Rising young metallers Next To None recently announced the release of their forthcoming second album ‘Phases’ through InsideOutMusic in Europe and EMP Label Group in North America on July 7, 2017.
This comes off the back of the band’s first ever European tour alongside label-mates Haken, as well as forthcoming dates supporting Mike Portnoy’s much anticipated Shattered Fortress show. The band will also hit the road in the US in July.
Now the band are pleased to reveal the first new single “The Apple”, and you can watch the video for the track here
The band comments: “Our new album incorporates many different styles from metal to prog. The Apple shows the heavier side of the band while still having a melodic chorus.”
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Phases Track Listing: The full list of upcoming tour dates alongside Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress are as follows: Formed in 2012, and based in Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania, the foursome released their well-received debut ‘A Light In The Dark’ during 2015 on InsideOut. But if this set a template for the band’s style, then this has now been excitingly stretched. “We actually began to write songs for the new record as soon as we finished the first one,” explains drummer Max Portnoy. As previously, this involved the duo of Portnoy and vocalist/keyboard player Thomas Cuce collaborating in this part of the process. And, also to some extent mirroring ‘A Light In The Dark’, there’s a partial concept here. “On the previous album we had six tracks which were lyrically linked. But it did not stretch throughout all the songs. This time, we have four tracks which deal with the idea of grief. However, that isn’t reflected on the entire record.”
The new 12-track album (including two short instrumental passages) marks the recording debut of new guitarist Derrick Schneider who replaced Ryland Holland last year, (the line-up is completed by bassist Kris Rank). “Ryland wanted to go to college, and is now going to Berklee College Of Music, whereas the rest of us wanted to be in the band full-time. So, there was no way that he could carry on with us. And we were very lucky to find someone immediately to take over. He was recommended to us by Bumblefoot (the ex-Guns N Roses guitarist who guested on the first record) and he was the only guy we tried out that fit perfectly. Musically and personally he fit straight in with us. One of the things he does so well is shred on guitar but he also has great voice and plays very heavy which has made a difference to our style and sound.” Although the album was mixed by the Grammy nominated Adam “Nolly” Getgood (Periphery), the band have produced themselves this time, a decision Portnoy insists has been of immeasurable help. “It’s a collective production, with all of the band having their say. We had strong ideas as to how we wanted this album to turn out, and if we’d brought in an outside producer, then this could have changed. So, it was best for us to stick together and follow our own vision.” The recording process started early last October, with the drum parts being recorded at Neal Morse’s Radiant Studios in Nashville; these sessions were engineered by Jerry Guidroz. “We then spent about four months at Thomas’ home studio (Battery Powered Studios) doing the rest of the work; Thomas was the engineer for those sessions. We were in there every day until 3am. I don’t know how Kris coped, because he was going to school after we’d finished in the studio and getting just a couple of hours’ sleep. Portnoy believes Next To None have become a sharper and more challenging band with ‘Phases’. “I suppose you could say that we’ve done here is do more of everything we did before, but the greater experience we now have has helped us become better at what we want to do. This time around, there are no guests featured, as was the case on ‘A Light In The Dark’, and as it’s just the four of us you are getting more of what we want to express to everyone, musically and lyrically.” |
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Next To None online: INSIDEOUTMUSIC online: Visit the new InsideOut Shop: EMP Label Group: |
