Tag Archive: Jeff Loomis

Peruse Some Samples Of The New Jeff Loomis Record

Filed Under: New music, Upcoming releases, Video

Mar.07, 2012

With the new Jeff Loomis album Plains of Oblivion *ahem* looming on the horizon (sorry), I’ve been anticipating this record with a bit of excitement. The established shredder served his time in Nevermore and throwing out guest solos left and right, gaining much more momentum and popularity since his debut solo record Zero Order Phase. This new album boasts guest appearances from the likes of Marty Friedman, Tony MacAlpine, Christine Rhoades, Attila Voros, Chris Poland, and the one I’m most excited for, Ihsahn, who does vocals for the track ‘Surrender’.

Above, you can check out some samples from the new Loomis record Plains of Oblivion. So far, this album sounds amazing. I’m really digging the inclusion of vocals on some tracks, as well. Any excuse to hear Ihsahn’s signature rasp is fully welcomed, but Christine Rhoades is sure to be one of the highlights on this record.

Plains of Oblivion is due out April 10th on Century Media. Be sure to catch Jeff Loomis on tour with Protest the Hero, Periphery, The Safety Fire, and Today I Caught The Plague. Dates for that are available after the jump!

- JR

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Tags: attila voros, Chris Poland, Christine Rhoades, Ihsahn, Jeff Loomis, marty friedman, Nevermore, Periphery, Protest the Hero, The Safety Fire, Today I Caught The Plague, Tony MacAlpine

In Case You Were Wondering, Jeff Loomis Does Indeed Still Shred

Filed Under: New music, Upcoming releases, Video

Feb.29, 2012

Ex-Nevermore guitarist and overall guitar god Jeff Loomis is poised to release his sophomore solo album Plains of Oblivion this April, and as such, it was only a matter of time before we got to hear some new music! Above, you can watch Loomis play through a track from the new record, ‘The Ultimatum,’ which features a guest solo by Tony MacAlpine.

Did you know that Loomis is also set to tour America shortly?! That’s right! The powerful lineup of Protest the Hero, Periphery, Jeff Loomis, The Safety Fire, and Today I Caught The Plague are snaking their way across the country soon. Go check out the tour dates and don’t you miss it!

Jeff Loomis’ new album Plains of Oblivion is due out April 10th on Century Media.

- JR

Tags: Jeff Loomis, Nevermore, Periphery, Protest the Hero, The Safety Fire, Today I Caught The Plague, Tony MacAlpine

Those Pretty Boys From The Safety Fire Are ‘Circassian Beauties‘

Filed Under: Audio, New music, Tours and Rumors of Tours, Upcoming releases

Feb.24, 2012

Seriously, The Safety Fire are making me so excited. Part of me thinks they purposely delayed their forthcoming debut just to build suspense for the damn thing, and if that is the case it’s definitely working.

Any who, with all the amount of time we’re being forced to wait through, the band seems to want to ease the stress we’re all feeling, so in order to do that they’ve released another song from their debut. The song is called “Circassian Beauties” and oh boy, it’s a doozy. It’s probably my favorite from them at this point. You can stream it below, and if you haven’t done so check out the official video for their song “Huge Hammers”.

The Safety Fire’s debut, Grind The Ocean, will be released April 10th (NA) and April 9th(UK) via Inside Out Music. It’s going to be great. Oh and for those unaware, the band will be acting as support for the upcoming Protest the Hero North American tour with Periphery and Jeff Loomis. Dates after the jump. Go check them out!

- EC

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Tags: Circassian Beautiies, Grind The Ocean, Huge Hammers, InsideOut Music, Jeff Loomis, Periphery, Protest the Hero, The Saftey Fire

7 Horns 7 Eyes Update On Upcoming Album Throes Of Absolution

Filed Under: Upcoming releases, Video

Feb.17, 2012

A few weeks ago Seattle progressive metal outfit 7 Horns 7 Eyes finally announced the release date for their new album Throes Of Absolution to be April 23rd – which is a lot sooner than you might think – and now we have the artwork and tracklisting! Peep it:

01. Divine Amnesty
02. Phumis: The Falsehood of Affliction
03. The Hill Difficulty
04. Cycle of Self
05. Delusions
06. A Finite Grasp of Infinite Disillusion
07. Vindicator
08. The Winnowing
09. Regeneration

These guys are pretty hotly tipped for this year, and I’ve got to admit it’s sounding pretty good so far. Ex-Nevermore legend Jeff Loomis is also making an cameo appearance

Protip: the artwork is by none other than Travis Smith, who has done most if not all of Opeth‘s artwork as well as the beautiful cover for Devin Townsend‘s Ghost (as well as Addicted! and Ziltoid, amongst others).

