STRIFE Guitarist Issues Year End Update, First Show of 2013 Supporting Cro-Mags at Key Club February 1st

Via - Rei Nishimoto

 

December 23, 2012 (Los Angeles, CA) – Completing a successful year with their long awaited return to the hardcore scene with Witness A Rebirth (6131 Records), Los Angeles hardcore band STRIFE guitarist Andrew Kline issued a year end message:

I want to personally thank everyone that has support Strife throughout 2012... Every blog post, every interview, every tweet, every friend that was told to listen to our new record... It all helps. We put alot of hard work into Witness A Rebirth and I want to thank all of you for helping it be a success!

As we a wrapping up 2012, we are definitely looking towards the future, and we cant be more excited. We will be hitting the road as much as we can, and we can't wait to play some of the new songs live and hang out with friends all over the world. Next year you can catch as in Europe... Playing Groezrock for the first time, as well as playing countries like Portugal and Poland for the first time ever! We will also be touring Scandinavia for the first time since 1995!

We are working on returning to some of our favorite places including Japan, Mexico, Australia, and South America... Of course we will do our best to return to Brazil, where we tracked a lot of Witness a Rebirth as well!

Thanks again for making 2012 a year to remember!

Andrew

Top 10

Agnostic Front – Live at CBGB’s (Re-issue)

Bad Brains – Into The Future

Black Breath – Sentenced to Life

Converge – All We Love We Leave Behind

Expire – Pendulum Swings

Fire and Ice – Not of This Earth

Stick to Your Guns – Diamond

Take Offense – Under the Same Shadow

Vision of Disorder – The Cursed Remain Cursed

Xibalba – Hasta La Muerte

They will be doing their first show of 2013, opening for CRO-MAGS at the Key Club in Los Angeles, CA on February 1, 2013.

STRIFE was recently added onto rotation on Sirius XM’s Liquid Metal Channel. Andrew was recently interviewed by host Zeena Koda and “Torn Apart” was debuted on their channel.

 

 

 

 

 

STRIFE To Appear On Sirius XM’s Liquid Metal Thursday, December 13th 10 AM EST, ‘Torn Apart’ On Rotation

Via - Rei Nishimoto

December 12, 2012: Los Angeles hardcore band STRIFE will be appearing on SIRIUS XM’s Liquid Metal Show Channel 40 with host Zeena Koda. The interview will be running on Thursday, December 13^th at 10 am EST and Saturday, December 15^th at 12 noon EST.



 

 

Guitarist Andrew Kline will be appearing on the show to speak about Witness A Rebirth, and will be playing songs from the record including ‘Torn Apart,’ which is now airing on Liquid Metal.

To request Strife on Liquid Metal, call 877-87-HEAVY or email liquidmetal@siriusxm.com.

Strife recently completed a string of East Coast dates, giving fans their first taste of their latest album, as well as older favorites.

El N Gee in New London, CT recorded the band’s complete set from their November 30^th show and made it available for viewing at http://vimeo.com/55325214?action=share&post_id=757070228_305744942876266#_=_

The band’s set at the Armory in Philadelphia, PA from December 1^st is also available at

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxFBcEH2BCc&feature=youtube

 

EXODUS, HAVOK, NECRONOMICON, SEITA, And HEADCRUSHER Announced For BARGE TO HELL!

Let the world-wide EXODUS for BARGE TO HELL begin! Paying tribute to their global customer base, they've also added: SEITA from Brazil and The Netherlands, HAVOK from the USA, NECRONOMICON from Germany and HEADCRUSHER from Colombia!

BARGE TO HELL's customer service team is working around the clock to get everything ready for those that are booked to perform online check-in. Booked passengers can expect to receive their online check-in invitation on Monday.

The madness begins on December 3rd, when 40 of the most extreme Metal Bands and 2,000 headbangers from all over the world will go to the Caribbean to take over a luxury cruise ship for a 5 day and 4 night trip to the undead! See each of the 40 bands play two live shows on two different days. That's 80 shows with unrestricted festival access to the three stages, each with it's own unique atmosphere:

- The luxurious "A Chorus Line" theater where they spare no expense to have the benches removed on the floor. Because at a Metal show, who actually wants assigned seating in front of the stage?

- The cozy "Spectrum" that gives you the real club feeling.

- And their jewel: The open air stage on the pool deck. The biggest festival stage to sail the Oceans.

You can also get all your memorabilia signed at the Meet& Greet sessions. Be part of their infamous Metal Karaoke and many other special activities with the Artists. And last, but not least: Don't forget that they have bars on board that never close! What are you waiting for? You might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done.

BARGE TO HELL: The World's Most Extreme Metal Cruise!

The following 35 of 40 bands are known. Who will be the last 5?

ARTILLERY
AT THE GATES
BEHEMOTH
BONDED BY BLOOD
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY
ENSLAVED
EXODUS
GRAVE
HACKNEYED
HAVOK
HEADCRUSHER
HOLY MOSES
HYPOCRISY
KAMPFAR
KRISIUN
LOCK UP
LOUDBLAST
MAYHEM
MOONSPELL
MORGOTH
MUNICIPAL WASTE
NACHTMYSTIUM
NAPALM DEATH
NECRONOMICON
PARADISE LOST
POSSESSED
ROTTING CHRIST
SACRED REICH
SANCTUARY
SEITA
SEPULTURA
SIX FEET UNDER
SODOM
SOILWORK
SOLSTAFIR

BARGE TO HELL will sail Monday, December 3, 2012 from Miami, FL to Nassau, Bahamas and will not return you to the real world for five days until Friday, December 7, 2012.

Ticket prices start at US$666 plus US$289 taxes and fees per person and include all on-board entertainment, non-alcoholic and non-carbonated beverages, all meals at the dining rooms, most on-board restaurants and even 24 hour room service!

What are you waiting for? You might even need a vacation from this vacation when all is said and done! Less than one month until sailing! Don't miss out and grab the last few cabin NOW!   

 

 

 

 

 

STRIFE Featured On BBC Radio 1’s Punk Show With Mike Davies, Witness A Rebirth Out Now

Via - Rei Nishimoto

Rick Rodney - Vocals, Andrew Kline - Guitar, Chad Peterson - Bass, Todd Turnham - Guitar
 Pepe Magana - Drums

 

November 15, 2012 – Southern California hardcore band STRIFE was the featured guest on BBC Radio 1’s Punk Show With Mike Davies this week. Guitarist Andrew Kline and bassist Chad Peterson appeared on air with host Mike Davies, while playing ‘Torn Apart,’ ‘Never Look Back,’ ‘Carry The Torch’ and ‘Life Or Death’ from Witness A Rebirth, their brand new album out now on 6131 Records.
 

On the show, the two members discussed the making of Witness A Rebirth, the state of hardcore music, along with playing a variety of their favorite punk and hardcore songs.
 

Witness A Rebirth is available for streaming at http://noisey.vice.com/blog/stream-witness-a-rebirth-strifes-new-record
 

Listen to the show at the link below:
 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0114807
 

Strife will be playing these select upcoming shows:
 

November 17– Aladdin Jr – Pomona, CA

November 18 – 924 Gilman Street– Berkeley, CA

November 30– El N Gee – New London, CT

December 1– The Barbary – Philadelphia, PA

 

 

 

 

Diminished 7 - Hollow Haven - Album Review

Diminished 7       

Hollywood, CA

Label: --

Current Sound: Gothic Rock, Rock

By Ava Mimose    


On October 30th Los Angeles based Gothic rock band Diminished 7 released their second album Hollow Haven. The 10 track album encompasses everything that is ‘Ethereal’. Starting with the albums opener Absorbing Darkness. It sounds like you are being led to unchartered territory of emotions where there are not only shades of black and white but where there are areas that clearly have a spectrum of grays as well. The piano solo is the only instrument that can either lead you to happiness or forever be your tormentor.

Click on the Album Cover
to
Purchase on iTunes!

 

Two new songs on this album Hours Freeze and The Room are just breathtakingly beautiful in sound and atmosphere. The piano seems to be a constant on Hollow Haven and if not that then it’s the Acoustic guitar. Especially on a cover song from A Perfect Circles ‘Orestes’

 

You'll also be in for a treat to find that earlier this year they released the single ‘Queen in Nuclear Rain’. It is now on this album.

 

And if you’ve followed the band from the very beginning then you’ll have notice familiars on this album. Tracks like Taste a Vampire, Her Bloodlust at Sunset, She Lost Her Heart in Hollywood and Midnight Divine are all performed acoustically. It’s more of a stripped down version of these song from their 2009 release Dim World and they are done beautifully. Its clear that there was no rush to do this album and for that I am glad.

The album over all is wonderfully produced. Time, love and passion was infused into Hollow Haven. All I can say right now is - Can not wait for album #3 to be mention on the bands Website and Facebook page!!!

Diminished 7

Photo Credits:
Photo by Manu pix © 2012 at Industrial Metal Gathering V
 

To get more of the bands updates, interviews and tour info please checkout the following website below:

Diminished 7:   Website

Diminished 7:    Facebook

Diminished 7:    Twitter

Diminished 7:    Official Store

STRIFE "WITNESS A REBIRTH" DEBUTS AT #3 ON ITUNES METAL CHART

Via - 6131records.com & Rei Nishimoto

First new album in 11 years makes huge release day splash - band to appear on BBC Radio 1

 

 

 



The long wait has ended and the world finally gotten a chance to hear the new album Witness A Rebirth from Los Angeles, California's STRIFE when it was released yesterday... and it seems people love it! In fact, the album debuted at #3 on the iTunes Metal Chart and #162 on iTunes overall.

 

To continue promoting their hugely successful new release, STRIFE are scheduled to appear on BBC Radio 1's Punk Rock Show with Mike Davies this coming week, airing at midnight GMT in the UK on Wednesday 11/14 / 4pm PT in the US on Tuesday 11/13.

 

The show can be heard live here:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1

 

And will be available for the following 7 days here:

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/mikedavies

 

Witness A Rebirth is the band's first new full length in over 11 years and was produced by Nick Jett (Terror, Rotting Out, Backtrack), with mastering handled by Matt Hyde (Slayer, Hatebreed). STRIFE also recruited long-time friend and founding member of Sepultura Iggor Cavalera to perform drums for the album, plus tapped vocalists Scott Vogel (of Terror) and Billy Graziadei (of Biohazard) and guitarist Marc Rizzo (of Soulfly) to contribute to the release.

 

6131 Records have teamed with Vice / Noisey to offer a stream of Witness A Rebirth in entirety, available here:

 

http://noisey.vice.com/blog/stream-witness-a-rebirth-strifes-new-record

 

STRIFE have also made a music video for the lead single from the album, "Torn Apart," which can be seen here:

 

 

 

 

VERA MESMER releasing EP, ‘Orphans’

Via - Rei Nishimoto

Los Angeles rock band VERA MESMER releasing EP, ‘Orphans’

VERA MESMER, the Los Angeles based alternative rock band, will be self-releasing their long-awaited EP, Orphans, on November 8^th. Already releasing a video for the single, “Back From The Dead,” and attracting over 30,000 views, their artistically driven sound displays a sonic and literary depiction of the lost craft of storytelling and artistry.
 

Already sharing stages with Stolen Babies, Orgy, Julien-K and Steel Panther, Vera Mesmer has built its following off of its mysterious yet powerful live shows. They were featured by Kings of A & R as One of the Acts To Watch For in 2011.
 

The ep is available for streaming at soundcloud.com/veramesmer
 

Produced by vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Mr. Christopher Mesmer, mixed by Sean Beaven (Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Sepultura, Halford), Orphans tells the story of how he and bassist Miss Nadja met and taking listeners on their mystical journey.
 

Watch the Fernando and Vincente Cordero directed video for ‘Back From the Dead’ at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8flfG-h48yk
 

Vera Mesmer will be playing at the Viper Room in Los Angeles, CA on December 6^th. Please visit www.viperroom.com for more information on the show.
 

