Featured Release
THE SHAZAM, METEOR
THE SHAZAM MAKES A STELLAR RETURN WITH METEOR
PRODUCED BY MACK (QUEEN, ELO) – SET FOR RELEASE AUGUST 4
(Nashville, July 8, 2009) — Meteor, the long-awaited fifth album by The Shazam and follow-up to the critically acclaimed Tomorrow The World touches down August 4, 2009. Recorded at Sage & Sound in Hollywood, Meteor is produced by Mack, who produced Queen, Black Sabbath, Sparks, Billy Squier, and has worked with Electric Light Orchestra, T. Rex, The Sweet, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Elton John and the Rolling Stones, among others. Collaborating with Mack marks a turning point in the band's 15-year career, giving them the opportunity to record an album with the rock legend who worked on the very albums that influenced their music.
The Shazam's garage rock and power pop roots intertwine to make Meteor the band’s biggest sounding record yet. "So Awesome", the explosive lead-off track, sets the stage for the whole gamut of The Shazam's modern classic rock: big, Who-sized guitars collide with glittering insanity, melodic hooks, anthemic rockers, sweeping balladry, layers of vocals, resounding drums, guitars, guitars, guitars. With each successive Shazam album, the band has grown from small-screen to wide-screen in terms of production and grandeur. It was the stripped-down English Mod approach of their 1997 debut that gave The Shazam the credit for starting Nashville's "powerpop" scene. With sophomore release Godspeed The Shazam came mellotrons, theremins, and overblown psychedelia. Dubbed their "experimental" album, Rev9 was the bridge from Godspeed to Tomorrow The World's full-tilt arena rock. Meteor is everything Shazam all at once.
All songs on the album were written by singer/guitarist Hans Rotenberry, whose soaring vocals were never more inspired than on Meteor’s 11 powerful tracks. Drummer Scott Ballew, with the band since its formation in 1994, is Rotenberry’s creative foil. Ballew’s distinctive thundering beat is the engine that makes The Shazam run. Jeremy Asbrock’s crisp guitar work and newest member Mike Vargo’s melodic bass playing are the perfect complement to Rotenberry’s and Ballew's exuberance.
Available for purchase only to customers who pre-order the Meteor CD through The Shazam's official website (www.theshazam.com) is a limited edition 6-song EP featuring vintage rarities, cover versions, and live tracks.
Meteor is released through Not Lame Recording Company (NL-99) and New Boss Sounds Digital, with Redeye providing digital distribution.
|
