James Labrie: new album cover art, tracklisting, more

Dream Theater’s JAMES LABRIE is easily one of the defining, elite and naturally talented vocalists the world has to offer and after selling over a million albums worldwide he further challenges himself with an aggressive and dynamic new solo effort. The much anticipated new full-length offering, Static Impulse, also marks LABRIE’s first solo effort in over five years and is sure to please his legion of diehard fans, as well as win over many new devotees in the process. Be sure to stay tuned to www.jameslabrie.com for new information.

Static Impulse also features the immensely talented longtime songwriting partner and keyboardist Matt Guillory. Another notable performance is Peter Wildoer from metal titans DARKANE on drums and screaming vocals. The group is rounded out by Marco Sfogli on guitars and Ray Riendeau on bass. Static Impulse is set for a September 27th release on InsideOutMusic and was mixed and mastered by the renowned Jens Borgen (Opeth, Katatonia).

LABRIE states: “Hi everyone. The release of Static Impulse is one that the whole band is psyched about. This is modern Metal and as heavy and relevant as any other band out there going in a similar musical direction. There are riffs that will blow your head off and melodies both musically and vocally that are hypnotic. Get in the driver’s seat and let the ears bleed. Enjoy and see you out there with a tour to follow up and support this release.”

Guillory further comments: “One year and two months in the making and we're finally done. I'm really pleased with the way this record came out. James sounds fantastic, as well as the rest of the guys. Without a doubt, it's our heaviest record thus far yet at the same time, it's also our most melodic. I can't wait for everyone to hear it.”

In addition to Dream Theater's numerous studio and live releases, LABRIE has also appeared on releases by Fates Warning, Redemption, Trent Gardner's Explorer's Club, Leonardo The Absolute Man, Frameshift, Ayreon's The Human Equation, as well as tribute albums to Rush, Emerson Lake & Palmer and Queen.

JAMES LABRIE “Static Impulse”
Europe release: September 27th 2010
InsideOut Music | EMI


01. One More Time
02. Jekyll Or Hyde
03. Mislead
04. Euphoric
05. Over The Edge
06. I Need You
07. Who You Think I Am
08. I Tried
09. Just Watch Me
10. This Is War
11. Superstar
12. Coming Home

Static Impulse Line-Up:
James LaBrie - Lead Vocals
Matt Guillory - Keyboards, Background Vocals
Marco Sfogli - Guitars
Ray Riendeau - Bass
Peter Wildoer - Drums, Screams


James LaBrie Websites:
www.myspace.com/officialjameslabrie
www.facebook.com/officialjameslabrie
www.jameslabrie.com

InsideOut June 2009 news

TRAIL OF DEAD
In the night from Sunday to Monday, 07. to 08. of June 2009, 00.30 - 02.15 a.m German TV proudly presents in WDR Rockpalast a complete concert of ...AND YOU WILL KNOW US BY THE TRAIL OF DEAD (recorded live in Cologne on May 15th 2009)


INDUKTI
The second album by Indukti is called "Idmen" and will be released end of July on Insideout Music.


EUREKA
The new Eureka album 'Shackleton's Voyage' tells the true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s sensational Antarctica expedition in the years 1914 to 1916. Musical guest on this album are Billy Sherwood (ex Yes, Conspiracy, World Trade), Yogi Lang (RPWL) and Troy Donockley (Iona, Nightwish).

Four tracks of the album can be pre-listened on myspace: www.myspace.com/eurekashackletonsvoyage

The artists own homepage is now available in english too: www.eureka-music.de


BEARDFISH
New Beardfish album 'Destined Solitaire' will be released by the end of July 2009. 70s style Progressive Rock at its best. Initial pressing in digipack available.

The queue grows...

...and I swear, I'll never get to the end of it.

Especially not this week, as deadlines approach for a half dozen articles I owe someone. I shouldn't even be blogging here, instead focusing on the other writing I owe. But I'd be remiss if I didn't add to the queue list of music I have to look at for here.

Just in this weekend:

Frost* - Experiments in Mass Appeal
Gamma Ray - Hell Yeah! 2 DVD set
Ayreon - Timeline 3 CD/1 DVD boxed set
Symphony X - Paradise Lost special edition (CD/5.1 DVD with 2 videos plus the album in DD 5.1)

Hopefully, when I find an extra 2 hours to add to each 24 hour day, I will get these listened to and reviewed here!

Unitopia signs 3 album deal with InsideOut Music

(NB: their album The Garden has been reviewed HERE.)

(Press release): In a first for an Australian band, Unitopia have signed a three album deal with Inside Out Music, the largest progressive rock and metal music label in the world.

Their 2nd album, a double CD package titled The Garden with artwork by internationally renowned cover artist Ed Unitsky, will be released world-wide by the German based record company in October - November 2008.

Their signing is a result of Unitopia’s initial success with their debut CD More Than a Dream.

Asked what the signing means to the band, keyboard player and co-song writer Sean Timms said, “It means that Unitopia will now be part of the world stage, recognized as a high quality progressive rock act from Australia..... We’ll be able to tour and perform overseas with the support of a major international record label.”

Vocalist and co writer Mark Trueack stated, “We now have a greater sense of belonging and we can concentrate on excelling in the style of music that we create. We’re very proud to be the 1st Aussie act to be connected to Inside Out. Personally I had few expectations on anything we had done. It’s been all about the enjoyment of what we do, not the economic aspect. If you focus purely on the music, things will happen. I’m pleasantly surprised but as they say…the sky’s the limit.”

Unitopia will launch The Garden with a live showcase performance TBA.

Speaking of Spock's Beard's new DVD...

...the band and InsideOut Music are having a contest with some pretty brill prizes. Check it out:

Eden Electronics, Seymour Duncan, and Vic Firth along with SPV and InsideOut America present the Get “Live” with Spock’s Beard.


-To enter, send an email to freeman@spvmarketing.com. In the email, please include your mailing address. We will then send you a package with Spock’s Beard Post Cards and Magnets.

-The object of the contest is for fans to distribute all of these postcards and magnets that promote the release of the DVD and CD, in the most creative ways possible. Entrants are asked to submit pictures of their creative promotion to the SPV USA office. This can be emailed as a digital photograph to Freeman@SPVMarketing.com, or it can be submitted as a hard copy, to our snail mail address:

SPV USA
68 White St 287
Red Bank, NJ 07701

The first 25 people to enter will receive:
A set of Nick D’Virgilio Signature Drumsticks Courtesy of Vic Firth

The grand prize winner, who will receive:
WTX-260 Bass-Head, courtesy of Eden/US Electronics and an autographed copy of the Spock’s Beard “Live” DVD or CD

The second place winner will receive:
A set of Jazz Bass SJB-1 pick-ups, courtesy of Seymour Duncan and an autographed copy of the Spock’s Beard “Live” DVD or CD

Three runners up will receive:
An autographed copy of the Spock’s Beard “Live” DVD or CD


-The SPV/InsideOut staff will determine who was the most creative with their promotional techniques.
-Entrants acknowledge participation at own risk. Observe all local, state, and federal laws. SPV and its affiliated members assume no liability in conjunction with improper display of promotional materials. All entry photos become property of SPV. Contest winner chosen at sole discretion of SPV. Entries must be received by noon on July 31, 2008, and the winner will be announced on August 1, 2008.