For more information and pre-order of the limited edition“Orphans” CD please visit www.veramesmer.comand the following Official band pages:
 

www.veramesmer.com

www.facebook.com/veramesmer

www.twitter.com/veramesmer

www.youtube.com/veramesmer

www.soundcloud.com/veramesmer

www.reverbnation.com/veramesmer
 

Win A Schecter Guitar Courtesy of Strife

Via - Rei Nishimoto

Win A Schecter Guitar Courtesy of Strife, New Album Witness A Rebirth Out November 6^th via 6131 Records

November 1, 2012 (Los Angeles, CA) – Strife and Schecter Guitars wants to give you a free guitar! As part of the long awaited release of the Los Angeles hardcore band’s comeback release, Witness A Rebirth (out November 6, 2012), the band is running a contest to give one lucky person a guitar for spreading the word about the release.
 

Please make sure to post the following image to your Instagram account with the hashtags #strife #schecter #6131 and #witnessarebirth.
 

Enter by following the band at their Official Facebook page at www.facebook.com/strifelosangelesand their Official Twitter page at @strife_la.
 

Enter as many times as you like. One post will equal one entry.
 

Contest winners will be announced on November 12^th
 

Official Music Video from HTDA - Keep It Together

Featured Interview: Hannu Lepisto

... in March of 2011 Hannu Lepisto released “Run Away With Me” -EP. The 5 track EP is by far an amazing album. Lepisto really showcased what it means to really come undone with this album. Having gone through a painful divorce, battling a heavy addiction and then almost succumbing to the almighty himself but before it could get any worst he was quickly surround and rescued by close friends and family from a further downward spiral.

To read more ------> Review: Hannu Lepisto

Since August of this year we here at Invaders Asylum received great response for the review with did about Finnish singer/songwriter Hannu Lepisto. And for the most part we were asked if an interview would ever happend with the talented singer/songwriter. So in late September yours truly asked if we could conduct an emailed interview with Hannu Lepisto. And in doing we were granted access to asked the questions we though that might be of interest to you (the fans) and of course us!



Hannu Lepisto
Singer/ Songwriter
#1 on Finland Reverbnation!

The Interview .....

October 9th 2012

Ava-Invaders Asylum: When and why did you start playing music?

Hannu Lepisto: Hi and thank you for the honor for asking me for an interview.

Music was always present at home, my keyboard player nowadays and big brother - also head of Homeward Records Oy which I'm signed to, practiced classical etc. piano playing constantly and my father who was vicar opened his voice and singed hymns every day and then at about 4 years old I swore - I don't never want to be involved in anything that concerns music but then my world was blown away at the age of five - when my bro came home with Springsteen's Born in the U.S.A and soon other great records from various great artists. And then I knew what I want to do when I grow up. (Laughing)
 
But that was long since I started to actually play something. But after I saw my brother's band supporting quite famous Finnish gospel rock band - I had the chance to try drums that were minced through PA - I was sold. I had finally found my thing. And quite soon I got my own drums.
Thank You parents for that too.. :)
 
And then I played drums in different congregation / school / noise / punk/ grunge /rock etc. bands and later on high school - I met Petteri my lead guitarist nowadays and at some point I switched to guitar as well and man we played and jammed all the time, skipped classes and all and then I started singing and started to write songs because I felt that I was better than previous leaders and songwriters of the bands I played drums in. And when we were in the studio with one of my previous bands - I sang the reference melody for our lead singer to one of my songs (I've just switched to guitar and started to write) - the recording engineer praised my voice and tone. Of course it felt good, but at the same time it felt awkward for our lead singer’s point of view... But that gave me courage to continue on this path.


IA: Do you remember at what point in your life when you realize that you wanted to make this a career?

HL: That was my goal at the age of five when I heard the first beat and notes of Born In The USA - but seriously when my band (The Matt Pistol Project) had some buzz and we got signed to one of the major agencies: Koetinkivi Oy here in Finland and later on we signed an international publishing deal with Stockholm based Marsongs (now defunct). And when my songs started to be on radios all around the world, especially in USA and online and in some FM-channels as well.


