Music
Hard rockers Staind release their self-titled album on September 13, via Flip/Atlantic. Here is your first chance to hear their new single, "Not Again," in the lyric video below. Below that, guitarist Mike Mushok fills us in on the song and the band's heavy direction on the new album. Let us know what you think of the song in the comments.
REVOLVER What's this song about?
MIKE MUSHOK You'd have to ask Aaron about that one. I do know that he does write about things he's felt or experienced. However, he usually really doesn't like to discuss the actual meaning of the song because he likes to let the listener make up their own interpretation. This way everyone can get what they want from the song rather than being told what it's about.
Which part of it did you come up with first?
I actually came up with the clean intro/verse part first and wrote the heavy riff around that. This was a song that I brought down and pretty much had written when we started jamming. Not much changed from when I worked through the song with Johnny K in Chicago before the sessions. It was one of the earlier things I wrote for the record that just stuck with me.
Was this an easy song to write or record?
There really wasn't anything too difficult about writing or recording this song. The solo was improvised from the demos, and I had to go back and relearn it. The riff is all down picked, which makes it sound heavier, I think. I kind of did that with all the riffs on the record. That hasn't been on a Staind record in awhile. There's really nothing too complicated about it.
However, the record was very difficult to make. There were a lot of things going on that led to this—us losing our drummer Jon [Wysocki] during the sessions, Aaron releasing his solo record while we were recording, the deadline that the label put on us to turn in a record—that, in conjunction with a ton of other personal stuff, really made for a very difficult process. I have to apologize to my family for having to put up with me during that time. In hindsight, though, I'm really happy with the end results.
What sort of feedback have you gotten on this song so far?
Feedback seems to be good! We played the song at Rock on the Range, and it went over well. A live show is really a hard place to hear a song for the first time. I have played it for a lot of people I know, and they seem like they really enjoy not only this song but the whole vibe of the record. It seems like everyone so far is really glad that we kind of returned back to where we started. Me, too!!
This album as a whole seems heavier than what Staind has done in the past. Is that something you set out to do this time?
It was. It's funny, the last record Aaron said was going to be our heaviest record to date, but I just wasn't writing songs like that. It worked out because he did like what I was writing, and instead of our heaviest record, it became our most experimental. This time around we felt it was really time to return to our roots. I'm really glad we did because I'm really proud of the way it turned out. I really can't wait for people to hear it and for us to be able to play these songs live. It should definitely add something to the set. Should be fun!
On July 19, Floridian post-grunge rockers Cold release their fifth album, Superfiction (SonicStar/Eleven Seven). The liner notes to the CD feature original illustrations to go with each of the record's 12 tracks. Leading up to the record release, we'll be unveiling one piece of artwork, as well as the corresponding song, each day. Up today is Superfiction's fifth track "Welcome 2 My World." What do you think of the song and the artwork?
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/05-Welcom2MyWorld.mp3|Titles="Welcome 2 My World"|Artists=Cold]
On July 19, Floridian post-grunge rockers Cold release their fifth album, Superfiction (SonicStar/Eleven Seven). The liner notes to the CD feature original illustrations to go with each of the record's 12 tracks. Leading up to the record release, we'll be unveiling one piece of artwork, as well as the corresponding song, each day. Up today is Superfiction's fourth track "The Break." What do you think of the song and the artwork?
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/04-The-Break.mp3|Titles="The Break"|Artists=Cold]
On July 19, Floridian post-grunge rockers Cold release their fifth album, Superfiction (SonicStar/Eleven Seven). The liner notes to the CD feature original illustrations to go with each of the record's 12 tracks. Leading up to the record release, we'll be unveiling one piece of artwork, as well as the corresponding song, each day. Up today is Superfiction's third track "American Dream." What do you think of the song and the artwork?
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/03-American-Dream.mp3|Titles="American Dream"|Artists=Cold]
On July 19, Floridian post-grunge rockers Cold release their fifth album, Superfiction (SonicStar/Eleven Seven). The liner notes to the CD feature original illustrations to go with each of the record's 12 tracks. Leading up to the record release, we'll be unveiling one piece of artwork, as well as the corresponding song, each day. Up today is Superfiction's second track "What Happens Now." What do you think of the song and the artwork?
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/02-What-Happens-No...|Titles="What Happens Now"|Artists=Cold]
On July 19, Floridian post-grunge rockers Cold release their fifth album, Superfiction (SonicStar/Eleven Seven). The liner notes to the CD feature original illustrations to go with each of the record's 12 tracks. Leading up to the record release, we'll be unveiling one piece of artwork, as well as the corresponding song, each day. First up, Superfiction's lead track—and lead single—"Wicked World." Check back tomorrow for new song, "What Happens Now."
