinse. repeat. 

         

[caption id="attachment_38675" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Hungover[/caption]

Breaking Benjamin: Ember

Breaking Benjamin: Ember Review written by Robin Ervolina
Pennsylvania rockers Breaking Benjamin will release their sixth full length album, Ember, on April 13, 2018, and fans should brace themselves. Those familiar with Benjamin Burnley's firm grip on the creative process are about to discover what it sounds like when Ben loosens those reigns. Spoiler alert: Ember is on fire.
For those unfamiliar with Breaking Benjamin (really?) a little explanation goes a long way to explaining why Ember deserves glowing praise. Frontman Benjamin Burnley has been the driving force behind his moniker-anointed band since it formed in 1999, and has written and composed every song in the band's catalogue. This control and formula have earned Breaking Benjamin two platinum albums and multiple chart-topping hits.
But Ember ... Ember is a special child. For this sixth CD, fellow band members Jason Rauch (guitar), Keith Wallen (guitar), Aaron Bruch (bass), and Shaun Foist (drums) played a heavy hand in the melodic development. Bruch even penned the music and lyrics to the chorus of first release "Red Cold River." Says Burnley,

"I wrote the majority of our last five albums, and so I'm good with that -- you know, that's enough for me. Five albums pretty much by myself -- I'm ready to pass it along. It's more fun when you're not doing everything by yourself."

So what's the same? The undeniable Breaking Benjamin sound is intact. Melodies are anthemic, carefully constructed masterpieces of sound and mood. The lyrics are enigmatic, allowing the listener to pull words to weave into their own experience. What's different? That's clear 30 seconds into Ember. The CD opens with a short instrumental, much like 2015's Dark Before Dawn and 2006's Phobia, before second track "Feed The Wolf" blazes in. Burnley's vocals, instantly recognizable, are more raw, almost merciless in delivery. It's powerful, deeper and grittier than we've heard from him in over a decade. Growling, nay howling, vocals stacked over and under him are eerie, demanding all hairs stand at attention. Instrumentally, the band is in overdrive. The crunching guitar work and frenzied rhythm section push this CD into new territory.

"People have always really liked the heavier side of the band. I think that's what they sort of gravitate towards. But we also make sure to explore our melodic and softer side too. On Ember, we just tried to make it more extreme -- the softer side on this album is really soft, and the heavy side is really heavy. We decided to give everybody what they want to the furthest degree." 

Ember plays best as a collective experience, to be listened to as a whole, from beginning to end. And while maybe not meant to contain any standout tunes, a few tracks burn a little brighter. Ballad "The Dark of You" is an ethereal feast of harmony and melody. It's yearning and tender without being formulaic and expected. "Red Cold River" comes in like a ballad, then drops the aggression hard. Ben's vocals in the verses are hypnotic, setting you up for the venomous strike of the chorus. "Red Cold River" is the cobra and the charmer all wrapped up in one. "Psycho" almost gets lost as this wildfire of a CD burns out of control, but it is perhaps their most ambitious tune to date. Pay particular attention to Rauche's explosive riffs. It's a masters class in technical precision meets divine inspiration.
When asked the significance of the title, the ever-esoteric Burnley states, "An ember can either be the end of something or the beginning of it." This feels like the beginning of something new, and yet Breaking Benjamin has successfully navigated nearly two decades of ever evolving rock, simply by adapting to their surroundings. Maybe the significance of the title is that an ember can be contained and carried to another location, where a new fire can burn and flourish. If that's the case, Ember is the perfect description of Breaking Benjamin too.

blessthefall: Hard Feelings

[caption id="attachment_38206" align="aligncenter" width="595"] blessthefall: Hard Feelings[/caption]

blessthefall: Hard Feelings

Written by Robin Ervolina

LISTENING NOTES ONLY: DO NOT PUBLISH UNLESS I DIE, IN WHICH CASE, THESE ARE MY LAST WORDS 

I typed that in case someone thought these were my final thoughts on the new blessthefall CD "Hard Feelings." They're not, of course. What women ever has a final thought? Last words, yes. Final thought? Never. These notes were my first thoughts, meant to capture my impressions as I prepared my review. What they ended up capturing was the moment I fell in love with the metalcore outfit from AZ. Do I want these to be my last words, no Sir. However, if "Hard Feelings" was the last thing I heard before I died, that would bless my fall into the unknown.
blessthefall has been in the metalcore scene for nine years and have released five full-length albums in that time. Where have I been? No clue, but they've been around and back again. "Hard Feelings" will be their first release after signing with Rise Records. Sorry you can't hear it until tomorrow, but here's what you have to look forward to.

Everything about the intro says "This is going to be epic," and it is. 

The first song "Wishful Sinking" comes in hot. Everything about the intro says "This is going to be epic," and it is. Beau Bokan's vocals are the perfect combination of sweet and painful. There is a desperate yearning to everything he releases from those gods-blessed pipes. Second track "Find Yourself" finds me falling harder for his tone and delivery. As cringe-worthy as this next statement will be, I'm going to let it ride. If Jonny Craig and Ronnie Radke had a threesome with the late Chester Bennington, Beau Bokan would be their baby. Yes, I know that's not how procreation works. No, I won't take it back. His voice is killer. I cannot stress this enough.
The second song "Find Yourself" is equally gorgeous, and just when I think I've nailed down their sound, "Melodramatic" shakes it up a little. It's got a rapid fire rhythm any punk fan can love, and the lyrics preach.

I need the anger / need the rage / I need the worst things you can say / If you wanted a war, I guess you got what you came for

I guess you could say that's pretty melodramatic, and the screaming vocals in the bridge just drive that home. It's not formulaic, but it's right on time. It's slam dance / mosh pit perfection.

Close your eyes and tell me it doesn't take you somewhere

"Feeling Low" takes me high. The irony in this is delicious. Close your eyes and tell me it doesn't take you somewhere. Bokan swoops into the melancholic melody with emotion and desperation, then ascends with power and desperation. The lyrics swallow you whole.

Is this all that we are / a stitch that pulled apart / You told me I was your best mistake, that you would take it to the grave / I don't know where to start (so tell me) / are we taking this way too far / (please tell me) I'm not a shot in the dark / Before you go tell me I'm worth dying for / all the things you were promising / give it up put it all on me / lose your grip and now it's out of reach / don't believe in what you cannot see / all the things you will never know / it keeps me, keeps me feeling low

"Cutthroat" lets loose of the tightly woven tunes. Ladies and Gentlemen, please clear your floor of fears and make room for a shit storm of emotional upheaval. Pit in your stomach? No, circle pit in your psyche. In  "I'm Over Being Under(rated)" the siren Bokan sings "Please tell me somebody's up there, and why I'm even singing at all." Hold up, hold up, Bokan. I'm a let you finish, but I'm answering that question first: you're singing because your voice is a gift. We graciously accept it, and we humbly thank you. All the range, all the emotion ... thank you for taking your scars and making them beautiful.

All the feels

Another highlight for me is "Sleepless in Phoenix" which has all the feels. The intro is the saddest lullaby melody and the lyrics (don't you love it when tunes and words move you equally?) beg quoting. Please note that I'm not sure if Bokan is saying "You've got me right where you want me" or "right where you haunt me" but for the love of god, isn't that deliciously beautiful?

Just remember to forget me / I hate this honestly / please take this the wrong way / don't need you to need me / I need you to disappear / cuz I carry ghosts of the things you said / but you won't come home even if you're dead / night after night Sleepless in Phoenix / tell me a lie / make me believe it / you've got me right where you want [haunt?] me / you've got me right where you haunt [want?] me

Wait for it ...

There isn't a weak tune in the entirety of "Hard Feelings." Without recapping the full CD (which I would, oh trust me I've plenty to say) I will leave you with this. Closing track "Welcome Home" is so Falling In Reverse meets Green Day I can't stand it. I can't. And the end? Just wait for it.
I'm in love with this blessthefall, in case you didn't pick up on that yet. I firmly believe my playlist and theirs are the same. All my favorite singers and tunes are channeled and repurposed in this soaring, lovely CD. This is a powerhouse quintet with perfectly constructed tunes, deeply relatable lyrics, and an angelic vocalist. "Hard Feelings" drops March 23rd, 2018. You're on standby. Get ready to be blessed. 

Foreigner Concert: Fort Lauderdale, Fl with The Dave Eggar Orchestra Broward Center for Performing Arts 3/20/18

[caption id="attachment_38122" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Foreigner Concert: Fort Lauderdale, Fl[/caption]

Foreigner Concert, Fort Lauderdale Florida 3/20/18

Written and Photographed by Robin Ervolina
Fort Lauderdale, Florida won the rock lottery when Foreigner announced The Broward Center for the Performing Arts as one of eight U.S. dates for the Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra Tour. Whew. That's a mouthful, right? Yet, there is no better name for a tour celebrating 40 years of Foreigner hits, performed with a full orchestra! Now your head is spinning, right? Can you imagine being there? We can help. Shockwave Magazine is delighted to share our review of the Foreigner concert, Fort Lauderdale, Fl style. Check out our slide show of images at the end of the review.
Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra Tour is not just a treat, but a build up to upcoming CD/DVD package Foreigner With The 21st Century Symphony Orchestra & Chorus, set for release April 27th, 2018 via earMusic. The project began in May of 2017 when the band performed two sold-out shows in Lucerne, Switzerland with the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. For the next year, Mick Jones (founder/lead guitarist) and the Grammy nominated duo of Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer, focused on orchestral arrangements of some of the most iconic Foreigner tunes. Says Jones:

I could never have imagined when I set out to create Foreigner 40 years ago, that we’d still be touring around the world and performing the music we love all these years later.  Dave Eggar and Chuck Palmer’s orchestral arrangements have shown us a new symphonic dimension of our music, which I hope our fans will enjoy.

40 Years of Foreigner in 90 Minutes

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hansen took the stage at 7:45 p.m. to introduce the concept for the show. The crowed greeted him with thunderous applause, then the house lights dimmed, and stage lights illuminated the 20-person orchestra. The string section began the first bars of "Blue Morning, Blue Day." Shortly after, Foreigner took to the stage, and the crowd to their feet. No one bothered to sit down for follow-up tune "Cold As Ice," including Hansen, who ran fully into the crowd and high-fived fans. "Waiting for a Girl Like You," gave the band the opportunity to connect with the audience, who sang along word for word. Hansen and bassist Jeff Pilson (formerly of Dokken) grinned broadly as they accepted hand shakes and smiles from the ladies in the front row. It was pure 80's all over again. 

 

But lest we forget, Foreigner was more than an 80's band. They formed in the late 70s and their debut CD spawned multiple Top 20 hits including "Feels Like The First Time," and "Cold As Ice." The continued to release album after album, hit after hit, well into the new the new millennium and show no signs of stopping. 

 

For their fourth and fifth songs of the night, the band sat on stools to perform an acoustic set comprised of "Say You Will," and "The Flame Still Burns." And while the fans were fully engaged, when Foreigner followed up with "Double Vision," all feet were planted on the ground, all hands in the air, all hips shaking and grinding. 

 

Some Things Change

Throughout the night my eyes were often drawn to the orchestra and the conductor. On the main stage, the lead violinist and cello player bounced up and down, off their feet, playing so heartily they could not contain the energy. At points in the show even the conductor had to take a break to dance alongside the band. There was nothing less than pure enthusiasm pouring from every person on stage. If I didn't know better, I would swear they were unaware they were performing a show. It was refreshing to see that a band with so many member changes can gel to the point where they look more like best friends than band mates. 

 

Foreigner played for a solid 90 minutes, wrapping up with a nearly ten minute rendition of their biggest U.S. hit, "I Want To Know What Love Is." Part way through the song, members of the Coral Springs School of Rock took stage to form the choir for the chorus. While it wasn't needed (the audience made up a choir of thousands), it was refreshing and a little heart-tugging. With a roar of applause and cheer, the band left the stage just as they'd entered; humbled to be so relevant and talented after 41 years in the industry. However, as the audience, we were humbled to be a stop on such a limited engagement tour. 

 

A Prelude of Things to Come

If a 20-person orchestra and 15-person choir can create such a rich backdrop to the soundtrack of our life, imagine the wall of sound a 60-person choir and 59-person orchestra will bring to the timeless music of Foreigner. So pick up that CD/DVD digipak on April 27th, 2018, only available at Walmart in the US and Canada.

 

 Foreigner Concert: Fort Lauderdale, FL Slideshow

 

 

 

Though few dates remain, tickets may still be available. Click here to purchase, because you do not want to miss this epic, once in a lifetime performance. 

 

FOREIGNER ORCHESTRAL TOUR DATES

 

03.29.2018                  USA                             Cedar Rapids, IA                               US CELLULAR CENTER

03.30.2018                  USA                             Sioux City, IA                                      ORPHEUM THEATRE 

04.02.2018                  USA                             Grand Forks, ND                               CHESTER FRITZ AUDITORIUM

04.03.2018                  USA                              Minot, ND                                          ALL SEASONS ARENA 

04.04.2018                  USA                              Duluth, MN                                        DECC AUDITORIUM 

05.26.2018                  SWITZERLAND              Lucerne                                               KKL LUCERNE

05.27.2018                  SWITZERLAND             Lucerne                                               KKL LUCERNE

 

FOREIGNER is: Mick Jones (guitar), Kelly Hansen (lead vocals), Jeff Pilson (bass, vocals), Tom Gimbel (rhythm guitar, sax, vocals), Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Bruce Watson (guitar) and Chris Frazier (drums)

Myles Kennedy Covers Elton John's LEVON for SiriusXM Octane

Written by Robin Ervolina

Myles Kennedy Covers Elton John's "Levon" and it's everything beautiful. 

In fact, this morning it's everything.
If you've had a moment to listen to Kennedy's new CD "Year of the Tiger," you may think you've had your fill of the man and his guitar. I'm telling you, you haven't. Click the video to watch this exclusive SiriusXM Octane gift.

I don't know what's most beautiful about this version; Myles' vocals, his guitar work, or the sheer love pouring out of him as he covers Sir Elton's ballad. It's a gorgeous blend of Kennedy's passion and range, and John's lyrical brilliance. You'll most likely listen to this more than once, as well you should, but I hope you'll view the video too. It's a magnificent thing to watch an artist fall in love with a song.

Fronz and Ronnie Radke Twitter War

[caption id="attachment_37619" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Fronz and Ronnie Radke Twitter War[/caption]
Written by Robin Ervolina

The bad boys of hardcore are at it again. Attila's frontman Fronz and Falling in Reverse's lead Ronnie Radke embarked on a little Twitter war, and as much as we hate to watch mommy and daddy fight, we'll recap it for you here. 

It seems to have started two days ago (5/12) with this tweet from Fronz:

Ronnie dug up an old beef in reply, and Fronz was quick on the come back. 

Let's back up in case you're unaware of the history and "Callout" reference. I brought in Baltimore photojournalist Tiffany A. Mitchell for the Fronz v. Radke 101.

So, Attila made this song called "Callout" and it’s a dis song. He called out Jonny Craig for scamming people out of money by offering to sell them MacBooks which they never got. Then Fronz calls out Ronnie Radke saying “Even Ronnie Radke talks shit in my Instagram, give me your address so i can hit u with a mic stand." Attila just released a new Callout song where he disses Jeffrey Star, Danny Worsnop, Logan Paul and Harvey Weinstein and the singer of Emmure. But not Ronnie.

Okay, now that we're caught up, let's not let this little gem of a tweet get lost. Buried in the comments of the above post regarding "Callout" is this:

Okay, so where were we? Oh yeah, that was two days ago. But then a tweet from Fronz today lit a spark:

I am living proof that you can DO WHATEVER you want, SAY WHATEVER you want, and still become successful. Moral of the story- Be yourself & keep it real. The fakes never make it.

To which Ronnie Radke replied:

Didn't you sue a sushi restaurant?

Fronz sets the record straight with a twist of lime:

No, I sued the company that produced the bad tuna, the settlement was minimal though. In today's terms that settlement would be about 0.5% of my net worth. Nice Google search, though. 

Ronnie replies with eloquence as is his wont to do.

Suck my fuck.

And Fronz waxes poetic as well, complete with eggplant and other suggestive emojis. 

I already did. 

Ronnie ends this (we hope?) with a batch of LMAO emojis. 

So far the boys have moved to separate corners. I love 'em bad, but not at each others' beautiful tattooed throats.

Slaves Concert Cancelled After Alleged Jonny Craig Arrest

[caption id="attachment_33417" align="aligncenter" width="681"] Slaves vocalist Jonny Craig was arrested last night in Scottsdale, Arizona. Slaves was set to play the Pub Rock Live when fans witness Craig being taken from the premise in handcuffs.[/caption]

Jonny Craig Arrested 

Updates: Case Dismissed!

Written by Robin Ervolina

Jonny Craig Arrest video courtesy of MikkoPongo
Check out another video showing band members and security arguing. 
According to the City of Scottsdale's site, charges were filed against Jonathan Craig, who appeared in court today at 10:30 am. His attorney filed a Motion to Dismiss charges of Criminal Damage to Property and Disorderly Conduct.

Slaves vocalist Jonny Craig was arrested last night in Scottsdale, Arizona, abruptly ending the last stop on their Beautiful Death tour. Slaves was set to play the Pub Rock Live when fans witness him being taken from the premise in handcuffs. MikkoPongo posted video and comments on Twitter. Click the link and we'll keep you posted.
Video of Jonny Craig Arrest

Charges Against Slaves' Jonny Craig Dismissed

Jonny Craig Charges Dismissed

Written by Robin Ervolina

Slaves' singer Jonny Craig was arrested last night in Scottsdale, Arizona on charges of disorderly conduct and property damage. His attorney immediately filed for all charges to be dismissed and the Honorable Judge Jejna granted the order. Neither Slaves nor Jonny Craig have responded to the arrest at this time.

Zero Theorem: Area

[caption id="attachment_37405" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Zero Theorem: Area[/caption]
Written by Robin Ervolina
Holy new music, Batman!
The advantage of being named Robin is I can make awkward Batman references. The advantage of being Robin is discovering amazing new music on a regular basis. Today I discovered "Area" by Zero Theorem, a four-piece hard rock outfit from L.A. They dropped this massive wall of sound last month. I dare you not to move.


"Area" is the first single of their upcoming Ataraxis, scheduled to drop May 4th. Stay tuned for more Zero Theorem news and interview.

Get to know Zero Theorem 

Official Website: http://www.zerotheoremband.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zerotheoremband
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ztheoremband
Instagram: www.instagram.com/zerotheoremband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0GFIgc4xi9Lg6CSNdDx70Z?si=QPtdIFdjSUOWtiEG6dzXHg
Apple Music/iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/area-single/1227651828
Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/Area-Zero-Theorem/dp/B06ZZ58646
Google Play Music: http://bit.ly/2GU5xTl
Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCNgU-8REhKkf4MNaLbFFT_w   

[caption id="attachment_37411" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Falling Through April Interview[/caption]

Falling Through April Interview

By Robin Ervolina
Alt rock quintet Falling Through April's Zodiac is a banger of an album with surprises at every turn. Featuring their new female vocalist Mikaela Salazar, Falling Through April have developed a sound that is unique, but have let go of the concept of a definable sound. In some tunes Mikaela channels Gwen Stefani, in others a tougher, saner version of Taylor Swift (and who doesn't need that in their life?). The songs are relatable and at times the lyrics are so delicious I fear I'll grow fat off them. I couldn't resist the urge to pick their brains about their new beginning and the album Zodiac. Bonus content: Dan (Candia - guitar/vocals) discusses 26-hour shooting days on the set of The Walking Dead, and his fear of being eaten by zombies. Mikaela and I call out Jonny Craig.

Shockwave Magazine: Hello, Falling Through April! Thank you for fielding my questions! I just finished my play through of Zodiac and I'm really excited to ask you about the CD! First though, having read your history, I noted that while Falling Through April has been a band for almost a decade, it was only in the last two years that Mikaela joined the ranks. So I'd love to hear a little about your history before she entered the band, and how it was that she came into the picture.

Dan: Yes! We original formed Falling Through April in July 2011. Our original line up had a male vocalist. During the time we spent together prior to Mikaela, we had built up a strong resume performing on bigger tours and festivals like Vans Warped Tour, SXSW, Florida Music Festival, and international touring with The Pretty Reckless, Adelitas Way, Breaking Benjamin, Pop Evil, Devour The Day, and more. We amicably parted ways with our vocalist and have since performed a show together with his new project. We did a surprise performance of one of our old songs with him. We started writing with Mikaela as a side project but about six months into writing we decided to keep the history and reputation we had built as Falling Through April and move forward with Mikaela as the new lead vocalist.

At the moment the decision was made to bring her vocals and personality to the forefront, did your concept for Falling Through April change?

Jim Siani (guitar): I wouldn’t say “change," more like evolved. It allowed us to explore more territory.

Did you sense a shift in the direction or sound for the band with her inclusion?

Dan: Obviously there is going to be a change with any member change but especially moving from male to female vocals. We did a little bit of soul searching (and sound searching) as we were working on the new album. We wrote over 50 songs trying to craft the best album we could with Mikaela. So yeah, a little bit of a change.

Okay, so let's chat about the "sound" because listening to Zodiac was delightful and surprising. I don't feel like you're hellbent on a genre, and I applaud that. Do you feel that is a conscious decision to play around with different styles and sounds? Is this an outpouring of your appreciation for punk, or pop, or rock?

Mikaela  We love everything rock! The guys gave me about 50 tracks that they had written. I went through them all and picked my favorites and began writing along with the mood of the song.  It just so happened that there was a wide range of styles from the selections that made it to the album Zodiac. I’m very happy with the collection of different genres you hear from track to track.  Mashing variations of styles in one album wasn't intentional, but I loved it and didn’t want that to change because it reflects our different personalities and moods over the year of writing.

Are you, with a new lead singer, trying out sounds to see where the appeal lies for you, the fans, and the critics?

Dan: Yes and no, obviously we have to make some adjustments with a new vocalist and some of our fans may be surprised by the changes but the overall feedback has been very positive and supportive so far.

Do you think having a "sound" is beneficial, particularly for a newer collective?

Dan: It seems like today’s trend is all about singles. So bands/artists have the opportunity to re-invent themselves with each single. I guess it’s less important now to have a definitive sound than it used to be….  But you still need an aural framework for your music.

Let's dive into Zodiac. I hear lyrics that feel very intentionally crafted, yet they fit the melody! There is no lack of cohesion in any tune. Emotion is evident and prosody is evident in the blending of the words and the tunes. Do you first write melodies and then add lyrics, collaborate, or a little of both?

Mikaela: I wrote lyrics with a general idea and foundation for a melody but nothing was permanent.  I took my rough drafts to the guys and we all reconstructed together as a team.  I have found that writing songs or poetry has been therapeutic since I was a teen so I can definitely confirm that there is a lot of emotion and many stages of life that I had gone through that I needed to share and get off my chest. Zodiac gave me the chance to share my journey through my young adult life.  

How did you choose the tracks for Zodiac?

Mikaela:  It was a long process, we had to fight for a couple of the tracks featured. Basically, we always had to take a vote, lol. We chose the favorite ten tracks that I wrote out of the 15 or 20 songs of tracks that they sent me initially.

You included an acoustic version of "Better Off Alone" and even as I applaud that decision (wow, it's really showcasing the vocals and lyrics), I'm wondering why you decided to do that to close out the CD.

Dan: We originally had a 10th track titled “Car Crash” but as we put the finishing touches on the album that song stood out as not fitting the overall sound/vibe of the rest of the album. So we decided to cut it out in the last minute and instead of releasing a deluxe version of the album (with 2 acoustic tracks) we decided to just release it with a 10th track as the freebie “bonus” that was included instead. Maybe “Car Crash” will make it out one day but for now we chalk that one up to a B-Side.

I know people always ask this question (and I usually avoid it) but I can't help but hear a Jonny Craig collaboration on "Desperate Measures." So let me just ask: who is your dream collaboration and why? Would you pull them into a song you've written, or cover one of theirs?

Mikaela: I’d absolutely love to harmonize with Johnny Craig.  Duets are my thing. Other collaborations I would love to be a part of would be Adam Lazarra or Aaron Gillespie. I would love to hear their interpretation and contribution to a track that we wrote.

Speaking of "Desperate Measures" it's delightfully ironic that a song that says "Tonight we come to life" was filmed on the set of the Walking Dead! Tell me about the experience of filming there, and how that video came about.

Mikaela:  Isn’t that funny!  To me, so many walk around merely existing and nobody is living to their full potential so I felt “Desperate Measures” could be an anthem to every generation living presently.  

Dan: Filming there was a lot of fun but it was such a long process for that video in particular. Because of a limited window for filming, we shot for 26 hours straight. That part was not fun! I was so exhausted that a couple of times at night I got a bit freaked out because I started imagining what it would be like if an army of zombies just popped out of one of the dilapidated buildings. But – overall it was a great experience. Thankfully the next music video we will be releasing will not have 26-hour days, haha.

What was the decision behind choosing "Desperate Measures" as the first release, and what's the inspiration behind it?

Dan: Like Mikaela said earlier, everything we do comes down to a group vote. It was a unanimous decision to make “Desperate Measures” our first single. It just felt right. The message is strong, the structure is different than the other songs, and we thought it had good commercial appeal

Are there some songs that are more personal to you on Zodiac? Is there a story about a lyric we can know, or a person memorialized in a song that we can honor?

Mikaela: OH - every single one is personal for me...  But I’ll talk about “With You In Mind.” Being raised in the ninety’s it kills me to see how disconnected the new generations have become due to social media. I've learned to live in the moment - Not the past or future.  We live in a fantasy world sometimes and vicariously through people we follow online and that breaks my heart because there is more than meets the eye and nobody cares to see it.

What are your touring plans for 2018?

Dan: We have tour plans to announce any day now (can’t wait) and some festivals in the works as well. The best place to hear about it first is on our official website www.fallingthroughapril.com

Any other plugs we can include before bidding adieu?

Mikaela: We are on the major socials – Make sure you follow us, we post a lot of content daily. Say hello and interact with us, we love you guys and would love to hear what you have to say. Please come out to a show – we’d love to meet you in person!

Best of luck with Zodiac and 2018, and congrats! 

FTA: Thank You so much, Robin!

Connect with FTA

Official Website: http://www.fallingthroughapril.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FallingThroughApril

Twitter: https://twitter.com/bandfta

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fallingthroughaprilofficial

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/FallingThroughApril

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3nEKacGg0c9YYnMAhhQVFQ?play

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/falling-through-april/ARfljz6rmtKkvqw

Bands in Town: http://www.bandsintown.com/FallingThroughApril

Purchase Zodiac

iTunes link: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1308490780?ls=1&app=itunes  

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077725FXK/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp    

Google Play Music: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Falling_Through_April_Zodiac?id=B6cybjgm4m6ulfbur4ssnhzyr3e&hl=en  

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3nEKacGg0c9YYnMAhhQVFQ?play

Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/artist/falling-through-april/desperate-measures-single/ALJwrvZZ5h9jd7c  

Upcoming Live dates:

3/22/2018           ILMS Spring Festival                                        Fort Mill, SC                                            

3/29/2018           California University                                         California, PA

4/07/2018           Cooper River Bridge Run Festival                    Mount Pleasant, SC

4/28/2018            Younguns                                                         Kings Mountain, NC

6/23/2018           Fatemaker Music Festival (Main Stage) @ Fish Head Cantina                Halethorpe, MD

Stacked Like Pancakes: Hollow

Written by Robin Ervolina
Stacked Like Pancakes recently released a new song, "Hollow," and fans of this Baltimore outfit are in for a surprise. For "Hollow," Stacked Like Pancakes have blended their ska sound with a few rock sub-genres to produce a vibrant tune. The first verse features compelling lyrics woven into a space rock feel. Then the second verse brings the delicious Stacked Like Pancakes horn line. As the brass builds, they layer a solid rock groove in the second chorus. All of this genre blending lends itself to an impossibly intriguing tune.

Check out "Hollow."

The stylistic blending of genres shows Stacked Like Pancakes is paying attention to trends. What's delightful is they incorporate them without losing their individuality. This possible new direction is particularly exciting given "Hollow" is the official launch of their upcoming CD, Strange Creatures, which will be funded via Kickstarter. The campaign will run for two months in the hopes of raising 100,00 dollars for recording, production and distribution.

Check out Stacked Like Pancakes, "The greatest brass-rock band to ever exist, because we made that genre up."

