Official 'METEOR' Press Release!
The Shazam
==========================================
PRESS RELEASE
THE SHAZAM MAKES A STELLAR RETURN WITH 'METEOR'
PRODUCED BY MACK (QUEEN, ELO) - SET FOR RELEASE AUGUST 4
(Nashville, July 8, 2009) - 'Meteor', the long-awaited fifth album by
The Shazam and follow-up to the critically acclaimed 'Tomorrow The
World' touches down August 4, 2009. Recorded at Sage & Sound in
Hollywood, 'Meteor' is produced by Mack, who produced Queen, Black
Sabbath, Sparks, Billy Squier, and has worked with Electric Light
Orchestra, T. Rex, The Sweet, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Elton John
and the Rolling Stones, among others. Collaborating with Mack marks a
turning point in the band's 15-year career, giving them the
opportunity to record an album with the rock legend who worked on the
very albums that influenced their music.
The Shazam's garage rock and power pop roots intertwine to make
'Meteor' the band's biggest sounding record yet. "So Awesome", the
explosive lead-off track, sets the stage for the whole gamut of The
Shazam's modern classic rock: big, Who-sized guitars collide with
glittering insanity, melodic hooks, anthemic rockers, sweeping
balladry, layers of vocals, resounding drums, guitars, guitars,
guitars. With each successive Shazam album, the band has grown from
small-screen to wide-screen in terms of production and grandeur. It
was the stripped-down English Mod approach of their 1997 debut that
gave The Shazam the credit for starting Nashville's "powerpop" scene.
With sophomore release 'Godspeed The Shazam' came mellotrons,
theremins, and overblown psychedelia. Dubbed their "experimental"
album, 'Rev9' was the bridge from Godspeed to 'Tomorrow The World's'
full-tilt arena rock. 'Meteor' is everything Shazam all at once.
All songs on the album were written by singer/guitarist Hans
Rotenberry, whose soaring vocals were never more inspired than on
'Meteor's' 11 powerful tracks. Drummer Scott Ballew, with the band
since its formation in 1994, is Rotenberry's creative foil. Ballew's
distinctive thundering beat is the engine that makes The Shazam run.
Jeremy Asbrock's crisp guitar work and newest member Mike Vargo's
melodic bass playing are the perfect complement to Rotenberry's and
Ballew's exuberance.
Available for purchase only to customers who pre-order the 'Meteor'
CD through The Shazam's official website (www.theshazam.com) is a
limited edition 6-song EP featuring vintage rarities, cover versions,
and live tracks.
Meteor is released through Not Lame Recording Company (NL-99) and New
Boss Sounds Digital, with Redeye providing digital distribution.
www.theshazam.com
www.myspace.com/theshazam
For more information about The Shazam, or to request an interview
with Hans Rotenberry, please contact Lynn Hoskins @ Mediatones at
lhos...@mediatones.com.
###