RIVAL SONS Celebrate 'HEAD DOWN' Worldwide Release Today, 9/18

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 is available in America on iTUNES beginning today, September 18. The album was also released overseas on 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

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