Here’s the teaser we got a few months back to remind you of how awesome this is going to be:

So yeah, keep your eyes peeled on April 23rd from Century Media and Basick Records!

- CG

Tags: 7 Horns 7 Eyes, Basick Records, Century Media Records, Devin Townsend, Jeff Loomis, Nevermore, Throes of Absolution, Travis Smith

The Safety Fire’s Grind The Ocean Delayed Until April

Filed Under: Upcoming releases, Video

Feb.10, 2012

So a bit of bad news. I’ve been hotly anticipating The Safety Fire‘s debut full-length Grind The Ocean ever since the incredibly catchy and not in the least bit suggestively-titled ‘Huge Hammers‘ debuted last year, but it seems that the album has slipped from its intended late February release date on InsideOut Music, and will now be out in early April – 9th in the UK and 10th in North America, to be exact. BUMMER.

However, there is a shining light for avid fans:

“We wanted there to be some good news for our friends in the UK & US, so we are very happy to announce a special pre-order for YOU the fans which will be released on the original date of February 27th. Those of you who pre-order will not only have the album just over a month before it is available in shops in the UK and US, it will also feature additional bonus content in a special digipack release!”

So essentially it’s ready, but they’ve apparently got some tantalising promotional opportunities that they just couldn’t pass up, so you’re going to ahve to wait. You get get it here on that preorder, however (and we’ve saved you the bother of looking around. Aren’t we nice?).

If you need any inclination to get it as soon as possible, here’s the aforementioned song ‘Huge Hammers‘, which I think is catchy as all hell.

Americans should note that The Safety Fire are due to appear on the upcoming Protest The Hero tour with Periphery and Jeff Loomis from the middle of next month. Dates after the jump!

- CG

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Tags: Grind The Ocean, Huge Hammers, InsideOut Music, Jeff Loomis, Periphery, Protest the Hero, The Safety Fire

Tours And Rumours Of Tours Pt. 2: Protestery The Loomis Fire North American Tour On The Horizon?

Filed Under: Tours and Rumors of Tours

Jan.31, 2012

If you’re too slow to work the title out, you inbred child of your mother’s brother and his female kinsperson, then let me spell out the details for you: tech-metal hillbillies Protest The Hero, faeces-throwing chugga chimps Periphery, The Mighty Raven himself Mr. Jeff Loomis and UK pyromaniacs The Safety Fire are thought to be be touring them United States Of ‘Murica this March!

I think I’ve eaten too many e-numbers today. Bear with me.

So yes, the word going round the interwebs (and you can blame Lambgoat is this is wrong) is that these four worthy acts will be teaming up for four weeks from late March to hit the road in a town possibly but not necessarily near you, depending on your arbitrary scale of nearness. Yes.

Nothing official as of yet, so again, don’t shoot me if I’m wrong, but dates are thought to be as follows:

3/25 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
3/26 Lawrence, KS @ Granada
3/27 Dallas, TX @ Trees
3/28 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
3/30 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine
3/31 Phoenix, AZ @ Club Red
4/1 Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club
4/2 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
4/3 Portland, OR @ The Branx
4/4 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
4/6 Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
4/7 Denver, CO @ Summit
4/9 St. Louis, MO @ Pops
4/10 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II
4/11 Detroit, MI @ Magic Stick
4/12 Columbus, OH @ The Outland Ballroom
4/13 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
4/14 Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
4/16 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
4/17 Orlando, FL @ The Social
4/18 Raleigh, NC @ Lincoln Theater
4/20 New York, NY @ Gramercy
4/22 Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero

Not a bad line-up at all. Protest The Hero and Periphery both seem to have been on an endless string of tours with amazing line-ups of late. Long may it continue, no?