IA: Do you come from a musical family background?

HL: :) My Godfather and my idol and my father's youngest brother Tapani Lepisto played guitar in popular band called Esko Nummisuutarit here in Finland back in 1970's and made living out of it for years. And man he plays guitar so awesomely still. And I've an honor to tell that the same "family" label Homeward Records Oy that I am currently signed into releases his and one of his old friend Juhani's comeback single before Christmas and I'm very proud to be in such a great role in their project as a recording engineer, bassist, programmer, mixing engineer and Producer. Their band's name is Tapsa & Juhani and it's like a time trip to 70's. And I'm very satisfied what we have accomplished. It's instrumental but I feature on vocals on the title track. So stay tuned. ;)

IA: What was your first instrument(s) that you learned to play? And what was the very first tune or song you learned how to play?

HL: [Drums] and first song I learned to play was my first "composition" or song. Lol. I've quite never or seldom played nor rehearsed other artists songs with guitar (as a drummer of course I did) except some great covers on gigs.

IA: What and who are your musical influences?

HL: Oh, I could write a book of out them lol, but to mention "few": The Boss (solo and with) & The E Street Band, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Pearl Jam, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Michael Blair, Tom Waits, Tapsa, Nirvana, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Juice Leskinen, Eric Clapton, Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler, Dave Grohl, Roy Orbison, Frank Zappa, Dr. Dre, Sonic Youth, JJ Cale...

IA: I notice that before you decided to go solo, you were in a band called “The Matt Pistol Project” what was it like being a part of that band?


HL: Band is like a family with it's good and bad sides. Maybe the chemistry and different life situations and too democratic arrangement policy :) broke the band. And my personal problems then and urge to go solo.. We were bunch of friends and I'm still continuing to work with Petteri and Markku from TMPP. So no hard feelings. And boy it was great to support artists like Bonnie Tyler in front of many thousand peoples!

IA: In March 2011 you’ve finally released your debut 5-track EP ‘Run Away With Me’. What was the inspiration for this EP?


HL: More personal touch was living very hard phase in my life and so it was therapeutic as well and for more artistic freedom and I wanted to push out more out of my songs. Oh and finding new love in my life inspired me very much.

So we started working with Petteri on acoustic vibe and soundscapes and more acoustic traditional Singer-Songwriter type of thing - but label and we thought the songs were so good and versatile to be just pure man and guitar type (of course there is one song of that type too, my first single: "There Is An Angel For Everyone") that I and label asked my good friend Michael Blair and previous producer of TMPP (The Matt Pistol Project) to bring his great twisted magic on percussion and drums and to production and he was in and brought his good friend great Ulf "Rockis" Ivarsson on the bass and Rockis to work as another producer as well, and the Finnish- American-Swedish connection we had, worked like a charm. Yet another top-notch guy a veteran mixing engineer Ollie Olson mixed the EP and Michael's old buddy Legendary Howie Weinberg mastered the EP on Masterdisk Studios on New York. Country boy's (Mine that is..) wildest dreams had come through. And it was great to share the stage with Michael on my EP's release gig here in Helsinki. He had just arrived from States from Hugh Laurie's tour and recording sessions. Way cool.

IA: What is your song writing process like? And how do you come up with material for the album in process?

HL: I never force myself in songwriting process (You know - like I have to start to write a song).

The arranging and getting the song finished is more "work like". Sometimes song births from a good lyric line or lyrics that just comes out of somewhere, of course they somehow reflect my own life to a certain point, and sometimes I come with a good riff or chord progression and like great John Fogerty's had said about his songwriting process that when he just jams with guitar and then plays accidentally wrong note on a chord - - the song starts to build from that accidental hook. That happens to me a lot too. (Laughing)


IA: For this EP you worked with the legendary Michael Blair (Tom Waits, Lou Reed, Elvis Costello) and Ulf”Rockis”Ivarsson (Thåström, N. Dunger) as rhythm section and co-producers. What was this experience like for you working with them in the studio?

HL: It was great and a dream come true and very, very professional and creative but in the end we all breathe the same air. So they are still legends in my eyes but normal, friendly, moody, sensitive guys and friends as well.


IA: You also took part in a documentary “"Maailman Valloittajat"(Veikka Gustafsson, Thomas Johanson and Timothy Kopra) "Conquerors of the World" in English by Olli Pirhonen. And wrote the song is of the same name "Conquerors of the World". How did this collaboration with Olli and you come to fruition?


HL: Yeah indeed! It was great honor and experience to be part of such huge project of those Finnish heroes. I knew Olli from the past - he was my good friend's friend and we used to hang out in our teens sometimes. Olli likes my music and is a fan and gave me all the freedom - trusted me and that kind of working suits me well. I read lot of background of the heroes and used them as construction parts but I wanted the song to be more universal at the same time and when I got the lyrics ready - I came up with the chorus, well the title was obvious and then all the rest and then we produced it with Michael, sending e-mails and speaking on the phone in the middle of the night, (laughing) to get it to sound right for the project. And the song was ready to give to Publisher and Olli 4 hours before the deadline. And it was very exciting to hear what they would say and to my relief they loved it, without wanting to fix anything in it. I think it's one of my best songs I've written. And all the "Conquerors" liked it very much as well. And goddamn that felt good. An alternate version of the song is in the debut LP that is soon coming out. Our plan is to get it released before the Christmas.

IA: What inspires you to do what you do, musically of course?

HL: Emotions...Sometimes and often playing guitar and writing are good way to write down sad and happy things to release stress and music is what I love, so I love to play as much as possible

IA: Are you currently working on an album? If so, when should we (the fans) get to listen to it?

HL: [Debut LP that is soon coming out. Our plan is to get it released before the Christmas]. On the album you can hear Michael, Rockis, Petteri, Markku. As well as fantastic new players bringing their magic to my songs. And there is one song I've co-written with Michael as well.


IA: Any other side projects you are currently working on other than music that you would like your fans to know about?

HL: Basically just music. Tapsa & Juhani rules. :)

IA: Are there plans for a tour? If so, will it be outside of Scandinavia and Europe? Do you have plans of touring US and Canada one day?

HL: I totally hope so - performing especially in the USA and of course everywhere around the world. Agencies here I am! :)

IA: Where should your fans try and purchase your music physically and/or digitally?

HL: You can listen to my songs for example on my reverbnation profiIe and in Spotify. And from my soon opening websites. Goddamn freaking Japanese? pornfirm stole my domain, we weren't quick enough... I think all the digital stores. For example iTunes, Amazon... and from cdbaby and from some record stores in Helsinki, like from Levykauppa Äx. We have had several distributor and label negotiations but haven't found agreement that suits both of the sides. But suggestions are always welcome.

IA: What’s currently playing on your iPod, (laughing)... name at least (3) bands/singers that you’ve got on heavy rotation lately?

HL: Leonard Cohen's fantastic new album "Old Ideas", Springsteen's newest and Promise-package,
Mojo from Tom Petty and Heartbreakers, Rage Against The Machine's debut (Imo - one Of the best debuts ever - I never get tired of it, although I need certain mood to listen for that)
and Bob Marley's Natty Dread just to mention few.

IA: And anything you would like to say to your fans and to the readers of The Invaders Asylum Blog site?


HL: I wanna thank everyone who took the time to read my thoughts and please listen to my songs and join my fan groups on Facebook and on other sites. And please spread the word and support by buying if you like what you here. And many thanks for the interview request Ava - a pleasure. And most importantly thank you dear fans for your support! It means the World to me. Greetings from Helsinki!


Hannu Lepisto
Finland's genre-bending answer to Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Lou Reed & Johnny Cash & Leonard Cohen.
Finland's #1 Alternative artist on ReverbNation since April 2011
www.hannuofficial.info
www.victorianunderground.com/hannu-lepisto.html
Hannu is signed to Homeward Records, Oy, Finland



Invaders Asylum
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