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RIVAL SONS Confirm 'HEAD DOWN' For Worldwide Release Next Week

By: Sep. 14, 2012
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Soulful, maximum-blues-infused hard rock band RIVAL SONS are gearing up for the worldwide release of HEAD DOWN, their second album for Earache Records. The album will be available in America on iTUNES beginning Tuesday, September 18. The album will also be released overseas next week: September 14 in Europe and September 17 in the U.K., with a five-week U.K./European headlining tour kicking off September 21 in Brighton, England

With their blues bravado, raw riffing and unmatched mystique, the Long Beach, CA quartet have received critical acclaim both in the U.S. and in Europe, where they recently wrapped a massive tour, playing festivals and headlining their own shows. They've already played to massive crowds in Europe at festivals such as Rock Am Ring and Download, and they're hot off a run supporting Guns N' Roses. In the U.S., they were named a 2011iTunes “Rock Breakthrough Band,” opened for AC/DC and performed at the Indianapolis 500 and theLong Beach Grand Prix. Revolver said “singer Jay Buchanan is an undeniable vocal force (July 2011).” CMJ said: “Listen…with the volume cranked (7/27/11).”

In order to record the follow-up to their 2011 breakout effort, PRESSURE & TIME, the Los Angeles quartet--JAY BUCHANAN, vocals, SCOTT HOLIDAY, guitar; ROBIN EVERHART, bass; and MICHAEL MILEY, drums--retreated to Nashville, TN after a four–week stint on the road and holed up in a studio with Grammy Award-nominated producer Dave Cobb (Jamie Johnson, Shooter Jennings) and Grammy Award-winning engineer Vance Powell (Jack White, The White Stripes, Kings of Leon).

The band wrote, recorded, and mixed the album in just 20 days, and the band conjured the same energy that made their last album a fan and critical favorite, while time treading new territory altogether. The rawness and immediacy-- textured with a myriad of light and shade--produce powerful results. Explains Buchanan: “In the code of the Samurai, any decision must be made between 3 and 5 breaths … Writing by that code forces us to act, go with our instincts and really, truly listen to each other. Creatively, you’re bringing your most immediate instincts.” The first single “Keep On Swinging” from HEAD DOWN will be available very soon.

About the album title, Buchanan reveals, "We took a lyric from one of the songs that exemplified the process of making the record. HEAD DOWN comes from the phrase, 'Keep your head down and keep on swinging.' I thought it was fitting, and it works perfectly with the album cover."

Painted by artist Jason Holley (Josh Ritter, Ray LaMontagne), the cover evokes myriad emotions—similar to the music. Guitarist Scott Holiday adds, "I began searching for the right artist for our cover on the interwebs, just mulling around, and very quickly came across Jason. I was immediately taken aback by his aesthetic and style and felt he had a few pieces already done that I would be into using. We sent him the record and discussed ideas that we felt reflected the music and process. He created an original piece, painted in oil. The end result is pretty symbolic and interesting—something that, in my opinion, reflects the record beautifully."

RIVAL SONS Europe tour dates are as follows:

DATE

 

CITY

VENUE

Fri

9/21

Brighton, UK

Concorde 2

Sat

9/22

Bristol, UK

Thekla

Sun

9/23

Nottingham, UK

Rescue Rooms

Mon

9/24

Sheffield, UK

Corporation

Wed

9/26

Newcastle, UK

Academy 2

Thurs

9/27

Glasgow, UK

Garage

Fri

9/28

Manchester, UK

Ritz

Sat

9/29

Wolverhampton, UK

Wulfrun Hall

Mon

10/1

London, UK

Electric Ballroom

Tues

10/2

Antwerp, BELGIUM

Trix

Wed

10/3

Amsterdam, HOLLAND

Melkweg

Thurs

10/4

Cologne, GERMANY

Werkstatt

Fri

10/5

Berlin, GERMANY

Postbanhof

Sun

10/7

Warsaw, POLAND

Hydrozagadka

Mon

10/8

Vilnius, LITHUANIA

New York

Tues

10/9

Tallin, ESTONIA

Rock Café

Thurs

10/11

Helsinki, FINLAND

Club Circus

Fri

10/12

Tampere, FINLAND

Pakkahuone

Sat

10/13

Oulu, FINLAND,

Club Teatria

Mon

10/15

Stockholm, SWEDEN

Tyrol

Tues

10/16

Oslo, NORWAY

Rockefeller

Wed

10/17

Stavanger, NORWAY

Folken

Thurs

10/18

Bergen, NORWAY

Hulen

Sat

10/20

Gothenburg, SWEDEN

Tradgarn

Sun

10/21

Copenhagen, DENMARK

Vega *small hall

Mon

10/22

Hamburg, GERMANY

Knust

Tues

10/23

Munich, GERMANY

59:1 - Fiftynine to one

Wed

10/24

Vienna, AUSTRIA

B72

Fri

10/26

Bern, SWITZERLAND

Bierhubeli

Sat

10/27

Milan, ITALY

Magazzini Generali

Sun

10/28

Zurich, SWITZERLAND

Plaza

Mon

10/29

Paris, FRANCE

Nouveau Casino

About RIVAL SONS:



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