- CG

Tags: Jeff Loomis, Periphery, Protest the Hero, The Safety Fire

Jeff Loomis Unveils Details On New Solo Album, Plains of Oblivion

Filed Under: Upcoming releases

Jan.30, 2012

Prog metal guitar virtuoso Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore) has finally made an announced on his upcoming album, Plains of Oblivion. His sophomore solo effort was produced by 7 Horns 7 Eyes‘ Aaron Smith and will include a handful of guest artists, including the likes of Ihsahn and Marty Friedman, among others. Check out the tracklist below:

01 Mercurial (featuring Marty Friedman)
02 The Ultimatum (featuring Tony MacAlpine)
03 Escape Velocity
04 Tragedy And Harmony (featuring Christine Rhoades)
05 Requiem For The Living (featuring Attila Voros)
06 Continuum Drift (featuring Chris Poland)
07 Surrender (featuring Ihsahn)
08 Chosen Time (featuring Christine Rhoades)
09 Rapture
10 Sibylline Origin

Looks like it’s gonna be killer. I’m particularly interested in hearing how the Ihsahn collaboration worked out! Speaking of which, Loomis has reciprocated the solo album guest solo, and will be featured on Ihsahn’s upcoming solo album. NEAT. Can’t wait for that!

Plains of Oblivion is due out April 10th on Century Media Records.

- JR

Tags: 7 Horns, attila voros, Chris Poland, Christine Rhoades, Ihsahn, Jeff Loomis, Nevermore, Tony MacAlpine

7 Horns 7 Eyes Finally Announce Release Date for Debut Album Throes of Absolution

Filed Under: Audio, Upcoming releases

Jan.27, 2012

It’s been two years or so since I became aware of the so-called progressive atmospheric death metal group 7 Horns 7 Eyes. I know Big Chocolate was stoked on them during one of his vlogs and there was a lot of buzz about Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore) contributing a guest solo to their new album. After signing to Century Media and Basick Records, they sort of faded out of my awareness in the past year until today when I got word that their debut album Throes of Absolution will finally see the light of day this April.

Here’s a neat press quote from guitarist Aaron Smith on what took them so damn long:

“7H7E has been on quite a journey since we embarked on recording this album, full of some big ups and downs—not the least of which being signed to Century Media/Basick Records, enduring a front-man change, re-recording all the album vocals, and sharing the stage with some great bands…and let me tell you-it feels amazing for us to know that we finally get to release this thing out into the world. Many of our fans have waited patiently for years for this record to drop, likely wondering at times if it ever even will, and we can’t thank them enough for sticking by us. Here’s to our fans and to 2012 being a great new year for 7 HORNS 7 EYES! See you on the road!”

Ah, so that explains it! Throes of Absolution is due out April 23rd throughout Europe on Basick Records and April 24th in North America via Century Media. After the jump, you can check out the track list. Below, check out a song from the record, titled ‘Vindicator.’

- JR

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Tags: 7 Horns 7 Eyes, big chocolate, Jeff Loomis, Nevermore, Throes of Absolution

Electro Quarterstaff – Aykroyd

Filed Under: Reviews

Oct.31, 2011

Electro Quarterstaff

Aykroyd

01. The Wolf Shall Inherit the Moon
02. McNutty
03. Waltz of the Swedish Meatballs
04. Unholy Gravy
05. Descent By Annihilation Operator
06. The Blacksmith
07. Stroganoff
08. Japanese Upside Down Cake

[10/18/11]
[Willowtip]

There are several kinds of instrumental bands. Most of them are ‘shred your brains out’ style, a la Jeff Loomis‘s Zero Order Phase. Then there’s the ‘just write cool songs’ school of Levi/Werstler or Christian Muenzner. Finally, there is the combination school of ‘write really good songs, but they’re also super technical but not shreddy’, a la Animals as Leaders. Electro Quarterstaff are of the final category; there’s barely any shredding of the conventional sense on Aykroyd. But they have three extremely skilled guitar players, and this is perhaps the best execution of the triple-axe-wield I’ve heard so far. All of the songs are very precise on both songwriting and technical playing, and they also make for very good songs. This isn’t like Brain Drill though; every song has identifiable sections and nothing is ever over the top.

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Tags: Animals As Leaders, aykroyd, Brain Drill, Christian Muenzner, electro quarterstaff, Jeff Loomis, Levi/Werstler

Keith Merrow; Selling America’s Secrets?

Filed Under: Video, WILD SPECULATION!

Jul.25, 2011

He must be, because as shown in this recent studio walkthrough video, the guy has a SHIT ton of awesome equipment over which I am super jelly. You are too; don’t deny it. Czech: