Away Team

Los Angeles based The Dreaming, which features members of Stabbing Westward, Murderdolls & Living Dead Lights in their ranks, has signed with Epochal Artists Records/EMI for the release of the group’s new album ‘Puppet’ through the label on November 1st, 2011. The group’s new single “Every Trace” is impacting radio now and already lighting up phone lines on stations like KUPD in Phoenix, KXXR in Minneapolis, WIIL in Chicago and WAQX in Syracuse. “Every Trace” can be heard online at here and a bio video and be viewed below.

“After the death of Stabbing Westward, Johnny and I immediately put all our heart and soul into The Dreaming. We spent a lot of time working on our songs and live show in hopes that we would find the right team to get behind this band. After several years bouncing between managers and potential labels, we found a proper home with Epochal Artists Records,” commented Christopher Hall. “Epochal Artists Records understood what we were trying to do, they believe in our music and they are ready to work our album for the long haul. I am so proud to be the first release on E.A.R and so excited to be releasing ‘Puppet’ with them at the helm.”

Formed in 2005 by frontman Christopher Hall, the voice behind platinum rock outfit Stabbing Westward, The Dreaming assembles an all-star roster of musicians including Johnny Haro on drums (ex-Econoline Crush, Stabbing Westward), guitarist Eric Griffin (ex-Murderdolls/Wednesday 13), and bassist Martin Kelly (ex-Living Dead Lights). Since their inception, The Dreaming have become road warriors relentlessly touring with the likes of Ill Nino, Godhead, RA, Trust Company, Flaw, Julien-K, Powerman 5000 and Wednesday 13.

FOF/EMI

Rating:  7 out of 10

Though not typically a fan of British emo-rock, when reviewing albums I always follow the self-imposed edict that all music deserves a chance.  Union, the new album from the U.K.’s Intervurt was no exception, and quite frankly, that’s a good thing.  The album’s opening track “Suffering” kicks things off with an industrial style opening chord, which quickly breaks into an upbeat melting pot of Depeche Mode, early U2, and INXS all rolled into one.  “Suffering” sets the tone for the next three tracks which follow in it’s footsteps stylistically, until…

Track 5, “Scars and Stripes” hits us with a musical styling reminiscent of The Nixons’ “Foma”, one of the few non-metal albums from the 90′s that I still find myself occasionally listening to.  From there, things continue to change, with the next offering “Diesel”.  One of the better tracks on the album, “Diesel” draws a comparison to something that could’ve easily been included on Scott Weiland‘s drug-induced hallucination that he called “Barbarella”.  The album finds it’s own “Industrial Revolution” with the next track,  “Merla”.  Perhaps my favorite song on the album, “Merla” is a musical mesh of part Radiohead, part Stabbing Westward.

The metamorphosis doesn’t stop here, however… “The Fear” brings back a U2 feel, that would make Bono choke on his Guinness.  Intervurt continue the up-tempo onslaught with “Saturday Night”, before leaving us with one more welcome dose of Radiohead, known as “City of Moods”.

All in all, Intervurt has done a brilliant job with this offering, and makes this metal-head raise a pint to the boys from Britain.  Trust me on this one, at the risk of sounding like less of a man, open your mind and cast your prejudices aside, this album comes highly recommended.  If you’re a fan of Depeche Mode, Radiohead, U2, The Cure, or even Queens of the Stone Age, this album is for you.

For more info on Intervurt, as well as tour dates, and to purchase the album, visit http://www.reverbnation.com/intervurt or amazon.com.