Fish has announced another UK tour in May 2014
2 Seffield Ballroom
3 Liverpool Academy
4 Durham Gala Theatre
6 Wolves Robin 2, Bilston
8 Norwich Waterfront
9 London Islington Assembly Hall
10 Cardiff Globe
11 Bristol Fleece
13 Brighton Concorde
15 Exeter Phoenix
16 Northampton Roadmender
17 Holmfirth Picturedome
18 Glasgow ABC
This follows on from his very success UK tour this May, and his extensive European tour this Autumn.
New video for the song “Chasing Storms” from Rob Cottingham’s solo album “Captain Blue”. The album goes on general release on August 5th through Plastic Head Distribution.
I reviewed the album back in January; it’s an excellent work with great guest contributions from Heather Findlay and Touchstone’s Adam Hodgson.
Sad but not entirely unexpected news from Stolen Earth
Barry would like to say:
Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the years and I would like to wish all the band members I have worked with over the years all the best in what ever they do. Hope I will see you all again somewhere down the line. Cheers Barry.
All of us would like to thank you all for your support and we hope you continue to enjoy A Far Cry from Home.
There are limited albums available but you can still grab one of the few copies via the website.
Many Thanks People
I supported Stolen Earth from the very beginning when they evolved out what had been the final lineup of Breathing Space. Right from the beginning they were a great example of real musicians making great music completely off the mainstream radar.
I saw their very first live appearance at the 2011 Cambridge Rock Festival; a high-profile gig like that would be a baptism of fire for any band. The band went on to record their debut album “A Far Cry From Home” a powerful and atmospheric record which turned out to be one of the unexpected highlights of 2012. A year on from their first appearance they returned to the Cambridge Rock Festival in 2012 with a triumphant set that gave several higher-profile acts a serious run for their money.
In the following months, the band underwent a number of lineup changes, which ultimately saw only vocalist Heidi Widdop and drummer Barry Cassells remaining from the original band. Even then, with new members coming on board, the future looked optimistic. The video for the new song “Searchlight” unveiled a harder-edged more guitar driven sound, with some powerchord riffing from the new guitarist Martin Ledger recalling The Cult circa “Sonic Temple”.
After all that optimism, it’s rather sad to see the whole thing fall apart, but after Heidi’s announcement last week that she was leaving the band, it was difficult to see any band continuing under the Stolen Earth name. Heidi has certainly promised across multiple comments in Facebook that the material she’d written for the next Stolen Earth album will still see the light of day in some form, and I also look forward to seeing whatever projects Barry Cassells involves himself in next. He’s a great drummer and a top bloke, and I wish him all the best.
Announced on the Stolen Earth Facebook group this morning.
Sometimes you have to embrace change, take risks, have faith in yourself and other people. After much thought, I have decided to leave Stolen Earth, I’m following my instinct and my heart. I am eternally grateful to everyone who has supported the band, you have been wonderful.
After the excellent debut “A Far Cry From Home“, and a big build-up for their much-anticipated follow-up, including the superb new track “Searchlight“, this came as a bit of a shock. No news (as yet) of future plans from either Heidi or the rest of the band, but all I will say is “Watch this space”.
Photo by Mark McNeil
UK five-piece rock band TOUCHSTONE are excited to reveal they have signed an exclusive deal with Hear No Evil Recordings/Cherry Red Records for their much-anticipated 4th studio album ‘Oceans Of Time’, which is due to be released on 7th October 2013.
The release of the new album will be supported by a 6-date UK tour in October, where they will be joined by co-headliners Von Hertzen Brothers from Finland.
The band comment: “TOUCHSTONE are delighted to have signed to Hear No Evil Recordings for the release of our new album, Oceans Of Time. We are very much looking forward to working alongside Hugh Gilmour, the label manager, and to being a part of the bigger Cherry Red Records stable.â€
‘Oceans Of Time’ features 11 tracks recorded and produced at Outhouse Studios by renowned producer John Mitchell (You Me At Six, Lower Than Atlantis, Funeral For A Friend), and is the successor to Touchstone’s previous  albums: The City Sleeps (2011), Wintercoast (2009) and Discordant Dreams (2007).
On this eagerly awaited new album, the band continue their “Wintercoast†story with the dynamic, moving epic title track ‘Oceans Of Time’; the sequel to the title tracks of Wintercoast and The City Sleeps. Another familiar theme comes from ‘Shadow’s End’, the final part of the Shadow trilogy, which started with the track ‘Shadow’, from Discordant Dreams.  Fans will enjoy a more guitar-orientated sound from Oceans Of Time than previous albums due to the nature of the writing process.
All the music is written by Touchstone, with lyrics by lead vocalist Kim “Elkieâ€Â Seviour, and keys man Robert Cottingham, whilst guitarist Adam Hodgson again designed the cover artwork.
Label manager Hugh Gilmour comments on the signing: “Touchstone are very much a fresh and exciting addition to the Hear No Evil roster, with a modern album that strikes a perfect balance between classic, melodic prog and more streamlined, contemporary hard rock.â€
Oceans Of Time is released October 7 through Hear No Evil/Cherry Red Records.
Pre-order the album here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00DZKQTKW
OCEANS OF TIME Track listing:
UK Tour Dates (with Von Hertzen Brothers)
Oct 18 King Tut’s, Glasgow
Oct 19 The Duchess, York
Oct 20 The Globe, Cardiff
Oct 25 The Garage, London
Oct 26 Eric’s Live, Liverpool
Oct 27 The Robin , Bilston
With new singer Maria Milewska, Mermaid Kiss have evolved to become Zero She Flies. As they say on their website:
As many of you will be aware, Jamie’s recently been writing and recording a new album with vocalist Maria Milewska. Originally we’d intended to release this as a Mermaid Kiss album, however as the recording has progressed we realised that what we actually have is a completely new band. Whilst it clearly has elements of the Mermaid Kiss sound, notably Wendy’s woodwind, the new members have each brought their own ideas and influences to the music. Jamie and Maria are therefore excited to announce the new band, called: Zero She Flies.
The Mermaid Kiss Website has also been completely revamped, with a full history of the Mermaid Kiss story as well as updates on the new band,
(Photo by Chris Walkden)
Recently re-formed Folk-proggers Red Jasper and the always excellent Crimson Sky play a co-headliner at The Fleece and Firkin at Bristol this coming Thursday, June 27th. Opening act will be Neo Deals, who are Also Eden’s Rich Harding and Simon Rogers playing as an acoustic duo.
The whole thing promises to be a progtastic evening. The show will also be Crimson Sky’s first gig with their new drummer, Adrian Ogden.
Full details from The Fleece‘s website.
Panic Room hit the road again with six live appearances, beginning at The Flowerpot in Derby on 28th June, and ending at Sound Control in Manchester on 13th July. Special guests on all dates will be the excellent Morpheus Rising, and the London show at The Garage on 6th July will be a three-band bill with Touchstone.
These will the the final dates on the SKIN tour before Panic Room head into the studio to work on their fourth album.
Announced on Maschine’s Facebook Page.
The young and hotly-tipped UK-based progressive rockers Maschine have announced the release of their debut album entitled ‘Rubidium’ on the 29th July 2013. After being in the studio for several months, the band are ecstatic for the album to finally see the light of day, and band leader Luke Machin had this to say about its release: “I am extremely happy with the way this album has come together, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. We cannot wait to bring this album to the stage and start performing this material at live shows in the near future, it’s gonna be killer! An album is a documentary of ones life at the present time and finally I can now share this experience with you all on record.”
The track-listing for the album is as follows:
1. The Fallen
2. Rubidium
3. Cubixstro
4. Invincible
5. Venga
6. Eyes Pt.1
7. Eyes Pt.2
Maschine made a very strong impression at the 2012 Cambridge Rock Festival despite being one member down and playing as a four-piece. I know a few people were disappointed that the band had no merchandise on sale, since their album was still a work in progress at the time. Their wait will be over on July 29th.
Some industrial techno-metal from Mertesacker. “Junge Blau”, is the single from their album “Backpfeifengesicht” due for release on Monday 17th July.