 

Website:www.stackedlikepancakes.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SLPancakes
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SLPancakes
Instagram: www.instagram.com/SLPancakes

 

Also, catch them on tour!

 

4/5 - Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage Lounge

4/6 - Brooklyn, NY @ Gold Sound

4/7 - College Park, MD @ Milkboy Arthouse

4/8 - Nashville, TN @ The End

4/9 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

4/10 - Orlando, FL @ Soundbar

4/13 - Lancaster, PA @ Launch Music Conference

4/16 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Smiling Moose

4/17 - Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place

4/18 - Cleveland, OH @ Winchester Music Tavern

4/20 - Chicago, IL @ Wire

4/21 - Burnsville, MN @ The Garage

4/22 - Madison, WI @ Ruby

4/24 - St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill Duck Room

4/25 - Newport, KY @ Southgate House

4/26 - Raleigh, NC @ Deep South The Bar

4/29 - Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar

Stacked Like Pancakes Bio

Stacked Like Pancakes (SLP) is a boisterous Baltimore-based brass-rock band.

Beginning in 2007, Stacked Like Pancakes was founded on an idolization of artists like Reel Big Fish, Streetlight Manifesto, and Less Than Jake. Following the 2011 debut ska album We’re Not Insane, SLP and renaissance frontman-songwriter Kellen McKay began to develop an obsession with breaking genre boundaries. SLP has since proven to maintain a thick sonic texture through a synthesis of inspirations including Reel Big Fish, twenty one pilots, Foo Fighters, Paramore, Cage the Elephant, and an untraceable amount of other artists and genres.
Stacked Like Pancakes found their niche in music festivals in 2012, supporting Kid Cudi at Towson University’s Tigerfest. In 2014, SLP won the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands competition, earning their first appearance on the Vans Warped Tour. When they were invited to return in 2015, the Warped Tour sparked a love for the road. In March 2017, Stacked Like Pancakes was a featured artist for the Vans Warped Tour, performing alongside Bless the Fall, Memphis May Fire, Jule Vera, and Microwave at the official Warped Tour Kickoff Party in Orlando, Florida. During this stretch of time, SLP embarked on several self-booked headlining tours, a national tour supporting ska-parallels Reel Big Fish, and in 2015 released their fan-funded sophomore album THIS IS US.
Concert venues and music patrons alike should be prepared for the stage to shake, the crowd to be wild and unpredictable, and the show to be a deliberate fusion of spontaneity and precision. The band’s trumpet and two trombonists won’t be standing in the back or blending in with the backdrop as mere support. In this self-proclaimed brass-rock band, the horns will steal the show, and the Pancake Nation community fanbase is hungry for their band to grow.
Stacked Like Pancakes epitomizes a tough DIY band despite a meaningless band name, and are rightfully on the rise to claim an international stage of their own.

Turbowolf: The Free Life

[caption id="attachment_37222" align="aligncenter" width="900"] Turbowolf: The Free Life[/caption]Written by Robin Ervolina

 

I have returned from a psychedelic trip. The vision: a disruptive landscape surrounded by a borderless galaxy. The drug: Turbowolf. The route of administration: The Free Life (releasing 3/9/18). 

 

In the ever-evolving world of rock, Turbowolf spins new tunes with a retro feel. The déjà vu goes deep. Vocals and synthesizers dive into the recesses of my mind. I’m hearing fragments of Jefferson Airplane, Enter Shikari and The Cure. I’m floating on an eclectic atmosphere of ambiguity. The quirky quartet from Bristol seem hell bend on breaking every rule but one: there are no rules in punk rock.

 

Our introduction to the theme of The Free Life is a brief oratory by Joe Talbot of Idles. “All for you, not for you, the free life.” Then, “No, No, No” kicks in and it’s as trippy as it is pretty. "Capital X” comes in hot, reminding you Turbowolf is also a rock band, in case the psychedelic bend had you confused. Talbot loans his vocals again, and the dirty funk feel underlying his feature is strong. “Cheap Magic” has a clear 70s vibe and a strong jazz improvisational feel to it. Guest vocalist Sebastian Grainger (Death From Above) grounds this tune in a sublime blending of tones.

 

Proving The Free Life encompasses the punk rock concept of community, fourth track “Very Bad” (which is so very good) features Turbowolf friend and voice of Vodun, Chantal Brown. Her cool, clean, soulful sound is the yin to the yang of Chris Georgiadis throatier delivery. Brown croons “Are we not people with a human touch? Are we not even human that much?” Get that stuck in your head. That’s where good lyrics should live. However, my favorite part of this song is the purely punk deconstruction of its previously cohesive melody. "Very Bad" ends with a frenzy of heavy bass, chaotic synthesizers and an escalating tempo. By the time the feedback announces the finale, I’m exhausted. This track is a highlight of The Free Life, and I could listen to it repeatedly.