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/01-Wicked-World.mp3|Titles="Wicked World"|Artists=Cold]
Hard rockers Emphatic are releasing their debut, Damage (Atlantic), on Tuesday, but here is your chance to hear the album before it comes out. Below, we've posted the entire disc, which was produced by Howard Benson (Papa Roach, Halestorm), with comments byEmphatic guitarist and chief songwriter Justin McCain. Let us know what you think of the album in the comments!
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/01-Do-I.mp3,http:/...|titles=Do I,Get Paid,Put Down the Drink,Bounce,A Place to Fall,Beg,Tonight,Pride,Original Sin,Don't Forget About Me|artists=Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic,Emphatic]
REVOLVER Damage is your debut. What are you proudest of about the album?
JUSTIN McCAIN We are most proud of the fact that we feel as though we have a solid record from start to finish. I worked for months writing songs; we didn't want any fillers...Patrick [Wilson]'s vocal performances are full of gripping intensity and at times chilling to the spine.
What was the hardest part about making the album?
To be honest we loved every second of it! We worked our asses off playing clubs, hitting the streets, and grinding it out every day for a long time. Going into the recording process was something we were very ready for. We knew this was our time to make a lasting impression, and we didn't take a single second for granted.
What did you like about working with producer Howard Benson?
I was a huge Howard Benson fan for years so it was a dream come true to get to work with him. What I liked best about Howard was his sweatpants.... really though, he was so laid back and easy going it felt very comfortable from the start. Howard was very open to our ideas and creative input. Howard brought the best out of us, and I think that really comes across on the record.
What music by other artists was inspiring you during the making of this album?
As far as what artists inspired us in the making of the album, the truth is we are all very different. Collectively we have a big melting pot of musical interests. As a songwriter I keep an open mind, I have always listened to just about everything from pop to rock but my favorite being rock…Skynyrd to Mötley Crüe to Linkin Park. Patrick's roots are much heavier, but we can both agree that Korn pretty much changed both of our lives forever. We probably had a little bit of all those bands in our subconscious inspiring our efforts on the record and didn't even realize it.
Why did you pick "Bounce" to be your first single?
We chose "Bounce" to be our first single because we wanted to come out of the gates with something fun and upbeat, something sexy and interesting. We felt as though "Bounce" was the perfect song to provide all of that. Plus, the girls love it…
The song is full of sexual innuendos. What's the best pickup line you've gotten from a woman since the single has come out?
We have all been approached by girls that have some very interesting pickup lines. I'm not sure you can publish most of them. We might need to save that question for the X-rated magazines.
Lastly, what are you looking forward to most on the Carnival of Madness tour, alongside Theory of a Deadman, Alter Bridge, Black Stone Cherry, and Adelitas Way, next month?We are very proud to be a part of such an amazing tour in Carnival of Madness, and we are very excited to share the stage with some of the most talented bands in rock today. What we are most excited about, though, is recruiting new people to be a part of the Emphatic Army!!! We know we are up onstage every single night living our dream because people care enough to buy a ticket to the show. We are forever grateful to all the incredible hard working people that make this possible.
Photo by Alex Kirzhner
Salt Lake City, Utah-based deathcore outfit Chelsea Grin are releasing their highly anticipated second album, My Damnation (Artery), on July 19, and they'll be interviewed in a forthcoming issue of Revolver, out August 16. Below, check out the world premiere of the song "Cursed" off the record, as well as the band's tour dates with Emmure and Alesana on the All Stars Tour. Let us know what you think in the comments!
[audio:http://www.revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Chelsea-Grin-Curse...|Titles="Cursed"|Artists=Chelsea Grin]
Jul 21 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
Jul 22 - Las Palmas Racepark - Mcallen, TX
Jul 23 - Backstage Live - San Antonio, TX
Jul 24 - The Palladium Ballroom - Dallas, TX
Jul 26 - Expo Five - Louisville, KY
Jul 27 - Agora Theater - Cleveland, OH
Jul 28 - Congress Theatre - Chicago, IL
Jul 29 - Royal Oak Theatre - Detroit, MI
Jul 30 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
Jul 31 - Station 4 Outdoors - St Paul, MN
Aug 02 - Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
Aug 03 - Olympia Theatre - Montreal, QC
Aug 04 - Reading Eagle Theater - Reading, PA
Aug 05 - Mid Hudson Civic Center - Poughkeepsie, NY
Aug 06 - Central Mass Expo Center - Fitchburg, MA
Aug 07 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
Aug 09 - Sonar - Baltimore, MD
Aug 10 - The National - Richmond, VA
Aug 11 - The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC
Aug 12 - House of Blues - Myrtle Beach, SC
Aug 13 - The Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
Aug 14 - Seville Quarter Party Plaza - Pensacola, FL
Aug 17 - Rialto Theatre - Tucson, AZ
Aug 18 - Venue of Scottsdale - Scottsdale, AZ
Aug 19 - Soma - San Diego, CA
Aug 20 - The Grove - Anaheim, CA
Aug 21 - Rock The Block - Las Vegas, NV
Aug 23 - Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
Hard rockers Art of Dying released their debut, Vices and Virtues (Intoxication), earlier this year. The group, which will be heading out on the Rockstar Uproar tour in August, plays a special acoustic version of the album's first song, "Die Trying," below. Frontman Jonny Hetherington fills us in on the song below. Let us know what you think of the song in the comments.
