Well the wait is over for several bands today as they drop brand new albums!
Disturbed Immortalized, Pop Evil Up, P.O.D. The Awakening, Ghost Meliora, and Buckcherry Rock ‘N Roll.
For Disturbed, this is their first album since 2010’s Asylum. The new album marks their first time working with an outside producer in several years, having chosen Canadian hot knob-twirler and inspiration to many bands in the past few years, Kevin Churko. The band decided back in October last year to get together to see about working on new music and the process was a new experience of actually writing and recording all together, albeit done very stealthily out in Las Vegas. It sounds amazing and I think Disturbed fans will freak out at the range of David Draiman‘s voice and the power of the musicianship of Dan Donegan, Mike Wengren and John Moyer. Stand outs for me are “The Light,” “You’re Mine” and “The Sound of Silence.” And I ask you, when you hear the intro of “Fire It Up,” you won’t believe ANYONE can take a toke THAT BIG! LOL All the best to them tonight as they hit the stage for the first time together since 2011 at the House of Blues in Chicago! And look for my video interview with Mr Draiman on the hardDriveRadio YouTube Channel later today. And give me a break with the “she’s so old” comments. Hey, I’ve hung out with bands that make even DAVE GROHL envious! So shut up!
Pop Evil recorded Up in Seattle, WA with producer Adam Kasper. They worked in legendary London Bridge studios and spent a few months far away from their Michigan family and friends in the Pacific Northwest. For frontman Leigh Kakaty, the experience pushed him and his band to find new inspirations. Their first single “Footsteps” is doing great on the air. We look forward to seeing a lot of them this year.
P.O.D.-what can I say about my brothers from other mothers?! I love these guys and have been with them in their career since they started out in 1997. The Awakening, produced by long-time collaborator Howard Benson, is influenced by their beliefs and their love of what they do, a concept record based on spoken word, conversations and sound effects. I can’t wait to hear the entire cd. Stand outs are their track with Maria Brink, “Criminal Conversations,” and Lou Koller of Sick Of It All on “Revolucion.”
Buckcherry are back with their 7th album, Rock ‘N Roll. Self-produced, they always bring their signature rock party of life on their records. Looking forward to seeing Josh Todd and Keith Nelson Aug 31 when they hit the hardDriveRadio studios.
And finally, Ghost drop Meliora today. This is a fine album, which for me, someone who’s been around for many decades, harkens back not only to classic metal bands like Deep Purple or Iron Maiden, but I hear influences from art rockers Yes and the Moody Blues in places, and dare I say King Crimson? Read MetalInjection.com‘s review of the album for a more in-depth rundown. Papa Emeritus III and two of his Nameless Ghouls will be in our studios on Monday to do interviews and a two-song acoustic performance. Send along your questions for the band soon!
Oh look! A daily Dave Grohl item! Foo Fighters sent this out to fans this morning. Along with a notice the Foos are bringing special guest Iggy Pop with them on their Sep 5th gig at Milton Keynes in England. Read this article Dave did on his Emmy nomination for Sonic Highways and more for Deadline.
In addition to his recent directing stints, Grohl has been a guest host on the late night talk show Chelsea Lately and has acted in several movies. But he told us a while back those jobs didn’t hold any interest for him: “It’s funny because a lot of people ask, like, ‘Wow, you’re kind of a natural at that, you should do that.’ I’m like, ‘Why? I can fill a stadium in Australia — that’s fun!’”
Louder Noise posted a video with Five Finger Death Punch’s Jason Hook and Jeremy Spencer. Check it out here. Meanwhile, Jason Hook told us about his shoulder surgery he had earlier this week. “I had a little bone spur on the belly side of the top bone, and it created a small tear in what is called the labrum. It was just irritating me. It was painful to sleep on that side. Fortunately there’s a very good shoulder and knee institute here in Vegas, and they were like, ‘Yeah, it’s very common, no big deal. We go through a little incision, we clean it up and you’re back on your feet that day, no big deal.” It’s funny because I was asking my physical therapist how long it takes to recover from that, and she didn’t think it would be ask easy as that. So we wish Hook all the best since he will be playing a big tour starting Sep 4th.
Oh I am so excited! One week from today, we will be announcing yet ANOTHER hardDrive Live tour for the fall. STAY TUNED! And have a great weekend!