I Am I is a band fronted by former Dragonforce mouthpiece ZP Theart and featuring former Quireboys/The Union drummer Phil Martini (aka Phil Martin). ‘Event Horizon’, their self-released debut, isn’t just a re-tread of Dragonforce works. With this band, Theart leans, in theory, towards something more melodic, offering huge European sounding power/pomp metal, given a huge send off in the production department by Masterplan man Roland Grapow. With those hard facts out of the way, some of you have already stopped reading, since Grapow’s unrelenting production style combined with Theart’s mere presence means that I Am I are unlikely to appeal to an audience outside of this band’s particular power metal subgenre.
New Melvins album due in April
Everybody’s favourite noisemakers (the) Melvins will release a new album in April 2013.
Released via Mike Patton’s Ipecac label, the thirteen track effort finds Buzz ‘King Buzzo’ Osborne and co putting their stamp on works originally by David Bowie, The Jam, Roxy Music, Queen and The Kinks. Each cover is a collaboration with a guest artist and those roped in to help include Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, Jello Biafra and cult film maker John Waters.
REAL GONE GOES OUT: Brad – Islington Academy, London 10/02/13
In an age where band’s debut albums are expected to be an instant hit or record companies drop them like a lead weight, it seems inconceivable that, at the beginning of 2013, Brad are celebrating over twenty years together. An on-again, off-again project for Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard, Brad have always received mixed feelings from PJ fans, but those who love the band really do love them. Perhaps more inconceivable is the fact that – despite their 1993 debut ‘Shame’ retaining a special place in the hearts of their fans – it took the band two decades to embark on their first full European tour.
OFF!: US west coast tour cancelled
It has been reported that OFF!’s upcoming tour dates have all been cancelled.
Lead vocalist Keith Morris recently slipped into a diabetic coma and is taking time out to recover. In addition to being OFF!’s frontman, Morris is also involved with Flag, a band including other former Black Flag members. Flag have been booked to appear at the Punk Rock Bowling Festival in Las Vegas in May. So far, this – and Flag’s other prior shows – remain unaffected.
DEAD WOLF CLUB – RAR
Despite being a little rough around the edges, Dead Wolf Club’s debut album included some interesting musical ideas. There was strong sense of a band feeling their way around, throwing out ideas in an attempt to find out which ones would stick, but for those listeners who persevered, three or four genuinely great numbers could be found within. Looking beyond the truly awful sleeve art, their second release ‘RAR’ builds on the promise of the debut’s more focused moments, essentially leaving behind an album which shows off a band with a stronger sense of vision.