[audio:http://revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/audio/DieTrying.mp3|Titles="Die Trying (Acoustic)"|Artists=Art of Dying]
REVOLVER What's "Die Trying" about?
JONNY HETHERINGTON "Die Trying" is really the personal story of our band. Starting from nothing, following our dream, and doing whatever it takes to get where we want to be. It's about never giving up. Figuring out what you want and fully committing yourself is very powerful, but it's a lot harder than it seems. I mean, it's easy to say "I'll do what ever it takes… I want this," but actually living the struggle day by day, year by year is another thing. It's not a 90-minute film with a montage, it's real life. You sacrifice so much to truly put everything you have into your dream and it's fucking hard… but I think it's worth it. Even if you don't get there, you died trying, and I think that's a pretty killer way to live.
Which part of it did you come up with first?
Greg brought the riff and the meat of the song to me and we worked on the music together on acoustic guitars. The lyrics came to me pretty quickly in the following days. We had a former manager pass away around that time and I wanted to honor him with a song. His name was Jeff "Ffroe" Roe and he was truly a dreamer. I always remembered his email signature and mantra which was, "If you don't try, you'll never know." And that really inspired the pre-chorus line "I'd rather fail than not know."
How did you come up with this acoustic arrangement?
I do a lot of my best work on the porcelain throne. You'd be surprised at the number of songs on Vices and Virtues that were originated in the can. I love messing around with different acoustic versions of our songs in different tunings. I play in drop B, so I've got a lot of room to jump up the frets with a capo, which is exactly how this version of "Die Trying" came to be. I threw the capo on the second fret and rediscovered the song in a new key. It's a really nice place for the vocals to sit for an acoustic version. It's actually higher than the original version which allows me to sing the chorus in a lower register but still with some juice behind it. I took it to the guys and we worked together on it in the studio in Chicago with engineer Matt Doughrety. It came together really naturally and we nailed the tempo, allowing it to sway a little more than the plugged-in version. It kind a makes you want to drink rum.
What sort of feedback have you gotten on this song so far?
We get a lot of mail saying it's become a personal theme for people which is pretty amazing. There's really nothing more rewarding for me as a musician than to have a song actually resonate and to feel that connection.
When's the last time you thought to yourself, "I'm going to get this done, or die trying?" What were you doing?
There are the big battles in life, but there are the little ones too, the daily ones. I often trek up this crazy mountain path called the Grouse Grind when I'm home in Vancouver, which is two miles straight up. "Die Trying" always helps get me to the top.
Hard rockers Puddle of Mudd will be releasing an album of cover songs titled re:(disc)overed, on August 30. In anticipation, the group is premiering their cover of the Rolling Stones' classic "Gimme Shelter" right here. Lead guitarist Paul Phillips fills us in on the song below. Let us know what you think of the song in the comments.
[audio:http://revolvermag.com/wp-content/uploads/audio/01GIMMIESHELTER.mp3|Titles="Gimme Shelter"|Artists=Puddle of Mudd]
REVOLVER When did you first hear this song?
PAUL PHILLIPS Not sure of the exact age, but it was very young. This song is a classic that has been with us for years and still holds up.
Why did you guys decide to cover it?
We knew that we wanted to do a Stones song and we had several on our possible list, but this one just stood out. That intro is so haunting and the chorus is so massive, with the female singer working off of Jagger. The female singer was something different for us that was very appealing, as you will hear on several tracks on the record. We also felt that it had a vibe that we could really capitalize on and represent well within our own Puddle style.
What, if anything, did you want to do differently with the song?
Well, we obviously did it in our style tonally, but other than that, we kept it pretty close. We upped the tempo a bit and decided to bring that great intro riff back in the bridge. We all just wanted to hear that part again. However, our goal on this track and this record was just to pay tribute and not try and reinvent an already great song.
What sort of feedback have you gotten to it so far?
Well, we have just gotten the masters back, so we are just beginning to get it out there. As of now, everything has been pretty positive though. This was something we did for fun. It's not a Puddle record and that allowed us to toy with different styles, sounds, and instruments without alienating our Puddle fans. We saw this as a stepping stone to open up some doors for the next Puddle originals record, and it will come sooner than later. We are already gearing up for it. So have fun with this one like we did