 

“Half Secret” calls to mind B-52s. “Domino,” (featuring Mike Kerr of Royal Blood) induces vertigo. “Last Three Clues” ditches the pretense that there is any “sound” Turbowolf is going for. It shoots you straight to the rule-less era of proto-punk. It’s at this point I understand that when you do whatever you want, you’ll do something no one else does. Bravo, Turbowolf.

By the time “Up N Atom” cues, I’m comfortable with the Turbowolf sound. It’s no longer a shock, still intriguing, but I’ve been going warped speed for 25 minutes and I need to pull over and rest before continuing this journey.

 

It is, of course, at the point I let my guard down that a semi carrying a truck load of frenzy plows through my respite in the form of “Black Hole.” The intro is tight and intense. Title track

"The Free Life” follows, and oddly enough was the one I zoned out on. (Maybe it’s because “Black Hole is so intense?) However, on second listen I found a gem in lyrics that sum up the CD for me.  “Science, magic, all things in between, freedom, free will, the free life is a dream.”

 

But we’re not at the end of The Free Life. The final track is appropriately titled, “Concluder,” and does its part to sum up the entirety of the CD. Andy Ghosh's descending riffs are illustrative of The Free Life, which begins in chaos and ends in peace. What more could we ask for in life, in general?

 

It is no wonder Turbowolf critics have struggled to define them as a particular genre. This CD will not make their job easier. There is complete unpredictability in The Free Life. If this makes you uncomfortable, that is even more reason to sit up and pay attention.

 

Turbowolf is:

 

Chris Georgiadis (vocals/synthesisers)

 

Andy Ghosh (guitar)

 

Lianna Lee Davies (bass)

 

Blake Davis (drums)

 

 

Myles Kennedy: Year Of The Tiger

[caption id="attachment_36767" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] Myles Kennedy: Year of the Tiger[/caption]

Year of the Tiger CD Review - by Robin Ervolina

Myles Kennedy, the instantly recognizable voice of both Alter Bridge and Slash and the Conspirators will release his first solo CD Year of the Tiger on March 9th, 2018. The celebrated vocalist and guitar player is rock royalty, but Year of the Tiger is not a rock album. Missing are the furious guitar solos and the signature Kennedy high register. The metal-edge is absent as a softer Myles emerges. It’s clear the artist has more music inside him, but why would this rock god veer away from what he does so well? It’s simple: Myles Kennedy has a story to tell, and he must take off his royal garments to don his father’s mantle. 

 

Kennedy’s father died in 1974 (the year of the tiger) when Myles was four years old. Year of the Tiger tackles his father's untimely, and perhaps wholly unnecessary death.

My family was very involved in the Christian Science church. So, when he became ill, he chose not to seek medical attention, and passed away a few months later. By all accounts, my father was a good, honest man, but I still can’t understand his decision to die from something that didn’t need to happen.

Year of the Tiger

The title track “Year of the Tiger” sets the tale in motion and is written from his mother’s perspective. It's a dark, harmonic, and chugging tune, like a widow trying to move through her grief. Kennedy describes it as “a battle cry of resolution, to persevere under those circumstances.” “Turning Stones,” “Ghost of Shangri-La” and “Mother” also focus on her in the aftermath of her husband's death. All feature that same forward-motion rhythm, a brilliant score for the scenes and emotions Kennedy still carries.

 

Myles also talks to his father a great deal in Year of the Tiger. In “Blind Faith” he sings “Faith can be blind, but it cannot justify the tragedy of love’s demise.” “Nothing But a Name” digs deeply into his grief, and with naked honesty. 

Your conviction, your belief, how could you choose that over me

I still miss you now 

Goddamn, I miss you now

It's so impossible to face, when all that’s left behind is nothing but a name

Kennedy states both songs are open letters to his father. The lyrics and delivery in these tunes testify.  Sorrow and anger are evident in both, and at times it's almost too painful to hear.

 

From Dark to Light

The first ten tracks of Year of the Tiger are dark. There is a frantic nature to the tunes, portraying energy, struggle, and despair. Track eleven, “Love Can Only Heal” is the natural progression from a place of pain to a place of hope. Kennedy croons in his lower register, as he does in most of the CD, and it's nothing short of glorious. The last two songs continue down the path of light. In “Songbird,” Myles declares his legacy will be different than his father’s. "One Fine Day” sees him looking to a future when this pain subsides.

 

Year of the Tiger is a huge departure from the Myles Kennedy music his fans have come to expect, but illustrates that his brilliance transcends any medium. Kennedy plays banjo, lap steel, bass, and mandolin as well as guitar. He wrote every song on acoustic or resonator guitar and then dropped them straight to tape. Try as I might to be objective, the heart and soul of this project seeped in and found cracks in my armor. With sincere intention, Myles created something honest that speaks to the pain of his past and his hope for the future. It is with great vulnerability he shares this part of his life with a different tone and mood. Never has a cover art been more apropos. Year of the Tiger is Myles Kennedy, stripped down and coming out of the darkness.